June 25th, First Year
The order had come in the middle of the night with Rei and Yuki pounding on the door to her room. They boys had looked flushed, Rei having his hat ripped in several places and Yuki straining on his wooden crutches as they both dragged her to the Galaxy Headquarters; she'd been summoned by Commander Kamado again. She tried to swallow back her apprehension at being near the intimidating man again.
Apparently, the success of her assistance in quelling Lord Kleavor had boosted her reputation, so much so that she was being sent off with just Rei to quell Lady Lilligant who had gone mad a week prior according to the Diamond Clan. Strange. Akari pulled out her Arc Phone when she knew she was alone and glanced at the list of missions she'd accrued; nothing about Lady Lilligant. How come I didn't get a notification?
The effects of the lady's rampage were still unknown. Akari had known that something was up the way Captain Cyllene seemed to be doleful as she sent letters back and forth with her Abra, always dousing the thick envelopes in some kind of perfume or spray before she dared open them.
So now, she trudged beyond the thick undergrowth-laden tree line of the bog, trying not to gag at the wet sounds of the mud pulling at her boots. She pulled her foot loose from a thicket of brambles, wincing as she tumbled into a patch of sticker bushes. She recoiled as a cloud of yellow smoke drifted up from the wet grass below. Akari blinked and quickly covered her mouth and nose with her scarf. Arceus above! This place is awful!
They'd made it to the mirelands just as the sun was overhead, stopping in a remote clearing high in the mountains where they could survey the entirety of the swamps. Thick patches of mangrove trees swarmed the hills leaving the lower bogs dense with ferns and grass tangles. The air was loud with the sounds of croaking and buzzing and squawking, a loud raucous roar ringing out from a faraway cave. Clusters of Yanmas soared overhead, their buzzing wings sending shudders down Akari's spine. How could the Diamond Clan stand this place?
"We're going to…?"
"Wait here. We can't go any further without those escorts from the Diamond Clan; the commander's orders."
An irritated voice drifted from the back of the group. "We seriously have to go in that infested bog? It's probably crawling with bugs! Did I pack any bug spray?"
"Seriously? You sound just like Captain Cyllene!"
The scouts were supposed to be staying with the Diamond Clan since the territory was now too dangerous for anybody, even for those who wielded pokémon, to camp in peace. The reason for it had not been discussed amongst the junior scouts like her. Akari suspected that Rei knew why; the boy was constantly dogging the professor's heels. He was bound to hear something sooner or later.
She turned to observe him, watching as he carefully picked his way over to stand just before the twisted roots of a willow tree. His brows were furrowed, eyes scanning the length of the branch and trunk for something. He shook his head, frustrated, before turning to inspect another tree.
Whatever, Akari thought boredly to herself. Rei is always weird like that.
"There they are!" Rei finally exclaimed, standing up from his hunched over position before a mossy log. Tot perked up from inside the boy's shirt, its nose wrinkled.
Three Diamond Clan rangers quietly filed into the clearing, their heads bowed, and their faces obscured. They were covered with thick black shiny canvas tarps. All of them were wearing scarves covering their noses and mouths. All of them looked gaunt and exhausted. They moved easily through the sucking mud, weapons perched on their hips as they quickly surrounded the survey scouts.
"Keep your voice down," one of the rangers muttered. He was a large and intimidating man, his navy blue and red tunic clinging to his bulky frame. Dark dreadlocks poked out from the man's secured hood. He gave Rei a harsh glare, tossing the boy a similar neck scarf. "Put these on. You won't survive a second in the mirelands if you don't."
"What're these for?" Rei asked plainly.
"I'll tell you as we go. For now, do as I say." The ranger didn't leave much room for debate, swiftly turning on his heel. The other rangers followed after him in one quiet, solemn line.
As the rest of the scouts tailed after the rangers, Rei quickly tied his scarf before catching up with the older man again. "I did guess that the pokémon out here would be dangerous due to Lady Lilligant, but is this really necessary?"
"You have no idea."
They passed through the wetter parts of the woods, emerging near a massive river that thundered down the debris-littered slope. Brackish water sucked at the banks, pulling with it stones and roots and even a fully-grown tree. Mold-covered tree stumps and dusty bushes littered the riverbank as they carefully picked their way across higher up. The ranger in the lead had told them to watch their footing because the river they walked along plunged into a sinkhole further downstream. If they slipped, they could not and would not be saved.
