June 9th, First Year

Two months. Akari crouched low in the billowing tall grass, her eyes fixed on the large pokémon just a few paces ahead of her. She checked her pockets. Right, Mars was exactly where she needed her ace pokémon to be. Akari waited until the creature turned its back. With a high-pitched whistle, she exploded from the undergrowth. "Mars! Agile Style Stomp!"

Mars thundered out from its ball and kicked the alpha Floatzel clear across the clearing. The creature shook its head, staggering before roaring in anger. Akari threw herself out from her cover, grinning.

"Mars, Low Kick!"

The task had been finished in less than a minute. No sooner had Akari snuck up on the giant did she have it contained in a brand new pokéball. She was most definitely putting Volo's patented back-strike technique to good use. She had grown used to the way newly caught pokémon would settle into their containers and did not flinch at how cold the pokéball became in her hand. She straightened up, shaking the dust from her uniform.

Two months had given her ample time to sharpen her teeth and gain her footing as a fully-fledged survey scout. After aiding Warden Ingo in quelling Lord Kleavor, apparently, Commander Kamado had seemed to give her a bit more slack on her metaphorical leash. The village folk weren't afraid to ask her for requests anymore. The shop vendors wouldn't spare her a second glance before peddling their wares to her.

And now that the Obsidian Fieldlands were cleared for scouting missions without the need for escorts, Akari had made a habit of staying out in the field for a long, long time; nobody had questioned her. After all, she was Arceus' Chosen and Professor Laventon's golden goose. Any progress that she made toward leaving Hisui or serving the needs of Jubilife Village were good enough to her. And it'll have to be good enough for the villagers, too, Akari thought smugly to herself.

She took a seat on a nearby boulder, watching Mars graze along the riverbank. By noon, she'd be crossing into The Heartwood to study Combees. Completing her scout work just made the days pass by faster- that, and not having to put up with anybody else on her little missions. No matter what anybody said about her behind her back, her methods of completing her tasks alone proved highly successful.

Akari checked her pack again: restoration items, an extra sleeping bag, rations, a map and-

"Well, well, well! Aren't you a bit far from the campsite?"

"Mister Volo!" Akari perked up, whipping around with an accusatory glare. "You seem to have a knack for appearing out of thin air. Maybe you should be a scout," she commented, annoyance clear in her tone. She tossed Mars a berry as the large pokémon came over to sniff at the blonde. "Your talent for sneaking up on me is incredible… and unnecessary."

"Glad you know how to spot real skill!" Volo boasted smugly. He'd skipped poking her in the back like he usually did, instead just amiably waving as he and his Togepi entered the clearing. He shook off his pack and slumped against a nearby tree stump, a lazy smile on his face. "And I already said you can just call me 'Volo'. No need for formalities." He set his pack down and began rummaging about in it, tossing a berry for Togepi to munch on. "It's a good thing I found you! And here I thought I would be all alone on my way toward Grandtree Arena with no friendly Galaxy Team scouts to protect me."

Sarcastic ass. Akari raised an eyebrow. "Poor thing," she mocked. "What are you going to the arena for? Peddling Warden Lian your wares?"

"That's correct!" Volo took out assortments and hunks of shiny stones, all sparkling with a different hue. "Found these on a trip to the icelands last week. That child warden pays a fortune for these types of rocks and I don't blame him. Every item has its value!"

"Even if they're both useless and worthless?"

"Especially so!"

Akari shook her head at the man and began to gather her things up, recalling Mars. "You really brought all those heavy rocks down here just to sell them to him? How much does that rucksack weigh? Two hundred pounds?"

"Such a high number! I'm flattered, truly, but you'll have to guess lower." Volo cut her off before she could retort an answer. "I do have something specifically for you, though. I think you'll like it."

Akari shied away from the man. "Please. I couldn't take anything from you."

"No, no! I insist!" he started, carefully grabbing one of her smaller hands in his much bigger and strangely calloused ones as he rummaged around in his pack for something. "It's a gift. I know you had to give up Oshawott, so I went ahead and found you another friend! I think you'll like this one."

Oshawott. Akari tried not to think about the tiny creature. She had tried, truly tried, getting along with the tiny creature but things only soured until Akari could no longer stand the feeling of its pokéball banging against her hip. It hadn't even helped her in the battle against Lord Kleavor.

