Amber stood at the doorway of the Gym, staring straight ahead. It had been very tough against the junior trainers. She won against the first, but she was defeated by the second because Amber was too excited to go heal her Pokémon. She paid for that, literally, losing eighty Poké to her failure. Luckily, she had won the second time around.

Leo was handling himself well. He hadn't lost yet and he was in high spirits, and Amber was happy to see him out of his earlier bad mood. He kept having trouble getting the shiny Pidove to listen, likely because it had a nasty attitude. Flare was as loyal as ever, and kept barking at the bird whenever it would give Leo any flak.

Amber wasn't having too much difficulty with her Audino. Either it forgot about how Amber beat it not so long ago, or it forgave her. Either way, Amber liked the Audino. It was very kind and kept rushing to heal the party's injuries between fights. Poor Shadow was still kind of timid in battle. He hadn't mustered up the ferocity Amber saw earlier versus Audino. Fang wasn't letting up; what he lacked in experience the tiny dragon made up for in guts. At least, that's what the second trainer said about him.

Gloria was backing the two of them up, delving into her seemingly-endless bag of supplies when they need some healing between fights. Thanks to Audino, all she really had to do was give the helpful Pokémon a helping hand.

Amber took a deep breath and tried to steel herself. She wasn't sure she was ready.

Gloria pushed her through the hall abruptly. "Quit blocking the way. Just go. You'll be fine!"

Just then, Amber was nearly bowled over by Cheren. He looked like he was in a serious rush and shouted a quick "Sorry! The Gym's closed! Its an emergency!" and raced off without even explaining himself. The two junior trainers shuffled out right behind him, both looking equally confused.

Amber blinked and shook her head. "What was that about?"

Leo frowned and looked down. "An emergency? Bad luck just follows us like a shadow, huh."

Gloria shook her head and looked out the window. "It sounds serious. Maybe we should investigate."

"I'd rather not," Leo said, but Gloria was already turning to the doors leading out.

As Amber left the Gym, she saw something strange. Gloria, Leo, Cheren, and several of the townsfolk were all gathered outside, staring up at the sky. Some were pointing and talking, gesturing at an object above. Amber followed their gazes and saw what had them transfixed. A blue comet-like thing was streaking out of the sky. There was a brilliant, whitish-blue light at its center, but it was impossible to tell what the comet could actually be. Amber was awestruck. It was gorgeous, and yet somehow it was also ominous. Something in its center caught Amber's attention. Was that...a person...?! Impossible! Nobody falls like that! Besides, it was so bright and fuzzy-looking... The shape inside was too indistinct, and it was...changing? Amber wasn't sure anymore just what she was seeing.

"What...is that...?!" Amber asked, wide-eyed and frightened.

"I...I don't know." Gloria said, "I don't like this..."

As Amber stood puzzled, she realized the comet-like thing was coming closer and closer. "Guys? Its coming!"

"It's heading straight for town, you idiot! We gotta find shelter!" Leo shouted in alarm.

Straight for town?! That meant-!?

"Quick! Back in the Gym!" Gloria shouted, shoving Amber roughly through the door as she rushed back inside.

Amber was stunned for a moment. Leo dashed in right behind them, and Amber saw Cheren rush to shepherd nearby townsfolk into the Pokémon Center. Any remaining people scattered like leaves in a windstorm, ducking into any nearby building as the comet came streaking ever closer. Even from inside the Gym, she could see the blue light getting brighter. The comet's light grew too intense to watch, and Amber shielded her eyes. She screamed in fright and nearly fell over as the ground shook suddenly and violently. Amber heard Leo and Gloria cry out too, and it scared her to hear the calmer pair yell like that.

Then there was silence.

Amber slowly stood back up, realizing she'd sunk to her knees during the...what was that anyway? She opened her eyes and looked around, sighing in relief when she saw both Gloria and Leo unharmed.

"Is everyone okay? No injuries?" Gloria asked, glancing here and there.

"I'm okay...I think." Leo said, scooping up a terrified Flare, "What the hell was that?!"

