this island is in SHAMBLES. i mean RUINS.

[tidaldrum]

[no. literal ruins. it is an island of ruins. mythology nuts, ruin lovers, fossil collecters............ all are welcome!

anyone is welcome, actually. why? because there's a chance of finding a fossil!!!

as well as an equal amount of chances to find things that look like a fossil but aren't. like an old amber with nothing in it. incredible.

and wouldn't you know it, but there's a fossil revival lab on this island too! it's pretty unmanned, but there's books with instructions on how to revive your very own DESTRUCTIVE DINOSAUR MONSTER.

so hey! come on! make a friend! throw your enemy into one of the ruin's dozen puzzle rooms! ffall to your doom! whatever you want!

TREASURE AND RARE POKEMON AWAIT]

Comments

[anterograded]

[Oof. If he remembered right, it's a Charmander. Cheren had told him, smartly pushing his too-big glasses up against the bridge of his four-and-a-half year old nose, that they were a rare fire-type lizard that loved to hide in the mountains of a faraway place called Kanto.]

It's all right. I don't do well with remembering things either. [An understatement, considering his condition, but -- people viewed him less differently the less he said about it. His journals always had that written in the very front, on the back of the cover.] What's a Reshiram?

[Relic noses Charmander with a curious cry before he assists his trainer in finding one of his two journals. And -- there, the filled one. Even if Hilbert's eyes have adjusted to what little light's leaking into the puzzle room, Charmander's tail flame is a very welcome source to help him read in.]

[enharmonicchord]

[And Charmander will be happy to help! She's never seen a Pokémon like Relic before, and she trails after him like a baby after her momma.]

Reshiram is one of the two legendary dragons - the other being... [He pauses in speech but not in step, and rounds the corner into the room where Hilbert and friends are. Though his eyes aren't adjusted to the light and he finds himself squinting.] Zekrom, I think it was. Reshiram stands for truth, while Zekrom stands for ideals. There's a tragic part in history about them.

[Though he doesn't really recall why he has one of them. Charmander'll leave Relic to run back over to her really tall friend, gripping onto his leg tightly. N crouches down to pet her.]

If it isn't rude of me to ask, why do you have trouble remembering things?

[anterograded]

An accident. [He thumbs through the pages, skimming them with a squint. It might be a rude habit, but reading before he meets someone in person keeps him from being even ruder when he doesn't recognize them. His voice is as preoccupied as his eyes are.] When I was little. What about you?

[He glances up at N -- frowns into the dim light, then shifts back into one of the light spots cracking through. Green hair, fast talking ... he keeps flipping through the pages of his journal.]

About not remembering much, I mean. If it's, uh, not rude to ask you the same.

[enharmonicchord]

[N shakes his head and stands, picking up the Charmander as he does so.]

No, I don't mind answering. Though it isn't much of one. [Charmander nuzzles against his chin.] I don't quite remember why I don't remember anything. Reshiram said that someone sought to hurt me and that they may still be seeking me out, seeing as we made an abrupt exit, so since that day we've been traveling from place to place in an effort to both escape that person and to jog my memory. Sorry.

[anterograded]

Reshiram... said?

[Even someone like him knew Pokémon couldn't talk. Hilbert's eyes stray to a line on the page he'd been turning, and he lays it flat instead of continuing the motion. A trainer named N came up after the speech, it reads in unfamiliar straight, precise writing. He wanted to hear the voice of Nuvema (Snivy, a small green snake creature that reminds me of a wiggly blade of grass). He talked very fast and Cheren (glasses, smart, sighs a lot; always sounds like I've eaten too many cookies from the jar) told him to slow down.]

Um... I hope I'm not wrong, but... [He knows his awkward pausing is irritating, but he can't help it; he has to choose his words and he has to choose his battles. Relic pats Hilbert's knee; it's okay.] Is your name N? Like the letter N. One line up, one diagonal to the right, and the last line up again.

[enharmonicchord]

[N doesn't seem to mind either. Though he's a tad confused about how the other knows him. Hilbert was familiar, sure, but to be known... Was something unexpected. Though he's always surprised when something like this happens.]

That's right. Have we met before? Your voice feels familiar to me, and for some reason I feel as if I know you, but I don't know for sure because of my lapse in memory.

[anterograded]

Yes. [He's sure of it. Hilbert writes down everyone he meets in his journal, and he writes down defining characteristics that'll help him point them out when they meet again. He only has a list of adjectives to help him along, and he looks through his bag to find one of his fresher notebooks. It was was he'd started just for the Island, for people and Pokémon he'd meet.

