"It's nice to see the gang together again…" N's voice was soft and faded, not seeming to come from his lips, but from the forest itself.
"Don't play friendly, N. We still won't forgive you for what you've done…" Gary growled.
"Done?" He tilted his head to the left. "She's right there. I've done nothing."
The three looked in the direction of his tilt and blinked. Misty blinked back at them.
Their stances lowered.
For a moment, they had forgotten who they were… or rather, remembered who they used to be.
Casey walked forward, refusing to let go of her almost-forgotten personality. "Why are you here, N?"
"Quinn! It's been ages…" The ghostly mirage smiled. "I see you've finally decided whose team you wanted to be on." He turned towards Domino. "Or perhaps not? Hm… you always were indecisive."
"I'll ask again before I tear your soul apart… Why are you here, N?"
He blinked. "Here? I've always been here. This is my home."
"This is Ash's Sanctuary. You have no right to be here."
"I don't? If I remember correctly, I built this place for him. Specifically for 'Ash'." He began to swing back and forth on the tire. "A strange name… I think I preferred 'Sato'."
"And why would you help Ash?" 'Quinn' frowned.
"To help him. Childhood can be quite harsh for an innocent boy." N giggled to himself. "Apparently adulthood can be quite worse. So I gave him the Arceus Drop… just to give him an edge."
"The Arceus Drop got him killed!" Sabrina approached the spirit. "If he hadn't followed it, he wouldn't have died!"
"Ah… a far more familiar Quinn." N looked towards the 'unconscious' young man. "It was quite unfortunate that the darkness used the Drop in that manner. But I had no control over that."
"The darkness used the Drop? What do you mean?" The Psychic glared.
"All that are connected to the memory can use the Arceus Drop to their advantage. For 'Ash', he could find help, foresee the future, and look into the past. For the darkness, it can corrupt the visions given. 'Ash' had mistaken who to trust on his quest… and the darkness won because of it."
"What do you mean 'mistaken who to trust', ghost?" Sabrina was growing frustrated. She couldn't read his mind… he had no mind. He was an entity. His entire self was his thought.
"An interesting thing to consider, Quinn…" He stopped swinging and looked her in the eye. "You all believed that you needed an Empathic, a Psychic, and an Aura Guardian to stop the darkness. When all it would take was a single person who knew how to properly shut down the machine."
Angie slammed her palms to her face. "YOU HAVE GOTTA' BE KIDDING ME!"
N laughed. "I am not kidding at all, Ramie. Your past selves made the same mistake in believing that the machine had to be destroyed. That's exactly what the darkness wanted. It planned for it that time, and it planned for it this time."
"So Ash… didn't need any of us?" May's eyes watered as she buried her face into her knees.
He looked towards her. "Not need any of you? No… Sato always needs someone. Sato could never do anything by himself. But he certainly didn't have to get all of you. All it did was distract him from improving."
"We're all just distractions…" Misty sat back down. "The darkness just wanted to distract him…"
"If he had just gone straight for the Team Rocket Headquarters, this all would've been finished in a matter of two days."
Maylene's fist clenched.
"Wait… how would he know where the base is?" Solana asked. "Even we didn't know until the end!"
"Because after the invasion on Ash's home… he could've simply followed them." N kicked at the ground, swinging in the tire again.
"I should've listened to him…" the fighter growled.
"Don't blame yourself. Maya is quite at fault here too."
"What?" Misty glared. "I was captured that night! How is it my fault?"
"Security was quite lax on that night. With a little help from Duplica, he would have successfully saved all of you and stopped and destroyed Team Rocket's Machine safely… but of course, you had to scare Duplica off, didn't you, Maya?"
"No…" She looked away, trembling. "I didn't know. How was I supposed to know something like that?"
"The darkness works in mysterious ways…" N laughed quietly. "…when it can't cripple Sato directly, it can use others' weaknesses to cripple him. Duplica would have never gotten in the way of your relationship with him, Maya. But of course, you're always paranoid of what you mean to him, aren't you?"
