Pas de deux
After 8 days of being without the others, Aria and I had fallen back into our old routine. It was difficult at first; the shared contact we all shared had brought us great joy. With the others being gone, Aria and I had found ourselves disquieted by the silence. We had readily fallen into the usual patterns we perpetuated of course. We would wake up before the others, gather food, and gather water, that sort of thing. Then we would greet them as they woke up and then join everyone in their meals. Before Krafft, Freeman, and Sycamore came, this was our daily routine.
As the two of us sat in our hammock in our idle embrace today though, the full impact of the quiet could be detected. We weren't so much bored though. Rather, we were just having a difficult time with the fact that we were no longer under constant scrutiny. Aria and I had, after all, toned down our affection in the presence of them.
Beh sze, before you came here, was it always like this for you? Running around, having conversations with various humans like that? Laughing and enjoying your friend's presence?
I looked at her with confusion well evident in our psychic bond.
Isn't that how it is here? I asked. We have conversations with the Te ze, we laugh and we enjoy one another's presence. We talk, we help the others out, we look after little Asa and we have our own experiences. The nature of them between how we interacted with Krafft and the others is only different because of our bonds with them.
Indeed, since their departure, the Te Ze had grown somewhat closer. Yesterday, Aitsu, Aika and I had gone off to have a friendly competition of sorts. The intent, despite real psychic abilities, was a sort of game of picking a specific berry using a rock. Despite opinions to the contrary, Gardevoir in the wild do not have the same honed psychic abilities that those raised under captivity do. The channeling of psychic powers is more towards the day-to-day activities and the occasional defense of the home.
Thus, during our little competition, my aim and throwing arm were just enough on parity with their psychic ability to levitate and throw rocks that the competition was not too one-sided. We carried on, making pseudo expert remarks about each of our throwing abilities.
Funny thing is, Aika actually had the better aim of the three of us. Aitsu… was actually surprisingly uncoordinated. He apparently did not have the same depth perception as the rest of us. Perhaps in the human world he would have been fitted for glasses or something…
Well certainly Beh sze! Aria retorted suddenly, bringing my recollections to an end and my focus back to the present, But, it felt different to me when it was just them and us. Like I didn't feel a need to be all formal and cordial. They treated us like we are just beh sze and ses frau, not like the junior members of the Te ze. It took more effort to read their emotions and I felt like I was more surprised with every story they told!
I gave her a tiny grin.
All humans are like that. We cannot normally form an empathic bond that tells us everyone's thoughts and feelings. We have to use other methods to understand them. We have to observe and interact. Humans observe speech patterns, and they observe body language. It's the basis of the human concept of understanding.
Aria gave a sudden vocal cry as she then exclaimed
But it's so primitive! Humans are very primitive!
The combination of her words and the vocalization caused me to flinch slightly. Aria could feel my surprise in that moment though. Her mood shifted to being a little cooler in nature. A sense of regret had creeped in as she realized the implications of what she said.
After a moment of digesting what she said, as well as the feelings associated with them, I simply nodded.
Well of course we are. We don't have this. I said, then gently brought my hand to her mic tem, heart shard, then gently caressed it, Humans cannot easily sense other people's emotions. It's just the way of life for them. But you're really bugged by this aren't you? It bugs you that you cannot sense their emotions readily. You didn't feel like you could trust them.
Aria simply nodded in response. She gave a light humming assent as she then went on.
If we cannot see one another's hearts, we don't know if they are being honest with us. Intentions and the feelings associated with them permeate all of our actions. Beh sze, your development rests on that understanding.
I felt myself grin as I decided to tease at her about this.
Oh? So even after everything I'm still an underdeveloped Gardevoir?
Arias cheeks flushed initially before she realized that I was being facetious with her. Her expression changed slightly as she then pushed closer to me, her mic tem pressing against my sternum, spreading warmth through my body.
Only in some ways… Your changes since coming here are really amazing but you simply are deplorable at your psychic abilities. It is a wonder you have ever made it this far. What will you do when you too require emotions to sustain yourself?
