A/N: Today I learned that Dragonite aren't obtainable in Legends Arceus…which wouldn't be an issue, but I had her go to Hisui with Lucario because I thought they were the only ones in Ash's active roster that could be obtained in Hisui. Whoops.

Chapter 106: Reunited and It Feels Not So Good

Lillie was taken aback. How could Ash not recognize her?

"Ash, it's me, Lillie!"

"Pika, PIka Pi!"

Ash stared at her for a minute, but shook his head.

"I'm sorry, but I don't recognize you. I don't have any memories of before I woke up here. But…"

He took out his locket with Lillie's picture, and stared at it.

"...This is you, so you must be important to me. Are we close?"

"I'm your girlfriend, we've known each other for over a year. Please, you have to remember something, anything!"

Ash stared at her again, long and intensely as he wracked his brain for answers.

"I have…vague memories. I can't make much out, but you are there. You're always by my side…"

"Yes!"

Ash then looked down at Pikachu in his arms, who looked up at him hopefully.

"And this Pikachu…Could this be the same one I'm seeing in these visions?"

"Pi!" Pikachu chirped, hopefully. But that hope was dashed when Ash shook his head.

"I'm sorry, I truly am. But I genuinely can't recall a single vivid memory of us."

"Oh…I see…"

"Pika."

"But…the pieces are there…the story makes sense, so maybe…"

Lillie and Pikachu perked up. Maybe there was hope?

"...Maybe if we stick together…I'll remember more."

"I can work with that."

Ash then looked down at Pikachu.

"I'm sorry I don't remember you, but…would you like to ride on my shoulder?"

Pikachu smiled, and happily reclaimed his position. Ash thought for a minute, then smiled as well.

"Somehow this just feels right."

"Sorry to interrupt this happy moment," Zoey butted in. "But is there anywhere we can take shelter from the cold? We're not exactly dressed for the weather."

"I can take you to my settlement," Ash said. "I'll have to talk to Irida, but I'm sure I can convince her to let you stay for a while."

"Thank you."

Ash nodded, before turning and walking towards his camp. Lillie was about to follow, when Zoey held her back.

"I'm sorry about Ash. I don't know how I'm going to be able to take it if Dawn doesn't remember me."

"Thank you, but we'll get them to remember. Somehow."

"But…what if we can't?"

Lillie took a deep breath. As much as she hated to think about it, Zoey could be right.

"I can't think like that. We have to believe we can get them back."

Meanwhile, Chloe and Brock were wandering around the wilderness of Hisui, fending off wild Pokemon as they searched for their friends. By the end of it, they were hurt, tired, and hungry.

"I hope we can find Dawn or Ash soon," Chloe said, drinking from her water bottle.

"According to this book Cynthia lent us, Jubilife Village shouldn't be far from where we landed."

Sure enough, they soon came to a massive gate to a village. But before either of them could take a step closer, the guards blocked their progress.

"Halt! No outsiders allowed."

"Please, we're just looking for our friend. Has anyone named Dawn come through here?"
"No, now leave!"

Chloe was about to go at them for their rudeness, only for Brock to stop her.

"Maybe we're giving the wrong name. Did a person named Akari come through here? Maybe wearing odd clothing?"

The two guards glanced at each other, nervous.

"Go get Kamado."

The other guard nodded, and left. A few minutes later, he returned with a man looking a lot like Professor Rowan, followed by a woman. Brock thought she resembled Cyrus, but thought better than to speak up.

"I am Commander Kamado, leader of the Galaxy Team. And this is Captain Cyllene, head of the Survey Corps. What business do you have here?"

"We're sorry to bother you, but we're looking for our friend. Maybe you know her as Ak-"

"Yes, the guards informed me of your search, but I have no desire to help you! That girl was nothing but trouble since she arrived."

"Trouble?"

"Look in the sky!"

Chloe and Brock turned towards Mount Coronet in the distance to find a huge gaping tear in the sky, with lightning sometimes jutting out of it.

"Ok, how did we not notice that?"

"Ever since she fell from that rift, Hisui has had nothing but trouble! Alpha Pokemon going berserk, Noble Pokemon attacking my men, strange Pokemon appearing and disappearing at random, it was madness!"

