Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Location: Singles Line (In Route to Gear Station)

   Today has been a long day. Far too long for Ingo’s liking. He hasn’t had a moment to rest since Emmet dragged him out of bed this morning, which has left Ingo feeling exhausted. It was like the second the two of them walked into Gear Station to start their shifts, the floodgates were opened.

   Ingo spent most of his day running around to deal with unruly passengers and battling on the Singles Line, hardly even seeing his brother at all. It wasn’t until Emmet came by the Singles platform a little while ago that Ingo saw him. His brother looked like dead weight on his feet, which made sense. Emmet usually wakes up earlier than Ingo does, so he was sure Emmet was more tired than he was feeling. Ingo insisted Emmet go home and that he would close up the station on his own. He was happy to do that if it meant Emmet gets more rest. 

   Which led Ingo to where he is now. He finished his last battle of the night right after he told Emmet to go home. The challenger he’d faced was quite strong and made for a great opponent! Normally, Ingo would have gone home too after that battle, but it’s his turn to run the nightly maintenance shift. Which includes running the line once to make sure everything is in proper working order for tomorrow's work day.

   He’d already finished checking the Multis line and Emmet had checked the Doubles before he left. And thank the dragons for that! Ingo now has one less thing to do thanks to Emmet. He’d take any lightening of his workload.

   Most of the Depot Agents have gone home too, leaving Ingo alone on the Singles line. Ingo does not mind being alone, but he is certainly ready to be home and some help in making this process go faster would have been appreciated. Alas, it was not meant to be. At least his run of the Singles is almost done now. 

   He looks forward to spending the rest of the night relaxing at home. 

   The subway rattles under Ingo’s feet as it races along the tracks. He can hear the wheels rolling and the shrill screeching of steel as the subway turns a corner. Every bump and sway is one he knows by heart; a movement he feels even hours after he gets off. He leans into the motions, shifting with the rise and fall of the car like Ingo himself is a cog in the great mechanical wonder. His hand is clenched around the handle hanging down from the ceiling. Not that he really needs to hold on. It’s merely a formality.

   Brief flashes illuminate the car as the subway rushes past the lights lining the tunnels. There are some that complain about the flashes being jarring, but Ingo doesn’t mind it. He’s grown used to this, after all. The subway is as much a part of him as he is a part of it. Even if late night shifts like this one do weigh on him.

   Ingo prefers being up late on his own terms, when he doesn’t have responsibilities to take care of. Being in his room with a good book or sitting in the living room with his favorite show on low volume is the best way to spend an evening. His brother has always considered him odd for that, though Emmet is both biased and wrong in Ingo’s opinion. He goes to bed early and is more of a morning person than Ingo will ever understand. How can anyone be so lively right after waking up? Ingo would think it impossible if his own twin brother wasn’t one of those people who are up with the sun.

   Fortunately, their differing internal clocks work well for them. Emmet handles most things in the morning while Ingo takes care of the nightly routine. It’s simpler to share the workload that way and Ingo wouldn’t change it for the world.

   A particularly harsh rattle from the car beneath his feet nearly knocks Ingo down and snaps him out of his thoughts. He looks up at the digital map above the door, making a mental note of where that bump occured. It’s about ten minutes out from platform three; the platform that the Singles subway returns to every night. He’ll have to make a report about it and send the maintenance crew to fix that immediately. It could become unsafe if the issue is prolonged. 

   Ingo debates just shooting off a message on his XTrans, but decides against it. This should be reported more officially over email. He’ll have to wait until he has his computer to do it, which should still be charging in his bedroom. Until then, Ingo will leave it be. He’s almost done with his shift anyway and he’ll be on his way home soon. Ingo will have time later. So, he settles back into place, watching the little red dot on the map move with the subway.

   Installing these screens on the Battle Subway lines was a recent change. They’re already on all of the commuter rails for the convenience of their passengers, but nobody thought to put them in the Battle Subway lines as well until a couple months ago. Emmet suggested it. He said it would be useful for both the Depot Agents and their passengers. They were put in just last week.

   Ingo will admit he didn’t see the point in it when Emmet first brought it up, but he can appreciate his brother’s train of thought. It’s helpful in keeping track of where the subway is while on board, not that Ingo doesn’t already know the routes by heart, and watching the dot move is more entertaining than it should be. Or perhaps Ingo is simply more tired than he thought. Exhaustion makes people do weird things, right? Ingo feels like he read that somewhere.

   He can feel himself nodding off, the hypnotic sway of the car and the calm motion of the dot working together to take down his already tired mind. 

   Biting back a yawn, Ingo glances down at his XTrans. It’s almost midnight now. Ingo sighs, dragging a hand over his face. He really hates working night shifts. Dealing with passengers all day and all night is truly a test of his patience at times and leaves his social battery woefully depleted. Ingo doesn’t even want to stay up any later. He’s just going to go straight to bed when he gets home. This is the first time in a long time that Ingo has felt so utterly drained. He’s almost surprised at how tired he is. 

   It seems that the workload at Gear Station really has been increasing over the past couple of weeks. Maybe he should finally try to convince Emmet to go on a vacation sometime like Elesa had been suggesting lately. Somewhere warm and tropical. Ingo knows how much his twin hates being cold and he doesn’t fare any better in such conditions.

   Ingo’s train of thought is derailed by a soft ding from his XTrans. He looks down and a message pops up on his screen. It’s from Emmet, asking when he’ll be home. Ingo glances at the time of arrival on the screen near the door. Eight minutes now. He sends Emmet a message of ‘soon’ back before letting his arm drop. It won’t be long before the subway pulls into Gear Station and then his apartment is a short distance away. The idea of home is the only thing keeping him on his feet at the moment. 

   Unbeknownst to Ingo, he is not alone.

   From the shadows, a hidden pair of eyes is watching him. They failed to grab his kin. His brother. He ran away from their token and evaded their call… but this human has nowhere to go. He cannot escape their call, even if he tried. And this man shares blood with the other, which means surely he will be able to succeed in completing their task. He is a near copy of the other. They cannot be so different. So, they will have to settle for this one. 

   But first, they will make sure he really can’t escape. They expand their presence, creeping into the human’s mind. Shifting their typing to psychic before using hypnosis on him. The effects are immediate and the human begins to get drowsy. Good. Now all they have to do is wait for him to fall asleep before they can make their move and call him into their domain. 

   Ingo is hit with a wave of exhaustion. It settles over him like a weighted blanket on his shoulders, threatening to drag him down to the floor. He sways on his feet a little, but manages to right himself. Ingo tightens his hold on the handle above him. Geez, where did this come from? He felt a bit sleepy a second ago sure, but right now he’s having a hard time keeping his eyes open.

   The car around him looks blurry as he fights to keep his eyelids from closing. He’s almost at the station, which means taking a nap right now wouldn’t do him any good. Ingo would just have to get back up before he could actually get any sleep… but Ingo is really struggling to not fall asleep where he stands.

   Maybe resting his eyes for a minute wouldn’t hurt? Just until he reaches Platform Three.

   He steps away from his position at the end of the car and off towards the seats lining the sides. His stride is shakier than he would like it to be and he stumbles a little as he approaches them… what’s wrong with him? It feels like he barely has control over his limbs; everything is heavy. Are the effects of his day just hitting him now? What bad timing. He wishes Emmet were here to lean on. Maybe he wouldn’t be so exhausted if his twin were here to keep him awake. Oh well, he’ll see Emmet soon anyway.

   Ingo plops himself down with a tired groan. Oh yeah. A vacation is certainly needed. He swears his legs are going to fall off. The pins and needles in his heels don’t help that sentiment either.

   He glances up at the camera in the corner before he pulls his legs up onto the seat; he knows he’s not supposed to do that. It risks getting the seats dirty, but it’s more comfortable this way. Wait…

   Something is wrong with the camera.

   This red recording light flickering. That’s highly irregular. Usually if something is wrong with it, it’s only noticeable from the control room and on the footage it takes. Which means to see the light flickering means it’s really broken. The camera has never malfunctioned this badly. Ingo watches the light, shaking his head to try to stay awake. He shakes his head so hard it hurts. 

   Ingo should report that the camera is broken. He doesn’t need his computer to do that, as a text message to his brother would work too. Ingo attempts to lift his arm, only to find he can’t move it — can’t even feel it. 

   A spike of dread settles in his gut as he watches the frantic flickering.

   Ingo can’t move.

   Something is very wrong here. To be hit so strongly with exhaustion that came out of the blue… had he ingested something? Did he get hit with an attack? Wouldn’t he have felt something if that were the case? He didn’t. Everything was fine until it wasn’t. Which means this is very abnormal. Ingo feels panic start to flood his system as his body involuntarily goes limp against the seats. 

   This is bad. Really bad. Ingo should call his brother, but he still can’t move his arms. He’s fully lost control of them. Any attempt he makes is fruitless or only results in a slight twitch of his fingers and a tingling sensation. That can’t be right. Exhaustion doesn’t result in losing feeling in the body, does it? So surely this must be the work of someone who does not have his best interest in mind.

   Ingo wishes Emmet didn’t leave. He wishes his brother was here with him to help him… but he’s not and Ingo is alone. 

   The rocking of the car works against him now and his eyelids become too heavy. Ingo can’t fight it anymore, eyelids drooping closed.

   The last thing he sees before falling asleep is the frantic flashing of the recording light and then everything is dark. 

Location: ???

   Ingo is weightless. He can’t move, can’t see, can’t even take a full breath. It’s so dark. He can feel his body slowly falling.

   Down,

   down, 

   down. 

   Where is he going? What happened? Ingo finds he’s having trouble recalling what he was just doing… he was… in the subway. Right. Ingo was doing a maintenance run and then… what was he doing? Where is… Emmet? His brother. Why wasn’t Emmet with him again? Weren’t they always together? Why… Ingo’s head hurts. No. Hurts is too light a word. He can’t think of a more fitting one.

   Ingo’s head is pounding like there’s something trying to smash his skull, or driving a stake into the space between his eyes. It’s a pain beyond anything Ingo has ever experienced. He wants to run away from the agony it's causing, but he can’t. Ingo can’t escape it no matter what he does. His body won’t move; locked in place. The pain is all encompassing.

   As Ingo descends, the space around him begins to shift. It morphs into something rolling and restless, ready to swallow him whole like it has a mind of its own. He falls faster and faster, wind wailing in his ears and tearing at his clothes. Ripping. Shredding. Sharp. It stings against his skin.

   Ingo flails as he tries to grab on to something. Anything. All he can grab is empty air.

    He forces his eyes to open against the whipping wind. Nothing around him makes sense and it only makes the pounding in his head worse. There’s darkness and color and screeching. Flashes of light strike the empty space around him like lightning. Ingo feels like he’s stuck in a vortex. His body is being dragged down, helpless against the pull.

   It feels like there are hands on him too, gripping and yanking and making it impossible to get away. Ingo doesn’t see them. Pain erupts from his limbs, like they’re a moment away from being torn off.

   A weight is pressing on his ribcage, forcing Ingo to gasp for breath. The darkness swirls and writhes around him; a restless wave, drowning out anything beyond its emptiness. Ingo couldn’t even scream, choking on the pressure pulling him further still. 

   It threatens to engulf him completely.

   Ingo is weightless and heavy all at once, like he has a rock chained to his ankle and he’s drowning in the deep sea.

   Is this what dying feels like? Or maybe he’s already dead. This place, wherever it is, feels so close to death that Ingo would not be able to tell the difference. But how could that have happened? Ingo always made sure to run all safety checks. He was careful and aware of his surroundings at all times. How could he have died? The subway had been running just fine a moment ago. What changed? There was something… Ingo can’t remember what it was.

   The further he goes, the less he remembers… he felt like he knew just a moment ago… maybe this was some fluke? A freak accident nobody could have predicted? A train-wreck maybe. Or perhaps Ingo had worked himself too hard, far past what a human body could handle and it had given out on him. That’s right. He was tried, wasn’t he? He has to be. 

   But he was so careful… Ingo was supposed to be going home to… to Emmet. To his brother. Ingo can’t leave his brother behind. 

   Ingo told Emmet he would be home, didn’t he? He was… why isn’t Emmet with him? Is he falling too? What if Emmet already… no. Emmet wasn’t with him. Emmet wouldn’t be dying right now. So, his twin wouldn’t know what happened to him, nor would his parents and his friends. Is Ingo going to die without properly saying goodbye to them? To his brother? His other half? No… no, that cannot be! They are a two-car train. Ingo can’t be ripped away from him just like that, right?

   He grapples at the empty space in front of him, trying to claw his way back up, grasping for anything that could pull him out of this awful place. There’s nothing. Ingo can’t escape and his brother will be left alone. He doesn’t want to die. Not without saying goodbye to Emmet at the very least. 

   And yet, Ingo is alone in the hollow emptiness. He will never see his brother again…

   There are tears welling up in his eyes. Ingo’s entire body hurts and the wind stings against his eyes, but all he can focus on is his brother. He wants his brother. He wants to be held in his arms and feel safe again, but he can’t because Em… Em? Because his brother… his brother… what was his name? His brother’s name? Ingo can’t remember his name.

   A sob rises in his throat, choking him. He’s losing himself to the darkness. He wants to go back home to his family. This isn’t fair!

   Ingo wants his brother! 

   He wants…

   Who?

   Why is he crying?

   He feels himself start to slow down. The wind dies back down into a low whistle and the agony in his head settles into a dull throbbing. His body tingles a little. He doesn’t remember why his eyes are wet. What is there to cry about? He’s slowing down and he’s not in as much pain as he was before. Isn’t that a good thing? 

   To his left, there’s a golden flash; a light so bright that he can only squint against it. What’s that? He turns his head to his left… there’s something shimmering and white… white is supposed to be on his left, but this feels wrong. Why?

   He stares at the white creature for a while, then a voice starts to speak to him.

   Welcome to my realm, located beyond both time and space. It is well that thou art here. I am that which humans call Arceus. Tell me, human. Who art thee? 

   The words prompt a silence. He does not have an answer to that question.

   Everything around him stands still, as if waiting on bated breath. He finds his own has stilled in his chest too. It’s suffocating… he tries to call forth an answer, only to find that it’s taking him longer than it should. Who is he? He is… a two-car train… he is… what is his name? He searches his mind, only to come up with nothing. Not who he was, nor where he came from. Panic explodes in his chest. Why does he not know who he is? A name is the most simple piece of an identity… if he doesn’t have a name, is he nobody?

   Arceus is silent now, awaiting his answer. The golden light does not falter in the face of silence. It shines in front of him as a beacon and from it, he receives only patience and a divine rush of calm. He sucks in a breath and with it follows a name. His name. The information settles back into its rightful place in his mind and Ingo exhales. 

   “Ingo. My name is Ingo.”

   Ingo… soon thou shalt find thyself in a world strange to thee. A world inhabited by wondrous creatures that humans call “Pokémon.” Ingo… seek out all Pokémon and thou shalt find me once more. 

   All at once, the world around Ingo collapses and he's falling again.

Chapter Text

Location: Bonechill Wastes 

   Ingo is cold. 

   His eyes won’t open either, but that doesn’t stop him from feeling the chill. He’s lying in something cold. It’s surrounding him. Should he try to get up? Probably. Staying here seems like a bad idea… wherever here is… he can feel his teeth clattering and his body trembling against the bite of the wind around him.

   Everything is as cold as ice. Frozen. He can’t escape it. It digs so deep into him that his bones ache. Ingo drags in another breath and the cold invades his airways like a poison. He can feel the air freezing as it fills him, choking him of his breath. With every gasp, the cold only festers. It burns.

   Ingo had no idea cold could burn and yet it sears his lungs like fire. He doesn’t want to keep breathing it in, but Ingo can’t just stop breathing. He’s left with no choice but to drag in lungfuls of icy air.

   He can hear himself panting over the whistling of the wind; a rattling sort of gasp. It’s the only proof that Ingo is still alive when the world around him silent. It isn’t supposed to be so quiet… right? Ingo feels like it should be loud, or at the very least, not silent. There should be noise. An ever-present sort of noise that fades into the background, but never fully ends. 

   It’s not here. Does it even really exist? 

   Maybe he’s not where he’s supposed to be. Ingo feels like that is accurate somehow. What happened before this? Ingo was… in the dark. He met someone who said they were bringing him somewhere. Is this the place they were talking about? Ingo can’t quite remember, but that seems like it could be right.

   He can’t remember anything else. Just the darkness. For some reason that makes Ingo want to cry. There’s an ache in his heart that he can’t quite explain; a gaping, bottomless hole. It’s like Ingo has been torn away from something. Or maybe it was something that was torn away from him. Either way, it’s gone. Something is missing and to be uncoupled from it causes pain beyond words. Ingo should know what it is. Maybe that’s why he’s sad. Because he doesn’t know what he used to know. Shouldn’t he know things? Shouldn't he have memories? Ingo did before. He had to. People have memories and lives and families. Did Ingo have that before? Why can’t he remember? 

   Ingo sobs, the sound coming out ragged and jarring in the stillness around him. He wants his… his what? Ingo wants the emptiness within him to be filled again, but he doesn’t know what was in its place before. Whatever it was, Ingo knows it was the most important thing in the world to him. There’s no way it wasn’t. Ingo wouldn’t hurt so bad if it wasn’t.

   He can feel the tears freeze over almost as soon as they start to run down his face. Crying in such a cold place is probably bad, but Ingo can’t stop. 

   This situation is horrible in every sense of the word.

   His whole body is heavy and his limbs refuse to move. He’s stiff and trembling so harshly he could swear his bones are clattering. The ground around him is icy and jagged, poking into his sides and tugging at the fabric of his clothes as he shifts. Ingo has a feeling he has never been so cold before. And every second he spends like this is agony. Everything hurts and he shivers against the cold.

   Why did this happen? 

   Ingo feels awful right now, but he probably should not stay here. He’s too cold. If he gets any colder, Ingo is certain he will die. Ingo doesn’t want to die in the cold. He needs to get up and find some place warm.

   Sucking in another mouthful of painful air, he tries to force his eyes to open. It feels like his eyes are frozen shut and it takes a moment to free them. He blinks his eyes open. They sting against the frosty air around him, straining to see.

   The sky above him is grey and there’s clouds blocking out the sun. It looks sad and unfamiliar. How can a sky be unfamiliar? Aren’t all skies the same? Ingo isn’t sure, but he doesn’t like what he’s seeing. He blinks again, trying to combat the burn in his eyes. It only helps a little. When he opens them again, he looks to his left. There’s nothing but snow. His gaze follows the blanket of white, then up towards the icy rocks that stretch towards the heavens. The terrain is barren.

   No signs of life anywhere near him. That’s bad. Really bad for Ingo. He needs to find shelter as soon as possible, but it looks like it might take him a while to do so… Ingo needs to get up.

   It hurts to move, his body still tense, but he forces himself to roll onto his side. He needs to get up. Ingo plants his hand against the snow, then pushes himself into a kneeling position. Moving is more difficult than it should be. That’s probably a bad sign too, but he doesn’t have time to dwell on it. Shelter first, then he can figure out what to do with himself.

   Slowly, Ingo tries to push himself up to his feet. His legs aren’t strong enough to hold him, it seems. Ingo stumbles and falls back down into the snow with a thump. That’s no good. The snow is thick and deep and Ingo is absolutely not in the right clothes for this. He sits back on his heels and tugs at the fabric of his coat, pulling it closer around his body. It’s thinner than any good coat should be… no. The coat is thin because it’s hot in-… in where? Ingo winces as pain blooms near his temple. It spreads to his eye and Ingo squeezes them shut. He stops that train of thought.

   Enough of that. He’s too cold and a headache will do him no good. Ingo squirms in his spot for a moment, joints popping as a sharp tingle spreads across his limbs. Okay. No more time to waste. He needs to get out of here now. Ingo pushes himself to his feet with a grunt, swaying once before he manages to get his footing. It feels like he hasn’t moved in years… he dusts himself off, brushing away the snow that clings to the dark fabric of his clothes. 

   That’s step one down. Now Ingo should try to identify a location to head towards. Surely there has to be somewhere he can go.

   The surrounding area doesn’t look any more promising now that he’s standing. There’s nothing but snow as far as the eye can see. Bad. That’s bad. He’s not supposed to be alone like this. There should be people around. So why are there not? Nevermind that, what is he supposed to do now? He has a feeling he will not survive out here on his own. He needs help, but it looks like he’s not going to be able to find it.

   If there were people around, maybe they would be able to help him warm up. Ingo shudders… he has no idea what to do in this situation. He wraps his arms tighter around himself, trying to trap in as much warmth as possible. Oh gods… he’s going to die in the cold. Ingo hates being cold.

* Beep, beep... * 

   Ingo jumps. There’s something beeping on his wrist. He looks down, finding a strange device strapped to it. It looks… familiar, but wrong. The black band fits perfectly around his wrist, like it’s been there for ages. That seems right. The little gold ring and white case are not supposed to be there. Though Ingo isn’t sure if he should trust his mind. He cannot recall anything… Ingo pokes at the screen and it lights up, revealing a small map. There’s a little flag icon over a location somewhere north. Near the bottom of the screen, there is a message.

  ' Fear not. Follow thy map to the human settlement. Thou shalt find assistance there. ' 

   He blinks at the screen for a moment, then he looks back up at the land around him. While Ingo is not certain following directions written on a strange device is following proper safety protocols, he does not have any other options. He doesn’t want to die out here. Ingo glances at his screen again, trying to figure out where he is in relation to the flag. There’s a small red arrow now. What is it depicting? Is that him? Ingo takes a step back and the arrow follows on the map. Ah, well that’s very convenient. Unfortunately, it seems like he’s far from the ‘settlement’. Ingo can only hope he will make it there before the damage is done.

   Ingo takes a step in that direction and his foot sinks into the snow. He fights off the urge to swear. Swearing is unprofessional.

   This is going to be a difficult journey, but he won’t let anything stop him. Ingo has to live so he can get back to… to what? No. There’s no time to think about that if he wants to make it to the settlement. Ingo pushes that train of thought out of his head as he focuses on the path ahead. No time for delays. All aboard. 

   Ingo officially hates snow. It’s ridiculously cold and it’s super hard to walk in! Ingo does not think he was a particularly impatient man before, but he certainly feels like one now. Every step he takes is torture! Surely being stuck in this place is some sort of punishment. This is awful.

   He needs to reach that settlement as soon as possible, but the progress he’s making is far too slow. At this rate, Ingo isn’t going to make it. He can already feel himself growing faint… wind whips past him, tossing the ends of his coat around. He has to keep one of his arms wrapped around it to keep the coat closed. Curse the damn thing for not having working buttons! His other hand rests firmly on his hat, trying to keep it from being blown away. Ingo does not know why, but his hat is very important to him. There’s a flash of something white in his head; always on his left… Ingo shakes his head. Not worth dwelling on that now. All he knows is that he would be devastated if he lost his hat in the snow of all things.

   Ingo is quite certain that nature is taunting him. The wind is only picking up speed the longer he walks and the snow at his feet is getting deeper, fueled by the flurry that’s now falling from the sky. At this rate, it’s is just going to keep picking up and the thick clouds in the sky aren’t promising. Ingo worries he might end up buried under it if he doesn’t reach the settlement soon. Still, he trudges on.
 
   Snow is soaking into his clothes as he walks through it. Wet clothes are a nightmare in cold weather. Very, very bad. Hypothermia is a very serious threat. If Ingo’s not careful, he could even lose a limb to it! Just thinking about that makes Ingo move a little faster. Hopefully he is not already too far gone. 

   “Verrry bad…” Ingo hears himself murmuring. He pauses his stride and his eyebrows furrow a little. That’s not something he typically says… He shakes his head. Ingo resumes walking.

   Further away from where he awoke, Ingo starts to notice figures moving around the area. Pokémon. He’s certain of that, despite knowing nothing of this place. Not any Pokémon Ingo is familiar with, though… he thinks. He cannot really be certain of anything at the moment. Though that being… Arceus, did mention that Pokémon could be found in this place. Ingo is supposed to be doing something with Pokémon, isn’t he? What was it again?

   He doesn’t remember. Well, he doubts he can do anything at the moment anyway. Though he’ll need to ride those tracks another time. Preferably when he’s not in the snow.  

   For now he should play it safe, which means it might be best to avoid them. Ingo would not want to bother any of them if he can help it.

   He turns his attention back to the space in front of him. There’s a strange landmark ahead of Ingo. It looks like a grouping of giant ice pillars. They stretch up into the sky, taller than the few trees Ingo has seen around the area. He stares up at them as he approaches. 

   How strange. Ingo can’t help but wonder how such a structure wound up here. It does not look like something that would naturally form. So perhaps this is the work of a Pokémon? If it is, it must have come from a very powerful ice type move. Now what kind of Pokémon could do something like that? 

   While he is distracted, something rises from the snowy hills behind him.

   This human is trespassing in their territory and they won’t stand for it. Stupid humans. Most of the ones from the settlement nearby are smart enough to avoid their territory, but there are always a few stupid ones. They’ll make sure this one never sees the light of day again for making such a mistake. It’s been a long time since they’ve gotten to show a human their place anyway. This will be fun. 

* SCREEEEE!!! *

   There’s a scream behind Ingo, so loud it echoes around the snowy landscape and rattles his very bones. Ingo’s hands shoot up to cover his ears as he whips around. What was that?

   Something sharp rushes past Ingo. A piece lodges itself just below his rib, knocking the wind out of him. He gasps for air as pain shoots up his spine and warmth pools under his clothes. Ingo shouts. What was that?! He frantically searches the area around him before spotting something to his right. A pair of glowing red eyes meet his… is that a Pokémon? Why is it attacking him? He didn’t do anything wrong!

   He can’t shake the feeling that this is not how Pokémon are supposed to behave.

   Ingo is not familiar with this species. It’s massive and white. Like a floating circle with black horns. Whatever it is, the thing looks like it wants him dead. His hand shoots down to his side, coming back sticky with blood. The sensation of that wet sort of warmth on his hand makes his skin prickle. Ingo feels as if he’s going to be sick… he stumbles. The beast lets out another screech, knocking Ingo off his feet. He hits the snow. Hard. Ingo gasps as all the air is forced out of his lungs. 

   He’s going to die.

Chapter Text

   Ice zips through the air at Ingo. 

   The Pokémon isn’t going to give him a moment to think, is it? Seeing the move coming towards him snaps Ingo out of his stunned state and he scrambles out of the way just before it hits him, instead smashing into the ground nearby and kicking up snow. The ground rumbles with the force of the attack. He doesn’t have time to process the fact that move almost hit him. The Pokémon is already charging up once more. 

   Why is it attacking him? Ingo is sure he didn’t do anything to upset it like this. Pokémon are not supposed to be violent. They’re supposed to be friendly and helpful! And while yes, sometimes Pokémon can be territorial and even a little hostile, Ingo has never known them to be out for blood like this one is… he thinks, at least. No. Ingo knows in his heart that Pokémon are not supposed to be violent. This world is so strange.

   There’s a pressure in his head and an odd sort of fuzziness, then something is speaking to him.

   What art thou waiting for?! Run, human! Run! 

   Right. He’s being attacked and staying on the ground renders him a sitting duck. If he wants to live, he has to run. 

   Ingo doesn’t even have time to ponder the echoing voice in his head, shoving himself out of the snow just as another attack explodes the ground. The resounding boom echoes in his chest. He takes off running, the snow hindering him every step of the way. It’s thick and harder to run in than it was to walk in. He doesn’t care. Not with a massive Pokémon on his heels!

   Its screams shatter the silence of the snowy landscape, disturbing other Pokémon nearby. Some run away while others seem to want in on the chase. More ice is thrown in his direction from all sides. One piece grazes his arm and another narrowly misses his leg. He can feel the warmth of blood pooling up in those places.

   At this rate, Ingo is going to die from losing too much blood. That’s almost as bad as dying from the cold! No, maybe that’s worse… Ingo doesn’t have time to waste thinking about that! 

   His chest heaves as he drags in mouthfuls of sharp, frigid air. Everything hurts. Ingo can’t stop. He can still hear the Pokémon pursuing him, hot on his heels. His legs ache and his heart pounds against his rib cage. The ground under his feet rumbles and Ingo jumps to the side.

   He doesn’t stick the landing. Ingo is thrown down a hill, landing full force on his shoulder at the bottom. There’s a sickening pop and then blinding pain. It’s nauseating and he can feel himself gag. He almost screams, but bites his tongue. He doesn’t want to call the attention of other Pokémon that may be around. No time to derail. Full steam ahead!

   Ingo tries to push himself up, but he can’t really move his left arm and putting pressure on it nearly makes him throw up. The pain is so intense that Ingo can barely breathe... he heaves, but nothing comes up.

   There’s a crackling sound behind him and Ingo rolls just in time for ice to stab the ground where he’d been. He can’t stop now. Ingo refuses to die here. So, he drags himself across the ground, using his legs and his good hand to shove himself up. Once he’s up, he takes off again. At this point, Ingo doesn’t even know where he’s going. All he can do is run.

   Ingo tears over a hill and down the dip towards the next. He does this a few more times before realizing that he can no longer hear his pursuer. Perhaps it gave up? Though what if it’s a trick? What if it’s waiting for him to let his guard down so it can kill him? It’s not worth the risk to stop running and Ingo refuses to look behind him. He can’t stop just in case it’s still chasing him.

   He will not die here. Not today. Not ever. 

   The cries of Pokémon around him are lost in the rush of air past his ears and the thundering of his pulse. Ingo can barely breathe. 

   He sprints over hills and dodges past other Pokémon that Ingo now knows will not be friendly. Just where in the distortion realm is he right now? Ingo doesn’t know, but so far he’s hated every second of being in this station… it’s cold and he’s being attacked and every step is torture. His body aches and he’s covered in blood. Ingo has never seen so much blood in his life. It’s horrifying.

   His vision is starting to get blurry and his limbs are getting heavy. He’s going to die. He’s going to die. 

   There’s a pressure in his head. Then a sensation of calm that definitely isn’t his own. Still, Ingo can hear his sharp gasps for breath slow a bit and the blind panic in his mind clears ever so slightly. 

   Ingo. Hear mine words. Thou shalt live. 

   The voice makes Ingo’s ears ring. Right. Live. He will not allow himself to die here. This will not be his last stop. There is no terminal called end in his life! Not now. Not before he figures out how to get home. There is something Ingo needs to live for, something he needs to return to. He cannot allow himself to leave it behind. One foot in front of the other, Ingo forces himself to keep moving. Even as his run slows into a desperate hobble, Ingo does not stop. This ride is a one way ticket. There is no going back. 

   Ingo can feel an odd sort of warmth bloom in his chest. It almost feels like pride. One he feels may not be entirely his own. Still, it propels him forward. He won’t let himself be brought down by circumstance. Ingo will survive this. He will survive anything thrown his way in order to return to where he came from. 

   That is his Ideal.

   Unfortunately for Ingo, the human body is only capable of so much before it gives out.

   Ingo’s heart is slowing down. Adrenaline only lasts for so long, after all. He can tell he does not have long before he passes out.

   What will happens to him if he does pass out in the snow? Would someone find him? Would his body be lost to the ice? He’s not seen a single human being since landing here… and the message on his device had implied there was only one human settlement in this area with the map. Could it be that he would not be found until he was long frozen? Ingo shakes his head, dispelling the negative thoughts threatening to drag him down.

   Thinking negatively will only make him feel worse. He needs to keep believing that he’ll make it. Fake it till you make it, right? 

   Ingo focuses on the snow. It spans across the landscape, glittering and pure. It’s cold, but kind of pretty; like a white blanket over the land. If Ingo was not bleeding and focused on trying to survive, maybe he would have enjoyed this view… for five minutes before returning somewhere warm. Being cold is the worst thing in the world. Snow is best enjoyed from the comfort of a warmer place where he doesn’t have to be out in it.

   There’s someone who would agree with him on that. Ingo is certain of it. They would be complaining with him… with an arm around his shoulder and a smile brighter than the sun. Ingo would lean into their warmth to avoid the chill and they would hold him tight… Ingo would be safe.

   He cannot remember who they are. Still, his heart yearns for this mysterious figure in his mind. For their smile and their cheerful demeanor and their familiar form beside him. He wonders what became of them. Are they okay? Are they alive? Ingo can only hope so. 

   That hope burns within him; a reason to keep moving. Ingo must learn what became of them. He will. That is his Ideal and he will stop at nothing to make it Truth. Yes. He must survive in order to see to it, if nothing else. Ingo cannot let himself abandon them. If he does… then Ingo will have given up his only purpose. His truth. What is life with one’s truth? 

   So, he presses forward with all the strength he can muster up. 

   Ingo takes a step. Another. Then, he collapses into the snow. His legs are too weak to carry him now. Ingo doesn’t want to stop though. He drags himself further with his good arm, the other useless. Ingo can’t even move his left arm. He’s starting to suspect something may be seriously wrong with it. Perhaps he broke it or maybe dislocated something. Either way, having such an injury is very bad. His arm may never be the same again if it doesn’t heal right. No. Ingo can’t focus on that right now. He needs to keep going. Worrying about injuries comes later, when he’s somewhere safe… that doesn’t stop him from feeling another wave of nausea roll over him.

   He’s losing control of his body now. Still, Ingo keeps going until his arm gives out and he’s left lying on his side in the snow.

   His joints are stiff and his lungs feel hollow. He turns his head and stares up at the cloudy sky, watching the snowflakes trickle down onto the earth below. Dark spots begin to form in his vision. He’s losing too much blood. Ingo is vaguely aware of how dangerous that is… and all the running he’d done moments before did not do him any good. With his heart pumping blood faster, that is.

   There’s a voice in his head. Always monotone and yet Ingo hears the worry hidden in it.

   ‘ Running while bleeding is not following proper safety protocols. You’ll bleed out faster that way, Ingo! Verrry unsafe. Stay behind the yellow line. ‘

   Tears gather in his eyes. They’re right. Of course they are. Running with an open wound only leads to bleeding out faster, especially if whatever is jammed into his side had cut into one of his arteries. He sniffles, letting his head fall back into the snow.

   “… m-… miss you… I’m sorry.” Ingo isn’t sure who he’s talking to. Maybe the visage of white in his head or the wailing wind around him. Neither are listening anyway. 

   His breathing slows. Then, Ingo’s limbs grow heavy and his eyes start to droop. His last thought before fading into unconsciousness is of how badly he wants to go home.

Location: Whiteout Valley

 Shift: Lady Sneasler’s Perspective 

   Lady Sneasler does not like visiting the Alabaster Icelands. It’s much too cold for her liking! While she may live up in the mountains, that doesn’t mean she wants to deal with all the snow in the Pearl Clan territory. Alas, she has a duty to uphold. She is the descendant of one of the Pokémon that helped Hisui’s great hero, after all! It would be a shame to her bloodline to disobey rules now.

   Besides, it’s not like she will have to stay for very long. Just enough time to make sure the Pearl Clan is faring well and does not need her assistance with anything. As soon as that is done, she can retreat back to her den in the Highlands.

   She climbs up into Whiteout Valley, shaking the snow from her head. Geez! Just her luck that it would start snowing upon her arrival. She’s going to have to spend hours trying to get her fur back in order!

   Lady of the Mountain. Hear mine call. I require thine assistance.  

   The sensation of an echoing voice in her head was not at all what she’d been expecting. Is that some psychic Pokémon? Lady Sneasler shakes her head, trying to rid herself of the strange presence. She didn’t feel herself get hit with a psychic attack, so what is this? Had she just not been paying enough attention? No way! A noble Pokémon such as herself is not capable of being caught off guard like that!

   Who are you?

   I am that which humans call Arceus.

   Arceus? Like the Arceus? She’s being called upon by the universe’s Creator? What an honor! Of course she would be chosen. She’s the perfect candidate for anything the Alpha Pokémon can throw at her. Oh! Are they going to give her some grand quest? A journey that will bring her honor and glory? 

   Almighty Arceus... What is the task you need my help with? 

   Go to Bonechill Wastes. Thou wilt find a human dressed in black there. I... may have misplaced him... He is mine champion.  I require that thee bring him somewhere safe. He is injured and requires care.

   Did-... Did you drop a human in the middle of the Alabaster Icelands without protection?

   Mayhaps... Twas not mine wisest choice. The human calls himself 'Ingo'. Though mine champion may not be conscious enough to answer to it. I urge thou, make haste... I worry for mine human. 

   Well… if someone told her she would get to hear Arceus, the Almighty Creator of the world, sound like a kicked Growlithe, she would have laughed in their face. She’s not associated with the Diamond folk, but oh what a time to live in. Lady Sneasler huffs as she turns and starts towards the Bonechill Wastes. She didn’t want to have to run through Glalie territory, though it looks like she doesn’t have much of a choice now. Ugh. She can’t wait to get back to her mountains after this, even if it means having to deal with the Diamond Clan’s annoying warden…

   At least the snow seems to be slowing down now. She would have been worse off if a storm had formed. As capable as Lady Sneasler is, the snow does make it difficult to dodge the wild population of the Icelands. And Arceus did urge her to be quick. She figures she does not have a lot of time left to find ‘Ingo’ before the elements take him. With the way Arceus had sounded, she also assumes that letting the man die would reflect very poorly on her in the eyes of her Creator. Lady Sneasler would prefer not to let the sacrifice of her ancestor be tarnished like that. So, she bounds over the snowy hills as fast as she can manage. 

   She hadn’t been too far from the Wastes, so Lady Sneasler does manage to cross the distance with relative speed. There’s an alpha Glalie that likes to hang out smack dab in the middle of the Wastes though, which she does have to account for. Thankfully, it's easy enough to skirt around.

   As she makes her way through the area, she’s on the lookout for anything black and human shaped. She does not have much luck. Which only makes the pressure feel all the more threatening. Time is ticking, after all. Lady Sneasler does not know much about humans, but she does know they are very fragile. Being out in the cold like this can be fatal. Or, that's what she’s heard the humans in the Pearl Settlement say before at least. 

   Lady Sneasler was so lost in her head that she almost missed the crumpled form to her right. There! She turns and races over to the human.

   There’s blood all over him. Its staining the snow around him a deep red. That's… bad. Like really bad. Lady Sneasler feels sick to her stomach just looking at him. What happened here? She hadn’t been expecting him to be this hurt… he’s going to die at this rate! If he isn’t already…

   Lady Sneasler leans down and carefully scoops him into her arms, not wanting to strain his injuries or accidentally poke him with her claws. The last thing he needs is to be poisoned on top of his already really bad injuries. Just looking at him, she can see he’s in terrible shape… his clothes are soaked in blood and his left shoulder is lower than it should be. He needs medical attention as soon as possible. So, she takes off running towards the Pearl Settlement. Hopefully they will be able to save him before it’s too late. 

Chapter Text

Location: Avalugg’s Legacy (On the Way to the Pearl Settlement) 

   Lady Sneasler has never run so fast in her entire life. Her legs burn and her lungs ache, but she doesn’t stop. If she does, Ingo won’t make it. He’s already on the brink of death as it is. Even a moment of wasted time can be fatal and she refuses to be the reason he dies. 

   She’s not used to this kind of exercise. That’s not to say she’s out of shape though. Lady Sneasler is just not a running noble, which means she isn’t properly trained to be bolting through the Icelands. She spends most of her time climbing around the Highlands or lounging on cliffs, but today she has a mission that is more important than carting a human around her domain. No, she has to save this man’s life. Unfortunately, due to her lack of training, she’s having a hard time doing that. She’s just not running fast enough. 

   Lady Sneasler can feel him starting to fade and it only makes her feel more frantic. She has to help him. Not only because the Almighty themself assigned her to this task, but because now she feels responsible for his life. If he dies under her care, Lady Sneasler will never forgive herself. 

   What kind of noble fails their mission? Not any good one, that’s for sure. Even if she isn’t a runner, she should be able to persevere. How can she claim to be of a divine bloodline if she can’t? 

   Lady Sneasler will not fail this man. She refuses!

   A gust of wind nearly knocks her off her feet, sending a chill down her spine. The temperature is dropping. This is bad… she needs to be faster or he’s going to freeze! Lady Sneasler tucks Ingo closer to her chest, trying to keep him as warm as she possibly can. His skin is cold to the touch, which has to be terrible for his current state. She’s certain of that. If humans get too cold, they die. And this one isn’t wearing nearly enough to keep him safe out here. She’s not much warmer herself, but maybe her fur will keep some of the chill of the Icelands out. Lady Sneasler can only hope that’s the case as the snow begins to pick up again. 

   The weather has been fluctuating for the past little while, but the dark clouds in the sky now are telling of a storm beginning to form. She’d been hoping that wouldn’t happen, but it seems her luck today is very bad. It looks like she’s got maybe five minutes to get to the settlement before it really hits and things get bad. Though that’s just an estimate. Storms are unpredictable. For all she knows it could hit sooner. Thankfully, she’s not all that far from the settlement now. She should be able to make it in time and if she doesn’t, at least she’ll be close to the settlement. 

   Lady Sneasler hopes the healer warden is there today. She knows the other healers are perfectly capable, but nobody is quite as good as Warden Calaba is. The warden is known all over Hisui for her skills for a reason, after all. And seeing the state Ingo is in, he’s going to need the best care he can possibly get. That’s his best shot at surviving. 

   Wait! She’s getting lost in her thoughts. Lady Sneasler needs to focus. 

   She shakes her head, redirecting her attention to the space in front of her. She can see the bridge to get across the river just up ahead, which means the settlement is near. Good, she’s almost there.

   The noble races over the bridge, then rushes towards the entrance to the settlement. There are a couple guards out front, as there always are. Their job is to make sure no Pokémon gets into the settlement to hurt any of the clan members and to see humans through. Lady Sneasler doesn’t have time to try to negotiate with them.

   Noble Pokémon are typically allowed in the settlement, but that’s only after the elders come out to see them through. It’s a long process that often takes at least a hour. Which has always been ridiculous in her opinion, but right now it would be a disaster. Lady Sneasler can’t waste time like that. Ingo would surely die then. She’s just going to have to rush past them. As a mighty noble, she should be able to force her way through, even if it might get her into trouble. For Ingo’s sake, Lady Sneasler will do what she has to.

   She’s a couple feet away now. May the Almighty guide her steps and let her get through without trouble… 

   The guards at the gate notice her approaching. One of them waves at her and motions for her to wait, but Lady Sneasler ignores it. This seems to shock him and he scrambles to try to stop her from entering, holding out his weapon at her. He’s not really going to attack her. No member of the Pearl Clan would dare hurt one of their nobles. It would be blasphemous. So, she pays him no mind as she runs. Lady Sneasler can also hear both guards shouting at her. She doesn’t care, instead just dodging past the pointed ends of their spears and racing through the gate. There are a few clan members around the area, most of which immediately move out of her way. She’s glad about that. Lady Sneasler isn’t here to entertain them.

   She runs down the main walkway, darting past humans who are in her way and guards who attempt to grab her. Nothing will get in the way of her mission. 

   Thankfully, Lady Sneasler is much faster than them and most give up after failing to stop her.

   It’s not long before Lady Sneasler spots the Clan Leader’s tent. That’s where she needs to go. Lady Irida will surely understand the severity of this situation. So, Lady Sneasler makes a beeline for the tent. 

   As she draws closer, she spots someone standing outside of it. She recognizes this person to be one of the Pearl Clan’s wardens… Lord Avalugg’s warden, if she’s not mistaken. The blue-haired man jumps upon spotting Lady Sneasler, then steps in front of the door of Lady Irida’s tent when she tries to get through. Lady Sneasler skids to a stop in front of him, then she snarls. The warden jumps, a bewildered look spreading across his face. He holds his hands up in a pacifying gesture. 

   “Easy there, Lady Sneasler. What’s the matter? I can’t let you go in there right now. They’re havin’ a meetin’,” he tries to explain. Lady Sneasler ignores him, still trying to push through. She can’t stop now! “Hey! What’s gotten into you? You can’t just go bargin’ in there! I-...” The human trails off when he finally spots what Lady Sneasler is holding. “Is that a person?! Almighty Sinnoh! Where did he come from?” 

   Lady Sneasler yowls at him, trying to convey the direness of the situation. He looks between her and Ingo for a moment before he finally moves out of her way. She doesn’t waste a second before nearly breaking the door down to get inside. Everyone in the tent jumps on Lady Sneasler’s entry. There are four humans in the room. Lady Sneasler recognizes Irida, who is sitting by the fireplace, and Growlithe’s warden and Warden Calaba. Oh thank Arceus Calaba is here! There’s another human in the corner that Lady Sneasler doesn’t recognize, but that’s not important to her right now. She holds up Ingo for the room to see as Lord Avalugg’s warden steps into the room behind her. 

   “Excuse us for enterin’ your space without permission, Lady Irida. She just came runnin’ this way and wouldn’t let me stop her. And this guy she’s got looks like he’s in bad shape,” he announces. 

   That seems to snap everyone out of their shocked states. Lady Irida rises from her seat, rushing over to where Lady Sneasler is standing to get a better look at Ingo. “By Almighty Sinnoh!” Irida turns to Warden Calaba. “Warden Calaba, do you think you can help him?” 

   The elder warden steps forward now, looking over Ingo with a deep frown on her face. “I’ll do what I can. Take him to the medical tent.”

   Lady Sneasler makes a soft yipping sound before rushing out the door towards the medical tent.

Location: Pearl Clan Medical Tent 

   It’s bad. Awful, even. That’s the only way to describe it. There’s jagged ice lodged into the space just below his ribcage, creating a gash bigger than Calaba’s fist. The flesh around it is torn and frayed like a badly cut piece of fabric. Blood bubbles up from the gaps around the ice, staining the man’s skin a sickening red. There are cuts all along his arms too. They’re not as deep and they bleed less than the wound on his side, but the added blood loss isn’t helping him. Not only that, but his left shoulder is badly dislocated. So much so that she’s not sure he’ll be able to fully recover from it with the way his shoulder is now down lower than his collarbone.

   Calaba has used nearly nine rags now to try to stop the bleeding; all soaked through. The bleeding still hasn’t stopped. It’s a wonder he’s not dead yet. Any normal person would have already long been so. Still, Calaba is doing her best. Lady Sneasler was frantic when she brought him in. She owes it to her to at least try to save this man. 

   She managed to get the ice out and it cut so deep she could see the torn muscle beneath his skin. Calaba isn’t sure she’ll be able to close that big of a gash… 

   There’s a heavy silence in the medical tent. Only the sound of the fire crackling in the fireplace and the quiet rustling of Calaba’s movement while she works break it. Lady Sneasler is curled up in the corner of the dark tent, watching the warden as she goes about wrapping Ingo’s torso. She was not able to bring herself to wait outside, even though she’s sure she should be. So, she resolved to place herself in the corner. Lady Sneasler has no idea what’s gotten into her. The only thing she can think about is this strange man and whether or not he’ll live to see another day. His body is battered and he is clearly in bad shape… Lady Sneasler winces a little as she watches Calaba put yet another bloody rag into the bin next to her. She has lost count of how many Calaba used thus far.

   The situation is looking grim. There’s no doubt about that. Even Warden Calaba looks doubtful, which means a lot coming from a woman who is usually unshakable.

   Ingo isn’t going to survive this. His injuries are too severe and there’s only so much Warden Calaba can do. Ingo is only human.

   Lady Sneasler whines from her corner, a sound completely foreign to her and apparently to Warden Calaba too. The elder looks up at her when she makes it, the frown on her face growing. They both know this is hopeless. Lady Sneasler looks away from Calaba, instead focusing on the nearby fire. She can’t bring herself to face the truth of this situation… that all her efforts are going to be for nothing and Ingo won’t survive this. Lady Sneasler did not even get to properly meet him before she failed him. What kind of noble can’t even save one human? A failure of a noble for sure. 

   She’s a shame to her bloodline. 

   And what of Arceus? Lady Sneasler was tasked with saving their champion, but she failed. What will they do? Arceus clearly needed Ingo for something and cared enough about him to try to save him… so why aren’t they here now? Aren’t they supposed to be all powerful? Lady Sneasler feels like they should be able to do something at least to help their champion… wait, maybe they can? Maybe Lady Sneasler need only ask.

   In a silent moment, Lady Sneasler closes her eyes and bows her head, reaching for the presence she felt some hours ago. It’s difficult to place, given she’s never called upon her creator like this, but right now she needs their help. Right now, Ingo needs them too. Lady Sneasler will swallow her pride and her fear for this. Anything to save this human. 

   Almighty Arceus. Please hear me… I found your champion. I brought him to the Pearl Clan as you asked… but it’s not enough. Almighty… Ingo is dying and there is nothing the healers can do. Please. If you care for your champion. Please, save him. 

   Her plea is met with no response. No acknowledgement of even being heard. Only the same cold silence that was likely the last thing Ingo ever experienced. Right. How could she have expected the Almighty to care about what she says? They never have before. 

   Lady Sneasler forces her eyes open and makes herself look at the man in front of her. He’s lying on one of the medical futons, his bloody shirt and odd coat sitting folded near the fireplace with his hat placed on top of the pile. His short hair is wind-blown and his expression is frozen into a pained frown. For a moment, Lady Sneasler mourns the life of a man she knows nothing about. She wonders what he may have been like; what his life had been like… did he have people waiting for him? A family to get back to? Or was he alone in the world like she is? Lady Sneasler will never know.

   There’s a tingle in the back of Lady Sneasler’s mind, followed by a dull pressure. Then Arceus is speaking.

   Thou found him and thy healers art not capable of saving mine champion’s life? I see… fear not. I hath a solution. I did not wish to tamper with his mortality… but it seems I hath no other options now. Until he completes mine task… I shall grant him life undying. Mine champion shall see tomorrow.  

   Before Lady Sneasler can question what Arceus means, there’s a golden light blooming in Ingo’s chest. Calaba jumps from her place beside him and Lady Sneasler can only stare at it. The light shifts and contorts until it forms an odd looking ring in the middle of Ingo’s chest. Once the ring settles, both Warden Calaba and Lady Sneasler watch in horrified awe as all of the blood on Ingo’s skin begins to flow back into his body like water in a stream.

   It runs out of the towels in the bin beside Calaba and over the futon to the hole in Ingo’s side or the cuts on his arms, only stopping once all of the blood has returned to its rightful place. As soon as the blood is back in his body, his skin starts to stitch itself back together, slowly closing up the torn pieces of flesh. It leaves behind only a patch of scarred tissue in its wake. There’s a pause after that, but it lasts only a moment before Ingo’s left arm moves. It pulls itself back up towards the socket. Then finally, with a sickening pop, the bones in his shoulder reset themselves in the right place.

(0)

   Silence fills the room and Calaba shakily rises to her feet with a horrified look on her face. As the oldest Pearl Clan healer, Calaba has seen many things in her life. Hundreds of unexplainable things that could only be chalked up to the will of the Almighty Sinnoh… but this? This is beyond anything Calaba has ever witnessed. He should be dead. He should have been dead before he even reached the settlement… and yet he’s not and by some miracle, his wounds have healed themselves.

   Calaba does not know what to think about this, nor how she will explain this to anyone. It simply isn’t possible! Not even the Almighty Sinnoh should be able to heal someone who is as good as dead, right? The Almighty’s domain is over space… this is the work of something else. Something higher than even the great god of space…

   No. Calaba cannot doubt her faith. This is the work of the Almighty. It must be! He has the Almighty Sinnoh’s blessing for sure. Therefore, he must be protected and this miraculous event must remain as secret as possible. Calaba does not doubt the faith of her fellow clan members… but she knows this might not be taken as a good thing.

