Akari Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven (Volokari/Volo x Akari/Volo x Reader)

To Do Wrong To None

Akari's dreams were dark that night. She was back at the temple, the sky a swirling haze of blood and electricity. The stone platform was cold through her sandals, nearly as cold as the ice in Volo's eyes. The merchant had changed his clothes, abandoning the silly blue and gold of the Gingko Guild and now donning an elegant white chiton and silky green trousers, accented by golden braces and sandals. His bangs were pulled back into an ornate updo, revealing both of his silver eyes, which glowed with a maniacal delight as he laughed at her.

"Of course, if I create a brand-new world, then the Hisui region that we currently exist in will be undone and returned to nothing. You, everyone you know, and all the Pokémon living here will vanish in an instant, as if you'd never been."
"If you want to keep this world from disappearing, then face me in battle! Not that you have a choice. Even if you don't wish to battle me, I'm not above using force to take those plates from you."

Akari gripped her pokeball tightly as she had every time she had this dream, though it had been nearly a year since she last fought this imaginary battle. She threw the ball towards her former friend, releasing her first pokemon. The battle commenced, but this time, Volo knocked her pokemon out, one after the other. Her eyes widened in fear as she realized she might lose. A part of her knew it was a dream, and yet it felt more real than any previous one, as if Arceus itself was testing her by throwing her into this battle once more.
"GIRATINA, STRIKE HER DOWN!"

Akari gasped as Giratina let lose a bone-chilling scream, twisting its head back before unleashing a horrible power from its maw.

Everything went black, and Akari shot up, drenched in a cold sweat despite the morning sun. Her heart was pounding and it took her a second to realize she was not at the Temple of Sinnoh. Shaking slightly, she looked around, seeing her Ninetales curled up by alert as it stared towards the other shoreline. She followed its gaze and immediately made the connection between her nightmare and her reality.

Volo sat crossed legged on the shore, his Togekiss wrapped around his shoulders as he rolled some rice into a sootfoot leaf. Sensing her gaze, he looked up at her and gave her a sheepish smile.

"I'm sure you've brought rations, but I do have an extra rice cake if you'd like one," he called over the gentle waves. The friendly attempt seemed even more suspicious after her dream, and Akari shook her head.

"I've plenty, but thank you,"

A little courtesy was fine, she decided. Her distrust of Volo didn't stop her from feeling guilty when being rude, even if he deserved it. Volo nodded as if he expected it, his Togekiss trilling as she eyed the second rice cake glutinously. The man smiled slightly.

"If you insist," he said, offering the cake to his Pokemon. Togekiss chirped as she wolfed it down, eyes squinted in delight. She looked at Akari, crumbs on her mouth, and trilled again happily. Akari couldn't help but smile. She had always loved Volo's Togekiss, easily the sweetest Pokemon she had met in Sinnoh, even when she was a little Togepi.

"Give me a moment and you can come back over here," Akari said, crawling out of her bedroll and stretching. The distance was more than welcome as she ducked behind one of the scraggy bushes on the edge of the cave to change out of the undershirt she slept in. Once dressed, she stepped over to the shore and splashed some cool water on her face, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Hesitating, she tried to think of another excuse to delay speaking to Volo again but after coming up blank, she sighed.

"Ready when you are then," she called out. This time, she didn't hear a splash, and was surprised when she saw Volo standing on the edge of the shore, though she understood after noticing him slide Togekiss's ball back on to his belt.

"Why didn't you just ride her over last night?" Akari asked, avoiding a more serious conversation. Volo shrugged, an effort that seemed like it took way more energy than it should in his shrunken state.