No. Uriel did not actually eat Togepi.

  They sit in a field, a few minutes outside of Jubilife and around a small campfire.

  Joshua has to admit. That was a little mean.

  Volo might be the most basic “betrayal” character he's ever seen, but his Togepi was innocent. There's no need to be needlessly cruel, he shouldn't be that kind of person.

  Still, the look on his face was… priceless.

  Messing with Volo was fun, but he shouldn't bring his Pokemon into it.

  So it's a little guilty pleasure for now.

  [StevenStoneOffical: Okay one thing at a time. First, I'm gd that you are okay. Second, please repeat what you just said.]

  “I'm in Hisui, which is ancient Sinnoh”

  There's a LONG pause at that.

  [StevenStoneOffical: And Uriel's evolution?]

  “Electric/Dragon typing”

  [StevenStoneOffical: …and the Vaporeon?]

  “That's… Ace, she was turned into a Pokemon by Arceus”

  “Heyo~” She waves.

  [...Arceus can do that?]

  [Where's Gabriel?]

  Ace seems to wither a little, slouching.

  “She's uh… she's gone”

  [Oh]

  [I'm so sorry!]

  “You want me to take over?”

  She nods.

  “Alright, we can do a little Q&A, then we can head to the first Noble Pokemon- I JUST remembered their name, wow”

  Joshua sits down, leaning against Jophiel as she nuzzles the base of his neck from behind.

  (“Don't worry about it”)

  Well okay then.

  [Before all the researchers and Cynthia blow up the chat, can you expin where you are exactly?]

  “I'm in Hisui, I don't know the year but pokeballs were just invented and I'm a few minutes away from Jubilife Vilge. Which in modern day is Jubilife City I think”

  He realizes that he's been saying “Jubilife” wrong this entire time. It's Ju-bi-life, not Ju-ba-life.

  [I<3Gible: Joshua]

  [I<3Gible: I am being 100% serious right now]

  [I<3Gible: If you write down everything about this pce, things you know or see, and you give it to me]

  [I<3Gible: I will literally fund all your expenses in Sinnoh]

  [I<3Gible: Please]

  Oh, right. Isn't Cynthia a history nut?

  “I'll see if I can find a journal somewhere, sure”

  [I<3Gible: THANK YOU. Also what was that about my grandpa?]

  “That was Volo. It wasn't confirmed, but I'm pretty sure you're reted to him”

  And one other person here, actually.

  [I<3Gible: …I need to check my family tree, I will be back]

  “Hm” He just nods.

  “Now I gotta question for YOU, Joshy-boy”

  Ace's voice cuts out, she's been watching the chat too.

  He instantly becomes wary.

  At his gaze, her smirk becomes wider. Taking a breath, she opens her mouth.

  “Did you know that in terms of-”

  She's IMMEDIATELY put back into her ball.

  [What was that about?]

  “Nothing at all, ignore her. Every time she opens her mouth, she sins”

  Uriel looks confused, but Jophiel just continues softly rubbing against him, not reacting to the conversation.

  “You're awfully touchy today”

  That seems to snap her out of it. She opens her mouth for a moment, before she shakes her head clear. The tips of her ears grow red.

  (“Apologies…”)

  “I don't mind, but ever since you evolved you've been a lot more affectionate. Should I be worried?”

  She ponders for a moment.

  (“My evolution made me… more, I suppose. A wholeness, like growing into clothes. My mind has… adjusted, along with it. I get impulses to be close to you, much more than when I was a Ponyta”)

  He can feel them too. The strings of thoughts that tell her to snuggle up to him or get close. Nothing malicious or unnatural, it's just stronger.

  The affection and love behind them are definitely not fake, which was the main thing he was concerned about.

  “Must be a Fairy type thing”

  [Joshua, I have to ask. Are you in a… retionship with Jophiel?]

  He pauses. Jophiel freezes at the same time.

  [Oh boy]

  [HERE WE GO]

  [Is it bad that I'm gd somebody asked it?]

  [Kantonians getting ready to ruin the chat]

  “Uh… can someone expin more about that kind of thing, first? Before I answer. Like what’s the general thoughts about it?”

  It takes a moment, but eventually his boy comes around.

