To Miss Jaku,
I hope that this letter reaches you well. Clan Leader Adaman has asked me to test whether Alakazam is capable of locating you from great distances. Alakazam is none too enthusiastic about being burned again due to its last meeting with you, though I have reassured it firmly that you mean it no harm. I have attached a few rawst berries just in case.
Adaman has told me that you have been shifted onto new tracks. Perhaps we have all found new destinations. I hear Miss Akari has taken up the mantle of quelling the nobles, and now Adaman tells me that you have finally been given a task by his version of Almighty Sinnoh. I have also received a task by an unknown deity; I believe I've previously mentioned the Old Verses that I've been collecting but I am unsure as to what purpose they fulfill in returning us back home.
Before I forget, Adaman had also mentioned that you would be around the Coronet Highlands. Perhaps I might see you there? The steep cliffs are quite treacherous but I believe I know of a certain pokémon that could make climbing the work of only a moment. That is, if we happen to run into each other at all. If not, then I ask for your caution. May Almighty Sinnoh guide your path.
Warden Ingo of the Pearl Clan
Jaku rolled up the parchment and tied it shut with a reed string, carefully stowing the scroll back into her bag. She had received this letter a day or two ago and ever since, she would reread it over and over again. She would call Warden Ingo a good acquaintance if anybody asked, but she felt puzzled wondering what would drive the man to send her a carefree letter through Alakazam.
She supposed it made her feel warm. That somebody had even bothered to check up on her. Each time she scanned through the slowly-inked scroll, a gentle headache of sorts throbbed behind her eyes. A memory trying to surface, she mused. She really needed to draft a response as soon as she had access to ink.
Jaku rested in a shallow dip in the cliffside just out of the light of the rising sun as it crested over the titanic peaks of the Coronet Highlands. Warden Ingo hadn't been joking. There was absolutely no way any of her pokémon would be able to assist her in climbing these treacherous cliffs.
Azelf hadn't really given her a solid location as to the whereabouts of the next ancient artifact and to her knowledge, there was only one lake in the Coronet Highlands; unnamed as it was, Jaku would look into it. The map charted it as being located at the foothills of the Chamberclaw Cliffs but… She glanced towards where the lake in question shimmered in the sunlight and noted that the drop down was absolutely fatal. She would have to find some other way to get to it.
"Almighty Sinnoh, guide my path. Yeah, right." Jaku took up the map again. "There's no hints about any caves or tunnels near the lake." She studied the lake closer. "Yeah, no island in the middle either. Great. Just fantastic"
A cluster of Yanmas fluttered about in front of the cliff, rummaging for Paras or Burmy. Jaku took hold of the tattered orange jacket that she wore around her waist, having incorporated it into her garb after gaining permission from Adaman.
New developments had taken place since about a month ago when she'd gotten word from Azelf. Disturbing developments.
Jaku unfurled the previous draft letters that she had created, the familiar rage tightening her throat again. She had decided to test Uxie's ability to wipe other people's memories. She had written down all that she knew and sent the information to Akari, Warden Ingo, and Adaman. All of which had been destroyed by the legendary pokémon.
She would mention it to passing merchants or travelers and watch as Uxie would appear and wipe their memories clean without so much as a glance at her. It was as though she was constantly walking on eggshells. It was why it was taking so long just to draft a simple response to Ingo. She wanted to be just a tiny bit malicious and put Uxie through its paces in making sure she didn't slip and say anything… but she also worried about testing the patience of what was essentially a god in itself.
Jaku flinched as a deafening cry rang out in front of her perch, Dusk falling out of her lap as it jerked to its feet. Without hesitation, Lilith and Peanut burst from their pokéballs, fur bristling as they stared at-
"An alpha?"
An alpha Yanmega tried to nose its way into the cave, large wings stirring up wild blasts of chilly air as it nosed about the entrance. Jaku reached into her bag and pulled out a sachet of berries.
"These should do the trick."
To her surprise, the Yanmega caught two of the berries with its outstretched legs, making quick work of the scattered berries and even sharing them with the other Yanmas. It looked back at her expectantly. At least it wasn't trying to kill her. She took a deep breath, tossed a few more berries, and leaned back against the cave wall with her map still in hand.
