#dad!ingo

[imfluentinfangirlandgay]

A Father's Resolve - Ch 10

Ingo returns after a decade - with two extra cars in tow. Years later, his kids are swallowed up by time in the same way he was. Will he be able to find them? Will they be able to make it out alive?

Word Count ~3400

hope yall missed me cuz im back on my bullshit. i already have 14 more chapters written of this garbage and youre gonna like it cuz im not even halfway done with the fic as a whole yet

“Hmmm…” Rei sat with his sister in Laventon’s office as he hummed to himself. They had told him about Kleavor, and he had been deep in thought ever since. They had taken out their pokedexes to work on them, Rei drawing in the margins of his dex and Akari filling out the words of hers, as she insisted that he was the better artist of the two. He was currently doodling the little Budew that sat on the table in front of him, drawing a diagram of how its top buds opened and closed on command. The lone Rowlet also observed them closely, occasionally turning its small head one way or another as they sat in silence. It had even begun to drift off, a small bubble forming in its nostril as it breathed, its wings tucked into itself. 

“EUREKA!” Rei and Akari jumped in their chairs so hard, they smacked their knees together painfully. Budew screamed, letting off a Razor Leaf on accident, giving Rei some painful cuts. Rowlet let out terrified “HOO?” as it fell backwards on the branch and flailed, its feet snagged on the wood but unable to right itself. Akari hopped up and grabbed the poor thing, helping it down and placing it back into the tree. Its feathers were a bit unruly now as it blinked and glanced around wildly.

“We’ll simply have to throw the food!” Laventon shouted. Rowlet shot him a dirty glance at the ludicrousy of that statement. Rei rubbed his arm where small bubbles of blood were welling up from the sharp leaves. Budew sat down, tears in its eyes, as it looked at him apologetically. He rubbed its little buds. It was an accident. “You’ve quite the arm for throwing things, haven’t you both? Might I suggest taking Kleavor’s favorite foods and throwing them at him?”

“How would that help?” Akari asked from her spot by Rowlet. In an attempt to placate the upset bird, she had snagged a couple berries from its food dish and offered one to it. It had accepted the bribe. For now.

“By taking the foods Kleavor loves and wrapping them up into little balls, we can achieve the same calming affect - but from afar! A genius idea, if I do say so myself. We could call them Teatime Balls!”

“Why not Laventon Balls? You came up with the idea.” Rowlet had settled on Akari’s arm now and she brought it over to the table. It continued to munch on a Persim as she stroked its feathers. 

“I worry that’d make it sound like I was the projectile being thrown…” Laventon trailed off. “In any case, we can trust that the Pearl Clan will gather the necessary foodstuffs, yes?” The twins both nodded. “Then you should head back to the Grandtree Arena to let them know our plan! It would be best to set off from the Heights Camp- oh, Rei, my dear boy, wherever did those scratches come from?” 

—

The twins crested the ridge that separated the Heights Camp from the rest of the Fieldlands. Rei was surprised to find some people waiting there for them. 

“Wyeeeer!” 

“Rei! Akari!” Adaman smirked at them from his position beside the Noble. Mai stood just a couple paces away from him. The twins scampered over to see what he needed. “I’ve been telling Wyrdeer all about what you two have been doing for Kleavor, like how you’ve been traveling all across the fieldlands to help him. All for someone not even from the Pearl Clan or our clan.” He grinned at the majestic white deer pokemon. “And you can see how he responded!”

“I trust you appreciate it,” Mai added. 

“He’s found you worthy, you see. You’ll need a flute like we have. Mai, mind demonstrating?” 

Mai nodded. She brought a silver instrument to her lips and played a series of seven notes. The musical tones reverberated around the clearing, loud and crisp. Wyrdeer huffed loudly in response to the notes she played, tossing his massive head.

“That’s a Celestica Flute,” Adaman explained, “an instrument that can be used to call upon pokemon like the mighty Wyrdeer. It is said that the flutes are gifts from almighty Sinnoh itself… and now, we’d like you both to have these. Do not lose them,” he added with a sly grin. At their bewildered looks, he shrugged. “It’s not that grand a gesture, really. I can’t play the flute for the life of me.Try to replicate that melody.” 

