I could hear their screaming. The world fell apart around us, buildings crumbling beneath water pressure and the collision of flooded vehicles. The skies were raging with thunder and lighting, tearing apart all that it came into contact with, and I found myself as liquid made its way into my throat. My arms flailed wildly beneath the surface, body sinking deeper into the abyss of the river. The rain was so intense and uncontrollable, and somewhere in the distance a large monster was rampaging about.
I had only seen a glimpse of it before I was knocked down into the watery depths below, but it wasn't pleasant. It was horrifying. What made things even worse was that it wasn't alone- it was fighting some kind of… dinosaur? The water was cold, but the sun was so hot. The two were counteracting each other, creating a cyclone several miles away that was destroying everything and everyone it came into contact with.
It was so scary; I had no idea what was happening. Things were the way it always was and then… suddenly this began to take place. I was just going to spend a day with my family, but now we were all going to die alongside the rest of those unlucky enough to have been here in this tragedy. My determination, however, wasn't going to let me go down without a fight- regardless of the fact that I lacked any decent swimming ability. I was far too stubborn.
I-I don't want to die!
My lungs were burning painfully, both from lack of oxygen and the pain of having water drift inside. I needed to cough it out so bad, but I couldn't breathe. I was still so far beneath the surface, trapped inside the raging river. That monstrous whale demon was swimming about, eyes and skin glowing incredible colors. If I wasn't about to be killed by it I might have said it was beautiful.
Suddenly a pair of arms snaked around me and I turned, seeing a familiar face, and the urge to sob increased. She was here- my older sister. I'm so scared… but she's here. Thank gods. She's still alive. My weak fingers grabbed onto her shoulders and the woman kicked her legs, swimming up as best as she could and avoiding the debris. The world around me was starting to go to black and I knew I wouldn't be able to hold my breath for much longer. My skull was throbbing so painfully- my eyes felt as if they were going to pop out of my skull. It really hurt.
My sister pushed me up to the surface and I gasped, coughing and hugging her tight, desperately inhaling oxygen. I was so dazed. Once I regained enough focus I blinked and looked through the darkness, watching as the storm grew closer. The waves were so crazy- we were holding onto each other for dear life. Cars and buildings, animals and people… they were all drifting around us. Some dead, others struggling to survive. It was nightmare.
And above it all, coming from the sky, was a dragon heading straight towards the two monsters. Ahead of it was a large swirling mass of darkness… presumably where these creatures came from. A horrifying roar resounded through the air and the lightning grew stronger, and then I saw a flash of something green. The water around us rose up into a huge tidal wave and we screamed, clinging tight as we were sent soaring through the air.
Were we really going to die like this?
I hadn't even turned twenty yet.
…
It was so cold.
My body felt so numb and I could hardly move. I wheezed and struggled to sit up, a voice calling out and trying to catch my attention. Shivering and sneezing, a pair of warm hands grabbed at my shoulders and rolled me onto my back. Too dazed to make out what was being said by the stranger, the most I could do was open my tired eyes to look at them. It felt almost as if I was waking from a very bad dream.
A young boy was staring down at me, probably around ten years of age. His entire face was covered in dirt, bright cerulean eyes wide with concern. His hands were cut and muddy, and his orange shirt was just as nasty. He looked as if he had dived into a landslide or played in some sort of cave. The backpack he was carrying was filled to the brim. And, more importantly, he was alive.
Alive…?
Wait, where was I? These buildings… they looked as if they were in one piece. There was no rain or scorching sun either; it was a normal day, the moon rising as night began to happen. Shadows casted alongside the ground and the lamps on the street were turned on, several lights inside houses showing that people were still awake. It was so quiet and peaceful, and… eerie. Why did this feel so wrong?
I'm scared.
I sniffled and brought a hand up to my face, pausing when I saw how tiny my fingers were. Even more than that my clothes were… far too big for my body, covered in water and weighing me down. My hair was long and soaking wet, draping against the ground as it fell to my knees, and the boy beside me somehow seemed older than I was.
Was he older than me? What age am I? I don't… remember. Did I ever know?
My head hurts.
What is with that weird creature flying beside him…?
"Easy, Beldum. Don't scare her."
Huh?
My head whirled around, startled upon hearing that. His words made sense to me now. "B-Bel… dum?" Such a strange name. "That's… Beldum?"
It was a metallic animal without wings, floating by unknown means with a single red eye staring me down. Seeing it seemed to try and jumpstart something in my memory, causing my heart to leap from my ribcage and sending panic straight through me. I couldn't recall the exact details of how I got here, but I knew that it involved a terrible disaster. With destruction and water, and monsters the size of… of…
My hands pressed against my skull, fear taking over.
No. No, I'm not going to remember. I don't want to remember. It's so cold and dark! Everything was collapsing, the world itself was drowning! I couldn't escape, I-I couldn't breathe, I couldn't… do anything. There was only destruction. A-And this place is… unbothered. How? I tried to calm down and focus on what was around, peering through my fingers and looking around with bleary vision.
"Wh… Where are we?" I choked out, furiously wiping at what I wasn't sure was tears or water droplets. "What's… going on?"
"You don't know?" The boy asked, frowning. "You're in Rustboro City. I don't recognize you at all… where are you from?"
"I… I don't…"
"You're soaking wet, too! Did you fall in water on your way here? Where are your parents?"
Too many questions. It hurts. My brain can't… keep up. Aaagh! Stop! Stop it!
I hunched over, curling into a ball with my fingers twisting into my hair. My skull was throbbing painfully as a result. Thinking hurt so much; my brain felt like it was going to explode. There was so much information I was trying to recall, yet I was avoiding it all the same. I felt so dizzy. The boy's eyes widened and he reached out, grabbing my shoulders before I could fall over.
