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Post by DataNinja on Jul 20, 2020 21:38:55 GMT
"I forgive you..." she says, laying her head on his shoulder. "It was all my fault. I should have said things earlier..."
"Not to, uh, not to interrupt, but you said you hid away here..." Evelyn says, looking around. "Where is 'here' exactly?"
It's Solaris who answers this one. "We call this the Mirror Shore. It is another world, a safe world. One of the first worlds we found. The beach and the ocean both go on for an unknowable distance. We have found nothing living here, besides us. The sand just... fills in if you try and dig down, and the ocean just... brings thing in, just to have them appear on the shores just out of anyone's sight. But there is an unusual property to it." She grabs a smooth white stone from the beach, and gently tosses it into the mirrored surface.
A single ripple emanates from the entry point of the rock, and it shows a peaceful river glen, with people on a picnic. An unusual purple deerlike creature - a Pokémon, perhaps? - bounds through the meadow, and the people admire it and laugh soundlessly, before the image fades away.
"We know not whether these are imagined, or other places, or things that have happened or are yet to happen, or all of them at once. We have never seen the same thing twice. Some are mundane, some are fantastical. It is a mystery."
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Post by Robot on Jul 20, 2020 21:45:19 GMT
"None of that now, you've cried enough." Theodore rests his forehead against hers and takes a deep breath. "You said you had some truth for us, that might change our minds. About why all of this was worthwhile, and not a dangerous experiment that is infringing on, and risking lives." He turned towards the man who had, so far, been amicable to their presence. "What help could you need from us, with everything else in place?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 20, 2020 23:55:46 GMT
"Take a seat," Zach says, gesturing to the sand, and making a motion to do so himself. "This is a bit of a long story, and it is not entirely mine to tell. Will you help me in this?" He glances at Solaris, who sighs and nods, taking a seat of her own.
"The story begins about twenty-five years ago," he begins. "With a meteor heading towards the planet. The Delta Incident. The specifics are not important, but the relevant part here is that one of the proposed solutions was to shunt it into another dimension. That... did not come to pass, the research was destroyed, and it was deemed too irresponsible. Orion worked on that project, and he argued vehemently against the discontinuation, eventually leaving Mossdeep Science altogether."
There's a gasp from Ruby. "That's where I know him from. He's older and grew a beard, so I didn't recognise him at first, but Dad had a picture of the crew that worked on the Delta Project. He never told me what it turned out to be, exactly, just that it was important... but I learned and idolized those people. Nathaniel Harrison. ...that just makes me angrier now, that someone who would work with my dad would do... this!" She fumes.
"Ah, yes, that was his name. He's insisted on going by Orion for so long in some... imagination of grandeur or something, I'd honestly forgotten. Try to interact with him as little as I can, frankly. But... anyways, when he left Mossdeep Science, he snuck out the dimensional data that he could recover."
"Now, nothing came of that right away. Let me shift to almost two decades ago, where I come in. I think it was around seventeen or nineteen or something years ago. I can't remember. Anyways, I was a bit of a washed up person, fresh out of school, no idea what he wanted to do. So, he did what any responsible person would do, and decided to travel the world, because surely that would help him find something. I got as far as my first destination, Alola. Fun place, got into a few parties. Nothing practical, really. But, one night at a bar, some Aether Foundation scientists decided it was a good night to party for some achievement or other, and dragged everyone along. That's where I, quite literally, stumbled upon Julia Walker."
"Anyways, long story short, I gave her an excuse to get out of there, we talked a bit, she offered me a job as an assistant to basically just handle anything she deemed annoying - which was most things - and all was well. I owe her for that at least. Anyways, turns out she was in contact with Orion. They'd started talking, like, a year before. See, Aether had been working on dimensional breach research, too, in one of its divisions, due to odd happenings around Alola periodically. But Julia figured they were thinking too small. What ended up happening was she orchestrated a theft and deletion of all the data regarding that project. It was a disaster for Aether, huge news given how big they were." Kai knows of the event he's speaking of. It was before he could remember, but the Aether Paradise shutdown was a huge story that still had rumours about it, and conspiracy theories.
"Anyways, given how I ended up implicated... I kinda had to flee with her. Lorana came, too, I guess she was working with Julia at the time as well. We left to Hoenn, to meet up with Orion. And that's how I ended up here. Really, I didn't care too much, since... still paid, and I didn't have to do too much work besides keep things maintained and people out of peoples' hair. That was the state of affairs for, like... four or five years. That's when the breakthroughs happened. The combined knowledge of Mossdeep and Aether allowed for doors to be opened into other worlds. Required a decent amount of energy to breach in, but manageable."
