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"How fascinating. And to think I just thought you humans were incompetent, stumbling around aimlessly. I suppose I can't judge all of humanity by the quality of the specimens I'm familiar with here." There was the old GRAY, that certainly didn't take long. "...thank you, Terashi. For the lesson." He followed up, that kind tone popping back up, even if it was briefly. He certainly was being strange today.

Before anything further could be said STAK would take it upon itself to move over towards Keiko, taking the signal she gave it and moving in closer. GRAY would try to protest but it was no good, STAK still had something of a mind of its own. Once Keiko began to pat STAK on the head it would make its excited beeps again, illiciting an audible groan from GRAY however the AI said nothing else nor did he try to make STAK move away. "Stak stak!" STAK kind of barked, happily as it did its little shuffle dance.

"Yeah, not sure how I found a way back," Aden remarked, listening to Doc as he continued and becoming increasingly confused. Pressure? He knew that was a thing with some hybrids; namely Sol and Blizz. He could sense it pretty easily... right? Now that he stopped to think about it and actually listen, he'd try to sense what- who- he could around the room. His energy did feel lower than he was used to, and while he was sure he was sensing something, he couldn't discern it very well. The most he could was Sol's pressure on account of how closeby he was.

A lot of questions formed from that alone, but he'd keep listening until he heard the question presented to him. This led to a confused glance too, but it was directed more at Doc as he wondered if he might be confused. "I haven't? I don't know how to use Heat Wave, nevermind anything like that."

"Aden, that's." A worried tone came out of Sol's voice. "That's one of the first moves you learned. I taught you that move."

"You did?" Though Aden's head did hurt a little, he was pretty sure that final act wasn't a Heat Wave or Burn Up or anything like that. "I know a lot of fire came out when I attacked the Ziton, maybe I used it with how desperate everything got, but I've never learned that move. Either of them."

Sol didn't say anything further in the moment, fearing that maybe the Ziton did get Aden in some fashion. But he'd ask one question after a moment. "...what do you remember of the fight?"

"I remember Aile attacking me, she had what must've been the Ziton bubbling over her head and manipulating her somehow. I remember the stabs, seeing some of you finding a way to where Aile and I ended up. The attacks the Ziton was doing, and how it seemed like we'd all die there if it kept up. I grabbed your sword after it landed near me, thinking we needed more time. That I needed more power to ensure that."

"And then, between your desperation, Reno's channeling, and wielding an artifact, you put up a last stand."

"Wha-" Aden's eyes fixated on the sword sheathed at Sol's side. "That's an-... yeah, I did. If the Ziton was going to take any of us out, I thought I could at least save the rest of you out there. After that was a lot of fire, think I saw a few things too, then... nothing."

Sol gave a nod, looking almost guilty for his part in the aftermath. "Right. Well, to keep both topics brief. First, here." He'd set up his SNAG to have its camera on Aden, allowing him to see himself. "Burns aside, your wings have been dulled out like that ever since. For a move like Burn Up, it takes virtually every ounce of fire chi in the body and lets it out in one massive inferno. As Doc's said, one's fire isn't truly gone so much as heavily diminished, so it often manifests as a weaker fire or- in a case like ours- much less vibrance in the feathers. It's also likely why you feel as cold as you do, not being used to lacking an internal fire."

"And the sword?" Aden asked afterwards, trying to take everything in. Up to now, he hadn't seen the state he was actually in. Sure, he survived, but at what cost...? Even if he couldn't recall the move being discussed, it was clear his attack had done something to him.

"It's a long story, but the sword I returned to all of you with before Wes and I kept up a resistance against Ein's an artifact, yes. Generally, it's risky for a hybrid to use them, since they'll naturally draw from their energy in place of a channeler's partner. You'd never been much for a blade of any sort, so I didn't think a day would come where you'd wield it... a poor lapse in judgement on my part. Point is, the blade responded to the fire energy you let out and served to draw and amplify from it in its own way. And with Reno seemingly expanding his channeling to affect you alongside..."

Aden had gone quiet by this point. He had a hard time putting his feelings to thoughts, let alone words. He wasn't mad about the outcome by any means; if anything, he wondered if he'd have still done it if he did know what was going on, what it's apparently meant. But before he could process any of it further, Sol would add one more thing.

"As for the energy, we're not sure if the attack had an unintended effect on its own or if it's the result of the extra factors ramping everything far higher than you were ready for. But Cera and Crystal's both remarked about a stark lack of it since the attack. Regardless, to say I'm sorry would only be the start of apologizing for the current outcome."

"Might explain the pressure too..." Aden added. "I don't recall that being a thing with me either."

---



"I'm almost relieved it's kinda boring," Cera remarked, fine with there being something more mundane after everything in Paldea over the last couple of weeks. "Though, dunno what Darts or any of us would need this sort of data for... there's probably a reason, but I'm not asking that one. We saw nothing." She'd move a short distance away, trying to ensure she could pass it off as having no part in any potential felonies. If they could even apply to a Pokemon in the first place.

