Apple's Apprentice? [private]

[Deleted]

Angel|Mai|Fall

A chilled breeze pushed through the air in the late autumn mid-morning. Mai shivered a little, but it wasn't too bad. There was enough sun out to balance out the cold. She strolled through the tall grass, tilting her ears this way and that. Every now and then she heard, or smelled, one of her teammates nearby. A couple of them were not familiar. She could only assume they were new. It hadn't been too long since she'd gotten the idea to talk to Apple—at least, Mai didn't think it had been that long. Kiwi had had a clutch, and one of the hatchlings was old enough to scamper around. Perhaps it had been longer than she'd thought.

She made her way to the top of one of the tallest hills and looked out at Kurt's ranch, scanning in all directions. Where could the Xatu be? Surely she'd remain on the ranch.

Tagging Kurt Emerson for Apple.

[Kurt Emerson]

(Tags: Aera)

"Good morning, Mai." Apple was perched among some of the branches of one of the hill's trees, the branches more naked than full with the late autumn season. She had been sitting still among the wood and few colorful leaves, her mind open for thoughts to come and go. It was with her open mind that the Xatu had snatched stray thoughts from the Meowstic, thoughts that had to do with Apple herself.

Tearing her unblinking gaze from the sky, Apple turned and glanced down at Mai. "You were seeking me for something, yes?"

[Deleted]

Angel|Mai|Fall

Mai looked up at the tree, feeling mild surprise. She must not have been paying attention for Apple to hide so well in a mostly-bare tree. "There you are," she said. She trotted to stand in front of the branch where Apple roosted so Mai could see her easily. She confirmed, "That's right. I have the feeling it's not news to you, but neither Angel nor I are experienced with telepathy. Specifically, I'm interested in being able to transmit thoughts to others, namely humans. I was curious if you would be willing to teach me."

Kurt Emerson

[Kurt Emerson]

The thought of teaching another telepathy was certainly intriguing. Apple nimbly hopped from the tree to land about a wingspan away from the Meowstic.

"Understand this," Apple said. "Telepathy is a natural ability, one that I was born and raised with. In my experience with other Psychic-types, it is a similar situation. Nevertheless, there have been cases where non-Psychic Pokemon have learned telepathy as well, so perhaps it can be taught. Considering the Meowstic species are also Psychic-type, it may be more natural to you than you may have originally believed."

The Xatu pondered for a moment longer before nodding. "I will accept this challenge, but I warn you that I have never attempted to teach such an ability to another before. I cannot guarantee any specific outcomes, but I will promise that I will do my best. Is that acceptable?"

(Tags: Aera
Long-winded way for Apple to basically say, "I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing, but I'll give it my best shot, 'kay?" xD)

[Deleted]

Angel|Mai|Fall

Non-Psychic Pokemon learning telepathy? Mai almost smiled at the idea. There was hope for her yet! She replied, "Thank you. For some time, I thought it was an innate ability that I haven't had access to with our unique brain function. Perhaps it won't be too hard for me to learn." Her tails raised up in delight. "What do I need to do first?"

Kurt Emerson
Mai just wants to jump right into it!

[Kurt Emerson]

(Tags: Aera
Hoping my years of reading superhero comics won't fail me, !)

Apple paused a moment to speculate the possibilities of the Meowstic to learn telepathy. "With your unique brain function," the Xatu said, "may I ask that all of you are in agreement to attempt to learn telepathy? Forgive me, but I'm uncertain if one personality can hinder the others in learning this skill if one does not like the idea.

"The mind can be both very powerful and very fragile simultaneously," Apple continued. "Everyone should agree to work together on this. You may need to all wish to project your thoughts together if you wish to communicate with others telepathically."

[Deleted]

Angel|Mai|Fall

Mai closed her eyes a moment, standing still as a stone sculpture aside from her fur twitching in a passing breeze. She should have expected this. She didn't imagine that Angel would try to keep her from learning telepathy. In fact, she wondered if perhaps he would be able to master it if she could. She couldn't seem to locate him now, though. He was too far from the surface at the moment.

