"Mornin' Akari!"
"Huh? Mum? What are you doing here?"
"Oh, you're still half asleep, C'mon it's time for breakfast"
"Oh...Uh right..."
"Oh, you're up! Need any help?"
"Lillie? What are you doing here? Don't you have school?"
"Oh, I asked Mother to see if I could help you out while you're stuck as a Pichu"
"You didn't have to do that...I can take care of myself!" Akari said going into the bathroom to wash his hands, only to realize, he would need assistance as he was too short. "Actually...A little help please..."
"Sure," Lillie said, finding it difficult to hold in a laugh before picking him up and gently letting him down on the countertop. "I assume you need me to turn on the water too?" Akari reluctantly nodded, lightly twisting it so not to burn his hands.
"T-thanks..." He began to say before slipping into the sink and being drenched in water.
"Oh! Akari are you okay!?" Lillie asked, quickly turning off the water.
"I'm fine, why do you keep acting like that?"
"Acting like what?"
"Acting like I'm just a little kid"
"Sorry, I just don't want you getting hurt again..."
"Hey, nothing bad has happened! I'm fine, just a little wet is all"
"Weren't you in a hospital for like a week last time you said: " I'm fine"?"
"Huh? Oh...Uhm, I have no idea what you're talking about!"
"Sure you don't, here, let me help you," She said pressing down on the soap dispenser just slightly enough that it had given the correct amount. She then left to get a small bowl that he could use instead of the sink.
"If I could use my Aura, this would be easier"
"I know, but remember if they're looking for you, it'd be best to take any precautions possible"
"Right..."
"C'mon, wash your hands so we can eat, knowing you, I bet you either haven't eaten or have only had microwavable meals"
Akari did as told, just trying to get used to his new body since there was a good chance he wouldn't be human for a while.
"Okay you two, so after we eat I need to go shopping since our food won't last until the end of the week like how I thought, and Akari, don't talk when in public, alright?"
"Wait, I'm coming too?"
"It'd be irresponsible to leave you home alone for more than an hour, and you can't leave either of our sights"
"Right..." Akari normally dreaded going shopping as his mother often took hours, but now that he was a Pichu, it wasn't much better.
"Hey, don't worry Akari, it won't be all bad, who knows, you might end up enjoying being a Pokémon"
"I doubt it, it feels so weird!"
"Hey, at least Pichu is cute" Amelia lightly pinched his cheek, being sure to avoid the electric sacs on his face as they would likely electrocute her.
"I guess...But I hope people don't notice me too much"
"What do you mean?"
"Pokémon who are considered cute usually attract attention, which I want to avoid"
"I guess that's fair, but it'll help you blend in if you know how to act around others?" It seemed like more of a stretch, but she needed to do everything in her power to keep Akari safe.
"If you say so...But I wonder, do all Pokémon feel like this?"
"Well, I'm sure some do" Lillie began to say "But your Pokémon always seemed to treat you like family...Speaking of which, where are they?"
"I...I don't know...I wish I could see them, but I think they're taken captive..."
"Oh, That's horrible! Why didn't you tell us!?"
"I...I'm sorry..." He softly said, looking down as his ears followed the rest of his head, dropping down.
"No, I understand, you didn't want us to risk our lives to get them back" Akari nodded slightly.
"Tell you what, for now, let's give a call to the Ranger Union, let them know and they'll get them back before you know it"
"Alright, I've got a long list of things we'll need, I'll take care of this, why don't you go for a walk, and here" She gave Lillie two-thousand Poké "Why don't you get yourself some ice cream or something?"
"Kay! C'mon Moone" While in public, Lillie had decided on calling him that instead of Pichu or Akari. Though he hated the name.
Akari struggled to willingly respond to the name, though he guessed it wasn't the worst name he could've gotten.
It was but a short distance before Lillie had carried Akari over to where he had first eaten a Malasada. Conveniently they had served deserts of other varieties. However, when they had arrived, a familiar face sparked Akari's Interest. Or rather, it was three.
"Are you sure we're in the right place? I thought we were going to meet up with one of the Aether Paradise members"
"Oh calm down Hitasu, we've got plenty of time before they even get to Melemele"
"Erica's right, you don't need to only focus on your work, it doesn't always end out well when it comes to you"
"Erica! Keith! Hitasu!" Lillie exclaimed with a wave. Those three were Pokémon Rangers in training over in the Almia region, and they had become close with Lillie due to the connection with Aether Paradise.
