Disclaimer- Pokémon is not mine ain't it a shame?
Memories should be treasured!
Billy's POV
"Lizzy wait!"I called after my former friend and she turned and looked at me blankly. "Don't you think that even though I made I mistake" I cringed inwardly at the word because I knew it wasn't a mistake. "That we should talk longer? I mean this isn't you ordinary situation after all." I said desperate for a chance to talk to Liz.
"Look it's been a long day and I'm really tired. Why don't we talk in the morning?" Liz said in a voice which implied she was struggling to remain calm.
"Fine." I said in disappointment. I didn't want to upset her. Liz left me in the corridor then spared me a curious look back then went into her room. I sighed and sat down in the corridor.
"Hey any luck?" Billy asked me I simply sighed in return and looked at the floor.
"Don't worry I sure tomorrow you can straighten things out!" Paula said happily.
"I doubt it..." I replied glumly and looked up when Umbreon sat down besides me.
"Master doesn't feel so down. Maybe she is the wrong person and even though she has the same curse as you she hardly seems compliant." Shadow said and I scratched his head in thought.
"She defiantly is the same person I can't believe I didn't see it before." I said hitting my head against the wall.
"Maybe she has forgotten about you? You haven't seen her for a while right?" Paula questioned.
"While it is true I haven't seen her for three years I've spent about thirteen years of my life with her! You don't forget someone you've spent that much time with!" I said.
"How could she have forgotten then?" Billy asked in confusion.
"That's the question on everyone's mind." I said in defeat.
"Then we'll help you come up with a plan to help you regain Liz's memory!" Billy cried in victory.
"Thanks you guys." I said with a true smile. "Operation return Liz's memory is go!"
Elizabeth's POV
I tossed and turned on the bed wondering why I was unable to sleep. My thoughts kept turning to Luke. He looked familiar but I couldn't remember him and judging by the way he had reacted he thought we were close. I turned again on the bed. I thought of everyone I knew in Windswept Valley and the times we had spent together. For some reason the memories were foggy and were making my head hurt. I sat up and pressed a hand to my head and thought clearly of everyone who I had regularly spent time with in Windswept Valley. First was Peter the annoying guy who kept flirting with me. He was so irritating. Then was Mary she was a good friend of mine as well. She was very timid and often hiding behind people I was gutted when she had moved to Hoenn when I was eight. I couldn't remember anyone else. Why did my head hurt so much? I collapsed back onto the bed and fell into many restless nightmares. I woke up to find a note on the door: Meet me in the cafe outside the Pokémon centre, Luke. I sighed, today seemed like it was going to be a long day.
Paula's POV
Billy and I hid in the bushes watching Luke sitting on a table outside the cafe nervously. Occasionally he would stand up walk around a bit then sit down again or whisper things to Shadow who was also pacing nervously but staying near Luke. Suddenly Liz appeared causing me and Billy to sink lower into the bushes.
"Here's some Tulips your favourite flowers." Luke said with a grin offering the white flowers to her while Liz looked at them with a frown on her face.
"Why the flowers? I thought we were just going to chat?" Liz asked in a suspicious voice but taking the flowers anyway and putting them underneath her seat.
"We are but I thought last night we got off on the wrong foot. So I decided it would be nice if we sat down and have a nice meal to ease the tension." Luke said smiling and I had to restrain myself from giggling. It was my plan for Luke to gradually calm Liz down while showing her how much he knew about her. That would prove that they were friends in the past so that Liz couldn't deny it. I had a funny feeling that Liz might be faking not remembering Luke just because she was mad at him anyway. A waiter approached the table with some food in his hand.
"Here's your order." He put two slices of chocolate cake on the table in front of Luke who was still grinning and a confused Liz.
"We didn't order anything though..." Liz said.
"Don't worry about that I took the liberty of ordering your favourite pudding before you got here." Luke said with a grin.
"First the flowers, then the cake. How did you know?" Liz asked in confusion.
"It's because we were friends once. Come on Lizzy don't you remember?" Luke asked putting his hands on Liz's shoulders. Liz pushed his hands away.
"I thought about it but I really don't remember you." Liz said looking into Luke's eyes. It sounded almost like she was telling the truth.
