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

"Talk"

'Think'

"Telepathy"

Pokémon Attack

AN: Sorry about the long wait. Enjoy the chapter. Also, I don't have a beta and the most I did was read it over and use spell check. Sorry if there are any mistakes. Also, this is the longest chapter yet. Yay?

Chapter 12

Sir Aaron stared out across the ocean and the ocean winked back at him, glimmering brightly in the sun. It was a vibrant blue, faintly tinged green when the light hit it just right. Thick, foamy spray launched itself into the air each time the waves crashed against the rocks, only to recede with a hiss as it all fell back into the depths. Birds cried hymns to the air as they circled overhead, but they weren't birds he knew. This wasn't an ocean he had seen before and for all its perceived beauty, Sir Aaron only felt an intense sensation of wrongness. He could still so vividly remember another beach like this, but ladened with Pokémon, instead of the strange, idiotic creatures that circled overhead.

And they were idiotic. He had tried several times to communicate with the creatures, as had Lucario, but all they got back was images and vague sensations. These birds, seagulls or whatever was purely instinctual. They held no passing memory beyond food and reproduction. Oh, there was a smattering of intelligence in their head somewhere, Aaron was sure, but compared to the animals he was used to seeing…it was severely stunted. It was like seeing a twisted version of home. Similar creatures, but the ones that lived were shells of the powerful being he had used to know and befriend.

"Aaron?"

Aaron tilted his head, glancing over at his companion. Lucario, fur rippling in the breeze, was giving him a curious and worrying expression. Aaron cleared his throat and turned back to what he was supposed to be doing, checking over their packs.

"Yes?" he said as he tucked an extra few bills of money into an inner pocket. Mew and Mewtwo had stressed that the money they had would have to last them as long as possible, for neither were sure they could get more of the same bills. Apparently, money had changed along with the world and the funny paper pieces and metal coins were what passed for currency here. It had taken him longer than he cared to admit to figure out the value of it all.

Are you alright?" Lucario asked as he reached down into the pack and pulled out a map. Aaron busied himself looking at it, studying the landmasses and their route, marked carefully out in red ink.

"Oh, I suppose. I've been better, old friend," Aaron said as he sighed and rubbed tiredly at his eyes. "I guess I'm just feeling what you felt…when you awoke from my staff all those years ago."

Lucario lowered his snout, giving Aaron an intense stare, before huffing and shaking his head. "We'll adapt," he muttered lightly as he took a seat and yawned. "We always do. Now, where do we go next? And does the route involve towns again?" he asked, sounding exasperated at the mention of cities. The last few they had passed had forced Lucario into the staff and given Aaron some strange looks. He figured it was the clothes, and yeah, he probably should've changed them into something that fit in more, but the clothes were a comfort of his time. He'd only change when they had to be washed again.

Aaron heaved a sigh and pushed his hat back, rubbing at the dark strands of his hair as he gazed back over the ocean. "Yes and no. We've got to find a way across the ocean, which could cost quite a bit of money. More than what we've got left, at least. A boat would force you back into the staff, and probably for quite awhile…," he said as he finally gave voice to his thoughts…and why they stopped at this out of the way beach. "But I might have another way across, though we'll be dead tired by the end of it…if we make it."

Lucario gave him a strange look, "You can't be serious," he said as he smacked Aaron. "We'll never make it across. What of storms? Of landmasses to rest at? You may be an Aura Master, Sir Aaron, but even you need to sleep."

"True, but it would be neat to run across an entire ocean. I've wanted to try it for ages," Aaron said with a grin. "And it's either that, or a boat. Do you even want to know how much that'll probably cost us? Not to mention how long it'll make you stay in the staff?"

Lucario was silent for awhile, before grumbling out, "I do not like the staff."

"I know you don't," Aaron said, sighing a bit. "Which is why I propose we run across the ocean. A good management with Aura should see us safely to a small island belt. They're not very big, but it'll serve the purpose of resting up before continuing on. From there, we can follow the compass South-East and we'll hit a country in a few days. Resting on occasion, of course. I've got it all plotted out on the map." With a flourish, Aaron unfolded the rest of the map and showed Lucario the course they would take.

