Disclaimer: I don't own Skies of Arcadia or Pokemon or other games, shows, anime, movies or books either that I mention.

A/N: You know…sometimes I just put the disclaimer, A/N, title and chapter number down onto a page…it makes me realize I have to write the chapter… It's a big help when I need to get on top of writing my stories.

A Second Chance

Chapter 6

Ramirez

When we arrived home and I had jumped off the horse I saw a moving bulge in one of the bags the horse had on its saddle.

"What do you have there?" Cat asked teasingly and I glared at her before opening it up. A Cleffa jumped out at me and landed on my chest. Instinctively I brought my hands up to keep it from falling off of me and I pulled it off of my chest and looked at it. Its big eyes blinked at me and it smiled.

"I swear I didn't take it," I said. Cleffa looked at me and blinked.

Cat began to laugh. "Of course you didn't. It liked you so much it followed you home!" This was ridiculous. What in this Cleffa's mind made it think I would want it after it followed me like this?

"This looks a little like the one I played ball with first…but they all look the same," I said. "Is it?" I looked at the Cleffa and it nodded at me.

"I think it wants to be with you," Cat said and I glared at her again. "What is it Ramirez? I think it likes you."

"Is this some lesson you set up for me or something?" I asked.

"No, it really isn't," she replied and shrugged. "But it sure is convenient, isn't it? Your friend, what was her name, Filia had a friend, didn't she? She cared for something, right?"

"How do you know that?" I asked. "How could you?"
"I know everything about your past. Remember Ramirez, I'm your parole officer." She smiled at me. "Come on now, let's go eat. I'm sure Chansey is waiting for us as is Annie."

"You're a pain." My words came out in a hiss and that only caused her to laugh harder. "What do you find so funny?" She laughed like she was insane, of course, she was insane so it made sense.

"You are amusing Ramirez." She smiled at me even wider. I didn't think a smile could go that wide, it seemed unnatural.

…

Nighttime came quickly and the little Cleffa wouldn't leave my side. I decided to let it, it wasn't going to leave on its own and Cat wouldn't let me kick it out. So now we were sitting on my bed and it was staring up at me with its big eyes.

"What am I going to do with you?" I asked. "Cat's forcing me to keep you now."

"Cleffa!" it exclaimed excitedly. Cat told me it was a male Cleffa, not that it made any difference to me, they all looked alike.

"How am I going to tell you apart from the others?" I asked wearily and then had an idea. I undid the scarf around my neck and tied it around the Cleffa's head. It didn't cover its entire face; rather it made the Cleffa look a little bit like a punk, if that was the right word to use for it.

"Cleffa!" it exclaimed and ran up on its short little legs to hug me. It was a little awkward; all the Cleffa could really hug was my armor, which I had yet to take off for the night so I could sleep peacefully. I picked it up and brought it to eye level with me. It smiled and yawned and reached out its arms towards me. I brought it close to my chest and its little hands clasped onto a piece of armor and it sighed contentedly, if that was how a content sigh sounded like from a Cleffa. Okay, fine, I admit it was cute and it was cuddly and it was adorable. This one belonged to me now; it had followed me just to be with me. Why did that make me happy? That someone wanted to follow me instead of me wanting to follow someone, was that it?

"This has to be some lesson that Cat's teaching me…or trying to teach me. I don't get it. What am I really supposed to be doing here?" I asked as I stood up. I plucked the Cleffa from my armor and put it down on the pillow, he looked up at me expectantly. I took off my armor and let it fall to the ground, ending up in my solid black clothes that barely showed through the armor but were much more comfortable to sleep in. I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over me and the Cleffa, who came up to me and snuggled closely, sighing once more happily. My hand came up on its own and I stroked its fur. Its eyes closed slowly and drifted asleep. This Cleffa was mine…but why did it follow me? I wasn't any sort of person who would attract something so innocent. I let out a yawn and closed my eyes. I had to get some sleep.

Cat

"He's different all right," I said as I glanced down the hallway before coming back to sit at the kitchen table.

"He reminds me of one of your previous charges," Chansey said and Annie nodded in agreement. I looked at them both with a raised eyebrow.

"I've had a lot of charges you two, which one are you referring to? I'm old, I don't have the memory I used to," I said with a smile.

"You should remember him, he was a bit of an arrogant prick," Annie said and took a sip of the coffee she had by her side. "I think his name was Atemu, the Pharaoh from Egypt."
"He wasn't like Ramirez," I said. "I remember him. By the time he actually arrived here after being cooped up in that puzzle thing for a couple of millennia he wasn't half bad. He wasn't half bad when he was living either."