Akari met eyes with Rei. He played the tune first, the lilting timbre of the flute eerie and somehow, it seemed that the notes could be heard all around Hisui. Akari played them next, each sounding exactly the same as the one Mai played. Wyrdeer huffed and strode forward. They both lowered their flutes in confusion as he bowed his head and shook his horns, allowing something to fall from his mighty beard. A small brick-like object fell directly into Rei’s hand. It was a deep fuschia. He had no idea what it was. 

“I- uh… Thank you, Lord Wyrdeer.” It was probably best to be polite. 

“Use that flute wisely and gallop across the land with the great Wyrdeer!” Adaman announced proudly. Wyrdeer tossed his head and huffed again. 

“We can ride him?” Akari asked incredulously. 

“He deemed you worthy of it,” Mai clarified. “He will allow you to ride his back.” 

Akari grinned at her brother. “I call the front.” 

—----

Wyrdeer thundered down the path, its hooves tossing aside leaves and smashing through twigs and tearing up clumps of mud and grass as it wove its way up the hillside to the arena. It was all poor Rei could do to hold on and try his absolute best not to be thrown off the back of the massive beast. He bounced up and down uselessly, holding on to the saddle for dear life. The trees passed by in a blur, along with smaller pokemon on the ground. The Lord was careful never to run any of them over, resorting to leaping over any pokemon in his path. 

Just as suddenly as they started, Wyrdeer skidded to a halt. Rei had to wait for the world to stop spinning before sliding off the pokemon’s back, his legs wobbling. He waddled his way over to Lian as Wyrdeer’s footsteps pounded away behind them. “...throwing them at him,” Akari was saying. 

“You want us to ball up his favorite foods so we can THROW them at him? That’s quite an unorthodox approach…” Lian scratched his chin. “Though I must admit, you Galaxy folk are quite inventive. Let us not waste any time! Let us begin!”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Lian! We still need to prepare!” Irida came up the path to join them all at the offering table. “I have his favorite Plump Beans, but I still worry about having someone outside the clan do this. They do not follow our customs and values…” She knitted her brows, taking on a fighting stance. “I must ensure you are worthy of the Lord. Battle me! One of you! Battle me and let me test your worthiness! You may order about the pokemon in those silly balls, but I have with me a pokemon as close as a sister!” At her shout, a Glaceon tumbled down the path where she had been and let out a battle cry. 

Rei could feel his blood beginning to stir. Honestly, the more Irida complained about pokeballs and assumed that the relationship with his pokemon was strictly a boss-and-slave type of work, he grew more and more frustrated with her. He stepped forward. He tossed a ball in the air. If he had to show her that pokeballs weren’t shackles for his beloved partners, then he would show her the old-fashioned way. 

“Campfire.” His voice was calm. Too calm. “Quick Attack, Agile Style. Then Ember.” The little Cyndaquil hadn’t even hit the ground before it shot off like a rocket, careening into the side of the icy opponent. Glaceon tried to fire off a Swift, the stars readying themselves by its side, but they never even had the chance to be released. Campfire spit out a red-hot coal that buried itself into the ice-type’s fur, hitting it so hard, it careened into a bush and quivered as it fainted. A critical hit. Campfire huffed as it turned back to Rei. 

Rei blinked. He needed to calm himself. It really wasn’t that serious. He took a breath and knelt down to pet the excited little pokemon. “Good job, buddy! You did so well-” He stopped as a glow enveloped the tiny blue ‘mon. He gasped, backing up to allow it space. An ethereal, primal power emanated from Campfire’s body, swirling in a blinding flurry of activity until it just as suddenly exploded out, rushing past all the humans. And there stood Campfire, a freshly-made Quilava. “C-Campfire! You evolved!” Campfire took inventory of itself, looking at its much more elongated body. Its eyes were much wider than they had been prior to evolution, the irises a vibrant red. Fire now came from a mohawk on its head, as well as in a ring around its behind. It blinked a few times. 

“Qui…?” 

“Campfire evolved?!” Akari rushed forward, standing with her hands on her knees as she watched the fire starter. It ran towards its trainer as Rei squealed and hugged it close. “Now you and Riptide match! Look at you both!” Akari released her own starter, the blue fur of the water pokemon almost matching the fire-type. They investigated each other. Quilava sniffed at Dewott. Dewott showed it its two shells on its hips. Quilava burst into flame and tried to stand on its hind legs. 

Rei patted his starter’s head again as he stood, recalling the pokemon. They would have a proper celebration later. Akari recalled hers as well, clipping the ball safely to her belt. 

