Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Falling through the air, a deep dread fills him as he awakens mid fall. He looks around to grasp at anything, anyone. The man crashed head first into cold water, the current pulling him downstream before he had a chance to resurface. He struggles to break the surface, his feet finding no purchase as his arms flailed through the water. Lightning crackles in the sky above him, the wind howled a mighty rage.

The log he catches was a godsend, climbing onto it with all his might. Emmet gasped, the river's fast moving current tossing him around as he traveled downstream. He could barely think, to register whatever the fuck had happened for him to end up there and his eyes fell upon the fastly approaching waterfall.

The man in white could do nothing but scream as he falls down into the freezing waters once more.

He remembers losing hold of his breath, the fall had beaten the fight out of him. He remembers thinking that this was it, that at this very moment he would die. Alone, no Pokémon by his side, not any of his friends and not even his own brother. His vision was failing him already and he barely catches the shadows moving just outside his vision. Were there Pokémon here? Were they wild? Will he be eaten? He hadn't the faintest idea, nor could he figure out why he has the luxury to even think of such things while dying.

As his vision fades out, the shadow moves closer to him.

Why did it look like a person?

He felt himself being pulled, almost completely unnoticed as he struggles to keep himself afloat. Before he knew it, the dragging grip of cold water is replaced with muddy ground that welcomed him.

Emmet coughs roughly, trying to expel as much water from his lungs as possible. He turns to his side, trying to catch his breath as his cough continues. He barely registers the rain dripping over his face, much less his already soaked clothes and freezing body. Voices surrounded him, none he could actually make out as a buzzing in his ears drowned out by only his own strained noises. Someone touched his shoulder and he hissed in pain, flinching away hard.

A voice cuts through the crowd. He could barely look up as the person speaking parted the mass easily with each step. He catches the visages of a woman standing before him, his vision seemed to haze momentarily and he almost called the lady after his friend. He blinks slowly as the rain seemed to let up, the cloudy sky shading them from the sun's light.

" Galarian?" He perks up at the familiar term. " Ah, you speak Galarian." The haze clears and his silver eyes were locked on a vibrant pair of red irises.

Her attire though strange was an eye catching violet with what looked like a gold woven sash draped over one side of her broad shoulders and pinned to her waist with a bronze belt. The golden pins in her hair tucked safely behind what looked like a crown or tiara of sorts and her bright red eyes, whose gaze washed over him like a cold wave, reminded him of a Haxorus (whatever that was). How intelligent and telling they were, cutting into his very will. He opens his mouth to speak but couldn't find his voice, his throat hurt and he finds himself coughing another fit. The woman issues a command to the others in a language he failed to recognise.

It didn't sound like any of the languages he's commonly heard from tourists or in any of the multi lingual battle line scripts he has memorized in the back of his mind. That being said, the man couldn't narrow down wherever he was based off it. Certainly not Celestica nor Kalosian, it sounds too far off to be Paldean either and he knew a fair amount of that compared to other foreign tongues.

He doesn't notice when he's picked up from the ground, the pain from before already numbing with time. The rest of the day was a blur to him, having passed out shortly after.

It isn't long after when he awakens once more. Laid back on what felt like a thin mat, surrounded by soft blankets and an equally comfortable pillow that cushioned his head, Emmet stared up at the ceiling above him. Or rather, lack of.

The wooden beams that made up the roof were visible, as was the zink roofing that provided the structure's shade. He takes a moment to gather himself, slowly sitting up as he looked around the room. He was wearing a white cotton shirt with wide ended sleeves that extends just past his elbows and pants that were equally wide, reaching just above his ankles. His limbs felt sore, his sides stung as he straightened himself, hissing at the motion.

" I would suggest you to refrain from moving too much."

He turns his head to where the voice was coming from. Standing by the door was a man in green, around his waist seemed to be a checkered cloth with silvery grey threads and over his head was a headdress of the same silvery fabric. He would soon learn that the waist cloth was known as a samping and the headdress, tanjak.

" It seemed the river had tossed you around like a twig in a stream. You are fortunate to not have suffered more than a few bruises and a dislocated shoulder." By either side of him, wearing plain black uniforms were two men each holding a spear in hand. Their sharp gaze regards him briefly, as if scanning over him before simply looking ahead, focusing on nothing in particular. " How are you feeling?"

Emmet hesitates to speak as the man addresses him. His silver eyes continuously drifted to the pair in black, who's eyes never met his but he could feel that they were watching his every move somehow. It's unnerving. The man speaks again, but in a language the poor Unovan couldn't grasp.

The pair in black nods, placing their palms together and bowing respectfully before exiting the room. " Forgive my rudeness, my name is Jati. I am the Satria of this area. The drinks will be here shortly." He says, seating himself on floor after politely asking Emmet if it was alright.

" I am Emmet." He responded easily, his voice sounding a little raspy. " Do you have my coat and hat? They are verrrry important to me."

" Do not fret, your clothes are currently being cleaned as we speak. I understand that it is important for a professor to keep his coat clean." Emmet smiled blankly, blinking slowly as he goes over Jati's words. " Were you separated from your expedition group? The wild areas in this region is no place to wander alone. Perhaps you could tell us which foreign region you are from and we can help send you home."

The man in white opened his mouth to speak, pausing awkwardly before clamming his mouth shut. " I...I do not know." He answered softly. " Where even am I?"

Chapter Text

The land of Juntara is a region in the far southeast of the hemisphere. With wild areas that ranged from dense tropical jungles to vast open valleys of endless rice fields.