"How could have I known about the flowers? The cake? What people call you?" Luke said almost shaking her. "How would I know that unless I knew you?" Liz looked around the cafe trying to avoid Luke's eyes. Then she gave a grin.
"Maybe those two idiots hiding in the bushes told you?" Liz said looking directly at us causing us to flinch. How did she know? "Paula!" Liz cried "For future reference pink isn't the best camouflage colour!" my face grew red with embarrassment and I sank lower into the bushes. Billy burst out laughing besides me.
"Shut up! I like pink!" I yelled at him causing him to laugh even more.
"Lizzy I swear they didn't tell me any of this..." Luke said looking at us sadly. The realisation dawned on me that we may have blown his chances with Liz.
"Listen to me Luke." Liz said locking her eyes with his "I'm sorry if you knew me once but I don't remember you now. Besides three years is a long time so even you if did know me I could have changed into a completely different person by now." Liz said bluntly.
"But Lizzy... I knew you for thirteen years... you can't have forgotten all the good times we had..." Luke said with his eyes full of tears.
"Sorry." Liz said staring at Luke before bending down to pick up her flowers and walking away. Luke sat down on the floor with a sigh seeing her leave once again. Billy and I walked up to Luke who looked at us then back down at the floor again while Shadow was lying by his feet.
"What's that?" Billy asked seeing something on Luke's seat. There was a small tissue on it like it had been placed there. Luke picked it up with wonder in his eyes.
"It looks like maybe Liz hasn't completely forgotten about you maybe she still cares deep down." I said with a smile. Luke clenched it in determination and Shadow stood up and looked at him in wonder.
"I'm not giving up this time we're going with Billy's plan!" Luke cried in victory.
"Great this plan was stupid anyway!" Billy yelled.
"Hey it wasn't that bad!" I cried in protest.
"You just watch the master plan in action." Billy said winking at me.
Billy's POV
I ran after Luke as he raced to catch up with Liz who was walking like she was deep in thought with the flowers over her shoulder.
"Just watch if we remind Liz of her strongest memories with Luke she's bound to remember him!" I whispered to Paula who sighed.
"If Liz didn't believe Luke knew her even though he knew her likes and dislikes, how will memories help when she doesn't remember?" Paula said with a frown.
"Liz I swear those kids didn't tell me any of that information." Luke said in desperation once more and Liz sighed.
"Why are you so hung up about this you thinking I'm your old friend stuff?" Liz asked not looking at Luke.
"Because you are my old friend" Luke insisted. "I remember one time when you fell off the monkey bars and got so scared you wouldn't go near them for at least a week. And the time when I fell into a river and you dived in without hesitation to rescue me."
"Doesn't really sound like me to do heroics." Liz said looking at the sky.
"You did!" Luke cried in protest "it was near the stream in Windswept valley we used to play their nearly as much as the playground! It was our secret area because otherwise people like our parents would find us!"
"I don't remember any river though." Liz said with a frown and Luke's face grew paler. My plan wasn't working as well as I hoped. Suddenly a couple of drops of rain began to fall from the sky and Luke clenched his fist.
"What about the other people in Windswept Valley. Do you remember them?" Luke said in frustration.
"Sure Mary who moved to Hoenn when I was eight and Peter the annoying flirt who started his journey when I was eleven."
"I see." Luke's fist clenched even more as the rain increased its speed. "So it's just me then." Luke turned and started marching back.
"Hey where are you going? We haven't completed the mission yet!" I said to him.
"I'm going back to my my room I need time alone to think." Luke said darkly with Shadow slaking behind while Liz watched him blankly.
"You're really cruel you know if you're faking this." Paula said to Liz who had a hand on her head. "Don't you have anything to say?" Paula demanded.
"I wonder why." Liz said with a blank look in her eyes "why my head hurts so much" she said putting a hand on her hand "and why I want to stop him." Liz said then she collapsed.
"Liz! Liz! Are you okay?" I ran up to her.
"We have to get her to the hospital in the Pokémon centre quickly!" Paula said with the concern in her eyes quickly replacing the anger. We picked up Liz between us and with some help from Alice carrying her feet got her back to the Pokémon centre. I watched Liz with concern as the Chansey put her on a stretcher and carried her away. She looked like she was in the middle of a nightmare.
