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Chapter Text

It was cold when she found him.

The mountains could bring down hail in a flash, striking painful bruises into tender skin. This particular storm coupled itself with an onslaught of snow between each downpour of ice, making it near impossible to see in the moonless night. These were not conditions that Sneasler typically found herself in, preferring the warm shelter of her den to the bite of the elements. Tonight was different, however. She was restless, patrolling the highlands and even going as far as climbing past her fellow Noble’s hollow to look around. She felt a prickling energy beneath her skin. It was one that made her fur stand on end. She was just about to give up and head back to her den when she saw it.

A flash from above.

Lighting bursting from the peak of the mountain, sky rumbling and tearing, making every muscle in her body tense in preparation to run. The storm only worsened with this new development. Winds whipped around her, pelting her with showers of ice. She needed to run. The Lady did not run, however. No, she stayed exactly where she was. This was a decision she would later find herself thankful for, as what came next would change her life. From the tear in the sky fell several things, objects raining from the heavens with each crackle of lightning that burst from it. She had nearly willed herself to move when she caught a glimpse of something falling that stood out from the rest of what she saw. It was larger than the other objects. It was moving. It was alive.

This was just the motivation the Lady needed to move, tearing off at a sprint to where she saw the unknown being plummet from the sky, desperately climbing up the cliffs that separated her from her target. She felt relieved that the creature was falling relatively close to her. She never would have made it in time had it started to fall down the other side of the mountain. She wasn’t even sure if she could help it wherever it landed on this side, but her mind screamed at her to make the attempt. This must have been why she was so restless. Why she had felt the need to patrol and pace and search when she could barely see her claws in front of her face. Some part of her had felt the unnatural goings on, had known she would be needed.

When she finally came to a stop, it was because she could taste the distinct tang of freshly spilt blood, hear the groan of an injured human. They were sounds and scents that she was painfully familiar with. With her target found, she moved to crouch over them, trying to use her own body to shield them from the hail and snow. This human…she could not pinpoint it’s age. She never was good at that sort of thing, not with humans, but it was large. That told her it was at least an…adolescent. Probably. It smelled odd. Like metal and smoke, and several more scents she could not place. These issues were not as pressing as the amount of blood bubbling out of the back of their head, or the numerous other cuts and scrapes that littered the human’s frame. She gently moved them, trying to check them for injuries she was unable to immediately see. If she needed to give this human a quicker, more merciful death, she would do so. It was well within her capability. She prayed it did not come to that. Instinct demanded this person lived.

They hissed in pain when she touched their arm, and the sound brought her equal parts relief as it did concern. The thick cloak they wore had made it difficult for her to see at first, but the limb was bent at an angle it should not be. A broken bone was added to the list of injuries she needed to keep track of. That hiss, though...They were alive. She intended to keep things that way. Careful to avoid her claws nicking their bare flesh, Sneasler hooked them into the collar of the cloak they wore and pulled them into the shelter of a nearby tree, propping them up against it and licking the gash on their head to clean it a touch before she began her next task. Head wounds tended to bleed heavily, but as far as she could tell, the skull was intact. She needed sturdier shelter for this human. On any other night she would throw them over her shoulder and carry them to the Pearl Encampment or even Lord Electrode’s warden, but the storm only seemed to be growing worse the longer she stayed out. She didn’t trust their body to survive that in it’s current state. The growing blizzard was unforgiving.

She used her claws to dig out a fresh den in the side of a nearby cliff face. Nothing too large or fancy, certainly not the spacious insulated den she had further down the mountain, but it would work for what she needed. The unconscious human was gently dragged there to rest instead, and she started licking their wounds clean once again, careful of their head and arm. She had no desire to make things worse than they were. They did look a bit better after cleaning them up, but they were still covered in injuries that she would need to address later. When the storm stopped, she would go out and try to gather those bitter herbs she saw humans collect for their medicines, and berries to convince them to eat. Like a kit. After that she’d take them to someone more capable of help. With her plan in mind, she laid down near them, using her body to block the exit of the makeshift den and trap heat inside.

And with that, she began to watch over them and wait. With the human’s bleeding slowing and the confined space of the den trapping in a little more than heat, Sneasler was able to identify more about the man by his scent. He was very much a male, this was certain to her. She gave him a visual inspection as well. He was wearing a very small and impractical blue scarf tied around his neck, over his shirt, beneath the cloak. It was a wonder he wasn’t strangled when he tumbled down the mountain. His hair was silver like an elder, but his face lacked the deep grooves of aging that elder humans had.

She found herself occasionally reaching out to touch him. Pulling his clothes snug around him to keep him warm, giving him one of her paws to hang onto when she heard him whimpering and saw his uninjured arm blindly grasping for something to his left. She rested her other paw on his chest to make sure it still rose and fell with breath, labored though it may have been. The more time passed, the more confident she was that he would survive. They needed only get past this first night, one where she was unable to leave his side to get help.

Little did she realize that this would be the first of many nights spent watching over and protecting what she soon considered her newest kit.

Chapter Text

Ingo woke with a grunt, a throbbing pain in his head and..well, all of him hurt, really. He opened his eyes only to see darkness, and he wondered where in the world he was. Who he was for that matter. His mind had already supplied his name, but everything else was behind a thick fog. Pain kept him from thinking properly, and as such he took entirely too long to notice that he was clutching the hand of someone else. Or something, it would seem, as that something chirped at him and moved, shifting around to paw and sniff at him. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, so he let it happen, only responding in negative when it’s tongue swiped across his hair and to the back of his head, sending fireworks of pain shooting through his skull.

“Agh, cease!”

He was very loud. So much so that it startled even him, making him jerk away and putting accidental but very unpleasant pressure on the arm that wasn’t being held by the creature he was with. Said creature made an alarmed sound, and he found himself grabbed in strong arms, cradled tight against a fur covered chest. Part of him was fearful, especially when he felt the slight pull of claws against his jacket, but when no further pain came he settled down, taking ragged breaths. The creature made a thrumming sound in it’s chest and rocked him, and it was during that rocking that he registered that he could see. The creature had been blocking the entrance to what he now knew was a small cave. With the light now trickling in, he was able to get a good look at what was holding him.

The sight was an odd one. He could think a bit clearer now, though his thoughts were still hard to grasp. The shade of purple he saw felt familiar to him, as did the pokemon’s facial structure, yet he felt they didn’t normally go together. The mix of course and soft furs along her body had a familiar feel as well, and he cautiously pet the Pokémon’s back with his uninjured arm. Fleeting memories of something else with such fur filled his mind, associated with the color yellow. The beast chirped at him and tilted its head, clear concern in its intelligent gaze.

“Hm. You’re assisting me, aren’t you? I…apologize. For my outburst. Your grooming hit a sore spot on my head…did I fall from somewhere?”

He didn’t know what sort of response to expect, but a warm smile and a purr was a pleasant one. He received one more lick across his hair, avoiding his injury, and was carefully placed into a sitting position. The creature nodded, making small vocalizations.

“Snee, snea snease.”

“Ah, gesundheit. Thank you for your aid…” He hesitated, but cleared his throat. “Would you allow me outside? It’s quite cramped where we are and I would like to inspect myself. I think I’ve broken my arm during this fall, and perhaps hit my head. No, I most certainly have.”

He watched as the creature nodded in understanding, shifting backward out of the cave and leaning down to offer him its paw to help him out of the small shelter. He took the paw gratefully, though he did wince a bit at the shimmer of claws he was now able to see.

It was bright outside, the sun telling him it was far into the morning. Said sun shone bright, unhindered by clouds, and reflected off of the thick layer of snow coating the ground, only serving to make things even brighter. Ingo closed his eyes and groaned a bit, good arm raising so his hand could shield his eyes. A concerned chirp made him chuckle.

“I’m fine. It’s just bright compared to the cave. Where are we?” He idly felt in his pockets and along his belt while he spoke, feeling like something was missing. He gasped and touched the top of his head as well, a small panic coursing through him. “My hat. Was it with me when I fell from wherever I was?? I’m certain I had one. It’s important!”

The creature made a clicking sound and held one claw up, telling him to wait a moment, and Ingo watched as she rather suddenly left him, scaling the cliff face with expertise and familiarity he couldn’t imagine ever achieving. She became a small blur above him, and he thought for a moment he was being abandoned. A few minutes passed by. Fear began to creep in..Then he saw her descending with a black cap clutched in her mouth. Relief washed over him, making him forget his injuries for that moment. If he could smile he would have. Especially when she took a moment to fiddle with his hair before placing the hat on his head with a triumphant cry. Ingo chuckled at this, reaching up and adjusting it on his head to sit properly. As proper as he could with one functional arm. He fumbled a moment, muscle memory kicking in, reaching into an inner pocket of his jacket for a Bobby pin and securing the hat to his head. He gave an experimental shake and sighed, pleased with having his uniform fitted properly. Looking up at the Pokémon made him realize she was tilting her own head, looking concerned all over again. Making eye contact caused her to trill at him once more, and he tried his best to smile.

“Thank you, my Lady. I feel much more secure having my hat where it belongs. Now then….it appears I’m on a mountain. I don’t recall any mountains. I think I may not recall much of anything. I know you are a Pokémon, but I do not know what you are. I want to say a…sneasel. But I don’t think that is quite right. I’m not sure what a sneasel is or how I know the term. Even me designating you a lady was a guess, but the assumption overtook me before I truly thought about it.. Many apologies if I was incorrect with that assessment. The hit I took on my head has filled me with a fog. I do know my name. I am Ingo, I am…I am a man. I’m…hm. I’m not sure how old I am. I am an adult, I know that much. Perhaps 21,” He paused for a moment, gently touching the gash on the back of his head, readjusting his bad arm while he turned away from the Pokémon who had evidently rescued him. He needed to take inventory of the situation. “We are on a mountain. I have a head injury and a broken arm, alongside superficial scratches and bruising. I am on a small outcrop and most certainly cannot climb down. I…I am hungry. I hate to ask more of you, but can you lend me more aid? If you sought out help, or brought me something to eat, it would be very much appreciated.”

He turned back to the Pokémon, only to find her reaching toward him. He was about to stumble back, fearful of claws suddenly grabbing him, but he found himself once again cradled against her chest. She held him with one arm, careful of her claws, and began to climb down the mountainside. He looked down and winced, shutting his eyes to avoid seeing the fall he had in store if he was dropped. His good arm wrapped around her neck to hold himself steady. The action made her pause in her descent and purr at him, giving him what she must have meant to be a reassuring lick on his cheek. He merely kept his eyes shut and coped with it, only opening them when he felt the slight jostle and sway of the Pokémon walking. They were on another outcrop, but this one had a berry tree nearby.

“Bravo, dear lady! You are very strong, and very smart! I recognize these fruits, I can safely eat them until further aid arrives! If you put me down, I can set to work trying to pick some of those berries. I- oh. You’re taking me into another cave.”

Ingo cut himself off when the Pokémon walked to a much smaller hole than he thought would be possible for them to fit into. It took some digging on her part to expand the small tunnel to fit them both, but she had climbed through a narrow space and into a cave that felt far warmer than the previous shelter she had him inside. Sun shone through the narrow entryway, lighting things up slightly in the den. She set him down on a surprisingly soft nest of dried grasses, fur, feathers, and even what appeared to be a few blankets. She pulled one of said blankets over top of him after she felt he was settled properly, and even moved more of the nest materials closer to him to cushion him further. She rose back up and crawled outside, returning with an entire branch from the tree, sporting many berries. Ingo felt a warmth in his chest to be cared for so carefully by a Pokémon he did not even know. She must be a mother. This theory was proven further when she started using her claws to slice one of the berries apart, trying to press the smaller piece to his lips to feed him. He chuckled again but obliged her, opening his mouth and taking the bite. The compliance pleased her, making her smile and chirp in delight. This process repeated quite a few times before Ingo felt the need to speak up once more.

“Are you a mother? You are very good caring for others. I can only assume this is your den. It’s very generous of you to bring me here and to take such good care of me…I can feed myself, however. If I could burden you to go seek additional help, I would appreciate it very much. I need something to wash my wounds and cover them, and something for my arm, so the break doesn’t worsen. I’m also in tremendous pain. The food helped, but I need medical care. This station isn’t fully equipped to handle an emergency. Please, I promise you I’ll stay here, just find help if you would.”

The Pokémon had nodded at the mother inquiry, but the rest of his plea was met with a bit of a disgruntled expression. Perhaps she was offended? He slowly reached out to give her shoulder an apologetic pat. She snorted some and moved his hand behind her ear to scratch, and he obliged. It was the least he could do after offending her. She accepted the contact for a moment before she huffed and stood. The den was spacious enough for either of them to stand and walk around inside of it. Like a decently sized room. She leaned back down to tuck the edges of the blanket beneath him before going to climb out of the den once more, exiting through the tunnel. Scratching sounds outside made it clear she was still present, but the dimming of light in the cave explained what she was doing. Leaves and branches now obscured the entrance. Ingo sighed, hoping that the Pokémon had understood his request. With nothing else to do but wait for her return, he shut his eyes and rested. The nest really was quite comfortable, and it did not take long at all for him to fall asleep.

Chapter Text

Lady Sneasler’s new ward was odd.

He spoke loudly, with an accent she wasn’t familiar with, and he wore strange clothes that she hadn’t seen on any of the clans folk, traveling folk, or nosey folk. She couldn’t get over his smell. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was still all very different, and she found herself thinking about it more and more while she descended the cliff that lead to her den. Mint was one of the scents, she was certain of it. That one clung to his mouth. Something else about his scent reminded her of spicier berries, but it was far more subtle than all his other smells. Maybe something floral, too?

He was very polite, but also very demanding.

….Maybe not demanding. He had a point. She still hadn’t gathered the medicinal herbs humans used, and with all the cuts he had on him, he could use the burning water that her old warden would clean her wounds with. She felt a pang of sorrow as she recalled her late warden, but she growled and shook her head. She couldn’t think about them right now, not when her new charge needed her. His odd manner of dress and unfamiliar accent made her wary of bringing him to any of the human settlements in Hisui. He said he was an adult, but adults knew more things. Even the few human kits she had returned to their parents had talked her ears off telling her about their families and homes, but he had not done that. She supposed it could have been his head injury affecting his memory, but she felt it was easier to treat him like a kit. And a homeless kit needed care. Humans could not care for kits like she can. Luckily, she knew exactly where she could get the supplies she needed.

Approaching Lord Electrode’s hollow was a risky task. Not because of the Lord, not at all, but because of his warden.

She could not stand that man.

Why Lord Electrode chose him she would never understand, but at least she could count on her friendship with her fellow noble to make things easier when it came to interacting with his warden. Now was a time when it came especially handy. Rather than walk into Moonview Arena, she dropped herself from the edge of one of the Coronet Highlands many cliffs, quietly chirping as she did so. When the Lord dropped from his tree near immediately she grinned.

“Lady Sneasler! What brings you to the Hollow? I haven’t seen you in some time!” The other noble spoke to her in a friendly tone. It was true, she hadn’t visited in quite a while. “Did you need me to watch over a new litter of your kits? You know I’m not very good at that. They don’t know how to regulate their poison..” Electrode frowned more than usual, rolling in place a moment. “They’re cute but I always feel so ill after, and they can’t even play with my own little Orbs..”

“No, no. I haven’t had another litter. I chased my usual mate out of the territory, he was annoying me. That’s not the issue. I’ve found a strange human in the highlands. He fell from that weird storm lastnight.”

“The one that caused the tear?”

“The very same. Is your warden around? I need to ‘borrow’ some supplies, but you know I don’t get along with him. It is out of respect for you that I do not smash a rock against his head, but if he denies my request I do not know if I can restrain myself. The human in my den is very injured and I will not be denied.”

Lord Electrode had a thoughtful expression. While he didn’t understand Lady Sneasler’s vitriol toward his warden, he appreciated that she made an effort not to maim him. He did wish she would find another of her own. It had been a while since the incident that claimed her last one, and he knew she could use the help at times. He rocked a little, humming with electricity. “He’s around, but I don’t believe he’s heard you yet. I can distract him while you take what you need. Thank you for not killing him with a rock. I must say, it’s strange of you to keep a human… Why not take him to one of the clans?”

The mere suggestion made her bare her teeth and snarl at her friend. “Because our respective clans fear anything unknown. They can’t even realize their worship of Dialga and Palkia are skewed! He’s mine, I found him, I won’t let them take him from me, too!” She stopped as soon as she started, surprised by her own aggression, covering her mouth with her claws. “….Sorry. I don’t know what came over me. If…If I feel like he needs it, I’ll take him to the humans. I’ll even bring him here first, to your warden. For now though, thank you. I’m ready whenever you are. Our usual routine for your warden, yes?”

Lord Electrode only snickered, knowing that the other noble would never truly attack him. She was just protective, and it was one of the things he respected about her. It mattered not what was under her care, she would protect them all the same. This one seemed to be clicking far more with her, but Electrode chose not to push his luck in voicing that. Their routine wouldn’t work if Melli heard her first. He nodded in confirmation to the question, waited for her to take cover, and then promptly exploded into a loud crack of electricity.

The ground shook slightly from the intensity of the sound, and outside of the arena a yelp could be heard. Fast footfalls followed, and Sneasler tensed in preparation for her own part in this. Warden Melli rushed in just as Sneasler slipped out, moving faster than the man that was now fretting over Electrode who wailed as if he was suffering. She grabbed one of Electrode’s offering baskets and made her way to the nearby tent Melli had set up for himself, entering it and rifling through his things. It was not the first time she “borrowed” from him, and she highly doubted it would be the last. This would be her biggest haul to date, though. Her most important, too.

Several items were crammed into the basket. She started with bandages and potions, followed by a bottle of the burning water. She found it odd that Melli kept it with his food, but atleast it made it convenient for her when she snagged several pre-wrapped meals from his stores and put them in the basket. Sniffing around, she found clean clothes, grabbing a few things just in case her human wanted to change, or needed something warmer than he had. Avoiding Diamond clan attire, stealing instead from Melli’s personal wardrobe. After another round of sniffing she found several bundles of herbs for medicine making, some already fashioned into remedies, and even found some books and simple toys. Melli was not very good at organizing his belongings. Her final grab made her feel slightly guilty, but she shook it off. Melli could replace his waterskin. He could whine to his leader for more supplies. With everything packed in the basket, she secured the lid and carefully put her arms through the loops, carrying it on her back as she had seen Melli do many times before. Her retreat was quick and was accompanied by a shrill yowl to say her goodbyes to Lord Electrode, who made a miraculous recovery from the mysterious ailment that had so desperately required his warden's attention. If, later, his warden complained to him about wild geodude ransacking his tent again…well, he wasn’t about to correct him. Just comfort him.

Lady Sneasler ignored the outraged shouts from below her when her theft was discovered, focused on returning to her den and helping her Ingo. With all that she took, she was certain she’d have all she needed to nurse him back to full health. She didn’t need help from humans to raise one lone kit. They’d be fine alone, and she would make sure of it.

Chapter Text

The rustling of leaves near the entrance to the den woke Ingo from his nap, jolting up before biting back a pained moan. His vision swam and he could feel his pulse throbbing in his skull. The dark of the cave was unfamiliar in his freshly awakened state. Thankfully it did not last long. The Pokémon who brought him here slid into the den feet first, pulling a basket inside that seemed stuffed full of supplies. Light once again cut through the dark of the den as its entrance was now unblocked. He frowned a bit when the pokémon was not followed by anyone else, but didn’t voice these concerns. Clearly she had brought something with her in that basket. She set it down with a heavy clunk, very pleased with herself.

“Sneasler snee!” Came her proud vocalization, “Sneas!”

He huffed a bit of a laugh, nodding. “Thank you. I can see you brought something for me. Did…you purchase it somehow?” No sooner than he asked that did Sneasler tilt her head to the side in confusion. He shook his head. “Nevermind that. I won’t question how you got these things, but could you show me what you’ve gathered…..Sneasler? Is that your name?”

Sneasler’s feather puffed up slightly upon hearing her name and she crooned, clacking her claws together as if to applaud him. Pleased as a parasect! She leaned down to nuzzle Ingo, and he stored that tidbit of information away in his cloudy mind. This beast was named Sneasler, she has been a mother before, and she has access to man made items. She is strong and smart. She is also seemingly physically affectionate. He didn’t think he minded. Ingo watched as she opened the basket up, carefully unpacking it. So far so good. He could fight back the pain a little longer to see what she brought him. Clothes were appreciated, the books and toys intrigued him, and he had a feeling the herbs were for healing. A few looked familiar. Thank goodness for that. He raised a brow when she lifted out pre-portioned meals of berries, dried meats, and rice balls, but he was more confused by the unlabeled glass bottle she placed in front of him. Curious, he held it between his thighs and uncorked it with his good hand to sniff at it, then promptly recorked it again and coughed.

“Miss Sneasler. Why did you bring me alcohol? Did you think this was water?”

He was shocked to see the Pokémon roll her eyes. Mention of water prompted her to present him with the waterskin and take the bottle away. He didn’t hesitate to hydrate himself, but watched with interest as she held the corked bottle and mimed pouring it onto her leg, then pretended to put a clean bandage on it. He must have still looked confused, because she then gestured to his head, gently touching near where the skin still oozed and held up the bandage. He gasped in realization, and was once again loud.

“BRILLIANT! You mean for me to use the alcohol as a disinfectant! Bravo! You are very clever!”

“Snee!”

“Yes! Now then…how to perform that task with one arm…and regarding my arm…do you know how we might keep it straight? Have you ever broken a bone, Sneasler? You’re a clever girl- no, a lady, so I do hope you know how to assist. I can’t remember what someone is meant to do with a broken limb…A-and I’m sure it will hurt.”

Sneasler tapped her chin with a claw, thinking it over, but seemed to think of something. She reached for the berry branch she had brought into the den earlier, cutting a couple sticks with her claws. She held them up, and oh so carefully placed one against his arm. His face lit up, and he was seconds away from cheering for her again before he found himself muffled by the lady shoving one of the herb bundles into his mouth. She shook her head and huffed at him. He got the message. And the medicine whether he liked it or not, apparently. He found his chin grabbed by one of her paws, careful not to claw him. She shut his mouth and forced him to chew the purple petals that had been crammed in his mouth. He moved her hand away and continued to chew on his own, even as his face scrunched and his eyes watered from how bitter the herbs tasted. He watched her slowly remove his broken arm from his jacket. He winced a little, but swallowed the herbs and set to helping her.

It took a while, but with teamwork and a few agonized shouts they successfully set and splinted his arm, as well as disinfected and bandaged his head. It wasn’t the cleanest job, and by the end of it, Ingo had taken a couple of burning swigs of the alcohol to wash down the medicine and dull the pain. Trying to numb the heaving sobs that would only serve to dehydrate his exhausted body. Sneasler sat beside him after, once again slicing berries to feed him and making sure he drank from the waterskin. He indulged in that care now, his aches and pains having worsened in the time it took to disinfect his head and reset his arm. The herbs and alcohol could really only do so much. He did not intend for it to happen, but he slowly ended up leaning against the Pokémon. She purred in response and moved so his head was pillowed against her side, the rest of her body curling protectively around him. He could tell she must have been exhausted too from all the work she had put in to helping him, and he shakily reached up to scratch behind her ears until she moved her paw to instead hold his hand. Ingo and Lady Sneasler fell asleep like that, warm and content in each others company.

Days went by and they developed a routine. Sneasler would help Ingo out of the den each morning to stretch his legs and get fresh air while she left to forage and do a small patrol of her territory. Unknown to him, she ended up delegating most of the patrols to a few of her daughters that she had allowed to share her borders. When she returned, she would check his wounds and have him eat some herbs or drink pilfered potions. Breakfast came after in the form of whatever she happened to bring back with her that morning. More supplies were stolen from Melli as needed. Sneasler would also take Ingo down to one of the springs to scrub clean and refill the waterskin for him about every other day.

He eventually expressed a need for fire, and Sneasler had enlisted the help of a Machoke and its fire punch to provide him with one. In return, both Sneasler and the Machoke were treated to roasted berries, mushrooms, and veg. Ingo gradually healed, and the more he did, the more freedom Sneasler felt comfortable giving him. He didn’t mind her hovering, not in the slightest, but it was nice to be able to bathe and relieve himself without an audience. Even if she was a pokémon, she was still a lady, and it wasn’t proper to do such things around one. Also it was simply embarrassing. He’s grown.

Their evenings were spent beside Ingo’s fire, sharing dinner and having conversations about the day. Ingo couldn’t understand Sneasler’s speech of course, but that didn’t stop him from enjoying her company. It was too quiet when she was away. He tried and tried to remember who he was before he fell from the sky, but the only things he found were deep rooted feelings of loneliness and a migraine. During one of her outings, Sneasler had found a mostly empty journal, and he began using charred twigs to write and record things he remembered, as well as things that generally interested him. He even began to draw to pass the time when his lady was away.

Lady Sneasler was overjoyed when presented with a small portrait of herself. He thought she might reopen his head injury with how intensely she groomed him after he gave it to her. How she had managed to hang it on the wall of her den was a puzzle to Ingo, until he saw that she had used honey like an adhesive. Her brilliance knows no bounds! Dried flowers and berries were made into paints, and Sneasler’s shed fur was bound tightly around sticks to become stiff brushes. Life was peaceful, though strange. He hadn’t seen other humans, but Sneasler consistently brought him human made luxuries. He was thankful for it and for her, as each day he grew stronger and his pain levels decreased. He was even able to move his arm a bit, though he knew it had a long way to go before he could use it properly. There was a touch of concern with how it appeared to be healing with a slight crook in it, showing they didn’t set the bone perfectly. It…was fine though. It didn’t cause him any extra pain, and it was hardly noticeable. Mostly.

Ingo was not aware that his Lady’s doting attention was becoming cause for concern. He did not realize that with each manmade gift she brought him, outside tensions grew. He did not know that her absence from her usual spots had been noticed by some very concerned parties. Oblivious to the politics of man, Ingo simply enjoyed what he was given and stopped asking about humans he didn’t even know or really care about. Even with the loneliness in his heart, he was fine with spending his time alone with his new companion.

He had a feeling that only a specific human could fill the void he was feeling, anyway.

Chapter Text

Typically, Sneaslers were solitary Pokémon. The only time Lady Sneasler shared her den with others was when it was mating season and she had a fresh litter of sneaslets to care for. Even keeping her male around for that was irritating and short lived, as she didn’t care for other adult pokemon crowding her den.

It was because of this she found herself a bit surprised with how much she had enjoyed Ingo’s companionship.

He was different from other humans she interacted with. He could be loud, yes, but so could all of her young. He cleaned up after himself despite being injured, and he made things for her and used fire to roast whatever she brought them to eat. He was respectful but unintimidated by her after their first day together, after she’d earned his trust. He didn’t have the intense fear of Pokémon that other humans did, and did not shy away from any part of her. Being able to interact with someone who did not tremble at her claws was refreshing.

She knew he couldn’t truly understand her when she spoke, but sometimes it felt like he could. He was attentive and could interpret her body language well enough that they could have conversations. He did begin to respond to how she said his name and called for him, which thrilled her to bits. He made the most beautiful pictures in that blank book she had brought him. He even decorated the interior of her den. Her favorite part of that project was when he covered their paws in his paints and they stamped them on the walls together several times. It made her very happy to see the shape of his hand next to her paw, and she caught herself marveling at this new relationship often. She vowed to do this with her next litter of sneasels, too. It would be a pleasant way to remember them after she chased them out of the nest. Maybe she’d even make Ingo do it again as he aged, so she could compare how he had grown. Would he grow? She didn’t know when humans stopped doing that. She’d never raised one before.

It wasn’t just her he treated differently, though. When she started allowing him to stray further from their den; and it was theirs now, she had decided- Ingo would interact with other Pokémon too. The machoke that lit his fires became a frequent visitor to her territory, bringing with them crunchy salts from near their own dwelling. Ingo would exercise with them to the best of his ability, Lady Sneasler keeping an eye on them both to ensure the machoke didn’t decide to harm her ward. Truth be told, she was grateful for the machoke keeping him company. The Highlands could be very dangerous for a lone human, particularly one with only one fully functioning arm. The machoke staying near him offered him more protection, and the exercises it led him through served to not only better his own ability to protect himself, but also kept his healing arm from losing too much strength. The machoke was soon considered trustworthy enough that she felt comfortable having them begin to live within the general vicinity of her den. They could be trusted to watch over Ingo when she was needed elsewhere.

It wasn’t just Sneasler and Machoke he befriended. During a rough storm, a gligar had gotten themself injured and crashed near the den. The lady tried holding him back, but Ingo did not hesitate to go to the gligar and offer them oran berries, a potion, and kind, soothing words. When they did not attack him, Sneasler begrudgingly allowed the gligar to rest in their den for the duration of the storm. They flew off the next day, but often returned with offerings of prey to share. Gligar’s prey delivery was a fantastic gift to receive, as Sneasler found she no longer had to leave for long periods to hunt. She did still have to clean the prey to her Ingo’s specifications, but that’s a much smaller chore than actually tracking and killing something. Ingo was thriving in the wilds where other humans would wither. It made her incredibly proud of him. She spent more time being social than she had in years because of his influence, and his presence served to make those interactions pleasant ones. She hadn’t realized how lonely she had been, how empty she had felt. Sneaslers may traditionally be solitary, but she was beginning to think that she just wasn’t that traditional! Gligar was permitted to live close by just as machoke had been, and they chose to dig their own den in the same cliff face as hers, just higher up. Sneasler respected the desire for privacy, and their good taste in cliff faces to burrow in.

It saddened her, however, that Ingo was not as well as he could be. She often found him staring at his reflection in the spring water and studying his frown, or turning to the right to speak to someone who was not there. He told her that while he was happy, he felt like a part of him was missing, but he could not remember what that part even was. He described it to her as being like a shadow in how it was always present, but unlike a shadow he could touch and interact with it as he did her. As much as their time together healed his body, it did not bring back his memories.

She made the decision to be his missing piece, as well as she was able. She patrolled even less and stayed by his side more, standing to his right so she could reply to him when he turned. She saw it put him a bit more at ease, and that alone felt like progress. Every evening she would remove his cap and groom his hair with her claws and mouth as she did her own kits when they were small. He had also grown a small patch of fur on his chin, but he laughed and pushed her away when she tried to tidy that up. She still did it, but it was all in good fun. When his hair grew too long for her to reasonably handle with her claws and tongue, she stole hair supplies from Melli’s tent to give to Ingo. He very much liked the brush she gave him. She liked the brush too, because when Ingo chose to use it on her it felt Arceus blessed. The bristles massaged her skin and loosened her shed, leaving her fur soft and light. Brushing out her loose fur even provided them with more bedding for their nest, so the brush quickly became a dear friend to them both.

When his hair got longer still, she asked machoke to figure out how humans wove their hair into the organized knots she had seen before. Machoke went on a small journey to observe one of the human settlements, returning when they learned how to do the weaving. Ingo informed them both that it was called a braid! He was able to remember that he had a friend who wore her hair in braids on frequent occasions. “To keep the static out when she fought.” Is what he had told them, though he did not remember much more, only that her braided hair hung a bit like a lopunny’s ears. Machoke braided his hair for him until he learned to do it on his own, and he would often tuck it into his cap after it had been tied.

Days with Ingo had turned to weeks, and weeks had turned to months. Sneasler was so caught up in doting on her ward that she did not realize she had been neglecting her duties as a noble, nor did she bother retrieving the offerings left on the dias devoted to her. She didn’t neglect ALL of her duties, she still indirectly ran patrols through her daughters and made sure the Pokémon on her half of the Highlands were staying in line, but she was absent enough to bring unwanted concern her way. She had been much too focused on helping Ingo regain strength in his freshly healed arm. She was beginning to teach him how to climb the cliffs like a proper sneasel. He was making excellent progress for someone who did not have claws to climb like she did! He could scale the cliffs around their den with relative ease. She hadn’t thought to confer with the Pearl Clan in many moons. Life was spent with Ingo. To her surprise, she spent a great deal of time with Machoke and Gligar, too.

Sharing her space and time with them had enriched her life in ways she could not have predicted. Being social with others was a great deal of fun, and it broke the monotony and ennui she had been existing in before Ingo came along. She and the others would have friendly battles, learning about each other through these fights and bonding through them. Ingo would wrestle with them on occasion too, but he seemed more at home with planning strategies and ways to direct their moves. When she felt she had enough, she could excuse herself without worry to return to the quiet of the den. Sneasler still greatly valued her solitude, but found she was perfectly content being alone together with Ingo, when he chose to climb back up the cliffs to join her. It felt different than when she had to endure the company of her own kind, and it was comforting to just exist in the same space as him. Things were peaceful until something odd began to happen.

For several weeks, a baffling amount of male sneasels and even the occasional male sneasler started to trespass in her territory. They made no attempts to attack her. They would instead fight each other when she was near, or try and sneak past her to approach her den with malicious intent. The situation was mostly resolved when she began to viciously maul any that came too close, risk of permanent injury acting as a powerful deterrent. Machoke and Gligar both pitched in to aid in fighting off the invaders as well. Gligar’s immunity to poison and use of ground and flying moves served as a huge advantage to the teams efforts.

She was curled up with Ingo in their nest like any other morning when she awoke to footsteps outside of her den. She bristled slightly but did not move, trying to place the sound before she took action. At best, Machoke had gotten up early to fetch something. At worst, it was another stubborn male that she would need to teach a lesson. These assumptions were shattered when a human voice called down the tunnel and into her den. A very young, very feminine, very familiar human voice.

“Lady Sneasler, are you here…? We’re worried about you. You haven’t been answering our summons, you haven’t been sighted this breeding season with a mate, and even Lord Electrode’s warden hasn’t seen you lately…Except for when you steal from him... W-which you don’t have to do! We’d give you anything you need, my lady! It’s our duty to provide for you! Warden Melli has been very vocal about how much the theft upsets him, so it would be much better for you to take the things I’ve brought for you…”

Sneasler felt incredibly foolish and incredibly angry. She didn’t even make the connection that the influx of males was due to the mating season. She hadn’t entered estrus this season, so it never occurred to her to seek out a mate. That must have been why they wanted in her den so badly, too, to kill any kits she had to force her into estrus again. Her claws dug into the floor of her den. How despicable. She’d let Gligar prey upon any other males that approached now, rather than just scaring them off.

She finally answered the humans call with a low growl, trying to keep quiet enough that she did not wake her companion. Her Ingo was usually a heavy sleeper, so she really should be fine so long as she didn’t roar. “I don’t need anything, Irida! I’m fine! Go away! Leave things outside if you’ve brought them!” She knew the girl wouldn’t understand her, but she often found herself hoping the girl's eevee would become an espeon that was capable of translating for them. Some psychic types could do things like that, if they were so inclined. She’d assess whatever offerings she brought later, after the girl had left.

“Are- are you hurt? Sick? Did you have kits early that need help? Please don’t shut us out! Please don’t shut me out…It’s been so hard. The clan is concerned, even the Diamond Clan’s leader is worried that something happened to you. All of our nobles are important, regardless of clan alignment. You’re important, my lady…I know you’ve been sad since your last warden passed away, but they surely wouldn’t want you to hide away like this.”

A sharp pain tore through her at the mention of her late warden. Vivid memories of thick blood pouring over snow and gurgling screams assaulted her senses before she was able to crush down the flashback. The stench of blood lingered in her nostrils despite her best mental efforts, even if it wasn’t real, even as she steered her focus back to the matter at hand. If she just moved on, it would go away. She briefly tucked her muzzle against the top of Ingo’s head, trying to replace the scent of death with that of the living.

Lady Sneasler felt pity for Irida. She was too young for her role, thrust into it because of the very same incident that stole her warden away from her. She knew the girl had to be facing scrutiny and criticism from the clan elders over her apparent disappearance. Hard scrutiny and criticism, if making the journey all the way from the clans village to her den was any indication. Even so, she did not want her coming in and disturbing her or her kit, her Ingo. Sneasler did not like that she was using the memory of her last warden as a weapon to bargain with, either. Sneasler may have let her in to see her kits in the past, but that was not the case this time. She pulled back her lips let loose another growl, and had some choice words in mind to try and deter Irida from entering. Those words did not leave her maw, due to the simple fact that her ward had shifted beside her and spoke up before she was able to.

“Sneasler, are you alright? Has a passenger entered the station without a boarding pass?”

With how loud Ingo was, especially when he first woke up, she knew Irida had to have heard him. She had to have heard the strange phrase Sneasler had not once witnessed leave his mouth until now. Yet….silence was the only answer Ingo received. Not even the chirp of a kricketot or beep of a starly was heard outside. The silence was so long that she was just about to tell Ingo she must have actually just been dreaming. She did not get a chance to do that either, as sudden sounds of a small human scrabbling through the tunnel and into her den echoed against the walls. Irida practically fell in, her eevee tumbling down in behind her. He panted, shaking out his fur and trying to hurry to step in front of Irida. “Please don’t attack her, my lady! She’s not thinking! We don’t mean any disrespect!” The eevee yipped in defense of his partner, but was quickly snatched up by Irida who was staring slack jawed at Ingo and the state of Sneasler’s den.

Oh, Arceus help her, this was going to be a Noble pain in her ass

Chapter Text

There was a strange man in Lady Sneasler’s den.

She wasn’t injured, she didn’t have a new litter of sneasels, she looked to be in perfect health. Her den was organized to the extreme, altered to the extreme. The nest was much smaller than the last time Irida had visited, shaped in a way that made it obvious it had been remade to accommodate the man. The floor was still covered in an insulating layer of grasses and fur, but the border between floor and nest was clear. It was never like that when Sneasler had kits. The sneasel kits were notoriously messy.

The walls of her den had been painted upon, several portraits of Sneasler present with some landscapes and assorted doodles. Claw marks decorated the walls as always, both from Sneasler expanding her den and from rambunctious little paws of sneasels that were raised there in the past. Interestingly, it looked like someone had dipped Sneasler’s paw in paint and stamped the shape of it next to her claw marks. Human hands were clearly present, too. Other Pokémon were painted on the walls as well. A few machoke, a few gligars. They were recognizable. The man must have done this, all of this, for some reason Irida could not fathom.

Another alteration that had her stunned were the very human amenities that had been placed. They weren’t extreme, but still…There was a large barrel filled with what she assumed was fresh water, like in her own home. Another barrel was nearby and looked to be filled with forageables of all sorts. Clothes were neatly folded nearby and topped with a hair brush and comb. A wooden crate had been overturned and used as a table, stacked with books that she knew had to have belonged to Melli. It all had to be Melli’s. Some candles sat on the opposite side of the crate, presumably used light the den enough to read. All in all, Lady Sneasler’s den had been stocked with things to let a human live comfortably within it.

Irida just needed to figure out why.

Why was there a strange man in Sneasler’s den in the first place?

Why didn't she know about this sooner?

Irida stomped forward once and opened her mouth to question the man, but she was unable to get a word out before the noble Pokémon moved to hover protectively over him. A snarl ripped through the cave that chilled her to her very core, and Irida could see the sheen of poison beginning to coat Lady Sneasler’s claws. She stepped back, terrified. She was out of her depth and she was going to die because of it. She was so certain of her fate that what happened next left her in disbelief.

The man grabbed Sneasler’s paw. The paw that was nearly dripping with an obscene amount of toxins. The paw that could very easily kill him without even really trying. He had grabbed it and pulled it toward the top of his head. The action yanked the noble out of her aggressive display with a squeak that was very much not intimidating. She looked worried, and her claws visibly stopped their production of poison and angled away from him.

“Sneasler, I am safe. She doesn’t want to hurt either of us, she looks scared. Calm yourself. Gligar and Machoke wouldn’t have let anyone unsafe get this close to the den.”

He spoke calmly and clearly, but his accent wasn’t one Irida could place. She watched him let go of Sneasler’s paw so he could instead lean forward to scratch behind her feather, which earned him a purr. A purr that immediately seemed to fluster the lady, but at least she had been pacified. She huffed and glared at Irida while wiping her claws clean, moving over to allow the man to stand up. And…oh. He was tall. He loomed over Irida, making her take yet another step back, bumping against one of the walls. His silvery eyes somehow glowed in the dim light. Had she not just heard him speak, Irida would have thought him to be a zoroark or ghoul of some sort. His face was set in a frown, not helping ease Irida’s nerves in the slightest. She gulped, but the warmth and presence of her eevee in her arms grounded her and let her expression harden. He wasn’t a monster, he didn’t have claws or fangs, he was just a man.

“You! Who are you and what are you doing in Lady Sneasler’s den?! What have you done to her to make her act this way? Why does it look like you live here with her?!” She couldn’t see the insignia of any clan on him, nor did his clothes sport the look of the Gingko Guild or Galaxy Team. His manner of dress was odd. He was clearly wearing clothes stolen from Melli. Irida could recognize the fabric, but overtop of it he wore a black cloak that made him look even larger than he was and wrapped him in shadow. “How have you made her steal for you, and why? The Pearl Clan will not stand for anyone manipulating the Nobles of Almighty Sinnoh!” She stomped her foot, once again bold enough to do so. Or maybe she just needed a way to vent some of the adrenaline flowing through her. Stomping is pretty good for that.

She did not expect to see confusion on the man’s ever frowning face.

“Who…What is the Pearl Clan? Wha…whuh? Huh? Sneasler, you’re of nobility? You did not inform me of this, nor did you tell me you were expected anywhere…You know I’m capable of handling myself now, you could have gone…And I suppose I should have expected you to be an important figure based on how the other pokemon bring you offerings…Lady Sneasler, you have my apologies for any disrespect I might have shown in my ignorance,” The strange man said, having turned his attention back to the Pokémon that was stationed on the right side of him. Despite his frown, there was an overwhelming warmth in his tone when speaking to her. It was an extremely emotive voice. Irida felt like it didn’t belong coming from the face she saw. She also felt like the eye roll and snort Lady Sneasler responded with was out of place. “Now then…” He had turned back to Irida, focusing those shining eyes on her all over again, making her flinch. “I feel that if you’re familiar with Lady Sneasler, you surely know that no one could force her into anything she doesn’t care to do. I will answer your questions, but I must request you stand behind the yellow line while at this station.” A pause. “That is to say, we should converse outside of the den, as you did not get Sneasler’s permission to be here…Ladies first, miss.”

Irida was slack jawed yet again. A large part of her was now frustrated to see a stranger so familiar with Sneasler, sharing her space so easily. Another large part was frustrated that he was giving her orders, strange as they may be. And the absolute nerve of him telling her that she shouldn’t be in the den? When he was the one taking it over?! She had half a mind to ask Eevee to quick attack him! His stature won out though. As much as Irida wanted to put on a brave face, she was still very much a 15 year old girl being stared down by an adult man she did not know. He also had a bit of a point, with the den. It was clear that Sneasler didn’t care for the space being so full. She took a shaky breath and scowled at him.

“Fine.”

Chapter Text

Ingo let out a relieved sigh when the young lady and her pokémon left the den. Waking up to an intruder was alarming, but Sneasler’s apparent distress at such an invasion was more so. Ingo knelt beside her to scratch her cheek and around her feathered ear, trying to help his lady to calm down further. He twirled her feather around his finger and chuckled when she started to pat his head in return. “There we are. Back at the terminal right on schedule. Sneasler, I thought there weren’t any notable human settlements around us. I’m not terribly upset, I enjoy our station and have no desire to depart, but it would have been nice to know. I didn’t realize you had status and responsibilities either. It’s important to perform work in a timely and orderly manner.” He sighed again when he felt her feather droop a little between his fingers. “I know you were just trying to care for me. We will talk about this more later. I need to hurry to speak with the young miss that unexpectedly boarded.” He stood and moved swiftly, shedding his coat and trying to get changed as fast as he reasonably could. Facing away from Sneasler to do so, of course. He heard her chuff behind him, and knew she was laughing at him. She was always amused by his modesty. He supposes it would be funny to him too, if he was a creature that did not need to wear clothes.

“….I am admittedly very embarrassed that the first human to see me did so when I was not in uniform.” His face burned scarlet, uncomfortable at the thought of anyone seeing him in his night clothes. It wasn’t as if his body was ever exposed in any way when he slept, aside from the odd night he had slept shirtless, but it still felt too personal and inappropriate and it made him anxious. He didn’t know this girl at all and her first introduction to him had not been in professional attire. He groaned a little, but did not delay in his task. He pulled on his slacks and secured his belt, then made sure the braid he slept in hadn’t gotten too sloppy. Sneasler oh so casually presented his cap to him, dangling from her claws, and he tucked his braid beneath it and pinned it all in place.

The shirt he had fallen in originally had become little more than shreds, so he instead pulled out one of the fancier kimonos Sneasler had brought him. “I….I can’t wear my tie with this. Do I tuck it into my pants? No, that’s stupid, that can’t be right for this garment. I barely even know if I’m tying it properly. I’ll…I’ll just wear my coat buttoned.” Despite his coat having a few rips and tears, he couldn’t bear parting with it, even in sleep. This worked out well since it was heavy and warm. The weight comforted him, and it completed his uniform that he felt was so vital to wear. And it wasn’t even in horrible shape! If he had thread and a needle he could mend it. There would be no need to part with it anytime soon. He looked fine! He could help her find her way back to her parents now. Wait, no, where did that come from? He’s talking to her about living with Sneasler. And what are these things he’s saying?

He doesn’t even know where he would take her to if she was lost.

Nevermind all that.

“Are you coming out with me to talk with our guest?”

“Snea snee, snawr.”

“Understood. I’ll see you in a moment.”

Now dressed and hopefully ready to interact with another human, Ingo steeled himself and climbed into the tunnel that led out of the den. He considered himself fortunate that he was rather lanky like Sneasler was, as fitting through the tunnel otherwise might be troublesome. He still had to move through it on his hands and knees before he was able to emerge and stand. He checked his cap and dusted himself off, focusing a little too long on knocking dirt off of his knees and palms. Ingo heard someone clear their throat in front of him, and he was brought back to the task at hand. Right. Speaking. To a person. To a child? A young lady. He straightened his posture, at attention and facing her.

“Hello young miss! Welcome to Lady Sneasler’s outcrop. To the north, you can find Machoke’s shelter, and if you direct your attention just above us, you should see the entrance to Gligar’s burrow!” He spoke loudly, pointing and gesturing with his hands while he spoke. It wasn’t until he noticed that Irida was leaning away and holding her eevee tighter that he realized something. He…might be intimidating, much like Sneasler was to other Pokémon. He racked his brain for what to do, trying to pull some memory of any social scenario from his past to assist. Coming up empty of anything specific. He just chose to slouch some, to make himself appear shorter. She wasn’t terribly young, he shouldn’t crouch to speak with her, it would come off as condescending. He also shoved his hands into his pockets so his gesturing didn’t come off as aggressive. In place of gesturing, he flapped his hands back and forth in his pockets, causing the lower half of the coat to move like a mothims wings.

He also remembered to lower his volume.

“My apologies, miss. I did not take into consideration our height differences when speaking. I-“ He was about to introduce himself, he really and truly was, but he was unable to do so when the girl began to speak over him.

“I am Irida, leader of the Pearl Clan, and that Pokémon is one of Almighty Sinnoh’s Nobles. Who are you and what gives you the right to just…take over Lady Sneasler’s life?!” Irida was nearly as loud as Ingo first was, but her voice shook. He was unable to tell if the emotion was rage or fear. Maybe both? He’d need to hear more and study her face. “And why are you mentioning all of these other Pokémon?! Where did you even come from?!” She had venom in her words that stung and burned him. He could almost see hatred in her gaze. Definitely angry right now then. He was glad she wasn’t afraid anymore, atleast. That meant his adjustments worked. Now he just needed to answer her. Somehow.

“I…” He hesitated. Trying desperately to recall any information of who he was or where he was from. When asking himself who he was, he found that two different names came to mind; Ingo and Nobori. He considered introducing himself as Nobori, but he got the feeling they held the same meaning. The Pokémon already knew him as the former. No need to change that. “I am Ingo. I apologize again, Lady Irida, but I cannot answer your inquiries to their fullest. I’m afraid I don’t know who I am or where I am from. I only know that Lady Sneasler found me after I fell from the mountain, having sustained several large injuries. My right arm was broken and I had a large wound on my head. I suspect the fall knocked me off track, derailed my memories. The cars have become separated from the engine..” Ingo trailed off, confused by his own words. He put a hand up to his temple briefly, but returned it to his pocket with a sigh. Navigating his own mind was like trying to swim to the bottom of the river. He could only go so far before pressure built in his skull and his lungs ran out of air. He resurfaced, not able to remember anything significant to tell the girl.

“I do not truly recall anything from before I woke up in Sneasler’s care. Please do not fault her for any delays I may have inadvertently caused. Or any luggage she may have taken from other passengers. I had my suspicions every time she would bring something back that was man-made, but I did not think Sneasler would be stealing for me. As for my living situation, she brought me to her den when she first found me, and didn’t allow me to stray from it or her until I had healed. By the time my arm was functional again, we’d already established a routine together. I feel very fortunate that she’s been so generous, as I don't have anywhere else to go. I don’t even remember where this place is, or what the land is called. The other Pokémon I mentioned have become part of our team, so to speak, and Sneasler has permitted them to live nearby. They’re our neighbors. Machoke helped us with fires and aided me in retaining strength in my arm by teaching me various exercises. Gligar brings freshly killed prey for us all to share, and helps watch for threats from above when we travel away from the outcrop…I also apologize if I’ve referred to you incorrectly as a leader, Lady Irida.”

Ingo felt like he’d said enough. Maybe more than enough actually. He stopped talking once more, instead taking a moment to just absorb Irida’s appearance. You can learn about someone by how they look, and maybe he’d see something familiar. He thought her manner of dress was just as odd as his, but he also didn’t know much about fashion. He knew about functionality. So…now he knew that she greatly valued appearances, a bit like him in a sense, but his clothes passed safety checks. She was woefully underdressed for the current climate, and her garments did not offer protection from the elements. It made his frown deepen for just a moment, considering the safety hazards it proposed. She needed something heavier to keep her warm, her skirt was long enough to catch on something and make her trip, and the shorts she wore under it offered very little to keep her legs warm or protect them from being scratched by foliage. Her jewelry seemed impractical too. None of this even touched on her shoes. The only thing he couldn’t fault was her pack, as it was tied around her waist properly and held items well. It also appeared to be what kept her skirt secured to her body, so he supposed he could respect that too.

After thinking all that over, he realized he might be staring. No, he definitely was. Eugh. He knew he had a habit of doing that, but pokémon only cared about that sort of thing when it was paired with outward aggression. Teenage girls are not the same. Important political figures are not the same. He jerked his gaze upward to meet her eyes instead, as was proper protocol for interactions. It made his skin crawl a bit. He ignored it and maintained eye contact. She was silent for several long moments, having watched him assess her appearance while she thought over all he had said.

She didn’t look uncomfortable or scared, which flooded him with relief at that small blessing. She instead looked skeptical. This was fine. If she didn’t believe him, he’d just try and figure something else out to tell her. Or find a way to convince her. She finally spoke.

“You really don’t know anything?” Irida watched him shake his head. She looked down to the flapping of his jacket. Looked back up to his intense gaze. He was putting so much effort into it. “You just fell from the mountain? You actually have no idea where you’ve come from? You don’t know where we are?” This line of questioning was making Ingo’s head pound, and made the skin crawling even worse. He couldn’t do it anymore. He broke eye contact and pulled his cap down slightly, so the brim covered his eyes. He needed to get a grip. All this was doing was make it seem like he was some shady character. Ingo thought Irida was about to accuse him of lying, but the trembling of his hand on the brim of his cap led her to a startling epiphany.

“Are you afraid of me, Ingo?”

The question shocked him, but he gave it thought. He did feel odd around her. He glanced to his right, hoping to seek reassurance from…someone. Sneasler was still in the den. The space to his right was empty, and it made his heart feel hollow. Devoid of Sneasler, devoid of whoever else was there in his past. The hurt in his heart morphed to anxiety that clawed at his brain and howled at him to hurry up and speak, before something awful happened. These feelings swirled around him until he pinched his eyes shut, taking several slow, deep breaths. He thought of Sneasler and his friends, of all the comfort and security they brought him. He thought of why he might be reacting this way, and how to explain it to the girl. After one more breath, he released his grip on his hat and put his hands in his pockets again. He could do this. He looked back over to her, but kept his eyes trained just over the top of her head. Which wasn’t particularly hard given how short she was compared to him.

“I think I am just afraid of messing up this interaction. I feel as though I already have, and it worries me. With Pokémon, it’s easier, they don’t care about many things that would upset another human. They don’t care if you stare or say the wrong things at the wrong time. They read intent and body language more than words, I think. It helps. With people, I just…haven’t spoken to another person at all for months, the entire time I remember being here. I didn’t even see signs of other humans before you fell into the den. Who even knows when I had last seen someone before my fall?

I could have already been solitary and inexperienced in talking with others. I don’t know if that’s likely, because somehow I do have some recollection of talking with many, many people. I didn’t even recall that until just now, talking to you. It comes to me in waves, and then I know how to react. Maybe if I expected someone to visit, things would be different. But you found me when I was underdressed and sleeping. I regret that being the first impression I have made with another human. And you’re not just another human, but you say you lead a clan? It’s embarrassing. I think I may snore, too…” He raised his foot to nudge a rock around with his boot, looking down at it to get a break from looking at Irida. “I also feel guilty for keeping Sneasler from her tasks as a noble Pokémon. I know not what it entails, but staying on schedule is important. And I’m the cause of this mess.”

The girl considered this. Ingo chanced a glance back up at her. He saw pity flood through her eyes, followed by what he could tell was a deep seated guilt that most definitely did not start with him. He had only fed into it and made it worse. Her eyes had gone glassy with unshed tears. He waited patiently for her to finally speak. She had been patient with him, all things considered. He could tell by her expressions that she was having to fight against her own mind to get herself in order and talk again. He understood the feeling. She cleared her throat and spoke up.

“I…need Lady Sneasler to back up your story. Before I can think of what to do with what you’ve told me.”

Ingo nodded, stepping aside to wait for Sneasler, who had indicated she was going to let the two humans speak before making her appearance. She made good on that, emerging from her den and standing to Ingo’s right. He relaxed considerably upon having the space filled, and Sneasler bumped her head against his and placed one paw upon his shoulder. Her other paw rested on a cocked hip. He could feel the girl staring at him and could easily guess what she was thinking. He could see it written on her face. Irida found it amazing that he didn’t flinch away from Sneasler’s claws. She had reacted in a similar fashion when he had grabbed her paw in the den, so must have a fear of those claws. She also must be wondering if Ingo could actually understand Sneasler’s vocalizations. He pondered that for a moment. He couldn’t say yes, but he actually couldn’t say no, either. They’d spent enough time together that he could usually figure things out, but some things were lost in translation. Irida wrapped up her ogling, and Ingo wrapped up his study of her face. She stepped forward with a serious expression.

“Lady Sneasler. Now that you’re out of your den, I’d like to formally offer you your favorite meal. Bean cakes, topped in crunchy salt.” As she spoke, she carefully placed her eevee on the ground, then reached to her pack and pulled out a carved wooden box. She opened and presented the contents to the noble Pokémon. Three small cakes were lined up inside. Sneasler perked at this presentation. Even Ingo had to admit they smelled good. Irida continued to speak. “In return, I only ask that you answer some questions the best you’re able to, since you can’t really talk to me. This man, Ingo. He’s not harmed or coerced you into letting him stay in your den? You trust him?”

Sneasler looked taken aback at the idea of Ingo harming her. She must have felt the need to express her affection for her friend, as she released his shoulder and instead hugged him around his middle and lifted him slightly. The action made him stumble back against her chest, and she rested her chin atop his head. Squishing his hat down in the process, making it cover the upper half of his face. Ingo sputtered a little, but was otherwise unsure of how to react. He could feel his cheeks warming up. For now, he just put his hands on hers to try and give himself some stability while she hugged him.

“Snawr!”

Sneasler had made her answer very clear.

Chapter Text

Irida couldn’t help it. She giggled at the scene before her, smiling widely. She hadn’t seen her Lady in such high spirits in a very long time. The last time was before she had to be a leader, back when she was still allowed to be a child.

Irida’s eyes flicked down to Sneasler’s claws, where they connected with Ingo’s waist. Her smile faded.

