Early 2023

Akari was starting to regret coming back to the present.

Scratch that, she was heavily regretting coming back to the present. Stupid amnesia. If she'd known this was what she was returning to, she probably wouldn't have asked Arceus to send her back.

Akari had spent many days and nights dreaming about her life back in Sinnoh. Of her parents, siblings, and friends. She thought about where she probably was in school and wondered what her plans were. She tried to guess who she picked as her starter Pokémon was and hoped they wouldn't be too upset by her absence. She'd only been gone for a year but she of all people knew how long a year could be.

Akari had been picturing a mundane life filled with love. It turned out she didn't have any of that. Well, she had a starter Pokémon and a friend but as great as her Sinnoh team and Barry were, she had pastures and pastures of Pokémon back in Hisui and more friends than she could count. Sure, it was probably good she came back to tell Barry and her team that she was still alive but the seven of them didn't feel like an equal exchange to all she'd left behind in Hisui.

No parents. No family. No prospects for the future. She wasn't even enrolled in school anymore because, apparently, she was the freaking Champion of Sinnoh. Which was, y'know, awesome at first but it was also super annoying to have people always trying to follow her around all the time, especially because Ingo was also trying to follow her around all the time. Being the Champion was good in that regard though. Cynthia was super helpful with getting Akari adjusted back to the future again, even if she kept calling her Dawn. She even knew people who could help figure out where he was from.

Only, the man she called spat coffee all over himself the moment he lay eyes on the person he was supposed to be helping. "Ingo?"

"That's me," Ingo responded awkwardly, eyeing the coffee stains.

"Warden Ingo, Pearl Clan member, Warden to Lady Sneasler, founder of the first battle facility in Sinnoh." Akari waved her hand loosely. "We went over all this with Cynthia. Uncle Ingo's a big historical figure, whatever. We don't care about that. Just help us figure out who he is in the present."

"I didn't- well, I did know Ingo was a Warden but-" The man called Looker cut himself off and swallowed before starting over. "I worked on your missing persons case. I, um, talk to your friends and family pretty regularly. Our, uh, social circles overlap."

Ingo looked somewhere between delighted and shocked so Akari spoke for him. "What do you mean by that? You said that… weird."

"You'll see when they get here," Looker told her, and wasn't that ominous? Akari wasn't getting a bad vibe from him though. She wished she could toss out Samurott to give him a sniff and get a better read but she didn't think that would be very appreciated, even if she was the champion. "I can call them, right? It's not really InterPol policy but I'm filing this under personal, not professional. Your brother was really shaken up by your disappearance."

"Yes!" Ingo exclaimed, making Looker jump. Ingo forced himself to be quieter. "Yes. Please, call him."

Ingo shot Akari an excited look that read nothing but oh Arceus I have a brother holy shit. Akari offered him what felt like her first real smile since coming back here. Finally, some good out of this trip to the future.

Akari expected Looker to step out of the room to make the call but he just pulled out his phone and started talking right in front of them. "Emmet. Get to the Sinnoh Pokémon League now. Bring everyone. We found Ingo. Get- oh, Anabel's there? What about- oh good. Teleport to the- Yes. Right. Okay. See you there."

"Emmet," Ingo whispered when Looker hung up the phone. Only, it wasn't really whispering, of course. "My brother's name is Emmet."

"Yes," Looker said, amused. "I don't think that's something you could forget."

His tone was humorous, like it was a joke. It probably was. It sounded like he knew this Emmet well. It was probably some reference Ingo would've gotten if his memories were intact but they weren't so he didn't. "I did."

Looker's expression changed. "What?"

"I forgot his name," Ingo said and his voice was so wretched that it made Akari want to cry. "I don't remember- I arrived in Hisui with no memories."

Looker made a face Akari couldn't read. "We didn't… We can work with that. Anabel has amnesia too."

"I don't know who Anabel is."

"Don't worry. You've never met her," Looker assured. Akari didn't find it all that assuring but Ingo seemed to. "She worked on your case and she's got an Alakazam with a strong Teleport. She's bringing your brother and friends here. We should get to the Pokémon Center, by the way. They may already be there."

"We should inform Lady Cynthia of our departure," Ingo said before Akari could take off. As much as Akari wanted to meet Ingo's family and friends, Cynthia had been good to her since her return and would probably worry. And of course, Cynthia probably wanted to meet Ingo's family. Whether it was because of her fascination with Ingo the historical figure or a need to know more about the man who'd been taking care of Akari, she did not know but Akari found she didn't mind Cynthia's presence. She reminded her of Cogita.