Luke's POV
I paced around the room in frustration occasionally watching the rain pouring down outside the window.
"Why does she remember them and not me?" I asked my Umbreon who stayed silent and stared at me.
"Master- I-" Shadow started then though better of it and laid down on the floor. "Maybe we should leave this city." Shadow said solemnly causing me to stare at him. "It's not doing your health any good worrying about this girl and-"Realisation dawned on me.
"You know something about this don't you?" I said darkly.
"Master I don't think you want to hear..." Shadow said hestanily
"Tell me." I ordered. Shadow bowed his head and stared at the floor.
"Very well it was about a month after you ran away and found me and my pack in the woods..."
One month after the events of the last flashback... and Shadow's POV
"Got you!" I cried as I tackled Luke who was in his Eevee form and he rolled across the floor.
"I wasn't paying attention!" Luke cried in protest.
"Hey you were the one who wanted us to teach you to be stronger!" I said looking him in the eyes.
"Boys you shouldn't argue," a stern powerful voice said and I saw my father an Umbreon staring at us. I wanted to evolve to be an Umbreon just like him which is why I had been named Shadow.
"He started it!" We said in sync causing my father to chuckle. "Come on we'll go back to everyone now." We were lead back to the pack where I saw my five brothers and two sisters play fighting each other while my mother (an Espeon) watched with a warm smile on her face.
"Okay you lot time for bed now!" my mother said seeing that we had all gathered. There were plenty of cries of:
"Awww" and "But Mum!" coming from my family. Luke watched us with a stony expression but a small smile and I looked at him.
"Is there anything wrong?" I asked and he looked at me with a grin.
"Nothing you go ahead I just want to talk to your Dad for a minute." I gave him a strange look and left only to hide in some nearby bushes when Luke wasn't looking.
"Sir, I'm really grateful for all your kindness but-" Luke started.
"You got to leave right?" My Dad said and my heart skipped a beat. Luke was leaving?
"H-how did you know?" Luke stuttered.
"You've been getting that faraway look in your eyes. Do you really have to leave without telling anyone?" My dad asked.
"It's probably better this way I've already spent far too long here anyway I should get moving." Luke said his voice sounded set but he was staring at the floor. My father took in a deep breath of air.
"Do me a favour and take Shadow with you." He said staring at the moon.
"I've already put you through so much. I can't take one of your children as well." Luke said starting into Dad's eyes.
"He's been getting that faraway look in his eyes too. Besides I'd feel a lot better knowing one of my children is going to a kind trainer rather than a stranger I don't know catching them." My dad said staring at the sky. "I think Shadow doesn't want to leave you either." Dad said sighing and happiness crept over me.
"Thank you so much Sir!" Luke said happily. "I'll find Shadow and we'll be gone by tomorrow." Luke's voice darkened slightly "Please tell everyone goodbye for me." My father nodded and we both watched Luke leave.
"How long are you going to keep hiding there Shadow?" My father questioned still staring at the moon and I stiffened. I reluctantly came out of hiding and stared at the floor.
"Hi dad." I said awkwardly. My father didn't react and continued to stare at the moon.
"My, my, haven't you grown? And I didn't realise you had cubs Sebastian." A feminine voice said and we both turned to see a black Eevee like Luke coming out the forest only this one had silver tips on its ears and tail and sparkling silver eyes. I remembered when Luke told me he had been cursed this Pokémon had been the one to do the deed and I grew blind with rage.
"You! Turn Luke back! You've made him really unhappy!" I ran towards the Eevee in an attempt to tackle her and she jumped high into the air and landed straight on my back causing me to be crushed underneath her. "Let me go!" I cried in protest.
"Although it seems the cubs need to be taught some respect." The Eevee said coolly as if she wasn't standing on me.
"I knew it was your handy work as soon as I heard the boy's tale." My father said without emotion. Why wasn't he helping me? "Are you sure it had to come to this?" My father said with regret.
"You know Pokémon like me don't have the right to make decisions anymore." The black Eevee said with a grin although her voice sounded sad.