"A-Are you okay? What's wrong?"
I didn't answer. Beldum floated around for a moment before nearing me, red eye shifting in its concern. At that moment a young woman suddenly walked out the doors of a nearby building, blue eyes narrowed in frustration. "Just what is with all this commotion? Don't you know we have patients resting inside? Don't go yelling when it's this time of evening-oh!" She stopped, alarmed by the sight of us. "My goodness, what happened to you two? Are you both alright?"
"I'm okay, Nurse Joy." The boy said, eyebrows furrowed. "But… I think she's hurt."
The woman stepped forward, kneeling beside us and reaching a hand out. I flinched away, but she stubbornly pulled me back and rested her hand against my face. She was so warm it almost burned. "Your skin is like ice! Little girl, what happened to you? Where are your parents?"
"I-I don't…" I hiccuped, coughing painfully into my shoulder. Honestly seemed like the best policy and I had no reason to lie to these people. I was genuinely lost. "I don't… know…"
"This is not good at all. Here, come with me." I was unable to protest or fight back when she scooped me up into her arms, carrying me into the building like the small child I was. "We'll have you fixed up in no time. We know how to care for more than just pōkemon, so don't worry!"
A child… is that what I am? It feels strangely incorrect and yet… I somehow know it to be true. I could have sworn I was taller. I watched from over the nurse's shoulder as the outside vanished from view, blocked by a pair of doors, the young boy following behind closely. She began to call out for some medical supplies, reaching out to the other nurses that were inside. Nurse Joy told the boy to wait in the lobby until all the tests were done and, though clearly reluctant, he agreed.
Was this some sort of hospital? What was with all these stranger creatures; how come they're all injured? There was an especially large animal that came by to help assist Nurse Joy, big and pink- and shaped like an oval. With stubby arms and feet, and three strands of what was (supposedly) hair on each side of her head, I couldn't help but wonder if it was some funky genetic mutation of a penguin. The animal also had a small pouch on her stomach, carrying a large egg.
After setting me down on a medical bed and taking my vitals, Nurse Joy began to ask me the very same questions the boy did. My name, age, where I was from, how I got here, and why I was soaked to the bone and wearing clothes far too large for my childish stature. When my skull began to throb and the tears began to form again, building up from pain and frustration of not knowing anything, the furrow in her brows grew deeper. The concern was strong in her eyes.
"I'm gonna run some tests to make sure you haven't hurt your head, okay, sweetie? It won't hurt."
The tests were rather harmless, save for some bright lights or a tingling throughout my body. What bothered me was my own sense of unease; my limbs feeling short and out of place, and everything seeming so much bigger than what it should be to my eyes. The body I had was very obviously mine, though if I focused on myself as a whole it felt off- like it was meant to be bigger or longer. Almost as if I were having an out-of-body experience… or as if I was in the wrong body completely.
Perhaps it was the result of an overactive imagination? I was uncertain.
I wanted to believe that what I was feeling was right, but something deep inside told me it wasn't. It was too scary to try and remember what exactly occurred that brought me, as all I ever recalled was that single memory of sinking down into something cold, limbs flailing desperately in an attempt to escape. A light and then… the sound of something inhuman. Endless destruction.
A cold chill ran down my spine and I shivered, sneezing and breaking out into several more coughs. The nurse pulled the helmet off my head and sat me up, watching my teeth chatter together and body shake. "You'll catch hypothermia at this rate… let me go fetch you some clothes and a nice warm drink, okay, sweetheart? Chancey, will you look after her for me?"
The nurse disappeared shortly after that. The pink animal, whose name was clearly Chancey, tilted its head at me and let out a sad noise. It waddled forward and stopped in front of me, reaching out with its… hands… and trying to tug off the big black jean jacket I was wearing. Heavily breathing as I trembled and a bit desperate to get warm, I didn't fight and instead twisted in an attempt to help it do what it wanted. The sleeves on the shirt I was wearing was long so it made the jacket a bit difficult to get off.
My jeans dangled past my feet, so long I couldn't even see my toes. The pants hardly wanted to stay on with the belt at all. Why was I even wearing these, anyway? They looked familiar, but they were too big for me. There was no way they were actually mine. Nurse Joy came in just as Chancey was folding up the wet jacket, a pile of dry clothes in one arm and a cup in her other hand.
"Hot chocolate?" She asked with a small smile. "It'll warm you right up! I even brought you a blanket."
"Th… Th-Thank y-y-you." I stammered, struggling to speak from all the shivering. I felt both cold and burning. I hoped I wasn't running a fever. "C-C-Can I h-have a dr… drink of… th-that?"
"Yes, of course! Here." She hurried on over and held the cup out for me, not letting go even after I shakily grasped the mug with my hands. It wasn't hot, but it felt like fire to my cold skin. "Easy now. Don't hurt yourself."
Oooh, that was good. Was this hot chocolate?
I greedily chugged, stopping after a moment to try and catch my breath. I could feel the warmth of the liquid seeping down my throat into my stomach, warming me down to my very toes. It was wonderful. I sniffled, taking another sip, before Nurse Joy set the cup down on a small table nearby. She rested the dry clothes next to me on the bed. "Why don't you change into these? I picked them out from the donation bin several trainers use to place clothes that don't fit them anymore! They might be a bit big since they're typically for ten year olds and older, but it's better than what you're wearing now. You must be four or five at most… hmm."
She watched me slide off the bed and stumble, Chancey reaching out to help me catch balance. I nearly recoiled away from the creature in alarm, still not used to whatever was going on. It didn't help that I had no idea what species it was. Nurse Joy's lips tilted downwards, upset about something.
