𝓢𝓹𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓪𝓵 𝓗𝓸𝓵𝓭𝓼

Then, from that light blue shard, a voice was heard..

They could brush it off for a while but…

Reaching out…

Then…

A coherent sentence was heard by them and only them.

“Can you hear me?”

// @candyapplesandjesters

(Kris’s eyes widen,.)

Yeah. I can hear you loud and clear.

(they pause)

“It appears so. I am Lumiere Silvamillion Clover, the first Wizard King and the creator of this blade.”

Then a pause. Lumiere chuckles nervously.

(Kris visibly relaxes.)

Look. Kieran’s planning something REALLY bullheaded, and that thorn is helping him along. Sea sent you to me to try and show that Heart’s not the threat.

“Your friend is owed the benefit of the doubt by myself, Princia, Jester and Conrad.”

Lumiere spoke again. “Apologies about Edward and his sudden chip in. But yes, some of us do doubt Kieran’s tale. As for that thorn however…

Alright, so, apparently Kieran made some sort of pact with the people who made the sword, I think…and…I dunno, Sea sent this shard to me so I can prove that you’re not a threat? Because if a few of the ones in the sword change their mind…it could start a chain reaction. Sorry if I didn’t…explain it too well.

“As for the agreement… it’s in line with our duty as Wizard Kings. Or was.”

“No unnecessary harm will come to the Clover Kingdom, its citizens , and anyone else uninvolved in the process of eliminating that thing. He swore on his pride as the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles.”

(Kris sighs. Putting their hand in their pocket, they pull out the thorns.)

We need to get rid of these. Permanantly. Any ideas chat?

“Even the soul fragment of him here doesn’t know what’s goung on with his main soul. But he’s saying sorry repeatedly, and something about being so gullible..”

[One more, its voice distorts, clearly panicked about the boy’s well-being but knowing it cannot do anything to intervene, not yet at least.]

“Ok ok, I propose that we try to burn these things. This town’s Camphrier, right? One of these old buildings has got to have a hearth, maybe even this hotel does?”

(Kris sighs. They still can't bring themselves to say HER name. Not after they were forced to hurt her the way they did.)

Point is, there's still a chance. So...I'll go ask if there's a hearth.

“Ya know, he practically threw all rationality unconsciously into me. In here. With Lumiere and the others.”

“A-ah! I thought you-“

“Sorry, but I’m done contemplating.” The voice remained resolute. “I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, since there’s no way they knew that information.”

[Under any other circumstance, getting one’s innocence cleared would have been a relief to the accused, and yet, this statement is met with silence from the previously guilty party. It is not like it has not seen the screenshots of those Tumblr messages either. If anything, viewing them made it suspicious of the anonymous user just as it had everyone else aside from the young captain, something which the past Wizard Kings and the new soul fragment find out and take note of thanks to the shard’s memory transfer properties. But this only serves to bring up the question: why has it become quiet?]

Got somethin' on your mind?

Kieran’s soul fragment muttered, before Lumiere seemed to have stopped him.

“I thought you said you were done contemplating?”

“Y-yeah.. but I think they hate me…”

[But before the little soul can mutter up another word, its prison has already arrived at the front desk to ask whether there is a hearth or not. Sadly, there is not one in the building, at least not since the lobby walls had undergone renovations several months ago. However, to the group’s luck, one of the hotel’s chefs happened to be passing by, a Pansear on his shoulder, a Pokemon known to like helping people. Under the condition that the thorns are burned outside, the elemental monkey wastes no time using Ember, proud of herself at first only to notice that these bizarre barbs are taking a while to disintegrate.]

“Paprika, ça va?”

[The fiery primate then turns towards her master, looking startled and pointing to the thorns she just burned with her mitten-like paws. Confused, the chef looks over to see whatever is the matter, only to find what looks like a melting puddle of something akin to red-colored goop, and underneath it all appears to be strange devices. They look either like syringes or screws, although it is rather hard to tell given their small size and even if they were not, the flames have already embraced these miniature machines as kindling material.]

“Excusez-moi, if it is not a bother, may I ask where you have found these tiny things that have frightened my dear Flamajou?”

[Of course, this staff member does not want to intrude on the kid's life too much, ensuring to remain polite as do the Camphrier’s residents. Though it makes sense that a bit of anxiety would still linger in the crisp, night air given recent events in the region. Meanwhile, the kid in question is just as alarmed as everyone else, with the heart they hold inside being horrified by this new development, its voice once again chiming in.]

“... Those aren’t thorns, are they.”

(Kris turns to the pansear, patting it gently on the head.)

Thanks, sir....it's...a long story. What matters is that they're gone.

(As the staff member walks away with his pokemon, Kris looks a bit relieved.)

At least the thorns are gone, but...what the fuck...?

Seems like none of them know what to think of this development, so they chose to steer back on track.

“By the way, Heart… why’d ya go silent? Oh wait, why’d I ask that-“

The last part got mumbled, as he still thought he was hated.

“... Some of the stuff that anonymous user has been saying about me is... true.” 

Wh-what. What do you mean?

(...after a beat of silence, Kris catches on.)

Heart. I trust you...and if that's gonna keep going, you've got to tell us whatever it is you're hiding.

“During the beginning of my third life, I had found someone who was severely injured in the middle of Viridian Forest, and not knowing his reasoning for not going to the hospital at the time I... “saved” right there and then, hoping to come back with a healing item from another world. The other time I had tried to... turn back the clock was when three girls were in danger from that Pokemon world’s version of Lysandre, one of them being minutes away from being... being... r-regardless, neither of these attempts were successful, I swear! I was s-stopped by some degree or another by those... “higher-level beings” that this anon is l-likely referring to before things ever got to that point.”

Lumiere was confused as to why the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles had chosen silence

Then after a while..

“Lys…” it was barely audible, but clearly held spme weight of sorrow

(Kris stretches, wondering briefly if Heart was able to feel it too.)

So...you have the same power as that...thing. But...you never abused it. That's what I'm picking up. Am I right?

Still no response from Kieran.

I really didn’t help my case either, all I had done was dig my grave, and on top of that... I also got banished to the void for several months as another repercussion, the decision of a Dialga and Palkia that... literally left me in broken pieces. It took me a long while to finally realize the gravity of what I was doing and why people were suddenly turning against me. While I have my own suspicions about my perpetrator, enough to suspect that they aren’t the good guy here... that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of this was still my own undoing.

... I won't fault anyone here if you decide that it's better to end things between us, or if... it's decided that I should receive judgement for my sins.”

Lumiere and Edward audibly gasps.

“You are pleading guilty, and honestly, I’m surprised.

But then again, not everyone chooses to plead guilty. Most choose to go for innocent, no matter how high the stacks of evidence are against them.

Like Kris said, penance has been served. But an actual punishment has to be administered.

Not a severe one, mind you.

Once this is all over, I’m making it go.

You are to keep contact with your friends, help them as you have helped them all this time.

No silence. No lies.

No secrets and no keeping major information.

Apologize to those whom you need to.

That is the verdict of the Spatial Judge.”

[... What? Does this so-called judge not understand the severity of what it has done? Does he not realize that it has not learned a thing and will only regress? Stricter action must be taken, even a death penalty should have been on the table, will anyone wake up to that fact? Not to mention no one has asked about the rest of that... anonymous tipster's claims.] 

...right...but another question. How much of what the Anon has said is actually true?

“Especially if they made a Vice Captain like Kieran lose their composure.”

[And ideally by the time this thing does "explain itself," the others would have grown smart to not fall for its ploy. Perhaps resting up for the night would also help clear their heads and make them realize that they are making a grave mistake siding with the anomaly.]

[Based on the shard’s memory-transfer properties, so far it has been... entirely truthful, for now at least. But that really will not matter in the grand scheme of things, and it may need to be further questioned about what it has just said.]

[Once more it is telling the truth, but once more it must be emphasized that this will not matter in the long run.]

(Something in the darkest parts of Kris's mind though, whispered to stay on guard. Something could happen.)

“Actually, one more thing that is intriguing me.. what did you talk about with those… higher level beings?”

And to amplify that whisper, a third voice spoke in Kris’ mind.

“Well, as a couple of examples that come to mind... one time I talked to a couple o-of them because someone who I was starting to form a friendship with was acting strange, to which I found out he was being possessed b-by a deity who wanted to frame him before he... disappeared online. I still don’t k-know about his whereabouts to this day. Another time, I found out via the usual chaos of that Discord server t-that someone who I thought was a friend might’ve been... doing some... not-so-nice things to Pokemon. One of these beings then confirmed this to be true w-when I asked... I feel stupid giving that girl a blanket... oh right! And I guess the most recent time I’d made any sort of contact was to make sure, umm... none of u-us accidently killed Ralsei?”

