Author's Note: This chapter draws a lot from Pokémon Conquest. I imagine a lot of people haven't played it so you don't need to really be familiar with it. Important parts are explained in the story. Just picture a region with a bunch of small territories fighting all the time.

Warnings for this chapter: character death, memory issues, war, mentions of death, mentions of injury, suicidal ideation, depression, mental health issues

Hisui 1722 C.E.

"Remember that girl you were telling me about?" Ingo asked as he finished tying up a bag of Crunchy Salt for Volo. "The one helping that Galaxy professor catch all the Pokémon of Hisui?"

"Akari?" Volo asked even though he knew there was no one else Ingo could be talking about. The only girl other than Akari that Volo hung around these days was Cogita and Volo was fairly sure Ingo wouldn't be calling her a girl if he knew who she was. If she were mortal, Volo would feel pretty comfortable saying she was getting up there in years.

"Yes, her. Did you hear what she did with Lord Kleavor?"

Volo took the bag of Crunchy Salt from Ingo and tucked it into his bag. "I haven't. Did she try to catch it?"

Ingo shook his head. "Almighty Sinnoh tr- well, I don't know exactly what happened but I heard Almighty Sinnoh's power came down from the sky and hit Lord Kleavor."

That was alarming, especially considering Volo knew what Arceus's power looked like. "Is he alright?"

"Yes, but only thanks to Akari. She was able to free him from his frenzy. Warden Lian was very grateful. From what he tells me, she's quite the battler. I hope to challenge her when she makes her way to the Highlands."

"She was able to disperse Almighty Sinnoh's power?"

"I don't know. I heard this all second hand and you know how Lian is. You'll have to ask her yourself."

"I might just do that," Volo responded evenly and began packing his things, the questions he wanted to ask already burning his tongue. What did she know about Arceus? What was that power? Could she replicate it? Could she recognize it? Was his own curse something similar? He knew it was Arceus that granted Cogita her immortality and he was beginning to suspect the same for him. Could she free him from it? Probably not but he had to hope. "Is there anything else I can do for you, Warden Ingo?"

"Just one," Ingo responded, adjusting the brim of his hat. "Would you humor me with a battle?"

"You always want to battle," Volo snorted but he was already drawing Togekiss's Pokéball. Ingo's 'Pokémon battles' were riveting in a way Volo never knew fighting could be. As long as Ingo was around, Volo would have all the entertainment he needed.

Hisui 1723 C.E.

The details of everything that transpired in Hisui after Akari's arrival were a bit fuzzy. Volo could recall what happened. He knew Akari calmed the Nobles, he knew the sky turned red, he knew Akari was banished, and he knew he helped her until she was able to properly confront Dialga and Palkia. He just couldn't remember actually doing any of it. All he could remember was the aftermath.

Cogita was dying.

"We knew this day would come," Cogita told him from her bed. Her deathbed, Volo realized.

"I didn't," Volo said bluntly. He was being rude when he really shouldn't but he didn't know what else to do. "Immortality isn't supposed to have an expiration date."

"Well, mine does," Cogita answered good naturedly. Volo didn't know how she said that like she wasn't dying right in front of him. "My time has come, Volo. I'm ready."

Volo felt his hold weaken and he crouched down next to her. It was nothing like that first time he did all those centuries ago. "I know. You've lived a long life. I just wished you'd stay in mine a bit longer."

Cogita's expression softened. "I know you'll be lonely. Remember, you still have Spiritomb and Enamorous. And I'll become a wisp. I'll try to talk to you if I can."

Volo knew she was trying to be comforting but she wasn't. Again, Volo didn't have a clear memory of when or how she died but he did remember finding her wisp and feeding it to Spiritomb. He cried worse than a Bonsly the whole night. And then the next morning, like Ho-Oh rising from the ashes of Tin Tower, Volo was back at it with a vengeance.

There was a reason Volo's memory was so spotty during this time. He didn't know what it was but he suspected it had something to do with Arceus. He faintly recalled something involving the plates and Giratina but that was about it. Oh, and falling off a mountain. Ginter had found him, he was pretty sure, and Volo had given him all his Pokéballs– except for Spiritomb's, of course– and ran off.

"The one who will be able to conquer all seventeen kingdoms of Ransei will bring the return of the region's creator."

