Chapter Text
The world outside the doors is even louder and more crowded than the building Ingo had been in. He flinches at the noise and crush of people, getting a concerned look from Emmet.
“Are you ok?”
“I’m fine. Please don’t worry.”
Emmet stares at him and sighs. “I don’t know what you said. Are you ok to get to the hospital?”
Ingo just nods in response.
“Ok. Good. Let’s go, I’m verrry worried about you.”
His brother leads again and in another few minutes they reach a large building and walk up to the doors. Like the ones on the train, they open on their own. Emmet walks right up to the counter and talks to the person on the other side while Ingo studies his surroundings. There’s an incredible amount of detail for a dream, especially since he doesn’t remember seeing anything like this before. He’s lost in thought when Emmet appears at his side again and he jumps.
“Easy, it’s ok. Just me.” Emmet looks worried. Ingo feels bad for making him worry, even if this isn’t real.
“I’m sorry.”
Emmet stares at him. “You’re apologizing, aren’t you?”
Ingo blinks at him and nods.
“Quit that. You don’t have to apologize.”
“But I’m making you worry. You shouldn’t have to worry about me.”
“I don’t even need to know what argument you’re making. Quit apologizing. Whatever this is, it’s happening to you. You’re not causing it. It’s not your fault.”
Ingo takes a deep breath. “Fine.”
Emmet laughs, obviously understanding his meaning.
A woman enters the room from a wide door and looks around until her eyes light on them. She strides forward, a flat board with paper attached to it held in one hand. “Good afternoon, Subway Boss Ingo. If you follow me, the doctor will be able to see you in a few minutes. Would you like your brother to come back with you or wait here?”
“I do not want to be separated from him.”
Her brow furrows. “Pardon?”
Ingo sighs and closes his eyes, taking a deep breath and trying not to let the frustration boil over. After a moment, he opens his eyes again and nods, gesturing to Emmet.
She seems uncertain, but smiles. “Ok, well then if you will both follow me.” She turns and heads back through the door.
This is a very strange dream.
Ingo mentally shrugs and follows her, with Emmet walking in step beside him. He keeps track of the turns they take instinctively so he’ll be able to find his way back out. This isn’t a cave system, but it might as well be for how complex the hallways are. The woman leads them to a small room containing a few chairs, a raised thing that looks sort of like a bed, and a device he has no idea what to make of.
They sit and the woman taps on the device, then starts asking him questions. Most of them he can answer with a nod or a shake of the head, though Emmet has to answer some of them for him.
When she asks about what brings him in today, things get more complicated. Emmet explains what he can. “Ingo suddenly rushed off his train when it came into the station. He seemed really distressed and when I finally caught up with him it was like… like he didn’t recognize me straight away.”
The woman looks at Ingo and he nods in confirmation. He hadn’t recognized Emmet.
“And he doesn’t seem to be able to speak Galarian even though he can clearly understand it. And he said he hit his head.”
“You hit your head? Where?”
Ingo furrows his brow. They think the head injury was recent. He shakes his head. “No. It happened a long time ago. I’m fine now.”
“You… didn’t hit your head?” Emmet asks slowly.
Ingo looks at his twin and shrugs helplessly.
The woman takes a deep breath. “Ok. I think I should just get the doctor.”
She leaves and Emmet gives Ingo a confused look. “I don’t understand. What happened?”
Ingo shakes his head in frustration. “I don’t know. I don’t like this dream.”
There’s a knock at the door and a different woman enters. She looks them both over, then holds her hand out. “Good afternoon. I’m Dr. Lori.”
Ingo stares blankly at the outstretched hand and she slowly retracts it. Emmet raises an eyebrow at him.
After an awkward moment, Dr. Lori continues. “I understand that you’re experiencing some strange psychological symptoms. Am I correct that you can understand me just fine?”
Ingo nods.
“Good. Your brother mentioned possible head trauma so we would like to do some scans as well as have you checked by a psychic type for possible Pokémon interference.”
Ingo nods again. “That sounds fine.” He doesn’t really understand, but he’s willing to just go along with this dream for now.
Ingo doesn’t like the scans, but Emmet stays as nearby as they’ll let him and keeps reassuring him that it’s fine. He’s glad when it’s over and the doctor declares the scans to be totally normal.
Next comes the check by a Pokémon he recognizes as a Duosion despite never having seen one before. Those results are… less conclusive. The Duosion reaches into his mind, then recoils back both psychically and physically. It looks terrified for the brief moment he can see its face before it returns to its pokeball voluntarily.
Dr. Lori tells them honestly that she doesn’t know what that means. Ultimately, he’s sent away with instructions to rest for a few days and see if anything changes. Not the most helpful advice, but he’s not sure what he expected from a dream.
So, Emmet leads them back out of that building and down the busy, too crowded, too loud street until they reach a different one. He studies the tall, stone building as they head inside and he can feel Emmet studying him at the same time.
Emmet says nothing and leads on, pressing a button that apparently causes doors to open into a tiny room. Ingo tilts his head and hesitantly follows, watching the doors close with some dismay. And then the floor moves. Or the whole room moves? Either way, it’s an unexpected and distressing sensation. Emmet looks fine, though, so he makes himself stay calm and wait to see where this is going.
After a moment, the doors open and Emmet steps out. They’re in a totally different location now. A long hallway stretches in either direction, lined with doors. Emmet seems unfazed by this and leads down the right hand hallway.
They reach a door that looks like all the rest and Emmet takes out a key and unlocks it. They enter and Emmet removes his coat, hat, and shoes, so Ingo follows suit. The room they enter is simultaneously completely foreign and vaguely familiar. It’s also far too bright, with artificial light coming from several places on the ceiling.
Emmet gestures to a soft looking chair. “You should rest.”
Ingo just nods and does as he’s asked, trying not to stare too much at the surroundings. He sinks into the chair and leans his head back. He’s exhausted. Is it normal to feel tired in a dream? That doesn’t seem right. It also feels like this has been going on for an unusually long time.
He closes his eyes. Maybe if he falls asleep here, he’ll wake up. Does he want to wake up? Will he remember his brother if he does? He supposes eventually he won’t have a choice, but for now he wants to keep dreaming, so he opens his eyes again and stares up at the ceiling. Even that looks odd.
There’s a click at the door and he turns towards it. A woman enters, then stops suddenly when she sees them both staring at her. Emmet recovers first. “Elesa. I forgot you were coming.”
The woman, Elesa apparently, glances between the two of them. “Is… everything ok?”
Emmet looks at Ingo. “No?”
“What’s going on?”
Ingo sighs. “I can’t speak Galarian, and everyone is very worried about it. Also, I’m guessing I should know who you are, but I don’t.”
Elesa stares at him. “Ok. Not what I was expecting. Was that Sino?”
Ingo shakes his head. “Celestica.”
“What?”
“The language. I think it’s called Celestica.” Emmet explains.
“Ok, so what did you say?” Elesa asks, looking at Ingo.
“I can’t translate for you.”
She furrows her brow and looks to Emmet for explanation. He does his best. “Ingo can’t speak Galarian. The doctor has no idea why. He maybe hit his head? Also, he didn’t recognize me at first, and I’m guessing he doesn’t recognize you, either.”
Ingo nods in confirmation.
“Wait, seriously? H-how does that even happen?” She comes closer and looks Ingo in the eye. “You don’t know who I am?”
He shakes his head. “I’m sorry.”
Emmet smacks the back of his head. “I told you to quit apologizing.”
Ingo could almost laugh that that’s the first phrase he’s learned of Celestica. Maybe he does apologize too much.
Elesa takes a deep breath. “Ok, so you can understand Galarian.” Ingo nods. “But when you try to respond, it comes out as… Celestica?”
Ingo furrows his brow and tilts his head in thought. Slowly, he shakes his head.
“Are you… trying to speak Galarian? Or Celestica?”
“Celestica.”
“Can you try to speak Galarian?”
“I… don’t know how.”
She looks at Emmet. “Is Celestica even a real language? I’ve never heard of it.”
