Selene has woken up in the captivity of Chain, and now she's in danger - or is she? As it turns out, Chain seems to be much 'nicer' to her than she was expecting, calling her a princess and giving her the deluxe treatment. Furthermore, she seems to have met her aunt, someone of the same species - an Epsilon Fusion.
Eve, though, isn't having as much of a good time. While she's definitely happy to be with Selene again, she knows that the only reason she has value is because of Selene. While she's made a new friend in 'Anna', she also knows that she has to leave the Citadel and Nucifera.
The question is, how?
Eve tried not to think about how she was slowly getting used to living with Penelope and Thorn, or the increased surveillance. Instead, she opted for another buttered croissant.
"So, Eve, what'll you be doin' today?!" Thorn asked, eyes gleaming.
"I'll be having fun," Eve answered. "I'm still getting used to the Citadel. I want to go to the library again."
The lie was acid on her tongue, but Thorn was spectacularly incapable of hiding the truth. Best feed him a fib to spill instead.
"Again? Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Don't you have any fun?"
"It is fun, Thorn."
"No, it's not. Reading is boring."
Eve calmed her breathing. "For now, let's agree to disagree."
"Is it because you're wrong?"
This little bugger. "Sure." She put her plate down, wiped the crumbs off of her lips with a napkin, then began to leave. "See you later, Thorn."
"See you!"
The Shadow Workers (butlers and maids) bowed and curtsied to her as she left for the main city proper. As sad as it was, it was strangely comforting. Eve pushed down the feeling as best she could.
The Citadel was far more interesting at night than it was in the day. A thin fog covered everything, muting the colors. No one around seemed to notice, though. Most of them were concerned with Negisa's new performance that would be happening in a few hours - something that Selene would definitely be interested in, she was a big fan.
Eve passed the library on her way to the meeting place. She lingered a little on the outside, the temptation to enter pulling on her, but pushed it away after a few seconds.
After a bit of walking, she made her way to her destination - the Anisundial. Anna wasn't here yet, so she went over to the place where she found that crystal.
Every time she looked at it, she grew more sure - that was the crystal in Culus's collar. There was no mistaking that feeling - it was the same material, she would bet her life on it.
But, why was it here inside the Anisundial? Why did no one talk about it?
"Vivid?" She turned to see Anna by the side, head tilted. "What are you doing?"
"Just looking at that green spot from earlier," she answered with ease. "I'm trying to understand why it's there."
"Oh." Anna hummed. "Maybe we could go to the library and see what it is?"
Maybe they could - no, no they couldn't.
"Later," she evaded. "You said that you wanted to show me something?"
"Oh, yeah! Come down!" Eve hopped down. "It's not comfortable, but I want you to come over and see my house!"
Eve raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yeah!" Anna slowed. "I mean, it's kind of dirty, and it's in the wrong part of town - but I still want you to meet my mom!"
"Well, okay, then." Eve smiled. "I'll be happy to meet her."
Anna whipped her tail. "Then let's go."
Eve followed Anna away from the Anisundial, shaking off the little bit of dew that had collected on her fur. Anna didn't seem fazed, though, and kept up pleasant conversation as they walked.
Eve paid attention, of course, but her attention was perpetually snatched away by the flyers and posters scattered throughout the Citadel, advertising a gig from 'DJ Meteor'.
"What does DJ mean, Anna?" Eve asked as they crossed a particularly large poster. There was a photograph of a large machine plastered on every poster, adorned with a lightning-bolt motif and complementary coloring.
"DJ? Oh, that?" Anna followed Eve's gaze. "That's one of Meteor's performances. I think the 'D' in DJ stands for disc since that's what he uses as his main tool in the machine."
Looking at the photograph, she saw the place where records would go. "Why are the posters everywhere?"
"In the Citadel, DJ Meteor is as big a sensation as Negisa is, even though Negisa has him soundly beat in international sales." Anna peered at a nearby flyer. "Oh, it's today!"
"Do you want to go?"
"No, but they usually play his records afterward on the hospital intercom system, and I'm a tiny fan. They make your heart pump!" Anna came to a stop. "Um, excuse me, sir?"
Eve looked around - they were at the edge of the Citadel, where it would come to meet the Moat. Several guards looked at the two of them disinterestedly - at least, until they saw her eye color.
"Princess Eve?" One of them asked. She tensed.
Anna laughed. "You mean Vivid? She's just one of those pretenders."
Eve faux-smiled and nodded, inwardly dying. 'Vivid' was such a strange name, now that she considered it a little more. She should have worked harder when she was trying to make a new name for herself.
The guards looked at the two of them suspiciously, before nodding. "Very well, then. Please come back safely, Miss Anna!"
"Will do!"
Anna led Eve out of the Citadel. Was it really that easy to get out? Had Eve worked herself up over nothing?
"You live in the Moat?" Eve decided to change the subject. "How can you get into the Citadel?"
"I'm a special worker. I'm a Moater that they've given specific permission to let in and out of the Citadel." Anna grinned impishly. "Being a talented medic has its perks, you know."
Eve looked around at the other Moaters and their surly, jealous faces. "Does it ever give you problems?"
Anna's smile turned a little colder. "Sometimes, but I push through it easily enough. Just stay near me, and they'll know not to mess with you."
Eve took Anna's advice, attaching herself to the hip of her new friend. The cold had started biting deeper into her bones. "Why would anyone choose to live here?"
"Choose?" Anna echoed.
"I mean, the Citadel is right there. Just go there."
Anna looked at her oddly. "The guards are there for a reason."
"Well, why don't they go around the guards?"
"The guards aren't that bad at their job, Vivid."
"But you can get in!"
"I'm the exception, Vivid. I got really, really, lucky, and they all know that."
Anna was lucky? It didn't really feel that way, with all of the stares on them right now. Eve's claws dug into mud, making her feel all sticky and wrong.
"How much longer until we get there?"
"A few more minutes-"
An Exeguttor blocked their path. Its leaves had long since wilted, and the girth of its legs was lopsided and off-putting. "Youn' ladies," the Exeguttor crooned. "I notic' you hav' a nice purse ther'."
Eve shifted into a battle stance. So much for safety-
"Shut up, Herndon," Anna told him, any warmth draining out of her voice. "Or do you want me to tell people where you're keeping your supply of Nip?"
The Exeguttor paled. "H-How'd a Citadel bitch like you-"
"Will we have a problem, Herndon?"
There were hungry eyes from every direction on the encounter - but not just on the two of them anymore. Herndon looked around, shaking a little.
"Y-yes, ma'am."
Herndon shuffled away, leaving them free to walk again.
"I thought you said that there wouldn't be any trouble if I walked close to you, Anna."
She frowned. "There wasn't supposed to be any trouble. Here I was thinking Herndon knew his place."
Something about those words was a little strange to Eve, but she decided not to comment on it as they continued walking through the despondent Moat. The two of them had to navigate around literal piles of shit at the time - did the Moaters not even want basic plumbing?
"This place really is a shit hole. Why aren't there more people like you, people who try hard?"
Anna looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Everyone here works hard. Notice how there aren't any strong men or even children?"
Eve ran over the list of people they had crossed paths with. Herndon was a young adult, clearly sickly, and all of the other people in the Moat they had seen had various stages of jaundice, pinkeye, and poor pallors.
"Where are they?"
Anna pointed to a nearby crystal terminal. "Working in the fields. It's the only way they can earn anything close to a wage for their families. Everyone works, all day, all the time. The only way you can get out of it is if you're a criminal, sick, disabled, or some combination of that."
"Well, why don't they move into the Citadel?"
"You really are sheltered, aren't you, Vivid?"
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
"Anna? Anna, what did you mean by that?" Anna didn't comment, instead continuing to walk through the Moat. "Anna?!"
