July 9th, First Year
"Fifteen crates of medicine, two crates of preserved meat, and a few bushels of sand radishes. Sorry. It's all we can spare for the time being."
Jaku gingerly took two of the crates and strapped them to Ghost's back, making sure to seal the precious cargo within two layered tarps. The Pearl Clan had kept their word on helping by sending relief supplies and this was the second shipment that she had received that week.
"We didn't manage to find anything strong enough for your spore-infected sick," one of the Pearl Clan rangers murmured. "We're still waiting to see if our kin in the Obsidian Fieldlands have any extra supplies that they can spare."
"It's well appreciated either way. Thank you for the help."
Once the Pearl Clan Rangers disappeared behind the mountain ridge, Jaku led her trusty Luxray along as they began descending down the mountain ridge toward the Diamond Heath. It was nice and peaceful up here. Familiar too. A forgotten muscle memory let her traverse the rocky sidings and cliffs without so much as breaking a sweat. From up here, she could see the entirety of the Crimson Mirelands stretch out before her.
It was, and still is a mess, she thought. Much had happened in the two weeks since her figuring out the abilities behind her pendant. She kept the artifact wrapped in cloth now, too nervous to let the dangerous item dangle around her neck. Not after what happened with Volo and Akari.
There had been an accident, one that Jaku was still sitting on. After Volo and Akari had taken their notes on a frenzied Lady Lilligant from afar, the group had accidentally ran right into a deformed Parasect King. Akari had been paralyzed by a stray spore attack from the terrible beast and even now- to her knowledge- the poor girl was still halfway paralyzed in the Diamond Camp Settlement. She couldn't move from the neck down, but she could still breathe.
"That girl has to be either incredibly lucky or destined to decay like the others," Rez had murmured to Jaku the day after. Jaku knew better. Almighty Sinnoh wouldn't let its champion perish so easily.
After that, things had changed. Rei had taken up the mantle in charting notes on the frenzied noble. Jaku had been switched out for a different ranger for the matter of there being an escort. Adaman had made up the excuse that he simply wanted her to help with getting the trade items on the border and sent her up into the mountains to make camp. Alone. She had later caught wind that Commander Kamado of the Galaxy Team had heard of their team's blunder.
She had never felt so embarrassed or incompetent before. So she did the only thing she could've thought of; she turned the time pendant. She went back in time in an attempt to divert their course so that Akari would never be injured in the first place. She didn't account for the terrible sickness that stalked her each time as she warped several days before she was due to accompany them.
Every time she would arrive in the past, she would begin to wither. Her eyes would fail her and her lungs would weaken until she could scarcely breathe. She would trip and stumble where her footing was almost always sure and confident. Migraines would come and go and leave her a sensitive mess in her tent, always excused from her duties by Keiji.
She would never get the timing right either. She would be forced to relive days from her past over the over to the point where she knew everything that could happen to her, Volo, and Akari for the entire month of June.
Every time she tried to protect Akari, something else would happen. The first time she tried, the Parasect King mauled Akari's Glameow into such an unrecognizable mess of viscera and torn skin that Jaku had retched to the point of nearly passing out. The second and third attempts were no better. Jaku quickly recognized that no matter how many times she went back, Akari would always be the subject of fate's torment.
She didn't attempt to fix things this time. Akari was paralyzed from the neck down, but she was still alive. It didn't sit right with her. She wouldn't endure time whiplash again and again just to end back at square one each time. If Akari did get close to dying, Jaku would just travel back and figure out some other way to help her faster. Some other way that didn't involve her messing around with the flow of time.
For the time being, she'd been camping in a mountain range that separated the Coronet Highlands from the Crimson Mirelands. It was really just a big cave that had a large rock slab partially covering the entrance. If you weren't looking for it, you wouldn't even see it from afar; it was the perfect place for Jaku to be out of the way, but close enough to the travel routes to be of use to the Diamond Clan.
