June 9th, First Year

Two months. Ingo made his way over the small hill before him, the faintest of smiles on his face as the warmth of the rising sun washed over him, giving the earth a rosy glow. New and beautiful flowers bobbed in the gentle summer breeze. Tall grass wavered in the wind.

Chandelure kept closely by his side as they made their way across the hilly plains, its violet flames burning brightly as finally, they made their way to a small, beaten dirt path winding between two flowering meadows. To Ingo, life seemed brighter, easier, and less lonely with the strange ghost-type pokémon around. My pokémon around, he cheerfully reminded himself.

It was hard to believe that he had been gifted something from his past. Something living and something that wasn't cursed with amnesia like he was. My partner! My wonderful, extraordinary partner that wields flames with mastery! The pokémon from my dreams! He had thought it too good to be true until nearly weeping when he had realized it had already been two months since he had recoupled with his beloved friend; his faithful co-conductor.

Ingo wasn't entirely certain that Chandelure was the same partner that he remembered, though. Ever since he had allowed the pokémon to couple with him, he had been noticing rather strange occurrences. Whenever he slept, his dreams were filled with images of the crystalline pokémon moving about as it followed him from dream to dream; dreams that Ingo knew would always follow the same tracks. Dreams that would suddenly deviate. Terrible nightmares about a pack of Zoroarks that always came during the full moon would always morph into ones of him and Chandelure walking through a suspiciously peaceful Alabaster Iceland path or of ones where they would be chatting amicably in a crowded office space.

Ingo had also noticed that he would regularly grow excessively tired in the pokémon's presence, sometimes blacking out in random places on his usual routes through the Coronet Highlands. Of course, his engine would feel as good as new when he awoke, but he couldn't help but grow nervous when he would awake and find Chandelure resting beside him, its glowing eyes staring straight into his own. He couldn't help but be suspicious that his own partner pokémon had been abusing their powers to subdue him. Nothing malicious from what Ingo knew; only theoretically impractical. Dangerous, even.

Ingo couldn't bring himself to care or be angry for that matter. Apart from his suspicions, Chandelure had been nothing but patient and helpful. The pokémon had been understandably upset that Ingo could not remember their shared past, but it had done its best to fill in the gaps and keep him company in a way that his current team couldn't.

Aside from Parlor, Ingo's Alakazam, Chandelure was the only one of Ingo's pokémon that could talk to him without the need for telepathy or dream walking. It had started off faint at first; hallucinations of a voice or perhaps or laughing or questions. Then, he had heard answers to questions he often mumbled aloud. A few side glances at Chandelure- who had taken to staying outside of her pokéball- confirmed Ingo's suspicions that the ghost-type could hear him and he her. Their communications were still shaky.

Chandelure was stupendously strong; stronger than even his own well-trained team of pokémon. She had had no difficulties fending off alpha pokémon, seeming to relish the challenger where his Hisui team was more cautious and reluctant. Chandelure moved with a sense of pride and strength that his new team couldn't; acted with refined instincts to the point where Ingo was certain his beloved partner had been reading his mind.

Besides, he had seen Chandelure around the man-in-white in his dreams constantly. Dreams which were increasing and lengthening each time that he had them. The last time he had had a dream about his twin, he had woken up actually remembering the subject of what they had been speaking about: a sickness of some kind. Or possibly a need for a haircut.

Ingo held tightly onto the old wooden box in his hands, his eyes set firmly on the gates to Jubilife Village. While helping Warden Lian survey the damage left over from Lord Kleavor's rampage some time ago, he had found the strange capsule abandoned by the Fabled Spring, finding a weathered roll of bark paper on the inside. Though he could not understand the shaky writing or the tense burning in his fingers that the paper brought upon being held, his misgivings had brought him subconsciously to Jubilife Village. There was bound to be someone within the village that could make sense of the item.

Not long after discovering the paper, he had slipped into yet another episode of amnesia. But that time, it had been different. More vivid. There had been no man-in-white but there had been Chandelure, a small cliff town glowing prettily under the stars at night, and most importantly, of a house that he had stood in front of. The lights had been on and he had heard boisterous laughter ringing from an open window like the peal of a bell.

"Home," Chandelure had whispered to him before waking. And that dream had not faded like the many others that had come before it.

