Chapter Text
They didn’t trust her.
Despite the ache pulsing through her, constantly reminding her of that rip through time, that blinding light, that sudden fall, she understood that. The wariness coming from these strange people from this foreign land.
She held her arms loosely around her middle, holding herself together. She was sure if she were to let go she would come apart, tears she held back would run freely down her face, bursting the bibarel’s dam.
The weight of the strange Arc phone tucked into her waistband suddenly reminded her of Arceus, and what it had said to her.
“Seek out all Pokémon”
How would she do that, and more importantly what would happen if she did?
Finally someone addressed her.
“We cannot just let an outsider in without earning their keep, you understand.”
She slowly nodded, gulping down the emotion that threatened to spill from her lips if she spoke. The man who had spoken shared both his gruff way of speaking and his build with an ursaring. He seemed to be in charge around here, the stern woman she had heard the Professor refer to as ‘Captain’ looked to him for answers.
“I am certain that she can help the Servey Corps in our effort for the Galaxy Team! I have never seen someone so naturally gifted in the handling of Pokémon, she helped me round up three young ones who had previously escaped me. Rei and I would have no reservations about teaching her the ropes.”, the Professor whose name she had already forgotten seemed keen to have her help him in his completion of his ‘Pokédex’, rambling to her about it as he had brought her from the beach where she woke to the daunting building she was in now.
“Perhaps if this strange rift-born can prove herself worthy to the Galaxy Team and our cause, I may grant her the permission to stay. If she is as proficient as you say she is she will certainly be useful. Not many are brave enough to face the beasts beyond our settlement, and rightly so!”, the man who reminded her of an ursaring seemed to be the one with the biggest objections to her being here.
When she had first been presented to him and the Captain, he had quizzed her relentlessly on the circumstances which had brought her here. Seeming suspicious with her answers of “I don’t know” and “I forgot” to every question he had thought to ask. He clearly didn’t believe her amnesia and felt that she was putting up a façade for some ulterior motive. What he thought that was, she couldn’t begin to guess.
With that comment, the stern woman who finally introduced herself as Captain Cyllene gave her a task and sent her out into the wilds beyond the gates.
She quickly completed the task, throwing the wooden ‘Pokéballs’ at the various Pokémon.
Strangely, although she had no recollection of ever doing such a thing, it felt oddly familiar to her. She wondered if it had something to do with her time before falling through the sky. It was like how she could recall Pokémon and their characteristics, their types and some of their favourite foods, but she couldn’t remember her name. Maybe she didn’t have one.
There seemed to be a lot of things she didn’t have.
It didn’t matter that she didn’t know her name anyways, since upon the completion of the task that would determine her survival, a name was given to her.
Commander Kamado was allowing her to stay, for now. “You have proven yourself worthy this time, but you must continue to do so. The people of this village are unsettled and nervous by your sudden appearance and continued presence, you must prove to all of us what you can offer, stranger.”
The boy, Rei and the Professor whooped in excitement, before earning stern stares from both Commander and Captain. They settled down, seeming bashful.
“Ahem, yes that is true Commander. I am sure the rift-born knows that she owes you her loyalty for your gracious gift, however the sun is beginning to set and Rei and I really should show her to her new quarters.”, said the Professor to the Commander, with his hands behind his back and looking up at him with a bowed head.
She still had yet to say more than a few words, but she felt she could see who she would be getting on with and who she may clash with. Glancing out the window, she could see that the Professor had been correct.
Suddenly, she felt the weight of the day crash into her. She felt it from her head to her toes, her lungs felt shallow and her heart sped up. She clenched her cold fists, arms never wavering from her middle. Her teeth ground together as the conversation about her continued, the Commander questioning the Professor, wondering about the validity of her tale and what it meant if what she told was the truth. They began mentioning more people, ‘Clans’, but she found she couldn’t keep up and became lost, eyes still pointed out the window but looking at nothing.
A whisper directed towards her. “Hey, are you okay?”
She looked up into the eyes of the boy her age, Rei. He looked sincerely back at her.
“I don’t think so.” She said back just as softly, with a slight upturn of her lips to hopefully get across the message that she didn’t bite.
His eyebrows became furrowed and his mouth scrunched up before he answered back, “Sorry, I don’t know why I asked that! Of course you’re not feeling the best right now, for all you know you’ve fallen through time and space! And I haven't even introduced myself. My name's Rei, I’m Professor Laventons assistant and a member of the Survey Corps, what about you?”
“What about me?”
“Yeah, what about you? What’s your name? What do people call you?”
“I don’t know”
She noticed then that the others had begun listening to their whispered conversation and she jolted, straightening her shoulders. She felt her cheeks flush red.
The Professor looked heartbroken. “Ah my girl! All this time and we haven’t even inquired your name! We must come up with something to call you, you mustn’t go forward without a name.”
“Agreed, it would be most inconvenient.”, Captain Cyllene threw in her two coins.
The Commander stayed uncharacteristically silent.
“How about… Akari!”, exclaimed Rei, eagerly looking for her approval.
“Rei! I am quite sure that she can decide such a thing for herself without you butting in!” The Professor looked worried that he had offended her, glancing quickly between her and Rei.
Akari. Akari. Akari.
It would do, she decided. After all, a roselia by any other name would smell just as sweet.
“Okay” she said quickly, before any other debate could arise over her name.
“Brilliant! Now, let's show Akari Beni’s famous potato mochi. She's gotta be starving after the day she’s had ‘cause I sure am!” Rei took her by the arm and led her outside, into the twilight. They were followed shortly after by the Professor.
Later, after listening to an excitable Rei and an eccentric Professor Laventon over some of the cook Beni’s famous and delicious mochi, Rei showed her around her new quarters.
Later, after exploring her modest new home away from home, she would finally remove her arms from around her middle.
Later, she would shake and tremble with silent sobs, mouth open in agony, salty tears streaming down her cheeks, hot and stinging her cold skin.
Later, she would miss what she couldn’t remember.