Dagda hadn't slept. He spent all night and early morning digesting and processing the information he was given. It was a lot to handle, but on the bright side, at least he had most of the answers he sought.
He stared at that lake again, and he wondered exactly what his next course of action should be. He tried to go over everything as bluntly and simply as possible for the sake of making a decision.
Chairman Rose, the highest ranking man in the region besides the royal family, was an ex-Arcean Priest, or even Arcean Knight himself. With his foresight allowing him to see that the legendary demigod Krom Hitoawa and his Pokemon, Warriorf, a dwarven Pokemon with incomparable power, would be victorious, he fled.
He fled beyond their ever growing reach and influence to Galar, where he manipulated the region from the royal family all the way down to the townsfolk. He crafted a region that was perfect to him. Free of religious squabbling, free of Halflings, with only a select few Pokemon of his choosing being allowed in and out of the region.
He crafted a society designed specifically on the basis of the Gym Challenge being a sporting event, and a society that considered Halflings an impossibility, through controlled information and behind the scenes action.
This was all so he could make a place where Halflings would be met with skepticism, and fear. When they were given undoubtable proof of Halflings, the people would likely scorn them in fear, confusion and misunderstanding, leading to an all out conflict driven sheerly by a paranoia Rose handcrafted.
And then their were Krom's children, and his in-laws, the Lionhearts. They were drawn to Galar for simple research, and ended up realizing that the region needed to be changed. With their isolation, the people of Galar would be shell shocked just traveling abroad for vacation, since Halflings were everywhere. Sure, they didn't number even a tenth of the humans, perhaps an even smaller number than that, but some of them still held prominent positions.
The prime example being his idols, and his mentor. Scar Lionheart, known previously as 'Mr. Felix', was the Laverre Theatre Troupe founder, and Laverre City gym leader. His other mentor, Shere-Khan Lionheart, was the Snowbelle City gym leader, and the second in command of Ketchum Genetics, along with the current chief of Pinwheel Village.
And then his mentor. Nappa Hitoawa, known as 'Pops', was the Champion of both Kalos and Alola. All three of these Halflings held some form of high status, not mentioning the famous musician Loki Hitoawa, or the scholar Susano'o 'Draug' Hitoawa. This also didn't count Orzhov, his wife Amy, the daughter of Arceus, and the son of the Allfather, Kyouhei. It was a lot to process.
"Hey, you mind toning down the emotion? I'm tryna sleep." he heard, turning to see another large man, one who looked kind of familiar, sitting against a tree with his eyes closed. "Sorry, I'm just going through a lot." he said, and the man looked to him.
"My little brother told me. I stopped by to get a look at the place since Kalos and Unova were boring me, but if you're here being all mopey, I'm gonna pass." he said, and Dagda almost found that funny. The man looked to him through one half lidded eye.
"Lemme hear it. What's buggin' ya?" he asked, and Dagda blinked, sighing. "I've just been finding out a lot and had to deal with an overwhelming amount of information over the past week or so. It's a lot to deal with." he said, and the man nodded.
"Lemme ask ya somethin', Bub. Why does all of this info have to affect you?" he asked, and Dagda tilted his head. "It changes my perspective on the entire region, what it is, and how it came to be what it is. How wouldn't it?" he asked, and the man shrugged.
"You gonna do anything different now? Nappa tells me you were gonna pull a Scar and overwhelm everyone with your charisma and 'stage presence'. Whatchya gonna do different now?" he asked, and Dagda found himself hard pressed to answer that. What did honestly change?
How were the tales and stories he'd been told any different from watching a play, or reading a book? He wasn't going to stop fighting for the equality of Halflings, or stop trying to become the Champion. He was just nervous about it. "Nothing, but… I'm worried about the people around me." he said, and the man rolled his eyes.
