Disclaimer: I in no way whatsoever own Pokemon
AN: Few things I thought people might like to know before they start reading: 1) in case you couldn't tell, this is an OC story 2) the rating is for language and to be on the safe side with the violence that appears and 5) this story is more game based than anime based, although some things, like levels and the fact that Pokemon can only know four moves, have no bearing on the story. Thanks and hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 1: In Which a Girl Appears
The ground shook, the light filtering through her closed lids was snuffed out, and the screaming of scared people combined with the roar of those monsters to create a wall of jumbled and ear piercing sound. She could feel the presence of the beast standing over her, could feel its rancid breath over her back. From her right came an intense heat, a sure sign that something had been set aflame and was burning nicely.
The little body under her shifted and she hissed unsympathetically for the child to stay still. The child obeyed with a soft whimper but she made no attempt to calm the young person. She would keep the kid safe, but that was all.
Laughter, as nearby as the monster standing over her, broke through the noise, the cruel and familiar tone something from nightmares of her childhood. "Cowering in a corner like last time I see," the voice said, sounding amused. "And here was me, thinking you were dead with the rest of them. We'll just have to remedy that, now won't we?"
Cursing under her breath, she braced her body for what she knew would come. She wished she could turn around, could in some way at least try to defend her life, could do something besides cower in a corner with her back to everything. But if she did, then he would see the kid and, well, she would rather not live with the consequences. All she could do now was hope the kid didn't freak out after what she knew was coming.
She heard a slapping noise, as if a hand had just hit the flank of a large animal. The voice said a command that sounded like "Slash" and there was the feeling of movement behind her, the sound of a large bulk shifting its weight…
And then there was pain. A sharp, hot pain that made her want to scream out. She stopped herself though, refusing to give her tormenter the satisfaction and not wanting to freak the child out and have him give himself away. This was all she had time to think about however as the pain overwhelmed her, causing her head to fill with a buzzing feeling and her body to go numb. All except for the intense pain along her back. That was still there, the only thing she could still feel as she slowly left conciseness and her life behind.
It was then that the pain and noise and the heat abruptly vanished, leaving her with an odd, detached feeling. Shock forced her eyes opened, something she soon regretted.
Around her was darkness, impenetrable and foreboding. In front of her, floating like colored lanterns, were two lights. One was small and yellow and it flitted around the gigantic blue light. She watched until the yellow light stopped and came drifting over to her. Scared, she tried to move away but found that her body was unresponsive.
"Look at this. Honestly, could you cut it any finer? The Healer needs to be alive you know," the yellow light berated the blue one after hovering in front of her face for quite some time. When the blue light responded, it was then that she realized she wasn't hearing the voices. Not with her ears at least.
"Is this the one?" the blue light asked, ignoring the yellow one's earlier comment.
"Yes, although what good she can possibly do so close to death I have no idea."
"And here was I, thinking you were the one that created knowledge itself."
"Oh, do be quiet and just get us all out of here"
It was then that she well and truly blacked out, but not before wondering what she had done that was so horrible it warranted an afterlife like the one her's was shaping up to be.
~~**~~**~~**~~
Lucas cleared the last patch of grass and the entrance to Lake Verity came into sight. He let out a relived sigh and walked forward briskly, hoping the Professor would be where his note had said he was heading. As stern and serious as Professor Rowan could be at times, he applied himself whole heartedly to his work and had a habit of putting all things second to it. This included finishing his important paper on Pokemon evolution that he was supposed to be sending out that day.
The increased rumors about the legendary Pokemon Mesprit being spotted in the local lake had peeked the Professor's interest and he had set out for the lake early that morning, leaving his assistant to go out and drag him back to his work. Lucas sighed again as he walked under the arching tree branches, wondering how Professor Rowan managed to get anything done.
Emerging from the trees, Lucas was relived to see the back of the lab coat wearing figure that he knew to be the Professor. The old man was crouching over something near the lake shore, but Lucas couldn't see what it was from his angle.
"There you are Professor Rowan," the young assistant said in exasperation. "We need to head back to the lab so you can finish that paper." Rowan stood up and turned to Lucas the moment her heard the young man's voice. His brow was creased in worry and a deep frown pulled down the corners of his mouth. Shocked by the look, Lucas couldn't help but stutter out, "P-professor?"
