Author's Note:

This is an odd chapter, just warning you. It was also supposed to be part of the last chapter, but it's so different from everything else I made it it's own thing. Thanks as always to everyone who reviewed and I hope you like the chapter! :)

This chapter (except for the very end) takes place in Wolf's mind, talking in quotes is one of the present characters talking mentally to each other, speech in italics is people in the past talking out loud. (So, "" = present, i = past)

Chapter 32: A Boy Named Wolf

Mira drifted into Wolf's memories and dragged Wolf along with her. Silvia was brought along due to her connection to Wolf, and Kira was what was allowing Mira to see his memories in the first place. "Think back to the last thing you can remember before you missing past is," Mira commanded. She didn't speak aloud, the command was given by her mental voice in Wolf's head.

Wolf did so. Mira could feel the memory as Wolf dragged it to the surface. She took ahold of it and it formed itself around them. A smaller Wolf was in bed, clearly not asleep but pretending to be. "Why can we see me?" Wolf wondered. "Shouldn't this be from my point of view?"

"When it happened it was from your point of view," Mira replied. "Memories are odd things and warp and fade with time. What we're seeing isn't exactly what the world was, it's what you remember it to be. At this point you couldn't see yourself or the rooms behind you, but in different memories you knew what they looked like so your mind is extrapolating what they look like from different memories."

"So we're not reliving the exact memory?" Wolf asked.

"We're reliving your representation of it. This will be accurate representation of your memory, not necessarily an accurate representation of what happened." Wolf looked at her in confusion, then shrugged.

"As long as it works," he said.

"Memories have a habit of changing over time and being colored by our perceptions, but they should be clear enough to at least get an idea of what happened."

"Alright, so how do we do this?" Wolf asked.

"Just relax and watch," Mira replied. "We have to find the memories that disappeared first, then we should be able to skip around to parts you thought were important at the time. Hopefully we'll find out what happened to you in one of them and I can fix it."

"I remember being really excited," Wolf mused, looking at his younger self. "I can't remember why though."

"I remember being excited too," Silvia added. Since Mira was inside Wolf's mind, she was able to hear the Pokémon's voice and found the experience a bit disconcerting.

"You two hadn't met yet?" Mira asked.

"Not yet," Wolf replied. "Whenever we met happened sometime in the blank part of my past."

Movement startled them both and they looked to see young Wolf climbing out of bed and tiptoeing over to his window. "I don't remember this," Wolf said.

"This must be the start of the blocked memories," Mira said. They watched as past Wolf opened the window and slipped through, closing it silently behind him. Mira walked through the wall as if it weren't there – because it wasn't. Wolf followed after, looking behind him in wonder and putting his arm through the door and waving it around.

"Huh," he said. "That's cool."

He turned and noticed Mira and his past self had kept going and he ran after. It was late at night, the only illumination coming from the street lights and the cars that passed by every so often. Young Wolf kept his head down and walked along confidently. "I'm surprised none of these people are stopping you," Mira murmured. There were people on the street, but they all ignored Wolf walking beside them.

Wolf shrugged. "People tend to ignore things that don't have to do with them. Besides, it's not like I was asking for help."

Past Wolf had managed to get to the gate without being stopped and Mira wondered how he would get through. It was disturbingly easy. Past Wolf simply walked past the guard and out the gate. "Was it really that easy?" Mira said in surprise.

"Well, the gates are there to keep people out, not in," Wolf pointed out. "The barrier's one way."

"I guess so," Mira agreed.

"You'd think they'd be more careful about letting unaccompanied children out though," Kira commented.

Wolf nodded, then his eyes went wide and he stared at the Kirlia. "How come I heard that?" he asked.

"This is your mind," Kira replied. "Here, thoughts are the same as speech."

"Kira's speaking into your mind," Mira clarified. "That's actually what I'm doing too."

"Me too!" Silvia agreed.

"Huh," Wolf said. "This mind stuff is weird."

"It really is," Mira agreed. "Even most Psychic Pokésouls don't understand most of it." They drifted along after Past Wolf who was headed somewhere with extreme determination.

"Where am I going?" Wolf wondered.

"We can probably skip ahead now," Mira said. "We don't want to live all this out at real time." At Wolf's nod Mira closed her eyes and focused. They stood outside the memory now and memories washed over them. In them Past Wolf walked and slept and walked some more. Finally one caught her eye where he was stopped in a field. This one was more prominent, so Mira opened it. It coalesced around them.

"This is really weird," Wolf commented.

"Well, none of this is real. It's all created from our minds," Mira replied.

