Chapter 1: Introduction and Unwanted Experiments

It was a normal brisk day in the city of Seattle. People would walk along the busy sidewalks and crowd the streets with their many vehicles, all expecting to get from one place to another.

With the time being late in the afternoon, many of these people were either headed home or to a gathering spot where they could gather with friends or acquaintances for one reason or another, whether it be just to grab some coffee or to discuss their latest job for their work.

However, amongst all of these people that will have no impact on my story, was me. Making my way to a small and crowded apartment amongst all of these people was a young twenty year old adult, wearing a jean jacket with several buttons upon it, darker blue jeans so I could wear jeans without looking like a walking jean product, and a black beanie.

I was your typical college student, going to one of the local colleges to get my degree in… well, it's been so long at this point that I can't actually remember, and it honestly doesn't matter. Either way, I was just like most other people around my age there: just an honest guy trying to survive in the modern world, and was currently doing so by going to college.

Now, when I say your average guy, I really mean average. If you looked in the dictionary for the word "Average", I'd probably be the picture. But then again, I'd be the dictionary definition of "Average", so I wouldn't really be that average and….I'm getting off track.

Being five foot eight, average height. Having brown eyes and hair that wasn't too short but not too long, I was considered normal there as well. My body wasn't muscular, but wasn't fat, it was just in between. And finally, my face, which showed my youth along with many long nights staying awake due to either video games or homework was plain as well.

Now, I know you're probably wondering why you would want to read the story of a guy who is average in every way possible, seeing as you're probably here for some kind of life-changing adventure or something to read and keep you awake a bit longer.

Well, as stated before, this day had started normal. But then, everything changed (cliche, right?)

My name is Jack Mcgrath, and this story starts with how I died.

Well, with you now either intrigued or frustrated with the fact that my story is going to be another of those "reborn in another world" types of stories that anime and manga love to attack, I guess I'll just get started with my story.

I was walking down yet another crowded street, hating how my shoulders would occasionally bump into one person or another. I didn't really like physical contact, so I tried my best to get through the crowds, but that's easier said than done.

The reason I was walking down said street was because I was heading home to my small single person apartment. I had finished the day of schooling at college, having spent some extra time to study. By the time I was walking down this street, the sun was just beginning to set over the horizon, though I couldn't really see it as it was blocked by the many tall towers of Seattle.

There was only one problem with walking home from school: It was a three mile walk. However, no bus came close to my apartment building for one reason or another, so every day I had to make the long walk twice.

Well, today, since I was feeling tired, I decided to try a shortcut, There were a few long alleyways that if I cut through, I could cut my walking distance almost in half. However, I'd always been paranoid of those alleyways, for good reason, as it was usually where crimes would occur.

However, having had a long day, I decided to just attempt it. However, a part of my mind was still paranoid about the whole thing, so I pulled out my Nintendo 3DS to keep my mind off of it. As I started to go down the darkening alleyway, the screen lit up as I selected the downloaded copy of Pokemon Ultra Moon.

Now, I know you're probably thinking "What kind of college student plays pokemon?" Well, a lot surprisingly, but I'd like to think I'm special.

I always enjoyed pokemon growing up, with my first game having been fire red for the gameboy advance. From there, I had grown up with the franchise, always getting at least one version or the other when the new games released.

Lately, I had been playing Ultra Moon, even though I had already beat Pokemon Sun. The reason was because I was curious of the changes, and with the latest games since X and Y, the story had been much better, giving me something more to enjoy than just battling pokemon.

When it came to actually battling though, I was considered very good at what I did. Sure, I wasn't the best by any means, and would never enter any of the official (or unofficial) tournaments. I didn't know much about ev's or iv's, but I did know almost everything when it came to strategy and type advantages.

My team gave me a little bit of everything, as I was currently nearing the end of the game. With my team consisting of six pokemon, each dual types with the only type appearing twice being dragon, I had eleven of the eighteen types covered, and could be effect to all of them as well, as long as the right pokemon was battling at the time.

With this in mind, I proceeded to go do the game's champion challenge, the equivalent of the elite four in past games. However, as I walked both in game and in life, I failed to notice the hooded figure approach me from behind a large trash can I had passed.