One of the more peculiar aspects of Gardevoir that are not very well-developed in captivity is the use of emotions as sustenance. The first recorded case was a Gardevoir hypnotizing a subject to put them down to sleep. Then, the Gardevoir would subtly cause them to have a pleasant dream. Then, the whole time, it would proceed to consume that dream using a special psychic link established for that purpose.
In studies though, it did not appear to be a requirement, and those under direction from trainers rarely developed this somewhat darker ability. In the wild though, it was as much a part of their culture as culinary pursuits are in the human world. There was a deeper implication to her words though.
Given how much I myself had changed since meeting her, both in mind and body, we were uncertain about what dietary changes would also happen. Would I be like her? Able to sense everyone's emotions and broadcast them? Would I need to consume the emotions she gave me to survive? Would I have to live without being able to properly control those emotions?
Those questions flitted through my mind as my hand made contact with hers. A deeper understanding of the significance of our physical act seemed clearer than ever though.
In that case, I'll just have to rely on you for them. I rejoined brightly, your feelings of love are simply intoxicating at times as it is. I suspect one good hug, or a simple affectionate kiss in both styles would sustain me for days.
Her face gained a faint rosy tint after I had said those words.
…Beh sze… She simply responded, then brought her cheek to mine.
In Gardevoir culture, this is the same as kissing. It is physical closeness that is a sign of affection.
Our connectivity left me with a sensation of warmth that seemed mellower than the early morning heat. An after effect of our combined sense of self perhaps. A sense of vitality filled me as we shared in our affections.
Eventually, we parted. However, we remained mere inches from one another. Her cherry red eyes filled my vision, surrounded by a mint green framing of her hair. Her flawlessly white face added the perfect effect.
For humans, the methodology of observation permeates our culture. It lead-
Beh sze don't ruin it! Aria gently chastised me.
There was no annoyance, rather, a sense of mirth from the two of us. Our combined emotions had swollen our perception ever so slightly. By now, it was a common feature in our lives. Our shared emotions colored our perception. It allowed us to reach a new state of cognizance that we were unable to achieve on our own. Seeing the world through emotion. That would be how I described it.
Arias cheeks gently drew forth, then came into contact with mine in that moment. The shared experience gently pulled us to a higher state of emotional awareness as we traded our rising passions to one another. In the absence of others, we found ourselves drawing ever nearer.
We basked in this moment for as long as we could, before I finally continued. However, I kept it short.
Humans understand the universe through pure observation. It forms the basis of culture in many senses. The quest for understanding… is not too different from Gardevoirs after all… We both just want to find our place in the world we occupy.
But you try to remove yourself from it don't you? She asked.
We try to. I... just was not as good at it I guess. Or perhaps I simply cared too much for you… I responded.
It was true. Had I never come to love her, my understanding would have forever been dampened by the fact that I was trying to understand without interaction. As it stood, I learned more through love than I ever thought possible.
One thing though. I said.
Just the one? she asked in a vague way.
I grinned lightly.
Why did Freemans words hurt so much that day when he left? I asked.
What do you mean Beh Sze? She asked.
Well.. ok so you've acted as my support as I've processed some... well crazy things. Hearing that I am changing so much... When told by the Te Ze, I did not really mind terribly. What's so different about when he told me? What felt different to you?
Aria looked me over for a moment, then glanced away. I could feel her troubled emotions as she thought through my words. Finally, she settled on an appropriate answer.
Beh Sze, when you heard his words, his tonal differences as well as the emotions attached to them indicated to you that you were becoming less than who you are. In our Te Ze, we are seen as equals. We don't see ourselves as being any different from a human. So our ways of addressing one another reflect that. We may have status in larger communities, but even then, we see ourselves as equals first then the positions we hold. For your friend Freeman, he still sees humans as the apex. So when he said that you were essentially no different from a pokemon, his condescending attitude was what set you off. In his mind, you are, in a way, less than he is.
I sat absolutely still for a moment as I processed what she said.
Was that it? My self-identity remained intact, so I was able to accept what was happening to me because I had no major attachment to the rest of the worlds woes. Sure, I did research, and I have my ambitions now. But when you get down to it, what did that really matter? I defined myself by those who loved me. Before, that was pretty much nobody. My family was little more than an extended group of strangers, I was generally left to my devices all my life, It's obvious I didn't have a social life to speak of.
