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Finding his brother in a history book had nearly made Emmet pull his hair out.
Getting to Sinnoh, doing more research, and piecing together what must have happened made him want to bite his tongue until it bled
Finding Dialga - and defeating Dialga - burned that fire bright in his chest.
“You know that pain, do you? The pain of loss?” He’d asked rhetorically, seeing the answer in the ancient Pokemon’s eyes. “I am Emmet… Please, help me find him.” He asked, though it was not a request. The question was a formality and they both knew it.
Dialga’s head lowered to him.
The subway boss put his hand on the beast’s head, and the world around him shifted -
Rei didn’t know what to do now.
He’d never felt so lost, his chest as hollow as a bronzong’s bell. He’d been walking near endlessly since his banishment from Jubilife Village, unsure of where he was even going.
He’d made his way to the Coronet Highlands - he realized he was headed towards Warden Ingo
Someone he can’t go to - not if he wanted to make sure he didn’t cause more issues than he already had. The red sky was coloring the snowy landscape in a dark, terrible shade.
Where was he even going? What was he even doing?
Kamado had essentially guaranteed that Rei was going to die out here.
And if when he died, the Red Sky didn’t fade, what would he do?
Cyllene had attempted to make it known that he wasn’t completely left out to dry, but it wasn’t enough. Not at this point.
He rubbed at his face for what must have been the 30th time, chest heavy and body aching.
Just once, just once he wanted to curl up and cry like the child he was. But he couldn’t afford to be so brash.
He couldn’t afford that kind of weakness.
“Hello!!”
Startled from his intense self-loathing, Rei turned his head sharply at a figure in the distance
“You there! I am in need of assistance”
As the figure become more clear, Rei’s eyes widened, and he took a defensive stance, stopping the man in his tracks - the child looked like he was about to battle
“I am not looking to battle!” The man announced “I am afraid I cannot be derailed or change my tracks in such a way! I am in need of assistance in finding someone”
Rei’s eyes scanned the imitation of Ingo before him, and The man tilted his head.
“Allow me to introduce myself” The man started “I am Emmet! I am looking for my twin brother, Ingo. He has been missing for a verrrrry long time”
The boy’s defensive stance lowered, the shock on his face staying, but that edge on his nerves leaving slightly.
“Ah.. “ The child vocalized, but before any more conversation could continue, there was a harsh, bafflingly loud rumble of thunder.
They both looked up, and felt soft drops of rain.
“Oh dear…” Emmet huffed “Have you any knowledge of a station where we can hide from this inclement weather?”
Rei contemplated, looking around, but nodded.
“Please, do lead the way!” Emmet announced loudly as the rain began to fall harder.
The boy led them through the field-lands, and the two were damp as they walked into Wayward cave, relieved that the torches were still lit.
Rei rushed over to one of them with his hands nearly touching the flame.
“My my, this puts a damper on my search it seems…” Emmet muttered to himself “Well, this is simply a detour, I'm still on track” he continued to talk to himself, looking back at the boy. “I did not get your name!” He called out, startling the boy once again.
Emmet hoped that he didn’t look too haggard after his adventure so far.
Rei was still seeing double.
The boy cleared his throat “R-Rei.. My name is Rei”
“Rei. Well, it is nice to meet you, Rei. I am Emmet. I am looking for my brother Ingo - considering that you looked at me as if a ghost, I am assuming you have met him?”
There was such a hopeful glint in the man’s eyes, and when Rei nodded, Emmet quickly let out an excited “Yes!”
Emmet approached him, but read his body language quickly and didn’t get too close
“Please, I have been looking for my brother for two years. Can you take me to him?”
Rei swallowed nervously “Uh.. I can.. I can lead the way, but.. I can’t take you all the way there” He realized “Warden Ingo lives near Lady Sneasler’s den”
Emmet didn’t care enough about what “Lady Sneasler” was at this point - maybe he would care later - but that second to last part; “You cannot? Why? Has my brother become a recluse? That is verrrrrry unlike him!”
“No - no it's no t.. It's not like that …” Rei rubbed his hands together, realizing they were dry. “... Come on, we can use the cave to get to his camp.” He pointed “He showed me the way. I know how to get through”
Ahhh avoidance. Emmet knew how to handle that - but first thing was first
“Alrightie! I shall attach my car to yours! Full steam ahead, my new friend!”
