Forum Thread

Afton blushed and snapped his fingers. Everything went back to how it was. "I... Better disable my magic.... Its causing the time streams to collide... Again."

"Afton. You only do that when Henry's resurrecting or you're nervous. S'up?"

"Nothing." Afton waved his hand and generated a cookie. "That's a lucky cookie, Jack. Look after it and use it when you need luck on your side. For me, no more magic for a while."

"Afton? You look like your going to kill yourself from depression."

"I'm not depressed. I just.... Don't want to hurt you guys...."

---

Anger, fear, the smell of old growth forests and the petrichor that lingered after the first rains, a diurge of the foolish and the salvation that arrived on earthen bowls of destruction. Flinching away from a cold nose that gently nudged him, Setchi shied away from the giant deer like monster that had approached him. "Lord Ruinator..." He whimpered as the unfamiliar title slipped from trembling tongue, cowering as he faced the full brunt of a ledgendary's almighty presence. "Surely you couldn't possibly mean that you've chosen... Me as your emissary." A strangled laugh wormed out of his mouth as he looked away with pursed lips. He wanted out. He didn’t want to be here any longer than he needed to. He felt much too trapped as an unknown creature bracketed him with it’s indomitable presence, breath coming out in short bursts of panicky staccato hiccups.

"I don't want to die again." He whispered, backing away from Ting-lu, looking almost apologetic. "I won't be used again. I won't be another pawn for a game that I don't understand." A low mournful bray rumbled deep in the creature's chest as Ting-lu leaned forward to gently butt heads with its chosen companion, only narrowly missing when Setchi froze up on instinct. A creature as large as the Ruinator only brought memories of Heartless that used to bully him both when he welded the Light as an extension of his own heart as well as when Darkness had replaced the heartbreak with virtuous wrath. Neither memory particularly left anything but bitterness on his tongue, the emotions that clouded his experiences leaving nothing but old scars unremembered

Setchi couldn't quite catch the emotions that danced across the giant's empty eyes but the rumbling voice that seemed to speak directly into his mind certainly had him paying attention. "Listen well, young warrior. I am not Ira, nor am I Envi. I am Ting-lu, a creature of ruin and god of none. Be my proxy and only you will be under my care. Do not doubt my protection, those who would dare take what is mine will face ruination."

---

Imputing his hallucinatory data into the database, Sho pushed away from his computer. While he logically knew that the hallucination of Jirachi was a fabrication image his mind had conjured up as a side effect, he still stepped around the illusion to be courteous. Nearby, the printer whirred as it spat out sheaf after sheaf of paper that Sho would have to hand into management , a tedious but no less important aspect of being an dubiously ethical scientist. Some of it contained data on the experiments he himself had conducted on himself and others while others were of data pertaining to his own vitals. While it was possible to just hand them in via email or other electronic means, Sho just preferred the old fashioned way. Technolog Was confusing as it was already and the trip to and from other offices would do some good for his physical health. Gossip as well, could always prove useful as long as one kept their ear to the ground.

---

Jirachi immediately snatched up the papers, knowing that the information regarding its presence was incorrect and didn't actually occur with the test the poor soul was going through. It spoke again, "Grand Hero, I am not a figment of your mind! I'm here to help you and the world! We have to hurry!" Jirachi flitted about, just out of reach to keep the papers away from Sho.


Bump-bump... Bump-bump... Bump-bump... Error was now on the chimera like Legendary's back as the creature bounced about, almost childlike. It brought a smile to her face and a clicking to escape her, as if she was giggling.


Jet's eyes widened in surprise. The god spoke her name! "Y-yes, great one. I am Jet..." The colt chuckled. "No need to be so formal. My name is Keldeo."

Raising an eyebrow at the antics, Sho wasn’t sure what to think. Considering that it had interacted with a object that he knew was real and not illusion, it did prove that this legendary was indeed a real physical creature. But then again, talking about saving the world was almost so far fetched that he was willing to just go get himself checked out by a third party. Psychology wasn’t exactly the area of study that any of his co-workers engaged in considering that they were more interested in the bio-chemistry side of science but he presumed that some people would at least be able to tell him if he was going crazy or not.

Though, now that he thought about it, he was pretty sure anyone would leap at the chance to call him crazy. He wasn’t exactly well liked by his peers for stealing all the live test subjects.

What an impasse he had found himself stuck in. His options were also limited as he was quite sure that The Eyes already knew what was transpiring. After all, there was nothing that their boss didn’t know. But as The Heart, he was impulsive. He wanted what he did and took it without remorse or thought for others. And at this moment, well his desire was to study this anomaly just a bit more. Reaching out, he gently grabbed one of the silk tassels, running his fingers over the soft cloth. It certainly felt like satin velvet, textured yet smooth as he released the appendage to hum over it. Physical touch could also be a part of it, he would need a second pair of eyes. Turning around, he strode out of his office with a purpose to see if any of his co-workers would entertain the mad ramblings of a deranged test subject

---

"...No, Zaria and I met way before either of us joined.... wait."

He paused.

"...You're trying to dig for information about Zaria from me by asking questions about my past."

Magnus huffed, putting his hands in his pockets.

"...can't believe I fell for that."

