[Player defeated PKMN Trainer Barry!]

Is strangely enough the last thing he remembers.

A blink later, a monkey leaps at him. Barry is wailing in despair, and Professor Rowan chuckles at the sight of them.

Lucas regains his bearings and he's on the ground, holding a creature slightly away from him in the same way one would hold a wet cat.

He looks at it and-- it's a Chimchar, cheering in excitement and clinging happily to its new owner, looking just a little beat up but not at all upset by it.

... Huh?

Lucas turns to look at the Pokemon, then at Barry-- then at Dawn and the Pokemon Professor-- is he seeing this? He rubs his eyes and-- it's still there, along with the fainted Piplup that Dawn is now using a Potion on.

"Don't sit there lookin' so baffled now, Luce. I ain't losing next time!"

He stares suspiciously at the hand that's stretched out for him. Barry frowns slightly down at him, his lips pursed in a pout.

He takes it, and stands up.

And when he looks around-- he falls silent, almost.

The burst of forestry, the wooden buildings with bush green roofs. The air is fresh here-- fresher than he's ever breathed in his life. The wind brings with it the chatter of the Kricketot and the gentle humming of the Bidoof.

"What's with you?" Barry asks, crouching down to pick up-- oh, his hat. When did it fall-- and slotting it clumsily on Lucas' head.

Then he raises his right hand and waves his hand before his friend's face. He does it twice, staring scrutinizingly at Lucas. Then he does it again.

Lucas finally turns right back to attention. Chimchar has run down to Dawn for Potion at this point, so he quickly straightens himself, readjusting his hat.

Barry sets his third fingers at his chest and gestures outward. The glare on his face hasn't eased for a second.

Despite never having learned that before, Lucas recognized the signs.

Sign Language, though he wasn't sure if it's American or Japanese or if this world even followed the modern world's system of languages-- but all that mattered was he recognized them as if he had been using them his entire life.

Open palm, thumb to his chest, he jabs twice and offers a smile. I'm fine.

Barry doesn't look convinced.

Lucas repeats the sign again.

"Is anything the matter?" Professor Rowan asks.

"Nope! Thanks so much for the Pokemon, Professor!" Barry grins, "we'll treasure them!"

And Professor Rowan nods, pleased by the enthusiasm. "Well then. If you have any other enquiries, you two can come and see me at my lab in Sandgem."

"Gotcha!" Barry responds.

Lucas tries speaking out an affirmation-- but strangely enough, the voice doesn't come. It's as if he'd forgotten how to make sounds, his mouth lays open and his throat doesn't rumble. Confusedly, he jerks out a nod.

Oh right... he can't talk.

Wait, he can't?

Professor Rowan excuses himself, and Dawn follows, making time to wave back at the two boys before she hurries on toward Sandgem, the forgotten suitcase in her hands.

"Now, you."

Barry returns Piplup and Chimchar to their Poke Balls and hands the latter back to Lucas.

"I'm fining you ten million for lying to me," Barry says, taking him by the below. "You are not fine. C'mon. We're going home and I've got honey in my fridge."

Lucas opens his mouth to say something only to remember he had no voice.

His rival catches it immediately, "now don't talk back or I'm telling your mom. And don't roll your eyes at me either!" Lucas looks away, almost pouting at the last part.

Barry drags him away, and he takes the moment to gather his thoughts a little better.

He was playing the game a second ago-- and now, he's in it. Is this a dream? 

He had Lucas' memories and everything-- but the degree of comfort he feels around Barry isn't a lie either-- it's true friendship and his heart, at least, treasures this.

But something is off.

Didn't Professor Rowan leave before the first battle with Barry? Why were they here, then? And was Barry always such an assertive guy? Sure, he was... pretty assertive, actually, but this didn't exactly happen in the game.

There's supposed to be a blackout and timeskip to when the player tells their mom about what happened-- yeah, that probably can't happen literally here.

For starters, if we're going to name differences-- this town isn't just three houses, a road, and a lake. Of course it literally isn't, the game design is just startlingly simplified-- but here it's a nice valley with a row of houses here and there, embraced by nature. 

Okay, first of all, what the fuck. 

-

Lucas finds himself sitting in Barry's house, smiling awkwardly at Barry's mom.

He sips nervously on a cup of warm honey tea as Barry himself makes a quick run out to fetch his mother two houses down. They wanted to tell the exciting experience together and Barry was more than happy to be the storyteller.

After having some time to think and letting his new memories settle into his new conscience, he  understands quite a bit now.

Firstly, he's incapable of speech. It's not like he was born mute-- that's a can of worms that opened half a dozen years ago now, and now that it's been five years without any sign of resurgence, they've moved on with hopes that it will never show up again.

And his mother is fluent in Sign Language for his sake. So was Barry and his mother.

Secondly, things were already going differently.