Lady Sneasler’s late warden had a near magical way of putting the noble in a good mood, and Sneasler would do just about anything they asked of her. She was a frequent visitor to the Alabaster Icelands, aiding the village in hauling supplies and harvesting ores for them to trade. She broke through ice and rock with finesse, clearing new routes for travel. When younger children wandered away from the village and into the frigid fields, Sneasler would bring them back upon her shoulders before anyone had even noticed their absence. Their parents always kept a closer eye on them after that, and Lady Sneasler’s dias was overflowing with offerings for her in their gratitude.

Irida remembered overhearing an argument about it though. She had been playing near the leader's tent when she heard it, and decided to sit down with her ear against the outside to listen. A meeting had been called with all the wardens and elders. Apparently, some of the villagers had expressed concerns that the children would get cut or poisoned with the noble handling them all of the time. Disregarding that the only time she touched them was when bringing them to safety before frostbite could claim little fingers, toes, or lives. Warden Sumire had sworn up and down that Lady Sneasler was in full control of her claws and poison, and to argue otherwise was not only an attack on Sneasler’s integrity as a Noble of the clan, but a direct disrespect to Almighty Sinnoh who had blessed her. Irida would never forget how furious they had been on Lady Sneasler’s behalf. She had never heard Warden Sumire angry before, ever!

Sumire was overruled. They had been the only one there who came to the defense of Sneasler. Not even the parents of the children she’d saved from an icy grave spoke up. The elders said it was an easy decision for their leader to rule that Lady Sneasler was to be discouraged from visiting the Icelands. They were not even her lands to patrol, afterall. The tasks she accomplished could be taken care of by Lord Avalugg and Warden Gaeric. If a child were to go missing, Warden Calaba would summon Lord Ursaluna. The Lady of the Cliffs was to be kept busy with her usual tasks in the Highlands, including harvesting ores there and keeping the Pokémon populations and their alphas in check. If she ever were to find someone lost or injured on the mountain, she was to seek out aid rather than help them herself and risk killing them faster.

Warden Sumire didn’t come back to the village much after that.

They had taken all of their things to the Highlands and set up their tent by Lady Sneasler’s Dias, only returning to the Icelands to deliver ores and attend clan meetings.

The final time Irida had seen Warden Sumire was when the incident happened. When the ice beneath her feet had caved in and trapped her, when dozens of glowing yellow eyes surrounded her in the dark. When her Mother disregarded her own ruling as leader and called upon Sumire and Sneasler, all three of them attempting to dig through ice and snow before the eyes could get closer and sink their hungry little teeth into her body.

All of them had been so focused on pulling her out that they didn’t notice the pair of red eyes lurking among the yellow until it was too late. Irida was pulled up. Warden Sumire and Mother were both pulled down, down, down, into the dark, choking on screams and telling Sneasler to run. To save Irida and leave them behind. At the time, Irida felt nothing but desperation. She kicked and jerked and writhed in Sneasler’s grasp, not realizing she was forcing the Pokémon to grip her tighter. Irida felt no pain when claws bit into her waist, she was too obsessed with trying to run back to the Alpha Zoroark den, too determined to save the mother whose blood had already painted the snow red. The lacerations across her waist didn’t compare to the pain that followed her for the coming days. Hearing the voices of her Mother and Warden Sumire, screaming and blaming her for their deaths, echoed in mocking tones and malicious laughter across the Icelands. Calling out to her, telling her to join them in the ice so they could all be together again. That they’d forgive her if she did. Irida had to be strapped down in the medical tent. She wanted so badly to see them again.

It all stopped abruptly after three sleepless nights, bordering on the fourth. In one moment, the cacophony of cruelty was wiped out entirely. The silence was so, so loud, only to be broken by a single heartbreaking cry that faded into the Coronet Highlands. The entire clan then knew that Lady Sneasler had taken care of their Zoroark problem.

She was knocked out of her painful memories by two concerned voices and a warm hand on her shoulder.

“Lady Irida?” “Snee?”

Ingo let her go when she registered them both looking at her, and she attempted a smile and laughed a little, pretending she hadn’t just relived the worst night of her life. She trusted Sneasler’s judgement. She wouldn’t protect anyone so fiercely if they weren’t good.

“Alright, alright! I can see that you trust him. I need to know where he came from though. If he’s a part of someone’s clan or guild, you need to return him.” Ingo didn’t comment on her episode, but Sneasler gave her a scrutinizing look before moving on. Irida was quickly puzzled when Lady Sneasler pointed to the sky. “What are you saying? He couldn’t have just fallen out of the sky.”

That got a strong response from Sneasler. She huffed, moving away from Ingo entirely, standing instead behind Irida, who gasped and dropped the cakes. She’d later be surprised that Ingo had managed to catch them. Sneasler ever so carefully put a paw on one side of her head to direct her gaze, and pointed with her other. Irida trembled, not registering what Lady Sneasler was trying to show her at first, too afraid of those wicked claws so near her. She knew Sneasler never intended to hurt her. It was her fault, the circumstances were different, but she couldn’t help the fear that gripped her in that moment. A small mew in her ear got her to refocus, and she managed to get herself calmed enough to look at what she was being shown. It finally dawned on her.

“HE FELL OUT OF THE SPACE-TIME RIFT?!”

Sneasler previously thought it impossible for any person to be louder than her Ingo, but the starly flocks fleeing from the trees and taking flight around them paired with the ringing in her ears had changed her mind. Irida fainted after her outburst, the implications of a person falling from space on top of everything she just recalled being too much for her mind or body to handle.

Chapter Text

She was right. This was a noble pain in her ass. When Irida fainted, Sneasler had luckily been in the perfect place to catch her and keep her from toppling. Really, humans could be so dramatic. Yes, Ingo fell through a tear in the sky. Yes, he was living with her. No, he was not hurting her. Was it really so unbelievable? Even so, she couldn’t exactly fault the girl for her behavior. She was still just a kit, and she was trying to fill a role that was too much for her. She had thought as much before and she will think it again.

She also could tell that the girl's eyes had lingered over her claws on Ingo’s waist for a little too long. Ingo was confused in that moment, but Lady Sneasler was not. She knew what Irida had been thinking. It was the same thing she was always thinking about when her eyes went glassy and her breath came in quick puffs.

Now was not the time to reminisce on painful pasts. No, now she needed to get Irida in a safe place to wake up. She looked at her Eevee, huffing at the smaller Pokémon. “Don’t just stand there, do something to help. She’s your partner!” Sneasler grumbled, but carefully kneeled down with Irida in tow, resting her head in her lap.

“What am I supposed to do?! I don’t have hand-paws like you, and I’m small! This is your fault for scaring her, your claws are very imposing and you know how she feels about them!!”

She couldn’t hold in the growl his statement brought forth. “Does everyone think I’m not aware of my own claws? It’s not as if I go slicing up every creature I meet. And she asked where Ingo came from! She asked, I told her! I’m free of fault. Mostly. Speaking of Ingo…Where did he go? I would have expected him to yell something by now…” She looked for him, finding his absence bizarre.

Until he emerged from the den.

She was really so impressed with him. He was a proper sneasel with how fast he could climb in and out. He had wordlessly dipped inside to grab a few things, the first that was used being a rag he had soaked in water. Sneasler watched with a smile as he pushed Irida’s hair back and draped the cloth over her forehead. Sneasler wasn’t exactly sure what good that would do, but she could tell that Ingo at least had some idea of what was going on and how to assist. He briefly leaned down, tilting his head to listen to Irida’s breathing. He seemed content with what he heard.

“Safety checks and first aid are vital to any safe journey! Injury must be prevented, but if anything does occur, the stabilization of a passenger until emergency service arrives is of utmost importance. Eevee, please lay down against your lady’s side so you can support and comfort her when she rouses. Sneasler, please use your claws to loosen the wrap around her middle- not to indecency! But to make sure nothing is constricting.”

Lady Sneasler did as instructed, tugging the cord that held her long skirt in place over her shorts. Once loosened, she looked to Ingo. “What next?” She let him lead.

“Excellent! Now, carefully lay her flat and move to raise her legs off the ground, above her heart. Not too much, but about… here, 12 inches…Perfect. I’ll check her breathing once more before I try anything else. This is the extent of the knowledge at my disposal, but we still have some of that bitter purple plant you made me eat when we splinted my arm. The one that tastes and smells so strongly? Yes. Eevee, stay at attention! There are not emergency services to be called here, so we will try our best! It cannot hurt!”

Ingo had produced a bundle of the herb from one of his pockets, gently wafting it in front of Irida’s face. Sneasler watched her face closely to see if she saw any changes. Eevee whimpered and started to lick her cheek, and that was the final piece of the puzzle that was waking Irida. The girl groaned and swatted Ingo’s hand away, her nose scrunched up from the smell and from the ticklish sensation of Eevee kisses. Thankfully the latter were more pleasant than the former, getting her to giggle a little. She tried sitting up, only to be stopped by a firm hand on her shoulder.

“Miss Irida, I must insist you stay where you are! Getting up too soon could lead to you fainting again, and a second time might not be so lucky for you. If Sneasler hadn’t already been holding you, you could have joined the same cab as me and sustained a head injury!”

Sneasler watched with a smile, thankful her Ingo was so smart, and that Irida seemed to be listening. The girl just wrapped her arms around eevee and ran her fingers through his fur. She was looking up at Ingo, who was plucking the rag from her forehead and wringing it out a little before replacing it. He turned and presented her with his waterskin, but halted his movements momentarily. “I’m going to put a hand under your head to help you sit up a little bit, you should try drinking some water. Is this alright?” He did not want to put his hands on her any more without permission. The shoulder touches were different than cradling her head. When she nodded, he let out a relieved sigh and tilted her head up, pressing the water to her mouth. She took a few small gulps. Her voice shook when she spoke.

“T-thank you…How do you know to do any of this? I can’t believe you fell from the sky..”

“I’m unsure how I know some things, but I still know them. This is just another one of those things that I apparently knew as well as walking or buttoning my coat. It didn’t shake loose until I saw you go down though. I merely acted. The wake up method was a bit of an experiment, but aside from that…Well, I cannot give you a better answer. I also do not believe I fell from the sky, but I’m grateful to have done it in a place like this, where I’ve been able to make friends and live fairly comfortably with Lady Sneasler. Do you think you could sit up more and eat a bit? Just a morsel. If you’re not fueled, you could break down again. I would be remiss if you did so while in my care.”

The two went back and forth, Ingo doing very well at aiding the young girl after her fainting spell. Irida gradually sat up and leaned against the cliff face, taking small bites of one of the cakes she had originally brought for Sneasler. Sneasler didn’t mind. It wasn’t as if she was lacking in food, and it was important that Irida got back on her feet sooner rather than later. Now that she was no longer being tasked with holding the girl's legs, she grabbed one of the cakes for herself. She was glad Ingo had caught them earlier. After a moment of thought she tore it in half, offering it to Eevee.

“Here. We should all have something to eat. You two will have a long journey back to the Icelands, and Ingo is wise to suggest a meal.”

Eevee was a bit surprised by the offer, but extracted himself from Irida’s arms and took the offered half of the cake in his mouth, sitting beside the noble to share the meal with her. He didn’t say anything at first, just watched the two humans converse. Irida’s fear of the man had all but ebbed away, replaced with gratitude and admiration. He was telling her a story while she ate, a recollection of one day spent at the spring with Machoke. He was describing the exercises they did and how Machoke had accidentally thrown him into the water and on top of an overcurious basculin. Eevee tilted his head to look up at Sneasler, considering how the two interacted.

“I’m gonna speak out of turn here…But are you making this human your new warden, my lady? He seems like a good fit…”

Sneasler bristled and gawked at the audacious eevee. Wardens were a sore spot for her. Irida had just had a spell thinking about the day Warden and Leader were lost to them. He should have known better than to even mention it, but he and his partner were two pearls in a pod, bringing up things they should not. Though…it did make her wonder. She shook her head anyway, regardless of those thoughts.

“Absolutely not. I’m not ready for that, and neither is Ingo. If anything, I’m the Warden. He’s more my own kit than a caretaker. He’s still recovering, he does not have his memories, and he’s unaligned due to falling out of the sky. There isn’t exactly a way for me to force his integration into the Pearl Clan, and I don’t think I’d like him living away from me. Having someone with thumbs at the ready is very convenient.”

The eevee nodded sagely at the last remark. Thumbs were a precious resource. The little creature chuffed quietly, still watching their humans. “I don’t think any of that would be an issue. Irida has warmed to him very fast. I suspect she’d much rather deal with him than Melli regarding matters of the Highlands…”

“Eevee, please don’t ruin our meal by mentioning him. It’s bad enough that half my den smells like him since I’ve been taking his things, I don’t want to even think about him right now! But you have a point with Ingo and Irida…they are getting along well. I’m relieved that they’ve both relaxed and bonded some…Maybe Ingo is capable of being a caretaker. Not mine though, no..” She was silent for a beat. Then came to a realization. This realization made Sneasler’s oft forgotten tail start to wag. “Irida can teach him how to make me cakes! I should have introduced them earlier! Ingo! Hey! Ask her how to make these!” Sneasler called out to him, waving her arm and interrupting their conversation, holding up the third and final salted bean cake. Irida looked confused, responding to her first.

“Oh! Uhm, you’re very welcome my lady! I’m glad you like them!”

“Ah, Miss Irida. I believe she might be asking you to teach me to make this treat. She’s taken a keen interest in my cooking, and if this is her favorite meal, I imagine she would want me to make it for her.”

“Oooh, I can do that, of course! I’ll even give you the ingredients so she can have more soon. Hey, did she share her cake with eevee? That’s really sweet of you, Lady Sneasler! I’ll be sure to teach Mr. Ingo how to make all your favorites. I guess that means he’s staying with you, huh?”

“That I am. But just Ingo, please. Calling me mister makes me feel….old? And I don’t think I’m old…? I wouldn’t be opposed to meeting your people later on though. For now, I think I want to focus on learning this recipe. May I have a bite?”

Sneasler made a pleased trill, ecstatic that Ingo would soon be crafting cakes for her. She watched Irida laugh and hand over the bean cake she had been nibbling on to let Ingo have a bite. Their conversation started anew, with Ingo excusing himself for a moment to retrieve his journal to take notes. He and Irida talked for quite a while, not just about bean cakes, but about Sneasler, the Icelands, the person all of Ingo’s things belonged to, and so much more. The sun had started to set, but when Irida made move to leave, Sneasler and Ingo both objected at the same time, moving and speaking in unison. Irida laughed at their synchronization and sat back down. She ended up staying with them in the den that evening, all four of them sharing dinner that Ingo prepared and agreeing that travel should be postponed until it was ‘safe to leave the station’. Lady Sneasler was content to lounge between the two sleeping humans, watching over them and chatting with Eevee until she too rested her eyes.

The den echoed with the sounds of purring all night long.

Chapter Text

Ingo was very, very glad that he and Sneasler did not allow the young Lady Irida to travel back to her home last night. He was regretting slightly, however, that he offered to escort Irida back to her home without even asking about the exact terrain. She had told him of the Icelands, but he had assumed the snow there would be like the snow that would dust the Highlands on occasion. The snow in the Highlands could make things cold, as snow does, but it was not anything like what he was experiencing in the Icelands. He had offered to escort her both because he felt a young lady of her age should not travel alone and because he wanted to be introduced to her people. It wasn’t until she announced they were halfway there that the regret actually hit. It made him feel a little guilty. He was glad he had come either way, but his body was not very pleased with him.

They had left as the sun had begun to rise. Ingo found he had a habit of waking very early, some sense of urgency chasing him from sleep and oftentimes causing him to slap the ground beside him for some unknown reason. Typically he would just roll over and tuck himself against Sneasler to rest more, but journeys to new locales should be started early in the day. Irida hadn’t seemed very pleased by this awakening, but after she shook off sleep she was very excited to show him to her home. He just did not fully realize how very long the journey was. This walk was making him want to lie down in the snow and never move again. He thought his exercises with Machoke had provided him with a decent level of stamina and strength, but he was not as fit as he thought he was. How Irida was so casually trotting around in this snow baffled him. It was like she was a dancer on the ice. She moved across the terrain with a grace he could not hope to achieve. Her body was just light enough to not crack the thin layer of ice that coated the top of the previous evening’s snowfall.

Ingo was not that fortunate.

With each step he took, even if he tried following Lady Irida’s footsteps exactly, his weight broke through the ice and he ended up knee deep in frost. He hadn’t allowed Lady Sneasler to carry him, as he very much wanted to make this journey himself. He was going to be meeting others. He wanted to make a good first impression. He had taken precautions with his clothes, making sure to layer his shirts and pants. He even found a pair of gloves concealed within one of the inner pockets of his coat! They were thin, but they were better than nothing. Ingo was a grown man perfectly capable of braving snowy terrain, and these folks would see that. He dressed for the weather and could walk himself there.

It was so, so tempting to climb on her back though. He resisted, but only just barely. If Irida were not there, he might have taken up his lady on her numerous offers to carry him. Sneasler also broke through the ice with each step like him, but her thick furred limbs protected her from the chill that was seeping into his bones. When they stopped to break for a rest before the final stretch, Ingo nearly rejoiced. Rather than give any verbal reaction, he spun and let himself fall onto his back, arms spread. His body crunched through that icy layer and settled into the soft snow beneath it. The sensation of cold surrounding him filled him with nostalgia.

A voice trickled into his mind. ‘Let’s make snow staryus and see who can make the most. I’m gonna win for sure!’ It sounded so familiar. He chased the memory, receiving flashes of white and a child’s grin. The scene shattered when a large clump of snow was dumped onto his face, making him jerk and sit back up. Beside him sat Sneasler, who looked quite suspicious with snow scooped up in one of her paws. Her flinging it at his face confirmed it. His most trusted compatriot had betrayed him. As he sat, practically pouting, she only betrayed him more by laughing. She was shameless.

Matters only worsened when Irida, seated on the opposite side of him, also started to giggle. He tried to look stern but something about his expression must have given him away, as Irida only laughed more. Seeing her so carefree brought a rush of joy to his heart, another little bit of nostalgia. ’Told you I’d win, Ingo! I like winning more than anything else, you can’t beat me!’ That same grin infiltrated his mind. He let the memory be for now. He needed to speak with Irida before they set out. He was excited, and this was his idea, but he had concerns.

“Miss Irida, how close would you say we are to your encampment? Are you certain it’s okay for me to follow you? I am well aware you are their leader, but I’m sure there may be concern for your well-being when you approach with an unknown passenger such as myself in tow.”

“Well…There might be some people who won’t be very happy.” He watched the girl wring her hands and look away from him. “The elders can be suspicious of anyone they don’t know, and a few of the wardens may not know how to react to Lady Sneasler letting you live with her. Most of the clan will probably have a hard time understanding that one..And, actually, I think all of the wardens will end up not trusting your intent in coming with me…I’m sure that some of the clan will welcome you..“ Irida’s voice trailed off, and she busied herself pulling out some of the cakes she had taught Ingo to make the night before. She had assured him they were very good, but he had a feeling she was just being polite. Oh well. Just another skill to practice. “…But, um, it should only be another hour or so. Lady Sneasler accompanying us has really cut the time down. A lot of the wild Pokémon know to avoid her, so we’re able to go through places that are normally unsafe.”

“It’s fortunate that she was able to make our journey a swift one. Should… I not introduce myself this time? I won’t be upset if I need to wait to meet anyone. I don’t want to be the cause of any conflict, Lady Irida. You and your people owe me nothing, and Lady Sneasler and I can head back to our den without issue.” Ingo tried to be reassuring. He could see she had gotten a touch nervous. He wouldn’t be upset, he wasn’t lying. He would be a bit disappointed though. After hiking for hours through this snow and ice he would really like to see how Irida lived, but knowing she reached her destination safely was his primary goal. She leaned over to hand him a cake and he took it with a grateful nod, wordlessly passing it to Sneasler who sliced it up for them to split with each other. The Lady did not seem to take offense to his cooking skill, but he still felt that it wasn’t up to par with the ones Irida had brought.

They lapsed into silence while they ate, Irida looking thoughtful as she did. Ingo wondered what was churning in that head of hers. She did have a bit of a furrow to her brow and a frown, so the thoughts of her clan mates must have been weighing on her. He also still wondered how she had not frozen to death, considering her bare legs were pressed against ice. If Gligar brought any buneary for them to eat, he might try and save the pelt to make something for her. Buneary fur was soft and warm. Maybe some sort of leg warmer…? Hmm..

“….Ingo?”

He snapped his head up, having been staring off instead of paying attention. Sneasler snorted beside him, knowing what had happened. “Yes, Miss Irida? Is something the matter?” She surprised him by furiously shaking her head and standing, taking on a rather assertive stance and balling her hands into fists at her sides.

“I don’t care if they have an issue with you! I’m the leader and I say you get to have dinner with us and stay overnight! You’ve walked me all the way through the Icelands when you’re clearly struggling and you wouldn’t let me travel before I rested, so I’m giving you the same treatment. And I won’t take no for an answer! I’ll find somewhere for you and Lady Sneasler to rest, and you won’t leave until you have a full breakfast tomorrow morning. Then you can be safe headed home too! Alright?!”

Ingo was stunned. The girl had barely breathed through her entire declaration and was now panting. Her fists trembled and she appeared just a touch wild eyed, like she was ready to fight him on this, assuming he would reject her kindness. He shook his head and chuckled, standing so he could give her a bow.

“Bravo! I would be honored to refuel with the Pearl Clan, Lady Irida. I wouldn’t dream of rejecting such a kind offer. Sneasler, what do you think? Are you staying?”

He could actually feel himself smiling when he rose back up, looking over to Sneasler who clacked her claws together in some semblance of delight, nodding so furiously that her feather flicked forward and smacked against both of the humans, making them both sputter and laugh. They wrapped up their meal and started on the final stretch of their journey. One amnesiac, one noble, and one young leader who had newfound determination for her decisions to be heard.

Chapter Text

They didn’t even make it home before something just had to go wrong. They were so close! Irida could have led him in the village, announced his arrival and good deeds, and she would have full control of the situation with Ingo. But of course that couldn’t happen.

They were intercepted just before the bridge. She could literally see the tents and homes across the way! But no. Calaba was waiting for her, with Lord Ursaluna outright blocking the bridge. And not just Calaba! Gaeric too. Irida shot a glance at Ingo, biting her lip and hoping Gaeric didn’t do something rude. She should have worried more about Calaba, because of course she was the first to begin with her tongue lashing.

“Irida! I hope you intend to explain yourself. When you said you were going to check on Lady Sneasler, you were expected back by nightfall. Nightfall, or you were to call for Lord Ursaluna so we would know you were safe. But you stayed out all night, and come back to us with this…..this man! Who is this?!”

Calaba did not hold back. And sure, she was just worried, but Irida hadn’t been unsafe! She huffed and left Ingo standing back, confused and startled by the immediate aggression taking place upon arrival. Sneasler of course also stayed back with Ingo. But Irida? She stomped her way forward to lean close to the old woman, put her hands on her hips and took to her new power stance.

“First of all, why wouldn’t I explain myself?! I always tell you where I am and what I’ve done, always. I didn’t call for Lord Ursaluna because I was already WITH Lady Sneasler! I’m capable of handling myself alone, I have Eevee with me and he knows quick attack and shadow ball, I’m not stupid, and I’ve traveled at night before!!” Irida held up a finger while taking a deep breath. She was frustrated. “As for him! His name is Ingo, and he and Lady Sneasler were kind enough to let me sleep with them last night, AND he offered to be my escort back, which was noble of them both. You should be giving our guests a warmer reception and not make the Pearl Clan out to be as cold as the lands where we live.”

Irida was proud of herself for that one. Her heart was pounding with adrenaline. She doesn’t tend to argue with Calaba as it’s usually useless. But she gave her word to Ingo and she was going to honor it. She crossed her arms and smirked a little. Which was foolish, as she neglected to add Gaeric into the equation.

She loved the both of them, she really did, but did they really have to act like this right now?

With his deep voice and bare chest, her mentor was not one she typically argued with either. Not only did she respect him, but when he got fired up, he was like a machoke with all of his flexing. It was a little bit intimidating even if she knew he would never lay a hand on her. The same did not apply for those he believed to be a danger. He had Pokémon to fight for him, but he was just as likely to use his own body to defend. She’d heard tales of him going toe to toe against a rampaging garchomp, holding it off until help arrived. In short, he was not to be trifled with. Her smirk dropped when he joined the conversation.

“Mistress Calaba is right, young lady! And even if you were safe, we had no way of knowing that.” He was doing lunges in place while he spoke, getting pumped up. “And you still haven’t explained this ‘Ingo’ man you’re with, or why Lady Sneasler is hanging off of him like she is. You- You say you slept with them? All of you together? Where?! Irida, you get away from him! This- are you why Lady Sneasler has been missing?! First Lady Sneasler, and then our dear Lady Irida? Oh, I’m going to have a talk with you!” He stood and started to rush Ingo, and Irida was unable to warn him against doing so. If Sneasler felt threatened by Irida approaching Ingo, she surely wouldn’t react well to Gaeric.

She didn’t know it would be Ingo to react first.

It felt like it all happened in slow motion.

It started when Gaeric reached for Ingo and gripped the fabric of his jacket with one burly hand. Ingo’s eyes widened, and despite his fatigue from the hike he was able to move in a quick burst. One of his hands circled Gaeric’s wrist, while his arm looped beneath the other's arm for leverage. Ingo’s height worked to his advantage and pulled Gaeric off balance. With all these elements in place, all it took was a quick turn and bend at the waist to send Gaeric slamming down against frigid ground.

Ingo had just executed a near perfect shoulder throw at a moments notice.

Everyone was speechless. Irida wasn’t sure who was more shocked by it all. Gaeric just looked dazed, Calaba looked aghast, and Lady Sneasler was standing off to the side slightly with her jaw agape. Ingo, still holding Gaerics arm, seemed to only just realize what he had done and gasped. He let the other man go and backpedaled, hands raised in surrender. Ingo being knocked out of whatever just came over him brought Sneasler back to reality as well. She scooped the man into her arms and bared her teeth at Gaeric, a snarl tearing past her muzzle. And, seemingly just to be petty, she kicked snow at him.

Irida ran both hands down her face and groaned. Adults were so DRAMATIC.

“SO! Gaeric, Calaba, meet Ingo! Lady Sneasler has chosen to aid him after he fell from the Space-Time Rift and was very, very injured. She’s protective of him, so maybe you shouldn’t just start grabbing people, Warden Gaeric! Oh, and he is friends with a machoke, so that’s probably how he was able to toss you just now! Will everyone calm down so we can talk and get to an understanding?! Your assumptions of him are absolutely heinous and vile, and you should at least give me a chance to explain things without acting so impulsively!”

While the two wardens were still processing all that was said and done, Ingo finally managed to find the words he wanted. He belted them out, to be expected. ”SIR GAERIC! You have my sincerest apologies, I don’t know what came over me! It’s true I’ve been exercising with Machoke, but I had never been able to throw her, so I don’t- I just- I reacted! I’m so, so sorry. I hope you can look past this transgression and we can get to know each other well. I can swear on my life that nothing untoward happened between me and the young miss! I- I can understand why you might be concerned, but I promise it is not the case. We slept in Lady Sneasler’s den, with Sneasler herself between us. I only wanted her to have safe travels on her return journey, and then to meet you all, as I cannot even remember the last time I had seen another human…Ah, Sneasler, would you put me down now? I’m okay. We’re okay. You should not kick snow at people. Their fears were justified…” Ingo managed to free himself from Sneasler’s tender hold, and he held his hand out to Gaeric. An offer to help him up.

Gaeric said nothing. He stared at the offered hand. Slowly, slowly, slooowly he reached up. Gripped Ingo’s hand with his own.

And yanked Ingo down into the snow with him, an arm going around his shoulder and a booming laugh bursting from his chest. “This fellow is more capable than I thought he’d be! Outstanding, flipping me like that! I may have to convince the machokes to train me too if reflexes like that are the result.” He laughed some more and patted Ingo’s back rather harshly. More of a slap or pound than anything, but still. He stood on his own and pulled Ingo up with him. Grinning about it all. Irida winced a bit, watching how Lady Sneasler was hovering around them with her fangs still on display. Gaeric was oblivious to the threat, focused on toting a confused Ingo around. “Well, I may not trust you, but I do enjoy a good romp, and there’s plenty of time for us to get to know eachother better. What say you and I go to the Snowfall Hot Spring tonight? Just us men, hm? We’ll discuss you falling from the hole in the sky…”

Irida groaned again, her cheeks flushed from frustration and the implication that she would lay with Mr. Ingo. The thought disgusted her, frankly, as it should. Courtship and the things that went along with it were far from her mind, and Ingo was old. He said he wasn’t, but, it’s not like he can remember, right? He’s old. Gaeric continued speaking at Ingo, and Irida could see that the poor man was simply along for the ride. Gaeric being a mix of friendly yet absolutely menacing, all while Sneasler trailed behind them looking like she wanted to bite a chunk out of the warden’s face. Irida sighed. She really wanted this to go better. She felt a gnarled hand rub her shoulder and she looked beside herself to see Calaba.

“It’s true we had those concerns, Irida. You must understand, you’re still so young, and we worry for you. Hisui is dangerous, and people can be too…But, I will take in to account Lady Sneasler’s behavior. She would not blindly trust someone with darkness in their heart, and it was noble of him to escort you to us. We will put him in the spare tent that we keep for when the merchants come.” She reached to hold her hand and squeeze. “You are our shining pearl, Irida. We just want you safe.”

“Calaba, I understand that, but…ugh. You can’t expect me to be a leader when you both still treat me like a child. And to make such a heinous accusation before even talking to him is awful. You can keep me safe and be respectful to guests of our clan at the same time. None of that is even taking into account that our Almighty Sinnoh blessed noble has taken him into her heart. She nearly attacked me when I shouted at him in her den. Gaeric is lucky he’s still standing..”

“Hm…Irida,” Calaba began, “You seem very certain about your feelings on the matter. Do you truly believe someone who fell from Sinnoh knows where can be good? What has he done to cause you to react so strongly?”

Irida smiled a little bit. This was something she was happy to share. While they spoke, Calaba gestured to Lord Ursaluna to get him to move out of the way of the bridge, and the lot of them proceeded into the village of tents. “He was nothing but kind to me when we met. He made efforts to help me feel comfortable, and he explained things when I asked them. He has no memory of his life before this. At least not conscious ones. I fainted after Lady Sneasler showed me where he fell from. He knew what to do and how to help me recover. He’s very knowledgeable, when he’s able to remember. I find it amazing he’s able to do so much with so little. And I’ve never seen Sneasler this happy.”

Finally being able to explain things made a weight lift from Irida’s chest. Sure, it was a rough first meeting, but no one got seriously hurt and they were all headed in to the village for a good warm meal. Irida would be able to start planning things in the Highlands with Ingo in mind. He may not be part of her clan or a warden, but he could still be a very good ally to have.

Gaeric was still forcing Ingo to walk with him, but Ingo made no efforts to break the hold or complain. He’d be released soon enough, so Irida wasn’t worried.

She hoped the rest of the evening would run smoothly.

Chapter Text

That really could have gone a lot better. Meeting who he heard introduced as Calaba and Gaeric had been…well, he wouldn’t call it exciting, but it certainly was eventful. He couldn’t find it in him to blame them for being so concerned for Irida. He’d be worried about her too, were he in their positions, knowing she had been gone all night but not knowing where or who with. The whole confrontation did make him think and wonder. Did he have a family before all of this? Parents, siblings, a lover, children? He couldn’t imagine himself having children of his own, but anything was possible when you had no idea who you used to be. Was the child’s voice he heard in the snow his son? It didn’t feel right to him. He’d think more on it later, when he could afford to get lost in his fleeting memories.

So in review, yes, Ingo was understanding of the concern, but he did now have even more regrets about coming to the Icelands. The main enforcer of said regret was currently gripping his shoulder a touch too tight, leading him away from Calaba and Irida and into a tent, one of the first ones situated on the winding slope the village was built upon. When they entered, Ingo’s eyes went wide. Even in his current predicament, he couldn’t help but gasp at the inner construction of the shelter. Wooden floors, beds, actual furniture? He did not expect…well, he wasn’t sure what he expected. But he enjoyed seeing this. It was more familiar than cave floors, rocky tunnels, and crates. He loved living with Lady Sneasler, but seeing furniture made him itch to lay down in one of those bunk beds. He felt his shoulder released, and Gaeric sat on the floor, gesturing for him to do the same.

Sneasler had invited herself in and sat down right alongside Ingo, sniffing him frantically, as if inspecting him for any damage after being gripped by Gaeric. The action made several puffs of air tickle his face, and he chuckled and patted her cheek. “I am fine, my lady. Thank you for your concern.” He closed his eyes in time to avoid taking a tongue to the eyeball, her licking an affectionate stripe across his sideburn and brow. “Thank you for that, too.”

Gaeric watched the exchange with an amused tilt of his head. “She really does seem to care for you. That’s really good to see.” He paused in his talking and leaned back when the lady in question turned his way and growled at him. He waited for her to settle before he spoke back up. “So, let's have a talk. You don’t have memories and you fell from the Space-Time Rift. That’s the truth? What’s the extent of your memory recall?” He waited for Ingo’s response with a raised brow.

“Well…yes. I assume it is the truth. It is what Sneasler told both me and Irida. The first thing I remember from my time here is waking up in a very small shelter that Sneasler dug to protect me from the elements. I had dozens of small lacerations, my arm was broken, and the back of my head took a strong hit and it split the skin. From there, the lady took me to her den and came back with supplies to patch me up. It was a painful and long process, but it’s one I’ll be thankful for until my life reaches its end. It didn’t heal perfectly. My recall is spotty at best. When I try to remember specifics, it feels as though I’m jamming something sharp into my brain and it aches horribly. I get flashes of what I believe were memories from before. And other times I just…know things. Most often it has to do with Pokémon, I’ve noticed…Actually, might I show you my arm? The improper healing is visible and audible. Even if you’re not a medic, you can give me your thoughts…?”

He took a moment to unbutton his coat and shrug his arm out, offering it to Gaeric, who examined his forearm with interest. Gently turning it to and fro to see the way it moved, under Sneasler’s watchful gaze. Ingo’s range of motion was still very good, all things considered, but twisting at the wrist wasn’t a smooth motion and there was a quiet little click that could be heard. Gaeric released him with a thoughtful hum, and Ingo returned his arm to its place in his coat.

“That healed surprisingly well considering you didn’t have a medic. I’m not one, but when you live out here you see plenty of injuries. You were lucky she found you. If you had been left there something else would have likely just eaten you. Another question for you, Ingo. It’s regarding Lady Irida. What made you decide to invite her to stay with you overnight? And what made you want to come with her today?”

Ingo tapped his rocked in place and considered the question. “Well, firstly, it was not just my invitation. Lady Sneasler and I made the offer simultaneously. It is Sneasler’s den, not mine. I wouldn’t invite someone without her permission. Irida had stayed after I helped her recover from fainting, but she wanted to leave when the sun had started to set. Traveling at night, anywhere, is a safety hazard. It wouldn’t be right to expect a young girl to walk herself home in the dark. Todays trip was much the same, but as I said before, I wanted to meet more people. My time in this land has been spent exclusively with Sneasler and a few other Pokémon I’ve befriended. You know about Machoke, but we’ve also befriended a Gligar. She was knocked off course during a storm in the mountains, and I did not want to leave her injured. She recovered fast and began visiting us more. Pokémon are fantastic companions, but there is something to be said about human contact. Just talking about my situation with you is very nice. I’m still sorry for my reaction outside, and I hope something in me makes you trust I am telling the truth. Whatever your take though, I’ll respect.” He finished off with a small nod, casually reaching beside himself to pull one of Sneasler’s paws into his lap to fiddle with her pads. They were shockingly soft to the touch and it soothed him. He appreciated that Sneasler didn’t mind him playing with her hands like this.

Gaeric stared at him and said nothing. Crossed his arms over his chest. Ingo wondered again how some people could go without clothes in this climate. He was so consumed by that thought for a moment that he didn’t notice Gaeric uncrossing his arms and leaning forward. It was unexpected when a heavy hand fell upon his shoulder. Gaeric was looking at him intently.

“Right about now is when I would ask you to fight me so I could test to see what you’re made of, but I don’t think I need to do that. You’ve already tossed me once today. I believe you, Ingo. Thank you for making sure our Irida got home safely. She can be too reckless for her own good. I apologize for assuming you had bad intentions. Lady Sneasler, thank you too. It was your den she stayed in, and it’s nice to have you visit the village again.”

The Lady seemed to begrudgingly accept the thanks. “Snee...” She huffed at him and rested her head on Ingo.

Ingo relaxed into Gaeric’s touch now that he had approval. He wasn’t sure what to do now, so he mirrored the action and grabbed his shoulder in return. “Thank you, Sir Gaeric. It was no issue making sure Lady Irida was safe. Passenger safety is vital for any ride. She’s a very kind young lady. She taught me how to make bean cakes for Sneasler.” He thought back to the night before, of him clumsily shaping the cakes with his hands. “They weren’t terribly good, but it is nice to have a skill that I did not have before.”

The other man had a laugh at that, once again patting Ingo before leaning back. “Well! Now that we had our chat, I think we should meet back up with the ladies, don’t you? But don’t worry about going back to the Highlands tonight. From what I understand, Irida promised to let you stay with us, yeah? You’ll sleep in here. It’s a spare place we keep so the Ginkgo Guild merchants don’t get eaten by something when they leave at night. You can take any bed you want, and I’ll bring some night clothes and other spare things for you. After dinner I very much am going by the hot springs before I return to my Lord’s lair for the night. Much like you and Lady Sneasler, I keep my dwelling close to him. Feel free to join me at the springs! Perhaps you can teach me how to make nice with machokes. There’s a few that also frequent the hot springs. Sometimes even a lucario or two are there. That’s a sight to see.”

“Sir Gaeric, that sounds extremely pleasant. I haven’t had a hot soak since….I can’t recall. It sounds soothing. I’d be happy to talk you through interacting with Pokémon. Seeing a lucario would be very exciting too. Let us make haste in returning to the others! I’m very interested in getting to know as many of you as I can, and Miss Calaba seems like she has many stories to share. Before we go though, I’m quite curious. Forgive me for prying. But…are you Irida’s father? She neglected to mention family when we talked, and you seem to act like…how I vaguely recall one might behave.”

Gaeric froze at this. Grief flashed over him. Oh. Oh no.

“Lady Irida’s parents have passed on. There was a tragedy that left her without a mother. She was the previous leader, a wonderful woman. The same incident left Lady Sneasler without a warden. So no, I’m not her father, but I try to guide her. She’s my student and I her mentor. Calaba is much the same. You should refrain from asking questions like that to Irida. The wound is still fresh.”

Ingo gasped, hanging his head. What terribly sad news. He didn’t understand what a warden was, but he imagined it must be noteworthy to have it mentioned. He reached his hand back to Sneasler to take her paw in his hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Thank you for informing me. I would have hated to upset the young miss by asking.”

“It’s not a problem. Come on, let’s not mope and mourn! We’ve got dinner to eat and water to soak in!” He lifted the tent flap and loped out, chuckling. “Get a move on, Ingo!”

And a move on Ingo did!

Out of the tent, across the snow, up a slope and steps, and into an entirely different tent. One that, rather than any bunk beds, housed two long tables, low to the ground, cushions along each side of them. In the middle of the tent stood Calaba, leaning over a steaming pot that smelled delicious. Irida had already taken a seat at one of the tables. When she saw Ingo and Gaeric enter she smiled and waved them over.

“Calaba was just finishing a big batch of stantler stew! She said we could all eat together first, before everyone else. She didn’t want to overwhelm you, since you’ve only been around Lady Sneasler.”

“Don’t tell the man fibs, Irida. I’m letting you all eat early so the rest of the clan doesn’t see him any more than they have to until we figure out what to do about him.”

Ingo grimaced a little at the remark, but still took a seat beside Irida who rolled her eyes. Sneasler sat on the cushion beside him, politely folding her claws in her lap while they waited to be served. Gaeric openly laughed at Calaba’s bluntness, taking a place on the other side of Irida. All was well while the old warden ladled bowls of stew for them all. She did drain one bowl of its broth, placing instead just the stew contents in front of Lady Sneasler. “For you, my lady. Tell me when you’d like the broth.” Sneasler nodded and set to work eating what was cooked, using her claws to skewer meat, spuds, beans, and other veg. She did pause, turning to Ingo and offering him her claw. Much to the amusement of the rest of the table.

“Ah. Very polite of you to offer, thank you.”

Sneasler was very pleased when Ingo pulled one of the steaming spuds from her claw and took a bite. With the paw not currently handling food, she took his hat off of his head to ruffle his hair and release his braid from where it had been hidden. He allowed this and chuckled. “Thank you again, Lady. Though I would like my cap back, please.” Sneasler shook her head no, and Ingo was startled by a bark of laughter from Calaba, who placed a bowl of the stew in front of him now.

“She’s protecting you from me. No hats at the table. Ol’ Sumire always fought me on that rule. Our Lady must remember.”

Ingo raised a brow. “Thank you for the stew, miss Calaba. Who-“ He paused mid sentence. Gaeric was staring at him, shaking his head ever so slightly. Flicking his eyes toward irida. Ingo followed his gaze and saw the girl had stiffened, her eyes starting to cloud as they did before her fainting spell. Ah. Topic to avoid. He cleared his throat. “Excuse me; sorry about that. I was going to say, who was able to hunt a stantler? Their psychic abilities and general intelligence makes them hard to sneak up on, if I recall correctly. It smells very good. I look forward to digging in when we are all served.”

“You’re looking at her.” Calaba responded with a small smirk, but just as quickly let her face rest. “None of this waiting for everyone to be served nonsense. Eat it while it’s still warm. I like that you’re trying to maintain some manners, but you already ate off of Lady Sneasler’s claws, so it’d be pointless anyway.” She paused. “And let me know if you want more, or some to take back with you tomorrow. I’ve made enough for several meals, I can afford to spare some extra for you.”

“I….Thank you. Truly….” He was touched by the gesture. After taking a spoonful into his mouth he nearly moaned, but managed to control such a vocalization. His focus was switched entirely to eating what felt like a delicacy. His diet for the past few months had been unseasoned meats he roasted over an open flame, pre-portioned rations that evidently were stolen, and whatever berries or mushrooms he foraged. The meal he was receiving now was a welcoming warmth in his stomach, filling an emptiness he hadn’t realized he lacked.

Chuckling brought him out of his reverie, and he looked up to see a grinning Irida. Everyone else was eating by now as well, but the way she paused confused him. Did he have something on his face? He moved one hand to his cheek and found an unexpected wetness there. He must have been openly confused, as Irida just giggled again.

“Are you okay, Ingo? I know sometimes Miss Calaba’s food can be bad, but to cry over it? She’s gonna knock you with her ladle.”

“I’m crying?”

This was news to him. Sneasler made a sound of concern, taking his face in her grasp and turning his head this way and that. She looked distressed, and carefully licked at his cheeks where, indeed, tears were steadily falling. He resisted the urge to squawk and instead just squished Sneasler’s face between his hands. “I’m alright. You’ve been so worried about me today..Miss Calaba!! I assure you I don’t think this is bad, quite the opposite! It makes me feel….at home. I didn’t realize such a feeling would make me cry. Sneasler’s den is home too, but the care you clearly put into this meal is resonating quite strongly with me.”

“Son, you can just tell me it tastes good.”

“Well…It tastes good, ma’am.”

“Oh, I know.” Calaba snorted once. “But thank you for telling me. Irida, cut back your teasing. Seems to me your friend needed something like this. A good, hearty meal.”

Irida sighed, but nodded over at the other woman. “Yes, Calaba. Sorry, Ingo. You can cry over anything you need to, it’s okay. And we’ll send you back with some to last you for a little while…Speaking of, I was talking with Calaba while you and Gaeric were away. I’ve made the decision to sponsor you. Our clan has a rivalry with the Diamond clan, and Lady Sneasler’s theft raised tensions a bit, so you’ll need to return the things she took to where they belong. As consolation, I’m going to provide you with suitable replacements. Clothes, supplies, whatever you need to continue living in the Highlands. If you accept, then I just ask you do some things for us. The Pearl Clan lacks a warden in the Highlands, so we haven’t had anyone to consult about things like Pokémon populations, foragables, travelers, or Lady Sneasler herself. Ideally, atleast for the moment, that person to consult would be you. And….we’ll see how things are moving forward. It’s a lot to consider right now, but maybe with time we could induct you into the clan?”

What. Wow. Oh.

That’s….that’s a quick development.

Ingo was speechless. He looked to both Calaba and Gaeric and found their expressions to be practically blank, but Irida’s looked so hopeful. This was all so fast. He should politely decline. This was a lot. Too much. He hadn’t earned this kindness. But…it sounded like he would be able to work to earn it, if he said yes. After a deep breath to calm himself, he forced a smile onto his face and nodded.

“It…it would be my honor, Lady Irida, to act as the Pearl Clan’s liaison. Thank you. Thank you so very much. I hardly feel worthy of such generosity, but what kind of fool would I be if I said no? Just…Thank you.”

He was repeating himself. Today had been full of ups and downs. The rest of dinner went by in relative peace, only a few conversations really being interesting. He was fine with that. He was eating his fill with people he would soon see much more often, people with whom he would work with. People who may one day accept him as their own. The opportunity was an amazing one.

He did not end up going to the hot springs with Gaeric that night, not after he learned it would require another hike. They had a smaller spring in the village, but it was mostly used by a few swinub and their evolutionary lines. He did not wish to disturb them.

True to his word, Gaeric later delivered a heaping pack of clothes for Ingo to pick from. He noticed that most of the shirts held the emblem he had seen shaved into Gaeric’s chest hair. That same emblem was present on Calaba’s and Irida’s clothing too, so he assumed that was the clans crest. He made note of it. Picking out comfier clothes for rest, setting aside clothes he would take back with him to his home in the Highlands.

Laying in a bed was a blissful experience, even if it was a little cramped. Sneasler had insisted on climbing overtop him to sleep and he could not deny her. She was warm, he was comfortable, and he fell into the most restful sleep he had in months. If he had dreams, he did not remember them. He was fully blanketed in comfort and a sense of a belonging.

Life in this unknown land continued to improve. Ingo couldn’t be any more thankful.

Chapter Text

Leaving for the Highlands was an affair that Ingo felt rather excited for, but a touch saddened by at the same time. Even if it had only been for the evening, spending time with Lady Irida and the two wardens closest to her had been very nice. The family style meal really had done wonders for him, as did the bed.

He also greatly enjoyed the scrub down he’d treated himself to in the hot spring. He and Sneasler had hiked over to the spring in the early dawn. Calaba was already awake when they were headed out, and gave him a thick robe to put on when he was done. She told him not to take too long. Apparently there were some guild merchants due to arrive, and he was going to be given a small allowance by Irida to pick out things he wanted so he could have some items that weren’t second hand. The prospect excited him so much that he did not show his usual modesty that he did in Sneasler’s presence, even asking her to wash his hair for him. When she didn’t apply force, her claws felt very nice on his scalp and he knew she liked grooming him anyway, so, it all worked out! As nice as the warm bath was, standing back up after being in such warmth made him feel god awful, so he really didn’t waste time in drying and dressing. Already the clothes he’d been given were proving themselves to be a wonderful boon, as fur lined boots toasted his feet right up, along with similar pants and a hoodie. He still wore his coat over it though. Couldn’t have too much warmth. He forewent his hat for now, if only so Sneasler could wear it on their return journey to the village. She’d taken an interest in it today, and he found it rather cute that she was trying so hard to get him to snicker at her. It was working, and they’d made somewhat of a game of him pretending to reach for it and her dodging.

His attention had been so stolen by these antics that he ended up walking directly into the back of someone approaching the village. He felt foolish when the impact not only sent the unfortunate victim stumbling forward, but knocked him flat on his ass. He hissed in pain and accepted the now distressed Sneasler’s help up, but his main concern was delivering an apology. How rude of him to not watch where he had been going! This needed immediate rectification. “Excuse me, I’m terribly sorry to have run into you! Are you quite alrrrriiight….?” His brain slowed to a crawl when the person turned around. He had seen her before. Somewhere. He knew he had. He knew this woman. He knew that blonde hair, the pretty eye, the amused smile that looked so effortless. But where would he even…? So focused was he on these features that he didn’t fully register the man they belonged to, his very large pack, or uniform of yellow and blue.

“Helllooo…? Everything okay? Gave me quite a scare there, sir! You look like you’ve seen a ghost. I’m fine! I didn’t fall like you did. I’m quite used to the occasional stumble, no worries!”

Ah. The voice is wrong. And- that smile held too many teeth. The familiarity snapped, and Ingo actually took in the rest of this person’s appearance. He realized now that he had just been confused, maybe the hot water of the spring had fogged his head. “A-ah, yes. I’m okay, sorry for startling you. I just thought I had known you from somewhere. Were you headed in the Pearl Camp too, miss?”

The stronger looked surprised, but then seemed to blush some and grin even more. Wagging his finger at Ingo with a hand on his hip. “Oh, I’m flattered you think I’m pretty enough to be a woman, but I am tragically just a man. You can call me Volo! I’m with the Gingko Guild. I am headed into the Pearl Camp, and we’re practically there! Came to sell stuff for the day! Are you buying?” Volo had a playful air about him, but that familiarity Ingo had seen so replaced by teeth had him a bit uneasy. That didn’t matter much, as Volo had found a new target. “Oh! Is that the mighty Lady Sneasler with you? What an unusually charming hat she has! Funny, I wasn’t aware she had a new warden. It’s a pleasure and honor to see a noble Pokémon. Still, I thought I knew everything that went on around here…oh well!” He shrugged. Ingo felt overwhelmed.

“Erm, apologies, Sir Volo. My mistake. But yes, this is Lady Sneasler, though I am not her warden. We’re just very close friends. We will be buying from you later today I believe though…My name is Ingo, it’s good to meet you.”

“Oh? Well, I dare say the pleasure will be mine, if you’re buying from me. Always good to gain a customer, you know! Why don’t we head into camp together? I’m very interested in how such a colorful character like you evaded my notice! Your appearance would make you very memorable, and to befriend a noble? Very interesting.”

Hm…maybe this person was just friendly. He seemed to recall someone else in his memory that always smiled, and it wasn’t a bad thing. Plus, this was a merchant. Of course, he was just trying to make some sales. Can’t fault someone for that. He came to a decision.

“Heading to our destination sounds perfect! ALL ABOOOOARD!”

Reflex. Reflexive shout, force of habit. Words he did not quite understand. Muscle memory came with the phrase, one hand pointing down, the other forward, toward the camp, where every single head turned to see what caused such a sound. Even with the odd behavior and volume, Lady Sneasler mimicked him just a moment after, amused by his shenanigans. She mirrored the pose and voiced her own exclamation.

“SNEASLER SNEA!”

Volo just stared, dumbfounded, but shook it off with a more uneasy smile that before. Tried to ignore how his ears rang. “Y-yes. Yeah, all aboard…!”

He didn’t make conversation as they marched back into camp.

They were greeted by Miss Calaba and Irida, the two of them looking irritated and perplexed, respectively. Calaba was the most vocal, however.

“You! Are you trying to bring the snow down around us? What was that about?! Ingo, in the future, use what you consider to be an inside voice when near mountains and cliffs. Almighty Sinnoh preserve us…” She noticed Volo and brightened just a touch. “Oh, Volo, welcome. It’s not just you today, is it?”

“Now now, Warden Calaba, even if it was, you know I always bring enough for everyone! But no, Ginter is following along with the wagon. He’s just slow. The Tauros he had brought over from Kanto like to give him trouble sometimes. Lady Irida! You look radiant as always. Where might you like me to set up my wares today?”

The Warden was pacified and the girl giggled, making a shooing motion with her hand. “Stop that, it never makes me buy more from you, we already take most of your stock every time you come to trade! But if you’d set up in the meal tent, that would be nice. Oh! And if you have anything like clothes, camping things, hair items, set that out too! Really just set everything up on the tables, please. I’ll let everyone know you’ve arrived so they can start browsing your baubles while we wait for the supply drop from Ginter.” She turned her attention over to Ingo. “What was that shouting about, Ingo? I heard Lady Sneasler shout too! Are you both okay?” She got closer to him, seemingly looking him over. She tilted her head a bit and leaned in even closer, sniffing, then smiled. “Oh, you took a bath! You smell a lot better. N-not that you smelled bad before, but-“ She was cut off when Sneasler popped Ingo’s hat onto her head, making all three chuckle. Calaba had slipped off to try and get first pick from Volo.

“Thank you for preserving my feelings, Lady Irida, but I know I didn’t smell the most pleasant before. The wash was very much needed. Nothing was the matter though, just seemed to be the right thing to say at the time, oddly. It’s just a burst of memory with no context…Sneasler seemed to have fun with it. Forgive me for saying, irida, but I’m unsure if my cap matches the rest of your look. Might I have it ba- oof!” He hadn’t even finished asking before Irida took it off and playfully whapped the side of his face with it. “Thank you. Now! Miss Calaba said you, ah, were giving me an allowance? You don’t have to, I’m quite fine with the generosity you’re already showing me. I don’t want to thin your resources.”

She waved her hand. “Don’t be silly, Ingo. I’m sponsoring you! That means you get things and money so you can live comfortably! I’ll pay you every time I check in, so if the merchants pass through the Highlands you can visit their camp and buy things as you need, too. Now!” She held out a coin purse, grabbed his hand, and plopped it in his palm. “Go pick out some things for yourself! When Ginter gets here with his main supply drop, I’ll have him pack a bag for you to take with you! I’m sure he has a spare backpack for it all, too. Get shopping! I won’t have anyone say I don’t take care of people.”

Ingo, full of thankful delight, bowed to Irida and made haste to the tent he’d eaten in the night before. A great deal of browsing, slight haggling, and a bizarre amount of freebies from Volo later, Ingo was stocked with much he needed and more. From Volo he had gotten some basic cookware and a well made knife, soaps, a beautiful brush (that costed more than he’d like to admit) and some hair cords, a lovely necklace that he most definitely did not need but Sneasler very clearly wanted, and perhaps most vital was the bedroll and an easily dismantled canvas and steel frame to put it on. It wasn’t a true bed, but it was close enough that it brought him a great deal of excitement. He also very much enjoyed that Sneasler had insisted upon taking the coin purse from him and paying Volo herself, and the man had eagerly indulged her. It was endearing

He did have one very curious acquisition, however. On Volo’s pack, he had seen a red ball that looked overwhelmingly familiar. The young man had noticed him looking, and informed him that it was called a pokeball, remarking that the Pearl Clan typically took particular offense to them. Something about stealing precious space from Almighty Sinnoh’s creatures. Truthfully, Ingo had tuned him out, trying in vain to recognize how he knew of such an item. Especially given Volo’s claim that they were a recent invention. When Volo had presented him with twenty of the things, he barely knew how to react. He tried to pay him, but Volo shook his head and winked at him, saying they would be an investment in hooking him as a repeat customer. He…thought he winked, atleast. He could only see one eye. Disregarding that, he stuffed them into the inner pockets of his coat, and Volo explained not only how they were used, but how to make them himself. Wishing him luck on catching and befriending Pokémon, and promising to make camp in the Highland’s soon so they could meet again. Ingo thanked him and returned outside, Lady Sneasler carrying some of his things for him, while very proudly modeling her new necklace. He was glad to have made her happy.

“Ingo!! Come over here, meet Ginter! He has an entire pack ready for yo- oh you got a lot of stuff, good! Aw, Lady Sneasler, your necklace is so pretty! Ingo, how nice of you to buy such a beautiful gift for our lady.” Sneasler chirped in a very pleased away, and Ingo didn’t have to look at her to know her chin was held high in pride. He went to where Irida was calling him, seeing a smiling man sitting on a stool next to a large cart. “Ingo, this is Ginter. Ginter, this is Ingo. He’s going to be serving the Pearl Clan in the Highlands, like I told you. He’s why I asked if you had any spare packs. It’s a good thing I did, considering how much he’s gotten himself!”

“Pleasure t’ meet you, Ingo. Looking forward to selling to you. I’ve got you all set up, I’ll even put away the stuff you got from the boy if you hand it over. Should be enough rations in the bag for about a month, two if you supplement it with stuff you find or hunt. Also jotted down a few basic recipes and included a crafting kit, and threw a map in there for you. It’s not the prettiest, but you can always fill it in more. Waterskin is hanging off the side. Lady Irida said you got clothes somewhere, too, so go ahead and grab those for me to pack up for you too.” He was much calmer than Volo had been, and had a more easygoing aura about him. The pack looked massive and rather heavy, but Ingo supposed that made sense. He handed off his purchases and excused himself briefly to grab the clothes he had been given, also handing them over.

