Archive of Our Own ^beta

1.

He fell.

Or perhaps it was more fair to say he was thrown.

He’d been holding on to Akari as tightly as he could with a single hand and he never thought he would regret saving his precious hat until his arm was whipped behind his back and he didn’t have the strength to pull it forward against the wind.

Akari had been holding on to him with both hands, her nails digging into the soft skin of his wrist.

And then the Warden’s Band, the only piece he had of his beloved Lady Sneasler, snapped off and took the child in his care with it.

And Ingo was flung into darkness.

2.

He didn’t know where he was.

It was dark. There were occasional lights in the strange cave he was in. There were also lines of metal laid on the ground a uniform length apart. Once, a large thing had passed by him with a truly deafening sound, following the metal lines. It had frightened him badly, but he also decided he liked the metal lines and their huge loud beast quite a bit. Something about them filled him with excitement.

He could see light ahead, moving through the tunnel in a way that was more similar to a lantern than the lights on the metal beast before. And though Ingo could see well in the dark, light would be most welcome after the amount of time he had spent in this unfamiliar cave.

He rubbed his sluggishly bleeding wrist. He hoped Akari was okay. He fretted over losing his passenger and, somewhat guiltily, mourned the fact that he did not have her promised guidance.

It was unpleasant to rely on a child, even a gifted one like Akari. But he was quite anxious that the only person who knew anything about the place he came from was gone. And that was only assuming this was in fact the correct place; the dark and lonely tunnel did not exactly fill Ingo with confidence,

He approached the light. Or perhaps the light approached him.

“Trespasser, you are in a restricted area. Please allow me to escort you back to the station. Failure to comply will be met with force.” A voice called around the curve.

“I ended up down here quite by accident, I assure you!” Ingo called back.

The man with the lantern came around the corner at speed.

“Ingo! Ingo!”

Ingo braced for the impact and only rocked back a step or two when the man ran into him hard.

And then his long arms were around Ingo and some muscle memory had Ingo’s arms around him in turn and never in his entire time in Hisui had he ever felt like he belonged in a place more than he belonged in this one.

“Ingo, Ingo, Ingo.” The man chanted in his ear, squeezing hard enough to make Ingo’s ribs creak.

Ingo tried to open his mouth, to answer the man or at least tell him the unfortunate truth that he didn’t know who he was, but Ingo’s face was tucked into sturdy white fabric. The scent of it was in his nose and his throat spasmed and choked with tears.

This was right. This was where he belonged. Home, home, home.

The hands stopped clutching him long enough to land on his shoulders and force him back. The lantern was on the ground, but since it seemed not to have any fire somehow, Ingo did not let it draw his attention for long. He had more pressing matters to attend to.

“Ingo! Where have you been? What happened?” The man asked urgently.

Ah. Like that.

Ingo reached up to put his hands on top of the ones clutching his shoulders, determined that he did not want to lose contact when he delivered his news.

“I am sorry, but I have lost much of my memory.” He said and the other jerked in his hold.

“What?”

“Please don’t leave! I know you are familiar, I know it, please.” Ingo said, clutching at the hands. Long, uncalloused fingers dug into his shoulder.

“I am Emmet.” The man said. “And I am not going anywhere without you.”

3.

Emmet was his twin brother.

A brother! A family!

That was the good news.

The bad news was that Ingo had been missed and missed badly. All the years he had been gone, his poor dear brother had experienced too, never knowing what befell his twin and fearing the worst, year after year.

Emmet’s grip on his hand was tight, nearly as tight as Akari’s had been, falling through….wherever they had been. Perhaps Emmet was just as scared of losing Ingo as Akari had been.

Which did bring up a concern.

“Emmet?” Ingo asked and Emmet’s already bruisingly tight grip tightened still.

“I am Emmet.” His brother said in response and if his voice still sounded choked with tears, well, Ingo could hardly judge him with his face as wet as it was.

“You said you came to find me down here because of a sensor?” Ingo said, only really having a vague notion of what a sensor was.

“Yup! They are there to alert if something like a Pokémon is on the tracks. Safety first!”

“I made my return to this station with a young passenger, but our cars became uncoupled. I am worried she is lost in these tunnels as well.”

“There were no other sensors triggered, but I will put the Depot Agents on alert. Can you give me a description?” Emmet asked, his voice much more professional. Ingo wondered if lost passengers were common.

“She is a young girl, nearly shoulder height to me. She was last wearing a Survey Corps uniform. Her hair is black and she was wearing it in a tail with a white kerchief to hold it off her face. She answers to Akari.” Ingo said.

“What is a Survey Corps uniform?” Emmet asked.

“Oh of course. It is a blue kimono top and trousers with a red scarf.”

“I will make sure we are looking for her. And you will tell me what the Survey Corps are.” Ingo wished he could see his brother’s face but between the light and the angle, it was hard.

“Of course, I’ll tell you anything you ask!” Ingo affirmed. “And perhaps…I understand it might be difficult, but you could tell me—“

“Ingo.” Emmet said. “There is no need…of course I’ll tell you anything. Everything! You can rely on me.”

“I don’t want to burden you. I know these are not ideal conditions.” Ingo said.

“I am Emmet. I do not care. You are back and you are safe. We can navigate anything else together. We are a two car train.”

Ingo’s breath hitched.

“Ingo?” Emmet asked and came to a stop. The lantern swung in one hand and the other stayed clasped around Ingo’s own.

“I’m home.” Ingo said, nearly sobbing again. “I’m home.”

Emmet’s arms were around him again and it was good and right.

“I’m sorry.” Ingo said, overcome with emotion and his brother—his brother!—laughed, low and warm.

“None of that. Everything will be okay. You’re home! That is all that matters.”

4.

“There is someone you should greet.” Emmet said.

They were in their home–Ingo’s home, not a sad little tent in the highlands, not Lady Sneasler’s den, not the Pearl Settlement, his home–and Ingo was walking around, marveling at the various items everywhere that tickled the edge of his recognition.

Emmet was holding a pokeball in his hands, though it was a sleek modern thing compared to the pokeballs Ingo had become accustomed to using.

He thought mournfully of the team he left in the past. Lady Irida had promised to look after Gliscor, who was the only one who did not wish to be released upon hearing his chosen partner was switching tracks. Ingo hoped he was happy. Had been happy, seeing as the Pearl Clan and his Pokemon were all surely long dead by now. What an unpleasant destination for his thoughts.

“I hope…you recalled me somewhat, especially when our cars were reconnected. You have a Pokemon partner who has missed you terribly as well. She will be fine if you cannot remember her, but I hope you will.” Emmet said haltingly, his smile flattening for a second.

“Of course, I am eager to see her.” Ingo said, turning attentively.

“Chandelure, full speed ahead!” Emmet tossed the pokeball and the Pokemon emerged in a flash of white light.

Ingo knew it was a ghost immediately by its presence alone. He could not say for certain how he knew, only that he did and his intuition had saved his life too many times to discount it.

He would’ve liked to look at it more, but the moment the Pokemon fully materialized, it was on Ingo with a piercing, ghostly shriek.

“Chandelure, stop! That is not safe driving!” Emmet shouted and the Pokemon came to a halt inches from Ingo’s chest, looking at him with the same frantic desperation Emmet had greeted him with in the tunnels.

“Chandelure.” Ingo said and Chandelure made a noise not dissimilar to the screech of the metal beast that Emmet had identified as a train. “Yes, I remember you. The partner I recalled that wielded flames with mastery…”

Ingo’s hands came up to cup the smooth glass of his Pokemon’s body and Chandelure pressed into his hands urgently, making noises like a frantic wind chime.

“Chandelure, Ingo has become uncoupled from his memories.” Emmet said, voice gentle. “We need to proceed with caution. Can we count on your conducting?”

Chandelure chimed in agreement, looking up at Ingo adoringly.

“Thank you, Chandelure.” Ingo said.

“We will have your cab in proper repair in no time, Ingo.” Emmet said. “Do not worry, I will handle everything.”

5.

Emmet made no secret of the fact that he did not want Ingo out of sight.

“We were adults when we moved in here and our home is not equipped with safety measures in the bathroom.” Emmet said, smiling brightly. “I do not want you to scald yourself! I will come and help you.”

Ingo’s frown deepened, his eyebrows pulling in and Emmet’s hands tightened on his shoulders, a reassuring bit of pressure. “Additionally, I want you to be properly clean. You stink and you can’t be comfortable being so dirty. And I am not ready to let you out of sight. Please allow me to assist you on these tracks.”

“I’m not an invalid. I can bathe myself.” Ingo said. “But….I am not inclined to disconnect my car from yours just yet either.”

