Changed

by LionsMane10

Alex is a normal thirty-two year old guy, computer programmer by trade and freelance photographer on the side. That is, until he wakes up as a strange creature on an unfamiliar world. What the heck is a "Pokémon" and how did he end up there? More importantly, how can he get back?

10. The Traveling Life

Thanks to everyone who favorites, follows, comments or reviews my stories!

---

Chapter X: The Traveling Life

The scrimmage came sooner than I expected. After lunch, Gale asked about Marvin's Pokémon and truthfully, I was wondering myself. The man agreed to show them, but only in a match against us. Wonderful. And lucky me, I was volunteered by Gale as first up.

As I glared at her, "So I get to face my favorite simisage again, huh?" Marvin replied, still finishing his sandwich.

"Yep," Gale answered. "And if we win, you have to make that stew you keep going on about for dinner this evening." She smiled back at me.

The man paused while shoving in the last of his sandwich. "Welf, I had alrefy planned oin making ip," then after a gulp: "But, if I win, you can help make it."

"Deal."

So in actuality she was gaining nothing, I noted. Sighing, I swirled the remaining soup in my cup, debating how long I could hold the battle off. Gale had been right: after walking all morning, I was feeling a little tired, even after sitting on the ground a half hour for lunch. Hammy and the others at least had the luxury of being in their Pokéballs for much of the walk, being absorbed shortly after Marvin joined us. (Of course since they were resting, they didn't need to eat lunch either.) "I'm a little tired yet," I finally admitted. "And we have all afternoon to walk still. What happens if I'm knocked out?"

"I have a few oran berries," Gale replied. "If those aren't enough, we can stay here for a little while; we're not in any hurry." Then after looking up to the sky, "Yet."

Marvin carefully folded his sandwich wrapping, putting it neatly into a compartment of his backpack. "Pardon my asking, but why didn't you put him into his Pokéball if he's getting tired?" Holding up his hands, "I know you told him to keep an eye on me, but aren't you being a little hard, asking him to battle after walking with us for half the morning?"

I suddenly discovered newfound appreciation for the man!

"Well...," as she glanced at me.

To make sure we were on the same page, I continued for her: "Because I don't like being in one." It was true, I didn't want to go in one. The fact that I couldn't go in one was mere coincidence. Along with the fact that revealing such would open up a whole series of questions about me I really didn't want to be brought up with the man.

"I see," Marvin replied, some measure of understanding coming across his slightly weathered face. "There are a few Pokémon like that. None of them can speak, of course. Being so unique, I'm sure you demand special respect."

I wasn't quite sure how to take that, but if he only knew how special…

"Oh, he gets a lot of respect," Gale returned with a slight chuckle while starting to pack up the leftovers of our own lunch. "The last few days we were at the park, trainers were nearly falling over themselves to have a shot at battling him. And his own photography business was really taking off too."

"Right, you were taking photos and selling them too that time," Marvin said as if remembering something he almost forgot. "So why are you out here?"

I looked to Gale, allowing her the honor. That, and she probably would know the best answer to give, considering I was still mostly unfamiliar with this world.

"It was getting a little too busy," she said after a quick sigh. "The police actually had to be present to keep order. I knew then it was time to get out of town for a long break. Icirrus was a good long ways, so we're going there."

I noticed the man's brow furrow a little under his bushy black hair as he nodded.

A silence fell on us for a good long moment before Gale gently slapped my outstretched leg. "Well Alex, hurry up and finish. I can't wait to see what Pokémon our traveling companion has."

I let my head fall for effect before taking the second to last gulp of my instant soup. "I'm just a little thing," speaking in my best sorrowful voice. "Won't anyone take pity on me?"

She moaned.

Marvin chuckled instead at my (half-serious) humor. "Oh don't worry, you won't be facing as tough an opponent this time, I promise! And this is practice; we'll stop well short of anyone fainting."

"Right, it should be like practicing against Hammy or the others," Gale added. "Just you'll get a lot more variety now."

"Good. I'm tired of getting hurt." Although I didn't get tired of opportunities to use my magic-like abilities. Too bad that usually meant having to fight. Taking the last of my soup, I noticed Marvin staring at me and at the same time looking distracted. "What?"

Which seemed to take the man by surprise. "Oh, uh, nothing. If you're ready."

I sighed and took his offered hand to be pulled up. "Thanks."

"Anything I can do to help such a special Pokémon. But now, let's see if we can't help your training a little, huh? I'm curious to see how much better you got since we last met."

"It wasn't that long ago," Gale seemed to warn as we watched him move down the path.

"True. But from what I've heard, he got pretty good quite quickly. I'm assuming that trend continued."

"How long had he been watching us?" Gale whispered.

I shrugged in taking my spot a little in front of her under the increasingly darkening sky. Being essentially just a wide spot in the path in the middle of the preserve, with tall grass on either side preventing us from going off it, the path itself would be serving as the battlefield. Just so someone didn't come walking along while we were going at it. Although we had only passed one person the entire morning, I could just imagine the few minutes of our battle to be the time for the second. At least I couldn't see anyone along the currently straight section at the moment.

Marvin reached a good distance and turned around, red and white Pokéball already in hand and determination suddenly about his British-like features. "OK Alex, let me introduce your practice partner: Lightning!"

The creature that came to be at the end of the red beam seemed to look what the name suggested: with a main coat of blue hair, the dog-like Pokémon had a somewhat spiky, yellow mane on its head sticking up, and matching yellow tufts of hair on its haunches and around its feet. Of any Pokémon I had seen since I arrived, this one just struck me as a personification of 'electric type' right off the bat.

"Now there's a Pokémon I've never seen before," Gale commented. "Electric type obviously, right?"

"Correct," Marvin replied over the twenty-some meter distance. "He's a manectric, native to the Johto region. And Lightning, that is Alex, the talking simisage I told you about."

The blue and yellow dog stared back, tilting his head a little. "Oh yes, I heard you all morning while inside my ball. You'll be fun to battle! You'll also be my first simisage opponent."

Friendly sounding enough, I thought as I nodded in response.

"I suspect Lightning heard you while inside his Pokéball," Marvin said.

"He actually just said that," I pointed out to confirm the man's assertion.

The man grinned. "Lightning and I have been together for a number of years. We must read each other quite well by now."

"Now don't get overconfident," Lightning replied with a backward glance.

"Would you like me to translate that?" I offered the Pokémon, hoping to continue on a friendly note before getting myself fried to a crisp from some electric attack.

Lightning's lips upturned to reveal his teeth, though it really looked like a slight smile. "If you want."

So I did, giving Marvin cause for a chuckle. "Having you as a continuing battle partner will be very fun indeed, Alex!"

"Hey over there, just remember I have five other Pokémon I plan on getting some training in with too," Gale reminded.

The man nodded. "Of course! Then, you ready?"

I took a deep breath and nodded as my heart rate kicked up, setting my stance as Gale gave the affirmative.

"Take the first shot."

Gale clapped and rubbed her hands together behind me. "OK Alex, Lightning looks quick, so you know what that means for the initial strategy. First, use Seed Bomb."

What I knew of strategy for fast Pokémon was to work close so attacks had a shorter distance to travel, giving the opposing Pokémon less time to dodge. In other words, not using Seed Bomb at my current distance! Guessing she wanted to instead force the manectric to come closer or perhaps knock him off balance, I formed the energy in front of my mouth and dutifully shot a trio of seeds with my best aim barely a second apart. The green energy was on target until the creature dodged quite quickly, and all three were clean misses.

Marvin nodded seeming approval. "Lightning, try Bite."

"Just avoid it," Gale said calmly.

Both our assessments of Lightning's speed proved correct as the large dog charged on rather fleet feet. Of course, I wasn't exactly slow either and although I misjudged the Pokémon's speed a little, was still able to avoid its teeth by a few inches, deftly keeping my tail out of reach as well. But with the Pokémon stopped so close, his larger size was immediately impressed upon me. If this was on my Earth and I was the same size and Lightning was a large, mean dog of his size, I would had been in real trouble!

"Alex, let's see how you handle this. Lightning, use Flash!"

Another move I hadn't heard of before and I looked to Gale for guidance.

"Close your eyes!"

Just as the last word left her mouth, light brighter than the sun lit up right in my face as the electric dog radiated light somehow. I did obviously close my eyes, but too late. Even after opening them, there was nothing but a persisting image of 'white' to the point I really couldn't seeing a whole hell of a lot in front of me.

"Now use Bite again," Marvin commanded.

"Move toward my voice, Alex!"

Oh, I was going to start moving alright, envisioning a good nasty bite likely far worse than the pansage gave me the other day! Fortunately Gale provided an audible direction. Heart racing from fear of the coming bite, I walked quickly while praying I wouldn't trip, but only got a few steps before feeling teeth on my upper arm. Like in the movies where someone is attacked by a dog, I tried dropping to the ground to flail around, screaming of course. The teeth gripped me enough to keep me up though, but Lightening wasn't chomping down that hard either, not quite boarding on painful, so I kept a lid on the hysterics. Well, as much as I consciously could with a large dog biting me.

"Use Shadow Claw, Alex!"

I thought that wasn't a bad idea while also wondering why the hell I didn't instantly think of it. Maybe because I was preoccupied? I flailed my one set of free claws around while bringing my barbed tail tip into play for good measure. I wasn't sure which caused the electric-type to yelp and release his grip, and I didn't care. With the damned flash still persisting, I only saw his shadow move away at least a meter or two.

"Good job, Alex!" Gale encouraged. "Get back here in front of me. Can you see yet?"

"Not very well," as trotted the few meters to her…just able to make out where I was in relation to her. I rubbed my eyes a bit, hoping it would help. "Can you see?" I didn't know how broad the flash was, but hoped it hadn't affected her too.

"No, I closed my eyes. Most of it was directed at you anyway."

"Special me," I quipped.

"How are you doing Lightning?" Marvin asked.

From an indistinct mass a few meters away I heard the Pokémon respond as to being OK. Well, I could start to see some detail again, like his pointed mane, but it was like looking through a lightly frosted pane.

"Let me see your arm," as I felt Gale's hands on me. After a few seconds: "OK, you're fine. I think Lightning took it easy on you."

"Of course he did," Marvin shouted. "Lightning doesn't go all-out in practice matches. But…I want to see how you do against his next attack though. Lightning, Thunderbolt."

Crap. Having some experience with electric attacks, I knew enough to immediately start moving…as fast as I could run! Only thing was, half blinded, I didn't want to go running into the tall grass…

…or…maybe I did! As I heard crackle from the build-up of electricity, I went head-long into the grass, just hoping I didn't find any water and that I still had another second before...

"Where are you going?!" Gale screamed.

Ignoring her, I made a quick left-turn after a few steps. With any luck…

A new flash filled my vision, and this time it wasn't just light. For a good couple seconds, I was paralyzed as the thunderbolt still struck home. Then I was on my knees amid the smell of burned hair and grass, feeling very tingly and somewhat scorched. Hell, if I could of seen anything, I guessed I was smoking! As it was, the new flash from the Thunderbolt only added to the Flash from before, making my vision even worse. Getting up on shaky legs and guessing which direction to go, I struggled the few feet out of the grass until I felt bare ground under my feet. "I quit! I'm fried and can't see a damn thing! How the hell did that Thunderbolt hit me?!" Maybe I was a bit angry about this, I realized. Being blinded just felt like a dirty tactic!

"Fighting handicapped is a valuable skill to learn," Marvin replied.

It was something I expected Gale to say, not some guy we just started traveling with that morning.

"He is right, Alex," Gale replied, although her voice carried some annoyance. "Come on, just try one more attack, OK?"

I waved a hand in front of my face. Well OK, I could see its shadow at least but before I gave any answer, Gale wanted me to use Leaf Storm. Shaking my head and mumbling some swear, I gathered energy around my arm and aimed basically at what I thought was dead ahead. Where the hell else was I going aim? At least I knew what general direction Gale and Marvin were, so I wouldn't be hitting them, but Lightening sure was staying silent.

