Thank you for reading the first chapter and thank you browntown747 for the review! Let me address the question I got in the reviews. Laventon was famous for the creation of the pokeball rather than his events in Legends: Arceus, so it can make sense for those events to happen in the past without Akari being known since he invented the pokeball before Akari came around. If Akari were to do something like write a detailed report on Laventon bringing up things that were unrecorded in history, then maybe some eyebrows might be raised.
Also begging for me to continue fics will only put me off doing them more. Please keep that in mind.
Chapter 2: Realization
It didn't take long for Nemona to have the girl in her bed and tucked in.
"Jeez, you're hot," Nemona muttered as she felt her forehead. She went over to the fridge and grabbed an ice pack before going back to her impromptu patient and placing it on her head. "We'll get you better in no time, alright?"
Nemona stood up to get a thermometer when there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?!" Nemona called.
"It's me," Dr. Clavell replied. Nemona bounded over and opened the door to see the professor standing on the front porch with a frown.
"Thank you for coming, Professor," Nemona nodded to the older man and made her way over to the woman's room. "This way."
"I see," Dr. Clavell looked at the girl before turning to Nemona. "In light of current circumstances, we shall put your hold on your extra credit until your… guest is properly situated."
"Ugh…" A third voice caught the two's attention. They turned to see the mystery girl opening her eyes.
"Oh, you're awake!" Nemona smiled as the woman turned her head and instantly shot up and glared at the two.
"Where am I?" The girl asked with narrowed eyes, looking back and forth between Nemona and Dr. Clavell. "Who are you?"
"Uh…" Nemona eyed the ice pack that was flung across the room. Looks like she didn't need it, after all. "My name is Nemona. I found you on the beach. You were unconscious so I took you home."
"My name is Dr. Clavell and I am the director of the Naranja academy," Dr. Clavell explained as he pushed up his glasses.
"Naranja Academy…" The girl looked at the professor with a confused look. "Where am I?"
"You're in the Paleda region," Dr. Clavell answered.
"Paleda…" The girl looked at her hands. They were shaking. "Not again…"
"A-are you okay?" Nemona held a hand out towards the woman, but she was in her own world.
"Damn it…" The girl's voice shook as she started to sob. "Damn you…"
Nemona looked at Dr. Clavell who stared back. She turned back to the girl and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as she cried, muttering words Nemona could not understand.
They stayed like that for a while.
"I-I'm sorry you had to see that," The girl sniffed. She cried for about half an hour, but it seemed that her sobs were subsiding. "My name is Akari."
"It's nice to meet you, Akari," Although Nemona had questions, she felt it wasn't the time. "Are… are you okay?"
"I… I don't know," Akari shook her head. "I guess you could say I was subject to a cruel twist of fate."
"I see," Dr. Clavell said. There was obviously a lot unsaid, but it made sense for Akari not to trust them. "Arceus works in mysterious ways."
Akari flinched at Dr. Clavell's statement before looking up at him with a sad smile. "Yes, I suppose he does."
"Now Akari, can you tell me where you're from?" Dr. Clavell asked.
"I… I'm from Jubilife Village in the Husui region," Akari replied.
"Hisui? I've never heard of that region," Dr. Clavell replied and rubbed his chin. "Perhaps you mean Jubilife City in the Sinnoh region?"
"Sinnoh?" Akari asked, her eyes widened. She paused before shaking her head. "If that's the case… I don't think I can make my way back home."
"What do you mean?" Nemona interjected.
"I… I'm not too sure, but I don't want to talk about it right now," Akari shook her head. Nemona remembered Akari's outburst and backed off.
"Well, if you don't have a home, then perhaps you can become a student and Naranja," Dr. Clavell suggested.
"You can do that?!" Nemona turned to look at the professor.
"Of course," Dr. Clavell replied. "Naranja has an outreach program for orphans and children in similar unfortunate situations. I can see to it that Akari is situated."
"I… thank you, Dr. Clavell," Akari looked up at the elderly man. "I'll be sure to repay your kindness in any way I can."
"If that is so, please repay me by working hard in your studies," Dr. Clavell said. "Oh, that reminds me. It won't do for a student of my academy to be attending without a Pokemon. Can you stand?"
"Well, I have—" Akari looked at her belt before frowning and muttering something under her breath. "Thank you, Doctor. I can stand just fine."
"Wait—!" Before Nemona could say anything else, Akari stood up and stretched. Nemona closed her mouth and let Dr. Calvell led the two teenagers outside.
"Here are the three pokemon I have for you," Dr. Clavell threw three pokeballs to the ground, revealing three small Pokemon.
"Here we have Sprigatito, the Grass Cat Pokemon, Fuecoco, the Fire Croc Pokemon, and Quaxly, the Duckling Pokemon," Dr. Clavell introduced the Pokemon. Akari smiled as they looked up at the trio of humans with wondrous eyes.
Reminds me of those three… Akari thought to herself. Cyndaquil, Oshawatt, and Rowlet were all cute, but something in her heart drew her towards Cyndaquil.
I wonder where it is right now, Akari thought to herself. Was Typhlosion released to the wild? Or did Arceus place it somewhere?
"Now, you two should go on a walk with these Pokemon and see which one you would like to take," Dr. Clavell said while pushing up his glasses. "I shall meet you back here."
"C'mon Akari, let's go!" Nemona ran off, Quaxly and Fuecoco following. Akari looked down to see Sprigatito pawing at her leg and mewling up at her.
