Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had been a long day at work today, and Emmet was more than happy to have a quiet evening. He loved the rush of the subway, the passengers, the battles, but even he need a break sometimes.

He didn’t even need to worry about dinner tonight, seeing as it was Ingo’s turn to cook. Emmet was content to relax at the table and let the smells and sound of cooking wash over him.

Ingo idly talked about whatever came to mind. Emmet only half-listened. Both were fine with it, mostly just wanting to spend some time together outside of work.

Dinner was warm and comforting. They needed to go grocery shopping soon, getting down to mainly leftovers and pantry staples, but they would deal with that another day.

They did their own things for a while after dinner. Emmet made sure the Pokemon were fed and not stealing each others’ food as he loaded the dishwasher. Ingo lounged across the chair as he did something or other on his Xtrans.

Soon enough, the only Pokemon still eating was Haxorus and she was more than capable of preventing any dinner thieves. Emmet hit start on the dishwasher, then joined his brother in the living room.

Emmet fell onto the couch with a sigh. Ingo got up from the chair and sat next to him, bringing his legs up and onto Emmet’s lap.

“Get off,” Emmet lauged, shoving Ingo’s legs off him.

Ingo huffed dramatically and sat up correctly. “Fine, I guess.”

Emmet laughed again and grabbed the remote. “What to watch something?”

“Sure. I am not doing much else.”

Thus started the needlessly difficult task of finding something interesting to watch.

They had recently finished the show they were watching before, so they didn’t have a go to thing anymore. Emmet wasn’t sure he had the bandwidth for a long movie or new show right now. Meanwhile, Ingo seemed to be fine with whatever and was no help.

It was when he switched to a different list of movies that Emmet realized what was going on. He tried to ignore it.

Then, as expected, Ingo said, “Emmet, if I were to disappear, what would you do?”

Ignoring the question, Emmet said, “There’s also that new movie Brycen is in.”

“Emmet.”

He knew what happened if he answered. He wanted just a few more minutes of normalcy, of his brother.

“If I got on the Single Line tomorrow and never returned to the station, what would you do?” Ingo asked, voice pleading. “Would you remember me?”

Emmet felt his hands shake as Ingo took his free one.

“Emmet, please.”

“I would,” Emmet whispered, the lie almost choking him. “I would remember you.”

Ingo held on tighter.

Emmet swallowed past the lump in his throat, voice hoarse when he said, “I didn’t. I am sorry.”

“I can’t keep doing this.”

That wasn’t how this dream went. Ingo was supposed to say that he didn’t blame him, tell him to remember him, tell him to find him, then Emmet woke up. Not this.

Ingo had never sounded so defeated before.

Emmet looked over. Ingo was older and more tired, a small beard on his chin and lines under his eyes. His coat and hat sun-bleached and torn. Despite expecting it, despite likely looking similar, it still hurt to see.

“What?” he asked.

“I don’t know how many more times I can do this,” Ingo said, eyes watering. “It takes so much out of me. Out of both of us. I’m not sure how much I have left in me. I am so tired, Emmet.”

“But-” Emmet took a shuddering breath. “But how will I see you?”

There were tears on Ingo’s face now. “You have to find me.”

“How?” Emmet couldn’t feel his hands anymore.

“You have to find me,” Ingo repeated.

Everything was blurry. “How?”

“You have to remember.” Through the fuzz, Ingo hugged him tight. “Please, you have to remember.”

Emmet woke with a start, an ache in his chest, tears in his eyes. He tried to take a breath. It turned into a sob.

Eelektross shifted as Emmet rolled to his side. He curled around Emmet, pressing his head against his chest. Emmet held on tight and buried his face into his Pokemon’s side as he failed to stop crying.

Chandelure drifted closer with a soft chime. She came to a rest just above Emmet and Eelektross, continuing her song quietly and dropping her flames to a dim, warm lavender. It equal parts helped and made the pain hurt more.

Emmet had been having the same dream almost weekly for months now. He never remembered it, just knew it was the same. It always left him a sobbing mess when he woke with a nearly debilitating pain in his chest for something he could never figure out.

He always felt like something was missing after that dream, something so important, but nothing ever was. He had torn through his apartment enough times to be sure. It was just him and his Pokemon.

Just as it always was.

Chapter Text

Emmet would be the first person to admit he had made a mistake coming to work today.

He didn’t fall back asleep after that dream had woken him up. He never could. Instead, once he had gotten the ache for something he couldn’t place out of his system, it was almost time for him to get up anyway.

And instead of calling in, whether it be because of routine or wanting a distraction, Emmet got ready for work.

He felt like he was walking through a fog all morning, moving mostly on autopilot.

Fortunately, it was mainly a battle day.

Unfortunately, it was a Singles day.

It wasn’t that Emmet disliked single battles. He just preferred double battles. He specialized in them after all. But someone needed to run the Single Lines, and Emmet was the Subway Boss. It only made sense to be him.

He lost most of his battles. He made a lot of dumb mistakes. He kept messing up type weaknesses. He kept forgetting what moves Klinklang knew, mixing this one up with the one he used on the Double Line.

At least he had a bit of a break right now. There were only a couple passengers left on this train and it would be at least a few minutes before either made it to his car.

Emmet sat with a groan. He had lost his last battle terribly. An ill-timed Shift Gear early on had thrown him off and the next thing he knew, Crustle was fainting and he was saying his losing script.

He buried his face in his hands. Hopefully, he still had some spare headache medicine in his office, otherwise he was going to suffer on the Super Singles Line. At least more than he was already going to.

“--- ------ --ke a break.”

“At lun-” Emmet froze.

That wasn’t his thoughts.

He looked up. He was alone in the car. “Hello?”

Other than the rumble of the train, it was silent.

Emmet looked under the line of seats he was on. Nothing there. The seats opposite didn’t have anything under them either.

“Is someone there?” he tried again. “You should come out. It is unsafe to hide here.”

It was silent for a moment.

“--u c-- -ear me?”

The voice was quiet, barely audible. Masculine. Similar to Emmet’s, if maybe a touch lower and much more expressive.

Something about it made Emmet ache.

“I- I can hear you,” he said, past the inexplicable lump in his throat. “Not very good though. Can you speak up?”

“Y-- --- he-- me!” the voice said, excitement clear but volume still low. “This i- -----!”

“Where are you?” Emmet said as he looked around the car again. There weren’t many places to hide here, yet he still couldn’t find anyone.

“--- ------ --- --…” While the words were indecipherable, Emmet could still hear the disappointment in the tone.

“I did not hear that. But it’s okay,” he tried to reassure. “I am Emmet. I am the Subway Boss. I can help. I just need to know where you are.”

There was a pressure on Emmet’s left hand like someone had placed theirs on it.

“- -- right here.”

Emmet looked over.

No one was there.

And yet…

It felt like someone was there. He could almost see it. The faintest of outlines. A hint of a shadow. About his height, his size.

Why did he have two Klinklangs? Why were Galvantula and Archeops used on the Multi Lines when Emmet didn’t run those? Why didn’t he run those? He was a Subway Boss; he should be running those too. But then he’d need a multi battle partner.

He already had a multi battle partner.

Who was his multi battle partner?

The car hit a bump, causing him to break his stare with the empty seat next to him. Why was he looking at it? There was nothing wrong with it.

He shook his head and looked at his Xtrans. The last two challengers had both lost. Probably for the best, Emmet was exhausted. At least he could relax in here until the pulled into the station which would be another fifteen minutes or so now.

The train pulled to a stop.

Emmet looked at his Xtrans again. The challenger notifications were from almost fifteen ago.

How was that possible?

“Boss?”

Emmet looked up to see Furze standing in front of him, looking worried.

He cleared his throat. “Yes. Sorry, yes. I am getting off.”

“Sir-” Emmet got up and walked past Furze. “Emmet, wait!”

Emmet paused at the door and turned around. “Yes?”

“You, uh, might want to wipe your face,” Furze said.

He raised a hand to his face. Something wet soaked into his glove.

“I think I will be going home early,” Emmet said, quickly wiping away the rest of his unshed tears.

“I’ll let the others know,” Furze said, “and finish up here. Go home and rest, Boss.”

Emmet sighed. “Thank you.”

With that, he left.

-----

Emmet got home quick and fell asleep on the couch quicker. He barely managed to lock his front door behind him before collapsing face down on the couch, not even bothering to take off his shoes and coat.

Or at least he thought that was what happened. When he was startled awake by a knock on his door, he was curled up on the couch, shoeless, coatless, and hatless.

He sat up, scrubbing his face of the last bit of sleep, and looked around. His shoes were at their spot by the door, but his hat was on the floor next to them. His coat hadn’t come close to making it to its hook. It was splayed on the floor next to the armrest of the couch.

How on earth did that happen?

The coat Emmet could see being him in his sleep. But the shoes and hat? Had he taken them off when he got home but forgot in his exhaustion? Even then, the shoes were a little too neatly placed for that.

Chandelure then? She liked to try to tidy up after him, though she didn’t always have the dexterity with Psychic to do so. That would explain the shoes.

But that left the hat and coat. She wouldn’t have kept them on the floor. They’d at least be on the chair if she couldn’t get them on their hooks.

Then what-

There was another knock on the door, followed by Elesa calling, “Emmet, I’m here!”

“Coming!” he called back, voice still a little crackly from sleep.

Emmet got off the couch and went to pick up his coat. Chandelure sped into the living room with a loud chime.

“Woah, Chandelure!” Emmet had to step back as she flew into his coat. “What is it?”

She kept ramming into the coat with a rapid and angry series of chimes.

“It’s fine,” Emmet said, walking towards the door. “It is just my coat. I can hang it up.”

Chandelure only got angrier, flames actually flaring up. She moved to target his hand. He let go and she calmed down a little.

Emmet sighed. He went to pick his coat back up, only to be stopped by even more angry chiming. He stood back up and held his hands up in surrender. He was far too tired to fight her on this tonight.

“Okay, you win. I won’t touch it.” He went to pick his hat up. Chandelure gave a warning chime. “Or that. What has gotten into you?”

Chandelure circled him a few times. It looked like she was inspecting him. For what, Emmet didn’t know. Apparently satisfied, she left to inspect the rest of the apartment.

“Strange,” Emmet mumbled. He turned back to the door and opened it. “Verrrry sorry about that, Elesa. I was napping. Then Chandelure was being odd. Come in.”

“Any idea why?” Elesa asked, coming in and taking of her shoes and coat.

“Nope.” Elesa went to grab his coat. “Don-”

Chandelure came shrieking back into the room. She went after the coat again until Elesa backed up.

“Chandelure, it is fine,” Emmet reassured, dragging her away from the front. “Elesa didn’t know. No one is going to touch it anymore.”

Elesa put her hands up. “No touching. Got it.”

Chandelure gave another huff before calming down. Emmet let go of the Pokemon. She circled Elesa like she had Emmet and left again.

“See what I mean,” he sighed. “She hates my coat now. And my hat.”

“How long’s that been going on for?” Elesa asked as she closed the door.

“Just right now.” He ran a hand through his hair. “She was fine this morning. They can stay on the floor for now. I am not dealing with that tonight.”

“I’m sure she’ll get over it,” Elesa said. “You aren’t too tired for movie night, are you?”

Oh, he had completely forgotten about that that.

“I should be fine. I can rest more tomorrow.” Emmet reached to finally undo his tie, only to find it already loosened with the top button of his shirt undone. “Oh, that’s… Let me change. I will meet you in the kitchen.”

“Sure thing.”

Emmet was quick to change from his work clothes into something more comfortable. He would worry about his day tomorrow. It was probably nothing. Just a result of his weird headspace from that dream again.

It was fine.

He entered the kitchen just as Elesa was putting a bag of popcorn in the microwave.

“I am Emmet,” he announced. “I am here. I can handle the popcorn if you want to set up the movie.”

“Sure! You’re better with seasoning it anyway,” Elesa laughed. She hit start on the microwave, then left for the living room.

She paused at the door.

“Hey,” she said like she was testing the water at a lake, “are you feeling okay?”

“I am fine,” Emmet lied.

“When I went to meet you at the station, Furze said you went home early,” she continued. “Then you never responded when I texted you.”

Emmet wrung his hands together. “I was probably napping when you texted me.”

“What about leaving early?”

Emmet looked away. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

“Did you have that dream again?” Elesa asked, voice soft.

Emmet nodded.

“Alright,” Elesa sighed. “We can talk tomorrow if you want to. Let’s just enjoy tonight!”

Emmet took a breath as the popcorn started popping. “Yeah. That was my plan.”

“Good. Okay, I’m gonna set the movie up!” Elesa left to the living room.

The microwave beeped soon after. Emmet took the bag out and started a second one.

A good night.

He was going to have a good night.

“Y-- -----d eat m--- ---- ---- --pcro-.”

“I’ll be fine,” Emmet mumbled, countering himself aloud. “I can make something else later.”

He did his best to ignore what sounded like a quiet sigh and soft footsteps leaving the kitchen despite the fact he was already alone in the room.

A good night. He was going to have a good, relaxing night.

A couple minutes later, the second bag was done and he was leaving the kitchen with a big bowl of perfectly seasoned popcorn.

“I am- Archeops, no!” Emmet had to look down to make sure he didn’t step on his mooching bird. “This popcorn is not for you. You always eat too much and it makes you sick. You also wouldn’t like how I seasoned it.”

Elesa just laughed from the couch. Emmet managed to shoo away Archeops.

“I swear,” Emmet laughed, “that bird ne-”

There was a man sitting on the chair, resting his chin on his hand and watching Elesa.

“Emmet?” Elesa said, seemingly unaware. “What’s up?”

He couldn’t move, couldn’t talk.

The man looked over at him. His face barely changed, but Emmet could see the worry on it nonetheless.

The man looked like Emmet. Same hair, same eyes, same sideburns, same lines under his eyes. The only differences were the frown, the style of beard, and clothes. He wore a black coat and hat. Even with how tattered they were, Emmet could tell they matched his own white Subway Boss ones.

In that moment, so much stuck out around the apartment.

The empty hook next to his by the door. The mugs no one ever touched. How Emmet was practically never centered in old photos. The number of Pokemon he had.

How often he bought two of something. The amount of times he had an extra serving of leftovers he never ate. His dislike of his birthday. How he had made enough popcorn for three.

The door next to his bedroom.

There was another door on his side of the hall.

Of course there was. Why wouldn’t there be?

How hadn’t he noticed sooner?

The man’s eyes widened. He must have said something, yet there was no sound. His entire person faded and blurred, but his meaning was obvious to Emmet.

You can see me?

“Emmet!”

Bang!

The bowl of popcorn clattered to the floor as he jumped.

“Oh!” Emmet immediately knelt to clean his mess. “Sorrrrry.”

“Emmet, no, wait.” Elesa was at his side, hands on his shaking ones. “Are you okay?”

“I ammm fine,” he got out. Why was it so hard to talk?

He took his hands from Elesa and went back to scooping the popcorn into the bowl before the Pokemon ate it all.

Elesa stopped him again. “I know what I said in the kitchen,” she said, “but this is obviously bigger than just that dream.”

“I a-” A gasp, a borderline sob, cut him off. His vision blurred as he tasted salt on his lips. “Wh- Why am I crrrrying?”

“I was going to ask you that.”

“I- I don’t-” Another gasp. “I don’t-”

“Hey, just breathe for a second.” Elesa moved to hug him.

Emmet jerked away. “Don’t. Not- Not yet.”

Elesa said something as she pulled her hands back. Emmet couldn’t process it over the ringing in his ears, his gasps for breath, the sudden wave of nausea.

He wrapped his arms around himself and bent over, pressing his head to his knees. That helped. Helped him focus on breathing, helped him not feel like he was going to throw up. He could hear Elesa tidying up the scattered popcorn.

Something started rubbing his back, slow and comforting. Emmet couldn’t tell what it was. It didn’t feel like Elesa with the lack of manicured nails. It didn’t really feel like a hand at all, just a pressure moving in circles.

Probably a Pokemon then. Eelektross if Emmet had to guess.

He wouldn’t worry about that right now. Not when it was helping ground him, helping to relax the white-knuckled grip he had on his arms.

Eventually, the pressure faded and Emmet got his breathing back under control. After a deep breath, he managed to sit upright again. Galvantula was sitting in front of him. She tentatively crawled onto Emmet’s lap. He let her, petting her head.

“Thank you,” he whispered. She must have been the one who helped him.

She chittered softly back.

Wait, that didn’t make sense-

“Feeling a bit better?” Elesa asked as she left the kitchen. “I got the popcorn cleaned up and put it on the counter. I’m not sure how much we can save though.”

“That’s fine,” he said, voice still quiet. He couldn’t get it much louder. “Not hungry. Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Emmet took a breath, wiped his face. He got Galvantula off his lap.  “Help me up?”

“Yeah.” Elesa stood, helping Emmet up on weak legs a moment later. “Where to?”

She was on his left.

“Emmet?”

She was on his left.

“Elesa, I need you to move.”

“What?”

“I need you on my right.” He could feel himself start to shake again. “Please. I don’t know why.”

Elesa moved over.

“Thank you,” he sighed. “Sorry. Can we go to the couch?”

Elesa nodded and guided him over. Emmet sat, scrubbing his face with a huff.

Galvantula crawled up and onto his lap again. He scratched her, letting her spiky fuzz keep him present.

“Emmet,” Elesa said gently, “what was that?”

“I don’t know,” Emmet sighed. “The popcorn bowl slipped. I just started crying.”

“What about the chair?” Elesa asked.

Emmet looked at her, hands pausing. “The chair?”

“You were staring at it,” she said with a look of confusion, “for, like, a solid minute. You weren’t responding to anything I said either.”

“I was?”

“Yeah.”

Emmet looked at the chair. It sat empty, looking the same as it ever did.

Or was it?

There was a shadow on it. Faint, yet plainly visible. There was nothing around that could possibly be casting it, especially with how it didn’t expand past the armrests. Emmet couldn’t help but think it looked like someone was sitting in it.

The shadow shifted.

A shock and a click from Galvantula brought his attention to her. He went back to scratching her.

“You did it again,” Elesa said.

Emmet tilted his head. “Did what?”

Elesa blinked. “Literally what we were just talking about.”

Emmet looked away, feeling his face start to heat up in embarrassment. What were they talking about?

“You looked at the chair and immediately zoned out,” Elesa thankfully filled in. “What’s going on?”

Emmet risked a glance at the chair. Nothing was there.

He looked away with a sigh. “I don’t know. I said I had that dream. I’ve felt off all day. Foggy. Like something is… missing.”

“Any idea what?” Elesa asked.

Emmet huffed, resting his head on Galvantula’s. “I never do.” He sat back up with a groan. “I think I just want to go to bed. Sorry. I kind of ruined tonight.”

“It’s okay. At least you weren’t alone,” Elesa said. “Did you still want me to stay the night?”

He felt a little selfish for it, but still he said, “Could you? I think it would help. Having another person in the apartment.”

“Sounds good to me. Did you want some help getting to your room?”

Emmet got Galvantula off him and stood. “I got it. Thank you anyway. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Ignoring the chair, Emmet left the living room. Only to pause at the hallway.

There were five doors.

That couldn’t be right. There had always been four. Bathroom, guest room, linens and laundry, his room…

And a fifth.

“Elesa?” he called back, hoping his normally flat voice saved him. “If I ask you something that sounds crazy, can you humour me and answer it?”

“Yeah.” Unsurprisingly, she sounded concerned. “What is it?”

“Can you come here?”

“Sure.” There was the shuffling of Elesa getting up and walking over. She came to a stop next to him.

On his left.

Emmet tensed. “Other side.”

Elesa moved to his right.

“Thanks,” he mumbled, relaxing a little.

“So,” Elesa said, “What’s the question?”

Emmet bit his lip for a moment, then said, “How many doors are in the hall?”

He watched Elesa do a quick look around of the hall, then look at him in confusion. “Four?”

“Okay.” Emmet managed to walk past the extra door, Galvantula at his heels, with a mumbled, “I am going to bed.”

“Wait-”

He closed his bedroom door before Elesa could say more. He locked it for good measure. Good thing Galvantula had made it in. He didn’t want to be alone tonight, and he really didn’t want to open his door again.

Emmet fell onto his bed with a huff. It turned into a groan as his eyes started to water. He pressed the heels of his hands into them, hoping that would stop him from crying again.

Galvantula settled on his chest, lightly kneading her pedipalps into it. Emmet sighed, letting his arms fall across his bed with a thump.

“I think I am losing it, girl.”

