Okay. Dusknoir and Celebi knowing eachother way before even Grovyle and Ribbons. Let me yap for a second. (Prev talk here)
-Celebi found him as a Duskull— who was very cold and paranoid, insistent on going it alone despite his rugged interior (and exterior). But seeing as Celebi is also the Champion of Lying to herself when she Clearly needs help, she insists on going with him regardless. Framing it initially as wanting to mess with the decently sized ghost-type, but actually instead just getting to know the guy bc hey. She sees a bit of herself in him.
-She learns very quickly that he’s a newly formed ghost-type and admittedly has no idea what to do. Especially in a world as cold and harsh as the future. Celebi tries her best to explain everything, including Duskull’s somewhat immortal state— which earns her a very speechless stare from him.
-He… begrudgingly agrees to go along with her. And for the first time, she and Duskull actually have a companion in the future. (The fact he doesn’t gawk at her in awe and speaks to Celebi like any other regular Pokémon does help a lot with this. She hates being treated differently.) She teaches him how to float (although not doing the old man trapped inside a pre-evolution’s body any favors by teasing his amateur skills.) And the two have very differing opinions on their long life spans. How it was a blessing in disguise to Duskull. How it was a curse to Celebi.
-Later on Duskull evolves, potentially from saving Celebi in a rough situation after seeing his only friend ally nearly getting clobbered. (Maybe a parallel to how Grovyle evolves protecting Ribbons?)
-Their friendship goes from Silly vs Overly Serious— to Dusclops actually humoring Celebi with some clapback of his own and enjoying her company/Celebi willing to be just a slightest bit Vulnerable with Dusclops. (This won’t bite her in the future. Just being open and honest with the one Pokémon who’s actually understood her to an extent/doesn’t marvel at her over her different coloring or status as a mythical.)
-He gave her the teal jabot around her neck. She gave him his reaper cloak.
-Speaking of Grovyle and Ribbons, the two make plans to meet up with Celebi alone. (Which Dusclops insists he goes with her, merely to spectate as he technically didn’t need to protect Celebi from harm if this was a potential ambush. She’s capable. He’s only there to watch. Nothing more.)
-Once they do, Dusclops and Celebi are very surprised to see this Grovyle had a human with him. And very young one at that. The Woodland gecko explains his plan to potentially save the future, leaving out a very important detail purposely for the sake of getting them on board. Desperate for the Time traveling fairy’s help.
-…Celebi catches onto Grovyle’s plan and what would happen in that exact moment. Staring at him with a blank expression. She looks back at Dusclops, recalling her previous conversations regarding their extended lifespans. And how fearful he was of the end. Hesitant to answer, but agrees. Shaking the claws of the grass-type (even as Dusclops suspiciously stared at him from behind).
-And, of course, her decision to not omit the detail of their disappearances to Dusclops causes a rift to form between the two. Starting off slow as their conversations fell apart more easier. Or when she’d been unable to maintain eye contact with the ghost for too long. (Which made it Even More painful when she could see the hurt in his eye everytime she did— before he’d replaced it with a look of understanding)(and frustration the longer it went on.)
-…Until their inevitable fallout. Realizing what saving the future actually meant for them in an argument with Grovyle back at their base. (Which Ribbons thankfully didn’t hear.) Looking at Celebi, waiting for her to side with him and cast Grovyle out. Or better yet, get rid of him before he went on with his insane plan.
…Only to see her look away. Letting out a hushed “You knew?” in disbelief, anger, and betrayal all mixed into those two words he uttered.
-He rushes off. And the next time he comes back, he’s a fully evolved Dusknoir. With a flurry of Sableye and Primal Dialga behind him. Glaring daggers at Celebi.
-While Grovyle and Ribbons are having their whole adventure in the present, Dusknoir and Celebi’s dynamic heavily changes. They still banter and clapback with one another. But the only difference this time being that it was a front for both Pokémon to mask how truly betrayed they felt by the other. And this time, he’s genuinely trying to kill her. (Not that he can catch her. She taught him how to float in the first place.)
-When Ribbons, Grovyle, and this strangle new riolu come to her in the future, she’s still very fakely happy and peppy. Until Grovyle brings up any mentions of Dusknoir, where her entire demeanor drops on a dime. (Ribbons and Aimilios look even more unnerved seeing the pink bubblegum fairy look like she’s about to rip Grovyle’s head off mentioning that traitor than they did nearly getting killed by him.)
-EP5 that one interaction with her going from calling him a coward one moment, to shouting at Dialga to get the hell away from him? Yeah.
-I think while Grovyle and Dusknoir might have a few scuffles and glares post EP5, they make up much faster than him and Celebi. She looks ready to smash his head over with a rock while simultaneously checking and nagging over his injuries.
-Communication is extremely hard because these two are the least honest Pokémon in the future and Grass-continent. (Grovyle being overly-honest helped with their mended relationship and navigate feelings easier.) But Celebi? Dusknoir would have a much easier time trying to decipher an old, undiscovered language than this woman’s insistence that she was alright with his presence.
-call me cheesy af but potentially. Celebi cupping Dusknoir’s large face and big spooning for this hopeless ghost who yearns for their mended relationship. His oldest friendship.
-I’ve already gotten into the whole immortality thing w/ those two outliving Grovyle/Ribbons/Aimilios But. They would be there for eachother.
-also also Celebi being able to see this new Dusk who isn’t paranoid and cranky all the time but actually developed social skills and a suave, debonair persona that she actually enjoys. (She can still turn him back into a blubbering mess easily though.)(He is smitten with that old woman.)
That’s all I’ve got for now. I might add on if more stuff comes to me but I think their banter/dynamic would be so much fun.