"Figure it out on your own, Vivid," Anna, at last, replied, not looking back on her. There was the strangest resemblance between her and Kapun, but for the life of her, Eve couldn't figure out what. "Anyway, we've come home."
They had come to a stop at one of the better-looking buildings. Unlike the other buildings that wallowed in squalor, this one was built modestly large. Anna reached into her purse and pulled out a small key with tiny claws, before sticking it in and turning the door open deftly.
Anna's house was well-cleaned, and Eve could see some supplies for cleaning in the corner. There was a nice homely feel to it regardless, and Eve found herself relaxing. They wiped their muddy paws on the mat before they walked deeper inside.
"Mom?!" Anna called. "I brought home Vivid!"
An exhausted-looking Leafeon popped her head out the other side of the doorway. "How nice to meet you," she said. "My-" The Leafeon yawned. "Sorry, girls, I need to take a short nap. Have fun."
"Thanks, mom!" Anna replied, smiling. She turned to Eve. "I'm sorry if she's a little tired, she's had to work overtime for the past few weeks, it's doing poorly on her." Anna lowered her head nervously. "I was hoping you could help me spend an hour with the cleaning, so she doesn't have more on her plate. I'll do it even if you don't help me-"
"N-No, I'll help!" Kair had taught her how to clean back in Pinnaleis, so she was confident she'd be able to help. He was a bit of a slave-driver, so Eve knew she'd be able to handle whatever Anna threw at her.
...
"Vivid? Vivid, are you okay?"
"N-No more, it's too much," she groaned.
"Vivid, it's only been fifteen minutes."
Eve's eyes snapped open. "Fifteen minutes?" She dropped the sponge she was holding and ran all the way to where the clock was. Surely Anna had been lying, hadn't she? They had only started at 10:30!
Eve skidded to a stop where Anna had shown her where the clock was.
10:47
"Dialga, why have you betrayed me?"
"Vivid, I know you're committed to the 'Princess Eve' shtick, but you don't have to give yourself a 'princess' attitude to go along with it."
"But - but that's impossible!" Eve shouted. "I know that I worked for longer than seventeen minutes!"
"Vivid, please," Anna warned.
"I can't do it again! The mold was so filthy, a-and-" She trailed off. "The mold-"
Anna walked over to one of the cabinets and pulled out a face mask. "Next time, wear something over your face so you don't inhale hallucinogens, okay? It's basic cleaning knowledge."
Eve flushed. "I-I," she stuttered. "Just give me that." With Anna's help, she pulled the mask off her face, immediately regretting it. The mask redirected a lot of her breath so that it blew into her eyes, making her feel sleepy. "Why don't you have a serv-"
Right, they were their own servants now. They had to clean up their messes, and if that meant scrubbing the moss growing in the bathroom, then that was what they had to do.
"I'll help you out, alright?" Anna pulled out another face mask and pulled it over her face, before grabbing a sponge. "It's more fun with company."
Eve sincerely doubted it, and just as she feared, it wasn't that much better. The face mask helped against the hallucinogens, but the hot breath in her face ruined any joy she may have gotten from the experience. She also realized that it had been a long time since she properly disinfected the inside of her mouth.
On the plus side, though, Anna was doing her best to make it easier. Whenever there was a particularly stubborn patch that Eve had to deal with, they would switch places. Selfish, but Anna could take it, and Eve couldn't.
"Hey, Vivid, I used to really hate moss." Eve turned her attention to Anna. "But then it really grew on me!"
Anna held up one of her claws, which had moss underneath it.
"Eh? Eh?"
Eve rolled her eyes. "I don't think I'll ever come to appreciate moss. It'll be a cold day in hell when I come to lichen it."
"Eyyy~"
Eve smiled. It grew a bit easier after that.
Eventually, they collected the moss they had scrubbed off the bathroom tiles and drains and stuffed it into a garbage bag. They went and disinfected their hands, before going to the dusty living room.
"Why is it so dirty in here?" Eve had to ask. "Shouldn't you guys clean your house more regularly?"
"Yeah, we should, but we don't really have the time. Mom's the breadwinner, so I was the one that kept the house clean when I wasn't helping the nurses in the berry fields."
"'Was'?" she asked.
Anna's smile grew brittle. "Becoming a medical aid in the Citadel wasn't something I particularly wanted to happen. I just grabbed the opportunity when it came. It made things harder on Mom, though, when I was gone all day long, every day." Anna yawned, and Eve finally noticed the bags under Anna's eyes. "This is my first vacation day, by the way. Once I get my first paycheck, we can move out of the damn Moat. Then things will be easier."
"You'll still have a house you can barely clean," she observed.
"No, but the moss and insects won't be here. It'll be healthier to live in, so Mom will be able to relax easier."
Eve bit her lip. "Why won't the moss be there?"
"The air in the Moat is filled with nasty chemicals that allow it to grow. They filter it out of the Citadel and pump it here."
"That's ridiculous."
"You're telling me - but the higher-ups don't care." Anna flicked her tail. "So if Mom and I are going to have better lives, we'll have to get them ourselves."
Eve couldn't say anything.
"Girls?" Their ears pricked up, and Anna's mother walked into the room, looking marginally better. "You two didn't have to take care of the moss, I would have taken care of it tonight."
Anna yawned. "You've been 'taking care of it tonight' for the past week, Mom."
Her mom's smile grew sheepish. "Caught me, huh?" She turned to Eve. "It's wonderful to meet you, dear. Anna's been raving about you."
The two of them blushed. "It's nice to be here," Eve deflected. "It really wasn't that difficult." She decided to ignore the stare Anna was sending her way. "Is there anything else I can do to help?" Her paws immediately protested at the thought, but she let them know that their problems were not important right now.
"No, no, today's our vacation day. The two of you have done enough already." There was a pause. "Though, I wouldn't mind some help making lunch. Do you know how to cook, Vivid?"
"Somewhat. I can follow directions."
"Then let's start!"
A few minutes later, Eve had started kneading dough for bread. Was it weird that it reminded her of the scrubbing? It couldn't be, could it?
"So, Mrs… um…" Oh, she didn't know their last names. "Ma'am, where do you work?"
"Jepod, dear. My name is Jepod." Strange name. "I work in the fields as an overseer. Whenever the farmers and other workers grow unruly, I'm there to keep them in line."
"Oh, so you're a policewoman?"
"No, more of a forewoman. I just manage them." Jepod sighed. "You'd think that I'd get more privileges as a Hat, but no, Anna and I get the dregs."
Eve stiffened. "You're a Hat?"
"One of the lower ranks," Jepod spat. "I signed up since the Hats are so well-paid - though, I haven't gotten much money yet. I suppose you have to be one of her tattooed 'scouted' to be paid well."
Okay, more information. "Scouted?"
"Our boss - 'the Temptress', what a stupid name - recruits a lot of her Hats from abroad. My boss, 'Nimbus', is one of them - she's Eonian if I remember correctly. They all feel weird, but I don't know why." Jepod sighed. "I just wanted to help the Moat, I didn't sign up for this. Anna, you need more flour in your dough, it's sticking to the counter."
"Got it!"
Soon, they finished kneading the dough, stuffing it into the oven. Jepod slumped over, yawning. "Girls, it's been fun, so you two can leave. I'll take care of the bread. Anna, you can take her to the concert."
"Really?!" Anna's eyes shined. "
"Yes, Anna. Just throw out the moss while you're at it."
Anna jumped to her feet. "Vivid, let's go! Throw out the moss while I get ready, okay?"
Anna should throw out her own moss. "Got it."
"Thanks!" Anna then ran to her room, leaving Eve with another task. Sighing, Eve walked to the bathroom and grabbed the trash bag that they filled with the moss. She brought it outside, where she had seen the community dumpster, and lifted the bag over her head.
