July 3130
Date: U/A
Time: U/A
As we stood in an empty blackness, I felt myself momentarily back in a single state of mind. Aria stood directly behind me her small frame pressed as far up to my body as we could get.
"You know... we seem to end up here a lot these days..." I muttered dryly.
"Beh sze, I am amazed you can be so calm about this. " She said before we turned to face one another.
In this dream world, the two of us had not changed. I still looked entirely like myself, and she looked the same as before. I lifted my hand, then ran my fingers through her hair. All around us, I could tell that we were in the same boundary between dreams and wake that we had found ourselves in after the singularity. There were no outside influences save our own presence.
Seemed as good a place as any to begin talking out what in the hell is even going on.
My hands fell upon hers, then our eyes interlocked. In this weird state, our words could come without hindrance. So, I began by asking the obvious question.
"Ses Frau vet Aria, Do you have any legends or anything that can help the two of us understand what's going on? I have to admit, seeing the changes to our bodies has me worried for you. I am worried that whatever is going on is hurting you."
She smiled then nuzzled her face into the crook of my neck.
"Truth be told, there are no legends which cover this. The closest I can think of is the one about the Human who got turned into a gardevoir to learn a lesson, but it was our kind of bond that turned him back. That's no good. We are on the opposite end of this..."
I gave a slight sigh, then began contemplating a few instances. The only one that came to mind was when a gardevoir traced a humans latent psychic potential that caused her genomic structure to begin changing. Even then, there was no correlation.
"Is... it possible that we touched something that we aren't supposed to? That becoming one thinking entity resulted in our traits melding into one another?" I asked.
She tilted her head, then melodically hummed as she contemplated what I said. "It might well be that we simply reached a level only two Gardevoir were supposed to reach..." She opined.
In mutual frustration, we slid down to allow ourselves to be in a seated position. It felt as if we were simply suspended in the air in that moment. We had little awareness of proper orientation, so our bodies reacted only in accordance to what we wanted.
"You know what though?" I suddenly asked.
"What is it Beh sze mit Rowan?" she asked with a smile that seemed to be so sweet that it was pure honey.
"As long as I can remain with you... I'll accept whatever happens to me. However, if you suffer any ill effects..." I trailed off.
Suddenly, I found her lips upon mine as her hand went to my cheek. Surprised, I found my lips folding into the kiss and my hand reaching up to caress hers as well. Suddenly, she pulled away, then offered a grand smile. One of pure joy.
"Silly! I don't think this will kill us! Nor will it really hurt. Instead, we will just become like the others!" She chirped these words before she placed her hands behind her back.
"I worry about that... more than anything else, little else matters except your safety and our childs safety... those are the most important things to me Ses frau. No other worries trouble my heart like them. "
She smiled brightly as she brought her hand to mine again.
We stayed locked in this embrace for a few moments before I finally looked around again.
"Hey, speaking of, this is like, the intersection of both of our minds right?" I asked.
"I...think so. Why do you ask?" She said as she tilted her head to the side with a questioning look.
I waved my hand around blandly before I continued. "Well... I'm just wondering why there's so...little here. I would have expected like... a beach or something. That would have been nice."
Aria giggled then took my free hand in her free hand. She then looked at my then at the emptiness around us.
"Who care's? We have each other"
Before I could respond, we found ourselves emerging from sleep. Our eyes opened slowly, both sets of pupils squinting from the harsh light of day that threatened to override our vision. When we passed out, it was early evening easily. Now however, we estimated it was at the least high noon.
We sat up but realized we were in separate beds from one another. In confusion, our hands lashed out, then suddenly made contact. We were all of 4 feet away from each other the whole time. As we both sat up, we realized for a moment that we were still in the others camp. Which meant that this was some other tent or it was possibly the big work tent from the other day.
We looked at each other, then looked around at our surroundings. We were in a walled off portion of the big wall tent. Judging by the barrier and the electric hum of the F-T satellite transceiver, we were in the work tent.
Suddenly, the tent flap was pulled away as Krafft walked in, then immediately walked over to the other side of the divider. His steps suddenly stopped abruptly before he walked back over to see us sitting upright, once again holding hands and looking at him.
"Good morning!" we called out. The excessive exuberance was certainly Arias doing. There was no way that was a Rowan trait.
"Ah... You two are waking up finally! It has been maybe 2 days then yes?" He said. He then turned and left the tent.
We were left alone for a moment, looking at one another. After two days of sleep, our vision was clearer, we were aware then of the slight changes that had occurred. Arias red eyes had become a fair bit bluer. However, her skin seemed more enlivened than it previously was. It instead looked more like a very pale person or someone with a porcelain like complexion. Kind of like some of the people in the northern countries with their red hair. Other than that, she looked, for the most part unchanged.
The Rowan aspect of ourselves looked a fair bit different from what we had initially thought. Pale skin was made paler. In fact, our skin tones began to match one another's. We both looked rather pale, as if we had never seen any good sun. Instead of Rowan appearing slightly taller and more bulky, we were looking at each other. We were, in a sense, the same height. However, aside from that, we shared no further commonality. She still was very much a Gardevoir and He still very much human.