"Look, I'm not the most… active man, but I know something we got in common, see? We're both nice guys, but both really strong. If you use your Pokemon, including that annoying bastard Gorias, and your Therian Form, nothing short of a God can stop you. Infact, I think that if you transform willingly, your therian form might even look and feel different." he mused, more to himself.
Dagda found this Buddha like man's wisdom rather interesting. "Why did you stop by the lake?" he asked, rather curious. He shrugged. "Nappa told me you'd be here. Too much is happening in the village, since they're evacuating. With there being like… six or something, Halflings here, he doesn't wanna take a risk of them gettin' hurt." he said, and Dagda blinked. He forgot all about that.
"The furry woman and her kid are goin' home with Khan, and Orzhov scooped up some weird little girl. Grimsley just got here to pick up some depressed kid, and I came to check out some kid with a pillow. He's… a good kid, but he doesn't have the right vibes, ya feel?" he asked, and Dagda blinked as he rose to his feet.
"Belphegor? What's wrong with him?" he asked, and the man hummed. "He's strong as hell to me. Wouldn't get along with my son, Janemba. There's something about him that's just… nah." he said, and Dagda wanted to frown at that. "Has anyone else decided to take him?" he asked, and the man sighed as he rose to his feet.
"Nope. Although, he's been hanging around some fluffy haired dude all morning. If that dude had a mate, a friend of note, or something, he could adopt him. It'd kind of be like Dad and Orzhov, or Simba and Uncle Whackjob." he mused, and Dagda thought about it.
"How does something like that work for Halflings?" he asked, realizing that while he knew a lot of Halfling history, he didn't know much about their culture or traditions, and he was always, always hungry for more knowledge. The man hummed. "Well, it's kind of weird." he mused.
"Say for example you are an orphan. If I wanted to adopt you, all I'd have to do is go up to the guy in charge and give a declaration of my intent, blah blah. It'd be something like 'I, Magni Hitoawa, wish to take the child known as Dagda into my family. Should I be deceased or abroad, he will be in the care of my trusted mate, Sanatika Lionheart, and her family.' Get it?" he asked, and Dagda hummed. A smile spread across his face.
"Thanks, Mr. Magni. I appreciate it." he said, and Magni blinked as he walked off. He wondered exactly what just happened, because the boy just did a complete one eighty at his last statement. He was just giving him an example. He couldn't possibly be taking him serious about the whole Krom and Orzhov thing, right? He sighed. "I fucked up now."
When Dagda returned to the village, he noticed one, rather important thing. The Rillaboom he'd saved from Hop was out and about, helping out with a calm smile on his face. Dagda approached the primate, who looked to him.
"I see you're feeling better." he said, and the primate nodded to him. "I have no words to thank you. Hop was… not right. After his loss to your friend, he became rather twisted, rather obsessive with the ideal of facing his brother for the title of champion." he said, and Dagda nodded.
"I apologize for everything you went though. If I would have known, I swear I would have aided you sooner." he said, and the gorilla shook his head. Dagda smiled. He liked the way this Pokemon looked when healthy. He had dark fur that almost glistened in the early afternoon sun, and a mane of long green hair that looked like leaves, and Dagda could see the way a Rillaboom was supposed to look. He actually rather enjoyed it, as it was a massive step up from the pale, frail creature he saved.
"I am eternally grateful for you helping when you did. If you didn't, I fear how long I would have been able to continue on. I might not even be alive if not for the kind actions of Otis." he said, and Dagda nodded. "Why don't you come with me? I could use an extra pair of hands in the next gym." he said, and the Pokemon mused to to itself.
"Of course. I would not mind experiencing training and battling with a trainer and Pokemon that are my equals. I look forward to it." he said, and the two bumped fists. "Did Hop have a name for you? I'd feel bad giving you a whole new identity if you already have one." He inquired, and the gorilla shook his head. "No. Hop didn't have nicknames or names for any of us. Except Ace, his Cinderace. That… rodent." he said, and Dagda realized what that look was.