Then she put the bag down and thought about it for a few seconds. In the Citadel, they were utterly unprepared to deal with the moss. The moss couldn't grow there, so they simply didn't expect it.
And the hallucinogens in it were powerful if you didn't take precautions.
Eve wrapped the bag of moss up tight enough that she could store it in her bag, and pushed it deep inside. She then left the dumpster to see Anna by the door. "So, tickets?"
"Nope, but I have an 'in' with one of the security guards. He was one of my patients, and I went out of my way to help him three days ago. He owes me." Anna's eyes sparkled. "I can't believe it, I'm actually going to one of Negisa's concerts!"
"Negisa?" It simply hadn't occurred to Eve that they'd be seeing one of her concerts. "Really?"
"Yeah, Negisa!" Anna pawed the ground restlessly. "And if we don't hurry, we'll be late, so let's go!"
Before Eve could say anything else, Anna started running through the streets of the moat. "Wait up!" she shouted, before doing her best to keep up. Anna was ridiculously fast, though, and Eve almost lost her a few times.
"Anna? Anna, slow down!"
Eventually, they made it back to the wall between the Citadel and the Moat, and Anna finally slowed down enough for Eve to catch up. "What took you so long?"
"I'm out of shape, okay!" Eve wheezed.
"I figured," Anna snorted. "Come on, let's go."
A minute later, they were back inside the Citadel. Judging from the times on the posters, the concert would start in less than thirty minutes, but since the venue wasn't too far away, they were able to get there in only fifteen.
"Kewert!" Anna shouted, drawing a nearby Linoone guard from their bored staring into nothing. "Hey, remember when you said that 'you owed me a favor'?!"
"Oh, you're Anna, right?" the Linoone said slowly.
"Right! Come on, let us in."
"Anna, I don't think I can let you in."
"But you promised!" Anna said obstinately. "So let us in."
He bit the inside of his lip. "Some other day, for some other thing. Maybe if it wasn't one of Negisa's concerts, Anna, but not now."
"Kewert, you ass!" Anna shouted.
The Linoone tapped his badge. "Can I have some help out here?"
"So much for the concert," Eve muttered as Anna began to turn red, her hackles rising. "Anna, we should go-"
"No! No, no no! Kewert said he owed me a favor, I am not going to-"
Anna was cut off by the badge lighting up. "Kewert, status report."
"Two Eevees are trying to force their way in. Two females, juvenile, one with an 'Eve' cosplay."
"Kewert, I swear that-"
"Let them in."
Anna stopped talking. The guard stuck a claw into his ear and twisted. "I'm sorry, sir, can you copy?"
"Let them in, Kewert. Do I have to report you for insubordination?"
"No, sir. I'll let them in immediately." He tapped on the badge, letting its glow fade, before turning to face the two of them. "You heard the man. Come on, we don't have all day."
Anna turned to Eve as he led them inside. "What happened?" she whispered, switching between staring at Eve and at the guard. "Why did they let us in?"
Because Eve was privileged and apparently, the head of security knew that.
"I don't know," Eve replied. "We just got lucky, I think. Let's go see what they want with us."
The hallways were cold and clammy, and as they walked on spotless floors past artificial lightning, Eve felt a small sense of unease. Occasionally, the Linoone's badge would light up again, displaying text this time. Conversation dwindled to nothing, and her tail began to lash restlessly.
"Where are we going?" Anna asked.
"To the dressing room. Both of you should show respect to the Mistress - do you understand?"
Soon, they came across a retinue of guards, blocking the way. The second they saw the three of them, though, they parted, opening the way to a sleek-looking door. Quickly, one of them turned it open, letting them inside. Kewert stayed behind, letting them in. Eve took one look at Anna, who shrugged, before going inside.
Then their eyes went wide, as they saw who exactly was in the room.
Negisa.
She was exactly as Eve had imagined she would be. The Mismagius had a number of makeup artists and designers, attending to her face and dress. In front of Negisa was an Exploud, who was coaching her through vocal exercises. Almost automatically, Eve stepped to the side so that she wouldn't get in the way. Mrs. Strect and Selene had made sure she had learned not to interfere.
As she did so, though, she made eye contact with Negisa in the mirror. The instant seemed to take an eternity, leaving a chill to go down her spine.
"I believe that's enough," Negisa said softly. "Please, give me a minute before the performance.
Like a phantasm, the crews left, leaving the three of them alone in the room. Anna was staring at Negisa slack-jawed.
"Would you like to introduce yourselves?"
Anna gulped. "I - Negi - I'mahugefan!" Anna turned red. "T-thank you for letting me in," she whispered. "I'm Anna."
Negisa simply smiled, before floating forward to approach Anna. Anna froze - and then Negisa pecked her on the cheek.
"You're such a wonderful girl," Negisa murmured. "Your parents have raised you well."
Anna turned red. "T-T-T-Thank you."
Negisa caressed her cheek, before turning to face Eve. "And you are Princess Eve?"
"I - no, I'm Vivid," Eve hastily corrected. It would be better for Negisa to think that she was wrong than to know that she was right. "I'm sorry, but I've grown attached to this cosplay and-"
Negisa's eyes glowed pink, and Eve felt power dance in the front of her eyeballs. "Strange," the Mismagius commented. "For you have no contacts on. I suppose you are some other member of Eonian nobility, then? Perhaps a long-lost sister of Relm's?"
Anna stared at her as if only seeing her for the first time now. Eve bowed her head. "I - I'm sorry, ma'am. I recently learned how dangerous it is for people to look like me, and I decided to propagate a lie."
Negisa smiled. "Oh, how wonderfully polite and honest," she crooned. "Please, make yourself comfortable."
Her eyes flashed again, and two chairs zoomed out from the corners of the room, scooping Eve and Anna into them. Eve found herself tongue-tied - while Selene would be more than happy to meet one of her idols, Eve found herself a little apprehensive.
"Ma'am," Anna decided to ask. "We're sorry about snooping around-"
"Please, dear," Negisa waved. "Think nothing of it. I've heard wonderful things about you two, and I had the mind to see you two in person."
"You wanted to see me too?" Anna asked, blinking heavily. "But I'm just a normal person."
"You a little less than dear Eve, here."
"Vivid," Eve bit out.
"Right, Vivid." Negisa winked.
"Are you with them?" Eve asked. Running through the possibilities in her head, it was the only likely choice as to the origin of Negisa's knowledge - Chain knew she was here, and while some of the hunters after her could guess that as well, only Chain seemed to know where, exactly, she was.
Anna looked between the two of them before she visibly bit her lip. Eve tried to ignore the new part of her that was concerned for Anna's welfare and instead concentrated on Negisa, who simply smiled with amusement - like all the damn Shadow Workers did, the fucking arrogance.
"I think you know very well who I'm with," Negisa said - and then, tilting her neck slightly, she showed off a glint of metal. Eve's further questions died in her throat as she saw what was around Negisa's neck.
"That necklace looks very tight," Anna commented.
"It's a collar," Negisa answered. "One that I'm very familiar with."
Negisa's eyes then glinted pink again, and Anna began to fidget.
"U-uh, excuse me," Anna said sheepishly. "But I have to go to the bathroom. S-sorry!"
With that, Anna rushed awkwardly out of the dressing room. Eve's eyes narrowed.
"What did you-"
"A wordless spell, my dear princess. The compulsion to relieve herself will disappear in a few scant minutes. I simply tired of dancing around the rose bush."
"So did I," Eve eventually said. "So, you work for Chain, as a Collared?"
"Precisely."
Questions ran through Eve's mind. Now that she actually thought about Negisa and her appearances, she realized that her neck was always obscured by something. Fog, a brilliant beam of light, or most often, simple clothes, Negisa's neck was never in sight.
