Attached

A Pokémon Persona Crossover Fanfiction

by Three Black Noises

Chapter 13

Michael's POV

Soon enough, the driver's door slowly opened, as if the being on the other side had no idea what they were doing.

"Hello!" Bethany sang enthusiastically.

Her voice came from much higher up than she was tall, so someone else must have brought her.

"What a strange machine." Cresselia observed

"Yeah. Bella and I use something like this to deliver the potions I make." Bethany explained.

Bethany hopped into my lap and showed Cresselia how a car worked, but she also explained that this particular machine was a metaphor, and thus didn't properly function.

"I told Cresselia what this metaphor could really do for my friends and I, and she slid in enough to try to mess with the radeo.

"Aah, perfect. I was just devising a way to contact thee, but this works well enough for now." A deep voice said through the speakers.

"Arceus, I had a feeling my time was coming." Cresselia said; unsurprised.

"It can, vary soon if thou wish, however, I have a suggestion for thou to consider." Arceus offered.

"I'm listening." Cresselia prompted.

"Here's the deal. I had plans to take thy healing powers and give them to Hope, the current healer, and/or Velma. However thou hast landed yourself near them by chance, so thou can doeth that instead of me.

In return for giving up most of thy healing powers, I'm prepared to allow thee to stay a little while longer and experience the world.

"So, I'll be weakend?"

"Not exactly. I have devised a new form and set of techniques befitting a worior of thy state." Arceus explained.

"I need to keep some healing powers." Cresselia complained

"Don't worry. some healing techniques will be with thee. All thou will be giving up are thy unique powers dealing with darkrai, and a few other small things.

If thou accept my offer, give up thy powers to one or both healers, and the rest will sort itself out.

If thou don't agree to my terms, thou shallt see me when I claim thee in, ten hours from now."

The radeo fell silent after that, and I could feel Cresselia tence up.

"Talk about terms." bethany whispered.

"Thoughts?" I offered.

"I 'wunna do it right now." Cresselia said excitedly.

"Hold on a minute." bethany and I challenged together.

After some time passed, Bethany offered for me to go first.

"I already have some celebrity to my name, and you'd just add to it.

Not that I'd refuse you outright, but I want you to know what you're getting in to." I warned.

"You might be starting over, and you don't even know what your new body, or skill set, will be." Bethany added.

Cresselia blew out her breath before speaking again.

"You 'wunna know my current skill set?" she asked in a way that suggested that the answer was no, but Bethany invited Cresselia to explain it anyway.

"Lunar Dance you've already seen, but I also can use Confusion and Psychic, as well as Aurora Beam.

Through my paws, I can use slash and Psycho Cut, and that's, it for attacking moves.

Double Team, Safeguard, Mist, and Psycho Shift are pretty much useless, and that goes double for Future Sight." She explained glumly.

"Can't you use Moonlight?" Bethany asked.

"Yeah, but how's that going to help you Michael? Cresselia asked.

"I could find ways, but it sounds like you want to bid goodbye to those skills. You shure their's nothing you want to hold on to?" I asked.

"The only other technique I had was what I used to get rid of Darkrai, and, it, scares me, so, I'm glad it's gone." Cresselia explained, relief evident in her voice.

Cresselia staied their for a few moments more, before sliding out.

"You two talk about whatever, okay? Take as much time as you need."

As she was talking, I reached to feel her face.

"He's done that to all of us, except me." Bethany said helpfully.

"I don't mind if he does it, seeing as my current form will disappear tomorrow." Cresselia said before falling silent for a time.

I first felt the wing on the top of her head before moving my hands down to find her head and face.

I could feel her face changing a lot as I kept my hands on it.

"What?" I finally asked.

"It looks like she wants to say something to you." bethany explained.

"Bethany can you read?" Cresselia finally asked.

"I can, but are you able to write?" Bethany replied as a peace of paper and a pin fell in my lap.

"Sort of. My paws can't hold a pin, but my psychic powers..."

Cresselia went silent, but I could tell she'd lifted the paper and was doing something with it.

I heard a few splats, then Cresselia sighed.

"Well, their go my psychic powers." She said.

"Oh no." Bethany said; possibly looking at what Cresselia wrote.

"That's the long version. Hope and Velma can read it for themselves. Michael, would you like me to tell you the short version, or let Bethany read the long one?" Cresselia offered.

"If it's about Hope's healing powers, Sarah will want to know as well, and I don't know if Hope can read yet." I explained.

"I'd be happy to read it to you, and to anyone else to." Bethany offered.

"You sure?" Cresselia teased.

"If you want to tel him, go on." Bethany invited.

Cresselia took a vary deep breath and let it out slowly before speaking.

"Okay, heres the short version.

Suffice it to say, Hope's healing gift is the fault of my people, being other Cresselia.

You see, when a darkrai loses its life and gets recycled, its Cresselia goes as well.

But, where the Cresselia last stood, she leaves behind a kind of essence stone, containing a rather large measure of her empathy and compassion."

Cresselia fell silent again, but used her paw to tickle me under the chin as she gently exhaled.

"I get it. What ever random Pokémon happens to wonder by and pick up the stone becomes the next healer." I guessed.

"That's the gist of it." Cresselia confirmed.

"All the technical details are on that page." She added before leaving.

"I'll let Velma and Hope read that." I said as I turned around and closed the door.

"It's one heck of an info dump." Bethany warned before going silent.

I held her for several minutes; enjoying how she felt and being greatful that such a person could be counted among my friends.

"So, what would you like to know about me." She asked after a vary quick sigh.

"I'm not really sure where to begin." I laughed.

"Why don't you tell me about yourself, and how you and Bella found each other." I offered.

"Okay. I'm pretty simple, well all Bellossom are really." She laughed slightly before continueing.

"I'm actually more complex than most, even if I'm smaller and a little more sickly.

"Anyway, like all other Bellossom, my dayly life revolved around dancing, every single time a cloud passed in front of the son."

She demonstrated her dancing so I could feel her steps before continueing

"Unlike the rest in my family unit, I realized that our dancing had next to no effect on the weather, and struck out on my own.

I found out, vary quick, that speaking would be essential if I wanted to sell potions, so, for a while, I stood in a field and learned how to speak.

Once I got that down, it was pretty straight forward to find a human who'd let me set up shop, and I did that in Viridian city.

Bella and I crossed paths on a day where her help was needed.

See, I'd begun making a vary special potion, but a group of Spearow stole it from me.

Being as I am, getting it back was pretty much impossible, so I had no choice to return to the viridian Pokémon center.

I was minding my own business when she walked in looking all smug and stinking of poison.

She asked what I was doing, and I explained my opporation to her.

She seemed interested, so I asked for her help, and got it."

Bethany paused at this point, and I wondered if I should wait for Bella to return to get the rest of the story.

"It turns out that feara had stolen my potion believing that it would cure her speech problem.

Bella got the potion back, but left before I found that out though, but it just so happened that Robin was staying at the center with his master at the time, who'd suffered a devistating loss and needed to let his Pokémon recover for a long while.

Bella spoke to Robin about her own issues regarding, of all things, team rocket, and dropped a recommendation somewhere along the way that he could help me out, and he did.

I rode on his head, and we went out to route 22 and spoke to Feara.

neither one of us could help her at the time, but Robin must have decided to try again later."

Bethany paused for a vary long time, and I thought she was done.

Suddenly, she let out a loud short breath.

"Bella and I did find each other again, well she found me, and we found crystal, but a lot of that is stuff I still don't understand. Sorry."

"I can get the rest of the story, as soon as Bella gets back." I explained.

"Is there any thing else you want to ask me away from the others?" She asked.

"Two things.

First, could you teach Sora your dances?"

"Why?" Bethany laughed.

"His unique style could make them hard to read and give him a way to stay moving and avoid attacks." I explained.

"Huh. It, could, work. I'll think about it. Next?"

"If I found a way to do it, would you like to be bigger?"

