August 10th, First Year
"Well, we can't just waltz into Brava Arena; the lady will kill us."
"It's the most straightforward strategy," Ingo argued. "Should we approach from these tracks here-" he pointed at a narrow impasse between two steep mountain cliffs to the north of their encampment, "- we will be able to take Lady Lilligant by surprise. I will be the conductor of this effort- right at the head, so to speak."
"What is it with you and deliberately putting yourself in danger?" Melli moved Ingo's hands away from the carved wooden crown piece on the paper map, instead sliding it back toward two other wooden pieces in the back. "Let me help," he begged quietly. Mournfully. Ingo wasn't too much of a fool not to notice the way Melli's voice had softened upon his last words- as if the man were afraid that they were being listened in on. "Skuntank and I- we've been making an effort in growing stronger. I've even called upon my other pokémon for this. I want to help. I want to be of assisstance."
"I thought you didn't want to get involved?" Ingo turned to face the other man, watching as his fellow warden refused to meet his gaze.
Melli scoffed, pushing a stray lock of hair out of his face as he carefully went back to considering the mud-stained parchment board before them. "As if I would let you take all of the glory," he sniffed. "Now look here. This impasse- the one you're so dedicated on entering through- it's prone to landslides. If one gets triggered by another storm-" Melli dramatically squashed the piece under his palm along with the two remaining pieces, "-that's the end of your little brigade. Instead, try approaching from the grotto up in the hills." Melli moved his piece back to a small dip in the terrain south of where Brava Arena was marked. "There, we have the upper ground and can attack from above."
"I would have to disagree with you, Melli. Some tracks, no matter how dangerous, must be cleared for an optimal chance at victory. Having the higher ground doesn't guarantee a sure victory in the same way headlights do not see all interruptions on a track. Lady Lilligant's spores, when coupled with the chance of aggravating her and placing ourselves near her frenzy, would prove deadly. We must take all precautions to stay as far away from our passenger as possible."
"And you don't think attacking from up high would serve that purpose? We have archers, Ingo. It's not just the pokémon wielders that will be present in this fight."
"This isn't the highlands, Melli," Ingo rumbled. "Lady Lilligant is a fighting-type. They make short work of cliffs, especially those that aren't vertical in stature. What then if the noble leaps up to our position? We could easily be derailed. Lady Lilligant has been containing herself in her arena only due to sheer luck. We can't risk luring her out to wreak havoc on the new camp by Cloudpool Ridge. The clan has already been forced out of their home station by the lake. Risking that status could mean potentially destroying access to medicine and trading routes."
The two wardens sighed, frustrated, as they removed the wooden pieces from the board once more and set them back at the edge. Planning for the upcoming quelling of Lady Lilligant was getting them nowhere. Ingo would propose one method and Melli would immediately shoot it down all on the lines of safety to himself. Ingo could care less as to whether his own life was at jeopardy; he was looking at the big picture- protecting the people. The two wardens braced themselves as a humid wind entered the tent.
"What's the status?" Leader Adaman demanded. The younger man carefully sat himself between the two of them, his eyes narrowing at the position of the pieces. He removed the thick cloth around his face and nose, wiping sweat from his brow as his dark eyes swept along the board. "Nothing yet?"
"Adaman," Melli started, his voice coarse with irritation and desperation. "We've been plotting and planning for hours now. We have an idea, but we can't make up our mind what the best advancing layout should be. We keep butting heads. What do you think is better? My plan or the old man's?"
Adaman blinked coldly at his subordinate, one hand paused over a poor carved horse. "A little more respect for your fellow warden, Warden Melli."
Ingo waved him off, a faint smile on his face at his friend's antics. "Warden Melli and I share quite a few things in the highlands. It's only a teasing gesture, Clan Leader Adaman. Do not look too much into the matter. May I show you the first strategy that we came up with?"
"Please."
Ingo adjusted the pieces, going back and forth will Melli to explain each method and what the results and risks may or may not be. He found his fingers twitching involuntarily, irritation flaring at the reality that neither of their strategies were without fault in the end. Somebody would get hurt on his watch and to Ingo, that fact alone was both insufferable and something he wouldn't take lightly.
After a moment, Adaman moved his hand to take the pieces. "…If I may?"
"The board is yours," Melli grunted.
