-Chapter Five-

[Later that week]

It took several days to work up the courage, but on a particularly clear and sunny day I dared to venture outside. I stepped through the front gates of the family's property with a wavering paw, hoping this wouldn't be the end of me.

Try as I might, I hadn't been able to convince Paul to come with me. This was to be a solo adventure, and as such I'd prepared as much as I was able before setting out. I'd borrowed one of his mother's old sunhats. The wide brim would be enough to protect most of my small body from rain, as well as disguise me from the sight of aerial predators. A healthy lathering of bug spray that my nose barely put up with would hopefully ward off dangerous bug pokemon — as well as pesky mosquitos. As for rattatas and pidgies hiding in the grass, well, I didn't quite trust my canine ancestry to ward them off. After all I had bunny flowing through my veins as well, and that didn't scare off anything but oddishes. Thus I had to rely on an excess of caution.

I didn't take any shortcuts, taking the meandering path through the outskirts of town to avoid the grass. I considered grabbing a stick to help ward off anything that jumped out at me but worried it would have the opposite effect since it would slow me down and draw attention. I kept having to remind myself that wild pokemon around towns normally only went after people carrying food around. With no picnic on me, they should leave me alone.

Learning to read came in handy again as I read the sign for the library. Somehow I'd made it safe and sound. I rested on the steps for a few minutes to calm my breathing before trying to go in. Trying, and failing. The heavy metal doors didn't seem like they were made for pokemon of petite stature, perhaps not for pokemon at all.

A simple push did nothing, so I was forced to stretch out up onto two legs. I could hear my spine popping as I stretched out my paw for the lever but I still couldn't reach it. I jumped for it, catching it between scrabbling paws only to hang from it, feet unable to touch the ground. My weight was enough to turn the handle but it did me no good without the purchase to pull the door open.

The door suddenly opened, swinging me along with it. I froze as the local officer walked out, praying he wouldn't see me. I wasn't sure being out alone without my owners was illegal, but I wasn't sure it wasn't either. Thankfully either he wasn't very observant or my hat was as good at disguising me from officers of the law as it was from carnivorous bird pokemon.

I softly plonked my head against the door as I realized what a perfect opportunity I'd missed. "Eev…" If I'd acted quicker I could have rushed inside before the door shut behind him. Now it was too late.

"Vee!" No, I wouldn't let this stop me. There was still a way to get through the door. I just had to think of the wall as the floor.

I swung my hind paws over to the wall and pushed fiercely. I was no machoke or even a machop, but even my tiny body proved enough to open the door a ways. From there I walked myself around to the inside of the door while still suspended in the air. A final little leap had me inside, safe and sound. I did have to adjust my hat out of my eyes though.

"Eeee!" The sight before me was grander than I'd ever imagined. It wasn't just one small bookshelf like at home or even the cabinet at school, this was a whole grand room full of books, shelves everywhere I could see. I was so excited that I started darting through the aisles, trying to take it all in. There were so many titles to take in that I couldn't focus on any in particular.

I came to a skidding stop in front of a woman that had to be the librarian, my hat continuing on without me as it rolled off into a corner. She peered down at me through her large glasses and I braced myself for a scolding. I had a feeling this was going to be just like that time I'd walked into Paul's father's office room by accident and disturbed his concentration.

"You are so," she paused, emotion welling up in her as her hands tensed. I was in so much trouble. "Kyuuuute!"

"Eee?" I went as boneless as a plush toy as she lifted me and spun me around before clutching me to her chest. I was astonished at what a sudden turn this encounter had taken. I was good at being cute though, so once I'd sufficiently recovered I gave her a little lick on the cheek that had her giggling.

"How'd you get in here? I didn't see anyone walk in."

My tail froze. Was I not allowed in without a human?

"Your master must have left you behind by accident, you're way too well-groomed to be wild."

Well, she was right by half. My fur was far more luxurious than anything a common field pokemon could produce. "Ee…?"

"Well, I guess you can stay for a little while if you want." It was a little strange that she wasn't offering to immediately send me on my way to reconnect with my supposedly forgetful master, but the scratch she gave me behind my ears would have had me agreeing regardless. "Err, you don't breathe fire or anything, right?"

"Vee!" I shook my head strongly.

It was a slight delay on my quest, but I settled onto her lap as she pet me. I deserved a little a little relaxation anyways after my harrowing journey through the grass. It was a pity though that I couldn't follow along with the book she was reading. So many big, strange words, and not a picture to be seen. I'd learned so much in school this year but it was clear that there was still much more to learn. One more year of school and I was sure I'd know everything.

When she stood up to do some other task I took it as an invitation to explore. Conscious of the silence, I plodded softly between the rows of books. The only sound I made was a soft gasp as I encountered a whole shelf full of books with covers depicting terrifying dragon pokemon. More than ever I was glad I was a pet pokemon and not a league or wild pokemon. With any luck I'd never have to see one in person, much less fight one. They all looked like they could eat twelve of me in one gulp.

I shivered and moved on from dragons. The history books were tempting but imposingly thick. Reading something hundreds of pages long sounded like a headache in the making.

From there it took a surprisingly long time to pass by the romance section. Just how many ways could humans write about that strange "kissing" thing they did that they were able to fill up so many shelves? I shook my head at the whole idea of it and moved on quickly.

I was starting to get dizzy from reading so many titles. It didn't help that I had to tilt my head sideways to read them. Wouldn't it be more sensible to stack the books on their sides so the titles pointed the right way? But that was just a small question compared to the one I really wanted to ask. I'd nearly circled through half the library and I felt like I still wasn't any closer to finding the books I actually wanted. I wasn't sure I had it in me to check every book in the whole library, especially since I'd need to use the ladders to see half of them. I'd gotten awfully good at balancing on two legs in order write most efficiently at the coffee table, but climbing a ladder seemed like something still far beyond my capabilities.

'Could I ask her?' My ears folded back against my head. "...evee vee eevee eev…" I mumbled, trying to make up my mind. Asking for anything more complex than food or water from humans never seemed to work, except for the one time it had. My message to Paul had worked, which proved that they weren't ignoring what I said on purpose. If I communicated in their language there was at least a chance they'd give me what I wanted.

The chairs and table were a little larger than I was used to, but I was able to hop up and find a pencil and a few scraps of paper that weren't already covered in writing. I hesitated though, worried of what the young woman might think of me. Despite Paul's certainty that it was part of my duties to do his homework, I still suspected that it wasn't normal for pokemon to write like a human. I didn't want such a good petter to look at me like Paul's mother did when I foolishly ate at the kitchen table like a human.

I settled on a compromise. I didn't want her to see me writing, but I didn't want to give up on my quest either. I wrote on the chair instead of the table, and made extra certain she was out of sight while I did so. Even with these precautions I still trembled as I carried the note to her, paper held delicately by a single pair of canine teeth.