(“That Kirlia is nearby again…”)

  “They're just curious, Love”

  No matter how many times he sees it, Joshua has to admit that the Pokemon world is a beautiful, wonderful pce.

  There's a certain vitality in the air that excites him, a brimming well of positivity that just seems to linger in the air.

  Joshua often forgets that he can quite literally go on Pokemon adventures now, something that he's always wanted as a kid as he sat in his bed with his DS. Despite what it took to get here, what he lost, and his change in priorities as he got older… he's happy. Even if he might not be in Legends Arceus forever.

  He supposes it makes sense that the most positive impact of his life came from such a pce, even if not exactly at this time.

  (“Beloved, while I certainly do not mind your sweet words, your thinking is a little distracting”)

  Oh, right, they're flying right now.

  “Do you really need that much concentration? Figured it was more instinctual for you”

  Jophiel hums.

  (“It… is. But it is more about making sure to not tilt too far, or move in such a way that you will lose your grip”)

  That makes sense. He knows that Jophiel can fly quite fast despite her rather modest pace right now, he doubts it's because she wants to admire the scenery, so why is she keeping at this speed?

  Joshua knows she can go faster, she's done it before when Jubilife was attacked.

  (“Because I would not be able to forgive myself if I hurt you again, Joshua”)

  He was just about to open his mouth to say something about needing a saddle to mess with her a little, but that leaves his head as he's left stunned.

  Oh.

  This is about…

  “Joey… you know that wasn't your fault”

  (“It very much was”) She says, curtly.

  “You didn't do it on purpose, so no, it wasn't”

  (“It matters little if it was on purpose”)

  She looks over her withers to look at him.

  (“I still hurt you, Joshua. Whether it be through my ignorance or inexperience. As your partner, that is unacceptable…”)

  Her eyes soften before she looks back in front of her.

  (“I would rather die than make that same mistake again. So a little concentration is nothing in comparison”)

  “...”

  Joshua doesn't know what to say. With the link, he already knew about these feelings, but when it's brought up directly…

  Jophiel is very, VERY sensitive to using her psychic abilities on him. Their connection made it better, but she's still wary about using something other than basic telekinesis or Heal Pulse on him.

  But to know that Jophiel's drive to be better, her drive for control, is built on the foundation of fear… it doesn't sit right.

  Hopefully, much like his own baggage, she will learn to move on from it as time passes. But who knows when that will happen?

  God… the Nightmare World did a number on his entire team, didn't it?

  “Dying would be the biggest mistake you could make, Love”

  Jophiel chuffs slightly, a smile rolling up her muzzle.

  (“I will remember that”)

  …

  Brava Arena.

  There's a rge stretch of stone stairs that line the incline of the upwards slope of the structure.

  ‘Structure’ is a loose word here, it's more of a crater than something actually built by human hands. The insides are the same earthy red brown mud hens come to associate with the Crimson Mirends, while the outside perimeter is lined with trees.

  There's a group standing at the middle of the slope, Joshua goes to swoop down, but hears a grumble coming from his favorite mare as looks at the arena.

  "I can feel your Whiteness spiking up, don't let it take over! You know it isn't you!”

  (“Shush, no need to ruin my species’ reputation even further with that”)

  “Rex, it's not like people are taking it seriously…”

  He looks over at chat.

  “...right?”

  [...no?]

  [Kinda]

  [It was a joke?]

  [The case study isn't out yet]

  Joshua can feel the eyeroll coming from Jophiel.

  “Case study?”

  [StevenStoneOffical: There's a surprising amount of data on this]

  “On what?!”

  There's actual real scientists studying this?! It was just a joke!

  Jophiel chuckles.

  (“You did this, Beloved. Now sit and weep at the consequences of your actions”)

  ‘Do I get a reward for my scientific discovery?’

  (“You get me”)

  ‘Gooner alert~’

  (“One of these days you will regret making that joke”)

  He chuckles.

  ‘That's not ominous at all, am I in danger?’

  She pys along, tapping her muzzle with her hoof as she thinks.

  (“If you want to look at in that way”)

  Scary.

  Deciding to ignore the scientifical ramifications of racially profiling Horses, Joshua nds a distance away from the group and walks up.

  Warden Caba, Arezu, and some blue haired guy he doesn't remember the name of aside from the LOADS of fanart that was made of him.

  They see his approach, and Arezu is the first to recognize him.

  “Oh hey Joshua! Have you come to calm Lord Lilligant too?”

  “He's certainly quick…” Caba mumbles

  Says you, Caba. How did you even get here before him?

  “Hey. Yeah, figured I'd get it done today, I have some other things to do after this”

  “Wait. Joshua… you are the man who calmed Lord Kleavor, correct?” The blue haired man asks.

  “He recently helped me calm Lord Ursaluna as well. I just didn't expect he would be here so early” Caba states.

  The blue haired man walks up, a toothy smile on his face and csps Joshua's hand, shocking the man.

  “Well met my friend! My name is Adaman, Leader of the Diamond Cn”

  Joshua quickly recovers and smiles back.

  Leader? Oh, right! That's who he was! He was supposed to meet him earlier, but things didn't go exactly as they did in the game.

  “Nice to meet you. I'm Joshua. This is my partner, Jophiel”

  Adaman turns his gaze to the Pokemon beside Joshua, eyes twinkling, the Diamond Cn Leader takes a step towards Jophiel.

  “Wow… I've heard reports, but you are one beautiful Pokemon, aren't you?”

  Jophiel's neutral expression doesn't change, her polite smile never leaving even at the compliment.

  Joshua has to stifle a ugh at her complete disinterest in the man.

  “I have to ask, I've never seen a Rapidash of this type before… may I ask where you got her?”

  The two Wardens seem interested as well.