“I see now…” Irida murmured. “The balls are simply tools of choice, not products of disregard for your pokemon…” She looked up at the two. “You still treat the pokemon you catch as partners. I feel better putting some trust in you now. Allow me to heal our pokemon’s wounds. As I do, tell me the Galaxy Team’s plan.” 

Akari explained what Laventon had devised as Irida healed up Rei’s pokemon with poultices and berry mashes. She nodded along to the explanation. “So you have developed balms to throw at Kleavor to calm him, I see…” She stood up after everyone was revived, including her Glaceon, which now was curiously sniffing at Campfire. Her eyes were lit with a rejuvenated fire. “Very well. If it is to help Kleavor, we will make these balms with our very hearts and souls!” 

��------------

Emmet put away the last of the groceries and sighed to himself. He grabbed all the cloth bags used for grocery runs and placed them on their hook by the door so as not to be forgotten. Ever since he'd come home, he'd heard not a peep from his brother. He was half-convinced Ingo wasn't even aware he'd come home. 

To say he was worried was an understatement. 

Emmet peeked into the bedroom. There sat Ingo, books piled up around him as he combed them meticulously. A page flipped.  Ingo’s thinning hairline seemed to be thinning faster than Emmet's in the last month from the amount of times Ingo ran his hand through his hair, as though the goal was to rip it right off. Emmet could hear a foot tapping away. 

He hesitated before leaving. He should pull Ingo away from his studies, but to be honest… He wanted a minute to himself. Granted, he got many of those lately, but just a minute he needed to not argue with the brick wall that was sitting in his desk. 

He flopped onto the couch with a deep sigh. His arms rested at his sides as be stared at the ceiling. His mind could not seem to slow down. More often than not, he was throwing out food as of late, because he could not eat the food for two he bought. Someone needed to be working to pay their bills and quite honestly, it was exhausting for him to bring Ingo to work because he practically had to babysit him. Ingo would space out on the tracks and was not able to battle properly. 

Emmet ran a hand over his face. He knew, he knew, it was not fair for him to be so harsh on his brother. He'd been in that place before. Even thinking about it sent a wave of guilt over him, for the millionth time. But it was so damn exhausting. Having to be the sane one was usually not his forte. 

“Drill?” Emmet peeked through his fingers. Ingo's Excadrill stood in the doorway. It's drill hands were threaded into each other as it glanced up at him awkwardly. 

“I'm alright, Excadrill.” Emmet sat up straighter. “What do you need?” The pokemon gestured to him and pointed down the hall. Emmet stood and followed the ground pokemon as it led him away from the couch. 

He was dimly surprised to come to a stop in front of the spare bedroom. “In here?” 

“Excaaaa.” The mole nodded at him and stood back to let him into the room. What could be in here? Ingo was in the room back where they had come. Emmet opened the door and flicked on the light. 

On the bed, in a makeshift nest of blankets, laid his beloved Butternut. All her legs were curled underneath her, her pedipalps tucked against her chin as she investigated the scene before her. Emmet smelled a thick scent of wet electricity. He sprinted to the bed, skidding down on his knees. His eyes were wide with excitement as he took in the objects of interest. 

Thirteen yellow orbs with blue speckling sat in a blanket. If one looked hard, some of them were beginning to shake imperceptibly. Emmet listened hard for the tell-tale scritch scritch scritch from the inside of the shell. Yes! They were there! 

The pair waited alone with bated breath, watching the eggs like Staraptor. One of them began wiggling more than the others, knocking aside other eggs as it rolled out of the blanket. It nearly fell to the floor, making Galvantula give a strained “VAN-”, but Emmet caught it with ease. 

He went to place it back as the shell cracked in his hand. A small blue foot stuck out of the shell. More scratching emerged from the egg as the occupant struggled around inside. Another leg erupted from a different spot. 

Finally, the legs retracted and a small head burst from the shell, shattering it to pieces. A soggy little spider was left in his palm, wobbling as it took in its surroundings. Galvantula clicked her mandibles, prompting Emmet to move the infant closer to her. She rubbed over it with her pedipalps, working on drying off the little creature. Emmet plucked a towel from the floor and rubbed it off the rest of the way, making its fur downy soft. Then he placed the baby onto its mother's back, where it burrowed its way down and settled in, blinking around with large blue eyes. 

They continued on with eleven other eggs. One would begin to hatch, it would fully emerge, Galvantula and/or Emmet would dry it off, and the little Joltik would be brought to sit upon her abdomen. 

