Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In the early weeks of spring, when the flowers were peeking out from their blooming buds, the Arc Phone beeped in Akari’s pocket. 

Akari pulled her gaze away from the Pokédex unfurled on her lap. She’d completed her Pokédex many weeks ago, but often found herself casually leafing through the pages, running her fingers along the sketchy illustrations and short blurbs scrawled on the pages. The professor did a remarkable job compiling vast amounts of information. She couldn’t help but admire such a feat. 

Typhlosion, who’d been napping nearby, perked up at the sound of the Arc Phone. She crooned and peered over Akari’s shoulder, staring at the short text message displayed on the screen.

Meet me atop the mountain. 

Bring Warden Ingo with you.

Leave your Pokémon in the pastures.

Akari blinked. Arceus was at the Temple of Sinnoh again.

Even after defeating and capturing Arceus, the almighty Pokémon wouldn’t be confined to a mere Pokéball. Arceus left Amari’s side every so often to sit upon Mt. Coronet, gazing down at the lands it created eons ago. Akari didn’t mind much—Palkia and Diagla had been quelled, the time-space rift hanging overhead was mended, and Hisui was finally safe. As long as Arceus was somewhere nearby, whether in its ball or at the temple, Akari had no qualms about Arceus going about its usual business. 

Sometimes, when she was feeling down, Akari would trek up the mountain to speak with Arceus at the temple. The Pokémon was an excellent listener, and the crisp mountain air was sufficiently numbing. 

However, she always went alone. It was unusual for Arceus to tolerate a second person’s presence, let alone specifically request it. What matter would they be discussing that required Warden Ingo to be there? 

Only one way to find out, she supposed. Akari was lucky enough to already be sitting at the training grounds, so she called out to Ingo from the other side of the arena. 

“Hey, Ingo,” Akari said as she trotted up to the Warden. He glanced up at her curiously. “My Arc Phone just got a message. Look.”

“Arc… Phone?” Ingo asked, scratching his chin. “Ah, yes… The device you received from Sinnoh.”

“Arceus, not Sinnoh.”

“Ah. Yes.”

Akari turned the phone towards Ingo. “Arceus wants to meet us at the temple.”

Ingo paused, the gears in his brain spinning for a moment. He double-checked the screen, then triple-checked it to ensure he wasn’t misreading the text. “…I’m to meet Almighty Arceus as well?”

Akari simply shrugged. 

“That is… unusual,” Ingo admitted, hesitation lacing his voice. He'd never even seen Arceus before, and now he was being invited to visit it. “…But far be it from me to ignore such a request. Shall we depart straight away?” Akari nodded, and Ingo straightened his back. “Very well! We make haste for the temple.”

“I’ll give you a ride to the summit if you want. It’ll be faster that way.”

Ingo souched back down, suddenly looking rather queasy. “On Braviary? I don’t track well with heights, I’m afraid…”

Akari laughed in reply. “We can take Wyrdeer. The temple isn’t far from the camp.”

Once they’d made their preparations, Ingo and Akari were off. The highlands were only a day’s travel from Jubilife Village, and once they arrived at the summit camp, they handed their Pokéballs to the Security Corps member stationed there. 

“You’re going by yourselves? With no Pokémon? That doesn’t sound safe…”

“We’ll be fine,” Ingo assured him with the tip of his cap. “We’re meeting a friend at the summit. We won’t be alone for very long.”

“Well, be careful! I heard a powerful Pokémon likes to frequent the summit. You wouldn’t want to get in a fight with something like that!”

Akari and Ingo exchanged knowing glances. 

Soon enough, the pair sat atop Wyrdeer, galloping across Hisuian snow towards the mountaintop. Ingo latched anxiously onto Wyrdeer’s mane, but Wyrdeer kept his gait even and steady so neither passenger would fall off. 

Akari tried to puzzle out what Arceus wanted. The god of all Pokémon wasn’t much of a talker, unless it came to the history of Hisui. But that couldn’t be it, could it? Why would Arceus want Ingo along for a simple history lecture?

Before she could think of an answer, the two arrived at the temple. Akari stroked Wyrdeer’s snout gently before hopping off, whispering a quiet thank-you into his ear. Ingo’s stride was shaky, but even he managed to tip his hat at Wyrdeer before he trotted away into the distance. 

Akari and Ingo carefully made their way up the icy steps to the temple. Arceus already stood in the back of the ruins, watching the humans approach with an unreadable expression. Ingo was left gobsmacked for a brief moment, staring up at the creator of the whole universe, before remembering his manners and introducing himself. “My name is Ingo. You… er… requested us.”

Arceus bowed its head in what seemed like a nod. And then Arceus spoke, its voice resonating from all directions. 

“Noble Akari. Warden Ingo. I wish to apologize for the hardships thou hast suffered.”

“It’s no problem,” Akari said, as easy as ever. She didn’t know how to feel about being called noble, so she ignored that part. “Fixing the rift wouldn’t have been possible without your help, anyway. It was a team effort!”

“I am not referring to that.” Arceus’ eyes softened a tad. “I refer to thine… temporal displacement.”

“Oh.” Akari’s easygoing disposition quickly fizzled away, and she was left feeling deflated. Ingo glanced her way, his face just as somber as hers, and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He knew exactly what she was thinking. After nearly half a year in Hisui, Akari was still unable to recall her past. Her earliest concrete memory was waking up on Prelude Beach, with no recollection of the first fifteen years of life. 

Akari tried to make peace with it but it was hard. Her heart longed for places she couldn’t name, and her arms ached for the embrace of people she couldn’t picture. Akari knew Ingo felt the same way—the warden sometimes opened his mouth to speak to someone at his side, only to remember nobody was there. It was like their souls remembered their pasts when their minds did not. 

“Neither of you were meant to be here, in this place and time, but you have proven thy merits in the face of adversity.”

Arceus stepped forward, lowering its head to eye level with the humans.

“Young Akari,” Arceus said, “thou hast bested mine own children in battle and mended the fabric of the universe. And Warden Ingo,” it continued, “thou hast devoted thy life to protecting the precious people and Pokémon of Hisui. For thy deeds, I am eternally grateful.”

Ingo pulled his cap over his eyes and mumbled something under his breath. He almost looked embarrassed. 

Arceus stood straight, its voice hardening. “Noble Akari… Warden Ingo… please wait a moment.”

Before Akari respond, the wind suddenly picked up, and a small black dot suddenly appeared on the ground before them. No… Not a dot. A hole, a tiny one, poking through the universe itself. Ingo’s grip on Akari’s shoulder tightened. Arceus simply waited as the dot widened into a massive crater, swirling with temporal energy. 

A time-space rift. 

The rift in the ground yawned across the ground. It poured its borders over the marble tile, like ink bleeding across paper. On the other side of the rift, Akari saw abstracted visions of a strange land, decorated with lights that brightened the evening sky. Hundreds—no, thousands of people moved in the infinite everglow, weaving between each other like threads in a vast tapestry of life. 

“…What is that?” Akari asked. Ingo was too amazed to say anything, but he looked up at Arceus expectantly, eager to know the answer as well. 

“This is the land of Unova, hundreds of years from now,” Arceus replied, a twinge of fondness in its voice. “I shaped it with mine own hands. From the void, I moulded its vast scapes, carved out its rivers and lakes, and commanded life there to flourish. It was your home, before you stolen by the rift.”

Akari swallowed hard. She remembered almost nothing of her old home before winding up in Hisui. And now, here it was, facing her from the other side of a portal. 

Beside her, Ingo was frozen in place. “Home?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. “This place… This is where we came from?”

“Step into the rift. It will take you both to Unova, centuries into the future. Your friends and family surely await thee somewhere on the other side.” Arceus paused, letting the words sink in before continuing. “It is not good for you to remain here. You must go home.”

