Began chapter: December 20, 2011
Posted: December 23, 2011
Rating: This entire fanfiction is rated K+

Other notes: Ooh, some interesting things happen in this chapter. It's shorter than the usual chapter, but I think it'll be enough to satisfy some chapter hunger.

I may also insert some meaningless scenes into my chapters, but I swear they're there for a reason. Personally, I think the emotional impact of stories is built on prior character interaction. The more interaction there is, the more inclined a reader is to have feelings for certain characters. These characters aren't here for the sake of it. They have all their own purpose within the story.

Anyway – read. It may take a while. :P

Enjoy! This story isn't here to be boring! This is a transformation story, and those are my favorite.

Review! Each review makes my day. Seriously. Every time my readers leave some, it only motivates me more to write. So the more you leave, whether it says, "Good job" or leaves constructive criticism, I'm happy to read and reply to it.

Share? Know anybody who likes transformation stories? I do. :D

Chapter Eight

"Epsilon, watch out!" Alfie watched with increasing horror as the projectile – an excellently sculpted snowball – surged towards the unsuspecting victim. Once it connected with the back of his head, she squeaked and ducked beneath her snow fort.

Epsilon turned around, blinked, and touched his hair. "Was that a snowball?"

"It wasn't me, I swear! It was Yami!" Alfie began to rapidly dig into her fort, just in case Epsilon felt revengeful and she had to make a speedy getaway.

Yami poked his head out of his snow mound and glared at Alfie's fort. "Well, that's not fair!" he whined. The top of his dark hat was entirely white, and there were flakes of snow clinging to his hair and eyebrows. "You gave it up! You weren't supposed to tell! This is why I don't play with girls – they disrespect the rules."

The massive span of backyard that Grandma owned was covered in three feet of snow, and the further out from the house one traveled, the higher the dunes went. Alfie and Yami had decided that the dunes were suitable for castles and such, and their efforts to create a battlefield had proceeded from there. It had been going well between the two of them until Epsilon, Feilong, and Étoile had emerged from the house to inspect what all the fuss was about. It was assumed that Ever had remained inside the house. After all, the cold wasn't her thing.

Alfie admitted to herself that snow play with Yami was making her feel like a child again. The sense of nostalgia that she'd felt was overwhelming. But as soon as the elder Pokémon had intruded into their playground, she'd felt embarrassed. She hoped Epsilon didn't think of her as childish or immature.

But even though the elder Pokémon had opted to sit out of the snow play, they hadn't said anything derogatory about it. In fact, they seemed rather amused by Alfie and Yami's imaginary battlefield. Étoile had actually encouraged them to continue playing – Pokémon shouldn't have to be so serious all the time, she'd said, and that there should always be time for hard play after hard work.

So Alfie and Yami had commenced the snowball fight. Of course, it'd been going perfectly fine until Epsilon had wandered into the middle of the fray.

"You were fine playing with me five minutes ago!" Alfie criticized. She tossed some fluffy snow, which didn't go far, at him.

Yami patted the snow off of his hat. "I'm kidding, dummy. Besides, it's really not—" He shrieked and suddenly face planted the snow.

Alfie peeked around her fallen comrade, and she saw Epsilon dusting off his hands. In amazement, she asked, "Epsilon, did you just throw a snowball at him?"

Feilong, who was observing with Étoile, cracked a slight grin. "He has a good throwing arm," he said proudly, giving Epsilon an uncharacteristic high-five as he passed by. "He's probably been throwing snowballs since before you were born. He's quite the expert."

"So. Not. Fair!" Yami sputtered and violently sneezed. His face was bright red from either anger or from eating snow. He stumbled out of his fort and stomped all over it, throwing himself a miniature temper tantrum.

Alfie burst out laughing. "Aw, be a good sport! You just don't want to admit that Epsilon won."

"He wasn't even part of the game," Yami grumbled. He crossed his arms and collapsed on his destroyed fort, trying to ignore the chorus of laughter all around him. He leered at Feilong and Étoile, who also surrendered to the hilarity of it and allowed themselves to snicker. "I don't see what's so funny. You won't be laughing when you wake up tonight to a bucket full of ice water."

Étoile waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, my ghost, I'm not too bothered by the cold," she said. The fact that she wasn't wearing any more clothes than usual proved her point. She leaned down and pinched his cheek, which he grudgingly allowed.

Alfie noticed Epsilon staring at the house. When she looked up, she saw Ever heading towards them, almost tiptoeing through the snow. She was bundled in more than four different layers of winter clothing, and because she huddled so far into them her neck seemed nonexistent. Her hair, instead of being in its normal braid, was let loose – presumably to provide her more warmth. When unbraided, it reached her knees and was dragging along in the snow behind her.

