Just as promised, Sebastian brought the two outdoors, the pair slowly working on walking on their hind legs.
They weren't taught to do so; they just started to do so than relying on all fours.
It was obvious that they were copying them, him mostly by how they always followed the professor just about everywhere.
He even let them curl up in his bed, having extras made for when they began to get to big, but while little, he'll be willing to spoil them with sharing a bed.
Seeing how they lit up, seeing the sky for real, not just through a window, the fresh smell of grass and dirt. Even he almost forgot about it, enjoying the fresh air himself, fresher from the previous rain.
He showed them the lake, letting them test the water, lapping at it when thirsty, bat at their reflections.
"Don't wander out to far," Sebastian warned, watching as they chased each other in the shore, water splashing about.
"You're sounding like their father," Joel teased as he sat down with the other, his Kadabra relaxing in a tree.
"They're babies, someone's gotta watch over them."
"I know, at least you're not overprotective."
"It wouldn't be fair… That and…"
"Giovanni?"
"Yeah, I know he'll take them and I'm scared. I don't want them to suffer. I rather see them like this. Innocent and playful."
"Why did you start working for Team Rocket? Just between us."
"I was young and stupid. I didn't know what I was getting into at the time."
"But you stayed."
"Because of my daughters, I stayed in hopes I'd see them. I was willing to do anything to see them again. I'm not innocent, I know that. I know that when I die, I'll probably burn in Hell or whatever place exists for people like me. I've done a lot of things in my life, things I didn't regret, things I now regret."
"You know, in Kalos, they have small religious sects. I was part of one before I started working for Professor Sycamore as his apprentice, before I traveled to Kanto, before joining Team Rocket, your team specifically."
"Hmm?"
"Each one is unique, following certain creation deities, each one having something that made people feel safe and secure."
"What were they?" Sebastian asked, his curiosity grabbed by this.
He couldn't help but recall the conversation he had with Tyson about the existence of an afterlife.
And now to find out one of his own scientists is religious? Something inside him told him this was more than a mere coincidence.
"Well, the main one, one most follows, some following it and some other because of the similarities is Arceus."
"That makes sense, far as I recall, Arceus did create our world from various studies. It even created worlds for other deity Pokémon and other kinds similar to them."
"That's exactly correct. Most follow Arceus by following the example of appreciating the life we were given. To appreciate the gift of being able to choose what we want, how we feel, how we think even. Some even worship the Lake Trio for the same thing, but more on what they represent."
"I doubt it's that easy though?"
"No, not only do they worship him to appreciate the life given, but know when it is right to forgive someone for their wrong doings. If someone stole something to help another, they would be forgiven easier than if they stole out of pure greed. Some are less forgiving to those who wrong others, who wrong Arceus' creations, be it human, Pokémon, animal, anything."
"Put it that way, I know I'm not on its favorite list then," the man joked dryly, letting the other continue as he watched the playful clones.
"With those who worship Arceus, in some ways its judgement would be harshest which is understandable given its status and such. But remember, there are others who helped with the creation of what we know too. Pokémon with nearly the same power and strength as Arceus itself," Joel pointed out with a playful wag of his finger, seeing the other cast him a light scowl.
"So what do the others represent then?"
"With Girantina, those who worship it are those who see it as a guide for lost souls, both living and dead. It forgives those who are lost, unsure where they belong, having been viewed as outcasts as it has been. Because of Girantina's power, from the tales told of it, it had been banished to its own world, rarely venturing out through tears that appear or it made. Everyone simply wants to belong, to feel accepted, to have friends and family who appreciate and love them for who they are."
"How does it fare in the forgiving department?"
"From what I had read about it, it is said that Girantina is more willing to forgive people who did wrong, but out of desperation. If they had no one to guide them much like itself, it's only natural they'd act out. Sometimes…sometimes you simply have to do something that is considered wrong to survive because there's simply no other way."
"I see…"
"Those who follow Dialga are those who appreciate the time they are given alive, from the day we're born to the day we die. People who worship it neither rush to live life to its fullest, but don't trudge slowly. They simply got at a pace they're most comfortable with in order to enjoy life, whether they miss things or get to see it all."
"How does it judge people?"
"It is said that Dialga doesn't judge people while they're alive. It merely watches and once they're close to death or they have died, that is when it will begin its judgment over that person. If they've done nothing but good deeds, obviously they'll be spared. If they done nothing but malicious things with no regret…"
"They'll be punished."