Seeing Apolla flop over with the Chingling on her saw her giggling and looking to Crystal instead at the remark of degrading- but probably adorable- Eevee accessorizing. "Oh, this I need to hear about."

Darts would round the corner then, seeing Apolla writhing around on the ground and the Chingling hanging on for dear life, smiling a little at the obvious discomfort. Apolla had been around long enough that he knew the little Espeon had earned what was being dealt and much more probably. Stumping his way over to the chair by his table he slides himself back in to go back to rifling through his correspondence. He takes the Rayquaza scroll, looking at the seal for a brief moment before breaking it with the tip of his nail. The entire bit of wax went up in a bright 'foomf' of dark blue smoke, startling him slightly as he jumped a bit at the presentation. "I swear these are getting more over the top..." He complained, popping the scroll open to reveal some parchment within. It was fairly large and tightly rolled, so his entire face was obscured by it as he began reading it and said, addressing the others still hovering near him: "Okay which of you little shits touched my mail?"

Reno would raise an eyebrow. "A little rusty? Dang, if that's rusty, I'd be amazed to see what sharpened up looks like." Glancing down to her arm as she brought it up, he would give the arm a glance before nodding. "Impressive arm, especially with all the dexterity that offers you. Like my prosthetic has a lot more punch than a regular arm but I've definitely lost the level of dexterity it would take to do anything with a bow in my normal state......man, I really need to cruise back on by the Isle of Armor. See if I can con the old man into teaching me martial arts." Scrunching his nose slightly, he would add, "Actually, any martial training in general would be great. Great to be able to make things but imagination doesn't give me a ton of skill with my imaginings."

"Or Psychic, given your rather unusual version of it?" Sol added. Far be it from him to understand the Ziton, but what little he did know had a physical component. Something like Crystal's shift from an Espeon hybrid to a Solgaleo. Being a psychic entity, mental effects definitely weren't off the table, but he didn't have the kind of ability with it to discern anything meaningful.

Aden thought about the questions for a second, more confused about what was being asked of him. Solar Beam? Psychic? He was certainly versed in combat in some capacity; he knew how to fight and defend himself, but not with hybrid attacks. Some concern would come across his face as he gave his answer. "If I knew either of those, maybe? I never managed to, though." There may have once been a time where he did know such moves, but this was no longer that time. "I know how to fight and all, I know about having psychic abilities and all that. And the time travel itself, too. But neither of those for, you know, combat."

"...none of it?" Sol asked. He dreaded the answer, but it was increasingly becoming a likely one.

"None of it. I'm not saying either of you or wrong or anything, maybe the Ziton did do something more to me when I attacked and got so close. But it doesn't change my answer: I've never had any training like that, and if I did like both of you are saying, they're not anything I'd know how to do now."

It was indeed an answer that didn't sit well with Sol, the concern on his face becoming more apparent. Moves were one thing. If they could be learned, they could be relearned and chances were Aden would be inclined to even if he had no memory to work off of. But lack of them with moves meant there were probably more, almost certainly a result of the Ziton, trauma over the encounter, or some combination. He shot a glance at Doc, perhaps a way of showing he was on a similar wavelength despite his own lack of knowledge.

---




For the moment, Cera was more in awe at watching the presentation of the scroll and summizing that whoever sent it really had a thing for theatrics. Her tail would sway at it, thinking the whole thing neat overall before she froze in place at the accusations being lodged. Had she and Apolla been that easily read? She wasn't terribly keen on throwing Crystal under the truck after hearing her speak up, either. Curse having a conscious and looking out for one's friends...

"...Apolla did it. Crystal's innocent, really." She'd speak up, moving herself back a little bit to further ensure she couldn't see anything about the scroll. "...and I looked too. Only the one that was opened, though."

"...and thus this is where my medical expertise is at its limit." Doc said to him. "If it was actual amnesia, or even just mere gaps in your memory, it could be recovered. It would take time, and specialists in such matters, someone that I am not. Even so, it would have been possible. But...here...it seems as being exposed to this horror had put you in a position where it was as if you never even attempted to learn it. Or thought to even try. You realize you done an action, but far as what you were concerned, it was something generic, albeit effective given the circumstances, against this Ziton." Doc said in observation. "You don't recall ever learning the likes of Heat Wave, Solarbeam, Psychic, and perhaps even Calm Mind now at this rate, abilities that you have put in many training hours for especially early on in your tenure here in Snagem, only for you to...just...not know them at all? You know you trained your prowess, but never in those hybrid attacks? Even therapists and psychiatrists that should have been able to help you actually realize it evenentually, but now it seems you wouldn't be able to. Its as if...well...if you were sent back in time itself and undid learning those abilities somehow. Or perhaps the Ziton did. I'm not sure if that is honestly the case, heaven help us if it was."

