I was drifting in the blackness of unconsciousness for who knows how long. I was in no hurry to get back. The drifting of dull thoughts, of sights and sounds was almost serene. The thing that drew me back into the real world was the scent of something familiar. As I inhaled, more and more reality started forming. Oak…Maple…Pine…I'm in a forest. I nodded in acceptance to this fact, reality and logic still not entirely piercing my mind. After a moment of idle thought, my mind suddenly jolted into full awareness. What am I doing in a forest?!

Sitting up, but still with closed eyes, I tried to remember where I was supposed to be. I knew it was strange that I was in a forest, but I didn't know why it was. The more I tried to find it, the farther the answer danced away from my mind. I couldn't remember anything. It was as if I was born that day, in that forest, but that obviously wasn't right, though I still wasn't sure why it wasn't right.

After giving up on remembering, I opened my eyes for the first time. No, not the first time. Just the first time I could remember doing so. The first thought that came to my mind was the sight of the trees, I could then put an image to the scents. Why are they so big? I wondered. Before I could get up to study them, however, exhaustion hit, and I quickly drifted off once more.

In my dream I kept hearing a voice. It had been completely black for a while, but now a voice was making its way into it, more than pushing, it was burrowing inside, not allowing the coaxing darkness to take me. I tried to push it away and ignore it, but it just got louder and louder. "Hey," it said, "You need to get moving. This road will by busy soon!"

My eyes slowly opened, only to be met by the eyes of a... Vulpix, my mind confirmed after a split second of thought. Though this one had something off about it. The image in my mind was a fox of blazing red fur, not golden like this one was. "Why are you so big?" I asked, the question turning half into a yawn. The Vulpix looked confused, but shrugged.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'd hurry if I were you. We have to get out of here!"

I blinked for a moment, and cocked my head. Something was off about this. Then it hit me. The Vulpix was talking! "You're a talking Vulpix!" I said, a bit loudly.

"Were you dropped or something?" the Vulpix replied with an amused look. "Of course I talk." Her ears perked, and she heard something my own couldn't. "We'd better get out of here quick!"

Before I could even take a breath to respond, she grabbed me and dragged me into the trees at the side of the road. I didn't fight her, and let amusement wash over me. A large Vulpix dragging a human through the woods. The world must have a sense of humor.[ I thought, chuckling. Once in the trees, the Vulpix loosened her grip and stepped back.

"That would have been easier if you would have just got up when I told you to. Though you're pretty light for a Zorua," she laughed. "My name's Flair, what's yours?"

Zorua? Was this Vulpix insane? Or was I? Maybe this was just some bizarre dream. I'll just play along until I wake up. This dream seems strange enough, I mine as well enjoy it. "My name is Lily," I replied.

Flair smiled. "Glad to make your acquaintance. Come on," she laughed, "I can't drag you everywhere. Well, I can, but don't expect me to!" Her sudden enthusiasm was contagious. I stood up and tried to walk, but ended up tripping over my own feet. Heat rushed to my face, but my new fur seemed to hide the blush of embarrassment. I guess that's one perk of being a Pokémon. Flair tried to hide her giggles, but the silent heaving of her sides gave her away.

"You really are a strange Zorua," she said, somewhat regaining her composure. "I've never seen another one of you around here, so maybe you're normal for where you came from. I honestly don't know." She looked at me with a curious expression, but some petty emotion, perhaps the hurt and embarrassment of being laughed at, didn't make me want to give her any kind of answer. I remained silent.

After a few still moments, Flair put her question aside. Giving me a meaningful look, she took a few slow steps, trying to show me how to do it without tripping over my own feet. I copied her movements, and took small steps. Once I got the hang of it, a proud feeling welled in my chest. I could walk! Nothing could stop me now!

Nothing, except for one thing. Flair stood by me with a huge grin on her face. It almost looked as if she were up to something. Suddenly, she shot off deeper into the forest at a sprint. Surprised, I tried to follow. "I can't run!" I shouted at her. "Slow down!"

"If you can walk, you can run!" she shouted back, her voice indicating where she had disappeared into the trees.

Trying to follow, my walk grew faster and faster, until I was finally running. It was exhilarating! The trees blurred by in streaks of green and brown. My full attention was on the yellow tails of Flair, who I had almost caught up to.

Minutes passed, or hours, I didn't know. Without any warning, Flair skidded to a halt. I did as well, but not nearly as graceful. My face scraped the ground as I slammed into it, and the taste of dirt filled my mouth. Ignoring me, Flair's ears were once again perked. She had a panicked look in her eyes.

"There are trainers coming Lily," she said, "we have to get away from here." She turned toward a thick looking growth of trees, the kind of thing we seemed to avoid on our run. "Follow me," she said before sprinting off into it. Startled, it took me a while to comprehend what was happening. Why would a trainer want to bother me? I have nothing to battle with. Besides, maybe they could tell me where the heck I am. Then I remembered that this was some wacko dream, that I was a Pokémon. A rare one around here, from what Flair had said. I looked around for Flair, but there was no sign of her. The bushes next to me rustled, and I could hear voices: human voices.

"I swear I heard something over here," a male voice said.

"If it's another Beedrill, I'm going to kill you," another male voice replied.

The two trainers appeared into the clearing where I stood frozen, and I was staring wide eyed into the shocked expression of both.