A/N: So here it is. Chapter 2. I hope you will enjoy this chapter. Feel free to leave suggestions or story lines.

Chapter 2

"I don't know what possesed me when I agreed to becoming Ash's Pokemon." Paul thought. The boy was so naïve and dim-witten he could barely stand it! Not to mention Ash's idiotic pokemon. They never stopped chattering about Ash's training, Brock's food, Dawn's ribbons or other meaningless shit. He had only been with them for one day, and he had already heard every sentence they said at least 5 times.

Paul took a small bite of his pokemonfood, only to spit it out with a disgusted noise. How did pokemon manage to down this stuff ? It tasted horrible ! Paul shuddered and supressed a gag. No dinner then. The other pokemon were gobbling it up as if it were cake, and their noisy eating habits were really annoying. Paul sighed and jumped into a tree. I really need peace and quiet once in a while. Paul stared at the dark sky. Just a day ago, on a night like this, his life as a human had ended.

Paul closed his eyes, and he let the other dimension take over his senses. The forest was still bristling with life, many nighttime pokemon were just waking up. The thoughts of the ones around him were like whispers floating through the air. He never tried to hear what they were thinking. It probably wasn't anything worthwile anyway.

"Hey Espeon ! Don't be such a party-pooper ! Come down and play tag with us !" I flinch as the high-pitched scream pulled me out of my silent , the most annoying pokemon Ash has in his team. For some reason, Monferno fervently believes that he needs to take care of me. Continually the flaming monkey pounces on me, telling me to let go of Paul, and that Paul hadn't been the nicest trainer anyway, and that I should be happy to be with ash now. Needless to say, I absolutely hate Monferno. I turn around with a feral snarl on my face. " Leave me alone !" When will this fool stop bothering me ? Paul jumped a few branches further and closed his eyes again, preparing to open up the other dimension again.

"Hey, Espeon ?" This time it was Ash. " You didn't eat a lot of your food, are you okay ?" Paul sighed. He had gotten used to Ash's stupid comments by now. People being unable to understand you was a pain in the ass. Of course he wasn't okay. He had fallen off a cliff, died, brought to life as an espeon, got poisoned and got captured. And that all in just one day ago. Paul sighed and climbed down. He walked past Ash and began playing with his pokeball, rolling it back and forth between his paws. It was the only amusement he had found so far, besides from pestering wild pokemon.

Ash sighed and sat down by the campfire a few meters further. "Do you guys think Espeon dislikes me ?" Ash was speaking quietly, but Paul's psychic power and his enhanced hearing made it easy to hear what he was saying. Even without trying he could feel the emotions flowing through the air. Brock answered in an equally quiet voice. " He is just grieving, he lost his trainer, and from what I think, he is blaming himself." Paul hissed and swatted his paw furiously against his pokeball. Why were people so darn stupid ? "Hey, I have an idea !" Oh god, not that girl. Please. "Why don't you give him some poffins ? I made some just yesterday ! I'm sure he'll love them !" Paul shuddered. Poffins were better than normal food, but it was outright gross next to normal human food.

Oh what I would do for some nice curry now. "I... I don't think Espeon likes poffins. Maybe... Maybe we should try asking him what he wants to eat ?" Paul's ears perked up at that. That was the best idea he had heard so far. Ash came up to him and laid his hand on Paul's head. "Hey Espeon, I know you're upset, but will you please eat ? We have some other nice food besides poffins and pokemon food..." Paul nodded quickly and replied with a hungry "Espeon !" Ash smiled and picked him up.

The moment Ash let go of Paul, he jumped at the food, gulping down as much as he could. It was delicious. He barely noticed the goodhearted laughs from the trainers around him. "You were right Ash, it seems he loves my cooking !" Paul ignore him. After he had practically licked his plate clean, he walked over to Ash's sleeping bag and curled up in it with a small yawn. " Ah ! Espeon ! That is where I sleep..." Paul was already alseep. Ash sighed. "I guess you can sleep with me for once..."

