Teleport wasn't a move Ingo asked Alakazam to use all that often. It wasn't one they'd trained and it wasn't one that needed to be trained. Abra were already masters of Teleport by the time they were ready to evolve and they only got better as they grew stronger.

Maybe Alakazam's Teleport wasn't as strong as it could've been but the fundamentals of Teleport remained the same. Familiar places were easy, no matter the distance. And there was nowhere more familiar than this place.

It looked the same even after all these years. The lake wasn't quite as full and the trees had thinned but none of the trees were missing and the water was as clear as ever. They were far enough from any human settlements for their modern ways to taint the space Ingo had watched over for so long.

"Where are we?" Emmet asked, finally breaking the silence.

"This is where I lived in Hisui. Sinnoh now," Ingo told him softly, unable to tear his eyes from the mountain wall. His Lady's den was still up there. She wasn't though and wasn't that heartbreaking. Almost absentmindedly, Ingo drew his flute from his pocket.

"Oh, Ingo, that's not going to-"

Ingo ignored Rei's warning and played anyway. It was sentimental more than anything but he was pleasantly surprised when he heard a Pokémon cry in response and footsteps hurrying their way through the surrounding forest.

"Eh?" A Weavile burst into the clearing. He stared at Ingo for a moment before recognition flashed across his face. "Oh, it's you. They said you'd come back one day. Come on, follow me."

Weavile waved his claws, beckoning Ingo after him, and Ingo was too surprised to do anything but listen. He heard a few questions from his companions but they fell on deaf ears. Ingo was far too focused on the Weavile to hear a word they said. "Are you a Noble?"

"Hmm? No. Haven't had a Noble in a long time. Your ward was the last, I think. There are still a few of us around to keep an eye on the land. No real reason but my mama made me promise so here I am."

That was about what Ingo was expecting, though he was a bit surprised Lady Sneasler was the last. She'd stayed behind in Hisui to prepare an heir, hadn't she? Maybe the truth had been lost to history, or maybe the heir never found a warden. There were plenty of reasons for Weavile to have the tale he did. Ingo just had to hope his Lady had been alright in his absence.

Weavile would have made an excellent Noble, or at least Ingo thought so. He led their not-so little group closer to the mountain and through the forest with ease, not quite at Lady Sneasler's expertise but still a mighty fine job if Ingo did say so himself. Ingo wasn't exactly sure where they were going but Weavile sure did. Ingo would have to remember to thank him properly later. Hopefully this Weavile liked the same offerings as Lady Sneasler.

"What exactly are we looking at here?" Elesa asked as the group came to a stop around a large stone. It wasn't larger than any other stone in Hisui, nothing notable. At least not in terms of size. It looked different from the other rocks in the area and the side the group was facing looked like it'd been cleaved off. It probably had. Ingo wouldn't be surprised if Lady Sneasler broke it off Mount Coronet herself.

"Stone marks the spot?" Rei guessed as Weavile pawed the ground behind the stone. After a moment of digging, he retrieved something and scurried over to Ingo to deposit it in his hand.

"Thank you, my friend," Ingo said as he curled his hand around the familiar object. Time travel aside, it'd been quite some time since he'd held it. He felt curious eyes prying at his hands, trying to decipher what exactly Weavile had given him, but that wasn't important right now, not yet at least. Ingo's attention was on the stone and there was no avoiding it. "This is my grave."

Ingo didn't know what he was expecting but zero reaction from his friends and family was not it.

"I know for a fact Pearl Clan graves are way nicer than this," Rei said and Ingo realized they weren't getting it. "It's sweet they wanted to monument you or whatever but this is kind of sad."

"Verrry sad," Emmet agreed and Ingo wasn't quite sure how to elaborate.

"The Pearl Clan doesn't- didn't know about this. Lady Sneasler made this," Ingo explained, crouching down to rub his fingers over the surface of the stone. Lady Sneasler's scratch marks marred the rock in a poor attempt to write Ingo's name but Ingo appreciated it nonetheless. "I… I don't know how to explain this. Let me take the more direct tracks. This grave isn't symbolic. There's a body buried here. My body."

Emmet's smile was frozen on his face. "Ingo…"

Ingo didn't let him finish. "Rei told you all about Hisuian Zoroark, yes? They used to call land like this home before the clans pushed them to extinction. Their bitterness, however, refused to die and many of them came back as Ghost-type Pokémon."

Zoroark and Zorua edged a bit closer, Zorua pressing against his foot and Zoroark hovering with a comforting presence. Ingo wasn't sure if he liked it or not. On one hand, he probably needed the pillars to lean on. On the other, he felt like the slightest hitch would derail him to the point of no return.