He's not sure what exactly made Professor Rowan stay to watch their first battle, but because Barry came with him to this point, they had the new Running Shoes, the Town Map, and their journey wishes all at once.

That's one whole starting event cut out from the Diamond-Pearl-Platinum agenda.

(Okay that's a little long. He'll have to find a shorter way to say that soon.)

Seeing as his name was Lucas and his mother is his mother, (and a wall is a wall, what else is new,) this definitely isn't the anime universe. Which means that this is the game universe, so it's at least assured that things are not going to be cookie-cutter. 

Which is a relief. 

He can't for the life of him care about the important details of a Pokemon game right now. 

He's kinda supposed to be going through a traumatic 'oh no what am I going to do about my past life and everything I left behind' phase, except he isn't in the mood right now and he has his new muteness to brood over internally. 

"Alright! I'm gonna go pack up! Then we're gonna get going!" Barry declares, clearly excited. "Luce! Meet me at the tall grass, alright? I'll fine you if you're late!"

Ah thank you Barry. Let's add item number three to the list: Barry seems to vehemently refuse to call him Lucas.

And while we're on it, let's add item number four: his name is Lucas and he's not much of a fan. Well, to begin with, he wasn't exactly a-- nah, that doesn't matter now.

'Luce' is fine, he guesses. Retains the meaning of the name to match with Dawn, it's pretty gender-neutral, and Barry already uses it.

"Lucas? Lucas?"

He blinks back to attention. His mother chuckles and signs 'hurry' with one hand.

"Barry's going to come down any second now."

Ah, right. Signing a curt thank you to the two ladies in the room, he dashes out the door, cradling his hat to his head.

He makes it back home in a flash, retrieving the travelling bag he'd packed with Barry all those weeks ago when they just couldn't wait for their birthdays to come and pass.

They'd agreed to start together, after all. Or at least Lucas did. 

So 'Lucas' had waited two extra months for Barry's birthday so they could take their first step into the tall grass with each other. Today was finally the day and no one could stop Barry now.

He had been excited, too. Just patient, and he knows how to savour his prizes. And now, even with this new consciousness in his head, he doesn't mind.

(He doesn't feel like he isn't Lucas, and the shock is suppressed by all the other factors involved in the situation. Maybe it's also because he can't remember much of the person he once was.)

He thinks he'll enjoy this adventure until it's over.

(Because why not, really.)

He snatches up a notepad and a pen too, along with his Journal. He makes sure to write down the first four points of note in his journal before tucking it into his bag, and stuffed the notepad into his pocket.

Then he hooks on his shoes and he's off.

Barry meets him at the tall grass and he's wearing his scarf, matching with Luce in all but colour. Luce had memories of being self-conscious when he first needed to wear one, but the memories grow fond when Barry, all of seven, angrily demanded he needed to have a scarf to match Luce's. They always had it together, no matter the season, because it was just their thing.

They wave one final goodbye to their mothers, the last they'll have in a long while, really, and then, they head off to Route 201.

"Too slow! What took you so long?!" 

Barry whines at him, though Luce smiles, knowing that Barry really hadn't waited that long at all. He was just an incredibly impatient sort. Luce and Lucas were slow and steady guys, and Barry was already used to that habit. 

"So anyways, I had this great idea. Listen, OK? Know the lake we always play at? Uh. Rarity?"

'Verity?' Luce fingerspells the name, signing for 'truth' out to remind him of the meaning.

"Blarity, Smerity, yeah," he rolls his eyes, "so so so anyways, they always say there's this legendary Pokemon there! And I was thinking--"

Luce stops him, signing in interruption, 'catch it?'

"Yep!" the way Barry just lights up at the correct guess was very... contagiously joyous. "Mom said we should show our appreciation better! I'm sure Prof would be really happy with a pokemon like that!"

Luce chuckles soundlessly at that.

It's all very endearing, but, 'no capture device, Blair.'

Barry freezes for all of two seconds. Luce has enough time to retrieve his notepad and start writing some things down before Barry goes into a whole scream session of "crap! We don't have Poke Balls! P-O-K-accent-E BALLS! Luce, can you believe this?"

'Yes, Blair, I can.'

"Awh man," he straight up sulks, shoulders sagging dramatically, "utter failure. Now what-- I mean, even if we get to Sandgem's PokeMart we're currently too flat broke to buy any now."

'We could--'

"Oh right! Professor Rowan said we could go to him if we needed help. Let's go ask him for some Poke Balls!"

'--ask for allowance--'

"Yeah! I'm sure he'll help us if we ask. He did offer. What do you think, Luce?"

'...yeah, okay.'

Barry was always loud and talkative. Almost a little too loud and talkative, because Luce always found it hard to get a word in edgewise. It didn't matter if he was signing or talking, Barry has the ability to blast right through it.