The gravity of Arceus’ words crushed Akari like a landslide. After so long, she finally had the chance to seek out the life stolen from her… but at the grave cost of abandoning her new life in Hisui. She’d made many friends here, and even though her heart longed to recall her past, she wasn’t fully willing to leave her present behind. 

Maybe Arceus was right. She never truly belonged here, did she? Akari would always be a black sheep, even if the Galaxy Team had embraced her. Some people—from Jubilife, from the clans, from the guild—still treated her like an outsider. Like a threat. 

But there were those precious people who accepted her from the very beginning. Professor Laventon, who vouched for a stranger in need of shelter. Rei, who taught Akari how to survive in the harsh Hisuian landscape. Cyllene, who went behind Kamado’s back to help Akari save the world. Not to mention Irida and Adaman, and the Wardens of the two Clans. Leaving them behind would break Akari’s heart. 

Gosh, she was crying, wasn’t she? 

Ingo surely had reservations about leaving, too. He’d been in Hisui for far longer than Akari, almost a full year more, and would be losing far more than her if he were to leave for Unova. Not to mention his duty as Warden… What would become of Lady Sneasler in Ingo’s absence? 

“Your hearts are troubled. Speak.”

“…I’m not sure if I’m willing to depart,” Ingo said softly. “I’ve cultivated a home here. I’m not eager to abandon it.” He trailed off, his eyes lingering on the time-space rift. “And yet… I can’t deny that burning in my firebox… the drive to seek out my past. If I ignore it, curiosity might drive me off the rails.”

Akari bit her lip. “Do you think we have families?”

“We’ve been delayed for a long time. I fear that anyone waiting for us may have… moved on by now.” Ingo seemed troubled by the thought.

Akari hasn’t even considered that. She’d been in Hisui for a long time, but not so long that people would have forgotten her. Ingo, meanwhile, had been missing from Unova for nearly two whole years. If he had family and friends in the future, would they still be looking for him? 

And so they stood before the rift, paralyzed with indecision. Akari’s mind swirled with worst-case scenarios, worrying about what would become of her if she entered the rift. She worried that she’d never be able to find her family again, or that her mind would forever remain clouded and hazed by amnesia. 

Did she even have a family? Was it a family worth having?

“Can we stay?” Akari asked quietly. 

“No.”

“But my friends, and my Pokémon—”

“I am ordering you to return,” Arceus said firmly. “You belong in your own time. I am commanding you to return, for thine own sake—”

“Almighty Sinnoh,” Ingo said suddenly, interrupting Arceus. “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but that’s not fair to Akari.”

Arceus raised an eyebrow. 

“She put her life on the line to save this place,” Ingo continued. “She quelled your children because she loves Hisui and the people who live here.” His voice was unwavering, even though he was in the middle of mouthing off the creator of the universe. “How could you ask her to abandon that? After all she’s done for you?”

Akari sucked in her breath, studying Arceus’ reaction warily. Arceus was nice enough, she supposed. But after being interrupted so rudely? Being accused of unfairness, of inconsiderateness? By a human, no less? Those slights were definitely enough to make Arceus angry. 

But instead of becoming angry, Arceus simply sighed. 

“…I will give you two months to seek your families and recall what thou hast forgotten. If, by some impossibly slim chance, you are still unhappy… then I will bring thou back to Hisui.”

Ingo glanced at Akari. “Is that acceptable?”

“…Yes,” Akari said honestly. Arceus’ offer was like a safety net, ready to catch her if no one in Unova would. She could come back to Hisui if Unova was so terrible. 

And yet. 

“…I’m scared,” Akari said under her breath, barely louder than a whisper. Ingo blinked, the emotional vulnerability taking him by surprise. “I want to remember. I want to find my family. But I can’t bring my Pokémon with me, and my friends can’t come either. I’m scared.”

Ingo didn’t immediately reply. He pulled his cap over his eyes, his nose scrunched and his frown deep. He was a difficult man to read—maybe even Arceus didn’t know what was going through Ingo’s head. 

“I believe,” Ingo finally said, “that I’ve arrived at my own conclusion.”

“Yeah?”

“Ms. Akari.” Ingo turned to fully face her, a fond look on his face. “I can’t quite explain why, but… I feel it would be irresponsible of me to leave a young passenger unattended on her journey.” I’m not that young, she wanted to say, but didn’t interrupt. “Allow me to accompany you until you reach your destination. We will traverse Unova together, as a two-car train.”

Akari blinked owlishly. “You’d come with me? But… But what about your family? Don’t you want to find them?”

“It will be a small detour. I’ll arrive at my own station eventually.”

“Ingo…” Akari felt tears threatening the corners of her eyes. She and Ingo were friends, but not incredibly close, so the suggestion came out of left field. But here Ingo was, offering his hand to hold as Akari was once again about to arrive in a strange land. 

Akari’s heart swelled. 

Ingo was a kind man. She would be happy to travel with him. 

“You can come with me,” Akari began, fighting back the tears, “on one condition.”

“And what is that?”

“When we find my family…” When, not if. “…you’ll let me help you find your family, too. And you have to promise to let me meet them!”

Ingo’s eyes softened, and the ghost of a smile haunted his face. “Of course. These terms are acceptable.”

With that, Arceus’ patience finally ran out. “I cannot keep the rift open forever.” Arceus’ tone was firm, but Akari swore she heard a twinge of hesitation buried between its words. “…We shall speak again soon.”

Akari’s breath hitched in her throat. No, she wasn’t ready to go. She didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to Rei, or Laventon, or her Pokémon. What if she lost her memories all over again? What if she was to suffer the same fate as before, stuck in a hostile world—alone—with no sense of self?

Beside her, Ingo wordlessly knelt down and scooped her trembling hand into his own. The warmth of his fingers grounded Akari, and her breath evened out a bit. 

No. This was different. She wasn’t alone this time. 

“It’s time to go,” Ingo said quietly. “…Please keep your arms and legs inside the rift at all times.” 

Akari looked at him, puzzled for a moment, then broke into laughter. Ingo was a strange man, but his eccentricities lightened the mood. 

“Safety check!” Ingo continued as he leaned comically over the edge of the rift, scanning the world beyond with narrowed eyes. He seemed very proud of himself for being able to cheer Akari up. “No hazards... Safety check complete! We are ready to embark!”

Ingo raised his foot, lowering it into the gap. He waited for Akari to follow his lead, and when she did, he whistled loudly. “Mind the gap between the temple and the rift. Next stop, Unova. All aboard!”

And with that, as a two-car train, they plunged themselves into the rift below. 

Arceus watched them disappear fully before turning away, vanishing into the heavens. Promises from Arceus were not lightly given, nor were they ever broken. In two months time, Arceus would find them and offer to bring them back to Hisui. 

But Arceus knew what awaited them on the other side. Akari and Ingo would be fine. 

Meanwhile, the spacetime rift fully closed in Arceus’ wake—but not before one more person, equipped with a full belt of Pokéballs, slipped inside the rift without a trace. 

Chapter Text

As a subway conductor, there were many responsibilities Emmet attended to.

A conductor was in charge of checking tickets. Emmet always carried a pouch of change in his pocket in case somebody needed to purchase a ticket after boarding, and if a passenger happened to board the wrong train, Emmet would direct them to the correct line.

Emmet also attended to the well-being of the train itself. While the subway had multiple engineers aboard, Emmet oversaw all of them, and if the train wasn’t in mint condition, it was up to Emmet and his crew to solve the problem.

But those were merely parts of the whole. Emmet did those things, and he did them well, but that wasn’t the core of his job.

The core of his job was very simple: bring every passenger safely to their destination.

Emmet wanted to say he was good at that part. For the length of his entire career, his track record was spotless.

But that precious record was broken exactly twenty months ago.

