Chapter Text
In what could’ve only been some sort of cosmic joke, it was a perfectly sunny day.
Every movie he’s ever watched made him believe that it should’ve been pouring rain. That they should’ve been huddled under black umbrellas in a silent vigil, their mood and the air dampened. Instead, the day was clear, barely a cloud in the sky, which made the gathering even more grim, like a spot of spilled ink.
If Emmet had his way, it would be raining. He wanted it to storm. He wanted pounding sheets, flashing lightning, howling wind, anything to shake apart the nightmare he found himself in. He wanted to wake up to his brother’s loud voice, the chaotic noise of their team in the morning, Elesa ribbing the both of them.
He wanted to be able to look into mirrors without flinching.
Instead, he sat silently in his black suit (not his color, never his color) and listened to the man in front drone on and on about Ingo’s life and legacy. It wasn’t anything new. He’d been there for it, after all.
At his side, Elesa sobbed. Her makeup was basically a lost cause from the start, as the layers disappeared into a handkerchief. She’d grabbed his hands from the beginning, and now held on even tighter as they got closer to the end of the man’s speech, and the inevitable and unchanging ending. The sad conclusion to their shared story.
In absentia , they called it. A polite way of saying they considered him a lost cause, in Emmet’s mind. The search did continue, but it was clear even the International Police was giving up. Every time he met with them, it was all pleading words and niceties he barely even bothered to acknowledge. He did not care about evil teams or Beasts. He just wanted his brother back. It was only Ingo’s popularity that kept the search going.
Speaking of his popularity, the crowd was a veritable who’s-who of Unova’s battle scene. Gym Leaders, Elite Four, Champions new and old, all were in attendance for the ceremony. It was an incredible sight.
Finally, the man stopped. The empty coffin was lowered into the earth. It was over.
Was he supposed to feel relieved? Released? What was the point of this charade?
From somewhere above, there was a high-keening cry, mournful and grand. The crowd looked around, some grabbing for Pokeballs, but Emmet alone looked up in time to see a white blur racing overhead. He almost smiled, glad that even heroes and legendary Pokemon could stop by for his brother.
The crowd broke up, small clusters forming as the various Trainers came together among themselves. Several faces turned to him, but Emmet ignored them all, instead walking to the front where a small portrait of Ingo, in full Subway Boss regalia, sat. His hands shook. Chandelure’s Pokeball shook.
He was Emmet. He liked combinations of two Pokemon. He liked winning more than anything.
He was Emmet. He missed his brother. More than anything else.
-
He looked out over the Coronet Highlands. Usually the view was very nice this time of day, but the rain left it very dreary. It was a rather depressing sight. The Rock-types that usually inhabited the stony cliffs had left to seek shelter, even the Alpha Steelix that prowled the area. It seemed no one wanted to travel in this weather, so he and his Lady were granted some respite. Still, something nudged at the back of his brain.
There was a cry from behind him, a moment before something swept his hat off his head. Lady Sneasler had somehow snuck up behind him and stolen his hat right off his head. “Very funny, my Lady.” She snickered at his tone, but stopped after only a moment, looking at him in visible concern. “Ah, do not worry. I was simply lost in thought and failed to notice your arrival. Apologies for the delay.”
She still raised a clawed paw, using the back to raise his head to meet her eyes, still looking at him inquisitively. How anyone could have found this Pokemon standoffish or difficult was far beyond Ingo. She was easily one of the most kind and caring he could remember.
Well. For whatever that was worth for an amnesiac.
Sneasler must’ve been satisfied with whatever she saw, because she allowed Ingo’s chin to drop and turned back into her den, spinning her Warden’s hat on one claw. Ingo sighed in amusement before following her back in, the sound of his guest’s humming becoming louder.
Miss Akari had apparently traveled to the Highlands on a fairly routine survey, only to find herself stuck in the downpour. Upon calling Lady Sneasler to travel back down the cliffs, the wily Noble had instead taken her to her den, much to the surprise of both passenger and Warden. She hadn’t complained though, instead immediately taking to playing with the Lady’s kits, who all seemed overjoyed at the attention.
In fact, the group of four was still crowded around her. One curled at her feet, two on either side, and one had apparently beaten all the rest to take a place in her lap, where the kit now purred smugly under the pets it was being given. She gave him a big grin as he re-entered. “Did you enjoy your rain contemplation?”
“Yes, it was quite enjoyable.” She pouted a bit at the lack of a rise, immediately broken as Lady Sneasler slapped his hat on her head, and he retook his place by the fire. The smell of Highlands Stew, a fancy name for what was essentially tossing local flora into a pot, filled the space. Akari’s Typhlosion snorted in his sleep, his spectral flames adding to the warmth.
“Figure anything out?” It sounded like another tease, but he heard the second layer to the question. They were both amnesiacs in a strange land, after all. Anything and everything helped. Ingo huffed a small breath. He hated burdening the young Wielder, but she had a knack for knowing when he was hiding something from her.
“I…I did not recall anything else. However, something has been bothering me all day.” She sat up a little straighter at that, her Sneasel ministrations pausing. “I can’t help but feel as though…I'm forgetting something.”
There was a pause.
“I mean…”
“Rather, that I’m missing something. An important date, or event of some kind. Like I should be going somewhere, but have instead been sent to another station.” He shook his head. “Do you follow my tracks?”
Akari tilted her head to the side. “Kinda? It almost sounds like muscle memory, like how I keep reaching for my pockets for one of those screens we remember. Maybe it’s something like that?”
What could it be? An anniversary of some kind? A birthday, perhaps? Maybe even his own?
Maybe even the man in white’s?
Ingo was startled from his thoughts by a sudden weight landing in his lap. He looked down to meet the bleary eyes of a Sneasel, who looked annoyed at its pet deprivation. He looked back up to meet Akari’s serious gaze. “Miss Akari, what-”
“Pet the Sneasel.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Pet. The Dang. Sneasel.”
He pet the Sneasel. He had to admit, the soft fur and comforting purrs made him feel a bit better.
“You always get so lost in that head of yours!” She leaned down to his level, waggling a finger that would make Mistress Calaba jealous. “Safety checks, right? We can’t give up now, Uncle!”
He had to admit it, if only to himself. He still didn’t understand why a girl so bold and self-sufficient as Akari would give him the moniker Uncle so easily. However, he knew he’d be there for his favorite passenger as long as she needed.
(And if he had his choice, he’d be more than proud to call Akari his niece.)
Ingo shook his head. “Indeed!” He pointed, the motion less impressive while sitting with a Sneasel curled in his lap. “We shall see these tracks through to the end, and I will not uncouple from you!” Sneasler snickered, but Akari nodded, her eyes shining just a bit brighter.
“Right! Two of a kind!” She pointed right back, mirroring the familiar motion. Something about it never failed to raise his mood, even when thinking about his forgotten past.
“And…thank you, Miss Akari.”
“No problem, Uncle Ingo.”
And that was that.
Akari looked back out over the rained-out cliffs. “Still…it’s a terrible day for rain.”
On that, they could agree.