Chapter 13

Story by Kynexn on SoFurry

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#13 of Started with a Rock: Arc 2 - The Reunion

To make way for the extremely violence scene in this chapter.


Kyn greeted the group the same way he usually did, though with one exception. This time he asked one of them if he knew why the first Team Plasma disbanded.

Serena hung back in the shadows, well, obviously they knew she was there, but she had gotten good at portraying herself to be a normal Pokémon who was just really well trained.

That one particular grunt responded, he had been relaxing with his eyes closed prior to, but looked up at him at the question. The first one that jumped to his mind was how this guy even got this far, then of course, he saw Serena and figured that she was the reason, and that if they survived this, then he would have a mess to clean up. "Yah, N disappeared when we were close to giving a decree that all trainers should release their Pokémon, Left us 'igh and dry."

"Hm? Maybe I'm just a little slow today, but it kinda sounds like you were a member of the original Team Plasma. Did they happen to tell you why N disappeared? Or did y'all just assume that it was over?" Kyn figured that if he were a member of the original Team Plasma... but changed his ways, maybe Serena wouldn't have to interfere.

"Yur a bit slow today, and I was a member o' the original team Plasma." He said it almost proudly. "Sages told us it was over; wasn't until they started gettin' thrown in the slammah that we bothered to start payin' them any mind though."

Serena stayed in the shadows, snorting at his words, her fins stopped about half way down from full mast. That was strike one....

"It's been more than two years since I was last here. The last time I was here... facing Team Plasma's Pokémon was a joke. In fact, I'm actually almost impressed by the change in that regard. So, why did you rejoin Team Plasma then?" He quickly glanced at Serena, before turning back to the grunt.

"T'ch, got nothin' better to do, I s'pose I'll keep talkin to ya. I actually did release all of my Pokémon, lead by example, Yanno. Still there was this one Vileplume that stuck 'round. N told me he didn't want to leave, and so I didn't make 'im. After the old team ditched, I tried to make 'im stronger any way I could, do right by 'im...Ne'er did put 'im back in a Poké Ball again, but yanno, lifespans ain't always matching up an all...got one of his kids as my partner now."

"You're one of the few members who actually might be worth giving two shits about. I do so understand the thing with lifespans though... I'm supposed to be in a hurry, but would you possibly introduce me to his offspring?" Kyn said, with obvious interest. It also, of course, brought back the memories of Anana again. <I just know I'm going to get hoisted upside down for delaying again...>

E"Ah...sure." The man said, and pulled down his outer jacket to expose an Oddish, who looked up at Kyn with big eyes. "I've taken to calling her Olivia; she's been looking into evolving into a Bellossom when she gets stronger, I think." He rubbed his fingers over the base of the little one's leaves, elicting a coo from the creature.

"Ah look, Fred's got a friend who's interested in his life's story, Isn't that cute boys?" One of the others in the group laughed.

<Not this time.> Serena actually strode up out of the shadows and lowered herself as best she could to the ground so as she wouldn't frighten the babe, and sniffed at it, of course, this meant that when the comment came, she bolted for the speaker, and pinned the man to the ground with her claws, the others who had been joining in the laughter stopped immediately as she looked at them threateningly, a growl issuing from her throat, accompanied by the words. /STILL think it's FUNNY?!/

Kyn went over to the Oddish, kneeled down and, said. "Hello there," before turning back to the one who was not currently pinned under Serena, Fred. "About how old is she...?"

" 'bout half a year, Her pop died a few weeks after she was born." He motioned to Serena. "She's yurs then? Musta taken ya a long time to get 'er to that state, and even longer fer her to trust ya."

The little Oddish tilted its head, then nodded with a smile, in a cute little voice that to the others would have said 'O-ddish~' but to Kyn, of course, it sounded like "Hello~"

Serena, who wasn't, apparently, satisfied with holding the male down with her claws picked him up like a hatchling, and grabbed the other laughers with her tail, coiling it around them three times. <Now the question they're asking is, are they lucky that there's a kid in the room, or unlucky...I'll just be over there for a bit, doing...things.> She slipped out of sight from the kid, and consequently the others before even starting by let the others out of her grip....It was ten minutes later that she would re-emerge, walking alone, and not at all unphased, she wasn't even splattered with blood, leaving one to question exactly what she had done with them.