"Why are you doing this, N?" 'Farron' faced him. "Why did you help Ash in the first place? Why are you telling us all this now?"
"I helped Sato for my own reasons. And I'm telling you this for the very same."
"He's hoping this would atone for his sins." Leanne spoke.
N frowned. "Leanne. Would you like me to ruin your secrets, too?"
"I have none."
"Really?" He raised his brow. "If that's so, then why haven't you told everyone who they were? Why didn't you tell everyone all this before the plan to attack the Team Rocket Base? And why in the world would you try to scare Bianca off when you need her in order to become whole?"
Bianca flinched. "Wh-Who, m-me?"
"You're ashamed of that wish of yours, aren't you?" N chuckled loudly. "Yet here she is… you can't escape yourself, Leanne."
Leanne stared angrily at the spirit. "I have my reasons. You keep yourself quiet or I'll remove Latias from your use."
"You want me quiet… yet you gave me Latias' body so I could talk. Hypocritical as always, Leanne. Hypocritical as always."
"JUST TELL THEM ALREADY!"
…
"Very well." He tilted his head towards Ash's body. "That young man can regain his soul, emotions, and psyche."
"WHAT?" Everyone moved from their spot. Even Anabel crawled into the sanctuary after hearing the announcement.
N seemed pleased with their reaction. "Though I believe what you all should be concerned with is the fact that Leanne there knew this beforehand… yet she wanted me to say it."
Their glares met the Alto Mare native.
She showed no care for their stares.
"Why, Leanne?" Misty walked towards her.
Maylene approached as well. "The better question is 'how'! How did you know about this?"
"I warned her about what would happen if Sato continued his plans…" N got their attention again. "This isn't the first time she's given me Latias' body, you know."
"YOU!" Angie's fist landed across Leanne's face. "WHY DIDN'T YOU WARN US?"
Leanne fell to the grass. She looked away, refusing to give the tomboy eye contact. "Because N told me that the darkness would get what it wanted if I did warn him…"
They turned back to the spirit.
He simply shrugged. "Leanne just didn't want to trust the consequences that would come from Sato making the same decision… and she was even more afraid if he DIDN'T make the same decision."
"Either way!" Leanne ripped apart the grass below her, as she began crying. "Either way he would've revolved it around her! It was always about Maya! It always is! What good would giving her to the darkness be if he'd never stop thinking about her?"
Her pain was felt most by Anabel. Tears began flowing down her eyes as well.
"…so how do we do it?" Casey moved towards N. "How do we get him back?"
He smirked. "Are you sure? …you might not get Ash back."
"But you just said –"
"I said 'that young man'. I could be referring to Ash or Sato. Even if he still carries his memories from this life, this ritual could easily make him more Sato than Ash."
"I don't care…" Angie stepped forward. "Just tell us."
…
…
N shrugged. "Very well. But realize that you all could change in the process."
Maylene cracked her neck in irritation. "How many warnings and side-effects does this thing have? Spit it out! How do we get back Ash?"
"The darkness is an entity of nothingness – and what you forget becomes nothing." The spirit was ready to give them their answer. "By remembering, you can bring back anything from the nothingness. To gain something back from the darkness… you need to know what it is in its entirety."
N regarded each of them with a nod. "As you are now, none of you knew 'Ash' for who he really was. As 'Maya', 'Ramie', 'Farron', 'Leanne', and 'Quinn' – you all knew him perfectly as 'Sato'… If you want to bring 'Ash' back, you need to remember 'Sato'.
"…If you want to remember 'Sato', all of you need to remember who you once were."
Latias stumbled off the tire swing and fell face-flat in Leanne's old form.
The new Leanne helped her to her feet. "Careful… Are you okay, Latias?"
She grinned and nodded.
"Now that we know what we're trying to do…" Gary sat down on the white stump and adjusted his clothes. "Care to tell us what the plan is?"
"And if you don't mind me asking…" Ritchie scratched the back of his head. "What exactly is our job?"
"I'd like to know that, too." Tracey lifted his pencil.