“Then it’s settled.” Emmet said.

Years of communal hot springs use in the Pearl Clan settlement had eroded much of Ingo’s sense of modesty, but he found himself trying not to stare at his brother. It was like a mirror through time. A body nearly identical to his, but unscarred and lean–too lean, if Ingo was honest. The only remarkable difference Ingo could pick out was the smile that sat so naturally on his brother’s face.

If Emmet suffered from any feelings of modesty, Ingo could not tell.

“Come here. These two knobs control the water. In newer buildings, they would be one control, to prevent someone from running all hot by accident. This is a safety feature! But this building is older. The left hand knob is for hot and the right for cold. You must turn them both on and then adjust the temperature. Do not only turn the hot on.” Emmet said patiently.

Emmet turned the knobs and water began flowing from an strangely shaped spigot above their heads. Ingo startled, before looking up in awe.

“I knew there was something like this! I was so sure of it, but everyone thought me addled!” Ingo exclaimed and Emmet laughed.

“Sit down. I will wash your hair.” He said, pushing Ingo to sit on the little stool slightly out of the way of the stream of water.

“I can wash myself.” Ingo said again.

“I want to help you. I am not convinced you remember what shampoo is and your hair looks bad.” Emmet said candidly and Ingo felt himself blushing before sitting down.

Emmet dropped a bottle into Ingo’s lap.

“That is the shampoo. It is for washing hair only.” he said from behind him and then his hands were in Ingo’s hair.

Ingo tensed, his shoulders coming up and Emmet’s hands paused. “Ingo? What is wrong?”

“Ah, nothing.” Ingo tried to say.

“Stop that. Just tell me.” Emmet said, a hint of irritation in his voice.

“It is only….In the Pearl Clan, space was sacred and sharing space with someone else was meaningful, only done with the closest companions.” Ingo said and Emmet’s hands resumed their work.

“I understand. But you are my closest companion. If you are uncomfortable, you must say so but otherwise, I will assume you are content. Please speak up if these tracks are unsuitable.” Emmet said with a hum.

“No, I am just. Ill-accustomed to it.” Ingo said in starts and stops.

“I am Emmet. I understand. Close your eyes now, please.” Ingo closed his eyes and a stream of hot water rinsed the suds from his hair. “Is the temperature alright?”

“It is wonderful. And we will not have to replace the water ourselves? I do not want to burden you.” Ingo said and the hand Emmet kept on his shoulder had him shifting on the little shower stool until Emmet drummed his fingers on his collarbone in a pattern that had him untensing before he even realized it.

“Stop saying that. You are not a burden. We do not have to replace the water, but I would replace it happily if it meant you being clean and comfortable.” Emmet said sharply. “Do not worry about burdening me, please.”

“If you’re sure.” Ingo said hesitantly.

“Quite.” Emmet said and then reached around Ingo to hand him a washcloth. “Here, scrub at your front. I will assist with your back.”

“I can wash myself.” Ingo insisted for what felt like the 20th time.

“Washing your own back is difficult and I am here. Conduct your own train and leave me to mine.” Emmet said and matched words to deeds as he began to methodically scrub, other hand staying in its place on Ingo’s shoulder.

“Do I not need soap at least?” Ingo asked and Emmet paused.

“I already put soap on the washcloth. It’s clear.”

“Ah, it’s a liquid?” Ingo said, seeing the thick gel now that he was looking for it.

“Yes.” Emmet turned and placed his own washcloth on the shelf before reaching around Ingo again. His hands cupped Ingo’s and encouraged him to scrub the cloth against itself. “You lather it like this. We have used this brand of soap for many years, but if the smell bothers you, we can find something new. I am Emmet. I am picky about smells. I will accommodate you if you have a similar issue.”

Ingo felt his face heating up, recalling his own insistence he could wash himself and here he was, not even able to identify soap.

“Soap in Hisui was a solid bar, not a liquid.” He said, trying not to sound defensive.

“Yes, we have that here as well. We can get some. It’s no trouble.” Emmet said, pulling back to continue scrubbing.

Ingo could not deny that someone washing his back felt nice. He had occasionally seen families at the hot springs helping each other in such ways, but Ingo had neither family or close friends willing to intrude on his space like that. In comparison to the scouring Emmet was giving his back, his own scrubbing at his front was much more perfunctory.

“Stand up, please.” Emmet said and Ingo rose and then wavered slightly, the heat making his head rush. The hand on his shoulder tightened and the one with the washcloth braced his ribs. “Ingo!”

“I’m fine. I felt lightheaded for a moment. The tracks are clear now.” He said, face flushing with embarrassment. Emmet read the red on his face as a sign of further illness.

“Do not bend over, it might make you pass out.” Emmet said. “You said the water was not too hot!”

“It feels very nice.” Ingo defended himself and then yelped when Emmet’s washcloth scrubbed at his butt. “I can clean myself!”

“Stop fussing, you almost passed out!” Emmet said and Ingo whirled on him to try and shield his backside from further unwanted cleaning.

“I can wash my own ass!” He said at top volume and Emmet’s customary smile broke into full fledged laughter that had him leaning against the shower wall.

After a moment Ingo was struck by the scene as well and the two of them were laughing loudly and Ingo’s heart was full to bursting for what felt like the first time in his life.

“I am Emmet. I am the one fussing, because I want Ingo’s car to be in good repair.” He said after they’d calmed down. “You can see to yourself but please, sit down if you feel faint.”

Ingo eyed his brother for a moment, noting again the differences between the two of them as Emmet began to wash his own hair, peering at Ingo sideways as he did.

“Do you need help, Ingo?” Emmet asked when Ingo did not immediately set to his own task.

“No, just lost my train of thought.” Ingo said. As he began to wash the rest of his body, he couldn’t help but take in the smell of the soap at last, having not had the mental capacity to think on it before.

There was no need for any track changes, despite Emmet’s offer. It was perfect.

6.

True to his word, in the weeks and months that followed, Emmet handled everything.

Ingo might’ve felt bad, if it wasn’t obvious how badly his brother wanted to help him.

Through doctor’s appointments, meetings with police and press alike, and even reintroductions to old friends and coworkers, Emmet took the lead in all things and conducted the two of them through admirably.

“Perhaps I am remembering wrong, but I seem to recall you not caring for speaking to strangers so much.” Ingo said over lunch, after Emmet had thanked their server briskly.

“You remember correctly. Ingo used to look out for me and handle most things. I had to learn while you were gone.” Emmet said easily and Ingo flushed with shame.

“I am sorry.” Ingo said and Emmet made a rude noise.

“Do not apologize to me. It was not your fault. And I am happy to have learned, if it can make your way easier now. There is no rush for you to take up your old role. You do not have to take it up at all! Any of it. As long as you’re happy and home and safe, I am content.”

“You truly don’t resent it? I know I am different now than I was.” Ingo asked and Emmet made deliberate eye contact.

“I thought you were dead.” he said seriously. “I did not want to think you were dead, but I knew you would not have left our station on purpose without a word and my big brother is a strong capable man. It was unthinkable that you would not return if you were able. So you were unable. This is a good outcome. You are home and you are not dead and you are not even horrifically injured. Everything else, we can deal with together.”

“I do not like to think of myself as a burden to you.” Ingo said.

“I was a burden to you for many years.” Emmet said with a smile.

“I am sure that is not–”

“Yes, it is. I am not saying you thought of me as such. I know you were happy. But it is okay that it is my turn to take on the larger share. When you are more comfortable, you can take over if you want to. Or you can continue to let me handle things! Or we can split the responsibilities evenly. We will ride these tracks together.” Emmet said, still smiling.

“As long as you’re sure.” Ingo said. “I am moving with speed towards my destination.”

“There is no need for haste. Everything is fine.” Emmet said. Ingo made an unhappy noise. “Ingo, listen to me. There is no need for you to rush. Complete your safety checks. If you want to rejoin me on the Battle Subway, I will welcome you back with open arms. But if you don’t, that is okay. Don’t rush through your recertification on my account.”

“How can you say that when you have had the Battle Subway closed since my departure? You clearly need me in order to run it. It is a shameful dereliction of duty for me not to return to my position.” Ingo said.

“That is not true. I did not run the Battle Subway because I was grieving you. You are here now. If you want to return to Gear Station, I will wait for you. If you do not, then I am capable of running it alone. I can hire a new Subway Boss for the Multi- and Single-Battle trains. You are not being forced to do anything.” Emmet said.

“I am not.” Ingo agreed. “Because I want to return.”

