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Chapter Text

Dawn sped down the bridge connecting the Pokémon League to the rest of the region on her bike, letting the wind whip in her hair through her helmet. It was mid-December, and the winter chill had fully set in, so Dawn wore her massive coat as she pedaled through the cramps and aches that a long day of meetings and training always left. Unpleasant though it was, the pain was a welcome distraction from all the issues piling on her plate that had somehow seemed to only get bigger despite the relatively peaceful state of the region.

In the three years since Dawn Berglitz had become Champion of Sinnoh and saved the world from Giratina, things had calmed down significantly. In Sinnoh, anyway. She’d thought that once Team Galactic had been defeated, she wouldn’t have much to do, but it turned out that the duties of the Champion also extended to foreign relations, and that had been the most overwhelming issue to tackle. For the past few weeks, she’d been going back and forth from Sinnoh to Unova or Kalos on endless plane rides in an effort to deal with Team Plasma or whatever other deranged group of fools had decided to cause global destruction. Sometimes, she traveled with the Elite Four, sometimes alone, but always with exhaustion as her companion. Not only that, but even though the League had its own ‘business plane,’ she still had to go through the mess that was the public airport. 

 She stopped at the traffic light, watching cars whiz past. Her pokémon were in their balls, resting after the intensive training regimen Dawn had designed for both them and herself. It wouldn’t be fair if they did all the hard physical work, and she just sat in meetings all day, and it helped clear her head. It also kept them ready for a challenger, in case someone got past the Elite Four, and also for the few altercations with the various teams she’d had over the years.

When she was in her home region, she worked with the regional police to track down any remaining members of Team Galactic, which had persisted all these years. 

But lately, they hadn’t been very active. This wasn’t exactly abnormal for a team that was trying to stay underground, but there was almost always some sort of trace that led Dawn and her team right to them. Now, however, there was nothing. Not even a whisper that something was amiss. 

Perhaps that should have been her first clue.

But it had been a long training day, and Dawn was tired. She was making her way home to her house in Sunnyshore City, which she’d purchased to be closer to the League. It wasn’t an easy distance, flying from Twinleaf Town to the Sinnoh League every day, so her mom had agreed that it was time to move out. 

She sighed, dismounting her bike and unlocking the door. Stepping inside, she was welcomed by the scent of her favorite meatballs and a birthday cake sitting on the kitchen table. Surprised, Dawn dropped her bag by the door and moved into the kitchen to see her mother, Lucas, and Barry all huddled around the stove. 

“Move off, boys,” her mother said, a fond annoyance in her voice. “I can’t cook with you two breathing down my neck.” 

“What’s all this?” Dawn asked, looking around her kitchen. There were half-taped streamers, a few stray balloons, and…

Lucas and Barry tripped over each other to get to her, both grinning widely. “It’s your birthday, Dawn! We wanted to surprise you,” Lucas said. 

“Sorry we were distracted,” Barry said, frowning. “We were going to sing to you and everything when you walked in.” 

Dawn chuckled. “It’s okay, I don’t mind at all. To be honest, I wasn’t even expecting you to do all of this for me. Thank you.” She gave her best smile through the exhaustion, collapsing at the table. 

“You wanna let your pokémon out?” Mom asked. “It’s a beautiful day, and I think they’d appreciate it.” 

Normally, Dawn did exactly that, but she’d nearly forgotten with exhaustion and surprise. “Yeah. Did all of you let yours out?” 

“Yep! They’re running around outside. Empoleon’s been wanting to see Infernape again—what was it you named it? I always forget,” Barry said. 

“Charrina,” Dawn said with a smile. “Because it’s funny, even though she became an Infernape three years ago.”
Barry shook his head. “Only you would name your starter a pun. If it was anyone else, I’d say it was cruelty.” 

“It is cruelty,” Lucas grumbled. “No one deserves to have their name be a pun. Human or pokémon.” 

“Don’t say that where Team Plasma can hear you,” Dawn muttered. Team Plasma was the worst culprit that had been taking up a lot of her time and meetings lately. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do about it other than spread awareness, but the people on Tailow were getting increasingly agitated about her apparent ‘inaction.’ 

“Right. How’s that situation going? Heard you were in Unova for almost a week,” Lucas said. “Is it at least cool?”
“Cool to visit, yeah. But they’re still super strict on pokémon isolation rules. I just wish I got to appreciate it more instead of being stuck in a corporation’s tower all day.” One by one, Dawn unclipped her poké balls and let her team loose onto the grass. She didn’t have the biggest backyard—it was already getting a little cramped with Barry’s full team and Lucas’s two partners, but she’d take what she could get. 

“That sucks,” Lucas said. “Especially since we already have our own problems. We can’t really deal with anyone else’s.” 

“I wish I could make that argument, but I can’t,” Dawn sighed. “This is what happens when you’re a Champion. At least I’m allowed to have the Elite Four with me most of the time since I’m still so young. That might change, though.”

The sun was halfway set in the sky, and the already cold air grew colder with the loss of the light. “Wanna go inside?” Dawn asked. 

“Oh, yeah. Think they’ll be fine out here?” Lucas replied, gesturing to their teams. 

“They’ll let us know when they’re done,” Dawn laughed. “Come on, Barry! Let’s go in.” 

Mom was almost done with dinner preparations, and she mandated that all three trainers sit down as she finished. Meatballs, pasta, and some of Dawn’s favorite childhood dishes were all laid out on the table, and she chuckled when she saw the boys’ eyes light up. “It’s my birthday; I get the first pick.”

Barry rolled his eyes and lay back, while Lucas folded his hands in pointed politeness. Barry had become quite the formidable trainer and had adopted Dawn’s philosophy of having the trainer work just as intensely as their pokémon. As a result, he’d filled out quite nicely and had grown taller than Dawn. 

Lucas had taken an official paid internship with Professor Rowan, going beyond the mere role of ‘helping hand’ he’d had when they were younger. He was apparently learning a lot, and the tips that he gave were more helpful than most trainer classes Dawn had ever attended. 

Though they were all well past their childhoods in Twinleaf Town, they’d kept in contact and remained excellent friends. Barry still challenged her, and even Lucas on occasion, but neither of them had ever been able to beat her, and they certainly wouldn’t start now. 

The last of the food was laid out, and at her mother’s invitation, the three dug in. The sweetest food is a birthday dinner shared with childhood friends, Dawn thought. On her eighteenth birthday, no less, which only marked the occasion of the ‘training wheels’ she’d had as a child champion being taken away. As if she knew much more at eighteen than she had at seventeen. 

Dawn shook her head, focusing on Barry’s loud stories of life at the Battle Tower. He took on challengers regularly and was attempting to convince his dad to hand over the reins to him. 

“I’ve won at least a thousand battles so far, but he still won’t do it,” Barry huffed. “Keeps saying that I’m too young. How am I too young? If I’m old enough to become Champion—hypothetically, Dawn, I’m not officially challenging you, don’t worry—then I’m old enough to run the Battle Tower!” 

“I was old enough to beat Cynthia in a pokémon fight. I was certainly not old enough for all of this,” Dawn grumbled. 

All three shot her worried looks. She shook her head. It’s my birthday. I shouldn’t be weighing them down with my problems. “Don’t mind me. I’m okay.”

None of them looked like they believed her, but they let the matter drop. All their plates were clean of food, which Mom took to the sink, insisting that “the birthday girl doesn’t have to do dishes today.”

She’d made Dawn sit down, and she was a little bit grateful. She was an adult now, sure, but she supposed to her mom, she’d always be a kid. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. 

Mom brought out a birthday cake with a candle shaped like the number ‘18.’ It was blue with pale pink frosting, crowned with silver sprinkles. Blueberry with strawberry icing. It was one of Dawn’s favorite combinations, but the colors reminded her of other things that might have been best left in the past. 

“Happy birthday to you…”

The lights were out, the room lit only by candles. Dawn smiled, though she didn’t completely feel it. 

“Happy birthday to you…” 

Maybe it was the tension of the day, but she could have sworn she saw shadows moving in the walls. Shadows that looked like Giratina, like the condemning statues of Dialga and Palkia. 

“Happy birthday, dear Dawn…”

Right. This is a celebration. You need to be more appreciative. 

“Happy birthday to you!”

She’d thought she was over it after three years, but maybe she wasn’t. Maybe some part of her was still trapped in the Reverse World, even after all the time and distance had passed. 

Dawn put on her best camera smile as she blew out the candles. Her friends looked satisfied, and that was all she was asking for. She knew the League was going to host a big celebration event for her, but if Dawn was honest, she preferred what her mother and friends could do. Even if she got lost in her thoughts. 

Barry and Lucas had brought gifts, too. “I know you said not to, but it’s a big birthday! You deserve it,” Barry said, Lucas nodding sagely behind him. 

“Thanks, guys. Really,” Dawn said. She was trying. She really was.
Barry had gotten her a substitute plushie, which she thought was hilarious. “To commemorate your recent victory,” he said with a wink, and she laughed. It was a years-long joke, but one that Dawn still found funny. One of the few challengers she’d had since becoming Champion had relied on the move ‘substitute’ as his sole strategy, and Dawn had crushed him in about three minutes. Barry had timed it. 

Lucas had gotten her a hand-carved model of Kyurem from his own visits to Unova. Apparently it was something Professor Juniper had parted with at a high price, but Lucas wouldn’t tell her what that price was, nor which ‘Professor Juniper’ he’d gotten it from. 

They talked for hours, long after their pokèmon had come inside and snuggled up next to them. Mom helped her set up mattresses for the boys, while Dawn insisted that her mother take the spare bedroom. It only seemed fair, after all. 

Dawn went to sleep in her own room with her phone under her pillow, an arm around Barry’s substitute plush, and the Kyurem carving on her bedside table. Her team slept in their respective areas in her room, Charrina’s embers burning low, and the plug to her alarm clock in Lumi the Luxray’s mouth. (She often ground her teeth while she slept, and the electricity powered the thing, so Dawn saw no harm in giving her something.)

Staraptor (named Star) cooed on his perch. Gastrodon (Gassy) sat in his pool. Leafeon (Lily) curled up in her bed. Garchomp (Chompers) had his den outside, since he liked to dig in his sleep.

The moon’s light shone on the crystal eyes of Kyurem carving, lighting it up. 

And Dawn disappeared.

Chapter Text

To his credit, Clay looked impressed by the sight of his Excadrill, felled in two strokes by her faithful Dewott, Ollie. 

“Well done, girl,” he said. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the Galvantula nest. Just make sure not to agitate them, and rest up while you still can. I’ve heard there are some unsavory folks who’ve taken refuge in that cave.”

Hilda had nodded gratefully, all but sprinting out of the gym to the Pokémon Center. Her team was exhausted from all the battles they’d just fought, and as much as Hilda wanted to get back on the road, she knew her team needed healing and rest. So, healing and rest she would give them, if only to prove a point. 

She was not thinking of anyone in particular when she said that. 

Upon entering the Pokémon Center, she made a beeline straight for Nurse Joy’s counter, handing over her entire team, safely tucked in their poké balls. She would make adjustments once they were all healed—in the meantime, her gaze was drawn to a rack of newspapers in the corner by the items store. 

BREAKING: Champion Dawn Berglitz of Sinnoh disappears from home on eighteenth birthday. Sinnoh authorities conducting investigation. 

Picking it up and skimming through the rest revealed there wasn’t much more to the article than the headline, but Hilda found it interesting that it would make it all the way out to Unova, especially somewhere as out-of-the-way as Driftveil. Though perhaps her perception was skewed— with all the chaos happening in Unova, not much else made it through to the news sites. It made sense the more she thought about it—Sinnoh had been experiencing a period of relative stability, and having their child-prodigy Champion seemingly stolen from her bed would cause quite a stir. 

Hilda looked away from the rack of newspapers when she noticed the shop employees staring at her, turning instead to the rack of healing items nearby. Chargestone Cave was supposed to be the main method of going from Driftveil to Mistralton, and she didn’t think there would be many opportunities to retreat and heal her team. She spent almost all her money, but she thought it would be worth it. 

Her purchase of the items seemed to mollify the employees, but she was anxious to leave, and wondered if it would be worth going to get some training in before she met Clay at the cave. 

But she couldn’t leave yet, so she paced in front of the PC, waiting for Nurse Joy to return with her team. The battle with Clay hadn’t exactly been easy, and while Ollie the Dewott and Dawn the Lilligant had both come through, her Herdier—named Piper—had taken quite the beating. Not to mention, the rest of her team was battered from the gym trainers. 

“Miss? Your pokémon are all rested and healthy,” Nurse Joy said with a smile. Inclining her head, Hilda removed the six poké balls and clipped them to her belt, stuffing the plastic bag of healing items inside her actual travel bag. 

“Thank you,” Hilda hastily replied, forgetting she hadn’t said anything. “I really appreciate it.” There. That’s good, right? Her mother had always said she’d had issues with properly thanking people, and when Hilda was young, Mom always told her to ‘never befriend a pokémon unless you intend to be polite.’

She snorted at the thought as she walked out of the Pokémon Center. Perhaps Mom and N would get along. 

No. Don’t go there. Ever since the fiasco at the ferris wheel in Nimbasa City a few weeks beforehand, the Team Plasma ideology had been creeping into every aspect of her being, and she hated it. She especially hated N for inflicting this upon her. 

Well, maybe not. She was still having a hard time discerning if she wanted to spend every waking minute tracking him down or if she wanted him out of her life forever. At the moment, she was leaning towards the later.

Hilda sighed as she started towards the route. She’d already contended with a fair amount of trainers and pokèmon within it, so it should be an easy shot to the Galvantula nest, but she wanted to squeeze in some extra training while she was at it. Maybe swap out Annette, her Tranquill with Ingrid, her Zebstrika.

She waffled on the decision, holding Annette’s poké ball. From the looks of it, Galvantula was an electric type, which would cause problems for her feathered friend. However, she was also falling behind the rest of the team—her and Dara, the Darumaka (yes, she was very creative.) She’d brought Dara along already. 

Huffing and re-clipping Annette’s ball to her belt, Hilda quickened her pace towards the trees. There was a fair amount of forest to go through before they got to the cave, and if worst came to worst, she had her Krokorok—Seth—on her, too. 

“Hey, Hilda—Wait, Hilda!”
She turned around to find one of her friends from Nuvema Town—another trainer, named Bianca. She was dressed in bright colors, as usual. Her lime green hat paired well with her light blonde hair and orange top, but she was in danger of getting mud all over it with how much she was tripping. 

“Hi, Bianca!” The smile Hilda gave was only half faked. She really was glad to see her friend, but she was pretty sure Clay was already waiting in the forest for her.

Her friend stopped, hands on her knees, panting. “Wow. You walk fast. Um…where are you going?” 

Hilda raised an eyebrow. “The route? Where else? I’m supposed to meet the gym leader at Chargestone Cave. There’s a giant nest that’s blocking the entrance, and Clay thinks there’s someone causing trouble inside.” 

“Oh, really? I hope it’s nothing,” Bianca said bashfully. “So—anyway—I wanted to ask you to battle with me. I think I’ve gotten stronger, but I wanted to test that out.” 

“Fine by me,” Hilda said, shrugging. “My team needs a warm-up.”
Not that they hadn’t just beaten the gym mere hours ago. But if there really was Team Plasma about, Hilda needed to be there. Because taking them down would mean making a real difference in the world, and not because there was the slight chance that N might be there.

She ignored the voice in her head that sounded just like him. The voice telling her that maybe her team needed a little more rest than that. That she needed more rest than that, because she hadn’t gotten much either. 

“Okay! Great!” Bianca seemed blissfully unaware of anything going awry on her friend’s end, and after a few clarifications of rules, sent out her first pokémon. A Herdier. 

That makes sense, I knew she had a Lillipup, Hilda thought, before sending in Piper. The two Herdiers growled playfully at each other, wagging their tails. She’s enthusiastic, at least. Hilda had also caught her Herdier as a Lillipup on the route right outside her house. 

Then Bianca called the first move, and all other thoughts were driven from Hilda’s mind. 

****

“Thanks for the battle, Hilda. Even though I lost,” Bianca said sheepishly, handing Hilda her money. “It’s all for the sake of getting stronger, right?” 

“Not everyone needs to persue strength, Bianca. You don’t have to mimic Cheren,” Hilda said softly. “Not everyone’s cut out for constant battling. There are plenty of other professions that make use of pokémon, not just gym leaders or Champions.” 

“But they’re the ones everyone knows about,” Bianca sighed. “Besides, that’s rich coming from you. Haven’t you made strength your goal, too?” 

Hilda chuckled. “Not quite. Though, I will say, it’s quite fun.”
Bianca tilted her head in confusion. “Well, what are you pursuing, then?” 

“You know me, Bianca.” She turned away with a smile. “I’m only trying to protect people.”

“Right,” Bianca said, chuckling. “Well, good luck with that. And good luck with Chargestone Cave! I’m going to head to the Pokémon Center.” 

Hilda waved to her friend one last time before heading into the forest proper. Piper was banged up, but she was still barking and chasing Swadloon in the grass, so she couldn’t be that hurt. 

She called out Dara, who hadn’t got much action in the fight, allowing her to take on Deerling and more Swadloon as she saw fit. Hilda chuckled—between these two, the whole Swadloon population would be incapacitated for a while. 

“Had fun, did ye?” Clay trudged up behind her, grinning. “I saw yer’ battle. You challenged me only a few hours ago, an’ yet, yer’ pokémon are just as pumped.” 

She forced a bashful smile. “Is that…a bad thing?” Am I pushing them to hard? She called Piper over, watching her get hit with a double kicked by a Deerling and gave her a super potion before returning her to her ball. Dara had, thus far, needed several, but her Fire Fang was getting better, and so was her Fire Punch. 

“It’s not a bad thing at all,” Clay said, thick accent drawling the words. “Means yer’ pokémon have a lotta energy, is all.” 

Hilda smiled to herself, watching the last of the Swadloon scatter before Dara. “Well, I’m glad to know I have your support, at least.” 

“Why, do ya’ not have much?” Clay chuckled, but Hilda didn’t respond, looking towards the rushing water of the river they were crossing. “Ah. Who is it? Parents? Sibling?”

“Neither,” Hilda said quickly. “Actually, it’s…a friend. He’s one of those who thinks that keeping a pokémon in a ball is abuse, or something like that.” 

She heard his sharp intake of breath. “So he’s one of those Team Plasma nutjobs people have been complainin’ about.” 

Hilda took in a breath through her teeth. “Yep.”
She wasn’t even sure if N was her friend anymore. By all accounts, he’d betrayed and lied to her. Told her to follow what she believed was best, then turned around and revealed himself as the pinnacle of the thing she wanted most to destroy. 

He’d buttered her up with feather-soft smiles and softer words, then went and turned those things into knives. And yet, after everything, she still felt something for him.

She hated it. 

The rest of the walk to the cave went by in comfortable silence. They weren’t bothered by very many pokémon, and Clay seemed to enjoy the sight. She didn’t want to ruin it. 

When they finally got to the cave, Clay pulled out his Krokorok, letting it do its work with the Galvantula nest. She saw dozens of small spiders going every which way, most disappearing into the cave. Clay chuckled, watching them as they went. “Good riddance.” 

He smiled at her then, handing her a TM she didn’t realize he’d grabbed. “This is fer’ you. It’s my fav’rite, and I think it’ll do you good. Teach it to all yer’ pokémon.” 

“Wow! Um…thank you,” Hilda stuttered. “But…where did this come from?” 

Clay chuckled and turned to face her fully. “I…am not always the best wit’ words. But if yer’ gonna go somewhere, go. If yer’ gonna try something, try it. Maybe you’ll succeed. Do things the way you think is best. Decide yer’ own limits. Don’t let no one tell you what you can and can’t do.” 

A strange warmth welled in her chest at the words. “Thank you again, Clay.” 

“Ah, yer’ welcome. Now, I gotta get back to the town, so you don’t mind if I leave ya’ here, do ya?” 

She shook her head, and she was off.
Hilda looked down at the TM in her hand, then back at Dara, who had stopped rolling about nonsensically and was staring up at her with wide eyes. “What do you think that means?” she asked the pokémon. 

Dara chirped and chittered, but Hilda got the sense of what she was saying. She smiled down at the creature. “Yeah. We can show him, right?” 

Spirits lifted, she and Dara entered the cave. 

The difference in lighting was immediate. It went from pleasant sun to being surrounded by darkness, the only sources of light being electric blue crystals that dotted the cave. She thought she caught a few glimpses of pokémon hiding in the shadows, but they fled once she made eye contact with them. 

She’d barely taken a few steps into the cave when she was seized on both sides by an iron-like grip. She squeaked, and tried to reach for her pokémon, but found that she couldn’t move. Her vision went black for a moment. 

When she opened her eyes again, she gasped. “N.”

Chapter Text

“It is well that thou art here.”

It wasn’t so much a voice as it was an impression. Something that was pushed into her mind rather than heard. 

“Who are you? Where am I?” Dawn asked, voice steady despite the tremors. 

“This is my realm. It is located beyond the confines of time and space.” It was starting to gain a sort of tone, now—she could almost believe it was some kind of telepathy. “I am that which humans call Arceus.” 

Dawn gasped, but wasn’t given much time to speak. “Fear not. I will not be here for long.” 

“What do you mean?” Dawn asked. Her throat was closing up. What is happening? 

“Thou wilt soon find thyself in a world strange to thee,” Arceus said. “ Fear not. It is thy destiny.” 

“What do you mean, my destiny?”
Her question went unacknowledged. “Seek out all pokémon, and thou shalt find me once more.”

All Dawn could see was darkness. She could feel her eyes wide open, but nothing was around—for a moment, she wondered if she had gone blind. She was floating, weightless in the void. She found she couldn’t move, or speak, or breathe at all. 

The thought sent a shot of fear through her, and she drew a deep breath, the gasp dying almost immediately in the silence. She regained control of her limbs, and managed to turn, then fall enough so that she was no longer prone, but standing in the air. 

There was a light behind her, its brightness like knives in her surroundings. Dawn turned around, then shut her eyes again, blinded. The warm golden glow shone through her eyelids, and she could almost hear the sound of the light. 

Is that the creature that was speaking? The light had taken form, surrounded by three rings, and its shape reminded her of the ancient statues Cynthia had shown her, once upon a time, in some of the ruins on and around Mount Coronet. She’d heard myths of Arceus too, but hadn’t been able to judge their truth until recently. 

Suddenly, wind began whipping around her, ruffling her hair and the thin clothes she usually wore to sleep. Dawn squealed in surprise when she found herself falling upside down and was almost hit in the nose by a white, rectangular object whizzing past her. 

My phone! It took her longer than it should have to recognize it for what it was, but it was out of her reach again. At least she was right-side up again. 

The glowing figure shone brighter for a moment, engulfing her phone for a moment before it floated back, now with the same shimmer. Dawn found herself unable to grab it, despite the fact that it was floating right above her hands. It barely even looked like hers. 

Seek out all pokémon. The words impressed themselves into her mind before everything went dark again. 

***

“WAKE UP!” 

Dawn was aware, but she couldn’t open her eyes. She tried, but she couldn’t move at all. 

“Please wake up,” the voice pleaded. 

I would if I could, she thought dully. 

“Please, are you alive, my girl?”
Dawn blinked, bleary-eyed, and attempted to lift her head. It did not go as expected. Instead, she rolled onto her back, lately registering the three pokémon and face of the man above her. Squinting, he attempted to make out their features. 

The pokémon, she recognized. A Cyndaquil, a Rowlet, and an Oshawatt. Fairly standard starter pokémon in their respective regions, and ones she was pretty familiar with by now. She’d seen many a fledgling trainer with them. 

The man, however, was unfamiliar. He was dressed in a black and purple suit with a white lab coat overtop and what looked like a purple beanie over his hair. “Wha…” 

“Oh. There you are.” The lab-coated man bent down, and her vision came more into focus. “That’s good. Can you stand?” 

“Can I speak?” Dawn said, words sounding muddled even to her own ears. 

“Evidently,” the man said with a smile. He had a strange accent she didn’t recognize—perhaps he was from the further reaches of Sinnoh, or perhaps Hoenn. “Do you need help?”
Dawn hummed an agreement, extending one hand, which the man took. “Up you go.” 

Dawn staggered to her feet, beginning to register more sensations. Waves crashed somewhere behind her. There was sand in her toes, and all over her back, legs, and hair. She caught the smell of salt in the air, and the sun was bright in her eyes. “Thank you,” she said, breath shaking. 

“Of course,” the man said, frowning. “Are you sure you’re okay? That was quite the fall.” 

She squinted, trying to make sense of his words. “Fall?”
“Yes. You fell from the sky. Gave the four of us quite a fright,” he said. “Me and these three, that is.” 

He gestured to the pokémon, and Dawn smiled. “I’m sorry about that. But—what do you mean, I fell from the sky?”

“Well, it’s just that. A massive rift opened in the sky—purple and black and all sorts of frightfulness—and we saw something fall out of it. My pokémon here came running, and I was trying to catch up.” 

Dawn swallowed, uncomfortable at the mention of a purple and black rift. She’d seen those before, and they hadn’t led to anything pleasant. “Well, thank you for coming to get me,” she said shakily. “By the way—where am I? Who are you?” 

“Did I not introduce myself? Ah, my apologies. I am Professor Laventon, and I study with the Galaxy Team here in Hisui.” 

Dawn froze for several moments. Galaxy Team? Hisui? “I haven’t heard of Hisui,” she said, even though the name sounded familiar. But she didn’t know where it was on the map. “Where’s the nearest town?” If she could just find a map, she could figure out where she was. How far was Hisui from Sinnoh? 

“Oh, it’s not far,” Professor Laventon said. “It’s right—hey, wait!”
The three pokémon had suddenly scampered away, kicking up sand as they ran. Laventon turned back to her, sheepish. “My apologies, but I must chase after them.” 

Without waiting for her to respond, he ran after the pokémon, and Dawn couldn’t help but chuckle. Guess some things really are the same in every region. She’d seen Professor Rowan handle similar situations, and she’d heard that Professor Birch of Hoenn had them particularly often. Realizing she was now standing on the beach by herself, she ran after him into the grass. 

She slowed, then stopped when a flash of something caught her eye. It appeared to be metal, but upon a closer look, it looked more like the camera of a phone. 

Dawn gasped, delighted. It was a phone—her phone, by the look of the screen, she recognized all the cracks—but it had a different case, and the screen wouldn’t move from the same message. Seek out all pokémon. It wouldn’t turn off, either. 

Sighing, Dawn slipped it into the pocket of her shorts and jogged up to where Professor Laventon was standing, looking anxiously at the pokémon, who were now frolicking in the small area. 

“Oh, this is bad,” he was whispering. “I need to get them back to the village—but the poké balls, I can’t throw them…” 

“Is everything okay?” Dawn asked, seeing that it wasn’t but unsure how to say that politely. 

“No…” Professor Laventon was clutching at his beanie. “I need to get these critters back in their poké balls, but I’m terrible at throwing them. Oh, what am I going to do…” 

“Can I help? I’m pretty good at throwing,” Dawn said, perking up.
Professor Laventon, however, looked surprised. “Oh. That’s nice. But—oh, yes. You must know what a poké ball is.” 

Dawn opened her mouth to reply with, ‘Of course I do,’ but Laventon kept talking. “You see, they’re funny contraptions I designed to contain a pokémon. Partially for study purposes and partially for ease of use. Pokémon, you see, have the unique ability to shrink and grow themselves to fill certain types of spaces, so I’ve designed these with the intent to utelize that ability.” 

She tried to interrupt him again, but he wouldn’t be deterred. “You see those three? Over there is Rowlet. It appears to have the ability to fly, but according to some records, it turns its feathers into missiles when it’s angry. Facinating, yes? And then there’s Cyndaquil, over there by the rocks—” 

“Wait,” Dawn said, holding up one hand. “Did you say poké balls are your invention?” But how? Poké balls had been around for a few centuries, as far as Dawn knew, but perhaps even now they hadn’t spread to all corners of the world. But that doesn’t make sense. 

“Of course. No one else here uses them—actually, their use has only now become widespread among the Galaxy Team. The other tribes here don’t like it—they think it’s pokémon abuse. And, well, there’s not a ton we can do to convince them otherwise.” 

“But it’s not!” Dawn insisted, flashes of Team Plasma propaganda haunting her mind. Could it even have spread here, to this mystery region I’ve never heard of?  “Studies have been done—it doesn’t harm the pokémon at all. You could make the argument of neglect, but no one has their pokémon in a ball for that long.” 

Now Laventon looked even more confused. “How…how do you know all of this? What studies?”

“Studies from Kanto, Hoenn, Kalos, even Paldea—”

“Now wait a minute, girl,” Laventon said, frowning. “I’ve been to several of those places, and I can tell you right now, there are no poké balls there. How do you know all of this?” 

Dawn stopped, frowning. “It’s common knowledge where I’m from,” she said slowly. “And I’ve been to those regions, too, and I’ve seen poké balls there.” She knew she had, but under the weight of his gaze, she was less certain. “Wait. Can I see one?” 

He looked suspicious, but he handed one to her anyway. It looked old, made of wood rather than the metal-plastic alloy that made up the ones Dawn was familiar with. The center looked like a clasp rather than a button, and there was a strange spout at the top she thought she’d seen before. 

Dawn gasped. She had. Cynthia had shown her something like this too, once. An exhibit from a recent Sinnoh history museum, about the first records of trainers in the area. “Wait. I have an explanation.” 

That’s where she’d heard ‘Hisui’ before. That was the original name for the region. Oh, Arceus. Am I in the past? 

She looked up at Laventon, horror showing on her face. “You’re right,” she said slowly. “They’re not in those regions yet, because they were just invented. But where I’m from, they’ve been around for centuries. I think… I didn’t just fall through the sky. I fell through time.” 

Laventon let out a shaking breath. “Well, that would make sense, and stranger things have happened of late,” he said. “Now. If you’re really from a future where poké balls are common, can you help me catch these three? I assume you already know how it works.” 

He handed her ten balls, and Dawn nodded gratefully. “Of course. Here, let me show you.” 

It took her all of two minutes to catch all three pokémon, including her whispered explanations of how to do it. Laventon looked impressed, at least. 

“Well, that at least proves you know what you’re doing,” he said. “I’d believe you were from the future. You dress strangely, too. Should have noticed that. What’s your name, by the way?” 

Unsure of how to respond to the comment about her clothes, she said, “Dawn.” 

“Nice to meet you, Dawn,” Professor Laventon said. “Would you mind coming with me to Jubilife Village? I want to introduce you to our captain. I think you’re the solution we’ve been looking for.”

He began walking away from the beach, but when Dawn looked up, she saw a massive crack in the sky—not dissimilar from the one Cyrus had used to summon Giratina, all those years ago.

Chapter Text

N looked almost the exact same as he had during the fight in Nimbasa City. Mint green hair pulled back with a single tie, letting the rest of it cascade down his back, topped with his black sports cap. He wore a spotless white shirt and freshly pressed brown slacks— how did I ever think he was a trainer when he’s always so clean? 

Hilda, by contrast, had constantly torn shorts and ratty sneakers covered in mud and dirt. Her white tank top was permanently stained no matter how many times she washed it, and her black covering was starting to become threadbare. Her hat seemed to be the only thing that looked somewhere close to wearable.

“My Lord N, we brought the one you wanted,” came a voice to her left. Probably one of the people who grabbed her. Vaguely, she heard Dara’s incessant chattering, and hissed grunts of pain from somewhere to her right. Good girl.  

“Thank you,” N said cordially. “You are dismissed.” With a frown at Hilda she barely registered, he added, “Leave the Darumaka. Her trainer is one of the better ones.”
The people at her side vanished, leaving her on her knees. She was still dizzy from the sudden transportation, and could only barely feel the warmth of Dara’s fur under her arm. She certainly couldn’t see the cave’s entrance anymore—how big was this place?

“Hilda! It’s nice to see you again,” N said, grinning brightly and throwing his arms out. 

She leveled a glare at him. “What just happened?”
His arms fell. “Ah, yes. That was the Shadow Triad. They’re Ghetsis’s personal force, but they answer to me as well. They planted the Galvantula nest—on Ghetsis’s orders, not mine, I assure you,” he added, seeing Hilda’s expression. “I know that’s what you were going to ask.” 

She grunted, standing up, fingers discreetly brushing her belt under her vest. She never knew what Team Plasma was going to do, and she sighed in relief when all six poké balls were still safe and on her person. With a click, she returned Dara, ignoring N’s frown and resolving to check in on her pokémon when she could guarantee her safety. Not that she thought N would hurt Dara, but she was always scared that an interaction with him would result in losing them all, especially recently.  

“Is this your first time in Chargestone Cave?”
It took her a moment to realize he’d been asking her that, and another moment to realize he hadn’t commented on her treatment of Dara. “Yes,” she said simply. What do you want? 

She wanted to say it, but didn’t. She’d found out easily enough that N often gave information unprompted, but would lock up like a Clamperl if asked to elaborate.

“I’m glad you get to experience it,” N said. “It’s a beautiful cave. All the electricity pulsing to their inherent formulas, drawing in and repelling creatures in waves, like a dance of nature. It would, of course, be better were it not for human interference, but, well. So would most things.” 

“You’re human,” Hilda pointed out.
N looked at her sidelong, then sighed. “Yes, I know.” 

The blue glow of the crystals cast his face in tones she’d never seen. He looked softer and more deadly all at once. Perhaps this was the ideal place for him. 

“You’ve been chosen. Did you know that?”
“What do you mean, ‘I’ve been chosen?’” Hilda snapped. “I’m not complying with your cult’s games, and you know it.” Okay, so maybe that was extreme, but he’s extreme, so—

“This isn’t a game,” N said. “And I don’t run a cult. You know that. We’re an official political nonprofit organization.” 

Hilda snorted. “Can you show me the paperwork for that?”
“I can, actually, but I doubt you could read it. But that’s not the question I wanted to ask. I take it you’re surprised by me telling you you’re chosen?” 

She wanted to say no, because this was N, and she really should have expected something like this to happen eventually. But the truth was, she was surprised. She expected to be a rival, a nuisance, a thorn in his side—not someone who was ‘chosen.’ “Yes.”

“Of course. Such news should be a surprise,” N said. He ran a hand over the nearby wall, and she watched the static break the careful styling of his hair. “I told him about you, you know.” 

“Who, Ghetsis?” Hilda felt her stomach drop. “Why?”
“Why you? That shouldn’t be a question,” N said with a chuckle. “But I told him about your friends, too. Cheren, Bianca. Interesting people.” 

“If you hurt them—”
“They’re fine. The Shadow Triad put together files on you, nothing more.” As if that was any better. 

Hilda snorted. “Okay. If a file is ‘good,’ then what’s the next level? Harassed? Assaulted?”

N put his hands up, finally looking unsettled. Hilda had to fight the contradictory feelings—one of triumph, and one of guilt. “No, no, of course not. We’re just gathering information on you—you’re our most persistent enemies, why wouldn’t we?” 

“Maybe phrase it like that the first time,” Hilda muttered, only her triumph assuaged. “So what are you going to do with that?” 

“Assess you, of course. This is how you were chosen,” N said, calm demeanor back in place. “Cheren, after all, perseus the ideal of strength. Bianca follows him, poor girl, though she appears to be learning the hard way that strength isn’t for everyone.” 

“She’s going to apprentice with Professor Juniper, I think,” Hilda said. “She’s certainly not committed to the league.” 

N looked at her, his stare piercing her ribs. “Neither are you, I think,” he said. “Not for the reasons Cheren is, at least. Though Bianca following that so-called ‘professor’ around is…disquieting.” 

Hilda rolled her eyes. “What do you have against Professor Juniper? She’s a perfectly nice lady, and I’ve seen her fields. She treats all the pokémon in her care extremely well.” 

“I’ll believe that when I see it,” N said derisively. “But this is why you were chosen, and not them. Team Plasma is waiting for you ahead.” 

Before Hilda could respond, N waved and disappeared into the tunnels, leaving her on her own. 

“Men,” Hilda grumbled, because she didn’t know what else to say to insult N. “He realizes he’s stranding me in the cave, right?” 

She only waited a few more moments to let Dara out of her poké ball, eager for some company. Dara chirped at her feet, clasping her small hands together. “I know, right?” Hilda said, even though she couldn’t understand the words. The expression on her pokémon’s face told her enough. 

It shouldn’t matter, she told herself. Trainers specifically come in here to catch and train their pokémon. You’re hardly stranded. But the fact that N seemed to assume she’d be alright on her own irked her, as most things did about the boy. 

“Well, we might as well continue on, right?” She asked Dara. “We might even find some new friends.” She’d read up a little bit on the pokémon most commonly found in the cave, and she was interested in catching a few for her upcoming battle against Skyla. For now, though, they had to train. 

She and Dara walked only a few paces before they found their first pokémon—or rather, their first horde. She recognized Joltik—one of the pokémon she was interested in catching—but the other two were unknown to her. 

A pokémon that appeared to be little more than gears with faces approached, gears spinning faster when it looked between her and Dara. 

“You wanna battle, huh?” Hilda said, hands on her hips. “Well, who am I to say no?” 

She glanced towards Dara, who chirped delightedly, bouncing back and forth on her legs. The other pokémon clacked its gears threateningly, before the cogs lit up and Dara was scratched on the side. 

“Fire Punch!”
Dara crowed, fist becoming engulfed in flames as she hit the other pokémon. Hilda had suspected it was steel type, and the resulting crumble of the other pokémon confirmed her theory. She pulled out her pokédex, going to scan it, when she heard voices behind her. 

“Hilda! Hi!”
She turned around. “Bianca! I didn’t expect to see you here.” Dara turned around as well, chirping her own greeting. 

“Of course I’m here! Professor Juniper’s coming too,” Bianca said. “I’m her new bodyguard! Being strong paid off after all.” 

Hilda chuckled. “That’s good, at least,” she said, though N’s words about Bianca falling short rang in her mind. Shaking them away, she asked, “When did this start? You looked like you were alone when we met in Driftveil.” 

“That’s because it started about an hour ago,” Bianca said. “Oh—did you just have a battle?” 

“Yeah,” Hilda said, turning back to the slowly retreating pair of gears. “I’m not sure what it is, but it wanted to battle and so did Dara, so…” 

“Oh! You found some Klink!” That was Professor Juniper’s voice, alright. Hilda chuckled to see the woman looking frazzled, but so excited at the injured Klink that it brought a smile to her face. “Hi, Professor.” 

“Hello, Hilda,” Professor Juniper said cordially. “I’m glad I came when I did. How long has this poor fellow been like this?” 

“Dara just beat it,” Hilda said. “What did you say its name was?”
“Klink,” Professor Juniper said, removing a super potion. “I came to this cave to study its origins. The more we understand where a pokémon came from, the better our relationship can grow.” 

Hilda’s smile grew softer as the professor sprayed the Klink with the potion. She’d been saying things like that more and more often as Team Plasma had become more active, and now it was one of her favorite phrases. 

The Klink, now fully healed, ground its gears in the opposite direction, eyes crinkled in a smile. 

Professor Juniper smiled back, and Hilda wondered what about this N found so abominable. The Klink seemed particularly attached to Professor Juniper now. 

“Sorry about that, little guy,” Hilda said, leaning down. “You okay now?” 

The Klink chirped at her, then Dara. “Alright. We’re all good,” Hilda said.

“Sweet,” Bianca said, also smiling. “You can go on ahead, Hilda. We might be a while.” 

“That’s fine,” Hilda said. “We can all go as a group. With all the pokémon around here, it’ll take a while to get through, and from the looks of this place, there doesn’t seem to be any shortage of Klink.” 

Professor Juniper chuckled. “So it seems. I’m okay with going together, if you are.” 

The three, plus Dara and Klink, set off further into the cave, and quickly found that they couldn’t go more than a few steps without having to tackle a Ferroseed, Klink, or Joltik. 

The Ferroseeds were a problem, but one that was solvable. After the first few left Dara covered in splinters, Hilda made the decision to simply step over them whenever they crossed their path. Unfortunately, there were quite a few. 

Dara—and Seth, once Dara had been thoroughly splintered by Ferroseeds—made quick work of any Klinks that came near, as well as several Joltiks that got hit too hard. 

“Are you going to train?” Hilda asked Bianca, who had been commentating on almost all of the fights that she’d gotten into. “I thought you really wanted to get stronger.” 

Bianca shrugged. “I will if I feel like it, but those Ferroseeds look nasty, and you’re wiping out plenty of Klink for the professor to study. There doesn’t need to be two of us doing that job.” 

Hilda shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
She cycled through her entire team in training battles before she encountered an entire nest of Joltik, and a scene that particularly interested her. While most of the nest was burrowing in and out of the wall, blue arcs of electricity coating each one, there were two that were separated from the rest of the group. One of them was covered in blue lightning like the rest. The other, however, was glowing a simple, dull yellow. 

As Hilda watched, the blue Joltik struck the other with a move that Hilda recognized as Gastro Acid, and the other bug crumbled, almost like the Klink had not long ago. She watched it try to retaliate with a string shot, but the other easily dodged, sinking its pincers into the Joltik’s fur. 

Annette the Tranquil squawked and ruffled her feathers, glaring at the offending Joltik, who hisssed, spreading its fur to make it look bigger. 

“Nice try, buddy,” Hilda muttered, feeling both indignant for the other Joltik and foolsih for trying to argue with a spider. “You won’t get past that easily.” 

The other Joltik took the opportunity to jump off the wall, burrowing underneath Hilda’s hat, making her wince. She could feel its claws digging into her scalp, but it wasn’t painful so much as itchy. 

“Are you going to catch that?” asked Bianca, looking from Hilda’s hat to the Joltik on the wall. 

“As soon as I teach this guy a lesson,” Hilda said, scanning the Joltik with her Pokédex. Bug-type. Perfect. “Okay. Annette, Air Cutter!” 

The other Joltik leaped off the wall and right into Annette’s cutters, but it didn’t crumble immediately like the other one had. It got back up, electricity arcing across its fur, though Hilda could see it was severely injured. 

It attempted to trap Annette in an Electroweb, Annette dodged it easily, even in the restricted movement of the cave. She snorted, then kicked the Joltik away with a Quick Attack, and that was that. 

“You can come out now,” Hilda said to the Joltik under her hat. She felt it hesitate before it crawled out from under the brim, falling into her open hands. 

She considered the Joltik for a moment. Clearly, the other one was a much higher level, and would, in theory, be the better addition to the team. But she was infuriated by the blatant display of bullying, and she found she wanted to keep the poor bug entirely out of spite. 

Perhaps the story of this Joltik would prove to N that pokémon weren’t as perfect as he believed, but she found that was a secondary motivation to everything else. 

“Wanna come with us?” Hilda asked the creature. “I can help you get stronger. It’ll hurt, but you’ll be able to fight back.” 

Bianca put a hand on her shoulder, giving the Joltik a thumbs-up. “She’s great, I promise. And Ingrid will share her electricity with you, too.” 

At Hilda’s confused look, Bianca added, “I think that’s what’s wrong with him. The other Joltik was taking all his electricity, making him weaker.” 

Hilda nodded. “Well, we can fix that. What do you say, buddy?” She held up an ultra ball tentatively, finding herself with more of those than regular poké balls. 

The Joltik squealed, leaping onto the button, and Hilda watched as the ball was transported away to the pokémon center. 

The dex entry lit up with the ‘registered’ marker, and she input the name as ‘Mike.’ 

“What?” She said, at Bianca’s raised eyebrow. “He looks like a Mike.”

***

Her joy from Mike the Joltik lasted until she, Professor Juniper, and Bianca descended a small set of stairs, and were plunged into total darkness. It shouldn’t have been possible, since the only light came from the naturally glowing rocks, but she couldn’t see anything, and she was feeling dizzy again.

“Hello?” Hilda called, worry pitching her voice higher. “Where are you guys?” 

She thought she heard Bianca respond somewhere to her left, so she attempted to move that way before being stopped by a voice. 

“You have taken a pokémon from its rightful home and family,” it said. “So we have been instructed to separate you from your companions and escort you to an area where you can do no more harm.” 

“I didn’t harm him,” Hilda snapped, realizing that she couldn’t move, either. Am I being restrained again? Is this N’s Shadow Triad? “He wanted to come with me.” 

The voice snorted in disgust. “I don’t believe your lies. Descend the stairs and face our loyal troops—it is an additional test you must pass in order to face our Lord N again.” 

When Hilda’s sight was restored to her, she was on the middle of a bridge, and completely alone. 

Chapter Text

Dawn and Laventon made their way across the path to Jubilife Village, and Dawn used the opportunity to pry for questions about the land and its people. She hadn’t been paying as good of attention as she should have when Cynthia had explained it back in the museum—something she sorely regretted now.

She learned several things that surprised her. Jubilife Village had been founded only two years prior, and was run by the Galaxy Survey Team, who had made it their duty to study and—allegedly—tame pokémon. Laventon himself had made it his life’s goal to create the world’s first catalog of all pokémon in a region in a book he called the ‘Pokédex.’

Dawn’s jaw dropped when she heard the name. “You can’t be serious.” 

“I’m perfectly serious,” Laventon said, affronted. “My goal is to create—” 

“I’m not saying it’s ridiculous or anything,” Dawn interrupted quickly. “I’m just saying…that’s a huge milestone. Pokédexes have been a staple for centuries now. I can’t believe I’m witnessing the creation of the very first one.” 

Professor Laventon looked mollified, but she could tell he was still trying to figure her out. 

“What else do I need to know?” Dawn asked, trying to keep her voice light. 

Laventon didn’t answer for a while. “People are going to talk when they hear you fell from the sky,” he said. “Some will say you’re a bad omen, catching prodigy or not. I’m optimistic that I can get Cyllene to allow you to join, but your trial will likely be far harder than it is for most. Considering you caught three pokémon without fear, however, I’m sure it will be fine.” 

“It’s not exactly hard,” Dawn said with a shrug. “Plenty of people back home make it their mission to catch every type of pokémon in their region’s respective pokédex. Sometimes it’s a competition. It’s the battling part that’s hard, but even that gets easier when you do it long enough.”

Professor Laventon looked stunned into silence, staring at Dawn open-mouthed. “Incredible,” he whispered. “I suppose to us you may seem like a prodigy, but from the way you talk, perhaps you see yourself as an ordinary pokémon handler?” 

“Trainer,” Dawn corrected automatically. “And, well…you’re not far off about the prodigy thing. Not many can do what I’ve done. But I assure you, it has nothing to do with catching. When it comes to poké balls, I’m completely run-of-the-mill.” 

Laventon gave a disbelieving chuckle. “I’ll believe that when I see your future for myself. Now…” he hummed, looking deep in thought. “We’re not far from the village, and I’ve been thinking. ‘Dawn’ isn’t exactly easy for most people to pronounce, and it sounds completely foreign besides. Would you mind going by a different name? It would also disguise your—well—futuristic nature, shall we say.”

“It makes…objective sense, I guess,” Dawn said. Given how Laventon had described the people of Jubilife Village as superstitious and skeptical, she supposed it made sense to not have the sudden newcomer be under total suspicion. But that begged another question. “Why are you doing this?” 

“What do you mean?” Laventon asked, looking confused.
Dawn looked beyond the path to the rolling ocean waves not far distant. “Why are you sticking your neck out for me like this? It doesn't make sense in this time period, prodigy or not.” 

“I believe human decency transcends time, Dawn,” Laventon said cordially. “And you—well, assuming you’re from the future, then that means you have nowhere to take shelter, no tools for survival, and no friends to take you in. I have to extend some kind of helping hand, even if it didn’t benefit me in the long run.” 

Dawn took a deep breath. “There’s the gate,” Laventon said. “Let me do the talking. But if anyone asks, your name is Akari.” 

***

By the time they’d arrived, the sun was sinking low into the sky, turning it all sorts of pretty oranges and purples. Laventon vouched for her at the gate and led her through the streets, which looked equally gorgeous in the sunset.

Dawn recognized some of the buildings immediately from Jubilife’s history museum. Despite proudly boasting the label as the most modernized city in the region, Jubilife had a reputation for its cultural history museum that Cynthia had helped with. Dawn had gone only once per her friend’s request, but she was sorely wishing she’d gone more. 

She and Laventon were walking in the center of a dirt road, lined on either side by buildings made of red wood or brick, each with different-colored tiled roofs. The red ones appeared to be residences, some close to the main building, others further afield, surrounded by what looked like farms from a distance. The purple-roofed ones were closer to the gate and resembled shops, though they all closed their doors and curtains when Dawn walked by. She also saw multiple streams running through the village, each with bridges and several water mills. 

What drew her attention the most, though, was the massive brick building that looked like an old-timey version of Jubilife City Hall, already blending traditional Sinnohan designs with the roof and the Magikarp statues into more modern styles, seen in the shape of the building and the large chimney that resembled, strikingly, a Galarian Wheezing. 

“I must make my report to the Captain, but don’t worry—I’m sure she’ll accept you with open arms,” Laventon said. “Cross the bridge, and wait for me by the Wallflower—that’s our local tavern.” 

He said it kindly, but it did nothing to alleviate Dawn’s nerves as he left her standing in the street. There was already a crowd of people gathering several yards back, close to the gate. The people were the biggest giveaway to her earlier conclusion—she’d seen some of the exact garments on the people on display in the museum, traditional Sinnoh clothes adapted to a harsh environment, though she saw several in softer-looking kimonos and shirts. 

Dawn took a deep breath, knowing she looked nothing like any of these people with her Alolan resort t-shirt and torn pyjama shorts. She was wearing some sandals that Laventon had on him in case of emergencies, but that was the only thing she shared with them. 

Turning away from the crowd, she straighened her posture, running through all of Cynthia’s instructions on the human-focused parts of being a Champion. “You must always appear as strong as your name. That means no hunching and impeccable grooming, for one, but it also means you must command a presence. Force people not to underestimate you.” There was a lot more to the appearance of a Champion than Dawn had ever thought growing up, but at the very least, those skills would serve her here. Even if she’d never been the best at them. Even if she was now without allies—human or pokémon. 

She crossed the bridge to the Wallflower, acutely aware of the crowd slowly following her and resolutely ignoring them. She didn’t think she would be allowed inside, given that she likely looked suspicious, but it was a start. 

“She’s really going to the Wallflower? Aren’t strangers banned from there?” 

It was, however, one area in which she’d hoped she’d be proven wrong. That seems counterproductive. In her experience, gathering places like taverns were the best place to connect with all sorts of people—another tip she’d gotten from Cynthia. “As a Champion, you need to build connections, and that starts at the level of new trainers.”  

“Looks like it,” Came a second voice, but Dawn wasn’t able to concentrate on more, finding herself face-to-face with a hunched-over man who looked like the owner. 

“You can’t come here,” he said, glaring daggers at her. “You think I’d let just anyone in here? This is exclusively for the Galaxy Team and the residents of Jubilife Village. Begone!” 

Dawn took a step back, embarrassingly startled by the venom in the man’s voice. He was clearly getting along in years, but there was something about his eyes that sent a prickle down her spine. What do I…

“She’s here with Laventon!”

Dawn gasped. Could it be…? Was she not the only one who had gotten dragged back in time? Unless she was mistaken, it sounded like…

She turned around to face the boy who had come to her rescue and gasped. He looked exactly like Lucas, but it was Lucas as he had been when he, Dawn, and Barry had first started out on their adventures. He couldn’t be more than fifteen, if that. She met his eyes, and there was no recognition there. 

The Lucas-lookalike turned back to the owner. “He told her to wait here, and she’s going to join the Survey Corps. So stop harassing her!” This last bit was said over his shoulder at the crowd, who had backed up again.

“Thank you,” Dawn whispered to him.
“Of course,” the boy said. “Laventon sent me out here to check on you. I’m glad to see you’re okay, but I understand that the town can be a lot.”

“It’s nothing I haven’t faced before,” Dawn said, shrugging. “But I’m glad nonetheless. It’s nice to have friends in strange places.” 

The boy raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. I’ll bet we’re really strange to you, with what Laventon said. Those clothes look way too flimsy for these parts—you’ll die in one bite if a pokémon gets to you.” 

Dawn must have made a face, because he held his hands up. “Right. Different world, I guess. By the way, my name’s Rei, in case you were wondering.” 

Dawn nodded cordially. “Yes. I’m—” she hesitated, trying to remember the cover name Laventon had picked out for her. “Akari.” 

“Nice meeting you, Akari,” Rei said. “Now, he should be out here any…” 

“Sorry I’m late!” That was Laventon, racing across the bridge and stopping before the two. “The Captain had a lot of questions. But now we’re here. Rei, I assume you’ve introduced yourself?” 

Rei nodded. “So, are we still eating here, or…?”
“You may.” 

The voice was unfamiliar, so Dawn made the mistake of looking to see who it was, and froze. 

