September 25th, First Year
Akari had been awoken by the sound of birdsong, eerie and low. In the Alabaster Icelands, only the low drone of blowing snow ever sounded; to hear such a cacophony first thing in the morning made her twist around in her cot with her head shoved under a pillow. The sound refused to relent. She blinked sleepily and peered around the shared wooden hut, flinching when something cold and lightweight gently alighted on top of her head.
"Staaar? Sta-raa?" The jet-black feathers of a Staravia swam into view as the bird pokémon dropped into Akari's lap, a rolled-up paper clamped in its beak. It carefully dropped its cargo before taking off through one of the opened windows in the wall, leaving a mess of molting feathers on Akari's tangle of blankets. Akari opened the letter.
Akari,
Please return to the Crimson Mirelands as soon as possible. News from my fellow Gingko Guild Merchants inform me that Rei is beginning to resist the effects of the sleep spores. Under no circumstances can we allow him to wake and reveal our intentions with Arceus. I can delay the boy for at least a week more- there are only so many times I can slip into the Diamond Clan's infirmary without seeming suspicious.
Volo
Akari took a deep breath, feeling the chill of fear prick at her face and throat. Rei is getting better? How? I know it's been over a month but I didn't get better until I got medicine for it. Akari's eyes narrowed. "Unless…?" If there was anybody with the right connections to heal Rei in record speed, it would be Professor Laventon. Akari grimaced. He would play favorites. Silently, Akari stashed the letter under her pillow for later.
She was careful to rise quietly. The place where Lady Irida of the Pearl Clan had let her store her things was a common longhouse, a compact wooden cabin where unmarried members of the Pearl Clan without families shared a common lodging. While there were dense wooden beams and doors separating groups of people, Akari had taken a bed in a room with three other young to-be scouts. And as an indentured servant of sorts, she was already under enough scrutiny.
She tiptoed to the sturdy door of the longhouse and took a careful step outside, the breath and warmth immediately stolen from her as the treacherous chill of the icelands swept over her. Akari struggled through the deep snow toward the cliffs. Aina, the second in-command to Irida, had never said that Akari was restricted to the confinements of the encampment- only that she be present at certain times of the day.
The Pearl Clan Settlement was a bleak place of gathering arctic storms and bone-chilling temperatures with its main position sandwiched within a bowl of steep, gray cliffs, shadows constantly falling upon them. Ice clung to everything; the carefully constructed wooden longhouses, the storage huts, the trodden dirt paths and signages, and from the stone roofs. There wasn't a single place a person could go within the encampment without getting their feet soaked with snowmelt. Fires burned in every house and every home in the encampment, pillars of smoke rising from stone chimneys and braziers set down low on crumbled cobblestone walls. Cut timber bordered pathways and obscured signs. There was an ancient feeling about the place; a reverent silence hanging over the entire village giving the distinct impression that the Pearl Settlement had been in Hisui for an unfathomably long time.
Akari found her way around the twisting wooden homes until she eventually found the beaten dirt path leading up the southwest cliff away from the Pearl Settlement. She reached into her bag pulling out the Griseous Orb and the Mind Plate. I need to talk to Giratina now. How am I supposed to get to the mirelands when I'm stuck here in the icelands? Maybe Giratina might know something. They did say they would give me some answers if I asked. Akari had a destination in mind: Snowpoint Temple. Jaku had mentioned it previously and if it was the Pearl Clan's known resting place of Giratina, Akari would most likely be undisturbed to talk to the god.
She had only managed to get to the lip of the cliff before pausing, her eyes drawn to something red and white standing not too far off in the distance. When she turned, she froze, horror pulsing through her body.
Only a few paces away stood Rei, his face pale and his eyes filled with anger as he trembled in the cold.
"You… How are you here?!" Akari demanded, fear making her face go numb and her voice crack.
Rei didn't say anything, instead taking off in a dead sprint toward the Pearl Settlement, his blood-red scarf billowing behind him. Akari chased after him, her footwork sloppy and slow as she struggled after the boy who seemed to plow through the deep snow as he effortlessly leaped the distance toward the settlement.
