Tidbit #1: Cygnus the swan (aka the Northern Cross) is an actual
constellation of the Northern Hemisphere, lying along the Milky Way
during the summer. Also, there are actual meteor showers that bear the
name Cygnid (mostly alpha-Cygnid and kappa-Cygnid), but there aren't
any that are specifically called THE Cygnid Shower. Furthermore, no
Cygnid meteor shower grants wishes (unless you believe in the whole
"wishing on a shooting star" bit).
Tidbit #2: Each important character you will meet in this story is named after a flower. Aside from Bill (His supposed full name, Bill McKenzie, refers to a type of clematis. In any case, the dubbers gave him the name, not me.), the other characters were given names whose meanings in the flower language hint at their personalities or histories. For example, you will meet a character called Tamarisk, a known thief. Her name stands for "crime" in the flower language. See if you can guess the meanings of the other characters' names as you learn a bit about them.
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[Chapter Two: Thoughts]
It was cold. That Bill knew. He shivered and curled up, but even that didn't help.
So that's the first thought that crosses the minds of the recently departed, he mused. It's cold.
Slowly, he opened his eyes. He could tell that he wouldn't be going back to sleep anytime soon (if it in fact mattered to a disembodied spirit anyways). He found himself on a bed of leaves a few feet from the entrance to a cave. Rain came down in sheets outside, though Bill could barely see this in the dark of the night. Even so, he could feel the collective taps of the rain drops on the ground, and he could feel the cool breeze from the shower as it washed into the cave and tried to kill the fire in front of him.
Gingerly, he pulled leaves from the bed using the arm opposite the one Raticate bit. He tossed these leaves into fire. As he watched the flames reach towards the ceiling of the cave, he sat up and tried to piece everything together in his mind.
Bill knew the following things:
One. None of this was a dream. He could tell because his bitten arm (which was at the moment wrapped in a bandage made of leaves and dried grass) was in pain, and the rest of his body merely ached from lying on a hard floor. He could also swear that dreams, in general, don't produce pain. They were only illusions. Byproducts of a hyperactive subconscious. Nothing in a dream could harm you physically. If it happened outside of a dream, then surely he would have awaken by then. He wasn't known for heavy sleeping, after all.
Two. He wasn't dead. Surely, if this was the afterlife, he wouldn't feel pain.
Three. He made a wish, and some bizarre creature took him literally. This was self-explanatory.
Four. He had an offensive attack available, but all he could use at the moment was Growl. He could tell that he was using Growl against Raticate, but obviously, that wasn't much of a help. However, because he walked away from the battle alive, a part of him knew that he could use another move. The problem was that he didn't know how to use it. Or what it was, for that matter.
Five. If one could consider his first transformation a miracle, then going through a second transformation (one back to his normal self) would probably require another miracle. Bill couldn't think of any other logical way of regaining his human form.
At that last idea, he shook his head. He tried to forget that last point and to convince himself that it wasn't true. He was terrified of that -- losing his human self forever and having his past life ripped out from under him, shredded to tiny pieces, and blown to the four winds. He didn't want that. He NEVER wanted that. It was worse than dying altogether. With putting on costumes and PRETENDING to be a Pokémon, he never felt that danger; he always had a guarantee that no matter what, he could always be brought back to the human world with the press of a button. In this new situation, he had nothing like that. No safety features that kept him from going over the edge. From fading completely into a Pokémon's persona with no way of coming back. This is what scared him.
He brought his knees to his chest and placed his chin on them. A shudder ran through him as he tried to push that thought out of his mind. In its place, a single question echoed within him. What next? He had the facts, but what could he do with them? What was he supposed to do from then on?
Live like a Pokémon? No. Somehow, he knew that if he did that, he would wind up slipping over the edge. Think like a Pokémon, and not only would he become a Pokémon physically but also mentally. He would forget what he was. So that ruled that option out.
Find a way to change back? This was the more appealing option, but he had no way of going about doing it. He couldn't use telepathic abilities (if the Ralts species were indeed gifted with that) because he had no idea how to use them. (And frankly, entering someone else's mind scared him anyways.) His new "hands" weren't designed for writing, and obviously, he wouldn't be able to say anything more than his species' name for awhile. Even if he did find a method of communication, who would believe him? How could he persuade someone that deep inside, he's really a human and that he needed help to change back to his normal self?
Besides, even if he did get his point across, how in the world would they be able to help him anyways?
It dawned on Bill that even if he did find someone to help him, most likely, they wouldn't be able to do anything for him. He wrapped his arms around his knees and stared into the fire, examining this idea from all sides.
{Maybe... Maybe what I need to do is start from the beginning again,} he mumbled. {How did this happen to me?}
He closed his eyes and tried to remember the night before. Something spoke to him in his mind. It told him that it was granting his wish. He remembered the pain, the attacks on his mind, the light, and the hands. What part of this could give him a clue to--
His eyes shot open. Something came to mind. There was a Pokémon there. At least, he thought it was a Pokémon. It was in a point of light. What was it?
Bill closed his eyes once more and went over absolutely everything he knew. It was a Psychic type because it was communicating with him telepathically. That ruled out a couple hundred possibilities. But there were still quite a few left. And there was also the possibility that it was an undiscovered Pokémon.
He drew in a deep breath and held it for awhile. There had to be something he was missing. But what?
{Hey there! You awake? Can't quite tell under that thingamajig on your head!} a voice shouted into the cave.
Startled, Bill released his breath in a loud cry. His eyes shot open to see a Raichu walk into the cave with her arms filled with various berries. She dumped them in a larger pile a few feet behind Bill, after which she went deeper into the cave and dropped to all fours. Bill turned his head to watch her, only to be sprayed with water as she shook herself dry.
