The Halftime Pub...a unique business, owing entirely to its creators and the circumstances in its world.

In a land frozen in time, a doomed shiny Celebi fought against its enraged ruler, eventually winning the battle and tearing time asunder. Space, too, was distorted, allowing for multiple realities to clash as worlds became stitched together like literal patchwork. This patchwork went on infinitely in all directions, with each patch of land having its own day and night cycle; walking across the borders of these lands was like stepping into an entirely different time zone, with the sun and space never reachable but always present. By far the most devastating effect of this merge was that the life of the inhabitants of this new land were permanently affected by the fallout, even those that were not originally in the same universe the fight happened in. The new people - and Pokemon - of this land were allowed to keep living beyond death, either with their own body or with their spirit being forced out.

Initially the inability to die was seen as a positive, as the land was still prosperous despite multiple worlds now sharing borders. Living beings aged to their prime, and did not seem to get elderly afterwards, so the main cause of death was never natural in this new world. Those that died were easily identifiable as their wounds did not heal, among other factors relating to their appearance. As these deaths were more likely to come as a result of battle or diseases, the undead were seen as simply victims of circumstance, and thus had a lower social standing than those still alive. Despite the advantages they had over the living, they were still mistreated by the general public, up to and including segregation in some places between the living and dead. Rumors and stigmatizations fueled their differences.

Believing there to be common ground among everyone, a group of Celebi, both alive and dead, ostracized or simply separated from their home worlds, convened in a relatively barren spit of land. There, they saw an opportunity to bring the people around them together despite the increased differences between them all, even though they themselves were quite the odd bunch;

A waiter torn in half by unknown means, their pale pink body truly the image of 'undead'...

A waitress with two faces, harboring a mysterious green aura beyond the smile they try to convey...

A chef who concocts culinary cruelty when left unsupervised, caring more for their sick desires...

An explorer - no, a supplier, whose ego and confidence matches their insatiable bloodlust...

A bartender whose reanimated body exudes the same mountainous chill as the day they 'died'...

A bouncer struggling with a dark power that threatens to take over their senses...

And finally, their boss, an entity that, whether by protective instinct, business sense, or atonement, chose to cast away their persona to lead these Celebi to a better life, leaving their emotions to the past.

---

My name is...Ellis. It's not the name I was initially birthed with, nor the nickname my trainer gave me...or what it eventually ended up being as he fell into despair. That was before the merge. I try not to think about those times too much. Not because I'm missing half my body, including my head, but because we're still...living. It seems weird, but it's not as hellish an experience one might have thought. I certainly didn't expect things to end up like this, but I'm merely happy that my end is still far ahead of me. And...his. 

Today I'm heading in for my shift at the Halftime Pub. We're a small establishment, but we share some responsibilities amongst each other so we each have days we have off. Being one-armed myself, one might think I'd have problems bartending, but even Snowy was surprised at how apt I was at making drinks. Since I'm able to levitate objects, thanks to the boss making an exception for us undead, that's a huge help as well to keep me equal to the others.

The area our pub is in is rather...country-ish. The grass is all orange and barely gets any rain, the sun beats down hard in the day...you'd think it'd be a farm or a gas station out here in the middle of nothing, but nope, it's a pub, with a big ol' sign on top and everything. There're a few dirt roads leading out of this biome into others - we're calling them biomes, by the way - and there's only a few other buildings in the area that are occupied, with some trees south of here before the biome border. It's barely a town, but at least the people that live here are friendly and all-accepting. If they can accept someone like me, they can accept anyone.

I got into my suit before making the trip, so all I had to do was clip on my tie before heading in. I greet Max as I enter, seeing him quickly snap his head towards the kitchen (Anne is super-fast with her antics), but what really catches my eye is Snowy tending to the tables. He should be behind the bar, and that gives me some worry...

"Ellis! Glad you're here. One sec." He shoots me one of his trademark toothy grins before getting the order of the table he stopped at. As I look around, I'm noticing something missing; or rather, someone is missing. Mute is nowhere to be seen, and I was supposed to be her relief for the evening.

"Where's Mute?" I had a gut feeling Snowy was gonna bring up her absence. That girl...she's troubled, for sure. But I know her well enough, she wouldn't just up and float away without good reason.

Snowy floats over, looking flustered and uncharacteristically wired. His eyes are darting all over as if he's overanalyzing the room, but eventually fixates on me as he talks. "Sorry to put this on you as soon as you walk in. Mute's in the boss's office. She's...had a bit of a breakdown today, and she just walked off about ten minutes ago. I'm tryin' my best, but, y'know..."

Jeez. Do I help the floor first, or hope the boss can get Mute back up and running? "Are you keeping up with the orders, at least? Do you need me to take over, is she gonna be alright?" I'd need to get my trusty pen from the counter anyway...

"I'll be fine. Trust me, Ellie, I'm cool with it." All it took was a few seconds and a deep breath for him to go right back to his collected self. His patience is astounding. "Go on and see if you can talk her out of her funk. If there's someone here that can do it, it'd be you."

"I hope you're not insinuating anything by that." If only I had all of my mouth. His grin says it all, though. He knows we share more than just a few physical similarities.

"Not at all. Now go on, the sooner she gets back the faster we can get ready for tonight's game." He slips his order note through the nearby window for Anne to complete and nods towards me before floating off to the next table.

Now, this pub is rather large on the inside, and it feels even larger as a Celebi. I'm not a fast flier by any means, but I know I can get pretty slow at times trying to multi-task. I can only do so much with one hand at a time. But floating along the wall to get to the back, it's hard for me to not look at the guests. It's not like I wasn't giving them my bad side or anything, but ignoring them didn't feel right to me.

I can only hope Mute can be perked up as easily this time as she was the last few times she's done this.

---

I screwed up. I royally screwed up. ("You did.")

The boss might've said everything was alright, but I failed at my job. I'll be terminated any second now, I can feel it. ("You will be.")

There's silence in the office, and the only thing I can hear is my own...heartbeat...and the ticking of the clock on the wall. I'm trying not to shiver, but half of me is cold and the other half isn't faring much better. ("You have good reason to be afraid.")

The boss is behind the desk I'm propping myself up against. A hulking, massive figure with no arms, yet with hands. They look bored, even though their glowing white eyes are staring me down. The lights in this room are infamously broken, with only my side of the desk plainly lit. They look rather imposing in the darkness...

