#like how ingo forgot everything

[maxaroniiiii]

white noise

[quirkle2]

do u guys remember this pla au where i shoved mob psycho characters into legend arceus and then in an ask i answered abt it i decided on a whim that ingo would stay in the universe and be teru's mentor. do u guys remember that cuz i do

[feroluce]

Okay I’m not sure if I or someone else already sent this in but I like this idea so here ya go!

Angsty Idea: Ingo forgot everything from Unova, right? What if Emmet was the same, but reversed?

My headcanon is that Ingo was called upon by Arceus, not forced. My idea is that he went into a room with light. In this room, Arceus requested Ingo’s aid— and Ingo obliged. Who would refuse the request of a God?

Emmet could not follow. He tried to tell his brother, to scream at him to come back, but it fell on deaf ears. Ingo knew that this was important— if God wanted him— No, Needed him, he can’t say no. He doesn’t figure that he would be there for long.

With every step Ingo makes, another memory is distorted. Not gone, just covered up. It starts small— he wasn’t with his brother last week, lazily watching TV. He was by himself. He didn’t go out for dinner with Ingo, he went by himself, he just ordered one too many. He worked at the train alone, he had no one else to look after the train. He was an only child, his childhood consisted of an imaginary friend he can’t remember the name of.

That’s how it’s always been. And he stops screaming, because he doesn’t know why.

It goes dark, and he wakes up.

Strange. He had a dream, but doesn’t remember what it was about.

He gets up to start the day, and as he does, he notices a photograph on him on the side desk. It feels empty, one half seems to be completely missing, yet he’s never felt anything off about it up until now.

He picks it up. The space in the photo is unusually wide.

He needs to replace this— get a better one.

Throwing it into the trash, he picks up his jacket. He can replace it some other time.

Hope you liked this mini story- :)

INCREDIBLY RUDE ANON. I LOVE IT.

[blaiddraws]

Whumptober day 25: Lost voice

back at it again with fic. two days in a row!! rip emmet tho. lol

> 1000 words

under the cut, or read here on ao3

Emmet shivered, pulling his coat tighter around himself. The ends fluttered in the wind where they weren't weighed down by snow or torn off completely by the wild pokemon he'd encountered.

The cold tore against his skin, a sharp painful wind that felt like blades of ice. The snow was deep, reaching up to his knees-- far deeper than he'd ever seen. 

He had absolutely no idea where he was, or how he'd gotten there.

Everything about this sucked.

It had already been a bad day. Too many unpleasant passengers, too much paperwork, not a single trainer making it to his car on the Battle Subway. He was completely and utterly mentally drained by the time he was able to close down for the night.

And now, he'd suddenly been transported to what felt like a nightmare land. Completely unfamiliar, the wild pokemon were far too aggressive, the environment actively hostile to survival. 

He didn't even have his pokemon! He'd put them in the PC to rest before he took everyone home. But never had the opportunity to do anything past that, because he'd been taken to some dragons-forsaken blizzard hell land.

(He tried verrry hard not to think about the similarities to what happened to his brother. Did Ingo get sent to somewhere as hostile as this? The same place, even? Would he have even survived?)

It was all so overwhelming and stressful and frustrating it, embarrassingly, made him want to cry. But he couldn't, because his tears would only make the cold worse. 

And so, without any idea what else he could do in this situation, he continued to trudge forward through the snow.

He kept on walking until his extremities were alarmingly numb, hoping that there were humans somewhere nearby and he hadn't been sent to the middle of nowhere. It wasn't like he knew how to survive in an environment like this! The coldest it had ever gotten for him was winter, and on the peak of Twist Mountain. Neither of which were anything like this frozen wasteland. 

He growled in frustration, fruitlessly rubbing his hands together in an attempt to warm his ice-cold fingers, before quickly giving up and tucking them under his armpits. He couldn't do anything about his nose or ears, and he didn't even want to think about how his toes were faring. He needed to find some kind of shelter soon, or he wouldn't be surviving. Especially with how the wild pokemon were acting. With his luck, they'd find him shivering next to a measly fire and figure him a nice easy meal. 

Why they were so aggressive, he had no idea. Maybe it was a sign that there were truly no humans in the area -- if they'd never seen one, never been socialized, their aggression would make sense. He suspected. He was not an expert on the behavior of truly wild pokemon.

After a while stuck in his thoughts, he realized he had stopped walking entirely, and was just standing in place. He cursed at himself, and started walking at a faster pace than before. If he was spacing out bad enough he forgot to keep walking, things were definitely not looking good.

And then.

And then!

Much to his relief and joy, as he rounded a particularly tall snowdrift he caught the unmistakable glimmer of a light in the distance.

Something bright and warm colored, completely unlike something a creature native to this climate could naturally produce.

Without hesitation, he altered his course slightly and made a direct approach to the source of the light, increasing his pace even more -- the relief and hope of seeing the light was particularly rejuvenating.

It wasn't long until he could see things more clearly. A campfire! With tents! And best of all, people sitting around it! Real, human people! 

He'd never felt so happy to see another person when he was in such an overwhelmed mental state that he was. He grinned, big and wide. Even with the stress, it came easy with the amount of relief he felt.

They must have seen his approach, or heard his hurried footsteps. Suddenly, one of the individuals jumped up, letting out a wordless shout of alarm that caused the rest of their group to whip their heads around and look at Emmet.

Only… rather than. whatever he might have expected. the people then ran to hide, or pulled out weapons and called their pokemon partners to their side.

What? Wait, what? 

His steps faltered, then slowed to a stop all together as one individual in particular stepped forward, spear pointed directly at Emmet's heart, even from the relative distance. Not far enough to reach him, but he was confident they could throw it and their aim would be true.

They shouted something, certainly words. For a moment, he thought he had just completely missed comprehending what they said, with how mentally and physically drained he was, but as they continued to speak he realized they were speaking in a completely different language entirely. 

That was. not good.

He tilted his head, letting out a confused noise. Perhaps they could be able to understand his plight? No, that wouldn't make sense. But if he himself tried talking in his own language, maybe then? 

He just wanted the spear to Stop being pointed at his heart. It was. quite uncomfortable.

He held up his hands, and tried to speak. 

But all that came out was a pained, wheezy rasp, something awful and horrible even for his bad days. But this was definitely one of the worst days ever, so it wasn't particularly surprising.

Unfortunately, it seemed to have the opposite effect of getting the others to understand him. In fact, it seemed it was rather alarming -- not that he blamed them. It was definitely a horrible noise -- as the individual with the spear stepped forwards and jabbed it towards him, effectively pushing him away without touching him.

He whined, upset and confused, but it did little to sway the others, and their aggression did not lessen.

There was no way he was in the world he'd come from. Not with every pokemon and human being so aggressive. Pokemon, he could understand, but humans? It just did not make any sense. It wouldn't fit in his understanding of the world he came from.

He tucked his hands back under his arms, giving up on the peaceful gesture from before. His smile faltered, but he fought to keep it up. He needed to seem friendly! 

He rrrealy did not want to get sent back to that horrible snow and ice. He would certainly perish.

Despite their reactions, he stopped moving backwards and instead pointed at the fire. He tried making a pleading noise, but it clearly didn't come across well, as the person with a spear seemed to get angrier.

They shouted at him, loud and vicious, and jabbed the spear at him close enough that it would have stabbed him if he hadn't moved away in time. Even then, it nicked him in the arm, easily slicing through his moderately reinforced coat.

Not good! 

He tried one last, desperate attempt at speech, tears gathering in his eyes as everything threatened to bury him in an overwhelming wave of everything.

And surprisingly, it must have done something, based on their slight hesitation.

But it was only slight, giving him just enough time to dodge another swipe of the spear. The tears began to fall, and the person in front of him growled at their hesitation.

A moment later, it seemed as if they'd come to a conclusion of some kind, their countenance relaxing --

Before they quickly flipped their spear around and whacked him in the head with a blunt end.

(The last thing he saw, an instant before he blacked out, was a dark silhouette in the background, quickly approaching, and a comfortingly familiar voice.)

[smallestapplin]

Hear me out hear me out-

@onestepbackwards (my sweet darling beloved) and I talked about this a long while ago, but forgot to say anything. And I’m hyper fixating again. (There is also another loz au we were gushing about, but that’s for the next ask-)

Twilight princess au, with submas taking the place of Midna.

(Sfw for rn. But speaks of injuries.)

-

-

The two cursed and banished princes, finding you in wolf form chained and jailed.

Emmet is the one who sasses you, the Twili prince only focusing on getting his and his brother’s true forms back.

Ingo is firm and distance, they need your help, so he isn’t as sassy as Emmet, but he is strict and having a full schedule and plan on what you need to help them do.

Ingo doesn’t want to form a friendship, only a partnership (at first-)

Emmet doesn’t much care, his distaste for those in the light is much more evident.

Emmet is the one who shifts into your friends, whom at the time you thought were dead. And was surprised at how viciously you snapped at him, body jolting like you were holding yourself back.

Ingo just sighs and calls Emmet rude, as that was unnecessary. Though the two won’t say it, seeing you get so angry, especially at them was unnerving.

They quickly become your companions.

While they do most of the talking, mainly Ingo, their banter is always funny, until they drag you into it and asking you who’s right.

“Growl once for me, and twice for me!”

“Emmet that’s not how this works!”

Once you got your human form back, they slowly started warming up to you, talking to you more as this time you could actually respond.

Like in twilight princess, only you can see them when in your human form. They stay hidden in your shadow, helping you along the way.

Emmet shadow hops to learn more information, and the town gossip.

Reporting back with whatever he can find.

They slowly want up you, while being wary of everyone else, aside from the princess.

Until Zant attacks, which you and Zelda take great care to ensure their safety.

Emmet does a complete 180. He becomes so affectionate and clingy to you, always tugging at your tunic and staying close to you.

Ingo becomes much softer, thanking you over and over, then at random times for your kindness. He talks to you, specifically you, a lot more and a lot longer, both of you having full conversations about the dungeon or people.

Or even just about what you like to do, or his world.

Emmet sulks when Ingo has most of your attention.

The closer you three get to completing the mirror of twilight, the more they hesitate, the more they start trying to delay it.

They want to save their people and the twilight realm, but they will also miss you.

It’s then the two Twili realize they have fallen so deeply for you, your strength, your kindness, your selflessness, everything about you is perfect to them.