"Then came the incident, where everything changed. It was a breach, like any other. Except... this time there wasn't just Pokémon. There were people, too. Humans. Strange humans, but... humans nonetheless. It was surreal, really. We all split up for a bit, I mostly just... took in the sights, and then we came back. Except, when we closed it, we weren't the only ones. Two young girls, about... five and eleven?" He looks to Solaris. "Four and eleven." "Ah, yes, that. They had been playing on the other side. You want to take this from here?"
"Very well. This is... well, where we enter the picture. I come from another world. My sister does, too." Ayah's face is a look of pure shock at this news. "While we were playing as youngsters, she stumbled upon the gate, unattended. I followed. It was... a strange world. But when we went back to go home... it wasn't there. There were three unfamiliar people. They weren't able to send us back - apparently us being here messed up the harmonic frequencies. A lot more energy was needed to punch back. And nobody had any idea of how to get it."
"So... well, we grew up here. Ayah didn't remember anything of home, so... well, this was our family now. I never gave up hope for returning home, seeing our parents again... but it was more important that she grew up happy, and I did things to the best of my abilities to make sure she was as happy as she could be."
"Many things were tried over the years... but the plates, they were the only thing that worked. Worked beyond anyone's wildest dreams. We're so close to going home now. All we need is a bit more time. We have the energy needed. I don't care about Orion and Julia. Their plan of 'evolving' humans. And I know that's why they want our world, that connection. Because there, we have to bond with Pokémon to survive, where our souls become one. It's safe, far safer than the Plates here. But that is the other part of the plan. To find strong Pokémon in other dimensions, and to bond humans with them. To push even further beyond."
"The universe is a scary place," Zach adds. "These Pokémon that we carry with us? These things Aether dubbed 'Ultra Beasts'? They are literally nothing in the worlds that they live in. They are the insignificant bugs. We have seen things. Things beyond comprehension... where our only hope is to stay in the shallows and not be noticed."
"Anyways... that is why I must insist that you allow this to go through. Even if you must stop Orion, and get him to reconsider his ideology of evolving and spreading... I want to go home. It's been too long... I want to see my parents again. Let them know that we still live..." The words sound more like those of the scared eleven year old than anything else.
Ayah's shock finally breaks, and she whispers "Why... why didn't you tell me this?" She starts crying again. "Why didn't you tell me this? I trusted you!"
"To protect you..." Solaris says, tears in her own eyes. "In case we could never go home again. Then you could live happy. Never pining for something you never knew. And I would just be your sister. Hate me if you want. I know I lied to you. I did it because I feared we would fail..." She sighs. "Ayah Gaius Astrid na Keaton Mossdeep Vulpix. That is your heritage. Accept it or reject it as you choose. I can... teach you more later. If you are willing to forgive my transgressions. If not... I understand."
Ayah's just shaking, clinging to Theo, staring up at him, apparently cried out.
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Post by Robot on Jul 21, 2020 0:14:40 GMT
"Ayah, it's a truth, and a hurtful truth, but it doesn't change anything." Theodore held her firmly, brushing a thumb along her cheek and keeping eye contact. "Solaris cares about you, can't say it's the first time I've heard of someone having something done 'for their own good' and they turned sour over it." It was a lot to process, that Ayah was some kind of extra-dimensional alien.
"So this whole thing was just a push to assuage homesickness." The boy let out an irritable sigh. "I'd say I'm more peeved about it now then I was when I thought it was just the forced evolution of humanity... but, it's been done." A pause. "If'n it's a one way door, won't going through it the wrong way break the hinges? And where do we find Orion to stop him?"
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Post by seraphflonne on Jul 21, 2020 18:50:06 GMT
"So, I wanna check something though. Does Orion's plan actually mean danger and instability for everyone now? Or is the threat here just... the attention it may garner?" The islander focuses on this, because now they seem fine with them stopping the plan, all of a sudden. It just didn't sit well with him... though his gut is almost always wrong. His face is twisted in more than a bit of confusion.
"It just seems weird, though yeah the Aether stuff adds up. There was loads of stuff going on then, my Mom even mentioned Pokemon experiments once, something about it being a big deal in the studies of Pokemon, even if it was wrong" Kai pauses for a moment, looking up at Zach, before continuing. "But you just sitting here and seeming fine with this, just doesn't add up to me"
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 21, 2020 19:07:55 GMT
"Please don't call me Solaris," the girl says. "You aren't that close to me. It's Maya."
"I know... I know... she was doing what she thought best. It's just... a lot to take in. Things have changed so much over the last few days..." Ayah says, quietly. "Thank you for being here for me. All of you, but especially you, Theo..."