"Dying and coming back isn't a sustainable way to keep a population alive. After the initial group, Zoroark and Zorua had to come back as eggs and it became harder and harder to convince spirits who'd died so horribly that the world of the living was worth coming back to. So, Zoroark began seeking other sources to give their eggs life. Anything strong enough to ensure their survival whether it be an Alpha Luxray, a Noble's young, or even…"

Ingo trailed off and swallowed. His poor brother and sister. Zisu's Zoroark was a natural spirit. He'd been regifted the life he'd lost. Ingo and his siblings couldn't say the same and it shamed him that it'd taken him so long to recognize it wasn't only he who'd lost his life. Alphas often led packs, a pack his sister had been stolen from if his predictions were correct. And there was no guessing for Runt anymore. Ingo wished he'd figured it out sooner, or at least done something to tell Runt he didn't have to hide his origins from him. This moment wasn't about them though. It was his ghost at stake here.

"...a Warden. Like me. A time traveler chosen by Arceus would make a powerful Zoroark."

"Ingo, you're scaring me," Emmet said quietly and Ingo couldn't bring himself to meet his eyes. "What are you saying?"

Ingo lifted his hand, presenting the wooden Pokéball Weavile had dug up to his brother. "I'm giving you the choice."

Don't make me say it, went left unsaid. We could just walk away here. They all knew what Ingo was telling them. This was just confirming it but they didn't have to. They could forget this ever happened and just walk away and live the rest of their lives in peace. Only, they couldn't. There was a reason they were there.

"Take the Pokéball, Emmet," Allister said, making Emmet jump a bit. He'd likely forgotten he was there. Or maybe the lack of a stutter surprised him. Allister's voice was shockingly steady. "I think we all know you need to see this for yourself."

Emmet's hand shook as he raised it but he took no move to take the Pokéball so Ingo did, shoving it into his palm and taking a big step back so Emmet couldn't give it right back. "Do it, Emmet."

Emmet looked stricken. "Ingo…"

"It's okay."

Emmet's hand kept shaking. "You're my brother. I don't know if-"

Emmet's finger slipped and the deed was done. His nerves made him lose grip on the ball, swiping a finger over the latch and sending the Pokéball falling. Ingo was sucked inside before it hit the forest floor.

Someone screamed. It might've been Emmet but he wasn't sure. The forest was quiet but everything felt so loud. His brother disappeared. Again. Right in front of him. And he was responsible.

Maybe that wasn't exactly true but Emmet felt whatever reaction he had right now, overreaction or not, was justified. Ingo had just gone into a Pokéball. Like a Pokémon. What did that even mean?

Someone moved but Emmet moved quicker, snatching the Pokéball off the ground. Drayden, Elesa, and Rei were plenty trustworthy but the idea of one of them touching the Pokéball made Emmet's skin crawl. The same went for Chandelure, Alakazam, Machamp, Roserade, Eelektross and Zorua. Emmet didn't really care for Allister or Zoroark but it hardly mattered at this point.

"Do you see now?" Allister asked, masked eyes boring into Emmet. Emmet ignored him and fumbled with the Pokéball's latch.

"Emmet, wait-" Drayden started but Emmet was already opening the Pokéball. He didn't know what was happening but Emmet would not let himself be separated from his brother again.

White light filled the clearing as a new figure materialized before them and Emmet's brain caught up with his actions. This wasn't Ingo. This was most certainly a Pokémon. A big one too. A four-legged form, even hunched over, towered over him, tendrils of a thick mane waving like Chandelure's flames. White fur filled Emmet's vision, mind completely skimming over the dark coat draped over the skinny body, and a sense of wrongness tugged at his mind. White was his color, not Ingo's. How could Ingo be anything but black? The eyes that met his said otherwise though and the frown etched on his muzzle said more than any explanation could.

"Ingo?" Emmet murmured, fingers twitching as he mustered the will to reach up toward the Pokémon that may very well be his brother.

"It's an alpha," Rei gasped, snapping Ingo's attention away from Emmet. Emmet saw a glimpse of green and Ingo's demeanor completely changed. He took a step back and leaned up onto his hind paws. His Pokémon reacted as well, their calmness abruptly shifting into alarm, as Ingo opened his maw and bellowed. Emmet was knocked back before getting caught in a Psychic, yanked back just before a high-pitched shriek shattered the peace.

"Hyper Voice!" Elesa exclaimed, hands going to her ever-present headphones in an attempt to silence them. Emmet wasn't sure if she hit them in time but he doubted she did. Besides, it wasn't the sound of a Hyper Voice that hurt. The concussive force was strong enough to push back any number of Pokémon. If not for Alakazam's Psychic, they all would've been sent flying into the trees.

"Wha-what's happening?" Allister asked and Emmet did not like that. Allister was supposed to be the expert here.