Young passengers sometimes found themselves lost in the vast, complicated subway system. Parents would look away for just a moment, only to find their child had wandered into the rush hour crowd. Teenagers would roughhouse on the rails, evading the watchful eye of the depot agents.

Emmet prided himself on returning wayward passengers to their intended destination. Every child reunited with their parents, every teenager whisked from the subway’s deadly path.

When Ingo went missing, Emmet’s streak, among other things, crumbled to pieces before his eyes.

For a long time, Ingo’s missing person poster was the only one hanging on the bulletin board. But a year after Ingo vanished, a young girl visiting from Sinnoh suffered the same fate in the same tunnel. Swallowed by the darkness, never to be seen again.

The route was closed after that.

The girl’s family—her mother and older sister—raised hell for months. They demanded to search the tunnels themselves until they found their little girl, but the grieving family was forbidden from doing so. The city officials feared that they would vanish too, if they ventured too far into the tunnels.

Emmet was also forbidden from searching. That didn’t stop him, though. Unlike the girl’s family, Emmet knew the subway system like the back of his hand. No rail worker could catch him sneaking in, and nobody would notice him for hours, if they noticed him at all.

Like most nights before, Emmet had gone back into the subway tunnels. His path was illuminated by Chandelure’s violet glow.

The tunnels didn’t go on forever, Emmet reasoned—they always led to a station. If Ingo was anywhere along the tracks, Emmet would find him eventually.

But in the pitch-black tunnel, it was easy to lose hope. There were times when Emmet was tired, physically and emotionally, and the reasonable part of his brain wanted to give up the search. He despised himself for those moments of weakness, cursed the thoughts that crossed his mind. Emmet refuse to leave the tunnels until his shift began, or until a depot agent caught him sneaking around.

And yet his search never bore fruit. Most days, Emmet found nothing while strolling alongside the tracks. Sometimes he found graffiti, or a lost toy, or a person taking shelter from the rain… but never a sign of Ingo.

Not until today.

Emmet didn’t believe his eyes at first. Chandelure’s glow was dim these days, so it was hard to see it in the dark, but lying on the tracks was a black cap. Ingo’s cap. Maybe Emmet was presumptuous in that assessment—it could’ve been anyone’s—but his gut instinct was proved correct when he plucked it from the floor. Though old and worn, it was unmistakably his brother’s. The signature on the tag was a dead giveaway.

Emmet had passed through this part of the tunnel many times before. This hat was not here three days ago. It must’ve been left here recently.

Ingo must’ve been here recently.

“Look, Chandelure.” Emmet lifted the hat to the ghostly Pokémon, his grin widening every moment. “It’s Ingo’s cap. Isn’t that interesting?”

Chandelure’s flames, which had been dim for many months, suddenly erupted in light and colour. She bounced around Emmet, thrilled at the sound of her trainer’s name. Emmet laughed joyously, sharing in her delight.

“Yes, it’s verrrry interesting. We must make haste. Yup. Quickly, now.” With renewed vigour, Emmet and Chandelure sped down the tunnel as quickly as they could. Their destination was in sight.

Ingo was alive. They were sure of it. And Emmet would bring Ingo home safely, because that is a conductor’s job, and Emmet is a conductor.

* * *

Ingo and Akari arrived in total darkness.

With no light source, and no Pokémon to guide the way, Akari was immediately on guard. Ingo spoke calmly her, pulled her close, and told her that they would be fine. The darkness could not last forever. It had to lead somewhere. Ingo was sure of it, although he wasn’t sure why he was sure.

They chugged along in silence, sans the echo of their footsteps. The ground was uneven, so they moved slowly, running their hands along the stony wall so they wouldn’t get turned around. Akari chose to latch onto Ingo’s jacket, but Ingo didn’t mind. This was what he promised to do: bring Akari safely to her destination. His jacket was torn and tattered anyway—a few wrinkles in the fabric would barely be noticeable.  

Thankfully, Ingo was correct: the darkness did not go on forever. After only fifteen minutes of feeling their way through the void, a light appeared in the distance. 

The light was not sunlight, as Ingo initially believed, and they hadn’t emerged outside. Instead, they seemed to be standing in a small alcove fashioned into a sort of gathering space. The brick walls were lined with benches, and strange lanterns hung overhead, illuminating the room in an artificial glow. Stone pillars lined the room, with posters and signs hanging all along them.

Was this some sort of temple? What kind of Pokémon lived in a place like this?

The alcove had little else to offer, except for a flight of stone stairs leading to a higher floor. With no place else to go, Ingo led Akari up the stairs. They pushed aside black-and-yellow ribbons hanging across the pathway, accidentally snapping a few.

This time, the light shining from above was definitely sunlight. Ingo shielded his eyes from the glare as they stepped into the light, and when his vision finally adjusted, he was awestruck.

Buildings like the ones in Jubilife towered overhead, except they were far taller than he thought buildings could ever be. The ground was lined with flat stone, with patches of grass between paved pathways. The world around was dotted with thousands of burning lights, rivalling the stars themselves.

Not to mention the crowds. Ingo had never seen so many people in his entire life. A sea of humans washed across the scape, flitting into and out of buildings, as if they were a current of water running through the streets.

Ingo looked away. His head was spinning at the mere sight of it all. He instead turned to Akari, who was gaping at the strange new world they’d ended up in. Somewhere in this densely-populated, stone-laden world, their friends and families were waiting. But how were they going to find them in such a vast place? Where would they even begin to search?

“We should find a place to stay for now,” Akari said slowly. Yes, that sounded right. Their search would be made easier if they had a station to return to. Besides, Ingo was not blind. He saw the bags forming under Akari’s eyes. They could both do with someplace to rest.

Akari looked at Ingo blearily, and suddenly her eyes widened.

“Your hat,” she said. “Where is it?”

Ingo ran his hand over of his head, surprised to find his hat was nowhere to be seen. He must’ve dropped it in the dark tunnels, or maybe it fell off while crossing the time-space rift. Ingo was a little saddened—he was attached to that hat, as it was one of few relics of his old life—but he was in Unova now. Surely he could find a new, identical hat somewhere.

“I suppose I lost it somewhere along the way. I don’t think it’s wise to backtrack for it…” Ingo shook his head and smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s just clothing.”

Akari seemed unsure, but Ingo wouldn’t let her worry too much about it. They had other concerns far more pressing than searching for a misplaced hat. “Come now… There must be food and lodgings nearby.” He picked up Akari’s hand, and Akari squeezed it in reply.

Together, they marched forward, plunging themselves into the sea of passersby. They had to be quick on their feet—they nearly collided into people at every step, and had to stay latched onto each other. If either one let go, they’d lose each other in the crowd.

While they sailed the ocean of people, Ingo scanned the buildings carefully. The script written on store signs was not Hisuian, but Ingo was surprised to discover that he could read it perfectly. Was this a gift from Arceus, so they would be able to navigate Unova? Or did Ingo always have the ability to read this language? Perhaps Ingo spoke it in the past—he was originally from this region, after all.

Akari, however, simply squinted at the signs in confusion, unable to read them at all. If Akari was from Unova, shouldn’t she also understand the local language? It made no sense to Ingo.

Ingo felt Akari lagging, and suddenly, she began tugging at his arm, pointing across the street. Ingo looked to where she was pointing to: an ornate mahogany building with huge windows and beautiful white curtains. Over the large double door hung a sign that read “Darumaka Cookhouse” in cursive font.

Ingo wasn’t sure what a cookhouse was exactly, but he could reasonably guess that they served food there.

A detour for dinner would fit in their schedule. Ingo allowed Akari to pull him across the road and through the doors.

The interior was very elaborate, an array of white tables and plushy chairs arranged neatly the floor.  Just through the entryway was a smartly dressed young man with a towel draped over his arm. He stood behind a desk lined with neatly stacked papers. As soon as Ingo made eye contact, he nodded politely in greeting.