"And those who have done bad things, but later repented now out of selfishness but regret, Dialga is more likely to forgive them. It'll also forgive those who did what people consider evil deeds, but it was out of their control. They could have been forced to in order to save loved ones, fallen ill that hinders their own judgment. Same with those who honestly believe they're doing good, but have gone about it the wrong way."
"That's an interesting take. What of Palkia though?"
"Palkia's a bit strange, it's a bit of both Girantina's method and Dialga's mixed together. Maybe because it controls space than controlling something like distortion or time as they do? What I can remember, being that it controls space, people who worship it are those who are more of appreciating the sort of life they have."
"How so?"
"You've heard how Palkia likely is capable if not has created alternate realities from this one, right?"
"I have… I think I get it. What these alternate realities could consist is unknown. There could be another you who could be worse off than you. They could be rich and lonely, poor, a slave, anything that is a complete opposite of yourself."
"Exactly, and at the same time they believe that Palkia, next to Arceus is what gives people the reason to exist. While Arceus created everything, Palkia stabilizes it so we have the chance to use Arceus' gift. But with that, Palkia is rather neutral about judging others, only going after those that are deemed a real threat to punish them."
"Quite fascinating. I'm sort of regretting having never taken any classes to learn about them when I was in college," Sebastian chuckled softly. "If I may ask, which one of them do you follow?"
"Dialga, I just feel more at home, reading scriptures or making prayers and offerings to it."
"Offerings?"
"They aren't necessary; it's mostly done with small children to teach them how to show compassion by making an offering. It's mostly food related like sweetcakes or hot dumplings. They're mostly done during certain festivities that relate to the proper deity or all of them depending what day they fall to overlap or is one made for all."
"But I presume that the offerings aren't so much given to the deities themselves, but more so wild Pokémon struggling for food could eat?"
"Correct, especially in the winter season where food is scarce to begin with."
"Rather clever."
"It is, though I wouldn't be surprised if they did at times eat some of the offerings out of curtesy," the man laughed, making the other unable to suppress a chuckle.
"Joel?" Sebastian asked, turning to him, his face torn between being serious and looking scared. "Do you think Dialga would forgive me? Or any of them for that matter?"
"I can't say really… With Dialga, it won't judge you until you've died and in a sense tallies up your life. If you were to continue hurting others with no regret, it won't forgive, but because of your predicament, it may forgive you. Especially with your recent actions. You tried to bring Amber back for Thomas, to fulfill his promise. You participated in the funeral we held for her and him. And let's not forget with the way you've been treating the twins since they woke up."
"And the others?"
"Palkia may in a sense ignore you, not deeming you threatening to life, especially if you're wanting, have been protecting Beta and Omega. Girantina would likely forgive you because your actions are not all that willing, especially of late. As for Arceus, I can't say, it could forgive for the same reason or simply punish you. In the end, it's their decision, not ours to make."
"I guess you're right," Sebastian sighed glumly, drawing his knees up, his chin resting on top.
Part of him wished he hadn't asked, his excitement for learning disappearing when thinking about it.
Joel silently understood, saying nothing more, letting silence rest comfortably between them.
Both men sat together, tension ebbing away as they watched the clones continue playing together in the water.
After a while, they grew bored, wanting to visit their creator, their father as the younger scientist and others would joke.
With mewls and chirping, Sebastian couldn't help but smile as he let them climb all over to snuggle into his arms.
He ignored their wet fur, how soaked, muddy even his clothes are going to get.
"Having fun, you two?" he asked, feeling better now that his attention rested on them than his own weary mind.
As they spent some more outdoors, the sun began to set, signaling they should return to the lab before it grew to dark. It would be dinner soon and the clones, the adults even, needed a bath before eating.
Each psychic clung to Sebastian's hands, eager to walk, thankfully not taking long to return to the familiar building.
Getting them inside, he, with Joel's help, got them and themselves cleaned up, eating shortly after, the remainder of their time spent with the clones playing.
Beta was easily amused by the familiar toys, currently wrestling with a large plush, tail thumping about as she pounce and thrash around.
Omega on the other hand was staring intently, obviously fascinated with the blocks she pulled out.
Walking over, Sebastian knelt down next to her, seeing her focus now brought upon him than the blocks.
"Mew?"
"Is something wrong?" he asked, unsure what could be wrong. "We can go back outside tomorrow if you wanted to play some more. I promise."