As Jaku continued to mark down possible locations of the next ancient artifact, she released all of her pokémon from their place at her side. They should get to enjoy the coming day before she got down to business. After all, it was much nicer than the constant downpour and humid, murky weather of the Mirelands.
Dusk arched its back before climbing into Jaku's lap again to sleep, its flames curling around her fingers and she ran her hands over its smooth pelt. Peanut, Lilith, and Ghost broke into sprints as they chased each other around on the cliffside, the Yanmas and even the alpha joining in as they all ran themselves ragged. Jester smooshed itself into the dirt before laying belly-up as it soaked up the warmth of the sun, Raptor joining as it stretched out its wings.
As easy as it would be, she couldn't ask Raptor to help her get down to the lake. A skirmish with an alpha Luxray the day before had fried through a good chunk of Raptor's feathers and she was without potions. She would make sure Raptor was back to perfect fighting fit before-
"Great Almighty Sinnoh! What is that thing?!"
Jaku startled to her feet as a horrendous screech rang throughout the mountains. She sped to the lip of the cave to see Lilith bolting after something- someone. Jaku gave chase. "Lilith, stop!"
Lilith ignored her completely and overtook the person, catching them by the long floppy garment they wore. The dog pokémon bore them back with a swift yank, tail wagging slowly. Jaku quickly made her way to where her pokémon was and pushed the great dog back, scrambling to make sure the man was okay. Lilith often didn't know her own strength.
"I am so sorry," Jaku started, kneeling at the man's side. No blood, no bruising. "Lilith is easily excitable and… aggressive. Did she hurt you?"
"Apart from nearly ripping open my neck?" the man on the ground wheezed. "No. No, I'm just fine. I'm great. Positively the image of health."
"Sorry about that." Jaku rubbed the back of her head. "Here. Let me help you up-"
"I don't need your help!" With a great show of flexibility, the man pulled himself to his feet, shaking off the bits of grass and dust on his tunic. Jaku paused- a Diamond Clan tunic.
The tall man before her had long iridescent-looking lilac hair that curled around his face and neck and pooled around his shoulders. His tunic, though new and shiny, was littered with stitches but it fit him well. It was the man's sharp eyes that drew her attention. That and the large Skuntank that had just lumbered up behind him.
"I understand that I am absolutely magnificent, but staring is rude. Especially for a grunt like you."
Jaku narrowed her eyes. "A grunt? Fine. I guess I should've let Lilith rip you apart like a chew toy." Behind her, Lilith growled her agreement, her sudden curiosity replaced with lowered ears and a snarl.
"That wouldn't be very magnanimous of you," the man retorted back. "Especially for a person who is supposed to be a messenger of Almighty Sinnoh." He gave her an unimpressed look, his blue-purple eyes darkening as his eyes found the belt of pokéballs at her side. "As I thought. You use those horrible contraptions to enslave those beasties of yours."
"They are not beasties. They are beautiful," Jaku denounced, holding Lilith back, "and they're my partners. My friends. I didn't enslave them at all. As a matter of fact, you can't enslave pokémon. You'd be an idiot to try to."
"Are you calling me an idiot? Me? Stupid?"
"No, but you've certainly got some nerve insulting me when I'm just trying to make sure my friends don't put you six feet under."
The man stopped, fixing her with a look of straight irritation and annoyance as he put his hands on his hips. "What did you just say?"
"Huh?"
"The last part," the man restated. "Repeat that again."
Jaku paused and gave the man a funny look. "I'm just trying to make sure my friends don't put you six feet under?"
"What's that supposed to mean? 'Six feet under'. Are you threatening to kill me?"
"Uh… no? It's an expression?"
The man looked even more annoyed if that was even remotely possible. "Ugh. You have the same oddity of a certain warden that I know: strange expressions. If you keep spitting out gobbeldy-gook like him, I'll really have to wonder why Adaman let you stay with us."
Jaku blinked. "Right, you're with the Diamond Clan too. But there aren't any settlements out here, right?"
"Of course not. Unlike you, I'm no wet-behind-the-ears grunt. No, no, no. Only the strong can survive out here in the Coronet Highlands. Tell me, grunt. Do you know who I am?"
"Absolutely not," Jaku deadpanned, scratching at an itch behind her ear. "Who are you?"