“Good afternoon, sir and miss. Are you here to dine with us today?”

“Ah…” Ingo managed to speak despite his stupor. Was this establishment like the Wallflower in Jubilife? “Y–Yes, I believe so.”

“Do you have a reservation?”

Ingo stuttered. “I… No, I…”

The man smiled again, although it was clearly strained. “Understood,” he said, picking up a stack of folded papers from the desk. “Please follow me.”

Tugging at the collar of his Pearl Clan uniform, Ingo obliged, trailing behind the man with Akari in tow. Most of the tables were empty, although a few people were seated at the far corners, digging into meals and sipping from tiny glasses. The man stopped in front of an empty table and gestured for Ingo and Akari to sit down.

“Here are your menus, sir. I will be your waiter for today. The daily special is our Servine salad, consisting of lettuce mix, tomatoes, Salac berries, and hand-pressed Aprijuice drizzle. Would you like anything to drink?”

“Water, please,” Ingo said, trying to process anything he’d heard. What was a Servine? Or a Salac berry? The man mentioned Aprijuice—are Apricorns able to be juiced? And what’s a waiter?

The man nodded and turned to Akari, asking what she wanted to drink. Akari simply blinked, her expression blank.

“Water for her as well,” Ingo finally said.

The man walked away, leaving Ingo to wonder what exactly they’d gotten into. Maybe they should’ve found a place to forage for berries instead of walking into a strange building.

“Um.” Akari shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “How, um, umm…”

“…Yes, Miss Akari?”

“How did you do that?” Akari finally asked.

Ingo frowned. “Do what?”

“How come you can talk to him? I didn’t understand anything you guys just said.”

“…You didn’t?” Well, that would explain Akari’s confusion a moment ago. “How curious… I wonder why?”

Obviously, Akari didn’t have an answer to that question. She was just as puzzled as Ingo was. Not only was Ingo able to read the script of this region’s language, but he was able to speak it as well. So why was Akari unable to understand this Unovan language?

Ingo gave up and turned his attention to the paper he’d been handed. It was a huge list of various dishes, with pictures and numbers beside each item. Sweet pasta curry… Occa tacos… Grilled Slowpoke skewer… Ginger tofu stir-fry… None of these foods sounded remotely familiar.

His eyes lingered over a picture of a pastry glazed with berry paste—the description mentioned that the berries were “lovingly mashed” by the chef’s own Axew partner. Axew? That was a Pokémon, wasn’t it? Why did that name ring a bell?

“What’s that?” Akari asked, pointing at a picture of a bowl of soup.

Ingo glanced at the description. “Balm mushroom soup. Perhaps they taste like springy mushrooms?”

“Or direshrooms,” Akari said with a scowl like she’d eaten something sour. “Is there any mochi?”

“No… but there are rice balls. Will that suffice?”

Akari nodded. She seemed disappointed, sure, but still grateful to have something familiar to eat. The rice here couldn’t be that different from Hisui’s rice, right?

When the waiter—whatever that meant—came by and placed two glasses of water on the table, Ingo pointed at the rice ball platter and asked for two portions. The waiter wrote their order down, then left to attend to a nearby table.

While waiting for their food, Ingo and Akari decided to do a quick inventory of their belongings. Arceus had given them no time to gather necessities, but with the supplies they had on hand, they might be able to manage for the time being.

In Ingo’s bag, a small pile of empty Pokéballs was shoved up against a potion bottle. The Pearl Clan was not much for crafting, but Ingo had learned potion and Pokéball recipes during his time in Jubilife. He also had some Oran berries, various herbs, his Celestica flute…

…His flute.

Ingo’s face fell.

Just as Akari didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to her friends in Jubilife, Ingo didn’t get to say goodbye to his ward, Sneasler. The thought of leaving without a proper farewell made him sick to his stomach. She was probably looking for him, wondering where her Warden disappeared to.

Despite what the rest of Pearl Clan might believe, Sneasler was a very kind Pokémon. Sure, she had a temper… and yes, she wasn’t the most sociable… but Ingo knew there was a gentle soul inside Sneasler’s callous exterior. She was the one who originally found Ingo lost in the wilderness and insisted that the Pearl Clan take him in. She licked Ingo's wounds whenever he was injured, allowed him to rest in her basket, and even faced off against territorial Alphas as they travelled together.

Ingo was not received well upon his arrival, and some Pearl Clan members insisted that he be kicked out of the settlement. They disliked him because of his demeanour and strange habits. Sneasler must’ve empathized with that. She wasn’t well-liked by the Pearl Clan either. She was fiercely protective of Ingo, and refused to let anyone cast him into the wilderness.

Perhaps their similarity was what bonded them together. And it was that exact bond that saved Ingo from being kicked out of the clan. When Irida saw how Ingo tamed the violent Sneasler, she appointed him Warden, and her say as leader left little room for debate.

It took Ingo a moment to stop reminiscing and return to reality. He was surprised at himself—he wasn’t prone to sentimentality. Ingo shook his head, clearing the thoughts from his vision.

There was no point reminiscing about his history with Sneasler. It wasn’t like Ingo was planning on staying in Unova, anyway. He came along to assist Akari, to find her family, and perhaps learn about his past—but Ingo had zero intention of remaining in this strange, foreign place for longer than he needed to. Ingo would ensure Akari arrived at her station, then depart for Hisui once more. He would not leave Sneasler without a Warden.

Ingo cradled the flute in his hand for a moment before slipping it into his coat pocket.

Akari’s bag was much fuller than his own. Her bag was a total disaster, with items strewn into random pockets with no rhyme or reason, so it took her a moment to get everything organized. Once she finally got it all laid on the table, she and Ingo took account of what she had.

Max potions, revives, and ultra balls. Lots of them, too. That was good. They would need those once they encountered some wild Pokémon.

Sticky globs, smoke bombs, and a Clefairy-shaped wooden doll. Those were also useful, although Ingo wasn’t sure what the doll was for. Akari seemed a bit too old to be carrying around a child’s toy. She was sixteen now, wasn’t she?

And lastly, between the two of them, Ingo and Akari carried a decent sum of money. Not a lot, but enough to get by for a few days. Akari could use her crafting kit to make some meals if they could just gather a few more ingredients. They made a note to go foraging together after they found a place to sleep.

The food only took ten minutes to arrive. The waiter placed two steaming piles of rice balls and vegetables in front of them, along with a bottle of some sort of sauce. Akari dug in immediately, shoving her face full of rice. Ingo opened his mouth to stop her, to remind her that they needed to thank Sinnoh first, but gave up when he remembered that Akari wasn’t beholden to Pearl Clan tradition. Besides, Akari’s relationship with Sinnoh was complicated, to say the least.

Silently, Ingo thanked Sinnoh before joining the feast. They had a lot of ground to cover and a lot of planning to do. But for now, Ingo allowed himself to partake in the simple pleasures of good food and good company.

Chapter Text

The food was fine. 

Akari didn’t always have access to a hearth or fireplace, especially during a survey, so she was always thankful for a warm meal. The rice was underseasoned but well cooked, and the vegetables were decent, too.

Nothing about the food was bad. 

And yet… it made her heart pang painfully. 

It wasn’t the same. She missed the way Beni fried it, the way Laventon seasoned it, the way Rei expertly wrapped it in seaweed. She missed the cozy atmosphere of the Wallflower while she ate. She missed sound of the Milkiwa River trickling nearby. She missed the company of the Galaxy Team. 

She missed Rei. She missed Laventon. She missed Cyllene. 

She missed Typhlosion. 

Her hand faltered, grains of rice slipping between her fingers. 

Arceus said she belonged here, but here was strange and unfamiliar. Even the rice was foreign to her tongue. 

Could her Unovan life ever replace her precious Hisuian one? 

