Chapter Two: Eris
In a whirl of fabric, a young woman rushed down the stairs of the Twinleaf Inn. Her light blue dress twirled about her as she spun into the lobby, her freshly cut hair blowing behind her in the wind. She stopped at the foot of the stairs, a light blush crossing her face as she entered the Lobby.
She walked up towards the counter, in a sort of half-strut, her hands folded behind her back.
"Nooolan~" She sang.
The young man behind the counter jumped to attention when he heard his name. He had been drifting off beforehand, "I'm working! I'm working!" He blinked, and looked forward, finally waking up enough to realize who was standing in front of him. Almost immediately, a light blush crossed his face, and he jumped off his chair and exited out from behind the counter, "Eris! Look at you! Wow! You look amazing!"
'Eris' giggled and twirled around, "You think? Bertha cut it!" She twirled a lock of hair around her finger, before releasing it over her shoulder.
Almost a second later, Bertha came down the stairs, "Yes. And it took all morning to get through that rats nest she called a haircut."
Nolan laughed and looked back at 'Eris'. He wasn't sure when they started calling her that, it had only been two days since she had woken up with absolutely no memories whatsoever, but the name sort of stuck. He smiled as he looked her up and down. She barely resembled the scraggly girl he had found comatose in an Inn bed. Bertha apparently had just finished cutting and styling her hair for her, and it looked much better. More 'girly' and 'cutesy' then the layered spikes from before.
Yesterday, Bertha also took her out clothes shopping, because all Eris had was those men clothes that she had come in, and she had absolutely refused to wear those. Bertha, who only had one son, and no daughters, had a blast shopping for Eris, and the two went overboard, buying several dresses, skirts, shirts, and jackets. It was obvious that Eris favoured the colour blue, because most of the clothing she picked was blue… but Nolan didn't mind. She looked good in blue. Today it looked like she opted for a mini blue dress, black spandex shorts, and a half-jacket designed after a Pokeball, half red, half white, white black trim.
While yesterday the two had spent the day out shopping, the day before was mostly spent at the doctor's office. The doctor went over several tests, but when everything came back normal, he let her go into their care, until they found out something more about her, or her memories returned. It wasn't until that evening did she start talking… and since then she hasn't really stopped!
He felt a smug smile cross his face. He suddenly felt like a proud older brother after his younger sister came to show him something she made. The analogy sounded strange to him, because they looked around the same age, but Eris's memory loss made her a lot more childish, and full of wonder.
He patted her on the top of the head, "You look wonderful, Eris!"
She grinned widely and closed her eyes as he patted her head, "Thanks!"
Bertha rubbed her hands together and sighed, "Well! I've got work to do around the Inn, but there's no reason for you kids to be inside. Nolan, why don't you take Eris out, and show her the town, hmm?"
Nolan sighed and nodded, "Right." He turned towards Eris, "So! Let's show you around! Who knows? Maybe you'll see something that'll spark a memory?"
Eris nodded, and folded her hands once again behind her back. She twisted back and forth on her heels, "Kay!"
With that, Nolan turned around and beckoned Eris to follow him out of the Inn, and out to the town beyond. As they walked down the road, Nolan realized there wasn't much to show her in the tiny town. He didn't really know what to show her. He named off the streets, and pointed out his friend's houses as he passed by them, the small lake on the outskirts of the town, and finally they stopped just in front of the exit to the town.
"This is the edge of town." Nolan explained, "It's not safe for anyone to leave town without a Pokemon. Past this point, is Route 201, the road connecting Twinleaf Town to Lake Verity and Sandgem Town… Wild Pokemon live outside of towns, and many of them hide in the grass on connecting routes. Wild Pokemon aren't tame like Buizel is, so they often jump out and attack travelers crossing through their territory."
"T-that's scary!" Eris took a step back, staring out at the route beyond the town with a frightened look, "P-Pokemon jump out and attack you? Just for walking by?"
Nolan sighed, "Well, they are wild creatures. But if you've got a Pokemon of your own to protect you, its fine." He paused and looked at her curiously, "You know… maybe a Pokemon Battle will help jar your memories?"
She shook her head, shaking off her surprise from earlier, and turned to face Nolan, tilting her head slightly with a curious look, "You think?"
Nolan laughed and patted her head, "Yeah! I mean, it won't hurt. Nothing around town sparked anything, did it?"
Eris paused and turned around. She looked over the town for a few seconds, before shaking her head, "Nope! Nothing!"
Nolan nodded and turned around, "Then let's head out to the Route! We've got Buizel, so we're safe. You can watch Buizel and I battle, and see if that sparks anything?"
Eris nodded, "Okay!"
Nolan reached out and gently put a hand on her back, and led her towards the exit. Together, the two crossed into the route.
"Alright." Nolan explained as they walked away from the town, "There are two kinds of Battles, Trainer Battles, and Pokemon Battles. To initiate a Trainer Battle, you have to make eye contact with another Trainer. For a Pokemon Battle, you just have to walk around until a Wild Pokemon jumps out and attacks you - usually its faster if we walk through the grass, where they're usually hiding."
Eris nodded, slightly nervously.