She'd tried giving him back to Professor Laventon but since its evolution was needed to fill in the dex, she couldn't just return him. She had tried giving him to Rei and Yuki but Rei already had a Buizel and Yuki wasn't all that interested in the little creature. She had even tried leaving its pokéball out in the wild. It really had not liked that and had waterlogged her clothes and sleeping gear for a whole week straight. It never stayed in the pastures. It never cooperated with her. It just hung around her like a ghost, refusing to just be normal.

So Akari eventually lied and told the professor that she was leaving Oshawott in the pastures with the other pokémon that she had caught. She had been desperate enough to the point where she may have 'accidentally' gotten Oshawott's ball dented shut by the swing of an Onix's tail. And maybe, just maybe, she sort of 'lost' the pokéball and Oshawott too. But she would never tell a soul. Because nobody would ever know. Sometimes, pokémon managed to break free from the pastures. She'd already finished a mission in gathering a group of Bidoof that had managed to escape the farm and were making a snack of the village. Who was to say that if somebody were to notice that Oshawott was missing, that they would immediately assume that Akari was up to something?

"Are you alright there, Akari?" Volo's voice was far quieter than it had before, his expression softening as he carefully grasped her shoulders and gave her a little shake.

"O-oh! No! No, I'm fine!" Akari responded, giving a nod of sorts. "Sorry, I was just thinking about something else."

"…Okay then." Volo reached toward his belt and retrieved a small pink pokéball engraved with a heart. It was a dainty little thing, the paint trims still shiny as though it had been freshly painted. Little sparkling gems littered the surface of the opening lid, catching the light of the sun. He held it out for her. "You might consider this a… challenge of sorts."

"O-oh? How so?" Akari stared at the ball and then at Volo. She had never seen a pink pokéball before. Or maybe she had and there had been some sort of connotation to the item that made her a bit uneasy receiving it from the merchant that she definitely had a crush on. Akari nearly fainted when she realized that Volo had been holding one of her hands the entire time.

The ball rocked gently in Volo's hands as he jokingly held it before her for Akari to inspect. He then gently tossed the ball, smiling as a large pokémon emerged and looked around curiously at the pretty pink flowers. "I know it's just you, your Rapidash, and your Beautifly right now, so I figured I'd catch you an additional little helper. This one's a doll. Isn't she cute?"

The particularly large Glameow stared up at Akari with faint curiosity, weaving around her feet before sitting politely on the rock next to her, seemingly content with itself. The pokémon was familiar in a cozy way as though she had seen it numerous times in the past. Akari felt safe. Warm. Happy. She picked up the large feline and almost immediately fell in love with it.

"Mister Volo-"

"Volo," the blonde corrected her a bit more sharply. "Just Volo, my dear."

"Volo," Akari repeated, not quite sure how she felt about the change in formalities. "I don't know what to say…"

"I think a simple 'thank you' would suffice, but don't dwell on that. It's a gift!" Volo then smirked. "And a challenge." He adjusted the cap upon his head and stood at his full height, offering a hand to her.

"A… a challenge?" Akari repeated, standing up on her own to try to match his sudden stance.

Volo lifted up his apron to reveal not one, not two, but three pokéballs on his belt. "You see, I quite like having pokémon as partners. I think it's rather necessary, actually." He unlatched one of the pokéballs at his belt. "To tell you truly, I want to see how much stronger you've gotten since our first encounter in Jubilife. I chatted some with that red-haired woman- the one who runs the security corps in Jubilife."

Akari blinked. "Captain Zisu?"

"I suppose so." Volo examined the shiny pokéball in his hand before he met her curious stare. "You see, she mentioned that a good way to train up one's pokémon is to battle with another wielder. What better way to do that-" he proposed, angling his head so that his hair glowed like woven gold- "than to have a … friendly battle? Come on now! It's been too long since our last and I'm eager to see your improvement!"

Akari could only stare at the man with one thought on her mind. …Fuck, he's hot. SHe shook her head, trying to hide how flustered she had been at the ideas that were starting to take form in her mind. "I didn't take you for a pokémon wielder," she started, fumbling with Mars's pokéball. She stared at her reflection in the shiny stone of the cover and straightened up. "Don't think for a minute that I'll go easy on you!"

Volo's smiled widely as he tossed out a Gible. "Oh, I wasn't planning on it, my dear! Now, let's see what Arceus' Chosen can do."

It had been a close battle. Akari had won by a landslide with her new Glameow and a well-timed Slash. She recalled her exhausted partners, savoring the glint of unrestrained surprise and anger in Volo's eyes as he recalled his own. She liked the look on him. She loved that look on him. It was much, much better than that overly-friendly exterior the man put on.

