It’s been a week since the betrayal. The… “incident” atop Mount Coronet, as most people now call it. Although, now that you think about it, “incident” doesn’t seem a suitable enough description for what happened on the mountain that day. Oh well, no point in trying to get people to call it anything else now.

You’re still rather… crushed, after what Volo did. And not without warrant, either. Who wouldn’t be after the only person who seemed to be your ally in your time of need tried to destroy everything, using the power of Arceus itself?

But, you still have work to do. Apparently, taking time to process and heal isn’t a good enough reason to take a break, in Kamado’s eyes.

So, here you are in the Obsidian Fieldlands, roaming around and observing Pokémon like you’ve done so many times before.

Your mind is wandering, though. Where did Volo go, after you defeated Giritina? How hasn’t anyone been able to find him yet? Is he okay? That last one should be none of your concern, you tell yourself. So many questions, so few answers. It gets frustrating after a while.

A rustling from a nearby bush (a large one that you’re sure hadn’t been there before) startles you. You pull out a Poké Ball and wait, silently, for an ambush. Perhaps a wild Luxray has decided that you are its next meal.

A minute passes. Two minutes. No attack. Your shoulders relax.

Still, curiosity gets the better of you, and you shove aside the branches and leaves. What you find hiding inside makes you freeze to the spot, as if the very veins beneath your skin have gone cold. Your eyes widen.

“Ah. Come to finish me off, darling?—”

A cough. A hiss of pain, a hand grabbing at his side. He falls back when he tries to sit up.

Volo. Injured, and badly, in multiple places, with the worst being a deep gash in his side, most likely from an Alpha Luxray. Not good.

You shouldn’t be as concerned as you are. Frankly, you should be happy he’s finally facing the consequences of his actions. But, for some reason, you aren’t. Perhaps your mind still wishes to cling to the happy-go-lucky merchant you thought you knew so well once. Seeing him in pain like this hurts. For reasons you can’t explain, you want to help.

You can’t take him back to the village, they’d let him die before they treated his wounds. The Diamond and Pearl clans would kill him on-site, and they’re too far away, anyways. You’ll have to treat him yourself.

The question, though, is will you?

Volo smiles. A bitter, pained, and slightly pathetic sight.

“You must be thrilled to see me in this state, no? After all…”

He trails off, coughs again, winces and then shuts his eyes.