"Mute, I know you've made a mistake or two today. But that's no reason for you to work yourself up so badly. Take your time and talk it out." There's an odd comfort in their voice, enough to make me not hear the sounds my body is making, including that bastard nagging voice.

I take a deep breath, which is harder than it sounds thanks to my screwed-up throat. It's more than just a breath, it's an audible musical instrument of gurgles and 'crrk' noises. As I exhale, my entire body shivers with the motion, taking a few breathless moments before perking up again. And yet the boss knows I'm like this, so they wait patiently for me to respond, not having moved from their bored-esque position. Staring me down all the while...

"I-I'm sorry. I must have...misheard...this voice keeps talking in my head, it must've misled me..."

"...Mute. I know you're stronger than that. Now, of all times, I know you're capable of standing on your own. Part of that is being accountable and taking ownership of your actions." Their words cut deep...but I don't feel worse from being dressed down by them. Their compliments outdo their criticism...

Before I could respond back, there's a knock at the door. "Come in." The boss raised their voice. The doorknob turns and clicks open, and in from the other side comes Ellis. A sight for a sore eye, if there ever was one.

"Hi, boss, Mute. Just walked in and Snowy told me to come see ya. Seems you had a rough day, huh?" He closed the door behind him, then floated over to the second seat at the desk. I could tell even he is made humbler than he usually is in front of the boss.

"Yeah. I messed up the table numbers on a few orders, so people got the wrong stuff. Arceus, unkill me and kill me again." I clench my fist on the desk.

"Now, now, that's no way to act." The boss leans forward. The light finally reaches them, exposing their long green hair and making their hovering rings shine. "That last part, that is. Ahhh...one moment, please." The boss taps the side of their head, and I can hear a faint psychic signal coming in. They swivel in their chair to the side.

"...Mute." Ellis speaks. I turn to him with an inquisitive 'hm,' showing him both of my eyes and not just my good side.

"Did you do anything after figuring out you mixed the tables up?"

"Oh...yeah, I switched the orders around table by table until everyone had the right food. I had forgot who ordered what, having to serve the drinks first and then the food second...and I didn't look at the receipt, I just went with what I thought the order was...a-and that voice in my head made me confused in the first place..."

"Ahh...well, that doesn't sound too bad. You fixed it in the end, didn't you? No sweat."

...It's only now that I realize I've been trying to look at his eye, but there's all of that...stuff, that's closer...eugh, I could touch it if I reached over...n-no! "Oh! Erm, uh, I mean...I still messed up. That's why I had to...take a break..."

"Mute...we all make mistakes. Some make them more intentionally than others, you know that. What counts is that you knew you made one, you fixed it, and everyone walked away happy. Right?"

Every time I make mistakes, he says some variant of this...and as true as it is, and with how much I've grown and learned, I'm still just me. A broken Celebi with only half of me here. He's just like me, but he's so much more positive...outwardly. How does he still manage to put on half a smile knowing I did what I did? Maybe it's because he's not cursed with this damn voice...

"...R-right. The, uhm, guests were understanding, too...They said, 'no, it's alright, that's my food over there anyways'..."

"You see? Things worked out." His voice is soft and understanding...gosh, it's like I'm looking in an inverted mirror. But if he's taking it well, so should I. It's just like the boss said...

"...Gotcha." The boss's voice. We look over, and the light behind them flickers on, rendering their whole body visible. She's looking back at us with that trademark crooked smile of hers. "That was Doom. She's just a few biomes over and she's on her way. You guys know what need to be done, so I'll leave you to it."

The boss leans forward, letting her long green hair float up higher than it was before. "And Mute...please do take some time to reflect on what you've told me today. You're not going to get fired for a few mix-ups. Push yourself to be more proactive when you don't know things, and don't let your fears dominate you. Now go and make me proud, eh?"

This feeling in my stomach...it's been here before. How much she's told me to make my own story...and now I have the chance. And so long as I commit to learning, doing better day by day, I'll eventually take my place in this world, even if it's not the same one as before. Even when she's being vague, it feels like I learn more from that than being outright told what to do. I'm getting a better grasp of these...feelings...

The boss holds out her fist over the desk. It's something we've started doing, this..."fistbump" thing. It signifies that each of us are autonomous, that we are equal, that we are trusting in each other. Ellis has seen us doing this before, but the amount of support I've been given just now...I raise my hand up and punch that fist like I've never done before. Hoo boy, I'm pumped!

Of course, even though I hit her fist at a good speed and there was an audible smack of flesh, that did nothing to move her fist. That said, she did notice my enthusiasm. "Thatta girl." She pulled her fist back and I couldn't help but jump up out of my seat and head for the door with a flourish.

"C'mon, Ellis! Snowy can't handle the whole floor for much longer."

"Heh, yeah. Better get to it before he decides it's worth a favor." He floats over at his usual pace with a small smile. I open the door with a curtsy and let him through first.

Before I close the door behind me, I look back to the boss. She gives me a wink and a thumbs up.

...I hope that I can make her proud.

"Thanks, Gali."

The door shuts with a click.

---

*Add this, then that. Stir, mix, garnish. Ready.*

How I hate these misfits. How I love them for their gullibility.

Sometimes I question why I'm here. Other times I question why I haven't come here sooner. I have no friends, but I keep getting told everyone here is family...but will I stoop to such lows? No. That's not me. I'm best left alone, because what I do best is for me alone to enjoy.

*Flip, turn, perfect heat. Then, cut...*

No sooner would I give in and make friends here than I'd begin to blab about my emotions and life, like that sap Doom. I'd rather take this knife and - erk!

Max...I didn't even reach for anything out of the ordinary that time. How well-tuned is his instinct that he shoots that paralyzing stare at me with just a small hesitation? His policing is too strict. How can I be expected to work under these conditions? He expects no mess-ups from me, but he'll allow those...THINGS...to poison each other. Pah! I barely need to raise a hand and they're making fools of themselves FOR me! "Tch."

*Greens, toppings, garnish. Ready.*

Not that it matters. I have all the time in the world to practice and perfect my craft. Anything these nutjobs want, I can make. He wants to police me so bad, he's more than welcome to taste test for them. Better yet, since that idiot doesn't know a thing about the kitchen, I'll spice something up so good he'll turn into a Fire-type before he joins those dolts in undeath. Hah!