   Tensions in the land are high and have been for some time now. Which means it’s best to make no mentions of Almighty Sinnoh’s blessing, otherwise the Pearl Clan may just have another war on their hands. The Diamond Clan would surely accuse them of stealing the Almighty’s blessing or it might cause problems with that new grouping of people that arrived on the shores near the Obsidian Fieldlands. Calaba has heard their leader is a very prickly sort of man. He’d no doubt accuse her clan of plotting against him.

   For this stranger’s safety, if nothing else, Calaba will keep this quiet.

   So, she swallows her shock and pushes herself up to her feet. Then, Calaba clears her throat and turns to Lady Sneasler. The noble is still curled up in the corner of the room, staring at the unconscious man. Calaba trusts that she will keep him safe. Lady Sneasler is the one who brought him here, after all… a noble Pokémon carrying out the will of the Almighty. Of course. Her franticness makes more sense now. She must have been assigned to be his divine protector.

   After losing her previous warden to an unfortunate accident in the Highlands, Calaba is sure she is glad to have a new purpose.

   Taking a deep, steadying breath, she addresses the noble. “Lady Sneasler. I believe this man has been brought to us by the Almighty Sinnoh. A divine gift to the land of Hisui… we must protect him if this is the case. I… am going to get some air. Make sure he does not leave this tent if he wakes in my absence. He may have… healed, but I should still check to see if he is truly alright once he wakes.”

   Lady Sneasler glances in her direction before looking back at the man. Calaba has no way of knowing whether or not the noble understands her, but she doesn’t have the energy to try to figure it out. She just gives her a polite bow before turning on her heel and heading for the tent flap. What she’s just witnessed is going to take a fair bit of processing to fully understand… Calaba will take a lap around the settlement.

   From her corner, Lady Sneasler watches the old woman disappear beyond the tent flap. Calaba must be incredibly confused as to what just happened. She did not hear Almighty Arceus’ words, after all. Well, to Lady Sneasler’s knowledge that is. Who knows what the Almighty does or does not do.

   Hopefully she will be alright. The Pearl Clan cannot afford their best healer being driven mad by the actions of the universe’s creator. No, Lady Sneasler shouldn’t be thinking like that. Warden Calaba is a strong woman. She’s certain she’ll be alright.

   Now that Warden Calaba is gone, Lady Sneasler is left alone with the unconscious human. She stares at him for yet another moment before finally building up the courage to move closer. Lady Sneasler settles on the right side of him so she doesn’t block out the fire next to them. Ingo needs to be warm more than she does… she wonders how long it will take Ingo to wake up now that he has been healed. Despite herself, Lady Sneasler is eager to meet him more formally. 

Chapter Text

Location: ???

Time: ???

   It’s dark. He can’t see anything around him and his body feels weightless. Like he’s drifting through empty space.

   Is this death? The last thing Ingo remembers is running in the snow. There was blood and pain and everything was so cold. Ingo must have died out there. Maybe it was that cold that took him. Or could it have been the blood loss? Either way, his body must not have been found in time and the hands of death dragged him away.

   Ingo feels like he should be sad. He should be begging whatever entity can hear him for another chance. He should want to be alive again.

   Ingo isn’t done. There’s still something he has to do. Something he has to find.

   All he feels is numb.

   There’s nothing out there that will listen to him. If there was, it would have saved him before he died. And maybe, if they were kind, Ingo wouldn’t have found himself in the snow in the first place.

   But it wasn’t so and Ingo is dead.

   “You’re not dead. Not yet anyway.” Comes an echoing voice on his left. Ingo looks over and there’s a white figure beside him. It’s glowing — so bright that Ingo can’t make out anything beyond its vaguely human shape and the smile spread across its face. That smile… Ingo knew it before, didn’t he? It was familiar. Something he would see every day.

   Seeing it now fills Ingo with a wave of calm. He knows that smile, he’s certain. Which means whoever this being is, Ingo trusts them. Maybe it’s wrong to do that. To give his trust out so blindly to a faceless figure in this strange empty space. It’s foolish, but Ingo is doing it anyway.

   The figure in white would never hurt him. Somehow, he is sure of that much. 

   “Ingo? Are you listening?” It tilts its head; curious. He’s not sure how he knows that is what the tilt means, but he knows in his heart that it’s true. 

   “What?” His voice echoes around the darkness, bouncing off of invisible walls surrounding him. 

   “I said you’re not dead. You can’t be! You still haven’t found me, after all.” The figure steps closer, walking around him to stand face to face with Ingo. Its smile fades into something softer. Fond. “You promised you’d always find me no matter what, remember?”

   He did? Ingo doesn’t… no, he does remember that. There’s an echo in his mind — his own voice stating words he feels he’d said a very long time ago: ‘I’ll always find you. No matter what! I promise.’ Ingo did say that. When he was young, he’d promised. What kind of br-… what kind of person would he be if he broke that promise now? “I did say that… I remember now.”

   The figure seems happy now, flapping their hands a little. “Verrry good, Ingo! You’ve remembered something. You’re one step closer to your destination. Now all you have to do is find me.”

   Ingo huffs. The figure makes it sound so easy. “I do not know where to look.”

   A beat, then the figure hums a little. It appears to be thinking. “Hmm… tricky, indeed. I am not sure where I am either. But I’m not worried. You will find me again, I’m sure of it.”

   Ingo looks down at his feet. How can the figure be so sure? How can they have faith in Ingo where he lacks faith in himself? It’s impossible. Ingo can’t find something if he doesn’t know where it is or even who it is. Right? There’s no way he’ll be able to do it. No matter how badly Ingo wants to.

   “I know that look,” they say, interrupting his train of thought. Ingo looks up and they’re closer now. So close he can almost make out a face. It… it looks like his own. “You’re doubting yourself. You alllways do that. Don’t be so hard on yourself, Ingo. A train always makes it back to the proper station. I know you will too. Until then, I will be waiting for you and I promise I will never give up hope. Even if you do.” With that, the figure reaches out and hugs Ingo. There’s a warmth in its embrace that has tears building in his eyes. Ingo misses them more than anything. He wants to go home to them, but will he really make it? 

   If they are so certain he will make it back… well, then Ingo is inclined to believe them. He will find them again. He will return home. He will. 

   He wraps his arms around the figure, burying his face into their shoulder. A hand runs through his hair as the edges of Ingo’s vision start to blur. What’s happening? Ingo feels lightheaded all of a sudden…

  The figure turns their head and plants a kiss on his temple. “I love you, Ingo. I’ll see you verrry soon.”

   “I-“

   Ingo can’t get another word out before the world around him fades away.

Location: Pearl Clan Medical Tent

Time: One Day Later 

   His head is spinning. Perhaps in the most literal sense it ever has… well, that’s not quite right. Ingo feels like he’s spinning is probably more accurate. Like he’s on a rotating platform that’s being pushed in circles. The darkness on the back of his eyelids swirls and loops in the strangest way too; as if it has a life of its own. He’s never felt quite so dizzy before. It’s honestly making him feel nauseous.

   What happened? One moment he was in the dark with that smiling figure and now… well, now Ingo has no idea where he is. 

   Maybe he should try and figure that out?

   Beyond the dizziness, the first thing Ingo registers when he comes to is heat. Thank Arceus. It radiates from his left, warming his tired body. Ingo has never felt more grateful to be warm. He must be inside somewhere then.

   A soft crackling is what he processes next, working through the fuzziness in his ears. It’s a steady sound that’s only broken by the occasional pop. Ingo tilts his head towards it and color blooms over the back of his eyelids; a gentle sway, dancing with the rhythmic crackle. It helps combat some of the rolling darkness, which Ingo is also grateful for. The flickers remind Ingo of something… his eyelids flutter before he peels them open, gaze focusing in on the fire in front of him. Vibrant oranges and deep yellows flutter over the burning logs, smoke curling up and away. He remembers fire. But it wasn’t like the one in the fireplace… it was colder. And not orange. What other color would fire be? There’s a pang in his temple that dissuades Ingo from chasing after that train of thought. It’s already left the station.

   He rolls his shoulders, wincing as the movement causes a weird shift in his left one. It feels tighter than normal and Ingo hates that sensation very much. He tries to move it again, but the feeling doesn’t go away. If anything, Ingo only feels more stiff. Like he’s trying to force his way through molasses. Even the smallest of movements takes a great amount of effort. How irksome. 

   Wait… wasn’t he injured? Ingo remembers being in pain before. And he was covered in blood. His shoulder was completely destroyed, wasn’t it? Then how can he move it now? Why doesn’t he feel any pain where he’d been hit? Ingo brings his hand up from where it had been lying limp on the… bed(?) beneath him, feeling around his stomach where he remembers being hit. Ingo learns two things from that. One, the injury is gone and in its place is a patch of raised skin. No scabbing, or bandages, or any lasting damage at all. Two, Ingo is not wearing a shirt. He tugs the blanket that’s draped over him closer. Where did his shirt go?

   He looks around the area of the fireplace, not having the energy to try to get up and search. Thankfully, he finds his clothes in a neat pile nearby. Ingo lets himself relax. His clothes are fine. Well, most of them anyway. Ingo’s coat is a little torn, but otherwise fine and his hat is much the same. His shirt… it’s no longer white. It’s torn to shreds and absolutely soaked in enough blood to turn it almost entirely red.

   Okay. So, Ingo wasn’t imagining the injuries then. He just doesn’t have them now. Great. That’s not concerning at all… he’s too tired to worry about that at the moment. Ingo is not bleeding or in pain. Just a little nauseous. That’s a good thing, right? 

   Ingo drags in a breath. It doesn’t sting anymore. For a moment, he just focuses on the rise and fall of his chest; on the way air fills his lungs and then escapes in a soft hiss. Ingo never would have thought it would be such a privilege to simply breathe for a moment. But here he is, thankful to be breathing in warm air. He could almost cry from sheer relief. 

   From what he’s gathered, this place is much safer than where he was before. Ingo has no idea exactly where here is, but he enjoys this kind of quiet. The soft sizzling of the fire beside him is far more welcoming than the howling of the icy wind from before. It’s almost jarring to find himself in such a position after running for his life just-... actually, how long ago was that? It felt like it was only moments ago to Ingo, but that can’t be the case. Can it? With the way his injury is completely healed, Ingo must have been out for a very long time. There’s no way such a wound can heal in just the blink of an eye. How long had he been unconscious, then? Ingo doesn’t know, but just thinking about it makes him feel sick. He’s about tired of not knowing things. 

   Getting upset about it won’t help him though. So, he focuses on trying to examine his surroundings more.

   He doesn’t have the energy to really move much, but he can still see a lot from his position. Ingo lets his gaze wander up from the fireplace towards the ceiling. If it could even be called a ceiling. The material looks more like a kind of tarp. It doesn’t seem like something that would be found in a normal building… not that he really remembers what a normal building is supposed to look like. He doesn’t dwell on that. Ingo’s eyes follow the creases to the middle of the room, where it meets in a sort of point. It appears like it's attached to a wooden pole that runs straight through the center of the room. A tent of sorts then.

   What a strange place this is. He’s not sure what to make of it. It’s less dangerous than the icy hills he woke up in, but Ingo isn’t sure if he’s really out of danger… a part of him just wants to ignore all the questions running through his mind and go back to sleep. The other desperately wants answers. In the end, Ingo’s restlessness wins out. Exhausted as he is, maybe if he gets up and explores his surroundings, it might make more sense? That seems logical.

   So, with great effort, Ingo attempts to prop himself up. He only gets about halfway there before he’s pushed back down by a massive, clawed paw. Ingo’s breath catches in his throat and his gaze snaps up to find a creature hovering over him now, looking… sleepy? It blinks down at him, seemingly having just woken up from a nap. Well that is certainly the oddest Sneasel Ingo has ever seen… what is a Sneasel? Ingo tries to move again, which only upsets the strange Pokémon.

   “Sneas!” Lady Sneasler shakes her head at him. While she’s relieved he’s awake, doesn’t he know better than to move around when pinned under a Pokémon? Clearly not! This human has no sense of self preservation at all, does he? He’s trapped under a powerful Pokémon such as herself that could easily tear him apart and he’s still trying to move? No wonder he ended up bleeding out and frozen in the Wastes… 

   Ingo decides to stop trying to move now. It’s clear that the Pokémon doesn’t want him to move, and the last thing he wants to do is upset it. That got him into a lot of trouble last time. So, he settles back down on the… soft thing beneath him. He’s still not really sure what it's called.

   “My apologies! I did not mean to upset you!” The Pokémon flinches at the volume of his voice, and so does Ingo. Goodness! Has he always been that loud? He has a feeling that the answer is yes. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Ingo can hear a voice laughing at his plight. It’s not a malicious voice though and the thought of it… hurts, oddly enough. Could that be the voice of the figure he saw in his… dream? If that really was a dream. It must have been if he’s awake now. 

   He shakes that thought away for the time being, then Ingo gives the Pokémon a look he hopes will convey an apology. It just shakes its head and makes a scoffing sound. Ingo does not know this Pokémon very well, but he interrupts its huffing as forgiveness. “Apologies again…” A silence falls over the tent now. Ingo isn’t sure what to say. Which feels rather odd… Ingo has a feeling that he often talks a lot.

   With nothing better to do, he observes the Pokémon. It's interesting for sure; light blue fur, a long feather coming from its ear, sharp purple claws. This must be a poison type of some kind. That shade of purple is often a very telltale sign of poison. Could it have another typing too? Maybe steel… no, doesn’t really look like a steel type. Dark? That feels right, but wrong at the same time. It doesn’t look like a dark type, but Ingo can’t shake the feeling that it should be a dark type. How strange.

   This man has a staring problem. Lady Sneasler is used to being gawked at by humans, but his gaze is far more intense than a gaze of fear. Maybe it's because his eyes are so bright? Sometimes humans with blue eyes wig her out for that reason. Either way, she doesn’t like his staring. So, she does what she would for any human who tests her patience and growls at him. Lady Sneasler may have saved him from the snow… and worried over him for hours, but she won’t tolerate disrespect!

   Most humans back down when she growls, some even going so far as to run away from her. Ingo seems… unfazed. He just blinks at her, eyes wide with a weird sort of sparkle to them. It looks almost like a smile? But he’s still frowning. Weird. She goes to growl again, only to fall short when the man’s hand comes up to her ear. What is he doing? Who does he think he is, putting his hands on a noble?! She snarls, baring her teeth at him. Biting is not something she typically resorts to, but how dare he!! 

   “Bravo! What an intimidating growl. You’re quite a magnificent Pokémon. I’m afraid I am unfamiliar with your species, but you are incredibly fascinating. Are you a poison type?” Ingo knows he’s rambling, but he can’t help it. He scratches a spot just behind the Pokémon’s ear. It looks startled for a moment before melting into his hand. The Pokémon’s fur is quite soft despite its rough appearance. Ingo is pleasantly surprised. “Yes, you must be. Look at those sharp claws! Such a lovely purple color. A tell-tale sign of powerful poison, my friend. You seem like a formidable battler. Very impressive indeed.” 

   Oh… perhaps he’s not so bad after all. Lady Sneasler has never been pet before, but she finds she quite likes it. Normally she would have poisoned anyone who dared touch her, but this human is Arceus’s chosen… and Lady Sneasler is just so happy she’s actually getting to meet him. She can make exceptions for him and him alone. So far, Ingo has exceeded her expectations. He’s a bit odd and definitely rather loud, but she’s glad he survived… Lady Sneasler can pretend to be annoyed by him all she wants, but she truly is relieved. 

   She didn’t fail him and she didn’t fail Arceus either. Lady Sneasler feels as if a weight has been lifted off her shoulders.

   Ingo is relieved that the Pokémon seems to have calmed down now. This is how he remembers Pokémon behaving. It was upset before, but relatively easy to calm down. Perhaps the other one was just a one time thing? Ingo can only hope that’s the case. He doesn’t want to run into anything like that ever again if he can help it. Though maybe if he does, Ingo will know better than to not start running immediately. He’s learned his lesson. “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Ingo,” he says.

   The Pokémon makes an almost yipping sound in response. He will take that as a good sign. Hopefully he will be able to make a friend of it. Ingo would prefer not to get attacked again. This Pokémon’s claws would make for a very nasty end… especially if Ingo is right about it being a poison type. 

   He’s drawn out of his thoughts by the feeling of weight settling over his chest. Looking down, Ingo finds the Pokémon has draped itself over his body. Its head is now resting on the blanket over his chest and its arms are carefully resting across his stomach. The Pokémon seems to be avoiding touching Ingo with its claws, which Ingo is grateful for. He doesn’t really want to be poisoned right now. Its warmth is welcome though.

   Alongside the fire, the Pokémon’s warmth banishes the light chill in the room. Ingo finds himself wrapping his arms around it, still petting its head. It seems to like that, if the purring it's letting out is any indicator. “Oh? Making yourself comfortable, I see? Welcome aboard, then. I do not mind. You’re very comfortable and your fur is quite soft. Bravo,” Ingo finds himself saying. The Pokémon just nuzzles into his hands in response, which tickles a little. He resists the urge to shy away from it though. 

   It’s nice… but Ingo can’t bring himself to fully relax. The reality of this situation has been in the back of his mind since he woke up and he can’t continue to ignore it forever.

   Ingo is in an unknown place with no memory of how he got here — no memories at all for that matter. All Ingo knows is his name. And even then, can he be sure about that?

   What if he is just making it up? He’d have no way of knowing. Beyond that, Ingo had been given a mission before he woke up in the snow. He can barely remember all of what he’d been told now, but he remembers he must ‘seek out all Pokémon’. What does that even entail? And what happens if Ingo can’t complete that task? Ingo has a feeling it will be really bad; like there’s a lot riding on his success. There’s a lot of unspoken pressure on him to get this done and Ingo isn’t sure he’ll even be able to do it. He… nearly died out there, didn't he?

   It’s a truth Ingo has been trying not to think about, but right now he has nothing else to distract himself with. He almost died. That injury should have been fatal, but it wasn’t. How is Ingo even still alive? He shouldn’t be. He should have bled out in the snow or frozen to death. Any normal human wouldn’t have made it. He should be dead… his chest hurts and he can feel his hands start to tremble. Ingo wants to cry. He’s not cut out for this. He should be… somewhere else. Somewhere kinder. He just can’t remember where that is, which only makes him feel more upset. Why doesn’t he know anything?

   “Snea snaw?” The Pokémon chitters at him and he can see it lifting its head to look at him out of the corner of his eye. It looks worried. Ingo can’t bring himself to try to reassure it. He just continues to stare into the flames. Ingo can’t breathe. 

   Lady Sneasler isn’t sure what to do. She’d been nearly asleep when she noticed Ingo’s heart rate start to rise. Now that she’s looking at him, she can see he looks really pale and almost panicked. Lady Sneasler isn’t sure how to help him, but it's clear he needs it. What’s causing him to act this way? He is safe in the medical tent and warm and healed. Ingo should be fine, so why isn’t he? Lady Sneasler knows so little about humans. Even her previous warden was a mystery to her and he spent more time with her than any other human. The man only came to visit her to leave offerings or to sometimes help with whatever troubles befell her in the Highlands, but that was it.

   So how is she supposed to help Ingo? She could ask Arceus for help again… no. Lady Sneasler doesn’t want to depend on them for everything. She’ll figure out how to help Ingo on her own. 

   She lifts herself up from his chest and leans towards his face. His gaze is somewhat distant. Like he’s not really seeing anything in front of him. Lady Sneasler huffs, attempting to get his attention to no avail. She’s not going to get his attention that way. Time for a new plan. Lady Sneasler leans down and licks Ingo’s forehead, trying to snap him out of whatever state he’s found himself in. That seems to help more, as Ingo blinks in response. One of his hands comes up to weakly try to push her away. Lady Sneasler keeps at it. Licking is working! She settles back down onto his chest, drawing a soft grunt from the human, before moving to lick his cheek. 

   The pressure on his chest and the stickiness of the Pokémon’s tongue pulls Ingo out of his head. His vision slowly stops spinning and his breathing begins to settle. Ingo looks up at the Pokémon. “... okay. Okay, okay. I am alright. You can stop licking me now. You’re getting my face all sticky.” It takes a second for the Pokémon to stop, but eventually it does. “Thank you. I apologize for my brief derailment. I was getting lost on the tracks in my head.”

   Lady Sneasler tilts her head at Ingo. She’s not really sure what ‘tracks’ are, but she understands the sentiment regardless. “Snease! Snee.” The noble grins at him, then curls up over him once more. She’s just glad she could be helpful. 

Chapter Text

   “By Almighty Sinnoh! What on earth are you doing?!” 

   Ingo is not sure when he fell asleep, but he finds himself being startled awake by a shout. He jolts, eyes snapping open. Where is he? What’s happening? 

   He’s… in a tent. That’s right. The last thing he remembers is being in a tent. So why does he feel like he should be waking up somewhere else? Ingo’s not sure, but the dull ache in his head had him not wanting to think any harder about that. It’s not like he has any idea where he should be anyway.

   Ingo attempts to sit up to no avail, weighed down by the Pokémon on his chest. Moving seems to upset it and also wakes it up. It makes a yowling sound as it pulls itself into a sitting position, grumpy frown on its face. He shoots it an apologetic look before both of them turn towards where the shout came from.

   On the other side of the room, there’s an elderly looking woman standing by a flap. That must be the entrance to this tent structure, if Ingo’s not mistaken. Ah, but he shouldn’t focus on that right now. Not when the woman appears to be very upset by something. He stares at her, trying to figure out what caused her reaction. There’s a shocked expression frozen on her face and a basket of some kind of plant in her hands, which isn’t helpful. Nothing in the tent looks out of place… so why is she staring at him like she’s seen a rouge ghost-type? Well, looks like he’s going to have to ask. Hopefully that doesn’t upset her more. “I’m terribly sorry, Ma’am. Is something the matter?” 

   His question seems to snap her out of her shocked state. Ingo can only watch as the woman’s expression morphs into something like cold neutrality before she steps further into the room. She ignores Ingo for a moment, moving to place the basket down on a chest on the left side of the room. There are a bunch of different baskets and plants already there. 

   A minute of silence passes before she speaks to him, though she doesn’t turn around. “Yes. You are invading the space of a noble Pokémon! Space is sacred, don’t you know? Not only that, but she’s an Pokémon! Are you out of your mind? Pokémon are dangerous! You may have Almighty Sinnoh’s blessing, but that doesn’t mean you can be reckless,” she scolds, now sifting through the baskets.

   Almighty Sinnoh’s blessing? Ingo has no idea who that even is, let alone what blessing she’s referring to. He’ll have to ask her about that in a moment. For now, he’ll address the issue she’s bringing up. “Oh? I didn’t know it would be an issue, Ma’am… and I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean when you say ‘noble’ Pokémon.” Ingo really does feel bad. He does not like breaking rules. If he’s broken one, he’s like to know what it is so he can properly apologize for it.

   The elderly woman turns around, looking baffled once more. 

   “You don’t know what a noble Pokémon is? They are the descendants of the very Pokémon the great hero of Hisui used to carry out the Almighty’s will,” she pauses to point at the Pokémon sitting next to Ingo, “Lady Sneasler is one of them. She comes from a mighty bloodline. Disrespecting the nobles is like disrespecting the Almighty themself!” 

   The Pokémon, Lady Sneasler, seems to puff up with pride when referred to as ‘mighty’ and a grin spreads across her face. Ingo almost laughs, but manages to stop himself. Instead, he reaches out to pet Lady Sneasler. She happily leans into his hand as he scratches the spot behind her ear, eyes closing in content. It appears she really likes that spot. Ingo will have to remember that. “I see. Well, I apologize for any harm I may have caused. Though, Lady Sneasler was the one who started it.”

   Her eyes snap open and she glares ar him. “Snease!” Lady Sneasler huffs, indignant. 

   Ingo just shrugs. “I am not wrong.” Lady Sneasler rolls her eyes at him, then she pushes him up and pulls him into her lap. “Oh? A new destination, I see.” The Pokémon purrs as she wraps her arms around him.

   The elderly woman only seems more put off by their interaction. She turns her attention away from them, murmuring something under her breath as she goes about handling the herbs in the corner. Ingo doesn’t pay her much mind, as it’s clear she does not want to continue the conversation just yet. That’s fine. Ingo is used to being patient with people like this… ‘unhappy passengers’. He does not remember what that is, but it seems at least a little accurate to this situation. There’s no use in dwelling on that though. Ingo knows he will find no answers. Instead, he focuses on petting Lady Sneasler. He’s happy to know what her name is now at least.

   Calaba doesn’t know what to make of this man. He’s strange. She had been expecting him to be at least a little odd sure, but this is beyond her expectations. Calaba has never met someone who is so clearly unafraid of Pokémon. Lady Sneasler is one of the more intimidating noble Pokémon and yet this stranger is unfazed by her presence! No, it’s more than that even. He’s enjoying her company!

   Just who did the Almighty Sinnoh send to them? She clears her throat, then turns back to the man. “I just worry that you might have hit your head while you were out there. Pokémon are dangerous creatures. You can’t just go cosying up to them if you value your life. You nearly died from what I assume was a Pokémon attack… but then…” she trails off for a moment. 

   The man doesn’t seem to grasp the weight of her silence.  

   “Right, I understand… though I must say I cannot agree that Pokémon are entirely unapproachable. Most are fairly easy to befriend if one follows the proper tracks!” Ingo knows that Pokémon are much more agreeable than this woman is making them seem. How could a Pokémon really be so bad? He’s confused, but he says nothing more. Something tells Ingo that this is an argument that’s not worth indulging in. “Apologies. I do not want to get into an argument with you, Ma’am… let us drop this particular topic. If you could, would you tell me where I am? It seems I’ve gotten off at the wrong station.”

   His choice of words is strange. Calaba can only make out about half of what he’s saying. And he doesn’t know where he is? How could he not? She clicks her tongue. “Station? What nonsense are you going on about?” Calaba murmurs under her breath as she walks over to where he is sitting in Lady Sneasler’s hold. “You are in the Pearl Settlement, in the Alabaster Icelands. Or more specifically, in the medical tent.” 

   This location doesn’t sound familiar to Ingo, but then again maybe he shouldn’t have expected it too. Ingo pulls his hands away from Lady Snealser as the old woman approaches him. He frowns, looking away. “I can’t say this location is familiar to me, but thank you for informing me anyway… you mentioned before that I have ‘Almighty Sinnoh’s blessing’... I’m afraid I don’t know who that is or what you’re referring to.”

   Calaba gawks at him. If she wasn’t certain this man isn’t from Hisui before, she definitely is now. How can anyone not know who the Almighty Sinnoh is? “The Almighty Sinnoh is the great God of Space. They are the sacred god of the Pearl Clan… and you have their blessing.” Calaba sits down beside the man. “Lady Sneasler brought you into the settlement yesterday. You were covered in blood and your shoulder was broken… our leader had you brought to this medical tent and I did my best to try to save you, but… there’s no way you would have survived. You’d lost too much blood. You were on death’s doorstep when a golden light appeared on your chest. And then your wounds began to heal themselves. You shouldn’t be alive right now, but by the Almighty’s will, you are.”

   Oh… oh. Ingo feels sick. So that’s why his injuries are gone. That can’t be possible… he should have died. He would have been dead. But he isn’t.

   The woman beside him continues on, seemingly oblivious to his inner panic. “I have told no one of this yet. For your safety if nothing else… but I will eventually have to tell the leader of the Pearl Clan. She will be understanding.”

   “Okay…” Ingo can’t bring himself to say anything else.

   Calaba can see that he’s not looking great now. His face is pale and he looks horrified. Perhaps Calaba should have been gentler with her approach… maybe she should make him tea. That might help settle him some. It’s worth a shot. Calaba rises from her place beside Ingo and moves to start making him tea.

   Thankfully she had the sense to start a pot a little while ago before she left to make sure she wasn’t needed elsewhere in the settlement. It’s been steeping since then. She’d only been gone for a little under an hour, so the tea should be ready. She walks over to the table at the foot of the futon, settling on her knees before the kettle. Calaba pops the lid off and peers inside. Yes, it appears to be ready. 

   She puts the lid back on and flips over one of the cups that had been sitting on the side of the table, pouring tea into it. The man’s stomach must be unsettled in his panic, so she decides not to give him too much. Just enough to soothe his nerves some. Once she deems the cup full enough, she puts the kettle down and takes the cup.

   Ingo’s fears had been confirmed. He should have died, but something had saved him. The elderly woman had called it the blessing of Almighty Sinnoh, but is that really the case? Ingo has a feeling this is the work of something else. Could it have been Arceus? She’d mentioned something about a golden light. Ingo remembers seeing golden light when he was in Arceus’s domain. Could it be possible that it was them? Maybe so, but then again, he’d been unconscious. How could he be sure?

   Though, he feels like he heard their voice while he was running through the snow too. He didn’t have time then to process what he was hearing, but he recalls being told to run. Were they trying to save him?

   His thoughts are cut off by the feeling of a hand on his shoulder. The touch makes his skin itch and he immediately leans away. Touch is bad. Ingo does not like being touched. Not at all. Thankfully, the hand is removed quickly. Ingo looks up to find the old woman sitting beside him again, holding a small cup towards him. Ingo isn’t particularly keen on drinking anything, but he takes it from her anyway.

   “What is this?” Ingo asks, moving his free hand to try to rub away the itchiness in his shoulder. That seems to help a little and soon enough, the itching isn’t as bad. He lets his hand fall back down to his lap.

   “It’s herbal tea. Should help settle your nerves,” Calaba says, then eyes him. Ingo just nods, though that doesn’t seem to be what she was looking for. She continues to stare at him, motioning to his hands. Ah. The tea. She is probably waiting for him to drink it. Above him, Lady Sneasler snickers. He resists the urge to roll his eyes at her before taking a sip. Oh! It’s not as bad as he was expecting, though he can’t say he wants to drink all of it. Calaba seems satisfied now. “Well then, what is your name? And where did you come from? Do you know why the Almighty sent you to us?”

   Ingo’s heart sinks into his stomach, dread making him feel nauseous. He brings the cup away from his mouth, instead holding it in his lap. The warmth helps a bit.

   Where did he come from? Ingo cannot remember. He cannot remember anything beyond his name. His heart aches and his head throbs as he tries to recall. “I-… My name is Ingo. I’m afraid that is all I know about myself. I can’t remember how I got here. Nor where my home station is… the only thing I remember before waking up in the snow was falling. Then darkness and a glowing light. There was something there. I am unsure what it was… it told me I must ‘seek out all Pokémon’. I’m afraid I don’t know what that entails.”

   He’s distressed. Lady Sneasler can tell that much based on the way he freezes up. She nuzzles the top of his head, purring to try to make him feel better. Ingo reaches up to scratch her chin. 

   His response makes Calaba’s frown deepen. Not good. Both of them know that. For a moment, there’s sympathy in her eyes as she regards him. It’s gone in an instant, replaced with a neutral mask. Calaba nods. “I see. You must have amnesia then. How truly terrible… I’m afraid there is not much I can do to treat that. I will inform Clan Leader Irida of this.” There’s another long stretch of silence. Ingo doesn’t know what else to say to her. In fact, he would prefer he didn’t have to say anything else. Ingo just wants to go back to sleep. Calaba clears her throat. “Finish your tea. I'll come back to check on you later.” 

   Ingo nods, drinking more of his tea. “Yes, Ma’am.” With that, she begins to rise. Ingo suddenly remembers something. “Wait!” She pauses, looking back at Ingo. “You never told me your name, Miss.”

   Calaba nods a little, then motions to herself. “I am Calaba, Warden to Lord Ursaluna. I am also the Pearl Clan’s head healer.”

   “Thank you. I’ll see you later than, Miss Calaba.” Ingo offers her a polite salute, which seems to confuse her a little, but she makes no comment. 

   “Until then.” With that, Calaba turns back around and heads for the tent flap.

   Ingo’s eyes follow her as she walks back over to the exit and disappears from sight and he’s alone again… Ingo’s not sure what is worse. Being faced with his lack of memories or being alone. A weight settles on his shoulder and he looks over to see Lady Sneasler’s head resting on it.

   Well, he’s not so alone. Lady Sneasler is still holding him. Maybe her company is enough for now. He goes to reach up and pet her, only to stop short when a sound pierces the quiet. 

* Beep, beep... * 

   Ingo’s heard that beeping before.

   Still, both Ingo and Lady Sneasler jump at the suddenness of it. Tea splashes over his hand and down into the blankets as Ingo jolts. Geez! He’s going to have to get used to that…

   Ingo sets the cup of tea down on the floor beside him, then brings his right wrist up to look at the source of the noise. Lady Sneasler peers over his shoulder. Oh good, Calaba left his… trans..? No. Cross-… ArcTrans. His ArcTrans on. Ingo taps the screen, blinking against the brightness. The noble yowls a little, hiding her face in his hair. Where’s the setting button on this thing? That brightness needs to be dialed down as soon as possible… While Ingo searches for the settings, a message pops up on the bottom of his screen. 

   ‘Greetings, Ingo. Thou hast survived. I am most glad. I apologize for mine mistake in guiding thee. I put thou in danger. Forgive me. For thy trouble, I shall bestow upon thee a gift. Just give me some time to find something worth thy struggle.’ 

   Ingo frowns at his ArcTrans. What does that mean? He supposes he’ll just have to find out. 

Chapter Text

Shift: Calaba’s Perspective 

   This situation is unlike any Calaba has to deal with before and she’s dealt with quite a bit during her time as a healer. Never in her life has she met a man like the stranger currently in the medical tent. She’s got her work cut out for her with this one.

   Between Ingo’s apparent amnesia and the fact that his wounds were healed by the Almighty Sinnoh, there’s two things that she must take into account. The first is that the Almighty Sinnoh’s influence is going to sound very unbelievable and Calaba will need to find a way to back herself up. The second is that backing herself up is going to be tough due to said amnesia. Ingo says he hardly remembers anything and doesn’t really know why he’s in Hisui, which doesn’t give her anything to work with.

   Convincing Lady Irida to believe her is going to be hard. Calaba is a healer not a miracle worker. She can’t just make this whole situation make sense in the blink of an eye. 

   As she leaves the medical tent, she’s already thinking about how she’s going to explain this to Lady Irida. While she knows that her leader is a reasonable young woman, there are just so many pieces of this that simply don’t make sense. Calaba knows she can’t just not tell her though. She has a duty to her Clan Leader to at least try to inform her about what went down. 

   Irida has been worrying about Ingo since he was brought to the medical tent. She hasn’t been able to come to see him herself due to how busy she is with her duties as Clan Leader, but she’s been asking Calaba about him every time she sees her. Irida can be very willful when she wants to be and it’s been hard for Calaba to lie about Ingo’s condition to her. 

   She only said that he was ‘recovering’ when asked about him, which is technically not a total lie. Ingo is still recovering from the shock of his situation in the medical tent, even if he’s no longer physically injured. Her answers to Lady Irida’s questions about how exactly he’s doing have been vague, which will not satisfy her much longer. 

   Though Calaba did do that for good reason. She felt it was best to hold off on telling Irida the full truth until Ingo actually woke up. Just in case Ingo never did... now that Ingo is conscious, Calaba must come clean with Irida and only her.

   She still believes that telling anyone else is going to end badly. The last thing she wants is for word to get out that the Pearl Clan is withholding some kind of blessing from Sinnoh from the rest of Hisui. That would only lead to more conflict between the Pearl Clan and the other peoples of this land. So, keeping it under wraps is the easiest way to avoid that. At least, until Ingo is no longer under the care of the Pearl Clan. 

   As soon as he’s off on whatever journey the Almighty brought him here to go on, everything will be alright and the Pearl Clan will not have to claim any blame. She is sure of it.

   Wind brushes through her hair as she starts down the path that leads back to the main walkway. The medical tents are a little further away from the rest of the settlement; meant to stop the spread of diseases if someone falls ill and to give space to those who need it to heal. Which means it's a bit of a walk to the main area of the settlement. That’s fine. Calaba is used to walking it. She lets herself observe the land around her while she goes.

   The storm yesterday left the snow levels higher than usual. It’s packed around some of the tents and covering the walkways. She can see some of her fellow clan members working to shovel the snow away and off towards the edge of the settlement. They’ve made good progress. Most of the paths are walkable now, though still covered in snow. It will be a little while longer before they will be completely cleared, but at least her people aren’t confined to their tents anymore.

   Calaba remembers when storms used to do much more damage to their way of life. Back when the Pearl Clan was smaller and they had less tents… fewer people. It was harder for them to get back up on their feet so quickly, as they didn’t have the right supplies for the jobs that needed to be done. The snow was overwhelming with no one else to lean on in their times of need. It was a hard way of life.

   But times have changed. More people live to see their elder years than they used to.

   The Pearl Clan has grown over the course of Calaba’s lifetime and so much is different. She does not agree with the Diamond Clan’s reverence of time… though she can acknowledge it as the powerful force that it is. Time changes so much, for better or for worse. Not that she’d ever admit that out loud. She’s rather drop dead where she stands that admit to even slightly agreeing with the Diamonds.

  Calaba smiles a little to herself as she walks over the hill that leads into the main walkway. If she were any younger, she’d be scandalized by her own line of thinking. How could a devout Pearl Clan member hold time anywhere near as high as space? It’s unthinkable. Oh, but Calaba has seen many years and each one she lives through is just as much of a blessing as the space she calls home.

   She hopes that maybe one day, more people will see that too. Maybe then, Calaba will not have to worry over conflicts between the clans and divine beings in the heavens. It’s wishful thinking really. Calaba knows she likely won’t live to see that day. 

   All the reason to live her every day to its fullest, then. 

   Eventually, Calaba turns onto the path that leads up to the other half of the settlement. There are a couple people sitting at the firepit, though there’s no fire going yet. Calaba figures there will be soon enough though. She waves over to a young woman in that direction. If she’s not mistaken, that lady was just released from one of the medical tents after getting treatment for a sprained wrist. Calaba is glad to see she’s doing well enough to be up and moving.

   “Warden Calaba!” Someone shouts. She knows that voice… Calaba barely manages to stifle the tired sigh that threatens to escape her as she turns around to see Warden Gaeric running towards her. He must have been helping to shovel snow out of the settlement, if the shovel in his hand is any indicator.

   It takes him a moment to reach her and when he does, he skids to a stop. His cheeks are flushed, likely from the cold or maybe from the exercise he just got. Gaeric gives her one of his wide smiles, looking almost like an excited child. “Good afternoon! Did you just come from the medical tents? How’s that guy Lady Sneasler brought in doing? Did he wake up yet?”

   Looks like Calaba is playing twenty questions today. She shakes her head at Gaeric’s antics… he’s always been so full of energy. Calaba is surprised he manages to stay so excitable even after all these years. “Warden Gaeric. Yes, I did come from the medical tents. I was just heading to Lady Irida’s tent to talk to her about our guest,” she tells him. Calaba does not feel like explaining herself any further, instead turning on her heel and walking away. Unfortunately for her, she can hear Gaeric following after her. He’s not going to leave her alone until he gets the answers he’s looking for. Calaba knows this trick. He’s attempting to be as annoying as possible so she’ll just give up and tell him. Well, she’s not going to fall for it.

   The two of them walk together in silence for a moment before Gaeric gets tired of waiting for her to address him again. He speeds up a little to keep pace with her before breaking his silence. “What are you goin’ to talk to her about? Surely it must be important if you’re goin’ all the way to her tent in person? Are his injuries that bad?” Gaeric pauses for a moment, glancing back in the direction of the medical tents. There’s a brief look of worry on his face, but it’s gone in an instant. “Is he gonna make it?”

   “He will be fine,” is all Calaba says. She’d like to ease her fellow warden’s concern, but she also doesn't want to tell him the truth. Calaba will have to hold fast to her vow of keeping Ingo’s recovery a secret.

   Gaeric nods a little and thankfully doesn’t continue questioning her.

   The rest of the walk to Irida’s tent is quiet. Calaba just strides through the snow, Gaeric following after her. Her words don’t seem to have made him feel much better, though she supposes he can’t be blamed for that. If she were in his shoes, she’d want to know more too. Unfortunately, her silence on the matter is for the best.

   When they reach the door to Irida’s tent, she pauses and turns to Gaeric. Calaba keeps her face carefully neutral as she addresses him. “Warden. I think you should be getting back to helping shovel snow now. This meeting is a private matter.” She’s aware her tone is probably more clipped than it needs to be, but she can’t take it back. Gaeric’s frown deepens and he looks like he wants to argue for a moment before he ultimately decides to back down. Calaba lets her shoulders relax. This is for the best. She takes a moment to gather herself before turning and knocking on Irida’s door.

   It doesn’t take long for the door to swing open, revealing a very tired Irida on the other end. Calaba smiles at her. The poor thing has been buried in paperwork all day. Between treaties with the Diamond Clan and agreements with those folks from Jubilife, Irida has been very busy. Still, she lights up when she sees Calaba. 

   “Miss Calaba! What brings you here? Come in, come in. Let’s share space. You must be cold.” Irida steps aside so Calaba can enter, which she promptly does. The tent is in disarray. Papers are sprawled out over every surface, inks spread over her desk and likely drying out, bags and fabrics hanging over chairs. Usually Calaba would scold Irida for the mess, but she decides not to for now. Irida has enough on her plate… and she already feels bad about having to bother Irida with the whole Ingo situation.

   Irida moves across the room, sitting down in the chair by the fireplace. There’s an old quilt draped over the back of it that Irida grabs as soon as she sits down, laying it over her lap. The light pink fabric is worn and has clearly seen better days, but it is beloved by Irida.

   Calaba recognizes it. The quilt belonged to her late mother before her untimely passing. And that chair is where her father would sit and read to her when she was little. That is Irida’s favorite spot in her tent. “So, what brings you to my space? Is this about the man Lady Sneasler brought in?” Irida says, snapping her out of her thoughts. Calaba goes to answer, but her attention is stolen when she notices movement to her right.

   Warden Paulina is standing by Irida’s bookshelf, nose deep in one of the journals that Irida keeps there. She’s likely looking for the journals of the previous warden for Lord Arcanine. Calaba heard Paulina has been having some trouble with the young Lord Growlithe. That’s not important right now though. She needs Paulina to leave the tent. So, Calaba clears her throat and turns back to Irida. “Lady Irida. I have something I need to address with you about our guest… I’m afraid this is a matter that requires privacy.”

   Upon hearing her words, Warden Paulina looks up from the journal in her hands and Irida furrows her eyebrows. There’s a moment of quiet before Irida turns to the other warden. “Alright… ‘Lina, would you mind giving us our space? You may come back as soon as Warden Calaba has said what she needs to.”

   Paulina looks between Calaba and Irida for a moment before closing the journal in her hands and setting it down on the nearby desk. She bows politely before making her way out of the tent. Calaba waits a moment to make sure Paulina is truly out of earshot before approaching the fireplace.

   Taking the chair that sits opposite Irida's, Calaba sighs. How is she going to explain this? She’s been trying to find the right words for an entire day now and yet Calaba still finds herself struggling to find them. Her walk to Irida’s tent wasn’t much help either, especially with Warden Gaeric interrupting her. 

   There’s just no easy way to go about this. She doubts if she had all the time in the world to think it over, she still wouldn’t be able to figure it out. 

   Calaba decides the best way to go about this is to just be blunt. That’s how she would want to be told. “That man should be dead. He should have been dead before he even entered our gates. The amount of blood he’d lost was unsurvivable. Not only that, he should have been frozen too.”

   Silence. 

   Perhaps that was a little too blunt… her words cause Irida’s face to pale, a hand coming up to cover her mouth. It’s morbid, but Calaba knows it's true. A seasoned healer like herself would know when someone is too far gone to be saved. Calaba lets Irida process that for a moment, waiting patiently for her to wrap her head around it. 

   After a couple minutes, Irida seems to compose herself. “He… should be dead. But he isn’t, is he?”

   Calaba shakes her head. “No. He’s alive. Not only that, but his injuries… they’re gone.” She pauses for a moment, reaching out to take one of Irida’s hands into her own. “Lady Irida. What I am about to tell you is going to sound impossible, but I assure you this is what happened.”

   Irida grips her hand back and nods a little, signaling that she’s ready.

   Taking a deep breath, Calaba begins her story. “While I was treating him, he was losing too much blood, as I said. I tried my best to stop the bleeding and to close the wound, but it was too big. His shoulder was destroyed too; looked mere inches away from being torn clean off… just as I was about to call it, something happened. There was a golden light on his chest. An odd ring shape. And then his wounds started healing themselves. The gash in his side stitched itself back together and his shoulder set itself all on its own. The only remnants of his injuries was light scarring… I couldn’t stay there, so I left and took a walk. When I got back, he was breathing more normally again; as if he was just sleeping and nothing even happened at all. Not long ago, I went to check on him again and he was awake and somehow befriended Lady Sneasler. They were cuddling together for Sinnoh’s sake! Lady Irida. I believe that man has been blessed by the Almighty Sinnoh.”

   Silence. Then something clatters outside the tent. Both Calaba and Irida jump and look towards the tent flap. Someone overheard that. Sinnoh Almighty! She went through all the trouble of trying to make sure they were alone and someone still overheard… Calaba is too old for this. She’s on her feet and walking over to the flap before she can stop herself, yanking it open. On the other side is Warden Gaeric and Paulina standing frozen. There are looks of shock on their faces and Gaeric’s shovel is now lying on the ground before the tent. That must have been what clattered then. Calaba frowns at them. “I believe I told both of you to give us space. What are you two still doing here?”

   Her words seem to snap them out of their shocked states. Paulina and Gaeric talk over each other in an attempt to explain. 

   “I was leaving but Gaeric said-” 

   “Paulina convinced me to stay-” 

   Both of them pause to glare at each other.

   Calaba sighs, rubbing her temple. She’s really too old for this kind of headache. She snatches both of their wrists and drags them into Irida’s tent. “Alright, alright. No fighting you two. What are you children?” Neither argues against Calaba as she walks back over to her seat. Irida is still there, now staring into the fireplace. Calaba looks between everyone in the tent. This is more people than she wanted to tell, but there’s nothing she can do to change it. “Look… this information needs to be kept under wraps. If the Diamonds or even the Galactic whatever down in the Fieldlands find out about him, we could have another conflict on our hands. So, this stays between us, right?” Calaba says, fixing the two eavesdroppers with a stern look. Gaeric looks away and Paulina nods. Irida doesn’t do anything for a moment, then she looks at Calaba.

   “... did you find out anything else about him? Where did he come from?” Irida asks after a moment. Paulina and Gaeric both look to Calaba expectantly too.

   Unfortunately, those are questions Calaba does not have answers for. She sighs, a frown spreading across her face. “Ingo says he has lost his memories. He said he does not remember anything beyond his name and a mission from a ‘light’ apparently. Ingo told me he has to ‘seek out Pokémon’, but he does not know what that means.” At least she thinks that’s what he was getting at. The words Ingo uses are often very confusing. Calaba watches Irida’s shoulders drop ever so slightly. To most it would be a mostly unnoticeable motion, but Calaba raised Irida practically as her own when her parents passed. She knows the girl like the back of her hand. Irida is disappointed.

   Nobody else knows how to respond to that either, so the room falls quiet again. 

   Wordlessly, Irida rises from her chair. She takes her quilt and starts to fold it back up. “I would like to speak with him personally. Tomorrow, I’ll head to the medical tent. He is not to leave until then.” 

   “Very well, Lady Irida,” Calaba says. 

   She can only hope Irida will be able to get more information out of him.

Shift: Ingo’s Perspective 

   Sitting alone in a room gets boring fast. He feels like he should be up and doing something. Anything. He needs to move his body or he’s going to lose his mind. Perhaps Ingo is used to always being on the move. Or maybe he was before… whatever happened to him. Was the place he came from more lively than this? Ingo gets the sense that it was. There was… more. And he doesn’t really know what that entails. 

   Ingo sighs. He wants to get up and at least try to work some of the tension out of his muscles. Alas, Lady Sneasler is lying across his stomach now and is fast asleep. Moving her in this state will only agitate her and Ingo doesn’t want to upset his new passenger. Ingo almost envies the Pokémon, but he can’t say he truly wants to go back to sleep.

   He’d taken a short nap soon after Calaba left the tent. It wasn’t very restful. In fact, Ingo had woken up in a cold sweat. He was dreaming again, but this time he remembers very little about it. All he knows for certain is that whatever he’d been dreaming about had scared him. He’d woken up with an overwhelming sense of dread and tears in his eyes. 

   Ingo vaguely remembers the area around him had been moving. Rattling. He can still sort of feel the motion in his body, oddly enough. What was that thing again? It was a space that Ingo had felt familiar in. Like he knew it well once… Ingo was certain of that, if nothing else.

   His mind is a mashed up mess of implications and impressions and illusory figures with no faces or names. Yet that one truth was clear. It feels almost comforting to know this one thing with clarity, even if he knows nothing else.

   Just before he awoke he heard someone speak to him. Their voice was distorted and fuzzy, but Ingo made out the words ‘I like winning more than anything else’. It was a strange statement, yet it settled something within Ingo. He found himself yearning for that voice. For that presence at his side. The longer he thinks about it, the more it starts to feel like there’s a gaping wound in its place. Ingo’s chest is hollow. There was something that he lost when he awoke in the snow. Something beyond just his memories. He lost his belonging. Now Ingo is untethered, drifting in a foreign land with nothing to anchor him. He has nothing to his name but loss. 

   Human connections are strange things… Even without thine memories, thou still longs for thine loved ones. 

   Ingo tenses at the sudden psychic connection. It makes his head throb painfully. He’d felt it before while he was running in the snow, though he hadn’t been paying a lot of attention to it at the time. Not while he was focused on trying to survive. Now that his life is not on the line, Ingo has time to process it. He can recognize the strange presence as Arceus. The being that had brought him here in the first place. Its voice echoes and swirls in his head, almost like wind. Arceus is light, but the pressure is still noticeable. It’s a dull ache in his temple. Ingo closes his eyes, trying to connect to Arceus. 

   Is that really so strange? Wouldn’t anyone want to feel as if they belonged? Do you have nothing dear to you that would cause pain if you became abruptly uncoupled from it? 

   There’s a long pause. For a moment, Ingo believes Arceus has left… until there’s a twinge of emotion in his chest. It feels almost like apprehension. Or maybe consideration? Ingo can’t really tell. It’s too faint. 

   Hmm. Perhaps I have a lot to learn about humanity…  

   Ingo’s frown deepens at Arceus’s words. Did they even think this situation through then? If they didn’t expect Ingo to feel upset at being tossed off his tracks, then just how little can the being know about humans? That train of thought branches off towards a new destination now. Why would Arceus bring him of all people to this place? Was there a reason why it had to be him or did he just happen to be in the right place at the right time?

   Why did you derail me? What reason did you have to redirect me to this station?

   I require thine strength. There is a great curse over this land that thou must amend. Thou inquired if I possessed something dear… living beings are mine greatest creations. I must do whatever it takes to preserve this. I cannot tell thou more than that. I… apologize. 

   Ingo lets Arceus’s words sink in. He’s been called here to save a whole world? That… is a long route to ride. One that will undoubtedly be derailed and delayed throughout the journey. He doesn’t want to stay here for that long. He doesn’t belong here; to this cold and dangerous world. Ingo wants to go back home, wherever that may be… will he even be able to traverse these tracks? He’s not so sure, though if Arceus believes him to be capable, surely he must be. Right? 