"Just dodge it, Lightning!" Marvin commanded.

Which shouldn't be too damned hard, I thought glumly while struggling to stay standing on wobbly legs. Hell, I was still tingling yet! Just as I had the energy ready and was about to release, I thought I heard some pattering around. It was faint, but…

Maybe if I spread out the attack, like I had against the darkrai…

"A little to the left!" Gale shouted.

I felt a smile creep across my face, now understanding why Gale wasn't giving up because I was blinded. Of course, we were a team, weren't we? Moving my aim to the left, I released while trying for a wider pattern. Seeing some motion and color as the 'leaves' swirled away, I thought I had succeeded too, perhaps better than against the darkrai. More surprisingly, I heard a quiet yelp from Lightning over the sound of the 'leaves' hitting probably everything in the area.

"You got him!" Gale yelled.

My smiled doubled. Just wished I could of seen it.

Silence for a half moment before Marvin shouted over. "Should we call it a match?"

Which sounded like music to my ears. "Yes!" I returned, rubbing my eyes again as my tail swished.

"OK, sounds like Alex has had it," Gale confirmed.

I heard footsteps on the grass approaching and watched her shadow come to me before taking my hand to lead me back. I soon felt the smooth texture of a berry in my hand and saw enough color and shape to recognize it as an Oran.

"Eat that oran berry."

I did and as my vision started slowly returning, so too felt my strength. "Just hope I'll see decent again," muttering as I stood on no longer wobbling legs.

"The effect of Flash goes away after a few minutes generally," Marvin said while petting Lightning, who seemed to rather like it in tilting his head and leaning into it.

"That Flash can be effective," Gale commented. "I've thought about having Bolt try and learn it, but still think his current attacks are a better fit."

I was about to interject as to what I thought of the attack, but with Gale admitted to having considered it, that told me all I needed to know about its legitimacy. Still didn't mean I liked it.

"Yes, it is a trade-off and doesn't always work anyway. Sometimes the opposing Pokémon is quick enough to look away, especially if Lightning doesn't execute the move immediately."

"I always do my best," Lightning defended.

I decided to translate that for his benefit, and was pleased to be able to see Marvin give the electric type an extra pat.

"Perhaps I should have you use it at your own discretion your own one of these times."

"Let me try; I'll use it wherever I get in front of another Pokémon!"

I relayed that again, and Marvin stroked him behind his ears. "Need to make it random, otherwise we'll be predictable."

The electric dog Pokémon seemed grateful enough that as I finished my berry, he moved to give me a few licks on my arm where he had bit. "You have some singes," he said after.

My vision was clear enough by this point I could see what he was talking about. Several small areas on my arms and legs featured burnt hair. "Wonder what therapeutic uses there are for getting the crap electrocuted out of you," I half joked. I also wondered when I was going to be able to wash the smell off of me.

"Well, you guys are getting along," Gale said, just as there was the sound of distant thunder.

Looking up, I noticed the sky had gotten noticeably darker in the last hour, with the cloud ceiling lower and the humidity and temperature both feeling higher. It didn't look stormy so much as it was about to start raining, and rain a lot.

"Smells like rain," Lightning observed, sticking his nose into the slight breeze and sniffing.

"I don't suppose you checked the forecast before leaving, did you?" Marvin asked.

"Seventy percent chance of rain until early tomorrow," Gale returned as she already started grabbing both our packs. "I thought we should take the chance just to get some distance from town. Besides, this area is actually pretty in the rain."

"I think our chance of rain is about to go to one-hundred percent," I quipped. "And I really would mind getting hit by real lightning."

"I wouldn't," Lightning chimed in, again with his dog-like smile. "Although it might be too much."

"It might kill the rest of us, you know," I returned.

The blue and yellow Pokémon still seemed unconcerned. "I'll take the hit for you. Don't worry."

And just how could he do that?!

"Should we pitch our tents here?" Marvin asked, looking around as if surveying. "This is my first time through here, so I don't know if there's any better spot nearby."

Gale stood up, looking down the path. "There's a small camping area about an hour or hour and a half up ahead...less if we hurry. It has a pit toilet and clean water, so it would be really good to get there."

I whole-heartedly agreed, as did Marvin. As soon as Lightning was absorbed into his ball and our packs strapped on, we were off running.

"Now isn't this fun!" Marvin shouted a few minutes later.

"Define 'fun'," I shot back, already huffing in the warm, muggy air. Despite the oran berry, walking all morning combined with the battle and the hit from Lightning's Thunderbolt was taking a toll. Further, thanks to my shorter legs, I had to run at almost double speed just to match Gale's and Marvin's pace! After only perhaps fifteen minutes, I just couldn't keep it up anymore and was drenched in sweat. With the first sprinkles starting, I just stopped, panting hard.

"Alex, can you keep going?!" Gale asked with obvious urgently as more thunder rolled over the flat plain and the distant hills surrounding us.

I shook my head, not sure I could even speak. Trying anyway: "Too...tired..."

"I'll carry him," Marvin offered.

"No need," Gale said, already bringing out Bolt's Pokéball. In short order, I was riding the zebstrika who merely had to trot to keep up with the two humans. Even as a human I hadn't been fit enough to have kept our pace for a going on an hour, and figured it was because they walked just about everywhere, no matter how distant. It certainly earned some new-found respect from me.

Despite our pace, the skies opened up before we made it. Through the rain, I spotted what was indeed a small area, perhaps a seven-meter square having what looked like a pit toilet, a water faucet attached to a post with a solar-powered pump, a couple picnic tables, fire ring, and one small tree. Thanks to riding Bolt, I was able to help Gale get her two-person tent set up in record time, with Marvin finishing with his smaller one in nearly the same time. Although both of them had donned rain jackets before then, they hadn't completely escaped getting wet and of course, Bolt and I were totally soaked. At least Bolt had a Pokéball to go in to, remarkably shedding most of the water his hair soaked up in the process. I had no such luck, instead having to strip before Gale could use a dry towel to help dry me off.

After hanging up my clothes in the tent and getting our sleeping bags unrolled, boredom started setting in being only mid afternoon. It was also awkward with Marvin's tent only about three meters away. Eventually we started talking between the tents, but the rain on the tent fabric made that difficult at times.

We finally invited the man over and the rest of the afternoon was filled with idle chit-chat, Gale cuddling with me (it wasn't all that warm anymore with the rain), and some reading of Marvin's guidebook. I ended up dosing, dreaming of being back on my Earth and a normal human again. Some moving around woke me, and was actually happy to find it dinner time! Unfortunately with it still raining steadily, dinner would have to be fixed in Gale's tent, though I was looking forward to trying Marvin's stew.

"Hope you don't mind most the ingredients being dehydrated," he said, before ducking out to his tent to grab the stuff.

With my stomach growling, they could of had severe freezer burn for all I cared.

"Someone must be really hungry," Gale quipped as she started setting up the small camp stove, obviously hearing.

I looked down to my bare stomach. "Yeah, you would think somebody fought a battle today or something," I returned.

Marvin returned with a small pack and just started removing his wet rain-gear: "Oh damn, forgot the other pack with the spices."

I got up as he started zipping up the jacket, "I can get it for you," I offered, seeing as I was still 'naked' anyway.

"Oh, thanks. Could you also fill this with water?" handing me a small pot.

I filled the water first under the now dimming heavy grey sky that only promised even more rain, bringing it back before going out again to Marvin's tent, getting extra soaked the entire time. The spice pack was easy enough to spot, but I paused on seeing the man's Pokéball belt. Six balls were clipped on, but one was a different color from the other normal red and white ones. I had seen a number of differently colored ones, so that didn't really surprise me, but there was something else about it though, as I stayed crouching, staring at it. Something...weird...as if whatever was in it was watching…intently…even making me feel nervous…and tingly as I reached close to it...

I left quickly, feeling a bit unnerved. "What Pokémon is in that grey and white ball with the yellow stripes?" asking on returning and grabbing the towel to dry myself carefully in the crowded tent.

"Grey and white?" Gale asked, instantly sounding curious. "That's an ultraball. Those are fairly high-level."

"Ultraball?" I was certain she hadn't mentioned that type before; certainly I couldn't remember ever seeing one.

"Think of it as a notch down from a Master ball," explaining while helping Marvin by getting a packet open, then measuring some powder before dumping it in the pot. "Only the most demanding Pokémon require one. So, what Pokémon did you need one for? I bet that's a tale."

The man didn't look up from the packet he was opening. "Oh, another time. I prefer not to go into it."

"Real…ly?" Gale said, obviously intrigued.

With a spoon, he dumped some dehydrated vegetables into the quickly warming pot, not answering.

Hoping for more info, "I got a strange feeling from that ball, like whoever's in it was watching me. Even made me feel tingly, I think." I noticed the man hesitate in reaching for one of the spices. "I never got that before from any other Pokémon I met, either in or out of a Pokéball. Including your darkrai."

"You actually tingled?" Gale asked, immediately having a hand on my arm and feeling it.

"I think so. It was very weird. Might had gotten a little dizzy too." Shrugging after she put a hand on my forehead, "I don't know how else to explain it." I really hoped for a simple explanation, for I was getting a little scared now with Gale's reaction. I still felt I knew so damned little about my body, the fear of the unknown no doubt was playing a good part of it.

Marvin sprinkled something into the pot, handing Gale another packet. "Add 500 milliliters of that meat." Finally paying me a glance: "The occupant won't hurt you. And I apologize for being a little more blunt, but it's a secret I don't want to go into for now."

"Darn, I was hoping you would be telling us a good story this evening," Gale added.

The man smiled briefly across his British featured face. "But tell me Alex, were you in Castelia very long? The news about a talking simisage seems really recent. Surely you've been able to talk for a lot longer?"

Speaking of secrets…

"I only found him three weeks ago," Gale thankfully said first, "but before that, he said he always kept a low profile. When I brought him to Castelia, of course news got out about him."

"Oh. And you found him in Pinwheel Forest you've said. So you lived there for a long time, Alex?"

It was a question I had always dodged around when asked. Instead of lying, I returned his answer back at him: "I prefer not to go into it."

The man grinned slightly, placing the cover over the small pot before Gale lit the stove. "Fair enough. But I assume you lived around humans for a long time, since you act so human, even without speaking English."

I assumed his question was rhetorical. If not, I disappointed him. Finishing wiping myself off, I decided to start using my camera for the reason I brought it. Since my pack space was very limited after food and clothes, I only brought the camera, one zoom lens, and my tablet computer. But besides scenic shots, I also wanted to just have some fun taking photos along the way partly for enjoyment, and partly as a record of our journey. First up, a shot inside the tent with Gale and Marvin crouched around the small stove.

"Oh, you're getting a photo of us in here?" Marvin asked, hurriedly sitting up.

Click and flash, and I had an interesting tent scene at wide angle. I smiled as both man and woman let out moans before exhibiting symptoms of flash-blindness. "That's my Flash attack," I quipped with satisfaction.

---

Marvin's stew was admittedly good and I stuffed myself. I enjoyed snuggling up next to Gale just as much as we slept, while Charna had to stay in her ball. First, the tent would had been too crowded with three laying down and secondly, two simisages in one tent, each with sharp points on their tails, spelled disaster for the tent fabric if they weren't controlled at all times. I could do it (now), but we weren't certain Charna could if we were too packed together.

I fell asleep with Gale stroking my large ears, head against her shoulder. As usual, I questioned whether I would be as close if I were still human…or closer. But she gave me a kiss on the cheek before turning off the tent light and I gave her one back, both those preceding a third on the lips. Even in the darkness, I felt her partly recoiling as if surprising herself, but quickly pressed back in and the kiss continued for several seconds. For myself, by that point I was pretty certain that if she asked, I would have gone all the way with her, despite my form, and had to wonder if Marvin being only a few meters away in his tent was the only thing stopping it.

