Chapter 1: A Blast to the Past

Nothing. That's all that greets her when she opens her eyes, is a big fat void full of nothing.

Except, not quite. Up ahead, she could see a light, somehow both dim yet brighter than anything she had ever known.

Fear not, A presence spoke to her. I mean you no harm.

Despite the many questions running through her head, she felt no fear from this strange voice. In fact, she felt calmer than she ever had.

Or had she? For some reason, her memories felt jumbled, distorted. They were still there, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't put them together.

Welcome to my realm, located beyond both time and space. It is well that thou art here. I am that which humans call Arceus."

"Arceus?"

Although she couldn't remember why, she knew that name had some meaning to her.

Soon thou shalt find thyself in a world strange to thee…a world inhabited by wondrous creatures that humans call Pokemon.

Pokemon! Something about that word jolted her memory. She loved Pokemon, and when she turned 10 she wanted to train them to become a…a….

Seek out all Pokemon, and thou shalt find me once more…

"Wait, what?"

Before she could ask any more questions, she felt a dropping sensation, followed by darkness consuming her once more.

"My goodness! Are you alright? Oh, please be alright?"

When she came to, she found herself face to face with three unfamiliar Pokemon. One looked like a green owl, one an orange mouse, and the third a blue otter. Based on their colors, she could only presume they were Grass, Fire, and Water respectively.

"Oh, thank goodness you're alright!"

Just then, a man in a lab coat came running up.

"I was wondering what could possibly have made them come running up to her. Gratefully, she accepted his hand.

"My name is Professor Laventon, what's yours?"

She was about to respond, but for some reason she stopped herself. It wasn't that she couldn't remember her name, that was one of the few things she could fully remember. But something in the back of her mind told her that would be a mistake. That wherever she was, telling anyone her real name could be disastrous.

She needed an alias, and needed one fast. Scanning through her few vivid memories, she recalled an old story from her childhood. Of a brave young woman who saved a place she couldn't recall from great peril.

"Well?"

"Akari. You may call me Akari."

Laventon nodded.

"Well Akari, I must say you gave me quite the scare. I thought I saw something fall from the sky, but I never imagined an actual person would appear!"

The sky? Well, that would explain the falling sensation.

Before Akari could answer, Laventon's Pokemon scampered off, leaving him exasperated.

"Oh, I should've known! They're always trying to escape."

"Perhaps they just don't like you."

"Oof," Laventon cringed. "Well, be that as it may be, I've been entrusted by the Galaxy Team to look after these fellas, and I need to get them back. Could you please help?"

Akari considered her options for a minute. Whatever reason Arceus had for dropping her in this strange world, they had given her one clear goal: to catch all Pokemon. Looks like this was her first step.

"Alright."

"Thank you! The one with the fire sticker is Cyndaquil's, the one with the wave sticker is Oshawott's, and the one with the leaf sticker is Rowlett's."

Well, knowing their names certainly made things easier. Taking the Pokeballs from him, she set out on her mission.

She found Cyndaquil first, snoozing in a small patch of grass. One quick toss of the pokeball, and he was captured. Oshawott was the next to be found, splashing about in a small puddle. Just like before, a quick toss was all that was required to capture him.

Rowlett, however, was more difficult. Finding him was easy, as he had perched himself in a small tree. But unlike with his friends, he quickly broke out of the ball and flew off.

"Damn," Laventon commented. "But it's to be expected, I suppose. These Pokeballs are a relatively new invention, they won't always work."

Akari sighed, and picked up the discarded Pokeball. Luckily, Rowlett was captured this time, allowing everyone a moment of peace.

"Thank you so much for your help, but I must say you are quite strange looking."

"HEY!"

"Erm, sorry, I'm a bit too blunt for my own good sometimes. What I mean is that you don't look like anyone else I've seen around here. No one in Hisui dresses like that, not even in the Pearl or Diamond Clans."

Hisui. Pearl Clan, Diamond Clan. Somehow these words felt familiar to Akari, yet she knew they were not from her time. Perhaps her decision to adopt an alias was wise.

"I don't suppose you know anyone around here, do you? Someone you could stay with?"

"Uh…no, not really."

"I see. Then why don't I take you to Jubilife Village, where I live?"

Jubilife…why did that name sound so familiar? Did she live there? Unlikely, given how different their outfits looked. Was she from the future?

"I don't know, is that alright?"

"It'll take some convincing, but I'm sure Cyllene can be persuaded to let you stay. I do owe you for your help, anyway. Besides, it's dangerous to be out here by yourself. Those three may not be dangerous, but other wild Pokemon may not hesitate to attack."

Akari nodded in understanding.

"Alright, lead the way."

As they walked toward their destination, Akari took note of her surroundings. They were rather sparse, just a few shrubs and trees, with a few Starly fluttering about. She had to admit, it was peaceful.

At long last, they reached a large gate, where two guards stopped them.

"Laventon, what's the meaning of this? You know we don't allow outsiders."

