Samarra's discussion with Shaw has taken an interesting turn. What could he mean by harmonia being a gift that can be taken away? Could it be possible to remove Samarra's abilities and make her docile? Give her the chance to actually connect with other people in a genuine way? Or could he be talking about something else entirely? We'll have to see what he means. What could be the motivation that drives the man who founded the Children of the Oracles? Remember to review!

KedharS: It definitely changes the dynamic, that's for sure. Let's see what he means when he says that the power can be taken away.

Tambry96bj: Yep. Samarra doesn't take very well to people who do not treat her the way she wants to be treated, that's for sure.

Arbiter8991: Well, I would say that she's sort of a threat, and sort of not a threat at the same time. It's important to know just what he's really after, and I think this chapter should go a long way in exploring what drives him.

Hyphenman: Losing your harmonia is absolutely a horrible thing. It's a loss of a fundamental aspect of who you are, and the connection you share with your pokemon.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 1240

"Taken away?" Samarra echoed. There was no fear in her voice. If Shaw was threatening her, he hadn't shaken her concentration in the slightest.

But Shaw just smiled wistfully, his eyes turning glassy as he stared off into the distance.

"Don't worry," he reassured her. "I'm not talking about stealing your harmonia from you. That's not what I meant."

"Than what did you mean?" Samarra asked.

"I never knew my parents," Shaw said. It was bizarre, the sort of statement that didn't connect to what was going on in the slightest. Samarra just stared at him in confusion.

"What I mean, is that I was abandoned by them when I was a child," Shaw said, frowning. "Just an infant, really. It's a custom known as 'returning the child'. When there are too many mouths to feed in a household, a child is abandoned in the woods, returned to nature."

Flora winced. She began to tear up, and Kyrese frowned with sympathy.

Perhaps if Shaw had told this story to someone else, he would have gotten a similar reaction compared to those two. But Samarra had no care or consideration for Shaw's sob story in the slightest, she didn't even blink.

"As you can tell, though," he continued, "the return was unsuccessful. I survived. And the reason for that was because of my real family. My true parents, the pokemon living in the forest. One of them found me, just a baby in a bough, and rather than eat me, they took me in and cared for me, treated me like one of their own."

"You were raised by pokemon, then?" Samarra asked, raising her eyebrow.

"I was," Shaw nodded. "The pokemon of that forest… they were my family. They cared for me in ways that my real family never tried to. And you see… that's how I developed that power. I'm sure you know the one."

Harmonia. He didn't have to say it, of course.

"Most people develop harmonia in their teenage years, or usually in early childhood," Shaw said. "That was how it was for you, isn't that right?"

"Yes." It was the same for Flora and Kyrese. They'd developed their gifts as young children before being taken to Anja Karzat.

"That wasn't the case with me, however," Shaw said, shaking his head. "You see… I can't remember a time from my childhood when I didn't have this ability. From the day I was born, when those pokemon first took me in, I could understand their hearts perfectly."

"Curious," Samarra mused. Even her abilities had not developed for several years. "So you were always able to communicate with pokemon, then?"

Shaw nodded. "They were my family, so of course. Don't you wish… that you had been able to properly communicate, with your family, I mean?"

Samarra's lips turned down slightly, and her eyes narrowed imperceptibly. She didn't bother responding to his provocation.

"I had no idea about my powers, of course," Shaw said, shaking his head. "I had no idea what other human beings were even like. I had never seen one before, after all. For all I knew, everyone could communicate with pokemon the way I did. So you can imagine my surprise when I eventually stepped out of that forest and into the wide world, and saw the truth with my own eyes."

Samarra still failed to understand the point of all this. She didn't care one bit about his history, so why was he telling her?"

"The look on your face is saying 'I don't care about any of this, why is he telling me?' you know," Shaw said, and Samarra's eye twitched.

"How presumptuous of you, thinking you can read my thoughts," Samarra said cagily, and Shaw just laughed, shaking his head.

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," he replied. "After all, you may be very clever, but you still lack the skill to truly connect with others and understand them on a fundamental level."

Samarra didn't like the way he insinuated that there was something she couldn't do. She didn't take the bait, however, just staring at him until he moved forward.

"I acknowledged that I was a human being. I couldn't live my life in the woods forever," he sighed, shaking his head. "At some point, it was obvious that I would have to go back. And over the years, I tried, I really did, to integrate myself into the modern world. But I just couldn't. Even as I got to know people and tried to make connections with them, I realized- the way the world works, it's nothing like my life in the forest. And I think you can understand what I mean by that, Samarra."

"Sir…" Flora wiped a tear from her eye. Samarra's face remained emotionless.

"When I was with the pokemon, things were pure. They were clean," Shaw explained. "I could understand them all, on a fundamental level. Because of my harmonia, there was no need for secrets or lies or doubt. My family and I were always united in our thoughts, we shared a connection. And that's the same with you, isn't that right?"

Samarra nodded. "And yet… you still sealed my powers away from me all the same," she murmured. "Even though you know how important it is to make a connection with others."

