The morning brought with it the realization that I was no longer anyplace that I even vaguely recognized. One would think the sensation of being completely lost would come more easily at night than during the day, but such was apparently not so. It probably had something to do with the fact that last night I had been too busy escaping to pay any attention to where I was or where I was going. Now, as the morning sunlight penetrated the tree branches and stirred me awake from where I had stopped to sleep, I realized that I was in a part of Silverwood that I had never seen in my life. It was a vaguely disturbing feeling.

It didn't really matter where I was, I decided. All that mattered was that I was someplace where Josh couldn't find me. Or anyone else, for that matter-- I doubted that any of the staff at the school were too happy with me at the moment. Perhaps they would have been more sympathetic if they knew of my problems with my trainer, but if there was one thing I had learned, it was never to depend on humans for sympathy. They could be such cruel, fickle creatures at time. Of course, for that matter, so could Pokemon.

My ears detected the sound of running water nearby. I realized I was incredibly thirsty, so I headed in the direction of the sound. It turned out to be a relatively small stream, but there didn't seem to be anything suspicious about the water, so I drank. It tasted delicious, and I realized it was the first time I had drunk in nearly a day. They had provided me with water in my cage at the Pokemon Center, but I had been too distraught to take advantage of it.

After satiating my thirst, I took my first good look at the area in the daylight. It seemed pleasant enough. The area was filled with wild Pokemon-- mostly Normal, Grass and Bug types, as is typical for wooded areas. A few Pidgeys could also be made out in the air. This area was well off any of the major roads, so it probably didn't get a lot of trainers. No reason why it should, either, as the selection was utterly unremarkable and could probably have been duplicated in any of a hundred forests across the continent.

The inhabitants of this area seemed to be avoiding me as well. They didn't stare at me or confront me, instead, they simply gave me a wide berth and tried not to attract my attention. After a moment, I figured out why: Out of place as I was in this forest, and given my unfamiliarity with the wild, I was obviously a "domesticated" Pokemon. This meant that I probably had a trainer nearby, a trainer who might be on the lookout for more Pokemon to add to his collection. They just didn't want to be caught.

If my trainer shows up, I'll be running faster than any of you, I thought at them.

It wasn't so bad, I had to admit. If worst came to worst, I could live in the forest for the rest of my life. It wasn't like I would miss being around humans or anything like that. And the last thing I wanted right now was to be around my own species or even my own type.

If only there was some way I could interact with others without letting them know of my disability. I was a social creature at heart. The trouble was, any relationship I developed with anybody would almost inevitably resulted in my being expected to know Fire techniques at some point or another, and when I didn't, everything would detonate in my face all over again. It wasn't worth it by any means.

For a fleeting moment, something else occurred to me: What if I could find someone who would accept my condition and not judge me by it? The thought was so ridiculous that it made me laugh to myself. My experiences had certainly taught me how high the likelihood of that was.

And, to be fair, I couldn't expect anyone to want a defective Pokemon. My strange problems might not have been my own fault, but they sure weren't anyone else's.

Who says all Ponytas have to know Fire attacks? said a voice inside my head.

It doesn't matter who says it, I told the voice. The point is that it's what's accepted, so it's right.

So whatever the majority believes is right? What if everybody thought that the Bulbasaur family should learn Psychic attacks? Would they automatically switch types?

That's different, I told the voice. People have a reason to expect Fire knowledge from me. Ponyta are Fire Pokemon. That's the way it's always been, and that's the way it will always be.

Any of the wild Pokemon who happened to be watching probably considered me insane. I was standing in the middle of the forest having an argument with myself. The lunacy of the situation didn't strike me at the time.

((Who are you talking to?))

I nearly jumped at the sound of the voice. I had been so engrossed in my mental debate that I hadn't noticed anybody approaching. Whoever it was must move very quietly.

I looked down and saw a Vulpix standing in front of me. Great. Just what I needed. Another Fire Pokemon to make fun of me.

((I'm not talking to anyone,)) I snapped. ((What do you want with me?))

The Vulpix backed up a couple of steps. ((Nothing, I suppose,)) she said. ((I just saw you standing here, and Fire Pokemon are rather rare in this area, so I was wondering if you might be here with your trainer.))

I wasn't sure what to answer to that. I didn't exactly want to admit that I was out here on my own, without a trainer to look after me. If the Vulpix had a trainer, he or she might try to capture me, and that was the last thing I wanted to happen. So I tossed the question back at her. ((What about you? Why are you here?))

((I asked first.))

((I asked second.))

We stood there for a few moments staring at each other. ((You're not very sociable, are you,)) she said.

((Is there any reason why I should be?)) I demanded.

((No, I suppose not.)) She licked her lips slowly. ((Fine, I'll answer first, if that's what you want. I'm here with my trainer. We're hiking to Silverspring City. Happy?))

((I suppose,)) I said, although inwardly I was anything but. Encountering a Trainer would be even worse than encountering another domesticated Pokemon, even a wild one.

((Your turn.))

And of course, I couldn't tell her the truth. I looked away from the gaze of her large eyes. ((I, um, don't really know.))

((You don't know why you're here?))

I shifted my feet uneasily and bobbed my head. ((Well, it's... kind of a long story.))

((I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere.)) The Vulpix sat on the ground in front of me and waited expectantly.

