Chapter Text
Irida felt numb.
Where was she?
She couldn't quite feel her body.
Her eyes were closed, and for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to open them. She barely managed to move her hands, grasping the grass beneath her.
Irida furrowed her brow despite the fact her eyelids were refusing to move up. Did she faint while visiting Palina or the Diamond Clan? No no- The last thing she remembered was just being in her yurt, in the Icelands. For just a moment she considered it being some kind of joke, Sabi or Gaeric perhaps dragging her out of her tent for a laugh, but the grass was simply too warm and healthy to be anything in the Icelands.
Irida reached her hand onto her head, forcing herself to open her eyes despite her body feeling so strange.
"No no, I simply don't think that would be the case."
"Are you sure? We are wasting time being here anyway, we should try to focus on- Irida!"
Irida felt too groggy to fully understand her surroundings for a good few seconds, only really snapping out of her daze once she heard her own name. "Wha- Adaman?"
That familar blue and green mess entered her limited field of vision, and Irida had never felt so happy to see Adaman of all people. "Where... Where am I?"
"Don't strain yourself, I know landing here can feel terrible." A familar enough second person kneeled down beside Irida, familar enough that she didn't freak out. Volo? That Gingko Guild merchant? Peculiar, she didn't quite expect him of all people to be there.
Adaman's expression hardened as he squatted in front of Irida, grabbing onto her hands to haul her up to her feet. "Do you remember anything at all? Do you have any idea what's happening? How's your head? Where are we-"
"Adaman." Volo politely interrupted. "Try not to overwhelm her."
Adaman sighed in resignation, letting go of Irida to make proper eye contact. "Are you okay?"
Irida stared at the two, still feeling stunned, but also a little amused now. She should keep Volo around more often, he was very effective at shutting Adaman up. "I... I think. What's going on here?"
Volo stepped forward, his usual joyful smile now one of- was that guilt? No no, it was more just sympathy for all of them. "We seem to have all fallen through time and space, just like Akari and your Highland Warden did. Based off of the temperature, fauna, and flora, we still seem to be in a form of Hisui however."
Even Volo's calm tone couldn't stop Irida's heart from dropping. Fallen, through time and space?! Especially as it had happened in her own home and not a Space-Time Distortion, that was not only concerning, but terrifying!
She felt her breath speed up. What were they to do? What was her Clan to do without her? Were they stuck there? What about Glaceon?! Would they ever get home?! She simply couldn't handle the idea!
"Miss Irida!" Volo put his hands on Irida's shoulders to knock her out of her panic. "Please, relax. This is a frightening situation, but we have a saving grace. We all seemed to have our memories in tact, unlike our other resident fallers through time and space. We have no clue of our surroundings, and that means that we can learn and adapt accordingly. We are not doomed."
Irida felt her breathing begin to slow. Seriously, why didn't she keep this guy around more often? His unbridled optimism was really helpful. "You're right." She let out a breath with her words she didn't even know she was holding.
"Trust me, I had the same reaction. Let's try our best to focus on figuring out what in Sinnoh's name is going on, and where we are." Adaman supplied.
Irida nodded. "Certainly."
For the first time, there was a gap in conversation long enough for her to take in her surroundings. A clearing, in some kind of forest, it seemed. It wasn't quite like any forest she knew too well however, with no familar aspects or even scents to help identify their location beyond a stray Starly flying over. She wasn't sure why, but she found the presence of pokemon she was familar with very comforting.
Adaman took initiative as usual, pushing past Volo without even realising to make his way out of the clearing. "No time like the present, let's go!"
Irida immediately felt annoyance bubbling in her chest. "Hey, watch where you're going! You're going to trip over something!" She shot back, running after him once she saw Volo following.
"Oh come on, no I won't! I'm not 5!"
"You sure? You sure do act like a 5 year old!"
"Says the one that looks like a 5 year old."
Volo simply ignored the arguing. There was no way to prevent it really, it was like it was in their nature. He stepped over the small patches of grass in his way, pushing past the trees and flowers to end up on what seemed to be a main path, opening up into a large... city. Civilisation, finally.
"I'm not 5! And even if I was, at least I'd be smarter than you!"
Volo allowed his two allies to bicker amongst themselves, simply focusing his attention on the sign beside him. "Veilstone City..." He gave Adaman a gentle hit on the shoulder. "Take a look, you two."
Adaman stopped his arguing to focus for once, staring at the sign in confusion. "Veilstone? Like Veilstone Cape? Thats strange."
Volo looked toward the city, and after a few moments, just shrugged and wagged his finger. "Well then, let's consider our options."