- Partners
-
After performing a ceremony to honor Dialga in spring of 1985, thirteen-year-old Haruto of the Kannagi Clan has a chance meeting with a student visiting from Galar. It sets in motion a series of events that will change his life forever.
You can expect to see typical Pokemon violence, dangerous situations, hardasses, mild language, and mild retcons (okay just the one) in this fic.
######################
Bathed in blue upon the highest cliff of Celestic Town stood a black-haired teenager watching eastward. The long sleeves on the ornate pale blue robe he wore billowed gently in the breeze. Before him was a large stone with many shapes carved into it. This point was the second most sacred part of the settlement, next to the grove in the lowest valley. It was here during the first sunrise of the Vernal Equinox that a most important ritual was to take place: the First Light Ceremony.
The seconds ticked by, but he did not dare look away or allow himself to become distracted. All eyes were on him. The shrine, his ancestors, and the heavens were all watching. Even the nearby Pokemon had quieted down in respect. Above all, the one to be honored was waiting. He did not want to think about the consequences of getting this wrong. The moment drew close.
At last, the sun peeked over the horizon and cast the first rays of spring upon the land. The teenager reflexively shielded his aqua-blue eyes, quickly turning to face the monument. He clasped his hands together and knelt before it.
“Oh Mighty Dialga,” he said quietly, communing with the Legendary Pokemon. “My name is Haruto of the Kannagi Clan. On behalf of us all, I thank you for your blessing of time. Your gift is what gives us growth. To exist without time is to exist forever unchanging. Today marks the first day of spring, the start of new life and new beginnings. It can be thought of as the start of a new year. The year before was bountiful, and I pray that this year and all future years are as well. To show my appreciation, I present you this offering. May the light I give it help recover your strength.”
A lump caught in his throat. Was that sufficient? His family had chosen him as the one to offer Mighty Dialga their first prayer and gift this year. There were no guidelines when it came to the ceremony, and his mentor had only told him to do what felt right in his heart. Well, he could not afford to dwell upon it. There was still one more important step to perform.
The teenager turned around and grabbed the green satchel from the grass behind him. He opened it and reached inside. The smooth gem was still there. He gripped it tightly – it was cold to the touch from being exposed to the cool morning air – and pulled it out. The tiny diamond glistened softly in the light of dawn.
He gently closed his hand and his eyes. The teenager faced the sun and outstretched his arm, in turn pressing his shoulder against his chin. The light massaged his face with its heat and radiance. Enduring these rays sent willpower. He slowly tilted his head upward while gradually lowering his arm. When his elbow pressed over his heart, he breathed in and held it. His chest tingled. Each beat of his heart sent emotion. He bent his arm inward, maintaining the two contact points on the shoulder and elbow, until it touched his forehead. He breathed out. His thoughts sent knowledge.
All of a sudden, he felt something warm on his fingers. He unfurled his palm and looked within. The diamond now had a faint yet adamant glow. His shoulders dropped and he exhaled again, this time out of relief. It worked. He placed it on the pedestal and stepped back.
“Priestess Satomi, I did it,” he announced.
The elderly woman who was observing from below chuckled. “I knew you could, Shaman Haruto. As expected of someone whose name means Spring Person!”
A woman wearing a violet robe with silver trim stepped up onto the plateau. Her face hardly looked as old as it really was – she had no wrinkles, her hair was barely graying, and her eyes were a bright silver-green – but the woman of sixty-something years had served multiple generations of his family. She was a mentor figure to his mother, a childhood friend of his grandfather, and had known family even older than that.
“Did I…” His words were abruptly choked away from him. He had to take a deep breath in and out. “Did I do a good job?”
“I think you did just fine,” his mentor replied, giving him a sage nod. “Mighty Dialga will be pleased.”
“But could I have done better?” he asked more directly, clutching at himself and looking back at the diamond. The light he infused into it as a diviner still held strong.
“You can always strive to be better, Shaman Haruto!” she said with a clap and a wink. She punctuated it with a point up high. “And you always should. Once you start to get complacent with where you are, things can only go downhill. But you can’t go wrong as long as you always do the best you can!”
