22 I would love to dissect your brain! (1/2)

”Welcome back Arthur, did you have a nice dream?”, he found Gary amongst the people smiling at him.

”What happened?”, he asked confused. His memories still a bit fuzzy.

”You were knocked out, that's what happened after that last punch. We were just about to call the doctor when you woke up. That Nevarrez brat surely had a grudge against you ...””, Gary's voice went grim at the end.

”Rico that idiot! The next time I see him I will make him beg you for forgiveness, don't worry Arthur!”, Zoe assured him angrily.

”Where is he? Where did he go?”

”When he had realized his mistake he disappeared from our sight! What a coward!”, this incident had definitely worsened Rico's image in Zoe's mind by a lot,

”I am so sorry! I shouldn't have let two of you start this match at all. I should have known better!”, remorse showing on her face.

”It's ok, it was inevitable. I couldn't have let him get away with that just like that even if you stepped in between us. In the end I lost because I was just too weak.”

”No, you were quite good actually for a beginner. He just overdid it! Seriously! He made you fly over the ring with a single hit! Doesn't he know how to hold back?!”

”How is that even possible?”, in Arthur's mind even if Rico was above average in terms of strength or technique it should be simply impossible for a child the same age as him to have so much raw power! Did he take drugs?!

”Yeah! That's crazy! My dad could do that easily but I would never have imagined for him to ...-”

”Miss Zoe, I think there are more important things to do right now. I will take Arthur here with me just in case something happens, is that ok?”

”Ah you are right! Arthur please go back to rest! You shouldn't do any strenuous activities anymore ok?”

”Don't worry, I will bring your husband back in the best shape possible! Hahaha!”, Gary joked lightly.

”What?!”

”What?!”, both Arthur and Zoe were speechless for a moment but Zoe got especially flustered.

Gary took the moment and left the main hall with Arthur in tow:

”Quite a nice friend you have there, how did you two got to know each other?”

”She had been my classmate during primary scho-”, Arthur stood still for a moment, his expression frozen still.

He suddenly realized that ... he remembered her again!

She had been his classmate during the primary courses of the Pokemon Trainer Academy! They were very good friends and she helped him during his time of crisis when his father had died. But what was important was that he genuinely remembered her and the time he spent with her again!

”Is something the matter Arthur?”, Gary noticed his strange behaviour and asked concerned. He was afraid this could be the prelude to an after-collapse now.

All of a sudden his vision swam and he felt a head-ache nearing!

”Groaaaan.”, he held his head in his hands and pressed against it but it only eased for a bit.

”What's wrong Arthur!”, Gary shouted but Arthur didn't hear anything at all!

Visions flew through his mind, he saw a room full of Pokemon figures, then he stood in front of a heavily wounded person! That person turned into light and that light went into a watch!

The he saw that same person fight against another warrior clad in blue armor! Sharp light prevented him from seeing more and a loud voice echoed in his head:

”Wake up Atiqo! You have to wake up!”

And then it stopped.

”Huh, huh, huh ...”, he was crouching on his knees while breathing heavily. The pain vanished as quickly as it came. Sweat trickled down his forehead and he felt incredibly exhausted.

He remembered now more than before. And he also remembered the dream he had had during his time when he was unconscious.

”Hey, Arthur are you sure you are ok? Should I take you to the hospital?”, Gary asked worried.

”No, no it's gone again. I am fine already, I just feel quite hungry!”, he didn't want to go back to the hospital. This would cause just another pile of problems on his full plate.

”Hahaha, no problem, let's go to Umami King! It will be my treat!”

....

The crowd from before had dispersed already. Zoe was still there cleaning some stuff.

”Zoe! What happened here!”, a rough deep voice called out to her.

”Dad!”, Zoe was surprised to find her father here suddenly. He was usually busy training his disciples or giving guidance to other members.

”Don't lie to me, you know I can see it”, he responded unusually cold. Something must have triggered him.

”Ehh, it was ... I ...”, at first she wanted to bring out a small excuse but seeing that her father was in a serious mood she told him the truth about what had happened during the match.

”What?! That little bastard did what?!”, Zoe flinched back, a bit frightened. Did she do something unforgivable?

”I am sorry dad, I know I shouldn't have allowed to ...”, the regret she had felt rose up again and she was near crying now.

Her father realized his blunder:

”Ahh, sweety, it's not your fault. It's that stupid child's fault! How was his name again? That Nevarrez boy? Rico! How dare he use powers he has no control over! All within my dojo! Does he think he can, he can come and go as he pleases and get away with this?! Not under my watch!”, it felt like her father was close to bursting out!

”Dad, did something happen? Did he do something?”, she didn't know what her father was talking about.

”This, ehh. I can't tell you. Not now at least. But he will face consequences for this! One way or another! How is that other boy, Arthur right?”, he faintly remembered his daughter's former classmate and neighbour. He spent most of his time at the dojo and his wife took care of the household, so he didn't have much contact with him.

”He is good, I think. He was just unconscious for a some time.”

”Lucky boy, this could have turned much worse for him otherwise. Now to you ...”, he looked back to Zoe,

”It seems like I have been lacking behind in our father-daughter relationship which caused you too lack in certain areas where experience and education are necessary! Let's do some training exercise together first, shall we?”, he revealed a smile that wasn't a smile.

Zoe shuddered already but accepted her punishment without complaining.

....

In the restaurant, Arthur and Gary were still waiting for their order to get cooked.

”So, would it be ok for you to tell me now about what really happened there back then?”, Gary asked expectantly.

Arthur of course knew what he was referring to. The incident and the visions still caused question marks in Arthur's mind to pop up. What was he supposed to say to Gary? That he was questioning himself, his identity? This whole word and his sanity? Maybe he was still stuck in a dream and he just didn't realize it yet. So he only gave him a vague answer:

”You know, since that accident in the Viridian Forest, I have kind of lost my grasp on my memories. But when Rico had hit me and I went down, I got them back, partially. I think. I am still not sure what really happened there.”

”How was it even possible to punch me that far away? Isn't that defying the laws of physics somehow? And before he struck my arms, I saw some weird whirl gathering in his hand, do you know what that was?”, the dispiarity between Rico's size and his punching power still created great confusion in his mind.