'Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow.'
Lawrence Clark Powell

oxo…oxo

"Absol, ice beam!" I cried as Absol, my last remaining pokemon darted forward with his mouth open, loading up a powerful looking ice beam before shooting it at Slaking where it hit him square in the chest, freezing him solid. "Good, now use razor wind!" I called. Absol complied, the razor wind breaking through the ice and knocking the large pokemon solid. I grinned as the referee put up his flag towards me.

"Slaking is unable to battle, Absol is the victor! The winner is Samantha!" he exclaimed before laughing as Absol knocked me over happily. It had been a while since he had done that at it caught me off guard slightly but I was soon laughing.

"Well done Sammy. Here is the balance badge. I hope you take good care of it." He told me with a smile. I nodded before taking the badge from him; the second badge he had given out today. This morning it had been Ash's turn and now, the afternoon, I had had mine. May and Max had gone out to the garden to play with some of their parents pokemon and Drew had gone with them. Brock was now standing next to me with a smile on his face and Ash was behind him, grinning.

"Thanks." I told Norman with a smile before placing the badge with my others. I turned as we heard a squeal from the garden and, after sharing a look with Brock, I ran outside to see what was happening. What I saw made my eyes widen and my breathing stop. My hands flew to my mouth as I took in the sight of my brother lying unconscious on the floor.

"Who is that?" Ash demanded, crouching down nest to May who was sitting in Drew's lap with a terror filled look on her face, as if she had scurried backwards quickly and not realised he was behind her. If I had been paying them any attention, I would have seen Drew shake his head shakily and Ash frown. But I wasn't. My eyes were still on Craig but I had made no moves towards him. Brock seemed to notice my shock as he walked towards me with a worried frown.

"Sammy?" he asked but I remained silent, not looking at anyone but Craig. How was he here? Why was he here? Was this Palkium's doing? If so, what was he up to?

"He just fell from a dark ball of energy. He almost landed on May." Max was saying. So it was the same as me then? But this time instead of landing in the woods and with a pokemon, he had landed in May's garden and almost squished her. It was becoming too much and as tears filled my eyes at seeing one of the people I never thought I would see again, I decided enough was enough.

Letting out a sob I propelled myself forward before wrapping my arms around the neck of the boy on the floor. Everyone around me was silent as I sobbed into Craig's shoulder. I could hear their confused breathing as they came closer, wondering who he was and why, after saying I loved Brock, I was crying into his shoulder upon seeing him. I gasped slightly as there was a groan from beneath me and I looked up at his face to see his eyes flickering; trying their best to focus on the girl who was crushing him. I sat back on my knees, allowing him a little room to breath and letting him come to his senses.

"Sammy?" he asked, blinking at me in confusion before his eyes widened and he sat up quickly. I bit my lip as he winced, knowing now he would be regretting his quick movement. I pushed his shoulders down, laying him back down onto the floor.

"Yes, it's me. Don't move too quickly, it hurts." I told him with a smile. He smiled back before closing his eyes again tiredly. He was so cute as he lay there I ust had to smile. Then I turned to the others and my smile faded. This would be hard to explain. It would have to include things I had lied about before and I was not looking forward to it. I met their eyes one at a time and most of them were curious and confused but in Brock's eyes there was another emotion; hurt. I winced slightly at the look before standing up. "Can we move him inside?" I asked.

"Sure. Drew? Brock?" May replied before asking the boys to carry him. The pair picked him up before following May through to the living room, her dad following behind.

"So, Sammy; what the hell is going on?" Drew asked as he and Brock laid Craig on one of the large sofas. I winced again before sighing. I really couldn't keep it a secret anymore.

"This is Craig. He's my brother and I never thought I would see him again." I told them and I smiled slightly at the gasps that followed. Brock grabbed my hand and squeezed it, telling me he now understood. I was glad about that.

"Why would you not see him again?" May asked curiously. I smiled at her sadly.

"I suppose really I should start telling the truth hu?" I asked her, causing her to frown in confusion. "You see, I'm not from this world. Truth is that I used to live in a different universe that was a little bit ahead of your time. In my world, pokemon is a TV program, a game. They don't exist in my world other than in the imagination. Of course that means I knew all about you from it. In fact I probably know more about your lives than you do. When you go to Sinnoh, May and Max won't come with you Ash. You'll meet a girl called Dawn and travel with her and Brock instead. Well, you might do; I think I've changed your future just by travelling with you. In my world, you and Drew never get together May. But you do have a lot of supporters. Contest shipping it's called." I watched with a cheeky smile as May and Drew went bright red.

"Wow. Really? You know all this?" Ash asked in amazement. I nodded, my smile fading.

"So why are you here then?" Brock asked quietly. I looked up at him and smiled.

"Well, Palkium brought me here and left me here fore a bit but that day that I was unconscious, he gave me a choice. I could ether go back to my own world or stay here. I chose here and stayed. Palkium allowed me to say goodbye to my family before I made my new life here, with you guys. It looks like Craig has been given the same choice as me. I don't think mum and dad could live through loosing both of us." I finished sadly. How hard would that be on them? But it was Craig's decision to say or go. I felt Brock squeeze my hand and I smiled at him. He smiled back and I realised I needn't have worried about being accepted by them. We were friends, good enough friends that it wouldn't matter. Looking at the assuring smiles around the room only confirmed that and I felt myself grin.

"Dust crackers…" Craig mumbled softly in his sleep causing us all to look at him before laughing. I couldn't wait for him to wake up. We had so much to talk about and, somehow, I figured it was a good thing he hadn't befriended a pokemon. If he had he probably would find it harder to leave. I wanted him to stay but that would leave mum and dad on there own.

This was going to be a confusing and dramatic few months.

oxo…oxo

Well, here we go! Into the main story plot I believe. Not sure actually but its pretty big anyway. I hope you're all enjoying it!

PLEASE REVIEW!