Something in that verbiage seemed to put the boy at ease, and he finally showed Emmet a small smile, and turned towards the cave
Emmet followed behind with as short a gait as he could manage - the shorter boy wouldn’t be able to stay ahead if he took his normal strides
“Might I ask how you know my brother?”
“Oh uh, he works for the Pearl Clan, and I’ve uh. Helped them out with stuff in the past.”
“Ah yes, I read about the Pearl Clan. You are of…”
“... I was part of Galaxy team”
Emmet knew about Galaxy team. He knew quite a lot about them - they had many records “... Was?” Emmet questioned the past tense “Who are you affiliated with now?”
Rei’s entire body looked tense at the question “Uh… I’m not… It’s complicated”
Emmet… did not like that answer.
Increasing his speed just enough to be parallel with Rei, he finally gave the boy a proper once-over, Emmet’s expression in a thin, tense smile as his eyes - seemingly glowing a dim white in the dense caves - scanned the boy over.
“... Tell me” he starts, tone even, a certain familiar authority to it “You look as if you are in need of desperate maintenance. While we are going to my brother - tell me what has happened that has you in such a state”
Rei’s wide eyes blinked up at him at the “demand”, continuing his slow walk through the cavern.
He wasn’t sure why, but perhaps it was the honest, kind sincerity in the man’s eyes. Or perhaps that he looked so much like the warden that he trusted so implicitly.
Perhaps, it was just the opportunity to finally tell someone who would hear his side of the story without any bias.
But he spilled - He told this man everything - the falling from the sky, his scattered memories, the arc phone, all of his work for the Galaxy Team, meeting and befriending all of the different nobles and wardens and how hard he worked - all of the literal blood sweat and tears he’d put into everything - and then how the sky turned red, and he was cast out as the reason.
His voice had devolved into something hoarse by the end - they hadn’t moved from their place in the cave - having stopped walking at some point.
“And no one can even help me.” he stared down at the ground, fists clenched “Not Adaman, Not Irida, not - not even Akari and - and I have to fix this myself or I don’t have a home”
Emmet hadn’t said a single word since Rei had started, and didn’t say anything at that either.
Rei took a shaking breath “... But uh… Once… once we’re out of the cave I can… I can point you in the direction of Ingo” Rei rubbed at his face, attempting to collect himself “But… I can’t go with you. If … if I’m seen with Ingo it could cause him trouble. I’ve… I’ve caused enough problems”
There was a hand on his shoulder, and Rei looked up at Emmet - he seemed a lot taller than Ingo.
Emmet had a smile on his face that didn’t feel like a smile. It looked like the man was about to kill something.
Rei hoped that thing was not himself. He was pretty sure, but you never know.
“So you tell me about all of this pain and strife you are experiencing, your cab partially derailed but still rolling along the track, and you are expecting me to … leave you to your own devices?”
Rei wasn’t exactly sure how to respond to that. When parroted back so simply, it did sound a bit ridiculous. And yet, the boy responded “Uh… Ye-es?”
The hand on his shoulders tightened almost imperceptibly
“... Is my brother aware of this.. Change in your course?”
“I… I don’t know”
Emmet’s hand on his shoulder gently turned him toward the visible exit - gently being the only word that Rei could think of to describe the action “Then let’s. Something tells me that he will be about as … “thrilled” … as I am. If not less so”
The way Emmet said “thrilled” left an uncomfortable shiver down Rei’s spine
“Uh… are you mad..?” Rei felt his breathing even out a bit, starting to walk to the exit.
“Oh, I am absolutely furious. I am Emmet, I have only just met you, and I am already verrrrry mad about your situation on your behalf! I am quite empathetic!” The man’s long strides took him ahead of Rei with little effort. As they got closer, Rei spotted a familiar blue coat just beyond the exit.
“... Adaman?”
The man in question turned his head at his name, and the look of relief on his face was practically radiating an aura off of him. “Rei! Oh, thank the great lord Sinnoh - Irida! Over here!”
Irida was here?
Confused, Rei didn’t realize he was walking backwards until he knocked into Emmet, who felt like a brick wall.
“Seems that your friends were looking for you” The man in white’s expression looks just a little less enraged.
“I….”
