Hello, all you fic readers out there! This is Lightning-Strike! Well, I
think we already knew that, since it's my story, but…oh, I'll just get on
with it. This, my friends, is the last part of Drastic Alterations! *ducks
a tomato thrown by Nate*
Nate: Hey, I only got two speaking lines! You can't just leave it there!
L-S: You're wrong. I can leave it there if I want. I can also edit you out of the story if I want.
Nate: Well, you better make some more of this. I want a bigger part!
L-S: Well, read on, and if you don't read my comments at the end, I'll be lost. See ya then!
The Arcanine part of me DOES NOT LIKE WATER!!! The still human part of me isn't all that fond of it, but my depression pushes me onward.
But this won't kill me. I know it won't. But what I'm headed for now probably will.
I'm going home.
I've always heard that the Pokémon hounds have a kind of homing sense, something that leads them to their old home. It's almost like I can feel something pulling me southeast, back towards Azalea Town…and my old life.
If I didn't know any better, I'd say there were two reasons Arcanines don't like water. The first is obvious: the fire element. The second is that wet fur is REALLY uncomfortable.
The trees have started to thin out…and there it is.
Azalea Town. A very small town in southern Johto. I lived here my whole life. Why not die here as well?
My huge paws splash water out of the numerous puddles lining the street. It must be close to ten o'clock at night, since most of the lights in the houses are out. One house still has all its lights on, though.
I know that house. It's my own.
I wonder how long I've been gone. Two days? Four days? A week? Will my family remember me? Will Arcane…
Oh. I forgot. Arcane is dead.
I quickly pad my way up to the living room window. Okay, stay calm…slowly I move so that I can see inside…ARCANE!?!
It…it's my Growlithe…he's alive! He has a bandage wrapped around his head, but he's alive! But…he looks so sad…does he miss me? He never got along well with my parents, so maybe that's it. Oh, he's alive!
But…will he remember me? Will he recognize me? I can see my parents talking, but I can't hear what they're saying. They keep on glancing at Arcane, though…what if they're planning to get rid of him!? If that's the case, then I won't let them!
I spin around and canter to the front door. This should give them a shock. I lift my right hand and knock on the door…what's that scratching sound? Huh? I look down as I knock again…oh, so that's it. My paw comes up at the same time and scratches at the door. Heh, weird reflex.
I hear the knob turn before the door opens, revealing my mother. Dang, I'm taller than she is now!
"Sorry, we don't want an-AAAHHHHH!!!" I cover my ears, more sensitive than before by a few times. She has a REALLY loud scream!!
"What is it, dear!?" my dad calls, running into the small foyer. He stops dead when he sees me. Then he rushes forward, grabs my mom's arm, and pulls her up the stairs, still screaming her head off.
The slight sound of claws on hardwood finds its way to my covered ears. I take my hands away and look down to see…Arcane, standing on shaky legs, staring at me with confusion etched across his red and tan furred face.
"Arcane," I call. He cocks his head slightly at the sound of my voice, like he doesn't quite recognize me.
"Arcane, it's me. It's me, Cayla!" I call, getting a bit desperate. Did that bullet do something to him? Or…does he just not recognize me?
"Lithe?" Arcane asks.
"Yeah, it's me, Cayla!" I cry. Arcane takes a shaky step forward, then another, slowly walking toward me. I bend my new front legs until my hands are almost on the ground. I stretch one out to my Growlithe. He sniffs it carefully, to debate about whether or not I'm who I say I am…oh, why doesn't he remember me!? I still love him so much…and he licks my hand. He does remember!
I have to leave soon. Mom and Dad probably called the police already. I gather Arcane into my arms and walk over to the steps. I feel the muscles in my legs coil like springs as I prepare to jump. In a single leap I make it all the way up the steps and land in the hallway.
I trot down the hall to my old room. I open the door…and I'm assaulted by memories. My glass Pokémon figurines…I was collecting them…my stuffed animals…I always slept with them at night…the photographs and the drawings that I've done…I spent so much time on those…
Okay, time to stop reminiscing and time to take some action. I shake my head vigorously to get rid of all the recollections. I trot over to my nightstand, where I've always kept the Everstone with the little Arcanine statue on it. My fingers run over the metal figure…but I'm going back off into my own little world.
My free hand grabs my Clefairy bank, then pulls back to hold Arcane more steadily. I walk back to my door, but…I look back at my room again. It's so hard to leave my old life behind…but I can't come back to this life. I've changed too much for that. But now I can hear the screaming sirens coming toward the house.
"Come on, Arcane," I whisper, trotting down the hall. I take two careful jumps down to the foyer, then canter out the door.
It's still pouring outside. I use my body to shield Arcane from what I can of the downpour. The Clefairy bank is still in my arms, between his front paws. I know exactly where I'm headed. Sure, it'll be closed, but that won't stop me.