"That's what I want to know." Amber replied. She realized that Gloria seemed increasingly upset; she kept on looking back and forth. "Uh, Gloria?"

She shook her head and kept scanning the room. "I can't find Bulbasaur! You didn't see him did you!?"

Leo turned to the door. "I bet he got turned around. I hope he's- hey!" Gloria suddenly shoved Leo aside and raced outside.

"Bulbasaur! Come on!" Gloria called as she rushed into the street, "Where are you?!"

Amber and Leo could only exchange looks. Amber saw a serious expression cross Leo's face, and he seemed even darker than usual suddenly.

"Let's help her." He put Flare down and followed Gloria. Amber nodded and followed close, still shaking a little. She was still a bit stunned from the impact, and she couldn't shake her worry. Strangely though, nothing seemed different outside. It was as if the comet never existed, save for how empty the town's usually lively streets still were.

Amber saw Gloria running down the path, back towards the forest on Route 19. She was still shouting and looking back and forth. Amber ran to catch up with her. As she came to thee edge of the trees, Gloria suddenly stopped and froze in her tracks. Amber quickly closed the gap between them and bent over her knees, panting.

"Wh...what's...?" Amber's question froze in her throat when she looked up. A glassy crater had formed in the dirt nearby, and Bulbasaur was standing at its edge, pointing with a vine to its center. Amber followed the dinosaur's gesture.

What she saw made her jaw drop.

There was some kind of creature laying there in the crater. It was small, smaller than Bulbasaur. The blue-furred animal seemed feline with long hind legs and a rather long tail that ended in a fat tip. The tiny little ears flicked slightly: the only sign this cat was still alive. Amber was shocked again. There was no mistaking this Pokémon.

It was Mew.

But something was off. Wasn't Mew supposed to be pink? Why was Mew blue?

Leo was the first to speak. "Is that...? Mew!?"

Gloria turned over her shoulder. "Ah-er, yes? Of course it is? Of course its Mew! D-don't be silly now." She seemed nervous all of a sudden. Amber could see she had an uneasy expression on her face, but not the kind of uneasy one might usually have on spotting Mew injured in a crater. It was the same look she had when Bulbasaur went missing.

What was that about?

Did she know something about the blue Mew?

Flare had walked over to the Mew and was sniffing it. Amber and Leo followed her over carefully. For some reason, the impact area of the crater was smooth and glossy, and it was more slippery than it looked. Amber didn't expect that and fell completely on her face, landing right next to Flare. Amber could hear Leo chuckling at her. For a moment, Amber was too embarrassed to get up.

"M..mew?"

The sudden meow made her open her eyes and look. Mew had opened its big, blue eyes and was staring straight into Amber's face. Amber froze in place. The cat's gaze had her fixed to the spot like she'd been planted there. She felt Flare jump on her back and pad over a bit. The curious canine leaned over and sniffed the Mew.

"MEW!" It didn't seem comfortable with the dog at all, and hissed a bit. With a yelp and a "Lith!" Growlithe ran away, hiding behind Leo. Amber was still too stunned to move. She was mesmerized by the Mew. It looked her square in the eye.

"Ouch..."

Amber was puzzled. Did Mew just-?

"Help me..."

It did! It just talked!

Leo slowly came and extended a hand to Amber. "Are you okay? Come on, get up." Snapping out of her trance, Amber took his hand and stood up. Mew still barely moved, just kept on staring with that intense gaze.

"Did you hear that? Poor Mew just asked for help!" Amber finally said.

Leo gave her a funny look. "You sure you didn't just hit your head? Pokémon don't talk! Well, except for Shadow, but not Mew."

"Please. It hurts!"

All three fell silent for several moments. Leo was the first to speak up. "Who said...?"

"I'm in the crater! Help me!"

"Now do you believe me?" Amber reached for Audino's Pokéball. She looked up at Mew for a moment, remembering the cat's unpleasant response to Flare's curiosity. Would Mew accept any help from Audino?

She decided to try.

