Whew! Longest chapter so far. Thanks again to all who have reviewed, placed on alert, etc... I hope to update this weekly, but I won't make any promises. ;)

CHAPTER 4

"And the Mole Rat Will Be… No Longer a Naked Mole Rat"

It was mid-morning by the time Kim had finished her trek, the passage of time going relatively unnoticed by the hero as her mind kept replaying the unsettling encounter with Shego earlier.

The sun was bright and warm, the clouds few and far between above her in the ultramarine sky. Occasionally Kim had witnessed a bird or creature flurry past once she had entered the residential area of Middletown, and although strange to her, she was becoming accustomed to glimpsing the odd animals.

Now, she stood outside a particular house in a particular street, a nervous knot forming in her stomach. She had found the Information Centre Riff had directed her to, and amazingly, discovered that many of the street names were the same as in her native Middleton. Including the name of the street in which her family resided…

Kim took a deep breath, studying the building that loomed before her. It was almost identical to her own house, having two storeys and architecture plentiful in sharp angles. All the same, it somehow seemed different too, or perhaps the atmosphere felt different.

Nevertheless, if her parents—or rather, this alternate reality version of them—dwelled inside, they would help her, surely. Right?

"Well, here goes nothing Charlie," the anxious hero said to her new companion.

Charlie only responded with a curious "Char?" as Kim walked up the pathway to the front door and knocked forcefully.

Ann Possible was enjoying a strong cup of morning tea when she heard an abrupt knocking at the front door. Her stomach jumped, as the troubling thought of police being the mid-morning visitors briefly crossed her mind. Her Kimmie hadn't come home last night; the adventurous girl had ventured into the forest on the outskirts of town in the hope of spying some nocturnal Pokemon. Ann knew her daughter was resourceful, but still couldn't help but worry. It was a mother's prerogative, after all.

A faintly pink-furred feline or perhaps vulpine creature, Ann's beloved pet and companion who had been curled up asleep under the kitchen table near her master's legs, pricked up its ears at the sound of a fist pounding on wood.

As Ann rushed to the front door, her pet followed, its dainty nose sniffing the air. It immediately scrunched its brow in confusion. The scent it picked up was that of her master's daughter, Kimmie, but something about it was different. And there was another scent too, a completely new one, one that unnerved the feline-fox animal a little.

Ann opened the door, somewhat reluctantly at first in case a bearer of bad news awaited on the opposite side, and was both relieved and perplexed when she realised who was standing there.

Her daughter, Kimberly.

"Kimmie!" Ann immediately exclaimed, throwing her arms around her eldest child. "Where have you been? Why didn't you call? You know the forest can be dangerous at night…"

"Uh…" Kim managed to stammer, overjoyed that this did seem to be her house, but lacking a little oxygen as her mother embraced her tightly.

Thankfully, Ann soon pulled back, before asking Kim one more question, in a voice that was almost laughing: "And why on earth did you knock on your own front door to come in?"

Kim blanched. She didn't realise, until her Mom had expressed it, how bizarre that would appear.

"Um, Mom, I'm glad you're here, and… I…"

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Ann asked in a tender voice, locking her arm with Kim's and leading them into the living room.

Charlie carefully followed, eyeing the fellow Pokemon in the vicinity with suspicion, just as Ann's pet did of the newcomer.

Kim was momentarily in awe of how similar the living room was to her own, complete with large screen plasma TV. She then sat on the couch lightly, holding her mother's gaze as the blue-eyed woman also sat down.

"Mom… I don't want to alarm you, but… something… something happened last night." The hero twiddled her thumbs nervously, unsure how to broach the subject that she was in fact an inter-dimensional travelling version of Ann's daughter.

"Mmm hmm. Go on, Kimmie," her mother gently encouraged, before noticing movement from the corner of her eye. "Espeon!" Ann suddenly called out to her pet, "Let the little fellow come inside! He appears to be Kimmie's friend."