One minute, I had entered the battle arena to fight the ghost leader, the second, I felt a burning sensation in my back, right along my spine.

Falling to the ground, all I could focus on was the pain as blood began to spill from me onto the ground. I couldn't move, and I wasn't certain if it was because of the pain or if my spine had been severed. Either way, all I could do was stare wide eyed on the ground as the figure bent down towards me.

I could feel the sensation of him moving me around, reaching through all my pockets so he could grab ahold of my wallet and phone. Then I could hear him running off, leaving me alone to myself and the pain as the sky, and everything else, began to darken.

As everything went dark, the last thing I saw was my DS suddenly grow brightly before everything went dark, as the sun finished setting along with my life ending.

Everything was black for a long time. I couldn't really think, all I could focus on was the sensation of floating around aimlessly through the abyss.

However, after a long time had passed, things started to form in my vision. Floating objects filled my vision of the large, now dark blue, abyss. As my eyes blinked open, I realized these shapes weren't just boxes or something, but were actually small islands.

I jerked upward, confused as to where I was. Looking down at myself, I found that I was in the same outfit as before, and that I seemed to be alright. However, looking around only confused me more.

The sky was too dark a blue, and the floating islands wasn't normal at all, especially concerning there was a waterfall running sideways.

"Wait a second." I thought to myself. "I have seen this place somewhere before…"

"Indeed you have, young one." A powerful voice spoke from behind me. I spun around, only to be greeted by a semi-awesome semi-terrifying sight. Before me was a giant, snake like creature that was grey, red and black, floating before me with two red eyes staring down at me with compassion through its yellow mask.

"Do not be afraid, young one." It spoke, in which I suddenly felt a bit at ease. "I have only taken this form as a way to speak to you, as well as transforming your limbo into something you would recognize."

I nodded slowly, somewhat understanding what was happening. "So...so I died. I died and am now in limbo, which you made to look like the distortion world from pokemon. And since you're taking the form of Giratina, that means you're…"

"Lets just say I'm a higher being, and not go into details." The Giratina said. "There are too many names for me, and we don't have much time to speak. We must pass you onto the next life so I may continue my duty to the many others who have shared similar fates such as yours."

I nodded, letting the Giratina speak. "Now, I will present you with two options. I can either grant you eternal peace, letting your spirit pass onto the next life and fill your being with bliss and eternal slumber. This is what normally occurs."

"But you're going to present me with another option?" I asked, confused.

Giratina nodded. "Yes. Instead, you could go to the pokemon world, and attempt to have an adventure of your own."

I was shocked, not knowing how to respond as Giratina continued. "You did not fulfill much in your life, considering yourself too average to ever have an adventure of your own, and so you held adventures through the games known as Pokemon. Now, I present you with the option to go there."

For a moment, I almost screamed yes, to have Giratina take me to the Pokemon world, However, they held up a tendril, making me stop. "However, the Pokemon world is not as simple as you may believe. Crime is still rampant, just like in your world. Wild pokemon can be dangerous, and the most powerful moves such as hyper beam could kill you instantly."

Suddenly, I felt unsure about my decision. But once more, before I could speak, Giratina continued. "If you were to choose this option, I would grant you protection for a single month. For thirty days, you would be able to explore the pokemon world without fear of death, so long as you don't do anything foolish such as jumping into a volcano."

I stood there, dumbfounded. Here was what was possibly a god (or the God, as they didn't go into details) in the form of a Giratina, giving me the option to become an actual pokemon trainer, and with no fear of death for a month, which would give me enough time to learn how the world functioned.

"I know this may be a difficult decision, so I am willing to give you as much time as you…"

"I'll do it." I said, looking up at Giratina. "I'll go to the pokemon world."

Giratina nodded. "I thought you would make that decision." The distortion world began to fade away, and I began to feel really tired as my eyes started to shut. "I wish you luck, young Jack, and hope you will find the adventure you've always been searching for."

line break~

I began to wake up to the sounds of the ocean. My eyes started to blink open, getting crust out of my eyes as I woke up. Feeling around, I could feel sand underneath me, and just like before, shot up, awake and confused.

"Where am I?" I wondered, looking around, I was on some kind of beach, with a wall of rock behind me. The beach ended to my right, but continued around a corner to my left. Standing up, I began to wonder how I got here.

