concoursec | A wrong turn in dreamland.

'Will someone turn the music off?! Where the heck is that even coming from, anyway?!' That noise had Espio completely surrounded! Being unwillingly subjected to music that sounded straight out of a retro video game was... it was annoying. And why was he suddenly on an island, anyway?

It felt strange. As he looked down at the Nidorino - 'how do I even know what this thing is?' - it became quite clear that he was at least two heads taller than normal. Furthermore, it felt more like he was a passenger than the driver of this particular body... and judging from the glimpses he caught of clothing and hands, it wasn't even his right now.

'Huh?! This is... this isn't me!'

"Nido?" came the curious question from the Pokemon as whoever Espio was sharing the body with looked down and gently pat the purple thing on the head (careful of the spikes, poisonous, no antidotes).

This is a bad idea... this has to be a bad idea...

"It's okay, Terrian. We've handled everything else, we can do this too."

"Nido..."

Another swallow, with a suddenly dry throat.

'Great, I'm in some random human kid's body, and he's about to do something stupid. I can just tell he's going to do something stupid!' It seemed the kid - what kid was this, anyway? - was scared, despite assuring his Nidorino otherwise.

Why was he here, anyway? He didn't seem to be able to do much. He'd already tried to move and look around his surroundings on his own accord, but this boy was clearly the one in control. Was Espio going to be able to get out? The brief idea of being stuck as a random string of thoughts in someone else's body struck him, and he mentally shuddered.

'No way.'

Okay, attention back on this kid. Espio doubted that he was supposed to do anything, but with a kid clearly about to do something dumb, he was going to try.

'Kid, can you hear me?' he called out, experimentally.

And scared deeply. Whatever this boy was about to do, it was enough to have him terrified. But there was an odd feeling with it, a need to go ahead (Can't be worse... what else can happen...), which was why he was here, despite the rumors being ridiculous.

He paused, however, blinking and putting a hand on his head as he shivered.

What was...? ...I'm still too nervous...

That had been an odd feeling, like someone was mentally smacking him and trying to tell him this was a stupid idea. He already knew that, dangit, but...

"Nido?" It was worried about him. Was its master okay?

"...yeah. Are you ready?"

"Nido!" It seemed to be.

A heavy exhale, and the boy plucked an odd ball off the strap of his backpack, pressing the button and letting out... something completely different. (http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Dewgong_(Pok%C3%A9mon))

(Dewgong. Aurora.)

"Start surfing."

"Gong."

Apparently, the kid couldn't hear him - he seemed to react to something, but Espio wasn't sure if it was him or not. 'So what, do I have to just sit back and watch you be an idiot?'

So maybe he was being a little quick to judge, but thus far what Espio had gathered was that the kid was about to do something dumb that also looked to be completely unnecessary. What this something was, Espio had no idea, and while he was curious enough to want to find out... he'd rather find out while having some degree of control.

And then there was this... white thing. From a ball. 'Capsule system?' Espio wondered. 'That's handy! But are those things okay in there?'

The boy frowned -- why did he suddenly start worrying about whether or not his Pokemon were okay? He knew the Pokeballs were comfortable and tailored to them, and he'd visited the Pokemon Center before even trying this, so of course they were fine...

...this was messing with his head already, and they hadn't even started. Or at least, the trouble hadn't started yet.

But speak of the devil, and it will come... preceeded by a frantic Dewgong hauling ass onto the shore with a shocked cry. The child's attention was focused on what was following his Pokemon, however.

What in the bloody hell was that?! (http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59/Puku6/Ghosties/MissingNo_GhostSprite.png)

Ghost? But the Scope should've...

A very good question! What was that? Was it really a ghost? Unwillingly, Espio felt himself shuddering again, recalling the Sandopolis ghost nearly freezing his heart - he hated ghosts!

'That thing had better not shove its arm in me! I mean, him!'

Whatever the scope was, Espio didn't really care. More importantly, 'like hell am I going to try fighting a ghost! I can't even - well, of course I can't move... get away, already, you're just a kid!'

Why was he suddenly so scared? Sure, the Scope didn't seem to be working, but ghosts were just Ghosts -- you just avoided fighting and normal attacks, and it still hurt them all the same. And considering that Terrian was growling at the ghost, rather than shrinking in terror, that wouldn't be a problem.

"Terrian!"

"Nido!"

As Aurora was recalled, the purple Pokemon launched forward with orders from its master, the attacks effective against the supposed ghost.

Of course, shortly after said battle began, the spirit twitched... it's form changing into something different entirely. (http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s246/shell62995/DeadM.jpg)

....Okay. NOW the kid was terrified.

