Chapter Two
It was several years before I reached my full height of 6'3", and since I was bigger than
Hogosuru, I had no reason to be freaked out by him. He was pretty cool once you got used to the smell, and that annoying laugh. I guess I got used to that too.
I had to get used to alot of things, living with Kaze. On her island there weren't any pok'emon
league officials telling her how to raise her pok'emon, or how many she could have around her at a time. The little house she lived in doubled as a refuge for all the pok'emon on the island as well as all
the islands surrounding it. On any given day at any given time, the place was crowded with all
sorts of unusual pok'emon.
It's not as bad as you might think, they seemed to regard the house as neutral territory, a
place to kick back and relax without having to worry about 'what kind of pok'emon are you?'.
Usually I like to hang around and see who pops in, but that day I went for a walk around the
island. As I tromped through the thick tropical growth I heard a splashing sound coming from the lagoon.
Now I don't ever go near the lagoon, Maggi the black Gyrados lives in there, and she's a real
bitch, even on a good day. But as I stood in the jungle, listening to the frantic splashing, my curiosity got the better of me.
I began to creep towards the beach. Poking my head into some bushes, I was able to see what
was going on, without having to worry about Maggi seeing me.
She was nowhere in sight, gathering my courage I stepped out onto the beach, craning my
neck to see what was in the water. A small black feline was thrashing around in the lagoon.
"Hmmmm", I thought, "Looks like I've found lunch. Problem though, it's in the water,
I don't like water and Maggie's in there. I either risk it and get fed, or stay out of it and be hungry" It only took about two seconds for my stomach to win out.
I moved closer to the water's edge, being careful not to make any sudden movements.
Suddenly a large black shadow cut across the surface of the water.
"MEOW! MEOW!"
"That's my lunch!"
Barking like mad, I jumped into the water. I was going to try to eat him before Maggie
could.
Maggie had dipped back beneath the water's surface, although I knew she wouldn't be there
for long. I was dogpaddling like crazy trying to reach the little cat.
'MEOW!!'' it yelled.
I guess that he didn't like the idea of being in a gyrados infested pool, with a large dog
swimming after him.
I was just near enough to grab him with my teeth, when a chillingly familiar black
shadow appeared beneath me. Maggie's large tail arched out of the water, sending the kitty and myself flying to the shore.
I stood up and shook myself off, the black cat dangling from my jaws. I was about to snap
him up when the lagoon began to bubble and froth.
It was pretty clear to me that Maggie wasn't at all happy about me being in her water, she
glared menacingly at me and began to use her 'hyper beam' attack. As the beam shot toward me I ran like crazy, the attack just missing my tail as I hurtled through the woods.
"Somehow I'm not all that hungry," I dropped the cat out of my mouth, and flopped on the
ground to catch my breath.
"meow"
"Your still around?"
It sat on the ground for a moment, it's large blue eyes staring up at me unblinkingly, then it
began to speak,"Thank you saving me. I thought I was dead, but thanks to you i'm not. You risked your own life to save mine"
"Well I...ummm..'' I didn't know what to say, and I certainly couldn't tell him tell him that he
was crunchy and probably tasted good with ketchup.
"Since you saved my life I shall grant you a boon"
"Wha-ha-ha-at?"
As he spoke, something strange happened. It was almost painful, my limbs began to shrink,
and my fur receded into my skin, leaving my body bare. My spin straightened itself, forcing me to stand on hind legs that were suddenly suited for the job. I watched in a mixture of awe and horror
as my large powerful foreclaws began to soften and shrink into tiny human hands.
Standing there under the impenatrable gaze of the cat, I tried to catch my balance. My tail
swished wildly trying to compensate for my loss of equellibrium.
"What did you do to me?!" Even my voice was different, light and airy, something a human
might find appealing, but I certainly did not.
"I am Choco-neko, of Starsicca, and I have chosen you, Arcanine to become the Psycho
Scout of Fire, get dressed Arcanine, and we shall find my sister Ipera who will make everything clear to you."
On the ground a silky robe appeared, with Choco-neko's instructions, I was able to put
the garment on, and shakily walk back home.
