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Chapter IX : Experimental

It wasn't very busy in town for either the local gym or the Pokémon center, which was normal for the time of year according to the nurse. Being early summer, most in the area were busy (both humans and Pokémon) getting things planted for the growing season. Although traveling trainers occasionally came through, normally a few a day, this week had seen a lull. As a result, the center's cafeteria was as deserted as the lobby had been that early evening, featuring only a small selection of Pokémon food and a pot of soup for humans.

I took the soup.

As far as chicken noodle vegetable went (they had chickens on this planet!), it was fairly good with big noodles and large chunks of indiscernible veggies. Even Charna had some, stating whatever I ate she would too. As if still proving she could do anything I could.

Gale let the others out to feed as usual, but with the Professor busy setting up in a back lab, conversation was light. I was still tired from the long car trip and the day's battle, so retired shortly after downing my bowl. With Mistralton City not being large, its Pokémon center also wasn't large. Therefore, accommodations consisted of a single large boarding room for up to ten people and a handful of small single-bed rooms. For privacy, we had been given one of the single-bed ones as did the Professor. And other than the bed, there was but a single chair and small table along with a TV mounted to the wall, nearly filling the space.

It was going to be cozy.

I debated requesting a separate room for myself while rummaging my pack for some personal items. Not that I didn't want to be close to Gale, but with Charna I needed to keep some distance. If possible. After a shower in the common bathroom, I collapsed into bed 'naked' to continue drying all my hair, joining them as they were already into a television program. It was unfortunately some kind of chick flick, just like what could be found on 'my' Earth, except with some Pokémon thrown into the mix. The current scene was a guy and gal on a date...and their Pokémon doing the same sitting next to them. Interestingly, one of the Pokémon was a pansage. It and the other bipedal Pokémon I'd never seen before mirrored the humans' moves almost to a tee, even down to the expressions on their faces. For that alone I became (slightly) interested. Once again, a definite cut above the usual live-action movies involving animals back on my world. Heck, the Pokémon were even wearing clothes, and fashionable ones at that!

Despite the acting, I found the plot boring and was soon yawning. More 'interesting' was Charna snuggling right up against me. Not that there was room for her to be much further away on the small bed, but it was plain she was making an effort to be as tight as possible against me.

"Pansages, so cute," she whispered, putting a hand on my arm.

With me likewise forced against Gale now, I became effectively sandwiched. Not a bad position really, especially when Gale wrapped an arm around both me and Charna and started stroking my head and ear. Charna joined in, using her tail to stroke down one of my legs before sliding down to rest her head on my chest. I found myself not minding as much as I wanted, becoming so relaxed I was out like a light soon after.

"So you're what's called a simisage, huh?"

Miraculously, I was on my living room couch back home. With a strange, though attractive brown-haired woman sitting next to me…very close. "Uh, yeah, I am. I used to be human, but got turned into this on another Earth," I explained. "Crazy, huh?"

Reaching to slowly stroke my shoulder tuff and arm, "Mm…well, you're really cute, you know. I just really like cute animals. Especially talking ones. So I don't mind at all!"

"Like I said, I used to be human, so that's why I can talk and…" Our eyes locked and hers narrowed seductively, making clear what we would soon be doing. My heart quickened as she leaned even closer, hands moving to my bare cream-colored chest.

"That's why you own a house." In a now husky voice while gently sliding her hands down me: "Since you were human, then I shouldn't need any inhibitions, right?"

I think I just softly moaned an answer as she kissed my forehead, before moving her lips to my chest. At the same time, her one hand found my leg where I felt fingers moving through my thick hair, starting from my knee and going upward.

Pausing her kissing: "Just so cute…and handsome too. Nice monkey!"

The sight of something moving behind her caught my eye, which I quickly identified as a tail...one covered with green hair and a thorny tip! With her fingers making it up the inside of my leg and finding their already emerging target, I just as quickly didn't care. Wrapping my arms around her neck, I searched for a particular clasp somewhere behind her. Even my short arms were able to find it easily though. In seconds, I was rewarded with two small, soft mounds hanging over me, begging for intimate examination.

She gasped as I fondled her. "Oh…don't stop…"

I didn't…and neither did she. I was now fully exposed and the unfamiliar woman didn't pass up the opportunity to do some fondling of her own. In fact, it became so stimulating, that I was soon on the verge of...

With heart racing, my eyes ripped open as I struggled to overcome the strong urge. With me having thankfully been moved to the edge of the bed while I had slept, I curled up to hide my fully exposed maleness despite the darkness, coming uncomfortably close to doing something that would had been hugely embarrassing.

Hell, I hadn't had an erotic dream like that in a while! Certainly not since becoming a simisage. Nice to know that part of me wasn't as affected as I had feared. Maybe another sign of things becoming 'normal' for me again? Although the woman's distinctly non-human tail sure was weird. No doubt it was a simisage's...

Damn it! Was Charna having such an affect to get into my dreams?! I sure hoped that didn't indicate subconscious desires. Or worse, mean my mind was slowly succumbing to being a simisage...

I stared at my small hands in the darkness, heart still slowing. Even after three weeks with this body and all I had done with it, it was still sometimes startling to see what I was. Which yet made me determined to not let go of what I was inside.

Still, it was too damned early for any thoughts. Since I was on the outside with Gale sandwiched between Charna and me, I quietly got up for the bathroom to cool down some more. Well, I had drank a fair amount too. They were both still asleep when I got back, and somehow managed to fall asleep again at some much later point.

Palkia 'greeted' me again as usual, though I swore I caught a glimpse through the mass of clouds swirling around the vortex this time, right where he was pulled through.

"Everyone sleep well?" Professor Juniper greeted brightly from a window table, as I trudged into the cafeteria with Gale and Charna. I gave a unconvincing affirmative as I spied the serving counter and the small amount of hot food waiting along with a more enticing beverage pot, the overpowering smell of coffee hitting me like a sledgehammer.

"I tell you, sleeping with two simisages makes for a cozy bed," Gale yawned, ending with a smile.

"Someone needs coffee," I pointed out. "As do I."

"How you drink it?" Charna asked. "Taste bitter!" As if illustrating, she stuck her tongue out with a scowl before giving the air an exaggerated sniff. "Food smell good!"

"Oh, you leave Charna out too, huh?" Juniper asked, already pouring a new cup from the pot she had at the table.