It was honest, and pure, hatred. For everything he suffered at the hands of Hop's disgusting training methods, and impossible vitriol, the Cinderace hadn't suffered at all. He looked well rested, and healthy, almost divine in comparison to the Rillaboom when they'd first met. Dagda shook his head. If he ever saw Hop again, he'd make sure to give him exactly what he deserved. "Then do you mind if I call you Lars? Lars Ulrich?" he asked, and the gorilla laughed.
"That is fine with me, Brother Dagda. I had always wondered what life would be like if you hadn't overslept that day." he said, and Dagda laughed, thinking about it as well. It would be immensely different, and he wondered a little bit himself. However, he came to a quick conclusion. "It would be a lot worse for both of us, I bet." he said, and the Pokemon began to laugh, nodding as the two bumped fists again.
"Awesome! I bet you could make a sick shirt out of that." they heard, turning to see Pops, or was it Nappa? He approached with Bede and Belphegor, noticing that instead of wearing the same oversized trench coat, Bede was only wearing the undersuit he normally wore, and a t-shirt that matched Belphegor, one with his face on it. He liked the sight, and he looked to the child.
"Is Scar still here?" he asked, and Belphegor nodded, the black pillow still clutched to his chest. "Can you do me a favor and find his mates? Tell them that you're gonna hide on their plane and play hide and seek with him, and to keep it a secret." Dagda said with a smile, and Belphegor beamed.
They watched him bound off, rather excited and energized despite his always drowsy face. "Do you mind if I still call you 'Pops'? I've gotten more used to that than anything." he asked, and Nappa nodded, not bothered by the name, given his advanced age. Dagda glanced to Bede, the Rillaboom at his back rather calm in the presence of the odd, angelic Halfling.
"I'm glad to see you get along with him. Mr. Magni told me he was still an orphan." he said, and Nappa blinked. As if he could envision an entire conversation between Dagda and his older brother, he began to groan. "You are the sneakiest Halfling I've ever met, and I know Simba and Kyouhei." he said, and Dagda straightened his posture, as if prepared to give a speech.
"I, Dagda De Danann, desire to take Belphegor Meitenkun into my family. In the event of my decease, or prolonged absence, I place him in the care of my partner, Bede, and in the event of his decease or prolonged absence, I place him in the care of one of my teachers and mentors, Scar Lionheart, and his Theatre Troupe." he said, and Nappa looked to him and sighed. "Do you understand the severity of what you just said? If this is all over, and you try and go back on your word, you do understand that you die, right?" he asked, and Dagda nodded.
"As I've said before, and I'll say again, I am Dagda. 'The Blooming Demon', Dagda De Danann. I can not afford to be indecisive or kind. I must be righteous evil. I must commit atrocities so that the innocent people, Pokemon, and Halflings of this region may live freely and in peace. I must destroy this handcrafted world that Rose built, and I will do whatever it takes." he said, closing his eye. This was the hard part.
"I will… I will take lives. Men with loving families will fall against me, and I will not shed a single tear for the lives lost. I will be an unfeeling monster, a heartless Angel of Judgment and a caring Demon of Empathy. I will harness the same righteous evil as your father, Krom Hitoawa, and I will make Galar a place for all. That includes Belphegor Meitenkun De Danann. This region is not Rose's kingdom. It's mine."
With those words carried on the wind to his ears, Heinreich began to smile, feeling the Pokemon of the forest watch him as he began to dance, slowly. Everything he envisioned was coming to pass, slowly but surely. With meeting Kyouhei and adopting Belphegor, he had made good on his deluded prophecies of children and the Allfather's son. Dagda's resolved, righteous evil and his stalwart, loyal brothers in arms added to his prophecy. What was next for his prophecy?
Ah… the six wings. He couldn't watch it on a screen. He had to head to Circhester himself to see the descendant of the former slave, a being he remembered calling himself 'Morningstar'.