It was lengthy and more than a little mad to contemplate, but even Lucario couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation when he thought about running across the ocean. He had done so over rivers and lakes, but something as turbulent and wild as an ocean, ever changing…it was a thrilling prospect. "The route is…not too bad," Lucario admitted as he ran a paw across the route they would take. It looked like they'd skirt along the edge of their current landmass, all the way up North, before taking off into the ocean proper, skipping across the Atlantic and to a small chain of islands. Small red dots were jotted down between the islands before curving off into the ocean once more before hitting land in a small country called Ireland.

"Nope, and if the run gets too bad, we can make an early landfall at, say…Portugal or something," Aaron said as he traced the route and showed the alternative path. "It's not too bad of a run, if I do say so myself. Manageable with a bit of time, effort and some luck," he added, practically beaming. "And we can consider it training. Our bodies have been in disuse for awhile, it'll be a good way to see how far we've come since we've woken up."

Lucario eyed the map silently for awhile, before sighing and admitting defeat. He knew from experience that Aaron was stubborn and bullheaded, for all his power, wisdom and intelligence. Once his mind was made up, it would take no less than a Mew to make him change it and, unfortunetly for Lucario, Mew was nowhere near. "Alright. We'll do it," he agreed, "But we pack more provisions, give ourselves another day or two to get ready for such a journey. Then leave at dawn, that way we get as much light as possible to travel with."

Aaron grinned, "Can't find vault in that! We'll leave for the morning!" he said as he pushed himself up to his feet and, grabbing a jury-rigged pole and some line, headed for some of the calmer waters to fish.

In the distance, a pale blue and white form popped it's head over the rough seas and eyed the two on the beach. He huffed faintly, spraying sea foam and water, before chuckling. Above him, Mew spun in circles, laughing.

"Told you they wouldn't ask," Lugia said with a roll of his eyes. On him, the trip to the country across the sea would've taken a few days at most and he had stayed along the coast watching Lucario and Aaron as they traveled, knowing full well they'd have to cross the sea eventually.

"Silly and proud! Too much pride! Watch over them as they travel? Would be bad for them to perish on the sea," Mew stated as laughed, watching Aaron get soaked as he tried to fish up dinner for the two of them. It was only distance that kept the adept aura user from spotting or hearing the jolly Pokémon.

"Of course. Should they falter or fall, or a storm appear, I'll keep them safe and get them where they need to go," Lugia replied. He sighed a moment later, "I'll never understand humans and their need to make things so damn complicated," he added.

"It's in their nature!" Mew said as he skirted over the very tip of the water. "Must go now. Be well!"

Lugia glanced up, watching as Mew spun up and into the sky. "Of course! Give them my best, Mew."

But the pink Pokémon was gone before Lugia was finished, prompting the old, tired Pokémon to sigh. "Nobody has any patients anymore," he grumbled as he dove beneath the waves. A few, subtle, psychic attacks sent a flurry of fish to the shore, to help out Aaron and his lackluster fishing attempts. "It's going to be a long few weeks," he muttered to himself as Aaron shouted with excitement as he pulled a fish ashore.

Harry scrunched up his face, glaring faintly at the tree before him. The ground around him was littered with marks, scorched grass, and small craters. The tree, to his indignation, was completely unharmed. He settled into his stance, planting paws firmly on the ground and pulled at the well of energy he could feel inside of him.

"Shadow Ball!" he shouted, as the purple miasma formed between his open jaws and fired. The ball of goopy energy shot out, and slammed into the ground two feet from the tree, showering him with bits of grass and dirt, prompting Harry to cough fitfully and Zoroark to stifle a laugh behind him. "Darn it! I'm never gonna get this right," he grumbled as he slumped onto the ground. He was exhausted, and the well of energy inside of him was completely spent. He used up every last bit on the last attack.

