Tick...tock...tick...tock
The hands on the clock could not move slower. It was late in the afternoon during the last class of the day, everyone was on the edge of their seats as nearly everyone watched the clock.
The elderly man Mr. Wohuok gave his humanities lecture, which honestly was a lot more like book club with grades.
On my right sat my friend Bryan. He's pretty tall, having a short brown somewhat brushed head of hair. We both laughed about how the class was taught, but we both agreed that the teacher was too sweet to ever despise the class. I glanced over at him, who was looking up at the teacher. Soon we would be free of classes for the day.
"We're just about out of time. Thank you all for being here and please have a wonderful rest of the day." He bowed his head quickly in thanks as the rest of the class gathered their stuff.
Bryan got up as I threw some stuff into my backpack, "So, Elena, what are you planning on doing the rest of today?"
I got up from my chair, pushing my long dirty blonde hair away from my face, "I'm not sure. I was thinking of getting some homework done mainly."
"Are you going to go to the campus center to join us again?"
"Probably. Studying alone isn't as fun." I smiled at him as I threw my backpack around my arms.
College life is awesome. Sure, most people pursue a career in training Pokemon, but there is always the option of staying in school to go on to college. I'm only a freshman starting her first semester, but so far I've made amazing friends and classes are enjoyable too.
Bryan and I walked out of one of the buildings and gazed out over the fresh green grass and trees that basically danced in the wind. The nature surrounding this campus was breath-taking, absolutely stunning. Meanwhile there were many Pokemon that were exploring the area around as well, going about their lives. There were many pachirisu wandering around, collecting berries and nuts, while in the sky there were many species of bird pokemon flying around.
"I'll never get over the nature here...it's so beautiful." My eyes basically sparkled in awe.
"Definitely." Bryan nodded with a smile as he glanced over.
We entered the stone building and found some other friends sitting at one of the high tables by one of the posts. There was Kaylee, a bright girl with a slight southern accent who often tied her red blonde hair back into a braid. Next to her there was the twins, Oscar, the taller one with blonde hair, and Clarence who had dark brown hair.
"Hey guys!" I waved before placing my bag down at an empty chair.
"Hey Elena!" Kaylee smiled at me before looking back to the silver laptop sitting in front of her, listening to music with an earbud in one ear.
"What time are we playing frisbee today? We changed the time, right?" Bryan asked as he set his stuff down and took one of the other available seats.
"It's going to be four thirty this time. Kalissa had to go to one of the help sessions after one of her classes so we moved the time back enough for her to join." Clarence spoke with energy in his voice.
I couldn't help but glance at the campus center store that was across the room, a big chalkboard sign advertised new stock of fresh water, complete with a drawing of the bottle.
"I might get some of the water from the store before frisbee. Do you guys need anything?" I asked as I dug through my backpack for a brown wallet.
"No thanks, I already got some Feraligatrade." Clarence held up a blue bottle with a feraligatr on it.
"I'm good for now, but thanks" Bryan smiled before he turned back to a textbook he pulled out of his bag.
I nodded before walking over to the campus store. The great thing about this campus was that it wasn't as big as other campuses, so that meant a better opportunity to make friends because everyone knows just about everyone. As I entered the store, I saw familiar friends who were either buying school supplies or other odd items that the store supplied. It wasn't hard to find the water, there was a huge bin near the door.
"Elena! Did I hear right you're joining us for frisbee?" My friend Nolan expressed excitedly as he spotted me in the store.
"I am. I doubt I'll be that good at it though." I looked down at the water bottle in my hand before placing it on the counter to pay.
"It's not about being good at it! You will get good at it." Nolan made a fist in excitement. He was one of the many on the frisbee team that took the game seriously.
"Heh, I suppose." I chuckled.
The main frisbee players all met up on the large green lawn in the center of campus. Some of the players were human, while others brought their Pokemon. Of the pokemon, Oscar brought his Timburr, a small little gray pokemon that normally carried a square wood log with it, though for this sport it left the log with everyone's stuff. Kaylee brought her Girafarig, which instead of psychic power to manipulate the disc, it instead grabs and throws things with its' tail.
"So Elena, the rules are basically like a mix of football and soccer except we use a frisbee and there's no tackling... unless you run into other players. There are two teams, so feel free to pick who's team you want to be on." Kaylee explained as we approached the field.
"Hmm...I think I'll just try to be on your team if that's alright."
"Sure! On my team there's me, Galla my Girafarig, Bryan, Sabrina and her Gothorita, and Clarence. That should work out evenly." Kaylee beamed with excitement as she ran out onto the field with everyone else.
Nervously but intrigued, I ran out onto the field as I ditched my stuff under the tree with everyone else's. On the other team I spotted Oscar and his Timburr, Andy with his Aipom, Nolan, Amber, and Kalissa.