Haruto could only nod at that. It made sense. A lot of what Priestess Satomi said made sense. But the doubt continued to linger in his mind, squeezing his body like a coiling Ekans. What if his best was not good enough? Even if the odds of him becoming Master of the shrine were slim, if not nil, he did not want to bring shame to his family.
“I only wish that Mother and Father could have been here for this,” he lamented, staring off toward the southwestern horizon. “I am surprised this was arranged while they were away.”
“Shocked’em to hear it! Your mom was madder than a swarm of Beedrill!” Priestess Satomi said with a chuckle. “They would’ve flown over express if they weren’t in Celadon for the conference. Don’t read too much into it though. It’s just unfortunate timing.”
He tried to force a smile, only managing to erase his frown. The elders of the shrine likely considered giving him this opportunity independently of their duties, and only happened to finalize it after they had left. Or perhaps it was part of a test. If there was any ill intent, Priestess Satomi would not have stood for it.
The elderly priestess glanced over the cliff, taking in the view. She eventually settled her gaze upon the Kannagi Shrine itself, which rested at the exact center of the town. She spoke with a smile, “Well, let’s head home and tell everyone the good news! Got to start preparing for tonight’s ceremonies, too.”
Yes, there was to be a festival tonight. Haruto reflexively nodded. There was no sense in continuing this conversation, even though he wanted to. If they dawdled, his bodyguard – no, everyone would begin to wonder what was taking so long. “Very well, let us depart,” he said simply.
They walked down the spiraling hill. There were many little plateaus along the way. It was an ancient path, yet it was nearly impossible to tell that it was over a thousand years old. The stone road was patched up semiannually, though the steps near the top in particular were still the original ones. Flowers of all kinds were beginning to poke out of the well-maintained grass along the side. Nary a weed was in sight.
His bodyguard was waiting at the base of the hill. He went only by Hugo, with no family name. He was tall, muscular, and wore an olive green uniform from his military days. Four Poke Balls lined his belt. He had more in the past – all but one were confiscated upon banishment from his former nation. Haruto knew little of Hugo's history, and less still of the secular place he hailed from. Though he was hardly alone in that, his family evidently trusted him enough to grant him the position.
“All done?” Hugo asked, vaguely tilting his scarred and bald head. Despite the signs of aging, he was only in his mid-forties. His pupils were barely visible, and were hard to notice given their lenses were milky white.
“That we are!” Satomi replied. “He did a bang-up job!”
“Good. I’ll cover the rear. You take point.” The man stood behind him. “Stay between us.”
Haruto’s chest and throat tightened. His legs locked up when he tried to move them. The overwhelming presence of Hugo alone likely warded off any threats to his safety. Appearances were not everything, yet they did play a role in judgment, and his bodyguard lived up it. It even frightened him at times.
Satomi chuckled as she stood in front. “This again?” She started walking, and Haruto reflexively lurched into action. “Alrighty, but I think you’re worrying a bit too much.”
The young shaman made the mistake of looking back. Hugo’s demonic scowl made him wish he had not. It was a testament to Priestess Satomi’s nerves that she remained unflinching at the sight of it.
“The moment you drop your guard is when your enemies will strike,” Hugo quavered, anger and grief alike in his tone.
“Lemme put it this way,” the elderly woman replied, her expression unchanging. She counted on her fingers. “It’s early morning, two of Celestic’s finest are here, and we just honored a major Legend. I think the odds of anyone causing trouble–”
Something crashed into him from the left. It happened so quickly that he had no chance to get his arms out. His fall was cushioned only by the grass. His attacker quickly got up and stood over him. He saw only their blue legs. Haruto bit down as he tried not to scream in terror. He had to get up! He had to run!
Haruto flailed his arms and somehow rolled into a sitting position. They were at a small wooded intersection. He froze again and nearly choked.
Hugo had already grabbed the perpetrator, a girl around his age. She was helplessly squirming and trying to free herself. His bodyguard suddenly dropped her and skidded back a meter, evidently pushed away by an invisible force. His brow furrowed and he grit his teeth. Haruto covered his eyes as Hugo wound back.
“Like I said!” he roared. A yelp followed, but it at least did not sound pained.
“Hugo. Stop this,” Satomi ordered.
“Hey, hey! Hey!” came an unfamiliar voice.
