There are ups and downs to being reborn in the world of pokemon. On the upside, well, I was alive even as I had to get used to the fact that the games were limited by the virtue of being games and the shows and manga were not entirely accurate either. A rough and general feel of things sure, but at the same time, there was plenty that was different, almost to the point of it seeming to resemble the various fanfics more than the official world and lore. Still, things were safe enough, not least because...

Okay, I was poked again. "Little Brother. Focus." Despite the fact that she talked in a monotone, at least out loud, I could feel the concern and affection in her mental tone. "We are training." One of the biggest upsides of the new life was the psychic powers. Downside? Big sister Sabrina was more than interested in making sure that I was properly trained up. That, along with the fact that my mind could keep her out for the most part meant that I was quiet enough that things did not happen as per canon. And then the clothes appeared. "Or shall we play instead?"

Delivered in a flat monotone, red eyes staring flatly at me... yeah, she did not turn people into dolls, that was what she had ME for. Such was the life of Matthew (I managed to keep my full name from my old life somehow) little brother to Kanto's mistress of psychics. Which meant that I redoubled my focus, as I did my best to bend the spoons. Because yes, this was the basic exercise, even if I was nowhere near as powerful or talented as my big sis was. Though that did not stop her from trying to make sure I was 'adequate.'

And despite being able to keep her out of my mind... I had nothing to stop her from picking me up, as we shifted, the sleek chrome and lighting shifting to that of the Fighting Dojo. Because, as my stomach dropped, it was Thursday, which meant I had to look up at Kong, and into the understanding and depressed eyes of his daughter Peach. Each of us nodded to each other as our elders looked each other in the eye. Given how we were on opposite sides of a battle ring...

"Matthew, I choose you. Uphold the dominance of psychics."

"Peach, crush this runt with superior training once and for all!"

Yeah, sis, I was your brother, not a pokemon, even if I knew confusion.

The second most annoying thing about having Sabrina as a sister was that she used me as a pokemon. Not in anything official, but I had so much practice at taking hits and using what psychic abilities she could drill into my head by challenging the dojo each Thursday in addition to randomly teleporting to various towns to have quick matches. Personally, I think they just recognized her as the Saffron city gym leader and decided discretion was the better part of valor and did not ask questions.

The most annoying thing was when she used me as a literal dressing doll and held me on her lap as we had tea or ice cream. While treating me as a toy to cuddle with. And there was no hostility, no menace (except towards those that tried to remove me from her lap), it was just that... I did not really have a choice. I was her little brother, and that meant, as far as she was concerned, that I was hers.

Even if she acknowledged I was going to need to go out for my journey in three years, that I would have freedom! Which of course is when she booped my head. "No. It is cuddle time. No escape." A moment, as her arms were across me, as she spoke in a flat tone. "Yay. Happiness."

An upside to go along with the fact that I was effectively my sisters emotional support stuffed animal was that she and her Alakazam were more than willing to do some projects with me. Mostly, as the Chansey we picked up took another drag of her sagebrush cigar, to see if we could not see about making an alternate version of some pokemon. Honestly, I think she was just humoring me, even as we adjusted the energies of the room.

Truthfully, I think that she would have bought herself a Ponyta Club even without my idea for some of the experiments, as she seemed to relax and enjoy herself... and she even tolerated the children other than myself. Which was major progress really, as we watched the egg, as it rocked and cracked... and as a very colorful Ponyta emerged, eyes wide as their mind reached out.

[Saffron Gym handing out New Form of Ponyta!]

While it took many by surprise that Sabrina, the reclusive Gym Leader of Saffron City had acquired a Ponyta Club along with breeding Rapidash to eventually expand it on her own, many chuckled and dismissed it as merely the whim of a young woman who desired something cute and adorable instead of her more serious business focused acquisitions. And now, at the start of this years circuit, trainers starting in Saffron city have more to choose from than the gyms usual trio of Abra, Natu or Slowpoke.

Now, for the few of those who earn the favor of the Saffron Gym, there is the possibility of a Rainbow Ponyta! An adorable psychic type variant of the fire typed equine, they are already capturing the hearts of young girls all over Indigo, even as one has been sent to Daisy Oak. When asked why this new pokemon was gifted to the Professors granddaughter, Sabrina merely cocked her head and replied that she thought that Daisy would appreciate an adorable pokemon. According to Daisy Oak herself, her grandfather will be able to monitor and research 'Dame Sparkle' in between riding and bonding sessions.

We look forward to seeing how the evolution will change the Rapidash we all know, even as Sabrina refuses to share the methods used to create a new form of a well known pokemon.