{Sorry about that,} she said as she glanced over her shoulder at him.
Bill hesitated before finally finding the words to state a reply. {It's... It's alright.}
The Raichu plopped by the berry pile and grabbed two. In her left paw, she held a berry that seemed to be made of tiny, red orbs held together with a pale, hard core. She bit off the three stiff leaves coming from the broadest end of the berry and spit them out as she held the berry in her right hand to Bill. He took the offering and watched her wolf down what he knew to be a Razz Berry. She flinched slightly at the sour taste, yet she smiled and dove her hands into the pile for another.
Bill's eyes drifted downward at the berry he held in his hands. It was bell-shaped and yellow, like a lemon, and flecked with orange spots. Its skin was smooth and cool to the touch, yet it felt thick, like a rind. A group of small, green leaves decorated the top, which he tentatively pulled off. It left a hollow, white hole which filled with what seemed to be a clear liquid. Cautiously, he brought the fruit to his lips and sucked on the opening, drawing the liquid onto his tongue. He recoiled slightly, tasting mostly how sour it was. Yet... It also seemed to be sweet.
He glanced over at the Raichu, who had tossed yet another Razz Berry top to the side before working on a third berry. Somehow, in his eyes, this confirmed the fact that the berries were safe to eat. Still, he took caution as he sank his teeth through the bitter flesh of the fruit and into the dry parts.
Apparently, the fruit was made of sections. The skin of it was hard and bitter. Not easy to get through unless one bit hard. The meat of it, however, was divided into several sections. The skin that created the boundaries between sections was both dry and spicy and seemed to snap at Bill's tongue. The pulp, however, was a sweet and sour tangerine taste that filled his nostrils with a tropical scent and his mouth with a citrus nectar.
With this combination of flavors, his stomach demanded a share, and at that point, he remembered that he hadn't had a thing to eat since the evening before he made the wish. That was about a day, possibly more if he had been unconscious for longer than an afternoon.
Before he realized it, he let his stomach control his actions. He couldn't help but devour the Sitrus Berry he had in his hands and go for another one. His mind became focused on the taste of the fruits, and nothing else seemed to register to him. Juices dripped down the pale fur on his face and hands, yet he barely noticed.
{You've got a good appetite,} the Raichu commented.
He looked up at her. She was leaning against the cave wall, forepaws behind her head and a smirk on her face. Nine bunches of Razz Berry leaves remained where she had sat moments before. Bill's eyes fell on the pile of Sitrus Leaves next to him. A quick count told him that he had already eaten eleven Sitrus Berries; the one he held would make twelve. He blushed in bashfulness.
{I... I haven't had anything to eat for awhile,} he explained as he lowered his head in embarrassment.
The Raichu shrugged. {It's okay. I know what it's like to be hungry. First day after I was let loose, I couldn't find anything to eat. When I found a bunch of berries, I ate a ton of 'em. Half the tree, I swear.}
Bill smiled and nervously ate the rest of the berry, listening as the Raichu continued.
{The name's Tamarisk, but most people call me Tama,} she told him. {My former master gave my name to me after he caught me trying to steal tamarinds out of his backpack.}
{Aren't you ashamed to admit that?} Bill inquired.
Tama shrugged again. {Why? Finders keepers. Law of the wild. My old trainer was stupid anyways. Most humans are.}
The Ralts was understandably insulted by this comment, but he did his best not to show it. Instead, he waited patiently for Tama to speak.
{But anyways!} Tama smiled, throwing the thought aside. {You'd better get some sleep. Dahlia wants to meet you tomorrow, and you'll need all the rest you can get.}
{Dahlia?} Bill questioned.
{You'll see,} she answered with a knowing smile.
Bill blinked, then passed it off as something he didn't need to worry about yet. He did feel a bit tired at the moment, so he wasn't in the mood for turning something over and trying to find something unsettling. Instead, he stretched out on his back and closed his eyes for awhile. Moments later, he opened them in realization. He sat up abruptly, and gazed over at Tama, who had curled up nearby.
{Miss Tamarisk?} he addressed.
{Tama,} she corrected.
Bill sighed and smiled softly. He stared at the bandages wrapped around his arm, and he closed his eyes to remember the attack.
At last, he said, {Tama... I forgot to tell you... Thank you... For saving my life and for taking care of me.}
{No problem.}
Tama stopped. She wanted to address her guest, but something hit her. She turned her head to glance at Bill with an inquisitive expression.
{What is your name?} she asked.
{Bill,} he answered quickly.
He didn't allow himself to say much more. The fear that he would confuse the Raichu stopped him. Apparently, he was doing a good job of that anyways.
{That's a weird name for a Pokémon,} Tama muttered bluntly. {No offense, Bill.}
{None taken,} Bill responded as he allowed himself to fall back into the position he had been in moments before.
There was another pause before Tama continued with the questioning.
{So what are you anyways?} she inquired.
{Ralts,} her guest informed her. {I'm a Psychic type.}
{Ralts? Haven't seen or heard anything like you before.}
Bill frowned slightly. {That would be because Ralts usually live in the Hoenn region.}
Tama's eyelids lowered halfway. {So, what are you doing here?}
Bill chuckled at his own misfortune. {It's a long story.}
{Really? I've got time. Tell it to me,} Tama urged.
There was a brief break in conversation at this point. Tama turned her gaze away from Bill, but her ears were still waiting for him.
{Good night, Tama,} Bill finally murmured as he turned over.
Tama sat up and gave him a perplexed look.