Haruto dared looking. Hugo dropped his fists and put a hand on his belt. The girl was okay for now. She sounded like a Galarian, and was wearing jeans with a beige t-shirt. Her forest-green hair was done up in a ponytail. A ladybug Pokemon was floating protectively in front of her. It didn’t look like a Ledian or anything else Haruto knew.
“What’s all this, gramps?!” she snapped, standing firm and glaring right back at him.
“Choose your next words carefully,” Hugo warned, grabbing the Ultra Ball from his belt. That one contained his Tyranitar, his oldest and most loyal Pokemon. “I suggest you explain yourself.”
“I was just walking, okay?! I’m in a hurry and wasn’t looking!” She stomped a foot, spun around, walked over, and held out a hand. “Sorry, are you hurt?”
“Step away from him,” his bodyguard growled.
Priestess Satomi crossed her arms. “Hugo.”
Haruto looked at everyone. Hugo was watching like a Pidgeot, ready to lunge in the blink of an eye. Priestess Satomi gave him a smile. The girl was frowning and leaning forward with downcast pink eyes, having shifted moods in an instant. He could not detect any deception in her body language.
“Y-yes, I am…” He grimaced as his knee throbbed. “I am fine,” he insisted. It was not entirely true, but he did not want to get her in trouble for something so minor.
“Good, good, that’s good!” she said, reaching for him. Before Haruto could protest, or even vocalize, she had already yanked him to his feet. “Sorry again! Um.” She placed one arm on her stomach and bowed. “That’s what you guys do here to apologize, right? You bow?”
“S-sort of,” he said. “It is all right. It was…” He performed a traditional bow at her, albeit not too deeply. “I am partly to blame. I should have been paying more attention myself.”
“No way you could’ve saw me!” she initially dismissed, before pausing and glancing at the adults. ”Well, I guess you all could’ve, but it was right at a crossroads!”
“Fair point,” Priestess Satomi took it in stride with a chuckle. “Whatcha in a hurry for this early anyway, little lady?”
The girl whirled over and clenched her fists, only for her retinas to widen. “Oh! That’s right! I nearly forgot!” She slapped her forehead, then turned back to him. “Say hey! You don’t happen to know where a coffee shop is around here? My teacher’s being an absolute capital-K Krabby about her caffeine. Been looking everywhere for a place that serves it!”
Every muscle in his body tensed when she leaned in. At least it helped keep him steady. He swallowed before answering. “I believe there is a café around two blocks east of the shrine,” he said. Haruto vaguely remembered passing by it a number of times, but could not recall exactly where it was located. “Also, Krabby is always capital K.”
“It was a figure of speech! And I’ll go take a look! Thanks!” She started to run off, only to turn and say, “And if you’re going to the shrine for the festival tonight, we’ll be there too!”
Haruto opened his mouth. Before he could explain who he was – who they were – she was already out of earshot. Who was that? She did not even introduce herself.
“Fool.” Hugo shook his head.
“Gooootta agree there,” Priestess Satomi said while tapping an ear. She threw up her arms. “Well, guess she’ll find out she was talking to a Child of Kannagi soon enough!”
“It is understandable. She came from far away. We may share the same sun, but common knowledge may differ,” he noted. There was no reason to hold it against her, so long as she learned.
“Gotta agree there, too!” the elderly woman said with an approving grin. “Well, let’s head back! Time waits for no one, after all!”
They started off once more, thankfully without further interruption. It was still fairly chilly, but Haruto felt strangely warm. He found himself staring off in the direction where that girl had run. No one had ever spoken to him in both a casual and friendly way before. Even when it was one, it was never the other. He rubbed his temple. What to make of it? Perhaps they would have a chance to speak again tonight.
##########
You can expect to see typical Pokemon violence, dangerous situations, hardasses, mild language, and mild retcons (okay just the one) in this fic.
######################
Bathed in blue upon the highest cliff of Celestic Town stood a black-haired teenager watching eastward. The long sleeves on the ornate pale blue robe he wore billowed gently in the breeze. Before him was a large stone with many shapes carved into it. This point was the second most sacred part of the settlement, next to the grove in the lowest valley. It was here during the first sunrise of the Vernal Equinox that a most important ritual was to take place: the First Light Ceremony.