The next day

When Paul woke up, he was very comfortable. Softness was all around him, and it was pleasantly warm. Paul was purring in contentment, curling up to the source of the warmth.

Wait... The warmth had a source ? Paul's eyes snapped open, and he stared right in Ash's sleeping face. Paul let out a high-pitched screech and dove out of the sleeping bag. Ash let out a startled cry and jumped out of his sleeping bag. Paul was burning red. How the hell had he NOT noticed that Ash had been lying in the same bed with him ? "Espeon ? What happened ? Is something wrong ? Why are you so red ?" Paul quickly looked away and started cleaning himself.

"What happened Ash ? What was that weird screech ?" Ash shook his head and turned to his friends. " Ah, it was nothing, I think I just startled Espeon a bit...Well, now that we're up, let's get some breakfast and move on. " Paul sighed. Crisis averted.

Breakfast was once again pure torture for Paul's ears, but when he concentrated on the other dimension it wasn't at all that bad. Nonetheless he was happy when the trainers called back most of their pokemon. Leaving only Piplup, Pikachu and himself out of their pokeball. The trip was silent, and Paul enjoyed the sunlight that was shining down on them. It was weird, but the sunlight seemed to brighten his mood by a degree he hadn't thought possible.

Well, Espeon was a pokemon that enjoyed sunlight, but he never thought it would have this much effect. A butterfree suddenly fluttered in front of him, and before he knew It he was swatting his paws at it, making playful noises as he chased the thing around. The butterfree giggled and avoided his paws. "Giggle giggle ! Catch me if you can kitty !" Paul grinned and followed it around. Over the rock, around the tree, left, right, left, left- "UCK" His nose met a tree with a small thunk, and Paul let out a startled yelp.

"Better luck next time Espeon !" He could hear the other's laughing at his blunder, and Paul wanted to bury himself and never come back up again. Why had he started chasing that butterfree in the first place ? The rest of the way he had walked behind the rest, making sure he didn't let himself go like that again.

Just when Paul believed they would walk on forever, Dawn let out an small squeal. " Ah ! There is the next city ! Awesome ! I can get my next ribbon !" Paul half expected Ash to join in with an equally excited speech about the badge he would be winning soon, but Ash didn't say anything. Brock and Dawn seemed to notice it as well, but neither of them said anything. Dawn quieted, and the first so happy atmosphere now cooled down.

Paul felt startled, the change in atmosphere felt like a freezing shower, the emotions buzzing through the air were cold and sad. "I still can't believe that Paul is dead." Ash stared at the ground. He wasn't crying, But Paul could feel the thick emotions running through the air. Ash was on the verge of crying. Dawn walked up to Ash and gave him a hug. "It'll be okay Ash... Just let it all out..." Paul closed his eyes and rubbed him head against Ash's leg. Ash kneeled down and hugged Paul. "I'm sorry Espeon. I know it's hard for you too, but together we can get over this, right buddy ?" Paul gave a small nod.

Ash stood up and shook his head. " This is no time to start crying ! I shouldn't stop moving on. Paul wouldn't have wanted it that way. It's time to get that new badge, come on Espeon, Pikachu ! Let's give it our all !" Pikachu let out a happy cry and Paul resisted the urge to join in. Dawn and Brock smiled and nodded. "Let's go !"

Not too much later, they were standing in front of the gym. Paul felt a shiver running over his back. He was supposed to fight other pokemon. And not some weak wild pidgeys, but trained pokemon. He wasn't ready for this. He didn't even know what moves he could use besides Psychic ! He took a small step backwards, suddenly afraid. "What's wrong Espeon ?" Paul looked away nervously, he didn't want to look weak, but he didn't want to end up in a pokemon center either... "Ah, you're worried about the fight ? Don't worry Espeon, we will train beforehand !" Espeon let out a sigh of relief. "Pika, Ash always trains before a gymbattle. Didn't Paul do that ? How rash..." Paul was too relieved by the fact he wouldn't have to fight to hear Pikachu's rude comment.