"Much better than our first, eh?" Volo commented, stooping to heal his partners. "You're getting much stronger!"

"That I am." At Volo's look of disappointment, Akari added, "Don't worry. We'll get stronger together and then I can continue to beat you."

"Hubris! Such hubris!" Volo laughed, slapping his knee with a hearty guffaw.

"Are you mad that I won?" Akari teased. "Admit it! You're mad! Maybe next time, you'll win!" She then paused. "Are you still going to Grandtree Arena?"

"I am indeed. Maybe you'd like to join me? As a matter of fact, I think having you along might just earn the warden's favor for something I'm working on."

Volo's darker tones pulled her in. "And what would you be working on?" she pried.

"I'll tell you if I can manage to get my hands on it. You'll find it interesting, believe me."

"...Okay. Count me in."

The two traveled in relative silence as they banked along the eastern side of the river, crossing into Deertrack Heights and then eventually down its southeastern slope. Akari had decided to name her new partner 'Saturn', finding the name fitting for an unknown reason. The large cat had triggered not memories but emotions. Some elicited strength and a few dread; Akari decided not to think too hard about the latter.

Eventually, the two arrived at The Heartwood. The sun had only begun to set, illuminating the forest in a cozy auburn glow that made Akari want to stand around just a little bit longer and take in the scenery. They had managed to stop and make camp at least twice before finally, Akari recognized the path that they were walking along.

It wasn't so much a memory as it was a feeling. The crunch of the grass under her shoes. The smell of blooming flowers and the warm breeze on her hands and face. She paused in place, her eyes trailing on the shadows of passing clouds filtering in through the tall canopies. She stared at the trees, having long since recovered from the blight two months prior. Now, they flourished, growing so tall and high that Akari could barely see the tops of them.

A warm air lingered at her back, an indiscernible voice- a laugh- disappearing as another light breeze filtered through and ruffled the fur lining of her tunic's hood. A warm sensation on her hands. Another on her shoulder. And when she paused another time next to a shallow pond, she could've sworn she saw something else right behind her.

"Something the matter?" Volo called out to her, having lost her in Akari's wanderings.

Akari sighed, turning to look at the pond once more. She smiled. "Volo, I think I know this place. Or at least, I think I've been here before." She walked a bit further, studying the way the fading sunlight made the skin along her arms glow. "It feels… familiar." In a much quieter voice, Akari murmured, "It feels safe here."

Volo chuckled. "Well, I'm happy for you, Akari. It's nice that you finally remember something."

The undergrowth rustled. "Halt! Who goes there? Show yourself!"

Volo responded first, waving his hand as he turned toward the source of the noise. "It's just me, Warden Lian! Myself and Akari! I'm here with quite a few things you'll find interesting."

"Good evening, Warden Lian," Akari bowed in turn.

Lian glanced toward Akari, waving off her bow. "I don't take it you're tryna' get more notes on Lord Kleavor, right? 'Cause he ain't here."

"Oh, that's too bad." Akari theatrically sighed and then looked pointedly at Volo. "Well, I guess I'm just escorting this tree over here."

"Don't be jealous of my height," Volo retorted, playfully scuffing her hair.

"So what're y'all really here for then?"

"Rocks and minerals," Volo winked. It took an hour for the merchant to finally finish peddling his rocks to Warden Lian, but after settling on a large sum amount, the man shook hands with the smaller boy and began to pack up his things. Just as Akari was getting ready to start leaving herself, Volo lightly elbowed her in her side and gestured toward Lian. "Now, I hope you don't mind my asking," Volo began, "but would you happen to know if Lord Kleavor carries a plate?"

Akari stared at Volo. A plate? What does a plate have to do with anything? To her surprise, Warden Lian nodded.

"You mean this old thing?" From one of the baskets wielding a brown-and-white flag, Warden Lian pulled out a large and heavily chipped olive-green plate. And not just any plate either but a bulky one. It was thick too. Looked more like a cutting board than a plate one would eat food off of. In the center lay a thick, shiny crystalline plate that glowed in the light of the waning dusk.

Volo beamed. "That's it! That's what we were looking for!" He moved forward to step in front of Akari, his silver eyes gleaming. "This makes the first of many!" He then turned to wink at Akari, the notion sending shivers down her spine.

