February 3rd, First Year

The bench inside the Galaxy Headquarters was smooth and cold to the touch, no cushioning and certainly uncomfortable in every sense of the word. Jakucho gripped the edges of her seat, anxious at whatever it was the commander and his guests were discussing behind closed doors on the third floor. She knew that it was certainly about her but the guards had been tight-lipped while escorting her through. Captain Cyllene had ordered her to wait inside her office on the first floor until the two were done talking upstairs. That was two hours ago.

It had taken three days to venture back to Jubilife Village and when she'd arrived, Professor Laventon had fought to give her a night to rest in proper quarters. She'd been allowed into one of the spare barracks rooms, coincidentally the one right next to Akari's, and one of the Survey Corps boys had brought her dinner. It wasn't much but it was certainly better than her near-death in the Obsidian Fieldlands.

Now, the atmosphere in the Galaxy Headquarters was downright oppressive. The windows were shut and locked and the doors to all of the rooms were forced closed. Footsteps echoed on the hardwood floors of the Galaxy Headquarters floor and voices ushered from the medical bay next door, too soft to decipher but soothing nonetheless.

Behind her desk, the captain scribbled on loose pieces of parchment paper, tapping the sharper end of the quill on the edge of the table whenever she stopped. Multiple wax candles burned along the desk, providing little heat to the room. She would occasionally get up and go into the room to the left and then come back with yet another stack of papers.

After what felt like years, the captain finally spoke. "So… you came into contact with this alpha Rapidash?" Her voice was monotonous and stern, leaving no room for pity or for interjections.

Jakucho started forward, nodding. "I did, ca-" she caught herself- "ma-am." Laventon had warned her that she was technically no longer under the protection of the Galaxy Team.

"Tell me about your encounter with this pokémon," Captain Cyllene commanded. "None of our scouts are permitted to come into contact with that creature on account of its aggressive nature. Many have died after coming into contact with it. You would be the first to give such a statement after-" she paused, sparing a spry glance to the room to the right- "your predicament."

Jakucho swallowed. She was thankful that she had not been attacked by the beast but something about what Captain Cyllene said had rubbed her the wrong way. Cyndaquil, who had been previously dozing, snuggled deeper into her lap, impervious to the ongoing discussion. She found her fingers running through its soft fur.

"Of course, ma'am. I was attempting to catch a Ponyta and had lured it into coming closer with some berries I had scavenged. Everything was running smoothly until I was found by that Rapidash." She remembered the imposing shadow it cast over her and the searing heat and shuddered. "...Are all of them that large, captain?"

"Rapidash or alpha pokémon?"

"Both? I'm not sure. My memory is foggy and not at all there, but I'm quite sure that wherever or whenever I'm from, that they're never supposed to be that freakishly large. Or violent for that matter. Rapidashes are usually peaceful creatures-"

The captain put down her quill and studied her, clasping her hands together on top of her desk. "Are they now?"

"Y-yes," Jakucho stuttered. "I don't think I've ever encountered such a vicious pokémon before, or one that large for that matter!"

"But then again, you don't retain any of your past memories," Captain Cyllene pointed out. "Anything you do remember could be unrelated or entirely false."

"You've got me there, ma'am. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. All I know is that it chased me to the river. If I would've been a second slower, it would've torched me with its flames."

"..I see."

The captain said no more and took up writing again, occasionally sparing her a glance over her papers. Jakucho went back to staring at the wall, taking to petting Cyndaquil as her thoughts wandered.

The little guy had refused to leave her side after they had returned. As a matter of fact, Cyndaquil didn't even seem to like Professor Laventon all that much; a fact that worried her ever so slightly. According to the professor, the little guy had come from abroad. It was all part of his gig being the "authority on pokémon" despite being too afraid to interact with the ones she'd caught earlier. Cyndaquil was just there to be studied. Nothing else. No wonder it didn't like the professor that much.

Soon enough, the telltale sound of a heavy door opening on the third floor brought her back to attention. She stilled as loud footsteps echoed on the stairs and with it came a terse and jumbled conversation.

"What do I do when he enters?" Jaku rasped nervously.

"Stand straight up with your arms to your sides," the captain instructed her. "Fold up your fingers and keep your thumbs flat against them. Eyes straight ahead. Don't speak unless you're spoken to." She demonstrated the position and paused, her gray eyes glittering. "You may be thrown out of the village for failing your trail, but don't forget that Commander Kamado is the chief authority here. Any disrespect will be seen as treason."