Finally they were left with one egg left. Scratching noises were still coming from it, though Emmet had noted them growing weaker and weaker over time. He worried for the Joltik within. They waited for the last egg to hatch for several minutes. Emmet bit his lip. 

The scratching stopped. 

Emmet plucked the egg out immediately, standing and rubbing his socks against the carpet. Galvantula squealed in surprise and concern at him. He worked up some static for a moment and then laid the egg directly against the carpet, eliciting a loud shock. And then they waited again. 

A crack appeared in the shell. Emmet scurried back to the bed and propped up the egg again, murmuring, “Come on, little one. You can do it.” A little leg appeared, quickly followed by a second, a third, a fourth. They flailed around wildly, trying to get some purchase on something. Emmet set the egg down as the baby scuttled blindly into his chest, the shell shattering as it splatted to the blanket. It blinked up at him. He gasped. 

Its eyes were a bright purple instead of blue. Its fur, upon closer inspection, was a greener shade of yellow than the others. Emmet grinned and shouted in excitement, scooping the baby into his hands. A shiny! He'd never actually seen one before! 

Galvantula waved her frontmost limbs at him. He wiped the baby dry and went to set it on her back with its siblings as the door creaked open. 

“Emmet? What was that?” Ingo was peeking into the room, trying to find the source of the shout. 

Emmet gently took the baby, getting permission from Galvantula. He strode to his brother, the newly hatched infant in his palms. “After almost two full decades of breeding Joltik, we have had a truly special one hatch. Behold, a shiny!” He held the little one up to his brother’s face for him to see. The small spider could still hardly stand, it was so fresh. It blinked up at Ingo with large eyes. 

Ingo cocked his head as he examined it. “Ah! That is rather exciting.” Emmet could swear that a ghost of a smile danced on Ingo's features. 

“Indeed!” Emmet quickly returned the infant to its mother before shooing his brother and his lamp from the room - Chandelure had come in to see what was going on. She bobbed at Galvantula from a distance, likely offering congrats, but left quickly. Emmet shut off the light as he left her with her newest brood. Every pokemon in the house knew that a new clutch meant that Butternut would prefer to be alone for at least a week or so to bond with the babies and keep them safe. Only Emmet was allowed into the room to care for her and the babies. 

“I did not know that she had laid eggs,” Ingo confessed. His voice cracked from disuse. Emmet did not mention it. 

“She laid nearly six weeks ago. They were due to hatch any day now,” Emmet grinned. “I was beginning to get worried they might not come. Usually they hatch closer to five weeks.” 

Ingo hummed, but said nothing else. He followed Emmet around the house for a bit, deciding to dwell in the kitchen and grab a snack. “I didn’t see the food…”

“I just got home from the store an hour ago. I do not believe I forgot anything.” Emmet noticed Ingo staring longer than usual into the fridge. “Is something missing?” 

“What?” Ingo blinked and shook himself out of whatever he was thinking about. “Oh no, nothing like that. I… how long have I been in there?” 

“At seven hours, give or take,” Emmet admitted. “I tried to bring you out for a break, but I do not think you heard me.” 

Ingo said nothing as he closed the fridge. He instead watched what Emmet was doing - putting away dishes from his solitary breakfast that morning. He busied himself with wiping down counters and the stove, starting the dishwasher, tidying the silverware drawer… but Ingo was still staring. “What’s wrong?” Emmet asked finally. 

“Do you need help?” Ingo returned after a minute. 

“If you want to.” Emmet shrugged. “You could help in the living room. We haven’t dusted in ages.” 

Ingo nodded and grabbed the cleaning spray and a rag from under the sink and shuffled into the living room. Emmet had no idea what he was on about but if he was offering, Emmet would by no means turn him down. 

Emmet began the laundry, swept the kitchen, and even pulled out the vacuum before checking on his twin. The entire room was spotless, top to almost-bottom, as Ingo was finishing up the last shelf. His brother wordlessly grabbed the vacuum from Emmet and began to run it under the couch. Emmet stood and openly stared at Ingo as he did so, gears slowly turning in his head, but approaching no conclusion. 

[First] - [Previous] - [Next]

[alolanrain]

I love your Dad!Ingo AU and I thought this would be hilarious

Ingo: So Delia and I are going on our honeymoon. Are you sure you'll be fine.

Emmett: Of course I will!

