Author's note: The rest of the story will be mostly in Streak's POV from this point forward. Time to clear up one very confusing plot line XD! Don't forget to comment and review ^.^

Disclaimer reader: Moonlite Streak does not own pokemon. But she owns her OC though! :D

Chapter 2: Explanations

Streak's POV

I blinked, then rubbed my now-back-to-normal eyes. Did that pokemon just talk? I glanced over at the Shaymin and it nodded at me. I asked the most obvious question.

How am I able to converse with both you understanding me, and me understanding you?

The more pressing question right now is how are you not a shadow? It answered back, a perplexed look crossing its features.

Cringing with the remembered feeling of the ice-cold darkness crawling through my veins, I recounted my experience with how it miraculously turned to light.

I looked down at my legs, which had come in contact with the deadly evil, remembering the horrible sensation of utter fear.

Then, remembering my graze and the shadow, I looked down at my arm in panic. I rolled up my sleeve and felt tears well up in my eyes. There was a black smudge that extended up past my shoulder and up the side of my neck.

I removed the bandanna from my neck so I could get a better view and this time Shaymin and Rayquaza saw it too. I let the tears flow freely, knowing I was doomed to become a shadow. I looked at myself in a reflective Silcoon web and held my head in my hands.

I quickly grasped at one of my bangs at the front of my head to check to see if what I saw in the reflection was true. Turns out it was. Instead of the normal black hair I woke up with that morning, I had shadow hair. There were little shadow flames, no larger than the size of my fingernail, dancing around my head.

They scared me like nothing else, even more than the thought of dying at the hands of the shadow Rayquaza. There was a sharp intake of breath from both of the legendary pokemon that stood at my side as they noticed what I saw in the reflection. They made a move to comfort me but I looked at them through my tear-filled eyes.

Stay away from me, I don't want to hurt you! I told them

Its okay, the Shaymin answered, stepping towards me. If you're still not a shadow, then I doubt you will ever become one. But, just to be sure since nothing like this has ever happened before, I will stay by your side as your loyal partner, guarding you from yourself and others who may see your potential and may try to exploit it.

I smiled gratefully at the small green-backed creature and didn't move to stop her as she curled up beside me. Her warmth was comforting, it reminded me of better times.

The Rayquaza nuzzled his mouth in my shadow hair and in return I stroked its head. I decided that life wasn't so bad after all. This was my new family, and at that moment I made an oath to myself and every other living being, that I would cleanse the world of shadow pokemon, and live for others. Sensing my feelings and hearing my oath, Rayquaza made an oath of its own in the form of a gift.

You have saved me from both myself and the shadow, and the least I can do is give you this in return. I'm afraid it is not much, but it is all I can do for now. Use it to call on me, anytime, anywhere. I'll always stay near you, sister.

He carefully gave Shaymin a shining green scale from his body and the small pokemon threaded a short vine through it, making a simple, but breathtakingly beautiful necklace. As Shaymin walked over to me with the necklace in its mouth, the scale span around and reflected the sun's rays in every direction.

Please bow your head, Streak of Eterna Forest.

I did as she requested, bowing my head towards the floor as I felt her slip the cool scale around my neck. I admired it as it glittered rainbow in the sunlight before putting the light brown and white bandanna back on and tucking the beautiful scale underneath it.

Using this strange form of telepathy I had recently acquired I asked them the same question as earlier.

How am I able to converse with both you understanding me, and me understanding you?

Shaymin answered this one.

I believe that in fighting of the shadow, you not only have acquired some of the powers and visual features of it, but you also acquired the power of telepathy.

I nodded in thanks for her answer before standing up and brushing down first my white sleeves, then my short light brown dress before picking up my white backpack and tightening my dark brown shoes. I stumbled out of the forest with my two guardians by my side, as my legs were still weakened by the shadow.

We walked into Eterna Town, away from the past, looking only to the future.

~..*..~

No-one's POV

Streak walked carefully out of the forest and into the concrete jungle of Eterna Town, supported by her two best friends and guardians, Rayquaza and Shaymin.

Talking endlessly about things like how many hairs a Ninetails have, and how many will-o-wisps a Gastly can produce at once, she desperately tried not to let her weariness show, but her companions sensed it all the same.

~..*..~

Streak's POV

My legs were killing me and after fighting off the shadow, my chest wasn't feeling so good either. I coughed again and tasted blood in my mouth. Oh great, just what I needed right now! But, I still tried not to let any of this show. Perhaps the shadow had done more damage than I initially thought. I think it bruised one of my right ribs when it squeezed its way up my arm and crawled to my chest.

Why don't we rest in the Pokecenter for the night, Streak? Its starting to get dark and besides, I could do with a hot plate of food, Shaymin suggested.

I sighed in relief when they made the decision she desperately wanted them to make. True, it was starting to get dark, but I couldn't help but feel immensely grateful towards the two green pokemon, knowing they had sensed my pain and distress.

I remembered that Rayquaza wouldn't be able to fit in the small red-roofed building, and Shaymin wasn't exactly inconspicuous. As if on cue, Rayquaza declared that he would rest in the branches of Eterna Forest for that night and that we could use the scale if we needed him before flying back off towards the way we came.

I raised my arm above my head and waved towards the rapidly fading green smudge in the distance. As I lowered my right arm back down again, I winced as pain shot through me.

Shaymin looked at me with concern written over her face, but knew better than to question me. It would be a useless effort. Instead, she used Wish on me, its power intensified by the ever-closer night.

We sat down in an alleyway close to the Pokecenter, and I looked up at the twinkling night sky as my waist glowed dimly with the power of Wish. I laid my head back on the cold stone wall and stroked Shaymin with my left arm (so it wouldn't hurt my ribs).

She cuddled up to my side for a while until the dim glow faded away completely.