It was the same blue-gray hair. The same pointed frown. The same thousand-yard stare, full of vengeance and darkness and plots to consume the world. Same strict posture, arms folded behind the back, feet planted just far enough apart to give anyone trouble if they tried to attack. Cyrus. 

Her heart started beating faster—or maybe it was skipping beats, she couldn’t tell. Her breaths became shorter, her vision blurring in and out, the jarring differences between the surrounding sunset of her reality and the inky darkness of the Distortion Realm. Suddenly, she was fifteen again, and there was no escape. 

“Woah—Akari? What’s wrong?”
She could hear the words as though they were spoken far in the distance, even though Rei was standing right next to her. She couldn’t stop her limbs from shaking, her bones remembering the cold, weightless void that the Distortion Realm had been. The squeezing of the shadows.

“Cyrus.” The name fell from her mouth in a terrified whisper before she could stop it, turning all gazes on her. 

“You have mistaken me for someone else, it seems. My name is Cyllene.” 

It took her a moment to realize that Cyllene—noteably a woman, dressed in the same dark blue fabric as everyone else—was the one who had spoken. “I am the Captain of the Galaxy Team,” she continued. “Laventon has vouched for you and proposed that you be allowed to join, though he did so with some truly outlandish tales. I hope you live up to them—I do not wish to see you die out in the wilds, but such is our way. If you fail, you will be exiled from the village to fend for yourself.”

Dawn nodded, breath still coming out shakily.
The captain studied her further. “You will sleep in one of our empty quarters and be allowed to eat at the Wallflower for tonight, until you pass your trial. How old are you? Fifteen?”

She started, realizing the captain was expecting her to answer. “Eighteen, actually, ma’am.” She knew she looked younger than she actually was, but she got the feeling that had something to do with the Creation Trio situation. Having to both battle the God of Time as well as the God of the Underworld would have strange side effects on a person—side effects she was still discovering.

“Hm.” Was that an inflection of surprise? Dawn couldn’t be sure. But without another word, Cyllene walked right past the owner—who, to Dawn’s humiliation, was still standing there—and into the tavern.

Laventon cleared his throat. “Ah, may we sit outside for today?” He asked the owner. 

“Of course,” the owner said, now looking far less angry at Dawn. “Potato mochi for three today?” 

“Yes please!” Rei said, grinning, and the three sat down as the owner went inside again. 

“Thank you,” Dawn said once he was gone. “Both of you. For everything.”

“Of course, my girl,” Laventon said, smiling sadly. “But—if you don’t mind asking, that is—why were you so afraid of the captain?” 

“Well, she doesn’t exactly exude warmth and friendliness,” Rei said with a frown. “I don’t blame you for being scared, but…” 

“It’s nothing,” Dawn said quickly. “It was a long time ago.”
Neither pried, but Dawn could tell they were both thinking about it—the silence only broken when the owner—apparently named ‘Beni—’ came back with three plates of what must be the potato mochi.

“So, Akari, how exactly did you get here?” Rei asked between mouthfuls of food. 

“She fell through the space-time rift,” Laventon said. “That’s what we’re calling it, anyway. Though how she went to the beaches here and didn’t land on the slopes of the mountain is…strange.” 

Dawn didn’t contribute much to the conversation, which went on for several hours even after they were done eating. She only answered questions when she was asked, and even then, only when she could.

“I think our friend has had enough chatter for one day,” Laventon said at length once the sun had fully set. “Rei, show her where her room is, would you?” 

“Of course,” Rei said, jumping to his feet. “Follow me!”
It turned out that her shelter was to be the building closest to the hall where the captain apparently lived. She put her hand on the door, about to open it, when Rei stopped her. “Akari?” 

“Hm?” She’d gotten better at responding to her new cover name over the course of the dinner. 

“If you need to talk…we’re here, okay? I can’t imagine this is an easy thing to go through.” 

Dawn chuckled darkly. “Thank you, Rei. But I’m not sure you can help much with this.” 

He pursed his lips, nodding. “Alright. Well, I’ll come get you in the morning, okay? Don’t worry.” Not having much else to add, he went off. 

Dawn was left to enter her new room on her own—and it might not even be hers for long, depending on what kind of trial the captain set for her the next day. It looked fairly simple, with an ancient pot oven in the center reaching up to the ceiling, several large jars with lids, and a chest in one corner. At the other end of the room was a simple futon and mirror—nothing else. 

It hit her, then, just how alone she was. A stranger in a land long dead, with nothing and no one to her name. Quite the dramatic change after being Champion for so long, where she was renowned for her battling and personality alike. But here, people were suspicious of her, and hurtful, and wouldn’t hesitate to leave her to die if she made the wrong move. 

She’d known this since she’d first encountered Laventon on the beach, but the true weight of it hadn’t sunk in until now. 

She had been sent who knew how many centuries into the past, and as far as Dawn could tell, short of finding Dialga or even Arceus, there was no way she would ever be able to go home. 

That night, Dawn muffled the sound of her sobs with her blanket as she fell asleep.

Chapter Text

When a Trainer was in a cave known for both its narrow tunnels and wide, echoing chambers, that Trainer couldn’t be too careful. Hilda shuffled forward, hands stretched to the sides as far as they could go, until she could see light from the surrounding crystals again and navigate properly. 

Stupid Shadow Triad. Stupid Team Plasma. She ran through her usual list of curses as she called Dara back out to help her navigate, having to pick her up upon finding yet more Ferroseeds blocking her path. Stupid Ferroseeds . Dara could take them out easily, sure, but she always got splintered with iron barbs, and the last thing that Hilda wanted to was pull them out of her pokémon. Objectively, she knew it was a good pokémon battling-wise with that good of defensive typing, but she wasn’t Cheren. She didn’t have to pay attention to things like that. She could hold a grudge against Ferroseeds. 

“How far do you think we are from the exit?” She asked her pokémon. 

Dara chittered softly, burrowing further into Hilda’s arms. “I’ll take that as a no,” Hilda muttered, jumping over yet another Ferroseed and losing the light of the crystals once again. 

Hilda stopped. “Would it be worth it to call an escape crew to come get us out?” 

This time, Dara didn’t answer, though she could still feel her wiggling in her arms, trying to get free. Hilda let her go, and Dara rolled to the side, hitting the rock wall that was right in front of them, and causing several people to shout up ahead. 

“Dara, you’re brilliant,” Hilda breathed. Unclipping a second poké ball, she rushed around the corner, finding her already growling at a man in blue and white robes, emblazoned with a ‘P’ shaped like a bolt of lightning. 

“I don’t want to hurt you. Go back to your family,” the Plasma grunt was saying, but Dara stood her ground, moving exactly to block the grunt’s movements. “I’m waiting for a trainer who’s supposed to come through here. I need to show her that battling is cruel!” 

“Then actually show me, and stop yelling at my pokémon,” Hilda said, folding her arms. “Or are you too much of a wuss to do it?” 

The Plasma grunt choked on his next words, before his face set. “Fine. I’ll beat you the way Lord N taught us to. Klink!” 

The poor pair of gears looked apprehensive, glancing back at the trainer, rolling its cogs slowly. 

“I don’t think it likes you,” Hilda said. Perhaps that was the wrong thing to say, but she hadn’t seen anything like this in some time. “What have you two been doing together?” 

“A—huh?” The plasma grunt drew up short, one eyebrow raised. “What are you talking about?” 

“Come on, I know N. He probably told you that the first step to bonding with a pokémon is either not removing it from its habitat, or pointedly refusing to use a poké ball. Am I right?” 

“Well—yes, but—how did you—?” The grunt spluttered, looking between her and Dara. “Nevermind. I don’t have to tell you anything. Klink! Use Gear Grind!” 

The Klink glared, gears spinning faster, as phantom gears appeared over Dara’s head, whirring fast. 

“Dodge, and use Fire Fang!” Hilda called.
Dara leaped into action, rolling out from under the gears as they crashed over where her head had been, and jumped, digging her white-hot fangs into the lower gear of the Klink. 

It screamed, crumpling to the ground. After a few moments, it opened its eyes again, but didn’t move. It was down, and Dara had won.

“Good job, girl,” Hilda said softly, ruffling Dara’s fur. Her pokémon cooed up at her, jumping back into her arms and humming contentedly. 

The plasma grunt looked her up and down, between the happy pokémon and the smiling trainer. “Lord N said…” 

“Listen.” Hilda cut him off. “N says a lot of things that just aren’t true. The real thing that will create a strong bond between pokémon and trainer is…well, time. It’s not something you can rush, even for the best of us.”

The Team Plasma grunt looked shell-shocked, so Hilda decided not to try and shatter his worldview any more. She suspected she’d already done what she needed to, anyway. 

***

She battled through two more Plasma grunts after that, neither of whom gave her much trouble. She’d made her way out of the endless narrow tunnels and into wider spaces, though the electric rocks were still spread thinner than Hilda would have liked. 

Quite convenient of them to stage their little trial here, she thought. One would think it was made for such a thing. She’d think Team Plasma had tampered with it, if it didn’t directly go against their ideology, but when she considered the incident with the fossil at the Nacrene City Gym, she supposed that anything was possible when it came to these people. 

Still, she continued on, returning Dara to her poké ball when it got light enough. She ran her finger over the poké balls at her belt, contemplating which one to use when the tunnel widened into a cavern, occupied by seven people in Team Plasma white uniforms. Three of them were standing stock-still, likely as per their orders, but four of them were gathered around a particular corner, and they sounded anguished. 

“What is your problem?!” Huffed a female voice. “We’re just trying to help you!” 

“Listen. I get it. Humans suck. But we’re only here until a stupid trainer comes along and gets destroyed by us, so you don’t have to worry.” 

Hilda snorted, but it was covered up by the crashing of rocks and shouts of the grunts. She stepped further into the chamber, creeping towards the grunts, and let out a shocked laugh at what she saw. 

It was a Boldore—there was no trainer in sight, so it must be wild—and it was using Power Gem on the grunts, who were trying to approach it and direct it to another part of the cave. 

A red-haired woman approached it, looking already battered from multiple assaults of Power Gem judging by the gray dust and massive tears across her uniform. With a start, Hilda noted red-brown stains toward the legs and shoulders. Blood? 

“See, this is why battling is bad,” one of the other grunts—a blonde man—seethed. “I don’t know how a Trainer can go every day forcing their so-called ‘beloved’ pokémon to endure this.” 

“It’s in their nature,” Hilda said, deciding to speak up. “All that energy comes from somewhere, and it has to go somewhere, to. They do it to themselves anyway, whether humans interfere or not.” 

All four agents turned to her, frowning. “Of course you say that. You’re the Trainer Lord N warned us about,” said the red-haired woman. 

“Yes, I know what N said,” Hilda groaned. “Now, are you going to keep picking a fight with this Boldore, or are you going to do what you were ordered to and battle me?” 

The redhead growled, but the blonde put an arm out in front of her. “Don’t do it, Anna,” he said. “She’s just baiting you. You’re in no condition to fight—I’m sure Lord N would understand.” 

“No, he wouldn’t,” the woman—Anna—said. “Everything is black and white with him. Besides, I’m not the one fighting, my pokémon is.” 

She glared at Hilda with force, unclipping a poké ball from her belt. “I’ll beat you. I’ll be living proof that all you’re good for is abusing pokémon.” 

“Good luck with that,” Hilda snorted, pulling out her faithful Dewott Ollie’s ball. “Considering you're wrong.” 

Ollie’s poké ball swelled to size in her hand, but as she prepared to throw, the Boldore broke through the barrier the three other Plasma grunts had made, planting itself in front of her, making some noise that was a cross between chattering rocks and a growl.

“Oh? Do you want to join in?” Hilda asked with a laugh. The redhead looked taken aback, staring at the Boldore with wide eyes. 

“That—that shouldn’t be possible,” she said finally. “You must have planted this pokémon. Isn’t this the one you caught?” 

“I didn’t, actually,” Hilda said, pulling out her pokédex and scanning the Boldore before her. “He, apparently, has a brave disposition. So? What do you say?” 

The Boldore turned, and though Hilda couldn’t exactly tell what made up its eyes, she thought she saw companionship there. I’ll take it. 

The Plasma grunts looked confused and even anxious, now, looking askance between themselves, her, and the Boldore, some drawing poké balls and others whistling for their partners. The redhead called out a Trubbish, face pinched so tightly it looked like it hurt. 

“Trubbish, use Sludge!”
The little creature was fast; Hilda would give it that. Scanning it quickly, she noted the pokédex entry with a swallow, before turning it on her Boldore. 

“Use Power Gem!”
The purple colored stones hit their target dead-on as Hilda frowned at the list of moves before her. It’s strongest ground-type move was Mud-Slap, which was…not ideal, but she could work with it. 

“Use Swagger!” 

Hilda’s stomach dropped as her Boldore’s movements became off-balance. He might still be able to fight, but…

“Use Mud Slap!”
She had to hope it got through to him. Boldore eyes were hard to see, so it was unclear how badly the confusion had affected him. Still, she saw the softening of the ground around him, and the ground shot up, hitting the Trubbish in the eyes. 

The Plasma grunt screamed, looking as though she were about to rush down to her pokémon’s aid, but Hilda acted before she made a decision. “Mud Slap, again!”
The Plasma grunt recovered, ordering several more Sludges and even a Take Down, but few of them hit—and even if they did, they didn’t have much of an effect on the Boldore. Soon enough, the Trubbish was down.

She retreated, but almost immediately, the blonde grunt stepped forward, calling out his own pokémon without a second thought. A Ferroseed. Because of course it is. 

Hilda glanced down at the Boldore, frowning. He would be weak to both steel and grass, and would probably lose immediately against this creature. She ran her hands along her belt, settling on a different pokémon than she’d first decided. 

“You should take a step back,” she told Boldore. “This isn’t a good matchup for you.” 

It stared at her curiously, but didn’t move as she unclipped a poké ball from her belt, sending out Annette. 

Her Tranquill settled on her arm, puffing out her feathers and glaring down at the offending Ferroseed, which quivered under the stare. I wonder what kind of nature it has. From the worried look of the grunt, perhaps this happened often. 

“If you know he’s not going to do well, then take him out,” Hilda said.
“There’s no use losing a pokémon to your pride.” 

That appeared to strengthen his resolve. “No. Ferroseed, we can do this,” he said to the creature. It chittered softly, looking up at Annette. 

Hilda smiled. She’d come a long way, and had turned her Air Cutter into a more refined Air Slash. Despite the advantage of being a steel-type, and the multiple uses of Iron Defence, the Ferroseed went down in a few hits.

The grunt was shaking, and Hilda frowned. “How often do you train, exactly?” 

“I—I can’t,” he said. “Even when I do try, he won’t do it. He’s too scared. And when he gets hurt, he’s even more scared.” 

He glared at her then, as though trying to make a point, but she shook her head. 

“Some pokémon have a harder time fighting than others,” she said, thinking of Mike the Joltik, resting in her box. “All they need is a little encouragement. A friend will sometimes help, but they need it most from you. Like with this one.” She gestured to Annette, who had resumed her perch on Hilda’s shoulder. “It took her a while to master Air Cutter. She couldn’t do it, and because of that, battles got harder. So she stopped fighting. I had to help boost her confidence again, so I brought her in here to practice—where the only move she could use was Air Cutter. And now, you saw, she can use Air Slash. I don’t know what N told you, but I will say he’s probably wrong. He’s never had to actually train a pokémon because they all listen to him out of instinct.” She grinned. “Something to think about.” 

Annette ruffled her feathers again as the blonde stepped back to join his redhead companion, and the other two who had fought the Boldore came forward. Right. They weren’t done yet. 

Chapter Text

“Akari! Hey, Akari! You awake?” 

Dawn groaned, sitting up in her futon, squinting in confusion at the light beige walls of the unfamiliar room. There was more pounding on the door, and as she looked toward it, she recalled everything that had happened. 

The dream with Arceus. Laventon. Rei. Cyllene. I’m in the past, and I’m alone. 

Right. Dawn stood up, smoothing out her clothes and looking at her face in the mirror. She didn’t look great, but it was no worse than a normal case of bedhead. She took a deep breath, finger-combed through her frazzled hair, and checked her belt for nonexistent poké balls before stepping out to meet Rei. 

The Lucas look-alike was far too cheerful for this early in the morning, proceeding to talk her ear off immediately after she shut her door. 

“Hiya, Akari! Glad to see you’re up. Some lightning last night, huh?”
It took her a moment to remember to respond. “What lightning?” 

He raised one eyebrow. “You didn’t hear it? Must have been out cold, then. I don’t blame you, after the day you had yesterday.” 

Rei continued to talk her ear off, but she was only half-listening. This would be the day of her trial, and to know what it was she had to do, she would have to talk to Cyllene again. She snorted to herself—having to brace her own mind just to face a woman she’d only met yesterday, just because of an unfortunate resemblance to Cyrus. 

Actually, maybe it’s more than a resemblance. This was the past, after all. For all she knew, Cyllene could be Cyrus’s distant ancestor. 

The thought did nothing to comfort her. Rei gave a jumbled explanation to the guard at the foot of the steps, who nodded and let them pass, much like the ones at the gate. The guards, Dawn noticed, all wore the same shade of red travel robes, thick enough to withstand most types of severe weather, and wide-brimmed traditional hats. She wasn’t exactly sure what they were called, and cursed herself again for not paying more attention. Passing herself off as someone from the past was going to be a lot harder than she first thought. 

Rei shoved open the doors to what he had called the ‘Galaxy Hall,’ which was, apparently, the main hub for the team for all things official. It was the most modern building she’d seen thus far, which shouldn’t have surprised her, given the location. Still, given the rustic look of the village outside, the velvet curtains and clean white wallpaper was startling. 

“Fancy,” Dawn muttered. “Impressive.”
Rei looked uncomfortable, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah. It’s by far the most expensive place in probably all of Hisui. But it’s also a community building—for the use of the entire Galaxy Team. Captain Cyllene, the doctor, and Laventon all live here, and the infirmary’s here too. Now, come on. You don’t want to keep the Captain waiting.” 

Dawn hurried after him, hearing the faint sounds of pained moaning coming from a room further down the hall, accompanied by hushed whispers she couldn’t make out. “Is that the infirmary, down there?”

“Yeah,” Rei said darkly. “Pokémon are pretty vicious. Lots of people get hurt very easily. If nothing else, I think that’s why Laventon wants you to join the team so badly, and why the Captain’s letting him with so little pushback. If what he says about your abilities is true, it could mean major progress with a lot less injuries.” 

He guided Dawn into a large room dominated mostly by a desk, and all thoughts of major pokémon-induced injury was pushed from her mind. If she didn’t pass whatever trial Cyllene put before her, she was out of options. At the same time, given what both Rei and Laventon had said, she didn’t think she’d be very challenged. It was an uneasy balance, and one she wasn’t sure she was right about. 

An Abra floated in the corner of the room, eyes closed, but its body was oriented towards her. It was keeping a fair distance from the Captain’s desk, which was piled high with papers and made Cyllene herself look very small. Upon seeing them enter, she stood, then glared at Rei.

“Protocol states that you knock,” she said sternly.
Rei folded his arms, head tucked into his shoulder. “Apologies. The door was open, so—” 

“Spare me.” She turned to Dawn. “After careful consideration, I have set the tenants of your trial. Laventon has informed me that yesterday, you caught three of his runaway pokémon in quick succession with little effort. If that is true, I would like to see for myself.” She took a deep breath, then continued. “Your trial is to catch three wild pokémon in the Obsidian Fieldlands east of the village. Specifically, I would like to see a Bidoof, a Starly, and a Shinx presented to me in their poké balls. Fail, and you will be cast out of the village. However, if you succeed, you will be an official member of the Galaxy Team.”

Simple enough. All she had to do was catch the pokémon, and she would guarantee herself food, shelter, and a place to plan from, so she could figure out the ways of this past world, and the ways to get back home. 

It helped that these were three pokémon she’d caught before. Shinx and Starly—caught not far from her home in Twinleaf Town, and constant companions throughout her pokémon journey—were later renamed Star and Lumi, evolving into some of the best assets on her team, able to take out entire gyms on their own. Even in their base forms, they’d been fighters from the beginning, unwilling to back down from anything that posed a challenge. In the end, they had been the ones to push Dawn herself onwards to her goal, even when the fear almost choked her from the inside out. After Spear Pillar. 

Lumi, Star, and Charrina had all wrapped themselves around her when they’d escaped from the Distortion World, helping her remember what it was like to have warmth in her veins and breath in her lungs, after having almost been squeezed to death by Girratina under Cyrus’s control. 

She noticed Rei looking at her strangely, and Dawn remembered to respond too late. Cyllene didn’t say anything, but her frown deepened, and Dawn couldn’t help but wonder if that meant she was about to be kicked out anyway, regardless of what skills she could offer.

“Don’t be so afraid of the Captain, Akari,” Rei said softly, putting a hand on her shoulder. He looked exactly like Lucas, and it hurt, because this was the exact thing he would have done in this situation. Dawn ached for her friend in a way she didn’t think she’d ever be able to express as long as she was here—however long that might be.

“I’m not,” she croaked. “No offense.”
Rei chuckled. “None taken,” he said, “But there are some other things you need. Captain?”  

Cyllene said something about the standard belt and moved to tie it around her middle, but Dawn barely registered it, all physical sensations fleeing in the wake of her thoughts. 

I need to get home.
The thought rang hollow and condemning in her mind, but she ignored it as Rei led her into the neighboring room—so different from the Captain’s that she could be convinced they were in two separate buildings if she hadn’t just seen it for herself. 

“Welcome to my lab, Akari,” Professor Laventon said, the false name rolling off his tongue as though he’d never called her anything else. “Now. Since you are tasked with going out in the wilds and catching wild pokémon, Rei and I agreed that you should have a partner to accompany you, in case you get hurt.” 

“Ah—yes, right,” Dawn spluttered. “Wait. Rei? What do you have to do with this?” 

Rei chuckled. “Well, I’m going to be the one managing it, apparently. Showing you where to go and whatnot. And I’ve always been an assistant to Professor Laventon—why do you think he always asks me to do every little thing he could do himself?” He ended his sentence with a glare at the offending man, who raised his hands in surrender. 

“Now is not the time to get involved in petty gripes, my boy,” he said. “Now. Akari, since you so kindly helped me catch these three on your first day here, I think it would be the most fitting for you to choose one of these three to be your first partner pokémon.”

A laugh escaped Dawn’s throat. “A second starter.”
Rei looked confused, but Laventon nodded in understanding. She knew he had no more idea of what that meant than Rei did, but he at least understood where it came from. 

“If that is what you say in your homeland,” he said softly. “Now. Which one will you pick? You seem to be familiar enough with them already.” 

The three starters—how funny, they were starter pokémon in her own time, too—waddled up to her, staring at her with star-filled, squinted eyes. 

Dawn was hit with deja vú, but for once, it didn’t strike her to the heart. Oshawott and Rowlet were fine pokémon, she knew. But there was something that called out to her about the Cyndaquil, which sat patiently in the middle, as if it was as certain in Dawn’s decision as she was. 

“Hey, little guy,” she said, leaning down and offering it her hand. “Wanna be partners?” 

The Cyndaquil put its tiny paw in her hand, and for the first time since arriving in Hisui, Dawn was confident that she wasn’t alone anymore. 

***

Rei excitedly led her out the doors of the Galaxy Hall and sprinted to the gates, leaving Dawn heaving to catch up. She’d thought that all those hours spent exercising with her pokémon back in Sinnoh would leave her more fit than most of her peers, but she had nothing on Rei’s stamina. Guess that’s what it was like in the past. 

What she found strange, however, was the sight when she caught up to him. Rei had been stopped by a strange man in bright yellow and blue clothing, most of his body pointedly hidden by distinctly large robes. Even the man’s face was largely obscured by a hat, but she could tell by the timbre of his voice that he was, in fact, a man. It was far lower than Rei’s, but it had a sense of music to it that she’d only ever attributed to one person. 

“Aren’t you an interesting one?” The man turned to her, and behind the whisps of blonde hair, she saw sharp gray eyes that were extremely reminiscent of her predecessor, Cynthia. 

“So I’ve been told,” Dawn said, anxiety beginning to lift. She saw no suspicion in the eyes of someone who could only be Cynthia’s ancestor—and she had no reason to suspect him in turn. “And who might you be?” 

At least she was less alone in looking out of place. She was still in the t-shirt and shorts from her futuristic closet, and the traditional-looking belt made her feel even more ridiculous. But this man was dressed no more traditionally than she was. I really am less alone. 

“Akari’s going to take her trial,” Rei explained. “To become part of the Galaxy Team. I’d invite you to come and watch, but…” 

“Official Galaxy Business, I know,” the man said, sounding amused. “At least I’ll have your professor to keep me company, right?” 

“Always,” Rei said. He was grinning brightly when he turned to Dawn. “Akari, this is Volo. He’s part of the Ginko Guild—they’re the merchant group who gives us the supplies we can’t get ourselves. Volo, this is Akari—I’m sure you’ve heard plenty about her already.” 

“Correct,” Volo said. “Now. What’s this about the trial?”
“Yes, can we please move on?” Dawn asked quickly. “I’d rather not spend most of the day wondering if I’m going to die in the wilds.” 

Rei jumped from foot to foot, looking as though he was going to race off again. “Of course. This way!” 

***

The Obsidian Fieldlands were a far larger set of plains than Dawn had ever seen. There were no power lines or clear-cut roads to be seen, outside of a dirt path leading to a bridge at the foot of the hill. Trees were sparse, for the most part, only gathering in clumps and leaving large swaths of grass in the breeze.

“This is going to be the sight of your trial,” Rei said. “Bidoof, Starly, and Shinx can all be found here. Now, Professor Laventon said I could lay off the how-to catching lecture since you’re apparently an expert, but will you please let me give you tips?” 

He made a Baby-Doll Eyes face at her, and Dawn laughed. “Sure. Tell me something I don’t know.” 

Rei nodded emphatically. “Alright. The key to catching pokémon is to anticipate their reactions. Every pokémon reacts differently to being approached, so you have to be mindful. For example, Bidoof will walk up to you fearlessly, even if you have a poké ball in your hand, but Starly will run away as soon as it spots you. Some pokémon, like Shinx, will even attack on sight, so you have to know when to dodge their attacks.”

“Sneak up behind them and hit them in the back,” called Volo from where he sat. “It’s an almost guaranteed catch.” 

He and Laventon were sitting together in what was, apparently, the ‘base camp’ for the Galaxy Team in the fieldlands, awaiting her and Rei to complete their mission. They looked cozy, Dawn noted with envy. 

“He’s right,” Rei said. “Is there—that is, do you have any questions?”
“Not at all,” Dawn said with a smile. “Now sit back and watch how a pro does it.” 

***

She managed to catch all three pokémon in the end, but it was not without some difficulty. Bidoof was easy enough, and she nabbed some extras on Laventon’s request, but she missed her first three Starlys, and nearly got bit by a Shinx before she called out Cyndaquil—who she’d named Sasha—and had him use Quick Attack. Unfortunately, it crumbled, and a much larger Shinx emerged from the bushes to take its place—glowing red eyes and three times the size of the first. Rei stuttered out words she didn’t understand, but with minimal effort, the oversized Shinx was caught. 

Dawn returned to the base camp with all three required pokémon and a huge grin, and Volo had challenged her to a battle almost immediately—which she won just as quickly. 

Volo’s jaw dropped when his Togepi went down in just a few hits, despite the fact that Sasha was, apparently, far less experienced than Togepi was, but Dawn was thrilled. Battling was where she belonged—it was the thing she’d always been best at. And he, too, was stunned into silence by the massive Shinx. Dawn began to wonder if there was something no one was telling her. 

Cyllene, to her credit, also seemed impressed, handing her the official uniform of the Survey Corps, bandana and all. The clothes were scratchy, but Dawn supposed it was a small price to pay for protection. She also, finally, explained what it was everyone was freaking out about. 

“An Alpha Shinx is a rare sight,” she said. “Alpha pokémon are known to be stronger and far more vicious than their normal counterparts. The fact that there was one so close to the village is a cause for concern, but it seems we don’t have to worry about it. I’m sure you’ll take good care of it.” She’d also instructed Rei to teach her about how to craft things, which unsettled her, knowing her artistic prowess was…minimal. 

Since she and Rei had the rest of the morning to kill before they had to go out on their first official missions, he’d dragged her over to one of the purple-roofed buildings and set about following Captain Cyllene’s orders. Namely, teaching her to make poké balls. 

“Skill with throwing poké balls does not translate to skill at utelizing all handmade tools,” Dawn had insisted, trying not to trip over her encumbering bamboo shoes. “I’m more likely to cut my finger than cut an apricorn.” 

“Nonsense,” Rei had retorted. “I’m sure you’ll be just fine. Come on, I’ll show you.” 

And Dawn had been skeptical, but by the time noon had struck, and she and Rei departed for the gates again, she’d made thirteen poké balls by hand. 

Thirteen of the worlds first-known poké balls, Dawn thought. Incredible. 

Chapter Text

Beating a bunch of Plasma grunts was good, but it wouldn’t mean anything if she couldn’t beat N. Of course, she’d beaten N plenty of times before, and unless he’d gotten exponentially stronger—or changed his tactics—since the last time Hilda had fought him, she was pretty sure she would be fine. 

She’d used most of her healing items getting her team back up to full strength, but even after she’d defeated the entire gauntlet of Plasma grunts, she’d been unable to find the actual exit, and had gone down several literal Drilbur holes trying. N eluded her too, but something told her he’d be waiting there. 

So now, several hours after she’d intended to leave, she found herself looking down at the tunnel that lead to Mistralton City, and sillhouetted in its light was the boy she’d been seeking. 

“I was wondering when you’d arrive.” He turned around, smiling, as though he wasn’t there to try and stop her at every turn at her goals, and was instead a mere boy, amused that his friend had gotten lost. 

“Your team is wildly unhelpful,” Hilda pouted. “Not a single one of them knows what a direction is. I don’t even know if I can blame them, with how dark it is down there.” 

N winced. “Ah. I didn’t make those particular arrangements, but…I see. Straight to the point, then.” 

“Yeah. Normally, that’s your job.” A smile crept onto her face, perhaps against her will. “But seriously. They might be in trouble. I’d find them sooner rather than later—unless, of course, you make a habit of stranding people in caves, and I’m not the only one.” 

“I did not strand you,” N deadpanned. “And you know it.”
“I can be irritated. I don’t care how great this place is, I’m annoyed and I’m sick of it.” 

N put a hand to his heart in what she wasn’t entire sure was mock-offense. “But it’s a pretty cave!” 

 “Pretty is often irritating.”
She’d been referring, of course, to the cave around them, but her brain unhelpfully reminded her that the statement also fit N himself quite well. Judging by the flush on his face, that’s partially how he’d taken it. Great. 

She quickly unhooked a poké ball from her belt, fairly certain she knew which one it was, and equally certain it would make him mad. 

As predicted, he immediately glared at the action, whistling the strange call he always used when summoning his team. She’d tried to spot any trace of them hiding around the rocks, since he never used poké balls, but as always, she’d failed to see the glints of light off the Klink’s metal surface or the red spikes on the Boldore or—

“Are you serious?” Hilda snapped. “No. Why would I expect anything different? You specifically chose that thing just to make me mad.” 

“I didn’t,” N said. “What do you have against my Ferroseed friend?”
He sounded genuinely hurt, which made her feel like a jerk. 

“Whatever,” Hilda grumbled. “But I do think you’re going to keep it in the back. I’m warning you, I fight dirty when I’m mad.” 

“If you fight dirty, then if you win, the match is void,” N frowned.
“I hate it when you do this,” Hilda grumbled, growing the poké ball to full size in her hand and sincerely hoping he wouldn't lead with the Ferroseed. Rocky was doubly weak to that thing, and if she switched out now, he’d call it bad form.

To her great relief, he sent out Boldore.
So Hilda sent out her own, grinning like an idiot.

Rocky the Boldore was the newest addition to her team, and had secured himself on the ‘Battle-N’ squad after he’d helped take down a Plasma grunt. She’d run all the way back to Driftveil to retrieve both him and Mike from the box, temporarily storing Seth and Dawn for this exact purpose. The trip had taken almost an entire day, but it wasn’t the entire reason she was so late. Was he waiting here the entire time? 

She would admit some part of her took vicious satisfaction in the way N’s lip curled. “You knew I would hate that.” 

“I did, but now you can’t do anything about it, because the fact that you’re going to use a Ferroseed to fight me is an equal offense.” 

“There’s no way that’s true,” N said, folding his arms. “But there’s no way to convince you, is there?” 

They’d had this conversation many times before, every time Hilda formed some grudge against a pokémon who had bothered her one too many times on a route. “Nope,” she said. “Now, Rocky, use Bulldoze!” 

The TM she’d gotten from Clay had turned out to be quite useful. With Bulldoze, Rocky had some coverage, and was able to catch up to the rest of her team quite quickly—disregarding the already powerful moves he had at his disposal. 

Not to mention, the way N’s jaw dropped as his Boldore’s legs gave out was a little bit funny. 

“Since when—”
“I taught it to him,” Hilda shrugged. “Simple.” 

His Boldore knew Rock Slide, so she thought it was a fair trade. Nonetheless, Rocky took out both the Boldore and the Joltik with his Bulldoze, but when N called a Klink out front, she decided to switch tactics. 

Returning Rocky to his ball, she whispered a soft thanks before tossing two more between her hands. She already had a plan for the Ferroseed, but she wasn’t sure how to do it without facing one of N’s disappointed glares that hurt so much. 

Screw it. She retrieved Dara’s poké ball and sent her out with a flick of her wrist, the pokémon chirping happily, bouncing on each foot. 

It also brought a smile to N’s face, and even got a chuckle out of him. “It always astounds me how happy she is, given how often she battles,” N said softly. “Hello, Dara.” 

Dara growled playfully, eyeing the Klink with a grin. Hilda barely had to call the move before her fist lit up in flames and she hit the Klink square in the center. 

“Go, Queen!”
“Bianca, never say that again,” Hilda shouted over her shoulder. Since when…?

 The Klink had crumbled, and N was having a hissed argument with the thing. Apparently, it really wanted to fight. 

Bianca and Professor Juniper had clearly sprinted the whole way, with how exhausted the professor looked, but Bianca was beaming. “Sorry! I just wanted to cheer her on!” 

N looked decidedly unimpressed with her, and it almost made Bianca back down. “Who’s this guy?” 

Hilda frowned, meeting his eyes. “Someone who’s about to pull out a Ferroseed on me.” 

Bianca snorted. “Wow. Absolutely perfect for you.”
Hilda nodded as she returned Dara to her ball and sent out Mike the Joltik in quick succession. 

“So she does this with you too, huh?” N said cordially, glancing at Bianca for a moment. “I thought it was just me.” 

Bianca opened her mouth in a gasp, and Hilda made a violent motion across her throat. Her friend’s voice came out in a squeak. 

“Ferroseed, Iron Defence!” N ordered.
Hilda ignored the way her heart jumped. He sounds like a king when he does that. It was no longer as new information as it had been, but with each day that had passed, she noticed something new about him that made the revelation make that much more sense. 

Focusing back on the fight, she spotted the signature Iron Barbs on the longer, more spaced-out spikes. He’d probably called the Iron Defence in preparation for another surprise move, but Hilda had a different plan. 

“Mike! Gastro Acid!”
N’s brows furrowed in time with Hilda’s smirk. The Ferroseed remained in place, turning slowly and confusedly as the poison did its work. The barbs glistened, now dull and ineffective. 

She switched Dara back in, not even bothering to have Mike return to his ball, letting him jump on Dara’s head as she hit the Ferroseed with a Fire Punch. 

N pursed his lips, looking at Dara’s unsplintered hand. “What exactly does Gastro Acid do?” 

“It dulls a pokémon’s Ability,” Hilda said. “For Ferroseed, its Iron Barbs will splinter any pokémon who attacks it physically. So I got rid of that, because I’m tired of dealing with it.” 

N snorted, frowning and looking furious. “Typical trainer.”
Bianca and Professor Juniper, seeing that the battle had ended, approached carefully. “That must be it. It—it must simply be impossible to win while feeling bad about being a trainer.” 

She couldn’t exactly prove him wrong, so she remained silent as her friends stood behind her. Both Bianca and Professor Juniper remained silent, looking at Hilda uneasily. She knew she’d have to explain, but…

“Does this have to do with…being chosen?” Hilda asked, selecting her words carefully. It was clear he was beyond mad, and while his irritation with trainers wasn’t a new thing, it was the first time he’d become truly angry at her about it in a while. Perhaps, while she’d been rushing to prepare her team, he’d been doing the same. Perhaps he’d even trained. If he had, that would probably make her victory even more sour. 

Not to mention, they were in the company of strangers—to N, anyway. Well, perhaps not Bianca considering he’d compiled an entire case file on her, but she knew he saw Juniper as an enemy, and letting anything slip about his goals or intentions that wasn’t covered in thorns would be his worst nightmare.

N looked up. “Perhaps,” he said testily, glaring at the offending women. “What are you thinking?” 

He was looking straight at Professor Juniper. “You keep pokémon mercilessly in boxes, leaving them unable to explore the space they were rightfully given. You put pokémon into arbitrary categories and define them solely on the moves they use instead of who they are as creatures. And, and, you take it a step further, by creating a device meant to hold all this supposed ‘knowledge’ on pokémon, and yet its true use is to give a trainer the advantage in a battle, devoid of any actual intelligence on the creatures themselves.” He took a controlled breath, then looked at Hilda. “Does that answer your question?” 

Professor Juniper’s eyes momentarily flicked to Hilda before they landed on N. “I’m sorry you feel that way,” she said slowly. “But if it helps, Hilda can vouch for me. I do not keep pokémon in boxes—all the ones I study are kept in environments tailored directly to them. As for the Pokédex, well, I don’t expect to change your mind on that. You’re entitled to what you believe is true.” 

N remained still for a moment, watching Professor Juniper closely. Hilda watched him carefully in turn, looking for the small tells that betrayed his emotions. The straightening of his back, the set of his shoulders, the look in his eyes. “You’ll see, one day,” he said evenly. “You’ll all see soon enough.” With another significant look at Hilda, he fled the cave, disappearing between one blink and the next. 

As soon as he was gone, Bianca rounded on her, eyes wide. “Is that him? The not-trainer you told me about?” 

Hilda nodded, returning her pokémon to their balls, feeling Bianca clutching her shoulder tightly. “Yeah. Let’s go to the Pokémon Center, and I’ll tell you everything. Professor Juniper?” 

The woman was frozen in place, eyes fixed where N had been. “Interesting boy. I’m curious about what he said.” She jolted, shook her head. “Never mind that. Go on ahead, and I’ll meet up with you in a little bit. There are some people in Mistralton I need to talk to.” 

With another glance at each other, Hilda and Bianca ran from the cave. 

***

While at the Pokémon Center, Hilda told Bianca everything she felt was safe about N and their history. It ended up not being much—she couldn’t name him as part of Team Plasma without potentially scaring her friend and getting him reported, but she could say that he was a strong supporter of their ideals. It still made Bianca uncomfortable, but Hilda would take what she could get. 

“I still don’t like this,” Bianca said. “I’m surprised he battles you if he’s a Plasma supporter, but I don’t claim to know everything about them. Still, I’d be careful. If he’s planning on dragging you into this—”

“That’s the thing,” Hilda said, glancing nervously at the door to where her pokémon lay in Nurse Joy’s care. It shouldn’t be long, but… “He’s the reason I know I already have been dragged into it. According to him, their k—their leader has his sights on me.” 

Bianca gasped. “What?”
“I’m not sure what it entails,” she said quickly. “But I know that I’m on their radar and have been for a while. I wouldn’t know most of this if it wasn’t for him.” 

Bianca groaned. “Oh, Hilda. Just…be careful, okay?”
“Of course,” Hilda said. “Now. Let’s go find Professor Juniper, yeah?” 

In a few minutes, they were off, and ran right into their professor. Apparently, her father, also called Professor Juniper, was in the area, and hanging out with Skyla—the next Gym Leader Hilda was going to face. 

“So you’re Hilda and Bianca! I’m thrilled to meet you,” Skyla said, beaming. “I’d like to talk to you two. Do you have a minute?”

The two girls nodded, following the Gym Leader around the side of the building as the two Professors chatted behind them. 

“Listen,” Skyla said. “Professor Juniper—the younger, that is—is worried about you guys. You had a run-in with someone from Team Plasma, yeah?” 

Hilda nodded, ignoring Bianca’s look. “Okay. Just confirming. Now, her father told me something very interesting. Are you aware of the recent disappearance of Champion Dawn Berglitz of Sinnoh?” 

Hilda’s stomach dropped. “You’re not saying…” Team Plasma? Responsible? “You think they did it?”
“Some do.” Skyla’s voice was firm. “It’s just a rumor right now, but whispers are starting to kick up, and people are blaming Team Plasma for the disappearance. It may be true, it might not, but…” she looked between them, shaking her head. “The advisory says that all trainers should stay on their toes. Now. I have a request for you two.” 

“A request?” Bianca raised her eyebrows to her hairline, skeptical.
“Yep!” Skyla clapped her hands. “I saw a pokémon at the top of Celestial Tower. I think it might be injured. Will you two follow me? I might need your help. Dangers to trainers, and all.” 

“Of course,” Hilda said. “But what—”
Skyla was gone before Hilda could finish her sentence, leaving her and Bianca in the grass.

Chapter Text

Dawn and Rei were out in the Fieldlands for most of the day, catching pokémon, battling, gathering materials and filling notepad after notepad with stray notes and random data for Professor Laventon to sort out later.  When they returned to the village, they were both exhausted, but a bowl of potato mochi later and Rei was begging her to teach him how to battle ‘properly.’ 

“You were so good against Volo! I need to know how you do it!” he insisted, hands clasped in front of him. “Please, Akari?”

“Maybe tomorrow,” Laventon said. “Tonight, both of you need rest, okay?” 

She slept like a rock that night. And the night after that. And on the third day, she felt she was finally ready to try something she’d technically already accomplished. 

Since her initial trial, she’d compiled her temporary ‘team’ mostly out of pokémon that were both familiar to her and unfamiliar to the Galaxy Team, maximizing her initial usefulness. She’d kept all three pokémon from her trial, but hadn’t decided on names for them yet. The ‘alpha’ Shinx, in particular, gave her some trouble. 

She’d mainly relied on Sasha to retrieve things for her, and was no longer sure how to bond with unfamiliar pokémon, especially ones that were so reputably vicious as Rei seemed to insist. But with what she wanted to accomplish, she would have to change that, and fast. 

After making her way to the circle of trees where she always found the most Wurmple,  she unclipped all her slowly-getting-less-shoddy balls and threw them up in the air, releasing her team. Pulling out the thick book she was using as her Pokédex, she began marking down names based on what she saw. 

At first, it wasn’t much. The pokémon looked around, sniffing, eyeing each other and her. Sasha hopped up onto her lap—his entry was almost complete, at least. But then something interesting happened. 

The Shinx—overly large, with red-tinted eyes and electricity arcing off his fur—rolled on his back, stretching his legs out in the same way Lumi used to do. 

And that was the other danger. She couldn’t get too comfortable here. No matter how bad the situation was in her own time, it was where she belonged. Where she needed to be. There were so many threats, and as Champion, it was her responsibility to deal with them, no matter how overwhelming it felt. 

Starly hopped over to Shinx, inspecting the fur, then hopped back, suspicious. It continued for a few minutes, with Starly going back and forth, and Shinx rolling over, looking at her with wide eyes. Shinx reached a paw towards Starly, and Starly shrieked, flapping violently, kicking up wind that she recognized as Gust. 

Buizel chattered at the two, wiggling his tails back and forth across the dirt. Bidoof scampered onto the log, occupying the leg opposite Sasha. And Eevee clawed his way up Dawn’s back, resting in her hair. 

“Once you evolve, that won’t be possible,” Dawn said, glancing up at the creature. It chittered, digging its paws into her scalp. She made a decision. 

If she was to go through with both missions—both helping Laventon with his Pokédex and figuring out how to get back home—she needed balance. Perhaps, to keep herself from falling to far into one or the toher, she would implement this into the core part of her existence. Her pokémon. 

She’d considered calling the Shinx some different version of Lumi, so what about Lucas? She knew her friend from back home had wanted a Luxray, but had never caught one for himself. Dawn finally allowed herself to smile at the creature, rubbing his stomach to the Shinx’s pleased yowls.

Starly. The bird had a fierce disposition, and yet, it was friendly, finally managing to land on Lucas’s forehead. Dawn smiled, an in a moment’s decision, wrote Skyla as the name by Starly’s entry. The name of a Gym Leader in Unova—one of the most tumultuous areas in the world, in Dawn’s time. She thought it was fitting, to have her pokémon bear the names of the future. 

Now that she’d decided to name the pokémon, the names themselves came easily. The Buizel was called Barry, after her beloved friend who had championed the pokémon for so long. He’d used it when fighting against Mars and Jupiter, and though Dawn had passed over it when on her original journey, she considered it now to be an asset. 

The Eevee was Red, after the legendary trainer atop Mount Silver. Though he’d supposedly only become a Champion a few years ago, it seemed to Dawn that his story, even though it was so recent, had instilled itself into the trenches of trainer folklore and had wrapped itself up in all the mystery of emotion. He was the epitome of the Champion—using types that covered each others weaknesses, having supposedly taken down an organization known as Team Rocket in two separate regions. No one could quite get the story straight—a versatile legend with a versatile team.

She named her Bidoof ‘Crasher Wake,’ just because she thought it was funny. Although, when she remembered Volo and Cyllene, the thought struck her that she may actually meet Crasher Wake’s ancestor, and that was a far more sobering thought. 

But after several hours of watching her new team play with each other, sketching and writing down what she could in her makeshift Pokédex, she knew it was time to move on. She returned most of her pokémon to their balls and set off down the hill to the east, heading for the Horseshoe Plains. Called that, of course, because of the large amounts of Ponyta and Rapidash that resided there.

Dawn snorted. She’d already caught some Ponyta, but the massive Alpha Rapidash tromping about in the field gave a new definition to the choppy explanation Rei had given on Alpha pokémon. Lucas the Shinx was an absolute sweetheart, barely even scratching the flowers he spotted—but as she looked down at the Rapidash, she understood why Rei was so terrified of the thing.

The flames on the Rapidash’s mane and tail were the standard bright orange of the species, but as Dawn crept closer, she saw the bases were bright blue with heat. That thing could burn her to a crisp in less than a second, if she had her math right. 

Dawn hissed through her teeth. Having crept down the hill, she was close enough to nail it in the back with a poké ball, but was suddenly unsure of her plan. Even hidden in the bush as she was, every nerve jumped at the thought of this thing catching her scent on the wind and attacking her. 

She directed Barry around the clearing, directing him to wait in the bush and Aqua Jet as soon as its back was turned. Sasha was out on her other side, with instructions to use Rollout from the other side and not stop until he felt like he had to. Two super effective moves should do the trick, right? Why did she get the feeling this thing was a much higher level than it should be?

Her poké ball crafting had improved drastically, too, so perhaps that would help. 

Barry and Sasha chittered softly, looking at her with wide eyes as the Rapidash stamped and snorted, trotting closer to their location. 

“Go ahead,” Dawn whispered. “But be careful.”
She had no idea if they could understand her or not. She had no idea about a lot of things, and it was starting to become concerning. Still, her pokémon scampered off, chattering to each other in a way she hoped wouldn’t tip off the Rapidash. What kind of language do they speak? Clearly, Buizel and Cyndaquil could understand each other, but could the Rapidash understand them? If they can’t understand each other, how could I ever hope to? 

But that sounded a lot like the Team Plasma posters she’d studied before she’d fallen into Hisui, and it made her very disquieted. She shook her head and readied her poké ball, waiting for the Rapidash to turn as close to her as Dawn could dare. 

She waited too long. As she shifted her position to alleviate some of the tension in her legs, the Alpha turned towards her, its shimmering red eyes locking on hers. She whistled for Sasha and Barry, but she feared she acted too late.

The initial stages of her plan went as predicted. Sasha’s Rollout and Barry’s Aqua Jet distracted the Rapidash and drew its attention, but the Rapidash barely looked scratched. It roared, knocking both pokémon and Dawn herself on their backs, the flames on its neck and tail billowing brighter. It began stamping its hooves, lowering its horn, and Dawn’s stomach sank to her feet. 

Aiming quickly, before the Rapidash charged, she sprang to her feet and threw the poké ball directly at its back, hitting it in the base of its neck and causing it to freeze, before being sucked into the ball. 

Dawn exhaled deeply, allowing the air to fill her and relax her system. Barry and Sasha scampered to her feet, turning and eyeing the poké ball with wary gazes. 

Poké balls in Hisui didn’t do the classic three-rock catching mechanism that modern poké balls did. Rather, they shot themselves into the air, spinning into the sky, before falling to the ground. The higher the jump, the less likely it was that the pokémon was caught. 

The poké ball shot far above Dawn’s head, then fell to the ground. For a tense moment, they waited. 

Then it broke out.
It roared directly at Dawn and her pokémon this time, and if Dawn didn’t know better, she’d say it physically scratched her arms, reverberating in her ears and making her head swim. She couldn’t even hear herself call for Barry’s Aqua Jet, but the splash of water on her face told her that she had. 

The Rapidash roared again and charged, and this time, Dawn couldn’t throw a poké ball quick enough to stop it. She felt herself go flying, hitting the ground with a dull thud and the cries of her pokémon swimming together. Hurriedly, she called out Lucas and Crasher, ordering them to use their strongest moves, but her vision was going in and out, and she didn’t see if they hit. 

She rested on the ground for a good while, feeling the pounding in her limbs acutely, and unsure if she would make it long enough to call for help. What had Rei said about the Security Corps?

This time, she heard the crashing of rocks loud and clear. Sitting up through what was most likely a concussion, she watched Lucas scream as he hit the Rapidash with a Thunder Shock, and she gasped when the thing started to buckle. 

“We’re almost there,” Dawn said, breath catching in her throat. “Guys! Keep doing what you’re doing! Attack from behind!” 

She tacked on the last order when the Rapidash met her eyes again, but this time Dawn knew what was coming. With flashes of Rei somersaulting through the air in her mind, she jumped to the side at the last second, driving the Rapidash’s horn straight into the tree. 

“Go!”
All six moves—the five she’d called out, plus Red’s Tackle, since he’d apparently broken free form his ball—hit the creature’s back, and it slumped into the grass, unconscious. 

Dawn coughed, feeling something warm and sticky at her throat, but filled with relief. “Good job, guys,” she croaked. “We did it. It’s down.” She began to return her pokémon to their balls before her knees buckled underneath her.

It was the last thing she said before she blacked out entirely. 

***

“Hey. Hey, Galaxy Girl. You awake?”
Dawn peeled her eyes open to find three faces staring down at her, only one of them familiar, the second being a Munchlax. She groaned, pushing herself into a sitting position, registering the sun in the sky and the fact that she was still out in the field, and it was drawing close to evening. 

“‘M alright,” Dawn mumbled, blinking hard to force the images into focus. The person who had been speaking was a girl maybe a year younger than she was, standing beside said Munchlax. Physically, she looked much older, especially when standing next to Rei. 

“That’s good,” Rei said, helping her stand. “Now, Akari, that was super dangerous and you really shouldn’t have done it. At the same time…” he trailed off, laughing. 

“I am astounded to see you take that thing down,” the unfamiliar girl said. “I haven’t seen anyone do something like that—and you don’t appear to have too many injuries, either!” 

Dawn stared at her for several moments. “I was passed out in a field for—how long? A few hours?” 

Rei shook his head. “It was only a few minutes. We saw the whole thing! That was amazing! You really do know your pokémon and your tactics. I never would have thought someone at your level would be able to do that, but here you are! Man, wait until the Captain and Laventon hear about this!” 

“It is impressive,” the other girl affirmed, glancing at Rei. “But we should still get her back to your village. I need to speak with your commander, and this one needs medical attention.” 

Dawn nodded. “I see what you mean about Alphas, Rei,” she said as they started to move. “That thing hit like a truck.” 

“What’s a truck?” Rei asked, looking at her with amusement. “You must have hit your head really hard.” 

Dawn didn’t challenge it, instead turning to the girl as she was helped up the hill. “So, uh, who are you?” 

The girl started. “Oh, right. I’m Mai, part of the Diamon Clan, and this is my partner, Munchlax.” The pokémon cooed, waving at Dawn. She waved back. “We worship Almighty Sinnoh, ruler of all time in this world.”

Dawn had been in the middle of taking a breath, and she choked on it, sending her into a coughing fit. Sinnoh? Ruler of time? 

Her coughing earned her strange looks from both Rei and Mai, but she didn’t explain herself, instead running her fingers over her poké balls out of habit. 

Wait. “Are my pokémon in here? Did you see them?”
“They all went back into those balls of yours,” Mai said. “If that’s what you’re asking.” 

