FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

3rd POV

With the majority of the troublemakers out of commission: the next ten hours at Blake's souped-up farmhouse pass by uneventfully. Also quietly since said troublemakers and the victim had needed bedrest so badly. Forcing the rest of the gang of misfits to find creative ways to burn time in the game room. Given the constant train of seemingly never-ending drama: everyone there was almost giddy over the prospect of downtime. However the longer everyone was able to relax: the more restless they became.

The victim AKA: Runt was already -technically- present ever since his master entered this room. The Houndoom had been peacefully dozing on the carpeted floor by his master's side. No one really heard a peep from Runt. Well other than the occasional growl when Danny occasionally tried leaving the room without at least telling him where he was going first.

In response: Danny would either tell the truth or lie. Neither truth nor lie mattered since Runt would always want to tag along. But with Runt's busted ribs and various other blunt force trauma injuries: effort other than lying still or resting were always rewarded with heaps of pain. Unsurprisingly the threat of making Runt's injuries worse kept Danny from misbehaving and guilt made the boy dote on his mutt like a mother hen. Runt felt absolutely no shame in taking advantage of both.

Doesn't appear like anyone blamed the canine. In fact spectating these exchanges was a source of amusement for some. Occasionally someone would try to take advantage of the boy as well. It was a coin flip whether or not Danny's response would be to flip them the bird or snap at them. Except on the rare occasions that Rai or Miles asked for something. Those request were always met with a nod, grin, and a chipper "Sure!"

Eventually the others picked up on the game Danny was playing and wisely decided to quit feeding the troll

Inevitably and one by one: a bedraggled Blake, Melina, and Paul wobbled into the room with the help of their partners. They had all settled quickly and almost wordlessly into the current spirit of things. However the parent's behavior clued everyone willing to watch them they were in mild distress. The clues:

The mother would occasionally looking up from her book to cast glance that seemingly grew more and more worried by the passing minute. The father had forgone all subtlety and pointedly glaring at a fixed point past the doorframe. Paul had been like this ever since a noise that could've just been the house settling had drawn his partial attention away from the TV.

Said TV was currently playing cartoons that would occasionally encourage a muffled laughter or a chuckle out of either Miles or Rai or Danny or a combination of the three.

Meanwhile Steve and Trevor continued their seemingly never-ending stream pool and foosball games. But were also obviously investing more than a little of their attention on the television. Yet both were making an effort to make it seem like they were only minimally invested in the going-on of the character's misadventures. Steve and Trevor were also taking covert glances at Paul and Melina. But knew better than to say or do anything other than exchange a look and a shake of the head.

Steve and Trevor would sometimes cast a hopeful glance at the eggs lying in the corner. Only to be continuously disappointed by no change other than catching the occasional slight movements that were growing more and more frequent with each passing day. It was the occasional sound of the eggs audible knocking against the wall that drew the couple's attention.

Surprisingly all of the humans were decked out in typical casual wear. Plain T-shirt and sweatpants for Steve,Trevor, Kate, Melina, Miles and Danny. Plain T-shirt and jeans for Paul and Blake.

Blake finally manages to catch a break from his work calls. An opportunity swiftly taken advantage of by saying: "Why aren't you both checking on him like you obviously want to do?"

"Here we go..." Trevor mutters under his breath with a despairing tone while taking his turn.

The man was heard but tactfully ignored while both Paul and Melina both respond simultaneously: "Can't."

Blake brows raise inquisitively as he says "You've already lost me."

Both Melina and Paul share a tired sigh before sharing an annoyed but conspiring glance. After a moment: it's apparently decided that ladies go first: "Can't use my powers on the room because apparently Taz etched a symbol of some kind into the wood on the other side."

Paul speaks up "And as most of us know: I've barely scratched the surface in any angel or demon voodoo. I just know of them" Pause before adding with an eyeroll "And have the ability to sprout wings. Which doesn't exactly count because I still don't know how to activate on a whim even though flying like a bird apparently comes naturally."

Blake mutters a curse under his breath. Apparently Blake also didn't gather the trigger and was hoping that the second time was the charm for Paul."

Melina apparently wasn't done talking but had patiently waited for her turn. "What stops us from simply walking in is the fact that the door is frozen shut. After implementing the obvious solution: it's immediately clear that it's just a warning mechanism. Simply because they make sure whatever barricade they have against it doesn't move an inch no matter how much force you put up against it."

Steve verbalizes aloud what pretty the entire room other than Paul and Melina was thinking "So that's what that ruckus was about earlier."

Melina speaks up "Before you ask: I also can't teleport or use my powers to look into the room." Revelation suddenly strikes Melina to which she eagerly shares after a tiny chuckle: "Am I the only one experiencing Deja vu?"

Kate and Zillian both expel a sudden bark of laughter before Kate says "Deja vu isn't the right word to describe an action performed so many times." Kate ponders a bit before saying "I'm hesitant to use the word nostalgia though."