Rei was at a loss for words - why were they here ? When did they get here? Why were they-
His thoughts paused as Irida approached, relief clear in her eyes as well.
“Rei!” She rushed forward, grabbing the boy in a hug “Thank goodness!”
Emmet stood off to the side, but was not unnoticed by Adaman
“... Warden Ingo?”
Irida pulled away from Rei to look at the man clad in white
“A common misconception! But no!” He stepped further into the light, the differences between the brothers as stark as his coat “I am Emmet, Ingo’s twin brother!” he introduced “You are Adaman and Irida, correct? Leaders of the Pearl and Diamond Clans? I have done much research before coming to this land to look for my brother”
Adaman’s eyes were wide, but he offered the new man a grin “You know what? Another sky-faller might be just what we need right now. Good to meet you!”
Irida’s eyes widened, understanding what Adaman was referring to “Yes! That’s- perfect! Nice to meet you!”
“What?” Rei looked between the adults in front of him “What are you talking about?”
“We need to reconvene” Adaman instructed “We can talk more once we’re at the camp - it's getting dark and we’ve spent all day looking for you”
The confusion on Rei’s face was answered by Irida
“We have until dawn to get our affairs in order” She warned “That is what Cyllene told us. We have a plan, and he-” She points “-Might be a big help, if he wishes to”
“But - he said he’s were for warden-”
“Ah- ah-ah!” Emmet interrupted - his expression nigh unreadable despite the smile “I am Emmet and you cannot put words in my mouth! Now, Lady Irida, is my brother safe and well?”
She nodded “I saw him just before everything happened today, and he was just fine”
“Excellent! My brother is verrrrrry capable of handling himself! He would understand me temporarily changing tracks to assist someone!”
“But - didn’t you say that you came here just to find him?”
“Rei, I am an adult! I can change my track and route if needed”
“He really is Ingo’s twin” Adaman commented “I don’t understand half of what you’re saying word for word, but I get the gist when it's strung into a sentence!”
Emmet just gave the clan leader a grin
“The rain has ebbed, and the sun will not be up for long, it seems!” Emmet points out, and Irida nods
“Emmet, please, accompany us to the tent.” irida invited
“Gladly, my lady!”
Rei’s head spun just a bit, but before he could move himself, Adaman wrapped his arm around the young man’s shoulders, and gave him a sly grin
“Don’t you worry, Rei. We’re not leaving you out here. No way, no how”
Adaman then pushed him along casually to the mouth of the cave, with Emmet and Irida nearby - Emmet asking Irida about his brother, and the Pearl Clan leader answering these questions to the best of her ability.
Once they got inside of the tent, he was greeted by the sight of a warm fire and plush blankets.
“Sit” Adaman patted his back “We’re gonna go over the ideas we have - and I think Emmet will be able to really give us a hand here”
“Ah yes! Lady Irida was just telling me!” The conductor nodded to Adaman “I will be happy to assist! So long as I eventually get to my brother and to.. Greet… this commander myself, I will be more than satisfied with this track!”
Rei was starting to feel overwhelmed, but didn’t have a chance to speak, getting a cup of warm tea put into his hands by Irida.
“Rei, come on, please sit… We want to help you” She put her hands on his, her voice so sincere.
He felt his eyes get glassy. They cared - they wanted to help - his efforts, his kindness, it had been worth it - he had friends-
He wasn’t in this alone.
He nodded to her, letting her lead him to sit before the fire.
The plan was pretty simple -
Irida would grab Ingo, and the two would go back to Jubilife to keep Kamado off of their trail, while Adaman and Emmet would join Rei to visit the lakes, to go along with Laventon’s plan.
The plan itself involved traveling to the three lakes - something that Emmet seemed quite jazzed about.
“I have done much research on these lakes!” he pointed out “it should come in handy!”
“Excellent!” Adaman had nodded “Once this is all fixed, you and Ingo can get your reunion!”
Rei still didn’t like that Emmet was delaying what he seemed to have come here for, but Emmet wouldn’t let him say anything about it.
“Ingo will understand” Emmet confirmed “He knows that our passengers and their safety is paramount at all times”
Rei still felt awkward about it, but tried to focus.
He had a long journey ahead, but he had people in his corner. He could do this.
He could do this.
Emmet was a very different person from Ingo.
And yet, at the same time, the similarities made Rei’s chest ache.