"How long have you been a Collared? Why did you go out of your way to invite me here? What's the real purpose of your shows? How did you avoid-"
"Patience." Negisa's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I will answer if you let me."
"Then do so," she bit out.
"Very well. The length of time of my servitude - I believe it was thirty years ago? Forty? Forty-two, I believe - I've been collared, since my childhood, at least. My birthday is no longer important in the least."
Eve's mouth went dry. "Y-You're joking, right?"
Negisa shook her head. "I am the one of the first - the vanguard!" Her voice raised a little toward the end in happiness - was she proud of that?! "Master Phosophor gave me a new lease on life and allows me to live as I pleased. Even if I weren't a Collared, I would have dedicated my life to him."
Phosophor - Diane's 'father'. Considering Diane's position and how much she respected him, Eve guessed that he held a high position as well. If he was in the organization, too, at least.
"Who is he?" Eve asked, after thinking for a few more seconds. "Both you and Diane mentioned him, but you guys haven't told me anything about him."
Negisa cupped Eve's cheek. "Once Master Phosophor wishes for you to see him, you will see him. Once Master Phosophor wishes for you to know about him, you will know. Until then, exercise patience, my dear Eve."
Eve pushed Negisa away. "Has he told you that you can't say anything to me?" Negisa nodded. "Why?"
Negisa giggled, and the hairs on the back of Eve's ruff stiffened. "If you stay patient, Eve, I'll tell you." An invisible force pushed Eve to the side. Negisa floated to the door, before casting one last glance at her. "For now, Eve, my show will start. Thank you for entertaining me."
The door closed behind her. Eve didn't stop at the door, too busy in thought.
Why was Negisa so cagey? Was the secret really that important? It was obvious that Negisa couldn't tell her, but why? And why did Negisa bring her here?!
"Vivid?" Anna came in through the door. "I peed - wait, where is Negisa?"
"She left," Eve answered dully, the questions her mind was raising wafting away with the air conditioning. "Her show's starting."
"Oh, right - wait, the show! Come on, we have to get good seats!"
Eve dutifully followed Anna through the halls. Eventually, they arrived at the main amphitheater. The orchestra was tuning their instruments, and the slight murmur of the crowd raised excitement in the air. Eve tried to paste on a smile, to get into the spirit.
Yet, for all of the fanfare, Eve couldn't help but feel a little empty. Chain was just offering her more mysteries to solve. Everywhere she looked stood Hats, Collared, and Shadow Workers.
"Hey, Eve," Anna whispered. "What was the whole thing with Miss Negisa about? She obviously let us in for you, and she called you Eve."
The smile fell entirely. "I'm sorry."
"You're actually her, aren't you?"
"I didn't want to lie, Anna. I just needed to keep it secret from all of the hunters. That meant tricking you too."
The fanfare was growing louder around them, yet Eve couldn't hear it. Anna was studying her with a grim expression.
"And the 'you're with them' thing that you referred to?"
"It's complicated," Eve evaded. "Things have gotten really weird ever since I left Regilia, and they've only kept on getting weirder. The less you know about 'them', the better."
Anna just looked at her for a short while - and then, she nodded. "I'll take your word for it, then."
Eve wasn't a fan of the adage 'ignorance is bliss', but she found it apt for this situation. Anna lived in Nucifera - if she saw spies in every corner, traitors mixed with friends, then - no, Eve wasn't going to think about it. As long as Anna didn't trouble herself too much, she'd be safe.
After the orchestra finished tuning their instruments, the lights in the hall went dark, before a single spotlight shone on the center of the stage. There was a shimmer in the air before Negisa materialized.
Her dancing was beautiful, the singing engrossing, the combination entrancing. Looking at the audience, none of them could tear their eyes away - it wasn't the hypnotism Selene laid on her audience, but it was still enthralling nonetheless.
Yet, Eve found herself feeling more and more apathetic.
Negisa. Someone who Eve only cared about because Selene had. Someone who must have had their entire lives dictated to them. She said that she was doing what she wanted, but was that actually true?
Could she believe anything Negisa said? Negisa was Chain's puppet, so they could use her as an advocate. Make her happier to be in Chain's company.
To be in their control.
Chain had their fingers everywhere. It was one thing to imagine a clandestine organization manipulating everything from the shadows - one that, once the hero found them, would fall like dominos.
Yet, if Chain controlled the police, the politically powerful, and the popular, and could control any member of the common populace they wanted, then where couldn't they reach?
What could Eve hope to do against them?
One more time! One more time!
I'm doing my best, okay?!
You can do it! One! More! Time!
Are you just saying that because it's your turn to come out?
Yuhuh! Don't worry, it'll be the last!
It's been the last for the past ten rotations, One. Give it a rest.
I have to agree with Four on this. One, please show some restraint.
Oh, poo.
I think I can manage one more time.
YYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Selene shut her eyes as pain blossomed.
ONE, SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Four, language!
You two can shove it up my-
Hurriedly, Selene switched.
...
So, One, how much longer-
I have to see if I can get from this wall to that one in ten seconds!
One, you've been trying to beat your record for three days now! Try something else!
But it's fun!
One, you've been very impolite lately. Please show some more tact.
One huffed.
Fine. So, now what?
Try exploring. You've practiced flying for long enough, maybe try some moves?
Okay!
One wiggled around a little, releasing glittering golden flakes from her tufts of fur. They twirled and twisted in the air, falling to the ground in an artsy shower.
.
Excellent Stun Spore, One.
One continued wiggling around in the air, now releasing a light pink mist that permeated the air. Licking the air, One found herself hungry. It had been hours since she'd eaten, hadn't it?
One, the only rule for using Sweet Scent is to not get hooked to your own scent. Please, exercise restraint.
But I'm hungry~
One, I'm hungry too, but I'm not whining about it, am I?
Well, you could.
But I'm not.
Guys, let's get back on track. One, how about Fairy Wind?
One sighed, before flapping her wings and whipping up a glimmering pink wind, trying to keep herself steady as she did so. She didn't really like Fairy Wind, she honestly wanted to just keep using moves like Stun Spore and Sweet Scent, but if her sisters insisted, then she'd have no choice.
Good job, One.
Any other moves she should try out?
I think only Absorb is left.
One wanted to go back to racing.
...
Two hours later, One collapsed on the ground, her wings twitching.
Four more repetitions of Fairy Wind, One!
Don't wanna.
You wanted control, didn't you?
Not to do this! I wanted to have fun, and this isn't fun!
Four is right, One. You practice your moves the least of us, and that means that if you ever get into a battle and we can't help for whatever reason, you'll be weak and defenseless.
Then I just won't get into fights!
One, you really don't have the option for that sort of thing. Keep trying.
But I can't! I'm - I'm too tired! I can't even flap my wings anymore.
She does have a point. There isn't any point in pushing her to train if she's trained herself to exhaustion.
But if she-
Two's right, Four. Be reasonable.
Fine.
Yes! Now I can - I can't move.
One tried wiggling her legs. Her legs were fine, but they weren't meant for walking, just hanging onto branches while she slept. Her wings were her only way of moving around, and they would stay so until she turned into a Ribombee like Aunt Sephy.
You should probably switch, One.
But - but I've only been in this form for two hours! I don't want to go back!
But you can't do anything anymore, One, and we're all stuck here with you.
I don't care! You guys forced me into this! You guys can be bored, for all I care!
Should we put this up to a vote, One?
One froze. Aunt Diane had suggested a 'voting system' a few days ago to solve switching arguments, and they had agreed to it since it made sense. They all had to choose between two options, they all had a vote, no one could 'abstain', and the side that had three or more votes won.'
She didn't want to switch out, but if the four of them worked together, they could force One to switch into someone else.
All in favor of One switching into someone else, say 'aye'.