Adaman took a few of the carved pieces and moved them to the steep cliffs where Ingo's strategy took place. He then moved another handful to the gorge where Warden Melli's plan took place. To both of the wardens' surprise, Adaman began to delicately place each and every piece in a triangular formation, placing one sole piece up close to where Lady Lilligant's position was marked with an ink splatter. "I have another strategy; one that incorporates both of your ideas." Adaman pointed to the first group near the cliff where a large carved Ursaring figure reared up onto its feet. "Here's Warden Ingo's position. Warden Ingo, you carry the most pokémon with you so I am going to put you in a position so that you can exercise power over our opponent. As such, you need to be able to get a jump on Lady Lilligant and most importantly, you need to strike fast and hard. I can pair you with Akari and Young Rei as support seeing as how the Galaxy Team seems to raise the strongest pokémon wielders in the region. Does that sound fair?"
Ingo blinked. "It is reasonable," he hummed. "Miss Akari, Young Rei, and I will serve as the main antagonizing force. Of course, any available ranger that you can put under my guidance will be a great help. We will couple near the cliffs and- I'm assuming- wait for your command or for…?"
"Another force," Melli finished, his eyes lighting up as he began to understand the details.
"Right." Adaman gestured at the second group of pieces, the ones near the gorge. At the head of that group was a carved figure of a Gyarados. "Melli, your group will focus on whittling down Lady Lilligant's health. You must attack from afar and if need be, flee. Your group will be closest to the camp. If you become targeted by Lady Lilligant, you'll regroup with my own group. On no account should you attempt to flee south or regroup with Ingo. I'll lend you a few rangers that have partnered with pokémon of their own. Please, please, please focus on using long-ranged attacks. The goal is for your group to move back-and-forth on the cliff while indirectly antagonizing the noble. If all goes well, Lady Lilligant will be too busy with group number three to focus on you."
Melli blinked. "I thought… you want me to stay on the sidelines?"
"Correct. You must lead the second group. You are a warden; thus you hold the most respect and authority. You've coordinated dangerous trips through the highlands; I'm counting on you to conduct my rangers through the hills and demonstrate the same drive, command, and attention-to-detail that you've exemplified in the past. I've also requested that Warden Arezu begin assembling balms to pacify her noble. It helped with Lord Kleavor. I've no doubt that it'll work this time around, too. All you need to do is coordinate your strikes so that you don't hit Ingo's group nor my own."
Ingo started forward. "You're joining in as well?"
"Of course I am. Lady Lilligant is taken care of by the Diamond Clan. It should be our responsibility to tag in and assist. If I don't, I might as well resign as Clan Leader. Granted, my group won't be of as much help as yours, Warden Ingo, but we'll do our part in making this attack as quick and painless as possible."
"So, what will your group be focused on?"
"It's simple." Adaman took the pieces of his group and shoved them up close to Lady Lilligant where a figure of a Stantler charged. "My group is the charging group. I'll take some of my men, some tipped spears, and pokémon alike, and we'll directly get Lady Lilligant's attention. My aim is to keep her around Lake Valor to minimize any potential damage that could come if she rampages further."
"No," Ingo was quick to argue. "Not only is that focus foolhardy, but it would ensure that your team would either be mangled or even worse, killed."
"I have to agree with Ingo," Melli backed him up. "You need some kind of defense before you decide to get flattened under Lady Lilligant. Spears and powerless humans won't stand a chance."
Adaman grinned. "I have a defense." At his words, a tiny creature stirred in his lap, poking its head over the table to marvel at the two men. "I have Leafeon."
Ingo withered. "…Elaborate."
"Gladly." Adaman procured a leaf blown in from the storm and laid it beside his own piece. "You want me to generate a defense to guard my team? Gladly." He then ripped apart a piece of paper and showered them around and over Lilligant's piece. "The plan is, we engage, encircle, and restrain Lady Lilligant. Leafeon will strike at a distance and ensnare the lady while a few of my men will focus on attacking from the front. We'll act like pesky gnats; we'll dive in when we can and fall back when we must. Melli- your group will do the most brunt damage while staying out of the fight. That'll allow Warden Ingo to show up with his team and counter the noble with a dangerous blow. One so powerful and swift that it'll stagger Lady Lilligant." Adaman took all of the pieces and moved them right up close to Lilligant's marker. "What's one noble pokémon against thirty men with a pokémon apiece? If we can stagger Lady Lilligant and then attack at once, we stand a good chance at winning this fight."
Ingo began to shiver with excitement. "If your groups can incorporate status afflictions into the mix- perhaps make a team of flying or psychic-types- perhaps bring ice-types into the mix," Ingo nodded enthusiastically. "Bravo, Leader Adaman! Super bravo! It's not the safest method, but it's certainly promising! Well done!"
Melli gawked. "Really? Just like that? One additional group from Adaman and you're praising him left and right? Unbelievable," the man grumbled. "I better have at least ten different people on my group before I do anything as absurd as put myself in harm's way."