Gale gave Charna a pat on the shoulder. "Yeah, I do."

After taking the seat opposite the Professor, I grabbed of one the other cups to hold it out. "Please?" I yawned. I was clearly feeling the shorted sleep.

"That's right, you drink coffee," the Professor said, as if remembering something surprising. "Still can't get used to how human you are." After I had my first sip of the hot, black elixir of life: "So, any fun dreams last night?"

I knew what she meant, but depending on how one defined 'fun'… "Nothing new about Palkia, although I think I got a look outside that swirling tunnel for the first time last night; I thought I saw distant mountains."

The older woman perked up. "The Northern Unova mountains by any chance?"

I shrugged with another yawn before taking a faster sip. "Maybe. Didn't get a good enough look…that I can remember. But it's the first time the dream has changed in the last couple weeks." I yawned yet again, hoping the coffee kicked in soon.

"You sure are tired this morning," Gale finally noticed, or at least said something about. Giving my back a rub, "Did that battle yesterday really take that much out of you? Do you need another oran berry or anything?"

"No, just didn't sleep as well as I'd liked." If I had been alone, the other dream certainly could of ended a lot more fun. Either way though, getting aroused in the middle of the night equaled a lot less sleep.

"Oh, you leave bed once."

I gave the female monkey a look where she stood near the buffet counter facing me. I thought she had been asleep like Gale! Now I worried what she might had seen…

"Well, I'm about to get some eggs, sausage and toast," Juniper announced in making a move to get up. "Want me to bring back a large plate for all of you?"

I certainly didn't say no and Charna looked ready to grab something off the counter with her bare hands. Then no sooner had we started digging into the food then someone else walked in, heading straight toward us.

"Oh, already having breakfast?" the tall bearded man asked. Looking about Juniper's age in his early fifties, his black hair and Asian complexion held the manner of someone educated, while his plaid shirt suggested someone down-to-Earth.

"Good morning, Richard," Juniper greeted. To us: "This is Professor Richard Orkelay. He's one of my colleges going to the research institute for the conference this afternoon and tomorrow." To Orkelay, she quickly introduced each of us.

Fixing his gaze on me: "Oh...so this is that Alex?" the male Professor asked. "Well, if the clothes he's wearing isn't already a giveaway, he is the talking simisage you mentioned?"

"Indeed he is," Juniper said almost proudly.

With another scientist who perhaps may be helpful to my situation, I wanted to start out right with a normal human greeting. Standing up and holding up my hand: "Nice to meet you, I'm Alex."

At first taken aback, the man soon was grinning almost stupidly as he shook my smaller hand. "Well, wow! You really do talk! Definitely nice to meet you! You're very civilized."

Without knowing how much Juniper had told the man, I nodded instead of blurting out I used to be human. "Thank you."

"Just…amazing. You were right, Aurea!" After staring down at me for a half moment during which he gave my 'pompadour' a pat, he turned to her: "So though, anything more about Palkia?"

So…he knew about that?! A bit taken aback, I looked to Juniper.

"Oh yes, sorry," putting a hand briefly to her forehead as she caught my gaze. "Richard is one of the people I told your story to in an effort to gather more information."

"Yep, indeed," the other Professor confirmed. "I will say, your story has intrigued all of us."

"All of you?" Gale asked with raised eyebrows.

"All of us in the research community," Juniper replied. "I needed to draw on everyone's knowledge to try and figure out what happened to Alex."

I scowled, a little miffed my 'secret' was being spread without my knowledge. Then again, if I couldn't trust Juniper… Sensing someone leaning close, I faced back to Orkelay to find him nearly in my face.

"Did you really used to be human, and from another Earth?! Possibly from another dimension?!"

Alright, it did save me some explaining. After glancing around the otherwise deserted cafeteria to make sure no one else had come in: "Yes, an Earth where Pokémon don't exist. Not certain about another dimension though. And I've been here about three weeks now."

"I want to hear more," he said. "Let me get some breakfast and coffee, then please tell me everything about where you come from and how you got here." With a quick chuckle: "I sure Aurea hasn't told me every detail."

"Just all the important stuff," Juniper said in mock defensive tone.

Since no other trainers were staying in the center, we kept the cafeteria to ourselves for the next hour where I rehashed my story, obviously with a lot more detail than the man was told. Getting to be midmorning though, Juniper interrupted for the tests she wanted before the conference.

Moments later, I was in a small, antiseptic-smelling lab having at least a window on the well-kept sunlight yard around the place. Professor Orkelay of course followed, but Nurse Carly seemed to show up as if physic. And just as I feared, Juniper was out for blood. Specifically, mine. I had to look the other way as the nurse actually did the honor. Charna watched with a fascinated expression on her monkey-like face though, as I settled on watching her in trying not to think about the needle in my arm.

"Why do that?"

I was curious along with her. After feeling the needle come out followed by pressure from some gauze, "What kind of blood tests are you doing?"

Juniper looked from where she was adjusting some piece of equipment similar to a small light-box. "Mostly the usual tests to see how healthy you are and to compare against earlier results, but also I'm going to try a slightly different chem-reaction test. We know how regular simisage blood should behave, but I want to see if yours is different. It's actually Richard's suggestion."

"Oh, you're trying that then?" Orkelay asked.

"Yes, and thanks for it." Taking one of the vials of blood from the nurse, she put it into the 'light-box' where it fit neatly into a side hole.

"And I'll get going on those other tests for you, Professor," the nurse said in moving to another bench loaded with vials, bottles and yet another small scanner with a touch-screen.

Charna looked back and forth between the benches. "Not understand. What they do?"

"So if the test comes out different for Alex, what would that mean?" Gale asked, shifting on a chair against the one wall.

Juniper touched a button on another piece of equipment attached to the 'light-box' before picking up something resembling a head-band. "Simply put, although Alex has normal simisage DNA from what we can tell, that doesn't mean he doesn't have differences. Just like us, all Pokémon have slight variations in their DNA from individual to individual. Unfortunately we don't know enough about the DNA to know where all of those variations are, but if this reaction test comes back positive, then he has a difference that isn't found in other simisages, yet still falls in a normal range for Pokémon."

"So what is this test?" I asked, wanting a more detailed explanation. Whether I understood it or not would be another matter.

"We'll expose you blood to a special enzyme, one that mimics stress like being hit by a Pokémon energy attack. Professor Orkelay's thought was to see if there was a response inconsistent with simisages."

