That night, me and the guys decided to hit the hay at the Pokemon Center. I had just changed into my pajamas when...
"Hey, David?" Ash says. "Sorry I asked you about... y'know."
"It's fine," I respond. "Let's just not talk about it, okay? Allison's right, it is kind of a touchy subject."
"Yeah, you're right. Let's get ready for the next day, alright?"
"Uh-huh. I'm sure we'll-" But I don't get any further than that. I was interrupted by yet another headache, stronger than ever before. It was strong enough to instantly get me down on my knees, and I clutched my head in pain. Everyone crowded around me, trying to say something, but I couldn't hear them. A voice spoke to me...
"Remember who you are," the voice says. Again? It said this a few times before... But why?
"Who are you?!" I said in my mind. "Stop giving me these migraines!"
"Who am I...? You must remember who you are. You... are my..."
"I'm your what now?!"
Normally, at this point, the voice would fade out, and it did, but that wasn't all. I think I fell unconscious. When I came to, I didn't find myself in the Pokemon Center. Rather, I found myself in a grassy plain. The voice spoke to me again, but I felt this time I didn't need to telepathically communicate.
"Ah... I see you've been able to keep in touch with me," the voice says.
"Keep in touch? What do you mean?"
"I was unable to stay connected to you for a while, but it seems that you have been able to hang onto me."
"Well, I guess... But tell me, who are you? Answer me!"
"I am..." But the voice suddenly grew distorted, and I was unable to hear their answer. It finally went back to normal, but not after they were done with their answer. "Did you hear that, David?"
"Uh... Y-Yeah, but tell me... What do you want with me? You keep telling me to remember who I am."
"This is a world of your own lost memories. I have attempted to bring you here several times so your memories could be restored. Surely this will help you recover your memories."
"Then... what should I do?"
A bright light envelops me. I felt the sensation of relief as the light surrounded me... and a sense of familiarity, too. I could hear echoed voices, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. Unbeknownst to me, I slowly closed my eyes. But I soon woke up to a voice calling my name. When I looked around, I was now leaning against a tree on a small cliff, which looked out to a town with a castle.
"Hey, David!" the voice hollered. I looked to my left, and I saw a guy running towards me. A gray undershirt with a blue t-shirt and blonde hair were the most notable features he had. "I've been lookin' for you!"
"Looking for me?" I repeat. "What for?"
"Oh, c'mon, David! Surely you haven't forgotten. It's time for us to go see the king!"
"K-King?!" That was... a bit much, to say the least! Since when did my memories involve a king? In fact, I didn't even know who he was, but he seemed to know me. "On another point... Who're you?"
"Ha-ha, David, very funny. There's no way you'd forget your own-" His voice quickly grew distorted, just like how the voice grew distorted back at the grassy plain, but went back to normal. "But in case you've 'forgotten,' my name's Cory. Alright, now we've wasted enough time here. Let's get goin'!"
I had no idea what Cory was on about, but he urged me to follow him anyway. After all, if this was the key to remembering my past life, then I was all for it. I followed him, and we walked into the town.
"What the heck is this place?" I ask.
"Wow, you're really playing the amnesiac game here," Cory jokes. "Well then, I'll play along with your little game. This is Legitopia. Your hometown, and mine, too. But I think that's enough. Let's go see the king!"
This was probably urgent business anyway, so I rushed along with Cory into the castle. As soon as we got to the castle gates, some guards stopped us.
"Welcome, David and Cory," one of the guards greet us.
"I assume you're here for the Knight's Exam?"
"Indeed we are," Cory replies. "We've got our pass and everything. Right, David?"
Cory pulls something like a ticket out of his pocket. But he implied that I had one too, so I reached into my pocket as well. I felt a ticket and pulled it out as well. Since when was that in my pocket? It feels like time has rewound...
The guards nodded, and moved out of our way. Cory took my hand and led me through the castle. We passed through a few hallways, and a few guards too, who seemed to know what we were here for. Eventually, we arrived at our destination... An arena? The audience cheered as we emerged, along with six other participants. They all looked like they were our age.
Then the king appeared. I thought we'd see him in a throne room or something, but no. It looked like he was hosting the event. He raised his hands to signal to quiet down. Afterward, he spoke.
"Citizens of Legitopia!" he began. "It is my honor, as King Archard, to announce the Knight's Exam is about to get under way! The eight youngsters you see here are striving to become the chosen knight to embark on a quest to defend our fair land from evil. Who will emerge victorious?!"
So this was a tournament? This was a little intimidating. I've never fought actual people before... Or at least, not yet. But I felt like this memory world was fulfilling its purpose quite well, as I felt the sense of familiarity throughout this whole thing. Afterward, the tournament began. I was easily able to take the first round, and the second round, too. Cory also advanced to the finals.
