Chapter 1:
I stare at the place I once called home…no more than a few days ago was I in my front lawn, relaxing under the sun and enjoying the company of my family. The house that was painted a light cream with flowers embedded around the yard now was abandoned and left to rot in its own grave. My ears slanted back as I felt tears brim my eyes…all of that is gone now, and nothing seems willing to change it.
I can remember it like it was yesterday when I was sitting on my front porch watching my little sister Jessie play with her Pokémon action figures…and then, all hell broke loose.
Flash Back:
"Don't wander off too far, Jessie!" I called with a smile to my six year old sister. She smiled at me as she ran around the yard giggling with her toys. I brought my eyes back to my book I was reading, enjoying the warm summers day we were provided with.
"Ahhh!" I glanced up in immediate panic to see Jessie running away from what seemed to be a houndoom. Its dark red eyes scanned the area and its sharp teeth snapped as I made eye contact with it.
Jumping up in haste, I pushed Jessie behind me and held my ground as it started howling in my direction.
"Get out of here! Go on!" I yelled at the rabid Pokémon. It dug its claws into the ground and started circling me and my little sister with a glare in its eyes. I looked towards the front door to see we were no far than 8 yards away…practically a full dash for us to get there, but a mere jump for this Pokémon.
"Mph, I'm scared Farrah!" Jessie wailed grabbing my hands to her face. I quickly hushed her and slowly started backing up towards our home.
"Jessie, we need to talk nice and quiet okay? We are going to be...just…fine." I whispered hearing my own voice shake. The Pokémon got closer and I began to feel concerned for my sisters and my safety. "Jessie, when I say three, I want you to run to the front door…okay? Can you do that?" I whispered, prying her hands from mine.
"Will you be behind me?" she answered looking at me intensely. I nodded numbly, not verbalizing any guarantee…I was going to distract the houndoom while she got to a safer position.
"Just promise you won't turn around, and you will keep running until you get inside. I need you to promise me that. Don't stop running…" I whispered as the Pokémon edged closer. Jessie nodded as I smiled to myself.
"Okay good. Now get behind me and face the house." The houndoom was now directly in front of me with its fangs lashing out in a teasing threat.
"One…" the Pokémon began to arch its back.
"Two…" its belly was now near the ground.
"Three!" I didn't have to turn around to know Jessie had started running, because the Houndoom's eyes tracked her instantly. I could see within a second of the time span it would take for it to get a hold of her…so I lunged at it, blocking its path. The Pokémon bucked and clawed at me as I had my arms wrapped around its neck in a tight hold, keeping it from my sister who just made it inside.
"Ouch!" feeling a sharp sting in my arm, I could see vivid bite marks of the Pokémon's jaws as it had clamped on my arm for a split second. I recoiled back letting go, and instinctively ran the opposite way of the Houndoom's path.
I had made at least less than a mile from my home to the Evergreen Forest until the Pokémon had lunged at me again, this time grabbing hold of my leg.
"Ahh-oww!" I screamed as it dug its teeth into my calf. I immediately began kicking and crawling away to no avail. The Pokémon bit near my shoulder, obviously trying to bite my neck to close off my wind pipe. I began throwing punches as I felt myself growing dazed.
"BEGONE!" a shrill voice echoed through the forest. I covered my ears and could feel the aftermath of the pain rushing through my body. A soft pressure was placed on my shoulder, and I instantly recoiled from the touch.
"Do not be afraid human, I will not bring harm to you."
A voice much gentler than the one I heard a moment ago ran through my head. I lifted myself up slowly to see a large Ninetales sitting on its hind quarters looking at me cynically.
"Did you just talk?" I whispered to it as its red orbs stared into mine.
"I can communicate through telepathy, not actually speak though."
I nodded understanding and glanced around nervously. "Is that houndoom gone?" The Ninetales nodded its head and stuck its face in mine while sniffing me. I leaned up and propped myself against the tree and winced as another round of pain course through my chest and legs. I reached up and touched my left shoulder, and could tell it was numb.
The Pokémon was obviously frowning…its eyes even made it clear that I was unappealing at the moment.
"I feel like I was hit by a truck…" I gasped as I could feel my side ache in pain. The Ninetales began to lick my cheek in a comforting manner and let out a sigh.
"I am afraid your wounds are worse than I thought…that Pokémon was infested by a disease of some sort…maybe a parasite. It will soon pass on, and I am afraid you'll face the same fate from these direct wounds you are developing."
I held my breath as I looked down to see not only a bloody gash, but a deep black pigment surrounding the wound. There was nothing there to cover the gash to help it form a blood clot, and I could already feel my vision becoming hazy.