"Luke where are you?" We all turned at the unfamiliar human girl's voice. I saw a human about Luke's age exploring the forest with tears coming down her face and the black Eevee's face grew dark. "Everyone's worried!"
"Dad by Luke does she mean our Luke?" I questioned but received no answer and was pushed further into the ground by the black Eevee.
"There's my problem that needs to be taken care of." The Eevee said with a sad smile.
"You need my help right?" My dad said staring into her eyes.
"White is not ready for her yet." The black Eevee said staring at the girl.
"What are you talking about? Who's White?" I questioned.
"According to what the boy told me they are very close. She will continue to search unless she forgets." My father said solemnly ignoring me once again. The black Eevee sighed.
"That's what I thought you would say. It will cause complications later on though." The black Eevee said.
"I will make her forget." My father said sternly.
"If she is Luke's friend he'll be upset if she forgets!" I yelled at both of them but they ignored me. My father walked up to the girl who backed off nervously.
"I promise I wasn't going to hurt you or anything I'm just trying to find out where my friend went." The girl spoke quickly. Dad's eyes began to glow in a powerful confuse ray and the girl began to clutch her head in pain.
"Dad don't!" I yelled struggling to escape from the black Eevee who pushed me further down.
"Stop it! I'm trying to find... find... L... why am I here again?" the girl questioned and collapsed on the forest floor. The black Eevee let out a small sigh but whether it was with relief or sadness I could not tell.
"Dad! How could you!" I struggled to break free then found to my surprise that I could stand again and found the black Eevee sniffing at the girl.
"So this is the one he's so interested in. I can't say I see why." She muttered. She then turned to me and her silver eyes locked with my brown ones. "My cursed one cannot know of this." I was ready to protest to confront this Eevee drag her back to Luke and get her to change him back. But when my eyes locked with hers something within me agreed. "He cannot be told until the time is right. Not of this or your meeting with me."
"How will I know when the time is right?" I questioned not wanting her to leave for her to stay and explain everything.
"You will know." She said cryptically and ran off and disappeared into the blackness of the forest.
Present day and Luke's POV
"Why didn't you tell of this to me yesterday?" I questioned.
"I wasn't completely sure it was the same girl." Shadow said glumly. "After that there was never the right moment."
"So how do we reverse the memory loss?" I asked eagerly and Shadow looked at me with sadness before sighing.
"That's also part of the reason I didn't tell you. It can't be reversed." Shadow said in sadness. My heart skipped a beat.
"That can't be. You can't just delete thirteen years of a person's life." I stated my voice in disbelief. Shadow didn't answer and looked at me with regret. Suddenly I heard rapid knocking on the door.
"Luke! Luke!" I heard Paula's voice from outside. "Liz collapsed!"
"What?" I cried and I burst open the door to see a worried Paula.
"She just started clutching her head in pain then she collapsed!" Paula said quickly.
"It's a side effect of our presence." Shadow stated causing me to stare at him. "The memories that are locked away are struggling to get out but are unable to do so. We are the cause of her pain." Shadow said locking his eyes with mine.
"There has got to be some way we can help her!" I cried in frustration clenching my fist in frustration.
"There is no way we can help her." Shadow said in defeat. "Try if you want but in the end it will cause her more pain." I looked at my Umbreon then at Paula. The two paths I could take to try and help Liz but cause her pain or leave her knowing she'll be healthy without me. I clenched my teeth in frustration. The important decision could wait until I checked on my friend I decided and I raced after Paula.
Elizabeth's POV
I was in some kind of foggy place but I could see the three year old me playing happily in the sandbox. Then a man in a suit came up to me whose face I also couldn't see.
"Lizzy," the words seemed to echo all over the place even though they were obviously spoken by the man in the suit. "You do know that you parents are very busy right?" the three year old me looked up at the man and nodded. Then I resumed playing even though I had obviously lost the fun of it. "Lizzy, they won't be coming back to Windswept Valley you know." The man said. Then he quickly added "but that doesn't mean that they don't still love you. They'll send regular money so that you'll be able to get by and I'll look after you until you get old enough to look after the house by yourself." The man said while I messed around in the sand and nodded at the man who then swiftly left. Once he had gone the three year old me started crying.
