Chapter Two: Potions

I touched my chest, feeling loud and fast-paced beats from my heart. I sighed in relief. "Y-you scared me to death…"

I looked at him closer, and the first thing I saw was a sinister grin. He had a spiny-like back, two short legs, and two short and chubby arms. The thing that scared me the most was his red eyes. When he glares at me, I always end up flinching.

"Um, what do you want!? I-I'm busy…" The usual snappy tone slipped away from me due to the depression I recently felt. "I really need some privacy. W-what is it…?"

He laughed loudly, as if he were bellowing. "You're always arrogant, Princess…" he gave me another one of his wide grins, which made me shiver. "…The name's Gengar. Your mother called me to help you out. What seems to be the problem?"

I was scared. I'm not sure what he says are lies, especially with that phony story that Serperior sent him here to cheer me up. But I've seen him in the Tech Area, and I've heard Pikachu say some junk that he just came to look for "missing friends". Where he gets that, I don't know, but still… the look on his face makes it hard to believe that he's one to trust. But even though the thought had crossed my mind, I just made the stupidest move of my life.

"I just wanna live a normal life, like Pikachu, Tepig, and Oshawott." I paced around, wiping the dry tears away. Gengar didn't reply, so I carried on. "I don't know what to do."

He grinned. "Oh, that's sad. If that's the case, then come closer."

It wasn't very reassuring that the offer was safe, but I slowly moved, one foot after the other.

"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you, Princess." He said in that soft voice, as if I were a wild Pokémon, soon to be his pet.

"That's right. Now take a look at this."

He pulled from his back some kind of antique-like box, a brown marble case with gold patterns engraved on its sides, and some kind of lock in front. "It's a box where I keep all my 'solutions'."

I tilted my head in confusion. "Solutions…?"

Gengar nodded. "To be more precise, they're potions. Now…" He turned the lock clockwise, as the box carefully opened. And there I saw a dozen of glasses with bubbly liquid on the surface. Well, they looked like barf…

"Gross," I said to myself, disgusted.

"I know," Gengar said as he continued showcasing, "but you do want that new life of yours…right?"

I nodded, shivering, now that…it's all coming close. After a simple reflection, everything in my life…would change. I should be happy. I'm finally leaving this cursed old life of mine…

But I had to ask: "I-is there… a catch?"

Gengar's grin had gone upside-down. "Oh…uh…yeah. I'm sorry, Princess, but you will…uh… forget your…um…old life …?"

I was stupid. I believed his every word.

"Oh. Then it's not a catch. It's a benefit!" I smiled. "Well, where is the right potion?"

Gengar quickly discarded one glass from the case. "Well…here it is."

He handed one with purple liquid. It gave some kind of ominous feeling. "Don't worry. It won't hurt a bit." He reassured.

Now the positivity inside me had ended, feeding me fear. I have to admit, I… don't want to forget...this life, especially when I have good friends. A good…mother…Leavanny…Liligant… oh no…

Oh whatever.

I stared blankly at the "solution", as I tried to steady my leaf-like hand that shook so hard. "Gotta do it…"

Then I closed my eyes, drank the potion, and felt something in my stomach.

And my eyes never opened.