"True, but he was just as clueless as Ramirez was about some things, although fortunately you didn't need to use an emotion amplifier on him. Come to think of it really, he wasn't that bad. Not like Ramirez at all," Chansey said.

"But on another subject Cat, do you think Ramirez will learn what he needs to so he can move on past his probation and go live an ordinary life?" Annie asked.

"I believe in a lot of things Annie," I replied. "I think he'll learn. He's started to even if he doesn't know it. I never expected that Cleffa to hitch a ride with us home but it's a good thing that the little guy did. I think it will really help."

"Think Ramirez will want to become a pokemon trainer?" Chansey asked with a soft laugh.

"I don't know, at the moment, I think he's more likely to commit suicide," I replied with a chuckle.

"Don't say that it might come true!" Annie exclaimed with wide eyes. "He is cute."

"Do you want to date him?" I asked wearily.

"Eww…I have Mike don't forget that," she said.

"Right…Mike. You've only been dating him for what…200 years? Haven't even married. You two have such a fear of commitment, although I don't see how you can after all this time. You two already act like a married couple!" I put my head in my arms on the table. "Ramirez is such a puzzle. I don't want him to fail; he does seem like a good guy, even if he doesn't think so."

"You believe in everybody passing on and living here within the portals."

"I haven't failed too often Chansey," I said. "Immortality comes to those who are able to understand life itself. Ramirez has that ability."

"I know he has that ability but do you really think he'll be able to master it?" she asked.

"I do, I believe he can master it if he really wants to," I replied with a sigh, blowing a strand of hair away from my face. "He has the potential to learn all about his feelings and understand them and move past his…well past. He shouldn't be so caught up on that bad guy…what was his name again? Galacian I think. Galacian was evil, but Ramirez was blinded by the fact he had been betrayed by someone who he thought was good and so he followed Galacian blindly. It's not entirely his fault. Betrayal hurts like a bitch."
"Watch your language!" Chansey chided and then yawned. "I think we should all get to sleep."

"I agree," Annie said with a smile and stood, taking her coffee cup to the sink and rinsed it out before placing it on the counter to be washed. "Hey, aren't you taking him to get some new clothes? I doubt he can stay in his usual outfit like that forever. It's a wonder his clothes aren't standing on their own!"

"I'm taking him shopping tomorrow in the Sailor Portal." Annie looked at me and laughed. "What's so funny Annie? The Sailor Portal has the best clothes mall. If anything it should be easy to find something that suits him."

"I'm not laughing at the choice in shopping malls I'm laughing because you're probably going to introduce him to the Sailor Senshi, aren't you?"

"Most likely. I'm going to introduce him to everyone I can, all the heroes of the portals and then some. When he passes his probation he will have to choose somewhere to live." I smiled at her and stood, stretching out my arms as I yawned. "He can't go back to where he's from, that's forbidden, but there are enough portals and dimensions to choose from he should find a home quick enough. I'd prefer he'd live in the portals though, much more peaceful than some of the dimensions I've visited."

"True," Annie said. "But now you're putting a lot of faith on the fact that he is going to become a nicer person and move past his past, pardon the pun."

"I believe he will learn what he needs to Annie, now goodnight." I walked away from the two and headed back to my room. My room came before his so I decided not to bother checking on him to make sure he was okay. I sensed he was snoring though so he was probably all right. I did have faith in him, how could I not? I had faith in all my charges that they would become better people and earn the right to a second chance at life. All it took was teaching them how to live.

Annie

I yawned and passed by Ramirez's door on the way to my own room, which was across the hall down a few more feet, just past Chansey's room. I peeked inside and saw Ramirez sleeping there; he actually looked quite adorable as he slept. Then I saw a small lump of pink lying by his face, it looked like that Cleffa that had followed him home today. His hand was holding onto it a little protectively, and that was a good sign. Maybe Cat was right, maybe this guy would get his second life. She really hadn't been wrong before on that, what with the number of guys and girls she's had to deal with in her lifetime job as a parole officer and the Guardian of the Portals. Maybe she was right, all I could do was hope she was. She normally was right, what was I so worried about? I shut his door, headed into my room and plopped down onto my bed, burying my face into my soft pillow and relaxing against my sheets. I didn't doubt her, but I could tell Ramirez was going to be a challenge. If she had to use a spell to bring forth his emotions, what other things would she be forced to do to get him to change for the better? I know she wouldn't use any other magic on him now, so my guess was she had her work cut out for her for as long as it took. She never did know when to quit, which was a good thing, especially in a case like this. Ramirez wouldn't change overnight.

"Goodnight everyone," I muttered. "And good luck." This would be interesting.

TBC

A/N: Read and review, but no flames! Flames will be used to make marshmallows for people that like this story!