Chapter 2 – Across the Fiord
The peninsula that comprises southeastern Yanpei is home to some of the continent’s most stunning locales. Along a small outcropping on its western coast is a burgeoning community that began to form after rich deposits of metals used to make poké (specifically copper and nickel) were found beneath some of the local mountains.
Though stunning in their own right the true appeal, if you ask me, are the fiords that form the coastline. No place captures the harmony between land, sea and sky quite like this. Even as I write, I am seized by the awe of the Cloudburst Ranges on an overcast day.
To call it a true wonder of the world – a title I do not give away lightly – would be a terrible understatement. I am certain that the settlement will prosper within my lifetime.
—Dragonite Stormsong on Metemall Village
Bellatrix had numbed herself to the passage of time. Though her tears were long dried she had not stopped shaking, her head remaining in her paws. She had remained like that for hours, refusing to move even when the skies were being painted by dawn.
What would happen to her now? She was somewhere completely unknown to her, stuck in an unfamiliar body with no way to retrace her steps. She had the strong suspicion that she wouldn’t be able to stay in this building for long, but where could she go? Were there humans here or were there only pokémon? The primitive room she was in indicated the latter and she was pretty sure that she had been snatched up by other pokémon, but on the off-chance that it was the former she would need to find a means to communicate—
There was a knock on the door, cutting off Bellatrix’s ruminations. A heavy moment of silence passed before a feminine voice chimed out from the other side.
“Good morning, Zorua! I hope you found yourself a goodnight’s rest. I’m just popping in for a quick check up to see if you’re doing better.”
Bellatrix’s only response was further silence, turning away so that her back would face the door, not that it mattered seeing that the door creaked open seconds later.
“Now, now, I’m sure you’re afraid and disoriented,” the voice assured in a calming tone. “It’s only natural after a teleportation incident, but there’s no need to worry. You’re in good hands.”
Bellatrix refused to look at whoever was talking to her like a child. Yet despite herself, she could not stop the instinctive flick of an ear when teleporting was mentioned. It did explain how she ended up back on dry land despite sinking into deep water and the unfamiliarity of the place but then… Who was responsible? She may as well take the opportunity to learn more.
Unwilling to budge, Bellatrix asked, “Where am I?”
She shuddered at the sound of her voice. It was several pitches too high and far softer than she would have liked. In response to her surprise and discomfort, Bellatrix felt the ends of her ruff and mane stir in a non-existent wind. She was going to need time to get used to that.
The intruder didn’t seem to notice, instead sitting herself down in front of Bellatrix.
“Well dear,” the indeedee – if Bellatrix wasn’t mistaken – began. “This accident of yours has brought you right in the middle of Metemall Town. Not to worry though! Given the nature of such incidents, you shouldn’t have landed too far from home. As long as you tell us where you came from, returning home shouldn’t be a problem.”
Where she came from? How was Bellatrix supposed to answer that? Even if she could remember, she couldn’t just go home like this. That led directly into her next problem. How on earth was she supposed to tell anyone that she was actually human without looking like a madwoman? She doubted that there was any real way to prove it, at least not right now. She refocused on the initial question. No point in being dishonest so…
“I don’t remember.”
“Don’t remember?” Indeedee chatoted back, a shadow of concern passed over her expression. “Like you don’t remember where you were when it happened? Were you out in the Wilds? What were you doing out there?”
“No.” Bellatrix’s tail twitched. Was she dense? “I mean I don’t remember. Anything.”
Indeedee’s concern shifted to bafflement. “I’ve never heard of any cases of amnesia occurring as a result of teleportation,” she muttered. “Outside of some disorientation, the effects are purely physical, though it seems that you came through fully intact.”
Bellatrix let out a bitter snort. “Lucky me,” she deadpanned.
“Yes, well, can you at least remember what you were doing the moment you teleported?”
“Drowning.”
Indeedee frowned. “Anything else? The identity of the teleporter? The local environment? Anything will help to narrow things down.”
Bellatrix could hear herself growling beneath her breath. Didn’t she hear a word of what she said? Irritated, she shook her head. “Some kind of shore, seeing that it’s seawater I’m covered in, but that’s all I can infer. Otherwise, I already told you. I cannot remember.”