They crawled along the roots of mangrove trees, Akari watching with frustration and jealousy as the rangers gracefully weaved through the dense foliage as she herself repeatedly tripped on hidden stones and smacked into countless leafy branches. This trip seemed to be taking an eternity! So long, that the hot, humid air of the bog was starting to make her clothes stick to her skin.
And she was so thirsty! Akari had pulled a few berries from one of the trees in her hunger. She nearly yelped as a strong hand caught her wrist and wrenched the berry out of her grasp. Another pair of hands quickly pulled her away from the berry tree and into the middle of the group.
"Hands to yourself, girl."
"Save your hunger until later."
Akari was about to say something in anger before flinching as the lead ranger turned to stare at her. A look of disbelief and anger flashed across his face before he came charging at her, his dark eyes narrowed.
"Did you eat any of those berries?" the lead ranger hissed at her, attracting both curious and sympathetic stares from the rest of the party.
"No. Why-"
"Akanti said that everything here might have dangerous spores on them." Rei had emerged from the front, standing a bit in front of Akari as though protecting her. He gave her a concerned glance. "Weren't you listening earlier?"
"That's not-" Akari sputtered "- I was! I just-"
"Now, now," came a gentle voice. Akari immediately recognized it as the gentle voice of Volo. "I'm sure Miss Akari just made a tiny mistake. No need to make this bigger than it needs to be."
Akanti, the lead ranger, gave the approaching interloper an unamused scowl. "I don't remember asking you to chime in. She can explain herself-" he turned his beady eyes on her- "can't you?"
"…Sorry," Akari squeaked, her face flushed with shame. Why was everybody making such a big commotion over berries? So what if they had dangerous spores? What could spores do to Arceus' champion anyway?
Akanti sighed, shaking his head. "Don't. Touch. Anything," the first ranger warned her again. "We've had several cases of clansmen contracting paralysis or severe food poisoning from our berries and our prey. Don't put your hands anywhere near your face until we get to the settlement, is that understood?"
"Yes sir."
"No need for 'sir'. Just a 'yes' will do." Without another word, Akanti took the lead of the group as they swarmed over a rocky ravine. Rude.
"Paralysis?" Rei murmured.
"Just don't eat anything unless we clear it for you," one of the Diamond Clan rangers piped up. He shot them both an apologetic glance. "Trust me, it's worse than you think. Try to bear the heat a little longer. We're almost there."
They continued. Volo, who had been milling around near the back of the party, tapped her on the shoulder as they ascended a slope heading into the mountains. He passed her a few berries from his pack with a pitying glance.
"Is this meant to be sincere or are you just poking fun at me?" Akari grumbled quietly as she accepted his offering.
"A little bit of both," Volo chuckled. His silver eye seemed to bounce from one thing to the next, Togepi hiding in the pocket of his apron as he took care where he stepped. "Never seen this place this bad."
"Is it usually this wet? And hot?"
"Yes and no. I don't believe I've ever seen so much natural damage in the mirelands before. That and obviously the spores. Now-" he pointed towards a smaller section of the bog where the trees did not grow "- Do you see those figures over there?"
"Over where?" Akari followed his finger, her eyes landing on a space in the river where the thundering waters splashed down into a dark pool. A set of broken-down pillars and dilapidated buildings rose from the mud and consuming ivy. "Those?"
"Yes. Those sets of ruins are called The Solaceon Ruins. They're incredibly old and just as mysterious. They were abandoned hundreds of years ago, or at least, that's what the rumor is."
"Why's that?"
"The ruins inside don't allude to any sort of god or a history of who lived there, but there is an old Celestican fable attached to the name. I would tell you the story, but I fear we wouldn't have the time. The only feature of notice about the ruins would be the strange inscriptions on all of the pillars and walls. It's not Hisuian and it's certainly not Celestican. I've cross-checked them with all of the examples I've gathered during my travels."
"Maybe we could take a detour later and check?" Akari replied with a mouthful of soft berries. "Perhaps this tablet of mine will know or activate in some strange roundabout way."
When they came to the Diamond Settlement, Akari couldn't help but stare at the entirety of the settlement, coming to a standstill as the rest of the group filed in before her.
Lake Valor was one massive stretch of a marshy lake with clumps of cattails poking out from the water, the banks shadowed by large willow trees dripping with wisteria and ivy. The Diamond Settlement hung around the edges like a colorful crescent, a village of nothing but fur and wooden tents held aloft by elaborate stone decks and tall scaffolding.
Carved wooden boats crowded with cages and fishing spears bobbed in the lake, seagrass and lily pads forming wavering clouds in the clear serene waters. It was a blooming oasis in the middle of a fetid swamp and Akari could now see why the people of the Diamond Clan would choose to live here. She would too if she knew how to swim.