" Why do you all like to eat so much rice?" Emmet asked, purely out of curiosity. Jati panned to him slowly, staring at him for a good minute with a mute smile. The Satria glances at the very bowl of rice porridge he held as his guest eats another spoonful.

" Because it is the staple food here." He answers with a sigh. " Have you recalled anything?"

" I am afraid my memories have not returned to their stations yet." Jati hums thoughtfully at this. It has been two days since the white man had been delivered to his valley by the neighbouring Satria's men. They haven't a clue where this foreigner was from but a few of his belongings seem to give away a few details. " I am grateful that the Purple Satria was able to recover some of my belongings but I am still having certain doubts."

" Might I ask what those doubts may be, Professor?" Emmet blinks at the Green Satria, still unaccustomed to the title. It was a term he recognised but had little to no familiarity to.

But, with his pristine white coat made up of higher quality material, being sturdier and certainly more durable than the local fabrics, his old torn shirt and tie, and finally, the strange rectangular device with a strap attached to it. All of the above aren't things you would find on any regular person. The white coat itself was probably a dead giveaway, it was easy to assume what sort of position he held by his clothing. Or so they hoped.

" I am unsure if being a professor is truly my calling." He admits carefully, placing the emptied bowl aside.

" We shall see soon enough. Have patience." Jati insisted.

The Satria, a commander of an area of land, were the defacto leaders of Juntara. They were in charge of keeping the peace between the local clans and the overall safety of all the inhabitants of the region. That included both humans and Pokémon.

" I will certainly try." Emmet says, moving on to his drink. There were seven members of the Satria altogether with Indigo as the eldest and Yellow being their youngest. The 'professor' glances to the Green Satria, catching bright red eyes staring thoughtfully at him. " Can I help you?"

" Forgive my rudeness. It is simply that I have never seen you without a smile these past two days." He hadn't really noticed he'd been smiling the entire time, it sounded almost ridiculous hearing it being mentioned. The Satria seems to find it amusing, if his curious expression was anything to go by.

" I have not noticed." He certainly wasn't smiling too much, was he? It isn't that he's always stuck in the same expression, a common misconception which he shares with...someone. But, he knows he can definitely make other expressions just fine.

" It is a nice smile." Emmet is briefly taken aback by the sudden statement. He looks to the Satria, who smiles back at him. " My parents used to tell me that smiling is a virtue. They say when you smile, it is a blessing and you are giving blessings to others as well." He's certain that he's heard from somewhere in the back of his mind that people often referred to his constant smile as unsettling.

A blessing. Where has he heard that before? He wondered as he brushed a hand over the device.

A guard in black appears, knocking on the door frame before bowing. The guard speaks in Juntai, the formal form of it as Emmet would soon learn, Jati responding in a calm but even tone. " It appears there is another business I must attend to." He sighs.

" Jati!!!" A voice screams before Emmet could speak. A blur of cream and yellow zipped passed the guards, earning a surprised yelp from the poor man. " Tolong Hali!" A young girl whined, she wore a yellow blouse and a skirt that reaches her ankles. In her hair, were a collection of golden leaves decorated in an arc that crowned her head like a delicate tiara. He would later be informed that her attire was known as a kebaya. " Eh, ada tetamu." The girl muttered quietly, immediately straightening up.

" Aduhai, Halilintar."Jati sighed. " Did I not tell you to have patience when I am attending to guests?" Emmet was caught surprised as the Green Satria continued to speak Galarian to the young girl. " Mr Emmet, this is my youngest sister. Halilintar, the Yellow Satria." A nod of his head and a smirk seemed to signify a challenge to his sister.

" It is my honour to meet you, Professor." The girl bows slightly in greeting, hand over her heart and head lowered. She raises her head, red eyes alight as she spoke. " Then can you help me, Professor?" She asked far more politely, giving the barest glance at her brother with the same subtle nod and smirk.

" Bukan ke Hali meminta tolong Jati tadi?" Her brother asked, tone betrayed.

" I did." She says, speaking pointedly in Galarian. " But Mr Emmet is a professor. Surely, it is within his expertise." The man in white felt sweat bead on his forehead, nervous as Jati made a small betrayed gasp. " It's one of my Joltiks." The word makes him perk up as Halilintar produced a small Joltik from her sleeves just about the size of her palm, maybe larger. " I think he might be sick and I've tried feeding him Wacan berries, Tanga berry and even a Cheri berry but nothing is working."

Emmet stares at the little yellow creature in her hands, his eyes never leaving it as it is deposited into his hands. Gently, he rolls the little bug type to its side, earning the smallest squeak from it. " Has he learned Discharge?" He asked her.

" Yes." He glances at his collection of mysterious belongings, taking the strange strapped object from the pile and brings it closer to the Joltik.

" Joltik. Discharge." He commanded but the bug made no move.

" Joltik, Nyahcas." Halilintar commanded instead. Following suite, the Joltik let out a flash of electrical energy which was immediately directed towards the device. The bug blinks, righting itself up and looking around curiously. It squeaks loudly, its four blue eyes finding the Yellow Satria and immediately bounds up to her with an excited shriek. " Joltik!" The girl cries happily as the bug nuzzles her hands.

" It seems he was simply a little overfed." Emmet states. " Joltiks, especially young ones, have the tendency to feed off more than they could handle. Too much food is bound to give anyone stomach aches. Berries are actually much more useful in curing state effects from moves, like paralysis from electrical attacks can be cured with Cheri berry."

" Oh, I see." Halilintar said, petting her Joltik. Both siblings listened intently to his explanation, staring at him with those bright red eyes.

" So the berries aren't exactly all cures. And here I thought the answer to all our problems lied within the plants we had." Jati pondered.