“Then you will. I look forward to it.” Emmet said. “But before then, I have a surprise.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. I was waiting, but now seems like a good time. You have been working very hard! And so have I. We are taking a break and going on vacation.” Emmet said.

“Is that a wise idea?” Ingo asked, even as he perked up.

“I do not care. I am Emmet. I can take my brother on vacation if I want to.” Emmet said. “You will like it. We’re going to Galar to see the steam locomotives. We will challenge their Battle Facility as well. They have verrry strong trainers there.”

“Bravo! What a splendid idea!” Ingo said and then hunched his shoulders when other restaurant patrons turned their eyes to him. He was far from inconspicuous even in his beloved Nimbasa City, but at least people were too mannered to approach them in public.

“I’m glad you’re excited.” Emmet said, paying no mind to anyone else. “Stop hunching, you will irritate your back.”

“I am excited. And grateful. Thank you, Emmet. I don’t know what I would do without you.” Ingo said and Emmet’s smile was sharp.

“Yes, you do. You would have back problems.” And then they laughed and all was right with the world.

7.

His return to Gear Station and the Battle Subway was met with much fanfare. Even after all these months, his minor celebrity status continued to fluster Ingo, which in turn made Emmet laugh at him and take over.

“I am Emmet. I did many interviews while Ingo was missing, yup. They suck!” Emmet said. They were hiding in their shared office before the first Multi-Battle Train was set to depart. Ingo was wary of the crowds and reporters lurking outside and he didn’t think he was imagining that Emmet was equally eager to get away for a moment.

“Language!” he said.

“Suck is not a curse word!” Emmet said and Ingo squawked.

“It is not befitting someone in a public facing position either!” Ingo said.

“I have said many things I shouldn’t have if that is the metric.” Emmet said breezily. “Some on region wide broadcasts, yup.”

“Emmet! What would possess you to do such a thing?” Ingo asked, aghast.

“Being excused of your murder was one notable one. I am sure those people are feeling verrrry stupid now.” Emmet said.

“What?” Ingo bellowed and Emmet’s grin was tight.

“Yes, before we open the Multi-Battle Lines, I thought you should know. Some people might reference such suspicions. They are obviously untrue.” Emmet said.

“What a horrible thing to accuse you of! As if you are even capable of such a thing!” Ingo said.

“I suppose I am capable in a technical sense.” Emmet said. “If I wanted to kill Ingo, it would be easy because he trusts me verrrrry much. But since I do not, it was…hm, distressing!”

“Anyone would be distressed by such accusations. If anyone brings it up, I will put a stop to it immediately.” Ingo said.

“It will be fine. I just did not want for you to hear about it for the first time in public.” Emmet said.

“That was thoughtful of you, thank you. Further proof that you would never commit such an act.” Ingo said.

“Of course not. No one who matters believed it for a second, Ingo. There is no need for you to get angry on my behalf, especially when I am so excited to win together with Ingo again.”

There was a sharp double rap on the office door.

“I believe that is our cue.” Ingo said and Emmet nodded, smile wide and genuine.

“Indeed. It’s time to depart together.”

Ingo knew what was next and it felt so right, he thought he’d probably have known even without Emmet’s patient instruction over the past weeks. So when they flung the door open and settled into their signature stances, it was like another homecoming, the latest in a long line of many.

“All Aboooard!”

8.

To say the reopened Battle Subway was popular would be an understatement, but Ingo had never felt so alive. He saw trainer after trainer, Pokemon after Pokemon. He battled to his heart’s content and then battled more, with his brother at his side and his Pokemon following his commands nearly before he could speak them. It was everything Ingo had been missing, everything he had dreamed of.

He could spend the rest of his life doing just this. He hoped he would.

As they slowed to let the most recent duo off–disembarking at Nacrene City, Ingo noted idly–Ingo crossed to the heal station to top off his team before the next battle.

“I am Emmet. I am surprised they made it this far. They were not a well matched pair.” Emmet said.

“Perhaps the next will be better. There are still several hours left.” Ingo said.

“I am Emmet. I hope you are right. It is not fun when poorly trained Pokemon manage to reach us. The Depot Agents must be out of practice.” Emmet said.

“We are all still picking up steam, Emmet. We will be back on track soon enough. Battling together with you is still my preferred route.” Ingo said.

The loudspeaker in the cabin played a tone that indicated the next pair of trainers were ready to face the Subway Bosses. Ingo straightened his coat and got into position, Emmet like a mirror at his side and they signaled the doors to open.

The challenger that stepped through first was familiar–familiar in a world where nothing was familiar–but wrong.

It was Akari, the young girl he’d helped in Hisui, the same one that was supposed to be accompanying him back to their station.

But changed. She was entire inches taller, though she still was shorter than him. Her face was narrower. Her hair was down out of the ponytail he’d always seen it in before, her bangs sideswept instead of tucked beneath a bandanna.

But it must be her. His memory from before Hisui was full of holes at best, but Hisui itself was clear in his mind.

“Miss Akari?” he said to his brother’s surprise.

9.

There was no battle in the twenty-first car.

Despite the best attempts of her friend and Ingo, Akari was entirely inconsolable, clinging to Ingo’s lapels and sobbing like the child she was no longer.

No more than six months had passed by Ingo’s reckoning, but gone was the preteen whose hand he’d held on their way into the abyss. She was suddenly a woman grown and his brother was giving him very interesting looks over the top of her head.

“I am Emmet. I am Ingo’s brother. I am also a Subway Boss. But I don’t think we’re going to be doing any battling here today.” Emmet said

The young man who’d arrived with Akari scratched at the back of his neck sheepishly.

“We did try to just ask to speak with you, but your employees said no.” He said.

“Many people are trying to speak with Ingo right now, yup. Our Depot Agents are doing their jobs. But we are at work. There are other challengers. I cannot run the Multi-Battle Train alone.” Emmet said and unspoken between them was the obvious ‘and I wouldn’t even if I could’.

“But we can hardly leave a passenger in such distress, Emmet. Especially not one so dear to me.” Ingo said and Emmet’s smile had a sharp edge to it.

“Yes. Ingo said Akari. I have heard about Akari, who was with Ingo when he was away. But Akari was a child. This is a young woman. It is verrrrrry interesting.”

The girl in question tried to say something but her intended meaning was muffled by her own sobs and Ingo’s lapels to the point of incomprehension.

“Dawn has been back from the past for like, eight years.” The blond boy offered suddenly and then found himself back under Emmet’s piercing gaze.

“Dawn is Akari?” Emmet asked.

“Yeah. She said she realized she was in the past and didn’t want to, you know, mess up the timeline. So she used a fake name. She said you had amnesia though. So your name was probably real. We’ve been looking for you.” Barry said, pointing rudely at Ingo as he spoke.

“‘We’ my ass.” Akari said, finally pulling back a little.

“Language, Miss Akari!” Ingo said reflexively and Emmet laughed at him.

“Ingo was just the same in the past!” He said, delighted. “But we still have a problem. The stop is approaching and we have not battled. I am Emmet. I don’t think we are going to battle. This is disappointing. I like winning more than anything else.”

Akari made a noise like a deflating balloon. “He said the thing!”

“Yes, he did.” Ingo said, looking at his brother fondly, before looking back down. Akari was nothing more than a head of blue-black hair against his chest. “I feel as though we all have much to talk about and, as Emmet has pointed out, little time to do so. I am still, technically speaking, being recertified. That means I will defer to you, Emmet! Do you have anything to add?”

“One moment.” Emmet said and pulled out a walkie talkie. “Subway Boss Emmet to Gear Station, over.”

“Gear Station receiving, over.” The device buzzed back promptly.

“We have two passengers on the Multi-Battle Line that we would like escorted to….hmm, our office! Or the breakroom. Disembarking in approximately 40 seconds. Over.”

“That’s an unusual request, sir, over.” The Depot Agent at the controls sounded amused.

“Please make them comfortable until the Multi-Battle Line reaches its final destination of the day. And perhaps there will be an explanation later. Over.” Emmet said, watching as Akari finally pulled back from Ingo and began wiping at her face.

“Excellent idea, Emmet! Bravo! Miss Akari, I hope you and your friend will wait for us until we return to the station.”

“Yeah, of course. Will it be very long?” Akari asked, staring up at him and for all she was a young woman, all Ingo could see was that same young girl.

“The schedule has arriving back at precisely 1700 tonight.” Ingo said.

“That is three hours from now.” Emmet supplied helpfully.

Akari sniffled and the train pulled to a stop right on time. A Depot Agent waited at the door with a friendly, curious smile.

“Escort for two passengers, sirs!”

