Chapter Text
Putting on the mask is never easy, but Volo has a goal to accomplish. One that has been impressed into his mind since he was child. The sole friend he’s had over the years–though that’s not to discount the company of his darling Pokemon.
“Who’s that girl?” Volo asks Ress, the village guardsman.
“I’m not sure. Haven’t seen her around before.” Ress replies curiously. “She must have come in through the other gate.”
Volo thanks Ress for allowing his passage into the village and decides to snoop by hanging around. Shortly this girl is confronted by Rei and judging by the way their interaction looks, the boy isn’t familiar with her either. He notes her odd manner of dress and how she shivers against the eternally chilly air of Hisui. Certainly someone who was not adjusted to the region–if the garb alone was not enough to go by.
Professor Laventon comes out of Galaxy Headquarters soon after and reveals himself to be someone who does recognize the newcomer. The trio converse rather eagerly amongst themselves and Volo gets the sense that a plot is unfolding right in front of him. And then, more interestingly, Captain Cyllene comes out and addresses the girl.
Volo knows the girl will require more investigation, because it’s just too peculiar for him to pass up. It’s only a matter of time before a window to interject himself will appear. Perhaps he was chasing a lead that has nothing to do with his goal, but so be it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Her name is Akari.” Rei informs him, “the Professor found her on Prelude Beach just yesterday. He claims he saw her falling from the rift.”
Volo’s right. This is a lead worth pursuing.
“From the rift, you say? How interesting! I don’t suppose that happens everyday…do you suppose it’s divine providence?” Volo exclaims, questioning the unsuspecting boy in front of him.
“Like…you think she has something to do with the Almighty Sinnoh that the Pearl Clan and Diamond Clan are always going on about?” Rei smiles, clearly unsure of how to answer Volo’s query. “I don’t know about all that. Really…you’re more knowledgeable about those tales than I am. But she is…different, really different.”
“How so?” Volo continues to pry, though Rei doesn’t seem to mind.
“You know, she caught all three of the Professor’s Pokemon yesterday like it was nothing. The Professor claims that her catching prowess is on a whole other level…and the overall manner in which she carries herself. She’s not afraid…not like the rest of us are.”
Rei stops for a second, pursing his lips together in consideration as he looks at the ground. Then he looks back up at Volo with a sort of wonderment.
“She kind of reminds me of you, actually.”
Volo’s mask slips for a second and his smile falls away. How could that be so? It’s not as if Rei and Volo are close friends or anything. Volo finds the boy to be a good source of conversation and he is intrigued by his shared goal with Laventon–the Pokedex. But Volo’s outward personality is a front, isn’t it? What did Rei see in him?
“Here she comes now.” Rei interrupts his thoughts. Volo imperceptibly shakes off his thoughts and smiles as she draws closer.
“Oh?” Volo begins, “what a curious get up you’ve got there. Just from what I've seen already I can tell you’re quite the character. Though I must confess, your friend Rei here was telling me about you.”
Akari looks at Rei and then back at Volo. She smiles, though Volo can tell she’s apprehensive. As anyone literally dropped into a foreign land might be.
“I’m called Akari.” She introduces herself politely.
“Volo of the Ginkgo Guild, the go-to choice for any of your mercantile needs here in Hisui!” Volo says in turn, extending his hand for her to shake. He takes note of how strong her grip is when she takes it, much stronger than he would expect from a young lady of her stature.
Volo glimpses a Pokeball hanging from her satchel and his eyes widen. Has she already obtained a partner of her own? She’s not even been here for a day.
“You’ve a Pokemon of your own!” Volo exclaimed, “you’re certainly full of interesting surprises…”
“A kind gift from the Professor…a Cyndaquil. I’ve been sent on a trial to prove myself to the Galaxy Team. Otherwise I won’t have anywhere else to stay.” Akari explains, mindlessly scoping up the Pokeball in her hand.
Volo wishes it was he who had found her. If this is going where he thought it was going. Celestica legends told of an ancient hero–one that was to return when the world needed it most. Could it be that she is the legendary hero of old?
“I see…well. Investigating the odd and novel is key to any good merchant’s success! So what do you say? How about you and I see how our Pokemon stand up to one another in battle?” Volo proposes, reaching into his pocket and retrieving one of his Pokeballs. “Battling is one of the best ways to get to know someone, or so the old adage goes.”
“I’ve never heard that before.” Rei comments curiously, “old Celestica turn of the phrase?”
“Indeed.” Volo confirms for him.
“I think I’ve heard that somewhere too…” Akari says wistfully, “in any case, I accept.”