Chapter Text

Emmet barely slept. He’s sure he did with how the clock always showed that an hour or so had passed since last looking even if it only felt like a few minutes. That didn’t change the fact that it felt like he had just stared at the ceiling all night.

He got out of bed when the sun started to peek through the curtains, careful not to disturb Galvantula. Not that he thought he could. That spider could sleep through a train crash.

With a tired sigh, Emmet left his room and headed down the hall. Maybe he would sleep a bit better on the couch, even if it was only until the sun properly rose. He just wanted some re-

The door was still there.

He froze.

The door was still there.

He had to be imagining it. Doors didn’t just appear.

But here Emmet was, staring at a door that wasn’t there before last night.

Unless it had always been here and no one had noticed it. But Elesa said there was only four doors last night. She wouldn’t lie about something like that. Why would she? There was no reason to.

And yet, there was a door.

It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. Emmet’s horribly tired and frazzled mind was just inventing a hallucinatory door in his hall for no reason. All he needed to do is actually get some sleep and then the door would be gone.

He didn’t move.

The door looked unnervingly real for something made up. The knob was scuffed and the paint on the wood was scraped at the same height as Crustle’s rock. There was a nick near the top, just large enough to notice, at Haxorus’s tusk level.

It couldn’t be real.

Emmet raised a shaking hand.

It couldn’t be.

He hesitated, hand hovering over the doorknob.

What if it was? What if it was real? How had Emmet missed a whole room in his apartment? How had Elesa not even seen the door? How was that even possible?

He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t move. The only thing he could hear was his heart pounding in his chest.

Would it be better or worse if the door was real?

From Emmet’s left, a hand came into view. It wore a wooden bracelet and a tattered black sleeve.

It wasn’t his.

Emmet ripped his hand back and jerked away from the door. He turned to go back to his room. He wasn’t hiding. It was just the best-

Why was he facing his room? He was going to the couch. When did he turn around?

Emmet could feel his heart beating way too fast. His breathing was shallow and his hands shook. He took a breath, two, three, trying to calm himself down. Why he needed to do that, he didn’t know.

He turned around. Other that the door that shouldn’t be there that he was pointedly ignoring, nothing was out of the ordinary. Maybe it was just a bit of random anxiousness from being exhausted and everything that had happened yesterday. Though, that didn’t explain why he was facing away from the living room.

Emmet poked his head into his room. Maybe he was going to get something and then immediately forgot what he was doing? That tended to happen, especially when he was tired and his body moved faster than he could really process his thoughts.

Everything looked fine in his room. Galvantula was still sleep on his bed, a few Joltik joining her now that the door was open. He couldn’t get a blanket because of that. He decided to put on a hoodie since he was already here. Might as well be a little comfy if he was going to try sleeping on the couch.

He turned back around and walked down the hall to the living room. Emmet paused as he walked past that door.

“Not dealing with that right now,” he mumbled and continued into the living room.

He flopped onto the couch with a groan, pulling his hood over his eyes the best he could. The sun had risen a lot faster than he thought it was going to. He just wanted some rest.

A soft and worried gurgle made Emmet peek out from under his hood. Eelektross looked back at him with big sad eyes.

“Sorry I locked you out last night,” he whispered. “My systems were not running optimally. They still aren’t.”

Eelektross whined, nosing his head into Emmet’s chest. Emmet turned to his side and wrapped his arms and legs around his Pokemon like a Komala with its log. Eelektross wrapped himself around Emmet as well.

“I was not alone. Don’t worry,” Emmet continued. “I had Galvantula. I still didn’t sleep much.”

Eelektross curled a little tighter with a buzz. Emmet let himself relax a little, pressed his face into Eelektross’s side, closed his eyes.

“I don’t know what’s going on, ‘tross,” he mumbled, “but I hate it. I am tired.”

“--rry.”

Emmet tensed. “Leave me alone,” he breathed, afraid that talking to loudly would make it more real.

“I -- -- sor--, -----, --t - -anno-.”

Emmet just buried his head more with a soft whine. Eelektross buzzed a little louder.

-----

Emmet hadn’t realised he had fallen asleep until he was slowly waking up to the sound of frying and Eelektross’s gentle snoring. At least he felt a little more rested than before. Not a whole lot, but enough to not feel dead on his feet.

He managed to get a hand free and pushed back his hood, only to find that he was under a blanket. He took that off too and wriggled into a sit. Eelektross grumbled and blinked an eye open.

“Verrrry sorry,” Emmet said softly, giving Eelektross a pet. “You can go back to sleep. Just let me up first.”

With a huff, Eelektross moved just enough for Emmet to get up and then promptly fell back asleep. Emmet laughed a little, grabbed the blanket to wrap around his shoulders, and went off to the kitchen.

Or he would have if Chandelure didn’t ram into him and knock him to the floor.

“Chandelure!” Emmet coughed, sitting up. “What are you doing?”

Chandelure chimed at him, flames flaring. Eelektross, awake again, buzzed at her from the couch.

Elesa appeared in the kitchen doorway. “What happened? Are you okay?”

“Chandelure knocked me down.” Emmet stood back up. “I am fine, Eelektross. Chandelure, you know you can’t tackle people.”

She ignored him and chimed angerly at the blanket Emmet left on the floor.

“Great,” he mumbled. “You can’t get mad at every piece of fabric around here. What has gotten into you?”

Chandelure just glared at the blanket.

“Whatever.” Emmet walked towards Elesa. “That is not a battle I want to fight right now. Chandelure, don’t do that again or I will return you to your ball.”

Emmet was ignored again.

“Any idea what could be up?” Elesa asked, returning to the stove top.

“No idea,” he lied, sitting at the table. He didn’t want to think about the most likely reason the Ghost-Type Pokemon was getting upset. “What are you making?”

“Just frying an egg.” Elesa slid it onto the nearby plate. “Want one?”

“I can make it myself. You already got me that blanket Chandelure’s mad at.”

“You already had that when I saw you.”

Emmet tensed.

“I’ll make you an egg.” Elesa put another slice of bread in the toaster and went to the fridge. “Don’t worry about it.”

Emmet took a breath, rubbed his face. “Thank you.”

It barely took any time at all before Elesa was setting down breakfast and sitting across from him. She started eating while Emmet mostly picked at his food. He knew he should eat something, but he didn’t have much of an appetite.

He was only about half done when Elesa asked, “How are you doing?”

Emmet took a bite of toast. “Fine.”

Elesa looked at him. He took another bite of toast and looked away.

“You can use your vacation days, you know,” Elesa said. “Take a break.”

“She’s ri---.”

Emmet’s grip on his fork tightened. “I know.”

“Just take it easy.”

“I know!” Emmet took a breath. “Sorry. I do not want to talk about yesterday. Not yet.”

“That’s fine. Sorry for bringing it up.”

“It’s okay.”

Breakfast was quiet.

Well, mostly quiet.

“------, I woul- --ve an eg- ----t now.”

Apparently, Emmet was hearing things now.

There was a voice, slightly lower and much more expressive than Emmet’s. It was quiet and he couldn’t make out all the words, but Emmet was certain it was there. Had been since last night.

It was hard to pretend it was just his own thoughts when he just kept hearing it.

Elesa obviously wasn’t hearing it. She never reacted to anything it said, just kept eating her breakfast. So Emmet was stuck trying to ignore it. Trying to ignore how strangely familiar it sounded. Tying to ignore how he felt like he was losing it.

Trying to ignore the longing it made him feel.

“I sh---- make --- congee som-----. - --ink you wo--- -ike --.”

“Did you want to come with?” Elesa asked, bringing Emmet back to his surroundings.

“Come where?” he asked. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

“I’ve got a few errands to run today,” Elesa said, grabbing the dishes and taking them to the sink. “Want to come with? Get out of the house for a bit.”

Truthfully, Emmet wanted to go back to bed. He wanted to hide in his room and find something mindless to do. Maybe just let his Pokemon bury him. Anything other than interact with people.

“I kn-- --esa means ----, --- I belie-- --- ---uld rest today.”

“I will come.” Emmet stood, ignoring the sigh that didn’t come from Elesa. “Let me get dressed.”

“Sounds good to me!” Elesa said. “We got to swing by my place first to get a couple things. But after that we’re going to the mall. I need to get my mom a birthday present, then we can get lunch there too.”

“--met, pl----, ---- -ome and rest.”

Emmet, for as much as he wanted to ignore it, should have listened to the voice. He had completely forgotten that most people got Sundays off. In his defense, he was tired and his days off tended to change week to week depending on how busy the Battle Subway was.

Now he was in a crowded mall, quietly following Elesa around to stores he’d never been in and felt out of place at. All the while, everyone was moving, crowding, talking.

“That -- - -ice neckla--.”

Including that stupid voice.

Everywhere they went, it kept chiming in like it was part of the conversation. It gave its opinions on every little thing that Elesa thought about getting and some things she didn’t even see. As much as Emmet often agreed with the voice’s opinions, he couldn’t stand it much longer.

He couldn’t stand the voice only he could hear. He couldn’t stand the voices from the other people at the mall. He couldn’t stand how crowded the food court was as he and Elesa stood in line at some fast food place. He couldn’t stand any of it.

His hopes of a distraction had completely blown up in his face. Dragons, he should have stayed home.

“What do you want?” Elesa asked, somehow heard over everything else.

“The mozz------ ---ger ----- good.”

“Anything is fine,” Emmet mumbled. He didn’t think he could actually eat right now.

“Do you want to go find a table?” Elesa said, a little softer as she leaned closer. “You look you need to sit.”

Emmet nodded and walked off, thankful that he didn’t need to actually talk to anyone.

By some miracle, there was an empty table not too far. It was a small two-seater, which was all Emmet and Elesa needed. Emmet claimed it and immediately pressed his head to it. Not the most hygienic, but he didn’t care when it was stopping him from pulling out his hair.

“- ----- --- --ould set y--- --acks for home ---er lunch.”

Emmet wrapped his arms around his head. The sounds of the food court lessened.

“Or ev-- ----- now. I am su-- ----- ----- ---erstand.”

Emmet could still hear the voice. Slightly muffled, sure, but it was if someone was sitting across the table.

The worse part was that it was right.

Emmet wanted to go home and hide. Just take a few hours to rest and try to relax a little. He shouldn’t have come to the mall.

But he had and now he was suffering in a food court on a slightly sticky table.

“I wish --- -----n’t do th-- -- ----self.”

And now it sounded disappointed. Great. Like that made him feel any better. It made him feel worse if anything. Like he didn’t want to worry whoever was talking. Which didn’t make any sense since it was a disembodied voice.

Against his better judgment, Emmet ground out, “Stop. Talking.”

“--- --u hear me ag---?”

“Shut. up.” Emmet looked up, glaring at-

Elesa.

Elesa was standing in front of him, holding their tray of food.

“I didn’t say anything,” she said, sounding concerned and a little hurt.

Emmet shot upright. “Not- not you. I wasn’t- You’re- Sorry.” He stood up, hands shaking. “Sorry. I need to go home. Sorry.”

“Emmet, wait!” Elesa called after him. He rushed out of the food court and to the closest door outside.

He kept walking once he got out, not wanting Elesa to catch him. He only stopped once he got to the closest station and had to wait for the train.

He sent Elesa a short text apologizing for running off. She told him she was there if he wanted to talk. He told her later.

“Sor-”

“Don’t,” Emmet hissed, glad there wasn’t anyone at this end of the station. “Not now.”

“Okay.”

The train ride home was tense, to say the least. The car was full, because of course it was. All he could do was stand stiff as a board, white knuckling the handhold above him. He couldn’t hear the announcements over the other commuters, the rumble of the train, the ringing in his ears. The only reason he didn’t miss his stop was because of that voice saying they had reached it.

Thankfully he didn’t pass anyone getting up and into his apartment. He probably closed his door a little too hard, but at least he didn’t fully slam it.

Emmet kicked his shoes to the side and hung his work coat and hat up. Chandelure yelled at him for touching them. He didn’t care.

Eelektross and Excadrill came over to see what was going on. Emmet walked past them to the couch. He sat, holding his head and closing his eyes tight.

He just needed a minute.

He needed to calm down. He wanted to calm down. He felt like a train barely on its tracks and one small bump would derail him completely.

“Em---?”

Bump.

“What do you want?” Emmet said, tightening his hold on his hair. “To make Chandelure upset? To make me feel like I am going crazy? Well, you did it! Chandelure is pissed off at my coat and I am talking to an empty room.”

“I didn-”

“No!” Emmet stood up, spinning to the general location of where the voice came from. “No, you don’t get to talk right now. All you have been doing is talking. All day! Last night! I am tired of it! All you do is talk and talk and make me feel like I am losing my fucking mind!”

He stormed off down the hall. “I want you and your shitty door out of my apartment! Leave me alone, you weird fucking ghost!”

Emmet slammed his door shut and locked it, as if that would help against a ghost. He slid to the floor.

What else could it be? Either he was being haunted or he was well and truly losing it. He was hearing things, losing time. Chandelure had been on edge since yesterday. Items had moved to places without Emmet or anyone else touching them.

He pulled his legs in close and wrapped his arms around them. He couldn’t help but feel awful for yelling.

He also couldn’t help how his exhaustion finally won out, leaving him sort of half-sleeping, sitting against his door. He knew he should move. He knew his Pokemon were worried.

But he couldn’t, his body too heavy. Any thoughts he had slipped away the moment they appeared.

When Emmet finally came back to himself, he wished he had at least made it to his bed. He would likely still be just as tired, but at least he wouldn’t be nearly as sore. It didn’t help that every warning light in his body was blinking and demanding his attention.

He uncurled himself, knees and elbows cracking loudly and a little painfully. He must have been in that position for a while, a few hours at least if his darker room from the sun moving to the other side of the building was any indication.

He stood slowly and with a groan as more joints popped and cracked. He had to brace himself against the wall with a trembling hand as he got lightheaded.

He needed to eat something.

Bathroom first though.

Emmet took a breath and unlocked the door. Before opening it, he grabbed one of his larger hoodies. If he was going to face his probably haunted apartment, he was going to do it while hiding in his clothes.

He shuffled to the bathroom, then over to the kitchen once he was done. Not really wanting to cook, both not having the energy nor patience, Emmet took out sandwich ingredients. He made two sandwiches without realising.

Whatever annoyance with himself he could feel was promptly forgotten when he inhaled the first sandwich faster than he thought possible and was still hungry at the end of it. He poured himself some juice, actually put other sandwich on a plate, and headed back to his room with his food. Hopefully he would eat this sandwich a little slower. He had used the good cheese and everything.

At the door that shouldn’t exist, Emmet paused. He didn’t want to, but there were sounds coming from the other side. They were barely audible, but made him freeze all the same.

A soft gasp and a sniffle, like someone trying their best to cry quietly.

It stabbed Emmet through the heart. That was his fault.

Before he thought too hard about it, Emmet balanced the plate on his arm and grabbed the doorknob.

It was real.

What could possibly be behind the door?

There was another shuddering gasp.

Someone crying because of what Emmet had said, that was what.

He took a breath, tightened his grip on the doorknob.

Emmet opened the door.

Chapter Text

Behind the door was a room, a bedroom to be exact. A layer of dust coated everything from the desk to the shelves to the bedsheets. It danced in the last beam of sunlight coming in through the window. Even the air tasted dusty and stale.

Other than the dust, the room was a near exact copy of Emmet’s in terms of furniture, if mirrored in its layout. The main differences were individualistic ones. Different coloured sheets and curtains. Different genres of books and knickknacks on the shelves. Different pictures on the walls.

It was obvious that someone had lived here at one point.

But there was only one thing in the room that drew Emmet’s attention at this moment.

Sitting on the floor, legs pulled in close and looking at his hat with sad eyes, was a man. A man that looked identical to Emmet except for the clothes and slightly different style of beard. And the frown that Emmet couldn’t help but feel was usually there, if not as miserable looking as right now.

The man was also ever so slightly transparent.

He had to be the weird ghost. There wasn’t any other explanation. Or Emmet was actually asleep and this was all some elaborate dream.

Although, that didn’t seem likely at this point. Besides, why would Emmet’s subconscious decide to make the ghost look like him?

None of this changed the fact that something Emmet couldn’t place welled in his chest.

The ghost didn’t look over as Emmet stepped through the doorway, just continued looking at his hat. He ran a thumb over the badge, expression starting to crumple. He buried his face in his hat with a whine.

“This isn’t going to work,” he whispered. “I just want to rest.”

Emmet had to do something. It was his fault that the ghost was so upset. It was his apartment the ghost was haunting. He seemed to be the only one, person and Pokemon alike, that could even interact with it.

He was probably the only one who could do something.

Not to mention how he and the ghost shared a face, the ache Emmet felt at seeing him, the overwhelming need to comfort him.

Emmet could figure out more about who the ghost was another time. For now, he just wanted to lessen whatever pain the ghost was feeling, maybe even get something akin to a smile out of him.

He sat on the floor, the ghost on his left. It didn’t make his skin crawl like when Elesa was on that side of him. It felt nice, comforting, expected even.

It felt familiar.

“Sorry,” Emmet said, putting his food down, “for yelling. That was mean.”

“I deserved it,” the ghost mumbled, voice a little muffled by the hat. Other than that, his voice was clear and understandable now, if still quiet. “All I do is talk. No one likes it. No one cares. I am doing it right now. I’m the strange outsider, talking to himself again. I just don’t know when to shut up.”

Emmet’s chest tightened. “You shouldn’t say that about yourself.”

The ghost froze, moving his hat just enough to look over at Emmet with one eye. “You heard that?”

“I did. Better than anything you’ve said all day.” Emmet took a bite of his sandwich. “I can see you too.”

“You can?”

Emmet nodded with a hum.

The ghost hurriedly put his hat back on and wiped his face, quickly trying to recompose himself. It didn’t entirely work; Emmet could still see red-rimmed eyes and slightly blotchy cheeks. He wouldn’t mention it.

How did crying even work as a ghost? Did ghosts have blood? Tears? Could they even breathe?

“Then I am sorry for talking so much,” the ghost said, breaking Emmet out of his musings. “I did not realise you could hear me today. I know I talk a lot; I tend to voice my thoughts aloud. Especially nowadays. I would have tried to lessen that if I knew you could hear me.”

“It is fine. I shouldn’t have yelled at you for it. I was scared and tired. It was still mean though. You didn’t deserve that. Not at all.” Emmet looked down at his sandwich. “I think, if I was not scared and tired… I would like it. You have a good voice. It is… familiar somewhat.”

Emmet went back to eating his sandwich as the ghost looked like he was about to start crying again. He managed to recompose himself after a minute and ask, “Is that sandwich any good?”

“Yeah, I used the nice cheese I got the other day.” Emmet grabbed the other half of sandwich and held it out to him. “Try it.”

The ghost went to grab it, only for his hand to go right through it.

They both paused.

Then burst out laughing.

“Sorry!” Emmet got out, putting the sandwich back on the plate. “Sorry, I forgot what being a ghost means.”

“I’m the one who forgot I was a ghost!” the ghost laughed.

It took another couple of minutes for them to get their laughter under control. There was a part of Emmet that almost didn’t want it to end, that was overjoyed at hearing them laugh together.

But soon enough, the laughter died down, leaving behind a much lighter and calmer air. Still just as dusty though.

“What is your name?” Emmet asked before taking a drink. “I would like to call you something other than ‘ghost’.”

The ghost pursed his lips before answering. “My name is ----.”

“I didn’t hear that last bit,” Emmet said.

“I didn’t think you would,” he sighed. “I still wanted to try.”

“Is there anything else I can call you?”

The ghost thought for a moment, then settled on, “You could call me Warden. Did you hear that?”

Emmet nodded. “Warden it is then. Until I can figure out your name. Why that though?”

“Warden was -- ----- -- -----,” he said, voice becoming too muffled to make out any words.

“I didn’t get most of that.”

Warden rubbed his face. Sounding annoyed, he said, “Of course not.”

They sat in silence as Emmet finished the rest of his sandwich. It wasn’t as awkward as Emmet thought it was going to be. He could see that Warden had more he wanted to talk about. But in the way he relaxed against the bed, Emmet could tell he was also comfortable with just sitting here for now.

“Can I ask you something?” Emmet said as he finished his last bite. “About being a ghost? It is okay if not.”

“Ask away,” Warden said with a squint. With a smile, Emmet somehow knew.

“How, ahem.” Emmet cleared his throat, suddenly a little choked up. “How are you leaning against the bed? Your hand passed through the sandwich.”