{I'll tell you my story if you tell me yours,} she offered.
Minutes passed before she realized that Bill had fallen asleep.
---
For awhile, Bill felt detached from his body. He floated in a void and became nothing at all. He was without a form, a thought, or a focus. He was everywhere and nowhere at all. He was the darkness, the infinity. The thought of being non-existent alarmed him slightly, but he was far too numb to really grasp the thought of why. So, he just floated.
Of course, this didn't last too long after he felt a hot, searing pain rush through his body.
His eyes shot open, as did his mouth. He couldn't make a sound as the electricity continued to pulse through his veins. His back arched until the attack was over. He could tell that the attack wasn't that strong, but it served its purpose of both jarring him awake and scaring the living crap out of him. He shot a glare at Tama, who was innocently picking out berries from the pile.
{Morning, sleepyhead!} she exclaimed as she offered a Sitrus Berry to Bill.
He frowned as he sat up.
{What on earth was that for!?} he demanded.
Tama pulled a white berry with red stripes from the pile. It looked somewhat like a genie's bottle or a bottle of perfume, complete with a "cap" of brown at the end of the long stem. Tama bit off this brown cap and spit it off to the side before she decided to answer Bill's question.
{That's how Raichu always wake up their young,} she told him. {Builds endurance.}
Bill narrowed his eyes at Tama. He had studied Raichu a bit in the past, just enough to know that this statement wasn't true. In fact, Pichu usually woke their Raichu parents up with their cries for food. When they were old enough to find food on their own, Pichu (or Pikachu) were to leave the nest or risk being killed and eaten by their mother.
{What are you talking about?} Bill inquired. {I've never heard Raichu--}
At this point, Tama stuffed the Sitrus Berry into Bill's open mouth.
{Hurry up and eat. We don't want to keep Dahlia waiting,} she said.
She polished off three Figy Berries without looking at Bill. Apparently, the latter had decided to drop the subject, allowing himself to devote his attention to breakfast. For a long while, the two remained in somewhat awkward silence until at last, Tama finished eating and grabbed Bill's wrapped arm. He nearly choked in surprise but managed to instead swallow the bit of Sitrus in his mouth and drop the rest on the cave floor. He gazed with wide eyes at Tama, who was busy unwrapping his arm.
{You know, you were really lucky yesterday,} she commented. {Any longer, and that Raticate would have literally bitten your arm off. But nothing to worry about. I put some herbs on your arm, so it should be healing nicely.}
She took off a few leaves to reveal rough, crimson scabs running along Bill's arm. He winced at the sight of them, remembering the day before. Beyond that, he was both fascinated and repelled. Fascinated because he had learned just how fast Pokémon healed (even with the aid of herbs); repelled because... Well, he couldn't help but get faint at the memory of how much blood sprang from those wounds.
{Yep. It's good,} Tama muttered to herself as she took off the rest of the leaves.
{What sort of herb did you put on my arm?} Bill asked quietly.
Tama was obviously preoccupied as she let go of Bill and began walking out of the cave.
{Sitrus leaves,} she answered. {But I used crushed Oran Berries mixed with a little water on the wounds themselves. Would have hurt like none other if you were awake.}
Bill was obviously impressed. {How do you know so much about herbal medication?}
Tama shrugged. {I don't. Dahlia taught me a few things.} She turned her head back to him when she reached the cave opening. {Are you coming?}
The Ralts nodded and followed.
---
For about an hour, Bill said nothing. He kept his eyes open as he gazed around at the peaceful setting of the forest. Armies of trees surrounded the two of them, shielding everything below with their thick canopy of branches and green leaves. The summer sun poked through here and there, casting beams of light onto the forest floor far below. The floor itself was made of soft, dark, moist soil that pressed downward with each step and clung to the bottom of the feet. On top of that, a blanket of dead leaves covered much of the ground that wasn't occupied with plant life. Fungus, most of which Bill could recognize as poisonous, of all sorts of colors grew in patches all of the place. However, most of the area that wasn't covered with the trees' sprawling roots was covered with green. Plants of all sorts grew everywhere, from bushes to flowers to poison ivy. The forest was alive with the colors these plants gave it.
Every so often, a Pokémon would suddenly appear in the middle of the green beauty. Beedrill were busy pollinating flowers. Pidgey were scouring the ground in search of something to use to repair their nests after the night's storm. Bellsprout snapped at unsuspecting flies, revealing their camouflaged selves among the fauna in an effort to get a meal. All of it seemed so intriguing.
Bill couldn't help but smile in excitement. There he was, surrounded by the wilderness. He was sensing everything a wild Pokémon could. He could smell the earth, hear the Pokémon, see the wild of the woods, taste the dirt, and feel the growth and decay of the forest. But most of all, he sensed something. A pure, untamed emotion sinking into his skin and burrowing its way into his heart. It was the determination to survive. That feeling that one could never get unless they were alone in the middle of nowhere. It thrilled him.
At last, he shook his head. One thought kept nagging him.
{Tama, where are we going?} he asked.
He continued to walk forward for a few minutes, waiting for her answer. He never heard one from her.
{Tama?} he addressed.
He finally turned his head in her direction... Only to find out that she was gone. He had been alone for quite some time, and he didn't even know it. Fear grew inside him.
{Tama?}
He looked around desperately, trying to find a sign of his companion or a way back to the cave. He was lost, alone, and surrounded by Pokémon that could easily rip him to shreds. Suddenly, the forest didn't seem quite so beautiful. Or so big. It seemed almost as if all of it was closing in on him.