Angie began chewing on a piece of bark. "What I'd like to know is why in the world you dragged us all the way out here to talk to a ghost when apparently you could've told us yourself?"
"In reverse order…" Leanne sighed. "One, if you hadn't heard it from N himself you wouldn't have trusted me."
"I still don't trust you." the tomboy grumbled.
"Two, I'm splitting teams accordingly. But specifically, Ritchie and Solana? You two are on guard duty."
"Guard duty?"
"I'll explain in answer three."
…
…
"Well? What's answer three?" Misty asked impatiently.
"I need all of you to sit down first."
While many sat immediately, a few remained standing.
"Quit treating us like children." Domino sneered. "Just tell us already."
Leanne stared at her with disinterest. "Do you want to hinder everyone else from finding out who they were?"
Maylene yanked her down immediately. "Go! Go! Tell us!"
"You're just encouraging her…" the former Rocket Agent muttered.
The last standing sat down uncomfortably.
Leanne looked over the group; treating them similar to members in her fan club back home… she nodded. "Good. Now number three has a lot to do with who you were in the past. And coincidentally, you'll all be in groups of three."
She faced the blue-eyed trainer. "Ritchie, Solana… as neither of you were involved in that event, I'll ask you both to stand by Ash."
The two moved accordingly.
"You two will be in charge of guarding Ash in the Sinnoh region."
Casey was about to protest. And Maylene was about to ask a question.
"No interruptions until the end." the Alto Mare native waved her finger. "But to calm the two of you: All of us are moving to the Sinnoh region. And each group will be far too busy to take care of Ash. That is why I chose Ritchie and Solana to guard him."
"Where are –"
"I said no interruptions, Solana. And please don't find me rude. I'm simply trying to make sure everyone can hear my instructions. And interruptions will only confuse those who actually want to listen."
Only person who wants to listen to you is yourself. The Pokémon Ranger grimaced. She didn't like the new Bianca-Leanne. Personally-speaking, she knew nothing of the old one, but this one was far too arrogant for her taste.
Plusle calmed her with a soft pat on her head.
"As I was saying, and to answer your question, you will be staying in the Battle Island Resort."
…
Curiosity filled many of them, but none dared disrupt. Not out of respect or fear, but to avoid the trouble of dealing with the woman's stern manners.
Leanne smiled at the silence. "It's an island in the northeast. They have a lovely resort there that you two will absolutely love."
"So they're on vacation?" Casey groaned.
Leanne glared. Though the baseball fan didn't seem to care.
"It's also a secure and memorable area in the Sinnoh region." she continued. "It's an island filled with battling trainers. If anyone wanted to cause trouble there, there would be plenty of witnesses and allies willing to help. And it's an easy to spot and find island resort. If any of you know of a better place, feel free to suggest."
Maylene raised her hand.
"No. Not your gym." Leanne frowned. "If there are any remnants of Team Rocket, you can bet that our homes are still under their surveillance."
The fighter lowered her hand.
"Can we just get to the part where you tell us who we are?" Angie pulled off another piece of tree bark and shoved it into her mouth.
"You already know who you are, Ramie."
"I know it's me and probably Maylene." she responded in irritation. "I want to know who else."
"Very well…"
With a depressed sigh, Leanne stood beside Latias. "…Bianca, stand next to me."
"M-Me?"
"Yes. You. Stand next to me now."
The blond-haired woman skipped over quickly. "Right here?"
"Yes… there." She turned towards the group. "As the ones who were part of the original Leanne, the three of us are going to Eterna City. We'll be visiting the Eterna Museum."
Maylene raised her hand again. "Why specifically that museum?"
These people have no idea what 'do not interrupt' means… Her brows twitched. "Because it's in the Sinnoh region. Any museum would do, as the original Leanne loved researching pokémon, especially their history. However, as our main destinations are in the Sinnoh region, I simply chose this one."
Bianca excitedly searched through her bag.
Leanne found it impossible to ignore her movements. "…what are you doing?"
Pulling out a pair of red-framed glasses, Bianca put them on eagerly. She grinned at Leanne.
