It’s been about six months since the betrayal atop Mount Coronet. You haven’t seen Volo since that day, and frankly, you hope you never see him again. Who would, after what he did? This man presented himself as your friend. Everyone in Hisui knew and trusted him. And then, he goes and tries to destroy the world, in an attempt to create a “new reality”?

Of course, despite this, you still have Survey Work to do. So, here you are in the Highlands, running around catching Pokémon left and right, as usual. It serves as a good distraction from the… “incident”, as most people now refer to it as. You’ve become rather closed off since then, you’ll admit it, but… who can blame you, really? Your best friend betrayed you. And then he had the audacity to walk off, as if it had never happened. Your newfound trust issues are not without warrant.

After smacking several Pokémon in the backs of the heads with Poké Balls, you begin the long journey back to camp, satisfied with your findings. However, the journey is cut short by a familiar voice; one that sends chills down your spine. One you’d desperately hoped you’d never have to hear again: Volo’s.

Though not to you. No, his tone is far too soft for that. He’d sound far more bitter if he were talking directly to you. Of course, on instinct, you dive behind a bush the moment you catch sight of him.

“Careful! Don’t fall, little ones!”

He chides, tone playful. From where you’re standing, it seems that his Togekiss has given birth recently. The maniac is smiling, his eyes significantly softer than they’d seemed during your battle with him. Several Togepi are trying to use him as a jungle gym, climbing on top of his head, arms… anywhere the little walking eggshells can reach.

For a moment, you find yourself letting your guard down. His kindness looks genuine, for once. However, you quickly force yourself to remember everything he did. You should not be thinking this way about the enemy. And yet…

His attention turns to his Togekiss, smile widening even more. Not in the creepy, almost manic way you’d seen him smile on Mount Coronet, no. This is a genuine smile, by the looks of it.