I slow my pace, finally stopping just outside a shop in town. It's the shop I always visited when I was…well, human. I gently push on the door, trying to open it, but it's locked. Of course, what did I expect?
In situations like this, I've always pushed my hair back behind my ear. Old habits are hard to break. Bracing Arcane with one arm, my other tucks a few strands of fur behind my ear…and I find something. No way! It's still there!? I pull a hairpin from behind my ear. I can't believe that it was still there! I used to keep a hairpin there all the time, and I guess it stayed even after I morphed! Wait, I have something to do!
I pull the hairpin until it isn't bent at all. Then I gently insert it into the lock…let's see…I fool around with it a bit…would this be counted as breaking an entering? Probably…there! I hear the lock click! I push on the door and it opens, the little bells over the door ringing merrily, even though the storm is so bleak. That's the wonderful thing about bells. They aren't affected by weather.
Slowly moving into the little shop, tracking water everywhere I go, I make my way over to the display case. Again I insert my hairpin…and I hear a click almost immediately. I'm getting better at this!
"Lithe?" Arcane asks. I look down at him, smile, and gently place him on the ground with my bank. I need to get something.
I take a little red velvet bag from on top of the case, then slide the door open. Inside are a wide variety of stones, ranging from Water Stones to Everstones. But my eyes seek out one stone in particular…and there it is!
Arcane has always had an eye for this stone. It's a very high quality Fire Stone, but with quality comes expense. I've been saving my money for months to be able to buy this stone for him. Just before I was changed I earned enough money to buy it. I can't come here in broad daylight, so I'll just have to do my job under the cover of darkness.
I pick the stone up carefully, then slip it into the velvet bag. Reaching down, I pick up the Clefairy bank and, slowly, I pad my way over to the counter. Slipping the small rope straps of the pouch over my wrist, I lay the porcelain moneybox on the smooth surface of the counter.
"Come on, Arcane," I whisper. I don't know why I'm whispering, but I am. Go figure. The Growlithe walks hesitantly over to me. I bend down and pick him up again, thankful that the velvet pouch prevents the stone from having an effect on him. Turning, we leave the shop behind.
Again I approach the outskirts of town, the beginnings of the Ilex Forest. As soon as I leave again, my old life is over…but it was already over. It was over the second I gained four legs and fur. I trot into the forest. My old life is gone now.
I am now Cayla, Arcanine Pokémorph.
Ha HA!! Well, that's it for Drastic Alterations. Now, how many of you think I should put up part two? If you want me to continue with this story, review and let me know. Well, bye!
Nate: Hey, I only got two speaking lines! You can't just leave it there!
L-S: You're wrong. I can leave it there if I want. I can also edit you out of the story if I want.
Nate: Well, you better make some more of this. I want a bigger part!
L-S: Well, read on, and if you don't read my comments at the end, I'll be lost. See ya then!
The Arcanine part of me DOES NOT LIKE WATER!!! The still human part of me isn't all that fond of it, but my depression pushes me onward.
But this won't kill me. I know it won't. But what I'm headed for now probably will.
I'm going home.
I've always heard that the Pokémon hounds have a kind of homing sense, something that leads them to their old home. It's almost like I can feel something pulling me southeast, back towards Azalea Town…and my old life.
If I didn't know any better, I'd say there were two reasons Arcanines don't like water. The first is obvious: the fire element. The second is that wet fur is REALLY uncomfortable.
The trees have started to thin out…and there it is.
Azalea Town. A very small town in southern Johto. I lived here my whole life. Why not die here as well?
My huge paws splash water out of the numerous puddles lining the street. It must be close to ten o'clock at night, since most of the lights in the houses are out. One house still has all its lights on, though.
I know that house. It's my own.
I wonder how long I've been gone. Two days? Four days? A week? Will my family remember me? Will Arcane…
Oh. I forgot. Arcane is dead.
I quickly pad my way up to the living room window. Okay, stay calm…slowly I move so that I can see inside…ARCANE!?!
It…it's my Growlithe…he's alive! He has a bandage wrapped around his head, but he's alive! But…he looks so sad…does he miss me? He never got along well with my parents, so maybe that's it. Oh, he's alive!
But…will he remember me? Will he recognize me? I can see my parents talking, but I can't hear what they're saying. They keep on glancing at Arcane, though…what if they're planning to get rid of him!? If that's the case, then I won't let them!
I spin around and canter to the front door. This should give them a shock. I lift my right hand and knock on the door…what's that scratching sound? Huh? I look down as I knock again…oh, so that's it. My paw comes up at the same time and scratches at the door. Heh, weird reflex.
I hear the knob turn before the door opens, revealing my mother. Dang, I'm taller than she is now!
"Sorry, we don't want an-AAAHHHHH!!!" I cover my ears, more sensitive than before by a few times. She has a REALLY loud scream!!