"Granted, it's probably a long shot and won't prove anything by itself if it's abnormal," the other Professor added, "but considering…" After giving a glance to the nurse: "…your unique circumstances."

"Oh, it's OK," Juniper said. "Nurse Carly already knows. And I swore her to secrecy."

The nurse nodded. "That's right. If I couldn't keep secrets, I wouldn't have this job! But if what you say is true about being from another, different Earth…that would be…the news of the century!" Holding up a hand, "Still, I won't tell anyone."

Professor Orkelay seemed to accept that with a nod. "Then considering you used to be human from another planet or dimension, not to mention having a possible encounter with Palkia, I was wondering if there still might be some physical trace in your biology. Finding something inconsistent with simisages but still normal for other Pokémon would be a step in that direction."

"Physical traces like the scars on my arm?" I provided.

The man nodded. "So I thought of this test, which is about the only thing I could think of that might show something if a DNA scan didn't." With another look to Carly, "Other than the usual tests, of course."

"I'll have the results of those in a few minutes and compare them to the other Pokécenter's," the nurse replied.

"Excellent," Juniper said in getting up. "And in the meantime, I'd like to get some electro-brain readings with this headband."

"Hey, something that doesn't involve needles!" I exclaimed. "I feel better already."

"Funny," the older woman replied. Wrapping the headband around me, she adjusted it for fit around my large ears. Then after clicking something on it, returned to the bench to touch the screen of some tablet computer: "OK Alex, just say something. A couple sentences should do it."

Of course, I came up blank. "Uh…like what?"

"How about something from a book?" Gale suggested. "Since you've been reading."

I waited while Charna reached up to touch the headband, but table I sat on proved too high. "Alright, how about 'To be or not to be, that is the question?' or 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,'" quoting two famous authors while trying to sound like an actor.

"Oh! A cultured Pokémon as well," Orkelay exclaimed.

"The first was Shakespeare," Juniper identified. "But I didn't recognize the second."

"Charles Dickens," I provided, somewhat surprised Shakespeare existed on this planet. When all I got were shaking heads: "A Tale of Two Cities?" Again, no signs of recognition.

"Was he famous?" Gale asked.

"Quite," I replied. "Right along with Shakespeare and Mark Twain."

"Now Twain I've heard of," Orkelay said. "He was a famous early statesman, not an author."

"Maybe Dickens didn't exist on this Earth, and our Twain was different, " Juniper suggested. "Actually Alex, considering how different you said the landmasses are and the fact your Earth doesn't have Pokémon, I'm surprised we have as much in common as we do. Such as the English language."

Orkelay let out a long 'Hm,' folding his arms. "Or perhaps it's even a wonder that humans evolved more or less identically on both worlds. Makes me wonder if there is some connection between the two."

That earned the man a round of stares until I asked if I had talked enough yet.

"Oh!" Juniper turned to touch the tablet. "Yes, you have. Thank you." And at about the same time, the blood scanner chimed. "And we got the result of the blood test."

Which prompted the other professor to lean over for a look at the screen with her. After a moment: "Huh...that's unexpected."

"Definitely," Juniper agreed.

"Did something show up?" Gale asked, half rising from her chair.

Both professors stayed focused on the screen for several moments as Juniper worked it, to the point I was getting impatient. "So what is it?"

Without looking away, "Your blood indeed has a different reaction than other simisages," Orkelay said as if distracted. "In fact...it doesn't match...any known reaction from any species we have in the database of over two hundred Pokémon species. You're outside the absolute range."

"It's like we're testing a completely new species for the first time," Juniper furthered. "I mean, you're obviously a simisage and are otherwise normal with normal Pokémon abilities, Alex."

My pulse quicken a little. "So then…I'm otherwise normal except for this one test, the result of which you don't know what effect it indicates?" I summarized, hoping I was making correct sense.

"That's right," Orkelay confirmed. "It proves there is something physically different about you, but this test gauges a reaction I only discovered a couple years ago, and is still research in progress. I can say, your blood's reaction doesn't match any of the other species I've tested so far. And that's about it."

"Is it a bad result?" Gale asked, looking worried as she got up to stand by me. "Does it mean there's something wrong with him?"

"No, I don't think so," Orkelay returned. "But again we don't know everything about this particular piece of blood chemistry yet."

"Then there is something physically different about me after all." Finally, some real, physical proof! I just wasn't sure whether to be happy or not about the finding. But...proof was proof. As obscure as sounded to be.

"Appears so," Juniper confirmed, turning around on her stool. Raising a finger, "Most likely explanation is because you used to be human."

"Although we can't be certain," the male professor cautioned. "In any case, since you otherwise seem completely normal and healthy, this likely has no practical bearing. In other words, a harmless curiosity which simply differentiates you from all other Pokémon."

"Along with him being able to talk."

The man chuckled briefly at Juniper's point. "Well, that isn't completely unique, but close enough."

"So, you more…different now?" Charna asked with a tilted head, scratching behind it.

"I guess," answering her, glad she at least got the jist of it. To Juniper: "How about the brain scan? That show anything?"

"I'll be analyzing that in the coming days," she replied before shutting down the scanner. "It'll take some time."

"Well, an interesting finding to be sure," the nurse commented from her own bench. "Will you be publishing a paper on it?"

Juniper smiled briefly. "Not unless Alex gives me permission. I would have to reveal why he's unique, and you don't want that known yet, correct?"

Under the both professor's and the nurse's gazes, I nodded. "I try not to tell just anyone off the street I used to be human, and especially not I'm from a different Earth."

"Perfectly understandable," Orkelay agreed. "I can see such a special Pokémon being a prime target for certain bad individuals."

Juniper's breath caught. "Oh! That reminds me, Gale told me Alex can't be put into a Pokéball. For some reason, the ball she tried couldn't absorb him. I haven't had an opportunity yet to ask anyone who's more knowledgeable in Pokéball physics, but you're more into that area than I, correct?"

The man nodded slightly. "I take it you don't mean he's been captured by someone already?"

"Right, I mean the Pokéball actually didn't work on him," Gale provided for Juniper.

"Was your Pokéball defective?" the nurse asked. "It's rare, but has been known to happen."

"Well…I guess I don't know for sure, but the beam stayed active for a good fifteen seconds on him before it gave up."