"I'll see to it," Adaman promised. "I plan on asking the Galaxy Team for assistance. They have capable pokémon wielders in their ranks. If I can manage to rope in a few strong wielders, then we'll have a key position and then we can finally make the mirelands a safe place to live in again."
"That would be nice," Melli agreed. "All of my clothes are practically soaked through from this neverending rain."
"Then it's agreed?" Ingo began. "You will send for the Galaxy Team, Leader Adaman?"
"I intend to, yes. I'll need to correspond with Clan Leader Irida and Commander Kamado. Perhaps the former will even be able to lend some rangers of her own. Once I get word from them- if they agree- then we'll start immediately."
Ingo stood from his position. "Then allow for me to hasten the path. Alakazam, I require your assistance." In a flash, Ingo's Alakazam floated leisurely beside him, extending its clawed hand as if having overhead their entire discussion. Adaman quickly wrote up two letters and with another flash, Alakazam disappeared. "And now, we wait."
Ingo exited the safety of the tent, unsurprised to see Akari waiting for him. The girl fiddled with the cloth wrapped around her nose and mouth, just like the kinds that everyone else was wearing. It was a means to protect from the floating spores; a precaution that Melli had come up with after Akari had fallen ill.
Without a word, the two left the warmth of Adaman's tent toward the tall imposing wooden fence of the camp. The girl had enlisted his help days ago in preparing her team for the upcoming fight. He had to say, Akari and her team were making good progress. Not only had the girl regained a little more confidence in the way she commanded her team; she had developed her partners so well that she had managed to defeat Gliscor, a pokémon that had virtually no existing weaknesses to those on her party. Granted, Ingo had six pokémon on his team and Akari had had to use all three of hers to combat Gliscor alone.
"What are we going to practice today?" Akari hummed, her dark gaze fixed on the spore-covered trees.
"I think we'll continue working on your double-battle strategy." He led her around a few tents, making room as they squeezed under a canopy that would lead to the outside world. He paused. Somewhere, under the sound of drumming rain was the unsettling sound of buzzing wings.
Ingo pushed Akari behind him, one hand locking on Gliscor's pokéball. A frenzied pokémon? A bug-type, that much he knew. What bug-types made their nests in the mirelands? He ambled farther, noticing Akari copying his movements as the young girl released her Glameow for protection.
The buzzing picked up and changed in pitch. Its owner, something large and wide, emerged from the willow trees. With unblinking red eyes, the pokémon floated closer, mandibles clicking, wings humming, before it touched down paces in front of him. It leaned down and with one free arm, gestured at something caught in its mouth. A paper.
"For me?" Ingo rapsed. His answer came in the form of the pokémon leaning toward him, one clawed hand extending the paper for Ingo to read. Who had partnered with a Vespiquen? An alpha Vespiquen. A surprisingly tame one, at that. Ingo took and unfurled the letter, beginning to read its contents:
Ingo, this is Emmet. Can you please rendezvous with me in Jubilife Village? I've found out a few things that are best discussed in person. There's other stuff too that you might want to hear so I'm routing Milk to you with this letter (Milk is the Vespiquen most likely in front of you). I hope it reaches you. If it does, please send Milk back with another letter so I know whether to expect you or not… I hope you come. Things have been… unpleasant on my tracks. I'm aware that you still believe that I'm some kind of Zoroark; I'm not. Chandelure can vouch for me like she did last time.
Ingo stared at the letter for a few minutes. Hadn't Emmet gone missing almost a week or two ago? He… he hadn't really been too caring with him, had he? How had he gotten all the way to Jubilife? Why was he even in Jubilife? Wouldn't they have mistaken Emmet for himself? Ingo clicked his tongue, scrounging in his jacket pocket for a piece of charcoal. Under the cover of Vespiquen's wide wings, he scribbled a hasty "en route" and handed it back to the large bug-type.
"What's going on?" Akari asked, confused.
"It seems I'm being requested in Jubilife Village."
"Right now?"
"Yes."
Akari shrugged, recalling her Glameow. "Well, it'll give us a chance to stock up on items and maybe even ask Captain Zisu for some secret move lessons." After a moment, she asked, "Who sent the letter?"
"…My brother."
August 12th, First Year
The road to Jubilife was loud, bumpy, and teeming with merchants. Ingo didn't bat an eye when Akari left his side to mingle with Volo, the Ginkgo Guild merchant that she had quickly made friends with. When the young girl told him that she would catch up later, he had nodded and continued on his tracks toward the center of the village
He did pause when he noticed a pink and yellow shape ambling near the wooden bridge to the village entrance. The creature had no legs, arms, or tail to speak of. Its long neck arched to stare at the wide village gates, letting out a distressed croon before huddling back as if afraid to enter. In a quick motion, it plucked something from its body- a feather- and left it atop the bridge railing before taking off into the sky.