"So you're saying one of us is really weird then."

Mira shrugged. "Hey! It's me!" Silvia exclaimed, interrupting the conversation.

Mira and Wolf turned to see Past Silvia launching herself at Past Wolf. "I came out here looking for her," Wolf realized.

"Looks like it," Mira agreed.

"How much time past between this and the first memory?" Wolf asked.

"I don't the exact number, but it's been over a week," Mira replied. "Not more than two though."

"So I was still out here for much longer," Wolf mused.

"And we haven't found out why neither of us remember this," Silvia added.

"This hasn't helped you remember?" Kira asked.

"No," Wolf said. Silvia replied in kind.

"Shall we skip some more?" Mira asked.

"Yeah, let's get to something else," Wolf confirmed, watching his younger self hug Silvia, who was still an Eevee. Mira could feel the faint sadness coming off him that he couldn't remember something that was so clearly a moment of great joy. Hopefully she'd be able to fix that at the end of this.

The memory faded and they were surrounded by scenes again. Mira walked through them, searching for one that felt important. All the ones she'd seen so far were similar to the earlier ones, only this time Silvia was with Wolf on the journey. Wolf looked at them all wistfully and Silvia leaned against him supportively.

Another memory finally poked at Mira's awareness and she opened it. This one was a few days later and Past Wolf and Silvia were in a town. They were walking along the street and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"What's special about this?" Wolf wondered.

"I don't know," Mira replied.

"There," Kira said. Mira looked at where her Pokémon gestured. A girl walked past Young Wolf, a Rufflet following excitedly behind her. "That is Erika," Kira said.

"It is?" Wolf asked. He peered at the girl in contemplation. "She's so young."

"This is from over ten years ago," Mira pointed out.

"Is she with Razan yet?" Silvia wondered.

"I'd say yes," Kira replied, nodding towards a younger version of Razan who was standing with a Drowzee.

"Is that his partner Pokémon?" Mira wondered. "It's probably a Hypno by now."

"It must be," Kira said. Mira watched with interest as Past Erika, much younger than the one Mira had met, but still older than Mira, greeted Razan. Her face lit up and to Mira's surprise Razan smiled back. He hadn't seemed at all friendly from what she'd seen.

"Over here," Silvia called, drawing Mira's attention away from Razan. She turned to see Past Wolf arguing with someone.

Get away from me Pokésoul, the man growled. The words were a bit distorted and Mira wasn't sure the conversation was the exact one that had happened, but the meaning would be the same.

I don't have to do what you say, Past Wolf shot back with a glare. The man glared at Wolf and kicked Silvia when she got too close to him. She stumbled backwards and gave him a look of confusion. Wolf yelled in rage and tackled the man. However, Wolf was much too small to do any damage to the man and he was roughly shoved back, landing heavily on the ground.

The man was going to advance on Wolf again when a hand on his arm stopped him. Razan stood there, glaring. Leave him alone, Razan demanded. Erika joined him, folding her arms and glaring.

The man scoffed. You going to make me?

Razan released the man and a wave of psychic force exploded from his palm, sending the man flying into the dirt road. Razan walked past the man's heaving form and extended a hand to Past Wolf. Wolf took it, a grin on his face. Thanks! Past Wolf said.

Are you alright? Erika asked.

Yup! Past Wolf said. How did you do that? He looked at Razan with big eyes.

I'm a Pokésoul. Razan replied. We can all use the powers of our Pokémon partners.

I can too? Past Wolf wondered.

Yes, Erika replied. I have them as well. She demonstrated, holding a sphere of whirling air in her palm before letting it dissipate.

Cool! How do you do that? Past Wolf asked.

"So you've always asked a lot of questions I guess," Mira commented.

"I like to know things," Wolf replied, not at all self-conscious.

I can teach you if you'd like, Razan offered.

"This is really weird," Silvia said. "Why's he so friendly here?"

"Well, he doesn't know you're from the city yet," Mira replied. "Maybe that's why?"

The memory faded as Wolf followed Razan and Erika to a field to train. In the field of memories again there were faint images of Wolf talking with Razan and Erika. Mira opened one at random.

Razan, Erika and Wolf were sitting in the grass just outside of a town. Silvia was playing with Erika's Rufflet and Razan's Drowzee slept. When do you think I should go home? Past Wolf wondered.

Do you really want to go back to the city? Razan asked, disdain clear in his voice.

My mom's there, Wolf replied.

The people in the city aren't nice, Erika said.

Razan is from the city, isn't he? Wolf pointed out.