Volo didn't remember where he read that. Somewhere in one of Cogita's books of myths and legends, right next to the one that said Cotia would "wait an eternity for the one with the mission," no doubt. It was another lead though and his only hope after his plan with Giratina and the plates, whatever it was, failed. And Volo knew someone who would be willing to help him pull it off.

Kalos 1724 C.E.

"You're a hard man to find, you know that right?" Volo asked, sauntering over to the stone AZ was sitting on. They were back in Geosenge Town after all these years. He wondered if AZ had moved at all. Volo couldn't bring himself to check if his old Pokémon were still there. It'd been a long time but Volo, raw from grief, didn't know how he'd react.

"What brings you to Kalos?" AZ asked, rising from his seat. "Social visit? Or have you learned a way to undo the damage I've done?"

Honestly, Volo hadn't been considering that at all. Arceus was pretty powerful though so it wasn't like it wasn't a real possibility. "Maybe. I think I found a way to end our curses."

That caught AZ's attention. "What?"

"Come," Volo said, waving AZ after him. "I'll explain on the way. We're going to Ransei."

Ransei 1725-1935 C.E.

Conquering Ransei was a lot harder than Volo thought it would be. Almighty Sinnoh, even getting to Ransei was harder than he thought it'd be. He had to train a whole new team of Pokémon just for travel, and then train them even harder to keep AZ and Volo from getting crushed the moment they stepped foot into the region. It seemed everyone and their mother in Ransei had heard about this legend and was vying for control.

Volo was grateful for all the battles he had with Ingo or he'd be totally out of his depth training a team for battle. AZ used to be a king or something so he knew war strategy but he still refused to train any Pokémon other than his beloved partner. Annoying, sure, but Volo used it as an opportunity to break his usual six-Pokémon rule. It wasn't like AZ was going anywhere and an extra pair of eyes made training up eleven new Pokémon much more feasible. And what a team they were.

Gyarados helped them traverse the waters and could lay siege to a village single-handedly. Crobat and Sceptile were perfect for the battles when they needed more cunning than strength. Metagross, Hydreigon, Gigalith, and Conkeldurr were just pure power. Scolipede, Krookodile, Glalie, and Volcarona were all powerful in their own right but, more importantly, had pretty good type coverage in a region where most people didn't even know every type of Pokémon. And, of course, there was Spiritomb, leader of this small army and Volo's ever-present companion. Volo's recent fury only seemed to strengthen them.

Still, it took some time for Volo to build a team that powerful. Their first battle was won with only Spiritomb, Golbat, Krokorok, and Gyarados and Volo thought even that was giving them too much credit. It probably had more to do with the humans' immortality and AZ's willingness to throw himself at opposing soldiers without fear of getting hurt. It paid off though. They conquered their first territory and became recognized as warriors.

That was something Volo wished he'd known about Ransei when he arrived. Arceus recognized warriors trying to meet him by granting them a speck of his power.

"The creator's power!" one of Volo's defeated enemies gasped as a flash of light enveloped him and AZ. Volo looked down and swatted at himself, trying to get the light off when he felt himself changing. That was, if it even could be called changing. AZ had certainly changed. He'd gained about three feet of height and the muscle to match. Volo had gained about an inch, barely anything. It wasn't until his next battle that he realized Arceus had increased his healing capabilities. Very helpful considering it wasn't uncommon for Volo to lie wherever he'd fallen for weeks until he'd healed enough to get back up. Humans healed at a Shuckle's pace. Volo could afford it but he still hated it. Now it only took a few seconds to heal the worst of injuries.

Increased strength and advanced healing were pretty good as far as transformations went, apparently. Some other warriors caught wind of Volo and AZ and offered their support. Manpower was helpful and their insight on the abilities of the other warlords was helpful. A good number of leaders in Ransei had transformations of their own that Volo and AZ would have trouble with if they hadn't known about them. Plus, gaining support meant greater success and greater success led to more support, creating a cycle that made Volo's confidence grow and grow.

They weren't undefeated. AZ and Volo may be strong but they still fought with Pokémon and their new human allies were vulnerable in ways they were not. Their travel time was slowed by mortal needs and they had to call off attacks quite often. Volo had pretty mixed feelings about it. Men died in war, sure, but it was still hard to face. He thought he grew desensitized to it but he knew he was lying to himself. Millenia alive and he never learned his lesson. At least these soldiers weren't becoming wisps. Volo liked them but not that much. They traveled together because of a shared goal, not loyalty. Well, except AZ but he wasn't becoming a wisp anytime soon. Then again, he'd thought the same about Cogita…

Volo thought they were pretty successful. They won more than they lost and they gained quite a bit of territory. Some of their Pokémon and soldiers had to retire after a couple decades but Volo and AZ never slowed so their power was sustainable and would continue to be.

