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[firstnothing]

[Video!]

[The video clicks on to focus not on Xemnas, but a rather sedate looking kadabra carefully picking burrs out of a blitzle's fur, the ever-present kadabra-spoon held in its teeth. Both have rather new looking and fairly loose black collars studded with small silvery ...studs, and a single bright silver charm a little too distant to make out clearly. Neither seem to mind said collars, possibly because they'd be able to get them off very easily if they wanted to. When Xemnas speaks, likely the one holding the camera, he sounds bemused.]

I have finally seen evolution in this world for myself, but not with one of the pokemon I have had the longest. Is it odd, that the abra I captured not so long ago, evolved so quickly into its next form? Or is this common for wild-caught pokemon? I have high hopes of seeing the second stage of Regret's own evolution soon.

[The blitzle notices the camera first and perks up visibly. Then begins making faces at it, no small fete for a horselike face. Aside from a slow flick of its rather fluffy tail, the kadabra doesn't bother to divert from its goal of burrs.]

Additionally the growlithe that had chosen to accompany me is still present. If anyone is desirous of having a free growlithe, alert me and I will bring it somewhere you can capture it. To the young man I purchased the gastly egg from: it is a remarkable creature, and one I suspect I will keep for some time. You must be very pleased with its parents.

Comments

Video

[firstnothing]

Hello again. I hope things are well for you since we last spoke.

[Xemnas actually remembers him! ..And there's still no reason to not be polite about it.]

I considered it, as I still wish to have a sturdy fire-type for my team. However, we have incompatible personalities.

Video

[redenzione]

All has been well. By the end of this week I shall be moving to the next village, Cherrygrove. I enjoy the peace of Newbark, but there may be others in need of more assistance in other villages.

It would be difficult if it does not heed your words. Have you tried giving orders to the hound?

Video

[firstnothing]

I have. It has ... selective hearing. If the command is one that will keep it nearby or working for me it will obey, but if it is 'go away' or 'go home' or something similar, it pretends it did not hear.

Video

[redenzione]

Perhaps it simply longs to be a part of your team.

Video

[firstnothing]

I suspect so. But its place is not with me. It may accept any trainer, if it was once owned as I suspect it was. Loneliness to a domesticated animal abandoned by its owner, could lead to such a thing.

Video

[redenzione]

Loneliness leaves a hole in the heart that is not easily filled. I pity it.

Should there be no others who would want to capture it, I do not mind taking it with me.

Video

[firstnothing]

Is that so? [Loneliness. He didn't think he's felt it before, but the description provided is filed away for later, just in case.] There is a young lady I have recently spoken to who is interested in adding it to her collection for breeding purposes. If you wish to have a growlithe of your own, however, they don't seem terribly uncommon on Route 34.

Video

[redenzione]

I have been under its dark touch; it empties a man of happiness, sours all victories, destroys thought and twists saints into sinners. It leaves man in want when he can have none and drives some to desperation. It is a powerful emotion.

My sincere thanks but I do not seek to grow my collection of Pokemon. I merely want the growlithe to find companionship, and if it has found happiness and a place to call home then I am content.

Video

[firstnothing]

I am uncertain if I have ever experienced such an emotion. It certainly seems to be very influential. How might one induce loneliness, if they wished to know what it was like? Or like others, does it simply happen, and one must wait..?

Time will tell if it will be happy in its pending new home. The young woman in question seems to be a caring individual, so I assume it will be a good location.

Video

[redenzione]

Xemnas, I urge caution. I would not wish loneliness on any living creature. Consider yourself blessed by God if you have not felt its taint in your life and seek it no more.

Video

[firstnothing]

For most of the life I can recall, I have felt nothing at all. No joy, no rage, no hope or sorrow. Now that I am capable of it, I wish to experience all that had been stripped from me, whether or not it will be pleasant.

Video

[redenzione]

[Dante looks conflicted, unsure if he should really coach Xemnas on loneliness. Eventually he relents, if rather unwillingly and only because hopefully, Xemnas will be able to recognize the signs of loneliness and evade the emotion altogether.]

Loneliness occurs when one desires companionship. When you feel your heart seized with a longing to be with someone, but find yourself alone...when you despair, then that is loneliness.

Video

[firstnothing]

[An audible frown creeps into his voice, though it doesn't show in his expression. Somehow.]

'Companionship'. I don't think I've sought that either. This is an ... extension of 'friendship', and what is experienced when those friends are absent..?

Video

[redenzione]

Yes. But loneliness does not just grow in the absence of friends. It grows in the absence of family, a fellow soldier, a loved one.