We did not share the heart that we knew of...
The tent flap was pushed aside again as a new figure walked in on us. We turned to look but were surprised to find not Krafft, Sycamore, of Freeman, but Aitsu. He stood before us surveying our confused expressions, then simply turned around. We knew, without him having to say a word that we should follow along.
Wordlessly, we followed along behind him as he led us away from Krafft and the camp and back to our Te Ze. We felt a fair bit worried as he never once seemed to speak whilst we entered the communal area, then indicated for us to be seated.
As we were received, we were quickly given a double portion of fruits that we quietly began eating in sync with one another. More than anything, we were waiting for him or the Matriarch to speak. Instead, we felt curiosity as we ate. Our thoughts mixed together as we enjoyed the hasty meal of banana and mango. This was a real rarity in these parts. We had never seen them since Rowan came. Even now, we had no idea that two were even here. We examined the fruit with curiosity as we happily enjoyed the tart sweetness. Our happiness seemed to mutually fortify ourselves whilst we ate. Providing a strange sort of nutrition that we could not clearly articulate.
Whatever it was, it was enough for us to feel energized, as if the happiness of eating such a humble fruit was more than enough for us to go all day.
First off, I understand the two of you have synchronized. In every Gardevoirs life, for a while, two share a single mic tem. When this happens, the final barriers to understanding fall away. Neither of you can keep any aspect of your hearts from one another. Your thoughts flow freely between the two of you. Yet what is unusual is that this has happened between a human and a Gardevoir. Aitsu began.
While it is not unusual for a human to mate with one of us. What is unusual is for the human to go this far in their mating. Physiological changes are part of this process. Since the two of you are one, it is only natural that you share such changes. We know of only a few who have had similar experiences, but we do not know what else may happen.
The matriarch said that with a worried expression.
If you two wish to continue helping your friends, you may do so. But be aware that whatever happens to one, the other will feel in the same intensity. Rowan mit beh, prepare for an onslaught of emotions that you cannot handle. Humanities awareness of emotion has always been limited to how much you give to them.
We nodded in sync with one another as Aitsu carried on.
Finally, he smiled then nodded to the freshly eaten Mango at our feet.
Exotic fruit is usually saved for the mates who finally complete the unification ceremony. Normally this is done in the presence of the Te Ze. However, whatever happened over there caused it to happen outside of our presence. While this does not diminish the emotional rush, we are all aware that we should have been there. As such, we hope that no ill intent is expressed.
The matriarch... she was always so direct.
Our hearts went out to her. This was supposed to be a very important thing for both of us. Yet whatever pushed it forth so quickly happened without warning. We felt bad for her because she did have an expressed desire to be there for us so that we could take those steps together. Still, we gave an apologetic smile.
We are sorry that it happened away from our much beloved Te Ze, if we had a way of knowing that this emotional loop would have brought us unity, we would have committed the ceremony knowingly in front of you. We hope that we did not disappoint you at all. We said, both of our heads bowing slightly.
A surge of sympathy was felt as she glided over to us, then gently took us into her arms. We curled up into her embrace, our emotions bridging the gap between the three of us, thereby sharing the love and comfort of family. After a moment, she let go, then stepped back as Aitsu glided up, then pulled us into his arms as well.
As he held us, we heard him say in a quiet voice No matter what, we will always be here for the both of you. Before he then pulled away.
Asa then stumbled up. Her tiny Ralts body looked at us with a curious expression, then gave a bright smile as she jumped up into our waiting arms. She didn't understand fully what was going on, but was happy for us.
We found it odd for a moment that they were congratulating us so shortly after we had nearly died. But then it occurred to us that no matter the circumstances, our unification was seen as the most important part of our courtship. No matter the eggs that would come or have come before, this marked the moment where our unification put our lives in each other's hands. A notion that we were very much struck by. In the human sense, this was very much like being officially wed.
We smiled at the rest of them whilst holding our hands. Arias thoughts led in this one. Her thoughts gave us the words needed to articulate the gratitude we felt for their acceptance and love. Further, her thoughts also allowed us to articulate the comfort their words brought.
We thank you for your acceptance. Our love could not have grown without the support from you. Your guidance has allowed us to discover deeper aspects of ourselves that we were never aware of. Matriarch, had it not been for your graces, we would never have grown close. Aitsu, without your patience and guidance, we would never have developed a deeper understanding of our cultures. We are forever in your debt for your kindness.
Our gratitude expressed, we found ourselves drifting back towards our egg. We sat down next to it, then were overcome with a quiet sense of peace. We tended to our egg for a few more moments before we found ourselves curled up next to one another. In our peace, we found ourselves thinking about a sense of bliss that seemed to accompany this peculiar situation we found ourselves in. Thoughts so in sync that we now functioned as one unified being, we could feel each of our thoughts on a deeper sense. The lingering senses of wonder that she expressed were like a constant undertone that seemed to cast additional light on the world. Each and every mood had color associated with it. The love for our future child had the coloration of deep vivid reds and pinks. Each of us in our own rights too carried tones.
