Chapter Text
Light.
That was the first thing Cass sensed as she was roused into consciousness; soft, golden light hitting her closed eyelids. She opened them, squinting, to see a brightly glowing figure floating before her.
Oh. This again.
Arceus’s form was much clearer than it was in her last dream with the deity; Cass attributed this to her travels with it. It gazed down at her with that familiar, all-knowing gaze as Cass floated gently towards it.
My child, it spoke, its voice transmitting directly into Cass’s mind. I have a new mission for thee.
Cass sighed. “Again?”
Yes. Arceus nodded at Cass, and visions of modern day Sinnoh, her home, flashed in front of her eyes. Thou art needed in the present day once more.
“Well, wait,” Cass interrupted. “Why? Can I at least say goodbye first? I don’t just want to be thrown through the rift again–”
Arceus raised a foreleg to silence Cass, and she fell quiet. I shall giveth thee one week to settle thy affairs in Hisui. At sunset on the last day, make thy way to the Temple of Sinnoh. I shall then return thee to the present time.
Cass sighed, folding her arms over her chest. “...why’s it always me?”
Arceus blinked. Clarify?
“Any time the world needs rescuing, it’s always me who does it,” Cass continued. “First with Galactic, then with Volo…” She trailed off, memories of her battle with the merchant resurfacing, and held back the tears that welled behind her eyes. “And now there’s some third crisis?”
Thou art strong, Arceus explained. And thou art more than capable of handling any challenge posed to thee.
Cass shook her head. “But I’m not the only strong Trainer in Sinnoh. There’s gotta be someone else who can do it.”
Arceus stared at Cass for a moment, seemingly thinking of what to say. It is not a matter of can, per se, it responded. It is a matter of will. Thou art chosen for these tasks because of thy character; thou cannot abide by misfortune and refuse to stand idly by when people are in need. That is why I continue to call upon thee.
Cass fell silent, not meeting Arceus’s gaze. It was right, of course; she knew that. She couldn’t have become Champion without a deep love for the region, and even though she’d become jaded with the title over the years, that love had never faltered.
If she could have prevented catastrophe and didn’t, she’d never be able to live with herself.
“...okay,” she finally said. “A week.”
One week.
“What about my Pokemon? Can I take them with me?”
Arceus contemplated for a moment, then nodded. Thou may take one. I do not wish to create a disturbance in spacetime any more than has already been done.
“Can I at least bring Ingo back with me?” Cass asked, looking up at Arceus. “It seems unfair to just leave him here.”
Arceus nodded. If Ingo wishes to return to the modern day, then I shall return him with thee. But it is his decision.
“Okay.” Cass nodded, closing her eyes. “I’ll do my best.”
As Cass faded back into sleep, she heard Arceus speak to her one more time.
That is all I can ask of thee.
Ingo returned his Gliscor, nodding across the field at Cass and Umbreon. “A fine battle as always, Miss Cassandra,” he stated as Cass crossed the field to speak with him. “It is an honor to do battle with you.”
“Aww, thanks!” Cass replied, placing a hand behind her neck and blushing. “It’s nice to battle with you, too. You really know what you’re doing.”
“You flatter me.” Ingo adjusted his hat, then met Cass’s gaze. “But to business. You said you had something you wanted to speak to me about?”
Cass nodded. “So. I’m sure by now you’ve heard that I’m leaving in a week.”
Ingo nodded in return. It had been the talk of the village all morning; Cass had informed Kamado of her dream as soon as she woke up. “Indeed I have.”
“Well,” Cass continued, petting Umbreon under his chin, “I asked Arceus if I could take you back with me.”
Ingo blinked in surprise. “You did?” he asked, his coat suddenly weighing heavier on his shoulders. “To what end?”
Cass stood fully to face Ingo. “Well, it seemed unfair to me that I’d get the chance to go back and you wouldn’t. You’re just as much from the future as I am, after all.”
“And…what did Arceus say?” Ingo asked, placing his hands behind his back.
“It said to ask you,” Cass answered. “If you want to go back, Arceus will send you back with me. It’s your decision, though.”
Ingo fell silent, his mouth hanging open slightly as he processed Cass’s words. He gazed up at the sky; it was a cloudless day, and a few Starly flew over the village, chirping quietly. A soft breeze made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, and he unconsciously pulled his coat tighter around his arms.
“Arceus has presented me with a difficult decision,” he finally said, closing his eyes. “Whether to remain on this track or to drive the journey elsewhere…There are benefits and consequences to each.”
