Oneiromancy Is The Loneliest Number (Thel)

It takes Thel a bit to intuit what Harmony's trying to say, but eventually he thinks he gets it, and giggles a bit. "No, Harmony. Humans don't quite work in that way. There's no top brass in our lives. I'd do things for her if she asked, yes, but she'd also do the same for me." He tries to think of a way to explain better. "Humans are more like… if one squad of Falinks were all one body. Each of us is our own squad... if that makes sense?" He doesn't know if it does, given he's only seen the one squad around, so never seen squads interact.

"...do you need some space, Patience?" Thel asks, gently. "It's no problem if you do, I know this is very unexpected. I'll just make breakfast in the kitchen instead if you want, and bring it back here to eat. Else I'll start making it now, so we can all eat before I head off to class."

"I'm sorry, Harmony," Thel says, laughing. "I don't explain things well at the best of times."

"There's no real rush," he says to Em, shaking his head and smiling. "I've already got the stuff that I'd normally do between breakfast and classes done, so I have plenty of time. I'd be honoured to meet your friends, and I can ask them what kinds of food they like for breakfast. And just see how much I have to make. I know that I haven't met Brave yet, did you make any other friends up there?" He's always eager to meet more friends. Friends make things in life worthwhile.

"Pleased to meet all of you," Thel says, giving them a curtsey. "From what I've heard, you've been wonderful to Em, and I can't thank you enough for that."

He in turn introduces each of his four Pokémon, and Patience, before beginning inquiries as to what each of them likes to eat. He knows Stoic likes salty, but takes the time to carefully and quietly figure out the preferences of the others.

"It sounds like you've become a strong Trainer, Em," Thel says, impressed. She definitely has an inner strength that wasn't there before. A surety of self and purpose. "I hope Claire's been letting you have some time to relax and everything, though. After all, all work and no play makes Em a tired girl," he teases. "You always need to have some time with those you care about."

"I'll be gone... most of the day," Thel admits. "As much as I would love to stay here with you, more than anything else. I'll see if I can make my way back here over lunch, between class and kitchen."

Seeing Bliss move towards them, he sighs internally. "Bliss," he says, with a quiet firmness that surprises even him, as he pulls away from Em - though still squeezes her hand. "Normally, I would be more than happy to try and work everything out. But I need to get Em, you, Patience, everyone on the same page of what's been happening in my life since I last saw her. And I need to do it now, to understand why I say that I have to go. So I would ask that we save this until later, and everyone sit and listen while I make breakfast. This is all important context to something vital that I need to talk to you all about. Okay?"

"I know that words are cheap, but... I promise you, flower, that this leads somewhere. So please, just humour me for now."

He turns back to Em, anxious, squeezing her hand again for support. Why can't the most difficult thing in life just be understanding Bliss? he thinks. I just want to be on the same page as her. But there's everything else on top of it...

I just want time with Em, without anything hanging over my head... Is that too much to ask the world?

"When you're done having a drink, Bliss," Thel asks, softly, "would you mind joining us to listen? It... would be best if all my friends heard all the parts. Thank you, I appreciate it."

Once Em, Patience, and all of his Pokémon that are willing gather around, he begins as he makes breakfast, occasionally pausing just to make sure nothing burns as it cooks.

And he begins to talk, starting after he left Em, and going up through until now, in rough chronological order. He only lightly touches on the school and classes; they aren't that important. The people get more time spent on them. Violet, Jazz, Ophelia, Mosa, Aliana and the other girls, Jasmine, Diva. Not all of them the same amount, but more than the school.

He goes over most of the events that he's had. The clashes with Diva, Patience becoming human, climbing the mountain with Violet, the gym leader meeting, Joy coming to try and adjust the unit. Helping cheer up Ophelia. But, most of all, he recalls the dreams and visions. The bird of rain. The blocks. Seeing himself as a Gardevoir, and the eyes all around. Darkrai and Cresellia. The paths of the future. N, the connections, and his necklace. Seeing the flower and turning into a Salazzle. Connecting with Patience and sharing her senses.

He glosses over some things, though. The personal conversations with Serenity and Bliss in his dreams, as well as everything regarding Patience's past and other confidences. Exactly what happened with Violet on the mountain because... frankly, it makes him a little uncomfortable to remember. But the main thing that he omits, at least for the time being, is the Dream of Lysander, or anything to do with the purpose of the flower. To Aliana and the others and why they want him. Him wearing Essentia. Or anything that Mable had said. Besides that, he tries to clarify as much as he can when asked.

After everything's done, and people are tucked into breakfast, he says in a low voice, after looking around to make sure none of the Gym Leaders or anyone were nearby. "Now... I have a little more to say, but... first I just need to ask a few things of you. Before I say anything," he says, anxiously, "I just... please, promise me that you won't tell anyone what I'm about to say. Not yet. Not Jasmine, or Morty, or Claire, or anyone..."

"And," he turns to his Pokémon, "I... I'd like to try and connect to you all. Like how I described happened in my dream. I was able to touch Chrysanthemum's emotions this morning. I'd like to be able to do that with you all, I-if you're comfortable." He's nervous, after what happened last time with Bliss. He doesn't want to hurt anyone like that again. "If not... that's okay. You don't have to."

To those that signal their agreement, he reaches out, to try and channel them.

"Thank you," Thel says, softly, feeling as if at least some weight is off his shoulders. They know his heart, and it's as open to them all as best he can.

