Chapter 9

Maple woke up at dawn, the same as every day, to hear two voices coming from outside. Both of them were male, and neither one was Mark. Alarmed, she sat bolt upright, knocking bits of hay everywhere.

Blinking, she took a few moments to remember where she was. Her parents, for they were still her parents even if she wasn't their daughter, were still asleep, exactly as she had left them. A faint light was starting to come into the barn and she could hear the sounds of other Pokémon as they too started to come awake.

Remembering something important, Maple looked around for some source of water and noticed the trough next to her. Crawling on her hands and knees she made her way over to it. She peered at the water, examining her reflection.

For the most part, she looked fine. Her eyes were a little red, but nothing that looked too noticeable. Satisfied that she wasn't going to worry Mark when he saw her, she stood up to leave.

She heard Hayley's voice join the other two. They were discussing how to divide up the work for the day, changing the water and the hay, watching the Pokémon when they were out in the field, keeping certain ones away from each other and so on. Hayley was saying something about "no adoptions" today, as Maple pushed against the barn door.

Mark wasn't outside at all, which was very disappointing, but Maple was always awake before him. She suspected that he wouldn't be up for another hour or two. In the meantime, Maple wasn't going to be completely alone, this morning.

"Mornin', sweetie!" Hayley called, "Didn't think you'd be up this early!" She strode over to Maple, beaming, "how'd you like sleepin' in the barn?" She waited as Maple gingerly shut the barn door.

"It was…nice," Maple tried to sound convincing as she thought back to the first night in her life where she had cried herself to sleep.

"Your eyes are red…" Hayley said, confused by the contradiction, "you okay?"

"Yeah," Maple nodded much too quickly, "I'm fine. Everything's great."

"Well, okay," Hayley sighed, not convinced in the slightest, but not willing to get too involved either. She gestured back to the two young men coming up to stand behind her. One was a tall, broad-shouldered man with sandy-blond hair, which Maple remembered to be Jeremiah. The other, a slightly shorter man with dark hair, was Cole, Hayley's two assistants.

"Let me introduce ya," Hayley turned to her employees.

"It's okay," Maple smiled, "I remember. Hi, Jeremiah. Hi, Cole."

"Sorry…do we know you?" Jeremiah raised an eyebrow.

"Sorta…" Maple's ears drooped.

"This is Maple," Hayley informed them, "y'all would remember her as Mark's only Leafeon."

"Umm…I'm not following…" Jeremiah shook his head. Cole continued to say nothing, but just appeared to be examining Maple. His eyes scanned Maple from head to toe, carefully noting everything about her.

"She evolved into a person a few days ago," Hayley explained.

"Just like that?" Jeremiah remained dubious, "I didn't even know Pokémon could evolve into people."

"Me neither," Hayley admitted.

"I've heard of it," Cole suddenly spoke, nodding his understanding, "didn't really believe it, though. I always thought it was just some stupid, little kid's fairy tale."

"Yeah…me too," Maple muttered. Apparently humans had their own version of the old story.

"Right," Hayley sensed the need for a subject change, "well, the boys have work to do. Why don't ya go on up to the house and find something to eat? Mark needs to get his lazy arse up, anyways."

"Oh, sure," Maple nodded. She walked off, much more somberly than the day before. Too much had happened, and almost none of it had been good.

What the hell are you?

Am I still your daughter?

Maybe Mark would be able to cheer her up.

The quiet, early morning air around the docks at Olivine City only lasted for a few hours, after daybreak. Soon, much too soon, humans would start their work for the day and that beautiful, natural silence would be shattered. The gentle movement of the waves would be drowned out by the blaring horns of ships leaving the dock. The faint squawking of the gulls, with a few Wingull mixed in, would become a blatting chorus, once the ships loaded with garbage left and the birds swooped in to feast on them.

A lone, old man sat in a folding chair, at the end of one of the piers, trying to push such horrible thoughts out of his mind. Instead, he focused on his fishing line bobbing up and down with the current. He tilted his straw hat to keep the sun out of his eyes as it rose off to his right. He only had an hour or two, best to enjoy the silence while it lasted.