“It’s wonderful to meet you too, Ginter. I’m looking forward to our business in the future, and i thank you for making sure everything fits in the pack.”

“S’no problem. Sounded like you have a long hike ahead of you, and it’s not like I’m unfamiliar with those.” He gave a little bit of a chuckle. “You sure you can lift all that, though? No offense to you, but it is pretty heavy.”

“Oh. Yes I’m certain I can!”

He was about to reach for it but a paw stopped him, Sneasler shaking her head and instead carefully grabbing the pack and pulling her arms through the straps to fasten it to her own back like it weighed nothing. Ginter let out a low whistle.

“Yeah, that works too. I’ll probably see you in a few weeks, whenever we end up camping around the mountain.Lady Irida’s gonna have me make sure you’re still supplied and alive then. Good luck on your travels, Ingo. Hate to lose a new customer.”

Ingo attempted a smile at the man and nodded. “Thanks. Look forward to seeing you…” He looked up at the sky, seeing where the sun is and sighing. “Well, Miss Irida, I believe it’s time that Sneasler and I depart the station if we hope to make it home in any reasonable amount of time. I very much enjoyed my time here, and I’m thankful for your hospitality. I’m so honored to receive your generosity, too. I-“

Ingo was being interrupted quite a bit today. But this time, he wasn’t too sure how to react, as this interruption came when he found himself squeezed by thin arms around his middle, and a head of blonde hair smushed against his chest. After he had a second to assess the situation, he felt himself grow warm and he gently patted Irida’s back. She pulled back and looked fierce, so much so that he half expected her to strike him despite having just been hugged.

“Do. Not. Die.” She jabbed his chest with her finger. “Be safe! Do your, um, your safety checks! I will be making the journey in about a month to see you, and I had better find you alive. And…..Good luck, returning Warden Melli’s things. You’ll have to convince Lady Sneasler to take you there, but you need to do that as soon as you can. Just…Good luck, Ingo. It was great meeting you. I have a feeling Almighty Sinnoh themself has great plans for us both.”

Ingo was touched, to say the absolute least. “I’ll try not to disappoint, young miss. You stay safe as well, and take care to not worry your loved ones again, please. Me and Sneasler will be fine. I’ll be seeing you, Lady Irida! Farewell!”

“Goodbye, Ingo! I’ll see you soon!”

Pleasant goodbyes began the long trip back home. Sneasler forged a path ahead of Ingo, making their return much faster, and as nightfall closed in Ingo had successfully set up his new furnishings in the den. He and Sneasler piled onto the cot and slept deeply and soundly. Tomorrow, Ingo would try and locate this Melli fellow and give his apologies…And give him his things back.

Chapter Text

“Sneasler, please! Lady Irida said that I have to return the items that you…’borrowed’ for me. I don’t know where Warden Melli lives! I need you to help me.”

“Snee….”

“We’ve been arguing for the past two hours, Lady. I won’t budge! I assured Irida I would return the items. Us returning them means Irida will give us more money for more things later. Like more jewelry for you, if you want it? Please, you don’t have to talk with the fellow if you don’t like him.”

“Sneasler snee, snea wee weasler swee!”

“Well. That was just rude…And you won’t just let me leave and wander alone until I find him, correct?”

“Sno.”

“Then I need you to take me there, Sneasler! Please. I…I’ll make you your bean cakes, with the crunchy salt, and I’ll let you claw feed me whatever you want later. And since you seem to not like this person….Oh, I hate this. What if I brushed your fur very well with his brush before giving it back to him? Your fur is a beauty and a treasure, but it would probably upset him. Would that work for you? Please, my lady?”

“……Snyes.”

And that was how Ingo made a very nice bargain with his lady. He spent a good portion of the day making Sneasler her bean cakes, as well as clogging up the old brush with Sneasler fur. It was only after Lady Sneasler was a purring puddle of beast pooled over Ingo’s lap that she gave an indication that she was ready. This indication was by reaching for her necklace and chirping at Ingo to put it on her, and he did as she commanded him. He had already managed to pack up all of Melli’s other items, atleast the ones that were easy to return. Crates and barrels stayed in the den, but his waterskin had been refilled, his clothes folded and cleaned to the best of Ingo’s ability, the toys, and his books carefully nestled into Ingo’s new pack. All that was left to add was the brush. It was the finishing touch. Sneasler was very obviously reluctant to exit the den, but she did so with only a small grumble that left Ingo relieved she was holding up her end of the bargain. He made sure he was dressed and followed her out, only to frown when he realized that they had spent so much time dilly dallying that the sun was setting.

“Snehehe.”

Ah. So she knew. His lady was cunning, he’d give her that, but he did not let the sinking sun deter him! He made eye contact with her and started to descend the cliffs. He chuckled when he heard her shocked cry and watched her clamber over the edge to get down below him. She always liked to make sure she was able to catch him if he were to fall. It was very appreciated, as it had happened very often when he was first being taught to navigate the ledges.

When they did reach some semblance of flat ground, Sneasler held her arms out to catch him as he hopped down the last few feet. She swung him around for a moment, just for fun, and waited for him to take his usual place beside her while they walked. There were a few instances where he was made to hang back, such as when she needed to hit a luxray alpha with her dire claw and snarl sufficient warnings to the rest of his pack to grant Ingo safe passage, but soon enough they came upon a tent. It was similar in build to that of the Pearl Clan’s, but this one was in a rich blue. He also noted that there seemed to be floral designs stitched into parts of it, and some smaller…Voltorb? Was that the Pokémon? Hm…Regardless of how he had known the name, there were several voltorb rolling around the area that took interest in him initially. The hiss of Sneasler made them twirl and roll into the direction of a larger structure beyond the tent, sparking slightly and making little buzzing cries. The structure itself was very impressive. An arena of some sort, his mind supplied. He kept his voice shushed, more careful around wild Pokémon than he was around snowy peaks. “Sneasler, are we here?” He turned to look at her, but found she had climbed one of the pillars in the nearby ruins and was watching from there. Yes, they must be here. It was dark by this time, so he did hope that the Warden hadn’t already gone to sleep. He began to step toward the tent.

No sooner than he had, a piercing scream was heard, making him jump and turn to look at the sound, seeing a very, very pretty man looking at him in terror. The scream doubled when he made eye contact, and he watched as the man ran back into the arena where he had evidently been before Ingo’s intrusion. “Lord Electroooode! There’s something horrible outside- Glowing eyes! A ghost I’ve never before seen! Protect me, my Lord!” Oh. Ingo was unsure how to feel about that. He…did his eyes glow? That was interesting to find out. He needed to clear that up before the misconception got him electrocuted by an electrode though.

“Ah! Wait! Please! I have something for you! I’m a human! I assure you I’m harmless! I’ve come to return some things to you! I- I’m returning what Lady Sneasler has borrowed!

That got the other man’s attention. Reappearing just as soon as he had left. This time followed by a very large Electrode. One that looked rather aggressive, atleast visually, but the buzzing sound it made seemed jovial. Especially when it rolled itself right past Melli and bumped itself against Ingo’s chest, making him have to step back to brace himself. “Oh! Hello to you, too, friend. You are quite friendly, aren’t you? Thank you for such a warm welcome.” He gave it a friendly pat, not noticing how the action made the other seethe. Electrode rolled past and called up to Sneasler on the pillar, who hopped down and began their own conversation. Gesturing to her necklace and starting to walk off, Electrode rolling with her. “Well, how about that. It seems our companies are friends. Delightful! Now then, Warden Melli? My name is Ingo, I have things for you.” He turned back to look at the man, and barely kept himself from reacting when he noticed he was now less than a foot away.

“Have you no respect?! That was THE Lord Electrode! And you just- you pet him?! Rude! And to scare the great Melli like you did? How do your eyes even DO that?!”

Ingo took a step back. Looking down at himself as if he could somehow see how his eyes glowed. He thought it was silly to criticize him for letting a Pokémon that had clearly wanted to be given attention. He feigned ignorance. “Uh. I don’t….know? I’m sorry. I’m new here, I’m not the most familiar with the Lords and Ladies of the land, I’ve only met with Lady Sneasler for perhaps the last…6 months? If the seasons are any indication…None of that is of much importance! The seasons that is. I’m deeply sorry for potentially offending your lord. I came to return the things that Lady Sneasler, ah, forcibly borrowed from you.” He took off the pack and opened it up, gesturing to look inside. Melli did, narrowed his eyes, but then stomped over to his tent. Ingo hesitated. Was….he supposed to walk in? Or wait?

“Are you just going to stand there?! Get in! I’m making tea for you to apologize to me over!”

Well that answered that.

Ingo followed along into Melli’s tent, the interior similar to the one he slept in with the Pearl Clan. It lacked bunks, but did have two beds on opposite sides of the room. It also had a small kitchen space set up and a table. He sat himself at the table, and only just noticed the skuntank laying near it. “Oh, hello. You’re quite handsome.” He offered his hand to sniff, and the skuntank took the offer and closed its eyes, allowing Ingo to give it a scratch. He heard a teapot hit the table and looked up, seeing Melli looking at him oddly. “Er…I’m sorry. Is this Pokémon also a Lord?”

“N-no! No, he thinks he is, but no. Most people just would have fled, or complained about the smell. Not pet him. Where did you say you were from?”

“Well..I didn’t, but I also haven’t the foggiest idea. I fell down the mountain and was rescued by Lady Sneasler. Prior to that, it’s mostly blank. It’s why she took things from you. I’m sorry for her doing that. Thank you though, for the tea. And indirectly helping me be healed.” He took a sip from the cup, humming after doing so, and started to unpack his bag. “Very good tea. I couldn’t exactly recover the rations she stole, they’ve long since been eaten, but I included a little bit of the money I have, to try and make up for it?” He felt a hand on his, stopping him from rummaging around in his bag to unpack things. Looking up again, only to meet Melli’s gaze once more.

“She just found you on the mountain? And stole things to take care of you rather than greed? Hmph. I don’t need money, not when you obviously need it more. And….these books weren’t even any good. I don’t want them. I just want my brush and the purple silk kimono back. And my puzzle blocks. It’s so dull here sometimes, when it’s not safe to wander around at night, much less see. You can keep whatever other things she took. She didn’t even take anything else that mattered.” Even if Melli spoke lofty and dismissive, Ingo could see the pity in his gaze. Irritating. More so than the rest of his attitude, but he wasn’t going to reject things. “Plus…Whatever else it is your wearing surely isn’t as flattering as my old things. Even the clothes I don’t like are leagues better than whatever it is you have on now.” He scoffed, but that remark stung. His frown deepened quite a bit, and he accidentally set his teacup down too harshly and made it clatter. “Uh. In comparison! You look great! Soooo handsome! My silks are just superior, that’s all!”

That….made him feel a little better. He understood why Lady Irida had wished him luck now, though. “Thank you for your kindness and flattery, Warden Melli. I’m fond of my coat and hat, they’re all I have left of my past, so I will not be parting with them. Here’s the rest of your things.” He was quick to pull out the remaining items. In a gesture he was not proud of, he faced the bristles of the brush up. “I hope you don’t mind, but Lady Sneasler also took a liking to your brush. I thought you’d want some of her fur, to keep around, because she is a beautiful Noble and her fur is quite elegant to behold. Consider it a gift from the both of us! Thank you for the tea. I’ll be seeing you and your noble around, I’ll be working as the Pearl Clan’s representative in the Highlands, due to my friendship with Lady Sneasler. If you ever need anything…well. If you shout loud enough I’ll hear you, I’m sure. Have a wonderful evening.” He stood and was about to leave, but squatted again so he could say goodbye to the skuntank that most definitely had not offended him. “Have a good night, sir. You were a pleasure to meet.”

He did not stop to listen to Melli’s stuttering demands to come back, wait, or his attempts to half apologize while also demanding further apology for disgracing his brush by not cleaning it after use. Ingo would care more later, and probably apologize, but right now he wanted to apologize to Sneasler and go home. The remark about his clothes hurt more than he cared to admit. Actually, no. He will admit it. But only when he got home. Sneasler’s den. His den? That was home now.

“My Lady! We must depart!”

No response. Oh. Right. She had walked off with that Electrode. He was glad Sneasler had friends, at least. Maybe he and Melli would be friends, in time? He hoped so. Maybe. He wasn’t sure. With a heavy sigh, he just chose to walk off in the direction he and Sneasler had come from. She’d find him soon enough, and if she didn’t, he felt capable of finding his way back up the cliffs.

That was, he did, until he very suddenly did not. Not because of any directional issue.

No. The Luxray from before had recovered enough to hold a grudge against the creature Sneasler had been trying to protect. Ingo could feel the growl in his bones, just before the thing roared with such force that it knocked him off of his feet, filling his veins with ice as it charged him. His hand reached for his belt, reached for something that wasn’t there, what was supposed to be there?! He didn’t have time, he didn’t have anything! He shouted when the luxray reared a paw back to swipe at him, his arm and leg raising to try and shield what vital places he could.

Searing, white flashes of pain tore through part of his calf, making his head swim. He expected worse, so much worse, but then he heard a familiar cry, the sounds of wings, and felt the Luxray knocked back. He opened his eyes, seeing Gligar valiantly battling against the Pokémon that had been out for his blood. “G-gligar! Thank you! I- ffffffuck!” He had tried to stand, stumbling and nearly falling again, only to be caught by something firm and unyielding. Daring to take his eyes off of the battle in front of him, he was met with the form of a nosepass. It’s little arms patting him. For a moment, he was afraid it would also try and attack him, but it seemingly did not mind his presence. He breathed a small sigh of relief, but turned his attention back to the battle. “Gl-gligar! Use- agh- mud bomb!” Gligar didn’t look at him but obeyed, scooping its claw into dirt and slinging it at the Luxray, making the thing roar again, furious. “Mud bomb again, a-and follow it with poison sting. Aim for the face! Quick attack after that, as much as you can! Please!” He grit his teeth. He didn’t question how he knew what he was doing, or how he knew what moves Gligar knew.

All was going well, atleast until the Luxray managed to get a bite in, making Gligar cry out. Ingo felt as if he was seeing red. He just! Wasn’t having a good day! He didn’t want his friends to get hurt too! He managed to get his feet under him and rushed into the fray himself, throwing his arms around the neck of the alpha. Ignoring the seemingly random jolts of electricity shooting through him. They didn’t hurt near as much as expected, and he was taken aback by a different flash of light, this one coming from Gligar- no! Gliscor! Ingo let out a breathless little laugh just before he was knocked aside by the headbutt of Melli’s skuntank and caught by the man himself.

“You absolute IDIOT! Why are you trying to fight an alpha Luxray?! Your leg looks mangled! Leave the Pokémon to take care of it, you’re coming back to my tent! I’m not having you bleed out this close to my home!”

“But Gliscor-“

“If it’s yours, it can handle itself with the help of Flower, now come ON!”

He was drug away from the battle and could only look on while his friend and Melli’s skuntank named Flower battled in tandem. Unknown by the both of the humans, their nobles arrived soon after and finished the alpha off. Melli on the other hand had carried Ingo to his tent and started stitching the gashes on his leg shut. Cursing how extremely magnanimous he was, especially when Ingo ended up slipping into unconsciousness. Luckily the cuts were not as deep as they could be, and he would be able to walk when he awoke.

Melli just hoped Lady Sneasler didn’t decide to blame him for this.

Chapter Text

It was when she first heard the enraged roar of the alpha that she and Lord Electrode started to head back. Running under the assumption not that it was being an active danger to their humans, but doing their duties as nobles of the area to ensure no one was caught in the crossfire.

It was when she heard Ingo scream that she moved at her absolute fastest.

This couldn’t be happening to her again. It couldn’t. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if it did. She’d have to pass her noble title onto whichever of her heirs was most capable, she couldn’t cope with losing him. Not properly. Not in any healthy way.

During any normal circumstance, Lord Electrode would have easily outrun her. He was a sphere, he could just roll faster. He did not have the drive she did right now, however. Lady Sneasler dropped to all fours in order to propel herself faster, using her claws to launch her forward in bursts that got her to their destination. She couldn’t see Ingo. It made her sick. What she did she was a Gliscor furiously mud bombing the luxray, and she could work with that.

Lady Sneasler did not bother to climb down the cliff edge she was on. No, she pounced from above, her claws already slick with poison. The luxray was caught entirely off guard when her claws pierced his hide, sliding down through his flesh like a hot knife through butter. He stumbled, poison making him drowsy, but still whipped his head around to try and knock her off. She was having none of it. She’d see to it that he’d never hurt anyone again. She arched her body and dug her claws in deeper, relishing the feel of his blood soaking into her fur. Ignoring the pulses of electricity that threatened to singe her fur and made her muscles lock up. He tried to bite her leg, but she managed to kicked out and slash his face with the claws there, too.

She felt another’s poison splash across her body and her head snapped to the side to snarl at whoever dared to attack her, but only saw the face of Flower, Melli’s partner.

“Melli has taken your human to his tent, he’s alive! We’ll end this nuisance together, my lady! With your poison, the venoshocks will hit it all the more!”

This pleased her, and she hung on tight as the luxray rolled to try and force her off of him, crushing her slightly in the process. “Release me, you disgrace of a noble! Humans should know better than to trespass!” He roared as he thrashed, his attention divided between Sneasler’s blades digging against his ribs and the bursts of attack from Flower. She debated digging in deeper just to be spiteful, but one of his rolls made her ribs crack, and that gave him ample opportunity to free himself from her hold while she gasped in pain. The luxray appeared to be about to hit her with a thunder fang, his maw sparking with electricity, but no sooner than he lunged for her did he find his vision obscured by Gliscor.

Gliscor had prepared mud bombs in both of its pincers, letting them both burst against the beasts eyes while she drove her stinger into his throat, pumping him full of even more toxins. Lady Sneasler cackled, a sadistic pleasure at seeing this luxray suffering. It hurt to do, her ribs ached, but she relished in knowing her Ingo had so many Pokémon willing to protect him.

Her delight was paused when her senses prickled with the knowledge that the rest of his pack seemed to be surrounding them, ready to defend their leader. It would be fine. She wiped out the Zoroark and its pack alone, this Luxray wouldn’t last much longer. It still put her on edge.

Until they were knocked back by a mix of two moves that Sneasler had not fully expected.

One half was knocked off balance and injured with a well timed Earth Power, the ground splitting and steaming. The other half were swirled within a strong gust of Magical Leaf from Lord Electrode himself, blasting them all away. Even the voltorbs had joined in, driving back the luxio and shinx that foolishly supported their alpha. The earth power is what confused Sneasler the most, at least until she saw the nosepass on the outskirts of the battle. She would thank her later. She had a fight to finish first. She smiled grimly. This was a perfect time to end this. All she had to do was wait for a prime opening….there!

The luxray tried to roll once again to knock off Gliscor this time, but his movements were sluggish and clumsy, and his poor thinking left his underbelly exposed.

It only took a moment for Sneasler to sink her claws in and tear, pulling him open and yanking out what should have remained inside of his body. He looked shocked, roaring in agony, convulsing as he was gored. Sneasler only bared her teeth to him, digging her claws in again and again, continuing well after there was no longer life in the beast. She was panting, drooling, injured and furious and she let it out on the only target she had until gentle bodies herded her away from the luxray. Flower helped keep her upright, and Gliscor groomed her even as they walked toward Melli’s tent. Lord Electrode and his young stayed back, ensuring that none of the surviving lion pokemon got any ideas.

When outside of the tent, Sneasler weakly reached for the entry flap, chirping. “Ingo! Ingo, please answer me? Flower said Melli brought you here, I killed it, I got rid of the alpha who hurt you, we all did! He’s gone, Ingo! I’m here, I’m here!”

Flower made a small move to stop her, not wanting her to strain herself, but stopped when she snapped and delivered a small warning bite to his ear.

“Iiiingo!” She cried, one arm around her middle to support her ribs, the other gripping the tent flap to push it open. She didn’t need to wait long to enter, it wasn’t as if a tent flap was hard to push open, but she wasn’t firing on all cylinders. She stumbled inside and voiced a cry of anguish seeing him on one of Melli’s beds, unmoving, his leg soaked in blood that she knew to be his own. She would forever remember the taste of it from when she had found and healed him the first time. His lack of response was agonizing, and she very nearly attacked Melli when she found him suddenly pushing her back. She only stopped herself upon seeing that he held a needle and cord in one hand.

“Woah, woah, hey. Shh, Lady. I’m helping him, I promise. I’m just finishing his stitches. He passed out. Just let me finish and wrap his leg, and then I’ll tend to you too, okay? Why don’t you sit near him? It’ll be okay.”

His voice was uncharacteristically soft, trying to soothe her. It did help. She appreciated it. And she could tell that his nimble fingers would be much better suited to helping Ingo right now, as much as it pained her. She moved to let Melli continue his work, quickly and skillfully stitching up the bleeding mess that was his calf. He didn’t voice complaints when she leaned over and tenderly licked around a few of the stitches. He even pat her head before he started to wrap the wound.

“I know you probably want to take him back to wherever you stay, but it would be better if he stayed here so I can look at his leg as it starts to heal. He could get very sick if it gets infected or reopens. I know you’re friends with my Lord, so I’m sure he’d welcome you into his Arena, but if you want to be closer to Ingo, you can stay here too. I can tell you’re hurt. Let me get things to clean you up.”

Lady Sneasler was too exhausted to argue against it, even if she wanted to. The adrenaline from the fight, the strain she had put on her body to return so fast, even the overproduction she unknowingly had put her poison glands through took a toll on her. Paired with her very likely broken ribs? She had no objection to being cared for. Melli came back to her with a rag and water, gently cleaning her fur of the blood and viscera that coated her. She half expected him to be disgusted, but he just looked worried. He wiped her clean, claws included, and was seemingly relieved to find that she hadn’t received any wounds that bled. He did note her ribs, hearing how she hissed when her middle was touched. He inspected her paw pads, near where her poison glands were, and took delicate care to clean those as well.

”You’ve put a lot of strain on yourself, Lady Sneasler. I’ve got balms for the burns and the ache you have to be feeling, and potions to quicken your healing and reduce the pain. And you might have some mild paralysis? Please, please work with me, okay? I’ll leave you alone after. I promise.”

She appreciated that he was talking to her. For once. She nodded at him and let him massage the balms into her paws, and coat the burns. When he brought the lip of potion bottles to her muzzle, she opened her mouth and drank what she was given. The relief was near immediate, and she graced Melli with a chitter of thanks. He smiled a little.

”I’m going to take care of everyone else, now. If you need food, take whatever you’d like. There…might be room on the bed for you too, but be careful of both of your injuries. I don’t want either of you hurt worse.”

She made a noise of acknowledgment, and was careful as she crawled into the bed next to Ingo. She wrapped one of her arms carefully over his middle and nuzzled her face against the top of his head, gently grooming him as she would any other night.

“He be okay?”

She jolted at the unknown voice, lips drawn back to hiss, but stopped when she laid eyes on the nosepass. When it had gotten inside or how, she had no idea. She blinked in confusion, but slowly nodded. “Yes…he will be okay…why did you fight for him? Thank you, but why?”

“Why would not? He hurt. I help.”

She found this nosepass very curious indeed, but just nodded again. She was tired. “Thank you. You helped us both. Very much, even.”

“I power.”

Lady Sneasler chuckled at this Nosepass and her odd manner of speech. She relaxed once more, curled against Ingo. She was so relaxed that she didn’t even hear or notice Gliscor coming into the tent and resting a pincer against Ingo’s hand. She did not notice Flower entering and resting against the two Pokémon that were on the floor. Melli did not return at all, instead spending the night with his Lord Electrode in the arena.

Sneasler hated that they had another road of healing ahead of them, but she was thankful that they had more allies and proper aid this time around. She was even thankful for Melli for the first time in her life.

She needed to find a way for Ingo to call for her more effectively. This couldn’t happen again.

She dreamed of flutes and old songs, ones that carried across the entire region and pinged something in her very soul to draw her to the source. She dreamt of the wooden bracelet she had buried in her den after Sumire’s untimely demise. She dreamt of a future where Ingo brandished it openly and wove songs with the flute that she would hear even if she were lost in another world.

Elsewhere, in her den, that very same bracelet glowed with a strange power and shifted, adjusting in size. The bracelet would forever fit the warden it belonged to, and the noble who opened their heart would always be able to hear the song.

Chapter Text

Ingo opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by snow. He sat up, noting that he was laid not on a bed, but on a bridge. He looked around and realized he could see buildings not terribly far from him. Rather than get up and walk toward them, he swung his legs off one side of the bridge and sat, looking at the horizon. The area he was in scratched something in his head, something that sang familiarity and relaxed him. He could stay and sit for a while. He could admire the windmills he saw, admire the flying Pokémon that landed upon the still blades and preened and perched. The snow seemed to absorb all of the sound the area had, silencing the scene around him.

The crunch of snow made itself known beside him, but he did not turn. He knew that white coat, or so he believed. The voice did not match what he expected, when the person spoke. Rather than the monotone he expected, this person instead spoke in soft, passionate tones, but quiet unlike his own. “May I join you?” The person asked, and he nodded, tilting his face to look at them. He was mildly surprised to find he had to look down to see who they were, and was even more surprised when the coat nor the person were what he expected.

The coat he thought he saw was not this one. This white coat looked to be woven of the softest of fur, decorated at the sleeves and collar with splashes of violet, bordered with lavender. He expected red stripes, not purple splashes. This must have been visible, as the person laughed ever so quietly. “I’m sorry that I’m not who you were hoping to see. He can’t be here at the moment, but I can.” Ingo blinked, curious. He couldn’t recall who he had been hoping to see, but this person’s company did not strike him as unpleasant. Their hair was mostly a deep, stygian purple, fitting with the rest of their coat in that sense, but streaks of white seemed to come with age. It was kept rather short, chin length at most. Their eyes were a dark grey, and their skin a rich tan. Deep laugh lines were carved into their face, and they smiled at him. Their presence was calming, quiet like the snow that muffled the area around them. “I’m glad to meet you, Ingo. I’ve been waiting to do so for some time.”

He shook off his own silence. “Who are you? Where are we?” These were the two most obvious questions.

“A friend, and somewhere we have some common ground. I can’t stay long, and neither can you. This world doesn’t belong to either of us right now, but it was once somewhere you knew. I have never known this place, but I know snow, and I know silence. They’re home to me.”

“That is all very vague.”

They laughed, in that quiet way of theirs. “I suppose it is, but there isn’t much I’m allowed to say. No matter how much I’d like to.” Their smile seemed sadder now, but they held out their hand. Ingo didn’t want to seem rude, so he took it without question. The person came to rest their other hand overtop his. They were very cool to the touch, unnaturally so. “You’ve been hurt. The path ahead will hurt, too. You cannot hope to make it without help. Things are coming, things are changing, and you will need to face it without falter. To give up will mean you never see this view again. Do you understand?”

“I…no. I don’t think I do..? I’m sorry. Can you tell me more? Can you explain what you mean.”

They looked conflicted. Looking behind them, one sound cut through the silence in the form of a quiet howl. They shook their head. “Partnership, togetherness, teamwork. The bonds you make, Ingo, they will be your home. Hisui is a harsh land, one you were never meant to fall into. I’m selfish, I’m glad you fell, but only because you have saved two that are very important to me. I can’t protect them any longer, but you can. I only wish that I could protect you from the suffering I know you will face. Just know that this suffering will not be forever. If you can hold fast to your Ideals, you’ll be able to return to your Truths.” They sighed, and looked away from him for a moment, just patting his hand. “Sneasler. Do you remember her right now?” He nodded. “How about Irida?” He nodded again. “Good. Good…They need you terribly, just as you need them. I’m here to teach you something important. Something you must remember when you awaken. Pay attention.”

He watched as they pulled their hands away, and despite neither of them having been holding them before, the two both held a flute.

“Do as I do, Ingo.”

Ingo watched intently.

They brought the flute to their mouth and played a melody that felt as though it embodied their very soul, giving it form that Ingo could hear as clear as their voice. They smiled and gestured for him to do the same, but he hesitated. “I’ve never played the flute before. I don’t know how to do what you just did.” They only smiled more, but shook their head and gestured again.

“That’s why I’m here. Just try.”

Skeptical but not unwilling, he did. To his surprise, he was able to play a similar melody. Similar, but different. This was not the sound the other person made, it was not the sound of their soul. It was the sound of his own, as familiar and natural as hearing his own name. He pulled the flute from his mouth, looking down at it in wonder. Just to be sure he was not hearing things, he did it again. And again. He was able to produce the melody each time without fail, and the person clapped for him.

“Good job, Ingo. That was perfect. You’re a natural. You’ll be a great fit. Now that you’ve played it here, this is something that will never leave you. I never had any doubt, from the moment Sneasler found you, I knew.”

He found himself smiling at the praise. It was a pleasant moment, only interrupted by the howl from before drawing closer. His companion flinched, looking behind them again, but when Ingo looked he saw nothing. Turning back to look at the person beside him, he saw them smiling sadly again, tears spilling from their eyes.

“I’ve overstayed my welcome, I believe. I have to go. It was far shorter than I expected, our time together. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to come back…Take care of them, Ingo. You’re unlikely to remember me, but if you do, please tell Irida and Sneasler I’m happy, and I will always love them. They’ve made me so proud. Tell Melli I said hello, too. I’ll try to find you all again.”

They stood to go, but Ingo stood with them and grabbed their hand. “Wait! Please, what’s your name? I need to know your name, so I can tell them what you said!” He didn’t want to disappoint. He wanted to aid this person who visited him. They smiled and put one hand on his cheek, and he leaned into their cold touch. He felt their words rather than heard them, as the howling had sounded again, this time loud enough to make the snow fall away around them, leaving them standing in a black void.

“My name is Sumire.”

Ingo woke up to cold hands against his face, making him gasp. It took shaking sleep from his mind to realize the cold hands were actually claws, as Lady Sneasler’s face came into focus above his own. She looked afraid, and he saw her lift one of her paws, showing him that he had been crying in his sleep. He felt like he was forgetting something important, that perhaps his dream had showed him a memory, and that was why he had been crying. It would explain the tears, and would explain why Sneasler was so concerned, but it did not explain to him why looking at her made him cry more. She chirped at him, panicked, patting his cheeks, and he sniffled and hugged her. He could hear her frantic cries, feel her tongue washing tears from his face, and hear the fast thump of her heartbeat against him. One of the last things he remembered before he fell back into a feverish asleep was the sound of Melli’s voice, telling him to swallow the medicine being pushed against his tongue, and he obliged. He would also remember the burning present in his leg, the feeling of infection settling into the stitches that were there.

Ingo’s last memories of the night were the sound of howls, distant and floating over from the Icelands, curling around within the base of his skull. Despite the foreboding that one would normally associate the sound with, he only felt the soothing tones of a voice he had never known but desperately wished to meet.

Chapter Text

Irida was in a state of disbelief.

Her morning had been a very wild one. It wasn’t every morning that an absolutely massive gliscor came soaring into the camp like it belonged there. They didn’t get Pokémon attacks often! Lord Avalugg was exceptionally good at keeping the local Pokémon from crossing the borders into the clan's lands. While the Lord was too large to do patrols like many of the other nobles, he had many smaller avalugg do the task on his behalf, and Irida had even seen him convene with Lord Braviary who ran aerial patrols. She didn’t have any idea how the gliscor even got over the camp! It was a mess until Gaeric had managed to grab it by the stinger and tug it down.

It was then they realized this was not an ordinary Gliscor, not in the slightest, as its feet were clutching a rolled up message and it had been fitted with what appeared to be some sort of flight harness. How they hadn’t noticed that before was a wonder. It wasn’t even subtle! It looked like it was made from Luxray hide. That was all a shock, no pun intended, but the true shock was that the message had very upsetting news.

Ingo had been attacked.

She had a suspicion where the Luxray hide had come from, now, based on the contents of the letter. Ingo had been attacked by the alpha Luxray near the Moonview Arena. Ingo had written a shaky message over part of the letter, his penmanship splotchy and lacking, eventually trailing off before a more elegant script scrawled across the pages. She didn’t expect Melli to be so helpful. Reading that he had not only given Ingo the critical care he needed but intended to let him stay until he was out of danger with his injuries? Irida felt an immense relief wash over her upon reading that. Even if it did surprise her. And yet….she could recall Calaba having tentative meetings with Melli, the two of them trading medical expertise. It made more sense now.

There was an additional part of the letter, too, one that described the fate of the Alpha Luxray. Melli had written of his own involvement with his skuntank, but also described Ingo’s recklessness. He wrote about the Gliscor who was once a Gligar, and the little Nosepass that had involved itself and become attached to Ingo’s side. It detailed that Lady Sneasler had struck the finishing blow, but was injured in the process. Not so injured that she was in risk of falling, but that she would likely be resting around Moonview Arena until further notice.

Melli stated that despite clan tensions, Irida was welcome and even expected to visit. Ingo was her responsibility, he said, and technically so was the other noble. The harness on Gliscor had been made by Melli himself, designed so that she could be flown over by the large Pokémon. Ingo had tried to say many of these things in his portion of the letter, but apparently the medicine Melli had him taking kept the poor man drowsy.

The concept of flying had made her head spin. Already so much was happening, but she’d not flown with a Pokémon before. She knew others did, especially with Lord Braviary, but she never had. It scared her. She didn’t even know if this harness was well made!

(She did. If Melli made it, she knew any stitch present would surpass the skills of her own clan’s craftsmen, loathe she was to admit. Aside from his abrasive attitude and medical know-how, he was also known for his elegant embellishments to his tent and clothes.)

Gaeric had busied himself with apologizing to the Gliscor that he had yanked from the sky, feeding it some of last nights supper to make nice. Irida paced around camp, unintentionally wearing down a new path. She could just walk, but flying really would be much faster…Eventually she sighed and came to a halt in front of Gaeric and Gliscor, who both looked up at her face expectantly.

“Warden Gaeric,” she began, “How much do you know of the strength of Gliscor? Is it certain she could lift and fly me all the way back to the Coronet Highlands?”

“Well…..I’d say we could find out about atleast one of those things, eh?”

This brief interaction led to Gaeric tethered to the Pokémon by Luxray leather straps around his chest and legs, the Gliscor perked on his shoulders before taking off. She flew him around over the camp, and after the initial adjustment he had begun whooping and grinning. It was a comforting sign to say the least. Gliscor landed slow enough for Gaeric to get his feet down under him properly, then she rested over his head and shoulders like a ridiculous looking hat. Irida giggled at the imagery, but also began to free the warden she had made to test the flight capabilities of Gliscor. It….seemed she was going to be making a trip to the Highlands.

It turned out that flight was not unpleasant.

In fact, she was a bit jealous that the Diamond Clan had a noble capable of showing them this all the time. With a view like this from the sky, she couldn’t believe the Diamond Clan thought Almighty Sinnoh blessed them with time. It was space! She could see so much of Hisui from here! It did take a bit for her to adjust, but she ended up deeply enjoying the flight there. When she landed, it was to see Ingo sitting outside of Melli’s tent with a knife and wood in hand, frowning down at a poorly carved…..something. A tube of some sort? He put it down when she arrived, looking surprised to see her.

“Lady Irida! You did not need to come all this way, I’m quite alright, I said so in my letter! I’ve even been taken off of the medication that had me falling asleep writing it, the infection cleared up very quickly and-“

He was unable to continue talking, as Irida had walked up to his sitting form and grabbed him by the cheeks, smushing his face up. His eyes widened comically, and it was clear he did not know what to do about this development. Irida on the other hand was choked up. “I told you not to die! What were you thinking, trying to wrestle with an alpha!?” She had not untied herself from Gliscor when they landed, so Ingo had begun on that while she scolded him. “Do you know how lucky you are?! Barely anyone lives through that! Especially not with all of them still attached! Ingo, you…ugh! You fucked up big time!”

That caused his attention to snap up to her, away from where he was unbuckling the harness for her. He looked scandalized.

“Lady Irida! Language! You’re a young lady, that’s not appropriate!”

“So?! I’m very upset with you! I’ll say fuck if I want! I’m sure you said it when you got hurt! I would have!”

He was silent for a moment, looking away in embarrassment. “I am an adult….I can say such things….” Clearly he had said it. Irida snickered and felt some relief when Gliscor was able to hop off her shoulders finally. She appreciated Ingo having undone the harness.

“And I outrank you. So I can say it too. Anyway. Where’s….where is Warden Melli?”

“Oh, foraging. I apparently used up quite a bit of his medicine stores. He’s also bringing me more wood. I’ve taken up whittling. I am not very good.”

“Are….you becoming friends?”

Ingo looked thoughtful at that, but ended up shrugging. “He’s been much more polite since I’ve been injured. I think he might have been lonely, as well.” He was quiet for a beat, and lowered his voice a bit. “The amount of romance novels he has indicates that pretty clearly, too…”

Irida had to cover her mouth to keep from outright cackling at the comment. She sat down next to him and knocked her shoulder against his in a friendly gesture. “Being injured has made you funnier. Less stiff. Think it’s the medicine he has you on?” She looked at his various carving projects while she got comfortable, lifting one up. “Is this a psyduck?”

“It’s….it was meant to be a Nosepass. I might have made the snout too long…I’ve made a new friend. She’s around here somewhere. Very cute little thing. I don’t know how she manages to, but she is very good at sneaking up on you. As for the medicine…perhaps. It could also be because I’ve grown more comfortable talking to people. Like I said, when we first met I was woefully unprepared. All of my life conversation partners had been pokemon. They still are, mostly, but Melli has a tendency to talk a lot. I’ve been here a few days now. We didn’t think of sending you a message until he had received one from his clan leader on the back of a starly. I apologize for the delay in communication. I apparently was quite out of it for several of those days, but I’m healing better now. So is Lady Sneasler. She actually left for her den for the first time since we’ve been here. She’s been very concerned for me. Oh! Don’t be frightened if you see Machoke hanging around. Sneasler wouldn’t leave without knowing I was watched by more than one Pokémon. Lord Electrode is watching from his tree.”

This was a lot of information to absorb at once, but she took it in stride. “I’m really glad you’re feeling better already. I didn’t know you had Pokémon, not really. I know you had mentioned Gligar and Machoke before, but I didn’t realize you were familiar enough with them that they would do things for you. And Gliscor evolved while protecting you? Maybe you should train them. Gaeric could help out. He has a few Pokémon he’s bonded with. Your Gliscor gave us quite the scare, though. You might be better suited to sending a starly next time, if you find one that understands well enough.”

While they spoke, Gliscor had moved so she was draped over Ingo’s back, like a blanket, and he scratched her head. Irida was getting better at reading his expressions, as she saw a smile grow in his eyes. “Actually, I have exciting news! I think I may have trained Pokémon, before I fell. During the Luxray incident, I had been able to call out moves for Gliscor to use. We haven’t done anything with that due to my healing, but if she agrees, I believe I want to begin training with her. I’m sure Lady Sneasler would help us. It seems that Gliscor is immune to poison, luckily enough, so they’d make good sparring partners. Normally, or I believe normally, I’d be concerned about Sneasler’s weakness to flying type attacks, but she’s far stronger than anything I’ve ever seen.”

“Ingo! That’s amazing! Congratulations! I’m glad you’ve figured out more about yourself. No wonder you were able to live with Lady Sneasler without issue. It’ll make living out here a lot easier if you have strong Pokémon by your side, too. Maybe…maybe you’d help me with my Eevees? I actually have more than the one you’ve seen me with.”

“If it turns out I have as good a handle on things as I think I might, I’d be honored to help, Lady Irida. Do you have any idea what you might like to see them evolve into? That’s an important part of training, but it is also a choice you’ll have to include them in when the time comes.”

“Oh! Well, the oldest one of the three, I’d really like her to evolve into Glaceon. She is more comfortable in the ice, and it seems like a fitting choice for her. We could start there…? The one you met seems a little young to evolve. He’s strong enough to protect me, but I’ve heard of Pokémon ignoring the commands of their trainers if they grow up too fast.”

Ingo nodded. “Yes, I do recall that. But if it’s a glaceon you want, then you’ll need to be on the look out for a stone to trigger her evolution. Sometimes there are large ones that can do it, but I think using a smaller ice stone would work too. Does that sound right?”

“Huh….yeah, it does! I think I remember that being told to me before, when I first got her. Thanks Ingo! I’ll ask Gaeric about any icy stones when I go back home.”

“See that you do. And bring your eevees with you next time we meet. Even if we don’t train them, I’d like to meet them. They’re very cute Pokémon.”

Irida giggled at that. She was going to voice her agreement, but before she could, there was a very triumphant cry from the cliffs. She looked over and saw Sneasler holding a bundle of fabric in her mouth, and the noble carefully began to climb down before making her way over to the two. Ingo greeted her first, but she didn’t even make a sound back at him. She seemed bizarrely focused, something that puzzled Irida. Not that it was uncommon for Lady Sneasler to be focused! She just hadn’t seen it before, not like this.

It was Ingo’s turn to be puzzled when Sneasler placed the fabric bundle in his hands. Something about it had seemed familiar to Irida, but it was so covered in dirt that she could not quite tell where she had seen it from. Lady Sneasler chirped at Ingo, pushing his hands to spur him into action. Ingo of course complied, studying the bundle and finding that he was able to unroll the fabric. Something wooden fell into his hand.

Irida’s heart nearly stopped.

“Lady Sneasler, what is this? It’s very handsome. Is this you carved into it? I- Lady Irida! What has you so alarmed? Oh no, Sneasler, did you steal this from somewhere?”

Irida had to shake herself from the state of shock she was in. “I-Ingo. Put it on for me.”

“What? Is it yours? I’m so s-“

“No. Put it on yourself. On your wrist. It’s a bracelet.”

She could tell he was confused, but she didn’t much care. Sneasler had to have given him that for a reason. He looked at the bracelet a moment, turning it in his hands, but eventually slid it onto himself, where it briefly shimmered. Irida was amazed. Sneasler cheered, bowling Ingo over and knocking Gliscor off of him, but Gliscor seemed to be just as excited. Irida couldn’t speak, her heart was pounding so fast, her eyes were wet, and she didn’t know how she felt. She wasn’t upset, not at all, but her mind was a whirlwind anyway. She could tell Ingo was looking to her for answers, but she just couldn’t force words out of her mouth. Even worse was when Lord Electrode rolled over and started to spin in place, joining the festivities the Pokémon were having. It was not until she heard Melli’s voice that she was able to react.

“Just what has everyone so worked up? I know it’s always a cause for celebration when I return, but that wouldn’t explain why Ingo is the source of all the praise.”

Irida was able to tear her eyes away to look over at the man.

“Lady Sneasler just chose Ingo to be her new warden.”

She was glad that she had already fainted once in Ingo’s presence, because she now knew at least a little bit of what to do for Melli who had collapsed. Luckily, he was caught by a small Nosepass who waved her little arms and made a noise too. She’d come to celebrate.

Irida would join in later. First, she needed to have Ingo talk her through helping the fainted man before her.

Chapter Text

“So! Ingo! We have a lot to do once you and Lady Sneasler are healed! She’s chosen you as her warden, and that’s a very high honor! One of the highest in the clans! You recall me telling you that Almighty Sinnoh blessed ten Pokémon, those Pokémon are nobles, and the blessing runs from Noble to their appointed Heir, and so on? The Diamond and Pearl clans have overtaken care of five of the Pokémon each, with one person in particular chosen by the noble to act as their warden. This is signified by the bracelet! It only ever fits a Noble’s chosen warden, and binds you two together for life! You have remembered this? It’s so important that you remember it.”

“Lady Irida, please, please slow down? I think you’re about to give Warden Melli a heart attack…and me..yes I remember. You explained it just a few minutes ago. I’m…I am honored, yes, but what does it entail? Why has she chosen me?”

“Ingo. I cannot slow down. This is the first time anyone outside of a clan has been chosen as warden! I need to rush your induction so things run smoothly, and you need to learn the duties of a warden, and there’s an entire CEREMONY to be done back at the settlement! I really hope you know how to work a crowd! As for why you? Probably because Lady Sneasler loves you???”

Ingo, was to say the absolute least, overwhelmed.

Honored, yes, but very overwhelmed. He had halted his questions from before on instinct, talking Irida through helping the fainted Melli, but as soon as the other man recovered Irida had flown off in speaking about preparations. Oh god- Sinnoh? Oh Sinnoh, Melli is opening his mouth now, this couldn’t be good.

“Iiiiirida! Don’t you dare forget that the Diamond Clan is to be present for the ceremony as well! Whether or not you believe in the wrong Almighty Sinnoh, all of the nobles are blessed by it, so any appointment of a new warden is an event for BOTH clans!”

“Fuck! You’re right! Also: shut up!”

”Language, Lady Irida! Don’t be rude!” Could these two please calm down?! He was starting to hyperventilate, which did get the attention of both Pearl Leader and Diamond Warden. Whatever argument they were having fell to the wayside, Melli swiftly returning to his tent to find pain medication for Ingo’s leg, and Irida wincing and holding his hand. Ingo wasn’t even in pain- no, yes he was. The adrenaline of the situation had kept him from realizing and fully acknowledging it. Irida’s small hands rubbed across the back of his, and he was calmed a great deal just by that. “I am sorry for policing your language, young miss. And causing so much stress. I am honored. I said that already. But…Sneasler, is that true? You love me, Lady?”

“Uh, snuh? Snea!”

Sneasler appeared to be irritated that he even had to ask. She put a heavy paw on his hat, snatching it away, and giving him a lick across his hair before resting her head over his and purring loudly. He was touched. The smallest smile played on his lips. “I love you too, my lady. You’re a dear friend. Thank you for choosing me. I’m sorry I’m so overwhelmed by it all…”

“Sneas.”

He chuckled, thankful for her. Even with his memory lacking, she had no issues in finding just how to make him smile with the things she said. Or perhaps it was how she said things? In any case, it made him smile. He was getting better at that. He couldn’t do it often or for long, it hurt his cheeks, but it was something he found himself doing fairly often anymore when Sneasler was involved. He could see her paw holding his cap move in his peripheral, and he could tell she had put it on her own head. That made him chuckle too.

Melli re-emerged from his home and shoved a cup of medicinal tea into Ingo’s hands, scowling some. “Drink that and don’t start blubbering over your bandage change. And! Don’t let your noble claw me if you do!” He knelt down and gently began to look things over, rolling fresh bandages over what he had cleaned while Ingo drank the tea. “And don’t kick my beautiful face! I’m still cross at you for doing that! I can’t believe Lady Sneasler chose someone so foolish and accident prone as her warden…” He had trailed off and grumbled while he worked. Ingo took it with only a little hiss and an eye roll. Staying with Melli had made him realize the other man was mostly just bluster. Bark worse than bite, and all that.

“Is there anything else I need to know about becoming a warden? Aside from…everything? Just…Is there anything I can actually learn now while I heal?”

“Actually, yes!” Irida turned her body slightly to reach into her pack, pulling out a flute that she barely had a chance to explain before Ingo had channeled some sort of uncharacteristic rudeness and snatched it from her grip. She was going to protest this, it was clear from her expression, but he was too focused on looking it over.

“I know how to play this.”

Both her and Melli’s head snapped up, baffled. Melli snorted before laughing at him. “No you don’t. You barely remember anything.” He was mostly silenced when Irida slapped the back of his head and Sneasler pushed him with her foot. Gently, atleast. “I’m going to tell Adaman on both of you! I’ll make a diplomatic incident, don’t bully me! Two on one isn’t fair!” He was pushed again, but that time he actually crossed his arms and went legitimately quiet. Maybe he wanted to see what sort of trash Ingo would play through the flute. He was both awed and disappointed when Ingo was able to play perfectly, the traditional melody carrying over Hisui’s vast lands easily.

Ingo did this twice, but noticed that Sneasler seemed disinterested, oddly enough. She was still cuddled up against him, but she had ceased her purring. He adjusted his hands, took a deep breath, and tried something else.

*PWEET PWEEEEEEET*

Melli and Irida both practically jumped out of their skin in fright, but Sneasler raised her head and echoed the sound, chirping in her delight, bringing her paws around Ingo to hug him and clack her claws in her encouragement. He laughed heartily, and tried to offer the flute back to Irida. “I feel as though both of those sounds were a part of me. Is that normal, for wardens?”

“NO! IT’S NOT! You’re going to bring another alpha down on us, you horrible ribbon of seaweed! What is wrong with you?!”

“Melli shut UP you’re so annoying! How am I fifteen and less obnoxious than you?! Ingo! Why do you let him talk to you like that?! Ignore him, yes it’s normal! You’re supposed to open your heart to your noble, that way they know it’s you calling them. That’s called a celestica flute, not everyone can play them but every warden I’ve heard of can. Your sound is…..very unique! Lady Sneasler liked it. She’ll definitely know it’s you calling her. Also! Keep it. I would have had to give you one anyway, and this way you’ll be able to call her, or even Lord Electrode if you need help while you both heal.”

“Do NOT offer up the services of my Lord on his behalf! Ingo, Lord Electrode would of course aid you as you are his guest, but not because the child says so!”

This was quickly overstimulating Ingo. He admired irida and appreciated Melli. He wondered if he just…..Leaned back against Sneasler and shut his eyes if they would think he was sleeping. The tea wouldn’t kick in for a bit, but, if it meant settling them down….He did just that. Even letting himself snore for good measure. Embarrassing but he needed an out. He still gripped the flute so as to keep it safe.

“I. Outrank. You! Stop being an ass! And Ingo do not get on me about language a third time today! I am not liable for anything I say to Warden Melli. But I am going to need to go- not because of Melli, but because I need to start gathering things for the ceremony and having fresh clothes made for you. Please don’t kill him, Melli. I don’t……Did he fall asleep?”

“Hm…? Oh. Huh. Yeah, it looks like he did. I must have made the tea stronger than I thought…..And his old age.” That comment made Ingo’s brow twitch in irritation, and he could feel the huff of Sneasler’s laughter. Just keep snoring. Maybe if he was a little bit petty it wouldn’t hurt too…He let his good leg slide out and knock against Melli, who he heard wheeze, but for once didn’t complain. “Well. Time for you to go, Irida! Don’t forget to send invitations to everyone else! I’ll help you get strapped into his Gligar so you can leave faster and I can help the senior citizen into bed! Come on~!”

He hoped he healed sooner than later.

Chapter Text

Lots of preparation had gone into Ingo’s induction into the Pearl Clan.

He had to heal, first and foremost, as did Lady Sneasler. Melli had been a surprising resource in Warden preparations, too. He’d gone on and on about his own various duties, which gave Ingo a solid idea of what being a warden entailed. When his leg healed enough, he started to follow Melli along on his patrols, learning the locations of different alphas, seeing how different Pokémon behaved, learning about the different foragable plants in the area. It was different from his exercises with machoke during his first injury, but the results were the same. He was able to strengthen his leg enough to move normally once more, and soon was outpacing the other warden. Their patrols together stopped there, and so Ingo focused on practicing with his celestica flute and learning more about Lady Sneasler herself.

She had been raised by her previous warden. Sumire, he learned, had also been unexpectedly close with Melli before they passed. Melli had explained this to Ingo, saying that Sumire had taught him all the vital areas of the Highlands when he was just starting as a warden. Helping Ingo was him returning the favor. The Diamond and Pearl clans didn’t agree on their religious ideologies, but there weren’t rules against the two socializing. Sumire had been the warden for the previous Sneasler Noble, and took up the role of parent to Lady Sneasler when the time came, raising her into the strong Lady she was today. That had been roughly 30 years ago, according to Melli. He was quick to clarify that he wasn’t there, he had just been told about it. When Ingo remarked that he thought Sneasler was older than he was, Melli laughed. Ingo really did not think he was older than 30, but he didn’t intend to push the issue. He learned that the sneasel line of Pokémon could breed once per season, but that Melli only ever noticed Lady Sneasler with kits twice a year. As a warden, Ingo would need to be able to assist in rearing the young sneaslets.

Under Melli’s close supervision, Ingo underwent his first Sneasler poisoning, so his body would be more prepared for the inevitable when the time came. It wasn’t pleasant, but he handled it far better than he thought he would. He wondered if being fed by Sneasler for months had something to do with that? Or perhaps it was the pecha berry tea he had thought to make in advance for himself. He made note to supply himself with much of it before his Lady went about having any young. And to have his Lady periodically poison him so he could build up more of a resistance.

Back at the Pearl Settlement, Irida had her hands full too. Procuring ceremonial robes in Ingo’s size, arguing with elders of the settlement, and writing invitations was a lot of work. She did her part to physically prepare the settlement as well, assisting in erecting additional tents for guests of the festivities. A menu was planned too, and she helped to harvest everything. Her mother had taught her that a good leader was one who involved themselves in every step of the process. She aimed to do just that, even if it exhausted her. By the time invitations were sent and Ingo healed, everything was ready for him to become an official member of the clan and be announced as Warden to Lady Sneasler.

With all preparations in place, Ingo, Melli, and Lady Sneasler made the trip to the Pearl Settlement, where all of the other wardens of both clans were mingling.

Barely.

Ingo could see the differences between the groups. How all of the Pearl folk gave everyone and each other a wide berth, how the Diamond folk hung off of eachother in contrast. The contrast between red and blue in their tunics. Another thing he could see was one young man in blue standing near Irida, shivering near violently while she watched him in poorly disguised disdain. Ingo was going to try to slink by most of the crowd unnoticed, but Melli beside him ruined that.

”Oh Adamaaaaaan! I’m finally here! So sorry for the delay, I had to travel slowly to accommodate for, uh…” He paused, having felt the slight prick of Sneaslers claws against his back. Gulping before continuing. “To ensure Hisui’s newest warden knew the optimal route from the Highlands to his clan’s settlement. Yes, that!” He sighed when Sneasler’s claws left him. Sure, he was accustomed to poisons from his Pokémon, but toxins differed between different creatures.

At the sound of Melli’s arrival and word of Ingo’s presence, dozens of heads turned to look at the pair, and Ingo could just barely pick up whispered remarks between people.

”Isn’t it odd how we’ve never seen him before, but he’s suddenly a warden?”

“He’s in such strange clothes. And spending so much time with the Diamond Clan? Can we really trust him?”

“I overheard some people saying he fell from the rift, he doesn’t even remember how old he is. He attacked Warden Gaeric, too, remember?”

“He’s nothing like Sumire…”

He grit his teeth and looked down, his frown tightening. He wasn’t like Sumire. He was like himself, and he had no desire to be anyone he was not. Even if it meant being rejected by his new people, he wanted to stay true to what little of himself he could remember, and what new things he gradually discovered that made him happy. Lady Sneasler seemed to pick up on his mood, as she put her paws atop his shoulders and nuzzled her face against his cheek and neck, shooting pointed glares with slightly bared teeth toward those who were exchanging such unkind whispers about her Ingo. He relaxed under her touch slightly and sighed, and even Melli looked halfway apologetic before giving his shoulder a pat and walking away to speak with the man he called Adaman.

Ingo was quick behind, if only so he could introduce himself and greet Irida. He opened his mouth as he got there, prepared to offer a simple hello, but was surprised by how fast Irida hugged him. He was able to respond much easier this time around, his arms closing around her to give her a friendly squeeze. He could hear scandalized gasps of the elder Pearl’s, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. He had missed Irida, and if she was going to permit him to share her space, he’d respond in kind. He let go of her as soon as she shifted back, and he met her wide grin with a small upturn of his mouth.

“It’s good to see you, Ingo!”

“And it is very good to see you too, Lady Irida. Even if I’m unsure I’ll be good at this sort of thing, I’m glad to be here if it means making things official. Would you care to introduce me to your shivering companion?”

“Do….I have to? Fine. Ahem. Soon to be warden Ingo, this is Lord Adaman, leader of the Diamond Clan. Lord Adaman, this is the sky-faller, Ingo.”

The young man was still shivering, but reached his hand out to greet Ingo. Then he seemingly rethought it. “Sorry, even if you’re not from here, I know you Pearl types don’t like to touch-“

Ingo didn’t give him a chance to fully pull back before wrapping his hand in both of his own, giving him a firm shake and warming him. “Pleasure to meet you, Lord Adaman. I don’t mind touch so long as I’m warned, or it’s a dear friend.” He felt bold enough to gently ruffle Irida’s hair, earning himself more huffs from elders but a giggle from the girl that made his heart soar. Adaman watched with a bit of a stunned smile, but crossed his arms and grinned.