If I had died on that day, nobody would have really noticed or cared had it not been for Amelia growing somewhat attached to me. Even then, her attachment was flighty. She served her own purposes and had her own agendas. I was simply a means to an end in her mind. Of that, I'm certain.
So what changed?
Well.. Aria changed. I have attachments, but those things which truly define me ae not based upon my job or the people I really knew back at the university. It was the connection I had to my heart, and the deep bond I now shared with Aria.
I could take these physical changes because they didn't harm either the one of us. But it was more basic than that; I belonged here, with them, as a part of them. This was my home, and these Gardevoir had taken me in and made me, essentially, one of them.
Perhaps that was it.
Maybe...
Maybe I wanted a home.
Maybe I wanted a family...
It was hard to articulate my thoughts as we momentarily fell into silence.
I accept what is happening to me... because it helps me to have what I want the most then...? I half asked.
Aria hummed in reply before she took my hand.
Yes, and because you know where you truly belong... and that is at my side... She replied.
Is it really that simple though? I asked.
She considered my words for a moment.
Of course not. Your mind almost slipped because you have a desire to be seen for who you are. You don't like when people fail to recognize who you are. You have an insecurity about such contrivances because you so deeply care about others. You wish for them to see the you that is, not the you they assume... She placed a hand upon my chest, then gently squeezed her three fingers, That I did from the moment we met is something else to you... Your feelings always showed that you treasured our equality above all things...
So that's it? I asked.
I was honestly amazed that something so major could be so simple.
Yes. Isn't it funny how you try to think it's so complicated, yet every time it is always so simple? You love me, I love you. Our love has caused us to begin changing. We have each other by our side and no matter what our forms are, nothing will change that. I feel like you would make a spectacularGardevoir though... She gave a slight grin as she said that.
I gave her a small smile.
So you've been helping me as I took those steps then haven't you? I asked.
Your mind as a human was always fragile. However, you only needed the occasional emotional experience... to remain stable. Your self-identity was never in jeopardy though, so that always was working to your advantage... She admitted.
Was it difficult? Supporting me even during those few days when I was out? I asked.
Aria Happily shook her head, It was then that you revealed to me that you wanted companionship. Your words during your delirium spoke of being trapped in yearning but with no clear path. Your had no connections to others, and you leapt at the need to be with someone. However, you rebuked Amelia. You didn't want just anyone.
I wanted you. From the first time we interacted. I finished for her.
Aria nodded.
After that, during the time you were injured and in and out of wake, you allowed yourself to open up to me somewhat... Aria ran her hand from my sternum to my forehead, then placed her hand upon my temple.
You would have been broken had you not found me... of that I'm certain. She said lovingly.
Wait, shouldn't I be the one who admits I would have been broken without you to help me? I asked.
She happily hummed before gently pulling away to stand up.
Of course Beh Sze! But where's the fun in you saying it? I would only fall in love with you more! Perhaps it is your turn to fall in love with me more instead!
I laughed lightly as I rose to my feet along with her.
Truth be told, I would fall for you every day for 10,000 years if it meant being with you. I replied.
In short order, we were both on our feet, hand in hand with intentions for the coming day.
Later in the day, Aria and I found ourselves in the treeline near the usual berry bushes and trees. Our goal was exploration of a sort. While we would be collecting like normal, there was more to it than just the collection of Berries though.
With the changes I had been experiencing as a result of the experiments Freeman Sycamore and I enacted, there were unknowns we wanted to get cleared up. The overriding question that lingered in both our minds was rather simple: What changes beyond physical had happened? Could I use psychic abilities like Aria now? For certain emotional acuity had grown on its own until it could no longer be strictly defined as the empathic link Aria and I shared.
Aria walked away from me, then stood about 20 feet away. She gave a gentle hum as I stood facing her. This reassuring emotional cry was meant to calm me as we stepped forward into our own experiment. One that served no real purpose besides our self-awareness of what I was becoming.
I closed my eyes, then allowed my attention to drift on a gentle swell of emotion. It was a gentle, soothing, sensation really. I was essentially using our psychic link to gain awareness of the very underpinnings of psychic abilities.