"No, no, no! Get back here!" Akari yelled. She wouldn't let him disturb the Pearl Settlement. How had he even arrived at the settlement so fast? Why was he there of all places? Akari took a shortcut, dropping down a distance from the cliffs so as to catch up to Rei only a few paces short of the cobblestone walls. Then, something strange happened.
Rei paused only a centimeter away from the wall before his form faded away, replaced by the visage of a white-and-pink fox cub. It snarled at Akari before diving into the snow leaving her absolutely dumbfounded.
"Akari! There you are."
Swinging bangles announced the presence of Lady Irida who stared disapprovingly at Akari's disheveled state, looking first at her own thick lavendar kimono before glancing at Akari's own thin tunic.
"Oh! H-hi- I mean- Good morning, Lady Irida!" Akari dropped into a quick bow, praying that Irida hadn't seen her crazed chase down the hills.
"You may rise," Irida droned. She crossed her arms, gesturing for Akari to follow. "There's much that I need to sort out today so I'm going to have you perform services to the village for now. But not before we get you properly accustomed to the harsh weather; your current uniform is much too thin for the elements."
"O-oh! It's okay, Lady Irida!" Akari lied, shivering. "There's no need-"
"You're shivering," Irida deadpanned. "We of the Pearl Clan are used to the ice and snow; you are not, and attempting to lie otherwise is unwise. Seeing as how I am the Clan Leader, my word is law and if I decide that you need proper winter clothes then you will be provided winter clothes." At Akari's concerned stare, Irida's tone softened. "They'll be free of charge, of course. We're taking you to Ales the moment he opens his shop but for now, you'll be following me to the communal hall. The first meal is due to be served soon as I will have no food wasted."
"Yes, Lady Irida."
Irida hummed lowly. "My people refer to me simply as 'Irida'. I ask that you do the same. Now follow. You need to eat before you work."
The communal hall was the largest building in all of the Pearl Clan. It was a massive longhouse that spanned nearly the entire length of the Pearl Clan with its thick wooden exterior and numerous wooden support beams. Dried mud and piled stones kept the interior dry and out of the chilling winds. As the two women approached, Akari saw two lines of Pearl Clan villagers file in, friendly chatter hanging in the air.
"Head on inside," Irida ordered Akari with a gentle nudge. "Since you are still young, you will be one of the first to be fed along with the elders and the children. Listen carefully; the cooks will call out for each group separately. Once you are done eating, they will call for you to return your eating ware. Once you're done with that, you will group up with Aina- she will be looking for you in the hall afterwards- and she will show you to Ales and then to your tasks. Understood?"
"Yes, Irida."
"Good. Then I will be off-"
"Wait! Aren't you eating as well?" Akari burst out.
Irida only waved her hands dismissively, her cool gaze betraying nothing as the woman turned on her heel, the jewelry adorning her throat and kimono jangling noisily. "I am the Clan Leader; I eat last," Irida asserted. "If you have any questions for me, please ask Aina. Otherwise, take care." And with that, Irida ducked away from the communal hall and into the narrow paths of the Pearl Settlement.
The customs of eating in the communal hall had been exactly as Irida had said it would be and no sooner had Akari handed in her bowl and spoon after a particularly bitter soup had Aina located her, slowly leading her to Ales- the town tailor- who had taken Akari's measurements and given her a much thicker Pearl Clan tunic which fit perfectly and sealed out almost all of the cold. Made from scraped leather and Mamoswine fur, it was the warmest Akari had ever been in all her time in Hisui.
Aina showed Akari to a number of different tasks throughout the day. The first had been to help inventory the amount of foodstuffs in the communal hall which had been a quiet but welcome reprieve. The second had been to help clean out the longhouses belonging to the village elders and to fetch water for households that were too busy caring for their children. The third task had been to fetch timber and coal for the village metalworker. The fourth task- the one that Akari had been told would be her last service of the day- was to help Pellervo- the village's healer- with assorting their medicines and caring for the sick and injured.
As Akari created new labels for the glass jars of seeds under Pellervo's quiet but judgemental watch, the wooden doors to the healer's hut were hastily pushed open.