For the first time in years, Ingo's engine was starting to rumble back to life. The soreness and pain in his neck and lower back paled in comparison to the swelling of excitement in his chest. He was finally making progress. He was finally getting switched back onto his proper tracks. For the first time in years, the hole that he had felt trapped in began to feel like it could be escaped.

"Warden Ingo!"

Ingo had been surprised by the volume of the village guard and tipped his hat to Ress as he approached, offering a polite smile. "Sir Ress! A fine good morning to you!" he called, tipping his hat in recognition.

"You as well, sir," Ress nodded. "Was the journey from the highlands well?" Ress then reflected Ingo's own grin, reaching out to properly shake the man's hand. "Did something good happen to you? You seem happier than usual, warden."

"It would seem so, I suppose," Ingo acknowledged. "Perhaps my co-conductor here is the reason for that." He angled his head in Chandelure's direction whom looked more than thrilled at the compliment. At Ress's hesitant expression, Ingo sighed and reached for his belt. "I'm aware of the rules at this establishment. "He turned toward Chandelure. "You must rest on separate tracks until we depart from this station."

Chandelure's expression immediately soured. "... wait here for you?"

"No, Chandelure. You cannot remain stationed here. The people of Jubilife Village do not take kindly to free-roaming pokémon. I will not force you but you may accompany me by means of staying inside of a pokéball."

"...fine."

Ress loudly cleared his throat. "Are you… talking to your pokémon?"

Ingo bit back the sharp sting of being caught acting strangely, instead recalling Chandelure into a brand new pokéball that he had crafted specifically for her. He averted his gaze. "My co-conductor talks to me via telepathy. My apologies. I'm aware it might seem strange."

"No, no," Ress waved him away. "It's just… huh. We really don't know much about pokémon so I guess it can't be all that strange. Remind me to ask you more about that later, warden. I'm sure you have places to be." Ress smiled once more. "It was good talking with you. Oh, and Chandelure too!"

"Thank you very much!" Ingo replied, utterly delighted. "I will do my best to seek you out later!" Ingo bid Ress a goodbye and entered Jubilife, watching as the village slowly but surely came to life around him. There was a warm comfort in being surrounded by other people. Once, he would've been unnerved at the prospect, but Ingo once again recalled the memory of the village and of Chandelure calling it home; their home. Maybe that was why the trips to Jubilife never seemed to be as tiring as the others.

Ingo picked up his usual supplies of food, loose cloth in case of tent rips or clothing tears, pokéballs, and charcoal before stuffing them into a replica of the basket Lady Sneasler had made for him; a necessity considering how often the man needed to climb to get to his lady's den and to his own quarters. Jubilife was, by far, the most convenient place for obtaining useful items for his survival. He greatly preferred it to going to the Pearl Clan Settlement; trips into the icelands were often dangerous and unpredictable. Ingo then made his way to the Galaxy Headquarters for his main task.

As per usual, scouts were hustling around but with much less fervor and much more ease than the last time, talking and pointing at their maps, handling potions and goods and packs with care. Some smiled and greeted him when they passed; a few Ingo recognized from his training session with Captain Zisu of the security corps. It was the first time Ingo had been warmly greeted by any of the scouts outside of that.

"Hmm? Oh! Warden Ingo! Hi!" A boy -Rei, he remembered- popped his head out from one of the offices covered in sweat, bits of rock and red dye. "It's good to see you! Hey, whenever you get the chance, could I ask you something? I wanted to send a letter but uh, well- I just thought it'd be easier to ask the next time you popped in."

"Of course!," Ingo responded promptly. "By due means, please ask away, Young Rei. I seem to have time as of now as a matter of fact."

Rei lit up. "Excellent! Follow me, please!"

Ingo was then ushered into the professor's lab where he was greeted with the sight of Chandelure's old pokéball, Rei having isolated the strange contraption in a glass jar. Another pokéball was right beside it, laid out on a pristine wooden crafting bench.

