July 22nd, First Year

"Ingo-"

"Stop."

"Brother-"

"Cease!" Ingo whirled around, his chest tight as he turned to face the gangly creature across from him. He could hear his heart beating frantically in his chest, cold sweat dripping down his face. "I- I will not hear any more of this," he growled. "Now be silent-"

"I won't!" Emmet howled. "After everything I've just told you, you still think she's one of the good guys?"

"She is not against us!"

"She wiped your memories!" Emmet exploded. The man had gotten so close that Ingo had to practically restrain himself from lunging at his self-proclaimed 'twin'. "I saw her do it! She admitted it to me! To us!"

"Only to you." Ingo put distance between himself and the imposter before him. As he spoke, the corners of his mouth rose in a cruel grimace. "Think as you please. I have a job to do."

"Not without me you don't!" Emmet threw himself in front of Ingo, his face similarly contorted with rage. "I did not come all the way to this Arceus-forsaken country just so that you could trail behind somebody who's so obviously using you like a pokémon's plaything! She's not your friend, Ingo! If anything, you don't remember because she keeps erasing your memory!"

"And yet she can't erase yours?"

Emmet groaned loudly, his nails digging into the bark of a tree before he turned to face Ingo. "I don't know! I don't know why it won't work on me, but it just doesn't! You have to believe me, Ingo! Why would I lie to you?"

Ingo pushed past the thing, too disturbed to dignify the creature with a response. He pulled his tattered jacket tighter around him, Gliscor emerging from its ball to form a wall of muscle between the two arguing men. The large bat chittered on Ingo's back, hissing menacingly as Emmet attempted to approach again.

It had been so since the two men had set off that morning. Ingo's head was still pounding from the effort, more so since he'd never been so loud since he'd first gotten to Hisui.

His boots squelched in the thick mud, a coming storm rumbling above as the warden led the way across the thickening jungles of the Crimson Mirelands. A safety check is in order, his mind supplied quietly, dredges of anger-laced venom seeping into his thoughts. He had done what he had set out to do and had checked in on his fellow faller; all was well, despite whatever the Zoroark trailing him believed.

All is well, Ingo repeated. Things are running on their respective tracks. All but one passenger has been accounted for. He let his fingers skim the coverings of his set of pokéballs. Not true, his mind argued. Not all things are running smoothly. What is my task? What am I supposed to be accomplishing here? These thoughts had been plaguing Ingo since he had first gained the Lustrous Orb.

What was his purpose? What was he supposed to be doing? Miss Akari's job was to quell the rampaging nobles and, by proxy, so too was this his job. Miss Jaku's job was to restore the flow of time by fixing the time distortions scattered about the region. So then, what was his goal? Surely, he hadn't been brought back just to collect muddy papers.

His train of thought was interrupted as the thick swamplands began to clear, a large marshy clearing coming into view. Members of the Diamond Clan milled about, their clothes stained with clay and mud as they hauled lumber and rolled stones into position. The earth beneath him was sopping wet, the warden struggling to put one foot in front of the other as he led the way to the center of the commotion.

"Melli! Can you help the rangers fix those wooden pikes into position, please! And- oh." As Ingo neared, Leader Adaman paused and fixed the two of them with apprehensive stares. The man focused on Ingo first. "Warden Ingo?"

"Leader Adaman," Ingo rumbled. He bowed low, pointedly shooting a glance at Emmet who followed his motions with a bit more hesitation and dismay. "Apologies for my sudden intrusion. I couldn't help but notice that the Diamond Clan is no longer situated by Lake Valor. Would your clan happen to require any assistance with repairs?"

Adaman blinked. He motioned Ingo in closer, halting him as the two shared a deep understanding glance. Once he was satisfied, Adaman nodded. "It's been… rough these past few days, Warden Ingo. Any help you can provide for the Diamond Clan would be deeply appreciated."

"Of course. This blight affects us all. Please let me know how I can assist you-"

"You can start by helping me out over here, old man!" Warden Melli of the Diamond Clan appeared, his long hair pinned into a low bun as he butted into the group. "I'm going to borrow this one, Adaman," Melli simpered, one hand resting leisurely on Ingo's shoulder. "I'll return him later at my earliest convenience."

