Chapter Text
Volo has been alive for well over three thousand years.
He’s seen a lot in his time. He’s ventured from Hisui to Galar, Kanto, Kalos, and many places that have remained nameless. All in all, he quite enjoys being immortal.
At the moment, Volo is in Sinnoh. He’s grown accustomed to change over the years, but the changes recently have been especially jarring. Hisui had gone from a sparsely populated wilderness to a booming nation of cities and towns. The current champion was one of the strongest trainers in the world, and the woman he just took his position from is no one to scoff at either. Sinnoh was greater in many ways than Hisui.
He still felt bittersweet as he saw every change. The land where he married, where he raised dozens of Pokémon, where he taught his daughter to throw a pokeball… it’s all different.
However, Pokémon conservation isn’t a strongpoint. Volo has an advantage with his immortality, so he’s been keeping hold of every Pokémon he can. Regrettably, he couldn’t secure the bloodline of every Hisuian noble, but a few of them are still wandering about.
He’s still kept a very important promise, and the current Lady Sneasel is clinging to his shoulder. Volo can’t imagine being a warden, but he seems to be the closest thing to one left. Lady Sneasel is meant to stay in her Pokéball in public, but the path to snowpoint city was unpopulated enough that she could enjoy her rightful seat on Volo.
Today is a day he’s been waiting for. The subway bosses of Nimbasa have gone missing without a trace.
It’s not that he’d been excited for this- well, selfishly, he was a bit excited that his past self would get to meet Ingo and Akari. However, that wasn’t why he’d been waiting.
He was going to help get them back home.
It would take a while; he knew that well. Getting started now would make things go much faster.
His first stop before heading to Unova was Snowpoint City.
Three Hundred years ago, Volo met Akari on the same snowy ground he now stood.
Lord Avalugg, to Irida’s dismay, did not have any information about destined friendship. He very well could have said some very important words about fate, but only Gaeric could understand what he’d said.
“D’ya think it’s fate that wardens get chosen?” Irida muttered, skipping along the snowy iceland terrain. “Only Gaeric can understand Lord Avalugg, but I dunno if it’s a magic bond or if they’re just super in sync.”
Akari shrugged, clutching Chingling and Eevee to her chest. “I don’t really believe in fate. I just went along with this because you’re my best friend and I like when you’re happy.”
“Huh?!” Irida suddenly stopped and spun around on her heel. “You can’t tell me you don’t believe in fate! Not after you n’ Ingo landed in the same place at the same time and Chingling led Ingo all the way to you!“
Akari shrugged again, pressing a light kiss to Chingling’s head. “I like thinking it’s a coincidence. If its fate, then,” she pauses, “that means us getting lost and forgetting wasn’t an accident.”
“Oh,” Irida frowned, “that makes sense.”
Akari smiled softly. “It’s okay, though. I’m glad we got to meet you.”
Irida’s frown quickly faded, replaced by an enormous grin. “Yeah! Even if it’s not fate, I’m glad we’re—”
“Grrrarf!”
“Togepi! Togepi, use— Don’t run away! No, TOGEPI, GET BACK HERE!”
Someone, not so far from the pair, seemed to be battling a Pokémon. Well, trying to battle a Pokémon. Their partner didn’t sound very obedient.
Irida perked up at the sound of the battle. She scooped Eevee out of Akari’s arms and sprinted in the direction of the chaos. The younger girl sputtered out a “wait!” before scurrying off to follow her friend.
The sounds of battle were coming from around a corner. A tall, blonde man in the familiar Ginkgo guild tunic was cornered by…
“ A Zorua!” Irida screamed, running to hide behind a rock. “Leave him Akari! He's as good as dead!”
“It’s just a little baby, Iri. I bet he’s just hungry.”
“He is— Togepi, no— vicious!” The man cried, squirming as the tiny creature stepped closer.
Akari sighed, plucked an Oran berry from a nearby tree, and tossed it at the Zorua. He turned around and sniffing the berry.
…
He yipped happily and scarfed down the berry, turning to Akari once he finished. He sat before her, obiedient eyes sparkling.
“See? Just hungry.” She threw a few more berries, and Zorua happily chomped them up.
Irida and the man both let out sighs of relief.