"Well... I mean, I guess technically she can be considered one of my Pokémon but... Serena is... different that most of my Pokémon. We've been through many different experiences together." He then switched back to Olivia. "So... Olivia, do you have any friends...?"

Olivia folded her leaves backwards as she was spoken to. "Well, a couple, but most are really serious here...they don't have many young Pokémon here..." she admitted.

Fred felt a little like a third wheel here, with him speaking to his little girl. "Ah, I see...."

"Well, I suppose it'd be only fair to tell you, that I had an influence in the first Team Plasma's disbandment. I'm not gonna try to tell ya how to run your life but... maybe you and Olivia would be better off, away from Team Plasma's influence. Besides, with Ghetsis dead, there's only Colress, which we're trying to find, and the others, which are barely organized." Kyn said, wondering what his reaction would be to both the new of his involvement in the earlier disbandment, and Ghetsis' death.

Fred's eyes went wide at the news. "The old buzzard's dead? Great, bettah that he die now than take the rest of him down with him...Why do yah want to find the scientist that's trying to bring out everyone's full potential? I know it's not the best life fer Olivia, don't plan on stayin' long. Was actually recruited back into it by one of the Sages who saw me 'round...actually kinda forced my hand--told my employer 'n' e'eryone that I was part of Plasma a'fore and it ruined me. Wife e'en cast me out."

Of course, this was about the time that Serena actually did return, and she laid herself down in behind Kyn in a manner that he would be able to lean on her when he got tired, they HAD been walking for quite a while, but then, she knew he was used to traveling long distances. She looked quite pleased with herself, but the earfin spikes collapsed down as Fred spoke.

"We need to find Colress... to see if that's really his plan, or if he's got a hidden agenda, by using that as a front. So... Fred... about how much was your income before you were shut down?" Kyn was formulating a plan in his head, that involved essentially a rather relatively large donation.

Being this close to Kyn, she of course knew what he was thinking. <You're generous...but he's playing you like a fiddle. If he didn't have a kid to look after, I would have taken him back too after reading their minds as I did. I should take his tongue for his lies. I give him one more before I tell you to take the kid and leave this room.>

Fred looked at Serena with a slight bit of fear, what exactly had she done with the others that they weren't back yet? "Colress is down thata way....and five figures yearly, it wasn't much, but I could live on it."

"So, you're telling me, that for a measly ounce of gold, I could literally have five years worth of your yearly income? That seems like a pretty lowly lifestyle. Something... just feels odd about that for me. Do ya mind if I ask ya some questions about your wife and you?" <Speaking of that. What exactly did you do? It was only ten minutes. Did they run away? Did they not run away...?>

<After I was done with them they did...they lost their tongues as well...nothing too serious, though I hope that their lovers weren't keen on oral.> She chuckled a little. <His wife died two years ago, and he joined Plasma afterward. He still had a gloom at that time. He's not lying about his Pokémon, he did release them, but out of grief, not leading by example, the flower shop that they ran together closed soon after...when he ran out of money after that...he turned to thieving, and was picked up by Plasma then...He kept his head low for two years as a petty thief...>

"You could, yeah.....well, you make due with what you can get, right? I mean, it's bettah than nothin atall..." he paused. "My wife an I? Sure, what you want to know?" He looked up at Serena and shivered, why did it feel like she was looking through him with that gaze?

<Serena, it seems as if you've replaced Lacu as my lie detector... did I not say this day would come?> "Well... where did you meet her? What did you two do together before she left you? If you could work for a living again, would you?" The rapid fire questions stopped at three, and then he let him get a chance to answer them.

<I don't aim to replace anyone....> She huffed a little, flicking her tail tip just a bit. <He knows he's caught, he's just not sure how.>

"Ah, we met, ironically, at the fair here in this town when we were a bit younger than you, we went out for about a year before I proposed...We ran a little aromatherapy flower shop with our Pokémon, even mixed scents for perfume..." He paused at the last one. "No, probably not. I feel like I've forgotten how."

"Well then. Perhaps it is time you relearn. It could just save your life one day, because being a member of Team Plasma... according to the Surgeon General's Warning at least, is hazardous to your health. At this current time anyway. The Surgeon General may change his advisory."