"Huh? Oh, Lillie!" Erica ran up to her giving her a friendly hug. "You caught yourself a Pichu?"
"Well, not exactly" She glanced around. "Alright, so you won't believe this, but this is Akari!"
"The Pichu?" Keith asked, tilting his head. Erica got closer to his face, inspecting his silver eyes, before lightly poking his nose. Akari sneezed before shaking his head annoyed.
"Yep! I believe it"
"Y-you do?" Hitasu asked, unsure of how that Pichu could even potentially be human.
"Of course, the normal Pichu has brown or black eyes, This one has silver eyes like Akari, plus he always sneezes when you poke or flick his nose"
"Could you please stop that!" Akari whispered in a loud tone so that they could hear it, but no one else.
"Huh? Did you speak? So you really are Akari…" Keith looked surprised, though he tried to hide it.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm a Pichu now, laugh all you want"
"What happened?" Erica asked
"It's tough to explain...But basically, I'm a full-time Pokémon Ranger, stuff happened and I was experimented on by Pokémon Pinchers, and now I'm a Pichu"
"W-what!? You were experimented on!? Why!?"
"No Idea" He lied "Guess I was in the way"
"Wait, full time? Did you pass the Ranger School that quickly?" Keith asked
"Never went to it, They just gave me a letter and now I'm a Ranger on Renbow Island in the Oblivia Region"
"What'd you do to be invited?"
"Dunno"
"You don't?" Hitasu asked
"Well, the fact that Hitasu wasn't automatically given the Rank of Ranger proves that you got in by your own skill" Erica said
"Huh?"
"You know, Hitasu is Professor Oak's son, so if it was about connections, He would have been a Ranger by now"
"E-Erica!" Hitasu tried to stop her "You know I don't like people talking about me because of Professor Oak...Besides, we're not even related"
"Oh calm down, at least I didn't talk about your Mum"
"Erica!"
"Right, Right, sorry"
"Is something wrong about your mother?" Lillie asked.
"No, nothing like that, it's just...Well I'm sure he'll explain it if he wants to"
"I'd rather not..."
"Don't worry about it, keep your secrets how you want" Akari said with a small smile "Just try to act like I'm a normal Pichu, kay?"
"Oh, right" Erica looked down at her Pokétch before glancing up at Lillie and Akari "We've got some time before we have to meet up with someone at Aether Paradise. Why don't you eat with us?"
"Sure, I'm sure Moone would like that too" Akari gave an annoyed look, his expression being practically audible. "Hey, with all of the dumb things you got away with, you can deal with a dumb name for a while" Akari groaned.
"I've been wondering, how come the relations between Aether Paradise and Pokémon Rangers suddenly improved"
"Oh, I think that was thanks to Akari, he was the one to figure out that Team Skull was working with them, and from there he helped bring them back under control"
"He did? I thought all he could do was mimic sound moves on his Ocarina"
"Well, Let's just say he's not as ordinary as you think"
"If you say so...How long do you think he'll be away?"
"I can't be sure, he's busy with things people couldn't begin to understand"
"That bad, huh?" Erica asked as Akari slowly nodded. Keith and Hitasu then sat down holding a tray of malasadas and ice cream. Akari was given a small bowl due to his form.
"Well, from what I've heard, he's with scientists trying to figure out how to reverse it"
"I think it's possible..." Hitasu quietly spoke"
"You do? How come?" Keith seemed skeptical, but as he knew Hitasu wasn't raised normally, he had known a thing or two about most things mysterious to humans.
"I remember Professor Oak meeting someone named Rowan...They said something about a Pokémon able to transfer the hearts of living beings"
"Really!? Where is it!?" Lillie asked.
"I think it was somewhere in Sinnoh...Maybe Mum could take us there"
"Your Mother? I thought you didn't like to talk about her"
"O-oh...Uhm...I guess I could make an exception...Just this once..."
"Well, I suppose we'll need the help"
"Alright! But I should really tell Akari's mother where we're going..."