Most people that knew him called him Aurum, the Golden Master. Very few people knew his real name anymore. Not that it mattered much to him. The only names that ever really meant anything sounded something like Father, Dad, or Grandfather. His personal favorite had been Granddaddy, but nobody called him that anymore.

But, he didn't think about these things as he stared at the ocean. In fact, he was doing his best not to think, at all. He was doing exceptionally well, too, but the game ended when he heard footsteps on the wood, behind him.

They were light steps, which meant light shoes. It wasn't the heavy boots of another fisherman trying to grab some early morning peace and quiet. No, Aurum had a very good idea of who the suit coming down the pier was, and he had a response already prepared.

"Piss off," the old man muttered, "I'm retired and there's nothing you can do to change that."

"Who says I want to change anything?" Alfred Silph smirked, "I just wanted to know how you were doing."

"Checking on me as if I were some patient in a nursing home?" Aurum rolled his eyes, "Sorry, Silph, but those nurses get far more respect from me than what you deserve."

"Berate me all you like, Aurum," Silph came up to stand beside the old man, "I'm not the one torturing myself." Alfred had spent his entire life talking to people. There was an art to it that most people didn't understand. Aurum was a Pokémon trainer after all. Alfred didn't need to convince Aurum of anything. He just needed Aurum to remember.

"Now what are you babbling about?" the hint of genuine interest in Aurum's voice meant progress.

"Well," Alfred started, "is somebody like you really meant for retirement? After all, you're the Golden Master. One of the four strongest Pokémon trainers in the world."

"What of it?" Aurum asked, "I passed on what I learned, to those kids, there's nothing left for me to do."

"Maybe…" Alfred nodded, "but those aren't your only kids, are they?" Aurum's head jerked up and his eyes pierced into Alfred Silph with such intensity that he had to look away. After a moment, the old trainer sighed and looked back out at his line.

"Out here by yourself?" Alfred asked after a few minutes. He sat down on the pier. He wasn't exactly eager to ruin his suit, but he knew how to make friends.

"Which of those idiots sent you?" Aurum ignored Alfred's question.

"Katana," Alfred said, "she was sharpening her claws when I got there."

"Heh, typical," Aurum shook his head, "that one thinks of nothing but fighting. You would think she was death itself."

"She remembers what it's like," Alfred smiled, thinking of when he had watched Aurum and PureBlueSky fight in a semi-final match, in his very first tournament. How incredible would it be to see the two clash again?

"Yeah, but so do I," Aurum spat, "and that's why I'm not going back."

"You don't believe that," Alfred said matter-of-factly, "come on, you remember. This isn't the first time you've retired. A Pokémon changing into a person changes a lot. Especially in your case when you get a whole new family to take care of. But those kids, PureBlueSky, EdgeoftheEarth and RiverofTears, they got you started again. They breathed life back into you and reminded you what it was like to be young, again.

"I just want you to think about it, Aurum. Just remember those times when the crowd roared and made your heart race. Remember how proud you were when those kids finally managed to make you think that you could lose. Remember what it felt like to see your second family become even stronger before your very eyes. But, most of all, remember what it was like to win."

"Are you finished?" Aurum wasn't agitated at all, anymore. Instead, he just sounded tired. Of course he remembered all of that. He thought about it every day. His human Pokémon remembered it, too.

"I suppose I am," Alfred stood up, to leave, "just think about it, Aurum. Would you rather stay here, on the docks, or would you rather come back and feel alive again?" Alfred Silph walked away, leaving Aurum alone on the pier.

The old trainer sighed, staring at his line. Sitting on that pier every morning was probably the most boring thing he ever did in his life. He wouldn't get a bite, he knew it. He hadn't caught a fish in weeks. He was a terrible fisherman…

A ship's horn blared, shattering the peace of the morning. Aurum grimaced at the sound. His time was up. He gathered up all of his equipment and started to leave.