Walking to the left, I began to wonder if I had somehow gotten to one of Seattle's beaches, or if by slight chance the dream with Giratina had been real. Man, that would have been awesome, to find out I had actually been taken to the Pokemon world.

As I turned around the corner, I stopped, shocked at what I saw. There were several people on the beach, even though it seemed early in the mourning judging by the sky, but they weren't the ones I was focused on.

No, I was focused on the two people who were standing across from one another, and more importantly, the Rockruff and Magikarp that were battling. As I watched, the Magikarp flopped around aimlessly, performing splash, as the Rockruff ran forward and tackled the Magikarp, sending it flying through the air.

As the battle ended, with the defeated fisherman giving the kid with the rockruff some money, I turned back around the corner, unsure of how to react. It had really happened, I was in the pokemon world, and judging by the beach and the Rockruff, I was probably on an island in the Alola region.

I stood there for a bit, gathering my thoughts, unsure of how to react. Finally, after having a mild panic attack while also freaking out from joy, I decided that I needed to get some information.

Walking around the corner, I was unnoticed as I made my way to a walkway that seemed to lead up from the beach and into a town. Deciding I needed to find either an information center or a pokemon center, I decided to head into the town.

Looking around as I entered a large street, I was surprised by how crowded the place was. People and pokemon were everywhere, astounding me with so many new sights. I watched as two girls giggled, each holding a igglybuff as they ran past. Two officers stood next to each other, a Growlithe and an Lycanroc (day form) stood next to them as they talked. Three boys ran past, each with a pokeball in hand as they ran to the beach I had just come from, screaming that they were ready to battle anyone.

Shaking my head a bit, I continued forward, walking past all the people and their pokemon as I continued to search for any form of information centers. Having decided to go right, I walked a ways before finally coming across what I was searching for.

In front of me was the Akala Island information center. I stood there for a second, realizing Giratina had sent me to the wrong island to start my adventure, before shrugging and heading inside.

Once inside, I headed to the right where a bunch of information packets stood on display, deciding not to go to the front desk and ask for help. For starters, a lot of my questions would probably be common knowledge and I would look strange asking them. Second, I wasn't very social, and didn't like talking to others if I didn't have to.

Going through the packets, I grabbed about five that seemed to interest me, such as "How to Become a Trainer", "The Trainer's Guide to the Alola Region," and even a magazine that talked about current major events.

Sitting in a chair, I began to browse through the information. After about an hour of reading, I began to get a good idea about the world I was in, and it was much different than I was expecting.

Apparently, when a pokemon is caught, they're bound to you for life unless released or their pokeball is destroyed. Pokemon can cause massive damage to a human no problem as well, but when attacking one another, they only cause as much damage as seen in the games. However, carnivorous pokemon still eat other pokemon, and pokemon can still die in battle if the trainers aren't careful.

To become a trainer, I have to go to the trainer's school and pass an entrance exam, in which they'll give me a trainer's card. This card will allow me to use the pokemon centers for free, and be able to legally catch and battle pokemon. This doesn't mean I can't own a pokemon until I have the card, it just means I can't catch one, so children given a pokemon when they're young don't have any issues.

Apparently, pokemon centers were hospitals and hotels as well, allowing you to use them for rest along with going for treatment if you're attacked by a wild pokemon. Medicine was also very advanced, and they could even replace lost limbs if needed, though that's if you are able to make it to a center in time.

With the world as well, there were a few changes than what occured in the games. Sure, ten year olds still managed to stop criminal organizations, but not without the risk of being physically attacked by the grunts unless their pokemon could stop it. As Giratina said, crime was rampant, and even when stopped, it seemed most of the criminal organizations still ran amuck today.

With legendaries, things were a bit trickier. Apparently, they existed, though no one ever caught them. A trainer could still battle a Groudon per say, but that's if in the one in a million chance they found them, and even then, no pokeball was able to capture a creature that held the power to change the land and sea.

With all this in mind, I decided I needed to get to Melemele island, so I could get my license and become a trainer, and then take the island challenge. After that, I would become champion, but only by name. I would leave the rank as champion to the current champion, that way I could go to another region and become the champion there.

