OK, this is the first story I've ever posted (not written) so go easy on me.

Italics are inner thoughts

Paul pushed his glasses up and brushed his dark hair out of his eyes as he surveyed the crumbling mansion.

"This must be the haunted house everyone was talking about." he glanced at his partner, a Gardevoir who had been with him for almost his entire life and was probably his closest friend, "Think the rumors about a Ninetales living in it are true?"

Gardevoir shrugged, and Paul turned back to the house. It looked dark and foreboding even in the bright morning sun. Definitely not the place where he would chose to live. He smiled. His mom would have a conniption if she found out he was about to go into the dilapidated building. Paul was an only child and had just started his Pokémon adventure a few months ago. His mom was pretty laid back, but she had a tendency to get a little protective when it came to her son. He was on the small side, with dark brown hair, brown eyes, poor vision, and almost no coordination whatsoever. Despite that, he loved being outside and exploring, though his clumsiness often landed him in trouble. After a whole lot of begging, he had finally managed to convince his mom to let him go on his adventure.

"Well, let's start exploring."

Gardevoir looked apprehensive as they went up the creaky wooden steps. Unlike Paul, she didn't seem too fond of exploring, but she stuck with him anyway. The door was a huge oaken affair with a large brass knocker and squealed when he pushed it open. Cautiously, they entered the hall. It was dark inside, with the only light coming in from the door behind them. A thick layer of dust covered the faded purple carpet, showing that no one had been in the house for quite some time. A long, sweeping staircase led upwards into darkness. Several doorways led off into yet more darkness.

"Cheerful place." Paul muttered as he looked around. He thought he saw a faint print in the dust. As he knelt to examine it, there was a sudden gust of wind. The door swung shut, trapping them in utter darkness. Paul's glasses were knocked off his face as he stood. He dove to the ground, calling, "Gardevoir, try to find the light switch!" Paul felt around for his glasses. What he found was not his glasses. It was long with smooth, silky fur.

"Uh oh..."

The lights came on. Paul found himself face to face with a Ninetales which looked very peeved, probably because Paul was holding one of its tails. Paul hastily let go and backed up. The Ninetales swished its tails angrily and launched a curse at Paul. There was a blur of movement.

"Gardevoir, no!"

Gardevoir had come in front of Paul, taking the full brunt of the curse. Paul caught her as she fell. He held Gardevoir close, weeping.

"Do you wish to save Gardevoir?" the Ninetales asked. Paul nodded, tears streaming down his cheeks. Something softened in the Ninetales's face.

"Then Gardevoir will be restored. You will be doomed to be a Pokémon for one year. You must travel with Gardevoir and learn just how much she cares for you."

Paul nodded again, still crying. The Ninetales raised its head and uttered a sharp bark. In his arms, Gardevoir stirred. Then the world went dark.

Sunlight beat mercilessly on Paul's eyelids. He opened his eyes. Gardevoir was staring down at him.

"Gardevoir, you're OK." His voice sounded strange in his ears.

"Yes. I'm glad you are awake."

"How can I..."

Paul sat up and nearly fell over. He wasn't a human anymore. By the look of it, he was a Gallade.

"Oh."

Gardevoir giggled.

"What?" Paul asked, standing up. He felt awkward and ungainly in this new body. Gardevoir giggled again.

"You're like a newly hatched Pokémon." she said.

"Well, I wasn't exactly born a Pokémon, you know." Paul looked around. They were in a forest clearing. "Where are we, anyway?"

"Miles away from where we met Ninetales. It must have transported us here somehow."

Paul looked at the ground.

"Um, thanks for taking the curse for me back there."

"Oh, no problem. You could say it was my obligation."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a Gardevoir thing."

"Um, OK then. What do we do now?"

"What did Ninetales say?"

"Well, it said something about being doomed to be a Pokémon for one year and that I was to travel around with you until I learn how much you care for me, or something like that."

"Only one year? The curse it cast was a thousand-year curse."

"Well, I was bawling my eyes out."

"Maybe Ninetales took pity on you."

"Maybe. What do we do now?"

"Since there's nothing here, we could go somewhere else."

"OK, where?"

"You pick the direction."

"All right, let's go...that way." Paul pointed in a completely random direction.

"OK. Let's go."

They started off. Paul was awkward at first, but soon discovered that he had a natural grace. Or rather, Gallade have a natural grace, he thought. I can barely keep from tripping over my own feet.

It was starting to get dark when they stopped. Gardevoir disappeared for a few minutes, returning laden with berries. They ate. When they were finished, Paul courteously cleared a place on the ground for Gardevoir before finding himself a place to sleep. He gazed at the stars that were visible through the trees while he listened to Gardevoir's soft, steady breathing. It was odd. He had always been in command of Pokémon before. Now he was one. His Pokémon was now his guide. She was his equal. Well, he had always considered her as his equal, but this was different. She seemed to know so much more than he did. Gardevoir were naturally loyal to their trainers. He knew that much. But now that he was no longer truly her trainer, would Gardevoir still be loyal? With these thoughts spinning around in his head, Paul drifted off to sleep.