Wade and Trip stepped out onto a little battle arena, which was really a rectangular patch of dirt, where some of the dirt was dyed white in order to make the outline of a battlefield. Much to Wade's surprise, it looked a lot like a typical arena in the anime, save for the stands, audience, etc. It was more akinned to something like a basketball hoop in a park than in an actual stadium for the sport.

That did make sense, since Pokemon Battling was essentially a sport, so every city and town would probably had somewhere to practice without having to bust out the local stadium. Unfortunately, Wade wasn't so sure how he'd win a battle against Trip. Sure, he's watched the first episode of the Unovan anime, but that was a long time ago. Obviously he still remembered Snivy, since just about everyone and their dad was talking about how Ash lost to it.

The problem was, he had no idea what Snivy knew. He had no idea what his own Houndour knew. Sure, he'd seen his pokemon use Ember, and likely knew stronger fire type moves, but that was it. Speaking of Houndour, he was sitting beside Wade, eagerly awaiting to start his first battle. Trip on the other hand, had already let his pokemon out of its pokeball… it was a Snivy.

"So it could know about Vine Whip… Leaf Storm and Leer?" Wade mused as he nudged Houndour. "Do you know how to use Bite, Flamethrower, or even howl?" Wade asked. Houndour simply nodded. "Do you know more than four moves?" He asked again. This was met with another nod. "Alright, I'm gonna have to figure out what moves you do know later, since I think that'll be important. For now, let's stick with Ember, Flamethrower, Bite, and Howl," Wade said. Houndour simply nodded.

"The battle between Wade from…" Professor Juniper, who had decided to rep this match, stopped when she realized that she didn't know where one of the trainers was from. "Let's go with Wyoming," Wade said. "Wyoming! Is going up against Trip from Johto!" The professor announced! Choose your Pokemon," she instructed. Beside her, a Gothitelle stood, for what, Wade had no clue.

"Alright Houndour, don't worry about doing too good. I'm gonna be real, I don't know what I'm doing, or what's to come," Wade said. Houndour barked before stepping forwards and onto the battlefield. Snivy stepped forward on Trip's end of the field, who looked smug despite the disadvantage he was already at. As soon as both pokemon were in the ring, Gothitelle raised its arms(Wade couldn't tell what gender it was, or what gender Snivy was. He was just guessing), and suddenly light began to reflect off of thin air, like a barrier was set up around the arena.

"Ah, so that's what it's for," Wade mused as he slapped himself.

"Alright, this will be Snivy's first battle, so you better make it memorable!" Trip grinned as he thrusted his arm forward. "Use Leer!" Snivy began to glare at Houndour, a small sparkle in his eye, which promptly made the canine take a step back. So far, Houndour had been sitting down, simply staring down Snivy like a wolf would with its prey. He knew this was his trainer's first battle, so he was hoping to take a slower, more calculated approach.

"Alright, guess we won't be using Howl or Bite… since I think that lowers our attack? Or was that Growl?" Wade shrugged. "Eh, fuck it, use Flamethrower!" He commanded, swatting at thin air. Houndour nodded, before taking a shot at the grass snake, who had promptly dodged to the right on command. "Alright bud! Fire left!" Wade said, he really wasn't concerned about being defensive; there was no way a Snivy could take down Houndour with its current moveset. Houndour shot left, when Snivy slid to the right. "And now!"

Luckily, Houndour got what his trainer had intended, and fired at Snivy before he could react, and struck the starter directly. Houndour maliciously grinned as the fires began to die down, his stream of fire looked bright and powerful, like any proud Houndour's fire should look. He wasn't surprised when Snivy was knocked out once the smoke cleared up. Wade noted that Snivy wasn't charred to a crisp… yet something else he would have to ask Professor Jennifer when they had their talk.

"Uh… did we win?" Wade asked, the smoke hadn't quite cleared up for him, and his eyesight wasn't as good as his Houndour's, so he was a bit confused. Trip simply took a photo and frowned, and then shrugged. The young man recalled his pokemon to its pokeball.

