Winds of Change
Disclaimer: Meleager the Mighty, the generally Tipsy and Carousing Warrior-for-Hire, was not harmed during the production of this motion picture.
--The Prodigal
A.N.: Hey, I know I don't usually put in notes, but for Pete's Sake (not sake, as in the drink sake), any Pokéspeak will be from now on in Itallics for my own convenience. Enjoy!
*****
"Xanady."
"Cirrus."
"Eui."
"Kadabra."
Xanady glared at the Pokémon. "Allright Cirrus, you can quit stalling. I know you're here for Prism...your...Jigglypuff." She paused on the last word and it worried me. Had she done something to Prism?
"Can I have her back?"
Xanady lifted an eyebrow. "And the Eevee?"
I nodded, afraid to vocalize.
"All you had to do was ask," A Pokéball appeared in front of me in mid-air and I snatched it, kept it in its minimized state, and shoved it in my jacket pocket, zipping the pocket. A moment later another one appeared and I took this one hesitantly, one look back confirmed that Eevee had vanished from the cage and was now in the Pokéball that lay in my pocket next to Prisms'.
"Follow me," Xanady said, turning away from me.
I followed her, past the rows of lab tables, towards the door in the back of the lab. "I love what you've done with the place. Early midevil torture chamber? I guess Christopher Lowell didn't help you decorate."
Xanady paused, but didn't turn around. "Your sarcasm isn't lost on me, Cirrus. This is all being done for a reason."
My anger overtook me, "What reason? Is there a purpose for turning kids into Pokémon?"
Xanady spun around, her eyes widening. "I didn't know you knew. You've been communicating with the Oak boy?"
Sheesh, open mouth, insert foot, I silently berated myself. I lifted my chin, "Why? Why do this?"
"Why ask why?" She smiled. "From what Gary Oak told you, I think you should know by now. It's all true and I won't deny any of it." She opened the back door, revealing a bigger, wider laboratory. Cages full of various Pokémon lined the right and left walls. There were no windows.
Deep in the back of the lab was a large cage that held three teenagers, two female and one male. All looked sedated.
"So far I've only had success with three Pokémon. The Charmander, Wartortle, and one other." She giggled. "And this is only my third week on the job! There have been many that have come close to perfection, but they suffered implications. Many have simply gone insane; they couldn't mentally handle what had happened to them." Xanady paused. "You would make an interesting case to study. With transversing parallel dimensions, you've already handled an imense amount of stress. Polymorphisis should be a snap for you."
"Uh, no thank you." I grimaced at her, "I think I've already helped you enough. All I want is Prism and Eevee and a way home."
"Really? You won't be able to take Prism or Eevee back with you. They couldn't survive in your world, no Pokémon could." There was a glint in her eyes.
"Then you have found a way back for me?" I asked.
"Perhaps, though not I. There are other scientists under Giovanni's employ. All I have heard is speculation from those scientists. Speculation as well as other scientific nuances, like atmospheric pressure, differentiaces in the chemical content of the air and waters." Xanady grimaced. "Your world is so polluted it's a wonder you were able to live there. It is also a wonder that you have survived here."
I looked around, it had to be here somewhere...
"Looking for this?"
I spun around to see a thin tube filled with a sparkling blue liquid. The antidote?
"That's right," Xanady frowned, lowering her arm. "You've dissapointed me, Cirrus. All you wanted was this antidote. For Gary perhaps? You haven't...fallen....for the young Pokémon Trainer, have you?"
"Of course not!" I snapped, my face flushing. "All I want is his humanity back. I'm his friend and I'd do anything for that."
"Even giving up your own?"
I blanched, "There are ways around that and it will never come to that."
She smiled and tossed me the antidote, "Of course not, I was only teasing you."
I snatched it and shoved it into my jacket, zipping up the pocket. "Nice doing business with you, looser."
Suddenly, I was paralyzed. I simply couldn't move.
Big foot, small mouth.
"Before you leave," she walked up to me, cocked her head and stared at me. "Would you like a demonstration?"