"Oh? You're waiting for me?" Akari asked. The Pokemon just nodded in response.
"Alright then, let's go," Akari said and the two headed off in Nemona's direction.
While Nemona followed Quaxly and Fuecoco wherever they went, Akari strolled down the path, taking in the new sights. Paleda was definitely… different.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She asked the small cat. Sprigatito mewled an affirmation and hopped twice. "Oh, aren't you the cutest thing?"
She moved to pet Spragtito, but instead, it climbed up her arm and sat comfortably on Akari's shoulder.
"Oh, you," Akari smiled. Sprigatito was so cute… just like…
No, I shouldn't think about that right now, Akari shook her head and frowned. She already broke down in front of those two once. It would be embarrassing for it to happen a second time.
"Now, let's head back, shall we?" Akari forced a smile. Sprigatito meowed and nodded. "I'll take that as a yes."
Akari turned around and headed back to the large house she started at.
"I see Sprigatito has taken to you quite well," Dr. Clavell said as Akari stopped in front of the old man, the grass cat still on her shoulder.
"Yeah," Akari petted the cat, who purred in response.
"That is good to hear," Dr. Clavell nodded his head. "I'm assuming you'll be choosing him?"
"Looks like it," Akari gave her own nod in response.
"Good. Here's his pokeball then," Dr. Clavell handed Akari a pokeball.
Fascinating, Akari thought as she looked at the pokeball. There was no wood in the manufacturing process at all. It all seemed to be made out of some sort of material she couldn't identify. It felt similar to an apricot, but something told her it wasn't.
"Nemona is waiting for you down at the beach," Dr. Clavell turned to a set of stairs in the distance. "Walk down there and you'll see her."
"Thank you Doctor," Akari dipped her head.
"Call me Professor if you wish to address me formally," Dr. Clavell replied.
"Alright Professor," Akari nodded before making her way down the steps. Nemona was facing Akari with a smile on her face.
"Akari! Did you pick your Pokemon?!" Nemona called over. Akari smiled at her enthusiasm and jogged over.
"Yeah," Akari replied, looking at her new partner. Nothing could replace Typhlosion, but if Akari wanted to survive in this world, she would have to trust Sprigatito with her life.
"Great! Let's battle then!" Nemona said.
What?! Akari took a step back. Back in Hisui, battles were done quite sparingly. They were seen as tests of strength and dominance over each other, but it seemed Nemona treated it as a fun activity.
"Well…" Akari said apprehensively.
"Please?" Nemona stared at Akari with beady eyes.
"Ugh… I feel like such a sucker," Akari muttered to herself and turned to Sprigatito. "You up for it, buddy?"
Sprigatito mewled and hopped off, running towards the blue area on the beach.
"Yes!" Nemona cheered as she grabbed a pokeball from her belt. "Alright Quaxly! Show 'em what you're made of!"
Nemona threw the pokeball and the Duckling Pokemon appeared before them.
"She who strikes first wins!" Nemona shouted. "Quaxly, use Bubble!"
Akari's opponent opened its mouth and bubbles flew towards Akari's partner.
"Sprigatito!" Akari called in response. That was all the cat needed. Sprigatito leaped in the air, dodging the attack. He spun once and leaves flew from his tail. They exploded into small green tufts as they made contact with Quaxly.
"Damn it!" Nemona physically recoiled. Something then flew out of her shirt pocket. It looked like an Arc Phone, but it was red and black. "This isn't good… Quaxly, see if you can get up close and land a pound attack!"
The opposing Pokemon charged as Sprigatito landed, just to be hit in the back by Quaxly. Sprigatito let out a cry and bounded away.
"Scratch!" Akari waved her arm. Sprigatito then crouched down. As Quaxly ran in for another attack, Sprigatito dashed past it, scratching its wing in the process. The Quaxly cried out and stumbled.
"While it's down!" Akari exclaimed. Sprigatito spun around, more leaves shooting from his tail. As Quaxly started to get up, it was assaulted by a barrage of exploding leaves. When the smoke cleared, Quaxly was unmoving on the ground.
"That…" Nemona held her pokeball out and Quaxly receded into the small ball. Nemona then looked at Akari with a smile that made the sun look dim in comparison, "was amazing!"
Nemona ran up to Akari and grabbed her hands. "You need to tell me how you did that! You just met, but you were so in sync with your Pokemon!"
"I have some experience battling back at home," Akari frowned at the mention of Hisui. Nemona and Dr. Clavell were nice and all, but she'd give anything to be back home.
"You indeed have a lot of talent in the art of battling," The two turned to see Dr. Clavell walking towards them. "I'm sure you'll be a fine addition to our academy."
"Thank you…" Akari blushed and rubbed the back of her head.
"Now, as much as I would like to stay here, I do have a lot to do today," Dr. Clavell turned to Nemona. "Although Nemona may not look it, she is a Champion ranked trainer. I trust that she can take you to the academy safely."
"You can count on me!" Nemona smiled before recoiling as if she was struck. "What do you mean I don't look it?!"
"I wish you safe travels. We will meet again," Clavell turned and hurriedly walked away.
"Well, that's the Professor for ya," Nemona chuckled. "Now, let's get you ready to go."
"Alright," Akari said as Nemona made her way to the steps. After a few seconds went by, she sighed. Sprigatito hopped onto Akari's shoulder and licked her face a couple times.
"Thanks buddy," Akari smiled as she looked at the vast sea. This was the start of a new journey, and Akari would be damned if she didn't get some answers.