Zillian speaks up "That's probably because there isn't a word for it. That's just Elly being typical Elly"

"Ain't that the truth." says the mother, father, and sister. Paul then says to the Noibat "That isn't the first time you've used that name without correcting yourself. Why?"

Zillian gives Paul a droll look "Not going to answer that simply because you don't actually care. You're just looking for someone to dump your emotions on."

Surprisingly; Paul exhales a snort of wry amusement and smirks as he says "That obvious huh?"

Melina barks out a laugh of almost amusement ""It's only been written on your face ever since you sat down."

Everyone nods in agreement.

About ten seconds pass in relative silence before Danny gets up, stretches, yawns, before finally saying "Should've said something earlier. I would be a very shitty Necromancer if I couldn't easily bust any rune Taz is capable of creating with little to no problem."

Paul and Melina share a simultaneous facepalm.

At the exact same instant: most of the room exhales a note of surprise when a hooded figure wearing a plain white hoodie and a pair of jeans emerges from the shadows of the floor in the doorway. The unknown male figure has his left hand stuffed into his left jean pocket; but the right was clenching the hood of his jacket so tightly that his knuckles had turned white due to the lack of blood flow. The later being an obvious gesture telling the room that he didn't want his face uncovered just yet.

The figure was obviously Taz, there was no doubt about that. The unique size and dimensions only matched one other person in the house and he was within seeing range. That and the ice puddle rapidly growing underneath his bare feet was another big teller. Also helped that most of the room could confirm the boy's identity with a simple sniff even though they weren't in the near vicinity.

Melina works to retrieve the Noibat from the ceiling. Meanwhile Paul's response is more canine-like snarl than words as the man crosses the few steps that it took to get within range to snag the boy's jacket "It's about damned time! Your ass is in so much trouble!"

Taz swiftly dances out of his father's reach while practically shouting "Before all that: you've gotta let me talk!

It wasn't what the boy said and it wasn't the desperate tone that made Paul pause, lower his hand, and give the boy breathing room. It was the voice itself. It didn't match the with the boy anymore. Or his size since it held the gruffness and sharpness close to that of a man. Yet not at the same time. Was also a bit animalistic. A big one at that.

Meanwhile Taz pounces on the opportunity presented before him: "Danny! Please quickly explain what happens if a soul finds it's way into a body that's not it's own!?"

Despite the tension of the situation rapidly escalating: Danny's composure was cool, calm, and collected and his tone was matter-of-fact with a detectable inquisitive note. "Depends on the body and soul in question. If the body is unoccupied but still living: than the body will slowly begin to exhibit the physical traits the soul once possessed. Usually the accelerated decomposition takes the body out before too many shows itself. If the body is already occupied than-"

Danny's suddenly stops speaking mid-sentence, his eyes widening with revelation as he stares slack jawed at Taz.

"Keep going!" Taz practically bellows with impatience plain in his tone.

Hurt, terrified, and dreadfully confused: Miles starts to sob loudly. Melina begins to try to console the boy while listening intently

Danny quickly picks up where he left of "-than the physical traits of the invader will inevitably begin to show up on the shared body. However all mortal bodies will inevitably eject said invader within a certain timeframe. That timeframe varies from the strength of each souls. The body also becomes very ill but doesn't decompose like hijacked corpses do."

Taz quietly picks up where Danny left off: " Past and present lives being the only exceptions to these rules since those souls overlap in nearly everything with the exception of a few odd quirks. Unless you're like me of course. The one with a past life most well known for rebelling against everything and everyone; including his very identity and outward appearance."

Taz exhales a weak, hollow chuckle as he slowly lets his hood fall away from his face. The boy's audience takes in the fact his outward appearance suggest that he's the legitimate son of only Blake and Paul. The only real twist is that the boy's hair is monochrome: entirely black on the left side and entirely white on the other side. The hair was likely the boy tipping a hat at the one he affectionately calls Mama.

Taz speaks quietly while his audience is still digesting his new appearance "As you can see Taz managed to defy the will and expectations of those around him once again."

Miles's cries cut off with a choked gasp and sniffling.

Apparently Taz wasn't done with his monologue "My voice being affected is another separate matter since my past life didn't change that part of himself in the past. So we've chalked that up as the Beartic aspects of my spirit bleeding into my human self. Our uncanny ability to mimic animal vocalizations supports our theory we think."

Taz raises a hand and index finger "One more thing until I'll ask whatever questions I can."

Taz fixes the raised finger and an intense, knife-point gaze onto Blake as he says in a low bear-like growl "Just because I look like you and our past selves had something similiar to a father-and-son relationship going for them means jack-diddly to me. I will never call you Papa like he did. Even sarcastically or jokingly."

Taz hikes a thumb at Paul as he adds "The only father I'll accept already fulfils his role of being the biggest pain in my butt so darned well it's freakin' inspiring."

"Yes you will. Unless Dad wants me to start calling him Paul."

Taz gaze shifts to the only person that would say that. Miles was actually managing a disapproving glare. Taz knew that he lost this argument before it even began when he felt both the physical and metaphorical heatblast from walking furnace. So Taz sighs and decides that it was time to change the subject for now: "In the name of efficiency and as to not give Miles or Zillian a headache. I suggest a game most of are familiar with: if you have a question please raise your hand, I'll call on you when it's your turn."