Aye.
Aye.
Aye. One, you've been outvoted.
…
One, do we have to force-
I hate this. I mean, I love you guys, but I wish I didn't have to give up existing for you guys. I can't do anything when I'm stuck in one of your guys' heads!
One, we all have to deal with that.
Fine. Who do you guys want to switch into?
I think that it should be my turn.
Three, you had your chance yesterday, it's my turn.
Out of us, you spend - and waste - the most amount of your time. You try to nap, but you have Insomnia.
It's not napping, it's-
Girls, we're not getting anywhere. The smartest use of our time is for Selene to continue to try to achieve her polarity shift. Then we'll have all the time to ourselves that we could want.
But it's not getting anywhere!
Actually, she's cut down the switching time to a third of what it was, and according to Aunt Diane, that's equivalent to a few years of living as fusion. It's only been a week, so if we keep trying, she should achieve the shift sooner than later.
Fine. Selene, it's your turn again. Hurry up, would you?
I'll do my best.
Then that was that. Pulling on their memories of being Selene, One went through the motions of switching.
...
Selene opened her eyes. She still felt a little sore from the seven hours of switching she had done before One's extended training session, but she could probably continue the polarity training.
That's the spirit!
Thanks, Two. Now, just checking, who's next in the cycle?
I believe that it's me.
So THAT'S why you wanted her to train! You just wanted your turn to come faster!
Selene rolled her eyes - after all, One would come out sooner or later. Everyone wanted to exist, but since only one of them could at a time, the next logical step was to give everyone a turn - those turns being in numerical order.
Just saying, that leaves me the last one to come out. Not really fair, is it?
You were also the first of us to come out, so it all balances out.
Like hell it does!
Three's right. All of us got a body only once before we started taking turns, except you got it twice!
I - well, Selene has had this whole body her whole life! She's the problem!
Four!
Four, don't do this! Four, don't do that! You always get on my case!
I'm shutting down this conversation now, okay?
Before any of them could continue, Selene shut her eyes, pushing hard on their mutual link. This was something completely unique to her, one that none of the other forms could feel even with their shared memories.
She was at the center of their Fusion, she was the glue that forced them all together. She was the center of their fusion.
…
Is it working?
Selene opened her eyes.
No, One, no it's not.
Selene tried again. If they were going to decentralize then she had to maybe push them apart?
…
Selene, are you okay?
Selene's stomach twisted. I'm fine. You guys know I'll be able to try it again.
Selene, I can feel your pain-
Try again, then.
Four, if she-
Fine.
Selene clenched her hands. There was some sort of trick to this, there had to be. Diane said that it came to her as it had with 'Grandpa Phosophor', and the Numbers were counting on her to pull this off.
Eve was, too.
She'd push through this. This stupid, godforsaken tribulation.
…
And then horrible pain pushed through her.
Selene!
...
Two opened her eyes, collapsed on the ground. The petals of her flowers had wilted a little, and she was finding it hard to stand.
Selene, what happened?!
I… I couldn't do it. I tried, and I… I fucked something up halfway through and…
No more polarity training for today, got it? Hell, none tomorrow either.
Three, we put these things to a vote-
No, we won't. This is non-negotiable. If you voted for us to jump off a cliff, I would fight as hard as I possibly could against it, even past the vote. For Selene's safety, for our safety, no training until she's recovered from this.
Three, you… I… fine. You're right - but even if we were to put these things to a vote, I'd vote with you.
As would I. Our combined safety is not worth rushing things over.
Yeah! I mean, I couldn't feel it, but the way you collapsed Selene - wow, that must have hurt!
Two, do you want to run through your moves?
Two forced herself to her feet. I have practiced my moves for a collective five hours over the past few days. I'm still getting acquainted with having my own sensations, so if there are no objections?
None.
None.
None.
It's not fair. I had to train.
You're the weakest of us, One. You need training the most.
I suppose. Two, you can go out and have fun if you want.
Two stood up. I'll take that opportunity, then. Do any of you want me to go someplace?
Let's check up on Eve, we haven't seen her that much lately.
Fine, but where is she?
You can look, can't you?
Two rolled her shoulders experimentally, trying to see how it felt - it felt nice - before responding. Okay, but didn't she say that she wanted to spend some time with her new friend?
Is Eve replacing us?
Of course not, she wouldn't have told us about her friend if she didn't feel close to us. She trusts us.
Four had a point, for once.
Two, do you really want to start shit right now?
No, no, let's just tour the streets of the citadel. Easily, Two would have preferred a tour in the day, where she could soak in the sunlight, but Selene's ever-growing distaste for natural light limited when they could go out.
It feels like I'm in a radiation zone even when it's cloudy! Give me a break!
I know it feels awful, Selene. I remember your pain as well. But we're polar opposites in that regard.
All the more reason that we should-
No. Break time. Two, just get going.
After saying hello to Nimbus, who still prowled loyally above her, Two started walking through the dimly lit halls of Chain's main complex. She really hadn't explored this place either, though it heavily raised her curiosity. There was a mess hall, training room, and even barracks since even Shadow Workers needed to maintain a somewhat healthy lifestyle for them to be useful, but there were also several rooms that she-
Well, they were fascinating. There was the series of 'Epsilon Chambers', rooms built exclusively for them. There were three of them so far - one for Phosophor, one for Aunt Diane, and on they were building for her.
One for Selene, to be correct. Once Selene achieves her polarity transformation, we'll get our own rooms.
There were a few other places as well - there was 'The Reviver's Room', which supposedly contained someone who had died, maybe?
Kite's master has the Life Harp now, whoever they are, so if Chain forced the master to use the Life Harp for them as payment or whatever, then maybe…
Four, it can't be used to revive the dead.
Anything's possible, Selene.
And finally, there was 'the Room'. It was the only room she was explicitly not allowed to go into, 'not for years' they said. Curiosity piqued, she and Eve tried to go and…
Two sighed, looking up at Nimbus. It was a sour reminder that Nimbus followed someone else's orders.
I mean, we'll be able to go in there eventually, right?
We'd have to stay here for years, One.
Let's go see what it is anyway!
With Nimbus above us, One?
Let's go for it, anyway.
You too?
Curiosity is the spice of life, Four.
Curiosity might be the death of us, too.
That's what makes it the spice!
That doesn't even - fine, let's just go.
Though, we do need to figure out a way around Nimbus, Any ideas?
We'll think of it when we get there!
...
Two stared at the door to 'The Room' and heard the crackling of Nimbus above her.
She's not allowed to hurt us, so we can just go in…
…
I'll say it once, I'll say it again. This was a dumb idea.
Two took a breath - no risk, no reward. She put one of her roses on the doorknob.
"Miss Two," a silky smooth voice rang from the ceiling. "Don't enter that room."
Two shivered, before looking up at Nimbus's lithe form in the rafter, staring straight into golden glowing eyes. "I'm exercising my right," she began saying, "to enter the room."
"For your safety," Nimbus continued. "You should leave."
Chin up, Two, you've got this.
Three, it really isn't that easy.
Two decided to go about it a different way. "If it's something that could endanger my safety, shouldn't I at least know what it is?"
The golden glow grew to be a bit brighter. "It cannot endanger you if you do not interact with it, my princess. Please, forget about it entirely."
This is all so susPICIOUS!
You didn't have to shout that last bit, One.
Two opened her mouth to say something else - hopefully, another rebuttal - but she was interrupted by the door opening. Immediately, she stepped back as a Rimbombee exited the room, fluttering through the air.
IT'S AUNT SEPHY!
Before Two could react, everything went dark.
...
One buzzed forward and slammed Aunt Sephy with a hug. "I missed you!"
Aunt Sephy hugged her back. "Oh, One, it's so good to…" Aunt Sephy trailed away as One began to glow again. "Ah…"
...