Nolan smiled at her, "Don't be afraid. Buizel will protect us if anything attacks us."
"I-I'm not scared!" Eris huffed.
Nolan laughed and reached down and grabbed her hand, leading her towards the grass like he would a child. She followed after him, slightly hesitant at first, but growing more excited, the closer they got to the grass.
A scream broke the silence.
Eris froze as the scream echoed out from somewhere behind them, breaking the silence around them.
Nolan whirled around, "That's coming from Lake Verity!" He started towards the lake, turning to face Eris long enough to call, "Head back to town where it's safe! I'll check it out!" Before breaking into a run towards the lake.
Eris took a step after him, then froze. She clenched her hands to her chest, and looked behind her at the tall grass nervously. She squeezed her eyes shut, but then the fear from earlier completely disappeared under a determined look, and she broke into a run after her friend.
"Nolan wait!" She gasped.
She closed her eyes as she ran after him, right through the Verity Lakefront. She opened her eyes again as the path opened up, changing from a road to an open field, right in front of a lake.
She stopped running, panting heavily as she stared ahead. Nolan was crouched down beside a man in a dirty white lab-coat.. the man was laying on his back, propping himself up by his elbows, staring wide-eyed ahead. Beside him was a suitcase, the suitcase was open, and its contents were spilled all over the ground. Along with the paperwork, three Pokeballs had sprawled out, and rolled away from them. Buizel stood in front of Nolan and the man, his hackles raised and growling ahead.
Eris's attention turned from them, to whoever they were looking at. Standing in front of the lake was a strange man with spiky blue hair. Two people in strange uniforms stood beside him.
"… the flowing time…" The man said, "…The expanding space…" He raised his arms, gesturing to the lake beyond him, "I will make it all mine one day…" He lowered his arms, "Cyrus is my name. Remember it well. Until then, sleep while you can, Legendary Pokemon of the Lake Bed."
He turned towards the people behind him, "All of this will be mine."
"Who are you?" Nolan spat, "And what do you want?"
The man did not reply. He nodded towards his two 'grunts', then started walking away.
"W-w-wait!" The man gasped, jumping up into a crouch, "Those notes… give them back!"
"Notes?" Eris asked.
Nolan's attention snapped behind him, "ERIS? Eris what are you doing here? I told you to go home!"
"I… I want to help!" Eris replied, her voice shaking slightly.
"Help? You don't have a Pokemon! Go home!" Nolan shouted back.
"Don't have a Pokemon?" One of the grunts snickered, "That makes it easier for us!"
Cyrus kept walking, ignoring the rest of them, as if they were not even there. He walked towards Eris, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
"Stay away from her!" Nolan snapped, jumping to his feet.
Cyrus did not acknowledge him, and instead just walked right up to Eris, his eyes locked with her for a mere second, and Eris felt her blood suddenly run cold. But instead of doing anything, he just walked right past her, a slight smirk crossing his lips as he disappeared out of the Lakefront.
Nolan took a step towards her, when a flash of light coming from behind him snapped his attention back to the grunts in front of the lake. He whirled around, just in time to see two Pokemon appear in front of Buizel.
"Two against one…" Nolan growled, shifting into a battle stance… this wasn't good. He looked over his shoulder, "Eris… get out of here!"
Eris stared ahead. She found she couldn't move, even if she wanted too. Her whole body seemed petrified on the spot, her eyes locked on the Pokemon slowly advancing towards Buizel…
All of a sudden, a strange feeling came over her, weak at first, but quickly bursting strong enough to cover up all her previous fear. Everything became hazy… and she suddenly felt like she didn't have control anymore.
All trace of fear disappeared from her face, and her expression hardened with a sudden determination. She broke into a run, reaching down and scooping up the closest Pokeball that had rolled from the suitcase, and stopping beside Nolan.
"I want to help!" She said.
Nolan looked down at Eris, like she was suddenly a different person. The air about her seemed… different. Her eyes were pinned on the Pokemon in front of her, and the way she was standing…
It was the perfect battle stance. She suddenly resembled nothing of the lost amnesiatic girl from before. Right now, she looked like a seasoned, professional Pokemon Trainer. Her foot positioning was perfect, legs spread apart, knees slightly bent… and while one hand held the Pokeball she had picked up, the other was hovering over her belt… like a Trainer reaching for a Pokeball.
A small smirk crossed Eris's face, and she threw the Pokeball. The Pokeball soared up into the air, arcing up in perfect practice, before bursting open, and in a flash of light, a Piplup appeared.
"Pip! Piplup!" The water Pokemon cried. He stretched and turned around to look at who had called him out from his Pokeball. He tilted his head slightly when he saw an unfamiliar face.
Nolan shook off his surprise, and looked ahead… this was not the time to worry about who, or what, Eris was. The enemy had two Pokemon on the Field, from his experience, he knew them to be a Bidoof and Glameow.
"Okay… Eris," Nolan said softly, "Buizel and I will take the Glameow… do you think you can handle the Bidoof? We're right beside you."
Eris nodded, "O-okay!" Her voice did not match her appearance right now. Unlike the determined look on her face, her voice was shaking.
