"Your psychic powers don't hurt me that much."

Emmet woke to the telltale sound of Ingo trying to keep his voice down and failing at it.

The fuzziness of his mind told Emmet he'd been awake for a few minutes without fully being pulled from his sleep but now that he knew what was happening, the drowsiness faded in an instant. Ingo trying to be quiet meant, well, Ingo. What a foreign thought that was.

Emmet sat up, feeling the memories flow back like the tide filling Shellder nests on the coast. Ingo was back. They were in Sinnoh. Ingo had been in Hisui and how he wasn't. The modern version of the people he'd stayed with had given him a tent to stay in. The tent only had two beds, one for Ingo and one for Rei, so Elesa and Skyla had left to stay at a hotel and Ingo and Rei had given Emmet and Drayden their beds in favor of sleeping in a pile on the floor with their Pokémon.

Emmet was a little jealous of that. He and Ingo hadn't slept side by side since they were kids. Sure, there were some exceptions like if they were traveling or if one of them needed the comfort but it just wasn't something they did. But after all these years, Emmet missed it. Why some kid and some random Pokémon instead of him?

That was mean. Rei seemed like a good kid and maybe one day Emmet would get to call him his nephew. Emmet needed to start out this relationship on the right foot. And he liked Ingo's Pokémon too, or at least the ones he'd met. Ingo had settled down between Gliscor and Machamp with Zorua sleeping on his chest. A Tangrowth and a Typlosion had joined them but Emmet didn't know whose Pokémon they were. Rei was cuddled up next to them, telling Emmet they were his Pokémon. Only, the Tangrowth had taken Ingo's hat so maybe she was Ingo's? He'd find out later.

Squinting through the darkness, Emmet realized there was now an Alakazam with them. Rei was still out cold, leaning heavily on the Typhlosion. Machamp and Tangrowth seemed to be asleep too but Gliscor had crawled on top of Tangrowth's head, slipping off as he blinked sleepily at the Alakazam hovering before them.

"Ala ala kazam."

"It might be different now," Ingo told her in an argumentative tone. What they were arguing about, Emmet had no idea. "It's been a long time since you've looked in there. Besides, I have a different cab now."

"Alakazam!"

"It still might hurt less."

"Alakazam."

"...Don't sound disappointed. You know why I want to do this. Chandelure sensed there was something wrong with me and I know we can't fix that but maybe if I remember just a little bit, Emmet, Drayden, and everyone won't."

Emmet, still a bit disoriented from sleep, did a double take. What was Ingo talking about?

"I don't know how to be around them. I learned how to be around the Pearl Clan, and Melli, and Rei, and Zisu and it was never really right but it worked," Ingo said, frustration seeping into his voice. "I'm trying to be the same with them but it doesn't feel the same. You don't even need to unlock all of my memories, Alakazam. Just enough that I know how to be around them."

Emmet suddenly got an epiphany. He knew what Ingo was talking about. As quietly as he could, Emmet slipped out of the bed and began crossing the room.

"Alaka! Alakazam!" Alakazam argued, waving her spoons angrily. She stopped abruptly, turning to face Emmet. Curiously, she titled her head. "Alakazam?"

"I am Emmet," Emmet said and sat down just outside of the Pokémon pile. He didn't know these Pokémon and he didn't think Machamp or Tangrowth would appreciate a stranger touching them. "You don't need to mask for us, Ingo."

Ingo and Emmet both had excellent night vision but they still couldn't see perfectly and the darkness made it difficult for Emmet to read Ingo's expression. Granted, he wasn't great at it normally but this was Ingo. Emmet could always read him. This wasn't an emotion he was familiar with though. "What?"

"Masking. When you change your behavior to fit in with others. Or, when you suppress your natural responses." He was explaining this right, wasn't he? It wasn't like this was the sort of thing Emmet smoogled regularly. "It's okay if our interactions don't feel natural. We've been apart for a long time. We are not puzzle pieces. We won't just click back together like nothing happened. It would be weirder if things weren't awkward. It's not bad that our tracks are a little rickety. You do not need to change yourself. Just be Ingo."

Emmet inhaled the moment he was finished talking. He wasn't trying to be dramatic but that was a lot more than he'd said in awhile. He hoped Ingo understood what he was trying to say. He could practically feel Ingo mulling it over. "I don't remember how."

"Remember how to what?"