[The suspicious soul’s first instance comes with hints of sadness in its voice, hints that while it is beginning to recover from the loss of a “friend,” its grief still lingers. It sounds more ashamed when speaking about its second example, as if it blames its naivety on itself, and it certainly seems like whatever was done to those Pokemon is not something anyone would even want to find out given its wording. And by the time it has confirmed that it has already made contact with one of you in particular, it becomes fidgety and nervous, knowing you may be reading their words. Perhaps having it become too attached to people should be another concern, since for all anyone knows, this lonely spider wants them to stay with it forever, especially with all the desperate lengths it has been willing to go. But before it continues with its interrogation, it decides to ask a question it should have been considering a long time ago.]

“... Should I stop talking to them?”

Alright….anything else we should know? I’m…I’m tired.

[Taking in a breath and letting out a sigh, it too begins to feel tired, not out of sleepiness, but rather being weighed down by the stress its perpetrator’s sudden appearance on this site has caused and only now getting some of its past off its metaphorical chest. The void-dwelling doctor’s presence would not have helped matters either, though at this rate it has become too exhausted to ask its warden to hang up the phone. It has even forgotten that six more individuals are here and listening, still under the binding magic of the anonymous account, and a couple of those lost human children attempt to hide as the broken being continues to speak.]

“Oh, right... one more thing. My... species... most of you might’ve already put two-and-two together, but... I’m what you may know as a ‘beldam.’ I don’t think I always was one, although... my humanity is something I lost a long time ago.”

[Its humanity? That word in particular catches the cage’s attention, because as far as they were aware until this moment, they have come across a nicer version of the angel that both towns of light and dark worship. And yet, here is that very god talking as if it had a life, just like many other Fallers before they fell into this land.]

(Kris was struggling to hide their displeasure at the fact that the justification for their now long-gone hatred was nothing more than regurgitated information stripped of context. It made them feel even more like shit than before...)

...well...I think that's about as many answers as we'll be getting...because I'm gonna sleep...

Kieran snarls. Lumiere and Edward had certainly understood why.

“So I really was being played for a fool.. and I was chasing the wrong target… I think we need to sleep on this…”

[That is something it will need to ask for another day. Although, it should be mentioned that the reason it was even allowed to stay around long enough to beat the Roaring Knight during Ralsei's rescue mission was to fall into a trap after the fact, one that had left it corrupted and killed due to factors it has not accounted for nor has it wanted to acknowledge the possibility of.]

(Kris yawns.)

Then, from that light blue shard, a voice was heard..

They could brush it off for a while but…

Reaching out…

Then…

A coherent sentence was heard by them and only them.

“Can you hear me?”

// @candyapplesandjesters

(Kris’s eyes widen,.)

Yeah. I can hear you loud and clear.

(they pause)

“It appears so. I am Lumiere Silvamillion Clover, the first Wizard King and the creator of this blade.”

Then a pause. Lumiere chuckles nervously.

(Kris visibly relaxes.)

Look. Kieran’s planning something REALLY bullheaded, and that thorn is helping him along. Sea sent you to me to try and show that Heart’s not the threat.

“Your friend is owed the benefit of the doubt by myself, Princia, Jester and Conrad.”

Lumiere spoke again. “Apologies about Edward and his sudden chip in. But yes, some of us do doubt Kieran’s tale. As for that thorn however…

Alright, so, apparently Kieran made some sort of pact with the people who made the sword, I think…and…I dunno, Sea sent this shard to me so I can prove that you’re not a threat? Because if a few of the ones in the sword change their mind…it could start a chain reaction. Sorry if I didn’t…explain it too well.

“As for the agreement… it’s in line with our duty as Wizard Kings. Or was.”

“No unnecessary harm will come to the Clover Kingdom, its citizens , and anyone else uninvolved in the process of eliminating that thing. He swore on his pride as the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles.”

(Kris sighs. Putting their hand in their pocket, they pull out the thorns.)

We need to get rid of these. Permanantly. Any ideas chat?

“Even the soul fragment of him here doesn’t know what’s goung on with his main soul. But he’s saying sorry repeatedly, and something about being so gullible..”

[One more, its voice distorts, clearly panicked about the boy’s well-being but knowing it cannot do anything to intervene, not yet at least.]

“Ok ok, I propose that we try to burn these things. This town’s Camphrier, right? One of these old buildings has got to have a hearth, maybe even this hotel does?”

(Kris sighs. They still can't bring themselves to say HER name. Not after they were forced to hurt her the way they did.)

Point is, there's still a chance. So...I'll go ask if there's a hearth.

“Ya know, he practically threw all rationality unconsciously into me. In here. With Lumiere and the others.”

“A-ah! I thought you-“

“Sorry, but I’m done contemplating.” The voice remained resolute. “I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, since there’s no way they knew that information.”

[Under any other circumstance, getting one’s innocence cleared would have been a relief to the accused, and yet, this statement is met with silence from the previously guilty party. It is not like it has not seen the screenshots of those Tumblr messages either. If anything, viewing them made it suspicious of the anonymous user just as it had everyone else aside from the young captain, something which the past Wizard Kings and the new soul fragment find out and take note of thanks to the shard’s memory transfer properties. But this only serves to bring up the question: why has it become quiet?]

Got somethin' on your mind?

Kieran’s soul fragment muttered, before Lumiere seemed to have stopped him.

“I thought you said you were done contemplating?”

“Y-yeah.. but I think they hate me…”

[But before the little soul can mutter up another word, its prison has already arrived at the front desk to ask whether there is a hearth or not. Sadly, there is not one in the building, at least not since the lobby walls had undergone renovations several months ago. However, to the group’s luck, one of the hotel’s chefs happened to be passing by, a Pansear on his shoulder, a Pokemon known to like helping people. Under the condition that the thorns are burned outside, the elemental monkey wastes no time using Ember, proud of herself at first only to notice that these bizarre barbs are taking a while to disintegrate.]

“Paprika, ça va?”

[The fiery primate then turns towards her master, looking startled and pointing to the thorns she just burned with her mitten-like paws. Confused, the chef looks over to see whatever is the matter, only to find what looks like a melting puddle of something akin to red-colored goop, and underneath it all appears to be strange devices. They look either like syringes or screws, although it is rather hard to tell given their small size and even if they were not, the flames have already embraced these miniature machines as kindling material.]

“Excusez-moi, if it is not a bother, may I ask where you have found these tiny things that have frightened my dear Flamajou?”

[Of course, this staff member does not want to intrude on the kid's life too much, ensuring to remain polite as do the Camphrier’s residents. Though it makes sense that a bit of anxiety would still linger in the crisp, night air given recent events in the region. Meanwhile, the kid in question is just as alarmed as everyone else, with the heart they hold inside being horrified by this new development, its voice once again chiming in.]

“... Those aren’t thorns, are they.”

(Kris turns to the pansear, patting it gently on the head.)

Thanks, sir....it's...a long story. What matters is that they're gone.

(As the staff member walks away with his pokemon, Kris looks a bit relieved.)

At least the thorns are gone, but...what the fuck...?

Seems like none of them know what to think of this development, so they chose to steer back on track.

“By the way, Heart… why’d ya go silent? Oh wait, why’d I ask that-“

The last part got mumbled, as he still thought he was hated.

“... Some of the stuff that anonymous user has been saying about me is... true.” 

Wh-what. What do you mean?

(...after a beat of silence, Kris catches on.)

Heart. I trust you...and if that's gonna keep going, you've got to tell us whatever it is you're hiding.

“During the beginning of my third life, I had found someone who was severely injured in the middle of Viridian Forest, and not knowing his reasoning for not going to the hospital at the time I... “saved” right there and then, hoping to come back with a healing item from another world. The other time I had tried to... turn back the clock was when three girls were in danger from that Pokemon world’s version of Lysandre, one of them being minutes away from being... being... r-regardless, neither of these attempts were successful, I swear! I was s-stopped by some degree or another by those... “higher-level beings” that this anon is l-likely referring to before things ever got to that point.”

Lumiere was confused as to why the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles had chosen silence

Then after a while..

“Lys…” it was barely audible, but clearly held spme weight of sorrow

(Kris stretches, wondering briefly if Heart was able to feel it too.)

So...you have the same power as that...thing. But...you never abused it. That's what I'm picking up. Am I right?

Still no response from Kieran.

I really didn’t help my case either, all I had done was dig my grave, and on top of that... I also got banished to the void for several months as another repercussion, the decision of a Dialga and Palkia that... literally left me in broken pieces. It took me a long while to finally realize the gravity of what I was doing and why people were suddenly turning against me. While I have my own suspicions about my perpetrator, enough to suspect that they aren’t the good guy here... that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of this was still my own undoing.

... I won't fault anyone here if you decide that it's better to end things between us, or if... it's decided that I should receive judgement for my sins.”