After about an hour of allowing ourselves to bask in this feeling, we found ourselves wandering back to the camp. Freeman and Sycamore seemed to be in deeper discussion. Freeman's thoughts conveyed worry as he was unable to quantify what it was the two of us were experiencing. However, Sycamore seemed enthusiastic to see what breakthroughs would be had. Kraffts emotions were a dark purple of worry. He did not share in the contrasting thoughts these two seemed to have. We could tell that his primary concern was us. Freeman seemed to be ok with the notion of continued testing. However, he wanted better data from the labs. Our blood samples had been sent out via data transfer. Interestingly enough, the same technique that allowed for pokemon to be stored in a PC allowed for our blood samples to be sent. Usually a humans wouldn't have sent. Which worried us a little.
If our blood could be sent, what did that say about the Rowan aspect of ourselves? We felt those worries but did not get the chance to really dwell on them as we watched Krafft emerge from the wall tent, then walk over to Freeman and Sycamore. We could feel his mood change from troubled to furious. From a distance, we could not make out his discussion, but a sense of urgency filled his voice as he suddenly waved his arms in an expressively agitated manner. Sycamores emotions took on a blue tint as he fought to stay calm while expressing his viewpoint.
As we got closer, we began to make out the argument better.
"I am thinking this has gone on far enough! Rowan can not be exposed to more of this." Krafft said with a desperate sense of urgency in his voice.
"We shouldn't push it too much, but what's done is done. There's no correlation between the physiological changes and the Singularity itself though. I think it has something to do with the two of them acting all... like they're one person or something..." Sycamore insisted.
"Oh? What's to say that trying your little Mega Evolution won't push him or her for that matter, past a point of no return? Can we even be certain?" Krafft thundered.
"Look, the fact remains that this turn of events does represent something bigger than just our individual studies. I think we should try to isolate the cause of this before we make assumptions that things like the Singularity was the cause of it." Freeman quietly grumbled.
Maurice turned on him. "It was you who pushed them in the first place! You couldn't leave it well enough alone. If he wants to be with her, we shouldn't have said a word. Instead, you pushed them to thinking they have to prove themselves for your respect and acceptance. Do you realize that the entire time you've been here, he's tried to become your friend? Or are you that emotionally closed off that you cannot see beyond your own objectives?"
Freeman turned away then shook his head. "I can see. The thing is though that I have to maintain my professional distance from all people. I've seen first hand what getting too involved does. Heck, we are seeing it right now."
"Look, could you two just focus? We need to decide if the risks are worth continuing the experiment. On one hand, we really are in uncharted waters here. Nothing on record ever has indicated this kind of condition on a human and a pokemon. The most we've seen is one or the other becoming subservient. Not the two literally changing into each other. This is absolutely absurd!" Sycamore stated.
By the time he said that. We had arrived. Our footsteps were quiet, so we more or less had the jump on them as we spoke up.
"Why not just continue with it? We are fine with whatever happens. If it means data to help us all understand Gardevoir better, then we aren't afraid of what will happen." We said in the quadruple effect of both mental and both vocal.
The three stopped dead then looked at us.
We smiled as we nodded to them.
"We realize that this is unknown and we can easily stop. However, we want to help the both of you out. Both of you have a lot to gain with the knowledge you gleam. And if we can be the source of even a tiny portion of that knowledge, isn't that something worth trying? The risks are there, but we will accept the consequences. Normally, the dualism bond that we now share doesn't affect us in this regard... but we realize that the extremes we have gone to is what's pushed us. We feel eager and able to push it a little further for you three... You're the closest things to true friends and a father figure we have had."
Maurice threw a rag on the ground, then stomped back off to the wall tent. Clearly, our words were not received well. Shortly, we heard him begin talking in a more expressive kalosian to a female. Likely his wife. We then turned our attention away from the tense confused emotions of Maurice to resume looking at Freeman and Sycamore.
Sycamore was the first to break the silence that had fallen after we made our case.
"Look, you don't have to. I have a lot of data as it is on the jewels themselves. Replicating them without the jewels is only meant to verify the potential origins and if it's the jewels themselves that amplify a bond, or if the jewels just channel it. You don't have to risk yourselves for that..."
Freeman looked between the three of us, then shook his head.
"You two are something else... Rowan, aren't you the least bit... I don't know, worried about what's happened to you? You stand at the edge of loosing your human life. Doesn't that bother you?"
A flash of empathy arced between the three of us. We looked at Freeman, then gave a slight shake of the head before we answered.
"It doesn't. And you of all people should know why..." We said.
A single name was broadcast from us to him. The name of someone he cared about more than anyone else in this world. Christian Bates.
His eyes widened as he realized we knew. However, we radiated acceptance. We understood why he felt the way he did. Why he worried. We and him shared a relationship which was seen as taboo still. His though, was still seen as more wrong than ours. When one loved someone of the same gender after all, it was natural that they would be the ones targeted, seen as less than human, and degraded.
It only made sense that he knew exactly the road that lay before us.
He broke eye contact, then seemed to drill holes in the earth with his eyes. Without another word being spoken, he turned around, then gave a slight wave of his hand. It was clear that he had agreed to our suggestion to keep on going.