If I could be the first world champion, I would have an awesome several year adventure, just like I had always dreamed of. After that, I might see what I could do about stopping the crime in the world, but at this point, I'm getting ahead of myself, seeing as I don't even own a pokemon yet.

Now, standing at the docks, I realized I had a problem. There was currently no way I could get to Melemele. Apparently, the ship is only free for trainers, and costs 500 for normal citizens. That's the equivalent to five bucks, sure, but seeing as I came here broke, I was out of luck.

"Hey kid, need a lift?" A voice called out. Turning to the right, I saw two people standing atop an older looking boat, one of which was looking at me. They appeared to be sailors, with one putting away some fishing gear, while the other was an older looking man that was wearing a fishing vest. He was the one that had called out to me.

"Um...yeah, I do. Where are you headed?" I asked, unsure how to feel about a random stranger asking to give me a ride. However, maybe things were different here in this world, and even with crime being high, people were still nice to one another.

"Melemele Island." He said. "We just came here to stop for some gas after having spent a week fishing. We're heading back home now, and asking any none trainers for a free lift. So, you interested?" He asked.

Thinking that my luck had finally turned around, I smiled and began heading to the boat. "Sure, a ride to Melemele would be very appreciated." I said before holding my hand out. "My name's Jack."

The man took my hand before giving it a firm shake. "The name's Rook." He said, grinning down at me. Suddenly, for a moment, I felt very uneasy, as if something about his grin seemed...off. However, I wasn't going to deny a free ride to where I needed to go, so I hopped onto the boat and sat in a cushioned seat, waiting to depart.

I didn't get to really see the other man, as he sat in the driver's seat and stared straight ahead. However, as Rook finished untying the boat and called out that it was time to go, I saw a brief glance at his face as he turned and nodded.

His expression was completely dead, with no emotion, and he had a scar on his face that passed over his right eye. I shuddered to myself as the boat launched off, thinking that I would get away from Rook and the other man as soon as the ride was done.

After we were about five minutes out, with Akala island becoming a dot along the horizon, Rook turned to me with the same grin as before.

"Why don't you go to the lower level of the boat and talk to the other passengers? I'm sure they'd love to have some extra company."

I was confused, wondering how this boat had a lower level, before Rook gestured to a door that led downstairs. Shrugging, and since it was his boat, I complied, heading to the door and opening it, before freezing in shock.

Before me were several people, laying on their sides, tied up and gagged with rope. I had no time to react before hearing Rook say, "Here's hoping you'll be a good catch." Before something hit me in the back of the head, and everything went black as I fell forwards.

~Line Break~

I woke up without having gone to sleep for the third time that day, though this time with a horrendous headache. Pain echoed not only through my head, but also my body, as if I had fallen down a staircase.

Trying to think about what was happening, I remembered what happened and realized I probably had fallen down a staircase, after Rook had knocked me out. Shaking my head, I opened my eyes, only to be greeted by a blinding light as I did so.

I tried to shield my eyes from the light with my hand, only to realize I couldn't move it. Looking down, I saw that it was tied down by a belt, along with my other arm and my legs. This kept me completely immobile, unable to move off the table I was strapped down to.

Beginning to seriously panic, I proceeded to call out for help, as any rational panicked person would do. "HHHHEEEEELLLLPPPP!" I screamed out at the top of my lungs.

"Don't bother screaming. This room is a hundred feet underground and soundproofed. Nobody is going to be able to hear you." A familiar voice said, before Rook stepped out from the side.

"Now I know what you're thinking. "What's going on? Why is this happening to me? What could Rook want with me?" Well don't worry kid, this is nothing personal about you." He explained.

"I'm not actually a fisherman, as you might have guessed. I'm a researcher of sorts. I conduct experiments that, if successful, I sell to the highest bidder. It just so happens that I needed guinea pigs for this next experiment, and then, after finding a few other participants, you stumbled along."

I stared at him, scared and confused. "What….what are you going to do to me?" I asked, fearful for my life.

Rook grinned the same grin as before, though now I could see what was wrong with it. It was a sadistic grin, as if he took pleasure in what he was doing. "I'm glad you asked." He said, before stepping away for a moment before appearing again with a whiteboard. On the whiteboard was a person, along with the pokemon Zorua.