Lumiere and Edward audibly gasps.

“You are pleading guilty, and honestly, I’m surprised.

But then again, not everyone chooses to plead guilty. Most choose to go for innocent, no matter how high the stacks of evidence are against them.

Like Kris said, penance has been served. But an actual punishment has to be administered.

Not a severe one, mind you.

Once this is all over, I’m making it go.

You are to keep contact with your friends, help them as you have helped them all this time.

No silence. No lies.

No secrets and no keeping major information.

Apologize to those whom you need to.

That is the verdict of the Spatial Judge.”

[... What? Does this so-called judge not understand the severity of what it has done? Does he not realize that it has not learned a thing and will only regress? Stricter action must be taken, even a death penalty should have been on the table, will anyone wake up to that fact? Not to mention no one has asked about the rest of that... anonymous tipster's claims.] 

...right...but another question. How much of what the Anon has said is actually true?

“Especially if they made a Vice Captain like Kieran lose their composure.”

[And ideally by the time this thing does "explain itself," the others would have grown smart to not fall for its ploy. Perhaps resting up for the night would also help clear their heads and make them realize that they are making a grave mistake siding with the anomaly.]

[Based on the shard’s memory-transfer properties, so far it has been... entirely truthful, for now at least. But that really will not matter in the grand scheme of things, and it may need to be further questioned about what it has just said.]

[Once more it is telling the truth, but once more it must be emphasized that this will not matter in the long run.]

(Something in the darkest parts of Kris's mind though, whispered to stay on guard. Something could happen.)

“Actually, one more thing that is intriguing me.. what did you talk about with those… higher level beings?”

And to amplify that whisper, a third voice spoke in Kris’ mind.

“Well, as a couple of examples that come to mind... one time I talked to a couple o-of them because someone who I was starting to form a friendship with was acting strange, to which I found out he was being possessed b-by a deity who wanted to frame him before he... disappeared online. I still don’t k-know about his whereabouts to this day. Another time, I found out via the usual chaos of that Discord server t-that someone who I thought was a friend might’ve been... doing some... not-so-nice things to Pokemon. One of these beings then confirmed this to be true w-when I asked... I feel stupid giving that girl a blanket... oh right! And I guess the most recent time I’d made any sort of contact was to make sure, umm... none of u-us accidently killed Ralsei?”

[The suspicious soul’s first instance comes with hints of sadness in its voice, hints that while it is beginning to recover from the loss of a “friend,” its grief still lingers. It sounds more ashamed when speaking about its second example, as if it blames its naivety on itself, and it certainly seems like whatever was done to those Pokemon is not something anyone would even want to find out given its wording. And by the time it has confirmed that it has already made contact with one of you in particular, it becomes fidgety and nervous, knowing you may be reading their words. Perhaps having it become too attached to people should be another concern, since for all anyone knows, this lonely spider wants them to stay with it forever, especially with all the desperate lengths it has been willing to go. But before it continues with its interrogation, it decides to ask a question it should have been considering a long time ago.]

“... Should I stop talking to them?”

Alright….anything else we should know? I’m…I’m tired.

[Taking in a breath and letting out a sigh, it too begins to feel tired, not out of sleepiness, but rather being weighed down by the stress its perpetrator’s sudden appearance on this site has caused and only now getting some of its past off its metaphorical chest. The void-dwelling doctor’s presence would not have helped matters either, though at this rate it has become too exhausted to ask its warden to hang up the phone. It has even forgotten that six more individuals are here and listening, still under the binding magic of the anonymous account, and a couple of those lost human children attempt to hide as the broken being continues to speak.]

“Oh, right... one more thing. My... species... most of you might’ve already put two-and-two together, but... I’m what you may know as a ‘beldam.’ I don’t think I always was one, although... my humanity is something I lost a long time ago.”

[Its humanity? That word in particular catches the cage’s attention, because as far as they were aware until this moment, they have come across a nicer version of the angel that both towns of light and dark worship. And yet, here is that very god talking as if it had a life, just like many other Fallers before they fell into this land.]

(Kris was struggling to hide their displeasure at the fact that the justification for their now long-gone hatred was nothing more than regurgitated information stripped of context. It made them feel even more like shit than before...)

...well...I think that's about as many answers as we'll be getting...because I'm gonna sleep...

Kieran snarls. Lumiere and Edward had certainly understood why.

“So I really was being played for a fool.. and I was chasing the wrong target… I think we need to sleep on this…”

Then, from that light blue shard, a voice was heard..

They could brush it off for a while but…

Reaching out…

Then…

A coherent sentence was heard by them and only them.

“Can you hear me?”

// @candyapplesandjesters

(Kris’s eyes widen,.)

Yeah. I can hear you loud and clear.

(they pause)

“It appears so. I am Lumiere Silvamillion Clover, the first Wizard King and the creator of this blade.”

Then a pause. Lumiere chuckles nervously.

(Kris visibly relaxes.)

Look. Kieran’s planning something REALLY bullheaded, and that thorn is helping him along. Sea sent you to me to try and show that Heart’s not the threat.

“Your friend is owed the benefit of the doubt by myself, Princia, Jester and Conrad.”

Lumiere spoke again. “Apologies about Edward and his sudden chip in. But yes, some of us do doubt Kieran’s tale. As for that thorn however…

Alright, so, apparently Kieran made some sort of pact with the people who made the sword, I think…and…I dunno, Sea sent this shard to me so I can prove that you’re not a threat? Because if a few of the ones in the sword change their mind…it could start a chain reaction. Sorry if I didn’t…explain it too well.

“As for the agreement… it’s in line with our duty as Wizard Kings. Or was.”

“No unnecessary harm will come to the Clover Kingdom, its citizens , and anyone else uninvolved in the process of eliminating that thing. He swore on his pride as the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles.”

(Kris sighs. Putting their hand in their pocket, they pull out the thorns.)

We need to get rid of these. Permanantly. Any ideas chat?

“Even the soul fragment of him here doesn’t know what’s goung on with his main soul. But he’s saying sorry repeatedly, and something about being so gullible..”

[One more, its voice distorts, clearly panicked about the boy’s well-being but knowing it cannot do anything to intervene, not yet at least.]

“Ok ok, I propose that we try to burn these things. This town’s Camphrier, right? One of these old buildings has got to have a hearth, maybe even this hotel does?”

(Kris sighs. They still can't bring themselves to say HER name. Not after they were forced to hurt her the way they did.)

Point is, there's still a chance. So...I'll go ask if there's a hearth.

“Ya know, he practically threw all rationality unconsciously into me. In here. With Lumiere and the others.”

“A-ah! I thought you-“

“Sorry, but I’m done contemplating.” The voice remained resolute. “I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, since there’s no way they knew that information.”

[Under any other circumstance, getting one’s innocence cleared would have been a relief to the accused, and yet, this statement is met with silence from the previously guilty party. It is not like it has not seen the screenshots of those Tumblr messages either. If anything, viewing them made it suspicious of the anonymous user just as it had everyone else aside from the young captain, something which the past Wizard Kings and the new soul fragment find out and take note of thanks to the shard’s memory transfer properties. But this only serves to bring up the question: why has it become quiet?]

Got somethin' on your mind?

Kieran’s soul fragment muttered, before Lumiere seemed to have stopped him.

“I thought you said you were done contemplating?”

“Y-yeah.. but I think they hate me…”

[But before the little soul can mutter up another word, its prison has already arrived at the front desk to ask whether there is a hearth or not. Sadly, there is not one in the building, at least not since the lobby walls had undergone renovations several months ago. However, to the group’s luck, one of the hotel’s chefs happened to be passing by, a Pansear on his shoulder, a Pokemon known to like helping people. Under the condition that the thorns are burned outside, the elemental monkey wastes no time using Ember, proud of herself at first only to notice that these bizarre barbs are taking a while to disintegrate.]

“Paprika, ça va?”

[The fiery primate then turns towards her master, looking startled and pointing to the thorns she just burned with her mitten-like paws. Confused, the chef looks over to see whatever is the matter, only to find what looks like a melting puddle of something akin to red-colored goop, and underneath it all appears to be strange devices. They look either like syringes or screws, although it is rather hard to tell given their small size and even if they were not, the flames have already embraced these miniature machines as kindling material.]

“Excusez-moi, if it is not a bother, may I ask where you have found these tiny things that have frightened my dear Flamajou?”

[Of course, this staff member does not want to intrude on the kid's life too much, ensuring to remain polite as do the Camphrier’s residents. Though it makes sense that a bit of anxiety would still linger in the crisp, night air given recent events in the region. Meanwhile, the kid in question is just as alarmed as everyone else, with the heart they hold inside being horrified by this new development, its voice once again chiming in.]

“... Those aren’t thorns, are they.”

(Kris turns to the pansear, patting it gently on the head.)

