"What am I supposed to do?" Paul groaned, pulling on his white hair.
"Have you tried taking off the clothes at least?" Maylene asked. Reggie had called her and they were trying to figure everything out.
"Yes, and it seems like they're attached to my body," Paul growled. To demonstrate he tried taking his boot off, but it wouldn't budge. "Nothing!"
"Maybe you should calm down, that could be the key to turning back to normal," Reggie suggested.
"I always use meditation to help calm myself; do you want to give it a shot?" Maylene suggested.
"Paul," Reggie warned, noticing his brother's eyes harden.
"Fine," Paul grumbled.
"Take a deep breath in, hold it for a moment and then slowly release it," Maylene told him. Paul closed his eyes and did as he was told. The two sat in silence as they breathed. "Now, clear your mind, make it completely blank." Paul nodded and started to clear his mind of everything.
"I can't believe he's actually doing this," the familiar voice of his Weavile whispered.
"Yeah, he's never followed Miss Maylene's words," the deep voice of the pinkette's Lucario spoke.
"But, doesn't he look so cool?" a young pokémon giggled.
"Yeah! He looks like a superhero!" another answered.
"No, he would be more like a villain! He's not very nice!" an older pokémon argued.
Reggie watched in amusement as the pokémon chattered away in their tongues. All the while Paul was getting angrier and angrier.
"Will you…SHUT UP!" He shouted, turning to glare at them. All the pokémon froze in fear, not saying another move.
"Paul! You don't have to be so mean!" Reggie shouted.
"I-I can't move…" Lucario grumbled, trying to move its limbs.
"Master Paul, please stop," Weavile asked, trying to move his claws.
"His glare is so scary!" Poochyena cried.
"That's almost like my Glare," an Ekans whispered, flinching under his gaze.
"And that shout! It was like my Screech!" a small Shuppet agreed.
"What…?" Paul grumbled.
"What's wrong?" Maylene asked.
"They just said…" Paul muttered, standing up. The pokémon relaxed as he stopped glaring at them. "They just said I used pokémon moves."
"You understood them?" Maylene asked in shock.
"Yes, it's an ability Paul's had since he was young, but he often ignores it," Reggie explained.
"And with good reason," Paul huffed. "The baby pokémon here have annoying voices."
"So, what did they just say?" Reggie asked.
"Ekans said that my glare was like his move 'glare', and Shuppet said my shout was more like a 'screech'," Paul answered.
"Doesn't Ninjask know Screech?" Reggie asked.
"Yeah, and didn't you recently catch a Seviper with the move Glare?" Maylene added.
"Speaking of pokémon, where are the others?" Weavile asked.
"My pokéball belt is gone," Paul told them. "I must have absorbed them and their moves when I turned into this. That means, when I broke free of Ariados's web, I was already transformed, and used Hariyama's Strength. And I got here so quickly using Ninjask's Agility move."
"And you must have broken down the door using Brick Break from Electivire," Reggie realized.
"Now you really have to turn back, if you want your pokémon back," Maylene realized.
"But the question is, how?" Reggie told her. They both looked at Paul, who was staring at his hand as he curled and uncurled it. "Paul, would you like some hot chocolate." And much as the teen hated to admit it, he had a certain sweet tooth reserved for the confection.
"…yeah…" Paul muttered, his cheeks becoming light pink.
"There's my master for you," Weavile snickered. "No one would ever guess that this guy adores chocolate!"
"Shut up…" Paul growled, grabbing his pokémon. He dragged Weavile inside, while the other pokémon just laughed.
Paul drank his cup of hot chocolate and sighed in content. After a moment, a Bibarel ran into the room, holding a book in her hands. She handed the book to Reggie who accepted it.
"Did you find this in the study while you were cleaning?" Reggie asked. Bibarel nodded her head and chirped quickly.
"She said that she's never seen the book before," Paul told him. Reggie looked at the book and frowned.
"It's locked," he announced. "And I've never seen it before either.
"Can I see it?" Paul asked. Reggie held the book out to his younger brother. The transformed boy finished the cup and wiped his mouth before taking the book. "Maybe I could use a pokémon move to unlock it." He placed his fingers on the clasp, but froze when a light formed under his hand. He drew it away to find a small bead sized ball of light resting in his hand. He blinked in silent awe over the colors that danced and pulsed within the sphere. As if in a trance he tipped his hand and let the light fall. The light disappeared into the keyhole; with a click, the clasp unlocked and relaxed, rising into the air slightly.
"Whoa…" Reggie whispered.
"What just happened?" Maylene asked.
"I think this might hold the answers to my problem," Paul told them. He opened the book and took out a piece of folded paper.
"'Dear Paul, I know I have a lot of explaining to do. First, I want to say sorry for abandoning you like I did. But I had no choice. I left this to your father for when you became old enough. No doubt, you have transformed. This book can only be found when its owner has first transformed. It is a guide for the 'Legend Catchers'," Paul read.
"'Legend Catchers'? What's that?" Maylene asked.
"Don't know," Paul answered, but he continued reading, "'A 'Legend Catcher' is a human that befriends legendary pokémon and protects them, keeping them out of the hands of evil. Inside this journal, you will find all the information you need, including how to transform on your own. It will be difficult at first, but I know you can do it. Another thing, there is a number in here that I need you to call. They will be able to help you with your job, in fact; they are also 'Legend Catchers'. I am sorry for everything, your mother'." Paul finished the reading the letter and just stared at it in shock.
"Well, what does it say? How do you turn back?" Weavile asked. Paul flipped through the pages, scanning them.
"It says that I have to convince myself that I am not in danger, as well as any nearby pokémon," Paul answered. "But I already know that!"
"Maybe it says something else," Maylene suggested, taking the book and looking it over. "Here! It says that you also must have a clear mind." Paul sighed and took a few deep breaths, telling himself that there was no danger and that he was fine. He felt a feeling of warmth wash over him.
"You did it!" Reggie cheered. Paul fingered his hair, pulling a purple chunk in front of his eyes. He looked down and saw that he was wearing his normal clothes as well. Paul stood up, flipping through the book.
"I'll be right back, I have a phone call to make."