[ti]closed[/ti]The Turing Test

Queen Rubella often didn't take naps within the Dream Palace itself, but when she did it was almost akin to heaven. Her pillows were next to perfection, the temperature in the room flawless, several of her Pokémon acting as the best cuddle buddies the world had ever known.

In fact, it was such a peaceful afternoon that she had no intention of getting out of her royal chambers anytime soon.

A yawn erupted from her Komala that stirred her further to proper consciousness, although it really was debatable if her naps within this realm were truly a state of sleep, or if she was just believing that she was actually asleep and that mindset inspired silly stories to play out in her mind.

Or perhaps, they actually did happen before she just returned to her bed when she 'woke.' It was a little hard to tell the truth in this realm. She was well familiar with how easy it was to imagine yourself as someone else and to firmly believe it. Simply believing she was asleep, in a realm where you were technically always asleep. The thought debate echoed in her mind even as she slowly clambered to her feet.

As she stepped up out of the bed, her Munna let out a soft noise that drew her attention. It was currently cuddling amidst three different eggs that sat perfectly still atop pillows atop her bed.

One egg perfectly spherical, pitch black and gently tucked partially beneath a blanket so that it could enjoy the darkness that it often rolled towards.

Another egg that was ice-cold, mist slowly swirled across the surface of the egg. Unmistakably a descendant of King Articuno's.

And the last, a small little light-blue egg, far smaller than the others.

"Good morning, little ones." Ruby spoke, moving around to pat the eggs. "I know not when thee shall hatch, but thine should know my patience is unending." Her words were certainly far more old-english than typical, spending time with the King was certainly influencing her language, not that she minded.

"YO RUBES!" A voice suddenly broke her serene moment of peace, having her head twist around to the door of her chambers. She recognized that voice, but she wasn't exactly expecting visitors.

"Mur?" Her Munna began to slowly float upwards, only for Ruby to just smile and shake her head.

"Stay here, darling. I'll call for you when I need you. Watch over the other sleeping beauties." She'd give a smile, and simply pick up the Articuno Egg into her arms, cradling it gently as her attire slowly shifted into that of her signature Kimono. The Crown Jewels began floating about her head as she slowly moved towards the door and opened it. "I'll take this one with me, they should see more of the palace, their home. Perhaps then, they shall hatch."

Only to not appear outside a door at the other side.

Within the Palace itself, she'd appear as if walking through a stained-glass window, one that showcased the moment she and Articuno were both crowned again. Floating on soft pink clouds, she took slow steps down them as if they were stairs, vanishing from behind her. Her bedroom hidden within the window all along.

As soon as she saw Orion standing with his own Articuno egg however, a wide smile immediately spread across her face. "Salutation, Duke Cayge." She greeted him warmly, her tone soft and slightly teasing. Nobody needed to go by those names or titles anymore, but it only felt appropriate at times. There was nothing wrong with playing pretend when it was at your own desires.

"It is a pleasure to see you once more, I have not seen you since, what, the Wishtaker perhaps? How have you been?" She'd chuckle quietly, gently lifting her own egg aloft in her arms. "Although, it seems today not be solely a social visit then? You wish to become like a father to the child of the lord of dreams, correct? I know not how to help, as one can see my own egg has yet to blossom, but I am willing to listen."

The references to pop culture went straight over her head, leaving her only wondering why one would even wish upon an airplane. Was it a simple mistake presuming it to be a shooting star? Regardless, she just chuckled softly at his words as she continued to listen to him speak.

His pauses when he mentioned a Wizard named Wikia gave had her raising an eyebrow in curiosity, but didn't interrupt. A prophecy, instructions to hatch his own eggs. How curious. She had seen a few people hatch their own eggs, but she quite frankly didn't know how it happened.

She took a few mental notes, humming in thought. Returning the egg to the shrine, comforting the egg, and... baptized? She didn't fully follow, slowly pursing her lips in thought as she gently hugged the egg in her hands a little bit closer. "Well, I must admit, only some of this prophecy makes sense to me. If one is to hatch a God, one clearly can not rush the process neither. For a God shall come into their existence as they will it. I picture this as a... manner of convincing, perhaps? To encourage them to exist and become more than whatever primal aspects their soul inhabits before it is made flesh and bone."

She hums in thought, slowly moving to sit down where she stood. Almost as if it was always there, a massive pillow seat formed beneath her in the blink of an eye. Ruby just lets the egg rest atop her lap, gently brushing her fingers along its shell. "I suppose we shall see. I picture nothing more appropriate than for a child of dreams to be hatched within these halls."