"I managed to convince Jaku to give me that old pokéball that belonged to your Chandelure- I was super interested when she brought it in because- you know- artifacts from different time periods! Who wouldn't seize the opportunity?" Rei babbled, pointing Ingo toward a free chair. "I did a few experiments and- get this- it's nothing like the ones the Galaxy Team makes!" The boy walked over to a filing cabinet and procured a stack of loose papers, setting down none too gently on the workbench beside the pokéballs. "I've been studying the differences between them ever since I got them and- well- see- there's no latch or anything on yours. It's weird."

"It is from another time," Professor Laventon cut in tiredly, a pencil in his hand as he scribbled away at a stack of notes at his desk on the other side of the room. "Definitely more advanced than our own. Perhaps a few centuries into the future, even." He shot Ingo an amused look. "I'm sure you might figure out the answer to that question another time." The professor then leaned back in his chair. "How is Chandelure? Are you two still partnered with one another?"

"Of course. I am merely having her stay within her pokéball due to the strict rules of Jubilife," Ingo explained.

Without so much as a word, Professor Laventon rose from his seat, crossed the room, and shut the doors to both Captain Cyllene's office and to the main wing of the headquarters before slumping back down in his seat. "You may let her roam in my office. I don't mind."

Ingo blinked. "You won't? Are you absolutely sure?"

Laventon nodded, kicking his feet up. "I'm sure. We have the Litwick lineage in my home country, Galar. I am used to their kind. Plenty of the nobility have them in their homes. Oh, go on then."

"If you insist."

Chandelure burst free of its pokéball but not before turning to stare directly at the professor. "...thank you." It then settled by Ingo's side, sinking into the lumpy upholstery of the sofa.

"She's such a cool pokémon," Rei murmured. "I bet you're super stoked that she's back with you. Has she- you know-"

"Rei," Laventon warned.

"I know, I know! I was just-"

Ingo sent the boy a gentle glance. "She has. Things come easier to me now and memories tend to stick for a tad longer. I suppose you wish to ask me some questions pertaining to Chandelure and I? I don't mind in the slightest. By all means, feel free to ask whatever it is you wish to know and I will answer to the best of my abilities."

Ingo had been expecting too much, that much he had discerned when the young boy grabbed at his stack of paperwork and shoved it in Ingo's direction. It had been notes. Blueprints. Theories and speculations all concerning pokéballs, the inner workings, and possible new contraptions for allowing captures of different, dangerous species. There had been diagrams- sketches of the aftermath of taking apart a future pokéball to discover how they worked. How pokémon were possibly contained within them. Rei asked questions strictly concerning how Ingo used or remembered how future pokéballs worked and surprisingly, Chandelure had joined in several times providing bits and pieces of what it knew. Bits and pieces that Ingo both had to translate and guesstimate the intentions and meanings.

Chandelure seemed to despise their old pokéball. It showed in the way they refused to touch the object or go near it. But to Ingo, looking at the dented, filthy object made him feel all warm and fuzzy all over again. Pleasant memories were attached to the thing, but they were memories he just couldn't remember. And when Ingo felt himself standing right on the cusp of remembering something important, Chandelure had floated over to carefully take its former ball, handing it to him in turn.

"...shrink."

"Oh? I believe Chandelure is telling me that this old pokéball has a special function. It can change its size," Ingo murmured. With a quick squeeze of his hand, the pokéball shrank to the size of an oran berry and when Ingo rolled it back into his palm with a muscle memory he had thought forgotten, the ball expanded back to its regular size. "I'm not quite sure why a pokéball would need to do that, to be honest-"

"…That is the coolest thing I've ever seen!" Rei gasped. "You've got to show me that again! Please, please, please? Do it again! For the papers! For the research!"

"Rei, your manners," Laventon sternly scolded him.

Ingo shook his head, understanding the youth's persistence. With Rei's pleading demeanor and Laventon's sudden interest in the item, Ingo had demonstrated the strange ability of the pokéball three times more. After Rei had thanked him profusely, the boy shook his hand, grabbed his notes, and scurried out of the room with a new spring in his step.

"My apologies about Rei," Professor Laventon piped up. He ran a hand through his short, dark hair as he shot Ingo an apologetic glance. "The boy's a real genius when it comes to innovations concerning pokémon but he can be a bit of a handful when he's excited like that. He tends to be a bit demanding when he's doing research." Laventon rose and slowly began to clean up the main coffee table in the center of the room. "He shows an incredible aptitude for learning- the reason I decided to take him on as my apprentice- but I fear he may step on a few toes if he isn't careful. I trust he didn't offend you in any way, did he?"