Emmet was just as blunt as Ingo, but was far more talkative, with a constant, plastered smile that seemed his default expression.
He was also just as excellent a battler as Ingo - and his stories of the battle subway made way, way too much sense. Adaman was enthralled by the energetic way that Emmet told the tales of underground battles.
When Rei told Emmet about his own battles with Ingo, the man seemed beyond delighted - almost overjoyed.
“Oh, once all of this is over I must battle you!”
“Wha- really?”
“Very really!” he assured “And once we have done that, and I am reunited with my brother, we shall all head home!”
Rei seemed caught off guard by that “What?”
“You say you fell from the sky! That means that you are not from this time, no?”
“Uh.. I don’t know?”
“Well, it is a safe assumption! Once this is all settled, we can all go back to our time!”
“Wait - but - what about the pokedex? I was told to seek out all pokemon!”
“You are a child. Arceus can find an adult contemporary to the time period to finish it”
Emmet’s smile seemed. Tense.
Rei wasn’t sure how to respond, and so he didn’t.
By the time that the chain had been forged, Rei felt as if he could sleep for three straight days
Hah! As if he had the time.
But he could sleep tonight! Most certainly.
Emmet had found much to be curious about, but when Adaman mentioned that Mount Coronet was by Ingo’s encampment, he seemed like he would jump out of his skin.
“Oh excellent! Excellent! Tomorrow, we shall finish our maintenance and will steam right along!”
“Full Steam ahead?”
“Indeed indeed, Rei!”
Rei smiled a little - maybe he really could fix this. Just maybe.
Maybe he could prove Kamado wrong … you know, before Emmet kicked the man’s teeth in with his sturdy-looking boots.
Beni… was a ninja?
If Rei’s expression was any indication, that was not something that the boy was privy to before this.
Emmet’s smile never faltered, and when the “ninja” challenged Rei to a battle, the conductor effortlessly stepped in front of the child
“I am Emmet!” he introduced “And I am afraid that Rei cannot change his tracks to fight you now! His journey takes him to a verrrrrry different station!”
“What?”
“Wh- Emmet, I can take him!” Rei argued
“I don’t doubt it!” Emmet turned his head slightly “but you have another battle! You cannot waste your time on this detour! Allow me!” Emmet gave the boy a wink “Don’t you worry! I am Emmet! This will be a breeze”
“Do not underestimate me, you stranger!”
“Oh, I certainly do not!” Emmet’s grin looked impish “If anything I think that I know exactly what to expect from you! All aboard!”
He looked back at Rei “Off you go! Steadfast to your destination!”
The boy gave him a determined expression, and he rushed away, leaving Emmet alone with the ninja.
“You were sent to kill a child. That makes you quite bad. Verrrrry much so” Emmet’s smile tilted in an “off” way. “You must count yourself lucky - I am quite upset, but I am no fool. I will give you the fight that you deserve!”
“This will be quick” Beni sneered under the mask
“Oh, it most certainly will be”
It was
Embarrassingly so.
Emmet felt embarrassed on Beni’s behalf. He really thought he could beat him!
“I am Emmet!” he started “I beat you fair and square! I would advise you to leave before I decide that beating you in battle is not enough of a punishment!”
Beni looked… scared?
Good
Emmet strode past him with a grin that could only be read as malicious, right passed the man “Hurry on you- before I change my mind”
Beni didn’t need to be told twice.
By the time Emmet made it up the mountain, he’d found a man, defeated just beyond Rei. The boy was panting heavily, standing tall.
“To quote my brother- Bravo!” Emmet shouted, getting the boy’s attention, and seeing Rei give him a huge, delighted grin
Emmet felt a surge of pride at the boy’s victory “Now… Is this… Commander Kamado?”
“Not now, Mister Emmet!” Rei called out “There’s a bigger problem!”
The conductor blinked, and looked up
Ah yes. That.
To say that Emmet was tired would be a hilarious understatement.
Comical, absolutely absurd.
He could sleep for another 200 years, perhaps awaken at the correct point in the future, at this point.
But - but! The sky was clear. And that meant..
That meant..
Rei had been guiding him to the obsidian field-lands, where apparently they’d be meeting back up with Irida and … Ingo.
Ingo, by Kyruem, Ingo
“Uh… Mister Emmet?”
“Hm?”
