Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Exiled.

Akari is still reeling. She hadn’t known what to think as her commander shouted accusations at her, vocally cementing her an enemy to the village when all she ever tried to do – all she ever tried to do – was help them. It’s not her escort out of the village that carries her to the gates, but the sheer shock of it all helping her move along.

Of all things, it’s passing by the clothing shop that does it.

She hadn’t talked to the seamstress in a while. She was still hunting for that inspiration the woman had asked for, and Akari makes a point to not get people’s hopes up by coming to them before their task is finished. Her top has gotten a hole in it – burned in by a Monferno – and she was planning on buckling down her search as soon as Avalugg was calmed so she can pair its replacement with some good news.

As she passes by the shop, she realizes that not being allowed in the village means the news – and Pokémon – will never be delivered. She’s never getting that new top. She’ll be in the wilds until everything she’s wearing is turned to rags, the shoes that carried her through the region worn through until she may as well be barefoot.

The first tear slips out before she even realizes.

When Rei and the Professor catch up to them, she can’t even listen to what her three escorts say. They’re speaking of- of the sky, of her task. Her mission to fix the sky. How does one person fix an entire sky? She may as well try hauling the world into orbit along with it.

Someone mentions the Pearl clan.

The Diamond clan.

Adaman. She snaps to the present. Adaman, he can help her, and if she can’t find him then she’ll go to Irida. Surely she doesn’t need to try surviving in the wilds, sleeping in the camp tents until her former teammates get fed up with her imposing and leave her to rot. She can go to her friends – and there’s no doubt in her heart that they would open their homes to her. The three of them- they’ve bonded. Akari put her life on the line to bring their clans safety and peace of mind, and she knows they’re both grateful. Irida is strong and heartbreakingly kind, kind enough that this exile would make her hurt for her friend. Adaman is stubborn and sensible, Akari knows he realizes that blaming her for problems she knows nothing about would get them nowhere fast.

She can go to them. She will go to them. She just needs to find them first.

The Wardens are her best lead. They always stay in one place to look after their lords rather than wandering around freely like their clan Heads do. And, as much as she hates to think it, there’s one Warden that’s more likely to know where Adaman is above all others.

Akari already knows that asking Melli for help is going to make her confidence plummet to new lows, but this is the fastest way to get what she needs.

--

When she approaches Melli’s post, she can already see the older man is laughing at her.

“Well, I shouldn’t be surprised that you came back so quickly.” Melli places a hand on his chest, accentuating his posture and obvious vanity. This man makes Akari’s blood boil. “After all, Skuntank and I have only been getting stronger. We’re more than ready for a rematch, even though beating you down is hardly worth our time.”

She chokes down the ‘shut up Melli’ through sheer force of will. It’s not easy. “Where’s Adaman?”

Melli scoffs. “Seriously? You came all this way to ask for him? And here I thought you grew some sense.”

“Why would I—” deep breaths, Akari. “… I just need to find him. Please.”

“What?” He blinks, a slow smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. “What was that? I don’t think I heard that last bit.”

“Where. Is. Adaman. I know you're nosy enought to keep track of him.”

Melli waits, looking at her with that smug expression. He goes so far as to cross his arms, confident in Akari’s need for his help.

Frustration mounts, but no matter how prideful Akari is in the face of- of- of bottom-feeders like Melli, she’s not stupid enough to think she can get by without him.

“Please.”

The man hums, pleased with his little victory. “Wouldn’t you know it, I’m not sure! But since you’re here anyway, maybe you can do something for me and my Lord.” Akari grits her teeth. “By the time you’re back, maybe my memory will be a bit better!”

“What is it.”

He makes a little ‘hmph’ sound. Akari wants to kick him so badly. “It seems like my Lord actually likes those silly balms you pelted him with last time you were here. Work some of that Galaxy Survey-whatever magic and get me some stuff to make new ones with.”

“Fine.” She doesn’t usually sell her items, so there’s a good chance whatever Melli wants is hidden somewhere in the camp chests already.

“And maybe you didn’t come for a rematch, but I’ve decided it’ll be good for morale to beat you in battle. I hate to think my precious Skuntank isn’t confident enough in his skills, and we don’t have too many punching-bags around to use.”

Oh, she’ll prove to be more than that. Dragging Melli to the ground in defeat is going to taste so sweet. “Fine. What goes in the balms.”

“Crunchy salt should do. And you should hurry,” he says, smiling, “because if I remember while you’re gone, I might forget again by the time you’re back.”

This bitch. “How much.”

“Oh, I’d say around… ten clumps.”

“Fine.” Easy, Akari... As soon as this is done, there’s a good beat-down waiting. She smiles with teeth. “Be back soon then.”

“You’d better,” Melli calls at her as Akari begins walking away, and continues blathering on about his precious Lord until out of earshot.

Ten clumps of crunchy salt. That’s easy. That’s nothing. She walked past so many clumps that there’s no way she doesn’t have at least ten stored away. Granted, she’s not the best at material gathering, but she does know that she gathered at least some just because the shop back in her- back in Jubilife needed some to bribe the Corps with.

In the camp nearby, she opens the storage chest and rummages around inside, counting off carefully-sectioned clumps of salt.

She counts nine.

Recounts. Nine.

Recounts. Nine.

She looks up to the sky. It’s a violent red, and the storm at the center of it all is constantly spewing lightning.

Looks back to the bags of salt in her hands. There are only nine.

Akari ducks her head into the storage chest and wails.

--

“That didn’t take long at all, now did it?”

Akari’s face still feels crackly and swelled. The cold is not helping.

“I suppose since you did me this favor, I should return it,” Melli sighs when it becomes obvious that she isn’t going to say anything. “What was your question again?”

“… Where’s Adaman.”

“Oh right! Adaman… Adaman… hmm.” He taps his cheek. “Last I heard he was checking on all our Lords. He came to me first, obviously! You should be able to find him somewhere around the Lords’ domains.”

The rise of pure fury is almost too much to bear. She really could have gone to any of the Wardens, anyone other than Melli, to know that. Wasting her time thinking that the man would know his own leader's whereabouts, as if Melli was a normal person with normal concerns for his clan instead of the hellspawn he actually is. Far from relieved, the new information makes Akari sick to her stomach – should could have passed Adaman completely by accident just because she thought, really thought, that Melli could be trusted with something as simple as knowing where his leader is.

If she never even thinks about Melli again, it’ll still be too soon.

Akari turns around and walks off to the sound of Melli sputtering and whining about a battle.

--

“I’m sorry, but taking you in will make relations… strained. I want to help you – I think we all do – but we can’t.”

The words echo in her ears. She couldn’t find Adaman, but the Warden’s verdict… it makes sense. Akari wouldn’t be surprised to find that Adaman went around to all the lords with that exact concern. Would he go that far?

He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t, but… she had also really thought the Diamond clan would take her in.

Hadn’t she been useful? Done her job, earned their respect? Weren’t they friends?

The little hope she has left, the hope sectioned off for Irida and the Pearl clan, diminishes. If Adaman thinks it’s too risky to take her in, Irida would probably think so as well. They’re both leaders. They have to… to make hard decisions for the good of their people. She knows that.

She just thought she could have a place in that protection.

Ha. Guess not.

Akari trudges back to the nearest camp. She’ll make the mad dash for the Pearl clan’s Lord, but right now, what’s the point? Getting snubbed by the Diamond clan feels like a betrayal in such a way that she can’t even blame them for it.

The anger that rose up while talking to that man never really went away. Suddenly it’s like Akari actually wants to have someone to blame, someone that she can point at and say ‘you are the source of all my problems, and I’m going to beat you into the ground’. She wants to be angry at the clans, at the Survey Corps, at everything. At their Almighty Sinnoh.

Arceus.

Yeah, she knows about Arceus. The ‘Arc Phone’ isn’t subtle, and the name was ringing in her ears when she first woke on Prelude Beach. Not everything left her when the God dumped her here. After all, when she had shown the device to Rei he didn’t even know how to make the screen light up, much less that it could light up at all.

She wants to blame Arceus. Logically, it’s the source of her problems. It threw her here, gave her a mission and waypoints, and then didn’t say another word as she watched everything crumble around her. If it really made the world and everything in it, she wouldn’t be surprised if it was the one causing the storm above. Maybe it did want to test the people here. Maybe it was just bored.

“I want to blame you,” she says, thinking that if Arceus really was lending her its ear, that it deserves to hear this. “I want to. But I can’t, can I? You haven’t… you haven’t done anything.”

Nothing. The phone in her pocket is silent.

“You put me here for a reason. I remember seeing you. I heard you speak.” She looks up at the red skies. “I just want to know- there are a lot of things I want to know, but if we’re on opposite sides I don’t think you’d actually tell me the truth.” She laughs bitterly. “But please… my mission here. Will it actually help everyone, or will I just make it worse?”

Akari waits.

Nothing.

“… Yeah, that’s about what I expected.”

She takes a moment to curl in on herself, hugging her hopelessness close and letting it consume her heart and soul.

And then she gets up and heads toward the nearest Pearl clan Warden.

--

She wants to see Volo.

He wasn’t there for the clan head meeting. He might know that she’s gotten exiled, but it might be too late for them to find each other now.

She wants to see him, though. Akari will be the first to say that the man makes her nervous in a way she just can’t place; nothing in the look in his eye, the curl of his smile, nothing can actually give her a reason to mistrust him, but she does. He rubs her wrong in the same way she thinks her Pokémon rub the people in the village wrong – she knows that he’s never done anything to hurt her, and likely won’t, but she can’t help that little bit of doubt. He should be a simple merchant with a love of mythology, but somehow her mind thinks he’s more.

A threat. She doesn’t know why.

At the same time, Akari wants him here. Wants him by her side, at her back, facing the end of the world as they know it with her. A possible enemy turned formidable ally. Maybe he… maybe he would even offer her a place in the merchant’s guild. Maybe he would pop up out of nowhere like he always does, give her a place to stay, take this problem from her.

She’s not so naïve to think that will happen, but she wants to find him anyway. Adaman and Irida have proven to be a lost cause. He’s her last chance for something resembling a home.

“Found you at last!”

Akari blinks, almost believing she’s finally lost it as she turns to face the voice.

“I’ve been looking for you all over,” Volo says with a smile. “I can’t believe you ran all the way to the highlands and back before I caught up to you! That’s some speed.”

“Volo?”

He tilts his head, sympathetic. “Now don’t worry, I heard all about what happened. The Galaxy Team and the clans might have turned their backs on you, but there’s no way I’m leaving my favorite customer without support.” A grin. “Thankfully, I’ve got plenty of places to stash you in secret. Leave it all up to me.”

There’s no way.

Akari steps forward. Maybe she’s dreaming. Collapsed out of exhaustion right here in the field and wanted to hear him so badly that she started dreaming about him. Wow, that’s embarrassing. But why else would he show up out of nowhere – just like she wanted – and offer her a place – just like she hoped?

She reaches for his sleeve, and he doesn’t stop her as she rubs the material between two fingers. It feels real. There’s even a small bit of dirt here, easy to rub off but too finite an amount to actually register if this was a dream.

“You look like you’ve been through the wringer, Akari,” he says, drawing her eyes up. There’s another, more self-deprecating smile on his face. “I know you’re not my biggest fan, but I’d be a pretty bad person to just leave you here looking like this. So what do you say?”

What does she say?