"Lucas come over here quickly. No questions, the situation is grave." Obeying, Lucas rushed to Rowan's side, coming to an abrupt halt when he saw what Rowan had been looking at moments before. "I just got here myself," the Professor explained as Lucas continued to stare. "She was laying half in the water. I checked and she's still alive, barely though."
Laying face down in the sand was a girl of about seventeen, face pale and brown hair in tangled strands that fell around her and into the sand. Her eyes were closed and harsh, raspy breaths came from her mouth at unnatural, and lengthening, intervals. Her tattered clothing was wet and sand coated and as Lucas watched, wide eyed, a huge shiver went through the girl's entire body.
And then his eyes finally fell on the one thing they had been trying to avoid. Along her back were two long, deep gashes. They were still bleeding sluggishly and the shirt around the wound was coated with blood. Lucas couldn't even begin to fathom what had happened that had put the girl in such a state.
"Lucas I need you to run back to town and get a doctor," Rowan ordered. "I don't think we should move her without a professional here." Lucas hesitated, still in shock from what he was seeing. "Go on, be quick about it boy," Rowan snapped. Jarred back into reality, Lucas nodded and took off for town at a sprint.
~~**~~**~~**~~
"Well, that's the best I can do," the doctor said, wiping her hands on a cloth as she closed the door behind her. "I recommend you let her stay here for a few days so the nurses and I can keep an eye on her condition. If she shows improvement she can be moved to your lab for further monitoring."
"Actually, I have talked to my assistant's family and they have agreed to let the girl stay there," Rowan informed the doctor.
"Speaking of your assistant, did he find anything?"
Rowan shook his head, frowning. "No, I sent him back to look for a traveling pack, her Pokedex, signs of her Pokemon, something, but he said nothing showed up. He says he even sent out one of his water Pokemon to search the lake."
"Strange to say the least. Well, we'll just have to ask her when she wakes up," the doctor replied, looking at the door.
"So she will live?" Rowan asked, his concern over the girl's condition showing in his voice.
"She should if everything goes well," the doctor replied. "Really, I feel if she could survive those injuries long enough to make it here, she should make it now her condition has been stabilized."
"It truly is miraculous that she's alive," Rowan commented as he and the doctor began to walk away from the room.
"She certainly has something watching over her, I'll give you that."
~~**~~**~~**~~
A girl woke up in an unknown room in a pair of flannel pajamas and with an aching back. Sitting up with some difficulty, the girl looked around the room she was in. The place was extremely clean and had a slightly unlived in feeling, much like a guest room. She was trying to figure out what was going on and how she had gotten there when the door opened.
Peering around the doorway was a little girl around ten. She looked over at the girl on the bed and let out an exited squeal. "Oh, you're finally awake. Stay right there." With that the little girl shut the door and the sound of feet running down stairs could be heard. A few seconds later there was the sound of a door slamming.
"Stay here?" the girl said, plopping back onto the bed with a wince. "I can barely move." Closing her eyes, she tried to figure out what was going on, tried to remember the last thing that had happened to her. She couldn't remember a thing however, not why her back hurt so much or why she was in that room or where she had been before that.
The more she thought about it, the more the girl realized she didn't remember anything. She panicked for a second, wondering what was going on. Could she even remember who she was? She…she knew her name and, yes, when she thought about it, she remember her age. Yes, her name was Andrea and she was seventeen.
That was all she remembered though, nothing about where she was from or who her family was or anything else that told her who she was. Her brow wrinkled as she tried to remember something, anything, else.
Finally, something came to her. There was the impression of fear, and people, and a laugh. Yes, there was a laugh she could remember as clearly as her name. It was cruel and mocking and for some reason sent shivers down her spine.
Andrea opened her eyes when she heard the door opening and saw a black haired woman in a lab coat enter the room. Behind her came the little girl of earlier, looking excited.
"Ah, so you finally woke up," the woman said. "I was beginning to get a bit worried." She walked over to the bed Andrea was laying on.
"Who are you?" Andrea asked, sitting back up. The woman in the lab coat looked worried as Andrea winced a bit. "And why am I here?"
"I'm Dr. Maple. As to why you are here, you were found severely injured a few days ago. After I was sure you would be fine, we brought you here. Now I believe it is my turn for questions. How did you end up with those injuries?" The woman gave Andrea a serious look, waiting for an answer.
