"I roam these halls, search the night, in hopes that I may see- a remnant trace, a glimpse of you, I stare into the deep"
I couldn't tell you what happened. One moment I was in an exploding lab and the next I was waking up in an empty field. Mewtwo was nowhere to be seen and for a while I was certain I had imagined everything, but the tears and burns in my clothes made it clear that was not the case. The pōkemon had grabbed me just before I could be blasted to bits, but he had used so much strength it left my poor ribs aching. Each movement I made to try and sit up had me cringing and wheezing, muscles crying out in protest.
The fact that he didn't kill me was greatly appreciated, but he could have been a lot more gentle about saving me. This human body is super frail. I inhaled sharply through my teeth, wincing as I rolled onto my side. I clawed at my burning arm, struggling to rip the rubber glove off. Tears stung my eyes and I muffled a scream, teeth gritting together as the fabric brushed against the wound.
I gasped and let out several noises of relief once the item went flying, body collapsing back onto the ground. Owww…. My throat was so dry; I needed water. Medicine would be preferable as well, but that seemed unlikely. I was in the middle of nowhere. I didn't even know where here was. Eyes groggily opening and blinking several times as they adjusted to the light of midday, I registered the tickling feeling of grass against my dirtied face.
I was in a field. Presumably far away from wherever the Team Rocket base exploded.
The air was so fresh out here… cold, too. How strange.
Ugh, I'm so dizzy. I want to sleep.
Mewtwo…
Where did he go? I slowly dragged my feet close to me, knees rising up, and after several more moments of me simply breathing I propped myself up with my elbows. The world spun and I coughed, skull pounding. How long have I been laying here, anyway? I remember Mewtwo grabbing me and then… darkness. I must have fainted. He probably dropped me in this forest so he wouldn't have to deal with raising a child.
Made sense. I doubted he truly even wanted to save me.
Mewtwo only did it because I was honest with him. He was… vicious, but not heartless. That pōkemon has been through a lot in his life. I still can't believe he just blew up the base like that though. Everyone inside… were they dead? All of them? Giovanni, those goons, Rich and Velga…
I…
I don't like this. There was this feeling welling up inside of me, suffocating me; it twisted my gut and grabbed at my heart, crushing it in a painful vice. It was the completely opposite of relief. My hands rose up to my throat when I felt it start to close up and I choked, beginning to hyperventilate as I recalled all the torment they put me through. Every word and insult Velga spewed, every push or beating I took from her. Richard's voice as he threatened me to keep moving during the obstacle course, his violent ruffling of my hair as he claimed I wasn't totally useless.
Even when he dragged me around by my brown locks… hurting me… had been terrible. I despised it so much.
All I wanted was for them to stop.
B-But… having them dead was…
Tears dripped onto my stinging hands and I whimpered, lips curling back as I strangled a sob. Fingers pressed against my eyes, desperately trying to stop these unwanted droplets. I could no longer breathe; the monochrome world around me was spinning, twisting, and I hunched over on my knees. Gasping, choking, dry-heaving until the insides of my stomach came spewing out from mouth. It felt like the earth was crashing down around me, closing in and crushing me into bits. I didn't understand.
Why was I grieving them? I hated them!
They've hurt me and so many others, all for their nefarious plans! There should be no reason to mourn them!
And yet… the mastermind behind Team Rocket had a family. A wife and two children. What if everyone else had people who cared about them as well? What I did- telling Mewtwo about Giovanni… caused those strangers to lose the people they loved. No one could have survived that explosion. It was impossible. I inadvertantly caused the murder of hundreds.
I'm the monster.
What have I done?
"Now, now, Pidgeys… no need to act so frantic!"
What? Where's that voice coming from?
I hiccuped and wiped at my face, turning my head and muffling my sobs as best as I could. I watched with puffy eyes as several bushes ruffled, five to six bird pōkemon flying over into the grassy field I was sitting in. From behind them was an older man laughing at their behavior, a tablet in his hands. He came to a halt when he saw me, eyes growing wide.
Though badly injured and shaken from the recent events, I stumbled into a standing position. My arms hung uselessly at my sides, right leg limping as I turned to face the stranger. The man had graying hair and dark eyes, and adorned some kind of white coat. Was he a scientist? Did he experiment on pōkemon like those in the Hoenn base did? Why are those Pidgeys being so friendly towards- whoa!
There was no warning. The bird pōkemon surrounded me, one even landing on my head and sending me off balance. The old man snapped out of his shock and hurried forward, reaching out a hand to try and catch me when I fell back from the weight of the pōkemon. The pidgey flew off and flapped its wings, watching as I crashed hard on my rear. I cried out and automatically curled up into a ball, arms wrapping around my abdomen. My ribs were badly bruised.
"My goodness- are you alright!? What happened to you, young one?"
It hurts. Some of the Pidgeys landed and hopped over, pecking at my torn blue uniform and chirping their names. The old man wrapped an arm around my shoulders and I instinctively flinched away, not trusting this person. Most adults could not be trusted. Still, these pōkemon seemed to like him enough. Who was he? How far from the ruined base am I? I'm scared.
"You look like you got caught in a fight with a wild Charmander! Not that there should be wild Charmander in these parts, but… here. Come on, I'll help you." He helped me stand, muttering something about his old age. "My lab isn't too far away, so we can get you patched up there- alright?"
Each step felt like needles were stabbing me, all the way from my feet up to my knees. Each breath I took left a crushing pain in my chest, sharp and intense. One would think I would be used to pain by this point, but I had a very low tolerance for it. I didn't understand why this stranger was helping me. "Wh… Who are… you?"