Dawn sighed in relief. “Okay. Good.”
“You’ve gotta show me how you did that,” Rei said. “I mean…you just knew. You were so certain those moves specifically would do the most damage, and you were right! How?” 

Dawn barked a laugh. “You know how pokémon types work, right?”
Silence. Uncertainty built in her as she looked between her companions. “Wait. That’s common knowledge, right?” 

“Uh, not really,” Rei said sheepishly. “I mean, Professor Laventon has told us a little bit about that, but there’s not much we know on the subject.” 

“I know about it as well,” Mai said, frowning. “But it’s as Rei said. Stranger from this world, how would you know so much of this matter when we’re so ignorant?” 

Dawn shrugged. “I mean, it’s common knowledge where I’m from. I can teach you—” 

She was cut off by another wave of pain in her arm, and fell forward onto Rei’s shoulder. “Teach me when you feel better,” Rei said. “In the meantime, I’ll try and practice, and Mai can—you want to talk to the Commander, right?” 

“Right,” Mai said. “I’ll see you when you’ve been repaired, Akari.”
Rei escorted her to the Infirmiry, but once she was safely laid on a comfortable, safe surface, she fell asleep immediately.

Chapter Text

As it turned out, the first half of Route 7 leading to Celestial Tower was covered in raised walkways. The grass underneath said walkways was taller than Hilda herself, and she and Bianca got stopped by multiple trainers each who were hiding in the grass. Although the experience gained was good for Hilda’s newer team members, she was eager to move on and catch up to Skyla—especially after what she’d said. 

“Why do you think she brought up the disappearance?” Hilda whispered after defeating yet another hiker. “I mean—she’s not saying Team Plasma is responsible for that, right?” 

“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised,” Bianca sighed. “It’s not like they’re an unreasonable guess. And if you think about it, it would align with their motives.” 

“Their motives are freeing pokémon from people,” Hilda said quickly, anxiety blurring her thoughts. “They’re only concerned with trainers as far as their pokémon.” N hasn’t said anything about taking people… then again, I don’t know if he knows half of what his team gets up to when he’s not looking. 

“I know, but here’s the thing,” Bianca started. “The previous Sinnoh Champion was Cynthia, and she held the title for over ten years. Apparently, the girl who took her title—that’s Dawn—also had a hand in bringing down an organization known as Team Galactic, which as far as I can figure out was focused on the Sinnoh pokémon of legend. Some people say she had one on her team, but I doubt it.” 

“I knew most of that, but what’s your point?” She hadn’t known about Team Galactic’s goals, but they didn’t sound anything like N’s. 

“My point is, people were calling her the ‘Legendary Successor,’ or one of the greatest trainers to ever live. Why wouldn’t Team Plasma want to take down trainers everywhere by taking down her?” 

It did make sense. But she knew N, and if that really was his plan, then he’d done a lot more deceiving than even Hilda had known about. However, there was also the possibility that this ‘Ghetsis’ person was involved—despite N claiming to be the king, he seemed to hold Ghetsis in some deference. Hilda frowned, staring into the grass

“I’m not sure,” she said eventually. “It does sound like something they would do, but at the same time…I don’t think that’s their goal. I—” she huffed in frustration. How to disprove Bianca without revealing who N was? 

“It’s just a theory, like Skyla said,” Bianca added softly. “There’s no proof it’s actually them. But if things like this keep happening, you know who people are going to start blaming, especially if they start mass recruiting.” 

“They’re already doing that,” Hilda said, brow furrowed. “Were you in Acumula Town when they had their big rally? It’s a small town, I know, but there was still a large crowd.” 

Bianca frowned further. “I’d heard about that, but I wasn’t sure if it was true,” she said, then looked up and gave a long, loud groan. “Oh. Great. Another walkway.” 

Hilda snickered. Her friend was one of the clumsiest people she’d ever known, and raised walkways that required constant movement were far from her strong suit. 

“You don’t have to use it,” Hilda pointed out, even as she stepped on the ramp. “That’s why there’s a path underneath it.” 

“Well, yes, but then you get jumped by wild pokémon, and I’m saving my repels for Celestial Tower,” said Bianca. “Just—help me, okay?” 

“Of course.”
Hilda grabbed her friend’s hand, guiding her along the walkway and over the grass, even waving at trainers in hiding down below. Bianca’s hand shook in her grip, and the one time Hilda dared look back, her friend was pale in the face, eyes fixed pointedly above Hilda’s head. She chuckled, but the walkway wasn’t long, and they were soon back on the ground.

“Horrible. Atrocious. Never again,” Bianca said, shuddering. “How far away are we?” 

“Not far,” Hilda said. “You can see the tower from here.”
The rest of the walk was uninterrupted by other trainers or wild pokémon, and soon enough, Hilda stepped inside Celestial Tower.

The change in the air was immediate. All the windows were clustered far above her head, the massive spiral staircase cutting across the light filtering down. In front of her was cold gray stone, the barren walls making the tower feel colder than it already was. 

Hilda exhaled, and was surprised when she couldn’t see breath fogging in front of her. Not that it should have—it was summer, after all—but she put it down to the atmosphere of the place. 

A woman dressed in black and purple—presumeably the tower’s keeper—stood at the front of the circle, hands brushing the walls. A mourner knelt in front of one of the stones closest to the entrance, laying pure white flowers at its base. The graves themselves were made of stone that glinted purple in the light, each one taller than Hilda and emblazoned with a poké ball. Some inscriptions were fresh, and some looked ancient and faded, but the design was the same on all of them. 

Hilda pursed her lips, letting one finger run along the side of the nearest gravestone, remembering something N had said, back when they’d first become friends. 

“You know, a lot of trainers bury their pokémon when they die,” she’d said. “If they outlive them. Have you ever been to Celestial Tower?” 

He’d looked surprised, face passive in the way it was when he was figuring out something new. “Do they, now? First I’ve heard of it. I’m assuming Celestial Tower is the place where they’re buried?” 

She’d nodded. “Yeah. It’s all the way in Icirrus, though, so we can’t go there at the moment. But it’s the most common place where people bury their pokémon—and it’s a pokémon-exclusive site, too.” 

“Interesting.” She’d been trying to use the tower’s existence and its lore to convince him that yes, most people did in fact love their pokémon, but seeing the place now, she wasn’t sure he’d be convinced. The poké ball imagery would certainly rile him up, and the abundance of ghost pokémon and trainers would also likely get on his nerves. 

Bianca had wandered off already, but Hilda stooped down, examining the inscription on the grave. Here lies Jason Stoutland, beloved companion, friend, and brother. The dates showed he’d lived about ninety years.

Hilda smiled sadly, picturing her own Herdier, imagining the day—which would likely come soon—she would evolve into Stoutland. What would Piper look like, ninety years from now, as an elderly battler? Would her joints be messed up from all the Rock Smashes? Would her teeth be broken from Crunch? 

Now that she was here, she figured N would probably hate this place. He would probably see it as a form of slavery, even in death. 

In a moment’s decision, she switched her poké balls, and called out Piper, who barked and wagged her tail joyfully. Hilda smiled, burying her face in her fur, giving her copious ear scratches. 

“Come on, girl,” she said softly. “Bianca’s waiting for us upstairs.”

***

Bianca was nowhere in sight when Hilda reached the second floor, and she couldn’t smell any trace of repellant, which meant that either Bianca was long gone or she’d simply forgotten to put it on. Either way, it meant that Hilda was free to hunt for ghost pokémon as she pleased, and she had her sights set on one in particular. 

While she had Dara as her primary fire-type, and several other members of her team had fire-type moves, she knew that relying on one pokémon for a type advantage was a generally unwise decision, even if you weren’t specializing. At the same time, she didn’t want to catch repeat types—she didn’t want to accidentally play favorites. So, while she had a primary fire-type in the form of Dara, she didn’t have a ghost type—and the one most commonly found in the tower was Litwick. 

“Be on the lookout,” she told Piper, who let out a low woof. They were typically categorized by lavender candle lights and traces of melted wax, so if she saw any of those…

Piper woofed twice, nudging her leg and darting over to stand by a patch of half-hardened wax crusted on the floor. 

“Atta girl,” Hilda said, retrieving a poké ball from her bag. “Lead the way.” 

They crept around the edge of the graves, following the traces of wax, which were slowly getting less solid. Several trainers turned their way, but when she pointed to the floor, most of them laughed. Others frowned, and Hilda wondered if they thought ghost hunting in a graveyard was disrespectful or if they were Team Plasma supporters. 

Either way, she found the Litwick, and several of its friends. A cluster of purple candlelights hiding under the stairs, chattering in sinister tones to each other.

Piper growled next to her, drawing the attention of most of the Litwick. Hilda froze, suddenly unsure of her course, every snide and scathing comment about catching pokémon she’d ever heard ringing in her head. Only a few of them sounded like Team Plasma grunts. Most of them sounded like N.

She shook her head, lowering her arm. Catching Mike was the first time she’d caught a pokémon since she’d left Castelia City, and then she hadn’t really thought about it. He’d seemed more than happy to join her, and it had felt like second nature. Rocky had already decided to fight alongside her against the Team Plasma grunts, so she hadn’t thought much about that, either. Now, though…

Piper was barking again. One of the Litwick had drawn away from the rest of the group, and was chattering in what sounded like curiosity to Hilda. 

“Hello there,” Hilda said, bending down. “What are you up to?”
The Litwick chittered again, looking warily between her and Piper. Hilda examined the creature in turn, finding no obvious injury or sign of illness. Is there really an injured pokémon on top of the tower? Or was Skyla just making that up? 

The Litwick began bouncing back and forth, leaving large splatters of wax on the floor, and the others chattering louder behind it. It growled—playfully, Hilda thought—and its light began to flicker in the beginnings of what Hilda had come to recognize as Will-o’-Whisp. 

“Piper! Dodge, and use Bite!”
It was a risky move, but it was all Piper could do—her only other moves were either normal- or fighting-type. And, like what Hilda had hoped, the Litwick dodged, with Piper’s Bite barely scratching her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she glanced at the group of Litwick—what did they think of her, now that she’d attacked their friend?

Hilda’s feeble smile turned to a grin when she heard the Litwicks’ cheering, reminding her of a roaring crowd at a game. They didn’t sound mad. None of them were attacking except the one in battle with Piper. She readied her poké ball again, and called for another Bite. 

The Litwick retaliated with Flame Burst, hitting Piper square in the forehead, making her howl. She in turn attacked again with Bite, hitting the Litwick until it almost crumbled. 

“Nice shot,” Hilda said, taking aim. “Both of you.” She scanned the Litwick with her other hand, glancing at the basic stats the Pokédex provided. 

The Litwick chattered at her again, waving her stubby wax arms above her face. “What’s that?” 

Piper’s ears flattened, and she let out a low woof. Hilda shook the poké ball in her fist, the cries of the pokémon became louder, and she threw. 

The Litwick’s cheers grew louder, and Hilda thought she saw some of them smiling at her. 

The ball rocked once. Twice. Three times. Ding.
“Welcome to the team,” she said to the poké ball as it disappeared. “Now, we’ve got some way to go.” 

***

After having Annette Fly her to the Pokémon Center to pick up their new teammate, then biking all the way back to the tower, Hilda was both thoroughly exhausted and suspected that she’d better get a move on to whatever Skyla did want. The Litwick—named Edelgard—sat on Piper’s head, and was the first to leap into every battle she got into with a trainer. 

Hilda had to give it to her—she knew what she was doing, but she didn’t have any sort of finesse, and her movepool was severely limited. Not that Hilda thought that was her fault, but it did limit her options.

She also seemed to continuously try and start fights with Piper. Hilda caught Edelgard more than once attempting to use Night Shade on her, and even though it was ineffective, Hilda still scolded her. 

“Listen. I know you want to finish your fight, but we have to get through this tower first,” she snapped. “If you really want to battle Piper, we can do that outside, but right now, we have people we need to meet up with. Okay?” 

Her Litwick stared at her, wide-eyed, before slumping and oozing her way up Piper’s leg. The dog growled, shaking her leg violently in an attempt to get all the wax off. 

Hilda sighed. If she was being honest with herself, the real reason was that she wasn’t exactly sure what type of training regimen she should try and design for the Litwick. Ghost-types were not something she was particularly specialized in. 

“You having trouble with these two?”
She looked up from wiping down Piper’s leg to see one of the psychic-specialist trainers coming around a corner. 

“Only a little bit,” Hilda said, unwilling to admit that she was, in fact, having problems. 

“Want to battle? Against me and my friend?” The trainer gestured, and Hilda saw an ace trainer hunched over, creeping around graves, likely looking for Litwick, like she’d been doing. 

“Sure. Couldn’t hurt, I guess.” She was on the third floor, now, so one battle wouldn’t hurt if it was against someone else. Gesturing to her pokémon, they came forward and stood in front of her as the Psychic Specialist and Ace Trainer brought out their own pokémon—a Duosion, and a Lilligant. 

The battle started off with the fairly standard exchange of setup moves—a Quiver Dance from the Lilligant, an Imprison from Edelgard, a Calm Mind from the Duosion. Not ideal, considering it only boosted the type of attacks she knew those pokémon had, but she’d deal with it. 

Hilda frowned, making a decision in a split-second. If she knew strategy, then the trainers would likely target Edelgard, who posed a threat to both of them. The Litwick in question was quivering worse than the Lilligant had, constantly glancing at Piper, who didn’t move. 

“You need to work together,” Hilda said, voice low. “We won’t be able to win anything if you don’t.” 

This was directed mostly at Piper, who huffed, ears and tail going flat. “I know. Trust me, it won’t be that bad.” 

She looked at the opposite pokémon. “Piper! Use Crunch on the Duosion!” 

Piper barked and rushed forward, but Edelgard was still shaking. Hilda had a feeling she knew what her Herdier’s problem was—but she wouldn’t be able to fix it until she got through to her newest team member. 

“Edelgard, use Will-o-Whisp!”
It landed on the Lilligant, as planned, but Piper still looked disdainful. The Duosion was down to about half its health, clearly wounded, but despite the burn, the Lilligant looked nearly untouched. 

Piper got scratched in turn by the Lilligant’s Mega Drain, while the Duosion targeted Edelgard with a Shadow Ball. 

Oh no.
“Dodge!”
Her order came too late, and Edelgard was hit, splattering into a pile of wax on the stones. All three trainers and pokémon were silent, for a moment, looking at her. 

Then she got back up. 

Hilda let out a shocked laugh, and she thought Piper did, too. “All right! Atta girl!” 

Edelgard chirped proudly—Hilda thought she saw her put her nubby hands on her nonexistent hips. 

“Use Hex! Piper, Crunch again!” 

The battle was over in a few more turns, with Piper even taking a hit meant for Edelgard. Even Hilda was surprised by that. 

She thanked the trainers for their battle, and as they handed Hilda her winnings, the Ace Trainer spoke. 

“It’s important to understand what makes your pokémon care for you in the first place,” he said. “You have to know why they respect you, and often, they’ll respect their teammates the same way. You did that admirably. I can see your Herdier has grown much, in just that one little battle.”

“More than a little,” the Psychic Specialist breathed. “Look.”
Piper glowed blue, and began to change forms. 

***

Edelgard, exhausted from the fight, slept peacefully on Hilda’s hat as she ascended the stairs to the roof of the tower. She’d battled through the last floor easily—a newly-evolved Stoutland tended to make things easier that way.

At the top, as she’d suspected, there was no injured pokémon—and, interestingly, no Bianca either. Skyla, however, was staring at a bell on the other side, silent. 

“How long have you been waiting here?” Hilda asked, footsteps echoing in the emptiness. 

“A while,” Skyla said. “But not long. I healed the injured pokémon—it’s flown away.” 

She turned around, beaming brightly. “Your friend came up faster. She has a kind heart, and a sweet disposition, but she even admitted to me that she’s no battler. What do you think of that?” 

“Bianca’s a fine trainer,” Hilda said snippishly. “And an excellent friend. But, Skyla—there wasn’t really an injured pokémon. Why did you ask us to come here?” 

The Gym Leader shrugged, but a small smile spread over her face. “I have my reasons,” she said simply. “Would you ring that bell for me?” 

Hilda furrowed her brow, but complied, ringing the ancient bell that somehow hadn’t rusted, hearing the ethereal music ringing out on the wind. 

“You, too,” Skyla said softly behind her. “You’re a kind and strong person. I was right about you.” Then, she smiled. “I look forward to seeing you at the Gym, Hilda. Thank you for doing this.” 

Skyla walked away again, but Hilda didn’t mind as much, staring at the bell with her pokémon beside her. 

Chapter Text

“Now, what type of damage do you estimate your Pikachu’s Thunder Shock will do to Sasha?” 

Rei grinned. “Neutral, because electric- and fire-types don’t have much of a relationship. However, it would be strong against either Crasher Wake or Skyla, because electric-types have the advantage over water- or flying-types.” 

“Precicely,” Dawn said, smiling. “Now. If you find a Shinx in the wild, what type of pokémon do you use against it?” 

“A ground-type,” Rei said. “That’s its only weakness. However, in a pinch, a rock-, grass-, or another electric-type will do.” 

“You two doing alright?” Professor Laventon asked, coming into the arena. “What are you doing?” 

“Akari’s teaching me about pokémon types,” Rei said excitedly. “Apparently, where she’s from, they’ve had it figured out for a while. And it’s super helpful!” 

“Indeed,” Professor Laventon said, though his smile fell. “Speaking of Akari…Commander Kamado has asked for you. You’re being assigned to your first mission.”

Dawn gulped, looking between the two men. “Who’s Kamado?”
“He’s the head of the Galaxy Team,” Rei said. “He’s above Captain Cyllene. He assigns special missions and maintains our relationships with the native clans of this region.” 

“I see,” Dawn said, swallowing down sudden apprehension. “So, where do I find him? I don’t imagine he’s the kind of man who likes to be kept waiting.” 

***

Laventon and Rei left her on her own at the foot of the stairs, gesturing for her to climb them by herself. The Commander was, apparently, on the top floor of the hall, and Dawn’s anxiety grew with every step. 

She arrived at the top seemingly in the middle of a conversation. Mai, the girl from the field, was talking animatedly to a frowning man in a massive black cloak, but Dawn could only make out half of what they were saying. 

“Normally, we’d deal with this ourselves,” Mai said as Dawn approached. “But we have our hands full with Lilligant, not to mention Kleavor. And I’ve seen your people in action—I’m sure I can convince Adaman to let you help.” 

“Kleavor is certainly a pressing matter,” the man—likely Kamado—grunted. “Ah, Akari! Here you are.” 

“Yes, sir,” Dawn said, because it felt right.
He didn’t react at all to her words. “Mai tells me you tamed an Alpha Rapidash mere hours ago. Is this true?”
Dawn gulped. “Yes, sir.” She’d barely survived, but was unsure if it was wise to meniton that. 

Kamado nodded slowly, as though he’d expected her answer. He was a large man, dressed in a thick black kimono, with embroidery depicting various nature scenes beginning towards the knees. He had a stern face, reminding her of Professor Rowan back in Sinnoh. 

Although, she thought with a shudder, Professor Rowan’s face has more kindness. 

“Good,” said Kamado, and Dawn remembered to pay attention. “In light of this, I have your first assignment. Mai here is a warden of the Diamond Clan, one of the other groups we share Hisui with. Her noble, Wyrdeer, has had his seat taken over by a flock of Alpha Kricketune. Since you appear to have some prowess in the realm of Alpha pokémon, I have selected you to carry out this task. You will, however, be accompanied by two others to ensure your success. Leave for Deertrack Heights when you are ready—your escorts will know where that is.” 

Mai caught her eye and gave a small smile. “I’ll be coming with you, so don’t worry about getting lost.”

Dawn nodded. “Thank you.”
Kamado grunted, spiking her anxiety. “There shouldn’t be any thanks until the job has been done. Akari, you’ve been cleared by Cyllene already. Dismissed.” 

***

The trek to Deertrack Heights was largely uneventful, noted only by Rei joining Mai and Dawn at the bridge. He was talking to the guard, chatting as easily as Lucas always did. 

“Akari! Mai!” He seemed to brighten even further at the sight of the two of them, grin stretching from ear to ear. “You’re here! Now we can get going.” 

The area across the bridge held a wider variety of pokémon than the main valley did, though the ones Dawn encountered the most were the standard Geodude and Kricketot. She grumbled to herself as she nailed several in the back with poké balls—to Mai’s disgruntlement, which set Dawn on edge. She didn’t like catching all of these very temperamental creatures, but that was born from her previous knowledge, sourced from her time in modern Sinnoh on a journey. However, she didn’t know how much the creature’s behaviors had changed in the time between her time and this one, so she went about completing Laventon’s tasks as if she were clueless. 

“It bothers me that you do this,” Mai said when they were about three quarters of the way up the hill. “You trap these pokémon in balls, separating them from their colonies and running strange experiments on them as if that’s going to tell you anything about a pokémon’s real nature.” 

“Is there a question in that?” Dawn asked apprehensively, remembering the Team Plasma of the future. Remembering the future. There’s gotta be a paradox in there somewhere.

“Perhaps,” Mai said. “Are you really strong if you must trap your partners in balls to control them?” 

“I’m strong,” Dawn said softly. “I know I’m strong. I can prove it to you, if I need to. I can prove this is partnership and not control.” 

Every late-night argument she’d constructed in her mind against the hypothetical Team Plasma leader was snapping, thread by thread. As much as she tried to convince herself that, since poké balls had just been invented, opposition was a natural thing, it couldn’t sink in. When she glanced back at Mai, she could almost imagine the white uniform instead of the navy blue leathers she was actually wearing. 

“Fine, then,” she said, gesturing to the Munchlax by her feet. “Let’s test it. Prove that what I saw against the Rapidash wasn’t a fluke.” 

Rei stopped to direct the battle the way Dawn had shown him as she sent out Sasha, who had grown fairly strong. She hoped he would evolve soon, but without a mechanical Pokédex that was built to analyze pokémon on the go, she wasn’t sure. Nor was she sure what level Mai’s Munchlax was at, but at the very least she’d grown skilled enough that she could take a guess. 

She frowned as Munchlax immediately went into a Rollout, which sent Dawn into a panic. She wasn’t entirely sure what the rules were for battling in Hisui—if she lost Sasha, would the match be declared over?

“Dodge!” she shouted, one arm cutting through the air. Sasha jumped over the Munchlax, and Dawn had to sidestep so as not to get hit as it rolled straight into a tree. 

“Nice,” she hissed to her pokémon. “Now, Ember!”
It was one of Laventon’s research tasks, but more than that, it was her best move. Rollout was something Sasha could also use, but when she ran the numbers, Ember came out the better option. 

Part of her worried. She was used to pulling off maneuvers like this with her team in Sinnoh, but would the same tactics work with pokémon she’d barely gotten to know?

Dawn met Sasha’s gaze—she thought he was looking at her, he hadn’t evolved yet so she couldn’t tell—and thought that maybe it could.

On her order, he acted. As soon as Munchlax came out of the second Rollout, Sasha hit it in the back with two consecutive Embers, the second resulting in a burn. After another Rollout from Munchlax, and a Quick Attack from Sasha, the battle was over. 

Mai stared in shock at Munchlax, who was face-down in the dirt. “Incredible. That should have knocked you out, but—” 

“I’m something of a professional battler,” Dawn said. “Where I’m originally from. No hard feelings.” She tried to smile to emphasize her point, but Mai looked further surprised. 

“Professional…battlers? What region has something like that?”
Dawn opened her mouth, then closed it, returning Sasha to his ball with a whispered thanks. “Kanto,” she said finally. I don’t think there’s that much global connection at this point in time. Right? She’d avoided saying ‘Sinnoh,’ remembering something about Mai’s clan thinking that was the name of Dialga, or perhaps Arceus. Do they know there’s a difference? 

“Interesting. I have never heard of ‘Kanto,’ outside of you Galaxy folks,” Mai said, and Dawn sighed in temporary relief. Are there Kantonians in Jubilife? “But it is comforting to know that you have experience beyond the Rapidash and your Shinx.” 

Dawn squinted, before remembering that Lucas the Shinx was, in fact, an Alpha. “Right. Now, um, Commander Kamado said something about a horde of Alphas?” 

Mai groaned. “Yes, Alphas, but they’re Kricketot and Kricketune. Strong, but not absurdly so. Simply irritating, and difficult when there are a lot of them.” 

Dawn nodded. “And how far are we from this horde of Alphas?”
“Not far. Come on.” 

The sun had begun setting, and with it came new pokémon for Dawn and Rei to catch. She found a herd of Stantler just below the peak of the hill, yet she and Rei caught only four between them. Dawn was disappointed, but Rei cheered, saying it was a new record. Mai made no further comments about the cruelty of poké balls, but faced them both and forbade them strictly from catching Wyrdeer.

“He is a noble of great importance to us,” she said at Dawn’s confused look. “One of the descendants of a pokémon blessed by Almighty Sinnoh. He watches over our clan and protects us, but his seat of power has been overtaken by Alphas. Ordinarily, we would handle this ourselves, but we have issues closer to our home to deal with. So we turn to you.” 

Dawn nodded, deciding not to ask what a Wyrdeer was at risk of sounding ignorant. Another thing she hadn’t considered about her current situation—depending on how far in the past she was, there could be plenty of pokémon she’d never seen or heard of before. And there would be no Pokédex to help her. 

The clearing atop the hill was lined with stone pillars, complete with a platform in the center, with very little grass or trees. It confused her as to why any bug pokémon like the Kricketot line would take shelter here, but at the same time, she couldn’t see any.

She unclipped Sasha’s poké ball at the same moment she heard the familiar call of a Kricketune sounding, followed by the chirps of several Kricketot. Calling him out, she turned around, trying to find the source of the cries. 

“Akari! Behind you!”
Sasha responded faster than Dawn did, shooting an Ember at the Kricketot’s middle. It screeched, falling over, and Dawn shuddered at the size of the thing. Up to her waist at least. 

Sasha growled, and the bug screeched back, knocking her pokémon off his feet. With a start, she realized that it had used the move Hyper Voice. 

“Rollout!”
From the looks of it, the ‘horde’ of bug pokémon consisted of two Kricketots and one Kricketune, all massively large and with glowing red eyes. The second Kricketot attempted to use Hyper Voice, but she directed Sasha’s Rollout towards it with a shout, and it fell over before the move landed. But she could see her pokémon was getting exhausted, and from the looks on Mai’s and Rei’s faces, she wasn’t going to get help from them. 

Thanks a lot, guys, she thought darkly, before sending out two more pokémon—Skyla, and Lucas. 

“Use Gust!” she ordered Skyla, who chirped and struggled to gain height above the Kricketune, flapping her wings violently. Lucas growled, tail lashing back and forth, electricity sparking on his fur. His eyes matched those of the other Alphas, challenging their force with his own. 

The Kricketot’s Hyper Voices still hit harder than Dawn would have liked, but thankfully, none of their other moves did very much damage. Sasha and Skyla were still up, if wounded. Lucas was barely scratched, gaining more electricity for a Thunder Shock. 

“Target the Kricketune!” she ordered him, then turned to Sasha in time to see him get struck with an Aerial Ace.

She returned him to his ball with a frustrated hiss, glaring at the Kricketune, soon overtaken by Lucas’s Thunder Shock. The bug pokémon was blackened with ash afterwards, and Dawn humphed derisively at it as it crumbled. 

The two Kricketot attempted to jump on Skyla, but she drove them off with a slash of her wings that looked suspiciously like an Aerial Ace of her own. 

Dawn laughed as they screeched again and scampered away, Skyla flaring her wings and screeching back as they ran. Dawn scratched the Starly on her head, smiling softly. 

“Well done, child.”
She stiffened, standing up slowly, looking around for where the voice had come from. It wasn’t either of the people behind her—it sounded almost like Arceus had, but it wasn’t as…ethereal. 

“He’s here,” Mai whispered. “That was fast.”
She followed Mai’s gaze and gasped. Atop a craggy jut of mountain that overshadowed the clearing was a massive pokémon Dawn didn’t recognize. It looked like a white Stantler, but it had a large tuft of fur that looked like a beard, and far larger horns. 

“Is that…” Dawn trailed off as the pokémon jumped down from the rocks, now level with her. 

“I am Wyrdeer, protector of these fields,” it said, answering Dawn’s question before it was fully asked. “I greet you, Dawn, child of Sinnoh.” 

Her breath caught. “How did you—”
“I know many things, including your thoughts,” Wyrdeer said. “Child of Sinnoh, what is your purpose here?” 

“I’m trying to go home,” Dawn whispered.

“Are you?” 

She found she couldn’t answer that. Was she trying to go home? So far, she’d barely even thought about it. She’d been so caught up in the researching and the Galaxy Team and the survival that she’d given home barely two second thoughts. 

“Hm. I expected that you would be stronger,” Wyrdeer said, and she swore she could see him frowning. “How unfortunate. But tonight was not your final test. Return here when you are certain you can answer my question, and I will aide you. Refuse, and traverse this world without assistance. However, I will provide you with one thing. Use it well and wisely.”

It buried his head into his beard and retrieved a magenta plate, handing it to Dawn before bounding off, leaving her and the other humans in the night’s silence.

Chapter Text

One of her immediate problems when it came to the gym was Mike. Though they’d gone through some minor training battles together, she’d never seen him in action when there were any sort of stakes. Hilda thought it was a good idea to get into some more intense battles while they were still on the route, and it proved to be a good decision. Mike…struggled. 

Not literally. She had enough Ethers in her bag to restore his Electroweb if it got too weak. But perhaps starting him off against wild Tranquil was a less-than-good idea. 

“I’m right here,” she kept reassuring him. “And Ingrid is here, too. Watch!” 

Ingrid, her faithful Zebstrika, was one she already planned on bringing to the Elite Four and the Pokémon League, even though there wasn’t much of a point in doing so. She was an absolute powerhouse when it came to electricity, and something in Hilda called to that typing as a whole. 

She told herself that she’d caught Mike because he needed help, and besides, she didn’t have a bug-type. But as much as she knew that wasn’t the truth, she didn’t know what was. 

“Use Electroweb!”
Mike growled, sending off a massive web towards their latest Tranquil, who attempted to dodge by flying, but got caught by the foot. Once she was down, Mike shot an Electro Ball—the move he’d most recently learned, and Hilda was quite proud—and the Tranquil was defeated. 

She whistled, catching the attention of the Route Doctor. Most trainer hotspots, as they were called, had a wildlife doctor of some kind to help restore the wild pokémon to their full strength. As a result, most of the pokémon here had seen many battles against many trainers, which made them excellent practice, especially when one had a type advantage.

“Thanks, girlie,” Hilda said to the Tranquil, who gave a deadpan squawk. 

“Right. You probably hear that a lot.”
The doctor came over to attend to the Tranquil, and Hilda left, beckoning to Mike. “Good job! I’m impressed that you got her.” 

Mike chirped, settling onto his favorite perch—Hilda’s hat. She chuckled, scratching him on his head. 

Ingrid snorted and stamped beside her, clearly itching for a fight—or maybe attention. Hilda scratched her behind the ears for good measure, which seemed to please her. 

“You’ll get plenty of action in the gym,” she said. “I’m going to try and space it out more so you guys don’t have so much pressure on you.” 

Ingrid snorted again, and if Hilda didn’t know better, she’d say her horse was calling her a wimp. 

“It’s a fair judgement,” Hilda retorted. “I can’t only have one of you. If something happens to you or Rocky, I need someone who can take down a bird.” 

Her team going into the gym would be Ollie, her starter—alongside her main three who she was planning to use: Ingrid, Mike, and Rocky. Edelgard and Dara would also be in her back pocket in case she needed them, but she doubted it. 

Hilda let Mike and Ingrid stay out of their balls, though she wasn’t sure if she would have to return Ingrid or not. It looked as though there would be several canons, and Hilda wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Should I have brought Annette? She had evolved on the Route back, attempting to show Mike the ideal patterns for his electric attacks. 

But it was too late for that. She, Ingrid, Mike and Rocky fought through the trainers that stood in their way, until she had to recall all of them for the final canon shot up to Skyla. 

“Nice job in getting up here,” the gym leader said. “You ready to go?”
“Of course,” Hilda said, running her fingers over the three she planned on using. 

“Excellent,” Skyla said, sending out her lead pokémon. “Who are you picking first?” 

Skyla’s lead was her Swoobat, flapping menacingly in the air, flexing its claws and chattering loudly. 

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Skyla asked. “You wouldn’t know we had a battle right before you walked in.” 

“You did?” Hilda asked, selecting Mike’s ball. “Against who?”
An odd gleam entered Skyla’s eye. “I’ll tell you if you take her down.” 

She sent out Mike, who growled menacingly up at Swoobat. Hilda chuckled at him before examining their foe, zipping back and forth across the sky, listening to the referee list off the rules she’d come to know well during her journey across Unova. 

“The battle between Hilda, the challenger, versus Skyla, the gym leader, will now commence. This will be a three-on-three battle. Switches are forbidden on the gym leader’s side, but the challenger is free to switch in and out as needed. First trainer to defeat all three of the other’s pokémon is the victor!” 

Both Hilda and Skyla nodded once.
“Battle begin!”
The words had barely been spoken before Skyla issued her first command. “Acrobatics, go!” 

“Gastro Acid!” 

Since Hilda’s strategy revolved around reducing the enemy pokémon’s speed, she first needed to get rid of the Swoobat’s Ability. She’d done her research, and an Unaware Swoobat would be the death of her if she didn't’ act. 

“I see,” Skyla said across the field. The Gastro Acid hit, bubbling on the Swoobat’s fur and sinking in, right as Swoobat cracked Mike on the back with Acrobatics. Hilda winced—she’d forgotten to account for the possibility of sustaining damage while she wiped the Ability. It wasn’t super effective, but it wasn’t nothing.

Mike screeched, then launched an Electroweb with barely a nod from Hilda. It hit the Swoobat, and while it slowed it down like Hilda had hoped, it didn’t appear to affect Swoobat nearly as much as it should. 

“I figured you’d do that,” Skyla said, and it registered in Hilda’s mind what the gym leader was going to do a minute before it happened. “Use Assurance!” 

Hilda swore. Mike was fast, but not fast enough to avoid that. He attempted to skid to the side, but Swoobat caught him on the way and sent him flying into the side. 

“Joltik is unable to battle,” said the referee. “Swoobat wins!” 

“Not a bad strategy,” Skyla said with a smile. “But I’ve seen it many times before. What else have you got?” 

Hilda didn’t respond, sending out Rocky. After what her previous strategy with Mike had been, she hoped she could try and throw Skyla off. “Rocky, use Rock Slide!” 

“Oh?” Skyla gasped, examining the ceiling as it began shaking. “Swoobat, watch for the rocks and dodge!” 

Let this work. Rocky wasn’t the fastest of her team, and you could only surprise someone once before it lost its edge. 

Both Skyla and Swoobat were caught up staring at the ceiling, watching the rocks just in front of them beginning to fall, that Skyla called for a dodge without checking behind. Swoobat flew backwards, and right into the second wave of rocks, knocking it to the ground. 

Swoobat was declared unable to battle, and both Hilda and Skyla returned their pokémon. 

“Know what I’m going to do?” Skyla asked. “Mighty cocky of you.”
“That’s not the word I would use,” Hilda said. “Ingrid, you’re up!” 

Her Zebstrika hit the field with a thunderclap as Skyla sent out her Swanna, as Hilda had anticipated. It would decimate Rocky in an instant, but Ingrid would have no trouble. 

“Use Spark!”
“Air Slash!” 

Ingrid hit the bird before the slashes landed, taking it down in two hits with her supercharged mane. The Swanna then used Aqua Ring, following it with an Air Slash that hurt her far more than Hilda expected them to, but with another Spark, the Swanna went down, too. 

“Unfeazant!”
The last of Skyla’s pokémon, and even though it wasn’t her ace, it was the hardest for Hilda to work around. 

The worst was that the Unfeazant was faster than Ingrid. It used Razor Wind first, and Ingrid’s next Spark wasn’t enough to take it down. The resulting countermove left her Zebstrika shaking on her legs. 

“One more Spark! You can do it!” Hilda shouted, feeling like a useless spectator instead of a trainer.

Ingrid neighed, charging into the Unfeazant one final time, and it went down. The gym battle was won. 

Skyla recalled her fallen Unfeazant and bounded over to Hilda, presenting her with the Jet Badge. “You did an excellent job,” she said, watching Hilda insert it into her badge case. “You and your pokémon should be proud.” 

“Thank you,” Hilda said. “But, Skyla…”
“Hm?” 

“Who was the challenger who was here before me? You said you would tell me if I won, and I have.” 

Skyla’s cheer fell almost immediately, replaced with wary melancholy. “It was a green-haired boy,” she said finally. “He didn’t use poké balls of any kind. I don’t know for sure—it’s hard to tell—but he smells like Plasma. You fought like him, you know.” 

Hilda decided to ignore the insinuation that she may have taught N how to battle, instead mulling over Skyla’s own stance on Plasma. “Don’t you think they’re the ones behind the Sinnoh Champion’s disappearance?” 

“Partially,” Skyla said. “But again, you never know with that group. Be wary, Hilda. I like you.” 

She pressed a newspaper into Hilda’s hands. “Read this. It’ll give the full story.” 

Hilda didn’t even put it in her bag before exiting the gym. 

***

“I don’t understand. I just don’t. How is this supposed to bring connection?” 

Hilda froze in the doorway out of the Mistralton Gym, listening to N speak. From her odd angle, it looked like he was talking to someone on his Xtranciever, but she couldn’t tell who was on the other end. 

“Am I the only one who finds this terribly painful?”
The genuine pain in his voice squeezed her chest. He was sillhouetted against the mid-morning sun, green hair freshly combed, yet still frizzy with humidity. One foot was pressed against the wall, one hand in his pocket, and a small black pokémon at his feet. She cursed him again for being so handsome.

Ingrid hadn’t gone back in her ball, and she wanted to get to the Pokémon Center as soon as she could, but…

“I know. I have to if I’m going to do my duty,” N said after a beat of silence. “It’s twisted. In order to free pokémon, I must destroy them first.” 

“My pokémon are hardly destroyed,” Hilda said, choosing that moment to reveal herself. She noted belatedly that she hadn’t given Ingrid any kind of potion, which might make N mad…

Oh, Arceus.
“Yes, she does,” N said, eyeing Ingrid up and down. “She looks terrible.” 

“We were just on our way to the Pokémon Center,” Hilda said. “If you want to continue to argue your point.” 

N snorted. “I don’t do that every time.”
Hilda raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you absolutely do. Now, come on.” 

He shook his head, but walked beside her down the runway, staring at the silver planes. “Can you answer my question? Why trainers do these things? Why any of this—” he waved his hand at her belt— “Happens?” 

“I don’t have the answers to everything, you know that,” Hilda said. “But if I had to answer, I think I would say it’s because it builds connections. Between people and pokémon, or two pokémon, or two people. No matter where you look at it from, that’s what it does.” 

He stopped and examined her closely. “Funny,” he said softly. “I thought battling forced them apart. People, competing. Pokémon, innocent victims of that competition. How could it bring them together?”

She was about to answer when he held up his hands. “You know what? I can just ask them. A pokémon would never lie to me.” 

“What makes you say that?” Hilda asked, crossing her arms. “How do you know that pokémon aren’t just as versatile as people?” 

He looked amused. “I know they are, Hilda. I spent the first—” he cut himself off, raising one eyebrow toward the sky as if thinking. “Seven, I think, years of my life in the sole company of pokémon.” 

She inhaled sharply. “I—didn’t know. Is that—”
“It’s not a bad thing,” N said, far more casually than she ever expected out of him. “I don’t think it is, anyway, with the possible exception being that I don’t actually know how old I am. But sometimes I do wonder if that’s the reason why humans are so hard for me to understand.” 

Hilda gave him a side eye, taken aback by his statement. “Wait. You don’t know your own age?” 

N actually laughed. “Not necessarily. Ghetsis thinks I’m older than I am. He says I was nine when he found me, but Old Man Daruk says I was only with him—the pokémon, that is—for ‘seven winters.’ And—don’t tell him this—I trust Old Man Daruk more than Ghetsis.”

“You really believe pokémon can’t lie, don’t you?” She glanced down at the black foxlike pokémon trotting by her feet. “So. Who are you going to ask?” 

N quirked a smile. “You’re not going to argue? Call me weird?”
“Nah. I’m used to you doing weird things by now. I just roll with it.” A small skip entered her step. They’d turned off the runway, and Ingrid was starting to trot faster. 

“Don’t put so much pressure on your leg,” Hilda said, fingertips brushing Ingrid’s fur. “It’ll make the pain worse.” 

Ingrid whinnied softly, bumping her palm with her nose. “Thank you, girl,” Hilda whispered. 

“She really likes you,” N said softly. “She trusts you. Here she is, beaten and bloodied and bruised, and yet I can tell she’d be more than willing to jump into a fight if you asked her right now.” 

“I wouldn’t,” Hilda said.
“I know. But as much as I want to say that’s part of it...” 

She huffed. “Listen. I can’t hear the ‘inner voices’ of pokémon or whatever, but I can tell you that Ingrid is one of the most hardcore, ride-or-die pokémon I’ve ever met. If you asked her to sit out a battle, she’d be offended. And I would know, because I had her sit out on the fight against Clay, and she was furious. Nevermind the fact that Driftveil is a ground-type gym she has no effective moves against.” 

N laughed, and Beautiflies welled in her stomach. For a moment, she forgot that he was the king of Team Plasma—how did a team have a king, anyway? —and could imagine that he was just some guy. A kid, like her, on his pokémon journey. In that moment, she remembered why they had been friends before his revelation. 

 “I can tell. Your pokémon are such characters. Almost as fascinating as you are.” 

Her smile froze. “Wait, what?”
His face went as red as Dara’s fur as the weight of his words dawned on him. “I’m simply saying you’re a fascinating person,” he said. “You care for your pokémon, even with all the battling. And they care about you in turn.”

They entered the Pokémon Center, and Ingrid was quickly escorted to the back, alongside the poké balls containing the rest of Hilda’s team. She and N watched her pokémon disappear, before he tugged her by the wrist to sit down beside him. 

“You’re staying?” she asked, surprised.
“I’ll wait with you,” he said, shrugging. “Why wouldn’t I? Besides, there’s…something I need to talk to you about.” 

Hilda glanced across the lobby at the rack of newspapers, and thought again about Skyla’s words. “Me too.” 

When she was silent, he spoke. “Ghetsis is using Team Plasma to look for special stones. Supposedly, they contain the legendary dragons of ancient times. I believe that they do. Each of them is awaiting their hero—and I will be one of them.” 

Her breath caught. “Legendary dragons?”
He nodded. “Yes. I will have one, and—if all goes according to my plan, and not Ghetsis’s—you will have the other. I doubt the counterpart to my dragon would choose anyone else, but still. There’s no telling what Ghetsis wants sometimes.” 

“There’s no telling with that group,” Skyla had said. Why did N’s words sound so similar?

“Who is Ghetsis? I thought you lead—the team,” she said lamely, avoiding naming it for fear of others listening.
N pursed his lips, then sighed. “Long story short, he’s my father. I may be king, but I still answer to him. And the Seven Sages, to an extent. I give the orders, but it was his team first. So I have to convince him of my plans before anyone else.”

Hilda nodded slowly. “So you’re a puppet ruler.”
He stiffened. “I am not.” 

He didn’t sound so sure of that.
She looked down at the crumpled newspaper in her hands, the headline reading almost the same as it did in Driftveil. Missing: Dawn Berglitz, Sinnoh Champion. 

 “N, listen. I’m going to tell you this because you were my friend, and for whatever reason, I still like you.” She handed it to him, watched him look over the headline. “Long story short, people are starting to blame you for this. Especially in Unova.” 

N froze. “What? How?”
“I don’t know. But Skyla’s one of those people. I don’t think you did it, because I know you and your goals, but if Ghetsis…”

“He wouldn’t. Or—I don’t know that,” N said. “But I don’t think he would. And—thank you, Hilda. For letting me know.” He smiled, but it looked forced. 

“You don’t have to pretend for me, N. You’re not my king.”
Her friend—former friend? —snorted. “No, I suppose I’m not.”

Chapter Text

The sun shone on the back of her eyes, and Dawn groaned. Just because she’d fought off a pack of Alphas the night before didn’t mean she got a break today. Ugh. 

Dawn got dressed quickly, staring at the plate she’d received from Wyrdeer. “Child of Sinnoh, what is your purpose here?” 

What was she supposed to say? Was she supposed to give the answer Arceus had told her— seek out all pokémon? Her goal was to survive the past so she could return to the future. 

But are you sure about that?
“Shut up,” she told her thoughts. “Home is the goal. Home has always been the goal.” 

But what was waiting for her, back home in her own time? The title of Champion—a role she felt she couldn’t fulfill? Team Plasma running rampant in Unova and inspiring protests even in Sinnoh?
Barry’s waiting for you. And Lucas. And Mom, and Cynthia, and everyone else who cares about you and looks up to you. Your pokémon are waiting for you. 

She repeated this to herself until her nerves were settled and her head was back on right. Staring at the magenta plate for another moment, she gathered her poké balls and left. 

“Of course she’s not here yet. Always wasting Almighty Sinnoh’s precious time.” 

It was a man’s voice, and he spoke loud enough to be heard a decent distance around him. Clearly, he was trying to make a point, though the person about whom he seemed to be speaking was clearly absent. 

Seeing no sign of Rei even though he’d promised to meet her in the morning, she strode towards the Galaxy Hall, keeping one eye on the man and fiddling with Sasha’s poké ball. 

Although, she soon found he was heading in the same direction, and he stopped her on the steps. “Excuse me, have you seen Iridia at all?” 

“Who’s Iridia?” Dawn asked, confused.

She turned around to face him, examining his features. He looked surprisingly youthful, with a massive tuft of blue and blonde hair pulled back, a strand falling across one brown eye. He was dressed similarly to Mai, but the styling looked regal and, frankly, far older than most of what she’d seen thus far. It was hard to tell what was part of his top and what wasn’t, but at least the sandals were distinctive. One arm was covered in bandages, the other bare, displaying toned muscles. He did wear some jewelry—a diamond-set collar around his neck with no clasp, earrings, and a pendant hanging from his robes. Looks like he’s important. Who is this guy?

“She’s the leader of the Pearl Clan,” the man said disdainfully. “But who are you? New to the village?” 

“Something like that,” Dawn said, thinking. “I’m a recent recruit of the Survey Corps. Name’s Akari.” 

“Ah!” His delight surprised her. “So you’re the one who cleared Wyrdeer’s seat! I’m quite grateful. I am Adaman, leader of the Diamond Clan, but just call me Adaman. I believe you met my older sister, Mai.” 

Dawn smiled. “Yes, I did, but I don’t know if she mentioned you. I hope that’s not offensive.” 

“Of course not. Why waste Almighty Sinnoh’s time with things like that? A simple name is all that’s needed. Speaking of, I need to see your Commander. Promptly.” 

Dawn startled, before opening the door to the hall and letting him inside. “So do I, actually.” She wanted to say more, but thought better of it. 

But something about what he kept saying interested her. “What do you mean by ‘wasting Almighty Sinnoh’s time?’” She swore Mai had said something similar when they’d first met, but she hadn’t given it a ton of thought. She had her theories, but she needed to confirm them. 

“Almighty Sinnoh is the creator of Hisui and the ruler of time,” Adaman said. “Contrary to the Pearl Clan’s belief, which is that Almighty Sinnoh rules space. I assure you, they are wrong.” 

Dawn nodded slowly as they began to climb the stairs. Sounds like some strange combination of Arceus and Dialga. Luckily for her, she’d dealt with both. And the Pearl Clan…Palkia, maybe? They were sometimes called the Diamond and Pearl of pokémon…

“So, you and the rest of the Diamond Clan worship this ‘Almighty Sinnoh?” Dawn asked. “Apologies if I’m insensitive, but—” 

“No need,” Adaman said. “You Galaxy folk are often ignorant. Yes, that is correct.” 

Doesn’t say much, does he, Dawn mused, but inwardly, she was excited. An entire clan of people who worship Dialga! Perhaps they would know how to access it. It was a long shot, she knew, but having loyal worshippers on her side couldn’t hurt if she did end up attempting to call on Dialga. Besides, he’s cute. 

She couldn’t tell if his eyes on her was imagined, or if she’d really drawn his attention with her questioning. She wasn’t sure either one would be a bad thing. 

“Are you escorting me? I can climb the stairs myself,” Adaman said suddenly, stopping on the final landing.

“I’m going to see the Commander too. Didn’t I tell you?” Dawn asked. “I have a feeling we might have been summoned for the same reason.”

“I—see,” Adaman said, stuttering for the first time. “Right.”
They said nothing more as they entered Kamado’s office. The Commander was already standing, eyeing them both as they walked in, reminding Dawn of Professor Rowan, save maybe the aggressiveness. If he was older, he’d be a duplicate when it came to looks. Though perhaps Rowan had been more aggressive in his younger years—Dawn didn’t think she would know. 

“Greetings to both of you,” he said cordially. “Iridia will be here momentarily.” 

“She probably got lost in that space she loves so much,” Adaman frowned. “Typical. She’s far too young and airheaded to be a leader.” 

“I cannot have you bringing your clan’s feud into my hall,” Kamado said sternly. “You know this.” 

“Apologies,” Adaman said, before panting on the stairs revealed a girl dressed mostly in pink and looking freshly sixteen, perhaps younger. She had a similar face to Dawn, from when she’d first begun her journey. 

Leader of the Pearl Clan, huh? Dawn could understand the stress. She didn’t think it was so different from her duties as Champion—perhaps more stressful for how much more she likely had to do, being ruler of a clan in this era. 

“You used every last second,” Adaman said.
“Contrary to what you seem to believe, I am capable of prioritizing the needs of my clan,” the girl—who must be Iridia—said curtly. “Kleavor is our noble.” 

“Both of you, stop,” Kamado said, voice taking on an edge of annoyance. “Focus on the issue at hand.” 

“Indeed,” Adaman said. “Iridia, he may be your noble and descended from a warrior of Almighty Sinnoh, but he’s still wreaking havoc among both your clan and mine. We have to stop him!” 

“And how do you suppose we do that? He’s a beloved noble of the Pearl Clan,” Kamado snapped. 

Adaman sighed. “That’s the issue. My clan can’t intervene where the Pearl Clan’s nobles are concerned. I’m not trying to start another war.” 

His clan? Perhaps she should have put it together earlier, since Iridia was the leader of the Pearl Clan, and he did dress like he was important. I just didn’t think he was the leader. Or chief? Do these clans have chiefs, or is that only in fiction?

“So what would you have us do? Have the Pearl Clan bring down one of its own nobles?” Iridia snapped, rounding on Adaman. Dawn thought her fists were clenched, but it was hard to tell through the massive bracelets that looked like pool floaties. 

“I didn’t say that. I thought it, but I didn’t say it.”
Iridia snapped and started going off, and Dawn met Kamado’s eyes over the argument. He looked tired, and starting to get angry.

“My clan doesn’t even know how this happened,” Iridia was saying. “It’s never been seen before.” 

“We haven’t seen it either,” Adaman sighed. 

“But even folk of the Galaxy Team have gotten hurt, from this rampage,” Kamado said sharply. “Which is why the three of you are here.” 

“Three?”

Iridia and Adaman both turned to see Dawn still standing in the doorway. “This is Akari, the newest member of our Survey Corps. However, she proved her worth yesterday by taking down three Alphas on Deertrack Heights, so I think she’s the most qualified.” 

“For what?” Iridia sniffed, looking Dawn up and down with disdain. “Though you came from beyond the rift, so you could be from where Almighty Sinnoh resides…” 

She appeared conflicted, and Dawn resisted the urge to correct her. “But I have a hard time believing that you’ve truly come from that realm.” 

“Whether or not you believe it, that is the truth,” Kamado said. “My proposition is that Akari goes to study Kleavor before we decide what must be done. Quell him, if possible and if necessary, but to survey first and foremost.” 

Iridia’s glare hardened. “I disagree. Defeating Alphas is nothing to facing a pokémon noble, frenzied or not. How much experience can you really have?” 

“How much experience do you have?” Adaman snipped.
Iridia’s glare turned to him. “My age and experience have very little to do with my leadership abilities. You would do well to remember what you were like as a new leader.” 

Adaman opened his mouth and closed it before turning back to Kamado. “Well, Commander, I’m sold. We’ll try it your way. I’ve heard good things from my sister, and perhaps I’ll get to see your strange pokémon balls in action.” 

Dawn’s heart skipped a beat, but Adaman didn’t elaborate. Iridia, however, looked furious. 

“That whole practice bothers me!”
Her stomach dropped, but Iridia continued. “Almighty Sinnoh made Hisui vast so pokémon could roam freely. We are not meant to then subdue them with balls that confine them to such small spaces! Humans are not meant to stand above them.” 