"However, my own eggs have yet to hatch, despite their long time within this realm. I have long since accepted that the three eggs entrusted to me shall hatch upon their own time, and I would not intentionally impose peril upon them to hasten hatching, as implied by said Prophecy. It is quite plausible that you understand how to hatch an egg more than I do." She'd let out a long sigh, slowly looking down at the egg. Her hand would gently cradle it, her smile softening dramatically.

"That said... if this is to be a social visit as well, I ask of you a question plaguing my own mind lately. What of the realms beyond the seas?" Ruby would finally look up at her virtual sibling as she spoke. "I have only made the journey once, to that ruined bastion of mankind. Has any progress been made in the seemingly eternal quest to rid the world of Corruption?"

She genuinely didn't know, no knowledge of what story developments have occurred unless she was informed. It wasn't as if she could read people's records of quests online anywhere, she had to hear everything directly. "I know you are incredibly capable in combat, I watched the whole conflict with Zapdos from my throne, you know. Have you, yourself, discovered anything?"

Ruby once again listened calmly to his words, nodding along. Something had attacked the city? A potential source of the corruption? It sounded odd that where the source began, is also where it was free of corruption. But if they truly did repel it back then, then perhaps it wasn't so odd after all?

Feeling a bit of nerves, she slowly brushed her fingers down the shell of the cool egg. Such a terrifying world to be born into, and yet so exciting all the same.

She wasn't part of this world, she knew that. And yet... she was invested in a way she couldn't really comprehend anymore. She wasn't on the front lines, but her job was still special. The Dream World needed to exist, it needed protecting too.

Besides, she was good at talking to people, not fighting. Sticking with what she knew best wasn't a bad idea. After he finished speaking, politely waiting not to interrupt, Ruby would finally begin to speak herself.

"I am aware of these creatures you speak of. I have captured one myself, after it whipped up so much sand I must have made mud in my stomach. Although it-" She pauses, a soft frown slowly forming on her face. "It scares me, admittedly. I can't really make heads or tails of it."

With a wave of her hand, a shimmering mirage would swirl around them as her memory seemingly took over the scenery for a moment.

The Dune District, sand rising as a Celesteela burst from the ground below. Powerfully whipping up roots from the ground, and then sand as its rocket-like thrusters roared to life. Eventually felled by the combined efforts of her Munna and a friendly Piplup before it falls and collapses like a falling building as the mirage suddenly fades, and the Palace is just as it always was. Constantly changing, but the same.

"I was informed, that it is an Ultra Beast?" She mumbles softly, continuing to gently rub the Articuno egg, as if to comfort herself. "Said to be from another dimension. If one other dimension exists, perhaps the Corruption came from another?" She shrugged, not confident in the theory before simply returning her full attention to Orion.

"But, uh, ahem." She suddenly cleared her throat, feeling a little flustered for a second. "I've never spoken to my Pokémon, as the rest of our siblings have done so freely, or any Pokémon for that matter. King Articuno being the only exception, given our unique bond." Surely, all she'd have to do is flip the switch in her settings. But, after this long? Being within UNOVR for over two years, and never activating it?

Her expression shifted for a bit, seeming more contemplative as she looked down at the egg. Originally, she just wanted the same experience as any other inhabitant in this world. But if they could speak, and she was missing out on what they said, what was she to do? Was it the wrong choice to leave it deactivated? She had communicated with them just well enough so far, but if she had the option to listen to her new friends, and simply chose not to? How rude was that? What if they had concerns, questions, thoughts and feelings they couldn't express with simple mumbles of their name? What then?

This world was so beautiful, but the implications of everything was so terrifying sometimes. She could only imagine what the Doctors back at VMT must be getting from their studies.

Queen Rubella hummed in thought for a moment, her frown only growing despite her best efforts to not let it show. "... What is it like, speaking to them? Or, I suppose I should be more accurate, what are they like? Your Pokemon friends? I apologize, I know we are drifting in conversation, but I can't help but ask. I fear that- Well, I've never wondered before, even though I feel like I should have."

Achilles, Hades, Ares, she tried her best to memorize these names but without any faces to put with them it wasn't the easiest. At least she could presume to follow the same Mythology theme, at least.

But then, it seemed like Orion read her mind. Reasons for blocking their voices? How in the world could he have known? Was it something about this place, that made her thoughts reality? She didn't think so, but she couldn't help but frown regardless.

She just slowly stared into the distance, holding her egg gently. Her fingers brushing against the smooth shell, as if to calm her nerves and settle her thoughts. She didn't reply for a few moments, trying to focus.

"I-" Ruby started, only to sputter and have her words fail her. She sighed softly, standing back up to her feet as if that might somehow help. "Orion, it feels like you've given this speech before. That this is not the first time you have attempted to convince someone to speak to their Pokémon. I ask simply what they are like, and you come to me talking about a better future."

