Bit hummed contentedly to himself. The information he had compiled had finally been properly cross-referenced and filed into a dossier on Equestria as a whole. From everything as fundamental as the laws of physics here to things as complex as societal interactions. There was even a section on this 'magic' the locals were capable of harnessing. Properly organizing all the information freed up a good deal of processing power, but he still needed a computer in the near future. His memory was starting to fill up at an alarming pace. Still, he could do his job for Ace at a much increased pace, now that he didn't have that process running in the background.

His work was abruptly interrupted, by Ace. "Bit, you have a visitor."

The Porygon-Z's head turned to look at the mare before beeping. "Who is it?"

"Identified himself as Genesect."

At that, the rest of his body turned and his eyes widened a fraction. "Lord Genesect is here? Did he say why?"

Ace shrugged. "He just said he wanted to see you."

Bit processed the new information and came to a conclusion. Namely, that seeing the Legendary would be in his best interest. He floated out to see the large purple Bug-type standing in the lobby, giving his lack of an expression to the mare behind the desk. Upon catching sight of the Porygon-Z floating out, Genesect seemed to perk up a bit. At least, as much as anyone with their sorts of facial structures could do.

"Ah, greetings. You are Bit, the Porygon-Z associated with Vincent, correct?"

Bit dinged once before responding. "Indeed, Lord Genesect. Might I inquire as to the purpose of your visitation to me?"

Genesect nodded. "You may. While I am on a slight journey to find those families who were victims of the Doctor, I have come to the realization that there are former humans and Pokemon like yourself who simply cannot do without modern conveniences from Earth. So I came here to the guard station in Las Pegasus in search of you. Just my fortune that you would happen to be here. As you would say, I propose an information exchange. On my part, I offer the knowledge of Earth's more useful devices, to be used and disseminated as you see fit."

Bit ticked while he considered the offer. It was everything he wanted, but the question remained. What would he proffer the Legendary in exchange? The answer came to him like a Thunderbolt, and he dinged several times. "This unit has a simple object to proffer in exchange for such information."

Genesect's eyes flashed once before he replied. "What would that be?"

"A dossier on my time in Equestria so far," Bit replied.

Genesect nodded once, slowly, before replying. "That sounds interesting. What sort of information is in this dossier?"

Bit would have grinned. "All sorts."

Sam was not having a good day. Neither were Fredrick or Mary, to be honest. His new shift had started simple enough, with him bringing food out to the ponies and Pokemon that came in, but once the griffon and Sandslash had tried having him bring out a few drinks to a young couple, well...

It was just luck on his part that those ponies had been incredibly forgiving for being splashed with cider. Sam wasn't even sure how he'd managed to trip and coat them that badly in it. But while the pony couple had been very forgiving, Mary and Fredrick...not so much. Even if they couldn't understand one another, the two of them somehow knew exactly what to say to cut to the quick when berating him.

"How in the world did you screw up that badly?"

Sam cringed from the griffon's question. "I'm sorry!"

Mary threw in her two bits as well. "What, did you decide that your time here was too boring, and want to liven it up a little?"

Sam shied back a step from the angry Sandslash. "I'm sorry!" he repeated.

The both of them sighed. Fredrick muttered some observations then. "You were doing just fine with the food, even in rush hour. Something about rushing you with liquids resulted in this..."

The griffon would shake his head then. "Can't be helped. We'll switch jobs for today. I'll seat the customers, you can bring the food out." The airborn feline then gave Sam a harsh glare. "You can bring out the food, right?"

The Scizor quickly nodded his compliance, and the griffon muttered before moving out into the restaurant as a whole. Mary waited all of five seconds before asking Sam another question. "So, seriously, what happened out there?"

The bug-type gently knocked one of his claws against his body, and a soft ringing sound echoed for a moment. "That," he replied, "Is the sound of an armor and body I'm not used to yet. It was only after a lot of self-examination exercises that I managed to be not quite so clumsy as a Scyther. My body says one thing when I go to move, but my armor begs to differ."

The grin on the face of the Shiny Sandslash could almost be described as sadistic at those words. "Oh, is that all? Well, we can work on that after hours."

For some reason, Sam felt a chill go down his spine...

Vincent was enjoying his time on the town, regaling Xerneas with some tales of his family's travels through this new world, along with some of the...lighter stories from the lab, few as they were. Lucy, when prodded, offered her input on what few tales involved her, and the Lady of Life smiled and commented on the tales the young Kadabra kept sharing with her, occasionally posing a question of her own.

You should have been there, Xerneas! It was beautiful. If there were a more perfect moment than that one, I don't want to know!

The Legendary chuckled at that. "Good to know that Arceus bringing that over wasn't entirely for bragging purposes, I suppose. After all, if you can find such a location perfect for romantic purposes, who's to say others won't as well?"