Thanks, sir....it's...a long story. What matters is that they're gone.

(As the staff member walks away with his pokemon, Kris looks a bit relieved.)

At least the thorns are gone, but...what the fuck...?

Seems like none of them know what to think of this development, so they chose to steer back on track.

“By the way, Heart… why’d ya go silent? Oh wait, why’d I ask that-“

The last part got mumbled, as he still thought he was hated.

“... Some of the stuff that anonymous user has been saying about me is... true.” 

Wh-what. What do you mean?

(...after a beat of silence, Kris catches on.)

Heart. I trust you...and if that's gonna keep going, you've got to tell us whatever it is you're hiding.

“During the beginning of my third life, I had found someone who was severely injured in the middle of Viridian Forest, and not knowing his reasoning for not going to the hospital at the time I... “saved” right there and then, hoping to come back with a healing item from another world. The other time I had tried to... turn back the clock was when three girls were in danger from that Pokemon world’s version of Lysandre, one of them being minutes away from being... being... r-regardless, neither of these attempts were successful, I swear! I was s-stopped by some degree or another by those... “higher-level beings” that this anon is l-likely referring to before things ever got to that point.”

Lumiere was confused as to why the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles had chosen silence

Then after a while..

“Lys…” it was barely audible, but clearly held spme weight of sorrow

(Kris stretches, wondering briefly if Heart was able to feel it too.)

So...you have the same power as that...thing. But...you never abused it. That's what I'm picking up. Am I right?

Still no response from Kieran.

I really didn’t help my case either, all I had done was dig my grave, and on top of that... I also got banished to the void for several months as another repercussion, the decision of a Dialga and Palkia that... literally left me in broken pieces. It took me a long while to finally realize the gravity of what I was doing and why people were suddenly turning against me. While I have my own suspicions about my perpetrator, enough to suspect that they aren’t the good guy here... that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of this was still my own undoing.

... I won't fault anyone here if you decide that it's better to end things between us, or if... it's decided that I should receive judgement for my sins.”

Lumiere and Edward audibly gasps.

“You are pleading guilty, and honestly, I’m surprised.

But then again, not everyone chooses to plead guilty. Most choose to go for innocent, no matter how high the stacks of evidence are against them.

Like Kris said, penance has been served. But an actual punishment has to be administered.

Not a severe one, mind you.

Once this is all over, I’m making it go.

You are to keep contact with your friends, help them as you have helped them all this time.

No silence. No lies.

No secrets and no keeping major information.

Apologize to those whom you need to.

That is the verdict of the Spatial Judge.”

[... What? Does this so-called judge not understand the severity of what it has done? Does he not realize that it has not learned a thing and will only regress? Stricter action must be taken, even a death penalty should have been on the table, will anyone wake up to that fact? Not to mention no one has asked about the rest of that... anonymous tipster's claims.] 

...right...but another question. How much of what the Anon has said is actually true?

“Especially if they made a Vice Captain like Kieran lose their composure.”

[And ideally by the time this thing does "explain itself," the others would have grown smart to not fall for its ploy. Perhaps resting up for the night would also help clear their heads and make them realize that they are making a grave mistake siding with the anomaly.]

[Based on the shard’s memory-transfer properties, so far it has been... entirely truthful, for now at least. But that really will not matter in the grand scheme of things, and it may need to be further questioned about what it has just said.]

[Once more it is telling the truth, but once more it must be emphasized that this will not matter in the long run.]

(Something in the darkest parts of Kris's mind though, whispered to stay on guard. Something could happen.)

“Actually, one more thing that is intriguing me.. what did you talk about with those… higher level beings?”

And to amplify that whisper, a third voice spoke in Kris’ mind.

“Well, as a couple of examples that come to mind... one time I talked to a couple o-of them because someone who I was starting to form a friendship with was acting strange, to which I found out he was being possessed b-by a deity who wanted to frame him before he... disappeared online. I still don’t k-know about his whereabouts to this day. Another time, I found out via the usual chaos of that Discord server t-that someone who I thought was a friend might’ve been... doing some... not-so-nice things to Pokemon. One of these beings then confirmed this to be true w-when I asked... I feel stupid giving that girl a blanket... oh right! And I guess the most recent time I’d made any sort of contact was to make sure, umm... none of u-us accidently killed Ralsei?”

[The suspicious soul’s first instance comes with hints of sadness in its voice, hints that while it is beginning to recover from the loss of a “friend,” its grief still lingers. It sounds more ashamed when speaking about its second example, as if it blames its naivety on itself, and it certainly seems like whatever was done to those Pokemon is not something anyone would even want to find out given its wording. And by the time it has confirmed that it has already made contact with one of you in particular, it becomes fidgety and nervous, knowing you may be reading their words. Perhaps having it become too attached to people should be another concern, since for all anyone knows, this lonely spider wants them to stay with it forever, especially with all the desperate lengths it has been willing to go. But before it continues with its interrogation, it decides to ask a question it should have been considering a long time ago.]

“... Should I stop talking to them?”

Alright….anything else we should know? I’m…I’m tired.

Then, from that light blue shard, a voice was heard..

They could brush it off for a while but…

Reaching out…

Then…

A coherent sentence was heard by them and only them.

“Can you hear me?”

// @candyapplesandjesters

(Kris’s eyes widen,.)

Yeah. I can hear you loud and clear.

(they pause)

“It appears so. I am Lumiere Silvamillion Clover, the first Wizard King and the creator of this blade.”

Then a pause. Lumiere chuckles nervously.

(Kris visibly relaxes.)

Look. Kieran’s planning something REALLY bullheaded, and that thorn is helping him along. Sea sent you to me to try and show that Heart’s not the threat.

“Your friend is owed the benefit of the doubt by myself, Princia, Jester and Conrad.”

Lumiere spoke again. “Apologies about Edward and his sudden chip in. But yes, some of us do doubt Kieran’s tale. As for that thorn however…

Alright, so, apparently Kieran made some sort of pact with the people who made the sword, I think…and…I dunno, Sea sent this shard to me so I can prove that you’re not a threat? Because if a few of the ones in the sword change their mind…it could start a chain reaction. Sorry if I didn’t…explain it too well.

“As for the agreement… it’s in line with our duty as Wizard Kings. Or was.”

“No unnecessary harm will come to the Clover Kingdom, its citizens , and anyone else uninvolved in the process of eliminating that thing. He swore on his pride as the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles.”

(Kris sighs. Putting their hand in their pocket, they pull out the thorns.)

We need to get rid of these. Permanantly. Any ideas chat?

“Even the soul fragment of him here doesn’t know what’s goung on with his main soul. But he’s saying sorry repeatedly, and something about being so gullible..”

[One more, its voice distorts, clearly panicked about the boy’s well-being but knowing it cannot do anything to intervene, not yet at least.]

“Ok ok, I propose that we try to burn these things. This town’s Camphrier, right? One of these old buildings has got to have a hearth, maybe even this hotel does?”

(Kris sighs. They still can't bring themselves to say HER name. Not after they were forced to hurt her the way they did.)

Point is, there's still a chance. So...I'll go ask if there's a hearth.

“Ya know, he practically threw all rationality unconsciously into me. In here. With Lumiere and the others.”

“A-ah! I thought you-“

“Sorry, but I’m done contemplating.” The voice remained resolute. “I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, since there’s no way they knew that information.”

[Under any other circumstance, getting one’s innocence cleared would have been a relief to the accused, and yet, this statement is met with silence from the previously guilty party. It is not like it has not seen the screenshots of those Tumblr messages either. If anything, viewing them made it suspicious of the anonymous user just as it had everyone else aside from the young captain, something which the past Wizard Kings and the new soul fragment find out and take note of thanks to the shard’s memory transfer properties. But this only serves to bring up the question: why has it become quiet?]

Got somethin' on your mind?

Kieran’s soul fragment muttered, before Lumiere seemed to have stopped him.

“I thought you said you were done contemplating?”

“Y-yeah.. but I think they hate me…”

[But before the little soul can mutter up another word, its prison has already arrived at the front desk to ask whether there is a hearth or not. Sadly, there is not one in the building, at least not since the lobby walls had undergone renovations several months ago. However, to the group’s luck, one of the hotel’s chefs happened to be passing by, a Pansear on his shoulder, a Pokemon known to like helping people. Under the condition that the thorns are burned outside, the elemental monkey wastes no time using Ember, proud of herself at first only to notice that these bizarre barbs are taking a while to disintegrate.]

“Paprika, ça va?”

[The fiery primate then turns towards her master, looking startled and pointing to the thorns she just burned with her mitten-like paws. Confused, the chef looks over to see whatever is the matter, only to find what looks like a melting puddle of something akin to red-colored goop, and underneath it all appears to be strange devices. They look either like syringes or screws, although it is rather hard to tell given their small size and even if they were not, the flames have already embraced these miniature machines as kindling material.]