    If-... no. When I reach the final stop on this route… will you send me back? 

   If that is thine ideal… I shall do what must be done to make it so. It seems thee hath been greatly unsettled by mine intervention. Twas not mine intention… I am sorry, Ingo. Truly. 

   An apology is not what Ingo wants. Words mean nothing if they’re not paired with actions… Ingo can’t help but feel there’s something more to that. Something personal to him, but he can’t be sure. Trying to think about it makes his heart hurt, so Ingo stops. 

   “Thanks, Arceus…” he says to the air anyway. A quiet rumble in his head is the only answer Ingo gets before the pressure of Arceus’s presence bleeds away and he’s left in the quiet.

Chapter Text

Location: ???

Time: ??? 

   The grass is wet. It’s been raining for hours, but now it finally stopped and the yard is still full of rainwater. Ingo is excited about that because it means he gets to go play outside in the puddles. He’d been waiting patiently, hovering by the window in the living room and watching the raindrops slide down the glass. His mom said he had to wait until the rain stopped before he could go play and it finally did! 

   Ingo ran to get his puddle boots almost as soon as it stopped, bringing them to his mom. She was in the kitchen, making what looked like muffins. His mom took the day off from the station today and she’d spent most of it baking. She likes baking. Ingo remembers that… while she was focused on mixing the batter, Ingo held up his grey boots. They were his favorite; grey rain boots with a little red train on the sides. The boy in white has a similar pair, but his trains are green. He doesn’t like being outside like Ingo does, but Ingo knows he’ll be able to convince him to come sit on the deck while he plays. The boy in white likes coloring on the deck. He’s got a couple blackboards and a whiteboard out there. And he’d just gotten a new train coloring book for their birthday. He would take any excuse to use it. 

   When his mom doesn’t notice him, Ingo clears his throat. She nearly drops her whisk into the bowl as she jumps, then looks down at Ingo. “Oh! Ingo, you scared me. What is it, hun?” His mom reaches down, ruffling his hair. Ingo giggles and steps away from her hand. 

   “Mother, it stopped raining. Can I go play in the puddles now?” Ingo asks, holding his boots up a little higher. 

   He watches his mother as she glances out the kitchen window. The sky is blue now; clear of any rain clouds. She looks back with a soft smile. “So it has. Sure, you can go play. Take E**** with you.”

   Ingo doesn’t waste a moment before turning on his heel and taking off into the living room. He drops his boots by the backdoor, then rushes across the living room and down the short hallway into the foyer. Ingo grabs the wooden post on the bottom of the stairs, using it to propel himself forward as he races up the stairs. “E****! E****!” Ingo shouts as he reaches the top, turning right into the hallway that leads to their room. He reaches the doorway just as the boy in white steps out, causing them to collide with each other. Ingo flips them so he hits the floor instead of the boy in white. Both of them grunt when they finally land. “Sorry!” he says as he pushes against his shoulders, trying to get the boy in white to sit up. “Are you alright, Em?”

   The boy in white pushes himself up and moves to sit on the floor in front of Ingo, a small smile on his face. He shakes his hands out for a moment before signing to Ingo. ‘ I’m ok. You?’ 

   “Yes! I am fantastic. Mom says I can go play outside in the puddles. Do you want to come sit on the deck?”

   A beat passes where the boy in white thinks over the offer. He then points at the small box of sidewalk chalk by the door. ‘ Can I use the chalk? I want to finish the train on the chalkboard on the deck.’

   Ingo thinks it over for a moment. “I don’t see why not,” he pauses for a moment to stand, then offers his hand to the boy in white, “I can go get your chalk gloves from the garage for you!”

   He looks away from Ingo upon hearing his offer, expression shifting. The boy’s smile becomes tighter and his eyebrows furrow a little. It’s a look Ingo knows well. He’s worried about something. Ingo doesn’t drop his hand, but he lowers it a little. He gets the sense that the boy in white has something to tell him, so he waits. Sometimes it takes the boy in white a little longer to find his words, but Ingo is patient. And he will always wait for him. Always. A minute passes before the boy in white is signing again. ‘I can get it myself. I am a big boy now. I shouldn’t be annoying you.’

   Ingo frowns. Oh, so that’s what this is about? Ingo remembers that there’s a group of kids in their class that have been picking on the boy in white recently… it makes Ingo angry that they are mean to the boy in white, but not him. Like Ingo is somehow better than the boy. It’s not true, but he doesn’t believe Ingo when he tells him that. Now the boy in white is always worried that Ingo is upset with him somehow. Ingo hates it and Ingo does not hate anything. Hate is a strong feeling… but it’s the only one Ingo can use to describe this. “Annoying me? Helping you will never annoy me! I want to help you. That’s what bi* br*****s do. Plus, the grass is still wet. I know you won’t be able to walk through it to get to the garage. I don’t mind getting them, I promise. You’ll never annoy me E****,” Ingo announces. He won’t allow his br***** to think otherwise!

   The boy in white is quiet for a moment, then his smile widens and he reaches for Ingo’s hand. Ingo happily takes it and helps him up. He squeezes the boy’s hand gently and tries to smile back. Ingo can feel his eyes pinching and the corners of his mouth tilting up. He’s been told he doesn’t know how to smile, but E**** will always know when he’s smiling. “Let’s go then!” Ingo says, bending down to pick up the boy in white’s chalk before tugging him out of their bedroom and towards the stairs.

   They walk hand in hand to the top of the stairs. Something is off… the air feels staticky. Ingo pauses, staring down the stairs. 

   There’s a shadow at the bottom. 

   Wait… that wasn’t there before-

Location: Pearl Clan Medical Tent

Time: 7:28 am 

   Ingo’s face is wet. His eyes flutter open and he stares at the space above him. He can barely make out anything through the blur of his tears… Ingo was dreaming again. He can’t remember the contents of what he was dreaming about, though he gets the sense that it was something important to him. But all the details of it escape him like water down a drain; gone like it was never there in the first place. Ingo can’t help but feel like everything keeps slipping through his fingers. He wants to curl into a ball and keep crying. There’s a deep sense of longing in his heart. One that never leaves him… Ingo misses something more than anything.

   It hurts . Ingo didn’t think it was possible to miss something so badly that it physically stings and yet here he is. He reaches up to try to scrub the tears away from his eyes. It’s not working. Nothing is working. 

   He can’t remember anything, he almost died, he is apparently abnormal for being okay with Pokémon, he can’t sleep without being taunted with what he’s lost, and he’s been blessed by some unknown being; forced to save a world he knows nothing about. Ingo is so lost in every sense of the word. There’s just so much happening that he feels like he’s drowning in it.

   Staying here is going to kill him. Being trapped in this stupid tent in a foreign land all while being so damn cold… Ingo isn’t sure how much more he can take.

   His world has been completely flipped on its head and it's so unfair.

   The sound of the tent flap opening snaps Ingo out of his thoughts. Now isn’t the time for a breakdown. Reroute. Ingo swipes the remaining tears from his eyes as he sits up. Back on schedule. He looks up to find the elderly woman from yesterday standing in the doorway. She’s frozen where she stands and there’s a look of what appears to be pity on her face, which Ingo elects to ignore. She must have seen him crying. Ingo sniffles, looking towards the fire next to him. “... Good morning, Miss Calaba. What brings you to my station?”

   Calaba isn’t sure how to react to what she just saw. In all honesty, she wasn’t expecting him to be awake yet. She hadn’t meant to walk in on the man crying, but she’s done just that. It doesn’t look like he wants to address it either… Calaba will respect that. Clearing her throat, Calaba bows in greeting even though he’s not looking at her. “Good morning. May I enter your space? I’ve brought you a change of clothes and food.”

   Why is she asking to enter his space? If he remembers correctly (does he remember anything correctly?) she didn’t do that the last time she walked into the medical tent. Perhaps it's some cultural thing Ingo doesn’t know about and she forgot last time? He’s too tired to really think too hard about it, so he just nods. Ingo can hear her footsteps as she enters the tent. They move around the space for a minute before he can hear her approaching him. He can’t bring himself to look up at her. 

   She settles by his side, placing the small dish of rice and spiced sand radish she’d brought on the ground beside her. Perhaps it would be best to start with clothes. Ingo has been shirtless for a little while now and it’s cold in the Icelands. Calaba clears her throat and sets the pile of clothes down on the futon. Only then does Ingo look over at her. His gaze lands on the clothes, but he doesn’t say anything. So, Calaba decides to fill the silence. “We had a couple spare clothes lying around. They’re not anything fancy, but it will keep you warm. You can put your old clothes in a pile and I’ll get rid of them for you,” Calaba tells him. Then, she motions to the dish she’d sat down. “That was just made, so it should still be warm.” 

   Ingo nods as he pulls the clothes closer to himself, ignoring the uncomfortable rolling in his stomach at the thought of getting rid of his ‘old clothes’. What she’d brought does appear warm; a soft grey tunic, a scarf, and long flowy pants. He picks up the tunic that was on the top of the pile. The texture is a little scratchy, but Ingo feels like he can deal with it. He ignores the pants for now, instead looking up at Calaba. “Thank you.”

   “You’re welcome,” she says, then stands up. “Before I go, I must inform you that the leader of the Pearl Clan will be coming by later in the day. I told her about your… predicament. She has some questions for you.” 

   A spike of anxiety shoots through Ingo, but he doesn’t protest. He knew he was going to have to face reality sooner or later. Ingo can’t just ignore this world and hide in the medical tent forever. “Ok.” Maybe if he gets this part over with, he won’t have to stress over it… Ingo doubts it, but he can pretend for a little while. 

   Calaba bows to Ingo and turns to leave, only to stop short. She looks around the tent. Did Lady Sneasler leave? Calaba didn’t notice it before, but now that she’s paying attention, she sees there is a distinct lack of the poisonous noble Pokémon. While Calaba isn’t entirely concerned about her, as she is a noble Pokémon and can handle herself, it would be nice to know where she is. Perhaps Ingo will know where she went. “Mr. Ingo? One last question before I give you your space… do you happen to know where Lady Sneasler is?”

   Ingo’s eyebrows furrow as he looks around. Wasn’t she just sleeping beside him? He looks to his left and then his right. Ingo doesn’t find her anywhere. She’s not in the tent anymore. Should he be worried about that? Was he supposed to be watching her? Is she going to be ok on her own? “Uh, no. I have no idea. I’m terribly sorry! I didn’t mean to lose your passenger! Is she in danger on her own?” Ingo says, growing more frantic by the moment. 

   To his surprise, Calaba just holds up a hand. “No, Lady Sneasler will be fine. I was only wondering where she was off to. She must have left while you were sleeping. I’m sure she’s fine. You just focus on yourself for now. I’m sure she’ll turn up when she wants to.” 

   While her words don’t really make Ingo feel better, there likely isn’t much else he can do but listen. So, he nods. “I see… I will do my best to tend to my cab.” 

   The elder looks a little confused by his choice of words, but makes no comment. She just shakes her head and turns on her heel, walking out of the tent. Ingo watches her go, waiting until she’s gone before looking back at the clothes she brought.

   Ingo does not want to lose his clothes. Something about them is important to him… but there are some pieces that are unsalvageable. His shirt is now red with blood stains and torn to pieces and the white gloves he’d had on his hands are much the same… as much as it pains Ingo to part with them, he is aware some sacrifices must be made.

   Perhaps he can wear the tunic and the soft red scarf. The rest will be returned to Calaba whenever she comes back. Ingo feels he can be ok with that.

Time: Late Afternoon

Shift: Irida’s Perspective 

   The last thing Irida expected when Lady Sneasler brought a dying man into her tent was a blessing from the Almighty. She did not know what to think of him in general, but with this additional blessing business, Irida truly is unsure. It was beyond strange for a noble to bring an injured human to her, much less Lady Sneasler. She hasn’t left her cave for anything but her monthly check ins since her late warden died three years ago. So, for her to come barreling into the settlement with a mission was alarming.

   Something is brewing. Irida has been noticing strange happenings around all of Hisui in the last year or two; ever since those twins fell from the sky… but it’s been getting worse recently. The nobles of both clans seem more anxious than usual even after that rift above Mount Coronet appeared a month ago. People have been tense too and the fairly okish relations between the Pearl Clan and the other peoples of Hisui is gaining tension once again. At this rate, Irida is worried she may have another war on her hands.

   And now this? A man who was healed by the Almighty and is unafraid of Pokémon? Irida must know what his purpose is here so she can protect her people from what is coming. 

   Thus, she found herself standing in front of the medical tent he’s staying in. She clears her throat and calls out to the stranger. “Hello? This is Lady Irida, may I enter your space?”

   A moment passes before she gets a response. “Yes!” 

   His voice is exceptionally loud! Irida almost takes a step back in her shock, but ultimately forces herself to be still. Irida will not back down. For her people’s sake if nothing else. Steeling her nerves, Irida opens the tent flap and steps inside.

   She isn’t sure what she had envisioned when she opens the flap, but her expectations are swiftly shattered. His appearance is particularly striking to her. With his grey hair, he appears to be an elder… though his face is the picture of youth, despite his stern frown. The man’s eyes are what unsettles her most. They seem to just stare straight through her to peer into her soul; a haunting silver that has a strange glow to it. He’s certainly not from Hisui. If that much wasn’t obvious even before she laid eyes on him. Not to mention the odd clothes he had been found in. They’re nothing like what Irida has seen even in Jubilife Village, for Sinnoh’s sake. So just where did he come from? Could it be that there is a space in the world so different from the land of Hisui? The longer she thinks about it, the more she reveres the Almighty Sinnoh’s space. How fascinating that in this world’s vastness there could be such stark differences in people. 

   Silence hangs heavy over the tent. The longer it stretches, the more uncomfortable Ingo starts to appear. Oh, right! She’s just staring at him right now. How incredibly rude of her! Irida clears her throat and walks deeper into the space. The man doesn’t say anything. He just frowns at her. Is he displeased? He certainly seems like he is. Oh no, has she already done something to upset him? And why is he just staring at her like that? It seems like he isn’t even blinking!

   “Ahem. Good evening, sir. I am Irida, leader of the Pearl Clan. I have been informed that you were injured before you arrived in this settlement. Correct? I am relieved that you have been healed.”

Shift: Ingo's Perspective 

   Ingo stares at the young woman who walks into the tent. She’s not what he was expecting… she seems quite young to be a leader. Not that Ingo doubts her capability, of course. He just worries that being in such a position in her youth may cause her undue stress. Ingo can’t imagine being put in such a situation. 

   Ingo’s train of thought derails when she finally addresses him. He clears his throat, nodding a little. “Yes. I am afraid there was a Pokémon that blocked my tracks on the way here… I am unsure of the species. It was like a floating white ball with black horns and glowing red eyes, if I recall corre-” Ingo’s words are cut off by Irida’s gasp. Her calm expression morphs into one of horror. Did Ingo say something wrong…? He hadn’t meant to upset her, but it seems he’s done just that. The young woman is speaking before Ingo can apologize. 

   “An Alpha Glalie? Goodness, you really are lucky. Even more so that Lady Sneasler found you… Pokémon truly are dangerous creatures.” Irida clasps her hands together, wringing them a little. Her expression is nothing if not earnest. 

   Again with that whole ‘Pokémon are dangerous business’? His eyebrows furrow at her words. Ingo doesn’t understand why everyone here seems to think that… Though maybe they are not wrong. Given how that ‘Alpha Glalie’ had attacked him for no obvious reason. Even so, that sentiment just feels deeply wrong to Ingo. Pokémon are not supposed to be so aggressive. “I suppose I am lucky…” There’s a long pause. Neither of them want to bring up the whole ‘miraculous healing’ part. “You said Lady Sneasler brought me here? Is that why she was with me when I woke up?”

   Lady Irida nods. ”Yes. She came running into my tent with you in her arms. She seemed frantic… afraid,” she says, then sighs. Skirting around the topic is getting them nowhere, so Irida decides to directly address what she’d been meaning to ask about. “Miss Calaba told me what happened. She believes you were blessed by our Almighty Sinnoh and that you are here for a purpose… I believe she might be right.” 

   Ingo raises an eyebrow at her. “You do?” 

   “I do,” she pauses as she approaches his futon. “There have been strange happenings around Hisui recently. Things that cannot be explained away… there is a rift above Mount Coronet and our nobles are growing more fearful every day. Why are you here, ‘Ingo’? Where did you come from?”

   The growing hostility is not lost on Ingo. Her tone is becoming more defensive and skeptical. She does not trust him. Ingo doesn’t blame her for that. He is a stranger with no memories and what is there to trust in that? Ingo wishes he knew. “I’m afraid I no longer remember where I am from, Lady Irida. I cannot recall anything beyond impressions… and I feel I am not here by choice. I was told I am here to seek out Pokémon. I am unsure of what that entails, but I assure you, I mean no harm to you.”

   His tone is earnest, which leads Irida to believe he’s telling the truth. Even with the frown on his face… Irida does not believe Ingo wants to cause harm, but she knows better than to let her guard down too soon. Hisui is dangerous. Irida learned that the hard way… she also sees no point in giving Ingo a hard time despite this. 

   “I see… I will be honest with you, Mr. Ingo. I cannot say I fully trust you. It would be foolish of me to do so… but I also see no reason to be cruel. I will allow you to stay in my settlement for a few more days and prepare you to face the wilds. I cannot allow you to stay any longer than that without risking the safety of my people.” It’s a little harsh, but this is the only option Irida has in order to take care of her own. She will help this man where she can, but there must be limits. It seems his journey, whatever it may be, is one he’s meant to walk alone. 

   Ingo nods a little. “Very well… I thank you for your kindness, Lady Irida.” 

   She bows at him. “Hold your gratitude, Mr. Ingo. I am only doing the bare minimum. I’ll be back in a couple days to see how you are doing. In the meantime, I will send some of my wardens to teach you what you will need to know. Get your rest while you can.” With that, Irida straightens up and leaves the tent. 

Chapter Text

Shift: Lady Sneasler’s Perspective 

Location: Glacier Terrace 

   Perhaps leaving the medical tent while Ingo was sleeping was not the best idea. Leaving him alone might stress him out or cause him to be upset; like one of her kits would be if she left them alone in her den… though she thought he would be fine in her absence. She doesn’t plan to be gone for very long. Still, Lady Sneasler does feel a little bad for leaving him without at least assuring him she’ll be back. Alas, it’s too late for her to go back and do it now. Lady Sneasler is already out of the Pearl Settlement and she is on a mission. She will not be stopped! 

   It occurred to her that she is not properly acquainted with Ingo while Warden Calaba was in the tent yesterday. The way Calaba had reacted was a wake up call to her for sure! How very rude of her to share Ingo’s space without first introducing herself and initiating a friendship. Lady Sneasler is almost embarrassed by her own misstep… almost. She’d be more embarrassed if she didn’t believe she would be forgiven, but Lady Sneasler is certain she will be. Ingo is a very friendly human and did not seem upset at all about her presence despite not really being introduced to her first. That was incredibly surprising, actually. She’d expected him to freak out when he first woke up, but his reaction was anything but fear. Lady Sneasler has never met a human who is so clearly unafraid of Pokémon before, though she can’t say she dislikes it. In fact, Lady Sneasler has grown rather attached to the human in the few short days he’s been in the Pearl Settlement. 

   Which means she really does need to get a move on starting a companionship before he has to start Arceus’ mission! Otherwise, he may leave her behind. If Ingo is going to be the great creator’s champion, he’s going to need someone on his side. Lady Sneasler is more than willing to help him in his quest. She’s a mighty noble, after all. Surely he is going to need her help at some point. So, she needs to go find him a gift to initiate their friendship. 

   Unfortunately for her, Lady Sneasler is not sure what humans like… sure there’s the necessary stuff like food and shelter and water, but that’s not really ‘friendship initiating’ material. She needs something special that isn’t just a one time thing. Something like the warden gifts every new warden is given upon being assigned their noble. Lady Sneasler does not remember what her last warden had been given as his gift… she had not been paying attention during the ceremony where it was given. Lady Sneasler kind of wishes she was right now. It would make picking something out much easier. 

   So far, she hasn’t had much luck. There’s hardly anything out in the snowy hills of the Icelands. Just rocks and ice and the occasional plant that won’t do her any good. She’s starting to feel disheartened. What if she can’t find him a good gift and he hates her? Well… that feels a little dramatic, but Lady Sneasler can’t stop herself from thinking about that possibility. Why can’t humans just be easier? 

   She grumbles to herself as she climbs up another rocky ledge. Maybe she should just go back to the settlement and see if she can find something better there… no! Lady Sneasler doesn’t want to rely on other humans to figure out her gift problem. That would be admitting defeat and Lady Sneasler wouldn’t dare do that. She is perfectly capable of finding her own gift without any help! Maybe… 

Lady Sneasler hoists herself up onto the ledge, huffing a little as she rises to her full height. Moving around Glacier Terrace is quite a workout! Or maybe Lady Sneasler should just be getting more exercise than she does in the Highlands. She feels so out of shape. It’s been a long time since she had to carry someone around in her basket, which means Lady Sneasler needs to step up her game if she wants to be useful to Ingo. What good is a noble who can’t do their job, after all.

* BOOM! * 

   A loud crashing sound echoes through the Icelands and Lady Sneasler nearly jumps out of her skin. She can hear the wild Pokémon around her panicking, their worried chattering and scampering feet setting Lady Sneasler on edge. What was that? Lady Sneasler rushes to the edge of the cliff, looking out over the land in search of whatever made that noise. Was it an alpha Pokémon? Sometimes they can be loud… but not that loud. That sound made Lady Sneasler’s bones rattle and it didn’t even appear to be close to her! 

   Eventually, Lady Sneasler spots what she thinks to be the source of the boom… that can’t be right. In all her years, Lady Sneasler has never seen something like this before. Over past Arena’s Approach is a massive dome shaped thing. It looks sort of like a storm, but at the same time it’s completely different. Lady Sneasler can see colorful flashes coming from within the swirling purple dome. Seeing it fills her with dread. That can’t be good… 

   Ever since that hole in the sky about her mountain formed, weird things have been happening. She’d heard humans talking about it in the settlement while Ingo was sleeping; whispers about foreign Pokémon and weird objects popping up in random places around Hisui. They’re incredibly dangerous from what Lady Sneasler heard, so much so that a human from the Diamond clan might have died in one recently. Lady Sneasler isn’t sure if that’s true, as rumors regarding the Diamond clan are usually not always accurate within the Pearl clan, but she also wouldn’t be surprised if it was true. Those bubbles are nothing but bad news.

   Which means Lady Sneasler has a duty to protect her space. She should go investigate to make sure the wild Pokémon in that area are doing alright. As a noble, she will do everything in her power to keep them safe.

   With that, she turns and starts to climb down the cliff. 

Location: Southeast of Arena’s Approach 

   Lady Sneasler didn’t make it in time. Just as she got to Arena’s Approach, the bubble fizzled out and popped like it was never there in the first place. The only indicator that something happened is the slightly charged buzzing in the air surrounding the area and the… what it left behind. 

   The ground is littered with all sorts of things; weird colorful blocks, bags of random clutter, books and papers, and… blood. The snow is soaked in blood, though she cannot see any other carnage. Just red splotches around the snow. Something about the sight makes Lady Sneasler shudder. How jarring it is to see blood but no bodies. What happened here to cause this? She can see deep gashes of scratch marks in the snow and debris from battles that looked to be brutal. Lady Sneasler can only hope that whoever was involved with those battles is alright now. Or at the very least, no longer suffering. 

   Lady Sneasler steps closer to the area despite herself. She should look around just to be sure there really is nothing injured, right? In all honesty, Lady Sneasler is not sure she will be able to pull herself away from this if she doesn’t at least try to look. So, she finds herself slowly wandering through the snow, avoiding the items and the blood. 

   It’s silent. Nothing moves.

   She only steps into what appears to be the middle of where the dome was. All she can see is the wreckage surrounding it. There’s no other living thing here but her. Lady Sneasler isn’t sure if she’s relieved about that or not… maybe she should go back to the Pearl Settlement now. The longer she stays in the circle of destruction, the more anxious she’s starting to feel. Putting distance between herself and this space will help. 

   So, with one more glance around, Lady Sneasler strides back the way she came. She can hear the snow crunching under her paws as she goes. Somehow the sound is a little more comforting than the eerie stillness that seems to have taken over this place. She steps a little harder, trying to make the sound louder so she can ignore the discomfort rolling around in her gut. Something tells her that this is only going to get worse… more people and Pokémon will be injured by these bubbles and there’s nothing she can do to stop it. She should get back to the Highlands soon so she can check on her domain, but first she will go see Ingo. 

   Lady Sneasler steps out of the circle, her paw crunching something beneath her. She jolts, scrambling away and looking down at whatever it is she just stepped on. There’s something silver glinting under the sunlight in the snow. It doesn’t seem to be something that would have been living. Good. Lady Sneasler might have passed out if it was. But now she’s curious. Bending down, Lady Sneasler digs the little object out of the snow. She has no idea what it is. It’s like a funky sloping shape and it’s very shiny… maybe Ingo would like this.

   While she hesitates to take anything from the scene of the bubble, Lady Sneasler feels this object is not going to be missed and won’t cause any harm. She closes her claws around it and starts off towards the Pearl Settlement.

   At least she finally found Ingo a gift.

Shift: ??? Perspective 

Location: Pearl Clan Medical Tent 

   Something is wrong with their champion and they’re not quite sure what. He is healed now and in perfect working condition. He should be ready to go out and complete their mission by now, so why hasn’t Ingo gotten out of bed? Thus far, the human had only sat up once in order to put clothes on, but lied back down almost as soon as he got them on. He doesn’t seem to be interested in leaving that tent his fellow humans put him in either. They don’t understand why this is. 

   Their presence hovers over the small room their champion is in, remaining out of human sight. They have been watching since Ingo was first brought here and they are not pleased with what they are seeing. Ingo is currently curled up under the covers, hugging himself and squeezing his eyes closed. He has not moved from this position in hours. His face is red and his cheeks are still a little wet. It appears like he is going to start crying again. He’d just finished crying not that long ago after the blonde human left the tent. Did what she say really upset him that much or is this because of something else?

   Humans are so confusing… as much as they want to help their champion, they are completely stumped on what to do. They promised Ingo a gift for his troubles not that long ago, but what could possibly heal this human of his sad? It seems like nothing they try to do helps. Goodness, humanity is quite a hassle to deal with. Though, they refuse to give up on their champion! They will just have to figure this out.

   While they are watching Ingo, they feel a tug on their presence. Normally they would just ignore it. They do not really care about calls that they did not initiate… but they recognize who is calling to them. They will not ignore one of their children, especially when that child is Giratina. The Giratina of the present era is a lot more friendly than their past counterpart… Ingo is in Hisui to fix that particular child’s ‘rebellious phase’ and they really don’t want a repeat of this incident they are trying to fix. So, they cannot ignore their child. It is likely something important anyway.

   So, they glance back at Ingo’s shuddering form before allowing themself to be partially pulled into their hall. They want to keep an eye on Ingo while also answering Giratina, so they will have to accept half of their presence.

   Their eyes open to the familiar glow of their domain. They allow themself to expand a little, not strained by the shape they must hold on the mortal plane. Before them is the wispy darkness of Giratina’s gateway. It writhes and curls around the light of their domain. They clear their throat to address their child. 

   Giratina, mine child. Why hath thou called to me? 

   Two glowing red eyes appear through the darkness, followed by a white shape that stretches into a smile. 

   FATHER. I GOT A REQUEST FROM TRUTH TO BE ALLOWED INTO YOUR DOMAIN. THEY WISH TO SPEAK TO YOU. 

   The dragon of Truth is requesting them? Hmm. This must be something about Ingo’s other half then. They remember assigning Truth responsibility over their champion’s brother. Perhaps they have finally convinced their human to accept their call. They hope that is the case. 

   Very well. See them through. 

   Giratina does not say anything, simply opening another gateway beside theirs. While their child is doing that, they bring their presence back down to check on Ingo. He is still curled up in bed, though he appears to be falling asleep. Good. Their champion is likely in need of rest. 

   In an instant, Truth’s eyes open to the shimmering hall of their creator’s domain. There’s a shadow at their side that they recognize to be another one of Giratina’s forms. It is the only one able to be within the creator's realm. The rest of Giratina must remain in the distortion realm... in front of them is the glowing visage of their creator. Truth bows their head and waits to be addressed.

   When they feel the dragon’s presence enter their domain, they address Truth.

   Truth. Giratina says thou wishes to speak. What hath thee requested mine audience for?  

   Giratina speaks the truth, Almighty Creator. I wish to speak to you about Emmet.   

   Yes, that is what they were hoping this way about. They pull back fully from the mortal plane, now expanding their presence more within their hall. They stare down at the dragon of Truth.

   Truth steels themself against the surge of energy that their creator sends forth. Now they have their undivided attention. Good.

   Ah, yes. How art thou fairing? Hath thee convinced him to listen to mine call?  

   Not yet… see, I have run into a problem. My attempt to provide him motivation was… ruined by human circumstances. It seems he just keeps getting knocked down. Without his support system, he is having trouble getting back up. Emmet is upset once again. I am afraid a single truth is not going to be a long term solution, Almighty Creator. I believe a more permanent solution is required.

   And what doth thou suggest? 

   What do they suggest? Truth knows they want to connect Emmet to Ingo somehow... but how? This is outside of their domain. Perhaps the creator themself will know better than they do.

   … A connection. His twin cannot be removed from where he is now. Not until the task is complete… but I believe it would be beneficial to connect the two of them. It is my experience that being in connection to one’s twin is enough motivation for any task. I have reason to believe that they will motivate each other if they are able to converse.  

  Silence falls over the starry realm. Truth doesn’t dare look up while their creator considers their words. Instead, they look over at Giratina. They have been rather quiet during this conversation. Truth wonders what their plan is… their creator hums thoughtfully.

   A connection could work, couldn’t it? Surely being able to contact his brother will coax Ingo out of his bed. Yes! This is a wonderful idea and will work well as the gift they promised to their champion. 

   A connection? Hmm… it could be so. I hath promised mine champion a gift for his troubles as well. Perhaps this could work for both problems… yes. I shall send Emmet mine gift and he shall speak with his brother. Truth. Let it be so. Bring mine gift down to thy human, but tell him not from where it came and make no mention of me. Say only that a gift hath been presented to him and that he may tell no other human of its existence. I shall reveal mine presence to him in due time. Be gone from here now. 

   Truth bows once more and prepares to leave their creator’s realm. They’re stopped by the sound of Giratina clearing their throat. The dragon of truth looks over at them, as does their creator.

   FATHER. I HAVE A REQUEST AS WELL. I WANT TO FOLLOW TRUTH AND THEIR HUMAN FROM THE SHADOWS. I WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED ON THIS SIDE OF THE STORY. I PROMISE I WILL BE ON MY BEST BEHAVIOR.  

   They consider Giratina for a moment. They don’t see why their child cannot watch under these conditions. Giratina has been behaving well as of recent too… They nod curtly. 

   Very well. Thou hath mine permission to watch from the shadows, Giratina. Dismissed. 

   A blast of golden energy sweeps over the hall and Truth is cast out of their creator’s domain.

   They have a good feeling about this connection. Perhaps this is exactly what both humans need to get up on their feet.

Chapter Text

Time: 2:13 am 

Shift: Ingo’s Perspective

Location: Pearl Clan Medical Tent 

   Ingo is being shaken. He jolts, hands shooting up to try to shove away whatever has a hold of him. Unfortunately, Ingo isn’t very successful. His hands are clumsy and weak and he’s barely awake enough to process what’s happening, let alone defend himself. Though whoever had been gripping Ingo’s shoulders does pull away when he starts to move. Ingo groans, blinking as he tries to get his eyes to focus. What’s going on? 

   When Ingo’s vision clears up, he notices there’s someone kneeling beside his bed. It’s too dark for Ingo to actually see who it is, though. Is that Calaba? Or maybe it’s Lady Irida? Ingo squints to no avail. “What’s going on? Why are you shaking me?” Ingo grumbles, reaching up to rub his face. It’s too early for this.

   For a moment, only silence answers Ingo and he starts to worry that maybe he’s hallucinating. Then there’s a soft scratching sound and a small flame bursts to life beside him. Ingo watches the flame, a match if he’s not mistaken, move to the side before a brighter flame ignites inside of a small glass box… that’s a lantern. Something about it looks wrong to Ingo in the same way the fire in the fireplace did. The color just throws him off. Ah, but that’s not what’s important right now. Ingo looks over at the person in the tent now that he can see and finds that this is a new face; a man with bright blue hair and no shirt. He jumps as he sits up, pulling the blankets closer to himself. “Ah! I uh… I don’t believe our tracks have crossed before, sir. Who are you?”

   The man clears his throat and sets his lanturn off to the side. “Right, right. Sorry about enterin’ your space unannounced like that. My name is Gaeric. It’s nice to meet you,” Gaeric says, a cheerful smile on his face. Something about his smile has Ingo’s guard lowering just a bit. It feels oddly familiar… Gaeric leans back on his hands, then continues. “I think Irida might’ve mentioned that she’s havin’ us teach you survival stuff? Well, she asked me to help you out today… ‘er later today, I think she meant. The sun’s not even out yet, but I think wakin’ up early is the best way to take charge of the day.”

   Oh. This guy must be one of those ‘wardens’ Lady Irida mentioned before. Ingo does not really know what a warden is, but it sounds like a serious position. Though this situation is making Ingo think otherwise; he doesn’t seem very formal or serious. This man, Gaeric, is certainly an odd one. He’s got enthusiasm for days for sure. How could anyone be this happy after waking up so early in the morning? Ingo will never understand morning people… huh, Ingo is getting a sense of deja vu. Has he been down these tracks before? No matter, Ingo’s attention is being grabbed away in the next moment. 

   “I’m gonna be helpin’ you with Pokémon stuff and walkin’. Though I doubt Irida will be happy with me if I make you go now. So we can head out once the sun’s up. How does that sound?”

   Awful, actually. Ingo thinks he would rather fight that Glalie with his bare hands than be outside in the cold so early. Alas, Ingo knows he does not have a lot of time left here to get his bearings before he is going to be kicked out. Perhaps he should be utilizing all the time he can. Yes, Ingo will be efficient. Which means he should cut out anything unnecessary… he raises an eyebrow at Gaeric. “Sorry, Pokémon ‘stuff’? What does that entail? I feel as though I am… familiar with Pokémon. I’m not sure if I need to be taught how to deal with them, Mr. Gaeric.”

   Gaeric stares at Ingo for a moment before laughing heartily. “Is that so? Well, maybe you can help me wrangle Lord Avalugg’s children today then? Those little rascals are always givin’ me trouble. We can hike up to my lord’s seat so that’s too Rufflets with one stone!” Gaeric seems happy with this schedule, but Ingo can’t help but feel like he’d just inadvertently signed himself up for a very long day. Great. Fantastic, even. Ingo just wants to go back to sleep. 

   With a sigh, Ingo nods a little. “I suppose that makes sense… is there anything else you’d like to discuss or can I go back to resting my engine?”

   There’s a beat of quiet, then Gaeric is sitting back up. The man folds his hands and puts them in his lap. Ingo is a little taken aback. Gaeric suddenly seems much more serious than he did moments ago. He looks away from Ingo in thought. “I… I overheard what Warden Calaba said about you. About the Almighty Sinnoh’s blessing… you really don’t remember anything?”

   Ingo can feel himself tensing. He wasn’t aware anyone else knew about what happened. Calaba hadn’t mentioned that and neither did Lady Irida. Which means they either don’t know or were content to keep him in the dark. Perfect. He’s been trying not to think about what happened since Calaba told him. Unfortunately, Ingo just can’t seem to ignore it with so many people asking him about it. Not that he blames them. Ingo feels he would be curious too in their position… but he doesn’t know anything and every time he’s reminded of that, the emptiness inside of him just gets worse. He feels incomplete and it’s driving him up the wall. Ingo just wants to ignore the world and Arceus and everything that’s gone wrong for him in the past couple days. It would be so much easier to just curl into a ball in his mat bed thing and cry forever. But Ingo can’t do that, now can he? He’s got a world to save apparently. 

   Since Ingo got here, he’s been trying not to let himself stew in his emotions, but right now he can’t stop. 

   He feels bitter and tired and he just can’t shake the feeling that he’s somehow disappointing someone; like that someone would be doing more than him to re-couple their cars. Yet here he is, unable to leave this stupid tent in this stupid frozen wasteland. Ingo has never felt more alone and he hates it. He doesn’t have any excuse to still be sitting here and doing nothing. He’s not even injured anymore because some high fucking power decided to ‘bless’ him without any explanation or warning! Ingo doesn’t even want to open that can of worms. So what? He’s stuck being angry. Ingo really hates being angry. He feels it’s such an unproductive emotion. There’s so much more he could be doing, and probably should be doing, but he can’t bring himself to!

   Ingo hasn’t answered Gaeric’s question. The realization snaps Ingo out of his agitated downward spiral. He looks back at the man and Gaeric looks away. Ingo must look upset. He’s aware his expression hardly changes, but Ingo can feel his frown pulling down into a deeper sort of grimace. Clearing his throat, Ingo forces himself to be polite. There’s no need to lash out at Gaeric. This isn’t his fault. “I do not. Nothing. It’s all just empty.” Ingo says, his tone coming out a bit sharper than he intended. He flops back down onto the bed beneath him. “... I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to snap at you. I’m not angry with you. I believe I am just angry.”

   Gaeric doesn’t answer Ingo for a moment, then he wordlessly rises and grabs his lanturn. “Right. It’s fine. I think I’d be upset too in your position. I’ll come back around when the sun comes up. For now, why don’t you rest?” 

   The only response Ingo can muster up is a hum of acknowledgement. He stares up at the tent ceiling as he listens to Gaeric’s footsteps walking towards the tent flap. Ingo doesn’t move as the flap is pulled open and Gaeric steps outside, the light disappearing with him. Another minute passes before Ingo finally moves. He brings his hands up to cover his face. “Fuck,” he grumbles to himself. That interaction was not the most pleasant. Ingo can imagine if that keeps happening, he will never be trusted by these people. 

   Does Ingo even want them to trust him? They’re not who Ingo wants, so why do they matter? 

   No… that’s cruel. Ingo should not disregard these people simply because he is upset. That would be childish. But oh does he want to be childish right now! 

   That’s not his role. Ingo is supposed to be the responsible one, the well-mannered one. That’s what people like about him. Ingo is agreeable and polite and will do anything he’s told and what does any of that even mean?! He doesn’t understand why he’s thinking this way or feeling like this. Nothing makes sense.

   He does not know how long he was lying like that before the tent flap is pulled open again. Oh what now? Did Gaeric come back? Maybe he left something behind? All he wants is to be left alone. Is that really too much to ask for in this awful place? Ingo pulls his hands away from his face, but he is not met with the human man he was expecting. Instead, Ingo is faced with two glowing pink eyes. It takes him a second to figure out what he’s looking at, but the tension in his body bleeds away when he realizes it’s Lady Sneasler. She mews at him, as if asking permission to come closer. Ingo nearly bursts into tears and opens his arms for Lady Sneasler; the only presence he will welcome right now. He would love nothing more than to hide in her fluff. 

   “Yes, come here, My lady. Let me hug you,” Ingo all but begs. 

   Oh dear… Lady Sneasler expected Ingo to miss her; of course he would, she’s fantastic! Though she must confess she didn’t expect him to get all weepy like this. He looks about two seconds away from bursting into tears. Goodness, she leaves him alone for a couple hours and he’s already a mess. He really is like one of her kits. She strides into the room and flops down across the human’s lap. Ingo is quick to wrap his arms around her, hiding his face in her fur. Lady Sneasler is a little concerned Ingo is going to poison himself doing that, but the hold he has on her is quite strong. She doubts she’d be able to easily get away without nicking him with her claws, which would arguably be worse for him. So, she can only hope he’s at least mildly poison proof. Lady Sneasler would be very upset if he died because of her poison. 

   “Snea?” She coos at him, trying to coax him into telling her what’s wrong. Ingo just drags in a shaky breath as he starts to rock back and forth. Ok… something clearly happened. Does it have something to do with Lord Avalugg’s warden? She saw him leaving the medical tent when she was coming down the main walkway. If he upset Ingo, she’s going to make him rue the day. 

   Ingo drags his hand down Lady Sneasler’s back, letting the feeling of her fur under his hands soothe him. “Apologies for my derailment… I’m just so tired,” he murmurs. 

   “Mrrp?” The human laughs a little, then mimics her sound. Oh! That seems to be helping. Lady Sneasler can work with that. “Snee-sneesa. Mrrrrp” Once again, Ingo copies her sound. She feels quite proud of herself for figuring this out. In no time, she’s going to be an expert about humans for sure! For now though, Lady Sneasler will focus on helping Ingo relax. 

   Her gift to him can wait until the morning. 

   On the plane mortal eyes cannot see, they are watching over their champion again. It seems Ingo is distressed once more. How never ending human emotions are… they intended to come down and bestow upon Ingo their gift, but they decide it might be for the best to just leave him be for a little while. They will let Ingo’s twin receive their gift first. 

Chapter Text

Time: 4:57 

  It’s been two hours since Lady Sneasler came back to the medical tent and Ingo hasn’t been able to get to sleep in the time that’s passed. Annoying, but at least Ingo feels less irritated than he did earlier. Lady Sneasler helped calm him. Right now, she’s still draped over his lap and is fast asleep. He’s incredibly grateful for her. Stewing in that negativity any longer than he did would have been very bad. Ingo truly doesn’t enjoy feeling that way. He’d like to avoid being in a situation like that again, so he will just have to get better at pushing those uncomfortable emotions away. Ingo shouldn’t be wasting his time on that when he has so much to do anyway. How is he supposed to fix this world if he’s too busy thinking about himself, after all? He can’t, so he’ll find something else to focus on.

   He’s been thinking about what Gaeric said for a little while now; going with him to help with his Pokémon troubles. Ingo isn’t looking forward to the work he has cut out for him, but he doubts he’ll be able to back down now. The best thing he can do is just suck it up and get it over with. Then he won’t have to lie awake dreading it. 

   For some reason, Ingo feels like someone would disagree with him about that and it would lead to an argument. 

   Ah, but they’re not here now, are they? No. Ingo is on his own. 

   Ingo sighs. He’s really got to stop thinking like that. The only thing it’s accomplishing is making him feel worse. Maybe he should try thinking about something else? What else is there to think about though? Ingo has not left this tent since he got here, which means he really doesn’t have anything but himself to focus on. Geez, maybe getting up and going outside will actually do him some good. If only it weren’t so cold… Ingo might enjoy the idea more if the ground wasn’t covered in snow and ice. Alas, he can’t do anything about the climate. 

   A pair of hidden eyes watches Ingo. They decide now is a good time to interrupt his brooding.

   Ingo. 

   His head throbs as the connection snaps into place and Ingo jolts. The movement causes Lady Sneasler to jump too and she sits up with a sharp yowl. Ugh. Arceus really needs to stop doing that. With a sigh, Ingo reaches up to pet Lady Sneasler in an effort to calm her down. “Forgive me, my friend. I didn’t mean to make you jump the tracks. Arceus is talking to me again.”

   Ingo misses the way Lady Sneasler lights up upon being called his friend, too busy rubbing his temple to try to dispel some of the ache. While he’s doing that, the noble processes what he just said. Lady Sneasler didn’t know that Arceus was talking to Ingo too. Yikes! Looks like she’s going to have to fight her creator for her spot as Ingo’s favorite. Lady Sneasler will make sure she wins… somehow. 

   It takes a second for Ingo to push through the headache, but eventually he manages to connect to Arceus. 

   Uh, hello? 

   Yes, greetings mine champion. I hath something to tell thee.  

   Ignoring the way Arceus sounds like an excited child, Ingo nods a little. 

   Okay. And what might that be? 

   Doth thou remember mine promise to thee? I had the greatest idea for thy gift! Uh, well… ‘twas more Truth’s idea, but that is not important. I hath a gift to present to thee! Here, here. Take it! 

   Before Ingo can question Arceus, a bright golden light appears in front of his face. It burns Ingo’s eyes and he looks away. He can hear Lady Sneasler yelp, likely doing the same. For a moment, nothing happens, then the light darts down and Ingo can feel the device on his wrist rattling a little. The oppressive glare lasts for no longer than a minute before fading away. Ingo doesn’t look down for a second, still trying to blink away the sting from the light. Eventually, he does glance down at his ArcTrans. It doesn’t look different. 

   “Sneas..?” Lady Sneasler huffs, scrunching her nose at the offending… thingy on Ingo’s wrist. What is that? It doesn’t look like anything she’s ever seen before. She glances at Ingo, only to find the human looking just as confused. Oh great. Ingo doesn’t even know! Why would he have it on if he doesn’t know what it is? Truly, he baffles her. His survival skills are very poor! It's a wonder he’s made it so far in life… Wait, how old is he? He certainly looks like an elder with that grey hair of his, though that can’t be true. She shakes her head. No! Focus on the weird glowy thingy. It could be dangerous! She reaches down and pokes the tiny thing, only for Ingo to lightly swat her claw away. “Snea snaw!” Rude!

   Ingo’s mouth quirks ever so slightly at the corners as he looks up at her. “Apologies, my lady. I fear your claws might cause damage. This device is very delicate.” 

   Oh. Well, Lady Sneasler hadn’t considered that. Humph. She’ll let it slide this time. Ingo returns his attention to his ‘device’ now. If he knows what he’s doing, Lady Sneasler supposes she can let him fiddle with it. As long as she can go back to sleep without being bothered. Yawning, Lady Sneasler curls back up on the foot of Ingo’s futon to try to get back to sleep.

   The movement of the noble causes Ingo to look up from his ArcTrans. What is she doing? Oh, it appears she’s going back to bed. “Ah, goodnight then. My apologies for waking you.” Lady Sneasler waves her claw at him with a huff before lying her head down and closing her eyes. She’s a strange Pokémon, but her personality is rather charming. He thinks back to what Irida said about Pokémon being dangerous. Surely she must have been exaggerating. Pokémon can communicate with humans well enough to work effectively with them. Ingo knows this to be true. Sometimes it just takes a little work to properly link cars together, but no Pokémon deserves to be treated as ‘terrifying’ or ‘vicious’. 

   Ah, but he’s getting derailed now. Back on schedule. Ingo pokes around his screen for a moment, trying to figure out what’s changed. Anywhere he clicks just creates a pop up asking if he wants to ‘set a destination’, which doesn’t seem to be any different than what it originally did. There’s a tab on the bottom right corner titled ‘missions’. It’s empty right now. Again, that was there before. It’s where he’d received messages from Arceus. Well… poking doesn’t seem to be doing anything. So, he swipes. Ingo swipes both left and right; nothing happens. Then he swipes up and the screen changes. The background is black now with two little boxes. One of them is labeled ‘map’ and the other is a black square with a white triangle pointing down. Is that not what Arceus had been using to communicate with him before? No. It doesn’t look the same.

   Ingo clicks on the triangle box and it opens, wincing a little at the bright white screen that meets him. It looks familiar somehow… there’s a small circle on the top of the screen with the same image as the icon from before and under it is a blurred out word. How strange… There doesn’t seem to be anything else but that circle and a space at the bottom with a flashing line in it.

   What is he supposed to do with this? Ingo doesn’t understand how this could be a gift… 

   Arceus must have heard that thought, as soon they’re speaking up again.

   Thou wilt see what this gift does soon. ‘Tis a connection to one thee holds dear. This is mine gift to thee. Thou art not allowed to inquire about thine memories or talk to this person about where thee are. ‘Tis meant only for thee to find some solace. 

   Ingo wants to question them, but is quickly distracted by something on the screen moving. He looks back, finding a small gray bubble with a single word in it. 

Hello? 

   There’s a moment of pause, then a rapid series of bubbles. 

Ingo?

Ingo, please answer.

Where did you go?

Why did you leave me?

Did I do something 

wrong? If you’re angry, 

we can talk. 

Please!  

   Seeing the frantic messages and reading the contents of them makes Ingo’s heart hurt. He has no idea who’s on the other end, but he doesn’t like that they’re distressed. Especially since Ingo is the reason for it. And something about the way they are blaming themself for his… derailment… makes Ingo sad. They should not blame themself for something that is beyond their control.

   He wants to comfort them. Really he does. But Ingo finds himself hesitating for a moment. What if he answers and he only upsets them more? Ingo feels like he would never forgive himself if he caused them pain… but another part of Ingo feels settled as he reads over their words. Despite the fact they’re only communicating through a screen, the relief he feels is beyond words.

   Ingo finds himself writing back. 

Hello.

I have been told that this is

a connection to someone I

am close with. I believe 

Ar**** thinks this will help

motivate me on my tracks

forward. 

That said, please do not 

blame yourself for my 

derailment. This is not 

your fault in any way.

I did not want to be 

uncoupled from you.

Know this, at the very

least. 

Please forgive me. 

   There. Ingo feels better having laid that out. He just hopes whoever is on the other end won’t hate him for this. Ingo would understand their disappointment or even their resentment. 

I’ll always forgive you.

No matter what.

Thank the dragons you’re okay.

I was so worried.

Where did you go?

Where are you? 

   Oh. Ingo feels like he’s going to cry again. He feels foolish now for ever believing the person on the other end would ever hate him. No, they’re worried about Ingo and want him to come home. Ingo wants nothing more than to do that, but he doesn’t know how… he just wants to go home to them.

Ingo?

Please don’t ignore me.

I need you to talk to me.

Please? 

   Oops, Ingo was so lost in his thoughts that he forgot to respond. Ingo quickly remedies that.

I am afraid to get your hopes up.

I have a feeling my tracks

will not lead home for a long 

while. I have been completely

derailed. My memories have

Left their station and will not

return for a while. I am afraid

I do not even recall who you 

are. But I have a feeling you

are dear to me.

I was told I must remain in

Hi*** until I have completed

my task. Which is to apparently 

seek out Pokémon. I do not 

know how I am supposed to 

do that. 

Ok. Fine.

We can deal with this.

I am E****.

What?

E****

Why isn’t it showing up?  

Right. There are some things

we are not allowed to share

with each other. It’s part of 

the rules. That must be one

of the things we can’t share.

I believe it may have 

something to do with the fact 

that I am not allowed to 

inquire about my memories.

I can’t even tell you my name?  

   Ingo really hates that they can’t tell him their name. He has a feeling he used to know it well and now that he doesn’t… it feels wrong. Unfortunately, there isn’t much Ingo can do about these rules. He doesn’t want to lose contact with this person trying to break them.

I am afraid you can’t.  I am

sorry. Truly. I’m so sorry.  

 No. None of that.

This isn’t your fault.

We’ll get through this, Ingo.

We are a two-car train.

Nothing will stop us from

finding a way to relink

our cars together.  

   This isn’t his fault… right. This situation is not Ingo’s fault and he can’t allow himself to take the blame for it. Ingo is here and nothing can change that, but he can accept that this wasn’t his choice. He feels something wet slide down his cheek, but he ignores it in favor of trying to return the same determination to them as they just did for him. 

I see.

Something tells me you are 

right. Somehow, we will find

each other again. I promise

I will traverse these tracks 

ahead as quickly as possible.

The journey may be perilous, 

but we will prevail. I believe 

in us.

Thank you for this. I find

myself feeling far more 

hopeful than I did moments

ago. I hope to see you again

soon. Until then, I must depart.

Farewell.

Bye, Ingo.  

