This choice: You decide to go towards the chest • Go Back...Chapter #4You decide to go towards the chest by: Komputer   You chose the passage that you assumed will take you to Ho-oh's chest. It is near the top of the gizzard and is almost vertical in position. For this simple reason, it's impossible for you to reach that opening without first climbing through the green mush that is Ho-oh's lunch and dirtying yourself in the process. You believed that Ho-oh made the better choices hard to reach as his method of screwing with you. It's his way of telling you to 'give up and just live in the tail end where I can toy with you all I want'. You aren't gonna let that happen and allow Ho-oh to have his merry way. If he intends to test you, then you're gonna returning the favor by besting all the challenges.
As always, to establish a goal is one thing but to actually put your plan into action, it requires far more effort. Especially true when you are nauseous at the sight of half-digested plants and herbs piled several stories high around you. The movements within the gizzard made the whole mountain look alive, even menacing. It brought back awful memories of the unmentionable food you were force fed last time and you intend to avoid anything that's remotely related to mush.
"Hey, have you made up your mind yet, human? Your friendly host Ho-oh is getting a little impatient here," the Pokemon chimed.
"Yeah, but I'm trying to figure out how to navigate past all this pile of junk," you replied back.
"Better make it quick then. You don't want me to change my mind and let you sleep in my gizzard," Ho-oh laughed smugly.
"Doesn't matter to me anyways. It seems to me that your body was designed to make my life as miserable as possible."
"I'll make it better!" Ho-oh replied impatiently, "Just give me time, alright?"
"I'm very doubtful about that."
"What is there to doubt about, human?" Ho-oh asked inquisitively.
"Well, let's see. First, you made a very bad first impression by snatching me from Lugia and rambled about your hatred for humankind nonstop. Then you decide to use me as your personal servant to clean your bowels and gizzard as a way to validate those twisted beliefs, punishing me with electrical shocks should I disobey. And let's not forget the pleasure game."
"...Look human, I went a bit overboard with your treatment, alright?" the Pokemon relented, "My past experience with humans got the best of me. I promise you, there will be no more force-feeding or unreasonable questionnaires. I believe this is a perfect chance for us to start a new page. Wouldn't you agree, human?"
"Overboard? I think the better term would be nefarious. I find it rather difficult to believe that you're being honest here. And you've made no guarantee that you won't return to your arrogant and snarky ways once I helped get your Legendary status reinstated. What exactly do I have to gain from helping you if you're essentially unchanged?"
Ho-oh remained silent for a while to let your words sink in. It's a surprise that he hasn't figured out a smartass reply like he usually does. You heard him giving a frustrated sigh before speaking again.
"Listen here, human," Ho-oh said through clenched teeth, "You seriously need to stop being so distrustful. I'm trying my best to be nice here and that's some awfully hard work for someone who hated your guts not so long ago. Now, I believe that you and I can agree to one thing: we're in a situation we don't like. So let's face the matter we have at hand, shall we?"
"Not until you made it worth my time."
"Remember this, I can be nice but if you step out of line, don't blame me when you find yourself under my old wrathful side. Deal?"
"For the time being, yes."
"Good, I'll talk with you later when you reach your destination."
With that Ho-oh snorted and went on about his business, leaving you to make your next move. The Pokemon spread his multicolored wings and took off toward the sky at breakneck speed.
You gulped internally as you felt a slight lurch and the familiar feeling of lightness. There's no going back on this one. Ho-oh talking with some semblance of rationality isn't something you're used to yet. You could tell that he is holding back his tongue and hastily attempts to show that he's friendly. You'll give the Pokemon credit for that.
No use sitting here. Better get moving.
Climbing Ho-oh's meal wasn't bad if you are able to disregard crawling on all four up a mushy heap of leaves and flowers that's starting to ferment in the heat. You are less than a third way up and your shirt and pants are already covered in green juice and smelled of rotting hay. Your favorite shoes are in no better state. It took several falls and yelps before you reached the sphincter you wanted to use. You could hear Ho-oh snickering about your predicament as he glided idly through the clouds.
You mentally reminded yourself that you're asking Ho-oh to pay you for ruining your clothing.
After forcing it open, a rush of cool air blew past you, sending a shiver down your moist back. The tunnel above is little more than a shaft with rungs embedded in its fleshy walls. Climbing the steps is an arduous task and the churning and the groaning flesh all added a disconcerting feeling to this already narrow passage to a supposedly better location in the chest. Ho-oh's heartbeat is strong enough to send a powerful vibration through the entire shaft.
One exhausting and uncertain ascent later, you reached another sphincter which promptly opened and invited you in. You entered a small cavity about the size of a living room that is supported by several ivory-colored ribs. The entire floor is covered with soft translucent bumps that make it look like bubble wrappers. The see-through nature of the floor allows you to view Ho-oh's giant heart and his equally impressive pair of lungs doing their work to support this impressive Pokemon.
"Welcome to the all-new chest chamber," Ho-oh said, "I hope you'll find it more welcoming than my stomach, human."
After enjoying the view of the vital organs, you turned your attention to the chamber's other features. On one side is a raised rectangular mound covered with green and orange feathers. Upon closer look, there is a pouch-like depression large enough to fit you snugly. You sat on it and felt the softness and warmth. It's a big upgrade from the damp stomach you were accommodated at the last time.
A simple desk and chair set made of iron sit right next to the bed. On the desk was a familiar and unsettling piece of equipment: the locator watch. That strap was used by Ho-oh to deliver electric shocks and to track your location in his body. The mere sight of the device upsets you.
"Hey! I thought you promised that there's no coercing," you said angrily.
"Who told you I'm giving you the same thing?" Ho-oh asked amusedly, "I removed the shocker and added more helpful functions."
"And what are they?"
"The locator can still allow me to see your location. But you now have a 'privacy switch' that allows you to turn it off at any time you want. Be aware that visits to unauthorized places can still be detected."
"Okay, that addresses one concern."
"In return for staying with me, you'll receive an allowance of 50 tokens each week that can be spent on all sorts of amenities I can provide. Additional tokens can be earned by helping out around my body or improving my reputation. When you save enough, you have the opportunity to upgrade your room more to your liking."
"Sounds acceptable at least. And what does this yellow button on the side do? I don't remember seeing that before?"
"That is a new feature of the locator that you'll love. Remember the shocker function I removed from your locator? It is now installed in various parts of my body. That button activates those shockers. You can now use it to discipline me should I start being rude to you or other Pokemons. It'll remind me when I'm misbehaving. Heck, you can even shock me for little trivial things like I do. What I did to you was unjustified and it's only fair that I endure the same."
"That's one feature I'll definitely use!" You grinned as you strapped the locator to your wrist.
"Any places you would like to go to, human?"  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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