You slowly become aware of how protective the two have gotten, Emmet tears up while Ingo weeps anytime you get hurt.

They give you your healing potions or fairies during battles, or if you’re hurt, panicking and fretting over you.

They don’t confess to you, they never planned on it, thoroughly believing they would take it as a secret to their graves.

Until the final fight with Zant.

He wasn’t strong, but what he lacked in strength he made up for in speed at the end, keeping you on your toes.

You ended up with many cuts around your arms and back, from his spinning attacks.

All you did was simply kneel, panting, trying to catch your breath before getting to your potion.

Only for the two to pop out from the shadows, crying loudly. The two hold you so tenderly, shushing you quietly as you groan.

Your body shaking, only making them cry harder as they try to give you a potion. But they are just as shaky as you, nearly dropping it.

The spike in their anxiety had them blurting it out.

“We love you, please don’t die!”

“W-we can’t- we need you! Please!”

Emmet managed to get the bottle to your lips, which you greedily gulp down its contents. While the princes cry into your chest, holding you tightly as if you’d vanish.

But oh are they embarrassed afterwards.

More so when you laugh as hell then you feel the same.

[thelemonsnek]

Lmfao @ tmau: There must be a bit of an adjustment period for the strange new things that keep happening around the bosses since they got back. Emmet just shows up to work like a zombie out of the floor sometimes. How does boss Ingo seem to always be in the other room when we need him/ gossip about him?? I didn't even know we had a room there. I swear that room was not there before.

Also. Apocalypse ds. How did that pan out for Jon and the crew?

Yup! There's a bunch of stuff that the commuters, challengers and staff all need to get used to shdjd for example, Curio and I made it canon that Ingo eats paperwork if he's not paying attention, as a reference to a fic we both read!

Cameron: hey if you have a moment I'd really appreciate your feedback on this form,

Ingo, not paying attention: [eats the form]

Cameron:

Cameron: hey Ingo could you check out this other form too,

To keep things even Emmet gets to have dirt snacks. As a treat <3

And YEAHDJDJ Ingo just always being in the perfect place (for him)

Isadore voice guys I think Ingo has been gaslighting me, I don't know how he's doing it but he is

Ingo peeking around a doorway that definitely was never there before: what?

Isadore: HW-

And godd the idea of Emmet just rising up like a classic horror movie zombie in their office is SO funny

But yeah to be clear, despite the joking around it's not. Good. And the only ones who know how bad it really is are Ingo, Emmet, and their victims

And the apocalypse ds

[image id: an edit of a cat's face that has been heavily edited. The eyes are edited onto the ears, and nose and mouth are both vastly larger, taking up the majority of the face and giving it a big ol dopey smile. A few heart emojis surround it. End id]

Gonna be so real we haven't developed this as much as everything else, except we definitely know that there's just a beat up old ds cartridge spinning at the center of it all. Honestly maybe it's still kiiind of the eye reigning over everything, since it's Jon's game?

Ingo and Emmet do get domains btw :3c which becomes plot relevant later on in the story

@curiositykilledtheradiostar is there anything else we developed about the apocalypse that I forgot about?

Actually also. Wouldn't it be so funny if the equivalent for the pupil were just. Someone playing the game. To be king of a ruined world you've gotta give in and become a gamer, Jonah 😤

[waywardstation]

I know for the Phione AU that Zisu gets involved actively and is one of the few who know who that clingy little Pokemon actually is.

What I think would be hilarious is that she does get to know and involved accidentally.

Hear me out: when Ingo and Akari rest in the Dojo they also chat with each other. One evening Zisu is working late at the Dojo but not in a way that Ingo immediately notices. So he and Akari are chatting and making plans for the next day (with Akari probably protesting to Ingo to take more breaks) and Zisu overhears everything. (Let’s take the day after the run-in with Kana when they both want to talk to Laventon; he could also allow Ingo to hold onto Akari’s stuff as he "feels better to have them in his hands and how Akari wherever she might be would appreciate it as well" for everyone else. They talk about that at the Dojo and plans for the next day without them noticing Zisu until she almost connects the dots. Now once they notice her she gets involved and helps Akari to force Ingo to more breaks. And keeps an eye on things in Jubilife. ("Also Ingo you owe me a meal of Potato Mochi for having to deal with Kana in your stead!")

Would make a great addition to the au!

I’m answering this one even though I’m technically looking at it like a prompt because I do want to eventually write how people find out anyways, and this is actually pretty close to how I imagined it would go down!!

In one of my short fics for it, Forgot, I wrote that Zisu keeps the dojo unlocked for Ingo at night to stay in whenever he happens to be in the village (at this time I do not write like Ingo has a unit set aside for him, I don’t imagine him to usually stay in Jubilife enough to have one).

And in it, Ingo mentions that he wants to start letting some people know soon. Ingo and Akari of course sleep in. By the time they wake up, Zisu’s already at the dojo and probably overhears Ingo and Akari talking about telling everyone again, and Akari’s still reluctant.

Zisu’s already been concerned about Ingo’s behavior lately (in my other short fic, Bucket), and only hearing half the conversation, she pesters Ingo about who he’s talking to and what he’s talking about. Akari didn’t agree yet, and as much as Ingo wants to tell her, he shuts up about it for her sake. Zisu eventually gets it out of him somehow though lol.

I’m just wondering if Zisu should be the first one to find out like right after this? Because then Akari would see how relieved Zisu is and how she won’t tell anyone herself if Akari’s going to let people know. It’s a good experience and it makes her less scared to let Laventon and Rei know, and finally she’s ok with Ingo telling them (and later even Cyllene. It’s a complete 180° because then Ingo becomes the one that’s entirely unsure about doing that haha)

And yes!! Zisu would definitely make Ingo take breaks. Know that she knows what’s going on she’s going to probably confess to Ingo that she’s been concerned over him and that he NEEDS to pace himself. Akari wants him to take breaks and Zisu will help him just so he has no excuse not to. That definitely includes dealing with Kana on his behalf and getting potato mochi out of it haha.

Got some of my thoughts going now on something that had previously been murky! Thanks anon! I may write about this soon ^^

[samdragons-official-art]

I'm bringing this back around for reasons

Consider this a Gargoyle Ingo masterpost for now until I get around to actually organizing anything I make

If y'all wondering where this thought originated from, you can look to this art post I made last year (will edit later off mobile) https://www.tumblr.com/samdragons-official-art/701409263045787648/i-do-not-control-the-hyperfixations-they-control?source=share

Gargoyle Ingo started when I entered into two different fandoms at relatively the same time: obviously submas as a whole, and the cartoon series Gargoyles. My sister got me the entire DVD collection as part of a Christmas and birthday gift, and I got PLA soon after. And honestly, with how crazy things get in the Gargoyles universe, everything I'll say here would likely just be another regular Tuesday for the characters.

Basics of the au:

•Akari reminds Arceus that Ingo shouldn't be in Hisui and asks to send the train man home. Unfortunately, this is another au where Arceus has terrible aim and yeets Ingo into New York in the 80's, in a reality where creatures like the fae and Gargoyles exist, hidden away from human knowledge

•Lots of fights between the fae and the Manhatten clan of gargoyles have left the area saturated with fae magic.

•Ingo immediately comes into contact with said magic and gets turned into a gargoyle. Train man now has to deal with not only being in the wrong time and place, but also the wrong body

•He gets found and brought in by the Manhattan clan through their human friend Eliza and attempts to adjust (he is a scared, confused, and bewildered lil train man)

•Come sunrise, while the regular gargoyles freeze into sleeping statues, Ingo turns back into a human. He remains human while the sun is up, and becomes a gargoyle again when it goes down (There are characters who do this in the show, so really, Ingo is not the first guy to do this)

•During the day, Eliza helps Ingo navigate the city and look for leads to get back home

•At night, Ingo just tries his best to stay out of trouble. Which is nigh impossible as he is a magnet for trouble

•Also one sneasel hitched a ride with him to the Gargoyle world. His name is Pecha due to a pecha berry shaped birthmark on his back. He causes the majority of trouble that Ingo finds himself in every night

•Eventually, Akari finds out that Arceus missed with the yeetening, teams up with Emmet, and tells Arceus to yeet them over as well

•Haven't decided if they get creechure treatment too or not. I think it would be funnier if they didn't tbh

•The au overall deals with themes of body disphoria on Ingo's part, but is also meant to have a heavy dose of comedy thrown in as well (I am physically incapable of not writing humor in anything I make)

•Gargoyles itself deals with many dark themes throughout the show, while accidentally falling into humor with just how outlandish some of the plots can be (I truly love them for that, though)

•I have a wip fic that I more or less forgot about until recently. I will only share it with folks I deem as friends who ask me

(Ref for gargle Ingo I made on the left, and official Gargoyles art from the comics on the right)

[the-sleepy-conductor]

Yooo! New person! It’s always so nice to see new Submas fans around!

Nice to meetcha! Welcome to our silly little community where we’re all a teeny bit crazy over silly train men. 🤏 Just a little.

Can’t wait to see all the cool content you’ll be posting soon! I have a few questions for you!

First, how’d you get into the Submas fandom? How long have you been in it for? And who’s your favorite twin? Unless… it’s BOTH!

I hope you’ll have lots of fun here. We’ve got a ton of cool peeps making cool Submas stuff! It’s incredible, honestly. Our community is so talented, and it’s fun to see everyone contribute something different! Arts, fanfics, EVEN FANMADE MERCHANDISE (the insane amount of Submas pins and charms that I have…)!

I’m excited to learn more about you as you grow! Keep it up!

Hiiii! Thanks so much for the warm welcome! I'm definitely excited to start posting art (and possibly fics) here real soon and get to know other Submas fans better!

As for how I discovered Submas- it's quite an odd story. Roughly 7 years ago my friend showed me a screenshot of N and Emmet, with Emmet running away with N's toy trains. I'll post the picture here in a bit. But I thought it was hilarious and saved it to my own phone. I was a little curious about who Emmet was (especially since it was clear he was associated with trains, which I've loved all my life) but I never really gave it much thought after that. Fast forward to about a day after Legends Arceus released, I meet Ingo. But I didn't know he was Ingo- I thought he was Emmet. I kinda forgot about Emmet over the years so when I saw Ingo I was like "Oh, silly train guy is here. What's his name again? Emmet?" But as the minutes passed I started remembering what Emmet looked like, with the white uniform and smile. And this man looked nothing like him but also exactly like him. I thought maybe I was imagining things, until Ingo introduced himself, and I started to connect the dots: Emmet has a twin.