Any empathy Dawn felt for the girl evaporated in an instant. Her mouth curled into a sneer, and she was about to retort before Kamado said calmly, “We do not put ourselves above them. We live beside them, as you do. Allow us to show you our power!” 

Iridia still glared at her with suspicion, and it was echoed in Kamado’s eyes, too. At Kamado’s dismissal, Dawn bowed, accepted, and promptly turned on her heel and walked out. 

***

“Akari! Do you have your mission?”
Rei sprinted up to her, Pikachu at his side. He was smiling brightly, but looked as though he’d just woken up. 

“I do,” Dawn said. “I’m going to survey Kleavor. Possibly fight him. Which…uh, pop quiz, what’s a Kleavor?”

Rei chuckled. “What’s a pop quiz? And do you not have Kleavor where you’re from?”
Dawn remained pointedly silent, then started as Adaman and Iridia walked out of the Galaxy Hall. To her absolute horror, Adaman made a beeline for her and Rei. 

Iridia watched him, lip curled and glaring, before beckoning to a Glaceon that had been sitting by the wall and striding toward the entrance. She visibly brushed off the Ginkgo Guild merchants that tried to catch her attention before vanishing beyond the gate. 

“Lovely woman,” Dawn grumbled. “I mean, I understand the pressure, but still.” 

Adaman and Rei both looked confused, and Dawn realized her mistake quickly. “Nevermind. I just…hate when people talk like that.” 

“What, about poké balls?” Adaman asked. “It’s not exactly a conventional practice. You can’t blame her.” 

“It’s normal where Akari’s from. Right, Akari?” Rei asked, each usage of her false name grating on her ears. 

“Yes,” Dawn said. “Don’t mind me. It’s no one’s business but mine.”
“Fair, I suppose,” Adaman said, raising his hands. “Still, I’m curious. My sister said you also took down an Alpha Rapidash. Is that true?” 

“Yes,” Dawn said simply, casting a pleading glance at Rei as he walked into the Galaxy Hall. 

Her hammering heart slowed at the sight of a Leafeon trotting up to them. It looked healthy, and happy, and she thought it might belong to one of the villagers before it curled up at Adaman’s feet. 

“This one’s yours?” Dawn asked softly.
Adaman smiled, scratching the Leafeon behind its ears. “Indeed. He’s been with me since we were both young.” 

Dawn smiled, crouching down next to him. “May I?”
“Hm?” He glanced up at her, and perhaps seeing she had no poké ball, he nodded. Dawn scratched the Leafeon where Lily, her own Leafeon, had always liked it, and sure enough, Adaman’s Leafeon melted. 

“Incredible,” he said softly. “You do have a way with pokémon.”
“Thank you,” Dawn said, feeling herself flush. “I, um— used to have a Leafeon back home. So I know what they like.” 

Adaman stood, his Leafeon with him. “Really? What was yours like?”
Dawn smiled. “She was very sweet. Sometimes I felt bad about sending her into battle, but she ended up winning some key battles for me. Her name was Lily.” 

“You named them?” He looked surprised.
“I do,” Dawn said sadly. “Even now.” 

“Really,” Adaman said, but it sounded less like a question. They began moving towards the gate, and Dawn was surprised when he continued to be with her, though she was going to the Fieldlands. 

“Doesn’t the Diamond Clan live further out?” She could’ve sworn Rei had said something about that over a plate of potato mochi.

“We do, but I’m heading to Wyrdeer’s seat,” Adaman said. “Keep an eye on things. Why waste time trying to figure out our own solution if yours works just fine?” 

Dawn nodded, though something struck her as odd. “Are you experiencing something similar?” 

He sighed. “Perhaps. One of our other nobels in the Coronet Highlands has entered a similar frenzy, and our Lady closer to home is…well, we think she might be in danger of it. But that’s not the point.” 

Dawn nodded slowly. “You think this is targeted?”
Adaman sighed again. “There’s a lot we don’t know.” He glanced sidelong at Dawn. “Like you, for instance. They say the rift you fell from connects to the realm of Almighty Sinnoh. I wonder…did you fall from the dimension that holds all of time?” 

Dawn didn’t know how to answer that without sounding suspicious, so she didn’t. 

Chapter Text

N insisted on remaining with her while her team healed, even though he’d already said all he had to. And, to her surprise, he was quite willing to talk. 

It wasn’t about anything serious. Somehow, her warning about Skyla and the disappearance had resolved the tension rather than creating more, and they were able to talk about other things. At the moment, it was the taste of Pokémon Center lemonade. 

“It’s so overly sweet, not to mention full of preservatives. You’re technically naturalists, aren’t you? I would think you’d hate that sort of thing,” Hilda said. 

N frowned. “I suppose that would fit the official goals of the team, but… come on, Hilda, it’s delicious!”

He looked at her with pleading eyes, as though convincing her of this was the most important thing in the world.

“I’m not fighting you on this, I’m just surprised,” Hilda said, smiling despite herself. “I would think issues of food would be, like, third on your list of humanity’s sins.” 

N snorted. “First of all, why third? Why not second or first?”
In lieu of responding, Hilda gestured to the corkboard behind them, which had Team Plasma propaganda posters freshly pinned to it. The Mistralton Pokémon Center, like those in most cities, had a community board where citizens could advertise local events. And, like most things, Team Plasma had weaponized this, and now the posters of the Plasma flag and images of pokémon without humans were common everywhere.

He sighed. “Fair enough. Now, this may surprise you, but in all honesty, my favorite part of humanity is the food. As delicious as berries and honey are, you can’t live off of them. I could absolutely live off of pizza.” 

Hilda gave a wicked grin. “Do you mean Absol -utely?”
N raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?” 

“Are you seriously telling me you don’t know what an Absol is? Because that would actually shock me,” Hilda said. “Given the reputation it has, I figured it would be one of your favorites.” 

“What’s its reputation?” He put his chin in his hands like a child being told a story. “Go on.” 

He was looking at her so earnestly she giggled despite the grimness of the tale. “See…it’s known as the ‘bad omen’ pokémon. Even in the Pokédex, its category is ‘disaster.’ It warns people of incoming disasters, but in ancient times, people saw this as Absol causing those disasters. As a result, they’re a pretty rare species.”

She watched his face carefully, but it didn’t change. “Nothing more than I expected, given what you said. What’s it like now?” 

“Hm?”
“When did they go endangered?” 

“Oh—they’re not anymore,” Hilda said quickly. “There have been a ton of conservation efforts made to restore them, and now there are tons out there. Hoenn, Kalos, a few other places I can’t remember…” 

N laughed, startling her. “What?”
He shook his head, still grinning like an idiot. “Nothing. Your expression’s just funny.” 

She flushed, and was thankfully spared from responding when Nurse Joy came out with her team. Six gleaming poké balls, in their different strengths and styles, glinting at her. She sighed in relief as she clipped it back onto her belt, but still made her way to the PC to exchange some members to better adapt to the route ahead. Aside from the raised walkways, the route also took trainers through Twist Mountain to get to Icirrus City, so she swapped out Mike for Dawn, her Lilligant, who hadn’t gotten any action in some time. 

N looked her up and down, but didn’t say anything, standing up with her. “You ready to go?” 

“What do you mean?” She started towards the door. He followed.
“I’m pretty sure we’re headed in the same direction, and no one’s shouting for me…at the moment,” N said, scratching the back of his head. It’s kinda cute. “So, I figured we could stick together for a little while.”

Hilda flushed. “Alright,” she said uneasily. “Any…particular reason for this?” 

N shrugged. “This is a normal thing for people to do, right? I’m trying to be normal. Blend in, you know.” 

She raised an eyebrow at him before exiting the Pokémon Center, finding Bianca waiting with her Musharna. Looking at N, Hilda waited for his reaction—a subtle snarl, a distasteful glare, something— but he reacted as passively as he had to Hilda’s story. He’s up to something. But what? 

Bianca acted equally as cordial, but Hilda could at least sense some discomfort with them, and more than once her friend moved in front of her pokémon, as though she expected him to suddenly flip out and attempt to seize it. Once they started moving again, Bianca flanked Hilda, examining N with a suspicious glare. 

“Didn’t think you guys were close,” Bianca whispered.
“We’re travelling together for the moment,” Hilda responded. Seeing Bianca’s look, she added, “Relax. I’m not getting involved in anything.” 

“The Professor did want to congratulate you,” Bianca said. “On your gym badge. But I don’t think she wants to get close while he’s around.” 

“I can be diplomatic,” N said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “I will admit, my actions in the cave were…not ideal.” 

Then, to her surprise, Bianca smiled. “‘Not ideal?’ I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone describe it like that.” 

She glanced at Hilda, and Hilda thought she knew what her friend was trying to do. Unfortunately, she didn’t think it was working. 

N flushed with what Hilda knew was embarrassment. “Well— my apologies. How should I phrase it?” 

They went back and forth, most of it going over Hilda’s head, except for the few instances where N either alluded to his past or lied about it. It sounded like a well-practiced cover, but not one Hilda had ever heard before. It was a nice blend of truth and lies, to both appease N’s need to be truthful and protect his identity and status. Whoever had come up with it, whether it was Ghetsis or N or someone else of their rank, they’d known what they were doing.  

“Where are you headed, Bianca?” Hilda asked to avoid starting conflict. 

“Icirrus City, but we’ll be in Mistralton for a few more days while the professor finishes studying…whatever she’s gotten this time. She went off alone today, so I’m trying to catch up,” Bianca said. “This is the part where travelling alone becomes really dangerous, so I’m sticking by her for now.” 

“Seems smart,” Hilda said. “Through Twist Mountain, right? Isn’t there a massive excavation going on there right now?” 

That seemed to perk N up. “That’s right, I passed that on my way here. Do you know anything about it?” But his tone was careful, as though he knew something about it. 

Bianca pursed her lips, glancing up at the sky thoughtfully. “Not a ton, just what the professor’s told me. Apparently they’re looking for specific stones—same as Team Plasma.” 

Hilda tried her best not to snort. Of course. N probably ordered the thing. But why? 

At that, N tensed, but he didn’t say anything, staring for a moment. The three of them made their way back onto the route, past Celestial Tower, though N stopped and stared at it for a moment.

“Is Professor Juniper coming?” Hilda asked Bianca, who shook her head. 

“She’s already there,” Bianca said. “I should probably catch up. What about you two?” 

Hilda glanced back towards N, who was staring at the top of the tower. “We might be a while. Go catch up.” 

Bianca looked between them again, before darting off to the second half of the route. Hilda stared for another moment, staring at the tip of the tower. 

“This is the Celestial Tower you told me about, right?” he asked, wan smile on his face. “Where pokémon are buried?” 

“Yeah. Piper and I went to visit,” Hilda said. “Before facing Skyla.”
At that, N started as though remembering something. “Right. Did you win your battle? I forgot to ask when we left the gym.”

She giggled. “Yeah, you were too busy complaining about my goal in life. I did win my gym battle, but that’s not important. Who were you on the phone with?” 

N flushed, rubbing the back of his head. “Right. How much of that did you hear, exactly?” 

“Not a ton. Just your usual,” Hilda siad, trying not to bring up that particular discussion again. “But you dodged the question.” 

“Did I? Apologies.”
Hilda chuckled. Perhaps this is why he’s king. It was a dark thought, but after the conversation they’d had in the Pokémon Center, she began to wonder if Ghetsis had made him their leader because he was easily manipulated. He knows how to dodge questions, but also thinks it's rude. What a combination. 

He still didn’t answer for a while, though they didn’t move. “I suppose there’s no harm in telling you that was my sister,” he said finally. 

“You have a sister?”
He smiled. “Yeah. Two. But I haven’t seen them in a while.” His tone was uncharacteristically sad, and Hilda wondered just how much he’d had to give up before coming on this journey. 

They began walking again, passing the ditches filled with cyan grass and balance-beam walkways overhead, designed to give trainers the edge over wild pokémon. As far as Hilda knew, it was bad form to attempt to catch pokémon from said walkways, but she also knew it didn’t stop people from trying. 

Despite the growing cloud of dread settling over Hilda, the sun shone bright in the blue sky above, sharply sillhouetting the flocks of Tranquill and Swanna criss-crossing the sky. It would have been nice, if it was just her, the bird pokémon, her team and a good friend by her side—but it wasn’t. 

This was the king of her enemies, and the shadows of the disappearance hung over both their heads, and the silence was awkward and tense. 

“Are you the ones running the excavation in Twist Mountain? Or is that actually someone else?” she finally asked. No use dancing around it when they both knew the truth.

“We are,” N said. “I think I told you what it was already. Legend has it that the two Legendary Dragons of Unova both had shrines in Twist Mountain, so Ghetsis has mobilized a solid portion of our forces just to excavate.” 

Hilda looked at him, scrutinizing his face. “And they’re willing to do that?”
“Of course. They’d do anything for Ghetsis. And me, of course.” He sounded less sure of that than she thought he wanted to be. 

“Why do you have so little faith in your own people?” she asked, surprising herself with the words. “I mean, they’re sworn to you, not to Ghetsis. You’re their king.” 

“I know.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets, glancing around at the brush just outside of the dirt path, eyes darting between the weeds that had cropped up under their feet. “But I often wonder what they really think of me.” 

“Well, why? Have you given them any reason to doubt you?” Hilda asked, fingers brushing the tops of her poké balls. “I mean, the way I see it, it’s the same as being a trainer.” 

She’d known he would hate that comparison, and that was partially why she’d made it. He tensed up as he always did when she mentioned her craft, but Hilda continued undeterred. “If you’re going to command someone in battle, then there needs to be at least some kind of relationship there. Something that tells them, ‘I’m here, I’ll look out for you, you can count on me.’ It’s why, for most trainers, bonding with your pokémon is so important. Because if that bond isn’t there, then neither is anything else. A trainer is only as strong as her weakest pokémon.”

“It’s not that simple,” N said, but he sounded less depressed, at least. “I’m a king, not a trainer. I have more than six people to look after.” 

“I guess having something one-on-one would be too much for a king and his people,” Hilda conceded. “But at the very least, they need to feel like they know you, and that you at least know what they want. If you can’t connect with them at all, then I guess you’re right, and they have lost faith in you. But I believe you’re better at this than you think. I mean, you’ve been trained for this, right?” 

She’d looked back towards the route, which was slowly losing its trees, replacing them with massive jagged rocks that looked like the points of spears. When N remained silent, she stopped entirely, a tension that wasn’t quite fear clenching her gut. 

“You do this a lot,” N said finally. “Why do you give such advice to the enemy? By all accounts, you should want Team Plasma to fail, and here I am, telling you exactly what to exploit in order to accomplish that! And yet, you give me advice, treating me like I’m someone you’ve grown up with.” 

A pause, silence filled only by their heaving breaths. Have we started moving up already? 

“Why?”
It made sense. Team Plasma was her greatest enemy; not only because it was a threat to the region and a danger to her friends, but because it wanted to tear apart the very foundation of her world. So why am I giving advice to their leader, showing him how to keep his people together? Why am I helping them build themselves up so they can cause even more harm than they already have? 

She had no easy answer, so she didn’t speak at all, even as N shook his head. His Xtranciever was ringing, but he didn’t do more than glance at it before he whispered goodbye and disappeared into the rocks. 

Hilda’s stomach dropped. Though she was now alone, she still spoke. “I’m about to get ambushed, aren’t I?”

Chapter Text

They passed Deertrack Heights with no problems, leaving Adaman behind at Wyrdeer’s seat. However, after Professor Laventon got caught up in conversation with a Galaxy Team sentry and Rei ran off to watch wild Staravia, Dawn found herself trekking alone into Eterna Forest, tossing a poké ball like an apple between her hands, Sasha trotting at her feet. Night was beginning to fall, and the trees further obscured her visibility. Not that this was something she wasn’t familiar with, but the lack of a clear-cut trail combined with the knowledge that the surrounding settlements didn’t exist yet made her more wary than she otherwise would be. 

The poké ball tossing picked up speed, then ceased when she spotted a flash of yellow and heard a crash in the stream she was following. This was followed by what sounded like a spring and a subsequent quacking noise. 

“Buneary and Psyduck, maybe?” Dawn whispered to Sasha, glancing down at the small Cyndaquil. “I don’t think we’ve marked those down yet.” 

Not that she wasn’t quite familiar with them already. Buneary and Psyduck already ran rampant in modern-day Sinnoh, and she’d faced many in battle. But she’d never seen them together, or in Eterna Forest, so perhaps…

“Or do you think they’re entirely new pokémon?” Dawn finished her own question as she crept closer to the stream, listening carefully for the same splashes. And, in a few minutes, she came upon the source. 

It was, in fact, a Buneary and a Psyduck. The Rabbit Pokémon was sipping water from the stream in spurts, before suddenly jumping up and splashing around the creek, which looked pretty shallow from the angle. The Psyduck peacefully watched from the side, face fixed in the same baffled expression the Psyduck of the future had. 

Dawn chuckled to herself as she sat and drew them both in their natural habitats, writing down the modern-day classifications in the margins at the top and allowing Sasha— and, subsequently, the rest of her team—to drink from the stream as well. 

Neither the Psyduck nor the Buneary seemed to be bothered at first, allowing the pictures to be fairly detailed, and as a bonus, Dawn was able to catch some surrounding Buneary that arrived to drink with their friend. Or enemy. One of them looked mad. 

However, when she turned her poké balls on the Psyduck, it knocked them away and hit her in the chest with a Water Pulse. 

Her team screeched as she went down, and Dawn savored the look on the Psyduck’s face as Lucas took the initiative and hit the offending pokémon with a Thunder Shock. 

“Good boy.” Dawn scratched the top of his head, smiling at the way he pressed into her side. She herself was flattered and thankfully uninjured, standing up again and returning most of her team to their balls, nailing another unsuspecting Psyduck in the back with a poké ball as she walked away. 

***

Eventually, she split from the creek and climbed up the ridge to the deep red banners she’d spotted from the other side. Lucas climbed with her, happily growling at the Burmy hanging from the trees, eagerly darting up to them with the slightest gesture from Dawn. 

He was far bigger than Lumi ever had been as a Shinx, or even as a Luxio. The tips of his ears reached almost up to her waist, and the glowing red of his eyes always threw her off when she looked at him. But physical differences aside, they acted so similarly. It made her heart ache to think about it, even as she watched Lucas sprint after a terrified Buneary or electrocute yet another Psyduck. Dawn chuckled, making a mental note to come back and properly survey the area once she was done dealing with whatever ‘Kleavor’ was. I know there are more than just Psyduck, Buneary and Burmy in this forest— so where did they go? 

Dawn frowned at the thought, light mood gone. Perhaps that was the issue Kleavor was causing. Was it actually brought up before Kamado? Or had Adaman and Iridia started fighting too early?

When she thought about it further, it turned out to be the case. They did mention some injuries to people from every side. But at the end of the day, did it matter? She wasn’t in a place to question orders. Not when she depended on Kamado and the Galaxy Team for survival.

She groaned as she climbed the steps, taking one moment to look behind her at the banners. They depicted a strange pokémon— Kleavor, she assumed— with massive axes for hands and jagged points like stones covering its body. Looks like a rock-type. If it comes to a fight, that puts a third of my team at a disadvantage.

The stone steps gave way to a well-trodden dirt path as the sun fully set in the sky, illuminating the creek in slivers of silver and casting the path she was on into total darkness. With the ridges on either side rising high above her head, Dawn’s apprehension grew.

“Hold on! Stop where you are!”
Dawn did, in fact, stop in her tracks, eyes narrowed in suspicion, swapping out Barry’s poké ball for Sasha’s. “Where are you?” 

The question immediately sent tremors of anxiety through her. If you admit to a potential enemy that you can’t see them, there’s no telling what they’ll try and do. It wasn’t number one on the list of the ‘self-defence for pokémon trainers’ book she’d bought for her first trip to Unova, but it was certainly up there. Right next to ‘always have your best pokémon partner by your side.’

Wincing at the thought, she sent out Sasha. He chirped loudly, illuminating the surrounding path with the spurting flames.

“Woah, woah, calm down now!”
Finally, she was able to see where the voice was coming from, but she took a step back in confusion when she saw the owner of it. 

It was a boy about half her height with a hat twice as big as his head, and it looked oddly familiar. He was dressed in a similar style of robes as Mai had been, but they were gray and pink like Palkia rather than the deep blues of Dialga. 

Do they know that’s what those colors represent? No doubt the gray and pink indicated membership of the Pearl Clan, but given some of the arguments she’d heard among the Diamond and Pearl representatives, she couldn’t be certain they knew exactly where the patterns and colors themselves originated.

She shook her head as the boy continued talking, embarrassed that she hadn’t been paying attention. “I’m sorry—you said you were Kleavor’s warden?” That had been part of the briefing she’d weaseled out of Mai, but he didn’t need to know that.

“That I am,” he said. “Name’s Lian. I look after Kleavor, the Lord of the Woods. But, as I said miss, you can’t go anywhere near him. After the lightning storm a week or so back, he’s been filled with such power that no one—not even I—may approach.”

Dawn frowned. “Why? I mean—pokémon can be powerful, but if you have a partner—” 

“And I do. Goomy, here. But Kleavor isn’t any old pokémon, he’s one of the descendants of the pokémon chosen by Almighty Sinnoh itself. He is a noble to our people—the Pearl Clan.” 

“Well, yes, but—”
“You’re here to see him, aren’t you? I don’t blame you—Kleavor is an awe-inspiringly powerful pokémon, and all who look upon him become breathless with wonder. And now, he’s become even more powerfully awe-inspiring! The great Lord of the Woods has reached new heights!” 

Despite Dawn’s efforts, she couldn’t get a word in edgewise, and it was starting to get on her nerves. She nodded at the Goomy in greeting, examining the kid once again. Do they really make kids wardens here? It seems like too big a deal to entrust to a child…

Then again, hadn’t the people of modern Sinnoh done the exact same thing to her? Perhaps I can forgive him for being a little annoying. He’s a kid, after all, and I guess a warden gushing about his charge isn’t a bad thing. 

He still, however, had not stopped talking, so Dawn had to cut him off. “Yes, the Lord of the Woods is powerful. I’m not disputing that. But I still need to see him.” 

Lian frowned. “But I already told you, you can’t. While the lightning imbued him with such awesome might I can’t blame you for wanting to see it, he would more than likely cleave you in two.”

That made Dawn flinch, her mind whirling once again. What kind of pokémon is this? Her fist tightened around one of her poké balls as she said, “Be that as it may, I’ve been ordered to survey the situation for the Galaxy Team. Calm Kleavor if I can. So I need to get by you now, please.” Her tone was more curt than she would like, but this kid was getting on her     nerves. If it was against a pokémon, she would be fine. 

“No. I can’t let you. Goomy! Ooze some sense into this foolish girl!”
Nevermind. He’s way too annoying. It didn’t take her long to send out Barry—equipped with the only ice-type move on the team—and crushing the Goomy in about a minute. 

To his credit, Lian looked flabbergasted, mouth hanging open as he looked from his fallen Goomy to Dawn and Barry. “What—how—nevermind. My point still stands. Although, maybe you’d be able to handle it…” 

The last part was muttered under his breath, probably not meant for her to hear. He continued, louder this time. 

“You see, normally when he gets angry, I make him an offering of his favorite foods. When I serve it up with a nice helping of respect, he calms right down. But I told you, even I can’t get close enough. You, an outsider,  would be dead if you tried.” 

“But Lian, remember that the noble pokémon—Wyrdeer, and Kleavor, and the rest— are the reason we can live peacefully in vast Hisui today,” came a new voice. Dawn turned, and tried not to flinch when Iridia faced her. 

“Normally, I would ask that the Pearl Clan come together so we can sort this out ourselves, but given the current situation, I’m afraid that’s impossible. Kleavor’s rampage threatens not only us, but the Diamond Clan and the Galaxy Team as well. People from every side have gotten hurt because of his rampage. I understand your desire to see him safe, Lian, but this has turned out of our hands.” 

“But Kleavor means so much to our Clan…”
Lian looked devastated, and not for the first time, Dawn saw just how little she understood this civilization. So many people here fear and respect pokémon, and don’t understand that there’s a way to live together. They see these creatures as beasts to be appeased, lest their gods use them to wipe out their clan. It was an unsettling thought, perhaps because of how foreign it was.

She absentmindedly rubbed the top of Barry’s head as Iridia and Lian both turned to her. “Could you Galaxy people actually fix this?” 

Iridia’s stare was condemning, Lian’s scowl very much reminiscent of someone she’d met not too long ago. Dawn chuckled at the irony to herself before saying, “We’ll figure something out.” 

It was a horrible answer, but it was the best she had. 

***

Somehow, to Dawn’s utter bafflement, that ‘something’ ended up being—

“We’re going to stuff Kleavor’s favorite foods in bags and… throw them at him?” Iridia asked disbelievingly. 

“Yep,” Dawn said, smiling like she’d come up with the idea and not Laventon, who was struggling somewhere at the base of the woods, likely being hounded by Rei to not get distracted. “If it comes down to it, I can battle him, but…” 

“I think it’s brilliant!” Lian shouted, jaw once again hanging open. It looked funnier now, in the morning sunlight, now that she could actually see the kid. His Goomy mimicked the expression as best it could, making her chuckle. I wonder if it knows what we’re talking about, or if it’s just adapting to Lian’s tone. 

“You can make offerings to lord Kleavor…at a safe distance! Let’s get started at once!” 

“Do not get ahead of yourself!” Iridia snapped, abruptly reminding both Dawn and Lian that she was there. “Don’t forget, the Galaxy Team shares neither our customs nor our values. In fact, they actively reject Almighty Sinnoh’s gift of vast space!” She glared at Dawn, and Dawn in turn unclipped Sasha’s poké ball from her belt, tossing it behind her back. 

“So you want me to battle you?” Dawn asked calmly. The image was so clear— the opulent robes of the Team Plasma sages, the hatred she recognized from their eyes. I wonder if they know they’ll one day be on two opposite sides of a war. She will lead the enemy, and he will fight for trainers everywhere. 

It was hard to imagine this kid growing into someone as intimidating as Clay, but she saw the resemblance. The hat was the deadest giveaway, and on her last visit to Unova, Clay himself had told her he had Sinnohan ancestors.

“You order around pokémon you’ve caught in those horrific balls of yours, but I fight beside one who is my sister,” Iridia seethed. “If you manage to defeat Glaceon and me, I will allow you to see Kleavor.”

“You’re on,” Dawn said, nodding to Sasha as the Glaceon jumped out from behind Iridia. “Sasha! Use Ember!” 

Her Cyndaquil faithfully spread his arms and opened his mouth, summoning all the heat from his body as he could muster. But he sneezed; pitching forward, the flames from the Ember spun around him until it completely engulfed the small creature in a wheel of fire. 

Dawn cheered as Sasha hit the Glaceon dead-on, causing it to shake and buckle in on itself. But it got back up, and Iridia ordered, “Ice Beam!” 

Sasha dodged it with another Flame Wheel, and Iridia was defeated. She didn’t look happy, frowning at both Dawn and Sasha as she treated her own pokémon’s injuries. However, she allowed Lian and Dawn to begin making the balms, as well as Rei and Laventon when they finally joined the group. 

Once the mountain of food bombs—or ‘balms,’ she supposed, as Lian said— was complete, he forced everyone to stand behind him as he summoned Kleavor. 

“Benevolent lord who works his might between the heavens and the earth, we offer our gratitude. And we beseech you—reveal yourself to our eyes!”

As he recited what must be a Pearl Clan customary chant, Dawn strapped the large basket of balms to her back, adjusting her belt so she could more easily access her team.

Once Lian was finished, he turned to Dawn, gesturing for her to enter. “Good luck, outsider. I wish you success.” 

“You’ll do great, Akari,” Rei added hastily. “You and Sasha.”
Dawn tried to smile as she passed by the alter into Grandtree Arena. Here goes nothing. 

***

For several moments, there was complete silence. The wind didn’t even whistle through the branches where Dawn stood. But with one screech, everything launched into blinding action. 

Something gold whizzed right past her, sending several logs flying into the air. Trees were felled in an instant, sending a cacophony of crashes sounding through the woods. She heard screeches, but couldn’t pinpoint their source; gone as fast as they had sounded. 

Slicing, directly above her head. Dawn dodged the falling rocks in time to find herself face-to-face with an unknown pokémon, golden from head to toe, the only differentiating factor being its bright white eyes. 

So this is Kleavor. An evolutionary form of Scyther, if what Rei had told her over balm-making was correct, and a rock-type from her estimations of its appearance. She reached into the massive basket of balms over her shoulder, pulling out the first one as Kleavor’s massive axes cut gashes in the ground where they rested. Dawn gulped. No wonder everyone was so scared. 

It was easy enough to figure out its main method of attack, and it took Dawn longer than it should have to realize that, yes, it would still attack her even if she didn’t have a pokémon out to fight it, just like the Psyduck had. She barely dodged its first few swings, but she managed to get in some good hits with the balms, though it was hard to tell if they were working. 

It would charge at her, making massive slicing motions with its axes that would absolutely kill her if they landed, but at the last second, Dawn would dodge out of the way and throw as many balms as she could at its back. Risky, but it was working so far, even if some balms fell out of the basket in the process. She could still pick them up and hurl them, if she was quick enough. 

Dawn examined the surroundings. The only tree still standing in their vicinity was the massive one that gave the arena its name, and they were fighting in a large depression in the ground. Her instincts told her to attack from above, but she couldn’t climb that high of a tree. 

Dawn was barely able to dodge the next attack, being drawn out of her thoughts too late. It didn’t cut her leg off, but the gash it left still bled enough to cause concern. However, she noted dimly, it had slammed itself into the side of the arena, and perhaps this was an opportunity. 

“Go, Sasha!”
She ordered an immediate Flame Wheel, which further weakened the Kleavor, but it got its bearings too soon, summoning what looked like Stealth Rock. 

Oh, okay. We can handle that. As long as we avoid this part—wait, what? 

It struck Sasha, knocking him unconscious far too quickly. Dawn returned him to his ball, sending out Barry to hit it with Aqua Jet and knocking out the Kleavor in turn, but— what was that? I didn’t think Stealth Rock attacked like that. 

She managed to throw enough balms, it seemed. Kleavor was looking weaker and weaker every time she threw, now, but it still charged forward recklessly, only barely stopping before hitting the wall. 

It’s gotta be close to defeat, at this point. It’s taken quite the beating. She and Barry had stalled it three times now, and he was certain it had to be getting tired. 

She dove behind the massive tree as it charged, slamming straight into the trunk and falling over. She seized the opportunity, ordering Barry to hit it with Water Pulse— does he know that move, or am I— and throwing balms, the scent making her head swim. Is it the smell, or my leg? Am I even still bleeding? The fact that she couldn’t tell worried her. 

Kleavor was shaking as badly as she was, now. But Dawn had many years of practice in forcing herself to remain on her feet, and with one last balm thrown, the gold disappeared from Kleavor completely. 

It looked like steam rising from its body, but Dawn could tell that wasn’t it. Kleavor itself had a brown body, with black rocks covering its shoulders and making up the axes on its arms. Its eyes were far kinder than they had been a moment ago, as opposed to enraged and soulless. 

“Akari!”
She registered Kleavor placing something on her chest as she collapsed, seeing Rei and Lian rush over to her through blurred vision. She was helped to her feet and escorted from the arena, with voices swirling around her that took too much effort to make out. 

“You did it,” Iridia said breathlessly, seeing Dawn limping out of the arena. “Clearly it was—but you did it! Kleavor is back to normal.” 

“Yer’ welcome,” Dawn said, words slurring through the pain in her leg. “Um—I should get back to Jubilife.” 

“We might have to get the Security Corps to do that,” Rei said, wrapping one of her arms around his shoulders. “But first, lets get you out of the seat. It’s Pearl Clan sacred land, so they’re technically not supposed to come here…” 

His voice blended together into another haze as he and Laventon assisted her down the massive stairs and back into Eterna Forest. And at the foot of the hill, to her surprise, was not the Security Corps, but Adaman and— is that Wyrdeer? 

He was beaming like the sun in the sky, but it quickly fell when he saw the state she was in. He rushed to relieve Rei from assisting her, and her friend squawked indignantly but backed off. 

“I saw Kleavor was giving you the runaround,” Adaman said. “I came to offer my—or rather, Wyrdeer’s assistance, but—well, it seems you’ve already done what you needed to.” 

“Wyrdeer’s assistance might still be needed,” Laventon said. “As you can see, Kleavor did injure her, and she needs to be returned to Jubilife. No time to lose!” 

“We—yes, of course. No time.” Adaman shook his head, saying something softly to the great white deer before placing her on its back. “Apologies, Akari. I’m sure you’re more than capable of riding on your own, but given your current state and Wyrdeer’s—” 

“Adaman,” she grumbled, brain too fogged to care about formalities. “No time.” 

“Yes, of course. It will be a short ride, so bear with me. Both of you.”
Dawn didn’t hear much of what he said after that, passing out against the softness of Wyrdeer’s fur and the warmth of Adaman’s chest. 

Chapter Text

Hilda was, in fact, ambushed. But not by Team Plasma like she’d expected. Instead, Cheren stepped out from the bush, smiling sheepishly at being caught. “Was I…interrupting something?” 

“No,” Hilda said curtly, though something inside her protested, yes. “What’s up?”

“Same old stuff,” her old friend said. “Trying to get stronger. I recently beat Skyla at Mistralton. You?” 

“So did I,” Hilda said, tension slowly easing. “Ran into Bianca, too. Apparently, she’s decided she’s going to be Professor Juniper’s bodyguard.”

“Sounds about right,” Cheren said. “But is she serious about the bodyguard thing? I would think pokémon research is more her style.” 

“She’s considering that. I think the bodyguard thing is a bit, but according to Skyla, it might become an actual job,” Hilda said. “Speaking of Skyla— did she have you do anything strange before you challenged her?”

“Define ‘strange,’” Cheren laughed. “Because if you don’t, I’m going to classify her entire gym as ‘strange.’ Those canons are something else.”

“Seriously. But that’s not what I’m talking about. When Bianca and I ran into her, she wanted us to follow her to Celestial Tower, claiming something about an injured pokémon— which didn’t exist, by the way. Then she had us ring this old-looking bell…”

“That is strange,” Cheren conceded. “No, she didn’t have me do anything like that, but she was strangely…unenergetic, when I fought her. Speaking of…” he trailed off again, but this time he was smiling. “Wanna battle? Since we both have six gym badges, we could use this opportunity to get stronger.” 

Hilda chuckled fondly, running her fingers over her team. “You’re on,” she said, “But friendly reminder, I’m going to win.” 

“Just because you’ve won the last few times doesn’t mean you’re going to win every time,” Cheren said with disgruntlement. The poké ball in his hand grew to full size, and he sent out his lead. 

“How did that one go against Skyla?” Hilda asked teasingly at the appearance of Unfezant. 

“It went just fine.” He frowned, crossed his arms, raised one eyebrow at her. “May I know what you used to counter that?” 

“Of course,” she said, smiling. “Ingrid!”
Unfezant, predictably, went for an Air Slash, aiming for Ingrid’s hooves. Ingrid neighed ferociously, electricity racing through her body to her mane. She charged around the cuts of wind, leaping as Cheren ordered his pokémon to dodge and striking the bird with her head.
Cheren was silent for a moment as his Unfezant fell to the ground. “Well, I suppose that works.” 

“Of course it does. Ingrid can do anything.”
“Anything, huh?” 

Cheren sent out his Servine, making Hilda roll her eyes. “Ingrid, return.” 

“I thought she could do anything.”
“She can, but I’m not masochistic. It would be hard. Also, Dara hasn’t hit the field yet.” 

Her friend ordered a Razor Leaf as Dara exploded from her poké ball, but he looked pensive. “How do you do that?” 

Dara hit Servine with a Fire Punch, but it didn’t faint immediately. “Do what?” 

“What you did. You sound so in touch with your pokémon, even though your goal is to become Champion.” 

“And you think a Champion isn’t in touch with their pokémon?” Hilda asked, one eyebrow raised. 

“That’s not— you know that’s not what I meant,” Cheren frowned. “I’m saying…I never see you stress over a battle. You’re not strategizing every move, you just let your pokémon go, and somehow that works. How do you do that? You exist as the antithesis of every trainer’s advice to becoming strong.” 

“Well, maybe the popular advice is wrong,” Hilda said. “And if you think that being a strong trainer and trusting that your pokémon know what they’re doing are independent of each other, then you’re definitely wrong.”

Servine fainted. Cheren sent out Simipour, but Hilda didn’t immediately call for Ingrid. 

“Now you’re just being cocky,” Cheren grumbled. “Not even letting Ingrid destroy me?” 

“She’s not the only one who can,” Hilda said, taking out a poké ball. “Dawn, you’re up!” 

Dawn was her Lilligant, and despite her poor typing, she was one of Hilda’s strongest pokémon, and had been with her almost from the beginning. 

“Use Scald!”
“Dodge it with Quiver Dance!” 

Cheren’s flabbergasted look made any argument they’d had worth it. Dawn didn’t look like she should be able to jump that high, but she did—and the attack boost from Quiver Dance took effect, too.  

“Now use Magical Leaf!”
“Scald, again!” 

Some of the leaves got swallowed up in the water, but most of them split off, and the Simipour still took a substantial amount of damage. 

Cheren gulped, ordering another Scald, but it was just as ineffective as it had been the first time. Another Quiver Dance-powered dodge, and the Simipour was down with a Magical Leaf.

“How.” He was glaring at her like she’d committed a crime, making Hilda laugh. 

“Apparently, ancient Lilligant used to store most of their strength in their legs, making them powerful dancers. It’s why they’re so good competitively, despite them being pure grass-type.” 

“I haven’t heard anything about that,” her friend grumbled, sending out his last pokémon—a Liepard. 

Hilda let Dawn stay in the battle, using Mega Drain to cover any damage the Leopard Pokémon managed to do, and the battle was soon over.

“See, this is what I’m talking about,” Cheren said. “You could’ve brought out any other pokémon—I know you have a fighting-type somewhere on your team—and yet you stuck with Lilligant and won. How do you do this?” 

“Her special attack was boosted by two stages,” Hilda deadpanned. “And Liepard doesn’t exactly have great defences. And I wasn’t exactly at a disadvantage, either—dark-types and grass-types have a neutral relationship.” 

“So you do know your stuff,” Cheren grumbled. “But—”
“Listen. I’ve never claimed that simply bonding with your pokémon is enough. You can’t only focus on training, nor can you only focus on bonding— in fact, that might even be counterintuitive. After all, if all you do is just hang out, but you go fight a gym battle—well, your pokémon might like you, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll lead them well in battle. Every truly strong trainer achieves a balance. I’m pretty sure several champions have written books about their training techniques—have you looked at any?” 

“No, because most of them got defeated recently, so they’re clearly not the strongest,” Cheren said glumly. “Though, I was looking at Cynthia’s. She was the reigning champion for over ten years, right?” 

“That’s correct.”
Both Cheren and Hilda turned to see Alder striding down the path towards them. “I saw the whole battle. And a fine battle it was! Good job to you both.” 

“It wasn’t a fine battle for me,” Cheren snapped. “I lost. And Hilda’s not giving me any straight answers as to her secrets on raising pokémon.” 

“I think she gave you a fine answer,” Alder said, voice warm despite Cheren’s curtness. “Now. Hilda, why do you want to become strong?” 

“Me?”
Alder nodded slowly, and she glanced at Dawn, who hadn’t gone back in her ball yet. 

Why do I want to become strong? In the past, her first answer was, to become Champion, because that meant so many things to her, but people always stopped there. However, she could also see what Alder was trying to do, so she thought about it more. 

“I suppose…I want to be Champion because that means I can protect everyone. From people like Team Plasma, but mainly just to protect the people I care about.”  

“An admirable goal,” Alder said softly. “Now, Cheren. Why do you want to become strong?” 

He left without waiting for Cheren’s answer, but Hilda saw him sneakily drop two HMs on the path ahead, waiting for the two of them to see. He winked at Hilda as he disappeared into the mountain. 

“Wanna come with me through Twist Mountain?” Hilda asked, one hand on Cheren’s shoulder. “I’ve heard it’s pretty dangerous for trainers on their own, lately.” 

He nodded, though he looked glum. She returned Dawn to her ball, keeping pace with him as they climbed the steep trails into the bronze mountain.

Hilda wasn’t fond of caves. They were damp, dark, and dirty, but Twist Mountain was the route most used by trainers to reach Icirrus City, which is where she and Cheren were both headed. There was an abundance of rock-, fighting-, and Woobat, the guidebooks said—or, there had been, when there had been more pokémon in Unova in general.

She mentioned that to Cheren, who shrugged absentmindedly. “I mean, it might be more barren, but it’s still a great training opportunity. Remember, there’s nothing we can do about the wildlife restriction laws or whatever. I get that it bothers you, but try not to say it where anyone who’s not me can hear you.” 

“Say what?”

The two trainers stopped, staring straight ahead at the source of the voice. “Didn’ expect to see you two here,” Clay said gruffly, smiling from underneath his hat. “Cheren and Hilda, right?” 

“Yes, sir,” Cheren said.
Clay chuckled. “No need fer’ that, kid. Just Clay is fine. You two headin’ to Icirrus?” 

“Yep,” Hilda said. “And we ran into Champion Alder a bit ago. Is there…any particular reason why he’d be here?”

“He was just checkin’ in with me about the state of the mountain,” Clay said. “Especially with all those Plasma goons runnin’ around.”

“Are you finally going to do something about that?” Cheren said quickly. “I mean—” 

“No, it’s a fair question,” Clay said. “We gym leaders met up n’ had a chat about the whole situation. Unfortunately, we don’ know much. We’ve been able to find some of their major operations, but not where their main base is. They keep disappearing, and they do it so quickly that even I cain’t track ‘em down. Not a ton to do except wait for their next move, but…” he sighed. “Sorry. Probably not what ya’ wanted to hear.” 

“That’s…excellent, actually,” Hilda said, thinking of N’s disappearances. Where was he going? Perhaps he’d tell me if I asked. Though I’d have to be careful about it. 

“I’m flattered ya’ think so,” Clay said. “But there’s one thing I can say fer’ certain. Pokémon trainers aren’t goin’ anywhere, anytime soon, no matter what Plasma spouts. The art has been here long before we were born, and will remain long after we’re gone.” 

Clay slammed on the wall behind him with his fist. “You see this stuff? The things mountains are made of are the things that make up us all. They forged the first trainer, and will shield the last of us before we’re gone.” 

“The first trainer?” Cheren asked. “There’s no way that’s true. It’s impossible to track who the first person to tame a pokémon was.”
“Aye, but that’s not what I’m talking about. The ‘first trainer’ is considered the first to adopt our modern training methods—using poké balls, composing teams and training for specific moves, the whole deal. Actually, I have a few stories about her. Passed down from my family a long time ago.” Clay smiled wistfully. “She lived in Sinnoh. Her name was Akari, but in the language of the time, that means—”

“Dawn,” Hilda said. “I’ve heard this story. I named my Lilligant after her.” 

Clay was smiling again, at least. “So you’ve done yer’ research. Lilligant was one of the pokémon she famously tamed, but I don’ think she ever had one.” 

“How does that work?” Cheren asked, brow furrowed. He let his Liepard out of its ball, scratching the top of its head. 

“It was a wild pokémon causing trouble for the local folk, but she calmed it right down,” Clay said. “Did that a few times, but I don’ know the details. All this to say is— be respectful of the mountains, kids. It may look empty, but if you look long enough in an empty space, you’ll find something eventually. Whether that’s Team Plasma or the relics of the past is up to you.” 

He gave them another reassuring smile as he left, and Cheren let out a sigh of relief. 

“I thought he was going to enlist us in that mess again. I mean, I know it’s a problem, but—” 

“A little hypocritical of you, then, don’t you think?” Hilda snapped. “Asking if they’ve taken action. If you want to become Champion, just know that dealing with this stuff will be your primary job.” 

“I know. But for now, we’re just trainers on our journey, not Champions,” Cheren said. “We should get to enjoy it.” 

He left Hilda on her own, but she didn’t mind. After what Clay had said, her mind was whirling with ideas of what she would do in Twist Mountain. She let her Lilligant out of her ball, eager for company.

“Let’s go, Dawn,” she said softly. “The secrets of the mountain await us. What do you think we’ll find?” 

Her Lilligant chirped, eyes crinkled in a smile that made Hilda laugh. “Yeah, I hope it’s good, too. But you’ll never know unless you go!” 

She strode into the mountain proper, her Lilligant on her heels, a plan beginning to form. N had said Team Plasma was doing excavations in search of the Legendary Dragons, so perhaps the first key to stopping them was to locate their excavation sites. 

“I mean, I like N. But I also understand that he needs to be stopped, and I’m probably the only one who can do that,” Hilda said, quiet enough so only Dawn could hear. “Are you okay with helping me?” 

Dawn chirped, placing one armlike leaf on Hilda’s hand.
Hilda smiled. “Alright. Let’s go now.” 

Chapter Text

“Dawn, child of Sinnoh. What is it you are truly after?” 

What do you mean? 

“My question is simple. Why are you here, in Hisui, when you could be at home in Sinnoh?” 

I’m here because I was brought here. I didn’t choose to come.
    The voice fell silent for a moment, and Dawn thought she could sense displeasure through whatever strange telepathy this creature was using. Did I answer wrong? 

“It’s not a question of answering right or wrong, child,” the voice chided. “Perhaps I should ask differently. Have you found your answer to my question, or has my aid been for naught?” 

Oh. It’s Wyrdeer. The events of the fight with Kleavor returned to her in a flash, alongside everything else that had happened during the past two weeks. Hisui. Alpha Krikitune. Ancient clans that worship Dialga and Palkia. Sasha, my new starter.

Dawn breathed deeply, acutely aware of the air around her, but unable to see anything except splotches of darkness. And you’re asking…what my purpose here is?

“Indeed. Have you an answer?”
Dawn thought for a moment. Why am I here? There didn’t seem to be any reason behind her coming to Hisui at first glance, but the more she thought about it, she began to realize the answer was right in front of her. 

I suppose…my answer is that I’m here to help people. It’s the duty of a Champion to help her people in whatever needs doing, right? Or…something like that. 

If she didn’t know better, she’d say Wyrdeer was laughing. “That is true. And after what you’ve encountered with Lord Kleavor, would you say these people need help?” 

Desperately. Didn’t Adaman say something about a similar problem closer to his own clan? Kleavor isn’t the only one who went on a rampage, right?

“Indeed. Very well, Dawn, Child of Sinnoh. I find you worthy of my aid. Grow stronger still, and you may yet win the hearts of my fellow nobles. I do not doubt you are up to the task.” 

The voice went silent, and Dawn lost consciousness again. 

***

“Hey, Akari, are you awake?”
Dawn sat bolt upright, her vision snapping into focus. Rei was standing to the side, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot. “Yeah, I’m awake.” 

Rei smiled. “Good. Your leg looks better, but the doctor said you should stay off of it for a few days. Which…might be a problem, because the boss has a new mission for you, but hopefully you’ve earned yourself enough leave after facing Kleavor to heal up properly.” 

Dawn winced, taking a moment to examine her leg. It didn’t look too torn up, but touching it revealed it was still quite tender, and her nerves still shook with pain. They don’t have painkillers in this era, do they? 

“So I’m, what? Forbidden to leave the infirmary, or just Jubilife?” Dawn asked, feeling her waist for her poké balls. “Also, where did Adaman go? He’s the one who brought me here, right?” 

“He did, but he’s upstairs talking to the boss right now,” Rei said. “You were out for a few hours, which was a little worrying, but it doesn’t seem like you have any brain damage.” 

“That’s…good,” Dawn said. “But what about the Commander? What am I doing next?” 

Rei sighed. “As of now, you have no orders, so I’d try and rest as much as you can. Laventon’s at the Wallflower right now, and I think he’s going to bring you something, but I dunno how he’s gonna manage that.” He frowned, and Dawn was about to ask ‘does the Wallflower not do takeout?’ before remembering that ‘takeout’ as a concept might not exist in Hisui yet. 

Sounds of shouting wafted down from above, and Dawn raised an eyebrow at the few words she could hear. Time was one of them, and Almighty Sinnoh, but there was also something about crimson and an ‘Ursaluna?’

“Don’t mind them. My brother and your Commander don’t always get along, but it makes it even worse that Iridia’s up there with them.” Dawn started, seeing Mai in the doorway, Munchlax at her feet. “Sorry. But Wyrdeer wanted to stay in Jubilife, so I’m staying with him to prevent concern.”

Another beat of silence, and more shouting drifted down from above, and this time Dawn could pick out Iridia’s voice among the clamber. More distinctive was Adaman’s, which drowned her out almost immediately. 

“What are they arguing about this time?” Rei grumbled. “Is it the ‘space versus time’ one again?” 

“Always,” Mai sighed. “But I think this also has to do with Kleavor and Lady Lilligant. No way of knowing for sure until they come down, though. Akari?” 

“Yes?”
“I have a Celestica Flute for you, by the way. Since Wyrdeer’s deemed you worthy, I might as well give it to you now. You don’t need your legs to play, right?” 

Dawn was about to ask several questions, one of which being how did you know Wyrdeer deemed me worthy, before remembering that Mai was his warden and he’d likely told her. “No, I don’t,” Dawn said slowly. “Why?” 

“With a Celestica Flute, you’ll be able to summon certain nobles to help you get places faster. But they have to find you worthy first, and you have to learn to play. So, repeat after me.” 

Dawn did so, finding the melody simple, and the flute itself was small and easily stored in her pouch. Once she was finished, she looked out the window, and did a double-take when she found Wyrdeer standing there, staring. 

“Ah. Yes, that might startle some people,” Mai said sheepishly. “I should tend to him. Recover fast, Akari.” 

She was gone quickly, and Wyrdeer soon after. Laventon came in with the promised meal from the Wallflower, and though the potato mochi was good, Dawn idly wondered if they had anything else to eat in the town. She thanked Laventon profusely, and he brushed her off, saying it was ‘no trouble at all’ and ‘anything for our sky-fallen friend.’

After Rei and Laventon left, Dawn was left alone for several hours, save the company of her team and a few doctors. She was given special permission to let her pokémon out of their balls, with the exception of Lucas, since he was an Alpha and presumed ‘too dangerous to be let loose indoors.’ So Dawn sat and stroked Sasha’s fur and thought of the dream she’d had.

She couldn’t remember much, visually. Just an empty black void, with the occasional splash of dark blue swimming through her vision; her brain’s attempt to conjure images where there were none. Wyrdeer’s voice—where it had come from, she didn’t know, but she could hear every last detail, down to the faces she was certain the pokémon had made. 

These people need help. And it’s my duty as a Champion to help them. It was the answer she’d given Wyrdeer to earn his approval, but in her waking mind, she was no longer certain that was true. I’m not exactly their Champion, am I? 

“Mai told me you were awake. I’m glad to see you’ve remained so this long.” 

Startled from her thoughts, Dawn’s hand momentarily stalled in Sasha’s fur as she faced Adaman, who was leaning against the doorframe. The sun had set outside— has it been that long? Or was it already late when I woke up? There weren’t any clocks or any other timepieces Dawn was used to seeing, so she had no way of knowing. 

“Yeah,” she said, resuming her motions. “Though, I’ll admit it’s pretty boring.” 

“I agree. Having so much time and unable to do anything with it is the worst feeling.” 

Skyla was fast asleep on the bedpost, head drooping methodically, so much so that Dawn was worried she’d pitch forward and fall, but she never did. 

Dawn nodded absentmindedly, unsure of how to respond, and ended up just staring at the man. He looked like one of those teenage bad boys in the movies she used to watch with her mom—the ones where having too much grease in his hair, dressing in only dark colors, and having a dark- or ghost-type pokémon partner automatically made him the most attractive man in the room. Dawn could remember the days where she would watch the same movie over and over again just to reach the end and get jealous of the girl when the main couple ended up together. It was silly to think about now, but back then, it had been everything. 

Maybe it still is, Dawn thought. Looking at him, she could understand what her twelve-year-old self had been thinking.

“Is this…” Adaman moved fully into the dimly-lit room, looking at Sasha, nestled in her lap. 

“Oh, Sasha? He’s my st—my partner,” Dawn hastily corrected. “It’s…a bit of a long story, but I got him from Laventon.” 

“He looks comfortable. I had my doubts about your poké balls, but…” he shook his head. “Nevermind. I know you don’t like that talk.” 

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault you’re distrustful. They were just invented, right?” 

Red flipped over from where he was laying on her feet, and immediately went back to sleep. The action drew both Dawn and Adaman’s attention, both of them smiling. 

“You’re right,” Adaman said, “But you seem to be quite experienced with them. Rei said that’s because they’re quite common where you’re from.”