"What's happened now?" Pellervo asked the moment the bell above the door rang out. The man paused, his spindly fingers curling as he turned and peered out through the thin curtains separating the storage closet. Then, with a slight growl, Pellervo turned quickly back to Akari, his tone brisk. "Keep labeling the jars. I'll be back." The man then swept off toward the visitor.
Despite her task at hand requiring utter focus, Akari couldn't help but eavesdrop.
"Ah, Warden In… go? What happened here?" Pellervo demanded, his voice stern but not angry.
There came a grunt followed by quick but shambling footsteps on the wooden boards. "Pellervo," Ingo greeted the man, his tone breathless and weak. "Would you mind terribly assessing my co-conductor? They became injured during an outing and I fear their dire condition is worsening."
"They were attacked and fell off of a mountain." Akari recognized the voice as Emmet's. He didn't sound particularly concerned; only strained from exhaustion. "I think her ribs are broken. They fell from waaaay up high."
"How long has she been unconscious?"
"They blacked out halfway through the shuttle here," Emmet replied.
Pellervo hummed, his own clunky footsteps joining in as they moved the injured person toward a cot on the other side of the hut. "It's never a dull day with you here, is it Warden Ingo? It's either you getting injured or somebody else in your vicinity, isn't it?"
"That is… not a situation I can alter, Pellervo."
"No… No it's not. But you were smart to bring her to me. Come and see me later, Ingo; I need to check on some of your older wounds." Pellervo paused. "Akari!" his voice echoed. "Fetch me some linen wraps and grab the heating iron- the one on the second shelf on the left side. Take it to the hearth, leave it in the flames, and then bring it to me. Oh wait. You there- help my assistant, please. You can grab the iron."
Akari hastily grabbed the cloths in question, recognizing Emmet's silver kimono as the much taller man begrudgingly moved toward the silver iron resting beside the stone hearth. He shot Akari a questioning glance when her eyes landed on the heavy spots of blood on his sleeves before doing as the healer ordered, leaving the iron in the fire until it glowed red. With the matching tongs, Emmet carefully removed the iron and brought up the rear behind Akari as they moved back over to Pellervo.
Akari immediately balked. Their form was hidden but Akari recognized Jaku's mess of hair in one of the medical cots, Pellervo carefully stripping them of their torn Diamond Clan tunic while Ingo handed them tools from a small wooden tray. Fresh blood decorated Ingo's sleeves as Pellervo reached for a pair of wooden scissors, carefully removing the cloth covering Jaku's chest.
"Emmet, was it? Pass me the heated iron, please."
Emmet did as he was told but he almost immediately turned and walked over to the entrance door of the hut, his hands pressed flush against his ears. Ingo faced away as well and Akari only had seconds to wonder why before the sound of sizzling flesh filled the air. It was a horrible stench, nothing the likes of which Akari had ever smelt before. Akari had only just realized what had happened before Pellervo carefully handed the bloody iron back to Akari.
"Hmm. The ribs aren't broken- rather, it seems as though her chest was sliced open by maybe a sharp stone. What an interesting wound this is. Akari! Reheat this, please. Quickly now. The longer this takes, the worse off this patient will be."
Akari couldn't watch as Pellervo sought to cauterize the massive wound across Jaku's chest. Neither could Emmet or Ingo, grimacing each time the iron met bloody flesh. Once Pellervo no longer needed the iron, he bid all three of them out of his hut, telling Akari that he would inform Irida of her completion of his task. Akari couldn't have been more grateful, afraid that the stench of burning flesh would've made her vomit.
Akari quickly exited the hut, narrowly avoiding both Ingo & Emmet as she made her way back to the cliffs toward Snowpoint Temple. She had something she needed to do and now that she was finally free, there wasn't anything stopping her from going to talk to Giratina.
It had taken almost an hour before Akari arrived at the snowbound temple, slipping within the stone structure just as the wind began to pick up. She shivered, pushing through the heavy stone doors keeping the stuffy air in. Almost the moment she entered, Giratina's low, distorted voice appeared within her mind.
"EAGER, ARE WE?"
"I am." Akari peered first at the massive stone stairs leading to the summit of the temple, wondering whether Giratina would appear before her. "I need your help, Giratina."
"VERY WELL. WHAT DO YOU REQUIRE MY ASSISTANCE WITH, MY CHAMPION?"