“Thank you, Agent. Please see to their comfort.” Emmet said.

“We will see you soon, Miss Akari. Thank you for your patience.” Ingo said.

She waved goodbye as the doors closed and he spotted his Warden’s Band at her wrist.

The train was back in motion then and Emmet’s eyes slid to Ingo.

“What a strange encounter, Ingo. I have many questions.” Emmet said.

“As do I, Emmet. I had been assuming Akari simply was home with her family, but now I wonder if I should not have looked harder for her.”

“You wouldn’t have succeeded anyways. Her name is Dawn. And if I’m not mistaken, she’s Sinnoh’s former Champion. I like to recognize other strong trainers. But there was no way to know that was who Ingo was looking for.”

“Yes and there’s also the fact that I was looking for a young teen, not an adult woman.” Ingo said wryly.

“It is verrrrry lucky she was able to pull herself off of you before the train came to a stop. Imagine the rumors if everyone saw a pretty girl crying on you.”

“How vile, when I think of her as a child.” Ingo said and Emmet's grin grew wider.

“Ah but she is in fact an appropriate age now. If Ingo wanted to date, she would be an acceptable choice.” Emmet said, still grinning.

“You’re horrible.” Ingo said and Emmet laughed outright.

10.

The Battle Subway shrieked back into Gear Station at exactly 1700, as promised. Even after all these months, the clockwork of the schedule was a comfort to Ingo. He was glad to leave the perpetual anxiety of not being on time in the past, both figuratively and literally.

Gear Station and the normal subway lines were open 24/7, but Emmet was still insistent that Ingo ease himself back into his full duties, so for now the Battle Subway closed just before sundown. Normally, this would give Ingo and Emmet plenty of time to eat and wind down for the day, seeing to themselves and their Pokemon before returning to Gear Station shortly after the morning commuter rush to battle again the next day.

Today was not quite normal.

“Ingo, you’re back!” Akari–or Dawn, as the case may be–greeted them as soon as they stepped onto the platform. Her hands were fisted anxiously in the hem of her jacket.

“Yes, we’ve returned on schedule.” Ingo said, feeling somewhat anxious himself. Ingo did not look at his brother, but he felt his impatience at his side regardless.

In addition to Dawn, there was the other young man she had departed the Multi-Battle Train with, as well as the same curious Depot Agent that Emmet had tasked with looking after them.

“Hello. I am Subway Boss Emmet. The fellow over to the side is also a Subway Boss, Ingo. But I think you know that. We should talk. Follow me.” Emmet said briskly. He began walking towards their office before coming to a stop abruptly.

“Is something wrong?” Ingo asked, having come to an instinctive stop when Emmet did, but feeling rather wrong footed by it.

“I am Emmet. I was going to take them to our office, but I wonder if this is the best place for this conversation.” Emmet said.

“Shall we go home instead?” Ingo asked. “We could get takeout.”

Dawn sobbed a little and hid her face in embarrassment when everyone looked at her.

“You know what takeout is.” she said, voice watery.

“I think that is an excellent idea, Ingo. Let us depart immediately.” Emmet said, as he passed increasingly urgent looks between Ingo and Akari. Ingo tried to communicate with his eyes that he also did not know how to handle crying outside of his role as a Subway Boss as they ascended the stairs to the street.

“Wow, you guys are garbage at this.” The young man tagging along said bluntly and Dawn’s hand whipped out to smack him. “Hey!”

“I’m sorry.” Dawn sobbed, wiping at her face ineffectually. “Ignore Barry, I’m being weird.”

“Barry. Another former Sinnoh Champion?” Emmet asked.

“Hey, you’ve heard of me!” Barry exclaimed.

“I like to stay informed of strong trainers. Perhaps you can share your thoughts on the Battle Subway.” Emmet said. “Hold on a moment, please.”

Emmet ducked inside a small shop and emerged shortly with two large pizzas. Ingo thought of his own disastrous reintroduction to the Nimbasan specialty with some amusement.

“Pizza?” Barry asked and Emmet’s grin widened.

“Tourists always love pizza, yup! And it is fast and easy to pick up.”

“Though not terribly nutritious.” Ingo added.

“We have a salad kit in the fridge.” Emmet supplied easily. “Let us depart for our home station at once.”

Ingo was grateful not for the first time that their condo was within easy walking distance of Gear Station. As awkward as the near silent walk was, having to ride the train home with this anxious group would’ve been entire magnitudes more miserable.

As it was, Emmet played host while Ingo and Akari—no, Dawn—tried not to be too obvious about staring at one another.

“Now that we’re all settled, perhaps someone could explain what is going on?” Emmet asked impatiently.

Barry looked at Dawn and she set down her half finished plate.

“I don’t know!” She said, piteous and empathic at once, “I….the last time I saw you, Ingo, was eight years ago. I lost my grip on you and you weren’t at home with me when I came out!”

“Likewise, when I landed back here, I could not find you either.” Ingo said.

“Ingo was verrrrrry concerned, yup. He reappeared in the subway tunnels and we had the Depot Agents comb the whole system looking for Ingo’s lost passenger. That was roughly six months ago though. Not eight years.” Emmet said.

“Only six months? Is that why you look…not old?” Dawn said, wincing and Barry laughed at her.

“You do not look the same as I recall either, Miss Akari. Ah, excuse me. Miss Dawn.” Ingo said.

“Akari is fine.” She said, looking at him with big eyes.

“No, I will adjust. It was well thought of you to give a false name.” Ingo said.

“I am Emmet and I am confused.” Emmet said abruptly, looking up from where he’d been fiddling with his Xtrans.

“It appears our home stations were not as aligned as we had thought—“ Ingo started to explain and Emmet cut him off with a raised hand.

“Not about that. Dawn has been back for eight years. Dawn was the Sinnoh Champion when Ingo went missing. I reached out to the Sinnoh League for help, since Ingo and I were Battle Facility Heads. Champion Dawn should’ve been told about Ingo. She could have told me where Ingo was. But she did not. She is surprised to see him here. It is confusing. It doesn’t make sense.” Emmet said.

“If I had known, I’d have contacted you right away!” Dawn exclaimed. “I don’t understand, if you talked to the League then someone should have told me. I could’ve at least told you what happened.”

“We weren’t really Champions, is what happened.” Barry said with a sour look on his face.

“Yes, I was.” Dawn glared at her friend. “If you want to see my win streak, I’ll pull it up right now.”

“That’s not what I meant. We both became Champion as kids, technically. We didn’t do any of the admin stuff, just the battling. Cynthia was Acting Champion for both of us. I’m pretty sure she’s still Acting Champion for that new kid right now.”

“What are you saying, Barry?” Dawn asked quietly.

“I’m saying if Cynthia didn’t want some League news to reach us, it wouldn’t.”

“Cynthia knows about Ingo. She’s my friend.” Dawn said stubbornly.

Ingo traded a meaningful look with his brother. “Emmet and I will see if we can find out where this break in our lines originated.”

“Okay.” Dawn said and sniffled.”Sorry, I’m just…so happy to see you. And you look good!”

“Yes, a shower will do that. And migraine medication. And physical therapy.” Emmet said wryly.

“For your back?” Dawn said eagerly. “You aren’t all hunched over anymore.”

“No wonder we couldn’t find him when we were all looking for an ‘old guy’.” Barry said with a shit eating grin.

“Old?” Ingo exclaimed and Emmet laughed at him.

“I was a kid and you have silver hair and you hunched! I can’t be blamed for that!” Dawn said, slapping at Barry, who fended her off while laughing.

Perhaps Barry had been right to call them out earlier, because with his diversion things were suddenly light. It came somewhat at the cost of Ingo’s pride but, well. He’d not exactly been observant about the state of his cab while attending Lady Sneasler.

In truth, he wouldn’t be half as diligent about cleanliness here either if not for Emmet’s standing threat to help him with his hygiene should he forget.

“He was filthy. He says they had soap with the Pearl Clan, but I am Emmet and I feel doubt.”

“I was planning to wash here, is that so absurd?” Ingo said for what felt like the millionth time.

“The clans definitely had soap, Ingo was just living like a weird hobo in the mountains.” Dawn laughed.

“I would like to see how your personal hygiene faired in the Highlands.” Ingo said.

“Melli didn’t seem to struggle.” Dawn said teasingly.

“Melli made sure to learn how to make his own soap, vain as he was.” Ingo fired back.

“You know, it’s funny, you’d been so obsessed with Ingo all this time I don’t think you ever actually told us much about the other people in the past. What gives?” Barry said and Dawn flushed.