"It says here the gym leader isn't present, so I guess we have lots of time to train !" Ash's stomach let out a loud growl. "On second thought, lets eat something first ! Let's go guys !" Paul nodded and followed Ash to the pokemoncenter. It didn't take long until the sun set, and the time to train grew nearer. After dinner, Ash stood up.

"Come on Espeon, it's time for some training." Paul nodded and followed Ash onto a big patch of grass just outside the pokemon center. " Don't worry Espeon, I'm sure you will do just fine ! Let's start with something easy... Say... Calm mind !" Paul raised his eyebrows. Calm mind ?...Well.. No hurt in trying... Paul closed his eyes and sat perfectly still. Calm mind. Calm mind. Slowly but surely, all nerviness drained from his mind and he was in complete harmony with both dimensions. He could feel power rushing through his system. It felt amazing. "Good Espeon ! Perfect !" If paul hadn't been mesmerized by the feeling of complete harmony, he would have puffed out his chest in satisfaction.

"Now, Espeon ! Try Psychic on that treetrunk !" Paul opened his eyes, and concentrated the intense energy that was building up beneath the veil of the other dimension. The trunk flew up in the air and was then hurled towards the ground. The treetrunk broke in two with a loud CRACK. "Whoa Espeon ! That was great ! Let's try it again, but a little faster this time !" Paul nodded, and once again the tree trunk suffered a hard hit from his psychic, splinters of wood flying through the air. "Wow Espeon ! That was awesome ! You are a very fast learner !" Paul smiled.

"Come on, once more !" Paul fired off Psychic after Psychic, blasting several treetrunks into oblivion. "Allright ! Let's try some other moves !" Paul nodded. Other moves ? ….What else did he have up his sleeve ? Paul dug into his memory. What were typical moves for an Espeon ?... Ofcourse ! Shadowball ! Paul closed his eyes and opened the other dimension, scouting it. It wasn't very long before he found dark energy drifting about. He opened his mouth and concentrated the dark energy between his fangs. He could hear Ash letting out a surprised gasp as he shot the shadowball with impressive speed against another tree.

"Wow Espeon ! That was amazing ! I didn't know you could do shadowball !" Paul grinned smugly, and he licked his paw nonchalantly, doing it off as something unimportant. "Allright Espeon ! Let's do that again !" Paul let out a small growl and readied his deadly power for direct use.

It wasn't until late in the night that the training was over. Paul was breathing heavily in exhaustion, shaking on his paws. He barely had the energy to call forth any more power from the other dimension. Ash walked over to him and petted him. "You did awesome Espeon, you must be very tired, let's go to bed for now. We need to stock up on some sleep before we challenge the gymleader !" Paul wanted to protest, he needed to cross his limits, keep on going until he would fall, but Ash simply picked him up and carried him to the pokemoncenter.

Paul was asleep before Ash even got his room.

The next morning

Paul woke up. He was lying next to pikachu in a basket with blankets. The sun was about to come up, and Paul felt his fur standing upright. Sun ! Oh he loved the sunshine ! He jumped up to the window and opened it with Psychic. He jumped out immediately, softening his own landing with another use of Psychic. After all that training, Psychic was as natural to him as breathing. Paul stretched and lied down, letting the warm and soothing morning sun washing over him. He felt his powers returning, and he felt better than ever.

So that is what morning sun feels like. Paul purred softly as he laid in the sun. But his morning peace did not last long. "Oh wow ! And Espeon ! I totally gotta catch it !" Paul barely had the time to jump away from a pokeball thrown in his direction. "Ah ! It woke up ! Darn ! Go Charmeleon !" Paul felt the blood draining from his face. He had to battle. And there was no Ash to call him back or give him potions, he was on his own.

Paul forced himself to calm down. All that training wouldn't be in vain. I need to calm my mind. Calm mind.. Calm mind... Paul felt the other dimension again, and it wrapped itself around him. Paul was calm. He needed to analyze the situation. "Charmeleon ! Use your scratch !" Paul opened his eyes. The charmeleon was too fast to dodge, and three hard nails scratched over Paul's paw. He let out a small wince, but stood his ground. He growled and opened his mouth, a shadowball forming quickly. He shot it in Charmeleon's direction, hitting spot on, and sending the lizard pokemon flying against a tree.