Kim turned her gaze back to the living room's entrance, from where Charlie was slowly approaching, his eyes locked with the larger Pokemon that was scrutinising him.

"Huh? Oh, Charlie… yeah, he's a bit timid," Kim explained, eyeing the creature known as Espeon for the first time. It was either a fox or a cat, Kim decided, with marshmallow pink fur, a slender body, and a tail that split into two at the end. She believed it to be cute, but not quite as cute as Ranger Riff's Skitz, which was also a feline-esque Pokemon with pink fur.

"So you were saying, Kimmie?" Ann inquired, distracting Kim from her inspection of Espeon. Her blue eyes then widened, as she noticed something peculiar about her daughter. "Kim, those aren't the clothes you left in last night." It was a voice tinged with disapproval, as if Ann were insinuating that her daughter had engaged in unscrupulous activities the night before.

Kim caught on quickly to what her mother seemed to be thinking. "Wha…? No, Mom! It's not like that! I…" she flushed, lowering her gaze. "I… I don't suppose Dad is home? Or the Tweebs?"

"No honey," Ann's voice was warm again, now that Kim had insisted there was nothing suspicious regarding her clothing change. She knew her daughter was a terrible liar, and therefore, easily believed the younger redhead. "Your father is at work and the boys are at school. But you should know that."

OK, still have the Tweebs. Never thought I'd actually be so happy about that…Kim returned her green eyes to her mother's blue ones. "Mom, I… OK this is going to sound weird, but I'm… I'm not your daughter."

Ann's brow creased considerably. The older redhead didn't know whether her daughter's eccentric sense of humour was at play, or Kim had received a blow to the head at some point last night… so she decided to keep an open mind. "That's strange, because the resemblance is uncanny."

"No, I mean, I am your daughter, but I'm not, it's just… GAH!" Kim threw up her hands in frustration. "This is so ferociously hard to explain!"

Sensing her daughter was serious, and rather stressed also, Ann gently took Kim's hands. "Go on, sweetie. Why don't you start from the beginning?"

Kim let out an exasperated sigh. Damn Drakken! I'm so going to kick his butt when I get back… Charlie had managed to climb onto Kim's lap by this time, having successfully manoeuvred past the glaring Espeon. He looked up at his saviour and now master as she attempted to explain her predicament to her mother. "OK, well… this probably isn't gonna make sense, but I'll try…"

"So what you're telling me is that the Kim upstairs is not our Kimmie-cub but an inter-dimensional travelling Kim Possible from another reality?"

Ann nodded grimly. "Yes. I wish I knew where our Kimmie was…"

James Possible, sitting at his family's kitchen table with a dumbfounded expression upon his face, didn't know what to think or say. The scientist in him was profoundly curious by the notion of inter-dimensional travel, but the father within was terrified for the fate of his only daughter.

"Kimmie… I mean, the Kimmie upstairs… tells me that if our Kim was sent to her reality in her place, as she was sent here, then we shouldn't worry. She has a loving, supportive group of family and friends who will take care of her and protect her." Ann tried to smile once she finished speaking, but it was a weak smile.

"Hmmm." Her husband appeared to ponder the explanation quite seriously. "Well, as long as it is not an alternate dimension filled with boys."

At this, Ann managed a faint laugh. "No, I don't think so, honey. From what Kim told me, it's a world quite similar to ours. Except…" She reached down to absent-mindedly stroke Espeon's head, the loyal companion sitting near her master's legs as often she did, "except there are no Pokemon there. Instead they have different creatures and… well Kim said there were countless species of insect alone, and most of them were tiny…"

James' eyes had grown wide in shock. "A… a world without Pokemon? But that's… that's unthinkable!" Sentimentality flashed across his features, as he felt the sudden need to shower affection upon his own pet. "Umbreon! Come here, boy!"

