“There! Over there! Do you see it!”

Blitzer pointed towards an open field in the distance. George did not follow, however. With the wind blowing into their faces, looking ahead wasn’t an enjoyable prospect. Too cold, too harsh on the eyes, and too much chance he’d end up with a leaf in his mouth, given how hard the trees rustled from all the wind. Birds chirped all around, and the faint chittering of bugs sounded just underneath.

“Okay. Let’s see what else I know. That’s a ‘Tailow’ there, you can tell by the red stripe. Then we’ve got an odd looking… ‘Butterfree’? No, ‘Vivillion’, rather. And- yuck, that’s one big Spina-”

“Hey, Geoooorge!”

“Eh?”

George stumbled backwards onto his tail, ears ringing like a doorbell. “What are you yelling for?”

“The village, George, the village!” Blitzer jumped up and down, throwing his arms in the air with each hop. “Are you coming or not?”

“Yes, of course! Just got distracted, figuring out which Pokemon’s what.”

Blitzer folded his arms. “I figured as much!” he said, a smug smile beaming from his face. “You know I’ve been pointing those out for a reason, right? If you got any Pokemon related questions, just ask! No shame in that, we’re friends! Right?”

“Yeah…” George rubbed his head. Something in the air reeked of sweat.

He followed Blitzer to the edge of the field. There, the sight greeting them took the breath out of his lungs. A sunlit town of vividly coloured wooden houses, gold-brown pathways and gallant stone buildings stood on the other side, brimming with the sounds of life. Various Pokemon could be seen enjoying the day, working in fields or on buildings, gathering water from the stream running through the town. George smiled out of instinct. He felt a joy he couldn’t describe: His body did the talking for him.

“Well, this is Greenfield. What do you think?” asked the Charmander.

“Darn,” answered George, “I wasn’t expecting to see something like this!”

Blitzer chuckled. “Well, what were you expecting? Some holes in the ground? Haha!”

George’s cheeks puffed up. ‘Hit the nail on the head.’ “Well, I didn’t know Pokemon lived in villages. And I’ve only seen villages like this on TV.”

Blitzer’s tail twitched curiously to one side. “Well, what does a human village look like? And what’s a TV?”

George swallowed, his nose twitching. Blitzer looked on with a toothless smile, so full of excitement that was bound to be crushed. Memories of dull, rainy city streets came flooding back, joined by the monochrome cars going over said streets. All lingered in the shadows of high-rises, equally colourless were it not for curtains and potted plants. And how could he forget the people wandering over the sidewalks, their faces as grim as the clouds above…

“It’s hard to explain,” George said, stalling for time. ‘I guess the city’s the dream now. Maybe that’s for the best. And how am I supposed to explain what a TV is? They don’t even have electricity here!’

“You can tell me later, if you prefer,” Blitzer said. A dull growl rumbled in his cream coloured belly. The Charmander frowned. “Especially now that I’m hungry…”

George nodded in response. “Sure. Do you have anything to eat?” ‘What can I even eat?’

“My parents have a whole field of berries and the like. Cheri, Oran, Nanab, Persim, Sitrus! You name it, they have it. Come, I’ll show you!” Blitzer took off with a burst of speed, leaving George scrambling to run after him.

‘He sure is fast when hungry!’

Given how much his tail bounced back and forth, it was a miracle Blitzer hadn’t burned the village down yet. That fire had to be a constant hazard to everyone around him. George winced as he imagined accidentally slipping his hand into the fire.

“We’re almost there, just a little further!”

“Yes, slow down already! I’m still hurting over here!”

“It’ll go away soon! Don’t worry about it!”

Without so much as a breather, Blitzer led George into the village, zipping past houses and people alike. George bit his tongue. No time to look for anything interesting in the village, just the gravel road right ahead. Several Pokemon scolded them as the two ran past. The paths in the village hadn’t been built with children speeding all over the place in mind, and everyone had to suffer the consequences.

“Hey, watch where you’re going!”

“Sorry, I’ll look further next time!”

“Stop running, you whippersnappers!”

