Author's note/preface
About a year ago, I was given the opportunity to participate in an alpha test of Sable, an RPG maker engine for the blind and visually impaired.
As the test was only three weeks long, and the designers of the engine threw the test together as a covid-19 consideration, no formal documentation or instructions were provided, save for a few instructional videos from a year prior.
So, in three weeks, I not only had to learn the engine from scratch, but also had to submit a demo that showed what I'd learned.
My Fanfiction "Attached", that can be read here on , had a lot of back story concerning the character of Bella that had gone unexplored up to this point.
So I used the character and her back story to put together a playable demo that used a lot of out-of-the-box thinking to get around a lot of the technical limitations of the Sable engine.
Paul; the creator of Sable; was so impressed with my demo that he not only hosted it on his company's youtube channel (Ebon Sky Studios), but also gave me a spot on the private testing team.
What follows is an attempt at a novelization of the project, as many of the events within will be referenced later on in "attached" itself.
As with that story, let me reiterate that I am visually impaired in real life, so describing scenery and characters will be vary hard for me.
Also, I am writing this in the first person present style; something I've never done before.
One final note: some of the dialogue is copied directly from the sable project.
This will probably be a three chapter story, though more may be added with the expansion of the Bella project.
Will this get expanded first or the Sable project? Well, who knows at this stage...
If you want to listen to the Sable project, a demo of it can be found on the Ebon sky studios youtube channel, along with two others made during the alpha test, and the afor mentioned demos made during Sable's pre-alpha phase.
A lot of things have been added since then, along with the removal of the brush size mechanic, but the demos should give a deasant taste of what Sable can do.
Also, keep in mind that all of the demos were made using alpha software, and music, sound effects and voice lines used in said demos are for testing purposes only.
All of the music in Bella, along with sound effects and dialogue sound bites will be replaced if the project goes public.
As for the voice narating most of the project?
It's Ivona 2 Jennifer, a software product that is sadly no longer available for purchase, as Amazon slurped up the company and all of its assets not to long ago.
The demos heard on the channel were submitted as recordings do to dRM restrictions placed on alpha projects that prevented users from directly sharing project files or sending them over for Ebon Sky Studios to run.
Well, with all of that disclaimer stuff out of the way, I present, Bella.
Bella
A Prologue to "Attached"
By ThreeBlackNoises
Chapter 1
Birth?
All is dark, except for a reflective surface directly in front of my eyes.
as a result, I see what is undoubtedly, myself, and I'm a sight to behold.
I'm not pretty, though I do exist as a 6 or so foot tall being made of, what appears to be pink rock of some kind, or maybe its coral?
I stand on two legs, and have two arms, though my hands are more like claws.
My face is little more than a ball of the same pink coral substance with something sort of like a sharp beak for a mouth, no nose at all, and vague holes for eyes.
I'm not really skinny or fat, though my slightly hefty frame does seem to take a small bit of time to respond to my mental commands as I look around the room I find myself in.
It's all dark metal, aside from the reflective surface, though nothing of note exists here.
the voice of an unseen man calls out to me as I take stalk of my situation.
He wants me to respond to him, though my vocal apparatus fails to meet the demands placed on it.
So, I quest outward with my mind; because it seems logical to do; until I find his and drop my idea of communicating into it.
This man's name is Giovanni, and for some reason, he created me. I didn't turn out quite as well as he would have liked, though I'm still functional enough to fulfill his wishes.
It turns out, I was brought into a world filled with creatures called Pokémon, and they've been a blight on this world for countless decades.
my purpose is to remove as many of them as possible within the time I have.
Am I one of these Pokémon? Not really, though parts of them have been spliced into me.
Am I human? No, I'm something of a mixed bag, as it were.
Giovanni tells me to discover what I am and what I can do, and leaves it at that.
So what do I do? I start exploring the world I find myself in.
My steps are sure as I explore the entirety of this room.
There isn't much to interact with, save for a few objects pressed up against the wall in front of me, and a door to my right.
Giovanni said explore right? So I head for the door, only to find it locked, and that I don't have the car key needed to open it.
No matter. the devices must hold the answer.
I head toward them, but notice a trunk jammed against the far right wall.
Opening it, I find a bag of five bottles containing a strange substance.
Somehow, I know these to be hyper potions, capable of reversing any damage done to me.
Taking the bag and slinging it over my person, I venture to the other side of the room and examine the first device against the far left wall.
It doesn't do much except display the message "Memories uploaded," so I move to the next device.
this particular apparatus is cylindrical, and appears to allow me to walk inside of it, though my entrance is bard by a request for authorization.
Oh well, that must be the purpose of the final device; an unremarkable blocky thing that simply displays information.
Apparently my name is Bella; according to said device; called computer, so that's what I'll call myself; not that I expect to be introducing myself to anyone that will care.
The computer inquires as to the nature of my request, so I send a mental request for authorization.
Nothing happens though, and the computer eventually asks for me to speak my request aloud.