Hearing his master call out, a black quadruped trotted into the kitchen from the lounge room where he had been resting. It, like Espeon, had vulpine features, but canine characteristics also. Its pupils were as pitch as night, surrounded by deep crimson irises, and several bright yellow rings upon its body contrasted with the surrounding inky fur. Umbreon settled next to James' legs, his human master beginning to zealously pat the Pokemon's head instantly.

Ann smiled fondly at the pair. "I know. But it's what Kimmie told me." With a sigh, she then cast her vivid blue eyes downward. "What… what do you think we should do?"

"Well…" James let out his own sigh, "I think the best thing we can do for this other Kim… and our own Kimmie-cub… is to try and find a way to send her home." He cast his gaze down toward Umbreon before continuing: "My theory is, if we help the other Kim find a way back to her own reality, our Kim should return to us."

"Really?" Ann's eyes brightened. "But… would that really work? I mean, how… how is it even possible?"

Prompted by the keyword, James broke into a silly grin. "Hey, anything is possible for a Possible!" Smiling her own silly smile, Ann shook her head playfully at her husband's catchphrase. "Let me call some colleagues, both at the Space Centre and at the lab. With all those genius IQ's bouncing around the place, I'm sure we can come up with something."

Ann nodded once, before remembering a relevant piece of information Kim had shared with her during their talk earlier. "Kimmie mentioned something about a… I hope I get this right… a 'Pan Dimensional Vortex Inducer'. Maybe that will…"

Before the redheaded doctor could elaborate further, the back door, connected to the Possible kitchen, was opened, and in walked a casual, cheerful-looking Ron Stoppable. His ever-present companion Rufus sat upon his shoulder, as often the small Pokemon did.

"Oh, hey Drs.' Mr. and Mrs. P. You said you wanted me to come over so you could tell me something about Kim?"

Ann and James Possible exchanged nervous glances, before James grimaced, and turned toward the blonde teen.

"Ronald… I think you should sit down for this."

It was now early evening, and Kim sat at the computer, upstairs in her attic bedroom, her curious mind searching for answers. Well, technically it wasn't her bedroom, but she was welcome to make it as her own for the time being. Searching the World Wide Web for information on this world and the strange creatures known as Pokemon that inhabit it, the young redheaded woman kept replaying in her mind the conversation she had had with her mother earlier.

Well, not my mother, but… grr! I know what I mean. She sighed, clicking a page that dealt mostly with information on Charmanders. Charlie was on the bed nearby, half dozing, half watching his master.

Kim had been relieved and overjoyed to discover that so much was similar about this universe; her mother was still a brain surgeon, and had given Kim a thorough once-over to make sure the girl was not suffering from any brain injury and indeed had travelled from another dimension as she had explained. Her father was still a rocket scientist… well, part time he was a rocket scientist, at least, and part time he worked as a Pokemon Professor… Whatever that entails. Ron was still her Best Friend Since Pre-K, and she was still friends with Wade and Monique too. However, she was not friends with Wade for the same reasons as within her own universe, which was indicative of one major difference between this world and the one Kim called home.

In this reality, Kim Possible was not a hero.

She was an honour student, member of countless school committees—at least she had been before she had graduated—and also was formerly a cheerleader. But not a globe-trotting, super-villain-beating saviour of the world.

Apparently the Kim Possible of this world wanted to become a famous and magnificent Pokemon trainer, aiming to one day become the Grand Champion of the region's Pokemon League, before taking on the world. She was due to start her own Pokemon journey soon, with Ron, now that high school was over. She did wish for a college education too, but there was always time for that after she became the Grand Champion.

The information divulged by Ann about her daughter had led the dimensional-traveller Kim to discover another shocking fact about this world… or about the other Kim, rather. A fact that manifested itself upon her bedroom wall in the form of a life-size poster, one that Kim was currently trying to avoid catching sight of out of the corner of her eye.

Shego was her idol.