"Why were you lookin' for this?" Lian queried. "This old thing's always been here. Not quite sure what it's made of but it was here long before I was. The previous warden never said anything 'bout it either."

"That plate you have there is crucial toward Almighty Sinnoh's Chosen One's quest," Volo declared. He turned bodily toward Akari, still grinning at Lian. "You've heard about the quests that Almighty Sinnoh has given to Akari here, haven't you?"

Lian eyed Akari, propping the brim of his massive hat up as he regarded her. He gave her a faint smile. "I have. She's alright."

Volo nodded. "Well, this quest for seeking out all pokémon has to eventually be verified by Almighty Sinnoh and it mentions here-" he beckoned Akari's tablet from her- "that seeking out all pokémon also requires finding all of the original plates. They're connected to the Original One, those. Your people call it 'Almighty Sinnoh', I believe."

That got Lian to pay attention. "Oh, really?"

"Yes, really. I spend a good portion of my days researching ancient myths and ruins and I've come to know that The Original One- borrowed from Ancient Celestican- and Almighty Sinnoh- they're essentially the same deity translated between different cultures."

"I wouldn't call them the same if I were you," Lian warned him, crossing his arms. "Some folks might take that the wrong way. I know what you're tryin' to say but ya might wanna be a bit more… careful." In a side note, Lian added, "Some folks might jus' try you if they would've heard you say all that."

Volo again nodded, clasping his hands appeasingly behind his back. "Of course, I understand Warden Lian. I didn't mean to insinuate anything. I only meant to say that to import just how incredible these artifacts are! The parts of The Original One and Almighty Sinnoh- the plates- were allegedly made from parts of It before It formed all of creation."

"And how do you know all o' that?" Lian countered, leaning up against a tree. "See, I ain't never heard any of the clan elders talk about what you're sayin' right now. Warden Calaba? Leader Maliye? Even the Oreburrow healer, Zari? None of them nor their older folks have ever mentioned what you're talkin' about right now." Lian's eyes narrowed. "You're not jus' lyin' to me to get this plate oughta my hands, are you? Warden Calaba can read Celestican, ya know. She likes to study the Solaceon Ruins and I ain't never heard her talk about it or mention anything about these here plates. And she has one too. All wardens do, apparently. So fess up."

"Fess up what?" Akari piped up. "Volo just said he researches in his spare time," she argued. "He gets to travel all over the place. He probably sees more ruins and has more time to investigate than Warden Calaba can." Akari paused, a spike of anxiety causing her hands to tremble when she realized that Volo had switched his curious gaze onto her. And he was smiling. "I bet he gets all kinds of info from the other merchants who travel all over the place."

Lian only snorted. "You can say whatcha like, but I won't believe it until I see it. Anywho, why do you even want this old thing?" Lian held up the bulky plate in his hands, a bored scowl on his face. "I get that Akari might need it," he alluded, turning a baleful eye upon her- "but why're you so interested in it, merchant?"

"I simply just want to see things out and figure out why the plates are here," Volo responded curtly. "We're thinking- Akari and I- that if we were to collect all seventeen of the alleged plates and present them at the end of our quest to The Original One, that it might just help our friend here return back to their rightful time. You see-"

"Alright, alright! I was planning on giving Akari the plate don't have to talk my ear off about it. I was just makin' sure you weren't gonna use it for anything bad." As Lian carefully handed it over to Akari, he glanced away and rubbed the back of his head. "Lord Kleavor was gonna give it to either you or Warden Ingo anyhow but couldn't after you went and calmed him. Consider it his and my thanks. If it's what Almighty Sinnoh wants, then you can use it."

"You won't mind?" Akari asked, gently taking the plate and sliding it into her bag.

"Not at all. Lord Kleavor doesn't need the plate because he's already too strong for his own good. It's just sitting collectin' dust. Take it." In a lower voice, Lian muttered, "You were more help in calming my lord than I ever was. It's the least I can do. And hey? Can you thank Ingo in my stead. Haven't seen him around in a minute."

Akari nodded. "Of course. I'll be sure to tell him if I see him."

"Thank you, Warden Lian," Volo added in." I hope this helps in our investigation. And if not, I'll make sure to get this back to you as soon as possible. Thank you again."

When they had retreated far enough from Grandtree Arena- far enough that Warden Lian couldn't hear them- Akari whipped around to stare at Volo. "Is what you said true?"