"Right," Adaman nodded. "And as for you, Emmet-"

"Ingo, get back here. You're not leaving my side."

From before him, Melli blinked. Ingo himself blinked. When had the creature grown bolder like that? Melli then scowled and turned to face Ingo's lookalike. "A bit possessive, aren't you?" He then turned to Ingo and in a much quieter voice, added, "Is he a-"

"I cannot say for sure," Ingo replied curtly. He then cleared his throat. "Ah, this makes the perfect opportunity. I do believe I needed to speak with you about a terrain change in the Coronet Highlands." He gave Melli the smallest of nods which the man returned in kind. A quiet message.

Melli's expression melded to one of sheer smugness, feigning frustration as he quickly removed his hand from Ingo's shoulder. "Of course! You come to me just to talk about work. Fine! Adaman, we'll be back! Warden's meeting only!"

Once the two were far enough, Melli had dropped his smug aura. He frowned, dropping his hatchet into the sopping earth before taking a seat on a log. "So what's the occasion? It's not often that you come looking for me. And what's with that thing tailing you? I've seen a few lookalikes but never one that doesn't explicitly look just like you. It's creepy."

Ingo cradled his face in his hands. "I am not sure what to make of that… creature. Upon retrospection, I wish that I would've rid myself of it when I first encountered them."

That made Melli start forward. "You were going to kill the thing?" The man then paused and reseated himself. "Right… Right, I- I forget that Zoroarks hate you." After a moment, Melli spoke again. "Why didn't you?"

"Chandelure wouldn't allow it. Lady Sneasler located a breeding den of Zoroarks near the Primeval Grotto. I was supposed to clear out the den- so to speak- but Chandelure did not follow my command out. She let that thing live. I had to call upon Gliscor to finish the job correctly."

"Isn't Chadey-lure-"

"Chandelure," Ingo corrected promptly.

Melli sighed. "Chandelure. Isn't she supposed to be that pokémon that wielded flames with mastery? Isn't she your pokémon? The one you're closest to?"

Ingo didn't know the right answer to that question. He rolled Chandelure's brand new pokéball into his hands, feeling a cold heat spike along his palms. She had refused to leave her ball ever since the incident back in the highlands. Ingo blinked.

"…May I be honest with you, Warden Melli?"

The man rocked forward, his eyes widening as he stood at his full height. "Excuse me? You wanna tell me something personal? Who do I look like? The clan shaman?" He stepped closer, his Stunktank toddling along to rub against Ingo's legs. "What could you possibly have to tell me?"

"I… I want a second opinion on a few things, and I want the opinion of a person that won't regard me by my title or by my background but for who I am at my core. A person who will tell me the truth. I believe that person to be you, warden."

"…You think I would ever cut you any slack?" Melli chuckled smugly though his words were interlaced with confusion. To Ingo's surprise, Melli didn't keep speaking. He simply backed away, inviting the older man to talk.

Ingo cleared his throat. "It has come to my attention that… the people I have been associating with- they are not what they seem to be. I want to hear what you think about these people if you know them and how they appear to you."

"Shoot."

"Ahem. Miss Akari. Have you met them yet?"

Melli scoffed. "That Galaxy Team noodle of a grunt? Yes, I've seen then. Seen them struggling, that is," Melli chuckled. "She's a strange little girl. And who does she think she is, walking around messing with the nobles?" Melli stopped laughing, removing his hat from his head as he fidgeted with the embroidery. "I heard about what the two of you had to do to quell Lord Kleavor back when he was rampaging. I can only hope it doesn't occur with Lord Electrode. Anywho, I don't think that girl is cut out for the task. She's too weak. Too dependent on help. If I remember correctly, you did most of the work!"

"She assisted," Ingo butted in, but the man was quickly cut off.

"Quiet, warden! You asked for my opinion so that's exactly what you're getting. Now pipe down! That Galaxy Team noodle isn't suited for tackling the nobles. They're called nobles for a reason. I have faith that Almighty Sinnoh sent them for something, but as far as I'm aware, they've done nothing but meddle in affairs that don't concern them."