"Especially not ones dressed so poorly."

Akari was about to retort when The Professor held her back.

"She's no mere outsider. My Pokemon escaped, and she helped me to recapture them. As such, I offered her sanctuary, since she has nowhere to go."

Akari wondered why capturing three somewhat tamed Pokemon was supposedly an impressive feat, but it did convince them to let her in, so she didn't complain. But as they stepped in through the gate, she couldn't help but notice their distrustful gaze as they passed.

Jubilife Village was a rather simple town, with the biggest building being a large one in the middle of town, with small wooden homes lining the streets alongside and across from it. A small wooden bridge crossed a creek to her right.

"I need to report to my superiors about our new guest. Why don't you wait for me at the Wallflower? It's the only canteen in Jubilife Village, you can't miss it!"

And he scurried off before Akari could ask him any further questions. With a frustrated groan, Akari set off for the building he had pointed towards.

As she made her way there, she could feel the suspicious glares on her, hear the whispers of fear. Outwardly she brushed them off, but she had to admit to herself that they did hurt.

When she found The Wallflower, she found the proprietor to be just as untrusting of her as everyone else.

"Who are you? This place is for Galaxy Team members only, get out!"

"Professor Laventon invited me, he told me to wait for him here."

"Oi, Beni! What's the problem here?"

Just then, a brown haired youth around her age approached. Akari thought he looked familiar, but she doubted it.

"Nothing, Kenneth. Just telling this outsider to get lost."

"And I told you Professor Laventon told me to wait for him here!"

"And here I am!"

As if on cue, the man himself appeared, along with a blue haired woman who made Akari uneasy for reasons she could not remember.

"Ah, I see you've met my assistant, Kenneth!"

"Please, call me Kenny."

"Akari, this is Captain Cyllene, captain of the Survey Corps. I told her of your plight in the hopes that she'd allow you to join."

"And I am," Cyllene answered. "If she passes the trial."

"Trial?"

"Tomorrow, you'll be sent into the Obsidian Fieldlands, where you'll be tasked to catch three Pokemon of my choice. If what Professor Laventon said is true, you should have no problem."

"Captain, with all due respect, you can't seriously expect a child-"

"I'll do it," Akari interrupted Kenny's rebuttal. "If the wilds of Hisui are as dangerous as The Professor said, then perhaps it'd be best if I stay here."

Cyllene nodded.

"Very well. For tonight, you may stay in that house over there. Beni will prepare you some Potato Mochi. If you're to succeed, it'd be best to partake on a full stomach."

"Thank you."

Cyllene then turned to The Professor.

"Laventon, I'm trusting her with you. If she fails, it'll be on your head."

Laventon chuckled nervously.

"Don't worry, I'm sure she'll be just fine."

Cyllene nodded, and walked away. Laventon then turned to Beni.

"Three bowls of Potato Mochi, please!"

Beni snarled, but complied. Once the Mochi was prepared, the three of them sat down at a table to eat.

"She fell out of the sky, you say?"

"I saw it with my own eyes," Professor Laventon said.

"Did it hurt? Falling from heaven like that, I mean?"

Akari rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but blush.

"No. To be honest, I didn't even know I had fallen from the sky until I woke up to those Pokemon in my face."

"Well, people don't just appear out of nowhere," Kenny pressed. "So where did you come from?"

"I…I don't really know to be honest. All of my memories got scrambled when I fell from…well, the sky apparently. I only remember my name, and some mission I was given."

"A mission?" Her companions asked curiously, to which Akari just shrugged.

"To seek out all Pokemon. Presumably once I've accomplished that I can go home."

Professor Laventon smiled.

"Well, I guess it's our duty to help you then!"

Akari returned the smile.

"I'd like that."

After dinner, Kenny walked Akari to her temporary housing.

"Thanks for walking with me, Kenny. I get the feeling that none of the people here like me, so it's nice to have some extra protection."

"Of course, Akari. And don't worry, it always takes them a while to warm up to newcomers. But if it helps, I like you."

Akkari giggled.

"It does, thank you."

At last, they reached her house, where they said goodbye.

"Good night, Kenny."

"Good night, Akari. And don't worry about tomorrow, you'll do great."

"I hope so."

With that, Akari closed the door and took in the building. It was small, but cozy, with a cot, mirror, and chest for clothes."

"Well, I guess this is my life now."

Within their personal realm, Arceus frowned. While it had been their intention to send Dawn back in time, something had gone wrong. Her memories had been scrambled, making her mission difficult. And considering the fate of the timeline rested on her succeeding…

Arceus sighed deeply. He was hoping it wouldn't come to this, but it proved to be necessary.

I'm sorry May and Ash, but it seems the world once more needs your help.

A/N: Sorry this chapter was so long, but I had a lot to get through. Don't worry, Ash and May will come in next chapter, but I needed to get Dawn/Akari set up. Yes, this is a sequel to "A Journey Like No Other", so if you haven't read that yet you might want to before you read this one. See you guys later!