"Hm?" The man blinked and glanced down at me, eyebrows furrowed in concern. "My name is Oak. I'm a professor from Pallet Town. Are you a trainer, young one? Where is your pōkemon?"
"...I don't… h-have one." I winced. Walking up this hill was extremely taxing and we were moving quite slow. "L-Lost him… a long time ago."
The old man went silent, not asking any questions after that. The Pidgeys flew around us, chirping and making circles, and the man glanced observed them curiously as we continued to travel. It had been several minutes by this point; it was surprising that the pōkemon hadn't left yet. "How interesting…" Oak shifted his arm arm when I began to fall sideways, catching me, and helped me regain balance. One of the bird pōkemon landed on my shoulder, flapping its wings to catch my attention. A smile formed on the old man's face. "They appear to be worried about you."
"Pidgey!" The bird chirped. My eyebrows knit together and I stared at it, tilting my head after I saw it do the same. "Pidge…"
The pōkemon then took off in the air again, communicating with its brethren. I watched in amazement, confused by what was happening yet in awe of being able to see such creatures live so freely. Their wings allowed them to fly… away from any danger and high into freedom. Nothing could hold them down. Pidgey pōkemon were known as a rather docile type, preferring to flee from danger than battle, but if forced they would attack fiercely. In all my years learning about them I never imagined them to be so gentle.
"Oh! Are you alright? Is the pain too much?" I blinked upon hearing his question, realizing I had started crying involuntarily again. Squeezing my eyes shut, I took a trembling breath and shook my head. "What is it?"
"I… I don't know." I answered honestly, choking up. My eyes focused on the grass, seeing the way the individual blades moved with the wind. The pōkemon voices reached my ears, causing a strange sensation to wash over me. "It's just… being outside…"
He frowned, not quite understanding.
"It's so different."
Wait. Hold on. The building exploded- my clothes got torn up. My fanny pack! Oak jolted when I suddenly yanked myself away from him, the old man more than alarmed when I suddenly crashed hard onto the ground. I fumbled for the black clothing item, struggling to open it with my numb and injured fingers.
"Wh-Where-!?" I coughed, face contorting into pain as I yanked random stuff out of the pack. Toothbrush, paste. "N-No-oh, thank gods!"
The stone nearly dropped out of my hold from how badly I was shaking. I cradled it close, holding it up to my forehead and biting my lip as I tried not to cry again. It was safe. I wasn't sure what I would do if the dawn stone was gone. It was all I had of that person I met so long ago. Just why did things have to end up like this?
I worked so hard. I gave it my best shot.
Was I supposed to fail…? Would it have been better if I didn't do anything at all?
If I had given in to all the torment and became the proper submissive puppet for Team Rocket no one would be dead. This stone would not have been put at risk. But… then no one would be happy; all the other children and pokemon would still be suffering. I wanted to believe that hard work would help me reach them. If I did whatever it took to get back to Hoenn, to stop what remained of Team Rocket my way instead of what Metwo did… would I be able to save them all?
Professor Oak knelt down in front of me, frowning deeply as the age lines formed clear on his face. Something flickered in his eyes, the adult watching the way I acted and questioning once more how I got injured. "Little one… how did you end up like this? What caused these injuries?"
I didn't answer at first, still clinging to the stone as if it were a lifeline. I tried to recall that faint memory of a smile, that voice of a warm person. Did he still remember me? My head lowered and I ran my thumb across the jagged edges of the stone, sniffling. My eyes glanced up and then turned to the side, looking at the pidgeys jumping and flying around. Would it be alright to talk to this person?
He seemed like he was trying to help me. I didn't exactly know why or understand what he would gain by doing so, but he reminded me a little of that one nurse I met back before I was stolen away. She was warm, too. I missed her. "I…"
Professor Oak leaned forward, listening patiently for me to continue. "Yes…?"
"...I ran away."
"What?"
"T-Team Rocket, they…" No. No, don't make me remember. I don't want to. My shoulders shook and long brown locks fell over them, shifting with each movement, my hands lacing together and hiding the dawn stone from view as I recalled all the awful things that had happened. I had to be concise about my explanation; I didn't want for there to be any misunderstandings. Things would only get more complicated if there were, but I was such a mess. It was hard to speak without pausing between words. "They brought me here. I-I spent… so long trying to… to get away, a-and…"
Mewtwo destroyed them all.
"Team Rocket… that's the evil group that steals pōkemon!" The older man exclaimed, unable to believe what he was hearing. "That R on your shirt… are you saying you were part of them?"
I didn't want anything to do with them. From the very beginning I had been forced into doing their bidding, trained under harsh circumstances and given lessons only to further my intelligence to increase the probability of success in missions. Having not yet turned an adult I was not a proper member, though from what Giovanni had said it was clear he was going to make an exception for me. At least… he was until Mewtwo straight up murdered him.
"I-I didn't… want to be…"
"...Are you one of the children they took?"
Not trusting myself to speak any further I nodded my head, eyes burning with tears. My skull was throbbing so badly; I felt like I was going to throw up again. Professor Oak lowered his head and let out a heavy sigh, eyebrows knitting together as he grew deep in thought. He clearly wasn't sure how to process this information.
"How long have you been with them?"
"...I-I don't know…"
How many years has it been? I was thirteen now and I was four when they first kidnapped me.
"N-Nine years… maybe?"
Suddenly I was being lifted in the air, the older man sliding an arm beneath my knees and wrapping the other behind my back. I yelped, clinging tight to the stone, and stared at Oak in alarm. He grimaced, muttering about his back, before he started to walk up the hill faster than before.