So I do more research and find out they're known as the Subway Bosses, from Pokemon Black and White (my favorite Pokemon games) and that they're Battle Facility leaders. I start looking into them more, finding Battle Subway fanart and reading fics, and as I played Legends Arceus more I became super attached to Ingo. And it wasn't long before I got attached to Emmet too! I started to really fall down the Submas rabbit hole in late February 2022- February 22nd to be exact, as that was my first Multi Battle with Ingo and Emmet. (I got destroyed lol)

Oh yeah here's the photo I mentioned earlier:

I kinda laugh at the thought that this photo introduced a future favorite character, and that it had such a big effect 7 years later.

As for which twin I like more... It's both! There's something to love in both Ingo and Emmet, and I'll probably make a ramble post in the future about everything I love about them!

(Also I completely relate to the collection of Submas merch, my Battle Subway sticker book arrived today lol)

I'm definitely looking forward to posting some art and rambles, and getting to meet others who are in the Submas community!

[leggerefiore]

In regards to the last post of ingo waitting until marriage i just imagine a situation where ingo si with his s/o and both are a lil drunk because when on a date had some wine etc. Steamy stuff will happend but then ingo does what your post said and s/o is like "Ingo... we have 3 childs and we are married!!" Ingo is just that meme of the woman trying to calculate how it happend because hus drunk brain to him he is still a virgin hahaha

Drunk Ingo is shown his children as proof and starts crying about how much he loves them. Sex still doesn't happen because now he has to weep about how happy he is to have a family and everything else. Downsides and upsides.

Ingo forever feels like a virgin.

Another idea is Warden Ingo doing this because he forgot. Imagine your husband of many years cock blocking you because he doesn't remember being married.

[lindwyrmrelinquished]

asks you about your aus. any of them. all of them

OH BRILLIANT I CAN SUM UP MY ZOROAKARI AU. BASICALLY IT'S JUST. YKNOW THE POKEMON LEGENDS ARCEUS FEMALE PROTAGONIST. YEAH I MADE HER A ZOROARK

I have fics about her actually!! They come out on my Ao3 every Wednesday!!

(info under the cut bc LONG)

She's technically meant to be a changeling! She was supposed to replace Dawn by possessing her body(courtesy of Zoroark mother) until Dawn's soul collapsed under the weight of Akari's Zorua soul, but that didn't end up happening because Akari ended up being aware of the nature of her existence way too early(woke up while Zoroark mother was putting her in Dawn's body), started hopping out of Dawn's body and letting her take the reigns again, and then shapeshifting into a copy of her, and they ended up living as twins! Johanna was surprisingly chill about this because I like when characters are nice to each other

So Dawn took the champion title at the age of 12, Akari(named after the Hero of Hisui, which she then ironically became) never was much of a battler so she mostly hung out on the sidelines and cheered her sister on

Then when the two of them were 15, Akari gets eeby deebied to Hisui and Dawn has an entire breakdown in every possible way, does everything she can to try and get her back(and fails) and eventually gives up the Champion title back to Cynthia so she doesn't just completely lose her mind

She goes out across the Highlands to look for someone or something to help, mistakenly believing that because she is now baby, wild Pokemon will not try to attack her

We all know the story of PLA(i think), Akari still gets amnesia but she's still in her human disguise which becomes her default, so she doesn't remember that she's a Zorua until the Red Sky, when a Hisuian Zoroark confronts her about her still being alive when the rest of them had to die first to even get a chance, and she doesn't know what it's talking about for a while. Then she decides "if i can't become something else, it means i'm human and they were wrong"

But then she becomes a Zorua. And can't figure out how to turn back because she hasn't shapeshifted or known she could shapeshift for months

She gets beat up three different times and almost swept off the side of a cliff by a Gligar

Eventually Ingo finds her! And that's how he learns she's a Zorua, and subsequently helps her figure out her shapeshifting again! While they were practicing, she takes a form that mimics Ingo, then reverses it to look like "the man in white" which triggers Emmemories!!! Hooray!!! But then they have to go fight Dialga and Palkia at the Temple of Sinnoh so the joy is short-lived

Only a few people personally learn that Akari is a Zorua! Those people are Ingo, Rei, Mai, Lian, and Melli(I'm not counting Volo because it's in the middle of the Giratina fight and it's during his religious insanity so he's not paying that much attention)

The whole of Jubilife sort of vaguely knows Akari is a Fox due to an incident where she forgot to put her human disguise back up after sleeping in her quarters for once and answered the door for someone, complete Zoroark(she evolved sometime during or immediately after the Red Sky), but they've all kind of agreed not to tell Kamado due to the exile incident

Cyllene knows though! She's pretty chill with it as long as Akari doesn't suddenly go feral, which, she doesn't think she will. So it's sort of an open secret in Jubilife

Now from here on out, there are technically four ways the Zoroakari AU can go:

1.) Akari gets sent home by Arceus as normal, eventually reunites with her twin and her old friends, and with Ingo(and subsequently meets Emmet and Elesa in the process)

3.) Akari is not sent home, ends up wandering the Alabaster Icelands and runs into a pack of wild Zoroark. She ends up becoming their Noble Lady Zoroark(and she is motherfucking H U G E), and that's a whole nother story that I've actually written a fanfic about

2.) Akari is not sent home, whether by malice on Arceus's part for her being a Zoroark instead of human, or because she still has a role to fill. Either way, Ingo is sent home at her request, but she has to stay in Hisui. Three ways go from here. The first is that Akari goes back to the life she wasn't expecting to continue living, and exists in Hisui-and-then-Sinnoh for around 50 years. Then she fakes her death and starts region-hopping to hide her immortality(which she has due to ✨️divine intervention✨️) and brings her Hisuian team with her(mainly a Typhlosion and an alpha H-Zoroark, since both are ghosts and therefore don't die to age)

4.) Akari is not sent home, doesn't leave Hisui, and doesn't become a Noble. Instead, after a while, she notices Hisuian variants are starting to die out, and becomes a specialized breeder for them. She hides away in a forest near a coast at the very edge of the region, and sets up some pastures of her own to make a sanctuary where Hisuian variants still live to this day

One more thing before I'm done here: I subscribe to the Uncle Ingo headcanon <<<<<3

Okay that's all from me tonight probably

Unless I decide I want to talk about a bunch of scenarios

[little-puku]

Meet Sugi and Baby Nary!!

I love how they have turned out, it took me a lil bit to be happy with their designs and some details her personality but now I do love her! haha anyway here is some info about her: 

Sugi comes from the Johto region, she has an older brother and is a single mother. Sugi is a sweet and kindhearted person, but she also has a very overprotective/”mother hen” personality, she means good but sometimes it can be a lil bit to much for some people since she always want to bring the best potential of everyone, she also tends to get into heated arguments with others over the proper care of Pokémon (this due to her been a Pokémon breeder and having a deep respect and love for all living creatures)

She used to work with professor Elm as a researcher about Pokémon breeding, unusual Pokémon Abilities, disease eradication and how the new borns learn different types of moves. She is also part of the Pokémon Preservation Council 

She retire because of her pregnancy but still pursuing her career as a independent researcher helping Professor Elm with anything he needs, giving him all the data or Pokémon he needs to the kids that are about to start their journey

She owns now a Pokémon Day Care Center focus mainly in taking care of homeless and hurted Pokémon and giving them a new home, she is still part of The Pokémon Preservation Council focusing mainly in the protection of species in danger and their habitats, for some reason she keeps all her Pokémon in “Heal balls”, “Love balls” and “Friend balls” 

Since her knowledge of how taking care and domesticate Pokémon is very useful she works with Marie at the pastures, she shares her finding with Porfessor Laventon specially if she find an egg!  Sugi also been kind of an assistant to him reminder her of “something” she used to do (this is because when she arrived to Hisui forgot part of her memories but working at the pastures has helped her a lot to remember who she might be) 

When Sugi arrived into Hisui she was found by a Blissey, she tried to heal her since she was bleeding a lot, Blissey was worry that the baby inside of her might be in danger too since Sugi’s body was freezing. Because of that Blissey took her to the “Snowfall Hot Spring” moments later she was found by Lian, Ingo and Gaeric. Even tho Gaeric and Lian thought at first Blissey might have hurted her, Ingo explained that Blissey are kindhearted Pokémon that will always help those in need, to this day Blissey never leave Sugi side, later Blissey letting Sugi catch and join her team, Blissey loves and enjoys taking care of Nary 

After she got rescued, Calaba took her in (even tho she didn’t want at first since she was an outsider but she couldn't let someone die on her watch) and helped her slowly recover, Ingo visit her everyday to check how she was (even tho Lian and Gaeric visited sometimes too, Ingo never missed a day, same time everyday), later finding out she also speaks like him and not “Hisuian” both feeling comfort that they weren't alone, their friendship started to bloom and both feeling like they already knew each other even tho they have never seen nor know who the other one was.

