Leo woke up, His luxray nudging him slightly with it's nose. The sun was coming up, and it was time to start on his trek again. He yawned. rubbing at his eyes as he stood up. He rolled up his sleeping bag and tied it up. His luxray waiting patiently. It's fur shining in the sunlight. It'd been a year since he and his Shinx went onwards on his pokemon journey. Shinx had evolved, and he'd kept him close. Going around, exploring, and learning about pokemon. He grinned at Luxray as he stopped. Rubbing it's head softly. It closed its eyes, it's star tipped tail wagging slightly. "Luxray....Lux." "Yeah, you love that don'tcha?" Leo then turned back to his work, strapping his things to his backpack and starting to walk. The luxray quickly jumped after him. Hopping after him happily, obviously glad to be back on the road. He laughed as he started to try and jump like it was doing, until he nearly fell over, He swapped back to walking and let Luxray handle the jumping for now.

They were going up towards the mountainside, and the pathway was starting to get steep. "Phew...watch your step here Luxray. Don't wanna fall off the side..." "Luxray!" He glanced down to his pokemon, not watching where he stepped, He felt his foot be caught by what seemed to be a long dead root, and he twisted, sending him plummeting over to the left, down the rough terrain. "AHHHH!" He grabbed at a small outcropping of rock, managing to stop his fall, at least for now. "Gah! Heeeelp! Luxray! Help!" The pokemon glanced over the edge. Looking around, as if trying to figure out what to do. It slowly tried to edge it's way down towards Leo. "Luxray! lux! luxray! Ray!" It slowly stepped a paw down on upon the rock. its paws not made for gripping rocky edges like that. the stone gave away, sending the pokemon down the side of the hill as well. "LUXRAY!" Leo reached out quickly, trying to grab onto his friend to save him. The luxray, in a panic, grabbed at his arm with its mouth, The pokemon's teeth going through flesh and sending a gash down his arm. Leo cringed, and gritted his teeth to try and keep from screaming. The pokemon tried to position itself on any solid footting it could find. Managing finally to steady itself, letting go of his arm. Leo's arm was bleeding, but the wound didn't appear to be that deep, it hurt alot, but he'd likely be ok. He looked at the luxray "You ok Luxray?" "Lux...lux ray..." It seemed almost apologetic about his arm. "It's ok...I'll be ok..." He nodded softly, and flashed a grin to him. Then the rock he was holding onto gave way, sending Leo tumbling back down the rough and rocky terrain. "AHHH!" Luxray yelped, slipping after him as well, Leo tried his best to slow himself down...managing to dodge a sharp rock on the way down, Luxray was not quite as lucky, glancing off of it. It yelped as it landed beside him, Whimpering and trying to get up, but unable to do so.. Ignoring his own bruises and scrapes, Leo got up. "Luxray? LUXRAY?!" He crawled towards him, when he got to him. He wrapped his friend tightly in his arms, Hugging him like his life depended on it. "Luxray...It...it'll be ok...I'll fix it..." He stood up, currently not feeling much of anything due to the adrenaline running through him. He tried to feel his friends side. Which made the Luxray yelp and cry out in pain. He could feel it, a couple of ribs were broken. He gingerly felt at his friends legs, nothing broken, but he could feel a loose vertabra in the pokemon's back. He stiffened in horror. it could sever its spinal cord if he wasn't careful.

"Ok...Now for a po-" He stopped mid-sentence as he saw his backpack on a rock, liquid slowly dripping out. He rushed to it, tearing it open. Every single potion in there had been smashed by the rocks. The liquid had all mixed together. There'd be no telling what it would do to the pokemon. He shouted in anger as he dumped the useless potions and liquid out of the backpack. He carried it over towards Luxray, gingerly picking the pokemon up and gently placing him inside the backpack, its head sticking out. After sliding the backpack on, he carefully hefted the pokemon up. "Ok...it'll be ok Luxray...it'll be just fine!" His voice quivered as he said that, he'd never seen an injury as bad as this. At least none that managed to survive. He carried his friend through the forest that lay nearby the path they had been traveling. Silently swearing he'd do anything, he'd give up anything, if only he could save his friend. For an agonizing hour, he walked, hoping he was going in the right direction, his pokedex, complete with maps of the area, compass, and GPS system, was in several peices where they fell. Luxray had passed out, his head laying beside Leo's on his shoulder. Every so often, Leo would check and make sure Luxray was still breathing, and everytime, thank goodness, he was. He approached a clearing, he could see the white stone of a pokecenter! He went as quickly as he felt he could towards the door. He kicked it open, and rushed in. The nurse, upon seeing him immediatly called for all the chanseys in the building, and they took him quickly into the back rooms. "I wanna go back there with him!" Nurse Joy shook her head "You can't. He's got to be looked at, and I need to help you with your arm..." Leo glanced down to his arm. It was looking fairly pale, and the blood flow had continued unabated, he was starting to feel a little dizzy as she began to clean the wound carefully. He passed out just as she began to wind the bandage around his forearm.