"You fought well despite the odds, you deserve a good rest," Trip said before looking up at Wade. "Gotta say, you knew you had an advantage and knew to play offensively. If you're a beginner, you're already doing better than some… and sweet Arceus is your Houndour strong…" Trip took a picture of Houndour with a pocket camera, before going off, likely towards a Pokemon center.

"Trip wait!" Professor Juniper called. "If you're looking for somewhere to heal Snivy up, I've got a machine in the lab that'll help restore Snivy's energy," she offered. Trip nodded. "I still want to check out a Pokemon Center… I know the tale about Houndour fire, about how it leaves a permanent burning feeling," he explained. Professor juniper nodded. Houndour, once the barrier was down, walked over to Wade and nipped him.

"Oi, what was that for?" Wade asked. Houndour then began to mimic a very slow snarl. Wade raised an eyebrow at the movement. "Did you want to take that fight slow?" He asked. Houndour nodded. "Is it because you wanted to get used to my battling style?" This was answered with another nod. "Hehehe, I don't have one… I just had you attack and it worked out because we had an advantage," Wade sighed. "You'll find out once we have that talk with the professor."

"I wouldn't say you just had Houndour attack," Cherren butted in. "It's smart to know that you've got an advantage and to play offensively because of it, even if it can lead to easy counters from more experienced trainers. I also didn't think somebody who, apparently, isn't used to battling, would know how to fake out their opponent," Cheren said. Wade just shook his head at the praise.

"I wouldn't say it's a strategy on my part. Houndour did all the hard work. I just told him to launch Flamethrower after Flamethrower, and he figured out that he should try to fake out Snivy," Wade dismissed the praise. "While he did pick up on what I was thinking, if he hadn't, that fight would have lasted way longer," Wade emphasized the word 'way.' He grinned down at Houndour. "Though I am pretty lucky that Houndour is a pretty strong pokemon."

Houndour just nipped Wade. "Stop dismissing your own competence in the battle. It wasn't perfect, but I wasn't expecting that. Middle of the Distortion world, if you don't want to battle ever again because you don't feel confident in your skills, whatever. Just please be happy with the win," he scolded, even if it was on deaf ears. Wade yelped when he got nipped before getting the message.

"I know Houndour, I need to stop being a sad idiot," he rolled his eyes, which elicited another nip from Houndour. Everybody that was watching the interaction found it amusing. Wade and Houndour were practically having a conversation even Wade couldn't understand a single word that Houndour was saying. "Hey, can you stop nipping me, Bud? You're giving me the impression that you're trying to taste how my skin tastes."

Houndour looked taken aback by the joke, and gagged at the thought. Not only does Wade taste bad, it would be disgusting to even consider eating his trainer. They were family now, family didn't eat family, and certainly didn't like to imagine how sad family tastes. "I know, I'm delicious, but I'm not a walking free sample, Houndour," Wade said, sarcasm leaked into his words as he chuckled. The duo followed the group back inside the lab.

After the sleeping arrangements were settled, Wade asked Professor Juniper about their talk, which the professor hadn't forgotten. The two of them stepped into a side room in the lab, which was apparently sound proof, with Gothitelle on standby. "She isn't here to break my neck if you think I'm annoying, right?" Wade asked. Professor Juniper giggled.

"No, she's just here to make sure you aren't lying. Psychic types and even Vulpix and Ninetales are pretty good lie detectors. Even if Vulpix and Ninetales are easier to mentally fool due to their lack of a Psychic typing," she explained. "I'm just making sure you aren't lying to me," she added. Wade shrugged, fully understanding why. He wouldn't think a word he was saying was true, had all of this not happened to him. Houndour sat on standby, curious as to what would be discussed.