" Berries and herbs are undoubtedly necessary for medical purposes, of course. It is simply there are certain situations where different methods should be applied." The Yellow Satria blinked, tilting her head.

" Kak Anggun pun berkata sebegitu." She hummed thoughtfully. " Thank you for helping me, Professor. I will be going now." She gives a little bow to them both. " Oh, and once you have time, you should come visit our village in Tembaga Cavelands. I will treat you to some good Mareep kebab." She said as she leaves the room cheerfully.

" You are certainly more talented than I had given you credit for." Jati says to him, an easy grin on his face. " You have our thanks for resolving this issue."

" It was no trouble, sir. I was simply doing my job." The response came to him easily. There was a sudden scratchy noise and all eyes were drawn to the device in his hands. The flat face of the screen flickered momentarily, glowing in the dim light as the words 'low battery' flashed over it.

" Is your device still functional?" Jati asked, watching in full interest of the object before the screen went black again. " Eh, mati ke?" He held back from poking the device, something told him it won't do any good. " In other news," The Satria continued. " Your wounds seem to be healing well, you should be able to move around the hut on your own soon. However, in regards to where you may came from, we couldn't quite track down any groups that may know you. Most of the visiting foreigners have left as soon as signs of the seasons changing picked up again. Any merchants hanging around are getting ready to leave and no one claims to know you."

" However," Jati pauses. " There has been claims from some of the villagers that you had fallen from the sky which matches up with what you remember. Do you truly not remember anything?" He waits for the man in white to respond, the poor clueless foreigner simply blinking at him in confusion before shaking his head. " I see." He thinks for a moment, red eyes downcast as he leans forward with one hand to his chin.

In truth, Emmet would later learn that his arrival in Juntara had been more than untimely. There had been issues with foreign affairs, namely the attitude of certain trading groups to some of the locals in the area. Arrogant as they were, speaking highly of themselves and their legendaries. Of their advances in certain areas of technology. But their words would always fall short when faced with the fact that while they may threaten to try and invade the land of Juntara, they cannot survive even a day out in the wilds without a proper guide.

Especially not when the Pokémon which reside in Juntara were mostly ambush predators. That's not even counting the very Legendaries that lurk undetected. One of the first rules Emmet learns in Juntara is to watch your words. There have been many strange cases where the buildings and structures inhabited by certain travellers would be destroyed. Others where ships were overturned and the seas swallowing them before they could return to their home regions. Word would get around that the people involved in those cases had been planning harm to the region of Juntara.

On the very first day Emmet was allowed to leave the medical hut, he received a royal summons by the region's royalty.

A royal summons puzzled him. For were they addressed by Satria, commanders of the region's lands, he was not familiar with any of the royalty within the region. Or rather, any royalty at all. Most of his old clothes had been ruined, caked in thick mud that wouldn't come off no matter how hard some of the workers tried to clean it. Aside from his coat and hat, nothing else could be saved. He heard from Jati that they ended up burning his old clothes to get rid of it, frustrated.

Wearing his usual white shirt and pants, he threw on his coat and was about to make his way down the steps when one of the guards who'd been eyeing him up and down stopped him.

" What you wearing?" He asked in broken Galarian. " Bad. Disgusting." The man, wearing black as the other guards, had tanned skin and neat little moustache. A cloth wrapped over his head kept his hair out of his face, mint green eyes looking up scrutinizing. Being probably a couple inches shorter compared to Emmet, he seemed to be scowling while having to gaze up at the white man. " Jom. Let's go. Good clothes." The man mumbles something, rummaging through his bare closet.

Instead, he is given a green high collared shirt paired with a dusty green samping. Unable to part from his hat and coat, he was able to convince the guard, who introduced himself as Mawar, to let him leave it on. So now he sat atop an enormous Copperajah, Mawar instructing the Pokémon where to go as he hummed a melodic tune. There was something about the guard before him that he felt looked familiar. He brushed it aside, feeling that it probably wasn't important.

Chapter Text

They made their way down a beaten path, passing by stretches of rice fields within the Sabak Valley. The land of Juntara is divided into seven main areas, excluding the Mooneater Islands, each with their own Satria to watch over the land and its inhabitants. The Satria themselves, are no mere figures casting a shadow in their roles of authority. He would soon learn that they were not only siblings, but royalty.

Mawar guides him down from the Copperajah, cooing at the enormous Pokémon and praising it greatly before finally leading Emmet to the Grand Community Hall. Built between the borders of Pasir Kasar Hills and Tangga Melu Highlands, the Hall is used as the official meeting place and office for the Satria. It also houses a number of guards and several members of the Hall's staff including personal attendants of the aforementioned royals. The Satria themselves have offices here as well as a meeting room they use frequently to discuss all their issues.

He felt eyes watching his every move even before he got into the building. Some of the guards smiled at him and he offered them a small wave to which they simply replied with a raised brow and amused grins. Mawar sent them a glare, hissing audibly as they straightened themselves. He speaks to one of the guards at the door of the main meeting room and the guard quietly knocks on the wooden door before entering.

As he waited, Emmet took a moment to truly take in his surroundings. Although most of the structure's interior is made up of wood, the design and layout of the building promotes air circulation and keeps the building cool on hot days. Unlike most buildings he's seen around Juntara, it was not built on stilts. Instead, the interior was built a few steps higher than the actual ground. He's seen at least five spires that reached the skies and a large dome acting as the roof. The door he stood behind was enormous, with many different carvings of plants and Pokémon alike etched onto the wood. He marvels at the workmanship, trying to make out which Pokémon he recognised.