“Excusez-moi, if it is not a bother, may I ask where you have found these tiny things that have frightened my dear Flamajou?”

[Of course, this staff member does not want to intrude on the kid's life too much, ensuring to remain polite as do the Camphrier’s residents. Though it makes sense that a bit of anxiety would still linger in the crisp, night air given recent events in the region. Meanwhile, the kid in question is just as alarmed as everyone else, with the heart they hold inside being horrified by this new development, its voice once again chiming in.]

“... Those aren’t thorns, are they.”

(Kris turns to the pansear, patting it gently on the head.)

Thanks, sir....it's...a long story. What matters is that they're gone.

(As the staff member walks away with his pokemon, Kris looks a bit relieved.)

At least the thorns are gone, but...what the fuck...?

Seems like none of them know what to think of this development, so they chose to steer back on track.

“By the way, Heart… why’d ya go silent? Oh wait, why’d I ask that-“

The last part got mumbled, as he still thought he was hated.

“... Some of the stuff that anonymous user has been saying about me is... true.” 

Wh-what. What do you mean?

(...after a beat of silence, Kris catches on.)

Heart. I trust you...and if that's gonna keep going, you've got to tell us whatever it is you're hiding.

“During the beginning of my third life, I had found someone who was severely injured in the middle of Viridian Forest, and not knowing his reasoning for not going to the hospital at the time I... “saved” right there and then, hoping to come back with a healing item from another world. The other time I had tried to... turn back the clock was when three girls were in danger from that Pokemon world’s version of Lysandre, one of them being minutes away from being... being... r-regardless, neither of these attempts were successful, I swear! I was s-stopped by some degree or another by those... “higher-level beings” that this anon is l-likely referring to before things ever got to that point.”

Lumiere was confused as to why the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles had chosen silence

Then after a while..

“Lys…” it was barely audible, but clearly held spme weight of sorrow

(Kris stretches, wondering briefly if Heart was able to feel it too.)

So...you have the same power as that...thing. But...you never abused it. That's what I'm picking up. Am I right?

Still no response from Kieran.

I really didn’t help my case either, all I had done was dig my grave, and on top of that... I also got banished to the void for several months as another repercussion, the decision of a Dialga and Palkia that... literally left me in broken pieces. It took me a long while to finally realize the gravity of what I was doing and why people were suddenly turning against me. While I have my own suspicions about my perpetrator, enough to suspect that they aren’t the good guy here... that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of this was still my own undoing.

... I won't fault anyone here if you decide that it's better to end things between us, or if... it's decided that I should receive judgement for my sins.”

Lumiere and Edward audibly gasps.

“You are pleading guilty, and honestly, I’m surprised.

But then again, not everyone chooses to plead guilty. Most choose to go for innocent, no matter how high the stacks of evidence are against them.

Like Kris said, penance has been served. But an actual punishment has to be administered.

Not a severe one, mind you.

Once this is all over, I’m making it go.

You are to keep contact with your friends, help them as you have helped them all this time.

No silence. No lies.

No secrets and no keeping major information.

Apologize to those whom you need to.

That is the verdict of the Spatial Judge.”

[... What? Does this so-called judge not understand the severity of what it has done? Does he not realize that it has not learned a thing and will only regress? Stricter action must be taken, even a death penalty should have been on the table, will anyone wake up to that fact? Not to mention no one has asked about the rest of that... anonymous tipster's claims.] 

...right...but another question. How much of what the Anon has said is actually true?

“Especially if they made a Vice Captain like Kieran lose their composure.”

[And ideally by the time this thing does "explain itself," the others would have grown smart to not fall for its ploy. Perhaps resting up for the night would also help clear their heads and make them realize that they are making a grave mistake siding with the anomaly.]

[Based on the shard’s memory-transfer properties, so far it has been... entirely truthful, for now at least. But that really will not matter in the grand scheme of things, and it may need to be further questioned about what it has just said.]

[Once more it is telling the truth, but once more it must be emphasized that this will not matter in the long run.]

(Something in the darkest parts of Kris's mind though, whispered to stay on guard. Something could happen.)

“Actually, one more thing that is intriguing me.. what did you talk about with those… higher level beings?”

And to amplify that whisper, a third voice spoke in Kris’ mind.

“Well, as a couple of examples that come to mind... one time I talked to a couple o-of them because someone who I was starting to form a friendship w-with was acting strange, to which I found out he was being possessed b-by a deity who wanted to frame him before he... disappeared online. I still don’t k-know about his whereabouts to this day. Another time, I found out via the usual chaos of that Discord server t-that someone who I thought was a friend might’ve been... doing some... not-so-nice things to P-Pokemon. One of these beings then confirmed this to be true when I asked... I f-feel stupid giving that girl a blanket... oh right! And I g-guess the most recent time I’d made any sort of contact was to make sure, umm... none of u-us accidently killed Ralsei?”

[The suspicious soul’s first instance comes with hints of sadness in its voice, hints that while it is beginning to recover from the loss of a “friend,” its grief still lingers. It sounds more ashamed when speaking about its second example, as if it blames its naivety on itself, and it certainly seems like whatever was done to those Pokemon is not something anyone would want to find out given its wording. And by the time it has confirmed that it has already made contact with one of you in particular, it becomes fidgety and nervous, knowing you may be reading their words. Perhaps having it become too attached to people should be another concern, since for all anyone knows, this lonely spider wants them to stay with it forever, especially with all the desperate lengths it has been willing to go. But before it continues with its interrogation, it decides to ask a question it should have been considering a long time ago.]

“... Should I stop talking to them?”

(Kris briefly felt nauseous. What kind of horrible thing would…do whatever it was that was done to those Pokémon?)

wait, wait….could…this other one you mentioned getting into contact with…hear is right now?

(As if the universe were saying fuck you…Kris’s phone rang. An unknown number. Against all better judgment, they pick up.)

….oh it’s you.

(Garbage noise could be heard coming from the other end…unintelligible to all not named Kris Dreemurr.)

Wh-what do you mean it’s rude to talk…about…..doctor, you’re not implying that….

(more garbage noise.)

….understood. Keep moving, don’t stay in one place until it’s….yes I understand but what about Bonnie?! I’m not dragging someone else into this!

“Unfortunately… you might have to.”

Then, from that light blue shard, a voice was heard..

They could brush it off for a while but…

Reaching out…

Then…

A coherent sentence was heard by them and only them.

“Can you hear me?”

// @candyapplesandjesters

(Kris’s eyes widen,.)

Yeah. I can hear you loud and clear.

(they pause)

“It appears so. I am Lumiere Silvamillion Clover, the first Wizard King and the creator of this blade.”

Then a pause. Lumiere chuckles nervously.

(Kris visibly relaxes.)

Look. Kieran’s planning something REALLY bullheaded, and that thorn is helping him along. Sea sent you to me to try and show that Heart’s not the threat.

“Your friend is owed the benefit of the doubt by myself, Princia, Jester and Conrad.”

Lumiere spoke again. “Apologies about Edward and his sudden chip in. But yes, some of us do doubt Kieran’s tale. As for that thorn however…

Alright, so, apparently Kieran made some sort of pact with the people who made the sword, I think…and…I dunno, Sea sent this shard to me so I can prove that you’re not a threat? Because if a few of the ones in the sword change their mind…it could start a chain reaction. Sorry if I didn’t…explain it too well.

“As for the agreement… it’s in line with our duty as Wizard Kings. Or was.”

“No unnecessary harm will come to the Clover Kingdom, its citizens , and anyone else uninvolved in the process of eliminating that thing. He swore on his pride as the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles.”

(Kris sighs. Putting their hand in their pocket, they pull out the thorns.)

We need to get rid of these. Permanantly. Any ideas chat?

“Even the soul fragment of him here doesn’t know what’s goung on with his main soul. But he’s saying sorry repeatedly, and something about being so gullible..”

[One more, its voice distorts, clearly panicked about the boy’s well-being but knowing it cannot do anything to intervene, not yet at least.]

“Ok ok, I propose that we try to burn these things. This town’s Camphrier, right? One of these old buildings has got to have a hearth, maybe even this hotel does?”

(Kris sighs. They still can't bring themselves to say HER name. Not after they were forced to hurt her the way they did.)

Point is, there's still a chance. So...I'll go ask if there's a hearth.

“Ya know, he practically threw all rationality unconsciously into me. In here. With Lumiere and the others.”

“A-ah! I thought you-“

“Sorry, but I’m done contemplating.” The voice remained resolute. “I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, since there’s no way they knew that information.”