"I don't know why you were found like this… but you don't have to be scared, you know?" My eyes looked up and I blinked, trying to see through the thick strands of my wet hair, when suddenly the nurse reached out and tucked them gently behind my ears, hands cupping my face as she knelt down. Nurse Joy smiled warmly. "Nothing can hurt you in this Pōkemon Center. You have my word."
"...What's…" I hesitated, biting my lip uncertainly. Would it be alright to ask? I didn't want to bother her. "What's a… pōkemon center?"
She glanced back at the computers, mentally taking notes of the test results and questioning what was wrong with me. The scans never showed any sign of brain trauma and everything came back clean, so why was I so confused? How come I didn't know anything about this place or myself? I had the basic understanding of things and was able to function properly, yet where I was or where I came from… or even who I was… ended up being completely lost on me.
I knew about animals enough to compare Chancey to a very specific one, yet I had no idea what it actually was. Aside from all this and my growing hypothermia, I was a perfectly healthy little girl according to the tests - who was far more mature than she should be. The nurse pointed this out, having taken note of my speech patterns and understanding of everything she was telling me. She wondered if there had been something with the way I was raised or if I was some sort of special prodigy… and why I was still able to function so well despite lacking the majority of my memory. Nurse Joy wondered aloud if a pōkemon had something to do with this.
"That boy found you, right? Hoehn is full of water, so it would make sense if you fell in… but how you got out is another thing. But a wild pōkemon rescuing a human is… well… oh, but I need to explain to you what a pōkemon is, don't I?" She sighed, turning and muttering to herself as I grabbed the clothes off the bed so I could get dressed.
The shoes I had been wearing when I first woke up had long-since been discarded, alongside the socks. My jeans barely even wanted to stay on, sized for someone with a woman's body. Grabbing hold of the belt wrapped around the waistband, I held it up with one hand and wobbled on over to hide behind the bed to get changed. Animal or not, I didn't want to get undressed in front of something with a pair of eyes. It made me uncomfortable. Maybe if it was a cat or dog, but something about Chancey unnerved me. It seemed like a gentle creature, but Chancey was so smart it was freaky. That and I felt a bit disgusted by my own body for yet another reason I did not understand.
The clothes the nurse brought me were warm; a thick sweater dress and leggings. They were comfortable, but… my long hair was a nightmare. I wanted to cut it all off- regardless of whether it was wet or dry. It was familiar, yes, but in a nostalgic sort of way. A part of me felt like it wasn't this long until today. These feelings… what is the meaning to them? It disturbed me.
"They're the creatures you see around you." Nurse Joy said, typing away on her computer and waiting for me to finish changing. "They live everywhere; in the desert, in the forests, in the air, and in the water… even high up in the mountains and inside dark caves. They coexist with us humans. We call these animals pōkemon."
The word was so foreign on my tongue it was ridiculous. "Pōkemon…"
"A lot are very kind and gentle creatures, while others are wild and savage. There are a lot of people in the world that go around catching these wild Pokémon, training them to fight or raising them as a friend. If you show one kindness it's bound to show you a kindness in return." Nurse Joy then frowned, letting out heavy sigh. "Unfortunately, there also a lot of people who like to steal those innocent Pokémon and raise them for their own nefarious deeds; or worse, they sell them for a profit and enslave them as entertainment."
I tugged the leggings up by my knees so I could maneuver better, pausing only when I heard her words. My head turned, expression incredulous. I remembered seeing strange creatures on the way in here, covered in bandages and some even bleeding. "W… Were the the ones here hurt because of those people?"
Nurse Joy turned, seeing that I was fully dressed, and nodded. "A few, yes… but most are simply worn out from Trainer battles." Seeing how bothered I still looked Nurse Joy added quickly, "Most Pokémon love to battle! Some go their whole lives searching for someone to capture and train them; it's just… sad to see them get hurt when they're unable to win the fight. It's the ones that are forced against their will to battle that we should really be worried about!"
I'm… still not completely convinced that any of that is actually a good thing. "Oh…"
"Yes… tell me, do you really not know about your family? Did they go somewhere?"
I slowly shook my head. Another pained wave was sent through my skull, something seeming to strike my heart. Something told me that I definitely had one, a group of people I grew up with, but their names and faces, or even how many members it consisted of… was gone. I couldn't remember the specifics no matter how hard I tried and, believe me, I was trying. Through all the sounds of cries and screams, and the searing agony tearing through my skull, I couldn't make out so much as a voice.
Only a pair of arms that wrapped around me, as if trying to pull me to safety.
I just… need to stop. Stop thinking. Don't remember. Whatever it was that scared me so much was unknown and I was not going to deal with it. Not right now.
Chancey then waddled over to where I was, confounding me with not only its intelligence but its very attempt to… stop my tears? The pōkemon held a handkerchief in its… not-quite hands… and tried to dab my face with it. Chancey looked very upset when I asked it to stop and I wound up stuttering an apology, flinching and allowing it to continue. Despite not being literate of human speech it seemed to understand everything I was saying- even when I explained that I didn't like things near my face.
My voice sounded so wrong to my ears… I hated it. It made me dislike talking. I knew I had a high voice, but it sounded so much younger. Chancey smiled up at me and put the handkerchief in a hamper, putting my dirty clothes with it. Next thing I knew an egg was in front of my face, startling not only me… but Nurse Joy as well. "Chancey!" The pōkemon said, eyes bright and filled with kindness. "Chance!"
"Wh… What?"
"Chancey!" It held the egg out towards me again. I sniffled and looked up at the nurse, uncertain, but seeing her nod I reached out and tentatively took the item from the pōkemon. "Chancey~!"
"Th… Thank you…"
Nurse Joy walked over and rested a hand lightly on my shoulder, diverting my attention from the brilliant white egg. It was so big; I was scared I would end up breaking it. Cradling the object carefully, I allowed myself to be led out of the room into the hall where all the other injured pōkemon were.