One Plane Ride To Kalos Later

Emmett: Hello! I am Emmett! **lifts up hand he is holding** This is my nephew Ash. He would like to participate in your League please.

Ash: So you're joining me on this journey?

Emmett: Yes, yes I am.

Ash: you do know that mom and Ingo’s honeymoon only lasts a week right?

Emmett: I’m very aware of that.

Ash:… I feel like this is a bad decision, but who cares.

*across the world*

Delia & Ingo suddenly feeling massive dread: oh no.

[noelledeltarune]

EVERY SINGLE DAY there are MILLIONS of characters in their late 20s who get falsely accused of being father figures to teenagers when in reality the description of "weird older cousin" or "step-sibling that moved out before you were born" is 1000000x more apt

[mysticlanternlight]

Sometimes a family is a Survey Corps captain, a professor, an amnesiac warden and the danger-prone child, who also has no memory and fell from the sky.

Companion piece to this

[overthattwilight]

All aboard the victory wagon!

Just little Ingo and little Emmet riding a two car wagon. They like it

[doorstoplord]

Baby’s first pokemon

[nettlesketches]

cats can’t get enough of this guy

[conmenn]

oh to be a silly warden with my lil companions dozing in the grass…dreaming of home maybe <3

[acatpiestuff]

when you find out your coworker is ripped

[no-moon-writes]

[imfluentinfangirlandgay]

A Father's Resolve - Ch 14

Ingo returns after a decade - with two extra cars in tow. Years later, his kids are swallowed up by time in the same way he was. Will he be able to find them? Will they be able to make it out alive?

Word Count: 2300

After gallivanting around the Fieldlands for another week, earning two more stars in the Survey Corps ranks, and Akari finally being released from bedrest after a week and a half, there were over sixty pokemon in their pokedex. That wasn't half-bad! There were a lot more pages to fill, but at least they had a good start! 

Rei tramped up the stairs with his sister to their next assignment. They'd met a new Diamond Clan Warden just a few minutes before, and she seemed in a hurry. Of course, Rei expected they'd go clean up whatever mess she was experiencing. 

They came to Kamado’s office and stood at attention. Arezu was talking to Kamado. 

“Hmm… So it seems pokemon that aren't nobles can be frenzied,” Kamado muttered, stroking his mustache. “Thank you for coming forward with this, Warden. If it has truly come for Ursaluna, this has certain implications for how to proceed.”

Arezu twirled her hair in her hand. “Adaman has his hands full running the Clan and Ursaluna's Warden wouldn't even give me the time of day, so this is the only place I could go.” 

“Warden Calaba,” Kamado confirmed, “the most narrow-minded - ahem! - ‘bound by tradition,” he quickly amended. Rei met eyes with Akari. They distantly remembered the old woman. She’d been the one to force them to take their medicines and would make stern comments to their father. Rei had always gotten the feeling that she didn't like the other Warden. 

Kamado noticed them standing in the doorway. “Ah! Rei and Akari, I have a new mission for you.” He turned to face them, raising his voice slightly. “I order you to study Ursaluna in the Crimson Mirelands! I permit you to show your strength if necessary!” Both twins nodded as Kamado curtly jerked his chin at them in dismissal. 

As they made their way down the second flight of stairs, Akari whispered to Rei in Unovan, “That had to be the shortest meeting we've ever had with Kamado.” Rei snorted. 

They crossed into Cyllene's office. She glanced up at them as they entered. “The next area you will be sent to survey is the Crimson Mirelands,” she said curtly. “The pokemon will be more fearsome and the landscape itself will be less welcoming. At your current rank, you should be able to handle it by yourselves.” She shuffled some papers on her desk. “The destination is a spot called the Solaceon Ruins. This is where you will find Ursaluna's Warden. Find her and convince her to allow you to help, by whatever means necessary.” 

The twins nodded politely at her as she ordered an escort for them. Laventon caught up with them as they left the building, smiling jovially at them. “It's hard to believe you both have scarcely been here two weeks and you're already allowed into the Mirelands by yourselves! Lovely job, lads!” 

“Thanks, Professor,” Akari grinned. 

“Have you both been hearing about the strange new phenomenon happening around Hisui? The space-time distortions that have been popping up?” 

“Huh?” Rei knit his brow as they walked out of camp. “Like the one over Mount Coronet?” 

