[attr="class","main"]

"Temp!"[break][break]

Cillian's terrified cry is swallowed by the crackling air around them, wind whipping at his hair and waves dragging hungrily at his clothes.[break][break]

Lapras' shell is too slippery with his damp hands, and he cuts his palms against her shell in a desperate scrabble to stay afloat. It's no use. The fog mingles with his spreading MIASMA before the water claims its due.[break][break]

Panic swells in his chest. He's an excellent diver, but it's hard not to panic when the waves close over his head and the blare of the foghorn becomes muffled. His SYGNA SUIT helps block out the ocean's chill, but he hadn't been wearing the accompanying rebreather.[break][break]

At least he has the sense to close his mouth, to hold his breath.[break][break]

He breaks the surface again, fighting the waves, desperately reaching for the mind of a legend who slumbered deep below, not remembering in his panic that the SYGNA SUIT rendered their bond inert. The pokeball belonging to his DHELMISE rests at his hip, forgotten.[break][break]

Thankfully, it seems Tulio and his crew — this one a girl he's never met — were in the right place at the right time.[break][break]

Scrambling over the netting of vines, Cillian feels incredibly undignified, gasping for salty gulps of air and shuddering more from the adrenaline and panic than the cold. He doesn't hesitate to take the stranger's hand, staggering against the rail when he lets go.[break][break]

"Thanks." It's breathless. His eyes are wide, full of relief. "Damn lucky you were here. Where's Tulio?"[break][break]

Instead of his father-in-law, Cillian himself exits the ship.[break][break]

"Where'd this storm come from? Reports said the weather was gonna be clear until-" He breaks off. They stare at each other, equally stunned, until Cil rolls his eyes, exasperated, and his doppelganger laughs nervously. "What's going on?"[break][break]

His accent is stronger. He bears none of Cillian's scars and little of his stoicism, uncertainty clear in his features. The eyes are the same. Quinn amber, sure as shit. But when Cillian pulls the diving knife from his boot and flicks open the blade, his alter stumbles back with alarm. Cillian's other hand curls around his Dhelmise's pokeball, at last releasing the companion that makes the accents on his SYGNA SUIT glow with life.[break][break]

[break][break]

[attr="class","main"]

Tempest hacks and coughs on the deck, sea water spilling from his lungs as he tries to catch his breath. The storm still rages overhead, a reminder of the danger they're in, the small fishing boat rocking on the waves.[break][break]

There are small changes. The familiar vessel is patched up in odd places, or certain objects rearranged in a way that is unfamiliar. Temp grouses and wipes his face off, rain still pelting down in sheets. He pushes himself to his feet just as the whole shitshow goes down.[break][break]

The woman on the boat isn't one Tempest recognizes. But, there is something familiar about her. Cillian Quinn is rescued, thankfully, but then another Cillian comes out.[break][break]

The woman furrows her brow and snarls her teeth at the flash of steel.[break][break]

While Cil might be looking for the meeker version of himself to attack, a nasty right hook is slung from the woman instead.

(Some things would always run in the family.)[break][break]

Regardless of how Cillian take it, if he stabs her or now, the now-furious woman would try to grab his collar and haul him down to her level- she is at least a foot shorter than Cillian is. If he punches back, she takes it just as well as Temp himself might.[break][break]

"How do you know my dad's name?" She's stronger than she looks. It is in this closeness that Cillian might see something familiar- the shape of her nose, the angle of her lips, the fire in her eyes- much like Tempest is carved out of Tulio's left asscheek, this woman is a near spitting image to the young Alvilda Rararie he met in the Border.[break][break]

[attr="class","main"]

Without the SHADOW MIASMA, Cillian's reflexes are that of a normal human being. Sharpened by war and training, but not infallible, especially not when the strike comes from an unexpected direction.[break][break]

He hits back. It's instinct more than intention.[break][break]

When she tries to grab him, he snarls as he wrenches back. His doppelganger cowers in the shadow of the ship's interior, wide eyes full of alarm as he watches the scrap. Cillian's teeth are bared as she questions him.[break][break]