No, not really. I thought to her.
She smirked, "That's okay, I can still 'hear' you." From behind her, I could see the cage door swing open and a blue glow surrounded the boy.
He didn't stir as he floated five feet above the cold, white tiled floor. Floated smoothly towards us.
"Thank you, Kadabra." Xanady said, drawing a syringe from the counter next to her. She walked to a small cabinet and opened it. It was a small refridgerator, lined with multi-colored tubes. There were a few of the blue ones. Her movements were fluid, mechanical, those of a person who'd performed the same task over and over again. She took out a tube filled with red liquid, filled the syringe and walked to the sedate boy. He looked around fifteen or sixteen.
"The effects are unstable on a subject that is over the age of sixteen, usually," she injected him, pausing at the task, "Usually those over sixteen go insane as their bodies can't handle the change. It's not enough that only the mind be able to adjust."
Xanady stepped back as the blue glow faded and the boy was lowered to the ground.
Suddenly the boy squirmed and thrashed around. Swiftly, he changed, the body shrinking and sprouting feathers.
I gulped and felt nautious. He's conscious.
"The subject usually regains consciousness during the change. It doesn't matter if it is Kadabra keeping the subject unconscious or if it is a drug. It is unknown as to why the subject suddenly regains conscious, but it is amusing."
The boy that was now a Pokémon squawked out a weak, "Pidgey..." and Xanady laughed.
A Pokéball appeared in her hand and she threw it at him. With the capture complete, she placed the Pokéball in a tray. The tray immediately emminated a glow that encased the Pokéball and with a snapping sound, it vanished.
"Imagine how frightening it must be to not be able to communicate with your own kind. Not able to speak the same language." Xanady turned to me, a glow in her eyes that was not from Kadabra. "Neeeext!" She cried out.
Crap, I thought, desperatly trying to struggle.
"I'm not an idiot, Cirrus," She said, filling another syringe, this time with a golden liquid, "I can't have you being a loose end. If you're not with me, you're against me. And I know you were never with me."
The Kadabra moved to Xanady's side and I could see both of their eyes glowing blue. I struggled to move and failed to do much more than wiggle my fingertips. I saw a faint blue glow outlining my body. I had to try something.
I hate doing this.
"Hush, Kadabra, this is no time to be weak. Think of this as...extra credit!" Xanady giggled then, stepping closer to me, raising the needle.
NO! I cried out silently. Let me go! Please!
I saw Kadabra's eyes waver beneath the blue psychic glow. I cannot...to disobey...
I relented, I understood. Xanady was all Kadabra ever knew, I couldn't ask it to disobey its trainer.
"I never liked you, outsider. It'll be interesting to see how this affects someone who isn't from this dimension." She injected me in my upper left arm, the liquid hurting more than the needle itself. I could feel it burning a track through my veins, my muscles, my bones, as if it were liquid fire. "Now who's the looser?"
I screamed mentally at the initial pain and Kadabra dropped me and I fell to the ground, gasping at the sudden pain.
Go, run!
I staggered to my feet, started running, feeling the pain actually lessening. I ran through the door and Xanady's words followed me out, "Yes, run, dear Cirrus, but remember...You only have one antidote!" And then she laughed and laughed.
I bolted out of the lab, down the hallway and into the elevator. The doors slid shut, too slowly for me. I stared at the numbers, my eyesight growing fuzzy, then seriously sharp and I staggered against the back of the elevator.
Luckily, no one came on the elevator and when the elevator reached the main level and I heard the ding announcing I was there, I practically ran out of it, not waiting for the doors to fully open. I ran past the secretary, tossing the pass at her, listening to her yelling out to me to sign out.
I ignored her, running full out for the door and out into the inner courtyard. It was empty and nearing dusk. How long had I been at Xanady's?
No one stopped me, not even the guards at the main gate and I darted past them.
"Hey!" One of them cried out, but I didn't stop.
I ran down the road, around the bend, if only I could reach Gary in time.
