Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Pokémon. The only thing I do own is the story idea.

"Talk"

'Think'

"Telepathy"

AN: So, the Unown make an appearance, but I have a question for you lot. In the games it's Unown, and in some of the movies and anime, it's Unknown. Which one do you prefer? Also, a tiny bit of clarification, as a Zorua, Harry cannot speak the human language, thus he uses telepathy. So, expect a lot of italics for the moment!

Chapter 7

It was cold and dark, the world around him an empty void of twisting, darkened colors. They pulsed gently around him, the sound of it thrumming in his ears, causing him to curl into himself, a soft whimper escaping his throat. His body felt heavy, his eyelids even more so, but he forced his eyes to open regardless of the feeling. "Where…am I?"

The softly beating lights quickened their pulse, growing brighter, as through responding to his voice. "Anyone there? H-hello? Zoroark?" Harry asked as he sniffled, forcefully uncurling himself even though it hurt to move. The air felt thick and heavy, like molasses, the pressure of it pressing down on his body. "I'm…I'm scared. Zoroark? Anybody?!" He frantically looked around, forcing small, crimson colored paws to step forward, before promptly collapsing, his legs feeling like jelly. The weight of the air was too heavy to move. It hurt to breathe now.

"S-someone…anyone…" He whimpered out, eyes closing as he shook, small tears trailing down darkly furred cheeks.

"Little one…be not afraid of the void. Nothing here can harm you," A voice spoke out of the twisting nether as the pulsing light quickened once more. A being stepped out of it, easily ten feet tall and colored mostly white. A long crest extended from the top of its head down to the middle of its back and gold metal encircled its waist, branching off to form vague crescent-like shapes at either side of the being.

The limbs ended in faint points, the tips to ankle coated once more in gold metal similar to that which encircled its waist. "If you focus on your breathing, you should find moving possible. The ether takes time to get used to, but by no means does it wish you harm, child," the being spoke as it gently lowered its muzzle downward, giving Harry a gentle look.

Nodding slowly, Harry did as the being asked, focusing on his breathing and on himself and found, to his astonishment, the pressure easing up. It was still heavier than the air he was used to, but not nearly as oppressive. Shakily, he pulled himself to his feet. "W-who are you? And where am I exactly? How did I get here?"

The being tilted his head, chuckling a little at Harry's rush of questions, "Patience little one. One question at a time please," it said gently before shifting and curling its limbs beneath it as it lay on the shifting floor of colors, "My name is Arceus. I am the being of creation. Many…many years ago, I created this land and Pokémon as well. That world ended through a great Cataclysm, but I still hold sway over the energies of the land. This place that we dwell in is called the Void, which you can think of as a separate, overlaying dimension. It is made up of force that encompasses the land. As for how you got here…I pulled your mind here when Zoroark pushed your transformation. I felt it prudent we meet and talk."

Harry, at hearing what this being was, suddenly felt very small. His ears flicked back, a troubled look overcoming his face as he stared up at what he could only say was a God. "Why me?" he asked softly.

"Because you are special, little Harry Potter. I remember your creation well and wanted to see how you had grown. The power inside of you is yet untrained, but you have the ability to become something great," Arceus stated, something akin to a smile gracing the proud being's face.

"My…creation? You mean you watched my parents when they…did things!" Harry barked out, his face flushed and somewhat indignant at such a great breach in privacy. He blushed more when Arceus laughed at him for his words, ducking his head and scowling as he waited for Arceus to finish laughing.

"No little one, I did not watch them mate," he replied, still chuckling as the little child grumbled darkly at him. "Rather, I saw your creation after they had done the deed. Your soul was incredibly strong, even then."

Harry seemed to once more curl in on himself at gaining the attention of something so much greater than himself, before anger curled in his gut, "If you were watching me from…from even before my birth, then…then why didn't you help! Why didn't you save my parents?!"

"Death is unavoidable, child. They did not fear their own end. Rather, when the time came and they were killed, their souls cried out in fear of yours," Arceus stated softly.