Indeedee crossed her arms and tapped her stubby fingers against her arms. “Hm. We can try to trace the psychic-signature, but that’s not always accurate and is going to cost extra due to the procedure’s complexity. Not to mention that tracking down the culprit once we found a trace is an entirely different matter…”
The rest of Indeedee’s words didn’t register to Bellatrix. So now there was payment to worry about on top of her current predicament? Wonderful. Just wonderful.
“Are you listening, Zorua?”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Bellatrix replied dismissively, “and don’t call me that,” she added with a low growl.
She turned her back on Indeedee with a small huff. The idea that this was all just an extended nightmare had all but evaporated at the back of her mind. Though at this point, Bellatrix would have preferred death beneath the waves than being subject to whatever cruel joke this was.
“Now, there’s no need to sulk, dear,” said the psychic-type in a voice laced with false cheer. “What else am I supposed to call you beyond what you are if I don’t know your name, hm?”
I’m not— “It’s Bellatrix,” she grumbled.
There was a long pause. “That’s not like any name I’ve ever heard,” Indeedee muttered beneath her breath – something Bellatrix’s new hearing was able to pick up on. “You must have come from quite far,” she added, clearing her throat. “North too based on that coat, though I hear the far south is just as cold. Too far for that, though.”
Bellatrix could only glare back at Indeedee. By now, her thin patience was running on fumes. “You could say that,” she said coolly. Regret seized her upon seeing Indeedee’s features brighten. All Bellatrix could do was brace for another line of questioning.
“So you do remember something!” she exclaimed. “Do you have any idea where you came from then?”
Spirits, why was she so persistent? She already answered her questions. All Bellatrix wanted was to be left alone, to be spared the embarrassment of being seen in her current state yet this dense creature wouldn’t stop pestering her. She was about to snap at her to send her away but then an idea crossed her mind.
“No. I just did not recognise the name ‘Metemall’, although, if you could perhaps procure a map of the area, it might be able to jog my memory.”
Indeedee leaned back for a moment, humming in thought. “It would be possible to procure one from the local library, though that may take a couple days. In the meantime, we can continue any physical checkups and arrange for a tracing of the psychic signature. Now, about that physical…”
Without warning, Indeedee scooped Bellatrix off her paws, leaving the zorua to yip in displeasure.
“Put me down,” Bellatrix growled.
Indeedee did not. Instead, she poked around Bellatrix’s throat and jaw, causing her to flinch then cough. “Open your mouth,” she then requested. Bellatrix refused, leaving Indeedee to pry open the zorua’s jaws with an incomprehensible mutter.
Bellatrix saw red. Who was this pokémon to treat her as not only a child but a pet? She attempted to wriggle free but Indeedee had an iron grip which only tightened in response to her squirming.
“Oh, be patient for just a moment, dear,” Indeedee huffed. “The more you struggle, the longer this will take and the more uncomfortable you’ll be.” A pause. “Hmm, it’s an improvement but still heavily irritated,” she then said, letting go of Bellatrix. “I’ll need to make another soothing draught for you.”
Back on the floor, Bellatrix snarled. “Don’t ever do that again. Do I look like a wild pokémon to you?”
“How else am I supposed to check on you if you’re not going to follow basic directions?” Indeedee countered with a baffled expression.
“Don’t check on me then! I feel fine enough as is, so leave me alone!”
“I can’t do that while you’re still a patient of mine, dear,” Indeedee sighed, massaging her brow. “It may be scary and hard to understand given that you’re so young, but it’s something that will need to happen. Maybe your parents can teach you some manners once you get home.”
“I’m not a child!” Bellatrix exclaimed, outraged. “Get out and leave me alone already!” she then spat, hoping in vain that everything would just go away.
Indeedee stood up, arms crossed, a firm expression painted on her features. “You’re certainly acting like one,” she replied, voice strained by a temper on the verge of snapping. “I will be back with that draught and I want you to think long and hard about this, because your caretakers are going to hear of this. Understand?” She received a withering glare in response, which was more than enough for Indeedee. Without another word she left the room, muttering something about charging extra.
The door slammed shut with a hollow thud that left Bellatrix’s ears ringing. With little else to do, she threw herself against the floor hoping that the next time she woke up, it would be as far from this nightmare as possible. It wasn’t long before she discovered that she had many more tears to spare.