   Ingo stares at that last message for a moment as it slowly becomes blurred with tears. This person, whoever they are, is incredibly important to Ingo. He will do whatever it takes to get back to them. Ingo shuts off his ArcTrans and brings it up to rest against his mouth. Getting back home is his Ideal and he will stop at nothing to make it Truth. That is what Ingo must keep telling himself. “Thank you, Arceus…” he whispers into the darkness.

   The only response he gets is a soft hum, then the connection between them goes quiet. 

Chapter Text

Time: 7:02 am 

   After receiving that gift from Arceus, Ingo managed to fall asleep again. Somehow, those messages helped ease Ingo’s mind a little. He felt better than he did before and even managed to get a couple more hours of sleep in. This is the most okay Ingo has felt since he got to Hisui. Ingo is incredibly grateful for that. It feels like he’s just been running on empty for days now. He’ll take any amount of relief he can get at this point. 

   Gaeric came by a little while ago to wake Ingo up again, as he said he would. Right now he’s waiting somewhere outside the tent for Ingo to get himself in order. He can hear the man whistling a tune from beyond the tarp barrier… Ingo’s not entirely sure what to make of him. He certainly feels less annoyed with Gaeric than he did earlier, but he still comes across as strange to Ingo. Though he likes the warden’s positivity. And something about his smile reminds Ingo of something… he’s more inclined to give Gaeric the benefit of the doubt because of it. Gaeric has been nice to Ingo so far, so he doesn’t have any reason not to.

   Ah, but he’s getting distracted with his thoughts. Ingo needs to finish getting ready. Not that he really has too much to do. He just wants to be sure he’s bundled up enough to face the icy landscape beyond this tent. Ingo put on the black undershirt and the gray tunic he’d been given, which are pretty warm. He also has the red scarf and a pair of matching woolen gloves. The fabric of them is itchy and Ingo doesn’t like it, but he’d take that over the chill. Ingo ignored the pants he’d been given in favor of the ones he arrived with. They’re fairly sturdy and Ingo is not willing to part with his old clothes if it’s not necessary. And finally, he put his coat and hat back on. Having them fills Ingo with an odd sense of relief. He didn’t even realize how bare he felt without them until he put them on. Now Ingo doesn’t really want to take them off ever again.

   “Snee?” Lady Sneasler chirrups from her place on the bed. Ingo looks over his shoulder at her. She must have just woken up, as her eyes are squinty and her feather is all disheveled. Ingo just barely manages to stifle a laugh, turning back to the fireplace. 

   “Good morning, my lady.”

   Lady Sneasler sits up. Why is Ingo awake so early? He should be sleeping for at least another hour. She stretches as she listens to Ingo moving around the tent. It looks like he’s gathering his stuff… is he leaving? Panic races through Lady Sneasler as she pushes herself up to her feet. Why is he leaving? Is he going off to start Arceus’ quest? This is too soon! Lady Sneasler isn’t ready yet. She hasn’t even given her his gift! Wait… where did it go? Lady Sneasler isn’t holding it anymore. Maybe she should have set it to the side so she would know where it was when she woke up… cursing internally, she rummages through the sheets.

   Ingo is ready to go. He’s got everything he needs, which albeit isn’t all that much. Now to brace himself for the cold. Ugh. Ingo really hates being cold.

   When he turns around, he finds Lady Sneasler messing with the sheets. He watches her for a moment. What is she doing? Is she looking for something? Perhaps Ingo should help her look, but watching her mess with the blankets is a little funny. He wishes he could find a way to capture this moment… wasn’t there a way he could do that? Ingo gets the sense there is, though he can’t remember what it is.

   While he’s thinking, Lady Sneasler seems to find what she was looking for. She lets out a triumphant snicker, then straightens up and turns to Ingo. The noble pauses and her expression morphs into one of embarrassment when she realizes he was just watching her do that. Ingo can’t hold back anymore and he bursts out laughing. Her expression is priceless! Lady Sneasler yowls at him, shoving him lightly with one of her massive paws. Unfortunately for her, that only makes Ingo laugh harder.

   “I- I’m sorry, my lady. You just- you should have seen your face!” Ingo manages to get out through his laughter.

   Lady Sneasler is indignant. How dare he laugh at her? She was trying to do something nice for him and this is how he repays her? Humans are so rude! Though maybe a part of her is happy to have made him laugh so hard regardless.

   Ingo clears his throat, the corners of his mouth tilting up. Huh. He looks kind of like a Sneasel with that smile. “My apologies, Lady Sneasler. I did not mean to upset you… but I think I needed that laugh.” With that, Ingo turns towards the tent flap and starts to walk that way. “Shall we depart then?” Ingo only gets a couple steps before the noble puts her paw in front of him, forcing him to stop. He looks up at her and she holds a claw up. Is she telling him to wait? Ingo turns to face her more fully. “What’s the matter, my lady?”

   It’s now or never. Lady Sneasler hopes she got him a good enough gift. Before she can back down, she holds up the small silver thingy for Ingo to see. He stares at it for a moment, eyebrows furrowing. 

   “Is that… a whistle?”

   Oh no! He hates it. Lady Sneasler wants to crawl into a hole and die now.

   Before she can retract her paw, Ingo takes the silver whistle out of her paw. It reminds Ingo of something he used to own. It was a different color and there were two of them, but they were both shiny like this too. Ingo loved his whistle. “Is this for me?” A beat passes, then Lady Sneasler nods. She brought him a gift! How sweet… Ingo turns the whistle in his hands. It’s supposed to do something, isn’t it?

   Ingo tries to remember. What is a whistle used for? He recalls only a foggy image of blowing into the whistle. Is that supposed to do something? He should test it. Maybe putting a whistle from who knows where in his mouth is a bad idea, but Ingo is too excited to see what it does to care. He brings the flatter end of the whistle up to his mouth and blows into it, creating a sharp sound. Oh! Whistles make noise! He pulls it away to look at it again. “Bravo! It makes sounds. How fascinating.” Ingo looks back up to Lady Sneasler. “Thank you, my friend!” 

   Lady Sneasler is a little surprised the whistle makes noises. It’s like a tiny Celestica flute. How perfect! Lady Sneasler is sure she’d recognize his call if she were to hear it again. So if he ever needs her, he can just call her with the whistle. Lady Sneasler feels proud of herself now.

   Does Ingo know he can do that though? Perhaps Lady Sneasler should clarify. She points at the whistle and then points to herself. Ingo looks confused. She does it again. It takes a couple tries before Ingo seems to piece together what she’s trying to convey.

   “Oh! I can use this to call you?” He asks and Lady Sneasler nods. “Wonderful! I shall keep that in mind. Now then, we really should be departing. All aboard!”

Location: Icepeak Arena 

   Walking through the Pearl Settlement was awful. Ingo can think of no other words to describe it. It was like the second he walked out of the medical tent, any good feelings he had were stripped away. Between the icy wind slapping him in the face and the stares he could feel burning into his very soul as he walked behind Gaeric, Ingo was unsettled and uncomfortable.

   Clearly, these people are not welcoming to outsiders. Not in the slightest. He felt like he was doing something wrong the whole time! Like if he made one wrong move, the people in the settlement would turn on him. Ingo doesn’t think he’s done anything gardner such a reaction. In fact, he’s been trying his best to remain polite and accept that this is his situation right now. He knows that it may be unfair to judge them so harshly. They probably have their reasons for being so distrusting of him… but Ingo can’t deny that it stings. 

   The hike to the seat of Gaeric’s noble wasn’t much better due to his bitter cold it is, but Ingo enjoyed listening to Gaeric talk about the different Pokémon that live in this area and the plants that could be found too. Gaeric is surprisingly very chatty. He indulged Ingo in all his questions about the land happily, though he seemed most excited when asked about his charge.

   Apparently, Gaeric is the caretaker of a Pokémon called Lord Avalugg. He is one of the five nobles belonging to the Pearl Clan, which seems to mean something important. Something about a ‘mighty champion’ and guardianship? Ingo figures it has to do with the religion of this region. He’s not entirely sure what it is, but he’s pieced together that they worship something called the ‘Almighty Sinnoh’ and space. Ingo gets the sense that the worship of space is not something he is particularly familiar with, but the name Sinnoh does sound like something he’s heard before. He just can’t recall where. 

   “Ingo!” Gaeric calls from somewhere above him. His voice startles Ingo out of his thoughts and he looks up, squinting against the brightness of the sun. Gaeric is standing on the cliff above him with Lady Sneasler beside him. She waves and Ingo waves back. “You’ve gotta stay aware! You’re gettin’ lost in your thoughts again down there. If you’re not careful, you’re gonna end up gettin’ attacked by a wild Pokémon! Focus!” 

   Oh, right. Ingo is supposed to be learning things right now. More specifically, he’s supposed to be learning how to evade Pokémon. The goal is to try and find Pokémon while also avoiding their attacks. Gaeric hid his Bergmite around the area in a sort of booby-trap style. He fails to see how this is supposed to help him, but Ingo is humoring the man. “Apologies!”

   Ingo turns back to the snowy landscape in front of him. He’d already found four Bergmite, which means he’s just got one more to find before Gaeric will allow Ingo to go back to the settlement. Just one more and Ingo can rest. He’s already feeling beyond exhausted, as he’s been at this for a couple hours now. 

   The last Bergmite doesn’t appear to be anywhere around where Gaeric and Lady Sneasler are, so maybe Ingo should look elsewhere. Perhaps the far side of the cliffs will yield better results. He gives Lady Sneasler and Gaeric one last glance before heading in that direction. While Ingo is pretty sure he’s supposed to be staying within their line of sight, he figures they’re still close enough for him to be okay.

   So, Ingo trudges through the snow towards the other side. Surely that last Bergmite is just hiding out over here right? 

   Up on the cliff, Gaeric watches as Ingo starts to wander to the far side of Icepeak Arena. While Gaeric prides himself on keeping his Lord’s territory safe, there are some things that are just beyond his control. Like the growing Zoroark population nearby. Gaeric’s Pokémon are only so strong, after all and it’s tough to keep them at bay. Which means the far side of the cliffs are off limits. Ingo is getting dangerously close to Zoroark territory. “Ingo! You should stay away from that side! You’re wanderin’ too close to the Zoroarks!”

   Ingo must not hear him. He doesn’t stop walking. 

   Gaeric takes a step towards the slope down the cliff. “Ingo!” 

   He still doesn’t stop, slowly disappearing into the fog surrounding those dreadful ice caves. Shit. “Damn it. Lady Sneasler, let’s go!”

   The noble doesn’t have to be told twice and soon, the two of them are trying to get down the cliff.

   Ingo is lost.

   He must have taken a wrong turn or somehow ended up going further than he meant to… everything is shrouded in fog. The snow seems to get thicker the further he goes. Which makes sense, Ingo supposes. This side of the area must not get as much wind to carry the snow away. Ingo just has to push harder to cut through the thickness. He can do that if he has to.

   Ingo refuses to admit defeat and go back to Gaeric. Something tells him that if he fails this exercise, things are only going to be harder for him. He already feels like he’s on thin ice with Lady Irida and the people of the Pearl Clan. The last thing he wants is to be cast out and left on his own. No matter how frightening this gets, Ingo will just have to see it through. He has to prove himself. 

   “Ingo.” 

   A voice whispers from somewhere to his left. It sounds… familiar, but wrong. Ingo jumps, head snapping to his side. There’s nothing there… Ingo must be hearing things. This area is a little eerie looking with all this fog. It’s kind of hard to see too. That’s it. Ingo is just wigging himself out. Everything is fine. He shakes out his hands and tries to continue. 

   There’s something in front of him. A person in a white coat. Ingo can’t see them well through the fog, but the sight makes his heart ache. He knows them. Ingo is certain he does… so why does this feel wrong? Ingo is frozen in place. The figure smiles at him, taking a step closer. That smile… oh how Ingo misses their smile. 

   “Ingo… why did you leave me?”  

   What? No. Ingo would never abandon them! Never. Ingo takes a step forward. “N-... I didn’t-...” His tongue feels heavy; like it’s a fight just to get it to move. 

   The figure’s smile shifts into something colder; angrier. 

   “You left me. You left me alone! Ingo… how could you leave me? How could you!”  

   It takes another step, expression morphing again into an angular grin. Ingo’s heart leaps into his throat. That’s not… that’s not human. Ingo has no idea what this thing is, but it’s not his man in white. He takes a step back, trying to turn and flee, but it lunges for him. Ingo watches in horror as its flesh melts away to reveal angry yellow eyes and a gaping maw. It slams him down into the snow, knocking the wind out of him. 

   The beast wastes no time, snapping at his face. Ingo just barely manages to bring his arm up before it can. Its jaws close around his arm and Ingo swears he can hear his bones snap. Blood spurts out of the punctures along his forearm, splattering against the snowy white of the beast's fur. Ingo screams. He can feel its teeth digging into his flesh and shredding it. 

   Ingo’s going to die. He’s gonna die!

   Panic explodes within Ingo. He’s going to die. This thing is going to kill him. Help. He needs help. 

   No. He needs to stop panicking and think clearly. He needs to get away and then get help. Getting away is step one. Ingo steels himself and brings his leg up to kick the beast in the stomach. He manages enough force to throw it off of him, it’s teeth ripping into the flesh of his arm as he does. That’s fine. Later. Ingo will deal with that later. He ignores the searing pain that shoots up his arm, instead forcing himself to his feet and taking off back the way he came. 

   A moment later, he can hear pounding footsteps behind him. 

   “Ingo!! INGO!!!” It wails. Ingo ignores it. That’s not the voice he knows, no matter how similar it sounds. It’s not real! 

   He needs to get it off of his trail, but how? Sneasler. Ingo has her whistle. He fumbles for his pocket just as he hears the thing behind him leap. He jumps to the right and it lands with a thud in the snow beside him. Ingo shoves himself up and takes off again. He forces his hand into his pocket and yanks the whistle out, bringing it up to his mouth. Ingo drags in as deep a breath as he can and then forces it out in two sharp sounds. Hopefully she heard that.

   A flash of white darts out in front of him, then Ingo is pressed up against rock. Fuck! It lunges for his face and Ingo uses his hands to shove its salivating mouth away. Damn it, he’s not going to make it. The beast snarls at him, snapping again, trying to yank its head out of Ingo’s hold. How is he supposed to get out of this? He doubts kicking it again will work. The beast grabs his right arm, claws digging into his skin. Ingo can feel warm blood dribble down his skin. 

   “ Worthless. You’re worthless! You left me behind! Ingo!!!” It hisses. It’s taunting him now with that voice. Ingo can’t stand it. 

   “Ing-” Purple claws dig into its throat, its blood spraying into Ingo’s face.  The claws force it away from Ingo slamming the beast into the ground nearby. He collapses as Lady Sneasler lunges at his attacker. Snow is tossed up in the clash and Ingo can hardly see anything. All he can hear is snarls and screams. Ingo can’t take it.

   He pushes himself up once more and runs as fast as he can. Ingo feels bad for leaving Lady Sneasler there, but he can’t stop. He needs to get away. Far away. As far away as he can possibly get.

   Ingo runs and runs until he reaches Icepeak Arena, but even then he doesn’t stop. He races past the icy cliffs, wind wailing past his ears. Ingo can’t stop. He can feel tears streaming down his face and the uncomfortable shifting of his skin stitching itself back together. 

   There’s a familiar pressure in his head. It only makes Ingo feel worse.

   Ingo? Art thou well?  

   Ingo ignores them. He doesn’t want to talk to Arceus. He doesn’t want to talk to anyone. He just wants to be left alone! Unfortunately, Arceus doesn’t seem to understand that. 

   Ingo! Don’t ignore mine words. Ingo! 

   The pressure increases and Ingo snaps. “Shut up! Shut up and leave me alone!” 

   There’s a pause, then the pressure bleeds away. Ingo skids to a stop as he comes across a hole in the cliffs. The sun is too bright. It’s too cold. Everything is too much… he forces his way into the opening and slides down the cold stone wall. His head is spinning. He needs… he needs to talk to someone. Someone who isn't in this terrible place.

   He brings his shaking wrist up, swiping around on his ArcTrans before finding the triangle app. Ingo manages to get his hand to stop shaking enough to write to them. 

Hey.

I need to talk. 

Please answer.

I’m sorry.

I’m so sorry.

Please.

Chapter Text

   The wailing of the wind outside the small cave masks Ingo’s gasping for breath. He can hardly feel his body; everything is numb. All Ingo can do is stare at the tiny screen on his wrist and tremble.

   He feels stupid. Wandering away from Gaeric and Lady Sneasler was a mistake… but how could he have known that what happened would happen? This world is foreign. Every single part of it. Ingo knows nothing and does everything wrong. He’s all wrong. He’s not supposed to be here and he can’t do anything right. Worst of all, he’s not even allowed to go home! He’s stuck in this endless cycle of being a failure and he’s barely even done anything yet. This is impossible! Ingo shudders, a sob rising in his chest. Why does he feel so utterly helpless? It’s not fair. He’s fighting for his life at every turn and he’s only been here for a few days. This world is against him…

   He can’t stay in this stupid place with these killer Pokémon and unfriendly people. Ingo isn’t built for this life.

   A couple minutes pass and Ingo still doesn’t get a response. He pulls his knees up to his chest. Great. Even the unknown person on the other side of the triangle app has abandoned him. Ingo isn’t sure why, but that stings the most. He wants them to listen to him. To just be there for him… but that’s not fair, is it? He doesn’t even remember who they are. Why should he be entitled to their time? Maybe they really are disappointed with him, even if they claimed otherwise… Ingo’s shoulders shake as he cries into the space between his knees. He just wants to go home. 

   By now, Ingo can feel that his wounds have healed. There’s an odd tingly sensation where the gashes had been and a stiffness that makes Ingo feel tense. He hates it… it’s itchy and it’s driving him crazy. He reaches under his sleeve, scratching at the freshly reformed skin. He hates it. It’s too much sensation… that’s the best way he can describe it. It feels like everything around him is just making this worse. 

   Ingo glances out of the cave entrance, trying to ignore the buzzing behind his eyes. It makes him feel inhuman. What kind of human would be able to survive injuries like this? What kind of human wouldn’t be able to adapt to the land around them? Aren’t people supposed to be resilient? Shouldn’t he just suck it up and keep going?

   Ingo can’t. He’s not able to adapt. He can’t do anything. All he knows is what he’s been told and even that feels inexplicably wrong. 

   It’s all wrong… he glances back down at his screen. Still nothing. Why won’t they just answer him?! Selfishness be damned, Ingo needs someone to hear him. Anyone! 

   Reaching up, Ingo yanks off his hat to drag a hand through his some how cold and sweaty hair. “Ugh!! Please just answer!” Ingo huffs as he leans his head back against the cold stone wall. Why won’t anyone listen to him? Ingo wants to scream his lungs raw… but that won’t do him any good, would it? It would be as fruitless as anything else he’s done and could potentially draw another aggressive Pokémon to him. Ingo closes his eyes. “Please… please…”

   Silence. It’s so loud that his ears are ringing. 

   What if it never ends? What if Ingo is forever trapped in this endless quiet? He’ll never regain himself; forever a fragment of a man he no longer knows.

   He’s hopeless.

   *Ding* 

   Ingo’s eyes snap open and he looks down at his ArcTrans, almost bursting into tears of relief when he finds messages starting to pop up. He sets his hat down in his lap. The breath he had no idea he was holding comes out in a soft hiss as he lifts his wrist to bring the screen closer. 

Ingo?

I’m here, I’m here.

What’s wrong?

What happened?

Are you okay?

   No, Ingo is not okay. Not in the slightest. Ingo is angry and tired and so freaking cold! 

   Maybe it’s not right, but Ingo finds himself typing before he can stop himself. He just needs to get it all out. Everything. Every single thing that he’s been keeping to himself and bottling up. He can’t do it anymore. If he does, Ingo isn’t sure how much longer he’d be able to hold on.

This place is awful. I hate

it so much. Everyone is so

distant and I’ve almost been

killed by Pokémon twice. 

I don’t know what I’m doing!

I can’t survive here! 

And it’s so fucking cold! 

I hate being cold! 

There’s so much blood and

it’s everywhere but apparently

I won’t die because I heal 

myself? That doesn’t even 

make any damn sense! 

And I just yelled at Ar**** 

and told them to shut up. 

I can’t take it!

I want to go home. 

I want to go home so 

bad and I don’t even 

fucking remember it!

I’m so sick of this! 

   As soon as Ingo finishes typing, a wave of horror washes over him. Did he really just say all that? He… Ingo gets the sense that he’s never blown up quite like this before. There was something before that helped keep Ingo calm… but it’s gone now. There’s nothing to stop his emotions from ruining him. That can’t be healthy. Ingo doesn’t want to be this irritable and yet he just can’t stop. 

   His train of thought derails when he sees the blinking dots appear again.  

You’re hurt?

What happened?!  

An aggressive Pokémon. 

   Ingo debates telling them the whole story. It might be rude to unload all of this on them… but Ingo is tired of having nobody to vent to and he has a feeling that hiding something from them will only upset them. He has nothing to hide from this person and even thinking about doing so feels wrong for some reason.

It tricked me and tried to

eat me.

I’m sorry.

I’ve just realized what

I said is a tad excessive.

I am not dying. Please do

not worry over that.

Apparently I have been

‘blessed’ by some divine

being. My injuries

seem to magically heal 

themselves. So, I will be

fine.

What the fuck! 

   A loud laugh forces its way out of Ingo as he reads that. It’s a fair reaction, but the use of profanity is not something he can allow. It’s inappropriate… Ingo elects to ignore the hypocrisy of that sentiment. 

Language. 

Me language? 

Go re-read your messages!

Didn’t know you 

were that foul mouthed. 

Talk about a hypocrite 🤗 

Touché…

   Wait a minute. Ingo leans closer to the screen, trying to get a better look at the little icon in the message. What is that? It feels familiar in a way Ingo can’t quite place. He likes it. How does he make one again? Ingo wants to send one back.

Wait, how did you 

do that?

The yellow thing. 

An emoji? 

   Oh, that’s what it’s called! That feels right. Ingo can feel the corners of his mouth tilting up despite himself. Somehow, having this silly conversation is making the buzz under his skin dissipate. Slowly but surely.

Yes! Emoji! 

How? 

There should be a

button with a face.

That’s emojis. 

   A button with a face on it? Ingo looks around his screen for a moment. There doesn’t seem to be a button anywhere near the top… he looks down towards the letters, scanning over the space. Ah! There’s a button with a face on it near the bottom of the screen. Ingo presses it and a whole bunch of emojis pop up. Wonderful! There’s so many options to choose from. He scrolls for a moment, picking out a few he likes. 

Oh!

I found it. 

🥰🤯🥲

I like these ones. 

Congrats! But we

should get back to 

the matter at hand.

About your other

Messages.

I’m sorry I can’t help

you. I really wish I

could. 

You said you’re hurt.

Are you sure you’ll be

alright? I’m worried.  

I will not lie.

I am still feeling

A little uncomfortable,

but it is not as bad.

Talking to you has helped.

I feel much calmer than 

I did before, so thank you! 

   Ingo opens the emoji’s tab and picks out one he’d seen while he was scrolling before. He likes this one. Perhaps it will make his companion feel a little better about their circumstance.

🙁

That one is like me.

It is.

🙂

That one is like me. 

   A smiley face? That… Ingo knows who this is! Well, kind of. This must be the man in white he’s been seeing in his dreams. That smile… not the warped and twisted one of the creature from before. The man’s smile is a comforting sight; it shifts to show how he’s feeling in the way Ingo’s voice does for him. Ingo knew that smile well. Ingo misses him so very much.

YES! 

Sorry. 

I just recall something

about a smiling face. It

feels correct. I like it.

I am verrry glad! 

Verrry? 

I think I like that too.

   Ingo goes to write more, only to pause when he hears footsteps crunching in the snow nearby. His hand freezes over his ArcTrans and he looks up, trying to figure out what’s coming his way. 

   Silence. Then, he hears a voice. 

   “Ingo! Are you around here? Please answer me!” Gaeric calls. Ingo’s shoulders relax. As much as he wants to hide in this cave forever and continue talking to the man in white, Ingo knows avoiding Gaeric will only stress the man out. It’s not Gaeric’s fault that this happened. It would be unfair to take it out on him. So, Ingo will have to face this. He looks back at his messages.

Ah, I have to go.

Someone is calling 

for me. I should 

apologize for running

off… 

Goodbye! 

Please be careful, Ingo.

Bye.

I love you 🙂  

Yes.

I love you too.

I will endeavor 

to keep myself 

as safe as possible.

For your peace of

mind, if nothing else.

   “C’mon, Ingo! Please come out!”

   Ingo opens the emoji’s tab, quickly searching for an emoji to sign off with. It takes him a second, but eventually he finds the perfect one.

🖤

🤍

   With that, he shuts off his ArcTrans and pokes his head out of the cave. It takes him a second to actually find Gaeric, but eventually Ingo spots him a couple feet away from the entrance. He debates getting out and going over to him, but decides he’s not ready to be on his feet yet. Ingo drags in a deep breath, then calls for Gaeric. “Gaeric! I’m over here!”

   Thankfully, Ingo is loud enough that he immediately catches the man’s attention. Gaeric’s head snaps towards him and he rushes over to the cave entrance. Ingo retreats back into the dark space as Gaeric skids to a stop in front of him. For a moment, neither of them say anything, then Gaeric crouches down to his level. 

   “There you are! Lady Sneasler and I were worried sick. Are you okay?”

   Ingo nods. “I am… healed.” 

   “Right. Okay… uh, so I think we can call off the whole trainin’ thing for now. The sun’s goin’ down and it’s not safe to be out and about durin’ the night. We should head back to the settlement,” he says, moving to stand and start making his way to the settlement. 

   Ingo doesn’t move. “Gaeric.”

   A beat, then Gaeric settles back down. “Yes?”

   “I can’t… I can’t stay here. I know Lady Irida wants me to train before I go, but…” he trails off, trying to find the right words. It’s harder than Ingo anticipated, but Gaeric is patient. He just stares off into the distance while Ingo thinks. Eventually, Ingo figures out how to put it. “I need to get out of here. If I stay any longer, I think I might lose myself. I’m here for a purpose, right? I want… I want to go figure out what that is. I want to go home… can’t do that while I’m stuck here.” 

   Gaeric sighs. “Yeah, I had a feelin’ you might say that… Lady Irida does want you to stick around for a bit. She wants to figure out how to protect our people from whatever’s comin’... I think she believes you’ll be the key to doin’ that. I think you’re just about as lost as any of us… uh, no offense… if you wanna go, I don’t think we should stop you. The land of Hisui is vast. It’d do you better to go learn from the space itself, I think.” A long stretch of quiet passes. Ingo is glad Gaeric is on his side. It feels nice to have someone agree with him for once. Gaeric stands back up, putting his hands on his hips. “I’ll help you. You’re gonna need supplies before you go off and I’m the only one who can get ‘em to you without bein’ suspicious. Just give me a day or two and I can help you be on your way.”

   “You would do that for me?” 

   The blue-haired warden flashes him a wide grin. “Sure! I want to help you get back to wherever you came from. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I were in your shoes. It’s the least I can do!” 

   For a moment, Ingo feels like he might start crying again. That is… incredibly kind of Gaeric. He’s only known him for about a day and was rather rude to him when they first met, yet he’s willing to help Ingo out. Ingo is more grateful than he can put into words. Still, he tries anyway. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me,” he says.

   Gaeric just waves him off. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t mention it. We really should be gettin’ back now. We’re losin’ daylight!”

   “Oh! Right, of course. Let us depart for the settlement.” 

   Ingo puts his hat back on and squeezes out of the cave, then the two of them are off once more. 

Location: Pearl Clan Medical Tent 

   Thankfully, the walk back to the tent was uneventful. Well, save for the incident that happened halfway through the walk back. Which was Lady Sneasler yowling at the top of her lungs and leaping down from a cliff at Ingo. She’d tackled him into the snow and fussed over him for a solid ten minutes before finally letting him up. Ingo ended up getting mildly poisoned during the affair, but Gaeric had a Pecha berry on him and Ingo was fine after that. 

   Gaeric and Ingo parted ways when they reached the medical tent, and Gaeric promised to be in touch. Just a couple days and then he’d help Ingo get to the border of the Icelands and then he’ll be one his own. Now all he’s got to do is wait for the right time.

   Lady Sneasler is curled up by the fireplace while Ingo is sitting on a nearby chair. So much happened today… he’s honestly still reeling a little bit. He’d done things he’s not very proud of as well. Mainly how he treated Arceus. He’s been trying to reach them for over an hour now so he can apologize. Every attempt is met with silence; not even a hint of their presence. It doesn’t help that Ingo has never initiated a conversation with the strange being and therefore has no idea how to do it right. Arceus has always just popped in whenever they want and Ingo has been going along with that. So how is he supposed to reach them? Ingo has tried reaching for their presence with his thoughts, which has obviously not done him any good. He’d also opened his ArcTrans and tried to send a message through the missions tab Arceus had used before… also no luck. Ingo is running out of ideas now. 

   ‘Arceus? Arceus, please answer me…’ 

   Nothing.

   Has Arceus just abandoned him? With each fruitless attempt at contact, it’s starting to feel more likely. What if he’s just been left here with no way home? Arceus had said – well, implied really – that his only way home was through them. If he can’t reach Arceus anymore, does that mean his route home has been permanently decommissioned? No. Ingo won’t let himself panic. He will find the tracks home, with or without Arceus. That is his Ideal.

   But it wouldn’t hurt to have Arceus’s help to make the journey smoother… and he really does feel bad for how he treated them. They didn’t deserve to get yelled at for trying to make sure he was okay.

   Ingo smacks his cheeks, attempting to get himself back on track. Surely there must be some way to contact Arceus. He’s just gotta figure it out. Ingo can do that… right? Yes! Ingo will do that. 

   Another moment of silence passes. Ingo groans. Lady Sneasler looks up from grooming her claws for a moment, but ultimately decides to leave Ingo be. He grabs the brim of his hat, bringing it down over his eyes. Just think! What hasn’t he tried? Could he send a letter…? Probably not. Arceus did say they were located ‘beyond space and time’. Ingo doubts they get mail there. Perhaps dreaming might lead him to that realm? Was he asleep when they first met? Ingo cannot remember. This is hopeless.

   In a fit of frustration, Ingo clasps his hands together and leans down to press his forehead against them. Then, he allows himself to ramble. 

   “Arceus… Please listen to me. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. It’s just that this is so much pressure and I don’t know what I’m doing and I was afraid in the moment, so I guess I took out my frustrations on you. I am deeply sorry for my derailment. Please don’t leave me alone. I need your guidance if I’m to ride the tracks to saving this land. Please…” Ingo sighs, allowing the quiet to wash over him again.

   Thou still wishes to answer mine call? 

   Ingo’s head snaps up at the feeling of Arceus’s presence. Relief floods over him in waves. He’s not stuck here. Ingo can still get home. All is well now. 

   ‘Yes. I meant what I said.’ 

   But thou told me to ‘shut up’? Doth that not mean thou wishes mine presence be gone?  

   ‘Well… It did in the moment. And that was very mean of me to say. I did not intend to ban you forever. I was just too overwhelmed. Your presence can be overpowering when it pops up so suddenly and it hurts. It would be nice if you warned me before entering my station.’

   I see… Once more, human behaviors hath baffled me. I feared I would require another champion again… I shall remember to be more careful next time. 

   A sinking feeling settles over Ingo. Again…? Has this happened before? Ingo can’t think of how to respond to that. Just how many humans has Arceus done this to? The mere thought of anyone else in his place fills him with dread. Maybe he was just a last resort. Maybe all of Arceus’s previous ‘champions’ have been abandoned… or worse. Ingo’s chest feels tight.

   Ingo? Thou art silent again… What ails thee? 

   Ingo swallows thickly, trying to dislodge the lump in his throat. It takes a moment, but eventually he manages to pull himself together enough to answer.

   ‘Again…? How many ‘champions’ have you taken?’ 

   … Three. There were two before thou. A pair. They came to Hisui together… I called upon them some time ago… a year perhaps? Human time eludes me… The siblings seemed a good pair to take on the great evil of this land. But I quickly learned that was not so… the siblings could not appeal to their fellow man and thus were shunned. They took their anguish out on me and rebuked me. I know not where they ran to, only that they wished mine presence gone. So, I left them and called upon thee… I fear they were… too young.  

   Nausea weighs heavily within Ingo. Too young. How young could they have been? How could Arceus not have known that a child wouldn’t be able to fight some ‘great evil’. Children aren’t supposed to be savoirs! They’re supposed to be nurtured and be allowed to grow and develop, not be ripped away to a foreign land to fight. And shunned by the people of Hisui? Well… Ingo can believe that. He’s only been in the Pearl Clan for a few days and already he feels as if he does not belong here. Ingo is going to be leaving soon because of it! If he was feeling awful, he can’t imagine how a couple of kids would be feeling. It’s unfathomable. Ingo feels so sorry for the two champions before him. He can empathize with their pain. Of being ripped away so suddenly from his home… Did they also lose their memories or just him? 

   ‘How old were they?’ 

   It’s a question Ingo feels he won’t like the answer to, but finds himself asking anyway. 

   Eight, I believe. Both of the siblings. Twins, is the human name for it.  

   Eight years old. Arceus dragged a couple of eight-year old children here to do their bidding… No wonder they jumped the tracks. How could an eight year old take on such a monumental task? It’s simply not possible! And if Arceus is right about them being here for a year, that makes them only nine now, which isn’t much better! Nine and Arceus has no idea what could have happened to them. They could have gotten hurt or worse! He wants to be angry with Arceus. How dare they make children do this? Yet, he knows fighting with Arceus won't end well... Ingo can’t just let this be. No. If those two children are… are still alive, then Ingo cannot leave them alone out there. He will find them. 

   ‘What are their names?’ 

   What? 

   ‘Their names. I want to know their names. You have no right to deny me this. You’ve left children out in the wilderness with no ride home. You can’t do that. Children cannot survive on their own! Surely, you must know this? What if they are dead? Then you will have stolen innocent children from their homes and left them as if they were nothing! That’s not fair. I will take on your tasks. I will dispel whatever ‘great evil’ looms over this station. But I will do it on my own terms. This is my route now. I will be the engineer on the train towards victory. So tell me who I’m looking for on my journey. Passenger safety is of utmost importance. I will not leave them stranded in this station. And if they are… if they have already departed, then they deserve to be known at the very least.’ 

   Everything is still. It seems like the fire isn’t even moving next to him. Ingo remains steadfast in his conviction. This is his Ideal and he will make it Truth. 

   Yes. I knew mine assessment of thou was correct. Thy will is most impressive… and thou art right. Abandoning mine champions was… one of mine greatest mistakes… Their names are Rei and Akari… Last I saw of the twins, they were in the Coronet Highlands. I will not be able to help thee find them, as they are now beyond mine reach… but I wish thou luck in thy quest, mine champion. Thou hast mine blessing. 

   With that, Arceus’s presence fades away and Ingo is left to ponder what he’d been told. Rei and Akari… Ingo can only hope that the two of them are alright. When all of this is said and done, he’d love nothing more than to bring them back to wherever their home station may be.

   So, he’ll have to be on the lookout for them. Maybe he can ask Gaeric about the Coronet Highlands. That might be a good place to start his journey. Hopefully, they aren’t too far away. 

   He’s not sure how long he sits there, staring at the floor, before Lady Sneasler noses at his arm. Ingo jolts, nearly jumping out of his skin. He’d been so lost in his head that he hadn’t even noticed her approach! She snickers at him, moving away a bit as Ingo turns to glare at her. 

   “Goodness, you gave me a fright. I was not paying attention… I suppose you got me. Bravo, my lady… well played.”

   Lady Sneasler grins at him and Ingo just lets out an amused sigh, reaching up to pet her. The two of them fall into a comfortable silence, simply existing in each other’s presence. 

   Should he tell her about his conversation with Gaeric? What about the one with Arceus? Ingo owes her at least a little explanation, doesn’t he? Lady Sneasler saved him earlier and he has yet to give her any praise for that. And she has been nothing but kind and helpful to him since he awoke. She is a wonderful ally. How rude of him to not acknowledge that! “Lady Sneasler?”

   “Snee-snaw!”

   “Thank you for saving me today. I just realized I didn’t say it before, so I am doing so now. Truly, I appreciate your assistance,” he says, trying to convey his gratitude in his tone.

   She stares at him for a moment, then leans up to lick his face. Ingo interprets that as her acceptance. 

   “Okay, okay. I understand, my friend. That is not all I want to say.” Lady Sneasler licks him once more before going back to letting him pet her, still keeping her eyes on him. She’s listening. Good. “I had a conversation with Gaeric earlier. He is going to help me get out of the settlement soon. I… I cannot stay here any longer. I believe starting on my journey would do me some good… I also just had a conversation with Arceus. There are a couple passengers I would like to look for in the Coronet Highlands. I think we should make our way there. Would you like to link your car with mine, my lady?”

   Lady Sneasler blinks at him. He wants to go to the Highlands? Perfect! Lady Sneasler would be delighted to go with him to her domain. She’s got some stuff she needs to sort out anyway. Mainly finding an heir… Lady Sneasler has not been the best noble she can be for some time. After seeing the aftermath of that purple bubble, she has decided that it would be best to step down. Not because she isn’t a capable noble, but because her sense of purpose has shifted. She’s been keeping an eye on her last litter of Sneasels from a couple years ago. Some of them have grown quite strong. She will have to scope them out when they get to the Highlands… so, of course she would! That’s exactly what she’s been trying to convey since they met really! Perhaps she’s not as good at communicating with humans as she thought. Ugh. At this rate, Arceus is going to win him over for sure. Well, she just won’t let them! She’ll have to step up her game. Lady Sneasler nods, smiling at Ingo. His eyes soften.

   “Bravo! I’m glad to have you aboard… I fear I would be lost without your companionship,” he announces, letting his hand fall away from her. “We’ve got quite a bit of work ahead of us, but I am confident we will prevail. Ah, that means we should be getting as much rest as we can then! I’m sure Gaeric will want to get moving as soon as possible. Why don’t we rest our engines now?” Ingo slides off the chair, moving back to the mat near the fireplace. He can hear Lady Sneasler following after him as he slides under the covers.

   “Sneas. Snee-snaw!”

   “Good night to you too. Rest well, my lady.”

   With that, Ingo settles into the bed and closes his eyes. Tomorrow is a new day and this time he’ll wake up ready to face it. 

Chapter Text

Time: 9:54 am

   “Mr. Ingo. Do you intend to sleep all day?”

   Ingo jolts awake, sitting up so fast that his head spins. There’s light streaming in through the small window in the wall to his right and it shines straight into his eyes, forcing him to squint against the burn. It looks like someone opened the curtain that had been covering it. He brings his hands up to rub away the blurriness from sleep out of his eyes, which isn’t all that helpful when his head is spinning. Everything is still a little blurry. What time is it? Ingo doesn’t feel like he slept all that long, though evidently he did. Wait… who said that?

   His hands drop and he looks up to find Miss Calaba standing over his bed. Her expression is twisted in her usual frown with a disapproving quirk of her brow and her arms are crossed over her chest. Oh. Well he hasn’t seen her in a little while. Ingo hadn’t even thought to ask about her, which is incredibly rude on his part. Though, in his defense, he had been a little busy yesterday.

   Apparently Ingo has been staring for too long because Miss Calaba sighs and shakes her head at him. “Hello? Goodness, you sleep like a rock! I’ve been trying to wake you for ten minutes now. You’re going to have to kick that habit if you want to survive here,” she huffs, turning away from him and heading off somewhere else in the tent… Ingo is far too tired to fully process her words. All he gets is that she’s annoyed with him and sleeping in is bad. Right. Cool. He wants to go back to bed, but that obviously won’t be so. He might as well just get up then.

   Ingo groans as he pushes the blankets back and slowly rises to his feet. “Good morning, Miss Calaba. My apologies… I didn’t intend to sleep in so late.” It’s not a full truth. Ingo would happily sleep in later, in fact. Though he didn’t necessarily mean to do so.

   The only response he gets is a hum of acknowledgment. Well, at least she isn’t chastising him anymore. That’s got to be a good thing, right?

   A yawn escapes Ingo as he walks over to the corner Miss Calaba had retreated to. She’s bent down, rummaging through a woven basket full of herbs. Ingo hadn’t even realized that was there. Though, he hasn’t really been snooping through the stuff in the medical tent to have known anyway. That would have been rude… just about as rude as staring at the old woman like he is now. Ingo adverts his gaze and clears his throat. “It’s been a while since I last saw you. Um… how are you?” Well now that sounds insincere. Ingo just can’t win, can he? He wishes he had something to help wake him up. Maybe then this interaction wouldn’t be so stilted.

   Calaba clicks her tongue, glancing over her shoulder at him. “There’s no need for tense small talk. I’m fine. I came to check in on you. Warden Gaeric told me that you had a run in with a Zoroark yesterday. Any injuries I should look at?”

   A Zoroark? Is that what the creature that attacked him was? For some reason, that feels wrong. A white Zoroark. Ingo feels that they’re supposed to be a different color and aren’t nearly as murderous as the one that tried to kill him yesterday. Though the illusions part makes sense. If Ingo isn’t misremembering, Zoroark are known for their illusions. Which is exactly how the one from before got Ingo to lower his guard… he can see how those illusions could cause so many issues given the nature of the Pokémon. They must be very dangerous if that’s the case. “A Zoroark? Yes… I believe that is what it was. I stepped past the yellow line and wandered too far from Gaeric and Lady Sneasler. It did scratch my arms, but those injuries have since healed.”

   Calaba nods a little and the tent falls into silence. He’s not sure what to say to her, so he decides to say nothing at all until she addresses him again. Ingo will probably just make a fool of himself if he tries to continue on with a conversation. He’s gotten quite good at that, it seems.

   The sound of a crunch draws Ingo’s attention away from his awkwardness. He looks over towards the fireplace, finding Lady Sneasler sitting there with a bowl filled with green things in front of her and a couple clutched in her claws. She pauses mid bite upon meeting his gaze like she’d been caught red handed. What are those? Ingo’s never seen them before. Lady Sneasler and Ingo stare at each other for a moment, then the noble starts to shovel more of those green things into her mouth. Is she not supposed to be eating those? She’s acting like she isn’t. “What are those? Where did you get that?” Ingo starts to walk over to her. His words catch Calaba’s attention and she looks up from the basket.

   “Oh! Lady Sneasler! You’ll soil your appetite eating those!” Calaba scolds. She makes no move to try to stop the noble though. Ingo doesn’t pay that any mind, instead stopping in front of Lady Sneasler.

   Right, so she isn’t supposed to be eating those. Ingo swoops down and grabs the bowl away from her before Lady Sneasler can eat any more. She yowls at him, pouting like a petulant child. Ingo almost laughs before he hears Calaba gasp behind him. Both Lady Sneasler and Ingo look back at her. Calaba’s expression is twisted in shock. Oh, Ingo had forgotten again that the people here aren’t all that comfortable with Pokémon. Though he doesn’t know what he did to garner such a shocked reaction.

   A beat passes before the elderly woman schools her expression back into a frown. “Oh, so you’ll let him take food from you. I see how it is.” Calaba huffs and rises from her crouched position, dusting herself off as she mutters something that sounds like ‘favoritism’ under her breath. She tucks the herbs she’d taken out of the basket Ingo a smaller pouch before shoving it into her pocket. Calaba clears her throat. “I’d like to see your arms before I go. Even if your wounds have already healed. It’s better to be safe than sorry,” she says.

   While Ingo doesn’t really feel like being poked and prodded at, he decides he doesn’t really want to fight about it. “Alright.” Ingo holds up the bowl. “What would you like me to do with this then?”

   “Just set it down in the basket over there.” Calaba points to a basket near the tent flap. He nods and walks over there, popping the lid open to stick the bowl into it. Inside the basket is a bunch of other bowls of these green things and a bag of some kind of red mushroom.

   Once the bowl is in, Ingo shuts the lid and straightens back up. He’s not even given a moment to breathe before Calaba is pushing back his sleeves to examine his arms. As expected, there are no injuries in sight. Just scarred over lines where the cuts had been. Ingo holds still, allowing her to look over him. “What are those green things, by the way? Lady Sneasler seems to like them.” He glances at his friend, who is now sulking in the bed. Upon noticing his gaze, she sticks her tongue out at him. Ingo does it back.

   “They’re plump beans. Lady Sneasler is quite fond of them. Though she should be eating a more balanced diet of hearty grains and berries to keep herself healthy as a noble,” Calaba says rather pointedly. Lady Sneasler yowls and rolls her eyes.

   “Ah, I see. I’ll endeavor to make sure she is eating well then.” Ingo can feel the corners of his mouth twitch as his words gain an annoyed huff from the noble Pokémon.

   “Sssneass!” Lady Sneasler is being ganged up on. Warden Calaba has been on her case about her diet for ages. Every time she sees the elder, it’s always something about what she’s eating and how she’s taking care of herself. And now Ingo is in on it! How dare he. She is perfectly healthy! A noble like herself should be allowed to indulge in a good snack every once in a while. It’s not like she’s completely letting herself go! Though she must confess it is hard to resist plump beans. Lady Sneasler can hardly be blamed! The crunch is addictive. Ingo laughs at her plight. Oh she is so going to get back at him for this. She’s not sure how, but she’s going to do it. Lady Sneasler is good at getting revenge.

   Lady Sneasler’s plotting is interrupted when Calaba clears her throat. She lets Ingo’s sleeves fall back down. “I don’t see anything wrong. Though that was to be expected. The scar tissue doesn’t seem like it will give you trouble, but do come see me if it does.”

   Ingo nods. He hasn’t had any issues thus far, but it’s nice to have somewhere to go if he needs it.

   With that settled, Calaba decides she can leave. Ingo’s injuries are healing and he’ll be learning how to survive with her fellow wardens. Hopefully by the time Ingo has learned all he can, he’ll be ready for whatever task he’s been sent to them for. She originally hadn’t meant to stay in the Pearl Settlement for as long as she has. It was supposed to be just a quick visit to inform Lady Irida of the happenings in the Crimson Mirelands before returning to her post. But then Ingo came, and Calaba has been sticking around since then. She’d never admit it, but she’s been worried for the man. Treating him has been one of the strangest things she’s ever done and she’d be lying if she said she didn’t feel somewhat responsible for him. Calaba just wants him to be ready to face Hisui’s challenges. Of course, she can’t hover forever. She needs to get back to her domain.

   Calaba clears her throat. “I will be going back to the Crimson Mirelands soon. That’s where my noble resides. If you ever need me again, you will most likely find me there.”

   Is that an invitation? Ingo didn’t think Calaba liked him very much, but it seems she cares more than he thought. He nods. “I understand. Thank you for your help, Miss Calaba. I wish you a safe journey on your tracks home!”

   She breathes an amused sigh. “You and your strange words… take care of yourself, Mr. Ingo.” Calaba heads towards the tent flap, pausing for a moment. There was another reason she came here. Calaba had almost forgotten. She looks over her shoulder at the strange man who appeared on their doorstep. “Oh, Warden Gaeric asked me to send you to him by the way. He’s waiting for you in his hut in Icepeak Arena.” Calaba then looks over at Lady Sneasler, who is curled up by the fireplace still. “Would you help guide him there?”

   Lady Sneasler nods. Of course! It’s not like Ingo would be able to get rid of her anyway. He’d already told her he wants to travel together. And she assumes he meant more than just going to the Highlands. Lady Sneasler intends to be at his side every step of the way. Her agreement seems to settle Calaba.

   “Thank you. Good day to you both. May the Almighty Sinnoh smile upon you.”

   Ingo waves. “Goodbye Miss Calaba. Until we meet again.”

   With that, the elder disappears out of the flap and Ingo is left alone with Lady Sneasler. That was… a surprisingly pleasant interaction. For all Calaba’s grumpy attitude and her scolding, Ingo does feel a bit better knowing he has somewhere to go if he needs help. Having allies is always a good thing.

   He turns back to Lady Sneasler. “Right then. We should probably head to Gaeric and see what he wants. Maybe his preparations for our departure are almost done!”

   Lady Sneasler nods. She’s as ready as Ingo is to get this mission going.

   “Wonderful. Let me put on my scarf and then we’ll depart.”

Location: Icepeak Arena (Gaeric’s Hut)

Time: 12:36 pm 

   Fire crackles in the hearth — black kettle hanging over the flame. A thin plume of steam rises from the opening of the spout and seeps out of the cracks around the lid, a shrill whistle ringing out through the space. Ingo stares at it from his spot on the small plush square he’d been told to sit on.

   “Ingo? Can you take that off the fire?” Gaeric calls from his crouched position on the other side of the room. He’s currently packing their bags for their trip through the Icelands. There are an array of bags and containers and even sleeping bags scattered about the floor. Gaeric had said there’s a specific way everything needs to be packed in order to be as efficient as can be. Ingo decided to leave Gaeric be to do that upon the man’s insistence.

   It was just as Ingo hoped when he set off with Lady Sneasler earlier. Apparently Gaeric was able to gather enough to send him off soon, like this evening soon. Ingo is beyond excited even though he’ll have to brave the cold and snow. This was surprisingly quick considering they just had that conversation about leaving yesterday. Not that Ingo is complaining. He’s ready to go.

   Though, despite Gaeric calling him here, they’ve yet to talk about their plan. Ingo has been sitting in the same spot for thirty minutes now with Lady Sneasler curled up beside him, head in his lap. Neither of them have said much. “Ingo?”

   Ingo jolts. Right, he’d been asked to do something. He looks up at the kettle. “Ah, my apologies. All systems back online… uh, how do I get it?” It looks like it would be difficult to try to grab it with his hands without burning himself. Ingo is not keen on finding out if he’ll heal from burns like he does with other injuries.

   Gaeric laughs a little bit. “You sure do have a funny way of speaking, huh? ‘All systems back online’?” Ingo tries to ignore the heat of embarrassment on his cheeks as Gaeric motions to a long hook sitting up against the wall nearby. “Use that so you don’t burn yourself. You can set the kettle down over there,” he says, pointing to the low table to the left of Ingo.

   Ingo nods, rising from the cushion. He’s mindful of Lady Sneasler, letting her move her head before he stands so he doesn’t disturb her. She just puts her head down on the cushion instead. Ingo then approaches the fireplace and grabs the hook from the wall. It takes a second for him to figure out how to use it, but eventually Ingo manages to get it under the handle attached to the bar above the fire. The kettle is heavier than Ingo anticipated, his arm almost giving out when he tries to lift it. He has to grab the hook with his other hand to stabilize it. Then finally, Ingo picks up the kettle and turns to set it down on the table. By the grace of Arceus Ingo is able to do it without spilling anything. Bravo! Ingo feels accomplished. “I got it,” he announces.

   “Great! Thanks. I’m almost done here and then I’ll make us some tea.”

   With that, the hut falls quiet again. Ingo wanders back to the cushion and flops back down. Lady Sneasler immediately sprawls out over his lap once more and Ingo scratches the spot behind the noble’s feather. It seems like she really likes when he does that, so Ingo will continue. Her purring is loud in the quiet of Gaeric’s hut.