"What is it, dear!?" my dad calls, running into the small foyer. He stops dead when he sees me. Then he rushes forward, grabs my mom's arm, and pulls her up the stairs, still screaming her head off.
The slight sound of claws on hardwood finds its way to my covered ears. I take my hands away and look down to see…Arcane, standing on shaky legs, staring at me with confusion etched across his red and tan furred face.
"Arcane," I call. He cocks his head slightly at the sound of my voice, like he doesn't quite recognize me.
"Arcane, it's me. It's me, Cayla!" I call, getting a bit desperate. Did that bullet do something to him? Or…does he just not recognize me?
"Lithe?" Arcane asks.
"Yeah, it's me, Cayla!" I cry. Arcane takes a shaky step forward, then another, slowly walking toward me. I bend my new front legs until my hands are almost on the ground. I stretch one out to my Growlithe. He sniffs it carefully, to debate about whether or not I'm who I say I am…oh, why doesn't he remember me!? I still love him so much…and he licks my hand. He does remember!
I have to leave soon. Mom and Dad probably called the police already. I gather Arcane into my arms and walk over to the steps. I feel the muscles in my legs coil like springs as I prepare to jump. In a single leap I make it all the way up the steps and land in the hallway.
I trot down the hall to my old room. I open the door…and I'm assaulted by memories. My glass Pokémon figurines…I was collecting them…my stuffed animals…I always slept with them at night…the photographs and the drawings that I've done…I spent so much time on those…
Okay, time to stop reminiscing and time to take some action. I shake my head vigorously to get rid of all the recollections. I trot over to my nightstand, where I've always kept the Everstone with the little Arcanine statue on it. My fingers run over the metal figure…but I'm going back off into my own little world.
My free hand grabs my Clefairy bank, then pulls back to hold Arcane more steadily. I walk back to my door, but…I look back at my room again. It's so hard to leave my old life behind…but I can't come back to this life. I've changed too much for that. But now I can hear the screaming sirens coming toward the house.
"Come on, Arcane," I whisper, trotting down the hall. I take two careful jumps down to the foyer, then canter out the door.
It's still pouring outside. I use my body to shield Arcane from what I can of the downpour. The Clefairy bank is still in my arms, between his front paws. I know exactly where I'm headed. Sure, it'll be closed, but that won't stop me.
I slow my pace, finally stopping just outside a shop in town. It's the shop I always visited when I was…well, human. I gently push on the door, trying to open it, but it's locked. Of course, what did I expect?
In situations like this, I've always pushed my hair back behind my ear. Old habits are hard to break. Bracing Arcane with one arm, my other tucks a few strands of fur behind my ear…and I find something. No way! It's still there!? I pull a hairpin from behind my ear. I can't believe that it was still there! I used to keep a hairpin there all the time, and I guess it stayed even after I morphed! Wait, I have something to do!
I pull the hairpin until it isn't bent at all. Then I gently insert it into the lock…let's see…I fool around with it a bit…would this be counted as breaking an entering? Probably…there! I hear the lock click! I push on the door and it opens, the little bells over the door ringing merrily, even though the storm is so bleak. That's the wonderful thing about bells. They aren't affected by weather.
Slowly moving into the little shop, tracking water everywhere I go, I make my way over to the display case. Again I insert my hairpin…and I hear a click almost immediately. I'm getting better at this!
"Lithe?" Arcane asks. I look down at him, smile, and gently place him on the ground with my bank. I need to get something.
I take a little red velvet bag from on top of the case, then slide the door open. Inside are a wide variety of stones, ranging from Water Stones to Everstones. But my eyes seek out one stone in particular…and there it is!
Arcane has always had an eye for this stone. It's a very high quality Fire Stone, but with quality comes expense. I've been saving my money for months to be able to buy this stone for him. Just before I was changed I earned enough money to buy it. I can't come here in broad daylight, so I'll just have to do my job under the cover of darkness.
I pick the stone up carefully, then slip it into the velvet bag. Reaching down, I pick up the Clefairy bank and, slowly, I pad my way over to the counter. Slipping the small rope straps of the pouch over my wrist, I lay the porcelain moneybox on the smooth surface of the counter.
"Come on, Arcane," I whisper. I don't know why I'm whispering, but I am. Go figure. The Growlithe walks hesitantly over to me. I bend down and pick him up again, thankful that the velvet pouch prevents the stone from having an effect on him. Turning, we leave the shop behind.
Again I approach the outskirts of town, the beginnings of the Ilex Forest. As soon as I leave again, my old life is over…but it was already over. It was over the second I gained four legs and fur. I trot into the forest. My old life is gone now.
I am now Cayla, Arcanine Pokémorph.
Ha HA!! Well, that's it for Drastic Alterations. Now, how many of you think I should put up part two? If you want me to continue with this story, review and let me know. Well, bye!