"I didn't know you were in Sinnoh Maelstrom, but I should've known, you never could sit still in one place for too long." She patted the sea serpents head, glad to see a familiar face in this strange land.
It had taken her some time to reach this spot, way out to sea as she was. But she'd wanted to be alone, and, even though it was rare, one or two people did walk along the beach at night, so she sought out this isolated spot. She had whistled a familiar tune to herself, and before she knew it, the waters had burst skywards and a great monster had almost scared her senseless, until it chuckled to itself and she recognised it as her mischievous Maelstrom.
"I'm in a bit of a fix here," She scratched his head, how she used to when he was a little Magikarp, "We were looking for folklore here in Sinnoh, but we hit a rough patch of sea and were swept off the boat. But I still don't know how we managed to wash ashore here instead of die out there in the wide ocean. It makes no sense. But now Steven's lost his memories of me and I don't know how to get them back. But perhaps, he'd be happier not knowing, and forgetting me entirely." She looked at the gentle sea below her, the great beast's head resting precariously on her lap.
He shook his great blue head, knocking her off balance. She wobbled violently, almost toppling into the icy waters below.
"What?" She asked, wishing she could understand him once again.
He lifted his head and looked over at the beach. Her gaze wandered in the same direction, spotting two figures on the beach.
Steven was sat on Metagross, his feet resting on the top of Metagross' front leg; he had his elbows resting on his knees and his face resting in his hands, deep in thought.
"He shouldn't be here!" She hopped onto Maelstrom's back; he drifted to the shore, "Thanks." She patted his head; he sank back into the sea.
She approached Steven and Metagross; the silver-haired man didn't even seem to notice her, not even when she was right in front of him.
"What are you doing here? You should be resting!" She glared at him, her sapphire eyes disguising concern with irritation.
His shocking silver eyes focussed on her, confusion reigning supreme in his deep pools of silver-grey.
"Why did you leave the Pokémon Center?" She demanded.
"I couldn't sleep." He stated simply, wondering briefly why she was so annoyed with him.
"Then count Mareep." She sighed, seating herself on Metagross' other side, "Please take us back Metagross."
He looked at her, seeing her completely at ease as the steel monster floated into the air.
Flashes of various journeys on Metagross bounced around his head; her face kept popping up here and there.
He remembered perching on a white Metagross, over the calm waters of Sootopolis, which had been disturbed by some impact. A Milotic surfaced, its body wrapped around the weak, limp form of a girl, her brunette hair dripping wet, covering her face.
He remembered taking her into his arms, and travelling to the island where the Gym was seated, Wallace waited there, his face pale and fearful.
The memory brought a stab of pain to Steven's chest, what was this? What happened in Sootopolis?
It did not take long for them to reach the Pokémon Center once again. The two dismounted and Steven recalled his Pokémon, thanking him for his help.
She took him back to his room, ensuring he got back into bed without hurting himself or anything.
"Did you look through this?" She picked up the PokéNav which had been sitting on the bedside table.
"Yes, thank you, I remembered a lot of old memories." He looked into her hopeful eyes. "But, I'm sorry; I still don't quite remember you." He didn't want to tell her how his chest ached when he watched her leave or how warm she made him feel.
She nodded, not showing the pain she felt. "Okay, well, there is plenty of time to remember, don't strain yourself." She stood up. "Goodnight, sleep well." She turned and was gone before he could utter a goodnight back to her.
She'd waited up all night, thinking of anything she could do to help him. But her mind spun around and around, gaining no bright ideas. She watched the sky outside brighten as the dawn approached.
When it could be considered a reasonable hour, she rang up Wallace on the PokéNav Plus, but he did not answer the call. She tried Mr. Stone from Devon, hoping that the brilliant businessman was up already.
He was indeed.
"Hello, Mr. Stone from Devon Corp speaking." His voice was slightly metallic coming from the small device as he recited his practiced greeting.
"Mr. Stone, it's Sapphire." She stated, wondering why he had not recognised her PokéNav ID, it should have flashed up when she called him.
"Sapphire? But I had heard that you met with a terrible fate in Sootopolis a few months back. I attended your funeral. May I ask who is ringing; this practical joke is not an amusing one."
"It's very hard to explain, yes I did die in Sootopolis, but I came back. Now I'm in Sinnoh with Steven, but we were swept off the boat we were travelling on and washed ashore, Steven lost his memories. He has regained a few of them, he remembered you after seeing the PokéNav Plus. But he doesn't remember me. I was wondering if you knew anything about amnesia." She tried keeping her explanation brief.
"How could you come back? Trust me kid; once someone dies they stay dead. And my son has not left his house since the funeral; you expect me to believe he up and went to Sinnoh? Please, I am a very busy man and I have worked to attend to."