Akari’s expression grows fierce, a stark contrast to her gentle smile from before. It’s almost as if her eyes are glowing—glowing red. Volo is hardly frightened of the girl, but something stirs in his heart and he knows he’s right. He is face to face with the Hero–which signals change to come for Hisui. Expertly, she tosses the Pokeball and it spins midair, falling to the ground and bouncing back when it releases the Pokemon held inside. The Pokeball recoils towards Akari and makes an audible smacking sound when she effortlessly catches it. They haven’t even started battling yet and already Volo knows he’s dealing with someone who has real talent.
Volo releases his Togepi into the space in front of him and the battle has begun. Both Pokemon are low level and, quite frankly, leave much to be desired when it comes to their move pools. Still he finds himself on edge and eager to see how the battle will be decided.
“I like you better and better. What a delightful find!” Volo calls across the space to her. But she’s too focused now to say anything more than the commands she has for her Cyndaquil.
His sweet little Togepi careens across the space, barreling for her Cyndaquil. But the fire shrew dodges easily at Akari’s command and the flames shoot out of its back to signal it was at the ready.
A Quick Attack sends his Togepi onto its back. However, his darling recovers quickly and summons a Fairy Wind attack. Cyndaquil is hardly damaged by this, and Volo rethinks his decision to send Togepi out. It’s his ace Pokemon, but hardly effective against a fire type. Still–to Volo’s knowledge this is her first battle since reaching Hisui. It was permissible for him to go easy on her.
Ultimately an Ember finishes off his Pokemon and he admits defeat. He has others he could send out, but that would hardly be fair to her all things considered. As she returns Cyndaquil to its Pokeball, her darkened expression fades back to her tender smile from earlier.
Rei’s words from earlier echo in his head. She kind of reminds me of you, actually.
“Moves, items…use them well, and the world will open up to you.” Volo muses as he returns Togepi to its ball. He lifts his index finger and gestures at her, returning the smile.
“It’s always good fun to have your Pokemon do battle, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I would have to agree with you there.” Akari agrees. Rei shakes his head and throws his hands up, likely struggling to understand where they were coming from.
“It really is a shame. Not many around here know how to utilize Pokeballs, therefore they don’t have partners of their own.” Volo explains, “nevertheless, I’ll be interested to see how your trial progresses. If all goes well, you should have an impressive tenure with the Galaxy Team.”
Volo offers to heal their Pokemon, which Akari allows him to do. He gifts her with some potions as thanks for the battle, and hopefully as another means of winning her favor. He knew it was wise to stay on the Hero’s good side, after all. He needed to watch the legend unfold…because she was the key to his goals.
She is nothing more than a means to an end. But a valuable one, at that.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He encounters Akari again, now donning an appropriate Survey Corps uniform, in the Obsidian Fieldlands. He teaches her the back strike method–something he had discovered on his own–and had shared with Professor Laventon. The Professor was more than thrilled to add it to the list of ways one could improve their chances of catching the beasts of this world’s lands.
“A Celestica flute?” Volo turns it over in his hands. She seems happy to show him what Adaman from the Diamond Clan had given her. “How fortuitous for you. I imagine you will find this to be an incredibly useful tool in your exploits.”
“Hey…you’re something of an expert on myths and legends, right? Do you know anything about the Noble Pokemon, Volo?” Akari asks him, sitting on a boulder nearby. Her Cyndaquil is sitting in her lap snacking on oran berries. Meanwhile, a Zubat she’s recently added to her team is roosting on her head.
“Certainly.” Volo nods, seating himself beside her. “Said to be descendants of the companions of the ancient hero of legend–just like the Wyrdeer you’ve befriended. They protect and watch over this land, and in turn, the wardens of the Diamond and Pearl Clans protect and watch over them.”
“Something’s happened to them, it seems. Mai from the Diamond Clan told me that she’s concerned about a…Kleavor. It’s become violent and enveloped in a strange yellow light.” Akari confides in him.
“Coinciding with the lightning storm from the previous night, I take it?” Volo askes her. She nods and it seems another matter is also concerning her.
“The Commander is concerned that it also coincides with my arrival here.”
Volo’s face twitches. That is probably the case, after all. Something interesting was brewing in the lands of Hisui–almost immediately following her arrival.
“You know, maybe it does. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.” Volo suggests, a glint in his eyes. Akari shoots him a questioning glance and he lifts his index finger at her. “Whatever is happening to the nobles, it could be that it was fated to happen. And whatever powers that brought you here…must’ve seen that it was coming and delivered you to us as the answer, no? You are easily the most capable in the Galaxy Team when it comes to handling issues that concern Pokemon.”