Hands went up

Blake glances at his ringing phone and hits the reject button. At the same time expelling a snort of wry amusement as he says with a sarcastic air "For some reason I have a feeling you didn't spend those 12 plus hours sleeping."

Taz creates a similar noise but his tone is matter-of-fact "Eight of those hours were spent piecing together what I've learned from watching the world's crappiest quality and put-together slideshow. An hour was spent trying but failing to recover any footage that I missed. The rest went into preparing my little presentation."

Taz points to Paul "You're technically first Dad since that was rhetorical"

Paul crosses his arms across his chest and his gaze held a steely glint to it as he asks "Why did you chose to lock yourself in that room instead of immediately going to us with this?" A growl enters the undercurrent of Paul's voice "And don't you dare give me a vague answer."

Taz rolls his eyes as he responds back with an air of exasperation "Of course the questions I was least looking forward to would be the first things out of you mouth."

Paul's face was beginning to redden with what appeared to be both anger and impatience as he performs the hurry-it-along universal gesture.

Taz sighs before replying with a tired tone "Fine. Have it your way."

There is period of silence as Taz walks a little past his father. Curiosity has Paul turning in order to continue facing his son. Taz had been watching his old man over his shoulder. Apparently Paul had done exactly what Taz wanted him to do since the boy began smiling a bit as he says with a note of playful mischief: "Trust fall." while letting himself fall backward.

Paul of course catches the boy; mostly out of kneejerk reaction than anything. Paul -along with everyone else- were very confused about the purpose of the whole sequence. Taz however doesn't give them the chance to voice the question on the tips of their tongues since he choses to answer the previous question while relaxing into his father's grip:

"Rose was the one who barricaded the door after I shapeshifted into this in my sleep. Didn't want anyone to disturb me over something she knew I would've had no control over or a hand in. Also knew that I needed some time to come to terms with before facing everyone. Unsurprisingly she was right on the money with that assumption. Surely you understand?"

Taz appears to be waiting for a response of some kind.

Everyone immediately nods.

Which gives Taz permission to continue: "My handiwork was added later to slow her down in the event she decided to try something in order to escape the room." Taz shook his head. "Couldn't have that. Didn't want to chance innocent victims getting caught in the crossfire,"

Out of seemingly nowhere:Taz abruptly yanks himself out of Paul's grip and manages a 180 degree spin on his heel. Two important actions follow suit. The first was Taz's elbow slamming into Paul's groin. Consequently forcing the man to pitch forward onto his knees with a pathetic sounding wheeze. The second was the icy blue kunai that the boy had thrown rapidly ate the distance separating it from it's target. That is until Blake plucked it out of the air. The man traced its path to it's bull's eye: Rai.

Unfortunately Taz that knife's only purpose was a distraction measure. This much was evident in the immediate execution of Aqua Jet to brush past Blake while the knife was still enroute. Taz was making a beeline for his sister. Who just so happened to be sitting next to the target and was the only one remaining that could aide him.

While still in mid-flight: Taz lobs the Pokeball he'd stashed in his sleeve for this exact moment. The ball collides with the wall above Rai's head hard enough to shatter into pieces.. A Pangoro descends upon Rai like a roaring brown and red meteor. Shadow Claws primed to reap a very satisfying and long overdo mauling.

Two events happen simultaneously:

Kate was still trying to process everything. Meaning Taz had more than enough ample opportunity to backhand his sister hard enough to slap the human and consciousness out of her.

Meanwhile Rose's midsection was lassoed and yanked. Rose was than reeled to the 'feet' of the Darkrai . Whom had just stepped out of the portal that had went unnoticed by those of the room because it had appeared during the very beginning of Taz's attack .

However this time the spectre was accompanied by a few special guest. Special guest that were currently ballgagged. The fact that the guest were incapable of replying didn't stop Darkrai from making a nonchalant comment to them while hogtying the thrashing Pangoro with indestructible ropes of harmless dark matter "I do believe both of you owe me twenty big ones."

The special guest were unable to reach their wallets because of they were restrained by the same ropes that incapacitated Rose. Didn't really matter. Darkrai was just pulling their chains anyway.

The stream of profanity in the native language from Rose's homeland begins spewing from her mouth like projectile vomit. Taz strolls over; stripping himself free from his clothes along the way and then uses those as a makeshift gag. Than shapeshifts before plopping down next to Rose with a neutral and expectant expression that reveals nothing as he places his hands in his lap.

That was apparently the cue for everyone to start talking (some shouting) all at once. Than everyone -but Taz, Danny, Blake, and Cecilia who'd had all found the same eerie calm- suddenly found themselves in the same predicament as Rose and the special guest. When peace and quiet was restored Darkrai says to the Beartic "Mind explaining the situation that I walked in on?"