Amber let Audino out of its ball. The Pokémon at first just stared at Mew, then looked up at Amber pleadingly, its little eyes wide like a begging puppy. "Go on, Audino. Can you heal Mew?" Audino looked back at Mew and slowly approached as Amber watched its reaction.

Amber decided to try talking back. Maybe it could understand her, just like Shadow. "Its okay. I'm gonna help you okay, Mew?" Amber gently knelt down and stroked Mew's head comfortingly. It was the softest, silkiest thing she'd ever touched.

The cat locked its eyes on her. "Your thoughts are kind. I like that."

Thoughts? Was Mew reading her mind? Audino bent down and touched Mew's back with its feelers. Even that slight contact made Mew hiss a little. Audino rolled its feelers up in a start with a sharp "Audi!" and looked at Amber.

"Don't wait on me. Try Heal Pulse, Audino!" The kindly Pokémon nodded and shot its purple energy beam at the cat.

Nothing seemed to happen. Mew did seem slightly relived though.

Audino slumped down, looking sad. Amber shook her head. "Oh no...it didn't work?"

"Mew's injuries are too great for just a Heal Pulse," Gloria spoke up, nearly making Amber jump. "Here. Let's use this." Gloria handed Amber a squarish, gray bottle full of blue liquid. "That's some of the strongest stuff money can buy. Maybe a Max Potion can help..."

Without hesitation, Amber used the medicine on Mew. Suddenly, Mew begun to glow again. Amber fell over on her butt as she tried to give the cat some space. It rose up into the air, glowing brighter and brighter, until Amber was forced to cover her face again.

What she saw when the light subsided confused her.

Sarah was sitting down in the crater. She looked quite embarrassed.

"What the hell?!" Leo blurted, "Sarah's-! Mew's-! What the hell is this?!"

Sarah slowly stood up. "Oops."

"Oops? OOPS?!" Leo shook his head. "Explain yourself! What's going on?!"

Amber looked at Gloria. She was shaking her head and sighing. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry..."

"Sorry?!" Leo waved a hand at her angrily, "Look, you're the ones always telling us to trust you! You claim you're helping us! You ask us to put our faith in you when you are the suspicious ones! Talk!"

"That's enough, Leo," Amber said, trying to calm him down. "Acting like an angry Mankey won't help anything."

Gloria and Sarah exchanged looks with each other. "She's right, Sarah. It's stupid to ask them to trust us when we keep hiding the truth."

Sarah fidgeted and looked down. "Yeah, I guess you got a point." She looked back at the Amber and Leo.

Gloria spoke first, "I gotta tell you two something. It's not something I like to talk about, but you two deserve to know." Gloria paused and took a deep breath.

What happened next made the events earlier seem mundane.

Gloria's body seemed to change rapidly. Human-like features quickly became less and less recognizable, and she seemed to grow. Her arms lengthened and became a pair of azure wings. Her body morphed and became a bird's too, and her head followed next, her hair parting into a pair of dark blue tufts. Finally, several long, almost skirt-like feathers grew out from the tail she now sported, nearly enveloping her avian talons. When she was done, the bird hardly looked like the old Gloria at all. Her feathers were the same color as her hair, except for lighter blue accents along her flight feathers and a dark-blue collar of color that spread from wingtip to wingtip, forming a V on her chest. She had the same piercing green eyes too, but now they seemed sad and downcast.

She almost looked like she was going to cry. "Please...don't hate me..."

Amber and Leo were both silent. Amber couldn't believe her eyes. First, the Mew turned into Sarah, now Gloria turned into...something?

"What are you, Gloria?" Amber heard herself ask.

"I've called this form Illicuno." Gloria said.

Sarah nodded slowly. "I'm like that too. Well, almost. I can turn into a Mew."

Gloria lowered her head, "Yeah, well at least Mew is a real Pokémon! I'm just a mutant freak!"

Amber had to disagree. Sure, Illicuno was a big and unusual bird, but she wasn't that freaky.

She had to agree about the transformation though. That was kinda creepy.