He smiled to himself. Inwardly, he was laughing at the notion of a grandfather still fighting with Pokémon. What a ridiculous concept…

Still, he would've been done long ago if it weren't for his kids. First his son, then his granddaughter, then his students and somewhere along the line, he fought for his other kids, too.

The rest of his family was gone, only his other kids remained. And what was he doing to them, here? Maybe he was old and tired and spent, but they weren't. They were all young, ambitious kids that had their whole lives ahead of them; lives that shouldn't be spent wasting away with an already wasted old man.

Maybe just one more year, Aurum sighed. He already knew that his human Pokémon would want to throw a party when they heard the news.

Mark couldn't quite understand what it was that made Maple act so differently from the day before. She had been bubbly and cheerful almost all day, but not today. Today she was quiet and reserved. Her thoughts were somewhere else.

Was she just getting used to being human more? That was a depressing thought…

No, it must've been the bike gang. She must have still been traumatized over that. Luckily, he had an idea to give her back some confidence.

Mark stood on the edge of the field, by the wooden fence that marked the boundary of the ranch. He and Hayley were swapping Pokéballs, changing around his team in anticipation of the tournament. His team would include his Infernape, Jitter and Eclipse, Maple's Jolteon and Umbreon brothers, Donphan, Heracross, and, of course, Maple. But to be completely ready, there was one more thing he needed to know.

"Maple!" Mark called out behind him. Maple was crouched down by the stream about fifty yards away, on the other side of the fence. She was watching the fish with an absent-minded expression, wondering whether or not fish were bored with their lives.

Sluggishly, she came to her feet and turned towards Mark. So far, he hadn't been able to cheer her up and Maple was becoming more and more depressed as the day went on. She couldn't think of what was wrong. Sure, she had been rejected by her parents and was still coming to terms with being human, but there was something else, too. She felt like something was missing, something important…

"Do you feel up for a battle?" Mark asked when Maple was just on the other side of the fence. He was grinning and tossing Jitter's Pokéball up in the air and catching it, again.

"A battle?" Maple asked hopefully.

"Yeah," Mark encouraged, "if we're going to compete, then I need to know how strong you are."

"Really!" Maple bounded over the four foot high fence without even touching it, "can we, canwe, canwe?"

That's more like it, Mark thought, relieved, she's still a Pokémon, after all.

Hayley, Jeremiah and Cole held back the other Pokémon as Mark instructed Maple to stand at a spot about a hundred yards away from him.

A battle, God, it felt like ages…

"Okay, Maple, you ready?" he called out.

"Yep, I'm ready," Maple happily hopped up and down in a curious manner that distracted Mark for a second, before he sent out Jitter.

After the flash of white light, the Pokémon appeared in front of Mark and let out a cry, bristling his fur. The first test would be against Maple's speed. Jolteon, and certainly Jitter, was one of the fastest Pokémon in existence. If Maple could outrun him…

"Alright…Jitter, Thunderbolt! Maple, Leafblade!" With the commands issued, Jitter charged up the power needed for his electrical attack while Maple darted across the field, moving low to the ground. She was definitely fast, a lot faster than she had been before.

Maple's tail glowed and went rigid and she swiped at the Jolteon, sending it spinning and rolling across the field as the powerful attack hit its mark. Jitter began to stagger to his feet, but in the end he gave up and slumped down onto the ground, defeated. He never even got a chance to launch his first attack.

"Wow," Mark breathed, holy shit, she's faster than Jolteon!

"Yes!" Maple cheered, "Take that, big brother! I kicked your little ass like it was nothing!" Grinning widely, Maple put her arms out and spun in place. This was what she missed. Sweet Arceus, it was wonderful…

"Good job," Mark congratulated her as he recalled Jitter, still struggling to comprehend just how much more powerful she had become, "we'll try attack, next. Hercules."

Mark's Heracross appeared and the massive beetle brandished its horn, attempting to threaten Maple. Maple waved at the bug Pokémon, unperturbed by its threats. Mark backed away a few more yards to give them space.