“Well, Ingo! You’re full of surprises. Just call me Adaman, I don’t mind it. It’s my name! Congratulations on being chosen as warden. You really fell from that thing above the mountain? Actually, no, I know you did, Melli wrote letters to me about you constantly. You really tried fighting an Alpha Luxray to protect your Pokémon?”

Ingo nodded, standing up a little straighter. More whispers were heard, but at least these ones had some flattery behind them. They were also being whispered by children no older than 10.

”An alpha? Is he stupid or brave?”

“Brave! If he’ll defend his Pokémon, then he’d defend one of us!”

“Warden Calaba said that the ceremony was delayed so he could heal from it. He fought it and didn’t even lose a limb!”

“Mr. Ingo seems so cool…”

Ingo managed not to react too openly to the praise, as he did not want to discourage the minds of children. It was important they learned that they could make bonds with the right Pokémon. Oh. Yeah. He should respond to Adaman. He cleared his throat and nodded again. “That I did. I knew Gligar had the type advantage over a Luxray, but she had just been bitten on one of her wings, and I knew that if we had any hope of getting out of that scenario I would need her help. Luckily, the bite also seemed to trigger her evolution into Gliscor. She should be flying over fairly soon, and I believe Machoke and Nosepass are going to be jogging over as well. They volunteered to watch over the Highlands in shifts while Melli and I were away.”

Adaman blinked, evidently unsure of what to say to all of that. He just shared a glance with Melli, who shrugged. “I told you he knew his stuff, even if he is reckless.” Adaman seemed to take that as a suitable enough answer, and stepped off to the side.

“Well. It was good to meet you, Ingo. I’ll be watching the ceremony with the rest of my clan. Don’t let Melli push you around, and good luck up there!” Ingo received two thumbs up and a grin, and both young men ambled off toward others in blue. Irida grabbed one of Ingo’s hands and squeezed it.

“Are you ready, Ingo? We can start now.”

He took a deep breath and shut his eyes. Was he ready?

“Yes, I suppose I am.”

The ceremony itself was strange, though Ingo would never voice that. Ingo was put into some sort of formal robe, which made sense to him. He and Lady Sneasler were tied together around their shoulders with a sash made of the previous Warden’s clothing, so the memory and wisdom of the past would carry them together. There was incense wafted around them for safety and luck. Ingo was to publicly submit himself to Sneaslers poison to show his commitment and readiness for his task. They were given vows to speak as well, and it reminded Ingo uncomfortably of a wedding. He supposed he was committing his life to Lady Sneasler, but it was still a touch strange. He then played his flute to her, and she responded to the sound. There was only one final step after that, and it was the opportunity for someone to object. When Sneasler picked him up and snarled at the crowd, anyone who had been considering an objection experienced a nearly magical change of heart.

After the ceremony was declared complete, Ingo was given a fresh tunic made specifically for him to change in to. It had the clans sigil on the front and was layered to be warm. He quite liked it! He still replaced his hat and coat after, but Irida made no complaint when he re-emerged from the tent that he used to change. He noted when he came out that Sneasler had been given her previous wardens sash and someone had tied it around her middle like a skirt or wrap, and she was socializing with a large group of eevees. Machoke, Gliscor, and Nosepass had arrived too! Evidently they had hung a respectful distance away until Lady Sneasler was able to lead them into the settlement. Some of the more curious and brave clan children had approached and were patting Nosepass on her little head, and Machoke allowed a few kids to hang off of her arms while she gently swung them around. Gliscor was less approached, but did receive the occasional scratch behind her ear. It was a great scene to witness, especially given that so many people here were afraid of Pokémon.

The festivies that came after the ceremony were much more lively. And thus…even less enjoyable to Ingo, who had grown used to his relative solitude. Speaking with strangers and answering the same questions over and over was tiring. The food was an excellent spread though, and he was told that the announcement of a new warden was one of the few times that the clans came together as a whole without true conflict. Still, before too long he had enough. It may have been night, but he had no desire to sleep in a crowded tent with people he didn’t know. He wished Irida a good night and received another hug from her, complete with a kiss on his cheek that made him blush and ruffle her hair once more. She sent him away with a bag of leftover food and orders to his Pokémon not to let him do anything unsafe, and they all saluted her. Even little Nosepass. Melli made no moves to join him on the walk back to the Highlands, too glued to Adaman’s side and nursing a bottle of spirits to be damned to follow. He did wave atleast.

With his entourage in place, he and his little caravan of Pokémon set off into the night. There were moments where their little party needed to make small detours in order to avoid some particularly mischievous ghosts or nocturnal Pokémon, but everything was going well.

Atleast, until Ingo saw a flash of red and white on the border of his vision. He quickly turned, being the first to notice the hulking beast of a Pokémon limping toward their group, growling weakly. It….his mind supplied the word zoroark, but it looked sickly, fur entirely white with only blood red highlights trickling down- oh. It’s bleeding. He started to approach the beast only for all of his Pokémon to yank him back, hissing at both him and the zoroark. He fought the hold Machoke had him in, somehow managing to slip free, and sprinted to the Zoroark like his life depended on it. He got in front of the beast just as Sneasler slashed at it, and he winced in pain at feeling a more concentrated hit of her poison enter his body through the new cut in his arm. Sneasler cried out, apologetic, but irritated as well. The zoroark did not attack him, though. It whined, propping itself up on one leg and leveling all of the Pokémon and Ingo with a heavy stare. Ingo’s voice shook.

“You’re losing a lot of blood, Zoroark. I’m not going to hurt you, and I don’t want my companions to either. Will you let me bandage your wounds? I have food I can share, too. Are you hungry?”

The zoroark shook its great head, no longer growling, but altogether silent. It turned its back to them, half dragging itself into what he assumed was its den. He was about to walk off when the beast looked back and made the smallest sound, as if pleading with him. He hesitated, but before his Pokémon could stop him he dashed forward, and what he was met with broke his heart.

Several far, far smaller bundles of fur. Once pale in color, now thick with red and unmoving. Something had attacked this mother and her nest of young Zorua. He wondered what could have done such a thing and why, but he thought he might have understood what the large Zoroark wanted now. His voice shook some more, thick with emotion.

“I’m sorry, miss. I don’t think your little ones have made it. It’s a great shame. They look as though they’d barely been given opportunity to live. I can still help you though, if you allow me…?” She growled in response, shaking her head again and pushing away clumps of her own shed fur and nesting materials, until he was met with…

A silent, snowy land, windmills in the horizon. A smiling face of someone he had never known.

A very small, very still bundle of white and violet. The mother Zoroark stared at him, and he cautiously moved forward, kneeling carefully in her nest, putting a hand on the little bundle of fur.

A soft voice, echoing that they hoped to meet him again someday, if they could find their way back.

The bundle let out a high pitched squeak, and Ingo was spurred into action. He had no hesitation in him anymore, picking up the little oddly colored zorua and looking it over. It’s wounds were minimal, all the blood he could spot on it was splatters, not sourced from the pups own body. He ignored how that blood soaked into his new clothes, but focused on bundling it up against his chest, between the fabric of his new tunic and his bare skin. Babies needed warmth, and it was so cold out here. The pup protested ever so quietly, so weakly, and Ingo froze when the mother Zoroark leaned forward and had her muzzle by his throat.

It was only to give her pup a comforting lick, and then she pulled back.

Ingo shuddered but got ahold of his nerves. “You want me to protect this one, don’t you, miss?”

The zoroark nodded, her eyes going half lidded as she laid down next to her already passed pups, licking them clean and draping her fur over them, as if to continue protecting them. Ingo had to hold in his tears. He leaned closer to the zoroark and ran his hand over her head, shushing her when she jerked and whined.

“Bravo, girl. You’re a very good mother indeed. I’ll make sure your little one grows up strong and loved. You…rest well. Someday you’ll meet again.”

The zoroark nodded and shut her eyes, going motionless not long after. She had just enough strength to secure safety for her little one, and Ingo had no intentions of disappointing her. He turned to exit the den, surprised to see Sneasler standing directly behind him with an readable expression on her face, staring at the small zorua pup hidden away in his tunic. And then at the gash she had inflicted on Ingo when she had moved to attack the zoroark in the first place. She sighed and reached her paw out, gently inspecting the little one herself. She looked over Ingo’s shoulder at the deceased zoroark and young, and seemingly came to her own decision. She leaned down and licked the forehead of the little pup, listening to it yip for its mother, and Ingo breathed a sigh of relief.

“We can’t have one simple day, can we my lady? Come, we need to get this little one warm and fed. Whatever happened here was not a kind thing. It doesn’t even look like they’ve opened their eyes yet….I’ll drink my pecha tea while we walk, and I’ll disinfect the scratch when we get back to the den, okay?”

“Snea.”

Another eventful day in the books, Ingo made haste to the warm comforts of Sneasler’s den, where he slept not a wink, instead busying himself with trying to simultaneously heat and mash berries for the young pup while cleaning the cut he gained from his beloved lady. Being poisoned twice in one day wasn’t fun, but he’d do it all again if it meant rescuing his Little Violet once more.

Chapter Text

It was so tiny.

She didn’t really ever think about what Zorua and Zoroark were like before they grew bloodthirsty and vengeful, but this wasn’t what she expected.

Sneasler did not expect to feel her maternal drive kick in when she laid eyes on the pup. It was so…tiny and pathetic. Even smaller than one of her kits when they were first born. She wondered if it was a runt. Watching Ingo try and make some sort of berry mash for it to eat made her sigh and shake her head, but she didn’t stop him. A pup this young should still be nursing. It was even attempting to do so now that they were all situated in her den. She’d groomed the terrible little thing, and it had begun squeaking and trying to suckle on her. The first few times it occured, she pushed it away with an irritated huff, but eventually it’s crying made her pity it, and she let it wriggle back against her and latch. It was being quieter, now. That’s…that’s good. Arceus above, it hadn’t even opened its eyes yet. She just stared at it for a while, looking over it’s barely there fur. It wasn’t the right colors for a Zorua. There was no crimson. The white it had was closer to silver than white, and where it should be crimson there were small wisps of blue and violet. It was like the thing had just come out oddly, like the occasional kit of hers had.

She didn’t know why she was trying to fool herself into disliking the monster. Maybe it was to distract from the guilt that was eating away at her insides. She’d been ready to strike down its already dying mother. She’d hit Ingo instead. That was already awful. But to think, would they have even noticed the pup before they left? Would the little thing have frozen and starved, confused and alone? Would it have cried for the mother that wasn’t there? She shuddered at the thought. She was grateful Ingo had jumped in front of her, though she hated that he was hurt. If she had come back to find all those pups, knowing what she knew now…It was a terrible line of thinking.

It hardly helped that the image of the ravaged nest was burned into her mind. She saw the carnage, and she remembered the few, few times she kitted after Sumire’s death, when she lacked anyone to guard her pups and would return to find several still and unmoving. It was agonizing. It never had been her entire litter, never had been to the extreme she saw in that blood soaked cavern of a den. She wondered if she would have done the same thing the mother zoroark had, entrusting one of her young to seemingly the first human that passed by. It was making her sick to think about. She was thinking it over so intently that she didn’t notice when Ingo had approached and started to stroke the top of her head. Her initial reaction was to curl over the pup slightly and hiss, but she stopped and sighed when she saw it was Ingo. Who else would it have been? She felt ridiculous, moving her body back into the position she had been lounging in.

”It looks as though our little Violet has taken to you. That’s good! If it suckles enough, you might be able to let it nurse, if we’re lucky. But until then…I don’t know how I know how to make this, but I distinctly remember that this particular mixture of berries is easier for young Pokémon to digest, and it has enough essential nutrients to give our friend a much needed boost. It’ll have to do, since we don’t have any…canned formula…? I hope this pup got at least some colostrum before the mother…well. You know.”

She gave him a puzzled look, but leaned down to her side where the pup was latched and bit it by the scruff to hand off to Ingo. She’d trust him on this. He looked as confused as she did for a moment, but shook his head and focused on cradling the now crying pup. Sneasler was once again stricken by how small it was. It fit in just one of Ingo’s hands. He had his bowl of mashed berries on the ground in front of him, and…it looked as though he had dipped one of his paint brushes into the mixture? She stared at him while he brought the berry soaked brush up to the pups squeaking little mouth. It took a minute, but she was pleased to see the baby lapping and suckling away at the mix.

“Good job Ingo! Violet loves it!”

”Thank you, my lady. The little fellow does seem hungry, hm? I’m glad the brush is working. It’s not as if I have a bottle, and my fingers would be too big for such a delicate little thing.”

Ingo moved so he was resting against her side, the berry bowl between them, and he consistently reloaded his brush with the mash to keep feeding the pup. He didn’t stop until its tummy was round and full, and when it was, he gently nestled it back against her side, where it wriggled into her fur and started to sleep, making Ingo smile. The expression, the feeding, all of it filled her with pride. He was so smart and so skilled. She did wonder what it was he did in his previous life. Was he a Warden somewhere else? He fit the role perfectly. Perhaps he had been a midwife to human cubs? That wouldn’t explain his affinity for Pokémon. Maybe he was a Pokémon before, and the rift had changed him? She wasn’t sure, but she felt safe around him and could only imagine the pup must feel the same.

She rested her head against her paws and closed her eyes. The questions could wait. He regained his memories little by little. Someday he would be able to tell her the answer, without her even having to ask.

The pup wasn’t doing as well as it could have been.

It was still eating the berry mixture that Ingo had made, but it needed milk. Sneasler wasn’t producing any on such short notice. Maybe given time, her body will adapt to the sudden need, but they didn’t have that much time, given how little it was. It was vital the pup nursed.

That’s fine. She could deal with this. She knew her daughters surely had sneaslets of their own. It was around the right time in the season for it. She’d never had to use her daughters as nursemaids before. Occasionally if she fancied another female during breeding season, they would share kits, but that happened very seldom and it was different than the situation she was currently in. After cautiously approaching several of the dens she was familiar with and convening with her heirs, she found one that was willing to let a zorua pup feed from her. That was how she and Ingo had temporarily moved into another den, this one very full of babies.

It was a very good thing Ingo had been poisoned by her a few times, because watching her grandsneasels climb all over him while the pup nursed off of her daughter was very cute. Even if she knew he was being pumped full of toxins from tiny claws, she couldn’t help but snicker and grin at him. He took it all in stride, letting the kits run around with his hat and hang off of his arms while they stayed in her daughter's den. The only real issue with the arrangement was that the sneaslets were very, very curious about the pup, and curious kits did not know how to control their claws. Ingo was made into a pincushion and babysitter while the pup nursed. He was doing very well. Sneasler could not say the same for his coat, which he eventually ended up taking off to protect. Ingo was clever though! He had made a toy using a pine cone, cord, and a thick branch! The sneaslets happily gave chase, trying to hunt the pine cone, hopping and clawing and jumping after it. Sneasler’s daughter warmed up to Ingo as well, and he had found himself falling asleep buried in sneasels of all sorts. The babies and Sneasler’s unevolved adult daughter. Sneasler always let the pup rest with her when it wasn’t nursing. She was able to use her far larger claws like a shield to protect from accidental poisonings, and it still latched onto her for comfort. She didn’t mind.

The process of letting the zorua pup nurse and distracting sneasel kits continued for a while. So long in fact, that there was a panic that ensued just a little bit after the pup opened its sweet little eyes. It was only a few days, but those few days made all the difference when it came to the pup’s development.

Zorua could make very convincing illusions, and this clever pup had made one that had it looking like the sneasel kits. Were it not for the fact that it wasn’t as mobile as the others, they wouldn’t have known the difference and there could have been a very concerning mix up. Ingo helped mitigate the issue by presenting the pup with a bow made from the fabric of one of Milli’s shirts he had been permitted to keep. It was difficult at first to keep the sneaslets away from the bow, but it ended up serving its purpose. The little zorua pup wasn’t yet able to disguise anything separate from its body, so when they saw a sneaslet with a bright blue bow, they knew it was little Violet.

Violet was growing less violet by the day, it seemed, too. More and more of the blue wisps of fur began rising from its tufts, and the pale fur on its body was starting to darken into a solid gray. Sneasler wondered to herself what purpose the coloration change served, but Ingo didn’t show concern, so she assumed it was fine. In fact, she had heard him remarking how interesting it was to watch how coloration changed as Pokémon grew. She thought about how her newborn sneasels did not have their distinctive masks when they first entered their lives, and wondered if perhaps this was something similar.

They were able to move out of the other den after the exposure to so many kits had successfully triggered lactation in her own body. Now back home, the Noble was able to let the pup safely nurse from her without worry. Ingo still made the berry mash for the pup, who was very spoiled with both sources of nutrition. Being so well fed made growth increase exponentially. Sneasler had also found that Ingo made frequent trips to help with her grandsneasels, and it warmed her heart. He even stopped getting sick when he was poisoned! He did start gathering several little scars along his arms, but that was fine. It showed character and that he was a good caretaker.

Sneasler had come to a small realization. It was fun being a mother again, this time to something so small and helpless. Ingo was still her kit, too, but he was grown. It was different. Perhaps she should seek out a male soon? When the pup was older and didn’t need quite so much attention to live, she’d consider it. Ingo proved himself adept at caring for babies, too. She’d ask him. He was getting better at understanding what she was trying to say to him. He’d already been very good at it.

Violet was beginning to play!

Their little steps had been very, very wobbly at first, but they had become a pro in no time! Ingo had started to wrestle them with one of his big hands, and the pup yipped and squeaked and gnawed on his fingers. Ingo had long since stopped using the paintbrush to feed the pup the berry mash, and Violet was starting to lap it up on their own from the bowl Ingo made every morning. After a nap induced by a very full tummy, they would run and toddle and bounce all over the den with their tail fluffed up and sticking straight up into the air like a flag. It was, put simply, adorable. They occasionally made themself look like a sneasel, and that was cute to see as well. A non-menacing illusion was a fun thing.

”Lady Sneasler, I believe your grandchildren are old enough to know how to play gently. Should we arrange for play dates? The little one needs to learn to make friends! Violet has grown quite adept at pouncing. I believe time with the other little ones would be very good for Violet. I also get the feeling that the sneaslets miss seeing them. I am very thoroughly sniffed each and every time I visit. None of them pounce or play with me at first, they instead all sit on me and huff in a very cute way. Some have even taken to looking in my pockets, though that might also be because they know I keep treats there for them.“

He had posed this question to her while he was laying on his back and bouncing the pup with his hands, gently popping them into the air and catching them. The action delighted Violet, who squealed and yipped in the nonsense way that pups and kits always do. Licking his face when they got close enough to him.

“Of course, Ingo. Violet should have friends. They all were very interested in eachother when we lived there…I’m very happy you’re getting along with the other sneasels, too. But they are definitely using you for snacks. You spoil them.”

”You know, I think I’ve started to understand you more and more since the ceremony. Or atleast, I hope I have. I’m taking it that you agree with me? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think I also heard the vocalization you use when you call for Violet.”

Oh he was SO smart! She nodded and he beamed, seemingly excited to have gained better understanding of her and for future sneasel play dates. She was glad that her assumption was correct. Sure he couldn’t speak in the same way she did, but he still understood! It made her very proud. None of the other nobles had wardens with such a solid grasp of their speech!

”Now that Violet is less critical, too, I think we should take turns going about our respective duties. Or leave Violet in the care of the others. Perhaps both. I’ve noticed Melli lurking around every time I go to forage, so I suspect he wonders where we have gone off to. I’ve been hesitant to tell Irida about Violet. I don’t wish to be scolded for putting myself in danger so soon after I had healed. And right after the ceremony, too…Still. Violet is strong enough that they don’t need to be under our constant dual care. We have duties to uphold, and took oaths to do such things. I also believe those merchants might be coming through the highlands again. Lotta stuff going on, my lady. Would you like more jewelry, or even a dress of some sort? It’s not practical, but you’d probably enjoy how the skirt twirls around.”

They shared a chuckle, now watching Violet race back and forth between them at a rapid pace. Yes, resuming duties would be fine. They had many babysitters, and the pup would even be fine if left alone in the den during an emergency. Best to avoid that, though. She shook her head in response to the dress inquiry, but pondered on more jewelry. She quite liked the necklace she wore, but having options might be enjoyable. Sneasler had relaxed outside of playing with Violet, thinking things over and daydreaming when Ingo sat up suddenly, startling her. He seemed to have had a realization.

”I never did meet with the merchants like I said I would, that first time! What matters more is that I never did end up using any of these!”

He reached into one of his coat pockets and removed…apricorn? No! One of those balls that were supposed to hold Pokémon. It had her suspicious and curious all at once. Where was he going with this?

”I wanted to talk to you about them, but we’ve been so busy. You heard when Volo told me of them, how they allow Pokémon to shrink and rest in the balls, and be carried easier that way by someone like me. It’s good for things like travel and safety. If one of our friends were to be injured and need healing, we could put them in one and be able to run back home faster to heal them. It would also make me feel safer, I think, to have some of our friends with me even if I need to be ‘alone’ for something. I was thinking about asking the others if they’d be willing to enter one of the balls. It’s also possible for them to emerge from them on their own, as far as I know…I am saying a lot, but I am also considering trying to put Violet in one, for their safety. It will be easier to travel to and from the other den if they are safe within a pokeball. I would like your thoughts on the matter.”

Thoughts on pokeballs, huh? Hm…Sneasler clicked her tongue, tapping her claws against the floor of the den while she thought it over. She couldn’t deny that he had good points when it came to travel safety. Before when they crossed over into her daughter’s den, it had been easy to cradle Violet and walk with them, or hold them by the scruff while climbing cliffs. With the pup’s newfound energy and ability to run, it wouldn’t be as easy as before. Violet would no doubt squirm and try to break free. They had reached the age where they are curious about the world outside the den.

Conversely, there were times when Violet was sleepy and calm, and would cling to Ingo’s hair to rest. If they could travel while that was happening, it would be safe. Sneasler knew that young zorua would cling to their parent and hide in their manes. Little Violet was doing the same….sometimes.

She was taking a long time to ponder this, she realized. She held her paw out.

“Give me the ball. I want to look at it myself.”

Ingo nodded, and placed the pokeball into her outstretched paw.

”Usually the balls are thrown to catch Pokémon. From there, a trainer would release and train them before returning them to their balls when it was needed. It’s also possible for a Pokémon to catch themselves, by bumping the latch with a paw or snout to activate it. My goal with our friends is to have them do it themselves. I may use the balls to catch other Pokémon if they’re a danger to themselves or others though. I can release them permanently somewhere else, in that case. Does that make sense?”

Sneasler nodded, gently rolling the ball in her paws. Thoughtful. She was….she was quite curious. She looked up, locking eyes with Ingo, and pushed her claw against the latch.

Her world burst into a flash of white light, she felt her body shudder and tingle, and then it was dark. Darker than she’d ever experienced. Traveling into a cave that had never seen light before would still be leagues brighter than this. She had to admit she felt very secure, but also very contained. It was like she was incorporeal, but her essence could feel the walls of the inside of the orb. It wasn’t entirely unpleasant. Yea, this would be a good place for Violet to be while they walked around outside. At least until the pup was old enough to know not to squirm or wander.

She felt the ball shift and could hear Ingo’s muffled voice, shortly before she found herself once again surrounded by that white light. Just as quickly she found herself standing in her den, an amazed and shocked Ingo holding the ball in his hand. Even Violet was still, just staring. Lady Sneasler crossed her arms.

“You couldn’t have expected me NOT to do one of your safety checks on the thing before you go using it on your pup, Ingo. But I think it’s safe. I’d even agree that it’s comfortable…wait, what are you doing?”

She looked to Ingo, who had grabbed the open ball and cracked it in half, dismantling it entirely. Sneasler felt something snap from her mind and body, but couldn’t place what the sensation was. Ingo looked actually stern when he looked up again.

”My lady! You are a Noble Pokémon, it would not be right for me to contain you in a ball like this. I consider everyone in our group to be my equal, but the thought of you being tethered to me in this way feels very wrong! I don’t want that control over you, dear lady. It was very valiant of you to try it before I used the balls on the others. So thank you, but also do not do that again unless you’ve thought it over for a very long time and you insist. Is that okay? Do you understand what I mean?”

She rolled her eyes, but deep down she appreciated him respecting her autonomy like that. She knew he didn’t have any sort of malicious intent with the balls, but he was right in that it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to be contained in such a way. She nodded, making sure he knew she understood. She also went ahead and pointed to Violet, who yipped curiously.

“Put them in the orb. It will be very nice and secure inside. It was a comforting darkness, even if I felt contained. Something like that will be good for adventurous pups.”

Ingo seemed to understand her again, as he chuckled and retrieved a new ball, presenting it to Violet. After a sniff, the pup bumped their nose against the latch and was pulled into the ball in the flash of light that Sneasler had seen when she did it herself. The ball wiggled a little before the top shot off a little firework, making her gasp. Near immediately after that was settled, Ingo released the pup again, who went right back to the rambunctious play it had been doing before all of the ball talk. This was all very different from an outside perspective. She was glad to have experienced both sides of it. She would have been worried otherwise.

”I’m glad that you agree, about Violet’s safety. And that you understand I’m not trying to own any of you. A pokeball is…a tool. It’s like the basket you sometimes use to carry items….I wonder if you could carry a person with your basket. I think I could fit inside of it. Perhaps we should try that sometime, just as an experiment? It would make assisting human travelers much easier, if they were to be injured or needed passage over one of the cliffs only you are able to climb.”

Her Ingo had such good ideas. She was very glad that her heart picked him to be her warden, even if he was her ward. Her kit, her baby. A very large and grown baby, a very much human baby, and an adult, she had learned. Contrary to what she believed and saw him as. But none of that mattered to her. She took care of him, and she was older than him too, apparently. Melli called him old, but old humans were wrinkled and slow. Old humans would not be able to climb the cliffs with her like he did.

Well…Sumire could. But not exceptionally well. Don’t think of them right now. Don’t get sad. Think of Ingo and his good ideas, think of his pup, Violet. Violet, who seemed so familiar.

As if summoned by the thought, Violet had approached and started to bite and tug on her feather, making her yelp. She growled for part of a second, but quickly started to wrestle with the pup to keep them from damaging her crest. She figured now was a good time to respond to Ingo. She nodded over at him, grinning.

“Stuffing you into that basket seems like it will be a fun time. We’ll try it soon.”

Ingo just chuckled and reached out to pat her head and lay on his stomach beside her, joining in keeping Violet busy and entertained.

First words were a monumental milestone in any young creature’s life. Every one of her daughter’s kits had begun to talk, nonstop chattering when she and Ingo entered the den for a visit. Cheers for the friendly warden Ingo and his delicious treats, excited chirps for grandmother Sneasler, and outright joyful yowls upon seeing their ‘cousin’ Violet.

But those words weren’t the ones Sneasler and Ingo were currently excited about.

They were staying a couple days with her daughter, who Ingo had taken to calling Duchess. Duchess accepted the new name without complaint, remarking that it made her feel quite special to be nicknamed by a Warden so capable. That remark almost made Sneasler snap at her daughter to keep her in line, but the sneasel had done a great deal to help them. She could keep the name and her small feather crest. Jealousy was silly. She hadn’t ever been challenged for her spot as Lady of the Cliffs, and doubted that would start now that she had a warden.

After a few hours of play one day, the kits had all settled down against Duchess’s side, napping and snoring. Violet was still wide awake however, and made it known by whimpering loudly whenever they tried to add them to the pile of kits. Sneasler had huffed and plucked the pup up by the scruff, pinched carefully between her claws, and was preparing to give them a gentle scolding.

Then the pup spoke.

Oh, it spoke loudly too.

”INGOOOOO!”

It was less speaking and more like howling, actually. The sound startled all the kits awake, and even made Sneasler nearly drop the pup in surprise. The mood changed entirely.

”Did Violet just howl my name?!”

Ingo sounded so excited, leaning over and staring at the pup with wide eyes. Lady Sneasler was just speechless. Had Violet spoken?

”Ingo! INGO! Ingo Ingo!”

Yes. Violet had spoken. And their wiggling and yapping made their wants very clear. Lady Sneasler moved to plop Violet onto Ingo, and the pup happily jumped up and onto Ingo’s shoulder, moving around to tuck themself beneath his braid. Ingo looked about ready to cry from pride and happiness, and Sneasler couldn’t deny feeling the same amount of pride. Now if they could just get Duchess’s kits back to sleep to silence their excited yowls also shouting for Ingo, they would be all set.

Chapter Text

Violet was on top of the world!

Or atleast, Ingo imagined that was how they must have felt, clinging to the top of his head during their first outing from the den. Or dens plural, seeing as they had made frequent trips to Duchess’s place to have playtime with the sneaslets and give mom a much needed break. This though! This was Violet’s first genuine excursion into the world! Currently, he and Violet were seeing Gliscor off to the Icelands. Ingo had penned a letter to Lady Irida, detailing his activities the past few weeks and apologizing for any delay he may have caused. He did not mention that Violet was a zorua, instead only referring to the little pup by the name he had given them. Saying that he’d found them on his way back to the Highlands, and emphasizing what a critical state the young one had been in during their first encounter. Ingo did mention that Lady Sneasler’s descendants were thriving as well, and that he had firsthand experience to back up the strength of their poison. They’d be formidable hunters when they got older! He also made sure to ask her how her own duties were going, and if there was anything specific she needed or wanted from him or the Highlands.

Was she keeping warm and well? Was Calaba keeping her fed with delicious stantler stew? Was Gaeric teaching her anything that excited her? How were her eevees? Had any evolved?

He did have a gift for her, actually. Something that might help one of them evolve, something they had discussed before together. Funny enough, it had been Violet who found it. It seemed that Lady Sneasler’s den occasionally would give way to ores and stones, if one dug deep enough. After watching the sneasel kits in Duchess’s den dig so often, Violet had started to do the same in Sneasler’s. And with such vigor! The clever pup had gone and dug so deeply that they had found several stones! Some were just pretty, but one was cool to the touch and a shade of blue that rivaled Violet’s own wispy mane. An ice stone! In their den! He had praised the pup incessantly, and got their permission to give the stone to their leader. That was not a hard task, as the pup only seemed to be interested in it for a day at most before they resumed digging.

Sending the gift posed its own challenge. Gifts were meant to be wrapped, weren’t they? He wanted Irida to experience that bit of surprise and delight. She was so young, and being a leader was challenging. She deserved some fun. Ingo actually had been so insistent on finding a method of wrapping the gift that his letter had been delayed a solid week. He hoped the gift made up for it, and he hoped that having Violet ‘sign’ a portion of the letter with a paw print would put the pup in Irida’s good graces. He’d written some very nice things, on behalf of his little flower. But no matter! He had the gift packaged! He’d tracked down that Volo fellow this morning and all but given the poor boy a heart attack walking into his camp and demanding gift wrap. It…it was a request, but his enthusiasm might have made him come off as demanding. He was inclined to worry about that another time. The lad had seemed in a hurry to get him to leave, so perhaps he was interrupting some sort of private moment? It seemed unlikely considering all Ingo saw around him were some old pieces of parchment and some purple tile, but he was not very connected with the youth these days.

Why was he thinking like that? Melli must have been getting to him.

When he finally had a box wrapped in ribbons and bows, he tucked his letter beneath them, tied it up in a cloth, and fastened that to Gliscor’s flight harness. He had also embellished the harness with several different colored scraps of cloth, so the veritable rainbow of silks made it very clear that Gliscor was a friend and not attacking the settlement. He and Violet said goodbye to their friend, Gliscor leaning up to let Violet kiss her forehead before she flew off. His entire team had become a fan of his pup. Even if they were only able to meet them during this initial outing, the little one was surprisingly outgoing and eager to make friends with Gliscor, Machoke, and Nosepass. Judging by their responses they had liked the baby too.

Aside from child rearing, Ingo had formally begun his duties. Living with Lady Sneasler for so long meant he knew his way around the Highlands, and using some carved stakes tied with yellow cloth, he had started to mark out the easiest paths for hiking. Paths that would take travelers safely through the mountains. As safe as possible, anyway. He’d also found that Pokémon really, really disliked bugwort (he did not blame them) and he’d begun letting it dry before turning it into a paste that he smeared along those designated paths, trying to have it serve as a deterrent of sorts. That would only last as long as the weather remained dry, so he’d also started planting the flowers along the paths too. Even if they smelled worse than a skuntanks spray to him, he thought the purple petals were attractive, so they surely would add a nice aesthetic appeal to the trails as well.

He’d begun making torches for caves, too. Not so many that they would disturb nocturnal Pokémon, and they did not stay lit all the time either. He merely set them up inside and left some extra flint rocks and dry branches just inside, so anyone passing through could light their own path. He was not the only one with these responsibilities, though! Melli had been the one to show him several of these very same trails and paths, and had taught him the different ways to travel through them. Ingo just wanted to make things easier for others. People who did not know how to read the land.

With Gliscor having left for her gift delivery, Ingo decided a visit to Melli would be in order. He had mentioned to Sneasler that the other warden seemed to be looking for him, so popping by Moonview Arena might be a good idea. He had made salt cakes for Lord Electrode, too, so he needed to visit anyway. Being neighborly was a good thing, and he wanted to eventually meet and befriend all of Hisui’s noble Pokémon. When he was more established in his role as warden, maybe he could take a little bit of time to travel to the other areas of Hisui. He heard the Cobalt Coast was nice, and that one of the other Pearl Clan warden’s stayed there with her noble. Spending some time on a beach seemed like a good time, after all of the crisp mountain air and frigid frost.

Ingo approached Melli’s tent with Violet tucked beneath his braid. A braid that he no longer could fit beneath his cap, it had grown so long. It must have been close to a year since he had arrived here. Had he thought of that already recently? He wasn’t sure. He felt a tingle along the back of his neck, little fox paws changing to sneasel claws. He chuckled and reached his hand back to pet Violet’s head. “Feeling a little shy around humans? I know the feeling. Let’s see if he’s even home. Melli? Are you there?” He rapped his knuckles against the canvas flap that served as a door, and he quickly had to pull his hand back lest he accidentally backhand the other man.

“You! You had me so stressed, old man! I haven’t seen your awful glowing eyes anywhere! I thought you had fought another alpha and lost! I was going to start looking for a body! Of all the awful things to put the great Melli through, I cannot believe you’d pull something like this! And after my tender care? You have some nerve just showing up here as if nothing happened! As if I didn’t diligently wrap your wounds and make you tea! As if I didn’t escort you to your ceremo- What is that.”

Ingo would have been content to let Melli have his dramatics and move on after, but he suddenly found the other man leaning entirely too close to his face to look at Violet, who squeaked and wriggled down further beneath his hair. Well, that just wouldn’t do at all. Ingo didn’t have Sneasler with him today to just growl at Melli. He could have been polite or just stepped back, but something in his mind had convinced him that it would be a good idea to reach around Melli’s shoulders to grip the hood of his tunic and pull.

The other warden’s initial reaction was to look flustered and start blushing, opening his mouth to say something about the now compromising position, but the pull made the fabric of his tunic choke him up and he bent backwards at the knee to relieve the tension. That in turn made him fall onto his bottom and squawk, having the audacity to look upset by the development. Ingo answered his question without acknowledging any of the rest of these events.

“This is Violet, they’re an orphaned little one I found on my way back from my ceremony. Violet, say hello to Warden Melli.”

The pup didn’t make a sound for a few moments, peeking out just barely to look at Melli and then to Ingo. They were shaking, but Ingo was patient. A stern look from him silenced Melli before anything rude could be said to discourage the pup.

After some hesitation, Violet barely revealed their face more to give a shy little peep. The sound of it made Ingo smile.

“Bravo, Violet! Excellent use of your voice! Wouldn’t you agree, Melli?”

“U-uhm. Yes. Bravo..! The little thing is awful cute, isn’t it? Is this one a boy or a girl?”

Ingo had to think on it. He wasn’t exactly certain. He was about to pick Violet up to check, but realized that doing such a think around a stranger would no doubt make them feel uncomfortable. Even with different standards of decency, it was clear that Violet currently felt more comfortable being hidden away right in that moment. His answer to Melli was just to shrug at him. “I hadn’t thought to look yet. It’s not as if it really matters, does it?”

“Well…no, I guess you’re right. What made you choose the name Violet?”

He pointed to the currently disguised pup. Glad that this answer was an easier one. “Purple.” The simple answer made Melli choke back a laugh.

“Yeah, they sure are! Now that we’ve met and you’ve explained yourself, why don’t you come inside? I wanted to ask why you’ve been making the trails smell like medicine! It’s absolutely atrocious. I appreciate the markers, and even the torches you’ve left out of the tunnels, but what’s the reason you’re smearing bugwort all over everything?! Is it because you had to drink so much of it after you went and got yourself mauled by that Luxray? That wasn’t my fault, don’t make me be the one to suffer the long term consequences!”

“Pokémon don’t like the smell of taste of bugwort anymore than humans do. It’s been keeping them off the trails. They stay behind the yellow line this way. It’s safer for them and for passengers- travelers. But speaking of passengers, I had a fantastic idea the other day! Lady Sneasler is very strong, you know this. She still has the basket she stole from you when I was healing, and it’s large enough that I believe I could potentially fit myself inside. Do you think that others would be open to such a form of transport? Perhaps during a potential emergency?”

Melli shook his head and sighed rather than immediately answer, instead walking into his tent and getting a kettle of water warming. Being inside of a new place seemed to bring out the more curious side of Violet, as the pup loudly squeaked until Ingo moved to place them down onto the ground to explore. Flower the skuntank lifted his head from where he had been laying down, and Ingo leaned down to give him a scratch under the chin. Violet had quickly taken keen interest in the other Pokémon, not showing any of the shyness that they had when being introduced to Melli. Ingo sat down on the ground nearby and watched over the two, noting that Flower was happy to let Violet nip at his ears and roughhouse.

The Pokémon continued to play while the two wardens half argued over how to best care for the Highlands, and they continued to do so well into the evening, up until Violet had fallen asleep tucked up under Flower’s tail. An agreement had been reached regarding many matters of the land, one such agreement being that Ingo and Melli needed to talk things over with eachother before placing down any sort of guide markers so they would be on the same page regarding paths and trails. They also made plans to begin patrolling together at least once a day as well, unless some sort of emergency occurred. If one didn’t hear from the other after two days, then they would be alarmed. Ingo suspected that rule was because Melli had convinced himself Ingo had died somehow, but it was a reasonable concern, really. Ingo would have stayed longer to discuss matters, had he not heard Sneasler calling for him. Saying goodbye was as simple as a wave and placing the sleeping Violet into the front of his tunic, and Ingo left with his celestica flute in hand to summon his Lady. He’d learned from last time not to walk home alone in the dark.

He didn’t expect to be stuffed into Sneasler’s basket so soon after proposing the idea, but he was glad she was eager about it. Violet was not as glad and made sure to voice this opinion very loudly until Ingo clicked them into their pokeball. No need for stress this late in the night.

Another day in the Highlands came to a close just as easily as it had opened.

Chapter Text

He should have known the sky-faller would be strange. Oh, he had paid close, close attention to the man. Watching him from the moment he met him at the Pearl Settlement, to his Luxray attack, and even watching his encounter with the Zoroark. It was a difficult task, being far enough that Lady Sneasler did not hear him, but close enough to see. He was continually surprised by how often the man seemed to evade death. That, and how fast he could climb cliffs. It made him pretty difficult to keep up with. It was much easier to watch him after the Luxray attack, when he wasn’t able to leave the area around Moonview Arena. Part of him felt guilty for not intervening with that, but…what was he supposed to do about it? Death happens. Apparently not to Ingo, however. Watching him be chosen as warden was unexpected and irritating. Of course some random freak would be one of the people to receive a blessing from Arceus. No matter. 

Volo’s senses had been far, far better whenever he served as Giratina’s vessel. The beast never took him over entirely, but it liked to see the world through his eyes from time to time. Easier to blend in that way, riding inside of him. Easier to communicate with each other, too. They could conduct their plans silently while he walked, and Giratina could direct him to areas the plates could be hidden, to ruins that were so decrepit that they had not been seen by human eyes in ages. The only downside of having such personal conversations within the confines of his own mind was that it, rather ironically, made him woefully unobservant. Typically, he had his Togetic flying around to keep watch, and his newly hatched Togepi playing nearby was enough to warn him of anyone or anything approaching when he wasn’t paying attention. 

So why did Ingo seem to be able to evade every feeler he put out? 

The only times he could keep track of him were when he was wholly dedicated to the task, but any other time? Noooo, of course not. Of course the jackass was able to creep right up behind him when he was reading over his notes and transcribing the plate over again. And what reason did he have for that? Wrapping paper. Fucking wrapping paper. Gift wrap, ribbon, a jewelry box, anything he could fit an ice stone into for Lady Irida. It took every ounce of Volo’s willpower not to strike him down right there. It would be so easy to do. Togepi could even do it, probably. Sure, Ingo had survived falling from Giratina’s rift, an encounter with an alpha pokémon, and several Sneasler poisonings, but would he surviv-

Stop it. You will make him suspicious. We must bide our time. You cannot just kill people that mildly inconvenience us.

Damn you, Giratina. Always being right. 

So, instead of resort to violence, Volo turned and grinned at him, eyelid twitching slightly. “Oh! It’s you, Ingo- or should I say Warden Ingo ? What an honor, congratulations! I have gift wrap, sure. Weird request, for a casual present, but who am I to judge?!” He was not able to fully glide into his merchant persona, but tried to make an attempt to disguise this by smiling wider. He pushed his notes overtop of his plate and swung his bag over those, hiding them from the man’s prying eyes. 

Rifling through his bag, he cursed that he didn’t just have actual paper. With a heavy sigh, he pulled out some folded furoshiki cloths, varying in size, color, and fabric, holding them up.

“Here you are, warden! I’ll give them to you at my friend’s and family discount! Take your pick! Only the finest for one of my favorite customers!”

“Uh…”

Arceus preserve him. Why was he looking at him like that? These were nice silks! They had patterns! He’d started toting them around to get ready for festival season, they’d usually sell well then, when he actually had to do his job! Plus…Mistress Cogita quite liked it when he gave her artifacts in furoshiki. She’d always compliment his handiwork. So why was Ingo looking at them like he’d never seen them before?

He’s not from here. Did you really forget?

Ah. 

He took a deep breath to try and level his tone, not wanting the man to notice how agitated he was. If he asked him how he felt, he’d never get him to leave. Best to just act oblivious. “Is there an issue, Ingo? Oh, wait. You’re a foreigner, aren’t you? Of course you don’t know how to tie furoshiki. Silly me. Give me the stone, I’ll do it for you, free of charge, my friend!” He held out his free hand, still smiling.

Ingo looked very suddenly relieved, and reached into his coat and presented the ice stone to Volo. He cleared his throat and shifted his weight a touch, too. Volo kept his gaze on him, humming and tilting his head curiously. What else could he need?

“Do you happen to have any ribbon or bows too, by chance? These, uh…furoshiki? They’re quite pretty, but I want to make sure this gift is very special, and there’s something delightful about untying a ribbon to get to a gift.”

Volo blinked. Well. That was going to look very stupid, the cloth he had picked out was gorgeous on its own, but if it would make Ingo leave…Did he really have a choice? “Of course, my friend! I have a ribbon that will compliment this very nicely. Why, Lady Irida will end up fancying the ribbon so much you’ll probably see her wearing it in her hair! Now you’re giving her more than one gift. Very generous of you!” He removed a roll of ribbon from his pack and got to work making folds and ties around a box he had dropped the stone into. It didn’t take long at all, and after he had tied the cloth he slid the ribbon beneath the knot to tie it that way too. When Ingo started to pull out a jingling coin purse he shook his head. “No no, I’ve decided that you don’t have to pay at all today! Consider it a friendly gesture from me to you, a congratulations on becoming warden. Here you are!”

He practically shoved the wrapped gift into Ingo’s hands; and stood and pushed him slightly. “You’d best to send that off if you want it to arrive quickly, there’s only so many hours of daylight left.” He did not want to count money or wait on Ingo to do it. 

“A-ah! Thank you Volo, but I insist-“ 

“No no, I insist! Get going, get that gift to our lovely Lady Irida.”

When Ingo finally left, he collapsed onto the ground with a grumble, smile dropping.

You could stand to be more subtle.

“And you could stand to keep your opinions to yourself, when all you were able to do was open up some hole in the sky! You didn’t bring Arceus to us, you brought some silver haired amnesiac and a bunch of junk. What are these, Giratina, huh?” He looked into his pack where a bundle of fuzzy pink fabric was. “These don’t even work as shoes.”

I believe they’re slippers. For comfort and warmth.

“Well I don’t want them! We have things to do! If that mess in the sky hasn’t lured Arceus out, then we need to do more! And I don’t think Ingo is going to be of any help, no matter how much he intrigues us!” 

Volo knew that to any outsider, it would seem like he was grumbling to himself. It was a good thing no one else was around. When Giratina didn’t answer him, he scoffed. Silent treatment, real mature for the deity no one but him and Cogita bothered to remember. He moved his bag off of his notes, and made sure to release Togepi from her ball before laying on his stomach and kicking his feet up behind him. Togepi rubbed her sweet little head on him and it made him smile, and he was able to unwind a bit more and continue his translation work. He knew what the plate said by now, but he always hoped looking it over would reveal more. Clues of the other plates locations, more deities he could rally to confront Arceus and command its attention. Why was the world so very awful? Why was it created this way? Why did the Celestic people suffer and why were their blessings now in the hands of outsiders to Hisui? W h y ? It was amazing how quickly he could begin brooding again.

His Togepi bonked her head against his face again, making an exaggerated kissy noise. That made him giggle, and he kicked his feet a little. Moving his notes aside, he held her by the eggshell and started blowing raspberries onto her little cheeks. The togepi line was so cute. Probably one of the very few things Arceus got right. Her little squeals and chirps comforted his agonized soul. He could practically feel Giratina rolling it’s eyes inside the same soul, but he didn’t care. If Giratina wanted to share his life, it needed to cope with his important opinions regarding Togepi.

“You’re such a sweet little thing, Birdbox. I’m so lucky to have you. We’re gonna create a perfect world together, aren’t we? What a little character. You, me, your mommy, and maybe even Mistress Cogita? I bet she’d love to stop having to be so alone in that retreat of hers. You’d help me keep her company, wouldn’t you?” 

“Bee! Togee!”

“That’s what I thought! Sweet thing, perfect thing, little baby~!”

“Pi!!!” 

“Yes! That’s the spirit! You know what? We should go find some new ruins. Maybe they’ll have more artifacts, more clues for us to uncover! I’d really like to find the lake Pokémon, somehow. No matter how many times your mommy flies over the lakes, all she ends up seeing are rufflets and magikarp. Sometimes a gyrados or two.” He leapt to his feet with his Togepi still in hand. Brightening even further. “I bet if we look more, we’ll find something this time! And if we don’t…well…maybe we’ll make some new friends. I’ve been thinking about trying to catch a budew for you to be playmates with. Would you like that?” 

Volo felt his heart flutter when his Pokémon cheered him on. Sometimes an egg is all you need to brighten your day in these trying times. He packed away his notes and the plate, stomped out the remnants of his campfire, and slung his pack over his broad shoulders. With a whistle to the Togetic that was swirling lazily overhead, he and his companions set off at a brisk pace. The rage from Ingo’s intrusion was gone and he had a goal in mind. Nothing could ruin the rest of the day! Absolutely nothing!

Chapter Text

The buzzing of his phone woke him up. 

If he ignored it, it would go away, and he wouldn’t have to think about how horribly wrong his life had gone.

Bzz.

Bzz.

Bzz.

Bzzzzzzzz -

The phone was now across the room, as Emmet had grabbed it and chucked it off of his bed and against the wall, extremely satisfied when he heard plastic crack and the battery fall out. 

Good. Now he could pretend that he was still asleep, and that everything was fine, and that he didn’t suffer two losses this year. 

For a man who loved winning, he sure felt like a loser . Other days were fine, he could cope, but today just….he didn’t want to do it today.

He fell back into a restless sleep.

BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!

Oh, fuck it all. Of course, with his phone broken, someone would try and knock down his front door. He rolled over in bed and tried to cover his ears with his pillows. He wished Ingo would just answer the do-

Fuck.

With a hiss of irritation, he stood, still wearing the rumpled uniform he had not taken off when he got home last night. Trekking across the apartment, careful not to trip on piles of dirty clothes he needed to take care of, he made it to his front door and yanked it opened with a downright malicious grin. “I am Emmet. I do not work today. What do you want ?!” He froze up when he saw it was just Elesa, and that she was crying. And she looked mad. The first thing she did was slap him across the cheek with one of her delicate hands, and, well. He couldn’t entirely fault her for that. The next thing she did was wrap her arms around his middle and hug him hard enough that his back popped. He sighed and put his arms around her too, quiet. They stood, embraced in uneasy silence for a moment, before he could feel Elesa pulling away from him too too too soon. She must have agreed with that, as her hands were quick to wrap around his own and lead him back into his home. She kicked his dirty clothes to the side, making a path for them both to reach his bed, and he found himself pulled down beside her. She moved them around with ease, wrangling his arms until he got the message and pulled her tight against him.

Leave it to Elesa to know what both of them needed today. 

All was silent for a beat. Being held and holding someone else had become more appealing after it happened, and it was because of this that Emmet and Elesa often found themselves in each other's beds. The media had a field day about that, paparazzi having gotten pictures of Emmet leaving Elesa’s flat in the same clothes he arrived in the night before, and poor Elesa had to deal with interview after interview about the “secret affair” she was having with Subway Boss Emmet. As if they hadn’t been friends since childhood, as if she hadn’t shared a bed with both twins before during any of the countless sleepovers they had. It was ridiculous and it was disgusting and it wouldn’t be anyone else’s business anyway. 

Elesa broke the silence with a sentence that knocked Emmet’s mind askew.

“Cynthia found his Chandelure in Sinnoh.”

He immediately sat up, twisting his body to look down at her. She had the good sense to pull him back down, hugging him against her chest so he couldn’t just loom over her or interrupt with the conclusions he was leaping eagerly towards. “He wasn’t with her. She’s just has been hovering all around Mount Coronet. Cynthia arranged a search party, they’re checking all the spots Chandie had been appearing. They found her when she just….showed up inside of the Celestic Ruins. They know it’s her too, because apparently she’s started wearing one of his ties.” Emmet wanted to get up and pace, but Elesa managed to keep a firm hood of him, running her fingers through his hair. “I already arranged a flight for us, Skyla is going to take us on one of her personal planes. We can help look for him, and we can try and get Chandelure to come home. She wouldn’t have left you if she didn’t have some idea of what was going on, you know that.” Emmet felt Elesa press a kiss to the top of his head and he sighed, melting against her continued affections. While part of him was relieved and even excited at the new lead, he couldn’t help but start to shake. His throat felt tight and his eyes burned, and he had to choke back a sob so he could speak.

“….I’m just so tired, Elesa. Where is he? What’s happening to him? I- First he disappears and I feel like my arms snapped, that was bad enough, but then whatever happened with my leg a few months ago- I am Emmet. I can feel Ingo. I can feel every time he’s getting hurt or sick or scared. So why can’t we find him? I know he’s not dead. I’d know if he was. You know that, right? You know I’m not crazy?” 

They’d had this talk before. The talk of phantom pains and hunger, of mysterious injuries and illness cropping up on Emmet. So many had thought he had just gone insane. Thought he was harming himself. He’d never do that! He needs to be okay, because when Ingo comes home, Ingo wouldn’t like it if he was just wallowing in misery. He..he still was wallowing, but he took care of himself. He ate, he bathed, he made the effort to live and to heal however he could. He didn’t hurt himself, and he kept a decent schedule with sleep and work. Today was just different. It was the anniversary. One year. It also hadn’t helped that Chandelure had run off months ago. It was like all traces of his twin were leaving him. He was extremely lucky to still have Elesa. Elesa, who pressed more kisses against his forehead, shushing him. 

“I know, I know, Emmet. I know you both. I don’t know why we can’t find him, or why he hasn’t come home. I do know that wherever he is though, he definitely misses us. And I know that we’ll find him. I won’t let his case go cold. I promise. We’re gonna get him back, okay? You’re not crazy. Twins are just weird.”

She said her last comment playfully, trying to raise the mood by even the smallest margin. Emmet’s mind was still in a million places, but he relaxed into her hold further, tucking his face into the crook of her neck. He was still crying, and evidently that wouldn’t stand with Elesa. “Wanna know how they knew it was his tie? You didn’t even ask.” She pulled his hair a little to get him to lean back and look at her. She looked exhausted too, but she had found the energy to grin a bit. 

“…..How?”

“It’s the one you had made for him for Candlenights. You know, the one he refused to wear cause he said it made him feel conceited? The one with his face and rose petals on it. Imagine seeing an unknown ghost Pokémon with THAT dangling from its body. Talk about a Gastly sight. I’m sure it was really Haunter-ing! ” 

He reached his hand up and pushed her face away from him, trying to keep her from seeing him trying not to laugh. She squealed with laughter at her own horrible joke, and her response to his hand over her face was to lick his palm. He yanked his hand back quickly, and that just made her laugh harder. “You’re awful. You’re so bad at comedy and you are not funny. That was even worse than your usual jokes, you should feel bad.” He needed to retaliate. He rolled slightly and pinned her down, taking a big inhale to prepare her retribution. She looked aghast, struggling underneath him. 

“Emmet! Wait! No, no! Stop! I’m sorry! I’m soooo bad at jokes, but it doesn’t have to be like thi- Pfffhahaha!” 

He had not listened to her pleas. He had descended upon her and blew several raspberries on her, making her squirm and laugh underneath him where his mouth tickled. He finalized his attack with not one, but two wet willies, making her shriek. He rolled back off of her and was pleased to find that her shenanigans had raised his mood. Things…could still be okay, even when they weren’t. 

Elesa caught her breath for a minute, rosy cheeked and panting. When she felt steadier, she patted Emmet’s cheek and stood up. 

“Come on, I’ll help you pack. We need to leave soon.”

Chandelure had heard him.

He wasn’t anywhere near her, but she could hear him. It was like he was announcing his own arrival, declaring his name for her to hear. No one else heard it. The rest of her teammates and even Emmet were seemingly oblivious to Ingo calling out to them. It echoed around inside of her, made her fires crackle. She was very well acquainted with the soul of her Ingo. They grew up together. He had raised her from the tiniest little Litwick to the grand Chandie she was today. He had always put the utmost trust in her whenever he bared his soul to her. She could have effortlessly burned his spirit entirely and left him a hollow husk, but he never once thought she would. He was correct! But that trust still was so valuable to her. The burn of consuming his soul no longer harmed him, as he gave himself to her willingly, and she only took what was needed. As she grew, so did he, and they became adults together. They were partners in battle and spirit, so intertwined that she could sense him just about anywhere. When he disappeared it was like being plunged into the sea. She couldn’t feel him like she once did. He was there, but he was not. The echoes of his spirit were everywhere, but they were so distant. So faint. 

Until she heard him. 

If no one else could hear his soul calling, then she would just find him herself. Being apart from him was torturous. It was reasonable in her mind to simply leave. She would come back after she’d found him. She just needed to follow the sound. She’d take his ugly tie with her, so that no one tried to catch her. They’d see her with an accessory, one with his face, and they’d know she was his and he was hers. It would work perfectly.

This was all easier said than done, she discovered.

Unova was very far from Sinnoh, and finding a way there had taken her longer than she had wanted. She didn’t even know if he was in Sinnoh, but when she looked at a globe, she could see that Sinnoh was one of the regions in the direction she had felt. If he wasn’t there, she’d go to all of the other regions nearby. It was transport that truly hindered her. Simply floating over the sea was an option, but it was one that she wanted to avoid. It opened her to attack by wild Pokémon or falling to exhaustion, and then she would actually have her fires extinguished by seawater. Ultimately, she had to make a boring, awful, absolutely humiliating choice.

She got a job on a cruise ship.

Naturally, she was to be a chandelier. If she had grown up wild, she felt as if she might enjoy this task, but her entire existence had consisted of being treated as a friend and an equal. Never furniture. Never decor to be oohed and aahed over. She hid Ingo’s tie in her mouth during this time. It was mind numbing. And it led her into giving into temptations she wasn’t particularly proud of. 

It wasn’t like she killed anyone, but feeding off of the souls of the snooty cruise goers while they slept was extremely satisfying. A guilty pleasure. She was well practiced in taking harmless amounts, so it wasn’t like it mattered long term. This isn't even a real job anyway. She just decided it was and invaded the ship. 

