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Akari stood outside the photo studio, hand on her chin. She had passed by every time she went out for an expedition, and even helped the owner identify a species or two he was interested in photographing, but she had never paid attention to the photos on display. One among them had just happened to catch her eye. A brilliantly smiling young man with golden blonde hair and a merchants uniform, standing with a small Togepi, teetering joyfully on its feet. It was Volo. It was so clearly Volo. When had he taken this?
She had bumped into Volo a couple of times now. He was ostensibly part of the Ginkgo Guild, though she never saw him interact with Ginter or the others. He seemed to wear their outfit, but otherwise spent more time in the field than selling merchandise. Either his job was collection and he was just very chatty, or he was very bad at his job. Considering he was always researching myths and legends when they saw each other, maybe it was the latter...
Either way, Volo rarely seemed to be in town. When did he take this, and why?
“My, that’s a serious stare,” a pleasant voice called out. Startled, Akari swiftly turned to see Volo standing just behind her, his silver eyes glistening with mirth. “Interested in the photo studio, are you? It’s quite a popular attraction these days. Many people have been commemorating their first Pokemon friend with photos, after all.”
“Is that what you did?” Akari asked. Volo hummed, tilting his head in confusion. She pointed back toward the photograph in the window. When he realized what was there, his smile widened.
“So, found that old photo, did you?” he asked, his tone light. “I was a bit of a trendsetter, you know. Their second ever customer!”
“Second? Who was the first?” Akari asked.
“Sorry, my friend, but that remains a secret,” he said. “If I told you, I’d be putting my life in danger,” he mused seriously, his gaze wandering to the Galaxy Team headquarters. His expression lightened as he turned his attention back to Akari. “Well, what do you think of our photo?” he asked.
“It’s great!” Akari said enthusiastically. “You and Togepi look so happy! I was just surprised to see it. I didn’t think you had interest in stuff like this.”
“But of course!” he cried, raising his finger in the air and wagging it about like he did every time he got excited. “Much of my study of the ancient myths relies on pictures and written records. Without a permanent product to leave behind, it vanishes, lost to history.”
“So, you had a picture taken so people in the future can see you and Togepi?” Akari asked. It was a bit unorthodox, but considering who she was speaking to…
“Something like that,” he said, straightening his posture. “I suppose it just struck me as nice to have a record of Togepi, you know?” He had turned to face the photo, his eyes soft and warm. Akari couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that funny?”
“No, sorry,” she said, stifling more laughter. “You’re almost never in the village, and when we talk it’s just about legends you’ve been studying. I didn’t think you cared much about others- “ she could swear a shadow twitched in his eye at that “-but you really love your Togepi, don’t you?”
“I suppose you could say that,” he said quietly.
“How did you and Togepi meet?” she asked. “Did you catch it when you came to the village?”
Volo’s shoulder shook in a silent chuckle. “Oh, no, I’ve had Togepi for much longer than that,” he said. “She’s been with me since I was a boy. Around your age, in fact. Would you like to hear the tale?” Akari nodded enthusiastically, eyes sparkling. “Alright then,” he said, turning to face her. “But first, pop quiz! I’m sure you’ve encountered Togepi in your expeditions, and studied it for the sake of your Pokedex. What does Togepi keep in its shell?”
Akari tilted her head, rubbing at her chin and humming as she thought. She hummed, swaying side to side and straining her brain, but nothing came to mind. “There’s nothing in there but Togepi, right?”
“Very good! Just what I’d expect from my favorite customer!” he chimed happily.
“You’ve never actually sold me anything, you know,” Akari muttered. She brought this up every time, but Volo seemed as unconcerned about that fact as ever.
“There’s nothing special inside of a Togepi egg. However,” he said, his eyes beginning to glisten, “in older legends, Togepi eggs were said to be filled with happiness! Finding a Togepi egg is considered a mark of great fortune, and it hatching in your presence, the joy contained within the egg will be shared with you. By keeping Togepi close, it is said one’s soul will know nothing but peace.”
“Awww,” Akari cooed. “That’s such a cute story!”
“Isn’t it, though?” he beamed. “It was that very legend that made me seek out a Togepi egg! I would travel out at night, searching the lands for Togepi. It was hard work, let me tell you! Togepi are quite rare, and quick to flee, so I was very cautious about following them to learn where they lived and where I might find an egg. I would sneak out at night to search, day after day for years, but never found anything. In time, I had given up completely, abandoning my search. It wasn’t until much later, far from home, that I stumbled upon a strange egg near some ruins.”
Akari’s eyes lit up. “And that was Togepi?”
Volo nodded. “Isn’t that funny? All of my effort amounted to nothing, but random chance brought me to what I had sought all those years. What else could that be but divine intervention; an act of fate?” Akari’s heart swelled at his words. How wonderful it must feel to have such a chance encounter! Yet his eyes were clouded over by an emotion she couldn’t place, and he seemed almost in pain.