Frustration apparent in each and every step, Indeedee stormed down the stairs. Moon’s light, saying that this one was going to be difficult would have been a gross understatement. Normally, she was good at hiding any negative feelings she may have had towards her patients but this zorua was something else entirely. The zorua had been vague at best and downright unpleasant at worst, which made getting any information out of her a melmetallic feat. A psychic trace could only do so much. And that was disregarding the amnesia claims which brought in its own bevy of logistical issues.
On her way down, Indeedee passed by Naclstack, who greeted her with a stiff nod. She returned the gesture and hurried to turn the corner to reach the small supply room at the very end of the ground floor’s hall.
The room was stacked from ground to ceiling with shelves stuffed full of berries, seed and herbs containing no other furnishings beyond a small desk. A gothorita sat there overlooking a checklist of items with little acknowledgement of Indeedee’s presence, only looking up when she lightly coughed.
“Regarding our latest patient?” she hummed, taking note of Indeedee’s expression.
“Nothing but dead ends!” Indeedee replied with an exasperated huff. “Maybe you can tell me what use I’m supposed to get out of ‘she’s disrespectful and stubborn’.” She tapped her foot. “She also claims to have amnesia, which would be a first, but I’m more inclined to believe that—”
“She’s trying to hide something and is using amnesia as an excuse?” Gothorita finished with a half-hearted smile. She turned to start pulling the ingredients needed to create the prescribed soothing draught. “It’s possible, especially considering the species – Stars know that Naclstack hasn’t been pleased about her presence – but wasn’t she half-drowned when she came in? Maybe it wasn’t the teleportation but the lack of air that caused it.”
Indeedee sighed, relenting a little. “Well yes, but that leaves tracing as our only option in finding where she may have come from.”
“And you’ll be the one to do it?” Gothorita asked, keeping her attention on the shelves.
“Unless you find someone more qualified at that guild of yours, yes. You know I’d never put it on you with your… disability.”
“Mhm. Well, if I find one, I’ll let you know,” Gothorita replied in a dry tone. “But they’d be charging you for the service, which I expect would be added to the zorua’s bill. My, what an expensive little thing.”
“Expense is the least we need to worry about when it comes to her!” Indeedee retorted. She exhaled and rubbed her temples. “And not just the attitude. She’s only a child, I can’t imagine how scared or stressed she is right now.”
With a modest collection of seeds and herbs laid out on the desk, Gothorita put her hands on her hips. “It might be worth taking her out to try and jog her memory a bit. She’s likely still in shock but the extent of her memory loss can’t be too bad.”
“Oh yes, that reminds me. She asked me for a map for that very reason.” Indeedee went to gather the contents of the desk in a small satchel that had been laying on one of the shelves. “Could you do me a favour and stop by the library while I prepare the draught?”
A nod.
“Excellent. Off you go and do try to be back before noon.”
It was well past noon by the time Bellatrix, who’d been reduced to a mess of fur on the floorboards, heard the door creak open again. At the edge of her vision, beyond the tangles of her mane, she saw Indeedee carrying a small bowl in her paws, a rolled up parchment tucked beneath her underarm.
Bellatrix glared at her. “I told you to leave me alone,” she growled.
“You did, but not for how long. Besides, you’ll only get better if you’re treated, not by keeping yourself in here,” replied Indeedee with a hum. Just like she did before, she sat herself in front of Bellatrix placing the scroll beside her and the bowl in front of her. “Drink,” she said. “It’ll soothe any roughness in your throat.”
Bellatrix eyed the bowl, then Indeedee, sceptically. Her gaze attempted to turn defiant as it settled on Indeedee only to be broken by a sudden cough. The bowl was pushed closer in reply.
She didn’t want to drink it, especially not like a zorua. It smelt terrible too but Indeedee’s firm nod indicated that she didn’t have much of a choice. With a sigh and a shudder, Bellatrix leaned forwards, letting her new body and instincts take over and do the work. It was then when she realised that the liquid didn’t taste nearly as bad as it reeked.
It was far, far worse.
However, its effect was instant. It eased away at the rough scratch that lingered at the back of her throat like a balm, and that was enough for her to not spit it out. She didn’t even notice the faint tugging at the edge of her mind in the midst of her surprise.