Warden shrugged. “I am not sure. Some things I can always interact with, like -- ---. Other things I need to focus on more, like your hat and coat. Some things I cannot at all.”

“Like my… You took my work stuff off?” Emmet managed to reach one of the more decorative pillows on the bed to rest his back on. “I suppose that explains why Chandelure was mad at them. I thought she was just getting territorial.”

The look in Warden’s eyes softened. “I thought you would rest better without the coat, hat, and shoes. I managed to loosen your tie as well. I couldn’t get all of them to their proper places before I could no longer touch them. Chandelure must have seen them moving. She cannot sense me.”

“That is strange,” Emmet said. “Although, she might have already eaten you if she could.”

“I would certainly prefer to remain uneaten,” Warden chuckled. It was nice to hear. “It makes sense why she cannot sense me though. You were not entirely wrong when you called me a ‘weird ghost’.”

“‘Weird fucking ghost’,” Emmet joked back. “Get it right.”

“I am not swearing,” Warden laughed. “You know that.”

 Strangely enough, he did.

“Who are you?” Emmet asked. “You look like me. I assume this is your bedroom. I am surprisingly comfortable with you despite having never met you before.”

Emmet hated the way Warden’s frown shifted into something sad. “-- ---- -- ---- ---- -----.”

“I didn’t catch any of that.”

“I assumed you didn’t. I was just talking to myself again,” Warden sighed. “I cannot answer your question about my identity. You likely would not be able to hear it if I tried to tell you anyway. It is part of the conditions of being here.”

“Your conditions?” Emmet asked. “Don’t ghost usually have some sort of ‘unfinished business’ and that is why they’re a ghost?”

“Again, ‘weird ghost’.”

“‘Weird fucking ghost.’”

“Shut up.”

Emmet snickered.

“I suppose I should start at the beginning. Let me know if you cannot hear something.”

Emmet got a little more comfortable, expecting this to take a while. “Will do.”

Warden took a breath. “I do not remember my death, nor do I think I want to, but that is where this started. Well, it started long before that, but I don’t think you would be able to hear that explanation. That is besides the point. Right before I died, -------- appeared.”

“Who appeared?” Emmet jumped in.

“Something powerful,” Warden amended. “They told me that I was never supposed to be in that land, but once I had arrived, I could not leave without drastic measures.”

“Why not?”

“It would apparently ---- -- --- -------- or something.” Warden rolled his eyes. “It is out of my pay grade if I am being honest. I assume you didn’t hear that.”

Emmet squinted at him.

“What?”

“You swore in that, didn’t you?”

Warden looked away, brightening in embarrassment despite his squinting smile. “Oh, so that you understood.”

“I am teasing,” Emmet laughed.

“As I was saying,” Warden continued, “I could not return to my home station without taking drastic measures. They gave me a choice in that moment. I could survive and live out my days there or I could die and return to my home station. I… took the later.”

Warden paused. He took a slow breath and pressed his hands together.

“Take your time,” Emmet reassured, wishing he could do more.

After another moment, Warden said, “I was told I would be akin to a ghost here until I could regain my life. If I can get to my body, then I can properly return.”

“Then that is what we will do,” Emmet decided. If he was being honest with himself, there wasn’t much of a decision. Helping Warden felt like the natural next step. “How do we get your body back?”

Warden smiled, the corners of his mouth flicking up this time, with watery eyes. “You are such - --------- -------.”

“I didn’t hear that last bit.”

“You are wonderful.” Warden wiped his eyes. “I will get to that. It will not be as easy as me telling you where my body is, like I said I do not remember my death. Even if I did know, one of my conditions is that I cannot help you in major ways like that. That is why you cannot hear some of the things I say.”

“I see,” Emmet hummed. “You talked about your ‘conditions’ before. What are they?”

“I just mentioned not being able to significantly help. Another is the fact that only you can interact with me. Which I am so happy to see wasn’t a lie.” Warden looked away with an embarrassed laugh, “I was getting worried you were never going to be able to see me.”

“You’ve been here longer than a couple days?”

Warden nodded. “I have been here for about six months now. I think. Time can be a little hard to keep track of sometimes, so I may have been here a bit longer.”

Emmet’s heart sank. Six months? At least? Warden had been stuck, no one ever knowing he was there, all alone, for six months?

“That is awful,” he said quietly. “I am sorry I didn’t see you sooner.”

“It is hardly your fault,” Warden sighed. “I was told it might take a while for you to notice me. I managed to figure out how to influence your dreams about a month or so in, so I was able to talk with you a little. Even if you always forgot them when you woke.”

“Those dreams… They are because of you?”

“They are. They take a lot of energy from me and leave you upset, but…” Warden smiled softly. “It is nice to talk with you, to have a normal evening with you again. I think you appreciate it too.”

Emmet wrung his hands and asked quietly, “What happens in them?”

“We have a nice, slow evening. I make dinner. You wash the dishes. We settle on the couch to watch a movie.” The warmth in Warden’s voice saddened. “It is during then you realise that it is a dream and wake up not long after. I know you won’t remember, but still, I… I ask you to find me, to remember me. It never works, but I still try.”

Emmet tried to ignore the pain in his chest that threatened to grow. At least now he knew what he felt like he was missing. What else could it be?

He cleared his throat. “Were we close?”

“We must have been.”

Emmet tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

“I can feel it, in my heart, that I care deeply for you. But my memories prior to my arrival in ----- are blurry. That amnesia has nothing to do with the ghost stuff.” Warden waved a hand. “Besides, I have been remembering a lot more since being here, even as a ghost.”

“If we were close…” Emmet almost didn’t want to ask. “Why don’t I know you?”

“You did.” Warden sounded sad again. Emmet wished they didn’t have to have a conversation that caused that so often. “I was told that my departure from Unova was impactful to the point of concern. The only way to minimize the effects was…”

“Was what?” Emmet asked after Warden didn’t continue.

“Was to erase me,” Warden said, voice watery. “Or at the very least, cover up my existence. Evidence of my life still exists, but no one notices it. Elesa said there was only four doors in the hall, for example.”

“There was no other way?” Emmet was almost regretting the two sandwiches with how his stomach dropped.

Warden huffed. “Apparently not.”

Something about that, about him specifically forgetting Warden, hurt deeper than Emmet thought he could hurt. “I am sorry we forgot. That I forgot.”

“There is nothing to be sorry about. The conductor of this train is something beyond any of our powers to prevent or control. There was quite literally nothing anyone could have done.”

Emmet groaned, rubbing his face. “What a terrible situation.”

“It really is,” Warden mumbled.

Not really wanting to dwell on that for too much longer, Emmet asked, “Why me?”

Warden hummed in question.

“Why am I the one helping you? Not that I mind!” he clarified. “But why me specifically?”

“Because I chose you.”

It was Emmet’s turn to hum a question.

“I told you about needing to get my body back,” Warden started. “But that is only part of the deal. I cannot return too quickly or it would ---- -- --- --------, I guess. Again, above my pay grade.”

“I did not hear what it would do,” Emmet chimed in.

“That is fine. It is unimportant to our current tracks and I do not understand it.” Warden shifted slightly. “Part of easing my return is that I need someone to remember me. I do not know how fully, but if one person knows of my existence, then it will be less of a shock if I get my body back.”

“When.”

“Pardon?”

“When we get your body back.” Emmet looked at him directly. He needed Warden to know how serious he was. “We will get your body back. I will find you.”

Warden teared up again, giving a small laugh. He leaned forwards and rested his forehead on Emmet’s shoulder.

Emmet could barely feel the pressure. It comforted him nonetheless.

“You make it sound so easy.” Warden mumbled. “Thank you.”

“Of course. But why did you choose me?”

Warden wiped his eyes and sat up again. “I knew I had to chose someone I trusted, someone I believed in, someone determined and kind.” He chuckled to himself “Someone who liked winning more than anything else.”

“You said you have amnesia. How did you know anyone to choose?”

“I remembered a man who looked like me.” Warden shrugged. “I was describing you without a second thought. I only learned your name and our relation after I arrived here.”

“What is our relation?”

“You have to remember that yourself.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a while. It gave Emmet time to think.

This whole situation was wild. Unbelievable if he wasn’t sitting here himself. Where did Warden go if he had to be so thoroughly removed from here. Where was Emmet even supposed to start?

Who Warden was, maybe? If only to give them both a little peace of mind. What did Emmet already know?

They were close. This had to be Warden’s bedroom, so they had lived together.

They looked the same, practically identical. Warden wore a Subway Boss uniform. It was ripped and torn up almost beyond recognition, but a black Subway Boss coat and hat it was.

That had to mean they worked together, right? But two Subway Bosses? Perhaps that was another thing he was being forced to overlook.

Two Bosses would make sense with the Multi Lines. And with the Single and Double lines too. One handled the Singles, the other Doubles, both on Multis. That made sense.

Now he wanted to battle against Warden. Or with him on his team.

He was getting distracted and that was besides the point. What mattered was that he and Warden looked the same outside of their clothes. They practically shared a face, the main difference between them being their expressions and resulting faint lines.

So, they looked alike and were close. That meant…

That meant…

Something.

It refused to connect in Emmet’s mind, what that meant. It felt like it was on the tip of his tongue, but he just couldn’t say it. It was just out of reach.

The thought just… didn’t come.

Emmet groaned, running his hands through his hair.

“What is it?” Warden asked.

“I can’t figure out our relation,” he mumbled, moving his hands to cover his face. “We look the same. We are close. What that could mean doesn’t come to me. The tracks refuse to connect.”

“That is fine,” Warden reassured. “It has been a long couple days for you. Maybe it will come after a proper rest.”

“Maybe,” Emmet hummed. He looked up, watching the dust float in the last bit of light from the window. Honestly, it was a miracle that he hadn’t sneezed this whole time.

He should do something about that.

“Well,” Emmet said, standing up. “I have decided.”

“Decided what?”

“I am going to clean this room before I do anything else. At least dust and change the sheets.”

Warden watched him walk to the doorway. “You don’t have to do that.”

“And yet I will.” Emmet turned back to him with a smile. “I do not want you to have a messy room. Even if you can’t interact with most of it.”

“That is kind of you.” Warden looked worried.

“I will take a break after that,” Emmet reassured. “I promise.”

“That is not what I was worried about.” Warden stood and walked next to Emmet. “I am worried you will forget everything we talked about after leaving this room.”

“Why would I?”

“That is what happened the last couple times you have seen me.”

Well, that certainly explained those bouts of lost time. He turned back to the doorway and took a breath. “I will do my best to remember.”

With that, thinking only about the room behind him, about Warden next to him, Emmet stepped into the hall.

“Emmet?”

Emmet spun around with a grin. “I remember! We’re good!”

Warden practically collapsed, holding himself up with his hands on his knees. “Oh, thank ------.

“I did forget why I left though,” Emmet laughed, a little embarrassed.

Warden straightened with a laugh of his own. “You wanted to clean my room a little.”

“That’s right!” Emmet snapped. “Be right back.”

Emmet still didn’t know where to start with all this. He was exhausted both emotionally and physically. He wanted to fight whoever had done this to Warden.

But for now, he would tidy up Warden’s room a little. Make it a little more livable. Give Warden a nice, comfortable place for himself during all this. Then he would take a proper rest and actually use his vacation time at work.

He had a feeling things were about to get verrrry busy.

Chapter Text

Emmet was going to have to take a significant amount of time off if he wanted to help Warden as soon as possible. Which he did. He didn’t want Warden stuck as a ghost for any longer than absolutely necessary now that he knew about him.

He did want to make sure the station would run well without him there. Meaning, he had to go to work for one more day. Unfortunately, the Battle Subway would be closed that day since he was far too busy with everything else.

Thankfully, it was easy to set up everything to run without him. Cloud, being the highest seniority Depot Agents and already running the Multi Lines with Ramses, was made temporary Subway Boss. She was more than capable and with only a bit of training was ready to go. Emmet left her plenty of notes and told her she could contact him if things went too far off the rails.

With a couple more Depot Agents assigned to the Single and Double Lines, Furze to the prior and Isadore to the later, everything was settled. It had taken most of the day and, while Emmet was ready to head home, he still had one more thing he wanted to do.

Namely, a bit of investigation on the door across from his office.

Emmet had noticed it when he had gotten to work that morning. Like the door to Warden’s room, it had just appeared and no one but Emmet seemed to notice it. He had decided to investigate after he was done sorting out his time off.

Now Emmet was standing in front of the door, trying to read the plaque on it. He could see the words. There were definitely words on the door. He couldn’t read them though, or something was preventing him from doing so. His mind simply wouldn’t process the words as something he could read.

“Can you read it?” Emmet asked Warden, glad there wasn’t anyone down this hall.

“I can,” he said. “It says ------ ---- ----.”

“I didn’t hear that,” Emmet huffed.

“I suppose that counts as helping,” Warden mumbled. “I think not being able to read this is part of covering my existence. You are actively fighting --- ------ -- ------ just to communicate with me. Both of us really.”

“I didn’t hear what I am fighting,” Emmet said, ducking back into his office went he saw someone turn the corner. He’d rather continue this conversation there since to anyone else, it would look pretty one sided. It probably wouldn’t be great to be seen talking to a wall before promptly taking the next month off.

“I assumed you would not,” Warden said, phasing through the door as Emmet closed it. “I was mostly thinking aloud.”

Emmet sat at his desk. “Alright, my turn.”

“Your turn?”

“To think aloud,” Emmet clarified, grabbing a pen and paper. “First thing. You can phase through walls?”

“You seem to keep forgetting what being a ghost entails despite having a Ghost-Type in your care,” Warden teased.

“She’s not my starter,” Emmet laughed, then froze. “She’s not my starter.”

Chandelure wasn’t his starter. That was Eelektross. But Chandelure had been around just as long. So that meant...

“She is...” He had to fight to make the connection. “Someone else’s starter. And I am caring for her.”

“Go on,” Warden encouraged, excitement painfully clear.

“So, I am close with her trainer.” Emmet’s head was starting to hurt.

“And her trainer is...” Warden’s eyes were bright.

Oh.

“Yours. She’s your starter.”

Warden laughed, feet leaving the floor and ending up parallel to the ceiling. “Yes! She’s mine! Bravo, Emmet!”

Emmet laughed too, Warden’s excitement contagious and the bravo warming his heart. “Since when can you float?”

“Again, ghost.” Warden slowly rolled over in the air, flailing a little when he went upside down. He went back to standing on the floor. “Technically, I am always floating. However, I am not exactly a master at anything more than what I do to ‘walk’. Going too high up also makes me a little motion sick after a while, so I prefer to stay low when I can.”

“How does a ghost get motion sick?” Emmet asked.

Warden shrugged. “Weird ghost.”

“Moving on,” Emmet said, not wanting to get too distracted. “I am probably caring for your full team right now. That would explain why I don’t like putting them in the in the pc and got permission to carry more than six Pokemon. I wonder who else is technically yours.”

“--- -- --- ----------, -------, -------, --------, --- ---------.”

“I didn’t hear any of that.”

Warden crossed his arms. “Now that just seems excessive.”

“One of the Klinklangs is likely yours,” Emmet continued, mentally running through the Pokemon. “Eelektross is obviously mine. So is Galvantula. I hatched her. Durant and Crustle are probably both mine. I like Bug-Types. But now that I am thinking about it, maybe not? Your door has those scuff marks. At the very least, Crustle likes you. Haxorus is yours.”

Warden tilted his head. “What makes you say that?”

“I would not put Earthquake on her with her having Mold Breaker when she often pairs with Eelektross.”

Warden just laughed.

“We are still off topic,” Emmet said. “I forgot how we got to this topic though.”

“You asked about me phasing through walls and the tracks eventually lead to Pokemon.”

“Thank you.” Emmet wrote a few notes about which Pokemon were Warden’s. He wanted to return to that later. “About the phasing, have you gone into that room?”

“I have not,” Warden said. “I have boundaries where I am allowed to go. They are mostly within a certain radius of you which is usually the size of whatever room you are in. Although, I do get free reign of the apartment when you are there.”

“Even if you had been in there, you probably couldn’t tell me,” Emmet mumbled. “Also, that sucks you can’t go that far from me.”

Warden waved it off. “I wouldn’t really want to go that far even if I did. At most, I would occasionally stay at the apartment.”

“We can go wherever you want once we get your body back.” Emmet jotted the boundary rule down. There were a lot of arbitrary ghost rules apparently. “I think places are better to go to when you can actually interact with them.”

“They are,” Warden sighed, falling onto a chair. “Oh, I can sit on this. That is nice.”

Emmet interrupted Warden’s chair investigation, "I have a theory."

“What is it?”

“You have a verrrry similar outfit as me,” Emmet said. “Other than the shirt.”

“Dress shirts were not suitable for where I was, so the people who took me in gave me this.” Warden looked down at his shirt, rubbing his thumbs along the bottom hem. “It is quite comfy.”

“That is good. But back to my theory,” Emmet continued. “Same outfit as my work uniform, but in black. The hat and coat are what I am specifically talking about. They are assigned to the Subway Boss. The coat was redesigned by Elesa.”

“It was?” Warden asked, gaze shifting to his coat.

“Yup!”

Emmet could feel the connections becoming harder to make, which was annoying because he was pretty sure he was just thinking about his last night. Although, that was more of a hypothetical thought process than actually trying to figure out something about Warden. Besides, he couldn’t remember the specifics anymore.

None of that changed the fact that he was close to something.

“This is my office,” Emmet said slowly. “Across the hall is a door only I can see. Behind the door is likely a similar room to this one due to their proximity.”

Warden looked up, excitement building again even if he didn’t say anything.

“That room is probably an office.” Emmet pressed a knuckle against his cheekbone and closed his eye as that side of his head gave a sharp pain. “Y- your office.”

Instead of the expected excitement, Warden asked, “Are you okay?”

“Just need a minute,” Emmet hissed, jotting his last thought down in case he forgot it. “Head hurts if I push it.”

He took a few slow breaths. After a minute or so, the pain settled.

“Okay, I am fine again.” Emmet read over his notes. “Your office, right. That’s where I was. You have an office across from mine. You have the same uniform as me.  You… work here.”

“I did.” Warden’s hands were shaking. “I hope to eventually return. Any idea of my role?”

It felt like his thoughts were slipping past the connection he was trying to make, like trying to attack something that had just used Double Team.

He had to focus on what he knew.

Warden had the same uniform and an office across the hall. Same Uniform. Office across the hall.

Uniform, office, uniform, office.

Uniform.

Office.

Emmet clapped as it came to him. He pointed at Warden with a grin. “Subway Boss!”

Warden ended up at the ceiling again. “Super Bravo! You are getting good at this!”

It felt obvious now, that Warden was also a Subway Boss. Emmet had definitely thought about this yesterday. He needed to start writing more things down if he was dealing with something that was actively making him forget stuff. At least he it seemed like once he managed to remember something it didn’t hurt to think about it.

Also, two Subway Bosses was a really good idea.

One for the Single Lines, one for the Double Lines. Both on the Multi Lines. Emmet would love to get some Multi battles in, he just never had a partner for them. The workload was probably a lot less hectic with it being able to be split between two people.

Enough fantasising about a second Subway Boss, Emmet had an investigation to continue.

He stood up and left his office. With a quick look around to make sure he was alone, he stood in front of Warden’s office door.

The plaque could almost be read now. The words “Subway Boss” were possible to make out, but not what was likely Warden’s name. Emmet tried the handle.

“I should have assumed it was locked,” he sighed.

Warden poked his head through the door. His voice was a little muffled when he said, “It looks about the same as your office, if a little dustier.”

Emmet tried his master key. It didn’t work. He supposed that made sense since he had a separate key to his office.

“Any idea where your key is?” Emmet asked.

Warden pulled his head back out and shrugged. “Lost and found?”

“Wouldn’t hurt to check.”

They key was somehow in lost and found. It was tucked in the back and buried under everything, but it was there. Who knew how many clear outs it had survived. Although, It could have been effectively invisible to everyone until now.

Emmet returned to Warden’s office and opened the door. Just as Warden had said, it looked like a dustier copy of his office.

Warden wandered around, taking everything in. Emmet’s eyes fell onto the computer.

“You wouldn’t happen to remember your computer password, would you Warden?” Emmet asked, walking over.

“Not at all.” Warden followed him over. He, not literally, hovered over Emmet’s shoulder as Emmet sat down. “Maybe I will think of something if you boot it up.”

With a quick brush off of the monitor and keyboard, Emmet turned on the computer.

“Oh Dragons,” both of them said together.

Updating… 0% complete.