Andrea returned the look, beginning to wonder if she should trust the woman. She had apparently been hurt and, well, she had no idea what had happened. For all she knew the woman could have something to do with it. Of course that brought up the question of why she had apparently fixed the wounds…
"Well?" The doctor interrupted Andrea's thoughts, her arms folded across her chest, waiting for an answer.
Deciding that she really had no other choice but the truth, simply because she had no idea what a plausible story would be, Andrea answered. "I have no idea," she replied with a shrug of her shoulders. That movement caused a bit of pain in her back, something that she suspected came from the injuries the woman was talking about.
"What do you mean you have no idea? How can you not know how you ended up with your back in shreds?" The doctor made no effort to disguise her frustration and disbelief in Andrea's answer.
"Same way I can not know anything else," Andrea hazarded, shrugging her shoulders again. The woman looked a bit shocked at that answer and the little girl finally interjected something into the conversation.
"So does that mean you don't know your name?" the little girl asked with disappointment.
"I know my name and age, but that's about it."
"Well, what's your name then?" the little girl demanded.
"Andrea."
"I'm Sue. How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Wow, you're even older than my brother."
It was then that Dr. Maple got over her shock and started talking again. "Can't you remember anything else? Something that might help identify why you were hurt or who you are?"
"I just told you my name," Andrea pointed out.
"Yes, but can you remember anything a bit more helpful than a fist name only? Last name maybe?" Andrea just shook her head and the doctor sighed. "I suppose the fact that you know your name should be considered a blessing if you're suffering amnesia. If you can move I'd like you to get dressed and come to my office. I want to check your back."
"I can move," Andrea replied, getting herself out of bed to demonstrate. She was a bit stiff and her back hurt of course but besides that things were fine. The doctor placed a pile of clothing on the bed and asked Andrea if she needed any help changing. The teen frowned a bit and told her no.
A few minutes later Andrea came out of the room, a scowl across her face. "I appreciate what you're doing, but didn't you have any pants you could give me?"
"Those are the only clothes I had that I thought might fit you," Maple said, glancing at the green skirt the girl was now wearing. Before Andrea could say anything else, she turned to the little girl. "Sue, would you please go and tell Professor Rowan we'll be heading over to the lab once I give Andrea here a check up."
"Of course Dr. Maple," Sue said with a smile before running down the stairs and out of the house. The doctor indicated for Andrea to follow her as she began to leave herself.
~~**~~**~~**~~
"Hi Professor," Sue greeted the old man. Her older brother had reluctantly brought her to the man's office once she told him she had news about the mysterious girl. Her brother was currently standing by the door frame, waiting for her to start talking.
"Hello Sue," the old man returned the greeting as he turned form his work. "You aren't here to ask me for a Pokemon again are you? You know I can't give you one for a few more weeks."
"I know, I have to wait until I'm ten," the little girl replied, looking a bit disappointed. She quickly perked up when she remembered why she had come there in the first place. "Oh, Professor, I'm supposed to tell you Dr. Maple is bringing that girl over."
"She's awake?" Rowan asked in surprise. "Did she say how she was hurt?"
"No," Sue answered, neglecting to mention it was because the girl could not remember. "She did say her name and how old she is though. She's Andrea and she's seventeen." Here she turned to her brother. "That makes her two years older than you Lucas." Lucas opened his mouth to respond.
Before a fight could start between his assistant and the young girl, Rowan interrupted with another question. "When will Dr. Maple be bringing the girl over here Sue?"
"They should be here soon," the little girl told him, bringing her attention back to the main subject. "Dr. Maple said they would come here right after she checked Andrea's back."
"Well, thank you Sue." The little girl looked at him expectantly so he felt compelled to add, "Some of the Pokemon need feeding, would you like to do that for me?" The little girl nodded happily and left the room. Lucas was still standing in the doorway, so Rowan turned to him. "Lucas, would you watch the door for our guests?"
"Of course Professor," the boy said before leaving the room. Rowan went back to his work, waiting for the arrival of the doctor and the girl. Fifteen minutes later Lucas finally came back to his office the two women in tow.
Rowan turned around when he heard them enter the room. Standing up, he gave them a warm greeting that only Maple returned. Andrea simply said hello and looked moodily at her feet.