Akari was still crestfallen. “Be that as it may, I don’t suppose the Commander will see it that way.”
“Best not to tell him my theory. Just keep trying your best, Miss Akari. I’m sure that suspicious old curmudgeon will give in no time. You’ve already gained the favor of many here. That includes myself, of course.” Volo smiles at her. She seems to be in slightly better spirits now, petting her Cyndaquil contentedly.
“Thank you.” She nods. A pleasant breeze blows past them and the grass rustles. A small group of Starly are picking about in the grass in search of sustenance and the nearby river is babbling in time with the wind.
Suddenly Akari shuffles beside him, as though she’d remembered something important. She’s rummaging through her satchel excitedly and he can’t help but be curious what she’s so eager to find.
He nearly gasps when she finds it. Immediately he recognizes the small, pink plate in her hands. He has no doubts about it being the Mind Plate. But to actually see it for himself was something else entirely…
More importantly it brings an important aspect of his plan to life. Yes…the plates were the key to his success. The plates were the key to the mythical, Almighty Sinnoh. The true Sinnoh.
“The Original One breathed alone before the universe came.” Akari reads the plate aloud.
“But that’s one of the fabled plates of old! How did you come across this?” He questions her excitedly. Volo’s heart is pounding with the realization of the location of one of the plates. Again she amazes him–though he should hardly be surprised at this point.
“Wyrdeer gave it to me after listening to me play the Celestica flute.” Akari expounds, by now used to Volo’s bouts of excitement concerning these matters. “I assumed you would know more about it so I figured I would show you. But unfortunately it completely slipped my mind until now.”
“According to legends, there should be more of these plates scattered throughout Hisui. And…if we were to, say, recover them all and decipher their scripts—my heart trembles to think what kind of mystery we could uncover!”
Akari gave him a rather amused look. She had seemed overwhelmed by the sheer amount of tasks at hand when they’d first met up. Now, even though something else is being placed upon her, her entire demeanor is more peaceful. And if that’s the effect Volo has on her, he’s doing his job correctly.
But to think…if he could somehow use her to gather all of the plates…his mission became that much easier.
She did not notice that shadow falling over his face as he was thinking about it. At one point he might have reconsidered manipulation as a way to achieve his goals, but it really is the only ticket to what he’s searching for. This world is wretched…and he knows he can change it. But until then he might have to play just as dirty as the hand he was dealt in life.
Akari’s been talking while he was thinking and he hasn’t really been paying attention until he hears a keyword. She was talking about the Noble Pokemon again. Thankfully she didn’t have a tendency of straying too far off topic. Akari is the sensible sort–and that’s one of the things he appreciates about her.
“Anyway, the Commander’s tasked me with finding a way to quell Kleavor’s frenzy. He figures if I can do that…we’ll have a method for dealing with the others. I’m supposed to meet with his Warden soon.”
“Lian.” Volo says knowingly, “I’ve always appreciated the boy’s fascination with stones. Stones have much to do with both legends and Pokemon so he’s a wealth of information for someone like me.”
He turns to her and gives her a serious look he wishes he could say is feigned. But there is a legitimate concern with what she is trying to accomplish. It would do none of them very good if their Hero dies prematurely. “You must be careful. You could very well lose your life going up against such a foe. A Noble is exceedingly more powerful than any wild Pokemon you encounter—Alpha or not.”
“I’m not frightened. But I appreciate your concern.” Akari nods, returning her Pokemon to their balls and standing up. “I suppose it’s time I get through with some of this business.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He sees more darkness in Akari as time passes. She’s a perfectly wonderful human being, of course. But something in him relishes that her goodness is balanced out by something else. That she's fighting demons, just as he is.
They talk often. Sometimes they meet at the Wallflower for breakfast. Other times he’ll accompany her while she surveys Pokemon. The ongoing quest to quell the frenzied Nobles of Hisui is of interest to him as well. And more importantly–she keeps picking up plates.
Akari is slowly growing more and more bitter towards Kamado, and that’s something he knows she’s only shared with him. She asserts that she thinks Laventon and Rei wouldn’t understand and that it’s not really something she feels it’s appropriate to discuss with either Adaman or Irida. Volo, however, is similarly an outsider. He doesn’t experience near the same level of suspicion as Akari thanks to his vocation with the Gingko Guild but he’s a safe place for her to share these emotions. Nevertheless, she has a lot of friends now and that includes himself. For as much of a farce as it is, he considers her a friend for what it’s worth.
He’s gained her trust–but he knows he’s foolish to assume he’s gained all of it. She’s wary of everyone–mostly because they refuse to abandon their wariness for her in spite of everything.
