Imagine PMD2 Riolu Partner if Hero never came back after restoring Temporal Tower: If Arceus hadn't intervened and the Dark Future had disappeared.
Riolu would've returned to the guild, continued with their apprenticeship and that night on the beach, they try to accept that the dark future and hero are really gone. The dark... future?
If Hero and everyone else was from the future, then, they'll be born into this world eventually, right? It's not clear how far in the future the dark future was, but Riolu has to believe that it'll be within their lifetime.
So, Partner sets out, searching the globe for the last of the humans, and their family. Eventually, they stumble across a Duskull, young and innocent, but Riolu would recognise that aura anywhere, they couldn't forget it if they tried. Riolu shrinks away at first but slowly realises, this time, Dusknoir had the chance to be something completely different. So, after a short conversation, Riolu wishes Duskull well and continues on their journey.
Years later, Partner finds a young Treecko, living happily in the woods, surrounded by siblings and loving parents. This Treecko looks totally different from Grovyle, he doesn't have the scars, or that same hard gaze. No, this Treecko is laughing, and Partner tears up, knowing this is what always should have been. If only this Treecko knew how much the sunrise meant to him.
Partner continues, from town to town, across the continent Partner searches and... nothing. No hide nor hair of a human. So, Partner searches the globe again, and still nothing. Everyone says the same thing, humans are a myth, they've never lived in this world.
Heartbroken, Partner returns to Treasure Town, hoping to find some semblance of joy in what was once their dream. Time passes and Marill comes by the guild, saying they found someone lost, wandering through the woods. It's a Phantump. They seem confused, scared, unable to remember anything except a name.
Riolu knows it before they hear the name. This. This is Hero. Someway, somehow, Hero is here, right now. Partner hugs the Phantump and the ghost type flinches away, cautiously returning the hug after a moment.
Partner's heart aches and they offer to let Phantump stay with them at the guild and get this all figured out. Phantump agrees and Partner gets to relive their relationship all over again. Maybe this time they can be the one to give Hero strength.
turnnoffyourmind
andulkaphoto
tangentwithtanner
blakekathryn