Orkelay's eyebrows went up with a furrowing brow under his black hair. "That…would be an interesting failure," looking at me with a considering stare. "Certainly not how a ball would behave if you've been captured already either. Hm. Do you mind if we try again, with a different ball?"

I sighed, the entire feeling of humiliation and surrender hitting me once again. Dropping down to the floor from the exam table: "Sure, I have nothing better to do then try to be stuffed into one of those weird things again." I wasn't sure if anyone got my sarcasm as Juniper moved to take the headband off me.

As Gale started bringing out a Pokéball she had hidden somewhere, Richard quickly brought out one of his own to hand her.

"That is the most powerful balls there are," he explained. "If this one can't capture him, nothing can."

Gale stared at the dark-blue ball in her hand, eyes widening in looking it over with near reverence. "Is this…a master ball?!"

Orkelay cracked a slight smile. "Indeed. I'm high enough up to get one now and then, but you use it. I tested it just recently, so I know it's good. Then this should tell us for certain if it's a Pokéball issue, or something with Alex."

"When was the last time you used one of those?" Juniper asked, looking about to deliver a barb in smirking.

"Last time I needed to get a blood sample from a wild haxorus with unusual coloration," the man returned with a faint grin. "My protector growlithe knew what was better for him and didn't try to wear it down first; he grabbed a master ball from my pocket to put in my hand. Smart Pokémon."

Both Professors laughed at that.

Up to then, I had only seen three different Pokéball types. This fourth one…sounded downright scary! Folding my arms against my chest while getting especially nervous: "Alright...uh...what's a master ball?"

A smile slowly spread across Gale's face as she looked back to me. "Something I've always wanted. It's a very special and rare Pokéball that'll capture any Pokémon without fail. It doesn't matter how strong the Pokémon is, it'll get them. But not many are made and they're very hard to get. If you do find someone with one for sale, expect to mortgage your house for it."

Of course, she had already explained to me more than once that the stronger a Pokémon was, the easier it was for it to resist the capturing process (however that all worked). As such, there were different Pokéballs made with different levels of power, with increasing cost along with them. She'd never mentioned there being an 'ultimate' one before, though. God, seems I really was going to get put in one after all!

Charna moved to look at it the device, even giving it a quick touch. "Why not all like this? Be easier for humans."

Which struck me as a very intelligent question actually, and I relayed it despite my trembling voice.

"What would be the skill in that?" Orkelay retorted lightly.

Juniper nodded, lowering herself more down to Charna's height from the stool. "Exactly. It should require skill to capture a Pokémon, Charna. Taking care of one is a big responsibility, and if any human could capture one with so little effort, then too many who were unwilling to put forth effort would acquire them. Think of capturing one as a test to prove you are capable and willing to take care of the Pokémon."

"That's right," Gale said. "And again, these things cost a fortunate because they're hard to make, right?"

"Yes, some rare elements go into them," Orkelay confirmed. "So give it a try now."

"Alright then!" she said, holding the thing toward me. "You ready to be captured, once and for all, Alex?!"

The sudden grin on her face worried me and I unconsciously backed into the table. "Um…this isn't something I'm going to regret, is it?" Certainly, the thought that more power equaled pain came to mind.

"Too late for regrets, buddy. You already agreed to this, so I hope you enjoyed your brief reprieve of freedom."

Her laugh gave her away as trying to be funny, but I felt even more nervous than the last time as my heart pounded. I glanced down to a crouching Charna, who was curling her tail around herself and smiling, head cocked and looking rather cute.

Why oh why did I feel like I was about to be executed?

With Juniper, Orkelay and Carly now standing in a line watching, I took a breath and tried to relax as Gale approached to very lightly tap the ball's button against my forehead. "Geronimo…" I mumbled as a distinctly deeper shade of red compared to the other Pokéball enveloped me. Immediately I felt a difference from that other ball too. Compared to the itching and mild electric tingling from before, this was far more intense. It actually did border on pain! Yet like before, I wasn't immediately shrunk or anything. After the first few seconds, I was still standing, but the intense itching and tingling rapidly became like full-blown electric shocks running through me. Not only that, but it felt like I was being squeezed painfully from all directions, as if the red beam was trying, really trying to shrink me, except my body wasn't giving in at all. A few painful pounds of my heart later, I was suddenly unable to breathe as the world grew wavy, as if through water, with the shocks only getting stronger, threatening to fry me! The pain intensified so fast to such a level, I let out a single, short-breathed panicked screech before mercifully passing out.


The pink face of an audino was staring down at me.

"Alex? I'm happy you're awake. How do you feel?"

Its smooth voice was oddly soothing, a sense of great caring seemingly communicated with it. Even its scent was relaxing, somewhat like a field of flowers. Moving my eyes, I found myself on a bed in different room, probably still the Pokécenter considering the wires attaching me to some monitor. Other than the audino in the room, Gale was slumped slightly in one of the chairs by a wall, asleep. I took a deep breath, trying to gauge how I felt with lingering grogginess. "OK, I think. What happened?"

The audino reached up, putting hand to my forehead. Just like mom used to do when I was sick. "They tried to put you into that powerful Pokéball, but you didn't go in. You looked like you were in a lot of pain before you collapsed, Carly said."

I grimaced at the remembrance. "It felt like I was being crushed and electrocuted at the same time. It hurt...a lot."

"You poor dear," speaking even more soothingly. After a moment and pulling her hand away, "Your temperature is good and you look much better now. I will tell Carly you are awake." Quickly but without too great of hurry, the audino turned and left. I then stared at Gale, wondering how long I'd been out. The room didn't have an outside window or a readily visible clock. Was Juniper and Orkelay still around? Perhaps it was late enough they had to go to their conference. I thought about waking Gale to ask, but felt drained enough that I just didn't want to make the effort. In any case, she stirred when the nurse came in a moment later.

"Oh, you are awake and looking good," Carly said. "Thank goodness." Immediately she had a hand on my smaller, haired wrist while glancing at a monitor. "How do you feel?"

"Tired, but otherwise I think I'm OK. Just what happened with that Pokéball exactly?"

Rubbing my wrist and looking very apologetic, "I'm so sorry we put you through that. In retrospect, we should have suspected something would go wrong since a standard Pokéball couldn't capture you. But at least all your vitals look normal now, so I don't think you suffered any permanent injury."

"Is he alright then?!" Gale was already out of the chair and on my other side, looking down at me with obvious relief.