“I can’t believe it, Kari! How’d you just face it like that?!” Zorua barked and Irida jumped back. “Stay away from it!”
“He’s just a baby!” Akari cried, kneeling down to look at him. The Pokémon barked happily and jumped into her arms, comfortably snuggling up with Chingling. “And he’s my baby now!”
The man chuckled. “You’ve got skill in taming Pokémon, child. Who are you?”
“Akari. Pearl Clan member or mysterious outsider, depending on who you ask.”
“I am Lady Irida, leader of the Pearl Clan. I may be young, but I expect to be treated as a leader should be. I thank the Almighty Sinnoh for letting us share the same space.” Irida said, all in one breath.
“I am Volo, a salesman of the Ginkgo guild. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Volo smiled. His togepi wiggled in his arms.
“Well, Volo,” Irida puffed out her chest, “as leader of the Pearl Clan, it’s only right to assure you revive proper medical attention! Let us return to the settlement!”
Irida spun around and began stomping south.
“The settlement is to the north, Irida.” Akari whispered.
Irida spun once more, marching to the North. “Follow me, everyone! I know the way!”
Snowpoint City is a very comfortable place, despite the cold atmosphere. It has grown from the Pearl Settlement, much like Jubilife village has grown into a city.
(Well, the original Jubilife has shrunk into Twinleaf when the Galaxy Team had moved to a better settlement. History books tend to exclude that, only mentioning the newer Jubilife village. While it irritates Volo, he can’t exactly bring it up without someone asking why he’s so invested. That will end up as an awkward conversation.)
Lady Sneasel refuses to go back into her Pokéball, so she’s safely inside the front of Volo’s jacket. Her head is popping out by his chest, but the snowfall is heavy enough for her to be mistaken for a Gligar. He tends to fall on the “weird ditto” excuse when she really isn’t feeling cooperative, though.
There are few gym challengers in Snowpoint. All of Sinnoh is glued to their televisions, carefully watching the biggest missing persons case of the decade. A young gym challenger had been rising in the ranks, growing a fanbase as she showed great skill in battle. She entered the Sunnyshore gym, defeated Volkner, and hasn’t been seen since. There’s security footage of her walking out the door from inside the gym, but the outdoor cameras never show her walking out. Her Pokémon were found by the doors, but the girl was nowhere to be seen.
It’s Akari, Volo knows. He’s been watching her battles as she progressed. The same squishy baby face and vibrant personality he’s come to know shine through in every battle. The only real difference is her significant lack of train-related speech and a certain subway master's signature pose. She hasn’t met Ingo yet, so it makes sense.
Volo has already spoken to Volkner about the incident. He saw nothing, which is disappointing, but expected. This time, he isn’t visiting the gym to speak to its leader.
The gym is closed at the moment, but Volkner gave Volo the go-ahead to enter. He stands before the door, knocking loudly.
An employee scurries to the door. He opens it a crack.
“I’m sorry, but the gym is closed for the night.” He says. “Tomorrow at 9:00 AM we will be open.”
“I’m not a challenger, though I’m flattered you think I’m young enough to be one.” Volo smiles. “I’m here to speak to Candice. I have a referral from Volkner.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the note from Volkner. ‘Referral’ is rather generous- it's a scrawled note from the gym leader saying to let Volo in.
“Ah,” the employee frowns, “yes, this looks official. Come in.”
The gym puzzle is ahead, but Volo takes a sharp right and enters a side room.
Two women are sitting on a couch. One is sobbing into her hands.
“—and they’re— they’re just gone! They wouldn’t leave like that! They— they can’t— they have to be okay,” the first woman cries, rubbing her eyes with mascara stained hands.
“Hey, Elesa, deep breaths. It’s okay.”
“But it’s not, Candice! They’re gone, and I can’t do anything! ” Elesa cries out, pulling at her hair. “They could be dead— oh Dragons, they could be dead — and I was here instead of— of—” Her words become incomprehensible as she breaks into sobs. Candice pulls her into a hug, gently stroking her hair as she says to breathe.
Finally, Candice sees Volo. She stares at him with daggers in her eyes, silently gesturing to leave. He steps forward.