When she reached them, she said through chattering teeth, "Lunch is ready. Grandma made soup."

Yami's foul mood vanished instantly. "Awesome." He leaped up and fetched his hat, which had been sitting in the snow since the snowball-to-the-head incident.

"What kind of soup did she make, Ever?" Alfie asked. The group began to trudge back towards the house. "She said she'd make potato soup before we left. That's my favorite."

Ever coldly regarded her, and then she ignored the question. From between her lips, she puffed out a wispy flame, and she fluffed her tails before sidling closer to Epsilon's side. "I helped her make it," she told him importantly. She stood close enough to touch him, but she didn't dare to venture any closer. "And for your bowl, I put in the spices that you like."

"I appreciate your thought," Epsilon said. He spoke sweetly, as usual, but he didn't look in her direction. Instead, he walked faster to catch up with Alfie and Yami. "Have you two explored the sights of Ecruteak yet? If you are looking for something to do this afternoon, that may be something you might want to try."

Yami didn't seem particularly interested. "Meh," he said. "I'd rather take a nap after lunch."

"Could you go with me, Epsilon?" Alfie glanced at the Bell Tower, which was foggy from a distance. Feilong had mentioned all of Ecruteak's sights and attractions, so she didn't see the harm in going for a walk after lunch. She wasn't about to let this chance slide just because Yami would rather be napping. She wiped her boots on the doormat before stepping inside.

Epsilon patted Yami's head. "Actually, he will be accompanying you," he said. "I have some urgent business to attend to after lunch. Feilong is coming with me, and Étoile is going to be helping Grandma tidy up. Ever, I have a feeling, would rather stay inside."

"Got that right," mumbled Ever as she shoved past Alfie into the house.

"So that leaves Yami!" said Epsilon, who was unusually cheerful. When he saw Yami's vile expression, he only smiled and removed his shoes. Then as he unraveled his scarf, he added, "Somebody must do it. Be the gallant, chivalrous one who steps up and takes the blow for everyone else."

It was Epsilon's idea in the first place, thought Alfie, frowning. "Well, I don't want it to be a problem—"

"It is not," Epsilon declared. As they walked in, he hung his damp winter coats on the coat rack, and the others did the same. "It has already been decided. Yami will accompany you on your sightseeing trip in Ecruteak. Besides, he has lived here nearly his whole life. He will not get lost."

"Oh, I didn't know that."

Lyra's head peeked out from around the corner. She had a wooden spoon in her hand, and her lips were smacking as if she'd just tasted something delicious. "Guys," she said, exasperated. When they didn't make any obvious effort to quicken their undressing, she urgently waved her hands towards the direction of the dining room. "Lunch. Now."

Before they headed towards the dining room, Yami pulled Alfie aside and hissed at her, "This is not a date, no matter what anybody calls it. Get it? Not. A. Date." He leered at her for several seconds, and then he huffed and swept towards the smell of food.

Alfie watched him go, and when she was left alone in the back hall, she whisper-laughed to herself. Definitely not a date, she agreed, but it'll still be fun to tease him.

"This is a date," said Alfie.

Yami groaned aloud, and then he tangled his hands in his hair. "Did you not hear me earlier?" he exclaimed. "Not a date! I'm only going because I'll look like an ass if I don't. And I pride myself on my reputation. I've got to look the best I can at all times, no matter what."

The main street that went through Ecruteak was bustling with people. The citizens dressed differently than Alfie's expectations – many had on traditional Japanese robes, much like Ever, except less scantily. Some ladies had their dark hair swept up into tight buns that were adorned with flowers and golden combs, and others had flowing dresses that trailed behind them. Even in the late autumn, the multiple designs of colorful silks and flowers made it feel like spring.

Of course, some women wore plain jeans and shirts. But Alfie found herself fascinated with the traditional Japanese attire. Ecruteak really was something else.

"Whatever you say," Alfie said, without much interest. She shielded her eyes from the sun as she stared at the Bell Tower, which still resided far in the distance.

They zigzagged through the streets and avoided colliding into anybody. Finally, Yami, in a bored tone, said, "This is the Kimono Dance Theater. In here you will find an assortment of—"

"You're just reading from the promotional poster," Alfie laughed. She approached the poster on the side of the lamppost and read it thoroughly. "Can't you give me an actual tour? You've apparently lived here your whole life – tell me what you know."

Yami sighed. "I should be napping right now," he said, beneath his breath. "Instead, I'm stuck babysitting some girl because nobody else has the time."