Ingo paused. He turned to the nearest merchant, about to open his mouth and ask whether they recognized the pokémon before he stopped. There was nobody else on the bridge with him. He closed his mouth. With the softest steps he could manage, Ingo wandered closer to the feather to inspect it. It glittered pink and yellow, shiny like polished metal in his hand. He pocketed the feather; odd but with the uncertain times they were in, Ingo supposed that such a thing like an interesting feather would go unnoticed. He would make a note for Young Rei to investigate the pokémon further whenever he had the chance.
Jubilife City was just as it had always been. Busy. Teeming with people. Young children ran about the dirt streets, laughing as they attempted to poke one another with long sticks. Men and women alike wandered from building to building, either leaning inwards for private conversations or talking loudly about their daily troubles. Ingo navigated around another departing wagon full of trading goods only stopped by the quiet murmur of his name behind a large shady tree.
"Ingo."
The warden turned. "…Emmet?"
The man in question poked his head out from behind a massive twisting willow tree, a big grin on his face. "I am Emmet. I'm happy you came."
Emmet's appearance was… different then the last time the two had been close to one another. Emmet's hair had recently been cut, a faint trace of stubble around his jaw and neck. His old clothes- the buttoned shirt and stiff pants- had been traded out for a silver and white-trimmed haori and hakama much like Ingo's own. The man had even copied Ingo's jika-tabi boots. Apart from Ingo's cropping beard, their differences in clothing color, and Emmet's perpetual grin, they could certainly pass as twins.
Ingo's fingers twitched at the notion. "You look… better. What happened to your old clothes?"
"Swapped out," Emmet replied quickly. "Too dirty. Didn't fit right."
"Uh huh."
"Where is Chandelure?" Emmet asked.
"She is within her pokéball."
"Verrry good," Emmet hummed. After a moment, he squinted at something to his right. "We should talk somewhere more private. I have many things to tell you."
Ingo rolled his eyes. "Lead the way."
Emmet didn't make any attempt to grab his hand or steer him around like a derailed caboose, something Ingo found himself wishing for. Instead, his twin stayed in front of him the whole time, barely talking until the two had cut through the swathe of village stalls toward the Galaxy Team Headquarters. To Ingo's surprise, the two guards out front gave Emmet a polite wave before ushering the two of them in. Once inside, Emmet took him to a secluded room on the right wing of the building; a wing that was to Ingo's knowledge unused.
"Take a seat," Emmet hummed once he was inside. His twin was quick to close the door, pulling the curtains open before taking a seat directly opposite Ingo in the big room they were in. Once Emmet was settled, the man crossed his ankles and took a deep breath. "We have a lot to talk about now that we're alone together."
"We were alone back when I first found you."
"And you thought I was a Zoroark. You were going to kill me," Emmet replied tersely. He took a long drink of whatever was in his mug. "I am not a Zoroark. I am your brother-" Emmet reinforced, setting down his mug "-and I came here looking for you so that I could bring you home."
Ingo fixed the man across from with with a wary stare. "I'll never stop believing that you are one," he murmured. Even then, looking at that grin, it was too easy to remember the first time he had been tricked. Being cold out in the icelands. Foolishly falling asleep. Dreaming of home and of a man that looked almost identical to him.
"I am Emmet," his twin restated. "Let my actions be my words, then. If I ever attack you, then you can kill me." Emmet sipped his beverage. "I was also attacked by something that looked like you. I don't think you're a Zoroark."
"Ah, but the local populations don't hunt you for sport."
Emmet frowned at that. "Correct. They don't. I also don't believe that the actions of one pokémon dictate that all pokémon of that species are the same. That would be incorrect, wouldn't it?"
"Emmet."
"Ingo."
Ingo pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers, sighing as he briefly removed his hat. "How did you do it?"
Emmet's flat gaze moved to the heavy door of the room. "Celebi," was what he muttered. "I had to travel all the way to Johto to find Celebi. A legendary pokémon that can travel through time. It was not easy."
"How did you know my whereabouts?"
Emmet's smile grew tighter, his eyes narrowed with discomfort. "You won't like that answer. Nope. I'm not sure if I can tell you that piece-"
"Emmet-"
"I'm not being malicious, Ingo-"
"Emmet-"
"It's against my will, brother."
"Against your will?" Ingo questioned. He took a sip from his own mug- green tea, surprisingly- and tented his hands in front of his face. "What is? Telling me the truth?"