“I was not obsessed with him!” Dawn protested. “I was focused!”

“I have heard some stories from the Pearl Clan that Ingo was with, but not much else. I am curious about the station that Ingo and Dawn were at.” Emmet said.

“Geez, it’s been so long. What do you wanna know?” Dawn asked.

“Perhaps we could each start from the beginning. For my part, I awoke in a snow storm, with little clue where I was or, more concerningly, where I had been at any point before that moment….”

11.

It was 3:00 AM when Emmet called Champion Cynthia in Sinnoh.

“Hello?” she answered, sounding absurdly awake until Ingo recalled the time difference. It’d honestly been one more thing to get used to when he found himself back home.

“Am I speaking with Champion Cynthia?” Emmet asked professionally.

“Well, it’s former Champion now or acting Champion if you want to get very technical. How may I help you?” Cynthia asked.

“I am a Battle Facility Head from Unova, Subway Boss Emmet. I spoke to you briefly some years ago.” Emmet said and there was a long pause.

“I recall that. What can I do for you?” Cynthia said after a moment and Emmet’s habitual smile flattened into a nearly straight line.

“Today, I encountered two more former Champions from your region, Dawn and Barry. Or should I say, My brother and I encountered them. You may recall I was searching for my missing brother, Ingo. It has been brought to my attention that you may have kept information about his whereabouts from me. I would know why.” Emmet said.

“So he was the correct Ingo, then. Is Dawn okay?” Cynthia asked and Emmet looked about as furious as Ingo had ever seen him.

“You knew my brother would go missing for eight years and did not tell me!” Emmet said.

“That’s not quite true. You and your brother weren’t known to me until you became Battle Facility Heads, some six years ago. For those first two years, I looked for Ingo very diligently.” Cynthia said.

“Why did you not warn us in advance? We could have done something.” Emmet demanded and Cynthia sighed.

“I couldn’t tell you.”

“You–”

“No, listen!” Cynthia cut him off, sounding angry herself. She breathed deeply and continued, calmer. “Listen. I didn’t know for sure and when I suspected it? The time stream is fragile. Ingo was there in history, he had to go. I’m not sure how familiar you are with my work, but I did a lot of research for this. Letting you know ahead of time could’ve been world ending.”

“Fine! So he had to go. Did I have to suffer not knowing if my brother was dead or alive? Did Dawn have to keep suffering thinking she killed him?”

“I’m happy to hear you care about Dawn’s feelings as well. But have you considered that I didn’t know he’d be coming back?” Cynthia said.

“What do you mean?”

“Let me explain to you what I knew, Subway Boss Emmet. I knew that Dawn had traveled to the past as the result of Legendary interference. I knew she met someone there who by all accounts sounded like your brother, but old. I did not know when he might go or what would happen to him while he was there. I knew he would go and he would have amnesia and he would accompany Dawn through her portal home. And she would lose him and that’s all I knew. Would that have been better, Emmet? To know that something happened to your brother and he might return one day? Would it have helped Dawn, to know exactly who she was grieving and what he’d been missing? What part of this sounds better?”

“I had a right to know that you knew something!” Emmet shouted.

“I don’t know you, Subway Boss Emmet. I know you love battling and trains and your brother. But I had a traumatized teen here and no idea what you’d do to her if you found out she lost her grip on your brother and he flew off into the abyss on her word. Maybe you’d just be happy to hear anything! Or maybe you’d be cruel to a child who was only just beginning to heal from half a decade's worth of Survivors’ Guilt. I wasn’t going to take that chance. I’m glad you’ve got your brother back and I’m glad to hear that you’ve been considerate of Dawn, but I had to look after my people first.”

“I would not have hurt Miss Dawn.” Emmet said with clenched teeth.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“You are showing a disappointing lack of faith in me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You had no right to keep this information secret.”

“I did anyways.”

“You don’t care?”

“That is the thing about time. It had all already happened. There’s nothing I could do to change it. There still isn’t.”

“I am Emmet and I have nothing left to say to you.” Emmet said.

“Wait.” Cynthia's deep breath was audible even over the phone. “I just want you to know, I didn’t know when he would disappear. I don’t know if I would’ve done anything different, but Dawn always said he was an old man. I thought I had a long time to figure this out. When you called before, I did the best I could. I’m assuming now that Dawn just couldn’t figure out your brother’s age, but I was worried….she said he’d been there for a while before her. I didn’t want to get your hopes up and then him be gone for twenty years or something. Time travel is a mess. But if I could’ve brought your brother home for you or told you something that would’ve actually helped, I would’ve. I hope you can believe that much about me.”

“I am Emmet. I am not happy with the choices you made.” Emmet said. “I had a right to know what you knew, even if it caused me distress.”

“You did. It was cruel to keep it from you. I was doing what I thought was right.” Cynthia said.

“Then there is nothing left to say. Goodbye.” Emmet said and hung up before she could give him any more excuses.

“She made some points.” Ingo said into the silence and his brother whirled on him.

“Do not take that woman’s side!”

“I am not, but…I am seeing a distressing picture of what our decoupling in those last moments did to Miss Akari. Miss Dawn, that is.” Ingo said carefully.

“I am Emmet. I would not have harassed a minor having a mental health crisis, even at my worst.”

“Of course not. But….”

“Yes?”

“We have identical faces.”

“….that is a point of consideration.” Emmet said, mouth flattening, likely thinking of the possibility of terrorizing a teenager by his presence alone.

“Shall we call the others and tell them what we have learned?” Ingo asked, hand reaching towards his phone.

“No, it is late.” Emmet made a gesture as if to stop him and Ingo paused, still eyeballing his Xtrans.

“Perhaps they would like to sleep over. They could have my bed and we could share.” Ingo said and Emmet leveled a look at him.

“You know I have no problem sharing with you, but I am feeling as though you are thinking of them as two children rather than adults. Miss Dawn is only a few years younger than us. She does not need you to hover. She has a hotel bed and she should use it.”

“Of course, you are right.” Ingo said bashfully. “She just has seemed so distressed.”

“I have noticed. Were you so close in the past?” Emmet asked and Ingo shook his head.

“I'm not sure I would say that. I would look after her when she was nearby, but she was quite independent and had many friends. I did not think I was providing her with anything special. I was most grateful when she offered to take me back to my proper station, even though I took some convincing.”

“You did not wish to come home?” Emmet asked, his tone somewhat wounded.

“I did not remember home.” Ingo said and his hand was scarcely stretched towards his brother before it was being taken. “I wanted to return, but I was frightened. I had only just begun to feel accepted in Hisui and I had no guarantee my former life was better.”

“That makes sense. It is unlike you to leave without knowing your destination, yup.” Emmet said. “Ingo has always been a homebody.”

“In the end, it was Akari that persuaded me. She was frightened of going alone and I could not send her by herself in good conscience, for all the good it did her.”

“That is not your fault.” Emmet said sternly. “And I am glad you came here and did not travel to the past with her. We would be 8 years out of sync as twins and that is unacceptable.”

“Imagine if I’d found you then, with my younger self. It might’ve caused quite the trainwreck.” Ingo said.

“Which is likely similar to Champion Cynthia’s concerns, you do not have to belabor the point.” Emmet said. “I am Emmet and I do not care about her justifications.”

Ingo yawned and Emmet used his hand to begin pulling him along.

“It’s verrrrrry late and we are both tired. We should sleep. Who knows when Miss Dawn and her friend will be back tomorrow.” Emmet said.

“And we will have to tell them what we’ve learned. I’m not looking forward to that.” Ingo said.

When they were both in their pajamas, Ingo found himself gravitating towards Emmet’s bed, even though his own was free.

Emmet did not comment, merely scooting to one side when he got in, as if Ingo joining him was a forgone conclusion.

Finally, they were both tucked in, Chandelure’s dim purple light casting the room in strange but comforting shadows.

“I’m glad you came home.” Emmet whispered.

“Me too.”

12.

The Sinnohian teens returned at breakfast the next morning, bearing a bag full of bagels and a pair of smiles.

Seeing as their Battle Subway shift did not start until late morning, that resulted in Emmet answering the door in his pajamas.

Dawn and Barry were still giggling as they entered, putting their bag next to where Ingo was nursing his morning cup of coffee.

“I am Emmet. You two are here verrrrry early. We did not expect to see you until we returned to the Battle Subway later this morning.” Emmet said, plopping back down in his own seat. Ingo slid the white mug over to his brother, who took it appreciatively.

“Well, we’re getting kicked out of the hotel in a couple hours and we’ll have to move our stuff to the Pokemon Center. After yesterday, we figured if we wanted to talk to you two, we needed to catch you before you got back on the trains again.” Barry said.