   Ingo should bring up the Coronet Highlands once Gaeric is done. That’s his first stop on this route. Ingo would like to spend at least a couple days there and try to find Arceus’ previous champions. They’ve already been alone for so long. It’s only fair that he does his best to locate them as soon as he possibly can. Hopefully they’re alright. Ingo isn’t sure what he’ll do if they’re not… or if he’ll ever forgive Arceus for what they’ve done. For now, Ingo will remain positive. He will locate those missing passengers and he will couple their cars until he can get them home. That is his personal goal right now. Which means he’ll have to set aside his other goal of getting home as soon as possible. Ingo has a feeling the man in white would understand the slight delay on his tracks home. He just wouldn’t feel right leaving Akari and Rei behind.

   Lady Sneasler mews at Ingo. He’s lost in his head again. She’s starting to recognize when it happens. Ingo’s eyes get all cloudy and his frown deepens. It’s a sight Lady Sneasler doesn’t like. He always looks so sad… thankfully, she’s able to get his attention. Ingo looks down, eyes pinching in a smile. Her human has an odd smile, but Lady Sneasler decides that she likes it.

   “I didn’t know Lady Sneasler could purr. It’s cute,” Gaeric says. His voice pierces the quiet moment between the noble and Ingo. Both of them look over at Gaeric, who appears to be done packing now. He rises from the floor and dusts himself off. “All done here. Let me get started on tea. We can talk while I work. I’m sure you’re itchin’ to get a move on.”

   Ingo nods. Finally, they’re going to talk about their plan. He stands once again, coming over to the table and sinking down to the floor. Ingo crosses his legs as Lady Sneasler drapes herself over his back, head resting on his shoulder.

   He has a lot of questions for Gaeric, though he should probably get the most important ones out of the way. Ingo needs to ask about their destination and how he’s getting out of the settlement. “Right. I actually wanted to talk about the destination we’d be heading towards.” He watches Gaeric stride over to a chest, crouching down to rummage through it. The warden gives him a hum to show he’s still listening. “I’d like to go to the Coronet Highlands. I’m not sure where that is, but I uh… I heard about it in passing. I’d like to visit.”

   Gaeric says nothing for a moment, instead pulling a small box out of the chest. He brings it over to the table and pops open the lid of the kettle. Gaeric looks up at Ingo. “The Coronet Highlands, huh? You wanna go to Lady Sneasler’s domain? Sure! You’d have to pass through there to get out of the Icelands anyway. It’s about three days out from the settlement.”

   Oh good! So their tracks were already set for that destination. Ingo is relieved the Highlands aren’t too out of the way. He’s also pleasantly surprised that the Highlands happen to be Lady Sneasler’s home too. Surely she will know her way around then and can help guide his tracks. How perfect. “Bravo! That sounds great.”

   Gaeric nods a little, scooping a bunch of dried herbs out of the now open box. “Yup!” He drops the tea into the kettle and closes the lid to let it steep. “We can head out tonight once everyone’s asleep. I’ll meet you at the medical tent and then take you around the back way to avoid being spotted. We’ll have to travel through the night to get far enough away before anyone notices you’re gone. From there it’ll be easy to get across the Icelands.” He pauses. “Given the weather stays nice. It’s not really storm season, but you never know out there. Might have to call on Sabi if the snow gets too bad.”

   Sabi? Ingo hasn’t heard that name before. Are they another Pearl Clan member “Who’s Sabi?”

   “Hmm? Oh!” Gaeric falls silent, likely trying to figure out how to explain it to Ingo. He seems almost nervous to talk about this, which strikes Ingo as odd. Ingo doesn’t comment though, instead waiting for Gaeric to gather his words. “Warden Sabi is a Diamond Clan kid. She’s warden to Lord Braviary. He can fly you over the snow if needed.” The blue haired man clasps his hands together, now staring down at the kettle. It appears Gaeric has more on his mind than just that. There’s an almost fond look in his eyes and a soft smile on his face. Ingo feels like Sabi is more important to Gaeric than he’s letting on. “Sabi’s a good kid… she visits often. We sit together and talk sometimes… I know you probably don’t understand, but Diamonds and Pearls aren’t really supposed to be around each other. Our clans have been rivaling for… many years.”

   Ingo’s eyebrows furrow. Why have they been rivaling? It doesn’t seem like there’s an issue of space or resources. Ingo gets the sense the Pearl Clan has plenty of those. There must be some other reason. “Why is that? If you don’t mind my asking, of course.”

   Gaeric frowns, lifting the top of the kettle to check on the tea. He must deem it not ready yet, as he sets the lid down again. “It’s because of Almighty Sinnoh. The Diamond Clan believes they’re the guardian of time while us Pearls believe they’re the guardian of space. We were at war for a long time over it. It was only just recently that we have found a way to be peaceful. Though tensions are still high with all the weird stuff that’s been happening around Hisui… sounds a bit silly now that I’m explainin’ it to an outsider… I used to hate the Diamonds too. I thought they were blasphemous to be worshiping time instead of space… then I met Sabi. She’s a wonderful kid. Sweet, thoughtful, a little goofy. In a good way, of course. I’ve grown fond of her. I’d do anything for that kid and I enjoy our time together… I learned that maybe my narrow view of the world was keeping me from truly appreciating the space I hold. Not many Pearl Clan folks think like me though.”

   “It sounds to me like you care a lot for her. I-…” Ingo trails off. There’s something about loving someone who isn’t blood family that feels familiar… a girl in yellow… Ingo’s head pulses, so he abandons that train of thought. Later. Ingo can think about that later. “I think you shouldn’t let something like a rivalry keep you from loving her.”

   The warden is silent. Maybe what Ingo said struck a nerve? Ingo didn’t mean to upset him… Gaeric says nothing as he moves to take care of the tea.

   Several minutes of silence pass as Gaeric pours a couple cups and pours them out again. He does it a couple times before he pours both of them a cup. Ingo doesn’t say another word, instead focusing on Lady Sneasler above him. She seems just as tense as Gaeric does about this topic. Ingo supposes that makes sense. Lady Sneasler has probably seen this issue firsthand.

   “… I think you might be right,” Gaeric finally says. Ingo lets himself take a breath. “I love that girl like she’s my own. And I’d like to think she loves me too… maybe I’ll ask her about it the next time I see her. If I can work up the courage.”

   Ingo smiles. He hopes that works out for Gaeric. Really, he does. If Gaeric cares about Sabi as much as he lets on, then they deserve to be happy.

   Another beat of quiet passes as Gaeric picks up on of the cups and holds it out for Ingo. He takes the cup with a quiet ‘thank you’. Then the two of them drink together in a peaceful silence.

   It’s not until both of their cups are empty that Gaeric speaks again. “Tonight. I’ll come by the medical tent and we’ll be on our way.”

   “Sounds good.”

   Schedule set. Full steam ahead.

Chapter Text

Location: ???

   There’s something sticky on his hands. Warm and slimy and sticky. It’s all over the place, coating his fingers and wedged into the gaps between each like glue. The sensation makes him feel clammy. It’s disgusting. He wiggles his fingers, skin stuck together in places. Truly terrible. 

   Ingo peels his eyes open, glancing down at his hands. They’re stained blue. A vibrant blue. Not anything that can be found in nature, that’s for sure. Is that what’s making his hands sticky? The stuff is practically everywhere! Ingo spreads his fingers, watching the blue stuff stretch out in strings between them. Gross.

   Where is he? This doesn’t seem like the medical tent. And how did his hands get covered in this stuff? He doesn’t remember touching anything sticky or blue.

   Ingo looks up. It’s dark, likely nighttime, and he’s outside… there’s a wooden bench under him and a tree with purple lights strung over its branches on his left. A bag of some kind of fluffy blue thing sits his lap. Could that be what’s on his hands? The stuff on his hands is darker, but something tells Ingo that’s because it melted while he was holding it… it’s a food of some kind, isn’t it? Sweet and light and sticky. What is that called again?

   Laughter draws Ingo’s attention away from the bag. He looks out in front of him and there’s an illuminated pathway across a thin patch of grass and a trash can a couple paces to his right. Ingo lets his gaze wander.

   The world is colorful; stands with blinking lights and bright colors, hundreds of people walking around, giant moving structures so tall they cut into the night sky. There’s a lot of noise too: gleeful screaming, laughter, idle chatter, clanking and screeching of metal. There are so many voices and sounds and things around him. Ingo‘s heart is pounding in his chest, ears ringing. This place is too much.

   “Ingo?” Says a voice on his right. Ingo jolts and looks over. There’s a boy in white standing about a foot in front of him now. He looks young, but old enough to be out and about on his own. A teenager maybe? That feels right… he’s wearing a white flat cap, a green band t-shirt, and a pair of white slacks. Those will get stained easily. Ingo feels like he’s said that before… there’s a calm smile and a concerned furrow of his brow on the boy’s face that makes Ingo’s heart ache. “Are you alright? You ran off without a word. El*** and I were verrry worried!”

   He knows this boy. Ingo wants to cry.

   His mouth is moving before he can stop it. “I’m fine. Just… it’s loud. And my hands are sticky. And it’s so bright… I needed a break.” Right. That sounds right. Ingo is feeling uncomfortable. He couldn’t handle the crowd and the noise and the lights, so he ran away. Ingo ended up alone on this bench.

   The boy in white hums, then sits down on the bench next to him. He turns towards the lit pathway and watches people walk by. “I am E****. I understand. It’s verrry loud here. We cannot do anything about that. Why don’t we go find a bathroom and fix the sticky part then? After that we can go find El***. How does that sound?”

   A plan. Ingo has a feeling the boy in white often makes plans for them. He doesn’t have to worry when E-… when the boy is around. Ingo can let himself relax. “Schedule set.” These words are not Ingo’s and yet somehow they are. He has no control over what he is saying right now, but he feels like maybe he would say them. Maybe he had before.

   The boy in white’s smile widens. “Perrrfect! I think I saw one on my way to find you. Let’s go there.” With that, he hops off the bench and holds out his hand for Ingo to take. Ingo stares at it for a moment.

   “My hands are sticky. I don’t want to make yours sticky too.” The boy hates being sticky. Textures are difficult for him, aren’t they? Ingo thinks that he’s right. Somehow a deeper part of him is certain that he is.

   “I am E**** and I will handle it for your sake. Plus, we’re going to find a bathroom anyway. I’ll just wash my hands too.” He sounds so sure. So willing to help Ingo. So ready to push his own comfort aside in favor of his. Perhaps the boy is. Always willing to help. Ingo’s heart squeezes in his chest.

   His body moves and Ingo feels like he’s stuck spectating. He watches himself grab the boy’s hand, his other taking the bag from his lap. Then the two of them set off.

   The boy leads him onto the path. There are so many people around that they have to push past or dodge around them. It’s a sea of bodies. Ingo can hear himself calling out ‘excuse me’ and ‘coming through’ as they go. The boy in white won’t. Ingo knows that. So, he is doing it for him. Ingo is supposed to be the boy’s voice. That feels right.

   They walk past an odd booth with red curtains around the edges and blinking yellow lights. The man behind the counter is wearing a red coat and a big black hat. He looks over at Ingo, then grins. His curled mustache moves with his mouth. “Step right up and win a prize! Just toss these rings and win!” His voice is loud and cheerful, but it makes Ingo want to cover his ears. Too much. The boy in white pulls Ingo to his other side, putting himself between Ingo and the booth. He glares at the man as he nudges him to keep walking. That was quite rude, but Ingo can’t make himself apologize. His mouth won’t move.

   They pass the booth and Ingo can hear the man calling out again, but they’re too far away now for him to make out the words.

   Wind brushes through Ingo’s hair as they walk by a gate. He looks up, finding a massive spinning circle with swings attached to it. There are people in the swings, screaming or laughing. Some have their hands in the air. Ingo is sick just watching it move. That can’t be safe. The boy in white seems to agree with him, as soon he’s voicing Ingo’s thoughts. “That looks verrry dangerous.”

   Ingo just nods and they continue on.

   They pass a couple more booths; one with a small blue pool with rubber creatures inside of it and another with balls and glass bottles. There were stuffed Pokémon hanging from the tops of them… prizes. Ingo feels like that’s what they’re called. The boy in white seemed unimpressed with them, so they didn’t stop for even a moment to watch.

   A couple paces later, they come up on a small building. It’s wooden with two doors. One of them has a picture of a stick figure and the other has a stick figure with a triangle over its legs. Ingo feels like those symbols are supposed to mean something, but he can’t remember what that something is. Though his body seems to. Ingo walks forward and pushes the door with the stick figure on it open, pulling the boy in white inside with him.

   The room he finds himself in now is weird. There are several little boxes with swinging doors and a counter with silver hooks on it. He moves towards the counter and the boy lets go of his hand. “Here we are. Let’s wash up quickly,” the boy says, moving over to one of the holes in the counter. Ingo watches as he turns one of the bars on the side of the hook and water sprays out of it. Oh! Well, isn’t that convenient?

   Ingo steps up to the hole beside the boy in white, setting his bag down on the counter before copying him and pulling one of the bars.  He sticks his hands under the stream of water. “Thank you, E****. I appreciate you conducting me here.”

   The boy grins. “You’re verrry welcome! Anything for my b*****.” He then reaches for the small black box on the wall and presses a button, something white falling into his hand. Soap. When the boy retracts his hand, Ingo pushes the button too and soap falls into his palm. He brings it over to his other hand and rubs them together. Ingo can feel the stickiness starting to fade. Good, he’s not sure he could have handled being sticky for much longer.

   Once his hands are clean, they can go find… whoever the boy said they should find. Ingo’s been told the name several times, but he just can’t seem to make it out. It’s lost to static. He supposes he’ll just have to find out.

   Ingo looks up at the mirror in front of him. He sees… something is covering his face. A small yellow square is stuck to the surface. That’s… not supposed to be here. It wasn’t there when this actually happened. It’s…

   He stares at it, the world around him getting fuzzy. There’s words on it. Ingo squints, trying to make out what it says through the fuzz.

   ‘ Help me. Please help me. I want out.’

   Nausea hits Ingo like a punch to the gut. He reaches out for the note.

   His fingertips barely graze the edge of it.

   “INGO!!”

Location: Pearl Clan Medical Tent

   Ingo’s eyes snap open as he shoots forward, hand reaching out and grasping at the empty space in front of him. Sweat rolls down his temple, chest heaving. There’s nothing there.

   He was dreaming… right? Ingo can feel the images and details of what he’d been dreaming about start to fade away until he’s left only with the visage of that note. It’s burned into his brain. Someone was begging for help, but who? Ingo has no idea.

   Something soft brushes up beside him and Ingo jolts. His head snaps to the left, finding Lady Sneasler crouched beside the chair. She’s looking at him with eyes full of concern, ears pinned back against her head. He’s made her worry. Ingo swallows thickly, reaching down to pet her. He can’t get his mouth to work yet to reassure her, so this will have to do. Ingo drags in a shaky breath as he takes in his surroundings.

   He’s sitting on the chair by the fireplace. Ingo must have dozed off while he was waiting for Gaeric to come get him.

   Right… that’s right. Ingo sat down after he ate the food that was brought for him a little while ago. He… he wanted a moment to relax before they set out on their journey through the Icelands. That’s why Ingo is where he currently is. It wasn’t his intention to fall asleep, but clearly he did. He drags in a deep breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. It was just a dream, albeit an unpleasant one. There’s nothing to worry about. Ingo is sure that it’s just a consequence of his already anxious mind.

   A takes another deep breath before clearing his throat. “I-… my apologies. I’m alright now.”

   “Snrr?” Lady Sneasler coos. She moves, rising a bit higher to lightly headbutt him. Ingo huffs a laugh, though it comes out shakier than he would have liked. “Sssnee?”

   Ingo nods a bit. “It’s okay, I promise. Just a bad dream.”

   Lady Sneasler doesn’t look like she believes him, but she decides not to push it. Instead, she settles back down and puts her head in Ingo’s lap. He continues to run a hand through her fur. The action is calming and Ingo appreciates her efforts to help soothe him. He really does owe her for all the times she’s been here for him. Hopefully Ingo will find a way to repay her one day.

   For now, he’ll accept her comfort. It might make waiting for Gaeric less boring too.

   Actually, what time is it? How long was Ingo asleep? Gaeric could be here any minute if it’s late enough. He turns his wrist, the screen of his ArcTrans lighting up. It’s almost midnight. So, Gaeric could definitely be here any minute. Ingo should probably prepare a little more before they depart. He can’t imagine he’ll have time to do it once Gaeric arrives. They’ll likely have to be leaving as soon as possible to avoid being caught.

   So, Ingo rises from the chair and glances around the tent. He hadn’t really touched much in his time here. Though it wouldn’t hurt to help tidy up the place a bit regardless.

   Ingo walks over to the far side of the tent, crouching down to straighten up the baskets a little. He scoots them all back until they’re flush with the wall and readjusts some of the lids to keep them closed. Ingo would hate for anything inside them to go bad because it wasn’t properly covered. Once that’s done, he rises and heads back to the bed area by the fireplace.

   He sinks to his knees, pulling the blanket he’d been using off of it and folding it before sticking it on the pillow… it still seems out of place. Is there another way to clean this up? Ingo feels like there is. Though he can’t say he knows what it is. Oh well. He’ll just have to leave it for someone else to deal with. Ingo would prefer not to ruin it or something by not properly handling it.

   Finally, Ingo looks up at the fireplace in front of him. He’d purposely not refueled the fire. Now it’s died down into embers. There’s nothing around for him to use to fully put it out, but the embers will eventually die out and probably won’t burn the place to the ground. Hopefully.

   Everything he can do in the way of cleaning is done.

   Ingo looks down at himself. He’s still wearing the gray tunic and the red scarf he’d been given. The gloves are in his pocket with Lady Sneasler’s whistle. All of the other clothes that he’d been offered had been taken back a couple days ago… Ingo should really give this stuff back too, but if he does then he’ll have nothing to wear. Going outside unprepared would be fatal. So, unfortunately, Ingo is going to have to take the clothes he’s wearing with him.

   Maybe he’ll be able to find more on his journey and then he can somehow send this stuff back. Until then, Ingo will try his best to keep it in good condition.

   The tent flap flutters open.

   Shit! Ingo whips around right as Gaeric ducks into the tent, pushing himself up and onto his feet. When he processes who it is, the breath he’d been holding hisses out and Ingo’s shoulders relax. It’s just Gaeric.

   The man in question brushes snow out of his hair as he straightens up. He doesn’t have their bags with him… did he get stopped? Are they not going to be able to leave tonight? Ingo is going to be sick.

   Gaeric walks deeper into the tent, glancing around for a moment. He smiles a bit as he comes to a stop in front of Ingo. “Evenin’! Ready to go? Looks like you’ve got the place cleaned up enough.”

   “Yes. Yeah. You don’t have our bags with you. Is there a delay on our tracks?” Ingo doesn’t mean to doubt Gaeric, but he’s so close to finally getting out of this place. If there are any more delays, Ingo might actually cry. The sound of footsteps snaps him out of his thoughts and he looks up to find Lady Sneasler walking over to him. She puts her head down on Ingo’s shoulder and he reaches up to scratch her chin.

   “Hmm? Oh, no! I left them somewhere safe. We’ll pick them up on our way out. They’re too noisy to have on us while we’re tryin’ to sneak out.” Relief floods through Ingo. Gaeric’s reasoning makes sense and there’s no need for him to panic. Everything is fine.

   Ingo lets his shoulders relax. “I see. Then I am ready to depart.”

   “Great! Let’s go then. Make sure to keep quiet,” Gaeric says, turning on his heel and motioning for Ingo to follow.

   The two of them make their way to the tent entrance and Gaeric ducks out first. Ingo glances back at Lady Sneasler and she gives him a nod. There’s no turning back now. Full steam ahead! Ingo steels himself and pulls the flap open, stepping out into the frigid night. Wind kicks up the ends of his coat and scarf, sending a shiver down Ingo’s spine. He wraps an arm around himself to try to trap in some warmth. Snowflakes flutter down to the ground beneath him, sticking on his clothes and getting in his eyes. All he can do is hold his free arm over his face to block it out. Ingo can firmly say he will not miss the snow. He hopes the Highlands are at least a little warmer than this place.

   A hand reaches out to grab Ingo’s, pulling it down out of his face. A clawed paw hooks around the arm Ingo has wrapped around himself. Gaeric moves closer. “Sorry. We’ll need to hold on to each other so we don’t get lost.”

   Right. That makes sense. Losing Gaeric and Lady Sneasler would be very bad. So, Ingo will just have to suffer the snow in his face. With a glance between his companions, he tightens his hold on both of them and nods. “Very well. Full steam ahead then.”

   He thinks he hears Gaeric laugh a bit at his words, but it’s hard to tell over the howling of the wind. Either way, Gaeric starts moving again.

   The snow is deep. Every step he takes has him sinking into it. It coats his pants up to his shins. Ingo can’t imagine Gaeric is faring any better. He didn’t think he saw him wearing any kind of protection from the cold beyond his clan uniform pants and his boots. They’re going to have to be very careful while traveling to avoid getting frostbite. Ingo hopes Gaeric has a plan for that. Otherwise the two of them might be in trouble.

   Though for now, they need to focus on getting out of the settlement first.

   The three of them are trudging down the path that leads to the main area, if Ingo is not mistaken. He recognizes some of the trees through the darkness. Isn’t this the way they need to avoid? There are guards at the end of the main road standing by the gate of the settlement. If they’re spotted, then they’ll be brought right back.

   No, Ingo can’t doubt Gaeric. He’s sure he has a plan.

   He’s tugged to the side, being led around the back of another tent. Ingo lets himself be pulled along. Ah, so there’s a shortcut that leads out of the settlement. Ingo thinks he saw a gap between a couple tents and the cliffs behind them when he left the settlement yesterday, but it didn’t think much of it at the time.

   The wind is starting to pick up as they reach the back of the tent, his hat threatening to slip off. He can’t use either of his hands to catch it, trapped between holding on to his companions. Crap! He can’t lose his hat. If he does… he just can’t! Ingo shifts the arm wrapped around himself. If he could just get his hand up- something lands on his head. He jolts, then realizes it’s Lady Sneasler’s other paw. She must have realized it was slipping too. He’s so going to hunt down as many plump beans as he can find on their travels. Ingo owes her big time.

   Ahead of them, the rock face of the cliffs is coming up in a few feet. Ingo can’t really see where exactly they’re aiming for, but Gaeric seems to know. He drags them forward, fighting against the wind and snow. Just a few more feet and they’re out of the settlement.

   Something soft brushes against his ear and Ingo fights the urge to shy away from it. “Mrrp! Sssnes!” Her tone sounds urgent. She must be sensing something dangerous. Ingo tries to glance back, but he can’t see anything through the darkness and the snow. “Sssrrt!” Right, Ingo isn’t going to be able to spot anything. It would do him better to warn Gaeric instead of fruitlessly trying to find the problem himself.

   He leans forward. “Gaeric! Lady Sneasler is sensing something dangerous!” He shouts over the wind.

   “What?!” Gaeric shouts back. Shit, he can’t hear Ingo. He needs to be louder. It might be a risk, but Ingo can definitely be louder. He sucks in a deep breath.

   “There’s something dangerous!” That seems to do the trick.

   “Fuck! Must be the alpha Gardevoir! It comes this way during storms to hide!” Gaeric pulls him to the right. “We’ll have to move a bit further down and then continue!”

   With that, the three of them are walking parallel to the cliff. Ingo can hear loud screeches in the distance, red flashes appearing through the snow. Likely from the alpha Gaeric had mentioned. They’re so close to it that Ingo is almost afraid it’s going to spot them and attack them. Its screams echo in his chest like thunder. He can’t take his eyes off of it.

   Alpha Pokémon are terrifying.

   They walk in that straight line until the screeching dies down and the red lights disappear. Ingo still stares in that direction.

   Gaeric pulls him to the left now that they’re out of the way. “The bridge is up ahead! I left our bags there!”

   Right, Ingo remembers crossing that bridge. If they’re close that means they’re out of the settlement. Though not nearly far enough for Ingo to relax fully. He can be happy that they’ve made it here at the very least though. Ingo is one step closer to finally getting out of the Icelands. He’s almost there.

   Gaeric stops and Ingo almost runs into him. Are they at the bridge? He tries to look over Gaeric’s shoulder, but he can’t see much beyond the darkness. Geez, this is not a great way to travel. Don’t they have lights or something they can use to see in the dark? Ingo feels like they should. Nighttime travel would be much more efficient that way.

   “Here we are,” Gaeric says as he crouches down. He lets go of Ingo’s hand for a moment as he does. With his hand free, Ingo reaches up to readjust his hat. Lady Sneasler moves her paw so he can do so. “We’ll have to keep moving towards Bonechill and then make our way to Whiteout Valley. After that, you should be able to get up the mountain with Lady Sneasler’s help!” Gaeric rises a moment later, brushing snow off of the bags. He holds one out to Ingo and he takes it. “You’ll be out of here in a couple days if we can make it there…Or I’ll take you out to Bonechill and call Sabi tomorrow.”

   Wait, what? Gaeric said it would take three days for Ingo to get out of the Icelands and that he’d only need to call on Warden Sabi if it was too difficult to get through on foot. Is the weather too bad? Sure it’s windy, but it’s not actually that treacherous, is it? Gaeric is making it sound like there’s a choice he can make regardless of the weather. Ingo glances back at Lady Sneasler before looking at Gaeric. “I thought you said we’d only need to call her if the weather is too bad,” he says as he swings the backpack over his shoulders. “Surely we’ll be able to make it through a little wind?”

   Gaeric is quiet for a beat. Then, he sighs. “I did say that. And you’re right, it’s not too bad. Though… I didn’t tell you the full truth.”

   Oh. Ingo can hear Lady Sneasler growl behind him. He holds his hand up to stop her. There must be a reason why Gaeric was keeping something from him. “Okay. Will you tell me now?”

   “Yeah… see, Sabi and Lord Braviary can get you out of here sooner. You’d be in the Highlands in no more than an hour.” Gaeric shifts the backpack on his shoulders, kicking at the snow a bit. “I didn’t want to tell you before because… well, I didn’t trust you. I thought you’d use my relationship with Sabi against me, maybe tell Lady Irida or someone that I was close to a Diamond. Stupid, I know…” He pauses, then walks closer to Ingo. “I wasn’t lyin’ when I said I wanted to help you. Takin’ the longer way still would’ve gotten you out of here. If anyone of the clans were to find out, both of us would be in serious trouble. I just… I couldn’t risk Sabi until I was sure, y’know?”

   Ingo doesn’t know what to say. On one hand, he wants to be upset with Gaeric. He thought… he thought they were something close to friends. It hurts that he felt the need to hide this. On the other hand, Ingo knows that Gaeric has no reason to trust him. He’s a stranger from who knows where. There’s nothing to trust about that.

   But in the end, Gaeric did choose to come clean. He’s telling him the truth now. Isn’t that better than never telling him the truth at all?

   “I see… I can’t say I’m very happy about this being kept from me. But I am not in the business of holding grudges… I’d like to be on my way as soon as possible. Let’s call her in the morning and see what happens from there.” That sounds like a reasonable plan to Ingo.

   “Right! Yeah, for sure. We’ll do that.”

   “Then it’s settled. For now, we must be going. We’ve been stalled for too long! Onward!” Ingo moves without thinking, planting his feet and pointing off into the darkness. He drags in a deep breath. “Alll aboooard!”

   Ingo will see where the next stop takes him. He will not be held back any longer.

   He grabs Gaeric’s hand and flips around to link his arm with Lady Sneasler’s. Then they’re off into the darkness once more.

Chapter Text

Location: Bonechill Wastes

Time: Sunrise

   Ingo didn’t sleep any last night. He couldn’t. Between that dream he had and the fact that Ingo is right back where he started, he felt too unsettled. Like any moment something would jump at him and he’d be bleeding out in the snow all over again.

   Never again… Ingo refuses to die here.

   They got almost halfway across the area before they needed to turn in for the night. According to Gaeric, the ghost types that appear in the area are too aggressive and they needed to wait until morning to continue. It was safer that way. So, they’d found an abandoned cave to stay in and set up a small camp there. It took some time to get a fire going with the wind blowing in from the opening, but eventually they did. It kept them warm, which Ingo was grateful for. Being warm helps him feel a little less jittery.

   He’s been on edge since they arrived. Ingo didn’t know the name of this place, so he thought nothing of it when Gaeric said the Bonechill Wastes was their destination. Perhaps he should have asked more questions. Even if their tracks could not have been rerouted, maybe it would have helped Ingo feel less tense. Of course, he didn’t ask and so Ingo has been unsettled since.

   His companions tried to put him at ease. Gaeric spent some time drying his pants by the fire before he went to sleep, telling Ingo stories about the legends of this world and about Lord Avalugg. Lady Sneasler had curled up in his lap where he sat with his back to the rock wall. They did keep his mind off of things for a while, then a couple hours in Gaeric got tired and went to sleep. He tried to get Ingo to rest too. He’d said they needed their energy for the next leg of this journey. And he’s probably right. Unfortunately, there was little he could do to remedy his restless mind.

   So he sat by the fire, trying to keep it alive against the icy gusts and snow. Ingo got good at shielding the flames from the wind. He’s kept it alive through the whole night, only letting it die when he noticed the sky outside starting to brighten.

   Now he can see sunlight beaming in through the mouth of the cave and the fire is nothing more than embers. They should probably head out soon. Ingo is still worried that Lady Irida will send someone after them. Even though he doubts she actually would. She was as kind as her position would allow her to be when they met. He doesn’t have any reason to view her so negatively. Then again, Ingo isn’t sure he can just shove down an irrational fear like this one. It will keep coming back, as fear so often does.

   The best thing he can do is accept that he is afraid and attempt to move on. Ingo thinks that’s easier said than done.

   Well, Ingo should try to get them moving again. Maybe that will help distract him.

   He shifts to sit upright, jostling Lady Sneasler as he does. The noble grumbles and looks up at him. Her eyes are squinted and her fur is a mess, likely from all the shifting around she did in her sleep. Ingo stifles a laugh. Upsetting her so early in the morning probably isn’t the best idea. Instead, he reaches down to pet her and she purrs. “Good morning, my friend. I apologize for waking you so early, but I think we should be on our way soon.”

   “Mrrp?” Lady Sneasler yawns, then pulls herself out of Ingo’s lap. She really isn’t a fan of these early wake ups… though she will just have to get used to it if she wants to stay by Ingo’s side. Lady Sneasler casts a glance out towards the entrance of the cave they’re in. The sky is getting brighter, which means Ingo is right. There’s no time to delay. Ugh. She wants to go back to sleep. If only this mission of his didn’t require being up with the sun. “Sssnese.”

   Ingo can hear the annoyance dripping from her tone. Not that he blames her. Ingo also dislikes being awake so early. “I know, but the sooner we’re off, the sooner we’ll be out of this place.”

   That’s what he’ll keep telling himself. If he keeps chugging along, his tracks will lead home faster. That is his final destination and he’ll do whatever it takes to reach it.

   Ingo pushes himself up to his feet and dusts off his hands. Despite himself, he’s starting to get excited. Gaeric said they could call Sabi and see if she’ll take him to the Highlands. If she agrees then Ingo can be there today instead of having to wait two more days of travel! Ingo hopes she’ll help him, selfish as that may be. He’s just so ready to be out. And so he tries to temper his excitement as he walks around the fire to where Gaeric is lying in his sleeping bag, crouching beside him.

   He reaches down and shakes Gaeric’s shoulder. “Ga-“

   Gaeric’s eyes snap open and he sits up so fast he nearly headbutts Ingo. “What?! What happened!?” He glances around the cave, the panic in his expression slowly waning when he sees nothing out of place. Eventually, his eyes land on Ingo again. His shoulders relax and Gaeric sighs, dragging a hand over his face. “Sorry. Livin’ as a Warden in the Icelands is dangerous work… you get into the habit of stayin’ in your toes.”

   What a sad way to live. Gaeric shouldn’t have to fear for his life like this and yet… it makes sense that he does. Ingo has seen firsthand how dangerous this place is and everyone he’s spoken to thus far has told him of how harsh life is here. It’s not fair, but it’s unavoidable in a place like this. Ingo says nothing, instead straightening up again. “I see. My apologies for startling you, Gaeric. I was waking you to continue on our journey.”

   Gaeric nods a little, his hand falling away from his face before he turns towards the cave entrance. “Yeah, suns up. We should be goin’…” He pauses, looking back at Ingo. “You don’t look like you’ve gotten any sleep.”

   He huffs a laugh. “Well you’re right about that.”

   “Guess I can’t blame you there.” A pause, then Gaeric pushes himself up. He crouches beside his sleeping bag and starts to roll it back up. Ingo turns his attention towards the fire while he does that. It’s already mostly dead. Just a few embers left. Ingo is sure it will be fine if they leave it like this. Other than the fire, he does not have anything to pack back up. “We should go a little further out before callin’ Sabi. She’ll be comin’ on Lord Braviary and he needs space to land,” Gaeric says after a moment.

   “Alright. Destination set.” Ingo turns back around and Gaeric is already putting his bag on. He glances at Lady Sneasler, who is leaning against the entrance now. She’s staring out into the snow. It looks like the wind has stopped, which is good. “I am ready when you are.”

   Gaeric nods and Ingo grabs his bag, then the three of them are walking out of the cave.

   The snow shimmers under the morning sunlight as he steps out into it. Pretty, but Ingo still hates it. It’s like sand but worse because it’s cold… Ingo really hopes he’s getting out of this place sooner rather than later. He’s so ready to be done with all this snow.

   He pulls his coat tighter around his body as he follows after Gaeric. There’s a snicker behind him and Ingo turns to glare at Lady Sneasler. She’s got a paw over her mouth as she laughs at his plight, mirth in her eyes. That’s not fair at all. He doesn’t have fur like she does to stay warm. If she didn’t have it, she’d be just as cold as he is no doubt.

   Just wait until they get back home. It’s much warmer there from what Ingo vaguely recalls and with her thick fur, she’ll definitely feel it more than he would. Then she’ll be the one suffering.

   Wait… where was that train of thought heading? Lady Sneasler won’t be coming home with him. She belongs to this world just as Ingo belongs to his. Sure he’s grown fond of her, but he wouldn’t dare remove her from where she belongs. Ingo knows how awful that feels and he wouldn’t wish that upon someone he views as a friend. Plus… he’s not sure how the man in white would feel about that.

   Oh! The man in white! He’d almost forgotten about him! Which… feels very wrong now that he’s thinking about it. Ingo hasn’t messaged him in a while. The man in white must be worried about him and Ingo did promise to be in touch. Perhaps he should try to contact him again soon.

   “Ingo!” Ah, but not right now. Ingo is busy. He’ll have to do it when he gets to the Highlands.

   He looks up and Gaeric is a couple feet in front of him. How did he get so far ahead? Ingo isn’t sure, though maybe that’s not what’s important right now. He picks up his pace and meets Gaeric on the snowy hill he’d stopped on. “Gaeric? What is it?”

   Gaeric motions to the surrounding area. It’s nothing but snow as far as the eye can see. No wild Pokémon to be found. It’s just the three of them. Ingo glances back at Lady Sneasler and she shrugs. “This will do. I’ll call Sabi now. Hopefully she’s in the area.” He motions for Ingo to get behind him. “Stand back.”

   He doesn’t need to be told twice, taking a couple steps away from Gaeric with Lady Sneasler hot on his heels. Gaeric reaches down into his pocket and pulls out a long white tube thing. Wait, no. Ingo knows what that is… sort of. It’s some kind of instrument for sure. Maybe a flute? It’s a bit small, but that seems right. He watches as Gaeric brings the flute to his mouth. There’s a beat of quiet, then he plays a short song.

   The melody echoes around the Icelands. Something tells Ingo this flute is special. Most instruments do not sound like that. And the way Lady Sneasler’s ears perk up upon hearing the tune is odd too.

   There’s a tingle in his mind. Oh, looks like Arceus has something to say about that. He reaches for their presence to allow them to speak to him.

   Ingo. Thy other half is mean… oh! I see thou hath come across a Celestica Flute. Tis blessed with mine power to call upon the sacred bloodlines that dwell in this land. One of mine favorite gifts I hath presented to humanity. Tis such a sweet sound.

   Ingo’s eyebrows furrow. His other half? What is Arceus talking about? Could that be… the man in white? Why is Arceus talking to him? For some reason, the thought of them messing with that man makes Ingo feel tense. There’s an uncomfortable feeling in his chest; a need to keep the man in white safe from anything that may try to hurt him. Ingo makes no comment on that. Something tells him Arceus didn’t fully think that comment through. Which means he now knows something he wasn’t supposed to. Ingo tucks that thought away for later.

   He really should check on that man… just to be sure.

   It does sound pretty. But sad.

   Ingo settles on that for now.

   Indeed. Ah, and here the blessed one comes.

   He doesn’t even get a moment to process those words before the sound of something flapping above them snaps him out of his thoughts. Ingo looks up at the sky to see something large and gray rapidly descending towards them. That… oh gods that looks so unsafe. Ingo has to ride on that?  He’s going to be so sick.

  The gray blob continues to get lower and lower, then when it’s still a couple feet from the ground, something smaller jumps off. No, that’s not something. That’s someone. 

   Ingo watches in horror as a small child launches herself right at Gaeric, who holds his arms open for her. “Gaeriiiiiic!” She cries as she crashes into his chest and the two of them go tumbling into the snow.

   “There you are, you little snorunt! I’ve missed you,” he says with a smile that rivals the brightness of the sun. Ingo watches the two of them for a moment, then their laugher is drowned out by the sound of something massive landing in the snow beside him. Ingo has to cover his eyes as a cloud of white is kicked up from the movement.

   Only when the snow settles can Ingo drop his arm to face the massive Braviary before him… that’s not how a Braviary is supposed to look, is it? He can’t help but feel like that purple glowing thing on its head isn’t supposed to be there. Though maybe Ingo’s mind is playing tricks on him again. He blinks. Once. Twice.

   He really should have tried harder to get some sleep. Ingo’s head is spinning.

   “Oh! The chosen one!” Comes a voice on his right. Ingo jolts, turning to face the source. Gaeric and a green haired girl who must be Sabi are now back on their feet, Gaeric dusting snow off of his pants while the girl is focused on him. Sabi tilts her head at him, putting a finger on her chin. “Hmmm. Or is he?” A beat, then she laughs a little. “My clairvoyance told me I’d find the chosen one here with my da-…” Gaeric’s head snaps up as he freezes in place. “-with Warden Gaeric, I mean. Is that you?”

   Ingo tries to ignore the way Gaeric deflates behind her. He clears his throat and looks towards Lady Sneasler to distract himself. She… appears to be locked in a very intense staring contest with Lord Braviary… later. Ingo will deal with that later. “I uh… I don’t know about chosen one.”

   “No? Hmm. Well that’s just what my clairvoyance told me. Or maybe I’m just messing with you!” Sabi then turns towards Gaeric. “Did you call me here to help bring him up the mountain?”

   Gaeric gives her a smile, straightening up and reaching down to knock the hat on her head a little askew. It’s a playful hit and has giggles bubbling out of Sabi. “Indeed I did. See, Ingo wants to get to the Coronet Highlands. I was hopin’ you’d help him up.”

   She fixes her hat, then turns to Ingo. There’s a moment of quiet and Ingo feels like the breath in his chest has been stalled. Please let her say yes. Ingo wants out now.

   It feels like an eternity passes before Sabi nods a little. “I don’t see why not! My clairvoyance showed me a vision of flying on Lord Braviary up the mountain. I wanted to go bother Melli anyway!”

   “Snrrt! Snee-snesa!” Lady Sneasler can’t help but complain at the mention of that insufferable warden. She’d almost forgotten that he lives close to the peak of Mount Coronet. He’s the last person Lady Sneasler would like to run into today. Beside her, she can hear Lord Braviary let out a similar sound of distaste. She may not like the feathered snob much, but at least they can agree on this.

   Ingo can tell that whoever this ‘Melli’ person is, Lady Sneasler is not a fan. Hopefully they don’t run into him when they arrive. If Lady Sneasler dislikes him so much, then he must be an unpleasant person to be around.

   “Now Sabi. Don’t go hasslin’ Melli. You know he’ll just come down here to complain to me about turnin’ you against the Diamonds.”

   She sighs perhaps a bit louder than necessary. “Okay fine. I’ll only annoy him a little bit… or will I?” Before Gaeric can respond, she rushes back over to Lord Braviary. The noble lowers himself a bit so she can climb up onto his back. “We should be going now. There’s a handle you can hang on to while we go.” She glances at Lady Sneasler. “Lord Braviary can only carry one person. Can you climb the mountain and meet us at the top?”

   Lady Sneasler considers it. They’re still a little ways away from Whiteout Valley, which leads up to the base of the mountain. It will take her a little while to get to the top, but she can manage. Lady Sneasler walks over to Ingo, leaning down to headbutt him. She really doesn’t want to leave her human, but this is for the best. Ingo wants to get out of the Icelands as soon as possible and she wouldn’t dare delay him any longer.

   Having to leave Lady Sneasler behind fills Ingo with dread… it will be okay, right? She will find him… Ingo can’t shake the anxiousness though. He’s sure he’ll be holding his breath until they recouple. “I’ll see you at the top, my lady. May your tracks remain unblocked.”

   She licks his cheek, then straightens up and takes off into the snow towards Whiteout Valley.

   He watches her go for a moment, then turns towards Gaeric. Ingo’s hand raises in a salute. “Thank you for conducting me here, Gaeric. Without your help, I would have been stuck here for much longer… thank you, truly.”

   Gaeric just waves him off. “Don’t mention it! Good luck on your travels. I hope we can share space again someday and if we don’t… well it was a privilege to do so in the time we’ve had.”

   Where his route will take him, Ingo does not know. He can’t say he’d ever willingly want to come back here. But if he does… Ingo is glad he’ll have someone here to lean on. He tips his hat at Gaeric, then walks over to Lord Braviary. The noble regards him with a look of interest. He’s not sure if that’s good or bad.

   “You’ll want to grab the bar Lord Braviary is holding. Make sure you keep a sturdy grip!” Sabi calls from above him. Ingo nods a bit, then crouches down to grab the bar. It’s a bit awkward to be huddled under the Pokémon, though he supposes it won’t last long. “Ready?”

   No. Ingo has a feeling he’s going to hate every second of this. He swallows thickly. “All aboard. Ready for departure.”

   A beat, then “Alright! Then leeet’s go!”

   Lord Braviary launches himself into the sky, yanking Ingo up and off of the ground. Ingo screams, clenching the bar with white knuckles. In a matter of moments they’re in the air and Ingo can see the ground getting further and further.

   Oh gods he’s going to be sick. 

Location: Cloudcap Pass

   He’s never been more happy to be on solid ground. The moment they reached the peak, Ingo all but collapsed into the snow. Ingo never wants to do that ever again. Flying is horrible . The feeling of being weightless and then seeing the ground so far below him made Ingo nauseous. Even now, after being on the ground for a little while, Ingo is still sick.

   Though he did manage to get back up onto his feet eventually. He’s standing by a tree while Sabi is playing in the snow nearby. Lord Braviary is over there with her, letting her pile snow around his talons or helping her draw lines in it. Ingo has been watching them. It seems they share a very deep bond. Partners… he had a partner once, didn’t he? It feels right and it makes sense. His comfort with Pokémon had to stem from somewhere, right?

   He wonders what his partner is doing right now. Hopefully wherever they are, they’re doing fine. Maybe the man in white has them. Ingo is certain that if that’s the case, then his partner is in good hands… oh how Ingo misses them.

   They’ve been standing here for a while now. Lady Sneasler still hasn’t arrived yet. She must have had a much longer journey to undertake. Since she can’t fly, Lady Sneasler would have had to run on foot and then scale the mountain. Ingo is anxious in her absence. By now the sun is high in the sky. Ingo is sure that Sabi will probably be hungry soon, as she is still young. She needs to eat more than he would.

   Hopefully Lady Sneasler arrives soon so that Ingo can figure out how to get them food. He’d hate for Sabi to get sick or injured in Gaeric’s absence. Ingo owes it to the man to at least keep her safe.

   The two of them are clearly very close. If that much wasn’t already obvious when Gaeric first mentioned her to him. And when Sabi almost called him dad, which is what Ingo’s certain she was going to say before she corrected herself, Gaeric seemed so excited… Ingo really hopes the two of them will talk about that when they see each other again.

   There are hands clenched in the fabric of his coat. Ingo jumps, looking down to see Sabi hiding behind him. There’s a flash of gray and then Lord Braviary at on his other side. He glances between the two of them. “Miss Sabi? What’s wrong?”

   She stares straight ahead, hardly even acknowledging Ingo. “Darkness…”

   What?

   “Well hello there! And here I thought no one else dared venture up here. What brave travelers you are.” A voice says. Ingo looks up and there’s a strange man standing in front of them. He’s wearing a bright yellow and blue outfit with a large backpack on his shoulders. There’s a smile on his face that doesn’t quite reach his eyes… who is this?

   There’s a pressure in his head.

   That one… Ingo. Mind thy words. That one is not to be trusted.

   Ingo had almost forgotten that Arceus hadn’t left yet. But he hears their words loud and clear. Whoever this stranger is, he has no good intentions. Still, Ingo will not be rude. He clears his throat. “Hello there, sir. We’ve just arrived here. We plan to make our way down soon.”

   The man tilts his head. “I see… you’re not from around here, are you? Pardon my rudeness, but you seem… foreign, if you will. What brings you to the land of Hisui, I wonder?” He glances down at Sabi and she tucks herself further behind Ingo. “And who have we here?” The man moves to get closer, but Ingo holds out his arm in front of Sabi.

   “Forgive me, but I believe she is not fond of strangers. Please stay behind the yellow line.” Ingo isn’t sure what that means, but he feels like it’s the right thing to say. A beat, then the man steps back.

   “Oh, my apologies friend. I haven’t introduced myself, have I? How rude of me. I am Volo of the Ginko Guild, the go-to choice for all your mercantile needs here in Hisui!” He holds a finger up, waving it in the air as he continues. “I just couldn’t help myself when I saw you over here. As I said, I don’t often see people this far up the mountain. What a curious find!”

   He’s a merchant? Well Ingo supposes the large backpack makes sense then. Still, Volo rubs him the wrong way. He’s not interested in this man’s business. “I see. Well, we aren’t in need of any goods today Mr. Volo and our tracks are set for down the mountain as soon as our uh… friend shows up.”

   Volo blinks. “What?” It’s quiet for a moment and the energy in the air grows stale. Ingo almost wants to back away from it, but he refuses to stand down. A moment later, Volo perks up. “Oh, I understand… I must be going then. A good merchant’s work is never finished, you know? Always off to the next customer… well, if you’re ever in need of goods, I’ll be around. Until then!” With that, Volo turns and starts down the path to Ingo’s right.

   Silence falls over them as Ingo watches the man leave. He shudders. That man has a certain energy to him that just… reeks.

     Ingo? Try to avoid that one when thou can. For now I must leave thee… be safe.

   Alright. I will try my best.

   Arceus’s presence bleeds away and Ingo is left with his thoughts. Ingo hopes Lady Sneasler gets here soon. He does not want to be here for too much longer.

   “Mr. Ingo?” Sabi whispers. He looks down at her as she steps out from behind him. She looks frightened still. Maybe she’d also felt that unease that man brought about. Sabi stares off in the direction Volo went, almost like she’s afraid to look away. “I think… I think bothering Melli will have to wait for another day. I am going back to my dad.”

   As much as Ingo doesn’t want to be left alone here, he won’t make her stay. Sabi is a child and clearly wants comfort from Gaeric. Ingo would be wrong to hold her here. “Alright. Safe travels then, Miss Sabi. I hope our tracks meet again on a better occasion.”

   Sabi nods a little as she walks over to Lord Braviary. He lowers himself just as he did before so she can get up on his back. “Bye bye then. Let’s go Braviary.” Lord Braviary lets out a cry before lifting himself off the ground and shooting up into the sky. Ingo covers his eyes as the snow around them is kicked up, only lowering it when he’s sure that Lord Braviary is gone.

   And then Ingo is alone… hopefully Lady Sneasler will be here soon.

Chapter Text

   Ingo is staring at the screen of his ArcTrans, sitting under the sad fruit tree on the side of the path he’s on. It’s been a couple hours since that strange merchant left and Lady Sneasler still has yet to arrive. At this point, Ingo is starting to worry about her. What if she got stopped? What if something bad happened to her? What if she isn’t able to get up the mountain? He has so many questions and no answers. Ingo doesn’t like not knowing things.

   It’s not good to immediately assume the worst, but Ingo just couldn’t stop worrying. And so, he’d turned to his ArcTrans in an attempt to distract himself.

   There’s nothing overly interesting on it. Just that triangle app and his map. Ingo had spent some time looking at his map, which has updated since his arrival in the Highlands. It now shows the expanse of the Coronet Highlands and showed him where he is right now; Cloudcap Pass. He’d scrolled around a bit to try to figure out what to do with himself. There’s so much here. So many places to search.

   So much ground to cover…

   He hasn’t forgotten about his goal. Of course not! Even in the midst of all this chaos, he still won’t give up. Ingo wants to locate those two children that Arceus mentioned might be here. That is his first goal and the one he must focus on for right now. So, he spent some time trying to figure out where they might be. Unfortunately, Ingo knows very little about this place. He’s not sure where to even start.

   The area is so vast that it may take a long time for him to find them, which means Ingo has his work cut out for him. He already has quite the journey ahead of him with Arceus’ task and trying to find a way to get home. This is just an extra stop on his route.

   He hopes he doesn’t have to spend too long trying to find them. Not that he won’t give as much time as it takes to this task if he has to. It’s just that Ingo wants to go home as soon as possible. This land is not where he belongs and every day he spends here leaves him feeling more hopeless than the last. If he spends too long here, Ingo is afraid he’ll lose himself completely.

   No, he should be thinking more positively.

   He’s out of the Icelands at last and on his way to his next destination. That’s something that he can be happy about. Ingo is making progress, even if it seems like he is not. He just has to keep that in mind from here on out. Ingo will not let himself be discouraged by his own worries.

   That’s easier said than done though… no! No negativity. Ingo is just going to keep wallowing if he continues to sit around doing nothing.

   He looks up from his ArcTrans. It isn’t a good idea to stray too far from Cloudcap Pass, as he has no idea when Lady Sneasler will arrive. Though maybe it wouldn’t hurt to go for a short walk. He’d seen on his map that the left side of the path leads up to a small white icon, which he assumes must be a cave of some sort. The right side leads down to some place called the Moonview Arena. That sounds kind of like the Icepeak Arena back in the Icelands. Ingo wonders if there’s a noble that lives there too.

   Maybe he should go check it out? It’s not too far away from Cloudcap Pass. Ingo would be able to get back quick enough.

   He pushes himself up, dusting snow off of his pants and coat. Ingo will go for a quick walk and then he’ll come right back to the pass to wait for Lady Sneasler. Maybe by the time he gets back, she’ll be arriving too and then they’ll be able to figure out their next stop. He can’t wait to see her again. Even though they haven’t been apart for very long, Ingo misses her in her absence.

   How will that affect him when he goes home? Ingo stares down at the snow beneath his feet. He’ll miss her terribly… but it’s for the best that they eventually part ways, right? She belongs to Hisui.

   “GARRR!!”

   Something screeches above him. Ingo’s head snaps up just in time to see a blur of purple barreling straight for him. He can’t get his feet to move fast enough. It swoops down and Ingo braces himself for an attack, squeezing his eyes shut. There’s a whooshing sound, then Ingo’s neck is cold. A happy chittering follows.