This due to the fact that before both, Sugi and Ingo, fall into Hisui both where “pen pals” since childhood, meeting by “accident” because of one School activity to “write a letter to makes someone happy” for Ingo’s luck his letter ending up in Johto, both happy that made a new friend writing each other letters showing pictures of their family, friends and Pokémon. This never stopped and still into adulthood writing every week, even if they never meet in person before they knew each other their secret, the fears, their dreams, the success each one had made, everything but as the time passed both started to develop feeling for each other sadly none of them never said anything out of fear to ruin the beautiful friendship they have 

When Sugi arrived to Hisui she was already 6 month pregnant, she doesn’t remember her old partner but remembers not feeling “safe” with them, remembering she was “running away from someone or something” before everything went blank and lost most of her memories. After she recovered, Ingo took charge of taking her to Jubilife Village so she would be safe and have everything when the baby was born. Both where feeling a lil sad since both knew they won't be seen each other as often but before they arrived to Jubilife, she asked Ingo to lend her a Pokeball with this she capture a Wurmple (later evolved into a Beautifly) telling him that even tho they couldn't see each other they will write and still be in touch, she didn't know why she wanted to write letters to him but feeling comfort in the idea. Ingo agreed to it since it just feel “right” for both of them

When Nary was born, Ingo was in the Coronet Highlands assisting Lady Sneasler new hatchling, he run to Jubilife Village after Sugi’s Beautifly called for him. Ingo knowing this was a very complicated and dangerous moment for her since when they meet Calaba informed him that because of her bleeding during her pregnancy her life or the baby might be in danger so she will need special care and protection so none of them lose their life, (after that Ingo took responsibility for both of them) worried for both he run! he never run as fast as he did that day, later when he saw both his friend and the baby where fine he just felt a big weight got lifted from his shoulders, hugging her and holding both he promised to himself that he will never leave their side

As the time passed Ingo and Sugi both started to develop romantic feeling for each other, but still none of them said anything since they never acknowledged the big “Donphan” in the room main reason because they are oblivious nerds for each other feeling. This just leaving everyone frustrated because it was obvious that they have a thing for each other and have very deep romantic feeling but none making a move to make a “official” relationship

Both express their love language with light and gentle touched to each other, small gifts that reminder of the other person, listen to the other for whatever they need and talking about how their day went. Sugi on the other hand, she tries to be a lil bit more subtle but failing at it because she just loves to pamper those who she loves in this case cooking for the other person, giving big hugs and showing a lot of support and proud on what they do and most importantly small lil cheek kisses

Ingo sometimes ask her about strategies for the path of solitude (sometimes he just needs to ramble about the ideas to be clear he is in the right track), Sugi loves to help him and assist him if he needs a specific Pokémon for those battles 

Sometimes they hang out and bring gifts to each other, one of their favorite activities been them looking at the stars. This is because both feel a specific pair of start reminder them to those they “need to remember” but also because they feel those they need to remember are also looking at the same pair of stars 

Sugi deeply loves Nary, always trying to make her smile and trying to make her as healthy as possible so she doesn’t fall sick. She made a plushie based on a Pokémon she remembers (this one been a Mareep)

Sugi is also pretty good at making weird faces to make her kid laugh 

Sugi also cares deeply for those she consider a family or friends, but most importantly the kids that are also “outsiders”. She knows how hard might be for them for having such a big responsibility of them helping Akari to her big mission on completing the Pokédex, but also them not been able to be with their families so she always tried to make them feel at “home” 

Bebe Nary, loves her Mareep’s plushie and enjoys hagging out with a bebe Sneasel, she loves to eat and explore, calls Ingo “dada” loves the others kids and her mom. Each person she knows has a “nickname”

Because Nary call Ingo “dada” (Which makes him a lil embarrassed same as Sugi but both are cool with it, since is not harming anyone) people think he is the father even tho they see they don’t look nothing alike so sometimes leaving this to “gossip” 

[yewsoup]

Everstone Statue pt 3

Words: 9,166

There is a statue of a man on mount coronet. Everstone details forever unbroken. The way it was made, an impossible construction, unknown to all. How did such a thing come to be? And what happens when an eternal stone cracks?

Can also be read here on Ao3!

The sky is red.

Everything is wrong and the sky is red.

Ingo is the first one to notice. Jolting upright in bed with a cold sweat the moment it happens.

His pokemon wake slowly, sleepily blinking at him as he puts on his shoes, slips on his coat, and sets his hat on his head. They join him as he stares up at the sky, frozen.

Emma shoves it's snout into his shaking hand to rouse him from his stupor. He automatically starts petting the Gliscor as he tries to figure out what's happening while everything feels wrong wrong wrong. Nothing is right nothing is right this shouldn't be happening the sky shouldn't look like that the land shouldn't be doused with red light in the middle of the night.

He stares up at the white lightning of the rift and feels a chill in his core as it is wider. The pulsing of the sky leaving him dizzy as he stares at the wrong-so wrong- colours of it.

He has to tell Irida.

Spoon, his Alakazam, is kind enough to teleport him once he puts clothes on properly and alerts his Lady.

Everyone else goes in their pokeballs.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Irida is awoken by her warden, her uncle, at... She doesn't know what time but she was DEFINITELY asleep. As was the rest of the pearl clan before she saw the sky.

"WHAT THE FUCK"

Uncle Ingo doesn't even scold her for her language. He nods in agreement!

Irida sends him with Spoon to Jubilife Village to alert them. He can get there the fastest. He had sent his lady to the Diamond Settlement to alert them.

She hopes he'll be okay...

<---------------------------------------------------------->

The guard on duty is, reasonably, spooked by the red sky. Even more so by Ingo teleporting right in front of the gates and dashing past them, hollering an apology back. This message is urgent. (Their ears are ringing slightly.) (Ingo has definitely accidentally woken some people.) Beureguard, the other guard on duty, very awake now, opens the door to the hall just in time for the Warden to dash in. (They get a thankful hat tip as he goes.) Knocking on the Commander's door to wake him up.

Commander Kamado goes from grumpy at being awoken to understanding of the Warden's haste. His eyes go wide and he stares up at the sky with the same fear most in Hisui do.

Unfortunately, he sees only the Warden's normal expression when he looks at him, and hears only a grave tone in Ingo's words.

And so his suspicion of the man grows.

Once Kamado is alerted to the situation, Ingo makes to leave and alert Adaman to the situation. Kamado does not appreciate Ingo taking the quickest route and jumping over the railing of the balcony. He does not want the suspect to leave, but it is better if the clan leaders are here. (Irida told Ingo to tell Kamado she was coming to discuss this.)

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Adaman is awake and aware of the situation, when Ingo arrives. Actually, they meet up while Adaman is on his way to Jubilife. Lady Sneasler is directed back to Mount Coronet, hitching a ride with Spoon when they go to aid Irida. (Spoon is going to get so so many treats and so much rest when this is over. What a good pokemon. Good Alakazam.)

Ingo really wants to sit down. Maybe do the stretches he forgot to do because of the entire sky going distortion-red and remove the stiffness from his muscles. But he reports the information he has to the leaders and stands off to the side while they discuss.

He is the one sent to fetch Rei.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Lucas is staring up at the sky.

They don't know why Ingo is in Jubilife Village but they appreciate him being there as it feels like the world is going sideways and they explicitly know they have seen this before. They have seen this before and it is bad. They have seen this before and their friends are up there their friends are going to get hurt Cyrus is trying to end the world and they aren't there to help they can't help they can't do anything It means only bad things.

Ingo is the one who stops them from having a panic attack.

He promises. Promises. Things will be okay. They'll make sure of it together, everyone in Hisui. Maybe they'll even close the rift?

But Kamado has asked to see them in his office. Other people as well. When they're feeling ready for it, meet up with Professor Laventon and Akari to discuss things. Go with them to Kamado's office.

They fail to question Ingo standing up straight for once. Comforted by the stability of his commanding presence.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Kamado accuses Ingo of having something to do with the sky. Rei as well.

Arguments strike up, but the Commander is both Loud and Paranoid. Fueled by rumours.

It is put a stop to by Ingo offering to be put in jail to ease Kamado's nerves and spare Rei the same fate.

(He knows he can break out, not that he tells Kamado.)

Rei does not hear of this until after they are exiled to the wilds.

Ingo never hears of the exile.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Rumours are a powerful thing, the one who turned the sky red smiles to himself at the thought. When one combines them with an accidental unnaccountability during the frenzies of the nobles, and pointing out all the oddities of someone, well...

People can even be turned against a Warden, who is respected by default.

A teenager that fell from the sky has no chance against them.

Perfect.

Now he just needs to find little Rei, lurking all alone in the wilds, and once again prove trustworthy. Offer them his aid.

They'll never be able to quell the frenzy of a god, and Arceus will be forced to come down and quell it themself!

There is no way his plan could fail! None!

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Rei cannot find aid with either clan. How people believe they did this they absolutely cannot understand. They understand not wanting War but...

They're just a kid! They can't do this alone!

They might have fallen from the sky, and tamed alphas, which only one other person in Hisui has done. They might have quelled the frenzies of the nobles, which began after they fell.

But that doesn't mean they did it!

That doesn't mean they have the power to stop it either!

It's a relief when they find shelter and a possible solution. The three lake guardians.

Somehow, though, the name of the artifact drives a cold stake of dread through their core.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Irida trusts Adaman to, as the leader closer to Jubilife, help make sure Uncle Ingo comes to no harm, and to take care of things.

He promises to keep her updated on the situation as much as he can.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Y o u r   e m o t i o n s . . .   S h a r e   t h e m   w i t h   m e . . .

C o m e .   I   w i l l   t e s t   y o u r   k n o w l e d g e .

S h o w   t o   m e   u n y i e l d i n g   w i l l .   S t r i k e   m e ,   i f   y o u   c a n .

W h e n   y o u   f e l l   t o   t h i s   l a n d ,   w h a t   s t i r r e d   i n   y o u r   h e a r t ?

C o m b e e .   Z u b a t .   U n k n o w n .   M a g n e t o n .   D u s c l o p s .

W i l l   y o u   a b a n d o n   t h i s   f o l l y ?

H o w   d i d   i t   f e e l   t o   b o n d   w i t h   p o k e m o n   a n d   w o r k   t o g e t h e r ?

H o w   m a n y   a r e   t h e i r   e y e s ?

I t   s e e m s   y o u   h a d   b e s t   g i v e   u p .   W i l l   y o u   c o n t i n u e   r e g a r d l e s s ?

W h a t   d i d   y o u   f e e l   w h e n   y o u   m i n g l e d   w i t h   h i s u i ' s   c l a n s ?

T e l l   m e   e a c h ,   o n e   b y   o n e   y e t   a l l   a t   o n c e .

G i v e   u p .   Y o u   s t r u g g l e   i n   v a i n .   W i l l   y o u   y e t   p r e s s   o n ?

W h a t   d i d   y o u   f e e l   w h e n   c a s t   o u t   o f   t h e   g a l a x y   t e a m ?

A n s w e r   m e .

T a k e   t h i s   p i e c e   o f   t h e   s p i r i t   t o   b i n d   t h e   w o r l d   o n c e   m o r e .

<---------------------------------------------------------->

A pokemon has been spotted on the other side of the rift.

The Commander has taken a force to stop it. Leaving Captain Cyllene in charge while he is away.

Cyllene turns a blind eye to the lack of Warden in the cell.

She gave him some supplies on the way out, after all.