"That Pokemon is called Piplup!" Nolan explained, "It's one of Sinnoh's Starter Pokemon!"
"Nice to meet you, Piplup!" Eris smiled, her eyes softened slightly as she stared at the Pokemon, "um… please help me! We need your help in this battle, if that's alright?"
Piplup stared at Eris for a few seconds, then smiled and nodded, before turning to face the enemy's Pokemon.
Eris closed her eyes and took a deep breath. What was she getting herself into? She couldn't battle… she had no idea! But… somehow, she knew that wasn't true. Her whole body was shaking, not with fear, but with excitement! Yes, these were two obvious bad guys who were attacking them, but this was her first Pokemon Battle!
The man kneeling on the ground between them scrambled to his feet, before running to the side, "P-Piplup has never been used in battle! He only knows P-p-pound and growl!"
"Okay!" Eris nodded, before turning to face the Bidoof, "Piplup! Use Pound!"
"Tackle!" The Grunt shouted.
"Pip!" Piplup cried. The two Pokemon charged at each other, meeting head on with each other's attacks. The Bidoof lowered its head to tackle Piplup, but Piplup reached it first, pounding the Bidoof in the head with it's flipper, sending the Bidoof flying backwards and into the dirt, and knocking out half of the Bidoof's health.
"Yay!" Eris jumped up and down in the air, "You did it!"
"It's not over yet!" The Grunt snapped, "Get off your ass Bidoof! Tackle again!"
"Try another Pound!" Eris replied.
Once again, the two Pokemon ran at each other, and once again, Piplup sent the Bidoof spiraling into the dirt, but this time, the Bidoof barely got up.
"Finish it off!" Eris ordered, pointing ahead.
"Pip!" Piplup nodded, before charging at the Bidoof again, and hitting it with one final Pound attack, sending the Bidoof flying into the water.
"We did it!" Eris cheered, jumping up and down on the spot, "We did it Piplup!"
Piplup turned around and ran back towards Eris, jumping up into the air towards her.
Eris giggled and caught the Piplup in midair, before twirling around in a circle with it, and cuddling it to her chest. The Piplup snickered and snuggled himself up to her.
She stopped spinning just in time to see Buizel finish off the Glameow. Piplup spun around in her arms to get a better look.
"This isn't over yet!" The grunt snapped, as he recalled his Glameow. He turned towards his partner, who was busy retrieving his Bidoof from the water, "We got what we came here for! Let's get out of here!"
The two Grunts turned and pushed past the two victorious trainers, and disappeared down the road to Route 201.
"What was that about?" Nolan sighed. He turned to look at Eris, "Are you okay? That was probably stressful for you."
Eris shook her head, and snuggled the Piplup, "I'm great! That was actually a lot of fun!"
"You were really good out there." Nolan nodded, "Had me surprised… but at the same time, I think this whole adventure proved something."
Eris tilted her head, "And what is that?"
"I think whoever you were before, you were a Pokemon Trainer. Just the way you carried yourself in that battle… you were like a Pro! Your battle stance, the way you threw that Pokeball… everything. You really surprised me!"
Eris giggled and twisted back and forth on her heels, "You think?"
Nolan nodded, and then turned his attention to the guy in the lab-coat, "Now… what happened? Why were those grunts attacking you?"
The man returned from the sidelines, and started picking up the spilled papers, "I-I don't know. They wanted some of our research notes! I don't even know why… but they said they needed them for 'their own research'." Eris bent down to help him pick up the papers, and the man paused to smile at her, "Thank you Miss." He then paused to look at Nolan, "I really must thank you both. I don't know what they would have done to me if you didn't show up?"
"You said research…" Nolan folded his arms,
"Oh right!" He finished picking up the papers, and the two other Pokeballs, and put them in his suitcase, "I'm one of Professor Rowan's aids. I was doing research out at the Lake when they attacked. These three Pokeballs contain Pokemon that I brought out here for my research… you see, this lake has special properties, its one of the oldest lakes in the world." He turned around, "I've really got to go and report about this to the Professor. He'll want to know all about the stolen research! Bye!"
Then, without another word, he turned and ran off. Nolan sighed and watched the man run until he was out of sight, before turning to face Eris again.
"Wait…" His eyes fell to the Piplup in her arms, "That guy forgot his Piplup!" He groaned and ran a hand through his hair, "This is bad… if that really is a Starter Pokemon… then it has to be returned to the Lab."
"Lab?" Eris asked,
"Oh yeah." Nolan sighed, "When someone wants to become a Pokemon Trainer, they can either go and catch themselves a Pokemon, or they can go to a Lab and get their very own Starter Pokemon - meaning some kid is going to show up to the Lab, expecting their first Pokemon, only to realize it's not there."
"That's awful!" Eris gasped, "We've got to return him!"
"Piiiip…" The Piplup sighed. He turned around in Eris's arms and snuggled up to her chest.
Nolan quickly turned around and recalled Buizel, then turned back to the exit, "Let's stop by home first. We should tell Mom about this, since the Professor's Lab is in the next town over, and we'll be gone for awhile."
Eris nodded, "Okay."