The relief hits her all at once. She wraps her arms around the man, clutching at his shirt and the canvas of his bag and starts to sob into his chest, not caring how pathetic she sounds when her breathing hitches into a whine. Akari hears him sigh and hates herself a little more for giving him trouble when he’s offering to help her.

But his arms go around her shoulders, so she stays.

By the time she’s done, it feels like all her energy’s gone. Volo keeps one hand on her shoulder as he guides her in a specific direction. She doesn’t even care where they’re going.

Akari keeps one hand wrapped around a cloth strap hanging from his bag and lets him lead her away.

--

Mistress Cogita is kind enough to let Akari rest in her bed. With the benefit of sleep, the events of yesterday seem a little dimmer, but they’re not completely gone.

The sky is still red, and Akari can’t stay in this one-person cottage forever.

The Mistress gave her and Volo a lead, and she’s going to follow it to the end. If she’s gotten used to anything here, she’s used to her missions being pretty linear. Eventually one thing will lead to another, and if she’s lucky she’ll end up where she wanted to be all along: fixing the thing that got her exiled. Then she can enter the village again, and all this can be just a bad memory or half-forgotten nightmare.

That’s the goal. Hopefully her luck hasn’t been completely spent on summoning Volo from wherever he comes from.

He walks out of the cottage with her, and she can’t help but think how grateful she is that he’s here. That he found her. “Volo?”

“Hm?”

“Thank you.”

He smiles, nudging her shoulder. “Still a bit raw, huh.”

“A bit.” It’s a wonder how well he sees through her. “I didn’t say earlier, but I kind of thought you were a dream at first.”

“That so?” He looks amused. “And here I thought all that dirt took away from my charm!”

Akari rolls her eyes. “I mean I thought I was imagining you. Five seconds before you popped up I was thinking about how much I wished you were around to help me, and then you were just there.”

“What can I say, I have excellent timing.”

“You really do.” She smiles for the first time in what feels like forever. “I can’t thank you enough. Seriously, this means- it means a lot to me, what you did. What you’re doing.”

His smile brightens. Akari ignores the feeling of unease that comes with it, long used to Volo’s particular brand of oddness. “I’d be a fool to let you run around without my assistance, considering the circumstances.”

In the back of her mind, she knows this is dangerous.

He could be genuine. She hopes he’s genuine. She hopes and prays that Volo really is just a kind soul that’s opening his place to her out of the goodness of his heart and nothing more. As much as she wants to believe it though, there’s still something about him she just can’t shake.

The easiest way to gain loyalty, she thinks, is to be present in a time of need.

She wants to trust him, though, so she’s going to. Honestly, at this point the risk might pay off. Threat turned ally. It could work out for them – Akari and Volo, saviors of Hisui. A future that ends with Volo becoming his own legend, solidified in the myths that future generations study just like he studies. With as much as he goes on about myths, she thinks he might like that.

Maybe she’ll ask him about his plans later. Maybe she can help him as much as he helped her. They can be a team- their own team.

So she looks at him and says, “I’ll find a way to return the favor one day. Anything you need.”

He looks a little shocked, but it quickly turns into the brightest smile she’s seen on him. A chill crawls up her spine.

She ignores it.

“I’ll be keeping that in mind, I hope you know,” he says, like he’s joking even though they both know he’s not. “In the meantime… looks like you’ve got a visitor.”

“Huh?”

He nods to the bridge over the small stream nearby, and Akari turns to see a strangely familiar Abra. It hovers in their direction and holds out a letter, drifting over beside the cabin once she takes it.

There’s only one person she knows with an Abra. She opens the letter.

Volo waits. “Good news, I assume?”

“Yeah,” she says, overwhelmed. “Good news. We have just a little more backup.”

“Well then, we shouldn’t let it go to waste.” He puts one knuckle against his chin, thinking. “Visiting each of the three lakes will take some doing. It’d be nice for us to get a little more help… maybe from a kind, generous soul…”

A scoff comes from the bridge. “Opportunistic as ever, Volo.”

Akari’s attention snaps to the voice, and she has to hold back tears of relief as both Irida and Adaman smile at her. They begin walking over, but only get about halfway as Akari runs to them and pulls them both into a hug, one arm for each of them. Irida laughs light and free, and Adaman’s return hug is strong and safe. Akari wants to hide in between them and never come out. “I missed you guys so much.”

One of them musses her hair. “A day without friends seems that much longer.”

“Thankfully Volo gave word of where you set up,” Irida says. Her voice lowers. “I know we weren’t able to help you yesterday, but you’re our friend. There’s still not much we can do under the radar, but at least one of us can stick around.”

“The other’s going to keep track of Galaxy Team,” Adaman assures her. “Word right now is they’re still scouting the area, but I doubt things will stay calm for long.”

“As much as we’d both like to offer our services right away… I think, after everything you went through, you should have a choice between us.”

Akari hugs them tighter. “I hate choosing.”

“Oh, Akari…”

“We won’t be mad,” Adaman says. “Both of us can do either job just as well, I think.”

She sniffles. “… Okay.”

Who does she trust with her village? Who does she trust with herself?

She would never say it out loud, but between the two responsibilities, it’s an easy choice.

“Adaman?” He hums. “Could you help me?”

“Of course. You can count on me.”

“And I’ll look after Galaxy Team.” Irida nods. “Don’t worry Akari, I promise I’ll make sure they’re safe.”

She hears Volo huff from behind her. “Well, that settles that! All that’s left is our righteous mission.” Akari pulls back from the clan Heads with a bright, wobbly smile, and immediately feels Volo’s hand on her shoulder again. “We’ll be heading to each of the three great lakes for an artifact to help. We’ll fill you in on the way.”

“Excellent.” Adaman smiles at her. “No time to waste – let's get this done so we can get you home.”

Akari nods.

--

The trials are deceptively easy.

It helps that she’s stubborn about it. By the time the artifact, the Red Chain, is in hand, things are almost looking up – which is of course where it all starts going downhill again.

Commander Kamado is making a move. He’s taking a squad up the mountain to fight whatever’s on the other side of that rift.

After all that noise about her proving her worth and fixing a problem she supposedly caused, he’s not even going to wait for her.

Idiot.

In the privacy of her own head, she can call it what it is: complete and utter idiocy. He doesn’t know what they know now, he thinks hiking up the mountain without any plan other than ‘beat up Pokémon’ is going to save Hisui. Even she knew she couldn’t do that when he exiled her, how was he supposed to fare any better?

Challenging the sky? Challenging a Pokémon that could change the sky? He’s a fool.

She’s almost tempted to leave him to it.

After three trials gone through on his orders, orders that she didn’t even have to follow because he’s no longer her leader, she doesn’t see the sense in his decisions anymore. Paranoia is what had him casting her out, and paranoia is the thing bringing him closer to his death up on that mountain. He acted in fear and anger and, after spending months alongside both Irida and Adaman, she knows that that is not how leaders should act.

She’s not a leader though. She’s bitter.

As Adaman walks from the ruins, she tugs back on Volo’s sleeve, stopping him. “… Akari?”

“… You’re my friend,” she says first, because it’s important. “Even though you freak me out sometimes, you’re my friend and I trust you to tell me the truth.”

He stills. His smile becomes edged with something dark. “What do you mean?”

She looks up at him. “Not about that, Volo. I know you’ve got a plan, but honestly, I can’t worry about it right now. It’s more of a personal question.”

“That obvious?” He scoffs. “I must be slipping.”

“I don’t think even Mistress Cogita has guessed yet,” she assures him. “You’re not slipping.”

“I don’t know, you figured me out pretty quick.”

“You’ve always scared me a little.”

Volo shakes his head. “I could never figure out why.”

“Me neither. I still can’t place it.” She smiles. “But my question. Can I trust you to answer honestly?”

He raises an eyebrow at her. “Won’t know unless I hear it.”

“… Am I still a good person,” she asks, “if I let the Commander go through with his plan first?”

The other eyebrow joins the first. He almost looks impressed. “He might die.”

She nods.

“… Huh.” He tilts his head toward her. “And here I thought you really were some paragon of virtue. You really are just as human as the rest of us, huh Chosen One?”

She gives him a bitter smile. “That’s a no, then.”

“He took advantage of you,” he says, “they all did. Sent you to risk your life for them just to toss you when you were no longer useful. If it were me, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.”

“He did.” Akari sighs. “And I think I’m going to be angry about it for a long, long time.”

He’s silent for a moment. “If you do, he won’t be around to re-instate you.”

“He won’t be around to stop me, either.”

“True.” Volo sighs, weighing her options. She wonders what’s zipping around in that head of his. How the Commander’s death would impact his plans. “With as strong as your team is, I doubt anyone would actually try to kick you out again if you insisted on staying.”

“They’d be afraid of me, then.”

“They would,” he admits, “but it’s more to your benefit than only having the Mistress to fall back on.”

“I like the Galaxy Team.” She shakes her head. “I have friends there. People that used to like me. As much as I don’t like the Commander, I don’t want them to suffer.”

“Noble, but useless. Thanks to him, they all probably believe you’re to blame for this mess.”

“So what do you think I should do?”

That’s what really matters here. Volo is… she realizes now, with his small admission, that he’s not as trustworthy as he seems. But Akari’s decided to trust him anyway, because he’s earned that much at least. Now that she knows full well that he’s intending to use that loyalty, she knows that he wouldn’t jeopardize it by lying to her now. She already knows what his answer should be, but…

But if he calls it the other way, she might go along with it regardless.

He hums, thinking.

“I wouldn’t lose sleep over it,” he says, looking down at her, “but we’re not the same. You’ve got some grand destiny in store, Chosen One, and I’m dying to see what it’s about. Even if Kamado deserves it, letting him die might make you lose your spark – we can’t have that, can we?”

After a moment, she huffs out a laugh. “Irida’s right. You’re as opportunistic as they come.”

He smiles and wags his finger at her. “Proud of it. Now then, let’s go and save your former Commander from himself, shall we?”

--

“Have some sense, Kamado!” Adaman shouts at him, “if all this was really some trick on her part, what chance would we have anyway? You’re talking about fighting what might be Sinnoh itself!”

Kamado is in full metal armor, seemingly ready for the battle to come, but right now all Akari can see is someone that bit off more than they could chew.

“If I really put my faith in such things and they turn out to be false, how could I face my people!”

“Incurring the wrath of a God, you might not even have your people! Let us help you! Let her help you!”

“Enough!”

“You enough!” Irida says, voice hard. “Your choices here affect Hisui as we know it, and I will not stand by letting you ignore Akari’s efforts to save us all just so you can play hero. From where I stand, it’s clear that you will get nowhere.”

“What could you possibly lose by accepting our help!” Adaman gestures harshly to Akari. “She has a valuable tool, one that could save your sorry life as well as ours! Stop wasting our time and move aside!”

Finally, Commander Kamado looks at Akari.

She glares back.

“That look…” he shakes his head. “Even when I banished you, you didn’t have that look. Like you hated me.”

She holds her head high. “I love Hisui more than I could ever hate you.”

“Well spoken.” He steps back. “Come then. Let the fates decide between us.”

“Kamado—!”

“Adaman,” Akari snaps, “it’s alright.”

Irida brushes a hand on her arm. “What if you lose?”

“I’m going into that temple no matter what.” She bares her teeth in a smile. “Nothing short of killing me here and now will change that.”

Staring at him full-on, she sees her formerly great Commander flinch.