“Correct me if I’m wrong but like… you look a little… tense”
“I feel tense! Extremely! I am both excited and absolutely terrified! A truly awful combination”
Rei winced “Yeah.. I can understand that” he nodded “But.. I’m sure that the minute Ingo sees you he’s gonna be so happy!”
“I Am Emmet! I sure do hope so!”
Rei gave him a concerned look, but heard a familiar voice not too far away.
“Lady Irida! Must you be so cryptic? There is someone to see me?”
Emmet froze - his smile ever-static, but his eyes betraying his surprise at the familiar voice.
Ingo came into view with the Pearl Clan Leader to his right
“Warden, it’s a surprise! Come now! We should be meeting up with them any minute!”
Rei paused next to Emmet - a small smile on his face- watching as Ingo huffed, then looking forward, and seeing Rei first.
“Ah! Young Rei! A delight to see you are alright! Who is-” His eyes fell on Emmet, and the words died in his mouth.
Emmet straightened his back “Hello!” he started, his tone not nearly as confident as it usually was “I.. I am-”
“Emmet” Ingo interrupted, his tone quiet for all but a moment before he repeated “Emmet! You..” he started striding forward “You are Emmet!”
The younger twins legs finally moved, and he met his brother in the middle in a mess of hugging limbs and tears
“I am! I am! You are Ingo! You are my-”
“Twin! You are my twin!!”
The two were fumbling and shouting at each other in joy, and Irida and Rei shared delighted grins. Irida approached him, giving him a hug that caught the boy off guard.
“I’m so happy you were able to fix this”
“Heh, well, It’s not like I did it alone” Rei shrugged
“Regardless. You were in a hell of a situation, but you were so very brave. That’s a wonderful thing” irida smiled kindly at him “I know it doesn’t mean all that much but I am so proud of you”
Oh gosh, now the poor boy was turning red.
The twins seemed to have calmed, and Ingo asked, holding his brother’s face “How did you get here? What are you doing here? Are you - did you get stuck here like myself??”
“No - no! I got help. I came to get you, but got temporarily transferred to a different track to assist our mutual friend here - he was the one that told me that you were here. Assured me of your safety.” He motioned over to Rei, who waved - still looking a bit red from Irida’s compliment
“Ah, so you were the sky-faller that Irida told me about, but would not give me details for..” Ingo looked over at Irida with his version of a skeptical look.
Irida just grinned “Thought it’d be a nice surprise! Plus, I needed you to be focused. I was distracted enough…” She admitted - a bit awkward about it
A tad questionable… but very true.
“It certainly is a nice surprise, Lady Irida” Ingo nodded.
Emmet was grinning ear to ear with sheer happiness - he was practically glowing “And now that I have found you, I can bring you and Rei home!”
Rei paused. Oh yeah. That unfinished conversation. He managed not to cringe, but..
“Uh…”
“... how about we discuss this at the base camp?” Irida recommended, pointing back towards it.
“Yes, yes! Excellent idea, Lady Irida” Ingo nodded “Emmet?”
“ I concur!”
Rei sighed - it seemed the conversation was to be delayed yet again. He wasn’t sure if he was grateful or not for Irida’s recommendation
As Irida and Rei talked to each other quietly, cooking some food over the campfire and glancing over at the two brothers - who were fully engrossed in conversation. .
Irida huffed once they were waiting on the stew after a lull in the conversation. “Say.. Rei?”
“Hm?”
“If Emmet can take you back... Will you go?”
The boy waited a second, thinking, doing not much more than blinking - before looking away.
“... I was given a task, and it’s not done” He answered vaguely, poking at the fire.
“... But do you want to? Go home, I mean?”
Rei furrowed his brow “.. What’s that matter?” he responded, seeming to not understand the question.
Irida frowned at the “answer” - looking as if she was going to say something else-
“Rei?”
He turned his head to Emmet- whose sharp eyes were staring right at him.
“Might I speak with you privately for a moment?”
“.. Uh”
“Just a moment” He smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes - He looked more concerned there, than anything else.
“Uh… okay..”
Emmet and Rei walked just a bit of a ways away from the camp, the setting sun coloring everything in a gentle hue of orange as they stood alone.
“.. Uh… What did you want to talk about?” Rei tittered slightly.
