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It was all a blur for Rei, the stranger who fell from the rift.
One moment, he had tossed the last Snow Balm at the frenzied Lord Avalugg, dissipating the golden aura that surrounded the behemoth Ice/Rock-type that ruled the Alabaster Icelands. As the day closed and the Diamond and Pearl Clans expressed their thanks to the Galaxy Team and its Survey Corps, everyone had hoped that the rift would finally close, and that all of their troubles would finally be over.
What no one expected, however, was that their troubles were only the beginning.
Though the sun rose to a new morning, that new morning never came. Instead, the rift atop the sacred mountain of Coronet only grew bigger as lightning strikes fell from the heavens, threatening to tear the earth apart. Humans and Pokémon alike were thrown into a panic as chaos erupted from all sides. The skies above were engulfed in a strange distortion of reds, blues, and greens, as time and space began to spin out of control.
Something…or someone…was obviously causing all of this to happen…but who? And why?
Commander Kamado had been quick to point out who he believed was the culprit behind this looming disaster, the distorted skies. To the shock and dismay of everyone, however, his conclusions fell upon one person: Rei!
The whole of Jubilife Village couldn’t believe their ears. How could such a young man, one who endured heat and cold, muck and mire, and every Pokémon attack thrown his way – how could he have done such a thing? Especially after everything he went through to save the Noble Pokémon?
The loudest objections came from four people who gave Rei support all the way through. And who continued to do so. Adaman, Irida, and fellow Survey Corps members Akari and Professor Laventon. They came to know Rei as a kind and honest person who loved Pokémon with all his heart, and who was willing to risk his life through that love. It was because of Rei that they could learn how to better understand their own Pokémon, and learn for themselves that they were never truly alone.
But Kamado’s word was final. If Rei really was behind the distortions happening, then there was only one thing to do.
Rei had to be exiled!
As he was escorted out of Jubilife Village – his home away from home – by Captain Cyllene, he could hear the jeers all around him. He could feel the stares and glares by the villagers who once ostracized him – and now were seeing him off…possibly forever. And yet, he put on a brave face as he was led out of the village gates and into the Obsidian Fieldlands, where he would be at the mercy of wild Pokémon.
Even as Lian and Mai turned him down, afraid of what would happen if word got out that the Diamond or Pearl Clan was sheltering a suspect behind the red skies, Rei continued to stay strong.
It was only when he’d gone to the Obsidian Falls – an area where he could be by himself, where he could take in everything that had happened within these past few hours – that he came to the ugly realization.
He was alone.
It was a terrifying reality, even more so than the very Pokémon everyone kept telling him about. Pokémon were terrifying creatures, yes, but so was the pain of loneliness. It was a reality he couldn’t fully fathom, but a reality he’d been forced to accept nonetheless.
Rei felt a pang of sadness and anger stab at his chest. He took off his Baneful Fox mask and looked at it with hardened eyes. He’d risked his life to calm those frenzied Nobles…and this was how he was repaid? By being branded a suspect, and then banished from the village? By having the only home he’d ever known in this cruel, cruel world of Hisui taken from him? It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right!
At least Kamado had the mercy to let Rei walk free instead of being chained up and thrown into prison. But one could say that being treated as an outcast and exiled into the wilderness with little hope of survival was itself a prison of sorts.
Tears of frustration fell down his cheeks. He dropped to his knees, hugged his mask close to his heart…and wept. Every last emotion was poured out at once, spilling into the massive falls that could very well be a drop to a watery grave…if he so desired. Yet, he just sat there, crying continually until his tears could fall no more, and his eyes burned red and bloodshot.
His ears barely registered the click of one of his Poké Balls being opened, while his eyes couldn’t detect the flash of light that followed. It was only when he felt the soft brushing of butterfly wings against his shoulder, followed by a little face with a narrow mouth brushing against his own, that he realized the presence of another.
Taking a deep breath, Rei slowly turned to find his Beautifly perched on his back. The butterfly-like creature gazed at him with sad blue eyes as she nuzzled his face with her own, as if to say, “Please don’t cry. You’re not yourself when you cry.” Her rainbow-coloured wings seemed to reflect the distorted light as they fluttered. Rei leaned against Beautifly, welcoming her motherly aura as he returned the gesture.
Then, one by one, each of his other Poké Balls clicked open as the rest of his Pokémon popped out. They huddled close to him, providing him comfort in every way they could. His East Sea Gastrodon rested her head against his shoulder as she gave him a saddened look. His Roserade propped herself on his lap and wrapped her rosy arms around his waist as she pulled him into a hug. Sneasler sat on his right, opting to wipe any remaining tears with the tips of his claws while giving him little cheek kisses. Zoroark sat on his left, occasionally laying her eyes on his mask before returning her gaze to the first human who came to love her.
Last, but certainly not least, was the first Pokémon Rei had bonded with – the first partner Pokémon who had come to understand Rei, to guide him throughout Hisui…and who had gradually become like the brother Rei never had – Typhlosion. The Fire/Ghost-type rested his head atop Rei’s own, gazing down at his human brother with a calm smile, as if to say, “We’re here for you. We will always be here for you.”
Rei could only sit there, letting out shaky breaths as his Pokémon – his own second family – hugged and comforted him. He wasn’t sure what to make of it all, truthfully. Especially since they could have just destroyed their own Poké Balls and abandoned him.
But they didn’t. They had instead come to see him as more than just a human, but a brother…not by blood, but by the bonds they created together.
Fresh tears poured from his eyes, but now he was smiling as he hugged each of his Pokémon, returning the kind gestures they gave him. And as he did, he came upon a new revelation.
He was never truly alone.