"Calm down its okay..." I said to myself who obviously couldn't hear me because she didn't react. I couldn't believe I expected her to because this was obviously a memory or something. I remember when I was older I had a dream of this event and someone came and comforted me who then became my friend. After searching my memory I then realised nobody came and I was left alone. I glumly watched myself cry.
"Hey are you okay?" a familiar voice asked and both me and my three year old self turned at the voice. This didn't happen before, I thought to myself and looked around but I couldn't see the owner of the voice. Where the three year old me was looking there was a bright shining light.
"I'm lonely..." the three year old me managed to choke out.
"If you're lonely then I'll be your friend!" the voice said and the light overwhelmed the fog. Suddenly I was aware of three familiar voices but I kept my eyes closed.
"I feel so bad of making accusations that Lizzy was faking not remembering you." Paula said her voice full of regret. Right I had been fighting with Paula then my head began to hurt and I ended up here, wherever here was.
"It's my fault Liz ended up like this. According to Shadow the forgotten memories where struggling to get out of her head. So she got overwhelmed." Luke said in regret.
"No one can blame you for this." Billy said sadly. I felt something being pressed into my hands and someone moving my fingers to ensure I grabbed it. I heard the sound of someone standing up.
"Where are you going?" I heard Paula asked.
"I just need to think for minute. " I heard Luke say before he left the room. I decided that this was a good time to open my eyes. I couldn't deal with Luke knowing my past when I didn't know him right now.
"Liz your awake!" Paula cried happily and her eyes looked puffy and red. Had she been crying?
"You're okay!"Billy cried in victory. Even his eyes looked quite red. When did everyone get so emotional over me?
"Don't worry you guys I'm fine..." I said patting them on their heads. I looked down at my hand. Inside was a golden amulet which looked like the one Luke had shoved in my face yesterday. I examined it carefully. It didn't look like much just a necklace with a tag on the end. It had some engraved words on the tag so I held it closer to my face and read them. Then my head began to hurt like it was going to explode and I clutched it in pain.
"Liz! What's wrong?" Paula questioned.
"Somebody we need a doctor in here!" Billy yelled to the hallways. Images were flowing into my head images of me playing with somebody else. Me leaning against a wall chatting, playing by a river, on a swing and many other places. Somebody else that I couldn't remember. Who was it? Suddenly Luke's face popped into my mind and all the images were complete. I sat up and looked Billy and Paula in the eyes.
"I need to see Luke now." I said sternly to them. I could remember him and I had to talk to him.
"Liz you just had a major headache I don't think–" Paula started.
"We'll find him for you." Billy said sensing my determination but also worried about me.
"It's faster if we all go." I said staring him the eyes.
"Fine but if you suffer any pain we're going straight back to the hospital and I'll use my Pokémon to keep you there." Billy said in determination. I grinned at him and we all set off looking for Luke in the pouring wind and rain. We searched high and low throughout the city and eventually found Luke leaving Saffron city with Umbreon close on his heels.
"Where do you think you're going?" I demanded in a loud voice causing Luke to turn and regard me with sadness in his eyes.
"There's no point keeping a promise with someone who doesn't remember it especially if it's causing you pain." Luke said solemnly. I raised my eyebrow at him.
"I guess promises don't mean that much to you then." I threw his amulet at him which he skilfully caught.
"Why are you giving me this?" Luke questioned. "Right now it doesn't mean anything to me it's just a piece of trash." Luke said with sadness regarding the amulet in his palm.
"That's a shame." I said with a grin "I spent all my money on that amulet for you and you still don't appreciate it!" I said in mock anger causing Luke to look at me in confusion.
"B-but..." Luke stuttered. "How can you remember that?" I raised my eyebrow at him once more.
"The bonds carried will last a life time. No matter how far I go or how much you fade from my mind I carry with you with me always." I said staring into Luke's eyes.
"You a-actually remember me... remember it..." Luke said his eyes watering slightly.
"What are you talking about?" Paula asked.
"Here" Luke passed Paula his amulet engraved on the tag was 'The bonds carried will last a life time. No matter how far I go or how much you fade from my mind I carry with you with me always.' Then on the back was 'Lizzy your best friend forever.'