---

Clara smiled as the small floating Pokémon, Victini. It seemed full of energy and happy to be with her. "Hi, I'm Clara, and you're Victini, right?" She held out her hand for Victini to shake. Victini started to giggle, flying up and down with excitement "Yes, I'm so excited!! I can't wait to have cute adventures with you, you seem very cool and well, I like you" it bowed at Clara and Clara bowed back.

"I still cannot believe it..." Sampo muttered to himself "So... I got forgiven? And... chosen? As a hero!?" Suddenly, he felt a presence of a giant shadow. It jolted out of its bush and went to hug Sampo tightly. Sampo's face was red, as red as an apple. "Oh hhaha hi, I'm Sampo Koski, nice to meet you~" He stuttered, before looking at the Pokémon: It was a red lizard-like Pokémon with lots of multi-colored feathers and it looked very regal. "Hello Koski, I'm Koraidon, I'm pleased to serve you and help you" It replied "Just call me Sampo it's fine." Sampo corrected. "Alright," The two bowed to each other. Sampo with his signature bow, of course.

The Zacian nudged Afton with it's muzzle.

"Mr Afton? Are you having trouble expressing feelings for Mr Kennedy?"

".... Nope......"

"May I ask what appears to be troubling you?"

"You saw that Glitch. It's caused by my evil 'father'. He's trying to ressurect through..... Me."

---

Koraidon released Sampo for a moment. Sampo was trying to get a grip on what it liked. "What things do you like, Koraidon?"

"Not going to tell you hehe"

"I'll just have to find it by myself then." He took a pile and money and showed it to Koraidon, who said "It's good for humans but not Pokemon."

"Mr Afton. May I suggest something?"

"Go ahead, Sport."

"You don't give up magic. Keep it, but use it when you need to."

"Did you read my mind...?"

---

"...No?" Rai fixed him with a wide-eyed and innocent look. But she could only maintain it for a moment, before breaking into a smile. "Okay. Maybe just a little bit. But I'm curious, y'know? I know she'd probably tell me if I asked point blank, but I don't like to pry. But I'm curious about your past for you, not Zaria."

"And you didn't fall for anything. If I wanted to gaslight you, you would have absolutely no idea until I had everything I wanted from you." Her tone was slightly more ominous this time, turning back to serious.

---

"...you scare me slightly."

Magnus laughed quietly.

"...Do you really want to know? About my past?"

---

"My dear Magnus, the one thing you'll learn quickly about me is that I don't mince words. I'm asking because I want to know." She smiled slightly wolfishly, continuing to walk aside him charmingly.

~~~

Buried in his work, Quentin was scrawling in his notebook. He was trying to balance the chemical reaction for the introduction of sulfur, one of the six organic elements. It was the fourth of five aspects he needed to introduce before the Adenine replacement. He sipped his coffee, absentmindedly. Maybe the witch wasn't so bad.

---

Araceli finished everything for tonight. Compounds complete, sealed and fastened... and, in case someone outside smelled her tranquilizing scent, she filled it into a little perfume bottle. Almost done... wait. She went through her pockets. "... bother, I think I left my card upstairs." Miss Chavarria sends out another Pokémon, her Honchkrow, and tasked it with guarding the place. He tipped his "hat" in agreement.
With that safety measure done, the witch put on a spritz of her eau d'pain and went on her way back to the vending machines. It was always a long way up... but at least she got to see the upper laboratory.

---

"...first, I'm an orphan. I grew up on the streets of Castellia..."

Magnus sighed.

"And that's where I met Zaria."

---

Oh crap.

That was Rai's first thought. Magnus had grown up in Castelia City. That was in Unova. She had grown up in Unova. She had wiped the gym leaders and beaten the Elite Four in record time. "The Electrocutioner" had become a household name. Which meant Magnus might have heard the rumors. Yet she kept her face impassive, much better than before

"Castelia City. I've been there a few times. Doesn't seem like an easy place to grow up alone."

---

"...we had a grudging respect for each other, I guess. We were both first academically in our respective schools... and we met a few times, here and there."

Magnus sighed quietly.

"... and then, we both joined Team Plasma. I never liked Ghetsis. He was shady and creepy, no matter how good his sopeeches were. But I'm pretty sure Zaria saw him as... a father figure... I'm pretty sure that's where my respect for her disappeared. A few things happened... I got a few charges of murder, and I left Plasma."

---

Rai nodded, trying to understand the story. But she couldn't help but doubt Magnus's interpretation of Zaria's motives.

"That makes sense. I bet you needed to fight each day. Yet I kinda feel as if... you're telling me the shorthand version." It was impossible to get a single grain of information. He was too frustrating. But of course, none of said frustration made itself known on Rai's face.

---

"...i don't know her side of the story. But i don't really want to know. She's too much trouble."

Magnus fidgeted with the buttons of his coat.

"That's my version of the story. All there is to it. My life's been pretty uneventful."

---

”Well if Zaria Burns is your definition of trouble, you might want ot run away now. I'm far more dangerous than she is, Magnus." She smiled. "And I think you're more interesting than you think. Perhaps even more interesting than you know."

---

"...I'm an insomniac amateur musician with a medical degree and a case of depression. What exactly is 'interesting' about me?"

Magnus eyed her suspiciously.

"...i never said dangerous. I said troublesome. You might be dangerous, but you don't seem like you'd cause me a headache."

---