Second chapter already!?!

Wow prowds!

Don't own the rights, do own some games though!

Enjoy!

_@@Pokemon@@_

"It's Okay, take a deep breath. You're fine. Nothing to worry about, let's just go over the facts one more time." I mutter to myself.

I'm in one of the many bathrooms in the house, standing on a step-stool to look at myself in the mirror. I'm not so subtly trying to ignore a few other things in the room while I stare deep into my new life's amyst-coloured eyes. That feature took longer to get use to than the hair. It was easier with the hair because it grew out slowly and wasn't just in my face from the first moment I first saw a reflection. But just like the hair, they've grown on me. (Lol)

'Let's take stock of my other features while I'm at it.' I think, pushing any other happenings of the bathroom further out of my thoughts.

So I'm seven now, have been for two days, not that that mattered to my parents when I received my... gift.

I glance back.

Rewind. Back to the mirror.

I think I'm a little bit taller than I was in my last life, for around this time. My muscle mass seems pretty simular. Growing up on the farm, I needed to run around and lift buckets from point A to B, so learnt early in life to exercise and keep healthy. I have kept myself pretty fit since I gained control of my new motor-functions, and it seems that hasn't gone to waste. Mostly with dancing and running.

I flex a little.

I smirk to myself.

Yep.

Movement catches the corner of my eye.

I don't glance that way yet.

Breath in. Breath out. And focus back on my eyes.

My eyes are framed by dark lashes. They stand out pretty harshly against my pale skin. That's another thing different. I was always pretty tanned in my other life. Working outside mostly. I would even do some of my paintings outside. If I wasn't tanned, I was burnt.

In this life it seems my skin won't hold the same level of UV colour. Though I had been mostly kept inside, only going out to the garden a couple times a month and only for a couple hours at most. So that could be a contributing factor to this new palette. It wasn't a sickly-pale, just paler than what I would usually like. It works though I guess.

All in all I would call myself a pretty adorable kid.

I lift one of my hands to inspect it's pale complexion. "I wonder if some more sun would even have an effect?"

A confused noise arose from beside me.

'Right! One of the other reasons I came in here.' I turn on the cold water tap in a rush and catch some in my cupped hands.

I then proceed to splash my face with the refreshing liquid, partially soaking myself.

The noise changed from confusion to startled. A scratching sound appeared and moved a little bit further away from me.

I then proceed to slap my cheeks twice and look into the mirror again. My cheeks redden both with the cold and the abuse. Ok good.

So I'm kinda having an early-new-life crisis, at the moment. Not that I haven't had one already, but I'm slipping backwards again I suppose. I've finally figured out that I'm in a different world to my previous one. Took me long enough right? Had enough clues?

Growling started up behind me. 'I guess it didn't appreciate the water.' I finally glance back.

Guess what? I got my puppy this morning. Well it was more like a half hour ago...

One half hour ago...

I was in my room thinking about nothing in particular, and drawing in a sketchbook.

'Hey! Some of my best work comes when I'm not thinking about anything specific and just putting down what comes into my empty head.'

I draw a lot of dragons...

There was a knock on my door. No-one really knocks on my door though so I thought it a bit strange. Just the butlers/ maids/ teachers and other people.

Huh... I guess lots of people knock, nevermind.

"Come in." I don't really look up, too focused on my sketch. It's probably about time to start another lesson or something.

The door opens to reveal my father, and a butler holding it open for him.

"Elizabeth."

"Ye-Hello father?" My words come out like a question, as this is the first time I can remember him visiting my room personally.

I stand to greet him as I have been brainwashed to do. I mean taught. Yep!

"Is something wrong?"

Surely if there was something amiss he would still call me to wherever he is, like usual, not come here.

He steps in.

'Oh shoot... What have I done now?'

"I have brought you you're requested pet." He says in his gruff manner. His nose scrunches up a bit.

Oh! "Oh? Really?"

Excitement rushes through me. A big smile stretches my face.

"Yes." He claps twice.

The butler opens the door wider, this time bringing in a waiting tray with a blue cushion on it.

Father presents it to me.

Resting on the cushion is a sphere.

A half red and half white sphere.

Red and white halves, that are divided by a black line going around its circumference.

A black line that also circles a white button on the divide.

I look at it...

Then I look away...

'Wha...?'

"Er... where's the puppy?" I mumble with a confused frown.