“Sorry, miss Eldegoss! Coming through here!”

George was too tired to apologise. Keeping up with Blitzer was hard enough, let alone dealing with other Pokemon. Evidently Blitzer had mastered the art of speedy apologies, given how often he could be heard giving a new one. On the road, over the bridge, even to the people shouting at him from their homes.

‘How do you ever hope to become a well grown man like this, fool!’

George winced and bit his tongue. ‘Headmistress… nrgh, I’m not there anymore. Forget it.’

* * *

“Here we are. My house! And my parents’ house!”

Blitzer held up an arm, as if he was presenting his house to a crowd. George looked on dumbfounded, panting all the while. Instead of one of the vibrant houses, Blitzer lived in a hovel. The front door reeked of burned firewood; A black spot reeking of soot stained the path right before.

“So this is it?” asked George. “Where’s the field?” ‘And where’s the house?’

“On the other side! But let’s go inside first.” Blitzer ran up to the door and bonked on it with a fist. “Mooom! Daaad! I’m home!! I brought a friend with me!!” George stepped up beside Blitzer as he continued to beat on the door, staying just out of sight.

‘Wonder how nice his parents are. They sure gave him a lot of freedom.

“I’m coming, Blitzer!”

A short while later, the door opened outward; a Nidorina as big as Blitzer stood on the other side. “Ah, back so soon?”

“Yes! I’m surprised too, but I couldn’t wait.”

“You didn’t come back completely muddy this time, I’m impressed. Now where is this friend of yours- Oh. There he is.” The Nidorina raised her head and breathed deep through her nostrils. “Well, you win some, you lose some. Say, Oshawott laddie, why don’t you come in? You look like you could use a bath.“

“s-Sure,” said George, gritting his teeth afterward. If not for the fur, he’d have a red face. ‘She’s huge…’

The house was far cosier on the inside, much to George’s relief. No black stains of soot or mud anywhere, just a simple candlelit home. Well, it looked more like some kind of museum exhibit than a house, what with its dusty furniture and waxy scent, but you had to temper your expectations when visiting a different world. Especially if said visit wasn’t ending anytime soon, if ever.

“Nero? Can you prepare a bath?” yelled the Nidorina.

“Yeah? That rascal got himself dirty again, didn’t he?” a rugged voice deeper in the house replied.

“You’d think, but it’s not Blitzer this time. He’s got a new friend over, and he’s in rough shape. Got scratches all over.”

“Oh for the love of-” A door on the far side of the living room swung open, and the purple counterpart to Blitzer’s mother was standing on the other side. A Nidorino. “Why didn’t you say so before? Infections are nothing to joke about. You there, Oshawott lad,” he said while eyeing George all over, looking for the scratch marks under the fur, “We’re getting you clean first, then we’ll talk, alright?”

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“Dad. How long is it gonna take?” asked Blitzer, tapping his foot. His father shook his horned head.

“As long as it’s going to take, son. There’ll be plenty of time to play with your friend later, patience.” His father turned around, sighed, and went to prepare the bath. “You’d think now that he’s finally got a-”

“Nero!”

“Yes, dear, my apologies.”

George, startled, backed off a step. ‘Wait, did he just…?’ Beside him, Blitzer stood twiddling his fingers against each other. “Hey, Blitzer, everything okay?”

“Me?” The Charmander tilted his head a few degrees. “I’m alright, don’t worry. My dad’s just grumpy!” he said with a smile. George didn’t buy it, but didn’t ask any further. Everyone would be happier that way.

After some time, Blitzer was called by his mother to help out with something, and Nero gave a yell that the bath was ready. George went and followed the Nidorino through the house. The family had a combined kitchen and living room, the kitchen primarily made of stone, while the living room was mostly made of dark brown wood, a small window right up by the top. From there, two wide hallways went up and to the left, and aside from some candleholders and sooty black marks on the walls, they were nothing but dirt. And a door or two.

Eventually, George and Blitzer’s father reached a door through which the sun shone. The Nidorino nodded to his right; there stood a wide but shallow tub that came up to George’s head.

