My god, I've been in so much pain the last few weeks; my trapezium had cramped. Even sitting behind my laptop hurt, and considering I still have school to worry about….sheesh.

Ok new chapter, I don't own Pokémon, it's characters or anything really….but the plot. The plot is mine bitches!

Chapter 19: Forgotten name

"You need to keep your arm lower," Arden instructed. "You keep your front open like this."

They had stopped for the afternoon and Arden thought it high time May learned to defend herself. Their journey already went quicker than when he himself first had went this way with the army four years ago. No robber in his right mind would attack such a large group of battle-hardened men.

With a party of two, and one woman as well, they would not have such qualms. So he had them stop earlier than nightfall and Blaziken and his horse, a black one called Umbreon were grazing a little further.

Sweat shone on May's forehead as she corrected her stance. First he had to stop her keeping her feet together so much. It might be decent for a princess; as a warrior it made up for bad balance. The first thing he was teaching was to defend. It was his utmost priority that she could keep herself alive until he could reach her.

"Ok, now keep up that defense " Arden told her before he charged at her. Of course he wasn't going full out, and it had been a bit of a change of mind-set to actually attack her. He didn't attack women, period, and to actually charge at his superior's fiancee well, it felt like a bit of a stretch. Usually cases like this made up for a death wish.

It was common for new recruits to start with wooden swords but they did not have that luxury. They simply did not have the time.

May wasn't doing bad at all but Arden was a bit annoyed by her tendency to have her guard too high. For some reason she kept expecting her attacker to come from above: it could be her small stature. 'She was doing better now,' Arden though absent-mindly as he swung from the side and she parried it perfectly; her side safe.

'But she has still got a lot to learn,' he thought and continued to slam the flat side of the sword against her other side.

"Ow!" May yelled out. "Do you have to hit me that hard?" She rubbed her side indigenous, "I'm bruised all over!"

Arden snickered, "It's the best way to learn, princess. The bruises serve as a reminder." May muttered darkly at that and Arden smiled at her, "We all were bruised when we learned to fight. I was rather bad with bow and arrow, the chord kept slamming against my wrist or I released the wood so it'd slam against my chest. I thought the bruises would never go."

May flopped down with a huff and stared up at the looming mountains, They were earlier in the seasons than the army had been, and they had had to cross the passes in the snow. May and Arden would not be so unlucky but the winds still would be harsh. May wondered what would be waiting on the other side. She knew the mountains but the desert behind it was a myth.

Drier than the biggest drought, Arden had told her; more unforgiving than the dangerous rocky cliffs in the east and more unpredictable than the seas. She wondered whether that was true. How could people live there. The oases, that Arden told her about, didn't sound nearly enough to last the enormous amount of people that belonged to Kamesh.

Some things just were impossible.

She stated at her hands; blisters were already forming from the training Arden was giving her. Was she enough to get Drew back? He was a much better warrior, more experienced than she could ever hope to be. If he couldn't get himself out…what made her think she could?

'But,' that tiny voice in her head told her, 'he gave himself up. There hadn't even been any need to use his skills or experience since he went without a fight.'

May let out a slow breath; she couldn't afford pitying herself or getting angry at him. She wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she hadn't at least tried. She cared for him and she as hell wasn't going to look for a new fiance when she was happy with her current one.

"May?" Arden asked, "I know you have been planning this for a while, but what are you going to do if we can't find Drew?" He seemed genuinely worried.

May bit her lip, "I'll follow his trail. A person can't simply disappear like that. So unless I…hold his body I won't accept he is gone."

Arden didn't tell her that people most definitely could disappear. It wasn't even really hard to be honest. He didn't think Drew was gone, the guy always bounced back. But he was more down to earth than May, more realistic. There was a good chance Kamesh had decided to get rid of Drew after all. But he didn't have the heart to tell the female in his company that.