--

She wins.

He knows how far she’d go, and Akari’s not stupid enough to think that doesn’t help. The entire battle is made pointless by her decision because she can see in her opponents’ eyes that he won’t dare to go that far.

It’s more shameful to kill her in cold blood than accept her help, apparently. Funny how that works.

So she wins. Beats him back, if only barely. Her top is nearly rags by the time everything’s done – one of those larger attacks must have grazed just the right spot to sever the last few threads holding desperately onto life, though she can’t be bothered to try figuring out which one – and she pulls the front out to look over it with a sigh. Maybe Volo has a spare apron she can use.

Something warm is placed on her shoulders, and she startles a bit as Adaman smiles down at her, goosebumps over his bare arms. “Knew you could do it.”

Too tired for tears, Akari just nods and pulls his coat on.

With the clink of armor, Kamado steps forward.

And kneels.

And puts his head to the dirt.

Akari stands tall in front of him, those bits of righteous anger that have been following her around coalescing into something edged with a dangerous amount of savage pride. She savors it, basks in the view that her efforts are being rewarded with. The object of her ire on his knees and begging for her help.

It feels good in the worst way. She could have let him die here, but she didn’t, and now she’s being thanked for it. Like it was some sort of mercy instead of just her doing what she’s always done.

Volo was right. Letting Kamado dig his own grave would have killed her as well, even if he did deserve it.

Her glare doesn’t let up as he rises to his feet again. Her fury’s been sated now, his bow doing the job better than his death ever could, but she’s still angry. He is not forgiven.

Thankfully, she doesn’t have to like him to work with him.

--

“Catch me, then! For the fight to come!”

--

Palkia is too powerful. They had to retreat.

Regrouping at the camp is more harrowing than it should be. Any of them could have died up there. It was so powerful that the air was thick – Palkia felt so much larger, beyond comprehension, that she still feels too close even at the foot of the mountain.

Forget ‘fixing the sky’, that thing is bigger than the sky.

But they can’t leave it there; that much is obvious. It’ll tear the entire region to bits. Adaman reveals a solid lead from his new connection with the God of Time, but while Irida fetches Lian for his expertise the rest of them are stuck.

On top of that, Volo’s disappeared again.

It shouldn’t be as surprising as it is.

He’ll come back, she knows. He always manages to pop up when something interesting is happening, and unfortunately, right now is… a little less than that. Tense, yes. Interesting? No.

Akari sits next to Adaman. Considering the time they have on their hands now, she doesn’t think he’ll mind a friendly check-in. “Want your cloak back?”

“Keep it for now,” he tells her with a laugh. “Much as I hate to admit it, Irida’s got a point. Now that I’m used to it, it doesn’t feel nearly as cold as it did.”

“I won’t tell her you said that.”

“Knew I could count on you.”

They share a smile.

“So,” Akari starts, leaning against him. “You had a God in your head.”

“Yeah.” He shoots a glance to her satchel. “And now you’ve got a God in your bag.”

“What a day.”

“No kidding.” He sighs, one hand massaging his temple. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous to see tomorrow. Sinnoh- or, I guess Dialga- we in the Diamond clan always believed that changing times should be cherished for their connection to our God. One thing’s end is another’s beginning. But hearing it speak even one word makes me think it’s about more than just moving forward.”

She tilts her head at him. “What was it like?”

“One word,” he says, “in every voice, every single time it’s ever been said in past and future, all spoken at once. If it wasn’t speaking directly into my head I think I would’ve gone mad trying to understand it.”

“Sounds loud.”

“Terrifyingly so.”

“Are you okay?”

He shivers. “I’ll get over it. Dialga is an ally, after all. All it did was speak – it gave us advice that we’d be lost without. I can hardly judge it based on how nerve-wracking its voice is.”

Akari nods. Partnering herself with Volo, she knows the feeling pretty well by now.

Speaking of.

“Adaman?” He hums. “Do you trust Volo?”

“Not as far as I can throw him.”

“Why?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t make a habit of trusting merchants. I’m sure Volo’s plenty trustworthy in his own right, but dealing business with someone you trust wholeheartedly is a risk – I won’t know I’ve been scammed until it’s too late to do anything about it.”

Akari nods in understanding. “I think he’s planning something. Something big.”

Adaman scoffs. “Bigger than this?”

“I don’t know yet.” She says, earning a concerned look. “With the way he talks sometimes… maybe.”

He’s silent for a moment. “That’s a serious accusation, Akari.”

“I know.”

“Are you sure?” His voice is low, serious. “This isn’t the same as your Commander acting out of fear. You’ve been sticking closer to Volo than any of us. If you say something’s wrong, I’m going to take your word for it and prepare to the best of my ability.” He pulls away slightly to meet her eyes. “Are you sure?”

She nods. “It could be just… another one of those changes. He loves myths and legends, I think he wants to be a part of one. It doesn’t have to be bad,” she says, “I just know that he’ll want it to be big.”

Adaman closes his eyes and takes a breath. “In that case, we’ll work together to keep an eye on him as soon as this is all over and done with.”

“There’s something else.” He gives her his full attention. “I never felt comfortable around him. Not really. But when I went looking for you and Irida… it seemed like he was the only one who cared.”

“Akari…”

“I know we’re friends,” she says, “and I know you wouldn’t have risked your clan. You didn’t have a choice, and it hurt, but I understood. But when he offered me a place to stay the moment I needed it most, I swore I’d repay the favor somehow.”

Adaman nods. “You think he’ll make you help.”

“I know he will.” She looks away. “He’s even started calling me ‘Chosen One’. Like it’s a title.”

“That’s… ominous.”

“It really is.”

“You don’t have to go through with it,” he says. “No matter how grateful you are, whatever he’s after isn’t worth more than what you’ve been fighting for this whole time – your life, and all the lives in Hisui. We’ve all asked more than enough of you, there’s no need to follow him just to repay a debt.” He looks to the sky. “Especially if it ends up anywhere close to this.”

She looks up too. It’s hard to tell what day it is anymore; the sky’s been bright red for so long that she’s lost track.

“I’m going to help him,” she says. “I just want to know if you’ll hate me when I do.”

She can feel him looking at her.

“I don’t see why I would,” he says, leaning against her once more. “Like you said, big doesn’t have to mean bad. Maybe getting all the change for the next few decades out of our system now will spare me some future heart attacks.”

Akari snorts. “Definitely. I’m looking forward to a vacation.”

“I hear there are some real interesting Pokémon up north.”

“I’m pretty sure someone from one of our clans comes from the Alolan Islands.”

“That would definitely be the Galaxy Team.” He smiles. “I think I’d know if any of mine were from there, and Pearl clan lives somewhere in this frozen wasteland. No way islanders would want to live here.”

“Point. I think if we talk him around he could tell us a direction to sail.”

“Better pack my bags, then. Think I should go for lighter clothing, or just more colorful?”

“Definitely both.”

They laugh quietly at each other. For a moment, there’s a taste of normalcy in the air. Planning this silly vacation that’ll likely never happen is a balm to her soul. In the back of her mind, she thinks this is what she truly wanted from Volo’s help – the reason she had searched for Adaman before Irida, the reason she invited him along to the lakes instead of trusting him to watch over Jubilife. She’s selfish, and though she loves Irida, the other woman could never bring this kind of peace in the middle of disaster.

But like all good things, the moment has to end.

“I’ve been waiting and waiting,” a loud, whiny voice calls, and Akari experiences the pleasure of an immediate headache, “but my invitation never came! So I’ve decided to grace you all with my presence and assistance – please, quiet your applause!”

“It’s amazing to think you two are family.” Akari whispers.

“I swear one of us is adopted, I just can’t remember who.” He responds. “Hello Melli.”

“Oh! Well done, Galaxy grunt, it looks like you managed to find him after all.” Melli smiles down at her. “Look at you two, all cozy. You know Adaman, you don’t have to be so chivalrous to people not worth your time – your coat doesn’t suit her at all.”

“Are you volunteering yours?”

“What—why would I—?”

“Akari’s shirt is in tatters after the fight at the temple,” he says. “Unless you can part with a replacement, she’s more than welcome to keep the coat.”

Melli seethes. “I don’t carry my wardrobe with me, Adaman. And even if I did, she’d just get dirt and muck and who knows what else all over any clothes I would give! You should have seen her a few days ago!”

Adaman narrows his eyes at him. “When she was exiled? Homeless? In need of help from some friends?”

“And filthy to boot!”

“You really have no shame, do you?”

“I am the most humble person you will ever meet,” Melli says. What’s worse is that Akari thinks the man actually believes it. “I simply know my worth! People like the two of us have the spotlight, and people like her,” Malli scowls, “leeching off of your renown, do not!”

“That is enough, Melli.” Before Akari can even think of a retort, Adaman’s arm goes from against her side to around her shoulders. “I don’t know what you have against Akari that makes you so eager to underestimate her, but for all the help she’s given to you and our Lords she is deserving of respect. Or have you forgotten she beat you and Lord Electrode within twenty minutes of meeting you?”

Melli immediately starts pouting. “Adamaaan!”

“Don’t ‘Adamaaan’ me. If I wasn’t so sure you’d find a way to twist it into another insult, I’d be demanding you apologize.”

“She doesn’t deserve it! Look at her!” He waves a hand at Akari. “Too busy having you fight her battles to even realize I’m here!”

Akari pulls Adaman’s coat tighter around herself. “I think I’m doing pretty well restraining myself, actually.”

“Oh please.”

“No really,” Akari widens her eyes as she stares up at the man. “I am.”

Adaman pokes her forehead, startling her out of her intentionally creepy glare. “No killing my clan.”

She sighs. “Yes, Adaman.”

“No pushing him off the mountain, either.”

“Damn it. Yes, Adaman.”

“Pushing me off—the nerve!”

“Melli, I say this with all the brotherly love in my heart: one of these days, you’re going to mistreat the wrong person and will likely get slapped for it at least.” He shakes his head and jostles Akari a bit. “I swear, he’s not bad when it’s just us. It’s when there’s other people that it becomes a problem.”

“Hmph!” Melli sends her a glare. “And here I thought you would be thanking me for my help the other day!”

Killing’s off the table. Akari is not allowed to kill him. Pushing him off the mountain is also forbidden. Adaman loves his clan, Adaman is Akari’s friend, so for his sake she cannot maim him. There has to be a substitute.

What’s the next best thing to get revenge on whiny bitches?

A little lightbulb goes off in her head. She turns to Adaman, blank-faced. “Did you hear something?”

“I’ve brought Lian!” Irida calls over Melli’s offended screech. The contesting sounds cause some confusion, and the Pearl clan leader looks at Melli with surprise. “What in the world is going on here?”

“Ugh, and now we’ve got the Pearl clan whelps here!”

“Just a little disagreement,” Adaman assures her. “Lian. Irida says you might be able to help us out?”

Lian nods. “I’m the leading researcher of Hisui’s ores and stones, of course I can. Irida already filled me in – if any one of those plates were made here, I should be able to find a match for them.” He turns to Akari, clearly taking note of and dismissing her current outfit. “May I?”

“Nice to see we’re entrusting the Pearl clan Lords to actual children now,” Melli complains over Akari handing over a few of the tablets she’s collected over the last few months. “That hat suits you as poorly as the role of Warden does. I can’t imagine why anyone would ask you for help when I’m right here.”

