Story: Meanwhile... Matter over Mind

Only few hours after dawn, Gaius’ cabinet was full of ‘mons again. Gaius sat at his desk, but he was the only one in the room who rested in the same place that they had the previous night: the Queen and Caldene shared a couch - well, the priest technically floated above it - and acted as a barrier between Bál and Osmund, who continued to stare each other down from across the room; a red and puffy-eyed Matteo had given up his chair to Nimue and was standing by Gaius; and Nimue herself wore a hard, disinterested scowl as she eyed the room and its occupants.
How they had managed to get so many ‘mons into the small room was nothing less than a miracle, but the room was still lacking one body: Mindaugas had yet to arrive. The patience of every ‘mon in the room was being tested, but eventually, Tara’s gave out.
: You did remember to invite Mindaugasss, right Matteo?
: I did, your highness. I began drafting a letter to him the moment I left the cabinet last night.
: (snorts) A levereter like him being unreliable? Nothing new there.
: We accomplisssh nothing by waiting for him, ssso I am commencing thisss meeting now. We can give him any detailsss he missssesss if he ssshowsss up.
: Thank you, all, for arriving ssso early. You’ve all been sssummoned here to help aid my hussband - your king. You might have heard by now, but he hasssn’t been himssself for nearly a month now. We don’t know what causssed hisss current ssstate, he jussst ssstarted ssscreaming one day, asss if he hasss been traumatized by sssomething.
: He’sss very… hard to reach right now, to keep him grounded in the presssent and not with whatever horrorsss plague hisss mind. Thusss, you have all been called here to offer your exxpertisse and insssights.
: (eyes narrowing) Then allow me to begin-
: - what compelled you hoddypeaks to summon a magician, a priest, and an alchemist to solve his ailment? If his is truly a battle of the mind, then you need an expert in that field, not us.
: As I said las’ night.
: The king’s ailment is well-known to the kingdom, as is Bál’s apparent necessity in fixing it, so share with us that which we do not know but must. If you believe there is something we can do to help, state it clear and swift, do not waste our time.
: My part here is purely from the ravin’s of the king’s. ‘Pparently he saw me die in one of his vis’ons, so th’ queen asked me to be here, t’inkin t’at my presense might calm him down.
: The most unrealistic thought a ‘mon could have, but alas, you live.
: Once I heard allo’ th’ details ‘bout te king’s ailment, I sent word to an associate of mine, an expert of th’ mind, but th’ Queen wanted t’ explore options t’at were closer t’ home whilst we wait on ‘em.
: (her gaze shifts to Osmund) That hardly explains your presence. I feel there is more to this than what the scruffy one says, so I will have you speak.
: Will you, now?
: Nimue’s request is wise, Sir. Would you have us tamper with something as delicate as the mind of another without all information? Nay, we must know with what we work, and what we should expect, if we are to offer our thoughts and services.
: (lips curling back) But we will get nowhere until Bál stops keeping information hidden.
: Tsk, tsk, always so untrustin’. Despite w’at th’ forest fonkin says, I’ve told you everyt’in I know of use.
: (chuckles) “Of use,” he says. What’s not shared can be equally as important.
: W’at’s not shared can be thrice as dangerous, or do you wan’ t’ get int’ why you’re not allowed south of th’ Derteux River anymore?
: What isss the meaning of thisss, Bál?! You were brought here to help Alaric, if you have information, you must ssshare it! We can decide itsss usssefulnessss after we’ve heard it.
: Not e’eryt’in’ I know is fit for all ears - th’ activities of Osmund’s twenty-third birthday, for example-
: -EY!
: What I keep t’ m’self is kept for good reason, someone in your position of power should unders’and t’at, your highness.
: If whatever you’re keeping isss about Alaric’sss visssions, then it concernsss more than jussst you, Bál. As the Queen of Aether, I demand that you ssshare.
