Author's notes: Ok, I'm trying something different this time. Instead of a full on story or series of one shots, Down the Rabbit Hole will start off with three short stories before moving on to the "real" story, which will be a multichaptered fic and will be posted at a later date.

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Pokémon. If I did, Pikachu never would have forgotten Volt Tackle. Seriously, you forget Volt Tackle and keep Quick Attack? What the heck?

Down the Rabbit Hole

Short Story #1: Shadow Puppets

Hannah was very excited about being able to work for Mr. Backlot. She'd heard many wonderful things about him. And his mansion…

Smoothing the wrinkles out of her brand new maids outfit and making sure that her short brown hair was out of her face, Hannah headed inside the mansion to meet her new boss.

Mr. Backlot was a cheerful man who appeared to be very proud of his home, especially his garden. His instructions were simple: keep the house tidy, be courteous to guests, and never EVER go into the back rooms at the far ends of the house.

"But what's in the-"

"Nothing you need to be concerned about, my dear!" Mr. Backlot chuckled, a friendly smile on his face. "Now, go see the other maids. They'll get you started!" Hannah nodded, but something about Mr. Backlots smile seemed…off to her. Like he was purposefully hiding something. But what? Still, she had worked hard to get this job and wasn't about to get fired on her first day. She nodded and gave a respectful bow, as she had seen the other maids do, and headed out of the room. As she left, she noticed the butler eyeing her strangely, his expression grave…

"So, it's really simple," one of the more experienced maids explained to her. "The place may be big, but there's only one floor, so I'm sure you'll manage. There's just one thing…" The maid turned to Hannah, her expression deathly serious. "You don't already have a full team of Pokémon, do you?"

"No," Hannah replied, rather uncertainly. "I don't have any Pokémon, actually." She began to wring her apron nervously, hoping she hadn't messed up. She hadn't remembered being a Trainer having been listed as a job requirement. "Is that bad?"

The other maid's expression instantly brightened. "No, that's wonderful!" She stepped forward and placed a single Pokeball in Hannah's hand. "That's a Clefairy. All maids here own one," she explained, as Hannah studied the red and white sphere with interest. "Just do me one favor, ok?"

"Sure," Hannah agreed, glad that things were going so well.

"Good, I knew we could count on you!" the maid beamed, regarding Hannah with a friendly smile. Then her smile faded, her expression turning deathly serious once more. She walked towards Hannah, causing the girl to take a step backwards as her personal space was invaded. She looked Hannah strait in the eye, her gaze hard, cold, and full of…fear? "Promise me that you'll love that Clefairy," she finally whispered, voice barely audible. "Promise me that you'll love that Clefairy…forever."

Hannah shakily nodded, not sure what to make of this. There was something about that woman's statement. Was it a warning? A threat? Or was it something worse…

Hannah enjoyed working for Mr. Backlot over the next couple months, and during that time, she and her Clefairy became fast friends. She took the little Pokémon everywhere with her, and even got to battle visitors to the mansion on occasion. The other maid's strange behavior the day she received Clefairy completely forgotten, Hannah found herself wondering once again what was behind those closed doors. What's more, the doors were always guarded by one of the maids, and whenever she asked what was behind them, they'd just shake their heads…and shudder.

Something is behind those doors, Hannah realized. Something is behind those doors and the other maids know what it is! Why won't they tell me? I work here too, you know!

As the months passed, Hannah found her attention drawn to what lay beyond those doors. There was a secret hidden in Mr. Backlot's Mansion, and she was determined to find out what it was. She began neglecting her work, spending more and more time trying to figure it out. Eventually, she began spending less and less time with her Clefairy.

The Clefairy, well fed but lonely, took to amusing itself by making shadow puppets on the wall…

One day, Hannah released her Clefairy from its Pokeball to feed it, but the little Pokémon wouldn't eat. Concerned, she picked up the Clefairy and held it in her arms, but the Pokémon was non responsive. She turned to head to Mr. Backlott and ask him if he would excuse her so she could go to the Pokémon Center, when the lights began to flicker, casting dim shadows on the walls. The Clefairy began mumbling something in its own language, which Hannah was unable to understand.

"What is it Clefairy? What's wrong?"

The little Pokémon lifted up its arm and pointed one finger towards the wall.

Hannah gasped at what she saw. There was her shadow but, where was Clefairys? To make sure, she held up the little Pokémon, but its form cast no shadow. Hannah turned towards the creature in her arms and choked back a sob as she felt its body go limp, its eyes closing. Hannah held it close as its lifeless body seemed to grow lighter in her arms…and then she heard it. Clefairy was still breathing.

Turning to the form in her arms, she saw the Clefairy's eyes open, now glowing a strange red, its mouth pulling back into an evil grin, revealing rows and rows of vicious fangs. The Clefairy floated up out of Hannah's arms, until it hovered above her, grinning a Cheshire cat grin. Its fur turned purple as the Pokémon changed shape, taking on a new, more freighting image.

"Geeengaaaar…" the Pokémon whispered, the air around it growing strangely cold.

Hannah turned to run, but was stopped by one of the maids, the one who had given her Clefairy.

"Do you wish to know what is beyond those doors?" she asked, taking Hannah firmly by the wrist. Screaming in protest, Hannah was forcibly dragged through the dark halls, the Gengar following close behind, laughing mercilessly. Opening the door, the woman tossed Hannah inside, her expression completely blank. "I tried to warn you," she whispered as the air around them turned cold. "We all did." The Gengar's laughter encircled the pair, seeming to cut off all available oxygen. "I told you to love it forever Hannah," the woman whispered, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "Why couldn't you have listened?"

"I-I did!" she tried to protest, but the woman ignored her.

"You ignored it," she whispered, voice barely audible. "You ignored it, and now you'll pay the price. Look."

Hannah turned to where the maid was pointing, then wished she hadn't.

The room was full of Gengar, all eyeing her wickedly, as if she was something to eat. Was this what happened to all the Clefairy who were ignored by their Trainers?

Hannah screamed as the shadowy Pokémon converged on her, their eyes glowing with mischief and the pain of years' worth of neglect. She screamed as one Gengar tugged at her hair, trying to shoe it away, only to have her hand pass right through. The Pokémon clawed at her, grinning all the while and laughing at her fear. With one final scream, she and the Pokémon vanished, becoming shadows on the wall…

"And that is why we don't allow anyone back here," the maid stated calmly, as the lights turned back on to their normal brightness. She turned to Mr. Backlott, a look of sorrow on her face. "I'm sorry sir. I tried."

"There, there, it's alright," Mr. Backlott assured her, wrapping his loyal employee in an understanding hug. "It couldn't be helped you know. Sooner or later, everyone falls down the rabbit hole."