After such a physically demanding day, sleep came easy. A most 'interesting' dream had me back at my programming job…still as a simisage. And nobody seemed to notice or care! Certainly my office chair needed adjusting, but otherwise everything was the same.

"Oh, Alex, welcome back! By the way, there's a bug where the cluster number is passing into the sector conversion module. The output getting returned is always negative. Probably the variable is too small. Might need to use an Uint-64?"

I looked up at Ann as she handed over a page showing some results and sighing, took it in my smaller non-human hands. Scratching at the stiff hair on the top of my head and giving a short tail-flick, I tried to remember what I'd changed in the code to cause that. In more of a mumble: "Does look like something with the signed integer in the function, except I hadn't changed that."

"Oh."

"Bet it's from the other conversion class. Good guess, though. Thanks."

Ann walked back to her cube, not even giving a second look.

I started digging into the now suspect function, but my mind just wasn't into it. I didn't want to be there, at work, as if nothing had happened, not after everything I'd seen on another world. It was like something precious had suddenly been taken away and sadness overcame me. At least I was still a simisage, and I tried to look at the monitor some more. Somehow I'd managed reading a few lines when the world transitioned dark around me. With a sensation of falling, I was back in the dark purple tunnel, Palkia tumbling with me with grip tight on my arm again.

I saw his face as his mouth opened.

"I'm sorry…didn't…drag you…can't break…from… …force…"

His claws raked my arm once again as we were torn apart, the dragon-like Pokémon going spiraling through the dark, cloudy side of the tunnel. His passage left a hole, bigger than before, providing a better look then ever at the land beyond. Mountains…and Palkia was being pulled toward them.

Diffuse sunlight was on the tent fabric when I woke up. With Gale still asleep beside me, I reached for my pack to quietly pull out the newspaper article I'd saved. With the 'dream' still fresh in my mind, I went to the photo of the North Unova Mountains. Although the perspective was different, it looked an even better match than before. Which also made it a match to the dream the darkrai induced in me.

"Um...what are you doing?" a sleepy Gale asked.

Remembering Marvin was nearby, I showed her the photo even though her eyes were half shut. Leaning close and whispering: "That dream again with…you know who. I saw him going toward these mountains. Got a much better look, and I'm now certain that's the place. Both dreams match!"

---

Palkia had said more this time or at least I understood a few more words, although still nothing real insightful, thinking as we continued on the trail that morning. The clouds and rain had mostly moved off, leaving partly sunny skies and a little cooler weather. For once, my clothes were being useful for more than just modesty. Not that a tee-shirt and shorts provided much warmth. My sandals were slightly more useful in keeping my feet off the cool, wet grass…at first. With it higher than my feet, the moisture-laded blades quickly soaked my feet anyway.

At least I wasn't very stiff or sore; since yesterday's walk had been cut short a couple hours, I was spared that much.

We ended up passing two boys walking the opposite way, each looking like trainers, but neither seemed inclined to battle. Looking a little wet and more than a little miserable, they mentioned in brief greeting just wanting to get to Mistralton and a dry place to stay.

"Someone didn't have tents, I'm guessing," Gale mused after they passed.

"Could be their first journey," Marvin furthered. After a moment, he looked over from the other side of Gale, "You've been quiet this morning, Alex. Does our talking simisage have anything to say?"

The fact I now had two different dreams show the same mountains beyond any doubt was really occupying my thoughts. Shrugging, "Talked out, I guess. I'm normally a pretty quiet...Pokémon," almost saying person. Also on my mind was the ultraball he had under his jacket. Even though I couldn't see it, I knew…felt it was there.

Could I really?

Gale reached down, giving my back a brief rub. "Yep, he's not always that talkative, just like a lot of people. It's also good that he's saving his strength for the next battle."

"I see. Well, I have a good candidate for Alex to battle at lunch today."

"Well, I was thinking about giving Lilly some practice today," Gale countered.

The man grinned. "Ah, well, how about a double battle then?"

A double battle… Thinking back, I had seen one of those just once, when Gale and I were going through Pinwheel Forest shortly after I arrived. I heard her start to respond when some rustling off to the side got our attention. "What is…" What seemed almost like a young deer burst onto the path directly in front of us. Pausing, it looked all three of us up and down before focusing on me.

"Fight! Make me stronger!"

Before I could begin to reply, it let out a yell and leapt toward me!

"Dodge Alex!" Gale screamed, giving me a push and nearly diving to get distance from me in a hurry.

Natural instinct kicked had already kicked in and I was already running to the side, except the deer-creature altered its course enough to make it very damned close. Then stopping suddenly beside me, it twirled and did a back-kick! Since I was already short, its hooves came straight at my head before I hit the deck and narrowly escaped the double-blow. "What the hell!" I screamed as its hooves touched earth in front of my face.

"It's a wild Pokémon attack, Alex!" Gale returned. "Come on, you can beat it!"

"Just do your best," Marvin supported. "Consider it an honor a wild Pokémon wants to battle you!"

"You…talk human!" the Pokémon gasped, partly turning around and seemingly caught very off-guard.

"You noticed," I returned, getting up and backing up in a hurry to gain distance. This reminded me of when Charna attacked me out of the blue, although this Pokémon didn't seem to be filled with rage. Just merely intent on bashing my head in.

"It's a deerling," Gale shouted. "Was wondering when we would see one! A grass and normal type and a good match for you! Now use Focus Blast!"

Almost without thinking, I started gathering the energy between my hands. If anything, I was looking forward to teaching someone not to just attack me from out of nowhere!

"You…talk…" the deerling was still stammering. Then quickly: "Oh oh!"

I closed in for the attack and as I expected, the deer-like Pokémon started leaping away. Throwing my green energy ball, I hit at the Pokémon's highest point, forcing it on a completely new and likely unexpected trajectory. Lord, that was satisfying!

After landing almost off the wide path and in the tall grass, it struggled to get up. In a clearly strained voice: "No…I not give up!" Surprisingly, it found strength to mount another charge, but just as it started another Focus Blast, it veered off while releasing its own green energy ball that looked much like a Focus Blast, but also different.

"Run along with it, Alex!"

I hurried my attack while running perpendicular to the attack and more with the direction the creature was running. In the second I had, I was shocked to find the attack suddenly tracking me and only a hasty interception with my own ball of energy neutralized it with a nice little explosion.

"That was Energy Ball," Gale shouted. "Nice interception! Use Seed Bomb!"

Though I knew such a grass-type attack would have reduced effect, I did it anyway. With my own manual tracking, I fired off one energy-laden seed after another, and despite the deerling's best efforts, scored several hits with the last knocking it to the ground.

The deerling got back up on very wobbly legs, grunting with effort. "I...won't...lose. I must...get stronger!"

I stared with some disbelief as it started charging once again, but much more slowly. "You should call it quits!" Obviously not listening, I prepared another Focus Blast and a dodge. Only about half way to me, it all at once sped up and I realized I had only a heartbeat to...

"Dodge!" Gale screamed.

I did so, or tried to. This time, the half-step I got wasn't near enough, and I thrust my arms out with the half-ready Focus Blast as the Pokémon crashed head-first into me. Next thing I was flying backward a couple meters, landing on my back and somersaulting, feeling like more than just my wind was knocked out! "Oh, crap..." I moaned as pain radiated through me.

Gale and Marvin both were soon over me. "Alex, are you OK?!"

I rolled to my back, holding my gut which took most the blow. "I...might...puke..." After a few desperate breaths that managed to keep everything down: "What move was that?!"

"Probably Take Down," Marvin offered, putting a supporting hand on my shoulder as Gale helped me sit up.

"An attack that also hurts the attacker," Gale added. "That and your Focus Blast was the final straw for it, I think. Good job."

I looked over where she waved. The small creature was on its side a couple meters away, unconscious. "Yea. You know, just once I would like to win without getting beat up."

"Then you need to become a lot stronger," Marvin said.

"Yep, that's true," Gale agreed. "The stronger a Pokémon is, the weaker a hit feels against it. It has partly to do with energy levels; the more you have, the tougher you become. Or course, you'll also get stronger physically, to the same effect."

"Even a professor couldn't have said it better," Marvin commented.

"Thanks."

I was sure she explained that before at some point, though it was nice to have a reminder. Especially since I likely didn't really understand it even a couple weeks ago.

After another moment and an oran berry, I was back on my feet and feeling able to at least get going.

"Going to capture that deerling?" Marvin asked, nodding toward it as it started stirring.

"No, I already have six Pokémon, and I doubt I can take care of more," Gale replied, helping me get my pack back on. "I don't like the farms either; if I can't be with a Pokémon most of the time to work and live with them, then what's the point?"

The man seemed to fully accept that with a nod. "That's my feeling too. There's only two I don't keep with me, and that's the limit."

"Besides, I already have two simisages, so I'm well covered for grass types."

With that we moved on, leaving the deerling behind. Or so we thought. A glance backward revealed it was following, though struggling to do so in looking extremely tired. "I think it's following us," I alerted. As a side note, try as hard as I might, I couldn't quite tell what gender it was, although I suspected female.

Gale and Marvin both looked back, stopping.

"Why are you following?" I asked.

Stopping a short distance from us, "Why can you talk human with your mouth?"

"Here we go again," I mumbled.

Gale tapped me. "What did it say?"

"It wants to know why I can talk," trying hard not to put impatience into my tone.

"And I want to come with you, special talking simisage!"

Damn.

---

With the next 'way station' on the winding trail through the tall-grass preserve providing a picnic table, Gale whipped up a simple lunch of plain rice boiled in chicken stock with rehydrated veggies, with Marvin providing some dried fruit. Seated beside me, Charna almost forget to use her fork as she started wolfing. Hammy, Serenity, Lilly and Bolt were eating too, their first meal since yesterday morning as well. Having had a battle in addition to all the walking without the benefit of any Pokéball, I wolfed a lot more. Apparently Marvin had already fed his Pokémon sometime last night though, right after it stopped raining. That of course prevented us from seeing who they were, and made me doubly curious who he all had, especially in that ultraball.

At least I wasn't getting any weird vibes from it…for the moment.

Still, as I downed a second helping of the rice to put an end to my lingering hunger, I became increasingly self-conscious. Hammy and the others weren't saying anything, but they were all looking a bit weary as well.

I finally had to turn around. "Would you please stop watching us?!" whipping my tail for effect.

The deerling tilted her head. "I'm hungry."

"Alex, you have to ignore it," Gale advised. "We already explained we can't take care of any more Pokémon, and we aren't going to capture it only to just shove it off onto one of the Pokémon farms."

"I can make her go away," Charna offered, a bit of rice stuck to her wide chin.

I wasn't sure I had the heart for that. "She says she's hungry."

Marvin huffed slightly, shaking his head.

Gale closed her eyes for a moment, then standing up and facing it: "Alright, if we give you food, will you stop following us?"

Surprisingly, the deerling shook its head and took off into the grass.

"Interesting," Marvin said.

Gale shrugged. "Well, I guess that's that."

Charna stared after where the Pokémon went for a good moment before returning to shoveling food into her mouth.

"What is it?" I asked her.

With a full mouth: "Donmf 'oo. Mafy coom bak."

I sure hoped not. In any case, there was no further sign of her as the seconds ticked and we finished our meal in peace. After cleaning up and putting everyone back in their balls, we continued our way.

"See that white tower far up ahead amid all those trees?" Gale asked in suddenly pointing as we crested a small rise quite a bit later. "That's Celestial Tower."

"Oh, I read about it," Marvin returned. "Isn't it a burial ground for Pokémon? Supposed to have a bell on top that if you ring, it will calm the spirits of those Pokémon."

From his tone, I couldn't tell if he actually believed it or not. For myself, I'd watched enough paranormal reality programs on my Earth to not discount the possibility out of hand. Didn't mean I wasn't doubtful, though.

"The tone of the ring also is supposed to reflect the nature of the person who rings it," Gale added.

Marvin cocked his head slightly. "Have you rung it?"

"I did when I went through here over a year ago. One of the old people there said I had a determined nature about me. Not sure if I do or don't, but I guess I can be stubborn."