So far she had weathered the beginning of the autumn storms and he furiously hoped they could cross the mountains, or at least the peaks before winter set in. He knew May was disbelieving of his tales from last time he had been here; he'd probably be too if he didn't know any better, but those storms were deadly.

Last time they had been packed heavily and it had kept them grounded for the most part. When not packed they had had to stay close to the ground or risk getting blown off. But now, he was packed lightly for swift travel and it would be close to impossible to fight against the mountain; and if it was so hard for him, there was no chance May could actually cross in the winter.

They'd be forced to camp it out. It'd be cold, but they would survive if they found a good cave. The good thing about this time of the year was that the robbers already would have gone for cover though.

He stood up: "Come on princess, once more, and then we'll look for cover for the night." May grumbled but let him pull her up.

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DD

With a gasp, Drew awoke and his body immediately remembered to kick; fight for his life.

There was no water however.

"Calm down! Calm down! You're safe," and elderly female voice came through to him. Drew looked to his side in alarm when he noticed he wasn't drowning anymore and he forced his body down. The voice only half registered but the old woman that entered his line of vision did not.

"What…?" was the only intelligible thing Drew could bring out.

The woman smiled, "Good to see you're awake," she said calmly.

Drew took a deep breath, again it smelled of wood but now it was comfortable burning wood instead of the horrible wet smell of the galley. It calmed him and he stared down at his hands, flexing them. He was surprised to see there were no wounds left on the palms of his hands, nor was there any scar-tissue.

Then he looked around. He was lying in a bed in a small room. A thick blanket covered his knees and waist; he guessed it had slipped down in his thrashes to get up. A fire burned in the hearth. The room was comfortable.

"Where's Reod!?" he suddenly asked, panicked. He was alive but what about his friend? He couldn't have left him behind in the storm?!

The woman pressed him back down when she saw Drew trying to get out of the bed. "The other young man?" she asked calmly. "He woke up a few days after we found you. It's you we were worried about," she said.

Drew released a sigh he didn't know he was holding. Then he frowned, "Then, where is he?" he asked.

The elderly woman smiled patiently at him, "Perhaps we'd better get some broth into you first. Now that you're awake I rather don't have you falling back asleep like that." It was not that Drew liked to agree: he just found it hard to against the woman. He had a feeling that despite the beguiling smile, she could be a force to be reckoned with. Just like …

Drew halted in his thoughts. He knew that a name should be in that place. And a face.

He shrugged, first eat, then answers.

The woman left the room: for sure to get the broth she mentioned, and Drew had time to collect his thoughts and inspect his body. The galley hadn't been kind and the woman had made it sound he had been out for some time.

He started with his hands again. The oars had ripped the skin from his hands but they looked normal. The skin on the inside was pale and tender and Drew winced thinking about the amount of hours he would need to spend to get the needed calluses back. But was curious.

He then continued his inspection. His arms were both in one piece and even though he lost a considerable amount of weight, he was glad to see his upper body functioned well. He didn't how his scars looked on his back, but they didn't hurt so they must be fine as well.

He was just skimming down his legs (they too seemed to be in one piece) when the woman came back carrying a steaming bowl. She put it on the dresser, one that he had missed before and watched him silently checking his feet.

Touching his right ankle where the strange pink skin was once again. "It looked rather horrible when we found you. They skin had completely ripped away. I am glad it healed so well. Now eat," she said, pushing the bowl in his hands. He accepted gratefully and although the watery substance was like a kings' meal to him, he….

King?

Once again the young man felt as if he should remember something.

The older woman smiled happily seeing Drew eat with gusto, "I would give you something more lasting if I didn't think you would throw it all up again. Better to let your body slowly get used to food again."

At this Drew stopped the spoon towards his mouth and frowned. "Exactly how long have I been out of it?" he asked, Getting used to food again meant that his body had the time to get unused to it and that he hadn't had solid food in quite a while.