“Elesa?” He says, ignoring Candice’s look of rage, “I just heard about the twins. Are you alright?”
Elesa looks up, wet mascara running down her face. The second she catches a proper look at Volo, she wiggles out of Candice’s arms and barreled into a hug.
“ Volo! ” She weeps, “oh, Volo, they’re— they're gone! ”
He hugs her back tight. Lady Sneasel hisses at being squished between them, but it’s still hard to hear over the crying.
“I know, I know. They’ll be okay, I promise.”
“You can’t! ” Elesa sobs. “You can’t promise that! They could be— someone could have taken them! Someone could have killed them! Oh Dragons, no, no… ” She’s panicking, starting to hyperventilate into Volo’s chest.
He sits her down on the ground, squeezing her hand as he opens his bag. “Elesa, you need to breathe slowly. Here,” he pulls out a CasteliaCone, somehow kept like new in his large bag, “the cold will distract you.”
Elesa takes a long, deep breath and shoves the ice cream in her mouth. Volo knows that sugar is bad for panic, but he didn’t have the foresight to bring any ice cubes.
He turns to Candice and smiles. “I’m sorry for intruding. I’m a friend of Elesa’s, and when I heard about what happened I immediately wanted to see her.”
“It’s alright. Better you comfort her than me. I’m more of a work friend.” Candice chuckles. “I’ll give you two some space. I’ll be in my office if you need anything , okay?” Volo nods and Elesa mumbles something through a mouthful of ice cream. Candice smiled at the pair softly and walks out, shutting the door with a quiet click.
Volo met Elesa five years ago. He’d been running through the Unova gym challenge a tenth time when he went through hers.
She was a relatively new leader at the time, but her skill in battle reminded him of Akari. She travelled often for modelling and he travelled often for sanity, so they ended up meeting a few more times in odd places. It sparked a completely unplanned friendship— Volo had no clue she was friends with Ingo until a few years ago.
While he is glad to be Elesa’s friend simply because she’s a wonderful person, he is sure that her trust will make his plan much easier. For now, the plan is on hold until Elesa is okay. He’s waited hundreds of years to bring Ingo and Akari home— he’s happy to wait until Elesa is better to start.
“Feeling any better?” Volo asks, plopping down next to her. “That’s the only cone I have, unfortunately.”
Elesa sniffles. “A bit. Panicking all the way in Sinnoh won’t do anything to help.” She giggles quietly and leans her head on Volo’s shoulder. “Some salesman you are, only having one thing in stock.”
Volo lets out a faux gasp. “If you keep calling me a bad salesman, I’ll have to start charging you!”
Elesa pouts and punches his arm. “You’d never do that! You love me too much!”
“Ah, you’re right,” Volo smiles, “I could never charge my best customer!”
“Doesn’t that make me your worst customer?” Elesa sniffles.
Volo shrugs. “That’s for me to know and you to wonder.”
Ingo had finally gotten the Sneasels to settle. The trio was curled up on his bed, softly snoring as they slept.
He was perched over them, carefully watching to make sure none tore his bedsheets even more than they had already.
From behind him, the door slammed open.
“INGO! WE’RE HOOOOOOME !”
Irida.
“Hi, Ingo!”
Akari.
“Ah, Sneaselets!”
…a stranger?
Ingo whipped around, his eyes piercing as he stared down the stranger.
“Ingo, this is Volo. He’s from the Ginkgo guild.” Akari smiled. “He knows tons about Pokémon!”
“Ooh, where'd ya find three of these cuties?!” Irida squealed, sliding across the floor to get a closer look. “They’re big for babies! Are they alphas?”
“I can’t imagine they are, Lady Irida. I’m not sure anyone could catch three alphas in a few hours.” Volo chuckled.
Ingo looked down at the triplets. “Are the children of nobles normally alphas? If so, they likely are on that track.”
Akari frowned. “Noble?”
Irida shrieked . “THESE ARE LADY SNEASLER’S KITS?!” The Sneasels perked up, groggily looking around. “Almighty Sinnoh, this is amazing !”
“Congratulations, mister Ingo!” Volo cheered. “Lady Sneasler hasn’t had a warden in a while, to my knowledge.”
Akari’s frown deepened. “Warden?”