"It's in the Pokéball." He gestures dismissively toward the tray again.

"It's in the Pokéball?" I repeat/ reply quietly.

'Is he playing a joke on me?' I look back at the sphere.

A half red and half white sphere.

Red and white halves, that are divided by a black line going around its circumference.

A black line that also circles a white button on the divide.

I turn away and look back at my father.

'He's joking right?Tease the daughter about getting a puppy? Say it's there... but it's not? I don't get it...'

His face is impassive.

"Take it now Elizabeth I have to get back to work. Make sure you don't burn anything like your mother said." He turns toward the door, leaving as quickly as he came in.

The butler places the cushion and it's contents on the table. He arrives at the door before my father, to open it once more. They exit and the door is closed swiftly, leaving me on my own once again.

Except now there's a blue cushion with a sphere on it, resting next to my sketchbook.

A half red and half white sphere.

Red and white halves that are divided by a black line going around its circumference.

A black line that also circles a-

I look away quickly.

'But... where's my puppy?'

I look around the room a little hoping to spot it. My eyes gravitate back again.

I reach for the ball.

No wait... I didn't? I told my hand to, but it's not moving.

I look away again. 'I must be getting punk'd right?'

I pause a few minutes, waiting for the film crew to jump out with the surprise. Silence greets me.

I look back a the sphere.

A half red and half white sphere.

Red and white halves that are divided by a black line going- "Right! Enough of that, were going round in circles now, stop!"

I reach for the ball and pick it up. My hand moves this time. 'Yay! Progress!'

My mind blanks.

'Now what?'

I look at the sphere now in my hand.

A half red and half whi- 'NO! Don't regress!'

I blink. Tilt my head.

"Throw it right?" My brain supplies a scrambled answer.

I gently toss the ball into the open space of my room.

Somehow I'm still not expecting what happens next.

The ball splits and a light fills the room briefly. When the light fades a new entity is now in the room with me. The ball falls to the floor after coming back and hitting me in the shoulder lightly.

A quick observation makes me think I'm still being punk'd. It looks like a normal puppy with a toy skull on its head. I look back at the door.

'When did they have time to set up this magic trick? I'm pretty much always in my room I would have noticed them setting up those lights...' I think dazed.

There is a grumbling noise and I look back at the dog. It hasn't moved ye- it shakes its body like its coat was wet and then yawns. When it opens its big brown eyes, I can clearly see the intelligence in them.

I study the pup more openly, and note all its features. It's mostly black with a redish muzzle and belly. There are two silver arks over its back, that sort of look like rib bones. It also has four silver rings above it's paws that resemble the cuffs from dungeon chains. The white skull on its head stands out starkly against its dark coat, but it doesn't look very scary. In fact it looks... Sooo cute!

Not Border Collie cute, but maybe Rottweiler or Doberman cute.

"Come here puppy!"

I happily hold my hand out beckoning it toward me. It comes over quickly enough and gives my hand a sniff.

I giggle.

It sneezes.

I freeze.

For a second my hand was warm, and now its stained slightly black.

I bring my hand to my face.

What?

I sniff.

I sneeze.

Soot... What?!

"Houn?" The dog speaks.

WHAT?!

A sudden dizzy spell hits me.

"I think I'm gonna be sick?" My voice has a wispy quality to it.

I get up and, with an unsteady walk, make my way to the nearest bathroom. My new pet trods along behind me.

Back to the present...

I keep my eyes on it over my shoulder while my hair drips with water.

'Yep it's still there.'

My new Houndour puppy is looking at me as if I'm an idiot, from near the bathroom door.

I look back at the my reflection. 'Well it's not exactly a wrong impression, I do look like one now.'

Water drips from my brow.

I don't know how long I've been in the bathroom. I guess it's been a while though considering my current brain function. It seems my inner/outer crisis is over now. At least I'm not feeling as dizzy anymore! I think I've calmed down enough.

"So I think the period of denial is over." I state to myself out loud.

"Houndour, houn" it growls at me.

I start and look back at the pup again. "Right yeah..."

I think I interpreted that wrong... He sends me a blank look.

'I think it's a boy. I don't know why just intuition I guess.'

I suddenly shiver.

"I'm cold now let's go back to my room." I announce suddenly moving off the stool, still dripping.

Once back in my room I dry off and change. Houndour looks around my room inspecting everything.