"Don't be so discouraged, my little one," Zoroark mused as she inspected the still smoking crater left by his attack. "While your aim is a bit off," here Harry snorted a bit. She silenced him with a look. "The power behind the attack is truly well done. If you could manage a hit, it would do quite a bit of damage," she finished. She watched as Harry groan and turn away from the tree.

"You know, I don't have this issue with my spells. I don't get why aiming is so hard! I'm doing it just like you showed you, I promise!" Harry replied, looking faintly guilty and almost ashamed, almost like he took the fact that his aim was so bad like a personal attack against Zoroark herself.

Though, knowing her little one, Zoroark had to admit he probably did.

"As I said before, don't be so discouraged. Shadow Ball is an incredible attack for a little Zorua to learn. The fact that you manifested it at that Feast of yours is a brilliant feat," she said soothingly. Standing, she walked closer to him and curled around Harry's slumped form, inwardly beaming as Harry scooted closer to the warmth of her fur. "Aim will come with practice and time, only. Dedication will get you to hit the mark."

Harry's still form, tense as it was, relaxed faintly at her words. They remained silent, curled up against one another for a moment and Zoroark let her mind wander. With the insects buzzing gently, the moon coating the ground in its pale light…she could almost pretend that things were normal for her again. It was a foolish, if comforting thought. Though it made it harder for her to realize that in a few hours, she'd have to usher Harry back to that castle of his, to rest in his bed and do his normal, human, activities.

Not that she liked the thought. What he had told her of his schooling made her wary of the castle and its inhabitance. The classes had highly dangerous creatures or plants and the professors were equally as strange and dangerous as the classes they taught. This…Professor Moody, for instance. Showing such harmful spells to a bunch of impressionable younglings felt stupid and it was only the first week of classes! She loathed to find out what would be happening next. It made her twitchy to know that someone could so easily harm her Zorua, her little Harry, and she would not be there to stop it.

"You're thinking too loudly," muttered Harry as he opened one green eye to stare up at her, before closing it and cuddling back into her fur. She bit back a smile, knowing full well that Harry would've never done this in his human form. He was much more stand-offish like that. It made his Zorua form that much more endearing.

"My apologies little one, but you shouldn't be dozing off anyway. It would be remiss of you to fall asleep out here and be found missing in the morning," Zoroark replied, sighing faintly. She would've loved for him to spend the night though, curled up and safe in her fur. However, she was sure that Harry would be missed upon morning when his friends found him gone and bed untouched from the night before.

"M'tired."

Zoroark chuckled, "I know. Come on then, I'll walk you to the school and you can head up to your dorm," she said gently as she coaxed him to his feet. Making sure he was safely beside her, she snagged the nifty little cloak of his and tossed it over them, before making her way back to the castle entrance.

They parted at the door, Harry shifted out of his animagus form and keeping under the cloak as Zoroark took the form of a small, ginger cat and making her way back to the forest. Harry, still tired from working on his only Pokémon attack, clutched his invisibility cloak tighter and made his way up to the Gryffindor dorms. Carefully avoiding two Professors and a nasty trick step, Harry whispered the password to the Fat Lady and ducked inside, pulling off the cloak only once he was safe in his bed, the curtains pulled tight around him. He was out like a light not a second later.

And woken up what felt like ten minutes later, though several hours had to have passed. Ron was nudging him, muttering tiredly under his breath, and stopped only when he spotted Harry's glare.

"Don't look at me like that, mate. I don't want to be awake either," Ron muttered as he scrubbed tiredly at his face, yawned and headed to the bathroom to shower and change.

Harry thought mutinously about staying in bed and sleeping for another hour or so, before he sighed and slipped out. A quick shower and a change of clothes had him down at the Great Hall with enough time to choke down breakfast and get started on first class of the day. Barely though and by the squinty eyed glare sported by Hermione, she was not pleased with their almost tardiness.