"No! I'm quite happy with my lot in life thanks. My size works out for me just the way it is."

"Okay. Just thought I'd ask." I said.

Last thing." Bethany invited.

Before I could do anything, she pushed her flower section up into my face and invited me to take a big whif while she was safe.

I did, then opened the door and complemented her on her nice smell.

Cresselia came to get Bethany, but just before the door closed, Bethany told me that she did breathe out oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, but that it didn't smell nearly as good as her flower.

I didn't have to wait long before the door opened again, and a furry body climbed into my lap.

it was easy to recognize Tina by her floppy ears, .

She closed the door, then grabbed the keys and forcefully turned them, causeing the car to jolt a bit.

"Oops." She said softly as she began messing with the radeo.

As she found the station; person; she was looking for, the passenger door opened, and Margaret climbed in.

"So, what did you need?" She asked with a light tone.

"You'll find out presently." Tina said before raising her voice.

"Daniel?"

An irritated sigh replied.

"Daniel, what's wrong?" Tina asked; her voice low.

He took a long time to respond.

"All is fine here, the physical move is done, but." He sighed again.

"I know that sigh well. What's wrong?" Tina asked.

"It's, me, or rather, what I haven't yet done."

Tina didn't say anything, so daniel finally continued.

"How are things over there, because, we could use your understanding qualities here to deal with," he fell silent.

"Let me guess, morale needs improvement." Tina said.

"And I, need an adventure, according to the people." Daniel said before movement was heard.

"It is my fault. I messed it all up." Trey said.

I knew where this was going, but Margaret stepped in before I could say anything.

"Most of the fault lies with Elizabeth, my sister." Margaret said before launching into a detailed explanation of how the velvet room worked, and Elizabeth's dreams.

"I see." Daniel said at its conclusion.

He seemed to think for a time before speaking again.

"So this Elizabeth is lost. So am I, if I am being frank with myself." He said at length.

"She just needs time to find herself. So do you from the sound of things." Margaret replied.

"If it's adventure you want, the Pokémon and people I've allied myself with can provide that." I offered.

"That's where you come in Margaret." Tina invited.

"You want me to create a door so you and Daniel can swop places." Margaret confirmed.

I felt Tina nodd, then a cry arose out of the radeo, and somewhere else at the same time.

Tina jumped out of the car, and Margaret and I followed.

Tina wasted no time in going through the door, but I hung back long enough to ask Margaret if she would hold the location for a few minutes.

Upon her afirmation, I went through the door and gave all my wigglytuff friends a big hug.

They all told me they were okay after the move, but I didn't get to play catch-up, as some Wigglytuf arived that needed Tina's attention, and my absents.

So daniel and I fell through the door, but Margaret was gone upon our arrival.

That didn't matter much, as Daniel made a beeline for the car, jumped in, and slammed the door.

Quickly, I ran around to the passenger side and jumped in so as not to be required to let all my friends sit in my lap.

Daniel was fussing with the keys while muttering under his breath.

"Fuffultuff!" he shouted as he finally got the radeo to work again.

"Language." Tina and Trey sang.

"Right. Well, I'm here now, so, good night." He said before turning the radeo off and exiting the car.

I made to follow, but he was at my door vary fast and ordered me to resume my place behind the controls while he resumed Tina's place.

(So much for changing things up.) I thought as I complied.

Before he took his place again, he, "allowed" me to feel him.

He was much taller than the other Wigglytuff, so he was almost in my face as long as I was sitting down.

Build wize however, he was vary different.

Where Trey, Tina, and even Ruby were slim and mostly squat, Daniel was, well, plump, but not fat.

feeling him told me that; while he still had the same oval shape as his other family members; he'd trained his body for fighting, where the others had not.

If his physique felt built for battle, its texture was anything but.

I tried not to pet him to much, but I couldn't help it in the end.

"And that, is why I am never taken seriously." He said before making to sit in my lap.

He was so fluffy that he more or les absorbed into me, but eventually, I felt mustle and bone through my legs.

It was however, a considerable time before it happened.

"So." He prompted.

I waited; unsure of how to open a conversation with him.

Eventually, he gave a long sigh.

"Tina explained this situation. You have expressed an interest in getting to know each member of your team in private. Here I am, and here we are, without a sole to listen in on us.

So, ask me anything, and I'll answer honestly. If you need, or want, to feel my face, or pet me, do it."

One question was worth asking immediately.

"I seem to recall that special coins were needed in order to travel between your village and anywhere else?"

"That is correct. However we have not yet set that system up at the new location."

Daniel's face grew hot.

"I slept through how to do that to, but again, Tina and even Trey did not." He admitted.

"How long until it's active?" I wondered.

"Knowing Tina? A few hours at most, probably, with in the next ten or so minutes." He supplied.

"Do you have any coins with you?" I asked; fearing the worst.

"As a matter of fact, I do. Just one though, but it can be reused, so switching us around won't be a problem.."

"Okay, That puts my mind at eas." I said as I felt his body.

"You're cute like your siblings." I observed, but Daniel just blew out an annoied breath.

"Trey reacted the same way when Bethany said he was cute." I told him.

"And he had every right to do so. Understand, we Wigglytuff are more than just cute, but you humans only seem to see the cute part.

That is why most of our trates have died out, including our connections to the fae." He explained.

"The fae, like fairys?"I asked.

"Yes. In fact many Pokémon had links to the fae at one point or another, but those trates have all but died out at this point." Daniel explained.

"So, who else on my team had ties to the fae? I asked.

"Hope and Liz for sure." was Daniel's quick reply.

His speech slowed near the end, and he suddenly grabbed the paper and began to quickly read it.

"Hope knows of this?" He asked; voice clipped.

"Not yet," I began.

"When are you planning to tell her?" Daniel asked before I could continue.

"As soon as I've gone through everyone and am back at Crystal's."

"And is Hope already done?"

"She is, but I still need to talk to Sarah, so, I guess I can invite Hope back at the same time, maybe Velma to, and let them read that without Rotom around, just in case he automatically digitizes the information." I explained.

"That is, fair enough, I suppose." daniel agreed.

He was lost in thought for several minutes, before he made a strange sound and drew breath to speak.

"I know you must have several questions for me, however, I have some information you need to know first."

He was silent for a time before beginning.

"This is top secret information, however, it deals with your healer friend, so I feel like I can trust you with it."

He gave a resigned sigh before speaking again.

"we lost one of our leaders to Cresselia's, curse.

For decades now, we had no explaination as to why it happend, however, the information provided by Cresselia lines up perfectly with the events that robbed us of not only a great leader, but a perfect breeding partner as well."

"That must have been sometime before Xavier became your leader." I stated more than asked.

"Dad was the only candidate once Aden got, changed.

He was always understanding, enough, for a leader, but once he found that damn stone, he, well, understanding went to a crazy level, and he just, had to leave to start a healing quest.

Dad told me this about five years ago, just, in case..."

"How long ago was this?" I asked; once it was apparent that Daniel was done with his story.

"Pretty much fifty years to the day. Why?"

"Maria might have known him, aden I mean.

"According to Dad, Aden was a great person, and even greater leader. I won't hold my breath, but if she has anything to say regarding him, I would, be vary interested to hear it.

"So, did Xavier say any more about the stone?" I inquired.

"He and aden were vary good friends, but Aden kept saying that the stone went inside of him.

The village declared Aden mad a no longer fit for leadership, so Dad took over out of respect for his best friend.

That was a mess." He finally reflected.

"Anyway, enough about Dad and the past, would you like to know about me?" He asked shortly after.

"Yeah. You acted vary spoiled whenever Trey and I were leaving. Is that who you really are?" I asked.

Daniel sighed again.

"Not really, but as the future leader, it was expected that I would act, a little spoiled.

So, I did, because I didn't know how long I had before..."

Daniel hung his head and sighed.

"Losing someone inportant, changes you." He finally said.

"You 'wunna talk about it?" I asked gently.