"That's true, Oh right! We're supposed to meet someone at Aether Paradise, If you ask Mrs. Lusamine, I'm sure she can give us a ride" Erica suggested
"Oh yeah, that would work! Plus I'm sure she'll trust you, Lillie"
"I hope so, she seems to really like Akari, so I think she'll try everything to help"
"It's hard to believe he could do all of that, before I became a Ranger, I could always tell he was weaker" Akari began to growl, looking up from his ice cream with a glare. "What? It's true!" That was the problem with Erica, she had often been direct. She wasn't the type to try and sugarcoat anything.
"But we should be heading over there now... Hitasu, will you do the honors?" Keith asked as Hitasu began leading them outside and glanced both ways. Too many eyes.
"Lillie...Do you know any remote locations?"
"Yeah...I think I do, it's called Verdant Cavern, I remember going there during my Island Trial"
"Alright, let's go then!"
"Wait, why don't I save you the pain of walking" Lillie offered, signing for them to follow her behind the Malasada Shop. Away from prying eyes, Akari was free to speak "Hey! Lillie don't you even attempt it!"
"What, it's not too far, so it shouldn't be too difficult"
"No!" Akari gave a slight jolt of electricity to try stop her
"Uhm...What are you trying to do?"
"Okay...Fine, you remember all of those rumors about how I disappeared?"
"Yeah, something about you having powers and whatnot?"
"Those...Those weren't wrong...I do have powers, it's how I ended up experimented on..."
"Seriously? And you hid them for eleven years!? I find that hard to believe"
"Oh, I didn't realize I had them until earlier in the summer"
"So what does that have to do with Lillie?" Keith asked, Hitasu staying silent as he had somewhat known the feeling.
"Lillie has similar abilities, they came from Pokémon which is why they seem random."
"And why can't she use them?"
"She can't control them well, plus there's a good chance those Pokémon Pinchers are waiting for the chance where I use my abilities, if Lillie uses hers, they might find her instead"
"Oh, that might be a problem...Hitasu?"
"Y-yeah...We should go somewhere private"
"Hey...Hitasu, how come you're acting odd about your mum? I mean she can't be that bad" Akari asked
"N-no, she's not bad at all...It's just...people find it odd"
"Odd?"
"You'll see," Erica said, lightly petting the top of his head.
"Huh?" Hitasu began to sit down and focus for a few seconds. "What's he doing?" Akari whispered, trying not to distract him.
"Calling for his mum"
"Is he telepathic?" Lillie asked
"Not exactly, they just happen to have a connection" Keith explained.
"Okay! She should be here in a few minutes"
Before long, a chilling presence entered the area. The graced wings flapping in the distance with a large Pokémon landing and touching foreheads with Hitasu.
"Hi Mum, I'd like you to meet some people, Akari and Lillie"
"A-Articuno!?" Lillie asked stunned, Akari was just confused as if waiting for a woman to appear from its back.
"Y-yes...I don't remember my real parents, but Articuno raised me since I was young" He explained.
"It's a pleasure to meet you"
"Nice to meetcha" Akari gave a little wave, somewhat startling Articuno
"You speak the human tongue?"
"Huh? No, I am human, it's just some Pokémon Ranger stuff going wrong"
"Uhm...What is Akari doing? Why is he talking to himself?"
"Oh that, since he's a Pokémon now, he can speak like he used to due to his memories, but can understand Pokémon"
"I see, that's unfortunate, however, I am certain you may be able to return Human once more"
"I will become human again! That's a promise!"
"I sense within you a great power, I pray that you may continue to touch hearts as you have done before"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Hitasu has told me much about his journeys through Alola, speaking about you and your friends"
"O-Oh...I hadn't noticed..."
"Mum? You can see his power?"
"His power is the shape of Aura, of which the world does not know"
"Huh? Oh gee, thanks"
"C'mon Akari, the longer we wait, the longer you stay Pichu," Erica said "Not that I'd mind, you're much better looking as a Pichu"
"R-right!...Hey, what's that supposed to mean!?"
"Simple, Pichu is adorable, you are average"
"We're cousins! We're not supposed to grade how the other looks!"
"Hey, all I'm saying is Pichu is cute, I mean based on how much Lillie seemed to be worried about you while you were gone,"
"E-Erica!" She began to turn a reddish color.
"You still worry about me? C'mon I can take down anything!"