"But you could have saved them. They didn't have to die!" Harry replied as he furiously wiped tears from his eyes, finding the somewhat natural task difficult to do with paws. Arceus appeared to wait for a moment, either thinking up a reply, or in order for Harry to once more calm down his rampant emotions.

"I could not save them, Harry Potter, no more than I could save the vast majority of my own kind. It was…inevitable," Arceus said, sighing heavily as his shoulders slumped. A great weight seem to overcome the proud being just then. "Power takes a long time, longer than I thought, to regenerate. Compared to how we were before, we're mere shades of what we once were…what we could be. I was aware of your existence, as I was aware of everyone else's existence, but I was asleep child. I could see, but not act. I am sorry," he explained. Harry was shocked to see a tear trail down Arceus' cheek, blooming against the floor before being absorbed into the ether.

The emotions crossing Arceus' face made him feel incredibly guilty. "I'm sorry…I really am. I didn't mean to lash out at you," Harry murmured.

"Apology accepted little one. On another note, while I could not act, the cries of anguish from your parents, coupled with their ability to manipulate energy, their magic as you call it, did summon something to aid you," Arceus stated as he flicked his head. A humming, almost haunting melody swam from the ether, growing and withering with each passing moment as strange letter like creatures pulled themselves from the nothing around them. They swam in arcs around the two of them, their song becoming a gentle backdrop to their conversation.

"What are they?!" Harry exclaimed, surprised by their sudden appearance. The creature's whizzed about for a moment, their tempo increasing, before falling back onto their gentle lullaby. Several pulled away from the group and circled Harry, chirping and humming about him. They were…strangely comforting.

"They are the Unown; letter like Pokémon, or Runic like Pokémon depending on your view, with extremely strange powers. Naturally, they are quite timid, but in a group they are incredibly strong with the abilities to warp even the very reality around them."

Harry nodded grinning slightly as the Unown Pokémon circled him and Arceus in a twisting loop that took the form of a figure eight. "It…seems like they're missing one," he pointed out lightly as he counted out the Pokémon.

"Hm, so they are," Arceus replied with an expression similar to a smirk. "As I was saying though, the Unown heard your parents wish and acted accordingly. They circled around you and warped reality so the spell your parents wove around you upon their death would be…boosted. Unfortunately, that killing curse is a nasty bit of work and managed to…damage one of their own."

Harry frowned lightly, "The one that is missing?" He asked as he looked sadly at the dancing Pokémon, "I'm very sorry, I didn't think…I don't…I didn't want anyone else hurt. Is it…dead?"

Arceus shook his head, "No, not dead and possibly healed fully by now. However it is…stuck."

"Stuck where?" Harry asked, his head tilting in confusion.

Arceus shifted, pulling his immense weight back onto four hooves. "Oh, I'm sure you'll figure that out on your own, little Harry Potter. For now, I think it's time to leave."

"Leave?! You can't leave now! I have so many questions. I don't understand anything yet!" Harry cried as he too jumped to his paws. Compared to the size of Arceus, he was a mere bug next to him, but the gentle giant merely turned, chuckling, towards the youth.

"I am not leaving. You are," He stated clearly. "I cannot keep you here any longer, but do not fret little one. We shall have a chance to meet and talk again."

Harry scowled, his lips turned up in a snarl as he tried to move closer to Arceus, only to find that the pressure had returned and his body refused to move an inch, "When? When will we talk again?"

"Soon. I promise, we will speak again one day. For now, stay close to Zoroark. She won't steer you wrong."

Harry woke up. It was sudden and rather jarring, his breath coming in erratic gasps as the world around him came into focus with excruciating slowness. The darkly shimmering void he had gotten so used to was gone, though the melody sung by the unown seemed slow to leave him. Instead, the world seemed to be replaced with dark crimson…fur? He reached out, stunned to see paws instead of hands press against the fuzz.

In fact, now that he was more awake and aware of himself, Harry could tell that wherever he was and whatever he was on was moving, though very slowly. Like whatever he was on was…breathing? Shifting about, Harry clambered his way out of the mane of hair and popped out into the open, blinking at the bright sunlight that streamed through the trees. The area around them was flat this time, and very lush. The air felt cleaner somehow and Harry couldn't help but wag his tail at his surroundings.