Leo awoke in a bed, every bone in his body aching now that the adrenaline had run its course. His arm felt like it was in a vice, squeezing every drop of blood from him, and his head was aching like he'd taken a sledgehammer to the forehead. A chansey was sitting nearby, Watching him quietly. As he stirred, The chansey jumped up and waddled out, calling out down the hallway. "Chansey! Chansey! Chans!" There were footsteps, and then Nurse Joy poked her head into the room. "Hrm? Oh! You're awake." She went over by Leo's bed. Sitting down on the chair the Chansey had been sitting in. "How're you feeling Leo?" "...Hurt." "I'm not surprised...You took quite a fall, I think." Leo shook his head...his mind begining to clear out of the fog that had settled in it. "W...What about Luxray? Where's luxray?!" He tried to jerk up, but only succeded in sending a shock of pain througout his entire body, Leading to him going right back into his previous position of laying down. The Nurse shook her head softly. "He....he's fine." She smiled, But there was a catch in her voice. "We're more worried about you. You lost alot of blood." Leo shook his head slowly. "Whats wrong with him?" The Nurse Frowned, and sighed sadly. "He broke several ribs, and knocked his spine out of alignment. One of the ribs got dangerously close to his heart. We've done all we can. But...even if he survives...he'll likely be paralyzed for the rest of his life." She shook her head softly, obviously not enjoying this one bit. Leo stared at her. "H...he...he could...?" She nodded slowly. Her eyes closing. "...But...but...its all my fault...Its all my fault! I'm the one that tripped! I'm the one that made him come down too!" He was starting to sob as he spoke, tears begining to stream down his cheeks. "No, no...it wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known." Nurse Joy said as she slowly reached over and ran a soft hand over his forehead. "You couldn't have known..." "Its all my fault..." Leo said between sobs, Begining to hiccup slightly, Sending pain shooting through his body. The nurse leaned over and kissed his forehead. "...I'm sure he'll be ok. And it wasn't your fault..." Leo just remained quiet, aside from the occasional sniffle and hiccup. The Nurse placed a buzzer into his hand. "If you need me, press this...ok?" Leo nodded quietly.

Hours passed...He couldn't sleep, all he could think about was his partner dying, all his fault. He finally spoke...more to himself, than to anyone in particular... "Please...don't let Luxray die...I'll do anything....give up anything...just let Luxray Live..." As the words left his lips, he suddenly felt so tired. So drained. his eyes closed...When they opened again, He was standing in a field, his body was no longer hurting. He seemed fine in fact, better even. Luxray was beside him. Looking around curiously. "Luxray?" The pokemon looked at Leo. Whom grinned and hugged him tightly. "Luxray! You're ok!" Luxray seemed to be just as happy that Leo was alright, and nuzzled him happily. There was a flash of light, A small pokemon appearing nearby, it was mostly white, with a large closed eye on its stomach. Three points on its yellow head, Each with a flat strip that could likely be used like paper hanging from a point. The pokemon floated before them, then smiled slightly. Leo stared, and Luxray was bowing. "A...Are you...Jirachi?" The little pokemon nodded, still smiling. "You...but...whats going on here?" the pokemon didn't open its mouth...instead, he heard it in his mind... /Luxray won't make it unless I do something./ Leo glanced over at Luxray, whom was back beside his side, no longer bowing... "S...So do it! please? I...I'll do anything...anything you want!" /There is one way. But, I will need you to make a sacrifice/ "What?! I'll do anything!" Leo practically shouted. /You must give up, your humanity/ "...Huh?" /You must become a pokemon. The life force of a human is greater than that of a pokemon. By transferring yours into Luxray...I can save him. But, you must become a pokemon to do so./ "I...you...you mean...I'd be a pokemon? F...Forever?" Jirachi nodded once. Leo slowly turned to Luxray, Luxray was shaking its head. "Luxray...Lux...Luxray, Ray!" Leo smiled, shaking as he hugged Luxray. "I love you Luxray...Please let me help you." The luxray hesitated. then finally nuzzled Leo. Leo turned to Jirachi... "Do it...Do whatever it takes." /Very well...Prepare yourself./ Leo nodded. Closing his eyes.