"Ah, yes, well… I wish I didn't have to," Shaw sighed. "The truth is, that ability of yours… it's vital for the world I long to create. A world where everyone, people and pokemon, can understand one another without the need of lies."

"Lies?" Samarra asked.

Shaw nodded. "So much of the pain in this world comes from the inability of human beings to be honest with one another," he explained. "People are afraid to show their real selves. 'What if she doesn't like me?' 'What if he thinks that I'm a fool?' 'What if they reject me?' Because they fear the rejection of others, they wear masks to hide their true selves, and pretend to be someone they're not. They alter who they are in order to fit in with others, and their individual sense of 'self' becomes swallowed by the waves of society."

Samarra tried to understand what he was talking about, she really did. But it was all nonsense to her. A sense of individuality? A true self? Those sorts of things were useless, the only thing that mattered to her was her own existence.

"…The way you're looking at me, I can tell you don't understand," Shaw sighed. "Or no… it's more like you don't care, isn't it? About any of this."

"Worrying about such things is pointless," Samarra agreed, nodding. "With my harmonia… I can connect with others directly. Deception and lies are unnecessary."

"And yet you tried to deceive me," Shaw pointed out. "In order to obtain what you wanted, you attempted to fool me with your words, isn't that so?"

Samarra scowled for a moment before her face returned to is expressionless mask.

"You act like you're above us lowly humans, that you have nothing in common with insects like us," Shaw murmured. "But in the end… are you really so different? Just because you're smarter, and your abilities grant you superior power… does that really make you better than me?"

"Yes," she replied without even thinking about it. "I am better than you."

Shaw actually burst out laughing at that statement.

"Well… it's true that you have a power I can only dream of possessing," he agreed. "The power to connect with others… it's vital to my ambition. Try to picture it, if you can. A world where everyone can share a connection, where no one has to lie or deceive one another, try to be someone they're not. Where acceptance can come without any form of pretense, simply because everyone can understand everyone else. That… is the world that I yearn to create."

"Then take me out of these shackles," Samarra said, holding her wrists out towards Shaw. "I will create this world without lies for you."

Shaw shook his head. "But the world you create… would be a world that's ruled only by you, and your will. It's ironic, don't you think? Your power grants you the ability to create the world I desire, and yet because of the person you are, you would never create a world of true freedom and equality. Just a world of servants who worship you."

"They would become my friends," Samarra said plainly. "People who would understand what I wanted, and be given what they wanted in turn."

She didn't really see the issue. But then, she wouldn't be able to, would she?

Shaw sighed.

"If only it was so simple as taking away your harmonia, then maybe I would even consider it," he said, shaking his head. "I wish you were capable of forming a genuine connection with other people, Samarra, I really pray that it's possible. And maybe it will be, someday. But until that time comes, I'm afraid I have to keep you here."

It was clear that he was done speaking. He had already turned back to his meal. But Samarra wasn't finished yet.

"You never answered my question," she pointed out. "What happened to you? Your abilities… you said you possessed harmonia since you were born. But now, I can't sense it from you at all. That should not be possible."

"Are you genuinely curious about another person?" Shaw asked, raising his eyebrow. "Because that would be quite significant indeed."

"The situation itself is curious," Samarra replied. "That is all."

"Well, then, I'll tell you, or rather, I already did," Shaw replied. "Harmonia is a gift that can be taken away, my dear."

"Taken away how?" Samarra asked, narrowing his eyes. "Do you mean to say you…"

"That's right," Shaw nodded. "I no longer… possess any harmonia at all. The voices of my precious family… no longer touch my heart."

"How is that possible?" Samarra asked. She had never heard of this power disappearing before. But then, she'd so seldom met anyone else who possessed it.

"Nothing in this world is infinite," Shaw replied. "Everything on earth is measured in scarcity. A finite number of pokemon. A finite amount of oil. A finite amount of berries. As living beings we work to preserve as much of this world's finite resources for the next generation, because… our lives are also a finite resource. Tell me, Samarra, as you're quite intelligent, I'm sure you can tell me why injuries take longer to heal the older you become, yes?"

"Of course," Samarra nodded. "It's because there are a finite amount of cell divisions that take place over the span of a human life. As humans age, it takes longer for the limited amount of cellular division to occur, and thus their wounds take a longer amount of time to heal."

"That's right, even the human body has a finite amount of time. Eventually, we all reach a point where it is impossible for us to go on any further, and then we die. Our bodies literally give out on us, or run out of resources to keep living," Shaw nodded. "And harmonia is exactly the same way."

"So harmonia disappears with age?" Samarra asked cautiously. That was very problematic. She had never considered that the time would come when she would no longer have use of her abilities. The thought of her, as an old woman, unable to make a connection with anyone…

She pushed that thought out of her mind. She refused to acknowledge that the notion frightened her terribly.

"It isn't that it goes away with age," Shaw said, shaking his head. "I'm not that old, after all. But rather… it's finite. The more you use your harmonia… the more of it you burn and expend, the more intensity with which you use your powers to support your pokemon… the strength of your ability increases, certainly, but as the years go by… that power will slowly but surely slip away, until the day comes when you have lost that connection with your pokemon entirely."