“Here it is, lad. Let’s get that dirt off, it’s bound to ruin that coat of yours,” said Nero, waiting for George to get in.

“Coat?”

“You know, your fur.”

“Oh.”

Nero narrowed his eyes. “Thought someone your age would know these things already,” he spoke in a dull tone.

“It’s nothing,” said George, one foot hovering over the water. He caught a whiff; the room smelled like dust and rust; the walls were lined with various tools which had seen better days. Not a place he’d want to take a bath in. Gentle as a spring breeze, he dipped his foot in. ‘Cold!’ shot into his mind. The other foot went in as slow as the first, to the sound of Nero’s groans and foot tapping.

“Lad, you’re not getting clean just standing there. Get down already will you, you’re of Water for Arceus’ sake.”

George frowned. “Do you normally take your baths this cold, though? It feels like I’ve sunk through ice!”

Nero shook his head. “Even Blitzer’s not this afraid of a little cold water, lad. Even Blitzer! That kid can barely sit still, and that tail of his hurts like crazy if it gets even remotely wet. This should be a walk in the park for you.”

George sighed, before sinking into the water. The cold, bitter as could be, spread from tail to chest. He sucked in a breath as the water enveloped his fur, shivering all the while. It felt as if he’d been stuffed in a freezer. Then the water settled. George’s shivering came to a stop. ‘Huh. This… actually feels kind of relaxing!’ He ran his hands through the water and threw some on himself, the sound of splashing water soothing his ears. ‘It’s just water, but I feel free! In my element, even!’

“There you go, lad. Not so bad, is it?” Nero chuckled.

“Yeah, it feels really good! I don’t know why, though.”

Nero chuckled. “You’re one weird Oshawott. Water type and actual water are like bread and berries. Alright, time to wash that mud off. Take your scalchop off for a moment.”

* * *

Some time later, the whole household was back in the main room. George stood proud with a puffed up chest and hands on his sides, a smile plastered over his face. “Well, how do I look?”

“You look like you’re ready to take on anything!” Blitzer said. His eyes were beaming with the intensity of the sun.

Nera smiled at George from the kitchen. “You look like a wonderful little Oshawott! Did you get all those scratches taken care of too?”

“Of course we did,” said Nero as he came in yawning. “Was a little more difficult finding them under all that fur, but I’ve got plenty of experience patching up Blitzer over the years.”

“Glad to hear.” Nera nodded. “Come, I’ve made us all something. Blitzer, mind helping me with the plates?”

“No worries, mom!”

Blitzer leapt off the couch, unworried about his tail starting a fire by accident. Nothing in the house smelled burnt… aside from the black stains on the walls. What George did smell was the warm, savoury aroma of a pastry. His mouth watered in anticipation, as Nera and Blitzer came carrying two plates each; for a quadruped, Nera was surprisingly capable of standing on two legs, let alone carrying things. She had great dexterity in the claws on her forelegs.

George’s mind was elsewhere, though. His mind and stomach were united and up in arms. Blitzer handed him a plate carrying a gold-brown pastry with some kind of gooey filling. Having gone hours since his last meal, a growl from his stomach broke him at last.

“Whoa, hold on!”

“Hey, easy there now! I haven’t even told you what it is yet!”

By the time Nera finished speaking, George had blue smears all over his mouth, which he sheepishly licked clean as the two parents watched on dumbfounded, and Blitzer couldn’t contain himself. “What? I haven’t eaten all day!”

Nero snorted. “Looks like you’ve got yourself another customer, honey.”

“Well, my Oran berries are irresistible, you know,” Nera said with a hearty laugh. “We haven’t introduced ourselves yet, but you’re quite something, alright! Anyway, I’m Nera, and this is Nero, my partner. We’re Blitzer’s parents, but I’m sure you knew that already.”