Akari liked the giddy feeling that tingled at the back of her head when Giratina referred to her as its champion. Nonetheless, she cleared her throat, pausing at the wooden base of what looked to be an altar. "Giratina, I need help with figuring out how to stall Rei and potentially Professor Laventon." Stall. That was putting it far too lightly, leaving a bad taste in Akari's mouth. "Rei knows too much and if he wakes up and tells somebody- the professor, especially- I'll be putting my and Volo's plan in jeopardy. What should I do?"
"HMM. SUCH AN… INTERESTING QUESTION, MY CHAMPION." Giratina's voice burned like molten lead in Akari's ears. "BUT ALSO- HMM- WITH SUCH AN OBVIOUS ANSWER. DO NOT FRET. I KNOW OF A WAY TO KEEP YOUR CHARGE… QUIET." Giratina's voice took on an almost playful tone at the last word.
"How?"
"ALL IN GOOD TIME, MY CHAMPION. DO NOT FRET. YOUR INTENTIONS WILL NOT BE DISCOVERED."
Akari blinked, irritation forcing her to stand as she began to pace nervously before the stairs, causing the candles near the altar to jitter and their flames to shake. "How do you know this, Giratina?" Akari questioned. "How am I supposed to just have blind faith that this big issue won't just blow up in my face?"
"DO YOU TRUST ME, MY CHAMPION?"
Akari paused. "Trust… you?" She really wanted to talk to Giratina face-to-face instead of talking via telepathy. "What do you mean?" Her next words hesitantly bounced off of her tongue. "What are you implying I should trust you with?"
"MANY THINGS, BUT MOST NOTABLY WITH YOUR CURRENT PLIGHT." Giratina's voice grew as soft as a whisper but none less grating as its telepathic presence wriggled at the back of her mind. "I WILL HELP YOU AVOID DETECTION BUT… I REQUIRE PAYMENT."
Of course, Akari balked. As I say, anybody who actually helps me always wants to gain something out of it. "And what payment would that be?" she snapped. She glanced at the altar. At the many candles of animal fat placed around the metal dial. The altar tucked away, so small compared to the rest of the massive tower that was Snowpoint Temple. "I don't have any important things on me to put here."
"OH NO. I DO NOT WISH FOR YOU TO BESTOW MORTAL POSSESSIONS UPON MY ALTAR. NO. I WANT YOU TO BEND BEFORE MY ALTAR AND CLOSE YOUR EYES, MY CHAMPION."
"You want me to… pray?"
"...SOMETHING LIKE THAT. UNDERSTAND THAT IN ORDER TO INTERVENE, I MUST EXERT MY PRESENCE UPON THE LAND OF HISUI. I REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF POWER TO DO SO AND SHOULD YOU PRAY TO ME- IF YOU SHOULD PROVIDE ME WITH YOUR LIFE'S ESSENCE- I SHOULD HELP EASE YOUR TROUBLES. ALL YOU MUST DO IS PRAY BEFORE MY ALTAR, MY CHAMPION."
"As you wish." So Akari did as Giratina asked. She bent her head low with her palms flat on the cold stone floor before the altar. She ignored the whispers of cold winds sneaking below the closed stone doors of the temple. She ignored the way the warmth all but fled from her skin. She ignored the prickling of what felt like thorns in her scalp. And then, Akari slumped forward onto the floor and her mind went blank.
Unknown Date, Unknown Time
"Dawn, I know you're upset, but you really should slow down."
At the front of the duo, Dawn only shook her head, sweeping back the curtains of her disheveled hair as she descended the steps to the Tower of Sinnoh two steps at a time. Her quickened breath billowed out as steam and she hastily rubbed her hands together to regain some warmth in them. "Oh, relax, Miss Cynthia. You act like I'll trip or something." And almost as soon as Dawn mentioned it, one boot skimmed over its landing spot, Akari nearly pitching forward.
At the last moment, a strong hand grabbed for the scruff of Dawn's jacket and hauled her back. "I won't say you didn't deserve that a little."
Dawn huffed. "Don't make fun of me."