At lunch, Harry watched Hermione stuff food down her throat and disappear once more. "She still trying to get people to join spew?" he asked as he yawned and piled a plate high with whatever he could reach. Using magic and whatever energy Pokémon attacks used made him starving. No matter how much he ate, Harry always felt like there was a pit where his stomach was.

Ron, doing much the same as Harry was, nodded, "Yeah, but don't let her catch you calling it spew. It's S.P.E.W, remember?" Ron said, making a passable attempt at Hermione's voice.

Chuckling, Harry gave a shrug and turned back to lunch and how much he could devour before the bell rang and he had to head to DADA. Which was quite a bit, actually. Ron had finished before he had, which was saying something considering Ron's near limitless stomach.

"You alright there, mate?" Ron asked as Harry grabbed a few apples and tucked them away for later. "You've been eating like crazy lately. Not that that's a bad thing. Certianly would make mum happy," he added.

"Nah, I'm fine. Just hungry," Harry said, feeling slightly guilty. He knew he had to tell Ron and Hermione about Zoroark soon. It was silly keeping such a secret, but he liked being the only one who knew of her. He liked the secret get together and training and playing and he figured being selfish for once about this would be…okay, for the most part. Besides, he'd tell them eventually...

With that thought in mind, he wandered into Professor Moody's classroom, Ron and Hermione beside him. He frowned lightly as Moody came limping in and, with a wave of his wand, had the desks pushed against the back of the class. It was only once everyone was against one wall, that Professor Moody surprised them by announcing that he would be putting the Imperius Curse on each of them in turn, to demonstrate its power and to see whether they could resist its effects.

"But that's illegal, Professor," said Hermione, uncertainly as Moody turned both eyes on her. "You said to use it against another human was-"

"Dumbledore wants you to know what it feels like," said Moody, his magical eyes swiveling away from Hermione to land on Harry tight-lipped expression. "If you'd rather learn the hard way, when someone's putting it on you so they can control you completely, fine by me. You're excused. Off you go."

He pointed a gnarled finger at the door. Hermione went pink and muttered something under her breath about not wanting to leave, prompting Ron to grin slightly. Harry gave the thought of leaving some consideration though, not sure if he wanted someone who made him feel so off casting such spell on him. The things he could make him do by just a whispered word and a wave of a wand. He didn't leave though and neither did Hermione.

Moody nodded his head, then began to beckon students forward in turns and cast the Imperius Curse upon them. Harry watched as, one by one, his classmates did the most strange and extraordinary things under its influence. Dean Thomas hopped three times around the room, singing, badly and horrendously out of key, the national anthem. Lavender Brown imitated a squirrel and Neville performed a series of quite astonishing gymnastics that Harry was sure he would be feeling quite soon. The splits, for one, that he had performed admirable, but would hurt like hell later, he was sure. Still, Harry noted that not one of them seemed to be able to fight off the curse and each one of them only recovered once Moody removed it.

"Potter," Moody growled, "you next."

Harry tensed and, against his better judgment, moved into the middle of the classroom, into the space Moody had cleared of desks. The Professor raised his wand, pointed it at Harry and said, "Imperio!"

Now, the thing that Harry noted about the others under the curse is the vacant expression. Like whatever hit them had been an amazing sensation. Harry felt nothing. Not the spell hitting him, not whispered voices in his head telling him to do something against his will. He stood there awkwardly for a moment, before rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "Professor?"

Professor Moody looked completely flummoxed. His brow furrowed, turning his scarred face into something even worse to look at, before he raised his wand once more and cast the curse. Harry saw the light at the end of the wand, saw it cast and even noted it had hit him, but it seemingly had no effect. Three more times Professor Moody cast the spell and each time Harry felt nothing, not even a vague sensation of the spell taking affect.

"Well, I'll be…," Moody growled out, still looking somewhat shocked. Although, Harry noted that most of the class had a similar expression. "Look at that, you lot! Potter isn't affected at all! They won't even begin controlling you Potter! Go on then, stand back. We'll try another go around. I want you lot to try fighting it this time!"