"…Yes. Before you get angry-"
"-Which I already am-"
"-I've taken some… precautions." Emmet moved around the desk and pulled out a stack of papers that were inked to every corner with scrawls and complex diagrams. "In a book. I saw you in a book. One you shouldn't have been in. I've learned. Been thinking, really. A way to get information to you that will stick. I'm pretty sure I've figured it out. Here."
Ingo carefully took the papers Emmet extended to him. There were words. So many words. Not bulletins but precise, neat paragraphs about… a train. The picture next to it was neat. Clean. It had even been shaded, too. The papers went on and on about a specific model of an underground train that could reach blistering speeds while still being able to remain steady to any riding passenger.
Some paragraphs had accompanying pictures. One was of a 'subway car' pulling up beside a platform lined with people. Another was of a diagram displaying the web-like structure of where the subway car could travel. Another still was of a circular building named 'Gear Station'. One subway route had been highlighted and a string of numbers and letters had been bolded.
"CS-ALE077K032. LTS – 15:45." As he spoke the strings of letters and numbers, his head began to ache.
"You know what it means," Emmet encouraged him.
"CS- code silver. Missing person," Ingo found himself stating.
"Correct. Keep going."
"AL. A-Line. Coordinates E and K, due south on the transit grid by seventy-seven points, and west by thirty-two points. LTS – last time seen- a quarter to four in the evening." The ache behind at the base of his head worsened to the point where Ingo was hiding his face in his hands. Emmet's own hands, warm and gentle, settled around his shoulders as if holding him steady.
The subway tracks. The darkness. The oppressive heat and steady shudder of wheels on tracks. The rumbling of the subway car around him. The intercom. The tangle of depot agents parting around him like a sea, Emmet at his side. The two of them, facing one another.
"I'll take a look into it," Ingo had declared, adjusting his hat- his tidy hat- Chandelure chiming in as the two of them stepped onto the deactivated line.
"Be safe!" Emmet had waved at him. "Tell me if you find anything!"
The darkness. The oppressive heat and nonexistent breeze through the tunnels. The glow of soft blue lights in the darkness marking the emergency exits and ladders. Ingo walking and Chandelure only a pace or two behind him. The click of his shoes against the concrete floor.
Light. Cracks of light. A web of terrifying light all around him. The warped tracks. The warped concrete subway tunnel walls. The feeling of eyes on him. Chandelure's metal arm snagging on his coat, yanking him backwards. The sensation of being weightless and ice-cold. Silence.
Ingo was brought back by Emmet enveloping him in a gentle hug, the tall brim of his jacket collar keeping him in the dark as turbulent thoughts raced through his mind.
The fall. The empty void. The burning of his limbs. Of his face. Of his mind. The beady eyes of something unfathomable watching him. Reaching to him. Touching him. And then, silence. And then, the snow and frost and treacherous cold.
Tears slid down Ingo's cheeks, dripping into the fabric of Emmet's shirt as he let himself be hugged. He remembered. After all those months pondering about his arrival to Hisui, finally, he remembered, and it was all because of a string of numbers and letters. "…Emmet?" he croaked, his voice hoarse.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
Emmet's hug was tighter. Warmer. Unyielding but gentle, nonetheless. Ingo hadn't realized how much he had missed and how much his own mind had misconstrued in the absence of memory.
"How?" He pulled himself free, ignoring the strange fearful prick in his arms and legs being this close to his twin. "How did you- I thought it wasn't possible-"
"They can't regulate what's not obvious," Emmet laughed. "I had help. From an unlikely source." Emmet's eyes went to the walls of the building. "How much do you remember?"
"Just the fall."
Emmet nodded. "I can think bigger. Better. It will take time, though. Try it yourself. See what you remember," he asked, handing Ingo a quill. "Label the diagram. The one with the branching lines."
Hands shaking, Ingo began to scribble on the paper in the same letters and numbers that Emmet had, but this time, his were more narrowed. Precise. Some even had symbols within them that he couldn't recognize but felt right to his hands.
Emmet's gaze swept over the paper. "Well done. Verrry good job, brother. You remembered all the subway lines. Yup. You even managed to label Gear Station correctly."
"All of these things are from my past?"
"Our past," Emmet corrected him, still having not let go of him. "Keep these with you. You won't forget them. Don't lose them."
"I won't," Ingo vowed. After a moment, he reclined back against his seat, Emmet making space so that only their shoulders and knees were touching. "How did you get to Jubilife? What happened two weeks ago back in the mirelands?"
"Kidnapped," Emmet mumbled. "I was fine. Taken care of. Now I'm here."
"Kidnapped by a pokémon?"