: (growls) But t’is don’t jus’ concern you, it concerns all of Avalon. An’ most impor’antly, I can’t confirm anyt’in’ at t’is point - w’at’s the point of sharin’ information that may pertain t’ not’in?
: It’d be far wiser to use th’ information t’at we have to help Alaric, an’ t’en learn w’at he saw - t’at will be the best guidance int’ w’at’s impor’ant an’ w’at ain’t.
, , , & : …
: But that-
: I see.
The queen looks at the fox, but her eyes are closed and her mind is elsewhere. Nimue hums and then gazes at Bál.
: If that’s the case, I suppose it’s for the best to see to the king’s condition.
: You agree now?!
: I do.
: As do I. Nothing makes a conversation go swiftly and pleasantly quite like Bál not speaking. We should take this gift to heart and continue forward. Namely, (he looks to Matteo for a second, then to Tara) I want to discuss why I was called here: tell me, your highness, what do you personally know about Oakdale’s guardian spirit, Celebi?
Nimue’s eyes widen, while Caldene has the opposite reaction and squints. Tara looks at Bál for a moment, and the Typhlosion nods. The Arbok huffs, and then looks back at everyone.
: I’ve ssspent a great deal of time thisss passst month with my husssband, trying to keep him calm and grounded in the presssent asss much asss I can. It’sss a difficult tasssk, hisss mind wandersss more than it ssstays put, but that hasss had sssome benefitsss: Alaric has ssshared a few of the visssions he sssaw with me. One of them involved a green faery that, um, had a head ssshaped like a vegetable, according to Alaric. At firsst, I wasssn’t sssure what to think, but I remembered legendsss from Oakdale my father told me in my youth...
There is a moment of silence as everyone takes in the queen’s words. There are many shared looks between ‘mons in the room, but Gaius and Tara are left out of the majority of them.
: Would we all agree, then, that the king’s ailment lies in visions of the future?
: (she hums thoughtfully) If they include Bál’s death, it would suggest that they are either from the future-
: A glorious future, at that.
Bál scoffs but holds his peace.
: If Celebi was so concerned to take such drastic measures, it could indeed be that she bestowed visions from the future upon him. Or, perhaps…
Osmund trails off, and there is a tense silence - a knowing silence for 5/7 of the room.
: Or perhaps Celebi sen’ him back in time… or a parto’ him.
: W-what?
: For Celebi to spend that much energy… the future must have been…
: I have th’ same fear.
: I… I see. I suppose that… certainly would explain some of the things the king has said.
: Exxplain certain thingsss - how can you be ssso ssure about thisss, Gaiusss? Sssend back when, or from when? Oh by the blessssed, how many yearsss - how many horrible memoriesss - did they put into hisss head?
: I don’t believe that’s the case, your highness. From how I understand it, it’s not that Alaric was given memories by Celebi - though legends say she’s fully capable of doing so - but that Alaric’s mind from the future was sent back to his body from the past.
: Ssso… isss he ssstill… Alaric?
: He’s Alaric, just with potentially years worth of extra memories in his head, and, from the sound of it, trauma as well.
: Why would that poplolly faery sssend him back if it would break hisss mind in the processss?
: That “poplolly faery,” who is a guardian spirit, by the way, likely sent him back so he could help prevent whatever happens in the future. If she chose to approach him specifically, he must play a key role in it.
: Correct me if I am wrong, Sir Osmund, but sending someone through time wouldn’t usually cause their mind much turmoil. What the king is currently experiencing is unique, no?
: That’s correct.
: I thought so. If this is the case, then I suspect that what Celebi shared with Alaric was more than just his own memories from the future - she could have bestowed upon him the memories of others as well. 
: I’m hopin’ as much.
: How can you sssay that, you’ve ssseen the ssstate he’sss in!
: I have, but I feel much better knowin’ t’at be’ind all of th’ twitchy madness are memories t’at could prevent a terrible future.
: Would… having him be sent back not automatically alter the future?