When she finished, she noticed Indeedee was massaging a temple. Yet upon meeting Bellatrix’s gaze, she smiled plainly. Moving the now empty bowl away, Indeedee tapped the roll of paper a couple times. “The map you asked for,” she explained. “It should help with jogging your memories, but before you look over it, perhaps we can go out for some fresh air to help—”
“No!” The mere mention of such a thought was enough to bring Bellatrix up on her paws, legs shaking beneath her own weight. Go out? Like this? The idea was nothing short of shameful. As if Indeedee’s treatment hadn’t been embarrassing enough, but to be seen by an entire town? Out of the question. Snarling, she said, “I will not allow myself to be seen. Not like this.”
Indeedee looked at her dumbfounded before letting out a small chuckle. “Now, now,” she reassured in that oh-so grating voice. “A messy mane is nothing to keep yourself locked in for. It’ll do good at improving your mood and clearing your head. A good mood and clear head will make it easier for any lost memories to return to you. Besides, the view is nothing short of lovely.”
“I don’t do well in crowds,” Bellatrix snapped, turning her back on the psychic-type once again.
“Now who said anything about going to a crowded area?” Indeedee replied more firmly. “Especially after the stress you’ve been through?”
Bellatrix’s only response was a frustrated groan. By valour, Indeedee wasn’t going to give up, was she? She couldn’t stand it. Not only was she severely downplaying the grimness of her situation, Indeedee was mocking her for it. This went far beyond a ‘messy mane’, her mane was the least of her concerns. In fact, she’d vastly prefer not having one at all.
“You’ll need to leave this room eventually,” Indeedee said. “It would do you well to get more of your bearings, a map can only do so much.”
Was that a threat? Bellatrix’s ears lowered towards the sides of her head. Much as she loathed to admit it, there was a kernel of truth to what Indeedee was saying. She couldn’t be ‘treated’ forever and she certainly didn’t want to be under Indeedee’s care for longer than she needed to be. She just hated how the issue was constantly being brought to the forefront of her mind, especially regarding payment.
Then again, doing nothing on the floor was not exactly the most appealing of alternatives either.
“Fine,” she relented, already attempting to justify the reasoning to herself. “But only if you ensure that no one will see me.”
Indeedee clasped her hands together. “Very good! Come on now.”
As Bellatrix stood herself up again and took her first unsupported steps, it dawned on her how weak she felt. Beyond the persistent aches that rippled through her entire body, her body felt as if it was made with fragility in mind, like she would shatter in even the lightest of breezes. It felt so pathetic, a word that screamed at her like a howling wind.
She looked back at Indeedee, who stood a head and a half taller than her, seething over the flicker of pity she saw in her eyes.
Indeedee paid her no notice as she walked towards the door. She beckoned at Bellatrix to follow.
The unfamiliarity of Bellatrix’s new form caused her to stumble, tripping over her extra pair of legs. forcing her into a slow, awkward shuffle. Little as she could remember, Bellatrix was certain that she’d moved faster as an elderly woman.
“Take as long as you need,” Indeedee reassured. “You’ll regain your strength in no time.”
Bellatrix didn’t believe it. With a defiant growl, she began to focus solely on her steps, attempting to find a rhythm within them.
After a few moments, Bellatrix made it through the doorway. Wooden halls of the same, rough make as the room extended from both the left and the right of the door frame. The halls lacked any decoration beyond the wood grain and a few potted plants. The right side ended with a windowed wall after a few metres, while the left continued around a corner and into a stairway. At the bottom of the stairs, Bellatrix spotted a gothorita crouched behind a desk, organising the contents of several opened drawers. Light filtered through the building’s entrance, causing her to shudder.
Bellatrix stared at the gothorita for a moment before ripping her gaze away to draw less attention to herself. “Are there only pokémon around here?” she muttered to herself.
Indeedee, having heard what she just said, chuckled. Like Bellatrix had just asked if the sky was blue. “Well, of course! What kind of question is that?”
Bellatrix flinched, then her heart sank. “I guess I heard of places that had more than just pokémon living there.” She was left to wonder if Indeedee even knew what a human was.
“Well, who knows?” Indeedee sang. “It’s a vast world out there, for all I know, the Ancients might still be out there somewhere. Anyway” – she gestured to another hall behind the front desk – “come this way. It’ll be much quieter than going out the front.”