*Prepare the next one. Clean up after the old one. Can't leave dishes undone.*

...There're not many people I talk to here to get a conversation anyway. As much as I love tormenting Doom, I wish I didn't have to. Not because I don't like it, but because I'd have to...interact with her. I just don't like when there's eyes looking at me. Especially since there's not many humans around here. There's something about being watched that just bugs the hell out of me. And you're the biggest offender of that, Max. You creep...you can't trust me to not poison my food, so you watch my every move. I can't even look at you without you tensing up. I should take advantage of that sometime...heh, heh...

How much longer will it be until that idiot stumbles in here with a grab bag of ingredients? There's always something with that girl and her routes. Never consistent. Never goes to the same places every time. Sure, 'varied' might be used to describe it, but I'd rather get quality than sub-par. I'd rather know what I can and can't cook ahead of time rather than having to change the menu at HER whim. But then I'd have to explain it...why can't I just do my job in peace without worrying about stock? We haven't gotten any Pecha Berries in forever, we're running low on meat...I get that the girl isn't the best judge, but she could at least find a decent butcher or two...

"Anne."

...The reason I'm able to autopilot as much as I can, and think as much as I can, especially now, is because we're slow. Once it picks up, I won't have time to think to myself, and the noise in here is already enough to drive me insane. Not that I find either time more fun than the other, but there's things I can do now that I can't later. Such as taking a break whenever there's no orders lined up.

"Anne."

I also have my stake to care for...my precious little thing. The kitchen may not be the best thing for your wood, but you get fed often enough. And I don't trust setting you down and letting it be lost or taken...you're safer with me. The one thing keeping me sane back here, alone...

"Anne!"

"WHAT?!" I turn towards the entrance. It's Ellis. Still can't get used to that face of his. Not that I have anything against him being...undead...it's just that seeing him unfazed by his wounds is a little unnerving. A-and that eye is somehow a little bit scarier when there's only one...I bet he loves seeing me flinch when he surprises me like that. If Max weren't here...

"Doom's here."

Goodie. I better start looking for that recipe book just to see what I'll be able to make tonight.

---

Those stupid dragons always think they can bully people, always think they can nest wherever and harass passersby. All up until they meet me, when they become just another trophy.

The biomes created after I killed that bastard Dialga are chock-full of dangerous, bloodthirsty fiends. The only safe havens are the crowded communities that banded together to fend off these wild beasts, and even then, not every one of them is nice to outsiders. Arceus forbid you're fresh off a kill, still stained in blood. That's just part of the job for me, and I'll gladly shower myself in bits and globs of my enemies if it means I get to survive another day. And now, if it means protecting my precious cargo.

I gotta say, those explorers from before didn't look the type to be carrying around an entire warehouse in their bag. But it sure does help having one at my side when things go south! I might slip an Oran here or there, and while those guys at the pub don't need the orbs I find for any of their duties or whatever, those sure help to keep the upper hand. Whatever it takes to survive, even if it means eating into their inventory. Not like they'll know.

Can't say I quite like how the world's turned out, but beggars can't be choosers. I sure as hell wasn't going to die like a coward, not when there was no other option but to fight. Now, it's still hard to make heads or tails of things. Time's all screwed up in these biomes, different time periods and different worlds are intersecting, the dead roam the same land as the living...it's unrecognizable. But then again, so am I. Far as I can see, the people that not just survive but thrive in this changed world are to be commended for their ability to adapt, alive or undead.

Without any Passages of Time, travel to the distant past is impossible. What really stings is that as a Celebi, my power to even time travel at all has been diluted thanks to time being all screwy - and likely the powers of the other Celebi too. It may even affect their mortality, but that's just conjecture. With the power to go to the past gone, all that remain are the memories...Oh, Grovyle...

But...no, that's in the past. I must be strong for the present and now. That means taking what I can, going as fast as I can, fighting as best I can. I don't care if I gotta pick these berries myself or if I have to buy 'em, I don't care if whoever's guarding the paths is living or dead. I will not be stopped!

At the very least, the biomes around the pub are relatively safe. Thanks to yours truly, we have a bit of solace and won't need to worry about a family of aggressive Garchomp moving in on the main path. I say that not because that's the only thing that I've had to fend off, but because that's what I JUST fended off. If they aren't listening to reason, there's only one way to deal with them. Maybe the next ones that move in will be a little NICER. They even got a little blood on Grovyle's leaves. Bastards.

Now that that little distraction's taken care of, it'll be no time at all 'til I get to the pub. Just need to organize my bag first so Max can easily sign off on all this junk...

And there we have it! Now to report my findings.

"He-LLOOOOOO!" I announce to the pub as I come in. With Max's signature, that settles all the legalese. Quick n' easy, just how I like it.

"Hi Doom." The exasperated sigh of Snowy from behind the bar counter. Music to my ears. He's going to LIKE what I got him, whether he wants it or not.

"Doom, you better have gotten some Pechas, I swear to Arceus!" Right at the same time, Anne from the kitchen, with as much spice in her voice as ever. Despite the wall between the kitchen and the rest of the pub, her voice carries well. The small window near the bar counter is usually where she parks herself, but it's not one she can fit through. Since the kitchen is closer when I walk in, I usually offload her stuff first.

"Don't get your antenna in a knot, I got some on the way here. And no complaining about the quality, since I was charitable enough to remember." I set the bag on the table just inside the kitchen and start taking her stuff out. One perk of the job is not needing to worry about diseases and mold and such on what I get. That's because...

...the hands come in. The boss's hands, specifically. Floating with a mind of their own, with no body in sight. They're a weird Pokemon for sure, with how they're able to coordinate their hands like this, and doubly so for their weird powers. As I set stuff down, the hands pick it back up and somehow cleanse them of impurities before putting them where they go. I'm not complaining one bit, that's less work for me! But that's just another weird oddity of this new world I don't think I'll ever 'get'. With the boss doing half my job, I get to do what I want to do for half the day. Can't ask for better treatment!

I can sense Anne behind me, and I'm still taking stuff out of the bag. I deepen my voice, sharp as that stake in her antenna's grasp. "Reminder that Max is watchin'."

"Hrrf. Of course I know, idiot, he's only a few feet away. What did you get?"

Sigh. Impertinent girl. "Don't worry about it. You'll have all you need and then some for the game tonight. And if you don't, ration."