Doc would take off his glasses, cleaning the set off his shirttail. "Mind, at this point, its speculative. I'm basing this on what was just said just now. How Aden keeps insisting that he's never learned any hybrid attacks what so ever, but yet knows how to fight and even harness his means of time traveling, skills that were eventually learned in conjunction with his standard abilities. I am convinced this goes beyond any sort of trauma; at least with trauma, there'd be uncertainty. Not full on conviction in those words. And I am not sure if 'muscle memory' can be relied upon for that matter."

"...so, can Aden get his abilities back?" Tristen asked warily from his bed, trying to understand the best he could of what was being insinuated between the trio.

"I don't see why not. Though, if its as I suspect, it'd be as if he'd learn everything from scratch." Doc said. "Truthfully, I'm hoping that I am wrong in all of this. This teams endeavors in the mystical, paranormal, and so on, dealing in artifacts and otherworldly beings is honestly making things absurdly hard in trying to treat all of you, because I don't even understand the nature of just how these things are. I ended up barely getting Blizzard back on his feet after being on the receiving end of his own infernal blade. That bird's stubbornness probably helped some as well admittedly."

"If it's anything time-related, it's not from the Ziton. That's not something it can do, yet. The way Reno and Crystal described it before encountering it myself, it'd have to get me for that or at least a Celebi or another Celebi hybrid. The only hybrid I knew like that's mom, and unless the Ziton can take the mind of a dead person, it's not getting her," Aden explained, after Doc finished talking about his observations. He lamented the situation he was in. Regardless of why he didn't recall any moves, it was still an issue, let alone the state he was in besides.

"Are you sure it didn't get you?"

"I'm still here. Even if it did get me, it didn't get me."

"Regardless, asking about any holes in your memory's unlikely to get us anywhere," Sol added afterward, shaking his head in resignation. "Which I doubt is limited to just the attacks you knew. I'm more worried about those, though I have to agree with Doc that there may not be any recovering them."

"I'm sorry." Aden's voice was low, the gravity of the encounter starting to set in again. His actions, too. "I've kinda gone and made a mess for you all, let alone myself."

"Don't be. You still being with us is more important, and I can't argue there being a better way of dealing with something we know hardly anything about. Moves can be learned and new memories can be formed, we can't replace your life. Probably."

"I guess." Aden sighed, but at this point, what was done was done. He'd have to just roll with it and do what he could to recover. "Look, I don't know how long it'll take for me to recover, but can I ask for some help with the move learning once I do? If I can't rely on memory for it, it'll be faster to work with someone who does remember, maybe even learn some different ones. I know Reno was trying to help a little on the way to Paldea, something with psychic abilities, but we didn't get much time on the ship."

"Of course, as soon as you're able and ready," Sol answered, though he'd perk up at the last remark from Aden. Compared to his earlier answer, that one sounded out of place... but perhaps something to ask later. "Anyways, Hinterbane, right?" He asked, being reminded of some of the events in Galar. Though the events in this case were in passing, he was at the very least privvy to them. "I think that's what that blade's called in our files. Honestly, I'd be more surprised if that isn't an artifact itself, but to be honest, information about any of them outside a channeling context's limited. I'm not sure how much help my personal findings would be with wielding Arcoiris, but if there's anything that can help with your knowledge, I'd be glad to offer what I can."

"That has a name?"

"I gave it one."

"Huh..." Even with knowing that sword was an artifact now, Aden wasn't sure he'd be able to tell a difference between it and something more normal. He'd end up coughing again despite his contemplation.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, sorry," Aden answered, sighing as it calmed down. Mostly. "Probably overdid it."

Darts lowers the scroll, his eyes pulsing glowing red with his fury as he looks at the group of four (including Chingling). After a couple of seconds of intense pressure he cracks up and laughs, smiling at the consternation that was on everyone's faces. "Well," He chortles, amused by everyone's poker face. Or lack thereof. "I gave Crystal responsibility over my mail and I come back to an entire gaggle of people practically holding hands over the stack. What am I supposed to think?" He picks up a handful of the folders and waves some of the stack at the group. "Besides, even if you read through those manila folders it'd be pretty hard for the lot of you to be able to get anything useful from them." He shakes the large scroll he had just unrolled out of the Rayquaza carving, an actual look of consternation crossing his face as he does so. "And this," He grimaces. "Is a bit of unfortunate business I'm going to have to take care of sooner rather than later."


"So." He pauses, leaning back into his chair now that the jig was up for all of them. "What did you all find out?" He was excluding Apolla here, dubious she wanted much more than to rampage through files she wasn't supposed to. He knew the Espeon's temprament throughout the years, she was sassy. "Any insights that I might have missed? Did I get any good coupons? Or don't tell me you only looked through the folders and didn't help me with any of the junk mail..."