Chapter Four
Mairin spent the rest of the morning laying down on the couch, her stomach churning. Max had brought Chespie down from her old room, and the grass type had refused to leave her side since. She had been unable to eat another bite of food, however she did occasionally sip from the water Absol forced people to bring in for her.
She also had a bowl near her in case she threw up again, but nothing worse happened than her stomach twisting about.
She just couldn't bring her body to calm down, clearly too overwhelmed by what was happening to her. She just laid there, not having the will to move as Chespie gently rubbed her back with his giant claws. The action was soothing, and the only thing that made an attempt to distract her mind from what was really happening.
She looked down at her arms, staring at the twisting white marks that ran up them. She traced her finger up one, the marks going all the way to her shoulder. She frowned– it looked so unnatural– as if she had wrapped ribbons around her arms and had then stood out in the sun for hours on end. She ran her hand across the twin marks on her other arm, but yet she got no hint to where they had come from.
She leaned over, still feeling painfully sick, but the realization was worse. There was just so many questions she had, and no answers that she liked to explain it all. The reality of what she was facing hurt.
She was missing several years worth of memories.
Her stomach shifted unhappily at the thought, and she pressed her eyes shut.
What was she supposed to do?
"My wife doesn't joke around!" A sharp voice echoed from down the hallway, and Mairin flinched. Amber eyes flickered open as Alain walked into the room, talking to someone on the phone. "I need to bring her in as soon as possible."
He didn't seem to notice that Mairin was in the same room as him. He paused, listening to the other end of the phone.
"Yes, I did call her regular doctor– and he's the one that told me to contact you," Alain said, gritting his teeth.
Mairin sat up slightly, blood rushing to her head at this action. She watched Alain, who had started pacing the length of the sitting room. Mairin wondered if everything was flowing smoothly in the main part of the lab– since both she and Alain weren't working at the moment.
...She did still work here, correct? Mairin's mind started racing, what if she worked somewhere else? Perhaps that's why Max had been hired, to replace her? Clearly Alain still was involved with the lab, since he had the white lab coat on.
"I'm not waiting a month," Alain growled into the phone. He paused from his pacing, back turned towards her. Chespie put an arm around her, and she could dimly hear mumblings coming from the other end of Alain's phone. "...Fine. We'll do that. Schedule her in as soon as possible."
More mumblings from the phone, just quiet enough so Mairin couldn't pick out what they were saying.
"Thank you. We'll be there," Alain said, and then he hung up the phone. His knuckles were white as he slipped it into his lab coat, jaw gritting together as he let out a frustrated sigh. Mairin watched as he ran a hand through his hair, muttering under his breath. "For Yveltal's sake..."
Mairin parted her dry lips, but she couldn't find the desire to speak. Ruby and Chespie watched her for a moment, their eyes urging her to say something. But she could only stare up at Alain, still in disbelief at what was taking place. Now that she was really watching him, she could pick out several differences from what she remembered. Nothing drastic, but he clearly carried himself differently than the Alain she had known.
"Mairin," Alain said, sounding startled as he turned around. Blue eyes met amber, and she looked away. "I didn't realize that you were there," He looked over her pale form, and the blanket draped over her, and his eyes narrowed. "You look sick! Did something happen while I was on the phone?"
Mairin gulped, forcing herself to speak. "I'm f-fine... just overwhelmed..."
Alain nodded, shifting uncertainly. "That's understandable... considering what's happening..." He hesitated, studying the way she curled up slightly. Alain closed his eyes, looking like he was stopping himself from flinching. "...I can tell that you're still not comfortable around me. I'll leave."
Mairin jerked her head up– but before she could say another word he was out the door, heading off to another part of the lab. Mairin stared at where he had been moments before, her hand halfway lifted to stop him. She sat there for a moment, before letting the limb fall to the couch. She closed her eyes, laying back down.
She... she wasn't scared of him... he didn't have to leave... She wasn't scared of her best friend...
She was scared of the fact that he was her husband– but not him! She was upset at what he had said to her... years ago– but not at the person he was now!
"A-alain..." Mairin whispered weakly, wanting him to come back.
She wanted her best friend. She wanted her big brother.
Tears stung her eyes– Alain wasn't that person anymore. When he looked at her he wouldn't see her as a little sister that needed comforting, but as a wife. Alain wouldn't see his best friend, but a spouse.