Dawn kept glancing over at Ingo through the fringe of her bangs before looking away when his eyes met hers head on.

“Ah, you will be moving to the Pokemon Center?” Emmet asked, glancing at his brother when Ingo failed to offer any commentary.

“We were just doing a weekend trip to come challenge the subway. I was planning on going back home, but–”

“Can I stay? Please?” Dawn blurted out, interrupting her friend. Barry scowled at her.

“Dawn–” he started and she whipped around to look at him.

“I know you wanna go home. You need to go home. But I…I can’t yet. Go home without me and I’ll stay at the Pokemon Center.”

“I don’t have to go back yet.” Barry said, frowning.

“Yes, you do. You need to get back to the Battle Tower and I’m keeping you from it.” Dawn said.

“How long are you planning on staying?” Barry demanded and Dawn shrugged and looked away.

“This is something I need to do. Ingo, I won’t be a bother, but can I just. See you? Sometimes?” Dawn asked, looking frustrated at herself.

“Won’t your mother worry?” Ingo asked wonderingly and Dawn scowled.

“Ingo, I’m in my twenties.” she said flatly and he flushed.

“What I think my brother means to say, won’t you be missed at home? Do you not have some task to return to, like your friend?” Emmet said.

“It's the off season for Coordinators. I’m not sure I want to compete this year anyways.” Dawn said quickly.

Ingo looked over at his brother. His face was lax with fatigue, the late bedtime rough on both of them, but his eyes were clear enough. Ingo was pleased as ever at how easy it was to read his twin, his mirror. Months later and it was still so good to be home.

And there was one person to thank for that.

“Of course you may stay, Miss Dawn. In fact, I must insist you belay moving to the Pokemon Center; It would bring us much pleasure to host you in our station during your stay.” Ingo said.

“Well said, Ingo.” Emmet said. “Please feel free to park your engine here as long as you wish.”

“Dawn, can I talk to you for a minute?” Barry said, looking between the three of them.

“Barry, I need to do this.” Dawn said and her friend looked frustrated.

“You said you would stop doing this! You promised!” Barry exploded.

“I thought he was dead!” Dawn shouted right back. “I’m not doing anything dangerous, I’m not messing with the Legendaries, can you just leave me alone?”

Barry grit his teeth, looking over at Ingo and Emmet with a strange look in his eyes before turning back to Dawn.

“Will you just come talk to me? I thought we’d outgrown this stupid shit where you don’t tell me anything you’re thinking and just do whatever you want.” Barry said, voice low.

Ingo’s mouth reflexively opened to chide the other man for his language, but Emmet’s hand landed on his shoulder before he could and his smile was warning.

“Fine. Excuse us.” Dawn bit out and marched down the hallway, Barry in her wake.

Ingo waited until he heard the click of the bathroom door before whispering.“The interior of our home is not terribly soundproofed.”

“I won’t tell if you won’t.” Emmet said back.

It seemed for a minute that the two might be having a civil, volume controlled conversation.

“You don’t even know them!” Barry’s yell echoed down the hallways and the twins winced.

“Yes, I do!” Dawn’s shout followed.

“You’re being stupid and doing dangerous shit like you always do! You don’t care what happens to you and hate me because I do! Well, sorry for giving a damn about you!” Barry said back, volume lower but still painfully, awkwardly audible from the kitchen.

The next reply was unintelligible through the walls, to Ingo and Emmet’s visible relief. They sipped at their coffee in awkward silence.

“I don’t wish to retract our offer.” Ingo said as quietly as he was able.

“Neither do I.” Emmet said. “Though these are perilous tracks.”

“His concerns are valid. I do not think I would be willing to leave her either. She seems…” Ingo trailed off.

“We are good people and intend to look after her.” Emmet said. “But he does not know that. We are strangers.”

“I’m going for a walk!” Dawn shouted and the bathroom door banged open. She marched down the hall and right past the kitchen table. “Excuse me for a minute.” she said curtly, not even stopping. She shoved her feet into her shoes and went right out the door.

Barry appeared in the hallway. His eyes followed her as she stormed out before shifting to the two brothers.

“Sorry.” he said shortly. “That wasn’t really about you guys.”

“No need to apologize.” Ingo said. “I understand your concerns.”

“Are you gonna tell her she needs to come home with me?” Barry demanded and Ingo shook his head.

“My offer was made in earnest. If she feels like she needs to stay, I will assist her on her tracks.” Ingo said.

Barry looked frustrated. “You know, I’ve been dealing with this for nearly a decade now. Eight years! My best friend disappeared. And when she came back, she came back wrong.”

“That is an unkind thing to say.” Emmet said with a frown, glancing at his brother. Ingo looked down at his coffee and stayed uncharacteristically silent.

“I don’t mean it like that.” Barry said, eyes dark. “Someone hurt her and she’s never been the same. And she’s never even talked about it cause all she cared about was losing you.”

He pointed at Ingo. “She thought she killed you and she’s never gotten over it. Like everything that happened to her was justified because she tried to help someone and messed up. You don’t know what it’s like to watch her go through that.”

“I have some idea.” Emmet said and Barry scowled at him.

“No, you don’t. Just like I don’t know what it’s like to lose your own damn twin brother. But you know what? It was hard for me to wrap my head around then because we were the same age, but Dawn was just a little girl. She got pulled out of her bed one night and fucking stranded across time from everyone she knew and loved and told to figure it out. And she did. But you, Ingo, didn’t come with her and it fucked her up, alright?”

“I did not intend for any of that to happen.” Ingo said. “I was not the engineer of those events.”

“I know that.” Barry rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m not, like, blaming you. You didn’t even actually get lost. You’re right where you’re supposed to be. But that just means she suffered for no reason for all this time. You get that that sucks, right?”

“If I could’ve saved her the grief, I would have. It may be difficult for you to conceptualize that she was a child for her ordeal, but I was well aware of the fact. I am struggling now with seeing her as anything other than a child, in fact.”

Barry looked at the two of them and crossed and uncrossed his arms, before finally putting his hands on his hips. “I’ll go home. If this is what Dawn wants to do, she is actually an adult. But listen here! I want this to be good for her. If it's not good for her, I’ll make you regret it. Got it?”

“Of course.” Ingo said.

“We will look after her.” Emmet said. “I am Emmet. I understand that you care for Miss Dawn. I will ensure she performs all necessary safety checks.”

Barry sighed and his shoulders slumped. “I’ll go see if I can find her.”

He walked out the door without another word.

13.

“I feel obliged to apologize to you.” Ingo said, setting the Lilligant tea down in front of Dawn.

“For what?” Dawn asked. Her eyes were liquid and looked at him with an urgency that was borderline uncomfortable. Like he was water and she had been walking through a desert.

“I should have looked for you harder. When I realized I had landed in my home station exactly where I had departed from, save the train that I had undoubtedly been riding before, I told myself that you too were exactly where you needed to be and let myself stop worrying over you. It was a terrible dereliction of duty to you.” Ingo said.

“No!” Dawn shouted and then flinched back from her own outburst and curled her hands around her mug. “You don’t have to be sorry for that. I did go right back to where I disappeared from. So it was fine.”

“I was not fine. I know there were many breaks in the tracks that prevented me from seeking you out, but that does not mean I should not have made the effort. You were a passenger in my care and I did not conduct you safely to your destination. I am sorry.” Ingo said.

“I convinced you to come in the first place! I was supposed to be taking care of you.” Dawn insisted. “I wasn’t the passenger, you were!”

“I am a grown man, Miss Dawn. You could hardly have made me do anything I did not wish to do of my own volition.” Ingo said with a raised brow.

“You said I was the conductor.” Dawn said petulantly.

“Miss Dawn, aged as you are now, I hope you can understand the indulgence with which one speaks to children.” Ingo said and Dawn flushed.

“I’d just saved the entire region.”

“I did not doubt your capabilities.” Ingo assured her. “But that does not mean I did not have responsibilities to you, as the adult in the situation. I failed you and when I returned I failed you again by not seeking you out more vigorously.”

“It wasn’t your fault. I lost my grip on you.” Dawn looked down at her mug again.

“Surely you can understand that that stop was on the schedule from the beginning?” Ingo said and Dawn merely looked at him. “Miss Dawn, there was no scenario in which we would have been allowed to stay coupled on that trip. It is no fault of yours.”

“What do you mean?”

“There is no blame to be had for losing your grip. We were to be separated because our terminals were different from the onset. I am not apologizing for losing you, because there is no blame to be had there. I am apologizing for not searching for you in our present time with more urgency.” Ingo said.