"Wh-What's wrong?" I was starting to panic. Did I say something wrong? Would it have been better if I stayed silent? I don't know how to read strangers! I thought it would be alright to talk since he reminded me so much of that one nurse, but was it a mistake? I don't understand. Am I going to get in trouble? I don't want to get hurt anymore. "S-Sir?"
"Professor." He corrected, expression dark. "I'm taking you to my lab and we are getting your injuries taken care of. Afterwards we are going to find you suitable clothing and a meal. Then we can get to work talking to the police about that terrible Team Rocket."
"...Hah?"
I… am so lost. He wasn't angry?
"I'm not… in trouble?"
He looked absolutely appalled by that suggestion. "Goodness, no! You've been through enough already, little one. Ah, tell me- do you have a name? Are you a boy or a girl?" At my silence he began to laugh, the sound seeming a bit forced. "I'm only kidding about that last one! I can see quite well. Although appearances can be deceiving… so which do you identify as? Or are you both? What pronouns do you use?"
"...I'm a girl."
"And your name?"
I gave no answer. Opening the palms of my hand, I stared at the stone again. Such a brilliant, beautiful blue- bright and calming. I adored it so much. I've grown up without a proper name for so long that the thought of having one made me uncomfortable. "The others… called me Grunt. I-I don't… really have a name, so…"
"Grunt?" He almost stopped in his walk, but kept going at the last second. Anger flickered into his expression again and I braced myself for pain of any kind, fully expecting to get yelled at or hit. When it didn't happen and he only continued to rant I was more than surprised. "Who would call a child Grunt!? Despicable!"
"...I'm sorry…"
"Do not apologize! Oooh, the things I would say to them-! Ah, here we are. Pallet Town!" We arrived at the edge of the tall grass, stepping into a small area filled with buildings. They were so colorful and bright; it was quite unlike the dreary interior of the Team Rocket bases. Professor Oak gestured to one of the larger buildings with his chin, smiling. There was a windmill beside it. "Over there is my lab. We'll have you taken care of in no time, missy."
A lab…
All I could think of was the one Mistress Augusta showed me. It was so sickening. Would the inside of the building look just like it? Everything was so different this far; it was too good to be true. There has to be something bad waiting inside. What if this was all a trap? He was going to experiment on me along with the other pōkemon, maybe even kill me! He could be a Team Rocket member in disguise. Anything is possible.
I can't trust him. I won't. I-
Oh.
We entered the building and I was stunned by how peaceful it was. The Pidgeys were gone now, flying around outside in their freedom, and Professor Oak carefully set me down on a small lab table. He called out to someone, a young woman with brown hair and blue eyes, and she hurried over. She was dressed in a similar white coat to him. "Yuna, be a dear and help this young girl will you? I need to go contact the police department."
"Wh-What?" The woman was alarmed. "Why do you need to do that!?" Her attention shifted to me. "Why are you so badly hurt? Did you get in a scuffle with a pōkemon? Professor, what is- aaand he's gone. Okay. Stay right here, okay? I'll be right back!"
She pointed at me, holding her hands out in a stay gesture, and took off into another room. I fiddled with the stone, levelling my breathing and questioning what I should do. Was this really alright? I feel like I need to be moving. Staying still for so long… being around other people… it felt wrong. I wasn't used to it.
I felt like I had to keep going. No matter how much it wore me down, no matter how much I started to break; I had the urge to leave this place and search for a way to get stronger. That way I could keep the others from suffering. Remaining in this place… sitting here- it wasn't right. I have to try and help those in Hoenn.
It's the only real purpose I have.
I wasn't raised to remain still like this. Between practice drills, the obstacle course, lessons, occasional punishments, and helping care for the little ones I never really had time to rest. It felt wrong.
As I sat there waiting for the woman to return black spots began to dance in my vision. My body felt heavy and I leaned back, laying against the cold metal table as dizziness overwhelmed me. I was just so tired… was it really going to be alright if I decided to trust these people? I had nowhere else to go. No one to run to. And no matter how much I tried to move or convince myself to keep going, I was at my end. I had pushed myself too far. The stress had caught up and now my body was done. This was it.
Giving in to my exhaustion would leave me completely at their mercy, but what more could I do?
I've worked so hard…
...but in the end it didn't really matter.
I finally had the chance to rest- for the first time ever. I might as well use it.
…
Nine years ago Joseph Stone had been sitting in his office, listening to one of his employees complain about how as the CEO of Devon Corporation he really should not be sneaking away from his office. But being a developer was hard on a person, especially when you're as someone as important as him, and Joseph tended to find that the children in the city had great creativity. As such he often went outside in various disguises and showed off some tacky inventions, trying to get new ideas for things to make.
One of those times he had gotten caught and was dragged back to his office, forced to do boring paperwork and talk about the future of pōkemon living together with mankind. He did enjoy thinking about what could be, the plans that they had in store for the world, but sometimes he really needed a break. That was when his assistant turned on the television, speaking about the recent kidnappings of children around Hoenn. Those under ten… did that put his son at risk? He had only turned that age and was starting his pōkemon training, despite all his insistence otherwise. It wouldn't be safe for a child born into power such as himself to go alone; some dangerous people aside from Team Rocket would be after him. Unfortunately, he was a stubborn as a Tauros.
Several years ago, after his mother's death, Joseph gifted Steven with a rare Beldum, thus creating his fascination with Steel-type pōkemon. In a way, it was his fault his son even wanted to take a journey at all. Hmm. Joseph laced his fingers together under his chin and thought, frowning deeply as he tried to think of what to do. As a father he wanted to keep his son where he was safest, but he knew how badly Steven wanted to travel the world and collect rare stones. He did take after him quite a bit, after all; like father like son. He promised to even come back every now-and-then for his studies, wishing to please his father and meet all the expectations set upon him as the heir to the Devon Corporation. Yet… something didn't sit right with him.