"And even now? What about with Lady Lilligant?"

"I-I cannot speak about Lady Lilligant. I have heard that the Pearl Clan has forbidden you from quelling any more of the nobles but I would've preferred you doing it over the girl. And before you get all nervous and cutesy about the fact that I, The Great Melli, have noticed you, it's only because you're the only pokémon wielder with a team of six in all of Hisui! Don't you get sentimental on me, now!"

Ingo gave a hearty chuckle, the corners of his mouth twisting upwards. "Come now! At least let me cherish a crumb of your praise, as rare as it is!"

"No, Ingo. That's not what I agreed to." And then, Melli continued. "Was that all you wanted to ask me?"

"Hmm. Not quite. I want your opinion of Miss Jaku and of that… thing. Surely, you've run into them before while they were lingering around here."

Melli's expression soured. "Jaku? They're just plain weird like seeing a Banette during the daytime. That and annoying. She's constantly stealing Adaman's attention and-" Melli complained, crossing his arms- "I.. To be honest, I don't have an opinion of them. We rarely run into each other."

"But you don't think they're malevolent in any way?"

"Who? Her? No. I think she's a strange girl but that's about it. Let me guess. Skinwalker is next, huh?"

"You have guessed correctly," Ingo chuckled. "And perhaps I might keep that nickname."

"I'll put it like this. When he was here with the clan, he wouldn't shut up about finding you and returning you home. I don't think he's a Zoroark but whatever he is, he's just uncanny. And don't think I didn't hear your little argument with it when you two came thundering in; you should know that that thing absolutely hates Jaku."

Ingo blinked. "Has that always been a thing?"

"Yeah, it has. I don't think the squirt knows it, but he was constantly complaining about her. Never wanted to work with her. He can't stand them. I'm not sure what that thing's goal is or why it hates the girl so much, but you should keep it at a distance."

"…Thank you, Melli. Your insight is greatly appreciated."

"It better be. You're lucky I don't charge for such great wisdom-"

"One last thing."

"…?"

"…Nevermind." Ingo hastily got back onto his feet, carefully tying his jacket around his waist, his haori glinting in the pale sunlight. "Thank you for answering my questions. Should we get back to work?"

Warden Melli reaffixed his hat, a brief flash of worry crossing his face. He took a deep breath. "Of course. And Ingo? Maybe you should try the Temple of Sinnoh. No better way to connect than moving to the roof of Hisui. I- You shouldn't compare your path to the others. You've been here for much longer than either of them. Even if they're moving faster than you and even if they seem like they're more involved in their tasks, it doesn't mean that you won't get there eventually. Warden to warden? We're chosen for a reason. Like you said before, Almighty Sinnoh had to have some reason to send you here. You'll find it eventually. You just have to keep looking forward and if you need help, you've got friends."

"Are you my friend, then?"

"…Yes."

Ingo gave the man a genuine smile. "Happy to hear it."

July 23rd, First Year

Ingo carefully picked his way through tangling tree roots, careful to keep his hands away from the spore-covered leaves. He emerged near the bank of Lake Valor, his eyes settling on the swirling gray border of the Time Distortion. This will not work.

He grew closer, setting one hand along the firm edge, watching as the skin of his palm began to distort and sink into the bubble. He quickly drew back. What am I even doing anymore? Ingo sighed deeply and continued further downstream where the river splashed into a raging rapid. He sank to his knees on the pebbly riverbank. He had no reflection in the muddy water.

He eyed the dead screen of his Xtransceiver. No messages from Almighty Sinnoh. No new orders. Just a blinking light of where the next Old Verse should be. He gritted his teeth and then proceeded to reach into his pack to draw out the Lustrous Orb and an Old Verse. Would this work? Surely, the water was not clean enough. Surely, he would need to figure out a different way to contact his patron god.

Ingo held the Lustrous orb between his shaking hands. Silence. He did the same with the Old Verse, his scowl deepening when it too yielded no results. He contemplated entering the water but backed away as a large, twisted tree trunk flew past him on the water's surface. A mission for a dead man, this. How disappointing.

