When the sun rose on the next morning, Dadga found himself feeling incredibly refreshed. With his mind set on accepting his heritage, and his body well rested, he found himself feeling incredibly chipper. He looked down to his chest, where the necklace he'd worn every day of his life was. It's not that he didn't want to wear it, but he knew wearing it held him back.
He sighed, deciding to leave it alone to think about it. He wondered where everyone was, as he found himself rather alone. He did notice people clamoring about one of the buildings, which looked rather finished. He headed over to check it out, wondering exactly what the fuss was about.
He noticed many of the faces in the crowd. Pops, Allister, his Pokemon, besides Marko, and even the children. He noticed Mr. Felix standing in front of the building, and at his side were two people, who looked to be in their early twenties or so. He found the pairing of them rather weird as well.
He watched Mr. Felix spread his arm out wide, a cheshire grin that was more welcoming than mischievous on his features. "I thank you all for coming, and for your hard work. We of the Laverre Theater Company are glad to see this place grow to be a proper haven for Halflings in this vile, nether realm of a region. We are happy to announce the grand opening of a Theatre right here in the Glimmer, for all of you to enjoy performances and even enroll." he said, and Dagda found this rather surprising.
"There will be no charge for any of the services we offer here, as this is all done for the culture of Galarian Halflings. We hope to help you all lead long, fulfilling lives full of smiles and laughs. And if your dream is to be on stage, we wish to help you make your dreams a reality." he said, a round of applause ringing out.
"He's quite the grandiose one." he heard, turning to his side to see a man in oddly formal attire, his odd colored skin and long tail letting Dagda know he was a Halfling. The man looked to him. "You are the one I've heard so much about, aren't you? That Fairy Demon child." he asked, and Dagda nodded slowly. Who was this man?
He seemed to stare, as if trying to peer into Dagda's soul itself. "How is being a Halfling treating you? I trust that your senses are… refined?" he asked, and Dagda blinked before shaking his head. "If you mean 'better than a human', than no, my senses are all the same." he said, and the man shook his head and sighed. "It's too bad. As long as you allow yourself to be shackled to human senses, you'll never understand anything I say." he said, walking off without another word. Dagda wondered who that was, and why he was so weird.
He soon ran into Allister, who he noticed always had Petey with him. Dagda smiled, looking to his aquatic friend. "You really like Allister, don't you?" he asked, and Petey nodded. Dagda reached down to the necklace, inhaling deeply as he finally took it off.
"You seem to be much more comfortable around Allister than around me. Is everything alright, Petey?" he asked, and Petey swayed, as if hesitant to answer. "I… I wish to remain still. I am a lake, and I can not move and flow as you, an ocean." he said, and Dagda smiled.
It was such a blessing to be able to hear Petey's saint like voice. He couldn't believe it, and he realized that he could finally understand what the Dracovish was saying, and exactly what went through his massive grey head. "So what do you want to do?" he asked, and Petey blinked.
He was surprised that his partner could understand him. He opened his mouth and smiled, and Dagda reached up to him, running a hand along his jaw, as if he was petting a dragon. Dagda felt immensely happy, and he could think much clearer now. It was as if he had evolved like a Pokemon, just by accepting who he was.
"If you want to stay with Allister when I head for the next gym, you can." he said, and Petey looked to his trainer, his brother and friend, and nodded. "Just remain strong. When it comes time for my Champion Cup matches, I want a variety of Pokemon, including you. You're one of my first and strongest. We will always be partners." he said.
Dagda looked down to Allister, who couldn't help but be left speechless. Just by removing a single accessory from his body, the necklace dangling in his hand, Dagda changed. He became an evolved being, a creature that Allister could barely comprehend.
"I hope you take good care of him, Little Brother." he said, and Allister nodded, completely taken aback by Dagda's incredible shift in attitude. He watched Dagda move on, and couldn't help but wonder who or what convinced him to accept his heritage. It was incredible.
Mr. Felix noticed it as well. Dagda stuck out like a sore thumb, his changed attitude something that an experienced actor like him couldn't help but pick out unconsciously. "So, it was the necklace, huh?" he asked, and Dagda nodded as he approached.
"I just can't figure out what to do with it." he said, looking at the item as it dangled in his hand. Mr. Felix looked to it before closing his eyes. He hated things like this. It was more the Ogre's speed. "It IS magickally enchanted flesh. You could always… eat it."
Dagda looked to Felix with a rather surprised face. He'd worn the artifact every day of his life, and he'd never once considered eating it. "Really?" he asked, and Felix rolled his eyes. "It was a suggestion. The thing could probably increase your power if you consumed it in some fashion. On top of the fact that the seal or barrier around your natural Halfling abilities would no longer exist." he said, and Dagda looked to it, humming.
"It wouldn't be a drastic thing, you know. I assume that your moments of Halfling clarity, where you could hear your Pokemon's voices, are likely because you're almost as strong as your father was. If your power surpasses his, I assume it'll just be a decoration. But if you take in it's power..." he trailed off, leaving it up to Dagda's mind.