"Stop whining, Ghost-boy," Alfie said cheerfully. She admired the concessions in one of the street kiosks, wondering what would be a suitable Christmas gift for each individual team member. "If you aren't going to show me around, I'll do it myself."

They ventured further into the city. It was easier to walk, as the snow had been shoveled to the side, and the deeper they traveled the more kiosks they found. All of the Ecruteak citizens, and maybe even people from other cities, were browsing for gifts and good sales. And the further they went, the closet they got to the Bell Tower, which was Alfie's prime reason to choosing to tour Ecruteak.

However, the closer they go to the Bell Tower, the quieter Yami became. At first, he'd jeered and joked with Alfie. He'd called her names, made fun of her feminine habits, her short hair, and her weird eyes – perfectly normal. But his silence was growing increasingly difficult to withstand. He wouldn't even respond to her jokes anymore. She'd never had to encourage him to tease her, and now she could barely get any response at all!

They reached the calmer part of the city. Vacant parks surrounded them on every side, and some of the trees still had their autumn leaves. They were about to cross the bridge to the Bell Tower when it just became too much to bear.

Ask him, ask him, ask him, Alfie told herself. Straightforwardness had never been in her vocabulary. "Yami," she began, very hesitantly, "you've been really quiet. Did I say something wrong?"

Yami, though, had already walked all the way to the middle of the bridge. Ten feet from her, with his hands in his pockets and his eyes helpless, he looked different – older than he really was. Just as quickly as he'd donned the innocent look, he replaced it with his usual arrogant attitude. "I've been thinking," he said irritably. "Is there anything wrong with that?"

"No, but—"

"Well, good!" He turned his back to her and lowered his eyes to his feet, his arms crossed not from the cold, but from something else that he was feeling inside. "It's not like you have to ask, anyway. You're just too nosy. All the time you're too nosy. It's not like I ask about your life. Because, it's not like I care or anything, so you shouldn't either."

Alfie wrung her hands in frustration, the friction of her winter mittens on her bare hands leaving a burning sensation on her skin. "I wasn't being nosy," she said. "I was just trying to be nice."

Yami craned his head back to watch the Bell Tower. "Well, don't be."

Alfie couldn't believe that the pleasant walk had so swiftly turned into an argument. Incredulously, she thought, How could he be so selfish all the time? Every second of the day, he's griping about something different. Couldn't I have gone with Feilong or Epsilon? At least they would've made this a whine-free trip.

She continued to mentally lament Yami's company, because she was too much of a chicken to voice her pities aloud. Then she saw his expression – pained, conflicted, and perplexed. The accumulation of emotions that seemed to be building up inside of him stunned her. "Yami?" she asked softly.

He didn't answer. She wasn't sure if he'd chosen to ignore her, or if he was so engrossed with his thoughts that he hadn't heard her. Pursing her lips, she stood there and contemplated her next move. Should I ask him what his problem is? No…it's obvious he doesn't want to talk about it. What do I do?

"Yami," she said again, but once more, he was silent. She carefully approached him, and before she knew it, she'd grabbed his hand from his pocket and given it a squeeze. With that squeeze, even though he still refused to look at her, his eyes widened and then shut tight. "Please don't be sad. Or afraid. Whatever it is that you're feeling. I'll be here for you. I promise."

His eyes slowly opened, but his hand was limp in hers. "You can't say that," he said, glancing at her feet. "You've only been around for a couple of months."

"I swear," Alfie said. She thought of all the times she'd found him a more reliable companion than anybody else. As simple as said times were, they meant something. She mutely thanked him for the occasions when he'd choose to sit next to her instead of Ever, or when he suggested that they build snow forts. "Everybody has problems. I would know."

Then, surprisingly, he squeezed her hand back. His long, slender fingers dwarfed her little hand, but it was warm and comforting. To offer him more reassurance, she used another hand to clasp his. She was about to speak again when something out of the ordinary caught her eye.

At the edge of the bridge stood two older men. The first had earth brown hair and orange-red eyes that seemed with flicker with an inner fire. Plumes of chalky smoke poured from between two gray plates on his back, and on his muscular arms there were black bands that looked very heavy. His eyes were narrowed at her, as if he were sizing her up before battle.

The other man, however, regarded her with wiser scrutiny. Even though he had similar red eyes and long fangs that protruded from his upper lip, he looked like had the calmer temper of the two. His hair was black, and his shoulders had stripes of the same inky color. From his back, instead of smoke, came dark violet clouds that snapped and hissed with electricity. He wasn't quite as massive as the other one – his figure was lither and much more cat-like.