The Kim Possible of this reality obviously never felt the need to enter the World Saving business due to the heroic exploits of Team Go, led by none other than Shego herself. Upon learning this revelation, Kim couldn't help but smirk to herself whilst trying to imagine the expression on Hego's face when Shego was announced leader, whenever that had been. Team Go still had the superpowers they possessed in Kim's own reality, but what made them a more formidable team, apart from Shego being in charge, was their well-trained Pokemon team mates.

Kim had researched Team Go extensively since learning during her conversation with Ann that the Kim Possible of this world was not a hero, and why it seemed she didn't need to be. The baffled hero Kim was astounded by the number of fan sites dedicated to Shego alone, how idolised she was. Well, if she's a hero and the other me looks up to her, guess I'm still a hero on the inside huh? Kim smiled to herself before being assaulted by the recent memory of her own meeting with this reality's Shego. Oh man, I really shouldn't have kicked her in the stomach.

Running a hand through her long auburn hair, Kim then clicked to a different site, one that had general information about all known species of Pokemon. Perusing the statistics of the Pokemon that piqued her interest, she recognised Ranger Riff's Skitz as a Skitty, a kitten Pokemon, her other-worldly Mom's Espeon, and a few of the beasts she had encountered in the forest, namely the large plant Pokemon Victreebel, and the humongous bug Pokemon Heracross.

Kim had also learnt, through her talk with her mother and from information available through cyberspace, that Sheldon Director, also known as Gemini, was the main threat to the peace of this world, and Team Go's arch nemesis. Apparently Gemini suffered from a severe god complex, even more so than the Gemini Kim knew, and Dr. Drakken was but one of his cohorts. Kim had tried to imagine a competent Drakken upon hearing this, but failed, bursting into a fit of giggles instead.

But hearing about Gemini, Drakken and others only made Kim want to call Wade to check up on the villains, to see if there was a mission to undertake. The hero was disappointed that the Kim Possible of this universe did not save the world, and it was hard to suppress the urge to want to take the fight to the bad guys like she did in her own reality. But Wade, while still a genius, was mainly Kim's source on all things Pokemon. If ever she had a question she would have consulted him, and his expertise would have definitely come in handy when the Kim of this world finally began her Pokemon journey.

It seemed that this reality's Kim was very serious about becoming the greatest trainer in the land, having the support of a boy genius like Wade to aid her. With a sigh, Kim shut the computer down, before walking over to the bed and heavily flopping down upon it.

With a happy "Char!" Charlie quickly climbed upon her lap, not even allowing his master a chance to become comfortable. Kim glanced down at the Charmander, unable to stifle a laugh.

"You're an affectionate little guy, huh?" Kim murmured, patting the lizard's head. She then lifted her gaze slowly, thoughtfully inspecting her other self's room. There were no boy band posters and much less pink, but somehow, it still felt like the room belonged to a Kim Possible. There were pictures of what Kim assumed were her doppelganger's favourite Pokemon dotted along the walls, with informative text boxes next to or beneath them. There were also photos of her other self with Ron, Monique; some with Pokemon, some without. And then there was the centrepiece, that damn unavoidable life-size poster of Shego.

With a scowl borne of reluctance, Kim decided to finally study the poster properly.

Instantly, her scowl softened, even though Kim was not fully aware of it. The Shego on this poster was wearing such a genuine smile—not a smirk, or a devious grin—just a relaxed, happy smile. True, she could have just been posing for the camera, but the sparkle in Shego's eyes told a different story. Perhaps it was because of the warm embrace she was giving the creature sharing the poster with her, which Kim would have guessed to be some sort of dragon, with blue skin and red wings. Text on the poster proclaimed that Shego was the 'Youngest Grand Champion Ever Inducted', but Kim's eyes only glazed over the writing momentarily, as they kept wandering back to that smiling green visage. It was such a lovely smile…

OK, I did so not just think that. With a brief shake of her head, Kim tore her gaze away from the poster, determined to look at something else, anything else. Her eyes instantly fell upon a plush toy resting near her upon the bed. Leaning back to grasp it, Kim then brought the plushie closer to inspect it. It was certainly not a Pandaroo, but it was cute much the same. It appeared to be a fox, with long, brown fur, a full fluffy tail, and large ears.

