Story: Meanwhile... I'll be Dammed

Back in Gaius’ cabinet, Alaric’s still reeling. His head throbs with an occasional dull pain, and the loud noises in the room do nothing to help that. He twists himself around, searching for Ene, finding the young child centimeters from Mindaugas, blinking their lights at the alchemist faster than the blob can read.
: Love? Are you alright?
: You seemed quite restless-
: Which is to say that you were screaming like a Misdreavus at several points during this little mind dive.
: I’m fine… though my head feels as though it could burst at any second.
: (pushing Ene towards Matteo) That’s perfectly normal - to be expected, even - Ene probably had to squeeze extra hard to get any viable information out of your brain.
: So? W’at’d ya learn?
: Give him a moment to breath!
: I agree - in fact, if it’s his head that ails him so, perhaps it would be best if he laid down and rested for a-
: No. Memories and visions are fickle, as is the mind. It is best to discuss what he saw before his thoughts fade.
 & : Agreed. (the two share an annoyed glance)
: Nimue is right: despite the pain, my mind is much clearer now.
: So what happened?
: We started with Ho-Oh’s appearance…
: Good start! You’re breathing after thinking about them!
: Ah, well, that’s probably because Ene sealed the visions away, so I can’t clearly picture it anymore-
: He did what?! (turns on Mindaugas) You boil-brained fonkin-!
: I’ll gently remind you to hold your tongue, and firmly remind you to remember who you’re talking to, whelp. The visions aren’t lost-
: I imagine that, because of their age and condition, Ene couldn’t do much more than create a mental barrier for Alaric.
: (nods) Yes, I think that’s what happened. Once I was able to focus, they helped me view my visions one by one, so I know they’re all still there.
: So… what did you see?
: Well, I… I started with Bál’s death-
: Shrine on th’ moun’ains?
: Y- how did you know?
: T’at’s Ho-Oh’s shrine - been deserted since Ho-Oh “lef’” Avalon. I was already plannin’ on checkin’ it out before your son dropped int’ th’ wa’er an’ I had t’ pull him out.
: What? Nicholas, is he alright?
: He’s fine, sire, he’s with Gawain and Cecil right now, and they’re in safe talons at Jarl Læghelmine’s homestead. The three of them shall return once Gawain deems Nicholas fit for travel.
: I see-
: Home? (they look at Matteo, who is watching Ene flash lights at him) Did Ene show you their home, your highness? A… a library? I can’t fully follow them right now, but that is what they appear to be saying.
:
: Oh? Please do continue, I’m eager to hear what else you saw.
: Well, um, continuing from before… I recognized the shrine from a different memory, but Ene pulled us into another vision. It was… strange. A ritual of some kind, for Ho-Oh, I think. I saw the Three Legendary Beasts, but they were exactly like Ho-Oh, all…
: Shadowy - dark and purple.
: (nods) There was also this Medicham and… burning bodies in the center of the ritual…
The room is silent, but Bál, Nimue, and Caldene share weary looks.
: A forbidden ritual.
: One very few are capable of.
: Such information is not easily come by… Please, continue, lord Alaric.
: Ene was very focused on the symbol that the ritual used… and then they showed me one of their own memories, how their “rescuers” found and took them from their home.
: (rolls his eyes) Before you start, be aware that their home is neither habitable nor safe-
: I’ll be sssure to have you and your child sssmuggling cohortss locked up for thisss!
: Oh, how delightful - the royals finally decide to pay attention to the little ‘mon.
: Wh-
: Took you all long enough - small wonder that ‘mons like Francišek were able to set up entire smuggling and slavery rings under your noble watch. I suppose that’s just how it is - can’t get a noble to do anything unless it makes them look good, or you happen to be on their “most hated” list.
: You-
: Continuing my story, Mindaugas is telling the truth. Ene’s home is hardly somewhere I’d want to leave a child: the whole place is filled with sand and completely abandoned… not to mention the shady ‘mons I saw in my vision - and, no, I don’t mean their escorts to Aether.