Taz sighs and then replies with a calm sort of weariness "I landed myself in a really messed up spot-"

Taz briefly summarizes the assumptions he shared before the shit hit the fan.before tackling the meat and potatoes:

"The real problem however lies on the bombshell of a truth that detonated in mine and Rose's faces. She was of course was in my mind through the use of our bond because I had asked for assistance with translating the japanese bits, supply more context to the stuff I was seeing, and confirming which bits were dreams or memories."

Darkrai hands Taz a glass of water. Taz expresses his thanks and the Beartic sucks the drink down greedily before handing the polished off cup back to him while he continues "So here's the jist of the memory:-"

---

The following events had taken place sometime after Cresselia/Godslayer of Light and Rose's final clash with Arceus and Giratina.

A Beartic couple was just searching for a place to call home in the strange new world. But also trying to have some fun with each other along the way as they waited patiently for the souls of two lost boys to take shape as Cubchoo cubs. Little did the couple know: both boys were aware of the whole process.

For one boy it was a nightmarish scene straight out of a R-rated horror movie that didn't seem it would ever end anytime soon. For the other it was a outlandish, but oddly fun one-of-a-kind experience. Than again these results weren't surprising at all. To Rai this was punishment for causing so much trouble out of jealousy. It was safe to say that Rai didn't like the fact he was getting exactly what he'd wished for.

Taz on the other hand had chosen to do this. The possibility of a brand new start as a blank slate was just what the doctor ordered to rid himself of the pesky baggage constantly threatening to drown him. A possibility that he'd had yet to share with his bunkmate.

Turns out Taz's wish would be fulfilled once the entire process was complete.

It was during a moment of clarity that Rai finally discovered this fact. This was when tragedy finally struck. Unsurprisingly Rai finally lost all semblance of calm and began rocking the boat. Which consequently caused their would-be mother to miscarry and spit the two unbound souls back into the world. One an angel. The other a soul capable of regaining his powers back as a Darkrai.

Rai was happy.

Taz wanted to spend an eternity making the selfish bastard suffer.

Unfortunately Taz's exposed soul had shone to Dialga and Palkia like a beacon. A beacon the Gods had needed and counted on ever since the rebellious spark began waving the flag of revolution that the other sparks quickly got behind. Straight-afterwards; the Godslayers had worked together to transport each dimension out of their reach. Thus dooming Dialga and Palkia to float forever in a fathomless void. Or so the foolish mortals thought.

Dialga and Palkia inevitably shone themselves to covertly take back their property; unseen by mortals other than the dead.

Meanwhile the news of a miscarriage sends both Beartic into a mindless frenzy so consuming that they turn on each other. The female inevitably wins. But the victory is hollow and is just another source of pain.

Rai bravely tries to fight the Gods off and save Taz from a fate worse than death. When that failed horribly: Rai decides to at least secure a piece of Taz in the hopes of preserving him within himself to be resurrected. If edited slightly. This piece just happens to contain Taz's mind.

Unfortunately Rai's plan was foiled by one of the powers in the angel's utility belt: the power of concealment. However this power had limits. Even at negative range: Taz could hide the fact he was sentient. But wasn't able to stop Rai from accessing his powers. Nor could Taz rekindle a broken bond and speak to Rose through their bond without braving the paralyzing fear of giving himself away.

But Taz sure as hell sensed his Mama's psyche shattering emotions.

On the plus side: giving the Nightmare Pokemon horrible blood-chilling nightmares on the sly was fun as it was hilarious. For a while at least.

---

What felt like a tiny tremor rapidly escalated into a small earthquake as a few destructive auras were riled up by Taz's tale. A tale that Taz had tried putting the brakes on after explaining why Rose wanted Rai's destruction. Foolishly believing that everyone would just accept his well-meaning lie that was him saying that they weren't given anything beyond that.

Unfortunately for Taz (and Rai): Darkrai and Danny knew full well what would happen if one of the dimension's Elliots and their clone souls were ripped free from their bodies without them there to mask its presence and put it elsewhere. The gods of time and space had made the mistake of letting that little weakness slip during casual conversation. But Darkrai still made an effort to fish around Taz's mind for confirmation just to be sure before filling in the blanks for everyone else.

Well... it isn't exactly fishing if the fish leaps into the boat despite a bear fighting to keep it in the lake for whatever reason the silly bear came up with.

Gods bless that boy...that's what I would say if the nature you 'blessed' him with wasn't the root cause of his misery!

Darkrai knew he could hold back the all encompassing fury threatening to consume him just long enough clear the portal he was stepping into and closing behind him.

Unfortunately Taz just had to say this with crystal clear genuine regret as he steps in front of that sniveling and cowering bastard that was nicknamed Rai: "So long as I keep thinking about how if Rai hadn't fucked up than Miles would've never been born. Than I may be able to suppress Taz's final wish and feedback if necessary. I just need time is all. Lots of it most likely"

Darkrai lost his composure right then and there! Fortunately the portal into the vacuum of space had been nothing but dime sized so nobody got caught up in the explosion.