Cyllene stepped in at this point, so that he could compose himself.

"She was apart of my Survey Corps for a time, but after the rift grew larger the Commander declared her the cause of it and threw her out. She was escorted to the Obsidian Fieldlands and told not to return. Given the direction you came from, you would've traveled through it."

"Now hold on, I know her, and she would-"

"ENOUGH! You have the information you seek, now leave."

With that, Kamado walked back through the gates, leaving Brock and Chloe speechless. Cyllene was a bit more sympathetic, but still harsh.

"She may have found refuge in the Diamond or Pearl Clans. I would start there."

With that, she turned on her heel and left, the gates closing behind her. Defeated, Brock and Chloe turned around and began walking away.

"Well, I guess that was helpful."
"I don't know, that place was huge!"

"Wait!"

Before they got too far, they found two people running towards them. One was a boy about their age, while the other was middle aged and wearing a lab coat.

"You said you were looking for Akari?"

"Well, her name is really Dawn, but yes."

The older man, after catching his breath, introduced themselves.

"I'm Professor Laventon, and this is my assistant Rei. We found Akari after she landed on the beach two months ago, and she's helped us with our research."

"We didn't believe Kamado's crazy claims, but if we spoke out he'd have exiled us, or worse. We took Akari to the Obsidian Fieldlands, and told her where she may find shelter. That was all a week ago."

"So she's alive?"

Rei smiled, and nodded.

"We haven't heard from her, but if anyone could survive out there it's her."

"Can you show us where you told her to go."

"Of course! Perhaps we can convince Cogita to help us solve this issue."

Goh trudged through the valley, keeping an eye out for Ash or Dawn.

"Ash! Dawn? Anyone there?"

But no one was around aside from a few Pokemon wading in the bogs.

"This is getting me nowhere. I wish something would happen!"

Suddenly, all of the Pokemon around him ran for cover, making Goh confused. Suddenly, he felt a lot of heavy breathing on the back of his neck. Turning around, he came face to face with a huge, red eyed Hippowdon glaring him down.

"I just had to say it."

"HIPPOWDON!"

The larger than normal Ground type charged, ready to pummel Goh. Goh took out Scyther's Pokeball, ready to fight back when…

"Leafeon, use Leaf Blade! Vaporeon, use Aqua Tail!"

Suddenly, two Eeveelutions jumped from the brush, striking Hippowdon's back with their tails, making him stop dead in his tracks in pain. After recovering, the Pokemon decided it wasn't worth it and waded into a bog, leaving Goh alone.

"Good job, you two."

Their trainer stepped out of the brush, petting them on the head before turning to Goh.

"You don't look like you're from the Pearl Clan or Galaxy Team, and you're certainly not from my clan. Who are you, and where do you come from?"

"I'm Goh, and it's kind of a long story. I'm looking for my friends, Ash and Dawn? One's a black haired boy with a cap, and the other is a girl with blue hair with a beanie."

Adaman stroked his chin.

"Hmm, well I did hear the Pearl clan took in someone matching the boy's description, but that may just be a rumor. As for the girl, I did meet someone with that description in the Galaxy Team, but her name was Akari."

"Yes, that's her!"

"Well, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but she was exiled from them a week ago. I would've welcomed her into the Diamond Clan, but that fool Kamado threatened war if I did. But…"

"Yes?"

"Professor Laventon pointed her in the direction of Cogita, a wise lady who lives in the Ancient Retreat. I can't say for certain that she is there, but it'd be a safe bet."

"Can you take me to her?"

"You're in luck, I need to go see her myself. I'm getting concerned about the increasing number of Alpha Pokemon, like the Hippowdon that attacked you. I believe the rift in the sky may have something to do with it, and I hope she can help."
"You and me both."

"Oh, my apologies, I should give you my name. I'm Adaman, leader of the Diamond Clan."

"Thanks for the save, there."

"Don't thank me just yet. Something tells me it's out of the frying pan, but into the fire."

"I hope not."

But Goh had a feeling that Adaman was right.