The door opens with a click, he steps back immediately as a tall man in deep dark blue appears. He had long dark hair with greyed strands, bangs kept neatly in place by a tanjak and framed his neat facial hair, a deep blue vest over his ivory white shirt, and a leather belt secured a yellow samping. He gazes at Emmet with the same scrutinizing look Mawar had given him. " Professor Emmet." His deep voice rumbled.

" I am Emmet." He responded automatically, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck rising.

" Their majesty, the Royal Satria awaits the pleasure of your company." He holds out the door for him, beckoning him to enter. " This way, please."

" Laksamana, there is no need to refer to us so highly." A young man said, he wore sun bleached red vest, baggy harem pants and wore a golden bangle up his left arm. " We are Satria first and foremost."

" Pakai baju molek sikit!" He yelps as a white shirt was hurled at his face. The woman who threw the cloth huffed, wearing an ocean blue blouse with gold and black embroidery. She sits herself down, readjusting the boat shaped headdress over her head. " Our deepest apologies, Mr Emmet. My brother has shown something unsightly."

" Unsightly..." The Red Satria grumbles in turn, putting away the shirt in defiance but shrinking away when she glares at him.

" You are, Kalim." Another man, wearing a white high collared shirt with deep purple cloth resembling a pair of trousers which cuffs just above his ankles. A sash of a similar colour draped over his left shoulder, pinned with a leaf shaped brooch and a bronze belt wrapped around his waist. " Unsightly, that is."

" Abang* Asul, you are so mean." The younger man pouted as the Indigo Satria seemed to scoff in response.

" Professor." He recognises the voice, looking up at a lady in a familiar violet, sitting next to a younger lady in orange garbs with a headdress that reminded him of Taurus horns.

" I am Emmet." He mutters half minded.

" Professor Emmet." She corrects herself with a smile. " I am Anggun, the Purple Satria. These are my siblings and fellow Satria. Kalim, Kahel, Halilintar, Jati, Dayung and Asul. The Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Indigo Satria." She introduced herself and her siblings. " I understand you have become acquainted with Hali and Jati."

" He helped me with my sick Joltik!" Halilintar says cheerfully.

" As grateful as we may be for your assistance, we have some concerns we would like to address with you." Dayung, the Blue Satria says. Behind her, the Laksamana nods in agreement. " In regards to your origins, we have found absolutely no records of you thus far from any of the merchant entries or customary lists of travellers who have set foot on our land." Halilintar shifted uncomfortably in their seats as Jati looked down quietly.

" We have reviewed every report available by the Syahbandar** of all possible coasts. The last entry of a professor stepping foot in Juntara had been no more than a year ago and he left a note saying there was nothing interesting about our land aside from the resources." Asul continued. " We have sent letters abroad in case of any sort of news. Though, we cannot guarantee anything will turn up."

" We understand that you claim to suffer from amnesia, Professor." Kahel added. " But, surely you must remember something."

" Kahel." Anggun says in warning. " Jaga tutur kata."

" Apa?" The girl threw her hands up. " He shows up in the middle of nowhere and I have heard, dear sister, that some of the people saw him fall from the skies."

Their bright red eyes flashed his way simultaneously. He lowers the cap over his head to hide his own glowing silver. The Laksamana seems to take notice of this, and he swears he could see his gaze soften just barely. " I admit that I, myself had witnessed his fall. There were no such contraptions to have kept him in the air, nor any Pokémon to have aided him in flight." Anggun says now. " Professor, can you swear upon our authority, the people of this land and your very life to speak the truth?" Some of the Satria grew more interested now as their eyes glanced between their sister and the man in white.

" I am Emmet. I do not like lying for one should always strive to confess their Truths while upholding their Ideals. For that is the characteristics of a person of Will." He blinks momentarily, knowing fully he must have quoted that from somewhere. " I Shall confess my Truths to you, as you Must judge me with your Ideals. Be it even by the execution of your Will." Anggun's eyes flickered with interest, she holds his gaze, he himself swimming in it before reluctantly breaking away.

" What is your name?" The Laksamana began the interrogation.

" I am Emmet. That is all I remember of my name." Jati recalls him trying very hard to recall his own last name.

" Where have you come from?"

" I do not remember but I do not believe I am Galarian." He certainly didn't carry the accent, they would have recognised it.

" Why have you come here?"

" I do not know. Or at the very least, I did not intend to. I do not think I was ever fond of traveling." He wasn't. A part of him seemed to recall that he'd very much preferred wherever he was before. His home, even if he had no clue where that was.

" Do you intend any harm upon Juntara?"

" No." He answered without an ounce of hesitation. Something breathes down his neck, he finds himself freezing up immediately as the alarming presence makes itself known to him. The Pokémon sniffs his hair, tongue clicking. The sound bouncing off the walls as a shadow loomed over him.

He dares himself to look up, silver eyes carefully trailing the ceiling until it lands on a long black tail wrapped around a large beam. The red claws of its feet carefully grip the wood as its large black body leaned downward. Emmet's eyes followed the body of the draconic creature until they met with the gleaming bright yellow cat-like eyes of the Noivern. The dragon type continued to click his tongue at him, the rhythm echoing all around him.

" A Noivern." The creature twitches its ears, large wings leaning down until its claws reach the ground. It corrected its position, coming down from the beam and standing up in full height. He has seen Noiverns before somewhere he believes, though never as close. He knows how much he's estimated their height to be but the dragon type standing before him now practically fills the enormous room. Its pupils were a bright glowing red, peering into his with curious interest.

" It seems she likes you." The Laksamana mused as the Satria exchanged curious looks.