Bill couldn't help whimpering as he stepped backwards. His thoughts returned to the day before. His blood ran cold as he remembered the Raticate. And he knew that there was much worse out there.
{Tama!} he called, hoping she would respond.
He didn't get an answer from her, but he got a response from the forest in the form of a blue and white blur shooting across his line of sight. He yelped and stumbled backwards in surprise. His eyes scanned his surroundings in terror as a cold sweat began to coat his white fur. He trembled as he sensed something malicious nearby.
Suddenly, leaves rustled to his right. His head slowly turned to look at a bush some distance away.
That's when a Pokémon suddenly leaped from it and landed a few inches from Bill. It smashed its fist into the ground, causing Bill to stagger backwards a few steps and fall into a sitting position. The Pokémon, meanwhile, jumped back to just in front of the bush as a smile grew across its face.
It took awhile for Bill to recognize this Pokémon. It, too, was a Hoenn Pokémon, one he knew from reports to be called "Medicham." Yet it was different from the images he had seen of it. Its slim body and lanky arms were a paler white than a regular Medicham's. Its bulky legs and tiny feet as well as the three-pointed cap on its head were light blue, rather than a salmon red. Its oval-shaped face bore creases that showed its age.
Its fish lips twisted up into a sadistic smile as it drew its large hands close to one another. A dark swirl appeared between them, which quickly grew into a black ball surrounded with a purple aura. As it expanded, Bill's eyes widened in fright. He recognized the attack immediately and slowly pulled himself backwards to get away. He knew that the ball would do serious damage to him if it so much as grazed him.
His back touched something rough and hard. He glanced over his shoulder to see the trunk of a tree, preventing him from continuing backwards. Bill shook as he looked back at the Medicham and the ball of darkness, the latter of which was currently the size of a basketball.
{Wait! Please!} Bill begged. {Don't!}
The Medicham ignored him and threw the ball at Bill. The Ralts covered his head with his small arms, clenched his teeth, and shut his eyes tightly. He knew it would all be over in a matter of seconds.
The Shadow Ball, however, sailed far above him and smashed into the tree trunk, causing bark and splinters to rain down on him. Startled, Bill screamed as a blue aura surrounded him. A wave of unseen energy rushed from his body and out in all directions, ripping fungus and plants clean out of the ground and cleaning the earth of leaves. The Medicham, who hadn't expected this, was shoved backwards at the attack. It wasn't a strong attack, but the force still surprised it. A stunned cry escaped its throat as it was knocked into the bush behind it.
At this, Bill cautiously opened his eyes and raised his head slightly. Then, he dropped his arms and stared in astonishment at the Medicham. His opponent, meanwhile, burst into laughter.
{You, young one, are far from being a good warrior,} it (or, rather, he) remarked in a vaguely Chinese accent. {You allow yourself to be caught off guard by your opponent, you do not know how to properly defend yourself, and you use your skills as a Psychic Pokémon as if you are afraid of them.}
{I'm not used to fighting,} Bill hissed, somewhat insulted by the Medicham's comments.
The Medicham let another loud laugh escape his throat. {Ah, yes! You are just as much the strange creature Tamarisk described you as!}
Bill blinked. {How do you know Tama?}
{Because he's a friend of mine,} Tama responded as she emerged from behind a tree near the Medicham. {Sorry about leaving you alone, Bill, but I know how much Dahlia likes to scare the complete crap out of his new students.}
Bill stood up quickly as he looked over the Medicham. {You're Dahlia!?}
The Medicham chuckled and slid into a cross-legged sitting position on the ground. {Yes, young one. My name is Dahlia, and I will be your teacher for the next few months.}
{Teacher?} Bill asked, throwing a perplexed glance at Tama.
{Uh... Yeah,} Tama said. {I kinda thought you might need help after how well you did against that Raticate. I figured Dahlia's the best Pokémon to ask because he pretty much knows everything anyways.}
{Correction, Tamarisk,} Dahlia stated. {The sea may be vast and elderly, but it does not know the things the young streams learn from the mountain snow.}
Tama rubbed the back of her head and shot a somewhat embarrassed smile at Bill. {Uh... Yeah. You're also gonna have to deal with stuff like that.}
Bill merely blinked, unable to find the words to say. The thought that the both of them were crazy crossed his mind, but he didn't dare to vocalize that.
{We will start with the introduction,} Dahlia announced. {The key to fighting is having a clear mind at all times. With a clear mind, you will find yourself able to focus on the task at hand, and you will be able to sense when the enemy is coming. Sit down with your legs crossed like mine.}
Bill wondered where this was going, but he still obeyed, though he had some difficulty taking up the proper position.
{Close your eyes and concentrate,} Dahlia instructed as his eyelids lowered. {You must clear your mind of all idle thoughts.}
The Ralts followed the Medicham's instructions, closing his eyes and attempting to grasp the blackness behind them.
{Breath deeply through your nose,} Dahlia continued. {Exhale slowly through your mouth.}
Bill slowly filled his lungs. He held his breath for a few moments, then released it as Dahlia instructed. He continued this for awhile, finding the action relaxing. He was at peace, deep in the forest, listening to the wilderness: the bird Pokémon chirping in the canopy, the song of the wind played between the trees, the gentle rustle of leaves...
Thwack!
Bill's eyes shot open as something came crashing down on his head. His arms shot out to his sides as he bent forward. Fuzzy spots appeared in his field of vision, as did Dahlia's legs. The Medicham, who was at the moment wielding a rather large stick, stepped from Bill's side and looked down upon his pupil. Somewhere further away, Tama's raucous laughter pierced the silence of the forest.
{What the...?} Bill closed one eye and rubbed his head gently. {What was that for!?}
{If you had not allowed your mind to wander, you would have sensed my presence, young grasshopper,} Dahlia chided.
At this point, Bill knew that it was going to be a long "few months"...
Tidbit #2: Each important character you will meet in this story is named after a flower. Aside from Bill (His supposed full name, Bill McKenzie, refers to a type of clematis. In any case, the dubbers gave him the name, not me.), the other characters were given names whose meanings in the flower language hint at their personalities or histories. For example, you will meet a character called Tamarisk, a known thief. Her name stands for "crime" in the flower language. See if you can guess the meanings of the other characters' names as you learn a bit about them.
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[Chapter Two: Thoughts]
It was cold. That Bill knew. He shivered and curled up, but even that didn't help.
So that's the first thought that crosses the minds of the recently departed, he mused. It's cold.
Slowly, he opened his eyes. He could tell that he wouldn't be going back to sleep anytime soon (if it in fact mattered to a disembodied spirit anyways). He found himself on a bed of leaves a few feet from the entrance to a cave. Rain came down in sheets outside, though Bill could barely see this in the dark of the night. Even so, he could feel the collective taps of the rain drops on the ground, and he could feel the cool breeze from the shower as it washed into the cave and tried to kill the fire in front of him.
Gingerly, he pulled leaves from the bed using the arm opposite the one Raticate bit. He tossed these leaves into fire. As he watched the flames reach towards the ceiling of the cave, he sat up and tried to piece everything together in his mind.
Bill knew the following things:
One. None of this was a dream. He could tell because his bitten arm (which was at the moment wrapped in a bandage made of leaves and dried grass) was in pain, and the rest of his body merely ached from lying on a hard floor. He could also swear that dreams, in general, don't produce pain. They were only illusions. Byproducts of a hyperactive subconscious. Nothing in a dream could harm you physically. If it happened outside of a dream, then surely he would have awaken by then. He wasn't known for heavy sleeping, after all.
Two. He wasn't dead. Surely, if this was the afterlife, he wouldn't feel pain.
Three. He made a wish, and some bizarre creature took him literally. This was self-explanatory.
Four. He had an offensive attack available, but all he could use at the moment was Growl. He could tell that he was using Growl against Raticate, but obviously, that wasn't much of a help. However, because he walked away from the battle alive, a part of him knew that he could use another move. The problem was that he didn't know how to use it. Or what it was, for that matter.
Five. If one could consider his first transformation a miracle, then going through a second transformation (one back to his normal self) would probably require another miracle. Bill couldn't think of any other logical way of regaining his human form.
At that last idea, he shook his head. He tried to forget that last point and to convince himself that it wasn't true. He was terrified of that -- losing his human self forever and having his past life ripped out from under him, shredded to tiny pieces, and blown to the four winds. He didn't want that. He NEVER wanted that. It was worse than dying altogether. With putting on costumes and PRETENDING to be a Pokémon, he never felt that danger; he always had a guarantee that no matter what, he could always be brought back to the human world with the press of a button. In this new situation, he had nothing like that. No safety features that kept him from going over the edge. From fading completely into a Pokémon's persona with no way of coming back. This is what scared him.
He brought his knees to his chest and placed his chin on them. A shudder ran through him as he tried to push that thought out of his mind. In its place, a single question echoed within him. What next? He had the facts, but what could he do with them? What was he supposed to do from then on?
Live like a Pokémon? No. Somehow, he knew that if he did that, he would wind up slipping over the edge. Think like a Pokémon, and not only would he become a Pokémon physically but also mentally. He would forget what he was. So that ruled that option out.
Find a way to change back? This was the more appealing option, but he had no way of going about doing it. He couldn't use telepathic abilities (if the Ralts species were indeed gifted with that) because he had no idea how to use them. (And frankly, entering someone else's mind scared him anyways.) His new "hands" weren't designed for writing, and obviously, he wouldn't be able to say anything more than his species' name for awhile. Even if he did find a method of communication, who would believe him? How could he persuade someone that deep inside, he's really a human and that he needed help to change back to his normal self?
Besides, even if he did get his point across, how in the world would they be able to help him anyways?
It dawned on Bill that even if he did find someone to help him, most likely, they wouldn't be able to do anything for him. He wrapped his arms around his knees and stared into the fire, examining this idea from all sides.
{Maybe... Maybe what I need to do is start from the beginning again,} he mumbled. {How did this happen to me?}
He closed his eyes and tried to remember the night before. Something spoke to him in his mind. It told him that it was granting his wish. He remembered the pain, the attacks on his mind, the light, and the hands. What part of this could give him a clue to--
His eyes shot open. Something came to mind. There was a Pokémon there. At least, he thought it was a Pokémon. It was in a point of light. What was it?
Bill closed his eyes once more and went over absolutely everything he knew. It was a Psychic type because it was communicating with him telepathically. That ruled out a couple hundred possibilities. But there were still quite a few left. And there was also the possibility that it was an undiscovered Pokémon.
He drew in a deep breath and held it for awhile. There had to be something he was missing. But what?
{Hey there! You awake? Can't quite tell under that thingamajig on your head!} a voice shouted into the cave.
Startled, Bill released his breath in a loud cry. His eyes shot open to see a Raichu walk into the cave with her arms filled with various berries. She dumped them in a larger pile a few feet behind Bill, after which she went deeper into the cave and dropped to all fours. Bill turned his head to watch her, only to be sprayed with water as she shook herself dry.
{Sorry about that,} she said as she glanced over her shoulder at him.