"I am The Great Melli!" the man declared, tossing his long hair back to flutter in the wind. "I am one of the wardens of the Diamond Clan, personally chosen for this position by Clan Leader Adaman! I serve The Lord of the Hollow, Electrode." He gestured at the skies. "Any storm that barrages this land is the emission of sheer power from His Greatness. Do take care not to get fried," he simpered.
"That's assuming I run into this Lord of yours," Jaku commented lowly. She paused. Perhaps Warden Melli might know of some hidden caves or tunnels. "Question for you: do you know of any tunnels or caves leading under that lake?"
Melli raised an eyebrow at her. "That's right. You're on some sort of quest, aren't you? No, I have no idea. That-" he gestured vaguely at the area beyond the drop in the river below "-is not my territory. Ask Warden Ingo. He's like you: strange and also not worth my time. Go ask him."
Jaku easily dismissed his snide remark and pulled the edges of her tunic closer. "You know, out of all of the people I've met here in Hisui, you are, by far, one of the only people who doesn't give a flying fuck about Almighty Sinnoh-"
Melli whipped around at that comment. "How dare you! Do not speak about the Almighty in vain!"
"What are you gonna do? Hit me?" Jaku challenged him. "You wouldn't hit a messenger of your god, would you?" she pouted. "That wouldn't be very nice of you. And here, I'm just trying to carry out Almighty Sinnoh's will"
Melli looked ready to explode on her. "You! I am- How dare you- don't you- ugh!" He threw up his hands and stomped away, Skuntank giving her a look before tottering off to follow its partner.
That was the end of that. Jaku rounded up her partners in their pokéballs and flicked open her map. The only way forward to Chamberclaw Cliffs was a cave that would lead her to the higher levels of the Highlands. She guessed Warden Ingo would be somewhere in that general area and if not, then she would just have to figure out a way of making it down the cliff. It's not as though she could just get a pokémon to ferry her there.
Jaku began the slow descent towards the cave, pausing to take in the view. Two grand waterfalls cascaded over the far cliff, cloaking the cave and the surrounding firs in mist. A flurry of Yanmegas darted to and fro just over the thundering river, fishing out Basculins and Barboaches.
"Where do you think you're going?" Melli appeared, slightly out of breath as he barred her way into the cave, scowling. "What's wrong with you? Don't you know there are ferocious pokémon in there?"
"Of course I do," Jaku snorted. "That's why I came prepared." She rolled Dusk's pokéball into her hand and released it, her partner taking one look at the cave before spraying out a fan of golden flames from its back.
"So you plan on disturbing the wild pokémon within?"
"Yup," she smiled. "It's not like our settlements haven't been disturbed by wild pokémon before. It's just a taste of their own medicine, is all." Jaku pulled her bag closer over her back and began her journey into the cave, ignoring the slightly relieved aspect that Warden Melli was following after her. Two was better than one, after all.
The cave started out like a mineshaft of sorts, the walls bordered by petrified wooden slats and support beams. Moss folded underfoot. Stalagmites hung crooked and sharp like fangs from the ceiling and she'd be lying if she said she hadn't flinched when one snapped off from the ceiling and speared into a pool just a few feet away. Thank the gods as there seemed to be a well-trodden path etched into the dirt and rocks here.
"Is this a common route or something?" Jaku asked after a moment of silence.
"Unfortunately, yes. A lot of traders have no choice but to go through this cave. The Alabaster Icelands are practically inaccessible without it."
"Shouldn't there be torches or anything to mark the path, then?"
Warden Melli made a sour face. "There are. The wardens of old cast them into the walls of the cave to help light the way. But they often disturb the pokémon that take refuge here during the day."
"Oh, okay. I get it."
"You… you get it?" Melli brightened.
"Yeah. I mean, I can only sleep when it's completely dark. Can't sleep if there's any light nearby. I imagine the pokémon would find some way to extinguish the flames if you didn't."
"Finally, somebody gets it!" Melli exclaimed, his voice reverberating around the cave. He grimaced as Jaku flinched and whipped around to glare at him. "You get it. You see, that warden you're looking for- the Pearl Clan peasant- he has a nasty habit of lighting the caves when I'm not around. It irritates the local pokémon and makes them more aggressive the next day."
"From lack of sleep?"
"Exactly. I've tried to explain this to him multiple times, but he says it's for the good of the travelers. The pokémon should take precedence here."