"Oh?" Ingo blinked. "I don't mind in the slightest, professor. It's nice to see such enthusiasm nowadays. It reminds me of somebody from my past though I'm not quite sure of who." Ingo then caught the professor's eye. "And I thought I might ask you a few questions myself if you wouldn't mind too terribly."

Laventon arched an eyebrow. "Nonsense, my dear man! I saw that strange box you were carrying when Rei dragged you in. Is that what you wanted to ask me about or is it something else?"

"No, you're correct. I was wondering if- perhaps- this means anything to you." Ingo gently laid the wooden box upon the coffee table, allowing the professor to pick it up and study it. "I happened upon this box at the Fabled Spring while assisting Warden Lian some time ago. I was hoping some form of intelligence here at the Galaxy Headquarters might be able to discern its importance."

"Interesting…" Laventon laid the bark paper on the center table and eyes wide, began smiling. He turned the paper over and gently laid it over the light of a nearby lantern. "Fascinating! There are inscriptions within the paper, too delicate to see without the aid of my lantern here!" He then shuffled the paper around some more, his eyes wandering back to Chandelure's old pokéball. "While I take a look at this, may I confide to you an ideal of mine?"

"You may."

"I started researching for the Galaxy Team some odd years ago when Jubilife Village came to be and never in all my days as a researcher has this much sheer-" Laventon shook his head with a crooked grin- "volume of information emerged for the first time! First, it was Akari with a pronounced skill with pokémon never before seen anywhere else in the world. Now it is you with relics of the past-" he glanced at the pokéball and then at the box, flicking the paper again- "and relics of the future."

"Then what is your ideal?" The word felt warm on Ingo's tongue too; achingly familiar.

"My ideal? That the information we gather becomes the pioneer of humans living alongside pokémon! Every step we take towards becoming more knowledgeable about our cohabitants of this world erases the strings of fear that come from our ignorance! It's groundbreaking stuff!" He crossed his ankles, reaching for a pot of tea that had been sitting on a book cart by the door. "To think- years ago, I was afraid to even be near pokémon." At Ingo's confused look, the professor elaborated. "It's not a story I tell very much but I happened to suffer an injury during my youth after stumbling into the tall grass," he laughed. "It's caused me some lasting stress and anxiety- an issue that- with proper research and patience- recedes by the day."

"Your apprehension toward pokémon?" Ingo guessed.

"That's correct. And while I am a bit hesitant at going out for fieldwork, I am slowly but surely having my research teams bring back the specimens they find. And as it turns out, most pokémon aren't naturally aggressive!" the professor laughed. "They're often just confused or hungry! Who would've thought that pokémon share many similarities with humans? And the more research I collect on them, the less afraid I am of them." With a rueful grin, the professor added, "Perhaps I might even join in on the next expedition!"

The door to the office swung open. "The professor's right. Just the fact that pokéballs are so advanced where you come from is amazing!" Rei chipped in, having ducked back into the room to grab more of his files. "Everybody is so afraid of pokémon here but you, Akari, and Jaku? You guys are something else! Maybe that's my ideal as well: that one day, we won't fear pokémon and that instead of living in fear of them, we'll live beside them as equals."

Ingo smiled, a genuine up-to-his-eyes smile, regarding the new handcrafted pokéball with fondness and wonder. Even moreso when he remembered that he had taken the inspiration for Chandelure's pokéball by studying a separate pokéball; one that he had learned had been crafted by none other than Rei. Ingo cleared his throat. "I feel in my heart that your ideals will become the truth," he spoke, a newfound vigor resounding through his words. "Pokémon are not merely tools for survival or power; they are our partners. Our friends. They grow stronger through the bonds forged from traveling, enduring hardships, and through battle." He glanced lovingly at Chandelure as he continued. "My memory seems to become clearer the more I put that theory into practice."

Chandelure seemed to light up at the last item on the list, tendrils curling around Ingo's chest as it enveloped him in a hug. Ingo had noticed the little nicks in the pokémon's steel frame and glass globe, but they seemed to be similar to the scars that littered Ingo's own body: battle scars.