She wrapped her arms around her, and Chespie draped the blanket over her as she started crying. She was starting to realize just how terrified she was– because the person she was closest to wouldn't see her in the way that would comfort her. A new relationship had been formed, one that she didn't know or want. The Alain she wanted wasn't here, and the one she remembered had left painful memories.
Mairin felt more alone than ever.
Mairin's appetite had managed to return somewhat by dinner time, and her empty stomach was more than happy to join everyone around the dining room table. She was still wearing the same outfit she had woken up in, but Chespie had brought her the green jacket she had seen in Alain's room this morning.
It was clearly hers, since it fit her just right, but still Mairin pushed the thought of where it had been out of her mind. Instead she awkwardly sat at the edge of her chair, staring down at her hands. She studied the finger where the ring had been, and wondered what had happened to it. She had left it on the table, but it clearly wasn't here anymore.
She was just glad that no one had tried to give it back.
Dinner was served up in silence– no one seemed to know what to say. Mairin was sure that she had somehow disturbed the normal seating arrangements– but she had sat herself between Sophie and Cosette, refusing to move. She and Cosette took up one end of the table, Alain and Max on the other. The professor and Sophie sat on each end of the table, looking over their lab family in silence.
Mairin had a feeling that she was usually next to Alain, but right now she wasn't even sitting across from him.
"Mairin," Cosette said after several minutes. "You need to eat something."
Mairin was jerked out of her thoughts, and that's when she realized that she had done nothing but chase her food around her plate with a fork. She gave an uncertain smile, before stabbing her fork into the ravioli and raising it to her mouth. She had to choke the food down, the smell of the ravioli overwhelming her as she tried to eat.
But still she managed to get through dinner with only several side glances being thrown her way.
"Were you able to get a hold of anyone, Alain?" Professor Sycamore asked, breaking the silence.
"...Dr. Tambert," Alain replied in a colder tone. "His assistant wasn't too bright, but the doctor himself gave us an appointment for tomorrow. Basically just a quick check up, to see what he's working with, then we'll schedule another and longer appointment from there."
Alain shoved a forkful of salad into his mouth, chewing it as if it had just insulted his mother.
Professor Sycamore nodded. "Sounds good, we'll just have to take things easy until tomorrow," He smiled across at everyone. "I am putting all major research projects on hold, for now we just need to keep this lab running, and make sure Pokemon and trainers are taken care of, but actual research can wait."
"No," Mairin said softly. "Don't stop everything because of me."
He gave her a gentle smile. "Mairin, you were involved with several of those projects, we wouldn't be able to carry them on without you. Also, I think it would be best if we weren't weighed down with anything else right now."
Mairin looked down guiltily– because of her the lab's projects were being stopped. Her grip on her fork tightened slightly, just because her life was messed up didn't mean that it had to interfere with everyone else's.
"Do we have a cot laying around by chance?" Alain asked, looking at Professor Sycamore.
"A cot?"
He shrugged. "If not I'll just take a sleeping bag then, I know we have plenty of those."
"You're not thinking of leaving!" Sophie exclaimed, and Alain rolled his eyes.
"No, of course I'm not leaving," He muttered, pushing his last few bites of food about his plate. "But I am going to need somewhere to sleep tonight."
Professor Sycamore frowned. "You will sleep in a bed like everyone else in this lab."
Alain glared at him. "There are six of us in this lab, but only four beds. That worked out just fine before all this, but I will not make Mairin share a bed with me. She'll take our room, and I'll camp out in the main room or something."
Mairin's eyes widened– she may have disrupted the work of the lab, but no one was going to be kicked out of their room because she lost her memories. "No. I'll take a sleeping bag," Mairin said quietly. "You keep your bed and your room."
Alain glared in her direction. "It's not mine, it's ours– and there's no way I'm making you take the ground with your condition. You will have the bed."
Mairin shook her head. "No, I want you to have it."
Alain's expression darkened. "You are taking the bed– and that's final."
Mairin flinched, her eyes quickly darting down to her plate. Shivers ran through her, but her voice fled. She couldn't sleep in Alain's room, no matter whose it was now, she only saw it as Alain's room...
"Enough," Professor Sycamore said. "I'm pretty sure we have a spare mattress up in the attic of this place, and we have plenty of clean sheets. After cleaning up dinner me and Max can go up there and bring it down," Sycamore glanced at Mairin. "Would you be most comfortable in your old room?"