Daniel didn't respond directly, though his head staid low for a time.

Finally, he blew out a vary slow breath before addressing me again.

"I am, still processing things, and attempting to figure out who I wish to be now.

If I wish to talk about it later, would you listen?"

"All of us will. You've landed in a vary caring group of people and Pokémon, so just speak up whenever okay?" I asured him.

"I will, however, I am still here, so, are you sure their is nothing you wish to ask me in private?" He asked, one tiny hand poised to open the door.

As he was getting into position to actually open the door, my hand landed on his head, and I noticed that one of his ears was missing.

"What happened here?" I asked; gently tapping on the spot where his left ear should have been.

Daniel opened the door with little difficulty and stepped out of the car before turning on a strange combination of a growl and sigh to face me.

"Some parts of my passt are, painful to speak of.

If you are worried about the loss of my ear effecting my performance in battle, please do not."

I took Daniel's face in my hands and tried to look into his eyes.

"Daniel listen, your battle performance is secondary to your personality.

I'd rather have a Pokémon with a good personality and have to work on his or her battle skills than the other way around." I explained.

Daniel made a contented sound before placing one furry hand under my chin and gently lifting it up.

"You were tickled here." He laughed; indicating the spot where cresselia had done so a few minutes earlier.

"How can you tell?" I laughed.

"I tickled my siblings a lot, and they me, so we can always tell." He explained with a small chuckle.

"So you do consider Trey, Tina and Ruby as yours?" I confirmed.

"And Jade is my mother, so I'll will be helping you get her back, unless Ruby decides she's doing that.

Until then though, it'll be Tina and I, mostly; who will be with you, unless you request Trey for some reason.

As he started this, I will have no choice but to allow him to take part if you desire."

I heard footsteps approaching us, and Daniel must have to, as he turned to face their source.

"Hello madam. You must be Liz." He asked.

"Yes I am." She afirmed in a shaky voice.

"Nice to make your acquaintance." Daniel said, and I heard him offer his hand to her.

Liz blew out a loud breath, and I knew this was just one more reminder of her current state.

"Follow my voice." Daniel invited before starting to sing a funny little song.

He stopped when her hand found his head.

They must have shook hands eventually, because Liz made a relieved sound.

Daniel invited liz to feal him, and she did, before asking me if she could take the next spot.

I didn't see a problem with that, and told Daniel that he could head back and introduce himself to the others before choosing the next visitor.

Before leaving, he helpt Liz get situated; in my lap; and closed the door for her like a good polite gentleman should.

Liz sighed resignedly, and I knew what was coming.

"Michael, I'm sorry to do this to you, but i'd just be in your way until I'm better, so..."

She drew in a deep breath and held it for a while.

"Take me off the team okay?"

She let the rest of her breath out in a gusty sigh upon finishing her request, and I could tell that was a vary hard addmission for her to make.

"No. Their's no need. We'll do what ever we need to do if you want to come with us." I assured her.

"I'll just, be in the way." She repeated softly.

"Liz, it's no problem for one of us to help you get around." I argued.

"Michael, I will not be lead around like a little girl!" She shouted, then seemed to catch herself.

"I, I didn't, mean." she began, and I put my arms around her, then held her face.

Liz, I get what you mean. I'm not offended, but let us help you. Friends do that." I stated.

Liz sighed again., waited a few seconds, then took in another breath and blew it out.

"All right. I've already made arrangements here, but if I'm not better in, three weeks?" She offered.

"Three weeks." I allowed.

Liz didn't say anything else for quite some time.

Suddenly their was a small popping sound, before an extremely happy voice called, "Hello!" from Liz's lap.

"Huh?" Liz exclaimed in complete disbelief before trying to feel of the new arrival.

"What, are you?" She breathed.

"Short answer? Your, past." The new arrival replied.

"You're my persona. I mean, I'd be able to touch you if you were real." Liz stated.

"Not quite. For now, I am Kirlia, the ejected self."

"Ejected?" I asked, as Liz gave a small moan.

"Ahuh, ejected, as in, my mind is, losing its psychic sections." Liz explained.

"Meaning?" I supplied.

"Meaning, she's almost a human,as far as her mind is concerned, that's why I'm here.

Until her mind is repaired, I'll hold on to the memories and abilities she can't use." Kirlia explained.

"So what are you then?" Liz asked.

"I am, simply a container. I look like Kirlia, because that is what you were before.

When you recover your mind, I'll, disappear inside it once again." She explained, just before the door opened and Norma told us that Liz had to get to the library in order for Igore to stabilize the connection to her container.

Liz got out of the car easy enough, but seemd to have a slight bit of difficulty with something.

"Igore needs some distance to test a few things with Kirlia, so this works out fine." Norma said.

She leaned in and and whispered, "We'll talk soon."

As she did so, something she wore around her neck bumped against me.

"Enjoy Kirlia." She called before closing the door.

"Liz will be fine. She has lots of help." Kirlia said quickly.

"Nah, she'll be an emotional train wrek for days." Clefki said as he came into being next to me.

Kirlia?" I asked.

"Right here." she responded; voice directly in my face, though no breath accompanied it.

"Weird. You really aren't here." I breathed.

"I don't have enough substance to physically exist anywhere." Kirlia said; her voice now coming from higher above me.

That caused my mind to start working on an unrelated idea, and I suddenly needed to see Igore in person.

"Could one of you help me to the library?" I asked quickly.

Igore and Liz were deep in conversation when I entered, but they stopped as soon as they saw me.

"Can I help you?" Igore asked, and I explained my plan.

"I see." He replied thoughtfully.

"You want to fuse Penguilum and Prinplup together, wishing to remove Penguilum so sarah can have a persona that can be called upon if needed, without arousing suspicion do to Penguilum featuring in a TV program. Is that correct?" Igore asked.

I nodded, and Margaret stood up.

"I do have both personas, but fusing them together won't give you a Prinplup, in fact, I'm not sure what it would give us." She explained.

"Having Sarah here would help the process immensely. She has matured a greate deal since these personas were created." Igore suggested.

I didn't want to mess with the random order of my friends as far as the visits were concerned, but this was important enough to make a change.

I could also let Hope and Velma read the information regarding the healing factor while they were here.

So I went back and managed to get them to come with me without spoiling any surprises regarding the randomness factor either.

The library was our first stop, and Margaret already had both persona cards ready.

I offered to let Hope and velma read the information on the healing factor, but Hope wanted to stay and watch the persona fusion.

Velma decided to stay as well; probably out of curiosity, so all of us stood in front of Igore and margaret, waiting for what ever came next.

"Sarah, you do understand that the act of fusing these two personas together will effectively get wrid of both of them?" Igore confirmed.

"I do, but I've changed so much in body and mind over the previous days that these two don't really match who I am anymore." Sarah agreed.

"If you're sure, then please place each of your, flippers? on these personas, and my master will begin the fusion process." Margaret explained.

Sarah took the time to look at each of them in turn, or at least that's what I told myself.

"Stay selfless." Prinplup whispered fiercely.

"That'll be easier without you around." Sarah laughed.

Penguilum didn't speak right away, so Sarah knelt in front of the ice bird and waited.

"Look, the me from a few days ago wanted to be like you, but, I think, I have to find that strength for myself." Sarah finally offered.

"You don't need to find anything." Penguilum assured her.

"Of course I do." Sarah argued; seeming just the slightest bit offended.

"You're already doing it. Part of the process is getting wrid of us."

Penguilum paused as if getting ready to add something, but didn't.

Sarah stood up before Penguilum added, "respect your friends, and they'll do the same to you."

She put her flipper hands on each persona, then heaved a sigh of resignation.

"Okay,." She finally said in a steady voice.

Igore didn't acknowledge her in any way I could detect, but he must have done something to either the personas, or the cards that held them, because a low thrumming sound filled the library and built steadily louder until two screams could be heard.

