"I would agree," Mhynt replied. "Unfortunately, when faced with forever and no sense of escape, some prefer to stop thinking about it. And to stop thinking about it, they shed what made themselves whole, and become part of the problem. It's... a complicated issue. I can't blame them for wanting to escape their unhappy forever."
A flicker of confusion then curiosity flashed across Bellatrix's features. "You sound like you speak from experience," she observed. "Much as I'd like to believe that everything must come to an end eventually and such concepts should only make their home in the hypothetical, how strong a will must one have to possess withstand that erosion?" she humoured.
"Bellatrix..." Eco muttered. "Sounds... dignified, in a respectable way, of sorts."
But before she could hear a response, Bellatrix's attention once again turned to Eco. A wave of satisfaction washed through the zorua - if one looked closely, they could see her puff out her chest. "It is a name I hold with great pride," she said with confidence. "Anyone with a modicum of self-respect would do the same."
Without another word, she went to serve herself some more tea. Though she was certain that none of this was
real, the tea itself was quite nice, its effects so calming. But before she could make it too far...
The Pillar shifted at once to stark white, and a rolling fog expanded from its base, rippling across the earth. In its wake, great snowdrifts blossomed up as though being pushed clean through the ground. Frost glittered on the carved stone that had been the plaza, the water spray from the fountain crystallizing. Again, the idea of winter, but lacking the physicality of it. Mist formed from breath despite the apparent temperature remaining balmy.
Alioth poured out some coffee for the guests, closing his eyes contentedly when the first snowflakes settled on his nose. "Ahh, now this is rather more familiar to me."
The environment shifted again. Bellatrix had always enjoyed winter's visage, pale snow and soaring mountains reminding her of a time lost to memory's reach. It compounded the effects of the tea, causing her to doze off a bit, though she tried to be at the very least passively aware of what was going on so she could react to anything of interest. Or prevent herself from being made the butt of any joke.
Gabriel blinked. "So you're... originally human and then turned into a morph?" That was a strange concept. But then again, he was a Pokémorph who'd just turned into a Slugma.
She hadn't made any comment on it before, but when the topic came up, Bellatrix's mind couldn't help but wander a bit. The idea of not being human or pokémon but some unnatural inbetween? She shuddered at the thought, but then again... Was it all that different to where she'd found herself now?
Truth: Do you have any experience with the multiverse?
Grateful for a topic change, Lillia turned her head to bark an answer. "Nope, this is my first time! If that's what this is, anyway. But I know a few friends who've been through something like this before!' She squinted at the newcomer, a memory surfacing. "In fact... rumor has it they fought against an evil golden hoopa! You're not secretly body painting yourself, are you??"
Multiverse, multiverse... Was that what this was? It
would make sense if this was anything more than a feverdream. "I've heard the theory," she answered. "It's a commonly posited one, even by the most simple of laymen, but I never put any stake in it." Her ears perked as soon as she heard the growlithe speak, however. "Now that just sounds like nonsense," Bellatrix huffed. "A story you'd tell a child before you'd put them to bed. Where on earth did you hear something so ridiculous?" she demanded.
She was growing increasingly convinced that this
was just a dream after all.
Her ears perked up as the Espeon spoke once more. "Oh, uh, it's Roya," she said as her tail curled. "Nice to meet ya too. But what did I tell you about no funny business?!" The Luxray's eyes narrowed as she lowered her head in an attempt to intimidate. She paid no mind to the heart-shape her tail had made.
Roya let out a scoff. "Whatever. You part of this whole dream thing too, or do you just get sick kicks off watchin' people dance for you?"
"You seem to be more than happy to do the honours of embarrass yourself without much prompting," she replied dryly to the luxray, Roya as she was called. "If you don't want to 'dance', as you say, then perhaps you shouldn't have donned the jester's cap."
"I'm feeling rather smoochy right now," he hummed. "Any volunteers? Any gender goes."
And just in time to demonstrate, Bellatrix turned her snout upwards and shut her eyes. "None of that for me," she said before she quickly spared a glimpse at Roya to gauge her reaction.
Bowing down, she spoke with sincerity. "I apologize for any disturbance I may have caused. Rest assured, I'll be taking my leave as I fear for what I may do if I stay here any longer."
She got up from her position and allowed the feeling of familiarity to cover her soul as her body faded away, dissipating like dust in the wind.
But before she could see anything, Bellatrix's attention snapped to the departing figure. They could just
leave? Just like that? It couldn't be that simple, could it? No, no, it was some kind of test. It had to be, otherwise she would've left the moment she realised she was playing Truth or Dare. There had to be
some indication that she was free to leave, and so far, she saw none. She looked at the crystal pillar. Perhaps if she just answered and gave a few more prompts...
Truth: What is something you refuse to be wrong about, even if you are wrong?
Immediately, Bellatrix frowned. "I'm
never wrong," she said. "But if I must give a proper answer, it is my pride, my heritage. Even if I can't remember, I know deep down that I come from a place of greatness. My spirit is proof of that."
Dare: Summon your aura around you, or try to, and try and change its shape or colour.
An aura of shining silver coalesced and draped itself over Bellatrix's form. At first, she didn't realise that she'd fulfilled the dare, for she had been focused on the prior truth. When the realisation struck, a satisfied smile painted itself over her features, as the aura shaped itself into a pair of brilliant wings for all to see. Was it the strange nature of the place or the skills of an illusionist at play? Not even she could answer.
Dare: Do an impression of another Pokemon present in this place.
What
was the work of the zorua's natural ability, however, was when she took on the form of the espeon. Barring the tail, which remained the same, she was a perfect doppelganger. She looked like she was about to say something to Roya but then...
Truth: Is there anyone you truly hate?
Any semblance of enjoyment Bellatrix had in the moment vanished. A neutral coldness overtook her exterior but internally, the answer
screamed at her. Yes, yes, yes, yes,
yes. But for the life of her, she couldn't recall a name, or a face, or a reason. Just that it was cold, it was festering...
And it was all his fault.