[Under any other circumstance, getting one’s innocence cleared would have been a relief to the accused, and yet, this statement is met with silence from the previously guilty party. It is not like it has not seen the screenshots of those Tumblr messages either. If anything, viewing them made it suspicious of the anonymous user just as it had everyone else aside from the young captain, something which the past Wizard Kings and the new soul fragment find out and take note of thanks to the shard’s memory transfer properties. But this only serves to bring up the question: why has it become quiet?]

Got somethin' on your mind?

Kieran’s soul fragment muttered, before Lumiere seemed to have stopped him.

“I thought you said you were done contemplating?”

“Y-yeah.. but I think they hate me…”

[But before the little soul can mutter up another word, its prison has already arrived at the front desk to ask whether there is a hearth or not. Sadly, there is not one in the building, at least not since the lobby walls had undergone renovations several months ago. However, to the group’s luck, one of the hotel’s chefs happened to be passing by, a Pansear on his shoulder, a Pokemon known to like helping people. Under the condition that the thorns are burned outside, the elemental monkey wastes no time using Ember, proud of herself at first only to notice that these bizarre barbs are taking a while to disintegrate.]

“Paprika, ça va?”

[The fiery primate then turns towards her master, looking startled and pointing to the thorns she just burned with her mitten-like paws. Confused, the chef looks over to see whatever is the matter, only to find what looks like a melting puddle of something akin to red-colored goop, and underneath it all appears to be strange devices. They look either like syringes or screws, although it is rather hard to tell given their small size and even if they were not, the flames have already embraced these miniature machines as kindling material.]

“Excusez-moi, if it is not a bother, may I ask where you have found these tiny things that have frightened my dear Flamajou?”

[Of course, this staff member does not want to intrude on the kid's life too much, ensuring to remain polite as do the Camphrier’s residents. Though it makes sense that a bit of anxiety would still linger in the crisp, night air given recent events in the region. Meanwhile, the kid in question is just as alarmed as everyone else, with the heart they hold inside being horrified by this new development, its voice once again chiming in.]

“... Those aren’t thorns, are they.”

(Kris turns to the pansear, patting it gently on the head.)

Thanks, sir....it's...a long story. What matters is that they're gone.

(As the staff member walks away with his pokemon, Kris looks a bit relieved.)

At least the thorns are gone, but...what the fuck...?

Seems like none of them know what to think of this development, so they chose to steer back on track.

“By the way, Heart… why’d ya go silent? Oh wait, why’d I ask that-“

The last part got mumbled, as he still thought he was hated.

“... Some of the stuff that anonymous user has been saying about me is... true.” 

Wh-what. What do you mean?

(...after a beat of silence, Kris catches on.)

Heart. I trust you...and if that's gonna keep going, you've got to tell us whatever it is you're hiding.

“During the beginning of my third life, I had found someone who was severely injured in the middle of Viridian Forest, and not knowing his reasoning for not going to the hospital at the time I... “saved” right there and then, hoping to come back with a healing item from another world. The other time I had tried to... turn back the clock was when three girls were in danger from that Pokemon world’s version of Lysandre, one of them being minutes away from being... being... r-regardless, neither of these attempts were successful, I swear! I was s-stopped by some degree or another by those... “higher-level beings” that this anon is l-likely referring to before things ever got to that point.”

Lumiere was confused as to why the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles had chosen silence

Then after a while..

“Lys…” it was barely audible, but clearly held spme weight of sorrow

(Kris stretches, wondering briefly if Heart was able to feel it too.)

So...you have the same power as that...thing. But...you never abused it. That's what I'm picking up. Am I right?

Still no response from Kieran.

I really didn’t help my case either, all I had done was dig my grave, and on top of that... I also got banished to the void for several months as another repercussion, the decision of a Dialga and Palkia that... literally left me in broken pieces. It took me a long while to finally realize the gravity of what I was doing and why people were suddenly turning against me. While I have my own suspicions about my perpetrator, enough to suspect that they aren’t the good guy here... that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of this was still my own undoing.

... I won't fault anyone here if you decide that it's better to end things between us, or if... it's decided that I should receive judgement for my sins.”

Lumiere and Edward audibly gasps.

“You are pleading guilty, and honestly, I’m surprised.

But then again, not everyone chooses to plead guilty. Most choose to go for innocent, no matter how high the stacks of evidence are against them.

Like Kris said, penance has been served. But an actual punishment has to be administered.

Not a severe one, mind you.

Once this is all over, I’m making it go.

You are to keep contact with your friends, help them as you have helped them all this time.

No silence. No lies.

No secrets and no keeping major information.

Apologize to those whom you need to.

That is the verdict of the Spatial Judge.”

[... What? Does this so-called judge not understand the severity of what it has done? Does he not realize that it has not learned a thing and will only regress? Stricter action must be taken, even a death penalty should have been on the table, will anyone wake up to that fact? Not to mention no one has asked about the rest of that... anonymous tipster's claims.] 

...right...but another question. How much of what the Anon has said is actually true?

“Especially if they made a Vice Captain like Kieran lose their composure.”

[And ideally by the time this thing does "explain itself," the others would have grown smart to not fall for its ploy. Perhaps resting up for the night would also help clear their heads and make them realize that they are making a grave mistake siding with the anomaly.]

[Based on the shard’s memory-transfer properties, so far it has been... entirely truthful, for now at least. But that really will not matter in the grand scheme of things, and it may need to be further questioned about what it has just said.]

[Once more it is telling the truth, but once more it must be emphasized that this will not matter in the long run.]

(Something in the darkest parts of Kris's mind though, whispered to stay on guard. Something could happen.)

“Actually, one more thing that is intriguing me.. what did you talk about with those… higher level beings?”

And to amplify that whisper, a third voice spoke in Kris’ mind.

Then, from that light blue shard, a voice was heard..

They could brush it off for a while but…

Reaching out…

Then…

A coherent sentence was heard by them and only them.

“Can you hear me?”

// @candyapplesandjesters

(Kris’s eyes widen,.)

Yeah. I can hear you loud and clear.

(they pause)

“It appears so. I am Lumiere Silvamillion Clover, the first Wizard King and the creator of this blade.”

Then a pause. Lumiere chuckles nervously.

(Kris visibly relaxes.)

Look. Kieran’s planning something REALLY bullheaded, and that thorn is helping him along. Sea sent you to me to try and show that Heart’s not the threat.

“Your friend is owed the benefit of the doubt by myself, Princia, Jester and Conrad.”

Lumiere spoke again. “Apologies about Edward and his sudden chip in. But yes, some of us do doubt Kieran’s tale. As for that thorn however…

Alright, so, apparently Kieran made some sort of pact with the people who made the sword, I think…and…I dunno, Sea sent this shard to me so I can prove that you’re not a threat? Because if a few of the ones in the sword change their mind…it could start a chain reaction. Sorry if I didn’t…explain it too well.

“As for the agreement… it’s in line with our duty as Wizard Kings. Or was.”

“No unnecessary harm will come to the Clover Kingdom, its citizens , and anyone else uninvolved in the process of eliminating that thing. He swore on his pride as the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles.”

(Kris sighs. Putting their hand in their pocket, they pull out the thorns.)

We need to get rid of these. Permanantly. Any ideas chat?

“Even the soul fragment of him here doesn’t know what’s goung on with his main soul. But he’s saying sorry repeatedly, and something about being so gullible..”

[One more, its voice distorts, clearly panicked about the boy’s well-being but knowing it cannot do anything to intervene, not yet at least.]

“Ok ok, I propose that we try to burn these things. This town’s Camphrier, right? One of these old buildings has got to have a hearth, maybe even this hotel does?”

(Kris sighs. They still can't bring themselves to say HER name. Not after they were forced to hurt her the way they did.)

Point is, there's still a chance. So...I'll go ask if there's a hearth.

“Ya know, he practically threw all rationality unconsciously into me. In here. With Lumiere and the others.”

“A-ah! I thought you-“

“Sorry, but I’m done contemplating.” The voice remained resolute. “I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, since there’s no way they knew that information.”

[Under any other circumstance, getting one’s innocence cleared would have been a relief to the accused, and yet, this statement is met with silence from the previously guilty party. It is not like it has not seen the screenshots of those Tumblr messages either. If anything, viewing them made it suspicious of the anonymous user just as it had everyone else aside from the young captain, something which the past Wizard Kings and the new soul fragment find out and take note of thanks to the shard’s memory transfer properties. But this only serves to bring up the question: why has it become quiet?]

Got somethin' on your mind?

Kieran’s soul fragment muttered, before Lumiere seemed to have stopped him.

“I thought you said you were done contemplating?”

“Y-yeah.. but I think they hate me…”

[But before the little soul can mutter up another word, its prison has already arrived at the front desk to ask whether there is a hearth or not. Sadly, there is not one in the building, at least not since the lobby walls had undergone renovations several months ago. However, to the group’s luck, one of the hotel’s chefs happened to be passing by, a Pansear on his shoulder, a Pokemon known to like helping people. Under the condition that the thorns are burned outside, the elemental monkey wastes no time using Ember, proud of herself at first only to notice that these bizarre barbs are taking a while to disintegrate.]

