[Wild Pokémon]

"If you cannot figure it out, perhaps I have mistakenly spoken to the wrong person." The Rhydon stared her down, looking into both of her eyes. Even if one was not there. "The fact that I am standing here right now is testament enough to say that my fortress is nearly worn through. My touch upon the world will be even more dramatic than Missingno.'s. And the others? I fear that existence itself will cease to be. Will Arceus start over? I do not know. I may have my claws entangled in the strings of reality, but even we are not omniscient."

The Rhydon walked away, calmly. "Kill Cypress. Burn the body. And you? You may call me A." It melted back into the shadows, its tail twitching but once before becoming naught but mist.

The world moved once again. A feeling, like a faint buzzing, could still be felt in the room. Only time would tell if it would ever fully go away.

[Alma]

Alma sat frozen. How could she kill the very man she loved, even if his mind was nearly gone? But....

She rubbed the bump and sighed. It was her lover or the world, their child. Would the old Cypress understand? Perhaps if she could talk to him, try and reach for him? No....No she doubted that.


She stood and walked to her balcony, then smelled that old smell. Sting's smoking....


....sting.....


She started down the hall to his room, footsteps quick and urgent.

[Cyan]

And so the pair walked down the halls.

"Abominations? Expected of one like you to label the progress of science as such. As of late...I have been experimenting with hybrids. Crossbred Pokémon, mostly, and the potential effects of such on a human hybrid. The results so far have been...disappointing, but progress is still happening. They survive longer and longer each day. On top of that, there are my...usual duties. Upkeep on those who have been upgraded, creation of more soldiers for the Emperor's cause, a few minor side projects that are unimportant."

The pair stopped outside their destination.

"Here we are."

[Sting]

After meeting with Cypress the first thing Sting had done was go and pick up the Poké Ball Cypress had sent. After that he had returned to his room, opting to leave Reina and Sarah together for a bit. More than likely his girl was asleep and Reina was close to nodding off herself. He was on the balcony again, having another smoke. It always helped calm his nerves.

How the hell could he kill someone that knew it was going to happen?

[Alma]

Alma opened the door again, as usual, stalking past the room with mother and child like a specter.


"Sting." She spoke only when she was right behind him, voice no longer teasing, no longer light. This was not a normal visit.

[Sting]

"Hmm?" Sting turned around, Alma sounded different, almost worried. That combined with the fact that she had never come to him more than once a night sent off signals.

[Alma]

"We need to talk.....I had....a vision...if you could call it that." She sighed.

"Someone came to me telling me I had to kill my husband...."

[PsyGuy]

INDEED THEY WERE

"Well, this is where we part ways. I'm sure you'll want to get back to your experiments. If I have time I'll stop by the lab later."

With that Jack stepped into the the strange portal that led to his lieutenants office dimension.

[Cyan]

"Typical of him..."

Rubbing her head slightly, Cyan started down the halls once more, to another of the Guard's personal quarters. She topped in front of a very simple door in a very simple section of the sprawling complex.

She knocked on Zhi Wu's door.

[Zhi Wu]

After a few silent moments, the door slid open slowly. In front of her stood a young man - Zhi Wu indeed, plus five years. He no longer wore his Ninetales mask over his face, but it was prominently displayed on the wall in his quarters.

He looked...exactly like Sting. The only differences were quite minor - A triangle of dots on his forehead, and a very slight gray tinge to his skin were the only visible changes. His quarters were lit softly by a series of candles along one wall, and the smell of mild incense wafted from within.

"Matron Cyan, pleasant is the hour of our meeting. To what do I owe this divine pleasure?"

He smiled softly.

"Would you like some tea?"

[Cyan]

"Formal, as always, I see. That would be wonderful. Same as always, please."

She entered the young man's room, noting how different yet how similar he was to the man who was the Emperor's right hand. Cyan sat on one of the cushions on the floor, wondering, as always, at the martial artist's disdain for normal furniture.

"Knowing you, you probably already know why I am here. The Emperor wants reports on your progress, as usual."

[Zhi Wu]

Zhi Wu carried over a teacup and a kettle, and poured Cyan a cup of hot green tea. He himself, however, retrieved a long kiseru pipe, packed it tight, and started to smoke as he sat directly across from Cyan in full lotus position.

"I knew only that I would have a guest this evening. I'm glad it was you, but I will admit I was hoping for Iris. My sister and I have not been apart for more than a few hours in several years. I worry."

He took a long draw on the pipe.

"My progress? Well, considering I've not recieved specific orders in weeks, I've spent all my time meditating. I do believe I've obtained perfect control over my form, and have decided to develop a style of Pokémon Kung Fu inspired by such creatures as Kecleon and Ditto."

He blew the smoke out, and it was thick and white. He had packed the bowl of the pipe with, most likely, a mix of tobacco and opium.

[Cyan]

As he spoke, CYan took the cup of tea in her hand, sipping it slowly and properly.

"Have you now? I would like to see this, then. It could prove to be useful data for further experiments. Would you mind demonstrating, Zhi?"

She stood up and backed up towards the wall, letting Zhi have enough space to do what he wished.

[Sting]

"Telling you to kill your husband? Who exactly? One of the guards? If so then he's quite ballsy I'll give him that. Cypress has executed others for far less serious offences."

He tried his best to keep his face neutral, but inside a million questions were going off. Who exactly was this and if possible, could he recruit him?

[Alma]

Alma shook her head. "it's voice was different. It wasn't a guard. But it was a being who said it must happen." SHe looked up, blind eye on sting "What has my husband done? What is it that I don't know about?" She rubbed the bump as a small movement called a bit of her attention.

[Kalyu]

what a blast from the past