((It's not something I want to talk about, all right?)) I snapped, a bit more harshly than I intended. ((Sorry,)) I immediately amended.

((That's okay,)) the Vulpix said. She was looking me over. ((You don't have a trainer, do you?))

((What makes you say that?))

((You haven't been groomed in ages. If you had a trainer, he'd be taking better care of you. No offense, but you kind of look like a mess.))

It was true that taking care of me wasn't something Josh had been especially conscientious about. With the exception of inspections at the school, he rarely bothered with such mundane chores. When I had lived at the Kettlebaum home, it always fell to his younger sisters to take care of me.

((So. You're not here with your trainer, because you don't have one,)) she went on. ((But Ponyta aren't native to this forest... or anywhere remotely near here, for that matter. So that begs the question. How did you get here?))

This Vulpix was getting far too perceptive for me. ((Have I mentioned that I don't want to talk about this?))

((Yes, I believe you did mention that. My apologies.)) She appeared to be thinking. ((If you need a trainer, I'm sure my trainer would be happy to adopt you. He should be along any minute now. We were playing hide-and-seek for a while.))

I couldn't afford to be seen by a human. Most likely there were reports of a missing Ponyta all over the local newsnets, complete with pictures and details as to my last known whereabouts. If the Vulpix's trainer saw me, I was doomed. ((I have to go now,)) I said, slowly backing away.

((You should at least meet him, even if you want to stay wild. He's the nicest human you'll ever meet.))

((No, I really do have to go. Thank you for the offer. You're very kind.))

Her large ears twitched. ((Wait a minute. Are you the Ponyta that-))

I didn't wait to hear more. I turned and launched myself away into the deep forest as fast as my legs could carry me. Plowing through the underbrush retarded my speed slightly, but it was still far faster than a human could manage, much less a Vulpix. I didn't slow down. I knew I had to keep running until I found some way to throw the Vulpix off my trail. If they started hunting me, I'd never escape.

I had run about a hundred yards when I suddenly felt the ground drop away beneath my hooves. What had seemed to be solid ground was actually a small ravine concealed by thick vegetation and an accumulation of dead plant matter. I toppled over the edge and plunged several feet to the stony bottom. My hooves slipped and gave way as I landed, and I felt something in my right foreleg give way with a sickening crack. I slid heavily to the ground and lay there for a few moments, pain lancing through my leg and blood beginning to ooze from dozens of scrapes all over my body.

Now it's over, I thought. Attempting to move even a few feet was definitely out of the question. Even if you don't bleed to death, how long do you think it'll take for some predator to find you? Once one does, it's goodbye Ponyta. And you can't even defend yourself, because all you know is physical attacks. I nearly laughed at the irony.

((Wait here! I'll get help for you.))

I looked up. It was that Vulpix again, standing at the top of the slope and peering down at me. ((How did you find me so quickly?)) I asked.

((It wasn't difficult. You left a trail that a Zubat could follow without radar. My trainer will be along in a minute.))

((I don't need any help,)) I told her.

((That leg looks like it's broken. You're bleeding. Someone needs to get you to a Pokemon Center.))

((I told you. I don't want any help. It's better if you leave me here.))

((You'll die if we leave you here.))

Was she telling me anything I didn't already know? ((Maybe that would be for the best.))

The Vulpix opened her mouth, and I could tell she was about to respond angrily to my statement, but at that moment a male human appeared at her side. He was wearing a large pack, which he unslung and set on the ground as he looked at me. "So this is what you were chasing, eh, girl?))

((Yes. She ran from me when I started to ask her if she was the missing Ponyta we heard about. She has a broken leg.))

"So I see. So I see." The trainer winced in sympathy as he saw the extent of my injuries. "Ponyta, we're going to get you some help, okay?"

I didn't answer. The Vulpix turned to her trainer. ((She claims she doesn't want our help. She said we should leave her here to die.))

He frowned and looked at me again. "Ponyta, why would you say something like that?" When I didn't answer, he continued. "I want to help you-- any way I can. Tell me what's wrong."

You sure don't ask for much, do you? On top of the fact that I couldn't really tell him anything that would answer his question, this hardly seemed the time or the place for a protracted explanation.

On the other hand, he didn't seem like the type of person who would be willing to abandon me here. If he decided he was going to save my life, even against my will, he could probably do it-- even if it meant leaving and returning with help. In my weakened state, he might also be able to fit me into a Great Ball or Ultra Ball. I might not have a choice as to whether or not I went with him.

((Okay, you can try to help me,)) I said at last. ((But you can't let anyone know who I am.))

He looked at his Vulpix in confusion, then frowned slightly when she translated my words for him. He seemed puzzled, which I could understand, but at last he assented. "Okay... I suppose that's all right. I won't let anyone know who you are until you and I have a chance to talk about it some more. Is that a deal?"

It was probably the best I could hope for. I nodded, weakly.

"Good." He reached into his pack and extracted a Pokeball. "Get in the ball, and we'll go back to Tentacruel Bay. They know me at the Pokemon Center there. I should be able to avoid too many questions."

((It'll be all right,)) the Vulpix chimed in. She looked concerned for me, but optimistic. ((Don't worry about it.))

I sighed as the human activated the Pokeball. When was the last time something happened that I didn't have to worry about?