Bill hesitated before finally finding the words to state a reply. {It's... It's alright.}
The Raichu plopped by the berry pile and grabbed two. In her left paw, she held a berry that seemed to be made of tiny, red orbs held together with a pale, hard core. She bit off the three stiff leaves coming from the broadest end of the berry and spit them out as she held the berry in her right hand to Bill. He took the offering and watched her wolf down what he knew to be a Razz Berry. She flinched slightly at the sour taste, yet she smiled and dove her hands into the pile for another.
Bill's eyes drifted downward at the berry he held in his hands. It was bell-shaped and yellow, like a lemon, and flecked with orange spots. Its skin was smooth and cool to the touch, yet it felt thick, like a rind. A group of small, green leaves decorated the top, which he tentatively pulled off. It left a hollow, white hole which filled with what seemed to be a clear liquid. Cautiously, he brought the fruit to his lips and sucked on the opening, drawing the liquid onto his tongue. He recoiled slightly, tasting mostly how sour it was. Yet... It also seemed to be sweet.
He glanced over at the Raichu, who had tossed yet another Razz Berry top to the side before working on a third berry. Somehow, in his eyes, this confirmed the fact that the berries were safe to eat. Still, he took caution as he sank his teeth through the bitter flesh of the fruit and into the dry parts.
Apparently, the fruit was made of sections. The skin of it was hard and bitter. Not easy to get through unless one bit hard. The meat of it, however, was divided into several sections. The skin that created the boundaries between sections was both dry and spicy and seemed to snap at Bill's tongue. The pulp, however, was a sweet and sour tangerine taste that filled his nostrils with a tropical scent and his mouth with a citrus nectar.
With this combination of flavors, his stomach demanded a share, and at that point, he remembered that he hadn't had a thing to eat since the evening before he made the wish. That was about a day, possibly more if he had been unconscious for longer than an afternoon.
Before he realized it, he let his stomach control his actions. He couldn't help but devour the Sitrus Berry he had in his hands and go for another one. His mind became focused on the taste of the fruits, and nothing else seemed to register to him. Juices dripped down the pale fur on his face and hands, yet he barely noticed.
{You've got a good appetite,} the Raichu commented.
He looked up at her. She was leaning against the cave wall, forepaws behind her head and a smirk on her face. Nine bunches of Razz Berry leaves remained where she had sat moments before. Bill's eyes fell on the pile of Sitrus Leaves next to him. A quick count told him that he had already eaten eleven Sitrus Berries; the one he held would make twelve. He blushed in bashfulness.
{I... I haven't had anything to eat for awhile,} he explained as he lowered his head in embarrassment.
The Raichu shrugged. {It's okay. I know what it's like to be hungry. First day after I was let loose, I couldn't find anything to eat. When I found a bunch of berries, I ate a ton of 'em. Half the tree, I swear.}
Bill smiled and nervously ate the rest of the berry, listening as the Raichu continued.
{The name's Tamarisk, but most people call me Tama,} she told him. {My former master gave my name to me after he caught me trying to steal tamarinds out of his backpack.}
{Aren't you ashamed to admit that?} Bill inquired.
Tama shrugged again. {Why? Finders keepers. Law of the wild. My old trainer was stupid anyways. Most humans are.}
The Ralts was understandably insulted by this comment, but he did his best not to show it. Instead, he waited patiently for Tama to speak.
{But anyways!} Tama smiled, throwing the thought aside. {You'd better get some sleep. Dahlia wants to meet you tomorrow, and you'll need all the rest you can get.}
{Dahlia?} Bill questioned.
{You'll see,} she answered with a knowing smile.
Bill blinked, then passed it off as something he didn't need to worry about yet. He did feel a bit tired at the moment, so he wasn't in the mood for turning something over and trying to find something unsettling. Instead, he stretched out on his back and closed his eyes for awhile. Moments later, he opened them in realization. He sat up abruptly, and gazed over at Tama, who had curled up nearby.
{Miss Tamarisk?} he addressed.
{Tama,} she corrected.
Bill sighed and smiled softly. He stared at the bandages wrapped around his arm, and he closed his eyes to remember the attack.
At last, he said, {Tama... I forgot to tell you... Thank you... For saving my life and for taking care of me.}
{No problem.}
Tama stopped. She wanted to address her guest, but something hit her. She turned her head to glance at Bill with an inquisitive expression.
{What is your name?} she asked.
{Bill,} he answered quickly.
He didn't allow himself to say much more. The fear that he would confuse the Raichu stopped him. Apparently, he was doing a good job of that anyways.
{That's a weird name for a Pokémon,} Tama muttered bluntly. {No offense, Bill.}
{None taken,} Bill responded as he allowed himself to fall back into the position he had been in moments before.
There was another pause before Tama continued with the questioning.
{So what are you anyways?} she inquired.
{Ralts,} her guest informed her. {I'm a Psychic type.}
{Ralts? Haven't seen or heard anything like you before.}
Bill frowned slightly. {That would be because Ralts usually live in the Hoenn region.}
Tama's eyelids lowered halfway. {So, what are you doing here?}
Bill chuckled at his own misfortune. {It's a long story.}
{Really? I've got time. Tell it to me,} Tama urged.
There was a brief break in conversation at this point. Tama turned her gaze away from Bill, but her ears were still waiting for him.
{Good night, Tama,} Bill finally murmured as he turned over.
Tama sat up and gave him a perplexed look.
{I'll tell you my story if you tell me yours,} she offered.
Minutes passed before she realized that Bill had fallen asleep.