They stood there for a long time, doing nothing but staring. Yami had gone rigid, and he hadn't said a word, so Alfie asked, "Um, is there something I can help you with?"

They flinched, as if they hadn't expected her to speak. They exchanged knowing glances with each other, and then the black haired one responded. "So you are the one who our sister has placed in her favor. You are the one that goes by Alfie?"

"That's me." Alfie's brows scrunched together. She glanced between the two of them. "Who's your sister?"

The muscular one balled his huge hands into fists. The knuckles were bruised, like he was accustomed to punching things. "You are the one that our overlord has placed his bets on? How is it that you, something so delicate, could possibly restore the balance and harmony in our world?"

"Look, I—I don't know what you're talking about," Alfie squeaked, shifting her weight closer to Yami. Obviously these weren't regular Pokémon - they exerted power unlike anything she'd experienced before. Discomforted, she stepped back. "I really don't…I think you have me mixed up with somebody else."

"If you are the one that is named Alfie, then we know exactly who you are," said the black haired one. His voice was just as accusatory, but at least it held hints of respect. He didn't seem like the type to intimidate her purposefully. "Where do you come from? How long have you kept your transformation a secret?"

Yami frowned at Alfie. His hand slipped from her grasp. "Transformation? What does he mean?"

"I—I…" Alfie stammered. How did they know? Is my secret just all over the place now? How many know? Abashed, she avoided Yami's penetrating gaze. "Who are you? I don't know you."

"Bah!" exclaimed the muscular one. Red embers began to engulf his back, and the smoke poured our heavier than before. To his companion, he said, "How does Suicune expect her to accomplish anything with the overlord if she is not even aware of the higher-ups? Goes to show her education is lacking. I have no confidence in this one. My allegiance is not with her, Raikou."

Raikou placed his hand on his shoulder. "Be reasonable, Entei. We have taken her by surprise. Give her some time to explain herself, we—"

"Hypocrites!" shrieked a third voice. From nowhere spiraled a woman into existence – the same one that had been on Alfie's balcony. She didn't hesitate to throw herself into the men's faces. "How dare you order me to isolate myself from the transformed one and turn on your heel to do the exact opposite! If you touch her you will receive my wrath!"

Entei blanched. Even though she was only half his size and fragile in appearance, he looked genuinely fearful. "You have been watching her. Closer than ever, I assume. You must learn that we only tell you this for your own—"

"Suicune, we did not mean her harm," said Raikou quickly. He raised his hands, as if offering her a peace treaty. "We were only here to do the same as you – act as observers."

Alfie was paralyzed by the scene happening before her. Two minutes ago, she'd been alone with Yami and now, there was this dramatic turn of events. Except for the woman, they were all strangers, and they seemed to be fighting over her.

Yami, on the other hand, didn't seem amazed – he just looked scared. To himself, he kept whispering the words, "Legendary beasts…" repeatedly. Eventually, he faced Alfie and asked her, "Why are they here? What have you done to bring them here?"

She panicked. "I—I don't know!"

"You criticize me for acting recklessly," the woman called Suicune began, "but you do the same! I may bring myself too close to the transformed ones at times, but never before have I so foolishly exposed myself as you have done! I thought we had settled the matter, but come to find out you have been watching her just as closely as I have been."

Raikou stepped between her and Entei. "Please," he said. "Let us discuss this rationally."

Over Raikou's head, Entei glared down at Suicune, and she did the same. Their eyes initiated a silent battle, but she was the first to relent. "You are right, Raikou" she said. "I will not engage in battle with one of my own brothers, all because of this. That would be truly abominable."

"The House of Beasts it is, then," Entei decided, and Raikou nodded in agreement.

"No. Here." Suicune faced Alfie, and when she walked she seemed to glide instead of step. She apologetically bowed her head, and then pressed her hand to her chest. When she straightened, she told the men, "To justify your sudden confrontation and to make amends, you should bestow her proper apology. When the time comes, she is the one who will save your unfaithful hides. Trust me when I say that you want to be under her good favor."

Whether it was under fear or shame that they surrendered, it didn't matter, because they weren't the type that Alfie wanted to have as enemies. When the men walked towards her, Alfie noticed that they left strange footprints – Entei had wispy flames trailing behind him, and Raikou left white-blue sparks of energy. For the first time, she became entirely aware of their superiority over her. What was that Yami called them? Legendary…beasts?

The men bowed simultaneously. Entei grudgingly said, "I am remorseful."

"I am as well," Raikou said. Even he didn't seem to fully accept the idea that he was bowing down and apologizing to a fifteen year old that was half his height, but he did it without resistance. "Please forgive us for our boldness. I assure you that we meant no harm, nor did we mean to establish fear in your heart."

