Prompt: Hero returns to their home world and finds they're human again, but can still understand Pokémon.

The light cleared for Flora as she stepped out of the portal. She felt taller for some reason. An explanation came immediately as she dodged a shocked machamp who veered off course to avoid collision. As she got up she noted that her hands looked familiar.

"Wait... I'm human again?" She stared at her hand, completely ignoring the ruckus around her.

"I think I know why." replied her leavanny partner.

Flora looked around to see people staring at them, before a judge came running. She looked around to see where she was. "Wait... This is the Hoenn Battle Tower!" she exclaimed.

"Miss!" the judge called out to her. "Is that really you?"

"pardon?"

Another tower official arrived looking at Flora and then at his phone. "It really is the missing Flora Springwind." The official grabbed her arm. "Better get you off the arena so the battle can continue."

"Sorry!" She looked behind her to see the machamp a bit flustered.

"You couldn't have seen it coming." she replied.

"Speaking of seeing it coming, what DID you two come out of?" the official asked and dragged them to the side.

"It's a really long story." Anny answered for her trainer.

Flora chuckled. "Anny, they can't understand you. Or... I assume they can't."

"Well, when you get used to talk to... Wait, you STILL understand me?" The leafy bug's eyes went wide.

"Yeah, I do... I guess it is kinda odd." Flora scratched her head.

"What is odd?" the official asked.

Flora sighed as words echoed through her head. 'They're not going to believe this.'

One hour later of confirming those thoughts, she was finally let go. Even with a lot of details changed to make it at least slightly more believable, like not mentioning how every human in the Nexus had become pokemon too, they weren't having any of it.

"You get kidnapped by magic balls of light, that's fine. Having some kind of crazy adventure using portals to other worlds in a similar way to how you were kidnapped? Preposterous!"

Anny giggled at her trainer's outrage. "Well, at least they bought your explanation for the darker skin." She pointed to her trainer's tanned skin.

"I assume it's because I'm a gloom in the Nexus?" She pinched herself. "But they are blue, and this is effectively just a full-body tan."

"Not to mention that you are more greenish-blue than actually blue." Anny commented.

"Well. I still feel like I'm green coming... to..." Flora stopped, eyes wide and fear inside them. "We have to get to the pokemon center NOW!"

Before Anny could react, Flora had started dashing towards the red roofed building in the distance.

"MOMMY!" cried out the little shroomish as it was let out of the pokeball.

"Chanterelle!" Flora cried in return as she picked the tiny pokemon up and hugged it tight.

"At least it will stop crying all the time." said the ferrothorn, grumpy as always.

"Like you hadn't missed her as well, Chestnut." Tangle, the tangela, nudged the steel-type who just turned his back.

"You were more grump while she was gone." said Hip, the hoppip, as he passed the steel type overhead.

"You were like, super grump." continued Hop, twin of Hip.

"Huh, Anny was right." Flora piped up. "You do care."

"Not that I would ever tell you. Like you would even understaaaa..." Chestnut paused with everyone else as they looked at their trainer.

"Right..." Anny stepped in. "Maybe we should have started with: Hey, Flora can understand us now."

"No way!" came from the roserade. "It's been a few weeks since you two just disappeared. I refuse to believe she could learn it in three weeks when she couldn't for years!"

"Actually, Anny. Maybe we should have started with: When we woke up after we disappeared, I was an oddish." said Flora to the sound of jaws dropping further. "So that is why I can understand you all now... I assume." Flora looked straight at the roserade for the last comment. "Also, would you believe that for Anny and I, it has been months and not three weeks?"

Rosa shook her head in disbelief while Chestnut grumbled something to himself.

That was when the meganium and bellossom came up to their trainer. "So are you back now?" the meganium asked.

"I don't think so." Flora replied. "It is most likely another of these weird missions we get sent out on." The grass type frowned. "But don't worry, Hibisco. It will be fine. If we aren't done, I will find a way to bring you all with me!" She stood tall and looked at her pokemon. "If you want to, of course."

"I think we would love to join you Flora." said the bellossom as she bowed. "Even Chestnut and Shade no matter what they actually say." She smiled at the ferrothorn and shiftry. The steel type huffed while the dark type just sighed and shook his head.

"So trainer... What are you here for?" Shade asked at last, and as if on cue, a scream could be heard outside. The trainer and her pokemon rushed out to see a group of cloaked monsters attacking other people.

"To kick those things asses!" Flora said as she readied herself. "You guys ready?"

"READY!" everyone replied and rushed in to fight the Specters.

AN: Once this is all set and done, Flora will be a grass type Elite Four at the very least.

This one takes place at the same time as chapter 9