“They are,” Dawn said warily, hand beginning to stall on Sasha’s head. “Where are you going with this?” 

“It’s nothing nefarious, I promise,” Adaman said, holding his hands up. “But you were bored and I wanted to check on you, so we might as well talk, right? Try and prevent the waste of time while we have the chance.” 

He grabbed a chair from the other end of the room and pulled it up to her bed, close enough that she didn’t have to strain to look at him. His Leafeon hopped up onto her bed, gently padding around Dawn’s team before settling on top of her legs, tail brushing Barry’s back. She heard Adaman mutter something like traitor, but the Leafeon yawned and sprawled over her legs like he hadn’t. 

“Speaking of time, what time is it?” Dawn asked, examining Adaman’s wrists. If anyone had a watch in this time period, it would be the leader of the group that worshipped time, right?

“Haven’t had the chance to look,” Adaman said. “But I have other questions, if you’re open to answering.” 

Dawn inadvertently shifted, stirring Sasha and Barry from where they slept, and abruptly realized that, aside from the standard belt she’d seen no one go without, she wasn’t wearing any of her normal clothes.

“Sure,” Dawn said, running a hand over the thin white robe the doctor had put her in. “What exactly do you want to know?” This stuff isn’t see-through, is it? 

Sasha chirped at her incessantly, butting against her hand, but Dawn was only partially paying attention as Adaman started talking. 

“First off…forgive me if this is insensitive, how old are you? It’s…hard to tell just by looking.” 

“It’s not insensitive,” Dawn began slowly. “A little out there, but not insensitive.” How, exactly, do I explain that I stopped aging when I got possessed by the god his clan worships? 

“Still.” He shifted uncomfortably. “I only ask because I’ve heard several conflicting accounts, and, well…you look somewhat ageless.” 

Her stomach sank like a stone. That one, she’d heard before. She was either too young for her actual age, or she was immortal. I might be. But there’s no quick way to tell, right? For the thousandth time since the confrontation with Team Galactic had happened, she cursed Dialga for taking away even something so simple. 

“So I’ve been told,” Dawn said. “If you must know, I’m eighteen.”
“Wait, seriously?” He shot up, astounded. “So you’re my age.” 

“I suppose so. Honestly, I thought I was closer to Mai.”
Adaman snorted. “She’s twenty-three. Contrary to popular belief, I’m the younger sibling, not her. And the fact that people assume otherwise bothers her a great deal.” 

She nodded, empathizing completely. “Also, weren’t you making fun of Iridia for being too young not too long ago?” 

“She just turned sixteen and has been ruling her clan for barely a year. I’ve been in charge for almost four years, and I’m nineteen. Is it petty? Yes, but that’s my way of keeping her on her toes.” 

He’s nineteen? And ruler of his clan? What is it with this place and child leaders? That made three out of four teenagers that had met about Kleavor. No wonder Kamado looks so angry all the time. His equals are all half his age. 

“Next question. How, exactly, did you manage to quell Kleavor? Iridia said something about throwing food, but…” 

Right. She was answering questions. Get a grip, Dawn. “That’s right, actually. We put his favorite foods in balms and just…threw them. I had to fight him, too, but most of it was throwing food.” 

Adaman laughed disbelievingly, one hand threading through his hair. “That simple, huh? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” 

“It is surprisingly simple,” Dawn agreed. “And it worked, but not as well as I would have liked.”

“Clearly.” He raised an eyebrow, nodding to her leg. “Now, what did you give my Leafeon that he would abandon you so readily?” 

“Nothing. I’m just good with pokémon.” Dawn smiled, sitting up again and scratching the Leafeon behind the ears for good measure, then attempted to pet Sasha when he chirped indignantly. 

“You’ve been ignoring him for too long,” Adaman said teasingly. “Be careful, he’s going to demand extra food from you now.” 

“My deepest apologies, Sasha,” Dawn said, bringing Sasha closer to stroke him properly. “I shouldn't have neglected you so egregiously.” 

Adaman laughed again, which confused her. “What? Don’t tell me Leafeon’s never done something similar. I know the type, and I know what they’re like.” 

“Oh, he has,” Adaman said, “But I’ve never heard anyone use such terms to describe that before.”

“What have you got against big words?”
“They’re a waste of time. Why use a long, complicated term when a short one will do?” But he was still smiling, and it made Dawn’s cheeks heat and filled her stomach with Beautifly. 

Screw you, Dialga. Your followers are unreasonably attractive. Not that Dialga had any influence over that, but still. 

“You may be right, but I think it’s funnier,” Dawn said. “But…in all seriousness, I have some questions for you, too. Mainly having to do with whatever feud you have with the Pearl Clan. Rei’s said a few things, but…” 

“Right.” Adaman’s smile fell, and so did her stomach. “It’s a centuries-long debate, and it’s caused several wars between us. Each clan believes in their own version of Almighty Sinnoh, and is convinced that they’re in the right, and that the other worships a false version and, in turn, causes all the misfortune that happens to either of us.” He sighed; Leafeon looked up, finally jumping back into his trainer’s lap and curling up. “You already know that the Diamond Clan believes that Almighty Sinnoh controls time. The Pearl Clan believes it controls space. Neither of us has ever been able to prove the other wrong, but we argue over it anyway. I think it’s a waste of time, but… nothing to be done about that when Iridia insists on it.” 

Dawn nodded slowly. So I was right about the confusion. Dialga and Palkia are largely unknown to these people, and they don’t seem to have ever heard of Arceus. I wonder if that’s part of the problem here. 

“I see,” she said slowly. “Follow-up question, what’s generally known about the space-time rift? Laventon is, unfortunately, not very descriptive.” 

“Well, I can’t help you there. He’s the one who knows the most about it,” Adaman said. “It’s the source of the lighting. Both you and one of the Pearl Clan’s wardens fell out of there, but you seem to have your memories intact. Melli tells me the Pearl warden doesn’t, and apparently that makes him annoying, but I don’t trust his judgement of people.” 

Dawn gasped, and it must have shown on her face how astounded she was. “There’s…another one? Like me?” 

Adaman nodded. “Again, he’s part of the Pearl Clan, and lives pretty far from Jubilife. I’m not sure you’ll ever come into contact with him unless the Galaxy Team sends someone that close to the rift.” 

She pursed her lips, feeling defeated. “Right. Sorry I asked.”
Leafeon hopped off of Adaman’s lap, padding over to the door. “Don’t be,” his trainer said. “But I think I have to go, and you should get some actual sleep. Good night, Akari.” 

With little more than a glance exchanged, Adaman was gone, leaving Dawn alone.

***

She was released from the infirmary a day earlier than she expected, and allowed to return to her room with her pokémon. It was a relief to be back in the standard Survey Corps uniform, because the infirmary robes felt too much like the pajamas she’d arrived in. 

After unloading what didn’t need to be taken with her into her chest and the various pots and doing a suitable checkup on all members of her team, Dawn stepped out of her room, intending to meet Rei and Professor Laventon at the Wallflower for breakfast before heading to the pastures to release the pokémon she didn’t plan on using at some point. It was not because of anything Team Plasma said, she told herself. It was that no one, especially not herself, had a good reason to keep twenty Bidoof cooped up in a pasture with equally excessive amounts of Kricketot, Geodude, and Zubat. Among many others. 

But when she had closed her door behind her and began walking down the path, she came face-to-face with the last person she’d expected to see. 

Mars.

Chapter Text

Hilda spent a week in Twist Mountain. One long, horrible week. 

It was a productive week, to be clear. But it was dark, and wet, and her clothes stuck to her skin with a mixture of humidity and sweat and Ollie’s new move Surf, finally replacing Aqua Jet. It would be good to have two separate types of water moves, Hilda had reasoned. One utelizing her physical attack, the other her special attack. Nothing wrong there. Except, whenever Ollie practiced the move, Hilda and Dawn both got soaked. 

Her beloved starter had also evolved into a Samurott, but it wasn’t what a Samurott was supposed to look like. She was smaller than she was supposed to be, had black armor instead of cream-colored, streaked with red, and the white fur on her face was much longer. Her horns and shell patterns were curved and sharper, making the ones on her head especially look like thorns. Not to mention the strange move that looked dark-type she’d used to slice through a boulder immediately after her evolution, and while it looked like Night Slash, Hilda wasn’t sure that was right.

Strange looks and moves aside, it was nice to have a fully evolved pokémon on her team, but she was now taller than Hilda, and it made maneuvering through the tight tunnels harder. More than once, she had to return Ollie to her ball, just so she could fit through a particularly tight opening. 

And something nagged at her brain, itching her desire to explore every square inch of this dreadful mountain. In an empty place like this, you’re bound to find something eventually. 

So Hilda searched. She ran into several trainers, slid down several ledges that thankfully weren’t as steep as they appeared at first. But she thought she knew what Clay had been referring to when he said that, and she was determined to track down Team Plasma before Cheren or N could stop her again. 

Ollie was quite helpful in smashing rocks with her Not-Night Slash, even if it sent large chunks flying off. She opened paths Hilda was certain she wouldn’t have been able to find on her own, and perhaps they could be shortcuts in any other circumstance. If nothing else, maybe they’ll lure Team Plasma down false leads. Slow them down a little. 

After hours of digging through endless dirt, finally, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Hilda heaved a sigh of relief, desperate to see natural light after a week of dim lanterns illuminating the path. She sprinted forward, squinting against the sun—

And abruptly stopped when she saw that she was standing on a wooden platform, drilled into the mountainside, overlooking a massive ditch filled with construction vehicles.

Hilda groaned, falling on her knees in despair. At least I found a way out… and if she could reach the bottom, she could restock on healing supplies. Maybe even take a shower.

Gathering her resolve again, she stood up, carefully examining her more immediate surroundings. The wooden platform stretched out both ways, always terminating in some deep, dark hole that Hilda was reluctant to enter. But there weren’t any other ways down, and she wasn’t getting to a shower— much less Icirrus City— by remaining on the top of the mountain. And descending meant entering.

Resisting the urge to cry, Hilda shimmeyed along the wooden boards until she got to the last reachable tunnel before disappearing inside, calling Ollie out to assist with the wild Boldore that came clamboring to the entrance at the sounds of her footfalls. 

Her own Boldore was safe in his poké ball, ready to jump out at a moment’s notice, but she wasn’t in the mood to strategize her way around fighting rock with rock. And it was nice to spend some quality time with her starter, even if said quality time was smashing through rocks and dirt. 

“At least we know we’re almost through,” she said, meeting Ollie’s eye. “Shouldn’t be too long now.” 

Ollie made a noise that sounded like agreement before following Hilda down steep, barely-distinguishable stairs into yet another tunnel that was barely wider than the Boldore she saw hanging inside.

“I wonder where Team Plasma is?” Hilda wondered aloud. “We’ve been here for a week and I haven’t seen them, so either N’s rescinded their orders or they’re operating on the other side of the mountain. A little bit of a pity, honestly. I was hoping to try my hand at some of their grunts again.” 

Ollie growled, horn clacking against the rock. “What? You wanna fight them, too?” 

Her Samurott growled again, but Hilda thought she was smiling, too. “Right. I haven’t sent you out at them in a while, haven’t I? Sorry about that. I promise, next time we fight, you’ll be first up.” 

I don’t think I’ve sent her to battle against Plasma since Nimbasa City, Hilda thought with unease. The last time she fought was when we fought N. I wonder… what will he think of her now? 

The real question she didn’t want to admit was, what will he think of me? 

***

The possibility occurred to her far too late that the construction—or, now that she looked closer, excavation site— might actually be the work of Team Plasma, but she didn’t figure that out until she realized there was no place for poké balls or training stations on-site. Unovan law required both of those things for the well-being of the pokémon that usually helped out, so the fact that neither were present should have been her first clue. 

However, the site was also deserted, so Hilda helped herself to the utilities they did have. There was a first-aid tent that held healing items for pokémon as well as humans, which Hilda used in abundance, a food tent and, most appreciated of all, a washing station for showering and personal hygiene.

The noises she might have made when she saw the shower might have been embarrassing, but only her pokémon were around to hear them, and Hilda figured it could be a lot worse. 

“Are all of you okay?” She’d let her entire team out of their balls for the time being, and the sun was beginning to set. “Hungry? Tired?” 

Edelgard, the Litwick she’d caught in Celestial Tower, was drooping all over Rocky, tiny eyes closed and flame burning low. Hilda had brought her along to train her up for the Icirrus Gym, but so far they hadn’t met a ton of pokémon she wasn’t severely weak against, and she was looking quite frail.

Even Dara was less enthusiastic than normal. Rather than bouncing off the sides of the construction tents, she rolled in small circles around Ingrid’s hooves, chattering slowly. 

“Ingrid, can you watch them? And let me know if someone shows up we don’t like?” 

Ingrid stamped her hoof and snorted, which Hilda knew by now meant ‘yes, of course. Leave it to me.’ 

“Thanks. I’m glad I can count on you. Ollie, Dawn, can you come with me? I’m going to investigate the barracks. If it’s as deserted as it looks, we can sleep here tonight.” 

If this is Team Plasma’s site, should I be leaving my pokémon in the open? But she trusted Ingrid to fight off anyone who tried to pick a fight with her team, and they’d be back together soon anyway. The largest building appeared to be the barracks, and it was still within sight of her Zebstrika. 

The interior confirmed every suspicion with a Team Plasma flag hanging by the door. It wasn’t in view of any windows, so it wasn’t obvious to the average passersby, but it was nice to have confirmation. 

With that in mind, she bit her lip, assessing the situation. “If we split up, it’ll be faster to search the entire compound. You two can handle yourselves if you get into a fight, right?” 

Dawn bounced from foot to foot. Ollie growled and nodded once. “Good. If you don’t find anything, meet me back here, okay? And if you do, scream.” 

More growls of agreement, and Hilda nodded, creeping up the nearby set of stairs to the second floor. The building didn’t look tall enough for two stories from the outside, but they were clearly present, and any not-barrack bedrooms would likely be there. 

Moving carefully so as not to accidentally alert anyone to her position, Hilda examined the hall before her. There were lights, but all were turned off, and there were only three doors that she could see. Given that it was fully dark outside as well as inside, that didn’t mean much. 

Here goes nothing. 

The first door led to a bathroom. The second, an electrical closet. The third was a bedroom—but it wasn’t a barracks encampment. There was a king-sized canopy bed in the center, stands on either side holding lamps and piled high with thick books. A Rubik’s Cube sat, solved, in the corner of a tall wooden dresser. Curtains covered the windows. It looked like a room fit for a king.

The realization hit her like a truck. Maybe it is. Maybe this is where N’s been hiding out. But if that was the case, then why wasn’t he here? 

Maybe he’s coming back. After all, she spotted several things she could recognize as his own personal items. He would certainly be back for those, wherever he’d gone. 

With that in mind, she turned to leave, but not before she spotted a surprisingly bland journal under the Rubik’s Cube. It didn’t look nearly as extravagant as everything else—in fact, it looked quite worn—so Hilda picked it up. 

Her apprehension turned to vicious joy as she opened the thin clasp and looked inside. It’s a mission log. A detailed record of every order he’s given to his team. She wanted to look through it, but she couldn’t leave her team for long. 

She examined the rest of the room to see if there was anything else of value, but aside from strange scratches,  there wasn’t. Hilda scrambled the Rubik’s Cube before she left, out of spite.

     Returning to the main level revealed a closet stuffed with both fold-away materials and things that looked more permanent, like desks and monitors. None of the materials bore the Plasma insignia, though, so perhaps the base wasn’t truly theirs, they were just borrowing it. 

Works for me. Makes the lack of security make more sense, too. Ollie and Dawn were already done with their searches, and neither appeared to have been in any sort of fight. 

“Let’s get the others. We should be fine if we stay the night, but we’ll have to leave early. If Team Plasma does come back, we want to be long gone when they do.”

Her initial intension had been to stay in the barracks, but the thought of sleeping on a fully cushioned bed big enough for her and her entire team called to her. I’ve been sleeping in caves for a week. And no one’s here. I’ll be long gone by the time they return, so what’s the harm? Grinning to herself for her reasoning skills, she beckoned to her team.

She re-entered N’s room with her pokémon in tow, and after deadbolting the door behind her, let them all out to settle down in various spots. Hilda peeled off her mountain-stained clothes, changing into the softer garments she used as pajamas, burrowing under the covers with N’s notebook clutched tight in her hand.

A heavy weight dipped the bed next to her, and she smiled, seeing Ollie carefully maneuvering so as not to cut the curtains with her horns. “It’s okay. You can sleep with me.”

The rest of her pokémon took that as an invitation, and she soon found herself with her arms around Dara, Ingrid at the foot of the bed, and Ollie and Dawn sprawled out beside her. Rocky and Edelgard settled down next to one of the nightstands facing the door, like watchmen.

Hilda inhaled deeply, smelling musk, rain, and mint on the pillows. Somehow, N always managed to smell like that—not that Hilda paid attention to such things. 

But the scent was comforting, and she fell asleep to thoughts of him.

***

The alarm she’d set on her Xtranciever went off at the crack of dawn, and as much as Hilda didn’t want to get up, she knew she had no choice. She didn’t want to risk any run-in with Team Plasma on their own turf. So, after a quick breakfast of spare berries for her pokémon and an energy bar for herself, they left. 

Diving back into the caves of Twist Mountain was the last thing Hilda wanted to do, but she did it nonetheless, the record of Team Plasma’s movements tucked safely in her bag. Most of her team had been returned to their balls, with only Ollie remaining out. Popping a lemonade she’d gotten from the vending machine, they crept into the caverns closest to the base of the excavation site. 

The darkness took over almost immediately, and Hilda pulled out one of the spare flashlights she’d gotten by raiding the supply closets. No lanterns or other light were established at all here, which meant this was something dug by pokémon, or…

Ollie growled worriedly next to her, making a show of looking around the empty tunnel. 

“I know,” Hilda said. “Something tells me they’re trying to keep us away because they’ve found something big.”

Her pace quickened, flashlight flicking from wall to wall. There were stairs—steep, and coated with moisture, so much so that Hilda contemplated having Dara come out and fry it to get rid of the hazard. But then, the hazard was likely part of the turn-off. 

Reaching the bottom and recalling Ollie—her starter couldn’t make the descent on her own— Hilda stepped into the next tunnel, then gasped at what was on the other side. 

The very stone had changed. It was like this one chamber was made out of a completely different rock than the rest of the mountain. Entirely gray, with flecks of silver and a strange smell that wasn’t quite sulfur, it assaulted her nose and caused shivers to run up her spine. 

Most disturbing was the glowing white rock in the center, shimmering ominously and nearly blinding Hilda in the darkness. 

She let out a shuddering breath. That breath clouded in front of her, suddenly too warm for the surrounding air. 

Unhooking Ingrid’s poké ball, Hilda took a few steps forward, flashlight moving slower against the ground. This must be what they were looking for. Maybe they’ve already found it. 

Aside from the glowing white stone, it appeared empty. There was nothing on the ground that Hilda could see, and no pokémon cried in the darkness. She approached the glowing rock, and found that everything grew so much colder. 

“Is this ice?” The whisper escaped her before she thought to control it, but it seemed to be the case. It was looked like ice, but the surrounding air was so cold that Hilda thought she might freeze if she touched it. 

Her breath caught. There’s something inside there. It was hard to tell what, exactly, it was, but…

It looked like a pokémon. For a moment, Hilda wondered if it could be one of the Legendary Dragons N had been talking about, but it looked too small. The size of what she thought a Sneasel would be, if she’d ever seen one… or maybe an Axew? It was hard to tell through the distorted view the ice offered. 

Something creaked. Something else snapped. Every nerve in Hilda’s body screamed Danger! As she bolted from the rock, up a set of more man-made-looking stairs that went up the other side of the cave, and didn’t stop sprinting until she’d burst out of the mountain.

Chapter Text

Mars. She’s here. But how? Why? 

Dawn stood, frozen to the spot, as Mars turned around and faced her. She was dressed in Diamond Clan blue, with the same insignia embroidered on it that Adaman and Mai had, and a satchel across her chest. Her wide skirt was gone, replaced with a slightly longer robe, and wore otherwise ordinary-looking pants and boots. 

“Um, hey. You okay there?”
Dawn shook her head, snapped back into the present—the past—after thinking about the past—which was the future. What is my life? 

“Oh, good. Thought you’d gone out on me. Which, you might. You Survey Corps folks are a strange bunch. I don’t know how you do it. What am I saying? You are Akari, the one who quelled Kleavor, right?” 

Mars… is not usually this talkative. Granted, she’d only ever faced the woman in intense pokémon battles. And she hadn’t exactly been silent. But this is on another level. 

“Who’s to say?” Dawn asked, wary. Anxiety hummed through her veins. Does she not recognize me? Or has she lost her memory? Adaman had mentioned that another person had fallen from the rift, so maybe it had been her. After all, in Dawn’s original time, they’d never been able to catch any of the Team Galactic admins. But didn’t Adaman say it was a man in the Pearl Clan?

“Well, a lot of people say. You’ve got quite the reputation! I mean, not just anyone can quell one of Almighty Sinnoh’s chosen ones! Some people are actually kinda scared of you.” 

Is that a threat?
“I sure hope not,” Dawn said slowly. “I have no intention of hurting the people of Jubilife.” 

“Of course,” Mars said, backing up. “Oh, did I not introduce myself? Name’s Arezu! I’m a warden of the Diamond Clan, but I’m also a skilled hairdresser. It’s nice to meet you.”

Dawn’s brain short-circuted. Arezu?
But she was already gone. Her heart hammered in her chest as she spun around, seeing the flash of red hair disappearing into the Galaxy Hall. 

Dawn sprinted after her, all thoughts of breakfast at the Wallflower forgotten as she stormed up the stairs to Kamado’s office. I’ve got to warn them. How to explain…?

But as she slowed, coming towards the top of the stairs, she caught some of the conversation and was further confused. 

“So it’s true. Ursaluna has been struck as well. So even the lesser nobles can become frenzied…” Kamado shook his head. “You did well to inform us of this, Ms. Arezu.”

“Well, who else was I supposed to turn to? Adaman’s busy with Lady Lilligant’s situation and running our clan, and Mistress Calaba wouldn’t give me the time of day.”

“Of the wardens, she is the most narrow-minded— er, bound by tradition,” Kamado grumbled. “Ah, Akari! There you are.” 

What could she have said? I didn’t think she recognized me, Dawn thought mournfully as Kamado straightened and said, “You have a new mission, Akari. I order you to survey Ursaluna and the Crimson Mirelands! You are permitted to show strength if necessary.” 

She nodded once, looked back at Mars—Arezu? —and left, mind whirling. What is happening? 

None of it made sense. What was the red-haired woman talking about? What had she said to Kamado? It couldn’t have been much, but…

I should tell someone. Adaman, maybe, or Volo—a merchant would probably have more information on strange wanderers, but Adaman was the clan’s leader. But neither of them are here right now. So who?

***

Dawn attempted, haltingly, to explain her situation to Captain Cyllene, without actually accusing the strange red-haired woman of anything. 

“Arezu is the warden of the Diamond Clan’s Lady of the Ridge. She was also born here. But you say you know her?” 

“Not exactly,” Dawn said, hands twisting behind her back. “But—I thought I recognized her. I might have also called her by a different name.” 

“Like you did with me.”
Dawn’s head snapped up, meeting Cyllene’s eyes. She looked cold and unfeeling, like Cyrus always had—but then, Cyllene always looked like that. Often, her actions were softer than her face was. 

So Dawn let out a shaking breath and said, “Yes.”
She was surprised when Cyllene reached out and seized her hand, placing it on the table, clasped in her own. “Akari? May I speak plainly?” 

“I— I should be the one asking you that,” Dawn stuttered. “You’re the captain, after all.” 

“When I say this, I do not speak as your captain,” Cyllene said sternly. “Akari, I don’t know what you went through in your world, on the other side of the rift. I don’t know who ‘Cyrus’ is. I don’t know the woman who looks like Arezu to you. But I do know this.” 

She met Dawn’s eyes, and it took her a moment to discern the fierce emotion in the other woman’s face. It was such a strange sight it caught her off guard, since she’d never seen anything like it with Cyrus. Or Cyllene, but even after weeks in Hisui, her mind went to Cyrus first. 

“You are a member of the Galaxy Team. So no matter if the sky falls or if your demons from the other side come to claim you, we will be here for you. Akari, you are safe with us.” 

It was a comfort she desperately craved, but she also suspected it was a lie. “Don’t most people in this village think I have something to do with the rift? That I’m the reason all of this is happening?” 

“They’re wrong. I’m certain of it. Do not pay any mind to those who know nothing of what you’ve done.”

Her face had barely changed, but Dawn could sense the fierceness in her words. 

“Thank you, Captain.”
Cyllene released her hand, leaning back in her chair, stern expression back in place. “You have been ordered to assess the Crimson Mirelands, yes?” 

Dawn nodded. “Yes. I am tasked with handling the Ursaluna situation. That is… a noble, isn’t it?” 

Cyllene sighed. “Correct. You will find Ursaluna’s warden, most likely, in a location known as the Solaceon Ruins. It is not far from our base camp there, so you should not have much trouble avoiding the wild pokémon.”

Momentary silence. Cyllene looked up from her papers, face softening again. “Arezu is a kind woman, if airheaded sometimes. You face no threat from her.” 

Dawn managed the barest of nods. “Thank you, Captain.”
“Child. Call me Cyllene. Almighty Sinnoh—whichever one exists— knows that the recruits your age do it enough.” 

Dawn flushed. “I’m older than I look.”
Cyllene made a sound, and it was so jarring that she didn’t register it as a laugh at first. She can laugh?

“So you’ve said before,” Cyllene smiled. “I’m sure there’s an interesting story behind why you still bear the face of a child.”

“Interesting is one word for it,” Dawn said shortly, and Cyllene’s seriousness returned again. 

“Apologies for my insensitivity. You have your assignment, and your star rank thus far qualifies you for the area. Dismissed.” 

“Thank you, Cyllene,” Dawn whispered, and left.

***

Though Dawn had spent a grand total of an hour catching Budew and Carnivine, she had already concluded that this was the worst area she’d been to in Hisui. It was covered in more mud than dirt, the air was thick and humid, and sweat drenched her back and face despite the fact that she’d barely set foot in the place.

She also was only somewhat sure where she was in terms of modern Sinnoh. How far did the Crimson Mirelands extend? How many of the modern towns had foundations, and which were still mere wilderness?

One thing was for sure—none of the routes had been formed yet. The most she could see were wooden bridges across some of the rivers, but even those were few and far between. 

Rei had been allowed to accompany her, though he was merely there for surveillance, and potentially helping set up the new base camp. Still, he wished her luck as she crossed the bridge for good, making her way past the Carnivines and up the steps to the Solaceon Ruins. 

After Sasha finished off the last of the irritants— not just Carnivines, but also Paras— he turned to her, chirping up a storm, so much so that she worried he’d explode.

Can Cyndaquil learn Explosion? She didn’t think so, but…
“What’s up with you?” she asked, squatting down to be closer to his level. “Why are you freaking out?” 

In response, he started glowing blue.
Dawn was left there, surprised as her partner evolved into Quilava, growing longer and finally opening his eyes. He chirped at her, voice lower, making her chuckle. 

“I hope you know this means I won’t be able to carry you,” she said. “I’m not that strong, and you’re too large now.” 

Sasha pouted, but trotted up the ledge on his own anyway, making her chuckle again. It’s about time, I guess. 

Several other members of her team had evolved— namely Crasher Wake, Skyla, and Lucas. Though Bidoof, Shinx, and Starly were known to evolve early, it was nice to see her starter finally do it. Though it was a strange feeling, the evolution of her starter always made her feel as though she’d truly reached the next level. 

“How do you think they managed to cover up this entrance?” Dawn asked Sasha. “It doesn’t exist in the future. The only entrance to the ruins is from Solaceon Town, and that’s on top of the mountain.” 

Sasha chittered, quickening his pace, then turned and stared at her dolefully. 

“Alright, alright,” Dawn laughed. “I’ll stop. Come on.”
Perhaps she shouldn’t have been surprised, given the time period, but the Solaceon Ruins looked far less…ruined in Hisui. The walls were polished, and looked like a true building despite being mostly encompassed by the mountain. But the room as a whole held an eerie purple glow Dawn couldn’t pinpoint the source of, so she whispered for Sasha to keep close as they entered the ruins proper. 

The chamber was large and empty, containing only a dark-skinned, short, elderly woman dressed in the same silver-purple garb as Lian wore. A Bibarel rested at her feet, at ease but not quite asleep. 

Before Dawn could say anything, the woman turned around, scowling. A large leaf of a sootfoot root hung over her head, making her look somehow more intimidating. 

“I am Calaba. Warden Calaba to you. And you are the Galaxy girl who quelled Kleavor, yes?” 

Dawn nodded, unsure what this woman was after.
“And you have a Celestica Flute…” Calaba’s scowl deepened. “Tell me, girl. Did you truly fall out of the space-time rift?” 

“I did, yes,” Dawn said. Adaman mentioned a Pearl Clan warden who fell from there, too… but does she know about that? Where does that warden live? Come to think of it, where does the Pearl Clan live? I know the Diamond Clan’s here in the mirelands…

“Facinating. So even those on the other side of space resort to violence to solve their problems, while those of us who respect the space of others live peacefully.” Her frown turned to Sasha at her side and the poké balls at her belt. “It is clear your people need to learn the same lesson.” 

Dawn bristled, but it was clear Calaba wasn’t done. “You ‘quelled’ Kleavor, yes, but all you did was bully a great pokémon lord into submission. You confine those you count as ‘partners’ to balls that reject Almighty Sinnoh’s gift of space. And the fact that the Diamond Clan so readily associates with you, even turning to you for help…” she shook her head, making a disgusted noise in her throat. “I don’t need help from them or you. Be on your way, and do not pester me any further.” 

She turned on her heel— or tried to, but the motion was choppy as Calaba returned to the rear of the chamber, examining a large, cracked carving that had several pieces missing. It was a fascinating carving, from what Dawn could tell, but she wasn’t caught up in that so much as seeing the phantom robes of the Team Plasma Sages adorning Calaba on the posters hanging in Nimbasa City. 

“Go!” Calaba barked again, and Dawn and Sasha hurried out of the ruins.

***

“Ah, if it isn’t Akari! I’m afraid I haven’t seen much of you lately!”
“Hey, Volo,” Dawn said, the sight of the merchant’s face bringing relief. Not only did he look strikingly like Cynthia, but he was also friendly on his own, always set up closest to the Galaxy Hall and ready to ply her with new wares. “Sorry about that. I’ve been busy.” 

“With Kleavor, yes? I’d like to see the strength that could quell a frenzied lord,” Volo said, gray eyes sparkling. “How about we battle? You look tense.” 

“What, do you want me to crush you again?” Dawn asked teasingly, nodding at Sasha. “He’s grown stronger, you know. So have the others.” 

“But see, they’re not the only ones,” Volo replied, retrieving a poké ball. 

Dawn laughed, and all worries of Calaba and Team Plasma wafted away. “I’ll believe it when I see it.” 

They spread out sufficiently, and Volo lead with his Togepi, same as he had the first time they’d fought. Sasha growled in anticipation, flames spurting on his back. 

“Togepi! Use Disarming Voice!” Volo called. His Togepi rolled forward, nearly hitting Sasha’s face, before standing and unleashing the move with full power.

“Tacklel!”
Sasha slammed his head into the Togepi, throwing it back hard enough to send dirt and gravel flying.

“Quite the powerful move,” Volo mused aloud. “I didn’t think a simple Tackle could be so strong.” 

Dawn snorted. “Then you haven’t seen anything yet. Now, Sasha! Use Flame Wheel!”
The move hit hard, and Togepi fainted. Volo recalled it, stowing the poké ball somewhere in his robes.

“Impressive,” he said, “But that won’t work so easily this time.”
“Why? Did you get another pokémon?” She didn’t care that she sounded taunting. The adrenaline from battling always brought out the most forceful parts of her. 

“I did. Go, Gible!”
Dawn had to resist the urge to laugh. Some things don’t change, even across the ages. Cynthia’s most famous pokémon was her ace, Garchomp, but Dawn knew from experience that she also had a Togekiss. They have the same team. The thought made her smile.

Thankfully, Volo was much weaker than his descendant. Though Gible took out Sasha quickly with a Bulldoze, Dawn still surprised Volo by bringing out Barry, who darted forward and used Ice Fang before Gible had the chance to unleash the Twister. 

Volo laughed, recalling his Gible and shaking his head. “I should have expected that. You’re quite prodigious.”

“Why thank you,” Dawn said, giving a mock curtsey. “I aim to impress.” 

“And impress you have. But that proves to me that I must bring you along to resolve this ‘wall fragment’ issue.” 

She raised an eyebrow. “What wall fragment?”
Volo sighed, adjusting his pack. “It’s what Mistress Calaba’s all in a tizzy about. The Miss Fortunes came and pillaged the ruins, making off with a few of the wall fragments. It’s not the first time they’ve caused major problems—they’ve attacked even the Gingko Guild a few times— but this…” 

Dawn nodded. “Okay, I’ll bite. I’ve been ordered to assist her, though I will say I’m not too eager to do it.” The way Calaba had so readily dismissed her without so much as hearing Dawn out still irked her.

He sighed again, starting down the soft slope. “I understand the sentiment. But onto more pleasant matters— I’ve heard you’ve been accepted by Wyrdeer as worthy. Not only are you quelling nobles, they’ve agreed to lend you their power!”

“It seems that way,” she said, but her spirits fell at the thought of Wyrdeer’s dream and Kleavor’s wound. “By the way—I got strange plates from both of them. I think I know what they are, but—” 

“Plates?” An odd gleam entered Volo’s eye, and though it reminded Dawn somewhat of Cynthia when she talked about ruins and myths, it had something malicious behind it that made her uncomfortable.

“Yes. This is the one from Wyrdeer.” She showed him the magenta plate she’d received, unease growing. “Do you know what this is?” 

Volo laughed, and it was filled with such sincere joy that most of Dawn’s doubts evaporated. “Yes! I can’t believe it— this is one of the legendary plates! And you got it from Wyrdeer, you say?” 

“I did. I got something similar from Kleavor, too.”
He was grinning ear-to-ear, and the Cynthia comparisons were really overwhelming. “This— this is amazing, Akari! If you find any others, can you show them to me? I have some theories I need to test.” 

“Of course.” Sasha trotted beside them both as they re-entered the forest to the left of the ruins. “Now, tell me about these ‘Miss Fortunes.’”

Chapter Text

Hilda emerged back at the excavation site panting and drenched in condensation and sweat, the images of the ice and the pokémon trapped inside burned into her mind.

She stood panting, hands on her knees, waiting for her mind and heart to stop pounding so fiercely so she could catch her breath. What in Arceus could Team Plasma be doing down there? 

When the adrenaline finally abated, she began moving again. Half as fast and twice as wary as she had before, she climbed to a higher level of the excavation site and went through one of the more even-looking tunnels.

To her great relief, it was back to the regular dim lanterns spaced at the required intervals to provide enough light for workers, pokémon, and trainers passing by. And, judging by the markings in the cave walls that matched those pointed out on her map of the area, she was getting close to Icirrus City, which meant out of this mountain for good. 

Knock on wood, Hilda thought glumly. Knowing her luck, the tunnel would lead her to the highest peak and she’d spend another month trying to get back down. 

Or perhaps things will finally go my way for once. She heard raised voices echoing down the cavern—it wasn’t much, but any human contact was better than nothing. 

Hilda turned the corner and stopped, tentative smile falling into an exhausted grimace at the two white-robed figures that stood before her. One was a blonde man, the second a redheaded woman—the same ones from Chargestone cave.

The redheaded woman looked incredibly disgruntled upon seeing Hilda, but she didn’t appear to have any pokémon out, which was a good sign. She also didn’t look dressed for excavation work, but she might not have been assigned to that.

I can check, Hilda thought giddily. If I find out her name, N’s notebook will tell me what she’s been assigned to. Maybe. Does he write down the names of every grunt? Or does he just use units? How is this team even organized? The more she thought about it, the less she realized she knew.

“You again,” the blonde man said, crossing his arms and glaring. “How do you keep showing up?” 

“I’m a trainer completing the gym circut,” Hilda frowned. “ You’re the ones who keep crossing me .” 

“Oh, great, two of them,” the redhead snapped. “We have to go, Claudius. It’s no use fighting her when he’s beaten us soundly already.” 

Confused, Hilda glanced next to her, finding Cheren standing on one foot, leaning against the rock wall. “What? They weren’t hard,” he said, shrugging. 

“You’re only strong because you control your pokémon instead of letting them be free,” the blonde—Claudius? —grumbled. “But that won’t matter for much longer. Team Plasma has retrieved the tools of the ancient Legendary Dragons. No matter what you horrid trainers do, you’ll soon see the wisdom in Team Plasma.” 

“If you want to set pokémon free, then start with your own!” Cheren snapped. “Stop with this nonsense and stay true to your values at the very least. And stop trying to force this on others!” 

“But force is the only language you understand, so that’s what we are forced to use,” the redhead lamented, though Hilda caught a smile forming. “Even our beloved king has to stoop to your level to get you to listen.”

Hilda flinched, glare hardening at the woman. Perhaps she should have expected to see stars in the eyes of N’s clearly devoted—subjects? Grunts? —but the look on her face caused something dark and acidic to curl in her stomach. Your ‘beloved king’ is an idiot. 

Guilt washed up at the thought. An idiot when it comes to training. He’s very intelligent in most things. 

“I’m sorry, your ‘king?’” Cheren huffed in disbelief. “Wow. I mean, it’s clear you guys are backwards, but I didn’t think you went so far as to mimic the medieval era.” 

The redhead looked infuriated, but Claudius had a dark smirk on his face. “Don’t be so rash, Vivian. It seems this trainer’s friend isn’t as hostile as she seems.” 

He was looking directly at her. He’d definitely seen her flinch. Hilda’s hands went behind her back, fingers brushing the bottoms of her poké balls. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. 

“Oh?” The redhead—Vivian, apparently—was looking at Hilda warily now. “What makes you say so? We had to fight her in Chargestone Cave, remember? And she gave us this nonsense about how our beloved king was wrong—” 

“He is, he just won’t admit it.” Her fist tightened on Ollie’s poké ball, though she was hesitant on starting a fight. If they see how Ollie looks, what would they do? She hadn’t used her starter in a true battle since she’d evolved, given the drastic differences in moveset and appearance. She also wasn’t sure Team Plasma should be the first people to learn about her starter’s strange evolution, either. 

“You stupid slut,” Claudius sneered. “I would think you knew better, given your status in the eyes of our king, but alas, you’re clearly as base as the rest of your kind. As much as it might pain our Lord N, I doubt you will be the one chosen to claim the other Legendary Dragon. Come now, Vivian. We already have all we need, yes? We’re wasting time by remaining here.” 

Before either her or Cheren got the chance to react, the grunts retreated to the other end of the tunnel, which Hilda suspected lead to Icirrus City. 

The moment they both unfroze, Cheren gave a shout of frustration mixed with anger. “I hate them! They’re stupid and ignorant and— how dare they call you that!”
Hilda’s hand shook, the acidic jealousy curdling into pure, black fear. Were there security cameras in the excavation site? She had slept in what she’d known to be N’s room. Maybe that had contributed? What—why—how? How could they have found out so quickly?

“Hilda?”
She snapped towards her friend, a dull ringing in her ears. “Yeah?” 

“Are you okay?”
Deep breaths, Hilda. This is probably Ghetsis’s doing. It’s not true, and you know it. N’s father had to know what his puppet ruler was doing at all times if he maintained this tight of control on Team Plasma. And she couldn’t imagine he was all too pleased that he’d bonded with her the way that he had. 

Nevermind the fact that she did, actually, like him that way. She knew herself well enough to tell that fact, but nothing had ever happened between them. Sparks had flown, but nothing was acted upon. It’s just another one of Ghetsis’s stupid lies. 

But it was a stupid lie that would get her targeted by all of Team Plasma even more than she already was. And it was a stupid lie that could endanger her family and friends if it got too far. If they failed to stop Ghetsis’s plans. 

“I’m fine,” she said, more sharply than she would have liked. “I just…hate them too.” 

Cheren smiled sadly. “You don’t have to fake it. I will gladly chase him down and punch him.” 

“Please don’t. I don’t want to put you in danger, too.” She stuffed her hands in her pockets, shoulders hunched close. “Let’s get to the city. I’m sick of this mountain.” 

Cheren followed her all the way to the Pokémon Center, acting like a Watchog whose berries had been pillaged. The scene was all too familiar; she recalled a time when she’d looked out her window in Nuvema Town to the nearby route and watched such a dispute between a Watchog and a Pidove. She remembered Nurse Joy having to rush out to heal the injured bird after it had been obliterated by Watchog’s Hyper Fang. 

As she walked up to the Pokémon Center’s main desk, she hesitated, considering, then finally handing five poké balls to the nurse behind the counter. 

“What about that one?” Nurse Joy of Icirrus City asked.
“She’s not injured,” Hilda said simply. “And I like to have at least one partner with me.” 

Perhaps something on her face betrayed her, because Nurse Joy only smiled and took the five pokémon back with her. “We’ll only be a moment. You can wait here.” 

Hilda nodded, sitting down on the bench next to Cheren. His nails dug crescent moons into his arms and he was scowling at everyone who walked through the door. 

“You don’t have to get hung up on it,” Hilda whispered to him. “They’re just spewing nonsense. Same as they always do.” 

“I know. But it’s confusing and frankly horrific that they just…go around saying things like that to random trainers.” 

Hilda bit her lip. There it is. Cheren had no idea that she was far from a random trainer to Team Plasma, almost from the day she’d set out on her journey.

Cheren shot her a sidelong glance. “But…Hilda, what was the blonde man—Claudius or whatever—talking about? He mentioned how you have some sort of status among them.”

She gave a heavy sigh, cradling Ollie’s poké ball between her hands. “I think it’s because…I know their leader. He’s my friend—or was, anyway—and I don’t think his father was very happy with that. I don’t know the details—I don’t know how the average grunt knows about it, but I also don’t think it matters. They’re going to target me even more, and they’ll probably target you and Bianca, too.” More than they already have. I mean, the Shadow Triad already has files on them. 

“Personal connections to their leader, huh? ‘Lord N’ or whatever?” Cheren was still grumbling, but his gaze was softening. “Do you even like the guy?” 

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to choke back whatever hysteria was building in her throat. She heard Cheren’s sigh of exasperation and buried her head in her hands, wondering if she should try and turn to dust before the conversation could continue. 

“You do, don’t you.”
“Listen. It’s not his fault he’s cute. And it’s also not his fault he’s most likely a puppet ruler.” 

“Of course—wait, what?” At least his voice held something that wasn’t anger. 

“It’s a theory at the moment, but it’s something we could probably use if it came down to it.” She looked up. “Not that I think it would make much of a difference.”

“I was going to comment on the fact that you’ve described one of Bianca’s romance novels almost word-for-word, but you’re right. It doesn’t matter.” Cheren shook his head. “I hope you manage to get out of this, Hilda. It sounds pretty terrible.”

“I hope we all do,” Hilda groaned. “Because unfortunately, this isn’t one of Bianca’s romance novels. Whether or not I like him or he likes me isn’t relevant. If he manages to pull of his plans—because they are his plans, even if Ghetsis has a major influence— then our entire way of life is gone. And they’re not going to stop at Unova, either.” 

“I know. Sorry for asking. But, Hilda— if you know their leader, then do you know what they’re planning? What the grunts were talking about when they mentioned the Legendary Dragons?”

“A little bit. Did you see the massive excavation site in the middle of Twist Mountain? I guess they were looking for something there, but the site was abandoned when I found it.” 

“And clearly, they’ve already found what they’re looking for. Did they say where they were going?” 

Hilda shook her head, but at that moment, Nurse Joy returned with her pokémon. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take a look at that one?” She gestured to Ollie’s poké ball.

“I’m okay, thanks. And so is she.”
“Nurse Joy, do you think you could take a look at my team?” Cheren asked quickly, unclipping his belt. 

“Of course.” She disappeared again, leaving Hilda and Cheren once again. 

“What’s up with— who’s in there?”
“Ollie,” Hilda said. “That’s the other weird situation. She evolved, but it was…strange.” 

“And I’m assuming you don’t want anyone to see that,” Cheren sighed. “Makes sense, I guess, if you’re that tangled up with Team Plasma. Do you know where Professor Juniper is?” 

“Which one?”
Both Hilda and Cheren looked towards the door, finding the older Professor Juniper standing in the doorway, hunched over and smiling. “Judging by your faces, I’m going to assume you wanted my daughter.” 

“Apologies, uh—Professor,” Cheren said hurriedly. “Actually, I think you’ll be just fine. Right, Hilda?” 

She nodded and stood just as quickly. “Yes. But I would prefer if we did it somewhere…less public?” 

Though the professor often squinted and rarely looked anyone in the face, from what Hilda could tell, he nodded slowly in understanding. “Of course. My daughter and I are staying in a nearby hotel— how about we go there?” 

Hilda and Cheren followed him across the busy streets, but no one said anything until they got to the hotel itself, and she was relieved to see Bianca and Professor Juniper in the lobby, flipping through papers and talking. They looked up when the trio entered, and a wide smile split across Bianca’s face. “Hilda! Cheren! You’re both here!” 

“We are,” Cheren said, smiling softly. “Long time no see, Bianca. Sorry it had to be like this.” 

Bianca’s face fell to confusion. “What do you mean? What happened?”

“We should move to someone’s room,” Professor Juniper Sr. said. “I believe there are some things that need to be discussed.” 

He looked at Hilda. So did Cheren. She fidgeted and remained silent, unable to meet anyone’s eyes. She couldn’t stand the look of pity Cheren was giving her any more than the look of worry from Bianca.

“Yes,” she said clearly. “Let’s go. You’re gonna want to see this.”

Chapter Text

Dawn nearly had a heart attack when she saw the first of the Miss Fortune sisters. Looks like Mars isn’t the only one with a distant ancestor that looks scarily like her. 

Saturn—she’d forgotten what the woman’s actual name was, since the three sounded the same—was, at least, female, and only had a Toxicroak beside her. Dawn crushed her soundly, and was grateful when the other two— looking like Candice and Bertha, who in Dawn’s opinion were much scarier threats— pulled back with their ‘sister.’ Are they actually related, or…?

She posed this question to Volo as they made their way back to the Solaceon Ruins after retrieving the stolen fragment, and he chuckled. 

“I don’t believe so, no. Actually, I think all three of them come from different places, but I’m not an expert on their backstory. And, frankly, uninterested. Theirs is not the kind of ancient history I’m interested in.”

“Fair enough,” Dawn shrugged.
Volo stood back by the entrance as Dawn approached Calaba, wall fragment in hand. She handed it to the old woman without a word, unsure of what she would say if Calaba started talking like Team Plasma again. 

“You…why?”
So few words, and yet they confounded Dawn thoroughly. “Why what?” 

Calaba’s face was so pinched Dawn wondered if her skin would fold itself off. “Why go out of your way to help a stranger like me? I am not of your team. I am a stranger.” 

“That doesn’t really matter,” Dawn said. “You needed help, so I helped. Just like you need help calming Ursaluna.”

Calaba sighed, looking down at Dawn’s belt, then at the fragment in her hand. “You’re that eager to calm him, aren’t you?”

She didn’t respond, staring down the old warden with a gaze that was slowly less condemning. Calaba sighed again, then turned to the carving behind her and replaced the fragment where it was supposed to go. 

“All lives touch other lives to create something anew and alive,” Calaba said, and Dawn peered closer at the engraving and realized she was reading it aloud. The words reminded her of something Cynthia used to say, especially in the days and weeks after the battle against Team Galactic where Dawn had been suffering the worst of the post-battle trauma. 

“When every life meets another life, something will be born,” she’d say. “Sometimes, that something is good, and sometimes it’s not. And sometimes, we think that it’s a good or a bad thing, and it turns out to be the other. Do not mistake Cyrus’s actions for the world. Dialga came to your aid, did it not?”

It was then when Dawn would usually respond, “Yes,” and then fall silent, fingers buried in Lumi’s fur or Star’s feathers or sometimes leaning on Charrina’s shoulder. Once, she even continued. “I can’t tell if it’s a good or a bad thing yet. On one hand, we defeated Cyrus. Giratina is contained. But Cynthia, I think I’ve lost something very important, but I don’t know what that is.” 

She remembered Cynthia running her hand through Dawn’s hair, whispering softly, “I know the feeling. But don’t only focus on what you’ve lost— that’s a one-way ticket to despair. Maybe the thing you’ve lost was a key part of yourself, but Dawn, whatever Giratina or Cyrus or Dialga did does not define who Dawn Berglitz is or was. Even if you’ve been shattered, if you can pick up even some of the pieces, then you can use those pieces to build and move forward. No matter what.” 

That conversation had happened the night before she’d challenged Volker’s gym, and it had been the final push Dawn had needed to get back on her feet and start training again despite what had happened in the Distortion World. Even now, years after the fact, she could recall it in almost perfect clarity, the words and gestures rehearsed over and over in her mind. 

“Galaxy girl? Are you alright?”
Dawn shook herself from her thoughts, seeing Calaba staring worriedly at her. “Of course,” she said, though she knew it was a lie. “Will you let me help you calm Ursaluna now?” 

The old woman studied her for far too long. “Yes,” she said finally. “I can see your intent is sincere. You will not harm him more than is required. There is no cruelty in your heart.”

Dawn let out a shuddering breath, hands clenched at her sides. “Will you show me to him?” 

Calaba nodded slowly, face softened into a sad smile. “Only if you answer me this. Where have you heard that phrase before?” 

Dawn froze, and her surprise must have shown on her face, because Calaba continued. “I know that look in your eyes. Tell me; who once imparted Almighty Sinnoh’s wisdom to you? It cannot have been someone in Hisui—that would not have put such grief in your eyes.”

She resisted the urge to glance back at Volo, some part of her brain still convinced her old friend and mentor was behind her, and not a merchant in a strange land. “My aunt.”

“Then she is a wise woman. Can you tell me what that phrase means?” 

Deep breaths. “I would say it means…that every time you meet a new person, connetion is born. It’s not always a good connection. Sometimes the connection is of hate, sometimes love. But connection can never be a bad thing, because its primary purpose is to help you grow.” 

“Listen to you, pouring out wisdom,” Volo said teasingly behind her. “One might think you’ve given this some thought.”
Calaba glared at him. “Indeed,” she said. “That is an interesting perspective. Perhaps there’s something to you after all. Some guidance from Almighty Sinnoh even I haven’t discovered.” She smiled, surprising Dawn. “What is your name, girl?” 

“A-Akari.”
The old woman looked the most alive she had through the whole conversation. “Very well, Akari. I will allow you to approach Ursaluna so that you may quell him. I will show you to his seat.” 

Volo smiled behind Calaba’s back as she walked away, giving Dawn a subtle thumbs-up. She beamed back at him, finally set at ease. Cynthia would love this guy. 

***

Ursaluna’s seat was, unfortunately, yet another trek through the gross red waters of the mirelands, and was a place quite literally called ‘Sludge Mound.’ Dawn lamented this all the way there, barely stopping to catch some Croagunk on the road, and grateful that at least she wasn’t alone. Volo insisted on tagging along, despite Dawn’s protests that it would be too dangerous. 

“I highly doubt that, given what I heard about Kleavor,” Volo said. “Of course I’ll be here for backup if you need it, but I doubt you will. Besides, you got the Mind Plate from Wyrdeer, didn’t you? Perhaps Ursaluna will have something similar.”

His logic checked out in Dawn’s mind, but…
“‘Mind Plate?’”

Volo looked startled for a moment, then chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. “Ah, that’s what the old books say. There are several others out there, I know. Didn’t Kleavor give you one?” 

She nodded, but the unease was back. “Yes, I told you that. What exactly are these things?” And why do I get the feeling this isn’t something you should know? 

“I’m not quite sure yet. I only have a theory I would like to test.” He smiled sincerely, and the greater part of her unease evaporated. 

They’d reached the Sludge Mound in any case, finding Mistress Calaba standing in the center beside her Bibarel. She’d gone on ahead of the two, saying that Volo knew where the mound was whenever Dawn felt like rejoining her. 

The pair approached, sheepish looks on both their faces, and Calaba sighed in exasperation. “You young people. Can’t concentrate on anything, even if your world is at stake.” 

I wouldn’t say that’s true, Dawn thought as Volo gave a lighthearted excuse. Otherwise, Team Galactic would have killed us all by now. 

“I wouldn’t say Ursaluna being frenzied is the end of our world,” Volo said. 

Dawn raised her eyebrows. He said it, not me.
Calaba huffed. “Ursaluna isn’t fully frenzied, but he is enraged. Now, I will play my Celestica Flute to summon him, and when he arrives, you must be prepared for battle.” 