Lucy smiled, a tight, thin thing, as she fought her own protective, jealous instincts. This was Xerneas, the one who'd been keeping him alive all that time. She should be thankful that the Legendary took the matter as seriously as she did, even in her prison. Without her, Vincent likely would not be alive to this day. And there was no indication that there was anything beyond a desire to catch up with the one she'd saved and kept saving all those years ago.

So why did she feel the urge to snarl near constantly?

The three Pokemon neared a large scrapyard, and Vincent held a hand up before speaking to the ones accompanying him. Hang on, this is where I'm most likely to find generator and capacitor parts for the home. Plus, while I'm here, I'll ask someone about modifying the heater in the basement. It'll just be a minute.

Before the other two could get a word in edgewise, the psychic had walked through the chain-link gate and into the scrapyard proper, leaving the Legendary and the Lucario on the other side. Lucy sighed and looked to Xerneas, who was looking at her. "Um, listen, Xerneas, about..."

"I know."

Such a simple statement could not have inspired a greater reaction than that one. The female Lucario stiffened. "You do?"

"Indeed, and I find it admirable that you've kept yourself in check for so long, but you really have nothing to fear from me on that front, little Lucy. All I desire with Vincent is a friendship, nothing more." She looked away for a moment before continuing. "There...could never be anything more."

Now curious, the Lucario perked her ears forward. "Oh?"

The Lady of Life nodded absently before replying. "It's simple math. No matter how long he'll live...how long any of you will live, the truth remains, I am an immortal. And while I do care for all living creatures...I couldn't truly share my life with any but an immortal as well. I can have friends amongst the mortals, yes. But any attempt to have more than a friendship with one is destined to tear my heart asunder as they pass in front of my eyes."

Lucy actually felt her jealously melt away, to be replaced with empathy for the Legendary. She drew closer and gently guided Xerneas' head so that the two of them were looking at one another again. And then the Lucario hugged the patron of the Fairy-types, catching her off-guard for a moment. "Wha...why are you-"

"Shh," Lucy shushed Xerneas. "Just enjoy it for a moment."

Surprisingly, she did just that. "This...is nice. Thank you."

Lucy nodded and then let go of Xerneas. "You need to find something more than just a friendship with someone, immortal or not."

The Legendary moved to protest, and Lucy held up a paw to silence the coming objections. Begrudgingly, Xerneas nodded, and Lucy continued. "I understand, I do. Or rather, I can imagine. The pain you must feel as your friends are buried before you. But until you do share your life with someone...you're never really whole."

Xerneas actually muttered and took on a slightly angry expression. "How can you claim to know a fraction of my pain, yet still tell me I need to share myself with another?"

Lucy didn't seem worried at all. In fact, she smiled. "Two reasons. One, Vincent spent a little time with every Pokemon that he could. Even when he eventually learned they were going to die, he spent time with them. He has such pain in his heart...and yet, he's happy now. I'd like to think I'm part of the reason. If he can do it, I'd like to think that you can, too."

Xerneas winced at the explanation. "And the other?"

Lucy softly touched Xerneas' chest before saying the next part. "Because, even it were for a short while, it would make you happy. Which would make Vincent happy. Which is all I really want."

It took the Legendary a moment to puzzle out the logic behind the second reason, and when she did, she chuckled. "Selfish and altruistic at the same time. Well done." The Lady of Life sighed and looked to the horizon for a moment before nodding. "I will...consider your words and advice, Lucy. Thank you."

Lucy smirked. "Anytime."

Once again, Equestrian Timing reared its head, and Vincent walked out of the scrapyard with a large heap of parts on a pallet, held in his psychic grip. Gah...this is heavy! Little help here, Lucy?

The Lucario ran forward and took a hold of the jack that was barely visible under the mound of metal. The weight was substantial, but not something she felt she couldn't haul back to the apartment. "All of this, for those projects?"

Yeah, Vincent groused, But it turns out that in order to do the heater modifications, I'll have to hit up the utilities department in town, and they'll send a pony 'round. Nobody here knows how to do central air conditioning, and the water tank is probably going to have to be something we order and have delivered, along with a fair bit of piping. Still, I have leads on this stuff, and we can probably ask Bit if he knows how to do these sorts of things when we get back.

With those words, the three made their way back to the apartment. Vincent idly wondered how Bit and Sam's days had went.

Sam stood in the alley behind the restaurant, facing down Mary.

She didn't move. She didn't twitch. She didn't even blink. Sam felt safe for the moment. Then he exhaled.

Instantly, Mary was there, in his face, drawing her claws back for a powerful Scratch attack. He could see the edge on those claws, and it was not a dull one!

"DODGE!" she screamed at him, and he hastened to comply, successfully not tripping over his own two feet for once. This did not earn him any concessions, though, as the Sandslash then moved to Tackle his legs, trying to make him lose his footing.

Sam didn't even think, he just reacted, and twirled around the little hedgehog. His wings, useless though they were, shot out and started to fan the air, attempting to stabilize him after his sudden move. It worked, and the Scizor now stood where the Sandslash did, staring at her as she turned to face him again.