"How to be Ingo," Ingo told him and Emmet wanted nothing more than to pull him into a hug. He didn't though. They were sitting just a tad too far from each other and Emmet would probably fall forward if he tried.

"Alaka. Alakazam ala kazam."

Ingo turned to his Pokémon and shook his head. "That's different."

"...Is your Alakazam telepathic?" Emmet asked hopefully. This is what Rei had been talking about earlier, wasn't it? It was strange but Ingo was acting like it was the most natural thing in the world. There had to be something there other than- than whatever Rei was implying.

"No. Maybe?" Ingo glanced at his Alakazam again who shrugged. "She's very powerful but my memories are locked from her. It makes my head hurt when she tries. I think all Psychic Pokémon use a bit of their powers when they communicate though."

"Alakazam," Alakazam replied with a nod and held out a spoon for Emmet. Hesitantly, Emmet reached toward it. He didn't touch it but he could pick up on what Ingo was talking about. There was concern there. Conflict too. Alakazam wanted to listen to her trainer but she wanted what was best for him too. She wanted to help him but she knew she wasn't the answer to whatever problem plagued his mind. "Kazam!"

"She wants you to stay," Ingo translated and Emmet wasn't convinced it was actually Alakazam who wanted that. Ingo shifted over a bit, making a space between him and Tangrowth. "I'm sure it's not as comfortable as what you're used to but…"

"You are here," Emmet responded, scooting over to take the spot. "That is all the reason I need."

"Gli," Gliscor complained, reaching a claw down to pat Emmet's empty head. He'd taken his cap off for bed and Gliscor, apparently, was unhappy about it.

"You will have plenty of opportunities to swipe Emmet's cap later," Ingo soothed, sounding amused, before he was interrupted by a huge yawn. Emmet, Alakazam, and Gliscor, in turn, all yawned in response. "I'm sorry for waking you three. Rest is very important."

Alakazam muttered and settled down on the other side of Machamp. Gliscor murmured and shifted, retracting his claw from Emmet's shoulder to properly curl up on Tangrowth's head. Emmet leaned into his brother a bit, a thousand words on his tongue but voicing none of them. Ingo was right. Rest was important. There was one thing that couldn't get left unsaid though.

"I am Emmet. You could wake me up a thousand times and I wouldn't care because it would mean that we are together again."

The second time Emmet awoke, it was to barking. Very annoying. But not nearly as annoying as both Ingo and Gliscor launching themselves out of the pile of sleeping people and Pokémon to glue themselves to the window.

"Ingo," Emmet groaned as his back slid off Tangrowth and he fell clumsily to the floor. "What are you doing?"

Zorua just kept barking at the tent flap that was the door.

"They've done this every morning since we got here," Rei explained groggily, sitting up as his Typhlosion stretched out under him. "The villagers have just been coming by in the morning to drop off food and stuff. Freaks them all out every time."

"I don't understand why they keep doing it," Ingo said, gaze still fixed on the window, if it could even be called that. Like the door, there was just a gap in the tent velcroed shut. Gliscor was pawing at it with a pincher but neither he or Ingo was trying very hard to get it open.

"It's because you're a Warden. You know, like how you'd leave offerings for Lady Sneasler. They're doing that with you."

Emmet could hear the frown deepening on Ingo's voice. "The Pearl Clan never did anything like that. They didn't like me. And that was fine. The Wardens were the best hunters and gatherers anyway. We could trade for the crops they grew."

Emmet skimmed over that last part. "The clan didn't like you?"

Ingo finally turned. "I'm loud. And I say strange things. And I have an accent. And I'm good with Pokémon."

Emmet's mind went back to last night. Ingo had said he'd changed to better fit in with the people in Hisui. This must've been what he meant. "People don't care about that kind of stuff anymore."

"They don't?"

"Well, they do," Emmet admitted. "But it's worse to treat people badly for who they are than to just be yourself."

"You being a Warden is a big deal too. They haven't had one in awhile so they don't expect you to do all that stuff for the clan that you used to," Rei explained, rubbing the sleep from his face. "Besides, it's not like we have money or know what jobs need to be done. We need the food and stuff."

"I suppose," Ingo replied, withdrawing from the window, but he didn't sound happy.

"Now that is out of the way," Drayden spoke up and Emmet realized he hadn't gotten out of bed, "can you tell that Zorua to quit barking?"