"I told you about the group of girls that I met and hung out with," he says. "Aliana, Mable, Bryony and Celosia. How they wanted me to join their social circle. Well... there's more to it than that. They know that I was once a Pokémon. Were told that by Maxie, even." He exhales. It's out there. He pauses to let it sink in before continuing.

"They're not Magma, though. As far as I can tell, anyways. They don't care about taking me back. They just... wanted to examine me as a person, on someone named Lysander's orders. And... apparently I was deemed acceptable enough. Because, tomorrow, they will offer me a choice. A choice of which there are no good options."

"I saw this choice in a dream, first. The one dream that I didn't mention. They have a weapon. A flower, bigger than anything I've ever seen. One that can allow you to live forever, or that... his voice catches, "That can kill everyone in the world. And... they had already killed everyone once."

"Because that's the truth of this all. A man named Giovanni, he pulled Lysander, Magma, all of those people through something called Ultra Space. They came from other worlds. And he's not letting them back, so they're deciding to impose their desired will here. And... that's why I need to tell you this. So that... if something happens, the Gym leaders, all of them... can know."

He realizes he's started to cry, and takes a moment to wipe his eyes. "Because... I don't know what will happen tomorrow. I have to do whatever it takes to stop everyone from dying. But... it means I might not make it back. Even if I succeed, I might still die. I might get made immortal, and taken away, in order to try and guide humanity, or something. I... don't know what will happen."

"There's the matter, too, of Essentia. I mentioned that dream to you. Well... she is an actual thing. A suit that Aliana'd made, and offered to me. I wore it to fight Diva. It made me strong enough to beat her, but... I don't know what it means. There's something more, I'm sure. I fainted the first time I tried to use it, and Aliana, Celosia and Bryony seemed so worried when they thought I knew something. When I didn't, and it was just a bad feeling."

"And... that's why I have to go today. Why, even if this is my last day, I- I can't spend it with the people I love. Because I was warned, if I tell anyone, if there's any hint that I'm not playing along, that there's a threat to their plans... they'll activate the weapon. Everyone will die. I... I can't have that. I just can't. I can't risk anyone being suspicious."

He looks at his Pokémon in particular. "I... I couldn't ask any of you to come with me, either. Lysander. He has... well over three thousand years of experience. I... can't even think of that long. And two Pokémon strong enough to be called legends, on par with the one that's brought this unending rain. I know some of you feel that you owe me everything... but you don't. Not this. You might die, and I... I can't ask that of you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for dragging you all into this."

"I'm sorry. All of you..."

By the end of it all, he's emotionally exhausted. Tears are flowing freely, and he buries his face in Em's shoulder. Why has the world been like this? He just wanted quiet with the people he loves.

He takes a moment, just composing himself before he gets off of Em's shoulder, and turns to face his Pokémon.

"I..." he starts, pauses, and sighs. "If you would be willing to come with me, I would be more than happy to have you. I'm not wanting you to stay behind, I just... I couldn't ask that of you, to come to something like that. Because I know in many cases you'd put me above yourself. If you... are wanting to come, then, by all means."

"I don't think strength of arms will be what decides this. If it comes to that, there are too many, with too much experience." He shakes his head. "We'll have to find some other way. I don't know what that way is, but... I don't think it will be solved by bringing more to fight." He has some doubts, though. Didn't one of his dreams say that there would be no way out without fighting? There will almost surely be some, but... "I wouldn't want to bring any 'Mon from the school that I may have met only once to this. It's... not everyone may be coming back. I could never forgive myself if it was one of them." He gives Serenity some neckrubs, and smiles. The soft fur is comforting. "I appreciate the suggestion, though."

And then to the big matter. The crux of it all. What will he do today? It... could be his last day with them. He hopes it isn't, but there's that nagging worry. He had a good dream last night. What if today was the last chance for good?

"I..." he says at last, looking at Harmony, before glancing around to all the other faces, "I'll skip my Entertaining class today. I might get chewed out for it tonight, but... I want to spend time with you all. I've missed being able to do that. There's just been... so much going on." He sighs once more. "I'll have to go after lunch, though. I missed helping out with food preparations yesterday because I wasn't feeling well, and it's not fair to have all that extra work on others. And... I have to go and make dinner and entertain. If I don't, the people there won't have a meal. As much as I desperately want more time with you all... I can't break my commitments I made to help people. I'm sorry..."

Thel doesn't press the issue of Patience's disappearance, nor does he give into his curiosity and see from her eyes. There's clearly something up, but that will all happen in due time. It makes him happy to see her so eager and animated.

"I'm sorry, Em," he whispers, holding her, "that it won't be as long as either of us wanted. But... there is something. When I shared Patience's senses, there was... a bond forged. If you'll let me, I'll do that with you, too. It means that I can always follow it home to you. No matter how far, how long it might be... as long as we both hold on, we'll find each other someday. And I will make sure that that happens, even if it has to be in a dream."

He enjoys breakfast with Em, her Pokémon, and his. The assorted emotions just... buoy his spirits. It's just a general hum, a close feeling, that just gives him energy. He hopes that he'll be able to have many more days like this.

"I would never do something like this without your permission," Thel says, shaking his head, leaning gently against her. "It just... doesn't feel right to do that. Even if I feel you'll say yes."

"I'm... not sure what will happen, on my end," he admits. "I was laying down last time. So... might fall over, I don't know. But... it's fine," he laughs. "Worst case, we have a soft nest here."

Taking a deep breath, he attempts to center himself, before reaching out towards Em. The desire to see what she sees, to feel what she feels. To be one. Its a different type of connection to the ones with his Pokémon - purely senses, nothing of emotions - but it's a twinning of souls nonetheless.