She finally laughed quietly, but her anxiety didn't quite melt away like she had hoped. "I- I don't know if I can, Orion."

For perhaps a second, it seemed like she was unable to speak to them because she was an NPC. And yet, she continued on, finally shedding at least some amount of light of the truth. "For all that I understand of the mind, of the depths of our emotions and the thoughts that we think every single day. The ins and outs of psychology, how people tick. I am... horribly inept socially."

"I suppose, it has been selfish of me." She frowns even deeper, slowly looking away from her friend. "Intelligent beings that can understand my words and emotions, but without the complexities of social interaction? I suppose I thought of it as a blessing. They're such sweethearts, always looking after me. And yet, here I come to understand that... That I've been taking advantage of that. I've been neglecting their own emotional needs, wants and desires, even if that was never my intent. It still happened, and I can't pretend that it hasn't."

She's quiet for a few moments more, letting out a very long sigh again. Ruby's eyes finally flicker over to Orion's, a question on her lips. "Can, you talk to them for me? Real quick? I can lead you to my room, where they are resting."

Ever since Zapdos.

To think that one choice, one day, one event, would change so much for the world. Articuno was right. A delta.

Queen Rubella would slowly stand to her feet, hands cradling her egg so close, as if it could hear her heart beat. Hear how her heart beat so fast, the dream of actually, truly bonding with her Pokémon for real was almost too much. It was admittedly hard to keep herself from tearing up, overcome with emotions.

The Dream World really only embraced your emotions, amplifying them. It was a collective dreamscape, after all. None of it was real, but it was almost more real because of that.

She... supposed that was probably important to write down for VMT's studies. And yet right now? She couldn't even think about doing so.

Her "Real" job could wait. Not today.

"I promise, I will try."

She'd lead Orion up to her chambers, walking towards the stained glass window before stairs formed of pink clouds from nowhere, as if they had always been there. She'd calmly lead him up towards the window, only to press right through it, like walking through a mirror into another dream.

And inside, was the picture-perfect vision of a Disney Princess's bedroom.

Incredibly ornate furniture filled the chamber, pink wood with beautifually inlaid silver metal shimmering like water in waves. But the middle of the room rested an absolutely massive bed, filled with blankets and pillows of all kinds. It was as if everywhere you looked, you'd somehow find something else, something new. Like a sea of bedding that constantly changed, infinite cool pillows. Six different Pokemon of hers all cuddled up in the middle of the bed, making themselves incredibly comfortable. Two other eggs remained atop the bed as well, one spherical covered in darkness, and one very simple, small blue egg.

Faye the Fennkin laid at the foot of the bed, legs splayed out. Their ears twitched as Ruby and her guest stepped back into the chamber, eye opening slightly. [tangent="You brought guests to bed? Scandalous."]"Fen?"[/tangent]

Next to them, an adorable Eevee was laid completely asleep, as much as one could sleep, when one was already asleep in the world of dreams. They were pressing up against a Komala, still clutching his log. The Komala was always asleep, but maybe it didn't need to be in its own dreams? Did it know anything different? Ruby certainly didn't know, but maybe one day in the Dream World she'd attempt to wake them.

A Munna laid across the pillows at the top of the bed, rolling over as soon as Ruby came in. [tangent="Don't be like that, gross. They have the same mom."]"Muuur."[/tangent]

[tangent="Oh..."]"Fen..."[/tangent]

However, the two remaining Pokémon were certainly awake, and deep in conversation. They didn't seem to notice right away when Ruby walked back into the room. Two Indeedee, a Male and Female, sitting next to each other on the bed, idly holding hands as they spoke to each other.

[tangent="Ruby doesn't travel as much as she used to, does she?"]"Dee?"[/tangent]

[tangent="You noticed it too? I think she has something on her mind lately. She's been writing in her research documents a lot lately." ]"Indee? Deedee." [/tangent]

[tangent="You didn't read them, did you?"]"Deedee?"[/tangent]

[tangent="She wrote them right next to me! Of course I had to look a little bit, I was worried for her! I think she's worried what the Doctors will discover."]"Dee! Indeed, deedee."[/tangent]

The Male started to speak up again in response, only to finally notice Ruby and Orion. They paused their conversations, despite being fully aware that Ruby couldn't understand them. The two only ever gossiped when they were alone, anyhow. It was polite that way.

Two little waves were given from their free hands, never letting go of each other.

"W-well? Here we are." Ruby would speak with a soft, nervous voice, slowly moving to place the egg in her hands back down onto the bed, entirely unaware of the conversations depth that she couldn't hear. "What do you think, Orion? Did you... um, hear them already? I have no idea how it works."