It's annoying at times. But Luce is used to it.

People tended to joke and say that Barry was loud enough for both of them and it really warmed his heart when he thought of it that way.

"Alright!" Barry yells out like a warcry, and Luce immediately contemplates taking back his thoughts. "Let's go!"

They step into the tall grass together, their smiles wide on their faces.

-

And immediately, there's a problem.

Chimchar gibbers irritably upon being stopped for the third time in a row. Piplup is already squinting at it-- him, probably? clearly indicating his annoyance.

Luce is flustered.

They make their way into Route 201, and Chimchar goes right ahead without listening to instructions. He takes off charging at every Pokemon in the tall grass and firing off attacks indiscriminately, so full of energy he apparently needed to scream to be at ease.

"Chimchar, you have to listen to Luce. He's your trainer now, okay?"

Barry has to do the lecturing for him and Luce is a little... demotivated now. 

He tries to reign the Pokemon back in, only to remember he can't speak-- and he follows up the attempt by trying to call for Chimchar again. This is getting embarrassing.

Piplup had looked eager to dash off too-- but after seeing Chimchar, he adopted a very put off expression and stayed nice and obedient, only acting when told and only gesturing when something needed Barry's attention.

Well, Piplup is a very patient child. He would really suit Luce more than the impulsive Chimchar... huh? Isn't Chimchar a perfect fit for Barry?

Chimchar sits down, receiving his third Potion of the day.

How did they beat Barry in the first battle? Hm, Chimchar probably got a little lucky.

"You need to fight with Luce. Don't go off on your own," Barry emphasizes, "look, I'll show ya. Piplup, let's go!"

Barry and Piplup find a Bidoof, and the audience sits back to watch. Chimchar sits a clear foot away from Luce, barely even looking at him.

Maybe somewhere in the back of its mind, he knows that Luce is his trainer. He just doesn't quite register fully because Luce hasn't said a single thing to him yet.

Unlike Barry who has been able to shout out cheers of encouragement and critique at every action from Piplup, Chimchar hasn't received so much as an introduction from Luce yet. Barry had to do that talking, too.

And Luce is conflicted. He didn't know it would be this hard-- would Chimchar understand if he wrote down instructions?

"Alright Piplup! Start off with a Pound!"

Piplup yips back affirmatively. Barreling into the Bidoof in one strong crash, Piplup huffs, rolling back into balance.

"Alright, not yet-- and," Barry then calls Piplup to back off-- and in time with his call of "Now!" Piplup jumps out of the way of Bidoof's retaliating Tackle.

Bidoof rams straight into a tree.

Luce winces at that.

"One last Pound!" Barry commands, and that finishes off the Bidoof.

Thoroughly impressed, Chimchar's eyes sparkle with excitement as he happily claps at the display. Piplup, seeing the praise, pumps out his chest with pride.

Barry laughs at that.

"Now you see? You have to work like that with Luce. You can't go off on your own," he patiently tells the Chimchar who nods in response.

Then Chimchar turns to Luce, almost expectantly.

Luce flinches at that. He opens his mouth only to belatedly remember-- again-- that he can't speak. He doesn't think the Pokemon would understand sign language, either.

"You see, Chimchar, Luce can't talk," Barry says, crouching down. Chimchar looks up, surprised. Barry smiles a little sadly, "I know it'll be hard for you two, but try to get along, okay?"

Chimchar nods again.

(Well, evidently, Chimchar has started to like Barry more now.)

Luce purses his lips for a conflicted, awkwardly smiling moment. Chimchar looks over, similarly awkward in its movements-- and he breathes in, deciding to just go for it.

Nervously, he points at himself, and signs his name. Then he gestures toward Chimchar-- and waits, expectant.

Chimchar blinks up at him, confused.

Barry almost says something, but Piplup swats his flippers at him to shush.

Luce thinks he knows what Piplup is trying to say. So he repeats the sign, and gestures at Chimchar one more time, before eagerly awaiting a response.

Chimchar tilts his head to the side, seemingly taking a long moment to think.

Finally, he beams, and jumps in realization. Raising both arms, he points at Luce and clumsily copies the sign for Luce's name.

Then he points at himself-- and grins, "Chimchar!"

Luce never thought he'd be so near tears so soon.

Nodding happily, he claps and smiles-- because that's the universal language for positivity, approval, and appreciation.

It'll be hard to go on without his voice, but if Pokemon can communicate without words, maybe he can make it work, too. Luce just had to take it one step further.

Baby steps.

-

"...so you guys spent the entire day teaching Chimchar and Piplup battle strategies?" Professor Rowan asks, exasperated.

Chimchar on his shoulder and Piplup on Barry's head, the two boys chuckle nervously. They're beat up, disheveled and messy from their clothes to their hair. Barry's scarf is murky at the edge, and Luce's sleeve is soaked in mud.