"And now, the final match is about to begin!" King Archard announced. "Coming from the west, we have David Herotis! He has aspired to become a knight since his childhood, and his dream is now within his reach! But will he defeat his opponent, coming from the east, Cory-?"
His voice quickly grew distorted, and I couldn't make out what he was saying. The heck? Why does everything get distorted around here? Just let me find out what you're saying, geez! Isn't this world supposed to make me remember something?
"Cory, like David, has also strove to become a fine warrior of Legitopia. The two of them have had a friendly rivalry due to their ambitions. But only one may emerge victorious! Who will win?!"
The crowd cheered as both of us approached each other. Cory had a serious look on his face. I could tell from King Archard's words that he wanted to become a knight of Legitopia, and he was about to take the whole tournament.
"Listen, dude," Cory smirked. "You've always beat me in our spars. But no more. All this training won't be for naught! I'll be the one who becomes Legitopia's hero!"
He seemed really pumped up. Of course, being a hero would mean a lot. But if my hunch was right... Then I'm pretty sure I would take this fight, no prob. I smirked back as I responded to his confidence.
"You can't be so sure of that," I say. "It's true you're pretty dang strong, but I'm definitely stronger than you. But I dunno... You might be able to overcome me and really become a knight. But we can't say for certain. What say we finish this, once and for all?"
Cory nodded, and we stepped back a few paces to take our positions. One of King Archard's servants prepared to strike a gong that would signal the fight. I drew my orange blade, and Cory reached behind him and pulled out two blue arrows, which he held like knives. That was a pretty clever way of using arrows, I had to give him that.
"Final battle, begin!"
Quicker than light, Cory dashes at me and lands a critical hit with his arrows. I immediately get knocked down, but I roll away just in time to avoid another attack. I quickly hit him with a Frizzle. But for some reason, I don't shoot two fireballs- rather, I just shoot one. Maybe in this memory world I only knew how to cast Frizz... But I can work around that. I attack him again while he's still smarting from the attack.
"Not bad," Cory says. "But I can't lose to you!"
Cory passes the arrow in his left hand to the other and reaches behind him to grab a bow strapped to his back. He loads both arrows in his hand into his bow and fires them before I had any time to avoid them.
I knew he was gonna bombard me with more and more arrows, so I had to do what I had to: Run. I dashed all around the arena, running so fast I think I could have ran on the walls if I wanted to. Not a single arrow hit me during my sprint, but they just kept right on coming! Does this guy have an endless quiver or something?!
"Got you right where I wanted you! Crash!"
Suddenly, the ground underneath me bursts, launching me and rendering me helpless when I hit the floor. Cory quickly puts his bow away and draws two more arrows from his quiver, which again he held like knives. He dashed at me like a madman. I had to improvise somehow...!
In a state of panic, I quickly cast Woosh on the floor. The small tornado gave me just enough lift to launch me upwards, and Cory runs into it, getting cut by the gale in the process. I stick the landing, and Cory does too.
"Amazing!" King Archard exclaims. "David and Cory aren't giving even a single inch! This certainly is a battle between strong youths!"
"Is that all you got, dude?" I mock Cory.
"No. But I've got a spell I've been saving for this. Heal!"
Cory raises his hand, causing a light to shine and flow into Cory's body. I could see that his wounds were starting to heal. This could be a problem... I had no way of healing myself. But if he could heal himself, then I just have to deal enough damage! And I knew exactly what to do. I cast Bang and deal more than enough damage to undo the effects of Cory's healing spell. But Cory doesn't give up. He charges in and lands a hit with his arrows, knocking me down again.
"...And stay down! Zam!"
Cory fires dark, bullet-like blobs at me to deal damage. It hits really hard, not to mention that I was also weak to Dark-type moves. I was starting to run out of stamina. If I took any more blows, then that would be it. I had to end this quickly! I roll back and start charging in again. I try to land a hit, but Cory's too quick for me. He dodges to the side and lands a kick on my chest.
If he's going to play that game, then I can play that, too. I run at him again and pretend to attack. Just as I expected, Cory attempts to dodge, but I had him on the ropes. I slashed horizontally, and I landed a critical hit, knocking him down.
"Halt!" King Archard exclaims. "That is enough. The battle is over."
"Already?" I ask.
"W-Wait," Cory stammers. "This c-can't be r-right."
"I believe we have a winner," King Archard announces. "The victor is David Herotis!"
The one in which David is sent to a world of his memories and defeats Cory in a sparring match.
Sorry this one took forever. I was debating whether I should do this or keep David in the Pokemon world.