Danny was the one that responded to Taz: "Unfortunately as the witness to how Rai singlehandedly fucked everyone's past lives: you get little say in Rai's fate"

Danny begins stomping towards Taz; aura blazing full mast as he talked "Because of Rai's actions: Dialga and Palkia were able to successfully retrieve the toys they wanted to work on in their little workshop before hitting the reset button on everyone's dimension. They were able to do this because all of the dimensions are loosely linked together to allow travel between them. All those bastards had to do in order to find the rest of us was to follow that fucking chain!"

Danny's corpse falls to the floor as the now spectre starts to lob Shadow Balls at every occupied space as he continues shouting "Since you weren't there: you wouldn't know the hell the rest of us went through! Those fucking bastards threw us back into that godforsaken ring and made us fight numerous opponents with unique kits to the death innumerable times over. Just so they can gather data just in case we decided to rebel again and determine what they could do to trigger what any new abilities that cropped up in testing. Until finally forcing us back to level 1 again."

Danny collapses onto the floor and uses his crossed arms as a pillow. All while still gasping for breathe despite no longer needing oxygen. Still the boy talked "Course the rest had their memories conveniently erased. I unlike them -except maybe Lloyd- had the know-how and the ability to counter the memory wipe."

Tears begin pooling in Danny's eyes as he continues speaking to Taz telepathically "Still. Your past life did manage to get the shittier end of the stick this time. I'll happily take what I got over enduring the constant agony that comes with having your spirit split in half since a little before the dawn of creation."

Taz's reply was: Became numb to the pain brought on by the tugging sensation after a while. It kinda helped in an awful sort of way that my pain paled in comparison to Mama's agony. I'll never forgive myself for that weakness.

Rose's roar for blood that was immediately followed by a torrent of Japanese profanity forces Danny to sever the telepathic connection between him and Taz. Still the lingering effects of the blast had driven him to his knees and made him deaf to Taz's own cry of discomfort. The latter instantly makes the thrashing Pangoro freeze then mutter muffled apologies amidst sobbing .

Danny quickly apologizes "Sorry dude! I'm not used to you being a technical telepath! Even if I was: how could I have possibly known she was capable eavesdropping?!"

Taz's light chuckle comes as a surprise to Danny, as is his answer "No worries dude. If you rewind my reply and examine how it's worded than you'll clearly see that the message was going to be relayed to her one way or another."

Danny nods, highly impressed with the present Taz's leap of insight. "Huh. Hadn't thought of that."

Taz whispers into the spot where Danny's ear would be "Not a word of that goes to Mom or Dad though. Especially Dad."

Danny expels a sardonic snort as he glances to his left at the naked man creating scorch marks into the carpet that he'd apparently fallen down on a unknown time frame. Fortunately the binds were still holding "Considering that Dad's power is leaking out even though Daddy personally sealed it AND is unable to control the Mega forme likely lurking beneath the surface: gifting him that nugget of information wouldn't be wise."

The flames bursting from Paul's skin sputter out into nothing as he looks towards the boys. Danny feels his gaze but doesn't meet his eyes, Instead he glares at Taz's now smug demeanor through half-lidded eyes as he says reply "Just so you know: I really do hate you for tapping into the past. The fact that you even probably know busts my whole charade wide open because I for one don't feel like playing the wondering and waiting game."

Danny takes a sec to sigh disappointedly before adding "Pity. I was rather enjoying that game."

Taz exhales a sardonic snort before replying "There was no way in heck you would've lasted a week without slipping up. Especially during battle."

Danny exhales a sad sounding sigh "Well I owed it to them and myself to at least try."

Danny covers his eyes with his arms before speaking in a tone full to the brim with woe:

"I honestly haven't decided yet which I prefer. Them dead so I can lock them inside the doll when the shit that's way out of their league inevitably hits the fan. With at least one of them tucked away in a wonderful place that not even those bastard Gods can even dream of reaching. Or them alive with their own unique kit of abilities that will give them at least a fighting chance. Consequently forcing them to fight for their new lives because the universe doesn't really take kindly to those that defy Death. "

Paul's voice. Shuffling "Well?"

Melina almost immediately replies in a bewildered tone "His heart is still beating. What did you do? Hit the eject button?"

Danny wide gin can be clearly made out as he replies in a slightly proud, matter-of-fact tone"That's exactly what I did. Tiny window lies in between heartbeats. Can't tell you how many times that's saved my ass."

Danny phases through the floor before the two pairs of hands could nab him. Chuckling to himself all the while. Danny couldn't believe the foolishness and arrogance of his parents. Did they actually believe just because he was found out that the this little game between them was over?

Tch. Not by a long shot!

---

Runt tries hobbling towards the doorway. Darkrai uses the Houndoom's ball and sends it levitating and Danny's corpse out of a nearby window. The latter once again becomes a living body off screen.

Melina chuckle is full to the brim with dark humor as she rubs her face eyes. After a few moments she lowers them and says "Now I can finally understand why humanity have been killing each other for centuries for even just a tiny bit of power. Once you've had a taste: you crave more. If it's taken away than you're willing to make a deal with the devil to get it back."