“Paprika, ça va?”

[The fiery primate then turns towards her master, looking startled and pointing to the thorns she just burned with her mitten-like paws. Confused, the chef looks over to see whatever is the matter, only to find what looks like a melting puddle of something akin to red-colored goop, and underneath it all appears to be strange devices. They look either like syringes or screws, although it is rather hard to tell given their small size and even if they were not, the flames have already embraced these miniature machines as kindling material.]

“Excusez-moi, if it is not a bother, may I ask where you have found these tiny things that have frightened my dear Flamajou?”

[Of course, this staff member does not want to intrude on the kid's life too much, ensuring to remain polite as do the Camphrier’s residents. Though it makes sense that a bit of anxiety would still linger in the crisp, night air given recent events in the region. Meanwhile, the kid in question is just as alarmed as everyone else, with the heart they hold inside being horrified by this new development, its voice once again chiming in.]

“... Those aren’t thorns, are they.”

(Kris turns to the pansear, patting it gently on the head.)

Thanks, sir....it's...a long story. What matters is that they're gone.

(As the staff member walks away with his pokemon, Kris looks a bit relieved.)

At least the thorns are gone, but...what the fuck...?

Seems like none of them know what to think of this development, so they chose to steer back on track.

“By the way, Heart… why’d ya go silent? Oh wait, why’d I ask that-“

The last part got mumbled, as he still thought he was hated.

“... Some of the stuff that anonymous user has been saying about me is... true.” 

Wh-what. What do you mean?

(...after a beat of silence, Kris catches on.)

Heart. I trust you...and if that's gonna keep going, you've got to tell us whatever it is you're hiding.

“During the beginning of my third life, I had found someone who was severely injured in the middle of Viridian Forest, and not knowing his reasoning for not going to the hospital at the time I... “saved” right there and then, hoping to come back with a healing item from another world. The other time I had tried to... turn back the clock was when three girls were in danger from that Pokemon world’s version of Lysandre, one of them being minutes away from being... being... r-regardless, neither of these attempts were successful, I swear! I was s-stopped by some degree or another by those... “higher-level beings” that this anon is l-likely referring to before things ever got to that point.”

Lumiere was confused as to why the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles had chosen silence

Then after a while..

“Lys…” it was barely audible, but clearly held spme weight of sorrow

(Kris stretches, wondering briefly if Heart was able to feel it too.)

So...you have the same power as that...thing. But...you never abused it. That's what I'm picking up. Am I right?

Still no response from Kieran.

I really didn’t help my case either, all I had done was dig my grave, and on top of that... I also got banished to the void for several months as another repercussion, the decision of a Dialga and Palkia that... literally left me in broken pieces. It took me a long while to finally realize the gravity of what I was doing and why people were suddenly turning against me. While I have my own suspicions about my perpetrator, enough to suspect that they aren’t the good guy here... that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of this was still my own undoing.

... I won't fault anyone here if you decide that it's better to end things between us, or if... it's decided that I should receive judgement for my sins.”

Lumiere and Edward audibly gasps.

“You are pleading guilty, and honestly, I’m surprised.

But then again, not everyone chooses to plead guilty. Most choose to go for innocent, no matter how high the stacks of evidence are against them.

Like Kris said, penance has been served. But an actual punishment has to be administered.

Not a severe one, mind you.

Once this is all over, I’m making it go.

You are to keep contact with your friends, help them as you have helped them all this time.

No silence. No lies.

No secrets and no keeping major information.

Apologize to those whom you need to.

That is the verdict of the Spatial Judge.”

[... What? Does this so-called judge not understand the severity of what it has done? Does he not realize that it has not learned a thing and will only regress? Stricter action must be taken, even a death penalty should have been on the table, will anyone wake up to that fact? Not to mention no one has asked about the rest of that... anonymous tipster's claims.] 

...right...but another question. How much of what the Anon has said is actually true?

“Especially if they made a Vice Captain like Kieran lose their composure.”

[And ideally by the time this thing does "explain itself," the others would have grown smart to not fall for its ploy. Perhaps resting up for the night would also help clear their heads and make them realize that they are making a grave mistake siding with the anomaly.]

[Based on the shard’s memory-transfer properties, so far it has been... entirely truthful, for now at least. But that really will not matter in the grand scheme of things, and it may need to be further questioned about what it has just said.]

Then, from that light blue shard, a voice was heard..

They could brush it off for a while but…

Reaching out…

Then…

A coherent sentence was heard by them and only them.

“Can you hear me?”

// @candyapplesandjesters

(Kris’s eyes widen,.)

Yeah. I can hear you loud and clear.

(they pause)

“It appears so. I am Lumiere Silvamillion Clover, the first Wizard King and the creator of this blade.”

Then a pause. Lumiere chuckles nervously.

(Kris visibly relaxes.)

Look. Kieran’s planning something REALLY bullheaded, and that thorn is helping him along. Sea sent you to me to try and show that Heart’s not the threat.

“Your friend is owed the benefit of the doubt by myself, Princia, Jester and Conrad.”

Lumiere spoke again. “Apologies about Edward and his sudden chip in. But yes, some of us do doubt Kieran’s tale. As for that thorn however…

Alright, so, apparently Kieran made some sort of pact with the people who made the sword, I think…and…I dunno, Sea sent this shard to me so I can prove that you’re not a threat? Because if a few of the ones in the sword change their mind…it could start a chain reaction. Sorry if I didn’t…explain it too well.

“As for the agreement… it’s in line with our duty as Wizard Kings. Or was.”

“No unnecessary harm will come to the Clover Kingdom, its citizens , and anyone else uninvolved in the process of eliminating that thing. He swore on his pride as the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles.”

(Kris sighs. Putting their hand in their pocket, they pull out the thorns.)

We need to get rid of these. Permanantly. Any ideas chat?

“Even the soul fragment of him here doesn’t know what’s goung on with his main soul. But he’s saying sorry repeatedly, and something about being so gullible..”

[One more, its voice distorts, clearly panicked about the boy’s well-being but knowing it cannot do anything to intervene, not yet at least.]

“Ok ok, I propose that we try to burn these things. This town’s Camphrier, right? One of these old buildings has got to have a hearth, maybe even this hotel does?”

(Kris sighs. They still can't bring themselves to say HER name. Not after they were forced to hurt her the way they did.)

Point is, there's still a chance. So...I'll go ask if there's a hearth.

“Ya know, he practically threw all rationality unconsciously into me. In here. With Lumiere and the others.”

“A-ah! I thought you-“

“Sorry, but I’m done contemplating.” The voice remained resolute. “I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, since there’s no way they knew that information.”

[Under any other circumstance, getting one’s innocence cleared would have been a relief to the accused, and yet, this statement is met with silence from the previously guilty party. It is not like it has not seen the screenshots of those Tumblr messages either. If anything, viewing them made it suspicious of the anonymous user just as it had everyone else aside from the young captain, something which the past Wizard Kings and the new soul fragment find out and take note of thanks to the shard’s memory transfer properties. But this only serves to bring up the question: why has it become quiet?]

Got somethin' on your mind?

Kieran’s soul fragment muttered, before Lumiere seemed to have stopped him.

“I thought you said you were done contemplating?”

“Y-yeah.. but I think they hate me…”

[But before the little soul can mutter up another word, its prison has already arrived at the front desk to ask whether there is a hearth or not. Sadly, there is not one in the building, at least not since the lobby walls had undergone renovations several months ago. However, to the group’s luck, one of the hotel’s chefs happened to be passing by, a Pansear on his shoulder, a Pokemon known to like helping people. Under the condition that the thorns are burned outside, the elemental monkey wastes no time using Ember, proud of herself at first only to notice that these bizarre barbs are taking a while to disintegrate.]

“Paprika, ça va?”

[The fiery primate then turns towards her master, looking startled and pointing to the thorns she just burned with her mitten-like paws. Confused, the chef looks over to see whatever is the matter, only to find what looks like a melting puddle of something akin to red-colored goop, and underneath it all appears to be strange devices. They look either like syringes or screws, although it is rather hard to tell given their small size and even if they were not, the flames have already embraced these miniature machines as kindling material.]

“Excusez-moi, if it is not a bother, may I ask where you have found these tiny things that have frightened my dear Flamajou?”

[Of course, this staff member does not want to intrude on the kid's life too much, ensuring to remain polite as do the Camphrier’s residents. Though it makes sense that a bit of anxiety would still linger in the crisp, night air given recent events in the region. Meanwhile, the kid in question is just as alarmed as everyone else, with the heart they hold inside being horrified by this new development, its voice once again chiming in.]

“... Those aren’t thorns, are they.”