"I think he'll be just fine!" Moving her hand to brush some of the hair around my one ear, "He's such a special Pokémon, I'm not sure I would ever forgive myself if something happened to him in my Pokécenter. Please, don't try to put him into another Pokéball again. Especially not a Masterball!"

Gale nodded emphatically. "Alex, what the heck happened? It looked like you were being hurt before you passed out."

I repeated what I told the audino and got more apologies and a nice hug. Then after a couple tests while I recovered a bit more, I was released. First stop was the cafeteria to take care of my surging appetite, where I finally discovered it was mid-evening. Then it was to our room in the center, Gale keeping close along the way to make sure I truly was alright. There, Charna was asleep on the slightly larger than twin-sized bed.

"She wanted to wait up, but I told her to go bed," Gale whispered. "She was so worried about you, right along with me."

I wished the monkey hadn't been, and quickly decided on a shower before the creature woke up. On getting back, she was awake, likely because both Juniper and Orkelay were there waiting for me. Once again I explained what I had felt, bringing yet another round of apologies, "you poor thing", and a hug from my 'favorite' female simisage.

Orkelay nodded before sighing and shaking his head. "I should have realized the danger. Ugh! So, you can all blame me. Alex, I'm really sorry."

"You aren't the only one to blame, Richard," Juniper added. "I should have suspected enough as well to not allow it. And as a lead researcher, I really need to brush up on Pokéball physics I think."

I wanted to say something like it was unreasonable to expect either of them to know what would have happened, but then I had little idea of how Pokéballs worked and even less idea of what the Professors knew or should have known. I just nodded, told them I was fine and not to worry about it.

"It is curious why the Masterball had that effect on you though, Alex," Juniper continued, leaning against the wall before brushing her let-down long, light brown hair back over her shoulder. "By the way you described it, I'm guessing the ball was trying to convert you to energy, but your body wasn't reacting correctly. Yet the DNA test didn't show anything to indicate there would be a problem with Pokéballs or the way they work. Still, I'm not an expert in that area."

"No, I think your assessment is correct," Orkelay supported.

"What about that test you did this morning, does that have anything to do with it?" Gale asked. "You said he fell outside the range of normal Pokémon. Could that somehow affect Pokéball function, something that you don't know about yet? I mean, if his result was far outside that known for any Pokémon, could that cause or indicate something you hadn't previously known?"

The female professor gave her a considering stare. "Not a bad line of reasoning," she rewarded. "But that blood test we do know has nothing to do with Pokéball compatibility. And the areas of DNA that we think allows Pokéballs to work is fairly consistent from one Pokémon to the next. Alex is definitely no different there."

"However…" Orkelay said slowly, sounding lost in thought, "…correct DNA isn't the only thing Pokéballs need to work. In order to convert a Pokémon to an energy-like state, there is also what you could call a dimensional component to the formula. Just like the natural crystals humans first used when they discovered they could contain Pokémon, our current synthetic ones cause a slightly different dimension, allowing the Pokémon to exist in them physically without being completely converted to all energy. So now I'm wondering: if Alex is truly from another dimension, rather than just a different Earth-like planet in this universe, perhaps that somehow is interfering with the Pokéball's operation. Somehow."

Juniper moved away from the wall a little to look more directly at the fellow professor. "You mean like an interference to the Q-vector energy state? Similar to the excitement phase during evolution?"

"That's exactly what I'm thinking," the man answered, running a finger through his short beard. "If Alex's mass is even slightly different from normal mass in spin and vibration by virtue of being from a different universe, then his Q-vector alignment will be thrown off. The tolerance is very tight."

"So all mass in this universe should have the exact same Q-vector," Juniper reiterated. "So if his is different…that could affect energy states? Which means his phase levels are going to be different there as well, right? At least that's how I understand the current theory in layman's terms."

"That might indeed be correct, so once you change the phase levels, you run into problems with the mass-energy formulas, affecting variables that were assumed to be constant, but now suddenly aren't. Now on the sub-atomic level, unless you have the exact bonding energies, you can't calculate the states with the correct precision to…"

I just had to glance at Charna. As I expected, her black and white eyes looked back and forth between the two professors with a glazed-over appearance. Although I felt I had a decent enough science education, even I felt pretty lost. Still, just to demonstrate some proficiency: "Are you talking about anything involving the fundamental interaction forces, like strong, weak and electromagnetic found on the quantum level?" As a reward, I noticed Gale's eyes widening at me.

Both Juniper and Orkelay stopped to likewise stare, Juniper being the first to respond, "Ah...well I don't think we quite refer to them like that, but somewhat, yes. Did you study physics on your world?"

"I watched a science program once about the four fundamental forces of the universe, where our scientists were trying to unify them all into one super theory." Ticking them off on my one hand: "Strong, electromagnetic, weak and gravity."

Orkelay's mouth opened slightly while shaking his head. "Unbelievable. Even though you said you used to be human, it's still startling to hear a Pokémon talk about such an advanced scientific topic. Not that just being able to talk isn't startling enough!"

"You…understand?!" Charna nearly gasped.

"Not that I have much real understanding about it," I admitted, "but I recognize a little of the terminology."

"I'm glad at least one of us does," Gale said, sitting on the bed beside me. "I struggled in my advanced physics class at school. Gees, even a Pokémon even has more knowledge then I do!"

"Not just any Pokémon," I returned as she was already smiling in revealing the joke. "A former human."

Juniper patted each of our shoulders. "I'm sorry, the two of us started digressing."

"Oh, quite!" Orkelay chuckled. "But I sure would like to have more intellectual conversations with you, Alex."

"But we just wanted to come by to make sure you were doing alright, before we retired for the evening," Juniper continued. Giving my shoulder a squeeze, "I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt. If you had, I doubt I could've continued the conference with any kind of conscious."

"How is that going?" I asked with some curiosity.

Orkelay nodded to me from behind her. "You have the honor of being a popular topic in our informal conversations."

"Were you still planning on leaving tomorrow for Icirrus City?" Juniper asked.

Gale looked down to me in reaching to give my back a rub. "If Alex is feeling OK, yes."

"Oh, good. I'm still really wanting to know if you experience anything having to do with Palkia as you go further north." Juniper's face grimaced slightly as if deciding something, then took something resembling a large watch out of her shirt pocket to hand to Gale.

"Oh, a video transceiver," she exclaimed.

"Uh huh. Would you please inform me right away if Alex experiences anything?"