'A shapeshifter!' Espio realised, feeling much more at ease now it wasn't a ghost... until he realised that he couldn't hit the stupid thing. That thing had some pretty deadly looking claws on it, too - those animals the boy had seemed to be pretty tough, but Espio was worried the skeleton would get past them and hit the kid.

'Not running, huh? Idiot... fine then! Be on your guard!' he said, despite knowing the boy couldn't hear him. 'Hope you took some self-defense lessons - if it comes too close, shove it away!'

Terrian made a noise towards the boy, and he swallowed dryly, heart still hammering. He couldn't run (Has to be the cause. Has to be...), so instead he went back to shakily yelling orders.

Terrian followed them to the letter, and whatever it was changed shape yet again (http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd43/hejiahan/missingno_a.gif) in the middle of the fight. But just when things seemed to be going well...

...it took on its final form. (http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s180/MasterB8er42/000.png)

Both the kid and Nidorino locked up immediately, staring blankly.

Throughout the battle, all Espio wanted to do was leap in and take that pile of bones to pieces by himself - he was sure it would go faster! Yet, agitated, he continued to just watch. How infuriatingly useless he was, right now! 'Would someone just let me do it?! I had plans today!'

When it took its final form, Espio was really frustrated. And what was that supposed to be, anyway? A block of pixels? How... non-threatening, after being faced with ghosts and animate skeletons! 'This is ridiculous. What is it even trying to do?'

The boy didn't seem to think quite so lightly of it, though, so Espio just remained tense. 'Geez! If fighting it's doing no good, then run! You're just a kid, I won't hold it against you for being a wuss!'

The boy didn't seem to react to Espio this time, simply continuing to stare at the shifting mess of pixels in front of him. The thing advanced a little, causing Terrian to snap out of his own daze and growl. Without orders, the Nidorino dashed forward, intending to attack again, since its master was obviously too shocked to give orders.

Unfortunately, it was soon clear this was not a good idea, as the Pokemon passed through the creature's body... until it reached the center, where it seemed to be frozen, though the noises it was making were nothing short of agonizing.

That seemed to snap the kid out of his own daze, and he scrambled forward, intending to wrench his partner out from the mess of computer glitch.

Kid was being a hero - normally, Espio would be entirely in support of rushing in to save someone, but so far it didn't seem like he was even capable. Despite having a vague sense of approval at the boy's determination to save his companion, it was overpowered by a thought of 'What the hell are you doing! You're just putting yourself in danger!!'

And yet, the Nidorino... what did he expect him to do? Abandon it?

Espio braced himself, anticipating the boy somehow frozen the same way. This was not good - he was definitely in some very real danger, and nothing was able to help him! What if he died? Even though Espio couldn't do anything, he didn't think he could very well handle the guilt of just sitting by and watching!

...and, as an afterthought, he himself might well be in the same danger. It wouldn't be good if he died while in someone else's body.

'Get me killed, and I'll kill you.'

I have to help him, I can't --

Wait, why was he suddenly arguing with himself? The boy shook his head violently, thrusting his hand forward without hesitation to make a grab at the writhing -- deleting?! -- Pokemon.

And was immediately slammed with a wave of the most agonizing, unbearable pain he had ever felt. His mind automatically shut off, his body jerking backwards out of reflex to get away from the thing that was hurting it.

He dry retched -- skipping breakfast had been a good idea -- and simply choked and gasped for breath. It was nothing short of a miracle that he hadn't passed out; or had he, and just not realized it? The whatever it was was gone, leaving him shaking so hard that he couldn't even stand up from his prone position on the ground.

He reached up to run his hand through his hair, but froze once again. The hand -- the one he had used to try and help his Pokemon -- had become like the creature itself, a mess of visible 1s, 0s, and whatever else had made it up.

His mind completely blanked.

For Espio, this kind of pain might have been bearable - might - but certainly not when paired with a young body that had none of Espio's resilience! The pain - the blinding pain - shot straight through him, the barrier between him and the boy feeling as though it vanished - he couldn't even try to resist! Despite himself, he found himself screaming, until everything went white and then the boy was awake again.

Awake! Was he okay?! The pain, Espio was well aware, was entirely the shaking boy's. 'You're all right, right? You're moving, at least, that's a good sign. But that's...'

What was up with his hand? Data? Super-powers?

Screaming.

That was the reaction to Espio's feeling, the reaction when his mind finally rebooted. The boy scrambled to his feet, nearly falling back from the still-present shaking as he tried to keep his balance. The Pokemon Center -- they had too -- something there would -- and he was half-tripping over himself in a panic, trying to head for the red-roofed building behind him.