"I'm not saying that we abandon the mirelands for now, but we do have to take greater precautions than in the past." Adaman's voice rang clearly into the plaza. He stood atop a large wooden platform with a handful of people gathered around them, all bearing machetes and all looking grim. Like his rangers, Adaman too was clothed in a black canvas tarp with his hair and face obscured by a neck scarf.
"Greater precautions?" spoke one man. He was hidden near the right of the amassing group, his blonde hair speckled with red mud. "The scaffolding is secure. We're much too high above the lake for any risk of flooding. It's not the village that needs precautions; it's the swamp!"
"Right." Akanti had moved to the front. Akari couldn't see his face, but she could tell the man was angry given by the seething tone in his voice when he said, "Moving camp away from the swamp would put us near safer water and easier-to-access food. Nobody's been able to go foraging with the poisonous spores and the land collapsing under our feet!"
"I am aware of the worsening conditions," Adaman gritted through his teeth, "but moving camp would entail putting ourselves directly into harm's way. There is no space in the mountains for us as well as no food. And the pokémon are becoming more aggressive. The fish from the lake and river are still perfectly fine to eat."
"For how long?" Akanti shot back. "First it was the berries. Then the rivers and streams. How long before Lake Valor itself becomes too dangerous to fish from?"
"It's because we're too close to Lady Liligant's seat!" A red-haired lady moved to stand directly in front of Adaman, her eyes narrowed in frustration. Akari had seen her before in Jubilife Village, milling about the hairdresser's shop with a blatant interest and a radiant smile. It was as though she were a completely different person now. "My Lady is already frenzied. Who is to say that her arena will contain her?"
Akari paused. That lady is a warden? How come she's always hanging around Jubilife, then?
"True. Lord Kleavor did not remain within his seat when he was frenzied," Adaman replied thoughtfully.
"But Lady Lilligant has never left her seat in the years that she's been of a noble status!" cried another villager.
"And where are we to go if this happens?" the red-haired warden piped up. "The Droning Encampment has already sent word that their land is being overtaken with river water. Where are we supposed to go if this land becomes too dangerous? Are we going to sit here and drown or succumb to the spores?"
Adaman's deputy, a shrewd-looking man with a patchy haori, cleared his throat. "I have already relayed information with the Pearl Clan of the news concerning Lady Liligant's frenzy. She has already requested that the camps in the Obsidian Fieldlands and the camps in the Alabaster Icelands make space for us-"
"As if we want to go live in a frozen hellhole!" cried one clansman.
"But the fieldlands are much safer, aren't they? I wouldn't mind too much…"
"But this is our home-"
"Enough!" Adaman shouted. He faced the crowd, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers as his other hand fidgeted with his necklace. "We of the Diamond Clan will remain here in our heartlands until it is no longer a viable option. To run from our Lady when she needs us the most would be cowardly." The man gave a deep sigh. "Clan dismissed."
No sooner did Adaman break up the group did he approach Akari's party, looking more exasperated than ever. "Alright, Chosen One. Welcome to the Diamond Clan Settlement. A pleasure to see you again. Let's see what you can do."
The lady from before approached alongside Adaman, her expression a mixture of embarrassment and anger. "So, you're going to try to quell Lady Liligant's frenzy? I want a long word with you. Just to be sure that you know what you're getting into. Oh, and I'm Warden Arezu by the way."
"Maybe with enough preparation, we can call forth a few of our pokémon wielders so that you won't have to throw yourself into mortal danger on our behalf," Adaman growled. His eyes softened when they landed on Akari. "I know you don't have a choice in the matter. That commander of yours seems to just throw you at anything and hope you'll stick. I'd rather not have to call on the help of a person as young as you."
"Because you're the clan leader?" Rei put in. It wasn't a question.
"You're correct, young one. My clan is not entirely enthused that the Galaxy Team is intruding upon our noble but," he paused, giving Akari a smile, "I've heard about how you rose to the challenge and assisted Warden Ingo of the Pearl Clan in calming Lord Kleavor. I care only for my clan. My pride can wait. I wanted to ask you myself instead of Kamado ordering you here. Of course, if you don't want to-"
To her own surprise, Akari found herself bristling at the idea. "No. I want to help quell Lady Lilligant." She hadn't had the chance to properly help last time. She had been too busy doubting herself and her capabilities the whole time. There was so much expectation on her as Arceus' chosen one to perform well. And if she succeeded in defeating Lady Lilligant, then…
Adaman looked thoughtful. "Very well. But since you're in the heartlands of the mirelands, I want one of my rangers with you so you don't accidently get injured or harmed by the environment." He turned, his eyes scanning the group of people around him. "Shige! Could you find Jaku and bring her here, please? Thank you."