Sycamore sighed as he realized that we were ready to go through with our first attempt at a Mega evolution. We could feel the unease radiating off of him, knowing full well that opportunities to stop us had come and gone.
We now took our own possible fates in our own hands. We made it through the singularity experiment, the single most energy and emotional stability intensive move we would ever try. To our naive minds, a mega evolution should be a walk in the proverbial park by comparison. However, while we may simply think that, we knew, in an intrinsic way, that we were perhaps moving too rapidly towards something we were not quite ready for in a more basic sense.
Regardless, we found ourselves again away from both our Te ze and their camp. This time there were only a few recording devices. Two of which were cameras, the MEG again was on our heads, and a few other devices we could not identify, even with Rowans extensive knowledge, were perched on small tripods. We stood at 5 feet of separation. To us, this seemed to far a distance. It made us feel rather sluggish. Further, without direct contact with one another, we felt disoriented. We had grown entirely used to it by that point.
Sycamore looked at the two of us, then nodded as Freemans computers indicated that there was a clear read from all sensors. The video Cameras were collecting a proper 3 dimensional image, and the MEGs were transmitting their data properly. We beamed at the two of them as we awaited their commands.
"Alright, so if emotional states are a part of this, I want you both to fall into that similar emotional trance you lapsed into before with the singularity." Sycamore said.
"Wait a second" Freeman suddenly said.
"What is it?" we asked.
He looked between Sycamore then us before he finally spoke up.
"Look, I don't think the same emotional state is going to work. I want you two to focus on your love from one another. Then I want you two to lose yourself in only the love. Then I think the concept of protection should be interlaced into those feelings while feeling confidence bordering on arrogance... We might have the best luck with that approach."
Our heads tilted, but accepted what he said.
Our eyes closed as we allowed our consciousness to begin tracing emotion. We felt both of our minds bent entirely on this task. We felt our hearts touch upon something. It felt like the same thing we had touched upon when our hearts first interlocked when we danced. There was a sense of something pulsing in this mauve colored vastness. As if we were standing before a great ocean that seemed to contain the sum of all emotions we would carve out in our lives.
Like the dance, we felt our hearts dip gingerly upon the surface of this vastness. With each minute slice, arrays of colors ranging from the deepest reds to the most brilliant yellow splayed out into our field of perception. We could feel each twisting, comporting themselves from a feeling to an emotion before our very awareness. In each minor stroke, we felt the emotions come forth into our external hearts. The gentle pulsing of each move becoming more tangible. As if we were creating emotion from nothing.
We could feel it enveloping us ever more. Touches of the feelings we shared. Vulnerability took on a gentle pink that was overwashed by a strong amber of protection. They seemed to separate into a world of colors that coalesced on a deep purple of unity. From that emotion, we felt something within both of us rise. Whatever we were doing though, was slow in forming. With more insistent sweeps, our hearts deepened our emotional connection. Vivid greens of passion filled our perception, washing into the Deep purple, casing both of our forms in a white glow of pure white radiance.
Then, we felt it. As our combined hearts carved out a sense of determination, it seemed as the entire vastness of potentiality came alive. Along the perceptual cuts of our actions, we could feel seething power beneath. At every cut, it seemed to demand release. The more we cut, the more this power seemed to guide our actions. On and on this back and forth of outpouring, emotional awareness, and seething power continued until the very cuts we perceptually made seemed to form a flowing, cursive like pattern.
That pattern... it was our heart.
From this symbol, drawn onto the vast resevoir of emotion, came the surging power, like a mighty wave crashing upon the shore. Our awareness briefly seemed to vanish as we felt it overcome us. Crashing out and into our bodies in an uncontrollable torrent that coalesced as a link. A strong white, radiant link that thus existed between the two of us.
That was when we became aware of Arias body changing. From our combined viewpoints, we could feel the morphological changes sweeping across her body. We could feel some aspect of Rowan changing, but all of our thoughts were bent onto hers. Encased in pristine radiance, we could feel each gentle tug of change. We could feel her Mic tem change ever so to resemble a brilliant heart. From which potential we both could barely control seemed poise to flow. The ear clippings seemed to change too, becoming more elaborate while framing her face like a pristine silver tiara. Her eyes seemed to be back to deep Cherry red. With a sense of awareness we simply had no articulate understanding of.
Whatever morphological changes were caused by this radiance extended to her outfit as well. We could feel the sensations of the fabric being affected by the energy of our change. Her dress expanded outwards, giving a more full appearance. Yet her arm guards, previously green in color, became a deep pure white.
Then, we felt this sense of morphologic power leave. Instead, it seemed to possess the both of us. It seemed like a ready reservoir of power that neither of us had thus felt to date. Her eyes flicked about as they were thus allowed to see again. We looked out them, seeing everything in their true colors. The brilliance of our love casting the two of us only in white with deeper crimsons at our collective cores. The others seemed slow, duller. Freeman cast in hints of green, Sycamore in Magenta. The sky took on a beautiful amber coloration while the field seemed excessively golden green in coloration.