  [StevenStoneOffical: Generally, it is an “out of sight out of mind” kind of dynamic. Everyone is aware it exists, and it's mostly seen as okay, but it's not something that gets brought up because it turns into a huge argument]

  [As in, the old farts in Kanto hate that kind of stuff]

  [Less taboo and more awkward]

  [It's like talking about someone's lovelife. It's not uncommon but overall just uncomfortable for everyone involved to talk about]

  [Yeah basically what upstairs says]

  …huh.

  Joshua collects his thoughts before speaking.

  “I don't really… know? Don't get me wrong, we're close. I love her, and she loves me, and we can both FEEL that. With the link it’s kinda… impossible for us to be closer? It's hard to expin, but with the link we quite literally learn EVERYTHING about each other. Memories, thoughts, feelings, even the primal animal brain stuff. Hell, I can feel myself ying on her right now, because SHE feel the pressure on her fur, therefore I can ‘feel’ it too”

  He takes a long breath after that longer than expected expnation.

  “At that point, adding a title to our retionship would be pointless, y’know? How do you even cssify that? Neither of us care about it so… I guess technically I'm in a retionship?”

  (“Technically correct, yes”)

  If you want to be extremely technical, they could count as the same person if you squint your eyes. The line where Joshua ends and Jophiel begins (and vice versa) is rather blurred, but they are two distinct entities.

  [That is certainly…]

  [Wow]

  [Kinda beautiful actually]

  [AWWWWWWWW]

  [Wait, so you can share each other's senses?!]

  [Is this common for psychic types?]

  [Absolutely not]

  [Yeah it would be hard to sp a name on a retionship like that…]

  The chat, as expected, is mostly awkward like he was warned it will become.

  There's a few that are skeptical or downright disapproving, but that's a small minority among the general reaction of “huh, neat”.

  [What's it like?]

  “It's like the mental equivalent of not realizing how touched-starved you are and suddenly getting a hug. I genuinely cannot imagine going back without it”

  (“I am in agreement”)

  [...is it bad I'm kinda jealous?]

  [No]

  [Yes]

  [Do links really do that much? I know it's super rare but… thats kinda cool!]

  [No, I’ve done it once on a fluke with my Espeon, all I could do was talk to him]

  [Is that healthy?]

  [SabrinaOfficial: Normally I'd advise against it. But in Joshua's case it should be fine]

  [TulipOfficial: Agreed. I had a simir thought]

  [Care to fill in the civvies in chat?]

  [SabrinaOfficial: Josh is really good at not dying]

  [TulipOfficial: Again. Agreed]

  [Well alright then]

  [I'm sorry if this is too much, but does that mean the two of you have…]

  [Dude, too much…]

  [Tell me you aren't curious!]

  [Regardless, it's rude to ask about something like that]

  [StevenStoneOffical: You don't have to answer that, Joshua.]

  Still odd seeing twitch chat actually having empathy and tact. Pokeworld culture is insane.

  “No, we haven't”

  (“But it is not like we are avoiding it either”)

  No he is not.

  He looks at the time.

  “Alright, let's get moving” He goes to push himself up.

  Next stop, dealing with Kleavor.

  “WAIT!”

  He pauses at a voice calling out to him.

  Lab coat, dark skin, weird beanie hat- oh hey it's Laventon. He smiles as he approaches.

  “It's good to see you didn't wander too far, my friend from… the… sky…”

  He trails off as he stares wide eyed at the two rge and VERY dangerous Pokemon.

  “Don't worry, Professor. These two are with me”

  [Who is this guy?]

  [Laventon, Hisui Pokemon Professor]

  His eyes gnce over to him for a moment. Joshua can tell the man is scared, but maybe his professionalism is keeping him from losing his nerve.

  “Um… well you certainly have quite the team, Joshua! But I can't say I recognize these two…”

  “They're not from Hisui. One of a kind, these two. No point adding them to the Pokedex”

  “Well they certainly look… fierce”

  Joshua raises an eyebrow and looks up at Jophiel, who's taken to just resting her chin on top of Joshua's head.

  “...my White Horse theory still has weight? Even here?” He murmurs.

  [Lol]

  [He can't escape it lmao]

  [Has the actual study for that been completed yet?]

  [Looking it up now…]

  Jophiel rolls her eyes.

  “Well. It does hold as proof that you have a talent with Pokemon! Tell me, what do you pn to do today?”