She’s quelled Lilligant of the Ridge by now and has moved onto the Cobalt Coastlands. There’s no Noble here so her current task at hand is a little more laid back in nature. Volo is accompanying her now, watching as she deftly catches a Dusclops.
He vaguely wonders if there’s anything she’s really afraid of. Because clearly, she has no fear of ghosts. And the Nobles themselves don’t seem to inspire any terror in her.
“It is difficult…” Akari confesses, Dusclops’ Pokeball in her hand. “To work for people who only value what I give and not me as a person.”
“Are you referring to the Commander again?” Volo asks her, knowing the answer. Adaman and Irida absolutely adored her by this point in time so she could hardly mean them.
“The Galaxy Team as a whole. Outside of Laventon and Rei…everyone respects what I’ve done and what I continue to do. But actively associating with me is still a faux pas.”
“Faux pas? What does that mean?”
Akari regards him with an apologetic expression, “sorry, I suppose that terminology hasn’t left Kalos yet. I suppose I mean that no one else really wants to get to know me outside of my work.”
“We have to hope that in time that will be resolved, friend. But it is rather short-sighted of them, I agree.” Volo assures her. “You aren’t isolated, at least.”
Akari silently analyzes him and for a second he feels as though she can see through the facade. He feels nervous, her eyes serious and smoldering with something threatening. But it quickly fades and she beams at him gratefully.
“No. It would seem I’ve surrounded myself with good people regardless. People I can depend on if I need them.”
And for the first time, Volo regrets the lies and the hidden agenda.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
There’s one Noble left to be quelled in the Alabaster Icelands but the Galaxy Team has shut down its offices for the day. It’s been a year since the settlement was founded and the villagers are celebrating. Volo is called to the village, unfortunately for work. Gingko Guild leadership wants a strong presence in Jubilife for vending purposes. And to be fair, it was a perfect opportunity for business.
Still, Volo has other interests.
He’s joined his usual people of interest at the Wallflower—Laventon, Rei, and Akari. They are enjoying Beni’s staple–potato mochi–as they usually do. Volo has no idea how they eat the same thing all the time, but he wouldn’t be doing Beni very much justice if he didn’t say they were outstanding. Because they certainly were.
“I have my doubts about Avalugg, my girl.” Laventon says thoughtfully between bites. “I don’t want you risking your life for nothing. The other Nobles were causing their fair share of destruction and harm but not as such in this case.”
Volo would argue the same if he didn’t know Avalugg likely had another fabled plate. There was no way it didn’t. All the Nobles before it had them. So he stayed silent for the time being.
“If not for the potential harm it could cause…think of my reputation. The Commander might finally see me for what I’m worth if I quell this last Noble.” Akari argues, but her voice is even and hides the emotions she’d shared with him.
Ah yes…Akari’s bitterness had grown. And it was a rather delectable bit to watch unravel. Perhaps she was right–maybe her relations with Kamado would improve if she succeeds. Or perhaps it would reach a paramount…Volo wasn’t eager to see her pitted against Kamado, but the idea intrigues him nonetheless. Because with each passing day he sees more of himself in the girl. To have so much in common the Hero was flattering and it gives him more confidence in his hopes that he might be the one to reshape the world.
“You push yourself too hard. Besides…does the Commander’s opinion really matter at this point? You’ve helped so many, and not just here in Jubilife…but in the Diamond and Pearl Clans as well.” Rei points out in an encouraging fashion.
“Let’s not forget the Gingko Guild.” Volo adds.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Volo decides to test her skills before she goes off to quell the last Noble. He’s certain by now that this will be a losing battle, but he’s been training. And he would continue to train until he was certain no trainer, including Akari, could stand in his way.
Which is why he has to battle her now. He needs to see how much harder he must work to surpass her mastery of wielding Pokemon.
Akari’s Crobat is an insurmountable obstacle for his Togetic–something that is clear as soon as the battle begins. But thankfully Growlithe’s rock typing eliminates that threat quickly. He knows he needs to invest in a fire stone to evolve it–information Akari recently supplied him with a completed Pokedex page. But her Gyarados obliterates his dear puppy with powerful water type moves and Volo feels embarrassed that she’s beating him this easily.
She sends out her Ninetales next–an odd snow-colored variant he’d never seen before. Evidently it was an ice type—and it utilized fairy type moves as well. A flawless counter for his Gabite–and so it was.
She has him beat. Her team is a perfect foil to his team and she’s still got three more Pokemon left. Her Typhlosion, Lilligant, and Zoroark.
He needs to train. Otherwise his manipulation of her will backfire and she could rise to the top, leaving him behind. And that will not do.