When Rei shows up with a chain of red crystals wound around their arm, she sends her Abra secretly to send the Warden a message. Rei lets out a sigh of relief when they hear their friend is okay.

Laventon and Akari do not know enough to correct them when they express relief that "At least Ingo will be safer in the cell..."

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Melli shows up to offer moral support.

Rei is far more excited, yet filled with dread, to see- "Ingo!"

Their friend breaks from the idle stretches he had been doing and catches them, spinning them around when they tackle him for a hug. "What are you doing here? I thought you were locked up back in Jubilife!"

"I heard you were going to face a pokemon in the rift, I couldn't leave you to do that alone!" He puts them down, stepping back. "I promised that we're a two-car train, and I will keep my promise. Our cars are coupled together to face this threat until the end of this!" Ingo puts a hand on Rei's shoulder, normally-haunted, blank, eyes filled with determination. As well as a faint glimmer of blue. "We'll take care of this threat, together."

"I- Thank you, Ingo."

Despite mistrust, and the sky breaking open, they still have their friends. That is how they know they can take on whatever happens.

They fear if they cannot, all of Hisui will fall. And it will not matter if they could go home or not.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Kamado is shocked to see Warden Ingo. Taking his presence as a sign that he truly was the one who caused this- and Rei was in cahoots with him this whole time! Working together, one frenzying the nobles, the other quelling them. It was all to gain the good people of Hisui's trust and betray them!

He challenges Rei to a battle when they and the clan leaders try to defend Ingo.

They don't expect Commander Kamado to bow and apologize when he loses. Admitting that his fear got the better of him, and that he listened too much to rumours and hear-say about the child who fell from the sky, the warden from nowhere, and their shared unnatural abilities. That he is truly sorry for doubting and lashing out in such a way, and showing them mistrust up until now.

And they...

They don't really know how to feel about it.

But somehow they can just tell that he truly means the apology. And so they forgive him. Unaware of the faint pink glimmer that shines through their eyes.

So long as he promises to do better. He is forgiven.

(He reminds them too much of a forgotten-face to not.)

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Ingo holds Rei's hand as they lead the way to the temple, together. The others here falling into step behind as they ready for what would happen.

Despite the stretches he did earlier, there is still a stiffess in his bones. He's not sure he could slouch again if he tried.

He must have banged something earlier, when his haste caused him to fail to complete his safety checks. There wasn't even a chance to ask Fish, Stanley, and Axel, the alphas, to join him in this battle. Even if they may have refused, he should have tried. They like battling! But he needed to get here before Rei got here and did it without him and got hurt.

Hopefully they'll be able to handle it without the alpha's help...

<---------------------------------------------------------->

None of them expected Almighty Sinnoh- er. Palkia. The looming dragon emerging from the portal after decreeing they must catch it for the fight to come.

They were all far more caught up in the way the red chain uncoiled from around Rei's arm, encircling the god before them all.

And then it shattered.

Later, they would all realize that it prevented the frenzy of the first god.

But for now, all they had was looming terror and Ingo's decree of the god being a water/dragon type after momentary watching of the titanic being before them all. His strange knowledge of pokemon and their types that he has held again and again coming to light once more with a subtle glimmer of yellow in his eyes.

This is greatly helpful, if confusing for Ingo to know, information.

Yet even the appearance of Palkia could not prepare them for it's words, spoken through Irida. For it reveals their fight is not yet over, despite it tearing through some of Rei's team.

In fact, the fight is only to become more dangerous. A greater foe coming forth.

"Space-Time is torn... Awful power spills forth... The frenzied one...comes to fight! Now, Human! Fight it with me!"

They proceed to book it as the time to Palkia's space emerges. Red chain shattered on the ground. They cannot fight this, Kamado insists, leading to all of them packing up and running. Wails of the beast echoing behind them alongside the cracking of stone.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

"Hm. I suppose theories of there being two almighty sinnoh were correct after all." Ingo comments, when they have reached base camp once more.

Rei barks a dry laugh. "You can sure say that again."

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Back to the matter at hand, Volo unintentionally has given them a lead on what they need, for they search for a material the same kind as the plates he so asked about around the clan's settlements. What a nice guy, to be so helpful even when he isn't around.

And as they all split off to their tasks, Ingo distracting Melli with both of them going to talk to their nobles to get them to help evacuate the nearby mountain, Rei gets to witness Melli try to pick a fight with the child that is Warden Lian, and get at least some amusement from his grousing. They still don't know how Ingo likes him, not truly, but he can be funny.

They do not expect the bandit's... odd way of showing concern. But somehow, they appreciate it.

Hopefully those three don't bother Ingo and delay him on his way back though...

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Akari is the one most trusted to craft the Origin Ball, and the work she does on it is just as skilled as any other pokeball she's made before.

Their partner insists on following her, just to make sure she is safe as she retreats a bit away from camp to craft a ball capable of containing gods.

Or well, one god. Hopefully.

They believe in her!

And she delivers. The gemstone-cut ball of red reflects red glimmers into her eyes as she presents it, professor standing behind her proudly. (What a dad he is.)

Holding it, they can just feel the power contained within the ball.

Somehow, they know this ball can never be replicated the same way. An item of so much power is too much to be made again- to be needed again- in Akari's lifetime. And so if (and they hope not) the ball should ever need to be remade, it would be by different hands. Be different.

It would not be the same ball they hold now, tucked carefully into their satchel, as they prepare at the camp for what lies ahead of them.

This ball is utterly unique and should it, should they fail, they will not be able to make another.

So you know, no pressure.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

They walk into the temple once more. Rei clutching Palkia's pokeball in their hand.

Ingo is scarcely a step behind them, only not by their side due to the unspoken insistence that the one holding the god should be first.

He hauls them back behind a pillar as Dialga begins to glow the horrible yellow of frenzy. Energy swirling around it as it shrieks.

But it's not before they throw Palika's pokeball at it, soaring into the golden light even as the energy explodes and the stones crack and crumble to dust with the wear of time around them. Ingo's coat blowing in the wind of power as he crouches over Rei behind the pillar, keeping them and himself safe from the energy of the beast.

When the dust clears, they can all see the temple ruins, swept up in time and sheer power of the being whose declared it's will to fight in the here and now. Tail-fin rattling as it rears and roars it's challenge at Palkia-

And at Rei and Ingo. Standing defiantly behind the god of space. Hands on their pokeballs as they're ready to battle.

The pokemon in their balls shudder, even having agreed to be here, to do this, with their humans. They fear.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

The battle is gruelling and long, as Rei throws balms at the legend and Ingo does his best to distract it, pokemon at his side.

One pokemon down. Two. The number keeps ticking down as Dialga becomes distracted from it's engagement with Palkia and blasts each member of their teams. Both gods too caught up in the fight for Palkia to aid much.

And then Rei is caught in the middle point of their attacks.

They stare up, frozen, at the godly might raining down on them where they stand. Knowing that if they ran, they would be too late.

This is the end.

They never got to go home.

Something slams them out of the way, taking their place at the meeting point of the attack. Knocking them prone and breathless for a moment too much- too long- even as they cry out because they know. They know what just happened.

"INGO!"

<---------------------------------------------------------->

He sees the attacks coming before they do. His body moves without his imput as he charges at them, knocking them out of the way of the gods' attacks.

The next thing the Pearl Warden of the Highlands knows is pain.

White hot and blinding, like it's trying to rip apart every piece of his being. He fears for his pokemon in this moment. More than himself. Each member in his pockets as he hasn't gotten the chance to send out another since the last fell.

How much protection could a mere pokeball be against the god's wrath after all?

He is blinded by the light and the dark and the ravages of space and time as he falls to the ground, limp.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Ingo rolls and hits a rock not far off, ears ringing, and distantly, someone screams his name. The voice cracking and distressed.

Rei.

He has to get up, he has to help them.

His limbs struggle to find purchase, to move, before something pulses in his chest, blue shimmers over his eyes, and he manages to get an arm under him, shakily pushing himself up as they reach his side, hands out.

He can't make out their words, even as their mouth is moving.

Focus. They need him!

"I-I'm okay." His muscles feel stiff from the shock of the blow, but with help, he manages to stand up. Even as he is unable to slouch.

"No you're NOT that was an attack from Dialga AND Palkia- How are you ALIVE?!"

A weak chuckle escapes his mouth as he staggers. "I have no idea."

Palkia cannot show it's remorse for long, as it is brought back into it's brawl with Dialga.

But space warps around them, and they're a little further away from the fight. Away from the way reality is   c r a  c k i n  g   and   b r  e a k  i n g   in the temple of the gods.

Ingo leans against the now-nearby pillar for support.

Even as he struggles to pull himself together, he tries to reassure his best friend. "I'll be okay. You need to" his strong voice is faltering ever so slightly, even as the pain fades and fizzles out, leaving him numb more than anything. "stop the fight."

Ingo understands Rei's expression of disbelief as he pushes off the pillar, falling into a ready stance. He can't really believe he's fine either.

"Their power... must have cancelled out." It feels like a lie when he offers it- how would Palkia's power cancel out it's frenzied bretheren's? How would they cancel out at all? Rather than compounding and ripping someone apart piece by piece. But he offers it.

A shriek and a slight faltering in Palkia drags them back to the battle. They have no time to argue.

He takes up his endeavours of distraction once more, even as it feels like his lungs are stone, and he wills his steps not to falter.

Rei is somehow even more furious in the throwing of balms. Knocking the frenzy of the god out bit by bit. Trying to end the fight as quickly as possible.

It's when Palkia is on the verge of falling, and both their teams are fainted, that Dialga collapses and the origin ball is thrown.

It consumes the god in a sphere of brilliant red and white light, hints of white-gold swirling within the vortex. The light so bright that all present are forced to cover their eyes or be blinded. The light of the ball meeting the frenzied power burning in it's intensity.

The clatter of it on the stone is surprisingly gentle for it's fury. It shakes once, twice, thrice.

Then, with a small clatter, the ball chimes, signifying the god is caught.

Light shines down on the ball as the sun breaks through the horrible red of the sky. Like sunlight punching through the leaves of trees, it punches through in holes, before radiating out, eating away at the horrible red sky for brilliant blue.

Nobody can really believe the frenzied god caught. All standing around in shock.

At least until Ingo's voice booms.

"BRAVO, REI!"

He claps loudly and brilliantly, a chorus of noise for such a great sucess. For such a brilliant feat.