Fred zipped up his jacket again, keeping Olivia from view again, only the tips of her leaves showed from within. "Yeah, so are a lot of things kid, yah got to learn when to take risks. Yah chose to stop us last time, that was a big risk in itself." he stood up. "May as well take ya to Colress a'fore yur Dragon...Serena wassit? Decides to maim any more of us."

Serena snorted at how casually the man threw her name around, still, he hadn't lied, he hadn't been specific...she wondered..../How long ago did she die? Your wife, I mean./ she asked.

<Wow. Serena, I think he understood that I was casually referring to you. Though I never did say what you did to them but, I guess that the reference to surgery... might have done it, I suppose.> "Supposing that Colress actually does want to do the things he says... who's to say Pokémon need help unlocking their potential?"

"Who...?" Fred turned around, to find Serena once again, staring at him. "Did you...just talk?" he pointed at her.

"You can't... understand Pokémon speech, but that doesn't mean that she cannot make herself understood. Do you know what I'm saying?" was all Kyn managed to get out before Serena started in on him again.

/"Listen to yourself, did a dragon type just talk, you tell me, silver-tongue. I asked you a question, are you going to answer me or are you just going to open your mouth and spill lies again? If it's the latter, I'll just take it now and you can try to explain to Colress WHY you swallowed your own tongue, and how you bit it in the first place."/ Now that the child was hidden, the threat was out in the open. /Perhaps you didn't hear me, When. Did. She. Die?/ Her fangs bared, there was no way that he could actually believe that she had spoken that bit at least. <He knows I did something to them, and is guessing that it's something that caused them not to be able to come back. It's not like I didn't cauterize the wounds, they were perfectly fine after I was done...>

Fred was in shock, the threat, the questions..."Two years ago...I know how that must sound, really I do...but it was Team Plasma that took her away from me...they came here, spreading their word, and it made her physically ill, even though our Pokémon seemed happy...but they were our livelihood, we couldn't just...give them up." he trailed off, hoping that that would be a good enough answer to keep his tongue. "As for why Pokémon need help...well, there are some psychic types that are born without psychic abilities...in the wild they would be easy prey...those of them like that do need help."

/No they don't./ She answered, finally standing up to follow the male. /They can adapt without using psychic type moves...but start leading./ She let herself growl again.

"Speaking of the older version of Team Plasma... Serena is probably going to take out what remains of their particular goal, that faction. As for Pokémon needing human help... well, let's just say, I have plenty of evidence to the contrary." Kyn finished cryptically.

She gave him a toothy grin as Kyn spoke, and Fred started moving towards the back door of the room; she nosed Kyn softly, blowing her warm breath into his hair. "Ah...that was probably a little disturbing to hear on your end, one voice echoing the other..."

Fred moved quickly, trying to lose them, and at the same time, fearing what would happen if he did, so every few turns he looked back to make sure that they were still there; and when they managed to follow him all the way to the next group, he ignored the other group of people, waited for Kyn and Serena to catch up, and then knocked on the last door. "Boss, you've got some guests." Of course, the others were wary of the two strangers...but none wanted to speak up, unless they were spoken to.

"Considering the nature of this operation... in what sense are the guests?" The voice answered back. It was very calm, despite the possibility that because he was being addressed, it meant that the other guards and members had been defeated.

Serena looked at Kyn, then at Fred, and of course, had she had her way, she would have answered with 'hungry' but, as it was, she simply narrowed her eyes at him, and then the rest of the room; daring them to say a word against them.

"Ah, peaceful, Sir...they've asked to come in and speak to you -personally-" Well, they hadn't, but he figured that that would be what they wanted.

"Well, this is a bit of a surprise. I suppose I'll go greet them." He then turned around, clipboard in hand and then a look of surprise filled his face.

It took all of Serena's strength to not pin the scientist down to the ground and demand answers from him, as it was, her face read a definite 'Boo.' Her body was positioned in a way that blocked the first exit, a clear challenge as well. <For a bad dude, he behaves like a hatchling.> She snorted.

Fred melded back into the shadows with the others, hopefully some point in the future he would be able to slip out unnoticed.

"Oh! It's you again. My goodness, I thought that you were going to be someone else. Hm? Who is that with you? That Dragon." He didn't point at her, because at this current stage, pointing would be rude.