Why was Team Rocket abducting all these young children? What did they hope to gain from it? Assassins they could deal with; it was something they were all used to. But for other children to continue being target, children out of their reach... there was little they were capable of doing to help.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. One of the bodyguards opened it and, as if knowing he was being thought about, a little boy peered in with big blue eyes. "Dad…? Are you busy?"
"He is-" His assistant began, but Joseph quickly held a hand up.
"You know I always have time for you, son! What is it?"
Steven cautiously entered the room, glancing up at the bodyguards for a moment before hurrying over to the desk with a grin on his face. "I gotta show you something!" He took off his backpack and plopped it on the floor, unzipping it excitedly and pulling out several stones. Joseph sat up straighter, leaning over to see what they looked like when the boy placed them on his desk. Steven was completely covered in dirt. "I've got so many from the caves the other day! Check out this sun stone!"
He held up between his fingers, trying to show it to his dad. Joseph smiled and chuckled in amusement, reaching over and ruffling his son's messy silver-blue hair. "You've gotten so much better at excavating stones! I'm proud of you, Steven."
"Thanks! Um, I…" His smile faltered for a second and he looked down, appearing quite sheepish for a second. This caught the father's attention. "I… had a dawn stone, earlier, too. I was going to show it to you, but…"
"But? Did something happen?" Joseph began to grow concerned.
The boy shook his head. "I gave it away!"
"...Oh?" That was interesting. His son didn't have many friends, save for perhaps that strange child that called himself Wallace. Joseph wasn't too sure how he felt about that boy, but at least he was kind to Steven. That was all that mattered to him. "To whom?"
"A friend!" Steven began to pull all the stones back, sliding them off the desk and putting them into the backpack. "I met her last night on my way to the pōkecenter! She had no memory!" He looked up at his dad, bringing his hands up to his head with big eyes. "She didn't even know her name! I think she fell into the ocean or something, because she was soaked! Nurse Joy ran some tests and stuff, and Chancey gave her an egg to make her feel better- and I got to eat the egg with her! Beldum really likes her, too!"
"I see." Joseph rested his chin against his hand, smiling. His son was just too cute. Did he get his first crush? A child without memory- was she in an accident? Perhaps she got involved with a wild and aggressive psychic pōkemon. Whatever the case, he hoped the girl turned out alright. He would hate for something to happen to her- especially if his son was so fond of her. His child wasn't exactly the best at talking to people; he was great at starting conversations, but often lost where he was going with them. Another little cute quirk of his, he supposed. Maybe his son could invite his new friend over sometime; he would love to meet her. "And you gave her the stone?"
"W-Well… yeah." He cleared his throat, scratching his cheek sheepishly. "She was scared to go with the social services people, so… I told her she could keep it. Is that weird? She was like four, so…"
Oh. Not a crush. His son was just a sweetheart. Damn, Joseph couldn't be more proud of him. He raised him well.
Steven straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest. "We're friends now! So once she gets settled in and stuff at the orphanage, we can hang out! The stone is supposed to help her remember me, that way she doesn't forget."
His son is too cute. Oh, how was he so blessed? This child was going to be a heartbreaker once he got a bit older. "I'm sure she'll remember you, Steven."
"That's what I said!"
Oof. Confident, too. Wow. That girl was going to have a handful to deal with in the future; she better realize what a wonderful person Steven is. Otherwise Joseph might have to have a few words with her. The man opened his mouth to speak up again, but was cut off by the news reporter on the television. Steven turned his head, curious, and his eyes went wide when he saw the videos playing out on the screen.
"-another child has gone missing. A young girl had left the building with what appeared to be a man and woman. Thanks to the police having ordered several cameras to be attached to the lampposts, we are able to see that as soon as they got into the car the two adults removed their disguises. They are clearly that of Team Rocket- and two of the most wanted criminals in Hoenn. Richard Fleck and Velga Penholder. What they plan to do with this child is unknown, but I once more must advice all parents to pay close attention to their children and their whereabouts. The situation in Hoenn is darkening and… we do not know when it will be stopped."
Joseph closed his eyes with a grim expression, coming to a decision. There was no way he could keep silent anymore. His dear son was going to be at risk if this kept going; he had to keep him safe. Opening his eyes, the man turned to look at his son. "Steven, I want to talk to you about-"
He cut himself off. The way the boy was staring at the television screen… seeing the girl with the long brown hair be forced into the vehicle. Her eyes wide with panic as she frantically rolled down the window before being strapped to the seat. He knew her. Steven recognized that girl. The building she walked out of… looking closer Joseph could make it out as the pōkecenter here in Rustboro.
"Steven." Joseph spoke again, more firmly this time. The boy jumped and turned to look at him, his expression something pained and heart wrenching. The man gestured for the assistant and the guards to leave the room, Joseph simultaneously turning off the television. Clearly reluctant, they hesitated before doing as told. Joseph rolled his chair back and stood, making his way over to his son and kneeling down. "Was that the girl you gave the dawn stone to?"
Steven didn't speak. That was when he heard it- the most painful words a father could ever hear their darling son say. "...It's my fault…"
"What?"
"I-I could have stopped her." He stammered out, the words stumbling past his lips beyond his control. "I-I was there! I knew something was wrong, Dad!" Joseph reached out and grabbed his son by his shoulders, watching as Steven brought his hands up to his face. "N-Nurse Joy was gone and my friend looked so sad, a-and something about those people was weird! I-I just knew it!"