They didn't last long enough for anyone to worry before a loud, sort of ringing booming sound replaced all else, then gradually faded away.

"You really kept me waiting." A woman's voice said.

"I've, changed, inside." sarah said.

"Of course you have. Hope was never supposed to be your life, though she has rubbed off on you." The woman replied.

"And, who are you?" sarah asked; a bit perplexed.

"I am high pixie. I come from the sea of your sole, and I'll protect you and those you choose to call friends." The woman explained

"But, if you really come from, my sole, you'd know I want to be able to heal people, at least, a little bit." sarah challenged.

"I can, heal people. a little bit, as you said."

Sarah didn't seem to trust her new persona, and I feared it might go crazy if she didn't except it soon.

"So what else can you do?" sarah finally asked.

"Sarah, except her, please?" I pleaded.

"That depends on her answer. I know myself well enough now, and, if she is from my sole as she says she is, her answer should match up." Sarah explained.

"So?" sarah prompted.

High Pixie gave a long sigh in response.

"Look, I want to believe you are a part of me, with all my heart. If you are, then your abilities should match up with some of my desires. So, please, tell me what you can do a this moment."

We all waited for High Pixie's answer, and finally, she seemed to understand what Sarah wanted.

"I can heal cuts, broozes and scrapes. I can put a spring in your step, as well as protect you from the lightning you have that annoying weakness to.

I can take some of the edge off of using your water techniques.

I can keep your friend's minds in the right, and help you escape from conflict that could endanger your health."

Sarah didn't respond for a long time

High Pixie didn't seem put out waiting a bit for sarah's answer, and that; in my mind; was a good thing.

Sarah finally blew out a vary slow breath that told me she'd excepted most of High Pixie's answer.

"Okay. That last part, is still hard to admit to anyone, but I am still scared of battles."

Sarah held out her flipper hand, and it seemed that high Pixie landed on it.

"Oh yeah." she said with a silly tone in her voice before whispering something in sarah's ear.

Sarah burst into laughter, and I relaxed considerably.

"Yeah that's me to!" She said through the laughs.

"So we're good?" High Pixie confirmed.

"Of course we are. get inside me you tiny woman!" sarah laughed.

Even Igore laughed a bit at that.

"So, are Prinplup and Penguilum really gone?" I asked.

"Sarah's heart has undergone some major changes, so, yes they are." Igore replied.

"Don't fear. You have the power of the wild card, so you can harbor many personas within yourself. If you choose to fuse any of them to make stronger personas, the compendium I'm in charge of will keep track of them and allow you to recall them at any time." Margaret added.

"Even if those two personas staied in the compendium, none of us know what might happen to sarah, or you, if you chose to harbor them for any amount of time." Igore added; seeming deep in thought.

"What?" Sarah asked.

"This world you come from, has changed what we know about personas." Igore explained.

"You mean Pokémon evolution?" Liz asked.

"Yes, and no. most of you look like animals, but are far more intelligent than animals have any right to be, barring some exceptions. Evolving is a bit trickier to explain, but basically you change physical forms randomly, and in some case this effects your harts thus changing your persona in the process. This doesn't make you a wielder of the wild card ability like Michael here, but might; in some individuals, create a similar effect, at least temporarily." Igore explained.

"In other words, you don't know." Hope replied.

"correct madam." Igore said after a slight pause.

"So, can a persona help get around a physical disibility?" Liz asked.

"No persona user has ever had one, so, I do nont know madam." Igore replied without hesitation.

"Okay?" Liz said before turning in place.

"Margaret?" She asked after seeming to guess where she was facing.

"Almost Liz." Margaret replied.

Liz corrected her position, then spoke.

"Do you still remember the location I gave you while transporting the other gardevoir?"

Margaret seemed at a loss for words, until something seemed to pass in front of her.

"I can have the door open at any time." Margaret replied easily.

"They cure psychic maladies." Liz blew out a breath before continuing.

"And they oe me a favor. I just don't want to use it this soon but." She blew out another breath.

"Liz, take care of yourself first, then join back up with us okay?" I asked gently.

"But all that stuff we did, and they want to help to." Liz argued.

"Our help is still available if you need it." Margaret assured her.

"And don't worry about the weird stuff we did. Everybody was just trying to help to." I added.

"It'll all be worth it if our bond survives this." Liz said much to quickly for my liking.

"Thanks Kirlia." she added almost in a whisper, though I still caught it.

Liz then held sarah to her chest, but Sarah turned it into a hugg.

"Sarah? You be a vary good girl until I get back okay?" Liz asked; voice hitching as she spoke.

"Of course." Sarah responded as she ended the hugg.

"Clefkie? You keep ahold of that bond real tight please?"

Clefkie didn't attempt a hugg, but seemed to respond to Liz's question in some manner.

Liz did hugg me, and held on for a vary long time.

Once the hugg ended, Liz put my hands on her face, then invited me to feel of her as much as I wanted.

I felt, of most of her, for a long time.

Eventually, she pulled away, before turning on a protracted sigh.

"The door's waiting in the center of the square." Margaret indicated.

Cresselia came forward at that point and offered to guide Liz to the door.

They probably needed to talk, so I allowed it.

Cresselia returned a few minutes later and stood in front of me.

I had no idea why, but I figured she was letting me feel her again.

Doing so, I discovered that she was holding Liz's dress, neatly folded in her arms.

"She wanted you to have it. The Gardevoir family took her in as she expected, but they left her dress behind just before the door closed.

I believe she wished you to keep it with you so another psychic Pokémon could make use of it if they wanted to,

but I'll leave that choice up to you." Cresselia explained.

"I'd feel a bit weird carying that around with us.

Perhaps we could leave it here?" I offered.

"She's your friend, but you might want to consider the fact that the bond I'm holding might not be valid once she recovers." Clefkie advised.

"Something else to consider. In ten hours, my appearance might change for the worsed.

Can I keep this until we know how I look?" Cresselia asked.

I nodded, but started laughing soon after.

"What? Cresselia and Clefkie asked.

"Nothing much. I'm just trying to imagine a bird in a dress." I said once I'd gotten my laughter under control.

"You might not have to, come tomorrow." Cresselia said quietly.

She cleared her throat.

"Speaking of..." She offered.

Cresselia gathered all of us in the velvet house, after retrieving the document she'd written.

Hope read it, then let Velma do the same.

So your people are why we're in this mess." Hope stated.

"Why'd I have to go and find that damn rock?" She asked; after letting out a long sigh.

"The, stone..." Cresselia began uneasily.

It doesn't land where we expire, and it doesn't, find Pokémon, though it does, atract them, kind of." She finished.

"Kind of?" Hope challenged.

"You like helping Pokémon out?" Cresselia asked softly.

"Yes. No question there." Hope replied enthusiastically.

"Then, I'd say the stone picked the right Pokémon for the task." Cresselia observed before clapping her, paws? Together briskly.

"Now on to business. As you might already know, I've been given the chance to help correct my blunder with Darkrai.

In order to take advantage of this" however, I must give the rest of my unique healing powers to one, or both of you healers.

That's what I wish to do now." Cresselia explained.

Hope cleared her throat as Cresselia was drawing breath to say more.

"Yes Hope?" Cresselia asked.

"If it's all the same to you, I'd like Velma to have your powers.

If any are left, then, I suppose I'll take them."

"Hope?" Velma began.

"Shush you. I'm the resident healer, so I'm making this call.

My powers are plenty strong already, and you are the truly unfortunate one." Hope began.

At the same time, she walked over and put my hands on her grinning face.

"Hope, I don't want these powers.

Cresselia should just take them from me and give them to somebody else."

Velma, it, doesn't work that way." Cresselia tried to explain.

Velma sighed as Norma chose to give her a hug.

"Look, you didn't choose this life, but those who made you created an imbalance in the world by cutting the life of the last healer vary short. Hope is a vary nice Pokémon, and your kind could do with some posative image enforcement."

Norma disengaged from the hug and returned to where she'd been sitting on the floor.