However, the link only really served to bring my awareness to the concept. From there on out, I would attempt to tap into my own sense of psychic awareness. If any such thing truly existed. Given the physiological changes over the last few weeks, it seemed almost certain that this would grant results.
After the combined emotional experiences Aria and I encountered, I seemed to be more aware of these emotional roots that granted psychic abilities.
Alright my beloved Beh Sze, Feel out to the berry itself. Allow its presence to fill your mind. Aria gently coached.
As my awareness expanded with the closing of my eyes, the sensations were very much intensified. It began with the gentle breeze on my face and arms, then spread out from there. I found my awareness awash in the very pulse of life itself. Everything was growing vivid. I could feel the gentle hum of life from the grass under my feet. Arias own beating heart. The Fletchlings in the trees, the ledybas in the woods, pidgeys, lotads, even the Te Ze itself.
As my awareness spiraled ever further out from my physical form, I could even feel the gentle pulse of life that was our child. Growing inside of its egg, it felt as a great throb in my senses. tantalizingly threatening to capture my entire attention.
With effort, I drew my focus ever inwards. From the Te Ze to the area around me, the feeling of Aria, to the tree I was to be focusing on. To the very Berry she desired I to focus upon. In the sea of emotion, of the pulse that everything gave off, I felt my awareness finally centering on that one single berry.
Open your eyes now Beh Sze. See the world. Aria commanded me warmly.
I opened my eyes to a world drenched in brilliant color. In human perception, everything has color unless if you are colorblind. However, to see the world in emotion, as Gardevoir do, is to see an entirely different dimension to the very colors of life. Everything around me seemed to have a pulse. Individual gossamer strands of light seemed to be visible in all things. The berries in the trees to the branches they were suspended upon. The grass itself seemed to be comprised entirely out of these very strands.
They looked so delicate as they too waved in the wind, but at the same time, I got the sensation that they were stronger than any force I could comprehend. Everything which had a gossamer strand seemed to be especially vivid in this world that the Gardevoir kind lived in.
Between Aria and I, the connection of our hearts was no longer just the awareness of one another and the shared emotions of our hearts. In this vivid conglomeration of emotional sight,those very feelings were manifest in rapturous splendor. In every shared emotion that we had, there seemed to be a similar strand that filled the distance between us, bound in a dimensionless mass that seemed to be all-encompassing yet infinitely precise. Occupying so much space yet so little.
In the center of all of this, bathed in radiant joy, stood my dearest Aria.
When Gardevoir are not careful, this vivid world is the only existence they know. This world is their... is our now, perception of reality. In this world Aria had invited me into, there were no blocks between our respective hearts. This is truly what it means to see the world through emotion.
Awe about this sensation was an understatement. This awareness... this rapturous existence was pure love.
Aria turned her attention back to the Berry tree. Then, she spoke.
With the same feelings you use to raise your own arm, pull a berry towards you. Do not think about how you do it, let the feeling come to you naturally.
As I turned my attention back to the Berry tree, I felt the entire world seem to fade as one berry in particular began to fill my awareness. It seemed especially proximate in my mind. Its gossamer strands of life seemed to pulse with anticipation as I felt my awareness close ever so gently upon it. My world became bathed in scarlet as I felt towards that berry.
I became aware of the berry first shaking, then lifting and tilting into my direction. Then, it suddenly seemed to snap away from the branch. In surprise, I felt my attention waver for an instant before refocusing. It was enough to allow the berry to drop about half a foot towards the ground before it suddenly stopped.
After it came to a stop, it then hung in midair, rotating for unknown reasons as my consciousness slipped back to making that gentle command to ever so carefully, pull the berry towards me once more.
The apparent force I applied, however, seemed to be too great. It rocketed through the air then suddenly came to a halt a few feet away from me. The sudden jerks in motion seemed to be the result of the willpower I had exerted. Slowly, ever so gently, I tugged again at the berry, summoning it to me once more.
With a final jerking motion, it flew through the last few feet, then gently bumped into my chest. It then fell into my hand with barely a sound. The impact jolted me out of my trance and back into the world once more.