“Similar for sure,” Laventon said, glancing up at the rift. “However, these are smaller and temporary. The longest they've been recorded is half an hour. They're more contained and will pop up randomly around the region. And the pokemon inside! Things we've never seen before!” Laventon shook his head. “Quite frightening. But nothing you both can't handle I'm sure!” he added as he walked a pace ahead of them, leaving the two to look at each other in worry. 

Finally, the landscape turned a monotonous brownish gray. Mud coated the land as far as the eye could see. A large mountainous protrusion erupted from the land on the other side of a stream. The air was humid here, and rather warm. It was almost sticky just standing here on dry ground. Rei had a feeling he was going to miss showers even more than he already did. 

“Welcome to the Mirelands!” Laventon announced as they came up on the camp. “Here are lots of poison-types in abundance, and plenty of others! I do believe I heard the Solaceon Ruins are not far from here.” He looked toward the mountain nearby. “We'll keep an eye out for those space-time distortions as you survey the area. Best of luck to you both!” he called behind them as they scampered off. 

Rei had been hard at work training up his team. Now most of his team members fare well around most of the Fieldlands. He was worried about those poison types that Laventon had mentioned; Blitz had evolved into a Sylveon just the other day before his eyes. Rei would need to be careful what he sent him out against. 

The twins crossed over the bridge towards the mountainside that Laventon had pointed out. Along the way, Akari snagged a particularly nasty Carnivine. For some reason, it seemed insanely angry at nothing, like the Paras. Was it just a grass-type thing? It couldn't be, the Budew he'd seen at the Golden Lowlands were so docile and cute. 

A tunnel was carved into the mountainside, a semi-ornate doorway made of stone leading deep inside the landscape. A Guard member from Jubilife nodded at them as they entered. It took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the light as they moved deeper and deeper inside the tunnel. 

Finally, the tunnel widened into a large room with torches in sconces along the walls. Their footsteps echoed against the cold stone walls. In the middle of the room stood two short figures, a human and a pokemon. They both turned to the twins at the sight of them. The human - an elderly woman - was very short, with a Sootfoot root over her head as a makeshift umbrella. Her pack sat heavy on her shoulders, seemingly pulling her down. Her back was slightly hunched. Her eyes were sunken, long wrinkles along her face. Her hair was gray and thin. Her Bibarel stood by her side, as he always had, seemingly before time began. Tiny Rei had imagined Arceus creating the world, and the first beings upon it were Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Calaba and this particular Bibarel.

Rei remembered once asking Calaba how old she was when he was little. She'd just frowned at him and reminded him that not every question is a good one to ask. 

“I'm Calaba of the Pearl Clan. Warden Calaba to you.” Her voice was exactly as Rei remembered. Raspy, stern, aged. But now, she did not have that glimmer of warmth he remembered, but instead, it was rather cold. Of course, there was no reason for her to be kind towards him, but it still stung for a woman he had considered a grandmother to be so icy towards him. He remembered her giving him a bandage on his scraped knee after falling from a tree once, and now they were complete strangers to her.

She blinked at them slowly. “Hm. You seem to have Celestica Flutes. You must be the ones who fell from the space-time rift.” Akari nodded beside him. Rei quickly nodded as well. Calaba rubbed her chin. “I see.” She looked back up at them, her hands dangling by her sides. “I've heard about you. You quelled Kleavor in his frenzy.” Akari again nodded, prompting Rei to follow, mumbling, “Yes, ma’am.”

Calaba glowered. “I'm sure people were saved by your actions, but I wonder if there wasn't a better way to handle the situation.” Her lips tightened into a frown. “What you did was hardly different than bullying a pokemon into submission. And then you run about catching them in those balls you carry…” Rei could tangibly feel her aloofness. “I don't need help from your sort. Or the Diamond Clan, either. That Arezu offered to help, but associating with the Diamond Clan… it just won't do.” She crossed her arms. “Be on your way. I must not be distracted anymore.” And with that, she turned away to study something on the wall. 

Rei looked at his sister and saw the hint of melancholy he felt reflected in her eyes. The urge to say something, anything, bubbled up in him, to try to remind this woman of the two toddlers she'd watched grow… but it was fruitless. Even more, it was foolish. She’d probably just tell them they were crazy or dislike them even more for ‘lying’ to her. Especially considering that he also dimly remembered her funeral. How his father had mourned the woman in death.

“Hello, you two! Mind showing me the strength that quelled the frenzied lord?” The twins looked up to see the Ginkgo Guild member from before. Volo. 