So Jaku is here! Akari anxiously began to scan the villagers milling along the docks as she sat and waited, her hands clasped in her lap. It took a few minutes before the blonde-haired ranger returned, a familiar figure trailing behind them with a miserable expression on their face.
"Adaman? You wanted to see me?"
Akari paused. Jaku certainly did not sound well.
The older woman approached, wrapped in a dark green tunic enshrouded by a black tarp and headscarf obscuring her face. Only the bits of scruffy hair poking out from the top of the headscarf denoted who she was.
"There you are," Adaman greeted his ranger. "How are you feeling?"
"Well, I can breathe again, so that's great," the ranger joked quietly. She gave a faint cough.
"What happened?" Akari murmured. "Did you get sick?"
"Something like that. She fell into a sinkhole some time ago and accidentally ingested some of the floodwater," Adaman noted, a hint of concern in his voice.
"Not pleasant in the slightest," Jaku affirmed. "Didn't taste great, that's for certain. Didn't feel great either."
"You fell into a sinkhole!" Akari exclaimed, her eyes wide with horror. "But-"
"Jaku. You're being assigned to keep Akari safe as she goes to quell Lady Lilligant. Don't let her go off alone and please make sure that she doesn't eat or touch anything while she's out there." And with that, Adaman took his leave.
"I only picked a few berries!" Akari complained, eyeing the ranger from before that had made a big commotion about it. "It won't happen again."
"Good, because if you would've happened to eat it, you would've wound up like the others in the medical tent." Jaku grimaced. "Nothing is safe to eat or drink anymore, sans the rainwater and anything that comes from Lake Valor. All of our herbs and medicinal berries are toxic so if you get poisoned or paralyzed in the field, you'll stay that way until we get another shipment of medicine or until this whole ordeal is over. That or worst-case scenario; you die before either can happen."
Akari stilled. No wonder the camp had looked so sullen. She couldn't imagine being afraid of both pokémon and the wilderness that they lived in. Maybe that was why both Adaman and Jaku were looking a bit worse for wear. "When do we start?"
"Tomorrow. You're free to pick the time. I'll be milling around the camp entrance. Either that or just yell. I'll get the message."
June 26th, First Year
Volo had wanted to leave early that morning before the rest of the clan could wake and question their destination. As Akari had hoped, Jaku had been sitting a distance away from the camp entrance, facing the still waters of the lake mumbling incoherent words to herself.
Volo seemed to take the initiative and cleared his throat. Jaku immediately whipped around to stare at them, her mouth twisted into an expression of anger and confusion before going back to a straight line.
"Akari. Mister Volo," she'd said immediately upon getting closer. "It's not even daybreak yet. I don't suppose you're this eager to take notes?"
"We're going to check the Solaceon Ruins first," Akari offered. "Just doing a bit of delving to see if the ruins have anything to offer about the situation we're in."
"Which one? Lady Lilligant or the amnesia?" Jaku deadpanned.
"Perhaps both!" Volo put in. "And even if we find nothing, we'll gain a better understanding about the lay of the land."
Jaku seemed to ponder this for a moment and then shrugged. "So long as neither of you touch anything, it's fine by me." With a sharp jerk of her head, Jaku began to lead the way through the thick undergrowth.
"Does Adaman also want you to help quell Lady Lilligant?" Akari asked after a while. Jaku had been carefully clearing the dense foliage using her machete, having paused to take a break under the shade of a tree.
"No. After that stunt with Lord Wyrdeer?" Jaku chuckled darkly. "Adaman has made it expressly clear that I can't assist with quelling nobles anymore. He wants to leave that up to you since you're the only one that clearly has a blessing from Almighty Sinnoh."
Volo stilled. "A blessing from Almighty Sinnoh?"
"The tablet. He thinks it's a blessing and a clear choice of who has Almighty Sinnoh's blessing. As such, he doesn't want me to interfere with their frenzies. I already had a stern talking to from Warden Mai about dismissing her orders from last time."
"So you won't help me?"
Jaku looked as though she'd been slapped across the face. She stopped and glared at Akari. "I'm not going to let you die if that's what you're asking. Let me be more specific. Quelling nobles is not my job but I am permitted to step in if things get too dire." The older ranger had grown to look disgruntled from the direction of the conversation and turned to begin hacking away at the undergrowth again. So that was the end of that.