I ran into the meadow that separated the forest from Headquarters' Road. Tall grass all around me, getting taller, I was shrinking steadily. I glimpsed a look a my hands as I ran, seeing my fingernails turn into sharp, black claws.
Oh crap, this is really happening. Mewtwo told me to be carefull, but did I listen? Noooo. I had to egg her on. I tripped then, rolling head over heels.
I paused for a second and felt muscles trembling all over my body. I got up and started running again and didn't stop until I reached my pack.
I had just enough time to fish out Flare's Pokéball, call him out, before collapsing on the ground at his feet. The last thing I saw was him standing over me, looking shocked.
*****
Darkness was the first thing I saw. At first I was afraid I was blind or dead, then I realized it was simply night. I was in a bed of blankets and there were bushes all around me, huge trees and a huge orange mass next to me. A very warm orange mass.
I sat up and blinked. I felt the presense of something just behind me, I could barely see it from the corner of my eye.
I turned around slowly and screamed in a higher pitched voice than I remembered having, but that didn't matter because I had a tail, by Crikey!
And they weren't blankets, they were my clothes!
The huge orange mass moved, stood up, a Charizard!
I screamed again and in one fluid motion, it picked me up and covered my mouth with one paw. Actually, the paw was big enough to cover my whole face.
Will you stop screaming? It rumbled, its voice echoing in the small clearing. You should know I'd never hurt you, Cirrus.
Gary..
He nodded his huge head and put me down.
I felt tears welling up in my eyes and I sank to the ground. Beside me, Gary was as huge as a building, not a skyscraper, but he was so tall.
He let me cry until the initial shock had worn off and then he waited for me to talk.
How...how did you evolve? I didn't think you'd reached that level yet.
I haven't. When you fell, I went to pick you up, to hide in the bushes. As soon as I touched you, I felt this incredible surge of power and I evolved. I've never heard of anything like this happening...ever...and I come from a family of experts.
The last statement sounded more of a boast than useful information and I sighed. I looked at my clothes and sighed again. Folding was out of the question, but I had to get them into my pack. I couldn't just leave them behind. This was gonna be a big task.
So what am I?
He blinked, then smirked, You haven't figured it out by now? He laughed a little, though it sounded like the distant roll of thunder.
I glared at him and began to shove stuff into my pack, No, Mr. Pokémon Expert. Won't you please help a widdle girl like me?
You are definately a funny person, Cirrus the Pikachu.
A Pikachu? No wonder I'm so short. I haven't been this short in a loong time. Then something dawned on me, Did you find it?
Find what? Do I look like a Psychic to you?
Don't be so testy. I'm talking about the anti-dote that Xanady gave me, did you find it?
She just gave it to you? Wow. Yeah I found it and I used it.
I shoved the last of my clothes in my pack, closed it and stared at him. Riiight, I didn't know your natural form was so orange.
He took my pack and motioned me towards the bushes.
Keep quiet and look through.
Without question, I did and saw a police van, an Officer Jenny, two male officers and three Growlithe surrounding a young girl sitting in the back of the van. She was wrapped in a towel and looked around fifteen or so, petite with straight brown hair. She looked like she was in shock.
After a few minutes of talking with each other, the officers helped the girl into the van and they and the Growlithes lept in after her. With a last look around her, Officer Jenny opened the drivers side door, got in, and drove away. The headlights shone on the dirt road and the tail lights flashed red as it crested a hill and vanished.
We pulled back into 'our' clearing and to me, Gary looked a bit shaken.
Who is she?
One of my cheerleaders.
Really? What was she doing all the way out here? And naked? That's a girl of loose morals, Gary, you should kick her off your team.
He stared at me as if I'd grown horns.
What?
I used the anti-dote on her!
Her? But...Prism!
Ding, ding, ding...Johnny, tell her what she's won!
But she never recognised you...Did she?
