RECAP: Mari and Morf are traveling from Fortree to Lilycove. Meanwhile, the villagers in the forest have grown impatient awaiting their Savior. Stanzi became worried that he would wake up too late, and woke him.

Chapter 12: Collision

"Savior!" he heard voices cry out. He opened his eyes. So many eyes, all on him. 'Who are they?'

"Savior," whispered a female in front of him. "You—you are awake!"

"Who are you?"

"We are all your brothers and sisters! I am Stanzi, we have waited for you for so long!"

He frowned. "Me? Why?"

She was perplexed. "You are our Savior, you will guide us to our brothers."

"What? I don't know who your brothers are. I don't know who you are."

She gasped and took a step back.

Someone from the others surrounding him cried out, "He does not know! We are ruined!"

His eyes widened, he took a step back.

The crowd turned to chaos. Some yelled at him, screamed for him to tell them "the way to their brothers." When he could say nothing, some howled and charged at him.

Instinct flared in his chest, and he ran.

The female called after him to stop, but who was ­she that he should trust her? Several people blocked his way, crying out to him with desperation. He estimated the distance, the power needed to get through. The decision came to him intuitively. The muscles in his legs tightened and he leapt over them. The startled look on their face paled in comparison to his own surprise. 'How am I doing this?' He landed just beyond them and ran into the forest. Nothing was familiar. Judging by the sound of their feet, his pursuers were falling behind. He dared to look behind, and missed seeing the ditch beneath the leaves. He fell; his leg made a sickening crunch. A cry of pain did not escape his lips. They could not hear his location. But he must keep going. Blood covered his leg and he staggered on, deeper into the forest, with no idea of where he was going.

He smelled water, tasted dryness on his tongue, and followed the scent. A small pool was in a clearing, out in the open. A path ran next to it. Dare he chance it? He felt as if he hadn't drunk water in years. With a glance around, he went to the water. Its coolness intoxicated him.

Mari's legs were still killing her. Riding Manectric was much faster, but she was not in shape for riding. She determined to do as much walking as possible. Morf's energy was slowly returning, and the exercise was doing her good. Growlithe was happy to run around unimpaired.

"Mari," asked the Castform, "what happened to that Shroomish?"

Mari looked at her. "Nothing, he's still in his Pokeball."

She nodded.

Mari was uncomfortable in the silence. She was carrying Growlithe and kissed the sleeping puppy's forehead. She was feeling guilty. The Shroomish had not been let out since Ghilbee used him. It wasn't his fault that Morf was allergic to his poison. Just the same, the thought of him brought back painful emotions. "Would you be comfortable around him, Morf?"

"No," she admitted. "Not at first. But it's not his fault. I would get used to it."

"I guess I would too." They rounded a corner and came to a clearing amidst the trees. There was a small lake. "Want to take a break here?"

"Sure."

They went closer. Mari saw a black figure at the water's edge. 'What is that? A Pokemon?' "Absol!" she gasped aloud. "But they're silver!"

"Huh?"

"Shh!" Mari crouched down.

"What are you doing?" Morf whispered.

"Do you know what that is?"

"An Absol?"

"Yes! A black Absol! They're usually silver! Morf, I have to catch it!"

"Don't look at me."

"I'll use Blue. I don't want to take any chances with Shroomish." She released the Manectric. "Blue! I have to catch that Pokemon!" She pointed to the drinking Pokemon.

He nodded and darted toward it. The Absol heard him approach and snarled at him. He tried to run into the forest, but Manectric was faster and blocked his way.

"Morf, do you see that? Its front leg is all bloody!"

Despite his injury, the black Absol fought back. He snapped at Manectric when he came in for a tackle, grazing Blue's shoulder.

"Blue," cried Mari, "use Spark, be gentle!"

Manectric did as he was told, but the Absol still had fight left and shot an Arial Ace at him from his head-blade. Manectric took the attack and shot another Spark, this one more powerful. Absol fell to the ground, but did not close his eyes. Using his back legs he tried to push himself into the trees.

"Oh," Mari gasped. "Manectric, stop! He can't take any more!"

Manectric didn't attack, but kept an eye on his opponent. Absol howled, and slumped over. It was done. Mari ran to the scene and threw a Pokeball at the sleeping Pokemon. He was captured. She jumped on Manectric's back and ran back to Fortree.