Just when the old woman opened her mouth, the door to the room slammed open and Reod came rushing in.

He looked considerably better than when Drew had seen him last time. As the fashion had been in the harem, Reod had his coal-black hair long and loose but now here he had bound it back it a leather strap. His pallor too looked a lot better, a light tan on his pale skin.

"Drew!" he yelled, and Drew winced: so loud! "Grandma Loua already said you had woken up!"

Drew was surprised to hear his tongue fluent but for his unidentifiable accent. "Grandma Loua?" he asked, "Who is that?"

The lady by his bedside smiled, "I insist on you calling me that," she said. Then she looked back at Reod sternly, "Did you leave my husband alone on the fields, young man?"

Reod looked sheepishly, "Well, I did. But he said I could go!" he almost sounded protesting at the end.

The old lady, Grandma Loua, glared at him lightly and then sighed, "Well, I suppose I can hardly blame you." Then she stood up, taking Drew's now empty bowl with her. "You two probably have things to discuss. When you are ready, call for me." And with that, she left, leaving him and Reod alone.

Drew and Reod stared at each other silently for a moment. Then Reod grinned in a way that made his face look surprisingly boyish. Like a huge weight had fallen from his shoulders. "Drew," he said, a choked up sound in his voice, "We did it! We got free! We're free!" He sounded so unbelieving, so touched that Drew wondered how long he had called himself a slave.

It stayed silent between the two men. Then: "You look good," Drew spoke.

Reod looked sheepish again, "It appears I don't mind working on the fields as much as I thought I would," he said. But then he looked serious, "I wish I could say the same of you,"

Drew looked confused, "Look, I know I've been out of it some time but…"

"Some time?" Reod interrupted rather baffled, "If you had been any longer out of it, I'd have thought you'd never wake up, or in what state. Your body might have healed, but we couldn't be sure of your head."

Things started to click in Drew's head: The healed skin, the food resistant stomach, Reod looking like he had worked outside his whole life. Even his memory that was chunky. "Reod, how long have I been out of it exactly?" he asked urgently.

Reod now seemed hesitant, "Remember when you told me on the galley that it wouldn't last the winter tides?" Drew nodded, curious to see where it was going. "You were right," Reod continued. "The galley broke down in the first storm, old man Fern told me. We've just started with plowing the field for spring-sowing."

Drew honestly and truly gaped at him, "You mean to tell me I've been out of it a whole season?" he asked, stunned. Reod nodded, avoiding his eyes and Drew let it sink in. He didn't appreciate pieces of his life missing like that, without him knowing. It did explain why his skin had healed so nicely.

"Well," he started, "You and I successfully got out of the wreck and we must have reached the surface alright. Not that that was much better since it stormed. There was a piece of wood we clung to, and all you kept telling me was to keep kicking. And suddenly, there was this rock-mass. I don't know how much later. That must have been why the water was so rough," he trailed off.

Drew connected the pieces: "We must have been smashed against the rocks and by some mysterious bout of luck, drifted ashore. I probably hit my head right?" he concluded.

Reod rubbed the back of his head. "To be honest, I can only recount to the rocks. I think I must have been knocked out as well. Grandma Loua and Fern found us on one of their scavenging hunts when the storm had past."

"And that is a good think too," and elderly male voice grunted from the doorway. A man long past his high day stood there, his hands on his back. His hair and beard were grey and deep lines were carved in his face. His eyes were sharp though. He looked like he was used to working outside; not strange as Grandma Loua and Reod had mentioned fields. "We know what kind of ships roam these seas and in what state they are. We usually don't find two young man dying from the lack of food, water and proper care," he said.

Drew nodded, "Thank you," he said, grateful to the people saving his life.

Reod looked at the old man with the kind of affection one had for his grandparents. "Have you finished the fields already, Fern?" he asked. "There is still light."