With a rushing sensation, I felt the physical world scream back into focus. The gentle breeze seemed too loud and proximate. The gentle cries of Fletchlings seemed to be the screaming of mighty birds. Arias almost silent footsteps seemed to be great boots crashing through woodland. Everything in this world seemed too vivid; my senses simply could not keep up with it all. I felt a great sense of exhaustion overcome me. It was like the combination of using nascent psychic abilities and an attempt at filtering out all extraneous noises of the world were draining me rapidly.
I felt my knees hit the ground well before I was aware that my legs had given out. In the midst of this awareness came a rush of euphoria mixed with pure joy. I recognized these as the emotions of Aria as she swept forth to congratulate me.
Yet, I was tired. The sensations were draining me rapidly. The combination of expenditures seemed to be too great for me.
Aria swept down to my side, then took my head in her right hand. Her left hand found my hand, then gently began to dance her fingers in my palm. With this action, a sense of relief washed over me. I no longer felt drained of energy.
Rather, the emotions that she seemed to feed to me through our bond seemed instead to fill me with vitality. I felt great joy that skipped right past happiness at what I had done. THere was pride in my accomplishments. A sense of relief that I was able to set myself to this task, and come out without negative consequences on the other side.
Aware of her proximity, I felt myself reach up with a free hand, then caress her aquamarine hair. She gave a cooing noise as a result of my gentle caress, then complied as I gently brought her head closer to my own. Our cheeks made contact with one another as she passionately fed emotions into myself and I reciprocated them in kind.
Beh Sze! You have accomplished it! She exclaimed, You were so worried about your inadequacies but do you see? There was no need to be concerned!
I... didn't know that I could do this. However, when I felt your soul and saw your radiant form in that moment after I opened my eyes, I knew that I could do it.
She gave a warm, melodic laugh that seemed to reverberate in my mind as I said those words.
Beh Sze, you are reading too much into it all! You had the capability this entire time! EVer since we became one, that capacity has resided inside of here... She said.
Her hand separated from my head, then began to trace my sternum. Her touch seemed to be especiallysensitive as I could feel her directly through the rough cotton cloth.
Your own Mic Tem gave you the ability. All you needed to do was discover it yourself.
Our faces, separated by only a few inches, drew closer again as another crest of emotion compelled us to share this moment a little more. The combined passions inflamed by this feeling of accomplishment served to fuel our desires. Our lips contacted one another as the warm sensations of love seemed to travel-
"If you two are going to keep this up, I will happily, ya know, come back like... later and stuff."
We both suddenly snapped away from one another, then jerked our heads as one in the direction of the sudden noise.
From the grove of Berry trees emerged a Gardevoir. With the standard colorations, though a deeper ruby Mic tem, heart shard, it was average in every respect. However, she, given her physiology, had a hair clip which was red with a maple leaf decoration. She carried a knapsack which looked to be full given its slight bulge.
She smiled brightly then waved her three-fingered hand at the two of us.
"Hello there! I'm Shii! Chief Freeman sent me to live with you guys from now on!" The Gardevoir spoke in Kalosian basic.
I looked her over for a moment, then tilted my head.
Hello young one. Welcome to our Te Ze! Aria greeted in a chipper voice.
"I didn't know you could speak... Hello" I greeted a beat later.
"Of course I can speak! I was raised by a good human after all! Master taught me all kinds of things!" Shii bubbled.
"Well, welcome.. " I said in an uncertain tone.
I had grown used to speaking so readily with Aria through a sort of telepathy that it took me by surprise when this Gardevoir spoke so fluently.
You must be most tired young one. Please feel free to indulge yourself in the fruits of these trees. Aria spoke.
I could sense something was off. Shiis emotions flowed from her without regard for us. I could tell that the young Gardevoir was quite excited to be here, but she did not seem to register Arias words at all.
"Yeah yeah, I know, I can speak and it's disarming. What did ya expect?" She asked with a coy smile, "Now, is that one gonna stand there staring at me or what? What's her name?"
Ah.
"She... has been speaking to you for a while.." I said in a cautious tone.
Surprise radiated from Shii as she darted her red orange eyes to Aria, then tilted her head.
Beh sze... something is wrong... Aria said.
"Can you... not understand telepathy?" I asked.
Shii gave a shrug as she momentarily busied herself with plucking a berry from the nearby tree.