From there, the two pokémon walked through the hallway in silence that was only disrupted by the sound of Bellatrix’s claws tapping against the floor. The lack of windows here left the hall in darkness, shrouding the atmosphere in a deep, familiar loneliness. For a moment, Bellatrix almost felt comfortable – a moment that was cut short by the creaking of an unoiled door, the opening of which flooded the corridor with light.
Bellatrix was greeted by the sight of a towering back alley shaped by rudimentary buildings. She might’ve almost been impressed had it not been devoid of the sophistication of human make. The narrow street winded around buildings that seemed to have no sense of care regarding their placement; some were too close together, others too far apart and the paths left by them seemed to branch off into dead ends. Bellatrix swore that she had fallen into a crude parody of the world.
“From a small village, I take it,” asked Indeedee, interrupting Bellatrix’s train of thought.
“I don’t know,” Bellatrix huffed, beginning to pant in the afternoon heat. “But I doubt that it was this inelegant.”
“Inelegant?” Indeedee repeated. “The abundance of rich metals makes this one of the grandest locales in all of Yanpei. I’d certainly love to know where you might have come from if this is inelegant to you.”
Like I’d tell you, Bellatrix thought though another twinge of worry flitted through her mind. Just like Metemall, the name ‘Yanpei’ was unfamiliar. Just where was she? “And ‘Yanpei’ is?” she asked, expecting the answer to be that of an island or remote region.
Indeedee shot Bellatrix a bewildered look. “You cannot tell me that you don’t know the name of the continent you’re standing on.”
Instead, Bellatrix made herself take the role of a fool again. Fantastic.
Fur bristling, she shook her head. “I’m still a bit disoriented,” she said stiffly. “I’m sure it’ll come back to me once I get a proper look at that map you gave me.” A map that she should have been looking at now instead of being forced to play along to the whims of this insufferable ‘medic’.
Indeedee nodded but didn’t say anything more, leaving the two to continue their trek in silence. At their pace, they were certain to not be back at the clinic by sunset.
As they walked, the narrow, cobbled together streets widened, vanishing into open air and grassy fields. It wasn’t long before they were surrounded by hills that rolled towards the horizon, welcoming anyone to climb their verdant slopes.
A crisp breeze ruffled Bellatrix’s fur as they ascended, providing a much needed respite from the heat she’d been subjected to during their walk. Indeedee stopped the moment she reached the top and once Bellatrix arrived herself, she was greeted with the sight of the sea, glittering in the afternoon light, weaving between the steep peaks and cliffs of a great fiord. The breeze, still modest, was now underscored with a salty after-taste filled with the nostalgia of a time beyond the reaches of her memory.
For just a moment, Bellatrix forgot about her worries, enraptured by the view.
Seeming to take note of her reaction, Indeedee asked, “Beautiful isn’t it? Those are the Cloudburst Ranges, one of Metemall’s many prides and joys.” She put her hands on her hips. “It’s even spectacular on an overcast day as the clouds will cascade down the sides, stopping just above the water. I can take you out again on a cloudy day if you want to see it—”
Bellatrix was hardly listening. She wanted to savour this moment for just a while longer. However, as she looked, she noticed something flicker in the corner of her eye. Curious, she focused and then, she noticed it for the first time.
Standing on the edge of a distant cliff was a shadowy figure, gangly and elongated. Most details were lost within its wispy form that wavered in the wind, its only distinguishing features being four legs, a neck, and a pair of burning, white eyes that stared at her with what Bellatrix could only describe as overwhelming hatred.
Its presence felt unnatural. Impossible. Yet as she stared, the horrid seed of familiarity bloomed within her. Gaze fixed and breath unsteady, Bellatrix backed away. In response, the shadow tilted what appeared to be its head.
Bellatrix nearly screamed.
“Hm? What are you looking at?” asked Indeedee, her voice muffled by Bellatrix's rising panic.
It was just enough to break Bellatrix out of her trance, her attention tearing itself away from the shadow and back onto Indeedee.
“I think there’s something—” she looked back to where the entity had been, only to realise that it had vanished like it had never been there to begin with. Shock became confusion as she wondered what that thing even was. A figment of her imagination produced by exhaustion? That’s what she wanted to latch onto, then she could forget about it entirely; but that didn’t explain the sense of familiarity or the sheer dread she felt from the sight of it.
Bellatrix stared at the ground, trembling.
“N-nevermind. It’s nothing,” she answered.