Giving the Professor a stare on what sounded like greater than expected interest, "Right away? This sounds really important," I commented. Of course any clues about Palkia's whereabouts were vitally important to me, but I didn't think it would rise to quite that level for the Professor.

"Of course we would be very interested in knowing if Palkia is around here," Juniper explained, "and he is likely the only way you can go back home."

"If Palkia is here, in this region...it'd be very unusual as there's no record of any sightings of him here before," Orkelay added, folding his arms across his chest.

Juniper smiled briefly. "Well, to be honest, any of us would jump at the chance to see him too, considering how long it's been since anyone has seen him anywhere. So please, let us know any little change to your dreams, or if you otherwise sense Palkia...or anything else for that matter."

I got the sense there may had been more to it, but gave assurances that I would do as she asked.

With attention to the hour of night, they gave a final apology and we exchanged our Good Nights.

Gale gave a long, tired sigh, then dug out some pajamas before stripping out of her clothes. "If we don't catch them at breakfast tomorrow, we probably won't see them for a while. Assuming you feel up to traveling tomorrow, Alex. You and I will be the only ones walking."

"OK," I said, avoiding eye-contact with Charna while watching Gale a little more closely. Lord, why did she have to strip down to underwear in front of me?!

"I walk too?" Charna asked, though more like stating a fact rather than asking.

I grimaced, envisioning days of having her walking by my side. Granted, she's wasn't all that bad to be around now (mostly), but I needed a break from her! "I assume she wants you inside your Pokéball. There's only so much food we can carry." Under Gale's questioning gaze, I put Charna's question to her. To my disappointed surprise, the woman just shrugged after finishing putting on her PJs.

"It's up to you Charna, although I insist you stay in your Pokéball most of the way. Like Alex said, we can't carry that much food, and it's just safer and keeps you rested for any emergences. It also reduces the chance you'll get hurt."

"I not get hurt just walking!" Charna countered, hands on hips and tail swishing.

I translated.

"And if you get attacked by a wild Pokémon?" Gale countered.

"No one sneak on me!"

Again I translated.

Gale smirked. "You can't be certain of that, Charna."

Crossing her arms to take on a look of supreme confidence: "I beat any who fought me in forest! I even better now!"

Translated once again.

"Well well, listen who sounds confident now!" Gale ribbed lightly. "Say you go against an emboar than, or a unfezant. Say that unfezant swoops down behind you from a tree we're walking underneath."

"I not be fool! I will hear and not fight flying or fire!"

I started feeling like a professional interpreter by this point. I was also literally between them.

"Charna, there's different Pokémon here than in Pinwheel Forest. Besides, I want to keep you rested so if we encounter some big, tough water type, you'll be ready to go. Since Alex has to walk, he might too tired, so you'll have to come to our rescue."

Charna was suddenly smiling and came out of her defiant stance. "Oh...that OK!"

I was just too tired to protest.


We did miss the two Pokémon professors at breakfast, who apparently had been through the cafeteria even earlier than us. There were a couple other trainers in the cafeteria though and I kept silent the entire time we ate. Being I was feeling decent again, we left the center by mid-morning into warm, muggy air under an overcast sky promising rain at some point. Despite the cloud cover, we heard a prop plane taking off from the airport behind us as we left Mistralton on foot.

"Probably shipping out the first of the season's crops already," Gale commented as we hiked a well-used walking path, stretching through grassy savanna with few trees in the distance.

Genuinely curious, "What crops would they be shipping out now?" I asked. "Where I lived on my Earth, in early summer there would only be radish or other quick-growing, cool-weather crops."

"Radish?" Charna asked.

"I don't know," Gale replied. "I never was into gardening." Then after I explained to Charna what a radish was, the woman stopped suddenly. "You know, it wouldn't hurt if everyone was outside their Pokéballs for an hour." With that, she released everyone. "Alright guys, we're on the road to Icirrus City again. Go ahead and stretch your legs and wings for a little while."

"Ha ha, freedom!" Hammy yelled. "So...we getting another breakfast?"

"This path looks familiar," Bolt said with a neigh.

"But it's warmer and fairer now," Lilly trilled, stretching her small palpitoad arms upward. "Just feel the fragrant, moist wind in your face!"

With a hop and a couple wing beats, Serenity was in the air, soon silently and lazily circling overhead.

"Wonder what like to fly," Charna mumbled, neck craned upward in watching the unfezant.

"I can help!" Hammy announced, already reaching for her.

The female simisage moved quick to avoid his grasp. "What you do?!"

Grinning, "Throw you into the air. You'll fly!"

"Until she comes back down!" Serenity squawked from above.

"I'll catch her!" Hammy yelled back up, making another grab for the monkey.

Charna smacked one of his hands with her tail, eliciting a quiet "Ow" from the fire-type. Except that did nothing about his forward momentum or his other hand gaining a grip on her upper arm. Then in a demonstration of raw strength which probably only he could pull off, he had her in his huge arms just before tossing her into the air, Charna screaming the entire time.

"That's impressive," Bolt commented, although sounding disinterested as Charna reached apogee about halfway up the nearest tree, limbs flailing.

After Hammy caught and set her down her a few seconds later: "OK Hammy, that's probably enough," Gale warned.

Seeing Charna visibly shaking, I had to move to her. "You OK?"

"Don't do again!" Charna spat at the emboar, immediately having the glow of energy forming around her mouth.

"Charna, don't…" I was cut off as the Bullet Seeds shot toward the large fire pig. It really was humorous to watch the creature simply walk away, a barrage of small energy seeds pelting him but paying no mind. They likely did little more than sting slightly from his reaction.

"Alright Charna, that's enough from you too!" Gale likewise warned. "Calm down and let's get going, or I'm putting all of you back into your Pokéballs."

Hammy came up behind to put his big arms around the woman. "Just having fun," he rumbled.

Out of courtesy I translated, and Gale gave his arms a rub.

"Just be nice to her," she returned.

Charna gave a huff, folding arms across her chest.

I thought about mimicking Hammy in putting an arm around the monkey, but thought better of it. Any of Gale's other Pokémon and I think I would've.

Gale lead the way as we passed the last of the houses that I guessed were still part of Mistralton City proper. Like most small towns I knew on my Earth, there were still residences scattered far off the path but still close to town, mostly becoming small farms and spaced further and further apart as we went. Far up ahead though and going up a small rise, there appeared to just be more grassland. I asked about that.