"How can I not? You make it too easy." Cynthia's steel-toed boots echoed just a pace behind Dawn's own, eventually catching up as she surpassed Dawn, a troubled glint in her eyes. "Listen to me. Maybe if we try tomorrow-"
"That's just it!" Dawn fumed. "Why won't they talk to me? We're supposed to be the strongest trainers in all of Sinnoh! Heck, they helped us out with Cyrus before he…" Dawn paled, sucking in a breath. "You know… before he got… taken."
To that, Cynthia nodded, gesturing to Dawn to keep moving. "It's an uncomfortable topic, but yes. I'm aware. But Dialga and Palkia are legendary pokémon, Dawn. They're gods. They may simply be too busy to answer your summons. We are only people after all."
"Be that as it may-" Dawn grumbled, stumbling over a chunk of ice- "this is kind of serious! People are disappearing left and right and everybody expects me to do something about it! But what good am I…? No, that's not fair," Dawn reasoned. "It's not my fault this is happening, but it feels like I'm staring at a brick wall. How am I supposed to help? What am I supposed to be doing? There's only so much being one of the strongest trainers in the region can get me."
"Dawn. We're already helping as best as we can." Cynthia placed one comforting hand on Dawn's back as they picked up the trail spiraling down Mount Coronet. "We're already investigating the missing persons reports- every agency in all of Sinnoh is doing their best to locate and bring these people home. Every corner of Sinnoh is being diligently searched and documented."
"But nobody has returned yet," Dawn responded gloomily.
"I know." Cynthia exhaled, her silver eyes dull as they ducked through a cave entrance. "It's not just Sinnoh- it's every region." In a quieter voice, Cynthia muttered, "I'm almost certain that Palkia has something to do with it- I just can't put my finger on what."
Dawn mulled over those words as she let Cynthia take the lead. "Do you think… no. Maybe that would be asking too much."
"What is it, Dawn?"
Dawn tapped one finger to her chin. "Do you think the Lake Guardians might have an idea? They're pretty close to the Creation Trio and they helped with the Red Chain all that time ago. Maybe getting their perspectives on this issue might… I don't know- change something?"
At that, Cynthia only hummed. "You could be right." And then in a displeased tone, Cynthia continued. "But that will only be after you've had the proper time to rest and eat. I understand the pressure's of being a champion but you can't just neglect your health to focus on these cases. Don't think I haven't noticed."
Dawn stilled. She had been pushing herself rather hard ever since the press had focused their attention on documenting Dawn's actions regarding the crisis. It was hard to have the energy to eat or sleep when her social media was flooded with news reports about people just up and vanishing, sometimes in the blink of an eye. "What will the public think?" Dawn stressed, hugging her arms around her thin frame. "What will they say if they catch me goofing off when there are kids and grandmas and uncles and aunts missing?"
"Dawn," Cynthia enunciated clearly, grabbing the young girl and holding her in place. "We are all working together. You are not alone. All of us- the pokémon league, the missing person's bureau- even you and your young friends Lucas and Barry- we're all here to help. You understand that, don't you?"
"Of course I understand that... But it's hard. To say one thing and then actually believe it. Especially when it feels like everyone is breathing down my throat. The more I hear about these cases, the more terrible I feel because we haven't accomplished anything."
"I understand, Dawn. You're trying very hard to please the press, but you shouldn't feel as though you have to." Cynthia swept Dawn close, smiling when the younger girl leaned in. "You're still very young. I appreciate your determination to see things through to the end, but you need to let those of us who care and those of us who want to help shoulder that burden. You aren't the only champion who's working to establish order and regularity within their region. None of the other regions have made any finds or discoveries- this isn't a race or a competition. The only thing we can do is take things slowly, as cruel as it seems to the families of those who have disappeared. Do you understand what I mean, Dawn?"
"...Yes." Dawn then took in a deep breath. "...Okay. Okay, maybe I should rest. Get something to eat and then… take up the case again…?"
"That's exactly it." Cynthia playfully ruffled Dawn's hair. "Now you're getting it. We're almost back at this cavern's entrance so we should be entering the public airspace soon. Let's both go and rest and start fresh and ready in two days' time. Sounds like a plan?"
"...Sure thing, Cynthia… and thank you."