Akari didn't know why Alakazam could only teleport to the Pokémon Center but Ingo and Akari took Looker's word for it and let Cynthia guide them down the mountain. Akari tried her best to keep silent even though she was brimming with questions. She wasn't really expecting to get a lead on Ingo's identity so soon. There was so much she wanted to ask but Looker seemed focused and they were about to see Ingo's family in a few minutes anyway. Ingo had a brother! Akari would bet anything he was Ingo's man in white.

"Look out," Looker warned as they slowed in front of the Pokémon Center. Akari looked at the doors, confused about what she was supposed to be looking for, and Looker suddenly grabbed her by the shoulder and yanked her back a few steps. Not a heartbeat later, the sound of a Teleport flooded her ears and five figures appeared alongside an Alakazam right where Akari had been standing.

"Ingo!"

Akari saw a flash of white and a wide grin that really threw her for a second. She swore she saw double for a moment before blue and blonde caught the corner of her eye, shades Akari thought she'd never see again. It was half the reason she came to the future, the other half being to get Ingo home to his family. And now Volo was here. With Ingo's family.

Akari did the only thing she could think of to possibly do in that moment and punched Volo right in the face.

"Ow!" Volo flinched back, hand going to his nose immediately. Akari had hit him solidly, just like Zisu taught her. "What the f- Akari?"

"By the Dragons! Volo!" a woman cried, going to his side. Akari didn't recognize her but she wanted to scream for her to get away from him.

"Miss Akari!" Ingo's tone was scolding but Akari couldn't blame him for it. "Volo's our friend! I'll admit it's strange he followed us to the future but that's no reason to punch him."

"Don't touch it, Elesa," Volo said, pulling his hands from his face and tilting his head back. Akari tried not to wince. She had no sympathy for Volo but that was a lot of blood and his nose was definitely broken. "My blood probably has all kinds of stuff in it you should not be getting on your hands."

"Lean forward, not back," Ingo's brother commanded. "You don't want it going back in and you don't want it getting on your clothes."

Volo did as he was told, leaning forward and letting Akari get a solid look at his face. This was definitely Volo. She'd recognize him anywhere. But more importantly, she could see the nose she'd just punched. The nose she'd broken. The nose that was rapidly becoming unbroken before her eyes.

"What the fuck," Akari whispered as she watched Volo's nose twist itself back into the right position on his face. "How did-"

"Became a warlord after I left Hisui and Arceus gave me healing powers. Oh, also I'm immortal," Volo said like he was trying to sound casual but Akari could see through it. He was nervous. Probably knew Akari was going to call him out any moment now and ruin whatever charade he had going. Glancing at Ingo apologetically, he continued, "Sorry. I should've told you in college. Or when we used to hang out in Hisui, I guess. Actually, wait. You didn't tell me you recognized me so I guess we're kind of even?"

"I-"

Ingo looked lost so Akari jumped in. "Ingo has amnesia."

Emmet, Volo, and the woman Akari didn't know suddenly stiffened. Emmet's fingers went white as he clutched Ingo's coat even harder, his smile weakening. Volo, on the other hand, had the complete opposite reaction. Turning to the purple-haired Interpol agent who'd brought them here, he called, "Anabel! We're like the Ariados-Man meme!"

Volo, the agent, and Ingo all suddenly struck a pose and pointed at each other. Ingo faltered after a moment, looking utterly confused, but it got a loud laugh out of Emmet. "You guys are so dumb. I love it."

"I- What was that?" Ingo asked, lowering his arms. He glanced at Akari who shrugged. She had amnesia too and she was still caught up on the whole Volo thing. Akari cared way more about that than whatever or whoever this Ariados-Man guy was. She decided to voice this.

"We're just going to ignore everything that just happened with Volo's face?"

"His explanation was pretty straightforward, Akari," Ingo responded nonchalantly and Akari wanted to scream for him to understand.

"You don't get it!" Akari argued, the story she didn't want to tell already spilling from her lips. "He tried to take down Arceus!"

Shockingly, Ingo and Cynthia were the only ones who visibly reacted. Akari gaped at the others and Volo merely shrugged. "Not the first or last time I did that."

Akari glanced between Emmet and the long-haired woman. They were Volo's friends, presumably. They'd arrived together and Looker had said they spent a lot of time together. She couldn't believe they knew and were still friends with him. "And you're just okay hanging around someone who wants to destroy the world as we know it?"