She gave a short nod.
"Alright," Professor Sycamore gave a pointed glare at Alain. "That's settled then. No one is taking the floor, and Mairin will be in her old room. Everyone is in a bed, and in a familiar place," He sighed. "Alain, you help Mairin move some of her stuff from your room, you'll know what she'll need."
"We'll clean up," Sophie said. "No need for you guys to worry about the kitchen."
Max scowled. "No, we'll help you guys clean up dinner."
Cosette laughed. "We'd much rather clean up then haul a bed around– you boys have fun with that," She flashed Sophie a grin, and the two females giggled like they were teenagers. "Oh, and don't you worry about anything Mairin, you just rest."
"I want to help," Mairin said– just because she was missing memories didn't mean she couldn't do anything.
"You can help me move your stuff," Alain said. "Decide what you want in your room."
"O-okay," Mairin whispered– through her insides shriveled up as she realized she was going to be alone with Alain.
Everyone finished dinner in silence.
"...Right side of the closet is your stuff, left's mine– same with the dresser," Alain explained as he opened the door to his room. "I'll go hunting for a dresser or something to put in your old room tomorrow– but for now just grab the clothes you'll want for tonight and tomorrow."
"O-okay," Mairin whispered as Alain walked into the room, however she lingered by the doorway. Her eyes flickered about the room she had woken up in, shivering. Her eyes shifted to the queen bed, and she flinched.
Alain had pulled a wicker basket down from a shelf, opening the lid and peering in. He set it on the bed, then headed over to the desk, grabbing a brush that was laying there. He headed back towards the basket, placing it in, before looking back at Mairin.
"You can come in," Alain said. "This is your room too."
Mairin hesitantly stepped in, before heading over towards the closet. She slid the closet doors to the side, and as promised they were filled with clothes. She frowned as she looked over the feminine half of the closet, trying to look for anything remotely familiar, something to show that this was hers. She shifted through the various outfits, but was startled to find that most of the items weren't things she even recognized. Surely she hadn't changed sizes that much in the last few years! And it wasn't like she was someone that had to have the latest fashion...
She paused as she noticed a green hat tucked away on the back of a shelf. She smiled, pulling it out as she studied it. It was old and worn, but probably would still fit her, even if it was from when she was ten. She brushed off the dust, knowing that she'd never wear something like this now days, but having something familiar was comforting. It wasn't hard to spot a backpack after that, and she sat the hat in the bottom of the bag, before looking for something suitable to wear.
She settled for a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt to wear to bed, knowing just how cold she could get at night, and then jeans with a nicer shirt for tomorrow. She set them into the bag, feeling uncertain, and she had to keep telling herself that these clothes were hers, and that they would fit. Mairin then turned towards the dresser that sat along one wall, but paused as she reached for one of the drawers that Alain said was hers.
She looked back at him, heart racing.
He was watching her, having the wicker basket in one hand, and several other items in the other. "That's yours," He said with a nod, probably thinking that she was unsure about the drawers. "You can open it."
Mairin stared down at her feet, shifting. "Um..."
"Oh," Alain said after a moment, realizing where her hesitancy was coming from. He quickly headed towards the door. "...Sorry. I'll wait outside."
Mairin shivered slightly, but pulled open the drawer, searching for the last clothing items she'd need. She stuffed them into the bottom of the backpack, before zipping it up. She shouldered the bag, looking about the room one last time. Nothing in particular caught her eye, everything just foreign and intimidating– and she swiftly headed towards the door, glad to be free of Alain's room.
As promised he was waiting for her. He held his hand out towards her, but she couldn't bring herself to take it. Awkward silence fell across them as he withdrew his hand, and they headed towards her room in silence.
"Looks like they're still bringing down the bed," Alain said uncertainly as they went in. The door was open, and they could see a bed frame had been placed in the room, but there was no mattress. Some of the Pokemon's things had been pushed to the side, and Mairin hoped that they wouldn't be upset with her sleeping in here. She tried to tell herself it was fine– they were her Pokemon after all.
"Yeah," She whispered. Mairin set her bag down in the corner, not sure of what else to do.
"Okay," Alain said, setting the stuff he had brought onto the ground as well. He pointed to the wicker basket. "That's where you keep your toiletries and stuff, I'm sure you remember that we can't keep all of our stuff in the bathrooms at once."