Our breaths came out in gentle drags. The suddenness of the changes left us feeling a wide gamut of exhilaration to confidence to a sense of strength we did not seem to know previously. Our emotions, previously on a high, seemed to crest even further. As if we were feeding back into one another. Only this time it seemed more controlled. Like we were letting the full emotions form, but instead of falling victim to the effect, it seemed to strengthen us. Our eyes looked around, then found one another. The Rowan aspect of us was different somehow, but we could not understand why. Instead, we found ourselves in each others arms. Our chests seemed in full contact, with a sensation of unadulterated, pure, emotion flowing between the two of us.
It was really as if the entirety of the universe faded away as our chests came into contact. Like our collective Mic Tems no longer had the barrier between one another as before.
Then, we felt it ending. Arias body seemed to lose the ability to hold its form as we felt a great out-flowing of energy. It seemed to envelop us, vitalizing the Rowan aspect of ourselves even more than we had previously been aware of. We could feel Rowans heart seem more aware of the emotional dynamics that the Aria aspect held.
Like a light switch being flipped, we felt ourselves overcome with a great sense of fatigue as our bodies seemed to lose the strength to stand. Her body was encapsulated in white once more as her features returned to that of a regular Gardevoir. Even though we did not feel mentally tired, a sense of exhaustion did seem to accompany her reversion. We started to become more aware of our individual bodies. This bond, whatever it was, had run to the point where, as our individual identities reasserted themselves, we could still feel the presence of our component thoughts crystallizing.
Our world became that of two people and suddenly I was aware of my own self. However, I could still feel her in my body. As though our minds remained link, but we were capable of thinking independently. Our breaths became ragged as we looked at one another. The exhilaration left us wanting. Our bodies quickly embraced lovingly. We could feel one another, the gentle pleasure my hand in her hair gave her, her gentle tickling of my ear. We felt it from each others perspective, yet it was also uniquely our own.
Sycamore came running up as we seemed to have become more exploratory. Truth be told, had it not been for their presence, I dare say that we would have had a further round of coitus right then and there. The mutual physical desire seemed to remain there despite us turning our attention to him. She had the strongest sense of annoyance. I felt amused but sympathetic of this.
As I individually turned my attention to him, I could feel the excitement radiating from his body. That we were fully awake and aware seemed a greater bonus to him.
"Marvelous! Simply wonderful you two!" He all but shouted.
We each had our own reactions. Her humble nature caused her to blush before gripping my shirt in her tiny hands. I felt momentary embarrassment as I looked up at him.
"It was... something different from what I had ever experienced before..." I said.
My voice felt different. The words felt more melodic in nature. A slight tremor in one aspect led to a wavering bell-like tone as I spoke. However, I was so high on the emotions we both felt, that even as Aria fell into thought about the differences in my voice, I continued, feeling an insistent urge for her to remain here, in this moment, to bask in our momentary triumph.
"It was like our hearts touched upon this... great reservoir that existed in our subconscious minds. With every emotion we felt, something fed the emotions until... She changed." I stumbled out.
Freeman came walking up as I finished my explanation.
I have never felt anything like that before. It was... intoxicating. I could literally feel the entire paths of the future open up before the two of us. Nothing seemed impossible. If I willed it, I felt like we would achieve it. Aria opined.
Freeman looked between us, then gave a momentary grin.
"Finally, you two aren't talking in perfect sync with one another. That was giving me a headache." He joked.
Shortly after he said that, Maurice too walked up, then looked between the four of us. Over his shoulder, I could see Asa trudging up accompanied by Aitsu. They both projected deep waves of curiosity and concern. From across the clearing, our eyes made contact as a sense of relief washed over him. He seemed to turn back while Asa broke away from him, then continued to approach us.
It felt odd that Asa would approach, though as I felt myself becoming aware of the question, Arias thoughts slid into my mind. Relief, that was the feeling of Asa, we both felt embarrassed that we had made our surrogate daughter, our mutual responsibility, worry so much.
Beh Sze, we have made her worry too much.
Agreed, what do you say to us not agreeing to further power tests for the time being? We should probably take time off to recuperate... We are both incredibly drained, you even more so since your body was forced to be the vessel for the evolution.
She grinned at me, then pawed at my chest playfully. Her tiny hand brushed across my sternum, then looked into my eyes. From her eyes I felt a morass of emotions. A haughty sort of humor that I would downplay my own role, the joy at seeing modesty, but also worry that I was more exhausted than I let on. She could feel my tiredness the same way I could intimately feel hers. Lethargy threatened to settle in at any second for the both of us.
"That is it." Krafft simply said.
"What is?" Sycamore asked.
"Those two are done with your little tests. Look at him for Pete's sake!" He thundered.
The anger that rolled off of him was disorienting. I felt myself latch onto Arias side for support as the sheer force of his emotions left me dizzy. She looked at me, then looked to Krafft. Then, the pieces fell into place.
Further morphological changes had happened. But, it didn't seem to only be that. I was keenly aware of everyone's emotions. It did not seem to be a function of Aria this time either. I seemed to be fully in possession of this sensation of everyone's emotions regardless of the level of trust and friendship. My breaths felt more ragged in my chest as his dizzying anger led me to feeling shocked. I felt like I was being overwhelmed by his own worry. My awareness seemed to slip from myself to Aria. From her perspective, I could see myself.