Harry moved out of the middle of the classroom, his heart thumping a million miles a minute as he watched Neville once more take his place in the middle. By the end of class, nobody else had made any progress and both Ron and Hermione were giving him curious looks.

"How'd you do it?" Ron asked as they left Defense.

Harry stared down at his sneakered feet, moving slowly, his mind stuck on the matter. "I don't know," he admitted, brow furrowed from thinking. "When the spell hit you, what did you feel?"

"I felt…I dunno, like it was a good idea, I suppose," Ron replied with a shrug, before glancing at Hermione questioningly.

"I did as well. I thought it was a brilliant idea to do cartwheels or recite the basic principles of Transfiguration. And I felt…at peace, I guess. Like nothing could go wrong," Hermione said. She looked thoughtful for awhile, before shaking her head, making her hair bounce every which way. "What did you feel Harry?"

Harry stopped, ignoring the throngs of people that parted and continued on, shooting him looks. "Nothing," he finally said. "I didn't feel… anything."

By dinner, it was like a repeat of second year all over again. The whole school seemed to know that the spell Professor Moody had casted on them all hadn't affected him like it had others. It looked like his life was back to the stares and whispers, although there were a lot less bad ones. Mostly shocked or speculative looks, rather than glares. He had yet to hear a whisper of him cheating, lying, and faking or, even of him somehow being Dark.

Although a small, soft voice in the back of his head couldn't help but point out that they'd finally be right. He was Dark. At least partly. He was a Zorua, or became a Zorua…could become one? And according to Zoroark, they were Dark Pokémon. Although that just meant the type of energy they more easily manifested, but still, it was something he was getting used to. He had flipped the first time Zoroark had told him.

Though it was now easier to handle.

Somewhat.

You know, if he didn't think about it too hard.

He groaned, letting his head hit the table at dinner has he tried to ignore Colin Creevey, who seemed hell bent on getting a 'personal interview' or the throngs of other Gryffindors who wanted in on the secret on how he had not been affected by the spell.

Even Ron and Hermione had asked and dissected and completely ripped apart any theories on how he had done it. Well, Hermione had. Ron had just shrugged, slapped him on the back and asked for pointers, until Harry had given him a look that had sent Ron skittering back and nervously following them at a slower pace.

He recovered a few minutes afterward and hadn't asked the question again since.

Which was weird because Ron never let something go so quickly, but he wasn't about to look a gift Ponyta in the mouth. Er…horse. He wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. 'Darn it Zoroark, you're making me think like you,' Harry thought as he rubbed his head and continued to eat.

"Oh, stop pouting Harry. This is a good thing. No one can ever hit you with the Imperius Curse. You should stop looking so down," Hermione said as she calmly ate, for once.

"Yeah, mate! It's pretty cool, you know. Survivor of the Killing Curse AND the Imperius Curse doesn't affect you. You're two for three," Ron joked, spewing food.

Harry winced and wiped his face off. "Yeah, not in a hurry to try three for three. Look, let's just drop it. I'd like to just finish eating and then head back up to the Dorm. Do homework or something."

That made Hermione give him a proud look and he felt bad. He was only getting his homework done on time so that he could beg off to sleep and see Zoroark. He made another mental note to tell them soon. He was sure Zoroark would love more people to talk too and maybe it would get her to quick babying him so much.

Dinner followed a quick homework session that had Ron grumbling darkly, but Harry diligently doing his work. Another thing about Zoroark is that she detested leaving something to do until later. If he went down without a good part of his homework finished, or better yet not completely finished, she would march his butt back up to the Castle and he really wanted to get Shadow Balldown.

Stretching pleasantly, he threw down his quill and closed his eyes. His twelve inch long essay for Transfiguration was done. His dream charts were mostly finished, and a load of crock, but whatever. His potions essay was finished, but in a desperate need to be edited but it wasn't due until Monday and Care of Magical Creatures really never assigned much.