: One would think, but it is not always the case. Some unfortunate things are almost set in stone; fate rarely changes its course simply because you know about it.
: Fate, or rather, whatever threat or enemy we face. They won’t just stop because we know what their actions will bring. It is paramount they don’t learn of our knowledge - it gives us the upper hand.
: You speak as if we possess knowledge. We’ve learned nothing from the king yet, and neither have any of you considered that our interference might make things worse than before.
: Some things are unpreventable, this is an unfortunate truth of our world. In many cases, finding ways to solve problems, or minimize the consequences of actions, is far better than preventing the catalyst that set them off.
: (chuckles) I suppose one can also meet t’eir fate by tryin’ t’ pre’ent it.
: I’d ask you to share what you find so amusing, but I do feel as thought we’d be better learning what we can from Alaric.
: Can any of you help my husband?
 & : No.
: B-but-
: My apologies, your highness, but this is not an area where I specialize. Time is of the essence to learn what visions Alaric holds, but I will not risk a mistake from my lack of knowledge on the subject.
: Waiting for Bál’s contact is our best option. I do not wish to bear Avalon’s ruin, but magic is far too fickle to utilize in this situation. I dare not risk losing the visions.
: The visssionsss? What about Alaric?!
: Alaric gains not’in’ from haste. If we lose his vis’ons an’ Avalon falls to ruin, he’ll be to blame. Besides, I t’ink he fancies himself too much of a good king t’ let t’at happen.
: (glowering at Bál) Maybe my husssband wasss right about you all along.
: Maybe. Maybe you’re emotionally drained from a month of ssseing your husssband in his current ssstate - t’ink we all know w’ich is true, your highness.
: You need t’ step back an’ consider w’ats best for e’eryone in Avalon.
: You may sssay I don’t, nay, I can’t underssstand the thingsss you know, but you don’t underssstand thisss - Alaric’sss ssstate, hisss sssuffering!
: You’re right, I don’t, I haven’t been at his side all month. But here’s th’ t’ing: I don’t need to unders’and it, I only need t’ do w’at’s right, an’ t’at’s w’at I plan t’ do - an’ I t’ink you’ll find t’at e’eryone else would agree wit’ me.
Tara fumes, and looks to Matteo. The Pikachu meets her gaze with wide eyes, and pity flashes across his face before he looks away. Tara’s gaze shifts to Osmund. The Chesnaught’s face is stoic, but he sighs and crosses his arms.
: I’m sorry, your highness, but this is no longer about Alaric.
: I beg to differ.
All heads turn as the door to the cabinet opens.
: Alaric...?
: Bál, I would very much like to finish our conversation from yesterday - if I can convince you to stop talking about it without my presence, that is.
: You most certain can, Alaric. An’, my, aren’t you lookin’ better t’an you were yest’rday - not a knot in sig’t.
: S-sire, are you sure that’s wise?
: Gaiusss isss right, my love, you are unwell-
: I, for one, would like to know what the king has to say.
: Truly, is that not what we all gathered here for? We must wait for Bál’s associate anyway, we lose nothing from passing some of that time by hearing what the king wishes to share with us.
: A- a difference, we have to change- … but who could fight…
: (coiling herself around Alaric) He ssshouldn’t be here, he can’t handle ssspeaking about what he sssaw yet!
: And yet he must. We cannot sit idly until that scruffy okselle’s associate arrives.
: (snaps his fingers) Alaric, look at me. I’m here, an’ alive, t’at’s good, aye?
: Y-yes…
: I need you t’ tell me w’at you saw, w’at you wanted to tell me last nigh’.
: I- what I want. My thoughts, my other thoughts, my own memories and not… there’s so much, it’s…
: W’at do you rememb’r?
: You ssshouldn’t be forcccing thisss! He-
: I saw you die… no, not me, I didn’t see your death, but I… I saw it. I saw through borrowed eyes, just as I borrowed the nose to pick up the smell of burned flesh, charred bone, of heat and smoke smouldering-
: Stay wit’ me, Alaric: focus! W’at killed me, did you see t’at?