Only when she speaks, when memory threads its way past survival instinct and he remembers a similar woman with a ghostly pallor, does Cillian realize what the fuck is going on.[break][break]

"You're Aurora."[break][break]

Though he won't take his eyes off her, not when she's a potential threat, his heart sinks for his husband.[break][break]

"Can you put the knife down?"[break][break]

"So you can slit my throat when my back's turned? No."[break][break]

Cillian steps back toward Temp, protective.[break][break]

"You all right, love?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","main"]

The woman takes the hit like a champ. She still staggers back, Cillian Quinn is a lot bigger and stronger than her, but she only snarls through a bloodied nose and lip in his direction. Suspicion is heavy in her eyes when she flicks between the doppelganger of Cillian and the one in front of Tempest.[break][break]

"You're the only one with a knife here, buddy." She sniffs, wipes the blood on her nose on the back of her hand. A Meganium trods up behind her, growling and glaring at Cillian as it's flower begins to glow- preparing to attack. Probably the pokemon that had helped them onto the ship.[break][break]

"I'm alright." Pulling himself to his feet, Tempest rubs his face and steps closer to his husband- and really takes in the scene.[break][break]

His face twists when he eyes the woman. Tempest wasn't deaf. He had heard Cillian say this was...[break][break]

"I never thought you would still be alive somewhere else." It's sad. The woman flicks her eyes to him, instead, confused. But Temp just pulls up his sleeve to show off the curling Milotic tattoo on his upper arm.[break][break]

Her breath hitches.[break][break]

"You- Nerd!" Aurora whips her attention to the alternate Cillian suddenly. "Come pat your twin's ass and make nice! I want to talk to them."

[attr="class","main"]

"Haven't got a twin," they say, in unison.[break][break]

Cillian scowls. His not-twin laughs again, clearly uncomfortable.[break][break]

"Don't come anywhere near me."[break][break]

Cillian flips the blade closed.[break][break]

"Wasn't planning on it." Not-Cillian flicks his attention between Aurora and Tempest, making the connection last — but without any of the context the others had. His brow furrows as he ponders somewhere else. "So you're from another world, or something?"[break][break]

Though he still keeps a wary gaze on Cillian's hand, particularly on the scar that marked the back of it, some of the anxiety has given way to intrigue. They're of similar age, if not the same, but not-Cillian looks younger, with less lines around his mouth and none of the perpetual exhaustion that Cillian wore like a mantle.[break][break]

"You know, we'd theorized that this was possible, but I never thought I'd see it myself." Cillian recognizes in his doppelganger an open lust for science that Rocket has long since muted. Familiar amber eyes catch on matching rings, making further connections. They linger, then, on scars. Soften with a pity that makes Cillian tense. "What's your world like?"[break][break]

Cillian ignores him, instead focused on Aurora. "Talk, then."[break][break]

"Am I always such a grouchy cunt?" This time, he's talking to Tempest Quinn. He smiles easily, where Cillian does not. When he tucks storm-swept hair back from his eyes, his hands are unscarred. There is no ring.

[break][break]

[attr="class","main"]

A quick glance at the Cillian Quinn-who-wasn't-his-husband. Tempest isn't sure how to reply, other than to inch a bit closer, more secure in the man beside him. This other-Cillian isn't his. The other blond would never know his touch, would never have the depth of secrets whispered sweetly between them. He was strange in a way Temp couldn't place; the power that HIS Cillian dripped gone and replaced with a raw hunger.[break][break]

"He is." A small joke, tense, in answer. But it's said with a raw affection that oozes from his words thick and sugar coated.[break][break]

Tempest can't keep his eyes off of Aurora for long, though, even if it's hard to meet her eyes. Brown eyes, like his own, that seem just as at war as he felt in the moment. Words dying to come to his lips. Words that wouldn't matter to this Aurora.[break][break]

"You died." Aurora beats Temp to it, fists clenched at her sides and brows furrowed. She steps forward, the grass type behind her still wary. "You left mom and me all alone." It sounds like an accusation. But Temp knows it isn't. Can see it in tears that won't let themselves fall and the subtle tremble of her lips.[break][break]

"You did, too. Was just me and dad, after."[break][break]

It's quiet. She chokes out a dry laugh, a few fat wet tears falling down her cheeks. Aurora rubs at them furiously, as if to erase them.[break][break]

"So what is this, some type of fucking universal joke? I can't have my big brother or dad then you show up, like a cosmic copy?" Aurora sniffs, something mournful in her voice. Her eyes flick to Cillian, then, lips curling as if she ate something sour.[break][break]

"And you? Why are you in my family's hair in two universes?" She glances over at her Cillian, calming down some. "That one's bad enough, asking all these questions and making the old ladies in the village like him."