"Why don't you just have the travelers bring lanterns then?" Jaku posed.
"They bring torches, but quite a few of them forget to bring any fuel or tinder to light them."
"Oh."
The two continued deeper into the caves, Jaku gasping in awe as the small tunnel opened up into a massive cavern. Water splashed down into a pool somewhere to her right and to her left was a wall completely covered in moss and fungi. Little pokémon skittered around in the dark, illuminated occasionally by a glimmer of Dusk's flames reflecting in their eyes. No sooner did she stop to take in the sight did Melli hoist her along by the strap of her pack. She followed begrudgingly.
"Sooo… what exactly do you do as a warden?"
That seemed to give Warden Melli a new spring in his step. "Oh! Well, if you must know, wardens serve as the keepers of their Lords or Ladys. I make sure that Lord Electrode's physical and emotional needs are met so that he can best keep his territory within the Highlands safe. I also tend to the Lord's children and keep an eye on how things function."
"How things function?"
"Right, the Diamond Clan doesn't teach you rookies how things work," Melli grumbled.
"Oh, so I'm a rookie now? I'm not a grunt?"
"You're both," Melli drawled. "Now clean out your ears and listen. A noble's primary job is to help protect us humans living in the area. To do that, they need to make sure that the territory is free of any potential competitors and they need to make sure that they have an heir to take over once their time is over. A warden helps their noble by tending to their needs."
"Oh, I get it."
"Do you now?"
"It's kind of like how me and my partners work." She gave Dusk a smile as the creature sniffed at a patch of moss. "My buddies protect me from wild pokémon and in return, I make sure they've got a warm place to sleep and plenty of food to eat."
"But you keep them in those horrible contraptions-"
"I already told you; I don't keep them anywhere. Pokéballs are just a way of carrying them around so that they can rest their feet or so that they can rest if they've battled too hard. It's like a portable tent for them. They can leave at any time."
"I've seen Warden Ingo and that Galaxy Team noodle lobbying them at stray pokémon. It always looks like it hurts. Why do it?"
"For numerous reasons," Jaku began. Her fingers caught in the warm fabric of her jacket, an onslaught of information beginning to pour from her lips. "Yes, blasting pokémon with these does hurt but only for a moment. Most of the time, we're taught to weaken the pokémon before attempting to catch them so that we can either restrain them or move them somewhere else. That's the protocol for catching invasive pokémon or diseased pokémon: catch and relocate. It's also in case there's something wrong with the pokémon like infected wounds or broken bones. We catch them so that we can fix them up and then we release them. Pokéballs are merely tools much like how you might use a snare to catch a Basculin."
"I- I hadn't thought of them like that," Melli admitted. "But what happens if you drop them or lose them?"
"Pokémon can break free of their pokéballs at any time. Most capsules are actually see-through for the pokémon within, so they can usually tell what's going on at any given moment. There is a catch though. Should a pokéball become damaged or compromised, the pokémon within won't be able to escape. I think modern pokéballs from my future are a lot more robust to prevent it but as for these wooden ones- not so much. That's why I keep them at my side: so I have eyes on them at all times."
"I can't imagine I would want to be caught. You seem to know a lot about pokémon. I know Warden Ingo carries around a team of pokémon with him. Why would pokémon allow themselves to be caught? They can perform such magnificent feats of strength! Why cooperate with us humans?"
"Well, most pokémon ally themselves with humans to grow stronger. The more pokémon battle, the more they grow and learn. Some pokémon have specific evolutions that require having a trainer to accomplish. Some pokémon need access to various stones or manmade objects. Some pokémon thrive around people, and some pokémon have difficulties surviving without human assistance. It honestly depends. What about you and Skuntank?"
Melli adopted a soft look as he glanced at his partner. "Skuntank and I have been close for years. Since it was a Stunky, actually. I caught the little thief eating a portion of the clan's harvest and took it in after it defended the crops from a pack of poisonous Roserades."
"It just likes to follow you around, huh?"
"We've been inseparable since. I know other pokémon around the Highlands too. Perhaps we might run into them. How many pokémon do you have?"
"I have seven boo-boo bears. Three of them are from before I came here. From my past, or perhaps, my future? I think there might be more somewhere in Hisui but I can't confirm it."