: Ene used what they saw in my memories and Celebi’s visions to find their home, and it’s a good thing they did, because we never would have found it otherwise: the entire place is buried beneath sand. It was a large library, bigger than any I’ve ever seen or heard of, and many Pokémon like Ene were tending to it.
: On one of the back walls of the library, the emblems of the three crests from the trials of Khetmaat, Artiphron, and Voluntas are engraved into the wall… I think Celebi wants us to go there.
: Where’s “there”? There are plenty of places with enough sand to bury a building, and I don’t fancy digging them all up.
: Lucky for you, then, that I truly am amazing. I wasn’t lying before when I said that my little expedition could solve your other problems too~
: Don’t waste time, Mindaugas, we’ve had enough o’ t’at already. Where’s t’is place?
: It’s in Khetmaat, as you could have realized earlier if you devoted even a half-second’s worth of thought to it, and it is, in fact, the Library of Thales.
: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!
Everyone jumps and looks at Matteo with surprise, but the Pikachu doesn’t seem to notice.
: THE LIBRARY OF THALES?! That’s-, oh my sweet Muse- THE archive of the Hypatians?! ALL OF THE- WITH THE- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
: I HAVE TO GO THERE!!
: I had already planned on inviting you for your linguistic skills, after the king’s little task force cleaned up the rebel problem, but if you’re wondering why I didn’t tell you in the first place… this is why.
: I thought the library was a myth.
: It was lost long ago, and its keepers took its knowledge to their graves. To have a keeper here, and alive at that - it truly seems impossible.
: It’s curious, though, that the child is both alive and so young of mind.
: If I may be th’ much needed voice of reason, I’ll take t’is time t’ remind you all t’at uneart’in th’ library could be dangerous. Could be t’at Mindaugas’ attempt t’ do so is w’at leads “whoever” t’ findin’ th’ means t’ perform th’ ritual.
: A fair point, there was a reason why the keepers all chose to go down with their knowledge - much of it was not meant for all.
: And let me a blunter voice of reason: if the smugglers who found Ene could find the place, then I sincerely doubt that nobody else could either. I say we find it before someone else does.
: I don’t disagree, but we need t’ consider w’at trouble we’ll cause if we go. If Celebi showed Alaric t’ese visions, t’en pre’aps w’at we need to stop t’is fate can be found in its depths. T’is, ‘owever, requires diligence and subtlety, ‘pescially considerin’ Khetmaat’s current political climate. We can’t ‘ave the rebels or the Pharaon’s forces get t’eir ‘ands on t’at information.
: You don’t distrust Sa-Perah, do you?
: I distrus’ th’ traitors an’ spies t’at are undoubtedly ‘idden among her court.
: A fair point, but going behind her back seems unwise…
: I shall ask her personally for her permission. She’ll understand us going alone.
: And that is even more unwise.
: Wait, you are not- we need t’ keep t’is subtle, I’ll create a small task o’ elite guild members-
: Celebi showed me these visions, I need to go.
: Th’ fact t’at you have t’ese visions is why you can’t go! Khetmaat is a war zone right now: we can’t risk you goin’ in and gettin’ killed, t’at’ll lose your visions forever!
: Alaric, I’m afraid I agree with him, you-
: My decision is final.
: Splendid, splendid, assuming this means we can leave faster.
:
: What are they saying?
: Ene wants Alaric to come along as well. They’re grateful that Alaric helped them recount their home, and wishes to share it with him, not just a vision but in real life.
: Thank you, Ene, I’ll happily accept that offer.
:
: Anyone else wanna speak on th’ matter? Preferably not th’ child, or th’ one who wants to stay in th’ good favors o’ th’ one fundin’ his expedition?
: It is not impossible that the reason Celebi showed Alaric these visions specifically was because that Alaric, indeed, needs to be there. His role in the Prophecy of the King of Serpentine, though it is too early to make such a definitive conclusion.