When they finally finally finally got to Sinnoh, she stopped disguising herself entirely and used psychic to secure Ingo’s tie around herself, ignoring the shrieks of terrified passengers. Who cared about them? She needed to follow the trail. She’d not heard him in Jubilife City, she was sure of that, but she felt his presence all over the battlefield at the Trainer’s School, making her linger there for a while. Was he here? It didn’t feel recent at all, it was barely strong enough for her to detect. Muddied with the energy of every other person and Pokémon who had been there after him. She indulged a few children with battles while she was there, and enjoyed when they fed her poffins and thanked her after. Nurturing a battler’s spirit was important, and even if she was searching for her own trainer, she knew he would have liked her taking time for that. She gave the student’s Pokémon tips for battling while they fought, and many had improved by the end of her visit there. She left when she heard Ingo call again, much louder and even more clear than before.

Her next stop was in Oreburgh City. Some of the tools on exhibit in the museum absolutely sang of his energy, as if he had used them before. It confused her. It also angered her when the museum director tried to chase her out. She’d used hypnosis on him before she took her leave, frustrated and not caring to be polite, taking satisfaction when he thumped against the floor. 

From there she began tracing paths through Route 207 and 206, though to her they were just paths around Mount Coronet. Oddly, all the areas that reeked of bitter bugwort flowers also reeked of Ingo. It was so much stronger than the tools in the museum. It was like he was next to her again. She searched caves and ruins, battled wild Pokémon and trainers who dared to try and catch her. As her journey went on, she found herself so adept at deflecting pokeballs that she was able to aim them so they smacked trainers in the face. She knew her gentle and kind personality was sliding dangerously into malicious territory, but she couldn’t be damned to care. She needed to find Ingo. Each day without him made her fires burn colder, and she had less and less restraint about consuming souls. She still had enough morality and control to not kill, but anyone who caught her ire would find themselves with an ache deep within them that only time could heal. 

A turning point came when she heard him more and more frequently. She could find him in an instant. It frustrated and relieved her in equal measure. She would hear the song of his soul and could go directly to the source, could hear it emanating from one single spot, as if he were standing there. And yet…he was not. He was not at all. 

It was still a comfort.

Weeks turned to months of her just following where she felt his spirit go. He seemed to move on a schedule. Up a cliff and down a cliff, through some trees, through a cave lit with solar powered string lights. Nearly every night, his soul went to rest inside of an extremely well hidden and well secluded den, dug into the side of the mountain. From the outside, it looked to be nothing more than a small dip in stone, but that dip led into a narrow tunnel into the den. She had managed to get a peek inside of it once, surprised to see tables and chairs, old oil lamps that had not been lit in a long, long time. The walls were painted with something, paw prints and handprints all over, and she swore one had to have been Ingo’s. The den itself even had separate ‘rooms’ dug into it, and one tunnel led to what seemed like a bedroom, arranged in a way that was so familiar it hurt. Two steel bed frames on opposite sides of the room, with a rotted wooden shelf between them. Emmet and Ingo’s childhood room had been arranged in a similar manner. There were piles of fabric and trinkets on what parts of the shelf had remained standing. Little carved toys, for humans and for Pokémon. She could tell by how some of them had teeth and claw marks etched into them. There was a third room dug into the den as well, this one bizarrely constructed in a way that it had something of a fireplace, the narrowest tunnel dug up and out of the mountain for smoke to escape. This room had a table and chairs too, and it seemed like the rusted pile of metal in one corner had once been cooking utensils. Could Ingo be living here, for some reason?

She didn’t actually have long to investigate the den, as it was apparently occupied by a very aggressive and very large Sneasel that didn’t hesitate to hit her with a shadow claw. She didn’t stick around to hear what the weird Sneasel had to say, if anything. She felt cowardly fleeing, but she wouldn’t be of any use to Ingo if she succumbed to a final death. Rather than invade the cave every night, she would explore the area until she heard his soul calling again. The process repeated. She couldn’t figure out what was wrong. He wasn’t dead, she would know if he was. And wherever he was, he wasn’t suffering. His soul was weary and tired, yes, but he was alive and had determination burning inside him still. She wondered if he were trapped in between worlds, somehow. 

His routine eventually became so predictable that she felt comfortable leaving his vague presence to explore other areas she detected his spirit. She found him to have made frequent trips to an area near Snowpoint City, and even detected his presence in ice caverns below the snow. 

Celestic Town only had a touch of him there, but it was enough for her to want to investigate the ruins and homes there. It was then that she was finally recognized, a blonde woman having approached her when she was studying the wall. 

Cynthia had sounded so surprised when she spoke. It was amazing how many emotions can be channeled through so few words.

“Chandie? Is that you? Are you the Chandelure that’s been causing all this chaos?”

She’d feel guilty about hypnotizing Cynthia later. 

When Emmet and Elesa landed in Sinnoh, they were greeted by Cynthia herself. Former champion in all of her glory. Skyla couldn’t stay, but she passed well wishes to Emmet and pulled Elesa aside to kiss her before taking off once again. Emmet snickered a little when Cynthia averted her eyes, as if it made any difference. He stepped up. 

“Hello Cynthia. I am Emmet. You have seen Ingo’s Chandelure. Where is she and why is she not with you?”

Cynthia winced at his bluntness, even if she did expect it from him by now. “I’m afraid Chandelure isn’t allowing anyone to keep her anywhere for an extended period of time. She just keeps gliding along the same paths every day, and shows up spontaneously all around the region at night. She’s been exceedingly difficult to actually track down outside of her new habit. I’m hoping you can convince her to settle down. She’s…I don’t think she’s in good shape.” Cynthia frowned, and it made his heart clench. “It’s like she’s gone feral, and if you’re in her way, she doesn’t care. She used hypnosis on me when I found her, and apparently she’s been feeding off of travelers who’ve tried to catch or battle her.” She sighed heavily. She must be exhausted. 

“I have her pokeball with me, and the rest of Ingo’s team. She will be recoupled with haste, as soon as you start showing us these paths. She must be tracking Ingo. She would not have left otherwise. Show us where she frequents now.” 

Elesa looked at him with concern. He smiled and ignored her. Instead just staring directly at Cynthia. Unblinking, smile going wider by the second. Cynthia matched his energy, which was slightly unnerving. 

“Emmet. I understand this is stressful and painful, but you also just arrived after a very long flight. You and Elesa should rest. I have rangers searching everywhere Chandie has been. You can join them after you get some rest. We’ll get her back, and we will find Ingo. I’m wholly dedicated to this. You are both my friends. So don’t treat me like I am a challenger.”

They did not find Ingo. There was no evidence of him anywhere. Not in the numerous caves that Chandelure had found, not in the Grand Underground, nothing. There was no reason for them to be here, and Chandelure was barely any help. In the past if she needed to communicate something, she would briefly possess Ingo and speak through him. Any time she touched them now it felt like the chill of death itself. She had gone feral. While she didn’t outright attack any of their group, she was quick to respond with aggression and was not in full control of the effects of her ghostly powers. It came to a head when she tried to drag Emmet up a cliff, sapping him of his energy in the process and making Elesa panic. She captured her back into her pokeball, and they had put her in the care of a Pokémon center that had specialists in rehabilitation. 

The experience left them both terrified. Chandelure had never acted like that before, and it definitely took a toll on Emmet. He healed, but there was an emptiness to his eyes, where his smile couldn’t quite reach. It felt like he was just going through the motions of existing. The only time he did show any sort of genuine happiness was when Elesa held him, when they could watch live streams of baby Pokémon being born and hatched. They stayed in Sinnoh as long as their jobs would allow, to support Chandelure in her rehabilitation, but even when she had recovered enough to be her gentle and kind self once more she behaved in a very reserved manner. She could not be coerced into her ball, and she could not seem to articulate what was wrong. She continued to wander the paths of Mount Coronet despite everyone’s best efforts to discourage it. 

A hard decision was made.

Cynthia was entrusted with Chandelure’s pokeball. She made a promise that she would transfer the Pokémon back to Emmet the moment that Chandie indicated she was ready to leave Sinnoh. With that settled, Elesa and Emmet said their goodbyes and went home.

Emmet ended up moving in with Elesa, unable to be alone in the home he had shared with his brother. A maid was hired to keep things fresh and tidy, a note was left on the table for Ingo, should he return. The change of environment helped ease the empty ache in Emmet’s heart, and while he struggled with his emotions, it was far easier to survive when he had someone to come home to. For ease of things, Emmet and Elesa made their so called ‘relationship’ public, and they were no longer hounded by paparazzi any more than they usually would be. Elesa and Skyla continued to see each other, and there would even be times when all three spent the night together. It made Emmet recall happier days, when their trio would consist of the twins and Elesa. It was hard to not feel the slightest bit bitter, but those emotions were something he was able to work through in therapy. Slowly but steadily, life reached a new normal. There were still times when Ingo’s absence was as loud as the man himself, and they never gave up their search, but…They also mourned. Mourned lost time, mourned moments that would have been better with the other half of the two-car train that was Emmet and Ingo, Subway Bosses. Hope was kept alive at a steady smolder, but with each month that passed with no news, they had to accept that there was a potential future without Ingo in it. 

The case was declared cold, but Elesa and Emmet did their best to keep it warm enough to survive. After all, if Ingo came back, who knows what state his coat would be in after all this time? He got grumpy when he was cold, and that just wouldn’t do.

Chapter Text

Getting a letter from Ingo had been a very pleasant surprise to Irida’s day!

A bit of heavy snow had delayed Gliscor’s flight, making her need to take some shelter until flight conditions were better, but she had arrived at the Settlement by early evening, much to the bemusement of Pearl Clanfolk. Evidentially Ingo hadn’t wanted a repeat of the last time he had Gliscor make a delivery, as many were quick to point out the absolutely vibrant streaks of color that had been added to Gliscor’s harness. It brought giggles to the children, who had been the first to point out the Pokémon on the horizon. Not only was Gliscor’s harness an array of color, but she had a package with her as well! And after untying the rougher fabric that it had been carried in, Irida had found it to have been very thoughtfully tied in the loveliest cloth she had seen in a long while.

How had Ingo known that blue was one of her favorite colors? She thought it was a little silly of him to have added the ribbon, but he must have different traditions in the recesses of his memories when it came to gift giving. It was a very pretty ribbon in any case, and it had a wonderful texture to it. She didn't actually open the box just yet, instead rubbing her fingers over the ribbon while she read his letter. Gliscor was already being pampered by her newest fans, several children flocking her and telling her that she was pretty with her fancy colors, and Irida tasked them with seeing if their parents would help them get Gliscor fed while she got herself up to date with happenings in the Highlands.

*My dearest Lady Irida,
It is Ingo. I hope my penmanship is more legible this time, since I am no longer under the influence of medications.I want to begin by saying I am uninjured and whole, and perfectly healthy, if this was of any concern. I realize it has been some time since my ceremony and since we last spoke. While leaving the Icelands, I found an orphaned young Pokémon who was at most only a few days old at most. The nesting site was horrific to witness. It was deeply important to me that I did right by this little one, and so I focused myself on the task. Lady Sneasler and I had temporarily moved into the den of one of her daughters, one I’ve taken to calling Dutchess. It was so that the little one could nurse. At the time of writing this, I’ve named the baby Violet and they have grown strong. Being near Miss Dutchess and her kits induced lactation in Sneasler and we were able to return back to our usual station. You may have received reports of me making changes to trails here. I’m using bugwort to repel wild Pokémon from paths that are frequently travelled, and I have placed safety markers along these paths.*

Ingo had continued to write nearly a page and a half worth of more of his safety protocols in the Highlands, and while Irida was thankful he was safe and taking his job seriously, she wanted to know more about the baby! She skimmed, pausing when she saw Ingo asking about her own comfort and care, making note to read back over it once she was done reading about a baby Pokémon. Ingo would definitely get all the answers he wanted, but she wanted answers too. What was this Pokémon? Maybe it was a Riolu? She carried on skimming until she saw mention of this Violet once again.

*Violet found something the other day, and wanted me to deliver a message to you. The next page is all from Violet…

Dear Miss Irida! My name is Violet and I am very sweet and cute! I learned to dig with my new sneasel friends and now I dig holes with Papa Ingo and Lady Sneasler in our den. I am very good at digging! I dug so much that I found pretty rocks and I picked out the prettiest rock to give to you, and my Papa told me it was very special and that you would like it very much. Please open the package if you haven’t already! I’m so excited to meet you! P.S. He would be happy to help you train your Eevees with you whenever you want and Miss Gliscor will stay in the village until you send her off. Goodbye!
Love, Violet!!!!!

It was signed with a little inky paw print, one that reminded her a little bit of one of the tracks her eevees made in the snow. So not a riolu, maybe another eevee? But whatever Violet was…They were so cute, they had to be. Ingo was being absolutely silly over the baby, and it had made Irida giggle while reading everything. He had tried to change his handwriting to look cuter, or so she assumed, and he had been particular about making it seem more like a young pokémon would say these things. It was adorable. So he likes being a dad, huh? She stored that information away to tease him about later. She also thought it was cute that he was so excited over his baby Pokémon that he’d send Gliscor over with a pretty rock to give her. She reached for the present she had moved out of the way, and actually opened the box this time.

She gasped.

Irida’s face was slack with surprise, and she let delicate fingers fall against the stone, surprised to feel how cold it was. Practically nothing felt cold to her! The color, too, was gorgeous. Ingo would just give her something like this? Why did his letter mention her eevees and training? What was the relevance? Unless….

The girl practically ran out of the settlement, whistling for any of her eevees to follow her. Her oldest one came running at her heels, curious and worried, but seeing how her human smiled, she relaxed and just followed after her. Irida ran all the way to Icepeak Arena, looking for Gaeric, seeing him working out with the help of one of Lord Avalugg’s dozens of bergmite offspring. One of the smaller ones. The little thing was put into a sling, and Gaeric was doing side lunges, using the bergmite like one might use a kettlebell. Irida started to run to him, dodging scattering bergmites on her way there. She heard the rumble of Lord Avalugg himself and froze up, but turned and bowed to the massive noble that had greeted her.

“Hello, my Lord! I’m sorry I’m in such a rush, I have a question for Gaeric! I’ll bring you an offering straight away in the morning tomorrow, but for now, I can offer you a nose pet?”

The Pokémon in question made a sound that reminded Irida of rocks tumbling down a snowy cliff. She smiled and made a small detour, patting the nobles nose, and continued to Gaeric, having taken that as approval. Gaeric had stopped his bergmite assisted workout and let the little guy hop away, putting his hands on his hips and grinning at Irida. “What’s gotten you in such a hurry, little miss? What did you have to ask me? You’re early for our lessons, those aren’t for a few more days!” He used the back of his arm to wipe some sweat off his brow, flicking his arm to the side after.

Irida stopped to pant, but held out the stone Ingo had sent her. “Is- is this- Oh god I shouldn’t have run the entire way I’m so sorry Gaeric-“ The poor girl huffed and puffed a second longer, but caught her breath enough to speak. “Is this an ice stone?! Ingo sent it to me! He told me before that one could help one of my eevees evolve! Didn’t you have to use one to evolve your Pokémon??”

Gaeric took the stone from her, appraising it. He nodded first, following it with a shake of his head.

“First answer is yes! Second is no, not really. I used a dawn stone for Aurora! Surprisingly, froslass evolves with a dawn stone, not an ice stone. It’s the same concept, though. You said Ingo sent this to you? That’s incredibly generous of him. Evolutionary stones are hard to find. I had to buy mine from Ginter! Are you going to evolve one of your eevees?”

Her eyes widened at the confirmation. She could evolve one of her Eevees! But who? She looked down at the one that had followed her when she ran to see Gaeric. She had always switched the nicknames for her eevees around. She could tell them apart just fine, and none of them seemed to be confused on which one she was calling when she did need attention from one of the three. The one currently weaving around her legs was her first one, the one her mom had given her a little before the accident. She’d had this one the longest, and the other two were actually her pups. So…in terms of training…maybe this eevee would be best suited for evolution before the other two?

“Hey, girl.” She knelt down, not answering Gaeric’s question directly, instead addressing her Eevee. “How would you feel about evolving into a glaceon? Warden Ingo’s new baby found a stone and they gave it to us! How does that sound?” She had remembered that Ingo told her to check with her Pokémon first, before making any big decisions about evolution.

To her delight, her eevee raced around her feet and hopped around, yipping at her. Gaeric laughed, making Irida look up. “Well, I’d take that as a yes! Are you going to have her evolve right this second? You won’t be able to call her just ‘girl’ or eevee anymore! Got any new names in mind? Probably for the best. I don’t know how all your eevees keep track of which one you’re hollering for, but I understand you not wanting to pick the wrong name too soon.” He paused. “Ingo had a baby?” He sounded…equal parts confused and alarmed. Well, more confused than alarmed.

“….Baby Pokémon, Gaeric. I don’t know where you think Ingo might have gone to get ahold of a human infant, if that’s what you thought.”

“Well-“

She fixed Gaeric with a glare and shouted, cutting him off. “STOP! Don’t be weird about Mr. Ingo! He adopted some orphan Pokémon he found coming back from his Warden ceremony! He wrote a little letter pretending to be the baby. It was cute, he named it Violet, didn’t say what it was, but the pawprint looked sort of like an eevees.” She held out her hand. “Just…Give me back the ice stone and teach me how to do this, okay?!”

Gaeric let out another hearty laugh, the sound echoed by Lord Avalugg who also seemed to be listening in and amused. “As you wish, Lady Irida! Remind me to rib Ingo on his newfound fatherhood later though, okay? So! Here’s your stone back!” He returned it to her hand and resumed speaking. “So the first thing you’ll want to do is double check that Eevee is prepared to evolve. It’s really simple. Go ahead and sit down with her, and then just place the stone down on the ground. Let her investigate it. If she’s willing and ready, it’ll happen. If she’s not, then you either wait or you move on. Easy as that. Got nickname ideas yet?” He sat down as well, giving the awaiting eevee a little scratch under the chin when he did.

Irida would huff, but indeed sat down, also petting her eevee. “Well….here we go! It’s okay if you don’t wanna do it, okay Eevee? But if you do…what do you think about being called ‘Frosta’…?” She put the stone down in front of her pokemon, waiting patiently and seeing what she chose to do.

The eevee made a little sound not unlike a purr, and quickly hopped up and put both of her front paws onto the stone. Pokémon and stone reacted to the other, both glowing brilliantly, power surging from the stone and through her. The ice stone appeared to melt, but the materials of the stone flowed up and over the eevee, coating her fur and making it crystallize. Dazzling changes took place, and with a burst of powdery snow and a triumphant cry, Eevee had successfully evolved into Glaceon! Snowflakes showered the area around them, lending to the stunning presentation.

Frosta didn’t hesitate to leap into Irida’s waiting arms, bumping her head against the girl's chin and making happy sounds. Irida was amazed and feeling emotional over the whole ordeal. That was so beautiful. She could feel the power and magic of the change, and now her friend was a whole new version of herself! She lifted up her companion to look at her, giggling when Frosta took that opportunity to lick her face.

“Oh! Silly! Your little mouth is so cold now! You’re so pretty, Frosta! Lovely lady, pretty girl! And- Wow! The color of the bow that Ingo put on the package matches you so well now. I could wear it and match you sometimes! Isn’t that fun, Frosta? Thank you! Thank you for wanting to evolve, I’m so proud of you! You know…Ingo said we could always visit him for training, he’s good with Pokémon. Wanna go with me to say hi to him tomorrow, Frosty? Sweet snowy lady? My icy girl?”

She had fallen into baby-talking her new glaceon, but Frosta didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. She yipped in excitement, tail wagging behind her, and Gaeric looked on with a proud smile. He was perhaps a bit envious that Irida was going to ask Ingo for help in training her pokémon, but he was very glad she had another role model now. Gaeric could respect that. Plus, she had still come to him for leading her through the evolution of her eevee, anyway. He wasn’t losing his pupil. She was just gaining more teachers. He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed, and the girl hugged her pokémon close and leaned into the touch. Briefly. She then scrunched her nose.

“Ew! Gaeric, you’re all sweaty from your work out! Go to the hot springs and wash off! I’m gonna go back to the village and show Frosta to Calaba and ask Ingo’s Gliscor if she’ll fly us to him tomorrow morning. Do you want me to save you a spot at dinner, or are you eating with your Lord tonight?”

Gaeric put both arms around her to hug her close just to torment her, laughing all the while. “Dinner is with my Lord tonight, little miss! You be safe on your way back to the village, okay? I’ll come see you off before you leave tomorrow!”

Irida squealed, wriggling her way out of his horrible, sweaty grip, sticking her tongue out at him as she ran off with Frosta in her arms.

“I’ll be safe, Warden Nasty! Goodnight, see you tomorrow! Thank you for helping me evolve Frosta! I love you!”

“Love you too, Irida. I love you too.”

The young leader arrived back to her home without issue, and was very proud to show off Frosta’s evolution. Gliscor had no qualms about spending the night in the village, and by the next morning had become friends with all of the children around, who had started calling her Rainbow on account of her flight harness. It was cute. Irida hoped Ingo liked the name, and she hoped he would be happy to see her.

She wanted to make sure that she and Frosta made the best of the gift they were given, and what better way than to be taught by the person that gave them the gift in the first place?

Chapter Text

Ingo awoke and started his day as he typically did. Violet’s berrymash was prepared and heated, and he awoke the sleepy pup from where they were cuddled against Lady Sneasler. Gliscor hadn’t returned home to her burrow last night, so Ingo assumed the storm delayed her flight or she was out minding her own business. Even if Gliscor had agreed to join him in a pokeball from time to time, she still had wild friends and presumably family, so it wasn’t unheard of for the Pokémon to be away for a day or two. Violet yawned, whining at having to get up, but that mood changed when presented with delicious berry mush. The pup was nearly fully weaned by this point, and had started learning how to actually go after solids. Ingo felt he was still babying them a little with the mash, but…well, Sneasler balanced it out by feeding scraps of solid meat to the pup and giving them bones to gnaw.

There was also the fact that one morning when he was unable to make the mash due to a need to escort a traveler, he had caught Sneasler instead regurgitating food for the pup. So maybe mush was still the correct food option. They had only just begun growing in their milk teeth, a process that had Ingo trying to think of ways to ease the pain of teething. The bones likely helped, but maybe he should leave some berries in the snow to freeze? Violet could gnaw on those and the cold would numb their gums…yes! That was a good idea. He smiled down at the eating pup, running his hand through their blue wisps of fur.

“Violet, when you’re finished with your breakfast, would you like to join me on a short patrol? I’ll be taking you to visit your Auntie Duchess for the remainder of the day, but I see no reason why you can’t ride along and even walk a little with me on our way there. I believe Lady Sneasler has some mining on the agenda for today, so you won’t be able to stay with her.”

The pup looked up, little muzzle covered with a mess of mushed up fruits. Ingo chuckled, grabbing a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiping Violet's face clean. They yipped at him, a little squirmy in response, but gave up trying to wiggle out of bath time when Sneasler herself leaned over and started to groom them. Violet heaved a very dramatic puppy sigh, flopping over and allowing Sneasler to wash them. It made Ingo laugh, and he knelt down beside them both. “Hey, don’t feel too bad. You know it’ll be my turn after she deems you clean.” As if on cue, Lady Sneasler released the pup and grabbed Ingo to give him the same treatment. He took it with grace and a smile. Until she started trying to groom his goatee, which made him start to squawk and try to escape. “Madam! Leave that be! We’ve discussed my facial hair!” Violet watched, sitting nearby. Temptation was strong, however, and they jumped into the fray to also lick at Ingo’s beard.

Bath time ended with them all in a laughing heap. Most mornings were like this. It was a good time. Work needed to be done, however, so Ingo extracted himself from the cuddle puddle they had all melted into. He brushed his hair and made sure he felt clean and presentable, at least as much as he could for the day. A small change in schedule might be due, visiting Lonely Spring for a proper bath sounded nice. He and the alpha carnivine that lived there had come to a bit of a tense understanding. So long as he brought a large portion of salt and meat to offer, he could bathe in relative peace.

The alpha also knew he was under the protection of Lady Sneasler, so that did help to keep him safe, too. It had also seen him training there with Machoke and Gliscor, so…Well. Everything would be fine if he went. He was certain of it. He wished that the den just…had a. A…? He wished it could rain in the den and rinse away easily, so he could wash there. It frustrated him sometimes, that he couldn’t do simple things like that in the comfort of their home. It seemed like something he should be able to do, and yet…no. Maybe someday they’d find a cave system with a small waterfall, or something.

He was knocked from his drifting thoughts by a certain someone biting at his pant leg and growling, demanding his attention. He looked down to see Violet standing up on their back paws, now whining to be picked up, front paws held high. Ingo’s previous woes melted away and he crouched and picked the pup up.

”All abooooooard the Ingo line! Destination: Duchess! Ticket, please!”

Violet gave an excited yip and licked his nose in response.

”BRAVO! Off we go!”

Sneasler rolled her eyes from where she was still laying down, watching as Ingo put Violet into one of his coat pockets. He leaned down to scratch under Sneasler’s chin before he made his leave.

“We will return for dinner, my lady! I’ll call for you if you’re needed, I have my flute as always. Today should be an easy one. Would you like for me to make that bean stir fry, tonight? If so, please bring whatever extra’s you want me to add to it. Love you, my lady!”

“Sni swee snoo~!”

He chuckled, and out the den he went. Stretching when he emerged, and letting his back pop. His pocket made a muffled yip, and he reached his hand inside to scratch at Violet’s ears. “You cannot come out until the cab has safely touched down. I am buttoning the pocket. Do not wiggle or you will be placed in the pokeball. You may poke your head out to look around during our descent, but all paws remain in the pocket! Understood?” He looked down, saw a snout emerge, and heard the tiniest yip of confirmation. With that given, he started to descend the cliff that Sneasler’s den was dug into. Touching down, he popped the pocket open and pulled Violet out so they could take their usual place on his shoulder, cuddled up in his braid. He smiled upon feeling them get comfortable.

“You know, you are getting to be quite the strong little one. Perhaps we should work on some training sometime. I know you can Shadow Sneak. I’ve seen you do it when you play with your sneasel friends. Quite clever of you, my little one! Maybe one of your friends would let me teach you both how to conduct a proper battle! If not, I see no harm in letting you try out some attacks on me.”

His pup whined, licking his cheek. He clicked his tongue and reached back to pet their soft, soft wisps of fur.

“Ah, do you not want to hurt me? So sweet. You needn’t worry. I’m very tough! I would tell you if it was too much, I assure you. We could also try practicing your snarl. Sneasler is very adept with that move. She’d be happy to help. You don’t have to battle if you don’t have the desire to, but I do want you to know how to properly defend yourself. You’ve almost reached an age where you might be able to play outside of the den for a little by yourself! Self defense is very important.”

Ingo heard Violet whine a little more, but he felt their tail wagging some. The prospect of exploration must be what made training a more alluring prospect. He was proud of his baby. They’d come such a long way for such a little zorua. They’d train some when he got to the area of the Celestica ruins that Lord Electrode’s voltorbs had begun to strictly patrol. Nosepass liked to stay there, and she would make a good referee. She was extremely fair.

His own patrol began, the sounds of nearby Pokémon filtering into his ears and flowing around him. Times like these were peaceful. The Pokémon in the area had grown used to his presence, ignoring him or giving a friendly greeting depending on what kind of beast they were. He often times would scatter some treats for the more unruly ones, chucking them far enough that it would remove the creatures from the trail. Duchess’s den was near the ruins, so Ingo could drop Violet off when they were done with their little practice session. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.

It did not take them long to get there, and after he greeted all of the excited voltorbs and gave Nosepass a good rub on the top of her head, he lowered into a crouch. “Alright Violet, we’re here. Let’s do just a tiny bit of training, okay? But….you can explore a little bit first. Do not pass any of the pillars! Same rules apply as any other time we play here, understood?” When the pup hopped down and nodded, he gave them a scratch. “Good pup. Have fun, get nice and warmed up. When you’re ready to start, I want you to howl and attack me. I’ve decided since I am big and older than the sneasels, I can be your first practice opponent. I won’t fight you, but I will try to dodge. You’ll need to be quick to get me!” He out his hands on his hips. Waiting to make sure he was understood.

Violet let loose a weak, timid little snarl, but Ingo clapped anyway. “Excellent! That’s the idea! Get warmed up, though. I’m going to have a bit of water and stretch too.” Another nod and the pup ran off, wisps of blue being a good way to keep track of the little creature. Ingo watched them run and play, sniffing and biting plants and rocks, rolling in some dust, doing many silly little things, as young Pokémon tend to do. He drank from his waterskin, but put it aside when he heard Violet give a howl. If there was one thing he knew, Violet knew how to use their voice when needed. He could feel the howl deep in his body, chills running up and down his spine at the sound. Rather than terrify him, it filled him with pride.

Ingo crouched, his eyes searching for the pup that had managed to finally evade his line of sight. He knew they were still here, there were several Pokémon around that would have reacted if Violet were to try and run off. He heard another howl sound from behind him, and instinct drove him to roll forward, just barely being grazed by Violet’s shadow sneak.

“Bravo! Bravo! Give me an encore, but faster! You mustn’t let me dodge!”

He heard Violet’s snarl before he felt it, the force of the move making him stumble back just in time to be hit with the following shadow sneak. He was a little out of breath from taking damage, but he was so, so impressed.

“Amazing combination, Violet! Keep it up, good pup!”

And so they continued, Ingo being a living training dummy for his dear pup.

This was, of course, until he saw red and white in his peripheral vision, just before he saw a glaceon emerge and shoot an ice shard directly at his baby.

Time slowed, and he did two things at once.

His first move was to roll into the attack, hissing when ice slashed against his ribs. The second was to throw his arms around Violet to shield them further, scooping them up and gritting his teeth against the freezing, icy wind that was now blasting against the back of his coat. He shuddered, but curled around Violet tighter. He could hear Nosepass moving to stand between him and his assailant, and was going to give her orders to attack, but he could hear something else he wasn’t expecting.

Irida’s screams.

He turned swiftly, ready to shield her as well, but a connection was made in his mind when he saw the state she was in.

The poor girl looked lost and terrified, sobbing and cowering against a pillar with her very, very concerned glaceon guarding her. It was an unfiltered version of the look she had given him and Sneasler during their first encounter, a concentrated dose of trauma painted across her face. He didn’t know what had triggered this, but he slowly moved toward her. He was still shivering, but it was something he could cope with. He felt Violet become a sneasel in his grasp and crawl up into his hair, hiding against his neck.

“Irida. It’s okay. It is just me, it is just Ingo. Can you hear me? If you can, can you call off your Glaceon? You’re safe here. I promise.”

“N-no! No, I can’t, it’s still on you, that thing isn’t a sneasel, it was attacking you! Ingo, it’s going to take you from me, Lady Sneasler is gonna lose her warden to those monsters again! Don’t- why are you protecting it?! G-glaceon! Icy wind! Please!”

The Pokémon looked between her partner and Ingo, hesitant to attack, but complied. A gust of icy wind indeed buffeted against Ingo’s front, making him close his eyes and shiver. He didn’t cry out or flinch. It was just cold air, and he had the feeling that Irida’s glaceon had weakened the blast for him.

Things only slid further down when Ingo was given a very big surprise.

Violet was no longer cowering, instead having leapt in front of the trembling man, standing their ground. A loud snarl ripped through the air and hit glaceon, who yelped, and Violet put their training to use by following it with shadow sneak. Irida was motionless, just sobbing, trying to cover her mouth with her hands so she didn’t start screaming again. Ingo was so shocked that he didn’t move until he saw dark clouds and shadow starting to engulf Violet, a sure sign of them attempting a move he was unfamiliar with. It was an energy that felt like unfiltered hatred, and he hated that such an emotion could emerge from his pup. No, this needed to end now.

He retrieved Violet’s pokeball from his pocket and swiftly recalled them, not allowing the move to reach its completion. He sighed, shaking his head.

“That’s enough. Violet, I’m safe too. There’s clearly been a misunderstanding. Irida? Can you give me some indication that you’re alright? I’m going to walk over slowly. Glaceon, are you injured badly? If not, then I believe Irida needs your comfort more than your protection…”

He inched his way forward as if approaching an injured pokémon, wary of scaring Irida more. He noticed that her eyes were locked on Violet’s pokeball now, and it made him think some things over. He carefully slid the ball into his pocket.

It was like Irida was a puppet and her strings had just been cut, the way she crumpled and stumbled forward on shaking legs, throwing her arms around Ingo and sobbing into his chest. He put his arms around her in turn, rubbing circles on her back and rocking the both of them. Lowering them down to sit while he comforted her. “Shh, shhh, it’s okay. I’m okay, you’re okay. We’re in Celestica Ruins, it’s a safe day, there’s nothing wrong. Try to breathe with me.” He continued to rock them, taking deep, deep breaths and letting them out in long, long exhales. Irida seemed to be trying to calm down, but she had evidently given herself hiccups from her crying. He was patient with her, resting his chin atop her head.

They sat like that for quite a while. The Glaceon had joined in on the hug, resting her body against the two of them. Ingo moved his hand from Irida’s back to her hair, brushing it out of her face. Poor girl. His heart ached to see her so upset. “Lady Irida. Can you tell me what happened? I need to know, so I can understand next time you need me. I have some assumptions but I need you to communicate with me. If you can’t speak right now, I’d like for you to atleast…Squeeze my hand. Then I’ll know.” He took one of her hands in his, still trying to get her hair out of her face with the other.

Silence followed, but that was okay. Irida was more important than schedules or patrols. He hummed a bit, trying to give her more things to focus on and ground herself with. Finally she spoke.

“T-the. It was the Zorua. It was hurting you. I cou-couldn’t let it happen again.”

His heart clenched and his breath hitched. He hadn’t been given the details of how Irida’s mother and Warden Sumire had passed. He had just known it was a Pokémon attack in the Icelands. He moved the hand that was at her hair back around her, squeezing her against him. “I’m sorry for the confusion, Lady Irida. The zorua you saw wasn’t wild. That…that’s Violet, Irida. I wrote to you about them. We were just practicing moves…” He sighed. This must have been why Sneasler reacted like that to the mother Zoroark.

“B-but. But it was attacking you? I saw it. And then it attacked Frosta…! What do you mean that’s Violet? Violet is y-your sweet baby you wrote about. It couldn’t be a zorua. It would have killed us if you didn’t put it in one of those…those evil balls!”

“Oh, Irida. No, no. I promise, Violet and I were training. I think Violet might have been trying to protect me from your- Frosta, was it? Protecting me from what they thought was an attack from your glaceon. You picked a very pretty name for her, though. You are right that they could have hurt either of you if I hadn’t returned them to their ball. They are a baby, they do not fully understand their moves, power, or what is going on. The ball was to protect you, Frosta, and Violet.

…I do not know what you have seen, nor will I pretend to know how you feel, but I can promise you that Violet is not a zorua prone to violence. Violet will not hurt you intentionally, and the only reason Violet was attacking me was because I had instructed them to do so. I would never, never let Violet hurt you, Irida. If you need me, I will do everything I can to protect you. However, the same goes for Violet.”

Irida was shaking again, but she was very clearly making the effort to mimic his breathing. They were making progress. Irida’s voice was quiet when she next spoke.

“They killed my momma, Ingo. They- there was so much blood, and they pretended to be her and Sumire until Sneasler finally found and killed them all. It took days. I couldn’t sleep, Calaba had to tie me down, it was so, so awful, I was so scared seeing one attack you. I didn’t know what to do, I just wanted to protect you, I don’t wanna lose any more of my family, you- y-you’re like a dad, like Gaeric, I don’t wanna lose my dads, I don’t wanna lose you!”

She clung to him tighter while she spoke, though she went rigid after calling Ingo her dad. He could practically feel embarrassment oozing out of her, but he felt affection and warmth. Ingo squeezed her back just as tight, rocking her again, comforting her as best as he knew how.

“You won’t lose me. I’m right here…I’m so sorry you had to witness that, I’m so sorry you had to experience a loss so painful. Nothing I say can make that stop hurting. But I can promise you, I’m right here. It was very brave of you to try and protect me, Irida. I’m very proud of you, and I’m honored you’d consider me a part of your family. It makes me quite happy, actually. I can’t remember if I had family before, so….having one now feels very good.” He tilted her face gently to look up at him, and he tried to give her a smile. It must have looked silly on him, because the girl ended up giggling through her tears. He felt skeptical about his next offer, but it felt important to him. “If you’re willing to listen, though…I think you and Violet might have more in common than you think. You could be very good friends, if you would let me introduce you. We don’t have to right now. I want you to feel safe and comfortable, alright? But if it’s alright, I would like to tell you about how I found them. If you don’t want to do that, I’d be happy to hear about your mother. Or anything else you want to speak of. I’ll do whatever it is you need to feel better in this moment.”

Irida made no further sounds. She looked so young. She was so young. It hurt Ingo to see, and he used his thumb to brush another tear from her face. She closed her eyes and leaned into the touch, still crying a bit. He almost didn’t hear her when she decided to say yes. In fact, he didn’t hear her. What tipped him off was her shaking hand reaching for the pokeball he had shoved into his coat pocket.

“….Tell me. Please. Maybe…maybe I’ll be less scared.”

He smiled again, and moved a little so they could get more comfortable. Nosepass had moved behind them at some point, and Ingo repositioned them so he had an arm around her shoulder in a side hug while resting against the Pokémon. He took a breath, looked at the pokeball in her hands, and began his story.

It wasn’t really a long story. The longest parts were Ingo going on about the early days of taking care of Violet, how afraid he was that the pup would not pull through. Stories of Duchess and Sneasler accepting the zorua as one of their own, stories of Violet learning to disguise as a sneasel as soon as they opened their eyes. By the time Ingo had gotten Irida up to date on the goings on of Violet, the young girl was past crying and was just leaning comfortably against Ingo. She giggled at some stories, gasped at others. Violet’s mother reaching out to Ingo to help them had made her go deathly silent, crying in a way that Ingo knew she wouldn’t want acknowledged. Those tears were exactly the reason he had kept going and told happier parts of the tale. A frown may have been suited for his face, but it didn’t belong to someone like young Lady Irida. He was glad to see her comfortable and smiling again. She looked thoughtful, and was still holding Violet’s pokeball.

“…..Can I meet them?”

Ingo was surprised.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to. They’re quite comfortable inside of the ball.”

“I…I don’t like the idea of pokéballs. Almighty Sinnoh blessed the world with space for Pokémon. I don’t think they should be inside of those things. I trust that you know what you’re doing, but maybe around me don’t use them? And you made it seem like Violet is a really nice pokémon…I also have to say thank you. Violet dug up that ice stone, right?”

He chuckled, but nodded. “Understandable. I’ll refrain from flaunting my pokeballs around you in the future. Thank you for telling me. Would you like to be the one to let them out?” He pointed to the latch. “All you have to do is press that and flick it open.”

She looked determined, putting on a brave face. She followed his instructions, and in a flash of light, Violet emerged. Looking confused at first, but seeing Ingo and Irida made the pup squeak, and dove into one of Ingo’s coat pockets. Ingo chuckled yet again, and patted the pocket.

“It’s okay Violet. Lady Irida is a good friend. She was just a little bit scared and confused at first. She thought we were fighting. It was so amazing when you tried to protect me, too. Can you come out and say hi to her? She used the ice stone you found to help her Pokémon evolve. She wants to thank you!”

Irida had a grip on one of Ingo’s hands, shaking some, but she leaned over him to direct her voice at the pocket the pup had hidden themselves within.

“H-hello, Violet. I’m Irida. I’m sorry if I scared you too, earlier…Thank you for my ice stone. Frosta has learned a lot of new moves already and it’s barely been a day. I’d..I’d really like to meet you, if you would come out…?”

It took a few moments, but little by little, Violet inched their face out of the pocket. Irida gulped, but held one of her hands out to let the little Pokémon give her a sniff. She squeaked when one of her fingers was licked, surprised by that. Her sound made Violet start to hide again, but Frosta making some encouraging sounds seemed to do the trick. Violet emerged fully, soft gray fur with its wisps of light blue around its head and neck. Violet looked at Frosta for a second before climbing over Ingo’s lap to get closer to Irida. Ingo just supervised their interaction, and was pleased to see Irida mustering up the courage to touch the top of Violet’s soft, sweet little head. He could hear Irida’s shocked gasp.

“It’s so soft!”

“I would agree. We spend a lot of time grooming. Lots of brushing makes for a healthy coat. That and a very good diet. Violet especially likes a tummy rub. Don’t you, little one?”

Violet recognized the term, and quickly rolled out of the lap they were in to lay belly up. Irida was still cautious, but soon enough her hands were buried in the cloud like fur of the young zorua.

They all stayed like this, Irida getting to know Violet, for hours. Games were played, and it soon seemed like Irida never had a fear of Zorua at all.

Ingo had never been more proud in his life.

Chapter Text

Life was really fun, but many questions had come to settle in Violet’s ever growing mind. They learned more and more every day, and now that they could talk and understand things, they were able to ask questions about the world they lived in. So why not take that opportunity?

It had been a few days, close to a week, since Violet had their first little battle. It was so scary seeing Papa get hurt. It was even scarier when it was bedtime and he had blood on his tummy and a dark bruise on his ribs. It made Violet feel bad that Papa wasn’t able to do complicated moves like GrandLady Sneasler, or Auntie Duchess, or any of their other friends. Papa could tackle, and quick attack, and sometimes he could almost snarl, but he didn’t have all the skills that the rest of their family had. Violet had once asked Auntie if Papa was sick, but she assured them that Ingo was just a little bit different from the rest of them. Violet knew this, they could see how soft his claws were and how flat his teeth looked, not to mention how he didn’t have enough fur to keep him warm. He had to wear fabrics on him like people did!

What confused Violet the most was meeting Frosta and Irida. That’s what made so many questions swirl around Violet’s head. Irida was people, like Melli, and had attacked Ingo. Violet could tell by the smell. But…then Irida was nice after, and also called Ingo her dad. Dads are the same as Papas. Was Irida Violet’s sister? Why did Violet look so different from Irida? She looked like a human, and smelled like one. Did she disguise herself to look more like Papa, with his hairless body and dull claws? Was it to make him feel better? Violet knew they were not a human person. They were…a sneasel. Right? Papa is a furless sneasler, Grandlady was a sneasler, and Auntie Duchess was a sneasel. Right?

Wait. Wait, no. They were a zorua, because momma had been a zoroark. Papa told them a story about her, about how they had met and how momma had protected them and kept them safe until Papa could help. Papa had also told them that they were very special, beautiful with colors he had never seen on any other zorua. That made Violet very happy. Still. What was Irida?

It was hard for such a young one to wrap their mind around. There were too many factors, each more contradictory than the last. It didn’t help that they could hardly stay focused on one thought for long. They hadn’t even known to call Ingo by Papa until Irida arrived, when she had spoken of him as Violet’s Papa. Of course Violet knew that Ingo was their father, but…he was also Ingo. He could have many names. Papa was perhaps the nicest. They thought if they tried, they could make the sound like people did. They would practice.

Oh. Yeah. They had questions!

Violet decided that they would ask Frosta about it all. Irida had stayed over for a while. She said it was because she had missed Ingo, and at first it made Violet a little jealous. Violet felt less jealous after Irida started to feed them cold berries, flash frozen by Frosta. It felt so good on their mouth. Papa and Irida had been hard at work with Frosta, though! They had been doing lots of training, but they still rested. During one such rest, Violet sat down next to Frosta and waited patiently for the older Pokémon to turn her attention to the pup. While Violet had no issue voicing their newfound thoughts with newer words, they had received a lesson in something called ‘manners’ recently, and this seemed like a good opportunity to practice manners.

“…Did you need something, Violet?”

Their ears flicked back and they shifted their paws around, trying not to be intimidated. Frosta was nice! She just…could also be very cold. Sometimes Violet would catch Frosta looking at them like they had done something very bad, but when Violet would meet her gaze she would look surprised and would smile and just move on. Maybe manners made things seem a lot more serious than they were before. Maybe that had something to do with it somehow. Violet shook a little, but found their voice.

“Why don’t I look like Irida or Papa?”

“Are. Are you being serious?”

Frosta had looked amused now. Violet didn’t understand why! They whined more, only managing a nod. The glaceon looked nervous, suddenly! Violet was so confused! Little paws moved to cover their face to hide away, but soon they were brought back to attention by Frosta nestling closer beside them and giving their forehead a comforting lick. Yes, Frosta could be cold, in treatment and in temperature, but cold was nice sometimes. Something about her cool body pressed against Violet’s fur felt very nice, and it was easy to relax more. There was a complaint to be had about how all these adults always felt the need to try and give Violet baths, but that could come later. Instead, Violet nodded with the most serious expression they could muster.

“Alright. I can tell you’re being serious. The reason you do not look like Irida and your Papa Ingo is because they are humans and we are Pokémon. It is that simple.”

”WHAT?! But Papa smells just like a sneasler! And Lady Sneasler is his momma! You are telling fibs!”

The glaceon would have winced at the volume, if she weren’t trying and failing to hold back laughter at the pup calling Ingo stinky.

“T-tell me, little pup. If you think your papa is a sneasler, why are you a zorua?”

Violet huffed in frustration. “Because my momma was a zoroark, duh! Auntie Duchess said kits and pups take more after their mothers, always! She even told me that my cousins’ papa was a luxio! If my sneasel cousins can have a luxio papa, then I can have a sneasler one!” The pup had started to get loud again in a sense, but it was more an unruly tone than it was actual volume increase.

Frosta wouldn’t tolerate a tone out of her own pups, and she wasn’t about to tolerate one out of this one. Violet was given a little nip on their scruff to shush them. “You are loud enough to wake the dead. You really are his young, aren’t you? Hmph…That doesn’t make him a sneasler though. He is a human man.” She snorted and soothed where she had nipped, running her cool tongue against fur and smiling some when it had the desired effect of settling the pup down. “You can have a human papa. That doesn’t make you any lesser.” She paused. “Did you really think he was a sneasler, though?”

“I thought he was just messed up looking, or really old! Like he’d gotten really sick once and none of his other fur grew back, or something!”

“And what of Lady Irida?”

“…Well. I thought, maybe, she made herself messed up looking to make him feel better about not having claws or snout or fur. I thought it would be really nice of her to do that. If I tried to look like papa, I would make sure to look just as bad as he does! So you’re saying he’s actually supposed to look like that?!”

She could not hold in her laughter this time, barking with it so loudly that it attracted the attention of both humans. Irida just looked puzzled, but gasped when she saw that Violet was whining and starting to yap, indignant. Before Irida had actually been able to intervene, Violet rose up and shouted.

”Mean! Mean to me, teasing me, laughing at me! I’m telling! Iiiingo! Papa! Papa Ingo!”

This did little to deter Frosta, who couldn’t help herself. She ended up having to launch herself into Irida’s lap to avoid a little bite that the pup was directing at her tail, yapping boisterously. It only served to frustrate Violet more, who howled. They would have continued to make the sound, had Ingo not made a little circle with his thumb and forefinger to gently muzzle them, picking them up as he did so.

”Shush, sweet Violet. What’s the matter? You called for me, I believe. It’s not how you’ve been saying my name. Has something changed?”

Violet would have been quiet even if Ingo had just picked them up. Still, they gave his fingers little kisses until he released their snout and let them talk.

“Frosta is laughing at me because- because-“ Violet stalled. They didn’t want Papa to know they thought he looked sick. Now embarrassed, Violet was faced with choices. Choices that must be made carefully. Papa is the smartest papa in the entire world, but sometimes he didn’t really understand what anyone was saying. Maybe that’s because he’s a human? That makes more sense. Still though! How frustrating! “Frosta was laughing because I thought you were an ugly sneasler! I didn’t know you were a human! Are you a human? Are you people? You probably aren’t ugly for people…Frosta, IS Papa ugly for people?”

Ingo looked perplexed, as did Irida, but Frosta chuckled and shook her head. “No, Violet. Ingo is considered to be very handsome as far as humans go. A few of the women in the clan have been gossiping about him. Men, too. Irida can’t stand it.” She stretched in the lap of her partner, and Ingo tilted his head.

”Irida, what do you suppose they are talking about? They both seemed upset moments ago…”

Oh yeah! Violet was upset!

“Frosta was teasing me and laughing at me! You didn’t answer me! Papa, are you people???”

”….Violet, I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Perhaps I should call for Sneasler, I can understand her a bit better, she could try-“

Ingo was not able to finish his sentence. Violet’s frustration at being misunderstood culminated in them trying so, so much harder to be heard. Violet managed to make a sound with their mouth, a bark sounding like ‘baba’. That got Ingo’s attention first. He held them at arm's length to look them in the eye. He already looked surprised.

Violet tried really, really hard to make him understand them. They’d emphasize every word just to make sure they were heard!

*Papa! Frosta! Was! Laughing! At! Me! Are? You? Human?!*

Ingo was slack jawed. He blinked rapidly a few times, but gave a jerky nod. ”Y-yes. Yes, I’m a human. I…understood you, Violet! Did you just talk? With words?” His eyes had a strange glow reflecting in them now, but the little pup thought nothing of it. Instead, Violet’s tail wagged furiously. They just had to talk loudly with their head to make Papa understand!

*Super bravo, Papa! You understand! Excellent!*

Violet watched as their Papa’s eyes widened even further, and he seemed to be floundering a bit for words.

”Violet, uh, forgive me, but…Lady Irida? Do you hear Violet speaking?”

Irida had frozen in place, fear painted across her features. From her perspective, Violet’s eyes had just started glowing wildly. She shook the fear away, visibly moving, cautiously getting closer. ”No…no, I don’t. Some people say Zorua can speak to a person’s mind….only Zoroark can actually physically speak, though…But judging by how Violet’s eyes are aglow, they might be using some kind of psychic connection…? What are they saying? N-nothing bad, right…?”

”No! Nothing bad, nothing bad! They…” Ingo broke into a smile. An honest to goodness smile, the largest one Violet had ever seen on him. ”They called me papa, and asked if I was human, and then told me bravo on understanding them. Just like how I congratulate them whenever they do something amazing….!”

*Silly! Of course I call you Papa, you are Papa! Irida said so, so now I say so! If she can then I can too! Frosta said all the clan people were calling you handsome. But! She was teasing me too! She was laughing at me because I thought you were an ugly sneasler…*

Ingo nearly choked, and was very clearly trying not to also laugh. He was also combating a thick blush. He did not realize he was considered attractive, and he was flustered by this. Irida looked between them, trying to decipher what could have been said. Ingo cleared his throat and broke eye contact, looking over at Irida.

”Have….have the villagers been talking about my appearance? Your glaceon evidently said so. She was also teasing my Violet.”

Irida also turned red. ”I didn’t want to tell you and make you embarrassed! Let’s talk about the teasing instead! Frosta! Were you being naughty? What were you teasing Violet over?”

”I apparently was an ugly sneasler to Violet.”

Everyone would have continued laughing if it were not for the sudden presence of Melli interrupting the discussion, and Violet was very quick to disguise as a sneasel. The only reason Irida gets to see them as a zorua is because Irida is family, apparently! Melli is not family. Melli is Melli and sometimes not very nice.

Melli burst into the clearing they were training in, panting as if he had sprinted to them. ”You! Ingo! Lady Irida too, I suppose, since you’ll be receiving invitations soon enough! Lord Braviary’s warden has stepped down! Lord Braviary chose another warden! Very quickly! And it’s a child! A child! Not a teenager like you, Irida, but a child! I came to tell you as soon as I heard.” While he continued to pant, Violet set about hiding in Papa’s mane where it was safe from Melli. Irida looked shocked.

”What?! Did- Is Warden Hayate okay?!”

Ingo’s head snapped up in recognition of the name, but he didn't have an opportunity to question it as Melli replied first.

”Oh, yes. Hayate is fine, just aging. The air is too thin for his lungs these days when they fly together, it’s too cold for him too, and his Lord realized this and apparently chose his newest warden a while ago. A brilliant little bug if I say so, too. Sabi is her name. She’s odd, but she has very good taste. She often tells me my hair is pretty.”

He gave a proud little flip of his hair at that, and wore a smirk. Violet listened in for a while, but their mind was so tired from talking to Papa. A nap seemed to be in order.

They were going on a trip!

Leaving the Highlands! Going somewhere called Crimson Mirelands! Papa was really excited about it, so Violet was too!

Violet hadn’t been able to talk with their mind again since the first time, but that was okay. They had been very busy with everything else. Papa hadn’t seemed eager to take Violet with them on the trip, for safety protocols he said, but Violet begged and begged GrandLady Sneasler to get Papa to let them come too. He relented, and after that was settled he had instead rambled on about something he called a bullet train, and how he remembered them being something he was fascinated with. He couldn’t quite describe what it actually was, but he was still very thrilled to have some chunk of memory back. Violet wasn’t sure what a bullet was or a train, but Papa being excited was fun, and his voice made them happy, and they got to go on the trip!

The trip was for a celebration, a ceremony, one that was very important to the clans. GrandLady explained these things to Violet, and also made sure they knew to stay disguised while they were visiting and to use their best manners. Learning the differences between the Diamond and Pearl clans was also something new to them. Sneasler explained that humans were very silly and particular about their beliefs and traditions, but that it was important to let them come to their own conclusions about things they put their faith in. Wardenship and the Nobility were taught to Violet, and they only became more impressed with their Papa upon learning he had such an important job. He wasn’t just GrandLady’s kit, he was a warden too!

In addition to new lessons like that, Violet was also given special training and instructions. Papa had asked Melli to teach him to sew, and made an adjustable little vest for Violet to wear during their trip. It made their fur feel weird, but they felt very fancy to be wearing clothes like Papa. The vest had a loop stitched to the back, and it was attached to a cord that Papa clipped to his belt. It was for Violet’s safety, he said. So they could not be separated from each other and so no one got lost. He informed Violet that it was because the Mirelands were a new place, so they had to have extra emergency protocols and safety checks to ensure no one became uncoupled.

He also told Violet that the vest made them look very lovely, and he had even picked out a kimono that made them match each other! It was the same fabric and everything! And even GrandLady got extra fancy, wearing her necklace that Violet saw her wear a lot and a sash that…Well. It seemed so familiar. The deep purple color of it resonated somewhere deep inside Violet’s memories, but they couldn’t seem to think it over logically. They didn’t tell GrandLady Sneasler this, but it felt like the sash had been theirs at some point. They could almost picture themself wearing it around their middle. Beneath a coat, like Papa’s, but white? That didn’t make sense though. They had no reason to wear a coat like Papa. They had a very effective fur coat on them at all times, and they didn’t walk on two legs to even allow them to wear a Papa Coat.

Violet didn’t ponder it for too long. It was making their head hurt. Instead, they were on their best behavior and moved to perch on Papa’s shoulder! To see the sights while the journey was made!

And oh, what marvelous sights they were. Violet saw so many new Pokémon! Violet also saw Melli, who walked with them, but the thrill of a new adventure and something about hearing him talk while they walked made Violet very happy. Melli also complimented their vest! It was a little odd wearing a disguise and clothes at the same time, but if everything was this exciting any time they had to wear things, they’d do it whenever they were asked!

There were skuntanks like Flower, and big big biiiig Pokémon called “hippopototatamus”, and some funny frog Pokémon called croagunk and toxicroak. There was lots of mud here, in general. It seemed to make GrandLady antsy, but Violet desperately wanted to play in it some. Maybe after the ceremony, they could stop and play. Then Violet wouldn’t need to be so well mannered.

Actually arriving at the Diamond Clan Village was a little overwhelming. Very overwhelming, actually. Violet hid down in their Papa’s mane, which he had left unbraided for this exact purpose. It was very well brushed and soft, but served as a good place to hunker down all the same. They had started getting too big to hide under it when it was all braided. After some adjustments and soothing words, Violet felt comfortable enough to rest their head on Ingo’s shoulder to look out at everything and everyone. Violet had never seen this many people in their life! What truly had them enraptured, however, was the very large and very grand looking bird Pokémon that was perched near the center of the village. Violet didn’t realize they were staring until the bird looked directly at them, his crest glowing with psychic energy.

*Your kind doesn’t usually associate themselves with humans. Interesting to see.*

Violet was alarmed for a moment, looking around to see how the bird had talked to them without opening his mouth, and trying to see if their disguise had fallen.

*I am speaking to your mind, dear one. You are still hidden. Do not fear. I was merely making an observation and conversation. You do know who I am, correct? I am Lord Braviary.*

The pup tried to focus well enough to reply the same way, but everything was so overstimulating around them that it was too hard. And no one even noticed them getting so weary! It had been a long journey, after all. Violet huffed.