"Oh no ! Charmeleon !" Paul didn't waste anymore time, and spun around, jumping through the window of Ash's room in the pokemoncenter, landing roughly on Ash's stomach. " ARCK !" Paul lost his footing as Ash bolted upright, a startled expression on his face. "Wha... Wut ?" Paul started explaining to Ash what happened, until he remembered he spoke Pokemon language. He let out a small groan. "People not understanding me, pokeballs getting thrown at me ! This sucks !" Pikachu yawned and gave him a dull look. "Pikaaa... I have that too a lot. That's why I keep close to Ash. Chu ! Pokeballs are way too hard to be chucked at pokemon !" Paul nodded fervently. "Right on, rodent!" Pikachu let out an annoyed growl, but Paul ignored it.

"What is going on with you two... It's way to early for all of this... I'm going back to sleep." Paul sighed and walked out of the room. It wasn't like he would be able to explain It anyway. He walked into the lobby of the pokemon center, seeing and upset trainer handing over his charmeleon to nurse joy. Paul snickered under his breath and walked towards the door. That was a sucky trainer. One litte shadowball and the charmeleon had bitten the dust. Paul purred and walked outside. He really wanted to lie in that soothing morning sun again.

It didn't take long for Dawn, Brock and Ash to show up. Well, a few hours actually, but time flew by for Paul as he enjoyed the soft sunlight dancing over his fur. "Hey Espeon, let's go to the gym. It's time for the battle." Paul was surprised by the determination in Ash's voice. For a tiny moment, he considered not going. Just lying in this extremely comfortable sunlight and sleeping... But he shook his head. That training of yesterday wouldn't go to waste. He followed Ash to the Gym. He was tense, but no longer from fear. He wanted to fight. He wanted to show Ash his power. He wanted to show everyone that he was the strongest !

Paul waited tensely at Ash's side, as the two trainers spoke their last words before battle. "Are you ready Ash ? Cuz I won't hold back !" Ash smiled confidently in return. "I don't plan on holding back either Crasher Wake ! I choose you ! Espeon !" Paul walked forward, onto the battlefield, tense with nervousness. Calm down Paul. Calm down. You can do this.

"Go ! Gyrados ! Use your Bite !" Paul stiffened in slight panic as the huge dragon pokemon rushed towards him. In the other dimension, dark powers shifted through the air, forming between the Gyrados' teeth. He had no defense against this ! In his panic, he could barely hear Ash's voice. "Espeon ! Use calm mind !" Paul's eyes widened. Calm mind ? Was Ash playing with him ? Bite was a physical move ! There was no way that Calm mind would help right now ! Paul scoffed, and a piece of his old cocky attitude surfaced. What are you doing Paul ? Goofing around like this ? I am a better trainer than Ash. And now I will prove that !

Paul jumped, avoiding the dark fangs of the big dragon pokemon, and used his deadly psychic. He had expected the heavy pokemon to wear on his power, but Gyrados was actually light. He could lift the huge dragonpokemon meters up in the air with ease ! He jerked with his head and the Gyrados was slammed roughly against the hard Gym wall. "Oh no ! Gyrados !" Paul let out a small noise of disgust. What a weak gyrados. The gyrados got up, but it was heavily wounded. Paul heard Ash calling something to him, but he yawned and ignored the trainer.

"Gyrados ! Use Outrage !" Paul readied himself for impact. The huge dragon pokemon thrashed around, hitting Paul squarely in the stomach. Paul winced, but the attack hadn't hurt half as much as he had expected it to. He landed on his feet and cocked his head to the side. "Is that all you got ? Pheh ! You weakling !" The Gyrados roared and charged again, but this time, Paul didn't even bother dodging. The hit almost felt weaker than the scratch of that charmeleon ! Paul closed his eyes, and used Morning sun. The small wounds on his body closed almost instantly, and Paul licked his paw to clean himself a bit. "No no ! Espeon ! I said, use shadowball ! Not morning sun !" Paul ignored Ash once again.