As night fell and as Dawn alighted over Twinleaf Town on the back of her pokémon, she felt as though a pair of eyes were watching her. She turned, something yellow glinting in the faint moonlight. Dawn almost immediately started forward, an intense relief flooding through her when she finally heard a telepathic voice rumbling inside her head.
"Come To Me, Champion Of Sinnoh, For I Have Heard Your Pleas."
Dawn felt her heartbeat quicken. She knew the voice to be Uxie's, diligently approaching with her eyes averted and her hands clasped before her. To talk to a Lake Guardian was to talk to a primordial being. To talk to something that had existed for hundreds upon thousands of years. To even talk to such a pokémon was an honor. "Uxie," she rasped. "Can you help me find out what's going on? Where the disappearing people are going to? Please. If you know anything… I've tried summoning Dialga and Palkia but neither of them answered."
Uxie only used its thin tails to roll something into Dawn's hand. Something large and smooth and heavy… the Azure Flute. "Both Dialga And Palkia Are… Occupied, That Much I Am Aware Of. But Another Has Heard Your Plea."
"Another…?"
"Yes, Champion. The Creator. They Know You Are Desperate To Find Answers. To Fix The Crisis This World Endures. And They Have Decided To Bequeath Upon You A Chance To Bring Those Displaced Souls Home."
Dawn almost fainted. Finally, she was getting somewhere! She tried to control her breathing, her hands trembling. "How? How can I help? What am I supposed to do?"
Uxie hummed. "Such A Direct Champion. Very Well. In Order To Fix What Has Befallen The World, We Must Send You Back. Back Through Time And Space," Uxie warned. "Away From All That You Know. Away From Those You Love The Most. Once You Accept This Task, You Cannot Return Until Finished. Is That What You Want, Champion Of Sinnoh?"
Dawn rolled the flute around in her palm. "If I follow you- this answer that might help find those missing people- you're telling me that I leave, it might be a while before I can come back home?" Dawn knew the answer to that question might be a resounding yes, but she carefully weighed Uxie's words in her hands. She was a champion with a reputation of having faced off with an entire corporation bent on recreating the entire universe and she had faced both Dialga and Palkia in battle before. Even Giratina. And really, if I've already done that, then figuring out what's happening and dealing with it should be a cakewalk. With my pokémon at my side, I'll be okay. I'll take care of business and then come home and then I'll go on a very long vacation. With her mind seemingly made up, Dawn asked only one last question, her voice hauntingly quiet. "...I'll come home eventually, right?"
"Yes."
"If I leave… will my mom… will all of my friends and family be safe while I'm gone?"
"...Yes."
"Then so be it." Dawn carefully followed Uxie as the legendary pokémon wrapped their silvery tails around her throat. "Show me where to go, Uxie. I'm ready."
Dawn- Akari watched herself enter the dark woods, an intermittent feeling telling her that she had never come back home after that, the last thing she saw being the Azure Flute as it fell into the tall grass.
September 25th, First Year
Akari took in a deep breath when she came back to at the altar. She didn't truly process what had happened- what Giratina had shown her before it had put her to sleep in its temple. She did feel incredibly drained upon waking. Instead, Akari quietly slipped back out into the cold, having Mars hasten the way toward the Pearl Clan settlement before night could fall. The last thing she needed was to be caught sneaking out when she wasn't supposed to.
It was only when she drew closer to the Pearl Clan did her spirits begin to heighten. Giratina showed me a memory! Memories of me! Akari felt as though she could cry, wiping away errant tears with the back of her sleeves. There was so much to process! Too much to process! A woman that looked almost like a splitting image of Volo. Herself but less scarred. Her home, Twinleaf Town. Murmurings of a pokémon named Uxie- she recognized the name from when she had talked with Ingo, Emmet, and Jaku the previous day.