Blake chuckle actually contains amusement before he replying "Hmph. There's hope for you yet."

A feline hiss starts to escape Melina buts she seems to swallow it, she rolls her eyes and mutters to herself "Oh sure. That slithers past the seal just fine."

Melina's gaze falls on the Beartic that had his head placed between his knees. Rose was hugging Taz tightly from behind and sobbing quietly into his fur. Than Melina uses that special gentle tone only a very good mother can masterfully wield "Your role in that whole thing was just damage control?"

Sniffles from the Beartic than an audible swallow than a soft whisper "All I want to do was to alleviate some of the hurt Mom. It's all I can think about. Which sucks since my head isn't exactly in the very best of places right now."

"Than stop acting alone!"

Taz wasn't all that surprised to hear nearly everyone shout this a him. Heck even Blake and Cecelia chipped in. Taz actually managed to chuckle a little as he replied "Well gee thanks guys. I never thought of that one before"

Rose slapped him upside the head. Someone else flicked his nose. The latter was likely his mom since she liked to do that when he made a smart ass comment. Which meant it was his father that slugged him in the gut hard enough to make him start to wheeze. He deserved all of that and more he knew.

Than for some reason Taz began to laugh. Which somehow led to hic-ups. Real bad hiccups. Miles suddenly began laughing quite hysterically. Perhaps tickled by the funny noise? Which also appears to push Taz further into hysterics, which really didn't help the Beartic's hiccups.

Melina had to shout to be heard over both boys "Is this a good or bad sign?

"It's a very good thing" shouts back Rose and Darkrai with an accompanying chuckles

Taz suddenly becomes human with no help from an ice or water element based move or item.

"That too!" was Rose's report which ended on a contented rumble when Taz turns around and presses the entirety of his front against Rose's belly and groin before nuzzling into her.

Taz suddenly stiffens, stops laughing and groans loudly while both his parents draw a sharp intake of breath of amazement the same instant of Taz's next hiccup

Blake has a big shit-eating grin on his face. But decides to hold his tongue.

Rose begins to giggle as she rubs the top of the boy's head, a slight aroused rumble in her undertone as she says "Given it's recent persistence: that surprise was bound to make it's presence known sooner rather than later"

Okay Blake couldn't resist: "There are quite a few ways to make it less persistent."

Taz simply replies "Hearty har-har. Thank you so much for your imput Captain Jerkass." Pause then the boy adds "Okay so I gotta know: Was that really the best you could come up with or were you holding back because I'm that much of a pathetic mess at them moment."

Blake waits until the knee-jerk protest die down before replying "Neither really. It would just be stupid of me to poke fun at you while I myself am going through the very same dilemma."

"Okay...I've officially became so lost that I don't think a G.P.S can help me." suddenly said a voice who belonged to none other than Elliot Timothy Baxter.

Taz groans again "Someone please just confirm that was just Danny tuning in again after an unknown break period away from all the drama?"

Blake blinks at Taz briefly before replying "That was one hell of leap of logic there kid."

Taz chuffs and replies "No it isn't. Something that was in the room's picture is no longer present. Once you figure out what the missing link is: what I just said won't be nearly as farfetched"

"Funny. I didn't even notice their arrival." Paul mutters as he leaves the room. Likely to search for something that would at least make me somewhat presentable.

"Same" Rose declares. The Pangoro appears to be pouting a little as she watches Taz slide on his jeans and throw on the black muscle shirt he'd been wearing underneath the hoodie. Rose stands when he does, then proceeds to hug him from behind while lightly pushing on his back to encourage him forward.

Taz looks up at her, huffing irritably before saying to her "You do know I'm putting a stop to this hanging all over each other thing ASAP when I feel that we've both settled down."

Rose wasn't paying any attention to Taz though. Rose's gaze positively screams hostility as they rests solely on the teenage version of Rai currently sitting next to the Elliot of unknown origins.

Sensing oncoming danger :Rai's doppleganger slaps Elliot at the back of his head while saying with words that were little more than a canine snarl: "You just had to draw attention to us didn't you!"

Quickly seeing where this was going: Taz seizes Rose's wrist and pulls down on them insistently while quickly saying "For the sake of your vengeance: Don't even think about it."

Rose pouty reply is conveyed in low mutter "Wasn't going to do anything. Was just glaring."

Taz replies while in the process of sitting down cross-legged on the floor in front of the new arrivals: "Funny. Your imagination was telling a very different story."

Rose says nothing in response as she sits down, pulls Taz against her, and wraps her legs around him; all the while continuing to drill the Rai doppelganger with a death glare.

Taz rolls his eyes once before resting his left elbow on Rose's left knee and resting his right cheek on the palm of his left hand. While saying to the new arrivals: "You're just gonna have to ignore her."

Taz suddenly twist his neck sideways and calls out "Yo! Mr. Godslayer what gives? Wanted a few more actors in your private furry soap opera?"

That had encouraged a few muffled snickers and chuckles.

"What's a furry soap opera?" Miles asks while he moving to sit next to his older brother (with Zillian bringing up the rear of course).