"Something like that. Never really needed to use it. All the scientists at Chief Freemans lab can speak, and since it was just us Gardevoir there otherwise, we never had occasion to use it. We all just hung out and talked openly during our breaks. " She replied.
She gave a slight cry as she successfully managed to grab a berry, but then gave a more displeased cry as it fell out of her grasp to the ground below.
Arias abilities spread out, then arrested the fall of the berry for Shii.
Shii regarded the suddenly floating fruit, then gave a small grin as she snatched it from the air.
"Thanks!" She cried.
Aria gave a worried look towards me.
I returned the feeling. A Gardevoir who couldn't use telepathy in order to communicate? Or rather, had no need for it? That was a worrying development. It was also something I had not anticipated. Given how readily the others spoke in telepathy, I had been operating under the assumption that it was a primary communication means that was used in conjunction with empathic abilities. If she was unable to properly utilize them, what good would this do in trying to teach her the ways of culture.
Shii finally looked up from her fruit, bits of pulp ringed her mouth as she gave a coy smile while she examined our interaction. Finally, she walked over, then seemed to study me intensively.
Arias emotions seemed to flare slightly as Shii got right into my personal space in her examination of me. She poked at my chest, tugged fretfully at my arms, then patted my stomach.
"So, the doc was right, you are experiencing physical changes." She muttered with an impressed tone.
"Uh... yeah..." I said with an uncertain tone.
Shii simply patted my sternum once more in an attempt to disabuse me of concern.
"Oh calm down, I know all about how your body is changing. You got a little too close with your friend there and now you're turning into one of us." She said with a giggle.
She held my face in her hands, then brought it close to hers. My vision was filled with her Red-orange irises as she seemed to be studying my eyes.
"Hmm... Did you know you're starting to loose your green eye color? This is actually kind of neat, you can see the tiniest hints of red up close" She said then suddenly jerked my head slightly to one side whilst she began examining my ears and hairline.
I felt her cheek brush against mine as she seemed to focus more intently on individual hair follicles.
"Cool, hints of green..."
Aria seemed to grow more serious as I felt her attention focus on the Gardevoir who was molesting me.
Beh sze is not to be touched so flippantly.
Shii suddenly recoiled in surprise, then turned abruptly to stare at Aria.
"Say what?" she asked in genuine surprise.
Her shock did not seem to come from being addressed so abruptly. Rather, her surprise seemed mixed with confusion which manifested itself in roiling uncertainty.
I said, do not touch my Beh Sze. She said.
"What?" Shii asked again.
I gave Aria a worried look, then allowed my hand to fall into hers. I communicated a sense of calming before I then directed to Aria.
I don't think she is able to understand you...
Aria gave me a look of surprise .
All Gardevoir share the same common tongue! Even the ones at the Keh Fa mu bo (Great motherland) speak the same language as us te qi beh (Wanderers of the other lands)
Well obviously she can't I said, What about that trick you used with me? Using a link to essentially translate what you are saying so her mind can understand it?
Aria blushed slightly.
Beh sze, you were the exception... because we have created the bond of beh sze and ses frau, I could easily do that...
"Um... hello?"
So it has to be an emotional connection that causes the translation? I asked, confused.
Well, yes but there is more to it. The other must desire to be able to understand. Since you and I share the common emotion that we both created, it is easier but with a stranger who seems arrogant and emotionally insecure, this is more difficult when done as an adult. Aria answered, a perplexed expression playing on her face.
"So... you two just gonna..."
Well why don't we just use a single emotion, her desire, for instance, and link that back through either me or herself so that she can understand us.
Beh sze! Do not share the bonds of your heart so flippantly!
She castigated, She must first desire to speak with me before we can do anything.
I flinched slightly at the slight vehemence. I was uncertain for a moment as to why, but then I felt the turbulent roiling of jealousy lurking just beneath the surface.
My charity was misconstrued, due to my less than perfect understanding of the different bonds Gardevoir formed, to mean that I wished to mate with Shii as well. Or rather, that I desired to open my heart up to Shii in the same manner that I did to Aria.
I blushed slightly in embarrassment, then shook my head.
I'm sorry I said I didn't know it was that way. I thought that we could just use the common ground of me understanding you to translate your words for her. I replied.
"You two...?"