The seconds ticked by, but he did not dare look away or allow himself to become distracted. All eyes were on him. The shrine, his ancestors, and the heavens were all watching. Even the nearby Pokemon had quieted down in respect. Above all, the one to be honored was waiting. He did not want to think about the consequences of getting this wrong. The moment drew close.
At last, the sun peeked over the horizon and cast the first rays of spring upon the land. The teenager reflexively shielded his aqua-blue eyes, quickly turning to face the monument. He clasped his hands together and knelt before it.
“Oh Mighty Dialga,” he said quietly, communing with the Legendary Pokemon. “My name is Haruto of the Kannagi Clan. On behalf of us all, I thank you for your blessing of time. Your gift is what gives us growth. To exist without time is to exist forever unchanging. Today marks the first day of spring, the start of new life and new beginnings. It can be thought of as the start of a new year. The year before was bountiful, and I pray that this year and all future years are as well. To show my appreciation, I present you this offering. May the light I give it help recover your strength.”
A lump caught in his throat. Was that sufficient? His family had chosen him as the one to offer Mighty Dialga their first prayer and gift this year. There were no guidelines when it came to the ceremony, and his mentor had only told him to do what felt right in his heart. Well, he could not afford to dwell upon it. There was still one more important step to perform.
The teenager turned around and grabbed the green satchel from the grass behind him. He opened it and reached inside. The smooth gem was still there. He gripped it tightly – it was cold to the touch from being exposed to the cool morning air – and pulled it out. The tiny diamond glistened softly in the light of dawn.
He gently closed his hand and his eyes. The teenager faced the sun and outstretched his arm, in turn pressing his shoulder against his chin. The light massaged his face with its heat and radiance. Enduring these rays sent willpower. He slowly tilted his head upward while gradually lowering his arm. When his elbow pressed over his heart, he breathed in and held it. His chest tingled. Each beat of his heart sent emotion. He bent his arm inward, maintaining the two contact points on the shoulder and elbow, until it touched his forehead. He breathed out. His thoughts sent knowledge.
All of a sudden, he felt something warm on his fingers. He unfurled his palm and looked within. The diamond now had a faint yet adamant glow. His shoulders dropped and he exhaled again, this time out of relief. It worked. He placed it on the pedestal and stepped back.
“Priestess Satomi, I did it,” he announced.
The elderly woman who was observing from below chuckled. “I knew you could, Shaman Haruto. As expected of someone whose name means Spring Person!”
A woman wearing a violet robe with silver trim stepped up onto the plateau. Her face hardly looked as old as it really was – she had no wrinkles, her hair was barely graying, and her eyes were a bright silver-green – but the woman of sixty-something years had served multiple generations of his family. She was a mentor figure to his mother, a childhood friend of his grandfather, and had known family even older than that.
“Did I…” His words were abruptly choked away from him. He had to take a deep breath in and out. “Did I do a good job?”
“I think you did just fine,” his mentor replied, giving him a sage nod. “Mighty Dialga will be pleased.”
“But could I have done better?” he asked more directly, clutching at himself and looking back at the diamond. The light he infused into it as a diviner still held strong.
“You can always strive to be better, Shaman Haruto!” she said with a clap and a wink. She punctuated it with a point up high. “And you always should. Once you start to get complacent with where you are, things can only go downhill. But you can’t go wrong as long as you always do the best you can!”
Haruto could only nod at that. It made sense. A lot of what Priestess Satomi said made sense. But the doubt continued to linger in his mind, squeezing his body like a coiling Ekans. What if his best was not good enough? Even if the odds of him becoming Master of the shrine were slim, if not nil, he did not want to bring shame to his family.
“I only wish that Mother and Father could have been here for this,” he lamented, staring off toward the southwestern horizon. “I am surprised this was arranged while they were away.”
“Shocked’em to hear it! Your mom was madder than a swarm of Beedrill!” Priestess Satomi said with a chuckle. “They would’ve flown over express if they weren’t in Celadon for the conference. Don’t read too much into it though. It’s just unfortunate timing.”
He tried to force a smile, only managing to erase his frown. The elders of the shrine likely considered giving him this opportunity independently of their duties, and only happened to finalize it after they had left. Or perhaps it was part of a test. If there was any ill intent, Priestess Satomi would not have stood for it.