By sunhigh they had reached the edge of the Solaceon Ruins. Jaku had given them a thorough warning to watch where they placed their feet and to keep their neck scarves affixed firmly to their face before leaving to check on the habitat of a particular pokémon deeper in the swamp. They would have to wait for her to return.
The Solaceon Ruins were desolate. Completely and utterly desolate. They brought to mind the aftermath of a plague, explaining why when Volo led them into an empty courtyard, all of the pots and cookware had been left untouched. Heavy moss and kudzu carpeted what looked to be a church and just by the tree line was a house completely covered in it.
All around them were the remnants of a village lost to the wear of time and growth of space. There was not a single stone or brick that was not untouched by erosion or plant growth.
Well, nothing apart from the scribblings on the pillars and homes. Pitch black markings, new and deeply engraved, peppered the structures like a bad rash. She could've sworn one of the markings had moved from its spot on a table. Just looking at them made her feel queasy.
"Eerie, isn't it?" Volo muttered.
Akari carefully climbed a pile of rubble to stand beside Volo as he inspected a row of the black markings. "It's creepy how everything here seems to have been left behind."
"No burn marks, no broken pottery, nothing out of order. Almost as if all of the inhabitants just up and disappeared."
Volo's comment had sent shivers down her spine. The thought of people disappearing into thin air with no documentation. She now knew how easy it was to go missing without a trace in Hisui, remembering the John Doe that she had stumbled into during her first expedition in the fieldlands.
She shook her head and tried to relax. She had Volo with her. She was fine. She even laughed a little when her stomach rumbled. "Have you had the chance to eat anything other than berries yet?"
"I haven't. A real shame I didn't think to bring other rations with me."
The two explored the ruins a bit more, Akari nearly shrieking as the black markings on the pillar stretched. One of the markings quite literally floated off of the pillar it was on, its thin and sharp body swiveling around the two of them as it watched them with one unblinking eye.
Without thinking, Akari lobbed a pokéball at it. The contraption hit the creature dead-on and without so much as a wobble, the latch clicked shut. She held the freshly caught creature aloft. "Volo. What just happened?"
"No idea, my dear."
They set upon releasing the strange creature. Akari was still repulsed by the strange thing, steeling back her nausea as a new wave of hunger hit her. She quickly returned the thing back to its new ball. She'd be releasing it soon, she knew.
"We really ought to catch up to Jaku. Maybe she might know what it is. That or she'll know where to find some food."
And then, something happened. The pokéball in Akari's hand began to morph and change, its form glowing an eerie gold and silver. The ball changed into a woven reed basket lined with cloth and filled to the brim with steaming hot potato mochi.
Akari could only stare, dumbfounded. She could feel the warmth of the food on her hands. She could smell it too. "I… what?"
"I'm not seeing things, am I? You didn't just turn that pokémon into food, did you?"
How did this happen? I didn't mean to do this! I'm not dreaming, am I? It was- it was just there! I had- I had a pokéball! In my hands! Now it's food! How did I do that? Did I do that? Akari's mind was running a million different questions in the frame of a second. She paused... Is this edible?
Slowly, she reached into the basket and pulled out one of the delicacies. She could feel the crispy crumbing on her fingers, her stomach growling loudly. Was she about to eat a pokémon or just potato mochi?
"Should I test this?" Akari mused. "Should I eat this?"
"I'm more concerned about the fact that you just warped a pokémon into something that by all means shouldn't be possible," Volo responded, his voice tinged with deep confusion. "You don't think this might be a little suspicious?"
Akari scoffed. "Oh, it's suspicious but at this point, I'm too hungry to care. You think Arceus gave me some kind of freak power to turn pokémon into food?" She took a delicate bite of the mochi before turning boneless. "It's the real deal, Volo!" she laughed. "It's food!"
"…You're joking."
"I'm not! Try some!"
"Hey, uh, what the fuck are two doing over here? I left you alone for like five minutes." Akari turned to see Jaku approaching, her eyes as wide as she took in the sight before them. "Oh, so ya'll are just having a full-on picnic out here in the middle of the swamp?"
"Uhhh… yeees? Want some?"
"Absolutely not. Now stop horsing around. I'm surprised you haven't managed to get spores in that basket of… whatever that is. Just put it away and follow me. I'll show you the trail heading towards the arena where Lady Lilligant is so you can take your notes."