"I remember that," Mairin replied quietly– the bathrooms in the lab didn't have much in the way of storage space. In her memories she had kept her stuff in a small bag, but it seemed she had more things now.
"Then there's your purse– your phone and wallet is in there, and whatever else you keep in it. Don't lose that," He then pointed to the last two objects– a Pokebelt and an amulet. "Then finally your Pokeballs and key stone. Since you don't remember... well, you got a key stone about three years ago."
For the first time that day, Mairin brightened up. "You mean I can mega evolve now?"
Alain smirked slightly. "I'm pretty sure it's your Pokemon that mega evolve."
She smiled back, and for a moment the tension between them faded... but only for a moment. Mairin's smile quickly vanished, and she looked away. She let her focus go to the belt, which had six Pokeballs on it. Six... including Ruby she only knew of four Pokemon she had ever captured. Her throat tightened– realizing that she had two Pokemon she didn't even know of.
"What's my team?" Mairin asked quietly.
Alain stiffened slightly as she asked this, his eyes flickering towards the Pokeballs, then to her. He watched her for a moment, lips halfway parted as he considered his next words.
"Well... you've already seen Chespie and Ruby– you have those two out the most. Then of course you should know Kiara... she's evolved now," He hesitated once more. "Then there's Poppy, you hatched her from an egg a while back, and then finally you have Luke."
"And Ruby can mega evolve," Mairin said, remembering the mega stone she had seen around the Pokemon's neck.
"...Luke can as well," Alain said, before frowning. "At least, they should be able to... but I have no idea how your missing memories will affect your bond with them."
Mairin's heart twisted. This amnesia... it wasn't just affecting her, but everyone around her as well... She remembered how sorrowful Ruby had been yesterday once she realized that she didn't know her... and now Mairin would have two more Pokemon that would have to learn that their trainer didn't know them... But Kirara was evolved now, Mairin smiled slightly, trying to tell herself that was something to look forward to. She gulped once, but reached for the Pokeballs.
Alain's hand suddenly grabbed hers, stopping her.
"Mairin, wait, please," He said, and she stiffened up as he touched her. "Do me a favor, and don't let any Pokemon out until tomorrow."
"Why?" Mairin asked, trying to pull her hand out of his. He paused, before letting her go.
"Because we've all had a long day," He said. "And learning of this was hard enough on Ruby, and hard on you. Tomorrow will be a new day, and everyone else will be there to help. Just get some rest, okay?"
Mairin nodded slowly. "Okay..."
He smiled softly. "Thank you. I am going to go help the others with your bed, alright? The attic isn't exactly the easiest place to navigate," He turned towards the door. "Call if you need anything."
"I don't need you guys to babysit me," Mairin snapped, harsher than she meant to. Alain paused in the doorway, but didn't turn to face her. Silence filled the room, and for a moment she wondered if he was going to say anything.
But instead he just walked out the door without another word.
Something in Mairin shifted, but she just turned away. There were tears in her eyes, all of the pressure she had built up from today bearing down on her. The sun had barely even began to set, but she just wanted to sleep... of course it would be a few hours before it was even reasonable for someone her age to turn in, but she was sure that no one would think twice, considering the state she was in. Not that she had a bed though. Yet.
She took in a deep breath, she could wait a little longer... then she could sleep..
And Mairin hoped that when she woke up that this nightmare would be gone.
"Stop poking me..." Mairin heard herself mutter. "I'm sleeping..."
However the poking continued, causing Mairin to groan. She rolled over, the grainy sand of her bed gritting against her. The sleeping girl paused, before her eyes snapped open. A dark sky was laid out before her, countless stars shining above her.
And a glowering Floette was glaring down at her.
"Bébé!" Mairin cried as she saw the yellow-flowered Floette, and she quickly sat up. The Floette placed her flower over her shoulder, no longer using it to poke Mairin awake. "It's the middle of the night, what are you...?"
A wave of panic washed over Mairin– because she wasn't saying any of these words. She was hearing them, she felt herself opening her mouth, but yet she had no control over herself. Her body was moving of its own accord, pushing itself into a sitting position. Mairin tried to cry out, but her body simply looked around without any care to what she wanted.
They were in the middle of a desert.
"Crap..." Mairin 'said'. "I was sleep walking again, wasn't I?"
"Flo!" Bébé confirmed with a nod.