“Sure.” Akari responded flatly, pulling out a ball as she prepared. Rei could tell exactly what she was doing. Avoiding the feelings at all costs. 

Volo grinned as he readied himself on the other side of the room. Rei couldn't find himself invested in the battle. His mind kept wandering back to his earliest memories of himself with his father and sister and the Pearl Clan. Who else would act so cold towards him? How much would he have to pretend? He hadn't expected that it would affect him so much that people didn't recognize him. Or that he, in his mind, was in the room with a ghost. Zisu was one thing because he didn't have a relationship with her at all but Irida? Calaba, who he remembered being dead? Dad? Oh Arceus, what would happen when they eventually met Dad here? Or Sneasler? 

A tap on his shoulder made him jump. “Rei, come on. We have a side quest.” 

“What?” Rei stood up and brushed off his pants as he followed his sister and Volo. 

“Volo said that there's a piece of a wall engraving missing and that it could make Miss Calaba listen to us,” Akari told him in Unovan, not even trying to hide it from Volo.

Rei followed them as they crossed the bridge again. “I don't see why not-” 

A massive boom reverberated across the land, like an earthquake. It nearly knocked Rei off his feet as he slammed his hands over his ears, searching wildly for the source of the noise. Akari and Volo were doing much of the same. 

On the other side of the Lowlands, Rei noticed a bubble of iridescence blotting out the sun, lightning crackling inside the bubble. Rei looked to his sister. Her eyes were bright and wide, watching the bubble in pure excitement. 

“I think that's a space-time distortion,” Rei said quickly in Unovan. 

Akari nodded. She turned to Volo, “We'll be back in an hour. We need to check what this is about.” Before he could even respond, the twins had already called for Wyrdeer and took off running. 

—-----------

“Ready to head back, brother?” Emmet tapped on Ingo's desk with a gloved hand. “It is now 7:28.” 

“Ah! Yes, allow me to gather my things.” Ingo stood, grabbing his laptop, keys, water bottle, and lunch box and shoving them into his day bag. Emmet stood by the door, his matching bag over his shoulder, hand on the doorknob as he watched Ingo. His twin followed him soon after as he opened the door and stepped out into the main platform. They nodded to one of the night shift agents as they boarded a pedestrian line set for Anville Town. 

Emmet was quiet for awhile as they rode their train to their stop. Not many people were aboard, just a handful of passengers that also seemed to be on their way home from work. An older woman sat at a chair with a book in hand. A man stood with his phone out and a bookbag on his shoulder. Two teen girls, likely on their pokemon journey, giggled as they watched something on a Xtrans. 

It wasn't long before the train slid to a stop and announced their exit. The twins left the train and stepped onto the platform. They climbed the short set of stairs and exited out of the station into the evening air. Fall was approaching rapidly, as seen by the Deerling down and Sawsbuck antlers that dotted the forests nearby. A chill was in the air. Emmet and Ingo walked in-step as they made their way out of the town and towards the outskirts. Towards home. 

“Oh, yes, Emmet, there was something you told me about earlier? That Drayden told you?” Ingo's voice broke the blanket of silence over them, breaking Emmet from his thoughts. 

“Ah, yes. He said there was someone who wanted to speak with us.” 

“I thought you mentioned a Trainer?” Ingo swung his head over to look at him with a raised brow. 

“That was, in fact, something else he mentioned earlier, but there was also someone who wanted to contact us. I told him we could around eight o'clock.” 

“Who is it?” Ingo turned to watch the path again. Their street was coming up. 

“I'm not entirely sure,” Emmet admitted. “Just that she is from Sinnoh and is quite keen on speaking to us as soon as possible.” 

“Sinnoh?” Ingo's frown deepened. “Is it about the children?” 

“I believe it may be.” Their house was not far off now. 

“I do hope it isn't to talk about the heroes again,” Ingo sighed. “I don't know how many more times I can explain that it's not them.” 

“Only one way to find out.” Emmet threw the key into the lock and turned, walking into the home first. “I will talk with Uncle. Grab your laptop.”

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[robin-bobbin]

Also posting some dad Ingo and Akari stuff real quick

[pkmnincorrectquotes]

Melli introducing himself to the family Ingo Protection Squad.

[blaiddraws]

OH YEAH. another whumptober! using the alt prompt "shivering". fulcrum au akari doesn't do well with the cold...

[scraggscribbs]

"Bravo to the Hero of Hisui!"

[doorstoplord]

More lil Akari doodles ~