Luce's head is bowed low in a sort of apologetic politeness, and Piplup keeps a curious eye on him, not so sure about the meaning of the action.

The moon was high over their heads and Dawn was already rushing around for the first aid kit, no wait the Potions first-- no, we need to do the laundry!

"Now now, it's getting late. Maybe you should go home first--"

"No!" the girl snaps, standing upfront and taking bold steps toward the Professor. "If I leave this mess here my mother would be ashamed of me!"

Barry and Luce look on, wide-eyed in surprise. Professor Rowan raises his arms, denying further involvement in this situation and leaving the boys to the mercy of his aide.

"Geez, you boys are such children !" she says, throwing her arms into the air in defeat. Finally, she declares, "Professor, they're staying over in the lab tonight. You two!"

Barry and Luce immediately straighten with attention upon being addressed.

Dawn has her hands on her hips, a frown set on her face. "We need your dirty clothing now if you want to set off on time tomorrow. I'm giving you ten seconds!" she announces, then she starts. "Ten, nine, eight--"

"Y- Y- Yes ma'am!"

Knowing better than to defy her, Barry salutes affirmatively and grabs his pal on the wrist. Luce follows with a clumsy belated salute, and then he's dragged off by Barry.

"Your scarves, too!"

"No no, the scarves are fine!"

One of Professor's assistants, Ms Roseanne, points them in the right direction and soon enough, two trainers and two Pokemon are huddled up in the large bath, soaking out their exhaustion for the day.

"Geez, that girl reminds me of my mom," Barry whines, rolling over to watch Piplup swim lazily around the tub. Chimchar was in his little mini tub to the side, snoring.

Luce reaches over to poke it awake, signing with his free hand.

'She's nice', he chuckles.

"How?!"

'She's helping us out. We're imposing.'

And Barry pouts. "Well, you're right about that," he mirthfully admits, "but nuh-uh. She's around our age, right? Don't you think she acts a little stiff?"

'Stiff?' Luce asks, his mouth instinctively opening for a moment-- so he signs out 'what do you mean' like one would ask the definition, indicating for him to elaborate.

"More, well," Barry grumbles, glancing at Piplup for a second, "like she isn't our age."

'So, more mature? Like she's older than us?'

"No, I mean-- yes? She's a total nag! Like my mom-- yeah. Ugh," he grimaces, curling into his arms at the edge of the tub, "I can't think straight in here. I'm getting out."

Knowing full well he's just avoiding the question and denying any compliments he nearly gave the girl, Luce breathes out a choky string of silent laughter.

-

"If you two need any help, my room is upstairs, and Dawn's house is just down the street," Professor Rowan tells them. "Have a good night's rest, you two."

"Okay, Professor!" Barry says, "thanks for letting us stay over."

There was just a small, lifted tatami area to the right of the research lab, presumably to serve guests. In the closets, Luce found spare futons, which the assistants probably used when they had a long night to go.

Their scarves were put in the wash, so after a bit of consideration, Barry got out an old-fashioned shawl for Luce to borrow.

Luce thought it was funny that he even brought it out of the house, but he's glad that he's got a spare to cover up with. Maybe he'll buy a spare scarf when he gets enough money, so he won't have to deal with this again.

Piplup and Chimchar were already sound asleep by their Pokemon beds, and Barry was still looking miserably at his Journal on the table.

"There's not much to write today," he says, closing his book. "You done yet, Luce?"

Luce shakes his head. Unlike Barry, he has a lot to think about and a lot to digest. His Journal was a little more than an adventure log, and they both understood that.

(Including the fact that he's here in the first place.)

Barry peeks over. Luce is honestly thankful for the fact that he's writing in his old native language instead of Sinnoan, because Barry squints at it and mutters, "not your mysterious secret language again", and turns away with a yawn.

Which brings about the other question.

Luce had a secret language before he was taken over by this new soul? That doesn't make sense. Because he's remembered everything about Lucas thus far, and the only 'secret language' that comes up in his mind is this one he's using now.

So is he Luce with a soul possessing him, or is he Luce who has died and reincarnated and just remembered his past life?

(It's all too annoying to think about, so let's ignore it.)

He pens it down.

[It doesn't change much, so I'll forget it. I don't remember much about the other world, anyways-- only that it existed. My name is Luce now, and I'll just go on a journey to be a Pokemon Trainer, because Lucas' dream is still alive in my heart.]

It's very trippy, to suddenly not be able to speak-- but for some reason, he's not panicking. Maybe his memories as Lucas is calming him down. It's still embarrassing when he opens his mouth and can't speak, though. He'll have to adapt.

He switches back to Sinnoan and begins to write down his day.

"I'm going to bed first. Don't sleep too late."

'Pot, kettle.'

"I'm fining you ten million for hurting my feelings."