My first concern appears.

'I hope he doesn't burn anything by sneezing on the dust bunnies. Ugh? It might be harder to keep that promise to Mother than I thought.'

My second concern arises.

'Does he need to go outside already? You know, to do his business... I better take him now. I don't know what type of leavings he produces...'

The vague thought of a flaming bag left on the doorstep comes to mind.

"Come on, I'll show you the garden!"

I urge him to follow the crazy lady again.

'Wow third person? She might not be as clearheaded as I thought... wait was that a forth person? Ugh...'

He gives me a look but follows anyway. We go through the house on the quickest route that I know of, to the garden.

'The sun is petty nice today.'

He runs out around the grassy area, and I point him to the trees. When he walks over to them he sniffs around again before raising his back leg. 'Ha! I new he was a boy!'

When I don't see any smoke, I leave him to his business and slowly sink to the ground. I think I'm still in my state of semi-calm.

I begin to clarify my situation to myself.

'Right so... I'm a newly-enlightened, re-incarnated, filthy-rich, multi-lingual, demention-traveling adolescent. Who also now owns a real life fire-puppy, which I must train to not burn things in the house. Yep that about sums it up... wow Pokémon...'

"Aahhhhhhh!!!" I throw my hands up and starfish onto the ground.

The Houndour runs over and looks down to see if I'm alright.

"It's ok, I've got it out of my system now I think." I grin up at him.

He gives me that look again. The 'Your An Idiot' look. I just grin at him with my eyes closed pretending I don't see it. 'Ha! We're bonding! I'm already learning his expressions.'

He grunts seeing I'm not hurt, (unless he counts in the head) and goes back to exploring about the yard.

I look up to the bright blue sky.

'Well what do I do now?'

_@@Pokemon@@_

A few weeks past in that state. At first I would wake up thinking it was a dream, and then I would look over and see the pup waking too. I'd take a few bracing breaths and force myself to start the day.

I have now adjusted... I think. Well I'm not screaming into the sky anymore, or losing time by staring at the wall for long periods.

So yeah... Allgood~!

I found it pretty easy to train my Houndour not to burn things inside. I mean I just told him not to and the intelligent little being complied easy enough.

He is a smart one.

It gets tricky though when he wants to play or when he gets upset, cause embers seem to escape from his mouth. Not the actual move, just the sparks. When that happens I take him outdoors, to the grass-less/ sandpit area.

It seems to be working out fine. I mean nothing's been on fire yet.

Keeping things clean though is a bit of a hassle. He likes to breath soot onto himself and run around. I don't know if this is a fire-puppy thing, a Houndour thing or a Him thing, but I've been lucky that mother hasn't seen the paw prints around yet (and that the maids are so quick to clean). I don't see her coming toward my side of the house anyway, now even less than she already did. Might get away with it for a bit longer at least.

I finally figured out why I haven't seen any Pokés in or around the house before. Turns out mother is afraid of Pokémon, while father finds them to be filthy animals.

Learnt about that the first time I tried to take my hound to the dinner table with me. As soon as I walked in with the pup, Mother scrambled up from her chair and told me to put him in his pokeball, immediately. Her voice cracked a bit as she moved to stand/ hide behind Father. His face just screwed up and told me no pets at the table because they are dirty. Which I can't really argue with considering, as I said, the pup likes soot'ing himself up.

I compiled with their unified request (read demand) pretty fast, not wanting to give them an excuse to take him from me already.

Dinner was quite that night. Mother was trembling, and dropped her fork twice.

So yeah I'm super lucky to still have my cute little devil.

Also! I came up with a name!

DeVil!! Cute right?

No not pronounced like the 101 Dalmatian's villain. More like De-Val. Val for short.

I've been doing some thinking as well and came up with a sort-of plan I wanna follow for my future. I kinda wanna pull a Nando on this bitch. I'm not talking the decision between only gyms and contests though.

I want to be able to be a strong trainer, who can look after their team as well as help others. I'm talking a trainer/ nurse/ caretaker/ breeder/ ranger/ rescuer. Yeah I've got a lot of ideas, and a lot of work ahead of me... but I figure I've got plenty of time.

Sure training my Poke's in contest battling will obviously help, as seen in the anime, but I definitely don't see myself on stage like that. I have stage-fright for one. Plus I didn't find that scoring mechanic all that fair or understandable in the anime. It really lowered my enjoyment of the series watching those battles.