Probably not. He titled his head and closed his eyes, thinking. If she knew then, she doesn't know now. After she regained her human form, she fell unconscious for about a half an hour. When she woke up again, she took one look at me and fainted. He opened his eyes and yawned. I alerted Officer Jenny via your Pokédex. It was a special trick Gramps showed me and it allowed me to set off a distress signal. We should rest now.
He stretched and lay down on the ground, one blue eye on me.
I just stared at him, confused.
What is it? He finally asked me.
We can't rest now! We should be breaking into Xanady's lab for an antidote. You need it!
He snorted and closed his eyes. We both do, but it can wait until tomorrow. Get some sleep.
Hesitantly, I walked over to his side and flopped onto the ground, my tail instinctively wrapping around me. Gary's side was very warm and his tail curled around us, the flame on the end burning like a campfire.
He fell asleep quickly, but I couldn't. My body still tingled and my oversized, sensitive ears picked up and amplified every sound. A few, though not many, Pokémon were active. None approached us.
I tried to sleep, but couldn't. Every minute that ticked by felt like an hour and I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was so wrong. It bothered me that Gary used the antidote on Prism, or whoever she was, and not on himself. I'd seen the look on his face when he saw his cheerleader being taken away; it was full of longing. He wanted to be there, to be the one taken to safety.
I had to get an antidote for him.
I got up and quickly sped through the forest on all fours. The waning moon made it easy for me to see, though Pikachu's have great night vision. I darted along through the bushes that lined the dirt road back to Headquarters. At this time of night, there shouldn't be many people around and the only things I'd have to worry about would be a security system.
*****
The main gate wasn't hard to get past. There was only one guard in the guardhouse and he was busy watching the survilliance tv that showed...
Eeew.. I thought, Mega nastay.
At least that's what the couple on the tv were vigerously doing. I squeezed through the wide bars of the gate, the only noise was the low moaning from inside the guardhouse and I wasn't sure that all of it was coming from the tv. But I was in and the inner courtyard was empty, the only lights that were on were the illumination lamps that shone up on the front wall of the main building.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps from my right and I slipped into the safety of a shrub that lined the main gate's wall. I peered out throught the leaves and saw a Rocket in black walk past with an Arcanine. They both looked bored and the man glanced down at his watch and muttered something before they vanished behind the side of the main building.
I carefully stepped out, again on all fours and ran to the main building. There were more decorative shrubs all over the place and I hid in one that flanked the main walkway.
Okay, I'm here, but how to get to Xanady's lab? I noticed that my heartbeat had tripled in its speed with my nervousness and I felt a little lightheaded. I closed my eyes for a moment and hoped that I could do this. I had to, for Gary.
I didn't bother to try the main doors. They were glass from top to bottom and I could see through them, straight to the front desk. The secretary was gone and the joint looked completely devoid of life.
I would have to find another way in. I walked around the place, following the guard and his Arcanine. I could smell the Fire Dog, it left a residual scent that wasn't unpleasant, but made me glad that I wasn't one. I didn't see them at all and I was both worried and relieved.
Finally, I found something. Just off the side of the main entrance was a window that was half opened. It had been hot today and whoever had this office had left their window open. Perfect for me.
The window was at least five feet above me and there were no boulders or boxes for me to stand on. I had one thing to try; I had to jump for it.
I crouched down, feeling my legs tense beneath me and on a mental count of three, I sprang for the window, shoving off as strongly as I could. I shot up and up...too high! I had jumped at least twice what I wanted and on my way down, I slammed onto the window ledge. I saw stars for a moment and shook my head, tasting blood inside my mouth. I had bitten the inside of my cheek.
I scanned the inside of the room as I dangled half-on and half-off the ledge. It looked like any office you might find in any city. It had a computer on a large desk, two chairs in front of it, a leather chair behind it. I saw a fax machine and a laser printer and a large screen tv on the other end of the room. The door to the office was open, revealing the hallway beyond.
Perfect. I thought as I dug my back claws into the brick and pulled myself in. I fell through the window and onto plush beige carpeting. It smelled wierd, but maybe it was just a Rocket thing. You know, the smell of lying, stealing, etc.
