Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

It's 12:00. Isagi is being told what she'll do next by her advisor.

>ADVISOR: December Holiday. That's who you're finding tomorrow.
⪴ISAGI: But what if she's dead?
>ADVISOR: She isn't.
⪴ISAGI: ...
>ADVISOR: Now go to bed.
⪴ISAGI: Fine.

Isagi walked out of the building, feeling rather depressed. She lived in Oregon, US in some shoddy apartment alone. Anyways, anyways. Isagi went inside her car and drove back to her apartment. She rode the elevator, and found her room, 6-71. She went to bed, comfortable in her slumber. Hours later, the sun rises, Isagi's alarm wakes her, but that's not the only thing screaming at her to wake the fuck up. Isagi opens her eyes to a small, floating little humanoid...child.

⪘?: Hey!!! Wake up!! You're going to be late to find Dess Holiday!!!
⪴ISAGI: What?? Who're you?? How did you know about that????????????????
⪘PAIMON: For your first question, Paimon's Paimon, and for the second question, Paimon just happened to hear what was going on in that building while stuck in the vents!
⪴ISAGI: Oh. Uh... Hi... Paimon! I'm Isagi, and also, how'd you get stuck in the vents...?
⪘PAIMON: Well, it was Paimon's first time in the building, and Paimon smelled something reall good cooking on the other side of the building, so, not knowing what Paimon was doing, Paimon accidentally slipped into an open vent and got knocked around by the fans!
⪴ISAGI: uh.... okay, so, why're you here? I...feel like you wouldn't be that reliable on the journey..
⪘PAIMON: Oh, there's no need to doubt Paimon! Paimon'll try to be the best missing persons finder companion!
⪴ISAGI: You sound unsure about that..
⪘PAIMON: Well, let's just see for ourselves!

Now over with that small convo between her and Paimon, Isagi walked out of apartment 6-71 and rode the elevator to the lobby, before stopping to talk to Paimon at the couch before truly beginning their adventure.

⪴ISAGI: You know what? You seem nice, Paimon. But you still haven't explained how you ended up in my room.
⪘PAIMON: Oh, that's simple! After Paimon got herself out of the vents, Paimon decided that she wanted to see what this Dess Holiday case was all about, so she followed the car you were driving!
⪴ISAGI: Oh. So...what are we going to call ourselves as a duo? Maybe 'No Deer Left Behind'?
⪘PAIMON: I dunno... 'The Lookout Duo' sounds like a better name.
⪴ISAGI: Whatever. We'll just not have a duo name at all.

Isagi and Paimon ran out of the door, and went into the red-black car that was Isagi's. Isagi went into the driver's seat, and Paimon...? She's just Paimon, she's just floating all around the interior of the car while trying not to disturb Isagi's driving view. They had a small talk about other things.

⪘PAIMON: Hey, uhhh, before Paimon becomes your missing persons finder companion, we need some more information about this Dess girl.
⪴ISAGI: Alright, uh, from what i heard, Dess was a part of the Holidays, which was a really rich family or something i dunno. Then on one late night, she went out with this Kris kid to this bunker. They went inside, and only Kris came back.
⪘PAIMON: Eekk! Sounds really scary! How are we supposed to find her in time?!
⪴ISAGI: Yeah, that's what i was wondering! She might be dead or something!

Paimon...how do i phrase this.... unscares herself.

⪘PAIMON: But we know she's in the bunker, so it's either we find her dead corpse lying in there, or she's alive and well!
⪴ISAGI: ...Okay, okay, enough talk. We're arriving at Hometown pretty soon.

The yellow-orange trees of Hometown start to make themselves clear. They must be getting close now, but there's still a long way to go. There's something bad happening there, other than the disappearance of Dess. After the long ride, they arrive in Hometown via the western road, but the road is blocked by police tape. Isagi and Paimon get out of the car, and walk around the police tape. The two are now officially in Hometown. For real this time.

⪘PAIMON: Hometown, here we are!
⪴ISAGI: ....no shit.
⪘PAIMON: ...Well, where's the bunker you told Paimon about?
⪴ISAGI: Don't really remember, i think it was south. Go forward and...turn..right? I think?
⪘PAIMON: Oh, ok! Let's go south and find Dess Holiday once and for all!

Isagi and Paimon went forward and turned right, and kept walking forward until the road ended. Eventually, the two found a big mound in the grass. On the back are two rusty doors. This must be it.

⪘PAIMON: Is this really the bunker she went to?
⪴ISAGI: Yes. I'm sure of that.

Paimon got really excited.

⪘PAIMON: Well there's no time to waste! Let's go in!

Paimon attempts to open the door, but fails. The door is locked.

⪴ISAGI: Like, we could always break in and enter.... It's not like i ever followed the law when going out.
⪘PAIMON: B-Break in and enter?! Are you sure that's a good idea?!
⪴ISAGI: Well, if it's the only thing that'll let us solve this case...Yes.

Convieniently enough, there's a sledgehammer lying outside of the door. Must've been Dess'. Isagi picks up the sledgehammer and charges up a heavy hit.