  “I'm afraid that she may be one of a kind. I found her and Uriel, my Zebstrika, in… a far away pce, something about it made them evolve a bit differently I guess”

  The Wardens and Adaman look at each other, clear interest in their gazes.

  “Outside of Hisui?”

  …how does he even phrase this?

  “Think of the furthest away pce you know. Now imagine a pce much further, that's where they're from”

  [Understatement of the year]

  “Fascinating…”

  Arezu pipes up, she's been whispering things with Caba this whole time but it doesn't seem like anything suspicious.

  “Are you open to breeding?”

  “Sorry, I'm a taken man”

  “...”

  It goes dead quiet.

  It takes but a moment for Joshua to realize that he misunderstood the question.

  Oh fuck.

  [LMAO]

  [Smooth]

  [LOOOOOOOOL]

  [BUDDY COME ON]

  [IonoZone: aaaaaand clipped]

  [HAHAHAHAHAHAGHQA]

  [I<3Gible: I'll have to remember that one! LOL]

  [StevenStoneOffical: Joshua…]

  He is really gd he's wearing his helmet right now.

  Jophiel's unrestrained ughter rings in his mind, he can see her shaking beside him, trying her best to control herself.

  Adaman is trying not to ugh, and failing. He's completely turned away, shoulders shaking as Joshua can practically see him desperately trying to lock in. But with the hand covering his mouth, he's not doing a good job.

  Caba has an amused smile, fanning herself as she fights a light blush on her face. She's like ninety years old, he can only imagine what things she's witnessed to have such a tame reaction.

  Arezu is catatonic. Her face burning as red as her hair, her fingers twitch as she stares wide-eyed at him.

  “T-Thats… That's n-not what I meant!” She chokes out.

  “Might as well follow through with it, girl” Caba not-so-subtly whispers to her.

  Arezu snaps her gaze to the old woman.

  “T-The Pokemo- THE POKEMON, CALABA!”

  “Yes yes, I understand”

  “I DON'T THINK YOU DO”

  Adaman takes the time to walk over to Joshua, holding a rge sack to his side. He's still struggling to hold his ughter, but he hands it over without issue.

  “I talked to that Professor, Laventon. He told me that you may need these”

  Opening the bag, Joshua is met with a rge amount of Marsh Balms. He already has the ones he made on his own, but this is a nice gesture.

  “Thank you, Leader Adaman”

  He cocks his hip and waves him off with a nonchant roll of his wrist.

  “Ah, none of that. Just Adaman. Calming the Frenzied Lords is more than enough to consider me a friend, Joshua! Good luck to you”

  He pats Joshua on the back.

  Looking at the two bickering women, Joshua decides to just head to Lilligant.

  He has a job to do.

  Walking up the slope, he quickly finds himself on a pteau. A dense fog obscures his vision, ruins of structures long lost stand like skeletons in the groggy earth.

  The wind begins to SHIFT.

  A whirlwind, a small tornado sweeps over the arena like a torrent, all spiraling around a single point. In the game, this was just a cool visual. But in real life, this is a…

  Dispy of power.

  The fog rapidly clears, and the wind begins to die down. A golden figure steps effortlessly through the storm. One step, then another. An elegance that seems natural if not for the madness behind its pale white eyes.

  It begins to dance, and the wind follows. Each step measured and precise, yet primal in its execution, instinctual.

  As the song reaches its climax…

  His UI updates.

  >LADY OF THE RIDGE - LILLIGANT<

  Joshua releases a breath.

  “Alright… let's do this”

  …

  [POV: AKARI]

  “Are you sure this is safe?” Warden Arezu asks.

  “Whether it is safe or not is unimportant, what's important is that it works” Warden Caba responds.

  “I have faith, let us just see how he does”

  Akari watches, and… boy, does it never get old.

  Seeing Joshua’s darkly cdded figure roll and dodge attacks that would send even the Wardens running.

  He runs, dodges, jumps. All while pelting small bags against Lilligant that seem to cover her in balm, just like before.

  The Wardens and Adaman (oh Sinnoh the Diamond Cn Leader is here) watch in disbelief as Joshua near effortlessly avoids Lord Lilligant’s attacks. Like he's done so before.

  Akari takes small amounts of satisfaction in seeing their confusion, and equal parts relief in seeing that she isn't crazy and that Joshua is just… something different.

  See? This is what she's been dealing with every day!

  Balm after balm, Lilligant is pelted with several dozen bags of Marsh. Joshua is breathing hard, but his movements don't suffer in speed.

  “It's… working?” Arezu excims.

  “Wow… it really was true”

  “I'm just gd he didn't throw this one…” Caba mutters, making everyone turn to look at her.

  She doesn't eborate.

  Akari completely understands.

  “He's getting tired…”

  “He will be fine” Akari states. Arezu looks at her in worry, but at Akari’s confidence she turns back to the ‘battle’ with a hardened gaze.

  And she was proven correct, as minutes ter and several dozen Marsh Balms ter, Lord Lilligant begins to slow. The battle wasn't as intense as with Lord Kleavor, but with the sheer amount of rge area attacks she wonders how this pce is still standing.

  Eventually, Lord Lilligant falls to her knees, her colors returning to normal.

  As she Wardens gasp and whisper in excitement, Akari prays that he doesn't do that thing he did with Lord Kleavor and Ursaluna (even if she didn't see the tter).

  (Spoiler: He absolutely did)

  Joshua takes out a small rectangur object, and her heart sinks.

  He wraps his arm around Lord Lilligant’s shoulders and lifts the object up, smiling brightly with his now removed helmet.

  …why is Lord Lilligant making a heart with her arms?

  *click*

  (A/N: Alright I need some serious ideas on a new team member. I'm thinking a Lucario to bance the types a little but I can be convinced otherwise)