Melli blanched. "Seven pokémon? You are absolutely insane."
After hours of exploring the cave and talking about various nonsense topics (Melli seemed to have a thing for poison-type pokémon), they came to a fork in the cave. There was a torch already crackling with fire and before it was-
"Warden Ingo!" Jaku gave a wave as the older man faced them.
"Ah, Miss Jaku." He tipped his hat up, a large Gliscor peeking around his side to stare at her. "I did not expect to see you so soon." He blinked. "And you have an extra passenger with you."
"Warden Ingo," Melli grunted. "Back at it again with lighting the torches? How many times must I tell you not to do that? You're disturbing the local pokémon."
"Warden Melli. The Pearl Clan requires that I ignite these torches for safe passage through this cave. I don't believe you would enjoy getting lost without the privilege of sight, now would you?"
"He's got a point," Jaku commented. "Sorry I haven't responded to your letter yet. I don't have any ink."
"Oh ho ho. Are you two penpals?" Melli snickered.
"Yeah, actually. It's kind of obvious to keep in touch since we all live far away from one another." She turned back to Ingo. "Thanks for the rawst berries. Luckily, I haven't had to use them yet. Oh! And I brought you something in thanks."
"That is not necessary-"
Jaku cut him off as she pulled out a pair of gloves from her bag. "I picked these up from a Gingko Guild merchant a day or two ago. It was after I got your letter. I don't know why-" she separated the two silky white gloves- "but I get the feeling you had a pair like it before. That and you mentioned how cold it was in the Highlands that last time we talked. Nobody likes frostbite, last time I checked."
Ingo carefully took the gloves, running his calloused fingers over the material. "I- I did have a pair of gloves like them. Years ago. How much were these?"
"The cost? A warm place to sleep and food to eat. The merchant was more than happy to trade me these."
"...Thank you." Ingo croaked. He slipped on the gloves, the corners of his lips quirking up into a gentle smile. From behind him, Chandelure sang with happiness, swaying around the man as its violet flames cascaded around it.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Alright. That's enough of… that," Melli interrupted. "I've had enough of being in this cave. Warden Ingo, this one was looking for you or something of that ilk. You two have a fun time. I'm leaving."
"But it's pouring outside," Ingo warned him. "Night is already on its way."
"Why are you even here then?" Melli scowled. "Shouldn't someone of your age be resting?"
"I'm not that old," Ingo retorted. "And should you catch a cold, I'll have to take over your duties for you-"
"Fine, fine! I'll stay!" Melli grumbled.
They waited for Warden Ingo to finish lighting the torches before the man came back, his silver eyes lingering on the shiny new gloves that adorned his hands. Jaku was glad to see that her gift to him was cherished or at the very least, appreciated. It suited him. A tiny niggling voice at the bag of her mind told her that if she could just do something about the tattered hat and coat that Ingo wore, that more hidden memories would come to fruition. But that was a task best suited to a seamstress.
Her and Melli had already found an alcove in the cave that would be safe for sheltering for the night. They were situated above the rainwater that surged deeper into the cave, Melli informing her that these caves never flooded. Jaku had supplied some ingredients and fire and Melli had supplied some tinder and a cooking pot to make stew. They both looked up as Warden Ingo approached.
"Back from lighting the torches," Melli groaned, mid bite. "Great, now the wild pokémon in the cave will be having a little sleepover with us. And they can make us into breakfast tomorrow. Truly, just fantastic."
"They are nocturnal, Warden Melli," Ingo muttered. "They leave the cave during the night and come back during the day. Long after when I extinguish the torches."
Melli nearly spilled his portion of the stew. "You? You extinguish the torches? Don't make me laugh."
"I put them out before dawn. It's you who decides to extinguish them in the dead of night so that travelers and merchants get lost within. Or perhaps you've forgotten that time when we both had to pull that band of Gingko Guild merchants out of the lower wings of the cave because the trail was obscured with mud?"
Jaku quietly ate her portion of the stew, tuning out the wardens' argument as she gave a few scraps to Dusk and her newest partner, Castor, a Croagunk that had decided to tag along before she'd left the Crimson Mirelands. It kept trying to siphon out the beans.
"Miss Jaku?"
"Hmm?"
"I don't suppose I asked in the last letter but Adaman mentioned to me that you had been given a task by the Almighty?"