As the sun traced its way toward the horizon, Jaku took her time walking through the gaping canyons, listening to the rough winds whistle through the narrow channels in the rock. Thin grass rustled in the breeze. She would stop in each clearing she came to, taking the time to fill her waterskin before moving on. As the sky began to darken, she reached the lip of a ravine in the mountains where the soft grass of the mirelands turned to large boulders and gravel. Water thundered through the narrow channel below, shaded by scraggly trees that hung from the cliff edges.
Her pokémon carefully followed behind her as they descended down the side of the gorge and out into a y-shaped clearing. The waters slowed until they slapped into a still pond, bubbles gurgling to the surface as the extra river water surged over another steep drop to her far right. This was a place that sunlight had not touched in decades, possibly centuries. Stagleap Clearing.
She let her feet guide her deeper into the gorge depths until she was making her way through a craggly passage, eventually erupting into the warm light of dusk. There, hidden a few paces away in the shadow of a withering yew tree, was the entrance to her secret base.
Now, she would wait until tomorrow for the Diamond Clan rangers to pick up the rations. She began calling her pokémon forward. "Alright Ghost. Let's get this stuff off of you."
The crates were now safely tucked away against the back of the cave wall. Jaku lit a fire in the make-shift hearth and once again affixed the weather-proof tarp to the entrance of the cave. It wasn't a great door, but it was better than the first day when sudden gusts of winds kept putting out the hearth. She'd gone to bed hungry and cold that day.
There weren't a lot of pokémon that bothered her up here. Mostly just Gravelers, Luxrays, and Gligars. Lilith and Ghost kept them in check and far away from her little camp, though. There were no floods here. No sinkholes or landslides either. While there were no berries to eat, again, there were Luxrays and Luxios if she was clever enough. She made sure not to bring Ghost along on those hunts.
It was quiet up here. Lonely. Adaman still hadn't sent her any word about how the clan or the mirelands were faring or when she could come back. She was supposed to mind her own business up in the mountains until Lady Lilligant had been calmed. While it would prevent her from claiming the time gear at Lake Valor for a while, she appreciated the relative peace that being sent away gave her.
"Hello? Is anybody around here?"
Ah. Jaku scrambled off of the floor, her heart beginning to race with both fear and excitement. Somebody had shown up to her secret hideout. How did anybody know about this place? She carefully crept to the opening of the cave and peered out, glimpsing the familiar tattered old coat of a certain warden.
"Warden Ingo! Didn't think I'd see you around here."
The man turned around and once he saw her leaning against the cave wall, he nodded. "I was told I might find you here, though-" his eyes scanned the cave disapprovingly- "I don't believe this is the safest station for you to rest at."
"I'm more than aware," Jaku retorted. "It beats the sinkholes and spore-filled woods down in the mirelands, though." She kicked another rock onto the edge of the tarp to keep it in place. "What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be in the icelands?"
"I was. Due to the frenzies, my skill with wielding pokémon is being called upon more and more. It seems my tracks are constantly being delayed at the moment. I was just on my way to the mirelands, as a matter of fact. I heard from Leader Adaman that he set your home station here now, is that right?"
Jaku winced. "That's right. I live here now, though for how long, I'm not sure. You can stop and rest here for the night if you'd like. A group of Diamond Clan rangers will be coming by tomorrow to pick up these supplies that the Pearl Clan lent us. That way, you can travel with them."
"Excellent! I shall accept your gracious invitation," Ingo rumbled warmly.
The cave isn't all that bad, Jaku thought defensively as she motioned the warden in. She was still making space in the back and filling in the cracks with mud. It certainly helped that Lilith knew Dig. She needed to find something sturdier to serve as the door along with a better light source than her sticks-and-stones hearth. She was thankful that it wasn't snowing here, or she would've considered retreating back to camp.
Ingo seemed to pick up on this, a tense smile on his face and he eyed the fluttering tarp entrance. "I hope you didn't live in caves where you're from."
"I might have," Jaku alluded meekly. "It's better than nothing, I guess. Nice and quiet. No Parasects or dangerous spores or dangerous patrols."