“It’s only been a couple of months for you. I’m sure you’ve been busy.” Dawn said.

“I have been distracted. My home station held many delights, big and small.” Ingo let his face turn towards where Emmet’s off-tune singing echoed faintly down the hallway from the bathroom. “But that is no excuse. You do not need to forgive me. I only needed you to know I regret it. Even if a few months seem trivial, I could have ended your suffering sooner and I did not. I am sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Dawn said, looking down at her tea. “I forgive you. It’s okay.”

“Thank you, Miss Dawn.”

14.

“Oh, your Warden’s Band!” Dawn said suddenly as the twins rose from the couch to retreat to bed.

“What of it, Miss Dawn?” Ingo asked.

“I need to give it back to you.” Dawn said. She was twisting it around on her wrist, just as Ingo had observed her doing often since meeting with her some days ago.

“That is unnecessary.” He said immediately.

“It’s yours.” Dawn fired right back. She pulled it off.

In her hand, Ingo could see it had been repaired. He recalled with certainty that its breaking had been the impetus for their decoupling, but it was whole, if not scarred. He could see where the jagged edge had been smoothed out and purple details filled in with care.

He could also see clearly the tan line on her wrist that matched the one still fading on his own.

The stern, stylized Sneasler face stared out at him and his heart ached.

He’d become familiar with longing while he was lost, but it was a different beast entirely to know exactly what he was missing. If missing the Pearl Clan and Lady Sneasler hurt like this, then he could only think of his amnesia as a blessing. Missing Emmet properly might’ve just killed him.

“Have you worn it all this time, Miss Dawn?” he asked.

“More or less.” she said.

“Then you have worn it much longer than I. I must insist you keep it.” Ingo said.

“But it’s yours!” she exclaimed, shocked.

“I wore it for several years and I wore it with pride while serving Lady Sneasler and the Pearl Clan. But you have been wearing it for much longer than that. You have the greater claim to it.” Ingo said.

The hand holding out the band was steady, but her other hand curled and uncurled by her side.

“Are you sure?” she said after a long moment.

“Yes.” he said immediately.

She hesitated for another moment, before putting it back on her own wrist.

“I was wearing it for you, you know. I didn’t have anything else to remember you by.” she said.

“I am honored, Miss Dawn.” he said and she looked down at her shoes before looking up at him. Her beseeching, lonely expression was becoming familiar to him, like a child seeking reassurance.

“Are you sure you don’t want it back?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. “I am sure.”

15.

Eavesdropping was not something that Ingo usually did in good conscience. It was not even something he was doing on purpose! But as he returned to the common area, he could not help but to hear the conversation Emmet and their unlikely houseguest were having and stop, unwilling to to interrupt, but also unwilling to step away.

“It is somewhat…selfish of me, but I dislike that you have missed my brother longer than I did. At the same time, I am grateful that someone else mourned him so thoroughly.” Emmet said.

“It hasn’t exactly been fun.” Dawn said, tone mullish.

“I wish that you could have come and told me where he was when he was gone. I do not know that it would’ve been better, knowing he was in the past. But it would’ve been something. I could have thought about him being cold or injured more specifically instead of torturing myself with my imagination.”

“How is that better?” Dawn asked, aghast.

“Do you know, Miss Dawn, about the Team Plasma events here in Unova some years ago now? My brother and I are verrrry strong trainers with verrry strong teams. Team Plasma never breached the subway. I could easily imagine they might be bitter over such a thing. Bitter enough to take my brother when his guard was down and….”

Emmet trailed off. Ingo could only imagine why.

“I had a long time to imagine what horrors he might be enduring, if he was enduring anything at all anymore.” Emmet said after a moment.

“…I thought he was trapped in the Distortion World.” Ingo strained to hear her, her voice small and tentative. “It’s a place opposite to the real world where Giratina rules. I still don’t know where we were when we went in that portal and before we came out, but I’ve been to the Distortion World before and it felt similar. And the thing about that is that I don’t know…I don’t know if things can die there, but I do know there’s no food and very little water and no other people. And I thought I had left Ingo there and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I thought it’d be a mercy if he were dead.”

“I thought that once or twice myself.” Emmet said. “But he is not dead. And he has not been tortured or starved. He was perhaps not treated as kindly as I might’ve wished in the past. He was cold and hungry and lonely, even if he will not admit it. But he talks about people there fondly and he remembers me and our Pokémon and the trains. I am Emmet and that is enough.”

The grief of his absence was something he could not fix, but he was as haunted by it as anyone. It hung over everyone he knew and everywhere he went. The shade of his former self was a burden that walked beside him all his days.

Shamefully, he retreated to the bathroom, wishing to hear nothing more.

16.

Dawn put down her lunch mid-bite, her face suddenly horrified.

“Miss Dawn? Is something wrong?” Ingo asked, concerned.

“I screamed ‘Fuck You’ at Arceus and Giratina for no reason.” Dawn whispered.

“You what?” Ingo said at typical top volume.

“I thought they were ignoring that you got left behind! They wouldn’t answer me!” Dawn said frantically.

“I think I like this girl, Ingo.” Emmet laughed.

“Should I apologize?” Dawn demanded, eyes wide. “Do Legendaries like gift baskets?”

“What on Earth would possess you to do such a thing?” Ingo demanded, not willing to let the topic be derailed.

“They kidnapped me and then they stole my old man! Was an explanation too much to ask?” Dawn threw back and Emmet set off cackling again.

“Old!” he exclaimed, to Ingo’s embarrassment.

“They put me back where they took me from, by all accounts, which is exactly what we wanted.” Ingo said reasonably and Dawn groaned.

“I know!” Dawn said and put her face in her hands. “Fuck, I need to call Cynthia.”

“Do not speak to her.” Emmet said. “If they did not smite you on the spot, I think you are good. Maybe avoid them. You should be doing that anyways! They still kidnapped you.”

“That is a most salient point, Emmet, thank you.” Ingo said,

“I am Emmet. None of them are allowed on the Battle Subway. Perhaps you should live there forever.” Emmet said cheerfully and Dawn laughed.

Ingo took a bite of his salad and very pointedly said nothing about where his own abduction had taken place.

It was better to let everyone pretend there was somewhere safe to be when the gods demanded your presence.

17.

Chandelure was an obliging chaperone, hanging diligently over Ingo’s shoulder, attentive to their surroundings even as Ingo and Dawn walked past the different train cars. Emmet hardly needed to task her to look after his brother while he was not there, as Chandelure was a fearsome guardian even without his prompting, but if having her out eased his brother’s mind somewhat then it was no imposition.

And even as just one of the pair, the Anville railyard workers had greeted Ingo with enthusiasm, before passing him a set of keys and a polite request to have them back an hour before the shift change.

“Ah, here are the R36 cars. Most of these have been submerged off the southern coast as artificial reefs for aquatic Pokemon, but these are maintained by the Anville Railyard as museum pieces.” Ingo said, his frowning mouth at odds with his expressive voice and eyes. “These were the Redbird cars that were in service in my youth. Emmet and I took our first train ride in one of these very cars!”

“The windows on that pair are different, though.” Dawn said and Ingo brightened.

“You have a good eye, Miss Dawn. Though those are technically Main Line R36 cars, they were made from unfinished R33 shells and thus sport the R33’s drop-sash windows.”

“They remind me a little of the old Sprague cars in Kalos.” Dawn said.

“I suppose I can see the similarity. My brother and I have taken the trip to Galar to see the steam locomotives. They were quite interesting! Work has not yet permitted us time to see Kalos’s subway system since my return.”

“Unova’s is much better, I can tell that even after only riding it a couple times. The infrastructure in Kalos needs a lot of work and there’s lots of delays.“

“Yes, though I have heard they’re investing quite a bit in recent years. How long ago did you go?” Ingo asked curiously.

“It’s been a year or two. We did Galar first. I’m not sure how they’re going to pull off any meaningful updates without crippling half of Kalos though. And the cars are really slow and smaller too.” Dawn said. She climbed up the stairs to try the door of R36 and made a pleased noise when it opened smoothly.

“That would be because Kalos’s loading gauge is smaller in comparison with here and Galar, limiting the size and speed of their cars.” Ingo said while following her into the interior of the R36 and Dawn perked up.

“Oh, that makes sense! I just thought it was because of the rubber wheels!” she exclaimed.

“You are quite well informed. I don’t recall you having much interest in railways before, though I hardly would’ve known what you were talking about.”

“I didn’t!” Dawn tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled sheepishly. “Honestly, I got into it all because of you. I felt like I should go ride trains and see what you liked so much about them and ended up kind of getting invested.”