"Alright so… I'm just going to be honest, since I can't lie, I'm uh… not a researcher. I know, big shocker, a guy who looks like he got hit by a car isn't a rocket scientist," he joked. "Heck, I'm pretty sure, no, I know I'm not even from this world. Where I come from, Pokemon is merely a franchise owned by a company called Gamefreak. You, Ash, Cheren, everybody in this world are merely characters in games that are apart of said franchise. I'm pretty sure Houndour came into being after I came here, right after I 'caught' a shiny Houndour in another game called 'Pokemon Go' and ended up here."

Professor Juniper looked to Gothitelle, who nodded. "So, you're an alien," she asked.

Wade nodded. "Yeah, pretty much, and I guess… Houndour is too. I'm not even really sure as to why I'm here, but I got a couple ideas as to why," Wade said. "One theory, is that I am still really drunk and this is all just a hangover, or when I got hit by a truck last night, it somehow sent me here, in other words I'm dead, and this is Hell. As for why Hoindour came into being, I have no clue. Perhaps he's the same one I caught on my phone and some greater deity just wanted to leave me with a companion in this world."

The professor raised an eyebrow. "I'd assume you were hit by a truck and that sent you here. You sure look like it. As for you being dead in your world... it would be pretty likely. I highly doubt that you could survived getting hit by a truck," she said. "Well… that is more reasonable, and I hope that's real, even if I'm apparently dead, since I really wasn't going anywhere in life. Also makes sense given how there are 10 year-olds getting ready to explore the country side."

Professor Juniper tilted her head, wondering what was wrong with that.

"You see, in my world, Pokemon is heavily aimed at younger kids… and well, let's say 12 year-old me would be happy as hell to be here. Before you ask, in this world, I' guessing, most kids leave home at 10 to be very best like no one ever was, at 12 years in my world, we aren't even trusted to leave the driveway without getting into trouble, getting kidnapped, murdered, or getting touched by some old guy," he explained.

"Well… ignoring that tangent, this means I'm pretty much an idiot lost in a world. I've got no money, I haven't eaten anything except an Oran Berry today and I don't think Houndour's eaten anything either. Not much different from where I actually lived, since I could barely even hold a job… I'm pretty useless as a worker and I'm also pretty damn stupid."

Professor had her eyes closed and she took a deep breath. "I could probably offer you a job, or even even sponsor you to take part in the Gym Challenge, but I'd highly doubt that the second option would be allowed…" she paused as Wade raised an eyebrow. "You see, Houndour and Houndoom don't have a very good reputation in the Gym Challenge, and also pretty illegal to let trainers, who have Houndour and Houndoom, compete in it. Outside of Kalos, nobody really uses, or owns, a Houndour or Houndoom, and even then, said Houndoom's trainer is an elite four member. And she's not allowed to use it against challengers… let's say being struck by one is a fate worse than death," she explained.

"And… they are also a favorite amongst criminal organizations except here in Unova, but that's because they aren't native here. That gives the impression that Houndour and Houndoom are naturally evil. Also most Houndoom that even make it to the Pokemon Conference tend to… turn on their trainers? I don't know, or even know the full context as to why, there's just loads and loads of footage of Houndoom turning right around and firing at their trainers."

Wade looked down at Houndour and shrugged. "I don't think Houndour would try to fire at me. Hasn't been more than a day of me meeting him, and Houndour Is probably the best friend I've ever had…" he smiled. "And I'm sorry for not telling you immediately, Houndour I just had no idea of how I can verify this information to you, or how you'd react."

Houndour simply shrugged, it sounded like a bunch of stuff he couldn't understand… and it did sound kind of crazy. He, a shiny Houndour, just poofed into existence for no explicable reason, as a human pet. Like he cared, what mattered was making sure his human wouldn't go insane, which meant that Houndour had to be friends with Wade. That would be fun.

"So… about that job offer?"