Cass nodded. “Take your time.”
Ingo took a deep breath, then opened his eyes and looked back at Cass. “I think I will stay here,” he said simply. “Even if I were to return, there is no guarantee that my memory would come back with me. And while my heart often longs for a home I do not know, I would rather remain in the one that I do; to continue to make new memories rather than pine for lost ones.”
Cass nodded in understanding. “Okay. If you do end up changing your mind, you can come with me to the Temple of Sinnoh in a week.”
She glanced down at Umbreon, who’d settled down at her feet. “I’ll find out who you were before you came here,” she continued. “I’ll make sure people know what happened. And that you’re fine. I promise.”
Ingo smiled, nodding at her.
“Thank you.”
The sun was beginning its descent through the sky as Cass made her way up the steps to the Temple of Sinnoh, Umbreon trotting beside her as she did. Visions of her battle with Volo filled her mind as she passed the familiar scenery, but she shoved them away; no sense in getting caught up in those feelings now. Once she reached the top of the steps, she turned around with a melancholy smile. “Well. Here we are.”
A few steps behind her, Rei and Akari nodded at her, though neither surveyor could hide the sadness in their eyes. Behind the pair, Cyllene and Laventon stood ready to see her off, and Kamado brought up the rear.
“You sure you’ll be okay?” Akari asked, taking a cautious step forward.
“C’mon, Akari, it’s Cass,” Rei replied, elbowing his friend. “She’ll be fine.”
“You say that like you’re not also worried about her,” Akari shot back.
Rei blushed. “What? No way!”
Cass laughed. “I’ll be just fine, you two. The future’s a lot safer than the Hisui we’re in.”
Cyllene cleared her throat, immediately drawing the trio’s attention. “Cassandra,” she stated simply. “It goes without saying that, should you ever find yourself back in this time, you will always have a home with the Galaxy Team. We will sorely miss you.”
Cass smiled. “Thanks, Captain. I’ll miss you all too.”
Laventon wiped a tear out of the corner of his eye. “To think that so soon after I found you on the beach, I’d be seeing you off like this…I can scarcely believe it.”
“Oh, don’t start crying, Professor,” Cass said. “If you do, Akari will start too, and there’ll be no stopping the waterworks.”
“Hey!” Akari exclaimed, a single tear running down her cheek. “I’m not the only one crying! Rei’s crying too!”
“Am not!” Rei lied, frantically wiping his tears from his face.
Kamado took a few steps forward, stopping the conversation in its tracks. “Cassandra,” he stated. “Your contributions to the Survey Corps and the Galaxy Team as a whole have been utterly invaluable. You have saved us from disaster time and time again, and there is nothing I can say that even comes close to the thanks you deserve.”
Cass nodded gratefully, smiling at the commander. “Thank you, Commander. You’ll see to my request, right?”
“Indeed.” Kamado pulled the box Cass had given him out from his coat. “This will be passed down to all my descendants, as you instructed. It will make its way into the hands of the one you intend it to. I promise this.”
“Good. Thank you; I really appreciate it.” Cass cast a glance towards the peak, then turned back to the small party. “Well…guess it’s time.”
The wind was nearly knocked out of her when Rei and Akari ran forward and hugged her. Cass laughed in surprise, embracing the two teenagers back. A flash from Laventon’s camera made her blink, and by the time she opened her eyes again, Laventon had joined the embrace. Cyllene and Kamado both kept their distance, but Cass briefly thought she saw a flicker of a smile on both of their faces.
“Thanks, you guys,” Cass said, pulling back. “I’ll really miss all of you.”
“We’ll miss you too, my girl,” Laventon replied, wiping a tear from his cheek. “Give whatever’s going on in the future what for!”
With one final, tearful goodbye, Cass returned Umbreon to its Pokeball and finally turned away, entering the ruins of the temple proper. A chill ran down her spine as she took out the Azure Flute and began to play, the eerie tones of the instrument echoing against the stone.
As she concluded the melody, a bright, warm light enveloped her…
…and the next thing she knew, she was sitting upright in her bed.
Cass looked around; aside from a coating of dust, her little villa hadn’t changed much since she was last there. She sighed and stretched, sliding out of her bed, before releasing Umbreon from its ball. The Pokemon curiously sniffed at Cass’s furniture, sneezing as it inhaled a bit of dust.
A beep from the Arc Phone caught Cass’s attention. She pulled out the device to see a message on its screen.
Mend the tears.