“Don’t respond,” Akari whispers to the obviously snappish Lian. “He’s just after attention.”

“He—!”

“Trust me, anything you say will blow right over his head. Leave him.”

“You cannot just ignore me! I hear you whispering! Adaman, can’t you see she’s obviously favoring the Pearls over us!”

Lian shakes his head and focuses on the plates. “Hm. Not many things can match this… I’ve got a few ideas, but there’s one that sticks out immediately. There’s a vein of ore somewhere in Primeval Grotto that matches this near-perfectly.”

“Thank goodness,” Irida sighs. “For a moment I was worried any ore we could find would be deep underground.”

“In a cave system,” Lian nods, “which is why I only know of the one. All things considered, we’re lucky.”

“Let’s hope that luck doesn’t run out.” Adaman groans as he stands and rotates each shoulder. Akari stands to join them. “Ready to get a move on?”

“Ready for this to be over,” she says.

They all share that sentiment, at least.

The travel to Primeval Grotto isn’t as hard as it could have been. Akari gets sidetracked away from the main group and ends up waving down at them from one of the jagged cliffs, saying she’ll catch up. They leave her to it, all of them well aware by now that she’ll likely be just fine on her own, even with the world in such a state. She’s grateful for their trust. Even more so for the privacy.

Maybe she really should plan a vacation. The Alola plan may have been a joke, but Akari doubts anyone would be against leaving her to relax for a bit after all this.

The entrance to the only cave in Primeval Grotto has a Probopass Alpha right in front of it. She’d be surprised if their group, large as it is, managed to slip past it in one piece – they’re probably preparing their Pokémon to challenge it somewhere over one of the surrounding cliffs. Too bad, Akari’s perfectly willing to solve this problem herself.

She kind of hates how easily Alpha Pokémon can shake off her team, and though she hasn’t been able to catch a Probopass yet, she can’t spare the time to at the moment. It goes down within five moves, leaving the cave entrance unobstructed.

She heads in.

She’s used to caves being dark and dank. Inexplicably moist and unnervingly cold. It’s almost weird to walk into the earth and feel a little warmer than she was outside.

Akari shrugs and chalks it up to altitude. After all, just a bit up the mountain there’s snow.

Still, though… she wanders into the cave, ignoring a few Nosepass as she goes. There’s an eerie red glow near the entrance that she thinks might be exactly what they’re looking for. She examines the ore there, waiting for the rest of the group – mainly Lian – to appear and see whether or not her hunch is right.

It doesn’t take long for them to show.

“What a curious cave.” Irida’s voice takes her attention away from the walls. “It feels ancient. Like the world itself was created here.”

Akari turns to greet them. “Sorry for splitting off like that,” she says, a bit embarrassed at how quickly she left them behind. “Survey Corps habit.”

“No worries,” Adaman nods, “you still beat us here, after all.”

Irida smiles and turns to Lian. “What do you think?”

“I think…” he looks over the glowing ore Akari was examining with a stern eye, “you’d better leave the excavation to me. From what you’ve said, we need a fist-sized chunk, right?”

“That should do it, yes.”

Lian nods and pulls out a pokeball.

“Stop right there.”

Akari blinks. She hasn’t heard that voice in a while.

Every once in a while she sees one of the bandits of Hisui, usually Coin or Clover, watching the paths between areas for people to steal from. As someone that rarely abides by those paths, Akari thinks she may have actually seen less of them than she could have, but that doesn’t stop the rare meeting from being…

She’s not sure what the word for it is. What she does know is that none of the trio seem to grow – their partners may become better at battling as time goes on, but beating them is almost trivial. Forgettable. Especially one-on-one. Maybe they would be a little more challenging if the three of them actually stuck together while attacking.

Coin, Clover, and Charm block Lian’s view of the ore that they need. She can hear Adaman gasp. “Clover?”

“I don’t know why you look so shocked,” Charm tells them as Clover scowls. “It’s not as if you were difficult to follow.”

Lian glares. “Out of the way.”

“Cute,” Charm smiles. “We will. But let’s be clear: any ore you dig up here will be handed over to us.”

Sighing, Akari steps forward. “No. It won’t be.”

“Even if this ore is valuable,” Irida says, “you cannot keep it from us – this is what we need to return the sky to normal!”

“Cut it with the act, Irida,” Coin scoffs. “And you wonder why I left Pearl clan in the first place.”

“Enough.” Akari feels Adaman step forward as well. “I don’t know why you all left to play bandit, but you will not get in Lian’s way. If it’s a battle you want, it’s a battle—… Akari?”

Charm is closer. When did she move? Or is Akari the one that’s moving? “Oh? Want to join up? I heard Galaxy cast you out – typical, I say. Always so—ACK!”

Oh hey, Akari’s hand is gripping Charm’s shirt. How’d that happen?

“Sorry, what was that?” She tilts her head. “Do I want to join the three people that are insisting on getting in the way of something that could save Hisui? Do you even realize what you’re doing?”

“Hey, get off her-!”

“Or what?” Akari turns to Coin. “You’ll fight me? Give your Pokémon the order to attack me? Go ahead.” Looks at Charm again. “Know how many times I’ve nearly died in the last few months, Charm? Because I’ll be honest, I’ve lost count. In the last few days, though, I count seven.” She pushes the woman back, letting go. “Let’s start from Avalugg, huh? Avalugg. Alpha Goodra. Alpha Overqwil. Alpha Zoraork. Galaxy Commander Kamado. Dialga, God of Time. Palkia, God of Space.

“Do you really think I have the patience left to spare for three bandits that don’t know how to move ten feet to the side?” Akari stares at each of them in turn. “Get lost.”

“Like we seriously believe that!” Clover shouts. “You might be able to battle back the Lords and some Alphas, but Kamado? Sinnoh, God of Time?”

“Dialga.”

“And I bet next you’ll say you stashed it away in one of those precious Galaxy Team pokeballs!”

“Maybe I did!” Akari grins. “Why not take the risk! Come on then!”

Something hits the back of her head.

“Good gracious, Akari!” Irida scolds, and Akari rubs at her head in shock. “Has the stress made you go completely insane? Just because the three of them are being- being idiots,” she says with a glare to Coin, “doesn’t mean you can threaten to turn the wrath of a God on them! What is wrong with you?!”

She straightens in offense. “But they—!”

“—Aren’t your problem.” Adaman interrupts her. “I know you’re still angry, but lashing out on three clueless bandits isn’t going to make you feel better. If you really can’t restrain yourself, then let us handle them.”

He turns to the three women.

“You can choose what you want to believe,” he says, “but Akari openly said, when Kamado challenged her, that the only thing stopping her from saving Hisui is death. Unless you want to take her at her word – something even he refused to do – I suggest you step aside.”

“Plucky.” Charm says, seeming to regain her voice. “It’d be a shame to let that fire go to waste. Anyone could see that.”

They share a look, communicating.

Clover scowls. “Fine. But next time we see you, we’re beating you to a pulp!”

And in a puff of smoke, they’re gone.

Both Adaman and Irida look down at her. “Akari, I think you should rest,” Irida says gently. “All these challenges back-to-back can’t be good for you. Staying that angry isn’t good for you.”

Akari winces and looks to Adaman. He nods his agreement.

Scolded by both of her friends. She must really, truly have gone too far. So she nods, avoiding their eyes. “I’ll just… be over here.”

--

After the Origin Ball is made, Adaman, Irida, and Kamado leave for the temple together.

They didn’t talk much while waiting. Both Diamond and Pearl leaders seemed hesitant to bring up her complete loss of composure earlier, and Akari certainly won’t do it. She’s been thinking the scene through, turning it over in her mind and trying to see where the line was between ‘reasonable’ and ‘too far’. She realized, after only a few moments of the bandits leaving, that she really was just going to take it all out on them. On three clueless, undeserving targets.

All her fear and anger – at her exile, at the situation, even at Arceus – on a few unsuspecting bandits.

It makes her sick to think she’s just as bad as Kamado. All she had to do to check all the boxes was try to turn Irida and Adaman against them as well.

Thankfully the two leaders are not easily swayed. They may not have talked about Akari losing her temper, but both of them shared some memories of Coin and Clover. Irida thinks they might have shown up just to make sure their former leaders were alive.

Akari’s not sure she believes it, but she can’t bring herself to care anymore. For the moment she’s trying not to even think about those three.

There are bigger things to worry about.

She heads into the passage that leads to the temple. The closer she’s been getting, the heavier the air feels – Palkia is waiting for her just a short walk away, ready to tear her apart for daring to challenge it. As a Pokémon trainer and Hisui’s ‘savior’, she’s just as ready to take it down.

As Akari, a girl thrown across worlds with no memory and bittersweet feelings of home, she feels like running.

So lost in thought, hearing Volo’s voice actually surprises her.

“There she is!” He opens his arms like a showman and gives her a shallow bow. Akari twitches. “And wouldn’t you know it, just earlier I saw Kamado pass through alive and well. I bet you’re so pleased to have him around, huh?”

She gives him a look. He chuckles. “Yeah, thought not. But hey, I heard you’re free to live in Jubilife again! No need to worry about them hating you after all.”

“No need to hold the town hostage, you mean.” She grumbles.

“Eh, that too. So! You’re up against something pretty big this time, huh?” Volo grins. “I thought I’d do you a favor and stock up on battle supplies before coming up here. Potions, Restores, Revives, take your pick. And,” he pulls out a Max Revive, handing it to her, “a discounted price for my Chosen One. What’ll it be?”

“Oh, I’m your Chosen One now, am I?”

Volo huffs, amused. “I’ll let you in on a secret, Akari: I’ve never told anyone about any of my plans. Ever. You knowing that there is one and then agreeing to go along with it?” He shakes his head. “You’re something else. We’re a team now, and that means you’re stuck with me.”

Akari just sighs.

“I’m already stocked up,” she says, opening her satchel. There are at least ten Max Revives in there, along with a ridiculous amount of Potions. “But thanks.”

“You bought from someone other than me? I’m offended.”

“Oh hush, it was still your guild.” She shrugs. “I figured you’d be up here, but I thought you’d be more interested in the battle than selling me stuff.”

“What can I say? I’m a predictable sort of guy.”

“Uh-huh, sure.” She says, ignoring that outright lie.

He smiles. “You really are getting way too good at reading me. It’s enough to make a guy nervous.”

She steps into his space and hugs him.

Volo doesn’t sigh this time, which is a relief because if he makes a fuss about her stress-hugging him she might prolong saving Hisui just to be mad. What he does, though, is pretty much immediately hug her back, and- she doesn’t feel safe, here. This is not like Adaman’s hugs, something that feels stable and warm. Volo holds her like there’s someone watching, like he’s making a claim. It’s warm, sure, but any comfort here is edged with something other.

“You know, I think I’ve gotten more hugs these last few days than I’ve gotten in months.” She feels his chin on her head. “You’re starting to make me worry, here.”

“Shut up. I’m about five minutes away from dying, the least you could do is be nice to me.”

“You won’t die.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Oh, but I do.” His voice is smug. “Like I said before, you’ve got some grand destiny waiting for you. You can’t die before you get there.”

As scary as that thought is, she can’t help but smile. “At least one of us is sure.”

He allows the hug until she’s grounded enough to pull away, leaving one hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry so much, Chosen One. You’ll be alright.”

Akari nods, and Volo smiles. “Now get out there and show us all what you’re made of.”