"You're going to make me except this power, so."

Cresselia made her whisiling sound, causing Velma to stop short of finishing her sentence.

"I won't, make you except it, but like it or not, it's already a part of you.

If you're worried about this effecting your personality, don't. The power only seads itself in compatible beings." Cresselia admitted.

"So you're saying I'm either nice by default, or the power made me nice?" Velma asked.

"One of those." Cresselia replied evasively.

"So, if a Pokémon rejects the stone, what happens?" Hope asked.

"I don't know. The stone isn't exactly what you'd call a sentient object after the first few minutes, so, my guess is that it would just get found by whoever."

"And if a human found it and, kept it as a collecter's item?" I prompted.

"uh. I, don't know." Cresselia admitted.

She made her wistling sound again, then made to speak.

"My best guess is, that, the stone, is just a stone, with its energy going back to arceus." She finally said.

"So, collecters couldn't offer the energy as a way to boost" I began.

"arceus No!" Cresselia shouted.

A lot of us sighed in relief at her outburst.

"Okay. At least we don't have to worry about healer stones not being used." Sarah finally added.

"But we do have to worry about what Cresselia will become soon." I said softly.

"Don't. I mean, I am perfectly happy with what ever Arceus chooses for my new appearance." Cresselia explained.

"Oh? Even something like Staraptor?" I asked.

"I'd love to become a Staraptor!" Cresselia exclaimed.

"Oh." Was all I ended up supplying.

"There is another possibillity you haven't considered yet." Velma piped up.

"And that is?" Cresselia offered.

"That you might not become a flying type at all. For all we know, tomorrow morning might see you awake as, say, a Lopunny." Velma replied.

"Anything but a Lopunny." Norma half said, half sighed.

"Why?" I asked.

"They've been slaves to humans that have lost, someone important to them." Norma explained.

I read between the lines, and deduced that it wouldn't really effect Cresselia, but people might read me as a bad person anyway.

"Okay, so no Lopunny then. Anything else you want to be?" I asked.

"I don't really have a preference.

So long as I can still heal on occasion, and defend myself and others, then, sky's the limit, I guess." Cresselia replied after a vary short amount of thought.

"Well, if you're sure, then I suppose you'd better give your power toHope and velma." I recommended.

Cresselia asked Hope and Velma to gather around her.

"Okay." She sighed.

"Velma, the old slash new healer, you're up first." Cresselia declared.

I'm, not sure what happend between them, but something must have, because velma started making puzzled noises shortly after Cresselia finished with her.

"What?" Norma asked.

"I feel, something, burning, inside of me, from, somewhere." Velma slowly explained.

"Burning?" Hope asked.

She gently pushed Cresselia back and turned to face Velma.

"Where do you feel it in your body?" She quietly asked.

"Umm, everywhere?" Velma asked more than said.

"That'll be the healing erge. It causes pain until you heed it."

"Wait, I'm in pain?" Velma asked softly.

"Yes. Where is it strongest? By that I mean, from whitch of us do you feel it most?" Hope asked.

Velma walked around to each of us several times, and finally settled on me.

"It's, you." She said in amazement.

"Oh right. This happened with Hope to." I admitted.

"So, umm, get closer to me!" Velma commanded.

"I'm not going to get up in your face." I argued.

"You did it for Liz." she shot back.

"That was! Umm, well, weird, but for a good cause, I think." I said; the vibrato draining from my voice as the words left my mouth.

"Well, I won't be blowing into your face. I have the erge to heal you, and I want you close to me.

I cant explain why though.

For some reason, it just, feels, like the right thing to ask of you."

The healing powers were undoubtedly effecting her, so I decided to humor Velma; just this once.

She placed her claw hands on my face, felt around a bit, then finally settled on placing a hand on each side of my face closest to my eyes.

As expected, nothing happend, but velma wasn't done just yet.

It started low in the back of her throat as an incoherent growl, but it eventually took shape as "Corsola.

She chanted this over and over, but nothing seemed to happen.

"Out of desperation, she growled her given name several times to, then gave up and exhaled a frustrated breath in my face.

"Oh sorry sorry sorry! That must have smelled terrible!" she said; backing up rapidly.

"Anyway I can't heal you. I'm so sorry." She said in a more controled way.

"Hay no worries Velma." I consoled.

"That was weird saying your given name like that. You won't here me going, Hope, Hope, woh what the!" Hope exclaimed.

"Hay Velma, come here." She said in a puzzled way.

Velma complied, then Hope said her own name with conviction.

"That's weird. It kind of feels like." Hope began.

"Yeah it does, but let me try."

Velma said Hopes name in the same way.

"Oh weird. that's doing something. She observed.

Hope said Velma's name, then gasped.

"Give me your claw please!"

They linked hand and claw, and even I could feel there combined power level after they, activated each other.

"We can link our powers together." They said as one.

They released each other, and the power died out.

"Like Plusle and Minun." I breathed.

Suddenly, Sarah burst into tears and ran from the room.

Hope sighed in annoyance.

"Give her time to accept things." Norma suggested.

Cresselia transfered the rest of her healing powers to Hope, but it didn't seem like much happened.

"I don't feel much different." Hope observed once the process was complete.

Cresselia sighed before replying, "That's because Velma got most of my powers, per her request.

You got, about ten percent, or so."

I left them to talk while I went to check on Sarah.

I didn't even get the chance to put one foot outside the house before she almost knocked me down.

"Sorry." She breathed as she passed me.

I closed the door as Sarah found the others.

"Norma, Velma!" She called.

"We're right here." Norma said quietly.

"Read this please?" Sarah asked breathlessly.

"Where'd you find this?" Norma asked as she took a note from Sarah.

"On the door. why?"

"What's that?" Velma asked.

"A picture of a furry brown and white Pokémon." Norma replied as she handed the note over.

"Took me forever to find this place.

A Pokémon trainer got a new Pokémon hating wife who wishes his Pokémon would just disappear.

You're welcome.

Arcius

PS; Please tell Cresselia that the transference of power has been acknowledged." Velma read.

"This is a Lopunny all right." velma said after seeming to look at the picture.

She flipped the note over, appeared to read the back, then blew out a breath.

"Well, it seems arcius has a funny side. He left the Lopunny in the car so Michael could get to know her.

And also because she was riding in a car when the transfer took place." Velma explained.

"Probably a replacement wife." Norma said under her breath.

"What?" Sarah and I asked.

"It happens." Norma and Velma said together.

"That's why the real wife wants the Pokémon gone." I guessed.

"Maybe you should get back to learning about your Pokémon friends now." Cresselia suggested to me as Norma walked over and hugged Sarah.

"are you going to be okay?" She asked softly.

"Yes?" Sarah replied, but I could still here the tears in her voice.

Velma walked over and put her arms around the large downy penguin.

Norma let go and stepped away as Velma began speaking.

"I get it. I come into your life and completely reck your plans with Hope.

If you want to be mad at me, do so." she said.

I could tell she wanted to, but her attempts to launch watter at Velma only resulted in breath escaping Sarah's bill.

"Can't do it huh?" Velma asked.

"I can't be mad at you.

I'm just mad that the use I'd planned for this body is."

Sarah blew out a long breath.

"Well, I'll find some way to make it useful." She said with more brightness in her voice.

"You and Hope go do your thing. I'll stay with Michael." Sarah finally said after a considerable pause.

Velma stepped away before Sarah came over to me.

"I'm okay now. You continue getting to know the others." She invited.

"Okay, everyone except Cresselia, back to crystal's please." I asked.

"What about the Lopunny?" Norma asked.

"I'll start with her, and when you see her, I'll be ready for the next random friend." I said.

So they all began leaving, and after a few minutes, I headed out to meet the newest addition to my growing poole of Pokémon friends.

"Lopunny?" I asked as my cane told me I was nearing the car.

"Right in front of you." She said; voice much deeper than I'd imagined.