Her investigation of the fox plush was interrupted soon enough by a brief knock near the entrance to her attic bedroom, indicating someone wished to enter.

"Come in," Kim called out with automatic courtesy, placing the Pokemon fox plush on her lap next to Charlie.

Expecting to see one of her parents, Kim broke into a wide grin when it was Ron she witnessed ascending the stairs into her bedroom. He appeared nervous, unsure, but wore a smile just the same.

"Ron!" Kim happily exclaimed, moving Charlie from her lap back to her bed as she rose to greet Ron, her plush toy falling to the floor.

"Hey… KP," the freckle-faced teen began in a somewhat subdued way, "your parents… uh, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. P… they told me… they told me about what happened. Are you, uh, OK?"

"Yeah," Kim replied with a hint of sadness as she stepped closer, "I know this is really awkweird, but at least you're still…" Suddenly Kim stopped, her green eyes widening. She had finally noticed the creature that sat upon Ron's shoulder, and in a rare moment of lost control, shouted: "OH MY GOSH! RON! WHAT'S HAPPENED TO RUFUS?!"

Rufus looked bewildered, as his blonde master blinked in shock. "Uh… Rufus is fine… KP? Your parents told me how the world you come from doesn't have Pokemon… so… I'm guessing Rufus is a little… different?"

Kim stared at the creature for a moment, taking in his appearance. The only similarities it shared with the Rufus she knew were the pair of beady black eyes and the large buck teeth it possessed. Other than that, he was smaller, more compact, and covered with thick brown fur.

Finally snapping out of her stupor, her eyes returning to their original size, the dimensional-travelling hero sighed. "Woah, sorry. Guess I kinda freaked out there."

Ron chuckled, amused by her extreme reaction. "No problem, KP. It's perfectly understandable."

"Well… the Rufus I know is a naked mole rat. Seeing a furry version is kinda… weird."

Now it was Ron's eyes that grew wide. "A naked … mole rat? What on earth is that? I mean… naked? He's naked?!"

"Eh?" Rufus squeaked, somewhat mortified.

Kim giggled, both at Ron and the horrified Rufus. "Hey, it took me a while to get used to it too."

Calming, Ron scratched the back of his head. "Well, Rufus here is a Bidoof. A plump mouse Pokemon…" Ron had to admit to himself that explaining Rufus as he was to someone identical to his lifelong best friend was unnerving. But, he knew it must be difficult for this KP also, what with being sent to a bizarre alternate reality and all. With more resolve, he continued: "Of course, he's a special Bidoof. They're not usually this smart, or able to talk."

"Special!" The Bidoof piped up, happier now.

Kim giggled again. "Well, I have someone to introduce you to as well." She glanced back toward her bed. "Hey, Charlie!"

"Char?" The Charmander questioned, a little apprehensive.

Ron broke into a grin of child-like enthusiasm. "Woah! Kim, that's… that's a Charmander! Awesome!"

The redhead smiled warmly. Her Mom, and Ron, they were so similar to the ones of her own universe… it was comforting, reassuring. Perhaps, for however long she had to stay here, the experience wouldn't be so bad…

"Oh, your… uh, your Mom said dinner is nearly ready. We should head downstairs."

Kim nodded once, her smile still present. Since explaining everything to her other-worldly Mom, despite the doctor's concern for her own missing daughter, Kim had been welcomed to make herself at home. She had enjoyed a shower, was wearing clean, fresh clothes, and had been free to utilise the computer within her bedroom as needed.

And now, Kim realised she was beginning to feel very hungry.

"Spankin'!"

Only mere moments after Kim had sat down at the Possible kitchen table to begin her evening meal, the Tweebs barrelled into the kitchen also, rambunctious as always.

