Interlude (7)

Interlude - Talk between Sisters

"Mouuuuuuuuu…"

"…"

"Mouuuuuuuuu…"

"*Sigh* What's the matter, Furina?"

Focalors put down the book she was reading. She turned to her sister, who had been staring at her with a pout since earlier.

"You knew."

"Knew what?"

"About Dante's ability!"

Furina sprang up from her bed, and then…stumbled. Her hands waved in the air to balance herself. When she regained her bearing, she coughed and acted like nothing happened.

"When he told us about it earlier, you weren't even fazed. Speak up! When did your relationship become so close?"

Furina narrowed her eyes, her hands crossed in front of her meager chest as she did her best impression of the prosecutors in their Dad's trial.

Focalors stared at her sister for a moment…and smiled.

"It's simple. I completed the task. We had our first date yesterday- that's when he told me about his illusions."

"Yesterday?"

Furina groaned. Stupid! She had been so busy preparing for the play that she let her guard down!

"Why do you look so disappointed? Now, you can live your life the way you want. I'll make sure the family won't give you tasks like these again."

"But what about you? You think I'll be alright? Knowing you sacrificed yourself for me?"

Furina whispered, her heterochromatic blue eyes starting to glisten. 

"Pfft! Sister, do you really think I'm sacrificing myself?"

"Huh? Isn't it?"

Furina wiped the corner of her eyes, staring in doubt at her giggling twin.

"No. I like Dan. Getting married to him is a joyful occasion, not a sacrifice."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

Focalors maintained her smile under Furina's scrutinizing gaze. Although a bit exaggerated, what she said was indeed the truth. Among all the male of the same age she met, even including other aristocrats, only Dante left such a lasting impression on her- that she even dreamed about him occasionally.

"If that's the case, why didn't you say so earlier? I would have backed out and blessed your relationship!"

"Would you have believed me?"

Furina stammered and averted her gaze. Indeed. If her sister told her to give up on Dante because she liked him, her first thought would be that she was lying for her sake again.

She peeked and noticed a small, fond smile on Focalors' face. Is she…thinking about Dante? Is she really in love?

Furina knows she should have been happy; that her sister finally found the love of her life. However, when an image of Dante and her sister holding hands and laughing emerged in her mind, her chest constricted. 

As they start to date, she and her sister would have less and less time to hang out. And when she and Dante get married and have a child in the future…would she even remember her? 

Furina began to panic. She tried to think of a thing, anything, to steer her mind from that dark scenario.

"W-what about Shinobu? I saw them still being intimate earlier. Did you even tell her? or are you and Dan cheating behind her back again?"

"...she knows. We agreed to share Dan."

"What?!"

Furina opened her mouth in disbelief. 

"H-how… you both agreed?"

"Yes. We're still finalizing the terms, but she doesn't have any problems with sharing Dante."

"That's…"

Furina was speechless. Based on her observations, Shinobu and Dante are deeply in love with each other. How could they easily include Focalors in their relationship just like that?

However, a dark, unbidden thought arose in her mind. If she asked…would they also agree to include her?

Interlude - Mega Evolution in the PMD World

"You ready?"

"Mawile!" (Always!)

"Heh, good."

Dante took a deep breath. It was currently midnight, he and Mawile were sitting on the bed. Surrounding them was Pikachu and the others, a look of curious anticipation on their faces.

Normally, they would have traveled to the PMD world by now. However, as they were about to do so, Dante had a sudden thought. If Mawile can't undergo Mega evolution in that world, then why not do so before travelling through? 

"Let's start."

Energy flowed into the gloves on his right hand, and the familiar connection with Mawile returned. Just like usual, he felt her excitement, longing, and adoration.

Mawile also received Dante's energy feedback and hummed in satisfaction. Her body glowed, and she transformed into her Mega form.

"Good. Now for the moment of truth."

Dante pressed the continue game button on his phone and blacked out. He woke up in the familiar haystack, and his eyes quickly turned towards a corner of the room.

"It worked!"

Dante cheered, his tail wagging in delight. There, Mawile sat up while rubbing her eyes, the two large jaws behind her head opening and closing.

"I don't know, Dan. This feels…weird. I don't feel the same connection."

Mawile interrupted Dante's celebration. The two jaws above her head had sagged as she fidgeted in discomfort.

With her reminder, Dante finally noticed the missing flow of energy between him and Mawile. 

"What's wrong? Didn't it succeed?"

Pikachu asked as he gazed at Mawile's Mega form.

"We don't know yet. Something seems…different. Do you feel any discomfort, Mawile?"

"No? I even feel…natural. Like this is just my normal form."

Even though it was so, Mawile still preferred having the feeling of constant pain as her body was pushed beyond its limits; when Dante's energy was intertwined with hers. 

"Ah! This should be due to the different world rules. I remember Chatot had once mentioned Mega Evolution being permanent and irreversible."

Dante said as he opened up the menu to look at Mawile's stats. As expected, since there's no support from outside, there's less boost in her stats. However, he did find an unexpected surprise.

Mawile (Mega)

Type: Steel/Fairy

Abilities:

Intimidate (Reduces the Physical Attack of opponents)

Huge Power (Doubles the power of Physical Attacks)

Level: 41 

HP: 109/109

Attack: 89 (+10) Defense:76 (+20)

Sp. Atk: 91 Sp. Def.: 80 (+20) Speed: 76

Item: Mawillite (Absorbed), None

Noting the additional item slot, Dante grinned. 

A/N: I based the Mega Evolution mechanics of the PMD world on the romhack I'm playing. Mega Evolution there is a permanent thing, and works the same as using an Evolution Item to evolve. When they return to the human world, Mawile would still return to her base form.