It was one thing to see Z-moves in the anime and the game. From that perspective, it looked like Z-moves pulled the target and the user to a pocket dimension before unleashing the move. The massive crater in the middle of the schoolyard proved otherwise.

"Pikachu!"

I watched as Ash slid down the sides of the crater and held Pikachu close to his chest.

"You okay, buddy?"

"Pikaaaa~" I could practically see the swirls that would have replaced Pikachu's eyes if this was the anime.

"To think that you could already use that Z-move even though you only got your Ring and Crystal earlier today. You really know how to Astonish!" Kukui laughed at his own joke, again. I just rubbed the back of my head sheepishly.

"Sorry about the crater."

"No worries, cousin. The local Dugtrio are really helpful with groundskeeping."

I nodded.

"Umu. Will Pikachu be okay?"

Before I knew it, Ash was already in my face.

"That's so amazing! That was even stronger than Kiawe's Z-move!"

I grinned as Kiawe started sputtering denials. My grin turned brittle as the other kids crowded around me with questions and declarations of how 'amazing' I was.

I've been craving this kind of social contact since I first found myself in this world. While the Pokemon of the forest no longer run away at the sight of me, there's still a general sense of wariness. As for people, well, it took me a while before I got enough of a hold on Jack to consider myself safe for other's consumption.

"Hey, hey, what's wrong cousin?"

Kukui's words brought me back to reality, where it looked like my natural instinct was to back away wide-eyed.

"I-I, I'm sorry!"

I couldn't help it. They were so kind and accepting. My six months in this world, with no one but Ralts for company, sleeping in whatever cave or tree hollow I could find, wasn't exactly the healthiest lifestyle. Not to mention Jack being all giddy at all the warmth. Before I knew it, I was sobbing.

"Hey, what's wrong? Pikachu's fine, see? You didn't hurt him?"

"Oh no, are you okay? Did you get hurt in the blast?"

"I know Kiawe's scary but he didn't mean to!"

"Hey!"

I always thought that getting dropped into the Pokemon world would be great. Maybe if I didn't end up as Jack the Ripper of all things, it could still have been great. But all this time, ripped away from my family only to suffer from isolation as my very presence terrified the Pokemon I've always wanted to meet and pet and train, without ever having the chance to decompress. It was taxing.

"I'm so happy!"

If Ash, Kiawe and Sophocles noticed that I only included the girls in the group hug, they didn't mention it.

"Speak of this to no one." I glared at Mallow's maternal smile, Lillie's worried frown and Lana's devious grin. Unfortunately, Kiawe didn't have the social grace to leave it alone.

"Are you sure you're-"

I pinned him with a murderloli glare. He actually yelped.

"I apologize for my outburst." I bit my lip. "For the first time in forever, it just felt like someone other than Ralts cared."

Mommy Ralts looked up at me from where she was curled up on my lap.

I studiously ignored the horrified looks they sent my way as I pat Ralts' head.

"What about your family?" That was Mallow, ever the motherly one.

I shook my head.

"Not in this world."

"Wait," Sophocles sounded distressed, "then how do you get food? Where do you sleep?"

I sighed. The pity card was probably the bottom of the barrel but if it got me an actual place to stay that's not forest floor, I'd discard my pride anytime.

"I live in the forest. It's nice, but it gets lonely."

The sound of a palm hitting wood startled me. A knife was almost in my hand before I managed to get control of myself.

"Wha-"

I found myself staring at a glare reminiscent of a kitten glaring at yarn.

"You're staying with me!"

I just meekly nodded.

Pride? What pride? If playing the pity card got me this, I'll do it over and over again.

"Uaaahh, it's huge!"

I stared up at the mansion. Beside me, Lillie fussed over the egg that the Principal gave her. Well, if she's gonna be letting me live in her house, the least I could do is help her with her Pokemon phobia.

How hard could it be?