"That's not the point." I go to set a bag of seeds down and she's in my way, as I bump my arm into her. Now we're staring face to face. "The point is if you keep only getting enough for us to barely get by, we can't predict what we can sell on any given day. You know how hard it is to tell customers we don't got stuff in stock?"

"No. Because I'm not a waiter, and I'm not a chef."

"Exactly. So get MORE." She's got her face inches away from mine. I can feel that stake tickle my antenna. She'd not dare make a move as close as she was. Even I can feel Max's glare at this distance.

...but that's not enough to stop me from egging her on. Try it, brat. "Bite me. You'll get what I get and nothing more, and nothing less too. Unless you're saying you want to make the next trip with, or without, me."

"..." She's got a mean look on her face. It's cute in a way, but there's nothing I can do about it. There's only so much space in that bag, and I'm not gonna carry two. That thing gets into too much danger by itself, and I'm not gonna weigh myself down with double unless there's a good reason I should. Her bellyaching ain't good enough. And so long as the boss is fine with it, why should I put in extra work? It'd take longer, and I know she wouldn't like me coming in when the sun's setting.

With a 'hmph' she storms back to the grill. She must be in a tame mood if she's stopping at that. Probably saving up her frustration for when rush hour happens. Either way, not my problem. Now's Snowy's turn.

I turn the corner out of the kitchen with the bag in tow and strut my way up to the bar counter, trying to keep eye contact with him in as smug a way as possible. I don't even give Mute the dignity of being worth my attention as I pass her by, even ignoring her "hi". I plop the bag on the counter and spin a seat around before sitting on it, letting it spin me to the counter.

"Ain't YOU gonna be glad what I got for you." I keep my grin going. He doubts me! I can tell from the look on his face.

"The question is never what you did get. It's always what you didn't get."

"Aww, that's cold." Again keeping my grin. He's heard that pun so many times, I revel in his disgust at it.

"You'll have to put it away yourself. As you can see, I've got customers to serve." That much is true. He's been dashing about all this time, and I can tell the two or three people already sitting down beside me aren't too happy about the volume of my voice. Or maybe it's the dried blood caking my arms. It's a nice shade of red, and the counter could use some color. "And Doom, please do clean up after yourself. We have decorum to uphold."

"Uggh, fine." I spin out of the seat and head behind the counter, dragging the bag with me.

"Just remember where and how to store them, please. Liquor out here and standing up, wine in the box on the side." He's not even looking at me now.

"Right, right." Doing this myself is boring. I have to squint to check what the label says to see if it's liquor or wine. Half the time I get it wrong, and I can't be bothered to memorize this stuff. Whatever, he'll fix it even if I get it right anyway.

I'm halfway through what I brought, when I heard from behind me, "Is that really...?" I can feel a chill on my back, meaning he's right behind me. Can't even respect my personal space, either. Eugh, I can't imagine what it's like to be a walking refrigerator.

"Yeah, so what? Not enough, right?" I wave the bottle around.

"No, no, no, not at all. I'm just surprised you managed to get a hold of Sacred Ale."

I take a second look at the bottle. There's a picture of a Ho-oh on the front of it, but it's stylized to be one of those old-fashioned glyph-y kinds of designs. "Huh. Ya don't say."

"And just in time for game night, too. Thanks, Doom." His tone's changed.

"Huh? What? Did my ears deceive me? You're thanking ME?"

"Yes. It's not beyond me to recognize a job well done. Oh, Ellis and Mute are gonna love this." He's still making drinks, so he probably didn't see the rest of what I got. Oh well. As long as he's grateful for what I got, that's less complaining I have to hear.

"...Hmph. Don't get used to it."

"Definitely not. Since you didn't the last few times, I can't expect consistency out of you."

That little...! "Hey, I got you it this time, didn't I? What's past is passed."

Always the snark. He didn't respond after that, so I went back to putting the rest away. I'll have to tease him about that later. Uppity prick will ask for the receipt of what I got anyways, so it's not like he's not gonna know.

With the bag empty, my job for the day was done. I guess I better clean myself up before parking myself for the night and sharing the story of that Garchomp...

---

With Doom gone, my favorite part of the day is in full effect: the gradually growing clamor in the pub before the main event starts. The sight of new and old faces, the sharing of the day's work, the budding of new friendships. It's what I live for...even if I'm not sure if I'm alive or dead, given the state of the world. Either way, I'm content to watch from my comfy position behind the bar as the crowds roll in, but that won't be for a while yet. There's still preparations to make before then, so here I am, shining my glasses as I usually do on these days. There's a certain proudness I feel watching Ellis and Mute shine the tables during these quieter hours.

I'm not sure why I'm imbued with this cold aura around me. I know I hung around that mountain, but the exact details are a bit miffed with age...I mean, a Celebi hanging around a blizzard? If the reaction of others to my touch are anything to gauge, they'd have stuck with the forest. Not to say these powers aren't useful in a way, but I have to wonder just how this happened. That merge must have altered more than just time...thanks, Doom.

The day's been rather slow, besides that hiccup with Mute earlier. That's going to change in a bit, I know that for sure. Fine by me, as I like the ambient noise as much as the conversations. Though I know some of us don't like when it gets busy...Anne shuts up completely, and I can tell Mute gets overwhelmed rather easily when things don't follow a straight line. For me, I see that as a positive rather than a negative, and I'm glad the boss sees it like that too. We're all unique, playing to our strengths. Even that figure in the corner, strumming along on that big ol' bass of theirs...day in, day out. Mellow, dark as the shadows, content to do their own thing unnoticed by all. Not even the boss knows they're there, likely.

As I'm organizing the glasses that've been used during the day and the bottles Doom recently brought in (the girl could learn a thing or two about alphabetization, but that's neither here or there), I notice a new face walk in through the door. Max maintains eye contact with them a bit before nodding in approval. He's quite protective, but that also tends to throw people off coming in. The usuals can vouch for him, but he could work on smiling a bit. I know he's supposed to have a poker face, but a smile once in a while goes for miles, y'know?

Either way, the new person, a Wigglytuff by the looks of it, hobbles over to the bar counter. Half of one of their ears is cut off, and they look pretty bruised up. Can't tell if that blood on them is dried up or not, but with those black eyes I'm going to guess they're among the dead. They can tell I'm scoping them out, as their tiny red eyes are locked with mine, and they haven't even taken a seat.