"The use of the plates... in theory should be done," Zach says. "But... he's definitely had his sights set on something probably too high. He believes that he'll have to push people to accept this, that we'll just stay in our boxes otherwise, in order to have the strength to branch out. So... I imagine that they will continue to be used. Which is... decidedly less than good, given how they seem to bring out the worst in people." He sighs. "To be honest, I would have left this years ago if it wasn't for these two. I was party to them being stuck here, and I sure wasn't going to leave them to be tormented by Lorana. But there are definitely delusions of grandeur here."
"I don't know what you mean by one-way door," Maya says. "Once it's established, so long as it stays up, there's easy transit. And as long as neither Ayah nor I stay on this side, there should be no resonance issues causing difficulty in opening it up again, should relations between the worlds be something that's desired to pursue. I, frankly, do not care. They have what we need to go home. Whatever they plan to do otherwise, it is not our problem. You can do whatever."
"I can tell you where Orion is, yes," Zach says, "But I will not do it today. You're not exactly entirely in peak condition. Especially your friend there who was hit rather hard," he gestures to Kai. "What I propose is that you rest today. And then tomorrow I take you into one of the other worlds. At the very least, testing your mettle against what's there. But maybe, you might be able to capture and befriend one, and have a powerful ally."
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Post by seraphflonne on Jul 21, 2020 19:18:08 GMT
"Hm, alright. I mean it's true I need to rest up a bit... but I'm not gonna lie, I really wanna try and catch one of those weird Pokemon." The islander lets out a sigh, looking a little sheepish at that. He blamed his mom for his desires to catch and see all new Pokemon.
"Besides, It's not like we're in a big rush... and hey, You get to spend time with Ayah!" It's directed at the rest of his group, but is focused on Theo.
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Post by Robot on Jul 21, 2020 19:19:25 GMT
"... Maya, do you really think Ayah will want to leave behind everything she has ever known to go to a strange place with you?". Theo pressed. "Away from her friends, and the remainder of the family that raised her? I don't think things will be so simple and clear cut. If the portal wouldn't open under normal pressure with you on this side, putting more power into it is likely to break something. Y'all are fidgeting with stuff you don't fully understand no matter which way you spin it."
Giving Ayah one more squeeze, he gently eased his hold should she want to step away. "Haven't we proven ourselves enough, that we shouldn't need further trials? I am all for new Pokemon and adventures.... But it hardly feels like th'right time."
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 21, 2020 19:46:15 GMT
The white-haired girl opens her mouth to respond, and then closes it again. She holds silence for a moment, her eyes closed. "I... I don't know." She looks at Ayah. "I don't expect you to know how you feel today. I'll leave you be, to sort out how you feel, without fear of judgement. If you want to ask me anything, or even if you want to yell at me, I'll be in my room. Whatever you choose... I'll always love you. But I understand if you don't feel the same way." With that, she heads back for the hole leading to the house.
"You've proven yourself against things of this world, yes," Zach says, "And even some things from others. But... truth be told, I don't know everything that's been going on with the others. Lorana became Julia's favoured errand girl, and Orion seems to be having more and more grandiose designs. I don't know what he's got her cooking up. It frightens me. It's obvious that there is... greater good at play here. Which is not particularly good for anyone who happens to be affected by the problems. Though the portal itself should be safe, years have been spent fine-tuning things, apparently. But, if you don't want to venture forth beforehand, that's fine. I still insist that you rest, though. I promise that no harm will come to you."
Ayah reaches over to get the plush from in the backpack Theo has, and holds it close to her chest. "I don't know how to feel. I... I've always wanted to be able to meet my parents. Knowing that they're alive is... it makes things hard. I don't know what to think, what to do, what to feel... I'm not even who I thought I was... not entirely."
"We're here for you," Evelyn says, smiling. "You've got support, no matter where you came from, you'll always be our friend."
"I'll leave you guys to this if you've got nothing else for me," Zach says. "Group of emotional teens probably doesn't want a thirty-something year old hovering over their hugging time." He does wait to see if anyone has anything more.
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Post by Robot on Jul 21, 2020 20:33:31 GMT
"Ayah, you are still Ayah whether you are half Pokemon, or some kind of fairytale princess, or... One of whatever that thing is.". Theo gestured to the star spotted jellyfish hovering nearby.
"I don't know that there is any way for you to have that visit without saying goodbye to somebody. Your parents won't want to ever let you outta their sight again. Definitely not through the same portal that took you away fer fifteen some years.". Theodore comforted her as best he could.
"I think... Given the opportunity to meet my Pa now... I'd probably pass. Spent so long measuring myself to a standard in my head... That anything less would be a disappointment. Truth was, he wasn't round. Ain't the same thing fer you though.
Brushing his fingers through her hair the boy relaxed. "Kai if you want to go looking for these weird Pokemon, I'll come along. We're a team after all."