She inhaled sharply, willing away the pinpricks of tears. This wasn’t the time or place. She’d think about this later. 

Eventually, they finished eating. Ingo wiped his face clean and pushed his plate aside. The waiter appeared at his side, smiling brightly. “How would you like to pay, sir?”

“…With money,” Ingo replied slowly. He gathered a handful of coins from his pocket, splaying them on the table. “Will this be enough?”

“I’m sorry, sir… We don’t accept Sinnohan money.”

“Sinnohan?” 

“We only take Unovan dollars.”

“I… well…” Ingo felt quite embarrassed by their predicament. The restaurant didn’t accept Hisuian money? Then their wallets might as well be empty. “I’m terribly sorry. I don’t have any Unovan dollars. Is there some other way I can pay?”

“By card. Debit or credit.” The man’s smile was wavering at this point. “We also take cheques.”

Ingo blinked. He know what any of those words meant. 

Finally, the man’s smile fell entirely. He backed away from the table awkwardly, bowing his head and averting his eyes. 

“…Let me go speak to my manager.”

The man retreated into a back room. Ingo and Akari glanced at each other. 

Ten seconds later, a very angry-looking man stormed out, glaring daggers at Ingo. 

“I should’ve known,” he hissed, jutting his finger into Ingo’s face. “We don’t take kindly to dine-and-dashers. You were just waiting for the chance to bolt, weren’t you?”

“N–Now pardon me!” Ingo exclaimed, shrinking back into his chair. “I do sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding, but—!”

“No buts! You aren’t getting a tab.” The man folded his arms, towering above Ingo. “You pay right now or I’m calling the police.”

Akari shot up, stepping between Ingo and the angry man’s finger. Ingo quickly pushed Akari aside, glaring at her sternly. “Don’t worry, Akari. I’ll handle this.”

“He’s threatening you!” 

“No, he’s just upset. They don’t accept Hisuian money. Let me just—”

“And what are you two blabbering about?!” the man hissed. “Speak Galarian, please!”

Ingo stood up. When he wasn’t slouching, he was quite tall. The man’s glare wavered a bit when Ingo rose to his full height.

“What’s your name, sir?” Ingo asked calmly.

“…Kelsey.”

“Mr. Kelsey. I understand your irritation, and I apologize for the misunderstanding. We’re new to this region and aren’t used to your customs yet.” Ingo spoke slowly, keeping his tone level. “I would like to settle this debt immediately. Is there some way we can work this out?”

Kelsey thought for a moment. 

“…I could put you to work,” he grunted. “You seem able bodied. I’ll have you wash dishes until dinner rush is over.”

Ingo let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “That’s fine. When would you like me to start?”

“Right now.” 

Kelsey grabbed Ingo’s wrist and yanked him away. 

Akari moved to defend Ingo, but the Warden held up his other hand. “He wants me to wash dishes to pay for our meal. Stay nearby until I’m done.”

“Dishes? Ingo, you—”

“Only for the evening. Don’t go far.”

Before Akari could think of a response, Kelsey dragged Ingo toward the back room, with the waiter following timidly behind them. 

* * *

Ingo was led through double doors into a strange back area. A thirty foot long metallic stall separated Ingo from a few employees handling food on the other side. They wore small black caps, nets to keep their hair out of their face, and aprons stained with grease and sauces. Plates of food sat in the window of the stall, bathed in hot red light. 

Smoke assaulted Ingo’s nose and eyes. The space was cramped, stuffy, and loud—people shouting at each other, dishes clattering, fires whooshing, Pokémon screeching. And above it all, a large man dressed in white with a comically tall cap stood on Ingo’s side of the kitchen, shouting orders at the employees dressed in black. A small red Pokémon sat atop his shoulder, looking quite bored. 

This was nothing like the Wallflower. 

“That man is Chef Smokie,” Kelsey said. “The only things you say to him are ‘yes, chef’ and ‘right away, chef.’ Are we clear?” 

Ingo nodded gravely. 

When Kelsey and Ingo approached Smokie from behind, he turned to face them with a scowl.

“Kelsey,” he barked angrily, “can’t you see I’m busy?”

Kelsey pushed Ingo forward. “You’ve got a new dishwasher for the night. He’s working off his dinner.”

“I don’t need another dishie,” the man snarled. “Our expo called in sick. I need to be on the grill. I can’t be standing here all night.” 

“I’ll call your employees and see if anyone can come in. Just put this guy in the pit.”

“Sure thing, your majesty,” Smokie spat, and Kelsey took that opportunity to walk away, leaving Ingo at the mercy of Smokie. Once they were alone together, the chef finally acknowledged Ingo, scrutinizing him with a narrow gaze. His Pokémon partner did the same, though it seemed more curious than annoyed. “…You ever worked the dish pit?” 

Ingo shook his head.

Smokie rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Just load the dishes into the machine and put them on the counter over there. Our dishie will be here soon to help you put them away.” He paused to shout more orders at the employees, then sighed deeply. “Damn it all. Can’t get a good expo these days.”

“Expo?” Ingo asked, forgetting Kelsey’s warning.

“I've got people who can cook,” Smokie explained with a growl, “but they don’t know what to cook, or when to start cooking it. And the servers don’t know which plates go where.” He threw his hands into the air, exasperated. “And now I don’t have one.”

Ingo nodded, beginning to understand Smokie’s plight. This whole kitchen was like a well-oiled machine, and the employees kept it operational. If the expo was gone, that meant…

“You’re missing your conductor,” Ingo realized aloud. 

Surprisingly, Smokie laughed. 

“You could say that.” He reached up to his Pokémon and scratched behind its ear. “My grill guy and my sautée lady are sick too, so I need to be on the line. But we’ve got a thirty-top reso tonight—that’s thirty people to a table. Tonight’s gonna be a disaster.”

Ingo could only imagine how badly the night would go for the unfortunate chef. The restaurant was massive, potentially seating at least a few hundred people. Tending to so many customers without someone directing the staff could mean long wait times, food going cold, or wrong orders being served. 

It was like having a team of Pokémon with no trainer.

“Why don’t I do it?” Ingo asked. “I need to work off my debt. You might as well make me your expo.”

Smokie laughed again, harder this time. “Oh, you’re funny.” His smile fell, and he jutted his finger at the dish-filled corner of the room. “Enough chitchat, new guy. Get in the dish pit.”

“Let me try. I’m quite good at coordinating large groups.”

“You haven’t memorized our menu,” Smokie snarled. “You don’t know the restaurant layout, the table numbers, the garnishes, the sauces—“

“Give me a few minutes to memorize it.”

Smokie was silent for a moment. He glanced at the employees on the other side of the kitchen—they stopped what they were doing to watch the conversation play out. Smokie yelled at them to get back to work, then turned back to Ingo, who waited patiently for an answer. 

“…You’re serious?”

“I’m always serious.”

Smokie paused again, longer this time. 

“Molly,” he finally shouted, “can you grab me the table map and the recipe book?”

“Yes, chef!” a voice replied from the other end of the room. Within moments, a short-statured cook looped around the room and arrived with a small black book and a white sheet with diagrams drawn on it. “Is new guy for real?”

“He sure is,” Smokie grunted. “Show him to the office. Give him ten minutes.”

Molly gave Ingo a sympathetic glance, muttered a yes, chef, and gestured for Ingo to follow. They walked along the tiled floor to the very end of the room, where a small, immaculate office sat, reminiscent of the offices in the Galaxy Hall. 

Molly plopped the items onto a nearby desk. “White sheet is table layout,” she droned, gesturing to a white paper with black markings and numbers all over it. Then she pointed to the other item. “Black book is recipes. Memorize cooking times and garnishes. Time orders so food is done cooking at the same time. Don’t let waiters take food that isn’t for their tables. And don’t be afraid to yell at the cooks.” 