"Tiny! Come here!" Rei called. The Zorua's head swiveled, glancing between the door and Rei. Rei wiggled his fingers and ultimately he decided the door wasn't that important and ran over to Rei. "Good boy!"

"He's not a Lillipup. Don't patronize him."

"What's a Lillipup?"

"...I don't quite recall."

"It's a Normal-type Pokémon from Unova," Drayden replied, sitting up and seeming to abandon the idea of sleep. "They're pretty common there."

"Unova is where Emmet and I are from, yes?" Ingo glanced between Drayden and Emmet. "Are we going there?"

Emmet couldn't hide his surprise. "You want to?"

Ingo hesitated. "If you don't want me to-"

"We do!" Emmet insisted before Ingo could complete the thought. "We just- I wasn't sure you wanted to. I mean, you have a life here."

"Not really. I left my life with the clan hundreds of years in the past. I don't know anyone and I don't have any purpose here. If you had not come, Rei and I were going to start looking at other options."

Rei! Right. Emmet had nearly forgotten about him. Thankfully, Drayden didn't miss a beat. "Looker told us that Ingo was your guardian?"

"That's kind of a stretch," Rei admitted as he pulled himself to his feet. Behind him, Typhlosion got to its feet as well and began pawing Machamp's face. "From what I gathered, Ingo and I left right before Hisui became Sinnoh so technically we have some outdated legal identities. I'm considered part of both clans even though I wasn't actually ever a member but Cynthia says there's some technicality that makes Ingo and I each other's closest living kin. Our Hisui legal identities, I mean. In Unova, it's, y'know, you and here…"

Rei trailed off and Drayden took the opportunity to approach him. "Professor Rowan told us what happened to your mother. Is it safe to assume you'd like to come to Unova with Ingo?"

Rei nodded and looked at Ingo nervously. "If that's okay with you. I know you didn't sign up for this."

Ingo nodded instantly. "I came to the future with you, Rei. I wouldn't leave you now."

Emmet clapped his hands together. "Then it's settled! We're all going to Unova!"

"After we've all refueled with whatever the villagers left outside."

"After we've refueled!"

"We need to tell Elesa and Skyla too."

"Ugh. Yes. All of that. And then to Unova!"

It wasn't as much of a battle to get Ingo and Rei on the plane as Emmet thought it would be but he was so focused on that part that he didn't think about what would come next. They'd be sitting in a confined space for several hours and Ingo essentially found them to be strangers. Worse, Rei actually was a stranger. At least the boy seemed to be having fun looking out the window from Skyla's copilot's seat and Ingo wasn't getting airsick.

"Can you tell us more about your time in Hisui?" Elesa asked, saving Emmet from trying to start the conversation. "Or do you want to hear about Unova first?"

"Our current tracks are set for Unova, are we not? I'll see it for myself soon enough. I'm sure you're wondering where I've been," Ingo said, sounding hesitant. His Zorua was on his lap and Ingo nervously ran his fingers through his fur. Maybe they should look into getting Zorua registered as an emotional support Pokémon. Emmet didn't think he'd seen Zorua go back to its Pokéball once. "What do you know?"

"You were in the past. Hisui. You were something called a Warden," Emmet said, recalling what Cynthia had told them. "That is some kind of religious figure? You protect some Pokémon chosen by a god to protect your clan."

"Not exactly," Ingo told them. "The Noble Pokémon are descendents of the Pokémon that helped an ancient hero save the region. I don't know exactly what the religion is but the Nobles do protect the clans and it is a Warden's duty to ensure their wellbeing. I wouldn't consider it a very religious position but Cynthia tells me the people who founded Sinnoh did not understand the clans all that well and the records reflect that."

"You could probably argue there is belief involved though," Rei piped up from the front seat. "The Nobles were blessed by Sinnoh. Or, um, Arceus I guess. And we have actual proof of that now so I guess it's not really belief. But it was before the frenzies."

"Frenzies?" Drayden echoed, sounding interested. "It sounds like there's a story there."

"More Rei's than mine," Ingo responded calmly. "My Lady was thankfully spared."

"There was this time-space rift over Mount Coronet. Something to do with me being there, I think. Ingo too probably?" Rei's voice was uncertain. "Anyway, some energy leaked out and struck some of the Nobles, making them lose control and get way more powerful. The power of the rift was drawn to whatever piece of Arceus was in them. I battled them all and got them back to normal though."