--

Afterward…

Afterward. There’s a celebration, of course, because it only seems right to celebrate the end of the chaos, the sealing of the space-time rift, the return of the sky. Drinking, dancing, revelry. It’s… a lot. A lot of fun, but still a lot.

It’s a little funny to watch the rest of the Galaxy Team lose their chains for a little while. She never realized how much they downplay their joy – preparations for the celebration were diligently planned and executed, almost like this was just any other event they could have hosted, but as soon as the music started and the drinks began flowing, it’s like the whole village changed.

A lot of people regret it the next morning, but Akari holds the image of Adaman and Irida trying to harmonize in a drinking song close to her heart.

She loves her friends.

Once she wakes – already halfway through the next day – it’s with a lightness that she hasn’t felt ever. Surely not all of her life could have been as stressful as the last few months, but with her lack of memories this really does feel like the first time she could ever truly be relaxed. Exiting her home in Jubilife wearing her brand-new festival shirt, she feels like someone entirely new.

No frenzied lords. No lighting, no cracks in the sky. Just her village. Just Akari.

She makes a full circuit through the village, checking in on everyone, seeing what sort of errands they managed to come up with during her absence. There are a few. Investigating strange happenings, looking out for certain Pokémon so she can finish logging it in the Pokedex. She likes it. Unimportant busywork is exactly what she needs.

Heading into the Survey Corps headquarters to talk to Cyllene feels right, especially after the risk the older woman took to give her just a little more help during exile.

She’s at her desk, as always, and pouring over a stack of paperwork that never seems to lessen. “Akari. I trust you enjoyed yourself?”

“Yes Ma’am,” she says, “and ready to go out again as needed.”

There’s a glint in Cyllene’s eye that could be her version of a smile. “Admirable. What is the current state of the Pokedex?”

“Incomplete. I’ll be taking the day to study Dialga and Polkia and get all the information we can before their release.” Akari grimaces. “It feels wrong to have two Gods stored away in the pastures, especially ones so important to the other clans.”

“We may never have a chance to study them again,” Cyllene warns, “so get everything – every measurement and data point you can think of.”

“Yes Ma’am.”

“Related to that,” she continues, “recent events have opened both mine and the Professor’s eyes to the various, more ‘godly’ Pokémon inhabiting Hisui. If you’re up to the challenge, I’d like you to undertake studying any you can find.”

“I’ll do my best, Ma’am.”

“’Scuse me!” Footsteps behind her. “Couldn’t help but overhear.”

Akari shakes her head. She should have known.

“If it’s myths and legends you’re after, I’m the one to ask,” Volo says. He places a hand on her shoulder as soon as he’s close enough. “I’ll be glad to volunteer my services, Ma’am. Besides, with everything that happened over the last few days, I’ve realized that Akari and I make a formidable team.”

Cyllene glances to her and, after a moment of hesitation, Akari nods.

“Very well. Keep in mind, Akari, that this assignment has no time limit.” Yeah, her eye definitely gets a little lighter when she’s ‘smiling’. “You are free to conduct it as you wish. Dismissed.”

Akari bows her thanks, Volo’s hand temporarily leaving her shoulder, and steps out of Cyllene’s office.

“I don’t know how you manage to just appear every time someone even mentions those myths of yours,” she whispers as they leave the building.

“I’m just that good.”

She rolls her eyes. “So, am I right to think this is where your grand plan starts?”

He smiles down at her. “Oh, Chosen One, you know me so well.”

Her nerves spark with danger, danger, danger.

She’s ready.

Chapter Text

Volo wants her at the Heights Camp. She has something she needs to do first, though.

The pastures are just as picturesque as ever, kept separate from the village with only a few sturdy wooden fences. She had thought having a simple fence and nothing else keeping the areas apart was maybe the most ridiculous thing in the world at first. Yet every Pokémon Akari had sent there abides by those borders like they’re straight from the deepest laws, even the ones large enough to barely even see the posts underfoot.

Like Dialga.

She’s surprised to see that the other Pokémon here don’t act afraid of it. None of them climb or nudge or pester, but they also don’t give it the wide berth that the pastures’ caretaker does. As she watches, sketching out Dialga’s form for their records, Akari even sees some of the lower-level Pokémon make a game out of running right between its legs, like a race.

She can tell when it looks at her.

It gives her a glance, occasionally. She doesn’t even have to be looking to notice – every time those eyes find her, it’s a spike of anxiety. Like she’s in a rush, desperately trying to remember if she forgot something important – but something deeper than memory (not that being ‘deeper than memory’ is difficult) soothes her every time, guides her into taking a deep breath and letting the feeling pass.

The sketch, in the end, is pretty basic. She’s had practice in this but can still only manage to include the right shapes – the real Dialga is so much more than these lines, after all. She closes her notebook and approaches.

Most of the Pokémon ignore her, likely still a little irritated at having been taken away from their homes, but the little ones greet her like a playmate. Chimchar – her favorite, not that she lets anyone know it – climbs up and hangs on to her new shirt as he chatters. She had found him in the same place as the Monferno that burned that first hole into her old shirt – he’s the only reason she stuck around long enough to even get hit.

Akari’s always had a special fondness for fire-types. Grass-types are a close second.

She smiles and lets him swing from his hold on her sleeve before setting his hanging feet gently on the ground. “Go on, go play. I need to work.” He makes a sad noise, but does what she asked.

Her heart.

Back to the matter at hand. She stands in front of Dialga and feels its eyes on her. Bows. “Dialga. Sorry for keeping you waiting for so long.”

It makes a crooning noise. She thinks it might be laughing at her.

“You probably know this already, but this village is studying the Pokémon of this region.” She’s very careful with her words. This is a God, after all. “With your consent, I would like to take some measurements, as well as see examples of your movesets and any other information you would like to share, before your release.”

It keeps looking at her. Dialga lowers its head a small amount, drawing her eyes to its own.

The headache springs up out of nowhere.

“You would release me?”

Echoes throughout time sound in her ears. Voices compound, ages and people and lives mesh together with little in common save for their words, fading in and out for every syllable sparking in her awareness. Somewhere in there, she might even hear her own voice.

Adaman warned her that Dialga’s connection was loud, but he didn’t say painful.

She pushes past it because she has no choice. “Yes. I would.”

Outside of the mess of time residing in her head, she hears it make a low noise.

“Proceed.”

Proceed, says a man with bright red hair to his followers, and they activate a piece of machinery, power surging into a low hum as a young boy forces the door open.

Proceed, Kamado says, and the squad of Survey Corps begins approaching the temple, the sky a brilliant red.

Proceed, comes the call from the back of a lab, and the creature in the center wails in anguish and anger.

In a moment of panic and fear, Akari does what she’s trained herself to do when faced with ominous warnings and a chill down her spine: she ignores them, and gets to work.

“Thank you.” She says, mind quieting with her denial.

She calls a Starly over and hands her the end of a long cord of string, instructing her to fly up so her beak is level with the top of Dialga’s head and try her best to keep that altitude until Akari says. The little Starly takes the job on with zeal, zipping up faster than Akari’s ball of measuring thread can unravel, and almost drops her end when she chirps a greeting to the God of Time. Akari comes as close as she dares for the sake of good measurement, taking a clip from her bag and pinning it on the first mark of string that touches the ground before calling Starly back down again.

After a few moments counting how many marks set between Starly’s end and Akari’s pin, she has Dialga’s height measurement. They do the same for width and length, Akari calling over one of the Drifloons to help when she thinks her height might be corrupting the data.

It’s almost routine, going through the list - even if Dialga doesn’t care for the food array she sets out to see its preferences.

After that’s done, though, comes the more… challenging part. The moveset.

Getting the other Pokémon clear so Dialga can attack without killing anything would have taken a lot longer if Dialga itself didn’t contribute. With a short few noises from it, nearly all of them begin giving it that wide berth Akari had been expecting when she first arrived, save for a few smaller ones that take a little longer. She scoops up a Shellos in one hand and places it gently in a Buneary’s paws just in case the space isn’t wide enough and they need to move again.

The worst part about testing its movesets, she thinks, is not that Dialga is legitimately terrifying and may have traumatized her a small amount during their battle at the temple. No, the worst part is, to get data that isn’t based on guesswork, the moves need a target to measure how hard each unique move hits.

In the case of moves that have effects on the target, the target needs to be alive.

Akari calls over her Leafeon, knowing he can take a hit, and quietly promises him a feast after the testing’s done. He grumbles about it, but is willing enough to brace himself opposite of Dialga.

“Okay.” She takes a breath. “Here we go.”

--

“Alright,” Volo says as they reach the camp in the nearby Obsidian Fields, “I think it’s about time you get a clue on what our goal is.”

Akari blinks, surprised. “Wait, really?”

“Don’t get excited,” he says, poking at her forehead. “You’re still way too smart for your own good. I thought this through, you know! I give you too much and you might try to upstage me, but too little and you’ll jump to conclusions. No, we have to get you to a nice middle ground of base knowledge.” He looks over her. “Unless, of course, you’re going back on your word anytime soon?”

She rolls her eyes. “Would I really be here if I was? I’m not Kamado.”

“Just making sure!” He smiles. “Not even calling him by his title anymore, huh? You really hold a grudge.”

She shrugs.

“Anyway. The goal.” He gestures to the back of the camp, shaded by an unusually tall tower of earth. “Take a look, tell me what you can make out from those etchings there.”

“Etchings?” She never noticed anything in that overhang. She’s been to this camp dozens of times, has there really been a bunch of etchings littered around?

Akari can’t help the curious tilt of her head as she follows Volo’s directions and approaches the stone wall of the overhang, her eyes widening as she realizes what she’s looking at. There really were things here this whole time, and what’s more, she’s seen these images around before! They’re faded brown, blending into the earth and stone, but not enough to completely cover what little color is there.

She ignores the sounds of Volo coming up behind her, closely examining them – maybe they’re even runes – instead. Some are completely faded; others, she realizes, are terrifyingly familiar.

One of them is very clearly Palkia.

Mesprit. Azelf. Uxie.

Arceus.

“Simple as they are, I can tell you recognize some.” He reaches over her and taps Palkia’s image. “You’re not stupid – you had to have realized those plates you carry around have messages etched into them, too. Have you read them all?”

She nods, still staring at the wall. “The messages are all jumbled. I don’t think they’re supposed to fit together.”

“Maybe you remember one in particular,” he says, putting one hand on her shoulder. “’The Original One breathed alone before the universe came’. From what I understand, it’s that plate that led you all to one of the materials for the Origin Ball, the one thing that could contain Palkia.”

And he taps Arceus’ image.

“The Original One. Arceus.” She looks up to see him smiling down at her. “Maybe you recognize the name?”

“I…” she looks back to the wall, “yeah, I definitely do.”

“As expected.” Volo turns to face her. “According to legend – this legend, written in hieroglyphs – those plates are actually fragments that are, indeed, meant to be together.”

“But the messages—?”

“Incomplete.” He wags a finger at her. “You don’t think the clan Lords are the only ones blessed with those fragments, do you? There are quite a few more. The plan,” he stresses, “is to gather them all and see what comes of it. After all, if ancient heroes were attempting the same, surely they must have known something we don’t.”

Akari stares at him. Glances at the hieroglyphs, then back to him. “… You already know what they do, don’t you?”

