Gonna try something else, a new thing. Please please PLEASE let me know if you guys enjoy this or not. This won't be an every chapter thing, but whenever the story calls for it for big events.

I coughed. My throat was on fire, and I could barely breathe without coughing. I slowly opened my eyes, which were stinging. Through blurry eyes, I could see I was in the forest, not inside the cozy cabin I had called home. What happened? A small jolt rushed through me as I slightly remembered what happened. I… I woke up, and the cabin was on fire. I think… I think I woke someone up, and I nearly passed out from the smoke. Something blue… James? James was carrying me out and away from the fire… and then I passed out…

I was looking around to find the cabin, hoping it was still going to be ok, that maybe the fire has just burnt a little of the area, but it was still liveable in. Instead of seeing the cabin with slight burn marks, All I could see was an inferno, closely resembling a bonfire. Where… Where is everyone else? Are they ok? It was dark out, but the fire managed to give enough light to see the surrounding area. I could make out a few pokemon looking from the safety of their trees and bushes, looking at the fire. I could see a zigzagoon, furret, and a few pidgey's, among others that I couldn't seem to identify.

Wind blew down from the sky as something landed behind me. I quickly turned around and saw a flygon land carrying a flaaffy and a breloom. "Listen to me," He said before I quickly recognized the voice to be drake's, "You two need to take care of Buddy for now. Stay away from the fire, especially you Foley. Venus, since you're the oldest one out of you three, you're in charge. Whatever you think is best, do it. Julia or myself will come find you, ok? Stay safe." Venus nodded, and Foley gave his best 'okay' through shaky voice. Drake turned around to me, before talking. "Buddy, everything's going to be ok. Listen to your big sister Venus," He assured. Drake was being serious, something that I had rarely seen. Whatever happened must have been serious. "Go," He ordered as he flew up into the air and back towards the house fire.

I started to walk back to the house to make sure everything was ok, but found myself lifted up off the ground. "Buddy, no this is too dangerous, we need to go now!" she stressed. I tried to thrash myself off to go back to help, but she tightened her grip, making sure to secure me over her shoulder. "Buddy, This is happening. They'll come find us after. Foley, let's go," Venus urged. I thrashed and yelled, trying to get out of her grasp to go help the others. "Stop it!" Venus yelled. But I kept trying and screaming 'Vee, Eevee!' which was supposed to say 'let me go! I want to help!'

The sound of wood splintering filled the forest with noise. "Look out!" I heard a voice yell before there were a small amount of screams. I couldn't see anything, but from the sounds of it, I think the fire had spread or something had broken. "No you idiots! That's the wrong fire type! They're the one trying to help!" The voice screamed before we were a distance away enough that I couldn't make out that voice anymore.

I deflated and stopped trying to fight Venus' grasp. I was tired out, and sad. Sad I couldn't do anything to help in this useless body. Sad I was nothing but a burden. I let out a small sniffle as I tried to hold back my tears, but to no avail. I can't even stop crying. I hate me, I hate everything about me, I hate what I've become. I can't even help my team… Venus seemed to take notice. "I'm sorry for yelling, Buddy. I didn't mean to make you cry," She said apologetically.

"Buddy, they're gonna be ok, alright? They're really good fighters! They were taught by our old trainer Lucas, so they know what they're doing! They know what they're doing, they're gonna come and get us after that, so don't be sad, ok?" Foley added as he walked behind Venus to face me during the walk. He looked me in the eyes as he said that, and for a small minute, it felt like everything was going to be alright. I sniffed and gave him a small nod. He let a small smile show on his face. "I promise, ok? When we're done going somewhere, we'll play ok?" He assured. I didn't give him a response that time, instead opting to close my eyes.

We- or rather, Foley and Venus- continued to walk for a few more minutes down the moonlit path. The few pokemon we did see quickly walked to where we were coming from, no doubt wanting to see what all the commotion was.

"Hey, you children!" A female voice called out to my right. All of us immediately turned towards the voice. A luxray stepped out of the shadows and addressed Venus directly. "You're carrying a cub? What's happening? Do you need somewhere to stay?" She asked politely.

"T-there was a fire over there and m-my friends- I mean family- told me to hide for now," She mumbled.

"I see. Well, if it can help you out, my family can house you for a while until they come back. If you'd like of course, there's no pressure," She added.

"I think it'll be a good idea Venus! It's close so they don't have to go far to find us, and I have a good feeling about this!" Foley beamed. Venus stood about, lost in thought, before quickly making a decision.

"You always trust people way to easily, Foley. Though this time, I agree with you. Ok, we'll stay with you. Thank you for your help Mrs…?"

"Larxy. Dumb name I know, but I didn't pick it," She chuckled. "Let's get you away from the danger. C'mon." Larxy lead the rest of us through the forest, eventually reaching a small hole at the bottom of a big tree. "Small squeeze for adults, but for you young ones it'll be easy as lightning! Our home is bigger on the inside, I promise!"

"Our" home?

Venus slipped through the hole, careful to not hit my head on the base of the trunk. True to the Luxray's words, the inside was a lot bigger and cozier. Foley hopped in, and then Larxy. "Honey, I'm back. Found out what it was too," She called out. A light began to to bounce off the walls before another pokemon stepped out from another hallway. This was a decently sized pokemon, slightly bigger than the luxray, and had a huge mane that was A mix of red, yellow, and orange. I recognized the pokemon as a Pyroar!

"Good to see everything's okay. I see you brought guests! Hello you two- oops, three of you, didn't see you there little guy!" he said, directing that last part towards me. His voice was gruff, but kind. "I'm sure you met my mate Larxy. My name's Spire. And this is our-"

"My name's Sparx!" A little shinx said as he jumped from behind his father. Sparx? I immediately wriggled to get free. Seemingly understanding, Venus put me down. "Oh it you! Hi! How have you been!? I missed you! Wanna play some more!?" He bombarded me with questions, coming closer and circling around me before giving me a playful nudge and laying on my side. I let out a giggle and began to bat my paw at him, and he began to do the same.

"You've met him before, Sparx?" his father asked. A loud boom was audible from the outside, sounding like a tree or two had snapped in half. Everyone was silent, anticipating more noise. However, it went down to normal volume levels, or whatever was considered normal at this moment. Spire repeated the question.

"Y-yeah!" Sparx said, slightly shaken by the loud noise, but going back to normal. "Remember? I told you I met a friend a while ago, and we were playing! Remember? Remember dad? Remember!?" the young shinx chirped.

"Yes, I remember now," He chuckled. "Well, I hope you little one's are ok. Want to explain what happened and where you're from?" While Spire was talking to Venus and Foley, Larxy was watching me and Sparx play-wrestle. She was watching with an amused smile, more likely happy that her son had a new friend.

I stopped as my ears perked up, picking up a new sound. It was faint, but it was the sound of bushes and twigs snapping. It shouldn't bother me, but something about it felt different. It felt… heavier. Not like a pokemon. Next came the smell. I was still attempting to get used to my nose, but I could smell this scent as it was easily identifiable by how strong it was. It was something I could remember from when I was human. It smelled like strong cologne.

A human was nearby...