Of course, being as the island was small, the screaming had brought the attention of some of the scientists out, one of whom seemed to be saying something -- as the boy was too panicked to hear properly, Espio couldn't make it out either. But he turned, trying to grab ahold of his helper for support.

Unfortunately, this, too, was a bad idea, as the moment the odd hand came in contact with the man's arm, it started deleting it.

The boy was in such a state - not that Espio could blame him - that nothing seemed to be processing right. It was rather aggravating, if Espio were to be truthful: the boy was in a panic, but Espio wasn't. It was... uncomfortable, not being entirely sure what was going on.

'You'll be fine...' he kept repeating, though he knew it wouldn't have any effect. 'Honestly, you will. Just calm down and try to think clearly.' He was a child! What had he done to deserve that?

'Ah!' As the kid grabbed the man's arm, Espio couldn't help but be shocked as it started to... to delete. 'Quick, let go!'

Whether Espio's thoughts were getting through again or the boy had come to the same decision, it didn't matter -- he released the man's arm like it was on fire, stumbling backwards and falling on his butt. The deletion stopped the moment the hand was removed, but the wound was still there, and immediately began to bleed heavily. The scientist clapped a gloved hand over the affected part of his arm, now yelling in pain himself while another panicked and a third rushed into the red-roofed building.

"I-I --" Okay, his voice still worked, but was cracked. "I didn't... I..."

The scientist simply stared at him, before starting to back away quickly, yelling something behind him. The boy heard it something like 'harghadhg.'

But the meaning was clear enough, and he scrabbled on all fours, seeing but apparently not registering that even the ground was deleting wherever he touched it; it was only once he hauled himself up on a building that he realized he was deleting part of the building as well.

Which was replied with another scream and falling over himself.

Espio was... in awe. This was a pretty serious situation he seemed to have been lumped in, and this kid was... was...

'What is this?' Espio wondered, with no idea how this even made sense. No, no, who cared whether it made sense - more importantly, the kid had to stop touching stuff and figure out what to do. But he couldn't do that unless...

'Calm down!' he insisted, though he knew it was futile. He knew the boy couldn't hear him, though he seemed to occasionally get the general gist. Even if he could hear him, he was too panicked to listen! And he had every right to be panicked. Super-powers weren't always useful - some could be simply disasterous.

Why was Espio even here, anyway?

And the idea was gotten once again, as the boy took a few shuddered breaths, closing his eyes. He unconsciously dropped his hands to his legs, glancing down after a moment. He blinked once or twice, noticing something, well, different: the glitched up hand seemed to have absolutely no effect on him, or even the clothing he was wearing.

"There!"

He jerked his head around at the yell, noticing.... a group of very angry trainers, with their equally angry Pokemon.

Oh, this wasn't good.

'And here comes the inevitable mini-mob' Espio noted - if he could roll his eyes, he would. People could be so predictable sometimes. 'Right, right, what do you want?'

It was pretty clear what they intended to do, even to the boy who Espio was currently hitching a ride with -- and he'd been dumb enough to go through with this in the first place. He held up his hands, trying to stutter something out...

And fell over again as one of the Vulpixes the trainers had blew a colum of fire at him, causing him to fall over again with a shocked yelp. Heat singed his face, way too much heat for such a little animal, distracting him from the fact that he was deleting the edge of the island slowly as well.

This obviously didn't go over well with the trainers, and all of them started yelling at once, the boy putting up his hands over his head and causing them to slightly back off.

This really wasn't good.

Oh, Espio hated it when this sort of thing happened! What was it with people and deciding that the best way to handle something was to try hurting it? The idiots!

Okay, so maybe that was a tiny bit hypocritical, but it wasn't as if the kid was some kind of evil villain! All they were doing was making the situation worse!

'It's not as if he can help it!' Espio wanted to shout at them, feeling the heat from the fox-like creature. 'Cut it out!' Like the boy could even really protect himself against those animals.

As the whole thing continued moving before his eyes, all Espio wanted to do was actually be there. That way, he might actually be able to help! And not...

Wait...

'What is he touching?' Espio realised, trying and failing to turn his head and see where that freakish hand was.

The kid wanted it to stop as much as Espio, likely for the same reason that the chameleon did. He shifted again, nearly falling backwards through the newly-created gap in the shoreline. Well, that explained where the hand had been, especially when the boy's head snapped down to see.

Before the trainers could get much closer, however, there was an odd, strangled cry, one clearly unnatural. What seemed to be a giant orange, winged lizard (Charizard) slammed between them, grabbing him and being rewarded with a sharp screech. It was only a moment before they were airborne, and one look down made everything fade completely to white again.

A wrong turn in dreamland.

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