"Hey there, welcome to Half Time. What can I getcha?" I try not to make it look like I'm too busy. As much as I'd love to talk, my job is to serve first.

...Silence. They've sat down, and their frowning face barely budges. Looks like they're shivering.

"...You alright there, bud?" My voice isn't all that loud, considering I'm right in front of them. Behind them, I can see Mute flinch a little from seeing them from behind before carrying on with what she was doing. She bleeds just as much, yet is just as squeamish...I'm glad I don't bleed.

The Wigglytuff coughs. I can tell from how coarse it is that they're either sick, or something inside them is really screwed up. My thought instantly goes to Mute and her condition, though she has Psychic abilities to let her communicate. This poor soul, however, doesn't look like they can do the same.

"...You can't talk, is that right?" I must be careful to ask the right questions here. Would it be egotistical to say that I'm trying to be compassionate in my voice? My face usually can't bring about the same emotions my heart's telling me to act, so I hope I'm coming across as genuinely helpful. Fortunately, they nod their head and break eye contact, looking down, and trying to talk. Yet nothing comes out but some blood-soaked spittle.

"Would you perhaps like to write or point out what you would like? Hold on..." I duck over to the side of the counter usually littered with pamphlets and small decorations, and bring over one of our miniature menus, along with a piece of notepaper and a pencil. Though I set it out for them, they merely stare. I worry that I'm not going to get anything substantial out of them.

Then then flop one of their tiny arms onto the counter, pointing at one of the menu items. Reading upside down, I understand exactly what they're asking for. And then it all made sense.

"Ahhh...the drink that can revive the dead itself. The Reset."

When I'm in the process of making drinks, I become enthralled by the art of it. My body is conduit through which all the ingredients are parsed...and as I flip and swirl glasses on my fingers and gauge the weight of the bottles in my hands, I have to be careful of my surroundings, sure, but I'm in tune with the liquids and their movement. Everything is fluid, done with purpose, an artform not unlike a dance.

First, an ounce of Lum Berry wine. Ordinarily, Lum by itself lacks flavor as it is well-rounded and is more of a cleanser. As soon as I grab the bottle it's in, I'm on a timer since my hands chill it. Can't have the drink be too cold, nor the bottle if I'm going to use it again later.

Next is three-quarters ounce Sacred Ale. This stuff is strong by itself, which is why it needs to be diluted first. I've got to conserve as much as I can, but this is enough of a spicy kick to bring out the flavor.

A half-ounce of Salty Herba Mystica Tea follows. The bitterness of this is also diluted, and while it exists on the opposite spectrum as the Sacred Ale, there's still more to ensure the flavors don't clash.

One, two, three dashes of Heal Seed Extract. It's a strong sweetener, and a real energy-producer at that. With the chill of the drink, the flavors are a delicious mix already.

Now it's time for the Life Dew ice and shake. All in the bar can hear as I heave the container behind the shoulder and shake the mixture, and I get to show off my levitating skills as well, operating without a hint of gravity.

Pour...gently, slowly 'til the drinking glass, also with Life Dew ice in it, is up to about the lip by the white-green mixture. Then garnish with a White Herb. The drink only needs a small tinge of it to work, but as the drink is brought up to the lips, the small bits of powder on it mix with the drink...the final touch.

I nudge the drink over to the Wigglytuff, who has a small smile on their face from my act. "Here you are, one Reset. Let the flavor course through you, and let your body be renewed." The tone of my voice is also part of the act, meant to empower them to feel renewed as much as the drink will actually make them, even if it does nothing but taste good.

The glass itself is close to the level of their mouth, so they didn't need to tip it far to get some of it in. As soon as it did, their expression changed, and their body's shaking ceased. They closed their eyes, and seemed to take in my advice.

"If I may assume just a bit, I do believe our waitress has a similar condition to yours. Would I be right?" I've resumed cleaning the glass in my hands before, though at some point this does just become something to do with my hands as I talk. Considering the amount I go through, it's become something of a bad habit.

They open their mouth again, taking a slightly deeper breath than before. "...Y...yes. I...wow..." They giggle a little, seemingly surprised at hearing themselves talk. "I...can talk? How...?"

"That's the beauty of The Reset, my dear. There's no telling if it is permanent or not, but it has that effect. You may thank our waitress for this exquisite drink..."

"I...hold on." They produce a humming sound. It's similar to Mute's own. Now I know for sure they have a similar condition. They then try singing a few notes out loud. Not satisfied with how clear they are, they took another drink and tried again. The improvements were as clear as day, as I could see their darkened-pink fur regain some of its lighter hues as well. It's enough to make me feel warmth deep in my cold, cold chest.

"How cruel of fate to strip you of the ability to sing. Whether this was a previous affliction, or one caused by the merge, there are several of our own who lack this ability too."

"I'm...not the only one? Goodness..." The white is returning to their eyes, if not for brief moments. They seem to be unsure of how to react.

I take the initiative, moving a few feet over on my side of the counter. "It's not often we are able to serve this. We usually have karaoke night on Friday nights, if you'd like to join us then. We'll have enough for each of us to show off our voices...or those willing and able to stand up at the mic."

"Singing...it's all I've ever wanted to do. I...I've tried taking the Sing of others. Nothing worked. Nothing..." 

They got melancholic quick, looking sullen. "...It's okay. You're not alone in this. We're all staring down the light at the end of the tunnel."

We went back and forth like that for a few minutes, her worries and my reassurances. Doom eventually returned after cleaning herself off, quietly taking a seat at the corner seat not too far off from where the Wigglytuff was sitting. Mute was eventually joined the conversation...er, well, I kinda called her over. There was a small lull in customers coming in that she could afford a few minutes to converse. Ellis is more than capable of handling the few that are currently dining.

"How intriguing...! Another one of us that can't talk normally." Mute looks happy to have found a comrade in her struggle.

"Yes...ahah. It...it sucks, but...now I can! And singing...feels wonderful!" She hits off a few more notes. Mute giggles.

I lean over the counter on my arm. "You know, Mute here is the one that came up with the recipe for that drink."

Mute gets flustered and her cheek turns red, waving her hand in dismission. "Aaah, no! I just thought that the combination, ah...! The boss, you know, she loves cooking, and...I guessed it, really!" The girl is rather easy to embarrass with compliments. There's no lie here, though. She sheepishly points over to Doom. "Y-you really should be thanking Doom for going out of her way to get all the stuff needed for it. Who knows how far she had to go to get some of this stuff!"