Something flashes across his expression, quick enough that it gives Akari a spike of nerves, but then Volo groans. “Stop thinking so hard! You’re going to take the fun out of it!”

“So you do!”

“Stop being smart,” he scolds, pointing at her. “Stop puzzling it out so quickly. You are going to ruin the journey and it’s going to be no fun when you finally do see what happens.”

She laughs. “Sorry, sorry.”

“I’m starting to think you’re lying to me when you say I’m not slipping,” Volo grumbles. “What am I not covering! You have to be picking up on some kind of tell, and as soon as I figure out what it is you’re not getting a single thing out of me ever again.”

“Maybe I just got used to you.”

He pouts at her. “Anyway. Your place in this, oh Chosen One, is gathering all the plates you can find.”

Akari makes a face. “With the way you’re talking, it seems like some of them have been lost for ages. Right?” He hums an affirmative. “How in the world am I supposed to find them from age-old leads? There’s no way these things are in the exact same places anymore!”

“Of course not. Most of them aren’t tied to places.”

It takes her a moment, but she catches his meaning. “… Pokémon?”

“Pokémon.” He confirms. “You know, the things you’re studying? This job is right up your alley – and with your ridiculous, destiny-ridden luck, you might not even have to go looking for some of them. No doubt they’ll find you.”

“That’s terrifying.”

“Well, if you manage to avoid it then you can tell me I was wrong.”

“That’s the thing,” she says, covering her mouth in horror, “you’re probably right. Oh no…”

Volo laughs. “Try not to get caught in the village!”

“Don’t joke about that!”

“But seriously,” Volo says, backing off a bit, “this is the most important part of the plan. All the plates you can get your hands on, and no doubt some of them will be in the hands of those ‘godly’ Pokémon you’ll be searching for regardless. Are you still with me?”

She puts her head in her hands. Of course he would be focusing his plan on the god (royal? Powerful? Maybe they should call them Legendary – that feels right) Pokémon. Akari’s not sure why she expected anything less. She makes a low noise of frustration because she knows, just knows, that he likely won’t be helping in the battles that will no doubt happen when she does find these Legends. Legendary Pokémon – no wait, that’s a mouthful. Legendaries? That’s not even a word, why does it feel better than Legends?

“Yeah,” she says, muffled behind her hands. “Yeah, I’m with you. This is going to take forever.”

He chuckles at her. “Look on the bright side! It’s not a space-time rift!”

“Do you think Legendary Pokémon can curse my bloodline?” Her hands drag down to her mouth again. “Oh no, if I offend them will I get smited? Smote? Oh no…”

“You’ll be fine.”

“Easy for you to say!” She rounds on him, and he quickly holds his hands up in surrender. “You’re going to leave me to get close while you hang back! This is your plan, you know!”

“And I’m also going to be working!” Volo waves his hands down like he’s trying to fan out her temper. “Come on Akari, you know if I went in with you I’d end up getting in your way. And that’s ignoring the fact that I am really very bad at dodging…”

“When’s the last time you’ve even needed to dodge?”

“Recently!” He frowns at her. “Don’t believe what the Mistress says about me for a second, I am a hard worker, especially when delivering things for the Ginkgo guild. You say things like ‘oh Volo you appear out of nowhere’ but I do not! I walk the same pathways you do, you just never notice.”

Akari huffs, backing down. “Probably because I don’t use the paths.”

He shakes his head. “You Survey Corps explorers. I can’t imagine how many Alpha territories you stumble into like that.”

“I- you—” she sputters— “shut up!”

“Oho, hit a nerve, did I?”

“I’ve caught those Alphas before!”

“I never said you didn’t!”

“And besides, staying off the paths is how I get most of the materials I have. You,” she points at him, “and the rest of the Ginkgo guild charge an arm and a leg for Revives. I’m better off making my own.”

He snorts at her. “I gave you a free one just the other day!”

“After I bought ten already!”

“I didn’t tell you to do that.”

“Volo, I was going up against the god of space,” she says, “of course I was going to do that.”

“Did you even need any of them?”

Her mouth snaps shut. No, no she didn’t – but there’s no way she’s telling him that. “Anyway.”

He looks delighted. “You didn’t even use them?”

“Anyway!” She glares at him. “The plan. We’ve found the three that live at the great lakes, but what about the others? Do you have anything?”

Volo looks back to the hieroglyphs and heaves a sigh. “No. All the information I can get is frustratingly vague – but,” he shoots her a smile, “now that I have your help, there’s a lead that we wouldn’t have been able to use otherwise.”

“Which is?”

“Our beloved Mistress, of course!” He grins. “She knows anything about everything in this, but if I come to her on my own she would be suspicious of me. If we go together and I say I’m helping you, though…”

“She’d assume you’re telling the truth.” That is… that is manipulation. He’s planning to manipulate Mistress Cogita for information and use Akari as a tool. But then again, isn’t he actually helping her by giving her a lead to find those Legendaries? That is kind of her job… “So are we telling her that I’m researching for the Corps, then?”

“Too impersonal,” he shakes his head. “The Mistress would never give leads to what she believes to be a whole group, she’s kept these secrets way too long for that. I’m guessing if we tell her we’re trying to find you a way back to where you came from…?”

“Me?” She points to herself. “Back to where I came from? Me? We’re not actually doing that, right, that’s not one of the endpoints of this plan. Right?”

Volo looks offended. “Of course not! Why would I do that? I’ve already told you we’re a team.”

“Oh thank goodness.”

“I would have thought you’d at least be curious about the possibility.” He tilts his head. “Was where you came from truly that bad?”

“It doesn’t matter if it was or not,” she says, “I like it here. I have friends and a team and I help keep watch over the village. People know and like me here! Adaman, Irida, Rei, Laventon, you – if I ever end up going back, I might- I would lose- I just don’t want to, okay?”

He’s silent for a moment.

“You sure have a unique perspective on things, don’t you?”

Akari sighs. “Sorry. Sorry, I just… if I end up an amnesiac in a world I have no idea how to live in for a second time…! Okay, I’ve thought about this a lot so I’ll spare you a rant, but I’ve decided it would suck.”

“Is that why you were so hurt by exile?”

Silence.

She turns to face him. “What?”

“Stranded in a world – more specifically the wilds – you don’t know how to survive in,” he ticks his points off on his fingers, “experiencing it completely alone and the situation ending up cutting all your connections, ending up relying on the first sign of civilization you can have access to – Jubilife, Mistress Cogita’s cottage – and immediately being pushed towards an impossible task – the Lord’s frenzy, and the space-time rift.”

He holds five fingers up, one for each point. “Seems about the same to me.”

He’s right.

It’s like seeing another side of an optical illusion. He’s right.

She remembers those first few moments on the beach with Professor Laventon, him leading her into the village and being so confused, knowing there was something different about it but not knowing why. The confusion, the fear as she’s greeted with an impersonal ‘pull your weight or die’ when joining the Survey Corps, everyone around her saying her life was being put on the line every day until she finally realized it really was.

Kleavor felling a full-grown tree with one swipe. Dialga stepping out of its portal. They may be vastly different, but the fear was the same. Her world coming to an end.

The best thing that ever happened to her. The worst thing that ever happened to her.

Letting Laventon help her to her feet. Grabbing onto Volo’s sleeve.

It was all the same.

“Don’t worry yourself, Chosen One,” Volo’s voice breaks through her spiraling thoughts. “I’m not Kamado. I won’t leave you in the dust a third time.”

His assurance sets off another little lightbulb in her mind.

Kamado and Arceus.

No, she shakes her head. That one… that one’s too big. She cannot compare those two.

Right?

“Let’s just…” she sighs, forcing herself back to the present. Volo has both hands on her shoulders, looking about ready to shake her out of her head by force. She shrugs him off. “Let’s just do the plates. You gave me the important job, you said. Might as well.”

He looks sympathetic.

For once, Akari feels like it’s genuine.

--

“Well done, Lost One.” Mistress Cogita gives her a gentle smile, full of pride. “The Red Chain served its purpose, and you carried out your duty. Truly, you have risen so much more than any of us could have imagined.”

Akari nods. “Thanks to you and your help, Ma’am.”

“Think nothing of it,” the older woman assures her. “In providing aid, I have also fulfilled my purpose and carried out my duty. We do not need to speak of it any more than that.”

She’s going to lie to this woman. Akari is going to look her in the eye and lie to her, when all she’d ever done was help.

She’s not sure if she can.

“You look conflicted, Lost One.” Akari feels both Volo’s and Mistress Cogita’s eyes on her. “Do you yet have need of me?”

Maybe she doesn’t have to lie. Maybe she can just… not tell the truth.

“… It’s about Arceus, Ma’am.” The Mistress straightens. “I know that technically I did what I was supposed to, what I think it sent me here for, but now that it’s done… I want to know about Arceus. I want to find out if it had a plan for me, after everything.”

Mistress Cogita nods. “My forbears worshipped Arceus as the Pokémon that created the Hisui region. I’ve also heard tell of certain fragments- I believe they are now called plates- given to the ancestors of the Diamond and Pearl clan’s Royal Pokémon.”

Volo breaks the silence that follows. “Isn’t there anything else you can tell us about Arceus and the plates?”

“I have nothing new to tell you,” the Mistress says. “Perhaps if more concrete information had been passed down, the Diamond and Pearl clans would not have been so at odds with each other, as neither Dialga nor Palkia are their desired ‘true Sinnoh’, rather, two separate and equal beings.”

There’s no leads she can give. Great.

So disappointed by the lack of information, Akari almost doesn’t notice Volo speaking. “We thought, if there were more to go on, we could begin to unravel the mystery of why Akari here fell from the sky.”

“Oh. I see.”

Why does she look pitying?

“So that is what you intend. Very well. I will share what little I do know.”

--

The two of them are walking back to Jubilife in silence.

Akari has been silent nearly the entire afternoon, ever since she realized just how circular her life has been going. Especially when her thoughts edge toward that connection, vague as it is, between Commander Kamado and Arceus. Stranding her, making her believe there’s a concrete goal she can reach, and then completely ignoring her efforts. She’s trying so hard to keep her feelings on the matter separate, but the closer she gets to thinking about it, the more frustration bleeds over.

She startles when Volo suddenly puts his arm around her shoulders.

“You’ve got an unusually long face, considering how well the plan is going.” He smiles. “Come on, Chosen One, aren’t we a team? Talk to me.”

Akari just shakes her head. “It’s nothing. Just thinking, that’s all.”

He raises an eyebrow, expectant.

“You said earlier,” she elaborates, “that me landing here and Kamado exiling me were the same. I’m still wrapping my head around it.”

“You don’t need to think that hard about it.” She makes a doubtful noise. “I’m serious! You think too hard on some of these things! Does it matter if they’re the same or not?”

“Of course it does.”

“Why?” He looks down at her. “Does it change what happened? Does it make you feel better about it? Far as I can see, the only thing you’re doing is messing with your own head.”

Akari sighs. “I can’t just stop thinking.”

“You can stop thinking about that, at least.” He jostles her a little. “Lighten up! We have a mission you could be focusing on!”

“You’re just anxious to get those plates.”

“And what if I am?” Volo grins. “If it gets you somewhere other than ‘stuck in your head’, does that really matter?”

She cracks a longsuffering smile. “'Opportunistic’ is really just your whole personality, isn’t it?”

“There we go,” his own smile softens. “And for the record, it is not my whole personality! Just around fifty-percent of it.”

“Ninety.”