*I can sense your frustrations. Worry not. I can see that you will soon grow adept at speaking to minds. You will be able to communicate easier with some folk than you will others. People you know, people you have known, both will come naturally…Thank you for visiting me again, old friend. Enjoy the festivities. Don’t worry about trying to mind-speak. You’re a bit young yet…Time will nurture your strengths. For now, rest. The rituals are boring for dear ones. You will be able to play with new and old friends after the ceremony proper.*

And who was Violet to argue with such instruction, after being told such confusing and cryptic things? They fell asleep, curled up and hidden in Ingo’s hair.

Near Lord Braviary, a small girl with twin braids looked at Violet and Ingo with keen interest.

Chapter Text

Sabi considered herself many things. Charming, funny, powerful, magical, and…perhaps….even a little bit of a rascal. As such, she liked to be observant, so she could use all of these elements to her benefit when she wanted to stir up some mischief or cause a little bit of chaos. So seeing the sky-faller that Melli was obsessed with arrive? Oh, that interested her very much. And to see him toting around an Old Soul with such little worry? She looked up to her lord, giggling a little behind her palm. “Are they going to be fun, Avy?” She waited for the bird to respond, watching him take a moment to clear his crop before looking down at her.

*Wouldn’t you like to see for yourself, without me ruining the surprises?*

She clapped her hands together. That was all the answer she really needed. She was prepared to immediately run over, but whined when she felt a beak hook into the back of her hood.

*Duties first, little rufflet. I want to play just as much as you do. But we must be well behaved. Hayate has his eye on us both.* Lord Braviary cocked his head to the side, regarding his old Warden with a knowing gaze. The Warden in question narrowed his eyes, suspicious, but returned to milling about and socializing as everyone gathered. *Besides. This ceremony is important. After this, I’ll be able to take you flying all on your own, and we can visit with Warden Ingo and Lady Sneasler whenever you desire. All of Hisui will be open to your whims, so long as we get things done first.*

She crossed her arms and huffed, but feeling that sharp beak across her scalp made her shiver and pat her large friend. “Fiiiine, but the moment we have a chance, I wanna jump on him. I already know he’ll make the funniest noise. Especially if I do it when he’s in the middle of talking. He’s gonna honk like a psyduck when I do it…!” She hopped from foot to foot and shook her hands, an excited little quirk. It made the Lord Braviary chuckle, in a very odd and birdlike way with a few clicky chirps. Sabi composed herself, standing up very tall and calling out to the adults around her. “Addy-man, Warden Hay, I’m ready for the ceremony! Everyone that will be coming has arrived, Mr. Volo won’t be here though, he’s afraid of Lord Braviary! It was silly to invite merchants though, don’t you think? He’s not gonna give you any more discounts, no matter how pretty your eyeliner is or how much you flutter your lashes at him, Adaman.”

She loved the chaos that followed whenever she chose to speak. It was fun, plain and simple. Seeing Warden Hayate huff with laughter, seeing Adaman turn a bright enough red to rival Lady Irida’s headband-tiara-thingy. Sabi wasn’t actually sure what to call it. It was pretty, though.

After her call to attention, everything steadily fell into place. Guests sat on cut logs that had been pulled into rows to serve as group seating. One half sat the Pearl Clan, the other Diamond, with Wardens and Lady Irida in front. Lady Sneasler stood off to the side, ensuring she didn’t block anyone’s view by sitting in front of them. Ingo hunched over and even took off his hat to do the same, a bit embarrassed by being so much taller than the others. He was seated toward the end, Sabi noticed, with Irida on one side of him. Their relationship had been curious lately. A strong bond had formed, little ribbons of fate linking them together. Good. Everyone deserves parents who love them. Speaking of parents, Sabi grinned and held her hand up to wave to her dads, who were permitted to sit up front alongside Wardens due to their daughter being the star of the show. They waved back at her, smiling with pride.

Warden Hayate led the ceremony rather than Adaman, since he was retiring and stepping down. The ceremony was mostly the same as any other wardenship ritual. Hayate had been wearing a thick scarf, but removed it to lean down and bind Lord Braviary’s outstretched leg to Sabi’s wrist, binding them as Warden and Noble. They recited vows and hymns, praised Almighty Sinnoh, and the last two steps approached. Hayate knelt in front of Sabi, making a show of removing his warden bracelet and passing it to her. It would not fit her as long as he was still alive, but the moment he passed onto the next world, Sinnoh’s power would encompass the bracelet to ensure it perfectly fit its new owner. For now, Sabi was given a leather cord to tie it to and hang from her neck. The transferring of warden title wasn’t always the smoothest, but Sabi had to have an undeniable connection to Lord Braviary in order to be chosen by him. Hayate then passed her a celestica flute. Everyone waited with baited breath as she brought it to her lips.

A perfect, harmonious, near hypnotic melody swirled out of flute and bounced around the Mirelands. Lord Braviary responded with a piercing cry and flared his elegant wings, his crest glowing. Psychic energy wrapped it’s way around a now giggling Sabi, and Hayate’s scarf had somehow become tied around Braviary’s neck. This came in handy when Sabi was deposited onto his back. Something to hold other than his feathers. She grinned before Braviary beat the air with his wings, sending them soaring skyward. It was a beautiful sight, the two of them moving in a natural harmony in flight. Even so, Sabi knew she had gained Ingo’s attention. He was going to lecture her about safety, she knew this. It would be the perfect opportunity.

Ingo was stressed. He just saw that very small girl ride on Lord Braviary’s back without any sort of harness or tether. She just held onto a scarf. A scarf! As soon as the guests had been released from their seating, he began pacing, his eyes on the sky and not particularly paying attention to the strange looks he was getting. Lady Sneasler repeatedly tried to catch him by the waist or collar of his coat, but he would only still for a few moments at a time before he resumed his pacing. Violet was what brought him back to reality, and he hesitated. Their little bark made him tear his eyes away from the sky. They wanted to get down from his shoulder, and to go play with the other Pokémon present in the camp.

Safety Checks.

While still being mindful of the child that could plummet from the sky at any moment, he looked around. The Pokémon present were Melli’s skuntank, Flower, Irida’s glaceon, Frosta, Irida’s other two eevees, and what Ingo assumed was Adaman’s Leafeon and two more eevees.

Frosta could be trusted to watch out for Violet. Lady Sneasler could as well….he relented, unhooking Violet’s vest from the tether and holding them in front of his face.

“You are not to wander away from the other Pokémon, and you must keep on your vest and bow, and you cannot pretend to be anything other than a sneasel right now, is that understood? But bark or howl as loud as you can if you need help, and be nice. Please make friends.”

He hesitated in his movements again, blushing, but quickly kissed Violet’s little forehead and set them down. Watching them bound off to play. It made the corners of his mouth tilt up, and he let his eyes drift back to the sky.

The child was gone.

He could no longer see Lord Braviary or the child.

Oh no. Oh no no.

“Lady Irida! Have you-“

He was cut off from inquiring about the whereabouts of Sabi, as the girl had very suddenly dropped in front of him, her arms held out.

“Catch me, Mr. Ingo!”

He scrambled to comply, snatching her out of the air. The force of her falling knocked the wind out of him, resulting in him making a very undignified honk, and he could hear her giggling and squirming around in his grasp. It was almost like holding Violet, but if Violet was an 8 year old human child. It was a wonder he was still standing after such a feat. Distantly, he thought he heard Lord Braviary laughing too. His mind was in a million places, and he didn’t react or respond until he felt little legs settling on either side of his head, and little elbows resting on his scalp.

“You shouldn’t slouch. You’re going to mess up your back! And if you stand up straight, I’ll be taller! Thanks for catching me, Mr. Ingo. I knew you would!” She snickered down at him, and he sighed and resigned himself to his fate. Resting large hands on her shins to hold her there. He also fixed his posture, though it caused his spine to pop and made him grunt a little. Maybe he should listen to her. “Now you’re going to tell me I didn’t perform any safety checks, and you’re going to ask about my parents, and how I felt safe with Lord Braviary. Right?”

He was dumbfounded. And more than a little embarrassed. With him standing at his full height and carrying Sabi on his shoulders, he had inadvertently become the center of attention. Rather than scold her at all, he cleared his throat.

“Young Warden Sabi. First and foremost, congratulations are in order. I trust you will excel in your duties as warden. Yes though. The way you flew with your lord was in no way secure or safe, and if you fell, I don’t even want to think about what could have happened! You should have Melli make you a flight harness for your Lord, so that you will not fall and come to harm yourself. I would like to be directed to your parents, as I’m sure they were just as worried as I am, and I should deliver you to them….How did you feel secure on Lord Braviary like that? And how did you know all the things I was about to say?”

“I'm clairvoyant! That’s what Lord Braviary says. I could also just be very good at guessing games. I’ll consider a flight harness, maybe for other people, but I don’t need one. Wanna know why?”

“……Why?”

“Cause this!”

She very suddenly let go of him and flopped her body weight backwards, making him squawk and bend at the knees to keep upright. “Warden Sabi! If I wasn’t holding onto you, you could have fallen! And I nearly fell onto you! How does that have anything to do with- Oh.”

“Yeeeeep! Lord Braviary is psychic, he can grab me with his mind if I slip off, but he usually has a hold of my legs! Just until I get stronger that is. He says I’m still just a fledgling rufflet right now. Don’t have my full wings yet! Does Lady Sneasler ever say things like that to you?”

Ingo sighed, relieved that there were some safety measures in place. Perhaps it was something particular about him, but flight made him nervous. He’d much rather be underground where it felt safe and protected. He’d much rather be stuck on a track than falling from the heavens. He felt a little tug on his hair, bringing his attention to Sabi who looked at him expectantly. He sighed again. “I’m glad that Lord Braviary values safety. Still, you should consider asking Melli. He made a wonderful harness for my gliscor. Lady Sneasler does speak to me though, yes. Usually about what she wants for dinner, and praise of how I’ve become a proper sneasel. She taught me how to climb the cliffs around her den, where I live.”

“Oooh. I hope I get to see you climbing something! Maybe you’ll see me. Maybe you won’t! Maybe I’ll talk to Melli. You should teach me to climb cliffs! It sounds like fun! Let’s go, let’s go!”

“A-ah! Young miss, that won’t do. Your parents will worry. Where are they?”

She groaned, but leaned over his head and pointed off to the side, to two men standing together and looking over every few seconds. “They’re right there. They’re trying to decide if you’re safe or not, even though they already know about you and like you. They saw you get your wardenship, and they liked that you caught me and didn’t say anything mean about my rambunctiousness.”

He looked over to the two men, and attempted a smile. “I’m glad to have made a good first impression then. Let’s get you back into their care. Keep all arms and legs inside the car! All aboard!” With a look of determination, he set off at a bit of a trot to meet Sabi’s dads. As he approached, he heard an angry little bark, stopped, and looked down to see Violet glaring up at Sabi. He connected the dots. Oh. Oh no.

Sabi outright giggled. “Warden Ingo, you can pick up your zorua. I won’t tattle. I know this is a nice one. They can sit on me and be extra tall to make up for me stealing their spot. No one else can tell they’re a zorua though, don’t worry~!”

Ingo’s life was such a stressed whirlwind of children. Without another word he knelt down and extended his arm to Violet, who clambered up his coat and hopped onto Sabi’s shoulders. He felt a bit like a beacon of some kind. He was sure that his full height and the kids adding onto it made him look awfully silly. “See that you don’t tell about Violet. I understand that zorua are not regarded kindly in Hisui.” He mumbled, knowing that Sabi would still hear him.

“It’s sad that they aren’t. They were here first, but the world didn’t welcome them kindly. They’re all old souls. Ghosts, you know?”

“I…did not know that. That makes sense. For some reason, I thought they seemed off..I believe I may have encountered different variants of them in the past. They seemed familiar in a way that so many things are.” He sighed heavily, but schooled his features to greet Sabi’s parents. They had gotten close enough. “Greetings, sirs! I’m here to-“

“Warden Ingo is gonna take me out to catch Pokémon! Is that okay Da? Is it okay with Pa, too?”

Ingo sputtered, cheeks red and flustered. They had not discussed this at all! But before he was able to even protest (he wouldn’t have) one of the men spoke up.

“Oh, well…Yes, of course that’s fine, but you don’t have to do that for her, sir. It wouldn’t be right for us to burden the Pearl Clan, and you’re likely very busy…?” One of the gentlemen, a shorter man with slightly softer features and a bit of a bump around his middle spoke. Giving Ingo an out.

“Ah, no, it’s fine by me. You wouldn’t be indebted to the Pearl Clan in any way, helping a child to befriend their first partner is a special occasion and an honor. One that I feel might be better suited for another day, however. I’m not familiar with the Pokémon of the Mirelands, Young Warden Sabi. It would be safer and more effective for us to explore the Highlands for a partner, if you are determined to have me assist you. Would you be open to that?” He tilted his head up and back to look at the girl, and she stuck out her tongue and looked deep in thought. Humming. Her other father, a man with a beard the same color as her hair spoke up.

“My little Wasabi Pea, do not give this man a difficult time. It’s not as if you can’t have Lord Braviary take you to Moonview Arena to meet with him and Melli at some point. You’ll be fine to wait. Besides! You should enjoy your party. Adaman made sure to buy out all the spices and imports last time the Guild came to trade, so there should be some very hot foods prepared in your honor.”

Sabi used her little hands to cover her mouth, but she nodded. “Okay! Sure. Warden Ingo, make sure you’re ready to find me some Pokémon, okay? I want some good friends to protect me! You’re probably the smartest person around when it comes to Pokémon, I’ve heard from Melli, so I want your help! Got it?”

Ingo couldn’t argue with such a demand, even if the thought of Melli writing letters about him made his cheeks burn. Compliments were so very odd. “Very well, Warden Sabi. As you wish…” He paused, looking at her fathers for just a moment. “Did you wish to get down from my shoulders, or are you going to be continuing to ride down these tracks? I believe I could take you to the refreshments, if it’s alright with your fathers and if it’s something you’d like…?”

The giddy giggle of a child being spoiled with attention was its own answer, and it’s one that none of the dads present would reject.

Chapter Text

The festivities continued much the same as they did at Ingo’s own wardenship ceremony. The clans mingled and shared food and drink, did some casual trading, and attempted to tolerate each other despite the differences in ideology.

Ingo found it a bit odd that they hadn’t considered that there was more than one Almighty Sinnoh. It struck him as so strange- space and time were both strong concepts, ones that are vital to the world. Could the Almighty beings not both be of equal importance? Two parts of a whole? Like brothers, or twins, even? To him, that made far more sense than there being a so-called false Sinnoh, but he did not dare to voice such opinions. He was wise enough to know when to keep his mouth shut. Politics and religion weren’t good topics for conversation. Still….Logical reasoning led him to believe that there might simply be a forgotten brother, one lost to the ether in human recollection.

Trying to dissuade either of the clans from their own ideas would never bring any fruit, and he didn’t even deign to believe he knew the actual truth of the matter, regardless of how logical it was.

These were the thoughts rattling around his head as he listened to a very sleepy Sabi, still resting over his shoulders, rambling about the history of the Diamond and Pearl feuds, and how special warden ceremonies were because of it. She also believed it was foolish for everyone to fight all the time, though her reasoning laid more in wishing she had more children her age that she could play with. It was heartbreaking and wholesome all at once. The priorities of children were humbling.

Sabi had expressed excitement to him earlier, after they had first met her fathers and had gathered plates of food to share. Not once did she leave her perch, but she was careful not to spill crumbs all over his hair, which he appreciated. She informed Ingo that one of her fathers was expecting, and then laughed at him when he said ‘Expecting what?’, though he felt the question was justified. Being informed that her father was pregnant made him smile, and he had the delight of sharing something it made him suddenly remember. He recalled a lesson from when he was young.

Ingo was taught that adult horsea and their evolutions had the males experiencing pregnancy, in a sense, and the reason for that lesson was because he also had a ‘horsea dad’. A father that had been pregnant, and he had been the result. He couldn’t remember a name, a face, or even a voice, but it was still something to cling to. It made a pang of sorrow shoot through him, to remember something so personal, but that sorrow had remained on the back burner (whatever that was) when it came to his emotions. He had been too preoccupied with bonding with Sabi over their shared origins, and how happy it made her. Frankly, it made him happy too, to remember something at all. He felt hopeful that his memories would continue to shake loose as time passed.

When the night drew to a close and Sabi had been barely able to continue speaking, he sought out and returned her to her fathers, who thanked him for keeping her company. He waved it off with a blush, and was going to just bid the family goodnight, but Sabi interrupted to tell her dads about his horsea lesson. They adored that, and told him he was welcome to visit any time he so desired, clan politics be damned. He flustered at that, but it wasn’t anything he was ashamed of. Rather, he was quite happy to be making such positive connections! They even invited him to stay in their tent for the evening rather than the guest tents, but he politely declined.

Even if they were a very kind couple, and he was fond of Sabi, he’d much rather make the trek back to the Highlands with his Pokémon. He’d stayed far longer than he originally intended. His own ceremony taught him that he wasn’t the biggest party person…But the company of Sabi had been so engrossing that he had enjoyed himself greatly. It was also fantastic trying such different foods. True to the word of Sabi’s pa, the spread of food had many spicier options that he delighted in trying out.

This was all to say he had a very good night.

As he left the Diamond settlement, he paused to bow to Lord Braviary who had perched on a nearby tree.

“It was a pleasure to meet you and your new little warden. Needless to say, I will enjoy seeing you in the Highlands when she comes to find a partner. I’ll ask around to see what sorts of offerings you may enjoy. Please do keep the young miss safe.”

He tipped his hat and started to walk off, a sleeping Violet nestled in a sling he had made using Sneasler’s sash, tied across his body. He froze when he heard a voice in his head.

*You are a very kind soul, lost one. You have my condolences regarding your amnesia. If it is any comfort, I do not believe it to be permanent. I can see into your mind, and it is as though there is a wall keeping things from you. Continue as you are, and the wall will crumble…So I assume, at least.* The grand avian ruffled his feathers, preening himself while he spoke. *Beware the merchant, Volo. He could be harmless, but anyone who avoids myself or Lord Wyrdeer is suspicious indeed…There is something he wishes to hide. The few times I have seen into his mind, there is a wall similar to yours, but it holds no cracks and feels self made, specifically to avoid exposure. A liars palace, I’d call it.*

Ingo was stunned. For many reasons, really. Information regarding his condition, the fact that the Lord of the Skies could speak to him, the warning about Volo? His mind raced. Perhaps he should make an effort to only buy from Ginter…? He sighed, but bowed again. “Thank you dearly, my lord. It’s quite illuminating to have an assessment of my condition. I also appreciate the warning. Suspicious characters must be noted and observed so they do not disrupt other passengers.”

*Oh, and Ingo? Thank you for caring for Violet. They have the soul of someone I once knew, so knowing they are cared for in this life is a grand comfort. So you may care for them even better, allow me to impart knowledge of zorua and zoroark to you…*

Lord Braviary’s crest glowed so brightly that Ingo felt he was blinded for a moment, pressure growing in his skull making him wince and grit his teeth. Then, suddenly, all at once it was over. He didn’t feel different, but…oh. Huh.

He knew all about zorua and zoroark now.

Their past, their typing, their preferred food, their physiology, all of it.

It was odd, but….he appreciated it. It would certainly make caring for Violet even easier. He knew now what milestones they needed to hit as they grew.

He looked up to Lord Braviary and smiled, eyes soft.

“Thank you. So much. I’ll make sure Violet grows as strong and healthy as they can, I promise.”

*I know you will. Good night, Ingo. Safe travels. Be mindful of the ghosts as you go.*

With that, Ingo set off. Sneasler lingered behind to have her own hushed conversation with Lord Braviary, and Ingo took that opportunity to reach for the pokeballs he had brought with him, clicking them open to release Machoke, Gliscor, and Nosepass. He really needed to name them all. Rainbow was what the village children called Gliscor, so perhaps he would adopt it. For now, he knelt to pet Nosepass’s head. Compass would be a good name for her. He’d discuss it later, just to be sure. For now, he did need her assistance in returning to their home station. He waited for her to move herself to face north, smiling when she did.

“My lady! We’re departing. Everyone is prepared for the journey. All aboard!”

Machoke picked up Compass, and Rainbow took to the skies, gliding above them to act as a lookout and a scout for the best path. Several ghosts were out, but the haunter and ghastly stopped their stalking of Ingo when they noticed his sleeping passenger. With his silver hair reflecting the moonlight and his eyes aglow, he looked ghostly enough on his own, but having a zorua strapped to him and seeming to have the soul of someone familiar with ghosts made them wary. They gave him a wide berth, despite any desire for mischief they had. In thanks, he dropped a few dried berries and other treats from his pockets.

Ingo half expected something to go wrong during this trek back to the Highlands. It felt as though he was due for an injury or excitement. He was glad things were going well, however. Sneasler had caught up with them, and her presence deterred any rowdy poison types from causing trouble to their group. The biggest challenge was avoiding the groups of hippopotas and hippowdon. Lords, were they everywhere.

Deceiving, foul things.

He wasn’t one to dislike or fear Pokémon, but these crazy bozos could be so aggressive so fast. Quick to anger, quick to charge. None of his team knew any water type moves to blast the beasts back either. He was very very careful in walking past them, thankful that they slept at night for the most part. Still. There were not enough berries in the world to deter one from crushing him if the whim overtook them.

After much walking, sneaking, and even a little bit of flying from Rainbow, the group was almost to the Highlands. Ingo stopped for a moment, signaling that he just needed a second to rest, yawning and leaning against an oran berry tree. He didn’t regret leaving at night, but he did wish he had a nice cup of coffee to warm himself.

Coffee?

Ah. Another half memory. He’d think more about it later. In this immediate moment he needed to gather his energy to finish the final stretch of the hike back to the den. He was nearly ready to go when he felt something slither around his pant leg and start to climb up his body. It felt like dozens of little serpents were coiling around him, and he looked down with an alarmed yelp.

What he found there was not something he expected.

A mass of black and blue, with very large bright eyes that stared up at him. Crumbs of Pokémon treats littered the creature’s vines and body, making him realize very quickly just what had been happening. It made him laugh, getting the attention of the other Pokémon in his group who got ready to attack. He held up his hand to stop them.

“Woah there. No need for all that. Hello. You’re a…tangela, correct? Have you been following us the entire time I’ve been leaving treats behind?”

“Tan terr….”

“That’s quite alright. I have more. See?”

He reached into his pocket and offered the tangela a snack bar he had made using dazzling honey, berries, and oats, dried into squares. It was good enough for him and Pokémon to eat. The tangela seemed a little nervous to take the offered gift, but slowly did reach out a vine to grab it and try it. When it tasted it, it trilled happily and hopped off of Ingo, focusing on munching on the bar. He was happy to have such a peaceful interacting during his walk. It got him thinking, too…

“Tangela, would you like to come with us to the Coronet Highlands? If you do, you would be able to enjoy treats with us every day. I might ask you for some help with things from time to time, but if you decide you want to leave I don’t intend to stop you. It would be nice to make a new friend though.”

The tangela didn’t even hesitate, just making another happy sound and running in a fast little circle around Ingo. The other Pokémon, once ready to attack, now calmed entirely and welcomed their new friend into the fold. Machoke’s leg ended up being where Tangela chose to ride, clinging to her and only occasionally looking back at Ingo for more snacks.

Everyone made it home safe, and the team felt that a well earned rest was deserved. Ingo did not attend patrols the next day, instead sleeping in and getting to know his new friend.

Terry seemed like a good name for a tangela.

Chapter Text

Ingo had not forgotten Sabi’s request.

She had not yet come to visit, but Ingo made preparations each day for their outing. During his patrols, he surveyed the Highlands with his journal and made notes of potential Pokémon she may like as a partner. Sneasels were an obvious and easy option, as some of Duchess’s kits expressed interest in traveling with a human. Ingo went back and forth on that option, wary that Sabi and a sneasel may feed into eachothers mischievousness too much, but ultimately decided that so long as they were safe it was fine.

Another aspect of the potential options that he considered were type match ups. Sabi was warden to a flying and psychic type, it was safe to assume she would encounter some rowdier flying Pokémon. An electric or ice type would provide a decent counter to most flying Pokémon. Unless she used pokeballs though, they could run the risk of shocking her or Lord Braviary himself.

He could also try and find an eevee for her. That was simple and effective, she could choose any type she so desired if he located the right one, but he wasn’t even sure there were eevees in the Highlands.

Ingo sighed where he sat. His journal had been used very thoroughly since he got it. He only had a few blank pages left. He flicked through it idly while Sneasler used her claws to adjust one of the logs in their fire. Rainbow had gone out for a flight and to hunt earlier. Violet was playing a game of chase with Terry under the watchful eyes of Machoke. He really needed to come up with a name for her. He’d worry about it later, though.

“Sneasler? Did you ‘borrow’ this journal from Melli or from the Gingko Guild? I believe I need a new one. It has been over a year, and I’m running out of pages.” He paused, a realization dawning on him. “If it’s been a year, that means my birthday happened at some point. Gods, I can’t even remember my birth date. That’s…Ah.” He put his journal down and held his head in his hands. “That’s rather depressing..”

It wasn’t terribly often Ingo dwelled on his amnesia. There wasn’t much to be done about it besides writing down what he did remember, and even that was scarce. Thinking about it too hard just gave him a migraine and made him feel profoundly sad. He didn’t even know what he had lost. Who he had lost. Now, atleast, he knew he had a father that loved him, since Sabi’s pregnant pa had shaken that memory loose. He wished that Lord Braviary could just crack the wall between his consciousness and his stolen memories.

Even if he did remember though, what was he meant to do? He had accepted a sacred role, made a lifelong commitment to Lady Sneasler. He had Violet to raise. He had made a life here in Hisui. He couldn’t just leave them all behind. He wouldn’t either if it came down to it. He’d just have to find a way to balance his past life with his current one. Right? That’s reasonable, surely.

Ingo could feel his head starting to pound, so he switched gears. Sabi’s first Pokémon. He was going to ask Sneasler about that, too. When his mind caught up with him, he was surprised to find himself being held by Sneasler, who was using the pads of her paw to rub circles in his back. Violet was sitting in front of him, whimpering, and they hopped onto his lap and licked tears away from his face. Even Terry had found his way over, curling a few vines around some of Ingo’s fingers, while Machoke was holding his other hand. Their group efforts to comfort him made him sniffle before he ended up breaking into a quiet sob.

“I-I apol-apologize, I don’t mean t-to worry you all. I’m fine, it’s alright, please don’t be upset because of my derailment…” He tried to console them, but the response he was given was mixed. Violet barked, Machoke and Terry squeezed his hands, and Sneasler gently smacked the back of his head, making his hat fall over his face. He choked down a wet laugh, especially when Sneasler took the hat to put on herself.

*Papa, it’s okay to be sad. You can cry. You don’t tell me not to cry when I do.*

Violet’s voice echoed in his head, and he leaned his face down to nuzzle against their soft fur. “You’re right, dear Violet, you’re right. There’s nothing wrong with crying. I just…do not know why I’m so sad, suddenly. I’ll be fine. I promise.” He used his thumbs to stroke the back of Machoke’s hand and Terry’s vines, earning him some trills and croons from the both of them. “I appreciate you all coming to my aid. You’ll chase away my storm clouds rather fast…Your words are coming along very nicely, Violet. Don’t tire yourself out by speaking to me that way, though. I love you all the same, words or not.” He pecked a little kiss to the top of their head, staring into the flickering flames of their fire.

It calmed him. If he closed his eyes and listened, it was like someone was speaking to him through the flames. There weren’t words, but feelings. The wisps of memories. Concealed behind a fog in his mind, the touch of someone familiar, the chime of a dear friend. Someone, somewhere, something telling him to breathe in, count, and breathe out. He timed his breaths by the crackling of the fire, and when he opened his eyes he half expected the flames to be purple, for some reason. In any case…he felt better. More stable. He spent a few more quiet moments just petting and being pet by his companions, and when Rainbow arrived back from her flight, she also joined the cuddle puddle, draping herself over them all. The pressure of so many bodies around him was soothing. He couldn’t imagine being alone.

Life here was so difficult, but it was so rewarding, too. He’d made so many friends here. He had no doubt in his mind he would not have survived without them all. And how could he regret being in Hisui when it was his presence that saved Violet? He hoped that anyone who missed him was coping, and that they’d find him someday, but he was glad to be where he was in the moment, even if it hurt.

As the mood settled, he was given more space by Machoke and Terry, the two of them having become fast friends. Terry had even moved into Machoke’s den. It made him happy. It also made him happy that Violet had chosen to stay in his lap, and that Rainbow stayed resting on his back. Sneasler stood and started carefully using her claws to prop a pot up by the fire. She’d taken to learning to cook lately, though her claws limited her ability with many things. She could slice and dice with ease, but she couldn’t form the cakes she so loved. She could prepare a very tasty broth, however, and it seemed that that was what she was doing. As she did, Ingo looked up and decided to broach the subject of Sabi’s partner.

“My lady, I wanted to consult with you. What Pokémon do you think would suit Sabi well? As you know, she wants me to aid her in finding her first partner. I’ve gone over several options, but I don’t know what she might like the most. There’s many variables. I briefly considered seeing if there was a shinx she would like to befriend, but things have been tense with the local population since I was attacked. What do you think?”

Lady Sneasler tapped one of her claws on her chin while she stirred the broth she was preparing. Thinking things over. “Snrrr…Snee? Wryyy, snawr?” Ingo listened, nodding in understanding.

“I know, I know. Things will fall into place, but I still promised to have plans…you said elekid?”

“Snee!”

“Hm! I hadn’t considered them. But a young Pokémon would be good for her. They could grow up together, and elekids seem a fun option..I’ll be certain to ask her about how she feels about them! I hope the alpha isn’t agitated when she chooses to visit. If he is, I think I’ll need to go somewhere else for her.”

“Zor?”

“Heh, don’t worry, Violet. I’m feeling much better, and we will all be safe when she visits. I actually think it would be very sweet if you also helped her in befriending her first partner. You two seemed to get along very well at her ceremony.”

He could feel Violet’s tail start wagging, and while they didn’t speak to his mind or make any sounds, he could practically feel the excitement coming off of them in waves. It brought a warmth to his heart. Feeling their tail wag against also made him a bit curious, and he chose to take that opportunity to discreetly make an attempt to sex them. Every time he’d attempted to check he didn’t really see a change or notice anything different. It wasn’t something he particularly enjoyed doing either, but he wanted to be aware of any upcoming hormonal changes associated with their aging. Lord Braviary’s impromptu lesson taught him that zorua could experience a spike in aggression as they entered adolescence, and that it was typically worse in females.

He gently flipped them in his arms to cradle them and pet their tummy, taking a little peek while he did so.

Huh.

Well! The answer to that will just remain a mystery! Results were inconclusive from a visual standpoint and the last thing he wanted to do was inspect with his hands. Besides, it wasn’t terribly important. Lord Braviary hadn’t taught him that zorua were prone to any fatal reproductive illnesses that might require preventative care, so he didn’t have any concern one way or the other. If they told him otherwise, he would take note of it, but for the moment there was no reason to unnecessarily gender his darling.

His inspection had caught the attention of Lady Sneasler, who followed his gaze and snorted at him. A little growling huff was directed at him and she retrieved the carved wooden bowls they used for eating soups and stews, and he took that as his cue to assist with dinner. Violet was given a kiss on their nose and put down, and Ingo grabbed a clean cloth to wipe his hands and keep from burning himself while pouring their broth into separate bowls.

“It smells lovely, Sneasler. Thank you for handling supper today. Violet, you can have some of mine as soon as it cools. A burnt tongue hurts very badly! Is that agreeable?”

Violet answered him with a yip and a nod, but they did choose to rest their paws on his shoe and stare up at him while they waited. Sneasler held her bowl up and carefully lapped at it, taking small enough licks that it didn’t hurt her, and Ingo attempted the same. Try as he might, he did still end up burning his lips and tongue a bit, but it was nothing serious. Violet would have been much worse off. They had the funniest habit of drinking and eating that involved them dunking their entire muzzle into whatever liquid was being provided. Tragically that would burn them, so he needed to discourage it. As soon as things did cool enough, he set his bowl on the ground and watched them make a mess of themself with a grin.

Yes, life in Hisui was a whirlwind of emotions. But it was moments like these that made things worth it.

The very next morning, Sabi took flight and made her way to Ingo. She had a feeling he was actually ready to take her to find her Pokémon, now.

Chapter Text

Ingo had been on his patrol when he heard the cry of Lord Braviary echo out in the nearby area. Lucky for him, he hadn’t been far from Moonview Arena when he heard the call. It was a good place to meet, and it was near Cloudcap Pass. That pass was home to a population of elekid, electabuzz, and electivire, and that was where he felt they could start their Pokémon hunt. If Lady Sneasler recommended elekid, then he’d heed her suggestion. He looked down to Violet, who had been trotting along beside him.

“Would you like to do the honors of letting them know we’re on our way?”

*Yes, papa! All aboard?*

“Indeed, all aboard!”

He crossed his arms and waited, watching Violet take such a deep inhale that they practically turned into a fuzzy balloon. They tipped their little muzzle back and let loose a howl that was loud enough to be heard all across the Highlands, echoing off of cliffs and stone. They broke the sound into two parts, a stutter of quiet between the howl. Clearly mimicking Ingo’s own mighty call. It only took a moment for Lord Braviary to respond in turn, swooping near them with Sabi on his back, shrieking a greeting, then turning back for Moonview. It had been agreed upon that they’d meet there during any visit from Sabi, so that she might be able to check in with Melli and so the nobles could convene.

It was hardly needed after Violet’s howl, but Ingo pulled his celestica flute from his coat and called for Sneasler. He and Violet could hike to their destination themselves, but it would be easier to ask the Lady to carry them in her basket. It barely took a minute for her to arrive, looking amused and turning around. Ingo sighed gratefully. She knew just what he wanted.

“Come along, Violet. You did very well! Our Lady will take us to our destination. Speaking of: Thank you kindly, Sneasler! Your prompt arrival is appreciated.” He scratched behind her crest while stepping into the basket, making her purr loudly and turn her head to lick his fingers a few times. Violet followed along and hopped up, caught by Ingo and pulled into the cozy containment of the basket. “We’re all set, Lady Sneasler! To Moonview Arena, please!”

He felt the basket move, and the rocking sensation of being in an enclosed space in motion relaxed him. It was one of many things that brought him odd instances of familiarity, and so he savored it. If the journey weren’t so short, he very likely could have fallen asleep. Violet on the other hand was excited by the ride, pushing their face toward the small opening in the basket to look around. They barked when they saw Sabi and Braviary, and looked like they were about to disguise themself as a sneasel, but paused and tilted their head as if listening to someone speak. Ingo observed with a raised brow, and was surprised to see Violet push the lid of the basket open all on their own and hop out. Gray and blue fur on proud display, very much a zorua. Not only that, but they bounded right over to Sabi and Lord Braviary, playful in their movements. Ingo was removing himself from the basket just as he heard Sabi squeal.

“Ohhhhh! I knew you’d be cute, but I didn’t expect you to be blue! It’s like you rolled around in oran berry juice! Hi, Violet! Hi Mr. Warden Ingo! I’m here to have our Pokémon partner hunt! You’re gonna take me to Cloudcap Pass, aren’t you?”

Ingo really shouldn’t underestimate a child with powers. He didn’t know the extent of Sabi’s clairvoyance, but he wasn’t actually certain that he wanted to. So, he simply nodded, allowing a small smile to tilt the sides of his mouth up. “I am. But I do have a surprise for you and Violet. One I hope you haven’t spoiled for yourself.” He crossed his arms and popped out a hip, standing much like Sneasler tended to do. She took her place beside him, snickering a little at his stance.

Sabi tilted her head, and Ingo actually got a good look at her. He was relieved to see her dressed for the weather in the mountains, a thick furred hat and mittens. He was also pleased to see that her and Violet were getting along well. Violet had even hopped onto Sabi’s shoulders. The girl giggled, but shook her head. “I only peeked far enough to know how much to bundle up! Maaaaybe. Or maybe not! I guess you should tell me the surprise!”

He chuckled a bit. “If you say so. Well! Violet and I have been making very good progress training, so I think it’s time they try out some battles against wild Pokémon. I’d like for you to direct Violet in battle, so you may weaken the Pokémon you’re trying to catch and impress them with your combined skill. How does that sound to the both of you? I’ll also have my own partners with me to intervene should things get too hectic. I have potions and revives with me too.”

Violet shot up at the idea, yipping in excitement and wagging their tail. *I say yes, Papa! I’m strong, I can battle! I’ll battle for Sabi! Sabi, please say yes? Pleaaaaase! Please!!!* Even with them using their mind to speak to them, Violet howled along with their pleas. Sabi seemed a little overwhelmed by all the sound, and the offer itself. Lord Braviary noticed, clicking his beak and nudging his tiny Warden. Ingo grew concerned, and he lowered into a squat to be more level with Sabi. Sneasler leaned forward and grabbed Violet by their scruff, silencing them. Ingo tried to let his features soften, and even took off his cap so none of his face was shielded.

“Talk to me, Sabi. What’s the matter? It’s alright to be nervous. I’m here to help, remember?”

Sabi fidgeted a little. “I’ve never done a Pokémon battle before. I know that’s what I’m here for, but won’t hurting the other Pokémon make them not like me? I don’t think the other wardens did it like this with their partners..” She seemed almost guilty to be saying this, as if she was concerned for Ingo’s feelings. His brows raised, surprised. He had assumed she would be enthused, but he supposed it made sense. She was only 8, after all. He didn’t start his journey till he was 10, like other children.

Oh, how he wished he had time to pull out his journal to jot that new fragment of memory down. Sabi was more important however.

“Pokémon are interesting creatures. It’s true that some may not care for battling, and that there are other ways to bond with them. All of the Pokémon I have with me are, admittedly, ones I befriended through passive means. That being said, I have a…a feeling. Of how to do this. Of being around your age and being given a pokémon to take with me to go on an adventure, one where I battled many, many pokémon. My memory isn’t allowing me specifics, and for that I apologize, but I can tell you that many pokémon enjoy the thrill of a good battle. Some may join you because they are impressed with how you handled yourself and your teammate during the fight. Others may join you when you offer to heal them after. There’s also the matter of pokeballs and if you choose to utilize them. It depends on the pokémon much like how it depends on the person…Would it help you if we had a practice battle?”

Sabi took it all in, and Ingo was relieved to see some of the tension she was carrying melt away as he spoke. She rocked on her heels a little, and her hands went to her braids to run her hands over them repeatedly. It reminded him of how he would occasionally twirl the end of his braid, or flap his jacket. She seemed like she was self soothing, but he would be willing to bet she did similar things when she was excited. Just like him.

She sucked in a deep breath and finally spoke. “I think a practice battle would help a lot…Thank you, Ingo-bingo!” She grinned at him, evidently getting back to her usual self. “I don’t think I wanna keep any of my new friends in pokeballs, if that’s okay? I’m not interested in stealing time from them. I want them to be able to go anywhere they want, any time they want.”

Ingo expected as much, really, and nodded. “That’s okay. Though if you befriend anything particularly large, it might be a good idea to transport them back to your home in a ball before releasing them from it. I imagine you’ll be having Lord Braviary fly you to your parents after this?”

“Hmmmm…..yeah, probably! But I was also thinkin’ about visiting Mr. Iscan on the Coast, so we’ll see! Um, so, for the practice battle…what do I do? Violet, do you still wanna be my partner for this?”

The pup was still dangling from Sneasler’s mouth, but yipped when addressed, wiggling until dropped and bounding over. Ingo realized a small dilemma. “You don’t know what moves Violet has learned…Lord Braviary, would you perhaps do what you did for me the other day, and give Sabi the knowledge she needs for this task?” Before asking this, Ingo had not realized birds could roll their eyes, but he did earn it. He was pleased to see the transfer of knowledge occur after a moment, and Sabi looked very suddenly excited, with Violet matching her energy.

“I’m ready, Bingo!”

He supposed he had a new nickname. This is fine. If anything, it's cute. “Excellent!” He found himself falling into a pose, his hands outstretched and pointing, and in the corner of his eye he could see Lady Sneasler doing the same. He was about to make another proclamation, but halted prematurely. Sneasler looked confused, perhaps even disappointed that she didn’t get to be loud with him, but he tapped his foot and looked at the ground. “We need boundaries. For safety. Hang on.”

It took him a few minutes, but he had successfully scratched out a rough outline of a battlefield that he felt would keep the two of them from getting hurt in the midst of battle. He resumed his posing, said some flowery words he couldn’t entirely recall, and clicked one of the pokeballs he had in his pocket, releasing Terry the Tangela onto the field.

“I feel as if there are words I am meant to say now, but I do not know them. So I will instead wish you all the best of luck! Sabi, call out attacks for Violet to make. A wild Pokémon will not have a trainer, and so, I will not direct Terry. I will referee! Terry, do you understand? Everyone is on the same track? Excellent! Let the battle commence!”

Terry was quick to act, using acid spray and causing Violet to yelp, but Sabi gained a look of determination. Violet also shook off the attack, growling in place. Ingo noted with a smile that Violet was poison resistant, taking reduced damage from that attack. Sabi called out their first attack. “Nasty plot! Think of a good strategy with me, then- yes!” She giggled out, both her and Violet’s eyes aglow with psychic energy. Oh. Ingo didn’t consider the use of Violet’s telepathy as a battle asset. This would be interesting.

He watched as Violet’s muzzle ebbed with dark energy, a powerful snarl lashing against Terry, the tangela rolling back from the force of it. Special attack down. Terry seemed to have taken this into account, as they went to perform a double hit.

A double hit which did not connect, as Violet was immune to normal attacks. Ingo felt a slight chill down his spine when watching the two young battlers smile in unison, their grins nearly malicious. Violet and Sabi utilized the close proximity. “Sludge bomb, please!” Violet yipped, and performed the move that they had learned under the tutelage of Lady Sneasler. It impressed him, as the type advantage as well as the stat boost served the duo well. This wasn’t even to mention the point blank range in which Terry was hit, making the grass pokemon shriek. Terry frantically used absorb, healing himself with energy stolen from Violet, who swayed a little. “You can shake it off, it’s okay Violet! Let’s, um- swift! Use swift!”

They nodded and once again gathered energy, their mane fluffing up and materializing projectiles in the shape of stars, shooting them at the still slightly dazed Terry. Terry of course tried to dodge, but swift was a move that was impossible to avoid. He responded with another round of absorb, something that was causing Violet to buckle a bit under the attack. Ingo bit his lip, about to step in, but he heard Sabi continuing to speak to Violet. “You wanna do that? Okay! But let’s be quick!” He wondered what they were up to. Evidently another nasty plot, and another sludge bomb, making Terry trill as poison seeped into his vines and made him tremble. Still trying to attack, but the poison was taking its toll. What happened next surprised Ingo.

His hair stood on end as the area filled with a spiteful, hatred fueled energy, the source being his sweet little Violet. The pup's mane was flaring and swirling like some sort of flame, and their lips pulled back in what should have been a growl, but was more of a hiss. A dark aura gathered around them before being flung at Terry, who was hit with it so hard that they rolled back and Ingo was forced to catch them. Looking down, he could see that the Pokémon was not in good shape, having fainted. It made Ingo smile despite everything. He sat to begin patching Terry up, but looked up to Sabi and the panting Violet. “Bravo. You both worked marvelously. Sabi, I have no doubt you attempted to use your clairvoyance to see what attacks might be effective. Violet, your knowledge of your own strengths and use of telepathy to communicate with Sabi was very smart. Let me take care of Terry, and Sabi, you should help Violet heal their hurts too. I’m sure they can tell you what to use.”

And thus, Ingo snapped a revive crystal for Terry and started to shower him in praise and healing items, giving everyone treats of oran and pecha berries. One can never be too careful when it comes to poisoning. Sabi was diligent in taking care of Violet’s injuries as well. After medicine and snacks, the sun had reached its peak. The warmth and full tummies took a toll, and the group found themselves having a nap. Rest was important for proper function! They began their nap by accident when Violet fell asleep in Sabi’s arms and she didn’t want to force the pup awake. Terry had done the same to Ingo, and it didn’t take long at all before Ingo found himself propped up against a pillar with Sabi curled up against his side, having tucked herself into his coat like the young sneasels had often done. Lord Braviary and Lady Sneasler didn’t think it important to intervene, and they chatted idly and kept watch. If they thought things were safe enough for the group to rest, then there wouldn’t be issue with him closing his eyes for a few minutes, right…?

Ingo woke up when 60 pounds of child slammed into his gut and knocked every last bit of air from his lungs. He was amazed that he wasn’t angered by this, but what use would there be in being upset at a child for having fun? Sabi had flopped heavily onto him, giggling and rolling off once she saw he had awoken. “G’mooorning Ingo! You were napping too long, so Violet said I should wake you up. Apparently you’re a deep sleeper. This wasn’t even the first time I jumped on you.” She confessed her sins in a way that was nostalgically shameless. Being around other people truly did wonders for the memories that lived on in his heart. So many familiar experiences and feelings. Once again he wondered if the reason he found things like this familiar were because he had a child somewhere. He sincerely hoped not, he wouldn’t want them to miss him or to grow up without him there, if it were the case. Despite the dour thoughts swirling among joyful ones, he huffed and pretended to snore.

He heard Sabi scoff at his very clearly fake snores. Snork mimimi…snork mimimi….The silliness made the corners of his mouth tilt up while he tried holding in his laughter. He heard her boots on the ground as she stomped off, and he cracked one eye open to look where she had gone off to. Both eyes flew open in alarm when he saw her running at him full speed, devious intent in her gaze, her arms spread wide like she was a flying type preparing for take off. She jumped. She did not take off. She instead launched herself against him again, bowling him over entirely and causing him to wheeze and groan, which only made her laugh. Wicked little thing.

“Sabi! You’re going to break him, he’s ancient! He can likely hardly get up off of the ground, you’ve probably broken his hip! Didn’t your dads teach you to respect the elderly?”

Ah, Melli has finally arrived. Ingo wondered where he had been all day. The massive blade he held raised more questions than answers, but Sabi took it upon herself to answer Melli before Ingo had a chance to inquire about it.

“Smelli! He’s not much older than you! He’s only 23 or 24, I think. He doesn’t have old guy skin! See? Look how squishy his face is without crinkling!”

“Very funny joke! If he’s 23, then I’m your age.”

Sabi having said that made the frantic rush of a memory pass over him. A cake, split down the center in two separate colors. 25 thin candles atop it, a woman cheering to make a wish, and him trying to blow the candles out only for them to crackle and light back up after each blow. It was a brief flash, but he thought he heard laughter beside him, seeing a grin that hurt his heart and warmed him all at once.

Sabi and Melli were still bickering, Sabi was using her mittened hands to smush his face, but he needed to share his newfound knowledge.

“I’m 25! I just had a memory- a party or ritual, both perhaps, the marking of my date of birth symbolized by a number of candles on pastry! I remember the number because it is a quarter of a century and I was excited for what this quarter would entail- no! I would be 26, this happened prior to me arriving in Hisui of course! I heard a woman’s voice, and a man laughing! I- why are you looking at me like that, Melli? Are you alright?”

Melli, for once, had been rendered speechless, and it was because his eyes were brimming with tears. His cheeks were also heavily flushed. “You can’t be 26! It’s not fair! I’m 22! I don’t want to lose my beautiful hair color within the next 4 years! I’m very much not okay!” He got up and ran off to Lord Electrode’s arena, dropping the blade as he did so. Sabi tilted her head, looking at it, then smiled.

“Ohhh, Lord Electrode must be sprouting Voltorb bulbs again! You’re welcome for helping you remember how old you are, by the way. I didn’t actually know how old you were, but I thought saying a number might knock something loose, and I thought it would be funny to get Melli upset. Now let’s get to searching for a partner for me, Melli will be fine, he’s just mad because you get respected as an adult more than him, probably, and he is probably also embarrassed because if he had known you were close to his age he wouldn’t have been as nice to you. Now he has to pretend to be snootier and less obsessed with you. He doesn’t like people knowing he’s reaaaaally lonely here and that he actually enjoys your company. He was trying to pass it off as helping the old guy before!”

Ingo didn’t know whether to be insulted or flattered, but he settled on just nodding his head and trying to ignore the sounds of Melli partaking in his dramatics. Sabi was right. They had Pokémon to catch.

Chapter Text

Ingo found himself surprised that Melli hadn’t taken notice of Violet before he ran off. The pup hadn’t bothered to disguise themself with any sort of illusion when the fellow had stormed over to come to Ingo’s defense. Even if it was in a rather backhanded way. He really did not think he looked old. But…he also didn’t look at his reflection often. It hurt something inside of him, so he kept it limited to his few attempts at shaving. Attempt being the key word. He had given himself a rather nasty scar along his jaw before he decided he would just let his little beard grow. Sometimes he considered asking Sneasler to try doing it with her claws, but that seemed more risky.

Learning he was probably 26 made him feel very energetic, and he scooped Sabi and Violet up and started to jog toward Cloudcap Pass. He noticed the nobles following after them, Lady Sneasler on foot and keeping a decent pace with Ingo, and Lord Braviary taking to the sky. “So! Sabi! Lady Sneasler and I discussed what sort of Pokémon might suit you well. I was wary of electric types at first, I did not want you to accidentally hurt Lord Braviary with your new partner, but if you are to be patrolling the skies and delegating tasks to other flying types, an electric friend might help. What do you think of Elekid? Are you familiar with them?”

Sabi had giggled when she was picked up, kicking her feet happily. “I dunno what Elekid are! I mostly know the Pokémon that live in the Mirelands and in the Coastlands. There are some really cute fire types on Lord Arcanine’s island…is Elekid also cute?”

“I’d say so! It’s also what would be considered a baby Pokémon. They evolve into adulthood! This means that the two of you can grow and learn things together, as a unit.”

Ingo found himself smiling at the sounds of delight that came from Sabi, her grinning and clapping her mittened hands. The further they walked though, the slower his steps got, and the lower he crouched. Sabi was placed onto the ground, a hand raised to Ingo’s mouth to signal for quiet. Months of living in the wilderness had taught him how to control his volume when it was vital.

“Now, we’re approaching the Electivire territory. You’ll need to be quiet. There is an alpha that resides here, but so long as we don’t make too much noise we will be okay. And if we do make too much noise, I’ll pick you up and run until Lord Braviary inevitably swoops down to help. Understood?”

She nodded, and Ingo looked over to Violet who also nodded. Everyone was on the same page. This was good. Ingo gestured for everyone to follow his lead. He crouched further, slowly shuffling along the snow and through sparse patches of grass, holding his arm out when they needed to stop. He pointed ahead, looking back at Sabi. She had snuck along just as Ingo had, and even Violet had lowered themself into a stalking position on the ground. Ahead of them was a group of electabuzz. The alpha electivire wasn’t present, likely off somewhere else.

Ingo noticed an absence, and looked around for Lady Sneasler. When he saw her perched on a cliff above them he felt relief. He had plans of how to protect them, but Sneasler being there in case things get dicey was a comfort, as was the silhouette of Lord Braviary circling overhead. Ingo let his eyes return to the electabuzz population, and for a moment, he thought they might not have any elekid at present. He thought he had seen some when he previously visited the area, but perhaps he was mistaken? That is, until he felt Sabi insistently tugging his sleeve and whispering to him. She sounded almost reverent and she pointed to something.

“Bingo…..what is that? That little one? Is it the elekid…?”

He followed her finger, and he gasped a little. “Indeed it is. I take it you approve of the pokémon on an aesthetic level? That’s not the most important factor, but it is nice to find them fun and cute.” He spoke in a hushed whisper, not having any need to project his voice in the slightest with how she had moved to practically crouch beneath him. Like she was using him to protect and shield her from anything that might try and harm her. He didn’t mind. Ingo did have to suppress a chuckle when she nodded her head so frantically her hat almost fell off.

“I love it. I already know we’re gonna be best friends. I just…don’t know how to do it…” She sounded a touch disheartened, and that wouldn’t do at all. He gave her shoulder a little pat with one hand, the other pulling a handful of treats from his pocket. This was one of the sweeter ones he had made, and one of Violet’s favorites. He made sure to give them one before placing the rest in Sabi’s mittened hand. They’d been wrapped in a clean cloth before, so they thankfully had no lint stuck into them.

“Here. Food can be a powerful motivator and a good way to make a new friend. Don’t walk out into the open, but toss some toward the pokémon to lure it closer to us…have a little for yourself too. It’s grains from the mirelands and some razz berries, cooked and formed with combee honey. I’m quite proud of them…”

He couldn’t help but puff out his chest a little when Sabi took a big bite and wiggled around, clearly delighted with his cooking. It made him feel pleasantly warm to have someone new enjoy what he had cooked. After the taste test, Sabi indeed chucked one of the razzbars out toward the elekid. It looked up and he could feel her tense, but it had seen the movement of the bar landing, not either of them. He rubbed a soothing circle onto her back, watching to see how the elekid responded to the treat.

It was a success! The creature practically inhaled the snack, sniffing around to try and find more. Ingo smiled at this. “You’ve got the idea, now. Would you like more advice, or do you want to choose how to proceed?” He mumbled into her ear, and she reached up to pat his cheek.

“I think I have a good idea, and Violet can help…! Violet, you’re a zorua, can you disguise yourself as another elekid and share the treats? Maybe if we ask nicely the elekid won’t even wanna fight!” She was having trouble keeping her voice down, but the electabuzz were far enough not to hear her and the elekid was too busy searching for more tasty treats to hear her. Violet seemed to think for a moment, nodded, and closed their eyes. Their mane glowed blue and engulfed them, leaving them standing with a yellow elekid body rather than the gray zorua one. Their bow remained. They held their hands out for some of the treats. After Sabi handed them over, Violet toddled off toward the baby pokémon.

It looked like it wouldn’t work, initially, as the other elekid seemed startled by Violet’s presence. But when it noticed the treats, it paused. Violet held them out and squeaked, talking to the pokémon. They seemed to be amicable! Things were going well! Violet was putting up a good act, even pointing over to where Sabi and Ingo were hidden. Telling Elekid where treats were perhaps? The elekid was curious, starting to head over, with Violet turning to follow.

Unfortunately, Violet was not as accustomed to disguising themself as anything other than a sneasel. They did not notice their tail having pomfed out of the illusion, wagging in a very merry fashion. The Elekid noticed. By extension, a nearby electabuzz had too, and they started to buzz and hiss in aggression. Violet turned just in time to get hit with some sparking attack, their illusion dropping entirely as they yelped. They held their ground despite the jolts hitting their muscles, and even moved to place themself between the humans and their attackers. Defending. Before Ingo could give an order or protest, Sabi stood and called out to Violet.

“Nasty Plot and Sludge Bomb! Focus on the big one to drive them back!”

Ingo felt ice hit his veins. Metaphorically of course. He clicked a pokeball at his hip, releasing Rainbow who chittered in concern. “Supervise. Intervene if things get worse. Do not let any of the other electabuzz join the fight.” He didn’t want to ruin the confidence of either of his kids by cutting the battle short, but he needed to be tactful. Luckily, the sludge bomb and nasty plot combo worked well enough to poison the Electabuzz.

“Shadow Sneak! Wait, no, bitter malice!”

Sabi’s indecision very nearly cost the duo, as the Electabuzz lunged forward in a quick attack that rolled off of Violet in the bizarre way that any normal type attack would a ghost. Violet took it upon themself to use snarl, launching dark power at the much larger Pokémon to send them back. They followed it with a stronger bitter malice, now heeding Sabi’s actual command. She seemed shaken by the near grievous hit that could have occured, but she held strong for Violet’s sake. What parts of the Electabuzz weren’t sizzling with poison were now coated in a layer of frostbite, the chill of Violet’s malice taking a toll. The Elekid didn’t step in, and actually looked awed by the fight. No one’s eyes were on it, though. Ingo put a hand on Sabi’s shoulder to give an encouraging squeeze and she huffed.

“Now actually use shadow sneak! Hit it with a swift from behind! Catch it off guard!”

A little yip of confirmation followed, and Ingo watched with bated breath as Violet’s silhouette raced along the ground before the pup emerged behind the larger Pokémon, thrusting their sharp little paws against its back and shooting swift stars from their mane. The hit from the point blank range was devastating, and despite being far more powerful than the little pup, the Electabuzz had fallen forward in a pained exhaustion. Not a faint, but it was clear it was done fighting with what was effectively a baby. It huffed and sat down, digging its hands in the snow beneath it to show that it was no longer fighting.