"Pssh. It ain't much, really." Doom averted her eyes, trying to look at the wall. She may be gruff on the outside, but I know she does what she does for all of us. Even if she doesn't say it outright.

"Is it...true?" The Wigglytuff looks to me.

"Well..." I take a few seconds. "I can't vouch for where Doom goes when she's on her trips. But for what it's worth, I hear she does travel pretty far. You know how dangerous the roads are further out from the cities, right? Even if she's not bringing in rare stuff, or even just common things we use every day, she is risking life and limb for us every day."

"You don't need to dress it up like that, snowball." She's quick to become animated again, making vaguely threatening gestures with her hands. "Hey, y'know there was a family of Garchomps moving in just north of here? Guys were preying on people on the main path."

She made a motion with her hand going horizontally over her neck, verbalizing a 'crrk' noise. Such was her temperament that she forced a pause. "Dealt with. You're welcome."

The Wigglytuff looks rather stunned. I roll my eyes. "Don't mind her way of putting it. She IS making the area around the pub safer for us. Since we're not really part of the main city, we get a lot of those types. Tryin' to make this place accessible to everyone has its flaws, unfortunately."

Doom kicks up her legs against the wall, having her back at us once again. "Yeah, well, call it double duty. And consider that payment, too."

"Your shots are hardly payment..." I shake my head.

"No, I understand...You worked as a team. How wonderful that you all have each other..." The Wigglytuff smiled. For some reason, I get the feeling that's the first time she's actually, genuinely smiled.

"T-truthfully, um..." Mute has a hand to the back of her neck, swaying side to side. "It's the best we can do...the boss lost her healing powers, so she's helping me with mine, and all avenues are open. Drinks included."

"Oh...! I barely noticed, your arm, and leg..." The Balloon Pokemon looks a little shocked.

Mute nodded. "I haven't figured out how to heal that much yet, but...I've helped Snowy here, and Ellis. Maybe once I get a little stronger, I can help our regular customers too...b-but, I don't know if I can reverse, um, death..."

"You look up to the boss quite a lot, don't ya, Mute?" I tilt my head down, closing my eyes - or to the rest of the world, it appears as if my eyes have disappeared, leaving behind empty sockets. "You know, you two do look kinda similar...cut from the same cloth, perhaps?"

Mute looks a little unsettled, and in an embarrassing fit of looking around, something catches her eye. "Ehehe...oh! Sorry, break's over!" One too many customers have come in, and she's noticed Ellis giving her a worrying glare. I think he's probably looking at me, though. "Do come in on Friday night! We'll try to have enough Resets for everyone to have a round at the mic." With a curtsy, she floats over to an unserved table.

"Ya better be careful, snowboy. Can't guarantee I'll get enough of that Ale for everyone that walks through the door. 'Specially if you intend on saving it." Doom taps her toes on the wood wall, her seat creaking as she rocks back and forth between the wall and counter supporting her.

"We'll manage, Doom. Even if everyone only gets through half a song before it wears off."

"How...valiant." The Wigglytuff looks around. "If you don't mind...can I order some of the Torchic nuggets to go? There's...a place I need to be soon..."

"Sure thing. Best to beat the rush, I hear we've got a big game tonight. We'll be packed in a few hours for sure." Not that I like bugging Anne for orders myself, but it's gotta be done. And with that little reminder, it's back to work. 

---

This is a dream. It has to be a dream.

At least, that's what I keep telling myself. But...I never wake up from it. I went from being thrust into a nightmare, to living in one. Losing myself, regaining myself...I'm not sure if I'm me anymore.

I'm so unsure of myself that I can't help but be paralyzed at pretty much any time. And the worst part about it is I'm not sure if I should take the advice of these...Celebi...around me. I have memories of being with a lot of Celebi before. But as for what I felt at those times...I'm not sure. All I know is that they all looked hundreds of times more alive than the ones I...'work' with. Yet they act more cordial, more organized...and I've somehow roped myself into meeting with them here daily. And all I do...is float here, with only myself to talk to. Not that I can hold a conversation.

I've somehow managed to scrape by, living...here. Wherever 'here' is. WHENever 'here' is. I feel an evil course through me every time I blink, but that's nothing compared to the evil these other Celebi give off. The one called Anne in particular, the others want me to watch. Why? Why should I want to be around evil? I see that halo above their head, but that's just a bald-faced lie. A perfect example of how twisted and upside-down this world is that they look like an angel, but acts the most evil of all.

The Celebi I work with...my coworkers, I suppose, say I'm strong. I'm not sure just how strong I am, considering I don't feel normal. In fact, I'd have thought me being like this would put me at a disadvantage. But somehow, it's enough to make those with evil intentions think twice, or so my coworkers have said. Does that make me good? Or is my 'evil' that much stronger than theirs? I don't think I'm evil...right?

I still don't understand the way this world works. Sometime my heart beats and it feels as if I relive the entirety of my life from when this 'merge' happened until the current time. I'm kept on edge by a feeling I'm not sure how to describe. I can't help but stare at everything and hope that they understand I'm trapped inside myself, since I can't vocalize it nor channel my Psychic long enough to telepathize with the others. But even then...what could they do? I don't trust any of them to take advantage of me more than they already are. Just the sight of them floating about without flapping their wings...it's otherworldly. I'm kept in a constant state of fear from both my body and my supposed coworkers being so different from what I knew before; the Celebi I knew before, with their bright green bodies and clear, full wings.

That 'fear' is most prevalent on a night such as this. I want to run away from these...things...that enter the pub. And yet my body stays. All I can do is look and watch and try to process things, and hope I don't lash out. I wonder how normal I look to them as they pass me by, motionless in mid-air as I attune myself to my surroundings. Staying here, unmoving, merely observing the events around me. As it's hard to control this body, I hope I stay this way as long as possible. The noise in the pub doesn't alert me, counting the seconds, counting the minutes.

There's an increase in volume...that 'game' must be on. I can't focus long enough to remember what it's about. All I know is that there's several of those 'things' together, looking at a bright white box. What kind of game is that? I want to watch...but I'd have to get closer to them. And if I don't sense danger, there's no sense in trying. I just have to listen as best I can over the conversations...