"Right. Of course, ma'am."

Captain Cyllene stood at attention the moment the doors to her own office opened. All previous signs of her laxness vanished like dew on a sunny day.

"Surely, this is a mistake!" she heard Professor Laventon say, hearing his clunky boots scoot across the carpet. "If the two of them passed through the rift to here unscathed, than they're both blessed by uh-"

"Almighty Sinnoh," came a smooth voice Jakucho didn't recognize.

"Right! Almighty Sinnoh- wouldn't it just make things worse if we cast her out? Shouldn't we try again? Give her another test? Isn't it enough that both of our candidates managed to tame pokémon-"

"Enough!"

Jakucho almost ducked back as the professor and a group of people entered the office and assumed the position Captain Cyllene had taught her. She recognized Commander Kamado but not the man and woman that followed close behind him. They did not seem cowed by his order, continuing to complain and bicker behind his back.

"They could both be a gift from Almighty Sinnoh! Why risk casting one of them out and earning their wrath?" spoke the man. He was tall and lean, draped in a luxurious-looking blue and black cloak lined with fur. He had bags under his eyes, hands shoved into his pockets as he came to a stop on the left of the commander. "That's what you're trying to protect your people from, right? A great calamity?"

"I should think it's your test to begin with. Catching pokémon? We should respect them, not capture them like pets! I understand that your group dedicates itself to improving the relationship between people and pokémon but why tip your trial in favor of the girl?" the woman lectured the commander. She was small and spritely, dressed only in a sleeveless kimono and ordained with glittering jewelry. She crossed her arms. "Don't you think it's a bit biased of you to give young Akari the easy, friendly pokémon to catch? Specifically, pokémon that you know are all located around Aspiration Hill? Could it be that you have a soft spot for her?"

"And the pokémon that were given to young Jakucho?" the man piped up. "Even if they didn't pass the Galaxy Team entrance trial, surely you couldn't just find them another position to fill, like being a farm hand or- what is it that lady does? Right! She could be a stable hand."

"Did you hear what their given pokémon were? All of them! Pokémon that are known to be hostile, two of which are found quite a distance away from the base camp. Almost done as if on purpose. And why did you have to send them out in the middle of winter? If I didn't know any better commander, I would say that you're intentionally trying to murder them."

"I'm surprised the other one didn't die from the cold."

Jakucho felt her blood turn to ice in her veins. She grit her teeth. That's right. That was exactly what the standards given to her were. She hadn't paused to wonder if Akari had made it at all. No, Laventon had never even asked about Akari because she wasn't given a chance to fail, apparently. She closed her eyes. Akari was just a girl. It wouldn't be fair to hold her to a higher standard.

"What are you trying to imply, Clan Leader Irida?" Commander Kamado had turned around to glare at the much younger leader, eyes narrowed and cold as ice. His hands were placed firmly on his hips, his broad figure enveloped in a shimmering black and gold haori. It was the first Jakucho had ever seen him without his signature fur-lined overcoat slung over his shoulders. Almost as if catching her, his dark eyes flitted over to land on her. Thank the gods she had looked away at the last second.

To her surprise, Irida didn't so much as flinch. She feigned ignorance, her bangles jangling noisily as she clasped her hands behind her back. "I imply nothing. I'm telling you face-to-face as a leader should. You're a hypocrite. All this talk about protecting your people! Two god-sent people fall from the sky with the power to protect your village and you send them away to die in the frozen fieldlands. What kind of commander are you?"

The taller man blinked. "Not one I would want to work under." He stood right before the commander and met his gaze, unflinching. "We agreed years ago to put our differences aside and cooperate. No more war. No more border fights. Where do you think this stranger is going to go once you cast her out? Right to us-" he gestured towards Leader Irida. And then, he said something else. Something that made Jakucho do a double take. "If your sights are set on banishing this gift that Almighty Sinnoh has sent to you, then I will take her in."

"Who said you'd be the one taking her in?" Irida protested.

"You already have a faller in your clan! You don't need another one. The Diamond Clan would be blessed to take in one who has the grace of Almighty Sinnoh."

