Pokemon: Reborn as a Pokemon 118. Moon

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"...Hello."

A soft, timid voice echoed within Kael's [Consciousness Space].

"What do you want?"

Kael's tone was cold, chanical like a machine without emotion.

The voice faltered.

Startled, the symbol of Ralts' spirit, a glowing white orb, shrank in fear.

"S-sorry..."

The hesitant apology ca in broken fragnts, as though it were stamring.

Kael didn't reply.

He simply watched the trembling light.

The silence dragged on.

Finally, as though terrified of being cast out, Ralts spoke again, its voice cautious and fragile.

"Please... are you from... the outside?"

"...Outside?"

Kael frowned.

The vague wording puzzled him.

"...I suppose you could say that."

The answer made the little spirit flare with sudden excitent, trembling in the void.

"Then... then have you ever seen... the 'moon'?"

"...Huh?"

Kael blinked, caught off guard.

Then a trace of pity welled up inside him.

He understood.

This Ralt had been born in the lab.

It had never once stepped outside.

He sighed silently. Then, within the [Consciousness Space], he gave a firm nod.

"...Is it... beautiful?"

The voice was pleading, trembling.

"Beautiful."

"Very beautiful."

Kael's reply was steady, serious.

"...I see."

The little spirit murmured, dreamlike.

"Thank you... Thank you!"

Its gratitude rang out with surprising weight.

"I won't bother you again."

With that gentle farewell, the spirit withdrew, retreating from Kael's mind.

At the last instant, Kael glimpsed the truth Ralts' fragile spirit, its life flickering, ready to extinguish at any mont.

He couldn't stop himself.

"Don't ever enter another's [Consciousness Space] so casually again. It's rude."

"...Mm! I promise."

A hint of laughter colored the reply, as though the little orb waved goodbye before dissolving into nothing.

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Back in the cell.

Kael lifted his head.

Ralts sat with hands clasped, eyes closed, its face tilted toward the ceiling.

As if imagining a sky it had never seen.

A tear slid from its eye.

Kael looked away.

That crystal drop sparkled like the purest gem.

It fell against the cold stone floor, scattering into faint golden rays like the first light of dawn.

And then, just as quickly, it faded into a dull, lifeless stain.

---

Elsewhere—

The laboratory.

Sterile white walls, the stench of disinfectant mingled with the rot of years underground.

Cold tal instrunts glead with rciless light, as though warning of the suffering they would inflict.

Researchers in white coats bustled about, preparing the chamber.

The experint was about to begin.

On a simple stool nearby sat Dr. Darr.

He crossed his legs lazily, sipping steaming coffee, humming tunelessly.

Beside him, his young assistant studied a report with a serious face.

"Doctor, preparations are complete. We can begin."

"Mm. Then bring in [Subject 267]."

Darr waved dismissively.

"From now on, all experints on it are yours. I'll be busy with orders from HQ."

"Yes, sir!"

The assistant's eyes glead with barely hidden excitent.

Darr stood, drained his cup, and strode toward his office.

"Oh, one more thing where's 267 being held again?"

"In [Containnt Cell C5]."

"C5... ah."

A strange grin stretched across Darr's face, his wrinkles folding like a spider's web.

"...I recall Subject 192 was kept there too, wasn't it?"

"Yes. But based on the post-experint lifespan calculation, it should die in a few days. There's no risk of it interfering with 267."

"It's not interference I'm concerned about. Just a sha, really."

"192 was... the closest we ever ca to success, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Doctor."

"When we attempted to fuse Grass-type energy into that Ralts, the progress was shockingly smooth. I thought it would work. But in the end..."

"...It failed. Just short of success."

To emphasize, Darr pinched his thumb and forefinger together, leaving only the tiniest gap.

"Only this much away."

Despite his words, his tone was casual.

"Failures are normal, Doctor," the assistant said calmly. "And in the end, didn't we succeed? With Subject 267."

Darr's grin widened, revealing jagged, beastlike teeth.

"True. Just a passing thought. A failed specin has no value to ."

He waved his hand and walked away, footsteps echoing coldly on the tiles.

The assistant waited until his silhouette vanished in the shadows, then turned back to the busy researchers.

"Begin final preparations."

"Notify Security to bring Subject 267. And be careful."

He raised his voice, stern and commanding.

"Check every instrunt again. I won't tolerate mistakes during this trial."

"Yes, sir!"

The chorus of replies echoed.

The assistant nodded, glanced at the report again, and pulled aside a passing researcher.

"Go to storage. Fetch a [Trevenant's Blood-Eye]."

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