“Sixty.”

“Seventy-five.”

He rolls his eyes. “Fine, seventy-five, in your favor.”

Akari nudges him. “You let me win that one.”

“I’ll let you believe that, sure.” Arriving at the village gates, Volo takes his arm away from her shoulders so she can continue on. She finds herself almost missing the weight. “Don’t worry about coming to find me before you get started – I’ll likely just ‘pop up out of nowhere’ again either way.”

“You’d better.”

They wave goodbye to each other. Finally, Volo turns his back and leaves.

Stepping into the village, it looks like Akari’s not due for a quiet moment yet.

Seeing Kamado once again has her freezing in place, balance skewed onto her left foot as she stops walking mid-stride.

One hand hovers over her collection of Pokéballs.

Kamado looks over her from head to toe. “At ease.”

She does not ease. He looks frustrated.

“The Mistress Cogita has contacted me,” he says slowly, like she’s a startled Starly about to fly away, “regarding the plates you and the merchant Volo are searching for.”

He waits for a response, sighing when she doesn’t give him one.

“We must go to Prelude beach. Meet me there.”

And he walks away.

Akari takes a breath, not realizing that she wasn’t breathing for the last few moments. The ever-familiar chime of a new waypoint on the Arc-phone map assures her that that conversation (if it could be called that) is officially over.

A few seconds later, another chime goes off. She pulls out the phone, confused.

Mission: The Plate of Prelude Beach

The WHAT?

Mission: Lost No Longer

What does that even mean?

The first waypoint, the one that’s very obviously activated, is directing her toward Prelude beach like Kamado requested. The second – the one that seemingly came out of nowhere, because she wasn’t even talking to anyone when it arrived – is set at… the Pearl clan’s settlement?

Lost No Longer: Meet with Irida at the Pearl Clan Settlement

Why?

She’ll do that, because it only occurs to her now that she hasn’t had a real talk with Irida in a long while, but… why? Why did this new mission show up? What is so important about it that it came up immediately after a plate mission?

And ‘lost no longer’, does that mean she’s going to be searching for someone again? It’s so cold up where the Pearl settlement is, she’ll need her heavier coat if she’s going to be searching in another blizzard…

One thing at a time. Kamado first.

She scoffs at his waypoint. That man can wait for her a few more moments.

Akari takes her time putting away the few things she collected on the road to Mistress Cogita’s home and back. It doesn’t take as much time as she wants it to, though, so she goes to the pastures as well, trading out some of her team. Chimchar, she thinks, could spend hours complaining about not being allowed to battle with her go-to Pokémon, but she limits him to fifteen minutes while she sends her Leafeon for a well-deserved nap and retrieves her Luxray.

The giant beast – evolved from an Alpha Shinx – practically pushes her over in excitement. Akari’s long gotten used to the buzz in her fingers whenever she gives Luxray pets, so she doesn’t hesitate digging into the fluffy black mane until her hair starts floating.

“Hello my big girl,” she grabs Luxray by her giant fuzzy head and makes kissy noises at her. “It’s nice to see you too! Come on, game face on! We’ve got somewhere to be.”

Luxray growls happily and returns to her Pokéball. What a sweetheart.

Nothing left to do now but go.

Akari walks slowly through the village. The two ladies on the main road have taken up their gossiping again; the way they go on, she’d think Jubilife was the most dramatic village in the world. As she passes she hears something about so-and-so’s little sister running off with someone in the Pearl clan and how the man nearly got heatstroke when she dragged him to the coastlands for a date spot. It’s hilarious and probably a little bit true, considering the Pearls really do live in the coldest place in the region.

She passes through the village gate leading to the beach and waves a greeting at the guard, giving a smile to his two Buizel. They chirp at her, the larger in a surprisingly deep voice and the smaller in a more expected one. The size difference between them is hilarious.

Avoiding meeting the eyes of the man running games in the training grounds, she skirts past the wide area she caught her first Pokémon in and goes on to the beach, looking around for Kamado so she isn’t surprised again.

When she spots him on the small dock, she stops.

He’s in armor. Again.

It gleams in the late afternoon sun. With a spike of fear, she looks for his right hand, Beni – the ninja that almost kicked her to the curb during the whole mess that was happening at the temple – but can’t see him anywhere. Far from being relieved, that just makes her more nervous. Just because she can’t see him doesn’t mean he’s not here.

She stands on the beach for a few moments, a sitting Starly ripe for slaughter. Nothing attacks her.

Why is he wearing armor? Are they really about to battle again? Did he somehow come to the conclusion that he should have killed her when he had the chance? What does this have to do with the plates? Why here? Why now?

Slowly, she approaches. Every footstep that crunches the sand sends a spike of fear through her, thinking that he’s tracking her movements, waiting until she’s close enough. She’s vividly reminded of herself sitting, waiting, one arm pulled back for a throw as she hides behind the tall grass of the fields watching Abra flash in and out around her, completely unknowing she’s there.

Akari will not let him win. If she does lose, Volo would look for her. He would find out, and he would tell her friends, and Kamado would not have long in Jubilife village after that. She’d be surprised if the merchant even let him live.

Somehow, that’s the thing that comforts her. Volo is terrifying, but he likes her and would avenge her.

She steps onto the dock.

Kamado turns to face her. “This is a place of beginnings.”

She remembers. When she reported to him, when she still counted herself as a supporter of her Commander, he took her to meet the travelers that landed on this beach. She remembers being honored, presented to those strangers as one of the reasons Jubilife was strong enough to take them in. Akari thinks that’s the moment she truly began seeing her village as hers – watching the disembarking travelers and thinking she had made enough of a difference in the world for them to be safe here.

Akari would have given everything she had to Jubilife if not for Kamado’s actions.

“Now is not the time for words,” Kamado says. “Face me in battle.”

Fine, she thinks, and sends out her Luxray. The former Alpha sees Kamado and growls so loudly that Akari’s bones feel like they’re shivering.

Fine.

--

“You’ve grown stronger since last we faced one another on Mount Coronet.”

It’s edging into night, now. The stars are coming out. Akari gently opens her knocked out Luxray’s jaws and feeds her a Revive. She hacks and blinks awake at the taste before looking to Akari gratefully.

Kamado watches her. “It’s clear to me now. You’ve achieved such strength by not viewing Pokémon as terrifying enemies, but trustworthy allies.”

Akari glares at him. Luxray groans into standing and stares him down at her side.

His shoulders sag. “Here. You should have this.”

And he holds up one of the plates.

“You’re joking.” Akari stares at him. “All of this- you’re joking. You fetched me right as I went through the gates, put on armor, dragged me here and tried to defeat me, just so you could give me an apology present?”

He looks away. “I needed to be sure you were worthy.”

“Worthy!?” She nearly screams, “I didn’t need to prove anything to you! You- you- you are the worst man I have ever met, how fucking dare you have that plate just as I’m starting to look for them! How dare you involve yourself in my search knowing full well that I never wanted to speak to you, much less look at you, ever again! Don’t—!” She holds up a hand as he opens his mouth. “Don’t you dare. I don’t want to hear it.”

“Akari.”

“Shut up!” She hisses. “Shut up! I hate you! I hate you!”

“I was wrong,” he says, “and I’m sorry.”

Her vision blurs. “Shut up!”

“What you’ve done for Hisui, and for me, can never truly be repaid.”

“Be quiet!”

“Akari,” Kamado says, “You are a gift from the heavens, and an honor to Jubilife. You are more deserving of your place here than any of us.”

Akari chokes on a sob.

He steps forward and offers her his hand. “This is your home. I should never have taken it from you.”

That does it.

Akari feels the last dregs of her fragile composure dripping away, leaving a sobbing and heartbroken amnesiac girl behind. She pushes Kamado’s hand to the side and steps closer to him, letting her forehead fall against the chest plate of his armor. Seeing her darkened reflection in the metal makes shame crawl up the back of her neck.

She closes her eyes. “I hate you.”

After a moment, she feels one of his arms go around her back, one hand placed at the back of her head. “I know.”

--

She has the plate Commander Kamado gave her.

Akari stares at it for a full thirty minutes in the morning, frustrated at everything and nothing. She doesn’t want to forgive Kamado, but she can feel herself giving in anyway. She’ll be angry at him for the rest of her life, she’s sure, but after the whole scene they made at the beach…

It was easy to see the leader she thought he was in his actions there. She hates it, hates him, but it doesn’t stop her from really and truly feeling better about what he did.

He’s the leader of Jubilife, after all. This is her home.

Maybe she’ll take a break today. The ‘Lost No Longer’ waypoint is calling to her, and she’s curious to see what Irida – or maybe just the Pearl clan in general – needs from her. Really, anything to put some distance between her and Kamado for a bit.

So Akari dresses herself and steps outside into the bright and warm air, pack laden with her heavy, even warmer clothing. She does her rounds of the village, making small talk and asking if anyone has requests for the Corps. Surprisingly enough, she doesn’t find any new ones. On the main street she spots Rei making similar small talk with one of the villagers.

It’s been a bit since they caught up. The celebration a few days ago was the last time she saw him in any real capacity, the both of them too busy with their duties to stop and take a breath.

Making a sudden decision, Akari leans against the end row of houses a few feet away from the conversation and waits.

Rei’s face when he turns around is worth the few extra minutes. “Akari! Where have you been?”

“Busy,” she says, grinning, and Rei practically tackles her in a hug. “Been hard without your guidance, but I’m getting through it.”

“I bet. You’ve got the best teacher in all of Hisui, after all.” He boasts. “Here’s another valuable life lesson from your favorite coworker: learn to take breaks!”

She laughs. “I’m taking a break!”

“Are you really? Or are you just doing work that’s not battling?”

“Reiiiii,” Akari whines, “I swear! Today is break day. I’m even going up to the Pearl settlement to spend time with Irida.”

“Uh-huh. Are you doing missions on the way to the Pearl clan?”

“Well I wasn’t planning to, but now that you mention it…”

“Hey!” He pokes her forehead. “No! Stop that. No working. Go do a girl’s day, or whatever you call hanging out with Irida. And don’t accept any missions when you get there, either!”

“I don’t know…” she smiles, teasing. “Without my teacher there to watch me, I might slip up…”

A huff. “Oh, that’s how it is, huh?”

Akari nods, pleased that he sounds like he’s considering it. “That’s how it is.”

Rei stares her down. She doesn’t budge until, finally, he rolls his eyes. “Fine. But only because you asked.”

Akari cheers. Rei takes it with good humor and leads the way to his home to pack. She helps out, of course – after months of working together, being friends, she knows his storage system just as well as he knows hers. All in all, Rei’s theme when teaching her is ‘do as I say, not as I do’ so while her storage is clean and organized by importance, his is just kind of thrown in the first available space.

Eventually they do find everything he needs, though, and begin setting off. They have a routine to traveling while together: when there are different camps they can go to in an area, Rei takes one while Akari takes the other and they meet in the middle as if they haven’t seen each other in decades. It’s all very dramatic and tear-jerking. She’s pretty sure they have an entire backstory for their respective characters by now. According to Rei’s wailing as they reunite, her full name is Akarita Viatrix Alta the Third and she was separated from his character, Reiine Ednalin Razili (first of his name), when their meager traveling group was split in two by a rockfall on the mountain paths, each side believing the other to be dead. There’s practically a script.

There are two camps in the Alabaster Iceland region, so Akari calls one of them. “You go to Icepeak and I’ll take Snowfields?”