Shaking her head, Omega pointed towards the blocks, then to his amazement, used her psychic ability to claim a book one of the others were reading.
It didn't take him long to figure out what she wanted, unable to suppress a smile at her eagerness to learn something entirely new.
"You want to learn how to read? I'll be happy to teach you."
"Mew!"
Taking it as a yes by how happy she looked, he pulled out more blocks, setting them up to show all the letters of the alphabet.
"There are twenty-six letters; each one is unique and different. When you put them together, they make words, the very things we read and speak. Even alone, they have a purpose when used correctly."
Despite being so young, he knew Omega was far more intuitive, picking things up far easier than her sister.
Part of him wondered if in the duration Beta had suffocated, she ended up with some mild brain damage. It would explain some of her more childish antics despite how much they've been growing now.
Sadly, they never found what was in the fluid or anything noticeable in the tubes that had been inserted in her and Omega to feed and help them breathe.
The closest they got was a disguised being teleporting into the lab with an unfamiliar psychic type and rewriting the programing.
Whatever else he did, they were at a loss and it frustrated them all, the head scientist most of all.
Shaking that thought out, while they would continue to try and figure out what happened exactly, he was just grateful both were alive. Both of them were alive, healthy, and happy. That was enough to leave him content for now.
He told her more about the letters, reading each one out for her up until he saw her yawning, knowing it was time for bed.
Beta was already passed out, face burrowed into the large plush she was "sparring" with, soft snores heard.
Picking them up, he brought them to their room, letting them sit on the bed as he left to wash up and change for the night.
Returning, he was able to maneuver around the two, Beta partially awake as she and Omega clamored all over him to get comfortable.
Settled, they all fell instantly to sleep, letting the events of the day fill their dreams before the sun rose once more.
The routine was nearly the same, yet kept different, especially when it came to the clones going outdoors, playing about in trees or the water.
They slowly began to learn how to swim, Sebastian standing in the deeper water so they could hold onto him in case they panicked.
Despite having feline traits, they absolutely loved going into the lake, splashing in the water, slowly paddling about.
When they eventually returned indoors for lunch, the scientist having thrown some loose sweats and a T-shirt on to avoid getting a chill, he felt his breath hitch.
Barely passing one of the labs, Giovanni stood, having apparently been waiting, a sour look on his face.
"Is there something wrong?" Sebastian asked, unknowingly pushing the two behind him, the pair staring at him worriedly.
"I came to see how the clones were doing and find you and them missing. Care to explain yourself?" the boss asked in a tone that sounded to calm for the other's liking.
He knew the man had taken note he was wet, hair still dripping, even the clones still somewhat damp.
"I was teaching them how to swim. It would've been beneficial to their growth, especially when it was time for them to learn how to battle," Sebastian answered, knowing it was true.
"Why would they want to learn how to swim?"
"If they were to get into a confrontation that led them being over water, they have a higher chance in surviving. Something could happen where they may not able to use their telepathic abilities to stay afloat. They would be able to last longer in the water to continue defending themselves or swim back to shore."
"I'll give you credit on that, it makes sense. But that doesn't explain why you're wet," the other replied, arms crossed behind him as he studied the other.
"They need someone to hold onto while they adjust before making any attempts on their own. They're only babies, their muscles are still developing."
"Aside from that, how have they done? Are they possibly ready for any battling?"
He resisted the urge to snap at the crime lord, not wanting to upset the clones any more than they may already be.
"Not yet, they're far too young for any form of battling. The closest we get is when they tussle around with each other or toys we've set up for their exercises."
"Toys?"
"I've set up a room you would think of as a playroom, but it has its uses. They're both young, and because of it, they would have a shorter attention span much like any normal child. They easily get bored, constantly having to keep them stimulated with various activities. It could go between working on puzzles, locating hidden objects we set about the room, tussling with large plushes or something firmer."
"So you've basically been wasting your time, theirs, and mine goofing off?" the leader growled.
"Not at all," the other argued, gritting his teeth as he felt the psychics beginning to tremble at the other's growing anger. "These games have been stimulating them. They're learning how things work, learning how to use their psychic abilities. If it hadn't been done so, they would likely have destroyed something or someone, maybe even themselves inadvertently."
"Start teaching them how to fight."
"Didn't you just hear me? They aren't ready!"
Without warning, Giovanni's fist collided into the other's face, making him cry out as his nose began to bleed. He wasn't sure if it broke, he didn't hear it break, but that doesn't mean it wasn't.