" She does?" Emmet asked nervously. The Noivern raises one of its claws, he remained as still as he could and closed his eyes. He waits a minute or so before opening them again, finding that the Noivern had retreated to the beams. He hears someone yell and another coughing a fit.

" Kahel!" The Red Satria exclaimed, looking down at his soaked attire before glaring at his sister who was coughing a fit. The Laksamana stared at him with wide eyes before bursting into laughter.

" Laksamana!" Dayung hissed as Anggun helped Kahel calm down.

Emmet looks on, confused. What were these reactions? The Noivern above him seemed pleased with herself while some of the Satria were either in shock or simply confused if the blank looks Jati and Halilintar shared were anything to go by. Asul helped Kalim to dry up, handing him a towel he found. They were still looking at him, curious he looked around if anything was amiss and noticed something had fallen from his hat. He looks down to find a bright red flower, its petals were frilled and the tip of its stigmata was covered in golden polen.

" It seems that Pusparaja*** likes you very much. She is very adept in detecting lies and has an aptitude for honest people." Anggun explained. " The red hibiscus is her favourite flower. She only gives them to those she has *particular* interest in." Jati coughs as Halilintar loudly sips her drink.

" Yes, yes. Particular interests indeed." The Laksamana chuckled as the siblings simultaneously gave him a Look. " Nevermind that now. We have no reason not to trust you based on Pusparaja's evaluation."

" Then, shall we move on to the next agenda of this issue?" Jati continued, visibly relaxing more now.

" Of course." Asul agreed. " Professor, would you be opposed to having your accommodations placed here?" The Grand Community Hall was well equipped as far as he's seen, he has no reason to refuse.

" While we're at it, should we not get him a tutor? He'll be here for an indefinite amount of time but I think it's clear he will have to interact with the people at some point." Kalim pointed out.

" Oh, shouldn't we also reward him?" Halilintar finally speaks up. " He did help me."

" Of course." Anggun says.

" If so, then is there you would like Professor?" Dayung asked.

" Selain daripada para puteri yang jelita." The Laksamana muses to himself, even as Dayung glared at him.

" Well," He thinks it over for a moment. There is a certain weight in asking favours from a person of authority. It's familiar in a way but he feels completely unequipped for the situation. Still, it is technically a reward they are giving him the option of choosing. He looks down at himself and while what comes to mind may seem trifling, it feels absolutely necessary. " Colours are very important to me. I would like to request some clothes, preferably in white." He says, receiving nothing but silent stares. " If that is possible." He adds quietly. " ..Your majesties?"

Chapter Text

" Good morning!" He greets the guards as he passes by. They spared him small smiles, a small gesture he's been given since he arrived at the Community Hall. He berates himself internally for still using Galarian to greet them. His tutor would be displeased. It has been a little under a month or so since his fall, weeks since he'd begun to take lessons in the national language of Juntara, Juntai.

His white coat flapped behind him, cap securely in place over his head. He adjusts the collar of his white shirt and slacks. His tutor was a strict man when it came to linguistics, but it wasn't difficult to follow his lessons. The only trouble he really had was the lettering. Here in Juntai, they don't use the usual alphabet he recognised. While they borrowed the alphabet from another region from the middle east, they readapted it into their language and created a writing system known as Jawi* and referred to Galarian alphabet as Rumi**. With a total of 28 letters as opposed to the 26 known ones, it is even read from right to left.

A long term assignment, or rather research, is the way he should spell his name. Based on the sound and lettering of his name, the best they could come up with made it seem to sound 'Aymit'. Which sounds rather off in his opinion.

" Hello, Putih!" Mawar greeted him with a wave. Another man with a bandana, dark skin and completely shirtless, waved as well. He rests a spear over his shoulder, and smiles. " Joko say study hard. Pastu we can go jalan-jalan!" He calls out to the man in white.

The other guard simply nodded. Joko was a man of few words but he was also the one who came up with the nickname Putih, which means white. Sometimes the others would add 'Si' at the front, making it Si Putih, or White One. Both of them have been helping him understand some of the local lingo. Juntai has several different accents with each area, all influenced by the environment and its people. As such, there are even words found to be of Galarian, Celestica, Paldean and even hints of Kalosian in origin. They say the settlements near the coasts have the most variety in their accent through the daily interactions with foreign visitors there.

" You seem distracted, Professor." His tutor said, Laksamana Awang, or in translation, the Lord Admiral Awang.

" My apologies, Lord Admiral." Emmet says in Juntai. " I am simply curious about something." The older man smiled, proud that his continuous lessons in courtesy and etiquette have already begun to etch itself into the younger man.

" Malu bertanya, sesat jalan. If you're ashamed of asking, you'll get lost." The Admiral told him. " Ask away."

" When will I be allowed to leave this compound?" The Admiral raised his brow, then leaned forward and squinted his eyes.

" How old are you?"

" I think I'm 24?" He answered earnestly.

" You're a full grown man! For what reason are you asking me permission to go out for?"

" Ah, well. It is simply that I am still unfamiliar with the language and I am afraid an incident will occur due to any misunderstandings." Emmet says. " I think I vaguely remember, before coming here, that I do not enjoy traveling for long periods of time." He didn't like being in places he wasn't familiar with. But with no memories to aid him and not a single person he knew, it was most certain he would get lost.

" I see." The Admiral hummed. " Tell me, do you dislike eye contact? And do you feel discomfort in crowded places?"

" Yes." He answered, surprised. " On both accounts. But, I have grown accustomed to being in crowded areas."

" Have you?" The Admiral pressed further.

" Yes." He answered easily. " I have finished." The Admiral took a look at his assignment and checked through the work.