That was, at least, until he remembered the night before and that, considering it was morning, he had been missing all night. "Oh no! My friends! Mr. Weasley! They must all be so worried!" he shouted as he jumped out of the comfortable nest of fur and onto the ground. "Wait, I was asleep in your hair?!"

Zoroark blinked blearily at him, obviously still half asleep and only understand part of the conversation. She yawned, showing razor sharp teeth, before stretching and idly scratching her head, "It is the most natural place to put a sleeping Zorua. A Zoroark's fur is hard to breach and naturally soft and concealing. At any rate, when you feinted last night, I could not return you to your pack as you were. I returned here, to the Swordsman clearing, while you rested. You looked like you had troubled dreams though. Was everything alright?"

Harry frowned, his paws kneading into the earth before he sighed and shrugged, "I saw someone…he pulled me somewhere he called Void or Ether or something. He said his name was Arceus."

"You met the Divine Arceus!" exclaimed Zoroark, her tone partly one of disbelief and part awe. "What did he speak to you about?"

Harry hesitated for a moment, before sighing faintly. Some of the things he and Arceus spoke of felt incredibly personal, but he trusted Zoroark to keep his secrets and he wouldn't mind some advice on how to proceed. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he quickly filled Zoroark in on what he had seen in his 'dream'. "So you never actually spoke to Arceus? I though, being a legendary and all, that you would have met him." He mused as he finished retelling what had happened, even down to the sudden appearance of unown and the baffling case of their missing member.

Zoroark, who had politely remained silent during Harry's narration, shook her head. "I've met some of the others, mostly Celebi and the Swordsman, but never Arceus. You must understand Harry, until something happened in my youth, I was a regular Zoroark. Sure, Zoroark and Zorua, on their own, have an incredibly long lifespan and were rare, but they were still considered normal, that is, non-legendary Pokémon."

Harry looked abashed at his baseless assumption and nodded quickly, "What happened to make you like you are now?"

"I died," Zoroark replied simply, "And due to the actions of my son and several, wonderful people, Celebi brought me back to life. It wasn't until the Cataclysm happened that he, and myself, realized his healing came with…consequences. I do not regret it though, as it enabled me to meet you."

Shocked silence met her statement as Harry stared up at Zoroark, his eyes wide with shock at how casually she had said her words. "You died?"

"For a time. No longer than a few minutes really. It was peaceful, but I had unfinished things to do and a son to look after. Celebi pulled me back from the brink and was only able to because, even in death, I was fighting to see my son again," Zoroark said, her tone soft and filled with a little amount of pain. "He is now gone, like all the others, but he lived a good life. A long life, even for a Zoroark, for he did eventually evolved. He did me proud. At any rate, I now I have you to look after and I have a feeling you'll cause just as much trouble as he did," she added with a laugh. Her laughter faded awkwardly as she looked down at Harry, who was sniffling cutely, his wide eyes sparkling with tears.

"You consider me your son?" He questioned, his tone filled with emotion.

"Only as long as you allow me too. Like I said before little Zorua, I will take care of you and keep you safe, like any mother should to their child." Zoroark replied evenly. Harry sniffled, but seemed to wrestle his emotion's under his control once more. Instead of being teary eyed, he seemed mildly awkward and hesitant.

"I've never had a mother. My Aunt doesn't really qualify as one and Mrs. Weasley is great and all, but she doesn't really feel like my…like a mother to me. I'd…like that, but…but I'm not sure…" He said awkwardly, biting his lip a little as he glanced nervously up at Zoroark.

"You fear you'd be replacing your birth mother?" Zoroark finished gently. At Harry's nod, she smiled, "Little one, I won't be replacing anyone. Your mother is still your mother. My taking her place currently only means that I care deeply for you. You don't have to call me mother either, if it makes you uncomfortable. I'm fine with Zoroark."