That's not the only method of training I'd like to borrow from, I find the idea of Pokémon dancing a great idea too. Keeping Pokémon nimble, quick and flexible, would always help.

It's why I brought Val to my dancing lessons straight away. He doesn't seem to find it all that exciting (well truthfully neither do I) but he comes to watch me anyway. I want him to participate with me eventually but it might take a little bit more trust first. Even if we only dance the ballroom dances early on, it will train Val to move in a rhythm and keep his balance.

Also found the library now. It wasn't very far from my room actually. I'm now using it to studying a lot harder than I used to. I want to know more about this world. All my presumed knowledge comes from the anime and the games I played through, which can't be all right considering the multiple variables out there. And sometimes conflicting information.

So I (re-)studied. History, politics, culture and the laws, of the time and space I've been (dis)placed into.

You know... from what I picked up, not much is different.

10 year olds can start journeys on their own, but they are usually accompanied by one of their parent's more well-trained Pokés for the first couple of months or years depending on the individual. The one badge victory is considered a landmark for young trainers. It means that they're now competent enough to no longer need that handicap (provided they use thier own trained team to win).

You do need a license to own a Pokémon. The first level of the permit is not an actual trainer license, more like an owners license. You can get this first certificate as young as five, if you can pass the test needed to evaluate your competence in looking after other little monsters. This is a provisional license only, which lets you own and train up to 3 Pokés. To upgrade this licence requires either passing another test or conquering a badge. The milestone transfers your owner's license into a trainer's one.

You can carry more than 6 Pokés on you, but you must be able to care for them all at the same time. That means; food, cleanliness, social interaction, training and generally "a controlling of the chaos". So... y'know... not burning down forests cause someone got upset, or freezing lakes because of a sneeze or causing a rockslide because someone tripped...

Professors of each region do usually give out first time partners, however they are not always the three classic trio. They do stick to their own regional selection of Pokémon though.

There was actually a war, in which Lt. Surge participated, which ended not that long ago. Kanto and Johto were fighting another off-coast region. It doesn't really say who it was in the books, but I'm guessing it might have actually been the Orre region considering how desolate that place is now. And any book I found referencing the war does not paint Orre in a particularly flattering light. Propaganda at its finest.

The league rules over the regions absolutely. Towns and cities are monitored by gyms, and gyms are under the rule of the league. There are more gyms than the traditional big eight, to help spread the workload a bit more evenly across the regions.

(Unofficially) Champions are dictators. The champion can listen to council from the four elites or other governing bodies, but decisions and changes are ultimately decided for each region, by their own regional champs. (Terrifying news).

There are some differences as well.

The four move limit, (thankfully!) doesn't exist. Yes, generally a Pokémon can only learn a couple of moves at a time, but they also don't delete any of the old ones from their minds. It's more like they'll forget the command, before they forget the actual act. 'So as long as I train with the old moves and the new ones I can have quite the arsenal up my sleeve.' Generally when the second move is a more powerful version of the first then it becomes harder for the Pokémon to remember, i.e. Ember to Flamethrower.

There are animals that are not Pokémon in this world. They're usually the prey that the carnivorous Pokémon eat. There are no carnivorous animals, only some mammalian herbivores, birds, bugs and fish. Humans consume these animals as well. They create farms and breed them to keep them from extinction.

Pokémon can die. They do not usually die in battle, because Pokémon also have an unconscious instinct of their own innate power and that of their opponents'. That does not prevent accidents, nor does it stop those who train their Pokémon to ignore those instincts. Trainers like that are arrested and imprisoned as soon as they are identified. Their Pokémon are taken from them and rehabilitated if possible.

"There's never a bad Pokémon, just bad trainers."

Pokémon extermination's are sometimes legalised but the league. Usually because of an overpopulation of a species, or ultimately aggressive behaviour disrupting the natural order. If alternatives can be found, (ie. bug catching contest, fishing competition, pack/flock/herd relocation) they will be implemented first.

Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny are a real thing. However not in that they're sisters/ cousins/ clones (Pokémon in disguise...). It is in fact a title. The title 'Nurse Joy' is given to the lead doctor in each Pokémon Centre, and the same thesis applies to 'Officer Jenny' for Police Stations. If the lead (doctor/ officer) is male then Nurse John and Officer Jackson are applied instead. This principle was applied in an almost forgotten history, I was lucky to find anything about it. The names used, were of people who healed and brought structure during the lawless era of Pokémon.