"Hm, maybe I'll have to try it," Marvin said after readjusting his cap and scratching his head. "They wouldn't happen to have showers there, would they?"

"Not in the tower," Gale returned as if answering something absurd. "There is a motel where the walking path and the road meet by it, since the tower is an attraction but still far from Icirrus. I was thinking of spending the night there."

"Thank God," I had to blurt. "I'm sure I'm starting to smell."

Laughing, "Alex, of the three of us, you are the least likely to stink," Gale returned. "Most Pokémon just naturally smell better than humans. To a point, anyway."

"Yeah, well, I'm a monkey, and monkeys do stink," I promptly informed. I knew I did. Despite the deodorant, I could smell myself, and it sure wasn't that unlike normal human smell if given enough time. Even on my Earth, that was something humans, monkeys, apes and other primates all shared in common. I'd been to enough zoos to discover that first-hand. After noticing Marvin eyeing me: "What? Is it worse than I think?"

The man shrugged. "First time I'd ever heard of a Pokémon worrying so much about how they smell. Some Pokémon smell great no matter what but out in the wild, you guys can't possibly be bathing every day. Then again, you're the only Pokémon I've heard talk."

"Call me civilized."

Finally a couple hours later under the mid-afternoon, we not only left the nature preserve finally, but were at the foot of the tower. Reminding me a little of the leaning tower of Pisa, only bigger and without the lean, it had a classical look with some modern elements.

"Man, that's high," commenting while craning my head so far back, my tail automatically wrapped around to try and keep my balance. The clouds overhead almost looked like they were touching the top, which of course they didn't actually come close to.

"Yep," Gale replied, her pony-tail hanging down almost perpendicular to her head as she also gazed upward. "Seven floors, though each floor is pretty high."

"And this is a burial ground for Pokémon?" I asked with some astonishment for not the first time. It was quite the monument! I was tempted to make the comparison to the pyramids in Egypt, but thought better of making a reference around Marvin to something (probably) found only on my Earth.

"Pokémon mean a lot to people," the man answered. Then glancing down to me: "Alex, I'd like to hear you ring the bell too. Will you go up there with me?"

Gale looked to the man for a moment. "I think we'll all go up then. I wouldn't mind a second opinion."

The first thing I noticed once inside was the dozens of various-sized raised marble slabs on the floor, each with inscriptions. Cover stones for the deceased under them according to Gale, some were more ornate than others but all bore at least some decoration. Thousands of much smaller square stones bearing more inscriptions appeared in large groups around the perimeter of the round tower. If they bore any resemblance to a similar thing where I came from, the cremated remains of Pokémon were behind them. Besides the handful of people around, the only other thing on the floor was a large staircase, curving on its ascent partway around the perimeter to the second floor with more steps than I cared to count. I mentally calculated how much effort going up seven of those was going to take and didn't like the answer.

"Oh, there's one thing I should tell you guys," Gale said, pausing half-way up to look back at us, "there may be some ghost Pokémon around."

"Ghosts?" I repeated, loud enough that one or two people started looking up from the floor below as my voice echoed slightly.

"No problem," Marvin said quite calmly.

I mentally went through the Pokémon types, trying to remember who did well against 'ghosts'. I hadn't had to battle one yet, nor had I actually seen one. In fact, when Gale first told me about the type, I thought she was kidding! Keeping my voice just above our echoing footsteps before we got to the second floor: "To be clear, do you mean the spirits of dead Pokémon, or actual ghost-type Pokémon?" The later, I was thinking, being just slightly less unnerving than the former.

Gale patted me on the head. "Actual ghost types. Although...there could be a few spirits around too, but I haven't run into any."

The second floor was much like the first other than only one person looking down at a grave. Half-way up the marble stairs to the next floor, it was evident I wasn't getting as tired as I thought I would. Perhaps all the battling and walking I'd been doing was the reason. Becoming a bit curious: "When was this tower built and do they still bury Pokémon here?" Old places did interest me some, particularly their history.

"A few hundred years ago, I think," Gale answered. "There is still space available on the upper floors for more cremated Pokémon, but these days it's reserved for more important Pokémon or those who are rich."

"That's a shame," Marvin commented. "But I can see they need to conserve space. Perhaps they should build another tower or expand this one."

"Last time I was here, there was talk about doing a more traditional cemetery around this place," informing as we got to the next floor.

Empty and silent as the proverbial tomb, it gave me a creepy feel with us being the only (living) creatures on it. I made a bee-line for the next set of stairs right along with Gale and Marvin. "How many Pokémon are interned here, anyway?"

Gale shrugged. "I'm sure they say somewhere in one of the brochures. Oh, now I remember: this tower started out as just a simple mausoleum, but it evolved into a tower as they kept adding more floors. They had to stop at seven because of all the weight. And the bell at the top was made specifically for this place; the lore is it was blessed or something by Reshiram and Zekrom."

"The railings here are cool," I noted as we trudged our way up, finally starting to feel fatigue. Unlike the ones on the previous flights, these were a kind of wrought black iron with every other baluster being bent and shaped in the outline of some Pokémon. I was tempted to take a photo, as with the spiral effect it did look cool.

"This place does have some interesting decorations to it," Marvin agreed as he brought up the rear.

"More Pokémon designs inlaid in the wall here too," I further noted.

"You sure talk a lot for a Pokémon."

I whipped around to the man, but knew immediately it wasn't his voice; Marvin didn't speak with deep rasp.

Raising his eyebrows, "You heard that too?"

Gale paused in front, causing us to stop. "I thought I heard another Pokémon, but I'm not seeing one."

"Well…does that mean…" Marvin began.

"You sure talk a lot in human speak for a Pokémon," the raspy voice continued.

Gale turned around. "Yep, there's a ghost type about. Well, let's just keep going; if it wants to show itself and play, it will."

"By 'play', you mean battle?" I asked as we got going again.

"With ghosts types, you never quite know," Marvin answered instead.

"Maybe I do just want to play."

"Do you?" I asked the voice.

"No, I don't know," Marvin reiterated.

"No, I was asking the voice," I corrected. "So owner of the voice, want do you want?"

There soon was a soft chuckle sounding like it came from somewhere distant. "Maybe I want to…play with a Pokémon that can speak in human tongue."

"What exactly do you mean by 'play'?" I'd already been nervous as soon as it spoke; that now doubled, imagining all sorts of things a 'ghost' could do to 'play'. In fact, as soon as I thought that I suddenly felt cold…from the inside! "Ahhh!"

"Hey!" Marvin shouted. "You see that?!"

I wasn't sure what I saw, but the world went dark briefly right after I felt cold, with my heart just as quickly pounding in my chest.

"What?!" Gale said with alarm, swinging around.

"A purplish haze went right through Alex!" Marvin exclaimed. "Hold on, that's a…"

"Gastly!" Gale supplied.

"Or a haunter or gengar," Marvin added.

"Sounds like appropriate names," as I leaned against the railing, fighting my shortness of breath with hand over my chest. I swore I was going to faint… Then to add to it, a dark purplish haze came out of the wall, stopping before me. Although having wispy edges, its spiky form with detached hands was definitive…along with a face!

"OK, that is a haunter!" Gale breathed, voice an octave higher than normal.

To my growing terror it moved closer, putting a hand on the top of my head as I froze. I half-expected not to feel it, but the hand felt surprisingly solid.

"Just feeling a talking Pokémon," the ghost-type said, before abruptly dropping down through the stairs with an odd laugh.

"So, what does it want?" Gale whispered, a Pokéball in hand.

I shrugged, just wanting to get out of there. "I think to just touch me?" my voice also pretty high in pitch.

"And such a special Pokémon part of your group, too," the voice said from somewhere. "I should pay my respects. Ha ha ha."

Fighting my trembling: "What respects?" Even after waiting a couple moments, there was no response at all.

"Um…OK, I guess that's all it wanted," Gale finally said with obvious relief and got us going again, much faster than before. "Alex, what about respects?"

As we reached the next floor and feeling a little safer (which was illogical, considering the thing could move through walls): "It just said it should pay its respects to the special Pokémon in our group. I think I could do without it, however." Two women were staring at me from behind the stair opening, I realized with a start.

"Hey, is that simisage talking?" one of them asked, wide-eyed.

"You're hearing things," I said wickedly. "Must be the ghosts." After the freight I just got, I wasn't in the mood for anything. To their credit, neither Gale nor Marvin said anything, although I swore Gale was trying hard not to laugh as we reached the next stair set. Fortunately, the rest of the way to the top was uneventful, although we were all huffing some by the time we got up there.

But once up there…boy, what a view! With a light, warm caressing wind, the entire landscape lit by mid-afternoon sun was before us, from the mostly flat lands of the nature preserve, to the more tree-covered hilly and later mountainous terrain still ahead. Shadows of clouds moved over all of it while birds of various Pokémon species were here and there, silently floating on the air currents save for an occasional squawk or chirp. I took all that in before even noticing the top half of a large bell was visible on a terrace above us yet. I needed to get some photos of all this...

"Oh, hello there!" a slightly frail-sounding voice greeted.

Whipping about, I found a gray-haired elderly woman at the top of the steps leading up the terrace, cane in hand.

"Hello," Gale returned, Marvin doing the same.

Smiling warmly, "It's so nice to see visitors up here. Not many come up this far, even for the view. Of course, I don't come up here myself much these days, considering I need this," briefly raising her cane. "But every once in a while, it's nice to just be up here for an afternoon."

"Yes, the view is really something," Marvin said, looking briefly over the landscape.

"I actually was up here last year," Gale informed. "I'm glad it hasn't changed any."

"Oh, I see," the woman said. "Did you ring the bell then?"

Gale nodded. "Another lady interpreted the sound I made, too."

"Oh, good. If you wanted to try it again, or you too," indicating Marvin, "I can interpret the sound you make again. In fact, I'm kind of an old hand at it!"

"That would be really kind of you," Marvin said, taking a step up. "That was actually the reason I wanted to come up here."

"That's excellent. Very few even bother these days."

"And he wants to ring it too," Marvin continued, pointing to me.

"Oh?! A simisage?" The woman seemed to ponder that for a half moment. "He certainly can, but I'm not sure how to interpret a ring from a Pokémon. That's very rare. He looks cute in those clothes, though."

"It won't hurt anything, will it?" I asked. Although I wasn't certain how much stock to put into this bell-ringing stuff, I was feeling curious about it now. Noticing the old woman's shocked stare and suddenly realizing I just might have induced a heart attack: "Oh, I'm sorry! Yes, I can talk. I'm Alex."

After covering her mouth for a bit: "Oh…my! A real talking Pokémon?! It's been forever since I heard of one of those!"

As the moment dragged on with her seemingly taking me in, "Are you OK?" Gale asked.

Now smiling, "Oh, yes yes." Waving a hand toward her, "Well now, come on up here. All of you."

I walked up with Gale and Marvin, coming before her as she beckoned. Then bending over slightly, the woman gently put a hand on each side of my face. I didn't really liked being pawed by someone I just met, even if they were a friendly senior citizen, but fought the urge to back up out of respect. "Um, I'm real, in case you were wondering..."

"Oh no, not that. Just wanted to pet such a rare Pokémon!" Moving her hands to behind my ears, she started tickling...

"He he he, hey!" Reaching up, I slapped my ears back while backing into Gale.

"Ha ha, sorry," the woman apologized. Then after a sigh: "What I wouldn't give some days to have a Pokémon who I could fully understand and play with. It's hard to find one of the telepathic ones, you know. You're very lucky, you two, to have such a Pokémon."

"Alex is really her Pokémon," Marvin said, jabbing a thumb. "I'm just traveling with them right now."

"Believe me," Gale said, putting an arm down around my chest, "I fell very lucky to have him."

The old woman nodded. "That's very good to hear, girl. Now, how about if you three come over here and ring that bell. And my name is Emily." Once we were near the bell: "Which one of you would like to go first?"