   No attack comes. Whatever just came at him isn’t trying to hurt him. So maybe it’s safe?

   Ingo opens his eyes to find what looks like a Gligar hovering over his head. Clenched in its mouth is one end of a red scarf, the other end hanging down and fluttering in the breeze… wait a second. Is that his scarf?! His hand shoots up to his neck and sure enough, it’s gone. That scarf isn’t his. He can’t just let this Gligar take it! Ingo intends to return that once he is able to. “H-Hey! Stay behind the yellow line, passenger. That is not for you! Please return the scarf. I need to give that back when I am done with it.”

   The Gligar tilts its head at him. Then it takes off down the path, gleeful snickering filling the air.

   Ingo snaps into action. He can’t allow that Gligar to make off with the scarf! It would be rude to not return it, especially since he was rude enough running away from the Pearl Clan. “Wait! Stop right there! Give that back!” Ingo calls, breaking into a sprint as the Pokémon picks up speed. “Please! That’s not mine!”

   Unfortunately, his words fall on deaf ears. The Gligar just continues down the path, the scarf flapping in its jaws. Ingo grits his teeth. If only he had his own Pokémon! Surely he’d be able to get it back easier if he did.

   Snow is kicked up under his footfalls, but he pays it no mind. He’ll get that scarf back if it’s the last thing he does!

   The Gligar whips around the corner of the cliffs and out into more grassy terrain, swooping closer to the ground as it does. Ingo jumps, attempting to grab it. It darts into the sky. His arms close around nothing and he tumbles to the ground. Ingo grunts pushing himself up onto his hands and knees. He’s covered in dirt now.

   There’s more snickering above him. He glances up to see the Gligar hovering over him now, laughing at his plight. While Ingo is annoyed, he can use this to his advantage. The scarf in its mouth is right in front of his face. If he can reach out and grab it before the Gligar flies away again, he’ll be able to get it back.

   So, Ingo pretends to reach up to brush dirt away from his clothes. His hand darts out just before reaching his coat and snatched the end of the scarf. With a sharp yank, Ingo pulls it free from the Gligar’s mouth and it flops down onto the ground. He’s quick to bundle it up and hold it protectively against his chest.

   “Gli! Gli-Gligar!” The Pokémon sputters. Its shock only lasts a moment before its eyes narrow into a glare. Then, Ingo can see it start to charge up what looks like Mud Bomb.

   Oh no. Ingo scrambles up to his feet, taking a step back. “Hey now. There’s no need for ill will, my friend.”

   Too late. The Gligar launches Mud Bomb at Ingo and he jumps out of the way. Its attack hits the ground with a thud, mud splattering over the area. The Gligar wastes no time in swooping down to try to take the scarf back. Ingo ducks just in time. He shoves himself up and takes off towards what looks like ruins. Maybe Ingo can find something to defend himself with or a place to hide.

   He can hear the Gligar flapping in the air behind him, hot on his heels. Just why does it want the scarf so badly? It’s so persistent! Ingo would just give it to the Pokémon if it was his to give at this point. Of course, it isn’t his to give and therefore he can’t.

   So, he keeps running. There are more Pokémon in this area. Some he recognizes and some he doesn’t. Ingo doesn’t have time to ride that train of thought. He needs to focus on getting away from the Gligar that’s chasing him.

   He sprints over old broken boxes and fallen pillars, dodging stray Mud Bombs sent his way. The cries of the wild Pokémon around him echo in Ingo’s head. It’s like that day…

   The day he woke up in the snow.

   Ingo’s heart pounds in his chest. He can’t hear anything over the rush of blood in his ears. His mouth is dry like it’s been filled with cotton. It’s cold all over again and there’s phantom blood running down his skin. Ingo is running for his life all over again. He’s going to die here. In this horrible place. Without accomplishing even one of his goals. Ingo is a failure. And his death will mean nothing. Arceus will just take another champion in his place.

   He can’t breathe. Everything is spinning. Ingo doesn’t even know where he’s going. All he knows is that he has to run as fast as he can.

   There’s something sticking out of the ground. Ingo isn’t sure what it is, but he wasn’t able to dodge it. His foot gets caught and Ingo trips, landing on his side. Ingo gasps for breath as his body hits the ground. Everything hurts and it’s cold and Ingo is going to die again.

   This isn’t fair! He just wants to go home. Is that really too much to ask for?

   Ingo curls up, his body trembling, as he braces for an attack. Hopefully his death isn’t painful. Hopefully it’s so quick that Ingo doesn’t feel it. He doesn’t want to be in pain anymore.

   Something lands on him. It’s gentle. Not attacking him. Soft clicking sounds and worried coos reach him through the rush in his ears. Ingo isn’t being attacked. He’s not dying, nor is he injured. He isn’t lost in the snow anymore. Ingo is going to live. He drags in a deep breath that comes out more like a gasp. Ingo is going to be alright.

   A beat passes and whatever landed on him nuzzles against his face. It’s purring now, the rumbling on his chest grounding Ingo in this moment.

   He’s lying on the ground. The sun is shining above him. Ingo is okay.

   Slowly, he dares open one of his eyes. The first thing Ingo sees is purple. Then the Pokémon tilts its head up at him, worried eyes meeting his. It’s the Gligar that was just chasing him… why did it not attack him? Ingo stares at it for a moment, then he brings a shaking hand up and lays it on the Pokémon’s head. It pauses for a second, then nuzzles into his hand. The purring gets louder.

   This whole time… he thought that it was being mean and trying to hurt him. All that stuff he’s been told about Pokémon being dangerous and the experiences he had in the Icelands has gotten to his head. Ingo thought it was just giving him trouble. But now he realizes that isn’t the case. None of those Mud Bombs it launched at him got anywhere close enough to hurt him and it’s been laughing this whole time.

   It was just trying to play with him. That’s why it took the scarf. It was trying to get Ingo to chase it. To play with it. Ingo feels a little silly now and also guilty for making the Pokémon worry about him when it was just trying to have fun. Ingo will have to make it up to the Gligar.

   He moves his hand to scratch behind one of its ears and the Gligar melts. “I apologize for my behavior. I’ve been having a hard time adjusting to this world… I am okay now. Thank you for your help,” he says, laying his head back to stare up at the sky. Ingo’s entire body feels like jelly. It might be a little while before he can get up again.

   The Gligar chirps at him, then scoots up his chest to curl up on it. Its head is tucked into the space below his chin.

   Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to stay like this for a little while before going back to Cloudcap Pass. Just until he can get his legs to start working again.

Shift: ??? Perspective

   A human getting along with Pokémon? That’s almost unheard of in Hisui… Pokémon and people are separate. Afraid of each other. Neither party encroaches on the other’s territory and if they do, bad things always happen. At least, that is what she thought before she witnessed a man getting along with a Gligar.

   In all the time they’ve spent in this awful land, they have never seen a human being so friendly with a Pokémon. Especially one that had just been launching attacks at them. Of course, she knew the Gligar was just playing. She knows everything about the Pokémon that call the Highlands home… most would readily attack the Pokémon in turn or just run away. People are terrified of the creatures they share this world with. Even those who choose to have Pokémon around do not view them as more than a necessary partnership. A means to an end.

   That doesn’t seem to be the case with this man. He’s calm even after that Gligar attacked him. Sure he’d been frightened a moment ago — anyone would be in his position — but now he’s petting the Gligar like nothing happened. That doesn’t make sense to her. Shouldn’t he be angry?

   Anyone from Hisui would be. But what if he’s not from Hisui? What if he’s like them?

  He’s comfortable with Pokémon and he doesn’t look native either. The man is wearing strange clothes. They look modern. Maybe he really is like them! Oh, but she shouldn’t get too excited. If he’s like them, that means Arceus is with him. Another poor human dragged away from his home for the sake of some divine mission. It’s not fair.

   Something brushes against her shoulder and she whips around.

   “Aka-“ She slaps a hand over her brother’s mouth. His eyebrows furrow in concern. He always looks concerned these days…

   Her brother has been worrying over her since they started living in the wilderness. She doesn’t want him to worry. It’s not like she can’t take care of herself. She’s been the one going out and taking care of things! He’s too scared to leave their cave.

   Oh, but she’s getting distracted now. She has to tell him about that man!

   “Shh!” She puts a finger up to her lips, then points around the pillar she’d been hiding behind. “Look there.” Her brother follows her point. The man is still lying on the ground, unmoving beyond the slow drag of his hand atop the Gligar’s head.

   A beat passes before she drops her hand away from his mouth. He stares at the man for another moment, then looks back at her. “Who is that?”

   “I don’t know, but he’s not from here. Look at him. Those clothes are modern. He’s like us.”

   He doesn’t look convinced. “Maybe they’ve just got a new style down in the village? You can’t just assume anyone who looks different is from the future.”

   She huffs, rolling her eyes at her twin. He’s so negative all the time. How is it not fair to assume he’s from the future? It’s so obvious! She just needs to make her brother see that. Taking his hand, she drags him closer and points at the man again. Or more specifically, at the Gligar. “Look at his Pokémon. Look how comfortable he is handling them. Does he look scared to you?”

   “… no.” He seems to be understanding now, so she drives her point home.

   “Exactly! C’mon brother. You know people here don’t like Pokémon. They treated us like freaks when we tried to befriend Pokémon. Don’t you remember? He has to be like us.” That’s the only explanation. The people of Hisui have always been distant from the Pokémon that inhabit this land. She really doubts someone would just randomly decide they don’t want to be afraid anymore. Which means this guy has to be from the future. “You know I’m right.”

   He shakes his head. Another person from the future? Why doesn’t Arceus just give up? If they really want to save the world, they’d come down and do it themself. Hisui is too dangerous for anyone from the modern world. Surely this man will be no different from them. But what if he is? What if they were just not good enough for Arceus’ plan? He shakes that thought away. They are not failures. Arceus is the failure. Whether or not that man is from the future doesn’t matter to them anymore. Arceus is not their problem. He takes his sister’s wrist. “Maybe you’re right, but it doesn’t matter anymore. We should get back to the cave.”

   She wrenches her arm away from him. “No way! We have to get a closer look.”

   “It’s too dangerous. We should just stay in the cave. Please-“

   “No! I don’t want to be stuck here forever! What if… what if he actually does it this time? What if he can take us home?” She doesn’t want to have to beg someone else to save them. Really, she doesn’t. But she just can’t live like this anymore. She wants to be safe again.

   Her brother falls silent. “What if he doesn’t? What if he doesn’t want to help us? We-… we don’t even have anything to go back to. It’s just us.”

   Silence. She knows her brother is right. They don’t have anything waiting for them in the modern world. But damn it! Even living alone in the wilderness in the future would be an easier life than the one they’re living now. “We should still try! Even if we have nothing, it will be safer there. Please… let’s just follow him for a couple days and then decide if we want to keep going. Please.”  

   There’s that look on her face. That frown and her sad eyes. He can’t stand seeing his sister so upset. He does not believe that man will be able to help them, but for his sister’s sake… he can play along. “Fine. A few days and then we’re going back to the cave.”

   A smile spreads across her face, excitement lighting up her features. He only hopes he didn’t make the wrong choice.

   Both of them turn back to watching the man and his Pokémon. Only time will tell what happens next.

Chapter Text

Shift: Lady Sneasler’s Perspective

   Almost at the top. Lady Sneasler can see the cliff ledge approaching, just out of reach above her. She’s almost there. As soon as she gets up and finds Ingo, Lady Sneasler is taking a freaking nap! This trip has been a workout. Truly. Running through the Icelands and then climbing up Mount Coronet is more exercise than she would get in a week living in the Highlands.

   Actually, Lady Sneasler has gotten more exercise in than she would have gotten in several weeks since Ingo arrived. All this running is going to be the death of her one day! She really needs to work on getting into better shape. Maybe she should be taking Warden Calaba seriously and try to lay off the plump beans because letting Ingo down during their journey is not an option.

   If she’s not useful, then Ingo will abandon her and she’s not keen on losing another friend. She’s not sure she would survive being left alone in her den this time… never again.

   Lady Sneasler needs to be better.

   She digs her claws into the hard stone of the mountain, reaching up to pull herself higher. Failure is not an option for her, no matter what. Lady Sneasler will be the best she can be for Ingo’s sake so that he has no choice but to keep her at his side. She will be useful. And maybe it’s not healthy to be thinking this way, but if she doesn’t… Lady Sneasler will not allow herself to wallow in her sadness any longer. She’d spent three years too many doing just that. Enough is enough.

   The ledge is right in front of her now. Lady Sneasler hooks her claws over it and digs them in so she can hoist herself up over it. She swings one of her legs over the edge and steps up onto the peak, unhooking her claws and straightening up. Finally she’s reached the top. Lady Sneasler dusts snow and dirt off of her fur. She’s going to need to bathe soon if she wants to look her best. Yuck!

   It’s quiet.

   Lady Sneasler had expected Ingo to at least greet her when she arrived, but he hasn’t said a word. That doesn’t make sense. She looks up. There’s nothing but snow in front of her. Lady Sneasler glances to her left and then to her right. Ingo isn’t here. There’s nothing here at all! Not even Pokémon in her immediate vicinity. That’s not normal at all!

   Where did Ingo go? Why isn’t he waiting for her? Ingo told her that he would be waiting for her! Did he… did he abandon her?

   No! That can’t be true, right? Ingo promised he would meet up with her! That- this can’t be happening! Lady Sneasler can feel her heart start to race in her chest. Something is wrong. Something has to be wrong. If not then… then Lady Sneasler is useless. She’d taken too long to get up the mountain. That has to be it.

   She looks up at the sky. That strange purple ring of clouds is still hovering over the highest reaches of the mountain, writhing and crackling. Lady Sneasler ignores that. The sun is starting to get lower in the sky. They’d left the Icelands early in the morning. How did it get so late?!

   Lady Sneasler went as fast as she could… how could she have failed?

   “You probably shouldn’t stick around here for long.” Says a voice to her left. She jumps, the fur on the back of her neck standing up. Lady Sneasler hisses as she glances to her left. There’s a Luxray sitting in the snow near the rocky ledge in front of her. He’s got a look on his face that has Lady Sneasler relaxing a little. The Luxray appears nervous. For such a prideful species of Pokémon, this is out of place.

   Lady Sneasler tilts her head. Why is he telling her to leave? Sometimes she has trouble with Luxray because they are protective of their space, but this doesn’t seem like some simple territorial dispute. He looks shaken. “I am a noble Pokémon. I can be wherever I choose to be in my domain… it is my duty to handle problems too. So what’s wrong?”

   The Luxray grumbles a little, rising from their seated position to walk over to her. He keeps his head low and his ears flat against his head. Lady Sneasler knows this is a way of showing her that he is not a threat, so she lets him approach. He stops on the space in front of her, glancing up towards the other side of Cloudcap Pass. “There was… a human here. One we’ve never seen before. He was dressed in weird clothes…” The Luxray shudders.

   A human in weird clothes? Could he be talking about Ingo? No, he couldn’t be. The way Luxray is phrasing his words makes it seem like the human was dangerous. It has to be someone else. Ingo would never harm a Pokémon enough to frighten something like a Luxray. “Okay? What did he do?”

   He shakes his head. “Don’t know. Heard from the Alpha by the cave that he battled her. The human won and went up into the cave to-… to the Hall of the Creator.” The Luxray whines, sitting back down and pawing at the snow. His expression crumbles into one of panic. “None of us know what he was doing. He was up there for a while and then… then there was a scream and this wave of static. It drove most of us away. It was unlike anything I’d felt before. Painful… none of us dared get close.”

   Oh that can’t be good. Lady Sneasler looks off towards the path that leads to the cave. The Temple is largely abandoned. None of the local Pokémon dare go up there and the humans in the area tend to stay clear of it. It’s been years since a human last visited the place and Lady Sneasler hasn’t seen it since she was undergoing her noble training as a kit. All she knows is that the space is sacred and with that cloud up there…

   “I see. Did the human ever come down?” If he didn’t, then Lady Sneasler might have to go up there herself. As terrifying as it is, she still has a duty to protect her space.

   The Luxray nods. “I came back a little while ago. BlackLightning said she was missing one of her Elekid, so I came to look for him. Saw the human coming down. He stopped to talk to two other humans that were standing by that tree,” he pauses to motion to the berry tree nestled in the corner of the rocky path, “The Lord of the Skies was with them. Their conversation didn’t last long. And then the man left. I don’t know where he went after that.”

   Lord of the Skies… oh Arceus! He’s talking about Ingo! Well, and Warden Sabi. Is Ingo alright?! That man didn’t do anything to her human, did he? “You- did you see what happened to those other humans?”

   “The young one took off on the Lord of the Skies. I didn’t see what happened to the older one. Though I heard a scream and a Gligar call. My best guess is that they ended up at Sacred Plaza.” Luxray tilts his head at her. “Is that human yours?”

   She shoots a glare at him. Lady Sneasler does not feel the need to explain herself to him! Though, he did tell her what she wanted to know. She will let it slide this time. “Yes… as for the man. If he comes back, avoid him. Try to keep away from the cave. I am not sure what that man was doing, but the energy you mentioned could be dangerous. I will be traveling around Hisui, so if you need help, please go to the Lord of the Hollow.”

   The Luxray nods. “Understood. Good luck on your travels, Lady of the Mountain.” With that, he rises from his place in the snow. “I should get back to searching for the Elekid. BlackLightning will be unhappy if I can’t find him.”

   “Best of luck. Try checking the crevices in the rock. I’ve seen kits hide in them.”

   He doesn’t respond, but nods as he heads off towards the other side of Cloudcap Pass. Lady Sneasler hopes that what he mentioned does not become a lasting issue. Perhaps she should consult Arceus to see what can be done to prevent it, though she doesn’t know if they will have answers for her.

   Well, it’s not something she can deal with now. She’s got to find Ingo first. Sacred Plaza is probably the best place to start.

   So, she turns on her heal and starts down the slope towards Lord Electrode’s seat.

Shift: Ingo’s Perspective

   His legs are still rather weak, but at least Ingo was able to get up. He’d stood up a couple minutes ago and has been pacing around the area, trying to get feeling back in his legs since. So far he’s making decent progress. He can walk, which is more than he could say earlier.

   The Gligar also has not left yet. He’d expected it to fly away as soon as he got up, but that was not the case. In fact, the little beast seems very content to be held in his arms like a baby while he walks in circles. It’s currently cuddled up against his chest, head tucked in his shoulder and tail wrapped around one of Ingo’s arms. He has a feeling he will not be getting rid of this Gligar any time soon.

   Not that he’s complaining! Ingo loves Pokémon, after all. And this one may have given him quite the scare, but he can tell it is trying to make up for that. It did seem very remorseful while he was still recovering from his panic. Otherwise it would have left him to his own devices by now.

   He’s glad he’s not alone. It helps him feel a little less anxious than he was before.

   Ingo’s about halfway through a lap around the ruins when Gligar perks up. It stares over Ingo’s shoulder. “Gli… gli-gligar…” It’s ears flatten against its head and it curls in on itself in his hold. That can’t be good. Ingo pauses, glancing in the direction it’s staring in. He doesn’t see anything but a small buzzing orange thing that he assumes is a Pokémon, some trees, and broken white pillars.

   Could it be the orange thing that’s bothering the Gligar? No, it can’t be. It’s been over there this whole time and has yet to cause any issues for them. “What is it, passenger? Is something wrong?” Ingo’s not entirely sure why he’d taken to calling it passenger, but it feels right and the Gligar has started to respond to it more than when he calls it ‘Gligar’.

   He whines, then wiggles in Ingo’s hold. It takes Ingo a second to process that he wants to be put down. When he does, he unravels his arms and the Gligar flaps up into the air. Ingo watches it hover above him for a moment, then in starts off towards the direction it had been staring in.

   Oh. Perhaps it just wanted to leave. Ingo is a little sad to see it go, but he is not surprised. “Oh. Okay then. Farewell my friend.”

   The Gligar whips around, hissing at him. It then swoops down and zips around him. Ingo can feel it pushing against his back, trying to get him to go in that direction. “Gligarrr!”

   “Wha-?! Hey! Please stay behind the yellow line!” His words go ignored. “Gligar please!” It hisses at him, still pushing. Ingo attempts to dig his heels into the ground to no avail. This little Gligar is rather strong. It must be a good battler with such strength! Or perhaps it could be with proper training. No, he’s getting distracted. “Gli-“

   “Gaarrr!” Well that’s clearly an unhappy sound. It smacks Ingo with its tail for good measure.

   “Passenger, please stop pushing me.” Finally, the Gligar stops. Unfortunately, Ingo had been putting his weight on the Pokémon and falls as soon as the Gligar moves. He hits the ground with a grunt, dust kicking up around him. Ingo groans as he stares up at the sky above him.

   So it will only respond when he calls it ‘Passenger’ huh? Has Ingo accidentally named a Pokémon?

   A purple smiling face appears in his line of vision. “Gligar!” It flaps its wings at Ingo, which he interrupts as a happy gesture. He sighs, pushing himself up off the ground. Ingo dusts off his coat.

   He opens his mouth to scold it, only to fall silent when he hears a rumbling from somewhere to his right. Goosebumps raise over his skin as a feeling of dread settles in his gut. There’s something metallic in the air; a sort of buzzy feeling that makes the hair on the neck of his neck stand. He can taste it on his tongue. Ingo shudders. What in the world is that?

   Ingo turns his head and his heart drops into his stomach.

   A couple feet away from him is a couple of rocks jutting out of the ground and over them, Ingo can see something glowing. A spark. It fizzles in the air, writhing around like a snake. Ingo can’t pull his eyes away from it. What is that?

   The spark continues to ebb and flow, then a loud boom echoes around the area and something purple explodes from it. The strange bubble swirls and cracks, lighting striking the surface followed by loud rumbles. Ingo can only watch in horror as it expands, sucking in all the Pokémon that happened to be in the area. As it grows, it’s getting closer and closer to where Ingo is currently sitting on the ground.

   Fuck. Shit, shit, shit! That’s not good!

   All the Pokémon around the area scramble away from the bubble, kicking up dirt and knocking each other over in their haste to escape. Ingo has to jump out of the way of a Luxio as it bolts past him so he doesn’t get trampled. He can hear the fear and panic in their cries and see the desperation in their movement. Pokémon are not easily startled like this.

   Ingo scrambles to his feet, only to get body slammed by another Luxio. He lands on a rock, the sharp point knocking the wind out of him. A wet warmth spreads in his lower back, a bolt of pain following after. Ingo hisses. Damn it.

   A loud crack rings out through the area, then a rock is sent flying out of the bubble. Ingo attempts to move out of the way as best as he can, rolling onto his side. He brings his arms up to shield Passenger right as it smashes into the ground beside them. Little pieces of it cut into his arms and hands as they dart past him from the impact.

   This is dangerous. They need to go now . He can’t feel his legs. No matter. Ingo has to push through it for the Gligar’s sake if nothing else.

   Ingo tries to move, but is quickly stopped by arms wrapping around him from behind. He’s yanked up from the ground with a shout, then whatever has him starts to sprint away from the bubble. The wall of purple stops and Ingo can see what looks like Pokémon appearing inside of it. They look… frantic. He can see what looks like a large red Pokémon launch a Flamethrower at Jolteon. He doesn’t get to see what happens next as his capturer leaps over a rock, though he can hear the blood curdling screech that follows.

   He’s going to be sick.

   He squirms in the hold, trying to get a better look at whatever has him. Ingo manages to look up, meeting a familiar pair of pink eyes. All the fight is sapped from his body. Oh thank Arceus. It’s just Lady Sneasler. She gives him a worried yip before turning back to the space in front of her. Lady Sneasler is trying to avoid stampeding Pokémon and debris and stray moves from the wild population.

   This is chaos! Just her luck that she’d find Ingo in the middle of it. He just can’t stay out of trouble can he?

   She jumps over another rock and one of Ingo’s hands shoots up to hold on to his hat, the wind from their momentum threatening to knock it off. “Lady Sneasler! Oh I’m so glad to see you! I was worried about you!” He calls over the noise.

   Some of the tension in her face seems to melt away, her ears flicking. “Snease!” Ingo figures she must have been worried about him too. Her hold on him tightens a bit as they approach the end of a cliff. “Snee-snesa!”

   He doesn’t get a moment to process what she’s trying to tell him before she jumps off the edge of the cliff. Ingo’s free hand darts out to grab her arm while the Gligar clings to his chest, a scream tearing out of Ingo. Right. She was telling him to hold on. That makes sense now.

   Wind whips around them, the ends of Ingo’s coat flapping. He has a death grip on both Lady Sneasler and his hat. They’re several hundred feet in the air. A fall from this height would surely mean a serious injury or even result in death. Ingo stares at the ground, panic exploding in his chest.

   They’re going to die! Arceus damn it, why can’t a Ingo catch a break?!

   Lady Sneasler swings one of her arms back, claws digging into the rock face. It takes her a couple tries, but she manages to get them hooked deep enough to start slowing them down. Her claws tear deep gashes in the cliff, little pieces of rock flying out of the gashes. One piece flies up and sliced through Ingo’s cheek. He can feel the blood slide down his face as he hides in Lady Sneasler’s fur.

   He squeezes his eyes shut, listening to the screeching of the wind. It’s all he can do, helpless against the descent. His skin stings from the force and the chill of the mountain air, mouth dry and breath stalled in his chest. Ingo can only imagine this ending badly.

   They’re all going to hit the ground and die. Even with Lady Sneasler slowing them down. There’s just no way they’d survive a fall from this height. It’s not possible! The best he can do is brace himself for impact.

   His screams echo around the area, so loud he’s sure he’d scared every living creature within a mile of their location. Ingo feels bad, but he can’t stop. Screaming is better than bursting into tears and crying would make this significantly worse than it already is.

   Ingo’s stomach lurches as he’s swung to the side. His eyes snap open and now they’re much closer to the ground than anticipated. “Snease!” Lady Sneasler yowls. Ingo only manages to glance at her before he’s thrown from her hold. The Gligar in his arms is whipped up into the air, yelping at the gusts carry it into the sky.

   He puts his arms over his face and curls in on himself as he hits the ground. It smashes into his shoulder with enough force that Ingo hears something crack. He heaves, only barely managing to keep himself from throwing up. Ingo tumbles across the rocks, getting hit several more times before he rolls to a stop.

   Nausea hits him like a brick, his stomach doing summersaults. Ingo gasps for breath as he stares up at the sky. His body aches, his shoulder worst of all. It’s most likely broken… but he’s alive. He’s battered and bruised, but still alive. That’s got to count for something right?

   Seconds tick into minutes as Ingo lies motionless on the ground until he’s not sure how much time has passed. Ingo tries to move, but the searing pain that shoots up his arm stops him. He brings his less damaged hand up, covering his mouth to stop himself from vomiting. Ingo can hear his own breathing trembling, pained grunts escaping him against his will.

   This is agony.

   “A-… Arceus…” Ingo whispers, barely able to get the word out. “… Arc-“

   He feels a tingle in his head, then a connection snaps into place. Ingo’s stomach rolls.

   Ingo- oh divine stars! What happened to thee?! I look away for one instant and thou art broken on the ground! Give me a moment. I shalt help thee, mine champion. Simply breathe and I shalt heal thee.

   Ingo closes his eyes, trying his best to get his lungs to work. He manages shallow gasps for breath. It’s not much, but it seems to be doing the trick. He can feel the pain starting to recede. The gashes in his arms and the one on his back start to feel less wet, the warmth going down too. Ingo is able to breathe a little easier now.

   He drags in as deep a breath as he can as he feels his shoulder start to move. His eyes snap open, panic shooting through his system. “Wait! Wait, wait, wait! Please!”

   I cannot wait. Thy injury will heal just fine. Relax, mine champion.

   Relax? How is he supposed to relax?! Ingo squeezes his eyes closed, free hand clawing at the dirt as his shoulder starts to move back into place. A scream tears through him as the pain hits. Every little movement sends jolts of agony through his body, burning and stabbing at his nerves. It hurts! Ingo is going to have dirt buried under his fingernails because of how hard he’s digging into the ground. His legs kick involuntarily as the bones snap back into place, another shout being ripped out of him.

   His shoulder settles and the pain starts to fade. Even so, Ingo can’t hold in his sickness anymore. He rolls over and throws up on the ground. It’s not much, which is good. Ingo groans, shakily moving away and wiping his mouth.

   It’s okay. Ingo is alright now. The pain is gone… but he can’t stop shaking, tears welling up in his eyes.

   Ingo?

   He shudders. Right. Arceus is still here. “S-… so-…” Ingo shifts to sit down and drags his knees up to his chest, burying his face in them. He can’t get a single word out.

   Sorry… I am alright now. Thank you.

   If thou says so… please be careful, mine champion. And rest. Thou needs to rest before continuing on thy journey. I beg thee.

   Ingo nods a little.

   Yeah. Okay.

   The pressure in his head fades away and Ingo is left alone on the ground. He drags in another deep breath, trying to get his heart to stop racing.

   That was terrible. Every part of that experience was terrible. Ingo wants to go home. He wants to sit down with the man in white and cry into his shoulder. The man in white would keep him safe. Ingo is certain of that… he wants him back so badly, but he knows that it won’t be so. Ingo wants to go home.

   “Snee…?” Comes a worried chirp from somewhere behind him. Ingo’s head snaps up. Lady Sneasler is standing there, his Gligar hanging on her shoulders. Both of them appear to be alright, save for a couple patches of dirt and some bruises. Nothing a couple berries can’t heal. “Mrrp?” She looks like she wants to grab him, but is refraining for his sake.

   Ingo bursts into tears, launching himself up from the ground. He throws himself at Lady Sneasler and Gligar, sobbing into her chest. She wraps her arms around him and Gligar climbs down to drape itself over his shoulders. “I’m-… I’m so glad you’re both okay! I’m so glad! W-… why don’t we rest our engines here for the night? I think-… I don’t think I want to go anywhere right now.”

   Lady Sneasler nuzzles into his hat. “Sssrt.”

   He interprets that as her acceptance. They’ll stay here for the night and deal with whatever happens next in the morning.

Time: 8:57 pm

   Flames dance across the pile of sticks he’d managed to gather, the burning wood sizzling under the heat. Ingo stares into the fire, watching the orange light flicker as it illuminates their campsite. Lady Sneasler is curled up at his side while Gligar is nestled in his lap. Both of them are fast asleep.

   It had taken some time, but eventually Ingo had managed to pick himself up off the ground and get a fire going. He built a decent one. There happened to be quite a few sticks around the area, which made it easier for him. Ingo didn’t have the energy to try and pitch a tent, so he’d settled down by the fire and his companions had joined him. Now Ingo is the only one awake.

   His head is still spinning. Even after he was healed, Ingo just couldn’t shake the fear he’d felt. It lingers; a shadow looming over him.

   He couldn’t stomach the berries Lady Sneasler had brought for them earlier. Ingo tried, really he did, but it just tasted like acid. The last thing he wanted was to be sick again, so he gave his half eaten berry to Gligar. At least they were happy to eat it.

   Ingo isn’t sure why he doesn’t feel better. He shouldn’t be dwelling on the events of what happened. It’s not healthy to be stuck like that but… well, it’s not like he can just forget it either. Ingo doubts he ever will. It’ll be stuck with him until the day he dies. Even if his mind forgets, his body will know. Maybe that would make it worse. Kind of like the bone-deep longing in his heart that he can’t put to words. Except worse. Fear is always worse.

   A gust of wind brushes past him and Ingo shudders, pulling his coat tighter around himself.

   Who was he kidding? It’s still cold here. Even with the lack of snow. It’s just a different kind of cold. Ingo is never going to escape it, is he?

   He’ll be cold forever.

   There’s a name for that. Ingo can’t remember what it is. Only that it refers to people who are stuck in bad memories of the past. And being trapped in those memories is something that requires help.

   Well, it’s not like he’ll be able to get it here. Ingo is on his own. Sure he has some Pokémon traveling with him, but they wouldn’t understand. Not in the way another human would, at least. Ingo wouldn’t want them to anyway. It would be cruel to force a Pokémon to do something like that.

   Ingo sighs. He’s being negative again. Surely that won’t do him good either. Even if it’s easier to think that way.

   No, he has to remain positive. That’s the only thing that going to get him through this. As soon as he gives into the negativity, he’s giving up his drive to keep going. Ingo refuses to drown in his own turmoil. Not while he has a duty to uphold and a promise to keep. This is only the first leg of his journey. He can’t let his engine shut down so soon.

   Maybe he should try to get some sleep. He doubts it will be very restful, but some sleep is better than none. Ingo does not particularly feel like running on empty tomorrow.

   So, he scoops Gligar up into his arms and rises from the ground. He doesn’t want to set up the tent, but a sleeping bag might be more comfortable than the rocky ground. Ingo carries his little friend over to his back, shifting to hold it with one arm while he unbuckles his sleeping bag from his backpack. It’s a bit difficult to do with one hand, but he manages.

   Once he has it, Ingo unrolls it on the ground. It’s a bit small for him, but he will have to make it work.

   “Mrrp?”

   Ingo jolts, whipping around. Lady Sneasler is peering at him from over her arm. She hasn’t moved from her curled up position and she’s clearly still half asleep. Ingo must have disturbed her with his movement. “Apologies, my friend. I was just getting my sleeping bag.” 

   She eyes him for a moment, then glances at the sleeping bag. “Sneas.” Lady Sneasler rolls onto her back, holding her arms open towards him. “Sssnesa,” she rumbles.

   For a moment, Ingo debates her offer. He doesn’t want to bother her, though now that he’s thinking about it, Ingo doubts she’d let him refuse. He might as well resolve himself to his fate. Straightening up, Ingo drags his sleeping bag over to her and sets it down beside her. “Thank you.” Ingo climbs into it, readjusting Gligar in his hold. Lady Sneasler waits for him to settle before dragging both of them into her arms with a low purr.

   She noses at Ingo’s hat, reaching up to gently take it off and set it down beside them. With his hat out of the way, Lady Sneasler is free to nuzzle into his hair.

   Ingo lets her get comfortable. The rumbling of her purrs and the soft fur pressed against him slowly lulls him to sleep.

Chapter Text

Location: ???

Time: ???

   There’s light flickering beyond his eyelids; brief flashes of color that he can’t really make out. Ingo can’t tell if there’s some sort of pattern or not, but it seems to be random. What’s going on? Last he checked, he was lying with Lady Sneasler. What happened after that?

   His eyes flutter, but he can’t open them. Strange and mildly alarming. Ingo tries to move his body instead, once again not able to move a muscle. It’s like something is holding him down. Even taking a full breath feels like a monumental task. All he can feel is something plush underneath him. Whatever it is does not breathe, which means it can’t be Lady Sneasler. If it’s not her, then where in the world is he?

   Okay, now Ingo is starting to feel a little panicked. Why can’t he move? Why isn’t Lady Sneasler with him?

   Laughter bursts to life somewhere in front of him, followed by what sounds like voices. It’s muffled beyond anything coherent. Like he’s hearing it through water. More flashes dance across the backs of his eyelids, getting brighter for a moment before dulling back down to a softer glow.

   Is he under some kind of sedation? Is that why his body isn’t listening to him? It would make sense, but how in the world could that have happened?

   “Ingo?” Comes a hushed whisper. It sounds closer than the voices from before and much more coherent. That voice… Ingo knows that voice. That familiar monotone. Most wouldn’t be able to pick out any emotion within it, oh but Ingo can hear it plain as day. “Ingo. Verrry rude to ignore me, yup. I can see your eyes fluttering. I know you’re awake.” There’s a tease in his whispering voice. It nearly brings Ingo to tears.

   The voice belongs to… to the man in white. To… E-… Em. To Em. Oh how he misses Em. It’s like a gaping wound in his chest that just won’t heal. This is what he’s been missing. The man in white.

   A beat of quiet passes before Ingo feels something poking his cheek. “Iiiingo. Wakey wakey. I am verrry lonely without you.” Em pokes him again, then finally Ingo can open his eyes.

   He blinks away the fuzziness in them. It takes a moment for him to focus, but eventually he can take in the sight before him. Ingo is lying in their living room. Right. Living room. He remembers what that is. Ingo’s eyes scan over the area in front of him. There’s a table with a bunch of open colorful bags, small white boxes, and a couple bottles on its surface. That’s… take-out? Yes, that’s it. Take-out.

   Em must not have felt like attempting to burn the kitchen down tonight and Ingo can’t cook, so they’d ordered take-out from one of their favorite restaurants down the street. Nights like this were common. Even more so whenever Ele-… when their friend was over. Ingo shifts on the… oh what is it called? He can’t quite remember… he shifts on the plush thing beneath him. There’s a pillow stuffed under his head. Ingo looks beyond the table towards a stand, gaze traveling up to a large square with moving pictures on it. That must be where the color was coming from.

   Oh! That’s a tv. Ingo must have fallen asleep while watching tv with Em. That feels right.

   It’s playing… something. Ingo can’t recall what it is, but he knows he’s seen it about a hundred times. Some childish cartoon about something or other. Him and Em sometimes put it on for sound. Neither of them like when the apartment is too quiet, but Em especially struggles with silence.

   Ingo stares at the space for a moment longer before his gaze flicks to his right. And there he is. The sight of Em has Ingo taking in a trembling breath. Em is sitting on the floor, his back pressed against the… the couch. His head is turned towards Ingo, a tired smile spread across his face. He looks sleepy. That’s not surprising. It’s quite late, after all. Em is usually asleep by now.

   So why is he up still? 

   “Em? Did I fall asleep?” Ingo hears himself saying. Those words aren’t his own, but he feels like he could have said them. He would have…

   Em huffs an amused breath, looking back towards the tv. Ingo doubts he’s actually paying attention though. “Yyyup. You were out like a light the second your head hit the pillow. I am Em*** and I was verrry worried you’d be dead to the world forever!” There’s a twinkle of mischief in Em’s eyes now. It’s one Ingo knows well. Or knew well.

   A sigh escapes Ingo as he pushes himself up. He can hear his back cracking as he does. “Oof! Careful big br*****. You’re getting verrry old. Too old to be sleeping on the couch now. You’ll hurt your back, old man.”

   Ingo rolls his eyes, swinging his legs down off the couch. “Oh please. We’re only twe***-f***. Hardly old.”

   His words receive another huff and an eye roll. “I am Em*** and those years are going to catch up to you soon! Your back is already starting to go. I know you heard that popping. I am simply concerned for your health, Ingo.” He puts a hand up to his heart with a look of mock sincerity. Ingo just ignores him and stretches his arms over his head. There’s a shuffling beside him, then Em is pushing himself up to join him.

   Without a word, he throws one of his arms over Ingo’s shoulders. “Don’t ignore me Ingooo. You know I’m rrrright.” Once again, Ingo ignores his words. “Uuughh. Fine. You win… but if you’re not old, you should carry me to bed.”

  Ah. Now Ingo knows why he stayed up. Em wanted to be brought to bed. Childish as it is, sometimes Em feels a little less antsy if Ingo puts him to bed. He’d gladly do anything to help Em.

   Ingo scoffs, wrapping an arm around Em in turn. Pretend as he may to be annoyed by him, Em’s weight is one he would shoulder any day… he misses the man in white’s presence by his side more than anything. “Look who’s getting old now. Need help to walk, Em? Maybe I should get you a walker for our birthday.”

   “Gasp! You wouldn’t! Verrry mean. Mean old br*****, that’s what you are.” Em halfheartedly wacks his arm, fighting off a yawn. He leans more of his weight on Ingo. 

   Ingo shakes his head fondly, adjusting his hold on Em before turning towards the hall that leads to their rooms. “Oh yes. I’m the meanest. Now let’s get you to bed, old man.”

   He goes to take a step.

   “ Ingo.”

   His heart leaps into his throat and the world stills. Ingo can’t move a muscle. That voice… that wasn’t Em. A shudder races up Ingo’s spine as he glances at the tv.

   There’s nothing but static. Ingo stares at the screen, watching the colors buzz around. He can’t move. The air around him grows thick, the tang of metal coating his tongue. Ingo can’t look away from the screen.

   A beat. Two. Then there’s words slowly appearing on the tv.

   “ Ingo! Please help me!”

   That’s not. That can’t be real. That isn’t what happened! Wait… Ingo can’t-… what happened? Ingo doesn’t know. He can’t remember.

   “ HELP ME! INGO!”

   The voice grows louder, static drowning it out. Ingo can’t hear anything else but the endless buzzing and scratching. His body starts to feel light, the world around him going dark. Ingo can’t breathe.

   “ SAVE ME!! PLEASE!”

   Ingo’s body lurches forward and the world around him crumbles away.

Location: Clamberclaw Cliffs

Time: 10:38 am

   His eyes snap open, his body shooting forward. Ingo’s chest feels tight. He can’t shake the sound of that voice screaming in his head, begging for help. Everything else fades away into nothingness until Ingo can’t remember what he’d been dreaming about beyond the voice.

   Something drops down onto his back and Ingo jolts. His head snaps to the side, finding a worried smile on a purple face. Ingo blinks for a moment, trying to process what he’s looking it. His shoulders relax when he realizes it’s just his new friend. He reaches up to pet the Gligar. “Good morning. My apologies for my derailment. I am alright now.”

   Is he really? Ingo had written his last nightmare off as being insignificant, as most nightmares are. But… this is the second time something like that has happened. And those words are haunting in a way that makes Ingo feel unsettled.

   No. Ingo is just being paranoid. He’d had a rough day yesterday, which is likely why he had a rough night too. Ingo just needs to take a breath and he’ll be fine. There’s no use dwelling on scary dreams.

   He has stuff he should be doing anyway. No more wasting time! Ingo needs to get his engine running.

   “Snease?”

   He looks up to see Lady Sneasler standing a couple paces away. She’s hovering over what used to be the fire he’d built last night. Now it’s nothing more than ash. Looks like she’d either put it out or it had burned down while they were sleeping. Either way, they don’t have to deal with it anymore now. Ingo reaches up to tip his hat at her, only to grasp air. Right. He’s not wearing his hat yet.

   Ingo grabs it off of the ground beside him, putting it back on his head. “Good morning! I am alright. I do not really want to dwell on… what happened. We should switch gears and come up with a new destination.” He pushes himself up and out of his sleeping bag, careful of the Gligar on his shoulders. “I believe we may be in need of more supplies soon. Mainly food. We should set our tracks for somewhere with food.”

   Lady Sneasler tilts her head at him, watching him crouch down to roll up his bedding. Ingo appears… shaken. She’s not really sure why that is, but he clearly doesn’t want to talk about it. It would be best not to push him. Plus, Ingo is right. She’d managed to find them some berries last night, but a few berries is hardly enough to sustain them. They need actual food.

   She glances around the area for a moment, trying to decide where they should go. It looks like they’re at Clamberclaw Cliffs, which isn’t too far from the Lonely Spring. There should be some stuff there — water at the very least.

   Ingo straightens up after rolling his sleeping back up. He grabs his bag and tucks it back into the straps, securing it once more. As soon as that’s done, Ingo swings it over his right shoulder. The Gligar is still hanging from his left.

   Oh! That’s right! Gligar is still here. So much happened yesterday that he’d barely been able to process the fact that it has not left his side since they met. Perhaps he should ask if it would like to accompany them on their journey. The Gligar certainly seems like it has no intention of leaving him.

   Ingo clears his throat, capturing the attention of both of his companions. “Before we depart, I must ask you a question.” He turns to look at the Gligar. “Would you like to join us on our tracks?”

   The Gligar tilts its head at him, then darts up into the sky. It doesn’t go far, swooping down in front of him to land in Ingo’s awaiting arms. “Gli-gliga!”

   Well, that sounds like agreement to him. Ingo can feel the corners of his mouth tilting up. He’s glad that Passenger has decided to join them. Despite their less than ideal meeting, Ingo has enjoyed their presence thus far. It would be nice to link their cars more permanently. “Bravo! Welcome aboard then! If I may, does the name ‘Passenger’ sound agreeable to you?” The Gligar doesn’t waste a moment before nodding. “Perfect! Then it’s settled.”

   Lady Sneasler chirps at him. When he looks up, she’s pointing off in some direction. Ingo isn’t really sure where that leads. He shifts Passenger into his left arm and turns his wrist, poking at his screen for a second. Ingo pulls up his map and scrolls around to find where she’s pointing towards.

   It looks like they’re at Clamberclaw Cliffs right now. The map is a little hard to read on such a small screen, but he thinks she’s pointing towards some place called ‘Lonely Spring’. He has no idea what they’ll find there, though he can at least see water on the screen. That would be good to stock up on. “Lonely Spring? Very well! Destination set. Full steam ahead!” Ingo points off in that direction.

   He can hear Lady Sneasler’s footsteps following after him as they walk in that direction. Thankfully it doesn’t appear to be too far away. Once they stock up on whatever they can find, Ingo will have to figure out where he wants to start searching for the two kids he’s trying to find.

   Hopefully his searching will be fruitful.

Location: Lonely Spring

   The three of them managed to get down the short cliffs that lead down to the Lonely Spring with the help of Lady Sneasler. Well that was mainly for Ingo. Passenger was able to fly just fine. Regardless, they reached the bottom. Lady Sneasler dropped him down in a patch of grass close to the rocky cliff behind them before climbing down herself.

   Ingo salutes her. “Thank you, my lady!”

   She just waves him off, flopping down on the ground beside him. It appears she needs a break. Not that Ingo blames her. He is quite heavy and she has been doing a lot of work during their journey. She deserves all the rest she can get.

   He turns his attention towards the land around him. It’s grassy and full of trees with a large body of water resting in the middle of it. A breeze rustles through the tall grass at his feet, the ends of his coat fluttering as well. The spring in the middle of the area bubbles and churns with a soft current, wild Pokémon dotted along the steam. The trees littered around are abundant with colorful fruit, which means they should be able to get a decent amount of food and water before they set off again.

   “Bravo, my lady! There’s plenty of food here.” He hears a whooshing over his head before Passenger lands on the ground in front of him. They chitter and take off once more towards a nearby tree. “Take only want you need, Passenger.” The only response he gets is a snicker before Passenger dives into the branches.

   That’s going to end badly, isn’t it? Well, he’ll just have to deal with the consequences later. For now, he needs to focus on getting supplies. Ingo shakes his head as he moves to take his backpack off. He’s not sure if he has a way to store food in his bag, but it wouldn’t hurt to check. It would be beneficial to stock up while he can if he does.

   He unzips it and is rummaging through it when Lady Sneasler nudges him. Ingo looks up at her and she points off towards something. He followings her claw, freezing when he finds what she’d been pointing at.

   There are people here! On the other side of the area and closer to the water’s edge is a group of people wearing red and a few other people wearing blue and yellow. Like that strange man he’d run into up at the top of the mountain… could they be from the same place? Maybe they have a uniform like the people in the Pearl Clan did?

   Should he be wary of them? These are the first people he’s seen since he left the Pearl Clan. Save for Volo. He wonders if he’ll have more luck talking to them than he did back in the Pearl Clan.

   Ingo debates approaching them. He doesn’t want to bother them if they are going to react negatively, but Ingo would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious.

   It looks like they’re building something. The people in red are carrying fabrics and pieces of wood. He can see them setting materials down in piles or talking amongst each other. The people in blue do not appear to be helping in the way of building. He can see one of them has strayed a little further from the group. She looks to be… shooing a Pokémon away.

   Well now Ingo has to get involved. He won’t stand for an innocent Pokémon being mistreated.

   Before he can stop himself, he’s moving towards her. He can hear Lady Sneasler give him a warning yip, but Ingo ignores her. She doesn’t try to stop him beyond that. Ingo doubts she would have been able to anyway, unless she physically restrained him from doing so.

   His footsteps crunch against the ground as he closes the distance between them. The closer he gets, the more audible the woman’s words become. She’s still shooing a floating gear-like Pokémon and muttering something to herself. “Go away. I’ve got to do something to get this camp set up…” The woman does not notice Ingo’s approach.

   He clears his throat and she jumps, head snapping towards him. “Excuse me, miss! I must ask you to refrain from scolding that Pokémon. Please stay behind the yellow line!”

   The woman sputters. “Ah! I-… who are you? What-… oh! If you’re coming over to yell at me about it, then why don’t you help me?” She straightens up and clears her throat. “My name is Eshim. I’m a traveling merchant from the Ginko Guild. I came here since I heard the Galaxy Team was planning to set up a camp…” she trails off, looking towards the Pokémon on her left. “But it seems not much progress has been made, since that Bronzor is getting in the way. It’s not belligerent, but it seems like it wants something, so we can’t just ignore it either.”

   Ingo nods a little. That does seem like quite the dilemma. The poor Bronzor appears quite distressed. It’s spinning in the air and it keeps glancing across the stream at something, beeping and whirring at them. Is it sick? Or maybe injured? Ingo isn’t sure. He’s not familiar with this species. “I can see how that may cause a blockage on your tracks, Miss Eshim… well, I am Ingo and I would like to help if I may?”

   The woman looks a little confused by his words, but appears to shake it off. “Knock yourself out. It should would be a big help to us if you could solve this issue.”

   “It would be my pleasure, Miss Eshim. I’ll clear your tracks in no time!” Ingo tips his hat at the merchant.

   She smiles a bit at him. “Wonderful. I’ll wait here to make sure the building preparations can run smoothly,” she says before turning back towards her group.

   He watches her walk away from a moment before looking back at the Bronzor. Ingo salutes the Pokémon, which causes it to let out a confused whirring sound. “Well then, my friend. Please show me what ails you!”

   A beat of quiet passes, then the Bronzor floats towards the edge of the water. Ingo follows after it, trying to spot whatever the issue may be. It comes to a stop just before reaching the water and stares out towards the other side with a worried beep. Ingo can’t make out what it’s looking at, but there appears to be something moving on the other side. Is that another Pokémon?

   If it is, then it must be in trouble! Ingo glances around, trying to find a way to get across. Going all the way back to where Lady Sneasler is sitting would take too long, which means Ingo is just going to have to go through the water to get to the other side. He’d prefer not to get wet, but it seems he has no choice. Thankfully the stream is not very wide. He should be able to reach the other side quickly.

   Ingo hikes up the end of his coat and strides into the water. It’s colder than he thought it would be, a shudder running up his spine. He really does not like being cold!

   Water splashes around him as he trudges through the stream. He can feel his boots sticking to the sediment, likely getting very dirty. Ingo will have to figure out a way to clean them later. For now he will focus on the task at hand.

   He takes a couple more steps before climbing up to the other side of the stream. Once he’s out of the water, he lets his coat fall back down. Ingo can see what that moving thing was now. It is indeed a Pokémon. Another Bronzor to be exact. This Bronzor is hovering rather low to the ground, pained clicking sounds emitting from it. That can’t be good.

   The Bronzor whines as Ingo approaches it. “Zooor… zooor…” His eyebrows furrow with concern for the Pokémon.

   “Greetings,” he says, trying to keep his voice low enough to not startle the Bronzor. It just glances at him before looking back at the ground. “I am here to help you, my friend. I-“ Ingo is interrupted by a whir on his right. He jolts, glancing towards the sound. The Bronzor from before is now hovering beside him. It seems it crossed the stream to reach its friend. Ingo watches it float closer, cooing worriedly at its companion.

   A moment later, Ingo hears footsteps approaching them. He turns to see Eshim running over. She skids to a stop beside the Bronzors, looking over at Ingo. “I saw Bronzor go flying-“ she gasps, trying to catch her breath, “-go flying off in this direction all of a sudden!”

