Bit arrived at the mansion bright and early the next morning, ready to pass on the information he had obtained. Upon scanning the house with his infrared vision, he did not detect an Ampharos in the grounds. He did detect one in the garden behind the house, though, and decided to go around. The gathered 'mon were looking at two that had a Mega Stone and a Keystone, discussing how they would go about activating them.

“If it is not too much trouble,” Bit said from behind the Electric-type, “This unit would like to observe the phenomena as well.”

Tyler spun around in surprise at the voice, only to find a Porygon-Z. “Oh, you must be Bit. Yeah, I guess you could watch if you like. I dunno if it’ll work the first time.”

“I do not possess such information...there was hardly an abundance of mega-stones or keystones where we were detained,” the program replied, still looking at him. “Nor is it likely they would have worked.”

“Yeah, I suppose strong bonds between humans and Pokemon weren’t common outside of Vincent.” Queen sighed.

There was a moment of awkward silence, before Lisia spoke up. “Well what are you waiting for Tyley? Let’s get this show on the road!”

The Ampharos groaned at the nickname, “I thought I told you not to call me that.” He then reached up and tapped the mega stone, which flashed several times, before Queens stone did as well, before they both reverted to their previous state.

“No! no! no!” Lisia exclaimed. “You’re not putting enough emotion into it! You can’t just halfheartedly tap the stone and expect something to happen! Put your heart into it!”

Tyler grumbled slightly, straightened his back, and tried again. The stones glowed even brighter this time, and a faint light began to surrounded Queens body, before once again dissipating.

Lisia rubbed her chin, “Better… try saying some sort of phrase with it to help. I know a lot of people do that.”

“Uhh… like what?”

“I dunno, I never really had to do that. I met this guy from Kalos once, and he said something like ‘Two beings, as one… yadda yadda yadda, MEGA EVOLUTION’!”

“Thanks, that really helps.” Tyler put a hand to his chin and thought for a few moments. “Uh… ok, I think I have an idea.” He reached up for a third time to his tiara, and held his paw there, “Uh… two souls, intertwined, um… combine to create… mega evolution!”

Despite his lack of confidence, the words seemed to do their trick, as both gems lit up, almost blinding the others present, before a purple glow encompassed Queen, energy shifting around her, until it finally flashed brighter one more time, revealing Queen, now taller, and fluffier, with an iridescent shine on her wings and crown.

“Woah,” she mumbled, looking down at herself. “I feel… weird.”

Ali came over and nuzzled his daughter, “Oh my goodness! Honey you’re gorgeous! You remind me so much of your mother, except Flygon can’t mega evolve.”

“Intriguing,” Bit said as he tilted his disconnected head. “An increase of power, a change of typing...I will have to go over the phenomena one day. Much data has been gleaned from watching this.”

Queen tilted her head in confusion, “Uh... you’re welcome I suppose. Don’t I also have a change in ability? I think my Normal-type moves are Fairy-type now.”

“Yup!” Lisia confirmed, “Tyler had you learn Hyper Voice right? Use it on Ali to test it, if he’s ok with that that is,” she looked to her Altaria, who nodded apprehensively.

“Ok,” Queen flapped her wings several times, lifting herself into the air, “All this fluff is throwing off my balance,” she complained, before righting herself, and calling out “Hyper Voice!” The powerful pulses, usually white, were now pink, and blasted around Ali, causing him to stumble backwards several feet. Once the attack ended, Queen landed back down again, and gave her father a concerned look. “Daddy, you alright?”

“Yes, don’t worry hun. I’m just not used to being on that end of that attack.” He shook his head slightly, then smiled proudly. “My baby girl has grown up to be a very powerful ‘mon indeed!”

Queen blushed heavily, then allowed the evolution to revert. “Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without Tyler,” she smiled at her trainer.

“Information recorded,” Bit said with a nod of his head. “I will have to pass it along to Vincent and Lucy when I next get the chance. They have been curious as to how to properly work their own set of stones.”

“Eheh… yeah.” Everyone present blushed slightly at the Porygon’s remark.

Tyler cleared his throat, trying to alleviate the awkward situation, “So, Vincent said you were gonna give me some specs on how to make my own potions?”

“Affirmative, however, this unit has not come equipped with paper or writing implements.”

“Uh, ok. I think Fancy has some up in his office, just follow me.”

The program obediently nodded once and started following the Ampharos into the mansion, and through several hallways until they reached a pair of mahogany doors. Tyler knocked several times, before Fancy invited them in, and gave them the supplies they needed.

Tyler began going up to his room to use his desk, but Bit suddenly stopped behind him.