: Oh no, not the prophecy thing again…
: Indeed, I would agree with you, High Priest, but I still do not believe this means that it would be safe nor wise of Alaric to go. I think it best to send a force to clear the way, as the alchemist suggested, and then Alaric can join him with his secondary party once the area has been secured.
: T’at at leas’ is sensible, but-
: I disagree - what if the area cannot be secured, what if it turns out that I am a necessary element. We would lose our chance at the library and draw attention to it, leaving it to the rebels.
: My my, now this is a surprise: a valid argument, though I’m afraid you’ve upset young Ene with it.
:
: Naturally, I shall be going as well. I’m the most efficient at translating for Ene, as well as my-
: No one’s ques’ionin' your rig’t t’ go - you’d fig’t tooth an’ nail if t’ey did. T’at said, I myself cannot accompany you, so I’d be… grateful if Osmund accompanied you.
: Oh? You want me to go?
: Glad t’ see t’at you were playin’ attention, but, aye, I would rest easier if you did.
: And you’ll be off to where while this expedition is on-going?
: Jus’... checkin’ in one somethin’.
: I see. (sighs) I’ll go. In return, though, I expect to speak with you later.
: Me and Matteo then. (grins) May I ask to take command over some of the Aetherian warriors in your captain’s absence?
: I shall be joining you two, as well as some of our non-warrior citizens if they so wish, but yes, you may retain charge of the warriors.
: You’re still coming?
: The poin’ o’ a covert mission is t’at it’s covert - subtle - an’ not an “all o’ Aether an’ t’eir king comes marchin’ in” situation! You have just had a bunch o’ mental barriers placed in your mind, t’ose are known t’ break. You need t’-
: I was the one given visions! No matter what you say, it’s clear to me that I must go! I’ve already failed Avalon and Aether once in a different future, so, no matter what argument you offer, it won’t change my mind - I can’t risk that again!
: You ARE risking it again! Askin’ for complications an’ danger won’t help!
: If I may interrupt, I’d like to point out that time is not something that we have an abundance of. I don’t care for arguments based on emotion, but the fact remains that the king is stubborn: you won’t change his mind, and you only lose time by not progressing. Cut your losses, Bál. It’s better to get things done and be able to clean up his messes than nothing happen at all.
: This is mad.
: Not as mad as what you’ve all been up to!
The Meganium stomps into the already crowded cabinet, looking incredibly vexed.
: Do none of you possess functioning brains? Diving into the mind of a ‘mon, with a child as your medium, no less?! I can very surely say that I am disappointed in all of you, but absolutely not surprised.
: Guinevere! I want to thank you for your care-
: And I’d like to thank you to not interrupt me, I’m not done with you… though I believe it’s more imperative that I inform you- (she glares at Osmund and Bál) that whilst you were doing foolhardy things like this, the guard responsible for Amabilis’ death escaped.
: What?
: Amabilis?
: (rolls his eyes and chuckles) Yet more proof that you nobles truly do not spare even a care for the weakest of your peoples.
: The orphan child that was murdered! How do you not know this by now?! I know Matteo delivered a report to you!
: I-
: And as for the rest of you: how did you not notice that someone smashed the garrison prisons clear apart?! Or were you aware but didn’t spare a thought to it?
: How did you find out, Lady Guinevere?
: Unlike the rest of you, I’ve been doing my job the past few days! I was at the orphanage tending to the last of the sick children when Tucker returned from the barracks with the news.
: I bet it was that fox - we’ll find that ‘mon's bloated corpse floating down a river in a few days, no doubt.
: Sir Osmund, please, there is a child present!
: Or, perhaps, we’ll find the ‘mon walking along on a casual stroll one fine evening because he was perfectly capable of walking out of his cell after you smashed up the prison, you absolute pribbling brigand!
: Why are we pretending like this still matters - the ‘mon is gone, can we please hurry up with preparing with this expedition!!
: ... Good to be back, I suppose…
Category:Meanwhiles
Category:Arc 2
Category:Aether