“We’re going to be here forever,” Emmet groaned. “I am going to get a snack.”

“Good idea.”

It was nothing short of a miracle that the computer was anywhere close to done when Emmet returned about half an hour later. It took another half hour or so, but they did end up looking at the lock screen in the end.

“Any passwords come to you yet?” Emmet asked.

Warden squinted at the screen. He moved a hand over the keyboard like he was typing something in, clicking his tongue when none of the keys got pressed.

“What did you try to type in?” Emmet asked.

“No idea,” Warden sighed. “If I think about it too hard, I do not know what to press.”

Emmet hovered a hand over the keyboard. “Do it again and I will try to copy.”

“Okay.” Warden put his hand over Emmet’s only for it to phase through it.

Suddenly, Emmet couldn’t feel his hand, couldn’t even twitch a finger.

“Warden?”

Emmet’s hand moved across the keyboard. The computer unlocked.

“Oh!” Emmet’s hand opened and closed a few times. “I can control your hand.”

“Can I have it back?”

Warden grabbed the mouse, turning it over a few times and scrolling the wheel.

“Warden?”

Warden dropped the mouse. “Yes, sorry! It has just been a while since I could properly feel things. I missed it. You can have your hand back.”

“Keep it for a bit.” Emmet moved the mouse to the other side. “What do you mean you can’t ‘properly feel things’?”

Warden drummed Emmet’s fingers on the desk. “Everything is… muted, I suppose. Like there is a blanket over top of all of my senses. I’ve grown used to it, but I do not care for it some days more than others. I was having a rough few days right before the dream and all this happened.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Emmet gave Warden a pen. “Here. It’s a clicky one too.”

Warden took the pen, moving over to be in a less awkward position with a soft, “Thank you.”

With a smile, Emmet started looking around the computer files. There wasn’t anything that out of the ordinary. Work orders and schedules and blank emails to Emmet solely to send him a file or two.

There was one thing that Emmet noticed though.

Every timestamp was from nearly five years ago.

“Warden…” He didn’t want to be right about this. “When did you depart from here?”

“I do not think you will be able to hear the answer,” Warden said with a twirl of the pen.

Emmet swallowed. “It wasn’t six months ago, was it?”

Warden stopped playing with the pen. “It was not.”

“It was five years ago.” Emmet held his face as he felt his eyes burn. “Five years and I didn’t notice.”

“That is okay-”

“I didn’t even miss you.” Emmet words were choked. He didn’t know why that hurt so much. “I didn’t even miss you.”

“Emmet, you couldn’t miss me,” Warden tried to reassure. “You had no idea I was even gone.”

“You missed me.” He wasn’t going to cry at work. He wasn’t going to cry at work. “You remembered me.”

“My amnesia is regular blunt force trauma amnesia.” Warden paused. “We think. Never quite figured out the exact cause of it. Either way, it is from a normal, mundane cause. Yours and everyone else's amnesia is not that. Not at all. It truly is not your fault.”

Emmet took a shaky breath, wiped his eyes. Later. “Okay. Thank you.”

“Of course.”

With another breath, Emmet logged off and shut down the computer. “Alright, I have one more thing I want to look into before going home. May I have my hand back now?”

“What is the idea?” Warden pulled his hand away from Emmet’s.

Emmet still couldn’t feel it. He couldn’t even move it. He poked it.

“Emmet?”

“Oh, it’s just numb,” Emmet sighed. “Thank the Dragons.”

“Is your hand okay?” Warden asked, voice full of concern. “I am sorry. I should have returned control of it when you first asked. I will not do it again.”

“Warden, it is fine,” Emmet cut in before Warden could work himself up more. “It just feels like it fell asleep. Like there was not enough blood flow or a pinched nerve.”

Warden still sounded worried. “Are you sure?”

“Yup,” Emmet hissed, the pins and needles intensifying as he twitched his fingers. “It is already tingling. Maybe no more possession for that long.”

“I agree,” Warden sighed.

It only took another couple minutes for the feeling to return to Emmet’s hand. Once it did, they went to their next stop.

Rummaging around the security footage archives.

They didn’t keep a ton of things. There wasn’t really any need to. Most things never even made it here, and those that did usually got deleted after a year or two.

The things that made it here were often clips of when an incident occurred or backups of saved battle videos. Although the later could only be accessed by the challengers in them and were automatically deleted when replaced.

Emmet hoped that what he was looking for shared a similar fate as Warden’s office key, tucked away and effectively invisible.

“What are you looking for?” Warden asked as Emmet started scrolling through the files to the oldest things.

“You are still wearing our uniform,” Emmet said, voice low enough to not be overhead by the security personnel in the other room. “That means you might have went missing at work. Maybe a camera picked it up and it got saved.”

It was a long shot. Warden could have departed on the way to or from work. He could have been in a blind spot. It might not have been flagged as unusual by the computer. It might not have been saved to the archive. It might have been deleted years ago.

But Emmet had to see. He didn’t have any other leads.

He just wanted something, anything.

Somewhere to start.

But it wasn’t here.

No matter where he looked, Emmet could only find videos from the last couple years. The only things close were a few battle videos he couldn’t access and even those were just shy of four years.

“Great,” he mumbled. “This is great.”

“It is!” Warden said. “Open the video!”

Emmet looked at him in disbelief. “What video?”

Warden tapped an empty space on the screen. “This one. It is around the same dates we saw on my office computer. It must be something useful.”

“There’s nothing there.”

“Sure there… is.” Warden looked between Emmet and the screen. “May I borrow your hand again?”

“Go for it.”

Emmet’s hand was numb just long enough for Warden to click the space he had pointed at.

A video opened up.

“Oh shit,” Emmet said, shaking out his tingling hand. “There was something there.”

“Surprised that didn’t count as helping,” Warden mumbled, mild annoyance lining his words. “Weird rules you got for me, --------.”

The video was short. Warden was in a subway car, waving goodbye to the challenger already out of frame. The train began moving again as Warden placed his team into the healing station. Before they could finish, the lights flickered.

Warden walked away from the machine, stopping to look at one of the lights. With a shrug, he turned back around. The video cut out.

It returned a few seconds later to an empty car, Pokeballs still in the healing station, Xtrans, keys, and other pocket stuff littered across the floor. The video ended after another minute.

They were both quiet as Emmet saved the video to the thumb drive he had brought. It didn’t seem like there was much in it, but he wanted to take a closer look at it later. He could see the file now at least.

Warden broke the silence, voice tight, “Are you alright?”

“Are you?” Emmet asked in return.

Warden just sighed.

“Let’s go home.”

“Let’s.”

With that, they left.

Chapter Text

The past couple of days were a blur of notes, internet searches, and rewatching the video of Warden disappearing on repeat. Through all that, Emmet still couldn’t find a lead.

The video showed nothing. Emmet had gone through it frame by frame, slowed it down, sped it up. Nothing helped.

Searching whatever he could online kept leading to dead ends. It wasn’t easy to search for someone when you didn’t know their actual name. It certainly didn’t help that Emmet still couldn’t read the name when it did show up.

He had managed to find a few old news articles about Warden, mainly promotional things for the Battle Subway. They weren’t helpful and made his head hurt if he read them for too long.

To top it all off, Warden was getting worried. He hid it well, but Emmet could see it in the way his eyes pinched, in the way he wandered around the apartment, in the way he mumbled to himself.

Emmet promised he would find Warden’s body and bring him properly back. He was going to let Warden down and he'd be stuck as a ghost no one could remember at this rate.

He was trying to solve a five year old missing persons case no one could remember happening. This was so much bigger than him, but he was literally the only person who could do anything about it.

And do it he would.

He wouldn’t rest until he did.

At least, that was what he told himself. It didn’t stop his body from demanding things like food and sleep.

So, here Emmet was, prying his eyes open and picking his laptop up from where it had fallen to the floor, once again confused as to how long he had been asleep, how much time he had wasted.

He groaned as he sat up, limbs stiff and heavy, back sore. His mouth was dry. He could feel a headache coming along.

When was the last time he drank water? Had something to eat?

That didn’t matter. He could do that later. He had to get back to work.

“Put that away,” Warden said, making Emmet jump.

He turned to see Warden carefully walking from the kitchen, a mug in both hands.

“I managed to make you a drink,” Warden continued. “Although, I am unsure how much longer I can hold this mug. If you could take it from me, that would be great.”

Emmet put his laptop on the coffee table, his notes surprisingly neatly organized, and took the mug. It was almost too hot in his cold hands.

“I’m fine,” Emmet mumbled, still going to take a sip.

Chandelure zipped over and started angrily chiming at him.

Emmet sighed. “It is fine, Chandelure.”

She kept chiming at him. At least she was smart enough to not hit the mug full of hot liquid.

Emmet had tried to explain things to the Pokemon. Unfortunately, they were included in no one knowing about the Warden. Just when they looked to understand, they would go back to whatever they were doing, having forgot the whole conversation.

It was especially bad with Chandelure. She hated anything she saw Warden move, likely upset that there was a ghost she couldn’t sense nearby. At least she never held the grudge for much longer than a day or so if Emmet didn’t do anything about it.

But sometimes he had to do something about it.

“Your trainer got me this,” Emmet said, somewhat reluctantly.

Chandelure froze. She looked around a moment as her flames dimmed. They grew again with a shake and she floated off.

“Sorry, girl,” Emmet mumbled. He hated doing that, but it was the quickest way to get Chandelure to stop being angry.

At least now Emmet could finally drink the coffee Warden had given him. He needed it if he was passing out on the couch again. He went to take a sip.

“This isn’t coffee.”

Warden moved to try to tidy up the last of the scattered notes. His hands kept phasing through the papers, but he managed to shift a few of them into a pile. “It is not. You do not need anymore caffeine.”

“If I’m falling asleep without realizing it then I do.” Emmet put the mug down and stood up.

Warden went to pushed him back down. Emmet fought against him.

“What you need is a non-caffeinated drink, a warm shower, a good meal, and a proper sleep. That is why I texted Elesa when you were napping.”

Emmet hit the couch with a soft thump. “You what?”

“I texted Elesa.” Warden slowly picked the mug up after one failed attempt and gave it back to Emmet. “She will be here in about an hour with dinner. That is enough time for you to drink some hot chocolate and take a shower.”

“How did you text Elesa?” Emmet put the mug back down and checked his Xtrans. Sure enough, there was a small conversation from a couple hours ago asking if Elesa was free and if she wanted to come over for a movie night. She had even offered to bring dinner, like Warden had said.

“I borrowed your hand when you were asleep.” Warden carefully picked the mug back up. “I would have moved you to your bed, but I thought that might wake you. Now, please drink some hot chocolate.”

Emmet took the mug and put it back on the table a little too much force. Some hot chocolate splashed out.

“I do not need this. I do not need Elesa to come over. I do not need any of this. What I need is to keep looking!” Emmet went to grab his laptop. Warden slid it away. “Give that back.”

Warden’s face was hard. “Not until you take a break.”

“I am fine,” Emmet ground out.

“Take a break.” Warned stressed,

“I can’t!” Emmet shot up. “I can’t take a break! Not until you’re back. Not until I help you. Not until I am done!”

“Emmet-”

“I can tell you’re worried,” Emmet continued, eyes starting to sting. “It’s obvious. I am trying to help, but I can’t find anything. I know it’s worrying you. So, I need to do this! I couldn't help you before, but I can now. I have to. I just need to try harder. So I can’t take a break. Not yet! I need to-”

“EMMET!”

Warden’s voice echoed off the walls of the living room, much louder than it had ever been.

Emmet could feel his mouth twitch, a lump in his throat, a couple tears fall. He never noticed how quiet his life was.

He missed that volume.

“I am worried, yes,” Warden said, voice quiet and soft again. “But clearly you have not heard any of what I know I was no doubt saying. I am not worried about the fact you have not found anything yet. I am worried about you. You are not performing proper safety checks, and your tracks will soon lead to derailment at this rate.”

“But,” Emmet’s voice was weak, even in his own ears, “I have to do this. You’ve been waiting for so long already.”

“And I can wait a little longer.” Warden gently guided Emmet to sit down with him. “Perform proper maintenance. Take a break. Rest. It will be much easier to figure this out with more fuel in the tank.”

Emmet took a slow breath, wiped his eyes, grabbed the mug of hot chocolate.

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll pull the breaks. Just for tonight.”

“Not just tonight,” Warden cut in. “Take a few days.”

“But-”

Warden gave him a look.

“Fine,” Emmet huffed.

Warden visibly relaxed. “Thank you.”

Emmet took a sip of hot chocolate.

There were even a few marshmallows in it.

-----

When Emmet finally left the bathroom after his shower, hot water all used up and steam starting to dissipate, he did feel better. His didn’t ache, he was less stressed about everything, and he was comfortably warm.

Honestly, he sometimes hated when it was that easy to feel like a person again.

Now he was just hungry. But Elesa would be here soon with dinner, a bunch of various appetizers from a nearby pub they were going to share she had said. Emmet was so ready to demolish some deep-fried pickles.

Unfortunately, it took until she was setting the food on the kitchen table for Emmet to realize he was going to have to explain his days long radio silence to her.

Warden must have realized too, as he said, “She’s going to ask what is going on, isn’t she?”

Elesa turned away to grab some plates. Emmet mouthed, won’t believe me, at Warden,

Why would she? A ghost of a man none of them could remember was a wild thing to try to explain.

“You could try anyway,” Warden chimed in as Elesa turned around and held a plate out to Emmet. “But I believe she may forget what you tell her soon after.”

Oh yeah, that too.

Emmet grabbed the offered plate. Elesa didn’t let go.

“Hey,” she said, “are you okay? What’s going on?”

There it was.

“I, um, just needed some maintenance.” Not really a lie, but it sure sounded fake the way he had said it. “Verrrry sorry for not checking in for a few days. Especially after what happened at the mall.”

“It’s been almost a week since then.”

“What? Today is Wednesday, isn’t it?” Emmet asked, looking at his Xtrans.

Elesa spoke up as he read the date, “It’s Friday.”

Wow, he really wasn’t performing his safety checks.

“You know you can tell me what’s going on,” Elesa continued, setting the plates on the table. “I want to help.”

Emmet chewed on the inside of his cheek. "I, uh...”

What if Elesa did believe him? What if she remembered? She could help figure out what happened to Warden. Take some of the load from Emmet.

He wouldn’t have to do all this alone.

“I am being haunted by a weird ghost who looks like me that we all were forced to forget when he disappeared five years ago,” he blurted out.

Yeah, that did sound ridiculous when he put it like that.

Elesa’s concern shifted to mild disappointment. “You can tell me the truth, you know.”

“I am!” Emmet said. “I know it sounds fake. That is why I hesitated. I didn’t think you would believe me.”

“I mean, it is kinda hard to believe.” Elesa crossed her arms. “How does everyone forget something like that?”

Emmet sucked his teeth. “I am still figuring that out.”

“Who is this guy then?”

“I am still figuring that out too,” Emmet admitted, shoulders slumping. “But! I know he was a Subway Boss.”

“Wasn’t the last Subway Boss a woman?”

“He wasn’t the previous Subway Boss.” He was just digging himself into a deeper hole. “He worked as a Subway Boss with me. We were both Subway Bosses at the same time.”

Elesa sighed. “Emmet…”

“I can prove it! I found old promotional pictures.” Emmet rushed off to his room where he had stashed his notes. He opened a few articles he had bookmarked on his laptop and turned to see Elesa had followed him.

He handed her the laptop “Here. We are both in these ones.”

Elesa clicked between the pages. Her brows furrowed.

“You’re the only one in these,” she said.

“What?” Emmet looked at the screen, tapping the picture where Warden stood next to him. “No, we are both in these. He is right there.”

“You’re tapping empty space.”

“She can’t see me,” Warden chimed in. “Like you couldn’t see that video file. Or how she can’t see my bedroom door.”

That might help.

“You can’t see him because of what is making everyone forget,” he said, took back and closed the laptop. “But I can still prove it. Here.”

Emmet grabbed Elesa’s hand and pulled her over to Warden’s closed door. He wanted to keep it open to help him remember it was there, but Haxorus had wandered in by mistake one day and nearly destroyed the room in her confusion and panic. They kept it closed now.

“Emmet,” Elesa took her arm back, “I’m worried about you. It’s hard not to be! You were acting strange during movie night, then you took off at the mall. Cloud was the one to tell me you took a month off from work and now you’re going on about someone who doesn’t exist.”

“He does!” Emmet almost shouted. She was only saying that because of the whole forgetting thing, but it still hurt to hear. “He does exist. Me and him were close. You and him were probably friends too!”

“Then why don’t I know him?” Elesa said. “What’s his name?”

“I- I don’t know.” Emmet could feel his eyes burn. “I told you that we were forced to forget him. Now I am the only one who can sort of remember him. But I can prove he was here! His bedroom’s behind this door.”

“Emmet,” Elesa said slowly, concern in her voice, “that’s a wall.”

“To you. To you it’s a wall. I can see the door. I can show you.”

“I don’t need to be shown anything,” Elesa said, moving her arm to prevent Emmet from grabbing it. “I think you should talk to someone about this.”

“I am!” Emmet was shouting now. “I am talking to you! You just don’t believe me. You can’t. But if I show you his room, maybe you can.’

“I hate to say it,” Warden cut in, “but I do not think this is going to work.”

Emmet whirled on Warden. “You don’t know that! This could work!”

“Emmet, look at me,” Elesa said, voice firm. Her eyes were hard when he did. “I think work and those weird dreams have been affecting you more than you realise. I’m glad you’re taking some time off work, but I don’t think this is the way to do it. How about tomorrow we go talk to someone about... All this. Maybe they can help.”

"I don’t... I don’t need that kind of help," Emmet sighed, his earlier surge of frantic energy quickly draining.

“I think you do,” Elesa said softly. “I just don’t think you know it yet.”

Emmet sighed. He only had one more chance at her believing him.

“Okay,” he said. “But can I please show you his room. If there really isn’t a door here, you have nothing to lose.”

Elesa pursed her lips a moment before saying, “Fine. If it will make you feel better.”

"Thank you." Emmet took Elesa’s hand. "The doorknob is right here.”

He moved her hand to the doorknob.

Her hand touched it.

She jerked back like it burned.

Then she blinked and shook her head.

“S-sorry,” she said, brow furrowing as she looked around the hall. “What were we talking about? Weren’t we getting dinner?”

Shit.

“I was- I was grabbing a sweater,” Emmet lied, saying the first think he could think of. “To be comfy. Did you want one?”

“No, I’ll just steal the blanket on the couch,” Elesa still sounded confused. “Are you sure that was it?”

Shit, shit, shit.

“Yup!” Emmet hated this even if the alternative was that she though he was having a nervous break.

“Huh.” Elesa shrugged. “Felt like I was forgetting something. Oh well! Guess it wasn’t important.”

Emmet could see Warden wilt a little at that.

“Guess not.” He hoped she wouldn’t hear how tight this voice was.

“Okay, I’m going to get my plate of food. Meet you in the living room!” With that, Elesa left the hall.

Emmet went to grab a sweater. Under his breath he said, “I do not want to hear a ‘I told you so’.”

“I was not going to say that,” Warden sounded as upset as Emmet felt. “Not when you were right too.”

Emmet sighed. “Guess I have to do this myself after all.”

Warden was quiet as Emmet got his arms in the sweater sleeves.

“You okay?” he asked once his head was through too.

“I- We were friends. The three of us. I hope-” Warden’s voice wavered. He looked down the hall with a breath. “I think I am going to spend tonight in my room. Sorry.”

“Nothing to apologise for,” Emmet reassured. “But remember to perform your safety checks.”

Warden huffed a tired laugh. “Hypocrite.”

“Shut up you,” Emmet said with a small laugh of his own.

“Alright, alright,” Warden said, walking off. “Go enjoy your dinner.”

Emmet took a breath to prepare himself, then returned to the kitchen.

Elesa was where she said she’d be, curled up on the couch with a plate full of food. She was finding a movie to put on now. Emmet grabbed everything he wanted, including the entire pickle container since Elesa didn’t like them, and joined her.

“Find something yet?” he asked.

“I was thinking this heist movie,” she said.

“Sounds good to me.”

Elesa selected the movie, but paused it as it began.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “What’s going on?”

“Just needed some maintenance.” At least the half-lie sounded a bit better this time. “Sorry I went radio silent this week. Especially after the mall. I was mainly resting. Then I got distracted by a game a found. I took the month off by the way.”

“Yeah, Cloud told me that when I went to the station the other day trying to find you since you weren’t answering my texts.” She looked over at him. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I will be,” Emmet said.

