#plot posts

Atena smiles at Twilight. Then looked up at Dawn and Dusk.

Such an adorable little one. How are you handling parenthood? Hopefully, it hasn't been too much of an ordeal...

“Ah, greetings! Parenting has certainly been a big change, for me and my partner both, but a truly joyous one! Of course there have been some issues, but with time I believe we will overcome them. We are incredibly fortunate to have friends that can advise us as we learn to be the best parents we can.”

“Aside from that-” Dusk suddenly cut himself off, looking towards Dawn, who had gone up ahead. The Moltres was speaking with another pokemon, and from what he could tell it was nothing good.

In the distance, a large figure floats, cloaked in shadows.

Suddenly, it jerks, and bright eyes pierce you for a moment before it darts off and disappears.

"Ah, hello there!" A female voice greeted, "Sorry for darting off, you startled me for a moment. You're in quite an isolated part of the distortion world. How is it you found yourself here?"

Why can't I move? Why is nothing here?

I feel like I can barely breathe...

The sun beams down. Birds chirp and insects sing.

This clearing is alive.

It was all a dream. Why did it feel so lifelike?

...

Aria: I- I didn’t-

Dragapult: No! I will hear nothing from you. Either willingly give back what you have stolen, or I will kill you and take it back!

This was... despicable, if he were to describe it. It didn't help that as the explanation was going on, everything else finally flashed in Kiibo's eyes, things that would explain things more than whatever he would want to know. Despite how sketchy this sounded... he needed a moment to himself.

"I know this sounds super weird, especially right now, but can I leave to my room? I just want a moment to process all this to myself, is... that alright?"

The professor quickly hesitated at this, for obvious reasons. But... this was still Kiibo... the one he had for 15 years. Yes, this was going to shake him up but... Kiibo was still to be trusted, and Chiaki was there. "Sure, but.. Just... don't do anything reckless alright..? I'll be checking on you in an hour.", the professor replied, the worry in his voice somewhat showing.

"Oh...dieu! Ze floatzing islands? I've never saw zis in my life. Probably only on some fantasy books. But it looks so-so fantastique in real life! Anyways, why are we zere?"

"While not our sole reason for coming here, it is the most major. Our daughter has been suffering terrible nightmares, and has had trouble sleeping. I alone am unable to help her." Dusk explained.

Dawn stepped out from beneath the dome of the transportation circle, tilting his head up to examine the brightening sky. The trip had taken them a bit longer than expected. Usually portals and other such modes of transportation cut down on travel time a significant amount, but they could often cause nausea to those unfamiliar with using them. Since Twilight was still so young, they’d agreed to use magical teleportation as sparingly as they could. Luckily, they’d really only needed to use it here at the end, where it was most efficient. 

Dusk joined him, Twilight nestled securely in his mane of fur. He spoke with a hum, “Well, we’ve finally arrived. 

“I’ll never understand why they put this place so far from the city.” Dawn half-complained, following Dusk to the edge, “Just seems like a waste of time and energy.”

“They do it so they can more easily examine those passing through.” Dusk explained, again, to his complaining husband, “We’re monitored from a distance so that the city has more time to react when someone with more hostile intentions appears. Only those with identification and who live within the city are allowed to use the transporter in the city itself.”

“Alright alright, I know they have good reasons and all that. Still annoying though.”

“Indeed.”

As they walked down the path, a soft green light was emitted where stone met air. This light took on the form of a bridge, and was as solid as one too. Dusk stepped on the bridge, and Dawn followed in the air behind him. The light extended to the next small island, connecting the two. Eventually, they would reach the main island through a path of islands and magical bridges.

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