"Bloody hell Colress, not answering your phone, not answering the headquarters, it's like you were avoiding me everywhere! Why give me your number if you ain't gonna pick up?"

She snorted at him. That Dragon? That was even worse than calling her by her species name, still, aside from a tail tip flick, she didn't move; she did echo Kyn's mood in a deep growl, however.

"Well, I was busy. I am a scientist you know. So, are you going to introduce me? I do not believe we've not been properly introduced," He said, directly facing Serena.

"Hmph. Well, as you may or may not know... she's a Salamence. Her name is Serena." Kyn said, annoyed, but still willing to put up with Colress up to a certain extent. He hadn't ordered anyone to start attacking, which was definitely a plus.

Serena inclined her head slightly. /Yes, I'd be the one that ended up smashing those pesky Master Balls that I'm to understand you released in mass production? Apparently you thought my iron content was a little low, what didn't get melted went down my gullet./ She gave him the honor of hearing her talk, and made sure that her emotions portrayed just how much she despised him. /Thankfully, you have Kyn to stand up for you, or you would not have the chance to explain yourself./

"This... is very odd. You're saying that you were targeted by Master Balls...?" He was obviously more than a bit concerned. Not only because of Serena, but because of the prospect of Master Balls being mass produced. "Last time I checked, there were only four others in the world."

"Five." Kyn added, referring to his own.

She flicked her tongue out. /There were 25 thrown at me, not counting those that had Pokémon in them; and they seemed to know that I am still a wild. You don't want the memory infusion, I don't even want the memory of the mess that was left behind. Yet they were team Plasma, I'm sure I could give you a still shot with the emblem somewhere./ she snorted.

"Twenty-five?! What in the world...!? Would you please excuse me for a moment? I need to check on something. This could be... a dire emergency that would require my personal intervention..." He said, attempting to head towards a door in the room.

Everything in her screamed to keep Colress from the door, instead she snarled. /Best be leaving that open, or I will break it down within five seconds of it closing./ It proved how little she trusted him, and that she was going to keep an eye on him every moment of the way...and well, if that was a cue for the others to attack her, then she hoped that she had left enough of a hint that he would be returning to a room full of bodies, not a room full of people at all.

He did leave the door open, seeing no reason not to, and headed for the room in which he claimed for his office, as small as it was. He searched for a specific trigger along the wall, and then a safe revealed itself. He did the combination and then was shocked to discover that his Master Ball was not there. He went back to her to report his findings. "I'm afraid direct intervention is necessary... I have... some rather grave news to report."

She stood, wandering back--yes, without permission, to where Colress had just come from, flicking her tongue out and using her nose as well....essentially being a blood hound, then walked back as she traced the faint scents over and over in her mind. She rummaged through Kyn's memories for someone who smelled similar, even to his human nose, and let her tail whip down towards the floor with the swish of air and the THWACK that left a dent in the floor. "Damn you and your limited senses sometimes Kyn. Give me Heji; his nose is better than both Yours and mine." /Er...sorry about the floor, better it than a person. Yeah, I know, the ball's gone, you're posture gave it away. This is why these things need to be destroyed and not kept as pet projects!/

"What would Heji be able to help you with...?" Kyn didn't really understand where she was going with this, but he did let him out of his Ball anyway.

"That's... quite an impact there. You've got a powerful tail, and I'd hate to be on the recieving end of that." Colress commented.

Serena took about a second to explain the situation and to give Heji a nuzzle as well, and exactly what she needed from him...to allow her to rummage through his memories to see if she could find a scent comparison. All of this was relayed via normal speech, and she wasn't even sure that he would understand her with how often she hissed, it had been a long time since she was angry enough to spit something that she was sure would come out molten. /Be glad it wasn't you, it almost was at one point./ She commented offhandedly.

"I do so apologize for the inconvenience I've caused you, and I do have a few questions for you, but I feel as if it would best if I asked them later, when one of the possible things on your mind isn't how many different ways you could kill me." Colress didn't dare approach Serena, not even to satiate his curiosity, that he would be able to replete later.

<Serena. While you're here, mention that you killed Ghetsis. That's one of our main tactics right now.> Kyn added.