"Hey, is that the…"

"…Kim from the other dimension?" They asked, with no ounce of tact as they too sat down for dinner. Accompanying the young boys were two Pokemon of the same species, which, to Kim's amazement, were also identical to the plushie she had been studying in her bedroom not long ago.

"Be nice to your alternate-reality sister. I'm sure she's had a rough day." James admonished his sons.

Espeon and Umbreon were enjoying their own meal in a corner of the kitchen, appearing to Kim to eat out of bowls much like dogs or cats did. The Tweebs' two Pokemon rushed over to the same corner upon entering the Possible kitchen, their own bowls awaiting them, the Espeon greeting them each with an affectionate lick.

Kim broke her gaze away from the four creatures to glare at her other-worldly brothers. They seemed identical to her own Tweebs, both in looks and personality, and whilst oddly comforting as that was, it was also easy to slip into annoyed-sister mode.

Jim and Tim were seated opposite to her and Ron, with James and Ann each at one end of the table. Rufus was enjoying his own dinner, a much smaller helping than what the Possibles were dining on, the Bidoof stationed upon the table near Ron's drinking glass.

"So, uh, Kimmie-cub," James began tentatively, "how are you finding things?"

Kim swallowed a mouthful of creamy mashed potato before answering. "Well, uh… good. You guys are all so alike to the ones I know… it's good." She managed a smile, before lifting up a forkful of peas and corn into her mouth.

"That's great, hon," Ann replied, after enjoying a mouthful of her own dinner of crumbed chicken breast fillet and assorted vegetables. "Isn't it James?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, it's… it's great." Both James and his wife were nervous; they wanted this Kim to feel at home, as their own daughter would, but it was an extraordinary situation to say the least. Not to mention they were worried about their own Kim, and from what James had discovered, it would be no quick and easy task to send this Kim home, or bring their own Kim back. "Kimmie-cub… I spoke to some of my colleagues before dinner. I'm afraid, uh… it's not good news."

Kim glanced up at her father's worried expression, her own visage becoming tensed in concern. "It's OK… just tell me," she softly urged.

James sighed, before gulping down some ice-cold water. "Well… this 'Pan Dimensional Vortex Inducer' you told Ann… er, your Mom about… I'm afraid there's no replica of anything even remotely resembling it in our… uh, our universe."

Kim's shoulders slumped, her gaze falling downward to her plate of half-eaten dinner.

"But," James quickly continued in a brighter voice, "we know it's possible to make one. With all the greatest scientific minds I know working together… I'm sure we can reproduce it, or something similar." His own features then fell. "However, with other work and all it may take awhile… weeks, maybe even months."

"Months?!" Kim gasped, looking back up. True, this dimension could be a lot worse; her Mom, her Dad, Ron, the Tweebs… they didn't seem too far removed from their likenesses in her own reality. But, home was home, and at that moment, Kim wanted nothing more to be able to return to her own world, to her own life, since the likelihood of that happening seemed currently out of reach.

James grimaced at Kim's shocked and disappointed expression, and Ann tried to smile reassuringly at him, but she felt bewildered by the news also. The Tweebs were too busy shovelling their faces with food to notice the sombre mood change, but Ron was in-between mouthfuls, and eventually it was he who spoke up.

"C'mon KP, it's not that bad! You've already made a new friend, right?" The blonde youth offered, referring to Charlie, who was still resting upstairs in Kim's bedroom.

"Yeah, I guess," Kim managed with a faint smile.

"And, hey, at least Rufus isn't naked!"

At this, Kim let out a chuckle, with James and Ann sharing confused glances, wanting to leave the subject well alone.

"Not naked!" The Bidoof squeaked between mouthfuls, hoping to cheer Kim up also.

"Hmmm, well Kimmie, maybe you should think about what you might like to do with your time here? If you're going to be staying awhile…" Ann changed the subject, wishing to steer the conversation away from the topic of naked rodents.

Kim pondered the question for a moment before replying. "Well, I… it would be good to have something to do to take my mind off things. What would… what would the other me be doing? College?"