As a grass-type, Maple should've had a distinct disadvantage against the bug-type Heracross. Maple normally wouldn't have the strength to be able to defeat it. However, if her evolution had given her as much power as Kim had suggested…well, there was only one way to find out.

"Maple, Leafblade," he instructed. Without any hesitation, Maple extended her tail and swiped at the huge bug. She hit it directly in its side, sending it rolling through the dirt. It made horribly distressed buzzing noises as dust and dirt flew into the air around it. At last, it came to a stop, but, like Twitch, Hercules did not get back up to continue the fight.

"Wow," Mark nodded, "just…just one more test should do it."

Mark recalled Hercules and tossed out Volcano, his Infernape, the very first Pokémon he had been given. It had been his strongest, but with Maple, that record had been shattered. The flame-ape Pokémon yelled out a challenge at Maple before taking a wide stance and awaiting orders. Volcano had no idea what he was up against.

"Maple," Mark kept his voice as calm as possible, "I know this is going to hurt, but we have to do this. Are you ready?"

"Fire?" Maple's eyes widened as she stared at the Infernape, "I don't like fire…"

"I know," Mark sighed, "just trust me. You'll be okay."

"Okay," Maple nodded, "I trust you. Do it." She cringed in anticipation of the attack.

"Volcano," Mark reluctantly commanded, "Flamethrower."

The Pokémon drew in a deep breath before spewing a stream of fire directly at Maple. She threw up her arms to defend herself, knowing that it would do nothing. The flames washed over her, enveloping her in a red-orange glow. At first, there was no pain, just a strange numbness. Then it suddenly flared all over her and her body screamed at her to get of the flames. She bit her lip and closed her eyes, trying desperately to keep from screaming. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think, she just wanted it to be over. Then, at last, it was. The flames were gone and despite the pain, Maple was still on her feet.

Blinking in shock, Maple checked herself for injuries, but there were none. There were no burn marks anywhere on her and even her dress was still completely intact. The end of her hair was a little singed, but otherwise she was unharmed.

"Damn…" Mark gaped. An attack like that would've dropped a normal Leafeon to the ground, same as Jitter and Hercules, but Maple looked as if it didn't hurt her at all. He recalled Volcano and tottered over to Maple to see for himself.

"It did hurt," Maple admitted, "kinda hurts now, too. Ouch!" Mark was examining her left arm with the same wide-eyed fascination that Maple possessed when she explored the mirror in the bathroom, just two days ago.

"Hayley," Mark called, still distracted by the incredible display he'd just seen.

"Yeah?" Hayley jogged over to them.

"Go get these two patched up," he muttered, handing her the Pokéballs containing Jitter and Hercules.

"Yeah, yeah," Hayley sounded just as awestruck as he felt. After all, she had seen the whole thing, "right away. Don't worry about it."

"Okay, good," he turned back to look at Maple. She was standing in place, smiling, with her hands behind her back, swaying and humming contentedly, to herself. Faster than Jolteon, more attack power than Infernape, better defenses than an Umbreon. What can't she do?

"Hey, Mark, can I talk to you?" Mark was jolted out of his trance by Jeremiah's voice behind him.

"Huh?" Mark blinked as if seeing the young man for the first time, "oh, sure, Jeremiah. Uh…just gimme a second." He released the rest of his team before turning to Maple, "uhh…give us a minute or two." Her cheerful self again, Maple grinned and skipped away. After a second, Mark's Umbreon, Eclipse, chased after her.

"What is it, Jeremiah?" Mark asked, his eyes still on Maple.

"Well, we're friends, right?" he began.

"As far as I know…" Mark raised an eyebrow, lost before the conversation even started.

"Well, you trust me, right?" Jeremiah tried again.

"I…guess…" Mark scratched the side of his head, "what's this about?"

"Alright, screw it, I'm just gonna come out and say it," Jeremiah gave up, "do you know why she evolved? Like, did you ask her?"

"Oh…yeah," Mark nodded, "yeah, I asked her."

"And?"

"And…she doesn't know, either," Mark answered.

"You sure?" Jeremiah pressed.