Steven always did have a good intuition, but for him to blame himself for something like this…
Joseph pulled his son close, feeling the child shake in his hold. "I'm sure she's fine, Steven. The police will find her."
"Th-They won't!" The boy pulled away, squeezing his eyes shut and shaking his head. He looked furious. "They haven't found any of the other kids, have they!? What makes you so sure they'll find her!? I could have saved her! Beldum was right there with me!"
Steven stepped away and ruffled his hair, frustration in his gaze. Joseph watched with sad eyes. "You couldn't have known."
"But I did know! I felt it! They had me fooled like an idiot!" The boy took a deep breath, balling his hands into fists, struggling to calm down. "We have to find her, dad. The police won't. We have to do it!"
She was probably long gone by now. Whatever it was Team Rocket wanted with those children wasn't good; he feared that they might be using the children as a new means of recruitment. Someone so small and as young as that girl wouldn't possibly stand a chance against them; in a few years she may turn out to be just as villainous as the rest. Joseph can't let Steven hurt himself over this. "We cannot, Steven. But you can tell them what you remember of the adults- if you saw them you might be able to offer some insight."
"Insight?" The boy blinked. His eyebrows furrowed. "But they won't find her like that! We have to track them down!"
"What an impatient child you are. You're not thinking. Officer Jenny is doing her best to-"
"Dad! Don't make fun of me! I'm serious right now! If you won't help me… I-I'll find her myself!"
"Steven!"
He watched as his son stormed out of the room, taking his backpack with him. Several months had passed since then and the only news he's heard from his son was from the television reporters and papers, and what the employees Joseph had tracking him said. Steven had become quite the young man, raising his pōkemon into powerful companions that defeated his foes with ease. Yet… he still had been unable to locate the very person he had been searching for. With every badge and title he obtained Steven became stronger… and his cheerful demeanor faded into something more serious. He still practiced his studies, keeping his promise as he prepared himself to inherit the company, and one day Joseph finally received a letter from his son. Steven apologized for his behavior, for running off like he did, but he still believed the girl could be found. At least... until nine years had come to pass.
He had went all across Hoenn, Kanto, and Johto in search of Team Rocket. He battled their goons wherever he went, always winning, but he never could find the two responsible for abducting his friend. Wallace even aided the man in his search, however hopeless it may have been, and he was the one who eventually convinced him to reconcile with Joseph properly in person before he left to take on the responsibility of being the Water-Type Gym Leader in Sootopolis. Steven, then and there, to his father's face, admitted defeat. No matter how much his intuition tried to convince him, the man had no luck in finding her and could only believe that the girl was indeed gone.
And from there he continued to battle, helping others in need and travelling so far as Sinnoh in search of rare stones. Steven had quite the collection of stones, not to mention badges, and was even thinking of taking on the Elite Four after encouragement from several people. He was finally moving on with his life and Joseph couldn't be more proud.
But there was still that sadness… buried away in his gaze whenever he became lost in thought. No matter how much he brushed away the questions or changed the topic, even pretending not to know what was being spoken about, Joseph knew his son. The way he poured himself into his studies and training, distracting himself from the grief in the same way he had done after his mother had passed away. Even after all this time Steven blamed himself for the girl's disappearance… and in his pocket was a dawn stone he kept to silently remind himself.
That day… he was determined to never forget it.
His handsome, arrogant, kind-hearted, nineteen year-old son… oh, how Joseph loathed to think of what the girl might have become under the watch of that villainous Team Rocket. He prayed they would never have to find out; if she truly became corrupt… he feared it might just break his boy's heart.
...
My blue uniform top was gone.
Instead, when I woke up, I found it replaced with a large button-up. The woman had wrapped bandages all around my torso to help with my ribs and multiple band-aids covered my face and fingers. The burn on my right forearm was wrapped heavily in gauze and some kind of gross paste, and judging from the woman's lack of questions I could only assume that Oak explained a few things to her.
Ugh, what did they call her? I think they said her name was Yuna…
My head throbbed as I tried to recall the information. Everything was such a blur. Mewtwo really did do a number on me. Oof. I watched as the woman folded the sleeves up to my elbows, pinning them in place so they wouldn't get in the way. She apologized repeatedly whenever she poked me with the needle and I flinched, but I said nothing. They were the ones who took me in, after all.
They were skirting around me, uncertain how to interact with me, and I found that very strange. Would it not be easier to just order me around like every other adult did? Why were they going out of their way to be… nice to me? These scientists really did remind me so much of that one nurse. I felt bad for causing them so much trouble; I really was such a nuisance.
Yuna stood and ran a hand through her bang, looking around with a sigh. "Oooh, where did I put that hairbrush? Those locks of yours are a total mess! So uncute." She walked off to the other side of the room to reach a desk, grabbing a purse that was sitting in the chair. Deciding to pay more attention to my surroundings I observed the inside of the lab, glancing around and taking note of the many machines. Several had pōkeballs inside of them. "Found it~!"
There were even pōkemon themselves hanging out, researchers and scientists taking notes as they watched them play and/or go about their daily routine. Rattata and Oddishes, Paras and Digletts… is that a Growlithe? It was so cute. If a dog could have an incredibly fluffy tiger as one of its parents, that was what it would look like. I had the strangest urge to run my fingers through its fur and pet it.
I didn't, of course, but I wanted to.
Skitty… I'm sorry.
He really deserved better. My eyes closed as pain flickered across my expression, recalling the day he was taken from me. That poor pōkemon… all it wanted was affection. I was more than wiling to give it, but Team Rocket didn't like that. They didn't like me. Yuna walked back over, twisting several ties onto her wrists. "I'm so glad I thought about bringing these with me today! Your hair so long- there's so much we can do with it! Are you excited?"