“Yeah, Blitzer told me he lived with you,” George wiped his mouth down, staining his hands with jam. “Kind of surprised how different you are from him. You look nothing alike, no offence.“

“Pfft. T’is a long story, lad,” Nero said. “Long story short, when we hadn’t been together for that long, Nera and I discovered Blitzer in the woods near town one day. He was a small child that didn’t even know his own name, all alone with no parents in sight. We found him on a bed of leaves. Had some nasty feral found him before us, well… wouldn’t have ended so rosy. That was all we needed to take him with us. Gotta say though, we weren’t exactly ready to take care of a child. It’s been a long few years, many headaches along the way, but we still love our little Blitzer with all our hearts.” The Nidorino nodded towards his partner.

“Indeed we do. Blitzer has been with us for years now, and he’s always been a bright spot in our lives.” Nera looked towards Blitzer, who was sitting on the ground. “Right, sweetheart?”

Blitzer nodded. “Yes! I love you too, mom and dad. I’m so glad to have you,” he said, visibly biting his cheek. The parents smiled at him, before turning their gaze back to George fidgeting with his fingers.

“That was complicated, yeah, but I think I understand. Well, I’m glad you were the people that found him, you seem wonderful.” George awkwardly folded his arms over his scalchop. ‘Blitzer got lucky. Wish I did too.’

Nera drummed her claws on the table. “So yeah. That is us in a nutshell, unless Blitzer has anything to add,” she said with a flick of her ears. Blitzer shook his head.

“You know, I don’t get it at all. As far as I remember, I’ve always lived here. That’s not so bad, is it?” the Charmander said, staring towards the roof as if he were deep in thought. Something in his eyes felt sad to even look at; George went back to nibbling on his food.

“Of course not, sweetheart. Whatever happened has happened, and we can’t change that now,” Blitzer’s mother said. “In any case, we’re all here, aren’t we?” She took a bite from her own Oran pastry. “Why doesn’t your friend say something about himself next?”

“That’s right” cheered Blitzer. “That’s why I came here straight away, he’s truly special! Right, George?”

The pastry dropped out of George’s mouth and back onto the plate. The parents looked rather stunned, their ears fluttering back and forth.

“George? That’s a strange name if I’ve ever heard one. Where are you from, lad?” Nero asked.

The human turned Oshawott flinched, almost biting his tongue as his jaws forced themselves against each another. Out of the water and into the flames, like vegetables being roasted for dinner. Explaining it to Blitzer was simple, since it’s Blitzer. Explaining it to anyone else was leagues apart. He couldn’t even begin to figure out how to explain it without inviting misery onto himself. As it turns out, he didn’t have to.

“He’s not from here, dad, he’s a human!”

A breath escaped George’s mouth. Two gasps sounded in the room; one full of shock, the other was akin to disappointment in breathing form. Throwing fuel onto a fire is one thing, this was like being the fuel itself. He felt red hot under his skin.

“A human? No… those only exist in legends.” Nera said.

Nero groaned. “Very funny, Blitzer. Can you just let your friend explain where he’s from instead of doing it for him in the silliest way imaginable?”

“It’s not a joke!” Blitzer stood up, fists clenched and tail flaring. “You never believe me, but George told me so himself!” George shook his head and slowly stood up, putting the plate on the wooden table they were seated at.

‘I’ve got to say something…’ “Well… He’s telling you the truth,” George said. Nero raised an eye in response, and lifted a foreleg to scratch himself by the base of his horn. George signalled for Blitzer to sit down, which he did with an ‘I told you so’ look on his face.

“Yes, I look like any ordinary Oshawott right now. But the truth is, I was a human until just a few hours ago. Hence my ‘weird name’. This is going to sound crazy, but I was asleep, and heard voices call to me about how I was needed. Next thing I know, I’m awake in the middle of the woods. As an Oshawott. Exactly what happened.”

Nero’s eyes opened wide, as did his wife’s. They slowly turned their heads at each other, staring in horrified silence. George pinched his skin, both his ears having gone flat against his white head. ‘Great, you blew it, George…’

“Lad. Blitzer. Promise me one thing, okay?” asked Nero. “Do not ever, ever tell this to anyone else, you hear?!” he said with a rising yet breaking voice. George suddenly smelled a faintly sour odour coming from the other end of the table.