She didn't even look at Kyn to confirm that she had heard him, instead she said. /Well, the easiest way it seems, would to be to replicate what I did to Ghetsis, he and his Pokémon are nothing more than a smudge on the wall of a boat now, not even ashes left for the wind to scatter./ She did then nudge Kyn slightly, trying to go through her own memory banks for the smell as well, was it something that she herself had smelled? It was...familiar somehow; and when it clicked, her eyes narrowed to pupils.

"Fred." The word left her mouth with a growl, and she swung her head to where he had disappeared into the group, she should have never taken her eyes off of him! /FRED, get your rear back out here! I have about 10 bones to pick with you!/

Crap! The thought made Fred bolt, even as it washed over him, he wasn't sure how, exactly, he was going to get past her, perhaps his speed would be enough--He ran and darted behind the tail, hoping, praying that he could get away.

"Fred... I expected more from you. You're a member of Colress' faction. You could have been saved, you know. I tried my best to save you." Kyn had no sympathy for what he figured Serena was going to do. "Colress... you should probably go into your room for a bit, I think."

Almost predictably, she rotated with the movement and her claws came down on his chest, since her entire body rolled with it, that force was enough to crush a few bones. /YOU MADE OLIVIA MASK YOUR SCENT? YOU..../ Her voice burned with rage, and in contrast she crackled with electricity, all the way down her wings, and then it arced to the stone that had taken it's place back on her leg. She pulled the Oddish out and literally tossed her to Kyn, leaving a hole in the leaf where her teeth punctured, and she stole into the human's mind, making him convulse as she looked for the information that would tie him together with....the shadow triad. That name kept surfacing, and eventually, since his brain was essentially dying from being torn asunder, she tore his head off as a praying mantis might to it's mate, and ate it with a crunch; devouring the rest of him the same way, limb by limb until there was nothing left of 'Fred' but a puddle of blood on the floor. "The Shadow Triad...that name mean anything to you, Kyn?"

"...Yes. The Shadow Triad.... .... are Ghetsis' most loyal followers. N can tell you a little bit more about them, but occasionally they literally dragged me places to meet him." Kyn was certain that pretty much everyone in the room, even the Oddish was probably traumatized by that particular event.

"They will be the next ones I hunt down and kill, then, since they're the ones that he gave the ball to...which means this all circles back to that dead bastard..." She breathed a bit of fire on the blood to make it flake, then spoke. "Sorry Olivia, I know this is the last thing you want to hear right now, and not from me...but you shouldn't have had to watch that...and it shouldn't have had to have been done..." Smoke curled from her snout, and she found herself with more guilt piling. Now she had yet another life in her hands--she could either choose to leave it...to raise it, to kill it...or to send it to her world. The first and last options were quickly crossed out, the fact that the girl began crying and squirming in Kyn's arms didn't help matters. "If she wants revenge, let her hit me until she grows tired and falls asleep." She sighed. /Let this be known, humans, why you do not make me angry, why you do not use Pokémon to cover your crimes...especially when they are children....and...yes, that was very easy for me to do physically, humans are such fragile things./

"Of course, an interesting piece of trivia before you do decide to hunt them down. The Shadow Triad are the reason you're here right now. Actually why I even know you as well." Kyn said, rather vaguely.

Serena lifted her head to look at him, a mix of pain, guilt and sadness layered the curiosity of what he was talking about beneath it. "They don't think I'm...'safe' any more Kyn...it's time to put me back in my ball, and show that you have some control over me." She laid her head back down; she hated going against her own wish for herself, but it seemed that she was coming into contact with that classic Salamence rage.....she didn't know if she was winning, or if she was losing.

"Hm... I guess. Alright. I'll... put you back then I guess." Kyn took Serena's Ball from his pocket and then pushed the button on it, after aiming it at her.

"Thank you...." There might actually have been a tear as the red light enveloped her, and almost immediately after she disappeared, the tension in the room almost visibly dissipated.

Of course, our boy N would choose this time to come running down the hall, the chain jingling on his pants. "Ah...sorry I'm a bit late it would seem."

Colress was of course visibly stunned. "...N? What... what are you doing here?"

N rubbed the back of his head. "Ah...I've been following on the coat tails of Kyn...figuratively speaking that is...coming back just in time to see Serena being put in a Poké Ball, I think I need some debriefing."

"Would you like the long version or the short version?" He simply stated.