"Goldeen, Goldeen... "
These pōkemon were so strange. They're nothing like the animals that I know. The first one resembled a fish… but had a horn? A unicorn-fish? A uni-fish? What? My gaze landed on another creature, this one resembling that of what could be a weird combination between a yellow cat and mouse. It had red fur-like blush on its cheeks. "Pika… Pikachu..."
"Gloom~!"
I flinched at that sound, seeing just how hurt the weird plant-pōkemon was. Drool dripped from its mouth and the leaves sticking out at the top of its head curled over as if wilting, the flower on top cut in multiple places. There was another creature of similar description, but much smaller and cuter, its body purple in color with multiple leaves sticking up in the air from its head.
"Oddish…"
Regardless of their appearances, the things they said sounded very similar to Chancey and how it would just repeat its name over and over. Are… Are those their names? Pikachu, Gloom, and Oddish? What happened to them? It looks like someone just went and beat them all up, or even went so far as to attack them with a lighter and burn them. Were they forced into a battle like the nurse said some were? Did they lose the fight and get hurt because of it?
Some of my emotions started to leak back in, allowing me to feel for the wounded creatures and trying to image how much pain they must be in. What event caused them all to wind up in this place? It was awful. The screams reached my ears again and I squeezed my burning eyes tightly closed, allowing Nurse Joy and Chancey to guide me.
Please, feel better soon…
I doubted they deserved any of this suffering.
When we arrived back to the lobby the boy was pacing nervously with his dirtied Beldum beside him, fingers clinging to the straps of his backpack. He stopped only when he saw us, cerulean eyes growing wide. "N-Nurse Joy! How is she!?" The boy dashed over, eyebrows knitting together. His spiky hair was all over the face. Beldum floated in the air above him, resting close to his shoulder. "I-Is she okay? Did she remember anything? Do you-"
"Not so fast, Steven."
"Hm?" I blinked, realizing quickly that was his name. He frowned, appearing greatly impatient and worried. "Your… name is Steven?"
He turned to me, reaching a hand up and scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Y-yeah… sorry for not telling you sooner. Do you remember yours?"
I didn't answer, instead lowering my head and wincing when I tried to think about it. I shook my head after a moment. The boy sighed, disappointed, lowering his hand and crossing his arms instead.
"Okay… well, I'll help you remember! A-And… is that a Chancey egg?"
Nurse Joy smiled. "It sure is! You two must be starving, so why don't you hurry to the cafeteria? I'm sure if you ask nicely the chef will cook it for you and you two young ones can share it! It's such a large egg, after all."
Steven's expression brightened, the boy clearly liking that idea. "I've never had a Chancey egg before! I heard they're delicious!" He whirled around, beaming at me. His smile was so bright it was almost blinding, the boy seeming to shine despite all the dirt he was covered in. "I'll show you around the Pōkecenter!"
"O… Oh… um, th-thank you…"
Nurse Joy giggled at the sight, apparently amused by my awkwardness. "You two have fun; just remember, curfew is at eleven. I expect you both to be in a room by then- asleep." She took on a slight motherly tone as she said that, wagging a finger at us. "I don't want to find you two playing, got that? Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to contact Social Services…"
Social Services…? Was she going to send me away? I just got here; I didn't want to leave. I liked Nurse Joy. She was so nice to me. Steven stretched his arms out and yawned, before pumping a fist in the air excitedly. "Let's go get that food! I'm so hungry right now; I could eat a whole buffet!"
"Did you not eat lunch…?"
"Hm? Uhhh, nope!" He grinned sheepishly. "I was in the caves all day and I didn't think to bring any food with me. I'm still new to this whole pōkemon trainer thing, you know?"
Ah. So that's why he was covered in dirt and bruises. That explains things. "Does Beldum like it?"
"My pōkemon?" He blinked and glanced at the floating creature, seeing the way the red eye stared back into his own blue ones. "I like to think so. He hasn't complained about it yet. He only really fends off the pōkemon that attack me while I'm trying to… do other stuff. Beldum has gotten really strong because of that though! He knows how to use take down now!" Steven smiled at me. "Maybe I can show you sometime?"
"Uh…" I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I didn't like the idea of animals hurting each other, pōkemon or otherwise, but the way he described it was self-defense. That made me feel a bit better upon hearing it, though I still worried for the creature. "Sure?"
"Alright! Oh, the cafeteria is this way." He pointed in the direction we were going to head in and began to walk. I followed after. We walked through several hallways before arriving in a large mess hall, several trainers talking and walking about, eating their dinner, and even watching television. "What do you think?"
"It's… this place is huge!"
"Yup!" He exclaimed, taking a step back and gesturing to everything. Beldum flew around him, making everything he did a bit more dramatic. "Everything is free of charge to help out trainers, but since you're just a little kid I think it'll be okay. If not I can just share with you. Nurse Joy said the chefs will cook the egg if we just ask."
Steven guided me through the area and I remained close to him, holding tight to his hand and cradling the egg close, scared of all these strangers. My mind went to all the worst possible scenarios, most of them winding up with the delicate item broken with yolk all over the floor. My head began to hurt as it tried to recall the last time I saw so many people and I flinched, trying to push those terrible memories away.
The boy squeezed my hand lightly in an attempt to comfort me, having us stand in line. "Don't worry about it, okay? It'll be fine. You got me and Beldum here."
Beldum's single red eye bore into my own brown orbs before it moved forward, letting out a happy noise as it pressed its cold-steeled face against my cheek. I almost pulled away from reflex, startled by the icy feeling of its body, but I caught myself before I could- nearly dropping the egg in the process. "Uh, h-hello?"
Steven chuckled. "I guess they like you."