The game went on, though it became clear to me that I was not going to do well. Everyone on the teams knew these complicated throwing techniques for the disc, once I never knew possible.
"Elena, heads up!" Clarence threw the disc aimed at me.
"Ah!"
I began to ran after the frisbee, but unfortunately the curve of the disc made it fly high into the air. I tried to run as fast as I could but the Timburr on the other team made it to the disc before I had a chance. I frowned in disappointment as the Timburr threw the disc to someone on his team.
The game went on for a long time, a couple hours or so. As I suspected I wasn't that good, I was too slow to be that effective to my team. The game had ended and everyone gathered around the tree where we put our things.
"Good game everyone!" Kaylee cheered.
"So Elena, what did you think of it?" Bryan asked as he grabbed his backpack.
"Well...It was kind of fun..." I reached for the fresh water that was stashed in my bag and took a sip, "I just wish I was faster and more agile to catch the disc...like Pikachu or something."
Just then, I felt an itch begin on my neck. I reached my hand to scratch when I felt...fur?
"What the-?!"
The tingly feeling continued as yellow fur continued to over my body.
"What is happening?! What's wrong?!" The others watched with a mixture of confusion and horror.
As fur continued to grow as I felt my ears change and shift towards the top of my head. My long dirty blonde hair disappeared as my head became more mouse-like, complete with red cheeks and a black tip nose. My ears became pointed and they too had black tips. As I shrunk into my clothes, my hands shifted into paws, though they still kept five digits. My feet became more pointed, with three toes on each foot. Finally, as I was about to stop shrinking, a long lightning-bolt-shaped tail sprouted from my behind. Where is started from my body there was a little brown fur, but then the rest of the tail to the heart shape it was yellow. I emerged from the pile of clothes as a true Pikachu.
"Elena, is that you?!" Kaylee gasped as everyone looked down at me.
"Ugh...yeah." I shook my head as I looked around, "Why are you guys so much bigger?"
"Uh..." Kalissa reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. She put her camera on selfie mode before holding it up to me, revealing a pikachu staring into the screen.
"...WHAT THE-?!" I panicked as I looked over myself. I really had turned into a yellow rat, with my tail reacting along with my emotions, "When I said I wanted to be like Pikachu, I didn't mean literally!"
"At least you can still talk..." Bryan frowned in sympathy.
"She got to change into a Pokemon? That's awesome!" Sabrina laughed.
"We should really get you to the health center...maybe they can help with this?" Kaylee suggested as she crouched down to me.
"Well...I guess..." My ears perked down along with my tail, "But I don't think I can get there that fast on my own...can I have some help?"
"Of course." Kaylee didn't hesitate to pick me up. Bryan meanwhile picked up my backpack and water bottle.
"And you say this just happened?" The nurse used a tongue depressor as she inspected my mouth, while I sat on the counter.
Most of the frisbee group came, Kaylee and her Girafarig, Bryan, Kalissa, Nolan, Oscar and his Timburr, and Clarence. The others either had a meeting or a late class to get to.
"Yeah. We were playing frisbee and at the end of the game she suddenly transformed." Kaylee explained.
"Will she be alright?" Bryan questioned.
"Well...She doesn't seem to be in any physical pain...the only thing being that she somehow transformed into a Pikachu. Since this is something we've never experienced, we don't yet have a cure."
"Are you kidding..." My ears drooped. Being stuck as a Pokemon didn't seem convenient for attending classes and such.
"Don't worry, Elena. We'll make sure to contact other doctors and scientists and figure out what is going on. In the meantime, I'm afraid you'll have to learn to live as a Pokemon."
A huge sigh escaped my mouth as I looked over my new form. How on earth did this happen, and how would I learn to adjust?
"Don't worry, Elena. We'll be sure to help you in any way we can." Kaylee gave a hopeful smile.
"Thanks..." I weakly smiled back.
Suddenly a huge growl came from my stomach.
"Hehe..." I blushed, though it was hard to tell with my already red cheeks.
"I guess that means we should be getting to dinner." Kalissa spoke up.
"You can ride on my back to dinner if you'd like."
My ears perked up at the new voice. I turned my head only to see Galla the Girafarig.
"W-What the...I can understand you?" I leaned on all fours and looked down at the Girafarig.
"You can understand Galla?" Kaylee's eyes sparkled in awe.
"Yeah...it seems so." I nodded.
"I'm glad to have someone understand me for once, besides other pokemon." Galla smiled at me.
"Heh, I suppose so." My tail slightly wagged.
Galla turned and let me hop down onto her back.
"I hope you find it easy to adjust, Elena." The nurse grinned hopefully.
"Thank you."
Soon we were back at the campus center, heading up the stairs to the cafeteria.