I blinked at her, not understanding the question. What was I supposed to be excited about? It was just hair. She pouted at my blank expression and gestured for me to turn around, and upon doing so she pulled up a chair and sat behind me. I had no idea how to react to this. I never had my hair played with before, save for the times where it was physically used against me by Team Rocket. They never let me cut it for that reason; it was an easy access point. If I ever acted out or they wanted to show authority they would grab hold and pull on it.
Mistress Augusta loved to tangle her fingers in it when she shoved my face underwater. It was… so awful.
I found myself tensing, breathing catching the second Yuna rested a hand against the top of my head. My hands began to shake and I clutched the dawn stone tightly, waiting for whatever it was she was doing to be done. I flinched every time the brush caught on a knot, holding in oxygen until the next stroke. When Yuna muttered about how messy my hair was and that it needed a good wash I could only close my eyes, shoulders stiffening when her hand curled around them to keep me steady.
"You're so quiet." She commented, seeing how I didn't make a single sound of complaint during this. My hair was so long it was taking forever to finish brushing it. "My little girl at home would be throwing a fit about how much it hurts."
My eyes opened at that. I stared at the floor, gaze half-lidded, feeling as tired as always when my head began to throb. "It's… fine. I'm used to… having my hair pulled."
Yuna paused. The brush stopped moving immediately and I grew scared, thinking I said the wrong thing. Was that not a question she had asked? Did I speak up without permission? Was she going to hit me now? She wasn't going to yank out the strands, was she? I didn't want to start bleeding. The shaking in my hands grew worse and I clutched the stone so tight my knuckles went white. Yuna began to brush my hair again.
I felt so dizzy. Worried. Scared. How am I supposed to handle this?
Uncharted territory…
Eventually Yuna put the brush down and began to run her fingers through my hair, my breathing a bit labored. Professor Oak came in a while after with a cup of coffee, watching the scene take place with concerned eyes, a young boy beside him. I couldn't hear what they were saying despite how close they were- my heart was pounding so loud it was ringing my ears and all I could focus on was the threat behind me. Was she even a threat? It was hard to tell.
She parted the back of my hair, twisting each side separately until they made little… braids? She was giving me twin braids. "Imagine how soft and silky this would be once washed~ oh, I'm so jealous! Get rid of all this dirt… your hair would just shine! Don't you think so, Professor? Blue? Isn't she just the cutest?"
Having finished she curled her fingers on my shoulders, turning me to face them. My face was so pale by this point; I was terrified. Professor Oak almost spit out his coffee upon seeing my expression and the boy, the one I could only assume was called Blue, looked confused. "A-Are you alright, girl? You don't look well…"
"Huh?" Yuna looked at me, alarmed. "Ah! What's wrong!? Why aren't you breathing!?"
"P-Perhaps you should let go of her…" Oak suggested awkwardly, stepping forward. "The poor thing is shaking…"
"What?" She didn't understand, so she did as told. The woman watched as I slid off the table, legs nearly giving out on me from how weak they felt. It didn't help that my legs were covered in cuts and scratches. "D-Did I scare you? How? I-I'm so sorry; I didn't mean to! I just-"
"Yuna, dear, why don't you go take a break?" Oak cut her off. I was standing in silence, struggling to regain my composure as my nerves threatened to come apart completely. My anxiety was through the roof at this point and the room was starting to spin. "Young one, can you hear me…?"
Her nails were long and curled around my shoulders the same way Mistress Augusta did. She stood close to me the same way she did. She touched me the same way she did and I can't trust her. I can't. I won't. She's dangerous. A threat. A threat. I gave to get out. I have to get away. This place isn't safe. I was wrong. I can't stay here! I have to-
Clap!
I jolted and stumbled back, crying out when the ground suddenly disappeared from beneath me and I was hitting the floor, arms rising to instinctively cover my face. I waited for pain, to feel someone's boot ram me hard in the side, for someone to grab my new braids and yank on them. But it never came.
"What is wrong with you?" A voice snapped. My eyes shot up and I found myself staring the boy from earlier- a young child around fifteen or sixteen. He had spiky brown hair and dark eyes, greatly resembling Oak with the way his eyes and jawline were shaped. Were they related? His face was stern, but his gaze wasn't as cold as his voice sounded. "Are you okay, kid?"
"I-I don't-"
"Easy there." Professor Oak stepped forward, leaving his glass of coffee on a nearby desk, catching the boy's attention. "Don't startle her. Think of the child like a new pōkemon! She's wary of us."
"...Did you seriously just compare a little kid to a pōkemon?" The boy retorted, making a face and staring up at him. "You gotta be joking, Gramps. All I did was smack my hands together- she shouldn't be freaking out so bad! But hey, look!" He pointed at me with his thumb, grinning smugly. "I got her breathing again. That's an accomplishment, right?"
Oak sighed. Yuna was looking back-and-forth between everyone, panicking. "I-Is she alright? I still don't understand how I scared her!"
They aren't… evil. These people are trying to help me. I have to… remember that. I need to stay calm. Panicking is not good. I concentrated on the stone, focusing on the blue exterior and trying to wash all my worries away into it. I was going to be fine. They were not going to hurt me. That woman was merely trying to be kind.
Be obedient.
I must not cause them any trouble. Do exactly as they wish. I don't want to upset them anymore than I already have. Yuna, seeing Oak nod at her, hesitantly began to make her way over to me after I had calmed down. My bangs fell into my face as she started to reach out, the woman hesitating and drawing her hand back at the last second. "S-Sweetheart, are… are you hungry at all? I can go pick you up something to eat…"
I lifted my head up, pulling my gaze away from the stone. They all glanced at it curiously, but they didn't say anything about it. I didn't answer Yuna's question at first, uncertain as to how I felt at all, before deciding that I could use some food. I had thrown up my breakfast earlier after Mewtwo ditched me in the forest, so my stomach was empty.