"...They?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah. Beldum is nonbinary. ...You don't know what that means, do you?" He stared down at me, curious. "You're, like, four so… oh, how do I explain?"
I found myself strangely offended by this. "I know what it means."
"Explain it to me then."
What? Seriously? Here I was thinking he was nice, but he was actually a jerk- wasn't he? Rude. Questioning my honesty. Hmph. "It means Beldum is neither female nor male. There's also genderfluid, but I don't think that's what you're saying…"
Steven tilted his head, thinking about it. "...No, you're right. Yeah. I'm impressed."
I scrunched my nose up at him, gaining a laugh in response. "How old are you, anyway?"
"I'm ten. Ah- here we go! Hey, chef; I have a question!" Steven calmly explained to the cook about the egg and my situation, and I found myself reluctantly handing the item over. I didn't really trust this adult stranger, but the boy next to me seemed trustworthy enough. We quickly moved out of the line and waited for it be cooked, and there Steven grabbed our trays. He handed me one and the chef plopped the omelette down on them, along with some rice and chicken. I stood on my toes and tried to reach up to grab us utensils, but I was too short. Steven chuckled at me. "I'll get them. Here."
I pouted and carefully followed after him to a nearby booth, determined not to drop the tray or spill anything that was on it. Eating was probably the easiest thing I had to do since I woke up in this strange place called Rustboro and this omelette… was heavenly. It was the most delicious thing my taste buds could ever recall tasting. It sent a wave of calm washing over me, relaxing my nerves and filling my chest with a warmth.
I hadn't even realized how stressed I was until now. It was as if this egg was making my worries flow away, if only temporarily. Steven seemed just as happy, greedily munching on his food in as calm a manner as possible. For someone who liked to muck around in caves he certainly tried to eat in an… elegant… fashion. Is that the word for it? It was sort of amusing to watch.
From a nearby television I could hear a reporter speaking, several trainers listening closely. Having finished the egg my attention was now diverted, eyes focusing on the screen.
"-have been several reports of children going missing. All those below the age of ten should stay inside at night or remain near their parents for safety. It is believed to be the work of Team Rocket, a criminal organization. The police are doing their best to rectify this matter, but the children still have yet to be found."
That isn't good. Steven himself frowned when he heard this, turning his head. "Those people again… they're already cruel towards pōkemon, but now human kids? It's a good thing I found you when I did, huh?"
Oh. He's talking to me. "Y-yeah…"
"I repeat; any children under the age of ten must stay inside their home at night."
This is dark. I don't like it. I decided to distract myself by eating the rest of my food, ignoring the news. Steven looked at me, frowning deeply. I picked at the rice for a while before munching on it, and when we were all done eating Steven put our trays up and I followed him further into the Pōkecenter. We eventually arrived in a guest room that held two pairs of bunk-beds and a desk with a chair. There was also a small dresser next to it.
The boy set his backpack down on the floor and we both headed to the bathroom to brush our teeth. When we were done we headed back into the room and Steven stretched his arms out, yawning loudly. "I'm exhausted!" He looked at his pōkemon, blinking tiredly. "What about you, buddy?"
Beldum made a noise and flew over, landing onto the bed with a small thump. Steven laughed upon seeing that. I sat down on the bed opposite to them, resting my palms against the mattress and feeling the softness. It wasn't too hard nor too soft, and felt rather nice. But I… wasn't going to be here much longer. Nurse Joy had said she was contacting the social workers, which meant I was going to be taken away. As a small child with no obvious family member it made logical sense and there was nothing I could do about it, and yet…
"I don't like this."
"Hm?" The boy turned at that, surprised. "What do you mean? You don't like the Pōkecenter?"
"N-No, not that…" I faltered, not looking at him as I directed my attention to the pillows on the mattress. I reached out and grabbed one, hugging it tightly as I faced away from the boy. Trying to speak about my feelings was oddly difficult. "I just… don't know anything else. So I… don't like the idea of leaving this place. You and Nurse Joy…"
"...I see."
"I-I mean it's not like I like this place either; I just… don't know. Everything feels… wrong."
He stared at me, light blue eyes flickering with curiosity and concern, and he made his way over to sit next to me. I didn't react. Steven tilted his head at me contemplatively. "Why's that? Maybe your heart remembers what your home is like, so being here feels funny? Like… even though you don't have your memories, you have that feeling inside of you of what home is supposed to be."
"Maybe." I sighed. It made sense, even if it didn't make me feeling any better. I fiddled with the pillow, watching as my tiny fingers moved. I hated how small I felt; my feet didn't even touch the ground.
"And even though Social Services is gonna come pick you up tomorrow, I don't think you should be scared. They've helped out a lot of kids! You might even find your family again." He said, trying his best to cheer me up. Steven smiled encouragingly at me. "You'll be reunited, right? I don't know where I'd be without my dad helping me out all the time."
I bit down on my bottom lip, questioning what I should do. I didn't like the idea of leaving with some strangers; I'd rather stay here in this building with the two people I did find myself trusting. I only just started to relax around this boy- what if I get stuck with a bunch of terrible people? I hated bullies. Steven stared at me for a long moment before his eyes lit up, a grin forming on his face.
"Oh, I know! Hey, check this out!" He dug into one of his pockets, pulling out something that he quickly hid with his hands. The boy held it towards me, grinning widely as my attention focused on him and the object he was carrying. "Are you ready? Brace yourself for the awesomeness that is about to unfold!"
"...Okay?" I was so confused. "What is it?"
He opened his palms and I caught sight of something small and shiny. A stone colored in a brilliant shade of ice blue. I dare say it looked near identical to the boy's eyes. "Isn't it neat?" He asked, looking quite proud of his discovery. "It's called a dawn stone! I found it earlier when I was playing in the caves near Verdanturf Town!"