"Since you haven't rung it before," Gale gestured to Marvin.

Marvin nodded, unstrapping his pack off his thin frame. Stepping up to the massive two-meter diameter bell, he ran a hand through his black hair. "I just pull on this rope?"

"That's right," Emily said. "Just pull it toward you to make the striker hit, however you want."

Taking a deep breath, the man grabbed the thick rope and gave it a steady heave. With a low, reverberating tone, the bell's sound vibrated the stone roof of the tower which I felt through my sandals into my legs. It took a good half minute before the ringing was completely over.

Emily seemed to stare at the floor for a moment longer before finally looking him in the eye: "You make the bell ring nicely, young man; the Pokémon's spirits I'm sure are calmer now. Your tone has a mysterious note to it, but otherwise conveyed you can be quite serious. You appreciate Pokémon in a passionate way, though often not letting it show."

"Really?" Marvin asked, stepping back to reclaim his pack. "All that from a ring?"

"So you're mysterious and passionate, huh?" Gale said in a teasing manner.

The man shrugged. "Maybe."

"You can go next," I said, giving Gale a weak push. I was starting to have doubts about whether I wanted my 'nature' read, and first wanted to hear Gale's before ultimately deciding. Alright, I wasn't one to have my fortune read; perhaps it was a fear that I might hear something I wouldn't like. I certainly didn't lack any undesirable traits!

Leaving her pack on, she adjusted her ponytail before taking the rope and giving it a smooth pull, even bending at the knees. Again, the roof vibrated as the massive bell rang out, though even to my untrained ears I could hear a difference from Marvin's ring.

Emily nodded, her eyes closed as if savoring the slowly fading tone. "Ah, very nice dear. The Pokémon spirits are getting a treat today! You are determined, as well as quite compassionate. You care deeply about Pokémon, whether yours or wild ones."

"That's what I was told last time!" Gale exclaimed.

The old woman smiled as if knowing. "Ah, you had a good reader then." Then facing me: "OK simisage Alex, I'm bursting with curiosity how a Pokémon will ring the bell, something I've never heard before. Though remember, I might not be able to read you."

With everyone staring, I sighed and decided to do it. It seemed harmless at least; she hadn't said anything negative about either Gale or Marvin anyway. Taking the thick nylon rope in both my small hands, I made sure to get a decent grip and gave it a gentle tug, making sure to pull it toward me and down as far as I could with all my child-like weight. The bell emitted just a split-second clang before its now familiar reverberating tone rang out, vibrating me and now my eardrums since I was almost underneath it! I quickly scampered backward. Still, I felt enthralled by the tone and didn't face the old woman until it was nearly done. I found her standing, mouth open. "What? Did I do it wrong?"

The old woman shook her head. "No, it's just...I could read it, just like if any human did it..."

"What did you read?" Gale asked, Marvin looking on intently.

"Um..." Stepping up to me to look down, "I still don't know if this applies to a Pokémon, but if you were a human, your ring tells me you're resilient, perhaps more resilient than you realize, and that you have a big heart that sometimes you hide."

"Ah, OK," I said, feeling a little embarrassed at the assessment.

Emily held up a hand. "There's one other thing. You made a rare tone…a tone of being lost…and of trying to find your way. Is that true?"

That...hit home, which I hadn't expected at all. I couldn't reveal the truth of course, but after a glance to the others, "I...guess you could say that."

The woman put a hand to my shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "As a talking Pokémon, you're feeling out of place, huh?"

I nodded, allowing the convenient excuse.

Reaching down with her other arm, she gave me a hug. "Poor little simisage. Don't worry, you'll be alright. Just believe that."

The hug lasted for a good moment, and afterward I was smiling. "I'll be fine."

After some chit-chat about staying hopeful and a lingering glance from Marvin, Gale moved to the edge to look over the terrain again. "You know, I bet the others would like to see this again. And this would be new to Charna." Reaching under her jacket, she unclipped the five Pokéballs and soon Hammy, Serenity, Bolt, Lilly and Charna were enjoying the view too.

Though Charna stepped back from the edge. "This is…high!"

Going to her, "Yeah, we are pretty high above even the trees," I agreed. I didn't like high places much either, but the robust stone railing around the terrace gave me some confidence, and the main roof of the tower was only a couple meters below until you got to the real 'edge'. "But look at that view over there," I encouraged, pointing to what appeared a distant valley. "And take in that mountain." Although not nearly high enough to be snow-capped, the one mountain in view was still higher than what I would call a hill, and was part of a ridge which the hiking trail had to go through.

"That's Twist Mountain," Gale informed. "We should reach it in a couple days. We can take a detour through there if you want, otherwise we'll just be going by it. There are a few mines in there."

The female simisage slowly approached the railing and I put a hand on her shoulder to offer support. For some reason, I wanted to share the wonder of the scenery, something I sometimes wanted to do back on my Earth when I saw a really great scenic. "Pretty, huh?"

She nodded. "Still…high."

"Yes, and isn't it exhilarating!" Serenity shouted from above as she rode the air currents, wings spread and barely moving.

"Speak for yourself," Bolt shot back, keeping himself far from any railing, his black and white mane gently moving in the light breeze.

"It is a little high up here," Hammy commented, being uncharacteristically careful as he went down the steps to barely peer over the main railing.

Lilly leapt down from the terrace to the lower roof. "I wonder if I can jump down there, with grace like a falling leaf."

"I wouldn't try it," Hammy advised, giving her a look. "But maybe Serenity could catch you, ha!"

"Don't listen to him," Serenity returned, swopping down to just above them. "You'll take both of us to our deaths."

I smiled at all the bantering. Too bad humans couldn't understand it.

"Don't you two make a cute looking pair," Emily said.

Looking behind, I saw the old lady smiling down at both of us.

"Yes, don't they?" Gale said.

There was just a hint of…something in her voice, that she wasn't entirely happy. I'd be lying if I said it made me upset. Hell, I was already looking forward to cuddling with her again. Maybe even… I shook my head slightly to think about something else. "Marvin, why don't you let your Pokémon out so they can enjoy this view too?"

"Excellent idea!" Gale supported, slapping the railing. "And come on, you've kept us in suspense long enough about who you have. Time to reveal your team, mister. I insist if we're going to keep traveling together."

That, of course, being the other reason I asked. By this time, I had seen enough odd, weird, science-defying and downright bizarre creatures on this planet that I couldn't imagine how much more I could be shocked. A couple weeks before, I would had urged Marvin to keep them in their balls out of fear of what I would have seen. Now…well, I thought it might be interesting to see some more Pokémon I hadn't seen before. So long as they weren't ghost types…

The man looked down, shaking his head. "Well…alright. I was hoping for some surprise just before we battled, but I guess since I know all of yours, that really wouldn't be fair, huh?" The staraptor and manectric we'd already seen, but joining them at the end of its red beam was first, what looked like a monkey or ape, but with red and blue skin, white and red hair and a long, red and yellow mane falling behind his head.

Next was a creature reminiscent of a weasel, only much larger. Mostly orange and cream colored, it had two pointed blue fins on its arms, two tails, and an odd scarf-like thing that went around the back of its neck to hang down either side.

After motioning for everyone to back up to the railing of the terrace, Marvin clicked the ball of the next one. In the couple seconds it took to materialize, it was obvious why he had us clear space. The thing was huge, far bigger than Hammy! I wasn't immediately sure how to describe it, other than a massive, blue and gray salamander kind of thing with red wings. Even an elephant would've been smaller!

"Oh…my!" Emily exclaimed, hand to her mouth.

Which mirrored my reaction.

"He…big," Charna stammered. "What are they?"

I mouthed the same question. Good God, I couldn't get over the size of it, especially given my current stature! And I swore it was looking at me funny...

"You've already met Razor and Lightning," Marvin said, pointing to the staraptor and manectric, "so this is Coal, Squirt and Drago."

Pointing to the white and red-haired monkey with the fire-like mane, "Coal's an infernape, right?" Gale asked. "And I think Drago is a salamence, but I don't recognize Squirt's species," indicating the winged salamander before moving her finger to the weasel thing.

"Floatzel," Marvin provided. "Water-type."

"Well, they all look very good," Emily said, approaching the floatzel and giving it a rub behind the head, which it seemed to enjoy by arching its back and leaning into it while letting out an "Oh".

The man nodded seeming approval. "He loves to be petted. And guys, some of you haven't met Alex yet, who's the talking simisage I know you've been hearing for the last day."

"Hi," I said simply while giving a wave, causing a few wide eyes before Gale introduced everyone else.

The infernape scampered over practically on all fours, bending down a little more to look me in the eyes, doing the same to Charna. "You grass types?" Then grinning, "We should battle!" ending with a laugh.

"And you're a fire type, right?" I guessed in return, assuming its red and yellow hair simulated fire like for Hammy.

Coal slapped my shoulder...hard. "Right!" And it laughed again in manner not unlike a human's.

"You strange," Charna said.

With that, all the Pokémon mingled to ask questions of one another, although I appeared to be the main attraction. At least it was friendly enough and only lasted a couple minutes, with Gale going around to meet and greet Coal and Squirt personally.

I watched her eventually approach Drago, who was hard to avoid considering his size was taking up fully half the bell terrace. After getting approval, she finally reached to give the big guy some petting.

Braver than I was, but then she wasn't bite-sized.

After: "Um, Marvin, you're only showing us five of your Pokémon," Gale said after making a show of counting them. "You haven't released who's in that ultraball."

Although I still had the unnerving feeling of being watched from the ball, I was getting quite curious myself. "Yeah mister, who's in there?" I added, hands on hips.

A slight grimace came over the guy's slightly weathered face in adjusting his jacket. "As I said before, we all have a secret or two."

His gaze lingered over me a second longer than felt comfortable.

"Even we aren't allowed to say to other Pokémon," Coal commented in a low voice, whipping his long red tail. His mane puffing a little to give the effect of a fire flaring up, "I will tell it's someone...you wouldn't ordinarily meet." With a sideways glance of his yellow and blue eyes, the ape gave Marvin a stare suggesting nervousness.

"It's a hard secret to keep," Lightning added with a bark that almost ended in a cough.

Fierce eyes suddenly on the electric blue and yellow dog, "But you better keep it!" Drago warned in a low rumble, the first he'd said anything.

Sticking his muzzle up, "Don't have to worry about me! Arp!"

"What Pokémon he keep secret?" Charna asked quietly, fixing her narrowing gaze on Marvin. "Not like it."

I shook my head, shrugging. More than before, I got the sense the Pokémon inside wasn't quite normal, even with my very limited knowledge of these creatures. But damn, was I getting curious!

We spent a good half-hour yet on the top of the tower, everyone enjoying the wind and scenery while getting some sun. Finally Gale and Marvin absorbed everyone into their balls again (except for me of course) and we headed back down, Emily choosing to stay up on top for a bit yet. Certainly, I would had offered to help her down the seven flight of stairs, if no one else had!

Gale had been right: the motel wasn't far away, being near where the hiking trail and a two-lane highway came close together about a twenty minute walk away. There was also a cafe bar and grill, a gas station, and a shop offering souvenirs, Pokémon goods, and some grocery items along with a small Pokémon clinic inside.

We hit the Celestial Motel first to get a couple of rooms. It was like most motels on my Earth, save for the large sign out front welcoming Pokémon and the large yard in back. Two teenage boys were already out there having a match, and I sighed at the sight. Really, the amount of battling I saw no matter where I went continued to tell me that humans on this Earth were just plain nuts about it, with the Pokémon themselves not any better, most seeming to crave it just as much if not more.

The store was also loaded with various Pokémon goods in a variety that I hadn't yet seen. Pokémon dolls, Pokémon shaped candy, Pokémon medicines, novels and movies about Pokémon, even several magazines devoted to all niches, seemingly. One magazine, sporting an article claiming to give secrets of Pokémon battling masters briefly caught my eye, enough that I saw some smaller print for another article about touring Icirrus City. Well, since we were going there I decided to pick it up. I spied Gale looking over some dehydrated foods, while Marvin was gathering some Pokémon food, telling me they were stocking up for the next few days.