"Sir…" Flora sniffled. She was trying very hard not to cry, but it was almost impossible. Shaw just favored her with a smile.

"You can understand my feelings, I think," Shaw said, turning to Samarra. "…Or, no, maybe not. I suppose for someone like you, understanding the feelings of other people is still out of the question. But you see, Samarra… I know what it's like. To be able to connect to other people. To be able to understand them on in every way. My pokemon… they were my family. And I lost them. I suppose that someone like you, who has never treasured anyone but yourself, couldn't begin to imagine what it's like to lose the bonds you've formed with others, but… it's a very painful process. And that's why I'm doing what I'm doing. Because I know what it means to connect with other people, and with pokemon. And that's the sort of world I long to create."

At his core, Alexander Shaw was a man who dreamed of the past. He remembered that perfect innocence of childhood, in the forest with his pokemon. Living a peaceful, happy life. The sort of life that was no firmly out of his reach.

Without harmonia, he was just a man. A man with ambition.

"I lost the bond I shared with my previous family, but now I've formed a new one," Shaw said. "The Children of the Oracles are my family. And my children… the power they've gathered… no. There's no need to tell you just yet."

He smiled at her.

"That can come after you've agreed to join us, and use those powers of yours to suit a higher cause then yourself, Samarra," he said, and returned to his meal.

Samarra finished eating. She wasn't sure what word she should use to describe the process. "Delicious" might have been it.

When the meal was finished, Samarra expected to be escorted back to her cell. Shaw had promised her a room, but she didn't exactly trust him.

So imagine her surprise when Flora and Kyrese escorted her to a nice, well-furnished bedroom. It was larger than her cell, but still mostly empty. But there was a closet and a dresser to store her things, and a bed as well.

"This is my room?" Samarra asked, looking around.

"Sorry it's sort of empty," Kyrese laughed. "But then, you didn't exactly come with very much stuff, you know?"

"Material things are immaterial," Samarra replied, stepping into the room and looking around. "Satisfying oneself with trinkets is a waste of a higher calling."

She stared at one of the empty walls.

"However… a bookshelf would be useful."

"We have a library," Flora said. "If you want, I can show you where it is!"

"No need. I will find it on my own," Samarra said, coldly rebuffing her.

"R-Right, well… I'm just down the hall, so… let me know if you need anything," Flora mumbled, ducking out and leaving Kyrese alone with Samarra.

"It, uh… it must be difficult to move around in that dress," Kyrese said, not sure how to start off a conversation with the strange woman. "There's all sorts of changes of clothes in the closet, in case you wanted to wear something more comfortable."

"It doesn't matter what I'm wearing," Samarra told him. She couldn't care less about her wardrobe. The only reason she'd put this dress on in the first place was because they had told her to.

"…Right, well… I suppose staying in that is fine," Kyrese shrugged, flashing her a toothy smile. "It looks rather lovely on you, I must say."

Samarra gave him a vacant stare. Without so much as a "thank you", she just stared at him until he awkwardly shuffled out of the room, leaving her alone to her thoughts.

While Flora and Kyrese escorted Samarra to her new home, Shaw remained back in the dining hall, resting in his chair and staring up at the ceiling.

That woman… her abilities are vital… if only she were a different sort of person, then perhaps… perhaps we wouldn't need to go to such an extent, he imagined.

He stood and walked out, heading through the long hallways of the castle to another room. The room was right at the heart of the castle, and inside it was an altar with 18 notches carved into the stone. Just large enough to fit certain objects.

The Oracles. Stones of immense power, spread out across the world.

The of them now rested within the altar. One, a dark green, the color of the jungle, and another, a light clear blue, like ice in the sun. And the third, his latest prize, a deep, royal violet blue, shining proudly in the light of the altar.

The Oracle of Bugs. The Oracle of Ice. And the Oracle of Dragons. 3 out of the 18 stones that were said to have once created the entire world- and would again, if Shaw had anything to say about it.

The others will come under our control soon enough, he thought, running his hands across the altar. When that happens… the power that I lost… I will regain it once more, and create a world of true freedom and equality… a world where people and pokemon can truly understand one another, and live in harmony.

It was a wonderful dream. But currently, it was a pipe dream. No one who had ever lost their harmonia had been able to regain it. And in all of history only one person had ever been able to gather together the Oracles before. Such a task was thought to be impossible.

But it had happened once. And Shaw would make it happen again.

He may no longer possess the power he once had. Now his family was just several children. But he had something more important than the power of harmonia.

He had willpower. The determination to see his cause through to the end. And when it came to changing the world, that was what was most essential.

So we've finally gotten a good look at who Alexander Shaw is as a person, and what his ambition is. What do you think of his goal? Is it admirable? Sympathetic? Crazy? One thing is for sure, no matter how noble his goals may be, they don't make up for the things that he's done in order to achieve them, that's for sure. He still took Gwen away from her beloved older brother. Now the question remains, what will come from this?