I walked to the door and peeked out. The hall was empty, but I didn't know which way to go. Obvious choice was to the right and I did, stepping out onto the tiled floor, cold beneath my black-tipped paws. I was nearly silent as I walked and soon I found myself in the main lobby.
The elevator was right in front of me. But I would need the key card to get into the lab.
I went to the secretary's desk and scanned the surface for the card. Nothing.
I pulled through drawers and files. Nothing.
Then I thought of something I heard of once. People putting passwords under their keyboards. I hopped up onto the swivel chair and I grabbed a hold of the desk so it wouldn't spin. I picked up the keyboard with one paw and saw it.
Payday! I snatched the card, held it in my mouth, and dropped to the ground. I ran to the elevator and lept up to push the button.
Nothing.
My jaw almost dropped. It wasn't working...I almost fainted because then I heard footsteps. My ears twitched towards the sound. One...two sets of feet. Most certainly a guard, possibly with a Pokémon.
Then my ears picked up another sound, a dinging noise. The elevator doors opened and I lept into the elevator, hopped and pressed the button for the floor the lab was on and counted my lucky stars as the doors closed before they could reveal the guards identity.
My heartbeat was doing overtime and I was extremely nervous. The doors opened revealing a pitch black sea of nothing.
I stepped out of the elevator and the doors closed behind me and I waited for my eyes to adjust to the nothingness. I still couldn't see.
Then I detected something. A red light that was just to my left. The swipe thingie that would let me into the lab! Allright! I walked towards it, seeing it come closer, closer...then stars again as I walked into the wall.
I rubbed my sore nose with one paw and looked up to judge the height of the swiper above me. I looked closer and saw a bar of a red light that looked like it could be a scanner.
Ah! Like at Target, when you can scan things to see the price! I held the front of the badge up to the light. Nothing. I held the back up, waved it a little, and heard a beeping noise. Success!
The door opened and I could see the lab inside. There were little lights above the inner rows of tables, but not over the rows of caged Pokémon.
In fact, there were no Pokémon, though there were some here before. All of the scents were faint, with an overlay of what smelled like Pinesol.
I didn't bother to think of their fates as I ran towards the door at the back. My only thoughts was for the door to be open, or at least unlocked.
Finally some luck. It was open, slightly ajar and I slipped inside. There was no one in here, not eve the kids in the back. There was a lingering feeling of hoplessness here and I wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible.
I was about to make my way to the refridgerator when I saw a cabinet, slightly open. I went to it and saw the small item that had caught my eye and I took it out and held it. Then I crossed the room to the mini-fridge and opened it up. The fridge's light revealed nothing but broken glass.
I almost fell over at the sight. All of the tubes had been shattered, their contents long evaporated, leaving only faint traces of color. The shards of the broken tubes looked like a pile of snow sitting in a freezer. I thrust my paws into it, shifting it around for something, anything. I ignored the pain and then I felt it and grabbed it. One lone tube, its blue liquid glittered and in my grasp, condensation soon formed on the slick surface.
I could only save the one. A telepathic voice rang through my mind.
I spun around, clutching the tiny vial. What?
As an apology, a weak apology I know. I should not have held you captive. I should have found a way for you to escape unscathed. This was done to you because of me. Xanady's Kadabra stood in front of me, taller than me.
Why help her at all?
It shrugged, She was kind...long ago. I... It paused. She is stirring. I will teleport you out of here. Its eyes glowed blue and suddenly my surroundings blurred and reformed into the outside area. A cold breeze blew and the sound of the guard laughing snapped me into action. I was just outside of the guard house and I broke into a painful run, the vial in my teeth and the item I took, a small necklace, wrapped around my neck.
Gary never knew I left, never shifted in his sleep and was snoring when I stumbled back into the clearing. I tucked the necklace into my pack and fell asleep next to him, the vial safely between my front, slightly bleeding paws.
*****
I slept easily with the nights task completed and woke when Gary did.
What's that? he asked me warily. And what happened to your hands? I mean, paws?