"Please believe me! We first met eight years ago; I assisted your employee and then delivered two things for you. A letter and a briefcase. I travelled to Dewford to give Steven this letter, and I then went to Slateport to give Captain Stern the parts within this briefcase. You gave me this very PokéNav Plus. Through the years you've updated it for me, giving me prototype apps and updates to test how they work on-the-go." She sighed.
"Hmm, if you are Sapphire tell me one more thing. You received a Pokémon from Steven about three years back, what was it, what was it holding and what did you name it?"
"Easy! It was a shining white Beldum, who held a Metagrossite and I named it Silver, after its colouring." She answered swiftly. Hoping this would suffice to make him answer her inquiry.
She sat now, in the small canteen in the Pokémon Center, a plate of untouched food sitting sorrowfully in front of her.
Wallace had answered when she called him after speaking with Steven's father for about half an hour. He couldn't offer any solution to her problem. From what she had been told by Mr. Stone, Steven's memories should return of their own accord. But if she found something that was close to her, for example, Steven had remembered him because Mr. Stone's biggest hobby, behind finding rare stones, was advancing in technology. The PokéNav was the embodiment of Mr. Stone's hard work. But nothing sprang to her mind. Wallace had been remembered due to the Milotic in the picture Steven had seen with him in it. Similarly, Garchomp had reminded him of Cynthia. But what could she use for him to remember her? She didn't have a constant partner. Steven had seen Phantom, who had travelled with her the longest, but hadn't remembered her then.
"Good morning." She snapped out of her own mind as she focussed on Steven, who stood in front of her, holding a plate of food for him. "May I sit down?"
Her eyes widened. But then she looked down at the table, "Of course you can." She answered, hating the feeling that she didn't know him, that he didn't know her. They weren't strangers, not in the least. But right now, they were unknown to one another. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine thanks you." His answer was short, but he still half-smiled at her as he took his seat across from her. "Your eyes look sad again." He observed.
"What?" She blinked at him, confused by his statement.
"Whenever you look at me, your eyes look so sad." He began eating.
"I'm sorry." She closed her eyes, trying to replace her mask. Her PokéNav rang shrilly, making her jump. "Please excuse me." She stood, taking her plate, dumping the untouched food into the bin before piling the plate on a mound of used plates.
She exited the Pokémon Center as she answered the call.
"Sapphire, its Wallace."
"Are you bringing good news?" She asked, moving through the rural city as she spoke.
"Well, yes and no. I have an idea!" He seemed overjoyed, almost acting as though he'd solved the world's problems. "There might be something he'd remember you by! When you were dead, well before that, you gave him a stone." He began explaining, her eyes widened as she remembered the peculiar stone Silver had found for her. "He wouldn't let that stone go during the months you were gone. He examined it, analysed its properties, the whole nine yards. But that will be the item which has the most memories of you imprinted onto it for him!"
"Of COURSE!" She exclaimed, "How could I forget that?!" She tutted at herself, "Thanks Wallace, you're a genius!"
"Yes, you've only just realized?" He laughed on the other end of the call.
"Yes, but there's one problem." She frowned, her sudden hope being squashed violently. "We left it at his house. It's still in Hoenn."
"There are plenty of cruise ships going from Sinnoh to Hoenn, the tropical weather here is quite the tourist attraction. It's only when you try booking one to go from Hoenn to Sinnoh when it becomes a problem."
"But I need answers to my questions. I need to ask Cynthia about folklore here. Should I send him back to you?" She mused. Wondering what course of action would be best. "He's injured; I wouldn't want to send him off on his own." She frowned.
"I'm not leaving." Steven spoke from right behind her.
"Well, I believe we have ourselves a little eavesdropper, good morning Steven." Wallace had a smile in his voice.
"I won't go and leave you here." He stated simply.
"Your memories will return faster if you're at home, in familiar environments. There's no point you staying here at this point in time." She sighed.
"You don't have any of your partners with you Sapphire. If you're challenged by a trainer or need to protect yourself from a wild Pokémon you have no one to help you." Wallace interjected.
"I know this region; you don't seem to know it well. I expect this is your first time in Sinnoh-"
"It is her first time outside of the Hoenn region, let alone in Sinnoh."
"Yes thank you for your enlightening input Wallace!"
"You're welcome; I'm here to help after all."
"I will not leave you here alone, it's a clear decision for me to make. I will stay here with you and help you with your goal."
"Well there's the second time he's vowed to aid your quest young princess."
"Shut up Wallace." Sapphire sighed, a smile on her face at his antics. "Hey, could you send the stone over with Phantom. Rough weather and long distances shouldn't be a problem for him. He should find us sooner or later."
"I'll ask Mina to find him for me and I'll send him off as soon as possible." Wallace answered her swiftly. Hanging up the call after blowing a kiss through the speaker. Sapphire tutted as she put the device back in her pocket.