To describe the changes would be difficult. My vivid eyes were mostly red for one thing... My hands seemed tiny compared to how they used to be. I could only marvel at how delicate each of my fingers seemed. My arms too seemed like they were rail thin. My skin looked more porcelain like than I previously remembered it. Further, I could see discoloration on my sternum. My legs seemed more tapered. The most important changes though, were internal. At least it felt that way. I felt a stronger sense of emotion. Normal feelings seemed magnified somehow, like every emotion was an entire ocean in and of itself.
When giddiness threatened to overtake my countenance, I simply felt a deeper wave of amusement. I felt the light laughter begin deep in my chest, still drawing in the occasional ragged breath, then build through my sternum, into my vocal cords, then erupting in a melodic tone that bared great similarity to Aria or even Aitsus voice. I was more keenly aware of a greater range of vocal expression. Multiple octaves seemed coalesced into a harmonic tone that seemed to reverberate off of my ses fraus mic tem shard. It invigorated me as I ran my now tiny hand through my hair, keenly aware of the now tapered point the ears terminated in.
"What about this is funny to you Rowan?!" Krafft exclaimed.
His countenance showed genuine fear at what had become of me. I could feel his worry that my own mind was fading. Though, I never felt more myself in many years. I felt my beaming smile gently fade into a confident happy smile as I answered.
"That this is even possible! Why are morphological changes so easy in humans? Why is it that my body can so readily seem to change! It shouldn't be possible if we weren't so closely re-"
"Are you kidding me right now?! How can you even think about your research at a time like this!?" He looked like he was ready to fly off the handle at any given moment.
"Because this is precisely because of my research! This... sense of empowerment! Potential! Can you believe that this is even possible?! This shouldn't be happening! Yet look at us! How can I seriously ignore this?! If it weren't for my failure, this dazzling insight would be impossible! Her and I, what we share, culturally, physiologically, romantically, all of it! It's so amazing to consider that this is even possible! So much more considering the serendipitous events which led to this moment! How can I possibly fail to acknowledge this moment? This shared experience that I would never know otherwise?! I have never felt this happy in my life! When I'm with you Aria" I briefly turned my attention to her, "The experience of life becomes that more vivid" I then returned my attention to Krafft, "But more importantly than all of that, I can FEEL! Every emotion we share, it's overwhelming, delicious. There's so much to it! I would never trade this feeling for anything in the world!"
"Even if it costs you your humanity?" He severely asked.
I felt another laugh, more gentle this time, rising up within myself.
"Have I truly lost it? Does Aria, the most important person in my life, seem to lack it then?!" I shot back.
I may not be human Krafft but the only thing that really separates us is our awareness of emotion! You like to be aware of it and occasionally feel it! But we live in it every moment of our lives. It forms the basis of our actions, guides our thoughts, dictates our logic! Nothing in our lives is divorced of emotion! Aria suddenly retorted.
He looked at the both of us, then turned his attention away as he felt Sycamores hand on his shoulder.
"What they are saying is that they feel insulted that you of all people would think that he was any less just because he looks somewhat different now." Sycamore said.
Freeman continued watching this all with a sense of bemusement. Clearly, he felt uncertain of where this all was heading, but curious to see.
"Rowan... you aren't any less than you were... I just... This is all so new and everything is changing so rapidly... I am afraid that it would somehow prevent you from being able to leave here..." He finally admitted.
I felt myself lapse into a shared sense of sadness.
He made sense in a way. As it stood, if anything further happened to me, then there is no way I could be seen as human. I wouldn't be able to walk out of here without being seen as just some pokemon to be captured. Yet, I realized that caution, while needed, was sometimes overstated.
"Maurice... That means a lot to me coming from you. However... even if that does happen, what is the most important thing in life? Is it working and studying? Do you do such wonderful volcanic research because it is your job?" I asked.
"No, of course not. Katia and I, we are making with volcano studies because we are loving it." He confidently replied.
I smiled, then placed my hand on Arias shoulder.
"This is my happiness...This is the one thing in the entirety of the world I love. As long as she is by my side, I don't care if I can never set foot in the university. Further, as long as you guys can still see the me who is, rather than the physical, then that is all that matters. You three, well Sycamore and Freeman, have become very dear friends to me. I've always seen you as the father I never had. As long as I have those bonds, university work is irrelevant"
What is working but gaining items to continue that which you love? Aria attempted to helpfully reinforce the point.
Krafft looked at the two of us, then looked away. In the absence of his spoken words, Freeman spoke up.
"Truth be told, with the data we have all been gathering to date, it is unlikely that the university would ever disbar you at this point. In fact, given the gigabytes of data collected in just the past few days, along with your pre-existing theories, they will have little option but to vote continued research." He glanced back at the computer that was left abandoned on the desk.
Below the desk, we could see Asa finally approaching us. Her poor feet must be hurting from having to go so far at her running pace. Aria and I both felt the wave of sympathy for her. Hopefully, in another year or so when she evolved into a Kirlia, she would not have such a rough time of it.
Sycamore smiled as he considered Freemans words, then nodded back to us.