"About the plates? All of it. But I didn't say everything." Volo then beckoned her closer. "You see, there's nothing that excites me more than delving into ancient ruins and legends. The tale of the creator, Arceus- The Original One or Almighty Sinnoh, whichever you prefer- is the oldest of them all and the most cryptic. There are temples and ruins scattered about Hisui that tell its tale, but they are all lost to time and are long-dead ruins. But you see, here's where our collaboration comes into play."

"Collaboration? Wait, wait, wait." Akari held up her hands to stop him. She could see his eyes practically twinkle as he stopped the two of them and set down his pack, pulling out a chunk of flint and a strip of steel. "You want me- us- to collect the plates? You're being serious?" Akari asked, setting down her own pack.

"Yes, and for a very good reason, my dear. You see, if we present all seventeen of the plates and seek out all pokémon, there's a very good chance that Arceus will be summoned in a physical form," Volo stressed, lighting a fire using snapped branches and leaves. "One that we can see and touch and hear." And then Volo turned to her once more, his lips set in a determined grimace. "And don't you want answers for your situation? There's no guarantee that going back to your time will ever yield answers."

"You have a point there," Akari admitted, setting out her things. "But how will we find these plates? Lian mentioned that every warden has one. Can't we just seek out each warden and ask that they hand over their plates?"

Volo shook his head. "No. Asking for the plates outright would be seen as potentially scandalous. The only reason I sought to ask Warden Lian is because you played a part in quelling Lord Kleavor and that you were directly chosen by The Original One. If anybody is going to get those plates without kicking up a fuss, it would have to be you."

Akari snorted and placed her head within her hands, a heavy sense of dread weighing upon her spine as she took a seat near the campfire. "Of course. That's what I thought you'd say." Akari took a deep breath and leaned forward, trying her best to appear composed. "Alright, Volo. What do you have in mind?"

That elicited an excited chuckle from the man. "You're in with me- I like it! I have a lead for the Mind Plate- that one should be with Lord Wyrdeer or his warden, Mai of the Diamond Clan." Volo took out a hardback leather book from his pack, flipping through an obscene amount of tabbed pages until he came to a stop. "You have no idea how long it took me to compile this information."

"And when did you start 'compiling' this information, might I ask?"

Volo smirked at her, snapping his book shut. "Not telling."

"Hey! No fair!"

"You should've arrived here sooner, then," the man snarked back. "Alright then. We have the Insect Plate- the one in your bag," Volo confirmed. "The Mind Plate lies with Warden Mai which should be our next priority and we already have a good chance of obtaining it seeing as how Lord Wyrdeer has already been quelled."

"But I didn't help out with that," Akari argued. "That was all Jaku's work!" Akari then blinked. "But I'm friends with Jaku and Jaku isn't doing anything right now pertaining to Arceus." The gears began to spin in her mind. "If I ask nicely- for her to ask Warden Mai since they're both in the Diamond Clan- do you think she'd help us out?"

"I wouldn't," Volo shot her down. "Warden Mai would be grateful, but I don't think she'd see any reason in handing off the plate to somebody who's essentially just a clanmate." He turned his silver eye upon her. "Now, if you were to ask…"

Akari swallowed. "Yeah… Yeah, I'd probably stand a better chance at getting it."

"So are you in?" Volo asked her. "Understand that if you agree to help me out, you can't tell anybody," he pressured her. "Not a soul."

"Why not?"

Volo stayed quiet for a few moments, taking a minute to put away his journal. "You were not present in Hisui during the times when the clans were waging war with one another so I don't expect you to understand. You must be aware that both the Diamond Clan and the Pearl Clan have different views as to what Almighty Sinnoh is and what they control, yes?"

"Yeah, I'm aware of that. I've had more than enough warnings from Professor Laventon and Rei warning me to control what I say when I'm around them. I know what you're talking about. This has to do with their war about religion, huh?"

Volo clapped his hands together. "Exactly. If word gets out that we're planning to essentially summon the creator and potentially-" Volo snorted, clapping one hand on his knee- "potentially ransom it for clues and answers- do you realize the severe amount of backlash that we'd be under? I'd lose my job. So would you. We could potentially be banished and I'm not sure as to whether you'd want a repeat of winter."

Akari shuddered, remembering the unyielding chill of the hisuian winter. "I don't." She found herself nodding along, tapping one finger against her forearm. "I understand, Volo and I agree. I want in. I'll keep my mouth shut if it means getting answers. Not a word of this to anyone?"

"Not a word."