Margaret's Pokémon Diamond Nuzlocke

Chapter 28: Story Time

((Quick AN: Okay I'm putting this before the chapter instead of after because I figured it was a bit more appropriate. Anyway, I just wanna apologize for this being so late, I swear I thought this would be easier, considering I've had most of this pre-written for a LOOOOONG time. It just took a bit more editing than I expected, and I've been on vacation this week. Trust me, I have been super excited to get this out, so I'm just gonna stop talking and let you guys read. Enjoy~))

I stared confused at my mother, who was now clutching a pokeball close to her chest and looked like she was on the verge of tears. She opened her mouth, but no words would come out.

Professor Juniper stepped up instead, with a calm expression and voice as she spoke, "Margaret, what we're about to tell you is... quite difficult to explain. But perhaps I should start by telling you that everything Cyrus told you was true."

I shook my head in confusion, "Hold on, why are you telling me this, first of all? How do you even know Cyrus?"

Juniper let out a sigh, "I used to work with Cyrus years ago... but that's a story for a different time. You said that he told you of your lost memories, correct?"

I hesitated at first, but nodded. "...You're not telling me that's true too, are you?"

She took a breath in, "...It is."

I stared at the Professor in disbelief, the room going dead silent for a long moment. I glanced over at my mom, not even needing to ask whether this was a lie or not. She nodded in agreement with the Professor gravely. I spun around to Trevor, who couldn't even look me in the eyes.

"Trevor... tell me this isn't true. Please. This... this is crazy, right? R-right...?"

"...You and Professor Juniper used to be so close..." He mumbled as he stared at the carpet. "And now... it's kind of funny that you hardly recognize her."

I saw the smallest smile creep on to his face, but it disappeared in an instant. Still in disbelief, I looked around at the team crowded around my bed, all of them staring at me with just about the same amount of worry and confusion as me.

"I still don't understand... I mean-- lost memories? I've never seen Professor Juniper in my life, and... sure my childhood memories are faded, but they're still there!"

"...You see Margaret," Juniper began explaining, "Well, back in Unova, there are Pokemon called Yamask. Each of them are living spirits of the dead, containing memories of their former life."

I looked at her strangely. "What does that have to do with any of this?"

"One thing I need to mention..." she said, ignoring me as she grabbed the pokeball out of my mom's hand. "They each carry a mask of its face when it was human..."

Juniper let the pokeball fall to the ground, and I froze in horror at the sight of the pokemon.

A Yamask came out, and on its mask was my face.

Yet at the same time it wasn't even mine. It was a hurt face; broken, guilty, angry and vengeful all at once. And... younger, too. I stared at it, remembering that Cyrus mentioned that there was something I did that intrigued him. It could, of course, be nothing, but just the thought of it made me uneasy...

What did I do...?

I tried asking, but my mouth refused to move from its slightly agape position.

"Margaret..." my mom finally spoke up, wiping small tears from her eyes, "You never died, but this Yamask does contain your memories... your real ones."

"H-how... how is that possible?" I questioned, both my voice and my hands shaking.

Juniper pushed up her glasses and began explaining, "I discovered a way to create this Yamask using the old memories we took from you. I suppose could consider it... an artificial pokemon."