"You… don't have to, ma'am." I murmured quietly, forcing myself to meet her gaze. No matter how hungry I was there was no way I was going to ask her to help me. They had done enough. "I'll survive."
I had studied a lot about the forest. With any luck I'll be able to recognize edible berries from poisonous ones. I hoped so, anyway, considering I never actually been out in the forest until today. Things could go downhill real quick if I wasn't careful. Yuna squinted at me, staring at me, before she pressed her hands together with a weak smile. "So you are hungry! Got it. Is there anything special you like? Like cheeseburgers or ramen…?"
I already told her she didn't have to. Besides, it had no idea what I liked; everything I ate at the bases tasted the same no matter how different it was cooked. The only food I can recall every having a good taste was from when I was really small and that was… an egg? A pōkemon egg? My eyebrows furrowed and I looked down, staring at the stone again as if it would help jog my memory.
That beautiful cerulean blue shined in the lighting, really showing off its shape. I ran my thumb along the jagged edge. Yuna curled her hand against her chest, a strange emotion flickering in her eyes when I didn't answer. She stepped forward, but before she could get close Oak grabbed her wrist to stop her. She glanced at him and faced me. "How… often did they feed you, sweetpea? They did give you food, right? You aren't too terribly malnourished…"
I nodded at her words, still not speaking. "I ate," I finally said, voice monotone, "it all tasted the same though…"
No matter how much seasoning I tried to put on it or mix with condiments, it all tasted so bland. The only real difference was in the texture and temperature; whether it was hot or cold, crunchy or soft, chewy, or even runny like some kind of soup. I only ate because I needed it to live, to get through the training, to make it to the next day, but that wasn't right- was it? Being like this… meant there was something wrong with me. I've had so many things to deal with I never paid much attention to it. It was just how things were after I started living with Team Rocket.
Sometimes the adults would refuse me meals when they got upset with something I did or blame me for something that happened to them, but after I was put into the private lessons Rich had always went out of his way to ensure I ate. He was a terrible person, just as cruel as the others, but he didn't completely deprive me of survival necessities like Velga did. He was rough and coarse, and always insulted me, but he never outright beat me. If I got hurt during training he would wait until I had finished the track before sending me to the infirmary, leaving me to suffer only so I could learn from my mistakes.
I hated him so much… yet the fact remained that he was undeniably less mean than the others.
I can't believe they're really gone…
Oak cleared his throat loudly, catching everyone's attention. He pulled away from the woman and moved over to his grandson, wrapping an arm around his shoulders affectionately. Blue made a face. "Why don't we all go get something to eat together? I'm sure the girl could use some proper clothes, too, while we're at it. What do you say… um…" He blinked at the boy, face growing blank.
"Are you seriously acting like you forgot my name again?" Blue rolled his eyes. "No one finds that joke funny!"
"Fine, fine. Spoil sport." Oak laughed. "I just mean we have time; the police are gonna take a few hours to get here. Pallet Town is in the middle of nowhere, after all."
I glanced down at my outfit, wondering what was wrong with it. My pants were torn and very much in need of a wash, and the shirt I was wearing probably belonged to Yuna. It was so much bigger than me. I felt weird. Why were they going so far to help? I wanted to ask, but fear held me back. Blue hmph'd at his grandfather and pulled away, marching over to me and raising a hand in the air.
"Yo; you have a name, right? We haven't really been properly introduced; I'm Blue. Originally a pōkemon trainer, now a pōkemon researcher! What're you called?"
"I…" That startled me. My palms covered the stone from sight and I held it close to my chest, protective of it. "I'm… called Grunt."
"Grunt?" He blinked. "Seriously?"
Oak heaved a sigh. "That isn't her name. It is just what Team Rocket called her."
Blue turned back to look at him. "Then what's her name?"
"She doesn't have one."
The teen scrunched his nose up, making a face as he faced me again. "Weird… but okay. You can walk, right? Come on- we'll show you all around Pallet Town. It's a small town, but it is what it is. The big cities are so much better, but it's still home."
Um… right. I fumbled to tuck the stone back into my fanny pack, uncomfortable with it being viewed by so many people. Clinging to it like I had was foolish, but I was so scared of losing it. It felt safer in my hands where it was in my sight than placed in a small bag. I was about to follow the other others out of the lab when a young green-haired man playing with a Growlithe called out us.
"Hey, you guys are going out into town, right?" Oak nodded. "Okay. Well, we'll be here if the police show up so don't worry. I'm sure Officer Jenny won't mind waiting a few extra minutes for you guys; we've spent this long waiting to end Team Rocket- I'm sure a little while more won't hurt."
My head lowered at that.
Should I tell them? The Team Rocket leader… he was gone. There was no way anyone could have survived that explosion without help; I myself would have died had Mewtwo not rescued me. Granted it was technically an explosion he caused, but still. Would it truly be alright to remain quiet? To go with these people and act like everything was fine? It felt like my conscience would never let me live it down. I was too responsible.
It was because of me he even blew up the building.
I acted out of hand and spoke to Mewtwo like a fool. By revealing the truth he wound up destroying everything and everyone… but he was also now free. That pōkemon could live his life the way he wanted to. He was no longer an experiment or a soldier; he was himself. Not that… either of us really know what that is. What even was me? Who was I? Would it be alright if I tried to figure it out by being with these people?