"Silence!" Kamado boomed. His hands left his hips and now lay balled up by his sides. "In case you have forgotten, this is my village and I will make the decisions around here." In an undertone, he added- "Do not forget who it was that broke the war in the first place." One of his hands went to the hidden belt at his side where three pokéballs hung. "Now, hold your tongue." He turned. "Captain Cyllene."

Captain Cyllene nodded and reordered the papers on her desk. "Commander, I have the first hand reports from Hideyoshi and Professor Laventon ready for you."

"Read them," Kamado instructed, turning his back on the other clan leaders.

"Of course. Our two candidates, Akari and Jakucho, were instructed yesterday just before dawn to head into the Obsidian Fieldlands and catch three pokémon each. Akari was to obtain a Bidoof, a Starly, and a Wurmple. Jakucho was to obtain a Shinx, a Buizel, and a Ponyta. Akari completed her taskings and reported back to the camp two hours after being sent out. Jakucho did not make it back to the camp by sundown and a search team was sent to find her. They did not succeed. In failing to return before sundown, Jakucho failed her task. Professor Laventon and Hideyoshi report that Jakucho returned back to the encampment yesterday morning with her three respective pokémon. Commander? Your orders?"

Commander Kamado turned to stare at her again. He strode to stand directly in front of her, his beady eyes glinting in the pale light of the room. Jakucho did not meet his gaze, staring at the details in his haori. She would not look. Absolutely not.

"Consider just how much she could contribute to the pokédex, commander," Professor Laventon suggested. "She still completed the trial and it was circumstances outside of her control that caused her delay. Having her on our side would help further your goal of establishing peace between people and pokémon-"

"That is not my goal." Commander Kamado looked her up and down once more and stepped back, his mind having been made up. "I created this village as a means to an end. A place for people to live safely without the fear of being harmed by those animals. Catching pokémon will not make them afraid of us. It will not keep them away forever."

"So what's the verdict?" Adaman cut in loudly.

"She has failed her task," Kamado answered simply. Coldly. "And because she has failed the task, she is hereby banished from Jubilife Village. I have no room for you. No purpose for you. Especially one who has invoked the wrath of an alpha. It is a bad omen. One that I cannot ignore. As the commander of this village- this team- every decision I make here is for the protection of my people." His cold gaze finally met hers and Jakucho glared at him. "You must leave. Do not return."

Jakucho said nothing at her place in the corner, staring at the commander until the older man looked away to commune with the captain. How she wanted to yell. To protest. The various cuts and bruises she'd gotten from being out in the Fieldlands all day from an unfair task while Akari had managed her own in two hours. Especially how she'd nearly frozen to death. Jakucho bit her tongue.

Clan Leader Irida began protesting loudly about something again but Jakucho was not listening. The tall man from before, Clan Leader Adaman, strode purposefully towards her, a warm smile on his face as he stopped and gave her a small bow, seeming to seize her up for a moment.

"My name is Adaman," he began. "I'm the leader of the Diamond Clan. You must be Jakucho. I've heard much about you. A pleasure."

"Uh- the same to you."

"I'm certain you've already heard the conversation from before." He straightened up. "Commander Kamado may be banishing you, but I want to extend the opportunity to join the Diamond Clan instead. We could always use a skilled ranger in our clan. What do you say?"

"Will there be a trial as well?"

Adaman shook his head, the beads in his dark hair jangling. "No. We don't do trials. If you can do basic things like gather firewood or keep watch for strangers in the night, then you've got a spot waiting for you at the Diamond Heath. It's the center settlement of my clan. It's a bit marshy but I'm sure you'll get used to it. So?"

Jakucho found herself smiling, clasping her hands in front of her as Cyndaquil climbed up her legs again. She bowed deeply. "Of course. I would love to, if you'll have me."

"Then it's decided." Adaman put his hands on his hips, clearly relieved before he spared a glance at the captain and the commander. "Let me get some things clear with the Galaxy Team and then you'll be following me and my men back to the Heath. How long will you be getting your things for?"

"Oh! Uh, I only came with the clothes on my back, sir. Nothing else."

A brief look of displeasure crossed his face. He pinched the bridge of his nose, his discomfort made clear in his furrowed brows and averted eyes. "Please, just call me Adaman. Times are changing and 'clan leader' just takes far too long. No need for formalities here. Give me just a few minutes of your time. I'll be right back."