" Well done. That will be all for today." He gave his thanks to the Lord Admiral and left the room, forgetting his initial question almost completely. The older man noticed this and laughed to himself, shaking his head.

On his way back to his room to continue studying, he is suddenly pulled around a corner. Feeling a surge of panic, he reacts instinctually to the sudden action and throws the first punch at his possible assailant. Catching his fist easily, Joko looks him in the eye with a raised brow.

" What has possessed you, Putih?" Mawar asked in Juntai, standing closely behind Joko. Emmet immediately relaxed, backing up a bit and apologising under his breath.

" My apologies, you caught me by surprise." He further says in reply.

" Wah, you speak much better now!" Mawar compliments him. " So, do you have permission?" The man in white falters. " You forgot."

" I've just finished class, I'll go back and ask him." Mawar laughs shaking his head.

" No need lah! You're a grown man what***. Come on, I know a good place nearby that has the best cendol you've ever had." Joko nods along eagerly, a very cheerful glint in his eyes.

" Wait, but -"

" No buts. It's so damn hot today and I'll melt if I don't get my cendol." Mawar is already gently pushing him down the hall.

" My homework -"

" It can wait. Putih, you've never had cendol before right?" Mawar asked him and he shook his head. " That itself is a crime. So if you don't want to be arrested, you better come along."

Helpless, the man in white is strung along as they make their way out of the building through the back door of the kitchen. Emmet waves awkwardly at the staff who glanced their way, not paying them much mind save for one of the chefs who remind them to keep the door shut.

Right outside the backdoor was a small stall surrounded by chairs and tables, occupied wholly by the staff of the Hall and attendants of the Satria. They turned briefly to see who'd come to join them and mutely returned their attention to their respective tables.

" Boss****, three cendol! Extra syrup on mine!" Mawar bellowed his order with a friendly wave to the vendor as Joko leads them to an empty table right between the shade and sun.

" Boss?" Emmet pondered.

" It's a slang." Mawar explained, taking his seat. " Ah, come sit, Putih. Today is my treat." Emmet takes his seat quietly, making sure to shift his coat a little to get comfortable. " So, Putih." The man drawls. " How are you liking Juntara so far?"

" It is," He pauses, the image of red eyes flashing in his mind for a moment. " Beautiful." He says thoughtlessly, blinking the image away.

" Right?" Mawar grinned. " But you've barely seen the rest of it. All holed up in your room all day like that. I bet you don't even know what's been going on in the region these days."

" I was not aware that it would be of importance." He admits to his rather indifferent behaviour towards whispers and words of gossip. For the most part, he had trouble understanding before and even after, he couldn't quite find himself listening to any of it. Unless it were official news he'd hear from either one of the Satria or the Laksamana himself, gossip was of no use to him. A certain part of him seems to hold quite the strong distaste for rumours, it never did anyone any good but it left a particularly bitter feeling on his tongue. His lacking memories don't seem to help provide much evidence as to why.

" You poor man. Bagai katak di bawah tempurung. Like a frog under a coconut shell. You know nothing." The man shakes his head in dismay as Emmet scoffs internally. " Listen, there's been some rumours that Pusparaja has an eye on someone." Mawar says.

" Is that a bad thing?"

" It depends. That Noivern is very sharp. Have you heard about the tale of Si Kitol?" He shakes his head. " So the story goes that way back when the capital of Juntara was still on Mooneater Islands, the King had been dealing with some rather pushy foreigners. He was no fool as to what they desired, for they were colonists that have already taken over the sister region of Alola." Emmet tilts his head curiously, recognizing the name.

" Mokupuni o Alola." He lets the words roll right off his tongue. Mawar and Joko looked at him in surprise.

" Yes. You know Alola?" The guard asked him.

" I have heard it...somewhere." Emmet hums, trying to remember where he did hear it from. " But, I do not think I have ever been there."

" Alright then," Mawar nods. " Anyways!" The guard waves it off dismissively, Emmet snorts, the guard typically doesn't like to complicate things. " So, Si Kitol was planning on betraying the King and selling off our region to those greedy colonists behind his back. Who else to stop him other than the King's own Noivern? They say she could hear everything going on within the castle at the time and the moment she caught wind of Si Kitol's schemes, she took him to skies kicking and screaming." The thought of the rather gentle Noivern dragging someone into the air sent a shiver to anyone who listened. Emmet himself had already faced the Noivern, in all its great size and sharp gaze.

" They found his body the following day. Torn in half." Emmet winced at the implications. " One half found right in the middle of the colonist's ships in the South, the other near Boiling Mud Volcano in the North." He finished.

" So, your point is that whoever Pusparaja has her eyes on, they are in grave danger?" The man in white says.

" Probably." Mawar shrugged. " But it's strange, don't you think? The monsoon should have driven away most foreigners already. You can't even go out to sea to fish at this time." Joko quickly elbows Mawar in the ribs, forcing the man to yelp. " That hurt!" The other guard simply glared at him, eyes glancing over to Emmet who was currently looking down and fidgeting his fingers uncomfortably. " I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" He chuckled awkwardly. " Uh, hey boss! Where's our order?"

" Right here!" The vendor walks over with his hands balancing three bowls of shaved ice, topped with jellies, coconut milk and palm sugar syrup and places them on the table. " Eh eh eh, pay first." The vendor says strictly, holding his hand out to Mawar. Reluctantly, he pays the vendor and just before they could dig in the cool sweet treat, they heard the vendor scream. They turned their attention to the stall where it was now completely glazed over with ice.

" Glaceon!" The vendor scolded. " What's gotten into you? How am I supposed to clean this up? You naughty fox." The ice type looked up in confusion and shook its head, growling at the tree tops above pointedly. " Dahlah... Enough with your growling." He moves to pick up the fox but Glaceon evades him and continues to growl and yip at the trees.