Emmet grimaced before snatching up a piece of paper, writing in a way so that Ingo could read over his shoulder.
"If false… detain information? Emmet, are you writing strings of code?"
"Yup."
"Oh." Despite how silly it was, writing coding on literal pieces of paper, Ingo found himself understanding a lot of what the code was meant to do. It was a sequence of additive commands, the first check checking to see whether a value 'captorPresent' was true or false. In the codes Emmet presented, it was always set to 'true'. Once 'captorPresent' was checked as being 'true', it would toggle a series of additional commands. A handful of them made him a bit nauseous like 'loosenRope', 'callforHelp', and most worryingly 'feignSleep'.
On another piece of paper, Ingo started his own code. Emmet began to set the values. In a few short minutes, the two brothers had essentially created a working secret script that didn't require physical speech at all, something that would certainly trigger a certain deity to rear its head.
Ingo had asked as to whether Emmet's captor was still somewhere looking for him; Emmet had set that value first to false and then to true. Ingo had asked for a value of how dangerous his captor was; Emmet had given him two values. The first was nine, the second was one; Emmet pointed to each, one after the other. The captor used to be incredibly dangerous but now they weren't. Ingo frowned and wrote a new variable: 'captorLocation'. Emmet hesitated to write the answer as coordinates. After pausing, he put down his quill, rose from his seat, and beckoned Ingo to follow after him.
Emmet's lead was slow. Quiet. Tentative, almost as if he didn't want to show Ingo who his captor was. Ingo was furious. Angry at how swift they were at capturing his brother. His brother that had been attempting to help him get his memories back the whole time. He felt his hands instinctively move to his belt, tempted to have them instead land at the saber on his hip. He cooled that intrusive thought immediately; violence would be a great derailment of his own character.
They circled back to the main hall, ducking into the medical wing which was mostly still and empty apart from a few moving curtains and boxes of packaged herbs. Near the back of the room in the darkest corner was a cot. Ingo approached closer, his hands balled into fists.
The person in the bed was hooked up to numerous contraptions, things he knew to resemble modern IVs, but these were crude. Badly made. Not quite suitable for medical use. They were swaddled with bandages, some red with blood, others fresh as though a nurse had only just come to change them out. The person, whoever they were, was thoroughly unconscious. But to his surprise, some of the thicker bandages had scrawls of writing on them; words of encouragement.
Something sniffled. An oblong pokémon with large beady red eyes lay across the lap of the injured person, sniffling as it stared at the two brothers. Violet flames ebbed from its back as it curled protectively across its injured trainer. It looked to Emmet in surprise, waving one stubby paw as if saying 'hello'.
"A Quilava?" Ingo turned to Emmet. "Emmet, this was your captor?"
"Yes and no," Emmet replied. He shook his head and made to usher Ingo out. "They're not a threat right now. Leave them be." The worried undertone in his brother's voice left little room for Ingo to argue as the two men stepped away from the door only to run into Captain Zisu.
"Hey, hey hey! It's Warden Ingo and… also Warden Ingo?" The much taller captain bent down, looking only at Emmet. "Wait a minute. Ingo rarely smiles." The woman then blanched and backed away. "Oh, I forgot! You're Emmet. Sorry about that."
"No offense taken," Emmet replied cheerfully.
"How are you two acquaintances if you don't mind my asking?" Ingo asked dubiously.
Zisu smiled. "Rei vouched for him a few days back when he and Yuki ran into him with a large group of Diamond Clan members. We thought he was you! Gave us quite a fright. Apparently he's your twin!"
"That would be correct," Ingo hummed. That explained it.
"Anyway, long time no see!" Before Ingo could back away, Zisu pulled him into a hug, playfully tugging at his hat before letting him go. "I was just about to come looking for you. Commander Kamado is still leering over Adaman's letter; don't worry. He's got nothing yet."
"That's just as good. I might ask whether The Wallflower is still open."
"It is. Are you two grabbing lunch together?"
"We are indeed."
"Well, you two have fun-"
"You aren't going to join us?" Emmet asked, tilting his head.
Zisu adopted an almost excited grin. "You're inviting me?"
"…Yes?"
"Okay, great! Let's get going before Beni closes shop for the day. I'm starving." She pointed a finger at Emmet accusingly. "Training your little gremlins really takes a toll on me."
"It's because they're stronger than her own pokémon," Emmet fake whispered, loud enough for Zisu to hear.
"Not true! Ingo, back me up here, will you?"
"No comment."