Relief flooded Akari from the tips of her ears to the soles of her feet. I have a home! I have a family! There are people back home that care about me! Akari then paused, lingering on the last portion of the memory. Of the last part that had clarity to it. Of herself entering a dark section of woodlands before disappearing and of Uxie warning her of what was to come if she were to accept Arceus' offer. I actually did sign up for this, Akari grimaced inwardly. So Arceus didn't just drop me here. I agreed to be here. I knew what I was getting myself into. The revelation felt to her as if somebody had pelted her with a rather large stone. The pool of anger, confusion and misery that had been building in her for months following her arrival to Hisui had faded, lifting a burgeoning weight off of her shoulders. People are missing back home and I came here to find out why because I was desperate and stressed out. She then glanced at the rift above Mount Coronet. You're the cause of it, aren't you? I just have to figure out why you're here and then this entire nightmare will be over.
Akari still felt conflicted. Neither of them said anything about how difficult this trip was going to be. Akari wanted to be angry. She wanted to cry. She wanted to stay frustrated at Arceus for everything that she had been through… but then, she couldn't really be angry. Not when she had had the truth so blatantly tossed in her face. Her sufferings weren't caused by Arceus- they were caused by herself. And it made her feel so cold to consider that for a long time- for months- she had let that simmering anger control her.
But she could let her frustrations live on. Neither of them had mentioned that her memories would be robbed from her. That she would suffer in such a way. That she would be detested so much and that every action she made would be tested and met with accusations and revile. That, I can hold against you, Akari thought.
Akari made her way back through the crowded streets, noting that almost every villager had been crammed into the communal hall, the sounds of chatter and laughter spilling out onto the street. Guess I missed dinner then… I hope Irida doesn't find out. It was when she stumbled onto the steps of her assigned longhouse did Akari think to notice that the door had been slightly burnt. That's weird. Was there a fire or something?
Akari carefully crept in, relaxing when she sighted a familiar Quilava snuffling around near the curtained section hiding Akari's room from sight. She recognized the creature. Jaku's partner back from when they had first set out. "Hey there, little guy," Akari cooed, lowering onto her knees while calling out to the pokémon. "Where's your trainer, huh?"
"Right here."
Akari whipped around, her heart leaping into her chest as she turned to find where the voice had come from. "Jaku? You're in here? I thought you were with Pellervo." Akari followed where the voice had come from, her gut twisting with dread when she realized that it came from the room she slept in. Why is she in there? "Jaku- Oh."
Cold beady eyes stared directly at Akari as the ranger in question turned to face her, leaning against the wooden wall at the head of Akari's bed, a scrap of paper held loosely in their grasp. "You've been busy, huh? Interesting bit of mail here." Jaku scowled. "I thought we agreed to no secrets, Akari and this is quite a secret."
Akari began to sweat. "Before you jump to conclusions, I'm asking you to hear me out. Please."
To Akari's surprise, Jaku nodded. "Your 'intentions with Arceus'?" She echoed, sounding unimpressed. "Yeah, you have a lot to explain. I wouldn't be angry if not for the fact that you poisoned Rei deliberately. So let's talk about that first."
"You're one to talk, kidnapping Mister Emmet," Akari retorted, carefully controlling the volume of her voice. "Why were you even snooping through my things? I didn't take you for that kind of person."
"Oh, I'm not," Jaku drawled. "Dusk clued me in when Pellervo considered letting me stay in the longhouse when I woke up. And she was right on the money, wasn't she? Now, stop deflecting. Let's hear it. What's so important that you're out here planning to 'do something' about Rei with Volo of all people? Isn't he that weird merchant guy that you like so much?"
Akari immediately felt her face turn a few shades redder. "I don't like him!" she snapped. "I mean, not in that way-"
"Okay, okay. I get it. What are you planning and why does it involve hurting Rei?" Jaku made a particular face, setting the paper down as she took a seat in a spare chair, absently pulling at the bandages wound tightly around her chest.
Despite all that Akari wanted to say, the words never came as if her body refused to listen to her. She fumbled silently, her hands clenching at her sides. She would open her mouth, pause, and then close it in one never ending cycle too afraid of judgement to speak. She wanted to say the truth: that Rei had gotten too close at exposing what she and Volo had been up to. That she had dug herself into a position that was too deep to crawl back out of. That finding a way of getting rid of Rei was the only way to proceed without her life being put into jeopardy. But to do that would mean placing her own actions into questions- something Akari couldn't mentally handle at the moment.