"Are we done now?" he asked, flexing to make sure he hadn't pulled anything. He winced as the damage report came in, but kept it mostly under control.

Mary shrugged. "For now. I'll see about letting playbird have you try again with the drinks tomorrow, and we'll keep up these sessions if we have to. I am not having you spill things on anyone anymore."

Sam groaned as the thought of more training hit him.

Bit was ecstatic. Sure, he could feel the stutter coming back, but he had all the information he could have wished for. Before, it was merely a fifty/fifty chance that he could get a computer functioning by the end of the year.

Now, he knew that, given two weeks and the proper parts, a rudimentary computer could be built by him. One that could at the very least serve to store information. Or...

Oooh, that was an idea! Perhaps he could supplement or even add to the functions of one of the machines by integrating 'magic' into it! Crystals and gemstones seemed to be prime materials to serve as 'magic' batteries. He would have to procure a few, along with an amicable, talented unicorn for the 'spellweaving'. With 'magic', so many hurdles seemed suddenly surmountable. Such as the problem of connecting two of any machine together to form a rudimentary Internet, or of setting up a series of servers. If there were a way to do such a thing with 'magic'...

Bit could have his mainframe again!

The very idea sent thrills through his body, and he shuddered at the thought.

Yes, Life Itself was comprised of observable information that could be measured and stored. But a Porygon's place was in the realm of numbers, machines, and cold logic and calculations. Spending as much time away from the mainframe as he had was not advised for a number of reasons. He would still take that advice from Manehatten to heart, though.

He wouldn't spend all his time in a mainframe. Just the time when his family was asleep.

He paused for a moment, concerned, before nodding and accepting what he had just thought. Yes, his family. He might not have been as big a part of it as the others were, but he cared for them all the same. Maybe when the time was right, he could be called a brother as well?

He could only hope.

The sun was slowly going down, and Vincent stood at the front door of the building, a frown on his face. Xerneas stood outside, facing the small psychic, a smile playing on her face. Are you sure you have to go?

The Legendary nodded before stepping close and dipping her head down to nuzzle at the Kadabra. "Sadly, yes, I do." She then nudged him with her muzzle and winked before continuing. "Besides, you have enough female companionship here already."

To their credit, it only took the young couple a moment before they would instinctively react with a blush to that statement. The Lady of Life giggled and stood back up, catching the sunlight in her antlers and sending a wash of color over the front of the building. "Rest assured, though, little Vincent. Should you have need of me, merely send word to the temple, and I will answer as fast as I may. It's the least I can do."

Vincent shook his head and stepped forward, hugging the Legendary across her chest before replying. I'll try not to. I'd rather you enjoy your time here than spend it all with me. There must be something here you want to do.

Xerneas softly sighed and draped her head over Vincent's shoulder before answering his statement. "Spending time with you is enjoyable enough for me...but very well. I will attempt to find something else to do than sit in the Temple all day."

That's all I ask. The Kadabra released the deer-like Legendary and ducked out from under her head. Though I most certainly will send you an invite for when the refit is done, so that you can see the place in all its glory for yourself.

Xerneas nodded once, a soft smile on her face. "I look forward to it. Until we next meet, Vincent."

The Legendary turned and walked down the street, slowly fading from view. Not too long after, Sam showed up, sore and tired.

"What..."

The Scizor held up one claw to stop the question Lucy had been about to pose. "I don't want to talk about it."

After that, he merely walked inside and fell into a heap in the lobby. "Here's fine," his voice, muffled by the floor his face was buried in, rang out. "I really don't want to move right now, so here's just as good as anywhere."

Lucy rolled her eyes and started to drag her klutzy older brother upstairs to his bed. Vincent had been about to go lend a hand when Bit showed up, eying the pallet of parts on the front lawn. "Query: Purpose of these parts."

They're to help us build a Pokemon-friendly generator and capacitor for the building, Bit.

The Porygon-Z dinged a few times before making his reply. "Suggestion: you allow this unit to handle the construction and rewiring of this building. It can be done in one night if this unit does not stop."

Vincent was hesitant, to say the least. You're sure?

At the Porygon-Z's nod, the Kadabra shrugged. All right, if you think you can handle it, then I leave it in your hands, Bit. I don't need it to be done right now, so don't feel obligated to do it in one night.

You could almost see the program smile, if you knew where to look. "Have no fear, this unit will take the utmost of care while attempting to not sacrifice speed in the process."

And so, every other Pokemon in the building turned in for the night.

Author's Notes:

The next chapter is going to be part one of two of my crossover with Evowizard, the one behind The Great And Glorious Sev of the PLA.
And while the first part still fits within the tags and rating system of this story, the second part...
Oh Arceus the second part.
I'm going to need to add a tag for the second part. Maybe two.
We're flirting pretty hard with the rating system for the second part.