: No- I… it happened too fast, only for a second. But the fire, it consumed all, scorched and charred the earth, living, and dead alike.
: W’at cause th’... who caused the fire? Did you see?
: Aaah…!
: You have to ssstop thisss, you’re not helping-
: A- a bird, large and imposing, burning with fire and bleeding a purple fog… it destroyed everything in its flames, but left my heart cold… the fire took all: life, warmth, nothing left but- but death.
Bál lets out a shaky breath, blue slowly seeping into his flames, and marches over to exit the room. From outside, the sound of cloth ripping can be heard before it is replaced by the Typhlosion's heavy footfalls. Bál comes back in carrying a red and gold cloth over one shoulder, and slams the door shut behind him. He spends a second arranging it so he can display it properly, revealing it to be the Aetherian flag. The scruffy weasel holds the flag out to Alaric, and the snake recoils.
: Was t’is th’ bird you saw?
: Y-yes…
The room erupts into chaos after Alaric speaks. The king himself curled into himself as if to hide away from the world, and Tara tightens her hold on him, whispering to him soothingly. Gaius rushes to Bál and slices at the flag with his arms, destroying the image of the bird. Bál drops the flag onto the bug, causing Gaius to panic. Matteo whipped around to look at Bál, sparks of electricity on his cheeks as he mouthed something to the weasel. Caldene closed his eyes, defeat radiating from him, and Nimue sat wide-eyed and still. Osmund took a deep breath, and then turned to Bál.
: You knew.
: Of course he did, that much is obvious.
: ‘Didn’t know, but I had my sus’icions... my mentor had ‘em too.
: I thought Ho-oh was involved after what… (he takes a deep breath) I’m sure many of us shared your suspicions, but this was not something to keep to yourself.
: I was going t’ discuss t’is wit’ you lat’r, e’en include th’ forest hermit in th’ discussion, but I ne’er got th’ time or privacy t’ do so… (gives Osmund a pointed look) you ruined t’at yesterday. Besides, like I said, not’in was confirmed - both my mentor an’ I were hopin’ t’at t’is wouldn’t be the case.
Tara uncoils herself from Alaric and slithers closer to Bál, hissing as she approaches. Her fangs are bared, as if ready to strike, but Bál remains unphased.
: How dare you! Y- everything you’ve done today-
: Was goin’ t’ happen one way or anot’er, by myself or some ot’er ‘mon. (sighs) ‘Least my sus’icions were confirmed.
Gaius finally frees himself from the sliced remains of the flag and scuttles over to Alaric, side-stepping the queen.
: This wasn’t necessssary! He told me of the bird before, I could have-
: But you didn’t, (he squints at her) and t’at was eit’er incredibly stupid or sus’icious of you - why keep such an important detail from us? W’at did you have to gain?
: Buh- me? I-
Bál turns away before she can answer, addressing Matteo and Osmund.
: Now we know of at least one t’in’ t’at Alaric was sent back t’ pre’ent.
: “At least one,” you believe there are more?
: If Celebi’s as invol’ed as t’ey appear t’ be, t’an I sus’ect t’is is a part of t’eir grand scheme of t’ings. T’ find out more t’ough, we’d need to press Alaric ‘gain.
: You are not doing that ever again! If you try, I’ll be forccced to “presssss” my fangs into your windpipe.
: You could cer’ainly attempt - an’ fail to, your highness, but you’ll fin’ in th’ end t’at it was jus’ anot’er waste of our time.
: N-now, I think we all need to calm down! L-let’s just sit down and talk about this, please!
Tara looks ready to attack Bál, and the weasel stares her down. Before either could say or do anything, the door to the cabinet swung open...
: NYET! NO! Enough blattering! I’m here!
Category:Meanwhiles
Category:Arc 2
Category:Aether