The outraged Gyrados prepared for a third attack, but Paul wouldn't have it. Before the Gyrados could do anything, he shot a huge Shadowball at the pokemon, making it fly back with huge force. The Gyrados did not get up. It was already KO ? It was even weaker than he has expected ! "A weak pokemon like you doesn't even deserve to battle me !" Paul readied another shadowball, aiming it at the KO gyrados.

" NO ! Espeon come back !" Just as Paul had been about to release his shadowball, a red veil overcame his sight, and he could feel himself getting sucked away. The locks in the pokeball shot into place, and he was captured. "Is Gyrados okay ? I'm so sorry ! He looks seriously hurt ! I'll help you to get him to the pokemon center !" Paul screeched in anger and clawed at the inside of the pokeball. Nobody ! NOBODY just locked him away ! How dare Ash ! HOW DARE HE ?

...

"So... how is Gyrados doing ?" Ash asked carefully. Crasher answered with a sigh. " He's gonna live. I'm more worried about yer pokemon ta be honest...If your pokemon behaves like that, yer doing something terribly wrong." Paul could hear a soft sigh coming from Ash. "It's a bit of a... heavy topic...He is not my pokemon... I... I had this rival, Paul. Do you know him ?" He could hear a scoff from the gym leader Crasher. " Yea I do, the guy practically tortured his pokemon ! I almost kicked him outta ma Gym... The way he talked about pokemon... Unforgivable ! Why ya ask ?" Ash was quiet for a moment. "Just two days ago he was found dead at a riverbank... This used to be his Espeon..."

The silence stretched. "...I understand. This pink lil critter was taught never ta show mercy... He was just doin' what his trainer always taught 'm ta do..." Paul felt himself become light as Ash called him out of his pokeball. "Hey espeon..." Paul gave him an angry glare and then looked away from Ash. "Pikachu ! Espeon ! What were you thinking ? You almost killed that gyrados !" Paul stared at the yellow rodent. "He was weak. He was unworthy." Pikachu's cheeks sparked in annoyance, but Ash spoke before Pikachu could say anything. "Espeon. It was wrong of you to attack that Gyrados. It was already down ! Why did you try to... Why didn't you listen to me Espeon ? Weren't we a team ?... "

For a small moment, Paul felt a small pang of guilt. Ash had taken him in, cared for him, trained him... And this is how he repaid him ?... But he couldn't bring himself to listen to Ash's commands, it felt as if he was following the orders of a three year old ! Nurse Joy entered the waiting room. "Crasher Wake ? Your Gyrados is awake, you can come to see him now." The gymleader stood up and turned to Paul. "Listen up ya pink pussycat, I know it sucks fer ya that yer trainer is dead, but do ya wanna do the same to me by killing ma Gyrados ? I suggest you forget the past and move on." The Gymleader sighed and then followed the nurse without another word.

Paul sighed. I guess people hate me after all. Even as a pokemon they dislike me... Suddenly a weird thought popped up in his head. What if Ash decided he didn't want him ? What if he would just be released in the wild to fend for his own, without ever having someone around him. He was a human. He wasn't a pokemon. To live in a world of pokemon alone would kill him. What if he was caught by some trainer who didn't care for him ? What if he would just be dumped in a computer box, waiting, hoping, wishing for his trainer to call him out for a battle, or a praise, or acknowledgement ? At least Ash carried him along. Acknowledged him.

He didn't want to be released. He clearly remember the pained look on Chimchar's face as he sent the pokemon away. Back then he hadn't cared. But right now he realized what Chimchar must've felt. Paul stared at Ash. The pokeball with the black P burned into it was still in his hand. Paul jumped onto Ash's lap and tried to explain. "Please don't send me into the wild ! Please keep me ! I'll try to listen, even though you're stupid ! Really ! I will try ! Just please don't release me ! Please please !" Ash sighed and petted Paul. "You should really keep it down Espeon, this is a Pokemon Center...I need to think for a moment okay ? Don't follow me. Just wait here."