He quickly returned back to the new camp, the two items burning holes in his pockets. The guards at the wooden pike fence bid him a quick hello and no sooner did Ingo enter the camp did Melli approach him, his eyes twisted with confusion.

"Oi! Old man! Where have you been?"

"Out," Ingo lied. "What can I do for you, Melli?"

"Oh, quit that! I'm not wasting my time on you for an idle chat," Melli corrected him, his tone leaving no room for jokes. "That thing- Emmet- was he with you when you left?"

Ingo blinked. "No. No, I did not take him with me. Why do you ask?"

"He- they're missing. This place literally just got done being sieged by wild pokémon. Apparently, he got taken during the commotion by a huge Yanmega."

Ingo hummed to himself. He didn't care. He didn't care? He didn't care. His mind drew away from the imposter that shared his face, instead gearing towards what he should do for the camp. And that… bothered him. Why didn't he care? Why couldn't he bring himself to care? The imposter hadn't done anything to him… yet. Chandelure trusted him. Chandelure believed that thing to be the real Emmet. Was it possible then, that pokémon could also be tricked by a Zoroark's illusion? Or maybe… maybe he'd been going at it all wrong?

"Ingo, what's wrong with you? You don't look well." A wet hand settled in the fabric of his haori and began pulling him away from the camp center. "You need to visit Rez in the medical tent. I don't think you're well enough to be going out alone. Especially not during these times."

Ingo snatched away his sleeve and turned to look at Melli. He'd trusted his fellow warden with a few of his worries. And the man had offered his assistance if Ingo needed it. "You… you suggested before that I go to the Temple of Sinnoh if I wished to speak with the divine creator, yes?"

"Yeah, I- I did do that. Is that what's keeping you on edge?"

"Correct. I-I need answers. I will be traveling there shortly and-"

"I'm coming with you then." Melli removed his hands from the warden's back. "You need somebody to make sure you don't fall into a snowdrift and suffocate, no offense."

Ingo scoffed. "Full offense taken. But the sentiment is appreciated."

"I need to go and grab my winter tunic. I'll let Adaman know where we're going and then we can head there. This is gonna be a full week's trip and you spring this on me at the last second. You're lucky that I like you, warden. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother!"

Melli quickly disappeared and Ingo was left staring after him. Melli… liked him? Ingo pulled down the brim of his hat. He'd remember that for later.

As soon as the other warden returned swaddled in thick furs and snowshoes, Ingo pulled out an Old Verse from his bag. He'd have to personally thank Miss Jaku for her tip on 'fast travel'. "Hold onto me, Warden Melli. We'll be taking a shortcut, so to speak."

"Okay…? What's the muddy paper for?"

"You'll see."

He shut his eyes, feeling a prickle of ungodly power surge through his hands and fingers. The earth warped underneath them and before long, the two men were standing safely at the icy, stone steps leading to the Temple of Sinnoh.

"You- you know what? I'm not even going to question it at this moment." Melli removed himself from Ingo and stood, slightly shivering, as the two gazed up at the acropolis. "Okay. What exactly did you come here to do?"

"Please bear with me for this. I cannot exactly test my theory in the mirelands, but- the snow should do for the time being." Ingo quietly picked his way up the stone steps, his eyes taking in the abandoned marbled platform.

He was aware of its history, of the ancient Celesticans enlisting the help of pokémon to bring the stones here as a dedication of their faith to Almighty Sinnoh. All around him wreathed the frightening truth that Almighty Sinnoh's first followers, the ones who revered him so, were missing without a trace leaving only their craftsmanship and mysterious artifacts behind.

The marble pillars, rooted to the base of acropolis with shining gold, brilliant diamonds and shining pearls, stood tall, their columns scratched with carvings in a language neither Ingo nor Melli could read. Snow whistled through the columns, building up along the edge of the platform. They continued onward, footsteps ricocheting off the glazed tiles.