"You're the one who got turned into a Pichu! It seems like I was right to worry!"
"H-hey...I got caught off guard!" He squeaked before looking away "I trusted the enemy, it won't happen again"
"That's good and all, but shouldn't we be leaving?" Keith asked standing beside Articuno as Hitasu started helping Erica up with Keith getting on without assistance.
"O-oh! Right" Akari said beginning to run before falling on his face.
"Um...Akari? Pichu are supposed to run on all four legs, not two"
"Huh?" Akari began pulling himself up, standing on all four legs finding it to be comfortable with his body structure. starting to run like that. To which he felt more stable, however it would take some time to adjust to.
"Hey, Akari, wake up" Lillie lightly shook his head with her hand, before Akari lightly yawned.
"Huh...Somethin' up?"
"We're about to speak to mother, I need you awake"
"Oh...Right, sorry" Akari shook his body to wake himself up before being taken inside Lusamine's office.
"Oh! How are you Lillie? And, is that a Pichu! It's adorable!"
"Am not!"
"D-did that Pichu just talk!?"
"Mother, it's okay, it's just Akari"
"It is? How is this possible?"
"Unfortunately" Akari muttered being placed onto Lusamine's desk. "I don't really know, some Pokémon Hunters learned about my aura, tried to switch bodies so they could get my power, and somehow I'm a Pichu now"
"I see...So when you said he was sick this is what you meant?"
"Yes Mother"
"This is unfortunate...Can it be reversed?"
"No idea...But so far only a few people know"
"Some of those people being the ones hunting you" Lillie muttered.
"You're being hunted again? You never do have a slow day, do you"
"I prefer it that way"
"Akari!"
"I'm joking! But we were told about a Pokémon able to switch bodies? Is that real?"
"I believe you're talking about Manaphy"
"Manaphy?" Akari asked
"You know what it is?"
"I've heard myths, but I don't know how real it is"
"Well, it's my only chance!"
"But aren't the Pokémon Rangers trying to find a way to reverse the effect?"
"Well...I need to be human as soon as I can!"
"Is there a reason behind this?" Lusamine asked him.
"Huh? Oh...Mother, his Pokémon are being held captive by those Pokémon Hunters..."
"Oh...I hadn't realized...I'm so sorry..."
"If I could just use my powers, I could save them!" Akari growled before beginning to open a wormhole. Lillie saw this and quickly attempted to stop him.
"Akari! Don't!" She reacted, flinging her wrist before Akari froze in place, and falling backward.
"H-hey! Akari, are you alright?" Lillie asked, lifting him up into her arms.
"It's okay"
"Huh!?"
"It looks like you just put him to sleep"
"I did? But I didn't know I could do that"
"Well, Mohn has a theory about your abilities"
"He does?"
"Yes. Or rather a theory of Pokémon, he believes that your power is the aura of Solgaleo, however, he believes that every Pokémon can use aura. The main difference is they're limited to a specific type of aura."
"So I can learn any move Solgaleo can?"
"I believe so, but I hope that you will control your power"
"Sorry mother..."
"It's alright, sweetie, I'm proud of have far you've come! You know you should probably get Akari to train you"
"I guess so..."
"Hey, it's okay, it's good that you stopped him"
There was a flash of yellow light to the left as a small group of people emerged from it with a Kadabra alongside them.
"And good for us, too! We should have known it was only a matter of time before that brat used his power" One of them said.
"Admin Skye! The boy isn't the only one"
"Hmm?"
"Who are you! I demand you to answer!"
"You can't make us do anything! Dustox, You know what to do!" She flung her wrist, a purple light being emitted from a device as a Dustox appeared using Sleep Powder so that assistance could not be called. "Now. One of those two has Akari's Aura?"
"No. But the girl has a strong aura, unlike the boy's but just as strong if not more powerful"
"I understand, take them both"
"Akari! Please wake up!"
"Huh? Lillie...What happened?"
"Oh, thank goodness! Are you hurt?"
"No...I'm okay, but what happened?"
"It...It was my fault...I used my aura and they found us"
"Hey don't worry! I'll just warp us out of here!"
"Yeah, uh I don't think so!" Akari heard someone say, turning his direction to see Skye there, a grin larger than it should be.