The impact knocked him over, hearing his team crying out in fright when hearing the confrontation.
He could hear the clones beginning to wail loudly, scared and confused, upset to see him hurt, having never seen blood before.
"In case you've forgotten, I'm in charge," the leader threatened as he knelt down, grabbing the front of the other's shirt. "I would highly suggest that you don't forget that in the future."
Shoving him back, he walked around him, his expensive shoes crunching the fallen frames, walking past the angered scientists and sobbing clones.
Once he was far enough away, the others rushed to their friend's aid, some getting tissue to help stop the bleeding.
"Damn him," Davin spat, glaring at the doorway the man went through. "Doesn't he have a heart?"
"If he did, he threw it away a long time ago," Sebastian groaned, trying to ignore how much his face now hurt.
He noticed that the clones were no longer crying, which had concerned him that they might've run away, not that he'd blame them.
He froze when a paw gently touched his face, the others having stepped back, seeing the small Pokémon reaching for him.
Being this close, he could recognize the familiar plum eyes, knowing it was Beta examining him.
With a faint glow, the pain suddenly began to disappear, recognizing the move as Heal Pulse, the Pokémon appearing to act on instinct using it.
Seeing a similar glow further off, yet different, curious of what Omega must be up to before seeing the blurred image of her walking over.
Feeling something drop in his lap, he found it was his glasses, realizing the younger clone had somehow repaired them when holding them up.
He wasn't sure how it had been possible to do this, but for now, was willing to push it aside. He could always look into it later on.
Right now, he was in too much shock witnessing them using actual moves.
Putting the repaired frames back on, he looked between the small clones, seeing how upset they were, forgetting the pain he had just been in.
He was far too proud over what they did, without a single order given or shown how it's done.
And yet, it made him worry, Giovanni's threat ringing in the back of his head.
The surprised look turned to a small frown, pulling the two close, feeling them cling to his shirt desperately.
They aren't ready; they're too young to fight…
"Shiranui?"
He didn't want to answer, continuing to hug the clones, trying not to lose control over his emotions. He can't, he couldn't risk hurting them if they picked them up, picked up all his negative feelings.
"If he's going to make them start battling, then why don't we be the ones to start teaching? They can go slow, learn how to use their attacks on things like logs and rocks around here. It would be safest before battling Pokémon."
"He's right, and Kadabra can help them learn how to control their psychic abilities as well as ensure they don't lose complete control. I'm sure he could explain things better than we ever could," Joel added, kneeling next to the other.
"I suppose so, if we aren't the ones to teach them, Giovanni will crush them," Sebastian sighed, burrowing his face into his creations' soft fur.
Hearing them talk some more, not paying much attention to what was being said, he looked at the two, seeing how they calmed down. Both were now staring at their surroundings, maybe seeing a shadow or curtain moving.
When they turned their attention to him, large innocent eyes staring, he felt tears threatening to form.
"Do you two want to learn how to battle?" he muttered softly, knowing he may not get answer.
Beta cocked her head to one side, obviously not understanding the question, smiling innocently as she burrowed her face into him, purring.
She probably assumed battling is a form of play.
If it was under normal circumstances, it would've been…
Omega on the other hand, she seemed to give him this quizzical look, appearing more focused on what he said.
Slowly, she nodded, the man somehow not all that surprised, she was a fast learner, having already begun reading books.
She probably knows what the word means, likely reading it in a dictionary or one of the other books on the shelves.
Maybe even Beta knows through her sister?
The two are often chattering together, talking in their own language, always helping each other.
"Alright then, but not today, it's been stressful enough for all of us. Plans need to be made to ensure no one gets hurt. We need to find out what you two are capable of and what you can learn."
Of course Giovanni has to come and ruin things, least the professor has his team for some support, knowing the clones won't be in any real danger for a little longer.
Wonder what sort of moves they may know? So far it seems one knows Heal Pulse, wonder which skill the other knows among others between them?
*NOTE:*
Regarding the religion thing, not trying to shove anything down anyone's throat, it just seemed like an interesting idea to throw in.
May still need some tweaking, so ideas are welcomed, especially for the Palkia one.
I think my fave though writing up has to be Dialga's, probably due to it being my favorite out of them.
I got the idea for it ironically from reading Nuzlockes that used it, most of it just mentioned, not really delved into, others as some focus.
Please read and review