Taz was apparently expecting the question since a question rolled off his tongue as if pre-prepared "A soap opera is type of show that you can watch on that-" Taz points to the TV before adding: "-that pretty much just follows the silly stuff a weird family or group of friends does and the bad stuff that happens to them. A furry is-"

Darkrai says as he glides into Taz's view, hands behind his back: "Yeeeah. I'm going to stop you right there before your mother blows a gasket.".

Once facing the boy Darkrai says to Taz "The answer to your question is that-." Darkrai rolls his eye. "Well there is more than one reason as per usual. The most important reason is that the Gods have finally decreed that the boy known as Elliot Timothy Braxter and the Legendary known as Darkrai in all alternative dimensions are far too unhinged to reason with and are way too dangerous to keep alive. Especially since I have the baskets containing all your sister's and father's eggs."

"I really wish you would say something that made sense." Miles says with a frown and frustrated sounding huff.

"That last bit better have been a metaphor" Melina says in tone full to the brim with venom. That empty threat almost made Darkrai giggle. Almost.

Melina honestly didn't see it happen. One second she was starting to sit on a beanbag; the next she was tumbling head over heals with a blubbering Elliot squeezing her in a death grip. After blinking and taking a moment to rub the new bump on her head: she shouts over his cries "How long has it been since he lost the me in his world!?"

"Three years!" replies the Godslayer as he opens a portal underneath the pair.

Taz grins a little and mutters to himself "I find it kinda cool that no matter how much time or whatever alternate dimension: I always react to seeing Mom and Dad for the first time the exact same."

"How m-"

Darkrai manages to stop Taz's kunai from leaving his hand, mid-throw with a roll of his eye "Yeeeah I totally saw that one coming."

Darkrai ignores his stupefied alternate self and says to Taz "Why haven't you tried attacking me yet?"

Taz was currently blinking stupidly at the hand containing the kunai while he replies to the question in a flat, faraway tone and low volume "Because your past and present actions were more than enough to redeem you at least ten times over. So the fact I'm willing to take bullets for your ass hasn't changed."

Taz clears his throat and is speaking normally again "Tch. Why do you think Rai is how he is with you?"

Pause as Taz scans the room "Speaking of: where is that bastard? And Kate?"

"I was thinking similarly actually" a towel clad Paul who had somehow snuck back in to stand next to Taz. Now that Darkrai thought back; he was likely there during the whole exchange.

Darkrai clears his throat, finally lets go of Taz's wrist, and shakes it a little to clear it "I have those two holed up in their old place."

"Why?"fire (in more than one place) and an argument was in Paul's eyes.

Darkrai replies with a nonchalant shrug "Had too. Taz surpasses Rai in strength while Kate surpasses Taz in strength. So long as Taz is suffering from possibly temporary or permanent schizophrenia: Kate sees Taz as a threat that must be disposed of at once. In fact she's training to do just that even as we speak!"

Paul quickly covers Miles's ears. As of why was answered when he and Melina suddenly shouts a full volume "WHAT!?"

"Well ain't that a kick in the pants that we all totally should've seen coming." Heads turn to see Danny -back in human form- floating over Darkrai's head.

Miles blinks at Danny then looks past Rose's back. Just a little bit beyond that point had been the last known location of Danny's corpse before Darkrai revived the boy with a lot of help from the shrunken Dialga's Adamant Orb. It's shrunken twin brothers clickety-clacking noisily against each other when Darkrai reaches up to grasp the floating boy by the midsection as the largest spectre says "Did you and Runt have fun?"

"Always do!" Danny responds while flashing him a shit-eating grin. Danny suddenly frowns as he says "Did I miss anything noteworthy while I was away?"

Darkrai shrugs and nonchalantly says "Just that apparently Taz's evolution somehow allows him to get it up for Rose now and Elliot's emotional breakdown." Pause then Darkrai adds in obvious afterthought "Oh and Taz's assassination attempt on Riley that happened just before you floated in.

Danny suddenly becomes a bit green around the gills "The rat and hound are here!?" Danny shapeshifts into a Houndour, puppy eyes on the maximum overdrive setting "Can they not be?"

Darkrai wasn't one bit amused "They're staying. And you will be nice to them."

Danny wasn't at all pleased as he stomps to sit next to Miles. Who unsurprisingly couldn't resist the allure of a petting the nearby puppy. Danny's mood (and Miles') instantly brightens when Danny decides to play the part of the enthusiastic, affectionate puppy dog that attacks little boy's faces with their tongue. This mauling last for the small period of time that it takes for revelation to decide that it wanted to nip the puppy in the rear and force him to call out:

"Miles must have schizophrenia too! Mil is just a coping mechanism!"

Danny abruptly calms down a little but there is still excitement in his tone as he begins to pace as he continues to run with the ball he finally managed to get rolling: "The delusion only seems like a sentient force because its very existence allows Miles's mind to recall information that is only being repressed." Pause as Danny's gaze shifts to Darkrai as he begins bouncing with excitement as he says "Am I right!? Am I right?!"