"What?" Now Volo looked confused. "I don't want to destroy the world. I like the world. Why would you think that?"

"Um, maybe because you had a whole monologue about all the suffering in the world and how much Arceus sucks for making it that way and how you were going to make a new one?" Maybe that was more Cyrus but they were close enough that Akari didn't really care. "Remember that?"

"No," Volo said bluntly. He tapped the side of his head. "Amnesia, remember?"

Akari didn't really believe Volo's story about having amnesia but she wasn't about to call him out for faking it, especially with Ingo right there. "Which means I remember and you don't?"

"I remember enough about then to know a plot to destroy the world was the last thing on my mind," Volo retorted, somehow sounding both toneless and sarcastic at the same time. He was confident. It really sounded like he believed what he was saying. Maybe he did. Akari found her resolve faltering. Maybe she misunderstood something about that day up there on the mountain? Summoning Giratina seemed pretty difficult to misunderstand though. It was more likely Volo wasn't lying about the amnesia and just didn't remember.

"As, um, riveting as this conversation is," the woman interrupted, "probably not the best one to have outside of a Pokémon Center."

"Thank you, Elesa," Looker said, glancing between Anabel and Ingo. "It's not exactly Interpol policy but you may want to Teleport Ingo back to Unova as soon as you can. He hasn't been seen in Sinnoh yet so we'd save ourselves a lot of red tape if we just make it seem like he arrived in Unova without landing in Sinnoh first."

Ingo's frown deepened. "But Akari's been seen here."

Looker glanced at Emmet then back at Ingo. "Oh, um, I didn't realize you and Da- Akari planned on staying together."

"Not originally," Ingo explained and Akari felt a warm feeling light up in her stomach. "I promised everyone I would keep her safe until she returned to her home station but she doesn't have one so it's only logical she joins me at mine. That is assuming she wants to. And that I have a home station?"

"You do. Or, um, we do. Kind of," Emmet responded quickly. "Volo remembered you enough to know you'd come back so it was kind of always in our plans? Technically you're not on the lease but we made sure to get a place four people could live in. We could make five work if Volo and Elesa are okay with it."

They lived together. Emmet lived with Elesa and Volo. Or, more importantly, Emmet and Elesa lived with Volo. They were roommates, maybe even more but Akari was never good at telling this sort of thing. She didn't like it.

"We wouldn't turn a kid away, Emmet," Elesa said, smiling as she looked in Akari's direction. "And it'll be nice to have another girl around. Between you, Ingo, and Volo, it's not like we've been swimming in testosterone but, y'know, more feminine influence wouldn't hurt."

"I'm fine with it. I've had worse living situations and Akari and I basically lived together when we were traveling around Hisui and she stayed with my kid for awhile," Volo responded, making Akari mentally freeze. Kid? Since when did Volo have a kid? Volo didn't seem to notice, instead rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly with an apologetic look on his face. "I, um, don't really remember the whole Giratina thing but I know that wasn't too long ago for you and you seem pretty upset about that so if you're not comfortable living with me…"

Akari realized everyone was looking at her, awaiting her answer, and she forced her thoughts back together. Ingo would be living with Volo regardless of what she said and there was no way she'd leave him alone with Volo, especially since he didn't believe how dangerous he was. Plus, she didn't really want to leave him quite yet. "I'm- I'd like to stay with Ingo. Wherever he goes."

Looker sighed but he was smiling. "The paperwork for that is going to be a pain but don't you worry about that. I'll handle it. Actually, Nanu will."

The old man who'd remained silent until now gave a grumpy sigh. "This is what I get for wanting to support my old man getting his best friend back."

Akari didn't know what that meant but Looker seemed amused by it. "It's not like you have anything better to do. I have to go write a time travel report and you know how annoying those are. Anabel, does Alakazam have enough energy to get everyone back to Nimbasa City?"

"Alakazam, what do you think?"

"Zam!"

"That's a yes," Anabel told them all with a nod. "Ready to go home, Ingo?"

"Yes," Ingo answered eagerly. "I've been waiting to hear those words for so long."

Anabel flashed a smile and nodded to Alakazam. The Pokémon grunted and psychic power washed over them all, carrying them off to what would be Akari's new home in the future.

Akari wasn't expecting Volo's room to be so normal.

