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blaiddraws · 2 years

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Whumptober day 24: "I don't want to do this anymore"

OKAY SO THIS ONE. this one is based off of a scene/vibe/mental image that has been rattling around in my head for,,,, months,,, by now.

a while ago i'd come across that sort of. "ingo and emmet are immortal and the twin princes from unova legend" au. didn't (and Don't) really have any thoughts about it save for this One Specific Thing. so. without further ado, have a whole written thing. >1500 words

or read it here on ao3

When Ingo came across Rei in the Highlands by sheer chance, he was relieved. It had been some time since he had seen the boy, busy as he was with completing the pokedex.

He took the opportunity to accompany Rei to his destination; the ruined Temple of Sinnoh.

Apparently, he had finally completed the pokedex (which had been awarded with a very loud and enthusiastic "Bravo"), and was now going to finally confront the being that had brought him to Hisui.

Ingo was curious about that, and Rei gladly elaborated. It seemed he'd been bottling it up for a while.

He was already aware that Rei had a mission, and he saw that oddly familiar device a few times here and there, but he hadn't known much more than that. But the child had been plucked from his bed, his home far in the region's future, one night and given a mission from a being of golden light-- Rei said he was pretty sure he knew who it was, but didn't actually say who. (Something in Ingo didn't want to know, anyway.)

A mission to "Seek out all pokemon," and his device would act to give him guidance when he needed it. And when he finally finished, the being told him to go to the peak of Mount Coronet.

Something about everything set off alarm bells in Ingo's head, especially once he saw the shape of the phone's casing. Alarm, and an incredible dread. Fear even, though the mix of emotions swirling in his gut were hard to pick out.

Regardless, he offered to join Rei to meet this being, just in case his presence was needed. There were other reasons he kept to himself, namely something shouting within him to not let the child go alone to whatever was about to happen next.

It took some convincing, but Ingo was very stubborn when he wanted to be, and Rei admitted he did like the companionship.

So they went, until they were standing in the ruins of the old temple.

Rei's flute transformed, a melody and power rang through the air that completely froze Ingo's limbs with an unidentifiable emotion.

But he forced himself to move, to follow Rei up the ethereal staircase despite the way his legs trembled. It was a rare instance where he was glad that he had a naturally unemotive face, as he tried his hardest to act normal.

But when the two of them stepped onto the platform, and the being shimmered into view, that emotion nearly overcame him in a massive wave.

He recognized this being, without a doubt.

"Arceus," he whispered, right as Rei stepped forward and called out its name.

That emotion. That horrible, clawing emotion.

He turned away, facing away from the deity and Rei.

Shame.

An incredible, deep, terrible shame.

He didn't deserve to be here. He was terrified, really, of what Arceus would do when it inevitably noticed his presence, if it hadn't already.

But he didn't deserve to be here. Something within him recognized the area, and with that came the visceral shame.

He'd done something terrible. This he felt without a doubt, a certainty to it far greater than any of the vague shadows of memories that remained with him.

Yes, he did something horrible. He did not deserve to be in the presence of the creator pokemon. Nor within its beautiful domain.

With a start, he realized that there had been a battle going on for some time now. He didn't even notice it, as preoccupied as he was, until a stray move was sent flying out into the void beyond, zipping through his line of sight.

He wanted to help Rei, but it… Wasn't his place. Even the thought of attempting to fight against Arceus was met with a stark refusal within himself.

He watched the battle out of the corner of his eye for a moment, long enough to conclude that Rei was doing alright, all things considered, before turning back to face the infinite depths beyond Arceus's platform.

Time passed, the noise of battle a familiar one, until finally it all stopped. A pokeball letting out that familiar pop of a successful catch.

Did Rei just… Ingo whipped around, to see Rei proudly holding up a pokeball. The boy finally turned around, looking at Ingo with a proud grin.

"Rei… Did you just capture the creator pokemon… within a simple pokeball?" Ingo breathed. The sheer audacity and gall of the action horrified him.

Rei shrugged.

"Yes and no? Technically it's just a piece of Arceus, and it told me to capture it," he explained.

Ingo wasn't sure if that helped at all. His hands were shaking, so he clenched them in hopes to disguise it. Rei didn't seem to notice, fortunately.

Unfortunately, he did something that nearly gave Ingo a heart attack.

"Hey, do you want to meet it?" The question was met with a strangled wheeze that Rei did not hear, as he continued without waiting for an answer.

"Also I wanted to ask it a question!" With that, Rei flipped the latch on the ball, releasing Arceus.

Its presence filled the air like a heavy blanket, and Ingo slumped, tugging down his hat to hide his face.

Turning around now would be far, far too disrespectful, but that awful shame in him wanted him to run and hide. To not be seen. The hat, and hiding in the collar of his coat, was the best he could do. Hopefully he didn't offend Arceus.