“... Might I ask why you feel that you are responsible for something as intense and sprawling as completing a pokedex in such a dangerous time and place? Something that would tax even the most experience adult Pokemon masters?”
Well, that was a to-the-point question
“... It’s why I was even sent here” Rei explained “It's why Arceus chose me, I just know it. I was sent because I could do it, right?”
Emmet furrowed his brow “You are a child, Rei. An extremely capable, competent child, but a child nonetheless. I do not mean this to be disparaging”
Rei frowned - clearly taking it as disparaging anyway.
“.. In the future, there is a safety to the research that does not exist here. Now. You are putting yourself in very serious danger - you already have, many times it seems”
“I can handle it. I have handled it! I’m alive, aren’t I! I can do it!”
“I am not saying that you cannot!” Emmet clarified “Far from it!”
“Then what?”
Emmet huffed, though his expression didn’t change, but he seemed to be taking a moment to find the right words to say. .
“I do not believe that Arceus should have chosen you for something that even an adult would find difficult.” He declared “As I have come to know you, I have seen your capability, your power. But I have also seen your pain. I do not think that you deserve such tedium, such pain, for a being that could have sent an adult instead. You deserve to go home, Rei. I am Emmet, and I have the ability to do that, and I wish to.”
Oh… Rei could understand that.
But..
Rei swallowed nervously, looking like his hand was caught in the cookie jar as he admitted - “... I don’t really.. remember my home.. Honestly, Ingo remembers more than I do”
Emmet frowned - that knowledge being unexpected.
“I know that there are people that I miss but.. I don’t remember their faces. Not even a whisper of them, not like Ingo. he remembered you, he remembered his partner. I don’t… I don’t remember any of that”
Emmet said nothing, and Rei looked down at the dirt.
“If…. if i finish this. I’ll get them back. I know I'll get them back. Any time I complete a task, or reach, like, a milestone I have dreams, I almost remember something. It.. it keeps me going” He awkwardly shrugged “So.. I have to keep going.
“... So you’re essentially being blackmailed.”
Rei suddenly looked up - caught off guard by Emmet’s tone.
Emmet’s smile was still there, but it looked similar to that time when they first met, when Emmet learned of his banishment. Rei recognized it as his “I am pissed off” face.
“Uh…”
“Emmet”
The two turned their heads to Ingo, who was standing rather straight, and giving his brother a rather harsh glare
“While I understand your discomfort, please take a rest, before you derail.”
“I am not-”
“You are dangerously close”
That made Emmet take pause, his expression changing just slightly, contemplatively.
“.. I will return in a moment”
And Emmet turned and took off.
Rei felt like this was his fault “.. Did i-”
“Rei”
He deflated. This wasn’t over, was it?
“... Yes?”
“Is it true? That you remember nothing?”
The boy's shoulders raised nervously. “I-i mean… Its not nothing..”
Ingo’s disappointed expression felt even worse than Emmet’s anger.
“.. I will admit that I think Emmet is correct. It sounds that Arceus is essentially teasing you to complete this task, rather than asking it of you. It looks as if you are being coerced”
Rei was unsure what to even say to that. “ I mean… I know that” he shrugged “I figured it out but… what choice do I have?”
Ingo’s brow furrowed at that answer.
“... this conversation is not over. I am not happy with that answer” Ingo admitted “But I need to speak with Emmet. Please return to Lady Irida”
Still feeling like he’d done something wrong, he just nodded, and nervously turned back to the base camp, where Irida looked over at him with concern.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m just telling the truth!” Rei bursted defensively “I just - I know it's kinda messed up but.. But what choice do I have, huh? I can’t go back home like this?? Forgetting everything! What am I supposed to do, huh? What?!”
Irida didn’t respond, but offered a hug that the hero of Hisui accepted, a dam seemingly having broken and sobs bursting forth as he cried quietly.
Irida gave good hugs - so did Adaman, but Irida’s hugs were a little less common than his, so she was getting the praise here.
By the time the brother’s returned, Rei was finally feeling a little less like he was falling apart, and Irida had sent him to sleep.
Emmet looked a bit guilty
“I am Emmet. I did not mean to hurt Rei”
“I know, Emmet” Irida frowned a little “But… Rei has a lot on his shoulders. Perhaps we should just let him rest now that everything is so much calmer”
Emmet nodded
“I do find it comforting that you see him as I see him” Ingo nodded “But now? Let us eat and rest”
“Yes, lets”
It took everything within Emmet for him to not attack Kamado when he saw him.