The elderly priestess glanced over the cliff, taking in the view. She eventually settled her gaze upon the Kannagi Shrine itself, which rested at the exact center of the town. She spoke with a smile, “Well, let’s head home and tell everyone the good news! Got to start preparing for tonight’s ceremonies, too.”
Yes, there was to be a festival tonight. Haruto reflexively nodded. There was no sense in continuing this conversation, even though he wanted to. If they dawdled, his bodyguard – no, everyone would begin to wonder what was taking so long. “Very well, let us depart,” he said simply.
They walked down the spiraling hill. There were many little plateaus along the way. It was an ancient path, yet it was nearly impossible to tell that it was over a thousand years old. The stone road was patched up semiannually, though the steps near the top in particular were still the original ones. Flowers of all kinds were beginning to poke out of the well-maintained grass along the side. Nary a weed was in sight.
His bodyguard was waiting at the base of the hill. He went only by Hugo, with no family name. He was tall, muscular, and wore an olive green uniform from his military days. Four Poke Balls lined his belt. He had more in the past – all but one were confiscated upon banishment from his former nation. Haruto knew little of Hugo's history, and less still of the secular place he hailed from. Though he was hardly alone in that, his family evidently trusted him enough to grant him the position.
“All done?” Hugo asked, vaguely tilting his scarred and bald head. Despite the signs of aging, he was only in his mid-forties. His pupils were barely visible, and were hard to notice given their lenses were milky white.
“That we are!” Satomi replied. “He did a bang-up job!”
“Good. I’ll cover the rear. You take point.” The man stood behind him. “Stay between us.”
Haruto’s chest and throat tightened. His legs locked up when he tried to move them. The overwhelming presence of Hugo alone likely warded off any threats to his safety. Appearances were not everything, yet they did play a role in judgment, and his bodyguard lived up it. It even frightened him at times.
Satomi chuckled as she stood in front. “This again?” She started walking, and Haruto reflexively lurched into action. “Alrighty, but I think you’re worrying a bit too much.”
The young shaman made the mistake of looking back. Hugo’s demonic scowl made him wish he had not. It was a testament to Priestess Satomi’s nerves that she remained unflinching at the sight of it.
“The moment you drop your guard is when your enemies will strike,” Hugo quavered, anger and grief alike in his tone.
“Lemme put it this way,” the elderly woman replied, her expression unchanging. She counted on her fingers. “It’s early morning, two of Celestic’s finest are here, and we just honored a major Legend. I think the odds of anyone causing trouble–”
Something crashed into him from the left. It happened so quickly that he had no chance to get his arms out. His fall was cushioned only by the grass. His attacker quickly got up and stood over him. He saw only their blue legs. Haruto bit down as he tried not to scream in terror. He had to get up! He had to run!
Haruto flailed his arms and somehow rolled into a sitting position. They were at a small wooded intersection. He froze again and nearly choked.
Hugo had already grabbed the perpetrator, a girl around his age. She was helplessly squirming and trying to free herself. His bodyguard suddenly dropped her and skidded back a meter, evidently pushed away by an invisible force. His brow furrowed and he grit his teeth. Haruto covered his eyes as Hugo wound back.
“Like I said!” he roared. A yelp followed, but it at least did not sound pained.
“Hugo. Stop this,” Satomi ordered.
“Hey, hey! Hey!” came an unfamiliar voice.
Haruto dared looking. Hugo dropped his fists and put a hand on his belt. The girl was okay for now. She sounded like a Galarian, and was wearing jeans with a beige t-shirt. Her forest-green hair was done up in a ponytail. A ladybug Pokemon was floating protectively in front of her. It didn’t look like a Ledian or anything else Haruto knew.
“What’s all this, gramps?!” she snapped, standing firm and glaring right back at him.
“Choose your next words carefully,” Hugo warned, grabbing the Ultra Ball from his belt. That one contained his Tyranitar, his oldest and most loyal Pokemon. “I suggest you explain yourself.”
“I was just walking, okay?! I’m in a hurry and wasn’t looking!” She stomped a foot, spun around, walked over, and held out a hand. “Sorry, are you hurt?”
“Step away from him,” his bodyguard growled.
Priestess Satomi crossed her arms. “Hugo.”