With really nothing else I thought I needed to pick up, I got in line to checkout, waiting my turn behind some lady. I endured her surprised expression as I got to hand my magazine up to the clerk after her.

The older male clerk raised an eyebrow. "A Pokémon buying a magazine with battling secrets, that's pretty funny," he chuckled. "Your trainer isn't that bad, is he? Of course, it's a rare Pokémon that can buy their own things, but most this article in print little guy. Not many pictures."

I started to smile. "Well first, my trainer is female. And second, I can read." My smile continued as I enjoyed the guy's utter expression of pure shock while the woman who'd already checked out swung back around, mouth agape. Then the clerk shocked me as his expression quickly changed to one of recognition.

"Oh! Are you that talking simisage from Castelia City that was on the news a few days ago?! Wow, you're here, in my store!" At once, the few other customers and their children there had me surrounded.

After a lot of talking, some posing for photos, a few autographs and thirty minutes later, I escaped outside with the help of Gale and Marvin.

"Well, that'll teach you to talk at a tourist stop," Gale said, barely containing her laughter.

I whipped my tail angrily as we walked back to the motel. "You could of warned me!"

"I actually had no idea that would happen here. But now we found out."

I just huffed in response. After a moment of sulking: "It's funny; we left Castelia because I was getting too well known. Now we come here and it's starting all over again." Of course I was leaving out the bigger reason we left the city.

"You do seem popular where ever we go," Marvin commented, stopping outside his room door. "You would think you could talk or something." After he winked at me: "So, see you at the practice field out back in a few? I think Alex sounds like he's ready to battle."

"Always with the damned battles," I replied with another huff. Yeah, I was still in a foul mood.

Gale patted my shoulder before opening our door which was next to Marvin's. "Sure, I think it'd be good for both of us to beat on some of your Pokémon to work out our frustrations. Just after we have a quick bite to eat. Give us a half hour."

"Ha!" came the man's response.

I actually grinned.

The quick 'bite to eat' was a couple frozen dinners she'd picked up. Definitely not bad despite the fish I'd never heard of, and just as good as the premium ones back on my Earth. Then with full stomachs, we made our way to the back yard, where two battle fields with seemingly fresh-chalked lines were waiting. The two boys we saw earlier were still on one of them, but were just packing up.

"Oh, a simisage," one said, pointing from his bench. "Hey there lady, do those things have nasty tempers like we keep hearing?"

"Only if you really annoy them," I shouted back, enjoying their shocked reactions. Yeah, I really was being a bit wicked today.

Gale seemed to let that be our answer. To Marvin: "Start with a single battle?"

"Fine with me," the man replied, walking to his end of our field.

With the two teens walking over, "Hey! That...that...that Pokémon talked!" one stammered.

"It spoke English!" the other shouted.

Since Gale seemed to ignore them, so did I. "So, who am I practicing against? Squirt?" I asked hopefully. All of Marvin's Pokémon looked tough, and I certainly found that out against Lightening. But since Squirt was a water type, I figured I had the best chance against him.

"Even though this is just practice, I can't be that easy on you," Marvin returned. Unclipping a ball from his belt, he didn't keep the suspense long before releasing the red and white monkey-ape with a flame-like mane of red and yellow hair.

The infernape.

A fire type.

Son-of-a...

Collapsing to my knees, "Oh dear God, no!" I shouted to the sky. "Not a fire-type!" On the other end of the field, I watched Coal bend over double in laughing at my dramatics. Thing was, I was being semi-serious!

"Oh come on Alex, this is just practice," Gale consoled, giving me a few shoulder pats before pulling me to my feet.

Still to the other end of the field: "You really want me dead too, don't you?"

"Go get Dad," one of the teens said to the other. "Tell him there's a real, live talking Pokémon here!"

"Are you always like this in battles?" Marvin asked, one corner of his mouth turned upward in a half smile.

Or half grimace.

"Like how?" I asked as flatly as I could, though knowing exactly what he was referring to.

The man finally took off his light jacket under the late afternoon sun. "Kind of whiny."

I felt my hair bristle as my vision narrowed. If he only knew what hell I'd been through in the last month! "Excuse me?! You're going to use a fire type who has a huge advantage over me, and you're calling me whiny?!" Good grief, what nerve! Well...alright, I was perhaps complaining a little, but who the hell wouldn't complain if they were the Pokémon in my situation?! Getting burned was bad enough as a human, but as this grass-type thing, it was far worse in a whole new way!

"Isn't that a bit unfair, mister?" the remaining boy asked. "You're using a fire-type against a grass type! And it's only half the size of your infernape."

At least the audience agreed with me...even if it was a kid.

"Life's often not fair, kid," Marvin quipped, sounding almost cold.

"You know how many ice, fire and flying types I've already had to battle?" I continued. "I'm getting sick of almost always being thrown against them!" And God-damn it, I felt like throwing a good-old fashioned fit! Just perhaps, the stress of everything was just getting to me…with the prospect of being burned alive being the preverbal straw breaking the camel's back.

"Calm down, Alex," Gale said, quickly wrapping her arms around me. "The more you practice against those types, the better you'll be at handling them. And I promise I won't let him be too rough on you; this is just practice. Nothing's at stake."

"That's exactly right," the black-haired man confirmed, holding up a hand. "And I'm trying to help you. Of course, Coal will gain a bit of experience as well, but not as much as you, so you'll benefit the most from this. Just try to have a little fun here."

"I won't hurt you," Coal added. Then with a sharp-toothed grin: "Well, not much."

Logically, I understood that. I just didn't feel like admitting it at the moment. "Yeah, I know the story. But can't we start off with someone who doesn't have the potential to send me to the hospital with one hit?"

Gale gave my shoulders tight squeeze, moving her fingers in a nice massage motion. "Tougher opponents make for better training. And just think how much better you'll sleep if you're all worn out." Then softly: "And we can snuggle that much longer."

That got my attention. So did her fingers suddenly moving down to tickle my sides! Reeling forward, I tried escaping but she moved with me. Just as I moved my hands to protect my assaulted sides, she moved her own to attack my stomach, then back to my sides. Within just two more steps, she had me tackled face-first, then with my tail trapped and me pinned, started relentlessly ticking every place she could! I swore I was going to die after just a few seconds! "I...GIVE! STOP!" I could barely get the words out, I was laughing so hard.

Without stopping at all: "You're going to train against his infernape then?"

"Y…Y...YES!" How the hell could I say no?! After she stopped and let me up, I huffed for a bit in trying to regain my breath and dignity from the tickle-torture. "Damn it, that wasn't fair."

"Nope."

"Well, that's one way to get a Pokémon to cooperate," Marvin commented.

In front of him, Coal was positively grinning from pointed ear to pointed red and blue ear. "I think I learned a new attack!"

Leveling a finger at him, "Don't you dare…" Then on second thought: "…unless of course, I can tickle you too. And since I'm smaller, I can get behind you easier!" I finished with my own grin, hoping it was sinister enough. I was rewarded by Coal visibly gulping. So...infernapes were ticklish too? It made sense, since they were monkey-like...just like me.

"Alright, no tickling attacks guys," Gale warned. "Unless we're desperate."

I noted her half-hidden smile while moving my fingers in a tickling motion, and watched Marvin sigh.

"I can tell this practice session is already degenerating," the man commented, but ending with a partial smile. "Alright Gale, Alex, whenever you're ready!"

Gale lingered behind me for a moment, whispering: "One thing about infernapes that I looked up, is they aren't just a fire type, but a fighting type as well. So expect him to have some fighting-type moves. Your Shadow Claw and Focus Blast are going to have the best effect, so we're going to use those the most."

"Which means I have to get in close," I realized.

"Right. And infernapes are also fast like you, so you need to be quick."

I felt my chances of landing any hit decreasing. "Great; he's probably going to dodge everything."

"Maybe, but your Leaf Storm should hit if nothing else if you spread it out like before, and we can use that to knock him off-balance for a follow-up."

I nodded in understanding the proposed strategy. "Any chance they'll be expecting that?"

"If he's really as good as he's been demonstrating so far, probably."

As she moved to her side of the field line, I was feeling especially glad this was only going to be a practice match. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to get myself to relax. Despite being practice, I was getting nervous just the same. On fast approaching footfalls on the grass, I watched the one teen return with a man in tow, presumably his father.

With several other people behind them.

Great, an audience again.

I abruptly shook my head with a grimace; seriously, I should had been used to such by now, but after being on the road for a few days and away from large crowds...

"Focus, Alex!"

I heard Gale's shout behind me and started paying attention with a start.

"Alright then, start off with Seed Bomb!"

Not using Leaf Storm first told me she didn't want to do (what we thought was) the obvious right off the bat. I formed and shot the seeds one after the other, not really expecting to hit the red and white-haired ape. Coal didn't disappoint by avoiding each of my energy-packing seeds, sometimes even hopping around to do so.

Oh so expected.

For my last of ten seeds, I decided to try something a little different for the hell of it. Just as it was starting to shoot forward from my mouth, I reached up to give the semi-solid thing an upward flick with my hand, imparting a bit of spin. The seed went off course, but surprisingly traveled further before falling back to earth. It was a simple principal and was the same effect bullets got when spun in a gun barrel. Apparently it worked for Seed Bomb just the same!

"What was that?" Gale asked.

"I tried giving it some spin," I explained, suffering excited gasps from the new spectators as I spoke in their presence for the first time. But since my hand-slap changed the course of the seed, it was a failed experiment, although showing promise.

"Huh," Marvin said from the other end. "Now Coal, use Flamethrower, but keep it straight."

Thanks to training with Hammy, I knew Flamethrower. What was impressive though, as I felt the heat on my backside while getting out of the way in a hurry, was Coal's Flamethrower was just as powerful. Or perhaps more so. I swore I smelled some of my hair burning despite the distance! A quick look behind proved otherwise, but the audience was impressed nonetheless with various 'Ooos'. "You're packing some serious heat there, Coal!" I half-shouted, keeping to myself the dual meaning I wasn't sure applied on this world.

The ape formed an 'O' with his mouth, appearing to blow smoke into the air. Actually, he did! "Ha ha! Of course! And I can cook hot dogs too."

That got a laugh out of me, putting me a bit more at ease. OK, maybe Coal wasn't so bad to go against…in practice.

"Well, your Seed Bomb didn't work so well, Alex," Gale said. "So, work close and use Focus Blast!"

"Hit me if you can!" Coal taunted as I started gathering the energy and running toward him.

"You too, Coal," Marvin countered.

The fire and fighting type gave a nod as he formed the same greenish energy between his own hands and got going.

With him suddenly running at me, everything was happening too fast for me to think of an alternative other than running headlong into him. Just a half-heartbeat from throwing my Focus Blast into Coal's was when my first 'Oh shit' thought occurred, and by then it was far too late. Our attacks collided, exploding almost instantly. Only after I was hurdling backward did the impact of the blast register, with pain like crashing into a brick wall at high speed setting in after I flipped over once upon hitting the ground. In addition to that pain, it soon felt like a thousand angry ants were crawling over my side. Oh…I slid too, didn't I? I heard the handful of spectators cheering after I regained my hearing.

"Are you OK?" Gale asked somewhere in front of me.

It took me a good moment to sit up, causing more cheers. Rubbing my side over where the bare skin of my chest was indeed a bit scuffed from my slide, "I'm alive….maybe," I coughed out. Hell, I really didn't want to move for a while.

"Coal, can you go on?"

I looked behind to see how the infernape was, finding him also right in front of Marvin, likewise picking himself off the grass, but was shortly standing.

"He packs a nice punch, but I'm fine!" Brushing some grass out of his white hair, he certainly looked fine enough, too.

"I think his Focus Blast is a little more powerful than yours," Gale teased.

Still rubbing my side, "Yeah, so do I." Either that, or my smaller mass just was affected by the blast more.