While Adaman took up a heated conversation with the captain and commander, Jakucho was quietly approached by two other people wearing the same cobalt robes. They were Diamond Clan members, having escorted Adaman to Jubilife Village. They brought her to the same barracks room where she had stayed the night before and gave her a bundle of similar robes with the orders to put them on; they were Diamond Clan robes lined with fur and they were much, much warmer than her current gear.

It took only five minutes before the two clan members knocked on her door again. She emerged to see Adaman heading her way, flanked by two other men who looked just a little bit worse for wear.

"All ready to go?"

"Yes sir- Adaman," she corrected herself.

He nodded and with a wave over his shoulder beckoned her to fall in line as the six of them made their way toward the gate. "Let's get a move on. The sooner we leave this village, the easier our troubles will be." In a softer tone, he added, "I don't want to be stranded in the fieldlands during this horrible winter, almighty help me."

Jakucho found herself staring at the back of Adman's head, fascinated with the prospect of just ending up with such a nice guy as her leader. She would've expected Kamado to keep good on his threat and take her to the wilderness before abandoning her. What had the man wanted to say to her before?

She grimaced. Would Adman do the same when she no longer had a purpose to him? She couldn't help but doubt the man's intentions, sure that he might revoke his offer any second now. Perhaps it was just a joke. A ruse to get her away from the village. She decided to test the waters a bit. "Are you sure?" she began, voice cracking mid-way.

"About taking you into the Diamond Clan?" Adaman responded without missing a beat. He slowed down to meet her eye-to-eye, letting his guards take the lead. "I meant what I said. We of the Diamond Clan live simply and value every minute of our lives. You know-" he began softly- "you are the first outsider that I've taken in during my rule."

"How many outsiders are there in the Diamond Clan?"

"Many. So many that I've lost count!" he laughed. As they strode down the main dirt road, the sun finally peaked out from the gray mass of clouds, turning Adaman's dark blue hair to a brilliant shade of teal. "Of course, when we get to camp, I'll provide you with new, warmer clothes than whatever you're currently wearing," he rambled, pulling her down the main road. "We'll get you set up for the winter. I'll have you seen to by Lise, but we'll figure out the greater details when we arrive."

"Are we going back to the fieldlands?"

"No. We're going to the Crimson Mirelands. It's a bit of a farther walk than the fieldlands but it's much warmer there. We don't get much snow but it does rain a lot and the wind chill is ridiculous. Eventually when you get oriented, I'll have somebody introduce you to our routes and whatnot. Believe it or not, it is very easy to get lost there."

"Really now?"

The two had settled into a comfortable but brisk walk. She found herself staring headlong at the gate heading away from the village and felt at ease. So long as she wasn't ordered around or endangered by Kamado, she'd be okay in this strange place.

Almost at the gate, the two were suddenly called back.

"Jaku!"

She turned to see Akari and some boy running after her. Unlike the day before, Akari was now dressed like all the other Galaxy Scouts: in a pale blue garb with white and gold detailing. It fit her nicely, strangely enough, especially the headscarf and the red cloth around her neck that fluttered in the wind.

"Akari," she acknowledged the girl. "Looks like you made it in. Congratulations. You passed the commander's trial, eh?"

"I did!" she admitted, but she paused, eyebrows furrowed as her gaze lingered on the new robes that Jakucho wore. "You- you're not being banished, are you? I thought Professor Laventon was exaggerating."

Adaman threw an arm over Jakucho's shoulder. "She is as a matter of fact. I'll be taking this one back to the Diamond Heath with me. There is much to do." Upon seeing Akari's downcast look, Adaman smiled even more brightly. "Of course, you can come along too if you'd like. There's always room in the Diamond Clan. Kamado doesn't have to know."

Akari flinched, withdrawing back to the boy's side. "I can't."

The boy behind her perked up, fixing her with a confused frown. "Can't? Why not?" He put a hand on her shoulder. "You're not being forced to stay here in Jubilife. You can go with uh-" he shot a glance at Jakucho- "with her if you want."

"No, I mean, I feel like I'm supposed to stay here. In Jubilife," Akari rambled. She moved closer and fished something out of her pocket, looking directly at Jakucho as she spoke again. "I fell with this thing in my pocket and the only thing it's told me is to seek out all pokémon."