  Professor Laventon takes it in stride, quickly returning to his usual cheerfulness, but he's curiously eyeing the two mares with fascination.

  “Have you heard about the Noble Pokemon going mad? I'm going to calm them down before things get out of hand”

  After all, he doesn't want ten foot tall roided super-pokemon to ruin literally everyone's day.

  He looks surprised.

  “You've caught word of that? Captain Cyllene just got sent messages from the Wardens of the Diamond and Pearl cn that their Noble Pokemon are going seriously crazy! You know how to calm them down?”

  “It's going to take a minute but yeah, I do”

  It was Laventon’s idea after all.

  “That's amazing! Do you mind expining? I'm sure this will help… ease the tension between you and Captain Cyllene…”

  Oh boy… Joshua sighs, unnecessary drama is so annoying.

  “Professor, there's only as much tension as she allows it. I already said I have no ill will towards the Captain, and if she wants to talk it out, I've been very clear that I'm open to it”

  Just talk to him as a person, that's it, don't treat him like a criminal. They don't even have to be friends, just communicate like an adult and put this behind them. But she has to be willing to open conversation.

  Professor Laventon looks like he just ate a lemon, but he does nod in agreement.

  “I will… rey that. For what it's worth, I apologize for how you were treated…”

  With that, Joshua finally stands up.

  “You don't have to apologize. So, what's up?”

  The Professor blinks for a moment before finally remembering something.

  “Ah! That's right! I saw your Pokemon battle the other day, fantastic job Joshua!”

  “Thank you”

  I'm so fucking sorry Togepi.

  “But I was wondering… as a favor, do you think you could allow my assistant to accompany you? She has trouble with her Pokemon, and I think she could learn a lot from someone already quite skilled with them!”

  He looks embarrassed at asking that. But his sparkling gaze of excitement makes Joshua's immediate hesitation wither.

  “...can't say I'll be good at teaching her, but I don't mind giving it a shot”

  “Great! I will go get her! You stay right here!”

  He runs off.

  Joshua silently brings his hand to his cross, which he can feel beneath his suit.

  Laventon completely forgot about the Noble Pokemon thing, didn't he?

  “Lord. Thank you for another day. Amen”

  …

  “Um. Hello”

  A short, young girl stands in front of him. Wearing the Survey Corps uniform of cold blue and white garbs, along with a red scarf and white headdress.

  She has bck hair and bck eyes.

  Joshua remembers her.

  “This is Akari! She's been my assistant for a few months now! She will be accompanying you, if you don't mind, of course”

  Professor Laventon gestures to her like he's presenting an art piece, arms exaggerating spread out as the girl sheepishly looks to the side and blushes.

  Joshua just stares, then moves over to the Professor.

  “Huh? What?”

  “Just walk with me for a bit”

  Joshua leads them a few feet away, where he speaks in the man's ear. Akari just looks confused, but she's distracted by the two Pokemon nearby.

  “Laventon. How old is she?”

  “She just turned fifteen, why?”

  Joshua takes a long, LONG breath.

  “Professor. I am a twenty one year old man”

  “Oh! You are older than I thought! I know I must not look it, but I'm on the cusp of turning thirty two!”

  “That's not -well first off happy early birthday- but that's not what I mean, isn't this a little…?”

  Laventon is genuinely confused, raising an eyebrow at him.

  “I'm afraid I'm not following, my friend”

  How?!

  Joshua spells it out.

  “You are leaving a fifteen year old girl, alone, with a twenty one year old GROWN MAN that you JUST met, is this not raising any fgs for you?”

  Laventon chuckles.

  “Joshua, if you mean I should be suspicious of you, then I would have to disappoint you”

  He fshes a grin and winks, even throwing a thumbs up.

  “I know you are not the kind of man who would betray my trust. It's as simple as that”

  “...”

  Joshua can only stare, shocked.

  [Yeah I'm not following]

  [Is this a cultural thing again?]

  [Why wouldn't he trust Joshua?]

  [Dr. Ambers: I'm afraid I'm as lost as anyone else, unfortunately]

  [???]

  Everyone is just as confused.

  Joshua is routinely baffled at the level of cultural trust among the pokefolk.

  Good people.

  Except Beni.

  (“Beloved. Just let it go”)

  Never.