(Distantly, Lucas feels like it's been done before.) (They don't say that though, only slumping in relief over the pokeball.)

They all shout their praises to the skyfaller- the child- the hero.

Commander Kamado even cries with joy.

A celebration is declared. Every person in Hisui allowed to be in attendance. Both Clans. All of Jubilife Village. It will be a feast! To celebrate the dawn of a new day, and to celebrate the Hero of Hisui.

In the clamour, each forgets that Ingo was struck by two gods and lived. (He seems perfectly fine, even as he has not moved from his spot where the fight ended. Limbs allowed to shudder ever so slightly at the dissipation of the rift in the sky alongside the clearing of the sky itself. And he will not interrupt the cheer just for himself. They could discuss it later, after all.)

They fail to notice him fall behind as they usher the hero out of the temple. Praising their skills and marvelling at their feats.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Discussing upon what just happened as they walk, they don't get too far from the temple before they stumble upon how on earth Ingo lived such an attack, as such as the gods. Whirling on where she expects her uncle to be, Irida instead sees him further back.

She furrows her brow. Calling out to her uncle to ask if he's okay.

The way his physical form seems to glitch as he looks to her, eyes emptier than she's ever seen them, makes her heart leap into her throat.

She runs to him. Rei follows not too far behind.

He tries to step forwards to meet them, but one of his legs appears to be stuck to the ground. Colour beginning to fade.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Ingo cannot feel his leg.

He feels the part attached to where he tugs at, trying to step forwards in order to walk to Irida and Rei. But he cannot feel the part that has gone grey.

His elbow is bent from where he rubbed at a shoulder he banged. He fell behind when he realized he could no longer unbend it. Stopping to try and figure out the issue.

(It's cold.)

Irida is panicking. He cannot find himself the same amount of afraid.

(He knew it was coming as soon as he was hit.)

(He kept going anyways.)

He's lived a good life, he thinks. As Irida looks to Rei for ideas of how to prevent this.

They're panicking too.

Both of them are panicking.

It's touching that they're so concerned about him.

(Breathing is getting harder.)

Ingo's voice comes out at a lower volume than he intended, not being able to put the air behind it he usually would. But it cuts through them both the same. Grabbing their attention.

"It appears... I have reached my final destination."

"What? No! You were- you were fine! The sky is clear! The rift is gone!"

"There's consequences for keeping going when you've been struck down by two gods, I fear. I am just glad you're all safe and sound."

"No! We-We can fix this! We can fix this!" They whirl on Irida, looking for some amount of hope. Some idea of what to do.

The rest of the group is frozen in the background. Kamado and Adaman uncertain of how to help.

His niece, his leader, looks into his eyes for an answer, and sees only acceptance of his fate. She looks away. It kills her to say this.

"I'm sorry Rei. I don't think there's anything we can do."

(The grey is even through his clothes. Every part of Ingo is being taken by this.)

"No! You promised! You promised you wouldn't-" Rei continues to deny, and he can't help but snap a bit. "Rei!" He winces at the way they flinch. "I'm sorry. But my tracks end here. I do not regret pushing you out of the way. I do not regret joining you. I have lived a good life, I believe. What little I experienced of it in active memory. I am just glad that everyone I care about is safe."

(He tucked his arm behind his back to hide the grey spreading out from his elbow. He cannot move it at all now.)

(Both feet are rooted to the floor.)

He peers down at them both, eyes glowing in the shade of his hat brim. "Please live a good life in my stead, both of you. And please tell everyone I am sorry I cannot remain in this space." He does the pointing pose he always strikes to his best ability. Voice faltering, even as he tries to make it strong. "You are both won-derful people and I am immensely glad to have- known you! You are both immen-immensely strong people, and I- know you will be able to reach any destination you set- your minds to! But let me say one-one thing- There is no terminal called End in your life!"

(It is so hard to breathe.)

Rei clings to him. Trying to wrap their arms around his too-stiff coat. He is too stiff to be knocked off balance by the sudden action. He cannot feel their tears seeping into his clothes.

Ingo brings his free arm down to hug them back. Voice slightly wheezy as he whispers quieter than one would ever expect the man to be able to be. "I'm sorry, Rei."

(There's a gentle sound of stone tapping against stone as the end of the long sneasler feather tucked into his hat clicks against the back of his jacket.)

When he looks up at Irida, she's trying her best not to cry.

Ingo gives her his best attempt at a smile and her tears flow free. She throws herself at him after Rei and sobs into his stiffened arm. She is only a few inches taller than their four foot eight height, and Ingo towers over both of them with only one arm free to move, but they make the hug work.

(He can't feel anything below his chest other than the one arm. And that is getting difficult to move.)

"Thank you for- sharing your spacesss with me. I will never- forget the kind-ness the pearl clan showed me. I will never forget- your bravery. I'm sorry."

A chill runs up both their spines as Ingo's form fragments and glitches again, as if caught in a spacial rend, but glimpses of other times can be seen through it. His past and future. One fragment shows his coat in brand new black. Another shows air where the middle of the feather would be. A third, only stone. They jerk back from him and he can't help but feel grateful. It feels horribly uncomfortable in a way more intense than any discomfort he has felt before, for them to be there as it happened.

(His coat is grey before he can take his pokemon from his pockets. He hopes they'll be alright.)

His time is running short. He knows it. So he tips his cap to them. Hiding the tears threatening to well in his eyes from them. Hiding his face, selfishly, so he does not have to see their grief. "Goodbye. Please ap-" cough. He can scarcely get enough air to keep talking. He's suffocating. He knows it. "apologize to Sneasler to me. For being" cough cough "unable to say goodbye. I love you both."

And with those last words, he is gone. A statue where a man once stood. His body turned to a grave marker monumenting perhaps the strangest man to ever live in Hisui. The man who sacrificed himself to help save the region.

And Lucas knows, now, why the warden was familiar to them.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Kamado moves first. Tears streaming down his face as he puts a hand on Rei's shoulder in sympathy. Adaman isn't far behind. Squeezing Irida's hand with his own in a silent show of support.

Rei whirls around and buries their face into Kamado's armor. Sobbing their heart out into the man's stomach.

(Kamado wishes he weren't wearing something so stiff, so that he may comfort the child- because they've always been a child, haven't they?- better. But he is, so he simply comforts them the best he can, offering quiet apologies and soft words to try and ease their pain.)

They all stand in silent vigil for Warden Ingo.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

They do not turn at the sound of claws running up the stairs. Other than Adaman giving a quick sorry glance to see if it's any kind of threat.

All on that mountain-top hear the shriek of the noble. The mother whose child just died.

The group steps out of the way for the distraught lady, watching with sorrow as her claws tap the blue-grey stone her warden- her son- is now made of. As she sniffs him and butts her head into the stone cap. As she realizes he is gone.

Lady Sneasler's wail breaks all of their hearts.

(Kamado does his best not to tear up again, and fails.)

They all flinch when she spins on them hissing judgement. Who did this? Who let this happen?!

Rei breaks. "I-I'm sorry Lady Sneasler." Their voice his choked up. Face still red from crying. "It's my fault. He-he pushed me ou-out of the way of Dialga and Palkia's attacks. He sa-saved my life but for that he-he-"

The lady's face softens, and she coos at them, reaching out to tuck them into her embrace and comfort them.

(Her fur is so much softer than Kamado's armor.)

"I'm sorry!"  They wail into her fur. But she understands. Her warden wanted to protect them, so he did. He would have done the same for any of those he cared about. And she understands his choices, even if they bring her great sorrow.

It was his choice. They were not the one who struck him down.

She mutters darkly in the pokemon tongue about how he shouldn't have had to do that.

The remaining adults, and two of the pokeballs in Rei's pockets, shudder. Only two of the group that witnessed the event and are concious understand her. But all understand a mother's fury.

Dialga and Palkia wisely remain silent in this moment.

(Lady Sneasler silently vows to protect Rei- Lucas, she had been told was his true name- in her son's stead.)

<---------------------------------------------------------->

A comment is made in the sorrow. A wish that they could turn back time and stop Ingo's death from happening. Half-hearted and sorrowful. Wishful thinking at most. Except for the fact that Rei has captured the god of time.

The leaders step back from the determined skyfaller. Making space as Rei releases the captured gods to ask them to fix the mess they caused.

(The gods quail at the child's fury when they say they cannot.)

(Lady Sneasler has to be held back from attacking. And despite not being able to understand her cries, they know her words are not pretty.)

Palkia and Dialga explain what happened in turn.

Ingo was lost in both space and time in such a way that he was trapped.

His memories gone, his body stuck in time at the age he was when he fell.

And his presence moved through space at odd time, without any of his notice, able to arrive to places over a shorter distance at longer, or a longer distance at shorter.

Through the instabilities of time and space, his soul was wrought with strangeness.

He would have continued as he was, unable to grow old. Unable to live a mortal's life. Even if he could still perish.

A pause for thought, before Palkia adds;

Also, he got stretched.

Dialga glares at it's sibling, but continues the explanation.

Then, with all the things he has suffered, in my frenzy, he got between attacks of time and space's power.

A normal human would have been killed outright. But Ingo was already warped by such effects, and his will was strong. And so he persevered to see the end of the fight.

But he, and any other, could only delay the inevitable once he was struck. And it was only a matter of time until he fell prey to the effects.

Any other being would have perished immediately. But he wished to help. And to be able to say goodbye. He wanted you all safe. And so his will and experience allowed him to continue.

"Then why can't you fix this?" The skyfaller cries, furious at the gods for their actions. "You-You are the god of time, Dialga! Can't you turn it back and bring him back to life?!"

Turning back time would leave him a statue still, for he is in the wrong time and space. Even if he has made this space and time his home.

Now he is outside our influences. Unable to be touched by either space nor time. He is dead in a most permanent way.

So I deeply apologize, but there is no saving the Warden Ingo.

I am sorry as well, I failed to see either of you. Caught up in the fight as I was. I was too focused in trying to quell my brother.

And the gods bow their heads to a child in apology.

First, Rei is angry. How could they? How could they?!

Then, the anger turns to denial. They're gods. They have to be able to help!

And then it is sorrow once more.

"It should have been me." They decide. "Why couldn't it have been me?"

You would have died far more cruelly.

Your death would have been full of suffering.