My senses have been majorly screwed up since that 'merge'. I seem to randomly regain parts of my senses at a time, only to then lose them seconds later. Somehow, I can react within seconds to things I don't even see, or pick up very quiet sounds without knowing where they came from. That's how I stopped that one evil Celebi...many, many times over. It's like I'm a puppet being honed and trained for something...

When it comes to nights like these, I try to be as alert as I can. There's monsters everywhere, there's loud noises...that evil Celebi is planning something. I know it. They always try on these busy nights when it's hard to multitask. But I gotta be alert for those watching the game too...there's so much I have to do, want to do. And yet I stay in the same spot, like a dang statue.

The waiter...or waitress? The green one with the messed-up face. They've come by again. I can't focus on the words they're saying. All I see is blood, and an eye that pierces my soul. I want to shiver, but I can't even move my muscles for that. But there's...a peculiar noise...

Aha! That Celebi with the halo WAS trying something! That sound was Rattata poison! We don't even have Rattata around here. The liquid in that tiny brown bottle kept in the back of the cabinet under the sink...it's not supposed to be moving, swishing around above the table where they make their food. It only took them one and a half seconds to move it to where it is, and I haven't even looked in her direction.

...I don't know what I did just now. But the waitress Celebi in front of me looks surprised. I just held up my hand and the evil Celebi stopped moving that poison. Now the waitress is trying to get me to put my arm down. Did...I use too much power? I can't tell. The psychic energy in my hand is almost foreign to me...and as swiftly as the feeling came, so too did it die down. I can only hope they don't agitate my senses further. I don't WANT to hurt them, but I can't let them harm the patrons. Even if they all are freaks.

My attention shifts to the monsters watching that 'game' again. I don't know what it is, but there's more energy in the air. It's quite unsettling. Please let the rest of the night not require more out of me...just raising my arm feels like my body is overstressing itself. If I could just be left alone with peace and quiet...

---

With the game over, it's time we closed up for the night. The stragglers have time for one more ordering from the kitchen before Anne is free to go. It's so liberating to know that I don't need to be present for them to know what to do. I fear my presence would only upset the regular folk.

I haven't been slacking off in here, though. My new body has afforded me new abilities that I can't go without in this changed world. Being able to restrict the deadly powers of most, fending off aggressive creatures from getting close from my seat in the office...I have to say, I quite like what I can do with this body, and using it for good. But...that's about the most I can say for it. To get here, a hefty price had to be paid...

My dear Lost...My dear Found...how I wish you two could be here. This new world lacks a timeline I can reverse...there's no makeups. Everything is permanent. It's like I...no, every Celebi, lost what was their most prominent ability. And in its place...they merely relied on their staying power. They're as mortal as everything else, and can die just as easily in battle. How fleeting it was, and how abrupt it was to find out for myself.

Thinking about what happened only...makes me feel worse. And I can't look at their souls without choking up. That's why I need to busy myself with work; their deaths only feed into the worst instincts of mine that led me to take this form in the first place. While I am sane, I can control it well, but my emotions running wild makes me a beast...and I don't know just how long I can hold this form. Or even if I can keep a hold of their souls after I leave this form. That would mean...saying goodbye to them again...

It's been...months? Years? The lack of a timeline makes it hard to tell. These biomes with their different times of day, it may be night now, but one step into the eastern biome and it's already morning. But to me, it hasn't even been a minute since then. The grief I hold wouldn't progress even if the clocks were working. And yet, so much progress has been made...

I helped oversee the creation of this pub's business operation, and while this 'drinking' may not completely align with what I've tried to uphold in the past...there is opportunity here. I can't heal in this form, but I can at least do what I can behind the scenes to help pull people together. The people of this world are fragmented and divided over something even I thought wasn't possible...before meeting Lost and Found. What's more surprising to me is that these undead folk have just as big of hearts as the ones that are alive. I guess it's the experience of being dead that humbles them.

...I can't pull myself off my seat just yet. I'm not just lost in my own thoughts; I'm also listening to chatter over the walkie-talkie in my ear. In this world, there's a constant threat of these wild Pokemon...and whatever else is out there. Uncaring, uncouth, totally wild...beasts. The best defense against them is constant communication with the nearby cities and settlements, aligning our forces whenever possible. Unfortunately, due to the way time works here, there's no break from it all. Nighttime is when most of the predators come out, and I need to ensure that my employees can get home safe - or at least to their home biomes, handing them off to the watchful eyes of the next nearest settlement. And with the day and night cycle being relative, that makes scheduling their trips, and their shifts, all the harder.

That's where one of the abilities I've picked up comes in handy. These rings let me seamlessly transport my whole body across wide areas like portals, and while I do have a finite amount of rings, I also have gained multiple disembodied hands and heightened Psychic powers with which to strategically place them. I don't dare take them into another biome without the rest of my body to see how the shifting of time and space affects them, but I can at least physically ensure my children can make it across the border of the biome safely.

...Children? I...have no children. Stupid Gali, just because they're all small doesn't mean they're yours. They never were, they aren't. Don't get attached. Do what you can, within your power. That's all you can do. Don't let yourself get hurt again. Protect yourself.

There's a knock at the door, right as I shake my head to rid myself of those thoughts.

"Boss?" It's Mute. "We're all ready to go home."

I sigh, lowering the volume of the walkie-talkie. "Right. Let's get going before they kill themselves."

There's still a few things I need to do before locking the door and setting the alarm. Leaving these guys alone without anything to do is the worst thing that could happen. Doom usually hangs around to torment the others despite being more than capable of handling herself. Anne...well, I'm sure she can handle herself too, as she's always telling me she doesn't need my help. But...the others...

"Go on, Snowy, you tell 'er. You saw it." At least they're not fighting...

"I'm not going to get involved in things that don't concern me."

"Oh, that's RICH coming from you!"

"Doom, why are you still here? Shouldn't you be getting rest for tomorrow?" Ellis's deadpan voice broke through the bickering. I...try not to recognize the voices too much. It's better if I just...see them as employees. As much as possible, anyway.

"Tch, I know. I just figured the boss might need a little help, considering you're so helpless and all. Escort missions ARE what 'explorers' do, right?"

"Not to say that I don't need an escort, but I just plain don't trust you."

"Ohhh, now that cuts deep. Heh heh..."

"...Boss." Max's voice, a rarity. Everyone looks over at me...towering over them. I have to wonder if I look scary to them...