He tilts his head, then taps the device on his wrist for a minute. His face twists in confusion. “Well… It was a real language. Spoken in… Hisui? Ancient Sinnoh, apparently. It doesn’t exist anymore.”
“Hisui doesn’t exist?”
Emmet’s head snaps towards him. “Does the word Hisui mean something to you?”
Ingo nods. “Yes. It’s where I live.”
“I don’t know what that means. Is… is there some other way we can communicate?”
“Have you tried writing?” Elesa asks.
“No. That’s a great idea. Hold on.” Emmet disappears for a moment, returning with a sheet of blindingly white paper which he lays on the low table and a small blue stick which he hands to Ingo. “Can you write something?”
He tilts his head and gives Emmet a confused look. He lifts the small stick and inspects it, noticing the small amount of ink on the end. He doesn’t see how that’s going to help much. It will just run out immediately, and Emmet didn’t give him any more ink.
They’re both staring at him. It’s Emmet who asks, “do you not… know what a pen is?”
He shakes his head.
“Well, that’s… what else don’t you recognize?”
Ingo looks around, then gestures to a rectangular object on the table.
“The laptop?”
Ingo shrugs. “Sure.”
“What else?”
He taps the paper on the table, which is far too thin and white to be normal, then gestures to an object on the wall, another on the bookshelf, and the kitchen in general. Finally, he taps the device attached to his own wrist in place of his Warden Bracelet.
Emmet looks horrified. Elesa does, too, but she hides it better. Emmet opens and closes his mouth a few times before stuttering out, “w-what else- how much don’t you know?”
Ingo wants to answer, to explain. But he knows Emmet won’t understand. He’s starting to get a headache. He looks at the pen still in his hand and puts it to the paper. It feels strange, and the characters come out wobbly and too thin, but he writes his answer.
‘I could not remember anything. You. Where I came from. Nothing.’
He shows them, but they just stare in confusion at the writing.
“That’s not Galarian, either.”
He sighs. “No. I only know how to write in Celestica.”
After a long moment, Elesa collects herself. “Ok, why don’t we try to establish what you do know. You know the name of the language you’re speaking. Do you know how you learned it?”
Ingo shrugs. He had never thought to question how he knew the language. Mostly, he had just been grateful to be able to communicate with people when he struggled with so many other things.
“Ok... I’ve known you for years. You don’t speak any other languages. So, this must have just happened?” She doesn't sound very sure of that assessment.
Ingo shakes his head. “No, I've been speaking Celestica for a very long time. It's most certainly not new.” His mind catches on something Elesa said. He gestures at her. “ You said you’ve known me for years, but I don’t know you at all. And I have lived in Hisui for many years.” He sighs. “I suppose it doesn’t have to make sense. It is a dream after all.”
Emmet stares at him for a long moment. “I really wish I could understand what you’re saying. So… you didn’t recognize me at first, but you know who I am now, right?”
He nods. “You are Emmet. My twin brother.”
“Why did I even ask? I’m getting a headache. Ok. I am Emmet. We are twin brothers. We are the Subway Bosses of Nimbasa City- what?”
Ingo cuts Emmet off with a wave of his hand. “Subway Bosses?” He doesn’t know the meaning of the words, nor does he have a translation for them, so he just mimics the way Emmet says it.
Elesa laughs a little, but her expression is sad. “You don’t know what a Subway Boss is?”
He shakes his head.
“Fuck.” Emmet stares at him. “You were on the subway. Did you not know what it was? Is that why you just took off?”
He nods in confirmation.
“I’m derailing this conversation right now to teach you about trains.”
“No the fuck you aren’t, Emmet. You can do that later.”
Loathe as he is to pass up the opportunity to learn about trains, which excites him for reasons he can’t fully comprehend, he gestures to Elesa and nods. “I agree. There are more important things to discuss.”
Emmet huffs. “Fine.”
Ingo laughs and pats his arm. “We can do it later.” He hopes that’s true.
“That being said,” Elesa begins, “I’m not exactly sure how much more we can figure out with yes or no questions.”