"Given that we can easily put together a more comprehensive argument for changing the study of Gardevoir to cultural anthropology, your blood and DNA samples too will prove invaluable to making a case to keep you on staff as a full-time field researcher. " His reassuring words lifted our spirits.
We fell into momentary silence. Aria and I idly watched Asa with encouraging expressions. Our expectant eyes seemed to urge he tiny body on.
"We are forgetting something" Krafft said.
"What would that be?" I asked.
Do you mean that man who hates my Beh Sze so? Aria asked.
"Indeed" Krafft said, "He holds enough influence that he might swing the universities review board to disbar you from coming back."
It occurred to me after a moment that Krafft was, in fact, answering Arias question while answering mine as well. The curiosity arose within me, but was met with her answer.
Our mutual connection to the three of them, reinforced by your bond of friendship to the three of them, facilitates us being able to communicate in the same way all Gardevoir can communicate.
But it's limited isn't it? I suddenly asked, While we speak to one another, our thoughts seem laced with emotions that enhance the communication process, it feels like it would just come across as dull words to them.
Well, yes it does. Since they are not Gardevoir, they will never know that sensation. But that is ok. We can communicate to them, and that is enough.
Sycamore seemed to chuckle at our back and forth. It seemed that our conversation was entirely audible to them.
"Well geeze, way to hurt my feelings" He joked.
We looked at him, my face curled into an apologetic smile. Aria, on the other hand, gave a catlike grin that conveyed a sort of sympathy that I did not know existed.
The thing is tau Sycamore, that humans have been making a habit of downplaying the possibility of us experiencing anything like what they do. The arrogance stings us every time. Can you blame a poor chi such as myself-
"She means woman" I opined.
Aria gave me a little hurt look that was playful in nature, then continued.
...as myself, from wanting to mention this? We just see things slightly different from how you see the world. Otherwise, as Beh sze has noted, we are not really all that different.
Sycamore gave a wide smile then gave an apologetic nod.
"Well I can understand that, I just..."
I suddenly cut in.
"She didn't mean any harm in it. It's a form of teasing. That she would do so with you is encouraging. It means I don't have to bribe her with Bananas to keep her from ever so casually making you get lost"
The atmosphere lightened upon this being said. This proved to be fortuitous as Asa finally made it to us, then proceeded to dive towards the both of us. We caught her, then gave her a warm embrace.
Was worried. I'm happy now! She exclaimed.
The two of us continued to hold her as we began to finally stand up. My legs felt weak, like they were unable to support my own weight. With great effort though, I was able to maintain balance despite it feeling so different from how it was before. My center of gravity felt off. Like the bulk of my weight now seemed to be elsewhere. I could not readily define it even as my steps suddenly found my boots falling from my feet, leaving them exposed.
I regarded my boots for a moment, then kicked the other off with ease. As Aria and I were too busy holding Asa, I simply left them discarded. I would grab them later.
Back at the encampment, Aria and I once again allowed ourselves to receive tests. Blood and skin samples pulled, DNA swabs from our mouths pulled. Cognitive tests ran. The same as before. I felt happy that I wasn't in a hospital for this... While I couldn't remember why, hospitals, especially bandage sheers, gave me the heebie jeebies.
Aria sensed my wandering thoughts, then followed the pathways of emotion through my thought with me. She then let out a giggle as I made my thoughts into word form.
What are Heebie jeebies? It's such an adorable sounding thing! It is a pokemon of some kind?
Truth be told, it is just another way of saying that it creeps me out, makes me feel uncomfortable, vulnerable somehow. I said.
I felt the gentle twinge of pain as a needle pierced my arm. Then, as Freeman drew the needle itself out, leaving a catheter in my arms vein, I nodded to the tiny hole in my arm.
This for instance. I am fine with this, but for some reason, metal tubes with clear gel always bug me. There's a sense there of familiarity and vulnerability. I don't fully understand it myself, but whenever I am in a hospital, I think of that. That's why I'm happy that we aren't in a hospital getting our blood drawn.
As Freeman hooked up a tube to a tube, my blood ran freely to collect in the plastic vial. I tilted my head in curiosity as I studied my blood. I could feel vitality. A gentle sapping.
Confused, I looked to Aria, my thoughts obviously there for her to determine.
It is normal. Blood is life. Rather, it is the vessel by which life travels and vitalizes us. It is the channel of emotion that is purely physical, the link between nourishment and simple expression.
She gave a small yawn after expressing this, then attempted to lean her head onto my shoulder. As we were sitting next to one another with Asa seated on our laps, this proved to be quite easy.
However, Freeman seemed to be having none of it.
"If you two could save the flirting for later... I would greatly appreciate it..."
We looked at one another, then began laughing lightly. Our melodic voices resonating to amplify the expressed joy we were feeling.
I'm sorry~! She intoned in a sing-song manner.
"Sorry about that man..." I tried in a more sympathetic tone.
"Whatever..." He muttered.
In little time, he finished drawing our blood, then walked back over to the Fey-Tuttle Ku12000 Satellite transceiver, then opened up a connection back to Lambda labs. With a few strokes of the keyboard, he dialed up the protocol for object transport. We watched in idle wonder as once again, our blood was teleported away for analysis.