Haruto looked at everyone. Hugo was watching like a Pidgeot, ready to lunge in the blink of an eye. Priestess Satomi gave him a smile. The girl was frowning and leaning forward with downcast pink eyes, having shifted moods in an instant. He could not detect any deception in her body language.
“Y-yes, I am…” He grimaced as his knee throbbed. “I am fine,” he insisted. It was not entirely true, but he did not want to get her in trouble for something so minor.
“Good, good, that’s good!” she said, reaching for him. Before Haruto could protest, or even vocalize, she had already yanked him to his feet. “Sorry again! Um.” She placed one arm on her stomach and bowed. “That’s what you guys do here to apologize, right? You bow?”
“S-sort of,” he said. “It is all right. It was…” He performed a traditional bow at her, albeit not too deeply. “I am partly to blame. I should have been paying more attention myself.”
“No way you could’ve saw me!” she initially dismissed, before pausing and glancing at the adults. ”Well, I guess you all could’ve, but it was right at a crossroads!”
“Fair point,” Priestess Satomi took it in stride with a chuckle. “Whatcha in a hurry for this early anyway, little lady?”
The girl whirled over and clenched her fists, only for her retinas to widen. “Oh! That’s right! I nearly forgot!” She slapped her forehead, then turned back to him. “Say hey! You don’t happen to know where a coffee shop is around here? My teacher’s being an absolute capital-K Krabby about her caffeine. Been looking everywhere for a place that serves it!”
Every muscle in his body tensed when she leaned in. At least it helped keep him steady. He swallowed before answering. “I believe there is a café around two blocks east of the shrine,” he said. Haruto vaguely remembered passing by it a number of times, but could not recall exactly where it was located. “Also, Krabby is always capital K.”
“It was a figure of speech! And I’ll go take a look! Thanks!” She started to run off, only to turn and say, “And if you’re going to the shrine for the festival tonight, we’ll be there too!”
Haruto opened his mouth. Before he could explain who he was – who they were – she was already out of earshot. Who was that? She did not even introduce herself.
“Fool.” Hugo shook his head.
“Gooootta agree there,” Priestess Satomi said while tapping an ear. She threw up her arms. “Well, guess she’ll find out she was talking to a Child of Kannagi soon enough!”
“It is understandable. She came from far away. We may share the same sun, but common knowledge may differ,” he noted. There was no reason to hold it against her, so long as she learned.
“Gotta agree there, too!” the elderly woman said with an approving grin. “Well, let’s head back! Time waits for no one, after all!”
They started off once more, thankfully without further interruption. It was still fairly chilly, but Haruto felt strangely warm. He found himself staring off in the direction where that girl had run. No one had ever spoken to him in both a casual and friendly way before. Even when it was one, it was never the other. He rubbed his temple. What to make of it? Perhaps they would have a chance to speak again tonight.
##########
Welcome to a very unexpected prequel to my metaseries! Even for me!
This fic has its origins in a weeklong Bulbagarden Writers event for Pokemon's 30th anniversary. It featured a bingo board with 30 fills (center and corner each having one extra), with the community filling it in with art, writing, etc. Having turned bingo drabble into blackout fics before, I attempted to do so again even if it'd only count for one slot. I succeeded, mostly after staying up late and doing 6000+ words in one sitting to finish on the last day. It had no editing at all and was about 12500 words.
After the event, I started out editing it to fix some of the problems. Around four months and 18000 words later, this is what I ended up with: enough to be a proper fic. I got carried away. The original and the bingo card can be looked up ahead of time, but will otherwise be formally linked at the conclusion.
This fic has its origins in a weeklong Bulbagarden Writers event for Pokemon's 30th anniversary. It featured a bingo board with 30 fills (center and corner each having one extra), with the community filling it in with art, writing, etc. Having turned bingo drabble into blackout fics before, I attempted to do so again even if it'd only count for one slot. I succeeded, mostly after staying up late and doing 6000+ words in one sitting to finish on the last day. It had no editing at all and was about 12500 words.
After the event, I started out editing it to fix some of the problems. Around four months and 18000 words later, this is what I ended up with: enough to be a proper fic. I got carried away. The original and the bingo card can be looked up ahead of time, but will otherwise be formally linked at the conclusion.