(Kris turns to the pansear, patting it gently on the head.)

Thanks, sir....it's...a long story. What matters is that they're gone.

(As the staff member walks away with his pokemon, Kris looks a bit relieved.)

At least the thorns are gone, but...what the fuck...?

Seems like none of them know what to think of this development, so they chose to steer back on track.

“By the way, Heart… why’d ya go silent? Oh wait, why’d I ask that-“

The last part got mumbled, as he still thought he was hated.

“... Some of the stuff that anonymous user has been saying about me is... true.” 

Wh-what. What do you mean?

(...after a beat of silence, Kris catches on.)

Heart. I trust you...and if that's gonna keep going, you've got to tell us whatever it is you're hiding.

“During the beginning of my third life, I had found someone who was severely injured in the middle of Viridian Forest, and not knowing his reasoning for not going to the hospital at the time I... “saved” right there and then, hoping to come back with a healing item from another world. The other time I had tried to... turn back the clock was when three girls were in danger from that Pokemon world’s version of Lysandre, one of them being minutes away from being... being... r-regardless, neither of these attempts were successful, I swear! I was s-stopped by some degree or another by those... “higher-level beings” that this anon is l-likely referring to before things ever got to that point.”

Lumiere was confused as to why the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles had chosen silence

Then after a while..

“Lys…” it was barely audible, but clearly held spme weight of sorrow

(Kris stretches, wondering briefly if Heart was able to feel it too.)

So...you have the same power as that...thing. But...you never abused it. That's what I'm picking up. Am I right?

Still no response from Kieran.

I really didn’t help my case either, all I had done was dig my grave, and on top of that... I also got banished to the void for several months as another repercussion, the decision of a Dialga and Palkia that... literally left me in broken pieces. It took me a long while to finally realize the gravity of what I was doing and why people were suddenly turning against me. While I have my own suspicions about my perpetrator, enough to suspect that they aren’t the good guy here... that doesn’t change the fact that a lot of this was still my own undoing.

... I won't fault anyone here if you decide that it's better to end things between us, or if... it's decided that I should receive judgement for my sins.”

Lumiere and Edward audibly gasps.

“You are pleading guilty, and honestly, I’m surprised.

But then again, not everyone chooses to plead guilty. Most choose to go for innocent, no matter how high the stacks of evidence are against them.

Like Kris said, penance has been served. But an actual punishment has to be administered.

Not a severe one, mind you.

Once this is all over, I’m making it go.

You are to keep contact with your friends, help them as you have helped them all this time.

No silence. No lies.

No secrets and no keeping major information.

Apologize to those whom you need to.

That is the verdict of the Spatial Judge.”

[... What? Does this so-called judge not understand the severity of what it has done? Does he not realize that it has not learned a thing and will only regress? Stricter action must be taken, even a death penalty should have been on the table, will anyone wake up to that fact? Not to mention no one has asked about the rest of that... anonymous tipster's claims.] 

...right...but another question. How much of what the Anon has said is actually true?

“Especially if they made a Vice Captain like Kieran lose their composure.”

[And ideally by the time this thing does "explain itself," the others would have grown smart to not fall for its ploy. Perhaps resting up for the night would also help clear their heads and make them realize that they are making a grave mistake siding with the anomaly.]

Then, from that light blue shard, a voice was heard..

They could brush it off for a while but…

Reaching out…

Then…

A coherent sentence was heard by them and only them.

“Can you hear me?”

// @candyapplesandjesters

(Kris’s eyes widen,.)

Yeah. I can hear you loud and clear.

(they pause)

“It appears so. I am Lumiere Silvamillion Clover, the first Wizard King and the creator of this blade.”

Then a pause. Lumiere chuckles nervously.

(Kris visibly relaxes.)

Look. Kieran’s planning something REALLY bullheaded, and that thorn is helping him along. Sea sent you to me to try and show that Heart’s not the threat.

“Your friend is owed the benefit of the doubt by myself, Princia, Jester and Conrad.”

Lumiere spoke again. “Apologies about Edward and his sudden chip in. But yes, some of us do doubt Kieran’s tale. As for that thorn however…

Alright, so, apparently Kieran made some sort of pact with the people who made the sword, I think…and…I dunno, Sea sent this shard to me so I can prove that you’re not a threat? Because if a few of the ones in the sword change their mind…it could start a chain reaction. Sorry if I didn’t…explain it too well.

“As for the agreement… it’s in line with our duty as Wizard Kings. Or was.”

“No unnecessary harm will come to the Clover Kingdom, its citizens , and anyone else uninvolved in the process of eliminating that thing. He swore on his pride as the Vice Captain of the Silver Eagles.”

(Kris sighs. Putting their hand in their pocket, they pull out the thorns.)

We need to get rid of these. Permanantly. Any ideas chat?

“Even the soul fragment of him here doesn’t know what’s goung on with his main soul. But he’s saying sorry repeatedly, and something about being so gullible..”

[One more, its voice distorts, clearly panicked about the boy’s well-being but knowing it cannot do anything to intervene, not yet at least.]

“Ok ok, I propose that we try to burn these things. This town’s Camphrier, right? One of these old buildings has got to have a hearth, maybe even this hotel does?”

(Kris sighs. They still can't bring themselves to say HER name. Not after they were forced to hurt her the way they did.)

Point is, there's still a chance. So...I'll go ask if there's a hearth.

“Ya know, he practically threw all rationality unconsciously into me. In here. With Lumiere and the others.”

“A-ah! I thought you-“

“Sorry, but I’m done contemplating.” The voice remained resolute. “I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, since there’s no way they knew that information.”

[Under any other circumstance, getting one’s innocence cleared would have been a relief to the accused, and yet, this statement is met with silence from the previously guilty party. It is not like it has not seen the screenshots of those Tumblr messages either. If anything, viewing them made it suspicious of the anonymous user just as it had everyone else aside from the young captain, something which the past Wizard Kings and the new soul fragment find out and take note of thanks to the shard’s memory transfer properties. But this only serves to bring up the question: why has it become quiet?]

Got somethin' on your mind?

Kieran’s soul fragment muttered, before Lumiere seemed to have stopped him.

“I thought you said you were done contemplating?”

“Y-yeah.. but I think they hate me…”

[But before the little soul can mutter up another word, its prison has already arrived at the front desk to ask whether there is a hearth or not. Sadly, there is not one in the building, at least not since the lobby walls had undergone renovations several months ago. However, to the group’s luck, one of the hotel’s chefs happened to be passing by, a Pansear on his shoulder, a Pokemon known to like helping people. Under the condition that the thorns are burned outside, the elemental monkey wastes no time using Ember, proud of herself at first only to notice that these bizarre barbs are taking a while to disintegrate.]

“Paprika, ça va?”

[The fiery primate then turns towards her master, looking startled and pointing to the thorns she just burned with her mitten-like paws. Confused, the chef looks over to see whatever is the matter, only to find what looks like a melting puddle of something akin to red-colored goop, and underneath it all appears to be strange devices. They look either like syringes or screws, although it is rather hard to tell given their small size and even if they were not, the flames have already embraced these miniature machines as kindling material.]

“Excusez-moi, if it is not a bother, may I ask where you have found these tiny things that have frightened my dear Flamajou?”

[Of course, this staff member does not want to intrude on the kid's life too much, ensuring to remain polite as do the Camphrier’s residents. Though it makes sense that a bit of anxiety would still linger in the crisp, night air given recent events in the region. Meanwhile, the kid in question is just as alarmed as everyone else, with the heart they hold inside being horrified by this new development, its voice once again chiming in.]

“... Those aren’t thorns, are they.”

(Kris turns to the pansear, patting it gently on the head.)

Thanks, sir....it's...a long story. What matters is that they're gone.

(As the staff member walks away with his pokemon, Kris looks a bit relieved.)

At least the thorns are gone, but...what the fuck...?

Seems like none of them know what to think of this development, so they chose to steer back on track.

“By the way, Heart… why’d ya go silent? Oh wait, why’d I ask that-“

The last part got mumbled, as he still thought he was hated.

“... Some of the stuff that anonymous user has been saying about me is... true.” 

Wh-what. What do you mean?

(...after a beat of silence, Kris catches on.)

Heart. I trust you...and if that's gonna keep going, you've got to tell us whatever it is you're hiding.

“During the beginning of my third life, I had found someone who was severely injured in the middle of Viridian Forest, and not knowing his reasoning for not going to the hospital at the time I... “saved” right there and then, hoping to come back with a healing item from another world. The other time I had tried to... turn back the clock was when three girls were in danger from that Pokemon world’s version of Lysandre, one of them being minutes away from being... being... r-regardless, neither of these attempts were successful, I swear! I was s-stopped by some degree or another by those... “higher-level beings” that this anon is l-likely referring to before things ever got to that point.”