“I was angry at first,” he continued, eyes turned toward the photo but fixed further away, as if watching the memory play out. “It felt strangely unfair, that I could seek happiness and never find it, but it could appear when I no longer believed in it. What good was happiness if it couldn’t be there when I needed it most? But I took it with me all the same. And in time, it hatched into my dear Togepi.”
Akari waited, but Volo remained silent. “So...was the legend true?”
Volo smiled sadly. “In a way. Myths and legends do reflect reality, even when they aren’t the exact truth,” he said. “When she hatched, I waited excitedly for that happiness to well up inside of me. I was old enough to know better by then, but childishly clung to the hope that the legends were true. But as you would expect, nothing happened. I felt the same as I always had. Jaded, I tried to turn Togepi away. I tried to shut myself off, even as she teetered on her little feet and waved her arms, happily calling to me.”
“What happened next?” Akari asked, now thoroughly engrossed.
“She began to scream,” he said flatly. “You might not imagine it, but this little lady has quite a powerful yell. I tried everything to quiet her. I picked her up, rocked her, tried to get her to play, but nothing. Until I thought to bring her a berry. She calmed then, ate it so quickly I feared she would choke. Then she looked up at me, juice splattered all over her face, and she smiled.
“But even that didn’t shake me,” he said, his shoulders shaking slightly with a silent chuckle. “I turned over and tried to sleep, only for Togepi to bounce onto my side, then between my arms. She trilled happily, curled up, and went straight to sleep. I was still sulking, but the soft hum Togepi let out and the gentle warmth from its shell calmed me enough to sleep. I slept better that night than I had in what felt like years, with Togepi beside me.”
“I get it,” Akari said. “The legend didn’t mean you’d suddenly be happy all at once. But that Togepi is loving and calming, and that brings happiness.”
“As clever as always, my friend,” Volo smiled. “Ever since then, Togepi has been my closest friend. My little bundle of joy.”
“So this picture was to capture that happiness,” she said, turning to it.
Volo nodded. “It was to remind me of all the times Togepi and I shared,” he said wistfully, his tone almost nostalgic.
“Is Togepi not with you anymore?” Akari asked nervously. Volo shook his head sadly, taking out a Pokeball. With a bright flash, a small, ovoid creature with a long neck and fluttering white wings emerged, its beautiful voice trilling brilliantly. “She evolved!” Akari exclaimed. “Volo, that’s amazing! Togepi only evolve when they really like their trainer! Togepi must have felt the same.”
“Yes, I suppose that is true,” he said with a laugh. “Of course, I am very happy with Togetic as well. She is, as always, my dependable partner.” He smiled warmly to Togetic as she nuzzled her face against his. “But even with a joyous occasion, there can still be sorrow, don’t you think?” Akari gave him a puzzled look. He sighed and shook his head. “No, I suppose that wouldn’t make much sense to you, would it? Still, have you never felt saddened when a Pokemon evolves, thinking that you’ll never see it as it used to be again?”
“I never really thought about it,” Akari said honestly. “They’re still the same inside, right? They’re still our friends.”
“Yes, that is true,” he said. “I suppose it may just be me, then, but I can’t help but get a little sad now, thinking about Togepi. Maybe I'm just melancholic by nature. What kind of person seeks out a Togepi egg, after all?”
“Are you alright?” Akari asked asked earnestly. His smile was fading, and the glint in his eye...was he crying?
“Happiness is a fleeting thing, Akari,” he said. “It can be hard to hold on to, even when it’s right next to you. Make sure to cherish the joyful days you have, and live without regrets.” Akari could only nod solemnly. “Now,” Volo said, his smile returning all at once, “could I interest you in some rare artifacts? Recently discovered, and in excellent condition! I expect they’ll sell rather quickly, if you don’t get your hands on them.”
Akari sighed. Was all that talk about regrets a sales pitch? Maybe he really was a merchant. “Not right now,” she said with a wave of her hand.
“Suit yourself,” he said. “I’ll be leaving these with Ginter, if you change you mind. Give them a look if you get the chance!” With a casual wave, Volo made his way down the empty street, Togetic flapping along by his side. The goods in his back rustled loudly with each step, eventually fading into the distance as he disappeared from view.
Akari turned back to the photo of Togepi. To the image of Volo smiling so brightly, his Togepi dancing by his side. The Togepi that had evolved into Togetic, and would never be a Togepi again. A deep, heavy feeling settled in Akari’s chest, as his words echoed in her mind. She clutched her Pokeball in hand, thinking of her dear friend inside, and how much they meant to her.
Perhaps a photo would be nice.