---
For awhile, Bill felt detached from his body. He floated in a void and became nothing at all. He was without a form, a thought, or a focus. He was everywhere and nowhere at all. He was the darkness, the infinity. The thought of being non-existent alarmed him slightly, but he was far too numb to really grasp the thought of why. So, he just floated.
Of course, this didn't last too long after he felt a hot, searing pain rush through his body.
His eyes shot open, as did his mouth. He couldn't make a sound as the electricity continued to pulse through his veins. His back arched until the attack was over. He could tell that the attack wasn't that strong, but it served its purpose of both jarring him awake and scaring the living crap out of him. He shot a glare at Tama, who was innocently picking out berries from the pile.
{Morning, sleepyhead!} she exclaimed as she offered a Sitrus Berry to Bill.
He frowned as he sat up.
{What on earth was that for!?} he demanded.
Tama pulled a white berry with red stripes from the pile. It looked somewhat like a genie's bottle or a bottle of perfume, complete with a "cap" of brown at the end of the long stem. Tama bit off this brown cap and spit it off to the side before she decided to answer Bill's question.
{That's how Raichu always wake up their young,} she told him. {Builds endurance.}
Bill narrowed his eyes at Tama. He had studied Raichu a bit in the past, just enough to know that this statement wasn't true. In fact, Pichu usually woke their Raichu parents up with their cries for food. When they were old enough to find food on their own, Pichu (or Pikachu) were to leave the nest or risk being killed and eaten by their mother.
{What are you talking about?} Bill inquired. {I've never heard Raichu--}
At this point, Tama stuffed the Sitrus Berry into Bill's open mouth.
{Hurry up and eat. We don't want to keep Dahlia waiting,} she said.
She polished off three Figy Berries without looking at Bill. Apparently, the latter had decided to drop the subject, allowing himself to devote his attention to breakfast. For a long while, the two remained in somewhat awkward silence until at last, Tama finished eating and grabbed Bill's wrapped arm. He nearly choked in surprise but managed to instead swallow the bit of Sitrus in his mouth and drop the rest on the cave floor. He gazed with wide eyes at Tama, who was busy unwrapping his arm.
{You know, you were really lucky yesterday,} she commented. {Any longer, and that Raticate would have literally bitten your arm off. But nothing to worry about. I put some herbs on your arm, so it should be healing nicely.}
She took off a few leaves to reveal rough, crimson scabs running along Bill's arm. He winced at the sight of them, remembering the day before. Beyond that, he was both fascinated and repelled. Fascinated because he had learned just how fast Pokémon healed (even with the aid of herbs); repelled because... Well, he couldn't help but get faint at the memory of how much blood sprang from those wounds.
{Yep. It's good,} Tama muttered to herself as she took off the rest of the leaves.
{What sort of herb did you put on my arm?} Bill asked quietly.
Tama was obviously preoccupied as she let go of Bill and began walking out of the cave.
{Sitrus leaves,} she answered. {But I used crushed Oran Berries mixed with a little water on the wounds themselves. Would have hurt like none other if you were awake.}
Bill was obviously impressed. {How do you know so much about herbal medication?}
Tama shrugged. {I don't. Dahlia taught me a few things.} She turned her head back to him when she reached the cave opening. {Are you coming?}
The Ralts nodded and followed.
---
For about an hour, Bill said nothing. He kept his eyes open as he gazed around at the peaceful setting of the forest. Armies of trees surrounded the two of them, shielding everything below with their thick canopy of branches and green leaves. The summer sun poked through here and there, casting beams of light onto the forest floor far below. The floor itself was made of soft, dark, moist soil that pressed downward with each step and clung to the bottom of the feet. On top of that, a blanket of dead leaves covered much of the ground that wasn't occupied with plant life. Fungus, most of which Bill could recognize as poisonous, of all sorts of colors grew in patches all of the place. However, most of the area that wasn't covered with the trees' sprawling roots was covered with green. Plants of all sorts grew everywhere, from bushes to flowers to poison ivy. The forest was alive with the colors these plants gave it.
Every so often, a Pokémon would suddenly appear in the middle of the green beauty. Beedrill were busy pollinating flowers. Pidgey were scouring the ground in search of something to use to repair their nests after the night's storm. Bellsprout snapped at unsuspecting flies, revealing their camouflaged selves among the fauna in an effort to get a meal. All of it seemed so intriguing.
Bill couldn't help but smile in excitement. There he was, surrounded by the wilderness. He was sensing everything a wild Pokémon could. He could smell the earth, hear the Pokémon, see the wild of the woods, taste the dirt, and feel the growth and decay of the forest. But most of all, he sensed something. A pure, untamed emotion sinking into his skin and burrowing its way into his heart. It was the determination to survive. That feeling that one could never get unless they were alone in the middle of nowhere. It thrilled him.
At last, he shook his head. One thought kept nagging him.
{Tama, where are we going?} he asked.
He continued to walk forward for a few minutes, waiting for her answer. He never heard one from her.
{Tama?} he addressed.
He finally turned his head in her direction... Only to find out that she was gone. He had been alone for quite some time, and he didn't even know it. Fear grew inside him.
{Tama?}
He looked around desperately, trying to find a sign of his companion or a way back to the cave. He was lost, alone, and surrounded by Pokémon that could easily rip him to shreds. Suddenly, the forest didn't seem quite so beautiful. Or so big. It seemed almost as if all of it was closing in on him.
Bill couldn't help whimpering as he stepped backwards. His thoughts returned to the day before. His blood ran cold as he remembered the Raticate. And he knew that there was much worse out there.
{Tama!} he called, hoping she would respond.