"Um," Alfie said. "It's cool. I guess."

"I still do not pledge my allegiance towards her," Entei said to Suicune. He glared at Alfie from the corner of his eye, and when he flexed his titanic arms the black bands on his wrists creaked with the strain. "That is something she must earn. Perhaps, when she does something of use to this world then she may receive my respect."

Suicune sighed exasperatedly. It seemed that every time she did that, a breath of wind accompanied her exhalation. When Yami whispered, "That's Suicune. She represents the rain and the Northern winds," in Alfie's ear, she shrunk back. She didn't know that Pokémon could have such meaningful statuses.

"That is of no importance right now," Suicune replied. Her hair continued to fan out around her, as if the rules of gravity didn't apply to her. "Please. Do not take Entei's words to heart. You will do fine."

"I…still have no clue what you're talking about," Alfie said. When the two men leered down at her in response, she bit her lip and went on, "Do fine with it? Something of use to this world? And pledging allegiance? Look. You really have the wrong Pokémon, I'm not even—"

"A Pokémon?" Suicune's eyes shined.

Yami held up a halting hand. "Alright, alright, pause here," he said. Once everyone's attention was focused on him, he swallowed nervously and went on, "First question. What do you mean she's not even a Pokémon? She obviously is. And second question. Why her? Why are all three of you here…for her? She's just Alfie." He glanced at her, and then he looked away.

"You have heard nothing, ghost," Entei rumbled. "Your business is not here."

"Entei, be proper," Suicune scolded. She inhaled slowly, and then she faced the two younger Pokémon. At her sides, her fingers rubbed together, and when they separated, they were damp with dewdrops. "Honestly, you two deserve an explanation. The overlord—"

"Suicune."

Her eyes widened, like she'd been caught red-handed at a crime scene. "Epsilon," she whispered. She whirled around and the men parted to reveal said Pokémon at the rear of the group.

He stood there, attempting to grasp the situation occurring before him. He walked down the path they'd left for him. Even though he was smaller than Entei and Raikou, he narrowed his eyes at them and, surprisingly, they looked mildly intimidated. When he reached Suicune, his expression registered confusion. "What exactly were you about to tell them? About the overlord?"

Suicune didn't have to answer, because Epsilon already knew. He ran his hands through his hair and sighed into his palms. After a lengthy period of silence, he said, "Come, Alfie and Yami. We are leaving."

"But—" Alfie and Yami began.

"We are leaving," Epsilon repeated sternly. When he turned around and walked away, they had no choice but to follow him. As they passed beneath the scrutinizing stares of the beasts, they huddled closer to one another and quickened their step. Epsilon, before walking too far, angled his eyes at the beasts behind him. "You will not be speaking with these two again, Suicune."

Alfie hadn't ever heard Epsilon sound so strict. When he left, Yami stayed close to his side as if he was the only available source of protection, but Alfie felt the beasts tugging at her heart, and she had an unexplainable desire to run back to them and hear their truths. Their presences lingered behind her until she finally turned around and found them gone, the only proof that they ever existed being the gentle wind on her face and the smell of ozone and ash.

The overlord, she said, Alfie thought. Who is the overlord? Suicune was about to answer all of my questions. I just know it! For a minute, she resented Epsilon for interrupting. Then when he placed a protective hand on her shoulder, her anger melted away and was replaced by shame.

"Epsilon," she started daringly, "who is the overlo—"

"Hush, Alfie," he said, his ears pinned. He threw her a look that she'd never seen before and squeezed her shoulder so tight that she winced. "We will not speak of such things. You will receive your answers in time. And now…it is not the time."

Sullen, she hung her head. I shouldn't have asked, she thought miserably. She didn't want him to be cross with her. All she coveted was the answers! She'd asked months ago, and even then they were unattainable. When will the time come when I can have them? I'm sick of waiting. I want to know now.

The unknowingness was going to kill her. But there was no way she could just leave them and find the truth for herself. There was much about the Pokémon world she didn't know.

She contemplated Epsilon's words from months before. On the first night of her transformation, he'd promised her protection. "It is much more dangerous than you humans know of. In our world, we have creators and destroyers, and those who have the power to collapse universes. We have figures with predominance over the rest of us, figures who control what we do and how we do it. If you ever sought the need to search them out, I will give you my guidance," were his exact words.

But he wasn't giving her any room to work with. What measures would she have to take to finally discover the reason she'd been given her second chance? It was clear – she was there for a reason. So why were the weeks passing without event? What more did she have to learn before something happened?

End of Chapter Eight

Other Notes: Meh, short…but interesting. :3