It's an anti-dote for you. I stole it last night.
You what?! Are you crazy? Xanady could've killed you.
I stretched and yawned, A.)I've been called worse and B.)I don't think things could get worse for me. These little cuts will heal just fine. As for the anti-dote, do you want it or not? I looked up at him, towering above me even sitting on his hind legs.
Well, yeah but...
But what?
But what about you?
I sighed. Do me a favor. Fly us to a point just outside of Viridian City. I know we're close, but were still at least thirty miles away and it will be easier for you to be closer to Viridian rather than Team Rocket Headquarters.
He looked as if he was about to protest, but one stern look from me and he got down and motioned for me to get on his back. He grabbed my bag with one paw and with a fair warning, lept into the air and shakily flew high into the sky.
The ride to Viridian had me thinking about Gia and Lavendar Town's Nurse Joy. What a trippy Nurse. We landed about a five minute walk from Viridian in a clearing that was near the main walkway, but far enough in the forest that no 'normal' Trainer would walk in on us.
We landed and I got the vial out of my backpack.
I can't do this. He stared down at me defiantly, his blue eyes narrowed in determination.
I glared up at him, Listen buddy, I uncorked and thrust out the vial, I'm your trainer and I demand that you drink this.
But..
Don't piss me off, Gary Oak. Just take it, okay?
I saw the internal war within him and I felt relief when he took the open vial.
Gary.
Yeah?
Don't..don't forget about me. Please? You're my only friend here.
I can't promise you that, Cirrus. I'm sorry.
I nodded sadly and watched as he drank the contents.
The reaction was almost immediate and he dropped the vial and fell to the ground, roaring and thrashing about. I lept back and saw a white glow surround him, as if he were about to evolve. The light engulfed him and all I could see was a white light, a big but shrinking form within it. A couple of minutes later, the glow faded and I averted my gaze as it revealed the human form of Gary Oak.
The without attire form.
I snagged a blanket from my pack and, still not looking, covered him, shoving my pack under his head as a pillow. His arms were at his side and he was absolutely stick still and I wondered if he was okay.
His heartbeat, beating rapidly along his throat, slowed from its rapid fire pace to something more normal, more...human.
I lay down beside him and, though it was morning bright, fell into a fitfull sleep beside him.
*****
Hours past by, along with several stray Pokémon. Most were of the Bug variety, Weedle, Caterpie, nothing too threatening. All I managed to fight off, earning experience points and cat-napping in between battles. I knew I had to be at least a level five and I knew the Pokémon around here were no greater than a three at the max.
Several times, Gary stirred but did not awaken. I watched the sun shine down through the tree leaves, a sunny haze on his face. He did not burn, didn't even redden from the sun. I, on the other hand..er, paw..was incredibly thirsty and hungry. But I didn't leave him.
I heard the voices of Trainers passing by though none found us. Lucky for Gary.
It was later in the afternoon, the sun finally beginning to set, when a pesky Weedle that had been scurrying in and around us, decided to attack. With my lack of food and water, plus the cuts on my front paws, I was getting a bit weak in the defensive matter. I knew there had to be some shards of glass embedded, I could feel it.
No doubt this Weedle wanted experience points. I just wanted left alone. This was why I didn't leave Gary.
The Weedle attacked first, rushing me. I drew back, leading the Weedle away from Gary, and it followed. The clearing was slightly oval shaped and yet shaded nearly in full by the tree canopy. An opening big enough for a Charizard to get through.
Though I didn't wanna touch it, I Tackled the Weedle. I'd intended for it to slam backwards, but I was so weakened that it only tumbled back a little. I hunched my back, raising my tail threateningly, trying to make myself look bigger. I flared my ears forward, raised my fur a bit and bared my sharp teeth.
It didn't work and the Weedle let loose with a String Shot attack. I tried to dodge it, but I was too slow and I got wrapped around my front paws with the sticky stuff. It was like spider webbing and I freaked out, jerking my front paws and kicking at it with my hind paws. That worked and I was freed from the stuff, but the Weedle was not playing fair and rammed me with its poison tipped stinger. The poison spread through me like a fire, reminiscent of Xanady's serum and after a few more weak plays on my behalf, I toppled over.