“There is an annual railway enthusiasts expo here in Anville Town in the fall. Perhaps if your schedule permits, you can attend with Emmet and I.” Ingo said as Dawn wandered around the car and she turned to grin at him again, looking pleased.

“I’d like that! Maybe next time you guys have some time off, we could go back to Kalos together.” Dawn said.

“Bravo! What a wonderful idea, Miss Dawn! It has been quite enjoyable, having a conversation like this with someone other than my brother.”

“Right? Barry usually comes with me, but he doesn’t care much for the train part. He just likes fighting foreign trainers.” Dawn said with a laugh.

“Well, battling is obviously also a passion of mine, as you know.” Ingo said. “That’s why the Battle Subway is a perfect combination! Emmet and I were quite inspired to come up with such a thing, I can’t imagine a more pleasurable occupation.”

“It seems like fun. Maybe I should move to Unova and become a Depot Agent.” Dawn said.

“You would require schooling on the transit system before we could accept such a thing, but you are welcome to apply.”

“Aw, you wouldn’t just take me on? I’m hurt.” Dawn said with a little laugh.

“Certainly not, as you are well aware.” Ingo said, though his voice was amused instead of stern.

Ingo’s Xtrans buzzed and he peered at it.

“Ah, it’s Emmet checking in. It is convenient to be able to communicate over long distances and reassure him with this device, is it not? I think I took it for granted, before.” Ingo said, typing at the screen as he spoke.

“Yeah, I know what you mean. And I at least had the Arc Phone, even though I couldn’t actually call anyone on it. For months afterwards, my friends were blowing up my phone all the time trying to make sure I was still around.”

“Does it get easier?” Ingo wondered.

Dawn took the question seriously, perhaps more so than Ingo’s rather distracted tone would indicate he meant for her to.

“It does. But I wasn’t there as long as you. And you…I had different problems than you. I don’t really think it’s comparable.” She said after a long moment.

“That is true. I know I worry my brother. I know I am different than I was. Both in body and personality. I wish I could save him the trouble. I wish I could have kept it from happening to him.”

“I’m sorry.” Dawn said.

“I did not mean that as censure against you.” Ingo said placidly. “And I do not think I wish it hadn’t happened to me. But for all that my brother fusses over my health, I know my departure affected him profoundly. I would not seek to trade away my time in the past, but I do wish to save him the heartbreak. They’re incompatible tracks.”

“…You shouldn’t talk like that.” Dawn said after he stopped speaking.

“What do you mean, Miss Dawn?”

“You said you wanted to ‘save him the trouble’. I don’t think your brother would like for you to say that about him. I don’t think he thinks of you as trouble. I think it would hurt his feelings to hear you say that.” Dawn said, looking away sullenly.

“I do not mean to say he thinks of me as trouble. But I am a burden to him as I am.”

Chandelure chimed in protest above his head, pausing her diligent watch to fuss at him.

“See, your Pokémon doesn’t like it either.” Dawn said. “It’s okay to rely on other people. Everyone has been waiting to have you back. I don’t think they begrudge you needing the help. I think they’re happy to have you here.”

“Perhaps you are right.” Ingo said. “But it doesn’t change how I feel about it.”

Dawn hummed and looked off, eyes dark. “It doesn’t, does it?”

18.

Nearly a month into Dawn’s impromptu stay and Ingo could say he’d grown quite comfortable.

Even before she’d come, he’d spent nearly half his nights sharing a bed with his brother for one or both of their sakes. Now, Ingo’s pillow stayed on Emmet’s bed and his brother’s mattress topper was slowly taking his shape.

Dawn’s pink toothbrush looked at home in the cup with the black and white ones and long, black strands of hair clogged the shower drain, trapping a mess of short silver ones into tangled mat.

When he exited his brother’s bedroom, it was not surprising to see her sitting at the kitchen table, other than the early hour.

“Miss Dawn, are you alright? This is an early start for your engine,” ingo said and she looked at him with dark eyes.

And without a word, she took off Sneasler's Warden Band and set it on the table.

“Miss Dawn?” He said.

“I want you to take this back.” She said softly.

“Miss Dawn, we have already traveled these tracks, have we not? The band is yours to keep.” Ingo said, trying to keep his own voice quiet for the sake of his still sleeping twin and their shared Pokémon.

“Please.” She said and sucked in a breath. “Just listen, okay? Please just take it back.”

“What has brought this about?”

“I need to…I woke up from the same old nightmare and I realized that I did it. I got you home. It’s not the way I wanted to and it’s not what I thought would happen, but it’s over. I want to be free of it.” Dawn said, her voice shaky.

“Of course you may leave whenever you like, but I do not see how that has anything to do with your Warden’s Band.” Ingo said, taken a little aback.

“Because it’s not mine, it’s yours. I was wearing it for you. It was a reminder, that I’d done everything I could and you were gone and I was admitting it, but you’re here and you’re fine.” Dawn said and swiped at her eyes.

“Miss Dawn-“

“When you see this, you get to remember Lady Sneasler and the Pearl Clan and all your friends. But all I get to remember is the 8 years I thought you were dead and I thought I killed you. I don’t care what you do with it. It’s a shackle to the worst years of my life and I wanna take it off. Please.”

“Of course.” Ingo said carefully. “Of course, Miss Dawn. I will take it. Thank you for taking care of it for me.”

Dawn nodded solemnly and Ingo picked up the band and put it on his wrist, right where he had over half a year ago. Right where he had over 100 years ago.

“Good.” Dawn said and put her head down in her arms. “Good.”

“Are you alright?” He asked.

“No, but I’m gonna be.” She said. “I brought you home.”

“You did. I’m very grateful.” Ingo said.

“I am also verrrry grateful.” Emmet said.

Ingo turned and his brother was in the hallway, pajamas and hair rumpled, but smiling still.

“Miss Dawn, your tracks were long and hard, but you remained steady on them and saw my brother safely to his station. Thank you.” Emmet said.

“Yeah. And now I think it’s time for me to get back to my station.” She said.

“You’re leaving?” Ingo asked.

“I’ve imposed on you guys long enough. I need to go home.”

“It's been no imposition.” Ingo said and she shook her head.

“It has. It’s okay, I know you don’t mind.” she said, cutting him off as he opened his mouth again. “Just….thank you. For everything.”

“Miss Dawn, you are the one owed thanks. It has been an honor for you to join your tracks with ours.” Emmet said.

“Yes, nothing has pleased me more than to share space with you. Thank you, Miss Dawn.” Ingo said and dipped his head into a little bow.

Dawn sniffed and rubbed her face again, but she was smiling as she stood and embraced Ingo. “You're welcome. I’m glad I finally brought you home.”

19.

“Ah, it’s a package from Miss Dawn! It's quite heavy, what did she send?” Ingo said, checking the mail some months later.

Emmet took the parcel from his brother and opened it as Ingo hung up his coat. “A book on the Ampharos train in Sinnoh! There’s also a letter for us.”

“How thoughtful. She seems to be doing well.” Ingo accepted the letter from his brother, who was paging through the book with enthusiasm. He closed it with a snap.

“We must send her something in return! We still have some of the prototype pieces for the gift shop. Perhaps you could send her little Ingo.”

“I would need to send little Emmet as well. They should not be separated.” Ingo said and Emmet’s smile was blinding.

“That is true! We are a two car train after all.” he said. “What does the letter say?”

“You may read it; she is mostly talking about her home and future plans…hmm. Emmet, how does our vacation time look?”

20.

Air travel was a largely miserable affair. Ingo much preferred trains over any other type of transportation, but cars and even boats had much more to recommend them than planes, in his opinion.

On their last trip to Galar, Ingo had been quite uncomfortable during the flight, but Emmet had been prepared for their shared anxiety and packed his personal item with distractions.

This time the burden was shared more equally between them, but Ingo was still very eager to deplane and put the looming return flight out of his mind for the time being.

As they exited the Lumiose City airport, Ingo’s head was on a swivel.

“I am Emmet. I am sure she will be arriving shortly.” Emmet said and Ingo hummed in agreement.

He spotted her almost before his brother could finish speaking. She looked the same and different. Gone was the slouch to her back. Her hair was shiny and in another new style. There was an egg in her backpack and a young Eevee sat at her feet, looking up at her adoringly. There was a new bracelet on her wrist where the Warden’s Band had sat for so many years.

She turned and their eyes met.

“Miss Dawn!” he called and she waved.

“Hi Ingo!” she said, trotting over. Her face was a little tanned and she was smiling widely. “I missed you!”