I really hate having to start stories. They always seem so slow at the start, I can't figure out a way to get things really going. Oh well, while I don't really like this chapter much, I hope everyone else does. Expect the next one in a few days, maybe a week. Just to inform everyone, updates may be a bit sporadic for a month or two, for reasons no one needs to worry about. Please do enjoy this, and thanks to ScytheRider for his reviews!

Chapter 2: Friends

I had been sitting in the same spot all night long. Blissey had already finished her work a little while ago, which thankfully was successful. Now I just sat her waiting for the Treecko to wake up. I wasn't so worried now since I knew that she wasn't going to die but my mind was still abuzz from the whole thing.

'She finds me in a field unconscious, is taken aback by my behavior, and is almost killed by a Houndoom while trying to protect me. What the world is going on here?' I rubbed my temples, annoyed by the confusion of all of this. Nothing seemed right to me, especially since...well, now that I was a pokemon all of a sudden. It had to have something to do with that dragon pokemon, I just knew it. If only I knew what it was…

"Ungh…wh-where am I?" the Treecko said, struggling to sit up. Blissey ran back out from a different room and gently laid her back down. "You're in the Forest Hospital," she stated in her squeaky voice. "Your friend here," she motioned to me, still sitting against the wall. "He carried you from wherever you were." The Treecko looked surprised and gave me a questioning look.

"Uh, well," I stuttered, blushing with embarrassment. "Not the whole way. A Ponyta, who I presume works here as well, came by and dragged us both on a leaf for the last stretch. But…for most of the way, yeah." I scratched the back of my head. Blissey nodded. "Yep! He seemed to try hard to help you. So great to see nice pokemon around, isn't it?" I laughed nervously. 'Yeah…pokemon...'

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It was late morning, and Blissey had the Treecko's arm in a sling. The bite wounds were bandaged up, but that didn't mean the pain had ended.

"Grr, this really smarts you know." she said while trying to rub the injured arm. Unfortunately, since the whole thing was currently in pieces, bone-wise, that caused the pain to increase. She was still sitting on the little bed she had been originally laid on trying to pass the time. Blissey ran in to check up on her. "I wouldn't do that if I were you!" she sang. Man, her voice could get annoying over time. "Keep that up, and it'll only make the healing process take longer!" She ran back into another room, probably to look after other pokemon. The Treecko groaned. "Now she tells me."

The Treecko then looked over to me, a slightly annoyed look about her face. "So, you going to thank me yet for saving your skin back there?" I was taken aback at her sudden request. "Well…what about for me? I completely saved your life from being toasted by that Houndoom!" She sighed. "Yeah, I do suppose you're right. Thanks by the way. At least it's only, well, this." She motioned to her arm.

I nodded. "Likewise. It was really lucky that you found me when you did. Otherwise I might be…yeah. I guess we're on even terms then?"

"Yep."

"Okay, cool." I searched my mind for something else to say. "Soooo, when do you think you can leave?"

"She can leave right now if she wants to!" Blissey said as she dashed into the room. I flinched at her voice. Really, was there not a muzzle or something? I didn't let my face show any annoyance, instead just forcing a smile on my face. "Great!" I said behind clenched teeth. "Just great! Simply wunderbar! Let's go!"

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The Treecko and I left the tree and began to venture off to another section of the forest, her leading the way. "So let me get this straight: you believe that you were a human only a few days ago, but are now a pokemon, with no memory of anything else. Did I get everything there?"

"Yeah, that's just about it. I remember the event, but that's it. Nothing else."

"What about your name?" I shrugged. "I don't even remember that. Just nothing on anything else other than those few things."

She smiled. "Well, no one should be without a name! So how about I come up with one for you? Let's see…how about, Tide? That sound good with you?"

"Well, it's better than no name at all. So sure, I suppose I'm Tide now."

She grabbed my hand with her free left one as we were walking. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Tide. My name is Phloe." We shook hands. "So how different is it for you? You know, to be a Squirtle after being a human for all your life?"

"It's…well, it's weird to say the least. I feel so short, and stubby. Thankfully this shell doesn't seem to be much of a problem," I knocked on it for emphasis. "But, the tail…now that's just weird. I don't get it! I can't seem to control it, and does it serve any purpose at all?!"