After her explanation, Molly hesitated. “…You sure about this? Expo is no joke. You can’t seriously memorize everything in ten minutes.”

“Thank you for your concern. I’ll be fine.”

With that, Molly shrugged and left Ingo alone in the office. 

Ingo sat down and leafed through the black book. His eyes drank in the names and appearances of dishes he’d never heard of. Paras mushroom skillet. Tropius banana split. Tauros rib steak with Maractus drizzle. He memorized their ingredients and how long each dish took to make, trying not to salivate at the photos too much.

He occasionally glanced over at the restaurant map. The map was divided up with pen marks, labelled with the names of employees in charge of specific areas. He memorized the names and numbers on the map before turning his attention back to the recipe book. 

Ingo should’ve been nervous. There was a lot of information to take in and a lot of pressure riding on his performance, but Ingo felt at ease. The hectic, fast-paced workplace of a kitchen didn't faze him. In fact, it almost made him feel more at home. 

At minute eight of ten, Ingo returned early to the kitchen to report for duty. 

Two minutes later, papers began arriving at Ingo’s station. 

They were called tickets, Molly explained as she began cooking some potato sticks. Each ticket contained information about a food order. Ingo recalled which dishes took longer to make and ordered the cooks to start them first. 

As the minutes ticked by, more and more tickets began to pour in. Ingo could hear the bustle of a crowd seated outside, chatting and laughing. Waiters sidestepped him to grab drinks or cutlery for their tables. The chef’s Pokémon, a fire type called Pansear, occasionally leapt across the counter to help Ingo organize plates of food in the window. Smokie glanced at Ingo a few times. He seemed a bit nervous, but Ingo would give him no reason to worry. 

Even as the orders piled up around him, Ingo shouted clearly and calmly over the din, ordering the cooks and their Pokémon around. The waiters stood patiently as Ingo juggled their orders, adding lemon slices or pinches of herbs to the plates. And when he pointed at a plate with a command, the waiters obeyed him, no questions asked. 

At one point, Kelsey stormed in and began shouting at Ingo to stop touching the food and get into the dish pit. 

Ingo shouted back even louder, ordering Kelsey to bring two plates of steak to table fifteen. 

Shockingly, Kelsey listened to him, grumbling under his breath. 

After an hour, Ingo was sweating, but not because he was nervous. He was in his element. Standing in a bustling workplace, between the clanking of metal and the cries of Pokémon… Commanding the crew around him, shouting directions and pointing every which way… Working with his team as one big well-oiled machine… 

This felt natural. This felt good. 

Eventually, the orders slowed to a halt. 

The dinner rush was finally over. 

For the first time in hours, Ingo sat down. He wiped his brow free of sweat. Nearby waiters did the same, downing large glasses of ice water to cool off. 

Smokie, who’d been distracted helping the other cooks tidy up their stations, threw his towel aside and stomped towards Ingo, who quickly stood back up for his inevitable scolding. He thought he did a good job, he really did, but he must’ve messed up somehow.

“…Yes, chef?” Ingo asked, scared of the answer. 

“You’re hired,” Smokie said firmly. Pansear screeched in agreement. “I want you back for the Monday lunch shift.”

“What?!” Kelsey sprinted over, pushing Ingo aside. “No, no, no! I’m not hiring this street Patrat under any circumstances—”

“Hire him or I quit.” 

Kelsey choked on his own breath. 

“…You can’t be serious.”

Smokie huffed, folding his arms over his chest. Pansear mimicked the movement, sticking her tongue out at Kelsey. “This guy is already better than our current expo, and I only gave him ten minutes to study. Imagine how good he’ll be by next week.”

“He tried to weasel out of his bill!”

“So did I.”

“But you—” Kelsey’s voice suddenly softened. Something like fondness tinged his voice. “But you were different, Smokie. You just needed some help, and I…” 

He trailed off, looked at Ingo for a moment, then sighed deeply. 

“…It’s your kitchen, I suppose. Do what you want.”

“I intend to.” Smokie smiled, actually smiled. Ingo didn’t know Smokie was capable of a smile. “Now, about our new guy… What’s his clothing size? I need to get him a uniform.”

“D–Don’t I get a say in this?” Ingo replied. “I haven’t agreed to take this job.”

“I pay well. Don’t worry about that, er…”

“…Ingo.” 

“I pay a premium for my staff, Ingo. I’ll start you at thirty-five dollars an hour.” Kelsey made a strangled noise of disagreement but didn’t object. “I’ll take good care of you.”

Ingo hesitated. He didn’t come to this restaurant with the intention of getting a job. But mulling it over, Ingo realized that he’d accidentally stumbled face-first into an amazing deal. The rice balls he and Akari ordered were thirty dollars altogether. A mere hour’s work for two meals? That was a sinnohsend. 

“…Let me think about it,” Ingo finally said. “I’m travelling, so I may not be in the city for long. Besides, I must discuss this with my passenger.” He looked to Smokie. “Am I free to leave?”

Kelsey gave him a strange look. “The girl?”

“Of course,” Smokie assured him. “If you ever want a shift, just let me know.”

Ingo nodded at Smokie, then at Kelsey, and turned to leave. Smokie gave Pansear another scratch behind the ear while Kelsey watched Ingo run out the door. 

Ingo, Kelsey thought. Why does that name sound familiar? 

Ingo cursed under his breath as he eyed a clock on the wall. He’d lost track of time—he was working for nearly three hours. Ingo told Akari to stay nearby, but she wasn’t in the restaurant. The waiter who seated them earlier that day shrugged uselessly when Ingo asked about her whereabouts.

Ingo stared out the front door of the cookhouse, gazing helplessly into a slowly thinning stream of pedestrians. 

Where did Akari go? 

Chapter Text

Akari was growing impatient. 

She was content to sit in the restaurant for a while, but Ingo had been gone for hours now. How long was he going to stay in that back room? Was dishwashing really that time consuming?

Akari made multiple attempts to enter the back room to find Ingo, only to be stopped by the gruff man from before. He scolded her in another language, blocking her from entering. Eventually, she retreated to her table with a disdainful scowl. 

The waiter, to his credit, attempted to start a friendly conversation. Akari didn’t understand him, but she appreciated the gesture. He left a few minty sweets at her table. They did little to remedy Akari’s growing restlessness, but they did taste good.

Instinctively, she pulled her Arc Phone from her pocket.

The motion was automatic. Akari didn’t realize she was doing it until her thumb was hovering over the screen. The weight of a phone in her hand was comforting, somehow. Maybe she used her phone a lot in the past. 

Akari opened the texting app. She never had problems texting in Hisui, but being warped through space and time might’ve impacted her reception. Would her messages still go through? And even if they did, would she get a reply? 

She bit the bullet and typed out a message, fumbling a bit with the keyboard. She was getting pretty good at using the Arc Phone, but she didn’t use the texting feature much. It took her almost a minute to type a message. 

hello this is akari 

are you there

Akari was surprised to get a response almost immediately. 

Always. 

How is your journey so far? 

fine i guess

this place is huge 

i dont know how were gonna find our families 

I understand thy reservations. Worry not. 

I will guide thee however I can.

Akari laid her head on the table. The unhelpful response made her feel sour, but she took a deep breath and tempered her anger. Arceus wasn’t an all-knowing deity; she couldn’t fault it for not knowing every detail of her life. Statistically speaking, Akari was a random, unimportant kid who fell into a rift by pure chance. Why would Arceus have her life memorized?

Still… she was hoping for more. More help, more guidance. More answers. 

ok

what do you remember about me

You are Akari. 

You are fourteen years old. 

no no no

i mean old me

before hisui 

tell me what i was doing when you found me 

Of course. I will tell you everything I know. 

You fell into a rift seven months and two days ago.

The rift opened beneath this city, deep in a tunnel.