" There he goes again." Someone mutters. " I've always heard Eeves are easy to train, until they evolve. Then they're rebellious little things."

" What a naughty fox."

" There goes my break. Haish, I can't even enjoy a good treat anymore." Another grumbled.

" Excuse me," The vendor looks up from his embarrassing attempts to catch his own Glaceon, finding the man in white standing behind him. " I think I know why your Glaceon attacked the stall."

" Please. Enlighten me." The vendor deadpans.

" That." He points into the treeline and the others become very silent, trying to get a look at what he was pointing at. Then, they heard a faint but mischievous giggle. " Glaceon, Ice Shard." The ice type seemed confused.

" Glaceon, Jarum Ais." The vendor repeated and the ice type obeyed, firing needle-like ice shards into the trees. They could hear a yelp and a pokemon came tumbling down. A can of kidney beans smashing into the ground, spilling its contents all over the place. " My beans!"

" A Chimchar?" Mawar says, looking down at the fallen pokemon. It gets up drowsily and shakes its head. Glaceon yips triumphantly, successful in his attack against the mischievous pokemon.

The Chimchar realizes it's been caught and tries to run but the guards are quick to block its way. " You, you're the reason I couldn't enjoy my break!" The one in front said. Emmet felt himself tense in favour of the Chimchar, looking between them in concern that the guard would hurt it.

" Let it go." The vendor sighed, surprising those present.

" But, it ruined your stall." One guard said. Taking the opportunity, the Chimchar ran away quickly before the guards got any wiser.

" It's just a pokemon, you know." The vendor said, looking over his frosted stall. " Thank you for your help. I almost scolded my Glaceon for no reason."

" I am simply doing my duty, dear passenger!" The word slipped out before he could stop himself. The vendor gives him a raised brow but smiles nonetheless.

" So, it seems I have to close up shop early today everyone." He announced to his customers, earning a few groans but understanding nods. " This is going to be quite a costly repair."

" Could you not ask for financial aid from the Satria?" Emmet suggested.

" The damages were done by my own Glaceon, so I don't think it'd qualify. Besides, I'm in no poverty. The frost will melt and I'll do a run-over on all the supplies and tools. It shouldn't be too costly." Glaceon nudges his leg, whining a little. " It's alright, you were just looking out for me." He soothed the fox.

Emmet smiles at this, happy to see a good relationship between the vendor and his pokemon.

" Putih, are you done? Come eat before it melts!" Mawar called him and he soon got his first taste of cendol. It was sweet.

Chapter Text

The following day, a member of the kitchen staff popped into his room and asked for help in their kitchen. Emmet doesn't think he knows how to cook much, especially not the local food here. But, it certainly wouldn't hurt to take a look.

" Professor!" The head chef, a plump middle aged woman with her hair tied in a neat bun, greeted him with a smile. " Here, here. I heard you are good with pokemon." She ushers him inside the kitchen. " Have you had any coffee or snacks?" She waves her hand over the array of kuih, bite sized snacks and desserts, some of the other staff had prepared for tea time.

" It is alright, madam." He attempts to decline.

" Nonsense, you're so thin! Come eat something first. Just looking at you makes me feel starved." Finding no space to argue, he sits down with the kitchen staff in their break room. They gave him coffee and plentiful kuih to try. He does his best to take the desserts as sparingly as possible, not exactly the biggest fan of too many sweets. He relays this to those who would actually listen to him and they manage to ease up on their verrry hospitable behaviour. " So, Puteh." He looks up at the call of his nickname. " Here is our problem, we've lost a few utensils here in the kitchen. This wouldn't be a problem usually, but the utensils that were stolen belonged to our beloved Satria." The kitchen staff collectively groaned in dismay.

" Ah," Emmet nods in understanding. " Can I see the scene of the crime?"

He's taken to a locked cabinet, or rather what it once was. It was destroyed, much of it half burnt. The drawer door itself had been pulled recklessly, the screws were either knocked out or loose and the main cabinet door had been smashed in." It's that Zarude." One of the kitchen staff said, silenced by a hiss from the head chef.

" Don't call for things like that." She scolded.

" I'm not!" The young man said, holding his hands up defensively.

" You said it's name, that's calling it!" Emmet raised his brow slightly. A lot of the people he's met here were rather superstitious and were especially so towards ghost or dark types. Even uttering the names of the pokemon were considered bad luck, fearing that they'd come the moment it is spoken. It's utterly ridiculous in his opinion but he chooses to stay quiet.

" I do not think it is a Zarude." Someone gasped at his casual use of the name. " The burn marks indicated the culprit is a fire type. Zarude is a dark and grass dual type. That, and I do not believe such a rare and elusive pokemon would have reason to leave its home to steal silverware."

" That actually makes sense." The young staff member said. " Didn't all the stories say the Zarude attacks happen in the forest?" He says, grinning. The head chef throws him a glare and he immediately hides behind Emmet. " It's not like they have super hearing! Pusparaja, maybe but not an overgrown black mankey!"

" Zian!" Another staff member scolded him. " At the very least show some respect."

" He has a point." Emmet shrugged. " Aside from that, I think a primate kind of pokemon would still be more likely to be the culprit." He shows a fist shaped mark on the drawer. " Most likely something strong enough to rip this open, a fighting type. Or capable of using a fighting type move." Only one pokemon came to mind, one that is already known to be within the perimeters of the Hall. " I think I know where your culprit is."