Ingo was incredibly impressed. Even more so when Violet utilized shadow sneak to get back in front faster. Using moves outside of their intended attack was always something to be impressed by, and shadow sneak being used to move? Very good. He clapped, a few short bursts of sound. “Great job! Bravo Violet, bravo Sabi! You showed your strengths in teamwork very well!” He didn’t take his eyes off the Electabuzz, seeing how even it gave a begrudgingly impressed nod toward Violet. The Elekid seemed excited over the fight too, looking at them all with stars in its eyes, babbling to what Ingo assumed to be its guardian about something.

Perhaps that’s why they didn’t notice the alpha’s approach until it was too late, Lord Braviary’s alarm call being their only warning before an electrified fist connected with Violet, launching the pup into the air with an agonized howl.

Thunder punch. Even the Electabuzz and Elekid looked shocked and moved away, fearful of the Electivire’s wrath. Ingo saw red as he heard his baby howl out in pain. He still had their pokeball on him, and used it to recall them before they could land on the frozen ground. The little Elekid seemed terrified watching the alpha hit a younger Pokémon with such force, but Ingo didn’t feel fear. No, he felt rage. Rage at this alpha and rage at himself for not being more observant. The beast roared at him and Ingo was quick to shove Sabi behind him, knowing that Lady Sneasler would snatch the girl up and deliver her to Lord Braviary. He refused to leave. He whistled with two fingers between his lips, shrill enough to give the alpha pause, and he pointed at the beast.

“Rainbow, Mud Bomb, both claws!”

He clicked his belt again, and Compass was released.

“Earth Power!”

Another click. Machoke emerged.

“Bulldoze!”

He issued commands to all of his Pokémon, and the Electivire was hit with a triple volley of ground moves, causing it to roar out in pain and frustration, sending out electric attacks at random. Ingo dodged stray bits of ground that were sent flying, rolling away from rubble, but the alpha did not go down. Refused to go down. It would not yield as its lesser packmate had, and it held no mercy in its attacks. Compass was one of the first out of the fight, Ingo recalling her.

“Mach punch, Machoke, overwhelm it! Rainbow, cover Machoke and continue to use Mud Bombs!”

Ingo could feel Lady Sneasler trying to lift him to evacuate him, but he shoved his hand against her in defiance. “You got to kill the Luxray that attacked me, I’m not leaving without atleast knocking out this Electivire for what it did to Violet!” He knew he wasn’t being the most rational, and as such he was pleasantly surprised when Sneasler backed off, instead just standing near him in silent support. It made him want to grin, but the face he ended up making was more akin to baring his teeth. He could tell that Machoke and Rainbow were making progress, but they needed something larger to take the monster down. His mind scrambled for purchase against something, tugging something out of his memories, his own voice bellowing out a command that was loud enough to be comparable to an alpha’s roar.

”Use Earthquake!”

Neither Machoke or Rainbow actually knew the attack Ingo commanded them, but they were smart enough to figure out what he wanted. Rainbow landed, channeling her power into the ground around her by slamming down her pincers and tail, shaking the Earth beneath them. Machoke did the same, pounding her fists against the ground. The newly created move shook the Electivire, making it tumble like a fallen king, being hit with a painful slurry of uprooted earth and the ice that had come along with it. Rainbow and Machoke didn’t stop, not even when Machoke’s body glowed brightly and she sprouted another set of arms. The newly evolved Machamp’s additional pair of fists were the nail in the Electivire’s proverbial coffin, cracking the ground below it and making it fall into the pit that had formed. The two Pokémon ceased their attacks, exhausted, but satisfied that the alpha would no longer be a threat to their family.

The other Electabuzz and Elekid had fled somewhere during the onslaught of damaging attacks and were spared. Ingo panted despite not having been the one physically fighting, and he approached his girls and pulled them into a hug, glad that they knew what he was trying to get them to do and glad that he knew them. He was proud. They were recalled to their pokeballs, and Ingo scowled down at the once powerful alpha that was struggling to unbury itself. It only hissed at him when he approached, and Sneasler’s claws in the collar of his coat were the only things preventing him from getting closer. Even so, he leaned down slightly, his teeth still bared at the pokémon. Watching it cower away from him made his eyes scrunch up in an incredibly pleased way, but he kept any delight from his tone when he spoke.

“If I ever see or hear of you harming anyone as you did my child again, I will be back, and I will ensure that you are buried alive with no chance of escape. This is not a threat, Electivire. It is a promise that I will keep. Do not dare to use such force against another Pokémon or person if you want to keep drawing breath.”

There was something comforting about seeing such a large creature cowed, it whining and nodding in understanding. Ingo straightened, letting out a sigh.

“Let’s go back to Moonview, Sneasler. Thank you for allowing me this. All of our friends need healing and Sabi will need comfort.”

They walked down the mountain slope, not noticing the Elekid kicking rocks in the alpha’s face and following them at a distance, arms full of berries. Seems Sabi would get her partner after all, and Violet had a new fan.

Melli was standing at the bottom of the slope, holding a sobbing Sabi against his hip and bouncing her gently while she cried into his neck. He had gotten half of the story from her when Lord Braviary dropped her off outside of the arena, but his mind was flooded with barely contained worry. He tried his best to drown out the sounds of the battle, singing to her and pulling her hat further down against her ears to muffle the more distant sounds. He had been told he had a beautiful voice, so if it brought her comfort in this moment, he’d swallow his own fears and indulge her.

Many thoughts weighed on him.

Ingo was, as he understood it, fighting the alpha Electivire alone. Violet the orphaned sneasel was actually a very friendly zorua and had been attacked trying to battle on Sabi’s behalf, in an attempt to secure her an elekid partner. Sabi of course felt guilty and was insisting it was her fault because her powers didn’t warn her of the oncoming disaster, and even with his singing Melli hadn’t been able to silence that worry of hers. She whimpered and sniffled against him, and he did his best to shush her and sang to her louder every time a particularly loud blast or roar echoed down the mountain.

He flinched when he heard Ingo’s voice screaming earthquake. He felt the ground shake not a moment later, tremors reverberating through Mount Coronet. It wasn’t enough to make him stumble, and it wasn’t even enough to trigger any landslides, but the sound of it was so very intense. He watched as a bright white light flashed from Cloudcap Pass, and he moved a bit further away when the earthquake seemed to worsen. Sabi had gone eerily silent, so much so that he felt inclined to check if she was breathing. It was a silly worry, he could feel each little puff she made against his soaked neck, and her heart was beating so hard and fast that she was trembling in his arms.

And just like that, with one final loud crack, it was over. Silence filled the air and covered the land like a shroud, and Melli found that for once, he didn’t have words to speak.

What was that?

What was the light?

Should he ask Lord Electrode to check?

Was Ingo alive?

He hadn’t heard any mournful cry from Lady Sneasler, but he did spot Lord Braviary taking off to look for himself what had happened. Surely the Lord would alert them if anything were truly amiss, right?

…Right?

Sabi was just as quiet as him, but that didn’t stop him from rocking and bouncing her like she was still a toddler. Perhaps it was as much for his comfort as it was hers. The next few minutes were agonizing, and each passing second made it feel like a rhydon was stepping on his chest, easing its weight down on him in an excruciating way. He almost didn’t hear Sabi when she spoke.

“He’s okay. They’re coming back. Lord Braviary says so. That they’re close.”

Her voice cracked from crying, making her voice little more than a hoarse whisper. He felt her tense up and he was about to ask what was wrong, but she relaxed so suddenly that he was left simply trying to keep her from slipping out of his grasp.

“Violet’s gonna be okay!”

She said this with a much stronger voice, and her tone was enough for him to believe it. Sometimes her clairvoyance worked, sometimes it did not, and sometimes she received visions without any preamble. He was glad that the vision she was granted showed her an outcome that was so relieving. He had never met a zorua that was kind, but if this Violet had the approval of so many, how could he not root for the little one's recovery?

After all…Melli has always loved a good Flower.

Chapter Text

The trek back to the Pearl Clan village was always a pain, but it was one that Sumire put up with for the sake of the young Lady Sneasel. With her mother dead and gone, it was up to Sumire, as Warden of the previous Lady of the Cliffs, to ensure this little one grew up strong and dedicated to being the noble she so clearly was. This included many, many lessons, some of which Sumire had a pinch of trouble with. An easy lesson was some good, old fashioned socialization. With that in mind, Sumire hiked home with Lady Sneasel on their back. Sumire’s ninetails, Lavender, stuck close and kept them warm with her many tails. Fire types were very good companions in the mountains, and with Lavender knowing Dark Pulse from some extra training, she was able to protect them well from any Zoroark that came too close.

Thankfully, that did not happen. Despite the stories and tales, and even the real dangers, Sumire always felt that the zoroarks were given unfair treatment. Why wouldn’t they hate humans, when any time someone saw one they were chased away or hunted? Sumire wondered what a zoroark that had been raised by humans would be like. They didn’t dare steal an egg to find out though, certainly not. But perhaps if they left out food near a nest, some sort of trust could be formed…? Pokémon weren’t inherently evil. There’s always a reason for everything.

They were knocked out of their thoughts by the voices of the village's children, who cheered when they saw Sumire’s approach. It brought a smile to their face, and they looked over their shoulder and patted the Young Lady’s head. “Wake up, Young Lady. We’re here. It’s time to play.” Sumire’s voice was even and soothing, a gentle stream through mountains. Lady perked up at that, climbing out of the sling they were nestled in and hopping down onto the ground, greeting the village children with a delighted “Snee!” and running over, happily receiving some gentle pats. Sumire chuckled at the sight and continued walking, only to be stopped by a tug on the long coat they wore.

“Excuse me! Warden, did you bring us anything?”

It was one of the children, and the question had gained the attention of all of them, including Young Lady Sneasel. Sumire smirked and placed one hand on their hip, the other on their chin and hummed as if in deep thought.

“Bring you anything? Like what? Why would I do that, hmm? I never, ever give gifts. I don’t even know why you would ask me such a thing!”

Despite the spiel they were putting on, they winked and opened up their coat to reach into some inner pockets. The children squealed in excitement, but Sumire placed a finger over their lips to shush the children. “Shhh. I just told you I didn’t bring anything. Isn’t that right?” A handful of honey candies, rolled in powdered berries, were produced. Each child eagerly took one, just one, and popped it into their mouths to savor the sweet that only came from Warden Sumire. The Warden found themself unable to walk further into the village, as many of these delighted, sweet kids had latched themselves onto any part of the warden they could. Hugging legs, their sides, even hanging off their arms.

It brought such warmth to their heart, especially when the Young Lady mewled to be included, and the kids made room for their friend and future noble to climb up Sumire’s front and lick their cheek. These visits to get the young Sneasel used to humans were always eventful in one way or another. Hiking through snow and storms, having to defend against some territorial Pokémon that they accidentally trespassed, or just a detour to avoid a hazard, it all happened. Sumire was thankful today that the only challenge was the travel. That was a challenge they had mastered, and seeing all the children play so nicely with Young Lady Sneasel was all they ever wanted. She had learned to control her poison output entirely, she had such precise control of her claws and hadn’t once scratched anyone when playing. Sumire’s life was full, and they thanked the Almighty Sinnoh for their fortune.

They had a wonderful family, full of children that weren’t theirs, adult cousins who were like siblings, and even the Diamond Clan Warden Hayate, who so often stopped on the mountain for a visit, knowing that Sumire was pretty isolated in their duties in the highlands. The brightest light was the children though. They could spoil these kids and watch them grow, each and every time they visited.

Sumire may live in the mountains of the Coronet Highlands, but it wasn’t home. Home was with the Pearl Clan, in this village.

It was good to be home.

Chapter Text

The first thing Violet registered when they woke up was pain.

They remembered….battling, and winning. Then burning and flying, and a bright light before the dark confines of their pokéball. Why did it seem like it should have been different? Why did their mind drift back to blood on snow and caverns of ice…?

The second thing was hands carding through their fur. Gentle, repetitive, slow, just the way Papa would pet them. The motion was soothing the aches still settling into their muscles, only the slightest pressure present. He must be taking great care not to hurt them or wake them up.

The third thing Violet registered was voices. Old, and new. Mostly old. Melli was talking, and so was Papa. When his hand passed over their muzzle, they gave it a kiss, finally opening eyes still blurry with sleep. Papa gasped, putting his face down near theirs.

”Violet! You’re awake! I was very worried. You have some bruises, and you had some slight paralysis, but you’ll be okay. Since you’re awake, you need to take some medicine and eat. Warden Melli let us stay here while we waited for you to awaken! He is now in the know of what a cute, sweet little thing you are.”

They chose to respond to this first by kissing Papa Ingo’s nose, and then trying to blink sleep from their eyes. Melli knew now? They were going to say hello, but was cut off by a deep, heavy yawn that left them dazed, and had Melli making a choked noise.

”They’re so cute…I remember when Flower’s tongue was that itty bitty, when he was a stunky…and that blue fur! Why, they’re like a little Diamond Clan pup! Perhaps this is a sign for you to convert, Ingo.”

“No, Melli, I don’t believe I will be doing that. I made a vow and will uphold it. Will you retrieve the medications?”

“Hmph. Fine, be that way. I’ll be right back. After their little tummy is settled you need to head out, though. Sabi will be staying with me.”

“Noted. Carry on with departure.”

While that conversation went on, Violet saw some yellow horns peek over the bed they were laid on. The elekid? What was he doing here? Violet nearly growled, but the elekid spoke first.

“What you did was amazing! And your human is so brave! My momma said I could go with you all, so I’m Sabi’s friend now! Hi! She named me Zap! She’s very nice!”

Violet’s head tilted to one side, and they looked on curiously. “You mean you’re not mad that I fought with your momma? And tricked you?” This was weird. This was awkward. They only ever talked and played with their aunties and cousins and Terry and Flower. “….What even happened to me? I feel..not good.”

Zap shifted at that, looking sympathetic and scared all at once. “Our alpha was…he doesn’t like other Pokémon in the territory. Especially not ones with humans. After you won the battle, he decided to thunder punch you when you were trying to go back to your human. The human pulled you into that tiny ball and let out more Pokémon and they all attacked our alpha! He made an earthquake happen, so strong that our alpha got buried!” Zap’s description went from fearful to excited, very obviously enthused by the battle. He then grinned. “I brought you presents for when you woke up!”

Little ears perked up at the mention of presents. Violet liked presents. And they liked that their Papa was so strong. Did Zap not realize the ‘human’ he was talking about was their papa? As they processed all this, Zap had reached down and lifted up an armful of snacks, a delightful assortment of oran and cheri berries. Violet’s tail wagged, delighted by this offering. “Thank you!!!! Thank you, wow! Excellent, thank you!!! Do you wanna share??” Violet did not notice that Melli and Ingo were watching this exchange, silent. Zap gasped and nodded.

“Yeah! Yes please! What’s your favorite? Cheri berries gross me out, but I love orans!”

“My papa always fed me lots of pecha berries, so I think those are my favorite, but I love cheri berries! This is great! You can eat the orans you brought and I’ll eat all the cheries!”

“Yeah!!”

Zap hopped up into the bed with Violet, and together they shared the berries. Zap was kind enough to hold the cheri berries by Violet’s muzzle so they could eat without agitating their injuries, and even spared an oran berry to heal their hurts. The cheries aided in alleviating the paralysis that had overtaken Violet’s muscles, and soon they were able to sit up properly and continue the berry feast without aid. The two young Pokémon engaged in idle chatter while they ate, and full bellies soon gave way to the two of them snuggling up against eachother for a nap.

Ingo could not bear to interrupt the interaction between the young Pokémon, not even for something as vital as medication. He would have been more apt to do so if there were not berries being exchanged, but luckily those treats were just what his sweet pup needed right then. He was also happy to see that Violet had managed to make a friend on their own. Watching the two of them interact had him feeling at ease in spite of the events of the day.

“Were you ever going to tell me?”

Ingo turned his head, surprised by Melli having spoken. “Hm? Tell you what?”

The other man sighed, gesturing to the two Pokémon. “About them. About Violet.”

“Ah…Truthfully? I’m unsure. You must understand, I’ve learned in my time here that zorua are not trusted. How am I to know if you would have done them harm? You are a decent sort, Melli, but I only know so much about you.”

Melli looked a bit lost when told this. Ingo gave him some time to process it. Another sigh could be heard before Melli responded properly.

“I suppose I understand…But I hope that this situation has earned me a bit more trust. I don’t dislike you or Lady Sneasler, you know! I’d dare call you friends. You should be honored, really. And…try not to be as reluctant to tell me things? We’re the only humans on the mountain, most days. If there’s something you need it’s not like you have other options.” He scoffed a tad, pink dusting his cheeks. “Not that you’d go anywhere else if you did. I’ve proven myself reliable, wise, and selfless,” Melli said this while placing a hand over his chest as he so often did, a haughty expression on his face. “So in short…don’t be such a stranger, you string bean! I’ve only nursed you to health for how long, again? A long while! Hmph!”

Ingo had begun chuckling about halfway through Melli’s little speech. “You’re also rather humble, aren’t you, Warden Melli?” He was smiling in that sneasel-esque way, a habit he’d picked up since living with Lady Sneasler. “I’ll keep these things in mind, genuinely. You did a very good job at repairing my cab, and it was generous of you to let Violet stay here while they rested.” His vision drifted back to his pup, and his smile only grew. “I believe we’ll be able to depart momentarily.” He pointed, and Melli turned to look.

It appeared they changed their minds on the nap. Violet and Zap were playing, gently wrestling as elekids. The zorua pup was easy to pick out, what with their lovely ribbon around their neck…and their tail furiously wagging its way out of the illusion. Someone was already up and feeling much better! It had relief coursing through Ingo. He’d been terrified when he heard his pup’s scream, but it seems they’d make a full recovery. He had to remind himself frequently that young Pokémon bounce back pretty fast. He was so thankful he had a pokeball for his baby, too. It really saved the day.

Melli put his hands on his hips and shook his head, making his hair swish around. “It does look like you’ll be out of my hair soon…hrmph. Sabi is in Lord Electrode’s arena with my Lord and Lord Braviary. Be sure to say goodbye to her and let your Violet do the same. She’s been very worried about you both since she got back here.”

“I fully planned on doing so. I wanted to congratulate her on her new partner, as well as her handling a battle. She had a good instinct for it. I'd say her gym journey will go smoothly so long as she continues to build her team.”

“Her what?”

Ingo’s head throbbed. What was that? A gym journey? Building a team? These phrases struck something vital in his heart, but like so many of his brief flashes of memory they came at the cost of a headache and confusion. He fumbled in his coat for his journal, jotting down what he had said in his list of his own strange phrases. After massaging his temple for a minute, he had the strength to actually respond to a concerned looking Melli.

“Forgive me, I became derailed for a moment. Uh, rather, my mind was somewhere else without meaning to be. What I had meant to say was her experience as Warden should go smoothly, provided she has a good few Pokémon and support.”

Melli stared at him with his arms crossed. Looking him up and down. “Are you sure you’re actually young? Because getting words mixed up is something our clan elders do. Frequently. Often. And so do you. Suspicious…”

“I’m quite sure. That memory was particularly vivid. Thank you however for the compliment, being compared to any of the elders is a high honor, given their expertise.”

Turns out Ingo could serve Melli a little bit of snark right back. It made him chuckle, though Melli just looked flustered and frustrated. He paid it no mind, returning to Violet and gently picking them up. “Hello, you. It’s time for us to say goodbye to Sabi and show her you’re safe, then it’s time to go home for supper and actual medicine. The berries you ate with your new friend helped you for certain, but we need to be sure.”

Violet yipped in response and licked Ingo’s nose, making him chuckle. “Alright. Off we go!” He carefully tucked Violet into the collar of his coat, nestled against his braid as they liked, and took his signature point and call stance. “All aboard! Destination: Sabi!” He dutifully marched off, and didn’t even say anything about the extra passenger that had stowed away by clinging to his leg. The elekid wasn’t too heavy for him. He entered Moonview Arena and immediately saw Sabi, sitting on the ground by Lord Braviary. The massive avian had fluffed up his feathers and placed a careful wing over her as if she was a chick. Lord Electrode seemed to be trying to distract and cheer her up by spinning around and using magical leaf to make plants swirl around him. Lady Sneasler was just lounging, laying on her side with one paw on her belly and the other propping her head up. She had been very worried for Violet, but she knew how to tell if a kit or pup was too injured to be helped. This was not the case with Violet, who was very healthy, but shaken up.

Ingo softly knocked on the archway, alerting the group of his arrival. Upon looking up, Sabi looked shocked, only to immediately scramble to her feet and lunge at Ingo, crushing him in a hug that was uncharacteristically strong for someone her size. It knocked the wind out of him, and he wasn’t sure how to return it properly, so he just patted the top of her head with a breathless chuckle. “I take it you had some concerns, young miss?”

She stepped back, cheeks puffed up and hands on her hips, stance wide. Authoritative. “You made me really scared, Bingo! Where’s Violet? O-oh! You have Zap! I’m sorry for squishing you on Ingo…” She leaned down, having noticed the elekid riding on Ingo’s leg. He eagerly hopped off and went to her instead, happily receiving a scratch along his head. Sabi looked back up, and while she had been relieved to see Ingo, she was still concerned. “Is Violet okay? Can I see them? I’m worried about them too..and I wanna apologize for not being better at battling and noticing the Pokémon that got them hurt…” She sniffled as she said it, voice wavering as she did, in that way that children do before a big cry.

Ingo was about to give her his own words of reassurance and comfort, but found himself beat by his pup, who barked very loudly. Someone disagreed with Sabi, and Ingo had a feeling a psychic conversation was about to ensue. He quickly grabbed Violet and put them down before they did something silly like jump, and for all of Violet's progress in speaking with their mind, they seemed to be giving Sabi some very strong words in their own language first. Loud variations of “Rua! Ruuuff! S’neaaaRuuuu! Nee!” were thrown at the young girl. Violet panted after their own little rant, but shook their head and concentrated.

*You were GREAT at battling with me! We were an amazing team! And I’m better now! Papa says I still need to take some medicine…but our new friend brought me berries that fixed me! What happened wasn’t your fault, it’s no one’s fault but that stinky alpha, and Papa taught him a lesson! So don’t be sad and don’t cry about me getting hurt. We made a friend just like we planned to, and we did it SUPER! So there!*

Sabi still sniffled, but crouched and opened her arms. Violet didn’t hesitate and happily bounded over, putting their paws on her chest to give her face many puppy kisses while she giggled and gently hugged them. Zap joined in, the elekid making some sounds of his own and hugging his new friend and partner. Ingo wished he had a camera to capture the moment, but for the moment he settled for discreetly pulling out his notebook and quickly doing a quick and rough sketch of the scene before him. It was an important moment for both of the young ones, and an important lesson. Not all battles turn out as planned, there can be some derailment. He felt words scratching at the cusp of his mind, eager to be let out. He had to gather his thoughts, but cleared his throat to get the attention of the trio.

“Pardon me, but there is something I would like to say to you, Sabi!” He knelt on a knee to be on the same level as the girl. As best he could, anyway. “What you showed..me..was a spark as a trainer, as a warden. The combination of you and Violet was incredible! When you and someone else combine, your engine powers something special! Winning against a strong opponent is a milestone in your life. There were some delays this time, but I have no doubts you will move on toward an even greater goal!”

He lifted a hand and gently ruffled her hair. The words seemed wrong and right all at once, but he barely noticed the twinge of pain speaking his mind. The hopeful face of the young warden, as well as the inspired expressions of the two young Pokémon drowned out any negative effects he might have felt in the moment. He felt great pride in how the two had formed such a strong team, and he just knew Sabi would be able to do so with her new elekid. She seemed to agree, if the determined look her face shifted to was any indication.

“Just you wait, Mr. Bingo! Me and Zap are gonna start training right away, and when we figure some things out together, we’re gonna take you to the Cobalt Coast! There’s a Pokémon I really want there, Mr. Warden Iscan told me about it! It’s a kid too, just like me and Zap!” She was already excited for their next adventure.

Ingo had a feeling he didn’t entirely have a choice in the matter. He had been wanting to see more of Hisui anyway, and pay his respects to the other nobles of the land. He pushed these thoughts aside for now to refocus on Sabi, who was saying more. Her voice had grown softer.

“But you’re right, there were ‘delays’, and someone got hurt…So I’m gonna work really hard with Zap and bond with him, so we can show you what a real spark looks like. Addy-man and Ol’ Warden Hay’ both said they’d help me train whatever Pokémon I got today, and I know Melli would help me too, even if he tries to make a stink about it.” She giggled at her own joke. “And when I feel like me and Zap are ready, I wanna battle you and Violet! If I win, then we can go to the Coast. If I lose, I’ll practice more till I do win!”

She had ended her declaration strongly, and Ingo was incredibly impressed with her resolve. To be so well thought out at such a young age, no wonder she had been chosen as a Warden. She had incredible potential just beneath the surface of her mischievous personality.

“Warden Sabi, that sounds like a perfect plan, and I cannot wait to see how you and your new partner have grown together. Battling you will be exciting, and I can tell that Violet and your Zap are already excited by the notion.” He looked down with a small chuckle, seeing the Pokémon playfully batting at each other. “I’m afraid, however, we must depart. Violet still needs some medicine and rest, just to be safe, and you could use rest and time to get to know your new friend. Warden Melli assured me you’ll be staying with him for the night before you depart down the tracks to your home. Ride safely. Please, please consider a harness. Now that you have a passenger, additional safety measures should be taken.”

It was then that Lord Braviary seemed to join the conversation, leaning down and preening Sabi’s hair with his enormous beak. *Warden Ingo brings up a fair point, my brave little rufflet. An additional tether of some sort to keep you and your new friend safely attached to me would be wise. Discuss it with Warden Melli, won’t you?* He fluffed his feathers up and took a slight step forward, letting them ruffle and drape over Sabi to make her giggle.

“Fiiiiiiine. I guess I’ll be safer…thank you for everything today, Bingo. It was scary, but now that I know everyone is okay, I’m really happy!” As a testament to that statement, she had begun to flap her hands. “I can’t wait to tell my dads about it! But I’ll be good and wait for Melli to make Avy a flight harness. You call it safety checks, right? I’ll start doing more of them! I promise! I pinkie promise even!” She held out her hand, extending her pinkie finger.

A solemn oath.

Ingo bowed his head and curled his own pinkie around hers, sealing the deal. The pinkie promise had been performed. Before he could raise his head up and stand again, he felt Sabi’s arms once again wrap around him in a hug. Now on her level he could return it properly, and he made sure to do just that. Patting her back a few times before breaking away from the contact. He did give her head a pat for good measure.

“It’s been a big day for all of us. Let us depart, rest our cabs, and all work hard to become ever stronger and continue reaching the destination called victory!”

Other small departing gestures were exchanged before Ingo, Violet, and Lady Sneasler began their hike back home. Violet had a big day, and despite their little bout of energy when first waking up, slept the entire way back. Ingo spoke as softly as he could so as not to wake them.

“My Lady, thank you for today, and allowing me to battle the alpha. I understand it must have been hard for you. I know you value my safety greatly.”

“Hfff, snea snee!”

“I know, I know. Continuing down the tracks I won’t indulge in such reckless behavior. I would pinkie promise you, but I don’t think that would end well for my finger.”

He was gently pushed, Sneasler making the little huffing sounds she did when she laughed. As if she would actually slice off Ingo’s finger! Laughable. Ingo chuckled as well, but continued on speaking.

“I’ve been thinking…with Violet growing up, and me taking up so much space in your den, what if we expanded it?”

“SNEA?!”

“Shh, the pup is sleeping! But no, I don’t have a problem with your den. It’s wonderful and I love living there with you. It’s precisely because of that that I think we should have more space. What happens when you have a new litter of kits? I’ve seen you eyeing your daughter’s, and I can tell that motherhood is something you’re wanting to experience again. I believe digging out another separate space for me to put my bed and other belongings in would be beneficial. I have no doubts I’ll still spend most of my time with you, but we both know that sneasel kits are a rambunctious bunch. They’d shred all my bedding and clothes the instant they found them.”

Lady Sneasler considered his points as they began to ascend Clamberclaw Cliff together. Ingo may not have her wicked claws for climbing, but he had mapped out hand and footholds and could practically make the climb to the den in his sleep. Once they actually reached the den, Sneasler sighed. She gave Ingo a hard stare, then mimed covering her ears. Confused, Ingo obliged in doing so.

Sneasler proceeded to drag one of her claws against the stone wall of her den, scoring a rough outline of what appeared to be an arched doorway. When she was finished, she gestured to it. “‘Ler? Snee?” She had a paw on her hip, looking to Ingo for approval.

He nodded, grateful from the bottom of his heart. “That looks perfect, Sneasler. Tall enough for us both to get through. I assume we will work on that between our duties?”

“Snee!” Yes.

“Excellent!”

He felt Violet stir from their place tucked in his coat collar and hair, and winced a little.

“Now then…let’s attempt to get this medicine down…”

They had quite the task ahead of them, but it was to be expected. Berries are delicious, medicine is not.

Chapter Text

The sun was shining, the starlies were singing, and Lady Sneasler was looking on as Ingo sparred with Machamp. She was going easy on him, of course, but Sneasler had to admit, she was impressed with how well he held his own. He didn’t have the same bulk as the large Pokémon, but he used that to his advantage, managing to slip out of holds and duck under blows that would have otherwise struck him. This was something they had been doing since Sneasler had found her overgrown kit, and she was pleased to see it was something he kept up with. Strength was good. It also set a very good example for his pup, who was watching their Papa from the sidelines with Terry the tangela.

Seeing Ingo’s interactions with Violet, being around her grandchildren, and helping to raise Violet when they were still too young to survive without a mother’s touch…It made Sneasler realize something.

She very much wanted to have kits again. Kits that were not a human man she had adopted both as her own and as her warden. She loves Ingo, and has no intentions of abandoning him, but…she misses the adorable little ‘snee wa’ of a sneaslet.

That was all well and good, but it also meant she needed to prepare things. Ingo had a very valid point, when he suggested she expand her den. It wasn’t small by any means, but it was not large enough to handle a rambunctious litter, a young zorua, and a human man with his belongings. This did not even include her own small collection of human items that she had purchased and…liberated. They needed the space. With a sigh, she figured she may as well get to work. It isn’t hard to dig.

“Champion?” She called out to the machamp, who had finally found herself a name, “I’m returning to my den for a while. Keep an eye on everyone. Violet, be good for your Papa.”

“I will!”

With that she left, climbing up the nearby cliff face and wriggling her way into her den. With her paws on her hips, she went over what she had to do in her mind. Dig, yes, but she’d also need to gather bedding to line the new chamber of her shared den. She sighed and got to work, starting to carve out the entry based on the guideline she had scratched into the wall earlier. She grumbled a bit to herself as she performed her task, thinking about what a pain it’s going to be to haul out all of the rocks and dirt and debris later. Sharp claws dug into stone and earth, scooping it out and away, dropping it and then kicking it away so she could continue onward. She did pause on occasion, using the backs of her paws to pat the walls and ceiling to ensure any dirt was packed in properly and there was nothing loose within that might cause the den to collapse in on them all. Her ears folded back on her head while she did this, keeping the rubble from dirtying them. She wished she could do the same for her snout. Oh, how she sneezed. This would be worth it though. Just focus on wanting kits. She repeated that in her mind as she worked, focusing solely on the task at paw.

She hadn’t realized just how long she’d been digging until she heard Ingo’s flute calling to her. She leapt over the small mountain of stone she had accumulated behind her, and quickly climbed up and out of her den. Sneasler took just a moment to shake herself free of the layer of dust that had settled over her coat, then off she went. She followed the sound of his flute until they reunited, and she saw that he was leaning over a fire and working on cooking something. Dinner time? Already? Sneasler looked to the sky and saw the sun had jumped very far since she had been outside last. There could be such a thing as too focused, it seems. Ingo looked up when she approached, his own special smile glistening in his eyes.

”Supper, my lady! Buneary stew, with some crushed cheri and a few particularly plump beans in the broth, along with some salt I’ve shaved off of our main chunk. I should…really learn to make more dishes…Calaba did write down all those recipes for me…but anyway, I’ve saved the offal for you and Violet to share. I also am attempting to dry out the ears, I know that the both of you like to gnaw on those.”

Oh, her Ingo. Always so considerate, and so resourceful. Never one to waste anything. She knew he probably had the pelt processing somewhere to make more warm clothes for Irida. Sneasler closed the distance between them and licked from his forehead and past his hairline, purring. He chuckled and fixed his hat, which had been dislodged by her affections.

“That was very kind of you, Ingo. Give them here?” She held out her paws, and with a crinkle of his nose he passed a bowl over to her. His expression made her snicker, but she knew that these particular parts of prey seemed to offend his senses. A shame really. “Violet? Our treat is here. No doubt you’ve been ever so eager for it since he butchered the creature. Come out from wherever you’re hiding before I eat your share!”

Sneasler would never do such a thing, but the threat had Violet scampering over, out of a bush that they were very much planning on jumping out from to try and scare someone. They skid to a stop and panted, but looked up with pup eyes that Sneasler could not resist. “Let’s move a bit away from your papa, these snacks of ours aren’t to his taste. And…” She lowered her voice, crouching and leaning down to Violet and whispered, “I’ll give you a little extra, and he won’t even know it…!” She straightened back up and immediately started walking a few feet away, smirking when she heard the excited yap of the pup that was now hot on her heels.

“Thank you GrandLady! How far do we gotta go this time?”

“Oh, here is fine. Still in sight, but far enough that he won’t be involved.” She sat herself down upon the grass, placing the bowl down as well, and Violet sat across from her. She could see the pup wanting to dive in, but Violet had been very good at maintaining their manners. “Go on and have some. You can even have the heart this time, but I want the kidney. You remember what that looks like, don’t you?”

Violet nodded, and since they now had permission, they took their allotted share and put it in the grass next to them to eat there. Chomping away. Sneasler double checked the contents of the bowl and was content that the pup had taken what they were instructed they could have. She still ate her portion with relish, tipping the bowl so her appetizer could slide into her maw. If it were anything other than buneary she would slice it with her claws, but there really wasn’t much here in the first place. It was also small. But so delightfully flavorful and nutritious. She chewed and swallowed, thinking things over before she spoke.

“Violet, how would you feel if I were to have a litter of kits, like your Auntie Duchess?”

The zorua, who had been previously tearing into part of a lung, stopped. “Are you full of kits right now?! How??” Violet had evidently lost interest in the food in favor of this.

Sneasler’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “No! No, I am not carrying kits within me right now. I just wanted to see how you felt about it, seeing as you live in the den with Ingo and I. They would be fragile, loud, and need a lot of my attention. Is that something you would be okay with?” She anxiously awaited an answer, hoping it was one in her favor. She could always ignore the thoughts of the pup, but that didn’t feel very fair. They lived in the den too, it would affect them, they deserved to atleast have their opinion heard.

“Hmm…” Violet appeared to be deep in thought. “The kits…would I get to see them and help them too? Teach them things? Play?” They shifted around on their paws, tail low and tucked against their body, ears folded back anxiously. Sneasler stared at them a moment before she broke into a guffaw, and hurried to place a paw on the top of Violet’s head to pat them so they would know they weren’t being made fun of.

“I’m sorry for laughing, I’m sorry, but of course you could do all those things! I may make you wait until their eyes open, but I would be very happy to have your help with my offspring, Violet. How sweet of you to offer. You’d see them every day in the den. If you play though you have to be very careful. Remember how Duchess’s kits had to be careful when they played with you?”

Violet was disgruntled and embarrassed by the laughter at first, but Sneasler’s quick pat and explanation were effective in bringing Violet out of those negative feelings. Their tail now wagged, fast with excitement. “Yes! Yes, I remember. I’ll be soooo careful! Very careful, and I’ll only help if you say it’s okay and you need it, and I’ll be nice and gentle with them and protect them too!”

Sneasler smiled down at them, “Good. Then you understand! Now then. Enough talk of this. Finish your snack so we can go and eat our proper meal. I’m sure your Papa is wondering what is taking us so long.”

“Okay GrandLady!”

What a good pup. Lady Sneasler took a final few bites of her own serving of the offal and licked the bowl clean, following that with scooping up a pup who just managed to near inhale half a lung and a heart. With the innards eaten and taken care of, Sneasler headed back to where the cooking fire was. She could see Ingo carefully pouring his soup into bowls for them all, including Champion and Terry. Champion was also given a spoon Ingo had carved for her, but the rest of the group had no need for it. Rainbow the gliscor was not present, but that was only because she preferred to hunt her own meals in the evening. Sneasler sat herself back down beside Ingo, and he scratched behind her ear before offering her a bowl. She took it, placing Violet in Ingo’s hands as if trading the little one for a meal. The thought made her chuckle, but what happened next did not.

*Papa! GrandLady said she’s gonna have kits and I get to help them and play with them when they’re big enough!*

Ingo made a choked noise, and Sneasler groaned. She should have spoken to Ingo about her desire first. One can never trust a child with something they don’t want repeated.

”A-ah. Is this true, my lady? Are you, erm, expecting? You don’t look it, so I imagine it’s quite early..?”

He sounded awkward about it, likely because it was such a sudden thing to be told. Sneasler rolled her eyes and shook her head no. She spoke to him all the time, but she still wasn’t sure how much of her speech he genuinely understood and how much of it was just her gestures and body language. “I’m not expecting! I just asked Violet if they would be alright with the idea of it. I was going to ask you, too. I had left you outside today so I could begin digging out that additional chamber you had suggested. If I were to have kits, we would need the space. That is the first thing I would do before even thinking of finding a male,” She scoffed a bit, “Besides. As my warden, you must assist me. We all know I’ll do what I want, but I want to know you have the time to do that for me.”

The man looked bewildered, but that expression quickly changed.

”Of course I would help you in raising your sneaslets! I would have also helped you in expanding the den if I knew that’s what you had gone to do. Anyways, I would be delighted seeing little ones around the den. This one isn’t as little anymore!” He kissed Violet’s forehead and placed them down, beside the bowl of dinner he had prepared for them. It had cooled during the course of their conversation. ”Violet sounded excited for it. As they should be! Babies are great fun, I think. Staying with Duchess for those few weeks was enjoyable outside of the damage my coat sustained. After supper, we should all go home and see what you’ve gotten done, and help some before bed.”

Sneasler could not emphasize enough how much she adored this man. He was a very good son. She expressed this by once again licking his face and hair, amused by how his face scrunched up. Oh, right, she had just eaten organ meats. Oh well! She picked up her bowl and began to eat her dinner, alternating between lapping up broth and spearing meat and beans on one of her claws. Violet had seemed to be enjoying dinner just as much, if the loud, messy eating were any indication. They still seemed to enjoy dunking their entire face into whatever they were eating, resulting in the need for Sneasler to groom them after. She didn’t mind this. It was only a problem when the food was too hot. Ingo got over his disgust and ate his own bowl, and soon enough they had all finished and headed home.

Over the course of the next few weeks, preparations were made. Lady Sneasler and Ingo went about their daily obligations to the Pearl Clan, doing patrols and guiding travelers through the Highlands. Ingo made sure to check in with Melli, and even received advice on how to handle the little ones. Sneasler could tell he was very embarrassed to have allowed Duchess’s young to scratch him up rather than wrap his arms in thick fabric to protect them. After their daily duties were finished, they would have their big meal of the day, take a short nap, and then work on making sure the den was in perfect shape for their new additions. Sneasler would do most of the digging, occasionally allowing Violet or Gliscor to have a go at it. Violet was always told they did very well, even if most of their digging consisted of them merely playing in the dirt and eating the occasional unknown worm or grub. Ingo would busy himself with gathering the dirt and stone from the dig, loading it into baskets, and then hauling it out of the den. Champion aided in that after she saw her trainer struggling, and they quickly developed a system of Ingo loading things up and then whistling for Champion to pull a rope attached to the basket to haul it instead of Ingo. Terry…was Terry. He did not help much in the beginning, as he had no way how, but when Sneasler had finally carved out a new chamber in her den, Terry was very generous in bringing nesting materials and even sharing his vines.

Weeks of hard work, and their den had gained a new “room”, as Ingo had called it. He had moved all of his belongings into the new space, and obtained materials from the merchants to build some “basic furniture” for the room. Sneasler found it a bit silly when Ingo built a shelf, as if she couldn’t just carve those into the wall, but she had to admit she was impressed with Ingo when he managed to fashion a wooden barrier that would keep over curious sneaslets out of the room when they did not have permission.

Several weeks later, her den was prepared for young, and her body knew this as well as she.

She bid Ingo farewell for a bit, knowing he and his insistence on modesty would not fare well with her procuring a mate. What an absolute pain in her tail that was. She had always been picky about who sired her young, and now that she had others living in her den she was even more so. She did not want any suitors that would try and locate her and potentially harm her Warden and his charge. No no no, it just wouldn’t do. She didn’t want a meek mate either, as she was almost certain that quality would transfer to her young. She ended up rejecting all potential mates in the Coronet Highlands, and made her way to the Icelands. This locale was beneficial in many ways, but the most important was that any mate from here would be less likely to sniff her out and invade her den. She searched and searched, and finally found a mate that suited her taste, and they got to work. After a few days, she chased the male off and then made her way back home, certain she had done more than enough to ensure her pregnancy.

She had. Very much so. They discovered this as her midsection began to swell, and a letter was written to Lady Irida to announce the good news. It contented Sneasler quite a bit. She had raised a few litters before when she was Wardenless, but it was never without losses. This time, with Ingo with her, she was certain things would go smoothly. She had no need to hunt for food herself, Ingo assisted her in any way she needed, and even gave her a gift of a very soft and very attractive blanket that she lined her nest with. She knew it would be in ribbons by the time her kits were old enough to leave, but until then it felt very nice against her fur as she rested and slept.

Violet had been very attentive as her pregnancy progressed, and with permission would often cuddle up beside Sneasler’s growing belly and talk to the kits inside about everything and nothing all at once. It was cute, and it made her feel warm and fuzzy, even though it stirred up memories of her time with Sumire. Her warden was also a gem when she was kit bound, and talking to the sneaslets developing inside of her was one of their favorites to do. They claimed it made the kits smarter, but Sneasler was very certain that Sumire just did it out of the goodness of their heart, and their weakness for children of all sorts surely had something to do with that. Point being, it made Lady Sneasler happy to be the recipient of so much care after so long of having no one to help her.

She thought of all of this as she sat outside her den late in the night, looking at the stars. She felt a presence beside her after a while, and she didn’t need to look to know it was Ingo. Who else would it be, at this time, in this space?

“…Thank you, Ingo, for being my Warden.”

She spoke this into the night, still staring at the stars.

”You are quite welcome, Lady. It has been a great pleasure living with you. I am very excited to meet your new passengers soon.”

She leaned her head against his, nuzzling his cap right off of him, laughing a little as she did. She didn’t have much else to say, so when she did speak, she kept it simple.

“I am too, Ingo. I am too.”

Chapter Text

The news of Lady Sneasler’s first litter with her new warden traveled across Hisui, being spread by humans and Pokémon alike. Her dais was soon overflowing with offerings, ranging from food items to toys to bedding. All wild pokémon knew better than to snatch away anything meant for the Lady of the Cliffs, especially when she was expecting. Her temper could fell trees and topple the mountain if she so desired.

This was not Irida’s focus.

Her focus was entangled with the good news. And it was good news! Since Sumire’s passing, Sneasler had fewer and fewer kits, often going entire seasons without raising any young. It’s not as if they expected her to have children constantly, but a noble who did not continue their line was typically cause for concern. It was a sign of something being wrong with the pokémon, a mental or physical decline, or something out of place in the environment. So Sneasler deciding that she would have a litter this season was extraordinary. It spoke to Ingo’s abilities as a warden!

That was precisely the source of Irida’s stress. Warden Ingo and Lady Sneasler were now the talk of the village, and if anything went wrong with this litter, she knew it would be seen as a sign that he was not fit to be her warden. Irida had received extremely mixed reviews from the village elders and others. Some said he was Sinnoh-sent, a blessing to them at this time. They valued his expertise in handling pokémon, and they saw the kindness with which he treated their children. Ingo had only been to the village a handful of times, but each time left a sizable impact. Others still spoke whispers of distrust, no matter how much Irida discouraged it. They found it suspicious that he had joined the clan so quickly. Suspicious how no one had ever seen him before, questioning why he could not remember who he was or where he was from. Others blamed their distrust on the fact that he did not stay with them in the village to get to know them, but how did they expect him to do that if they also wanted him to be a good warden? It was infuriating!

So infuriating that Irida was taking extra time training with Gaeric to blow off steam. She wanted to visit Lady Sneasler and Ingo, see if there was anything she could provide before Sneasler’s actual kitting, but she’d be no use if she was worked up and irritable. Training it out was her best option. She wiped sweat from her brow and continued with her exercises, still too agitated to register anything outside of the burn in her muscles and in her heart.

Gaeric’s grunt pulled her out of her thoughts, and she looked to where he was clutching his side in the snow, brows raised in surprise. Irida found herself surprised too, looking down at her own wrapped fists and then back to her mentor. Dots were connected and she flustered, running to him to help him up.

“Gaeric! I’m so sorry! Are you okay? I didn’t mean to hit that hard!”

He snorted at her and let himself be helped up, grinning at his pupil. “Lady Irida, why are you apologizing for doing what I taught you? You got me in a weak spot! That’s good!” He slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to ruffle her hair. “I could tell you had something on your mind with that jab, though. Maybe we should take a break. You can talk to me about it and I can give you my thoughts like always.”

Relief coursed through her, thankful she didn’t seriously injure one of her wardens, much less Gaeric of all people. “Yeah…yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I do have a lot on my mind..” She started to undo the wrappings of cloth on her fists, flexing out her fingers as she did, taking a seat nearby while Gaeric did the same.

“It has to do with Lady Sneasler, doesn’t it?”

She sighed and shot him a glare. “Is it really that obvious…? It’s not just her, it’s more…it’s…well…” She hesitated, and was equal parts relieved and frustrated when the man accurately guessed her feelings.

“You’re afraid of what the elders will think if she has difficulties.”

“Yeah…That’s it.” Irida let herself flop back, basking in the cool relief of snow on exposed skin. “It isn’t like she’s never lost a sneaslet before…It’s sad every time it happens, but I just know that if it happens this time, they’ll blame Ingo, and there’s only so much I can do for him! Even if he has our Noble’s endorsement, I just worry about him being excluded, or…Or them treating him like they did Warden Sumire. And Sumire didn’t do anything wrong either…” Her voice trailed off. Recalling those upsetting times of her childhood. Sumire, who didn’t have an unkind bone in their body, of Sneasler who had not once shown aggression toward even the most unruly of clan children, their effective banishment from the village born of baseless fears.

‘But it’s not so baseless, is it?’ Her traitorous mind whispered at her, ’Lady Sneasler couldn’t save them, and she sliced you up to make you pay!’

It was just echoes of things the Zoroarks had howled at her before Sneasler laid them to rest. It wasn’t real. Remember your exercises, Irida! Remember to count and breathe…

So consumed was she with her thoughts, she was yet again startled out of them by Gaeric. Thankfully, this time it was just him pulling her up into a hug, not her having punched one of his organs. She allowed herself a whimper and curled against him. She didn’t even care if he was sweaty. She needed this. She was so stressed, she felt like her hair was falling out!

“Gaeric, being a leader is so hard..I feel like I can’t make everyone happy. The more I stick to my decisions the more I’m criticized, but if I don’t hold on to my choices, I can’t- I don’t- I don’t know what to do! Lady Sneasler feels safe enough to have a litter with Ingo as her Warden, and so many people in our village are twisting that as a bad thing! What happens if she struggles during birth, or, or if one of them gets sick? These things can just happen sometimes! We did everything we could when Frosta had her pups, but only two of them actually lived, you were there! I just don’t want Ingo to be treated bad because nature is cruel sometimes..”

She finished her much needed rant with a choked up sob, and she felt Gaeric’s arms tighten around her and his hand rubbing circles into her back. She tried to mimic the deep breaths he was taking, and tried to steady herself. He sighed a little bit before he spoke.

“Well, Irida. You’re right that you can’t make everyone happy. No leader can. Not even your mother was able to do that. And you’re right that some of our elders will be scrutinizing how things go with Lady Sneasler and Ingo. Instead of fussing, however justified it may be, why don’t we think of some solutions and precautions, huh? Some ‘safety checks’ as Ingo would say?”

Irida lifted her head from where it was tucked against Gaeric’s chest, wiping her eyes while expressing a mixture of irritation and confusion. “Can’t you just let me cry for one minute?” She snapped this, but huffed and rested her head on him again. “What could we do to help him? I’ve been trying to think of solutions but I come up empty! It’s part of why I’m so frustrated. Even if I wasn’t frustrated with the elders, I’m also stressed out about that Kamado man who started building some village near Prelude Beach. I’m…I feel like such a kid.”

Her mentor chuckled in response to her snapping at him, and just patted her shoulder in a comforting manner. She appreciated his patience with her.

“I can help you deal with the politics of the Jubilife Village mess, but that wasn’t what I was thinking about right now. I was thinking about Palina- don’t look at me like that. She’s been helping Lord Arcanine’s Lady give birth to pups since before she even became his warden. You could have Ingo meet with her and give him lessons, teach him some things about helping a lady through her birth. We know he can take care of a young pokémon, since he’s been raising the little sneasel he found, but we don’t know if he knows anything about midwifery.”

The young leader found herself confused for just a moment, before she remembered that Gaeric had no idea that Violet wasn’t a sneasel. More importantly, he had a point. A really good one. It was a fantastic idea and she was peeved at herself for not thinking of it, but her rivalry with Palina probably clouded her thoughts on that.

Still. It was a great start.

She pushed herself away from him and stood up, all bud shaking herself out of her funk, grinning. “You’re SO smart, Gaeric! That’s a great idea! He’s also said he wanted to see more of Hisui, and pay his respects to our other nobles, so that just makes it even better! Oh, I need to make sure this gets done before Lady Sneasler’s due date… I’ll need to send letters to both of them!” She bit her lip. “Do you think you could help me with the wording on Palina’s letter? Just so I know I’m not being passive aggressive or anything..she was your student too, so you probably know how to talk to her, right..?”

Another laugh from the man. “Of course, Irida! I’ve got some parchment in my tent that she seems fond of. We can work on those letters now, and go to the hot spring after. How does that sound?”

“It sounds perfect! Oh, and I can ask Calaba to teach Ingo how to make some medicines, and what ingredients to avoid for a while. He seems to stick to the same things when he cooks, but it wouldn’t be great if he tried giving Sneasler mugwort right now. Bugworts fine, but I remember what Miss Calaba told me about mugwort!”

She hopped in place. Having a plan for things was exciting and Sneasler was early enough along that it wouldn’t hurt her if Ingo went on his own little journey. Heck, she could even come with him if they took things easy! Irida started to trot her way over to Gaeric’s tent he kept near his Lord, and she could hear his laughter over her excitement as he followed along behind her.

Helping Calaba write out recipes and prepare tinctures was NOT how Irida imagined her afternoon being spent.

She thought that after her bath in the springs, she’d be able to start heading off to visit Ingo and Sneasler, but nope! She had to be responsible. Sure, she was the one who insisted on always being included in every part of running the village, but maybe Calaba could have cut her slack on her own rule this one time. Still…a good leader is one who knows her people and shares in their burdens. She also had to admit, this was sort of what she wanted from Calaba.

“Irida! Be careful with that. You’re using the dried plants, not fresh! It will rehydrate, you only fill the jar halfway, not three fourths. And make sure to label it! That one won’t be ready to bottle until about two seasons have passed.”

She had to resist the urge to whine, instead coughing into the fabric of the tunic she was wearing to protect her clothes. “Calaba, Lady Sneasler’s due date is sooner than that. Why are we preparing these now if they won’t be ready in time?” She really did want to know. So it was very unfair when she felt an old, gnarled hand tug at some of her hair.

“Silly girl. It’s because I have the same tinctures ready, and we can’t go sending things off to the highlands without having replacements prepared. Now go ahead and fill that right to the top…good. Much better than the last time. Put that top on nice and tight, too. Good.”

Okay, even if she was in a pissy mood, having Calaba praise her for pouring alcohol into a jar full of dried flowers made her smile. “Thank you, Warden Calaba. I do want to do well…and these things are important for me to know. Especially since you refuse to train an apprentice. I’m surprised you’re even letting me give some of your recipes to Ingo!” She giggled, picking up the brush she had been using to write with so she could indeed record the details of the tincture she had helped prepare. Now all it had to do was sit for half a year.

Calaba snorted, only glancing over at Irida before continuing to grind herbs for medicines. “It’s for the sake of our noble and any warden would do the same. It’s why I’ve had those few meetings with Warden Melli. He was the only soul in the Highlands for a long while, and I needed to be certain he would be able to assist Lady Sneasler should she need it. Now it goes the same for Ingo, but he is far more pleasant to be around, thank Sinnoh for that,” She stated this in a deadpan manner, looking exhausted at the mere thought of her medicinal exchanges with the Diamond Clan warden. Irida understood the sentiment. Melli was grating to be around. Especially without snapping at. “Really, I don’t know what went wrong with that boy. He used to be such a sweet, meek little thing. Pah.” Hearing Calaba talk about Melli in such a way gave Irida cause to chuckle, only to shush herself when she got a warning glare from Calaba.

“I can’t believe he was ever actually sweet…What’s next?”

“Oh, he was. Would call me ma’am and Miss Warden and even bowed. Now I’m lucky if he even offers me tea! Damned brat. Don’t- Do not laugh. I can tell you want to and I will be cross if you do.” She sighed heavily. “We’ve finished restocking the tinctures. Make a few potions with me and then I’ll see about getting you packed for an extended journey to the Coast. You can deliver Palina’s next supply drop to her, and you can take Ingo with you. If he’s not ready then that’s his problem…” She trailed off a moment. “If I was better with delivering Pokémon, I would help. My talents lie in the delivery of human babies, and I have a feeling the process is a bit different, and Palina knows that process well enough by now that she can teach it to another warden. I also hope that you two can reconnect again. Both of you girls are awful with each other.”

Her cheeks burned at the mention of her and Palina’s feud. It was a silly, petty thing, but it was still something that’s continued to go on for far too long. Irida liked Palina! Loved her, even, she really helped her out after her mom passed on, but…things had always been tense between them. Sometimes it was friendly rivalry, sometimes it was something more sour. Lately they simply hadn’t talked aside from discussing clan matters. Perhaps Calaba had a point.

No matter. Irida shook herself out of that funk and started gathering the materials for potion making. There were a few different ways to do it, but since she had the time and resources, she decided to use some heat to let the ingredients mingle a bit better. She got some water boiling, and started juicing the oran berries on muscle memory alone while talking to Calaba.

“I really wish you wouldn’t bring her up like that. You know we aren’t terrible to each other. We’ve just fallen out of touch, like you said. It’s fine. I can do her supply drop, no problem, and I can help Ingo there. Gaeric already told me he’d take care of things while I’m away, but I shouldn’t be for too long. A few days maybe, depending on how fast we can get there. I’ll probably need to fly there…augh. I wish eevees had a flying evolution!” She paused her juicing momentarily, but not long enough for her to get scolded over it. “I’ll have to see if Ingo’s gliscor can carry both of us, or if he has another pokemon that can fly, it’s a long hike to the Coasts..”

She finished her juicing as she thought out loud. Next came the medicinal leeks. She chopped them up, ensuring there were plenty of opportunities for its healing juices to seep out. The juice and the leek chunks went into the pot, stirred in and covered up, left to boil and simmer until she felt like everything was sufficiently infused. It was an easy medicine. After a moment of thought, she grabbed some pep-up plant petals and vivichokes to add in as well. It never hurts to make it a bit stronger! Not with these ingredients. After a quick chop they went into the pot as well. She stirred once more, making sure things were well mixed, and covered the pot yet again. Irida jolted a bit when she felt a hand briefly pat her shoulder, but settled down when she realized it was just Calaba.

“You did good, thinking to add more ingredients to enhance the potion. You’ll be able to go much farther with much less. At any rate you’ll be able to make sure Ingo knows what he’s doing. You go on and on about how I won’t take an apprentice, but I see one right here, in you. You excel in everything you try, Irida. Besides, I’m not that old.”

“…Calaba, you’re 97.”

“Hush. I’ll have Chomp bite you.”

Calaba’s bibarel, who had been napping in a corner of the med tent, tilted his head up and let out a soft sound upon hearing his name. “Bi?”