"You guys ready to head out? On your mark, Snowy, since you're the farthest one out."

"Finally. Yeah, let's do this." Snowy has a small bag with him, his usual belongings. He's probably the most vulnerable, not because he isn't defenseless, but because he has far to go. Five biomes, if I remember right. One of them's a stretch through complete wilderness, and while it's undead territory, I always...no, I can't worry. Worrying means caring...

He gets to about a building's distance away, where his chilly aura can't be seen or felt anymore, when Ellis heads off in the direction of his home. Three biomes away. "See ya later, guys." Then Max heads in another, then Anne, then Doom...two, three...and Doom wanders wherever she likes. I don't think she even has a home to speak of, but...she's unpredictable enough. The thought of bunking beds with her isn't the most pleasing. Not that I can offer. So long as she shows up for her next shift...

I pull up the rings that form my 'elbows', peering through them at the various rings I've scattered at the edge of the biome near the main paths the Celebi have taken. Just seeing them is good enough to let the people in the next biome over know they've got a traveler heading their way. All except for Max, but I trust in his abilities. Probably more than Doom.

...That leaves Mute. She's stayed by my side all this time, and now, the only thing illuminating us is the moon above and the glittering of my rings. There's nary a sound now but a breeze causing the weeds and baked grass to crinkle.

She floats up to my eye level, looking as sheepish as ever and having her eyelid drooping as it usually does. "...Gali. I want to..."

"...I know, Mute. There isn't a day where...I wish...we could..." I lean my head down slightly, closing my eyes.

Mute's hand reaches for my cheek. "...You're doing the best you can, Gali. For me, for all of us. If...if I can do anything..."

I smile softly...hard, given my facial features, and meet Mute's hand with one of my oversized hand's fingers. "Lead the way. Slowly."

She grins...no, smiles. That voice inside her has gone silent, no doubt thanks to all the ruin already around us satiating it. It's easier to see her good side with it being less of a factor, even though she still has that peeled-skin look. Being able to emote with all her mouth and both of her eyes...she looks more complete now than she ever has before.

She floats back before turning. Our home is within this biome, so it's not too far, but it's off the beaten path. From here, we head to the forest covering the southern half of the biome. Using specific tells from the main road, we'll then follow a path towards a clearing that's hidden from all except those near me, as my Psychic powers make it impossible to approach otherwise.

I float along behind Mute, and two white spheres exit the ring on my belly to float alongside us.

A familiar voice, strained by the passage of time, echoes out. "Wow, Anne looks like she got decked in the FACE! Aha!"

A second familiar voice follows. "You shouldn't be happy about the suffering of others, Found."

"I know, I know. But she deserves it for that one time she staked Mute!" The sphere forms into a ghostly form of a Celebi with long hair, never being stable enough for features to define besides it glowing white eyes. Its body fluctuates between black and white, with the white being more defining of the limits of its body than the black, floating just ahead of me at eye level. The second forms the same way with a more curled hair, choosing to stay up near Mute, but turned around to face us. The two of them have trails of white sparkles leading back to the ring on my stomach, along with the black undefined mass making up their bodies flowing on the same line.

"That's rather empathetic of you, Found." I retort to her.

"Yeah, well, when you don't have a body anymore, you gotta find out another way to live. Somehow." 'She' crosses her arms and turns her head from me.

"Well, I mean, that you're validating Mute. You never did look her in the eyes before."

"That's 'cause they were looking in two different directions most of the time." Even as an apparition I can tell she's comically mocking Mute's face. It'd look cuter if she...wasn't...

"...I'm sorry for what happened earlier, Mute. I should've been there to guide you more..." Lost's voice.

"No, it's okay. I...I have to learn on my own terms. The voice is quieter nowadays, but...it's still there." Mute and Lost's ghost are nearly touching. Yet never again they will...

Lost turns to me. "Isn't...there something you can do, Gali? Now, I mean? Or is she really gonna be stuck with it...?"

I shake my head. We're close to the forest, and space warps slightly around us as we enter the zone I protected. "I don't want to risk it merging with our reality. Powerful as I am, I'm not Palkia. And...he's running overtime now. Even if I might be the number 2 spot for his position, and I can still feel time flow within me...there's little I can do for Mute. It's not like Palkia could have severed that connection before when he initially sent Mute to us."

"Then...then we gotta go higher! Arceus should-"

"Arceus has no place here." Found interrupted. "We were the exceptions to the rule. Mute was a technicality. ...And in this world, where everything is twisted upside down...how could anyone have faith that Arceus intended all this to happen?"

Mute and Lost look sullen.

"Damn, Found. You could have made it sound a little less like we deserved...less."

"Even in death, you two..." They look towards me. "You haven't changed a bit."

"...Gali, you're..." Mute can see. There's...black tears rolling down my face. A smile that aches of love.

We've arrived. A small clearing, a small shrine...a small house. It's enough for us.

I wipe the tears off one side of my face, staining my hands with the black substance. The liquid...burns to the touch. "Mute...would you mind playing that tune? The one you remembered?"

"The one I...oh, yeah. That...i-if you're sure..."

I nod. Lost and Found slowly make their way to the positions on my body they took many a time before. Found on top of my head, and Lost hanging onto my shoulder. Though now, there's less arm to hide behind.

Mute, still in her waitress uniform, floats in front of the small shrine. There, she opens her mouth...and sings. It's a small tune, and it doesn't have many notes...but she hits them. And with each note, the memories flood back of our past lives. The tethers that remain that binds us to the world we lived in before. The reminder of our mortality.

With those notes, Lost and Found's spirits retreat into their spherical form without so much as a reaction, and then float back into the ring they came from, joining the other spirits inside.

"...How was that, Gali?" Mute turns towards me. She looks...matured.

Sleep fills my eyes, and my tears burn my cheeks. It's enough to stave off the strong emotions, enough to make me forget. Her singing is the perfect capstone to a long day...and a portent to a good night. It's no wonder she's won every single karaoke night.

"Perfect. Now, let's...head in, before I sleep on the grass...again..."

Mute takes a hold of my hand, even though it's disembodied, and guides me to our home's door. My vision is getting cloudier by the second. The burning pain subsides slowly enough to let sleep take hold.

How I wish...these moments of silence, of recollection, of reminiscing and reinventing...of our family...

How I wish...they had never ended...