This isn't something I can do, but I'll need to if I wish to carry out Giovanni's mission.
Not sure what else to do, I draw in a huge amount of air, and force it out in the hopes that a favorable result will occur.
This does nothing except expel a huge gout of breath that the computer analyzes and reports the high poison content it contains.
It then recommends that I use this poison breath technique against my enemies before once again asking me to speak my request aloud.
I have to expel a lot of poisonous breath before I get my vocal apparatus to do something, but it's just a much longer poison breath.
The computer notes this, before telling me to pass air over my larynx in order that I might produce sound.
This, takes some time.
at first, all I can achieve is the vibration of said larynx; producing a raw flat sound.
I play around with it, and eventually manage other sounds.
Finally, after an excruciatingly long time, I manage to croak out an access request.
annoyingly, the computer wishes me to specify what device I want access to.
"This, one." I croak; pointing to the cylindrical device.
examining said device, I eventually find the words, simulation Pod, written across its front, just above the door.
Letting out a vary poisonous sigh, I plant myself in front of the computer again.
I speak its name, then ask for simulation authorization.
finally, I'm admitted.
The simulation pod opens; ready to receive me, and I step inside it.
As it closes, a voice tells me that my authorization is accepted, before everything, goes black.
I wake up, in a forest.
No signs exist of the simulation that brought me here.
From the memories; presumably implanted into me; I know that a simulation, is a fake reality inside of a machine called a computer.
I'd interacted with such a device before arriving here, so, I must assume that everything I see, hear and experience until further notice, isn't real.
This place is vary, peaceful, however, I've been given no mission, as such.
Perhaps, it's farther in?
My arrival was masked by a lot of trees in front of me, so I pass them and continue forward.
A lot of creatures; Pokémon, I presume; attack me on sight.
Some long Ekans and Arboc attempt to poison me, but the Draconian protection I possess easily thwarts the venom before it can reach my vanes.
Do I even have vanes? No matter, the mission.
Siders next.
They're trying to kill me as well.
But they're so much easier to dispatch than the snakes.
Pressing on, I discover a group of four espeon who teleport away at the sight of me.
I can't really blame them, I'd run to.
They must be my targets for this mission, and they left a strange signature behind that I can somehow track to a small cave, nestled in a hedge just north of my position.
I set my sights on said cave, but before I get to far, I'm set upon by a small army of Spinarak; small spider Pokémon thirsty for any part of me they can get.
They are; of course; unsuccessful, but I figure out how to set them a blaze, by expelling fiery breath from my mouth.
They run away, but two Ariados leap from near by trees and attack.
These brutes manage to knock me to the ground, but their mandibles faille to penetrate my rocky shell.
I manage to summon a wave of water that gets them off of me, but they come back for more as I lumber to my feet.
I'm losing time dealing with this riffraff, so I punch and kick them aside and make it to the cave, only to be attacked by a hoard of Zoobat.
They shriek as they attack, but I rip them to shreds and continue on my way.
These shrieks turn out not to be out of fear, but to summon their leaders, a big group of Golbat.
These creatures are nothing to me, but as I engage them in combat, a group of Paras and Parasect attack me as well.
These, I set on fire with my breath, and blood lust takes care of the rest,
With all attackers distracted by the feeding frenzy, I manage to locate the espeon as they cower in fear against the far back wall on the cave's lowest level.
"There's nowhere to run." I croak; surprising myself.
Emboldened by my new vocal capabilities, I draw more breath that I might say more.
"I, have you, now." I say; taking pleasure; not only in the way my words inspire fear in my targets, but also at how I've also filled the cave with a cloud of poisonous air that'll no doubt infect the Espeon.
They scream and attack as a team.
They manage to do me a great deal of harm, using rays of light that; somehow; manage to penetrate my rocky shell.
I roar in frustration and pain, and the resulting breath seems to freeze the espeon for a vary short time.
I use this time to recover my health, but they soon brake out of the ice and ; working together; manage to pick me up and throw me to the ground several times with psychic powers.
I don't feel much pain from this, but I yell out anyway, and they seem satisfied with the results of their labor.
I use this time to replicate the psychic powers and hold all four Espeon up in the air.
"PLEASE!" They beg, but I'm done with them.
Using the same psychic powers, I rip all for Espeon open and leave them bleeding out on the cave floor.
They scream in pain, but that's not an issue, as I've completed my mission.
Time to go.
Without a second glance at their dyeing forms, I reverse course and head back the way I came.
The feeding frenzy is still occurring, so I slip past all opposition and head for the caves exit.
Meanwhile, the Espeon lay dyeing where Bella left them.
What appears to be a young woman approaches them.
She looks normal enough, Save for the shimmering illusion of a dress where a real one should be.
The woman looks down on all four of the Espeon with a pitying expression on her face.
(Oh you poor poor creatures! what happened here?) she asked telepathically.
"That, thing. It has no morals." One of the espeon said; pointing with it's paw in the direction Bella went.
(It only wanted us to die.) His mate added.