I found her with my cane a few steps later and folded it.

She took it from me and put it in the car.

"So, following the established routine, I, Angela, will sit in your lap, after a paw and hand shake." She said.

Finding her paw wasn't hard at all, but shaking it was, different.

She lead me to the car, gently invited me to sit, then sat in my lap and closed the door.

I hadn't summend Clefkie, but Angela seem to have a set of keys that she smartly put where they needed to go.

Her tail brushed against my shoulder as Angela started drumbing her paws on the control pannel in front of us.

"Let's see, Michael, yep, here we are.

You lost your first two gym battles do to, unforeseen circumstances." She said.

She tapped away for a few minutes more; making little noises as she read.

"Tuff breaks." She finally said.

She tapped some more, then blew out a breath.

"Well let's see how well this goes." She said.

She drumbed away for two more minutes, then sighed.

"What?" I asked.

"I've just sent my former master a long e-mail explaining my current situation.

If things work out, I'll be yours vary soon." She explained.

"You really know how to use computers." I observed.

"I got to sit in my master's car while he did business.

I can type, write e-mails, read e-books, stream videos, play music, and some other things my master doesn't know about." She explained.

The car began playing what sounded like a Spearow cry that had been manipulated to make it sound like it was singing what I guessed was a song that had a JPop sound to it.

Angela sighed in annoyance as she slammed a button that turned off the song.

"Really? Every Little Bird?" She asked.

"Music group?" I asked as Angela seemed to open up a new window on the computer.

"More like music joke." she said distractedly.

She seemed to read something on the screen.

"Well, that was fast. Let me just check a few things." Angela said as she drummed on the controls a bit more.

"Ahuh? Source header checks out, routing server, is good, sender account token varifies as legit," She blew out another breath as she drummed a little more.

"E-mail address, matches, time and date stamp, checks out, can't scan for viruses but." Angela said all this under her breath as she worked.

"Careful, or you'll make Rotom jealous." I teased.

"Oh yeah? He can just bring it on then." Angela said as she seemed to do a few small things, then seemed to be reading the screne.

arceus gave that woman her wish, so my, now previous, master can marry his second, real, wife, and I can travel with you and your friends." She said after a minute of silence.

"So what do you want from me?" I asked.

"It's actually more like what you need from me.

I can battle by your side just fine, or I can teach others to battle just as well." She offered.

"How good are you at motivating others?" I asked slowly.

"You'd like me to train Daniel." she stated.

"Yes. He needs it, well his family does, but" I began.

"then I can train all of them. Though, if they enter battle, you'll have to gide them to victory yourself." She warned.

"What you never want to lead Pokémon in battle?" I joakingly asked.

"Pokémon can't train other Pokémon." She said.

"Oh really. Then I guess my Pidgeot Robin didn't attempt to win me my first gym badge." I said smoothly.

"What!" Angela asked.

She drumbed away on the controls before my first gym battle replayed on the screen.

Most of it was familiar to me, up to the point where Hope atempted to transform.

"Really?" Angela ask in a low voice.

"Of all the techniques to come out it had to be transform?" She continued.

The replay didn't show anything I'd experienced from that point on, other than Liz rushing Hope and I out of the arena.

"The challenger has left the arena. Therefore" the refferee began.

"No! You shouldn't call a forfit yet." Robin said.

"Rotom and sarah took up the cry as well, and my heart went out to them.

"Actually, we can, as there's no challenger to give commands to the Pokémon on that side of the field." the refferee explained.

"I can." robin said quietly.

"What!" Rotom shouted.

"In english the entire time?" The refferee asked.

"Of course, if sarah will agree to listen to me." robin advised.

Sarah said something that didn't translate.

"If that's the case then, proceed with the battle!" The referee called.

The battle went to fast for me to follow on sound alone, but Angela filled me in.

We finished watching that match, then Angela pulled up my second battle.

I had no shame in reliving those matches, as they did show how good both my team as well as myself were in battle.

"I take it, the little Bellossom on your head is Bethany Porter?" was Angela's only question during the video.

How are you pulling these matches up?" I asked after the videos ended.

"I have an account with the league's gym match system." She answered easily,.

"Well, we'll see how long it stays active." She finished as she waved her right paw up and down.

Angela seemed to be deep in thought before she blew out a vary long breath.

"You have to take a step back and realize how much a blind person misses out on because it doesn't make sound." She said.

"I get by." Was all i said.

Angela suddenly opened the door and got out of the car.

She turned me to face her, and put my hands on her face.

I'd never felt a rabit face before, though I still tried to parse her expression even though the muscles that helped me read human expressions weren't present on her face.

She held the same expression while my face went through a lot of them.

"You, like me as a person." I began.

"Yes, but that's not what my expression says. Try again." She replied.

I felt her face for about half a minute before guessing again.

"You're curious about my friends and how I function."

"Yes, but that's not what my face says right now."

She sighed deeply.

"Okay, I'm impressed with you." she said.

"Why?"

"Those videos say more about you than a conversation could.

I want to help you grow as a person and a trainer.

If your current friends are okay with me that is.

OH, and you can take your hands off my face now." Angela said.

"And if I want to keep them there?" I asked; grinning.

"Then leave them there." She responded vary quickly.

"So, anything else you want to tell me?" I asked; noticing no change in her expression.

"About?" she prompted.

"You?" I asked; letting my face brake out into a grin.

"Me?" She asked right back.

"Anything you want to do with yourself?"

"No. Other than be with you." Angela said.

Her face worked between several expressions I couldn't read before she blew out a long breath.

"Well, I want to travel around the world." She allowed softly.

"You're in luck, because I have to do that in order to win gym badges." I explained.

Angela laughed at that; a practiced sound that left me uneasy.

"What?" She asked; most likely regarding my change of expression.

"Your laugh sounds"

"Practiced?" She finished.

I nodded in reply.

"Well, this might come as a shock to you, but Lopunny don't have time for laughter because we're to busy running away from everything that wants to kill us." Angela said darkly.

"I don't doubt that, but you still learned anyway." I pointed out.

Angela exhaled hard before continuing.

"Yeah, I did, and it took me, three long years to stop being afraid of everything.

Learning the techniques I know helped with that."

Angela didn't speak for a long time, and I finally gathered she was done talking about that particular subject.

"Is that all you want to tell me?" I carefully asked.

"Tell, yes. show over time, no." Angela replied.

After making sure she was done getting to know me, I explained about the procedure all of us were in the middle of when she arived.

She appologized for interupting us, and I let her know that she'd done nothing wrong.

I told her how to get to the exit of the velvet room, and asked her to please let the next friend in the random order come through.

She gave me a hugg, told me how glad she was that we'd met, then took her leave.

The next friend didn't speak as they opened the door, but that didn't matter.

The smell gave her away instantly, but when she leaned in and the thing around her neck hit me in the chest, their was no doubt it was Norma.

"Ah, perfect." She said under her breath as she reached passed me and turned the key.

"Now nobody can listen in on us." She said as she sat in my lap and draped her heart-shaped tail over my shoulder and the back of the seat.

Closing the door, norma blew out her breath slowly before readying to speak.

"Look, I get why you're doing this, to get to know us.

That can still happen, but first I need to tell you something."

Norma collected herself before speaking again.

She shifted around in my lap, and I could tell she was nervous.

She let out a fast sigh before speaking.

"Listen to me, Chris comes first, now that I've found him." Norma began.

"Liz leaving and Cresselia possibly changing types, could remove all psychic types from our little group.

I know Chris and Christina have a little thing going on between them, and I hate to take him away before you even get to truly know him.

But if we can't find a teacher for him in the Hoenn region, then Chris and I will have to leave the group." Norma explained.

She waited for me to respond, and I gave the matter some thought before speaking.

"I thought we already trained Chris." I finally suggested.

"Yes, but only the basics.

I can teach him electric moves, but I'm not a psychic type, and I still need one to help my son master the more, shal we say, complex parts of his abilities." Norma explained.