A few selected members of the staff followed him out to the back where the cendol vendor had been busy cleaning up his stall and taking into account what needed to be fixed or replaced. A couple of guards were looking around for something as the vendor seemed to look more troubled than the day prior.

" Good evening, Mat Kerut!" He greeted him.

" Puteh!" The vendor greeted him in turn. " Still white as chalk. Come for my cendol, have you? Unfortunately, you might have to wait a while longer."

" It's alright, Mat Kerut. We wanted to ask you something but," He looks past the man, to the guards still looking around the bushes. " It seems you're occupied."

" It's nothing. Just that my Glaceon had run off, the naughty thing." The man sighed heavily. " Nevermind that now. What do you want to ask, Puteh?"

" Have you seen the Chimchar from the other day lately?"

" Not to my memory" He answered, shaking his head. " Did the little thing cause more trouble?"

" Nothing of the sort." Emmet quickly waved off but paused. " Well, perhaps a little trouble."

" It's like this Mat Kerut, the little thing might've stolen some cutlery from the royal kitchen and there'd be hell to pay if we don't find it soon." Zian explained, the rest of the staff grimacing at the thought of being responsible for losing such high quality items meant only for the royals.

" Could we not have the cutlery replaced?" The man in white asked out of pure curiosity.

" That would take too long." A senior guard who's worked in the hall for years spoke up. " Traditionally, all items pertaining to anything to do with our royalty are meticulously made to fit their preferences. The cutlery sets reserved for our Satria were brought over from our sister region Alola as a gift many years ago." Emmet listened with full interest, humming thoughtfully.

" Are there any distinctive features on the silverware?" He asked.

" The end of the handles all have red gems." The head chef said. " They remind me of the evening sun." It sounded familiar. A red stone like the setting sun, he supposed they would be more orange than red but that wasn't important.

" Has there been any other Pokémon sighted around here?"

" Well, there was this weird smell the other day while I was cleaning out the back." Zian said.

" You're lucky it's daytime."

" And it was daytime when I noticed it. The smell was awful and I kept looking around for the source but couldn't find anything." He shrugged. A couple guards in the area nodded along, adding that they noticed it as well during their patrol. Emmet prompted them to describe it further. " Well, it's kind of bitter? Like how black coffee tastes." He sticks his tongue out in dismay. " Thick and grimy."

" I thought it smelled a little nice actually." A particular guard named Aazi said. " Like there's something sweet about it." The guard next to him sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder and shaking his head.

" Did you hit your head?" His friend yelps as Aazi shoves his hand off his shoulder. " Just because your Rockruff liked it too doesn't mean it's good!" The man in white perked his head up.

" You had a Rockruff with you?" He smiled wider as the guard nodded. " Could he track the smell again?"

It doesn't take long before the guard returns with his little Rockruff and he, alongside Emmet, Zian, a couple other guards and Mat Kerut venture into the thicket. The small rock type led the way, sticking his nose into the air as the group followed. It isn't long before the smell makes itself known. It grew stronger the closer they got, evidently ruling out any supernatural possibilities. Cloths were pressed against their noses to guard against the smell, aside from Aazi who doesn't seem at all bothered by it.

" This is too much." Mat Kerut wheezed. " Go on without me."

" No, Mat Kerut! Who'll make us cendol later?" Zian lamented dramatically.

" I'm not dying you idiot." The elder man huffed. A familiar call resounded. " Glaceon?" He called out in return, rushing ahead and already forgetting the smell.

" Old man, wait!" Aazi called after. They followed him further in and found the Glaceon in question facing off with an Infernape. Both look rather beaten, baring their fangs at one another as they were locked in combat.

" Glaceon, Jarum Ais!" The old man held back a cough as he let out the command. The Glaceon following suit and firing off several needle-like ice projectiles at the Infernape.

But the primate Pokémon was stronger now with its higher evolution and evades the attack with dig. " Dodge!" Emmet warned them and Glaceon was able to avoid the Infernape's hit. " Use Freeze-Dry!"

" Glaceon, Beku-Kering!" Mat Kerut repeated. The air rapidly cools, the Infernape is frozen with a powerful cry before the ice shatters and sublimates into the air. The fire type falls forward, unable to continue battle.

" Verrrry good! Your Glaceon is verrrrry strong. Yup!" Emmet congratulated him on winning the battle.

" Certainly not without your help." The old man chuckled before going into a coughing fit. " It's even worse here." The Rockruff barks at a trembling flower-like creature hidden behind the bushes the Infernape was guarding. " Is that?"

" A Gloom?" The little thing was surrounded by the aforementioned silverware, desperately trying to pull out the gems with its little limbs. " I see now." Emmet carefully walked around the Infernape and knelt before the Gloom, the poor thing trembling even more. " Please do not be afraid." He reassured it, taking a small piece of kuih he'd wrapped in a napkin prior. He offers the sweet dessert to the Pokémon carefully. The Gloom hesitates for a moment before accepting the treat, the intensity of smell growing fainter. " While I understand what you were trying to do, I am afraid that stealing is strictly against the rules." He says, picking up one of the golden spoons. The Infernape comes to, trying to sit up as it growls at Emmet, only to be blocked by the guards' partner Pokemons.

" You wish to help your friend get stronger, correct?" He asked, turning to the growling Infernape. " I can understand that the wilderness can be difficult and the best way to survive is to get stronger. However, this will only put you and your friend in danger. I can help you." The Infernape straightened up in surprise, its growling had ceased as it blinked at the man in white in shock. " If you are to return what you've stolen, then I will procure a sun stone for your friend."

" A sun stone?" Zian echoed, looking carefully at the silverware before realising that those warm red gems were actually pieces of polished sun stones.

" Are we in agreement?"