Calaba rolled her eyes and sighed, going over to the beast that was as ancient as her to give him a scratch, which he accepted eagerly. His flat tail slapped the ground, and Irida giggled. “I’ll hush. I wouldn’t want that terrifying monster's teeth in me. Then I wouldn’t be able to do all the things you tell me to do!” She grinned when she saw Calaba put her hands on her hips and shoot her a dirty look. “Okay, okay! I’m sorry, I’ll stop sassing you, Warden. Thank you for the praise. It really does mean a lot. You’ve helped me so much since I became leader, and even before that. I really don’t know what I’d do without you. And I know that Chomp got his name for a reason. I really don’t want him to bite me. He’s a good boy when he doesn’t bite, isn’t he?” She watched that flat tail slap the ground even faster, Chomp making a chattering sound of agreement that got his partner to chuckle.

“You’re right, I have helped you, and he is a good boy. What would you do without me? Hmm…Well,” She began, looking past Irida with a smirk. “Without me, your potion might boil over.” She pointed but didn’t move to help, instead sitting down beside Chomp to continue scratching his head and ears. Irida whirled around, yelped, and was quick to remove her pot from the flame and set it aside to let it cool. Calaba snorted, but had a fond smile on her face by the time Irida turned back around. “You’ve done good these years, Irida. It was a lot of pressure put on you so young…I’m sorry we did that to you, but I wouldn’t want anyone else to lead our clan into the next generation. You’re still young of course, only 17, but…I suppose I’m trying to be a sap and say I’m proud of you.”

“…You have been very sappy today, Calaba. Are you okay? I- I mean, I am really glad to hear the things you’re saying to me, I am! But I just- what brought this on?” She was blushing and on the verge of tears, not having expected this. She thought she was going to just go visit Ingo after grabbing things from the tent. She didn’t expect a heartfelt moment. With her potion cooling, she was able to sit down next to the old woman, who just shook her head with a smile.

“You just looked like your mother when she was that age, is all. You’ve really flourished in the past year or so, too. Well…no. A bit longer.” She scoffed, but the look was an amused one as she had a realization. “It’s that Warden Ingo. You’ve been different ever since you hauled him into this camp and demanded he be fed and taken care of.” She reached out to Irida, putting her hand on her shoulder and squeezing. “I suppose I shouldn’t keep you from him much longer then. Be sure to take Frosta with you when you go. I’ll finish up packing your medicines and bottle your potions for you. Come back here when you’re done and I’ll see you off- Oof!”

Calaba hadn’t been prepared for one of Irida’s lunge hugs, and despite her insisting she isn’t old, the damned girl still knocked the wind out of her. At least it was for something like this, something that brought another smile to her wrinkled face. She put her arms around Irida and patted her back, and very politely said nothing about the teardrops that were steadily soaking her tunic.

“Thanks, Calaba. I really…Yeah. He has helped me be more confident in my decisions. And he’s helped me a lot with Frosta, and now everything with Lady Sneasler…Still. I wouldn’t have even gotten this far without you, so don’t sell yourself short!”

The hug would have gone on a bit longer, had they not been headbutt by Chomp, who wanted in on the attention. Warden and leader laughed together and let the bibarel into their hug, and soon enough they all untangled. Irida stood to finally leave the medicine tent, but as she pulled the flap open she very nearly ran into another member of the clan, one who was looking a bit startled.

“L-Lady Irida! A Diamond Clan Warden- Warden Sabi is here to see you! She says it’s important, and that if we didn’t come get you, she’d just fly into the village, so I-“

Irida held up her hand to silence her fellow clansman, who peeped and silenced themself.

“Take me to her. If it’s Warden Sabi, she very well could have seen a danger from the sky and be here to warn us.”

There was a small ruckus toward the entrance to the village, and a rush of air pushed snow toward Irida. She shielded her face to protect it from any stray ice, and could tell the person she was speaking with had done the same. When they looked up, Sabi was in front of them hanging off Lord Braviary’s back, a big grin on her face.

“Hiiiiii Lady Irida! They were taking too long, so I came to get you!”

She was flabbergasted. “You- what?! You came to get me for what? Is there something wrong in the Icelands? Why did you just land in the middle of the village?!” Her mind shot to horrible scenarios. An avalanche, a rockslide, zoroarks ravaging the village-

“Uhm. What?” She tilted her head, one of her long braids dangling. Interrupting Irida’s spiral. “No, I just came to get you so we can get Ingo and go to the Cobalt Coast, silly. You really wanted to walk the entire way? Avy is big enough for all of us! Is your stuff ready yet, or did I get the timing a little wrong?”

For once, Irida was glad to be wrong. She let out a sigh of relief that none of her fears were true, but then just groaned. “Warden Sabi. You can’t just land in the middle of the village like that or be ominous to the guards. You had me thinking something bad was happening!”

Her mouth popped into a little o of shock, then she pulled her face back and hid herself against her Lord’s feathers. “Sorry..I didn’t think about that. I’m just excited to see Bingo again. Me n’ Zap have been training a lot, and I had a feeling you’d like a ride. I told him if I won a battle against him and Violet, he’d have to go to the Cobalt Coast with me! And you gotta go too, don’t you?” She peeked her body back out and her little face looked so miserable that Irida forgave her instantly for the fright. She would sigh and shake her head.

“Just…Give me five minutes, then we can go. Thank you, Warden, for your vision and aid that comes with it.”

Sabi grinned. “I’ll see you in three! Warden Calaba heard me and packed your medicines up! You just need your other stuff and your Pokémon! I’ll be right here with Avy! Oh, and Zap! Zap, say hi! He’s my partner, Bingo helped me make friends with him!” Her little elekid also seemed to emerge from feathers, offering Irida a wave. Irida waved back, but already she felt exhausted.

“Okay…three minutes then. But don’t move! I don’t want to come back and play chase, please!”

With that Irida was off, and preparing for a journey she’d soon be taking alongside one very considerate little Diamond Clan warden.

Chapter Text

Patrolling had gone the way it always did. Ingo would do a cursory loop of the areas closest to the den, then venture to the midway point between he and Melli’s individual boundaries to do some light socialization. Routines made him feel at peace, and as frustrating as Melli could be at times, he did appreciate the human company. If only for a little each day. He’d listen to the man prattle on about whatever was on his mind, nodding when appropriate, or giving light commentary along the lines of ‘You should!’ and ‘Oh no!’ in response to some of the gossip. It was usually gossip. Or complaints. Ingo didn’t mind. After Melli time, he would patrol the cliffs with Lady Sneasler. They climbed together, with her below him to act as his safety net. They visited the local alpha’s to make sure they were staying in their territories, and they assisted any pokemon they came across to ensure all tracks were safe for humans and pokemon alike. At the end of the day they would, predictably, return to the area around Sneasler’s den. Sometimes a pit stop would be made at Duchess’s den, depending on if Ingo felt Violet needed a pup sitter during that specific day.

When they returned this time, there was a little starly he recognized as the one that tends to deliver Irida’s letters. It was quite the distinctive little fellow, as it was missing a couple toes. Not to mention that the white spots on its face were dyed a light pink to mark it as a Pearl Clan messenger. He’d taken to calling him Zephyr, and offered a few dried berries upon his approaching.

“Hello, little Zephyr. A letter for me? Thank you very much! Rest here as long as you’d like. I do see you have a few others to deliver, but it doesn’t seem that there’s any rush deliveries.”

“Beep! Ly ly!”

“Oh I agree,” Ingo nodded sagely. “It is quite a long flight from the Icelands. But you prevailed! And bravo to that! You’ve been getting stronger, I can tell.”

He was so focused on praising the starly, petting its little head and pulling his letter from the scroll tube fastened to its back, that he didn’t notice what was going on around him until he heard a scream. Followed by laughter. That got his attention, and shortly after that, Sneasler began to frantically pat his arm while pointing at something. He looked up to see that Lord Braviary had come to visit.

With Irida and Sabi in tow.

He could also see that Sabi was encouraging him to do aerial flips and rolls, and he sighed fondly. The little hellion. No wonder Irida was screaming. Seeing fit to save her from the nausea, he tilted his head up and gave a holler.

“I’m here! Come down, please! Pull into the station safely and deboard! Stop terrorizing Irida!”

“I’m having fun!!!”

He didn’t expect to hear that from Irida, given how she had been screaming, but it made him tilt his head, wincing a little. Something about that was familiar.

’See? It’s fun! It has a big loop-the-loop at the end, Ingo!’

‘If it’s so fun, Ė̵̟̳͍l̷͉̪͈̉͘e̵̻̝͋ṡ̸̮̦ä̸̘͉́̇, why are all the children screaming?’

‘That’s part of the fun! For me and them!’

He shook his head, pushing the thoughts down, though he did grab his journal from his jacket pocket to scrawl down the memory before it faded away. He almost remembered a name. Progress! But he needed to stay in the present, and his present was that Sabi had brought Irida here.

“Fun aside, I’m sure there’s a reason for the visit, yes? Please come down!”

Truth be told, he was worried about them. He only had faith in their safety for as long as Lord Braviary’s harness held. It was strong, but he didn’t know if one would get sick from the aerial acrobatics going on. He could hear his girls groaning a little (and Sabi blowing a raspberry at him) but he didn’t care. He was just pleased that they listened at all, watching them land and dismount. Lord Braviary’s flight harness was an impressive thing, as was all of the handiwork of anything Melli made. Stiff leather straps and buckles tethered something akin to a saddle onto the back of the flying type, but it was designed in a way that did not impede flight. In addition to the saddle itself, there were several emergency tethers that passengers were hooked to. Even if there was an unexpected emergency, they’d simply dangle from him until he could get them safely on his back once more. Still. He wasn’t a fan of the idea of having that happen. When they got down he watched Sabi try to run and lunge at him, only for the same tether that kept her saddled to keep her from launching at him. She whined, and he couldn’t help but chuckle at her before kneeling and helping her out so she could bowl him over with a hug. She only stayed there for a moment, as an indignant squeak from inside her shirt interrupted them. Evidently Zap, her elekid, wasn’t a fan of being smushed.

To Irida’s credit, she didn’t rush Ingo, but she did smile and squeeze his hand once she was undone, also pulling a Pokémon from her clothes. Oh, her glaceon! A pleasant surprise. He pet the little beast’s head and let his fingers be licked, his frown tilting up at the corners. It tickled. The show must go on, however! He had words to say, and by Sinnoh, he was going to say them! He caught Sneasler’s eye for a moment and saw her laughing at him, likely noticing him getting lost in his thoughts. He rolled his eyes briefly but turned his attention away from her and to the two young ladies who had come to see him.

“I’m surprised to see the two of you together. What’s the occasion, Lady Irida, Warden Sabi?” He spoke formally despite Sabi and Zap both clinging to each of his legs. “Is something the matter?”

“I sent a letter, did you-“ “I came to get Irida to take you to the coast after I win our battle!”

Irida and Sabi spoke at the same time, and he saw Irida shoot the younger girl with an annoyed glare. Sabi answered with a little grin and a tilt of her head. Before things escalated, Ingo cleared his throat.

“I haven’t had the chance to open the letter, Lady Sneasler and I only just got back from the day’s patrols. If the letter was asking permission, Irida, of course you can accompany me and Sabi to the coastlands. If anything I should be seeking permission from you to excuse my absence from work.”

“Oh, Ingo. You don’t need permission. Just…notice. Normally! But! Since I’m here, I’ll just tell you what’s going on- I don’t really know Sabi’s deal, but I want to make sure you are more than prepared for when Lady Sneasler has her kits. Noble born kits are very special, as any one of them could be her eventual heir and become the next noble. It’s also a testament to your abilities as a warden! So…I wanted to send you to the coast! I was going to give you a few days to actually prepare, but…Sabi had other plans…?” She had a sheepish look to her, eyes shifting between them. Ingo narrowed his eyes a little. “GAH! Okay. I was going to come here first thing anyway, but I thought I’d be walking from the Icelands so it would take longer, and I had to help Calaba with- oh! The medicines!”

She abruptly turned back to Lord Braviary, who cocked his head to the side and hopped away, apparently also as mischievous as Sabi could be at times. Luckily, birds trying to hop away weren’t very known for their speed or maneuvering, and she caught up with him to grab an absolutely massive bag that clinked and rustled when she lifted it. Ingo was surprised not to see her straining at all to even lift it. How had they flown with that?! She stopped in front of Ingo and paused. Looked at Lady Sneasler. Looked back to Ingo.

“My Lady, you might need to carry some things for Ingo in your basket. Can you go get it? I know you’ll want to carry it up to your den proper!”

“Snyea!” Was the Nobles response to the request, hurrying to grab her basket and return, holding it open for Irida to pack the valuable resources inside.

“What are these medicines for?” Ingo asked, only to be scoffed at by Irida. He curled in on himself a little, embarrassed. What was he missing? She stared at him a little longer, long enough that he ended up looking down at Sabi and reaching for one of her braids to gently whap her in the nose with, much to the young warden’s delight. He ended up using his hat to shield a good portion of his face to conceal his blush when he heard Sneasler snickering at him.

“…For your pregnant noble, Warden Ingo? Childbirth isn’t exactly easy or painless. You do know this, right?” She huffed at him and he sighed.

“Of course I know that! I mean- not personally, of course, but- that is- I- Irida you could have just told me what the medicines were for without making me feel silly.”

“That’s not as fun though.”

He whipped his head up to look at her, and she had a grin on her face. He tried his best to look stern, but Irida had gotten too good at reading his expressions and ended up giggling at the amusement he was failing to conceal.

“Anyway. The medicines are for Lady Sneasler. Things to give her for pain, to help calm her down if there’s any troubles, and things that can induce labor if she goes too far over, or if she seems to be telling you it’s necessary. Calaba said that one probably won’t be needed. There’s also some things to help keep her from getting sick after! And a lot of these can be used on humans, too, but you probably shouldn’t try to induce labor on yourself. I’m unsure why you would, but I also don’t know how your body would react to that.”

Ingo actually did give her a deadpan look for that one. “Tragically, I’m incapable of giving birth, so I don’t think I’ll experiment with that medication. I…was so curious about the medicines I seem to have not asked about something vital. Why are you wanting me to go to the coastlands? I’ve promised Sabi that if she defeats me and Violet I’d go with her, but was there a reason you wanted me to go?” His snark had worn off, replaced by genuine inquiry. “I’m puzzled as to how visiting the coast will aid in Lady Sneasler’s pregnancy.”

It was Irida’s turn to be embarrassed. “Oh! I’m so sorry. I got caught up in things too! There’s another warden, Warden Palina, who lives in the Cobalt Coastlands. Her Noble is Lord Arcanine! Every year, when the Lord has pups with his mate, she assists in delivering the puppies! She’s been doing it for so long and with such success that I feel it would benefit you greatly to spend some time with her. I know you also wanted to meet more of the other nobles, and this is a good opportunity for you to! Lord Arcanine resides on Firespit Island, but the sea itself is home to Lord Basculegion, a Diamond Clan noble. His warden is Warden Iscan, and I’m sure Sabi would be willing to introduce you if you asked. Wouldn’t you?”

“Duh, I already have plans for Bingo and Iscan! Funny ones, even! Gotta take advantage of your glowy eyes….!” Ingo found himself concerned by whatever Sabi was planning, but he didn’t have the energy to protest it at the moment. “But I gotta win our battle first! Which I will! Where’s Violet?”

He chuckled a little. “Let me speak with Irida first, and perhaps by that time, Violet will be home. They’re out with Terry and Compass foraging for dinner. Now then! Irida! That all sounds wonderful. I admit, I wasn’t sure what to actually do when it came to helping Sneasler in her delivery..I don’t know how much assistance she will need if any. I suppose I assumed she would tell me. I do have a bit of a question though. Will Palina’s experience translate to Lady Sneasler’s build? She’s mainly bipedal, and….I feel I remember Arcanine being quadrupeds. Wouldn’t the process be different?”

Irida sucked a breath in through her teeth, and waved her hand in an unsure motion. “I feel like it would be different, but…I’m sure it’s not THAT different! I mean, I think she would just be teaching you things to look for? Like, when to know if you need to try and reach into Lady Sneasler to pull the kits out. Stuff like that? I think those things would be pretty much the same between species. Calaba could have taught you about human birth, but sneaslers can have like…anywhere between six to fifteen kits. Calaba doesn’t need to deliver that many babies from any human parent so she’s not really qualified. Palina is used to that though. Does that make sense?” She had been talking with her hands and not looking at Ingo, but when she glanced back up at him he looked paler than he typically did. “Are you alright?!”

“I- yes. Should….we really be discussing things in such detail around Sabi…?” He glanced down at her. This was obviously not his issue, but Sabi didn’t seem to realize he was deflecting.

“What, birth? I know how babies are made and born, Bingo! I’m not a baby, dummy.” She bit his calf through his pant leg and he grunted, gently prying her off. It helped bring him out of his funk. As was her intention. She smiled smugly as he got back on topic.

“Fine, fine, no, you are not a baby…you’re still young though..” He sounded so resigned.

The clan leader had to hold her breath to keep from laughing when Sabi bit Ingo, as well as keep in laughter at his general responses. “Why wouldn’t she know those things, Ingo? Wait- does this have anything to do with why you’re so weird about going to the hot springs with other people? Did your original culture hide things from you?” She winced. “Nevermind. I forgot about the, uh..the forgetting. For a second. What’s actually bothering you?”

“It’s quite alright, Irida. I just…I did not even think about having to reach into my Lady when assisting in her birth. I- it’s? I have large hands. Won't that hurt her?” He bit his lip and looked over toward the direction of the den. “I suppose you were very correct in assuming that I need these lessons..I want to be able to help to the fullest. I can’t expect her to be able to tell me everything in the moment, and while I can understand her..I’m sure there are some things that are lost in translation.”

“Ingo, I think if Lady Sneasler can handle pushing over a dozen living things out of her body, she can handle your hand going into it if it means saving her or a baby.” She rolled her eyes at him very briefly, but smiled softly. “It still is amazing that you can understand her though. I’m also glad you’re willing to learn what you need to!”

He tilted his frown up slightly at the young woman’s snark and enthusiasm, huffing in amusement. Ingo knew he must sound hopelessly silly. “Well. Needless to say I’ll go on this journey to the coastlands, Lady Irida! Though it is getting to be late in the day. We should not set out until morning, especially if our destination is far. I also imagine Sabi will want to begin our battle as soon as Violet returns. Which…should be any moment now. If anything, they’re late.” He frowned deeply at that, looking off toward the treeline.

As if summoned by his concern, there was the rustle of shrubbery and two tangela marched over, though one burst into a cloud of fluff near immediately as Violet’s illusion popped. They were too excited to keep it up after seeing Irida, Sabi, and Zap. Frosta too, but to a bit lesser of a degree. The pup sprinted toward them all, yapping and leaving Terry and their foraged food haul behind. Compass was following at a much slower pace, a basket balanced on the top of her flat head, filled to the brim with foragables.

Sabi and Zap were the first to greet Violet, both of them letting go of Ingo’s legs to meet them halfway and scoop them up. Giggles joined the barks, and all three ended up in a pile of limbs and hugs and puppy kisses. Ingo watched fondly, a small smile taking up his features. Violet having their own friends was something that made him very proud. Any young creature should socialize. It’s important for development! When he was younger, he…well. He’s certain he had a best friend.

Why else would his heart hurt trying to think about it?

Irida moved so she was standing next to Ingo, watching the three kids play with each other. There was a comfortable lull in conversation then, only interrupted by Terry pulling on Ingo’s sleeve and gesturing to the foraged food that had been dropped when Violet left him to play. Ingo obediently and wordlessly crouched to start picking things up, and he was pleased when Irida joined him. Carefully dropping things into Compass’s basket. By the time the two of them had everything picked up, the two young Pokémon and one young warden had tired themselves out. Violet perked up just a little and lifted their head from the impromptu cuddle puddle.

*Hello Miss Irida! Lord Braviary said you and Sabi and Zap are sleeping over and we’re all gonna go on a trip after me and Zap battle! Papa! Is that true?! We get to go somewhere new?!*

Violet had been getting better and better with their mind-speak, able to project their voice to multiple people at once. Evidently though, Lord Braviary hadn’t seen fit to let the humans hear him at that time. Ingo watched as Irida nodded and moved to pet Violet, seeing how she smiled and didn’t even hesitate.

“That’s right! I have a…friend, another Warden, who lives in the Cobalt Coastlands and knows a lot about taking care of newborn pokemon. Ingo is going to go to learn some things, so he’s well prepared for Lady Sneasler’s kits.”

*Uhm. I asked Papa, not you?*

“Violet! That was not very polite! Apologize to Irida! She was helping. She knows about this journey better than I do, it is somewhere I have never been.”

To Violet’s credit, they did seem embarrassed to have been so rude. *I’m sorry, Irida…But I really did ask Papa…Can Sabi and I go play before dinner?* The pup tilted their head, entirely unconcerned now that they had delivered their apology.

“Yes, yes…That’s fine. But don’t go too far. Sabi and Irida will be staying over with us so we can leave early in the morning. That means it’s early to bed.” He sighed, turning to Irida. “I’m sorry, Lady Irida. I believe Violet is exiting their sweet pup stage and becoming just a little more ornery, especially when things don’t go as expected. Adolescence and what not. They’re still well mannered and very good with Sneasler and I, but they’ve taken to general mischief and harmless sass.”

Irida just giggled, waving her hand. “Ingo, I’m a teenager, I understand wanting to be sassy and participate in mischief. I just don’t get the chance to do that often! Sounds like Violet is entering their teen stage though. You’d better be careful!” She snickered at him, and he decidedly ignored it and sat down over toward where he usually made his meals.

He reached for a strap on his belt and drew out a knife to start cutting some mushrooms into his pot already stationed there. He disliked using his pokeballs around Irida, but Champion had been on patrol with him today, and he did need her flame punch to get to actual work. A simple click and out emerged his machamp, who waved at Irida and knelt by the fire pit and did her task. She knew the routine by now, and leaned over to tilt her head at Ingo, who huffed amicably and kissed her cheek. After her well earned affection, Champion stood up, walked over to where Terry was and sat by him and pulled him into her lap, cooing over his vines while playing with them. Ingo watched it for a moment and wondered if romance was budding between the two. He wasn’t very good at detecting those things. With a shrug, he sliced some Cherri berries into the pot as well, letting them get a nice sear along with the mushrooms already crisping up slightly.

When Irida sat down next to him he tilted his head to look at her, and she smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay? You don’t seem upset, but me talking about Violet being a teenager seems to have made you quieter than I’m used to.”

He thought for a moment while using his knife to nudge his ingredients around. “…I suppose I’m wondering if it’s odd that I have adopted a Pokémon as my child. I don’t regret it, and Violet is my baby, but with so many people of Hisui looking at Pokémon with fear, I just worry that it is another thing that makes me an outsider.” He noticed an amused expression on Irida’s face, and it made him suspicious. “What?”

“You’re just silly. Frosta, my glaceon? I consider her to be my sister. In the clans, those of us with partner Pokémon are typically given them early and raised by their sides. I don’t know if my mom thought of Frosta as her daughter, but…I guess I don’t see an issue with it. The guild and the new village being built probably view it differently.” She scowled then. “They see Pokémon as tools or weapons. They can be dangerous, but they are living things just like us. Ugh. I don’t know if I’ve even told you about the village or their team. They’re starting to study pokémon, which is well and good, but it seems stupid that they’re just wandering around to do it. They could be asking us, the people who’ve grown up here all our lives, but nooo. And they use those pokeballs you like. I know why you use them, but with them, it really does seem like they’re just trapping them!” She threw her hands up. “And their Commander is- he’s- he seems like such an asshole! I’ve had to have meetings with him before and he’s always standing like he’s ready to hurt someone and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile.” She crossed her arms then, panting after her rant.

“Does…does my lack of smiling also upset you…? Is he perhaps just like me?”

She whipped her head up and looked aghast. “No! No he is not! And you don’t upset me! You do smile! It’s a bit different than how everyone else smiles, but your Ingo smiles are nice! This guy just….” She made a face that had her looking like she was either very ill in the stomach or wanted to kill someone. Perhaps both. It was so ridiculous that Ingo barked out a laugh and had to refocus on the meal he was cooking. “I didn’t mean to ramble about him, though. I’m hoping things get better with time. What are you making?”

Ingo chuckled. “Even if you didn’t mean to ramble, I enjoyed it. It’s a comfort knowing that I’m not strange this one time. I’ll admit I’m also just worried about Violet growing up, too. I suppose most parents have those concerns, but most parents have human children that take over a decade to mature. Anyway. I’m making some sort of spicy mushroom…thing. I hesitate to call it a soup, but it may as well be a soup. Is that alright? Soup-like foods are just very easy. I can make you something else if you don’t care for it. I’ll be making Lady Sneasler some honey drizzled bean cakes after anyway. I may be a bit clueless when it comes to this pregnancy business, but I can understand and indulge her cravings.”

“Oh! No, it smells really good, I was just curious!” She giggled. “You’re a good dad, Ingo. Can I help with dinner at all?”

“You could fetch me some water? And ask Sneasler to get the bowls and spoons?”

“I’m on it!”

Dinner was a cozy affair. Ingo’s not-soup was delicious, filling, and the cakes he made for Sneasler very clearly delighted her. The kids returned from playing and ended up piling in Ingo’s room for their sleepover, while Ingo and Irida ended up sleeping on the floor near the front of the den, by Sneasler. They had mutually agreed that Sabi could take Ingo’s bed. Sneasler’s nest was more comfortable now than ever anyway, as she continued to pad and soften it for the babies that would arrive in the future. Lord Braviary couldn’t fit in the small tunnel that led inside of the den, so he instead perched outside, using the outcrop as a place to roost for the night. Bright and early like clockwork, Ingo woke up and slapped the ground as he always did. He still couldn’t help but wonder what his brain felt like he should be slapping, but it wasn’t something he particularly swelled on.

Breakfast was simple, a scramble of eggs that Ingo had managed to sneak from some psyduck nests. He felt a little guilty about it when he did it the first time, but when they noticed one was missing they just…laid another. He also made sure to leave behind some extra food for them, like an exchange. Proteins were important, and gathering eggs was easier than hunting a stantler.

A mix of fresh berries was also prepared, shared among everyone present. Lord Braviary had gone and hunted on his own, thankfully, as Ingo wasn’t sure he had enough to sufficiently provide for the noble. He did make sure to offer up cakes and treats, and the Lord seemed rather eager to eat the egg shells from their breakfast. It was an arrangement that worked well for all involved.

With sleeping and mealtime out of the way, the moment of truth had finally arrived.

It was time for the battle between Zap and Violet.

Excitement was coursing through the highlands, Ingo barely able to scratch out a battle area in the dirt due to Sabi, Zap, and Violet all clinging to him and weighing him down. Irida had agreed to referee when the makeshift arena had finally been made, and the combatants stood on their respective sides of the field. Lady Sneasler and Lord Braviary were both watching from the sidelines, giving a few cheers for their wardens. Sabi was bouncing and flapping her hands so fast that she was nearly a blur, and Ingo managed to grin at her. His own hands were doing the same, though he wasn’t going near as fast.

Violet had a brief moment of wanting to be included in their flapping, and attempted to balance on their hind paws to do the motion with their front, and for just a moment it seemed as if their fur glowed, but the moment passed and they fell back down and shook out their fur.

*You’d better get ready Sabi, Zap! Me n’ Papa have been training too!*

Sabi stuck her tongue out and blew a raspberry at her opponents, Zap following suit. Ingo cleared his throat.

“Ahe-he-hem! Sabi! Today we will be battling to decide upon who takes me to the Cobalt Coastlands! This will be a test of your bond with your partner, and the training and teamwork you’ve put in! Please refrain from using your clairvoyance intentionally, Sabi. It’s unsportsmanlike. But…With that said, all aboard!”

The group all giggled at Ingo, but the action began without a moment to lose.

“Zap! Quick attack!”

Violet looked smug, but Ingo was suspicious. Surely Sabi knew that move wouldn’t connect. “Violet, snarl, and be wary! She must be up to something!” The pup thankfully listened, dodging out of the way as best they could and unleashing a powerful snarl at Zap, sending the elekid tumbling back.

Sabi’s cheeks puffed out briefly, frustrated but determined, and called out her next move. “Thunder Shock! Strong style!”

Ingo tilted his head. Strong style?

Oh. Oh my.

He was concerned for Violet, but….Wow! He’d need to ask about that later…

“Violet, are you alright?” A nod from the pup who was just on the receiving end of a near blinding shock. “Good. Sabi? That was amazing! Now! Violet! Retaliate with Sludge Bomb!”

The battle resumed!

But Sabi had a tactic she employed after that. Agile style Quick Attacks, but she was using them to get Zap close to Violet, putting them in range of strong style Thunder Waves to paralyze.

All things considered, it seemed to be a pretty even match, but ultimately a mix of paralysis and these strong (and agile!) style moves brought Violet to the edge. Rather than continue to battle, they made their stance clear by howling pitifully and running to hide behind Ingo’s legs. He leaned down to pick them up, murmuring praises in their cute little ears, and trying to discreetly kiss their forehead. With the pup appeased, he looked to Irida for her judgement. She had agreed to referee, and he wasn’t going to take that from her.

“I’d say you and Zap won, Sabi! Why don’t you go get the medicine from Lady Sneasler’s den and then you can heal Violet and Zap up? That’d be nice, and I’m sure Sneasler would carry you up to her den!”

Sabi had been in a state of shock actually winning, but squealed happily and picked Zap up after Irida broke the silence with her declaration. “I can’t believe we won, Zap! You and Violet fought so good! Lady Sneasler, will you please- oop! Hehe!!” She had been cut off by Sneasler scooping her up without a hint of hesitation and slinging her over her shoulder, going up the cliff side to the den quickly. Ingo smiled over at the both of them, but refocused on comforting Violet.

“My sweet Violet. You did so very well. Did you have fun with Zap?”

*…Yes, but I’m still upset I lost. How’d I beat Zap’s mama but he beat me?*

“Ah. Well, you see, when two people combine their strengths, they…” His head stung a moment, causing him to trail off. “Apologies. That felt familiar. But as I was saying, when humans and Pokémon become a team, their combined power shows in battle. Sabi and Zap are a coordinated duo, whereas Zap’s mama was a wild Pokémon that fights primarily based on instinct. With trainer battles, the trainer is able to think creatively and direct their partners as such. Does that make sense, my sweet love?”

Violet had listened in rapt attention before nodding. They still seemed rather weak after the battle, but the conviction in their gaze was clear. *I’m gonna get even stronger! I wanna be able to beat Zap and Sabi! But….I think I need a little bit of a nap to feel better…Please don’t let me sleep through our visit to the coast…I wanna see what a coast is…*

Ingo smiled and pet his baby across their head, soothing them. “Rest for now. I won’t let you sleep through our trip. I’m proud of you, my Violet.” He hummed and rocked the pup, not at all caring anymore that Irida would see the gesture.

Sabi came tumbling back down the cliff with the medicines, and patching up all the Pokémon took some time. Safety checks were made, bags were packed, Sneasler was left with a few of Ingo’s pokemon that would help her out in her tasks, and flying arrangements were made.

Finally, finally, to the Cobalt Coastlands they went.

Chapter Text

Contrary to what one might believe, being nobility did not make one exempt from the typical posturing, battles, and all out skirmishes of maintaining territory. Sure, the title of Noble and the blessing of Arceus helped, but it did not immediately guarantee safety or survival in the wilds of Hisui. The nobles were afforded a certain level of respect, typically, but that was only when they had proven they had earned it.

The newly evolved Lady Sneasler quickly learned that she had not yet earned it.

The Pokémon that had once shared her mother’s borders were gradually chipping away at what she had claimed as hers upon her ascension, and she wasn’t entirely sure how to go about it. Things would have been different if she were raised by her mother, but her mother had passed on. She only had Sumire, who despite their best efforts, was not another pokémon. They could not teach Lady the innermost intricacies of being a noble. After evolving and receiving her blessing, she had quickly grown to an alpha size, but all of that power meant nothing without knowing how to properly use it. She did not know how to assert herself to her rivals, she did not know how to be commanding yet fair, she did not know how to stand up against older and more grizzled opponents. Things were very quickly beginning to snowball. She was just over a year old, she’d just begun her reign, and she wouldn’t last the season like this if she didn’t do something soon. Offerings left upon her dais were even being stolen. This level of disrespect couldn’t be tolerated. Her warden could only do so much. It was their job to guide, not to coddle and fight battles for her.

But oh, how they tried to do so.

They had tried to be subtle about it, but she had seen. She knew they were taking her fur to faintly scent mark trees on her behalf, she knew they were using razor claws to etch out forgeries of her paw swipes on stone. She even spotted the various attacks of Sumire’s partner, attempting to defend her borders for her. The oddly colored ninetails wasn’t exactly subtle.

This just…could not go on. If things kept up, her warden might be attacked. She would be a failure at the main thing she promised herself she would do, and that was to protect the one who raised her. Sumire had protected her, she needed to protect Sumire. She also had to protect the humans of the Pearl Clan, she had made a pact to do so, but…Maybe Lady wasn’t such a good noble yet, because they came second to her. Sure she had friends there, but they didn’t raise her.

Lady waited for Sumire to settle down in their tent for the night, waiting to hear their familiar snoring. When that rumble started, she knew she could sneak off to do what needed to be done. Lavender, their ninetails, never left Sumire’s side at night. He wouldn’t be able to interfere either.

The moon was full tonight, and snow was falling onto the mountain in a way that was far too peaceful. It didn’t fit the storm inside of the Noble’s heart, lashing out and howling within her. She’d earn the respect of her denizens, and she would do this by fighting her biggest contender for the territory. She made her way up the cliffs and prowled about, listening for specific sounds. The rush of breeze, the flap of leathery wings. Her target had harassed her on many occasions. She knew this time would be no different, but she was going to use that to her advantage. As she listened, she tried to calm her raging heart, nervous energy being expelled by sharpening her claws against the rocky formations she passed. Marking territory lines. Letting her poison seep out of the glands in her paw pads to smear against stone and give no doubts as to who marked it.

She heard it.

The rush, the near silent descent of the alpha gliscor that lived here. It claimed to have shared the territory of her mother peacefully, but was adamant on trying to drive Lady out. She braced for the attack she knew was coming for her. She had no hope of dodging an aerial ace maneuver. Heavy claws and tail slammed into her with the full force of the sky, knocking wind out of her and making her knees shake. With the hit achieved, the gliscor fully expected Lady to flee like every other time it happened. She did not. The Noble Lady Sneasler whipped her body around to execute several quick attacks, hitting him with a barrage that he was unprepared for.

Gliscor took the hits in shock, though he didn’t stay that way for long. He bared his fangs at her and growled. “You dare challenge me?! I’ve held this territory all my life, I’m not about to give it up to some human-raised excuse for a noble!” He was very clearly readying an iron tail, and Lady knew she had to stop it. She didn’t make any remark back, instead falling into her own stance. His tail swung and was blocked by her claws, the Lady only hissing in return before she set her lips into a snarl, dark energy building in her muzzle and slamming against the Gliscor and leaving him prone. “…You’re serious about this.” He hissed back at her as he righted himself. “Fine. I hope your warden can track down some of the previous noble’s other spawn, cause they’ll need to replace you!”

She ignored the jab, ears folded back. She had no advantages over this pokemon. She was at a complete disadvantage, in fact. She could not risk poisoning him, as she knew that some gliscor healed when poison flooded their veins. No, she had to go for power and wits.

She needed to use the terrain against him.

With another shift in stance she charged at him head on, biting where she could and slashing what wouldn’t fit in her mouth. Every part of her was used in this attack, a giga impact so powerful that it sent them both tumbling. Good. Things would work out as planned. The force of her hit had sent them rolling into snow and ice, harming Gliscor’s already wounded body and giving her ample opportunity to scramble away before he could retaliate. She heard his shuddering intake of breath, saw how frost clung to him, and it gave her cause to smirk. It wouldn’t do her any good to get over confident, but she still felt a swell of pride that her plan had merit.

The alpha Pokémon lifted himself back up, no longer bothering with words. The Noble before him was showing unexpected prowess, and if she defeated him…well, that would be a humiliating way to die. He scooped his claws into the earth, ignoring how the ice stung against his carapace, and lobbed mud bombs at Lady. He rejoiced in hearing her yowl of pain, but was shocked by what came next.

She was still standing. She was disoriented, but standing. Lady chose that moment to quick attack, dashing forward toward her enemy, but she missed entirely. Bypassing him by a long shot. She could see the smug look on his face, but this could work for her. Before he had a chance to fully ready an attack on her, she tried again, this time making contact.

Time for the next stage of her plans.

She focused her attack on his wings rather than his armored body.

Her claws made short work of his wing membranes, puncturing and tearing them to ribbons, all while he thrashed and shrieked, biting her in a panic but unable to get a decent hold while blinded by pain.

He started to speak again, evidently beginning to see how this fight would end.

“I submit! You’ve already grounded me, have mercy!”

The noises of their battle had attracted the attention of other nearby Pokémon, and Lady snarled at him.

“Mercy? Mercy for you, who attacks me at any opportunity? For you who denies my claim as Noble of the Cliffs, who threatened me with death before you realized you were going to lose?” She took just a moment to tap a claw on her chin, as if in thought. All while backing up toward a particularly icy cliff face. “…No.”

She stared at Gliscor with a goading grin, baring her teeth. Even with his wings in ribbons, he could still move, and he roared at her. She’d cornered herself! He could still finish this, and with an audience! Defeating a noble would cement his place as alpha! He lunged for her, mud bombs ready, and could see her preparing to counter it with her own iron tail attack. What a fool, that wouldn’t stop him.

Little did he realize he was the fool who fell right into her trap.

Lady Sneasler did not use Iron Tail to attack her rival. She used it to shatter the cliff she was standing against.

Ice, rock, and all manner of snowy debris tumbled down and effectively buried them both, but her thick fur protected her from the chill, and her claws allowed her to dig out of it fairly quickly. The alpha gliscor however was not so lucky. She could hear his muffled shrieks of agony, no doubt freezing as his wounds were exposed to the cold. The red of his blood had stained the snow around their battle field, and she waited for the shrieks to die down before digging him up. He was curled up and shaking, hardly able to move. She looked down at him for only a moment, her eyes glinting dangerously.

“I am Lady Sneasler, Lady of the Cliffs, and I will not tolerate disrespect of me or my territories.”

She ended his agony with a jab of her claws to his throat, twisting them until she was sure he was no longer in this world.

She turned, glaring at the spectators. Some she recognized as her other challengers, but they hung back, all looking shocked.

She roared to make her point, just as loud and ferocious as any other true alpha.

“Let that be a lesson to each and every one of you! You will discredit me no longer!”

Several of the Pokémon fled, while others lowered into bows.

Lady Sneasler, Noble of the Pearl Clan and Lady of the Cliffs has proven herself, with the moon as her witness.

She made her way back to Sumire’s tent, stopping to scent mark and claw at rock and tree along the way, scoring deep lines wherever she did, Gliscor’s blood also sending a message to any who had not witnessed it. The clear message that she was not to be trifled with. She stopped at a stream to wash her claws and fur of any gore. It was vital. Rather than sleep in her den for the remainder of the night, she crawled into Sumire’s tent. Lavender raised his head, quizzical, but she shook her own. She’d explain later. For now though? Lady curled up in bed with her warden, enjoying the warmth and comfort of the human arms wrapping instinctively around her, just as they would when she was a kit.

With Sumire’s safety secured, Lady knew she could truly focus on her duties.

Sumire woke up just like any other morning, but unlike any other morning they had a very large and very familiar sneasler in their arms. They chuckled and kissed her forehead gem. Speaking softly to wake her up. “Sweet young Lady, it is time to wake up. I didn’t even know you came to sleep with me last night!” Carding their hands through her fur, they frowned when they felt injuries on her. “Lady, up. What happened last night?” Their tone shifted to concern, but they also spoke louder.

Lady Sneasler awoke with a large yawn and an inquisitive chirp, stretching out on the bed before actually raising her head to bump it against Sumire’s. It made them smile, but they had concerns.

“Lady, you’re hurt. Did you get into a fight? Do you need me to send Lavender out so you can rest?”

Sumire was very surprised when their precious Lady stood up and puffed her chest out proudly, shaking her head. The newly appointed noble gestured for Sumire to follow her outside, and they hurried to tie their sash around themselves to brace for the cold of the mountain. When they emerged, they saw Lady clawing and scent marking a tree by rubbing her cheeks against it and leaking poison from her claws. Sumire was a little shocked, and made the choice to look at the land around their yurt.

It was methodical in placement, all the scratches they saw. Having cut through stone and tree alike, Lady Sneasler had marked her own territory with a newfound confidence. Confidence that probably had something to do with the smears of blood that were on some of the placements.

“Snee wa!”

They looked back to Lady, seeing her with her paws resting on her sides. Like a woman with her hands on her hips. The pokémon was grinning expectantly, a little smug, and it made Sumire’s heart swell.

“Oh, my brilliant girl. You’ve finally and truly arrived, haven’t you? I’m so very proud of you. I’m so sorry I was unable to prepare you for this better…I know you’ve been struggling with things. Do you think it will get better for you now?”

“Snea sne raw!”

Sumire chuckled, watching Lady Sneasler flick her feather over her shoulder with no small amount of sass. It made them grin. She seemed different. In a good way. Whatever happened last night, whatever rival she battled, things must have gone well. She was like a brand new lady. Such confidence in her movements, and that pride was unmistakable.

“Now now, let me check your wounds just in case, and we can have some of the beans I’ve had stashed away. Does that sound good, my love? Then we can patrol your territory. You can give me the grand tour!”

The lady clapped her paws together in delight, making her claws click, and Sumire laughed in response to the loud purrs they heard coming from the noble in question. They were happy when she obediently went back into the yurt and sat on the edge of the bed, and even pointed to where all her injuries were. It was simple to fix, just some salve to ensure quick healing and some sips of a potion to erase any pain. Lady happily crunched away on her beans while she was examined further, and then led Sumire all around the cliffs, pointing out each and every one of her claw marks. The tour eventually led to the territory they had thought an alpha gliscor dwelled, but when they expressed concern Lady gave a wicked grin and pointed down the way, to a grisly scene that was already being picked apart by scavengers. It wasn’t the most pleasant to look at, but it was obvious now just how their beloved daughter boosted her confidence overnight.

“Oh Lady. You’ve grown up so fast, so strong. I take it you’ve finally earned the respect you deserve. Your mother would be very proud of you too, just as proud as I am. I’m still honored to call you my own. As painful as losing her was, it was soothed by having you with me. I’ll be by your side for as long as I can, my darling. Even when I go, I know you’ll do great things, and I’ll always be with you, even in spirit. I love you, my lady, my noble, my daughter.”

Sumire pulled Lady Sneasler into a hug, which the noble accepted with even louder purrs than before. If the large sneasler did make some kit sounds and act a little childish for their warden, well…They could keep that a secret.

For now though, things were looking up.

Chapter Text

She had been young, once.

Frolicking across ice and snow and hiding away behind her mother’s pale curtains, as white as the frost they lived in, tipped in the most beautiful red she had ever seen. Her mother had taught her everything a mother has to teach. She taught her hard lessons, ones of suffering and trauma, lessons that broke her heart and filled her with so much sorrow it was stifling. She also taught her how to turn that sorrow into righteousness, into incentive to protect herself and her family, and to protect those around her. Death and rebirth were things her mother knew intimately. Opposites? Hardly not. They were nothing more than a cycle.

There were softer lessons, too. Quiet nights of cuddling and being told stories of love and resilience. She was taught that the world was terribly, terribly cold, but that cold made the warmth matter all the more. Her mother would take care of her so tenderly, would bring her her favorite meals, and always made time to play with her. It must have been hard for her mother to do such things, when she had so many other children. So many mouths to feed, so many lives to protect. As she grew older, she was also taught to hunt and fish. Places where the sweetest basculin were, snowbanks where mamoswine slept blissfully unaware. She was taught to use the tools at her disposal, but only with the understanding that with death came rebirth. She respected the lives she took. Their deaths ensured her survival in a land that was so very bleak.

She loved her mother dearly.

She had nurtured her into the blooming maiden she had become, and for that bloom she had been named Dicentra. She was a flower that could lay dormant and survive in the harsh conditions, but grew gorgeous scarlet petals and was a sight to behold. As in any maiden’s life, time had come for her to leave home and make her own way. She stayed nearby, of course. Their family was close knit. Had to be in this world, especially when their neighbors would sooner see them succumb to the cold forever, and not experience blessed rebirth. She built her own home and found her independence. It was only a year after she had left her mother’s home that she met her beloved.

She had been hunting, hiding herself away to catch dinner, same as she always did. Her weapons at hand and eyes on her prey. It was only when she had raised her head after the killing blow that she noticed him. Immediately she was stricken by how beautiful his eyes were. They reminded her of orpiment in stone, crystals right there on his slender face. He was so very pretty, her beloved. His eyes were shadowed and lined so elegantly, a perfect frame for the gemstones she had affectionately named him after. Their courtship was short, shockingly so to some. Her mother had believed she would enjoy independence longer than she had, but her beloved kept her so warm at night and protected her so fiercely. He brought her gifts of furs and food, would groom himself and strut to impress her. As if she hadn’t been smitten the moment their eyes met! Her beloved could be so very foolish. But he was hers, and she was his.

It was then only naturally so that the maiden became a mother, and she taught her children the same lessons she had been taught. Of their role in the world, their history, how to hide themselves and how to tuck themselves away against her should any threat cross their paths. Her beloved was just as good with the children. He made a wonderful father. They took turns with taking care of their little ones, but Dicentra quickly realized that she held great reverence in her own hand in rebirth. She explained this to her beloved Orpiment, who only laughed and agreed to her unspoken orders for him to take care of most of the hunting. She was filled with so much love for him and for their children. She understood now how her mother had spared time for each and every one of her siblings. Every child she had was precious to her. She spent as much time as she could with each one, and in time they would leave to start their own families as well.

Time wore away at her own mother, who became an ancient crone. She did not have as much tolerance or patience anymore. Her methods of protection were fiercer, and she moved to live with a larger group of their family. She became their primary guardian, their matriarch, their elder. Their crone. Threats were disposed of swiftly, and to Dicentra’s understanding, the crone had started seeing most everything as a threat. She had become malicious, and Dicentra ceased her visits with the one who was once her mother.

The mother, now Dicentra, taught her children one of the most important lessons she felt she had learned. The lesson was that the lives of children are precious. When she was younger, the crone had taught her that children and young pokemon were to be left alone. They were innocents, and they did not carry the burden of sin as their adult counterparts did. When hunting, only take down the adults. Use discretion. When defending the family from their cruel neighbors in the Icelands, never be hard on their children. Help the children back home and move on. They are precious, and perhaps showing mercy to the children of their enemies will change the future, change minds.

It was because of these lessons that Mother Dicentra was shocked when her Cronemother broke her own rules. A child had fallen into her home. An innocent soul, one who was scared and small. When the crone was still a mother, the sight of a child would have filled her with pity. Children should not freeze in the cold, alone and scared. They should go back to their settlement where they can be warm and loved. But the crone no longer was in her right mind. The crone had let her heart be overwhelmed with malice, obsessed with the pain of their past, vindictive with no mercy left in her poisoned mind.

At first, the fallen child was only watched by the children that the crone was currently guarding in the family home. The children were understandably curious and wary about the stranger that had come into their home. Their curiosity turned to fear when the stranger started to scream, and when they saw two more strangers trying to reach into their home. The crone was alerted, and that’s when things took a turn for the worst.

The crone pushed her way in front of the children and attempted to swipe at the unknown child that had invaded her home, trying to kill her before she could bring others to harm the crone’s wards. The crone howled when she missed, and decided that if she couldn’t end the little one, she’d destroy the other two that were trying to invade. The crone’s fangs and claws dug into the strangers, pulling them into her den so that she could maul them. Punish them for letting her kind die out in the freezing cold, punish the humans for hunting them and killing them. So focused was she on killing the two humans that fell into her den, she hadn’t at all noticed the Noble Lady Sneasler pulling the child out of the ice cavern. The crone feasted upon the pain and terror, but made no attempt to chase after the child. She’d simply torture her later, when she was done.

Dicentra remembers hearing about all of this. The children who were there told her, and she took them in so that they would be spared from the crone’s madness. For several days, she would hear the crone imitating the screams and cries of the Pearl Clan humans she had killed, no doubt feeding off of the human child’s mental anguish and trying to lure her into the snow, to freeze and bleed.

It disgusted Mother Dicentra. Children were untainted and could be grown into allies. Now no such thing would happen, and any and all progress the pack had made in making peace was erased. The mother was afraid. She kept all of the children away from the crone, knowing that the Noble Lady Sneasler would seek revenge. Her warden was one of the humans that the crone slaughtered, and Lady Sneasler was known to protect those she loved just as fiercely as any zoroark. Soon enough, the night came, and the mother shielded and hid the children- the pups, away. She sang to them softly to drown out the sounds of the main pack dying. The children must be protected, until they can protect themselves. They must…

Years passed.

Tension between Dicentra’s remaining family and the Pearl Clan was high. Any sight of them would be met with violence from the humans. It reignited the malice living in the hearts of the cursed zoroarks.

The mother tried to remain strong, tried to live up to her namesake of the bleeding heart flowers. She would scare human children back into the direction of their settlement, she would avoid adult humans at all costs, she would not make an appearance if she saw Lady Sneasler. Her beloved Orpiment was concerned, but he understood. He supported her and followed in her paw steps, also trying to find mercy in his heart.

Then the sky split open.

Oh, how the energy of it hurt. It burned their very being, the energy igniting memories that had come before their rebirths. Memories of freezing in the snow, of being driven away and starved. It chipped away at her beloved Orpiment. It even chipped away at her, and she felt herself transitioning from mother to crone. She hated it. She tried to keep her love for her Orpiment at the forefront of her mind, keeping her sane, giving her enough peace to take care of their adopted pups. She felt she wanted to produce one last litter before she retired and went to find a proper pack where she would take care of the children of others. This was discussed with her beloved, and they came to an agreement. Dicentra was pregnant yet again, and Orpiment pampered her. It was all so pleasant that it made her feel sane again, made her feel like things were the way they were before her mother became a crone. It made her feel secure in the way she did before the sky split open.

Nothing good ever lasts though, does it?

Her Orpiment has disappeared. She called and cried for him to return to their den, but he never answered. He would never abandon her, so she knew what had to have happened. Her Orpiment was no longer in this world, and she would have to hope that they met again after his rebirth. It didn’t make the loss any less painful. After coming to the realization that she would not see her Orpiment again, she fell into a routine. She would forage rather than hunt, to conserve her energy. She would sleep at any opportune moment.

And she would dream.

Strange dreams. Dreams of humans, of her cronemother, of the lives that were taken that day. They were reoccurring. She saw them all, and they weren’t even in the Icelands. Not the one she knew. There was snow, but there were also structures she did not understand. Tall, with blades on them that spun in the wind. She would wander the dreams, quietly taking it all in, overhearing the conversations of the deceased. Singing and howling with her cronemother.

One dream was different, in which there was a man present she had never seen before. She watched, detached, not present but overlooking the conversation between him and Lady Sneasler’s past warden. She listened to him play his flute, and it made her howl along with it. It was beautiful. He was beautiful. After that dream, she no longer dreamt of lives lost. Her dreams were more nonsensical now, but every so often she would see the man or hear him play his flute. Every time she dreamt of the man, she howled and sang the tunes he played. The dreams stopped abruptly after she gave birth. So many healthy little pups, she was ecstatic. One was colored a bit oddly, with purple and blue in its mane, but that didn’t matter. All of her children were precious to her.

Handling childcare alone was difficult, however. She needed to hunt so she could produce more milk, and that meant leaving her babies for stretches of time. It went alright the first few days. She missed Orpiment now more than ever. Things were so hard without him here and she knew he would be eager to hunt for her. It was okay though. She would survive…

No, no she wouldn’t.

While hunting, she heard the alarmed cries of her pups and screams of pain. Her soul burned, and she moved as fast as she possibly could to her den. It wasn’t enough. When she finally arrived, nearly all of her babies were gone from this world. She fought off the pokémon that had been preying on her young, but even she was bested. The beast slipped away into the dark of night and left her there. She had used so much of her own energy that lacerations had opened up on her body. She sobbed over her bloodied nest of little ones, nosing them around to see if any had lived. Clinging onto hope that one did. Her hope paid off, as the little off colored zorua was alive and unwounded. She tried her best to groom her baby, to provide comfort but her injuries were too great. The mother knew she would die. It broke her. To have one pup left, but no energy to care for them. She would simply lay vigil then, watching over her last pup before she went to the next world and was rebirthed.

She was pulled out of her vigil by a familiar voice.

Her ears flicked back to listen closer.

The human man from her dreams. He was real. That was his voice. She knew of him. If he was anything like her dreams depicted him…She looked to her trembling pup and carefully covered them with bedding. It took every last bit of her strength to rise and approach the human. New lacerations broke out on her flesh, but Dicentra ignored it. She must secure a life for her last pup. She growled to get his attention, too tired for words and still wary of any human. She wasn’t surprised when Lady Sneasler appeared and tried to attack her. She was surprised when the man from her dream had stood in front of her, taking the blow on her behalf.

He would be perfect.

She made a sound to tell him to follow, and he did. He told her that her other babies weren’t alive, as if she didn’t already know that. When he found her special little one she was relieved, and so, so tired.

She said goodbye to her child, and hoped to meet them again someday, when they were all reborn. Death was an old friend, enveloping Dicentra’s soul as she laid down with her departed pups. She flipped her mane so the pups were cozy, and she laid her head down to let the darkness take her. Her last thought was that she never did get to become an old crone. She was still a mother, after everything. It was a precious role and it was one she was thankful to have.

Death and rebirth are just a part of life, after all.

Chapter Text

Hiya everyone. No chapter notes because this chapter is basically one huge authors note. I just wanted to let everyone know what’s been happening, why there’s been no chapters, and when new chapters WILL be coming.

I’ll start with the positives: I’ve been chipping away at chapters. I have two almost done, one of Ingo arriving at the Coast and one of Lady Sneasler enjoying her time alone. I also have a few bonuses for femslash feb that will be posted on the deleted scenes fic. The big, main delay is that I want to stockpile at least five chapters so that I can then schedule those for all of you! I love fics that have schedules, and doing that would give me time to continue writing and adding things to the queue until this part of Ingo’s tale reaches its conclusion. Would you like a basic outline of plot points? I have that for you. They aren’t in order.

-Ingo meeting all other wardens and their nobles
-Lady Sneasler having her kits
-Violet maturing
-Volo’s plans progressing
-An update on Emmet and Elesa
-Other Surprises :)

Now if you want to know what’s going on in my personal life that caused all this delay, feel free to read on, but it’s not happy or pleasant so be warned.

(I’m comfortable sharing these things because I feel like we’ve cultivated a nice little community and friendship through here, and I like my friends knowing what’s going on in my life. Is that weird? I hope not.)

After my cat, Gordon, died, I was unexpectedly hit with the death of another pet, this time my cockatiel, Pearl. There were no warning signs, I simply found her and it devastated me. Following that, I had a trip to the emergency room due to severe pain in my abdomen that showed some issues with my health that required surgery. Had to remove my gallbladder cause it was full of gallstones. Then there was another surgery, this time to remove an ovary because it had a massive growth on it. (Casual reminder here that I’m trans and use he/him. Also the growth ended up being benign, it was a dermoid cyst. Had hair which was fucked up.) Recovery has been rough! These things all happened back to back, month after month, and all of January was spent recovering from the ovary removal. Didn’t even get to enjoy turning 26 with my birthday on the 1st because I was healing. I’m only just now starting to feel like myself again. Thus the life update!!

I really want to continue this tale. I have so many plans, so many WIPs, and ideas for stories that take place after this one! Lady Sneasler’s New Ward will live on, I promise. It will just take time.

Thank you so much to everyone for being so patient with me during my tragedies, and a special thank you to anyone who has ever commented on my story. It’s been seriously life changing, and the way it’s kept me aloft during these dark times has been so amazing. I really adore you guys!

If you want to see updates, personal posts, talk to me, or anything else, check out my tumblr account.

And…that’s a wrap! That’s all I’ve got to say for the moment! When I begin updating again, I’ll be deleting this “chapter” so it doesn’t clog up the story. Thanks for everything, everyone! You mean the world to me.