He frowns at her. “Seriously? C’mon Akari, you’re the one that needs to see the Pearls. Why am I closer?”

“Because you don’t have transportation.”

Rei pouts. “Well sorry not all of us get to ride on a Lord’s back! Fine, I’ll meet you at the settlement?”

“Yup!”

So they go.

The icelands are as beautifully strange as ever once Akari reaches them. The first time she was here, the snow of these peaks had been set against the night sky, making the dark of space darker and the white of the snow seem a ghostly blue. It took her breath away, seeing something as otherworldly as the cold icelands in a region she thought she had grown to know well.

Even now, sunny and bright, it seems a bit like a dream.

An annoying one. She shields her eyes from the glare of snow, sunlight refracting off of millions of tiny crystals.

Akari sends out her Lucario. He grunts in surprise when his paws hit the snow and stands, bewildered at the landscape, before turning back to her with a curious noise. She smiles even as she winces at the brightness around them. “Hey there bud. Surprised to be back?”

He looks around again, eyes eventually stuck on the nearby crags of the slopes, and then looks back to her.

Adorable. “Feel free, buddy. Just remember to come back, okay? I’ll be at the Pearl settlement- you remember where that is?” He shakes his head. “Well do you remember where the other camp is?”

After a moment of consideration, he nods. “Well, there’s a river near that camp, remember? And a bridge over it? Cross the bridge and take the easy walk up and you’ll find it. It’s right under the temple building there, see?” Another nod. “Okay. Anytime you get tired, just come find me.”

She likes Lucario. She especially likes how understandable they are; she’s not sure why they share a few of the non-verbal social cues that humans do, but watching her teammate lower his head in thanks and run off toward his old home turf, she can’t help but feel proud.

He was always a higher level – the icelands are dangerous, to survive the Pokémon must also be dangerous – but he was so friendly when they met that she couldn’t help her heart melting. A little Riolu running up to her and mimicking a battle stance she’d seen some other fighting-types do, not expecting her to take him seriously and approaching, concerned, when she fell over with a shriek of surprise. She really thought her butt was about to be handed to her by a very strong baby, but he was so sweet that she had to ask him to come with her.

He didn’t really get the Pokéball explanation until she called out her Luxray for a demonstration. The two had grunted and growled at one another as Akari watched, absolutely transfixed, taking so many nearly indecipherable notes for the Pokédex or for the Professor or for anyone that would listen to her about how cool it was to watch. Obviously, the inter-species discussion ended with the little guy coming with them, joining her team.

Ah, memories.

Back on track. Eventually she gets used to the light and begins her trek through the snow. Admittedly she could easily call Braviary to fly her over to the settlement, but…

She really likes battling the Glalie. The ice-orb guys. She thinks they might like her too, but it’s hard to tell when they all immediately try to destroy her soul. They definitely have favorites in her team though – there are a few here that won’t do any sort of harmful moves until she puts a certain teammate out, and then it turns into a brawl. It’s like her team has arch-enemies. It’s funny, and it gives them a chance to show off knowing nothing’s really at stake if they lose: even when Akari was first exploring here, the Glalie were slow and barely bothered her past a few ominous and threatening charges.

All in all, she thinks the Glalie are hilarious and fights them every chance she gets.

Spotting one over the mounds of snow, she grins and begins her approach.

--

“Akarita!” Rei yells, barreling down the settlement trail towards her. “Akarita you’re alive!”

“Reiine!”

Her ‘lost love’ slams into her with a hug and drags her into spinning. “Akarita, where were you! I wept for ages when we parted!”

“I was trapped!” Akari wails. “Trapped by the cruel and uncaring—"

“Do you two have to do that every time?”

Akari pauses to glare at the Pearl guard posted at the settlement entrance. “Dude.”

Irida’s laugh carries down from further in as she approaches, one hand over her mouth. She looks as unbothered by the cold as ever. “Let them have their fun. It’s not often we get such lively visitors.”

“Thank you Irida, I love you Irida.” Akari clears her throat. “Trapped! By the cruel and uncaring claws of fate, as the rocks that fell upon our fellows sent me into a sleep so deep it was nigh inescapable! I—” she smiles, unable to hold it in with Irida watching. “I— I have—”

Rei frowns at her, looking five seconds from bursting into laughter himself. “Keep it together Akari.”

“Shut up, you’re the worst!”

They both burst out laughing. “Come on, you wh- you what? Akarina, what have you done!”

She shouts in outrage. “It’s Akarita not Akarina! Honestly!”

He giggles. “Akarita’s twin sister.”

“Sister!?” She sputters and turns to her friend. “Irida! Irida kick him out!”

“Sorry Akarita,” Irida laughs, “but I think you know why I can’t do that.”

Akari gasps dramatically loud. “You’re my sister?” Then she rounds on Rei. “You’re cheating on me with my sister?”

The Pearl clan guard puts his head in his hands.

When they’ve calmed down a bit, Irida greets her more properly with a hug. Akari relaxes into it, not able to feel much under layers of winter gear but knowing the action speaks of so much care. “What brings you here, Akari, Rei? I had thought, now that the space-time rift is closed and the Lords are no longer in danger of becoming frenzied, that we would be seeing a lot less of each other.”

Rei elbows Akari before she can answer. “Akari here finally realized that the Corps have been working her too hard. I’m just here to look around.”

“And you decided to visit in your time off?” She looks pleased. “Well then, I won’t let anyone accuse me of being a bad host. Come on, my space is already warm.”

“Are you sure we’re not interrupting anything?”

“Don’t worry, Akari.” Irida smiles. “Thanks to you, we’re practically flourishing.” Akari points to herself quizzically as they begin walking to Irida’s home. “Yes, you. Did you really think putting so much effort in the Alabaster Icelands section of those Pokédex guides would go unnoticed? It’s a wonder you haven’t been nearly run over by one of the kid’s Bergmite.”

She straightens, surprised. “They like Bergmite?”

“They like Riolu more,” Irida says, rolling her eyes, “but the journey to the hot springs is much more dangerous, so they make friends with Bergmite instead.”

“They’re not scared of them?”

“Not anymore.” Irida guides both her and Rei inside her home, closing the door behind them. Akari breathes in the warmth and begins unbuttoning her coat. “It’s amazing what a small bit of knowledge can do to soothe all our fears.”

“That’s what it’s all about!” Rei grins, a little red in the face. “But wow, I really didn’t think the Pokédex would be changing things up so soon. Before Akari got here, no one in the Corps had even managed to catch three different Pokémon in one expedition, and now we’ve got wild Pokémon living with humans in the village.”

Akari smiles. “It’s been great to see things going this way. It feels a little closer to what I think my home used to be like.”

Irida pauses.

“Really?” Rei gapes at her. “Wait, does that mean you got some of your memory back?”

She snorts. “No, not even close! Sometimes I just get these feelings, you know? Like this is the way things are supposed to be.”

“… It must have been wonderful,” Irida says softly. “No wonder you can understand them so well.”

“Anyone could do that. You and Glaceon understand each other pretty well!”

“After years of work and dedication.” She brings the two Corps members some steaming cups of still-steeping tea. “Yes, we are close friends, and we work together well. You’ve only been in Hisui a few months and already have a full team – more than a full team, if I’m to believe the rumors of you taking over Jubilife’s pastures.”

“I… well…” Akari takes a sip, stalling for time, not realizing just how hot the liquid is. She winces as she feels it burning her tongue and sets her cup on a nearby shelf for later. “I might have, yeah.”

“You really are an amazing person.”

Akari blinks and looks to Irida, concerned with the change in her tone. “Irida?”

Irida just smiles, whatever expression had been on her face being wiped clean. “Oh, it’s nothing! I was just thinking of how much you must miss your home. It really does sound wonderful.”

Her good mood plummets and Akari shares a glance with Rei. He nods. “Thanks for the tea, Irida! I haven’t visited in a while, so I’m going to go and see how everything’s changed.”

“Rei, you don’t have to—”

“Nah, it’s fine! You two talk, I’ll be around.” He’s practically already at the door when Irida is just reaching out to stop him. “See you guys later!”

The door shuts.

The Pearl clan leader sighs. “I must really seem pathetic to you.”

“Irida, no!” Akari steps into the other woman’s space, grabbing her hand. “Why would I ever think that? Rei’s doing me a favor, giving us time to talk – I was actually planning on coming alone before we ran into each other, it’s okay.”

“It’s not that, Akari, but thank you.” She grips Akari’s hand back softly. “In all honesty, I am glad you decided to take the time to visit me.”

“Anytime.” She nods. “We’re friends.”

“Are we?”

Akari stands a bit straighter in shock. “Wh— of course we are!” The blonde in front of her shrinks in on herself a little. “Irida, do you not…?”

“No! I mean, yes! I—” Irida shakes her head— “of course I want to be friends! You are one of the best things that’s ever happened to Hisui. You’ve helped us, helped me, so much and there isn’t anything I can do that could ever come close to repaying you.”

“Is that what you’re worried about?” Akari nearly laughs in relief. “Repayment? Irida, I would never ask for that.”

“No, that’s not…”

“Then what is it?”

She hesitates.

Every second that passes in silence makes Akari more and more concerned for her friend. “Irida? What is it?”

“… Now that the rift is sealed,” she settles on, “your way home is gone.”

“… Yes?”

“How aren’t you worried about that?!” Irida explodes, finally looking Akari in the eyes. “Whenever you get the chance to talk about your home, even if you don’t remember a lot about what it was like, you always seem so sad! And I was so relieved when the rift closed because I knew that it meant fewer problems for us all, but the more I think about it the more I realize that we – that I – made you strand yourself here with us!” She sounds near tears, and looks the same. “Aren’t you concerned? Don’t you want to find your way back?”

Akari is shocked silent, staring at Irida.

For once, it seems like Irida is the one with no patience. “Don’t you?”

“No.”

She stares. “What are you talking about? Of course you do!”

“No, I don’t.” Akari swallows, her throat suddenly dry. “I would never want to leave here. Hisui is my home, and there’s no way I’m ever second-guessing that. Sure, it’s a little different from where I was, but I have a life here. Friends.” She shrugs, looking away so she doesn’t have to admit this straight to Irida’s face. “Family, maybe.”

“Family? Who…?”

She grips Irida’s hand a little tighter. She takes the hint.

Akari hears her sniffle and keeps her eyes away, just so the Pearl clan leader can have a bit of privacy. “Me? You think I’m…?”

“Well, we weren’t exactly raised together. And honestly I don’t know you as well as I feel like I do, it’s only been a few months, but…” she sighs, “even with my whole, um, memory issue… I know you’re one of the best friends I’ve ever had.” Akari shakes her head. “So no, I’m not leaving you, any of you, behind. Even if another rift opened today and I could jump through without causing any problems for you all, I still wouldn’t do it.”

Irida’s head rests against her shoulder. If she were wearing less layers, Akari knows she would be feeling the cold of Irida’s tears against her skin. In the back of her mind she remembers Mistress Cogita’s name for her – the woman had never called Akari by her actual name, seeming to share Volo’s sentiment on her deserving a title instead.

Well done, Lost One.

This is your home.

She remembers the mission that led her here. Lost No Longer.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she says, knowing in her heart that it’s true. “Hisui is my home now. I belong here.”

No matter what anyone says, no matter what she’s called, Akari will always belong here.