"You shouldn't have said you didn't like the amulet! You spent three years with it around your neck!" I said with a grin. Luke sniffed and nodded and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. "Just one more thing Luke..." I said softly causing Luke to look up at me. Then I slapped Luke across the cheek causing Billy and Paula to gape at me. "How dare you leave me behind?" I shouted crossly. "I even tried to go after you!" I was almost bursting with anger.
"I know Shadow told me..." Luke said weakly cradling his cheek.
"You promised you wouldn't ditch me! " I shouted "And you were my best friend and you thought I wouldn't like you anymore just because you grew ears and a tail?"
"Now that I think about it that was pretty stupid of me..." Luke said looking downwards then he looked at me with determination brimming in his eyes. "I'll make a new vow! I promise I'll protect you and stand by you until we find some kind of cure for this curse!" Luke proclaimed with his fist on his heart. I rolled my eyes some things never change.
"Do what you like. It's a free country." I said walking off causing Billy, Paula and Luke to grin and run after me.
Meanwhile elsewhere...
White Pichu's POV
I ran through the forest while wind blasted me from every direction and the rain soaked my fur. I didn't slow down despite these conditions and stopped when I reached a cliff edge beyond which I could see the human settlement of Saffron city.
"Aren't you going to show yourself Black?" I questioned the nearby undergrowth.
"Do we always have to go straight to business White?" A feminine voice replied and a black Eevee with silver tips on her tail and ears appeared. We did not know each other's names but we preferred it that way and we referred to each other's main colour. "I mean it's been so long since we had a nice chat."
"You know that I like this as much as you do!" I snapped back.
"Temper, temper." Black tutted "You'll soon go back to work soon enough. That's the way you prefer it right?" I didn't answer and continued staring through the rain at the city. "You should enjoy yourself more White." Black walked in front of my gaze and ran her tail across my face causing me to glare at her and swat it away. "Besides you tend to lose motivation for this sort of thing when you've been doing it as long as I have. You've been doing it for what three- maybe four years?"Black said staring at me.
"Thirteen years. There's a difference." I stated continuing to stare at the city below.
"Whatever, the point is that you tend to get bored after a while so you should enjoy every free moment you have." She said while pacing around me. "And, all of this running around makes my beautiful fur dirty." Black said and she sat down and started grooming herself.
"Why did you choose to do this then? You knew perfectly well what the consequences of your actions would be!" I snapped and looked surprised at the sadness in Black's eyes but then she grinned and it was gone.
"Getting a bit personal aren't we White?" She said standing up again "I could ask the same thing for you. Why did you choose this? What do you have to live for anymore?" Black said and her words echoed around my head like they were taunting me.
"Enough." I snapped locking my golden eyes with her silver ones causing Black to sit down again.
"Always full of justice, you are White." Black sighed and we both turned towards the city and another strong wind blew across our faces. "I guess that this means we have to team up?" Black said in a tone of disappointment. I nodded and we both turned and walked away from the city into the unknown.
If anyone was going to submit an Elite 4 member don't because I've made some up now J I was struggling between a chapter named 'Curses and Amulets' or one named 'Memories should be treasured' but went for the second one cause the Amulet only appears near the end. AbiDel and Teraunce your characters seem interesting so they will appear. Kane will make an appearance soon around Viridian but not in it. Sorry for being so cryptic in these notes but it would be rubbish if I spoilt my own story. I think that's the first time it's actually rained in my story I realised that as I was writing it J I got the idea of a confuse ray being able to make people forget off a different story named 'Meloetta and the withering melody' or something like that I would suggest checking it out (it is quite good) but the author hasn't updated in about two months so I don't know if it's still ongoing (probably not though). By the way Liz's parents aren't dead they just left her at Windswept valley virtually alone for plot line reasons. I had to put that because I couldn't help thinking when I was typing it sounded like they had a horrible accident or something. I'm going on the Christmas holiday I'll be back in January sometime after the 10th. Thank you for all your kind reviews again it seems more people are getting into the story which is good because I have a lot of things planned (starts laughing evilly, All your characters are now my pawns!) Ahem anyway can't say a lot now but look forward to it J the next city will have a contest in it as well so if anyone wants their character to be in the contest just say so but there can only be a maximum of seven characters.