"Ah. I remember the patrols from when I was a ranger. Trust me. They are much worse in the icelands." He carefully seated himself down next to a makeshift table that Jaku had constructed out of bound wood slats and reeds, setting down his pack by the wall. "It's not too quiet here, I presume?"
"Not at all. Unlike some people, I greatly prefer my solitude."
"I feel the same. Lady Sneasler lives in a cave atop Chamberclaw Cliffs. It's very much like this one except the floor is covered in feathers and fur. But it's surrounded by sheer cliffs. My trips up to it are… very tricky, but the peace it serves is quite nice."
"I'm surprised you haven't fallen and hurt yourself then. Can't imagine having to climb up a steep cliff just to eat dinner. Then again, you're used to it by now, huh?"
"That, I am." Ingo paused. "I just noticed. You don't have any cookware here, do you?" His tone was low but not in a way that pitied her. She could see the way his brows raised higher and higher as the man took off his hat and stowed it in his lap.
Jaku paused and pointedly looked away. Adaman still hadn't sent her the basic things that she'd asked for two weeks ago. Cookware had been second on the list to bedding. "Don't look at me like that. There's a hearth right here."
"So you eat like a barbarian."
"No, I do not-"
"I share the Highlands with Warden Melli of the Diamond Clan. I've seen him eat his food with a tree branch. Is that common in the Diamond Clan? To eat everything like an animal?"
"I don't know what you're trying to imply, warden. We are both civilized people here."
"No kettle, no cookware, no bowls- am I supposed to believe that you have a drawer of forks and spoons somewhere? Most likely hidden in this uninhabited cave? Melli would riot if he knew you set up a hearth in a cave- which species of wild pokémon live in here-"
"There's a spike right there. Right over the hearth. See it?"
"So no forks or spoons then?"
"I am ending this conversation." Jaku folded her arms, her face practically burning.
"Is that a yes or a no? I'm quite concerned. Do you burn your hands every time you have to eat?"
"Ending the conversation."
"Should I bring you some things from the Pearl Clan? Buy you some cookware from Jubilife Village? Even I had decent cookware when I was sent to live in the highlands-"
"We are moving away from this topic!"
"Of course. After all, I did not come here with the intention of making myself a bad guest."
Jaku raised an eyebrow at him. "I'll let it slide this time, warden." She got up from the table and began preparing a bowl of stew she had made the other night. "Got any news? Not much reaches me here in the mountains."
"I do not have any good news," Ingo replied after a minute. "Lady Lilligant is still frenzied. I have been unable to find a way to Brava Arena without risking breathing in the spores the Lady produces."
"I have something that might help. Hold on." Jaku carefully took hold of the soft gray fabric as she slid it into Ingo's calloused hands. "I don't exactly know what it is, but it kept me safe. It's some kind of cloak that negates effects from pokémon abilities." Jaku carefully chose her words as she proceeded. "I don't know how I came to have it, but it served me well when I went to calm Lord Wyrdeer."
Ingo let out a long, deep hum as he studied the item. He pinched sections of the strange cloak between his fingers, a strange smile flitting across his face as he folded the cloak. "I think I remember this item. I've seen this cloak before. Thank you for lending it to me."
"Don't worry about it. I certainly won't be needing it."
"I'm not too sure about that. I have heard the news of young Akari departing from her tracks due to a Parasect if I'm not mistaken?"
"You're not mistaken. It was a Parasect. A nasty one, too. As far as I'm aware, it's going to be a long while before we can secure the ingredients to cure her." Jaku handed a bowl of stew to Warden Ingo before settling on her chore of moving boxes. Anything to keep her from having to look the man in the eye. He couldn't know that Akari's paralysis would always be her failure.
"Then perhaps, sharing some news with you might suffice."
"Hmm?"
He beckoned her to sit and despite her strong desire not to, Jaku eventually caved in and sat back down. Once she was seated, the older man reached into his pack and pulled out a mud-stained wooden box along with what looked to be a pearl the size of a Geodude. Ingo reached out with his hands and carefully held the orb, his eyes lighting with something that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand straight up.
