Chapter 107: Game Plan

Ash led Lillie and Zoey back to his camp, which was a small area with a few houses and tents set up in the snowy landscape. He led them to a blonde girl in a red dress waiting for them. Lillie thought she looked a little bit like Serena, which made her a bit uncomfortable.

"Warden Ash, you're back early. Is Lord Braviary alright?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Excellent. And I see you brought some new friends."

"This is Lillie and Zoey. Evidently, they know me from my time. Lillie and Zoey, this is Irida, the leader of the Pearl Clan."

"I see. Did they spark your memories?"

Ash sadly shook his head. Irida sighed, and gave the two girls a sympathetic look.

"I'm sorry, this can't be easy on you. We found him in the Alabaster Icelands a few months ago settling a dispute between Alpha Pokemon, so we offered him shelter in exchange for his help. I've tried to help him recover his memories, but…"

"It's okay," Lillie spoke up. "I'm just thankful that he's safe."

Irida nodded, before turning to Ash.

"I need to see Cogita. The Space Time-Rift is getting out of hand, and I need to see her about appeasing Lord Sinnoh. I was hoping you'd be willing to join me? Perhaps she can offer some insight into your lost memories."

"I think that may be for the best."

Irida nodded, and then turned to the two girls from the future.

"You're welcome to come as well. Cogita's well versed in the myths and history of Hisui. If anyone knows how to restore his memories, it's her."

"That'd be great, thank you."

After an hour of walking, they reached a small hideaway deep in the forest. When they arrived, they found Goh, Brock, Chloe, Adaman, Rei, and Professor Laventon there as well. When Adaman and Irida saw each other, they immediately began glaring at their rival.

"Adaman."

"Irida."

"Are you finally ready to admit you've been worshiping a false god and apologize?"

"You're the one who needs to apologize! Lord Sinnoh controls space, not time!"

"Oh, please! You could have all of eternity and would still be clueless."

"And you could have all the space in the world and still be alone!"

Everyone just watched bemused as the two fought like children.

"Well, this is entertaining."

"Are they always like this?"

"You wouldn't believe it."

It was only then that the other three people from the future took note of Ash's presence.

"Ash! Thank god, you're okay!"

But Ash could only stare blankly at them. Before any of them could question it, Lillie stepped in.

"Ash doesn't have any of his memories. We're hoping this Cogita person can help us."

"He…he doesn't remember us? At All?"

"Not even Pikachu."

"Pi."

"I'm sorry, I truly am, but I don't remember any of you…I wish I did."

Goh thought for a minute, before cracking a smile.

"Well, I guess we'll have to make you remember!"

Ash smiled, and chuckled.

"I hope so."

At last, a woman dressed in all black with a resemblance to Cynthia emerged from the hut. Upon seeing Adaman and Irida arguing, she sighed loudly, finally drawing their attention.

"Did you two really come all this way just to argue about your Lord Sinnoh in front of my house?"

The two clan leaders looked sheepishly away. Cogita laughed, then directed her attention to the others.

"Ah, Professor Laventon, Rei, how lovely to see you again. How is life in Jubilife Village?"

"Not well, I'm afraid. Kamado is getting more paranoid by the day, and if the rift isn't closed soon I fear what he will do next."

"These people here are looking for Akari. Is she around?"

"She isn't. Like you, she was worried about the rift, so she went out in search of answers. Luckily, I was able to give her a push in the right direction."

She disappeared into her hut, emerging a minute later with a large book. Flipping through the pages, she landed on a book with three very familiar Pokemon.

"The Lake Guardians," Brock said breathlessly, to which Cogita nodded.

"Mespiit, Azelf, and Uxie," she continued. "The bringers of emotion, willpower, and knowledge. Created by the mighty Sinnoh to watch over Hisui. It is said that together, they can call forth Lord Sinnoh, but only if Hisui is in great peril. Akari left just yesterday in search of Mespirit. She said she could feel it calling to her."

"That makes sense," Brock mused. "Mespirit bonded to her in our time."

Ash stared at the picture intensely, or more accurately the picture of Azelf.

"I don't know why," he said, "But I feel as if Azelf is calling out for me."

"Perhaps they can help us fix the space-time rift?" Chloe suggested.

"But do we know where to find them?" Goh asked, to which Cogita had the answer.

"Legend has it that the three forged the three great lakes of Hisui: Lake Verity, Lake Acuity, and Lake Valor. Once they were done, they hid themselves in the cavernous tunnels, waiting for their chosen to seek them out."

"Dawn must've gone to Lake Verity, then," Zoey piped up. "So if we want to find her, then we'd better go there."

"If Azelf is calling out to me," Ash said, "Then I know where I'm going, Lake Valor."

"I'll go with you," Lillie said without a moment of hesitation.

"That leaves me with Lake Acuity," Brock finished.

"Chloe and I will back you up," Goh added, to which Chloe nodded.

"I'll head with Ash and Lillie to Lake Valor," Irida volunteered. "Ash has done so much for my clan, it's time to repay the favor."

"I'll go with Brock to Lake Acuity," Adaman said. "Regardless of my feelings about the Galaxy Team or the Pearl Clan, Hisui is all of our homes, and I don't wish to see anyone perish."

"Akari was our responsibility," Professor Laventon added, "Rei and I will go with Zoey."

"I promised her I'd help her go home, and that's exactly what I intend to do!" Rei said with a look of pure determination. The groups were just about to head out, when Cogita cleared her throat.

"While I admire your determination, I believe it may be best to wait until tomorrow?"

She pointed towards the setting sun. Realizing she had a point, the group decided to rest there for the night.

Later, everyone was fast asleep, except for Lillie. She sat up, looking down at her locket and staring at Ash's picture.

"Chu-Pika?"

Lillie looked over at Ash's Pikachu, and even through the sleepiness on his face she could tell he was worried about her.

"Oh, hey Pikachu. I'm just…thinking."

Pikachu nodded, his eyes falling on Ash's sleeping form.

"You're worried about him too, huh?"

"Pi."

"We'll get him back, don't worry."

Pikachu just stared up at her, knowingly. Lillie just sighed and pulled him close.

"I know, I'm scared too. But we can't let ourselves think like that. The Ash we know is still in there, we just have to jog his memory somehow."

Pikachu said nothing, he just rested his head on her shoulder and silently cried. Lillie patted his back, seeking to comfort herself just as much as she was him.

"Come on, you know Ash wouldn't want us thinking like this. If he was in our situation, he'd be doing everything he could to bring us back. We have to be strong, for him."

Pikachu smiled, and wiped his tears away before smiling.

"Pika!"

"That's the spirit. Now come on, let's get some rest."

Pikachu nodded, and curled up on her chest as she laid down. After a few minutes he was snoozing away, leaving Lillie alone with her thoughts.

"Somehow I'll fix this, Ash. I love you…"