Ingo requested his usual once they arrived; hearty sweet potato and white rice porridge with chopped radishes, pole beans, and fish thrown into the mix. Zisu looked at his order, her eyes narrowed, before she ordered something even grander: white rice with a few slabs of venison, sided with a cup of ginger paste, strawberries, and miso soup.
"Mine's better," Zisu boasted, picking up a strawberry to inspect.
"I'm sure it is," Ingo shot back, mixing his porridge. He glanced at Emmet and then at Beni who had been waiting for Emmet to order. "Can you make my brother the same dish that I ordered?"
"Only if you've got the money to pay," Beni responded snidely.
Without a word, Ingo fished a pouch of coins from his pocket and gave Beni what was due. "I think that ought to suffice. Thank you, Beni." Once the cook had retreated, Ingo gave a fuming Zisu a victorious smile.
"What's so funny?" Emmet cut in.
Zisu swallowed a mouthful of her food, pouting. "You know, your brother gets paid pretty well for a hermit. Ridiculously well if I might add. You're not from here, right? What you guys are eating- what we're all eating, really- most people can't afford it."
Emmet blinked. He stared at Ingo's food and then at Zisu's. "…People can't afford to eat oatmeal?" he asked incredulously. "I get the meat part, but really? This stuff is all over the place back at home."
"Really?" Zisu marveled.
"Uh-huh. It comes in packets. You mix it with water and heat it in a pot or a microwave. It takes a minute or two at least."
"You really must come from a different place. What's a microwave and how do you cook so fast with it? It takes Beni nearly half an hour. No, no, no. Don't tell me. I don't want that cursed knowledge. Keep it to yourself."
"Okay…?"
Zisu leaned in, depositing a strip of venison onto Ingo's plate much to his own annoyance. "Here, have some protein. Eat something other than fish. Anyway, I'm full!" she declared loudly. "I think I'll just go back to the dojo. You know, train some more pokémon. Leave you two in peace. Have fun."
Emmet watched the lady retreat before fiddling with his hands. "I like her but I'm happy she's gone. Now I can actually talk to you."
Ingo recoiled, nearly spitting out his food after restraining himself from laughing. "Emmet, that's rude!"
"What? It's the truth." his brother mumbled around a mouthful of food. He swallowed, carefully setting down his utensils. He pulled out the paper again, moving to the opposite side of the table so that he could continue their line of code from before. After a few lines, Emmet, seemingly satisfied, turned it around for him to see while passing his stub of charcoal.
These lines of codes were loops. Feedback loops. Each of them were separate, due to activating once the previous one had exhausted itself. The first was titled 'captorLoop'. It came first and with the way that Emmet had set it up, it would just keep relooping over and over and over. Forever. Ingo pointed at the word 'captor' before pointing again at the Galaxy Team Headquarters. Emmet nodded and then pulled out something else; something teal and shiny.
It was a gear inscribed with striking patterns and indecipherable words. At its introduction, Emmet rewrote the old code so that now, a new variable and condition were present; 'if absent' and 'gearPresent'. The way the code worked, if 'captorLoop' was flowing, whenever 'gearPresent' was set to be false, the loop would stop working almost immediately. If 'gearPresent' was set to be true, then the loop would keep going.
Ingo discreetly asked as to whether 'captorLoop' was currently set to negative. Emmet nodded and then brought out a few more similar gears. Emmet then pointed to the second loop beneath the first: the one titled 'brotherLoop'. Ingo pointed to himself; Emmet nodded.
Ingo took over at that point, instead writing in script instead of code. His first string was: CG: FF = . He left the rest for Emmet to fill in. Emmet penciled in a quick 'T'. Ingo blinked. They were in danger from somebody they knew? In a flash, his frown deepened. He only knew of one person that had directly antagonized both of them. One person that had wiped his memories with little to no remorse and had laughed at Emmet upon being confronted. With a simple 'J', Ingo added in a new variable and set it to equal 'captorPresent' instead of its old true or false values. Emmet was visibly sweating but after a moment or too, he nodded.
"Why are you protecting them?" Ingo asked calmly. Why? Why would Emmet defend them? They were bedridden but it didn't excuse them from their actions. If he wasn't so hung up on following the directions of his brother- if he had known- Ingo's hands shook. He didn't want to think about that.
"They didn't hurt me."
"They hurt both of us," Ingo snapped. "I got my memories wiped and you were kidnapped-"
Emmet was quick to shush him, gesturing instead to the paper but Ingo was done listening at that point. He marched back into the Galaxy Team Headquarters and into Nurse Pesselle's office, staging Machamp at the door so that Emmet couldn't intervene. He'd be damned if he would let the person addling his mind go unscathed.
He shoved aside the curtains and dust-covered machinery, staring at the bandaged form lying still in the bed. Their Quilava was still curled up on top of them, hissing as Ingo approached closer.