The gods glare at eachother for speaking at the same time. But they explain. Once more speaking in turn.

You fell through space and time in a way unlike the warden.

He fell through a tear, stumbling into the snow and cold of Hisui. The full effects of it were his to bear.

You fell from the sky. Brought to bring people and pokemon closer together. The powers that cling to you would have tried to protect you.

But in the end you would have suffered greatly for it. Your body fighting it every step of the way. Like being flayed alive.

He saved them from a far worse end than his own, and it only distresses them more. "He didn't suffer, did he?"

Palkia and Dialga gently nudge them with their heads. Attempting comfort.

No, he didn't.

It was painless for him. Like falling asleep.

Rei considers this.

"There really isn't any way you can help him?"

The gods can only shake their heads.

At best, his soul is shattered, if not lost completely.

There is no way to help him in this time and space.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Warden Ingo is dead. The gods of Space and Time confirm it.

The group that witnessed his death come to the agreement that they will not tell the people of the god's words. Only of the warden's death.

They will make sure his sacrifice is honoured and remembered through time. That his feats will be told in stories to the younger generation, so that his virtues are not forgotten and perhaps someday, someone can help him.

It is politely not mentioned that Rei is a time traveller. They are grateful for this.

(Rei knows that the statue will outlast anything they can do for the warden. Untouchable as it is.)

(They do not bring it up.)

<---------------------------------------------------------->

The celebrations of the clearing of the red sky hold a sorrowful undertone, with the announcement of Warden Ingo's sacrifice near the end of it. (He had never been much of a partier, so people hadn't realized he was gone.)

Folk come forwards to share stories of the warden. Of his kindness and his oddities. Of times he helped them. Of times he seemed so fearsome but turned out nice.

The party becomes a celebration for the man's life, and a mourning of his death.

A toast, to Warden Ingo. A hero.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Everyone understands why Rei did not wish to show to the party. Anyone who blames the child for his death is shut up by the others.

They have done so much for him. The leaders all say there is no way things could have happened another way.

Everyone understands when they don't see much of Rei for the following few days.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

The people of Hisui make a plaque for the statue. Not the traditional sendoff for the pearl clan, nor the diamond clan, or even the galaxy team! But it is the best way, they think, to wish him farewell. Stone to outlast the stories that may be forgotten in time.

Warden Ingo

May your sacrifice always be remembered

Your peace be ensured

And your stone never break

"There is no terminal called End in your life"

And the funeral is held at the top of Mount Coronet. In front of his statue.

Rei remains long after the funeral is done. Sitting by the statue. And they cry for their best friend once more.

Nobody blames them. They can't.

But they do blame themselves. Because the only other option is to blame Ingo. And despite everything, they can't bring themself to blame their best friend.

He had promised. He had promised.

And now he's gone. The two car train that had been made is uncoupled.

Their tracks keep going while his ran out and his cars overturned.

The only other person in Hisui who had been through anything similar to them is gone.

Lucas tucks their legs to their chest and sobs.

They just want to go home.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Sometimes, when visiting Ingo's corpse, they meet up with Melli.

Neither ever says anything.

Melli has added keeping the statue clean to his list of duties.

A final thing he can do for his lost friend.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Rei is despondant for the next month. Barely able to convince themself to get out of bed if not for the need to complete the pokedex.

Nobody can blame them.

But that does not stop people from worrying about them.

(Everyone tries to make them take a break from working on the pokedex. They refuse.)

(Lady Sneasler watches them on their surveys to make sure they don't get hurt.)

(If not her, then one of Ingo's trio of alphas keep an eye on them.)

(Failing all that, their team is even more determined to keep Rei safe than ever. They will not be hurt under their team's care.)

Slowly, Rei is coaxed back into healthier things. To spend time with people again. To eat good food and rest well. Both by humans and by Lady Sneasler dragging them back to her den to rest if she decides they aren't taking care of themself well enough.

("Ingo wouldn't want to see you like this"  is an effective weapon against anyone failing to care for themselves in the wake of the loss.)

Beni starts teaching them how to make mochi, and ninja skills, in order to distract them from grief. Things nigh-completely unassociated with Ingo to them.

And it... helps.

Especially when Adaman ends up joining them to learn from Beni too. And they share jokes. Getting to know him a little better.

They get very skilled at both the art of ninjitsu and making mochi.

The ninjitsu is extremely helpful alongside their climbing and other skills in tracking down pokemon for the pokedex.

Zisu also continues to teach them the security corps' method of self defence.

It's incredibly satisfying the first time they manage to flip her.

Slowly, but surely, things get better. They live despite the death of their friend.

Many shoulders are still cried on. The grief will never truly leave them.

But they can live despite the burdens they carry.

They can live the life Warden Ingo gave them the chance to live. Even if he's not there to share it with them. And one day, they'll get to go home.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Anthe surprises them with a short dark blue jacket with red stripes. Inspired by Ingo's, and made of the sturdiest fabric she could get. It has ten stars on it, to mark their rank.

Rei can't help but cry and thank her.

They'll treasure it forever.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

One day, when they're doing better, a few months after Ingo's death, Volo brings up Arceus.

He speaks of the plates. Of how they are fragments of the almighty from the event of creation. Of the power that they hold.

Perhaps they can reverse Warden Ingo's fate?

If not, then they are likely guarded by powerful pokemon. Perhaps one of them can help where space and time cannot!

And with simple words, the merchant flares hope in the skyfaller's chest, the thought of returning their lost friend to life one they can't help but cling to.

With simple words, Volo gains a powerful ally in his quest for the plates.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

The lake spirits cannot help Ingo.

They had already blessed him when he first arrived in Hisui. Stumbled across their meeting with his damaged soul.

Mesprit blessed him with

U n d e r s t a n d i n g ,   s o   p e o p l e   m a y   b e t t e r   t e l l   t h e   l o v e   h e   h o l d s   i n   h i s   h e a r t .

Uxie blessed him with

K n o w l e d g e   o f   p o k e m o n .   S o   t h a t   h e   m a y   k n o w   o f   a n y   p o k e m o n   h e   m e e t s ,   a n d   k e e p   h i m s e l f   s a f e .

Azelf blessed him with

B o l s t e r i n g   h i s   p o w e r f u l   w i l l .   T h e   s t r e n g t h   t o   n o t   f a l t e r   w h e r e   o t h e r s   m i g h t .

And their blessings only delayed his inevitable death, once he was struck.

L o v e   i s   a   p o w e r f u l   t h i n g ,   b u t   i t   c a n n o t   h e l p   y o u   h e r e .

And so Rei's quest continues.

(Apparently, Ingo was only somewhere in his 20s when he fell to Hisui. And with how time was paused for him, he still was when they got here.)

(There wasn't as big an age difference between them as anyone thought.)

(Somehow, that makes them feel worse.)

<---------------------------------------------------------->

They have been in Hisui for two years when Volo betrays them.

He reveals himself to be the cause of the rift. The frenzies.

He is the reason Ingo died.

After all, if the gods never frenzied, then they would never been needed to be shoved out of the way. Ingo wouldn't have needed to save them.

He cannot tempt them to their side with promises of bringing their friend back to life in the new world because this "new world" he desires is what killed their best friend.

And so battle begins.

Once more, a god finds itself quailing at the fury of the skyfaller. Giratina sent running in fear.

It probably didn't help that Lady Sneasler showed up halfway through to help. Having heard the god's roars and not wanting to let Rei face a

god alone.

Volo hisses and spits. Handing over the ghost plate and leaving. Promising he'll get his way, even if it takes decades- no! centuries!

Rei just laughs. A hollow, but mirthful, sound. "It will never happen, Volo. People with the same goal as you will rise in the future. And they will be toppled just as you have been." Stopped by two energetic preteens with particular skill in pokemon battles. Their words burn more than the poison Lady Sneasler threatens Volo with.

"The new world you have will never come to fruition. Even if you outlive me and everyone else here."

The disgraced merchant leaves. Never to be seen again. And Rei flops against Ingo's statue while Lady Sneasler looks them over.

They decide they're better off not telling anyone who caused the rifts. Content to let Volo's memory fade into obscurity. Just as this battle has doomed Ingo's name.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Celestica Flute becomes Azure, and they know, intrinsically, that it's important.

Arceus is the one who sent them on this journey. The flute only transformed when they collected all the plates.

Seek out all Pokemon.

They're going to come for Arceus once they're done the Pokedex.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

There is discussion on what to do with the damaged plate.

Rei says a pokemon called Giratina damaged it in their battle with the one who caused all the problems with the frenzies and the rift. (No, they didn't get his name.)

It no longer shows some of the text, and it's a bit cracked, if they want to fix it, they would likely need to replace it.

"We shouldn't." They've seen these claw marks once or twice before; weathered by time, but the same claw marks. "They must have happened for a reason. It was so far from battle after all. And it adds character. A little mystery that will keep people thinking about it." About him.

Protests are made, but in the end, nobody carves a new plaque for the statue. It doesn't feel right.

Rei works harder than ever to complete the Pokedex.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Arceus cannot help Ingo either.

Not in this time. Not in this place.

It is not the god of time nor the god of space.

But it is deeply sorry for what Rei had to go through.

The events that came to be were never what it meant to happen. (It hadn't even realized Ingo was displaced.) (Arceus isn't very good with details.)

It just wanted someone to show the people of Hisui the beauty of pokemon. So that their creations may live in a better future.

So it had taken them, a researcher who helped with a pokedex in the future, back to the past in order to help make another pokedex.

Arceus apologizes for not asking. Bestows a fragment of it's power to them for them to carry.

The legend plate.

And tells them that their memories will come back in full with time.

"If you can't help Ingo," Lucas tells it, "then the least you can do is send me home."

That was always the plan.

It will give them the time to say goodbyes, and allow them to bring their pokemon with if the pokemon agree.

They need only ask it, and it will take them home.

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Lucas stays in Hisui for a total of two and a half years. (Roughly.)

They are seventeen by the time they are returning home, and have gained no height for it.

Many people give them gifts when they're ready to leave. This includes a copy of the pokedex they worked so hard on, with illustrations of each pokemon throughout it, and photos of the people they had befriended to remember them by.

They never tell their true name to anyone else.

The ones who know they're a time traveller promise to leave them a time capsule anyways. Written letters for them to read. And they give their best guess at the year to label the box to be opened in when prompted.