Professor Juniper shrugged. "Since you legally can't enter the Gym Challenge, I want you to travel with White and her friends when they go out on their journey. Just keep watch over them, since I know their parents. I'll pay 2,000UPD(Uovan Pokedollars) once every two weeks. From there, just research anything, from history, to your Pokemon's behavioral patterns, or even fill out a Pokedex. It doesn't matter to me, just make sure you stick with those kids," Juniper said.

Wade shrugged. "Alright, I'm down. I just have a question… why wasn't Snivy burnt to a crisp after being blasted with a Flamethrower?"

Professor Juniper shrugged. "We scientists don't fully know why a Fire Type's attacks sometimes don't burn, or how Surf doesn't flood the places it's used in, but we do have a theory. So a Pokemon has two versions of their moves or powers. Real Powers can cause actual damage. Meaning if Houndour wanted to, that poor Snivy would be a pile of ashes. Battle Powers, what we believe we see mostly during professional battling, can't cause physical damage. They can knock you, or any other Pokemon out, but can't be used to kill anybody… that's the most popular theory at least."

"Y'know, I could research that… I wouldn't know how I would, but I could," Wade offered. Professor Juniper nodded. "That could be pretty useful for science… So how is your background? I just need to ask before I hire you, it's a mandatory thing," she explained.

"Well, I had four jobs… I worked in a pet store, got to learn a bit about pets in that, and that's the only job I managed to keep for more than a week," he explained. "Pets?" Juniper asked. "Well, in my world, we don't have actual pokemon, but we do have animals. I think the equivalent of Houndour back home would be a doberman, a breed of dog," he explained.

"I know what a dog is. Heck, we have animals in conversations and there are still quite a few in the wild. They just sort of accept pokemon if they resemble their own species closely enough. They just aren't as commonly seen because they're usually pretty skirmish… they are basically at the bottom of the food chain," she corrected.

"Well, that's really all I've gotta ask you. Tomorrow I'll get you another Pokedex, a badge to show that you work for my lab, and figure out how to get you a proper ID. It shouldn't be too hard since I have quite a few connections in the League," she said. "For now, let's go join those kids, I ordered takeout, and I think you and Houndour could eat… especially you. You look really thin," she added. "No offense."

"Nah don't worry, I'm used to being called stuff all the time. Usually it's not very friendly stuff, but I'm used to it." Wade waved a hand before following Gothitelle and Juniper out of the room. Wade hadn't even gotten into the subject of what was possibly undiagnosed depression. Before he stepped out the door, he turned and looked ar Houndour, who was at his heels.

"You don't gotta be at my heels y'know. Just walk beside me. You're my equal, not my pet. So c'mon," Wade stopped so Houndour could stand beside him. "I don't want you to follow or lead me, I just want to be walking beside you… you're way smarter than a dog, probably as smart as I am, so I'd say you should be above having to heel whenever you follow me," he knelt down and picked Houndour up.

"But for now, just lemme carry ya, you're nice and warm… and it feels nice," he nuzzled his cheek into Houndour's fur. The canine didn't complain; he got to bond with his trainer, who he had gotten very attached to in the time he had met Wade. He also began to respect Wade. After his human had made it a point to say that the two of them were equals even if Wade was the trainer.

Houndour's tail began to wag as he smelled all the food in the room… It smelled delicious.

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A/N: Aight, so I wasn't intending to put an Author's note here, but I figured I might as well. The whole "Real, not real" attacks/powers Pokemon have was an idea that Ashlee Rose, or the writer of 'I Became a Vulpix' had(sorry if I spelled your name wrong, love your story, it's really good, so go read it if you somehow haven't). Instead of it being a well known fact, it's simply going to be a theory in this world.

And once again, I hope this story is up to snuff with I Became a Vulpix and Borne of Caution, since both stories are incredibly well made, and I doubt mine is. Thank you for reading, leave a review for if you think this story sucks, is really good, or I should quit writing and die in a ditch.

Also modified this chapter to add more things to it, fix up some grammar, and rewrite things to make them more clarifying.