I WAS TALKING TO HER!
WE'RE AWARE! IT'S NOT YOUR TURN!
Two winced as One and Four's bickering smashed into her skill. "S-Sorry, Ms. Sephy-"
AUNT SEPHY!
"Aunt Sephy," Two corrected.
Sephy winced. "You all are still acclimating to it, aren't you?" she said softly. "I wish I could do something to help."
Two shook her head. "Selene's hard at work trying to get the polarity shift to work. We came to take a break, so we came to this room, and…"
Sephy closed the door behind her. "I'm sorry, honey, but I can't let you in. There are things in there that you simply aren't ready for." Sephy fluttered down to hug Two. It felt warm. "You all need to learn how to shift the polarity of your fusion."
"Not to get along?"
Sephy giggled. It was only after a couple of seconds had passed did Two realize how stupid the question was.
"Two, dear, getting along is well and good, but even the best of friends need to do different things at the same time."
Need? One didn't need to hug her!
Yes, I did!
Guys, please, my brain hurts, just stop it.
Two bit her lip. "We're not even the best of friends," she admitted. "So I think that we do need to work on that."
"Oh, heavens no. I assume this occurrence was somewhat rare?"
"Yes?" One followed the turn order mostly, with some exceptions.
"If you all weren't as close as you were, there would be fighting all the time. I spent half of my early life arguing with my sisters, even on trivial matters, and yet we still loved each other with all our hearts."
"…"
"Enough about that, honey," Sephy grabbed Two by the arms and hoisted her in the air. Two nearly attacked Sephy in frustration until she realized that Sephy put her on her shoulders and grabbed her legs - Sephy was giving her a ride.
Yaaaay!
One, I don't even know how to respond to this.
Don't!
Four, it's best for us to just let One relax.
Fine.
"Where are you taking me?" Two asked as Sephy flew through the halls of their complex.
"To meet Father, obviously," Sephy said as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "You still have yet to meet him, haven't you?"
Father - 'Phosophor'.
"No, I haven't," Two acknowledged. "He's never around." Which was a little strange, for the leader of an organization to not even be there.
"Yes, he's always busy theorizing and planning for new approaches," Sephy acknowledged. "We all get used to it, sooner or later."
"Approaches? For what?" It occurred to her that she didn't actually know Chain's end goal. They had seemed so monolithic and threatening, and she had assumed that they wanted to take over the world or something like that.
"For freeing us, Two. For breaking the Fusion."
"Phosophor wants to break the fusion? Why?"
Sephy turned her head to look at Two. "You've had your conflicts with your siblings, haven't you?" Sephy asked softly. "Conflicts that make you all fight for control. Even with four bodies instead of one, we're stuck inside each other's heads at all times, and no matter what, someone is denied their body."
"Oh."
"Has it been thirty years, forty, that I've lived?" Sephy held out one of her chitinous arms. "I can hear their thoughts now, Two. And they can hear mine. Secrets are meaningless, and freedom is an illusion that can be shattered at their whim. Their freedom can be shattered at my whim."
Two couldn't respond. She didn't know how to respond.
Do you need some space, Two?
You couldn't give me it if you wanted to, Three.
"Father invented polarity shifting to give himself and his brothers more flexibility so that only one of them would be constrained at one time instead of four. But it's not enough. He's been trying for decades, honey. Decades." Sephy squeezed Two's legs. "And we're still no closer to it than when we started."
"So what is Chain's purpose, then?"
"Support. Nothing but support. To break the fusion, Father needs time and resources for experimentation. He created the technology for Collared and Shadow Workers purely to gain more power and has tried thirty-five different ways to break the fusion. Each resulted in failure."
This is absurd. Chain's goal can't be this. Two, we have to find out-
Two shook her head. No. We've done enough digging around for today, and I want to meet the man in question.
Sephy led them outside and through the streets of the citadel. The glitz and the glamour were nice, but Two couldn't help feel a sense of discomfort. A small sense of dizziness ran through her.
Are you feeling okay, Two?
No, not really. Three, can you take over?
Really?
Please. I need to rest.
...
Three let Sephy drop her.
"Did Two want to take a break?" Sephy asked.
Three put her arms behind her back. "Yeah. Is it common among Roselia?"
"It happened with Penelope more times than I care to remember. Diane usually took charge then."
"Yeah, but now it's my turn." Unlike Two, Three felt at home in the citadel. The closed spaces, the comforting darkness, the electricity in the air, all made her feel alive. "Say, Sephy, your Fusion has a Morpeko form as well, right?"
"Oh, Io?" Sephy's smile grew strained. "She's not interested in helping Chain. At all. She lets us use her body every now and again, but not much."
"Why?"
"Morals. Phosophor doesn't force Epsilon Fusions to work, and Io is diametrically opposed to what Chain does." Sephy turned away. "It was hard on us all, but none of us could change her mind."
Okay, so someone has their head screwed on straight.
But she was hurting everyone around her!
We don't know enough about the situation to make that sort of judgment, One.
"Does she want to meet us?"
"No, I'm afraid not. But she does extend her sympathies."
I don't like Io.
As they walked through the Citadel, Sephy showed them several sights. The Pavillion was beautiful, the Anisundial was incredibly strange, and the fish market was extremely out-of-place (yet the Magikarp that Sephy bought for her on a whim was also incredibly delicious).
After twenty minutes of detours or so, though, they finally arrived at where Aunt Sephy had wanted to bring them - a venue for a party. Deep bass made the inside of her ears vibrate, but Sephy looked completely at home. The guards took one look at them and let them in, to the protest of the rest of the Citadel-goers.
"Why are we here?" Three asked as they walked through the halls. "This doesn't seem like it's related to Chain in any way."
"That's because it isn't." Sephy shook her head. "There are Shadow Workers here, of course, but only three or so - Meteor's bodyguards."
"Is Meteor one of Phosophor's forms?"
Sephy's eyes sparkled. "Exactly!"
DJ Meteor, someone that Three had only learned about within the Citadel. A local entertainer, one that had been entertaining for many years now, apparently. Somehow, he was competition to Negisa locally, but not abroad.
I call shenanigans.
This is Chain, you have to assume shenanigans.
Three shut them out. "When can I talk to him?" she pressed.
"Once he ends the party for tonight. It'll end soon, though," Sephy promised. "I have to meet someone, so you'll have to-"
"I'll come with you," Three interrupted.
They walked a little more, and then after a few seconds of silence, Sephy answered. "Very well, but please keep any comment to yourself."
Three scoffed. She'd been silent for most of her life, she could hold her tongue.
...
Three stared at the man who should be dead. "I'm sorry, what?!"
Sephy looked at her with a disappointed gaze. "Three," she warned.
Three pointed at the Samurott. "But he's supposed to be dead!" Kenki didn't react in the slightest and instead kept slashing at a training dummy. He was most certainly different, his helmet black and red instead of seashell white as it used to be and his claws now blood red, but from the signs she saw around Pinnaleis, it was undoubtedly him.
"Exactly," Sephy nodded. "Which is why this is one of the oddest miracles we've ever seen." Sephy flapped over to one side of the room, where a tiny clipboard was waiting for her. "I've yet to actually talk to him, so this will hopefully be interesting. Please, Three, observe."
How did he live? Didn't Culus say he killed him?
Absolutely, but he may have been mistaken. Three, make sure to ask her afterward.
Sephy clicked her pen, her wings dropping some dust as she did so. "Interview S-1, Subject: Kenki." As she spoke, the paper on the clipboard shimmered slightly, as the words she was dictating appeared in real-time. "Question 1: Now, Kenki, what is your name."
"..."
"No response." Sephy made a strange mark on the clipboard. "Question 2: How long have you been training for?"