Oh, right. Akari and Ingo arrived in a tunnel. That must’ve been the site of the rift they originally fell through. It made sense for Arceus to send them back to that exact spot. 

But what was she doing in the tunnels before the rift opened? It was so dark and cold. She couldn’t imagine what business she had in such a miserable place. 

I heard you call for me, but I arrived too late. 

You were already plummeting through spacetime. 

I slowed thine descent and altered thine trajectory. 

It was all I could do.

and thats how i ended up hisui

It wasn’t a question—Akari knew this part. With Dialga and Palkia frenzied, spacetime was tearing all over the place. Akari was swallowed by one of many rifts opening across the world. 

Correct. 

Many humans and Pokémon were stolen by rifts. 

I was not able to save them all. 

I am thankful I was able to save you.

Akari fell silent. 

It was hard to forget how lucky she was. Had Arceus not slowed her fall, she could’ve plummeted onto the jagged rocks of Mt. Coronet and died. And if she wasn’t redirected to that rift, she could’ve ended up anywhere in the world. She could’ve been stranded in the open ocean, or emerged in outer space with no oxygen. Both possibilities made her stomach turn. 

The whole “seek out all Pokémon” job was weird (why would the creator of Pokémon want a Pokédex, of all things?), but it wasn’t Arceus’ fault that Akari was stranded across space and time. It was the opposite—it was Arceus who saved her, and it was Arceus who brought her back home in the end. 

She wished she could stop feeling so bitter. She should be happy. 

As the day grew longer, more and more people poured into the restaurant. The bustle of the crowd hurt her ears. The smell of strange foods assaulted her nose. Other patrons made Akari feel claustrophobic. They gave her strange looks. Some of them glared at her. 

Ingo said to stay nearby. 

But he didn’t say Akari had to stay here. 

Akari made a show of stretching her arms and yawning as she rose from her seat. She scooped up the remaining candies and shoved them into her satchel, then paraded herself out the front door. No one moved to stop her.  

But now what? 

Akari peered both ways down the long, sprawling road. It was still jam-packed with people, so traversing it without getting lost wouldn’t be easy. Besides, she came looking for privacy. She wouldn’t find any here. 

Instead, Akari slipped into the narrow alley between buildings. 

It was almost too narrow for an adult to fit, but Akari slipped through the alley comfortably. She planned to hide behind the restaurant for a while, until she heard Ingo calling for her. 

However, when Akari emerged on the other side, she was met with an unexpected sight. 

Here, enclosed by buildings on all sides, was a small park. A swatch of green grass, only ten twenty meters in diameter, was decorated with modest yellow flowers and unassuming bushes. A single conifer stood enigmatically in the middle of the tiny parkland. 

Akari looked at the surrounding concrete jungle and frowned. It was such a small patch of wildlife for such a massive place. Where were the trees, the grass, the rivers and mountains? Was this all that remained of them? 

She listened for the sound of wild Pokémon. 

She only heard the sounds of the city. 

Akari huffed. It wasn’t an ideal place to set up camp, but it was better than the street. She plopped herself down at the edge of the park, fumbling for her Arc Phone. She would wait here. Ingo would call for her when he was done. 

what did you mean when you said

i called for you

was i religious or something

I know not if you ever worshipped me.

I never saw you at my altars.

But you called for me. 

And when I found you falling, I noticed something. 

You had my eyes. 

Akari furrowed her brow, trying to figure out what THAT nugget of wisdom meant. 

what

Your eyes. They were golden.

Tarnished, but still golden.

i dont have gold eyes 

do i

wait your eyes arent gold either 

what are you talking about 

They shine brilliantly. 

They eclipse the light of the sun.

you are so 

weird

Akari put the phone away before Arceus could reply. 

She liked Arceus, she really did, but its eccentricities were frustrating. The almighty creator liked to say cryptic words, elaborate with even more cryptic words, and then expect Akari to understand.

“This is what I get for being friends with you,” she said to herself, cursing Arceus under her breath. 

The nearby grass rustled in reply. 

Shit. Did Arceus hear her say that?

Thankfully, the rustling wasn’t the sound of impending Judgement. Akari’s trained ears picked up the telltale sound of footsteps, and the low growl of a wild Pokémon. Akari instinctively crouched down as it emerged from behind the coniferous tree. 

To her surprise, it was a Pokémon that Akari didn’t recognize. (Of course there were new Pokémon in this region. Akari kicked herself for not considering that sooner.) It was quadruped—four legs and a long neck. Its face and chest were covered in thick, bristle fuzz. Even its eyes were enveloped by it. A single spike jutted from its head, pointing straight up. That angle wasn’t ideal for attacking or defending. Perhaps the spike was used to gather food. A protrusion like that might help a smaller Pokémon reach tall branches. 

Akari’s mind buzzed excitedly. What type was it? It was difficult to tell from her vantage point. Perhaps its large spike was made of metal. Could be steel type. Maybe the fur was foliage. Could be grass type. Akari squinted, studying the Pokémon’s dialgic silhouette. Dragon type?

How lucky that Akari still had her Pokédex—the idea of documenting a new species exhilarated her. Still crouching, she approached the Pokémon. Her hand was already reaching into her satchel. 

But before Akari could grab anything, the Pokémon charged at her. 

Instinct took over. She rolled out of the way. The Pokémon rushed right past, slowed to a stop, and attacked the air where Akari had been standing moments before. When it realized she wasn’t there anymore, it lifted its nose and sniffed, trying to locate her. 

It’s blind. 

Akari circled the Pokémon silently, taking mental notes to write down later. The fuzz on its face and chest was coarse black fur, and the spike atop its head was part of its coat. The skin beneath its fur was dark blue, matching its dialgic anatomy. Definitely dragon type. 

Akari stopped circling the Pokémon, and began taking light, experimental steps directly towards it. The Pokémon didn’t notice. Poor hearing. She took an intentional heavier step. It turned to face her. But not deaf. 

The Pokémon lunged forward and bit the air, forcing Akari to quietly sidestep. Her eyes widened when she saw sparks arcing along its teeth. Thunder Fang. When the attack missed, the Pokémon backpedaled, trying to reevaluate its position. Akari stepped forward to close the distance. 

Eventually, after a few more missed attacks, the Pokémon’s rampage slowed to a halt. It panted for air; it must’ve been low on energy before Akari even encountered it. 

This was her chance. Akari reached into her bag. 

Her fingers brushed against a Heavy Ball, but she pushed it aside. 

Instead, Akari produced a purple wiki berry. They had a dry, astringent flavour that dragon types seemed to prefer. (Typhlosion also loved them. She tried not to think about him.) She gently tossed the berry at the Pokémon’s feet. It rushed to attack the spot where the berry fell, but when its tongue met fruit instead of flesh, it rumbled in confusion. 

“Hungry?”

The Pokémon growled, but didn’t deny it. In fact, it tore the berry to pieces with its beak, spraying juice all over the grass. 

“I’ve got a ton of berries, so have as many as you want.” Akari smiled, crouching down to the Pokémon’s level. She held out a second berry as a peace offering. “Hi. I’m Akari.”

The Pokémon sniffed and leaned forward, stretching its tongue out to meet Akari’s hand. When it tasted the berry, it gobbled it up with terrifying speed. 

Then bit down on her outstretched hand. Hard. 

Akari hissed in pain. Blood pooled beneath the Pokémon’s lips. But she didn't want to pull away. Not yet. 

She thought about it logically—if a Pokémon was blind, it had to use its other senses to get around. Zubat, for example, used echolocative sound waves to see in the dark. Akari figured that taste and smell were this Pokémon’s way of experiencing the world. 

It’s not trying to hurt me. It’s trying to see me. 

Her suspicions were confirmed when the Pokémon slowly released its grip on her hand. It began to lick Akari’s wounds apologetically. 

“Nah, don’t worry,” Akari laughed, allowing the Pokémon to clean away the blood. “I should be sorry for scaring you like that.”