After he completed that, he killed the connection, then regarded the two of us, sitting in a camp bench, all but curled up next to one another, with a young Ralts laying on both of our laps.
Our eyes idled towards the tent flap, where the last rays of daylight trailed away. The fading red of twilight left the sky momentarily brilliant, while the world below was reduced to silhouettes.
"You two should stay here this time... It's best to rest up after all you've been through." He simply said.
We gave a light nod in agreement, then leaned against one another. While we were tempted to join Krafft and Sycamore at the campfire, to bask in the pleasant mood that had befallen the camp. We instead found ourselves drifting off. Our minds mutually becoming weary from all we had done. Both of us would likely be sharing a dream that night, it seemed to become the norm for us, but it felt like it would be exceptionally enjoyable that night.
Especially with the much missed young Asa by our side.
University of Kalos west Campus.
Lumiose city.
Amelia sat on her bed in her dorm room. She had been back almost 2 weeks now. After having left on the 9th to return to school, 12 days had gone by. She had attempted to fit back in and lie about how awesome her time had been. However, as she looked around her darkened dorm room, the lies seemed especially hollow. She had received praise from her adviser by helping out as much as she did. But it felt so... wrong.
She felt guilt. She knew that.
She hated herself for how self centered she had acted. How callous she was towards Rowan and that Gardevoir he seemed to love. She hated how oblivious she had been to their suffering. She got off scot free while Rowan was horribly punished?
With a sigh, she thought about that.
When Rowan suggested she leave after what she did to the Gardevoir, she felt betrayed. Then she felt jealous at them. Then, when she really thought about why she felt that way, she realized it was because she had begun to feel attraction to him. His charisma was attractive in that he seemed to know what he wanted and seemed very grounded. Even after he had been healed up, while he seemed more... aware, it didn't seem to distract him from his duties.
In fact, she reasoned, it only heightened his sense of duties! It was like his dedication now had a better sense of focus than before!
She hated it all. It confused her how calm he could act. How he could just walk into a complete unknown, accept that animals were more like people, and how it seemed to make a weird sort of sense. Then, that freaking woman. That Gardevoir who all but hung off of him. It was so confusing. Why did she? What was there?
Then, she realized it.
It was love. What Amelia had been feeling wasn't really love. She was infatuated with him. She was impressed by him, but she didn't really see him. She saw what she wanted to see and ignored all else. It was kind of sad really... A gardevoir, a pokemon! Understood love better than her, a woman who could be hopelessly romantic at times.
In annoyance, she finally stood up then walked to her pokeball. She regarded the small sphere for a moment, then picked it up. Instead of releasing her pokemon from stasis, she clipped it to her belt. She suddenly felt like she needed to get out. To go do SOMETHING. But she found herself drawing up short.
What could she do?
She thought about it for a moment. The situation arose from Tennyson being so adamant at hating Rowan because he actually had an opinion. The vehemence seemed overwhelming. Maybe... there was something to it? Like...
...Ah.
Amelia let out a melodic laugh as she picked up her holocaster, then began dialing in a number.
Someone in Cyllage town owed her a favor. And besides, she knew just the person who could help her come up with an idea.
A/N,
This one was fun. My only regret was that I nearly had to have a full-out panic attack to actually write it. My emotional states seem to dictate how certain chapters go at times...
Anyways, a lot happened in this chapter. And I am kind of satisfied with what has happened. The mega evolution was a necessary thing, but don't expect the two of them going off and fighting battles with it. This isn't that type of story. However, the Mega will be brought up later. This chapter marks the end of Act 2 of this story. As I mentioned before, I was thinking up a sequel, and the introduction/preview chapter is up on my profile. What this story is becoming, as I move into act 3, is beyond what I originally set out to do.
In fact, I think I feel like sharing the original set up:
The subjectivity vs objectivity has been an ongoing theme. In fact, as their romance developed, that moral conflict that happened back in chapter 6, was supposed to happen in 10 originally. Further, instead of Amelia Kirking out on the Gardevoir, she was supposed to try and abduct a Ralts egg. This would lead to a confrontation that would have set off the te ze being discovered. That would have resulted then in the original culture having to change rapidly, which would set the system up for failure. However, as I got to writing... a different path began to peak itself out. The romance developed its own aspect that seemed more organic than I originally planned. Further, as the story veered, Amelia got some needed examination from me. I realized that her arrogance is something I see all too often. In a class I teach, I had this one hipster student walk in with all derivative formulas (For his calculus class) on his shirt while he wore a tweed jacket. When I later found out that this was because he thought he was hot shit, then promptly failed, I found a little bit of inspiration. As people grow up, that arrogance gives way to understanding. That gives way to companionship and humility. Having Amelia go a route similar to that meant that as she begins coming back into this story, her development will grow, which will be perfect for bridging the gap between this story and the sequel. I've put a few... indications, in this story for what the main conflict will be. However, from here out, I'm going to finish this story. And by the way, this is all very much a set up for the next acts.
Thanks for reading. I look forward to finishing this for you all.