10. Opportunities

Characters: Nova, Shira, Kyle (Mentioned)

Word Count: 409

When Nova finally met Kyle's sister, she couldn't help but wonder what the hell his angle was. She was definitely old enough to take care of herself. In fact, her twin brother was out with friends that same night- no issue. But her eyes were just empty expanses of blue that portrayed nothing. Her voice and expression were lively enough, but those blank eyes. Nova knew she had seen them somewhere else, but with a spark of almost literal fire. And when the girl threw off her dull gray jacket into what she could only assume was Kyle's room, she finally understood why.

Her entire outfit was shades of white and silver, but only one detail of it caught her eye and her breath in her throat. Was that the Light Stone on a choker on her neck? Those dead eyes didn't recognize her, but they belonged to…

"I'm Shira."

She's Reshiram.

"It's nice to finally meet you."

They've met.

"Kyle has told me some…interesting stories about you. From the old days?"

She's sure that he has. Kyurem always liked to say nothing but parrot back the best stories of everyone else. Why would Kyle tell Shira these stories without their context that they happened before the reset? Otherwise, the girl might have greeted her as Dialga or asked her something about her ability. Something. Just not this. This felt wrong. Nova forced herself to say something before it got awkward.

"You probably already know, but I'm Nova," the older woman said. She extended her hand.

Shira had a firm handshake despite her waiflike frame, hinting her forgotten power.

"A historian, right?"

"That's right."

"Would you," she tried to stop her herself from saying. She did anyway. "be able to tell me about Ancient Unova?"

Nova smiled wryly. Shira was basically asking about herself. Again, she wondered what Kyle's aim was. Was this an opportunity to give Reshiram her memory back or one to introduce Shira to more people? The grey dragon wouldn't reveal himself to her for nothing, not after all this time. She knew he'd ask her for something else. But for now?

"Sure, Shira. I'd love to," Nova answered. "Maybe you can even teach me something."

Shira laughed right in her face. "Me, teach you something about what you do for a living?"

"Maybe," the older woman repeated noncommittally. "They say teachers get a greater breadth of knowledge from teaching."

"Then teach me. I must know."