"It's… It's really pretty." I said, surprised. I wasn't expecting it. "It was just lying in the caves?"
"Er, well…" His face flushed and he looked away, seeming a bit embarrassed. "I-I actually like to collect rocks and stuff like that. My dad does it, too! So, it's not like I'm weird or anything…"
"I wasn't going to say you were." I said, scooting farther back on the bed and turning around so I could face him properly. Not quite knowing what to do since I was still a mess from my own situation, I gave him the best smile I could muster. "I think it's cool. Do you just collect pretty rocks like the dawn stone o-or do you… like… get fossils?"
His eyes widened and he met my gaze, excitement quickly forming on his features as he spoke up. "I love all rocks! I also love pōkemon, so I wanna get all the steel-type pōkemon there are! One day I'm gonna evolve my Beldum into a Metagross and take on the champion! Just you wait! It's gonna be great! Isn't that right, Beldum?"
The one-eyed pōkemon flew over, letting out several noises of agreement as it rested on the boy's shoulder.I watched with curiosity, seeing how the two got along so well. It didn't seem upset at all that it would have to battle others; the pōkemon was merely pleased to be able to spend time with his trainer. The boy leaned over, grinning widely.
"You know what? I was gonna show the dawn stone to my dad, but I'll give it to you!"
"H-Hah?"
"Yeah!" His blue eyes sparkled as he grabbed my wrist, forcing the stone into my palm. Any protests I had fell on deaf ears. "If you ever become a trainer like me and you end up getting a pōkemon that can't evolve, try using this! It might work. Or maybe if we ever see each other again you could show the stone to me! That way, in case I forget who you are, I'll remember right away!"
Um… okay then. That made very little sense, but it was still sweet in its own way. "Wh-What if I forget who you are?"
"You won't." He held a finger up, tapping it against the stone. "This'll remind you!"
I glanced down at the blue crystal, surprised by his confidence. Doubt still weighed heavily in my mind. "And… i-if I lose it?"
"Then just say Steven! I lost the stone when we next meet! I'll recognize you instantly! And then I can scold you for losing it." He held a fist up, smirking. "So you better not lose it, okay? Oh, we still haven't come up with a name for you yet…"
My eyes drifted down to the stone I was holding, observing it carefully. It was a little chipped, perhaps from erosion or inexperienced spelunking. He said he liked collecting rare stones, so maybe that was why he was in the caves earlier today. It was such a pretty stone, especially with the way it glimmered even in the darkness. "It's fine. I don't think I really need a name."
"What? Everyone needs a name!"
"Not me. I think I'll be okay for now." He frowned, still determined to give me a name, before the lights suddenly turned off. I jumped. "Wh-What!?"
"Curfew." Steven stood, shaking his head. "We'll come up with a name for you eventually, you know! Just wait. Anyway, I'll see you in the morning." He climbed into his bed and curled under the blankets, letting out another yawn. "Good night!"
"Uh, g-good night?" I was so confused, but I scooted farther onto the mattress and burrowed under the blankets. The stone was held tightly in my hand as I closed my eyes. "Thank you."
He made a noise of acknowledge and, though it was impossible to see, it almost sounded like he was smiling.
The next morning could have come a lot sooner than it did. All night I was tossing and turning, waking up in a cold sweat, even crying at one point because the nightmares were too much. Then I ended up panicking when the stone I was just given went missing, relaxing only when I found it under the pillow. The boy was fast asleep, waking up only when the sun rose and it was around seven o'clock. He saw me curled against the blankets, holding tight to the rock he had given me.
"What's the matter?" He asked worriedly, yawning as he rubbed the grime out of his eyes. More dirt got on his face in the process. He blinked a couple times and climbed onto the bed, placing a hand on my arm and shaking me. I did not respond, gaze intently focused on the stone in my hands and trying desperately to ignore the memories I had of the dreams. "Did you not sleep well? Nightmare? What was it about?"
Darkness. Cold and wet and suffocating, dragging me deeper and deeper down into an abyss. There were so many screams. Horrible, terrifying screams.
"...You don't want to talk about it?"
My head shook back-and-forth, eyes half lidded. The boy frowned sadly.
"Okay… well, how about we go get breakfast together? Nurse Joy hadn't said anything yet about the social workers, so…" He watched as I gradually forced my body to move, the mop that one would hair sticking all over the place and hiding my face as I sat up. I sniffled, biting my bottom lip. The boy held a hand out and I blinked, staring at it. He was smiling warmly at me. "You'll need something in your tummy before you leave with the social workers, right? There's some toothbrushes in the bathroom, so let's get cleaned up before we head out."
Holding the stone close to my chest, I reached out with my right hand and wrapped my fingers around his palm, the boy helping me out of the bed. He was acting like such an older brother; it hurt for some reason, like there should be someone else in his place, yet… it was also somehow very warm.
I held his hand all the way to the bathroom, watching him use his superior height to grab the toothbrushes and paste from the cabinets and handing me the ones I would use. He watched me, making sure I could do it myself, before getting ready. I never let go of the stone once.
"There!" He didn't bother washing his face. Being a child he clearly didn't care, but that didn't stop him from holding me up so I could reach the sink and spit out of the paste. I washed my face because I liked the feeling of being clean, even if my hair felt disgusting from being soaking wet yesterday. Unfortunately, due to how irritatingly long it was, I ended up splashing some water on it and getting myself wet again. "Aww, you aren't supposed to do that! Where's the towel?"
"M'fine." I mumbled, wiping at my face with the dry part of my sleeve. The boy didn't listen and pulled out a towel, causing me to protest when he proceeded to shove the object in my face to try and dry it off. "H-Hey! What's that for!?"
He laughed at me. "What was that? I can't hear you through the fabric!"