"I suppose that's fair to all of us." I finally replied.

I knew Hoenn was as good a place as any to find Chris a teacher in, and if my game knolege matched up with this world, then gardevoir were common there.

If one of them wouldn't help, we could always find an Alakazam, Grumpig, Baltoy or Metagross, or a half psychic like Medicham to help out.

I explained this to Norma, and pointed out that; out of thousands of psychic pokémon; shurely one would be cooperative.

Norma shifted a bit more, but not as much as before.

"I won't tell Chris yet.

I want him to enjoy his time properly." Norma finally explained.

"I won't say anything if you won't." I joked.

Norma let out a long, 'I feel much better' sigh before slowly turning the key.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"It's a long shot, but, I wonder if this thing can find chris' father?" She said softly.

"Who knows?" I asked truthfully.

"I want them to meat up, now that Chris is in my care, and older." Norma explained.

I pointed her to the Cd collection, and Norma dug through it.

She found a match vary shortly, and put the disc into the player.

"Don't worry little Bunary, you're safe with me, Noone's going to hert you, I promise." The voice of a little boy said.

"Oh no." Norma moaned.

"I know you're afraid of me, and that's fine, but my father's a gym leader. He'll know how to help you, you, cute, pretty, little thing.

Man my sister's 'gunna flip out, when she finds out about such a cutey of a pokémon living with me, us, and that I befriended it!"

I didn't recognize the boy's voice, but that didn't mean anything.

Suddenly, the keys began shaking, so Norma hurriedly turned off the car and dropped the keys in her lap.

As soon as they hit her legs, a loud popping sound turned into a high-pitched moan that I recognized as Clefkie's voice.

"Clefkie!" We both said together.

"How much did I miss?" He asked weakly.

"What's the last thing you remember?" I asked.

"Angela gently asking if I had a place to go so she could be alone with you."

"So you just change at will?" Norma asked.

"More like sleep at will, why?"

"You were a set of keys." I supplied.

"Oh. That's why I feel kind of funny around my middle."

"So, angela's part of our group now." I said in an attempt to take the focus off of Clefkie's weird feelings and memory loss.

"Why am I not surprised." Clefkie sarcastically asked.

"Hay I didn't make her come here.

Speaking of, you found her first right?" I asked Clefkie.

"More like she found us. There wasn't any kind of flash or sound to indicate the arrival of a new life form, just instant, here." He explained.

"And how'd she react?" norma asked.

"Like it wasn't any big deal. I'm honestly still all kinds of worried about her." Klefki told us.

"Like she wanted it to happen." Norma whispered.

"Going by what she told me, it's understandable.

Her master got either married or engaged to a woman who hates Pokémon and wanted Angela gone, so yeah.

I'm just glad she's with us and not on the street." I explained.

"How do you think Daniel will take the news?" Klefki asked.

"I think she might be able to help him out." I replied.

"Okay, one more question from me, then you can ask away." Norma offered.

"Shoot." I invited.

"What if Cresselia becomes a Pokémon you don't like or want on the team." Norma asked.

"I'll make it work. She's not getting released into the wild." I declared; and I meant it.

"I'll hold you to it." Norma and Kleckie said together.

"Okay Norma, first question." I said before running my hands down to the thing hanging from her kneck.

"It's a locket for Chris' picture, once I get one."

"Rotom can take care of that. Then he can send it to an online photo studio and have one developed to fit your locket." I said with confidence.

"I have no doubt about that, I just haven't asked him yet."

"Well let's get to know each other a bit better, then you can go ask him." I offered.

"Okay. What do you want to know?" She asked.

"About you before the Ferrum league?" I offered.

Norma took my hands off of her locket and put them on her face.

"Not a hole lot. Being born in ferrum, I was naturally interested in the league, but not to the point of taking part in it."

As she spoke, her electric sacks bounced up and down and sparked a little. Not enough to cause pain, just enough to tickle me a bit.

"Once I lost Chris, taking part in the Ferrum league seemed like the only way to earn enough money to search for him.

She blew out her breath; possibly at a memory.

"You would not believe how hard it was to get in though." She said with a grin.

"Oh?" I prompted.

"Seeing as I don't have a trainer, learning to talk was the first obstacle." She explained.

"How'd you manage it?" I asked

"Learning to speak? Or joining the league?" She asked.

"Either or." I invited.

"Speeeeaking was not eeeeasyyy." She drew out the "E" sounds in the words.

"I started with words with the sounds I knew and went from their.

That's how I met Ralts, Gardevoir now. Anyway, she heard me making weird sounds and asked if I was okay.

I explained my situation to her, and we made a game out of learning to speak.

I wun, but she didn't seem sad."

Norma let out a happy sigh.

"Happy days." She said at the end of it.

"Anyway, I learned, and asked to join.

They were surprised, to say the least, but did allow it after about eight minutes of discussion.

As for my ambitions before those events, , I just wanted a way off of the Ferrum islands, to explore the rest of the world." She finished.

"It seems like you got your wish." I said.

"Yes, at least in one region." She agreed.

"Anything else you want to tell me?" I offered.

Norma thought about that for a long time.

"Yes, but it can wait until later in the journey.

If anything I'll tell you when Chris and I leave, but it shouldn't come to that." Norma finally said.

"If that's really how you want it." I replied.

"You sure?" klefki asked.

"Oh Klefki." Norma sighed as she reached out and appeared to rub him.

"Hay that tickles!" He said in a voice much higher than normal.

"I know." Norma laughed before opening the door.

"I'll send in the next visitor." She said before closing the door.

When the door opened again, it was Rotom who flew into my lap.

"Hya!" He breathed more than spoke, and I ealized he was short of breath.

"You ran here?" I asked after he'd managed to catch his breath.

"Of course. Pokémon powers don't work here." He explained, then heaved out another breath.

"You can't be that short on breath."

"Body, not, made, for running." He breathed.

He panted some before asking, "So, what'd you want to ask me?"

"First, did you speak with Norma?"

"Ahuh. Chris' picture is already filed away.

I'll send it, to, a photo studio in Virbank or Castelia once our departure date is set."

"Aren't their any in Aspertia?"

Rotom slapped his forhead.

"Of course there'd be. Drat! I don't have the specifications of Norma's locket!"

Rotom sighed. "Oh well, plenty of time to get 'em."

He sighed again, and it seemed like he finally caught his breath.

"So, what do you want to know?" He asked.

He was basically kneeling on my lap, so I decided to test a theory I had.

"Hay Rotom, while we're alone," I began.

Clefki cleared his, umm, throat.

It was a strange mettalic sound, but the meaning came across just the same.

"Oh, you're fine. I was talking about, the others.

"So?" Rotom prompted.

"Why did you really want this body?" I asked.

Rotom got up in my face; well really just close to me, but his height put him there while on his knees.

He put his arms around me and kept them there.

"To hug people?" I asked.

He felt all over me; my face, chest, noze, forhead; held my hair.

I finally got it.

"You just wanted to interact with a person and get close to them emotionally to."

"When you're a being composed of nothing but ectoplasm and electricity, it's kind of hard to get hugs, or any other type of affection, from people or Pokémon."

Rotom sighed deeply.

"I doubt you'd understand what that's like." He admitted.

"No, but I can relate. I had those same problems where I came from, people not wanting to interact with me I mean.

I guess that's why I'm here now. I get a chance to have friends who aren't hindered by peer pressure or stereotypes." I explained.

I felt all over him, and even held him in my arms.

He sighed again, and I started to worry for him.

"Something on your mind?" I asked

"Yeah, but it might end up herting you if I let it out." Rotom replied.

"I'll be fine." I erged.

"Okay. well, if you don't end up making it back home," Rotom began, then blew out his breath.

"Hit me with it!" I erged.

He took in a deep breath and held it for a long time.

"You 'wunna make a better Pokédex with me?" He asked in a rush.

"Count me in! But why? what's wrong with it?"