"Oh, that's a nature preserve starting at the hill," Gale answered, "and it stretches down behind it for some distance. Combination of prairie and swampland that many Pokémon call home."

Already around us were various croaks and insect noises (I guessed) belying it the habitat of many species already. "We're going through it?"

"Uh huh. This trail goes right through the middle. Roads have to go around, so this is another reason why trainers take to these walking routes between towns and cities, instead of the roads."

"There's definitely a more extensive network of walking trails here than on my Earth," I observed. Although I liked visiting various parks and such on my world to be 'in nature', I couldn't recall having the feelings I was getting as more and more grass and shrubs surrounded us on the wide path. Indeed, it was like when we first entered Pinwheel Forest from Nacrene City the day after I first arrived, with my spirits lifting and just feeling a little more…invigorated. And so peaceful. I even thought about humming some tune…

"Hey! Too close!"

I looked up with everyone else to see what Serenity was yelling about. Level with the top of the clump of trees we were approaching, Serenity was banking to the side in just avoiding a second, even larger grayish-brown bird.

"Who is that?" Hammy asked.

"Serenity, is it attacking?!" Gale shouted.

The unfezant didn't answer immediately in continuing her bank back toward us. For its part, the other bird was also banking, in the opposite direction and almost meeting up with Serenity as their paths came together. Passing within a few meters, the second bird started squawking with a grate very much like a hawk from my Earth. An intelligible squawk.

"What he mean?" Charna asked.

Good question, I thought in surprise. "That bird says his master is waiting for us," I translated to Gale. Meeting her stare, I shrugged.

Serenity flew down low over us, squawking with the same news presumably in case we hadn't heard. Adding as she flew back around: "I see his master under those trees."

"I think that bird is a staraptor," Gale commented, watching the other bird fly over us as well before banking toward the stand of trees and following Serenity. "They aren't found here unless brought by someone from Sinnoh."

Catching some movement ahead, I finally noticed the figure leaning against one of the trees, just off the path. His blue jacket with sliver piping looked familiar and as we got closer, silver jewelry positively identified him. Some amount of dread hitting me, "That's Marvin?"

"You're right," Gale whispered, her eyes narrowing a bit. "I can't forget how he was dressed."

Bolt stomped a foot, hardly breaking his slow stride next to us. "Why is he here? He's has the nightmare darkrai, right?"

"Ho ho, battle time!" Hammy said with an enthusiastic tone. "This time, I do it. Not Alex."

God, I sure hoped he didn't want another battle against me. That darkrai was…well, unbeatable. Hammy might have better luck, but against that weird attack of putting you to sleep… On the other hand, it was that attack which I thought provided a clue to Palkia's (or someone's) whereabouts. Perhaps another battle would provide another one?!

"The dark Pokémon may not be here," Lilly said, though hanging behind everyone else a little. "No unease now."

Just as I was warming up to the thought of another battle, I realized the palpitoad was right. I also couldn't remember having any nightmares the previous night. Then again, maybe Marvin and his darkrai just hadn't been close enough.

Gale looked around seemingly to make sure everyone was present. "Hm, well, let's see want he wants."

The thirties-some man stepped away from the tree, meeting us on the path as we arrived. "Hello again."

Gale nodded. "Hello. Your…staraptor? It says you've been waiting for us."

A smile formed on the man's face. "Having a talking Pokémon with you to translate certainly is useful." Taking the feather-sporting blue cap off his bushy black hair which looked freshly washed, "Yes, I heard you were in town, so I decided to wait for you on the chance you're going to Icirrus City. If you are, I was hoping to travel with you, if it's alright."

"Well, we are going there," Gale replied hesitantly, "but why do you want to travel with us?"

"Because we're just so interesting, " Lilly proposed, having come out from behind her now.

I had a feeling it was more because of me, but wouldn't had minded being wrong.

Speaking in nothing but a friendly manner: "Truth be told, since I'm on my way there myself, I sure wouldn't mind hanging around your amazing talking simisage for a few days." Facing down to me: "How'd you been doing Alex? I hope you haven't had any leftover nightmares from Wisp."

"No, no nightmares," I answered simply, keeping myself on guard. Like our first meeting, the guy still struck me as just...odd. But nothing I could strictly put my finger on. "But is that…"

"Where is nightmare Pokémon?" Charna interrupted, almost spitting at him. "It cause me too many bad dreams!"

"Oh hey, simisages really do have bad tempers," Marvin said, putting up his hands as she scowled at him. "And oh, you have two of them!"

"Well, we can do without nightly nightmares," Gale pointed out, beating me to it.

"So can the rest of us!" Serenity shouted from above, getting agreement from the others with neighs, trills and throaty shouts.

Marvin shook his head. "No reason to worry, I sent Wisp home for a while, so that absolutely won't be a problem. Again, I have to apologize for all that back in Castelia; it wasn't intentional in any way. And I promise I won't be a burden; I'm an experienced camper and have all my own supplies. Oh, and all my Pokémon are from other regions, so if you want, we can have some scrimmages we might both find useful."

Hammy raised a fist. "I don't mind beating Pokémon from far away places! Bring them on!"

I sighed, wondering what it was like to be so strong as to not worry about getting your head handed back after a battle.

"You seem excited, emboar," the Marvin observed.

"That's Hammy," Gale introduced.

The man nodded before looking to both me and Charna. "You two look rather cute together." Almost as if to sway us, he reached to give me a quick rub on my head, doing the same to Charna right after, who actually stood and let him. In fact, I was surprised I let him too.

Bolt snorted, "He sure is trying."

Facing us, "Well guys, what do you think?" Gale asked. "I guess I'm OK with it for now, maybe as an experiment for a day, although you'll help keep watch on him, Alex."

"I need watching, huh?" Marvin asked in a rhetorical manner, running a hand through his black hair.

A guy we had only met once before wanting to travel with us out of the blue? Yeah, I could see why Gale would be cautious, in more ways than one. I knew what the main worry would be on my Earth. No idea here though, and I was surprised she was asking what we thought; I was looking to her to make the judgment call. My opinion was I really didn't want another traveling companion, especially a near-stranger, being the natural introvert I was. "Great," I finally moaned.

"He seems fine enough," Lilly answered first with a trill. "As long as the nightmare Pokémon is far away."

Bolt nodded his striped head. "Fine with me. Wouldn't mind some training against unfamiliar Pokémon."

