Chapter 11

How did you manage to turn therapy into mind control?

It took me a while to get my head back in working order. I have no clue why, but seeing the Ur-organ - heh, Urgan - that had been trailing out of my throat... It disturbs me. It is not meant to be. Perhaps it is raw Nothingness making an attempt to be Something? What purpose does it even serve? I don't even need to breathe, what possible function could it serve? Is it a massive brain? Why does it look like an Eater from Digimon Cyber Sleuth? So many questions, and infinite time...I might actually manage to get them all answered.

Regardless of my metaphysical ramblings, I have a job to do.

After a quick survey to check if everyone is awake - they aren't - I turn my attention towards the peeking tom. A little orb-like insect, orange and black with neon blue eyes. A bug with the ability to understand the world around it with its mind. Quite possibly able to sort me out, other personalities and all. Definitely holding potential, but considering my plans, it would be a reserve member. As such, I would need to look up how the PCs work, because if they simply lock a pokemon into a hellish stasis-unexistence state, I would break the ball I used to catch it as soon as I caught the last Sandstormer.

Although, perhaps I could have it along as a therapy mon. From what little I know, there is no limit to therapy pokemon, aside from the fact you cannot battle with them, meaning I can simply register it as such and be done with it. They even have a special ball for therapy pokemon, meaning I would be perfectly set for the rest of my adve-

I would instinctively bat it off to the side when it lunged at me, if I could not physically feel its desperation to try and help me. It made me stop that it had such a genuine desire to help me. Why? I am a complete stranger to it. Even more so, I am an intruder. An invader. For all it knows, I am here to steal it away, to force it into brutal bloodsport. Why would I, though? Such a cute little one, a little genius. Oh, I could simply sit here all day, rubbing its polygonal head. Listen to that chittering, simply titillating! I wonder where its progenitor is.

Where is it's Progenitor?

Why am I calling it's parents its progenitors?

Why do I feel WRONG!?

...

This vile thing. This monstrosity under the shell of a bug. This tyrant in the making. How was it forcing me to feel so peaceful, so joyful? I should be utterly immune to all attempts at non-verbal manipulation. Was... It is bowing its head. Was this things mind so detached from that of a humans that it legitimately thought that forcing my non-euclidean four-dimensionally shaped mind into a square hole, damn the scars, was a good idea? Is it apologizing for the mistake that it didn't even know it was making? Did the system legitimately classify this as a genuine attempt to make my mind healthier and not an attempt to simply manipulate it?

...I understand how to continue from this point.

"Stand up."

It returned to its original position, forward tilted upwards. Its eyes are clenched shut, expecting some form of terrible rebuke, no doubt.

"You did not know what you were doing was wrong. Hell, I do not expect you thought what you were attempting would lead to my mind becoming unstable. Becoming something it is not. That is no excuse; to even entertain affecting one's mind, even just the slightest, is to entertain killing a person. For they would no longer be the same."

At that, its eyes opened wide, an nearing-grayish blue. The equivalent of red cheeks when embarrassed, except maybe for worry, I expect. I could almost feel the shame rolling off of it.

"That is not your fault. It is the fault of ignorance and haste. If you truly wish to assist me, I will allow you to join. But you will not act out of line; to do so is to quite possibly jeopardize me, or those around me. My Heart may not be advanced enough to form bonds yet, but god dammit, I refuse to let children be put in harm's way due to carelessness. That includes you."

At this point, I believe it has entered shock. It has stopped shivering, its eyes are getting slightly glossy, and- are those tears?...God damnit. I can feel my arms committing total mutiny against my mind as my mouth furthers the damage.

"Fucking- come here. Stop crying. Everyone makes mistakes, we just need to learn. We can't let others be harmed by our lack of knowing, so when we fail, we must learn what was wrong, and strive to never do it again. Understand?"

I never thought a chrysalis could nod.

I also never thought I would be scared by bugs again. The flying beetle that is as long as I am tall and looking ready to decapitate me using its jaws proved me wrong. Everyone can learn new things today, it seems. Maybe this little bug can learn how to fight Heartless, in case those fucks invade.

Luckily, it took a while for the others to wake. All they will see is that a Dottler came along, and is joining the trauma train. They will not know that I spewed up a piece of Nothingness, they will not know that for a moment I had died in all manners but physically, and they will not know that a Vikavolt had been threatening me with the same method of killing one kills french royalty with. Or would that be Kalosian here in Pokearth?... Wait. I retract my statement, please, God, Big 'Nort in the sky, Kingdom Hearts, Hashimoto and Sakaguchi, Satoshi, Ash, I don't give a fuck who, just please don't let Marie have trauma.

"Hey. Found a new friend over the night. I hope."

Ria looks at the beetle with apprehension. Marie looks confused. Her Eevee has simply decided to say "Fuck this" and go back to sleep.