Rotom let out something in between a laugh and a sigh.

"Have me look up a Pokémon, any Pokémon." And he snapped his fingers in my face.

"Lopunny!" I half said, half screamed.

"Allrighty, let's see here," rotom said.

"Oh boy." He sighed a few seconds later.

"What?" Clefki and I asked.

"This perfectly illustrates my point." Rotom said before clearing his throat.

"Lopunny, the rabbit Pokémon

Lopunny likes to keep itself clean and never fails to groom its ears.

Extremely cautious, Lopunny cloaks its body with its fluffy ear fur and quickly bounds off with sprightly jumps when it senses danger.

The ears appear to be delicate to the point that a Lopunny will attack anyone attempting to touch them in a rough manner.

Kicking as though it were a master of karate, Lopunny can drive back its opponents with ease.

A Lopunny sheds and regrows its coat twice a year.

Its winter fur is soft, fluffy, warm and yet remarkably light,

so mufflers and hats are sometimes made from it."

Rotom paused, and it was apparent that he was done reading the entry.

"I doubt Angela would kick me if I touched her ears." I said.

"You don't even know her that well yet." Clefki and Rotom said.

"True, but that's really all the Pokédex says about Lopunny?" I asked.

"It's got a list of battle moves. Would you like me to read them off to you?" Rotom asked with a grin.

"No that can wait 'till later.

are all the Pokédex intries about that length?" I asked.

Rotom gave a half sigh that turned into his response.

"No the earlier intries are a bit longer."

"Sounds like I might need to help add info to them if I end up staying." I finally said.

"Oh good. That's one possible path open to you." Rotom said.

"So, how much do you know about ectoplasm?" I asked.

"See? That's what I'm 'talken 'bout!" rotom almost shouted.

He recovered before speaking again.

"We need more of that kind of info. How to actually take care of Pokémon, What they eat, how they function, what they're like as beings beyond how they, kill things." Rotom said.

He paused, then asked, "Why do you ask about ectoplasm?"

I've got a Litwick, courtesy of sarah, and I figured it's most likely, ectoplasm and fire." I suggested.

"Most likely." Rotom agreed before sighing again.

"The pokédex says even less about Litwick than Lopunny." He said.

"Then I guess it's good that Sarah caught one for me." I laughed.

"How'd she do that anyway?" Rotom asked.

"No clue, but it doesn't really matter." I replied.

"Yes it does. If you hadn't been in another body at that point, you could have gotten in trouble for letting one of your Pokémon capture a pokémon on your behalf." rotom informed me.

"Oh that's, good to know. I'll ask Sarah to show me how she did it, just in case." I agreed..

"I wish I could have been there." Rotom sighed wistfully.

"So you could make a viral clip out of it?" Clefki laughed.

"Okay maybe, probably." Rotom let out another sigh.

"Yeah, I know your mind pretty good, seeing as I'm a bit mischievous myself." Clefki laughed.

"Can you talk with ghosts?" I asked Rotom.

"Of course I can... oh."

"What?" I asked.

"How are you 'gunna do that.? He asked back.

"I'm not sure, seeing as I can't touch it." I replied.

Rotom blew out a har breath.

"I'll, figure, something out, I guess." He said.

"We can do it together I just don't know much about ghost Pokémon and how they talk with us mortal beeings." I explained.

"If you let me go back now I can..."

"What?" I asked Rotom

"Where did Litwick go anyway?" He asked.

"I figured you'd know better than me." I joked.

"I'm falling down on the job," Rotom began before blowing out his breath, "And we aren't even out the door yet." He finished.

is face took on a thoughtful expression

"He's with Juniper." He informed a few seconds later.

"Until the transition right?" I asked.

Suddenly, rotom released himself from me and flew out of the car.

"'Gotta go! Next visitor coming up!" He shouted as he flew off.

"Who's that?" Clefki asked about two minutes later.

Velma leaned over me and dropped something in my lap.

"For sun sorf fun." Sora laughed in my face.

"I'll be in the house. Sora? Come let me know when you 'wunna head back." Velma said before closing the door and walking away.

Sora sat there for a long time before drawing in a deep breath.

"Sowhatyawunnaknow." He said in a flat tone.

He blew out his breath, then seemed to try again.

"So" "What" "do" "You" Wish..." "To" "Know" "'bout" "Me" He finally asked.

Apparently, he'd asked Velma to take him here to see if Igore could do something about his inability to speak, and this was the result.

His slow speach was still a problem, so Clefki offered to translate for him.

Through his own speach and Clefki's translations, I learned a lot about Sora's past.

He felt the need to get on to me again himself for making him remember it.

Then he broke into tears and told me through Clefki that his trainer treated him badly do to language problems.

He'd done all he could to make things work, but deadlines forced his trainer to move things along faster than they needed to.

"He" "Kept" "Saaaaying..." "I've" "Iiiiiinnnvesssteeed" "To" "Much" "Time" "In" "You" "To" "Start" "Oooooveeer" sora told me.

Longer words were a problem for him, but I knew Sora would get better with practice.

Even if he didn't, I would get on to him for it.

Sora told me; in bits and peaces augmented by Clefki's translations; that his trainer kept saying that he "Had good stats," but "subpar move execution."

Sora had to prepare for a big tournament, and his trainer might have gotten carried away with the hectic regimen.

He didn't understand many human words back then, so he saw his trainer as vary abusive and sot out a way to forget about the pain.

He'd spoken with the other Pokémon I'd befriended, and they'd helped him come to terms with his passed.

"Beefore" "That" "I" "Was" "Just" "A" "Sunflora" "Gooing" "Where" "The" "Sun" "Goes" "Not" "Staaaying" "In" "One" "Place" "For" Long" "No" "Frieeendsss" "You" "Know"

He blew a long breath in my face after that, and I got his message.

"It's okay. You don't have to say more now if you don't want to." I asured him.

Clefki translated that Sora felt the need to say that part directly to me so I'd know what he'd gone through.

I told him he'd said enough for now and din't have to say more unless he wanted to.

Sora held me close so I felt his entire body working.

He took in a deep breath, seemed to put a lot of thought into his next action, then said, "You're a gooooood friend."

That almost sounded natural." Clefki and I joked.

Sora just sighed and got out of the car.

"I beg your pardon." igore said a short distance away.

I reacted with surprise, but Clefki didn't.

"I should have announced myself better, but I helped your friend Sorra speak just now.

"I'm sorry for the bad delivery, but I'm afraid that's the best I'm able to do at the moment.

If you give your consent, I can make that permanent." Igore offered.

"I do, but I can't keep asking you to make every Pokémon speak if they can't." I agreed.

"Sora came to me, and Velma translated for him." Igore told me.

"So if they want it, you'll do it?" I confirmed.

"Only if you don't force them to want it, I'll know." He replied.

"I won't." I asured Igore as Velma came out of the house.

"You ready to go?" She asked Sora.

"I" "Am", "Thanks." Sora replied.

Velma gathered sora into her arms, and as they passed me, she leaned in and said, "The next visitor is a package." Before leaving.

Igore chuckled softly as he left, and I got the feeling he knew something I didn't.

Author's Note:

I had to write a few lines of Sora attempting to speak so readers would understand how her sounds.

I won't be doing this all the time though.

I promised that this chapter would be the last character-driven one, but it'll spill over into the next do to length.

I do promise that the story will pick up vary soon, but I had to get through the character stuff before the action picks up.

Once it does, it'll be pretty non-stop, so get ready for that.

I've had most of it planned out for months now, but I needed these character chapters finished first.

I'm sure you can figure out who the package visitor is by now, and it works not only for compacting these little vignette things, but for the story as well.

Regarding Cresselia :

I foolishly thought Cresselia a bird because she can fly, but I now know differently.

I've updated chapter 12 to remove her being a bird, but you don't have to reread it unless you want to.

I'll try to get the next chapter out a little faster, but we'll just have a wait and see.