I made a face at him, scowling as I tried to grab at the towel, determined to do it myself. "I'm not a kid!"
"Younger than me."
"So what? I-I'm really smart… which counts. I think."
"I mean, I won't argue there." He plopped the towel on the top of my head, scrubbing and moving it around as if I were some kind of bobble-head. "But you're still four while I'm ten. Which means I gotta take care of you until the social workers show up!"
He pulled away and hung the towel up on a nearby rack, turning when he saw my cheeks puffed out in a frustrated pout. Why did he feel the need to make fun of me? I know I was small. It just bothered me greatly and I hated how everyone kept bringing up my apparent self. Did I have schizophrenia, perhaps? If I did would that have showed up on the computers after those tests Joy did? I know it involved more than hearing voices, so perhaps I was merely imagining everything that felt wrong.
Maybe even my opinions towards my appearance were mere illusions. These nightmares… how do I know if they're real? Was this entire reality a fabrication? What if I'm not truly living right now and… this was the real dream? Who am I? What is my purpose? My frustration ebbed away into an eerie calm, dread twisting inside my stomach as I questioned my very existence.
My fingers tightened around the stone in my palm and I turned my hand over, staring at the blue crystal. It felt so cool against my skin and the color shimmered so brilliantly. It was beautiful. I ran my thumb over the chipped edges, hearing the footsteps of the boy as he neared. Looking up at him, seeing the concern in his gaze, I decided that there was no way this could fake. The pain in my chest, the throbbing in my skull, and the warmth from spending time with him and Nurse Joy… were definitely real.
It was the strangeness of believing that certain things were wrong that had to be the delusion.
Without really thinking I reached out and grabbed Steven's hand, surprising him when I tried to feel for a pulse in his wrist. My tense shoulders relaxed when I felt the beating of his heart and I closed my eyes with a silent sigh, calming down greatly. After a moment I swallowed down the lump in my throat and glanced up at him, awkwardly meeting his gaze for a moment before turning away. "C… Can we go to the cafeteria now? I'm hungry…"
He blinked. A smile spread across his lips. "Yes! Of course. This way, friend! Oooh! That's what I can call you!" He started to lead me out of the bathroom and paused, looking over his shoulder happily. "I'll just call you friend for now!"
"Because…" I hesitated. "Because we're friends?"
Steven nodded. "Yup! Even Beldum likes you, so that confirms it!"
The pōkemon let out a sound of agreement, robotically calling out. "Beldum! Bel!" It floated in the air around us, almost seeming to dance. It was kind of cute. I followed Steven back through the building to the cafeteria, where this time he helped scoop out the food to put on my tray since I was too short and we didn't have another egg for the chef to cook. I stood on my toes attempting to snatch the utensils, but only really managed to grab napkins.
I kicked my legs back-and-forth at the booth, munching rather excitedly on my food. I watched in curiosity as Steven fed Beldum some kind of muffin, the steel-type pōkemon devouring it eagerly. I found myself intrigued by the pōkemon and, after asking rather nervously, the boy smiled and handed me what he called a pōkepuff. Beldum flew over and it took all I had not to flinch away when its face neared my hand.
I couldn't make out a mouth on the creature at all, but it somehow managed to eat the item regardless. How weird. "You're adorable." Its red eye twinkled and the pōkemon flew forward, pressing its cold metal front against my cheek. I was starting to figure out that this was its way of showing affection. "I, uh, like you too. Haha."
Steven laughed and told me a bit about his Beldum, then started ramble about all the different kinds of stones he found in the caves. He set them on the table next to our empty trays, pointing and explaining the properties of each one. "This is a leaf stone! It can be used to evolve certain pōkemon, like a Nuzleaf into a Shiftry! A-And this one is just an emerald, but looks how it shines! I'm gonna be a great stone collector like my dad one day. I'm gonna travel all over the world-" He extended his hands out to the sides, grinning widely. "-to Kanto and Johto! Even Kalos and Alola! I'm gonna find all the stones, take on all the champions, and become the greatest pōkemon trainer to ever live!"
I wasn't quite sure what to say to that, so I simply nodded with an awkward grin. "Good luck?"
"Thanks!" He leaned forward and grinned, eyes closed as he happily hummed. "Maybe when you're old enough to be a trainer yourself we can go travelling together! Oooh, I wonder what kind of pōkemon you'll use? I can't wait! I personally think Steel-type pōkemon are the best! Have you tried hugging Beldum? It's incredible!"
He's so excited. It was nice- being spoken about in such a way. He strongly believed that we would meet again. I fiddled with the dawn stone after hearing that suggestion, smiling a little at the thought of being able to hang out with a friend. "I… don't think I'd be able to battle, but having a pōkemon sounds nice. Travelling sounds fun."
Having a future in this place…
What a wonderful thought.
Sadly that thought was brought to a halt by a nurse with blonde hair suddenly appearing before us, her arms laced behind her back. "E-Excuse me? Are you the little girl that was found outside last night?"
I frowned, narrowing my eyes at her. "...Yeah?"
The woman let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness. The social worker has arrived! Um, the grown-ups are going to take care of you, okay?"
Oof. I did not like the way she was speaking to me. She knelt down in front of me, holding a hand out.
"So why don't you come with me, little one? I'll take you to him."
I turned to look at Steven, silently asking for his opinion. His eyebrows furrowed and he lowered his head, obviously upset about something, before he closed his eyes and nodded. "I'll come with you guys. Hold on." He packed up his stones and shoved them back into his pockets, grabbing the trays and hurriedly putting them away. I sat there at the table, waiting for him to return. I followed after him and the nurse, clinging to his shirt the entire time, unwilling to be parted so soon.
We just became friends. Did I really have to go away now?