[attr="class","main"]

Cillian — the real Cillian — remains silent throughout the emotional exchange between world-crossed siblings. At least until Aurora addresses him herself, words whip-sharp with accusation. He doesn't rise to it. Not here.[break][break]

He squeezes Temp's hand, instead.[break][break]

"Part of that family, thank you." There's a dry amusement to his tone that sharpens as he looks to his doppelganger with suspicion. "Oh, don't tell me he's ever tried it on with you."[break][break]

Not-Cillian makes a face as the implication clicks.[break][break]

"Thank fuck. No offense; just that you're technically my sister-in-law."[break][break]

One he'd never met. Had never thought to meet, until now.[break][break]

He softens, reflecting their sorrow.[break][break]

"Distortions are getting worse." The unnatural storm continues to rage overhead, purple spikes of lightning flashing over the ocean. "I don't even know whose world we're in right now." For the first time, he addresses his double without hostility. "Do you?"[break][break]

He shakes his head, and Cillian's back to scowling.

[break][break]

[attr="class","main"]

Aurora let's out a sharp and surprised bark of laughter, rough in her throat.[break][break]

"Not interested. That hasn't stopped the grannies from trying to shack us up." Aurora wrinkles her nose at that. She glances over at her Cillian Quinn, then steps back. Relenting, relaxing reluctantly. Crestfallen and accepting all at once. Walking over to her Cillian, she reaches up to slap him on the back lightly.[break][break]

"I don't know why you're here, or how, but right now you're my big brother, so we'll keep you guys safe until you can go home. Promise." She does a circle motion with a finger around her chest, some complicated hand motion.[break][break]

Tempest's face softens some more. Now, he, too, steps forward and towards her.[break][break]

"I'm glad you're okay in this world, Aurora." Tempest repeats the same circle she does.[break][break]

A pact sealed.[break][break]

"I'm glad you're okay, too."[break][break]

There is a pain there, in both of their faces. Matching copies of a deep well of sadness caused by the other.[break][break]

Temp reaches back to take Cillian's hand.[break][break]

"If we leave the distortion we'll be fine, I think?" That's how it had worked out before, as far as he knew. The sea churned- but the edge had to be around here somewhere.

[attr="class","main"]

As the siblings exchange their silent pact, Cillian's countenance softens once more with sorrow. This time, it's not for Temp alone.[break][break]

His doppelganger is quick to recognize the shift. Even in a world without Rocket, he is perceptive.[break][break]

"Is Saoirse OK?"[break][break]

This time, Cillian does not bristle with hostility. He tenses, shoulders squared, but it is a gesture of guarding. Whatever worry brims in the eyes of his double softens him, after a pause, and though he shakes his head, the words that leave his lips are, "She's fine."[break][break]

Not-Cillian frowns, clearly trying to puzzle out the discrepancy between words and body language, but gives up after a few seconds pass. Rocket's underboss is too difficult for even his otherworld twin to read. But he does seem to recognize the return of a question.[break][break]

"Here, too."[break][break]

Of course she is. She'd thrive if I hadn't dragged her to Rocket. It had been Lulu Flint to hunt him down, to demand his acceptance, but Cillian still felt responsible for the chains that bound her here.[break][break]

The other doesn't ask after Rowan. Cillian assumes they'd never met, without Rocket as catalyst.[break][break]

He decides not to rattle that wasp's nest.[break][break]

Of Aurora, Cillian asks, "Are there Avatars in this world?" A pause, then, "Rocket?" Another, longer, as if he almost thinks twice, before, "Triad?"[break][break]