Dawn nodded, withdrawing Sasha’s poké ball. Volo stepped back, raising his hands when Calaba glared at him, and she played the same tune on her flute that Mai had when summoning Wyrdeer. 

The pokémon that must be Ursaluna showed up quite quickly. As Dawn had suspected from the name, it bore a striking resemblance to Ursaring, though it had a wild look in its eyes and was down on all fours. She winced internally. I wonder if this pokémon has a secondary typing I don’t know about. Kleavor, from what she’d pestered out of Rei and Laventon, was the evolved form of Scyther—they had never heard of Scizor. That had been a rock-type, and since Ursaring was a pure normal-type, perhaps…

Ursaluna roared, and Dawn sent out Sasha, who screeched as loud as his lungs would let him and flared the flames on his back. 

He was immediately decimated by the Ursaluna using Bulldoze.
Great. 

Huffing in frustration, she sent out Skyla to chip away at it with some Air Slashes. Her Staravia had grown far more aggressive, and Dawn had quickly discovered that most Staravia had such a disposition in this time period—she was attacked by almost every one she’d come across, and defeating them all was what caused Lucas to evolve in the first place. 

The Ursaluna roared up at Skyla, swiping at her with massive paws, but Skyla simply flew higher, diving in intervals to fire off another round of Air Slashes. The Ursaluna didn’t appear to know any rock or electric moves, so Dawn knew that if they kept out of his reach, they would be okay. Still, her hand hovered over Barry’s poké ball, just in case.

It didn’t turn out to be necessary. Skyla’s aggressiveness was so complete it alarmed Dawn, even when Ursaluna went down at last. She was as relentless as she was strong, and continued to squawk horribly at the fallen noble as Calaba hobbled over to him. 

“I have here a special medicine that will purge any poison from its body. It’s not the most pleasent-tasting thing, but it does the job well. Come now, Ursaluna, dear. Let me make you better.” 

“It does truly taste awful,” Volo hissed. “I had to buy some myself once. Effective, but…nasty.” 

Dawn made a face as Ursaluna stood back up, looking decidedly more teddy-bear like than he had previously, cooing at Calaba. 

“Yes, that’s good,” the old woman said, smiling softly. “But…what caused this in you? How did the poison get there?” 

“He wasn’t golden,” Dawn added. “So he wasn’t frenzied. But then why was he so aggressive?” 

“Very astute of you, Akari,” Calaba said dully. “But you’re correct. When you quelled Kleavor’s frenzy, I could see the golden light all the way from here. But not only was there no such thing on Ursaluna, but…” she trailed off, squinting, then reached out and carded her fingers through Ursaluna’s coat. “But there’s also this strange powder clinging to his fur. From what, I wonder?” 

Dawn waited for her to continue, but she remained silent, brow furrowed tightly. When she did speak, it was to order her to play her Celestica Flute, letting Ursaluna recognize her (truly horrific) playing for her own. 

In response, the great bear grumbled, pawing at the ground for a few moments before Dawn realized he was digging. Ursaluna shoved his snout inside the large hole, fishing around before emerging with a brown plate—similar in size and shape to the ones Wyrdeer and Kleavor had given her. 

From the corner of her eye, she saw Volo gasp, eyes fixed on the plate. She thought she saw him mouthing something, but no words escaped him. 

“Ursaluna’s sense of smell is unparalleled,” Calaba said, smiling. “He can find any treasure beneath the ground, even if those treasures don’t glimmer like gold.” There was a strange glint in her eye that Dawn couldn’t place. “Now begone with you, children. Both of you. I’m sure you both have other things to be doing in these parts.” She was glaring at Volo particularly harshly, and Dawn thought there might have been some other history between those two. It didn’t look like something she wanted to get in the middle of, so she saw herself out.

***

She did not immediately return to the Galaxy Team’s base camp, remaining out until well after dark to do some research on ancient Gastly and Haunter. But something continued to bother her. 

Perhaps it was how Calaba had acted; forging a connection with Dawn even after she’d taken the guise of the ones she was so dedicated to defeating. Or perhaps it was the way Volo reminded her so much of Cynthia, and yet had a glint in his eye that looked too much like Cyrus. 

Or perhaps it was the night itself, and the inky darkness that it brought. The night was even darker here, without the benefit of modern lighting systems, and the stars seemed so dim through the haze of heat and stink that plagued the mirelands even after dark. The ruins she was camping at looked far too much like those on Spear Pillar, and the shadows were thick enough that she wasn’t entirely convinced they weren’t the reaching tendrils of Giratina, ready to wrap her up and squeeze her again. 

She shuddered, pulling her knees closer to her chest. Her entire team was out of their balls, though most of them were asleep. Skyla was perched away from the rest of the group, atop one of the half-grown pillars, head tucked under her wing. Lucas and Sasha were nearly on top of her, as much as Dawn would let them. Crasher and Barry were both sprawled on their bellies, and only Red was awake, pouncing on the shadows that dared to come too close to Dawn. Or perhaps he’s trying to eat them. How Eevee’s minds work is unclear. 

Sasha cooed gently, drawing her attention away from the darkness to her starter pressing his forehead into her palm. His fur was much softer, though it was still brittle where flames tended to erupt, and his eyes captured the stars above perfectly. 

“I know,” she whispered. “We’ll be back in Jubilife tomorrow.”
Sasha chittered, worry blatant on his face, and she scratched him on the head for good measure. “I’m fine. I promise.” 

Dawn glanced back to where Red had been, anxiety spiking when she realized he was gone. “What—oh, Arceus, tell me he didn’t run off…” 

But as she was about to get up, he came bounding back, a surprising pokémon in tow. It was a Ralts—female, if Dawn had her differences right—and though she couldn’t see the small creature’s face, she could sense the pleading. 

“What’s up?” She asked softly.
The Ralts took a few more steps towards her, then looked between Sasha and Lucas. Crasher was bigger, being a Bibarel, but he didn’t look threatening in the slightest. 

“They won’t hurt you,” Dawn said, Red chirping in agreement. “I promise. If you need a safe place to stay, then you’ll be okay with us.” 

What did the pokédex say about Ralts, back in Sinnoh? Something about being in tune with the emotions of all creatures?

Dawn took a deep breath, attempting to calm her nerves. “I’m sorry if my feelings are scaring you. We’ve just had a long day, you see, and I tend to get scared at night.” 

She held out her hand, pressing it into the dirt so it would be under the Ralts’s small form. “You’ll be safe with us.” 

The Ralts, to her surprise, ignored her hand in favor of her lap, climbing from that onto her chest and curling up somewhere between her neck and shoulder. Dawn chuckled, running a finger over its back.

“Safe with us,” she repeated into the night. “Arceus, let that be the truth.”

Chapter Text

They ended up relocating to the younger Professor Juniper’s room. It was larger than Hilda expected, though she was still unsure if her new Samurott would be able to fit inside. She wasn’t as large as the average Samurott was, but she was still formidable.

Once everyone was situated inside, Hilda closed and deadbolted the door, hanging the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the outside for good measure. She could feel the worried looks of her friends and both professors as she did so, but no one spoke until she turned around. 

“What is this about?” Bianca asked, high-pitched voice taking on a more aggressive tone than Hilda knew she meant it to. “You’re really scaring me, Hilda.” 

“I haven’t even seen this yet,” Cheren said. “You said your Dewott evolved into something strange, yes?” 

“Yes,” Hilda said haltingly. “Well—I think it would be best to just show you.” 

Taking a deep breath and ignoring her growing list of reasons as to why this was a bad idea, she let Ollie out of her poké ball, letting everyone take in the odd black and red coloring, the strange design of the armor, the extra tufts of white fur that looked like facial hair. 

Everyone was speechless for a moment, brows furrowed and hands in their hair and faces pinched in confusion.
“It’s a Samurott,” Professor Juniper Jr. said belatedly. “But that’s not…”

“It’s not shiny, is it?” Bianca asked, scrolling through a device that Hilda had seen Professor Juniper use many times. “I didn’t think the shiny form was darker.” 

“There’s more,” Hilda said. “From what I’ve been able to tell, Ollie’s evolved into a dark-type.”

“A dark-type, you say?” Professor Juniper Sr. spoke up. “Now that does give us a clue.” 

“How did you figure out she was a dark-type?” Bianca asked. “I mean, she does look like one, but—” 

“That was thanks to a wild Woobat,” Hilda said. “It tried to use several psychic-type moves on her, but none of them worked. And she learned Night Slash, which I know Samurott isn’t able to learn.” Or whatever that move is . It might not be Night Slash, but she didn’t know what other move it could be. 

“Curious, indeed,” Professor Juniper Sr. mused. “Now…this isn’t a form native to Unova, so it’s quite interesting that your Dewott would evolve this way. You received this pokémon from my daughter, yes?” 

Professor Juniper Jr. nodded, frowning at Ollie. “I did, but it was born and raised here in Unova. This has to be a regional form, but how would that have happened?” 

“Team Plasma, maybe?” Cheren offered. “If they can both rally political protests and run an efficient excavation operation, I wouldn’t put it past them to have a science department that would try something like this.” 

Hilda frowned, several things occurring to her at once. “Actually, that might be true. I know they don’t like pokémon professors for ‘ethical reasons’ or whatever, so they probably would target the ones in the enclosures. Still, experimentation seems harsh, even for them.” 

“It wouldn’t have to be experimentation,” Professor Juniper Sr. said. “I believe several of their leaders are driving forces behind the pokémon isolation policies that have been going into effect in the last decade or so. All pokémon native to Unova would be returned to Unova—such as, for instance, an Oshawott born in Sinnoh. I believe that’s what this little one is.” 

“Dad, I just said it was born here,” Professor Juniper insisted. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“I’m sure many of them were, but how much did the Oshawott population grow while they were in your care? Would you have noticed, for example, some extras if no one brought them to your attention?” 

“So…my Oshawott was born in Sinnoh?” Hilda asked, looking between the two professors. “But then, how come nothing like this has been documented? Plenty of Oshawott lived in Sinnoh before the isolation policies went into effect, right?”

“Not necessarily ‘plenty,’ but certainly a few,” the elder professor said. “But you’re correct, Hilda. Nothing like this has been documented in several centuries.” 

Centuries? “So, I have a super-rare Samurott that…what, went extinct?” 

“So it seems,” the professor said. “That, if I have my records right, is Samurott as it was in the ancient Sinnoh region— called ‘Hisui’ at the time. However, nothing like it has been seen outside of that place and time. In fact, we only have a few records of this species at all, so some scientists think they were embellished drawings of the ancients.” 

I was trying to joke, Hilda thought worriedly. Ollie is likely the last member of a species everyone thought extinct. 

“As for how this could have happened, though, I have no explanation,” Professor Juniper Sr. said. “But we know what it is, and that’s a start.” 

Silence filled the room, and was broken by Bianca, speaking up shyly. “No wonder Team Plasma wants you so badly, Hilda.” 

“They want me for other reasons,” Hilda snapped. “It has nothing to do with this. I doubt they even know about it.” 

“But they would certainly be interested,” Cheren insisted. “And they’ll find out soon enough, especially if you use her in a gym battle or something. We just saw them in Twist Mountain, and I doubt they’ve gone far, considering all their excavation equipment is still lying around.”

“Wait, what?”
Both Professor Junipers and Bianca looked confused, so Cheren and Hilda took turns explaining the encounter in the cave and the truth of the excavation site. Each of them seemed surprised that Team Plasma had been the one running it since, as far as the younger Professor Juniper knew, their operations were primarily focused on the area around Dragonspiral Tower. 

“What’s that?” Hilda asked. Ollie, now that most of the attention had left her, had laid her head on Hilda’s lap, and she ran her fingers through her starter’s mane slowly, avoiding the patches of rough armor that now covered her head. I hope she doesn’t shed.

“Dragonspiral Tower is the Unova region’s oldest building, standing for centuries before the region was founded,” Professor Juniper Sr. said. “According to legends, on the top floor, one of the Legendary Dragons waits for a hero pursuing its goal to appear. Stories disagree on which one, of course, but Team Plasma seems to believe it’s Reshiram, the Dragon of Truth—and so, their leader aims to be a hero pursuing truth. Unfortunately, that’s all I know about it. I came to this town to study it before I learned Team Plasma had a similar goal.”

At least it makes some sense. N had mentioned the Legendary Dragons more than a few times, though it was often accompanied by worries of Ghetsis and being ‘chosen.’ I’m supposed to be chosen, too. She’d thought it was insanity when N had brought it up the first time, but it was slowly starting to come together. He would probably say Ollie’s strange evolution is a sign of it. 

They talked in circles for what must have been another hour, but Hilda was no longer listening. There were a few points she made note of—if Team Plasma was hiding out in the area, they should investigate sooner rather than later, maybe get the gym leader on their side—but overall it was talking over questions she already knew the answers to. Not that she could explain how without re-raising the questions she’d already dodged. 

It was mid-afternoon when Hilda finally left the hotel, making for the pools outside the city that were known to have a surplus Palpitoad population. She took Dawn, and Ollie, resolving to experiment further with her new moveset. 

If she’s a dark-type now as well as a water-type, that could change my whole strategy. Another asset against the Elite Four, two of whom were weak to dark-types. Not to mention, she had the element of surprise. 

She ran through every member of her team, venturing past the limits of the town and venturing into pure marshland, which was filled with nothing but the buzz of wild pokémon. Everyone she planned on using was out of their balls, but only some of them—that was, Rocky and Ollie—were focused on finding and attacking wild pokémon. 

Ingrid nosed around in the grass, munching on clusters she found particularly appealing. Edelgard rested on Rocky’s back, as she always did, occasionally spouting bursts of flame if a pokémon dared to come too close. Dara was rolling about, notably avoiding ditches of water, going just as fast as if she were on a freshly paved road. It wasn’t as goofy as her Darumaka likely thought it was—Hilda saw nothing wrong with building up her agility a little. 

Lastly, Dawn was bathing in the afternoon sun, eyes closed as she blended into the brush around her. It was cold, approaching winter, but not cold enough to require heavy clothing just yet. It’s funny, how much can happen in such a short time. 

The revelation and subsequent battle at Nimbasa City had happened almost two months ago, now, but Hilda still felt as though it was yesterday. Though a great many things about her team had changed, she felt no different as a trainer than she had then, except maybe the wounds of the betrayal had begun to scab over. 

Her hand slipped into her bag, finding the spine of N’s journal. She hadn’t been able to look through it at the base, but now…

With a whistle, her team returned to Hilda’s side, plopping down beside her in their respective ways as she found a suitable log to sit down on. 

“I’m going to take a break,” she told them. “You guys should, too. It’s been a long week, and I’m sure you’re all tired.”

She expected them to disperse again, but they didn’t. Ollie remained by her side, towering over her head despite the fact that she was smaller than the average Samurott. Ingrid sat down too, legs folded underneath her and head resting on the grass. Edelgard settled into her lap, flame burning just enough to keep her going, but not enough to drain the souls of her surroundings or whatever the pokédex said. I should ask N if that’s true. 

Hilda removed his journal from her bag, opening to the pages with a ribbon through them. She groaned. 

Half of the words on the page were in shorthand, or some kind of code, but it wasn’t completely useless. There were still numbers, with arrows pointing to the division of grunts, and some locations. Quite a few groups had been assigned to Dragonspiral Tower, but half of those groups had dates on them—whether that was the date they were assigned or relieved of duty, she didn’t know. Most of them were for that day. 

She flipped through a few more pages, finding the ones that were mostly writing rather than code, but N was cryptic as ever—or maybe he didn’t think he needed to explain things to himself. Either made sense. 

One sentence in particular caught her attention. “Father says I must investigate our top soldiers to find the Hero of Ideals, and he won’t hear it when I tell him that’s not how it works. I think he’s still in denial over Hilda. He can’t accept that a lowly trainer such as her could be the Hero and my counterpart…and I wonder if perhaps my confession worsened things.”
Confession? Lowly? The words confused and bothered her, but she doubted she’d get any straighter answers from the journal than she would from the boy himself.

 Sighing, she closed the journal and leaned back, shutting her eyes, listening to the sounds of the chilled marsh around her. The way N told her he always did, when he needed to calm down. The sounds of the Yanma, the Palpitoad croaking, soft calls of Tranquil—

Wait. Yanma?

Her eyes flew open, and there it was. The Clear Wing pokémon had alighted on the bank of a nearby pool and was drinking from it, wings buzzing just loud enough for Hilda to hear. 

She gave a hum of surprise. Yanma, and other species not native to Unova, were supposed to have been driven from the region on account of them being ‘invasive,’ even though some species had been there for as long as humans had. The rules had gone into effect when Hilda was just old enough to understand that, no, there would be no more Pikachu or Eevee at the daycare that she could go visit on the weekends. That the pokémon she saw in books would be forbidden from coming into the region at risk of driving out the ‘truly Unovan’ pokémon as if simply by coming into contact, the poor Pikachu would tear the head off of an Emolga.

It sounded like something Team Plasma would have done, especially just starting out. But it also sounded like something that would make N incredibly sad, and the fact that he would have been young too drove home her conviction that maybe, he wasn’t the one to blame for all this. 

Don’t talk like that. He most certainly knew about it, and now that they were older, he was helping perpetuate the problem. He wasn’t innocent, she knew that.

But she watched a Leavanny stride over to the Yanma, who was attempting to seize a cluster of cattails. She watched the Leavanny cut the stalks free from their roots, tying them up with a String Shot and presenting them to the grateful-looking Yanma. 

I wish I could convince him that he was wrong.
But there would only be one way to do that.

She’d set out on the gym circuit as a way to test her strength and abilities as a trainer. It was mostly for fun, but that didn’t mean she didn’t take it seriously. She simply hadn’t planned on gunning for any real title. The Pokémon League— the Elite Four, the Champion— those were challenges she would tackle if she truly felt up to it, and because if she could take down the strongest trainers in the region, then surely she could protect her friends and family and all the innocent trainers of Unova from Team Plasma. It had never been because she needed to be the strongest like Cheren always insisted. 

But the time for indecision had passed in Nimbasa. The Pokémon League was a certainty now, though she hadn’t truly considered the consequences. 

N would challenge the Pokémon League with the intention of reshaping Unova, but he was a king. He knew how to lead. She, like most teenagers, didn’t. 

So that has to change, too.
The way to challenge N, in the way she knew was coming, would be to become Champion and face him in the imminent battles. 

All I need to do is defeat him.

Chapter Text

Dawn could have thrown the poké ball at the Ralts while it slept. Arceus knew she’d done it to enough pokémon in this time period, but she wanted to catch this Ralts the proper way. The way she’d been taught to back in Sinnoh. Not that she didn’t understand why the Hisuian people went about catching pokémon the way that they did, but Dawn was already planning to add the Ralts to her team— as much of a team as she could have, anyway.

To her surprise and delight, the Ralts followed her all the way across the bridge to the base camp, chirping the whole way. She’d allowed Red to stay out of his ball as well, and the two were happily tumbling in the grass. 

When she reached the camp, she held out her hand, offering the poké ball to the Ralts. “Do you want to come with us?” 

Ralts was silent, visibly looking between the ball in Dawn’s hand and her face. Dawn continued. “Do you want to stay with our group? I can’t promise it will be easy, but I can promise food and a place to sleep.” 

Ralts chittered, finally looking up enough that Dawn could see her face. Her eyes were wide, pressing the force of her emotions into Dawn’s own heart. 

Can I? She seemed to be asking.
“Of course,” Dawn whispered. “Just press here.” 

Slowly, the Ralts pressed the button on the poké ball, lighting up blue and disappearing inside. It shook in her hand before the ‘capture confirmed’ spark shot out the top, singing her fingers. 

Right. It does that. No matter how many times she’d seen it, she forgot that it was an actual spark that could, in fact, burn her. 

“Welcome to the team.” She smiled, conjuring a name that perhaps didn’t represent anyone she’d known personally in her old life, but had reached the same legendary status that Red had. “May.”

“Caught a new pokémon? What’s this one?” Laventon asked, approaching her. 

“May the Ralts,” Dawn said softly. “You ready to return to Jubilife?”

***

She’d thought that was the end of her missions in the Crimson Mirelands, but the next day she was once again summoned to Kamado’s office before breakfast to receive her next assignment.

Though perhaps breakfast wasn’t on the table at all, she thought with astonishment. Stopping in the doorway, she found three familiar figures, if surprising ones. 

“Akari! We have a situation.” Beni’s voice was far rougher than she was used to hearing it—perhaps a product of anxiety?

“I’ll explain,” Adaman said shortly. His brow was furrowed with a frown as he faced her. “I told you before that my clan was dealing with a situation similar to Kleavor’s. Unfortunately, our beloved Lady of the Ridge has gone on a rampage, and her warden—Arezu—is nowhere to be found.” 

He turned back to Kamado. “I’m formally requesting assistance. I want a search party made of Survey Corps members—none of our trackers know the land as well as your people.” 

“That is high praise,” the commander grunted, looking surprised for the first time. “I assure you we will send only our best to live up to this expectation.”

Kamado gestured to Dawn. “Akari, you will accompany the search party. Arezu’s cooperation will be necessary if we hope to quell the Lady of the Ridge. I’m sorry to spring this on you so soon after you’ve quelled Kleavor, but I’m afraid this has similar urgency.” 

Adaman’s hands were clasped behind his back, and he was uncharacteristically still and silent. Beni said something to Kamado, too softly for Dawn to hear, then walked out, announcing that the Wallflower was back open for business.

“Akari, you are dismissed for the present. Adaman, the search party will depart within the hour.” 

She walked away again, but her steps were slower, her mind focused only on Adaman.

***

Rei was, thankfully, one of the ones chosen for the search party, and met Dawn as she was talking with Eugene and his Cascoon. She didn’t have the heart to tell him it wasn’t a Silcoon.

“So you’re coming with us, right?” he asked. “That’ll be nice. Search party missions can be super boring sometimes. It’s nice to have company.”

“I’m there to quell the ‘Lady of the Ridge’ if we get the chance,” Dawn said. “What pokémon is that?”

“I think it’s a Lilligant,” Rei said. “Be careful with that thing. They’re super dangerous.”

“More so than Kleavor?” Dawn asked, thinking of the creature’s massive stone axes and the light, dress-like patterns on Lilligant. I mean, a Magical Leaf to the face can’t be pleasant, but I doubt it’s that dangerous.

Rei shuddered. “So much more.”
Dawn’s brow furrowed, but at that moment, Adaman stormed out of the Galaxy Hall, face twisted in fury. 

“Should I leave?” Rei hissed to her.
“You did nothing wrong, Rei,” Adaman said harshly. “It’s not you I’m mad at.” 

“Why would M—Arezu disappear?” Dawn asked, narrowly avoiding calling her ‘Mars.’ 

“I have no idea. Calaba got here before I did, claiming that Arezu was to blame for Ursaluna’s situation, and now that she’s disappeared…” Adaman growled, deep in his throat, and Dawn felt herself flush. “It looks bad. I need to find her.” 

“You said she’s a warden?” Dawn asked as Rei took off toward the training ground. “Of who?” 

“Lady Lilligant, our Lady of the Ridge,” Adaman said, tone softening. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you don’t know any of this. Arezu has been her warden for years now, and from what I’ve been able to tell, she’s successfully kept the severity of Lady Lilligant’s condition from most of the clan. I knew she was agitated, but this is a full-on frenzy, and…”

“Why would she keep it a secret? And how? Kleavor’s frenzy was known by everyone.” 

“That surprised me, too,” Adaman said. “Especially since Lady Lilligant’s seat is so close to the settlement. I wonder…” 

He trailed off, but didn’t say anything. “Nevermind. The search party is still being gathered, and I don’t believe either of us have eaten. I’ve heard good things about your Wallflower—do you think you could get us something?” 

He fixed a smile to his face, and even though Dawn knew it was fake, she couldn’t help but smile back. “Of course. I just hope you don’t mind my endless questioning.”

“Of course not,” Adaman said. “I think it’s the best thing you could do.” 

They ended up eating not far from the Wallflower, since Adaman, despite being a clan leader, was not allowed. Beni did, however, allow Dawn to take him a box of potato mochi, and hovered near the entrance as they sat down on the other side of the street. They pressed against each other, close enough that their clasped hands could have rested in either person’s lap, if they weren’t so occupied with eating. Or, in Adaman’s case, explaining everything she needed to know about the pokémon nobles.

Most of it she’d already heard from Iridia in passing, but it was nice to have someone explain the details of who, exactly, the nobles were, and what they meant to each clan. Descendants of warriors chosen by Arceus—or Almighty Sinnoh—who were tasked with defending each clan. 

“It’s all so new,” Dawn said softly. “We had nothing like this back home.” 

“Yeah. Given what I’ve heard from other members of your team, you’re quite the anomaly,” Adaman teased. But there were several questions being asked in the simple statement, and Dawn didn’t know how to respond to any of them. 

“I know I am,” she said instead. “A lot of people have guesses as to who and what I am, but I’m the only one who knows the truth.” 

“And what’s that?”
She looked over to his Leafeon, who was resting on Adaman’s other side, head on his paws. “It’s not the right time to tell.” 

If nothing else, she was certain that was the truth. It wasn’t the right time to explain who she really was. Where she actually came from. 

Adaman seemed to accept that answer, and instead pestered her with questions about her survey work—about her team, about the Pokédex, everything.

“It’s the work of the century,” Dawn said with a cryptic smile. “It’ll be amazing once it’s done.” 

“It’ll be nice to have a single resource for all our pokémon concerns,” Adaman said. “It reduces anxiety among the people. Even among the Diamond Clan, many of these creatures are regarded with fear. It gets disheartening.”

  I wish I could tell you it gets better, Dawn thought, wishing she could say it. I wish I could tell you that people and pokémon would live in harmony and in peace, but even now there are some who reject that. 

She looked up, at the peak of Mount Coronet, at the space-time rift that perpetually split the sky and loomed like a threat over the land, and made a decision. “Adaman?”

“Hm?”
“If I tell you something, can you promise to keep it to yourself? I have some theories, but I’m not sure if I’m right.”

“Of course,” he said, but he looked suddenly wary. “What is it?”
Dawn’s fists clenched around the wooden utensils as she considered how to phrase it. “The last time I saw a rift like that, a woman who looked twin to Arezu helped open it.” 

Adaman froze. “Wait—what?”
“I have seen a rift like that before,” Dawn revealed slowly. “But it didn’t lead to anything like this, so I wasn’t sure at first. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. You said a warden from the Pearl Clan fell from the rift too, but who’s to say they fell from the same place or time as me? And if the two of us can fall through, maybe Mars could have as well.” 

“Mars,” Adaman said, trying the name on his tongue. “Was that the name of the woman?” 

“Yes,” Dawn said. “Mars. And there was Saturn, who looked like one of the bandit sisters but he was a man. And there was Jupiter, too, but I haven’t found anyone who looks like her yet.” 

She bit her lip, hard, to keep anything else from slipping out. Who knew what would happen if she kept talking?

“I suppose your logic makes sense,” Adaman said. “I believe Arezu was born to our clan, but I suppose that in a world where space and time are distorted all around us anything could happen. I hope you are wrong, Akari, about Arezu— but I would not begrudge you anything if you were right.”

“I’m sorry,” Dawn whispered. “I didn’t mean to—”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Adaman said, placing a hand firmly on her shoulder. “If I were you, I think I would do the same thing. Besides, you’re the most fascinating person I’ve ever met, and the search party is waiting for both of us.” 

***

Adaman once again split from the Galaxy Team when they reached the Crimson Mirelands, saying he had to return to the Diamond Settlement and maintain peace among his people. He shared a significant look with Dawn before he walked away, which made her smile and flush and Rei elbowed her in the ribs. 

“What did you say to him?” Rei asked, gesturing for her to follow. “I’ve never seen him look at anyone like that, and Laventon and I have seen him almost more than the boss has.” 

“That’s still not a lot,” Dawn insisted. “I can’t imagine he spends that much time in Jubilife or interacting with the Galaxy Team.” 

“It happens more often than you think,” Rei said. “The noble’s crisis notwithstanding. Don’t worry, Akari— if you keep going the way you’ve been going, you’ll rise high enough in the ranks to see him all the time.” 

Dawn mulled her friend’s words over as he took the lead, examining thorns and strands of wheat and smudges left on rocks or bark. He found a trail a few times, but it was soon lost, then found again. 

“How does she keep doing this?” Rei grunted. “It’s impressive but infuriating to track. It’s like she’s deliberately confusing the trail sometimes, knowing all of our tactics and leading us on a wild chase.” 

Sounds like something Mars would do, Dawn thought uneasily, but she continued to follow him as he collected scraps and examined a smudge that looked like mud, but Rei insisted otherwise. “It’s blood.”

“How can you tell?” Dawn asked, peering at it closely. It was brown, like mud, and caked on the rock in the sun. 

“It’s all about the angle,” Rei said. “You have to look for the red in it. Just because it’s dry doesn’t mean it’s lost its color.” 

Dawn ducked down, peering at the stain from where Rei had been looking at it, and finding that there was, in fact, red still visible. “Fascinating,” she muttered. 

“I know, right?” Rei grinned. “Still, it doesn’t say a ton about where she went. If she was injured, which she certainly seems to be, then her best bet would have been to return to civilization, so why is she running?” 

Because she’s actually Mars, and doesn’t know the land as well, maybe. That was the key word. Maybe. 

“If only we could track her scent,” Rei mused. “I know the Pearl Clan sometimes uses Growlithe to track ingredients and stuff near their settlement, so why couldn’t they do the same with people? It would make this much easier.” 

Wait. That’s it. 

“I think we can,” Dawn gasped, pulling out her Celestica Flute. “What was it Mistress Calaba said? Ursaluna’s sense of smell is legendary? They use him to find things even in the Mirelands, so maybe…” 

“And you can summon him,” Rei said breathlessly. “That’s an amazing idea, actually. Let’s do it!” 

Dawn played the summoning tune, and soon enough, the pokémon had lumbered up to her, crouching on his legs, staring. 

“You go on ahead,” Rei said. “I’ll get backup and meet up with you wherever you land. A great creature like Ursaluna will no doubt be easier to track than a slim human trying to hide.” 

Dawn gestured to the rock with Arezu’s blood, allowing Ursaluna to sniff it as she secured her team and saluted Rei. “Hope you find us quickly.” 

“We will,” Rei said, as Dawn got on Ursaluna and shot off into the red mist of the Scarlet Bog.

Chapter Text

It certainly felt strange to Hilda that, even in light of her decision to defeat the Pokémon League at whatever cost, very little changed about her procedures and strategies. But it made sense when she thought about it— why would she change them if they’d worked just fine for the past six gyms? As long as she had a solid type matchup and an even more solid strategy, she would be okay.

She’d already decided that Rocky, Edelgard, and Dara would be her pokémon for the battle. Ollie would be standing by, and so would Ingrid and Mike in the event something went horribly wrong. 

Not that it should. This should be the easiest battle I’ve fought yet, so long as I have my strongest partners with me. The trainer sites she looked on when she got the chance all had Brycen listed as one of the easiest gym leaders to beat, so long as you had a strong fire-type. 

She made her way through the first half of the gym without much trouble. Edelgard took care of most of the gym trainer’s pokémon, and if not her, then Dara. 

The first surprise came when Dara evolved, bursting out of her poké ball the moment Edelgard fainted and punching the offending Cryogonal so hard she tripled in size. It filled her simultaneously with relief and remorse, seeing the bouncing Dara now unable to do much bouncing without shattering the walls. 

But it did give her some relief. Edelgard was looking in worse and worse shape with every battle, and while Hilda had initially passed it off as mere fatigue, or perhaps timidness, it was becoming clearer that wasn’t the case.

With every battle she fought, Edelgard lost more and more of the wax that made up her body. Her flame was beginning to burn out, and she appeared to have bags under her eyes—as much as a Litwick could have eye bags, anyway.

“I think you should sit this one out, my friend,” Hilda said softly. “You’re in no condition to battle.” I should get her to Professor Juniper as soon as possible. She’s definitely sick, but from what? 

Only one answer to that question made sense. Did Team Plasma do something? 

She began leading with either Dara or Rocky, but Rocky was also becoming more at risk with how many fighting-type specialists there were scattered among the ice-types. One good hit from any of them, and he was going down. Hilda was beginning to see why the articles never mentioned using steel- or rock-type pokémon as methods of defeating the gym. 

It’s okay. I have Ingrid and Ollie as backups for a reason. So why did she have the sinking feeling she was severely underprepared for this fight?

Her heart hammered in her chest as she climbed the final steps up to where Brycen was waiting, sitting in a meditative pose with a robe covering only half of his chest. I will never understand ice-type people. This place is freezing! Hilda herself was shivering, and she’d put on a coat before entering the gym. 

Brycen opened his eyes, meeting Hilda’s stare. “I take it you’re here for a gym battle, Miss Hilda?” 

Who told him my name? But she didn’t ask the question, instead simply nodding her head. 

“Good. I’ve been waiting for you.” He stood, hands now behind his back, revealing the belt that held his team. Six gleaming poké balls, but only three of them would be used in the battle, as per Unovan gym rules. 

I’ll bet Team Plasma started those, too, she thought unkindly. They shouldn’t need laws to tell gym leaders how to be decent people, but Team Plasma was as blind to that as they were to most things. 

“Who told you I was coming?”
At that, Brycen’s lips twisted upward in the barest trace of a smile. “The green-haired boy who challenged me three days ago. Spoke quite highly of you, and recommended that I use my strongest team.” 

I’m going to kill N. But that would only prove his point about trainers being violent, so perhaps she would only beat the snot out of him with pokémon. Again. 

“Did he,” Hilda said, frowning. “Fun.”
Brycen huffed. “Shall we begin?”
There was only one other trainer present—the referee, who stated the rules simply and named no one. The rules were familiar—a three-on-three match, only Hilda could switch pokémon, et cetera—but the delivery was not. 

Something’s definitely going on here. But there wouldn’t be time to discern what until she defeated the gym. 

“Alright, Dara! You’re up!”
Her Darmanitan roared when she landed on the icy battlefield, similar to how Ingrid always did. Her fists slammed into the ice, sending shards flying across the surface. 

“Predictable,” Brycen huffed. “Vanilluxe!”

Wait, what? Isn’t his first pokémon supposed to be Vanill ish? Perhaps he’d taken N’s words to heart. And if that’s the case, I’m in trouble. 

 “Use Blizzard!” 

“Dodge!” Hilda cried, moving her arm in the direction the icicles weren’t. Dara faithfully tucked in her arms and rolled, allowing her to move much faster than even Hilda had thought. 

“Don’t stop rolling!”
Vanilluxe continued using Blizzard, but nothing hit Dara. Once the icicles stopped, it was their turn. 

“Quickly, use Fire Punch!”
“Vanilluxe, Hail!” 

Dara’s fist met its mark, but she wasn’t fast enough to stop the hail from falling. Not horrible, but chip damage is never good on my end. 

Still, the first pokémon was down, and Dara had barely taken a scratch. So far, so good. 

“The gym leader’s pokémon is unable to battle,” the referee announced dully. “The challenger wins!” 

Silence. Brycen met her eyes again before seizing his second poké ball and throwing it. “Cryogonal!”

That, at least, was something Hilda had expected, but something was different about it. Is that a berry necklace? Sometimes, gym leaders gave their pokémon berries to provide an extra challenge, though she didn’t think Brycen was one of them. Doesn’t matter. We’ll just burn it up.

“Dara! Use Fire Punch, and aim for its center!” 

“Confuse Ray!”
It hit the Cryogonal, but nowhere near the berry. Dara’s eyes were glazed over, and Hilda knew all too well what a confused pokémon looked like. With a wince, she watched the Cryogonal consume the berry, and to her horror, its insides flashed with red. It just boosted its power, didn’t it?

“Dara!”
“Use Blizzard!” 

Brycen issued the order before Hilda could properly react, and the entire battlefield became filled with the Blizzard. That’s right. It doesn’t miss in the hail, does it?

Dara roared, then swung at the Cryogonal and missed, accidentally slamming into the wall of the battlefield. 

She’s going to knock herself out if this continues. But what could she do about it? 

“Double Team!”
You’re kidding. “Dara, return!” 

She could’ve sworn she saw Brycen smirking through the mist—or maybe he was frowning? It was hard to tell. The clones of Cryogonal cleared, and the room was silent as she switched into her next pokémon. “Rocky, your turn!” 

Brycen was definitely smirking. “Use Rock Slide!” Please hit, please hit, please—

“Cryogonal, dodge and use Flash Canon!”
Hilda swore. The Cryogonal dodged the falling rocks with ease, levitating above the ground, moving up close to Rocky before hitting it with the Flash Canon. That’s…critical. That’s very bad. 

Rocky was still standing, but likely not for much longer. He won’t survive another hit like that, so we need to be faster. The problem was, Rocky wasn’t capable of going much faster. 

“Use Ancient Power!”
It was a more accurate move, and struck the Cryogonal hard, but Rocky was still shaking badly. 

“Flash Canon, again!” 

Yep, that’s it. Rocky was declared unable to battle, but at the very least, the Cryogonal looked like it was on its last leg. 

“Dara!”
“Back to the Darmanitan?” Brycen was glaring at her—or, maybe just thinking hard. “Fine. Cryogonal—” 

“Fire Punch!”
This time, it struck home. Two down, one to go. 

It was still hailing, though, which made her worry. Doesn’t his Beartic have Snow Cloak?

“Beartic!”
The great creature roared far more threateningly than Dara had, and Hilda was truly shaken now. The hail picked up, and it became very hard to see the Beartic on the other side of the field. Yep. It has Snow Cloak. 

“Beartic, use Icicle Crash!”
Hilda moved the same arm, indicating the direction as she shouted, “Dodge!” 

“To the right!”
What? 

The Icicle Crash struck home, though Hilda thought it had been fired in the opposite direction.

“That’s your tell,” Brycen said simply. “Though I have to admit, it’s a clever one. Most trainers simply wave their arms to hype themselves up, but you have turned it into a strategy. I’m sure that’s worked on many of my fellow gym leaders, but I have fought as many humans as I have pokémon, and I know a fighter when I see one.”

“I take it that’s high praise,” Hilda said. “Thank you. Dara!”
Brycen’s face settled into the same cold mask it had been for most of the battle. 

“Use Fire Punch!”
“Don’t let it get close, Beartic! Stone Edge!” 

Beartic roared, slamming its claws into the ground, causing massive pillars of stone to erupt. 

“Stay where you are, Dara!”
She flashed Hilda a panicked look, but obeyed. “Wait for it…now!”  

Dara leaped out of the way, barely avoiding the rocks as they hit the wall. Excellent. 

“Don’t let it get away, Beartic! Stone Edge, Again!”
“Use Hammer Arm! Break the rocks as they come!”

Dara managed to get close, spinning forward with her Hammer Arm breaking the Stone Edge pillars, splintering them into the Beartic’s face and causing it damage. However, the moment Dara stopped spinning, the stones got her, sending her up to the roof and crashing back down again. It worked…a little bit. 

“Impressive,” Brycen said. “Turning your weakness into a strength. I like that.”
The hail caused steam to form with Dara’s next Fire Punch, obscuring everything from view. Hilda closed her eyes, attempting to locate Dara with sound, but all she heard was Brycen’s next call. 

“Use Superpower!”
She called to Dara, but it was too late. Her Darmanitan was thrown across the battlefield, unconscious. 

“The challenger’s pokémon is unable to battle. The gym leader wins!”
At least he’s down to his last one. And she couldn’t use Edelgard—her fire moves were too weak. Alright. Time to make your big debut, my friend. 

“Ollie! You’re up!”
Ollie’s shell blades dug into the dirt beneath the ice, and her black armor gave her a more threatening appearance than the classic Samurott. 

“Oh?” Brycen’s eyebrows shot up. “What’s this?”
“A Samurott,” Hilda said lamely. “Her name’s Ollie. Now, use Surf!” 

“Build a wall with Stone Edge!”
Ollie’s Surf was too powerful for that to do any good. And doesn’t Superpower lower attack after it's used? 

“Use Bulk Up!”
“Move in close! Use Revenge!” 

“Use Superpower!”
She saw the Bulk Up take effect, the Beartic’s fur shining red for a moment. But the hail had finally stopped, and Ollie was faster.

“The gym leader’s pokémon is unable to battle! The challenger wins!”
Beartic was returned, but Brycen made no move to approach her, and the referee did not declare the match. What is…

“Reggie,” Brycen said calmly, “I believe you forgot that this was a four-on-four match.” 

Hilda gasped. He’s going to use a fourth pokémon? She hadn’t returned Ollie, and perhaps this meant…

“Weavile, go!”
Her jaw dropped open as the Sinnoh-native pokémon appeared on the field, and neither Brycen nor the referee appeared at all concerned that they were, officially and on Pokémon League record, breaking the law. 

“Weavile used to be my ace,” Brycen said. “Before Team Plasma banned foreign pokémon. But if you’re truly worthy—if you’re the hero from the stories, and standing up to Team Plasma is more than a vain hope—then prove it. Defeat Weavile.” 

There was something in his eyes that she could see clearly now that the hail was gone. Determination, and a sense that the Yanma in the marsh weren’t on account of mere obscurity.

“Ollie! Use Revenge!”
“Weavile, Ice Punch!” 

Ollie was knocked off her move, being hit with a flurry of punches that looked like they were hurting a lot more than they should. 

“Shadow Claw!”
At least that’s a resisted hit now that she’s dark-type. “Ollie, use Surf!” 

The Weavile was carried back by the tide, but didn’t even look close to down. 

“Low Kick!”
Hilda winced. From what she and the Professor Junipers had been able to discern, Ollie was lighter than most Samurott, but a super-effective move was a super-effective move. Not that Brycen would know that.

“Cut it back with Night Slash!” Or whatever that move is you keep using!

“Night Slash on a Samurott…? Nevermind. Weavile, continue to use Low Kick!” 

Ollie was looking battered, and she’d already taken damage from the fight with Beartic and damage from the hail. She couldn’t stand two Low Kicks. 

“Samurott is unable to battle,” said the referee, using the pokémon’s name for the first time. “Weavile wins!” 

But this is a four-on-four now, Hilda assured herself. And Weavile’s pretty fast, especially on this ice. It had been broken up in places, but they were places Weavile was excellent at avoiding. If it was really his ace, then it probably didn’t have a lot of clean field to work with. But what if I take that away entirely?

She felt oozing up her back. Hilda’s hand flailed a few times before the creature came up to her shoulder, and she realized it was Edelgard, who had somehow broken out of her ball and handed her…

Ingrid’s poké ball. That could work.
“You sure you’re okay with sitting this out?” Hilda asked the candle, who chirped in response. “Alright. Suit yourself. Ingrid!” 

“Use Swords Dance!”
“Flame Charge!” 

Okay, sure, it was overkill. But it gave Ingrid the edge, and Hilda thought it was always good to surprise people. 

“Dodge it, Weavile!”
“Keep using Flame Charge and chase it!” 

She saw Brycen’s flabbergasted face, but wasn’t paying much attention to it. She’s almost got the whole field covered. Just a little more…

“Turn around and use Shadow Claw!”
“Flame Charge!” 

The Weavile didn’t have enough time to even turn around. Ingrid slammed into it, again and again, the speed built up enough that it could dodge every attack the Weavile made with ease, and strike before it had the chance to strike back. 

“Finish it off, Ingrid! Use Spark!”
The points of her mane directed at the Weavile, Ingrid charged with all her strength, sending it into the rocks, unconscious. 

“Weavile is unable to battle,” said the referee. “Zebstrika wins! The match goes to Hilda, the challenger!” 

“You just broke so many laws,” Hilda said, but she was smiling. “What for? I can’t have been promising enough to risk your career.” 

Brycen approached her, smiling. “If you believe that, then you sell yourself short. I would do all of this and more if it meant seeing Team Plasma fall.” 

Hilda gasped. Brycen handed her the Freeze Badge with a pat on the back. “Go join your companions. I believe they’re waiting for you outside.” 

With a grateful nod, Hilda complied.

***

Cheren and Bianca were, in fact, waiting for her at the entrance to the gym. Bianca looked panicked, and Cheren looked on the verge of tears. 

“What does ‘being strong’ even mean?” Cheren exclaimed. “Is that really me? Or just my pokémon? I don’t know anymore!” 

“Calm down,” Bianca said hastily. “Let’s talk about something else! We haven’t had the chance to catch up, after all.” 

“It’s the Pokémon Fan Club for me!” Cheren proclaimed. “The answer must be somewhere!” 

Hilda raised an eyebrow at Bianca. Bianca simply shrugged. And at that moment, Brycen burst out the door, furious. 

“Who are you?” he bellowed, startling all three trainers into silence.
“Who, us?” Bianca stuttered. “I’m Bianca, and that’s Cheren—” 

“I know you’re there,” Brycen continued, and Hilda noticed he wasn’t looking at any of them. “Show yourselves!” 

A gust of air by Hilda’s ear. Gasps from her friends. She saw who Brycen had been yelling at now. 

It’s the Shadow Triad.

Chapter Text

Riding around on Ursaluna was a lot rougher than riding around on Wyrdeer. Not that Dawn didn’t expect this, but it soon became too difficult to direct Ursaluna towards Arezu’s tracks and keep herself stable on its back. She gripped the thin rope that served as reins as tight as she could, trying to trust that Ursaluna knew where they were going. 

They ended up in a ravine on the other side of the Scarlet Bog, in an area swarming with Onix and Skuntank. Ursaluna didn’t appear too bothered, but Dawn was uneasy. She brought out Barry and Sasha, just in case, then slid off of the lunar bear’s back and crouched in the bush. What is she doing here? 

Thankfully, the Onix and Skuntank were too busy fighting each other to notice her darting past and further into the ravine. There were quite a few berry trees in the area, but only a few of them still had berries left. Is that what they’re fighting over? 

Barry and Sasha chittered to each other behind her back as she scrambled around fallen rocks, stopping when the sound of pained moans echoed, mixed with a sob. 

“That’s a human,” Dawn said aloud. “It might be Arezu—did she get attacked?” Whoever it was, they sounded like they were in incredible pain.

She followed the noises up the ravine, eventually coming to a cluster of trees that still had berries on them, finding a familiar head of red hair in the center. 

“Gotcha,” Dawn whispered. “No running now.”
“A—Akari? Is that you?” 

Guilt welled in her stomach at the hope in the woman’s voice. She approached, Sasha and Barry at her heels, and the feeling grew worse when she saw Arezu’s situation. 

Her leg was bent at an odd angle, and her arms were covered in scratches. There was a basket of what looked like balms sitting nearby, its contents spilled all over the muddy ground. Smells nice, at least. 

“Yeah, it’s me,” Dawn said softly. “What—what happened here? What’s all this?”

Arezu sighed, but it sounded like a sob. “I—was trying to gather food for my Lady Lilligant, to make balms, like with Kleavor— but I got cornered by some particularly vicious pokémon. I managed to get away from them, but I lost a lot of balms and I think my leg is broken.”

“O—okay,” Dawn stuttered. “Okay. We’ll get you help, but there’s a lot of suspicion right now, so you might have to hold on a bit longer. Got it?” 

Arezu nodded, wincing at every breath. “Maybe it’s not just my leg. How did you find me?” 

“Adaman requested our help with the search party, but I’m here to calm down Lilligant if possible,” Dawn explained. “The rest of the search party should be on its way.” 

“Okay.” Arezu broke off in pained whimpers again, and Dawn, not wanting to feel useless, set the basket of balms upright again and retrieved the ones that did not appear damaged. “Can you tell which leg bone is broken? I might be able to splint it until someone gets here.” 

“Maybe,” Arezu said softly. “Akari…”
She trailed off. Dawn slowed, looking at her warily. “What is it?” 

“It’s all so strange,” Arezu mumbled. “I was just talking to that one Ginkgo merchant the other day. He comes around the settlement a lot, asking about history and lore. I was happy to tell him, and I told him about Lilligant, too. He gave me this strange powder, said it might help her calm down, but…Ursaluna found it. It got all over him, and I—” 

Dawn held her breath, but Arezu cut herself off. “And you know, it’s weird. After Ursaluna got hit with the powder, I had this weird dream. I was in it, but I had a pokémon, and you were there, and Coin—it was all so strange.” 

Her hand shook on the basket. No. It can’t be. She cannot possibly be—remembering? Is that the right word? These are Mars’s memories, for sure. And Coin being there…Saturn? “Anything else?”
Before Arezu could respond, they both heard footsteps coming up the ravine, and fell silent. Dawn locked eyes with her pokémon, then towards where the footsteps were coming from.

“M-Mistress Calaba? I—”
“Save your breath, girl. I’m not here to hurt you. Akari can do that, if need be, but it looks as though you’re hurt enough.” 

Arezu was shaking again. “I’m sorry, I didn’t do anything, it was an accident I promise—”

“I already told you to save your breath. Don’t you Diamond people value time above everything?” Calaba snapped. “I know it wasn’t you, but you still went missing, and therefore you must be found.”

“I-wait, what?”
Calaba huffed. “You may be airheaded, but I don’t believe you are cruel, Arezu of the Diamond Clan. You believed the Ginkgo merchant’s strange powder would assist Lilligant, and I cannot blame you for looking out for your charge. As stupid as I think trusting the Ginkgo is, sometimes.” 

Arezu’s sob became something like a laugh. “I-Thank you, Mistress Calaba.” 

“No thanks needed. I’m only trying to help, as you were.” The old woman knelt down, examining Arezu’s leg. “What happened?” 

Arezu recounted the same thing she’d told Dawn to Calaba, but said nothing about her strange dream. She did, however, pester Calaba and Dawn incessantly about dealing with Lilligant’s frenzy.

“I save the balms I could,” Dawn said. “But the basket’s only half full.”
“I know we need more,” Arezu said. “Professor Laventon told me there should be at least three times this amount—and that was for Kleavor. We might need triple that for Lilligant.” 

This Lilligant must be extraordinarily strong, Dawn mused. Maybe it Quiver Danced so much that it’s permanently maxed itself out? It didn’t make sense, because status moves don’t work that way, but she couldn’t think of another explanation.

“Then let’s get to it!”
Dawn whirled around far quicker than she probably should have, seeing Adaman standing against a tree with folded arms and his Leafeon scowling beside him. “There’s no time to waste, especially with all the time you’ve already wasted, Arezu.” 

“Sorry, Adaman…” Arezu hung her head, and Adaman met Dawn’s eyes. She gave him a small smile and a thumbs-up, trying to signal, it’s okay. 

“Honestly, Arezu. Why give us the runaround like this when all you’re doing is trying to help? Several members of the Pearl Clan tried to pin Ursaluna’s rage on you, and nearly started a fight over it. I get not wanting to waste time, but it’s not a waste if you’re asking for help.” He groaned, face in one hand. “Guess I’m one to talk. Not much of a leader, am I?” 

“Let’s get this one back to the Diamond settlement,” Calaba said. “Balms should be made, but a broken leg must also be treated, and home is the best place to recover.” She gave what might have been a comforting smile to Arezu, but Dawn couldn’t tell. 

“I should report back to the team,” Dawn started, but Adaman cut her off. “No. You should come with us, help us make them. Rei’s taking care of the reports already.”

Stunned, she helped Adaman support Arezu as he directed them back to the Diamond settlement. Dawn strapped the basket of balms to her back, and was grateful that there weren’t as many, because Arezu was deceptively heavy. 

“Are you sure this is okay? Letting me into your clan’s village?” Dawn asked uneasily. “It doesn’t seem like people are very friendly towards outsiders, so—” 

“You’re with us,” Adaman said simply. “You’ll be fine. Besides, from what I’ve gathered, you have a tendency to draw others toward you. Coming from the realm of Almighty Sinnoh can’t hurt, either.”

Dawn bit her lip hard, looking down. “Right.”
“Don’t sweat it, Akari. I know the Galaxy Team makes everyone seem intense, but I promise, the people of the settlement are great,” Arezu said. “Besides, we’re almost there.”

Unfortunately, the last stretch the settlement was climbing a hill, and while some Diamond Clan sentries spotted them and sent help, Dawn’s limbs still burned with the effort. 

“Need some help yourself?” Adaman asked teasingly.
“I’m fine,” Dawn said. “Just…tired.” 

Adaman hummed, but he had a smug smirk on his face that made Dawn as confused as she was wary. One of the sentries had retrieved the basket of balms, saying they shouldn’t be separated from the warden—which didn’t make sense to Dawn, but whatever— and both Sasha and Barry had long since been returned to their balls. 

Without warning, Adaman scooped her up, cradling her against his chest and causing Dawn to give a squeak unbecoming of a Champion. She slapped at his arms, but he just held her tighter. 

“Put—me—down!”
“Why would I when it saves much more time to do this?” 

She pouted at him, face ablaze. “As I believe we have established, I am not a child, and do not need to be treated like one.”

“Whoever said I was? I’m simply saving time,” Adaman said, all too smug. 