“Hmm. You have a point, but I don’t know what else to do. I have already checked, there is no translation service available for Celestica.”
Ingo hums as an idea strikes him. He picks the pen back up. It’s still clumsy with the unfamiliar instrument, but he begins to sketch. He learned the skill during his excess of free time during the winters in the Highlands. Though his abilities were poor to begin with, years of practice have rendered him a decent artist. At the very least, one can typically tell what he’s trying to portray.
He draws the Highlands. Mount Coronet rises sharply on one side, while a crude depiction of the lower parts of the region stretch out on the other. It takes a few minutes, during which Elesa and Emmet fall completely silent.
Once he’s finished, he looks up at them. They’re staring at him with shocked expressions. He furrows his brow. “What’s wrong?”
“When did you learn to draw?” Emmet’s exaggerated expression remains in place as he carefully takes the paper and studies it. “This is really good.”
Ingo tilts his head. “Not really. Akari could do much better.”
Elesa looks at him. “No, seriously. When did you learn to draw? I know you couldn’t do that before.”
It makes sense. He had been spectacularly bad when he started practicing. He shrugs. “I have practiced the skill for years. I was bound to improve eventually.”
She shakes her head. “Right. Umm…. did you learn to do this recently?”
He shakes his head and she and Emmet share a look. Emmet asks, “are you sure? Because, I’m with Elesa. I’ve seen your doodling. Recently. It’s not good.”
He laughs and shrugs again. He doesn’t know how to answer that, since he himself can’t remember what Emmet is referencing. But it’s growing more and more clear that the people in his dream are stuck in the past. That makes some sense, since any memory he would have, however buried it may be, would have been from before he left this place.
Emmet looks back at the drawing. “Ok. But, what is this? Where is this place?”
“Home.” Emmet clearly doesn’t understand. He tries again. “Hisui.”
His brow furrows. “Hisui again. What does this have to do with ancient Sinnoh?”
Ingo sighs, doing his best to push away the ever building frustration again, and leans forward. He makes eye contact while he points at the drawing and speaks slowly. “This. is. Hisui.”
Emmet and Elesa share another look. Elesa taps the device on her wrist a few times, then turns the screen around. “It certainly looks like Sinnoh.” The image displayed on the screen is fairly similar to the one he had drawn, although at a different angle.
He shakes his head. “Not Sinnoh. Hisui.”
“I don’t understand. Aren’t they the same?”
“No. I live in Hisui, not Sinnoh.”
“I still don’t understand.”
Ingo finally loses his patience. He just wants to be able to communicate clearly. He’s never had such a frustrating dream. With a growl, he stands, surprising the other two, and stalks off. He needs a moment to calm down or he’s going to start snapping at them. Not that they would understand even if he did.
He walks down a hall and into a room at random, closing the door behind him and sinking to the ground with his back against it. He rubs the heels of his palms against his eyes. He’s so tired.
The door shifts, pushing against him as someone tries to follow him into the room. He leans back, keeping it closed. He hears someone moving around on the other side, then from the same level he’s sitting at, he hears Emmet’s voice. “Ingo, are you ok? What’s wrong?”
He sighs. He’s still annoyed, but it's not Emmet’s fault. He’s just worried about him. “I am fine. I just need some time to calm down.” Of course, his brother doesn’t understand what he’s saying, so he doesn’t know why he bothers.
To his surprise, though, he hears Emmet let out a long breath. “You’re overstimulated, aren’t you?”
Overstimulated. The term is unfamiliar, but he understands it. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes he’ll find himself in a state where every little thing feels like too much. It’s good to know it’s not something wrong with him. Or at the very least, not something new.
He leans his head back against the door. “Yes.”
“I’m… pretty sure that was a yes. It’s alright, just come out when you’re ready.”
He hears shuffling cloth and the sound of footsteps retreating down the hall. Even though his brother can’t hear him, he whispers, “thank you.”
He should get up. He should pull himself together and go back to talk to them. Even as tired and irritable he is, he doesn’t want this dream to end yet. His body has other ideas, though, and his eyelids droop heavily. His head falls forward and he falls asleep where he sits.