My rib wasn't even close to fixed, but the Wish had at the very least helped to reduce the pain. The move was meant for surface injuries, such as cuts and scratches, not bruised bones but I couldn't complain. After all, I was alive with Shaymin at my side, and I felt happiness and gratitude once again flow through me.

As we neared the lights of the Pokecenter I knelt down and opened my backpack for Shaymin to crawl into. I followed the smell of hot food and a soft bed and walked inside the sliding blue doors.

I rarely visited Pokemon Centers, it was a treat for me to get to see the trainers and their pokemon, and the wondrous healing machine when I was younger. I walked up to the front desk, carefully holding my side but trying not to look too injured. The lovely Nurse Joy turned around and smiled at me.

"Hello, and welcome to the Pokecenter. How can I help you today?" she asked me with a sweet, genuine smile.

"If you wouldn't mind, I am in need of a bed for the night, and I wouldn't pass up a hot meal..." I hinted gently.

"Of course! Here, please hand me your Pokedex and Trainer ID Card!" She answered.

I was silent, thinking this over and scolding myself for being so brainless. Of course I would need a Trainer Card, was I stupid? Never mind, if I just explained the situation..not all of it, but enough to convince her of my need for a room.

"Er, I'm afraid that I'm not a trainer, though I have been meaning to become one for a little while now. But I live..." I turned my head away slightly.

"Sorry, lived in a pokemon lab. Perhaps you could use my lab ID card instead? You see, I have nowhere to go, I can't risk staying out in the street for the night in case any wild pokemon came along so..." I looked at her imploringly.

She looked at me with confusion but did not question any further.

"Room 5, third room on your left. The food canteen is just upstairs, help yourself." I thanked Joy then walked to my room, trying to keep my balance and not stumble.

~..*..~

Shaymin's POV

Streak was definitely in pain, her lips were white with it, but she did her best not to show it. I sighed quietly to myself then looked at Rayquaza. He sighed too. It looked like the constricting shadow had hurt her more than we thought, likely cracked a rib.

But, like the positive girl she was, she shook it off and just kept talking about trivial nonsense, determined not to let us worry about her.

I interrupted her talk and suggested that we go to a Pokecenter. I could tell that she was hungry, and she looked very weary from her ordeal. I saw relief and gratitude rush through her deep and intelligent brown eyes. She coughed again, a horrible dry cough, and I hoped the constriction of the shadow wasn't a cause of it.

We walked in silence for a little further, until Rayquaza announced that he would sleep in Eterna Forest for the night, and that we need only use the scale for him to come right back to us. I could see Streak was visibly shaking from both exhaustion and pain so I directed her into an alleyway and used Wish.

I knew it wouldn't do much, but anything would help. She sat down with her back to the wall and laid her head carefully onto the cool stones. She shivered ever so slightly, though I'm not sure she even realised it herself.

I walked over to her side and curled up against her leg as she stroked me with one arm, and held her side with the other. I just closed my eyes and listened to the silence and calm that was night, until the Wish's glow had faded from Streak's waist.

She carefully got up, colour returned to her red lips though I knew it was only temporary. she unzipped her backpack and gestured for me to climb into it.

I lay in the warm darkness, her spare change of clothes making a comforting bed inside the blissfully dark pack.

The smell of hot food wafted into the small holes in the zips and how I wished for something to eat! I didn't quite realise how hungry I was until that moment.

Still savouring the mouthwatering scent, I listened to the low, muffled conversation between Streak and Nurse Joy. After attempting to strain my ears to hear what they were saying, I gave up and went back to listening to the general bustle of a Pokecenter.

I felt the backpack bounce up and down in a smooth and lulling pattern and Streak presumably walked to her room before hearing the quiet thud of the door closing and seeing bright light flood the backpack as Streak unzipped it and turned the lightswitch on.

~..*..~

Streak's POV

I opened the door to a small bedroom, which had a dark-brown wooden bunk-bed to the left, a matching bedside cabinet with a white lamp and alarm clock, a dark brown wooden wardrobe and a table that completed the brown, wooden set, with a small, grey computer next to it. The floor was a beige carpet, with matching beige sheets on the beds. I undid my shoes and put them over the table that was on the left side of the tiny narrow room, and carefully lay the backpack on top of the table.

I closed and locked the door that was behind me before turning on the lightswitch and unzipping the white backpack. I was greeted with a sloppy lick from Shaymin as she jumped out to greet me.

So, what are we doing now Streak? She asked me with her head cocked to one side.

I don't know, but I could sure use a rest. And... I felt indecision cross my features as I decided whether to tell Shaymin about my rib. Oh well, I think she sensed it anyways. I took a deep breath and forced myself to continue, hating to inconvenience people.

And, could you help me put these bandages on? I think the shadow bruised my rib...

Shaymin looked at me with a look that said, Finally! As she moved towards me to help me wrap them around my waist she scolded me lightly.

Well, it didn't take a genius to work out that you were in pain Streak, you were practically as white as a ghost with it!

I chuckled at her before taking everything but my undergarments off and letting her wrap the bandages around me. As she gingerly wrapped them around my waist, I started to feel light-headed. I just shook it off. Must just be the tiredness.

Shaymin stepped back and admired her handiwork and I slipped my nightgown over the bandages. I thanked her kindly before picking her up and walking over to the lightswitch next to the door.

Just before I turned it off, another round of light-headedness caught me off-guard, and my throat flamed up. I looked at my now glove-less hand and watched it grow black flames. I swayed slightly and, unsuccessfully, attempted to grab the scale necklace that hung on my burning neck for help before completely losing consciousness. The last thing I heard was Shaymin shouting my name.

Author's note: Wow, its getting interesting now! Please comment, and constructive criticism and ideas are always welcome!

-Moonlite Streak-