“Isn’t this forbidden since you’re a clan leader? Cavorting with the enemy?” 

“You consider me an enemy? Akari, I’m hurt.” He sounded like a kicked Lillipup, and Dawn hated it. 

“That’s not what I—just put me down!”
In response, he held her closer to his chest, which made her face flare even more, especially when he stopped to whisper in her ear. “Never.” 

She huffed, wondering if she could have someone knock her unconscious before she was paraded through the village like this, but no such luck. Dawn resigned herself to a permanently red face whenever she entered the Diamond Clan’s settlement from that moment on. 

“What are you doing?” 

Adaman grunted. “Putting you down. I want you to be accepted in my clan, and walking in with you in my arms will only spread rumors.”
“For the record, that’s what I was trying to say. With the enemy comment.” 

He chuckled, but it didn’t sound as genuine. “I see. My apologies for deceiving you.” 

Though relieved to feel her feet on the ground again, she found herself missing the feel of his arms as they entered the settlement, where an older woman in Diamond Clan robes immediately walked up to Adaman, speaking too quickly and quietly for Dawn to discern what she was saying. Whatever it was, Adaman’s face grew more and more worrying, and Dawn could feel eyes all over her.

“This is Akari,” Adaman said, startling Dawn out of her thoughts. “She’s a member of the Galaxy Team, and she’s been ordered to survey Lady Lilligant on behalf of them. Since she also quelled Kleavor, I have full faith in her abilities.” 

The old woman looked skeptical, but nodded. And though their faces were hard to discern, Dawn thought the rest of the clan looked suspicious, too. 

“Maybe I should wait outside the village,” she said nervously. “Go start gathering materials or something. I don’t think they like me being here.” 

“Not everyone is Mistress Calaba—or Conia, for that matter.” At her confused look, he elaborated— “That’s the woman I was speaking to. She’s our clan’s primary healer, and though she may be stern, she has a kind heart.” 

Discreetly, hidden by the folds of her uniform and his haori, he took her hand and squeezed it. Under his breath, he whispered, “You’re safe with us.” 

She squeezed his hand back, taking comfort from the warmth. “Thank you.” 

He led her into what must have been the infirmary—or whatever equivalent they had—once Conia allowed them inside. She didn’t sneer at Dawn, though her face was frozen in a frown, and she didn’t glare distastefully at her poké balls. Instead, Arezu waved them both over, already hard at work making balms. 

“I told Conia that I wasn’t using my leg, and she let me start,” Arezu said hastily. “You two make it up okay? Akari looks red.” 

“We’re fine,” Adaman said, just as fast. “We just need to know what kind of state Lilligant’s in. Every second Lilligant is frenzied is a second our people are in danger.” 

Arezu explained essentially the same conditions that had plagued Kleavor when Dawn had fought him—unusual aggression, more intense strength, and the seeming inability to listen to anything they said. 

“It’ll take a while to make the balms, though. And it won’t be wise to challenge Lilligant once the sun has set—best wait till tomorrow morning,” she added. “You’re right about the time, Adaman, but Almighty Sinnoh needs to give us more because we don’t have enough. Over a day of scouring only brought me half the materials I needed, and now I can’t direct you. Not to mention the contention with the Galaxy Team and the Pearl Clan that I somehow caused.” 

“Because you ran,” Adaman said bluntly. “You appeared to strike Ursaluna into a rage and then disappeared. It made us look really bad. I’m glad Mistress Calaba found us before any of her fellow wardens did, otherwise you might not have made it.” 

Dawn bit her lip, hands folded tightly in her lap. She’d almost made the same rash decision, and Adaman certainly knew it. I should never have told him about Mars. 

Adaman buried his head in both hands. “Wow. It’s times like these where I wonder how I’m clan leader.”

“Don’t say that,” Arezu said sharply.
“Shut up. You’re doing fine,” Dawn added, all too familiar with the feeling despite not hearing Adaman express it. “I get it. You’re younger than you think you should be, but everyone’s looking up to you anyway. You handled the situation with truly impressive restraint, considering what almost happened. Don’t beat yourself up.” 

Adaman and Arezu were both looking at her strangely, but Dawn wasn’t going to take it back. 

“I haven’t seen Almighty Sinnoh, though,” Adaman said grimly. “And that’s the only way, in the Diamond Clan, you can be an unchallenged ruler. All of that may be true, Akari, but it doesn’t negate the fact that I don’t have the most important qualification.”

Trust me, Adaman. Almighty Sinnoh isn’t all its cracked up to be. She groaned. Things I wish I could say. 

“Listen to Akari, Adaman,” Arezu said. “It’s clear she’s done this thing before. And besides, no one has seen Almighty Sinnoh in centuries. You’re more than qualified.” 

Silence for a moment. She heard the padding of Leafeon as he entered, then jumped onto Adaman’s lap. Dawn seized some ingredients from Arezu and began making balms, watching the Diamond Clan leader carefully. 

“I wish I had half your wisdom, Akari,” he said softly. “The world beyond the rift must be a wise place.” 

“It’s definitely not,” Dawn said with a laugh. “But it’s home. And there are wise people there, if you know how to find them.”

***

Dawn left the infirmary tent to go scavenge for the foods Arezu directed, and though she didn’t find a lot, she thought it was enough for at least a dozen more balms. Supplies were being brought in from a unit of sentries, too, which helped. 

“Not Mars after all,” Adaman said behind her. She’d known he followed her out of the settlement, but that was the first time he’d spoken.

“No,” Dawn said, feeling small. “Just Arezu.”
“That’s good,” Adaman said. “But could you tell me about Mars? What had you so scared, other than the fact she opened the rift?”

“Why do you want to know?” Dawn retorted, without heat. “Why her, specifically?” 

“Maybe not her, but that’s all I know of the world beyond the rift,” he said. “All I know is her and you.” 

His words made her blush, and she hoped it wasn’t too noticeable in the darkness. The sun had just set, after hours of using the materials they already had and making arrangements for Dawn to stay in the settlement that night. 

“There’s a lot of things I could say,” she started. “But I have things I’d rather ask you first.” 

“Fire away.” She turned around, seeing him hold up his hands in surrender, a comforting smile on his face. 

“Why do you keep doing this? You have no reason to.”
“Do what?” 

She sighed, gesturing around them. “This. Hearing out my ramblings in Jubilife. Summoning Wyrdeer after I quelled Kleavor, even though I’m not of your clan and Kleavor’s not your noble. Having me stay in your clan’s settlement even though I could easily go back to Jubilife.” 

“Can a clan leader not offer simple gestures of goodwill without his motives being questioned? Especially to someone regarded so highly?” Adaman retorted. “I would think my people would frown upon me if I didn’t.” 

“Why’s that?” Dawn asked, but realized the answer the second it left her lips. 

She’d suspected from the beginning that he might have ulterior motives in sticking close to her, the same way she did with him. He was the leader of a clan that worshiped Dialga, which was the only being that could and would send her home if she came in contact with it. But it occurred to her only then that he had the same ulterior motives she did—he stuck close to her to get close to his own Almighty Sinnoh, and perhaps earn that final qualifying factor his clan demanded.

“Some believe you’ve been sent by the Pearl Clan’s Almighty Sinnoh to destroy us,” Adaman said. “And others believe you’ve been sent by the true Almighty Sinnoh to assist us in our time of need. Either way, it’s my responsibility to figure out which one you are.” 

Dawn found herself smiling. “And which one do you think I am?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Adaman said softly. “But I have a hard time believing you’ve been sent to destroy us, unless—” His face went red, and he cut himself off. “Nevermind. Perhaps I should be asking you which one you are.” 

“I’m not here to destroy anyone,” Dawn said. “That much I can tell you. I promise.”

He nodded slowly, the blues of his hair and his clothes making him look ethereal in the silver moonlight. 

“Mai said you were a professional battler.”
“Huh? Oh, right, I did say that.” 

She’d almost forgotten about that conversation. “Is that the same conversation where I said I was from Kanto?” 

“No one believed you,” Adaman said wryly. “You fell from the sky, for Sinnoh’s sake. All it did was reassure people that you knew what our world was, at least.”

She rubbed the back of her head. “Well, the part about professionally battling was true. But you might have figured that out already.”

“I still want to test it,” said Adaman, a gleam entering his eye. “Face me in battle, Akari! Let me see your strength for myself.” 

He gave a sharp whistle, and Leafeon came running, though he looked as though he’d just woken from a nap.

“Go, Sasha!”
Her Quilava screeched, flames lighting up on his back as Leafeon pawed at the ground, as though itching to spring forward and attack.

“Don’t disappoint me, Akari,” Adaman said, and called the first move.

She barely paid attention to what the moves were, thinking only of Adaman. Every move, every time they locked eyes, electricity swept through her body as though Lucas had used Spark on her, and she listened only to him and his calls, his strategy—if he even had one, or if he was only directing to confuse her. It was clear he was no slouch—Leafeon got several good hits in before Sasha managed to corner him with a Flame Wheel—but in the end, Sasha was all she needed to beat him soundly.

They were both grinning ear-to-ear, and the moon was high above their heads. Dawn was barely holding back insane, joyful laughter, despite the grim circumstances.

“Impressive,” Adaman whispered. “You are truly something else. But you need to save your strength—I assure you, Lilligant is a far stronger opponent than me.”

“People keep saying that,” Dawn said, folding her arms. “But the Lilligant I’ve known are not nearly that strong. They’re not necessarily weak, but they don’t give me too much trouble.” Unless it knows Sleep Powder. Then it’s infuriating.  

“Then the Lilligant you’ve known put a shame to the species, because the Lady of the Ridge is a terror to all who cross her,” Adaman smirked. “I can’t wait for the two of you to meet.”

Chapter Text

The Shadow Triad, now that Hilda could see them in full light, were far less threatening than she’d expected. All three were identical in dress, with long white hair and slim-fitting black clothes layered over themselves, giving the impression in the darkness that they were larger than they actually were.

In the daylight, while the cloaks had lost their effect, their hard glares more than made up for it. Each of the three was fixed on someone different—one watching Cheren and Bianca, one focused on Brycen, tensing for a fight; the last was watching Hilda with a curiosity that made her skin crawl. 

“Impressive, Gym Leader of Icirrus City,” said the first, facing Brycen. “We cannot recall the last time someone perceived our presence before we revealed ourselves.”

“You’re not the only ones with those tactics,” Brycen said coldly. “And I’ve taken your kind down before.”

“Our mission was to speak only to Hilda, but so be it,” said the second, facing Cheren and Bianca.

“Come to Dragonspiral Tower,” ordered the third, facing Hilda. “That is the request of Lord Ghetsis as well as our king. They await your presence. Do not keep them waiting.” 

“Dragonspiral Tower?!” Brycen gasped. “It can’t be—hey!” 

But the Shadow Triad had already disappeared, leaving the group speechless. 

“So that’s not an illusion,” Hilda grumbled. “Normally, they knock me out when they transport me. Otherwise I get nauseous.”

All three of her companions raised their eyebrows at her, but no one questioned it. 

“Young man, young lady, if either of you are here for a gym battle, you’ll have to wait. As the gym leader in the city, its defence falls to me first. I’m going to Dragonspiral Tower—Hilda, I recommend you come with me.”

“I need to go to the Pokémon Center first. Swap out my team, get everyone healed up. I’ve dealt with N before, but I’ve never faced Ghetsis. Don’t worry—I’ll be there.”

“So will I,” Cheren said. “I’m not letting Plasma get away.”
“Wait—they’re from Team Plasma?” Bianca stuttered. “Are you sure you should be going? Hilda, I think you should ignore it—”

“I can’t, Bianca. I have to stop N for his own good.” Without waiting for protest, she sprinted for the Pokémon Center, already mentally selecting the members of her team to face Team Plasma for the last time.

“Hurry,” she told Nurse Joy when she burst through the door. “There’s an emergency I have to respond to.”

Seeing that Hilda had left all of her poké balls, she nodded and rushed to the back. Hilda opened the PC, drawing out Dawn and Annette when Nurse Joy returned. “They’re all better. I hope the emergency is resolved quickly.” 

“Me, too,” Hilda whispered, replacing Rocky and Edelgard in the box. Sorry, you two, but you’re at a disadvantage here. Dara, Ollie, Ingrid and Mike remained from her gym team.

Barely stopping to re-clip her balls to her belt, she stormed out of the Pokémon Center, rushing down the route. Everyone had gone from the gym’s entrance— Bianca must have followed them after all— and Hilda could already see the tip of the tower not far in the distance.

“Hilda, let’s not rush into this!”
She laughed, almost in disbelief. Bianca had jumped out from the bushes, arms spread wide as though to block her. 

“Let her go, Bianca. Cheren and Brycen will need all the help they can get, and you said the summons was for Hilda in the first place.” 

It was the elder Professor Juniper, panting as though he’d sprinted all the way from the hotel. “The tower itself has been conquered already. And, if my lore is right, they plan to summon the Legendary Dragon of Truth.”

“But they can’t,” Bianca began, but was cut off by Hilda.
“Yes, they can. They have everything they need. Trust me, Bianca. N will stop at nothing to go through with this. Its what he’s been trained for, and I’m lucky enough that he picked me to stop him.”

The blonde shook her head. “Hilda…is this the same boy we met in Chargestone Cave? Who walked you to Twist Mountain? Who is he, really?” 

“The King of Team Plasma,” Hilda said. “And yes, you’re right. You have met him. Don’t try and stop me, Bianca. I’m as determined as he is.”

Bianca hung her head. “I know. The only thing that bothers me is the fact that I’m not strong enough to go with you.”

Hilda put a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “That’s okay,” she said softly. “You don’t have to be. Stay here and be Professor Juniper Sr.’s bodyguard, alright? Stay away from the fight.”

“It would make me feel safer,” said the professor, giving Bianca a smile. 

“I’ll do that, then,” Bianca said. “Be safe, Hilda. Come back okay.”
“I will.”

With that, Hilda took off again into the most ancient tower in Unova.

***

She had to cross a moat. Because of course she did. But at least the Plasma grunt at the bridge didn’t try to slow her down with a battle.

“Here to see Lord N?”
Hilda spun on her heel, skidding to a stop. “What’s it to you?” 

She gasped. It was the same woman from Twist Mountain—the one who had taunted her with insults, who had faced her in Chargestone Cave.

“I’m only curious,” the red-haired woman— Vivian, Hilda remembered. “Are the rumors true? Has our king taken a lover?” 

Her face showed bitterness, but Hilda didn’t care. “No,” she spat. “I’m only here to stop him, Legendary Dragon or not.” 

Vivian laughed as though she didn’t believe her. “So you do know what’s going on. I shouldn’t be surprised. Go on, now. I believe you’ll find him at the top.”

Hilda rushed off again, hearing Vivian’s laughter echo even inside the tower.

It doesn’t matter, she reminded herself. He needs to be stopped. For the good of Unova, and himself. 

And maybe me, too.
The base of the tower was underwater, as evidenced by the slim walkway through pools, leading to stairs on the other side. She saw wild pokémon hiding in the shadows, but she had no interest in catching or battling them. 

“Please let me pass,” she whispered to the walls. “I need to catch up quickly.”

None of the pokémon jumped out at her, and she was halfway up the stairs when she felt the tower tremble. 

Is something…going wild? Is it N? Has he done it?
The shaking stopped, allowing Hilda to reach the second floor unmolested, but she groaned when she found it made mostly of rubble. Pillars had crashed, sharp stones sticking into the air, the large bodies looking like ramps to the next level.

Wait a second. Climbing on top of a fallen pillar, she hopped over the looser-looking portions and scrambled to the other side, ignoring the scrapes that began covering her hands from the pebbles.

The third floor only had half of a floor. Some parts were stable, others were well on the way to falling, and Hilda almost slipped off several times before she found her footing. Her legs were burning and her bag was in danger of being lost forever, but she managed to scramble to the other side. How many floors does this place have?

She reached the fourth floor, and stopped at the sight of dozens of Team Plasma grunts in white uniforms, some with poké balls and some with pokémon standing beside them, Cheren and Brycen standing back-to-back with their aces growling at the grunts.

“Hilda, you’re here!”
Cheren grinned brightly. “Yeah, there’s a lot of them. We’re clearing the way. Go on ahead! Stop them!” 

Hilda nodded sharply, sprinting between Brycen and Cheren and the gap in the grunts that they left. She turned the corner, but another swarm of grunts blocked her path, each with solemn faces.

“Great, another one,” the closest one spat. “Watchog!”
“Go, Dara!” 

It became a pattern. Most of the pokémon were either Krokorok— easily taken out by Ollie— or Watchog, which Dara dealt with handily. 

Another stair. Another fight. Another victory. Sometimes, the grunts would whip out something other than their standard two—one of them had an Unfezant, another a Garbodour, sometimes Liepard. 

The adrenaline pounded through her bloodstream, anxiety and anticipation heightening with each set of stairs she climbed, with each battle she managed to win. They were growing longer and harder the further she went, and there was only so much her potions and ethers could do to her already exhausted pokémon. 

“You can do it,” she kept whispering, though she herself was feeling the strain. “I believe in you.” 

It was a mantra she kept repeating through every grunt, every floor. They were stopped at every turn, and eventually she had to swap out Dara for Annette. 

The grunts went from having one pokémon, to two, to three and even four. She kept getting turned around, groaning in exhaustion when she inevitably ran into yet another grunt she hadn’t beaten yet. 

One floor was the remains of what looked like an ancient ventilation system. Massive rings encircling a large pillar in the middle, perhaps to let air waft down to the floors below or maybe to cause trouble to any of those who would attempt to ascend it. This is the where the Legendary Dragons claim their heroes, right? Or is it just the Dragon of Truth? Perhaps it didn’t matter, because N had the ability to summon such a creature and she did not. Even if she was the hero he seemed to think she was.

She ascended to the next floor, which still sported the pillar the previous one had. Hilda dashed across the terracotta tiles, shoes scraping as their grip began giving. She ran without heeding anything in her path, until she came face-to-face with an elderly man in opulent robes, who must have been one of Team Plasma’s sages.

He was flanked by four grunts, who pointed Hilda out as soon as she’d rounded the bend. She froze in her tracks, Ollie and Annette right behind her—she didn’t have time to return them to their balls before sending them out again, so why would she?

“Sage Gaillo, a trainer!”
“How did they manage to make it here?!” The Sage spat, venom in his eyes and tone. 

“You know, all of this is really rude,” Hilda snapped back. “I mean, your king is the one who summoned me, so I’d think you’d just let me go to him already.” 

The grunts gasped, the Sage remained still. “Ah. So you’re the… woman our king favors so much.” He said woman like he was trying to say something more distasteful, but refrained. “I’m afraid I cannot allow you to see him until you’ve proven yourself. I don’t know how you got up here, but—” 

“Cut the nonsense and fight me,” Hilda seethed. “Just let me get this over with.” 

Exhaustion, disguised with anger. No weakness. Not to them. They already have enough on me. 

“Very well, if you insist,” the Sage sneered. “Defeat her! For the sake of our Lord N!” 

“Nowhere to run this time,” said the first grunt—with a start, she realized it was the blonde man, Claudius. “No friends to save you. I’ll show you how Team Plasma deals with your kind when nothing holds us back.” 

“And I’ll beat you again, like I did in Chargestone Cave,” Hilda snapped. “Annette!” 

His Scrafty went down to her Unfezant. Krokorok went down to Ollie. Last was his Ferroseed, which had since evolved into Ferrothorn. She switched back to Annette, but she narrowly avoided getting downed by several Rock Blasts. 

“Air Slash!”
His Ferrothorn went down as easily as it had in Chargestone Cave, and Annette chirped on Hilda’s shoulder the same as she had. Claudius looked just as baffled, but it was mixed with fury. “I will not lose to the slut who defiled our king!” 

As much as Hilda wanted to throw several curses his way, she pointedly remained silent, gesturing to her partners. “These people aren’t worth our time. Come on— N’s waiting for us.” 

Ollie and Annette, to Hilda’s vicious delight, slashed away any other grunts who tried to get close. She heard some vile things screamed after her as she walked away, and it took all her effort to ignore them, but she did. 

Hilda, Ollie, and Annette climbed the next set of stairs, and when they reached the top, they realized it was the last one. We did it. We’re here. 

The wind blew her hair all over her face, even through her cap. Her pokémon stood behind her, ready for the next fight and likely much less colder than she. 

Her steps were far slower when she approached the figure on the opposite end of the roof, standing before a great white dragon that could only have come from legend.

“Hilda.” N’s voice was far too gentle for the bitter wind. “You came.”

“Of course I did,” she said, torn between wanting to throw all the insults she’d received in his face or melting into his arms. “Where else would I be?”

Chapter Text

Dawn was allowed to camp in the Diamond settlement for the night, laying a cot down in what was normally Arezu’s tent while the woman herself was regulated to the infirmary. She did, however, rise earlier in the morning to continue making balms.

That was how Adaman found her—sitting by a fire, wrapping crushed berries and honey from combs into thick leaves and cloth. Her entire team was out—now including May the Ralts, with Crasher Wake the Bibarel resting in the pastures of Jubilife—and while some slept by the fire, others helped how they could, clumsily copying their trainer.

“Not bad, Sasha,” she giggled. Her Quilava had made the most successful balm of all her team, though some of the berries were either half-eaten or burned and there was powder all over his face. She laughed at his baffled expression, scratching him on the head out of affection. 

“Having fun without me?” Adaman asked teasingly, settling down next to her. “Leafeon’s being lazy, but I could always wake him up.”

“Let the poor guy sleep,” Dawn said. “I’m just trying to work off nervous energy. And give these nerds some more time in the sun.”

“‘Nerds?’” Adaman raised an eyebrow, looking very much like Sasha. “What does that mean?” 

She chuckled. “Nothing important. It’s a…term from my world.”
“‘Your world.’ How dramatic. What’s so different from your world and mine? Sometimes you talk like it’s a different time.” 

“The real question is, what isn’t different?” Dawn chuckled. “But if you want a real answer…I would say talk to Professor Laventon first.”

“What does Mr. Professor have to do with this?” He shook his head. “Akari, you know you can trust me.” 

“I’m confident you’re a trustworthy person,” Dawn said carefully. “I know you mean well. But this is the kind of thing I can’t tell anyone who doesn’t already know. Laventon found me on Prelude Beach, so he knows more than most—and even then, it’s not a lot. Anything beyond that, I can’t say.” Nevermind the fact that I’ve already told him so much. Too much. Oh, why did I ever mention Mars?

Adaman smiled, but it was too sad for Dawn’s liking. “Well, I suppose I will have to spend longer figuring it out, then. But know that I will! You can expect my guesses when you quell Lady Lilligant.” 

“Very well,” Dawn said. “But know that I won’t be able to answer everything.” 

Leafeon joined them at some point, sitting on Adaman’s other side as the two made balms. Once the sun had fully risen in the sky, Adaman asked, “Have you eaten?” 

“No, why?”
He shook his head. “You can’t quell Lilligant on an empty stomach. Future world or different space or not, that has to be the same. I won’t return you to Kamado starving.” 

“Don’t do that,” Dawn snapped far too quickly. “I mean—don’t say things like that. I’m fine.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Here. I promise, berries and honey isn’t a bad combination.” 

“This is for Lilligant,” Dawn started, but he shoved the cloth in her face. 

“I think we’ve made plenty of balms,” Adaman said. “Lady Lilligant can spare a few.” 

Dawn had made quite a few dishes with berries and Combee honey before that point, and yet, the small cloth that held her breakfast that day tasted the sweetest of them all.

***

She caught up a bit on her survey work on her way up the mountain, despite the urgency pumping through her blood. A warm-up, she told her team, though she didn’t expect it to be too difficult. Unless this is a completely different pokémon with the same name. Then I’m in trouble. 

The banners that marked the entrance to Lilligant’s seat were red, marked by figures that looked almost like small girls, with a flower in its hair and what looked like a short skirt. Interesting. That can’t be Arezu, can it? Didn’t look like a Lilligant.

“You ready for this, Akari?” the woman in question asked. Calaba and Arezu had evidently beaten her there, if only by a little bit. Ursaluna was munching on grass not far from the seat, but no part of him crossed its boundary.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Dawn said. Her team was once again secured in their poké balls, but ready to be sent out at the first opportunity.

“I’m deeply sorry for the trouble we’ve caused,” Adaman said, turning to Calaba, and nodding to Dawn as well. “Seeing as I’m the leader of this clan, it should be my responsibility to—”

“Hush, boy,” Calaba said sharply. “Have you learned nothing from your wardens? You can’t do this alone. Relying on Akari and myself as you have is perfectly acceptable, given the circumstances. There is no shame in asking for help. Not understanding that is what would make you a bad leader.” 

“I still put the clan in danger, but that’s an argument for another time,” Arezu said. She was leaning on what looked like a primitive form of crutches, but her face was no less impassioned. “Now listen up, Akari. The Lady of the Ridge is a dancer—she never stands in one place for too long. You’ll have to watch her carefully if you want to dodge her attacks—and you’ll have to dodge quickly, because one kick from her and your lungs collapse.” 

Dawn thought again of the girl-like figure on the banners. It does have longer legs…is that Lilligant?

“Noted,” she said, strapping the basket of balms to her back the same way she had with Kleavor.

“Your opening will be when she tires herself out,” Adaman added. “Word of advice, Skyla will probably be your best bet. She’s your Staravia, right?” 

“Yeah,” Dawn said. “Thanks.”
It sounded more deadened than she’d wanted it to. The fact that Adaman was trying to help like this made her heart flutter, but she was too anxious to care.

“Don’t let me down,” he called after her as she walked into Brava Arena.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she replied with a smile. I’ve already survived the worst. Nothing else could hope to stop me. 

***

The morning had been foggy from the beginning, but the conditions at the Diamond settlement were paradise compared to the arena. Dawn looked all over, but couldn't even make out a silhouette beyond the shattered pillars that surrounded the place. 

Then came the wind, nearly whipping the bandana that held Dawn’s star-rank pins right off her head, throwing her hair and dirt in her face. It almost pushed her over, consuming every sense for just a moment. 

The fog cleared. In its place was a pokémon, golden from head to toe, the same gleaming, soulless white eyes as Kleavor. 

“That’s a Lilligant?!” She couldn’t help her surprise. It looked like the doll-like figure on the banners, but it was far larger and with much fewer leaves than the Lilligant of the future had. 

It bent down to Dawn’s level, looking her in the eyes, swaying in the breeze. Dawn relaxed, wondering for a moment if the Lilligant was playing with her. 

And promptly remembered it was frenzied. The Lilligant folded itself over in a flip, landing on its feet again, hopping from foot to foot and letting its leaves rustle. 

It spun, posing like a model on the runway and kicking up a whirlwind that took all of Dawn’s concentration to remain standing through. Finally, it stopped, curtseying to Dawn like it was on stage. May the best dancer win, she imagined the lady was saying.

The battle began. Lilligant leaped off the ledge where she had been standing, hitting the ground with both feet and sending a shockwave that knocked her off her feet. 

Scrambling upright, Dawn fired off a few balms before Lilligant charged at her, leaves spinning like blades, slicing her arm when she didn’t dodge away in time. Dawn cursed, unable to throw anything else before having to dodge again. 

For a good portion of the fight, it felt as though she would be stuck in this endless loop forever. Victory seemed impossible, but so was giving up—because giving up and retreating would likely mean her death, at the rate Lilligant was going. Her dancing was a battle style all its own, and it was one that gave her no time to breathe, much less throw the balms that had slowly started falling, even with the lid Dawn had shoved on there.

What was it that Adaman had said? Tire her out? I would love to, but I think I’ll die first. 

Still. He’d believed she could do it, and she couldn’t let him down. Because it wasn’t just her pride at stake— it was the Galaxy Team’s, and the safety of the Diamond Clan, too. So she had to find a way. 

Lady Lilligant danced about the arena, sending rays of a Solar Beam and shockwaves in the ground with every step. Dawn dodged these as she had the others, and then saw that it had stopped, pausing in its landing pose. 

She seized the opportunity to actually throw a large amount of balms, and though she hadn’t thrown enough to tell if they were taking effect yet, she was certain they were. Or maybe that’s my own delusion. Was there a visual effect on Kleavor? Up until the last balm had been thrown, she didn’t think so. 

Knowing that Lilligant paused to stick the landing helped when it came to throwing balms, but it didn’t mean the noble slowed down in the slightest. Her kicks were just as powerful and even growing stronger, and Dawn was struggling to keep herself from succumbing to dizziness with all the flips and dodges she had to do. The only way I’m making it out is if I end this quickly.  

Lilligant charged, sending Dawn into the dirt, but turned around before she hit the wall. She sprung into the sky, and Dawn waited till the last second to dodge out of the way, then fired off more balms as she shifted positions for the next move. 

Lady Lilligant sprung into the sky again, doing her normal shockwave routine, but landed on a flat ankle and collapsed to the ground when she would have struck her final pose. 

Finally. 

Dawn sent out Skyla, ordering her to use Air Slash, as powerful as she could muster. Her bird complied, pelting the noblewoman with bursts of wind, nearly knocking her off her feet. Finally. We’re starting to win. There’s no way she can take that much damage. 

She stood up again, swirling with Leaf Blades that Skyla dodged, fell again. She rounded on Dawn, sprinting towards her and jumping, aiming a kick to her head that Dawn avoided by dropping to the ground. The momentum slammed her into the rocks, and Dawn realized with a jolt— was that some form of High Jump Kick?

Unfortunately, Dawn was not exempt from the damage dealt. Her ankle throbbed with pain, and she could already feel swelling pressing against the side of her sandal. But Lilligant was stumbling over her own feet now, and Dawn barely had to move to keep throwing balms with accuracy. 

The Leaf Blades stopped. Lilligant faltered. Dawn followed a hairbrained, sleep-deprivation-induced idea and threw the entire basket of balms into Lilligant’s face, but though a fair amount of them got through the basket itself fell lamely to the dirt. Dawn seized one last balm, calling Skyla behind her as Lilligant struggled to stand. 

She threw. It hit.
The gold disappeared from the noblewoman’s body, and she managed to stand solid on both legs, one crossed in front of the other. She tilted her head, eyes crinkled in a much friendlier smile than Dawn had yet seen from her. 

“I’m sorry, my lady,” Dawn said aloud, finally buckling into the dirt out of pain. Now that the gold was gone, she could see that the colors very much resembled modern-day Lilligant, except for the color of the flower, which made her look like a Shiny. “You’re not…too hurt, are you?” 

Lilligant chirped, padding over slowly to Dawn and placing one leafy arm on her head. As if she was saying, It’s okay. You did well. Then, catching sight of Dawn’s ankle, she bent down and encased it in a sweet-smelling powder that made her head swim. What’s this move?

She was beginning to see a pattern—the frenzied pokémon were ordinarily kind, and friendly—true guardians of their people. So why had they been driven so insane? What caused them to turn against their friends?

“I think you should come with me,” Dawn said, finding that she could stand. I didn’t think Lilligant could learn any healing moves.  Skyla landed on her head, chirping cordially at the noblewoman. “I know Arezu’s worried about you.” 

Her arm pained her, and all the different cuts and bruises that she’d received through the fight each battled for her attention. But she was standing again, and so was Skyla, and that mattered more. 

Lilligant placed both leaves on Dawn’s face, tilting it up to meet her eyes. She stared for a few moments, then, startlingly, nodded slowly. 

“What is it?”
Lilligant brushed over the folds of her skirt, reminding Dawn of someone digging through their pockets. “Do you have something for me?” Another plate?

And it was. Lilligant retrieved a green plate, similar to the ones Kleavor and Wyrdeer had given her, placing it in Dawn’s outstretched hands. Dawn tucked it inside her belt, glancing back at the pokémon to make sure she didn’t offend. 

“Thank you,” Dawn said. “Very much.”
Lilligant chirped again, then bounded down the stairs to her warden, leaving Dawn behind. 

That was much more difficult than Kleavor. If this keeps getting harder, I don’t know if I’ll be able to quell them all. 

She exited Brava Arena with an intense feeling of foreboding.

Chapter Text

N stood on the other end of the roof, looking as pristine and ethereal as he always did. Somehow, his black slacks looked like the robes of a prince, his spotless white shirt, his mint hair freshly combed, looking as though he’d stepped out of a painting. A king could never be dirty, Hilda supposed— otherwise, what was the point of him?

In that moment, the differences between them struck her with the force of thunder. No wonder his people looked at her with such disdain. What was she, when standing next to him? 

She almost couldn’t blame them for laughing. For looking at her tattered and threadbare clothes, untamed hair, splattered with even more mud, dirt, and dust after her week in Twist Mountain, and being disgusted at the idea of her, somehow bewitching their precious, infallible king. At least I showered.  

Behind N was a sight that took her breath away. The White Dragon, the Legendary Dragon of Truth—it’s all it could have been, with pristine— fur? Scales? Feathers? —blue eyes, and a presence that exuded majesty and heat. Just like N. 

“Hilda, this is Reshiram,” said N, smiling softly. “The Legendary Dragon of Truth. What do you think?” 

“It suits you,” Hilda said, breathless. “N…”
She felt small. She felt dirty, in a way she hadn’t even with every tunnel and cave and river of mud she’d trudged through over the past two weeks. Perhaps it was because of the things shouted at her as she’d climbed with her pokémon, or maybe it was because of the Dragon of Truth and the judgment in its eyes. 

“I’m flattered you think so, but—do you like him, Hilda? The dragon that appears before and fights beside the hero that will change the world?” 

She had no idea what to say. But instead of keeping her mouth shut, she said, “I didn’t think you would actually do it.”
He looked like he’d been slapped. “Truly?” 

Well, now the filter’s gone. “It never felt real. All those ancient legends you kept talking about—I didn’t think anyone could actually go and make that a reality. But you did, and now there’s nothing I can do. I can’t stand up to that.” 

She hated how deadpan she sounded. She wanted to scream, to fight him, but it would be futile, and she knew it. 

“Funny. You’re bold enough to steal my bed when I’m not there, but you can’t even fight me when I am?” 

She flushed with shame and anger. “Okay, can you tell me how you know about that? Were there cameras in that bunker? Someone I didn’t see somehow?”

To her absolute fury, N laughed. “It’s my room, you think no one’s watching? I’m not upset, if that’s what you’re worried about. And I made sure to scrub the footage, since…” He even had the audacity to blush. Nevermind that it looks cute on him. A realization sent lightning through her. Wait a second. That also means I changed in front of the camera. Twice. All of a sudden, she found herself panicking over a problem that had already been solved. Typical me. 

“You’d be the only one, then,” Hilda grumbled. “Considering the rest of your team—Grunts, Sages, everyone—has been, well…” 

His face fell. “Don’t tell me they’ve been threatening you.”
“I wish they were. It would be easier to deal with,” she said softly. I can’t lie in Reshiram’s presence. I think that’s breaking the laws of nature. “But at least they’re not threatening Cheren or Bianca. I…don’t know what I’d do if they were.” 

His face was stone. “What have they done?”
She looked away. Ollie and Annette flanked her, both girls growling at N. Annette looked ready to tear his throat out—her talons were sharp enough that she had a decent chance of succeeding—and Ollie had one eye on Reshiram behind him. 

“Hilda, tell me.”
“So what if I did? It’s not like they’d do anything,” she snapped, folding her arms across her chest. “They’d just think it confirmed their theory. That I’ve somehow ‘corrupted’ you or whatever.” 

“Hilda.”
“It’s not that bad. They’re just insults.”

Raising one eyebrow at her, he turned to Annette. “I can tell you’re angry, Lady,” he said. “Will you please tell me what my team has done to your trainer?” 

His face immediately morphed into shock. Annette was squawking her head off, flapping her wings viciously, and Hilda could only imagine how her faithful Unfezant had perceived the grunts of Team Plasma. Do you understand what they were doing? What their words meant? From the sounds of her fury, perhaps she did.

“They called you what?”

  “Like I said. It’s just words,” Hilda shrugged. “They can’t kill me.” 

He frowned. “I will stop this, Hilda. They will never insult you again. Never say—” N growled, making her jump. “It won’t happen. I swear it.” 

She couldn’t help the blush that rose. “It’s times like these where I forget you’re my enemy. That you’re trying to destroy my entire way of life.” There had to be something she could do to stop this feeling.

N sighed. “I wish you weren’t,” he said, perhaps because he was now the Hero of Truth and unable to lie. “I truly care for you, Hilda. I want to see you happy, and I know you love pokémon as much as I do. But don’t you see? I have summoned the Dragon of Truth. Reshiram is living proof that we’re right—Hilda, please, can’t you see? Can’t you see that you’ve been wrong?” 

“I’m not wrong,” Hilda snapped. “You have Reshiram—so what? He could appear before you for any number of reasons. Legends are subjective; it doesn’t mean you’re right. For all you know, all it means is that you have a particular attachment to truth-seeking—which, from what I know of you, that’s likely the case.” 

N smiled sadly, striding close enough to reach out and touch her. “I know it’s hard. I don’t expect you to join me immediately, but—well. Perhaps I should have expected this from you.” He flexed his fingers, moving as though to grasp her hand, then pulled back. “Listen, Hilda. My new world—a world of pokémon alone—will be a reality soon. I’m going to the Pokémon League, defeat the Champion, and tear down the entire system. And there’s only one way to stop me.” 

She tensed, drawing breath in through her teeth. Ollie and Annette snarled behind her; a single growl from Reshiram cut them both off. 

He smiled, and it was the sun to her. “Listen, Hilda. I’m not ashamed to tell you that I care for you—far more than my father would like.” He chuckled sheepishly. “So let me say this, to try and mend whatever hurts I have caused.” He put a hand on her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb. She instinctively leaned into his touch, cementing it in her memory to revisit when he was again out of her reach. 

“To stop me, you must become a hero yourself. Seek out Reshiram’s counterpart, Zekrom, and become recognized as the Hero of Ideals. Then, we will be equals at last. You will fight for your world, and I will fight for mine.” He spoke so confidently, like he was certain all would be as he said. “Then—no matter who wins—we will be partners.” 

“Meaning—”
“In whatever way you wish. But first, you must seek out Zekrom, in the form of the Dark Stone. I can see it already, Hilda—you are an instrumental part of my formula for changing the world. I am certain.”

He leaned forward, close enough that she wondered if he was going to kiss her. “Seek out the Dark Stone, Hilda,” he said. “And meet me at the Pokémon League.”

Her breath caught. He’s so close. He’s so—I need to stop thinking about that. 

He was speaking again. “Hilda, I must ask you one last thing. And I’m okay if you slap me for it afterward, so long as you answer truthfully.” 

“Yes?”
“Is there any truth to their rumors? Do you feel anything for me that isn’t hatred? If I were to ask you to be mine, would you accept me?”

His voice grew more and more desperate, but no louder. His eyes were wider than a Lillipup’s, pleading with her. 

She froze, hands shaking behind her back. “I do. Like you, that is. That’s what you’re asking, right? Of course I like you, you’re my friend. Or were.” I think I might be in love with you, but I don’t know what that feels like. Why are you asking? To mock me? To add to the rumors and drive me away for good?

His breath shook. “I—I see. A friend. That’s all.” Devastation overcame his entire form, making her feel like a jerk.
“Okay. Maybe more than a friend. Just—stop looking at me like that.” Please. I hate seeing you so sad. 

He perked up, sending knives through her heart. “You do?” He sounded so hopeful.

Her whole body was shaking, now. Whether it was from the wind or from N being there, she couldn’t tell. “Yes. I—I do.”

Then, we will be partners. In whatever way you wish. Was that his way of confessing?

Her answer seemed to satisfy him because he beckoned to Reshiram, inclining his head towards her pokémon. “I’m thrilled to hear it,” he said softly. “Seek out Zekrom, and we’ll make it a reality.” 

She was left standing as he hopped on Reshiram and dove off the roof, flying like an angel into the sky. 

***

“Hilda!”
When she finally managed to stagger down the steps of Dragonspiral Tower, she immediately crashed into the arms of Cheren and Bianca. She embraced them both tightly, unwilling or perhaps unable to let go.

“We saw a flash of fire,” Bianca said, on the verge of speaking too fast. “Hilda, are you okay?” 

“Did you answer the summons? What did he want?” Cheren asked at the same time.

“I’m fine,” Hilda said, smiling as though she wasn’t about to cry. “My pokémon are exhausted though, so can we—” 

“Both of you, back off,” Professor Juniper snapped. “You can interrogate her when she’s done resting.”

Hilda could only nod as her friends complied, taking the same positions as Ollie and Annette had. Her pokémon were returned to their balls, taking what little rest Hilda could afford them. 

No one spoke until they reached the Pokémon Center, where Hilda and Cheren turned their teams over to Nurse Joy and booked rooms upstairs for themselves, rather than imposing further on the professors. Brycen had returned to the gym, saying he had his own Pokémon Center-like setup there. It made sense to Hilda, but she would’ve liked a less pushy witness when she was questioned. 

As soon as they’d reached her room, Professor Juniper, Cheren, and Bianca immediately pressed Hilda for every detail of what happened on top of the tower. She gave them as many details as she could to satisfy them, but couldn’t bring herself to tell them about everything N had said, essentially boiling their conversation down to his intention to challenge Alder and her mission to claim the Dark Stone.

A knock on the door revealed Alder carrying two trays of poké balls, which he gave to her and Cheren with comforting smiles. “The Dark Stone, as in the artifact of the legendary pokémon Zekrom?” 

“Yes,” Hilda said slowly. “How did you hear that?” 

“I was listening,” said the Champion. “And Brycen called me when he first learned Team Plasma had taken the tower. But I see that you’ve dealt with that already.” He gave a slow smile—the kind you would give to a frightened wild pokémon.

“Shouldn’t you be at the Pokémon League? He’s going to challenge you, or did you not hear that?” Hilda asked instead of trying to unpack why.  

Alder frowned. “Oh, I heard that, but it will take him a while to make it that far. He still has to compile his team, get all the gym badges, pass the Elite Four—” 

“He’s got the gym badges,” Hilda said quickly. “Or—at least six of them. Unsure about the team, since he tends to use different pokémon for every fight. But I doubt the Elite Four will give him much trouble.” He is an incredible trainer.

Gasps from her friends behind her. Alder shook his head again, staring at her gravely. “Hilda, you must understand. In ancient Unova, Reshiram and Zekrom together destroyed the land in an instant. The flashes of fire that came from the tower when N summoned Reshiram—everyone saw that. If a pokémon with that amount of power on their side, whether they’re right or not, Team Plasma’s victory is certain.” 

“Not if I claim Zekrom,” Hilda insisted. “If I claim Zekrom, I can stop him.” 

He shook his head, but conceded. “You have a point. Now, I’ve traveled all over Unova, but even I haven’t encountered either of the Legendary Dragons or their relics. But I have a few places you could start looking.”

Hilda nodded emphatically as Alder ran his hands through his mane of red hair. “I’d start with Relic Castle. It’s a ruin being excavated just off Route 4, and known to be connected with the Legendary Dragons. I don’t know where else it could be, and given how famous it is, I don’t doubt Team Plasma’s got the place well-guarded. And maybe it’s a red herring…” 

He trailed off, allowing Professor Juniper to jump in. “As for you, Hilda, I would suggest pushing on to Opelucid City. You still need your eighth gym badge to enter the Pokémon League, and no matter how much N likes you I doubt he’d fight you if you didn’t go through that first. I say we split up— someone goes to check Relic Castle, just to see if the Dark Stone is there. If it is, Hilda can come and awaken it. And if it's not, then we’re already a step ahead on our next clue. Drayden and Iris of Opelucid are dragon-type specialists, and well-versed in the lore. If anyone knows more about Reshiram and Zekrom than Team Plasma does, it will be them.” 

Hilda sighed. “I hope you’re right.” 

Chapter Text

Having left Arezu to Lilligant, Dawn made her way back to Jubilife Village, eager to catch up on some much-needed rest. Her team was exhausted, and Dawn herself was tired of the endless muck. 

Unfortunately, she was still assigned to the Crimson Mirelands for the next week until she could complete a proper survey of the land. The endless battling combined with the long treks on Ursaluna through the swampier parts of the land made Dawn both cranky and very, very dirty. Even when she managed to secure herself a spot in the bathhouses in Jubilife, she was never there long enough to wash both herself and her clothes. 

Adaman offered several times to stand guard while she washed in Lake Valor, but she only took him up on it once. Her heart had been pounding the entire time, and she’d been unable to keep from fantasizing when he was standing right there. We’re not doing that again, she firmly decided, even though it was the first thing she thought of whenever she thought of him.

At the end of a particularly brutal day, and after returning from the Mirelands for the last time, Dawn was walking out of the bathhouses back to her quarters in the kimono the owner of the clothing shop had given her, not bothering to stop by the Wallflower for food. The Ginkgo Guild, as usual, was set up between the start of the Survey Corps quarters and the Galaxy Hall, and she stopped in her tracks when she saw Volo and Ginter arguing.

“I found it in a distortion,” Volo was saying. “You could sell that thing for a fortune! Especially here in Jubilife.” 

“The distortion aspect makes it rarer,” Ginter conceded. “But Volo, no one knows what that thing is. Distortion or not, no one will buy it if it's not useful.” 

“What’s the problem this time?” Dawn asked. Her Survey Corps uniform was carefully folded in her arms, the worst of the muck having been scraped off, and Sasha trotting along at her feet. “Is this one skimping on his duties again?” She jabbed a finger at Volo, smiling despite herself.

Her merchant friend protested, but it got a snort out of Ginter. “No, for once, he’s actually doing his job. The problem is that the goods he’s gathered are… well, see for yourself.” 

He gestured to the table behind him, which had a plethora of things spread across it. She recognized wheat, tumblestones and medicinal leeks, as well as red pods, clusters of beans, some other random knicknacks, and a large orange contraption that definitely looked out of place in their century. 

“Oh, Arceus ,” Dawn gasped, forgetting to censor herself for a moment. “Volo, is that what you found?”

“Ah—yes,” Volo said, sounding extremely off-put. “Akari—”
“How much? I need it.” She rounded on Ginter, who always had the final say on prices when present. If that’s what I think it is—  

“Don’t ask him that,” Volo said, glaring at Ginter. “Akari, do you know what that is? I found it in the Coastlands—” 

“It’s a washing machine. One that’s Rotom-compatible, no less. It washes clothes and I need it.” 

The power might be an issue, but Lucas could probably handle it. I’m only washing my stuff, and maybe Rei’s if he asks nicely. He’s only a Luxio for now, but he’s an Alpha, so that counts for something, right? Knowing Ginter, it would probably make a large dent in her savings, but Dawn thought it was a worthy endeavor if it meant she could wash her clothes. I could make my own clothing soap. That’s a thing I can learn. 

“That’ll be ten thousand,” Ginter said evenly.
“Actually? Sweet.” 

About the price of a TM back home. I’ll take it. Of course, now that she’d shown interest in one, he’d probably massively overcharge her for any others, so she’d have to purchase wisely in the future. 

She ignored the fact that Volo was laughing behind her back as Ginter assigned a few more merchants to move it into her quarters. Ginter looked happy at the price, and she knew some of it would go to Volo per Guild rules, so she wasn’t super upset. She’d gotten a massive payment after her last survey anyway.

“How did you know what that was?” Volo asked, pocketing the money that Ginter handed him. “Honestly, Akari. Don’t look like you’re about to cry next time you buy from him, alright?” 

“They’re very common, um, back home,” Dawn said. “And honestly, I was really missing it. Now I don’t have to use my precious bathhouse time to wash my clothes. Although the detergent might pose a problem…” 

“I might just give you some for free, with how much you spent on that thing,” Volo said, shaking his head. “Seriously. You know how much he overcharged you?” 

Dawn snickered, glancing back and making sure Ginter wasn’t listening before lowering her voice and saying, “Don’t tell him this, but they actually cost more back home. So I think I got a pretty good deal.” 

Volo’s eyes widened at that, but he still gave her a few packets of materials he said the Ginkgo Guild usually used for cleaning supplies. She handed him a few notes, since she was fairly certain Ginter was watching, pocketing the bags as he spoke again.

“Akari, I forgot to congratulate you. I was still in the Mirelands when the golden light showed up again—you quelled Lilligant, didn’t you?” 

She nodded, letting Sasha put his paws on her kimono so she could scratch his head. “Yeah. I’m surprised I got away with only a sprained ankle, after seeing what she could do. Guess my reflexes grew sharper after all.” Kamado still made me do survey work on it, but nothing I can do about that.

Volo chuckled. “You’re really something else. Be careful— if you keep going like this, you might change the course of Hisui’s history.” 

His ordinarily friendly demeanor was offset by the way he ended his statement, making something strange shiver up her spine and causing Sasha to dig his claws further into her leg. Unsure of how to respond to his bright, sunny smile, she waved him goodbye and skipped inside, setting about attempting to make the machine function.

“Lucas, I’m gonna need you for this one,” Dawn said, putting Volo out of her mind and calling out her Luxio. “Think you can help me find the plug?” 

There were no outlets in Jubilife Village, unsurprisingly, and she had to hope nothing had happened to the cord while the merchants were moving it, otherwise she’d be in trouble. Lucas and Sasha both sniffed around the base, shoving it away from the wall, allowing Dawn to find the plug looking relatively undamaged, if scratched.

“Sweet,” she muttered. “Okay, now for the soap.”
It was part of Rei’s ‘Crafting 101’ lecture he’d given on her first week in the village. The Ginkgo materials were different, but probably more effective at washing stains out of brightly-colored clothing. Either way, good for her.

She loaded her uniform into the capsule alongside the soap, offering the plug to Lucas. “Can you bite down on this while using Thunder Fang?” 

She could’ve sworn he raised an eyebrow at her, but complied. Dawn input the settings, and the clothes began rolling.

“It works,” she breathed. “Wow.”

***

She gave a boiled-down version of how a washing machine worked to Laventon and Rei over potato mochi about an hour later, to their hilariously baffled expressions. 

“And you say the function of this machine can be improved by a pokémon called… Rotom?” Laventon asked, leaning forward almost until his tie landed in the mochi.

“It’s compatible, yeah,” Dawn said. “But enough about that. Have any breakthroughs been made yet?” 

Rei shook his head. “The boss has sent a few units up to the Coronet Highlands to study the rift, but it’s been slow-going. Some Diamond Clan warden is causing a bunch of trouble, and some say the noble up there is frenzied. I think it’s been that way for a while, but if the warden won’t let anyone near it, there’s nothing that can be done unless Adaman gets personally involved.”

“The commander's only focused on the rift because he can’t send someone to investigate me, with all the good I’ve done.” 

Rei snorted. “I think it’s ridiculous that he wants to, but I can’t control the boss. Besides, I heard him saying you’re going to be reassigned soon.”

“Finally!” Dawn cheered, stretching back in her seat. “I’m sick of the Mirelands. Do you know where I’m going?” 

“Not the Coronet Highlands, surprisingly,” Laventon said. “I believe you’re going to the Cobalt Coastlands.”

Dawn gasped. “That’s the beach, right?”
“Oh yeah. I’m jealous, actually. I’m stuck in the Fieldlands, but you better bring back some interesting stuff!”

Dawn laughed, agreeing, before stuffing her face with the potato mochi. I’m finally out of the Mirelands, I have a washing machine, and good food at home. Things are starting to look up at last.

***

She was officially assigned to the Coastlands the next morning, apparently on request of Irida.

Ghosts in the Coastlands, huh? It made sense why they would send her, now. She knew the commander didn’t like her enough to give her a free beach assignment. No, there had to be something creepy involved. Go figure. 

Still, she didn’t think it would be that bad. In modern Sinnoh, more often than not, these cases were often misunderstood or neglected pokémon. Given the time period, that seemed the most likely reason. So Dawn wasn’t expecting a hard assignment, but brought her full team along nonetheless.

Crasher Wake was officially retired from the team, and along with a Hippopitas she’d caught in the Mirelands, had been assigned to help with farming in the village. He seemed happy, and Dawn was grateful that she could give her pokémon this opportunity, but she always mourned letting go of a team member.

Rei wasn’t allowed to accompany her, but Laventon was, to her great relief. He was a good man, and wouldn’t allow harm to befall her if he had anything to say about it.

“Can I speak to you plainly?” asked Laventon. They were a pace or two ahead of the Security Corps detail that was always assigned, and he was speaking softly enough that he couldn’t be heard.

“Of course,” Dawn said, just as softly. “Why?”
“I simply wanted to ask how you were doing, Dawn. I know that it’s been stressful with all the noble-quelling you’ve had to do, so…” 

“I’m adapting.” And it was true. The sound of her real name coming from someone who wasn’t a pokémon was a relief better than she could describe, but now that she’d been in Hisui for almost three months, she found herself not being so bothered by everything in the past. “It’s a massive adjustment, to be sure. And the suspicion still gets to me. But it’s not that bad.” 

“I’m glad,” Laventon said. “But Dawn, I want you to have hope. Don’t resign yourself to this place, or the mission here. If there is a way to get you home, I swear that we will get you there.” 