James and Ann both smiled warmly, thinking of their own Kim, and the adventure she was supposed to be undertaking soon. "Actually Kimmie… our Kim does want to go to college, but not yet. She was actually planning to go on her very own Pokemon journey soon." Ann informed the younger redhead.

Kim was puzzled. "Pokemon… journey?"

"Booyah!" Ron exclaimed excitedly. "We've been planning it for years, KP! You wanted to wait 'til we graduated high school, and now we have, and you just needed to wait until you got your own Eevee…"

"Woah, woah, woah, slow down Ron." Kim brought up her hands, signalling for the young blonde man to calm himself. "Still don't know what a 'Pokemon journey' is. And what's an Eevee?"

"Our Pokemon…"

"…are Eevees," Jim and Tim explained, motioning to the corner where the four Pokemon of the Possible household were still eating.

"Espeon and Umbreon are their parents," Ann stated proudly. "And we were all just waiting for them to have a third, so our Kimmie could have her own." The older redhead was practically beaming at the Pokemon family in the corner of the kitchen.

"Mine's going to be a Jolteon!" Jim suddenly declared, a wicked grin growing on his pre-teen face.

"And mine a Flareon!" Tim added, his own smile forming.

"Electricity and fire…"

"Hicka bicka boo!"

"Hoosha!"

"Now boys, what's wrong with Vaporeon? Or Glaceon, or Leafeon?" James questioned the twin siblings.

Ann let out a small laugh. "Honey, I think they just want the evolutions that are the most destructive… at least according to them."

"Thank goodness not Eevee nor any of its evolutions can learn Explosion," Mr. Dr. Possible muttered with an expression of mild disdain upon his face.

"That's OK," Jim began,

"When we're old enough to have our own journey," Tim continued,

"We'll catch some Electrodes!" They then finished in unison.

"Heaven help us," Ann tried to sound serious, but couldn't help a faint smile from forming on her lips.

Kim, by this time, was utterly lost. "They can… explode?" She asked in disbelief, eyeing the cute fox-like creatures in the kitchen's corner.

"No, they can't," Ron laughed, "but some Pokemon can."

The perplexed hero raised a single eyebrow. "Uh… huh." Silent in consideration for a brief moment, Kim then piped up: "Hey, how come the Tweebs got theirs before I did?"

At this question, both Ann and James chuckled heartily. "You let them, hon," Ann began to explain to the pouting younger redhead, "well, the other you. They were all keyed up to have their own Eevees and since you wanted to focus on your high school studies, you let them have the first two."

"Oh," was all Kim managed in reply, her mind racing with all the information she had digested since beginning dinner.

"Hey…" Ron's eyes grew wide, as did his enthusiastic smile, an idea springing to his mind. "Why doesn't Kim go on a Pokemon journey herself in the meantime? I mean, she doesn't need to wait for her own Eevee, because she has Charlie!"

Kim was not as excited about the idea as her blonde friend was. "Ron, I don't know, I…"

"I think it's a wonderful idea," Ann complimented, a bright smile evident upon her face. "It'll be a great way to experience our world, and it will help pass the time."

"But… I don't know, I…"

"Your mother's right, Kimmie-cub. Well, she's not your… you know what I mean. But it will be a good way to forget about the Pan-Dimensional problem," James added in his usually cheerful manner.

"I… but I don't even know the first thing about it! And…"

"Aw, c'mon KP!" Ron pleaded, his chocolate brown eyes sparkling with encouragement, "Wade and I can teach you all you need to know. It'll be the bon-diggity, you, me, the open road!"

"Well, I…" Finally, Kim slumped her shoulders in defeat. "Alright. I'll give it a go. After all, anything is possible for a Possible…"

"A-booyah!" Ron celebrated, throwing his hands in the air, Rufus mimicking the action.

Kim sighed, wondering what indeed she had just reluctantly agreed to.

Next chapter: So, Kim begins her Pokemon journey... and is confronted by the last person she wanted to see.