"Well, it is good to see up and about," Rowan told her. "I can take the fact that you are here as sign you are doing much better?" Andrea gave him a nod, but said nothing else. Thinking that perhaps she was shy, Rowan smiled, hoping to make her more comfortable. "I'm glad to hear that. Dr. Maple is very skilled in her profession and I can only think it was through her skill that you are here to talk with us."
"Yeah, thanks again for that," Andrea mumbled in the doctors direction, not really sure how to act in the situation. "And I heard you're the one who found me, so thanks," she added in the Professor's direction.
"No thanks needed," Rowan replied with a wave of his hand. "I am sorry to tell you though that we have yet to find your Pokemon. Do you have any idea what could have happened to them? Telling us what Pokemon you had with you would be a great help, I'm sure."
"There you people go again, about these Poke-e-man. I have no idea what the hell they are," Andrea bust out in exasperation, throwing her arms up. Rowan was shocked by the outburst, but Maple just shook her head.
"Professor, perhaps your assistant would be so good as to give Andrea here a tour of the lab?" Maple suggested. She obviously wanted to talk to Rowan alone, but could think of no other polite way to get rid of the two teens. Rowan nodded, understanding what she wanted.
"That sounds like an excellent idea. Lucas?" Rowan looked in the direction of the boy. Lucas was standing in the doorway still and was looking with alarm at a now fuming Andrea. At the sound of his name, the boy looked up. "Be so good as to show Andrea around would you? And close the door as you two leave."
Nodding, Lucas indicated for Andrea to follow him. She hesitated, but eventually the girl stepped over to him and he shut the door, leaving the adults to talk. Rowan waited a few seconds before clearing off a chair for Maple to sit in. When he was done, the doctor sat down with a sigh.
"There is a problem Professor," Maple began wearily. "It seems that the girl has amnesia of some sort. All she seems to remember is her first name and her age."
"Really? It didn't look like she had any head injuries," Rowan said in surprise.
"I know, but the human body and mind can be odd, especially when they suffer sever trauma." Maple sighed again, rubbing the bridge of her nose in an attempt to relive her stress.
"Well, we should be glad she remembers something. But it is odd, her not knowing what Pokemon are," Rowan commented.
"That's the problem Professor. She seems to remember everything else about everyday life. She knows the names of things, that sort of thing. I was testing her on the way here once I realized she didn't know what Pokemon are. The only things she truly seems to have forgotten are things about herself, her life."
"Well then, do you have any explanation as to why she might not know about such an important part of society?" Rowan was beginning to have his own suspicions based on what the doctor had said.
"Not really," Maple said with a frustrated shake of her head.
"Well than, let me make a guess. I think this all has something to do with where she was found."
"What are you trying to imply Professor?" Maple asked, already having a good idea of where he was going with all this.
"I suspect this all has something to do with the fact that she was found near Lake Verity, the known home of Mesprit. I would bet that the girl's memory loss has something to do with this or maybe another legendary Pokemon." Rowan gave a pleased look as he finished with his explanation.
"Oh come on Professor. Are you telling me you think this all has something to do with a legendary Pokemon? No, I can not accept that, there has to be some kind of logical explanation that does not include Pokemon that don't exist."
"Come now Maple," the Professor reprimanded her lightly. "You would never have been so closed minded about all of this when I gave you your first Pokemon. Just because you have never seen one of the legendary Pokemon does not mean they do not exist."
"Professor, we are both people of science, people of fact and reason. You can't expect me to believe this ridiculousness," Maple replied in frustration, ignoring the Professor's attempt to bring up her days as a trainer. "I am not going to believe in some unproven Pokemon, let alone think they had something to do with the girl's memory loss, until I see some real evidence past old legends and wall inscriptions."
Rowan sighed in frustration, knowing that, for now at least, Maple would not budge in her belief. "Fine, can we at least agree that this girl is definitely not one of your average patients?"
"Seeing as my average patient is a kid with a head cold, I believe we can," Maple said sarcastically, rubbing the bridge of her noise again.
Rowan shook his head, "Sarcastic as ever I see. Well, since we have come to that agreement at lest, may I suggest we go find the girl and see if we can't find anything else about her." Rowan was already standing up and heading for the door.
By the time he had opened the office door, Maple was still sitting in the chair. He looked over at her and she sighed heavily. "Fine, for whatever good it'll do us." With that she got up wearily from the chair and followed the Professor out.