Home. Her goal. But what would that mean for her, really? She was starting to find a home here. More than that—she had a place to belong, she had friends, she had her pokémon, and no one was trying to take them from her. She had a place in history, even if it was hard. She didn’t have to be there when it was torn apart in the future.

The question that had been pounding in her mind since Lilligant was quelled was now front and center. Do I want to go home?  

Laventon stopped, placing a warm hand on her shoulder, mustering the most comforting look he thought he had. 

“Thank you,” Dawn whispered, knowing it took something she didn’t think she had to put his neck on the line for her all the time. 

Instead of saying that, though, she launched herself into his arms and wondered for a moment what it would have felt like if this was Professor Rowan, Rei was Lucas, and Barry was here and not a Buizel she’d named after him. If she did go home, she would feel that again. But if she didn’t—well. Laventon was a good man, and Rei was a good friend, and Barry would have loved having a pokémon named after him.

Dawn might have cried a little into his shoulder, but he didn’t say anything about it, so neither did she.

Chapter Text

Hilda felt far too numb. The trek to Opelucid City went through heavily forested paths and was known for being extremely wet—so much so that sometimes she had to surf across the puddles because they’d turned into massive ponds.

To make it even better, it was pouring rain. Hilda had a jacket and an umbrella she’d bought from the Pokémon Center, but neither helped much in the face of a relentless storm. All of her pokémon were in their balls, and with the events of Dragonspiral Tower refusing to leave her mind, she was completely miserable. 

Bianca, at least, wasn’t bad company. Given the dangers to Hilda specifically, it had been decided that she was no longer allowed to go anywhere alone. Professor Juniper had gone with Cheren to the Relic Castle since she was most familiar with it, and Bianca had taken up her ‘bodyguard’ position again. 

At least the rain will slow Reshiram down. From what she could tell, it was a fire-type, and Legendary Dragon or not, she couldn’t imagine it liked the rain. That meant that N would be delayed because no matter what, the comfort of pokémon always came first. So Hilda had to move as fast as possible to close the distance between them, as futile as it felt.

“We need to rest,” Bianca told her, nearly shouting over the roaring wind. “We can’t keep going like this.” 

“We have to,” Hilda shouted back. “There’s no time to lose.”
She so badly wanted to follow Bianca’s suggestion. She was up to her ankles in mud, the rain pelted through her meager protections, and her limbs were beyond sore. “Besides, we’re almost at the end of the Route. We can do this!” 

She tried to sound encouraging. She didn’t think it worked.
When the two finally did stop, they were in an empty cabin between routes. The sign said it was open for trainers and helpfully added that it marked the halfway point between Icirrus and Opelucid.

Either they were the first ones there, or everyone else had sought shelter elsewhere. Hilda and Bianca were alone in the cabin, and to make sure it stayed that way, Hilda let Ingrid and Mike keep watch. 

“He’s got to be close to evolving, right?” Bianca asked, gesturing to the Joltik.

Hilda nodded. “One battle away. It does make me concerned, though. The Opelucid Gym is known for dragon-types, and I’ve only got him to cover half of them, since they’re also dark-type.” 

“Anything for the other half?” Bianca pursed her lips, letting out her Stoutland and running her fingers through its fur.

“I’m hoping I’ll have the Legendary Dragon, honestly,” Hilda said. She drew her knees to her chest, thunder roaring in her ears. “I don’t know how I’m going to get through them otherwise.”

Though there were small couches in the cabin, the two girls remained curled together on the floor, watching the rain pelt down on the opposite window. Thunder cracked overhead. Lightning flashed across the sky.

“What’s the second Legendary Dragon?” Bianca asked softly, leaning her head on Hilda’s shoulder. “No one’s told me anything. I don’t even know which one he has.”

“Reshiram. The White Dragon, or the Dragon of Truth. It’s got a lot of names. It’s a fire-type, so I’m hoping it’ll be slowed down in the rain. The other one…I don’t know. N said it was the Dragon of Ideals, and it goes to follow that this would be the Black Dragon, but aside from that, I have no more of an idea than you do. Which is bad, because if I’m supposed to be the hero that represents it…”

“You’ll need to know everything,” Bianca finished. “Hence, going to Opelucid.”

“And the stone. Which may or may not be in Relic Castle,” Hilda added. “And even if we manage to get ahold of it, who’s to say I’m the one it has in mind?”

Her and Bianca’s Xtrancievers rang in tandem, but when they picked up, it fused into one image. That was one of the things Hilda liked about them—no unnecessary echo.

“Relic Castle was a bust,” Cheren said, looking furious. “But the place was packed with Plasma grunts. One of their leaders was there, too, waiting for us. I think his name was Ghetsis. He fought Alder, but the Dark Stone is long gone.”

Hilda bit her lip to keep from cursing. “That makes sense. Ghetsis is one of those who thinks I’m unworthy of being N’s equal, so I don’t doubt he’s seized the stone already.” I’m pretty sure all of Team Plasma leans that way, really. I think it's only N who wants me.

But the Dark Stone was gone, too. Guess that answers that question. Of course she wasn’t chosen. And even if she was, her enemies would do everything they could to make sure she couldn’t make use of it. Whether that was stopping her from finding it, or doing something to Zekrom so that it couldn’t help— 

“Hilda…are you sure you’re okay?” Bianca’s concern was evident on her face and in her voice, drenching all of Hilda’s anxieties in a deeper level of fear.
I need to stop this. Spiraling is going to get me nowhere. She took a deep breath, trying to smooth the fear out of her voice. “I’m fine. I still have to press on to Opelucid, Dark Stone or not. Thanks for letting me know, Cheren.” 

She didn’t miss the look he shared with Bianca before hanging up, but she didn’t care. I’ve already lost. There’s no point in trying to deny it. But if I do this right, I can drag the whole team down with me.

***

They reached the Tubeline Bridge with little more than rain and a battle against a wild Frillish, finally triggering Mike’s evolution. But the silence was heavier now, even though the storm had brought itself down to a drizzle.

No matter what Hilda thought of, no matter what she did to distract herself, all she could see was Ghetsis’s phantom face taunting her from a pedestal. Sometimes, N was with him, in full regalia, pronouncing all pokémon free across the region. Sometimes, she saw N turning his back on her, calling her a failure. And sometimes, when she felt particularly hopeless, she tried imagining that maybe, he would touch her face again, and even dare to kiss her. 

Fat chance. With her luck, he was more likely to kill her. She wouldn’t be surprised if Ghetsis had assigned some hitman to her, just to rub it in further. 

Bianca squealed behind her, but when Hilda turned, she was gone. She tried calling out for her friend, but was interrupted by a voice she wished she didn’t know. 

“Our Lord Ghetsis has ordered your friend to be detained,” said one of the Shadow Triad. “Fear not for her. You will be escorted to her location when you and Lord Ghetsis have finished here.”

“When—what?” She was shoved forward several paces, eventually stopping at the other end of the bridge, where a green-haired man in opulent gold and purple robes was waiting.

“So you’re the street rat Lord N is so fond of,” the man who must be Ghetsis said. His face was as sour as his voice, though a red patch covered one eye. “I expected better of you. Not even coming to Relic Castle yourself? Sending another lowly trainer to retrieve it for you?” 

“I knew it wouldn’t be there,” Hilda said, the accusation present in her underlying fury. She wouldn’t shout, or scream, or snarl—he would only use that as further proof of unworthiness. “I knew your team would have stolen it already. It’s a waste of time.” 

Ghetsis hummed. “Stolen? Foolish child, we have no more clue as to Zekrom’s location than you. Yet you come to Opelucid, intending to progress in your base battling despite the fact you know you’ve lost?”

“I’m not telling you what my thought process is. I’m not stupid,” Hilda said. “Have you come here to gloat, or do something productive? I’m sure N could use your support.”

“Our king is not challenging the Pokémon League until tomorrow,” Ghetsis said, snippy. “I have simply come to examine you, as requested. After all, if he is to succeed in his mission, then his intentions must remain pure.” His lip curled in disgust as he looked her over. “While I cannot imagine what about you tempts him, it is my duty to preserve his purity nonetheless.” 

“If you’re going to call me names, then spit it out,” Hilda snapped. “I’m tired of your stupid fancy talk. Half of your subordinates have already called me a slut, so what’s stopping you?”  

Ghetsis frowned. “Such language is beneath me. Now—it is my Lord N’s belief that the two heroes must come together as equals, putting their beliefs on the line in one epic battle, and he wishes to know if you are fit. But if you do not even have the Dark Stone…” He shook his head, as though truly disappointed, but Hilda saw his smile. “I have provided him with all that he needed to become the hero from his infancy. No street rat will interfere with him or my—Team Plasma’s goals.”

So I was right about N’s actual role. Ghetsis seems to be controlling everything—though it’s a wonder he’s gotten away with it. He’s not exactly being discreet. “And what would those goals be?” 

His smile was beaming, now. “As you said, describing our plans would be foolish of us, so I will take my leave. Farewell… Hilda.” 

He spat her name like a curse, and with a snap, the Shadow Triad disappeared alongside him. Another snap, and Bianca was standing where Ghetsis had been, looking dizzy.

“What just happened?” she asked.
“Nothing,” Hilda said softly. “Let’s move into the city.” 

***

When they arrived, Hilda and Bianca found themselves on the outskirts of a crowd gathered around a platform, with two massive Team Plasma banners waving in the wind. The rain had stopped, and the evening sun was just beginning to peek out from behind the clouds. Like the sun setting on my world.

She couldn’t tell if it had been one day, or two, or three, with the sky so overcast. But she could see how smug Ghetsis was as he spun his spiel about releasing pokémon, and how N being acknowledged as the Hero of Truth meant that Team Plasma was right about everything.

“It’s sickening,” said a small girl next to her. She had bronze skin and dark hair, which looked purple in the sun, and was dressed in pink and cream robes. She was frowning.

“What he’s saying?” Hilda whispered back.
“Yes. I don’t doubt that Reshiram chose his N. But I don’t think this means what he’s saying it does.” 

“I agree. But there’s no way to stop him.”
The girl tilted her head, looking Hilda in the eyes. “You don’t know that,” she said soundly. 

But the trainers in front of them were already starting to whisper amongst themselves. Whispering about maybe he’s right, or I’m the oppressor? And am I truly a captor to my pokémon? I thought I was his friend.

“It certainly doesn’t sound like that,” Hilda said, devastated by the whispers. It’s a brilliant plan. Turning the masses to their side, using empathy as a weapon. Even if I become the hero, there will be no one left to fight for.

“Don’t be discouraged,” the girl said cheerfully. “They’ll get over themselves by tomorrow. Now, are you two Hilda and Bianca? Professor Juniper told us you’d be coming.” 

“Pay no heed to Ghetsis’s words,” said a white-haired man behind the smaller girl. “The union of pokémon and people is how Unova was founded in the first place. If pokémon truly wanted nothing to do with us, they could have freed themselves by now. I only wish everyone else realized that.”

All of a sudden, it clicked in Hilda’s mind who these two were. “Wait, Iris? And Drayden? You’re the gym leaders here, right?” 

“We are,” Iris said. “And you’re Hilda and Bianca! From Castelia and the whole Musharna fiasco. I will admit, I didn’t recognize your names at first, but…”

“That’s okay,” said Hilda, feeling lighter. “If Professor Juniper told you we were coming, she probably told you why, right? We should find somewhere safer to talk.” 

Drayden nodded. “Indeed. She told us you were seeking information on the Legendary Dragons that Ghetsis was mentioning just now. Correct?”

Hilda and Bianca nodded vigorously.
“Then we should go to my house,” Drayden said. “I may despise Ghetsis and Team Plasma, but one cannot argue that they’re inefficient. Time is of the essence.”

***

Drayden’s house was a fairly ordinary-looking building farther from the gym than Hilda expected, and was decorated sparsely. Drayden sat down on a chair he pulled up opposite the couch where Hilda and Bianca sat, and Iris rummaged about the room doing…something.

When asked for an explanation, Hilda gave the same pared-down version of events she’d given her friends back in Icirrus, with Bianca clarifying some of the details. Drayden remained impassive for most of the explanation, until she got to the part where N had asked her to seek out the Dark Stone.

“Let me make sure I understand you correctly,” Drayden said, eyes wide. “This ‘N’ that Team Plasma follows has not only awakened the Legendary Dragon Reshiram, but wants you to obtain Zekrom so you can pit them against each other and test his own convictions?” 

“Pretty much,” Hilda grimaced. “I take it that’s a bad thing?”
“The Legendary Dragons normally get along so well,” Iris said sadly. “But when they fight, they have the power to tear Unova apart.”

“So it’s a very bad thing,” Bianca amended. “Can you tell us anything else? What their history is? Where the Dark Stone might be?”

“Even after what I’ve said, you still intend to seek out Zekrom?” Drayden asked softly. “Hilda, understand that you do not have to fight him. You don’t have to comply with his games. Reshiram and Zekrom are not enemies, and you can use that to take down Plasma.”

“I know.” But it won’t work. “But I will, and I think that’s why N chose me. He knows me. We…used to be friends. I guess he thinks we still are, and try as I might I can’t convince him otherwise.”

Bianca was staring at her, but a light entered Drayden’s eyes. “Then I will tell you the full story, and hope it helps,” he said. 

Iris sat down beside Hilda, smiling reassuringly.
“Long ago, Reshiram—the same that awakened from the Light Stone—and Zekrom, who may yet awaken from the Dark Stone, were the same pokémon. That single pokémon, alongside twin heroes, founded what became the Unova region, where people and pokémon lived in harmony, thanks to their efforts.”

“But it didn’t last,” Iris said. “The heroes were brothers, after all. The older brother sought truth, and so he fought with his younger brother—who sought his ideals—and began arguing about how they should decide who was right. The single dragon, who had been with them both that whole time, split itself into two bodies. One body became Reshiram, siding with the older brother; the other Zekrom, siding with the younger.”

“Because they had been the same being once, their battles raged endlessly, neither able to gain the advantage over the other,” Drayden said. “As a result of this endless war, the twins declared no one the winner, saying it was an impossible fight. Alas, their sons disagreed, and began the conflict anew. That is when Unova was destroyed in lightning and fire.”

“And the dragons disappeared.” Iris looked unspeakably sad. “They became the stones.”

“Reshiram and Zekrom represent the epitome of how pokémon and people interact,” Drayden said. “They can destroy each other, or cause a new land to blossom into prosperity. It all depends on the relationship between them, and that they value peace over selfishness. Unfortunately, I don’t know where to find them, nor how to awaken them from the stones once found.”

Hilda nodded slowly, processing the story. Back where I started. Figures.
“That is everything we know,” Iris said. “I’m sorry we can’t help more.”

“It’s very helpful,” Bianca reassured her, even though it really wasn’t. “I mean, we didn’t even know what types the Legendary Dragons were. So this was all new.”

“And it’s late,” Drayden added. “Why don’t you two stay over here tonight? Your pokémon can rest, and I’m sure you need it just as much.”

“It’ll be okay,” Iris said cheerily. “It’ll be a sleepover! But, Hilda, you’ll need to challenge the gym soon. You still need this one, right?”

“Yes, but it’s the last one,” Hilda confirmed. “Iris, Drayden… thank you.”

“Of course,” Drayden said softly, looking kinder than he had. “If anyone can stop Team Plasma, it will be the former friend of their king, right?” 

She didn’t answer him. But she thought about it all through dinner, and it was the last thought that haunted her as she went to sleep.

Chapter Text

The Cobalt Coastlands, as far as Dawn could tell, encompassed the entire area between Veilstone and Sunyshore, where she’d lived before coming to Hisui. Irida had given her some basic directions, such as how to find the former warden who lived on Firespit Island, but Dawn was taking her time. There was no lord to quell here, and the sounds of crashing water had always brought her comfort. She wanted to take it where she could.

Today, Dawn walked along the beach of Ginkgo Landing— how did it get that name, anyway? I thought the Ginkgo quartered near Jubilife— with her shoes off, letting the warm sand rush between her toes. Spheal rolled all about her, chirping and chittering like there was nothing in the world to worry about. Perhaps there wasn’t, for them. The Sealeo were more aggressive, but once she’d given them a few honeycombs, they’d backed off for the most part. They saw she meant no harm.

After a few days in the Coastlands, nearly her entire team had evolved with surprising speed. She supposed having to fight almost an entire clan of Machop would do that, but it still surprised her when it happened. 

The problem was that she sometimes forgot it wasn’t her original team. She caught herself, occasionally, calling Red ‘Lily’ or Skyla ‘Star,’ before remembering that they were far in the future, on a different sunny shore, and that if she wasn’t careful she’d never see any of them again.

If I keep thinking like that, then I certainly won’t. But if I move forward, there might be a chance.

Of course, that was disregarding the whispers that kept sneaking into her thoughts—whispers of, would it be so bad to stay here? Would it be that horrible if I never went home? 

Those thoughts, of course, were violently shut down every time. Completing Arceus’s call to ‘seek out all pokémon’ was a sure way to bring her home once the nobles were quelled. It was possible. It was. 

That thought was the only thing keeping her going. That, and the fact that she now had an almost fully evolved team that could handle an Alpha Walrein with ease. Hopefully. 

The only thing that confused her about her new team was Sasha’s strange evolution. She knew what Typhlosion were supposed to look like, and Shiny Typhlosion besides, and Sasha looked like neither. His fur was purple, and so were the flames, floating eerily and reminding Dawn of a ghost-type. When she’d asked Laventon about it, he’d told her she was exactly right, and that the new ghost-type move he’d been using was called ‘Infernal Parade.’

I’ve never had a fire/ghost-type on my team, Dawn mused. It’s an interesting combination. One she was eager to experiment with, though perhaps not on this particular Walrein.

Three ultra balls later, the Walrein had finally noticed her hiding behind a nearby boulder, roared, and knocked her over with a Blizzard to the face. 

Dawn couldn’t help the screaming, but she was grateful she’d had the foresight to let Lucas out of his ball. An Alpha Luxray versus an Alpha Walrein. Who will win?

***

She fought the Walrein three times, and lost all three times, annoying her enough to finally abandon the beach and track down the flighty warden Irida had told her about. And, for the second time since she’d arrived, she had no idea who the person standing beside the two Growlithe was. It was a relief, and somehow made her sad at once.

According to Irida, one of the Growlithe was the son of the lord that had once ruled over the Coastlands, and the place where he’d been raised was the subject of most of the maybe-not-a-ghost attacks. The Pearl Clan’s leader hadn’t told her much, though her face had said she was hiding a great deal, but Dawn didn’t care. She didn’t like Irida, and she doubted Irida liked her.

Paulina wasn’t that bad, in Dawn’s eyes. She gave Dawn a thorough description of the shadows she was supposed to be tracking, but contrary to what Dawn had assumed, she wasn’t the warden of a minor noble, but the son of the previous major one.

“There should be a second noble here, right?” Dawn asked. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I was told there was a noble called Basculeigon that could carry me to Firespit Island.”

“You were told correctly,” Paulina said, smiling at the ground. Dawn could’ve sworn she was blushing, but it might have been the sun. “Basculeigon’s warden is Iscan of the Diamond Clan. It’s quite the trek—I’m afraid he lives on the other side of the beach, on Aipom Hill past Ginkgo Landing—but he’ll be more than willing to help you. He’s a good man.” 

She’s definitely blushing. Is there something going on between those two? I didn’t think that was accepted.

“Nevermind me,” Paulina said quickly, shaking her head. “There’s something else you should know. There’s been strange lightning over the island, and it looks a lot like the lightning that struck Kleavor and Lilligant.”

Dawn thanked her for the warning and then set off down the cape, catching a few Growlithe, Vulpix, and even a Togepi on the way down. Perhaps it would be a long trek, but she didn’t mind. The beach was calm—Hisui, calmer.

***

Iscan, as it turned out, was a rather timid man, whose only price for summoning Basculeigon for Dawn was her catching a Dusclops and using it to make Basculeigon’s favorite food. As strange as Dawn found it, she wouldn’t complain, because it turns out that was all Basculeigon himself asked of her. 

“What…type is he?” she asked Iscan. Basculeigon appeared to be an evolved form of Basculin, if calmer, and it had wavy tendrils coming off of it that brought several unpleasant memories to mind.

“He’s a water- and ghost-type, if I understand your professor’s typing system correctly,” Iscan said. “I—understand that you’re here to track down some ghosts, but I promise Basculeigon won’t harm anyone, much less Paulina and her Growlithe.”

“I know,” said Dawn. “It’s a little embarassing, actually—I’ve heard of Basculin, but not Basculeigon.”

“Oh? That’s interesting. And strange,” Iscan said. “Where you find one, you find the other, right? Basculin are all over Hisui.” 

Maybe now, but not for much longer, Dawn thought mournfully. Most Basculin were gone not long after she was born. Although, she knew that if one looked hard enough, one could still find some in the colder rivers of Sinnoh.

They came down to the largest dip in the beach, with Red—still an Eevee, despite the rest of her team’s evolutions—trailing behind her, sniffing the sands and shrubs leisurely. 

“Now, Iscan, did you find yourself a partner? I’m impressed.”
Dawn and Iscan turned in tandem to find Paulina behind them, a sly smile on her face. Both Growlithe were attempting to distract Red from whatever fascinating smell was coming from the shrubs, but neither seemed to succeed.

“He’s mine, actually,” Dawn said. “His name’s Red.”
It was about noon, if she guessed right, and the sun glinted off the water. Paulina and Iscan had locked eyes and not spoken, and Dawn glanced between them with a raised eyebrow, now certain that her earlier assumption was spot-on.

“Interesting name for such a creature,” Paulina said, tilting her head to the side in interest. “What made you bestow that name?” 

“It’s…a legend where I’m from,” Dawn said, momentarily stumped as to how she would explain the concept of ‘urban legends’ to people with no concept of an urban area. “He was a famous wielder of pokémon who took down…” And how in Arceus’s name do I describe Team Rocket? “A group that exploited them.”

“So, this ‘Red’ was a hero,” Iscan said. “Right?”
“So they say,” Dawn shrugged. “But actually, no one can confirm if he ever existed. The legend says the spirits of him and his pokémon reside at the tip of an unclimbable mountain, forever training for their next opponent.”

“That sounds terribly sad,” Paulina said. “His pokémon are trapped with him?”

“Not necessarily. They’re bound together out of love, respect, and a shared mission. Each pokémon and Red himself are bound to the mountain on top of that, unable to leave. He’s not keeping them prisoner, and even if he was, they’re probably all dead by now anyway.”

As far as anyone could tell, Red had been born about sixty years prior—similar to May, they knew, and her age was at least confirmed—and had disappeared after the Rocket resurgence in Johto had been put down. They said he resided on the top of Mount Silver, but no one had survived the climb since Red’s era. 

“I suppose I should expect such a story from one such as you,” Paulina said sadly. “Do you know how old Red was when he died?” 

There was probably a hidden question in there about her age, but Dawn wouldn’t answer that. “Our best guess is that he was thirteen or fourteen. They say one girl did manage to climb the mountain and put him to rest, but it’s all speculation. Lyra’s report was never confirmed by any outside source. No one knows for sure what happened.”

Allegedly, about a year after the Rocket resurgence, the trainer responsible for putting them down—a girl named Lyra—climbed the mountain and fought Red, supposedly calming his spirit. But this was never confirmed, even though Lyra herself was a fairly famous historical figure, causing many brave and foolish trainers to try and climb the mountain anyway. Dawn had seen their funerals on TV, though none had bodies to bury, only names. 

“May Almighty Sinnoh grant him rest through the reaches of time,” Iscan said softly. Paulina repeated it, but substituted ‘time’ for ‘space.’

“May Almighty Sinnoh grant him rest through the reaches of time, space, and all else that is,” Dawn whispered. 

***

To lighten the mood from Dawn’s tale, Paulina explained the relationship between herself and Iscan, much to the man’s apparent embarrassment. Now that they were together, the two wardens seemed eager to spend as much time together as possible, using Dawn as a scapegoat to not draw suspicion. Dawn didn’t mind—she would have to get a move on eventually, but the fresh ocean air provided a reinvigoration she’d needed for a while, and it had been some time since she could truly relax on the beach.

  Apparently, when the late Lord Arcanine had fallen to the waves, Iscan and Basculeigon had rescued Paulina and the fallen Growlithe, returning them to safety and staying with them until each was healthy enough to return to their own dwellings. Paulina giggled flirtatiously, and Iscan blushed to the tips of his ears more than once, but Dawn was heartened by the interaction, no longer feeling so alone. 

“I didn’t think the Diamond and Pearl clans got along well enough to have their wardens be together,” she said, scratching Red behind his ears as he sat in her lap. 

“They don’t,” Paulina said, pursing her lips. “Which is why we…don’t often see each other. But I care for my Iscan, and I believe he cares for me, and for us, that’s enough.” 

That sounds nice. I wish I had someone like that. But the image accompanying the thought was of Adaman; Adaman before their battle by Lake Verity, Adaman carrying her up to the Diamond settlement, Adaman standing in the door of the infirmary in Jubilife Village. It made her heart flutter, though the man himself wasn’t present, and she idly wondered if their union would  be as frowned upon as Paulina and Iscan’s—she thought she had an advantage, being from Almighty Sinnoh’s realm and all.

No. Stop it. Don’t think like that. But her brain wouldn’t listen to her.
Then, Iscan was explaining how to summon Basculeigon, and she had to pay attention again.

***

Two more days, a campout on a volcanic island, a skirmish with Candice and Bertha—or Candice’s and Bertha’s ancestors, Dawn had forgotten their names—a Lord-quelling, and two colorful slabs later, Dawn finally left Firespit Island on Basculeigon’s back, collapsing into the seat as he steadily brought her back to the new base camp at Deadwood Haunt. When she stumbled onto the shore, she found Irida talking to Professor Laventon, her Glaceon standing alert by her side. 

“Ah. Akari,” Irida greeted. Dawn nodded in return, glancing between her and the professor. “We were just conversing. I saw the lightning over the island, and Laventon told me you’ve been working with Paulina to investigate it. Correct?”

“I have,” Dawn said, then explained how Growlithe had evolved, the Coastlands had a lord again, et cetera, voice drenched with exhaustion and dreams of her cot in Jubilife. Or, even better, her bed in Sunyshore City.

“So you rescued the pup, and indirectly restored a noble to the Pearl Clan,” Irida mused. “I admit, Akari, you’re talented and kind. If you were not part of the Galaxy Team…if you did not wield pokémon as you do, I would ask you to be a warden. But then, there is Ingo…”

“It’s really just because I’m part of the Galaxy Team?” Dawn asked, trying not to snap. Who’s Ingo? “Do my deeds and my character mean nothing to you? If your concerns are about pokémon, then I will prove to you myself how strong I am.” I am Champion of this region. I will not forfeit to a girl who knows so little. 

“I will take you up on a demonstration of strength,” Irida said. “But Akari…I am trying to see. You are so young—barely older than me, I’m told—and you carry so much responsibility with ease, as if you’ve done this all your life. How? I am leader of my clan, and I don’t have half the abilities that you do. Akari, if you were not a member of the Galaxy Team, I would ask you to teach me all you seem to know.” 

The empathy Dawn had hidden under mental images of Team Plasma robes finally seeped out again. “There’s not much I could teach you,” she said honestly. “I only go with what I’ve seen, and I would not wish those things on anyone, except maybe my worst enemy. The rest I got from my mentor, who is much wiser than me. You’re right, Irida. I’ve been doing this for some time. But I only survived the process because I had my pokémon, even if they’re not the ones you see here. If there is only one thing you take from me…can I ask you to let it be how you see our poké balls? The tools of our trade?”

The Pearl Clan leader still wanted to fight, and Dawn still curb-stomped her with Sasha, but she felt far less malice towards the girl than she had. Maybe, eventually, we could be friends. 

Besides, Irida promised.

Chapter Text

“Ollie, Ceaseless Edge!”
“Haxorus, Dragon Tail!” 

Hilda couldn’t remember the last time she’d struggled so much in a gym battle. Granted, she’d expected some difficulty since she had no clear type advantage, but while Mike had been able to take down the Deino and Dara had beaten Druddigon, both had fallen to Haxorus, and so she was down to Ollie.

Her consultations of the records Professor Juniper Sr. had sent her over her Xtranciever had also helped her understand her starter more— namely, the dark-type move she’d been using since she’d evolved. The surprise had allowed Hilda to gain a momentary advantage, but one she’d quickly lost again.

Ollie blocked the Dragon Tail with her horns, causing Haxorus to lose balance and doing damage in return.

Iris looked elated, bouncing from foot to foot as she examined both Hilda’s pokémon and her own. “Is that Spikes? You know this is my last pokémon, right?” 

“Yeah,” Hilda said. “It’s a natural side effect of the move, I think. But I’m still learning more about her, since she's a very rare form.”

She could admit such things to Iris. She wasn’t Hilda’s enemy, after all. She seemed like she could be a friend.

“Learning about your pokémon is always good,” Iris agreed. “But how will you counter my Dragon Tail?”

“I already did,” Hilda said. “Ollie, use Surf!”
“Haxorus, Dragon Dance!” 

It’ll be fine. We just need to hope she keeps setting up instead of attacking. If she strikes again, we’re screwed.

Surf didn’t do as much damage as Hilda wanted, but she couldn’t risk getting close again. Distance would have to suffice. 

The power flickered around them, stopping the battle for a moment. The screens mounted in the corners of the chamber were supposed to show their teams and how many pokémon each side had lost, but for a moment, Hilda could’ve sworn she saw Team Plasma’s flag. Her stomach sank.

“Dragon Dance, again!” Iris didn’t seem to notice, or if she had, she appeared unconcerned. Is this normal or something?
“Surf!” 

Maybe we can knock Haxorus down again and keep the boost from taking effect. Ollie’s Surf was nothing to scoff at, even against a dragon-type that resisted it. And, the spikes from Ollie’s Ceaseless Edge were caught up in it, which would hit Haxorus with a thousand tiny points that would still do damage.

“Alright, Haxorus! Time for Dragon Tail!” Iris threw her arms up like a cheerleader certain of victory.

“Ollie, use Ceaseless Edge!”
Though the Dragon Dance had boosted Haxorus’s overall speed drastically, it wasn’t enough to overcome the slow buildup that Dragon Tail required. Ollie reached the dragon-type first, slamming into it with her serrated horns, roaring as she threw the Haxorus to the ground like a wrestler. Haxorus groaned, but didn’t get back up.

Hilda laughed in disbelief, but her victory was cut short when the power flickered again, then went out entirely. 

Tangible silence filled the room for a moment. Iris finally spoke into the gloom. “What just happened?” 

“It flickered earlier,” Hilda replied. “But…”
With a hum, the lights turned back on again, but the glare was harsher, burning her eyes. The screens were last to power on again, but when they did, each one displayed the Team Plasma flag.

“No,” Iris whispered. “It can’t. Alder was there, right?”
“Yeah. He met me in Icirrus before returning to the League. He had every intention of fighting N,” Hilda said quickly, but Ghetsis’s words from the previous day hissed back into her mind. Lord N isn’t challenging the League until tomorrow. But that was yesterday, which meant…

The screen flickered. The Plasma flag disappeared, replaced with the image of Ghetsis and N, standing proudly with Reshiram behind him.

“Hail, the King of Team Plasma!” Ghetsis shouted, raising his arms. “The new Champion of Unova!”

No. I haven’t gotten the Dark Stone yet! I can’t challenge him—and now I’ll never get the chance. His words at the top of Dragonspiral Tower meant nothing—if he went ahead with his orders the way he’d written in his journal, then battles would be forever banned, and she could never defeat him.

“Alder has fallen,” N said. He was dressed in regalia similar to Ghetsis, but barely half as opulent. It was a simple design of black, white and green, but it made him look more regal. The obsidian and quartz crown of Unova’s Champion shone on his head, put there by Alder as per tradition. Hilda’s hands shook, seeing his face so cold and stern, so different than what she’d known him to be. “The Pokémon League has fallen. We, Team Plasma, will achieve our goals of pokémon liberation, beginning today.”

Iris let out a choked sob. 

 Merciless behind a screen, N continued. “The base practices of catching pokémon and forcing them to fight inhumane battles is henceforth banned for all who claim the title of ‘trainer.’ The removal of pokémon from human control will begin in the coming days, until all are freed. However, there is one exception.”

Hilda’s eyes widened. Wait. He can’t be serious.

 “All ‘trainers’ who have completed the Unovan Gym Circuit prior to this message are exempt from these rules. Those with eight gym badges will be welcomed to the League—if you wish to challenge me, I will accept. If you win, the crown is yours. However, should you fail, your pokémon will be immediately removed from you. Do not despair, for they will be happier, and you will not be alone for long.”

Hilda gasped. She looked over at Iris, and Iris met her eyes. Haxorus had woken from fainting, and Ollie was injured, but standing. N continued talking, but she wasn’t listening anymore.

The young gym leader rushed over to Hilda, returning her ace as the door shook, then broke open to reveal dozens of Team Plasma grunts in white, each looking various levels of triumphant and smug.

Iris pressed something cold and metal into Hilda’s palm, whispering, “Haxorus is unable to battle. Samurott wins; the match goes to Hilda.”

A man in similar robes to Ghetsis came forward. Hilda pocketed the object, which must be the gym badge, as he examined them both with a frown.

“Iris of the Opelucid Gym, you are under arrest for the abuse and abduction of pokémon,” said the man. “I am Sage Bronius, acting under the orders of His Majesty the King, N.”

Hilda removed the badge from her pocket, shoving both hands into her bag where her badge case was, and inserting it into its slot. This has to work.

Iris didn’t scream. She allowed herself to be handcuffed and stripped of her pokémon, and though she looked devastated, she didn’t cry either. Sage Bronius turned to Hilda, opening his mouth, but Hilda stopped him.

“I have all eight gym badges,” she shouted, opening the case and showing them. “You can’t touch me, per your own king’s orders.” 

“He’s your king now, too, girl,” Sage Bronius snarled, clearly recognizing her. “You owe him your respect and allegiance.” 

“If he beats me, maybe,” Hilda said smugly. “But even if he does, most trainers will just flee to other regions. You know that, right?” 

“But they cannot,” Sage Bronius frowned. “Did you not hear our king? The Unovan borders are closed. None can leave.”

He really thought of everything, didn’t he? Her hands shook on her badge case. And arresting the gym leaders immediately, so that no one can gain more badges after he takes power. Not to mention the gym trainers and whichever unlucky soul happened to be challenging the gyms themselves.

And it meant that Hilda no longer had allies who could help.
Zekrom, let me awaken you quickly. 

***

Opelucid City was in uproar. Most were protestors, tearing down Team Plasma flags all over the city as they were put up, trying to harass the grunts to leave the city. But more distressingly, some had already caved, handing in their pokémon with teary faces. It made Hilda want to scream, but there was nothing to be done.

She didn’t return to the Pokémon Center or Drayden’s house. It was blocked off, the man himself being led away in handcuffs. Hilda shoved her belt into her bag, pulling her hat low over her face, wandering the city streets and avoiding Plasma grunts when they came too close. What do I do now?

“Hilda! Psst, Hilda!”
She was dragged into an alleyway unexpectedly by two familiar faces, and thankfully, they were also friendly ones. Bianca and Professor Juniper Jr. had no visible poké balls, but Bianca’s wink told her they were present nonetheless.

“You got your eighth badge?” Professor Juniper asked anxiously. “I saw Iris and Drayden were both taken away, and…”

“I did,” said Hilda, displaying her badge case. “And Team Plasma knows it, too. One of their Sages tried to arrest me. But Bianca, Professor… is there any news on the Dark Stone?” 

The two looked at each other, grinning widely. “There is,” Professor Juniper said. “We’ve managed to locate it at the Nacrene City Museum. Lenora’s been arrested already, but her husband was allowed to stay and run the place. I’m surprised Team Plasma hasn’t shut it down.”

“They’re focusing on the battlers for the moment, I think,” Hilda said. “But that’s excellent news. Problem: how do we get there discreetly? Anyone caught flying on pokémon will probably be shot down, eight badges or not.” 

“I’ve solved that one, too,” Professor Juniper said. “We’re going to the train station. I have other news, too, but that’ll be best explained when we get there.”

Hilda nodded, hurrying behind her friends to the Opelucid City Station, mind whirling with everything she had to do. Training. The Elite Four will still be intact, most likely, if N is trying to funnel out the strongest trainers to challenge him. Unless they’ve been replaced with the Sages, but how many of them have pokémon? Either way, they’re at a much higher level than I’d like, and my practicing options have severely dwindled.

The station was packed, equal parts Plasma grunts and Opelucid residents. A great deal of the ordinary citizens were being stopped, and more than a few fistfights broke out between the two groups, making Hilda shake. But Professor Juniper weaved through the crowd, bringing her to more familiar faces. Two men with identical faces, their coats with the same striped pattern and captain’s hats. One man had a brown and cream-colored coat, and the other swapped the cream color for a dark purple.

“Subway Bosses, at your service,” the men said, each with an arm outstretched in the opposite direction of the other.

Hilda gasped. “Emmet! Ingo!”
She’d done the subway battles as training for the Nimbasa City Gym, right before getting on the Ferris Wheel that fateful day with N. She quite liked the bosses, even if they were a little odd. 

“Good to meet you again, Hilda!” said Emmet, grinning brightly. “How many gym badges?” 

“All eight,” Hilda clarified for the eightieth time. “We’re taking the Battle Subway?” 

“The Unovan Subway,” Ingo clarified. “Battling is forbidden now, but we still offer transportation around Unova.”

“Including to Nacrene City,” Emmet added. “I’m told that’s your destination?” 

Hilda nodded. Professor Juniper handed the bosses their tickets, and Hilda, the professor, and Bianca were all let aboard the subway. 

“Have you been transporting any Plasma grunts?” Hilda asked, glancing around the cabin. “How did they swarm the place so effectively?” 

“We have been. Likely for months now,” Ingo said. His voice was far stonier than Emmet’s chipperness, but Hilda didn’t take it as disdain for her. It was simply his personality. “My theory is that they were disguised, using our civilian services to keep from having to battle.”

“Civillian services?” Hilda asked.
“The battling part is only for trainers,” Bianca explained. “Most ordinary people with only one or two pokémon just take the regular train, but the Subway Bosses also run that. Right?” 

“We do. It’s why Team Plasma is allowing us to operate,” Emmet said. “But I expect that they’ll take the subway over soon enough, and we’ll join the gym leaders in jail.” 

“But that should take them a while,” Bianca said. “Since most of their resources seem to have gone towards the castle they’ve built surrounding the Pokémon League.”

Oh no. “What castle?”
“Didn’t you see the news?” Bianca asked, raising an eyebrow, gesturing to one of the television monitors in the cabin. It was a news story covered by an anti-Plasma news outlet, but they were only using plane and helicopter imaging to prevent their reporters from landing too close to Plasma ground. 

The subtitles were lagging, so Hilda couldn’t see their exact words, but she saw the image of a massive stone building encircling the once-pristine Pokémon League, stone ramps digging into its sides like spines. 

“It doesn’t look like the Victory Road entrance is blocked off,” Hilda said. “But everything else is.” 

“It is only the Champion’s Chamber that’s damaged,” Ingo said. “And while the Elite Four have been confined to their rooms, our sources say they are unharmed.” For now went unsaid, but heard nonetheless.

“I depart for the conductor’s cabin, brother,” Emmet said, tipping his hat to Ingo. “I trust you to accompany our charges.” 

He left without another word, and soon after, the train began to embark southward. Emmet came on over the PA system, saying something about their destinations and the weather, but nothing overly relevant. Hilda and her friends had the cabin to themselves, and from the windows, it looked like they were in the back. All the ones in front looked packed with people.

“Now that we’re alone, I have some things to tell you,” Professor Juniper said. “Hilda, if you’re going to claim Zekrom in Nacrene City, you should know what I found about awakening the dragons.”

“Does it have anything to do with their folklore? The ‘once two dragons’ bit and how they destroyed the world? Because we know that already,” Bianca piped up. 

“That was part of it,” Professor Juniper admitted. “Here’s the other part. The Legendary Dragons sealed themselves in stones so that their only factor in determining a worthy hero would be the strength of their beliefs. Whether that’s a commitment to the truth or the strength of their ideals is up to the dragon. Hilda, if you’re going to attempt to reawaken Zekrom, the only strength you will have is the strength of your ideals. Nothing else will work.” 

“Thanks for the heads-up,” Hilda sighed. “Anything else?”
“Only this,” Ingo offered, inclining his head towards Hilda. “You have our strength behind you. Not only my brother and myself, but also the gym leaders and fallen Champion, and every trainer who has been robbed. You are not alone.”

Bianca and Professor Juniper are risking their necks for me. Iris was arrested. Emmet and Ingo are likely next. But they will all fight beside me and my pokémon. I am not alone.

Chapter Text

Dawn had returned from the Cobalt Coastlands the night before, and like clockwork, Kamado summoned her to his office the next morning. But the commander was more melancholy than she was used to, with his head hung and his back to the door. Or perhaps he was angry. It was hard to tell, since Kamado looked angry all the time—a feature that was passed onto Professor Rowan, if Dawn was right and Kamado was his ancestor. 

“Tell me, Akari. Do you think your actions are having any impact on the space-time rift?” he asked, staring at the map of Hisui on his wall.

“It’s hard to tell, sir,” Dawn said. “That’s three nobles quelled, but there doesn’t seem to be a difference.”

“That is my worry,” Kamado said solemnly. Melancholy, then.  “Closing the rift would be in our best interest, not to mention yours. But I haven’t the slightest idea of how to do it. Do you?” 

“N-No, sir,” Dawn stuttered. I mean, maybe I do, but that requires a great deal of legendary-pokémon hunting, and that generally turns out badly for all parties involved. 

He finally faced her, holding her gaze for a moment before closing his eyes. “Remain true to the mission. The Galaxy Team is only here to make a good life for ourselves. We cannot do anything that would endanger it.”

Dawn nodded. Kamado dismissed her, but she thought he sounded sad. Or scared. Either way, it made her uneasy.

***

After leaving the Galaxy Hall, Dawn began the morning as she often did. Sitting down at a bench by the Wallflower, munching on potato mochi, scrolling through the pictures remaining on her Arc Phone. 

She was never quite able to figure out how it worked. One one hand, it seemed to have limitless battery, but on the other it only served a few purposes, and none of them had to do with Sinnoh. The only thing that remained of the cell phone Dawn had carried with her for the past three years were the pictures, and she used them constantly to remind herself of what she had to ultimately move towards. 

There were a few standard ones. Pictures of herself with Barry and Lucas on either side, or the official Sinnoh League photographs that depicted herself and her team. Others depicted her with Cynthia, or Cynthia on her own, or Professor Rowan, and there were even a few of Looker and selfies of her and her mom. 

Feeling herself grounded enough to start the day, Dawn clipped on her belt of poké balls and left the Wallflower, intending to move towards the training ground. She was soon stopped by a man who looked oddly familiar, and not in the same way everyone else did. 

“Good morning, good madame from the sky! I’m sorry to bother you, but Commander Kamado has asked me to summon you to his office.”

Again? That was fast, Dawn thought uneasily, but responded with “Okay, I’ll be there shortly.” 

Something was off about the man. She could see the distinct colors of Pearl Clan robes on him, but his face was too sharp, and he wore a coat that, despite its ragged state, looked like something from Dawn’s century rather than the one they were in currently.

The man, seeming satisfied by this response, promptly entered the Training Hall. He had a very distinct gait, and something nagged at Dawn, telling her this was familiar. 

Deciding against letting out Sasha to accompany her, she made her way to Kamado’s office, stopping in her tracks when she saw a familiar blue and gold haori.

“Adaman?”
He faced her, beaming smile causing her heart to skip beats. “Akari! It’s good to see you again. I never quite thanked you for helping us with Lilligant.”

He’d actually done just that quite a bit, but Dawn didn’t mention it, focusing on tampering the blush down. “I’m glad to see you,” she replied, unable to help smiling herself. “Does this, by any chance, have something to do with the noble in the Coronet Highlands you kept telling me about?” 

Kamado raised an eyebrow as he looked between them, but said nothing. 

“You’re exactly right,” Adaman said sheepishly, looking away from her. “Melli can protest all he wants, but if its for the good of the clan, my authority overtakes his.” 

“Is Melli…” Dawn trailed off, giving him a significant look.
“Right. He’s the warden of the frenzied noble. Electrode, Lord of the Hollow. You know most of the details already, so can I spare the explanation?” He turned back to Kamado, his expression communicating that he would very much like to not explain anything.

“So long as Akari knows what is necessary for her mission,” Kamado grumbled. “Adaman, can I trust that this issue with Electrode’s warden will be resolved before she arrives?” 

“Of course,” Adaman said, but he winked at Dawn while he said it, and she had to resist the urge to laugh. “All will be resolved.”

Kamado grumbled something like foolish children, but Dawn was too caught up in Adaman’s flirtations to care. He has to be flirting. There’s no other explanation. His eyes raked up and down her form, sly grin growing larger every time she met his eyes. Dawn found, to her surprise, that it was far from unwelcome.

“Very well,” Kamado sighed, rubbing his forehead like Dawn and Adaman were giving him a headache. “Akari, for safe passage, we’ve enlisted the help of the Pearl Clan. The Coronet Highlands are unfriendly territory to those who cannot climb rocks. Therefore, I’ve asked Irida to send us a guide—a warden whose charge is skilled at climbing cliffs. I believe he’s waiting for you at the training grounds. Dismissed.” 

Adaman followed her down to the Training Hall, standing close enough to grasp her hand, but he didn’t. She kept looking over, meeting his eyes, and he kept raising his hand like he was going to touch her face. He looked like he wanted to. He looked like he wanted Dawn to act on the crazed fantasies that plagued her mind and kiss him senseless. 

“Didn’t you tell me about a warden from the Pearl Clan who also fell from the rift?” Dawn asked instead. Her voice was shaking, and her heart was beating faster than a Yanma’s wings.

“I did,” Adaman rasped, clearly trying to summon a normal tone and failing. “I believe that’s the same warden who’s been summoned here. Perhaps this is redundant, given that you hail from the same place, but I’ve heard he’s rather…eccentric.” 

“I was ‘eccentric’ when I arrived here, with what I was wearing,” Dawn said, her voice gaining strength. If he’s waiting in the Training Hall, then… “Does he have a tattered coat?” 

“I believe so,” Adaman said, but then he stopped in his tracks, looking horribly conflicted. “Akari…” 

Many things went through her head at that moment. Her first thought was, I was right, I knew it, he likes me. The second was, I can’t stay here. I have to break his heart. 

“I know I sound abrupt,” Adaman started, talking nervously fast. “I know it’s a lot. But Akari, is it okay if I ask to accompany you?”

“To the Highlands?”
The look he was giving her begged her to address the unspoken things, but she didn’t. She gave her best oblivious look, as if she wasn’t more than willing to dive headfirst into whatever was blossoming between them. 

“Well, yes,” he said. “It’s a dangerous road to get there. What I’m trying to say is…battle me again?” 

That got a laugh from her. Always, whenever emotions were too hard to express—when things got too complicated to put into words—you fought, and the words were found in the winning or losing. “I will,” she said. “But first, I must meet with Captain Cyllene and the Pearl warden.”

She tried smiling, not wanting that devastated expression to remain on his face, but it didn’t work. 

“Of course,” said Adaman, less energetic than he had been. “I won’t keep you from your duties. I should leave to attend to mine.” 

She jolted at the hand on her back, thinking maybe he’d drawn her closer for a last gesture of affection, but no. It was Cyllene, standing behind her and shaking her head. 

“Captain? What’s wrong?”
Cyllene sighed. “Nothing. I simply wonder at the actions of those your age. The Diamond Clan leader is known to be a flirt sometimes, but I’ve never seen him act in such a way before. He must be desperate.” 

Sure, kick a girl while she’s down, Dawn thought. But instead of acknowledging what Cyllene had said, she asked, “Do you have the details of my mission?”

“You’ve been assigned to the Coronet Highlands. You’ll be on the rift’s doorstep, and there’s no telling what perils you will face. There is already a large detail of the Security Corps there, to give you as much protection as possible, but you will also be travelling with a large group. I’m sending the Supply and Construction Corps alongside you, so they have additional protection. You leave in two days.” 

“Two days? Isn’t that too long for the mission?” Dawn asked worridly. “And a long time for the Pearl Clan warden to be away from his charge?” 

Cyllene stared at her for a moment. “Perhaps,” she said finally. “But it will take that long to make preparations. As for the Pearl Clan warden…I suggest you speak to him. Perhaps that will resolve the issues.”

Dawn nodded. “He came from the space-time rift, right?”
Cyllene raised an eyebrow. “Yes, child. Go.” 

***

She met Irida at the training ground, standing next to the same oddly familiar man who had summoned her to Kamado’s office. When she introduced him as ‘Warden Ingo,’ Dawn’s stomach dropped. 

“Hold on,” she said. “You’re sure it’s Ingo?”
“Of course, Akari. It’s my name,” said the apparent warden. “Pleased to properly meet you. I am the warden Ingo.” 

As he said it, he tipped his hat, which Dawn studied closely. It was clearly a conductor’s hat, though threadbare, with a button bearing a logo that Dawn knew well. The hand with which he tipped his hat bore a strange purple cuff, unveiled since the sleeves on his long coat had long since been torn off. 

The coat. The hat. Ingo…isn’t that…?

“Ingo, as in, Subway Boss Ingo?” Dawn whispered aloud. Irida turned sharply to her, eyes wide. Ingo, however, appeared not to notice and went on talking. 

“I understand you’ll need Sneasler’s assistance to reach Electrode. I hope she’ll find you worthy, but we’ll only discover that by making the journey.” He suddenly raised one arm, then pointed it straight ahead, his other arm almost hitting Irida, one finger down. I know that pose. It was all over Nimbasa City when I visited. She could vividly recall the blaring advertisements from the billboards all across the city— ‘Board Unova’s finest subway, for all your travelling and battling needs!’ 

“All aboard to Mount Coronet!” Ingo announced. Dawn’s jaw dropped, but then she stared laughing. She couldn’t even explain that the Captain wouldn’t let her leave for two days, she was just relieved. 

Ingo and Iridia both looked at her quizzically, but jumped back in shock when Dawn joyfully cried, “The other rift-born! The warden! It’s you! I can’t believe it—we’re from the same place after all!” 

“Y-You’re sure?” Ingo gasped. Irida was beaming, looking between the two, despite having clearly been startled. 

“So you already knew,” she chuckled. “I expect Adaman told you. Yes, Ingo came from beyond the rift, but clearly you know where he’s from in that country. Unfortunately, he’s lost all of his memories. I’m curious, since you clearly have not experienced the same thing.” 

“I remember home pretty clearly,” Dawn admitted. “It’s strange to me too, I promise.”

“I believe you.” She placed a hand on Ingo’s shoulder, slowly lowering his arm. “I’m hoping travelling with you will help him regain some of his memories. Perhaps you could share your own with him?” 

Iridia smiled at her then, hands clasped tightly in front of her as though she was restraining her nervousness. She looked earnest, and she looked her own age. Not trying to act older. Trying to connect, maybe. Perhaps their battle in the Coastlands had changed something after all.

“I will,” Dawn said, smiling back. “And actually, I think I know exactly where to start.”

“Thank you very much, Akari,” Ingo said softly, tipping his hat again. “I’m in your debt. Truly.” 

It’s a sign, Dawn realized. Ingo’s here because I was wavering. He’s a twin, isn’t he? And I doubt his twin is here as well, otherwise someone would have mentioned it. It’s not just me who has to go home—I have to help him, too. It was a lighter feeling than she expected, having someone else’s fate on her shoulders. Perhaps it was because she was so used to it.

Dawn found herself skipping around the village looking for Laventon and Rei, bursting with her newfound information about Subway Boss Ingo and itching to tell someone, especially if she didn’t have to sensor the details. However, in her elation, she ended up slamming into a person instead.

Dawn jumped back, spewing apologies before she even realized it was Volo she’d ran into. Thankfully, he didn’t look mad, though he was holding her at a distance. 

“Didn’t think you were so excited to see me,” he said teasingly. “What happened?” 

“I need to talk to Professor Laventon right now,” Dawn said. “It’s really important.” 

“I think I saw him go back to his lab,” Volo said, removing his grip from her shoulders. “Adaman, too. What happened? Anything I can help with?” 

“I don’t think so,” Dawn said. “Considering it has to do with—um, the rift.” It’s kinda the truth. 

“Arceus?”
Her eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth. Volo chuckled, lowering his voice. “Don’t worry, I already knew about it. Before you mentioned it during the…what did you call it? A washing machine?” 

Dawn groaned. “I did that, didn’t I?”
He laughed and nodded. “It’s okay. If it helps, I know about the rest of them, too. Our favorite ‘Almighty Sinnoh’s.’”