Then, the child came.

She came from a tiny kingdom in the farthest corner of Ransei called Aurora, a kingdom so tiny that it barely had a military. Or rather, it didn't before this girl came along. She was the military. Armed with nothing but an Eevee, she began a crusade and very rapidly began absorbing other kingdoms into her army.

"Aurora's warlord is nearing our border," AZ rumbled as if Volo didn't already know that. His Crobat had been bringing him messages about it all day. "I think we should move our troops to Cragspur, Avia, Viperia, and Yaksha."

"All to the edge of our territory?"

AZ nodded. "It's a risk to leave the innermost kingdoms vulnerable but it'd be a guaranteed loss if we abandoned the borders. I understand Aurora's warlord is a child so I'm hoping we'll be able to settle this without fighting but it's unlikely. If we focus our strength on those four kingdoms, we can not only defend our territory but make a push forward while Aurora's forces are weak."

There was an obvious flaw to that plan and they both knew it but Volo trusted AZ. His strategy had gotten them this war. Volo was just the battler. He went wherever AZ directed him. He was too tired to do anything else. So, they moved their troops and sent an aging Crobat to deliver a message to Aurora's warlord.

Volo didn't remember the warlord's name, or maybe he never learned it, but the moment he saw her, he thought of Akari. They didn't look the same, not in a physical sense. They appeared to be around the same age, though Volo wasn't the best at guessing that sort of thing anymore, but the warlord was so much… more. That wasn't to say Akari was lacking but the warlord had undergone a transformation, just like AZ and Volo, and it showed.

No, it was something about the way she held herself that screamed Akari. The fierce look in her eye, the determined way her jaw rested, the ease she had around her Eevee… Arceus favored her. Just like he did Akari. Volo didn't know how he knew that but he did. Just like he knew he and AZ would lose this war if they fought it. That wouldn't stop him.

"Ransei's been at war for a long time," she said when they finally met on what would soon become a battlefield.

AZ snorted. "You're telling us, child? We've been around longer than you could ever fathom."

She made a face at that but didn't refute it. "I'm here to end the war."

"So are we," Volo said easily. "We've already conquered two thirds of the region. Give up yours and it'll all be over."

"And let you two rule the whole region? Or send it into another war when you decide you can't get along anymore?"

Volo glanced at AZ. The thought of backstabbing him had never crossed his mind. He knew it'd never occurred to AZ either. Trusting the other blindly was in the nature of backstabbing, Volo knew, but human nature hardly applied to them anymore. They'd become something more, something hardened by millenia alive. All the more reason to stick together and hunt down Arceus.

"We have no interest in ruling Ransei," AZ told her, voice as tired as Volo felt. He was so, so tired. He just wanted this all to end. It would, if only this child would get out of the way. "We're only interested in the creator."

"Why?"

"We have a favor to ask of him."

AZ and Volo had never explicitly talked about why they were seeking Arceus but from the way AZ spoke, Volo knew he was thinking the same thing. Arceus was responsible for Volo's curse. Volo didn't know why he knew that but he did, just as he knew Arceus could break it. AZ's curse came from another source. Floette, likely, was meant to be the key in breaking it but Arceus was all powerful. If Floette never returned, Arceus was AZ's best hope.

"That's not very convincing," the girl responded and that was that. The war was on.

Volo's forces actually won the first battle. He'd been at this for longer and, with how the borders were drawn, it was four territories against three. The new warlord didn't let them advance though. She was clever though. She focused her remaining forces on one point, won, and Arceus granted her another stage of transformation. Volo hadn't even known that was possible but, once AZ and Volo began winning some battles, they joined her in the second stage.

AZ gained some level of invulnerability, the lucky Chansey. Volo's new power was a bit less physical but far more useful, in his opinion. Transformation was based on bonds with Pokémon and Volo's bond with Spiritomb was plenty strong. The next level of transformation reflected that. Being able to understand his Pokémon's words wasn't the most useful in battle but Volo wouldn't trade it for something that was.

Aurora's warlord's transformations were really something else though. She even got up to a third stage, though Volo couldn't figure out what power she'd gained. She only became more powerful and eventually, she was unstoppable.