"Alpha Zoroark. There's one in the Icelands," Rei told them as if that meant anything. "It must've- I don't know. The Pearl Clan is afraid they'll use their illusions to mimic people. I guess-"

"Ingo was not replaced by a Zoroark," Emmet said firmly as Roserade shot forward. Ingo bellowed again and lashed out with one paw. Shadow Claw, Emmet recognized. Roserade weaved around it with practiced ease. He'd battled a Pokémon like this before. That did not bring Emmet any comfort.

"Alakazam!" Alakazam swung out an arm and telekinetic force pulled Roserade away from Ingo. Emmet thought she was protecting him like she had with the Hyper Voice but when Roserade slammed into the ground, straining to get back up, he realized this was not the case.

"What are you doing?" Rei demanded, clearly alarmed. "That's not your trainer! You don't need to protect him."

"Zam!" Alakazam insisted before turning to her teammates. Waving a spoon at Machamp, Chandelure, Zorua, and Zoroark, she began barking orders. "Alaka! Alakazam!"

"Eelektross?" Emmet called out to his Pokémon only to see him pinned as well. Emmet tried to muster the will to go to his side but his muscles were frozen and he didn't think it was due to Alakazam's power. He could only watch wide-eyed as Machamp, Chandelure, Zorua, and Zoroark advanced.

Ingo shrieked again, the Hyper Voice passing harmlessly through the Ghost-types but forcing Machamp to split from the group. Chandelure fired a Shadow Ball and it too passed right through Ingo. Ghost and Normal-type moves wouldn't work in this battle, Emmet wanted to tell her, but he couldn't bring his mouth to move. But maybe Chandelure already knew that. Her flames weren't nearly as fierce as they got when she really wanted to fight. Chandelure wasn't really trying. Maybe that was a sign this really was Ingo. Emmet tried not to hope too hard but at this point, it was impossible not to hope. He couldn't lose Ingo. Not again, not after just getting him back.

Zorua and Zoroark weaved around each other, trying to get close. Shadow Claw met Shadow Claw as Zorua used a Shadow Sneak to get up on Ingo's head. None of the moves did anything, of course. Chandelure swooped in, crying out in a plea Emmet couldn't understand, and ended up getting a Snarl in response. That move did hit, knocking Chandelure back and snapping Emmet out of his stupor. "Chandelure!"

Whether that big Zoroark was Ingo or not, Chandelure was still his beloved starter and Emmet wasn't going to stand by and watch her get hurt. He hurried forward and intercepted her before she could hit the ground, her glass colliding with his chest and the force nearly sending him toppling.

"Are you okay?" Emmet asked, rotating Chandelure around to face him. Chandelure made a distressed noise in response. Emmet wasn't sure if she was answering the question or if she was just upset by what had befallen her trainer. Either way, Emmet didn't know what to do.

"Champ!"

Emmet's eyes were pulled back to the battlefield as Machamp exploded back in. Emmet expected a Knock Off or maybe an Ice Punch but instead, Machamp went low. Four arms reached out, scooping Ingo up by the hips and sweeping him off the ground. Ingo thrashed for a moment before stiffening and, almost comically, flailing his paws in the air as if he were swimming. Before he could make heads or tails of what happened to him, Machamp spun him around like a Seismic Toss and slammed him into the ground. Zoroark and Zorua lunged forward, hopping onto Ingo's back, and Machamp soon joined them. Ingo tried to get back to his feet but their combined weight kept him back.

He howled again and thrashed and Emmet felt his heart twist before he saw it. Red eyes. He'd seen this before. Machamp had grabbed Ingo like this and sat on him that day they returned to Nimbassa. He thought he'd seen a flash of red then but promptly forgot out of concern for his brother. This Zoroark, whether he'd been his brother or an imposter, had been with them this entire time.

Ingo struggled and thrashed, his guards never letting him up. The thought finally struck that he should do something and Emmet began looking around the clearing for the Pokéball that'd sparked this. Alakazam, however, beat him to it. The moment Emmet laid eyes on it, she snatched it away with her psychic powers. Impressive, considering she was also holding Roserade and Eelektross back. Annoying as well, considering that Emmet had no idea what else to do.

Machamp's plan seemed to be working though. The intensity of the red glow faltered before dying completely and Ingo stopped struggling. He lifted his head, confusion etched across his face, before his face was enveloped in horror. Mournful yellow eyes met Emmet's before his gaze dropped and shadowy power consumed him, body slipping into a Shadow Sneak and slinking away into the forest.

"My life is over," Ingo announced, throwing himself on the bare stone where his nest sat so long ago.

"You're already dead," Weavile said unsympathetically, kicking Ingo lazily with one paw. His claws nicked Ingo's pelt but they were no Dire Claw so he tried to ignore it. "Now get out of my den."

"It was my den first."

"Only because my however-many great grandma said you could live here. You were a Warden. You listen to us Nobles."

"You said you weren't a Noble. And I'm not a Warden anymore."