"Then I hope that is at least true," Laventon replied. "That people will eventually come to respect and befriend pokémon."

"Me too!" Rei nodded.

Laventon cleared his throat. "As for this document, I'm not quite sure what this paper means but I do know a colleague upstairs who might be able to read this. I believe this might have been written in ancient Celestican. I've happened upon the script once or twice myself; far different than Galarian. I can have my colleague take a look at it. Once I have them figure it out, the translation is yours, my friend."

Friend? Laventon regards me as his friend? Ingo pulled the brim of his hat down to cover his eyes. "Thank you, Sir Laventon."

"Always with the formalities!" the man chided.

Ingo rested in a spare room of the training arena barracks having just finished a cup of tea with Captain Zisu after pitting their teams against one another. Battling always seemed to shake off the cloud of dust that settled in his mind and he had come up with a new suggestion on battle rotations for his good friend.

To his surprise, Warden Calaba had paid Jubilife a visit and they had bumped into one another at the market. Ingo's relation with his fellow warden was tense due to him having captured his team in pokéballs and to the awkwardness that came upon the history of the older woman having dealt with him when he was at his worst. She seemed to tolerate him with how happy his pokémon were whenever the two happened upon one another but there was always a palpable tension between them; one that Ingo could never find the heart to approach.

They shared polite greetings. Small talk about regional happenings and upkeep with their nobles. Calaba made a quick remark about how well the herbs were growing in the mirelands. Ingo made a hasty report about how many merchants he had seen coming and going through the highlands. And just when he had thought their tedious conversation was coming to an end, Calaba handed him a mud-stained wooden box, her expression unchanging as she clasped her hands behind her back.

"I do believe that might be something you'd be interested in," she rasped. "I found it in the mirelands during my survey about a week ago. With how Lady Irida seems to believe you were sent by Almighty Sinnoh and that paper being a poem about its origins, I decided to pass it along to you."

Ingo couldn't help the slightly rude words that came out of his mouth before the older woman could leave. "You can read this?"

"It's in Celestican. I was taught how to read it when I was a little girl. I'm the only one who can within the Pearl Clan. It's a different lettering system than the form of Hisuian that we clans have now. It's a dying skill. Hopefully, you get some use out of it. I surely won't." She then gave Ingo a stern look. "Had a dream about digging that thing up and bringing it to you. Found it in the exact spot I saw. Fitting, for Almighty Sinnoh to start speaking now instead of when you first showed up here in Hisui. Do protect that artifact, young man." She then turned and nodded. "Good day, warden."

As night began to fall on the village, Ingo, sensing Chandelure coming to rest next to his side, crawled into his futon in his borrowed lodging and closed his eyes. Sleep had come much easier since Chandelure had arrived. The pokémon had been among his last thoughts as he drifted off.

"Ingo! Watch out! You're about to step into a snowdrift."

Ingo was tugged roughly to the side, nearly dropping his hat as Emmet pulled him away from the flat expanse of fresh powder snow that laid before him. Snowflakes whistled around them as they walked farther, Emmet's sharp fingers never leaving the hem of Ingo's coat. Thunder rolled along the mountains that towered over the Alabaster Icelands, promising an avalanche as the two brothers returned from their trip to… to- where had we just arrived from?

"Ingo. Another snowdrift," Emmet reminded him, poking him in the back.

"Right."

"You've been scatterbrained lately!" Emmet commented, clapping his brother on the back. "It's not like you." He steered Ingo clear of yet another snowdrift, linking their arms together. "No worries. We will reach our destination shortly."

Strange. Emmet never wore red gloves before, Ingo thought to himself. "Chandelure is just trying to readjust after fasting," Ingo responded curtly after a moment. "I need no repairs nor worrying conductors fretting over me. This isn't the first time this has happened."

"You nearly forgot half of our bags in the village. It's not the first time but this is by far the worst one to date." Emmet's smile slipped from his face. "Are you sick?" he asked bluntly. "I know Chandelure feeds off of your life essence, but it's starting to become worrying."

"I am fine," Ingo insisted, taking a pace forward, his shoe sinking into a deep pit of snow. "I just need to regulate my sleep more than I usually do."