Large statues towered over the two men, each bearing the likeness of a noble. Ingo found his eyes roaming toward the one of Lady Sneasler. Only a cold sneer of contempt and anger met him, the hairs on the back of his neck spiking upwards as he turned his back on the statue.

"Creepy, isn't it?" Melli commented quietly. "Can't believe we're actually up here."

"If I am right in my theory, then we should not need to be here for long."

"And what's your theory, old man?"

Ingo paused in the middle of the acropolis where the roof did not cover and where the clouds had parted allowing a glimpse into the heavens. He took out the Lustrous Orb and carefully began to build a mound of fresh snow.

"The last I heard from Almighty Sinnoh was back in the Icelands when I was submerged in water. I might be able to connect with them again if I am submerged in snow."

"And you had to come all the way up here just to- no, wait. I did suggest that you come here to clear your head," Melli grunted. "No matter. So you're gonna bury yourself in snow until the merciful creator gives you the answers that you want?"

"Precisely. Would you mind terribly to watch my things?"

"I don't care. Just do what you have to do, warden. You owe me a trip back to the mirelands anyway, so don't die of hypothermia."

"I won't, you have my word."

Ingo settled the orb in his lap and then pulled the remaining snow over his head, sealing himself inside the snow mound. Teeth chattering, Ingo took the Lustrous Orb between his two hands and waited. And waited… And waited.

"Seeking Answers From The Almighty Is A Fruitless Task." A heavy pressure settled on Ingo's head, forcing his eyes closed as the being closed in on him. "Be Well, Champion Of Space. I Can See Your Inner Turmoil. Have Faith. There Is Still Much To Come For You."

"How can I be sure of that?" Ingo retorted angrily. "Why can't I be given a simple answer? What is my purpose? What is the point of collecting these Old Verses?"

The pressure moved to his spine, threatening to snap him in half as the deity continued. "You Are Frustrated," the being noted. "Your Lack Of Information Was Created Intentionally. It Is Not Desired For You To Know Too Much At This Time."

"By whom? You? Who are you?"

"I Am Mespirit. I Am The Being Of Emotions."

"Mespirit," Ingo sounded the name on his tongue. "Tell me, Mespirit. How much is being withheld from me? Why can't I remember what I don't know?"

"The Answer Is Simple. Perhaps You Have Heard It From The Champion Of Time?"

"…Miss Jaku?"

A warm hum filled Ingo's head. "Yes. Them. As It Stands Now, You Might Pose As An Obstacle To Them If You Were To Learn All That Has Occurred Within Hisui And That Which Might Arise In The Future. You Must Wait Patiently, Champion Of Space. Your Inaction Now Will Be Reversed Once All Prominent Actions Fall Into Place. You Must Only Wait And Do As The Almighty Commands."

"…Is it true, then?"

"Hmm?"

"Are they- is the champion of time erasing my memories on purpose?" Ingo clenched his hands in the folds of his haori, a terrible cold ache building in his gut.

"…Yes."

And in the fraction of a second, the cold ache grew into an intolerable pain that radiated off of his spine. That thing- Emmet, they'd been right. Proven here by a deity, Emmet had been right. He hadn't been lying to Ingo. Miss Jaku had been jostling around his mind and had deliberately lied to him on numerous occasions.

"It Is Done With A Purpose," Mespirit appealed to him.

But Ingo wasn't listening anymore. "Leave me be, then. This orb allowed me to regain memories lost to time. I want to see them."

"You Won't," Mespirit retorted. "They Are No Longer Yours To Have. Strange, That Palkia Would Even Allow You To View Them."

Ingo clutched the orb tighter, his fingers starting to ache from the effort. He was cold. Ice cold. Melting snow water dripped onto his chest and soaked through his haori.

"What did you do?"

A terrible snarl rang through the clearing, the sound of quick, heavy footprints squishing through the mud away from him. Clothing snagged and as Ingo emerged into the memory, he saw himself, cloudy-eyed, staring lifelessly at a patch of undergrowth numerous paces away.

He then sighted the imposter towering over Miss Jaku with an iron grip on her shoulder, the man looking deranged with his teeth gritted and his eyes glowing silver despite the growing night.

