A memory is like

A book, with endless pages

A song of endless words

A painting of nearby worlds

Worlds that seem so close

But are so, so far away.

A memory is a part of us

We cannot live without.

-"Memories," Edgar Allan Krow

Chapter Six: The Memory

"Hoo-ooo-oot!" Exclaimed Harold, flittering about. Zelda danced around with glee. "Oh," said Steve, scratching his head, trying to act modest, "It was nothing." The Noctowl smiled. "Thank you kind children," said Zelda, "I cannot believe I doubted you. Here, take this as a reward." Zelda handed me a bag of PokéDollars. We collectively opened the bag and glanced inside. Ten 100 Poké coins were inside! One thousand Poké! Steve and I were ecstatic, but Erica didn't seem satisfied. "We get to keep all of it?" Erica moved forward. "No," she started, "We need to give a share of it to the guild. But that share is 90%." Steve and I stared at her in shock. "WHAT?" Demanded the Oshawott, staring at her. "WE ONLY GET TO KEEP 100 POKE?!" I groaned, "That's not fair!" "Well," said Erica, "It'll have to be that way until we break away from the guild, that won't be too-too long…" Steve sighed and took out one coin. "So the we should just be happy with it?" I asked, "I always remember getting so much more…" "Were did you get it?" Asked Erica. "Umm…" I started, "I found a lot of it." Erica gave me a skeptical look, "Sure," she said, "Okay, fine." We walked slowly to the guild in practical silence and disappointment. Gosh it hurt to loose all of that money.

"So how did it go?" Asked Celeste as she walked toward us. "Oh," I started, "It was a complete success! We got those books back to the librarians. Also, we have…" I handed her the bag of Poké. "We have your money." Celeste took the bag and opened it. "Did you already take yours?" She asked. "Yeah," said Erica, holding up the coin. Celeste dug into the bag, pulling out two more coins. "Here," said the Lopunny, "Take these, you three have earned it." Steve stared at the coins in disbelief. "Really?" I asked, staring up at Celeste, about ready to start jumping up and down. Celeste nodded. "Yes, really. But I expect to see you three here constantly. On a daily basis." The Vulpix nodded intently, "Yes!" She said, "We will!" Steve interjected quickly, "We need a place to stay, we have my tent, but it won't fit three people. Can we-" Before Steve could finish, Celeste cut in, "Go up to Michelle, the Roserade. She's the receptionist, she'll show you were to go." As we walked away, Celeste called out, "Good luck in your travels, Team Pokepuff!" The second the door slammed, we all screamed in glee! "We did it!" I cheered, "We finished our first job!" Erica held out her paw, "Team?" Steve put his hand in, "Well?" Finally, I put mine in. We all cheered, "TEAM POKEPUFF!"

"So," Said Michelle, "Who are you three?" Steve started, "I'm an up and coming Oshawott-" "Get to the point," Michelle spat. "Steve." He finished. "I'm Erica, the Vulpix" "Nice to meet you." Said the Roserade, "What about you, Chespin?" That was the first time someone referred to me by my species because humans don't call each other human when they don't know their names. "Hey," shouted Michelle, "Your name, spacey?" "Jack." I sighed. Michelle slowly came to a stop, and turned to the left. We were in a dark hallway, with doors on each side. The Rosrade whistled loudly into the darkness. Slowly, Lampent began to illuminate the hallway with their purple glow. "But, won't these drain our life forces?" I asked. Roserade turned her head. "You act like you're a human or something. These Lampent won't harm you now." Steve looked back at me with concern. Erica looked back in confusion. I already felt somewhat tired, or maybe I was just thinking it. As we passed each door, the Lampent flickered out. My breathing felt quick, but was it just my imagination? "We're almost at an empty one," said Michelle, as more Lampent flickered out. My heart was pounding, but was it the Lampent? I was so tired of that question. The Roserade opened the door, letting the Lampent flicker out. "Here you are," she said, letting us enter, "I'll let you three get settled." The second the Roserade closed the door, Erica turned to me. "Okay," she started, "What's going on, what aren't you telling me?" Steve looked at me, worried. I sighed, I had no idea what to do anymore. I was tired, and didn't want to resist. I now know that the weakness was in my head, but the interaction still tired me out. "I am, a human," I began, "I was walking through a route on the way to another city when I saw a portal. Because of curiosity, I stuck my hand inside. At that point, my arm became a Chespin's arm. Long story short, I decided to finish the transformation." Erica stared at me. "Is that why we were looking for those books in the first place?" "Yeah," Steve said, "We needed to find out how Jack got here, but when we got to the library, they were stolen." I remembered the note. GREED. Who is Greed? Why would he steal the books? Erica sighed, and stepped up to me. "So, you're a human?" She started, "From the human world? Were you one of those trainers?" I nodded, "Yeah I was pretty good if I," and then I remembered. My Pokémon. My main part were all on me at the time when I stepped through the portal. Everything dissolved off of me, what happened to my PokéBalls then? "Oh no!" I began, "I LEFT MY POKEMON BACK THERE, THEY'RE GONE NOW, BUT WHERE DID THEY GO?" I Slowly lowered down to the floor, crouching. Sylveon, Greninja, did I drop them? I hopped I just dropped them, then someone could pick them up, right? My breathing hastened again, and now it wasn't my imagination. I burst out of the door and ran.

Running through the hall, watching Lampent flicker on and off. I had no time for them, I had to check, maybe, maybe! I burst into the job room, only to crash into a sleek, dark figure. "Whoa there!" Called out the figure, "Watch out son!" "Sorry," I called out to what I now saw as a Honchkrow. "Jack!" I heard Erica call, but I didn't care. I could not stop running. Maybe, just maybe, I could find them.

*Quick POV Change*

I'm watching him right now, Envy.

And he has absolutely no idea what's happened.

How do you think this is going?

Everything is going according to plan, right?

Yes, Remorse, don't worry, we've got him right where we want him.

Envy, why would he do something like that?

Remorse, you must understand that humans are fickle, they care one moment, and then they don't. It is such an awful downward slope.

Will I be okay?

Of course, Remorse. You will be okay, Jack will pay for what he has done to you.

You may not know who I am, my dear, and I may not know you, but I do know that I can help you.

-An anonymous note to a wander of anonymous species.