"How about the bullet points? I should be able to get the gist of it from there." He leaned against the wall just a bit and crossed his arms.

"We found out, that this one guy, essentially caused her a lot of annoyance, by making it so that Master Balls are being mass produced, and secondly that he was connected with the Shadow Triad."

"Master Balls in mass production...the Shadow Triad? Hm..." He motioned to the black stain on the floor. "I'm guessing...that's all that's left of that 'one guy'?" He was no expert, but that did look like blood, and from the fact that the Oddish was crying 'she killed him' over and over, it pieced things together quite gruesomely in his mind.

"You would be correct. She returned to her Ball shortly afterward," Kyn answered this time.

"I can see why she might want to do that..." He frowned, then thought. "So where do we go from here? The Shadow Triad will likely have scattered, or at least reported to the Sages the fact that Ghetsis is dead."

"We contact Interpol, and let him know that some of the Sages are active again. Then after that, the remaining members of Team Plasma that aren't associated with Colress." Kyn stated.

N kind of sighed. "I suppose that would be the best thing to do...How did Serena seem when she asked to go back into her ball? Also...I'll take the Oddish, I've got...well, more experience with similar things to this than you do, I think..." He paused. "Do you think He's even still working there?"

"How did she seem...? Well, like an angry Salamence for one thing." He carefully handed Olivia to N. "Yes, I do believe he is."

N stroked the little one's leaves soothingly as he was handed the Oddish. "And you don't think that's a bit odd for someone named for 'Serenity'?" he seemed almost motherly caring for the plant, looking over the damage to the leaf, and hummed a soothing song under his breath.

"No, I do not. If you want to, Consider Serena in the equivalent of a human 'time-out'. Though I don't suppose you would have had those when you were younger but, you've had two years, to do whatever. You can more than likely... bring this issue up to her later."

"Excuse, correct me if I'm wrong but am I to believe that the Reshiram and Zekrom are currently inside this building?" Colress added, sounding slightly excited.

N regarded Colress with a bit of skepticism. "Well, I don't know about Reshiram, but Zekrom is outside, somewhere...something about recharging from storm clouds or something like that..." He said little in regard to Kyn.

"Fascinating... two of this region's greatest Dragons... I do believe joining Team Plasma has it benefits sometimes." He commented casually.

He raised an eyebrow, was he really about two steps from becoming on fan girl level? He stroked the Oddish until she fell asleep in his arms, and sighed. "I believe if Serena were out of her ball, she would be pushing us to leave already." He mused.

"We've found the information we were looking for, did we not? I believe it has been established that Colress does not intend to replace you, or Ghetsis. Lest he end up a stain somewhere." Kyn said. "N... this might sound rather odd but... would you want to go on the Ferris Wheel, if it works, on last time? That bloody nickname of it be damned, I still like being in high places so I can look down."

"We have." he nodded, then smiled. "Sure, why not, if it works, there's no folly in visiting it again..." he dismissed himself from the group of Team Plasma in the room, and started walking back towards the outside. "I probably wouldn't have been late, had Zekrom not dropped me off on the roof."

"Hm, Right. No elevator as a faster way to get up, and from the top, it's nearly impossible to find an elevator that goes straight to the floor you want, it's usually a maze of three or four elevators with places like these."

"Well, that and I wasn't sure exactly where you were either, I'm not as adept as Serena at finding people with the use of her mental prowess." When they were back outside, he sighed. "Tension everywhere...honestly, dealing with Pokémon is much easier than with humans."

"This is what I have been telling Serena for a long time now." Kyn said, with a nod. He looked over at the Ferris Wheel and planned on check to see if it looked like it had been maintained over the years.

"Growing up in a world without us...well, I can see how she might be hard to convince of that...she still behaves a bit like a wild...but I suppose that in her mind, she still is a wild, and nothing will ever change that. Perhaps a little like we humans perceive innocence."

"Even Marlow was never really able to fully... civilize her, as she said. I can understand the change being difficult to adapt to. Probably just as difficult as me going into their world and learning how simple my life is compared to most humans."

N raised an eyebrow at the name. "Marlow?" He chuckled. "I think in comparison to most humans, we live like cavemen; I can see how we would easily fit in on the other side better than we would here."