Miss Jaku eyed him. "What're you talking about?" she had drawled. "We're heading toward the Diamond Heath, or did you two forget? We-"

"Cut. The act," Emmet growled. The two of them were less than a few inches apart, Emmet's hands twitching at his side. His grasp on Jaku's tunic was tight enough to nearly lift the girl off of the earth. "Your little memory trick? It didn't work. Tell me what you did to my brother."

Ingo watched as the man rolled a pokéball into his free hand.

"Tell me what you're up to. Tell me where to find Uxie."

Jaku only blinked at him. And then she smirked. "No, I don't think I will." She ripped herself free of Emmet's hold only for Emmet to grab her by her headscarf and haul a back a second time. She grunted from the strain. "What were we talking about then-"

"You called dibs on dying first."

Pardon? What was that last part? Ingo shook his head, a headache building behind his temples. Ingo had never seen the thing look so disturbed and vicious. Was it doing it all for him?

Miss Jaku went silent but only for a moment. "…Oh. So blabbering doesn't work on you. Weird. Works on literally everybody else."

Everybody else? She was wiping other people's memories? On purpose?

"How many people's memories have you wiped-" Emmet started, but Jaku paid him no mind.

"This ought to work." Their fingers went to their pendant. They twisted the dial once, time freezing before things began to change.

What Ingo saw terrified him. Where time had slowed to a standstill, Jaku continued to move, watching with mild boredom as both Emmet and Ingo's movements reversed. The two men were placed back over the hill and Jaku herself was placed back at the edge of the distortion, her face turned to stare as their encounter restarted all over again.

The two men came over the hill just as they had the last time, only Emmet was now firmly grasping Ingo's hand as he led the way, his expression twisted with utter hatred and disdain. Emmet hadn't been lying.

July 23rd, First Year

"Breathe man! If you die on me all the way up here, I'm never going to forgive you!"

Ingo surged back to life with a wheezing breath, grasping at his cold, damp chest as Melli's face swam into view. He was uncomfortably aware of how cold the acropolis floor was and how his frost-bitten skin stuck to the tiles.

"Oh, thank the divines! I thought you'd frozen to death in that snow mound of yours."

Ingo coughed up mouthfuls of snowwater, his limbs shaking with exhaustion but not before he turned to find Melli. "Take the orb," he choked out. "Take it. Get rid of it. I don't want it anymore."

He couldn't trust his mind anymore. He just couldn't. Not when the people he thought he could trust were using his amnesia against him. Not when the deities he was supposed to be serving were deliberately lying to him. Not when he couldn't trust his own senses. Not when he couldn't even trust his own pokémon. Could he trust anybody anymore?

Melli paused, half leaning over him as the tall man dragged him to lay against a pillar. "What are you going on about? You- it's your orb-"

"I don't want it! I don't want this burden anymore!" Ingo cried. He shut his eyes, curling in on himself. Warm tears spilled over his cheeks, freezing as they splashed against the icy tiles of the acropolis. "I'd rather not know. I'd rather have never been told!"

"Told what?"

"Emmet was right," Ingo whispered. "I can't do this anymore. I can't be a champion anymore. If this I what I must suffer, then I don't want to go home. I don't need to go home," Ingo vowed mindlessly, hardly noticing that Melli had frozen at his sudden onslaught of words. "Take the orb, Melli. Take it and get rid of it. I never want to see the thing again."

"You want me to destroy the artifact of a god?" Melli chuckled weakly. "I'm not looking for any kind of trouble with deities. I can't destroy it, but I can hide it somewhere. If that makes you feel better, than I drop it in the ocean. Somewhere you can't reach it."

"Perfect. Thank you, Melli. Thank you, truly."

"…We still have to get back to the mirelands."

Ingo nodded. "That will do then," he babbled. "So long as I never have to see that damned orb again. But I will continue to hold the Old Verses. You have been a great help to me, Melli. Thank you. Thank you for what you've done for me."

"I… don't mention it, Ingo. Come on. Let's get back to camp before you catch winter sickness or something."