   “Zooor…”

   Eshim’s attention is snatched by the injured Pokémon. She gasps again. “What in the- that Bronzor! Its wounded! This is no good at all. Here, I’ll fix it right up.” Eshim slides her bag off of her back and onto the ground in front of her to rummage through it. He can hear rattling and clinking sounds coming from the bag while she looks. 

   Just how much does she have stuffed in there? It certainly sounds like there is a lot. Perhaps she’s a merchant too, like that man was. The matching uniforms would make sense if that’s the case.

   His attention is grabbed away by the feeling of something settling over his shoulders. Ingo doesn’t have to look back to know who it is. She must have seen the commotion from across the spring and came to make sure he is alright. 

   Lady Sneasler chirps at him and Ingo reaches up to pet her.

   Meanwhile, Eshim grabs a couple odd bottles out of her bag before approaching the Bronzor. Thankfully it doesn’t fight her. It drinks the contents of one of the bottles and Eshim takes it away to offer another. The Bronzor seems a bit wary, but drinks that one too anyway. It perks up a moment later.

   “There, that should do it! Bronzor should be fit as a fiddle now… seems the Bronzor at the new campsite was looking for its friend the whole time.” She sighs, turning to smile at Ingo. “I’m glad you looked into it! Otherwise we may have been too late to treat this Bronzor! This land is dangerous, even for the Pokémon that call it their home… it may be wise to be extra prepared as you explore this area.”

   “Right you are, Miss Eshim. I’m glad everything turned out alright.” Truly, Ingo isn’t sure he would have been able to handle another terrible situation. He’s had enough already! Lady Sneasler huffs her agreement above him.

   Eshim seems to just now process Lady Sneasler’s presence. A nervous look spreads across her face, but she makes no comment on the noble’s presence. “I have a gift for you, sir. For helping us finish up the camp!” She begins digging through her pockets before Ingo can politely refuse her. “I know some folks aren’t too keen on these, but maybe you’d like some! It’s easier to transport your Pokémon around in them,” she says, still searching.

   It takes her a second to actually produce what she is referring to. But when she’s done, excitement explodes within Ingo. In her hand is a small ball. One side is red while the other is a light brown. Ingo can’t help but feel like it looks a bit strange, but he recognizes it nonetheless. “A Pokéball! Bravo! Those will come in handy. Thank you very much!” Ingo is not the kind of man to take undeserved gifts buuut, he can’t resist. Pokéballs! He actually knows what this is! That’s so exciting!

   She eyes him as she hands over four Pokéballs. “Huh… I’m a little surprised you know what they are. Pokéballs are a fairly new invention, after all. And I’ve been told most people around here aren’t fond of them.”

   Ingo shakes his head. “I’m not actually from around here, I think. My home station is somewhere else, though I must confess I can’t remember where that is. See, I lost my memories and am traveling around Hisui now.”

   Eshim looks fascinated by his words, eyes sparkling. “You’re not from around here? Cool! Ah- sorry about your memory loss though. That sucks… oh! If you’re traveling, you should go see Jubilife Village! I was there not long ago. They’re really carving a place for themselves here in Hisui. It’s an interesting thing to check out if you’re taking suggestions?” 

   Jubilife Village? That sounds… somewhat familiar to him. Like he’s heard something similar before. Perhaps he should go check it out once he’s done in the Highlands. “Jubilife, huh? I’m sure you’re right. I think I’d like go check it out sometime… how do I get there?”

   “It’s just northwest of the Obsidian Fieldlands. You can’t miss it! Oh! Why don’t you stick around the camp for a little while? We can tell you all about it!” She glances over to where the campsite has been set up. “It seems the base camp has been finished while we were talking, so it’s perfect!”

   Ingo shares a look with Lady Sneasler. They’d been planning to get supplies and keep going, but maybe it wouldn’t hurt to stay and learn some things. It might be helpful to have a better understanding of the land around him. He raises an eyebrow in question and she shrugs; they can stop for a bit. “Sure. We’ll stay for a little while.” Ingo says to Eshim, then turns his attention to Lady Sneasler. “Will you go find Passenger and redirect him to me?”

   She nods, stepping away from Ingo and taking off towards the area she’d last seen him in.

   With that, Ingo is led towards the camp.

Chapter Text

Time: Dusk

   Ingo ended up staying longer than intended. He meant only to learn a bit about Jubilife and continue on his journey through the Highlands, but instead has gotten wrapped up in conversation with these people. And before he knew it, the sun was setting. Ingo was informed that it’s too dangerous to head out during the night, as apparently the ghost types in the area are especially aggressive. So he’s staying at the camp for the night upon the insistence of Eshim.

   That’s how he ended up where he is now. He’s sitting on the ground in front of a large fire, a couple members of what he’d been told is the ‘Security Corps’ around him. There’s a man and a woman standing by the fire. It appears like they’re cooking something, though Ingo has no idea what it is. Eshim is sitting on his right. She’d been talking about her travels through the Crimson Mirelands a moment before, but now she’s fallen quiet. It’s a comfortable kind of quiet.

    There’s a shuffling on his lap. Passenger had climbed into his coat a couple minutes ago, tired of being poked and prodded at by some of the merchants. He — Ingo was informed by one of the merchants that Passenger is male — has been nestled there since. Apparently these people are a little less frightened of Pokémon, but most are still wary. So much so that Lady Sneasler went to go sit by the water. Ingo has been periodically looking back at her and she appears to be fine, so he left her be.

   Ingo feels oddly content here. So far, his experience with these people has been very positive. He’s learned quite a bit about Jubilife and the ‘Galaxy Team’ in his time with them. He’s also learned about foraging and about some of the climates of the places around Hisui. Ingo feels more prepared to face his journey now that he’s learned more about the land.

   He’s decided that he’ll make his way to Jubilife as soon as he finishes up in the Highlands. All this talk of how nice the village is makes him want to check it out himself! Plus, he’s heard there are many shops there. Ingo would like to check those out and see if he can get new clothes. He’ll have to figure out how to send the clothes he burrowed from the Pearl Clan back once he does, but for now that can wait.

   For now, Ingo can just live in the moment.

   He can appreciate the warmth of the fire in front of him and the company of the people around him. For once, Ingo doesn’t feel cold. It’s like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

   Someone clears their throat. “So, Ingo. Have you decided whether or not to visit Jubilife?” A voice says from across the fire. Ingo looks over the flames towards a man he’d been introduced to earlier, Ress if he’s not mistaken. Apparently the man is usually stationed in the village, but came out to the Highlands to help set up this camp. Ress is a fairly friendly man and Ingo finds he appreciates that.

   He nods. “I believe that may be my next stop on my route. As soon as I’ve finished exploring the Highlands, that is. Miss Eshim has made it sound like quite a nice place.” Upon hearing her name, Eshim looks over at him and gives a thumbs up. That gets a laugh out of Ress.

   “I’d say it is! Though maybe I’m a bit biased. Living there and all.” Ress looks off towards the spring, a somewhat distant look in his eyes and a small smile on his face. “Jubilife is a fairly new settlement here, but I’d say we’re doing alright for ourselves… it’s our ultimate goal to make Hisui a habitable place for humans. Maybe one day, we’ll make that dream a reality.”

   His words get a couple murmurs of agreement. Ingo glances around at the group. He understands where Ress is coming from, but something about his words gives Ingo pause. Making Hisui ‘habitable’ for humans… Ingo won’t claim to know anything about this land other than a surface level understanding, but that’s sounds like they’re trying to push Pokémon out of their lives.

   Maybe that’s true. Maybe the people of this land don’t want anything to do with Pokémon. Ingo has seen firsthand how dangerous Pokémon can be, after all. It would make sense for humans to want to distance themselves from something that causes them pain… but does it really have to be that way? Not all Pokémon are violent. Ingo glances down at Passenger in his lap. He hasn’t moved much since making himself comfortable in Ingo’s coat.

   Passenger is his friend. Even though they do not know each other very well, they are still traveling together and working to understand each other. Isn’t that proof enough that Pokémon are more than just violent creatures?

   People can get along with Pokémon just fine, as long as both parties put effort into understanding each other. Ingo knows this to be Truth. Why is that not the case here in Hisui? Why do people resent Pokémon so much? It doesn’t make sense to him.

   Oh, but what does Ingo know? He hardly remembers anything at all. Maybe he’s just making all of that up in his head. Ingo would have no way of knowing. He doubts anyone would listen to him anyway.

   “Food is done!” Someone shouts. Ingo’s attention is drawn out of his thoughts and he looks up. He can see people starting to gather around the fire to dish up food.

   He looks back down at Passenger, bringing one of his hands down to pet him. Passenger purrs, nuzzling into the touch. He focuses all of his attention on him. Ingo doesn’t want to take their food. He’s not even supposed to be here, so it would be unfair to take their resources with nothing to give in return. It’s already kind enough of them to let him stay at their camp for the night. Though Ingo should go off and get some berries or something from the trees to feed Lady Sneasler and Passenger.

   A hand comes into view, a small plate stretched out towards him. On the plate is three pieces of some kind of meat with mushrooms on the side. That’s quite a lot of food… Ingo blinks. He stares at it for a moment before someone laughs. “Are you going to take it? C’mon don’t tell me you weren’t planning to eat. I’m sure you’re hungry,” Eshim says. Ingo looks up at her.

   There’s a smile on her face and a sincerity in her eyes that has Ingo reluctantly taking the plate from her. “It would be rude to take food when I have nothing to offer in return.” Ingo doesn’t want to take advantage of their hospitality. Even if he can feel his stomach rumbling at the sight of the food. Ingo hasn’t had a decent meal since he left the Pearl Clan and he would be lying if he said he wasn’t hungry. There’s enough on the plate to feed himself and his companions too. But Ingo can’t just take it, can he?

   Eshim waves him off, sitting back down on the ground beside him. “It’s no problem. There’s plenty of food around this area, so there’s no issue with scarcity. Plus, I’m sure your Pokémon are hungry too. It would be more rude not to feed them,” she says. Eshim then points down. “Looks like your little friend there is already sniffing after it.”

   Her words prompt Ingo to look down and sure enough, Passenger has crawled out of his lap and is trying to steal a piece of the meat on his plate. Ingo lifts it out of his reach. “Pull the breaks, Passenger!” An annoyed huff escapes his friend as he flops back down into Ingo’s lap. He shakes his head at Passenger’s antics. “Alright, alright. I’ll give it to you.” Ingo brings the plate back down, grabbing the end of a piece of meat. It’s still hot, so Ingo brings it down to Passenger quickly.

   The piece is all but snatched out of his hand. Passenger takes it and dives back into his coat, snickering happily. Goodness, that’s going to make a mess isn’t it?

   Ingo sighs, turning his attention back to the plate. If he’s being told to eat, he might as well. Ingo pops one of the mushrooms in his mouth. That’s all it takes before Ingo is stuffing his face. He didn’t realize how hungry he really was! Ingo is aware he must look feral, but he can’t be bothered right now. He’s not entirely sure what he’s eating, but it’s the best thing he’s ever eaten in this moment.

   There’s a snort to his left and Ingo looks back up to see Eshim covering a laugh behind her hand. “Sorry! You’re just eating like you’ve never seen food before. I’m a little worried about you!”

   Heat blooms in his cheeks and he looks away from her. How embarrassing… “My apologies! It has been… some time since I last had a proper meal. I have been on the move for a while.”

   Eshim clicks her tongue at him. “Really? Geez, you need to be paying better attention to that! I can’t believe you tried to refuse to eat just now.” She pauses her scolding to turn and drag her bag closer to herself. “There are berry trees scattered all around Hisui. If you’re in need of a snack, you can just grab some. Oh! And there’s a lot of mushrooms around that taste okayish if you roast and salt them. Those are good in a pinch. Here, let me give you some recipes if you ever need them.” Another moment passes before Eshim pulls out a small book. She holds it out for Ingo. “This has a lot of my favorite recipes. You can take it. I know all of them by heart, so I don’t need it anymore. I recommend starting with the roasted berry recipe. Reeeally hard to mess up, even if you’re no good at cooking.”

   Now Ingo really shouldn’t take that from her. This recipe book appears to be special to her, if the slightly warn appearance is any indication. Its red leather cover is frayed around the edges and the pages inside appear to be stuffed full of extra papers. The book is well loved for sure. Ingo doubts Eshim would let him refuse though. So, against his better judgement, he takes the book from her. It’s useful to have for sure. He’s certain Lady Sneasler and Passenger will appreciate the recipes. “Thank you, Miss Eshim. I will treat this book with care.”

   “Good! Now you might want to go feed your other Pokémon. It’s been sitting over there for a while.” Eshim points off towards the water.

   That’s right! Lady Sneasler is still by the spring! Oh he’s a terrible friend… “Right! Thank you!” Setting his plate down, Ingo drags his own bag closer and puts the book in his front pocket. He then slings it over his shoulder and picks the plate back up. “All aboard, Passenger! we’re off to Lady Sneasler.” Passenger chirps his response as Ingo rises from the ground and starts off towards the water.

   The further he gets from the fire, the darker it gets. He can see Lady Sneasler’s darkened form by the water. It appears she has not moved much since she walked over here.

   Maybe he should have checked on her earlier… Ingo shouldn’t have assumed she would be okay on her own.

   He walks a couple more paces before he reaches the edge of the water. Lady Sneasler doesn’t look up at him as he sits down on the ground beside her, but she does growl at him. It’s a low and threatening sound. One used to chase off unwanted presences. She must not realize it’s him. Lady Sneasler wouldn’t growl at him, right? Unless she’s upset with him…

   Ingo ignores it, setting the plate down on the ground between them. Lady Sneasler growls again and her head snaps around to face him. She immediately falls silent upon realizing that it’s him. “Mrrp?”

   “I am sorry, my lady. I did not mean to leave you alone for so long.” Ingo nudges the plate a little closer. “They made food back at the fire. I am not sure what it is, but it takes good. I think you should eat something. Please?”

   Lady Sneasler blinks at Ingo. Why is he acting strange? He looks as if he’s afraid of upsetting her, which doesn’t make sense to her. She’s fine. Well, she was nodding off when he walked over here and that’s why she growled at him. She thought he was another one of those pesky humans that kept poking at her and asking her questions. Lady Sneasler is way too tired right now to deal with any more of that. But it’s just Ingo and Ingo is her friend. He brought her food too! Lady Sneasler leans down to sniff at the plate. It smells like Magikarp. Not her favorite, but it’s not bad either.

   On bated breath, Ingo watches her drag the plate closer and sniff at it for a moment. He’s almost afraid she’s getting to get mad at him for bringing this to her. Lady Sneasler shrugs a bit and grabs the food with her claws, happily eating it. Ingo lets out the breath he’d been holding. Right. She’s not mad at him. Now he feels a little silly for thinking she was.

   “Well! I think once you’ve finished eating, we should rest our engines for the night. What do you both think?” Ingo glances between his Pokémon. He gets a nod from Lady Sneasler and a chirp from Passenger, which he interprets as agreement. “Bravo! Destination set then.”

Location: A Tent at the Mountain Base Camp

Time: 11:20 pm

   It wasn’t long before everyone started to turn in for the night. Ingo had set up his own tent with the help of Ress and Eshim before they both went back to the main part of the camp. After that, Ingo was left alone with Lady Sneasler and Passenger. Thankfully their tent was just big enough for the three of them.

   Lady Sneasler is curled up at his feet. She’d fallen asleep almost as soon as the tent was set up. That must have been why she appeared to be grumpy earlier; she was sleepy. Ingo can’t say he blames her. She’s been working hard to keep them chugging along their tracks. Perhaps it would be best if they take it easier when they set out tomorrow. Ingo doesn’t want her to push herself too hard.

   There’s a rustling above his head. Ingo glances up to see Passenger shifting in his sleep. He’d flopped down on Ingo’s pillow not that long ago, cuddling with his hat. At first Ingo wasn’t sure if he felt comfortable letting Passenger have his hat, but he decided that playing tug-of-war with it was not the best idea. So he resolved to letting Passenger sleep with it.

   The only one who isn’t sleeping yet is Ingo. He did try. Really, he’d spent almost an hour rolling around in his makeshift bed of blankets and his sleeping bag. Ingo just couldn’t relax. Everything was too rustle-y and stiff and Ingo’s shoulder kept throbbing when he lied on it wrong. He’d tried taking his sleeping bag off, but then he was too cold and when he put it back on, Ingo was too hot. Nothing worked in helping him relax.

   Worst of all is that every time he closed his eyes, he saw that staticky screen and the words it displayed. He heard echoes of the screeching voice from his nightmare.

   Ingo isn’t sure why, but he just can’t shake the feeling of dread that comes with falling asleep. Worrying over nightmares is silly. He knows that. It’s just that he can’t make himself see reason.

   He doesn’t want to fall asleep, but he’s tired of tossing and turning too.

   Maybe he should go take a walk or something. Fresh air might do him some good. Or at the very least, stop him from disturbing those who are trying to sleep.

   Ingo sits up with a sigh, trying to avoid waking either of his companions. He manages to slip his legs out of the sleeping bag without moving Lady Sneasler. She does shift a bit, but that’s it. Once he’s out, Ingo grabs his ArcTrans from where he’d set it down on the floor of the tent before reaching out and unzipping the flap. He glances over his shoulder as he does, attempting to be as quiet as possible.

   It takes a second, but eventually the flap is open enough for him to slip out undetected.

   A breeze brushes past Ingo as soon as he is out of the tent. It’s gentler than the gusts near the top of the mountain, only just barely stirring the ends of his coat and tousling his hair. For a moment, Ingo stands there and lets the wind blow around him. He listens to the low whistle and the whoosh as it rushes by his ears.

   It’s a nice night. With the calm wind and the clear sky over his head, a sense of peace has fallen over the Lonely Spring. Ingo can hear the distant calls of Pokémon over the wind, but they’re too far away to be threatening. It falls into the background.

   The Highlands are loud compared to the Icelands. So many different noises that blend together to create one grand sound. It sounds familiar in a way, yet not at all at the same time. Ingo had a feeling he was used to loud, but it was a different kind of loud. More… unnatural noise than the wind and the grass rustling and the leaves shaking. Ingo’s not sure what that means, but maybe he will one day.

   Maybe he can let himself hope that one day will come eventually and no longer be some distant dream of ‘someday’.

   Ingo turns towards his right, walking further away from his tent. He’s not going to go very far. It would likely be dangerous to do so. Ingo just wants to sit by the spring for a little while and listen to the water bubbling. It might settle him enough to try going back to sleep again.

   It doesn’t take him long to reach the water’s edge. When he does, he lowers himself down into the sandy dirt with a grunt. He’s going to get his clothes dirty, but Ingo doesn’t care right now. That’s a problem for the future. One Ingo does not really want to think about. If he does, he’s sure he’ll never feel comfortable enough to fall asleep tonight.

   Water laps at the riverbed, churning over rocks and splashing up at Ingo. It’s more misty than not when it reaches him. He pulls his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them and resting his chin on his knees. Ingo drags in as deep a breath as he can manage with his legs pressed against his chest, holding it for a beat before releasing it.

   Today was a good day. Ingo can say that with certainty. It had started out a bit rough, but other than that minor bump, Ingo enjoyed his day. He’d met lots of new people and learned new things… Ingo is finally feeling a little better than he has been since he found himself here. So why doesn’t he feel settled? Why is he sitting up in the middle of the night with these thoughts?

   Ingo just wants to sleep, but he knows he won’t be able to.

   He’s not sure how long he sits like that before he turns his wrist to tap at his ArcTrans. His screen lights up with the map he’d been using earlier and he stares at the little red arrow showing him where he is. There’s so much ground to cover and he’d spent a whole day not covering it. He’s only seen a small section of the Highlands and those two kids could be anywhere. They might not even be in the Highlands at all!

   And what if they’re not? Then Ingo will have wasted his time trying to find something that wasn’t even there to begin with. How can he justify that? He has so much to do. Ingo hasn’t even started Arceus’ task, nor has he bothered to try to find a way home. He hasn’t even spoken to the man in white in ages. There’s so much to do and it’s going to take so much time. Ingo just wants this to be over. As soon as possible.

   What would the man in white say about him wasting time? He would be angry, wouldn’t he?

   Ingo could ask. He has his number… maybe. Ingo isn’t even sure if the person on the other end of the triangle app really is the man in white. What if he’s just jumping to conclusions? Then what is he supposed to do?

   His thumb moves before he can stop himself, swiping out of the map and opening the triangle app. The same messages from before are displayed on the screen. Neither of them have said anything else after that. Ingo wonders if they even want to talk to him if they haven’t said anything since Ingo reached out last.

   No. Ingo refuses to be stuck in his head anymore. If he wants answers, he will have to be brave and get them. Ingo takes another deep breath before typing out a message.

Are you still there?

   He holds his breath, staring at the screen. The time in the corner ticks by. A minute. Two. Five. Ten. Ingo is starting to lose hope. It’s his fault that he’s been abandoned. Maybe he should have messaged sooner. Or maybe he shouldn’t have messaged at all… Ingo goes to swipe out of the app, only to pause when he sees dots pop up. His thumb hovers over the screen.

Ingo!

Yes, I’m here. 😁

It’s been a while. I’m happy

To hear from you!

I was starting to wonder

if you would ever reach out

again.

How have you been?

   A shuddering breath escapes him as he reads over those words. Everything is fine. Ingo has not been abandoned. He shifts around, letting his knees drop away from him so he can sit up straight.

Better.

I had a decent day today.

I met a few people and that

was nice. It’s been a while since

I last talked about something that

wasn’t serious.

I’m sorry I didn’t reach out sooner.

It’s been rough recently, but I

am doing better now.

I even made a new friend. He’s a

Gligar. His name is Passenger.

I’m sorry to hear you’ve been

struggling.

You don’t have to keep that

to yourself, you know?

I’d like to hear from you more.

Even if you think I won’t want to

hear it. I’ll listen, I promise.

   There’s a pause. Ingo figures he’s probably waiting for him to answer. He doesn’t want to. Another minute passes before the dots pop back up.

You got a Gligar?

Verrry interesting.

That will be fun to strategize with!

And Passenger is a cute name.

I can’t wait to meet him!

   Ingo can feel the corners of his mouth tilting up despite himself.

I would like you to meet

him too.

He’s playful and hyper, but

I like that about him.

   He pauses for a second, debating whether or not he wants to comment on the previous messages. It would be rude not to, right?

Thank you.

I believe I am having trouble

talking to anyone about

how I feel. Perhaps I will

take you up on your offer.

Only if you promise to

reach out to me more.

I want to hear from you too.

I miss you, even if I do not

remember. I miss you so much.

Of course!

Sorry to pry, but is something

bothering you right now?

You seem distant.

   How is he able to tell? Ingo didn’t think he was being that obvious about his discomfort, but maybe he’s just fooling himself. He clearly was being obvious enough to be noticeable over messages.

I can’t sleep. I keep having

strange nightmares. I’ve had

two that I can remember in the

past couple of days. I don’t remember

anything about what happens in the

dreams. Only that there’s someone

screaming at me to save

them.

I don’t know who it is, or what

they need to be saved from.

It makes me feel uneasy.

   It feels like there’s a weight that’s been lifted from his shoulders. Having told someone about those feelings makes it easier for Ingo to let go of the stress they caused him. He feels like he can breathe now.

   A couple seconds pass before another message pops up.

Nightmares are strange.

I’m sure it’s just your subconscious

trying to process what’s happening.

I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

If it helps, try drinking tea before bed

or maybe taking a walk. That

usually helps me.

I thought so too. Thank you

for your suggestions. I will give

them a try.

And thank you for talking me

through my worries. I feel

better after telling you.

You’re verrry welcome, Ingo!

Now why don’t you go try

one of those methods and

then go to sleep? I’m sure you

need your rest.

I think I will.

Thank you again. And goodnight.

🙁

Of course!

Good night! Sweet dreams!

🙂

   With that, Ingo feels better about trying to sleep. He doesn’t want to go back just yet though. Maybe he’ll take a lap around the spring before going back to his tent. Just to be sure that he really is feeling better before attempting to rest. It might make him feel more tired if he does that anyway.

   Before he can swipe out of the app, something lands on his shoulders from behind. Ingo jolts before realizing what that something is. “Passenger? Did I wake you?”

   Passenger shuffles around a bit, climbing over his shoulder to flop down into his lap. The Gligar smiles up at him. “Gli! Gligar!” He flaps his wings at Ingo, his smile widening a little. “Gliii.” Passenger flips himself around, then points towards the tent. “Gllligar.”

   Ah, so he’s trying to get Ingo to come back? “I know. I couldn’t sleep. I was planning to take a walk around the spring and then try to rest my engine again.” Ingo scoops Passenger into his arms and pushes himself up from the ground. “Would you like to come with me?”

   Passenger considers his offer for a moment, then nods.

   “Bravo! Then let’s take a lap,” Ingo says.

   With that, Ingo turns on his heel and starts off towards the end of the spring. He adjusts his hold on Passenger, trying to keep him steady while also not putting too much strain on his arms. It takes a second, but eventually he manages to cradle Passenger just right.

   He buries his face into Ingo’s shoulder, purring a little while he walks.

   “GYAHHHH!”

   A scream tears through the air. Ingo’s heart leaps into his throat and Passenger’s head snaps up. That sounded… human. And pained. Someone is in danger.

   Before he can even stop to think about it, Ingo takes off in the direction of that scream.

Chapter Text

   Ingo just can’t catch a break, can he? It seems the moment he starts to relax, something bad happens to ruin it. He’s annoyed that he keeps getting thrown into these situations, but he’s also glad he was awake and already walking in this direction. If only because it means he can prevent something awful from happening.

   Another scream rips through the air and Ingo can’t really tell where it’s coming from. Running around aimlessly isn’t going to do any good in a dire situation. He needs to find the danger faster. So, Ingo skids to a stop. “Passenger?” He gets a chirp in response as the Gligar looks up at him. “Be my eyes. See if you can find the source of the screaming.”

   He gets another chirp, then Passenger is launching himself out of Ingo’s arms and into the sky. Passenger goes up so far that he becomes only a blob of purple against the night sky. He hovers in the air above his head, scanning over the land around them. All Ingo can do is wait until Passenger sees something.

   In the meantime, Ingo glances back towards the camp. He’s not sure if the screaming has woken anyone up, but having backup might be helpful. Ingo doesn’t have time to run back there through if he wants to help whoever is in danger. He’ll just have to save them first and come back to the camp if the situation takes a turn for the worst.

   He’s pulled out of his thoughts by a sharp shriek. Ingo glances back up and Passenger is pointing towards the end of the springs. He squints in that direction, catching sight of a couple of silhouettes moving in the darkness. Destination set. “Bravo, Passenger! Thats our destination!” Ingo takes off running in that direction and he can hear Passenger zipping through the air after him.

   He jumps over roots and cuts through patches of tall grass, trying to avoid sleeping Pokémon and fallen sticks littered about the ground. It’s hard to see anything in the limited light of the moon, but Ingo manages to make do. As if he’s used to getting around in total darkness… maybe he was once upon a time. Ingo’s heart is pounding in his chest, lungs tight as he gasps for breath, but he doesn’t stop.

   Ingo will not let anything block his tracks! He will help whoever is in danger if it’s the last thing he ever does!

   The end of the spring is just up ahead now. He can see the moving figures more clearly as he draws closer. Then finally, Ingo spots the problem in the form of red lights and blood curdling shrieks. Chills shoot down Ingo’s spine and his breath catches in his throat. It’s an alpha Pokémon no doubt. He can’t really make out what species of Pokémon it is from a distance, but he can tell it’s massive and dangerous. The sight alone has his stomach rolling, but he doesn’t allow himself to falter. He will handle an alpha for the sake of helping whoever has fallen victim to it. Ingo can’t turn back now.

   Instead, he races around the edge of the water and slides to a stop. He finds himself standing behind the lumbering alpha, pulse throbbing in his ears. Ingo’s mouth is dry and his body feels cold, hands trembling where they’re clenched at his sides. The alpha’s shrieks echo through the night, so loud it feels like his bones are rattling under his skin. A flash of green light illuminates the area just long enough for Ingo to spot a young boy curled up on the ground in front of the alpha. Then vines strike the ground, kicking up rocks and rumbling the earth around them. The boy just barely manages to roll out of the way of the attack.

   He seems injured, or at the very least, unable to get away. The strange floating plant Pokémon has him cornered by the cliffs surrounding the Lonely Spring. If he attempts to rush past the alpha, he’ll only get hit by an attack and he doesn’t appear to have anything to defend himself with. Ingo is his only way out.

   The alpha’s back is turned to him, meaning Ingo has the upper hand for a sneak attack move. Which he would take… if he knew what moves his partner has. All he knows is that Passenger can use Mud Bomb, which won’t be helpful in this battle. Given the alpha appears to be some sort of grass type. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know what else Passenger could hit it with. Ingo has never worked with a Gligar before and therefore is unfamiliar with the species.

   Ingo glances up to where Passenger is hovering in the air next to him. His eyes are focused on the kid with a worried smile on his face. Passenger wants to help, but he doesn’t seem to know how to. Looks like they’re on the same tracks. Ingo wants to guide his friend in battle, but he can’t do that well without knowing his skill set. This is bad…

   But they can’t waste any more time being frozen and unsure of what to do. The kid can only dodge for so long. They need to act to get him out of danger as soon as possible. Which means Ingo needs to redirect its attention.

   Ingo waves his hand at Passenger to get his attention. It takes a couple waves, but eventually Passenger glances at him. He hopes he can convey what he wants in silence. Ingo doesn’t want to announce their presence to the alpha.

   He points at the alpha then at Passenger before smacking his fist into his palm. Ingo then points to himself and back to the boy. If he can get Passenger to distract the alpha, then Ingo might be able to sneak around it to grab the kid and run. His friend tilts his head at Ingo for a moment, then he perks up and nods. Great! Hopefully he understands and hasn’t misinterpreted what Ingo said.

   Passenger chitters a bit and readies himself for an attack. Oh. He’s doing this now. He shoots up into the sky and once he gets a high enough distance, dives directly at the alpha. Passenger smashes into its back with a super effective hit. Ingo doesn’t really know which move that was, but it looks like it could have been Aerial Ace?

   He doesn’t have time to think about it, barely managing to duck down out of sight before the alpha whirls on Passenger. It screeches, the sound making his ears hurt.

   It gathers green energy around its mouth, launching a bunch of vines at Passenger. His partner manages to dart out of the way just before it hits him. Then he throws himself into what appears to be a Posion Stab. Ingo shakes his head and turns back to the boy. As much as he would love to watch Passenger battle, he has a job to do.

   The boy is still on the ground, his leg bent in an awkward angle. He must not be able to move it if he hasn’t gotten up yet. To Ingo’s surprise, the boy’s eyes are now fixed on him. There’s a look of panic in his expression that Ingo doesn’t really understand. Perhaps he’s still afraid of the alpha? That must be it. Ingo would probably be terrified in his shoes too, especially since he appears quite young.

   No! Ingo is getting lost in his head. Reroute! He needs to focus. The sounds of moves smashing into things and the angry shrieking of the alpha ring out through the night as Ingo starts towards the cliffs. He makes sure to keep himself low to the ground, trying to remain as out of sight as possible. It helps that his clothes are dark enough to blend in, though his hair kind of sticks out. Ingo wishes he had his hat on the cover it.

   He reaches a patch of tall grass, the rustling making him freeze. A red light lands over him and Ingo’s gaze darts towards the source. He doesn’t dare move an inch. The alpha is looking in his direction, but doesn’t seem to have spotted him yet. Ingo is almost afraid it’s going to come over to him until Passenger shoots down at it with another Aerial Ace. The alpha’s attention is brought back to the battle and Ingo starts moving again.

   Thankfully he manages to get through the rest of the patch without issue and ducks behind a nearby tree when he sees the red light moving towards him again. It’s gone in the next instant with a crashing sound and a screech. Then, Ingo is darting around the tree and crawling towards the boy in front of him. His eyes haven’t left Ingo this whole time and as he gets closer, the boy attempts to scoot back. He winces at the movement, then stops. 

   Ingo puts his hands up in a pacifying gesture. “Greetings, passenger. I am here to conduct you to safety. My name is Ingo and I assure you I mean no harm.” He tries to keep his voice as quiet as possible, which proves to be difficult for some reason. Ingo can hear himself speaking and it sounds like a regular volume more than the whisper it’s meant to be. Oh well. The alpha’s attention is still fixed on Passenger.

   Silence is the only response to Ingo’s words. The boy hasn’t stopped staring wide-eyed at Ingo like he’s about to attack him! Why is he so afraid? Does Ingo really look that scary?

   Maybe he does… his frown often makes people uncomfortable, after all. Maybe he should try to explain himself more? Would that make the boy feel better?

   “You seem uncomfortable. I understand if you do not trust me or are scared of me. I assure you, I am only trying to get you to safety and nothing else.” He motions towards the other side of the spring. “I’m going to try to get you over there and away from the alpha. Can you walk?” Ingo glances down at his leg. It looks like his ankle may be injured. It’s hard to see in the darkness, but it appears to be at least swollen.

   “No…” Comes a hushed whisper. Finally, he’s gotten him to say something. Ingo was a little worried he’d continue to be ignored. This makes it easier for them to plan their escape route.

   “Okay, then I may have to carry you. Is that alright? The last thing he wants to do is make this scared child any more uncomfortable, but it would be easier to just carry him if he can’t walk on his own. They’d have better chances of getting out unharmed that way.

   The boy considers it for a moment, then nods a little. “Okay.”

   “Bravo. You’re very brave. Now we should link our cars and start moving that way. I’m not sure how much longer my friend can keep battling,” he says with a glance towards Passenger. His partner appears tired and a little scuffed up, but seems to still be going strong. Ingo will have to get him some berries or something to heal up once they get back to camp. He turns his attention back to the boy, reaching out for him. “All aboard, Mister…”

   He reluctantly allows Ingo to lift him into his arms, wrapping his own around Ingo’s shoulders. “… Rei.”

   Ingo’s heart jumps into his throat. Rei. Wasn’t that the name of one of the children he was trying to find? Has he actually found one of them?! He’ll have to confirm with Arceus, but this has to be one of the kids. He appears to match Arceus’ description now that he’s thinking about it! Ingo wants to leap for joy. He’s actually completed a part of his mission! He’s not a failure yet.

   “Mister Ingo?” Rei whispers, eyebrows furrowed. He looks equally as confused as he is concerned.

   Ingo shakes his head, pulling himself out of his thoughts. “Apologies. I just-… I’m happy to have finally found you.” Oops! He hasn’t meant to actually say that part out loud! Damn it, he’s probably scared the boy now. He can feel Rei’s hands clench around the fabric of his coat and he looks away. “Sorry-! I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

   In an attempt to distract both of them from what he’d said, Ingo turns his attention back to his plan to get Rei out of here. Passenger is diving down in another Aerial Ace, which means he has an opening to run as soon as the attack lands. He watches for a moment, then right as Passenger slams into the alpha, he shoots up and runs.

   His footsteps ring out through the quiet and the alpha whips around as soon as it hears him. It screeches, but Ingo manages to stay on his feet. He keeps his gaze focused on the distance in front of him. They just need to get far enough away from the alpha for it to stop chasing them. Once that happens, Ingo can find a way back to the base camp. For now though, he needs to focus on getting away from the alpha first.

   Ingo whistles sharply as he leaps over a log. “Passenger! Reroute!” He shouts into the night. He doesn’t have time to reword his statement in case Passenger doesn’t understand, now having to dodge past the vines striking the ground at his heels. Thankfully, he can hear Passenger’s affirmative chirping and then a whooshing sound over his head. “Super Bravo, my friend! You did wonderfully!” Ingo calls up to Passenger.

   Another scream rings out and Ingo can feel Rei bury his face into his shoulder. He just pats Rei’s back as he darts around a tree, the sound of wood smashing behind him making his heart pound faster. There are more trees up ahead, then the spring thins out. Maybe he’d be able to get across a little further down. Though maybe it’s dangerous to cross in the darkness with a child in his arms. He might need a new plan.

   “Climb the cliffs,” a voice says in his ear. The words almost make Ingo pause, but he manages to save himself with a minor stumble before he keeps running.

   Ingo glances towards the cliffs. They are rather close and aren’t all that steep. He’s just worried he might not be able to get up with Rei in his arms and an angry Pokémon at his heels. “I don’t know if I can get up!” It’s a little hard to hear over all the noise happening around them, but Ingo thinks he’s still loud enough to be heard.

   His words prompt Rei to lift his head. He points off to something in front of them. “There’s a slope right up ahead! It’s easy to get up if you can get enough speed and run up it!” Rei seems certain of his words, so Ingo finds himself inclined to believe him. He hopes he’ll be able to pull it off without injuring either of them.

   Turning on his heel, Ingo changes his course for the cliffs. The alpha is still hot on his heels as the large rocky ledges come into view. He can see the area Rei was talking about in front of him and it does look a little easier to scale than other spots along the cliffs. Still, it might take a bit of power to reach the top. Ingo picks up speed, shifting his hold on Rei to free one of his hands.

   As they reach the cliffs, Rei speaks up again. “Now jump!” And Ingo does. He runs up a couple steps, then jumps. His free hand hooks around the ledge and with all the strength he can muster up, he hoists himself up and over the ledge. Both of them roll across the ground, Ingo barely managing to protect Rei with his own body.

   He lies flat on the ground for a moment, listening to the screeching of the alpha below them. It continues for a minute or two before abruptly stopping. The night falls into silence once more, save for the sound of Ingo’s panting and the light snickering of Passenger at his side.

   They survived.

   After what feels like an eternity, Rei rolls off of Ingo and onto the ground beside him. The two of them stare up at the sky together.

   “Thank you… for saving me,” Rei says a moment later. Ingo looks over at him and Rei keeps his gaze focused on the sky. His expression is tight, a frown on his face and his eyebrows furrowed. He’s got his hands clasped over his stomach, picking at his nails a little. Rei looks conflicted. Ingo isn’t really sure what to make of that.

   “Of course. Passenger safety is of uptmost importance. I would not leave you to deal with that alone, Mister Rei.” Ingo would be a sad excuse of a person if he did that! How could any adult leave a child alone at the hands of a raging Pokémon? He simply wouldn’t be able to live with himself or sleep peacefully at night.  No matter the circumstances, Ingo will always step in to keep people safe. That is what a good conductor does! Not that he knows what a ‘conductor’ is…

   Beside him, Rei shifts. He moves to sit up, carefully pulling his legs up to his chest. Ingo doesn’t miss Rei’s wince when he moves his right leg. That must be the injured one. He should try to get Rei back to the camp now. It would be bad to delay treatment for too long and Ingo would hate to see him get worse.

   So, he pushes himself up off the ground and dusts off his pants. There’s dirt all over them. Ingo is going to have to learn how to wash his clothes out here. All this gunk is going to ruin them! Ah, but that’s a train of thought for another time. Ingo needs to get back to camp. He turns towards Rei and holds out his hand. “Allow me to conduct you back to a nearby camp. I’d like for you to get treatment for your ankle there. It is unsafe to ignore injuries for too long.”

   His hand remains hovering in the air as Rei stares at the ground.

   “Did you mean what you said?” Rei doesn’t elaborate, but Ingo knows what he’s asking about anyway. He watches Rei’s arms wrap around himself as he turns away. Ingo can’t see his face from this angle, but he can still tell something is bothering him.

   With a sigh, Ingo lets his hand drop. “Yes. I have been looking for you for some time now. I was happy to have found you, Mister Rei.”

   A pause. “Did Arceus send you here?”

   Ingo is almost taken aback at the mention of their name. But it makes sense for Rei to know who they are, doesn’t it? He was one of Arceus’ champions too. Even if he chose to run away from Arceus in the end. Ingo should be honest with Rei then. He might just be one of the only people in all of the land he can be honest with. “They did… but they did not send me to find you specifically. I chose those tracks myself. I wanted to find you and find our route back to our home stations together.”

   That has Rei looking up at him, confusion clear on his face. “You-… you want to help us?”

   His tone has Ingo’s heart shattering in his chest. He sounds so uncertain, so scared, so… exhausted. Ingo can’t even begin to imagine the hardship he’s faced in his time here. How unfair to be forced to live this way at such a young age… Ingo will not allow it. “I do. I will stop at nothing to get you and Miss Akari home.”

   At the mention of his sister’s name, Rei makes a choked sound. He brings his hands up to scrub at his eyes. “You promise? You won’t- won’t abandon us?” His voice breaks as he fights off a sob.

   “I promise.” There’s no other answer to those questions. Ingo wouldn’t even entertain any other thought. No matter what they may face in the coming days or even months it takes to complete his task, Ingo will not fail them. He won’t allow himself to.

   Rei sniffles a bit, then nods. “Okay… will you help me find my sister then? I saw her on the other side of the cliffs earlier. We can go to your camp after that.”

   Ingo salutes him. “Of course! Destination set. Let’s go find Miss Akari.” With that, he crouches down again and opens his arms for Rei. “May I carry you again?” The boy forgoes any verbal response, instead wrapping his arms around Ingo’s shoulders and letting himself be picked up. As soon as Rei is secure, he feels another weight settle onto his shoulders, followed by a chirp. Holding both Rei and Passenger is a little difficult, but Ingo wouldn’t dare put either of them down. “Are you both ready to depart?”

   He gets a nod from Rei and a chitter from Passenger. Then, they’re off.

Location: Cliffs Closer to the Mountain Camp

Time: 3:38 am

   He’s going to end up gaining so much muscle  by the end of his time in Hisui. Ingo doesn’t think he was ever much of heavy-lifter before he came here, given how weak he feels all the damn time in instances where strength is needed, but by Arceus is he building that muscle up now! Carrying two heavy things at once over such a long distance is weighing on him. He wonders if this is how Lady Sneasler feels when she’s carrying him around. Or maybe she has more muscle than he does and he’s light as a feather. He’s not sure, but he will never take her assistance for granted.

   It has taken some time to get from one end of the cliffs all the way to the other side — Ingo keeps needing to stop and catch his breath because he feels like his arms are going to fall off — but they’re finally approaching the other side. Since this side is also close to the camp Ingo was staying at, he should be able to just climb down the cliffs and go right into the camp once they locate Akari.

   Which is another problem in and off itself. The girl is nowhere to be found. Rei was certain he’d seen his sister in this area, but even he has been having a hard time locating her. It’s gotten to the point where Rei is beginning to get panicked. Ingo doesn’t blame him for his panic. Losing his twin is the most nerve-wracking thing to experience after already getting into a bad situation… how does he know that?

   “Akari!? Where are you?!” Rei’s shouting snaps him out of his thoughts. He looks down at Rei to see he’s got his hands cupped around his mouth as he calls for his sister. “Please stop hiding! I can’t chase you! My ankle is injured!” His voice echoes around the area and gets no response. Rei whines a bit, flopping back against Ingo. “I’m never going to find her,” he mutters.

   Ingo isn’t sure how to comfort Rei, but he tries his best. He rubs his back and continues scanning the area for any signs of Akari. “It’s going to be alright, Mister Rei. We’ll find her eventually. Even if we have to search for hours, I promise we’ll find her.” He hopes it doesn’t take hours. Ingo doesn’t think his body can handle holding Rei for that long!

   Passenger shrieks on his shoulder, darting up into the sky. He doesn’t have any time to react before something slams into the back of his knee and Ingo is sent sprawling onto the ground. Rei yelps in his hold, burying his face into his shoulder. Ingo tightens his hold on Rei and flips himself around so he hits the ground instead. And hit the ground he does. Ingo groans upon impact, the wind knocked right out of him.

   He can hear Passenger screeching again above him as something darts down and starts to pull at Rei. Ingo scoots back and out of the way, which only seems to make whatever is attacking him angry. “Give my brother back!” Someone shouts, tone sharp. The sound has both Ingo and Rei looking up.

   Before him stands a girl. Her black hair is draped over his shoulders, riddled with knots and dirt. She’s wearing a torn up blue uniform that matches Rei’s and a white bandana over her hair. Her glare is fixed on Ingo and she’s got both her hands wrapped around Rei’s arm. 

   Nobody moves for a second, then Rei reaches up to put his free hand over his sister’s. “It’s okay, Akari. He saved me from an alpha Carnivine, so he’s not going to hurt me. We were just looking for you. Are you okay?”

   All the fight in Akari bleeds away. She looks like she’s going to burst into tears now. “Oh thank goodness! I was so worried about you! You shouldn’t have snuck off without me! You know you’re not much of a battler, Rei.” Akari sniffles, rubbing at her eyes. She glances at Ingo. “Thank you for saving my brother.”

   Ingo salutes her. “It was my pleasure! I will always help a passenger in need, Miss Akari.”

   She looks a bit confused by his word choice, but doesn’t make any comments on it. Her attention it drawn back to Rei a moment later when he clears his throat. Rei looks over at Ingo for a beat, then looks back at his sister. “You were right… he said he wants to help us get home.”

   Akari blinks. Once. Twice. Tears burst out of her eyes as she collapses to her knees. Ingo shuffles Rei to his other arm and catches Akari a moment before she hits the ground with his other. He drags her closer to both of them. “You mean it?! You’ll-“ she cuts herself off with another sob, “-you’ll really take us back?”

   Well now that settles it. Ingo had no doubt in his mind before that he would be bringing these kids back to their home station, but now not even Arceus themself will get in his way. Rei and Akari are coming home no matter what. “I will do my best to conduct you there, Miss Akari. This place is not safe for such young passengers. It would be my honor to help both of you return to your home station.”

   He gets a couple tearful sniffles in response and a nod from Akari.

   Passenger chirps above him and Ingo looks up to see him pointing towards the camp. It’s just a little further away from where they are. Ingo should be able to manage getting them all down, right? He’s not sure if he can carry three heavy bodies at once, but he would be a coward not to at least attempt to do so. Ingo looks back down at the children clinging to his coat. “I believe we should set our tracks for the camp nearby. Mister Rei needs treatment for his ankle as soon as possible! Then we can discuss our next steps. Alright?”

   “Okay,” Akari says as she wraps her arms around his shoulders. A moment later, Rei follows suit. Now Ingo has too kids clinging to him. This is going to be fun…

   Ingo hooks an arm around both of them, then tries to get up on his feet. It takes a couple of tries and a stumble to finally get up. If he thought the combined weight of Passenger and Rei was heavy before, he could almost laugh at himself now. He is not cut out for this kind of workout! Still, he presses on.

   He gets a couple steps before Passenger flops down onto his back, clinging to his coat. His legs almost buckle under the weight. He remains frozen in place for a minute, making sure he has enough strength to move without immediately falling on his ass. Once he’s sure, Ingo starts moving again. He’s much slower than he had been moments ago though. Thankfully, they’re close to the camp.

   He can feel Rei’s head coming down to rest against his shoulder while Akari looks out over the land around them. They both seem oddly comfortable, even if they’d just met him recently. They must have spent so much time alone for them to be so ready to cling to the first person who offers them kindness…

   Ingo reaches the edge of the cliffs soon enough and peers down into the camp. To his surprise, there are people moving around. Like a lot of people. Almost the whole camp, if he’s not mistaken. Last he checked, it’s still the middle of the night. What are they doing up? Surely they don’t start their days this early on a regular basis! That’s absurd!

   “Mister Ingo?! Is that you?” Shouts a voice to his left. Ingo looks down to see Eshim rushing towards the bottom of the cliffs. “How in the world did you get up there?! Are you okay!? We heard a lot of screaming and crashing near the end of the springs and you were missing from your tent! Are-“ Eshim pauses when she finally notices Akari and Rei, “Are those kids?!”

   Ingo is a little surprised that she can get that loud. Her shouting must have been heard all over the Highlands! He adjusts his hold on the twins when his arms start to ache. “I am alright, Miss Eshim! I heard a scream and went to investigate. I found the boy being attacked by an alpha…” he turns to Rei, “what did you say it was again?”

   “An alpha Carnivine.”

   He looks back down at Eshim. “Rei says it was an alpha Carnivine. I believe his ankle is injured and he is in need of medical assistance.”

   Eshim’s jaw drops, then she steps even closer to the cliffs, almost climbing up herself. “An alpha?! How are you alive! By Almighty Sinnoh, you are a piece of work Mister Ingo!” She motions towards the rest of the camp. “We have medical supplies we can use to treat him. Come down here and we’ll help.”

   “Very well! I’ll be down in a moment!” He turns back to the twins. “I will not be able to climb down with both of my hands full. Miss Akari, could you please uncouple from me?”

   “Sure,” she says as she hops down from his arms. Almost as soon as she’s out of his arms, Akari rushes forward and slides down the cliff before he can stop her. Her actions have a yelp escaping Eshim and a panicked shout wrenching itself out of Ingo. He steps closer to the edge as she tumbles onto the ground beside Eshim. She rolls for a second, then lands on her back. Akari gives him a thumbs up. “I’m okay!”

   “Please mind the gap next time, Miss Akari!” Ingo heaves a deep breath as he turns and makes his own descent down the cliff.  It’s hard to maneuver with Rei in his arms, but eventually he reaches the bottom without any major catastrophe.

   Eshim points at the ground. “Set him down there and I’ll get the healer,” she says and turns on her heel to go find whoever it is she’s talking about.

   He does as he’s told, putting Rei down on the ground. Akari is at his side in a matter of moments. She wraps her arms around one of Rei’s, eyeing the rest of the camp with thinly veiled mistrust.

   Ingo can’t even imagine why she appears to be wary of people. Seeing her caution makes him feel sad. He wishes there was some way he could show her that they don’t mean her harm. But he knows it would be difficult for her to easily shake off that fear. He opens his mouth to try to console her a little.

   A sharp yowl tears through the air, then a blur of purple slams into him and he falls back on his ass. Passenger darts out of the way as he hits the ground, arms full of Lady Sneasler. “Ssssnease! Snee-snesa! Sssneasler!” Her ears are pinned back against her head and her pupils are nothing more than pinpricks in a sea of pink. She looks like she’s about two seconds away from biting his head off. “Sssrrt!”

   Ingo puts his hands up. “I apologize, my lady! I didn’t mean to leave you behind! Honest! I had no idea where my tracks would lead me tonight! I meant only to take a walk.” His words mean little to her. She leans down to nuzzle against his face, licking at his cheeks with a low purring that sounds more aggressive then calming.

   He can hear laugher beside them and glances over to see Akari’s head thrown back while Rei is covering his mouth with his hands, tears of laughter in his eyes. Ingo glares at them. How dare they laugh at his misfortune? Ingo can’t even get a word out to playfully scold them due to Lady Sneasler’s nuzzling.

   Ingo knows without a doubt that he’s going to be stuck here for a while…

Chapter Text

Time: Sunrise

   Ingo is exhausted. He didn't manage to get a wink of sleep last night, nor did he get a chance to even go back to his tent once Rei was patched up. Since he came back to the camp, Ingo has been on his feet. He's been made to run around to help gather supplies for Rei and Akari, then he offered to help find food for breakfast to thank the people of the camp, then he spent time talking to Lady Sneasler and feeding Passenger and packing up his tent once the sun rose and running around again to thank everyone he'd met at the camp for their hospitality. All of that while carrying Rei — who is still unable to walk even with his ankle wrapped — with Akari gripping his pant leg.

   They're both too afraid of the people around them to stray from him. Ingo isn't sure why that is and seeing them shy away from others is alarming. Clearly something terrible happened to them and it was no fault of the wildlife in the area. No… this is because of people. Otherwise they wouldn't be terrified of everyone that comes near them. Arceus had mentioned before that Rei and Akari couldn't 'appeal to their fellow man'. Ingo hadn't thought much of that at the time but… maybe those words are darker than he anticipated.