Silence stretched between them for a moment, before Harry nodded, "I can agree with that, I guess. Arceus did say to stay close."

A flash of emotion seemed to pass across Zoroark's face again, before she nodded her head and glanced upwards. The sun had moved faintly across the sky, filling the clearing they were in with even more warmth. "Quite some time has passed. We'd best get you back home. Do you know how to change back?" Zoroark asked.

"I think so…the book said I just have to imagine what I was before and force the magic to act acordinly," Harry replied as he scrunched up his nose in thought. There was a faint POP and Harry sat on the grass, instead of the little pokemon from before. Zoroark frowned. "What?"

"Didn't work. That's an illusion Harry. Try again," Zoroark informed as she reached over and tugged his hair. Another faint pop and he was Zorua once more. This continued for a good ten minutes, with Harry transforming back only for Zoroark to inform him it was an illusion, before Harry managed to get his real human self back, though he looked exhausted.

"That…that was difficult…" he murmured gently as he got to his feet, his legs shaking beneath him.

"It was a bit troublesome, but you managed in the end. You hair is still red at the tips though. I suppose that just won't ever leave," Zoroark replied as her form shimmered and a tall, slightly tanned woman took her place. Long auburn hair spilled down to her knees, held back by the same glowing blue bead that was tied to the bottom of her mane. "You'll have to be careful to not allow people to tug on it or it'll force you back as a Zorua again. You're human at the moment, not an illusion, but if you change and I'm not there…you could get stuck as a Zorua and I don't want you using your illusion powers for that long. Now then, shall we get you back to you pack?"

Harry's jaw dropped as he took in Zoroark's new appearance, "This is…an illusion?!"

Zoroark laughed, "That it is. I wasn't about to let you wander this forest alone," she said with a shake of her head, "I can even make it seem as though I'm speaking from my mouth like any normal human, instead of telepathy. Like I said before, our illusions encompass all the senses."

"That's…really cool. So you made this form look like your Zoroark form, not someone else, why?" He asked as he stood, dusting off his pants and glancing up at Zoroark. Unlike when she was in her real form, she was easily taller than him in this illusionary one. Her Pokémon form was barely taller than him after all.

"Because it was easier and if I take the looks of someone else to get you back to your pack and that person shows up, even in the background, it could be troublesome. I shall use this one instead," Zoroark answered as she motioned for Harry to follow and started walking towards the trees. Harry hesitated for a moment, before hurrying after her.

They walked quietly for awhile, Harry focusing more on climbing over fallen logs and sticking to a path that seemed, more often than not, to wind back onto itself. He was hot and sweaty and somewhat miserable, but didn't complain. "We're really far into the forest, aren't we…" he mused as he jumped off a log, stumbling a little, before continuing on.

"We were, but we're nearing the edge of the forest now. I think I can hear your pack."Zoroark said. Harry found it strange to hear her speak while moving her lips. It was like an echo really. He'd hear her voice in his head, but her lips would move just slightly after the words fully formed in his mind.

"What will you tell them? I mean, I was missing all night and they must be frantic," Harry said as he wiped sweat from his brow and sighed as they came upon a real path. All that round about walking had truly tired him out.

"I will think of something. Remain silent until I speak and agree with what I say and they shouldn't think anything wrong or suspicious."

"Okay," Harry replied as he glanced around. Zoroark had said she heard his pack-er, his friends and Mr. Weasley, but he couldn't hear anything. Now that he was back as a human again, his senses seemed really dull, like his ears were clogged with cotton and his nose stuffed up, even though he could breathe just fine. "There! Mr. Weasley! Bill! Charlie!" Harry called as he spotted a few red heads near the very edge of the forest. They looked worn out, their clothing ruffled and covered in sticks and leaves. Bill had a bandage wrapped around his arm and seemed to move it very gingerly. At the sound of his voice, all three jumped and looked over, before breaking out in relieved grins and rushing over.

Zoroark reached over quickly, placing a hand on Harry shoulder to stop him from rushing over to greet them. It was petty of her, maybe even childish, but she wanted just a little more time with him.