"..."
"No response. Question 3: What do you remember from the afterlife?"
"..."
"No response." Sephy sighed. "This is going to be a long night, isn't it?"
...
"Question 72."
Do you think she'll get to a hundred questions without a single response? Hell, do you guys even think that Kenki can respond to any of these questions?
What time is it?
Three hummed as Aunt Sephy got another non-response. "Hey, Kenki?" she asked. "What time is it?"
"2211 military hours," Kenki intoned, not even pausing to take a breath.
Sephy paused, stared at Three, then turned back to the clipboard. "More questions, Three?"
How did it work this time?
Try more questions, Three
Three paused. "How did you die, Kenki?"
"..."
"No response," Sephy answered, making another mark. "Continue, Three."
"What time is it?"
"2212 military hours."
Obviously, it's the question that matters, not who's saying it.
That left the question about what was different. Three decided to field a lot of different questions.
"Kenki, what is my name? Kenki, how old are you? Kenki, how did you die? Kenki, where are we? Kenki, what is the number of questions that Aunt Sephy has asked?
"Your name is Three." A long pause. "She has asked seventy-two questions."
Only the first and last questions?
Three looked at Aunt Sephy. "Any patterns that you've noticed?"
Aunt Sephy was staring at Kenki. Then her eyes widened, and she cleared her throat. "Question 73. What is the name of the body currently training in this room?"
"Kenki."
Sephy's eyes glinted. "Question 74. Why does the body currently training in this room refuse to answer most of my questions?"
"It has no sense of self."
… huh?
"Question 75. Who is the body that is currently training in this room?"
"Kenki."
"Aunt Sephy, what does this mean?" Three had to ask.
Aunt Sephy placed down the clipboard, and it stopped glowing. "It appears, honey," she began. "That, in his resurrection, Kenki lost his 'sense of self'. All of the questions that refer to him, using pronouns, are unable to be answered. However, speaking to him in a roundabout manner allows for better communication."
That explained the utter lack of answers they had previously been getting. Three turned to Kenki. "Kenki, how did you- sorry, how did the body that's currently training in this room come back from the dead?"
"The corpse evolved."
Three blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"
Sephy sat down on a nearby rack of dummies, before patting one next to her. Three jumped up and sat next to her. "From the data we've gathered, one 'Kapun' used a Devolve Orb on Kenki promptly before his unfortunate death. Several hours later, the effects of the Devolve Orb wore off, and the corpse evolved. For whatever reason, that recreated vital signs in the corpse - turning it into a vegetative body we were able to properly revive."
Her body went cold. "So you can cheat death, now?"
Sephy shook her head. "His 'soul' is much weaker now - near nonexistent. It passed on with his initial death, but evolution kept something behind. Even now, though, his vital signs fade day by day. He likely only has months left before the remainder of his soul leaves, leaving a corpse once again."
Three stared at the still-training Kenki. "Why is he answering questions and training, then, instead of, I don't know, getting his affairs in order?"
"He has no affairs to get in order, as all of his properties were seized promptly after his death. More than that, he seems to have no proper will of his own - leave him alone and he'll do miscellaneous activities, but will stop everything to obey any order given to him, even if it contradicts a previous order." She sighed. "We're keeping him training to keep him safe, but it isn't perfect by any means."
Poor guy.
One, he was a tyrant.
One can still feel pity for him, though.
He's not the kind of person who deserves pity, though.
"What does he think about all of this?"
"I'd be surprised if he has the capacity for introspection. For now, we'll take care of him." Sephy hummed. "You know, he could help you train, if you feel that it's important."
Three shook her head. "I think that's enough," she muttered. "How many more questions are you going to ask?"
Sephy crossed her legs. "Honestly, I'm not sure," she said anymore. "The 'sense of self' being tied to the soul wasn't something I had considered before, so I'm glad for that. Tapping into it with the Aspects…" Sephy's eyes misted over for a second, before she hurriedly shook her head. "Never mind."
"Aspects?" Three asked.
"Something we can talk about later. Pandora's found out a lot, considering how much her daughter is telling her."
Pandora was another of her forms. "Do you have kids?"
"No, but I might have some after our goal is achieved."
"Sephy, I've told you to have some fun in your life!"
Three turned around to see a Rotom zip into the room, a blinding smile on his face.
"Y-You're DJ Meteor, aren't you?" Three asked slowly.
Meteor offered a phantasmal bolt for Three to shake. "Yours truly!" He snickered as Three's fur stood up straight when he offered a nasty shock. It didn't hurt, considering her typing, but it was definitely weird. "I've had enough fun, so I'll let Phosophor take over."
Meteor then started glowing rainbow, before the sound of wind blowing through a canyon entered the air. When it faded, the sight of him stole her breath.
Tentacles, long and slimy, wiggled hypnotically in the air. They crackled with electricity, grasping at nothing. Phosophor had no mouth, but a pitch-black beak. His eyes were pupilless but had a thick black line bisecting them horizontally. His legs were big and metallic, oddly shaped - yet, Three could have sworn that she had seen them before. And those wings - those were strangely familiar as well.
Suddenly, a long tentacle reached out and grabbed her. Three struggled a little, then realized that she wasn't trapped, but being carried up to stare Phosophor directly in the eye.
"H-Hello," she said slowly.
A tentacle poked at her. Phosophor hummed. "She's not completely rude," he judged.
"Can you please let go of me?" Three asked. Phosophor did so. "T-Thank you."
What a creep.
"Three, if I remember correctly," he said slowly. "Your mental development seems to have progressed without a hitch - yet, you have a distinct personality from Selene."
"O-Okay?"
"If it wouldn't be inconsiderate, transform into Selene for me, would you?"
Some instinct told her it would be a terrible idea to disobey, so she wasted no time in doing so.
...
Selene waved nervously, conscious of everything in the room.
Thanks, Three.
Sorry, I couldn't take it anymore.
Great - absolutely, great.
"So, Selene." The crackle of electricity was deafening. "What are your thoughts on Chain so far?"
"It's nice," she said slowly.
"I don't appreciate lies, Selene." Her heart froze.
"... it's really creepy," she admitted. "I'm not used to being pampered like this all the time. And the lack of freedom at the same time is…"
Phosophor snorted. "There are things you will come to know in time. Everything has its time and place, and you're still too inexperienced in important matters for us to be terribly trusting. I trust that you've been practicing my polarity shifting method?"
Selene winced. "It's painful. I messed up somehow and put myself in terrible pain."
Phosophor's eyes glinted. "Did you now?"
Selene said nothing.
"I must apologize," Phosophor continued. "But the chance to see your development from a single form to multiple was too much to pass up, Selene. I recognize that I could have acted earlier to bring you here, but I waited. My sincerest apologies."
Ha. As if.
Not now, Four.
"It's fine," Selene waved off. "I'd just like some questions answered."
"Ask away."
Selene took a deep breath. "Who are you?"
"Please be more specific than that."
"Fine. Why haven't I ever heard of you before I left the castle and how has Chain kept itself secret for so long?"
Phosophor's tentacles curled, languid, and his eyes twisted upwards. "Because, Selene, being 'known' among the common populace would create more problems than it would be worth. Experimenting with my name on wanted posters would be highly inconvenient, after all."
"But - but no one?"
"A little more than no one - abroad, I have many customers, some who have seen my face. I've recently decided to slowly integrate myself into royal politics as well, on Nero's request." Phosophor rolled his eyes. "Irritating, but for cooperation's sake, I will."
For cooperation's sake?
I call bullshit.
Ever the skeptic and cynic, aren't you?
Selene shook her head. "I don't understand," she professed. "To change your policy on secrecy for… Nero?"
"Another of my siblings, one much more interested in world domination than I ever was - but he's in it for the challenge," Phosophor scoffed. "His work with Black is barely amusing."