"You battled them?" Emmet asked, surprised.

"Rei is quite skilled," Ingo told him with a nod.

"Not what Emmet was reacting to," Elesa jumped in kindly. "How old are you, Rei?"

"Seventeen," the boy answered. "Fifteen when I arrived in Hisui."

Emmet's smile dropped to a neutral expression. "That is too young."

"Not really? I had my trainer's license and everything before I even arrived in Hisui."

"He means the burden of saving the world often falls onto shoulders that shouldn't have to bear it," Drayden explained gently. "You were capable but that doesn't mean you should have to."

Rei shrugged. "Most people in Hisui are scared of Pokémon. I'm not. I don't really mind. And it helped me finish Arceus's mission anyway."

"Mission?" That was news to Emmet. It struck something in his mind but he couldn't recall if they'd spoken about it before. Cynthia had said something about legendaries probably being involved in the time travel, or at least Emmet was pretty sure. He'd gotten a lot of information crammed into his head these past couple days.

Rei nodded. "Uh-huh. It's why I was sent back in time. Ingo too I think?"

"That's right. But I only remembered recently." Ingo stopped talking abruptly, telling Emmet he had more to say but needed a moment to gather the words. "...I'm afraid that may be why you were sent back in time. I forgot I had a mission in the first place so I wasn't able to complete it. Arceus likely sent you to do it instead."

"What was your mission?"

"I don't recall the exact wording but I think Arceus wanted me to encourage the bonds between people and Pokémon. The fear they had of each other was stopping both from growing."

"Huh. Arceus just told me to seek out all Pokémon. A more indirect way of doing what he wanted you to do, I guess?"

More like a more specific way, Emmet thought. He didn't follow what they were saying all that well but it did sound like Rei was just doing what Ingo had been instructed to do in a different, less vague way. "Why you?"

"Pardon?"

"Why did Arceus choose you?" There was a lot there that was left unsaid. Emmet knew Elesa and Drayden picked up on it but he hoped Ingo didn't. "You are a Battle Facility Head and Rei is on the Sinnoh Hall of Fame but you are still just regular people. There are others that are likely more capable of completing Arceus's mission."

"I don't know the ways of Arceus but I am not upset he put me on these tracks," Ingo told him, looking down at the Zorua in his lap. "I wish… I wish some of the pain had been avoided and I wish I had not been taken from my home but my life in Hisui wasn't bad. I'm proud to be a Warden and I love my Noble and my clan dearly. I don't regret leaving them but I'm glad I had the chance to know them."

Emmet smiled and he didn't know if it was forced or genuine. "Tell us about them?"

Ingo's expression brightened and he began speaking, the plane falling into easy conversation for the rest of the ride.

Planes were fine but not Emmet's favorite. There was a reason there wasn't anywhere for Skyla to land her plane in Nimbasa City. That just meant Emmet could show Ingo what he really wanted him to see on their way home from Mistralton: the train.

"We work here?" Ingo asked as Emmet led him, Rei, Elesa, and Drayden into Mistralton's subway entrance. Both he and Rei seemed apprehensive but not hesitant so Emmet considered that a good sign.

"Yes! More than work here, actually. We run the subway!"

"And we battle here?"

"We do most days," Emmet told him, "but it's closed right now. We're just riding today."

It was the middle of the day, anyway. There weren't a lot of people out right now which meant the subway was pretty empty. Normally, the sight was disappointing but today Emmet was relieved. He didn't really want any of the regulars to recognize Ingo and disrupt the moment. Ingo didn't have the most expressive face, just like Emmet wasn't the most expressive verbally, but he didn't need to speak for Emmet to know Ingo was falling in love with trains all over again.

The train was empty enough that Ingo could wander. Drayden asked that he stick to one car unless Emmet was with him just like when they were kids and Ingo agreed readily, fascinated by anything and everything he could look at. Rei tried to follow at first but lost his balance almost immediately and took a seat with Zorua in his lap. Ingo, on the other hand, roamed the cars like he'd been doing it his whole life. Which he had, yet he hadn't at the same time. It was affirming to see though.