The man clobbered him lightly around the head, "Don't be foolish, boy. There is no hurry: only the top layer can be worked with right now," he grunted. Then he sighed, "Now, let's see if we can get you upright, young man," he spoke to Drew. "The sooner we have you on your feet the better and this room is too small for all four of us."

That much Drew could agree with, the room was anything but big.

Both Fern and Reod grabbed him by his arms when Drew turned towards the edge of the bed. Considering how long he had lain on his back there was a good chance, he was going to fall face forward when he tried to stand on his own. The bed was not too high so Drew could touch the floor with his feet when he sat up on the edge.

Miraculously, he did not sank through his knees, and the two other males caught his sway backwards. "When that wasn't so bad!" Reod remarked light-heartily. Drew shot him a sharp glare. To him it seemed a long way to the kitchen.

()()()()()()()()()()()()

Eventually they were seated at the hard-wooden table in Loua's kitchen. It had been a short trek but Drew felt tiredness deep to his bones. It had been exhausting to stand on his feet as he wasn't used to it, it took much effort.

Grandma Loua was already busying herself around the small kitchen and in no time she had steaming cups on the table with what Drew thought smelled like herbal extraction.

"Well then," she spoke as she sat down herself. "Reod here has told us as much as he could about you two but I am afraid you, Drew, are rather elusive." Fern grunted in agreement and Reod had as much sense to at least turn a bit red.

Drew shifted nervously, "I am Drew Hayden. I work as…."

A blank came up in his head. He stared at his right hand, knowing he was skilled in holding a sword. But why was escaping him.

Grandma Loua noticed his struggle and smiled patiently, "That's ok, dear. It will come to you on its own. Why don't you tell us where you came from?"

Drew didn't know how to answer that.

Not because he couldn't find the words to describe home, but simply because he didn't know what to answer. Home, too, was something he couldn't give a name to or a picture. "I…don't know," he spoke hesitatingly. At the confused faces, Drew felt panic get a hold of him. "I can't remember!"

It stayed silent as Drew struggled to find his bearings.

"Your fiancee " Reod asked unsure Drew stared at him. His fiancee The face and name he couldn't remember. He knew he had a fiancee he knew that! But he didn't know who she was, where she was. He couldn't remember anything further back that his walk through the desert.

Why had he been enslaved?

There was a gaping hole where his memory should have been.

Then Grandma Loua stood up and gently nudged the distressed Drew. "Let's get you back to bed," she said. With her husband she guided him back to the bed. Drew barely noticed it when she pressed him to lay down. "You can stay here as long as you need to, Drew," she assured him.

Drew settled his eyes on the kind forest green eyes that laid deep in the old weathered face, "Where will I go?" he asked softly.

Grandma Loua fussed a but with the sheets and then pressed hair from his face like a mother would to her sick child. "For now, you can consider this your home," she said and smiled, "I am sure, your memory will return soon enough."

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MM

It hadn't been a lie.

With amazed eyes, May stared out over the endless sand. The mountains had been rough but they had had enough shelter to survive the snowstorms. It had been a long road, but now they were on the other side. And May wasn't sure she was believing what she saw.

"What do you think?" Arden asked her as he went to stand next to her, high as they still were. Even here, May could still feel the scourging heat.

"How can people survive here?" she asked breathlessly.

Arden chuckled and wound a cloth around her head to protect her against the fiercest sandstorms. She'd still have sand everywhere, but at least it wouldn't whip her in the face, He had sworn to protect her and Arden would make sure to do so in the best of his power. "You'd be surprised what people can last in," he said, finally content with how her face was protected.

He had already packed their gear so that it would be protected against most of the sand.

Then he stretched and threw May a look, "Ready to go, princess?" he asked.

On May's face a determined grim look appeared, once Arden had become most familiar with over the course of the weeks. "Yeah," she said and started guiding Blaziken down a rock path to the golden sea.

And that's a wrap. I really wanted to upload earlier, but yeah….life. I hope I didn't disappoint!