"I wonder what caused that transformation in the first place...It happened so suddenly." Bryan put a hand to his chin in thought.
"It's strange how it happened right after she mentioned Pikachu too..." Clarence noted.
"Wait, so is this some strange power you have, Elena? Can you just change into a pokemon you think of?" Oscar looked down at me.
"Well...I don't think so? I could try it"
"Please something small, I can't lift huge pokemon..." Galla pleaded.
"Right, I won't." I tried to think of a small pokemon. The first thing that came to mind was a pachirisu. I waited, but nothing happened, "No I guess not."
We soon got to the top of the stairs and waited in line to scan our ids.
"Oh! Bryan, could you please get my id from my bag? It should be in the front pocket."
"Are you sure you'll need this? I mean you're a pokemon now..." He hesitated but found the id.
"I still want to be honest and scan." I smiled before taking the id in my paws.
Kaylee scanned, then the twins, and then Galla walked over so I could hop onto the counter and scan my id.
"Hey little Pikachu. You don't need an id to eat here." An elderly lady from behind the counter smiled.
"Well actually...I am a student..."
Recognizing my voice, the woman's eyes widened.
"Elena? Is that you?!"
"Yup...I don't know how, but I somehow turned into a Pikachu this afternoon..." My ear drooped in embarrassment.
"Wow...I can't believe it...I'm sorry to hear that..." She frowned.
"Thanks. The doctors are working to find a cure."
I scanned my card and hopped down onto Galla again. We then joined the others at a huge table.
I kept getting odd looks from other students. Naturally everyone was shocked to hear a talking Pikachu, but once they heard the story some couldn't believe it while others felt sympathetic.
"Elena, we'll help you get food if you'd like. What would you like?" Kaylee asked.
"Hmm...I read the menu earlier and saw they have tomato soup. Could I have some of that?"
"Sure thing!" She smiled before heading off.
Meanwhile, Galla the Girafarig and Lumb the Timburr stayed behind as their trainers usually brought them pokemon food. Boy, I wonder if I'll have to start eating pokemon food too?
"Sigh..." My ears and tail drooped as I sat on the table.
"Why are you so down about being a Pokemon? It ain't so bad." Lumb folded his arms as he hopped onto a chair.
"Come on now, Lumb. You know things would be different for you if you became a human." Galla barked at him.
"Maybe, but I would still be able to build things and such." He reclined in his chair.
Galla sighed and with a wag in her tail, she turned to me, "Don't worry about him. He's pretty...arrogant." Her ears perked down.
"Even still...I guess the bright side to this is getting to understand you guys. I just don't know how I'll be able to adjust."
"Well I can try to help you, though we're not that similarly built, body wise and type wise." Her tail wagged a bit.
"Thanks, Galla." Having a tail was weird. As soon as I smiled I could feel my tail wag some.
We both noticed my new tail wagging but then laughed.
Everyone soon arrived with the food.
"Here you go, Elena." Kaylee put a small bowl of soup in front of me and a spoon.
"Thanks Kaylee" I tried to pick up the spoon with my paws, but because they were so small I had no luck.
"It may be a bit different for you, but it might be easier to sip it straight from the bowl." Gala suggested.
I looked at the spoon before putting it to the side and with a shrug, I started to eat from the bowl.
Some of my friends chuckled at my animalistic behavior, but I couldn't eat any other way.
"So I was thinking...do we know anyone on campus with any electric types?" Kaylee asked the group.
Everyone shook their head.
"Why do you ask?" I looked up at her.
"Well I was thinking that since you're a pokemon now, it might help you to learn some moves. Just a thought."
"Why would I have to learn moves when I'm at college?" I asked before taking another gulp of my soup.
"Well you are studying in classes, but say you somehow get into a battle with wild pokemon or even other trainers on campus. You will need some form to defend yourself, especially now that you have a new body to get used to."
"Hmm...I suppose so." I nodded.
Just then, the cafeteria was interrupted as a huge commotion started at another table.
"What is going on?" Oscar looked up.
"Wait, is that Dylan?" Bryan observed
At one of the tables, someone was hunched over in pain. A friend of his had placed a hand on his back but stepped back as he started to shake.
His body started to become blue as large fins and spikes formed and begin to tear his clothing. Large orange spikes emerged from his cheeks, while on the top of his head there were fins that stopped at the top of his eyes. On his behind there was a large fin for his tail. He became bluer and bigger and finally stopped as he became a swampert.
"What the heck?!" The new transformee yelled.
My ears perked up and without a thought, I hopped off the table and ran over to him, though I found myself running more like a human.
"Dylan, are you okay?!"
"Uh...I'm a swampert!" He yelled, "Wait, Elena?!" His eyes widened as he recognized my voice.
It seems that I wasn't the only strange transformation to happen on campus, and little did I know it certainly wouldn't be the last.