She nodded. “Alright. I’m here if you want to talk, you know.”

“I know.” Emmet took a bite of a fried pickle. “Now start the movie.”

With a laugh, Elesa did.

Emmet didn’t really pay much attention during the beginning of the movie, too worried about Warden and focusing on actually getting some fuel in his tank. But about an hour into it, Warden wandered into the living room.

He still had a general sad air around him as he sat on the chair, but he managed a wave and a little squint of a smile as a hello. Emmet returned it, glad Elesa was too entranced by the movie to notice.

They should do this again, once Warden had his body back, once Elesa could remember who he was, once Emmet wasn’t running on fumes.

Once they were all okay again.

Chapter Text

Over the next few days, Emmet only poked at his research. Warden wouldn’t let him do much else, going as far as hiding Emmet’s laptop on top of the fridge at one point.

Admittedly, it was for the best. Emmet really did need a break after running himself into the ground last week. He slept for nearly twelve hours after dinner with Elesa and only ended up waking when the Pokemon started bugging for food.

It was also nice to visit places he hadn’t gone to in a while with Warden.

Emmet felt a little bad for unintentionally keeping Warden cooped up in the apartment for so long. He knew it wasn’t his fault Warden couldn’t physically go further, but Warden was still stuck.

Besides, Emmet forgot how much fun Nimbasa was outside of the Battle Subway. Small Court and Big Stadium were loud and lively. The Musical Theater shows weren’t Emmet’s preference, but Warden was amazed by the lights and costumes. The amusement park was crowded as usual, but they managed to ride the Rondez-View with Elesa during her break.

Warden couldn’t explain why the descent made him feel on edge. Emmet hated the height. Elesa was just excited to ride with Emmet since he didn’t go on often.

Today they had made it out to Anville Town. Emmet thought Warden would like the railyard, and, boy, was he right.

Warden was zipping around wherever he could, talking a mile a minute. He couldn’t quite reach the turntable when Emmet stood on the bridge, much to his displeasure.

Emmet managed to find a spot at the foot of the cliffside where he was out of the way of the workers, but Warden could investigate the Super Single car being repaired to his heart’s content.

Eventually, they ended up back near the bridge, Warden having made himself nauseous with how much flying around he had done. Emmet was assured that Warden wasn’t capable of throwing up, even if he was only able to lay on the ground with his eyes closed at the time. At least the flute girl was playing today.

Warden laid there for half an hour before they could catch a train home.

Emmet stuck to the less populated streets so Warden could walk next to him. It was comforting, familiar, how they stepped in sync. There were a lot of things Emmet was finding familiar as of late.

They were mostly small, mundane things, like the walking and being forced to take a break. But it was nice to see where Warden neatly fit into Emmet’s life almost like they had never decoupled at all.

“Oh!” Warden cut into Emmet’s wandering thoughts. “Emmet, hold on.”

Emmet stopped walking, turning to Warden just in time to see him slide and rebalance himself.

“Sorry,” he said. Another perk of going this way is that Emmet could talk to Warden freely. “I didn’t see you stopped. What is it?”

“What’s that building?” Warden asked, pointing to a shop a little bit down the street. “It looks interesting.”

“A little restaurant.” Emmet took a few steps closer. “They sell Sinnohan food. I like their fried rice. Their miso soup is really good too. Actually, we’re going in. I want dinner.”

“Sinnohan food?” Warden asked.

“Food from the Sinnoh region,” Emmet said before opening the door. Guess he could cross that region off the list of places to look into if Warden didn’t know it.

The restaurant was warm and cozy. As tempting as getting a table was, there were a few too many people to be able to comfortably talk with Warden. He opted for take out.

While waiting for the food, Warden wandered around the place with a questioning look. He was mumbling something to himself as he usually did, but Emmet couldn’t make out most of it. He wasn’t sure if that was because Warden was too quiet or from whatever prevented Emmet from hearing certain words.

Once they left, Emmet asked, “What were you thinking about in there?”

“Just wondering ---- --- --- ----- -- --- ------- -- -- ------,” Warden said.

“I couldn’t hear anything after ‘wondering’.”

Warden waved it off. “That is fine. I didn’t think you would be able to anyway. What did you end up ordering?”

“Miso soup, veggie fried rice, and some tempura.”

“Oh, tempura’s good. I really like Basculin, but it is hard to go wrong with sweet potato as well.” Warden said. “What did you get?”

“A variety. I like mushroom tempura.”

“Gross.”

Emmet laughed. “Isn’t it a texture thing for you?”

“That is mostly it, but mushrooms are still gross.” Warden’s next step was a little floatier than the previous ones. “But you remembered something new! I told you this break would be good.”

“Huh,” Emmet hummed. “I guess I did.”

“But anyway, I think not being able to eat is the worst thing about being a weird ghost,” Warden continued. “There is so much food I have seen here that I would love to try again. Not to mention how many dishes I learned to make -- ----- that I would like to share with you.”

“Like what?” Emmet asked, partly because he liked hearing Warden talk and partly because maybe knowing some of the food he ate would help pinpoint a region.

 “I would kill for a burger,” Warden said immediately, “or pizza. Those both look really good. I have faint memories of them as well and maybe eating them would help with that.”

Emmet snorted. “Can’t take Nimbasa out of the man.”

“I suppose not,” Warden chuckled. “For what I’d like to make you, potato mochi is high up there. Even if I won’t be able to make it as good as ----, I think I can get it good enough. Congee is another thing I would like to make.”

Potato mochi sounded Sinnohan, or at least in that general area. Maybe he was too quick to cross it off?

“What’s congee?” he asked. Hopefully that would help narrow it down.

“It is a sort of rice porridge,” he said. “A bit like oatmeal, but savoury and with rice instead of oats.”

“Oatmeal is pretty hit or miss for me texture wise,” Emmet said. “I’ll try it, but I might not like it.”

“I will eat it then.” More of Warden’s steps floated as he kept talking. “I know I can make a really good udon soup if you like those noodles. Have you had taiyaki before? It’s a dessert that I really like. However, I cannot make it well nor do I believe we have the equipment to make it, so we’ll have to find somewhere to buy it.”

Warden talked the whole way home, his feet hardly touching the floor once they got to the door. As much as Emmet loved seeing Warden so happy, there was something that stood out to him about all the food he mentioned.

Once he got the food on the table, Emmet opened his laptop.

“We agreed no research until tomorrow,” Warden cut in, hand going through the screen as he tried to close the computer.

“I know, I know.” Emmet said, opening a new tab. “I am just making a note to myself. Something I want to look into later.”

“What is it?”

Emmet typed ‘Sinnoh’ into the search bar and hit enter.

“Oh!”

The excitement in just that one sound was impossible to miss.

-----

Once Warden let him get back to properly researching, Emmet was full speed ahead.

It wasn’t like before. Now he had more of a lead. It didn’t feel as overwhelming. He had actual tracks ahead.

His plan was to see if he could find any news of people appearing in Sinnoh five years ago, then check obituaries, as grim as that felt. If he couldn’t find anything in Sinnoh, he would move on to the other regions near by.

However, while he was looking at more recent news, something caught his eye.

“Space-time distortions?”

Warden hummed a question, floating over to look over Emmet’s shoulder. “Those were here too?”

“You know what they are?”

Warden said something long that Emmet didn’t hear one word of, followed by, “You didn’t hear any of that, did you?”

“Not at all. But I can figure it out myself.”

He spent the rest of the afternoon going down that Buneary-hole.

About a year ago, random bubbles were popping up around Sinnoh. The Pokemon that were in the area of the bubbles when they formed would momentarily vanish, while others would appear. The Pokemon that appeared where a lot more aggressive than anyone had seen.

They were later called space-time distortions when Pokemon that hadn’t been seen in Sinnoh for hundreds of years started appearing. At first it was small Pokemon like Basculin and Rufflets.

But then they became bigger, more specific. Long extinct regional forms of Zoroarks and Goodras. Even Pokemon that Emmet had never heard of like Kleavors and Sneaslers. Pokemon that all appeared in old Pokedexes made when the region was still called Hisui.

Pokemon that Warden seemed to have a familiarity with, chiming in with things Emmet couldn’t always hear.

So, he zeroed in on the ‘time’ part of space-time.

It felt ridiculous. Yet at the same time, it made as much sense as the whole ghost situation did. Why wouldn’t Warden have gone through time too. Why couldn’t he? Especially with Sinnoh being his likely destination, with one of its local Legendaries having control over time.

And then…

And then…

Emmet found something.

It was deep in his look through of some museum’s website, but he had found something huge.

“Holy shit.”

“What is it?”

Emmet couldn’t read the title of the page, but he could see the picture clear as day.

“That’s you.”

“That’s me!”

There on the screen was a sepia toned picture of Warden, pointing at the camera in an easily recognisable point-and-call pose.

Emmet’s hands were shaking as he scrolled down the page while he read it. It almost didn’t feel real. So much information about the man hovering and reading along over his shoulder was right there on the screen, even if he still couldn’t read Warden’s actual name.

Based on recovered pages from various people’s journals and stories passed down through families, Warden had appeared in the snow with amnesia. He was taken in by the Pearl Clan and eventually became warden to the Nobel Pokemon Sneasler. Emmet supposed that was where the name Warden came from.

“Sneasler was technically a Ride Noble,” Warden chimed in as they read that section. “We mainly referred to those Pokemon as Rides. I am not sure how that information got lost somewhere down the line, but I see where the misconception comes from.”

“I don’t know if historians would love or hate you,” Emmet laughed.

Warden was as well known for his skill with Pokemon as he was for his politeness, which Emmet felt was accurate. For course that would be what Warden was remembered for.

“I hope my team was well taken care of after my departure,” Warden sighed. “I miss them.”

“I am sure they were,” Emmet said. “I would love to hear about them if you wish to share.”

“Maybe later,” he hummed.

It was the next section that interested Emmet the most, if only for because how important the information there could be. It could solve everything.

Emmet closed his laptop.

“What was that for?” Warden asked.

“I saw the next section’s title.” Emmet looked back at Warden. “I do not think you’ll want to read it.”

“What is it?”

“It is about your death.”

Warden paled. “I, um, would prefer not to. Let me know when you are done.”

“I will.”

Emmet took a breath and opened the laptop again.

The exact cause of Warden’s death was unknown. All that was known was that his body had been found an undetermined amount of time afterwards at the bottom of a cliff.

There were only a few guesses as to what happened. Emmet didn’t want to entertain any of them. His body was laid to rest in the Pearl Clan’s burial site.

Easy as that, Emmet had a location. An honest to Reshiram location he could go to.

They were so close. Emmet just had to figure out where the site was and get there. That was easiest step in all this!

Warden could be properly home in no time!

Emmet’s excitement was quickly cut short when Warden said, voice quiet and distant, “It’s c- cold.”

He turned around. Warden was standing there, shaking, staring past the computer screen.

Curiosity must have gotten the better of him.

“Warden?” Emmet said, closing the laptop. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s- It’s cold,” he repeated. “It hur-rts.”

Crack!

Emmet tossed his laptop across the couch and shot to his feet as Warden crumpled inwards. He floated like he was being pulled upwards by a string from his back. One mangled looking arm was held against his chest. The other dangled limply at his side, bending unnaturally just above the elbow.

Warden’s breath was wet and shallow. “It hurrrrts. I- You said I- I could go h-hommme.”

“You are home,” Emmet tried.

Warden didn’t hear him. His voice was weak and small as he said, “I- I wan’ to g-go h’me. P-please.”

One of Warden’s legs bent sideways as he sobbed. It turned into a whine between wet and bubbling gasps for breath.

“Pl-please… I- I’m sssscared.”

“Warden, it’s okay.” Emmet was fighting to not let his panic through. “I am Emmet. You are home.”

Warden just kept drifting upwards, weakly whining and wetly hacking.

More and more injuries kept appearing. A broken hand, fingers pointing every which way, another broken leg. Blood smeared across his face, his hands, his clothes. It dripped from all over him, disappearing as it hit the floor.

Emmet could feel his own breathing speed up. He had to do something. He couldn’t bare seeing Warden as hurt as he was. But what could he do? Warden couldn’t hear him. Or if he could it wasn’t helping.

Was it because Emmet was calling him ‘Warden’? Was that making him think he wasn’t home? But that was the only thing Emmet knew to call him!

He needed a name.

What was Warden’s name?

Why couldn’t Emmet remember his own brother’s name?!

“Brother,” he breathed.

He scrawled that down on the closest piece of paper, glad a pen was right there. He refused forget that. Not again.

They were brothers.

Maybe that would help.

It had to.

Emmet forced himself to look up at Warden, at his brother. His broken and bloody brother, still whining and coughing and sobbing.

Emmet swallowed past the bile rising in his throat and said, “Hey, brother, it is okay. I am Emmet and I am here. You are safe.”

Warden quietened and glanced up, eyes focusing on Emmet a little.

“I remembered we are brothers,” he continued with a smile he hoped didn’t look as strained as it felt. “You are not in Hisui. You are in Unova. In Nimbasa. Home.”

The blood faded from Warden’s face. A few fingers slid back into place.

“I am?” Warden asked, voice barely audible.

“You are, brother.”

Warden blinked a few times, eyes focusing more as other injuries fixed themselves. “That’s- That’s right. I am home. I am with you. My brother.”

Emmet’s smile felt a bit more comfortable. “My brother.”

Warden took a shaky breath and landed back on the ground, clean and uninjured. “S-sorry about that. I don’t- I shouldn’t have-”

“It’s alright,” Emmet cut in before Warden continued rambling. “It’s over now.”

Warden rubbed his eyes. “Yeah. Yeah, it is.”

Emmet tried to guide Warden to the couch. He wanted to hug him tight, wrap him up in a blanket, hold him close until he felt a little better.

His hands passed through his brother.

Warden couldn’t even touch the couch. Thankfully he could touch the chair.

“Do you think you sat in that chair a lot before?” Emmet asked, hoping to lighten the mood a little.

“Maybe,” Warden mumbled, pulling his legs up. “It is a good chair.”

“I think a nap would help you right now,” Emmet said. “Can you sleep?”

“I wish I could.”

“Oh. Sorry I suggested it.”

Warden just sighed, eyes watery.

They were quiet for a while before Chandelure floated over, cautiously circling the chair. Emmet really didn’t want to deal with her getting mad right now.

But then she stopped in front of Warden’s face and gave a soft chime.

Warden held a hand up to her, hand hovering near her glass.

“Can you sense something there?” Emmet asked.

Chandelure chimed again, a confirmation, but still questioning.

Please let this help his brother. “Do not worry. He is friendly.”

Warden moved his hand closer, lightly brushing her. She jumped back, but came close again moment later.

“I have missed you, my dear,” Warden whispered with a small sad smile. He laid his hand fully on her glass.

Chandelure didn’t jump this time. Instead, she gave a low and slow chime and settled on the armrest.

Emmet quietly put on an old documentary he liked, hoping Warden would too and it could provide a good distraction for the evening. He went to make dinner.

“Can you-” Warden cut himself off.

Emmet sat back on the couch. Dinner could wait. He didn’t really want to go far with Warden like this anyway.

“Thank you.”

A few other Pokemon wandered in throughout the movie, Chandelure shooing them off the chair if they tried to go on it. Warden looked pleased at that, not to mention just having Pokemon nearby was also clearly helping to calm him.

Which reminded Emmet that he wanted to see if he could figure out what happened to Warden’s Hisuian team.

He opened his laptop again and went on another search. Thankfully, now that he knew where to look, it didn’t take long to find his answers.

He almost wished he hadn’t.

Warden’s Gliscor had led the Pearl Clan to his body. After that, none of his team were ever seen again. Even their Pokeballs had vanished.

Emmet could only hope a miracle had happened and never tell Warden what he had found.

Chapter Text

Emmet woke on the couch to Galvantula lightly tapping his face.

“Ge’ off,” he groaned. “I’ll get you food. Give me a few minutes…”

Galvantula clicked at him and shifted. He threw an arm on his face as light landed on it.

Wait…

“SHIT!” Emmet shot upright, flinging Galvantula off his chest. “Sorry. I’m late for work! Fuck!”

 He scrambled off the couch and ran to his room to change, cursing all the way.

How could this have happened? Emmet was never late for work! He always set an alarm and had always been a morning person anyway. And why, in the name of the Dragons, was he sleeping on the couch? Maybe it had to do with the scattered papers on the coffee table?

He didn’t have time to worry about that right now! He’d figure it out after work.

Barely managing to button his shirt, Emmet stumbled into the bathroom to brush his teeth and make himself look somewhat presentable. His reflection, quite frankly, looked like shit.

“Screw the hair. I wear a hat,” he mumbled after failing to get it to cooperate. Now he just had to tie his tie.

Which he had never figured out how to do on himself.

“You’d think I would know how to do this,” he mumbled. “Fuck it, I’ll do it at work.”

He could relax a little there. Eelektross always helped him with the tie anyway, letting Emmet tie it around his arm before moving it to his neck.

Emmet did a quick tally of everything as he put his shoes and coat on. Key, wallet, Xtrans, Pokemon, work stuff. He’d buy lunch and figure out the mess on the coffee table later. Everything’s ready. All aboard.

He slammed his hat on and ran out of his apartment.

The route to the station was quick, especially since most people moved when they heard him coming. Emmet could hardly blame them.

He arrived at the station thoroughly out of breath and feeling a little like he was about to throw up. He hadn’t run like that in a while. He was also more out of shape than he realised.

Emmet paused in the break room, thankfully empty, to catch his breath. He didn’t really want anyone seeing him doubled over from running a few blocks.

“Boss?”

Well, he kind of deserved this for being so late.

“One-” Emmet coughed. “Give me- One moment.”

“Yeah, of course.”

After another minute, Emmet managed to breathe normally and straighten back up. Jackie stood at the opposite end of the room by the hall to the offices and HQ.

“Verrrry sorry I am late,” Emmet said. “I don’t know what happened. Give me five minutes and I can board the next train.”

“Why are you here?” Jackie asked. “Did someone call you?”

“What? No. Why?”

“You took the month off. You’re not scheduled for another couple weeks.”

“I’m not?”

“Yeah.”

Now that Jackie mentioned it, that did sound familiar. But why would he take that much time off?

There had to be a reason. If he was going to take a break, he would have just taken a couple days off. So why a whole month?

An emergency maybe? He felt fine. Elesa was fine too. So were the Pokemon. So then who-

“Emmet!”

Fuck, he forgot his brother!

Warden appeared in front of Emmet between blinks, face full of worry. “Can you hear me now? Please tell me you can. I don’t want to start all over.”

“Oh, yes. I remember. I was on vacation,” Emmet said to Jackie, who he could sort of see through Warden. “Must have been on autopilot this morning.”

Warden’s eyes widened. “Do you remember? Can you see me?”

“Yup!” Emmet said with a nod, hoping there wasn’t too long of a pause between him talking. “Sorry for the confusion, Jackie.”

“Oh, thank ------,” Warden sighed. He stepped to the side with a relived laugh. “Let me get out of our way.”

“It’s no problem, Boss Emmet,” Jackie said, still looking a little concerned. “With how much you work, I’m a little surprised it didn’t happen sooner.”

“Me too,” Emmet said with a laugh he hoped sounded convincing. “I should be going now. Bye.”

“Before you go,” Jackie cut in as Emmet turned to leave, “can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“How has Chandelure been recently?”

“She has been well,” Emmet said with a head tilt. “Why do you ask?”

“You have… something following you,” Jackie looked to Emmet’s left. “I think.”

Warden jolted and looked at them. “Can you see me?”

Jackie squinted a moment longer before blinking and shaking their head. “Sorry, I- I’m not sure what that was about. I should get back to work. I’ll see you later!”

“Bye,” Emmet said as Jackie went back down the hall.

“Do you think Jackie saw me?” Warden asked.

“Maybe,” Emmet said quietly as he started heading back home. “They always have been a little odd. There’s a bit of a joke around here that they’re actually a ghost haunting the station. No one’s quite sure how accurate that is.”

“That shouldn’t matter. Only you should be able to see or hear me,” Warden hummed, floating above the crowd as they entered it. “First Chandelure could sense me a little, now Jackie might have seen me. What do you think that means?”

Emmet shrugged.

Once they got outside, the crowd cleared enough for Emmet to mumble, “Sorry I forgot you.”

“That is not your fault,” Warden sighed. “Things were… a lot, last night. For both of us. Besides, you remember now. That’s all I can really- Oh! Elesa’s coming over.”

Emmet turned to where Warden was looking. Sure enough, Elesa was making her way over.

“Emmet, hey!” she called over.

He waved back. “Hi, Elesa. What are you doing here?”

“I was about to ask you that,” Elesa said once she reached him. “I thought you said you were on vacation.”

“I am.” Emmet started walking home. “I forgot about that this morning and thought I was late for work.”

“Scared me half to death,” Warden mumbled. Then snickered, “Half to death.”

Emmet, while glad he thought it was funny, also wanted to strangle his brother for that stupid joke.

“What was that last bit?” Elesa asked, following him down the street.

“I thought I was late for work,” Emmet repeated.

“After that.”

“I didn’t say anything after that.”

“You didn’t?”

“No.”

Warden floated into view, excitement and hope easy to hear when he said, “I said something!”

Elesa looked around. “There it is again. It sure sounds like you. Did you get a Chatot or something to try to trick me?”

“Elesa, can you hear me?” Warden asked.

A brief flash of fear passed across Elesa’s face. She stopped walking. “Emmet, this isn’t funny.”

“I know, but it is not me.” Emmet stepped next to her. Maybe this time it would work. “I can explain everything at my place. Do you have time?”

“I’ve got the day off.” Elesa took a small breath. “Alright. I’ll come with you. You’ll explain everything?”

“I will.”

They made their way back to the apartment. No one said anything, everyone likely too caught up in their own thoughts to.

Emmet couldn’t deny how nervous he was to try to tell Elesa about Warden again. What if it went the same as the last time? Would Elesa forget about hearing Warden, or would she be stuck thinking she was hearing voices?

But she had heard Warden. Even just a little bit. That had to count for something. Plus, Emmet actually had some information on Warden. He knew they were brothers. He wasn’t running on fumes either and likely wouldn’t look like a madman while explaining things.

Maybe Elesa would believe him this time.

Maybe she would remember this time.

Maybe she could help.

They reached the apartment. Emmet opened the door.

Elesa took her coat and shoes off, then moved aside for Emmet. He saw her pause as he hung up his coat and hat.

“Emmet?”

“Yes?”

“Why do you have an extra door in your hallway?”

Emmet looked over to see Elesa staring at the door to Warden’s room.

“Oh!” Emmet said. “You can see it now! That’ll make things easier.”

“I think you should just show her my room,” Warden chimed in, walking over to it. “It will make things quicker.”

“I will get to that. I don’t want to rush.” Emmet led Elesa to the couch. “You look like you should sit.”

Elesa fell onto the couch. “What is going on?”

Warden wandered back over and sat in his chair as Emmet said, “It is going to sound crazy. Please bare with me.”

Elesa took a breath and nodded. “Okay.”

Emmet shot a look to Warden, a little worried this would go the same as last time.

Warden shot a look back, the hope that it would this time work clear in his eyes.

“Okay.” Emmet took a breath. “I am being haunted by my brother who disappeared five years ago and who we were all forced to forget.”

Elesa gave him a look.

“I am being serious.” Emmet started flipping through the pages on the coffee table. “I can prove it. You can see Warden’s door now, so you can probably see this too.”

He found a few pictures of Warden, both printed from the internet and from an old photo album he had found, and handed them to Elesa. She looked down at them, eyes widening. She tapped the picture of Warden and Emmet when they had first become Subway Bosses.

Her finger was directly on Warden.

“Is this some sort of trick?” she asked.

“Nope!” Emmet was hoping staying calmer than last time would help. “That is my brother.”

“You’ve never mentioned any siblings before,” she countered.

“That is because we were forced to forget him,” Emmet said, ignoring the pain that still caused. “Everyone was. Then his life was covered up. We couldn’t see his bedroom door or him in pictures. Everyone thinks there is only one Subway Boss.”

“How did we forget?” Elesa’s voice was quiet as she kept looking through the photos.

“I am still figuring that out.” Emmet rested an arm on hers. “Are you alright? I know this is a lot.”

Elesa paused on an older picture of Emmet and Warden. They were at the beach. In their mid-twenties, if he was remembering correctly. Emmet floating on an inner tube and Warden was next to him. Elesa had taken it from the sand just as Warden had flipped Emmet over.

He couldn’t remember much of that specific trip anymore, likely due to both time and whatever made him forget his brother, but Emmet knew it had been a good day.

Elesa sniffed, wiped her eyes. Her voice was rough when she said, “Yeah, I- I just- I don’t-”

“Would you like a hug?” Emmet offered when she trailed off and wiped her eyes again.

She held him tight, pressing her face into the crook of his neck. Emmet could feel her shake, feel tears slowly soak into his shirt.

“I don’t know,” she whispered, “why I’m crying.”

“You miss him,” Emmet whispered back. “You two were friends before he disappeared. We are close. You two were probably close too. But it is okay. It will be okay.”

Elesa held him tighter.

Emmet glanced up as Warden got off the chair and went into the kitchen. A couple minutes, a few annoyed mumbles, and the sound of the tap turning on then off later, he walked back carefully holding a mug.

“A mug?” Emmet asked.

“It’s the only thing I can hold,” Warden said. “Can you please take it before it goes through my hands again?”

Emmet got a hand free and grabbed the mug. He gently urged Elesa away from him.

“Here.” He offered the water. “Warden got this for you.”

Elesa took a sip before mumbling, “My makeup stained your shirt.”

Emmet laughed lightly. “It’s fine. I have a million work shirts.”

“Is that his name?” Elesa asked after another sip. “Warden?”

“No, that is just what we agreed to call him,” Emmet sighed. “It was better than ‘ghost’. I do not remember his name. I can’t read it when I find it written out either.”

“Where is he now?” she hummed.

“Sitting in his chair,” he said with a point.

Elesa looked over. Warden gave a wave. “Hello. I hope you are feeling a bit better.”

“Uh, Hi?” Elesa said a little hesitantly. “It feels weird talking to an empty chair, but thanks for the water.”

“You can’t hear me too well, can you?”

Elesa looked back at Emmet. “What did he say?”

“You can’t hear me too well, can you?” Emmet repeated.

“Oh, no I can’t,” Elesa said, looked back at Warden. “I can make out some words, but it’s like I’m hearing someone in a different room. Sorry.”

“That is fine,” Warden said, Emmet repeating afterwards at Elesa’s glance. “I am just glad you know I am here at all.”

“And you’re Emmet’s…” Elesa put the mug down and rubbed her eyes. “Sorry, how did you know Emmet?”

“We are brothers,” Warden said, worry creeping into his voice. “Are you alright?”

Elesa pressed her face into her hands as Emmet repeated Warden. “I- I don’t know. I think- I’m going to go wash my face. I need a minute.”

She got up and went to the bathroom.

“Do you think she’s going to forget again?” Emmet asked.

“I hope not,” Warden sighed.

They watched the hallway until Elesa exited the bathroom. She froze, staring at Warden’s door,

“Why is there another door here?” she asked.

Emmet saw Warden tense as he said, “That’s Warden’s room.”

Elesa squinted. “Warden is… the ghost, right? And he’s… Uh…”

“My brother.”

“Right, right. You said that. Sorry.”

Emmet walked over. “It is fine if you can’t remember. You don’t have to force it.”

“But I want to remember.” Elesa’s eyes started watering again. “It’s just hard.”

“I know.” Emmet took her hands, squeezing it tight. “Is there anything you don’t have to force? You could just focus on that. I promise it is fine.”

“You’re being haunted by…” She paused to think. “By someone…  Someone we love.”

“That works,” Emmet smiled.

“I love you guys too,” Warden chimed in, voice watery. Emmet looked over to see him still on his chair, but obviously trying not to cry.

“You made him cry,” Emmet laughed, his own eyes starting to water. Back towards Warden he said, “If you start crying, I will too.”

“Sorry, sorry,” Warden laughed, wiping his tears away.

“Is everything okay?” Elesa asked.

“They are happy tears,” Emmet said at the same time as Warden, wiping his own eyes.

“Okay,” Elesa said with a wet laugh of her own. “Can I see what’s behind the door?”

“Of course!” Emmet said, opening the door as Warden joined them.

He and Warden went in. Elesa paused in the doorway with a confused look.

“Why is it blurry?” she asked.

“It’s blurry?” Emmet looked around. “It isn’t to me.”

“Yeah…” She touched the low shelf near her, yanking her hand back immediately afterward. “Like someone didn’t clean their lens before taking a picture. Feels, like, staticky too?”

“Hmm… Strange. Forget about the room for now.” Emmet guided her back to the living room. He had to double back when Warden couldn’t close the door. “We can get back to that once Warden is properly home.”

Elesa let him sit her on the couch. “What do you mean?”

“Once Warden gets his body back, everything will go back to normal.” Emmet looked over at Warden. “Am I understanding that right? We will remember everything once you get your body?”

Warden floated back to his chair. “You should. If not, I will throttle --------.”

“I don’t know who we’re throttling, but I will join,” Emmet said.

“Why are we throttling someone?” Elesa asked.

“If we get Warden’s body back and we don’t remember him, we are going to throttle…” He glanced at Warden.

“The one who made me a ghost.”

“The one who made him a ghost!”

Elesa laughed. “Sure, I’ll join in.”

“Nice!”

“So, how are you getting his body back?” Elesa flipped through some papers. “Any leads?”

“Oh, yeah! I more or less found the location last night. Just need to figure out the exact place it is buried.”

“Where is it?”

“It is…” Emmet paused. “It’s…”

“-- ------.”

“Shit, I forgot.” Emmet passed his laptop to Elesa and started going through papers. “I wrote it down somewhere. Start going through my open tabs. Call out any locations you find. Ah, fuck me.”

It took a little bit of searching, but eventually Emmet found what he was looking for.

“Ha!” he cried, holding up a paper. “Found it. It is in Sinnoh. I need to figure out where the Pearl Clan historical burial site is.”

“Pearl Clan?” Elesa asked.

“There is time travel involved,” Emmet sighed. “Warden and I can explain properly once you can remember everything.”

Elesa blinked at him. “Time travel?”

“Yeah.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

After another moment she threw her hands up. “Sure! Why the fuck not?”

Emmet couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him.

Elesa wiggled her fingers at him with a small laugh of her own. “Stop laughing! Also, what’s this video I found?”

“Probably the security clip of Warden’s disappearance.” Emmet sat next to her. Warden hovered above them.

“Can I watch it?”

“There isn’t much in it, but sure.”

Elesa hit play. It played out as normal.

Until…

“Wait.” Emmet hit pause. “Did you see that?”

“See what?”

He scrolled the video back to just after the light flickered. He hit play.

“There.” He paused it again. “Something flashed. Right before it cut out.”

“I didn’t see anything.”

“Maybe you can’t.”

Emmet stepped the video back frame by frame. On the last frame before black, he found what he was looking for.

Right at Warden’s feet was a golden and disjointed ring.

“You can see that now?” Warden asked.

“Was it there the whole time?” he asked, looking up at Warden.

“It was. I mentioned it but you couldn’t hear me,” Warden landed on the floor behind the couch and looked away. “It was also during that week right after we found the video.”

“Ah. That would explain it.”

“Explain what?” Elesa asked. “I still can’t really hear him.”

“Remember that week I went radio silent?”

“Yeah, you asked me to come over with dinner at the end of it.”

“That was my brother actually. He took control of my hand and texted you. But I was combing over this video before that. Never saw this though.”

“Wait, go back,” Elesa said. “He controlled your hand?”

“Yup! He can do mild ghostly possession. Leaves me with pins and needles so he doesn’t do it often.”

Elesa drummed her fingers against her legs.

Warden chimed in, “Emmet, may I borrow your body?”

“All of it?” Emmet asked. “Why?”

The tips of Warden’s ears went a little pink. “I want to hug Elesa.”

“Let me ask.” He turned to Elesa. “Warden wants to know if it is okay to hug you. He will possess me and then hug you.”

It was Elesa’s turn to brighten a little. “I was about to ask you about that. I would like a hug.”

“Okay! Full steam ahead, Warden.”

Emmet went numb, disconnected. His ears rang. He could feel his mouth move, chest buzz as Warden said something.

Elesa said something back. He couldn’t hear it, could barely see her mouth move.

His body lurched forward, his arms wrapping around Elesa completely out of his control.

Everything snapped back into place a moment later. His arms, hands, legs, chest, everything, prickled with the expected pins and needles.

“I am Emmet. I am back.” Elesa let go as he pulled back to shake out his limbs. “Ow. What were you talking about?”

“I’m not sure what he said,” Elesa said, “but I just said I missed him.”

“I tried to say I missed Elesa,” Warden added, back in his chair. “It did not exactly work. I have not had an actual mouth for a while, and I didn’t want to possess you long enough to figure it out.”

“Thank you for that.” Emmet rubbed his face, the last of the pins and needles just about gone. “He said he missed you.”

“Aw.” Elesa tapped the laptop screen. “Back to this though. What do you see that I don’t?”

“Here, let me draw it,” Emmet said. He did so, mumbling, “Where have I seen this before?”

“You’re right, it does look familiar,” Elesa said. After a moment, she asked, “You said you had to go to Sinnoh, right?”

“Yup.”

“Wild stab in the dark,” she said, “but what does Arceus look like again?”

Emmet quickly pulled up the Battle Subway’s banned Pokemon list, looking between his drawing and the picture of Arceus. The ring around the Pokemon’s torso was the same.

“Holy shit you’re right.” He looked over at Warden. “Arceus did this to you?”

“It erased me, yes,” Warden said, words bitter. “It did not ghost me. Did you hear any of that?”

“I heard all of it.”

“So, we’re throttling Arceus if we get the chance, right?” Elesa chimed in.

“Yes, but for erasing my brother. It didn’t ghost him.” Emmet hovered the mouse over the unban button.

“Don’t,” Warden cut in, a warning in his voice.

“I am not going to. I was just thinking about it.” Emmet clicked off of Arceus’s page. Maybe later.

Just as Emmet was going to log off this work account, he paused.

If Arceus didn’t send Warden back…

And he was in Sinnoh, well Hisui, before…

And he was a ghost now…

Emmet opened another Pokemon’s page.

“Giratina?” Elesa asked.

“I think they helped get my brother home,” Emmet explained.

“They did,” Warden said.

“Warden says they did.”

“I’ve heard some stories about Giratina,” Elesa said. “Never thought they were one to help.”

“They are one to annoy Arceus when given the chance,” Warden said with a chuckle.

Elesa laughed when Emmet repeated it for her with a laugh of his own. “I guess that makes sense.”

Emmet actually logged off his work account. “That solves that mystery. How about lunch?”

“Please, I’m starving,” Elesa said.

“Can you get pizza?” Warden said, floating in front of Emmet so he couldn’t be ignored.

Emmet waved his hands through Warden’s face until he moved. “You can’t even eat it!”

“I just want to look at it and live vicariously through you.”

“Sure,” Emmet snorted. “How does pizza sound, Elesa? Warden wants to look at it.”

“And live vicariously through you.”

“And live vicariously through me.”

“Sounds good,” Elesa laughed. “I can ask Skyla about getting you a flight to Sinnoh if you want.”

“Could you? That would be great.” Emmet straightened up his notes and set his laptop aside. “I will let you know when I am ready to head out. Did you want to come?”

“I wish I could,” Elesa said as she stood, “but I’m super busy the next week or so. Besides, he’s your brother.”

Emmet felt a little bad for feeling relived Elesa couldn’t come, but clearly she understood. “Okay. That is fine. Let me change. Then we can get pizza.”

The rest of the afternoon was spent just hanging out, a nice break from the events of last night and first thing this morning. Emmet ended up acting as translator for Warden, which wasn’t as awkward as he thought it was going to be since it looked like he was having a conversation with Elesa for the most part.

Emmet could hardly wait until Warden had his body back. Then they could do this with properly and Warden could stop hanging above them and moping when they ate. Which, while kind of funny, was distracting in a public place.

All Emmet had to do now was get to Sinnoh and figure out exactly where Warden’s body was. Elesa was even handling the getting to Sinnoh part, so there really wasn’t much left for Emmet to do.

That is if Elesa remembered all this after she went home. It seemed like she would. Emmet had to remind her of the specifics of Warden pretty regularly until she wrote herself a note to consult instead, but she always remembered he was there, that he even existed.

Warden had mentioned only Emmet should be able to interact with him. Between Chandelure last night, Jackie this morning, and now Elesa, that didn’t seem to be entirely accurate. Emmet couldn’t help but hope that meant Warden was close to returning.

Soon.

Soon, Warden would be home.

Chapter Text

It took a few days, but Emmet was ready to head to Sinnoh.

He figured out where the burial site was, a bit south of Snowpoint City. It was open for limited access to the public, being both a place of rest and a historical landmark, but Emmet managed to convince the people taking care of it that he just wanted to visit family there. It wasn’t a total lie, but if they thought Warden was Emmet’s great-great-etc.-grandfather, he wasn’t going to correct them.

They had also said Warden’s name multiple times and Emmet just couldn’t remember it. The word slipped away from him the moment it was said. It was infuriating, but easy to put aside with how close they were to fixing all this.

With that squared away, Emmet let Elesa know he was ready to head out anytime. She got back to him a bit later saying while Skyla wouldn’t be the pilot, someone was heading out to Sinnoh in a couple days and was happy to let Emmet come along. He packed a bag and met them in Mistralton City the day of the flight.

“Are you alright?” Warden asked as Emmet paced back and forth.

“Don’t care for flying,” he said. Only Elesa was around, the pilot doing their final checks a fair distance away.

“It’s not too late to get a ticket for a passenger flight,” Elesa said as he passed her.

“I prefer this.” He turned around again. “Warden has more space this way too.”

“What is a passenger plane like?” Warden asked, floating closer to Emmet. He had given up on walking a bit ago and was letting himself be dragged around in the air. “I am still not entirely certain what a plane is in the first place.”

“A plane is a vehicle that flies,” Elesa explained once Emmet had repeated Warden. “A passenger plane is one specifically for people. That one over there is a cargo plane. It’s made for transporting stuff.”

“Too many people on a passenger plane,” Emmet added, already knowing Warden’s next question. “Too cramped. Too crowded. I prefer hitching a ride in a cargo plane. I am glad we’re friends with a pilot.”

“The cargo plane is still pretty cramped,” Elesa said.

“Stuff cramped is better than people cramped.”

“Okay, that’s fair.”

“But how does it fly?” Warden chimed in, looking at the plane. “I can’t imagine it flaps its wings like a Braviary.”

Emmet repeated Warden, then Elesa said, “You’d have to ask Skyla later. All I know is that it’s got something to do with aerodynamics.”

“Dark magic,” Emmet countered.

“Aerodynamics.”

“Dark magic.”

“I still prefer trains,” Warden interrupted.

Emmet came to a stop. “As you should.”

Elesa laughed. “Of course that’s what I can hear clear as day.”

The pilot gave a shout and a wave from their plane.

“That’s my call,” Emmet said, waving back. “I’ll let you know when we land. Also, when we find Warden’s body. Although, you might know by just remembering. I will still call you when I can.”

“Alright.” She pulled Emmet into a tight hug. “Stay safe. Let me know if I should fly out there once I’m done everything here.”

Emmet returned it in matching strength. “I will. Hopefully, we will only be a few days. Then you won’t have to fly out.”

“You know I’d do it.”

“I know.”

They gave each other a squeeze, neither wanting to let go quite yet.

“I’m worried, Elesa,” Emmet whispered.

“Me too,” Elesa whispered back.

“What if...” He took a shaky breath. “What if this doesn’t work? What if I can’t do this?”

“You can,” she stressed. “You will.”

“But what if-”

“Emmet, you’re getting in your head again.” Elesa interrupted. “You’ve already done the hard part. All that’s left now is to dig a hole.”

Emmet was avoiding what he was really nervous about. He didn’t want to say it. He could barely think it, too afraid of jinxing it.

He couldn’t let it happen. He didn’t know what he’d do if it did.

“You are right,” he said instead. “You are right.”

With one last squeeze, they let go.

“Where’s your ghost?” Elesa asked. “Want to talk to him.”

Emmet pointed to his left where Warden was looking at the plane and plugging his ears. He gave a wave in Warden’s view.

“Oh, you are done,” he said, turning back around and lowering his hands. “Are we heading out now?”

“Elesa wants to say something first,” Emmet explained. He turned Elesa to face Warden better.