Figuratively, not literally. Literally, Volo and AZ were unstoppable. Their forces were not. They forgot, or maybe they just didn't care. The young warlord decimated them but Volo and AZ were too close to losing it all to back down like they had so many times before. Looking back on these memories, Volo couldn't remember if he'd actually given in or if the warlord had forced him to. He suspected the latter. Like whatever had happened with Giratina, Volo's memories surrounding the final encounter with Ransei's conqueror were fuzzy. He thought it had something to do with Reshiram and Zekrom, definitely something with Arceus, but he couldn't say what.

"I'm giving you Dragnor back," the warlord said offhandedly one day. The fuzziness kept Volo from remembering where exactly they were and why but he remembered the rage he felt.

"What?"

"Arceus wanted someone to bring peace to Ransei. I did, and now everyone can have their land back."

AZ growled at that but Volo just felt a thousand arguments die on his tongue. She was just walking away? Why did she have to be the one to conquer Ransei? Why did she take this from him and AZ when she didn't even want it? Did she not know why they needed this? Of course she didn't. She never asked. Did she care? If they'd spoken up then, would things be different now? Volo had to believe it wouldn't or he'd start tearing his hair out from anger at himself.

AZ and Volo meant what they said when they told the warlord they didn't want to be rulers but they couldn't exactly argue with Ransei's conqueror. It wasn't the worst, Volo supposed. Volo remembered all of Ginter's lessons. He knew how to be charismatic and that was all he needed with AZ backing him up on the more logistical aspects of running a kingdom. They were just biding their time though. Eventually, the warlord left and all the other rulers grew old. Their replacements, too young to remember the time of war, grew complacent. Volo's new army wasn't nearly as powerful as his first one but he didn't need it to be. He conquered Ransei without much trouble. It was as long and hard as any war but Volo wasn't as soft-hearted as he was the first time. Winning the battle came before his troops' survival.

AZ didn't comment. Spiritomb did but they came around eventually. They knew how hard this was on him. Conquering Ransei and fulfilling the prophecy was his last hope. Except, Ransei had already been conquered and the prophecy had already been fulfilled. When AZ and Volo united the region under their hold, Arceus never came.

Volo had been angry when the previous conqueror had given him and AZ Dragnor but it was legions kinder than what he'd done. Volo abandoned the kingdoms he'd conquered the moment he knew Arceus wasn't showing up. The fallout was immense but Volo and AZ didn't stick around to see it. They returned to Dragnor, kicked everyone out, else and silently watched the world continue around them.

Ransei 1940 C.E.

"W͘e'̕v͝e b҉e͜en͝ h͘e͠re a̴ ̡l͢o͟ng t͜i͘me," Spiritomb told him and Volo tried to ignore how Cogita's voice sounded like static to his ears. He didn't know if warriors could lose the power of their transformation but something certainly had changed. Spiritomb was getting harder to understand. Volo tried not to dwell on it too much.

"Only two hundred years," Volo responded without turning to face his Pokémon. He'd lost track of how long he'd been staring at the stone ceiling of this decrepit castle but he had no intention of stopping anytime soon. "We were in Hisui for two thousand years."

"W͏e l͢e͠ft̴ a fe͏w̵ ͠time͞s̡," Spiritomb reminded and it wasn't just Cogita speaking anymore. "Wȩ need ̨to ̷c͝oll̢ec͜t́ t̕h̢e͘ w̷i̛s̀p͠s of ̡tho̕s͜e͜ ̵w̡e̢ léf͏t ̢be̷hind."

Volo felt a stab of guilt at that. Two hundred years was a bit long to ask Spiritomb to stay in one place, especially since Volo didn't know how many wisps had appeared in Hisui. "I don't know if I have the energy to travel that far."

"S̀um͝mòn Én̛am̧or̨o̕u҉s," Spiritomb told him without missing a beat. They'd already planned this all out, it seemed. Volo supposed it would be cruel to deny them.

Volo peeled himself off the ground and let out a long sigh as he finally turned his head to look at Spiritomb. "I'll go tell AZ. You go get things ready."

Spiritomb let out a happy cry and Volo tried to ignore the feelings that sparked. Spiritomb deserved better. They'd get better, Volo promised himself, when they found the new wisps. It might be nice to have a few new spirits in the collection. Ginter, Ingo, Akari… They'd made many good friends in Hisui. Yes, maybe a trip out of Ransei was what he needed.