“Something wrong?” Tyler questioned.

“Is Sub-...Valerie within these premises?” the Program ‘mon asked.

Tyler shook his head, “No, I had Shadow take her out to lunch. They left about an hour ago, he’s supposed to stall her for as long as possible so you two don’t… well… meet.”

“...Very well,” Bit returned before going back to normal. “If you say so, Mister Tyler.”

Tyler sagged slightly, “Well… it was actually Vincent’s idea. If you ask me you two should find some way to make up, but I don’t really know what it was like in there. The most I can relate to Vincent is not having a very good dad, but even then the two are extremely different.”

“An understatement, but I see the logic behind your original point,” the Porygon-Z gave off a simulated sigh. “This unit...would not mind making up with the survivors. But they...did not believe that I was truly insane during our time there. Truly broken. And even now, I still respond to Vincent’s voice, because a part of me still wants to.”

“Yeah… I don’t really know how to help with that, I guess… try making a heartfelt apology. Even lie slightly if you have to. Sometimes to make a proper apology for something not in your control, you have to accept more blame than you’re deserving of to convince them.”

“...I will keep that in mind,” the program nodded. “Shall we continue with our assigned task, then?”

“Sure.”

Just then, they saw a purple Eevolution, accompanied by an Umbreon, walk into the room. When the Ampharos spotted Valerie he stumbled, and dropped the stack of paper he was holding under his arm. Valerie turned around at the noise, and spotted Tyler frantically picking up the sheets off the carpet. “Oh, hey Tyler. Who’s this?”

Tyler stuttered a bit, “Uh this is, um, er…”

“Tib, I am Tyler’s newest financial planner,” the program said in a deep, synthetic voice.

Valerie gave the Porygon an odd, and slightly suspicious look at the strange name, “Hi. I’m Valerie. Uh, I guess I’ll just let you two get back to it.”

Tyler finally finished collecting the paper back up, “Yep! We’ll go do just that! Heh…”

“Indeed,” the program replied before following after the Ampharos. “There is much yet to discuss.”

The two quickly exited the room, and only once they were in another one, did Bit sigh in relief. “That was too close for operational comfort. I thought she was being distracted?”

“That’s what Shadow was supposed to be doing. Maybe wherever he took her ended up not working out?” The Ampharos groaned slightly and put a hand to his face. “But, hopefully she’ll go do something else, and we can just get this done before something else happens.” He then set the paper down on the desk, and pulled a pencil from the pre equipped jar. “Wait… can you even hold pencils?”

“Merely open those ink jars,” the program said as he pointed to the ink he’d asked for the electric-type to grab. “My arms and tail can serve as makeshift pens when dipped lightly into them.”

“Ok,” Tyler shrugged, and opened one of the jars, setting it by the paper. “Do you think you could try to explain it in layman's terms? I barely passed chemistry.”

“I can try,” the program replied as he dipped one arm in the ink and began writing at a blazing speed.

“Woah, wish I could do that back when I was in school,” The Ampharos joked.

BIt quickly finished off the first sheet, and handed it to Tyler, “That is for crafting an antidote, something I am sure is one of the more important items you will need.”

“Uh… thanks. Did Vincent tell you she was cured?”

“Yes, but she is still a poison-type. If she were to fight effectively against anyone else, you may need to give this to whoever is on the receiving end of her moves.”

Tyler nodded, “Well in that case make the next one you write down a burn heal, since Kenny has caused several recently.”

“Affirmative. Any other status healing items you desire before I move on to the potions?” The program had already dipped his arm back in the inkpot.

“Yeah, my ability is Static, so Paralyze Heals would be handy.”

The Porygon nodded, and drafted another sheet, this one labeled ‘Burn Heal,’ and handed it to Tyler, before writing out all of the information for Paralyze Heal, and handing it off as well. “What Potions should I provide the information for?”

“Hmm… I guess the basic, super, and hyper. I’m planning on selling these, so new world trainers and Pokemon won’t want waste money on powerful potions for small injuries, or use ten weaker potions for large injuries.”

“That sounds very logical,” the program replied before beginning his latest task. “If anything else comes to mind, do inform this unit. Information is useless if it isn’t shared.”

“I’ll think on it while you write em’ down.” Tyler replied. After a minute or so, Bit had written down specifications for the potions, and looked expectantly to Tyler for any other requests. “One other thing, do you have information on how to craft incense? More specifically Rose Incense.”

“Such information is in my databanks,” the program replied. “I can also provide information on the variants if you desire.”