"Would I be able to handle it?" he asked, and Mr. Felix narrowed his eyes slightly. What exactly happened to him? He seemed much more willing to accept his heritage and almost treated it like something he was always aware of. "Of course. You might act a little different as you adjust, but it wouldn't turn you into a savage beast or a rampaging monster or anything." he said, and Dagda nodded, looking to it as he walked off without another word.
"He's starting to get it." Felix said, glancing to Pops, who nodded with his arms folded. "We need him to. If he can use his power as both a Dark and a Fairy type Halfling, he should be able to impose his will over the region. We want to do this peacefully, and he's our best bet." he said, and Felix nodded. He hoped that they were right. Knowledge and Power combined can changed someone for the worse. Dagda would become a major problem if their plans went awry.
Dagda sat alone again, and wondered exactly what he should do with the necklace. Should he really find some way to take it's power in, or should he just hope that he one day grows stronger than the spell cast over it? He tried to think about various scenarios, weighing his options.
Firstly, he thought about raw power. If he could grow powerful, like the kind of person or Pokemon that could achieve great feats of strength and speed, he'd never have to worry about his safety, or the safety of those he cared about. He scratched his head, sighing.
"I see that you are deep in thought, mine brother." Dagda heard, blinking as he turned to see Marko approaching him. He narrowed his eyes. Something was… different about him. He seemed slightly larger, both in height and weight, and his fur seemed almost… metallic, as if it shone like brand new chrome.
He looked to Marko's hands, seeing that the fingers were all completely coated in metal, all the way down to the knuckle, and that he had sharp, slightly hooked claws. He could see a renewed vigor in his brother's eyes, and Dagda couldn't help but smile.
"I see you got all patched up." he said, and Marko nodded. "Verily. A smith appeared to me like an emissary of the Gods if not a God itself. He told me that with this, a true warrior's physique, that I'd be able to strike down anyone without fail." he said, and Dagda began to laugh.
"Sounds like someone came to you as well." he said, and Marko hesitated. That wasn't a flat statement. That was a reply. Had his brother gained the ability to understand him? He beamed, his sharp toothed grin and white eyes locked on his brother. "Indeed! I feel as if I have all nine of my lives restored!" he said, the duo sharing a hearty laugh.
With Petey now in tow, Allister found himself enjoying his day. He spent time with his Pokemon, who were brought to him from Stow on Side thanks to Hresvelgr. He also spent some time with his good friend Miko, who reminded him that his confidence is something that he shouldn't let stay behind a mask.
He also spoke to Felix. The Halfling, whose species Allister couldn't figure out for the life of him, was rather hospitable, and Allister found that rather surprising. He seemed like the type of person to be truly evil in private, something that would contrast his positive facade as an actor.
It wasn't until almost sunset that Allister noticed something rather odd. He hadn't seen much of the children today, wondering if they were cooped up inside, as it was a little chilly in the poorly lit forest. He hummed to himself, looking about the town, rather impressed with how many of the facilities were completed in the last day.
"Looking for something?" he heard, turning to see Dagda and Marko approaching. He noticed that Marko looked better, being visibly larger and stronger, as if he patched himself up using his own ego, something that wouldn't surprise the smaller Halfling. He also noticed that Dagda's necklace was nowhere to be seen, and that the Grimmsnarl Halfling seemed rather content with something.
"I just noticed that I haven't seen much of your fanclub is all." he said, and Dagda chuckled. "Maybe they turned in early. It is getting late." he said, only to turn his head at the sound of footsteps, seeing Pops approach with the two Electivires from before.
"That's what we thought too. However, we noticed that Belphegor is unaccounted for. It's causing Kai to stress a lot, since they're almost like brothers." he said, and Dagda narrowed his eyes. "Do you keep watch on everyone who goes through this forest?" he asked, and Pops sighed.
"Unfortunately, no. We've all dedicated a large portion of our resources and energy into building the place and searching for more Halflings hidden within the region. The whole process of building a security system is sadly far off, as we barely have enough residents to even maintain what we've built so far." he said, and Dagda nodded.
He thought about Belphegor, the adorable, chubby faced child that carried a pillow around with him at all times. He knew the boy wasn't very strong, and he began to worry about what could happen if someone as laid back, if not narcoleptic like Belphegor were to wander off alone.
"So what's the plan, Pops?" he asked, and the old man sighed, shaking his head. "Unfortunately our ability to monitor the forest for him is limited. Loki and Draug are already searching, but since they're new to Galar, they might end up lost themselves. At least they can fly." he mused, more to himself.
Dagda nodded. "I'll search for him. I don't want anything to happen to him, not after hearing about Atilla and my Father." he said, and Pops narrowed his eyes. Dagda was incredibly gung ho about this. He immediately took an attempt at action when he heard that someone was unaccounted for once. This was what he was hoping. "Very well. Take Gorias with you." he said, and the younger Electivire looked to Pops as if stupified.