N -- tall, green hair. Talks very fast. Speaks to Pokémon. He can't remember anything before Reshiram (a legendary dragon, stands for truth). Knows me. Met in some old ruins with Relic. He had a Charmander with him.]

I'm Hilbert. [It's after a pause; he studies his writing and compares it to his other notebook; they're the same, so it's definitely his. Even if had little doubt thanks to his name written on the corner of every page...] I'm from Nuvema Town. We met in Accumula Town, a town two and a half miles up from Nuvema Town. There was a speech, and my friend Cheren was there. You wanted to hear what Nuvema - my Snivy - had to say about me, so we battled.

[It's said a lot like a laundry list -- facts he read, but didn't recall. His pencil doodles a Snivy in the margins beside his new notes of N idly.]

[enharmonicchord]

[N stares at him, registering the new information, and he feels at the edge of remembering something. Like having a word on the tip of your tongue. He knows he must be tense from the way his body's starting to ache, so he leans against the doorway and tries to clear his head.]

Did I... That's interesting to hear.

[But it's not much help. Maybe it hadn't been a Snivy - whatever that was - maybe it'd been something else, but for some reason the rest sounded right. He mouths the other's name - Hilbert - and frowns. Hilbert. Cheren's is next, then Accumula and finally Nuvema. Charmander is a welcome warmth against him.]

Thank you for telling me some, Hilbert. [Still a little strange to say, uncertain but sure at the same time.] I feel kind of bad that I can't remember you as well as you can me, even if your information must come from that book you have.

[anterograded]

[Hilbert's uncertain, too. He doesn't even have the blessing of being able to reclaim memories the way N might be able to, one day.]

It does. [Relic pushes his way beneath the hand Hilbert's drawing with, and it turns from a Snivy to a bunch of squiggles as he rubs beneath the avian's feathers.] It isn't much, but it's helpful.

[He'd have to reread the whole thing to even get a glimpse of N and feel like he knows him, just a little.]

It's more like... [He trails his fingers on the notebook's unmarred edges and sighs.] They aren't reminders. They're facts. Even if I read them, I don't know who they describe. They just show that I know someone. It makes second encounters a lot less embarrassing, that's for sure.

[...even he isn't feeling the joke behind his last words.]

[enharmonicchord]

I have something similar, though it isn't as detailed as yours. I only write in it if I remember something in order to gather my thoughts... Though I think I lost it.

[Which is problematic. He'll formally step into the room now, going to invade Hilbert's personal space as he takes a peek at the book.]

My drawing skills are not up to par with yours, for sure.

[anterograded]

[The sudden invasion of space has Hilbert scooting back almost immediately -- Relic squawks at having his cuddle session interrupted, but he moves to his trainer's side once he pauses his movement.]

Thank you --? [Yes; it's a compliment, so he tries to calm his beating heart and nod.] I mean, thank you. I have a Pokédex [a device that records the data of Pokémon; comes with pictures, audio, form changes, and more] but I've been drawing Pokémon since before the accident. It helps me "remember" them. And it's fun. I'm not as good with people though.

[Hilbert hesitates, but looks through his bag again to pull out the first notebook he'd been using; a few chunks of pages later, and he's gently sliding it towards N. It's only a messing drawing, with Shauntal written in the same neat letters as the rest of his notes are in, and Hilbert thinks it must look silly to have such clean handwriting next to a smudgy, over-erased and over-drawn picture.]

See?

[enharmonicchord]

[N isn't bothered at all by the boy's jumping, and he takes the notebook after a moment of wondering what a Pokédex could be.]

You have very nice handwriting. [N's own is pretty much chicken-scratch compared to Hilbert's, and he's careful not to let Charmander's tail flame wave around the paper too much.] A novelist... I believe I met her, once. Her style seems familiar, even if your artistic skills lie more in Pokémon than people. I wonder how I know her.

[Well. He gives the notebook back, holding Charmander loosely in his arms as he takes a step away and admires the room itself.]

It doesn't matter much now, I feel. What were you doing in here?

[anterograded]

[It's stencil writing, and it looks literally nothing like the wobbly lines he remembers doing. Hilbert tucks the notebook away again, along with the one he'd just been writing in, and stands up. Relic is quick to follow -- or quick to lead, since he darts ahead towards the puzzle on the opposite wall.]

Exploring, mostly. I found a Plume Fossil - that's what Archeops come from - and Relic found a puzzle to solve. I don't think I'm going to use it though, since I already have one...

[He kneels down to scoop it up, already aware of how silly the whole thing is, and rolls it in his hands.]

