Living in the Shadows

CHAPTER 2 LEARNING HOW TO BE A POKEMON

(Jenna)

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

*Flashback*

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

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?" I asked in clear confusion.

"With this," Chansey answered as she held out a piece of chalk and a chalkboard. "Just write down the alphabet." She continued when I gave her a blank stare.

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 the alphabet 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 Pokemon from the human world, then the alphabet she had written would not have been in human letters. And while certain Pokemon 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 bad 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?" She added after a thought.

"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 that 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 is 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 that you should call yourself Gardevoir for as long as you're here. Once you are able to travel, you may call yourself by your real name."