Well be more aware Beh sze! It is important that you understand these nuances of Gardevoir culture! Aria replied with surprising vigor. This is your world now. You need to be able to access these higher levels of understanding and not make a serious misstatement.
Wait a second, I said suddenly, I get that I should understand these things, but slip up? Am I making mistakes? I don't mean to. It's all a learning experience. All of this it's...
Aria gave me a sympathetic look, then played her fingers in mine.
It's just that you are taking on a role in our Te Ze, and in time, when we leave from here, we may join a new Te Fa, at which point, you will be seen for how you conduct yourself as much as how well you contribute yourself.
"HEY!" Suddenly cried out a voice.
Our heads snapped around at once to Shii who had suddenly yelled out.
"I don't know what you are talking to her about Creep but seriously, are you just gonna not answer my question?"
Creep? Aria said with a slightly higher amount of vehemence than I expected.
"What question was that?" I asked with a slightly nervous tone.
"Ah, finally paying attention then huh?" Shii asked with a slightly devious tone to her voice.
There was a slightly repulsed feeling that came from her as she asked that. Aria picked up on it too. Her anger seemed to well up as Shii resumed speaking.
"I was just asking what she was saying but you were kind of concerned with eyeing her like some kind of pervert and frankly, it's disgusting."
Aria and I were both enraged by her words.
"Take that back." I said in a less than cordial tone.
"Why?" Shii asked, "You totally came to here and hit her up right? I bet it was your wish to-"
"Do you WANT to be hurt or something?" I asked with a clear look to Aria who seemed to have been pushed even further into anger.
"Oh? Threatening me are you?" Shii asked with a cocky tone of voice.
I gave a shaking sigh as I attempted to calm down.
I seduced him. Came 3 words from Aria.
Those words, made into a common language from a desire to instance a feeling onto the young Gardevoir, carried a cold edge to them.
Shii seemed to retract slightly as her attention fell away from me and onto the Gardevoir at my side, who seemed to be on the verge of unleashing a torrent of emotional power.
"Wait... what?" Shii asked, her expression changed as understanding that she misinterpreted the situation entirely finally occurred to her.
"It's true. Had Aria not approached me... Well I'd likely be dead, but that's neither here nor there. She came to me, she wanted to learn more about me. If you think I had some motive, then just flip through my mind or thoughts or something..." I said, with a wave of exhaustion filling me.
Aria nodded curtly, then placed her hand in mine. It had previously withdrawn as her anger had previously risen.
Shii seemed to blush in realization of her mistake.
"I...I see. I'm sorry" She apologized.
I was aware of the fact that we could sense her sincerity. It radiated off her in the same way that everyone elses emotions so readily broadcast themselves.
Arias anger seemed to fade as we realized her sincerity. A sympathetic look overtook Arias face as she released my hand, then approached the young adult Gardevoir, then gently touched her mic tem to Shiis'.
Forgiven, but please do not speak to my beloved in such a way. I would never speak ill of your.. what did you call your mate? "Master"?...such an adorable word~ Aria forgave.
Her words though, seemed to bring a blush to Shiis' face.
"Master is not my boyfriend!" she cried out.
A grimace twitched my face as I approached, then glanced at Aria.
Master means that in the human sense, he owns Shii here. Well, more like they are partners. However, through poke ball technology, legally, she belongs to him. If she were to be stolen and recovered, she would be returned to him... but in the normal sense, they work together, the human trains her to fight better and tap into her potential I explained.
Arias expression fell as she realized the significance of my words.
That is more complex than I realized... She allowed.
Shii seemed to pick up on our conversation, but showed no signs of comprehension. Rather, it was like she was watching the two of us have a conversation through inch thick polycarbonate glass. She was unable to hear what we were saying, and it seemed to bring out a sense of annoyance.
"Hey, there you two go again, having a discussion without realizing I'm standing right here" She said with distress evident. She reached a hand up, then idly fiddled with her hair clip as she said those words.
"Sorry.." I apologized as Aria and I turned to look at her once more.
"You two do that a lot don't you?" She asked.
"Do what?"
"Wander off into your own little world." Shii said.
"Well... truth be told, it's mostly just Aria and I. The others are usually taking care of thir young and nobody here really has a more complex audible language due to telepathy." I explained.
