Chapter Text
"Do you think he's okay?"
"Such strange garb…"
He awoke to unknown voices and a splitting headache. It felt like it took every bit of strength he had just to open his eyes. Blinding light greeted him, making him wince, but he made out two silhouettes before he had to shut his eyes again.
"I think he's coming around!"
This time, he eased his eyelids open to allow his vision to adjust naturally. Two older teenagers were hovering over him, concern and confusion evident in their expressions: a young man with striking blue hair and a blonde girl with pigtails.
"I see you're awake now," the blue-haired one said, offering his hand. "Let me help you up."
He silently took it. He still felt shaky, his balance unsteady even when brought back to his feet. Now upright, with the fog in his head slowly clearing up, he was able to get a better look at the two and their apparent companion standing off to the side, giving him quite the nasty glare. They were dressed strangely. The blue one was missing a sleeve, exposing his right arm where a peculiar mark sat on his shoulder, along with a strange blue outfit with mismatched thigh-high boots, a white cape, and a metal pauldron on his other shoulder. The blonde wore a yellow and white dress with stockings and brown boots, a hoop skirt visible underneath where the sides of the cloth split apart. The last one, the surly brunet in the back, was completely decked out in armor like a knight and…was that a lance he was holding!?
He supposed his shock was visible to them when worried glances were shared between one another. The young man cleared his throat, trying to appear amiable.
"How are you faring?" He tentatively asked.
"Still a bit of vertigo, but it should clear up," he answered, finding his voice. He smiled, saluting to them. "Thank you for your assistance!"
"Hey, it's no trouble at all! It's kinda what we do," the girl replied with a proud wink. "But what were you doing all the way out here? You're lucky no bears or wolves came to make a snack out of you while you were napping. Though I guess I can't blame you when the weather is this nice."
"…Here?" He took a moment to look around. They were in a field speckled with flowers, a lush forest just behind them. A slight breeze blew through, ruffling the hair on the sides of his face. "Where is 'here' exactly?"
The two shared another unsaid conversation with a quick glance. The man was the one who answered. "You're just outside of one of Ylisse's border towns."
He blinked. The name was not familiar in the slightest. "Ylisse?"
"You've never heard of the Halidom?"
"Can't say that I have."
"Sir, where exactly do you hail from? I've never seen clothes quite like yours before."
He had an answer, but it never came. When he searched for it, his mind came up blank. "I…don't seem to recall."
"You don't remember?" The girl gasped. "Wait, do you remember anything? Anything at all?"
He placed a hand to his chin, maneuvering his way through cloudy and hazy memories. Absolutely nothing of substance came up except a distinct feeling of having lost someone dear to him and wanting nothing more than to find them. "I remember my name and that I'm looking for someone. Not much else other than that. I can't even remember how I ended up sleeping out here."
The young man laughed. Not cruelly, but knowingly. "Well, doesn't this sound familiar?"
The blonde whispered to her companion. "Chrom, do you think maybe whatever happened to Robin happened to him too? This can't be a coincidence. Their situations are too similar."
"It's possible, Lissa. And it's definitely worth looking into since this is around the same spot we found her," the blue one, Chrom, responded. He turned back to him. "So you have no home, no family, and no gold to fall back on?"
"So it appears," he said, holding one arm out to his side and pointing the other towards the two teenagers. "But such is the track called life! I must follow it, regardless of any stops or derailments that occur along the way! I must do what I can with what's available to me to steer it back on course, wherever it may lead me!"
"Sir?"
"Emmet. Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier, my good man."
"Emmet." He nodded. "You said you were looking for someone. Do you remember who?"
"The name and the face are lost to me; but they are very dear to me and losing them was akin to losing half of who I am. The memories may be gone, but that will not stop me from finding them! 'Aim for victory', as I always say!"
Chrom's expression grew soft. "I see."
"I appreciate your kindness—Chrom and Lissa, was it?—but you needn't worry for me." He tipped his hat to them. "My partners and I will figure something out."
"Partners?" The armored knight finally spoke up, taking a threatening step forward. "You aren't alone then?"
"Of course not." He motioned to the Poké Balls—yes, that's what they were—strapped to his waist. "They're right here."