"Yes!" Hammy shouted. "Can we have a battle now?"

"I'll go for it," Serenity called from above, circling above us along with the staraptor. "It will be interesting to see Pokémon from other places."

"And you?" I asked Charna with little hope as the consensus was going against me.

With a shrug, "Don't care."

Although I thought she did lean toward the negative in manner. "Everyone who cares says 'yes'," I forced myself to relay. I thought about voicing my objection, especially since there was no chance of another battle against the darkrai now, but my unfamiliarity with this world held my tongue. Reasonably, everyone else was a better judge of character here than I; perhaps I needed to trust them. Of course, they were probably all extroverts.

Gale faced the man again, this time with a smile. "OK then, I guess we're going to Icirrus together."

With her Pokémon all agreeing, the woman seemed more at ease, I noted.

"Oh, excellent!" Marvin retreated back to the tree, retrieving a hidden backpack with a rolled tent and sleeping bag strapped to it. "Did I mention I make a really good stew?"

"You have now," Gale returned. "OK mister, you just volunteered as camp cook."

Strapping on his pack just as we got going on the path again: "I said I can make stew. No promises about other food. Anyway, are these all your other Pokémon? I remember seeing each of them at that Castelia park, except for your second simisage. By the way, that's Razor above us."

"Yes, this is all of mine," Gale answered, indicating each of us. "Charna is my other simisage."

Noting Serenity and Marvin's staraptor 'Razor' flying above us almost in formation now: "How long did you watch us in the park anyway," I asked. And since he brought up being there: "And why did you want to battle me so badly? You paid a lot of money for that." On a suspicion: "Was it to specifically use your darkrai against me?"

The thirty-some year-old man glanced past Gale at me. "Well, my team was fascinated by you, and we choose Wisp to battle. You are very unique, Mr. Talking Simisage. How is that? In all of history, nearly every attempt to teach Pokémon to speak any human language have failed, so I'm really curious why you can."

I had hoped for a more revealing answer, considering the type of dream his darkrai trigged. Instead, he turned it around into a question I was careful to who I gave the answer.

"He's very intelligent," Gale answered for me. "At least, that's the best answer we have so far."

"So you taught him to speak?"

She hesitated.

Damned that we had never decided what to tell people, at least on a consistent basis. "No, I was already talking when she found me," I answered for her. At least for that part, I was going to stick with the truth. Easier to remember.

"Oh. So…you were wild?"

"Yes, he was," Gale provided.

The man cocked his head, though his eyes seemed to hold a bit of doubt. "Alright, but how did you learn to talk out in the wild? That would be an even more amazing feat."

His staraptor dipped down from above, as if wanting to listen.

I now hesitated. Since we hadn't been questioned this deeply yet, I had yet to come up with a decent answer…that wasn't at least part truth. Truthfully, I had been technically 'wild' when Gale found me. For all of the first few moments of my existence on this world. So in one sense, I was 'born' as a wild Pokémon with the ability already. "Just because you're out in the wild, doesn't mean you don't have contact with others." Which was most definitely true. Just that in my case, I hadn't existed long enough for it to be a factor.

"Hm, OK."

Something about the man's tone suggested he'd been expecting something more revealing…or else he knew I was hiding something.

"When you tell him?" Charna asked quietly from beside me.

"Hey, don't say anything," Bolt warned.

"I didn't!" she protested, whipping her tail and just about getting Lilly in the face.

"Watch your tail!" the palpitoad trilled agitatedly.

After a huff, Charna just glared straight ahead.

"Maybe later," I said to answer her question and keep it vague, especially with the man's staraptor hovering directly above. Although Charna's question alone just gave to the bird we definitely were hiding something.

"So you're an official trainer?" Marvin asked, thankfully getting the attention off of me.

"I am." With that, she spent the next kilometer briefly going into her history as a trainer, the gym battles she had, and a bit about her life outside of battling.

Nothing I hadn't already heard.

"Alright, now what about you?" she asked. "What's your story? Where you from and what brings you to this region?"

"I'm from Sinnoh originally," he began, scratching his head for a second before reaching behind for his wide-brimmed blue hat. "Traveled here and there through the other regions across the sea: Kanto, Johto, even down to the South Hoenn area. Then after getting a decent job for a while, I saved up enough for an extended vacation in this region."

Which I thought both said a lot…and nothing much at all. Deciding to pry: "Where did you find your darkrai? Does it normally induce dreams after putting someone to sleep with that Dark Void?" From Gale I got a questioning look. Marvin merely gave a sidelong glance, though I swore a corner of his mouth was upturned. Then again from my child-like height, it was more difficult for me to gauge such things.

"Darkrais cause nightmares during battles with Dream Eater," the man replied. "What kind of nightmare did you have during our battle?"

"It…wasn't exactly scary," I answered carefully. I knew I couldn't reveal what I really saw, but I at least wanted to say it wasn't a nightmare in the hopes getting more information.

"Hm," he only said, giving no hint what he thought.

Seems I needed to take a bigger risk. "Do Darkrai talk psychically when they use Dream Eater?"

"Oh, who knows what all goes on during Dream Eater; us humans don't get affected the same way as Pokémon by those attacks. But are you saying you heard a voice?"

Noting Gale's expression of caution: "I heard a voice, but I never heard Wisp speak before or after, so I can't say if it was his voice or not."

The man seemed to think on that for a moment, his expression otherwise unreadable. "I see. Well, dreams are funny things. Maybe you could tell me what you saw and heard some time." Now smiling, "I sure don't mind listening to a talking Pokémon."

I was glad he was willing to drop the subject since I was all but inviting him to pry more out of me. I also got the sense the guy wasn't totally surprised, or at least, not as curious as I would had expected. Could he possibly already know about my dream? Did he specially use Darkrai because he knew what would happen?!

Which would suggest he knew something about me and where I came from…?!

Over-thinking; I was over-thinking!

Light conversation filled the rest of the morning as we made it into the nature preserve area, with Gale mostly going over more in detail, on Marvin's asking, her exploits the previous year when she won eight gym badges. I asked a few more questions about the man's past, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. At least to my scarce knowledge. Only my gut feel, whether it was my human side or my simisage side I couldn't tell, said there was still something not normal about him...something just a little off. Which obviously was qualified by the fact I was on a strange version of Earth, surrounded by a strange mix of odd animals with seemingly magical abilities.

Yeah, define 'odd'.