And several items of Ingo's that he left behind are gifted to them so they can remember him.

In the end, they are joined by their team, three incredibly protective alphas, and one noble.

They all agree to pokeballs so they don't get lost in space-time or something.

A heir is declared in Lady Sneasler's place. (One a child who had been training to be Sneasler's warden was particularly friendly with. Ingo left detailed notes about things.) And Lucas cannot convince her- any of Ingo's pokemon that remain, other than Tracks, the steelix, who never offered to go- to stay.

They also bring several other pokemon, ones that are better suited to their time, rather than Hisui. (Porygons.) And the things to evolve some Hisuian pokemon, or samples of their fur, or feathers. (They can't remember if some of these pokemon are extinct in the future or not, so they want to make sure.)

Lucas is seen off at the bottom of the mountain, despite the rain.

They say goodbye to Ingo last. Understanding that with this step, everyone else in Hisui will be as dead as him.

(Rei is just glad there's nobody around to see them crying over a statue again, other than the pokemon.)

(The rain on the mountain hitting statue and dripping down makes it almost seem like Ingo is crying too. The way it drips off his face when it gets past the brim is the same as the tracks tears would take.)

<---------------------------------------------------------->

Barry and Dawn are led by Dialga and Palkia to the summit of Mount Coronet. Where Spear Pillar sits.

A figure stands, facing away from them, staring up at the stars.

They wear old fashioned clothing. A slightly-torn, many times repaired, white scarf. A sunbleached red flatcap. Old-styled sandals. They have a dark blue coat with red stripes, but that isn't very visible behind the basket they wear like a backpack.

Just as notable, is the pokemon standing next to them. A sneasler, they recognize it as, due to the distortions that had been cropping up recently. But she is larger than any Sneasler they have seen.

Is this the person who was behind those...?

Their hands are resting on their pokeballs, ready for action, when the figure speaks up. Voice slightly rough, but instantly recognizable. Especially when they glance over their shoulder at their friends.

"Did-did you know that Spear Pillar use-used to be called the Temple of Sinnoh, before it was de-decimated by the gods of space and time in battle?"

Lucas.

(Their eyes are just as haunted as Ingo's always looked, but Barry and Dawn are so happy to see them, they don't care in this moment.)

They end up tackled by their friends, and they turn to catch them automatically. Able to brace against their hugs, when previously they would have been knocked to the ground. (A little wave at the noble stops her from intervening.)

Barry yells about fining them for disappearing. Dawn sobs into their chest about how she was beginning to think they were DEAD, asshole!

Lucas laughs and apologizes. Tears running down their cheeks as they tell their friends that they missed them.

But the Hero of Hisui hesitates when asked where they were.

"I- I'll tell you later-er, alright? It was... a lot." A slight glare at the legendaries, who are staying out of the skyfaller's way. There is beef™

And their friends accept this, upon hearing the tear-strained words. Instead dragging them off down the mountain to race home. Both having forgot their flying types and needing to run back down the mountain. Groan.

They do not witness the slight glance back to the statue of Warden Ingo, too head-strong and set in their goals, but they do witness Lucas challenging the pair to beat them down the mountain before slinging themself over the side of a cliff.

Barry and Dawn run to the side of the cliff, calling after them in worry, only to see them hanging onto the side of the cliff with a cocky smile.

(They're a lot more confident than they were before.)

Lady Sneasler takes advantage of the shock to ruffle both of Lucas' friend's hair, before jumping over the cliff edge after them.

Then the race is on!

(None of them notice the near-invisible hairline crack in the statue that isn't supposed to be able to break.)

[that1nkyone]

What do you think about Drayden being an uncle/father figure to the twins? It’s one of my favorite submas headcanons. Do you have your own family tree for them?

Also: since they both forgot everything in the au with Emmet in the distortion world, how are they gonna get their memories back? How could you do this? The angst when I think about it is so fantastic.

I really adore the Uncle Drayden angle. Him being very familiar of the legend with the two dragons and two brothers links everything well together.

I made up a Mom for the twins, Magda (nicknamed 'Maggie') - she's dignified on the surface, but really she's goofier than her boys, and loves them very much. She's Drayden's sister.

With that said, back when I was thinking about the Three Magnemites headcanon (basically Childhood Nimbasa Trio shenanigans), I decided that Drayden and Ingo would not be seeing eye-to-eye for a long while. Ingo will rarely speak to his Uncle, who's awkwardly trying to bridge the gap.

(Spoiler - it's a fight about Emmet, and how 'one twin should be more like the other,' and Drayden unlearning some stuff while Ingo deals with his own thoughts. Emmet sits in the background awkwardly, this has long stopped being about him. They all become closer eventually).

As for the Distortion AU and how they could possibly get their memories back, well -

Someone reminds them in a bad way, first.

Others eventually remind them in a good way.

[smallestapplin]

Oh Ez I have been WAITING for you to open your requests back up. I have a bunch of family fluff related ideas for PLA and I feel like you're the best one for the job with all your "Lian and Sabi getting adopted" posts.

So here's the deal. Uncle Ingos and Dad Ingos with him adopting Akari and/or Rei are great! But I prefer Big Brother Ingo, and we don't have nearly enough of that kind of content.

"But what about Emmet? His feelings might get hurt!" Emmet is a good bean, he would be grateful to the protag for befriending his brother and looking after him. Now HE can be a big brother! He's not the baby anymore! They're a strong trainer too, what wonderful battles they will have!

So basically what I want is this: Emmet ends up in Hisui, memories intact. It's fluff hours, so we'll say that Emmet being there triggered Ingo's memories returning. Emmet soon discovers that in addition to finding himself a lover, his brother has adopted a girl from the Galaxy Team, Akari, as his younger sister.

Poor Ingo probably feels guilty now that he remembers Emmet, and promises that he wasn't trying to replace him and is about to plead for his younger brother's forgiveness, but:

Emmet: =D I'M a big brother now! *turns to Akari* High five!

Akari: *gives him that high five harder than you give Kamado scorn*

Ingo: *about to fucking cry from relief*

Reader: *patting their poor boyfriend on his silly little head* Told you it would work out.

Found family my beloved-

-

-

- Ingo desperately wishes you were here right now.

- He wishes you were here to meet his brother.

- The man fall from the sky, much like he had. So many memories came rushing to him, and so many things began to make sense, as the man in white ran at him in tears.

- The two held each other, sobbing, the wails echoing in the highlands.

- They held each other in a death grip, for what felt like hours.

- “I knew I’d find you! I never gave up!”

- “I may have forgotten myself, but seeing you brings it all back. I’m sorry I ever forgot you.”

- They kept saying back and forth.

- “Come now! Let’s get you to the village.”

- Emmet was more than happy, wanting to see how his brother lived for the past few years.

- Emmet was quickly told everything.

- From when Ingo woke up, the pearl clan who took him in, becoming a warden, the village, even the little details in between.

- Telling him about both clans, what they believe and represent, along with every warden in said clans.

- It took much longer than he expected, the two arrived to the village before Ingo could tell him everything else.

- Emmet was interested to see where it all started.

- And ‘Jubilife’ sounded verrry familiar.

“So! Where are we off to?”

Ingo glances to his brother, ignoring the odd looks they are getting from the villagers.

“The clans leaders are currently in a meeting with the village commander, once they are out I’ll introduce you to them.”

Though the warden can’t help but feel like he’s forgetting something…

“Who’s that running towards us?”

Ingo barely had time to look, before someone ran full speed into his chest.

“Ingo! Ingo you won’t believe it! We were out in a survey and found the COOLEST Pokémon! It was a crazy different color and and….who are you?”

Ingo catches his breath, looking between Akari and Emmet. Guilt slowly filling his heart, feeling like he subconsciously replaced his little brother.

“Ah! Miss Akari, nice to see you. I’m surprised you aren’t in the meeting.”

A part of him wants to hold this conversation off.

“Well, I was with the professor when the hero got called in, so that’s where I stayed. Anyways, who are you.”

Akari moves away from Ingo, eyeing the identical man in white.

Who just smiles.

“I am Emmet! I am a subway boss. And this is my twin brother Ingo.”

“But Ingo is my brother.”

Ingo feels himself slowly panicking. He was most certain they wouldn’t like each other, watching his two younger siblings eye each other suspiciously.

“Emmet, I promise, I wasn’t trying to replace you! Or I would never, I-

young Akari jumps up before he can continue.

“I get TWO older brothers!? This is awesome!”

Emmet’s smile only grows.

“I am an older brother now!”

Ingo nearly sags in relief.

Though not for long, not with how those two already have a mischievous aura about them.

Ingo just know they are going to cause problems on purpose.

But he’s so happy, so relived no one’s feelings are hurt.

The warden practically jumps out of his skin, as a hand is placed on his shoulder.

“Oh! Sorry honey, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

That gets Emmet’s attention, from a high five to his new sister, to solely focused on you.

“You have a partner!?”

Ingo flinches.

“Y-yes! This is the hero-“

“You can just call me by my name.” You introduce yourself, chuckling at how the man in white excitedly shakes your hand.

“I am Emmet-!”

“He’s Ingo’s brother! Meaning I get two brothers!”

Ingo sighs.

This is going to be a looooong day.

[fourphoenixfeathers]

yooo wait so is this like.

In PLA terms, Rei/Lucas is the player character? and the Akari you meet is Dawn who's just.. lost her memory and made a home for herself in Jubilife prior??? 👀

(also ooof, extra RIP Ingo. sent with a purpose and then. completely forgets it and becomes essentially trapped -_- )

Yup!

Dawn is the Platinum protag! Her little stroll through the distortion world was so traumatizing, she forgot literally everything. No one saw her fall from the sky though, so Jubilife assumed she was just a poor abandoned girl and took her in. They even gave her a name since she couldn't remember her own, how sweet is that?

By the time "Rei" comes into the picture, she's been living there for four years and she blends in almost seamlessly with the rest of the village. Unfortunately, this means that poor Lucas Does Not Realize that Akari is literally Dawn. Hoo boy, it takes so long for him to figure it out. Actual divine intervention is involved.

And yeah, poor Ingo. He was super ready to go save that kid, but he just ended up with head empty. His adult brain wasn't squishy enough to handle being flung across time and space, so he forgot everything Faller style.

It's not ideal (ha), but hey! Arceus sends someone else after him, so he's not stuck forever!