Well, not everyone there is terrible. But a lot are, Erika replied. Besides, he lives here now.

Not everyone here is good, Wolf said. Like the raiders.

The raiders wouldn't be a problem if the people in the city actually did something to protect us, Erika said.

Maybe they just can't? Wolf suggested.

They have the technology, Razan countered. They just don't care enough about the people out here to do anything.

Wolf nodded and watched the Pokémon, a thoughtful look on his face. It passed quickly and he jumped up. It's been ten minutes, time to train some more!

Razan rolled his eyes slightly, but stood and he explained to Wolf more about Pokésoul powers.

"If you spent this much time with him how come he didn't recognize you?" Mira wondered. "Or did he and he just didn't care?"

"He was very young here," Kira pointed out. "And Silvia wasn't a Sylveon yet."

"Actually, I probably wouldn't recognize you either," Mira admitted, looking between the tiny Past Wolf and the older version. They had the same white hair, but Past Wolf was so young most of his features hadn't finished developing. "Wyvrn probably looked similar to that when he was that age."

They left the memory of Razan training Wolf and Mira skipped ahead some more. "I think this one is close to when you lost your memories," Mira warned. She opened it and they were in a town. This memory took place a couple months after the last.

The town was almost burned completely to the ground and there were no people to be found other than charred bodies. This is terrible, Erika said, horror in her voice. Razan had his head bowed, staring at the ground. Past Wolf looked around in shock.

What happened? Past Wolf asked.

Raiders, Razan replied. We need to get out. He herded Wolf out of the town and was followed closely by Erika. A movement caught Mira's eye and she thought she caught a glimpse of an Umbreon, but it was gone when she looked closer. She turned back to Past Wolf.

Why would they do that? Wolf wondered.

There's nothing stopping them, Erika replied. Raiders attacked my town all the time. All we could do was pay them to leave us alone. We didn't have enough people to defend ourselves from them.

The cities claim that things like this never happen, Razan said. They're letting this happen!

What can we do about it? Erika wondered. They ignore us. We don't matter to them.

We have to make them care, Razan replied. Have you ever heard of Nature's Guardians?

Nature's Guardians? Wolf repeated. Nope.

I think I have, Erika said. They were put down several years ago, weren't they?

The people may have been crushed by the city, but the intent is still there. The cities want to ignore us? Want to pretend we only exist for them to walk all over? We won't let them, Razan declared.

You want to restart Nature's Guardians? Erika asked.

Yes. And I'd like you to help me.

Of course, Erika instantly agreed. Whatever you need me to do. Razan nodded at her thankfully.

Past Wolf stared guiltily at his feet. I can't, he said. I need to go home.

Razan sighed. You're sure? He asked.

Yes, Wolf said apologetically.

I understand, Razan replied. But I can't let you go knowing about this.

What? Wolf looked at him confused. I won't tell anyone!

You may not have a choice, Razan said. If they find out you knew me, they will get what they need.

What are you going to do? Erika asked.

I will take his memory.

What? I don't want to forget! Wolf said in a panic.

Sorry, Razan said, grabbing Wolf by the arm and putting a finger to his temple. Wolf went limp as did Silvia. The memory faded and the next one was of Wolf waking up in a clinic in the city, his mother hovering over him with a worried look on her face.

What happened? Where have you been? She demanded.

I don't remember, Wolf replied.

Current Wolf was silent. "Can you make it so I can actually remember everything?" he asked quietly.

"Now that I know what was done, I think so," Mira replied. She knew when and how the block was applied, so finding it was quite easy. She and Kira grabbed ahold of the mental block Razan had placed and they tore it apart. His block was very well done, and if she hadn't known exactly what to look for Mira never would have found it.

Wolf gave a slight gasp and Silvia flinched. Wolf took a deep breath and nodded to himself. "Let's get out of here," he said.

Mira nodded and pushed her way out of Wolf's mind, depositing him back in his conscious mind as she left. She opened her eyes to find she'd ended up lying against Wolf's shoulder during the meld and quickly pushed away and back to her own space, turning slightly red. Kira laughed in the back of her mind and Mira gave her a mental glare.

"Are you okay?" Mira asked, once she'd calmed down.

"I'm fine," Wolf replied, though his tone was much less cheerful than normal. "I just don't' understand, he helped me. Why is he so evil now?"

"He thinks he's helping people," Mira replied. "He's just doing it by hurting others." Wolf shook his head.

"I don't really know what to think anymore," Wolf admitted.

Note:

The destroyed village was Zyra's. It's not important, but it's some trivia for you.