"I think you should keep her in the living room tonight. Good thing you never did add another ghost-type to our team," Emmet commented snidely.

"Quiet, you."

After a bit of walking in comfortable silence, Ingo noticed that Emmet's footsteps had died out. He turned, expecting to see his younger brother beside him, but he felt his voice die out and shrivel in his throat when instead, malevolent golden eyes stared hungrily back at him.

That was not his brother. Ingo turned to face the creature as he backed away, watching as the form of his brother twisted into the visage of a large Zoroark. Its white-and-red fur wavered in the wind like tendrils of smoke, a cruel sharp smile on its face as it approached. The creature snarled, flexing its claws. It took a menacing step toward him.

Footsteps crunched in the snow. Ingo froze. More and more Zoroarks came climbing out of the frost, surrounding Ingo quickly as they grabbed at his shoes and coat. One caught him by the fringe of his hair and forced him down into the snow, its hot rank breath rolling along Ingo's cheek. He shut his eyes tight and put his hands over his neck.

This is only a nightmare, Ingo thought hurriedly to himself. I am safe wherever I am. I am not in any danger here. This is a dream. I will wake up shortly. I will-

"ANOTHER WAYWARD SOUL NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE."

The sounds of the squabbling Zoroarks had vanished completely, their harried whines fading into the distance until all Ingo could hear was the gentle drift of falling snow.

He rose and then turned around, coming to stare at the behemoth of a creature that stood behind him. Obscured by the darkness of night and the whirling of the snow, Ingo could only make out the creature's burning red eyes peering down at him. A fork of lightning lit up the sky, revealing a serpentine-like body and wide, pale wings. Ingo could not speak. Not when the storm was so loud that it nearly deafened him. But the creature's voice burned at his ears with a cold quiet that rooted Ingo to the spot.

"I CANNOT RETURN YOU BACK TO YOUR PLACE." The creature lowered its head, its red eyes catching on Ingo's garment and in particular, the pale tunic he wore underneath his frayed jacket. It reached out a massive hand, poking Ingo in the stomach with its claw. "YOU MUST DO AS THE ORIGINAL ONE WISHES FIRST. I WILL GUIDE YOU AS MY CHAMPION. COLLECT THE OLD VERSES FOR ME AND THEN I WILL RETURN YOU TO YOUR RIGHTFUL PLACE."

And when Ingo awoke in a panic, Chandelure had already beaten him to the punch, holding the two uncovered verses in her metallic arms, her violet flames dimmed and her glowing eyes narrowed. Ingo took deep rasping breaths to calm himself down, clutching firmly onto the collar of his tunic as a bead of sweat rolled down his face. He pressed one fingernail into his forearm, the sense of dread lifting from his body when he registered the pain that came with the touch. That dream had not slipped away from him like all the others had.

The man in white- Emmet- had been there. I can finally remember the name! I have a brother! Ingo could finally remember why looking at his reflection in rivers and lakes made him want to cry out in relief. And then he paused. He scowled and shook his head, running a clammy hand through his sleep-tousled hair. Those were only Zoroarks in that dream; only the illusion of the man-in-white.

They always wore the visage of the man-in-white to lure him closer. Ingo had grown better at avoiding them during his waking hours but as he reflected upon his dream, he felt no better than a tricked boy. That was all it was. Just a trick. Maybe my broken mind was simply substituting things as per usual. He turned over, laying his head back down as he drew up his covers. Maybe Emmet isn't Emmet at all.

And as Ingo cleared those nasty thoughts from his head, his eyes widened, sighting something glowing from underneath his folded jacket on the floor. He reached out with tentative fingers, touching something cold and metallic and firm. It was the strange metal bracelet that he had brought with him when he had fallen to Hisui all that time ago.

Now the device glowed pink and white, the previously dead, cracked screen humming back to life as he held the newly-repaired screen closer to see better. Sensing something amiss, he affixed it to his wrist. Much better. Ingo then read what had appeared on the screen, his eyes widening. He considered the words; considered the task. He then hummed thoughtfully to himself before taking off the device, setting it down beside his futon, and then moving back to rest under the covers.

He now knew his next destination: he was to head back to the Alabaster Icelands to obtain something called a Lustrous Orb.