“Lady Irida, I believe there’s something I don’t know about here. What does babysitting a few kits have to do with a warden?”
“When a noble gets you to look after their little babies, they’re seeing if they can trust you as a warden!” The leader grinned. “Not many people can put a rowdy Sneasel to bed, let alone three ! You’re in for sure!”
Ingo blinked.
“Oh! Congrats, Ingo!” Dawn smiled.
This was going to be a long day, Ingo could already tell.
Elesa is asleep. Her head is resting on Volo’s shoulder, and he can feel her softly breathing against him.
She’s terrified. She has every right to be— her best friends have disappeared without a trace. He knows they’re okay, but she doesn’t. She has no idea.
It makes him think about his Captain. The second person he’s ever been under the command of, and the first he ever respected.
Three thousand years ago, Emmet was the terror of the sea. At the same time, in a month, Volo boarded his ship for the first time. It’s funny, Volo thinks, how time works. How something can be in the past and future all at once. How someone can be standing in his space right now, and yet be so far away.
Almighty Sinnoh, he needs to take a nap.
Volo closes his eyes and leans against Elesa. He’s not worried about getting anyone home, because he’s already seen it happen twice. He knows that he succeeds.
All he has to do is wait.
cold. cold cold cold cold
cold COLD COLD COLD
dawn is COLD she can’t breathe i can’t breathe breathe breathe breathe BREATHE WHY CANT SHE BREATHE IT HURTS HURTS HURTS HURTS TO
B R E A T H E
(Where am I?)
(Luxray, use flash!)
ⁿᵒ ⁿᵒ ⁿᵒ ⁿᵒ
shes crying she screams but nothing comes out there are no tears no tears THEY CANT HEAR HEAR ANYMORE please please please please you have to hear me it hurts please help help please
why why why
ⁿᵒ ⁿᵒ ⁿᵒ
WHY WHY WHY ITS NOT FAIR
(Where’s Barry? Where’s Lucas?)
please please just let me out
☟︎☜︎☹︎☹︎⚐︎
no no no no no no who are you GO AWAY GO AWAY
✋︎ 👍︎✌︎☠︎❄︎
shes crying again shes crying no no no no NO
they can’t do this to her.
THEY CANT DO THIS TO ME
👎︎⚐︎☠︎❄︎ 👍︎☼︎✡︎ ✋︎💣︎ 💧︎⚐︎☼︎☼︎✡︎
LET ME OUT LET ME OUT
they can’t hear her she’s dead dead dead dead
ⁿᵒ ⁿᵒ ⁿᵒ ⁿᵒ
✋︎💣︎ 💧︎⚐︎ 💧︎⚐︎☼︎☼︎✡︎ ✋︎ 👎︎⚐︎☠︎❄︎ ☹︎✋︎😐︎☜︎ 💧︎👍︎✌︎☼︎✋︎☠︎☝︎ ✌︎☠︎✡︎⚐︎☠︎☜︎
ˢʰᵉ ˢᶜʳᵉᵃᵐˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵇᵘᵍˢ ᵃʳᵉ ᶜᴿᴬᵂᴸᴵᴺᴳ ᴼᵁᵀ ᴼᶠ ᴴᴱᴿ ᵀᴴᴿᴼᴬᵀ ᴺᴼ ᴺᴼ ᴺᴼ
✋︎ ☝︎⚐︎ 💧︎⚐︎☼︎☼︎✡︎ 💧︎⚐︎☼︎☼︎✡︎ 💧︎⚐︎☼︎☼︎✡︎ 💧︎⚐︎☼︎☼︎✡︎ 💧︎⚐︎☼︎☼︎✡︎ 💧︎⚐︎☼︎☼︎✡︎ ☞︎⚐︎☼︎☝︎✋︎✞︎☜︎ 💣︎☜︎ 🏱︎☹︎☜︎✌︎💧︎☜︎
STOP STOP STOP IT
STOP TALKING LET ME GO
they won’t let her OUT
why can’t she leave I want to go home
ɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ɪᴍ sᴏʀʀʏ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ᴍᴇ ɢᴏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ
sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ
(I’m so sorry.) sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴍ sᴏ
sᴏʀʀʏ