The contrast between the curiosity in the younger ones' faces and the deadly suspicion on the brunet would have been funny in any other circumstance; especially when the sharp tip of a lance was now being pointed at his jugular. "Then you're some type of summoner? What manner of foul beasts are you harboring?"
"Um, please calm down? I rather like having my head attached to my body!" Emmet could only raise his hands in surrender. A bead of nervous sweat dripped down his neck as his heart wanted to burst out of his ribcage. This guy was serious about killing him if he posed a threat. "I'm not a summoner; more of a trainer. But I assure you that my partners would never willingly harm anyone!"
"Easy there, Frederick the Wary," Chrom said, easing the blade away from Emmet's throat. "He hasn't done anything yet."
"My lord, it is my duty to—"
"To protect me and my brother from any and all suspicious persons who might cause us harm. Yeah, we know," Lissa huffed. "Not everyone is out to spill our blood, you know! Besides, I don't think Emmet here is the sinister type. Give him a chance to be trusted first before going all Freddy Bear on him."
Frederick did not look convinced in the slightest, but he pulled his weapon away—still at the ready should anything happen. Emmet let out a relieved sigh and gave a grateful smile to the two siblings.
Lissa looked eager. "So, your partners? Can we see them?"
"But of course!"
He pulled out two Poké Balls, one for each sibling. Releasing too many Pokémon at once might push Frederick over the edge and deem him (or his Pokémon) too dangerous. He'd rather not risk it. With a quick click on the central buttons, the spheres grew in size to fit comfortably in his hands. He tossed them up where they opened, beams of light launching out of them and forming bright outlines. When the light cleared, Archeops and Chandelure floated before them. Chrom and Lissa were in awe while Frederick seemed one step away from grabbing the two and forcing them behind him.
"Chrom, Lissa, Sir Frederick the Wary; meet Archeops and Chandelure!"
The two Pokémon seemed puzzled as they took in their surroundings and the new faces, both giving equally disdainful looks towards Frederick. No doubt they sensed his hostility towards Emmet and were prepared to defend him if the need arose. Chrom was the first one to break the stunned silence. He knelt before Arcehops, who landed on the ground to allow the young man to get a closer look.
"I've never seen creatures like these before," Chrom said as Archeops began nuzzling his head against the teen's hand. He laughed as the prehistoric bird began using Chrom's hand as its own personal head scratcher. "You're a friendly one, aren't you?"
"Careful with that one. He may seem like a sweetheart, but he's spoiled rotten." He gave a pointed look at the bird when it gave him an indignant squawk. "Don't give me that tone! I know how you are."
Lissa gaped as Chandelure floated around her, spinning in circles as its ghostly purple flames danced in the wind. "So, these creatures are your partners?"
"Indeed! They're called Pokémon," he answered. "Archeops was restored to life from a fossil and Chandelure has been with me since childhood. We shared the responsibility of looking after it since it was just a little Litwick, me and…"
Him and…the one he lost.
His smile faded as tears came, completely unbidden. Deep sorrow bloomed within his heart and the overwhelming sensation of loss felt choking. Chandelure cooed at him as it floated over to his side, holding one of its flames near his face to gently dry his tears.
"You remember him, don't you? It pains me more than I thought that I've forgotten who he is." He cupped the lamp Pokémon with his hands before bringing it into a hug. "If we find him, you'll let me know; won't you?"
It smiled and nodded. "Chandelure!"
"You're right. I must keep my head up to see what lies ahead. Thank you, my friend."
"You can talk to them too?" asked Lissa.
"Unfortunately no; I do not understand their language, if that's what you mean. But I can feel what's in their heart from the bond we share."
"Amazing!"
"Well, this certainly has been an enlightening day," Chrom said, resisting the urge to continue petting Archeops. "Emmet, why don't you come with us? At least until we reach the capital of Ylisstol. Not only is it becoming more dangerous to travel alone due to Plegian bandit attacks, but maybe someone who knows you or the person you're looking for might be there."
"Sounds like a plan! And I will travel at the forefront to ease your warden's concerns." He pointed off into the distance and began moving. "Alright! Check safety! Everyone smile! Follow the schedule! ALL ABOARD!"
"He sure has a funny way of speaking." Lissa held back her giggles. "But who's gonna tell him he's going the wrong way?"