"S-Skye!? What did you do!?"
"Akari? Do you know her?" Lillie asked him.
"Unfortunately!" He created a wormhole under him before a powerful burst of wind was fired at his body and knocking him down.
"Akari!"
"Calm down, girl, He'll take a minute to get back up, but he'll be fine. As for both of you, if you even try to use your aura, that little device will fire wind to stop you. The power of a Staraptor's hurricane inside a tiny little thing. However since you are still children, it's not set at full strength"
Lillie hadn't listened, cupping her hands to heal Akari from where he was attacked, the wind then fired at her as well, she collapsed but got back up quickly. Akari would have needed more time as he needed to regulate his breathing once more after being stricken by the blast.
"Hey! Can't you kids listen!? You use your powers, you get hurt!" She said in a huff before leaving.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah...I'm fine" Akari said before starting to laugh
"W-what? Are you sure you're okay?"
"Your hair!" He began to laugh as she had started looking like he had with bedhead.
"Huh? Oh shut up!" She laughed back before starting to think. "I think I have an idea on how we can escape"
"Huh? You do?"
"Yeah! Your aura?"
"Huh? But isn't that what gets them to attack us?"
"It reacts to our Ultra Aura, which means it's time for your rage attack!"
"W-what? I don't know how to use it, and I don't even know what causes it"
"Well, do you have any other ideas?"
"I guess not... But if it uses my own aura, how do I choose which aura to use?"
"Huh? Thought you knew that"
"I don't know how to use my aura...Oh wait I have an idea!" Akari said using his aura create a wormhole on all sides of him, waiting for the wind to strike so the wormholes would send it back, destroying the machines.
"Oh! Good thinking!"
"Thanks! Only one thing left to do" He said creating a wormhole beneath Lillie, Go help your Mum, I'll handle things here!"
"Wait! Please, Akari, don't push me away!"
"Sorry, can't have you getting hurt because of me any longer! I'll be back soon"
"Wait! No!" She cried, reaching her arm through it before it forced her arm out as it closed.
"Lillie!? Thank Arceus you're alright!" Lusamine quickly went to her daughter, tightly hugging her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine...But Akari…He's still there"
"Skye! I'm done with your games! Give me back my Pokémon!" He growled, his small body being encased with aura.
"Well now, If I must end my games, then so do you, Mew!"
"What are you talking about!?"
"Don't play dumb! The power that you weild isn't normal by any standards, only one Pokémon could have those kinds of abilities!"
"You fool...I'm no Pokémon, but rather I've been chosen by the Moone itself!" That was technically the truth, obtaining his abilities by being a chosen guardian, selected by the Ultra Beast, Lunala. However he chose not to reveal that secret.
"Moon itself, huh? Let's see where that power leaves you!"
Akari charged towards her, using his small body and wormholes to quickly increase momentum before attacking with an aura-powered headbutt. Knocking her down as loud shouts entered the area with a group of Pokémon Rangers entering.
"Scarlet, this appears to be the last of them, their sub-leader"
"Very well! Take her in for questioning, and you take these Pokémon to their rightful trainer on Renbow Island.
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"Wait, Scarlet? Hey! It's me, Akari!"
"Hm? You're a Pichu?" She asked, closing her eyes for a moment before looking back towards him. "I see, then I'm to assume it was the pinchers who did this to you?"
"Yeah..."
"That is unfortunate, allow me to take you to the Ranger Union, I believe they would want to run a few tests to see if they can turn you back"
"I would...But...I wasn't supposed to be here, I was told to stay in the Alola Region because I was being targetted"
"Did you come here on your own accord?"
"Well...I guess not. I was brought here"
"Very well, Let us depart then, I'm sure you could hear some good news"
"I should've known he wouldn't stay put, but he's not too hurt so it's alright for now" Summer grumbled "As for the tests, We haven't made much progress yet, if only I knew how it happened in the first place"
"I understand, Then I am to ensure his safe return home, correct?"
"Yes, Thank you Scarlet, he lives on Melemele Island in the Alola Region"
"Understood."
"Oh. And while you're there, take care of him for us, will you? I don't want him trying to take matters into his own hands"
"Certainly, he looks like he's been through a lot anyways. I'm sure he could use the rest"
"Keep an eye on him, he's crafty