She let out a groan of pain, but forced herself to stand up. The desert was silent around them– nothing in sight but sand. Mairin rose to her feet, brushing off the grainy sand as she studied the ground. Her footprints came from the east, and she muttered under her breath.
"Great..." She muttered. "Hopefully we aren't too far out from camp... Come on Bébé, let's get back to Alain and the others... Bonnie's going to freak out if I'm not in our tent when she wakes up."
Mairin's panic was starting to fade, even though she still didn't have control over herself. However she was slowly realizing that what she was seeing wasn't real– this was simply a dream. It wasn't too hard to piece together after a moment, and now that she was aware she was able to relax as the dream continued to play out.
She watched as Bébé and her dream-self matched through the desert, stumbling over sand dunes, shivering at winds that Mairin couldn't even feel. It wasn't the most exciting dream Mairin had ever had, though her vision of the place was very sharp. But besides that her senses in this dream were dim, and she couldn't do much more than watch dream-Mairin hike.
"Sol!" A familiar voice cried out after several minutes of silent walking, and dream-Mairin paused. The girl slowly turned, and was able to make out a white shape standing on the hill of sand they had just finished hiking down. The Pokemon watched them with sharp red eyes, and dream-Mairin froze.
'...Ruby?' Mairin asked, surprised at the sudden appearance of the Absol she had just met in the waking world. Of course she had no control over her dreaming self, so her question went unvoiced.
The Absol was clearly Ruby though– there was no mistaking that– but there was still some differences from the Pokemon that had been cuddling up with her today. This Absol had a much sharper look in her eyes, serious and tense. She was eyeing Mairin warily, and her fur had a rough look to it. And then, of course, there was no mega stone on this Absol– it was clearly a wild Pokemon.
"You!" Dream-Mairin snapped, and her voice sounded angry. "What are you doing out here– stop following me!"
"Flo!" Bébé added, darting in front of Mairin, the Floette holding out her flower threateningly.
The Absol said nothing, simply standing still as the wind rushed by her silky fur. Ruby continued to watch Mairin, her eyes locking on the human. She then lifted her head, the dark type looking skywards, then at Mairin again. Ruby went still once more for a moment, but then placed a foot forward.
"No!" Mairin snapped. "Don't come closer– the locals were right about you, you're nothing but bad luck! Ever since you've shown up I've just been getting separated from everyone, getting these horrible headaches, and... and then the stupid sleepwalking! It's your fault that I'm out here!"
The Absol let out a sigh, a puff of white air escaping her mouth. The night must have been cold, even in the desert, but since it was a dream that meant Mairin felt none of it. Ruby continued down the hill, making dream-Mairin tense even more.
"Ette!" Bébé declared, pointing her flower at Ruby as if it were a sword. The petals of the flower started to glow, the brightness quickly lighting up the night. Ruby narrowed her eyes in the harsh light, and a Dazzling Gleam was released.
"Use Energy Ball while she's blinded!" Mairin ordered, and a glowing green orb started to form at the end of her flower. The Energy Ball was released as the remains of the Dazzling Gleam faded, and a flash of purple could be seen rushing towards Bébé.
The Psycho Cut and the Energy Ball met mid-air– the Psycho Cut slicing the Energy Ball in two, and both attacks faded. Dream-Mairin flinched as if in pain, while Ruby was charging down the hill, her claws draped in a dark energy of a Night Slash.
"Flo!" Bébé cried, forming another Energy Ball, racing forward to engage the Absol. The green sphere was once again launched, and Ruby jumped up into the air. Mairin's eyes widened, impressed at how much height the Absol had gained. She leapt right over the Energy Ball and the Floette, and landed in the sand behind the fairy type.
Ruby then ran forward, charging straight at Mairin. Dream-Mairin froze up, bracing herself as the Pokemon ran right at her– but the Absol came to a halt several feet away. Red eyes peered into amber ones, Ruby's gaze intense and cold. The Absol maintained eye contact, even as Bébé let out an angry cry.
Then the Absol turned away, glowing with a Quick Attack as she raced off into the desert night.
Bébé let out an angry chitter as the dark type ran off, waving her flower about in a fit of rage. Then the fairy type turned back towards her trainer, quickly bolting to Mairin's side. She darted up towards her shoulder, settling down and crossing her arms. Dream-Mairin was shaking slightly, but still gave the Floette on her shoulder a thankful smile.
And then the dream melted away from around Mairin, and she drifted off into the darkness of sleep.