I know I had no immediate family or home, but… did I truly need one? I just wanted to stay with these nice people. I know I have problems and I accept that fact. I just wished I could understand why I had them.
And… I understand the logic behind me having to go away; I was a small child, one that still had many years to grow up. By all means I needed to be cared for. It didn't mean I liked that I had to leave the pōkecenter with a bunch of strangers though.
Multiple people were standing in the lobby, talking and showing off their pōkemon, speaking about all the different types they were raising or if they were all the same kind of type, and even what level they were. What did that mean? How could something have a level? It wasn't a video game. I tugged on Steven's shirt, catching his attention. The boy was hugging his Beldum to his chest, a weak smile on his face as he tried to appear cheerful. "What is it, friend?"
"...What do they mean by levels?" I pointed at the trainers, mentally noting how they all appeared to be his age and/or way older. "I don't get it."
"Um, let's say that… when a pōkemon gets older it gets more powerful. It gains something called experience!" He said, brushing some dirt off of Beldum. They really needed a bath; it was kind of gross. At least he washed his hands before eating and brushed his teeth. "That experience allows it to get bigger and even evolve into something stronger! Like, Beldum! Their only around level thirteen right now, but once they hit level twenty or do something incredible to trigger an evolution they'll be a Metang!"
"Oh…" My eyebrows knitted together, brain trying to process all this. "So… it's like a measurement of power?"
"Yeah! All starter pōkemon begin at level five, so if you end up becoming a trainer you'll end up with either a Treecko, Mudkip, or Torchic! Most people go for the fire-type; it's supposed be the strongest. I think all pōkemon are strong though. Especially steel!"
"...Hm." I tilted my head at that. "Is Beldum your starter?"
"Ah… y-yeah. How did you know?"
I shrugged. "Just a guess. But how did you get them if the others aren't a Beldum?"
"That's…" Steven blinked and awkwardly looked away. There seemed to be something he wasn't telling me. "I… I guess you could say it was a present from my dad."
Wow. His father sounds pretty amazing; he likes to speak about him a lot, too. They must be quite close. "He sounds really nice."
Steven grinned. "He is! Maybe one day you can meet him. When he's not busy, I mean."
She led us over to a man standing in a corner with his arms crossed over his chest, a long tan trenchcoat draped over his form. My instincts screamed "run away" upon seeing him and his strange eyes, something cold in that golden gaze. Without realizing what I had done I had tightened my grip on Steven, stopping him from stepping forward when he saw I had come to a halt. He looked down at me in confusion, before offering an encouraging smile and grabbing hold of my hand, carrying his pōkemon with one arm. The nurse saw we had quit moving and looked down at us, smiling.
"It's okay, little girl. This man is going to help us."
You know… somehow I doubted that? His eyes looked super suspicious and he gave off this aura of… well, it doesn't really matter. I just didn't like him. I didn't particularly want to go anywhere with him either. I shook my head at her, refusing to move forward. Her expression became more stern, something in her eyes making me very uncomfortable.
"Sweetie, please. Not now. You want to find your family, don't you? To know where you came from?"
Yes, but… not with him. Something about this nurse seemed very off as well. It was hard to tell from this angle, but when she leaned over I could make out the color black from beneath her nurse uniform. Her shoes were also very different compared to the nurses working here. They were white-and-red boots, while the others typically wore white mary-jane flats.
My lips curled back and I ground my teeth together, trying to bite back the urge to shout out my thoughts. My desire to stay here. I didn't want to get in an argument, so I lowered my head and allowed my hair to fall in my face, and the suspicious nurse reached over and placed a hand on my head. She pat it a little roughly, so unlike Nurse Joy's gentle touch.
"There's nothing to fear… I promise. Rustburo's Social Services are trustworthy."
So why don't I trust you?
Still… these were adults. What did I even know? I glanced up at Steven and he smiled reassuringly, though he seemed strangely as unsettled as I was. He eyed the two for a moment before releasing my hand. Beldum flew up in the air and I blinked, eyes growing wide when the boy suddenly wrapped his arms around me. "We'll always be friends, alright? Even after you find your family."
Steven pulled away and smiled, the intensity of his gaze making any and all words catch in my throat. His determined blue eyes were almost breathtaking. I held the stone tight in my hand and nodded fervently. "Y-Yeah… a-and I'll travel with you! We'll be the bestest friends ever!" I had to believe that. To hold on to this promise. I would never let go of this stone- no matter what. It'll be all I have to remember him while I'm away. "You, me, and Beldum! A-And whatever pōkemon I get when I'm older!"
"Aww, how sweet." The nurse purred, pressing a hand against her cheek. "I'm afraid it's time to go now. Come, let us head outside; I'll walk with you to the car."
"Wh-What? Already?" I was greatly upset and disappointed. I wanted to talk with my friend a little longer. Steven gave me an encouraging smile, though when I reluctantly turned away he sent a frown towards the adults. I glanced dejectedly at the boy over my shoulder as I walked towards the door, the nurse's hand stiff on my shoulder. "I'll see you later, Steven…!"
"...Y-yeah." The boy looked so unsettled by something. "See you! Don't forget about me, you hear!?"
He glanced around the room as we walked out the doors.
"Where is Nurse Joy?"
Read and review~! :3
This story will be a mix of Let's go! Eevee and ORAS/Emerald, with maybe a splash of SoulSilver here or there. Also the movies. Particularly the Mewtwo movies. Supposed to be taking place in a universe where the "villains succeed" so you'll notice certain protagonists are missing.
Edit: So apparently I had Steven say "Nuzleaf into Nuzlocke" instead of "Nuzleaf into Shiftry". Whoops. I don't think Nuzleaf wants to have that kind of life. XD So I fixed it, haha. Thanks to Kauris Azurai for pointing that out. Whoopsie daisy.