"Are you happy now Espeon ?... This is charmeleon all over again..." Before Paul could ask what that had meant, Pikachu had followed Ash. Paul went outside, but the setting sun did not comfort him the way the morning sun had. He scratched idly in the dirt as he once again let his mind explore the depths of the other dimension. He didn't move from his spot in front of the pokemon center.

When the sun disappeared, Paul walked inside of the pokemon center. Surely Ash would be done thinking. Right ? There was no way Ash would leave him to sleep on a cold floor. At least, that's what Paul hoped. He arrived at Ash's room, and he nudged the door open. He was surprised to see that Pikachu's sleeping basket was not around. Ash had really wanted to be alone. Paul carefully jumped on Ash's bed, and stared at Ash's sleeping face. It was very obvious that he had been crying. Paul let his ears hang down in guilt.

He hadn't meant to make Ash cry... Who knew Ash would take it that bad ? Paul sighed. There was nothing he could do for now. Nothing but hope that Ash would give him another chance.

~...~

Paul was floating. He had no weight. He was nothing but his thoughts. A chaotic mess of hundreds of other thoughts drifted through the air. Paul could hear them, but he knew none of the voices could hear him. Or each other for that matter. Some of the voices were screaming, some were laughing, crying, talking, all to themselves.

Paul was in the other dimension. He could feel the solid world hiding behind a thin veil. Images floated through the air. They must be the dreams of the people and pokemon sleeping in this pokemon center... Paul turned to the dream that was closest to him. It was Ash's. Curiosity overtook Paul, and he slipped into the dream.

The sun shone, and Ash was standing on an open field. He was battling. Paul was surprised to see a grim looking version of himself in his human form on the other side of the battlefield. It was a double battle. A Torterra and Gliscor stood next to each other, facing an Espeon, and a Charmeleon. Gliscor jumped forward and delivered a devastating blow to Espeon, who flew back and landed on a ground with a loud thud. The torterra used a body slam on the charmeleon, and the pokemon was left on the ground, paralyzed with pain.

"No ! No ! Why didn't you use Shadowball Espeon ? Why did you try Psychic ? And Charmeleon, why didn't you avoid that body slam ? Why won't you listen ?" The espeon turned it's head and gave Ash a dirty look. " You are weak. You are pathetic. We do not listen because you are not worthy of it !" The dream Paul let out a howling laugh. "You say you treat pokemon well, but your pokemon seem to disagree ! Even my espeon, raised to obey any command, disobeys." Suddenly the dream started changing. The bright sun turned a dark black, and the trees started wavering like bad 3d images.

The pokemon disappeared, and the dream Paul started to rot away. His eyes rolled back in their sockets, and his skin grew a sickly color. Murkrow appeared, and started pecking at the rotting flesh. But the dream Paul was still very much alive. He screamed, thrashing weakly, as the bird pokemon were ripping him apart. Ash was crying, and was attempting to reach Paul. "No Paul ! Don't leave ! Please ! I have to tell-" But just as he was about to finish, the corpse broke apart, leaving only dust.

Then everything disappeared, and Ash was left on the ground.

The dream ended so abruptly that Paul jolted awake. Ash was sitting upright, tears running over his cheeks and shivers running through his body. "Es-espeon..." Before Paul could answer, Ash had wrapped his arms firmly around him in a crushing hug. "I'm so sorry, so sorry so so so sorry ! I- I never should have asked you t- to fight ! P-Paul, he...I...Paul... Paul is gone ! I'm never going to see him again, hes gone...Oh god..." Paul kept silent as Ash clung to him, crying. "I was going to tell him... B-but... Oh god... Espeon... He's dead." Paul rubbed his nose against Ash's cheek awkwardly to comfort him.

"I'm still here, idiot..." Ash cried until he fell asleep, but Paul could not allow himself to sleep. He was watching over Ash. He lied next to Ash and watched the boy's face until the sun rose.

A/N: That was chapter 2 people. I might get a chapter 3 up, but I am currently working on another story. Once again, the next chapter depends on your reviews and my willingness to update. Greetings from Lanny-Sama !

Reviews always get a response !