Ingo had a million questions, questions he often ended up being able to answer himself, and Emmet bounced off every single one. Really, it felt just like when they were kids and Drayden would take them to the station after a day at the gym or school. Well, not just like. The trains were nicer now and Emmet made sure Ingo knew the two of them were responsible. The prospect of working on these very trains seemed to excite Ingo even more.

It all had to end though. Train tracks always led somewhere. "Next stop: Nimbasa City."

Ingo's head snapped up. "That was my voice."

Emmet chuckled. "That's right."

"Is there a Chatot up there?" Ingo asked, walking a few steps to try to get a better look at something that wasn't there.

"It's a recording."

Ingo blinked a few times before recognition spread across his face. "I remember now. That was how I remembered what an MP3 file is. We had to manually edit the files so my voice wasn't too loud."

Emmet beamed. "That's right! I was too quiet, even over the loudspeaker. And the passengers knew you as the one to call things out anyway."

"Come on, boys!" Drayden called as the train slowed. Emmet and Ingo scurried back to the main car. "Doors are about to open!"

"You're going to love the Gear Station," Emmet told his brother as the train doors slid open. Only, he wasn't met with the familiar sight of stone walls and the soft everyday hum of passengers going about their business. The sight he did see wasn't unfamiliar either though. It just wasn't one he hadn't seen in some time, and one he didn't want to see right now.

Voices exploded as the train doors slid open.

"Subway Boss Ingo! Nimbasa Daily here-"

"Subway Boss Ingo, where have you been? Why have you decided to end your time away from-"

"Ingo!"

"A word please? I'm with Unova Times-"

Cameras flashed and Drayden reeled back from the doors in surprise, giving the swarm of reporters the perfect opportunity to swoop. Pressing forward, a handful of men and women with notepads and cameras pushed past Drayden and Elesa and into the train.

"Behind the yellow line please!" Emmet ordered but it sounded weak. He was never loud enough to yell over the usual noise of the station, let alone a dozen insistent reporters speaking over each other. "Ingo!"

Emmet saw Ingo take a step back but it did little to save him from the force approaching him. In a heartbeat, Emmet could see nothing but the top of his cap poking over the wall of people surrounding him. How had they even known they were here? Emmet knew they hadn't been discreet but they hadn't been announcing their presence either. All they'd done since arriving in Unova was walk from Skyla's gym to the train station! Though it was likely someone would've seen them. And the train ride had taken awhile. The paparazzi had plenty of time to assemble at the Gear Station…

That still didn't make it okay though. Emmet braced himself and tried to swim into the sea of bodies, trying desperately to reach his brother. How dare they come to their station and corner them? In a train too! Safety checks aside, that was just downright invasive. Emmet hoped the Depot Agents got a good look at them because Emmet was going to ban these guys from the station for a verrry long time. He didn't care if they were just doing their job. This was too much!

"What's happening?" Rei cried out, catching Emmet's attention. He was on his feet, Zorua clutched close to his chest, but Elesa was standing protectively in front of him. Hopefully it'd be enough to keep his face out of the press but Emmet wasn't too optimistic. They should've been more careful. Emmet could mull over what already happened later though. Ingo was in trouble now and Emmet needed to help him.

An inhuman sound broke out from the mass and suddenly there was something on the ground. Surprised cries erupted from the group and Emmet saw a flash of white in the corner of his eye. Zorua had wiggled out of Rei's grip and was hurrying to his trainer. Emmet couldn't exactly see what was happening but he heard the sound of a Pokéball opening and Machamp was suddenly in the car.

Machamp bellowed, rearing above the heads of the reporters. Emmet saw he was holding Ingo in his lower arms and felt a bubble of relief. It was quickly popped, however, when Machamp swept his arms out and knocked several reporters back.

"Machamp!" Emmet knew his brother's Pokémon probably wouldn't listen to him but he hoped he could at least get his attention. "You can't push people like that!"

Machamp ignored him and ran forward, Zorua trailing behind him, and burst out of the train. Emmet could see Machamp digging through one of Ingo's pockets and clumsy fingers soon held a pair of Pokéballs. Emmet knew they weren't empty and another pair of Pokémon soon found themselves in the Gear Station.

"Magnezone!"

"Probopass!"

"Ma!" Machamp barked, pointing toward the train. "Machamp!"

"Pro."

"Zone."

Both Probopass and Magnezone nodded to whatever Machamp said and Emmet knew it wasn't good. The two surged forward, each crackling with electricity and sights very much set on human targets.