[RECALL LE1] LOBBY - E1 - Welcome Back

It was dark here. It has been dark for a very, very long time.

He did not sleep. At least, he does not think he slept. He isn't entirely sure.

The last thing he remembered was being told to sit.

Being told to raise his paw.

The human's hand was rough, tugged too hard. He knew not to bite or growl.

He stared up at the human.

He does not remember its face.

And now--

Noise.

Commotion.

Chaos.

Strato opened his eyes.

The first thing he noticed was how harsh these lights were.

The second thing he noticed was he was not alone.

The third thing... his head slowly turned towards the source of the commotion.

Or, more properly put, the sources of commotion.

He does not remember the last time he had ever seen this many Pokémon in one place.

He does not remember if he had ever seen this many Pokémon in one place.

A pair of glameow. They seemed calm. He ignored them easily.

A vulpix-- no, two of those as well. His ear twitched. They didn't seem injured, though the lighter one was crushing the darker one.

A meowth. It was laying face down. Strato twitched slightly, he took a step forward-- the meowth breathed.

His attention was pulled elsewhere.

A cyndaquil, trembling and trying to make itself small. It looked like it might get squished. Strato imagined it getting crushed. His head tilted to the right.

A familiar chirp.

A cry.

A name he once knew. The smell of fresh ozone. He took a step towards the eevee. Another.

She was not calling for him.

He doubted she even knew his name.

He did not know hers, either.

"Oh-! Princess-" The eevee sounded excited, turned to him.

She puffed up, flinched back from him. She realized her mistake, quickly.

"Oh you aren't- it's... uh, you! Um- hey!"

He tilted his head to the right.

He was correct, she did not know his name.

Yet she still recognized him. He did not expect that.

He opened his mouth to respond--

A pikachu darted past him, his gaze snapped to it. His pupils dilated.

She darted between legs, leapt over backs. Strato's leg twitched, he leaned forward.

He did not follow her.

Scar didn't know where she was.

Scar didn't want to be here.

Scar wanted to be anywhere else, she thinks.

Somewhere quiet and warm and dim.

She clambered onto one of the shelves, her back foot kicked out, leaving deep scours in the wood.

She couldn't breathe right-- she couldn't breathe at all.

There was no escape here, there were strangers everywhere. She could only see half of them, her head whipped around-- she couldn't focus.

Her tail lashed back and forth, slamming against the wall. She tucked her face between her paws and curled up there.

She missed the dark empty immediately.

Everything here was too loud, too noisy, and too much.

The pikachu was making a series of squeaks. Strato didn't have to be in her body to understand she was distressed.

He didn't have to be in psychic to understand that she was not the only one distressed.

His attention was drawn towards the clearest voice in the room.

A ghost.

Requesting everyone not to panic.

Telling them all that they are safe.

Strato stared up at her. The corner of his mouth twitched.

He wasn't aware they had been in danger in the first place.

He laid down, slowly.

Rested his chin on his front paws, and watched.

He didn't realize that he had positioned himself so close to the door.