And oh boy, that was a lot.
Thankfully, Ingo helped with that, standing next to him, and periodically looking back at Emmet to make sure that he was maintaining a certain professionalism.
“Treat him like a belligerent old man on the main line” ingo had advised “Calmly, peacefully, and-”
“Forcefully if needed?”
Ingo nodded.
Emmet flashed him a very toothy grin “Excellent”
But everything was relatively calm, right up until the end of the day.
Ingo was the one to facilitate the conversation - which was smart. While Emmet’s honesty was important, Ingo often had more tact than the younger twin did
At least, most of the time.
“Young Rei”
Rei looked up from his bowl of noodles.
“Might we speak with you, once you are done with your noodles?”
He blinked at the twins, and slurped the rest of his noodles
“Uh.. okay”
Ingo nodded “We will be waiting by your barracks”
The boy nodded, and was happy when they walked away, letting him breathe deeply. He knew that they were about to have a not-fun conversation.
But he took a breath, and once he was done with the noodles, returned to his “room”, opening the door to see Emmet petting his Gavantula
“Ah, hello Rei! Please! Make yourself comfortable!” Emmet’s smile seemed more genuine than usual, though there was something behind his eyes. Ingo was currently trying to unfold Rei’s spare cot.
Rei nervously nodded, and sat on his own cot.
Ingo was still back by the spare cot, leaving Emmet the only one sitting across from him.
“... To start…” Emmet cleared his throat “I am Emmet and I am sorry. I did not mean to be so aggressive with you.”
“Oh.. uh.. It's okay… We were all kinda like.. High on adrenaline and stuff. Its fine” Rei Assured
“It is not. I am sorry still”
Rei huffed
“Rei" Ingo turned his head “Do you think that Arceus is blackmailing you?”
Whelp, that was blunt.
“Uh… I don’t…”
“Yes or no” Emmet clarified, though his tone told Rei that he could take his time.
Rei startled, fiddling with his hands.
“... I don’t.. Think so”
Emmet waited for him to complete
“I think.. I think Arceus is trying to.. I dunno, comfort me? Maybe?”
Emmet did not look convinced. Neither did Ingo.
‘I just… I want to give Arceus the benefit of the doubt” Rei admitted.
Ingo’s brow furrowed. He supposed that he could understand that. But before the brothers could comment, Rei continued.
“Cause,... cause if I don’t - I think I’d just… I'd just be so.. So mad and… I wouldn’t even have any recourse, you know? I have to believe that Arceus means well.. What else would I be able to do anyway?”
Rei rubbed a hand on his forehead “I just.. I need to finish the pokedex”
“Rei-”
“No! I need to!”
Rei huffed “And.. and not just because of Arceus”
“Oh?”
“I want to help the Professor. He deserves it” Rei stated.
Emmet leaned back slightly, and Ingo’s head was tilted “Well, I suppose that settles it then”
“Hm?”
Ingo nodded “We shall assist you with the pokedex”
Rei gave a rather surprised expression. “.. What?”
“We shall help you with completing the pokedex, and then we shall head home! Three is better than one! More passengers and all that” Emmet explained.
“Wh- no you- I’m not gonna ask that of you! If you can go home you - you should!” Rei argued
Emmet gave a slightly bemused look “I am Emmet. My brother is Ingo. You are not asking. We are offering”
“If you truly feel this responsibility, then you should complete it” Ingo commented “We had been discussing it. I do not mind staying longer to assist you, Rei”
Rei would admit that this was not how he expected this to go.
“Uh…. really?”
Emmet’s smile finally looked genuine “Yes, really”
“We shall gladly hitch your car to ours. With the three of us working together, the Pokedex will be completed post haste!” Ingo added.
“Are you aboard for the ride, Rei?”
The poor boy looked like he was about to cry, but he nodded “Yeah- yeah! Totally- yes! Uh, All aboard?”
Emmet chuckled “Come on, more gumption than that! All Aboard! Don’t make Ingo be the one to show you an example”
Rei laughed a bit with misty eyes, but shook off his stiffness, and stood up, pointing towards his door and grinning widely
“All Aboard!!!!”