"Black?" Selene blinked. "As in, the Eonian-"
"Exactly. Our 'sponsor'." Phosophor's tentacles curled more, and a shiver went down her back. "One of Nero's pet projects."
"... I'm not ready," Selene answered. "I can't stand all this… conspiring, and-"
"And that," Phosophor concluded. "Is why you're too young."
This fucking asshole.
"I'm sorry," Selene bit out, "that I was raised with morals in mind, that mind control and world domination is completely against my ideals. I'm sorry that I'm the only one like that in this room."
Phosophor chuckled. "You'll be changing your tune quickly enough. Already, the world has turned against you - and I didn't touch your image in the least. The world - no, fate itself - reviles us. If there is any chance of things getting better for you, it is with me."
"I wouldn't be in this situation if you hadn't turned Culus into a Collared."
"Without me, you wouldn't exist."
"I don't care if you're my grandfather, that's no excuse-"
"I'm not biologically related to you." Selene's next words trailed off as Phosophor continued. "Di- Artemis was on a mission for me when she seduced your father. You were a curious miracle, an Epsilon Fusion not born from the aether, but from reproduction. If I never sent her on the mission, you would never have been born. My crimes are the sole reason you exist."
Selene opened her mouth, but a tentacle near her opened to reveal a glimmering silver spike. "So, Selene, you have a choice. You can undo my 'mistake' right here, right now. I won't stop you from trying to kill yourself, or to kill me."
"Father!" Sephy looked at Phosophor as if he was insane. "She's…"
"Or," Phosophor said, acting as if Sephy said nothing. "You can just give it back to me. I'll be happy to take it back."
He then dropped the silver spike in Selene's hands - and the cold bite of the silver burned into her.
It's a trick. Phosophor wouldn't come this far to let himself get killed by you.
… I don't think so.
I'm sorry, what?
I think he's telling the honest truth.
Selene approached Phosophor and rested the point of the spike on his flesh. Phosophor didn't react in the slightest.
Selene's blood went cold. "You're serious," she whispered.
"The choice is yours," Phosophor answered. His face betrayed nothing. "Jam it directly into my heart, I won't care."
…
Selene dropped it. "I'm not a murderer," she said.
Phosophor's eyes pierced her soul. "But I am," he announced. "And I will continue to be in the future - and I will never go to prison, for there is not a single one that can truly capture me. You have this one chance to stop everything. After this, it'll be over. You won't have the chance anymore. Killing me here and now is the morally correct choice, and every drop of blood I will spill will be in your hands."
Selene stared at the spike - and then looked into Phosophor's eyes. "Even so, I can't."
Phosophor turned away. "Then you are complicit," he announced. "Cowardice or not, morality or no, ideals or none, you had your chance. Chain would have fallen with me, and you chose to let it live."
Then his beak curled into a smile, and her heart plummeted.
"Like it or not, you're one of us."
And with a rainbow glow, he was gone.
Selene was never going to kill him.
Ooh, but what if she did?
She was never going to, he assured. And on the infinitesimal possibility that she would, I would have survived. I only ever promised to not stop her, never to die.
Phosophor ignored Nero's snort. It was nothing more than a quick check-in, just to see if Nero had messed anything up. He hadn't, Nero was more or less loyal to Phosophor's cause, but you could never be sure after him.
Have fun with your politics, Phosophor continued. I'll be visiting Parasel.
With that, he left Nero's body and traveled the infinitely long, yet infinitely short, path to Parasel's body. He slipped in soundlessly.
What were the results?
It went well enough-
The details.
If he could, Phosophor would have rolled his eyes. She was full of teenage bluster and indignance, but she had nothing to back it up. Civilization has made her soft again.
Did Diane react poorly?
Sephyle, actually, and she reacted fine enough. Phosophor popped up in Meteor to make a quick check. Right now, Sephy is consoling the girl.
She's only of limited use, then.
She still has years to grow up, he assured his brother. She's in an environment that will encourage her to join us.
Any backup plans?
A second bodyguard, if Nimbus proves unreliable in keeping her in check. Phosophor sighed. This is for Diane, mind you.
A waste of resources.
As I said, it keeps Diane in line and happy, and if Selene develops well, then it'll blossom beautifully
Despite what he said, Phosophor knew that Selene was unimportant at the end of the day.
And the Eevee princess?
She's being kept in line. She was less important than Selene, so Phosophor wouldn't expend more resources than absolutely necessary. Negisa's handling her well.
Phosophor felt Parasel's displeasure, but Parasel kept his thoughts in check. He appreciated Parasel's caution, but really, she was completely unimportant. Chain had developed to the point that they could be revealed to the world without serious repercussions.
Have you thought about your next avenue? Parasel asked instead - and immediately, Phosophor's good mood plummeted.
Other than getting the help of a legendary? Phosophor asked rhetorically.
Yes. And of course, Parasel ignored it. That being said…
The Aspects. A completely new field of power - it may have the power we seek.
Then you'll be dissolving Key?
Not yet, I still can use them for a little longer. They're doing a mediocre-enough job into looking into the Aspects themselves. To stop him, an amusing enough thought. Pandora's daughter is learning it, so if Key dissolves, we'll be able to take a user to experiment on.
So you'll be doing nothing? A vacation?
Phosophor sneered. "Of course not. The Aspect method will take time, so we can continue the fusion attempts."
Very well.
As Parasel continued developing his DNA serum - making it faster, less immediately lethal - Phosophor decided to take a minute before going into Meteor to switch and slip into a lab to reminisce.
...
The sounds of screaming outside woke him up. Blearily, his eyes cracked open.
Phosophor, you have to check that out!
He doesn't have to, weenie. We can listen to this for a little longer.
No, I'm with-
Shut up, all of you, he snapped. He slipped out of bed, before leaving for the plains outside.
It took three seconds to fly to the nearby ditch. It took a few seconds to assess the situation - a Dewott was busy protecting a Misdreavus from the attacks of a feral Mightyena, eyes glowing red. The Dewott was seriously injured, but not as much as the dying Misdreavus.
Save her!
Let them die!
Phosophor decided to ignore Nero and smashed his tentacles into the Mightyena. Even now, he was marveling at the strength of his tentacles - evolution truly had done him good. A few seconds later, the Mightyena came back, the idiot. Phosophor wasted no time in decapitating him.
He then turned to the Dewott, who was staring at him awestruck. "Dispose of the body, will you?" he said. "Because I want to go back to sleep."
The Dewott gulped. "S-Sir," he began. "My… my name is Kenki. Can you… help my sister?"
Phosophor paused. "Sister?"
"Not biological, we've just been together since-" Kenki shook his head. "Never mind, just help her!"
Phosophor sneered. "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. She's too far gone for me, barely clinging onto life."
"But - but you have to!" Kenki prostrated himself before Phosophor. "P-Please!"
Phosophor scoffed. He-
Phosophor, please!
No. And we can't, anyway.
Phosophor!
As I said, we can't-
Actually, if we use the prototype, we might have a shot.
Phosophor paused. The Collar prototype, the one that was based on the one they found in the ruins. If they used that, then…
Phosophor approached the girl. "What is your name?" he intoned.
The Misdreavus was crying in pain, blood flowing from her locks. "N-N-Negisa…" she croaked.
"Negisa. I have one opportunity to save you - but you will never be the same. You will become my slave for the rest of your life, as a necessity. Are you willing?"
Kenki stared at him. "W-What?!"
"The choice is yours, Negisa."
The sobs grew louder. "P-Please!"
Phosophor cradled the girl. "Then, my slave, prepare to live."
Two months, huh? It's getting harder and harder to write this story.
Thanks for reading! If you liked the chapter, feel free to like and review, it means a lot to me!