Video

[firstnothing]

I suppose in which case, if I intend to ever experience loneliness I will have to form some sort of a positive connection with other individuals.

[He seems, very briefly, a bit annoyed by this. Why were emotions so complicated to get around to feeling??]

This is going to take significantly longer than I first anticipated.

Video

[redenzione]

...have you truly never felt emotions?

Video

[firstnothing]

Once I was capable of it. I lost the ability long enough ago where even the emotions I felt strongest at that moment are dim and unrecognizable memories, vague abstractions built on observation of others. It was an unnatural state to be in. I was not supposed to exist, and that lack demonstrated itself most easily in feeling nothing. Arrival here changed that, and it's been a fairly interesting time since.

[redenzione]

How is it possible for a man to lose his feelings? Did you not have a heart?

[firstnothing]

[There's a quiet sigh, both amused and almost tired sounding.]

That is precisely what I lacked. The emotional center of a human being. Tell me. Without rage, without love, without guilt or shame, without any emotion negative or positive, what do you think you would be capable of? When all that rules you, is cold logic. Morality has no meaning anymore, for it is based upon emotion. Right and wrong becomes subjective very quickly. You can't get outraged at the sight of terrible acts done to your fellows. You simply don't care anymore. About anything at all, for years on end.

[A pause.]

It's a nice change, this world. It may strip us of all powers beyond what is normal, but it has returned to me things much more valuable.

[redenzione]

I am sorry for the years you spent with your loss, but I am glad that your heart was returned to you. I cannot imagine living such an existence; no joy or anger, sorrow or exuberance.

It is irony indeed then, for us to meet. For during my past life I lived fully based on my emotions. When anger ruled my heart it was my sword that spoke my words. When loneliness ate into my spirit, I craved for the warm touch of another despite my solemn vow to remain faithful. And right and wrong are no longer as they should be; right becomes what pleases you, while wrong is what irks you.

A complete lack of emotions is undesirable, but a complete surrender shows lack of strength.

[Dante trails off, silent and lost in bad memories.]

[firstnothing]

It is not my original heart, but it suits me. I have not lost myself upon gaining it.

[So devoured by a heart.. Dante lived and acted much like the Heartless did. Creatures of whim and instinct. He seemed fairly stable now, from what Xemnas could tell.]

Perhaps it is weakness that led to letting your heart rule you. And yet here you are, as sober an individual as I have met. It seems to me sooner or later you triumphed over that weakness. Do not mourn it. A strong heart is always a strength, even if it is unruly.

[redenzione]

Though it is true that I have learned to reign in my actions, the temptation to sin remains. My patience is much improved but my temper still boils under the surface. It may well be a weakness I will have to struggle to surpass till the end of eternity. But such are the flaws of man.

God willing you will not find loneliness, but should you someday find yourself lost and alone, do not hesitate to contact me through this Pokegear.

[firstnothing]

'Sin'.

[It's echoed with the tone of one who's encountered the word before but wasn't quite certain of its definition.]

If it is your nature to have a temper, then there is no great wrong in acknowledging it and learning to use it instead of fight it. Harnessing your fury makes it useful. A weapon in a skilled hand is a wondrous thing indeed, but the same weapon in the hands of the inexperienced can be devastating to themselves, not their foes.

[Xemnas would be content with finding out what loneliness is like. If he DID contact Dante about it, it would probably be to pass on that he's discovered what it's like and then offer opinions on it.. not quite the seeking of solace one might expect. Nonetheless, there is a small agreeing noise.]

Very well, I shall endeavor to do so if the situation arises. Though lost may not be an issue, it has a map built in.

[redenzione]

I have wielded my anger to save the woman I love; now that the task is done, I see no reason why I should carry on with such fury within me.

Ah, pardon me. I was not speaking of being lost in the woods, per say. It is more of being 'lost' from the path you choose to walk. When you have lost and forgotten who you are and know not where to turn to or which step to take.

I have been lost in both sense of the word, and I have found the latter to be more terrifying.

[firstnothing]

A fire once banked can easily spring back up to devour all in its path. Perhaps your temper too would work the same way. It has served its purpose however, from the sound of things.

[The path he chose to walk... that was going to be more difficult as time goes on, he's certain of it. Hadn't he warned his future-past-self of that already? The heart was treacherous.]

Should I ever forget myself or my determinations in this world, then perhaps your guidance will be more needed than you know. I do not remember ever being so astray, but perhaps it is inevitable that a life will reach that point, sooner or later.

What guided you from your trouble, I wonder?