What could I do? Ingo wondered to himself, riddled with anger. How can I exact the same type of punishment? He no longer had the Lustrous Orb so he couldn't go traipsing about in her mind as suiting as it would be. Alakazam was still busy at the moment. Ingo… Ingo had an idea. An insidious idea but one that would get his point across.
"Chandelure, front and center."
His ace pokémon was beside him in a flash but at its entrance, looked confused. It floated closer to the bandaged trainer, its flames glittering as it sensed the trainer's soul. It looked first at its trainer and then at the wispy soul held carefully between its metal arms. "Chandelure, use Hex." With a quick glance at his Machamp, he quietly urged, "quickly, if you will."
Chandelure slowly nodded. It enveloped the trainer's soul in its own violet flames, Ingo watching as the wisp grew smaller and smaller, nearly embers of itself before Chandelure ceased its motions. At Ingo's command for it to use Imprison, Chandelure wreathed the soul with ghostly flames before rebinding it back to its unconscious host.
"Sleep well," Ingo bid the sleeping ranger maliciously. He recalled Chandelure, shut the curtains, and then recalled Machamp who was easily keeping Emmet from interfering with one bulky arm.
"What did you do?" Emmet demanded.
"She'll recover eventually, but it will be a long time before she interferes with my memories again. The gears. Do you still have them, Emmet?"
"…I do."
"Let me have them. I will safeguard them-"
"Brother, she doesn't have a choice-"
"Everybody always has a choice," Ingo bit back, extending a hand. "The gears, Emmet. You were so adamant that they were against us. Why change your mind now?"
"Because she didn't hurt me. She had a reason. I don't agree with her actions," Emmet grunted, "but they're from good intentions." Emmet pulled out his cluster of gears, holding out a vast majority for Ingo to hold. He kept one for himself. "You can have the others. I'll keep this one."
"What's the significance?"
"This one is the key; the others are extras. Can you trust me on this?" Emmet begged him. "I wouldn't have brought them here if I didn't trust them."
"You trust them?" Ingo echoed balefully. "Really? Who do you trust more? Me or them?"
Emmet took a step back, his smile switching to a frown. "You can't ask me that! You're my brother. I'm supposed to trust you more, but what you're asking me to do- I can't. The loop. You remember the loop, right?"
Ingo gave an innocent nod, stuffing the extra gears in his pocket. He would make a reminder to drop them in the ocean whenever he had the chance. "I do. What's your point?"
"The first loop- that's her. You can't start the second loop until the first one is finished."
"Taking the gear from them will start the second loop-"
"No it won't," Emmet retorted angrily. "Not the way it's written. You take the gear? You pause the entire code. Nothing gets done. We never go home. You'll be stuck here forever and never get your memories back. Akari will be stuck here forever." Emmet paused, the tinier gear spinning slowly between his fingers. "I'll be stuck here forever. There are people at home that have scoured that whole region searching for you. Elesa, Grandpa Drayden, the depot agents… You'll get your memories back in time, Ingo. Jaku just wipes them clean. They're not working against us; they're working with us, granted their on whole different tracks then our own. I don't want to fight with you Ingo, but I can't give you this last gear. They have to do their job so that we can go home. Do you want to be stuck here forever?"
Ingo exhaled, taking a seat in a vacant chair as he stopped to process his own feelings. Anger and indignation clawed at his throat and chest, threatening the split the skin of his knuckles. And yet, a deeper feeling of homesickness and despair panged in his gut. "I want this to end," is what Ingo ended on.
"I do too," Emmet responded quickly. "I want you back home where you belong... You never used to be vengeful," Emmet added quietly. "It's ugly. Ugly on you, I mean. And besides, they can't wipe my memories. If you miss something, you can always ask me-"
"I will let this go… but only if you answer one question of mine. Just one. Can you do that for me?"
"Sure…?"
"They spoke before that they knew what our purposes here were. Do you know what they were talking about?"
Emmet shook his head. "No. They never mentioned anything about that during the time that they were keeping me hostage. They kidnapped me because they were afraid I would tell you too much. You would have to ask them."
The two brothers were interrupted as the doors to the Galaxy Team Headquarters were thrown open. Boots clicked on hardwood floors, an entourage erupting into the main hall as voices began to pick up. Ingo got to his feet to check on the commotion, coming face-to-face with Warden Lian and a bruised Rei.
"What's going on here?"
"Gramps!" Lian cried. "Oh good! You're okay! Leader Irida sent out a note checkin' up on all us wardens. Listen to this; Lord Ursaluna is frenzied!"