"Ah... you haven't met Marlow, or even seen him. Marlow is a rather interesting Duskull that I met on the other side. He had... a red color, and a Houndoom skull for a skull. I do have a picture of him, actually. He's not in that form anyone, and I haven't seen him since she was a Shelgon." He figured that N might be interested in what Serena looked like as a Bagon as well.

"He does sound interesting indeed...a red Duskull would be unique enough, yet he had another Pokémon's skull as well? Hm." He did move closer, expecting to see the picture. "I would say this for Serena...the fact that she is not...tame, is to her credit, not her shame...she still sees humans as a 'dangerous' species to herself, that they might try to take something away from her."

Kyn pulled out his Xtransciever, and then scrolled to the 'NICE' picture of him, Serena, Marlow and the rest of the group in it. "We had to take this picture three times."

"Three times? Why on earth would you need to take the same picture three times?" He looked at Kyn curiously.

"Photography.... doesn't exist in their world. The first time was because I wasn't in the picture, second time was because, of the the fact that it doesn't exist in their world, Serena decided to mess around, since she was used to hours of sitting still for a painting to be completed. She decided to lick me! Just before the countdown ended. The third time was because I felt it wasn't artistic enough, since I do have a painting of it, actually."

"I can see how it might be a temptation, to mess around if something is over with a blink of the eye one way, and yet could take a whole day or two another. Ah, to surprise you though, that must have been an interesting picture indeed." He walked towards the Ferris Wheel, better to look at it up close rather than from far away anyway. "Coming?"

"Gotta make sure it's working anyway. The cobwebs, if any, will be an indication of that, since they are so thin they can't be seen from a distance unless they are in a HUGE number, or it's been abandoned for more than five years, which it hasn't if at all."

"Well two years...and the fact that I enjoyed the Ferris wheel, I doubt that even Team Plasma would let it become decrepit, even with the city pretty much abandoned."

"That is a rather good point. I suppose one of my Pokémon will have to stay behind to operate the Ferris Wheel, unless some other members are there to do it."

"There are Team Plasma agents all over this city, I'm sure that it shall not be necessary to trouble your friends to do it for us." He answered, looking up at the Ferris Wheel now that they were closer. "Unless you'd like a reason to let Serena and the others out of their balls, that is."

"I think Serena... might be ready to come out, and there's also something involving the Shadow Triad that she may bring up."

"If she inquires, then I will answer, I suppose." he answered. "Although she might have only wanted to remain inside her ball to show them that she weren't entirely out of control...I imagine that that scene would have a lot of people shaken up....of course, you never did claim to be a dragon tamer."

"This outfit... sort of implies it N. Normal Pokémon Trainers don't wear capes or have things like this." Kyn pushed the button on his belt that was Serena's Luxury Ball.

"So you have similar tastes to one, so what? Since when are tastes supposed to account for what you are...?" He sighed. "I suppose I should find a ball for this little one too."

Serena wasn't surprised to see the hand, nor to feel the ground beneath her claws as she was released from her ball, her eyes were closed, however, and she was laying down, she didn't seem to be interested in talking, at least, that's what her posture portrayed.

"It's... rather difficult to adjust to this type of thing, Serena and N... the... idea of actually putting you in a Poké Ball." He said, softly, but not too soft that N couldn't hear it.

Serena wordlessly nosed him, emitting comforting feelings and gratitude, as well as acceptance. It was a little more than a moment before she licked his cheek.

N was quiet for a bit, then he broke the silence with: "Wow Serena, it's hard to imagine you as a small little Bagon, now that you're all grown up."

"She was... grown up when I met her, N. It's a bit difficult to explain." He said, hoping that Serena would understand.

She had almost immediately pulled her head away from Kyn at the mention of her Bagon state, her head tilting back and forth, her earfins spread out and full of membrane. "I...Am not sure how you would have seen my Bagon stage...but as Kyn said...I had not been a child for a long time before he met me...you could say that the world chose to cut my childhood short. Growing up without a Sire and a Dame, you don't get to be a kid..." She tried to explain without giving too much of her past away, there were aspects that formed her to be who she was that she was least proud of.

"I...see...Your world is not kind to hatchlings? Or was it just you?" He inquired, unaware of the uncomfortable possibilities of this conversation.

"I believe a more appropriate way of looking at it it is... what you would call natural selection.... is in full effect there." Kyn said, thinking of how Pokémon were hunted in various ways based on their sentience.