Raising a finger, she continued more quietly: "Maybe…if you lower yourself, you can get under his attack while hitting with yours."

I could see what she was saying, but executing it…replaying mentally how fast it all happened, I was skeptical. The ape seemed just as fast as I was! "I'll need a lot more practice to pull that off, I think." And before she got any more ideas: "And no, I don't want to try it again right now."

"That's OK; you took a good one there. But as soon as you're up, let's try Shadow Claw, and avoid any counter he might have."

That was still a tall order. Since it was practice, Marvin and Coal gave me as much time as I needed to get back on my feet, which was sooner than even I thought. Again I marveled how quickly I got over nasty hits, provided they weren't too nasty, although I was starting to feel worn. Taking another deep breath to help my focus, I tried to come up with a path of attack. Maybe by coming in from the side…except with Coal's speed, that probably wouldn't work. Hell, probably the only way to really get to him was to offer the possibility of being able to hit me at the same time. Which likely meant another oucher.

I wanted to avoid such ouchers.

I decided to make avoiding his counterattack a higher priority than hitting with my own. And…the thought occurred to me I could borrow a page from Lilly's book. Ignoring the whispering among the half-dozen spectators, I tilted my head and smiled as I formed the transparent purple claws of Shadow Claw from one of my hands, bringing them up in front of my face. Surely that had to look sinister!

Incredulously, the ape started laughing!

"You…look…funny!" gasping while holding his sides.

So I looked funny?! With a different idea taking hold, and I started walking slowly toward him, slightly stiff-legged. Forming the claws in my other hand now, I crossed the set of claws still in front of my face. Then I spoke as a parent might to a child while playing: "Oh, Coal…I'm coming to get you. I'm coming to get you, Coal." I heard Gale asking what I was doing while Marvin just stared, but the funny-colored ape's laughing got more intense. The people watching also started laughing, which certainly couldn't be making things easier for the poor infernape!

"What…are…you…doing?" Coal managed to get out.

I gave a lazy tail whip. Still smiling while approaching stiff-legged and remaining in my playful tone: "You've been a very naughty infernape, Coal, and I'm going to have to get you now. He he he. We can't have little infernapes being naughty now, can we? So I'm going to have to get you."

The spectators sounded like they were about ready to die, Coal not much better.

"Um…Coal, use Focus Blast again," Marvin commanded.

The fire ape tried. He rose from his knees with one fist starting to glow weakly, but he could only manage a few steps as I continued the playful verbal assault.

"Come on, Coal," Marvin urged. "Get it together, buddy!"

It was too late. Getting to about three meters, I suddenly spread my arms and launched myself at the creature. Seeing my charge, he leapt to action, but my humor attack had slowed him enough that both sets of my claws cut through his midsection, his own glowing fist narrowly missing my head. I kept going for few running paces past him, lest he give chase, then on swinging around and bracing for any counter: "See, I told you!" I announced triumphantly to a cheering audience. "I got you!"

"That wasn't fair!" Coal screamed through gritted teeth, though not very insistently while holding his side.

"Very unorthodox, Alex."

I turned enough to face Marvin since I was almost in front of him, "I had to do something different, or I'm going to get creamed."

"Whatever works, Alex!" Gale shouted from the opposite field end.

"Flamethrower."

Marvin's one-word command made me realize just how close I still was to the fire-type. And that Coal was now able to quickly execute commands. I swore there was just a bit of anger about his attack, because this time he didn't keep his flames in one direction, but tracked me as I desperately tried running around him to avoid the attack.

I was almost successful…my tail being the only unsuccessful part. After some hopping, the intense burning eventually subsided and my skin didn't look too badly torched, but I only knew about that because most of the hair had been burned off! How I didn't get more seriously burned I couldn't fathom.

"Alright Coal, you're supposed to keep that attack in a straight line during practice," Marvin warned.

"Ha ha. Oops."

The fire ape was snickering as I retreated to Gale, where she immediately started applying a thick salve.

"This'll heal it by morning, but your hair might take another day." Giving me a quick pat on the back, "Good job in avoiding as much as you did; Coal looked rather perturbed."

"I kinda guessed that." So the infernape didn't like being disarmed with humor before being struck, it seemed.

The salve killed the burning, but the thought of having a bare tail bothered me. Well, only half the hair was gone on the last two-thirds but still, it didn't look so good! "Just call me rat-tail, I guess," giving it a short whip with Gale still working on it. At least the spectators had stopped laughing a bit ago, with the four adults now looking on with sympathy.

Gale finished the application, rubbing it in on all the way to the very base of my tail for a brief moment…which was just a little sensitive and not from any burn. Turning to give her a look, she flashed a wry smile just before putting the suave tube away.

"Just in case, to protect all of your tail next time. Now, ready to go on?"

Darn, I was hoping it was something more. "Being injured doesn't get me out of this?" I had that hope.

"Of course not, you only have a few scratches and a slight burn," giving me a pat. Quietly and with a wink: "Be a man."

I almost laughed. "Saaaaid the woman who wasn't putting her body in harm's way," I returned light-heartedly.

She gave me a gentle but quick push back onto the field. "Now, use Leaf Storm!"

So, finally that tactic then. Again, Marvin would probably know what we were really up to, but in the name of practice I held my arms out dutifully, channeling energy into a whole lot of small energy leaves that came into existence. I expected the fire ape to start dodging, and prepared to move the 'storm' in whichever direction the Pokémon tried running.

Except Coal just stood there…

"Incinerate them!" Marvin barked.

Just as the 'leaves' begun striking, the infernape took in a great gulp of air and forced it back out in the form of flames, the intensity of which exceeded both of his previous Flamethrowers! Not only did all of my energy leaves near him instantly burn up, but a broad wall of flames continued straight at me! I think I let out a screech as I hit the ground, praying the flames would pass overhead since I had no hope of other avoidance. Even Gale started running to get out of the way!

"Alex, curl up!"

I did as she screamed, feeling the searing heat pass just over me far, far closer than comfortable! In fact, a couple wisps of flame did wash over me! Fortunately it was over quickly, lasting perhaps a couple seconds, but a good portion of the hair on my legs and one of my shoulder tuffs got singed!

With deep breaths of life-saving cool air, I slowly uncurled and rolled to lay on my back. Gale's face was soon over mine.

"How bad are you?"

I took a moment to think of an appropriate reply. "Gale, I don't think I want to play with fire anymore, you know?" I sat up to give my singed left leg a brush, some charred hair rubbing off.

Kneeling, she gave me a hug. "Yeah, I guess you're pretty overmatched here. You still did darn good getting your Shadow Claw in though."

"For a grass type, you didn't do as bad as most against Coal, believe it or not," Marvin said, appearing next to us along with the infernape. "He's really quite strong, even among infernapes," Coal smiling at the man's words. "I have no doubt that if this was a real match, you could probably get in a couple more hits before he could finish you off," the man continued.

"Don't bet on it," the Pokémon grinned, though offering me a blue-skinned hand.

I sighed but took it, and the infernape seemed to lift me up with no effort. "Thanks."

"But of course, you would be a lot better with much more practice I think," the man continued.

"Most definitely," Gale agreed. "As I said already, he hasn't been battling very long, but his progress to now has been really good."

Smiling, Marvin patted my tufted shoulder. "Think you can go some more against someone else?"

Gale kneeled to brush part of my leg where it had been slightly singed before likewise patting my shoulder. "How about it? You don't look that bad really, and you should try to keep going to build your stamina."

"Build my stamina," I repeated with the knowledge that I probably wasn't going to get out of it, at least not without looking like a whiner. Glancing toward the people at the side of the field, they were all talking amongst themselves but watching me intently. Surely they wanted more show. Although I felt a bit beat-up, the hit from the exploding Focus Blasts probably being the worst, I still felt I had strength. "Fine, but please, no one I'm weak against, huh? My body can only take so much."

"Ha ha, be strong, Alex!" Coal said, whipping his red tail.

"Well...sorry," Marvin said without a hint of sympathy, "but the best training is still against those you're weak against. I think Razor will be your next opponent...um, if you agree, Gale."

I looked up angrily. "Gale..."

She grimaced, wrapping an arm around me. "He's still right, Alex. This will be better than practicing against Serenity, since it'll be a different trainer commanding a different flying type. And remember, this is just practice. So just give it a try, OK?"

I groaned, not sure how much more 'practice' I could take, but eventually nodded. "You guys really do want me dead."

"He complains just like a lot of humans," Marvin quipped.

"You don't know the half of it," Gale smirked.

The man smiled slightly. "I'm sure I don't."

I sighed, shaking my head as Marvin headed back to his side. At least Coal gave me a pat on the back in apparent sympathy.

---

I leaned back into my chair as we just placed our appetizer and drink orders at the bar and grill, being mindful of my tail. I was tired, but recovering. Earlier, I learned that I could indeed time a strike with my Shadow Claw on a bird Pokémon just before it hit me with the glowing wing attack known as Aerial Ace. I also learned how nasty Aerial Ace could be. In fact, after taking four hits from it, I was certain Marvin's staraptor had held way back on its power, else I would have been elsewhere…like an intensive care unit.

"That was a good training session today," Marvin started. "Maybe tomorrow we can try that double battle I keep promising."

"I battle with you!" Charna crowed, pointing to herself as she sat with Gale on the other side of the table.

"I think it would be better if different types were paired in a double battle," I returned, earning a pouty face.

"He's right, Charna," Gale said, getting what the female simisage had asked. "Hammy or Serenity would be a good partner, since their types would complement each other."

"Well, if you're going to use one of them, then I know who I'll use," Marvin commented.

"Or maybe Charna should battle; I'll sit the next one out for a change," I said, truly wanting a break for a while.

"That's actually what I was thinking," Gale supported. "I want to give Alex some rest, especially since he has to walk with us."

Facing Marvin: "You sure are wanting to battle me a lot," I said. "How come? Please don't say it's just because I can talk."

That had to be a large part of it though. It always was. Just like when after the last practice battle earlier, all I wanted to do was hit the shower before we had dinner. The spectators, who had grown to over a dozen, had other ideas. They all wanted to talk to me and some wanted more photos (even though they had been shooting all the while), a couple even tried posing with me! Damned tourists. A talking Pokémon on their vacations was a big event, I guess.

Those closest to me sure got a noseful though, considering how sweaty I had become, yet they were all nice save for one of the kids who couldn't get enough of me. I had never been pawed so much before in my life! Except by Gale. And maybe Charna…who I did feel a little guilty about, since she hadn't been out of her ball a whole lot lately. During my shower and after Gale fed everyone, Charna refused to go back in after. Hence, she was joining us for dinner.

Next to me, Marvin planted his chin on a braced arm, "Because you're so unique, of course. And...I think you're only tapping a small part of your real strength."

I stared back. Just how much stronger did he think I could get?

A smile spreading across his British-like face, "And as a talking Pokémon, I just can't battle you enough!"

Gah! I groaned, then groaned double as Marvin leaned over to wrap an arm around me, making my already sore shoulder where I had taken a couple hits hurt more. He promptly leaned back as I grabbed it, wincing.

"Oh, sorry! Didn't know you hurt there."

"Getting hit by even weak Aerial Aces kind of hurts, you know," I returned, rubbing the area gently and grimacing. "Despite the berries." After a sigh, I glanced to where a couple of the spectators had already come in to take a seat. Two slim men perhaps in their thirties and dressed in flannels, they didn't quite look the tourist type but more a couple of the locals. But like the tourists, they seated themselves so they could see me. I was certain as the others came in for dinner, they too were going to want to watch me, and likely sit next to us. But for the moment, we were alone in our corner of the restaurant.

"Thanks for doing that though," Gale said. "Battling Pokémon we don't normally see around here is great experience. Your infernape especially, looks really good."

Marvin gave a nod, leaning forward to get out of his blue and silver jacket. "We've been together for a while. He was one of my first Pokémon, and we've traveled nearly everywhere together. We've seen some sights." He looked away through the windows thoughtfully for a half moment.