"You see, I'm hoping to fuse you with a Zorua through a process and an invention of my own. If successful, I'll have created the ultimate stealth soldier. Imagine, a soldier who can look like anyone, sound like anyone, and have the defense against pokemon moves just like a pokemon!"

I was beginning to become extremely fearful for my life, and was trembling under my bindings. "A...and if you...you're not successful?" I asked.

Rook stopped for a moment, placing his hand on his chin in throat. "Well, you'll either die, become a Zorua in only body, lose your mind to the Zorua and be mindless, or become a horrible mutation. And who even knows what side effects there could be." Rook shrugged before looking at me with that sadistic grin I now despised. "You ready to find out?!"

I began screaming again as we wheeled me away, the table I was on apparently having wheels. I begged for him not to do this, to just let me go, but none of my cries reached Rook.

As we reached a large silver machine, with two side doors and a central door, I began screaming at Rook with all the hatred I could muster. "Oh, be quiet already." Rook said as I was placed in front of the left side door. "You'll need to save your strength to survive this, after all."

I stopped screaming, now only able to cry, as Rook walked away for a moment, only to reappear with a confused looking Zorua in his hands. Opening the right door, he placed the Zorua inside before closing it, and then turned to me.

"You ready to make history Jack?" He asked as he opened the left door. I could only cry, wondering why this was happening to me. I had come to the pokemon world to have an adventure, not this! Not to become some lab rat for a crazed scientist!

As I was placed inside the dark chamber, and the door closed behind me, I began to wonder if I had actually been sent to hell for some reason. As the room lit up with bright blue lights that began to swirl around, I prayed that I would survive.

"You will survive this Jack." A voice echoed through my head. "You have my protection. I will not allow you to die, not before your adventure can even begin."

After hearing the voice, I yelled at them to save me, to get me out of here instead of insuring my survival. But the voice had gone silent, and the machine began to get louder and louder as the lights swirled faster and faster around me.

I began to feel extremely heavy, and then extremely light, and then extremely nauseous, and then everything went white. As it did so, one last thought passed through my mind, as I thought I had died. "Giratina lied…"

~Line Break~

My eyes blinked open, and I could feel I was on the ground. However, I felt so tired, and I didn't want to move. My body felt exhausted, with my arms spread out on the ground, as well as my legs and tail.

….

Tail?

Turning my head, I looked over my shoulder to see a dark grey, almost black tail stick out of me. Huh. I had a tail now.

I knew I should have been freaking out, but I had no energy for it. Instead, I continued to lay on the floor, my mind still in a daze. "So Rook really managed to succeed, and Giratina did keep their promise to keep me alive. Too bad I'll now be sold off…

As I laid there, I felt my ears twitch atop my head, alerting me I now had Zorua ears as well, but also alerting me of the footsteps that were coming my way.

"...I'm telling you, I actually succeeded this time! Yes, he's the first to survive the procedure, though I'm not certain of his mental state, or his abilities yet. But the two fused perfectly, and you'll have your first soldier in a week. You'll have to train him yourself, of course. Now, about my pay…"

Rook stopped talking as he entered the room, waiting for an answer. Looking up, I could see him in the room in front of me, but could also tell I was in a metal cage. There was no way I'd be able to get out, not with those bars keeping me in.

"We can get free though." A voice echoed through my head, making my eyes widen a little. "We can get free and get revenge on that man for what he's done to us. Get up, and I'll tell you what you have to do."

The voice was quiet, but from what I could tell, a bit feminine. "Who...who are you?" I thought as I struggled to get my body up.

"I have no name, for I was never given one. However, I am the Zorua that the monster fused with you." My eyes wouldn't be able to open wider if I was able to, but it didn't matter as I was now standing. Rook didn't notice though, as his back was currently turned away from me.

"Good, you do have some strength in you. Now, image all the power inside of you, and rush forwards and release all of the energy gathered at once!" The voice said.

I didn't understand what was happening, but I did as I was told. However, as I would later learn, I was only able to do it so easily as I was so dazed, and it would be a time before I would be able to do it again.

As I rushed forwards, I suddenly felt my foot push me back, before pushing me forwards in a feint, with a form of darkness surrounding my being as I slammed into the bars, knocking them forwards and releasing me from the cage.

I stood with my arms to my side as Rook turned around quickly, surprise and confusion on his face. "What the...how are you standing? And how did you break free so easily?"