"Well...yes, I suppose what Kyn said...It's survival of the fittest...if you're not smart enough to live, then you don't...if you refuse to fight back, then you die, or you run away from everything that crosses your path...Killing something was never...really considered a bad thing there." One might be able to tell that she was no longer referring to just her childhood, but also what she had done just a while ago. "However, I will say that for most hatchlings...their lives are easier than mine...I grew up in the woods outside of the nearest village, and was...essentially a hermit, I didn't want to interact with anyone...even Marlow had to find me, to be able to form a bond with me."

"They'll get over your killing of one person, but never the fact that you were able to do it so easily...I believe you just shattered their egos about being the top-tier predators on this planet...as word spreads, you may find that they will begin carrying weapons on hand other than their Pokémon." N tried.

"No N, I don't think it'll go that way. It's more likely laws regarding... handling of Pokémon will be changed. Besides, this is Team Plasma we're talking about, people won't likely take them seriously anymore after they find out how easily their top members were taken down." Kyn folded his arms, and thought about what life would be like with more weapons in the world. <Definitely not going to tell N that I've eaten Pokémon before... that would be... rather awkward in this situation.>

<What? You had to eat while you were with me, I'm sure his mind already came to the conclusion, but you're right, saying it aloud and thinking it would be two different things.> She sighed to the verbal conversation. "I'm not sure that I approve of things being phrased that way...You know this Ferris Wheel reminds me of something that a Pokémon might run on for entertainment...in fact if it was scaled down then I probably could." She looked up at the wheel. "The inside, at least."

"True, they'll probably not want it to get out, outside of the organization, but it would only take someone overhearing it for their reputation to be ruined...again."

"So. N. Throwing this out there. Right on the spot. If you could have a Pokémon mate with you, consensually of course, what would it be?" Kyn said, immediately changing the subject.

Serena looked at Kyn curiously, not sure what to make of the subject change.

"What Pokémon would I choose, or would I do it in the first place?" He countered back. "If there was a Pokémon in need in that way, I suppose that I wouldn't deny them that relief one way or another...however I don't have a preference on what species of Pokémon that it would be...Although your mate-ship with Tensa is interesting, I'm not sure that I would ever take a Pokémon for a mate."

"Hm, well, I'm not quite sure our relationship will ever be accepted by humans. At least not out in the open. I'm certain there might be some rather odd clubs that have that type of thing but...." <It's like.... Royce's Casino's other side... but with Human on Pokémon interaction type thing.>

<Can we not mention Roy's other situations, please? He's still a creep, and I still don't get along with him well.> She laid her head down. "I'll wait here, you were going to ride the Ferris Wheel, weren't you? I have no desire to join you there."

"It probably won't, not by most, but then, what happens behind closed doors is only the business of those who are in the room." N shrugged. "Personally, relationships that can get to that potential intimacy...are rather unique and should be cherished."

<You know I have to visit him now too, don't you? Though you don't have to come for that.> "Hm, well. Let's head to that there human equivalent of an inside out exercise wheel." Kyn said with a chuckle.

Serena sighed, both inwardly at the statement, and the fact that she would be alone again soon. <Leave my ball here? I'd...like to practice, with any luck, it won't be a confinement chamber in the most literal sense of the word.> She nudged at him softly, watching N climb into the properly aligned lowest carriage.

<No no, I meant as in, you could go back to your old cave or something if you still want to. I mean, it's not like you have a set home, really.> Kyn climbed into the carriage, feeling it wiggle and shift, but of course, that was the natural process for some of them.

<I would be a Shelgon, and I would be bound up at my old home, that wouldn't work Kyn...and I was serious about leaving my ball here while you take your ride...As in, at this current point in time, not a bit in the future.> She watched him climb in and flicked her tail tip.

<Well here, take it. Just don't accidentally swallow it.> He rolled the ball on the ground, hoping that it wouldn't by some odd chance, roll onto the button, though even if it did, Serena was still apparently fine with it.

Serena stopped the ball from rolling. <I'll try not to put it in my mouth, if you think that I'll accidentally swallow anything that goes into it...hmmm...there's an idea for another time.> She chuckled at him mentally, and once the door to their carriage was closed, she began to practice as the ride began to move.