[attr="class","diana"]"We both want to know more about them, don't we? We can help each other, Howard. I assure you, I won't go bothering you with my ideals again. You've made it clear that they appear fictitious."

Whether or not he'd buy that Diana was retreating away from the use of tera crystals to bring back her home was of no concern to her. It was true that she did want to find out how they worked and how they could interact with a Pokemon such as her WALKING WAKE, for other purposes.

Perhaps, for Rocket's sake.

"I'll meet you there." Diana recalled the paradox beast, grabbing her luxury ball and several things that could potentially be of use, going outside into the chasm to wait for the admin to join her.

[attr="class","dianatag"]howard slayte | zero to one hundred

[attr="class","diana"]She'd heard his voice, but she couldn't seem to spot Theo. Not until she located him dressed among the group of guards surrounding her family. There was sheer horror in her eyes.

There's no way he could- he wouldn't-

"He will." A voice spoke inside her head. The swords rose. They swung to the side, ready to cleave heads.

"I said stop!" A fiery inferno blasted the dreamscape, exploding what would have been bricks, wood, and glass. Intense heat boiled away the knights and vaporized the image of her family, leading her into darkness.

[attr="class","dianatag"]THEO BECKETT | enter the nightmare

[attr="class","diana"]She had left a note for Remiel Calcifet that she would be out today and may not be back until later. Her excuse was that she'd made a friend in Hoenn, and she was meeting up with said friend to explore the sights of the region to become more acquainted with the area.

What Diana had learned, from her few months tenure of living here with her former fiancé, was that lying to him on a daily basis was an awful feeling that slowly ate at her core. Her mission that jayden cross had given to her haunted her on a daily basis, and she felt guilty for using Remiel as a safe house.

But it was for the greater good.

Her true destination was to meet with another one of Rocket's beasts. She'd met one before, bryan delarosa. However, this one she hadn't. Zev Harcourt, if she recalled his name. He was to evaluate her skills, though she hoped that his definition of "evaluate" wasn't a dive into a nightmarish dreamscape like THEO BECKETT's had been.

Entering the training facilities, Diana took a sweeping look around, noticing a tall man inside. "Mr. Harcourt. Good afternoon," she greeted simply, politely.

[attr="class","dianatag"]Zev Harcourt | super training

[attr="class","diana"]Murders.

While Avery murdered, she ran away. Diana could think for her own sake it was the better good of her people. She was saving them. She was finding a way to save them. Her family told her to.

But she still ran away.

She was glad for a change in subject.

"Small work. Guarding the Dyna tree. Taking small shifts. I've been researching tera shards in the chasm. You?"

Diana threw a Poke ball to the EXCADRILL.

[attr="class","dianatag"]avery jones | capture attempt excadrill

[attr="class","diana"]"For a fellow Rocket member."

The phrase stuck out to her like a sore thumb. Diana hummed, sliding down the tree as she sat, leaning her head against it. Her fingers idly played with the fabric of her leggings.

"I don't think I've been to Littleroot. Perhaps you should give me a tour one day," she offered, chuckling. She paused for a second, before looking back at him.

"I don't mean this to sound any way in insubordination... but why did you choose loyalty to team Rocket, Bryan?"

[attr="class","dianatag"]bryan delarosa | protect the dyna tree

[attr="class","diana"]"It's doing more than well. It's almost as if it was never frozen." Diana stood from the table, approaching the paradox beast as she would any of her normal Pokemon.

It did not hiss or thrash at her. Instead, WALKING WAKE regarded her with a steady gaze, giving a bow of its head as she reached out and touched it. She stroked its body, causing it to shudder from the touch.

"It's adapted like a normal Pokemon. Of course, it is by my command. Strange, don't you think?"

Diana turned her head back to howard slayte, tilting her head.

"We know that these Pokemon have a connection to the tera crystals. How well do we know that? We have the opportunity to see if the tera crystals can enhance its powers or have any other effects now, since it's no longer wild. Do you think you're willing to take on that experiment?"

[attr="class","dianatag"]howard slayte | zero to one hundred

[attr="class","diana"]As though it was the simplest thing in the world, the scientist handled the stray Pokemon with ease. Diana merely hung back, sticking to the wall as she watched his dragon work. She felt useless, looking away as she heaved a heavy sigh.

"Right. I suppose so."

She followed him toward the kitchen, deciding to sit at the counter to brew herself a cup of tea. "I apologize for causing trouble, then, sir."

[attr="class","dianatag"]Amor Rose | ghost in the machine

[attr="class","diana"]They reached the castle. Though, Diana nearly forgot that he was following her, too occupied on the destruction of Hammerlocke. It seemed like the attack from NECROZMA, but this was different.

This was Ronan Calcifet's doing. But she didn't know why. In this timeline, this dream, she couldn't understand why he was destroying his own kingdom.

There were screams of the citizens on the streets, guards lining the brick roads and slaughtering them. But as she somehow ascended to the royal chamber, her family stood, waiting for execution.

"How wonderful for you to join us, Diana!" he'd say.

"Mr. Beckett, please. No more!"

[attr="class","dianatag"]THEO BECKETT | enter the nightmare

[attr="class","diana"]Diana only snorted, refusing to answer his question. Instead, she looked at her luxury ball on the table, taking it back into her hand.

"Let me show you."

Ensuring that there was enough space for it to stand around and move, she tossed the ball. And out of it, stood: WALKING WAKE.

"It may seem familiar to you, hmm?"

[attr="class","dianatag"]howard slayte | zero to one hundred

[attr="class","diana"]Her blue gaze, like ice shards, pierced into luka chêne as she abstained from the vote. The hesitation made her stomach flip, and she almost stepped forward to elbow her fellow cellmate to say something, anything, to avoid the fates Shred Zeppelin and Isaac Merlo had suffered. Luckily, she and Michael Navidson were spared.

Diana breathed through the slot of her mask, as the vote was tallied. She nodded at ameena abadi, glad she had said something. However, their moment of peace was taken away when the FEZANDIPITI took flight. She cried out as her wrists were yanked into the sky, her feet brushing the floor before she was in the air.

Finally, they’re set down, and finally the mask comes off their faces. Diana gasped, reaching to touch her skin as she felt sweat and grim across her features. Nevertheless, it felt amazing.

”Ameena. Luka,” she murmured.

Her moment of wonder and trying to view the other women’s faces ceased as another Megalopolan appeared. And the beautiful mask at the center beckoned them.

Finally, it was her turn. After a short pause and a disgruntled sound of annoyance by the guards, she peered into the mask.


She ripped her head from the mask, gasping like she'd been drowning as she was pushed away for the next person in line. Then, as they were taken to the bathing stall, hot water scalded her skin, as she tried to recover from the memory implanted in her mind. Diana, too, bathed unclothed, though she kept her back from everyone as she hid herself from the others.

[attr="class","dianatag"]ameena abadi & luka chêne
- wished luka chêne voted due to fear of punishment
- to the chamber of desires
- sees her perfect world: healed galar, her family happy and safe, herself as its queen, and Remiel Calcifet at her side
- showers in the scalding water
- recovering from what she saw