Do you want it?

[enharmonicchord]

[N sets the Charmander down, since she's eager to go solve the puzzle with Relic, and takes the fossil from Hilbert.]

So Relic, your friend there, is an Archeops? [...] No, that doesn't seem quite right, I think. I would like this though, thank you. I believe I had one before as well. Relic's cry seems as familiar to me as your name and face is, Hilbert. I think having one of my own may help me immensely.

[anterograded]

[Archeops evolves from something, but he didn't read over his adventure this morning -- he decided to just read the notebook he'd been keeping for the island and explore a little.]

He is, but he's a little small for his size. Or maybe he's big for it? He just doesn't look like the ones I usually draw. [Uh.] I'm glad that I might be helping you, though. There's a lab not too far from here if you'd like to get it now.

[...because Relic is fast getting that puzzle to work. Lines are so easy and fun to follow. See, Charmander? Just like that.]

[enharmonicchord]

[Charmander sees! Can she try, Relic? She's never seen anything like it before!]

Yes, I'd like that. Then perhaps you and Reshiram can meet as well. Charmander was quite fond of it herself.

[Because they're both Fire-types, N would assume. That much is similar between them.]

[anterograded]

[Yes, of course! He'll even lift her up to show her. Just push them around with your claws, the way he does with his feet.]

Oh, sure. [He wonders what the black dragon he's gotten hidden would say about all of this.

Probably nothing. The big guy liked sleeping, and it's probably asleep right now.] Do you think it'll like me?

[(If his journals are any indication, he's just not worthy of the legendary's time.)]

[enharmonicchord]

[Okay, okay! Like... This! She's always wanted to be an adventurer, like the other Pokémon she knew were, so the ruins are honestly a dream come true.

... Would Reshiram like Hilbert. N thinks about it, and after a moment he shrugs.]

I'm not sure. Reshiram isn't too fond of others, even in legend, except those that it decides has a strong conviction for whatever truth they have. [Whatever N's was is a mystery to all but like, the Pokémon. And Reshiram won't tell him much more than what's needed at the time.] Perhaps it will.

[anterograded]

[He doesn't remember much about ruins, but Hilbert's told him he was found in some. His fossil was. Totally cool. He used to be dead --]

I hope so. It seems like it'd be really scary being disliked by something that powerful. [There's the five year old in him. He rubs the back of his neck quietly, then collects everything to put in his bag; he takes extra time to arrange them just right too. Once he's done, he pats the side of his leg.] Relic! We're going!

[and he could totally be a zombie and eat you huh oh? Okay.]

[enharmonicchord]

[Charmander saw a big white dragon and thought it was cool looking so she asked if she could join them because she wanted to explore the ruins and N said yes and so she's been with them since like, this morning!! But otherwise she was born on one of the other islands that have a big volcano on it and her momma and poppa were letting her and her siblings run around and she saw those ruins and so she wanted to see them and that's how she got here!

Deep breathes, Charmander, deep breathes.

Wait are we going someplace?]

Yes we are, Charmander. Would you like to lead the way out?

[Sure!! Everyone follow the excitable little Charmander.]

[anterograded]

[Relic will race right after her! Look, he can fly. Jealous??

And Hilbert will follow to, his grip tight on his backpack.]

... I'm glad they get along. Relic's really friendly for a carnivorous monster that has no qualms about trying to pick apart the smaller members of my team.

[enharmonicchord]

[Way jealous!! But her mom and dad can fly too, so one day she'll be able to fly!]

Charmander seems to be naturally curious and a month or so old, I think, so I'm not surprised to see her wanting to be friends with another. She was fearless in introducing herself to us as well. [A fond smile. How old Charmander may be is only speculation on Reshiram's part, really, but N takes to it.] What other friends do you have?

[And no, he doesn't know why he refers to them as friends. It just feels right.]

[anterograded]

[If you grow up!!]

Nuvema, my Serperior; Striaton, my Simipour; Castelia, my Zoroark; and ... an egg. [And Zekrom.] I, um... I named them after where I got them. It's a little stupid, since I don't even remember them until I read my journal entries, but...

[enharmonicchord]

[I will!!! Reshiram said that they'd make sure I did! And then I'll help them out!]

What will you call your egg? What sort of Pokémon will hatch from it? May I see it? [Buzz buzz buzz!!]

[anterograded]

[Oh, good questions... Hilbert hesitates, crossing his arms. So fast!]

I don't know, I'm not really sure, and sure. [It's not on him at the moment - he doesn't have a lot of room for an egg in his bag - but it's around in the house he's planted himself in.]