"Harry! We've been looking for you all night! When the mark hit the sky-that is, we're glad you're alright," Mr. Weasley said as they caught up. He wiped at his own brow with a handkerchief, sighing slightly in the summer heat.

"The little one here and myself got a bit lost in the forest. I saw him fall down an embankment, because of the rushing crowd. I had to wait a bit, but I managed to climb down and get him," Zoroark stated, a kind, friendly smile stretching across her face. Harry blushed at being called little, before blinking as he realized Zoroark had spoken. He barely caught himself from asking how she was doing that.

"Before, I only placed the illusion to make me look human, Harry. Around them, I strengthened it so that they, and you, see me speak like any other human," Zoroark's voice intoned in his head.

"Oh really? Thank you so much but…why didn't you make it out of the forest?" Charlie asked as he gave Harry a once over. It suddenly occurred to Harry that he was still in his pajamas, with only a jacket to cover himself. He flushed, sticking his hands into his pockets as he glanced down at the ground and towards his rumbled, dirty night clothes.

"I…could not, that is…he was injured. The embankment was incredibly steep and Harry here was knocked out. I assume he must've hit a rock. I found it not safe to move him, so made myself as comfortable as possible. He just recently awoke, which is why we didn't managed to get through the forest and to here until now," She replied as she ruffled Harry's hair.

Harry scowled and smacked her hand away, though not out of anger. The action just made him feel too much like a child. Although, being around Zoroark made him feel like that constantly.

"Well, regardless…thank you so much Miss…?" Bill asked as he extended his good arm.

"You may call me Camarin," Zorork answered, still smiling. "Now I really must be going and young Harry here could do with a change of clothes, don't you think?" She mused with a chuckle.

"Ah….right, thank you very much for looking out for him, Camarin," Mr. Weasley said as he shook her hand once more.

"Oh it was no problem. He's a sweet child," Zoroark stated as she turned towards Harry. She looked at him for a moment, her expression hard to decipher, before smiling again. "You take care of yourself young man. No more getting pushed down dangerous embankments."

"Oh, uh…I'll try not to," Harry replied, blinking up at Zoroark. "A-and thank you! I mean, for coming after me and staying with me and all. Thanks."

"It was nothing child. Do take care, will you?" She added as she bowed to the lot of them before walking off. When Mr. Weasley, Charlie and Bill looked away to deal with Harry, she vanished into the forest, her illusion fading.

"Harry? Are you alright?" Charlie asked as he put a hand on the boys shoulder and steered him towards the tent.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit tired still, I guess," He muttered, his eyes trailing over where Zoroark had disappeared. He suddenly felt very lonely, though knew she'd be able to find him again with that weird sensing thing she had described almost a day ago now. Had it really only been about a day since they had met? 'So much has happened, that it feels like more time has passed,' Harry thought as they entered the tent.

As his friends, his pack as Zoroark called them, rushed over to greet and worry over him, Harry felt faintly guilty over not worrying over them as much as they had worried over him.

"Are you sure you're alright Harry? It must have been scary, what happened in the forest," Hermione said, hugging him tightly.

"Oh, no…I was fine. Z-er-Camarin was with me all night I guess. She took pretty good care of me while I was out of it," He said with a smile as he reached for a change of clothes.

"Are you sure? Honestly sure?" Hermione questioned.

"Yes Hermione. Camarin was…very kind," Harry replied evenly, before pointedly looking at her. She blushed and left him alone to change. Once she was gone, Harry sighed and stared at the clothing in his hands, then gave a long hard look at his fingers, his palm and the shape of his nails. He clenched his fingers, before shaking his head, relaxing the clenched appendages and changing. He was human again, he should be happy about that, but he only felt wrong.

EverD: Longest. Chapter. Evah! I had a lot of muse going for me though, so I suppose that's something. (I also felt bad about taking so long to up-date, so consider this a gift for sticking with the story despite that!) Don't expect two updates so close together again though. It'll be a rare occurrence, I think. xD Also, I'm looking into cover art. Anyone wanna help with that? You'd have my undying gratitude!