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 22, 2020 1:45:20 GMT
The jellyfish in question crosses its front two tentacles like arms, making an indignant 'hmph' noise. Ayah giggles at that. "Crystal was a gift from my sister. She'd brought her back a bit ago from one of their adventures, while we were out doing the Gyms, and finally got to let me meet her the other day. Still haven't figured her out yet. Besides sarcastic."
She sighs. "You're probably right about meeting my parents probably going to cause more pain one way or the other. But... I don't know. I just want to see them. Even if I don't actually approach them. It's probably silly, though. It's... it's not where my life is. But I know my sister wants to go back. I... I don't know if I could go without seeing her ever again."
"I should probably talk to her today..." she says, leaning more into Theo's shoulder. "Before it gets too awkward. ...maybe tomorrow. I feel like if I see her today, it'll just make me angry again. I should probably just sleep on it."
Something seems to strike her, and she raises her head and looks at Theo, squinting. "Really, you think half? ...I really should ask Solaris about that. If it's half, I feel like that'd feel weird to kiss or anything." She flushes.
"If it's any consolation," Evelyn says, sarcastically, "you don't look like a fox at all. I think I'd've noticed."
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Post by Robot on Jul 22, 2020 9:11:13 GMT
"Giving it some time to cool is probably for the best.". He agreed, resting his forehead against Ayah's. "Dunno if it's half of not, your sister got to talking about soulbondin and whatsits.". A playful smile crept onto his face.
"That is an awful specific concern, did you want me to put it to rest? I don't mind."
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 22, 2020 9:23:20 GMT
"I mean, if you want," Ayah says, lightly laughing. "You don't get to complain if it turns out to be weird after."
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Post by seraphflonne on Jul 22, 2020 21:04:09 GMT
Kai let's out a snort, shaking his head at the two lovebirds in the room. "I'm pretty into the thought of catching one, but I can let you have some privacy til tomorrow. I should probs head up and see about getting medical attention or something. I can move, but it certainly isn't pleasant."
He gives a grunt as he urns and walks off, intending to go back where they entered.
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 22, 2020 23:21:33 GMT
"You mentioned, Kai, knowing about Aether whatever," Evelyn says, as she and Ruby accompany Kai out of the room. "What exactly are they. Obviously the dimensional portals research wasn't common knowledge, or anything... so what did they do? You mentioned something about Pokémon experiments? Like... testing their limits, or something?"
"...actually, come to think of it, I think I do remember reading up on them trying to break into the Porygon market at one point, maybe trying to expand it to a wider range of synthetics. I ended up going with a tried and true Silph Co., but... that could be it, doing tests to try and make a Porygon that could do different things." Ruby muses, but shrugs.
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Post by Robot on Jul 23, 2020 1:20:19 GMT
Once they were (mostly) alone, Theodore leaned in and kissed Ayah tenderly, a hand lightly cupping against the back of her neck. Closing his eyes, he let it last as long as felt natural, before slowly pulling away. "I guess it might have felt a little weird, we could always double check later. I didn't notice any fur though, so you're probably in the clear." A big, goofy grin split his face.
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 23, 2020 6:15:32 GMT
She laughs, doubly so as Snowdrop chitters. The fox seems to be trying to ask Theo 'what's wrong with fur?' "I don't mind double-checking, though," Ayah says, busying herself with twirling hair around a finger.
Once the silence becomes awkward, she asks, "Uh... so. What now?" It's not clear whether she means about immediate activities, or something else.
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Post by Robot on Jul 23, 2020 10:48:38 GMT
"How about something chocolate, doesn't have to be here if you don't want it to be. Well, not here here regardless.". Theo gestured at the lake. "You can show me your room, maybe tell me about your adopted family? Did... You know the whole plate things was about going home all along?"
His tone was tender, concerned. "I.. want to be clear, whatever you decide, however long we end up being apart. I love you. Don't make your choice for me, make it for you."
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Post by DataNinja on Jul 23, 2020 18:16:28 GMT
"I, uh... I ate too much of that yesterday," Ayah admits, sheepish. "Kinda my coping mechanism, and I... ate too much. If you're hungry, though, can head up to the kitchen. I'm sure we have something there, though."
She shakes her head. "No... I had no idea. I didn't even know there was a home. I just... I just thought it was about making things better for people. Unlocking their potential, being able to explore beyond our world. It... it always sounded amazing, just being able to see what lies beyond. Exploring, going where nobody had gone before."
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Post by Robot on Jul 24, 2020 8:53:44 GMT
"I'm good on the food, I think. We took on the gym earlier, and I am still going on the adrenaline.". The boy gave her a broad smile. "Give me the tour? We can just recover from all the upset and breathe together for the evening. You have a wonderful lawn, one of the most exciting I think I had ever seen, it makes my heart flutter."
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