Leo awoke in his bed. Feeling stiff, sore, but not near as bad as yesterday. Sitting up, he slid his legs over the side of the bed. Grunting as he stood up, he made his way into the backrooms, where Luxray was. He sat down on the edge of the bed where his partner was laying. Machines surrounding the pokemon. He knelt over the pokemon...stroking his friend's head softly. He could feel something starting to happen...Luxray was losing his fur, losing his pokemon features....his ears were staying however. His face looked almost human now. And Leo...he felt his body begining to change. His fingers were getting stubby, his pinky and his ring fingers joined together, leaving him with four digits...they were positioning themselves in a paw pattern. And his fingernails were growing outwards into small claws. He again stroked his friend's head for what would likely be the last time. And then laid down beside him. His ears growing out, larger and larger...A yellow star in the middle of them, and blue fur growing all around them. His hair turned blue, a small tuft sticking upwards, and his eyes tingled as their normal blue coloration turned a golden color. His feet were changing as well, curling together into small paws, black fur coating them, and coming up his legs, Stopping right at his belly button. His spine began to lengthen, forcing skin outwards, and muscles to follow. Black fur coated the length of it, aside from the tip, from which three yellow points grew outwards, almost in the shape of a star. yellow bands of fur grew around his forepaws, and a black collar of fur covered his neck.

He closed his eyes. Shivering as he realized what exactly it meant for him now. He was a pokemon, he had no real rights, he had no family, all he had was Luxray. who was begining to stir slightly. Lux sat up and groaned. "My head....what a weird dre-" The pokemon turned human looked down at himself... "WHAT?!" It then saw the new Shinx sitting beside him. "No...no...it was just a dream...it was just a stupid dream!" Lux shook the small shinx... "L...Leo? is that you? LEO?!" The shinx looked up and nodded. "Shinx...Shi." ("Yeah...its me.") Lux stared...his tail wiggling madly as he hugged the shinx tightly to his chest. "No...no....please...don't...please don't do this." "Shinx. Shin shinx." ("I already have. Its ok.") Lux hugged him even tighter... "Why?" Leo smiled slightly before replying. "Shinx. Shin...Shiiinx." ("I don't abandon my partner..neeever ever.")

Nurse Joy came in...and just about fainted right there, as she saw the now mostly human Luxray and the Shinx "W...what in the world?" Lux quickly informed her as to what happened...seeming to be crying as he spoke. The Nurse sighed, and shook her head softly. "...I've heard of this tale...more than I like to. rumor has it that Jirachi will save those that truly, care for each other. you both care for each other very much. thats why he granted you this honor..." Lux shook his head. "But what about Leo?" The nurse smiled. "I'm sure he's happy where he is. He's with his friend, and his friend is safe. I'll try and see about getting you certified to own and train pokemon. you'll both make a fantastic team, I'm sure." Leo spoke up at this point. "Shinx shinx! shin?" ("We sure will! won't we Luxray?") Lux slowly nodded. "I...I guess so...I...I guess my new name is Lux...Nice to meet you Miss...erm...Jenny." The nurse nodded and smiled. "Nice to meet you Lux. Now come on, I'll help you fill out the forms."

After a couple of days, the pair left. Leo, the Shinx riding on his partners shoulder. Lux had learned plenty about the human world, and now intended to keep on the path his friend had started with him. They didn't know what was around the corner, but there was only one way to find out. Lux glanced back at his friend. "You ready Leo?" The pokemon nodded and smiled. "Shinx! Shii Shinx!" ("Yup! Lets go!")

To Be Continued...