Volo, a Friend to Foe, Yet Still a Friend to Heart...
[STORY SPOILERS FOR LEGENDS: ARCEUS]
Celebration was held at Jubilife Village, a great festival for a great achievement, the completion of the first ever Pokédex. With Arceus's own contribution to the Galaxy Expedition Team's compiling of a detailed encyclopedia to bring people and Pokémon closer together, finishing the Pokédex felt like a true blessing and a privilege.
From sundown to sun up, everyone partied until they could party no more, and Evan was the center of attention for his hardest work in all of it. Yet, midway into the celebration, Evan would look around the plaza in the hopes that Volo might emerge among the crowd to make amends with him and enjoy the festivities. Even as he waited, Volo never showed up, either dressed in his Sinnoh toga or in his Ginkgo Guild uniform.
Evan would begin to grow tired of the constant chatter of village folk after a while as it became so loud that he could hardly hear himself think, and briefly spoke to Commander Kamado and Captain Cyllene so that he may excuse himself for a little bit to get away from all the noise, taking a rest at Prelude Beach.
As fun as the festival was, Evan only had his mind on Volo, and the shock he felt when he realized someone he had slowly began to grow rather fond of and truly relied on with their common interests in ancient ruins and legends, had sinister motives driven by a possessive need to gain an audience with the greatest power there was, the Creator, and possibly even gain control of its power to reshape the world in whatever image he saw.
All this and to the point that he went out of his way to drive one of the Almighty into an utter frenzy, along with the nobles through a spiritual connection with Giratina, whom it shared disdain for Arceus. It was all so much to unpack for Evan, he could not begin to comprehend it all. Though he would be interrupted from his deep thinking by the voice of Arceus.
Arceus: "What saddens thee, Evan? Art thee not enjoying the festival?"
Evan: "Well I was, but I kinda needed to be alone for a little while, the noise was starting to bother me a little, that's just how I am."
Arceus: "Yond is understandable. However. Thee appeareth to hast a hint of disbelief in thy expression. Is something else the matter?"
Evan: "...I've been thinking a lot about Volo, especially since our last meeting up on what's left of the Temple of Sinnoh.. I'm still coming down from feeling devastated by the way he just... changed. It especially didn't help learning that it was Volo that created the frenzy situation with Dialga and the Pokémon Nobles..."
Arceus: "Aye, that gent. Anon thee understand yond I did summon thee here for more than just simply to seeketh out all Pokémon. I hath brought thee to Hisui so yond thee couldst groweth a stout relationship with the Pokémon and people of this landeth and undo the chaos did cause by Volo."
Evan: "And all this time I, and the rest of us at the Galaxy Team thought that rift was a gateway to your realm, or perhaps a way to my original place.. I'm truly upset that Volo ended up being the one who caused all this trouble, and then had me sent on this great fetch quest to recover all of your special Type Plates, however helpful he was in guiding me towards... basically cleaning up the mess he made of Hisui. But... even before realizing all that, I thought I saw a friend in him. Volo and I shared a keen interest in learning about the past, exploring ruins, learning the origins and tales of Pokémon who brought this land together, I got to learn so much because he was with me on this grand adventure to discovered the most elusive and legendary Pokémon that Hisui has to offer. And to think that would lead up to the bitter truth of who he really was..."
Arceus: "The irony might not but beest a truly painful weight to beareth.. How doth thee feeleth about him?"
Evan: "How do I feel about him? After all that's been said and done?... Honestly, as hard as it is for me to forgive him for his crimes.... I still think of the good times we had, and... based on how he explained himself, I can definitely say he's not evil, even past the fact of his spiritual connection with Giratina, fueled by spite for you... In more recent events, he sent word to the Professor to tell me that he instead wishes to protect this land instead of try to change it, after showing him how precious you and I felt this land truly is."
Arceus: "Thee wisheth to forgive Volo, coequal knowing that gent did sow the seeds of disorder for Hisui? I findeth yond kindness to beest an admirable trait, thy sentimentality moves me so. Perhaps one day Volo might appeareth again, and yond thee may both maketh amends and returneth to the friendship thee both once hadst."
Evan: "I would truly love that... I would search the ends of the world just to tell him that I forgive him. But Volo also wished for your own forgiveness, and though I fear what might happen if I reveal you to him... I want Volo to know that we both forgive him and Giratina. After all, now that I have Giratina with me, its anger having been tamed so that it may be reasoned, maybe we just might be able to track down Volo's whereabouts and make up for the past events.... maybe even express gratitude to him for giving me the opportunity to learn with him."
Arceus: "I can feeleth thy resolveth and shall to forgive coequal the most corrupt and termagant of men and Pokémon. Truly a loving and caring aspect yond I personally believeth all living beings shouldst aspire to hast. Trusteth mine own words, we'll seeth Volo again. Each of us both shall appeareth before him to showeth Volo our forgiveness. For anon, though, shalt we returneth to the village and partake in some more of the festivities? I am particularly interested in those cake and muffin recipes yond thy people art serving."
Evan: "Well, I am feeling a lot better after discussing this in private. The night is still young, let's go enjoy what time we have left and have fun. And of course, you can try all the cakes and Jubilife muffins you want, let's try not to eat them all though, I'm sure there are other people and Pokémon who would love to have some too."