League officials (Gym leaders/trainers, Healers, Officers and Ace trainers) can ask any trainer to help in times of crisis, if assistance is required and can be given. Monetary compensation will be provided for those who help. Refusal can result in consequences.

Officials have the authority to remove your trainer licence from you, if they have justification to do so. Neglect, incompetence, or villainess actions are the most common ways to have your licence and Pokémon removed.

There's a lot more information than that, but I summarised some of the key points I found interesting.

The main point I focused on was the need to have a licence. I didn't realise until the moment I read those words, but I don't actually own my hound yet. He must have been brought and placed under one of my parent's names.

'That's probably why Mother says Val will get taken from me if I'm not careful looking after him. I need to find a way to get a license of my own and put him under my name.' I look over from my bed to DeVil where he is resting in his cushion pile.

'Perhaps-' I shudder '-I don't even want to think it but I must! Perhaps-' I shudder again but grit my teeth and continue my thought '-school is the answer.'

Darkness was creeping into my room. Shadows seemd to crawl up the walls darkening the area.

'Eh, it is getting late now.' I thought glancing over and reading the time on the clock.

My private tutors/ teachers were rather convenient but they only teach what my parents want me to know. They avoid the topic of Pokémon if they can. I don't think my parents would be too fond of the idea of me journeying across the region and catching Pokémon.

A horrid thought hit as I lay down to sleep.

'I might just get disowned! My parents are still young they could have another child yet.'

I hadn't had money like this before, but I would be pretty worried to lose that support before I was even ten (again).

'Maybe there's a middle ground somewhere? I'll look into it tomorrow.'

_@@Pokemon@@_

There was a middle ground... I just reeeealy did not like the option.

Does anyone remember an episode early in the series of the Pokémon anime, about a school of rich, know-it-alls who upon graduation qualified for the Pokémon league without having to face any gyms? The place that existed so you could rub elbows with the rich and bratty, not so you could become a competent trainer.

Yeah? Well I remember. It apparently had a junoir grade in which you could qualify for your owners licence too.

Fun!

Now I just needed to convince my parents that I needed to go there. Conveniently there was an excuse I could use that went there already.

Lucky~!!

Bratty kids equals, snooty parents equals more business for father. It also didn't hurt that-

"James goes to school there, why can't I?" Wow inner wine turned up today.

"You have tutors, here." Mother said.

"But I wanna go there!! Why can't I go!!" That's right turn up the volume! Put some tears in too!!

My eyes watered.

"Please..." -sniff- your doing great!

Sighs came from both my parents. They looked at each other and had another one of those silent conversations that I wasn't privy to. They'd been doing that quite a bit since I got my pup, I think Mother was pretty pissed about that decision and now everything goes through her glare.

Speaking of... Mother looks back at me.

'Oh shit! Keep it up girl your losing her!!' "Please Mother... -sniff- I really wanna go..." Release a tear! Go, go, go!!

A tear slides down my cheek.

My mother grimaces.

Wait I've got another card!!

"J-just for a l-little bit -sniff- please mother? If I-I don't like it..." That's right I only really need to go and do that test I don't really have to stay there long, and if a five year old could pass I don't see why my (multi-dimensional) self couldn't.

'Sigh... I really miss the internet though.'

"Elizabeth..." Mother started her tone hesitant. 'She close! Quickly release the other one!!!'

A second tear slides down the opposite cheek. The image is completed. A masterpiece!

Both parents sigh aloud again.

'Victory~'

Well I know if this doesn't work out I could always try my hand at acting! I seem to have a knack for it!

_@@Pokemon@@_

What's gonna happen next!! Who knows? I have a vague idea but we'll all just have to see won't we!!

Who guessed Houndour? I think the only other option was FruFrou and maybe Absol (but personally I don't think he's very dog like).

I'm not the biggest fan of this dog myself. But in saying that, my favourite Poké's are the dogs, foxes and dragons, so he's still up there. He just fit better into some of the ideas I was brainstorming for the future.

What do you think of the name? I was thinking Lucifer to start, but then I typed the line before the introduction of that name and hit the caps lock half way through.

Aww happy accidents!

C U next time!! :)