Author Note: Sorry if this chapter comes up short compared to other ones, the word counter is not working at all, so I can't tell how long this actually is. (Wattpad, sometimes, I swear...)

---

After staring at me for a few moments, the creature leaned back and seemed to be stretching, as if it had just woken up from a long nap. Its movements were smooth and graceful, as if the water itself was moving each body part.

After a moment of this, it returned to looking at me. It finally opened its mouth.

"Hello!" A sweet little voice sounded in my head, as if the creature hadn't even spoken.

"Um...hi." I said very uncomfortably.

It seemed to notice my tone. "Sorry if you were a little weird ed out by the kids. I just need them to bring you to me. They were good kids. Wish I could give 'em something..."

I took a chance and interrupted. "I'm sorry, but what's going on here? Who are you?"

It giggled. "You don't recognize me? The great wonder of the sea, the deep sea angel?"

I shook my head.

"Hmmph. Fine." It began a little trill as it spiraled through the water. "I'm Fione!"

I blinked at it.

"Seriously? Nothing? You really needed to get out a bit, kid."

"What do you want with me?" I asked.

"Well you see, I was just paying a little attention to what was going on with you. You seemed so bummed out, so I thought, 'well there's an idea! Let's give this kid a new lease on life!' And so I did."

It took only a brief second for the words to sink in, and then I grabbed it and looked directly into its eyes. "Are you saying that you're what did this to me?"

"Yeeeeeeee-up!" Fione giggled.

I sighed. "Why? Why did you feel it necessary to turn me into an ever lovin' Pokemon!?"

Fione frowned. "Why, do you have a problem with Pokemon?"

"Kind of, when I'm supposed to be a human! This has been the most s*** crazy time of my life, and you come here just saying you were trying to help me out!?"

"Well, when you put it that way..." Fione muttered. "Look, you had no respect for the ocean at all. As a monarch of said ocean, I felt the need to act and give you a little respect. Remember that conch shell I gave you?"

"You gave me that?"

"Sure did. Anyway, that thing was basically, MAGIC! When you listened to it, it put you to sleep, and then I took you into the water and used a little bit of my special powers to turn your body into a Vaporeon and spit you onto that route where you woke up."

It seemed to notice my facial expression, as it quickly clarified, "Like, not literally spit you out of my mouth because, uh...that would be gross."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, whatever. could you please just turn me back to normal and send me home?"

"Nope!" It answered with a painfully cheerful tone.

"Why not!?"

It patted me on the head in a manner that sent my already enraged brain on a complete psycho mode. "I don't think you've learned your lesson yet. I think you can keep going for a little while. I'll be fully ready to change you back if you get your act together soon."

"ARE YOU ****ING KIDDING ME!? You think you can just keep me like this!?"

"Can and will!" It giggled, "Now be a good little pokemon, and get back up there with everyone else who's having fun."

I gave Fione a silent stare that hopefully read, I hate you with every ounce of the most burning depths of my soul.

"That's the spirit!" And then suddenly, the water current picked up, swinging me about before launching me up towards the surface.

---

I opened my eyes, and found I was floating peacefully a short distance from the shore. It was weird and uncomfortable how everything was no longer tinted the deep blue of the ocean. I recalled everything that had happened in the conversation with that little devil baby. I mumbled some not nice things under my breath as I made my way to the shore.

As I came onto the sand again, I noticed the two kids playing innocently, as if nothing had ever happened. "Little demons..." I whispered to myself.

When I stepped onto the beach, my fur immediately felt dry, which was nice, since the water was cold. But it also reminded me, Guess what? You're still a Pokemon because Fione is an asshole!

I tried to ignore the many profanities and problems circling through my head, and plopped myself down quietly next to Ed, who was finally waking up.

He yawned at a volume that I was sure could only be achieved by whales underwater, and almost rolled out on top of me. He stood up and stretched.

"Well hello there, little guy! How was your day?"

"You have no ****ing idea." I replied without lifting my face out of my paws.

"Great!" He said, obviously ignoring me completely. He began packing up his chair (oh yeah, he kept a freaking chair in that backpack too) and getting ready to head out.

I watched as he slung his backpack over his shoulder. "Are we leaving?" I asked.

"Yep! We'd better get going if we want to make good time." He laughed.

"Awesome." I muttered. I stood myself up again, brushed the sand off of my front legs, and began walking behind him. We made our way across the beach, passing by numerous others enjoying the time fishing or swimming or whatever. I tried to think about the pleasant sea breeze, or the gentle waves, but it was all getting ignored underneath the frustration that fumed within me.

Eventually, the path became more of a dirt and grass rather than the sand of the beach. I was enjoying the familiar feeling of the earthy ground under my feet when suddenly, when one foot hit the ground and didn't stay. Whatever I had stepped on slipped out from under my foot, and caused me to fall on my face. 

As I spat out grass and muttered quiet cursing, I heard with my acute hearing a brief swish. I spun towards the sound and saw a small shape rolling across the path and into the bushes. Without hesitating, I spat out a shot of water into the spot where the thing had gone.

A scream that was somehow girly but with a bit of masculinity erupted from the nearby bushes. Making a rough estimate based on how it sounded, I would guess that I had hit a very awkward middle aged man.

I walked over and looked behind the bushes. Sure enough, a strange, small man was curled up on the ground, muttering, "So cold...so cold..."

Ed came up behind me. "Well, who's this fellow here?"

The man's eyes suddenly widened, and he looked around frantically. "Is it...did it...YES!!" He exclaimed, holding up a large piece of paper with what looked like a footprint on it.

I looked down at my paw. Was that what I had stepped on?

"I FINALLY HAVE IT!!" The man belted at the top of his freaking lungs. "A VAPOREON FOOTPRINT!!"

I rolled my eyes.

Ed looked at the man. "Why, exactly, are you looking for a footprint?"

Finally looking up from his "masterpiece", the man seemed to notice us. "Oh! My apologies. I should have introduced myself. I am Dr. Footstep." He proceeded to strike a stereotypical anime action pose. "AND I COLLECT POKEMON FOOTPRINTS!!"

My sensitive ears were taking a beating.

He looked back at us. "Of course, I have yet to obtain them all, but your Vaporeon is the first I've obtained!" His eyes seemed to widen again. "Oh, I'm sorry. I suppose I should've given you some notice as to what I was doing. To repay you, what if you were to stay at my house tonight?"

Unfortunately, we had hardly gotten anywhere yet, and Pastoria city was only a short way down the path. I was sure Ed knew that too, and I'm sure he knew it would be best to decline.

But he's ****ing Ed.

"We would love to!" He replied cheerfully. I spun around in an instant and gave him a look that clearly said, No, we would NOT love to.

"Then it's settled! I invite you to follow me back to my humble abode!"

Ed laughed. "Very well! Lead on!"

I wanted to smash someone's skull in. "For the love of Arceus..." I muttered, before grumpily starting to walk behind Ed.

---

Author's note 2: Yes, I realize I misspelled Fione (actual spelling: Phione) throughout the entire chapter. Unfortunately, I am too busy to fix it, so I will just fix it in any future chapters.