"Ya really expect me to get chummy with some fairy? Have ye tossed yer fuckin' sense out the window?" he asked, and Pops rose a brow. "My mother is a fairy, Gorias. My protege is one too and even though it's not literal, so is my brother in law." he said, cracking a joke and making a point at Mr. Felix's expense.
He rolled his eyes, grumbling to himself as he looked to Dagda. "Ye better keep up with me." he said, turning and walking away, Dagda nodding to Pops before following after the Pokemon into the black forest. The older Electivire began to laugh. "He's quite the troublemaker. Ye sure this is a good idea?" he asked, and Pops nodded. "If anyone can shut Gorias up, McPlug, it's Dagda."
The duo searched throughout the forest as night began to fall, Gorias using his tails to sense out vibrations and electro magnetic fields and pulses. Some disturbance in the natural order of the forest that might give them a clue. He struggled to find anything out of the ordinary, and he began to grow agitated.
"If this wee bastard don't show up quickly I've got half a mind to start chopping trees down." he said, and Dagda looked to his companion. "Do you have to resort to violence? He's just a kid." he said, and Gorias scoffed.
"He's a lot older than those scaled bastard were when they started fighting wars! If anything getting nabbed will be good for him." he said, and Dagda stopped, staring down the Pokemon, who stood right in front of him.
"Lad. If ye don't get the fuck out my face, I'll rip ye arms off and beat ye wit 'em." he said, and Dagda simply stared, unmoving and unwilling to budge. Gorias frowned. Who was this child to stand in front of him, the great Gorias McPlug? He committed no misdeeds, so why did this young Halfling stare at him like he committed a grave act?
"Belphegor is one of the Halfling kids that's a fan of mine. I might have just figured out yesterday, but I'm a Halfling too. I won't let you disrespect us." he said, and Gorias could see his aura flaring up, and his features ever so slightly start to change. He noticed long hairs on his arm begin to wrap around the flesh, and he knew that the kid could throw a punch with hair that dense reinforcing him.
Gorias frowned. "Fuck the wee nonce, how about you and me go a few rounds?" he asked, trying to goad the young Halfling into a fight. This was what he lived for. The chance to agitate and fight people. He wanted to fight someone, and walking around looking for the weakest child in the village was a waste of his time. He was Gorias McPlug, he wasn't supposed to be taking orders and looking for missing children.
Dagda narrowed his eyes before scoffing, an airy, chuckle like sound that was followed by him turning away and continuing to look. "I'm looking for the missing Halfling. I don't care about you, but after hearing what happens to Halflings here in Galar, I'm not leaving a child alone. My Father died protecting me, the least I can do is die doing the same." he said, and Gorias straightened his back.
This was new to him. He had had multiple trainers, a slew of overconfident upstarts, both human and Halfling, that thought they could control his incredible power. They treated him like a cheat code in a video game, as a guaranteed win condition that they either ignored or spoiled rotten when it wasn't time to fight.
He hated it. None of them had the same resolve, strength or ambitions that his Father did, or his Father's trainer. Even the other trainers and Pokemon he'd met in Pinwheel his few times visiting were all of a different breed, as if they were something else entirely. He desired a connection like that, not some fool who that treated him like some get rich quick scheme.
It's why he'd beaten and battered all of his previous trainers and shattered his Pokeballs. It was disrespectful to a warrior like him. They didn't want to do anything. They just didn't want to lose. But this child was different. He wanted something.
Despite his nativity, his inexperience with being a Halfling and his questionable level of power, he stated clearly and honestly that he would give his life to protect someone, if only to be closer to understanding his own Father, who died for him.
Gorias place his tails on the ground and inhaled, sensing things out on a broader scale. He picked up on movement, scattered movements and fluctuating energy coming from a patch of forest to the northwest. "Lad. I found him." he said, and Dagda turned, nodding as they began to head in the direction of the energy.
As they ran, Gorias looked to the Halfling, actually wanting to learn more about him. "Tell me Lad, what are ye trying to accomplish?" he asked, and Dagda closed his eyes as he ran. "Equality. I don't want Halflings to have to hide, for Pokemon to be illegal, or for these forsaken lives to be snuffed out by the powers that be. I will do whatever it takes to make my ideal world, a world that Pops, Kenny and Mr. Felix already know, a reality here. Even if I have to become the monster they think I am." he said, and Gorias felt himself chuckle.
His chuckling began to increase in volume until the two ran in the direction of the energy, the Electric Pokemon barreling out hearty laughter, as if he'd heard the greatest joke of all time.
This was exactly what he was looking for. A trainer with a grand dream, a goal that sounded ridiculous and impossible. Someone willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to achieve their goals, regardless of what other people thought or how it affected them. He finally understood why he was here. Why his Father brought him here after he hospitalized his previous trainer.
It was to meet this Halfling. This lavender eyed demon with the desire to impose his ideals on an entire country, sheerly through his own charisma and dominance. It was so that he, Gorias McPlug, the Unchained Sin of Wrath, could finally understand that there was a trainer that could utilize his power to it's fullest extent. That trainer was the Demon of the Stage, Dagda De Danann.