He didn't get an answer from her, but he got a response from the forest in the form of a blue and white blur shooting across his line of sight. He yelped and stumbled backwards in surprise. His eyes scanned his surroundings in terror as a cold sweat began to coat his white fur. He trembled as he sensed something malicious nearby.
Suddenly, leaves rustled to his right. His head slowly turned to look at a bush some distance away.
That's when a Pokémon suddenly leaped from it and landed a few inches from Bill. It smashed its fist into the ground, causing Bill to stagger backwards a few steps and fall into a sitting position. The Pokémon, meanwhile, jumped back to just in front of the bush as a smile grew across its face.
It took awhile for Bill to recognize this Pokémon. It, too, was a Hoenn Pokémon, one he knew from reports to be called "Medicham." Yet it was different from the images he had seen of it. Its slim body and lanky arms were a paler white than a regular Medicham's. Its bulky legs and tiny feet as well as the three-pointed cap on its head were light blue, rather than a salmon red. Its oval-shaped face bore creases that showed its age.
Its fish lips twisted up into a sadistic smile as it drew its large hands close to one another. A dark swirl appeared between them, which quickly grew into a black ball surrounded with a purple aura. As it expanded, Bill's eyes widened in fright. He recognized the attack immediately and slowly pulled himself backwards to get away. He knew that the ball would do serious damage to him if it so much as grazed him.
His back touched something rough and hard. He glanced over his shoulder to see the trunk of a tree, preventing him from continuing backwards. Bill shook as he looked back at the Medicham and the ball of darkness, the latter of which was currently the size of a basketball.
{Wait! Please!} Bill begged. {Don't!}
The Medicham ignored him and threw the ball at Bill. The Ralts covered his head with his small arms, clenched his teeth, and shut his eyes tightly. He knew it would all be over in a matter of seconds.
The Shadow Ball, however, sailed far above him and smashed into the tree trunk, causing bark and splinters to rain down on him. Startled, Bill screamed as a blue aura surrounded him. A wave of unseen energy rushed from his body and out in all directions, ripping fungus and plants clean out of the ground and cleaning the earth of leaves. The Medicham, who hadn't expected this, was shoved backwards at the attack. It wasn't a strong attack, but the force still surprised it. A stunned cry escaped its throat as it was knocked into the bush behind it.
At this, Bill cautiously opened his eyes and raised his head slightly. Then, he dropped his arms and stared in astonishment at the Medicham. His opponent, meanwhile, burst into laughter.
{You, young one, are far from being a good warrior,} it (or, rather, he) remarked in a vaguely Chinese accent. {You allow yourself to be caught off guard by your opponent, you do not know how to properly defend yourself, and you use your skills as a Psychic Pokémon as if you are afraid of them.}
{I'm not used to fighting,} Bill hissed, somewhat insulted by the Medicham's comments.
The Medicham let another loud laugh escape his throat. {Ah, yes! You are just as much the strange creature Tamarisk described you as!}
Bill blinked. {How do you know Tama?}
{Because he's a friend of mine,} Tama responded as she emerged from behind a tree near the Medicham. {Sorry about leaving you alone, Bill, but I know how much Dahlia likes to scare the complete crap out of his new students.}
Bill stood up quickly as he looked over the Medicham. {You're Dahlia!?}
The Medicham chuckled and slid into a cross-legged sitting position on the ground. {Yes, young one. My name is Dahlia, and I will be your teacher for the next few months.}
{Teacher?} Bill asked, throwing a perplexed glance at Tama.
{Uh... Yeah,} Tama said. {I kinda thought you might need help after how well you did against that Raticate. I figured Dahlia's the best Pokémon to ask because he pretty much knows everything anyways.}
{Correction, Tamarisk,} Dahlia stated. {The sea may be vast and elderly, but it does not know the things the young streams learn from the mountain snow.}
Tama rubbed the back of her head and shot a somewhat embarrassed smile at Bill. {Uh... Yeah. You're also gonna have to deal with stuff like that.}
Bill merely blinked, unable to find the words to say. The thought that the both of them were crazy crossed his mind, but he didn't dare to vocalize that.
{We will start with the introduction,} Dahlia announced. {The key to fighting is having a clear mind at all times. With a clear mind, you will find yourself able to focus on the task at hand, and you will be able to sense when the enemy is coming. Sit down with your legs crossed like mine.}
Bill wondered where this was going, but he still obeyed, though he had some difficulty taking up the proper position.
{Close your eyes and concentrate,} Dahlia instructed as his eyelids lowered. {You must clear your mind of all idle thoughts.}
The Ralts followed the Medicham's instructions, closing his eyes and attempting to grasp the blackness behind them.
{Breath deeply through your nose,} Dahlia continued. {Exhale slowly through your mouth.}
Bill slowly filled his lungs. He held his breath for a few moments, then released it as Dahlia instructed. He continued this for awhile, finding the action relaxing. He was at peace, deep in the forest, listening to the wilderness: the bird Pokémon chirping in the canopy, the song of the wind played between the trees, the gentle rustle of leaves...
Thwack!
Bill's eyes shot open as something came crashing down on his head. His arms shot out to his sides as he bent forward. Fuzzy spots appeared in his field of vision, as did Dahlia's legs. The Medicham, who was at the moment wielding a rather large stick, stepped from Bill's side and looked down upon his pupil. Somewhere further away, Tama's raucous laughter pierced the silence of the forest.
{What the...?} Bill closed one eye and rubbed his head gently. {What was that for!?}
{If you had not allowed your mind to wander, you would have sensed my presence, young grasshopper,} Dahlia chided.
At this point, Bill knew that it was going to be a long "few months"...