While her right hand was being tended, her left hand snaked back into her satchel. She grabbed two things: the first was another wiki berry, which she placed on the ground for the Pokémon to eat. It crooned when it caught a whiff, abandoning Akari’s hand for another snack. 

The second thing Akari grabbed was her Arc Phone. 

hey whats this pokemon 

can you see it or do i need to like

do something else 

I can see him. 

Humans call him Deino. 

Deino. She tested the name out, whispering it to herself, then saying it loud enough for the Pokémon to hear. Deino. 

It—he—responded with a gravelly chirp. 

dragon type

Yes. 

What else? 

A second type? Akari paused to think. 

Akari caressed Deino’s face with her bloodied hand. She noted his skin texture—rough, like a Basculin. 

it lives underground

How do you know?

blind 

dark colour

rough skin

Interesting. Go on.

not a rock type though

too fleshy 

dark type

Very good. 

Very, very good.

Akari soaked up the compliment. She often received praise from Laventon or Rei, but they would say anything to make her happy. Praise from the creator of Pokémon, on the other hand, made her chest swell with pride. 

Do you like him? 

who

you mean deino

Yes. Do you like him?

well

he bites pretty hard

but yeah i like him

hes nice

He’s perfect. 

Such a wonderful creature.

you big sap

you say that about every pokemon 

“Arceus thinks you're cool.” Deino clucked his tongue in reply. Akari wasn’t exactly sure what that meant. She scratched the underside of his chin, and Deino melted into her touch. “Don’t be too flattered,” she laughed, using both hands to give him a more thorough petting. 

Deino was perfect. He was so sweet, so adorable. How did he not have a human partner already? 

A thought occurred to her. 

“Hey, um…” 

Akari’s hands fell to her sides. Deino tilted its head quizzically, wondering why the petting stopped. Arceus said Deino was a cave-dwelling Pokémon. It wasn’t adapted to parkland at all, let alone bustling city streets. 

“Are you… lost?”

Deino fell silent. 

Then he whined sorrowfully. 

Akari’s heart sank. How terrified this little Deino must be, blindly stumbling through unfamiliar lands by itself. Akari reached out and cupped her hands around its head, holding it gently. Deino whined again, listless and exhausted. 

“Hey, it's okay… Don’t cry.” She gently combed through Deino’s fur with her fingers. “I’m lost too,” she whispered. “I’m trying to find my family, but my memories are gone. I don’t know who they are or where to find them.”

Deino took a step forward, pushing itself into Akari’s chest. She returned the embrace. It had only been a day or two since her last hug, but she couldn’t help melting into it, like she’d been starved of touch for years. 

Akari asked the question. “…Do you wanna come with me?”

Deino paused for a moment to consider this. He pulled away and stood motionless, deep in thought. 

“It doesn’t have to be forever,” Akari explained. Please say yes. “But it would be nice to have a travelling buddy. We can look for our homes together, help each other out.” Please say yes. “Doesn’t that sound nice?” Please say yes. 

Deino chirped, turned around, and lumbered back into the tall grass, disappearing behind the tree. 

Akari winced. “Is… Is that a no?”

A minute passed with no further response. Deino’s answer was loud and clear. 

Akari was tempted to say more, to pursue him further, but she forced herself to accept Deino’s decision. He didn’t want to accompany Akari. That was the end of it. 

Her lip trembled, but she didn’t cry. She wasn’t a kid. She wasn’t going to cry. 

Instead, Akari stood back up, dusting her uniform with her uninjured hand. She didn’t want to go back to the restaurant, but staying in the park felt awkward after being rejected. Maybe she could find somewhere to set up camp? Or find a spot to forage? 

Just as she was deciding on a direction to walk in, Akari heard footsteps once again. Deino emerged from behind the tree. 

Before she could say anything, her gaze locked onto Deino’s mouth—the Pokémon was holding something small and spherical. And when she knelt down to greet him, he deposited it into her hands. 

A Pokéball? 

But it couldn’t be. Sure, it was a spherical ball with a latch on the front, but looked nothing like the Pokéballs she was used to. Smaller, lighter, smooth to the touch… Dark grey coating, red seal, green spots decorating the outside… 

The ball was in rough shape, too. The shell was dented, the latch was half-broken, and the outer layer of paint had been chipped away by… Were those bite marks? This sorry-looking Pokéball had been beaten and abused, almost to the point of breaking. She wondered if repairing it was possible. 

“Is this yours?” she asked, and Deino chirped affirmatively. “…You want me to hold it? Are you sure?“ 

Another chirp. 

Akari tightened her grip on the strange Pokéball. 

Slowly, almost hesitantly, she flicked the latch and popped the ball open. Deino was swallowed by a bright light and sucked into the ball. The lid clicked shut behind him. 

“I’ll take good care of it,” she promised, holding the ball like a precious gem. “Nice to have you on the team, partner.”

The ball was warm in her palm. 

i want to help him 

I thought thou wouldst say that.

One moment.

The Arc Phone vibrated. It was a notification for the Arc Atlas, the device’s digital map.

Akari tapped the screen and opened the atlas. The display changed into a diagram of an unfamiliar map. A Unovan map. A red arrow appeared on the southern border, showing her current location, followed by a white indicator. 

A quest marker.

Deino are rare in this region.

They are found in the northernmost caves. 

I hath marked the cave system location on your map.

Akari carefully studied the geography of Unova. The region was split into three vertical slices, separated by gigantic rivers. They would need to go north to reach the caves, but they would also have to cross one of the rivers to the east. 

Akari was so engrossed in the map that she almost missed the piercing whistle of a Celestica flute. 

Ingo was calling. 

She gently placed Deino’s ball in her satchel, then took off running in the direction of the whistle. She slipped back through the alleyway she came from, emerging back onto the open street. Thankfully, the crowds had died down a bit. Ingo was easy to spot. 

“There you are,” Ingo called as she dodged pedestrians on her way towards him. “I was worried you lost your way.”

“I didn’t go far. How was dishwashing?” The question caused Ingo’s shoulders to sag a bit, and he looked at the floor. It was hard to see in the early evening light, but his face was caked in a thin layer of sweat. Akari grimaced. “…Was it really that bad?”

“No, no…” Ingo cleared his throat. “My duties were… adjusted. But it went well. They offered me a job.”

“Oh.”

“I didn’t want to wholly accept, since we haven’t reached our destination yet… but if we ever need money, I can work for a few nights at a time.”

“That solves the money problem, at least.”

“Indeed.” Ingo frowned. “But not the shelter problem. The sky is clear, but we should find a site with softer ground.” His gaze drifted back to Akari, and when he spotted her hand, the warden gasped sharply. 

“Your hand! What happened?!”

Akari blinked. She forgot about that. 

“I found a friend,” she said. “In the park.”

“Let me help you,” Ingo murmured as he gently seized Akari’s hand. He sprayed the wound with a potion, unravelled a brace from his left wrist, and tied it around Akari‘s hand. “You should really—”

“—be careful. I know.”

Ingo shook his head. “I was going to say you should introduce me to your friend once we set up camp.”

Akari laughed. 

The relationship between humans and Pokémon in Hisui was tenuous when Akari arrived. Pokémon were terrifying creatures, monsters to fear or conquer. Even the biggest Pokémon lovers, like Rei or Laventon, had their biases and reservations. 

Ingo was the exception. 

By Hisuian standards, they were weird people. Akari and Ingo weren't the only ones who caught, studied, or battled Pokémon, but they were the only ones who valued them as equals. As friends. 

She was happy to have a kindred spirit along on her journey. 

“I’ll show you where I found him. There’s this park behind the restaurant we can camp out in.”

Ingo seemed pleased with that. He finished wrapping Akari’s wound, then stood to his full height. “Lead the way, young Akari.”