Casey snorted at her appearance. "Dork."
"And what in the world is that supposed to be?" The Alto Mare native shook her head.
"Glasses!" the blond girl giggled. "Dad said I always needed them. But I didn't like how they looked. So I never wore them! But now that I know I used to be a Scientist, it all makes sense now!"
"…Researcher." Leanne corrected in despair.
"Right. Researcher. Scientists research things too, you know?"
She waved away the comment. "Gary, Tracey, Todd. You all used to be the Pokémon Master Farron. Go stand on that side."
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?" Tracey's jaw dropped.
Todd pulled him to their side of the area. "I find it weird that a Pokémon Master would ever wish to become someone who doesn't have a single pokémon. Something might be wrong with this grouping…"
"I'd agree. I find it strange that I'm anything like either of you two." Gary shrugged.
Leanne continued her directing, "You three are going to the eastern part of Sinnoh. You're trying to find a place called Sendoff Spring."
"And what will we be doing there?" the current Pokémon Researcher questioned.
"Honestly? I'm not entirely sure. N just told me that Farron has a connection to that spring."
Sabrina, Domino, and Casey moved to their own section without need of orders.
Leanne nodded towards them. "You all know you're Quinn. Head to the north section of Sinnoh. You are to find an area called Lake Acuity."
"Similar objective description as Farron's?" Domino asked professionally.
"Same."
The three nodded.
Maylene and Angie followed suit, sitting in one corner of the sanctuary.
…
…
…
"Well? Tell us who's the third one!" Angie shouted angrily.
Leanne was visibly upset. She had been dreading this announcement since she first found out… for several reasons. Several, several reasons.
"…May. You're with team Ramie."
"…what?" May's eyes widened.
"WHAT?" Angie and Maylene shared the same bewilderment.
Dawn and Anabel blinked at each other and looked at Misty.
Misty didn't seem to believe it either.
"A-Are you sure?" May's voice was shaking.
"…yes. I'm sure."
"BUT SHE'S MAY!" The two tomboys expressed their shock.
"LOOK." Leanne glared at them. "I know what I'm talking about. May is Ramie. Always has been. Always will be."
"But… Maya… May…" the Empathic Coordinator stared at her in desperation. "And… Empathy…"
"Coincidence…" Leanne frowned. "You're Ramie, May. I'm sorry."
"H-Hey! What's with the 'sorry'? Nothing's wrong with being Ramie!" The fighter growled at the assertive woman. She smiled in May's direction. "Come on, May. Being Ramie rocks."
"N-No… this can't be right…" the Coordinator was slowly backing away. "I was supposed to be Maya…"
Leanne knew this would happen. "May. Don't."
May turned... running and stumbling into the woods.
…
…
Clearing her throat, Leanne spoke to the remaining members. "Team Ramie, you're heading east with Farron's group, but you'll be splitting up soon afterwards… as your destination is Lake Valor."
"What about…"
"Leave her alone for now." She turned towards Misty. "And team Maya… you'll be heading for west Sinnoh. You'll be looking for Lake Verity."
Anabel and Misty nodded.
Dawn tilted her head in confusion. "You're… one-hundred percent sure that May's not a part of this team? And you're sure that I'm not part of a different team?"
Leanne looked away, refusing to continue the topic. "After we're done finding and completing our objectives within each area, we'll meet again in the Battle Island Resort. We don't have a specific time to leave, or a specific time to arrive. From now on, treat your fellow teammates as your ONLY team."
She nodded at no one in particular. "With that said… You can head off whenever you want, but I suggest we all get plenty of rest for the night."
…
…
"That is all."
Leanne walked away and dragged her backpack. Latias followed dutifully.
Bianca ran back to grab her things before chasing after.
…
Casey spat out her bubblegum. "No offense, but our new team leader sucks."
"Amen to that." Anabel shook her head and sighed.
"Then don't see her as our leader…" Sabrina mentioned as she moved towards the forest. "As she said herself: we're our only teams now. Don't bother with that woman. Look after your own."