Chapter Text
Chapter 1
(Jaya)
Jaya sat by their table, calmly enjoying a cup of tea. Things had quieted down for the time being, and while they were still busy with survey work, they could take a few moments off now and again. Team Eevee was in various stages of relax. Soupy the Alpha Umbreon curled protectively around Tea the Sylveon and Lentil the Leafeon; Swampman the Alpha Vaporeon with Flatiron and Popsicle the Glaceon piled on top of him.
As they lifted their teacup to their mouth, their home’s door burst open. Team Eevee startled awake, and Jaya’s hand shook enough to spill the tea over the brim—after all that had happened, such a sudden interruption was enough to stir a moment of panic.
They expected the frantic voice of Rei telling them of some lead, but instead, they heard the calm, stern voice of Captain Cyllene. There was a faint waver in her voice as she spoke:
“Jaya. You are acquainted with Volo of the Ginkgo guild, are you not?”
Jaya, who was reaching for a towel to clean the small spill, paused and looked up. “Yes. You could say that.”
Captain Cyllene nodded. “He has been missing for a few weeks now, nearly a month. Disappeared entirely.”
Jaya dropped the entire teacup. Fortunately, it did not shatter. “Pardon?”
“I am aware that he stood by your side through the worst of times…I thought you should be aware of his disappearance. Forgive me, I know it’s distressing, but…”
Jaya swallowed. It was distressing, but for a more nuanced reason than the Captain would know. Jaya had told no one here in Jubilife Village of what had happened up on that mountain with Volo…if it weren’t for all that had affected them, perhaps they would have let it be forgotten entirely.
But…Captain Cyllene was right. Volo had stood beside them when the rest of Hisui turned against them or stood aside, unwilling to help. Jaya had a tough time believing it was entirely for their utility. The friendship they held felt genuine, down to the end. Had Volo not wanted to throw the world asunder once more, perhaps they would not have been on different sides…
“Vee?” Tea chirped curiously, moving to sit in front of Jaya and breaking Jaya from their thoughts.
Jaya looked up at Captain Cyllene. “I will…keep my eyes open in my travels,” they said with a firm nod.
Captain Cyllene nodded in return. “Thank you, Jaya. I do not ask this task of you as Captain: if that were the case, I would have called you to my office. No, I am not asking this of you at all. I felt as though you should know about the disappearance of your friend.”
Jaya closed their eyes and nodded. “I appreciate it, Captain.”
“I’ll see myself out,” Captain Cyllene said. “Take care.”
Jaya watched the door for a moment after Captain Cyllene had gone through, sighing softly and cleaning up the spilled tea. Had it truly only been a month since that battle? That battle where Jaya felt so betrayed, and yet…as though something had changed so suddenly. It didn’t feel like deceit. They ached from the betrayal, but all the same, it felt…off.
Arceus was known to test Jaya, though they had finished the mission Arceus had given them, and gained Arceus’s blessing. All the same…The words Jaya wished they had spoke rang clearly from their mind.
“Why, Volo? If you truly love Arceus, this isn’t how you show it!”
“…Aren’t we friends?”
All the same, they had stayed here in this town, because there was no other way. Nowhere else they could go without causing chaos among the Diamond and Pearl clans. No other way…no one they could turn to, not even Volo.
They thought Volo was their friend. Volo stood beside them when the rest of the world was against them, and then…that went up in flames.
There was no one they could trust in this world. Not Captain Cyllene, not Professor Laventon, not Rei…they cared more about themselves than protecting someone who was a friend…The rest of the town had turned their backs on them entirely once. Adaman and Irida had to focus on keeping things stable too—for that, they would forgive them. They did not have as personal a bond, and yet they had both helped them in their time of need in the ways they could.
Jaya hated it here in Hisui. They were trying to make the best of being stuck here. Perhaps in time, the wounds would heal and leave them with some semblance of peace, but right now, they hated things so much. They wanted…they wanted to run out of this house, open up the pasture gates and free everyone—never again place Team Eevee in those wretched balls…
But there was nowhere to go. They were just a teenager. They didn’t have any answers, nor any…any memories of before. Nothing to follow back, even if there were a way. No…they were sent here. They were stuck here…they were alone.
Had they always been alone? Jaya couldn’t…couldn’t remember. Faintly, faintly they held some memories…but not related to themself. Things of the culture, nothing more. Did anyone know that? Probably not…It wasn’t like they had told many their story, even the story that they didn’t remember anything…
They sighed and stood up. They walked over to the window and looked out, putting a hand over their heart in relief when they saw no rift in the sky.
Maybe someday, those wounds would heal.
Then they turned to Team Eevee, watching them with curious eyes. They smiled. “Say…how would you guys like to look for Volo?”
Tea prickled at the name, and the others looked at each other warily.
Jaya sighed. “Right. I know that he betrayed us, but…I feel like that wasn’t…wasn’t him. It’s not okay, but…” They put a hand to their heart. “I don’t want to believe that I was such a poor judge of friends…not without seeing him again and speaking with him.”
Jaya watched her dear friends, Team Eevee, consider. They were all that Jaya had in the world…
Soupy stood up, his black fur smoothing down. “Bree! Bree!” the Umbreon called.
Tea’s face still was wary—Jaya could see it in the Sylveon’s eyes. Still, he chirped, “Vee! Vee!”
The rest of the team looked at each other with a nod of agreement.
Jaya smiled softly. “Thank you, my friends.”
They closed their eyes for a moment before looking down at the Pokéballs tied on a rope around their waist. “Unfortunately…”
“Por.”
Jaya looked over and saw Swampman cheerful as ever, his chubby Vaporeon face relaxed, as do Flatiron’s, Lentil’s, and Popsicle’s.
Jaya called them into their Pokéballs and walked to the door.
At least looking for Volo would give them some sort of path…
Arceus was silent. The Arc Phone no longer reacted to anything.
They’d surveyed every Pokémon. Not much left to do but look for Alphas and Shinies…
Some direction would be welcome…