"Okay. Right. I know that. So you're going to seek out all pokémon because some random item tells you to? That's why you want to stay here?" Jakucho pressed. "Akari, you are a literal child. Not even a young adult yet. The only thing you should be doing is- wait, what would you be doing in this time and age?"

"Probably being a helper on the farm or just malingering." The boy from before moved a bit closer and stuck out his hand. "Name's Rei. I'm Professor's Laventon's assistant. I've been a scout for the Galaxy Team for a year and so. Kids don't really do anything here."

"Right. Okay. So does it hold true that nobody has ever caught three pokémon in a single outing?" Jakucho challenged him.

"That's right. Only our seasoned scouts that have more than five years under their belt venture beyond the fieldlands and even for them, none of them have more than two or three on their teams."

Jakucho found Akari's eyes. "Don't you think it's a bit cruel to force a trial on a child like you? In the middle of winter to boot? Look, wherever we washed up, it's not a forgiving place. It's not a kind place. I'm not going to try to figure out what brought us here but I am going to survive until I figure it out."

"But what if it's a sign?" Akari whispered.

"What?"

"What if- I get the feeling that I'm supposed to hold onto this thing, whatever it is. It works on its own- speaks on its own! What if whatever sent us here wants us both to seek out all pokémon?"

"Then why didn't I have your thing as well?"

"I don't know. But I get this feeling that if I do as it asks, that maybe we'll get to go home. Professor Laventon is making a journal about every pokémon here in the region. Maybe if I help him complete it, we can go home."

Jakucho looked away, not wanting to spoil Akari's hopes. Neither of them remembered where they'd come from. Who's to say that they'd even reorient themselves if they were suddenly put back where they were supposed to be? Jakucho did not believe in almighty gods or a divine power. Becoming pious wouldn't fix their situations either.

She sighed, and turned to face the gate. "You can believe what you want to believe, Akari. I hope you're right and that eventually we'll go back to wherever we came from, but I'm going to prioritize my survival until that happens." She turned back and gave Akari a begrudging nod. "Maybe we'll cross paths someday."

"Don't leave," Akari retorted, snagging the hem of Jakucho's robes. "We fell together. We should stay together! I don't- I'm the only outsider here. I don't want to be left behind."

"I'm not leaving you behind. You want to stay with the Galaxy Team. So be it. Just come visit. Adaman literally just said that you're always welcome wherever it is we're going."

"That's not the point," Akari grumbled.

"You have your orders from the Almighty. Seek out all pokémon. I don't have a goal. I don't have a purpose. It's better for me to stay on the sidelines while you fulfill your prophecy. Just come visit if you need anything or want to talk. I'll always be available."

"And as Almighty Sinnoh's Champion, you have the Diamond Clan's blessings," Adaman butted in. "If it is their wish for you to discover every pokémon, then we will assist you in any form. Don't hesitate to ask!"

Jakucho smiled. She was thankful that she was taken in by such a nice clan. She bid Akari and Rei a hasty goodbye and was again pulled toward the gate by Adaman and his guards, hurried on by their waste of time. She only then noticed that a familiar weight had moved around on her shoulder.

"Cyndaquil. You little rascal! Aren't you supposed to be back with the Professor?" She'd forgotten that Cyndaquil had been piggy-backing in her hood the whole time. "Great. Now I have to turn around and take you-"

"The Professor said that Cyndaquil had taken a liking to you so he wanted you to bring it along." Adaman paused and with a knowing grimace, added- "I think he wanted you to discover what it's capable of or something like that. For that pokédex of his."

Jakucho shook her head tiredly and moved her partner so that she was cradling it in her arms. "Of course. Of course, I'd still be lumped in with Almighty Sinnoh's quest. Guess I can't avoid the call after all."

"So it's a quest now?"

"Of course it is. I'm whisked away into a foreign land to raise this dubious little creature and find all of Almighty Sinnoh's beastly children. It couldn't not be a quest."

As Adaman led the way and the gates of Jubilife Village grew smaller and smaller, Jakucho snuggled her partner closer, huddling against the cold wind. "You need a name, huh?" she muttered. She thought back on the task she'd been given and how long the night had seemed, bettered only by her precious companion. "Dusk. Your name is Dusk."

She then thought of her own name given by the captain and shook her head. Akari had called her Jaku and it was spoken in a way that made her want to hold onto it. Jaku it would be.