   They're both dirty and wearing ruined clothes and painfully skittish and clearly haven't been eating well… some of that is no doubt the consequence of living in the wilderness, but those are also signs of neglect. Clear as day. And it's a horrible sight. One that fills Ingo with dread and anger. Just what happened to frighten them like this? Why were they living out in the mountains instead of in a settlement where they would be safer? Whatever the reason… whoever caused this… Ingo won't let the treatment of these young children go unpunished.

   Nobody should mistreat kids and get away with it. Not on his watch. Especially not now. Not when these children are his responsibility and under his care. Ingo has only known them for a couple hours now and knows very little about taking care of a child, but he'll be damned if he continues letting them live this way.

   He will conduct them safely until they can return to their home stations. And they will be returned. Ingo will make sure of that. But not right now. Not yet. Now, they can rest their engines for a moment before continuing on their journey. They'll need their strength for the path ahead.

   Ingo is sitting on a log by the fire-pit, a child on either side of him with Lady Sneasler leaning on his shoulders and Passenger curled up in his lap. There's no fire going right now. He finds himself grateful for that, as the heat would surely make him sweat more than he already is after all the running he'd done.

   The rest of the camp is still bustling, though it appears they are going about their daily duties now. Since Ingo is a guest, he is not required to help out with that. He'll be leaving soon anyway. So, he's sitting with a bowl of something that looks like smooshed rice with cut up berries over it in his hands instead. It tastes good. Perhaps a little sweeter than Ingo thought it would be, but he won't complain. He's starving.

   Clearly Akari and Rei were too. They haven't spoken much, busy eating whatever he gives to them — neither will take food from anyone but Ingo. Rei has already cleared three bowls and a couple berries Ingo had gathered for him and his sister isn't far behind. Ingo is glad they're eating. Really, he is. He'll have to make more frequent stops in their journey so he can feed them. They're at an age where most children get hungrier, right? He's not sure, but he thinks that might be the case. Either way, they need more food and rest than he would.

   Maybe he should pull up his map and make a note of good places to stop and look for food? Or he could just ask Lady Sneasler again since she seems to know where things are around here.

   No, it would be good to plan a path on his map so he doesn't have to spend so much time thinking over his route like he is now. And bothering Lady Sneasler with his questions. She has enough on her plate as it is and he’d hate to cause her more strife. He needs to be more independent if he wants to survive this journey anyway.

   Ingo sets his now empty bowl down on the ground, then turns his wrist and taps his screen. His ArcTrans lights up, showing the home screen. He taps his map and it pulls up the map of the Highlands, red arrow hovering over the Lonely Spring.

   Now where to? Ingo found the twins, which means his main goal in the Highlands is complete. He doesn't need to stick around and continue to explore and doesn't particularly want to either. So perhaps he should start towards Jubilife? Eshim said it's a bit far and he'd need to travel into the Obsidian Fieldlands to reach it, but he could use more supplies now that there are two more cars on his tracks and seeing a new part of this region might be interesting.

   Akari and Rei are in desperate need of new clothes and he'd like to get them both bags for their supplies. Right now they have been given little pouches to hold food and the Pokéballs that they had — and the fact they had Pokéballs was equally as exciting as it was surprising to Ingo. He should really ask Passenger if he'd like one of the Pokéballs Ingo had been given. Ah, but he's getting derailed. Reroute! He knows Rei and Akari will need more space as their journey progresses.

   So he should aim for Jubilife; stock up on supplies, get himself and the children more clothes, maybe ask around to get more information about this region and the Pokémon that reside here. Ingo really needs to start working on his 'seek out all Pokémon' task if he wants to get out of Hisui anytime soon, after all. He just doesn't want to go into that blind. Ingo has been hurt far too many times now to do that again.

   "Mister Ingo?" A voice says on his right. Ingo jolts, looking down at Akari, who is looking up at him with a nervous look on her face. He can feel his mouth twitch a little.

   "Yes, Miss Akari?"

   She glances at Rei, then looks down at Passenger in his lap. "… what do we do now?"

   Ingo's eyebrows furrow. He can feel Rei shift a little on his other side and he chances a glance towards him. Rei looks anxious. He's picking at his nails and also avoiding eye contact. Ingo doesn't know why both of them seem nervous to talk to him, but he'd like to get rid of that discomfort as quickly as possible. He refuses to remain a potential enemy in their eyes. Ingo looks back at Akari. "I apologize. I was just thinking about where our tracks would lead next. I should have included you two in my planning." He pauses and holds his wrist out in front of himself, showing off the map. "I've been told that Jubilife Village has supplies and I'd like to make our way there. You are both in need of new clothes and I would like to get some for myself as well. How does that sound?"

   Akari tenses and he can hear Rei's breath hitch at the mention of Jubilife…

   Rei shifts a bit on the log, then clears his throat. "Do we… do we have to go back there? I don't-… they don't like us." His voice is hushed. Barely above a whisper. Frightened.

   Ah. So the residents of that village are to blame for Akari and Rei's mistreatment. Ingo knows who his enemies are now. Good. He can work with that. But he shouldn't scare the twins any more by making those thoughts known, so he will keep that to himself. He still needs supplies, though Ingo wouldn't dare make either of them face their fears like that ever again. He can handle it himself. Ingo puts his hand on Rei's shoulder. "I will not make you enter the village if you do not want to. I'll still need supplies, but I will go in by myself if you two would like to wait outside when we get there?"

   His words prompt Rei and Akari to make eye contact with each other. They silently communicate for a moment and Ingo waits for them to finish. In the meantime, he reaches up to pet Lady Sneasler. She hasn't moved much since he sat down by the fire-pit, though he knows she's been paying attention. He can hear her purring as she nuzzles into his hand.

   The silence stretches for a moment longer before Akari taps him. He looks back down at the twins. "Okay. We'll wait for you. But we have one request before we leave the Highlands."

   Ingo's eyebrows raise. "Of course! What is it?"

   "We want to go back up to the Celestica Ruins. We have a cave there and we want to get the rest of our stuff before we go," Rei says. There's an air of finality in his tone. One that leaves no room for disagreement. Not that Ingo would ever deny them this request. He's glad Rei is being assertive. That's a good sign, isn't it? It means that Rei feels comfortable enough to advocate for himself and his sister. Ingo will count that as a win.

   He can feel the corners of his mouth tilting up. "Bravo, Mister Rei! Destination set. We'll go back and grab the rest of your stuff and then we'll make our way to Jubilife!" Both children seem a little surprised by his words. Whether that be because of his volume or what he actually said, Ingo isn't sure. That's not important right now though.

   Ingo rises from the log, scooping Passenger up in one arm. His friend chirps and climbs up onto his shoulder. Behind him, he can hear Lady Sneasler shuffling up off of the ground too. Rei and Akari remain rooted to their spots as Ingo points off towards the path back up the mountain. "All aboard!" His voice rings out through the quiet space, earning a couple glances from the people of the camp.

   A beat. Then both Rei and Akari burst into giggles. Akari shoots up from the log and points like Ingo did. "All aboard!" Her voice is quieter than his was, but still louder than she'd been speaking before. She laughs a little and reaches out to grab hold of his coat, slotting herself against his side. "Let's go then. I want to get there as soon as possible." Akari looks over at Rei, then back up at Ingo. "Are you going to carry Rei again?"

   "I will have to, but I am not sure I am strong enough to carry anything other than Mister Rei for that long." Ingo can hear Passenger chirp on his shoulder, then he climbs down and onto the ground at his feet. The Gligar scampers over to Ingo's bag, which is still propped up against the log where he was sitting, digging around for a bit. Eventually, Passenger fishes one of the odd looking Pokéballs out of the front pocket. Ingo dips down and takes it from his friend. "Ah, that would make transport much easier." He pauses to look at Passenger. "But are you sure you want to permanently link our cars?"

   Passenger gives him look that screams 'are you serious'? He huffs, hitting the ground with his tail. "Gliii!"

   Ingo holds his hands up in mock surrender. He should have known that would be Passenger's answer. This is a question he's already answered, after all. Passenger wants to be with him… the additional confirmation is just nice to have. Ingo feels more certain of himself. So, he crouches down and holds out the ball towards his friend. Passenger bumps his head against it and disappears in a flash into the ball. It rolls around in his hand for a moment, then stills as sparks shoot out of the top.

   That's odd… Ingo feels like the sparks are supposed to come from somewhere else.

   "Looks weird?" Rei asks from his seat on the log. His words pull Ingo out of his thoughts. He drags in a deep breath. It's nicer than Ingo thought it would be to have someone else understand his feelings towards certain things. He feels less alone… is that how the twins feel too?

   "A little, but I suppose that's not important right now." Ingo holds out his arms for Rei, who doesn't waste a moment before reaching back. He scoops Rei into his arms, shifting him around until he can get a somewhat comfortable hold on him. Once Rei is settled, Ingo looks back at Akari. She's shifted to his left, still clinging to his clothes. "Ready?"

   "Yup!" She points to the path again. "That way!"

   "Onward we roll!"

Location: Clamberclaw Cliffs (On the Way to Celestica Ruins)

   He's drenched in sweat. The strain of carrying Rei is starting to get to Ingo, making his limbs weak. They've been walking for a couple hours now and he's not sure how much longer he can handle it. At least they're almost at their destination. Ingo is certain he'd collapse if he had to go much further. This is torture!

   His muscles are already sore from carrying so much weight and running around last night. No doubt this trip isn't helping him recover from that strain.

   Hopefully Rei's ankle heals enough to walk on his own soon. He only suffered a minor sprain according to the healer at the camp, but it could still take a little while for it to heal. Ingo hopes it doesn't take too long. If it does, they may need to find a new solution for this problem. He can only handle so much heavy lifting.

   The sound of laughter up ahead draws Ingo out of his thoughts. He glances up the path, watching Akari pick up rocks and jump across small boulders and run around with Lady Sneasler. She is far more full of energy than he thought she would be. She must have been more afraid than he assumed she was back at the camp. It's like she's a different person now! Lady Sneasler yips at Akari, lifting her down off an unsteady rock. Once again, Ingo is indebted to the noble. She's been trying to keep an eye on Akari since they left the camp because Ingo can't keep up. He should start looking for something to repay her with. Ingo hasn't seen anything yet, given he's more focused on the twins, but when he does find something it's all hers.

   These children are a lot of work! Akari especially.

   Just a couple minutes ago, she'd been talking a mile a minute about all the different species of Pokémon they've passed; lots of ground types. Ingo was content to listen. Something about her chatter reminded him of someone… and he needs to know as much as he can able the wild Pokémon here anyway. So he'd listened and added his own thoughts when be could. It was a nice conversation, but eventually she got bored and ran ahead to entertain herself. Which is really her just making a mess of things and running. That's what she's been doing since.

   Ingo wonders if Rei would be running around with his sister if he could. They're both young enough to be full of energy, after all. If Rei is anything like Akari, Ingo is going to have his hands full once he recovers. Not that he would complain too much about that. Children are supposed to be a handful and these two more than deserve to be young. Ingo would be delighted to supervise two happy kids even if it means chasing after them when they get into trouble.

   Maybe that would distract him from his own problems. It's nice to not have to think about them sometimes…

   He shakes that thought away, glancing down at Rei instead. His heart leaps into his throat. Ingo's feet stall and he stops in his tracks. How is this possible? It's bright and loud and Ingo is certain his walking has been jostling Rei quite a bit. Yet here he is… his arms are curled around Ingo's shoulders and his face is buried into the fabric of his coat. He can see the gentle rise and fall of Rei's back, soft and slow and calm. His eyes are closed and his expression is relaxed. He looks peaceful.

   Rei is fast asleep in his arms!

   Ingo is shocked! How did Rei manage to fall asleep when everything around them is overwhelming? He knows for a fact he would be wide awake in Rei's place… a part of Ingo is touched though. Giddy, even. Rei felt comfortable enough to sleep! Or maybe he was just that tired. Either way, Ingo is elated.

   He can feel the corners of his mouth twitching up as he continues on the path. Now that he's aware that Rei is sleeping, Ingo tries to avoid the loose rocks on the ground and the deep slits in the stone. The last thing he wants to do is accidentally wake Rei up by tripping over something. He should stay asleep for as long as possible. Ingo is sure he is in need of the rest.

   Maybe they should find a place to take a break? If he'd somehow gotten Rei to sleep, maybe he can get Akari to sleep too. He glances up at where she's trying to climb a nearby ledge, Lady Sneasler trying to pull her down. She seems surprisingly determined to hold onto the rocks. Nope. Ingo doesn't think he'll be getting her to lie down any time soon. Perhaps once she's burned down more of her energy she'll be tired enough.

   Wait… she seems distressed. And Lady Sneasler looks agitated. Uh oh.

   Ingo picks up his pace, still trying to be careful of Rei in his arms. Just his luck that they'd get into an argument! Hopefully this doesn't wake Rei up.

   By the time he reaches them, Akari is still trying to fight off Lady Sneasler. She refuses to let go of the rocks and Lady Sneasler is adamant about getting her to come down. Neither of them appear to be willing to give up. Great. Looks like Ingo gets to be the voice of reason… ugh.

   He holds one of his hands up. "Pull the breaks. What's going on?" Ingo tries to be quiet, but he has a feeling it's not all that successful.

   His words prompt both Lady Sneasler and Akari to stop in their tracks, heads turning towards him. Akari opens her mouth, only to pause when her gaze lands on Rei. Her mouth clicks shut and she allows herself to be brought away from the rocks. Once her feet are on the ground again, Lady Sneasler settles too. A beat of silence passes, then Akari points up to something near the top of the cliff. "There's something up there. Can't you hear it? It sounds like a Pokémon, but I think it's upset."

   Ingo's eyebrows furrow. Another silence falls over the area and Ingo lets himself try to listen for whatever noise Akari is talking about. He hears the rush of wind in his ears. It's a calm breeze, nothing that could come from a stray attack or a violent gust trying to push them off the side of the mountain.

   Rumbling of rock types. Distant. Not close enough to be what Akari is talking about.

   Quiet breathing in his ear. Rei is still sleeping, unaware of anything around him.

   Then… buzzing. It's faint, barely audible over the other noises of the Highlands. He can hear zipping and zapping and metallic clicking coming from somewhere… above them. Ingo looks up towards the rocks. Somewhere on top of the cliff. The sound is shifting. Getting closer and father and closer and father. Whatever it is, it's moving in some sort of pattern. Akari is right. If that sound is coming from a Pokémon, then it must be distressed. No Pokémon naturally moves in such a way unless it's confused or injured.

   Ingo looks back down at Akari and she's looking up at him expectantly. "I see. I do hear what you’re talking about-"

   "So we should go up and help." She turns back towards the cliff and moves to start climbing again. Lady Sneasler grabs the back of her tattered tunic, dragging her away from the rocks once more. Akari whirls on her, trying to push her claws away. "Stop! We have to help." 

   "Snrrt!" Lady Sneasler understand that she wants to help, but climbing the cliffs is dangerous for a kit like her! She can hear the distressed noises and she does feel bad… but she is not willing to risk the new additions to her pack. Especially not the youngest members! Lady Sneasler looks to Ingo for help. Surely he will agree with her!

   Ingo glances between Akari and Lady Sneasler, then sighs. "Lady Sneasler is right… it is unsafe for you to climb the rocks, Miss Akari." A look of betrayal flashes across her face and Ingo swears he's been stabbed. He looks back up towards the cliff. "But I don't want to leave a potentially injured Pokémon to fend for itself." Ingo turns to Lady Sneasler and holds Rei out towards her. She tilts her head at him. "I will go up and investigate."

   Silence. Then Lady Sneasler holds out her arms and allows Ingo to place Rei in them. He shuffles a bit, but doesn't wake up. Rei curls into the noble's chest, getting comfortable once more. Lady Sneasler nods at him and takes a step back from the rocks, motioning for Akari to follow her. Akari stares at Ingo for a beat. She looks conflicted… then she turns and walks over to Lady Sneasler.

   Ingo moves towards the rocks. It looks difficult to climb and high enough to be detrimental if he falls. He'll just have to be as careful as possible. Otherwise he's in for another painful healing session… Ingo hasn't spoken to Arceus since that happened. He would prefer to not have to do that again.

   He stares at the rock face, then drags in a deep breath. This is doable. Even if it looks scary. Even if his hands are trembling and his heart is pounding in his chest, Ingo knows he can power through this. He said he would go look and he is not the kind of person to go back on his word. For Akari's peace of mind, Ingo will scale the cliff.

   With trembling hands, he reaches out and feels along the rock for a groove. One he finds one, he grabs it and pulls himself up. It holds. He swipes his hand over the surface again, finding another groove. This one is less sturdy than the last, so Ingo looks for the next one faster.

   He repeats the process over and over until he can see the ground getting further away. The buzzing is getting louder and the wind is blowing harder. Ingo keeps his focus on the rocks. He won't fall. He refuses to fall.

   Not again. Not in front of the twins.

   Ingo reaches up and hooks his hand around the edge of the cliff. He's reached the top. As carefully as he can, Ingo swings his other arm up and hoists himself onto the top of the cliff. The stone under him is flat. Solid. He's not falling. He's reached the top. Ingo presses his palms against the surface, letting his heart start to slow back down. He swallows thickly.

   Heights are awful. Ingo would prefer to be as close to the ground as possible. He doesn't want to fall.

   He's not sure how long he remains on his hands and knees, but eventually he is aware that it's been long enough. Ingo picks his head up. The buzzing is right next to him now. He hadn't even realized until just now. It's much louder. Brighter. There are flashes of light on his left. He can taste the sulfur in the air and feel the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. Ingo turns towards the sound and finds himself looking at something that seems oddly familiar.

   Does he know what that is? Ingo has a feeling that he should but… no names come to mind.

   It's large and silver with a golden antenna on top of it. There's flashes of electricity coming from the magnets on the side of its body as it floats around in a frantic circle. It has one eye in the center of its metal body, but it looks wrong. There's a sort of purple cloud covering it. It looks like that bubble that appeared in this area not that long ago, with swirling purple and flashes of other colors. Could it be… Ingo saw Pokémon appear inside of it, didn't he? He could hear all the fighting and screeching and the fear of the wild Pokémon around him. Did this Pokémon come from the bubble?

   Is it stuck here like he is?

   The bubble must have done something to it. Ingo can see how distressed it appears to be, but it also doesn't seem to be paying attention to anything around it. Like it's stuck in a sort of trance. Do all Pokémon in the bubble fall into this sort of panicked trance? Is that why they attack everything around them?

   How long has it been stuck like this?

   Dread washes over Ingo. It's probably been here since that bubble popped up, which means it has probably pushed itself far past exhaustion and is hurting itself in this state. The only reason it's still moving is because it can't stop. There's no doubt in Ingo's mind that's the case. He feels sick. How awful…

   Ingo has to help it. Leaving it to suffer would be more than cruel. It would be heinous. The thought alone makes him ill.

   No. He has to help.

   So, he pushes himself up to his feet. The cliff he's standing on isn't all that big. One wrong step and he could fall. He'll just need to be careful. Ingo inches closer to the edge. If he could just grab it, he might be able to stop it and knock it out of its trance. He could send Passenger out, but cornering it into a battle might do more harm than good. Ingo doesn't want to risk harming it more than it already has been.

   What else could he do? Ingo isn't sure. He takes another step, almost right on the edge. Its eye snaps towards him. A screech shatters the silence in the air. It's like two piece of metal scraping together, so loud Ingo's ears hurt.

   Its body lights up. He jumps back as a bolt of lighting strikes the rock he'd been standing on a moment before. It charges up again.

   Ingo's hand shoots into his pocket, yanking out a ball and flinging it at the Pokémon.

   It hits. The Pokémon disappears in a flash and the ball hits the stone. It rolls. Once. Twice. Three times. Then sparks shoot out of the top with a successful capture. Ingo stares at it as the ball stops moving, heart in his throat and blood rushing in his ears. He caught it. It's gone… hopefully it can get some rest inside the ball. If not, then Ingo is going to have to find someone to help it. Berries aren't going to be able to heal that kind of injury.

   "Mister Ingo!" Someone shouts behind him. Ingo's head snaps up, whipping around to stare over his shoulder. Akari is rushing towards him with Lady Sneasler hot on her heels. He can see the noble is still carrying Rei, but he's awake now and there's a look of concern on his face. Ingo can only stare at them. "Mister Ingo, are you alright?"

   She reaches him in a matter of moments, collapsing onto her knees beside him. Her hands are shaking as she reaches for him. Akari looks terrified and the panic in her expression is visceral. His silence probably isn't helping her feel any better. Lady Sneasler skids to a stop a little further away. She likely doesn't want to risk sending anyone over the edge with the limited space. In her arms, Rei looks just as scared as his sister does.

   Ingo swallows thickly. "I-… I am alright. I am fine. All systems back online." He doesn't feel fine. His body is trembling and the Pokéball is still lying on the rock in front of him. Ingo drags in a shaking breath.

   "What happened?!" Rei finally says. He tries to struggle against Lady Sneasler'a hold to get down to him. Ingo holds his hand up to stop him.

   He motions to the Pokéball. "I found the source of the noise Miss Akari pointed out… it was a distressed Pokémon. I am not sure what species… I think it came from a purple bubble that popped up here. It seemed confused and tried to attack me, but I caught it."

   All eyes are on the Pokéball.

   His explanation seems to calm his companions, if only by a little bit. He can see Akari's shoulders relaxing and hear the breath of relief Rei lets out. He can even see the alert look on Lady Sneasler's face start to fade. Everything is alright now. No harm done.

   Ingo sighs, reaching up to drag a hand over his face. He's so tired.

   Something slams into him. He jumps, hand dropping away from his eyes. Ingo looks down to find Akari has flung herself at him. Her arms are wrapped around him and he can hear her sniffling against him. Oh… he must have really frightened her! Ingo feels bad for that. He wraps his arms around her. "I apologize for frightening you, Miss Akari. I assure you, I really am alright. A little shaken, but otherwise operational." That doesn't seem to help. Her crying only gets louder.

   A moment later, footsteps approach him and then there's a soft weight on his back and two more sets of arms around both him and Akari. Ingo loops one of his arms around Lady Sneasler and Rei, pulling them both into the hug.

   It's warm.

   Ingo can breathe again.

Location: Celestica Ruins

   It took almost an hour to pull himself off of the ground. By then, it was well into the afternoon and Ingo was more than exhausted. Rei and Akari refused to be away from him. Now he's carrying both of them in his arms while Lady Sneasler walks beside them. Akari is still a little weepy, but has been nodding off for the past couple of minutes. Rei is more awake. Not that Ingo is surprised. Rei did just wake up from a nap.

   The ball is tucked into his pocket. Ingo hasn't paid it any mind since he stuck it in there. He does not really want to think about that Pokémon right now. That's a problem for the future. For now, Ingo is focused on getting to his destination. It's just up ahead.

   And thank Arceus for that! Ingo's arms are going to fall off and he wants to take a nap. He'll sleep on the ground in Rei and Akari's cave for all he cares. He just needs to sleep.

   Someone tugs lightly on his collar. Ingo looks down at Rei. "Yes? You have my attention."

   Rei points towards a crevice in the rocks up ahead. "Our cave is that way."

   Oh good! They're already at their destination. Ingo could almost cry from sheer relief. He nods a little. "Destination set." Turning a bit, Ingo starts to make his way towards the crevice. He gets a couple more steps in before Rei is tugging on his collar again, prompting him to look back down.

   "There's a Pokémon inside of it. You'll need to let Akari or me go first."

   "What kind of Pokémon?" It must be protective if Rei is pointing it out to him. Which likely means it will be aggressive to Ingo if it thinks he's trespassing. Ingo would prefer not to be attacked again today. Actually he would prefer not to be attacked at all, but clearly he isn't allowed to have what he wants.

   Rei shifts a little, pulling Ingo back out of his thoughts. "She's a Luxray. Her name is Livewire. We've been living with her since we were kicked out of Jubilife Village." He looks down at his hands, picking at his nails. "We want to catch her and take her with us. She's our friend."

   Kicked out of Jubilife Village? They were…

   Oh not even Arceus is going to be able to hold him back. Ingo is glad they had someone trying to take care of them, even if that someone happens to be a wild Pokémon. But this is inexcusable. Incomprehensible. Ingo pushes down the anger rising within him. Now is not the time to lash out. Especially when nobody present is to blame for this. Ingo will bottle it up for now. He'll shove down all of his thoughts and feelings and less than friendly language and he'll save it for whoever did this. That's who really needs to receive his anger.

   He can't wait to come face to face with them. Ingo does not condone violence, oh but does he have something special in store for that bastard.

   Ingo nods. His reaction to Rei's words is a bit delayed, but he accepts his response anyway. Rei turns his attention back to the space in front of them. He seems happy to be back here and Ingo wouldn't dare ruin that.

   Before he knows it, Ingo is standing in front of the entrance to the cave. He glances back at Lady Sneasler, who looks wary of the cave. Her eyes are locked on something within it, the fur on the back of her neck standing on end. That's probably not good, but Ingo doesn't comment on it. Instead, he looks down at the kids in his arms. Akari is sleeping. Rei looks ready to be put down. Ingo is a little hesitant to let Rei down, but he slowly lowers him to the ground anyway.

   Rei limps a couple steps forward, then leans on the rock wall in front of him. A beat. He cups a hand around his mouth. "Livewire! We're back and we've got company!" His voice echoes around for a moment.

   Silence.

   Then there's a low grumble and a pair of glowing red eyes peer at them from within the darkness.

Chapter Text

   This was a bad idea. He shouldn't have let them come here. Whatever is living in this cave is far more dangerous than he had been anticipating. And bigger too. He can see it now, the red lights rising from their low position just beyond the mouth of the cave as the sound of shuffling rings out. The higher they get, the faster his pulse races. He can hear it ringing in his ears — taste the thickness of fear on his tongue and feel a tremor spread across his limbs. Ingo swallows.

   It's an alpha. A dangerous wild Pokémon. Ingo thought it was strange for them to have befriended a Luxray in general, but an alpha Luxray? How in the world had Akari and Rei managed to befriend such a hostile Pokémon?! Ingo doesn't even want to ask. The story they'd give him would make his stomach turn, no doubt. Alpha Pokémon are very dangerous, after all. He's yet to have a pleasant experience with one thus far. Ingo feels ill.

   Is this really what the twins had to resort to? Was this their only choice? He can't even imagine.

   Maybe he should've just taken the twins down the mountain and left this cave in the dust so they wouldn't have to be reminded of how they lived before… no, if he did that, he would've only been ignoring the fact that it happened. But it did happen. They did struggle. Not accepting that only leads down darker tracks. That would be much worse.

   So he should trust them with this. He should accept this, even if he doesn't want to. Because that is what the twins need and it's about time someone listens to them. Besides, they have to know what they're doing. They've survived this long on their own. And it's too late to turn back now anyway. They're already here and Ingo is in no position to run away while Rei is standing in the path of the Pokémon. Panicking may only result in Rei getting caught in the crossfire. He refuses to let that happen, so Ingo will remain calm and still and hope that this Pokémon won't hurt him or the children. He holds his breath.

   The rumbling gets louder, followed by a soft padding of footsteps and light scraping of claws as the red lights draw closer to the entrance of the cave. His heart is in his throat, hands trembling where he's holding Akari up — she's miraculously still sleeping. Beside him, Lady Sneasler hisses. He can see her hackles are raised out of the corner of his eye, her ears pinned back against her head. Her unease isn't making him feel any better, but he refuses to let his panic show. Instead, Ingo stares at Rei. He hasn't moved from his position, still leaning on the rock wall and peering into the darkness. Ingo readies himself to jump in — vice grip on Passenger's Pokéball.

   Ingo will not allow anyone to get hurt on his watch. No good conductor allows his passengers to be harmed on their journey… whatever that means.

   He's snapped out of his thoughts by a crackle of electricity buzzing through the air. His gaze darts toward a mass of black mane as the Luxray ducks its head out of the cave. It stalks forward, stepping further into the light and paying Rei no mind as it moves past him. Ingo releases the breath he'd been holding, eyeing Rei for a moment. He's alright. No harm done. Ingo can relax… right. He refocuses on the Pokémon as it starts to approach him.

   First its head comes into view; red eyes and thick mane shimmering under the afternoon sunshine. Its face is… off somehow. There are yellow lightning bolt patches on its cheeks, giving off a very faint glow. Much like the stars in the ears of its pre-evolution, but very different still. Ingo didn't think Luxray could have that pattern… but maybe he's wrong. He remembers very little about how things are 'supposed' to be anyway and he has a feeling he's never been particularly well versed about this species. Oh well, that's not a train of thought worth chasing right now. Reroute!

   The Luxray's ears twitch as a gust of wind brushes through its mane. He could have sworn that he saw a flicker of an electrical current following the movement, but he can't be certain. Ingo doesn't get a moment more to think about that before its large blue body slinks out, decorated with more of that strange, yellow lighting bolt pattern on her hind legs. Though these patterns are thicker and look more realistic than the bolts on her face. Odd… finally, her tail swishes out of the shadows with a flick. The star on the end flickers like a candle flame in the wind.

   Now that she's fully out in the daylight, he can take her in. Despite her clearly terrifying nature, she's quite beautiful and appears strong too. This Luxray must be an impressive battler then! Ingo wishes he could see her in action. She stands at least a foot taller than Ingo, so tall he has to crane his neck up to meet her gaze. Her eyes burn into his with a look he can only interpret as animosity — narrow and sharp as a blade. Ingo clears his throat, throwing a glance towards Rei. He's turned so he's leaning back against the rock, now facing all of them. Rei is smiling from ear to ear… well at least someone is happy.

   When he notices Ingo is looking, Rei gives him a thumbs up. Then he points back at the Luxray. Ingo looks back at her. She hasn't stopped staring a hole into him and the longer the silence carries on, the more tense he's starting to feel.

   Maybe he should be trying to make a better impression? Rei had said that this Luxray, Livewire if he is not mistaken, is their friend. Alpha or not, she is important to the twins. So Ingo should try to befriend her too. He wants to be on good terms if they are going to link their cars — also, he does not want to warrant such a massive Pokémon's ire. And it would be rude to continue staring at her! So, Ingo clears his throat and slowly moves his hand away from Passenger's Pokéball. He raises his hand into a somewhat shaky salute. Then he tries to smile. Ingo can feel his cheeks pinching, but the only response he gets from Livewire is a huff. Ah, so not effective. No matter! Ingo can still salvage this. "Good afternoon Miss Livewire! I am Ingo, it is a pleasure to meet you!"

   His voice comes out louder than he intended, ringing out through the silence like a siren. He can hear it echo around the rocks as Livewire flinches and Akari jolts awake in his hold. Lady Sneasler yips behind him and he can see Rei's hand shoot up to cover his snickers. Damn…

   Ingo grips the brim of his hat, dragging it down over his eyes as his cheeks get hot. "Ah, my apologies! I-I must have been nervous. I find my voice often comes out louder than I mean it to sometimes…" And once again, he's rambling. Just his luck that he's fumbling this first meeting. At this rate, Livewire is going to hit him with a Thunderbolt and fry him. Honestly Ingo might just let her. He doesn't think he's ever been quite as embarrassed as he feels at the moment. "Please forgive me!"

   He opens his mouth to apologize again, only to be cut off by something knocking his hat back. Ingo flinches as a black muzzle blocks his field of vision, followed by a wet tongue dragging up his forehead. He sputters, jumping back and rubbing the saliva off of his face. Once his face is as clean as he can possibly make it, Ingo drops his arm. Livewire is standing before him now. There's a more passive look on her face and a glint that almost looks like amusement in her eyes. Ingo's cheeks grow hotter.

   "Ah, I see. Well, uh… I appreciate your forgiveness, my friend."

   A beat. Akari bursts into laughter, now more awake than she had been moments ago. Ingo nearly jumps out of his skin as his head snaps to the side to face her. She's still clinging to his coat, but her head is lifted off of his shoulder. A moment later, he can hear Rei's laughter mixing with hers. Ingo blinks, then sighs.

   He's made a fool of himself, hasn't he? Well… at least he's made his companions laugh. The tension that was surrounding them has been all but shattered. Ingo rolls his eyes fondly, shifting his hold on Akari. "Alright, alright. Settle down you two," he says as he leans down to put Akari on her feet. Thankfully she allows him to put her down without fuss as her laughter dies down into giggles.

   She whirls on him, a wide grin on her face. "Well at least Livewire likes you. I was worried she was gonna eat you!" Akari lifts her hands and makes claws, swiping the air at him. "Rawr!" Another wave of laughter bubbles out of her as she whips back around and collapses into Livewire's chest. Ingo's heart rate spikes for a second, then he sees the alpha lean down to nose at Akari's hair. He sighs. Right. She's not going to attack Akari. "Oooh! I missed you Livewire! We're here to take you with us, y'know. We're gonna go on an adventure," she cheers. Livewire rumbles in response, tail wagging.

   Ingo can feel the corners of his mouth tilting up as he watches them. He decides he can leave her with Livewire for a moment as he turns on his heel. As he starts toward the cave, he catches Lady Sneasler's eye and motions towards Akari. The noble nods and turns her attention to the pair. With that settled, Ingo looks back towards where Rei is leaning against the cave.

   He tips his hat as he approaches him and Rei waves a little. It's clear he can't move around too much without the support of the cave behind him. Ingo frowns. When he gets close enough, he salutes Rei. "Are you in need of assistance, Rei?"

   Rei considers his words for a moment, looking down at his legs. He shakes his head eventually. "No. I'm alright for now," Rei says as he looks back up. His gaze focused on Ingo. He stares. Then his eyes narrow. Then a frown tugs at his mouth. Rei crosses his arms as he all but glares at Ingo. "Mister Ingo?"

   Ingo raises an eyebrow. "Yes?"

   "Are you tired?" His tone is blunt. He already knows the answer to his question.

   The words catch Ingo off guard and he looks down at his feet to avoid Rei's gaze. He'd hoped his exhaustion wasn't too noticeable, though now that he thinks about it… who was he kidding? Of course it's noticeable. He has no idea how he looks right now, but he can't imagine it's a pretty sight. He hasn't bathed in who knows how long and his clothes are torn and his back aches. Ingo can feel the fatigue sinking deeper into him with every passing moment. He is sure he must look the part. It has been a long time since he last got a decent night of sleep. Ever since those dreams started happening…

   Actually, when was the last time Ingo slept? He didn't sleep last night. Did he sleep much before that? He can't remember… huh.

   Rei clears his throat beside him and Ingo looks back up at him. The hardness in his gaze has softened into concern. "Do you want to take a nap, Mister Ingo? We might be here for a while to pack up and we do have a uh… a sort of bed.. ish? It's comfortable enough." Rei looks down at his hands, picking at his fingernails. Ingo frowns. That's not a great habit, is it? "Akari can help me move if I need it." He digs into his pointer finger, scratching at the already short nail there. "I just-"

   Ingo reaches out before he can stop himself, catching Rei's hand in his own and cutting him off. A pause. He gently guided Rei's hand away from his nail. "A nap may be beneficial. My engine has been running for longer than it should be." Ingo leans down a little so he can meet Rei's eyes better. "If you are sure you and Miss Akari will be alright in my absence?"

   Rei nods. "We will. Promise!"

   "Alright. Then I will take a nap."

   The tension in Rei's shoulders bleeds away and a smile returns to his face. He leans around Ingo and points into the cave. "Our bed is in the back corner on the left side. You can rest there."

   Ingo nods. "Very well. Thank you. I shall be off then." With that, he salutes Rei and turns towards the entrance to the cave. He casts one more glance towards Akari and the Pokémon, then starts walking deeper into the cave. Hopefully he will feel more well rested once he wakes up again.

Location: ???

   Metal screeches in his ears. Shrill. Sharp. Shrieking. Familiar… oh so familiar. It fills a gap within himself — greets him like an old friend whose face he's long forgotten. A small piece of his past, so minuscule he can't recall what it was attached to. All he knows is that it was something. Something he knew like the back of his hand and yet is so foreign that it pains him now to even think about it. It was a sound he heard often. Every day, even. One he'd grown accustomed to hearing and even delighted in listening to. But he no longer remembers that joy. Doesn't know why it filled his heart with glee and lifted his spirits as if they were tied to a hundred colorful balloons. All he knows is that is was.

   And now it's nothing. Like splintered glass of a prized vase, he knows that bliss will never be pieced back together and even if it is… it will never be able to reach its former glory. Only a sad attempt at a replica. Or worse, a phony replacement that doesn't sparkle like the original. It will never be the same again.

   Just like Ingo.

   His hands shoot up to his ears, trying to drown out the horrible grinding and groaning and screaming of the sound. But even then he can't escape it. The sound slips in through the gaps between his fingers, stabbing at his eardrums and refusing to let him forget that shrieking sound. That flicker of recollection that tells him what it once was — tells him what he will never be again.

   The floor beneath his feet rumbles. He can feel it shake and rattle and quake as something races past him. He can't see it. It's behind him and his eyes are squeezed closed. All he can feel is the gust of wind it creates and the tremble of the ground. There's a clacking too — machinery moving at speeds that should scarcely be possible. Yet it is possible. Against all odds… whatever it is, he knows it's grand. Massive. Bigger than he would be even if he stood on his tip toes. Anyone in their right mind would be afraid of something so powerful with the potential to be dangerous… oh but not him.

   He remembers. There was almost nothing more he loved than that. He braved the belly of the beast and guided others to safety with a fire in his heart and a drive to keep racing alone the tracks no matter what obstacle stood in his way. That is what he was. He was a guide. A protector… a conductor.

   He was Ingo. But what is he now? Who is he now? He certainly isn't Ingo anymore… how could he be? He doesn't even remember who that is.

   The rumbling stops. The shrieking fades. He is left alone in the silence.

   Alone… so alone…

   He was not alone before. He's not supposed to be alone like this, not at all. In the past, he never was. There was always something at his side, standing with him as they braved the darkness around them together. Oh and how that something shone brighter than any star, any sun, any light. Anything. Nothing compared to that presence. That warmth. And it was just like him, yet so different at the same time. They were both guides. Both held fires in their souls… but that piece of himself was headstrong and confident and lightning fast on their feet.

   They complimented each other. He knew that… but where did the light go? Why is he stuck in darkness?

   "Stuck? Who said you were stuck? You're verrry silly, Ingo! Look around you. There is nothing holding you back," a voice calls out to him. It echoes from every direction. Surrounds him. Protects him.

   Ingo lets his hands fall away from his ears and peels his eyes open. He's standing in a room. A large room. It's dark too, only lit by the orangey lights lining the floors. Still, he can see quite a bit of space around him. The floor beneath his feet shines under the illumination. He can almost see his reflection in it, a dark splotch stretching out across the surface. His gaze sweeps up, trailing over pillars connecting the floor to the ceiling and the small benches sitting up against the walls. Ingo knows this place. It's a-

   "Station. Yup! Verrry, good Ingo. A station can lead you anywhere. Now where do you want to go?" The voice is closer now. On his left.

   He looks to his left and there's a small purple light flickering there. Like a phantom fire. Ingo stares into the flames. "I…" Where does he want to go? Where should he be aiming for? If a station can really lead him anywhere… can it take him back? Ingo wants… "I want you. Can it take me to you?"

   A laugh rings out through the stillness. "Me? Oh, Ingo. I'm already with you. Can't you see?"

   Ingo's eyebrows furrow. He doesn't see the source of the voice. It's nowhere around him. He looks back over the area. There's nothing around him and the darkness near the corners of the room hide anything else from sight. Ingo can't see anything new. He's trapped. He's stuck. He has nowhere to go. "I don't see you. Please, I don't see you. Where did you go? Come back!"

   A beat. Ingo can feel his heart pounding, taste his pulse on his tongue.

   A flash draws his attention back to the purple light. It expands, spreading and spreading until it's a raging inferno. Then it darts towards the darkest corner of the room. It lights up everything it passes before eventually darting down and disappearing into a bench. The area around it lights up, revealing a figure in white sitting there. It does not move. Does not acknowledge being lit up. Yet somehow, Ingo knows he's waiting for him.

   He nearly trips over himself, legs suddenly coming to life. He stumbles forward, treading through the darkness to get closer to the figure. Ingo has never liked the dark… but he will not let it stop him. He will not back down. Not until he reaches the figure. Not until he gets back to him. Not until they are a two-car train again.

   Ingo cannot stop until then.

   He trudges past a pillar, his steps becoming harder and harder with each one he takes. He keeps pushing. Even as it starts to feel as if he's wading through molasses, he refuses to back down. Ingo keeps moving. One step after another. Another. Another. His breath stalls in his lungs and his heart freezes in his chest. Another. Another. Another. He walks around a large can and then a second pillar. Another. Another. Another.

   The figure is right in front of him. Only a few steps away. He reaches out for him. For his… for his…

   "Brother!"

   Finally, his brother's head turns towards him. His eyes land on Ingo and there's a calm smile on his face. A smile… a smile so bright, so welcoming, so grounding that Ingo can feel the chill around him being chased away. He can feel his lungs expand with air and his heart pound against his ribcage. Ingo takes another step and finally steps into the circle of light surrounding his brother. His precious brother.

   Ingo stumbles forward as the pressure abruptly disappears. He collapses into his brother, arms wrapping around his shoulders as he buries his face in his brother's chest. It's warm. It's safe. It's home. "Brother, please… please." Ingo doesn't even know what he's begging for. He just wants his brother.

   "Shhhh." A hand reaches up to run through his hair, arms wrapping around him. Ingo can hear himself sobbing as he clings to his brother. Finally. Finally, he feels protected enough to cry. "Shh, it's okay. You made it, Ingo. I'm verrry proud of you. Your tracks lead to a difficult destination, but I am certain you will reach it. I'm so proud Ingo," he whispers.

   Ingo's chest heaves and his tears come out faster, thicker. They soak into the fabric of his brother's coat. His brother doesn't care though. He barely even reacts. He just continues to hold Ingo and shush him and keep him safe from the darkness around them. Ingo wants to melt into his arms and never let go. Never be yanked away from him ever again… he wants to go home so badly.

   "You can get home." His brother pats his back, then rubs circles into his shoulder blades. "Don't you remember what I said? We're in a station, Ingo. You can catch a train to just about anywhere. All you have to do is purchase a ticket and you'll be on your way."

   A sob wrenches its way out of Ingo's mouth. "I-I don’t have one! How am I supposed to… I can't!"

   His brother sighs. "Not with that attitude. I am Em*** and you are Ingo. The Ingo I know does not give up. I know you will find your ticket eventually. So do not lose hope, big brother." He leans closer, resting his forehead against the crown of Ingo's. "Please don't give up."

   Right. He can't give up. If he gives up, he'll never find his way home. Then he really will be stuck. Ingo will find his ticket and he will board his train home and then he will come back to his brother. All he needs to do is keep moving and he will get there eventually. He knows that. It's just so hard to keep operating the way he is. Ingo is exhausted. He's overworking his engine with no method of relief from the stress. Ingo isn't sure how long he can keep operating under those conditions before he falls into disrepair.

   But. But… if he does that, he will be letting his brother down. And what is worse? Ingo could survive having a break down, though it may not be healthy to do that. But letting his brother down would be far worse than that. He never wants to let his brother down. So he will just have to find a way to keep going. Full steam ahead.

   "Oh…" There's a hint of something in his brother's tone. It sends a shiver down his spine.

   "What's wrong?" Ingo's heart is racing again, hands clinging to his brother's coat. The pressure around them starts to get tighter and the light recedes. What's happening?

   His brother sighs. "It is back." He tightens his hold on Ingo. "It has been following you for a verrry long time… but don't worry, Ingo. I am Emmet and I will keep you safe."

   "Emme-"

   Static fills his ears, drowning out the sound of his brother's voice and the silence of the station. Ingo flinches.

   "Ingo."

   "Help me! Ingo, save me! SAVE ME!”Something thick wraps around his wrist. It's cold. So cold…

   "Ingo!" His brother's voice cuts in. "Wake up!"

Location: Akari and Rei's Cave

Time: Around Noon

   "Mister Ingo! Mister Ingo, please wake up! Please!" Akari's voice shrieks.

   His eyes snap open and he gasps for breath. The room around him is spinning — nothing more than swirling colors and looming figures and darkness. His heart is pounding in his chest and his head is throbbing and his stomach is rolling. Ingo groans. He turns his head, trying to get away from the sensation to no avail. No matter where he turns, the feeling follows him. He feels so sick.

   A hand shakes his shoulder, which really does not help his current state. "Mister Ingo, are you okay?" Rei asks, voice quieter than his sister's had just been, but still loud enough to be heard. Ingo can hear the panic clear as day. He grunts, nodding his head as well as he can. It hurts a bit to move, but the pressure is slowly starting to dissipate. Hopefully it will be all the way gone soon.

   He can hear someone let out a breath of relief and a soft mewing sound. Ingo pays neither any mind. His brain is working too slow to even process either fully.

   Ingo blinks. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to make the fogginess of his vision clear up. There is some shuffling around him and a bit of whispering Ingo can't make any meaning out of. So he ignores that to focus on trying to get himself in order before he deals with anyone else. He drags in a deep breath, holding it for a beat and then releasing it. Ingo's heart starts to slow down.

   What happened? The last thing he remembers was… it was… oh! He went into Rei and Akari's cave to take a nap. The 'bed' Rei mentioned ended up being just a pile of blankets and some other soft things he didn't want to know the origins of, but it was comfortable enough and he fell asleep quickly. He really had been that tired after everything that has happened recently. After that… well, that's where things get foggy. Ingo fell asleep. He knew that much. But now he feels shaken and sick and…

   He had a dream. He remembers that dream. Well, bits and pieces of it.

   Ingo had been in a large room. He was talking to someone. Who? Who was that? Oh, Ingo knows… he was talking to… he was…

   Who?

   Who was it?

   Whowhowhowho…

   His brother.

   He was talking to his brother. Ingo has a brother. Not a man in white. Not a faceless, nameless person on the other end of his triangle app. He has a brother. He has a family waiting for him. And he can talk to his brother! He can reach his brother! Ingo had a family. He's not alone. He's not alone.

   Ingo needs to get back to his brother. He WILL get back to his brother by any means necessary. Which means he needs to get a move on. He will not allow himself to flounder anymore. This is it. This time, Ingo will not let himself wander aimlessly. This time, Ingo will find his ticket home and he will board the quickest train back to his brother's station. Only then will everything make sense again. Only then will the nightmares and the stress and the pain stop. Ingo will make it. He has to.

   And once he does, he will help Rei and Akari make their own trip back to wherever their home station may be. There is no other option. No backup route. No plan B. Ingo had a mission now. And he needs to get off his ass to accomplish it.

   He opens his eyes, his vision less fuzzy than it had been. It's still blurry in some places, but Ingo can make it work. He pushes himself up, ignoring the wave of dizziness that washes over him. "I am alright," he announces. The cave falls silent. Ingo glances at the four bodies around him. Rei and Akari are crouched on his right. Lady Sneasler is on his left. And Livewire is sitting in front of him. He glances around at all of them. "I only had a bad dream, but we can't be stalled by that. We need to get moving. All aboard!"

   Ingo points towards the entrance of the cave. All eyes follow his point.

   It's quiet for another minute. Then, Akari is the first to move. She picks herself up from her crouch and dusts off her pants. Then she leans back down to sling the small bag she must have packed over her shoulders. Once it's secure, she puts her hands on her hips with a wide smile. "Okay! Then let's get going. Jubilife is still days away. If we don't start down the road, it'll only take longer to get there."

   Ingo can feel the corners of his mouth tilting up. Her smile reminds him of his brother's. They would get along…

   Maybe some day, he can introduce them.

   Ah, but that is a thought for another time. Ingo plants his hands against the ground and pushes himself up. He dusts his hands off. "Well said, Miss Akari. Let us start down the tracks." Ingo looks down at Rei, then glances towards Lady Sneasler and Livewire. He's not sure if he's strong enough right now to carry Rei. Heck, he's hardly strong enough to stay on his own two feet at the moment. Ingo clears his throat. "I believe it may be easier if Rei travels with one of you. I feel… unsteady on my feet."

   Lady Sneasler and Livewire make eye contact. The noble huffs and Livewire rumbles. Neither of them look away. Then the alpha nods towards Rei with a low growl. Lady Sneasler chirps and nods, then looks back towards Ingo and points at Livewire. Looks like they've come to a conclusion. "Rei will be riding with Livewire?" Lady Sneasler nods again and Livewire huffs. "Bravo!" Ingo turns back to Rei and crouches down. "Let's couple your cars outside of the cave." Rei opens his arms and allows himself to be picked up.

   Ingo sways on his feet, but still manages to turn and head out of the cave without falling. He can feel footsteps trailing behind him as he goes. Good. He really had less energy than he would like to admit and did not want to have to tell them to follow him. Geez, this walk is not going to be a great experience, he can already tell.

   "Hey, Mister Ingo?" Akari calls as he steps out into the sunlight. He flinches against the brightness, turning a little to face her.

   "Yes?"

   "Maybe you should ride on Livewire too. You don't look so good. She's strong enough to carry both of you! Well, she could probably carry all of us, but I wanna walk." Akari turns back around to face the Pokémon, walking backwards as she does. "What do you say, Livewire? Will you carry Mister Ingo too?" Livewire seems to consider it for a beat, then nods.

   Ingo sputters as he comes to a stop. "I wouldn't want to impose. I can walk just fine."

   Silence. All eyes are once again on Ingo, all reflecting the same expression; 'really'? He can feel his cheeks heating up. Was he really that obvious? Well… that's not so surprising, actually. Ingo can feel himself swaying still. He hopes this dizziness wears off soon and maybe riding on Livewire for a little while might take some weight off of him. Ingo will accept the offer. If only until he feels well enough to walk.

   He sighs. "Alright. I will link my car with yours until I feel better," he tells Livewire. She nods at him and lowers herself to the ground. Ingo strides closer, putting Rei down near her shoulders. Rei reaches out and clings to her mane. Once Rei is settled, Ingo lifts his leg up and over Livewire's torso. Then he taps her side and she pushes herself up from the ground.

   The motion nearly knocks Ingo off. He flinches, hands shooting down to grip her fur in an attempt to keep himself from sliding off. Livewire grumbles at him in response and he lightens his hold, patting her side. "Apologies."

   She forgives him easily, turning her attention towards the path leading back down the mountain instead. Then she waits.

   Ingo throws a glance towards Akari and Lady Sneasler. They're standing next to each other now. Good. He'd like them to stay together just in case something happens. It would be best to move in groups if they get separated as well. That way no one ends up alone. Ingo points between Lady Sneasler and Akari. "Please stay together, you two. Just to be safe."

   Lady Sneasler nods and Akari pouts a little. "Okay fine," she huffs.

   With that settled, he scans the area one last time. There's nothing dangerous around as far as he can tell and he believes everyone has all of their things. Ingo checks his own pockets, finding everything he keeps in there in place. Passenger's Pokéball is in his left pocket and… the Pokéball containing that strange Pokémon he caught earlier is in his right. Ingo will have to check on that Pokémon when they stop again. Hopefully it will be okay by then. Hopefully.

   Ingo clears his throat. "Safety checks complete. All passengers aboard." He points to the path down the mountain. "Onward we roll!"

   He taps Livewire's side and she starts walking.

   Their journey to Jubilife begins.