Darkrai flashes the Houndour a duel thumbs up but is clearly frowning when he adds: "But please keep in mind that this is only a half-baked theory based on visible evidence."

Taz practically roars in Danny's face "Why the fuck are you so excited!? What you're implying is that Miles is essentially a ticking timebomb!"

Danny begins shouting right back "Because what you just assumed is false! If a person experiences a trauma that the mind deems too painful to remember. Than the mind either trash bins it, denies it being anything it else but a very vivid nightmare, or represses it so extremely that it might as well have been forgotten. As well as any other tools that I'm currently forgetting!"

Tears start to pool in Danny's eyes as he mutters with unreadable emotions bleeding into his voice "As you might already know: I'm pretty much an expert on the subject thanks to what I've gone through."

Despite obviously fighting with all he had: Taz suddenly began blubbering loudly while shouting a torrent of words what were pretty much incoherent except for a few so's, fucking's and sorry's.

Danny shapeshifts back into a naked human all on his own and embraces Taz tightly and replies just loud enough to be heard "I know dude. I love him just as much as you do and would've reacted the exact same way."

Miles joins in both the hug and Taz's breakdown, if on a much small scale.

Darkrai portals them (and Rose) into another room where they can have much more privacy.

Darkrai's gaze falls to the Runt and the Noibat "Would you like to join them?"

Both Houndoom and Noibat shake their heads but it was Zilian that replied "My presence is more useful here. This way I can fill Miles in on anything worth noting."

Runt nods and says "I agree with Zillian."

The Noibat waits until the four disbelieving shouts of "What did you just call him?"s die off before asking "What were the codenames for me and the third Runt again?"

"Third?" says the probably tiniest Houndoom you'll ever have seen (well except for maybe in one department) currently scanning the room."

Chase steps out of the shadows and seizes the third Runt's spiked collar with his tail before yanking him into the shadows. This wasn't the place for what was sure to be a very long chat and touchy one-sided reunion. In the middle of this exchange Darkrai replies "If I remember correctly: The agreed code name was Nil. The third Runt's name is Ozzy."

After a moment of hesitation Zil asks: "Can the other version of myself have the name Nil instead? Not only does my master refuses to call me anything else than Zil or Zillian. But Taz and I recently came to an understanding and that name is sorta the staple."

The Raticate perks and speaks up "Well um...I'll take the codename if it means that much."

Darkrai nods while voicing his approval: "Then it's settled."

Unsurprisingly Paul didn't sound very pleased, furious even "When the hell did that happen?"

"Before lunch." Zil says bluntly and matter-of-factly as he turns to glare at the man "That was a private moment between me, Elly, and those that were present. I'd rather not share or heard it being shared with anyone else."

That pushes Paul past the breaking point and consequently the seal. Fortunately Darkrai senses this and portals the man a safe distance away from the house that nothing and no one is caught up in the blaze that consumes him at that moment.

The anthropomorphic Houndoom inevitably stomps back into the room and repeats the statement in a low, drawn out, and dangerous snarl "It's hard enough for me to remain civil around you. Don't make that harder if you know what's good for you."

"Holy shit..." three out of the four visitors whispers that were vibrating with awe and disbelief.

---

Meanwhile Melina had just stepped out of the bedroom as stealthily as possible. The mother clearly trying to avoid waking up the slumbering child within the room. However Melina made all that effort go to waste during the ecstatic squeal when she senses that her powers had been returned to her. Melina takes advantage of said powers to look in on the situation in the bedroom upstairs; but not without preparing herself for the sight that her intuition told her to expect.

Seems Danny and Miles had clonked out and were cuddling on top of the queen sized bed.

Taz and Rose were cuddling on the floor. Just as expected: the Pangoro was apparently taking advantage of Taz's human form. Cuddling had led to making out. Making out led to Rose ripping Taz's clothes off as her mouth kissed,licked, and nipped the skin between his chin and groin. Taz could do little more than attempt to squirm away, try to muffle the sounds of pleasure, and offer protest that were both audible and inaudible to Melina's senses. All of which Rose was obviously ignoring as she took in Taz's engorged anatomy into her gaping maw and went to town.

Apparently Taz's human anatomy had been buffed up in length and girth to match ursine standards. A fact that Taz's mother could've done without learning. But was by now very desensitized to catching people in the middle of the act of sexual intercourse.

Melina begins the mundane process of cooking a big, delicious meal for anyone who wanted it really. So long as they saved some for Taz and Rose. Even though a quick glance into the fridge's inventory revealed a sizable dent that more than hinted the fact that the ursine couple had likely snuck in more than just a bite or two sometime during the period they were alone together. Which consequently revealed just how big two full-grown bears appetites were. That was quickly going to become a problem if their food stock wasn't replenished regularly enough.

While working; Melina also made a point to make a note for Taz and Rose then slipped it underneath the door. What it said could probably be guessed. But in case it couldn't: the note told the Beartic and Pangoro that they really should move their fun elsewhere. Was even insightful enough to drop it onto Taz's face just to be sure that they didn't miss it.