"I-I was bit…how bad is it?" I whispered bringing my shaking hand to my face as I tried to squint for a clearer image. The Ninetales didn't answer and I brought my hand back down, and made a painful sigh as I sat there in discomfort.
"I can't guarantee you'll live..." The Ninetales added to itself. I sorrowfully glared to it. I could feel myself crying... "Not as a human at least." It finished.
I raised my brow as it stood up, flexing its tales in a pivoting motion. It seemed to be smiling at me, but I could see pain in its eyes. I watched its beautiful tales sway, and I couldn't help but reach out and stroke it with my good hand. I recoiled back at the immediately feeling of being burned and looked to my hand to see it was fine and nothing was wrong. But a second later the Ninetales was in my face with its ears slanted back.
"Listen very closely human. I am doing you a favor, but it comes with a price. If you want to live, I will save you…but if you don't, I will have no choice but to leave you here to perish." Its eyes were blood red and it sent shivers down my spine.
"I-I want to l-live." I managed to say with a pained breath. It nodded and I could feel my body burning just as my hand did earlier. Pain, indescribable pain ran through every inch of me, in ways I never thought possible. I hunched over clasping my stomach, crying out in agony. The Ninetales had taken a few steps back and was watching me silently.
I reached out my hand to it, and began to cry. "P-please help m-me!" I gasped as I could feel as if my heart would explode. The Ninetales lowered its head.
"I already have."
I narrowed my eyes in confusion but quickly shut them as I fell over. I closed my eyes enduring the pain, and gasped as I could feel my very being changing, my world around me closing in, making it hard to breathe, and even harder to understand what was happening.
It was then I was shrouded in darkness…and awoke to a soft motion on my head.
"Ugh…I…what happened..." I whispered with my eyes still shut. The funny motion I was feeling stopped, and I could feel a radiating heat over me.
"Can you open your eyes?"
That voice…I know that voice…
I gasped in shock as my eye lids fluttered open, and colors I never seen before exploded before my eyes. Leaning up immediately, I felt my head run wild and different instincts began to kick in. Defense. Question. Smell. Sight. Hearing. Hunt. Speak. A thousands actions were running through my mind as I sat staring at the tree.
"Where am I?" I whispered looking up at the strange discoloration around me. A golden blurry figure was now in front of me, and the first thought that came to mind was 'Ninetales. Male.' I shook my head and began to rub it with my front paw-paw…paw?!
"Holy Arceus, what is going on?" I wailed standing up on my four legs. I began to shake and wobble as I walked over to the Pokémon who didn't budge, but waited patiently for me to settle.
"Relax, you're alive and that is all that matters." He answered plainly. I stared up at him, as I finally made it to his chest, feeling my legs shake again from the nerves and weight from my body.
"I don't understand what is going on." I whispered trying to not cry. I stopped though and began smelling. My nose was in control and I couldn't help myself but lean my head over and smell the Ninetales before me. I began sniffing his chin and snout, smelling different things from berries, Pokémon, and blood…my blood.
I pinned my ears back and stumbled over my feet and my tales, as I sat there dumbstruck. I began to twirl my head in every way possible to see what I was doing. I was waging my tales…my tales, I had freaking tales! I began to whine like a pup and got up again to the Ninetales that was still silent.
"What-what did you do to me?" I whispered shaking. He stared at me with warm eyes and gently placed a paw on my shoulder, causing me to sit down on my hind legs. He removed his paw and sat up tall.
"I saved your life. I can no longer associate with you I am afraid, it goes against tradition." He stated standing up again.
"N-no wait! I didn't ask for this! C-change me back! Please!" I whined as he began walking from me. He stopped and turned to me with his ears forward.
"You would be dead if it wasn't for me, and I am afraid this is how things will stay. If you truly wish to return to who you once were, discover the one who loves you for you, and this miracle…or curse you could say, will be lifted." He finished turning his head.
I stared at him and pulled my head back in a bark getting on all fours.
"No! You can't just leave! E-even if you do I will f-follow you until you change me back!" I wailed now crying. The Ninetales turned to me and let out a sigh. Walking over to me in a haste like manner, he lunged and pinned me down on my stomach where I could not get back up.
"H-hey! Get off of me!" I snapped as he held me down.
"I am truly sorry young one. I will only put you in a light sleep so you won't follow. This will be the last time we see another."
I was about to protest until I felt what seemed to be a heavy migraine, causing my eye lids to droop. "C-change…me…b-back…" I whispered as I could feel him leaning off of me, and walking away.
"Take care…may the light of Arceus guild you home." And with that, I passed out…
End of Flash Back.
Hey guys! I am sorry I have been busy and am working on some college essays and haven't had a whole lot of time to update! I wanted to go ahead and put this up though so if you like it, leave a review of what you think and I promise I will try and update the other story as well this evening! (:
