A/N: Here's the new, redone Chapter 2. I think it's a big improvement..


Chapter Two:

Promises Kept

Have to break free... Have to get air!

These two thoughts were the only things on my mind as I thrashed inside the egg. Whatever limbs I had acquired bashed against the shell, as I frantically tried to escape.

When I had awoke that morning, I was frightened. Whereas before there had been no urgency to break free, I now had a gnawing urge in the pit of my stomach. My lungs suddenly ached for the air beyond the barrier of the eggshell, and I struck out at it once more. A hair-line fracture appeared, and I felt overjoyed.

I heard a faint, jumbled voice from beyond the thick gooey liquid, and I noticed that everything sounded as if I were underwater. If anything, I was encouraged to increase the clarity of the voice, and anxious to see if Celebi was truthful. Gathering up every last bit of my strength, I headbutted the eggshell a final time... and instantly regretted it.

I tumbled into an unforgiving, familiar world; a world of bright light and cold air. I was shivering uncontrollably, and trying in vain to lift my head. I whimpered; a helpless newborn, and then I felt a rough tongue my back.

"Who's there?" I yelped, groping for anything to tell me where I was.

My blurry vision slowly came into focus, and I saw a pink tail in front of me. "You just couldn't wait to hatch until she got back, could you?"

The voice was soft-spoken, and I instantly realized who it was. The Skitty's face came into focus, and then she began licking the goo off of my face. Seeing as this as fairly awkward, I protested, "Silly, stop it! This is so degrading..."

She staggered back, and stared at me; utterly dumbfounded.

"How... how did you know my name?" she demanded, looking more and more apprehensive.

"It's me, D-Daniel!" I cried through chattering teeth.

Her facial expression changed to one of shock, and then she sat down and just gaped at me. "You're... you're a reborn?"

I nodded anxiously, and then got to the question I was aching to know the answer to. "Silly... what Pokemon am I? Please, I have to know..."

She studied me for a moment, and then shook her head. "I'm sorry, Daniel... your species looks familiar, but I-"

"Oh my gosh," gasped a voice from the doorway, "you hatched!"

Silly shot me an apologetic look, and then jumped down from the desk and left the room; collar jingling. Kelly ran to my aide, and suddenly I was wrapped in a towel that smelled of laundry detergent. She dried me off with shaky hands, and cradled me in her arms as she would a human child.

"You certainly took your time getting here, you know," she cooed in a comforting voice.

She walked briskly out the door, and my head spun woozily as she did so. I was still adjusting to everything as a Pokemon, after all. The lights were brighter, the sounds were louder, and I could smell everything within a ten mile radius, it seemed.

We went down the stairs, and into the kitchen.

"Mom, come here!" yelled Kelly as she opened a bag of milk formula.

I inhaled the sweet scent and my stomach garbled in response. Kelly's mother, Faye, came walking in, and then gasped when she saw me.

"Yeah, I know," said Kelly in an excited voice, "do you think you could hold him while I make his bottle?"

Her mother brushed past her, and then shooed her away, "Nonsense. I'll make the bottle, you go call your father and let him know. He'll be thrilled."

Whilst Kelly told her father the news over the phone, I studied her mother. She was a thin, wiry woman. Her auburn hair was swept up in a tidy bun, although a few wisps escaped it. Whereas I was used to seeing her either in her work uniform, or with expensive clothing on, that day she was wearing casual clothes. A mud-streaked pair of faded blue jeans, a gardening trowel in her left hand, and a stained, oversized pink t-shirt were in major contrast to her normal prim-and-proper attire.

"Dad's leaving work," said Kelly abruptly, causing me to yelp in surprise.

"Speak softer, Kelly," chided her mother as the microwave beeped, "a baby Pokemon is very sensitive to new sounds."

She blushed and then mumbled, "Oh... right. Sorry, little guy."

Faye raised an eyebrow, "Little boy?"

Kelly nodded, "Yes. I noticed his gender when I was drying him off."

My face flushed, and I squirmed uncomfortably in her arms. "Right; so I guess you want your bottle, don't you?"

I nodded eagerly, and she lifted the nipple to my mouth. "Here you go, little guy. You'll like this," said Kelly as I began to suck down the warm liquid.

The sweet taste and warmth of it soothed my raging stomach, and I vigorously sucked it down.

"Have you named him yet, Kelly?" asked her mother in a curious voice.

Kelly shook her head, and then giggled when I burped; announcing I was finished with the bottle, "I haven't even thought of a name, to be honest, Mom. I think I need to see his personality, first. It'd be bad to name a timid, sweet Poochyena 'Fang', or a ferocious, troublesome one 'Poochy'."

At first, I winced at the awful, overly-used names. But then, I processed her sentence... "Wait... so I'm a Poochyena!?"

I barked, startling Kelly into dropping the plastic bottle to the floor with a clatter.

"What did I do this time?" asked Kelly concernedly as she hugged me closer.

"I mean, Mightyena aren't too bad, with proper training and such... but why couldn't I have been a Gible, or a Larvitar, or something else bad-ass... that has fuckin hands!"

I continued to rant all the way back up the stairs to Kelly's room, and only stopped when I heard her door shut behind us. Kelly sighed, and lay down on her bed; putting me on her pillow.

"It's a miracle you're here," she said wistfully as she began to rub me behind my ears. I whimpered, and licked her hand. She smiled faintly, and then continued, "There's a guy who you owe your life to, little guy."

I had honestly expected a flood of tears, hysterical sobbing, or anything other than what I got from her. Kelly's voice was steady, and there was no sign of tears in her eyes; though they were clouded with grief.

"His name was Daniel, and he was my best friend."

She chewed on her lip, and it was only then that her eyes filled to the brim with tears. I patiently waited for more; expecting her to go into detail on how much she had cared about me, or something along those lines. But instead, a yawn involuntarily escaped my maw, and she giggled; the motion causing a single tear to roll down her cheek.

"Looks like someone is ready for a nap," she said said as she got up from the bed and went to her closet.

I tried to prop myself up so I could look around, but my legs felt as if they were detached from my body. Kelly came back with a huge, plush Pokemon bed and a wadded up blanket.

"I bought this for you a while back," she murmured as she set it on the floor next to her bed. "I know you probably want to sleep on the bed with me, but until you become a little less clumsy, you have to stay on the floor so you don't get hurt."

"I am not clumsy," I barked in protest.

She ignored me, however, and gently placed me on the blue Pokemon bed. She situated me so that I was in a comfortable position, and then covered me with a flannel blanket.

"There you go," she said softly, before kissing my wet puppy nose, "now get some sleep. Tomorrow, we'll get to work on strengthening those legs."

She fondly rubbed me behind the ears, and then rose to her feet. I whimpered, and she smiled, "It's okay, I'm not going far. Just downstairs to eat dinner, that's all."

She then turned, and walked out the door. I sighed and laid my head between my new, black paws. I had nearly drifted off to sleep, when I heard a faint jingling of a collar.

"Daniel? Are you awake?"

"I am now," I mumbled, before lifting my head to look at the Skitty.

"How are you doing?" she asked tentatively; seeming a little apprehensive about coming near me.

"I'm stuck in the body of a 2 foot tall puppy, I lack opposable thumbs, and I have no control of the legs I do have. Oh, and did I mention I'm cold?" She shot me a dangerous look, but I paid her no heed, "So as you can tell, Silly, I'm feeling fantastic. Thanks for asking."

"No need for sarcasm, you selfish little shit," she growled. "You do realize that being reborn is a blessing, don't you? You don't even seem to be grateful for your second chance."

I snorted, "I suppose I'm grateful... but I'd be a lot happier if I hadn't been hit by that damn freight train and none of this had ever happened."

Her guarded expression faded, and she sighed as she walked over to me, and curled up on my bed with her back to me.

"... Silly?"

"Yes, Daniel?"

"What in the hell are you doing?"

"I can't help you much with the reborn thing... but I can keep you from being cold," she said with a laugh.

"Oh... okay. Thanks."

"Sure thing," she said drowsily.

"Hey, Silly?"

"Hmm...?"

"Can you teach me how to battle?"

"... You're asking for battle advice from the Kitten Pokemon?"

"Does it appear that I have another option?"

"... Good point. I suppose I can help you, but you have to learn to walk, first. Now get some sleep. Good night."

"Good night, Silly... and thanks."

As her breathing slowed beside me, I began to doze off as well. One thought replayed in my head as my eyes fluttered shut:

Thank you, Celebi...


A/N: And there you have it. Let me know what you think..

~Shelby