"You… found some cool items?" Jaku guessed pathetically.
Ingo gave her a quizzical look. "… Not quite. These are items central to me. I might guess that you would have some items like it as well?"
He knows about the time gears? Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Jaku fought to keep her expression neutral as she put her hands in her lap. If he knew about the time gears, then he would know about what Jaku was doing with them. What she had done with them. Now would be an excellent time to fidget with that damned pendant so that she never had to have this conversation!
"Eh, possibly," she lied." I don't know. I haven't had much time to do anything besides support my clan. That and take long strolls in the mountain. Besides, what are those things?"
"This-" Ingo held up the wooden box- "is an Old Verse. The orb that I'm holding is known as a Lustrous Orb. Would you- would you mind humoring a few questions from me?"
Jaku blinked. "Uh, sure. What did you want to ask?"
"Back when I asked you about that Zor- that man- that had shown up. The one that looked just like me. Have you seen them recently?"
"Uh…no. The last I saw of Emmet was when I sent him off to the Coronet Highlands shortly before that freak storm." Jaku still felt a smidge guilty at not using her newly-found powers to reunite Emmet with Ingo. She felt even more guilty when Ingo's gaze sharpened.
"Of course. Right. I wished to ask more about him. If I may confide with you…?"
"Go right ahead. Any secret of yours is safe with me."
"It is not a secret, but possibly a misgiving of mine. In your time here in Hisui, have you had the misfortune of encountering a Zoroark?" Ingo asked. His voice had dipped to become low and acidic on the name of the pokémon, so low that Jaku nearly had trouble hearing him correctly.
"A Zoroark, huh? Sounds familiar, but no. Why? Should I be concerned?"
"I fear this 'Emmet' that you've been speaking to is a Zoroark that is using my visage to trick people. They are-" Ingo paused, his eyes hardening. He nearly took his hands off of the Lustrous Orb before stopping himself, shutting his eyes as he continued. "Zoroarks are known to prey on people by deceiving them with illusions. They do this for fun, as I have come to know."
"Oh." Jaku went silent. "I don't- I don't think he's a Zoroark, if that's what you're getting at. He hasn't tried to attack me and his pokémon seem to trust him."
"He has pokémon?" Ingo breathed.
"…Yes? Last time I checked, he caught a huge Combee back in the mirelands. He should be traveling with a pokémon called Celebi. Said it's a time-pokémon and that it brought him here so that he could find you."
If Ingo's visceral response to her words was anything to go off of, she backed away slightly, taking his empty dish to wash later. "I don't suppose you've seen him recently?" she asked.
"…No. No, I- I haven't seen it."
"…Was there anything else you needed to ask me?"
Ingo sighed. "Regarding Zoroarks, no. I was going to share a more pertinent kind of news in the form of these objects. We are both Fallers, so this should come as no surprise that just now, as events form to conspire against us, our possible way home should emerge."
"A… a way home?" She let her eyes trail on the two objects Ingo had.
And then Ingo told her things that she wished she would've never heard. The items before him, the Lustrous Orb and the Old Verse were artifacts commanded upon him by a god to retrieve. He had been told, with crystal clear clarity, that if he were to succeed in retrieving his artifacts, that he would be allowed to return back to wherever he came from.
After the hearth had gone out and Ingo was fast asleep in his sleeping bag, Jaku carefully crept out of her cave and found her way back to Stagleap Clearing, her hands shaking as she held the dialed time gear between her fingers.
So that made all of them, then. The conversation that Jaku had held with Ingo all that time ago rang in her head. Ingo had realized his potential as the champion of space. Akari was already the champion of Almighty Sinnoh from what Jaku knew. And her? Of course, she'd be the champion of time.
But she didn't relish this power. She swallowed, noting with increasing discomfort the way the eroded edges of the time gear seemed to burn into the flesh of her hands. Time. She'd be manipulating time. She'd already had a taste of it and loathed it.
She hated the way it made her feel. She hated the way it ladled more responsibilities onto her. She hated the fact that she couldn't tell anybody about her activities. She had tried to tell Talaos, but Uxie had wiped their memories. She had tried with Ingo in the past, but it seemed like nothing worked.