The walk from the Pokémon Center to the group's home was filled with conversation about logistics. Volo, Elesa, and Emmet had been living separately when Ingo vanished and decided to start living together afterward. They'd moved around a couple of times in Ingo's absence but were currently living at a three bedroom house that reminded them of the home they'd rented in college. Because apparently that was something they did. Volo had gone to college with Ingo. Akari couldn't believe it.

Ingo and Emmet had shared the master bedroom then and that was the plan in the event Ingo returned while the trio was living here. A fifth person would be a bit harder to plan around but Elesa was quick to throw out options. She wasn't letting her just sleep on the couch but she could stay with Ingo and Emmet, have an all-girls room and share with Elesa, or take Volo's room and have him share with Elesa. Akari didn't want to keep Ingo and Emmet apart and she didn't know Elesa well enough that she jumped at the opportunity to room with her but she didn't want to make her share with Volo either, even if some part of her found satisfaction in stealing his room. But, that was the best option and she ended up taking it.

Elesa showed Akari where it was and left her to settle in while the rest of them reintroduced Ingo to all the Pokémon. Akari kind of wished she could be there for that but she appreciated the time to herself to unwind. It'd been a hectic few days. It felt like Akari had been going nonstop for weeks now.

Akari didn't know what she'd been expecting. Something evil-looking, she supposed, but she knew that was unrealistic and tried thinking about the Volo she'd known before. Volo was the organized chaos type. The handful of times they'd traveled together long enough they had to settle down for the night, Volo was always prepared. He had everything he needed, never misplaced a thing, and knew just about every skill he could possibly need to survive the Hisui wilderness. Yet, at the same time, he carried the general aura of not having his shit together. He had a real 'good enough' attitude. He didn't wash his tools and utensils if he didn't think they were that dirty. He wouldn't pitch his tent all the way if he thought it'd still stand up most of the night. He'd go the whole day with his shirt on backwards if he knew he wouldn't run into anyone.

Volo's room was sparse for a merchant. He wasn't a merchant anymore, Akari realized abruptly. Akari felt like she didn't know Volo anymore after his betrayal but now it felt like she really didn't know him. He'd gone to college for Arceus's sake. What'd he even do now? She tried to guess from his belongings but there was really no central theme. He had a bed, a desk, a dresser, and a bookshelf and that was about it. His bookshelf had a good number of books on it but was far from full, the rest of the surface holding a couple of model trains. Akari found that kind of surprising. Volo didn't really seem like a train guy but then again, there weren't trains in Hisui so what did she know?

The thing that really caught her attention was the wall opposite of the bed. This had some decoration, if it could even be called that. Her eyes immediately went to the series of mounted shelves holding more types of Pokéballs than Akari even knew existed. Each one looked different, ranging from the classic red to an all white one and even to one with a heart on it. There were a few Hisuian ones there too so maybe this was an immortality thing? A collection of Pokéballs over the years? But they all seemed pretty new though so that probably wasn't it.

There were some pictures mounted on the wall too. There was a sheet with inky paw prints of various Pokémon Akari didn't recognize and the rest seemed to be posters. There was one of Elesa and another with Ingo and Emmet, each one featuring Pokémon Akari didn't recognize. She walked closer to them to get a better look at the writing but before she could get her brain to remember how to translate written Galarian, she was interrupted by a low groan. "Slowww…"

Akari jumped and looked over to see a Pokémon bed by the foot of the bed frame, tucked just out of view from where Akari had been standing before. The Pokémon in it was large and pink, kind of like a Lickilicky but it had a big gray thing on its head. It looked sort of familiar but Akari couldn't place it. There hadn't been any of these guys in Hisui but she sensed they could be found in modern Sinnoh, or at least there was something similar.

"Hello," Akari greeted awkwardly, wondering if she should call for one of the adults downstairs. "I'm Akari. I guess Volo should've come to grab all his stuff from his room before sending me in, huh?"

The Pokémon blinked slowly at her and Akari realized it was just waking up. It probably hadn't noticed her before. She hoped it didn't think she was an intruder but the Pokémon seemed pretty relaxed. It yawned loudly and waved a paw loosely in Akari's direction, gesturing loosely at the bed next to it. Akari found herself matching its yawn, eyes drifting to the sheets that definitely hadn't been changed before her arrival. She found she didn't really care though. That yawn might've actually been a Yawn and Akari was feeling pretty sleepy all of a sudden. She could worry about her new living situation and Pokémon roommate later. Right now, she deserved some rest.