"I don't want to battle him," Charna commented, grabbing her water glass with both hands. With a slow deliberate movement, she brought it up to her lips for a drink.

The man smiled at that. "It's amazing you've trained a wild simisage to use glasses and silverware. Most Pokémon never get it...or don't want to."

"She's pretty smart," Gale provided, giving the Pokémon a quick rub on her back and making her smile.

"So Alex, I know you've said you don't want to talk about it, but I have to ask again, just where do you come from, and how did you learn to talk and read English? Obviously you're very smart too, and very may be the smartest Pokémon I've ever encountered, but someone still had to teach you, right?"

Like the last time he asked, I exchanged a look with Gale. Unlike last time, I finally had some kind of answer, one that I had gone over with her just before dinner. "Yes, I had some human teachers who taught me in a place very far away." Which was, exactly true!

Sitting up, "Really? So where is this place? Do they specialize in teaching Pokémon?"

Just something about his tone suggested he already knew or suspected something about it. And perhaps he meant his tone to be that way… "I prefer not to reveal it," hoping to have to avoid lying again. "But I was raised like a human, by human parents." Again, totally true.

"They did a pretty good job, I say," Gale supported.

"Seems like it," Marvin said, as if giving it some thought. "I've never heard of a place where they taught Pokémon to basically be human. I know some people try to some extent, but no one has had success like with you. You are...really different; sometimes I swear…you are human."

Mentally I smiled. Outwardly, I suffered the man's look which felt more penetrating than usual as I grabbed my water glass. I also noticed Charna glancing between all of us, question evident on her face. Neither of us had had a chance to tell her I had this story prepared. We would have to fill her in later.

The waitress finally returned, bearing our drinks and appetizers and giving me an extra smile. "So, what would you folks like, including one very special talking Pokémon?"

I let the others go first, including Charna who I translated as wanting a burger. Then I ordered steak. Some good old-fashioned red meat was something I last had on my Earth, and even in my simisage body, boy did I miss it!

"You know those come from tauroses, right?" Marvin pointed out.

Unfamiliar with the name, "From what?" I asked, just ahead of Charna.

"What?! No they don't," Gale corrected after sounding initially alarmed.

"Our steaks come from specially raised grass-fed cattle," the waitress pointed out, "not any Pokémon!"

Marvin was grinning, though. "Just kidding!"

So a tauros was a Pokémon, and I guessed something resembling a cow. Anyway, I quickly decided to go for something I had resisted initially when our drink orders were taken: "And I'll also have a half-size Unova Lager," knowing full well it was going to spark a response from Gale and likely the waitress.

And Gale went first: "Alex, you know what alcohol does to you! It'll be just like last time."

"You drink beer?!" Marvin exclaimed.

Holding up a hand, "I'm just going to have half of the half-size, but I really have the taste for one. Either of you want the other half?"

The waitress went next: "Oh my gosh, we've never served beer to a Pokémon before!"

Smiling as sweetly as I could: "Always a first time! There's no rule against it, is there?"

"Well, uh…no. And you do talk... Uh…you've had it before?"

Nodding, "Yes, and half of a half-size won't hurt me." At least that was my guess, though it seemed reasonable.

Giving me a very considering stare, "Well...alright little guy." After a quick pet on my head, "One chef's salad, a fish and chips platter, a hamburger, a steak platter medium-well, and a half-size Unova Lager."

After she left, I found Gale shaking her head and Marvin giving me an even stronger stare.

"Seriously, you drink beer too?" the man asked.

"On occasion," I replied, noting Charna's questioning look. "What?"

"What is 'beer'? I try?"

I translated the questions for Gale to answer.

The woman sighed, shaking her head. "I can just see it now, I'm going to have two plastered simisages on my hands."

Marvin grinned. "Sounds dangerous."

"You can have a very small taste," Gale told her, "but it normally isn't too good for you. Alex is having some because he's different."

The female simisage took in a breath in apparent preparation to protest, but promptly clamed up under my stare.

Marvin took a sip of his soda and after also looking about to say something, seemed to think better of it as well. Even so, his sideways glance and posture held a certain nonchalance, as if something was just confirmed.

Or perhaps my mind was reading too much into his body language.

Once the food and beer were delivered, I promptly poured half the deep amber liquid into the provided glass and gave it to Gale. Left with a small, half-empty glass, I took a quick sniff and swig, enjoying the surprisingly robust flavor while just noticing a new set of patrons coming in, the young boy in the group excitedly pointing out two simisages sitting at a table. I took another sip as the server routed them past us to a couple tables beyond.

"Mom, what is that simisage drinking?" the boy asked. "Is that beer?! I thought they only had water and berry juice!"

"Quiet Bobby," the mother hissed with a backward glance.

From across the table, Gale sighed heavily, her face turning slightly red. Quietly: "Alex, I think you just single-handedly destroyed the sweet, innocent view that poor kid had of Pokémon. Congratulations."

I shrugged and had another small sip in the kid's honor. In a perverted way, I was enjoying this. I was, after all, a human! Too damn bad if my doing things a human would normally do was upsetting. On the other hand, I also felt a twinge of regret in spoiling things for others. I decided to start on my steak, but quick movement got my attention as Charna grabbed Gale's half beer from in front of her.

"Hey!" Gale tried grabbing back the glass, but the female simisage quick as lightening already had it to her lips.

"Smells...bad," she commented, wrinkling her little black nose before taking a sip anyway. Gale quickly intercepted the glass as Charna nearly dropped it, grabbing her throat with a grimace like someone dying in agony! After some coughing and hissing resulting in drool running down her cream-colored chin: "That awful! How you drink it?!"

On holding out a napkin, "Acquired taste."

From a couple tables over: "Dad, both those simisages are drinking beer!"

"Quiet Bobby."

Marvin smirked as Gale sank into her seat a little more.

I made a point of being a bit more discrete with the rest of my brew, especially with others now coming in for dinner, including those who had watched my practice battles that afternoon. But my beverage choice didn't go without notice from them either. Downing the last in one gulp in an effort to hurry, I resolved to minimize any future drinking in public. Especially in front of tourists who wanted to ask me a dozen questions about it!

After finishing his meal, Marvin sat back, gazing out the window to the deepening blues and violets of sunset. "Alex, did your...parents teach you to drink beer as well?"

Noting he wasn't facing me, I thought about how to answer for a moment. For some reason, that question at that moment brought back a particularly strong memory of my dad looking down at me, laughing before giving me a hug. My eyes feeling wet and feeling more truthful than I probably should of, "I just decided to try it one day, and my dad let me. He thought it was funny, because I didn't really like it. Tried it off and on after that, eventually liking it. Maybe to be more like him." After making sure my eyes were dry, I turned to find the man staring at me again, along with Gale and Charna.

"Sounds like you miss him."

"Yeah."

Marvin returned what seemed a nod of acceptance. "Hm. Well, you'll need to tell me about that last time you had beer that Gale mentioned. Sounds like a story too."

"Later," Gale said, gesturing slightly to the area around us.

With the place becoming crowded, a lot of eyes on and never ending conversation about us, we kept further conversation to a minimum. We quickly finished and left before anyone else did, including the two guys who had been there nearly as long as we had, although they seemed to be paying particular attention as we walked out. I sure hoped they weren't looking for a battle.

"So, should we have another match tomorrow before we leave?" Marvin asked.

"Sure, if I can battle your salamence. I would like to see how Hammy will..."

"No, it has to be against Alex."

I think my mouth dropped. "Me again?! Come on dude, you've battled me enough."

"Yes, I said before Alex needs a break," Gale agreed. "And my other Pokémon are feeling neglected."

"I am," Charna mumbled, crossing her arms. "Let me fight. I not afraid!"

I quickly relayed Charna's offer.

"Oh no," Gale said, giving her a reassuring pat. "We're going to need Hammy's strength against such a powerful Pokémon."

Marvin held up a hand. "Then maybe it's time for that double battle. You use Hammy and Alex, and I'll use Drago and Lightning."

I stared up at the man, sighing. Then shaking my head as I went for the already open door into our room, "I'm beat. Good night, Marvin."

Gale gave a sigh as well. "We'll think about it," as she came in behind me. "Good night."

"He want battle you too much," Charna pointed out as I crashed on the large bed.

"He did say he wants to make me stronger," I replied, reaching for the remote as she climbed over me to claim the middle.

"I'll leave it up to you if you want to battle tomorrow," Gale said, already stripping out of her clothes before putting on her pajamas. "But it would be great experience going against such a really strong Pokémon, and Hammy will be there to help."

I watched her for a moment as she changed before wresting my eyes to the television to see what was on, "But won't Hammy be busy with Lightening?"

"Not if you keep that manectric off his back, so to speak." The woman flashed a smile as she walked around the other side of the bed, claiming that half after getting Charna to move. Then with a pull, she suddenly pulled me past the other simisage and into the middle.

"Hey!" I protested.

"Take that side, Charna," Gale instructed. "And...now we have you, right between us, he he. And I'm gonna cuddle you extra tight tonight, my little human simisage."

Charna giggled in settling in to my former spot.

I faked a moan even as I enjoyed being snuggled between them. I still preferred Gale, but Charna was kind of snuggly too, her hair feeling warm against mine. I fell asleep to a movie about mythical Pokémon in a battle for some kingdom, waking up again as Gale got up to finish getting ready for bed. Then I had to do usual teeth brushing, bathroom break, and wrapping the end of my tail with a small towel to protect the bed sheets from my thorns. Finally after climbing back in to bed for the rest of the night, I again started drifting off again as Gale massaged one of my big ears, Charna conking out with her head against my shoulder. It was nice to be sleeping with two females...even if one was what I considered the wrong species.

It was now hard to believe in my human life that I never slept with anyone. Here I was regularly sleeping with either Gale or Charna...and couldn't imagine sleeping alone anymore.

Oh, how my life continued to change.

---

"I'll get some," I offered.

"OK, thanks!" Gale replied while starting to pack up our things. "We'll meet you outside the restaurant then."

I was only too happy to go buy some more facial tissues for us; it was one of the rare times I got to feel like I was human again. I walked out into the early morning sunlight, pausing at the railing from the second floor to look out over the parking lot and the wilderness beyond. Celestial Tower was visible not too far away, the sun just shining over a distant hill to illuminate it's upper half and making its white exterior glow. Even a bit of fog had formed in some of the low areas, creating an almost mystical scene.

"Pretty," I mumbled, feeling a little happier than usual as I made my way down the steps to toward the store. I had got some great sleep; I had never thought sleeping with two others would be so nice...or cuddly. Of course, having a full-sized bed for once certainly helped!

Being actually kind of early, most of the other motel guests weren't out yet, although I passed by the two guys who had not only watched my practice matches yesterday, but watched me intently in the restaurant as well. This morning, they still made me nervous as they suddenly looked around. A couple seconds later, a red beam was shooting in front of me with an odd-looking (even to me) Pokémon quickly materializing. Swinging around, "Hey, watch where you…"

"Vileplume, Sleep Powder! Now!"

I turned in time for a bunch of purplish power to hit my face. Instantly holding my breath, I panicked and closed my eyes while slapping a hand over my mouth and nose, knowing I'd already inhaled some. Moving fast to try and get out of the cloud, hands grabbing my arms stopped me while ripping my hand from my face.

"Breathe it, damnit," someone shouted in a muffled whisper.

There was a painful, doubling-over punch to my stomach, forcing breath out of me and a reciprocal intake after, including a bit more powder despite a conscious effort not to. I tried struggling just to get my hands free so I could do something, anything, but the grips were firm, even on my tail with someone quickly grabbing that too.

"Good work, Vileplume. Help get him into the van."

With the pain to my stomach making me queasy and sleepiness already coming on, I opened my eyes as another hand went over my mouth just as I was forced to start breathing again, preventing me from even screaming. The two men, wearing what looked like dust masks, fought to get me to a white van parked a couple spaces over, its rear doors already open.

I was…being kidnapped!?