Chapter 6:
No secrets
A/N: You all really like me! T.T I've never been so happy! I'd like to thank the Academy… no. But seriously, thanks to all the faithful readers who have made this so popular!
Sarah slipped into the phone room. They had stopped at a Pokemon Center for the night, and she was anxious to get back up with Oak, so she dialed up his number.
The old man answered after three rings. "Ah, Sarah. I'm glad you called. I just got your results. It seems that the pill had a side effect. While enhancing your brain waves and functions, it also destabilized your DNA."
"What?!"
"Now, don't worry. You aren't going to die from it. You now seem to have a mixture of DNA in your blood. So far I've found your own, that of a Bulbasaur, a Kakuna, a Weedle, a Beedrill, a Pikachu, a Spearow, a Pidgey, and finally Pidgeotto."
"Wow."
"Indeed. It seems that they all share an equal part of your bloodstream. That's probably how you change. You're able to cause one strand to become more prominent than the others. It's incredibly fascinating."
"But nothing else should happen, right?"
Oak shook his head. "I don't think so. But keep in touch, just in case something else does happens."
"I will." She thanked him and hung up the phone. Then she slipped out the door and turned down the hall.
"Next time you want a private conversation, remember to close the door."
Sarah spun around at the voice. Luke was leaning casually against the wall. "You were eavesdropping?"
"Not eavesdropping. Just listening."
"So you heard us then?"
"I heard it, but I have no idea about what it means." Luke pushed away from the wall. "You know, as much of a loner as I am, I still kind of consider us friends. So if there's something going on, you can tell me."
Sarah looked down at her hands. "Can I trust you not to tell anyone?"
"On my honor as a friend."
Sarah took a deep breathe. "I can understand Pokemon."
"…You mean like their speech?" Sarah nodded. "That's pretty cool."
Sarah looked up at him with surprise. "You don't think that's weird?"
"Are you kidding? If anything it's one of the greatest gifts I've every heard of."
"Well, then perhaps I should just spill it all." Luke raised an eyebrow. She took another breathe. "I can't just hear them. I can change into them."
"You mean like…actually become a Pokemon?" She nodded again. "That's a bit strange, but also kind of cool."
"So you don't think I'm crazy?" she asked with a slightly more excited voice.
"Well, a bit, yes. But hey, isn't everyone a little crazy?"
"OH, thank you!" She ran up and grabbed him in a hug. "I was almost certain you'd think I was a freak or something!
"Well, maybe a little. But I can accept that." She hugged him a little tighter. "So does this mean you can battle too?"
"Well, Bulbasaur actually thought I should have instead of Kakuna. Now that the secret's out, I'm kind of anxious to try."
"Well, you'll get the chance to tomorrow. We should be at Cerulean by then."
"Thank you again." She finally released him and went off to her room. She pulled out Bulbasaur's ball and released him. "You were right again. I told him and he's actually cool with it!"
"See? You need to start listening to me more often."
"I guess so." She knelt down and gave the creature a hung around the next. The clouds above shifted. It was much later than she had thought, and the moonlight shown through the window onto the floor. Sarah stepped back and looked down at herself. "Strange. If it's this late, I should be changing."
"Maybe it's just at the full moon."
Sarah looked back up at the moon. Sure enough, it was well past the full stage and starting to wane. "I guess you're right. That's three for you. But you know what, I kind of like being a Pokemon occasionally." She focused her mind and caused her body to shrink into a Bulbasaur. "Ah, there we are. Would you like to join me for the night?"
"Sure." They jumped up onto the bed and snuggled close.
Sarah put her head back down with a comfortable sigh. She was finally comfortable with her gift.
The two stopped for their last break before entering the city. Luke went to making a fire. "I think I'm going to do a little Pokemon hunting," Sarah said. "I'm going to need some more before we hit the next gym."
"That's probably a good idea."