"Mari," Morf whispered on Manectric's back.

"What?"

"He . . . said something. Before he fainted."

"Hm?"

"He said, 'Not yet, I have to remember first.'"

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know."

From the trees Stanzi watched her Savior fall to being captured by a human. She spoke to Reiki at her side. "He did need medical attention. The humans are good with that sort of thing."

"Stanzi, are you mad? You saw what happened! The villagers went crazy when he didn't know what he is! Now he's been captured by a human! Don't tell me you still think it will work out."

"It must. We will follow them. Come!" She trotted through the trees, following their scent. Reiki followed. "Did you expect his fur to be black?" She asked him.

"No, I did not. I always imagined him with silver fur like ours. But I suppose it makes sense. Our brothers had black fur, so the Savior must be one of them."

"My thoughts exactly. But I understand why he ran. He didn't know who we are, and the way some of the other Absol reacted . . . wouldn't you run?"

Reiki chuckled. "Yes, I would. Are we going to explain to him that we aren't all mad?"

"If we get the chance, yes."

"Nurse Joy!"

"Back so soon?"

"Nurse Joy, I caught a Pokemon in the forest and he's badly injured," said Mari.

"Oh, give him to me." Joy took the Pokeball from Mari.

"I should warn you, he's a black Absol, and he wasn't at all tame."

"A black one?" Joy exclaimed. "Well, alright, you go to the waiting room."

Mari collapsed on a sofa. "Oh, Morf, I hope he's alright. A black Absol, can you imagine?"

Morf laid next to Mari, visibly weak. "I need food."

"Yes," Mari said and pushed herself up. "I'll get you something." She returned with a late lunch. After eating Morf went to sleep. Mari waited.

Joy eventually came out. "You weren't kidding when you said he wasn't tame. I haven't had a fight like that in a long time."

"What?" Mari jumped up. "Is he alright? Is everyone alright?"

She nodded. "Everyone's fine, after I sedated Absol it was easy enough. He had a broken bone. It's good you got him to me. He'll be okay, but I worry about when he wakes up. He's in restraints right now, and should stay in them."

Mari asked to see him.

Joy led her to the recovery room. The Absol was strapped to a medical bed. Mari pulled up a chair next to him, while Morf kept a good distance. Joy warned her not to get too close. He could wake up and lash out before she would have a chance to back off. Mari sat and stared at his ebony fur.

The moon peeked through the dark clouds, shedding enough light through the window to wake him. 'Where am I?' He tried to jump up, but was being held down. He lashed his legs and snapped his teeth, but could not get free. He strained and howled and pushed out his hind legs. Those binds snapped. The rest would be easy. He wriggled out and landed on a cold, hard floor. The broken leg was heavy. It was covered with something hard, but it did not hurt and was easier to walk on. He was in a constructed room, human? There was a door, but how to open one? An Arial Ace blew it open. A large pink Pokemon shrieked at him and ran off. He ran for the exit, but where was it? He saw the night sky. There was the outside. But there were also two of those Silver Absol! One was the female from before. Her eyes widened on seeing him and she rammed through the glass. The second Absol followed her.

"Savior," she said.

He bared his teeth. "Don't call me that."

She was trembling. "What would you like me to call you?"

He hadn't thought of that. 'What is my name? I must have one.' A sound came to his mind, a word. That was his name. "Vorsai."

"Vorsai, I know we didn't start off on the right foot. I only want to speak to you."

He had only a few questions. Who was he? Why has he here? Why can't he remember anything? After those where answered, he might know enough about himself to ask more.

A yell behind him. He whirled, it was that human who had attacked and kidnapped him. He turned back to the two Absol. "Stay away from me! I will figure it out myself!" He ran through glass and escaped into the forest.

Stanzi yelled to Reiki, "Follow him! We can't lose him again!"

Mari gaped after them.

Morf floated next to her. "Mari, something's going on. Those two silver ones were chasing him, and the black one said, 'I'll figure it out myself.'"

"What is going on, Morf?"

She shook her head.

"Well, I don't care what's going on. I'm not going to give up on a black Absol that fast. Besides, he might hurt himself again, and he might need help from those silver ones."

She turned on her PPD. The Pokeball had tagged Absol with a tracking device, and she was going to use it. "Come on Morf, it's only a couple hours 'til sunrise anyway."

Author's Notes: cackle Drop me a review, dearies?