The Weedle cheered and skittered out of the clearing. I felt frozen in place and as I lay there, the normal sounds of the forest resumed.
I heared a moaning and lifted my head to see Gary tossing slightly. I shoved myself up on all fours and stumbled to his side, my vision blurred and a darkness outlined my sight. I just lay against him and at my touch, he settled down and his breathing grew regular. I sighed and let the darkness take me over.
*****
I was awake the next morning as the sun rose. A Dotrio sang a few miles away and I could hear more Pokémon rustling around. I looked over at Gary and held my breath as he opened his eyes and blinked. His eyes were still a sapphire blue.
He sat up, the blanket fell to his waist. He rubbed his forehead, thick brown hair fell across his eyes.
Perfect, all I needed was for him to take me and my pack to the nearest Pokémon Center. Preferably quickly. I was still woozy, but a little better, though I was sure I was still in the Red Zone.
How do you feel? I asked him.
"Huh?" His voice was rough sounding and he cleared his throat. "What? A Pikachu?" He stared at me. "You aren't Ash's Pikachu, are you?"
I felt my throat catch and I almost cried. Gary! You forgot about me! I cried inside. I shook my head, willing the tears away.
"I'm sorry, little one, but I don't have time for you. I have to find out how I got here, where here is, and why I'm not wearing any clothes." He stood up, clutching the blanket around his waist.
No, you can't forget me. You have to remember me! I made guestures between me and my pack.
Gary sighed and said, "What? You don't look too well. Are you separated from your trainer?" He opened my pack and fished around for something....My Pokédex. He got it out and pressed a few buttons.
"Cirrus Blaine, huh?"
I nodded emphatically.
"Your trainer sure is a looker. I could always use more cheerleaders!"
I sighed and shook my head. Bad move. I sank to the ground and a whimper escaped my traitorous throat.
Gary pressed a few more buttons and the 'dex breeped. He replaced the pack and got up.
Wait! I cried out.
"Now what?"
I dragged myself over to the pack and dug out the necklace and held it out to him.
"Hey, where did you get that? Why was it in your trainers' pack?" He bent down and took his amulet from me and put it on. Then he picked me up and stood up.
I almost hurled from the motion as he examined me. "Hmm, you look like a healthy Pikachu, though this looks like a String shot and a Poison sting attack. You've been playing with Weedles, haven't you?"
I glared at him, More like saving your ass, buddy.
He chuckled and set me on the ground and I fell against his bare feet. Then he crouched down and rummaged through my pack again, one hand holding the blanket. "Got it," he said, taking out a bottle and holding it up to me. I didn't care what it was and I didn't move when he administered it to me.
Suddenly, I felt the poison vanish from my system and I felt better, not completely better, but poison-free better. I smiled up at him and said thank you even though he couldn't understand me.
"So you feel better then? Good." He looked around. "Can I ask a favor of you?"
I nodded, Duh!
He smiled, "Great. I need you to listen out fo rme. If you hear anyone coming, let me know okay?"
I nodded again. Of course, he had flown us here last night, but he just didn't remember.
As we walked, I kept my ears tuned out for anyone, anything. All I had to do was get Gary to safety. Eevee could stay with Gary if it wanted to and if it wanted its freedom, then so be it. Then I'd leave him, go back to Xanady's House of Horrors and try to shut her down, find and restore the kids to their human selves and get myself reversed...even if it meant I was stuck here forever.
Well if that wasn't the longest chapter I've written for this series. I'm sorry it took so long to get out and I hope I haven't lost any of my "faithful" readers. I love y'all and I appreciate the awesome reviews. I can promise the next chapter will be out shortly
Ahem..
How will Gary get to the Pokécenter without embarassing himself? Will Cirrus complete her task? What will Eevee decide to do? All that and more in the next exciting chapter of Journey!!