Phloe shrugged. "Meh, attacking mainly. Otherwise…I guess not much."

I sighed. "I'll tell you this: I worry that I'll be stuck like this for the rest of my life. I can't stay like this forever, I need to get back to my humanity and soon!"

"What, so does being a pokemon disgust you or something?" she clearly sounded offended from my words. I stuttered, trying to find the words to speak. "S-sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I just…want to get back to my people. This is kinda cool, yes, but still. I just want to go back. Plus, that Houndoom will tear me apart if I stay too long."

She patted my back in reassurance. "Hey, I understand. Really…I've wanted to get back with my own kind for a long time…" she drifted off into her thoughts as we walked. "Uh, what do you mean?" I asked. She snapped out of her trance. "Nothing! Sorry, nothing at all! Oh look!" she pointed a few hundred feet in front of us. "There's my tree! I suppose, since you obviously don't have any place to stay, you can stay here. I do have an extra bed that…I guess you could…use." She began to drift into her own thoughts again. I snapped my fingers in front of her.

"Hey, you okay?" She snapped out of it again, and laughed a bit. "Oh, nothing, nothing! Come on, I'll show you around!" With that she took off to the tree, making sure not to jostle her arm too much. I paused at her unexpected change in attitude, but shrugged it off, running to catch up.

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"So, here's my little home, I guess. Not much but, it works." Phloe showed me around the interior of the tree. It was a large tree in width and was also quite tall, but the weird thing was that the bottom quarter was completely hollow. There seemed to just be about three rooms, one every floor, with enough space for a connecting stairway to the next floor up. It was simple, I admit, but I'm not one to complain. I'm just thankful that I have somewhere to stay for now.

"Now, I'm guessing that you are probably wondering where you sleep, right?" she asked. "Yeah, I was beginning to wonder that." She motioned me to follow her.

Coming upon the third floor of the tree, she pushed open a decently sized opening in the bark of the tree with her working arm. She walked out, with me cautiously following. The hole led onto a thick branch, with several others closely together. This made a surprisingly stable area where she had two makeshift beds randomly interspersed on the branches. "Wow." I said, and it was not just because of the ingeniousness of it all. A few hundred feet away were tens of other pokemon playing, working, and sleeping around a lake. It was such a shock to see, yet at the same time it felt natural.

Phloe looked in the direction that I was. "What, you surprised or something?" I nodded. "I've never seen so many pokemon in one area, much less in such peace. She snorted. "It's not like we were just for fighting, like you humans think of it. We do so much more, but yes fighting is something that comes natural to us. Perhaps the coolest things I can think of are the exploration teams." Her eyes shone fiercely as she spoke. I cocked my head to the side in confusion. "Exploration teams? What are those?"

Phloe shook her head, smiling. "Exploration teams are groups ranging from two to four members that go around the whole place looking for treasures and all sorts of stuff. They're technically hired by guilds that they work for, which then send them off on the missions that take them all over the land."

"Sounds like you know a lot about them. You mind if I ask why?"

"That's because I've always have had ambitions to join one. Ever since I was young, it was a goal of mine. To be a part of the best exploration team that ever existed. That is how I wanted it to be." She sighed softly, smiling at the thought.

"So, why aren't you in one now? You seem nice enough; I don't see why you don't have your own team that's going around finding those treasures. I would think anyone would be willing to have you on their team, especially seeing you fight that Houndoom yesterday."

She stiffened. The smile left her face and she walked over to one of the beds. "You know, I feel really tired. That fight did take a lot out of me, especially from the blood loss. I should, you know, get some good rest. Really tired, yeah, just really tired." She lay down and faced away from me. "Oh, and the other bed…you…you can sleep there. That can be your bed for now."

I blinked. What had just happened? Did I just hit a touchy subject or something? Better to just leave it… "You're going to go to sleep now? It's just barely the evening!" I received no reply from her, just the near silence of her breathing. Now I felt really bad. "Okay…I'm sorry for that, I didn't know. I'll just, go to bed, too." And I laid down, retreating into my shell for a good long sleep.

I have nothing to say except sorry if this was a bit dull. I need to start things up and introduce characters more. Expect more Deoxys next chapter, bet you are all wondering what's been going with him, right?