"I think I'm done for the night," he stated, packing away his things.

"What about your potions essay? Or your…divination homework?" Hermione quipped; her own essay was still in front of her and three inches over the maximum mark.

Harry shrugged, laughing a little as Ron tossed his own quill down and threw his work back into his bag, crumpling parchment and crushing quills. It was probably sheer luck he didn't upend a bottle of ink over it all.

"Done, for the most part," Harry admitted and, as much as he wanted to beg off to sleep, he stayed down in the common room and managed a few games of Exploding Snap and Chess with Ron, Dean and Neville. He was pleased to note that he beat both Dean and Neville in Chess, got completely demolished by Ron and managed only to partially sing away an eyebrow. By the time everyone agreed for bed, it was late, but Harry was hopeful. Going to bed later meant they'd fall asleep much quicker…not that he needed them to fall asleep on their own.

The Unown were always happy to help him out in that regard.

One ghostly lullaby later and he was donning his clothes again, putting on his cloak and out of the castle before someone could say Ghastly.

Or Peeves, who could've been a Ghastly in another life, he supposed.

"Zoroark!" He called out as he was pounced by a blur of dark fur.

"Little one!" Zoroark replied, nuzzling him gently, before moving on to straighten his hair…with her tongue.

"Ah, uck…gross! Zoroark!" Harry grumbled as he struggled out of her grip and only managed to do so once she was done. "Gross," Harry muttered as he tentatively touched his damp hair.

"It needed to be straightened. Come, little one. Share with me your day," Zoroark said, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

So he shared. He told her everything, even if it didn't seem important or at all interesting, like what he had for dinner or lunch. He did hesitate for a moment, before frowning and staring at Zoroark curiously. "And the funniest thing was…well…the spell didn't affect me. Not even a little bit. It made everyone else act like idiots under Professor Moody's command, but it didn't even touch me!" he exclaimed, throwing his paws out for emphasis. He had long since shifted back into his Zorua form and had spent the entire tale pacing and gesturing with his paws.

Zoroark found it adorable and laughed at the question.

"Oh my little one, we went over this when I talked over type advantages and disadvantages," she stated simply as she rolled an apple at him. Harry stopped it with a paw and nibbled on it, looking at her in a confused manner, juice dripping from his chin.

" Huh?"

Zoroark shook her head at him, looking amused. "Think on it little one. I know you know the answer to this."

Harry chewed slowly, running his mind over the enormous lecture he had gotten on type and energies back when he had first panicked over Shadow Ball and the news he was a Dark type. And then it hit him like a punch to the stomach.

Dark types were immune to Psychic type moves. They didn't have any effect, couldn't even touch him, according to Zoroark at least. And out of all the magic spells he could think about, Imperius was purely psychic. It affected the mind, and the way it perceived its own thoughts and ideas.

He was immune to Imperius because he could turn into a Zorua, because of the energy that now encircled his magic so closely it was nigh entwined.

"No little one. You're immune to Imperius because you are a Zorua and because Zorua's are Dark types, which are immune to Psychic moves," Zoroark intoned gently.

"But…I'm not. I'm Harry. I'm human," Zorua muttered, pawing at his apple. But was he? Was he really human? Or was he a Zorua? The longer he spent in his Zorua form, the more natural it felt. How long until walking around on two legs felt horrid to him? How long until everyone else noticed something off?

How long until he could no longer safely say he was human?

Ignoring his inner thoughts, Zoroark pulled him close and curled around him. Maybe for tonight, just tonight mind you, training could be put on hold.

Howdy folks. Long time no update, yah? XD Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Out of not wanting to explicitly state, I'm putting Harry's move pool down here, both for me and you all to keep track of. I can't wait until I get to the more interesting bits! A word to the wise, I get two days off a week, and I can pretty much only write on one day. I'll try and get the next chapter up soon though.

Harry Current Move Pool: Shadow Ball, Scary Face.