Adrien…
I was still going to rescue him, but first… I had to get stronger. How can I do that? My mind was all over the place as I went deep into thought, questioning my actions and very existence, and what continued action would bring. As we left he building my eyes drifted around the open grassy fields and dirt roads of Pallet Town, recalling Blue's explanation of it.
How could this place be considered small?
It felt so big to me. I slowed my walk and stared at the buildings and farms, noting how many pōkemon played about. There were so many birds and the sky was such a beautiful blue! Everything was so much more colorful than what I was used to, even the clouds that were shaded with tints of grey. Being outside was… incredible.
Yuna, Oak, and Blue watched as I reacted to the world around us.
Is that a-? Frick, it is! A person rode by on a bicycle, casually pedaling away. I've never seen a bike in person before, regardless of the fact that I knew what it was. Travelling would be so much easier with one- maybe I could… oh, but how would I pay for it? Team Rocket would have just stolen one if they wanted it. Would I even know how to ride it? I have to cross oceans to get to Hoenn, too… and a bike would not be good for that.
"You know," Oak began, rather amused by my quiet enthusiasm, "you don't have to stay so still. You can ask questions about anything you don't understand. The department store is just over here, young one. Yuna- help her find something wear while Blue and I head over to the nearby cafe. We'll get a table ready."
"If I have to." Blue grouched, reluctantly following along as his grandfather smacked him lightly on the back to get him to behave. "Buzz off, Gramps."
"Haha! Such a spirited youth."
I watched them disappear, Yuna wrapping her fingers lightly around my arm to catch my attention. I jumped at the touch, surprised when she began to walk away slowly. She wasn't dragging me or holding me in a vice; her grip was loose enough for me to pull away if I so desired it. This person… she was giving me a choice.
And I realized then and there that this stranger was nothing like Mistress Augusta.
Staring at her for a moment, I took a few seconds before sliding my arm away. Then I reached out and grabbed her hand, trying once more to recall the warmth from that one specific memory I had. I was still so small, but I had undoubtedly grown from that day. I wondered how old the boy was now and if his hand had grown any larger like mine did. Where in the world was he now? Did he travel far? Has his Beldum evolved?
What was he like? Was he still the same? Did he even remember me?
This stone is supposed to help him remember if he did forget, but… I can't recall what he even looks like. The one clue I have is his eye color, as it matches the dawn stone he gave me. I want to meet with him so bad. To hold his hand like this again. It was such a gentle feeling, yet burning fierce like a determined fire. Would he still be as nice to me as he was before?
Yuna began to browse through the clothing section, holding up several different shirts and trying to see which would look best while I stood there in deep thought. Her words went through one ear and out the other, my mind too caught up with other things. "Pink is so cute! Oh, but look at this Ponyta sweatshirt! I love that adorable Fire-type pōkemon! They're the best."
I hoped getting through this would be easy. I inhaled deeply and glanced around the area, watching as other kids goofed off while their parents tried to keep them calm so they could go shopping. They just wanted to play with all the toys that were on the shelves. So many resembled pōkemon. My eyes drifted to the remaining clothing area, partially listening as Yuna rambled on about her favorite Fire-types and how she had a fully evolved Rapidash waiting for her at home.
Interest caught by a small box buried underneath a rack of clothes, I pulled away from her and headed towards it. "Hm?" She blinked, surprised. "What's wrong? Did you find something?"
I said nothing as I pulled out an article of clothing from the buried box. At first I had thought it was just a regular green long sleeve, but sewed overtop was a sky blue v-neck collared jumper. Embroidered on the front was a silver three-tipped pointed crown, the ears and tail of a pikachu sticking out from the top and bottom respectively. I wasn't quite sure why… but that crown design looked so familiar to me. It stirred something within me, clawing at the depths of my brain and trying to bring some sort of memory to the surface.
A kingdom…
What was it? My head hurts so much- the title was on the tip of my tongue. Yuna walked over, resting a hand on my shoulder and frowning worriedly when she saw the way my face scrunched up in pain. I clutched the jumper tightly, staring intently at the symbol and struggling to recall what about it seemed so important to me.
There was… a kingdom. A kingdom of… hearts?
That sounded almost right, yet still off somehow.
"You know, I think I recognize this!" Yuna said suddenly, snapping me out of it. She snapped her fingers, pointing at the crown with a smile. "Yes! It's from that one game- oh, the one with the pikachu? He's supposed to be the king of a pōkemon castle! But he's also some kind of master swordsman and goes around traveling to all these other worlds! It's the strangest thing, but all the kids love it. You want it?"
"I…" I stared at it for a while longer. "I don't… know."
The more I looked at it the more it grew on me, yet the pikachu seemed so strange. I feel like the ears should be rounder- more befitting that of a mouse. Where were these thoughts coming from? Seeing the way I continued to contemplate over it Yuna sighed and stood up straight, patting me lightly on the shoulder. "Why don't we go ahead and get it? It'll look adorable on you!"
I guess so.
"All we need is some socks and… those poor boots of yours look like they're going to fall apart! Maybe a pair of running shoes would be good? Oooh, I'm going to go grab that Ponyta shirt for my baby girl- she'll love that! Mina adores horses! If you see anything you like let me know, okay, sweetie?"
Read and Review! :3
Hopefully Oak came out in character enough; I'm mostly going by the games personality for him. Hence the "Are you a boy or are you a girl" joke. Ash/Red doesn't really exist in this universe, so this version of Gary/Blue is after he tries and fails the Indigo League. So he's less of a jerk. We're about to step into some real plot soon! Woo! You all ready? What do you guys think of kid Steven and doting dad Joseph? Poor Grunt is in so much shock right now. Losing a constant in your life is rough, no matter how terrible that constant may be.