"Ahh. You just aren't used to having to do two at once then, got it." She replied.
An expression of surprise overtook her face as she suddenly dug into the knapsack she carried with her, then produced a small rectangular device. She suddenly tossed it over to me along with a smaller black bag.
"Ah, right! This is for you! Chief went ahead and ordered you a new F-T satellite phone." She said.
I caught the object, then looked it over.
This was a Fey Tuttle inmarsat brand linkstar satellite phone. Capable of using a multi step relay to communicate with geostationary satellites in the planet's orbit that acted as really large cellular repeaters similar to the holovideo repeaters currently in use. The method was ingenious really, one phone would dial, the signal would first go to lower orbit satellites which constantly handed the phone call off as they orbited overhead to the geostationary satellite 18000 miles overhead. The satellites at lower orbit boosted the power of the signal so that a constant link could be maintained even in less than stellar atmospheric conditions.
This was truly worldwide communication.
I nodded in appreciation to Shii, then placed the satellite phone into the small carrying bag.
"Also, Chief said there should be a small solar array to charge the phone while not in use. He says if you aren't sure how to work it, just ask me!" She gave a small pose after dancing for effect, "I can figure out anything! Even if it takes brute force!"
Aria gave a slight nod before she spoke to me in particular.
I'm going to have a lot of work to do...
I gave a slight laugh as I took her hand.
She certainly is blunt, I will say that. I said.
Hand in hand, we turned towards the Te Ze. Although I would never admit it, I wasn't really looking forward to the formality of having Shii meet with the Matriarch. I got the feeling that she would somehow offend the poor mother of two. However, such was the way of things.
"Hey Shii, let's go introduce you and get you settled in alright? We could use a bit of rest anyways" I said.
Shii brightly smiled at us, which earned me a slightly tighter hand grip from Aria.
"Alright then! How many Gardevoir live here?" She asked.
As we set off, I gave a shrug "6 adults if you count me into the mix. You have the Matriarch herself Hermestas, her mate Aitsu, Aika and Aina, Then Aria and I. Right now there are 4 Ralts and one egg. So, it's getting to be kind of big around these parts" I confessed.
True, It started out as 5. Now the number of Gardevoir and young had grown to 11 grand total. Given the size of this field and the lake, that was quite a large population in such a small area. Especially as non settlement Gardevoir Te Zes rarely exceeded 6 adults at any time.
Shii gave a slight humm as she nodded at this information.
"That's actually about the number that live at the facility. Weird!" Shii called out.
With some measure of amends made, we made our way to the Te ze to meet with the others and get Shii settled in.
Lumiose City.
Amelia looked over her room. Her clothes were packed into a small rucksack, and her poke balls were harnessed onto their holster. Her room was once again spotless from her hours of packing and cleaning the night previously.
After getting the papers from the man who seemed to know how to dig up information on people's lives, Amelia spent hours pouring over it to find out how to best use what information could be gleaned from the documents to help Rowan.
However, the numerous citations and indications of affiliations were enough to prompt her to make ready to leave once more. There was a great sense of urgency in her actions as she packed that night. It seemed that her rucksack only contained the essentials for travel. Tent, sleeping bag, food, cleaning, potions and status recovery items, and a few other odds and ends.
Amelia shouldered the rucksack with a determined expression on her face. What she had was simply too important to waste any time on. Further, worry over the situation had prompted her to withdraw her 6 stronger Pokémon for this trip. She did not want to be in a bad position should trouble arise while she was gone. Further, she didn't want her life to be defined by that one incident.
With a final nod to the empty room, Amelia turned, then sat off into the night.
A/N: I'm cutting this chapter a bit short. This has very much been the chapter from hell for me. I've had multiple set backs from it. No less than 3 deleted versions, 1 cat disaster (Which resulted in an adorable kitten shaming) and multiple missends. I was going to get Shii settled in, then go through the initial experiences of living Gardevoir life from her angle, but I'm going to save that for the next chapter.
More than anything: I just want to move past this chapter at this point. No part of writing it has been terribly fun. If it weren't for the multiple setbacks, I probably would have poured more of my heart into it. So I apologize if it seems exceptionally short this time around.