Taking a step forward, Rook took a step back, unsure of what to do. My head was down, but I could still see Rook look towards an object on the table that was across from him. The object was small, able to be held in one's hand with a good grip, and black.

It was a gun, of course.

At first, neither of us moved. However, the second Rook jumped for the gun, I felt myself rush forwards, and as the voice of the Zorua gave me more commands, I felt more dark energy surround myself as I slammed into the large form of Rook.

If I had slammed into him normally, I probably couldn't have done anything to a large man such as Rook. However, with the dark energy and the attack "Pursuit" echoing through my mind, I manage to slam into Rook so hard he flew across the room, slamming his back into the cage with a nasty "snap!".

I stood there for a moment, watching Rook's unmoving form. Finally, after several minutes, he let out a gasp of pain, and I knew he was still alive.

Watching Rook, I never took my eyes off of him as I left the room. "What are you doing? Go back and finish him!" The Zorua yelled.

I shook my head. "I'm not a killer. Never even thought about killing anyone, and I refuse to now." I then turned my head to the left, looking through a doorway in the hall that I was currently in.

Inside was a ton of science equipment, including the large machine that I had been placed into. Thinking, the thought of trying to reverse the process came to mind, but I shook my head at that. I was the first successful experiment. If that was the case, there was no way Rook had any way of reversing what he had done to me.

With this in mind, I turned to a bunsen burner that was on the counter, turning it on, I placed it on the ground, and soon enough, the room was beginning to be covered in flames. Sure, the fire might kill Rook, but it wouldn't be me specifically killing him, and it would destroy everything he's done.

Leaving the room, I continued to seek a way out. Looking room to room, I was disgusted as I saw the corpses of people, pokemon, and monstrosities that were failed experiments. Shaking my head, I knew there was nothing that could be done for them, and so I continued on.

Finally, near the end of the hall, was an elevator. However, next to it was a set of cubicles, each with a name on them. Looking around, I eventually found my name, along with all my clothes. Looking down, I realized I had been naked this whole time, and proceeded to get changed.

My shirt, jacket and socks were no problem, however, I had to wear my underwear and pants a little lower, but not too much thankfully, because of my tail, and I couldn't wear my beanie without crushing my ears.

Sighing, I looked through the other cubicles. There were four other names, with them being the four other kidnapped people I had seen on the boat. Looking through them, I soon took the contents of several wallets, knowing they wouldn't need them anymore, and keeping it all in a simple brown wallet that was owned by some guy named Joseph.

I then stopped as I was rummaging, even though I was beginning to smell smoke. My eyes stopped atop a pokeball, the only one in all the cubbies, and I wondered if it was right to take it. However, I decided to, as I couldn't in good mind leave a pokemon to die.

Taking the pokeball, I got up, having gone through all the cubies. Looking back, I looked at the one that held the pokeball. "Thank you Sara." I said, before going into the elevator.

As I clicked the number one of the door buttons, the elevator doors closed and I could feel it rising. As it rose, I thought of something: How was I going to be able to walk around normally now? Currently, I looked like a furry or something, and if people realized that the ears and tail were real, who knows what would happen.

"You can use my powers of illusion to conceal yourself." Zorua said. "Imagine yourself as you were before, without my ears and tail. Now, think that you are as you used to be with your heart and mind."

I did as they said, closing my eyes and thinking about how I used to look. Opening them, I found that my tail appeared to be gone, as well as my ears.

"It's just an illusion, of course." Zorua said. "Your ears and tail are still there, and if anyone were to feel them, they'd know something is off. Also, if something were to hit you, your concentration might shatter along with the illusion."

I nodded as the elevator opened, revealing a run down entrance room. Stepping out of the elevator, I walked out the decaying wooden door.

Looking around outside, I found myself along the coast of an island. Looking behind me, I could see the rotten ruins of the building I had come from covered in trees. Deciding I wanted nothing to do with the place, I walked away, unsure of where I was going.

I walked for what was possibly an hour along the beach, unsure of where I was headed. However, after enough time, I felt like I was finally far enough from the nightmare I had just escaped.

As Wingull flew over my head, I passed out on the beach, getting the first natural sleep I had been able to get since I had died.