"Fine, don't talk." Jaku stood weakly from her chair, pulling her robes tighter around her as she stood over Akari. "I don't know what you're up to, but you and your friend are sneaking around the Diamond Encampment and endangering Rei's life in the process. I don't like this. Not one bit. Akari, I need you to tell me something and I need you to be honest with me... Who planned this? You or Volo?"
"You… I can't… can't you just give me the benefit of the doubt on this, Jaku? We're friends, aren't we?" Akari asked feebly. "I promise, I know it looks bad but we're trying to figure out a solution."
"Us being acquaintances has nothing to do with the situation at hand here, Akari. Now answer the question. Did you plan on poisoning Rei or was that Volo's plan?" And when Akari didn't answer, Jaku mercilessly continued. "... It was Volo, wasn't it? Did he talk you into it?"
Akari said nothing. What could she say? The proof was all there on the paper. On the numerous papers. In the way that she had confirmed that she was participating. And there was an undertone to Jaku's words that left Akari feeling… odd. Both protected and heavily scrutinized as if the older woman were staring right through her. As if waiting for Akari to say something so precise and specific that would exalt her. That would clear her suspicion of Akari.
"Akari, listen to me. I could see myself pulling off some heinous shit like that but not you. Never you." Jaku's eyes narrowed and much like Cynthia had in her memories, Jaku placed a comforting hand on Akari's shoulder, her tone still careful but still searching. "Is something else going on? Between you and Volo? Something that he'd prefer you not to say to me? I won't say anything if you tell me, Akari-"
"No." It was the clearest answer Akari had given all day, the quickness of it surprising even her. She wouldn't put all the blame on her friend. Not when she had been so quick to accept the plan and carry it out. She was to blame. "I can't tell you and it's not- it has nothing to do with Volo. I'm sorry."
At her words, Jaku stood up with an exaggerated sigh, quickly recalling Dusk into its pokéball. "Fine. If you won't tell me, then I guess I'll just have to check up on Rei myself. And maybe deal with Volo while I'm at it."
"Wait! Jaku, please! I didn't mean it like that-"
"It's fine, Akari." Jaku didn't turn back to look at her, only holding the papers out for her to snatch back. "Don't worry about it…. I can't sit here and say that I talked about everything over our little round table discussion- that would make me a hypocrite. I'll let you handle it. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But you can't kill Rei or endanger him in the way you've been doing."
"So what do you suggest I do?" Akari asked, almost in tears. "I don't want to harm him- I'm just scared of what will happen if he wakes up and tells everybody that…"
"That what?"
Akari sucked in a breath. "I… No. No, I need to get myself out of my own mess. I can handle it on my own."
"Akari, that's not what I meant-"
"I can't tell you anything," Akari reemphasized. "I'm dealing with the situation, I swear. But I need to figure out what to do about Rei and I can't just lock him up somewhere like what you did to Emmet."
"Maybe you could just talk to him?" Jaku suggested dubiously. "If he's got something on you- something you really don't want anybody to know- try to reason with him not to snitch." Jaku then paused by the doorway, her expression thoughtful. "...Don't say the idea came from me, but if it's really bad, then maybe consider getting Uxie- you could try to wipe his memories but only as a Hail Mary. And I hope it doesn't get that bad."
Akari exhaled. "I hope not."
"I hope not either. I'm still going to pay Rei a visit and make sure he's okay. Your little friend's letter says he's fine but you should know that spores aren't to be trifled with. You could've costed him lifelong lung damage for your troubles." Jaku then sighed, and opened the door to the longhouse. "Akari. If you ever need help- if you ever get the feeling you're being pressured to do something you don't want to do- for the love of Arceus, please tell somebody. Don't get into something way over your head." And with that, Jaku was gone.
The moment Akari no longer heard the ranger's footsteps in the snow, she began to hastily scribble a note back to Volo.
Volo
Jaku knows. She's going to visit Rei in the Diamond Clan and she's injured. You might have to do something about her. Make sure Rei can't tell her anything either. She's suspicious of you and I think she thinks that you're pressuring me to hurt Rei. I'll be at the Diamond Encampment soon- I just have to find some time to sneak away from here. Stall her as much as you can without being obvious. I'll figure out something for Rei soon.
Akari