"You're wearing the bracelet."

Ingo purposefully didn't look at it. "Being a Warden is part of having a life."

Weavile sighed and rolled his eyes. "You're being so dramatic."

"I went into a rage the moment I revealed I was a Zoroark! I attacked my own Pokémon!" Ingo argued, pushing himself up with his front paws. "I can't- I'm a Zoroark! There's no pretending anymore. I died. You don't get your life back after dying. Maybe I should just go with Allister. At least I'll get to ride a train one last time."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Weavile said flatly, "but someone's coming up so look alive for a little bit longer."

"What?"

"Big brother!" Runt called, his little head poking up from the mouth of the cave. "Are you in here?"

It took a lot of effort to not grab Runt by the scruff, pull him into the den, and just hide like that forever. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

Ingo spluttered. "I attacked you!"

Runt waved his tail dismissively. "It's fine. You're an alpha. You don't know how to control your alpha powers yet."

That was true, Ingo supposed. "That's still no excuse."

"Maybe." Runt shrugged before bouncing forward. "But we can talk about that later. Machamp's bringing Emmet up."

"What?"

"I'm here, Boss! And I've got your brother! Or, your other brother," Machamp's voice called from outside the den. A moment later, a gray hand came into view and Machamp hauled both himself and the passenger on his back up into the cave. "You're way easier to carry than Emmet, by the way."

"I could've just used Psychic or Teleport to-" Alakazam started but was interrupted by Emmet.

"Ingo?" Emmet called out into the cave. Ingo wanted to shrink back but he withheld. "Is that you?"

"If I said no would you leave?" Ingo asked in Galarian, the words feeling strange on his Zoroark tongue. He wasn't sure if he'd ever spoken to anyone like this in his true form.

"Do you want me to leave?"

"Kind of." He paused. "But not really."

Emmet unhooked himself from Machamp's grip and crawled forward. "You want to tell me what happened?"

"About being a Zoroark or about trying to attack you guys?"

"The second one but I'd like to know more about the Zoroark thing."

"I think I covered everything before. I got killed because my dad thought I'd make an Alpha Zoroark and I did. Sometimes alphas can't control the power that makes us alphas and- well, you saw it. It happened on the train and just now with Roserade."

"What about Roserade?"

Ingo suddenly realized no one knew about… "Roserade just startled me, that's all. Roserade is Rei's go-to for subduing wild Pokémon. Going back in a Pokéball and seeing him ready to battle…"

Ingo wasn't saying it. He knew he wasn't. It felt silly to mention something that happened so long ago. The time Rei tried to catch him as a Zorua was scary but he thought he was over it. And even if he wasn't, this seemed like too strong of a reaction to justify.

"Were you ever going to tell us?"

"What do you mean?"

"That you're a Pokémon," Emmet said and Ingo dodged his gaze. "I feel like that's something verrry important that you should've told us."

Ingo expected guilt but it never came. "I don't know what to tell you. I died a long time ago but it's still hard to really… I don't know, accept. I meant what I told Allister. I shouldn't have died. Part of me likes being a Zoroark but I hate what it means. I just want everything to be normal again. Even if I can't remember what normal is like."

Emmet reached out slowly, giving Ingo plenty of time to flinch back if he wanted to, and took his paw in one hand. It was awkward, claws not quite lining up with fingers, but it felt nice and Ingo didn't want to pull away. "It's like the doctors said. New normal. You being a Zoroark can be part of that."

"Maybe not. Allister and Zoroark said there's something wrong with me. Chandelure sensed it too." Ingo swallowed. "I might not be able to stay."

"Nah."

"Nah?"

"It's the same as all those Ghost-type movies! Ghosts have unfinished business. We just need to talk to Allister about yours and then he'll leave you alone."

"I guess."

"You guess? You know I'm right."

Ingo didn't and he didn't think Emmet did either but he appreciated the confidence. "Thank you. I mean it."

"Is it okay to touch y-"

"Yes!" Ingo surged forward, practically flattening Emmet under him. "I've wanted to hug you properly for so long."

"You could've! Why haven't you?"

"Tactile illusions are harder. I was worried you'd feel my fur."

"That makes so much sense." Emmet grinned, reaching up to run his fingers through Ingo's fur. "It's soft."

"Ghost stuff. And because Machamp poured like a whole bottle of conditioner into it by accident."

"Hey!" Machamp complained, crossing his arms and looking away. "See if I help you again."

Ingo rumbled in amusement and stuck his tongue out. "I have other opposable thumbs now."

Emmet straightened abruptly. "You can understand Pokémon!"

"I- yes?" Ingo didn't think he'd done a very good job hiding that.

"Oh, we are having so much fun with that when we get home!" Emmet said gleefully and Ingo didn't doubt him. Going home as a Zoroark. Wasn't that a thought.