[break][break]

[attr="class","main"]

Aurora looks pensive, his attention drawn from the fixation of Tempest and back to Cillian Quinn.[break][break]

She tilts her head, face screwing up much like how Temp did when he was thinking hard about something.[break][break]

"Avatar? Triad? No, I don't know what that means." A shake of the head, her brown hair dancing around her shoulders as she does so.[break][break]

"But Rocket... do you mean 'Team Rocket'? They tried to take over Kanto when I was a kid, but I don't really remember it. Big war, all the Regions banded together and drove them out. Why? Are they important where you're from?"[break][break]

An answer to a question. An attack that happened some twenty-odd years too soon.[break][break]

A crack in the time-line of this world.[break][break]

The ship suddenly lurches. Something large pushing from underneath.[break][break]

"Ah!" Aurora stumbles, grabs onto her Cillian for extra balance. When the ship stills, she runs to the edge and peers over.[break][break]

Cillian would recognize the red glow of runes just below the dark water. The massive blue whale peering up at them before dipping deeper.[break][break]

"Oh! We must have drifted closer to home than I though! Ocean's Will is here!" She waves out to the Kyogre as if that is normal.

[attr="class","main"]

Curiosity sated, Cillian nods.[break][break]

Frowns, when Rocket is detailed. Then laughs, sharp.[break][break]

"Imagine if they'd been so competent," he scoffs, speaking to Temp. "We'd not have stood a chance."[break][break]

That alone ought to answer Aurora's question, at least in part. We. Painting himself with Rocket's brush, his hands with the blood they've spilled.[break][break]

Staggering with the lurch of the ship, Cillian looks overboard with hope of a different silhouette than the one he sees. The gleam of red from runes, rather than the ruby eyes of the Guardian they'd been separated from. Disappointment follows.[break][break]

Aurora distracts him from it with a name.[break][break]

"Ocean's Will?" he echoes.

[break][break]

[attr="class","main"]

Aurora's face screws up some. As if not sure how to take the taste of the admission.[break][break]

In the end, she ignores it.[break][break]

"Mom's Vesseling it." Is explained, as if that made any sense at all. The Kyogre is huge, but still smaller than the one that Cillian Quinn and Tempest would know. Also less unstable, eyes clear when it glances back at them. An echoing and eerie whale song sings out from below, a deep bellow, as it guides them. The ocean, while still angry, does seem to still a bit while the leviathan stays beneath.[break][break]

"She hangs around Paci' a lot." There is a soft smile in Aurora's eyes, much how Tempest had an appreciate for Lugia. Lugia wasn't his own, but he respected her and cared for her anyway. It seemed Aurora felt the same about this Kyogre.[break][break]

Tempest clears his throat, trying to draw his husband's attention.[break][break]

"Kyogre is called "Mother's Tears as the Ocean's Will" in Hoyeon." The translation was a bit clunky, but it worked. "Groudon and Rayquaza have similar names; "Mother's Blood as the Ground's Anger" and "Mother's Breath as the Sky's Kindness"." It was one of those vague things that had never really come up, but he figured it might help to understand what Aurora meant.

[attr="class","main"]

"So you do have Avatars." Intrigued, rather than accusatory; he knows it hadn't been a lie, but a misunderstanding. To that end, he explains, "That's what we call them, here. Humans that work with legendary Pokémon."[break][break]

A pause, as if he's not sure how much he should share, then a shrug. What had he to fear? He was already on the Triad's hit-list.[break][break]

"They call me the Harbinger, Shadow Lugia's chosen."[break][break]

He seems less wary of the Kyogre, now, watching it with curiosity.[break][break]

"In our world, Kyogre has chosen the Tempest, Skyler Dross." Little does he know that this would soon change. "I think your mum makes a much better vessel."[break][break]

He listens to Temp's translation, nodding sagely.[break][break]

To Aurora, his tone turning grave, he says, "You ought to warn your mother. The DRK Triad hunt Avatars in our world, and it seems others as well. If she's chosen, she'll be a target, too."

[break][break]