Sarah headed off into the woods, constantly checking her location so that she could make it back. "It would probably easier to find other Pokemon if I was one myself," she thought to herself. She dropped down and shifted to a Bulbasaur. She had gotten it down now and was able to switch from form to form with ease.
Dropping her face, she took a sniff. She picked up several different scents, many of which she ruled out as plant smells. Two others were different, hopefully Pokemon. She picked one and followed it. She didn't have to travel far. She came to a small clearing. In the center sat a small orange and black dog with white tufts of fur under its chin and on its head. Sarah recognized it as a Growlithe. "That's weird. Growlithe aren't supposed to live anywhere near here."
The small dog was looking around and occasionally let out a whimper.
"It must be seriously lost. It doesn't look too old." Sarah thought for a moment. Battling would only scare it more. Perhaps she could befriend it instead.
She was about to step out but stopped. "Don't want it to see me change." She hurried back to where she had left her clothes and changed back. Then she crept back to the clearing. Luckily the Growlithe hadn't moved.
She was about to step out again when the canine suddenly turned and looked in her direction. It let out a growl. "Whoever you are, come out now!"
Sarah stood out from the bush.
The dog took a step back and looked a bit surprised, but then resumed its fierce stance. "Don't come any closer."
"It's ok, girl, I'm not going to hurt you."
"Mama told me to stay away from humans."
"Well your mama probably never met me."
The pup was caught off guard. "You understand me?"
"Yes. And I know that you're lost and alone." The Growlithe dropped his head. "If you want to come with me, I promise I'll take care of you."
The Growlithe perked up, but then grew suspicious. "Wait, there's a catch, isn't there? Just because I'm young doesn't mean I'm stupid."
Sarah laughed. "Of course you are. The only catch would be that you would help me win contests by battling."
"Huh. I figured."
"I wouldn't do anything to get you hurt. And my other Pokemon really enjoy battling." The pup looked around, still suspicious. "You do want a family, don't you?" The dog looked at her with now sad eyes. "We can be your family. What do you say?"
The dog took one last look into the woods behind it. Then it turned back to her. "Ok."
"Great," Sarah said with a smile. She knelt down on the ground and held her arms out. "Come here."
The Growlithe bounded forward and let out a bark. It came into her lap and Sarah scratched it behind its ear. "So what's your name?"
"Nina."
"Well, Nina, welcome to the team. Let's go get something to eat."
They got up and walked off back to camp. Nina crouched behind a bush when she spotted Luke. "Don't worry," Sarah encouraged. "He's not going to hurt you."
Nina slowly crawled out. Luke turned and spotted her. "Ah, is this the new member of the team?" Nina stopped. "Oh, come on, now. How about something to eat?" Luke fished a piece of meat from the pot and held it close to the ground.
Nina sniffed the air and went closer. When she got close enough, she lunged forward, grabbed the meat, and jumped back, chewing up the partially cooked flesh.
Sarah laughed. "Is it good?"
Nina nodded as she ate.
Sarah went to her bag and let out the rest of her Pokemon. She went through introducing each one to Nina. Then she got them all some Poke food.
The group of creatures got to talking. Sarah listened in as she waited for her stew to finish. It didn't take long for Shan to spill about her ability. Nina instantly looked at her. "No way." Sarah nodded. "You're kidding." She shook her head. "Yeah, right. I'll believe that when I see it."
Sarah laughed. "You're as bad as Luke."
"What was that?" the boy asked.
"Oh, nothing. I was talking to Growlithe."
Luke dipped up two bowls of stew and handed one to her. Sarah got a spoon and picked at it. "Thanks, Luke."
"For what?" he asked through a spoonful.
"For keeping my secret."
"Oh, that."
"You don't really believe me, do you?"
"To be perfectly honest, no. But hey, if you believe it, more power to ya."
Sarah laughed. "Huh. Well, at least you aren't leaving. So…thanks."
"Don't mention it."
A/N: A little anticlimactic? Maybe, but this is just a filler chapter. The good stuff hasn't even started yet. So stick around!