Jaku choked on her stew, covering her mouth as she set the bowl down. "No. You mentioned it alright, but…" Jaku didn't see a reason in telling him. The last time she'd tried, Uxie had wiped the encounter clean from Ingo's mind. Maybe it was the way she'd worded it. "I'm collecting some ancient artifacts for Almighty Sinnoh." She pulled out the strange object, watching as it glowed faintly. "I have no idea what they do or what they're for. Frankly, I don't think I'm allowed to even tell you this much."
"What do you mean?" Melli asked slowly. "I know the peasant is collecting some ancient bits of paper-"
"Old Verses," Ingo cut in.
"'Old Verses'," Melli mocked in response. He quirked up an eyebrow at the strange artifact in her hand. It was as large as her hand as a matter of fact and was such a vibrant color of teal that it couldn't be natural. "Where did you find that?"
"Under Lake Valor. I had to challenge an alpha pokémon and speak to a legendary pokémon just to get it."
Ingo sat up straighter. "Do you remember the name of this pokémon?"
"Azelf. It's name was Azelf." Jaku let Dusk and Castor finish the rest of her food. "I don't know if you remember, but I tried telling you in the past. When we ran into each other before you escorted me to the new camp by Cloudpool Ridge."
"You… you did?" Ingo muttered. "I'm sorry. I don't remember."
"I know you don't remember. I'm sorry. I can't tell you too much about it. The deities don't want me to talk about it in length. Not even to you or Akari or even Adaman. All I can tell you is that it's a fetch quest."
Ingo seemed to consider this for a second. "You have told me in the past but it has been wiped from my memory. Is that the correct phrasing?" His voice was cold, icy even, holding an air of exhaustion that fit his hunched over figure as he stared at his gloved hands. "It is cruel to not even be able to trust your own mind." His silver eyes found hers, a malicious glint within them. "Azelf, was it?"
"Who-" Jaku stopped herself. "You are asking if I know who wiped your memories?"
"Yes."
"I do," Jaku admitted, fidgeting with her jacket, "but I can't tell you that or you'll forget. It will happen again. It will become a fruitless one-sided conversation and I'm afraid that if I don't censor my words, Ux-" she cleared her throat "-the deity will do something drastic… I'm sorry."
The two did not speak to each other for the rest of the night, and when daybreak finally came and Ingo finally extinguished the torches, they set off into the light without so much as a word. The ground was wet and muddy and dew dripped from the pine needles above them.
Jaku recalled Dusk and Jester quickly took its place, linking its arm around hers as it gave her a toothy grin. She ruffled her hand through its mane, savoring the horrified look on Melli's face as Jester pulled her along into a beam of sunlight.
It was then that she saw it. She froze in her tracks and stared, a wave of sheer terror causing the hairs along her skin to stick up.
There, wavering atop Mt. Coronet in a cloak of bloody-red clouds was the Rift, a brilliant white wound slicing across the sky as though some unspeakable creature had opened the gash in the sky.. It seemed to expand for miles. But that wasn't what caught her attention. It was the tower.
It loomed like a behemoth, its smoky gray exterior stark against the gentle light of daybreak as bits and pieces of the tower floated in midair. Veins of red and teal snaked up and around the tower, ebbing and fading as though the tower was alive. The top of the structure lay hidden as it stabbed directly into the rift and disappeared within. Crackles of energy thrummed along the sides of the broad tower and she could hear noises coming from it. Ticking noises and a faint roar.
She could feel a searing heat pulse from the ancient artifact as she gripped it tightly in her hands, the ticking in her ears growing louder and louder. That was the place. She was going to die there.
A hand brought her back to. Ingo had gently gripped her shoulder, confusion clear on his face. "The Rift? It has been there for some time now. It's not dangerous, I assure you."
"Not the rift," Jaku whispered, her eyes still stuck on the looming tower. "You can't see it, can you?"
"See what?"
Jaku gritted her teeth and tore her eyes away, letting the ancient artifact dangle out of her hands. But the sight of the tower had been engraved into her memory along with the strangling apprehension and dread upon seeing it. From beside her, Jester lost its happy-go-lucky facade and blocked her view of the wretched thing, blue eyes narrowed. "I… yeah. Yeah, nevermind. My eyes must be playing tricks on me."