(Yeah like it had, like, a mission or something.) A smaller espeon added.
Another small espeon tried to smile.
(Little brother, stop adding all those likes into your thought patterns.)
(why does it matter at this point anyway big sister? aren't we, like, dyeing?)
(Yes children, we are.) The mother confirmed.
(We'll teleport to the burial site soon.) The father informed: starting to glow along with his mate.
(Not if I put the blood back into you first!) The woman vowed.
(Kind Gardevoir, that's beyond your current strength.) The father said; somehow looking both amused and touched through the pain.
(I can't just watch you die!) Gardevoir said, both with her mind as well as her mouth.
(You don't have a choice deer.) The mother said; a gentle look coming through her pain.
(Hay Mom? That offal creature thinks she's in a, simulation. The goal of witch is to kill us!) The brother said; looking unsure about something.
(Oh no. She thinks she's in a computer program. No wonder she killed without mercy!
I have to stop her! But I need a small place, a cave or something to be able to focus enough power to strike her down.) Gardevoir explained; a horrified look on her face.
(We know a place not to far from here. dad, how much power do we need to reach the burial grounds?) The sister inquired.
(Not much daughter. Why?) He asked.
I feel the air changing as I climb back up the floors of the cave.
I also hear the sound of night life intensify as I near the entrance of the cave and enter the forest once again.
The cool air makes me feel, something, and I stop for a moment to rest and heal the damage done by the Espeon in our battle.
"I'll get you yet, Bella." The Gardevoir said as she left the espeon behind.
Unable to save them, she'd made them a promise, and in return, they'd granted her a gift befitting of a queen.
Now wearing a magnificent velvet dress that glows in the dark, Elizabeth Gardevoir stocks Bella with a determined expression on her face.
Having recovered my strength, I begin heading for the arrival point, hoping a portal of some kind will be waiting to return me to base.
various wildlife still attacks me, but it's no concern of mine, and I brush it all off with little effort.
As I near the formation of trees that mark my arrival point, my vision suddenly fails me, and I'm transported to a new place.
I'm greeted by the sight of cliffs as my eyes open.
Cliffs, all around me, and I'm standing in a valley nestled in the heart of said cliffs.
The wind whistles through the cliffs, and I'm buffeted by its force as I make my way toward a cave built into one of the cliffs.
The shelter of the cave is inviting, but an angry woman appears out of nowhere to block my path.
The woman looks vary opposing, and even though a vale covers her face, her snarl leaves no doubt as to her intentions.
She attacks, and I defend, but she's much stronger than me, at least in the beginning.
As we clash, again and again, it becomes apparent to me that she's some kind of Pokémon human hybrid.
She uses a lot of my techniques, plus a few new ones, such as shooting a beam of water from her mouth.
I copy this easily, but she starts using the moves that belonged to the Espeon as well.
We throw each other around a bit, and exchange blasts of light rays, but she's much stronger than me.
I however, have more health than she does, so I eventually gain the upper hand.
As I'm readying the finishing blow, she finds enough strength to teleport away.
As with the espeon, she doesn't make it vary far.
I'd already planned to spend some time in the cave before scaling the cliffs and returning to base, so finishing her off is just a small bonus.
Entering the cave, I find her calmly staring me down.
a distant memory surfaces.
This woman is my handler, but I'm still in a simulation.
The conclusion is easy to make.
she's programmed in as a test of sorts, and I will pass it.
"Do you know why you are here?" She asks.
Ah, a battle of words now, I'm still new at this, but I can still win.
"No I don't." I say; inviting her to explain and take the first step.
"well then, do you know what you have just done?" She asks.
I've done several things during the simulation, but I deduce that she wants some kind of report, so I give her a simple one.
"Followed the required orders to complete the simulation."
The woman looks at me with disapproval.
"What are you talking about. this is the real world." she says; a hard tone in her voice.
I know better than that.
"Yes, as programmed by Giovanni." I agree smartly.
"You really don't get it. do you." she challenges.
"Get what, I completed my mission and got rid of those espeon from this world." I explain calmly.
"Oh you got rid of them all right, and not like the other creatures you knocked out on your way to your, goal." she says; mocking laughter in her voice.
I'm not sure how to respond to this line of reasoning, but I'm now wasting time with this simulated object.
"My mission is complete here. You can't hurt me, so, I'm leaving now." I say, and I turn to leave.
Her sigh stops me in my tracks, and; despite everything; I turn to face her once again.
"I can't hurt you?" She mocks before throwing up her hands.
"Your mind must be really warped if you can't believe what you see and hear.
So, as punishment for your crimes against Pokémon, and your ignorance of your own existence, I shall now, judge you. learn your lesson well."
Without warning, a huge bolt of energy; possibly lightning? strikes me full on.
The pain is incredible, and I expel a rather pathetic scream of pain as my world goes black, again.
The only thing different this time, is that; for some weird reason, I register the fact that my body hits the cold cave floor with a dull thud, before I am dead to the world.