The more she used her ability to go back in time, the faster she realized that the people she talked to were not the real versions of her acquaintances or friends. They were imperfect. From different timelines where things either went wrong or right. She had realized too late that the first jump she had made had permanently separated her from her original timeline.
The original Ingo and Akari from her timeline no longer existed. Her pokémon that she had caught were really no longer hers in a sense. Everybody she interacted with only saw the version of her she chose to let them see. The next time she slipped up and something bad happened? They would cease to exist because she would have to jump to another point in time where she could prevent said thing from happening.
Jaku's feet moved faster, her movements uncoordinated as she rounded the bend in a cliff. Am I original? Or am I a copy of myself? Am I doomed to repeat myself in every timeline? Is there a version of me that I've already erased? She paced closer to her destination, her eyes watering.
She would have to collect more of these terrible things. How many more timelines would she go on to destroy? How many more times would she make decisions along the lines of letting people she knew suffer until she had no choice but to use the time pendant? And do I even have a choice in the matter?
Here, where she knew nobody would hear or see her, she trembled, letting her head fall into her arms as she chuckled a slow, hollow laugh. Warm tears slid down the sides of her face and she sobbed.
Ingo had been promised a return home. So too had Akari. And her? No such comfort existed in her future.
Unknown Month, Unknown Year
"Burr? Are you in here?"
The papers that she'd been holding onto slipped from her lap and fluttered onto the hard tile floor. "Here," she mumbled groggily. She rubbed at her eyes, making a hasty attempt to find her glasses. Peanut was nowhere to be found, certainly not lounging across her feet like he was prone to do. She thought it strange and didn't dwell on the feeling any longer than need be.
Burr stood, gathered up all the papers of her research on restoration items, and made her way into the next room, slipping on her smudged lab coat just as she reached the front counter.
"Syl!" Almost immediately, Peanut reappeared… with a gaggle of people in tow. Only Linus made his way over to her.
Burr huffed and hefted her partner into her arms, letting out a little chuckle as they looped their ribbon feelers around her shoulders and face, ticking the back of her neck. They purred and settled heavily against her chest. Classic Peanut.
"There you are!" Linus made his way to the front, his trademark comical grin plastered onto his face and his hair sticking up at multiple odd angles. Even at the age of twenty, he still held onto his laughable naïve front parallel to a rookie trainer who had just gotten their first pokémon. Ironically, Linus still had not received one of his own.
He leaned against the counter and began to talk, tapping his fingers chaotically against the counter. "I saw your Sylveon and wondered where you were since you two are joined at the hip or something. Were you asleep in the back?"
"Absolutely not," Burr lied, smoothing out the wrinkles in her scrub shirt. She set Peanut back onto the floor where he then proceeded to scamper off into the facility. When Burr looked back up, Linus was only two inches away from her face.
"Anyways, you'll never guess who's in town today!"
She shrugged. "Dunno. Who? One of the old gym leaders?"
"No, guess again!"
"I don't know. One of the city officials? A close family member?"
"No, no. Keep guessing."
"I don't want to keep guessing. Just tell me," Burr grumbled, starting to get a bit irritated.
"You have to guess."
Burr shook her head and with a sarcastic edge to her voice, she replied- "Professor Saguaro? Are you sure there's not a blue moon scheduled for tonight? That's the last person I'd guess who'd actually show up to their place of work."
As expected, the tall and lanky boy flinched. Hard. He recoiled as though she had hit him, and she knew it would. To Linus, the boy tended to hold people up on pedestals and ignore their faults if it didn't affect him. Once again, he retreated to that soft spot he held for his uncle.
"No, but uh- uncle is- he's- Professor is uh- he's busy." Linus began fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
Burr raised her eyebrows at his unsure response and began sorting out her papers, bringing out the tray of schedules and research and various sticky notes that yesterday's team had left. "Then tell me who. I don't have any other guesses."
"It's Cameron."