And so was Fall. Perhaps that was a good thing. Mai had the feeling that Fall would try to stop her, but if xe wasn't trying to co-front now, then xe wouldn't know what she was doing anyway.

Mai opened her eyes and gazed up at Apple again, saying, "I wasn't able to get in touch with either of my alters, but would you be willing to try to teach me, regardless? Just in case it isn't absolutely necessary for my alters and I to all try at the same time." It would make sense that way. After all, they did plenty of other things without being in touch. Why should telepathy be any different?

At least, that was Mai's hope.

Tags: Kurt Emerson

[Kurt Emerson]

(Tags: Aera)

Apple listened to Mai's words, and the Xatu tilted her head in thought. After a moment, her feathers ruffled before smoothing down again.

"I can try if that is what you wish," Apple said. "However, I implore you to heed my warning. With three minds inhabiting one body, a powerful skill such as telepathy may be the deciding factor in which mind becomes dominate. Although we will practice filtering, telepathy allows one's mind to remain open to any and all thoughts. I am unsure as to how one alter learning telepathy will affect the others...

"Again, your species is of the Psychic-type, so it may not matter as much," the Xatu continued, "but there is always that possibility that telepathy will grant your mind more power than the others. For all I know, a powerful mind can push out the weaker ones."

Apple turned her gaze to the sky, her eyes unfocused. "I do not foresee any problems with your alters at the moment, but that can mean nothing. The future can change in a blink by any and all circumstances. It may not be necessary for your alters and yourself to not try telepathy at once, but such a skill could nevertheless change your situation permanently."

Her unblinking gaze turned back to Mai. "I will not take any fault in such a thing. Is that still acceptable?"

[Deleted]

Angel|Mai|Fall

Mai's gaze fell to the grass before her. The notion that learning telepathy could change the very structure of her and her alters' minds was something she hadn't considered. Would this make her more powerful than Angel? Would they both be more powerful together, once he learned it? Or, worse: what could Fall do if xe had that kind of power? On the other hand, it was just telepathy. Fall couldn't do anything to them with telepathy. Besides, Kurt was a rational and kind man. Mai wasn't entirely sure how to feel about humans knowing of her existence inside "Angel's" mind, but she felt like she could trust Kurt with that revelation.

"I'm confident," she said finally, "that learning telepathy won't give me any power over my other alters, or give them power over me. It's hard to say what will happen for sure, but I'm willing to take that risk, and won't blame you if the outcome is bad."

Kurt Emerson

[Kurt Emerson]

(@aeranautics, so you see this. I figured this could be a good open-ending for the thread (that, and it's been a while for this thread, which I apologize for). I doubt telepathy is a thing that can be learned in one afternoon, so I thought Mai's and company's lessons could be happening in the background for future threads, and you can control how well (or not) the lessons are going. We can do a couple of more lesson threads in the future (although I'm not positive how well I'll RP out teaching telepathy, ), if you'd like, but it could be a bit of a background arc.)

After Apple's warning, Mai took a few moments to reflect on her thoughts, which Apple was pleased about. It wouldn't due for the Meowstic to take the idea of telepathy as anything but serious. It could be a mental strain for all involved, and understanding the risks was just the first lesson.

"Confidence is an excellent trait in telepathy," the Xatu said, a brief hint of a smile coming and going on her beak. "For without confidence, how would you be able to be strong enough to communicate with others with merely a thought?

"Very well, then," Apple continued. "I must ask that, whenever you are next able to get in touch with your alters that you inform them of these lessons. For now, however, we will practice emptying our minds. Get in a comfortable position and take deep breaths. Focus on nothing but your breathing. In through the nose -- one, two, three, four -- and exhale through the mouth -- four, three, two, one..."