“It’s still a little strange to talk to the air,” she said with an embarrassed laugh, “but I just wanted to say that I’m excited to be able to remember you again. And to actually see you! Take of Emmet, will you? Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“I am excited to have a body again,” Ingo said with a squinting smile. “Although, I am not sure how well I’ll be able to prevent Emmet from doing something stupid. He is quite good at that.”

Instead of the last sentence, Emmet said “Don’t make me translate that last bit.”

“But how will I know what our dear friend is saying?” Elesa teased.

Emmet huffed, face heating up as he mumbled, “‘He is quite good at that.’”

Elesa laughed. “He is, isn’t he?”

“Alright!” Emmet cut in before they continued teasing him. “Plane’s leaving! I’ve got to go!”

“Okay, okay,” Elesa said, still laughing. “Have a safe trip. Let me know when you land.”

“I will.”

With one more quick hug, they said their goodbyes and Emmet and Warden headed down the runway.

The flight to Sinnoh was as good as any other flight Emmet had. Which was to say he hated it and was glad to get off the plane.

Warden thought it was neat for all of an hour before he got motion sick from it. He started to feel a bit better by the end, not looking outside having helped, but the landing and subsequent walk to the nearest PokeCenter had done him in again. He ended up face down on the floor while Emmet got ready for bed.

By the time Emmet was curled up under the sheets, Warden had recovered enough to sit up. They said their good nights and Emmet closed his eyes as Warden no doubt tried to find something to do all night. He had left a few books out for Warden. That should help as long as he was able to actually interact with them.

Unfortunately, as much as he wanted to, Emmet couldn’t sleep. His mind kept wandering back to the thing he’d been trying to ignore this whole time.

What condition was Warden’s body going to be in when they found it?

They’d been assuming it would be fine. It made sense to. This was supposed to be Warden’s way home after all. Surely, if he was told to find his body, it would be in good condition.

That didn’t stop the image of Warden, broken and bloody, from coming to mind.

Warden had remembered his death that evening and it clearly wasn’t a peaceful death. His appearance had reflected that.

What if that was how they found his body? Broken and bloody and unsuitable to live in.

What if Emmet had to watch his brother die mere moments after getting him back?

Would Giratina do that? Tell Warden he could come home, only for him to die for good? Was this all some sort of sick joke that Emmet was trapped into going along for?

What if they found Warden’s body and it was only bones left? Was there even anything to find? Had it been decomposing this whole time and there was nothing for Warden to return to?

Was Emmet going to remember his brother only for him to vanish again? Would Emmet even get to remember if Warden vanished?

Would it be better or worse to go back to how it was before?

Both possibilities hurt so very verrrry much.

He had never noticed how quiet his life had been for the last five years. How empty it had been.

How lonely.

Emmet choked back a sob and pressed his face into the pillow.

He didn’t want to be alone anymore.

“Emmet?” Warden’s voice, quiet and soft, cut in. “Are you awake?”

Emmet didn't want to worry his brother. He did his best to level out his breathing and pretend to be asleep. It, at the very least, helped calm him down.

The moment passed, then Warden said, “I suppose not. That is for the best. You should rest.”

It was quiet for another few minutes. Emmet was starting to feel the tugs of sleep for real when Warden spoke up again.

“I have full confidence in you, Emmet,” he said, “I hope you know that. You’re a wonderful brother and an amazing person. You truly are the best person I know, even if you would deny it if you could hear me.”

Emmet felt his face heat up, both from the sincerity in Warden’s tone and the fact that he was right in that he would deny it.

“But I still worry,” Warden continued. “I worry that I have put too much faith in Giratina. I know we have assumed that my body would be in working order. But what if it isn’t?”

Ah.

Of course.

It felt natural that they would be so worried about the same thing, yet not tell the other.

Having just gone through that line of thinking and knowing it didn’t go anywhere, Emmet decided that he needed to put of stop to it. He also didn’t want to hear Warden’s voicing what no doubt would be similar fears as Emmet had aloud.

He rolled over with a hum, hoping Warden thought he was doing it in his sleep. He let an arm flop over the edge of the bed in the direction of Warden’s voice.

Warden went silent. Emmet continued pretending to sleep.

Warden sighed. “Okay. You are still sleeping.”

Emmet gave a soft grumble and tried to grab at Warden. He didn’t know if he’d be able to touch him, but this was the best idea his half-asleep mind could come up with.

He felt a pressure in his hand. It was faint and barely there, but it was a hand in his, a thumb rubbing the back, nonetheless.

“Alright,” his brother whispered. “I will rest my engine as best I can.”

Emmet hummed, unable to stop the content smile from appearing on his face.

It didn’t take long for him to actually fall asleep after that.

-----

It took most of the day to get up to the burial site. It would have taken longer, but Warden knew Mount Coronet well and led Emmet through various shortcuts. He did need a bit of help up a couple small cliffs via Chandelure and Eelektross carrying him, but it all worked out in the end.

By late afternoon, Emmet and Warden could see their destination in the distance.

“Hey, Warden?” Emmet asked before they got too close.

Warden hummed an acknowledgment. He’d been a bit off since arriving in Sinnoh, but the spaciness had gotten worse as they left the mountain.

“Is this technically grave robbing?”

Warden blinked and shook his head. “Oh, uh, maybe? Is it really robbing if the grave owner is giving you permission?”

“I guess not,” Emmet said. “It does feel like we are casing a joint. Since we are planning on coming back at night to dig.”

“You have watched too many of Elesa’s heist movies,” Warden teased.

Emmet managed to stifle his laugh as they got within earshot of the person waiting for them at the gate.

“Hello there!” they said as Emmet reached them. “My name’s Naomi. You must be Emmet.”

“I am Emmet,” he said, shaking Naomi’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“I hear you’re here to visit one of the warden’s,” they said. “One of Sneasler’s wardens… wasn’t it?”

“Yup!” Emmet said. Naomi had said Warden’s name. He knew they did.

They said something else. Emmet didn’t really process it from being distracted by how close Warden suddenly got to them.

“They kind of look like Iscan,” he mumbled.

“Sir?” Naomi cut in. “Is everything alright?”

“Do you have family here?” Emmet asked before he could stop himself. “Sorry. You don’t have to answer that.”

“Oh, that’s definitely Palina’s hair,” Warden continued, circling them, “and eyes.”

“No worries,” Namoi laughed. “Traditionally, I would. But my distant grandmother married someone from the Diamond Clan. The other warden in the area actually. They’re said to have been buried somewhere in the east by the shore. Likely around Sunnyshore City, but no one’s sure. You probably read about them since they were wardens during the Red Sky Event. Palina from the Pearl Clan and Iscan from the Diamond Clan?”

“Oh, I am quite close,” Warden said with a jolt, finally coming back to Emmet’s side. “I am glad to hear Palina and Iscan ended up getting married. Bravo! That is wonderful! They were always such a nice pair. Great for each other. I will have to tell you more about them sometime.”

“I have,” Emmet said over top of Warden. “They sounded like good people from what I read.”

“They do,” Naomi hummed. “Well, you didn’t come all this way to talk to me. The graves for the Sneasler wardens are over there. The one you’re looking for should be more legible. Let me know if you have any question.”

“I will. Thank you.”

The moment Emmet stepped past the gate, Warden froze. Emmet continued in the direction he was pointed, Warden listlessly following behind.

“Are you okay?” Emmet asked quietly.

Warden’s voice was as distant as his expression, “This way.”

He floated ahead of Emmet, leading the way down the rows of graves. He eventually came to a stop near the end of the row, lowering to the ground next to a headstone. Emmet knelt too.

He couldn’t read the name on the stone. He could read the rest of the words, marking it as a grave for a warden of Sneasler, but not the name. His eyes seemed to just skip past the word.

Which could only mean one thing.

They had found it.

Warden’s body was just a few feet below them.

It almost didn’t feel real.

All Emmet had to do was to come back in a few hours once it got dark and dig. He should probably get a shovel. That wouldn’t look too suspicious, right? At least the fence didn’t look too hard to get over.

Wow, he really was planning to do something super illegal like it was nothing, wasn’t he?

“Emmet,” Warden cut in. He was barely audible, barely visible.

“Yes?”

He looked up, face full of fear. “There has been a change in schedule.”

“What do you mean?”

“You are going to have to dig.”

Warden vanished.

Everything clicked back into place, like it had never been gone at all. Emmet could read the name on the headstone, not that he would need to.

Ingo.

His brother’s, his twin brother’s, name was Ingo.

Emmet looked at the ground below him, Ingo’s words echoing in his ears.

You are going to have to dig.

Emmet sprung into action.

Excadrill and Durant were released in a flash, Crustle following a second later for good measure. They looked around, no doubt confused about where they were. Durant crawled over and tapped Emmet with his antenna in concern.

“We’re digging,” Emmet got out. “We’re digging. We have to- to get Ingo out.”

Chandelure released herself with a screech. That finally spurred the other three into motion. Emmet joined them the best he could. He couldn’t just sit here and do nothing.

The dirt was cold and hard under his nails. He kept bashing his fingers on stones. He didn’t care. He couldn’t afford to care. Ingo was under the ground and he had to get him out. He couldn’t lose him again. He couldn’t.

“INGO!” he shouted between too fast breaths as his vision blurred. He banged his fist on the ground a couple times for good measure. “Ingo! Please! Can you hear me? We’re going to get you out!”

Emmet and the Pokemon kept digging, Chandelure helping move the excess dirt out of the way. His hands were numb. His chest hurt. He was choking on his panic. His eyes burned. He had to-

“What the fuck?!” Naomi called from the distance. “SIR!”

Strong arms pulled Emmet out of the shallow hole. He thrashed against them to no avail.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Naomi said again. “Mismagius, Houndoom, stop the Pokemon!”

Emmet continued to fight as Naomi’s Pokemon released themselves.

“Chandelure!” Emmet called, voice cracking. “Archeops!”

He didn’t need to say anything else. Archeops released themself as his twin’s Pokemon sent a nasty looking Shadow Ball at Mismagius. Archeops hit Houndoom with a loud Rock Slide a moment later.

Naomi readjusted their arms around Emmet. It was all the wiggle room his adrenaline fueled self needed.

Later, once things had calmed down enough for more rational thought, Emmet would apologise. He wouldn’t regret his next actions, but he would apologise.

He broke free, then spun around and swung.

Emmet’s fist connected with Naomi’s face with a loud crack and a jolt up his arm that probably should have hurt a lot more than it did. Emmet just threw himself back into the hole and kept digging.

Naomi shouted in pain and something about the police. Emmet couldn’t hear them over the sound of more Pokeballs releasing. A loud roar and the sudden build up of static filled the air, soon followed by gears revving and another low rumble as the last of his and Ingo’s Pokemon released themselves to stand guard around the grave.

Emmet’s hands were completely numb, fingernails fully and painfully caked with dirt, when he heard an Officer Jenny start battling the Pokemon above him and call for backup. It didn’t matter. He was on a time limit. We had always been on a time limit, but even more so now.

Then, quiet and muffled, Emmet heard it.

“Emmet!”

“INGO!” he called back. “I am here! We are almost there!”

He heard a few Pokemon return to their balls. He didn’t have time.

The dirt shifted.

There was a grip on the back of his coat.

Emmet tore at the section that moved.

He was pulled back.

“Let go!” he yanked away, his coat slipping off.

A hand, just as scratched and caked with dirt as Emmet’s, burst free from the ground.

Everything was still for only a second.

“Ingo!” Emmet grabbed his brother’s hand tight. “Hold on! We’re almost there!”

“Emmet!” Ingo called back, voice a little clearer now. “Em- Mmmm!”

He heard Naomi and Office Jenny saying something to each other as Emmet worked the best he could with one hand. He wasn’t about to let go of Ingo’s hand now.

Excadrill and Durant, Crustle no longer fitting in the hole, worked more carefully now. It wasn’t long before an arm was free. Then a shoulder, a chest, and with a gasp for breath, a face.

“Ingo!” Emmet gently helped his coughing twin upright as his other arm was freed. He could barely see his brother through his tears. “Ingo, it’s you. We got you. We did it.”

Emmet cleaned the dirt off of Ingo the best he could as the Pokemon worked to get his legs free. Ingo tried to help with clumsy hands, despite still hacking up dirt.

He wiped Ingo’s face as clear as he could. He mostly just smeared the dirt and mud around, but enough of it was cleared from Ingo’s eyes for them to open.

“Em- Emmet,” he said with a final cough, tears in his eyes.

Ingo was here. Alive and well, if still dirty. But he was here, and Emmet remembered him.

A breathy and relieved laugh escaped him. Ingo laughed too, yanking him into a hug.

Emmet returned it in full force as their laughter quickly turned to sobs.

It took a long while for either of them to calm down enough to say anything. Of course, it was Ingo who got there first, even if it was mostly indiscernible mumbles.

“Mmmmiss you,” he choked out. “L’vvve you. Emmet.”

“Love you too,” Emmet managed to get out. “I love you too.”

Ingo pressed his face against Emmet impossibly further with a whine.

“What is it?” Emmet asked softly.

“Bri-ight,” Ingo mumbled. “T-too briii… Lllloud. Too- Too c- cold annnd sme-ell an’ touuuch. Hea- heavy. Too mmmuch, I’s too much. S’all too mu…”

“Do you want me to let go?” Emmet asked.

Ingo held on tighter with another whine. “N- no. Emmet.”

“I won’t. I promise.” He rubbed circles on Ingo’s back, happy to feel his brother relax a bit at the motion. “I am Emmet and I got you. I am here. You are here. It will be okay.”

And it would.

Emmet’s hands hurt like nothing he had felt before. He had barely managed to get his breathing sort of under control. He couldn’t tell if it was him, Ingo, or both of them trembling as his brother started to softly cry again.

But it would be okay.

Because Ingo was home, properly and fully home.

Chapter Text

Emmet wasn’t sure how long had passed before Ingo was finally able to pull himself away, moving his hands to hold Emmet’s forearms. The sun was starting to set and he could hear a couple of paramedics talking with Naomi at the very least.

“Hey, Ingo,” Emmet said softly. “Are you ready to get up?”

Ingo took a slow breath, scrubbed at his face. “Yeah… I think so.”

Emmet helped Ingo to his feet, both of them shaky, and turned towards the wall of the hole.

“Hello?” Emmet called up. “May we have some assistance?”

With some help from Chandelure and someone’s Alakazam, they were floated onto ground level again. Emmet couldn’t help but notice the sad smile Ingo gave towards the Alakazam.

Ingo leaned heavy on Emmet, starting to tremble. “Need to sit.”

“That is fine,” Emmet said, lowering them to do so. The remaining Pokemon returned to their Pokeballs after a quick hello to Ingo and a promise for further cuddles and treats later. Chandelure and Eelektross remained out, pressed to their trainers’ sides. “Are you doing alright? Systems operational?”

“More or less,” Ingo mumbled. “I am just tired. And sore. And everything is a lot heavier.”

“You are also verrrry dirty,” Emmet added with a smile.

“You are not much better,” Ingo laughed back.

“Hello,” one of the paramedics said as he crouched in front of them. He handed them a few damp cloths. “Here. I’ll let you two clean yourselves up the best you can before anything else. Did you want to come to the hospital with us?”

“I think that would be good,” Emmet said as Ingo nodded.

“Sounds good,” the paramedic said. “Are there any immediate concerns you two have?”

“Hands hurt,” the twins said simultaneously, holding out their hands.

“Can you move your fingers?” the paramedic asked.

Ingo wiggled his fingers with a wince. Emmet got his right hand to move, but hissed when his left remained pretty still.

“Not the left,” he said.

The paramedic gently took it and looked it over. “We’ll take a better look at the hospital, but there’s a good chance you may have broken something. Each of you likely have a couple sprained fingers as well.”

“Okay,” Emmet sighed. Elesa was going to kill him. “We will… We will let you know. When we’re ready to head out. Is Naomi still around? I want to apologise.”

“Sounds good. You’ll have to talk to Officer Jenny later, but she agreed to wait until you both are properly treated. I’ll send Naomi over now.” With that, the paramedic stood and walked off.

They had got themselves cleaned up a bit by the time Naomi sat in front of them. They held an ice pack over their bandaged nose.

“Heard you wanted to talk to me?” they asked, voice unsurprisingly stuffy.

“Yeah,” Emmet said. “Verrrry sorry for… for punching you. I… panicked.”

“You punched them?” Ingo cut in.

“I panicked,” Emmet repeated, feeling his face heat up.

“Elesa’s… going to kill you,” Ingo said with a tired chuckle.

“Hey, it’s fine,” Naomi laughed. “We both panicked and I can hardly fault you when there was a guy under there. Plus, you got a good swing. I think you almost broke my nose!”

Emmet was Tamato berry red. “Sorry! I think I broke my hand… from that.”

“Oof, hope that feels better soon. But like I said, don’t worry about it!” Naomi turned to Ingo. “Who are you anyway? If you don’t mind me asking. You look a lot like Warden Ingo.”

Ingo laughed a little. “That’s because I am Warden Ingo. I was… good friends with Warden Palina and Warden Iscan. Warden Palina… more so. I did help Warden Iscan with… with making Lord Basculegion snacks… on occasion.”

Naomi looked between them and the headstone a few times, mouth agape.

“Really?” they asked.

Ingo nodded.

“That’s- I-” Namoi stuttered. “Can I ask you million questions later?”

Ingo huffed a laugh. “Sure. Just… let me get settled first.”

“Of course, yeah, of course.” Naomi was practically vibrating with excitement. “Oh Arceus, this is amazing! Thank you! I’m sure you still have my contact information from earlier. I’ll talk to you later!”

Thankfully, Naomi had turned around before they could see Emmet and Ingo’s shared wince at Arceus’s name.

It took another couple minutes for them to get as much of the dirt and mud cleaned off them as they could. By that time, Emmet was thoroughly drained. Any leftover adrenaline had long since faded, leaving him shaky and cold.

“’met,” Ingo said, voice barely audible.

Emmet hummed back, unable to do much else.

“I think ’m gonna passss…” Ingo slumped and fell onto Emmet’s lap as he passed out.

Any panic that Emmet may have felt couldn’t get past the numbness that was crawling up his legs, up his arms. He felt himself list forwards, the edges of his vision darkening.

Oh, he was on riding the same rails.

“’scuse me…” Emmet tried to call. He wasn’t very loud, but the paramedic looked over at Chandelure and Eelektross’s calls. “’m gonnn…”

The last thing Emmet was aware off was the paramedic rushing over and himself collapsing on top of his brother.

-----

Emmet came to when he was being transferred to a hospital bed.

“Huh,” he got out. “Wha’s happenin’? Where’s Ingo?”

“You’re at Eterna City Hospital,” the paramedic from earlier explained, helping Emmet sit upright. “Ingo’s still asleep, but he’s just on the other side of that curtain. A doctor will be here soon once I let them know you’re awake. Alright?”

Emmet blinked at him a couple times, still waking up. “Yeah. My hand hurts.”

“I’ll let them know that too,” he said with a smile. “We got some splints on the fingers we were concerned about, so don’t touch them.”

Emmet lifted his hands to see that that was indeed the case. His left pointer and middle fingers had been bound together by a splint, as well as his pinky and ring fingers on his right. That would be fun to deal with later.

“Okay.” Emmet put down his hands and looked over at the curtain. “Can I see Ingo?”

The paramedic pulled the curtain back just far enough for Emmet to see his still sleeping brother.

“He’s safe and sound,” he said, closing the curtain again. “Now try to rest. The doctor will be here shortly.”

With that the paramedic left and Emmet was alone.

He got up and moved a chair to sit next to Ingo. He wasn’t leaving his brother’s side unless he had to.

Unfortunately, he did have to once the doctor arrived and wanted to get some x-rays of his hands. But that didn’t take too long and Ingo was still asleep by the time he returned.

Now, all he had to do was wait for Ingo to wake up.

Ingo snored lightly.

That would probably take a while. Likely for the best considering he was catching up on six months worth of missed sleep. And, boy, could his brother sleep.

It was nice to remember that.

In the meantime, Emmet managed to find a comfortable hold on his Xtrans after finding it in his pocket. Someone must have taken it off to treat his hands. Probably for the best since he wasn’t certain he would be able to do it himself.

He carefully poked at it with his left pinky to use it. Now that he could, we wanted to call Elesa.

Ignoring the pile of notifications still coming in from pretty much everyone he had ever met and had some sort of close-ish relationship with, Emmet hit the call button next to her name.

She picked up within a matter of seconds, excited face filling the screen with a loud, “Emmet! There you are! How are you? Is everything okay? I remembered Ingo! Does that mean you did it?”

Emmet gave a quiet laugh and pointed the camera up at his brother.