“No, just Rose is good. I’ve heard it can have calming effects on grass types.”

“Of course. For what purpose, if may this unit inquire,” Bit asked as he began writing down the information.

“It’s Sarah, she’s the Serperior staying with us. She… gets really upset sometimes, like mood swings or panic attacks. She hates them, especially when her son is around. I thought maybe since Rose Incense is supposed to help calm Grass-Types, it could be helpful.”

“Your line of questioning is not irrational,” the program responded before putting ink to paper once more. “I wish you the best of luck in crafting this item.”

“Thanks, she-” Before Tyler could finish the door to his room swung open, and an irate Valerie came in.

“Oh, uh… Hi Valerie.”

“Don’t ‘hi’ me Tyler, I know who this is.”

Bit seemed to be slightly panicked, if his jerky movements could be interpreted as such. “I do not know what you mean,” he said, his deep synthesized voice back. “I am merely-”

“Stop.” The Poison-Type interrupted, “Just… stop. I heard you through the door, and I’m honestly a little humiliated I was fooled by ‘Tib’.”

“...Not my best move,” Bit said as he resumed his normal voice. “I...had rather hoped not to meet you again. Especially not so soon.”

“Finally feeling guilty, huh?”

“I have always felt guilty, Valerie. I… I should have fought harder, it’s my fault-”

“You’re damn right it is! You… you helped him so many times! So many… just… I can’t deal with this. I hope you finish your ‘financial planning’ soon, so you can leave.” She then backed out of the room and padded down the hallway.

A few seconds later, Shadow ran into the room, “Tyler, I’m sorry, I tried but she locked me in a closet!”

“It’s ok Shadow, you tried. I think she needs you now more than ever.” Tyler sighed.

The Umbreon nodded, “I’ll go see if theres anything she needs,” before exiting the room and following after her.

“...I will leave a note for her, I doubt she wants to hear my words at this juncture,” the program replied as he wrote one final thing.

To Sub

To Valerie.

I know this note will be of little comfort to you. But please consider the following words.

We are more alike than you think.

We were both forced into our evolutions.

The doctor forced me to become something that should not be: a Porygon2 with the capabilities of a Porygon-Z, without the control thereof. I was...desperate for some control over my power. Any control.

Even when he began reprogramming me to respond to his voice, and his voice alone, I welcomed it, because it was control. As I began to regain my own, though, I found that I could not fight back. No matter how much I might have wanted to.

You should be thankful nobody can access your mind as easily as he did mine. Some days, all I can hear at night are the screams the screams the screams the scream-

...I apologize. I still have...difficulty thinking about what happened. If it offers you any consolation, though. Yours was one of those situations that I used to motivate myself to fight harder.

Truly sorry,

Bit

“One to Ponyville, please,” Bit asked of the colt behind the counter, having brought along a small bag of bits to pay for his own ticket.

“Five bits,” the colt replied as he punched the program’s ticket up. With a clink, the gold was in front of the pony, and the ticket was in his grasp. “Next train is in ten minutes.”

“My thanks,” Bit replied as he made himself as comfortable as he could be, when he was constantly hovering.

He almost fired off a Hyper Beam attack when suddenly, he was tackled from the side. The program looked to his side, and found Valerie tightly gripping his right arm. “Bit! I’m so sorry! I was just looking for someone to blame on this world! You didn’t deserve that! Please! Forgive me!”

“I never blamed you for your anger,” Bit said softly. “I never could. I do deserve their anger and scorn, for not fighting more, trying more, when I could have…”

Valerie squeezed his arm tighter, “No! You don’t! We’ve all had moments of weakness! And what you did… it’s no more fault than my brother was.”

“It is...kind of you to say that,” the Porygon-Z replied. “I am grateful you understand the situation now. I am not certain if I am worthy of your forgiveness, but I am thankful for it.”

There was a moment of silence, neither of them knowing exactly what to say next, before Bit finally spoke up, “I do not recall you being such a ‘hugger’.”

Valerie giggled at the remark, “When you can’t touch anyone without hurting them for five years… you like to touch others as much as possible once you can.”

“Noted,” the program said as the train pulled in. “This is me. If you would kindly release me, I have studies to conduct under the princess of magic.”

The Veneon released him, a sad smile on her muzzle. “I hope I can see you again soon, my parent’s live in Las Pegasus too, and laid another egg, it should be hatching in a few weeks.”

“I wish them the best of luck then,” the program replied as he floated onto the train. “Take care, Valerie. Your story is too precious to be allowed to close now.”

Author's Notes:

Part three of a crossover with Snek's story A new world, a new identity.