Living in the Shadows

CHAPTER 2 LEARNING HOW TO BE A POKÉMON

(Jenna)

I was alone in the room, lying on my bed, and staring at the ceiling, thinking about what had happened.

*Flashback*

"If you really are a human," Chansey said suspiciously. "Then would you mind proving it?"

I looked at her coworker for an explanation.

"Chansey is a bit of a skeptic," Audino explained. "She doesn't believe anything or anyone without proof."

"Umm," I began as I sweat-dropped. "How am I supposed to prove I'm human?"

"With this," Chansey answered as she held out a piece of chalk and a chalkboard. When I gave her a blank stare, she added; "Just write the alphabet."

I sighed and did as she said.

Writing with my new three-fingered hand was a little weird, but I got past it. When I was done, I showed her my work.

Everybody's jaw dropped straight to the floor, except Gothita's and Zorua's.

"OK. I'm convinced," Chansey said when she got her voice back.

"How does this prove that Jenna's a human?" Zorua asked.

"For as long as anyone can remember, human things have been popping up in our world, including books," Chansey explained. "If she were a Pokémon from the human world, then the alphabet she had written would not have been in human letters. And while certain Pokémon can write some of them, only a real human can write the whole human alphabet correctly."

"This information does not leave the room," said a new, authoritative voice from behind everyone.

They all turned around and saw an elderly Wigglytuff.

"If there are evil humans who are after you," she said to me. "Then it is best that you maintain a low profile. For now, whatever-your-name-is, you will have to answer to Gardevoir. Incidentally, what is your name?"

"Jenna, ma'am," I told her. "Jenna Kigai."

Wigglytuff gave me such a hard and long stare that I nearly jumped out of my skin when she said strictly; "Well, Miss Jenna Kigai, from now on you will be called Gardevoir. Can you live with that?"

I was still a little taken aback by this Wigglytuff's entrance and commands, so all I could do was stupidly nod.

"Good!" she said, continuing with her strict tone. "Also, do something about that bruised neck of yours. If you had it when you were human, it's a dead giveaway. You might as well be telling those evil people where and what you are."

Again, I stupidly nodded.

Then she addressed the rest of the room. "All of you heard what I said. Do not speak of Gardevoir being a human and especially do not call her by her human name!"

With that, she left.

"Uhhhh... who was that?" I asked the equally stunned crowd after a moment of silence.

"That's our matriarch: Head Nurse Wigglytuff," Audino answered.

"She's nicer than she appears," Chansey added in a secret whisper. "But she's also right," she continued in a regular voice. "As long as you're here, you must call yourself Gardevoir and answer to that name."

"But what about my friends and family?!" I objected. "How are they going to find me if I can't use my real name?"

"Relax," Audino said calmly. "It's possible she meant you should call yourself Gardevoir for as long as you're here. Once you can travel, you may call yourself by your real name.... Maybe."