“Ingo!” Elesa said. Emmet could see she was in her office/dressing room at her gym now. “Oh, he’s sleeping. I’ll talk to him later then. Wait, where are you two?”

Emmet turned the camera back to himself. With a sigh, he held up his hand. “I did something stupid. Also, we want to make sure Ingo is okay after... what happened.”

Elesa squinted, taking a closer look at her screen. “Are you two in a hospital? What happened?”

“I, uh, punched someone,” Emmet said with an embarrassed laugh. “Might have broken my hand. We are waiting for the x-ray results.”

Elesa sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Are you in trouble?”

“No, no! They took it well. I apologized.” Emmet went to chew on a fingernail, only to hit his mouth with the metal splint. “Ow. They said I had a good swing too.”

“And why did you punch them?”

“I, uh, was panicking.”

Elesa’s lighthearted annoyance immediately switched to concern. “Why were you panicking?”

Emmet looked away.

“Are you okay?”

“I, um...” Emmet fought against the waver in his voice. “I had to dig.”

“Wasn’t that always the plan?” Elesa asked tentatively.

“Yup. It was. But-” Oh, Dragons, he had to tell her. “The plan- The plan changed. And-”

He didn’t want to say it. He didn’t even want to think it. But Elesa should know. She deserved to know.

“We- We got there. And he- And I- I had to-”

“Emmet, hey,” Elesa tried to help, “take a breath first.”

Emmet tried. He really did. Instead, the image of Ingo half buried, the feeling of dirt packed under his nails, the sound of his brother’s voice, muffled and faint, rushed forward.

“He- I-” He gasped for breath, tears falling and throat hurting. “I had to- to dig him out. He- he came back. But- but he- he- he was under the ground. What if-”

He felt his Xtrans slip. He didn’t know what to do with his hands. He moved them from his lower arms to his upper arms to his head to just shaking them. Every position felt off and caused his fingers to hurt more. All the while, worst case scenarios wouldn’t leave his head.

What if he wasn’t fast enough? What if his brother had suffocated under there? What if he had been dragged away and Ingo was ignored and left to die and it was all Emmet’s fault-

A sob tore his throat.

He was at his brother’s grave. His brother had died. Cold, completely alone, horribly injured. And Emmet had dug his brother up from his grave.

A warm arm wrapped around him.

“Emmet,” Ingo said, voice soft and kind and cutting through the buzzing in Emmet’s head, “I am here. Take a breath.”

He tried. It was more of a rough gasp, but he managed to get some air.

“That is good,” Ingo said, still so soft and kind. “Try again. I am right here. Just in and out.”

Emmet’s next breath was better, more level. The ones that followed kept the pattern.

Ingo was here. He was here and safe and alive and not a ghost.

Ingo was here.

Ingo was remembered.

With one last shaky breath, Emmet wiped his eyes.

“Better?” Ingo asked.

Emmet nodded, voice quiet when he said, “Yeah. A little.”

“Everything alright over there?” Elesa’s muffled voice said.

“We are back on track,” Ingo said, shifting around the blanket until he found Emmet’s Xtrans. “Would it be alright if we call you back? I assure you we are safe and any injuries are mild. We are just exhausted after everything that has happened.”

“Yeah,” Elesa said. “I think I got the gist of it. I’ll talk to you later. And get some rest!”

“We will. Talk to you later,” Ingo said as Emmet gave a small wave. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” Elesa said with a watery laugh and smile.

“Sorry,” Emmet mumbled once she hung up, “that I woke you up. With that.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ingo reassured. “If I think about, um, what happened too hard, I will no doubt be on the same tracks.”

Emmet hummed. Something else to worry about.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, hoping to change the subject.

“Still tired. And heavy. And it is still so bright and loud.” Ingo sighed, rubbing his face with the back of his free hand. His first two fingers were bound by a splint like Emmet’s. “I think it may take some time to get used to having a body again.”

Emmet leaned in the best he could. “Makes sense.”

Ingo gave him a little nudge. “Why don’t you just come onto my bed.”

“What about the doctors?” Emmet asked. “I am not sure they would like that.”

“Emmet, I could not care less about what the doctors think about that right now,” Ingo said. “I just want you close and comfortable.”

That was all it took to convince him to climb up. Emmet tucked himself against his brother. Something jabbed into his side.

“You are verrrry boney,” Emmet teased.

“You are not much better,” Ingo joked back.

Emmet shifted around a little, unable to get more comfortable. Not that he was expecting to be that much, squeezing two people onto a single hospital bed as they were, but he thought it’d be a little better than this.

Whatever was digging into Emmet’s side moved strangely, certainly not in the way a hip would normally move. Emmet looked down and moved Ingo’s coat out of the way.

“There’s Pokeballs here,” he said.

“What?”

Sure enough, there were six Pokeballs on Ingo’s belt, three on each side. They looked old and handmade.

“Oh,” Ingo breathed, gently grabbing one. “My team... They- They came with me. I hope they weren’t trapped in their Pokeballs all these years.”

“I didn’t say anything then,” Emmet said, watching as Ingo moved all the Pokeballs to the nearby table next to his hat, “because I didn’t want to upset you further. But I saw on that page about your life in Hisui that your Pokemon disappeared after... what happened.”

Ingo hummed, rubbing his thumb on the last ball in his hand. “Perhaps they were sent to this time when I was. Or better yet, when I got my body back.”

“That’s what I was thinking. I hope it was the later option.”

“I as well.” Ingo placed the Pokeball with the others. “As much as I would like to see them again, I believe it would be for the best to release them once we get a little more space.”

“I agr-”

Emmet was cut off by the telltale click and flash of a Pokemon releasing itself.

A Gliscor hovered next to the bed a moment later, frantically looking around.

“Or we can do it now,” Ingo mumbled with a laugh. Louder, he said, “Over here, Gliscor.”

Gliscor spun around and with a cry and flung himself at the bed. Ingo and, by proximity, Emmet were both covered by the Pokemon.

“I know. I know. I am sorry I scared you,” Ingo said softly at Gliscor’s chittering while lightly petting his head. “But it is okay now! We have returned to my home station and everything is fine. My brother and I have some minor injuries, but we are already at the healers for them. It’s alright now.”

With one more nuzzle, Gliscor looked over at Emmet.

“I am Emmet,” he said quietly, not wanting to startle him. “I am Ingo’s brother.”

Gliscor sniffed him a few times before lightly nipping at his beard.

“Hey,” Emmet laughed, trying to push Gliscor away. “That’s gross!”

Gliscor snickered and buried his face against Ingo again.

“Well, I suppose one Pokemon out is fine,” he sighed with a small smile.

“What other Pokemon do you have?” Emmet asked. Even if he couldn’t see them yet, he had to know.

Before Ingo could answer, Gliscor looked up with a glint in his eye.

“Don’t you- WAIT!” Ingo was interrupted as Gliscor gave a trill and several clicks and flashes happened.

The small room filled with Pokemon.

Emmet couldn’t keep track of them all. He was pressed between his brother, Gliscor, and a Machamp. He was pretty sure there was a Tangrowth starting to cover Ingo from the other side. He could barely make out a Probopass and maybe a Magnezone at the foot of the bed. Was that an Alakazam?

Emmet’s futile Pokemon investigation was abruptly cut short when Ingo’s laughs turned into distressed wheezing.

“W-wait,” he got out, voice wavering wildly. “St-stop. You nee- I got- Let me out. Get me out. Emmet!”

“Everyone off!” Emmet called, shoving away whatever Pokemon he could reach. “Back up! Clear the tracks!”

Once all the Pokemon backed up, Emmet only saw Ingo’s face for a moment, scared and already covered in tears, before his brother latched onto him. He wrapped his arms around him gently, not wanting to freak him out more. Ingo shook like a leaf in his arms as he gasped for breath.

Emmet supposed it his turn to be the calming one, even if wasn’t fully recovered from his own panic attack.

“I got you, Ingo,” he said, voice soft. “Just focus on breathing.”

Ingo’s breathing slowed, even if his shaking didn’t, as he kept mumbling Emmet’s name.

“I am here,” he whispered back. “It’s okay. I am here.”

Emmet heard the door open and then quickly shut.

“I’m sorry," someone, likely a doctor, said, "but you can’t have this many large Pokemon out of their Pokeballs."

“Verrrry sorry about that,” Emmet said, not letting go of Ingo. “It was an accident. Can everyone please return to their seats?”

After a couple minutes of reassuring Ingo’s Pokemon that Emmet would help Ingo, they all returned. Emmet had to promise to release Gliscor later, but the doctor said one Pokemon was fine.

By that time, Ingo had managed to let go of Emmet. He took a shaky breath and wiped his tearstained face with a mumbled, “Sorry.”

“If I didn’t get to be sorry, then neither do you,” Emmet said with a smile.

Ingo huffed a tired laugh. “If you say so.”

“If I may interrupt,” the doctor said, “can whoever’s bed this isn’t, please get off of it.”

Emmet climbed off the bed, fully planning on getting back on once the doctor left. He sat in the chair, holding Ingo’s hand the best he could. At least Ingo’s hand on this side didn’t have a splint.

The doctor explained what their plans with Ingo were. Due to the… location he was found in, they wanted to make sure there weren’t any serious issues to worry about. Like Emmet, they wanted to get some x-rays of his hands to make sure nothing was broken. Unlike Emmet, they also wanted an MRI scan.

Emmet immediately cut in saying that Ingo wouldn’t like the scan. If the Pokemon crowding for a few seconds was too much, being put in a small tube for at least a few minutes certainly would be. The doctor assured them that, if Ingo wanted to, he could take a sedative for it. Ingo quickly agreed once he was told what an MRI scan entailed.

That meant the doctor wanted to make sure Ingo could keep down solid food first. He said a small meal would be over in a bit and left the room. Emmet held off on climbing back on the bed this time.

As the doctor had said, the food was quick to arrive. It was just a couple of bland sandwiches, some applesauce, a pudding cup, and some juice. Emmet picked at it, only really eating it because he just noticed how hungry he was.

Ingo finished it all in seconds.

“Do you breath when you eat?” Emmet teased.

Ingo brightened, mouth full of the last of his pudding. “’s good.”

“It’s just hospital food,” Emmet laughed.

Ingo cleared his mouth. “It is also the first thing I have tasted in about six months.”

“Just wait until we get out of here.” Emmet passed his pudding to Ingo. He’d enjoy it more anyway. “We’ll get you some good Nimbasa pizza yet.”

“Oh, please,” Ingo said, opening the pudding cup.

Once all the food was gone and Ingo kept it down, he was given his sedative and sent off to get x-rays while they waited for it to kick in. Emmet stayed behind to get his hands treated. Apparently, he had, in fact, broken the left one. It was only a small hairline fracture, but it was broken nonetheless.

Once that was dealt with, Emmet met up with Ingo for his MRI. He was allowed to wait in the adjacent room in case Ingo panicked and if he kept out of the way. Which he could easily do.

The was little chance of Ingo panicking during the scan, the man already half asleep as he was being laid down. One of the doctors had to wake him up once it was over to get him into a wheelchair and back into is his bed.

Apparently, what they gave Ingo didn’t usually make people fully fall asleep. Ingo was just that tired.

Emmet was told that they would have the results in a few hours, the next day at the latest, and to just rest until then. If nothing was wrong and after they talked to the Officer Jenny that was at the scene, they could leave come morning.

With one more reminder that Emmet had his own bed and to not get into Ingo’s, the doctor left.

Ingo scootched over. Emmet climbed on the bed.

Ingo tucked himself against Emmet with an unintelligible mumble, head resting on Emmet’s chest. Emmet rested his head on Ingo’s and closed his eyes.

Not even a minute later, there was the sound of Pokeballs opening, followed by some clicking, chiming, and buzzing gurgles.

Emmet opened his eyes to be greeted by Gliscor, Chandelure, and Eelektross.

“Hello,” he said, feeling Ingo shift slightly. “Did you want to join? The doctor said only one Pokemon out. But they also said for me to not go on the bed and look at me.”

Gliscor crawled up and tried to tuck himself against Ingo’s chest. Ingo, surprisingly still awake, moved a clumsy hand over him with a mumbled, “Hi, ’scor.”

Eelektross curled up at their feet, nosing his head onto Emmet’s lap. Emmet did his best to give him a scratch.

Chandelure was thankfully content to hover above their heads, chiming a slow and cheerful song.

Emmet shifted a little, trying to get as comfortable as he could, and rested his head on Ingo’s again. He closed his eyes with a breath. Hospital beds were never comfortable, but this was nice.

“Hey, ’met,” Ingo mumbled, words barely able to be made out.

“Yeah?” Emmet mumbled back.

“I li’ this…” Ingo took a slow breath. “’eing able… to… t’do this agai’.”

“I like it too.”

“Th’nk you… F’r fin’in’ me… Br’vo.”

Emmet pressed against Ingo a little more, choked up and unable to say anything.

He had found Ingo, hadn’t he? He had really done it and now they were properly side by side again, Ingo fully remembered and part of the world.

“L’ve ’ou,” his brother hummed.

“Love you too,” Emmet hummed back.

It didn’t take long for them both to fall asleep, warm and safe with each other and their Pokemon once again.

Chapter Text

It had been a few days since being freed from his splints and Emmet was still riding the high of it. He’d been stuck in them for a month and he was thrilled to have full control over his fingers again. Honestly, he never realized how much he used his hands until now.

He wiggled his fingers again. It was nice that they didn’t hurt now too. He was told that he might have some joint pain, but that wasn’t all that new.

Enough being distracted, he had to tidy up before Elesa got here.

Emmet closed his laptop and got to moving all the papers to the kitchen table. He thought he’d be done with the coffee table full of paper, but nope. Apparently, there was a lot of paperwork involved in getting Ingo part of society again. Even if his existence had been covered up, things still expired over the course of five years. At least they didn’t have to deal with undoing a legally dead status. Emmet couldn’t even begin to imagine how much of a hassle that would be.

They had also started house hunting on top of all that. Between living in the past and the whole ghost stuff, Ingo tended to get overwhelmed more easily. He had also gained a rather nasty case of claustrophobia and could barely ride the elevator to their floor most days. Emmet couldn’t blame him for either thing.

Besides, getting out of the city, even just to the outskirts, would be great for the Pokemon. They had so many now. Which was delightful for everyone but the neighbors.

Emmet turned back to the living room only to find Ingo standing and staring at him in the doorway.

He jumped. “Dragons, Ingo. You scared me.”

Ingo’s eyes widened a bit. Softly, he said, “You remembered my name?”

Ah.

Emmet walked over and put a hand on Ingo’s shoulder. He gave it a squeeze, saying, “You are home.”

Ingo looked between Emmet and the hand on his shoulder a few times. He shook his head with a hard blink. “Yes. Sorry. I knew that.”

“It’s fine,” Emmet said. He patted his shoulder and walked past him. “It’s not like you haven’t reminded me of that a few times. But you have been a bit spacey today. Are you alright?”

“Just a bit tired,” Ingo said, following Emmet. “The Pokemon crowded a little too close last night, so I didn’t get to sleep until late.”

“You should have woken me up.” Emmet handed him the last of the papers.

“I am making it sound worse than it was.” Ingo took them back to the kitchen, calling back, “I wasn’t that anxious, but enough so to not be able to fall asleep right away. I or one of the Pokemon would have gotten you if needed.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Emmet asked when Ingo came back to the living room. “Elesa has a couple days off. We can push movie night to tomorrow.”

Ingo waved him off. “I am certain. Worse case, I fall asleep in the chair and you have to wake me up.”

“Worse case is you fall asleep in the chair and Chandelure drags you to bed,” Emmet laughed.

Ingo face brightened. “Hush you. Elesa’s going to be here soon and I want to have a shower before that. I think it will help with my spaciness.”

“You go do that.” Emmet shooed him off. “I’ll order dinner.”

Ingo laughed and headed into the bathroom. “Get Pinap berries.”

“Gross,” Emmet laughed back as the door shut.

By the time Elesa had arrived, Ingo was out of the shower and dinner had arrived. Ingo had already stolen a slice of his pizza, Emmet having ordered a separate one for him, when Elesa walked through the door.

“Hello!” she called. “Give me some pizza!”

“Elesa!” Ingo called back, getting up from the couch. “Hello!”

“Hi, Elesa,” Emmet said, going over too.

“You good for a hug?” Elesa asked quietly. At Ingo’s nod, they hugged. “Oh, I’m so happy I can hug you again!”

“You say this every time you hug Ingo,” Emmet teased.

“Because it’s true,” Elesa said back once they let go. “Or maybe you’re just jealous and want a hug too.”

“I do not want a hug,” Emmet said, feeling his face warm up.

“Your face says otherwise! Come here!”

Emmet couldn’t dodge Elesa’s pounce and subsequent hug. Not that he really been trying.

He gave her a quick hug back before saying, “I thought you wanted pizza.”

“I do.” Elesa gave him another squeeze. “But I also want to hug my friends.”

Suddenly, Ingo joined the hug.

“What are you doing?” Emmet asked, trying not to laugh.

“I want to hug my brother,” Ingo responded.

“Alright, alright!” Emmet managed to break free. “Everyone off me! It is not Cuddle Emmet time.”

“You can’t escape Cuddle Emmet time,” Elesa threatened.

“Can we eat dinner first?” he asked.

Elesa and Ingo exchanged a look. A look that Emmet, for one, didn’t care for.

“Yes...” Elesa said, like she wasn’t scheming.

“Dinner first,” Ingo finished.

Emmet was going to get sandwiched on the couch, wasn’t he?

Not ten minutes later, he was, in fact, sandwiched on the couch.

“I knew you two were going to do this,” Emmet said, Elesa pressed against his right and Ingo copying her on his left. “I would like that to be known.”

“And yet, you still sat down,” Ingo teased.

“Where else was I going to sit?”

“The chair was open,” Elesa chimed in. “But you chose the couch.”

“That I did,” Emmet sighed. He took a bite of pizza. “Start the movie before I change my mind.”

“What are we watching tonight?” Ingo asked, pressing closer to Emmet and taking his own bite of pizza.

Elesa did the same. “Some cheesy horror movie Emmet likes.”

“You two liked it when we watched it too,” Emmet protested with a yawn. Oh, he was more tired than he thought. “Plus, Ingo doesn’t remember it. He can watch it for-” Another yawn. “-for the first time again.”

“Now who’s going to fall asleep,” Ingo teased with a poke.

Emmet poked him back. “Hush you.”

“I’m hitting play,” Elesa cut in, doing that.

Despite, or perhaps due to, the movie being as goofy as he remembered and the other two laughing the whole time, once the food was gone, Emmet found himself nodding off. He tried to stay awake, not wanting to prove Ingo right, but soon enough he was relaxed against Ingo and had a hand loosely in Elesa’s.

“Emmet,” he heard Ingo say, “are you asleep?”

The only thing Emmet could do was give a short hum and nuzzle in closer.

“Elesa, I believe Emmet on the tracks to sleepytime junction.”

Elesa laughed lightly. Emmet felt her hold strengthen as she rubbed her thumb against the back of his hand. “Makes sense. I hear he’s been busy.”

“He has. I am not much help with the legal stuff.” Ingo had been helping where he could, but it was still mostly Emmet doing all that. “I may remember some stuff, but it is mostly about you and Emmet. As well as the Battle Subway and random train facts.”

“That is not surprising in the slightest,” Elesa laughed. “How’s house hunting going?”

“It is going well!” Ingo ran a hand through Emmet’s hair. That felt good. “We have a couple showings planned later this week. Hopefully one of them works out. I am hoping for the house just outside of the city. We will need to commute to work, but I think a train ride first thing in the morning sounds nice.”

“I wish you two luck with that. I’ll help you move. Just let me know the date.”

“Thank you for offering. We were going to ask you for help with driving the truck anyway.”

Emmet tried to mumble a thank you too. It didn’t really work.

“Has he been heading that too?” Elesa asked.

“He is,” Ingo sighed. “He has been working so hard for a while now. I’ve been meaning to make him take a break, but something always comes up.”

“Is that why we’re having movie night?”

“Part of it. I also wanted to share space with you again.”

“Either way, I’m glad he’s resting now.”

“Me as well.”

“Oh, I wanted to tell you…”

The later half of the movie ended up being ignored as Ingo and Elesa continued to talk and Emmet fell more and more asleep. There was still a lot to do, still a lot to heal from, still a lot to figure out, but that could wait one night more.

Emmet fell asleep more relaxed than he had been since the whole ghost thing started, warm and comfortable between his loved ones.