“Huh? Why? What’s the matter?” Blitzer was shocked in a way that reminded George of himself and his peers whenever the headmistress spoke.

Nera patted her son on the shoulder; “Blitzer, for the love of Arceus, do not take any of this lightly. Please. I can tell you really like your new friend, you really, really do. But you cannot tell anyone else about what he is, alright? Your friend could be in serious danger…”

“What?!”

“Don’t ask questions, just do as we say, okay? Don’t tell anyone. That’s all we’re asking, you hear?” Nero bared his teeth as if something heavy weighed him down. George felt a chill bubbling under his skin. Whatever the reason, the adults in the room had been caught by the scruff of their neck. His hands hovered over his scalchop, all while he glanced around the room. Suddenly, he wasn’t so hungry anymore.

“But mom…”

“I’m sorry, Blitzer. I know you must be excited about your new friend, but this is grown up stuff we’re talking about. Do you remember what I told you a month ago? About her?”

Blitzer shivered. “Yeah, you told me…” he muttered in the same dreary tone his parents were using. George didn’t know what to think anymore. The air in the room had gotten tense and dreary, like the waiting room at a dentist’s office. Blitzer and his parents had been called in, and George was left stranded.

“Excuse me, is there something bad about me being a human?”

Nera shook her head. “No. It’s not you that’s the problem. It’s something else. Her.” The last word sounded as if she had to force it out of her throat. Her. As if uttering the name would lay a curse upon the whole village. Nera seemed dazed after merely referring to whoever it was.

“Listen, lad.” Nero took over, unprompted. “I do not know how my partner and my son see it, but I’ll speak for myself. All you need to know is that there are plenty of good people in the world, and a few rotten apples. Understood?” George nodded. “Good. One of those rotten apples… is, well, very powerful. And we know she won’t leave you alone if she finds out about you. She is a ruthless, ruthless Pokemon, you hear? We know what she’s capable of, and it’s a terrible, terrible sight. I really don’t want to force you away. I can see that my son truly cares about you. So please, don’t tell anyone.”

George nodded uncomfortably. “Yes sir.”

Out of nowhere, someone started banging on the front door. “Oi! Anyone home? Open up!”

Heads turned to the entrance. In an instant, the air in the house turned frigid from the sudden tension. Nero raised a paw to his mouth, sticking one claw up before he headed for the entrance. Nera and Blitzer nodded, and George merely followed their lead. They waited with bated breath as Nero opened the door.

”Oi, gentlemen, good afternoon. Is there something wrong?”

“Nothing with you, good sir. All we would like to know is whether you have information on this man. He is a highly wanted fugitive, and he has last been seen in this area.”

“Hmm… can’t say I’ve seen or heard anything about ‘im, sorry. Do catch ‘im quick, yeah.”

“Understood. Have a good day, sir!”

“Same to you.”

With a sigh, Nero came back to the table, and sat back on his old spot while shaking his head. “Nothing this time, thank the Creator,” he whispered.

George, still careful with each breath, kept his questions to himself. A fugitive on the run. That didn’t sound good. But he could tell the story didn’t end there; it’s just that Nero did not seem willing to elaborate.

It was quiet for a long, long five minutes, before Blitzer broke the silence.

“Mom? Can you let George stay here? I don’t want to lose him,” the Charmander stammered. His mother gave him a faint smile in return, albeit an uncomfortable one.

“We’ll try, okay? I know how much he means to you, Blitzer. And he is really sweet,” she said, one claw pointed towards George. “We shouldn’t worry so much. Okay? You two should go and play together for a while, unwind a bit. You both look like you’ve seen a ghost!”

Blitzer and George both nodded with frowns on their faces. George moved up to arms’ length with Blitzer. Something inside of him could feel how morose the poor kid was. He extended his arm around Blitzer’s neck. The Charmander looked up with a jolt of energy and did the same. It made George feel a little better, and he could feel a change in Blitzer, too.

Nero cleared his throat. “Well then, lads. You heard her, go play in your room for a while, okay? Don’t worry about the food, we won’t touch it.”

Blitzer gave a hum. “Come George, let’s go.”