"We weren't always like this," Sarah continued, "We used to be just ordinary kids. Team Rocket kidnapped the two of us a long time ago and-"

Gloria sighed, "Why bother telling them. Look at these two. They think we're monsters..."

Amber shook her head. "No. I think you're Pokémon!"

Leo cut in, "How the hell did you two become a Mew and a...bird?"

"Like I was going to say, we weren't always like that." Sarah continued, "When Team Rocket kidnapped us, they played our friendship against each other. If I didn't program their security systems, they'd hurt Gloria. That's what they told me all the time."

"They made me do genetic experiments." Gloria said, still staring at the ground, "I...I did a lot of horrible things to innocent Pokémon. I was told if I didn't, they'd hurt Sarah." She sighed again. "You have no idea how I wished there was a way to change that...

"One day, an experiment of mine worked. Illicuno was the result. I called it-him-that because I used Articuno DNA as a base. He was red, not blue like me, but he looked just like this. Those Rocket idiots weren't satisfied with him. They never were! They wanted me to clone him. The cloning was not a success. It went wrong and turned me into this...thing!" Gloria puffed up her feathers and burrowed her head in her chest. By now she was crying, and she seemed truly mortified by her own story.

Sarah continued for her, letting Gloria cry it out. "That wasn't all that happened to her. She went wild that day. She killed the entire workforce in the lab and froze the rest in a glacier. I didn't know anything about that at first. All Team Rocket told me was that she'd died in a lab accident."

Amber was numb. She had no idea these two had a past like that! "Gloria..."

"What?" She said from inside her feathers, "Going to tell me I'm a murderer?"

"That's not it. I feel sad for you." Amber approached Gloria and put an arm around her. Well, she tried anyway: Illicuno was one big bird! "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" Gloria said gloomily, "You aren't a killer."

"Now, how'd you become a Mew, Sarah?" Leo asked, " Another cloning-gone-wrong?"

Sarah looked at Leo. The expression on her face was one of...anger? "Not even. Giovanni was inspired by Gloria's 'incident'. He wanted an army of people like her. He started by experimenting on me. He made me like this against my will! I hate him so much. For what he did to us...!"

Leo fell quiet for a minute. "Dammit, I'm such an idiot. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made you talk about it. Now you two are flipping out on me."

Sarah shook her head. "I'm not mad at you, Leo. You aren't Giovanni. You are just a regular guy."

"You said he wanted an army? How many of you did he make?" Amber asked.

Gloria looked at Sarah. "Let's see...there's you, me, Eeveen, and Max...four."

"Who's Eeveen and Max?" Amber asked.

"Eeveen is a Team Night member. He was raised by a pair of Eevee sisters. You'll know him if you see him. He cosplays as an Eevee. He can turn into an Eevee, or any of its evolutions. Eeveen was like us; an unwilling victim. Max..." Sarah's face darkened further, "He's the monster among us. He willingly altered himself. He's a Ditto. He used to be Giovanni's main man before Giovanni was killed."

Amber paused to take all this in. She was still somewhat confused, but she thought she got the idea. Gloria and Sarah, as well as two others, were somehow turned into Pokémon by this Team Rocket! That was when she realized something.

"How'd you fall out of the sky, Sarah?" Leo asked, taking Amber's question right out of her mouth.

Gloria looked up. "Yeah, Sarah. What in Arceus' name happened up there?"

Sarah sighed. "Silicon happened, that's what! They attacked Shawn and I back in Virbank. I chased after Solstice and one of her goons sent a Tropius after me. Crazy dinosaur was trying to kill us!" Sarah suddenly pulled out her Xtransceiver. "I better call Shawn and-"

Gloria's and Sarah's Xtransceivers both went off at once. When they answered, Amber could hear Shawn's panicked voice shouting at them, demanding to know if Sarah was okay.

"Amber," Leo said, looking at her and sighing, "We officially have weird friends."

Author's Notes: Please tell me what you think here. I'm kinda nervous about this chapter, since its the first appearacne of Illicuno. Check my profile for a picture of Illicuno if you have a hard time envisioning her.