"Pretty sure…" Mark mumbled, "Why would she lie to me?"

"Look," Jeremiah put up his hands as if telling Mark to stop and think for a second, "the way I figure it, she evolved for a reason. I mean, none of us have ever heard of this happening before, so, why now? Why her?"

"Maybe that just happens to some Pokémon," Mark suggested, "maybe it's just started to happen to all kinds of Pokémon."

"No, you're not listening," Jeremiah hung his head, "alright, let me try saying it this way."

"Go for it," Mark felt too numb to do anything as he waited for Jeremiah to gather his thoughts.

"Well, Cole says that there's this old fairy tale, 'once upon a time' and all that crap, right?"

"Okay," Mark didn't know where this was going, at all.

"But get this," Jeremiah's voice became much more excited as he came to his punch-line, "it's about a little girl Pikachu that meets a Pokémon trainer in the woods. Now, he would normally try to catch a Pikachu, 'cause they're rare and people love 'em, and all that crap. But for some reason, he doesn't catch it, she's too young, he just wants her to stay there and be happy. But he gives her a little ribbon, so, when he comes back, he'll be able to see her again.

"So, anyway, this Pikachu girl falls in love with him, and starts followin' him everywhere he goes, okay? But, he keeps tellin' her to go back and live in the woods. With him, she'd just be fighting all the time, right?

"Well, anyway, one day this Pikachu girl wants to be with him so much that she wishes on a shooting star, or something stupid like that, so that she can turn human. You got that? So, three days later, she turns into a human girl and finds the trainer again, right? And he can't freakin' believe it, but she shows him that ribbon again, and he thinks that she's just so damned hot that they just fall in love right then and there."

"Oh," Mark nodded when Jeremiah finished, "that sounds pretty nice."

"Yeah, but do you get it?" Jeremiah was starting to doubt if Mark had even been paying attention.

"Get what?" Mark asked.

"You're freakin' kidding me…" Jeremiah hung his head, "you don't get it?"

"Well, if you'll just give me a straight answer instead of telling me stories, I might get it," Mark wasn't angry, just hopelessly lost. It was a nice story, maybe even hinted at where the whole human Pokémon thing started.

"Look," Jeremiah gave up, "the way I figure, that girl evolved for a reason. She's about your age and she looks at you with a weird look in her eye that I know I've seen before. Like she's dreamin' about what you're gonna wear when you two get hitched."

"Huh?" Mark's mouth dropped open as understanding started to sink in.

"Dude," Jeremiah sighed, "that girl is in love with you. And I know you're only a kid, but do you know what that means?"

"Oh," Mark had no response to that, at all. He didn't know why. And that was the part that bothered him. Did he know what that meant? He thought he did…but, Maple? In love with him? Something about that didn't sound quite right.

Mark looked over to see Maple playing in the grass with Eclipse. She was laughing with that wonderful musical voice that he had woken up to the day before.

"He remembers me!" Maple called out, "he remembers me like a sister!" She burst out giggling as Eclipse pounced on her and the two rolled in the grass.

"What are you going to do?" Jeremiah's solemn voice came from behind him.

Mark didn't respond, they both knew the answer, but Mark didn't want to say it aloud.

He had no idea.

AN: there's a lot going on in this chapter. the man who trained the other three members of the Four, the legend story (i will fully explain that, don't worry), and i think this is actually the first time it's been outright said that Maple is in love with Mark. hinted at it, but never outright said it.

so, for exactly how powerful human Pokemon are, i figured that their stats are roughly doubled. but don't take that as concrete, since i'm too lazy to actually work out the calculations for it. besides, it can be better storytelling if i don't follow the formula too rigidly (although it still makes me angry that Pikachu can use electric attacks on ground-types).

as always, thanks for reading! and i am more than happy to hear any suggestions on how to improve the story. so far, not much action, but once we get to the island, it'll pick up a LOT more.

whoops, almost forgot. note that there is NO BLOOD in a battle between a regular Pokemon and a human Pokemon, at least, not for the regular Pokemon.