This is a rather short chapter, but when I tried to merge it with then next one it didn't work right, so I left it as is. However, this is where things start to get interesting.

Chapter Two: When Friends Become Enemies

I heard shouting behind me as I lay there, trapped under Star's claws. Anakin crouched by my side, trembling. I was seriously concerned for him. This was about the worst situation I could think of for a family reunion, and I hoped the trauma wouldn't undo all the progress he had made to overcoming his fears.

"Star…" I whispered, "Don't you recognize me? And Anakin….?" She snarled at us, and I could tell she didn't know who I was anymore. My heart broke, because if she didn't recognize me….then there was no way she'd recognize her own son. Star had never seen him after he hatched, but I'd seen that most Pokémon knew their offspring immediately. What had happened? Unless… No. No, it cannot be!

"Run, Anakin. Go to the others. Run!" I wasn't sure Anakin was up to running, but he turned and gave it his best shot. Star let him go, unable to be bothered by such a small target. I reached toward her with my mind, but all I could sense was a roiling ball of hatred. All traces of the gentle Luxray I had known and trained were gone.

I shifted position slightly, and in response her claws dug deeper into my skin, and a faint pulse of electricity ran along them. A warning. I knew Star could easily tear me apart, and just might. Behind me, I could hear Michael struggling with something. Then he shouted in exasperation;

"Cameron, didn't you fix the reader on this thing?!"

"No, because I haven't had time! I would've, but then David had to open his big mouth!" came the reply, punctuated by David's protest. There was a muttered curse, then Michael swore.

"We've got a problem!"

We all knew what that meant. Shadow Pokémon. And it confirmed my worst fears.

Star, or at least the Star I had known, was gone. A Shadow version of herself had taken her place. And from my former partner I could expect no mercy.