"... Ingo?" Rei asked. A tap of a hoof that rang through the air as Arceus stepped closer, and Ingo flinched.

He bowed his head, wishing desperately he could vanish from existence entirely.

"Uh, Ingo? You okay?" Rei asked again.

Was he okay? Hah! No, he was far, far from okay. This was probably the worst moment of his entire life, really.

HE BOWS HIS HEAD IN SHAME, FOR A TERRIBLE CRIME HE DOES NOT REMEMBER.

Arceus spoke, or whatever passed for speaking. Its voice echoed through his mind, all the way down to his very bones.

He could hear the quiet slaps of Rei's sandals against the glasslike surface, as the boy ran to his side. He tried to look Ingo in the face, but Ingo pointedly refused, turning away.

"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked, incredulous and vaguely defensive. Ingo was surprised to feel Rei cling to the sleeve of his coat, almost possessively.

"I did something terrible, long ago. Terrible enough to warrant a punishment from Arceus itself," Ingo spoke, after a moment. His voice cracked.

He still could not remember any of it, but that certainty was undeniable.

Rei shook Ingo's arm slightly.

"C'mon Ingo, there's no way that's true! You're way too nice of a guy, it's just your insecurities speaking or something."

Ingo only shook his head. When it seemed Rei would continue, Arceus took another step forward, once again causing Ingo to flinch.

HE SPEAKS THE TRUTH, MINE CHOSEN.

There was a long, dreadful silence from Rei.

"N-no, there's. That can't be true, there's no way Ingo would ever do anything bad!"

THIS IS TRUE. THE MAN THAT THOU KNOW'ST WOULD NOT.

HE HAS GROWN FAR FROM THE ARROGANCE AND MISDEEDS OF HIS YOUTH. BUT THESE THINGS DID HAPPEN, AND SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED OR FORGOTTEN. HE HAS THE DEATHS OF MANY ON HIS HANDS, BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY, AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE OF MINE CHILDREN SPLITTING ITS VERY BEING APART.

He had no memory of any of it, but all of it rang terribly, awfully, and undeniably true. The shame, though it had never left, returned in full force.

"That's…" Rei whispered. The boy no doubt hated Ingo now, after learning this.

Ingo wished he had never insisted on joining Rei. This would never have happened. Would he have ever even recalled the terrible burden he'd held? He was glad he had forgotten this.

… And yet, Rei did not step away. Arceus shifted, its presence leaning closer, even as Ingo refused to look away from his feet.

BUT YOU, WARDEN INGO, HAVE CHANGED. THOU HAST LONG SINCE LEARNED THY LESSON. THOU NEEDN'T FEEL FEAR OR SHAME IN MINE PRESENCE.

What?

I WILL NOT HARM YE, FOR WHAT WOULD BE THE PURPOSE OF PUNISHING A GOOD MAN?

Rei placed his hand on Ingo's shoulder. A silent but clear show of his support.

Ingo dropped to his knees, legs shaking far too much to even hope to hold himself up, overcome with emotion.

Those words. He hadn't even dared to let himself imagine hearing them, but somehow, miraculously, he was hearing them now. He still carried that incredible shame and guilt, but to hear from Arceus itself that he had grown into a good man, it was… so, so much.

THINE PUNISHMENT HAS BEEN COMPLETE FOR CENTURIES. THE PRICE HAD BEEN PAID, A LESSON LEARNED, AND YE HAVE CHANGED REMARKABLY INTO AN INCREDIBLE MAN.

So why did he still feel as if he didn't deserve this… this mercy, this forgiveness? Did Arceus really expect him to be free of the burden he'd been carrying for countless years, just like that?

He leaned over, until he was resting on his elbows.

"Please," Ingo whispered, barely able to speak at all, "I don't want to do this anymore."

He was tired, he was overwhelmed, and it was made all the worse by the fact that he had no idea where these emotions were even coming from. He did not know why Arceus's words sent such terrible shocks of grief and shame and relief and everything through his body, causing him to tremble. It was so much, too much.

I SHALL RETURN THINE MEMORIES TO THEE. IT IS THE LEAST I COULD DO, INDEED, FOR ALL THAT THOU HAST DONE FOR ME IN THY TIME.

What? … Just like that?

Finally, he dared look up, only to find himself directly face-to-face with Arceus. His eyes were wide in shock and disbelief, but he found himself frozen.

SLEEP NOW. THOU WILT AWAKEN SOON.

It leaned forward, gently touching his forehead, and everything went dark.

#whumptober2022 #no.24 #I don't want to do this anymore #immortal twin princes au #submas #pokemon #pla era #ingo #rei #protag rei #writing

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