⪴ISAGI: So Paimon, are you ready?!
⪘PAIMON: Paimon is!

3...2...1... BANG. The door is fractured. The bunker is what you'd expect in a typical bunker, except...there is a giant gaping rift to...somewhere. High contrast. isagi and Paimon and, understandably so, confused and scared shitless. What were they even looking at. There was no time to wonder, however, as the rift sucked the two in.

Chapter Text

⪴ISAGI: Ugh...where are we..?
⪘PAIMON: Paimon doesn't know, but we're in some...

The two open their eyes, to a town called Pallet Town.

⪴ISAGI: Wait, we're in the first Pokemon Games?!?!?!?!?!?!?!???!?!?!
⪘PAIMON: What's Pokemon?
⪴ISAGI: ....seriously? 'what's pokemon'? 
⪴: Anyways, we're in a world with quirky creatures called Pokemon that can do quirky things. We're also in a Videogame.
⪘PAIMON: oh ok

The town was small. Actually, a bit too small. There's only three buildings in the entire town, being two houses and a research laboratory. Being the wise and mystical persons they are, Paimon and Isagi enter the laboratory in search of answers. Inside, there was the usual you'd find in a laboratory. Papers, books, tables, strange balls, the usual. However, they saw a giant 10 foot glitch further in the lab, so its best to be stealthy for now. Other than that, they saw two people, a research professor, and a rather strange kid. Isagi and Paimon tries to listen in to whatever conversation the other two are having, but to no avail. 

Paimon and Isagi spoke in hushed voices, attempting not to catch the attention of the others.

⪘PAIMON: What do you think they're doing there?!
⪴ISAGI: ??????? IDK??? Why do you ask me???
⪘PAIMON: Paimon worries they're up to no good - considering that giant glitchy thing we just saw!
⪴ISAGI: WHO KNOWS????

...

⪫?: Hold on professor, i think there's..

Oh god.

⪘PAIMON: They've spotted us!!! What do we do?!??!?!
⪴ISAGI: Calm the fuck down! Jeez! They probably just want to talk!

The strange kid approaches the two. This is most likely due to Paimon screaming like a squeaky toy. 

⪴ISAGI: Okay little kid who are you.
⪫JACRED: Jacred.
⪴ISAGI: A-and...? What were you doing with that strange professor guy.
⪫JACRED: Uh....Talking to him about my friend.

Jacred points towards the 10-foot glitch thing.

⪴ISAGI: The what. THAT??? a-anyways, we're here due to a rift in an emergency bunker and uhhh... we wanna get out.
⪫JACRED: I think i can help you with that, actually.
⪴ISAGI: You can?! Tell us how! Now!
⪫JACRED: Uh... it's complicated. 
⪴ISAGI: Sigh... Damn. But can you tell us the instructions...?
⪫JACRED: I'll do it as we go.
⪴ISAGI: Ok. The first step is...?
⪫JACRED: Find an old man.
⪴ISAGI: An old man...?
⪫JACRED: He will teach you how to catch Pokemon,
⪫: And from there, we can do...things.
⪴ISAGI: And where is the old man?
⪫JACRED: Viridian City. Not far from here.
⪴ISAGI: ...Whatever you say!...

Isagi turns to Paimon.

⪘PAIMON: So what did you two talk about?! Paimon said, pretty scared. 
⪴ISAGI: So, turns out the kid knows how to get out of here, so they'll be our guide. I guess.
⪴: Let's go, Paimon.

Chapter 2A: Lost Library

And the three are off to find an old man who will supposedly teach them how to catch pokemon. This Jacred kid definetly knew more than they should, just judging from...what they know. The directions given were only 'north of route 1', so that's going to be pretty hard to follow, isn't it? Route 1 was a field path intercepted with some trees. There were patches of tall grass and some ledges here and there, but it was nothing too bad. While walking (and the unfortunate event of Paimon getting stuck in some bushes), Jacred and Isagi decide to have a talk.

⪴ISAGI: Sooo, what do you do? I find missing people.
⪫JACRED: Train glitch pokemon.
⪴ISAGI: Like- like, zombie Porygons? hahaha...
⪫JACRED: No.
⪴ISAGI: w-what?
⪫JACRED: Have you heard of a Missingno?
⪴ISAGI: Yes? I'm guessing that you train Missingno.s.

Jacred nods affrimatively. Isagi is sort of unsettled by this revelation.

⪴ISAGI: So we have someone who does things they probably shouldn't be doing! Okay!

Suddenly, Jacred hands Isagi a plastic bottle full of a strange glittering substance. It looked like plain old water, however it's a bit glitched up.

⪴ISAGI: Thanks!

Isagi opens the cap to reach for a sip...until..

⪫JACRED: Don't drink it.
⪴ISAGI: What. is it chloroform. She sniffs it. smells sweet too. Did you seriously just give me chloroform?
⪫JACRED: Keep it. I'll tell you why later.

Paimon unstucks herself from the bushes, and sees the glitstening liquid. She asks what it is, Isagi simply shrugs. Before the three know it, they had reached Viridian City. Just like that. Viridian city was an evergreen town surrounded by trees. Already it was much bigger than Pallet Town, there's 5 buildings now. A school, a gym(?) and three houses. Jacred instructs Paimon and Isagi towards the old man.

⪫JACRED: The old man doesn't like me very much, so you will be the ones talking to this man.
⪴ISAGI: I'm guessing it's because of all the glitchy things you've been doing...?

(yes)

⪴ISAGI: Oh.

Jacred leaves. Isagi spots a small rift to some library. She subsequently gets distracted.

⪴ISAGI: Ooooh, what's this?

She pulls Paimon to near the rift.

⪴ISAGI: Sooo, should we go in or...?
⪘PAIMON: Paimon doesn't have a good feeling about this...how about we don't?
⪴ISAGI: Oh well!

Isagi pulls Paimon into the small rift. What they arrived in was some infinite library. Funnily enough, the two were at the bottom floor. The library was built like a cylinder, with its walls being bookshelves. It was bright, really bright, considering the fact there were NO LIGHT SOURCES!!!!!! NONE AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

⪘PAIMON: Hey, it looks like...we're in some sort of...Lost Library...
⪴ISAGI: Yeah no shit.
⪴: Do you think there's a book here that's like about uhhhh... 'escaping the fragile bounds of unreality?'
⪘PAIMON: Well, it seems like this library contains every piece of knowledge in book form. Like the Library of Babel!
⪴ISAGI: Fair point, but where in the world would that book be though.

A moment of silence for all the books they're never going to use.

⪘PAIMON: Wait, Paimon has a plan!
⪘: We'll read through the back of each book! By that, we'll either ignore it, or add it to a reading pile. After we've placed a comfortable amount of books into the pile, we'll read through them! And then we'll put a book back, put it into a reading pile, rinse and repeat until we've got one book!
⪴ISAGI: oh ok

Hours and hours they poured through books. They spent the first hour reading the first 100 books' backs, only 43 books remained. Then the two read through the entirety of those 43 books, and only 12 caught their interest. They read through those 12 books. 6....2....1...

Only an unnamed scrapbook with rushed handwriting remained. From context clues, the book was written by a girl named Esherta. The book seems to be filled to the brim with pictures of glitches, including a cute selfie of Esherta and some other person. The text itself in the page they were interested in..

Chapter 2B: The End of the Beginning

If some unfortunate soul is reading this, my body is gone. Me and Ether had accidentally caused a calamity that is consuming this world. It's contained safely somewhere in this library, and i advise to not wake it, either. Leave this book in the library, and learn nothing except my folly. 

And Ether, if you are reading this. As for my soul... It's contained in a mannequin vessel. Cause an RST 38 crash again to open a rift to the Daedalus Spaceship. We will reunite somewhere in Teyvat.

Sorry.

- Esherta

 

⪴ISAGI: Teyvat...? Paimon, do you know where Teyvat is?
⪘PAIMON: Yes! Infact, Paimon's been there before! But about the other terms.. Who's Ether? What's an RST 38 crash?
⪴ISAGI: I DUNNO??? WHY YOU ASKIN' ME????
⪘PAIMON: Let's go ask Jacred, they might know more about these!
⪴ISAGI: ...sure thing!

Isagi thinks about the bottle again.

⪴ISAGI: Wait...what if... i pour out the chloroform? Jacred never told me what it was for, so why don't i see for myself?
⪘PAIMON: I-Isagi! Don't-

It was too late to stop her. She had already poured half of the liquid out of the bottle. It seems like the effects are already setting in. The atmosphere is slightly more glitchy than before...

⪘PAIMON: W-what's happening?!

Jacred immediately came into the scene. They seem to be pissed and worried at the same time.

⪘PAIMON: J-Jacred?!
They ignored Paimon. They want to talk to Isagi.
⪫JACRED: ....WHAT, have you DONE?!
⪴ISAGI: What-what's wrong..? Did i cause the 38 crash..? Whatever it was called?
⪫JACRED: ...How do you know about that?!

Isagi shoved the scrapbook page into Jacred's face with a shaky flourish.

⪴ISAGI: This! This book! This Esherta girl!
⪫JACRED: How do you know about her?!
⪴ISAGI: What do you mean?!???!?!?!?!?!!

Paimon attempts to interject, but to no avail.

⪘PAIMON: Isagi! Paimon told you it was a bad idea!

The library begins to crumble. Whole walls are torn down, revealing a repeating stripe pattern. Rifts to other realities intersect the sky.

⪫JACRED: See?! THIS is what you did!
⪴ISAGI: ...whoopsie daisies! At least we can leave now, right?

Jacred stops talking. There is no arguing with her. Suddenly, the floor cracks below the three, revealing a giant rift to a spaceship of sorts. Isagi attempts to desperately hold onto the scrapbook. Above, she sees a giant black, glitchy liquid consume Paimon whole, her arm is seperated, revealing a mess of blood intersecting the glitch liquid. Paimon is gone.
As Isagi falls, all she sees anymore is the rift closing.

Where she'll go is uncertain.