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"No."

I looked down at the ground, hearing the soft-spoken word echo in my ears, carrying an incredible weight for such a simple sound.

"No?" The Liepard tilted his head and gave a twitch of his tail. "You need even more time? I gave you a whole week together, and then an extra day on top of that..."

"No -- I mean, we have decided. Our answer is no."

The Liepard blinked, looking perplexed. "Your answer is no? You'd rather go back to your old, miserable life, rather than have me as your roommate? I know it's been a while since I've had a bath, but I didn't think I smelled that bad..."

Apollo rolled his eyes at the Liepard. "Go back to your forest, Phobetor. You're not welcome here."

Phobetor returned an expression of mock hurt and sighed dramatically. "As you wish. But, since you clearly dislike me so much, then as promised..."

A dark purple mist began to swirl up around the Liepard. It coalesced around him and obscured him from view, then drifted outwards in an expanding fog. I tried to step away from it but it seemed to dart towards me, tendrils reaching out to grab my legs and pull me down to the ground. The mist was cold and clammy, and I shivered at the feel of it. I suddenly felt very, very tired, and could barely keep my eyes open. I noticed Apollo had also been snared by the mist, the Espeon wobbling as he tried to stay on his feet, but I couldn't muster the strength to overcome my growing sleepiness and do something about it. I fought against it as best as I could... but within seconds I was asleep.

The next thing I knew I was awake.

That alone surprised me. I had expected at least a chance to fight off the Liepard. I didn't think my chances would be that great, but I had been practicing with Apollo and I had used the Dream Eater move a few times, so I thought I might have at least been able to put up a fight. But instead... instead it seemed I had literally slept through the entire fight.

I opened my eyes and looked down at myself... my old self. My body lay on the ground of the backyard, just as human and just as male as I remembered. I could easily tell because I was also very naked. Living as a Vulpix had made clothing less of a concern for me and I ignored that for the moment, instead looking around the rest of the yard.

Phobetor was gone. The Liepard had left just like Apollo had asked. I wasn't sure how I felt about that - if he was still here then Apollo could try and fight him, could try and force him into changing me back to a Vulpix... but he was gone, and at least I didn't have to hear him mocking us. I put him out of my mind and kept looking around the yard until I spotted Apollo.

The Espeon was stretched out on his side and fast asleep. I felt a sudden pang of sadness at seeing him like that. I wanted to curl up against his chest and have him curl around me, the way we had slept the past few nights... but there was no way that could happen now. Even his breathing sounded different, fainter, now that my again-human ears couldn't hear him as well. I debated going inside to get dressed and leave him to wake up on his own, but decided that the shock he would feel at waking up and finding me human would be less than him waking up and not finding me at all.

I reached out and gave Apollo a gentle rub on his head, paying attention to the back of his right ear. He yawned and stretched, his legs reaching outwards as far as they could and then pulling back. He relaxed for a few seconds before he finally opened his eyes. He looked to his side first... then slowly looked upwards at me.

"Good morning Apollo." I met his eyes... and saw sorrow and anger in them.

He opened his mouth to reply. I knew he was going to say 'good morning' back. Maybe add some French into it, or call me his flower, or something along those lines. I felt a sudden feeling of comfort at the promise of hearing one of his silly nicknames for me.

But all I heard was a sleepy "Espe", and my heart sank in my chest. Something in Apollo's expression changed, and I had the feeling he had figured it out too - I couldn't understand what the Espeon was saying anymore.

Apollo said a few more things, a hopeful tone to his voice, but all I heard were variations of 'esp' and 'eon' and even a 'ssssppppp' of frustration. All I could do was shake my head. "I'm sorry Apollo... I can't understand you."

The Espeon looked sad for a second before glaring out at the fence and the forest beyond.

I rubbed his head for a little bit longer, not sure what to say, but eventually I rose to my feet. "Come on... let's go inside."

I stopped at the door out of habit, not thinking, before it finally occurred to me that I could open the door myself. I blushed at the mistake and opened the door, then slipped inside and held the door for Apollo. The Espeon slipped past me with a happy sounding 'Ess' and hopped onto the couch. I stood by the door and just looked over the house. Everything seemed... off. The table seemed too short, the couch too close, the carpet not as soft against my feet as I remembered. Just a week as a Vulpix had been enough to change everything for me. I was used to the table being high above me, or having to walk farther to the couch. I shook my head, trying to ignore the feeling. "I'll be right back Apollo; I need to put on some clothes."

"Espeon!" Apollo nodded at me from the couch, putting his head down as he stretched out on the pillow. I smiled at him and walked to the bedroom, trying not to think too much as I did. I dug through my dresser and grabbed the first clothes I could find, not really caring how I looked. I briefly considered going into the bathroom to clean up some... but I really didn't want to see myself in the mirror. I pulled on the clothes... then paused. I started to glance at the bed, the place where I had slept beside Apollo... but even thinking about it hurt. I left the room and shut the door behind me.

I saw Apollo still on the couch, stretched out with his face resting on the cushion. I just watched him for a minute, something about the Espeon bugging me in the back of my mind... and then I realized what it was. Apollo was in the cushion I had slept on last night. It was probably the place where my... where Lily's scent would be the strongest.

My heart sank, and I walked to the couch to sink into the cushions besides Apollo. He looked up at me, his split-end tail wagging slowly, something questioning in his eyes. "Es?" I started to reach over to pet him but changed my mind, instead picking him up and holding him in my lap. The Espeon made a happy 'onnnn' sound and adjusted a little to get comfortable, and I began to slowly pet his back. I grabbed the remote and turned on the television, flipping around through a few channels before finding a program that I didn't mind zoning out to.

We stayed like that for a while. It felt a little comforting... but it mostly just reminded me of what I had lost. Apollo's fur felt soft against my hand, but I kept remembering how it would feel brushing against my skin through my own fur, or how it felt against my nose when I curled up against him. I could just barely make out his scent, and it only made me remember back to the fuller, richer smell I had come to know when I had the nose of a Vulpix. The feel of his chest rising and falling against my leg reminded me of the sound of his breathing, a sound I couldn't hear at all over the louder sounds of the air conditioner and refrigerator.

Even though he was right there in my lap, Apollo felt impossibly far away from me.

I could tell that Apollo wasn't really satisfied either. He kept shifting, as if trying to curl his body around something, or twitching his head as if stopping himself from licking something next to him. His tail would move occasionally, as if he wasn't sure what to do with it, until he finally rested his head on my leg and gave a huff of a sigh.

After a few hours like that I realized I had gotten hungry. I gave Apollo a little nudge with my hands, and he moved out of my lap to stretch in place on the cushion next to me. I stood and stretched as well, letting my leg wake up, and headed to the kitchen. "I'm hungry... are you ready for dinner, Apollo?"

"Espe pe ess!" Apollo hopped off the couch and followed me to the kitchen, sitting up on the floor and looking at me expectantly. I smiled at the sight of him. "Guess it's my turn to cook something for you, isn't it?"

I opened the fridge and looked inside. The leftover pizza was the first thing I noticed, and my stomach immediately demanded it. I had grabbed it and pulled it out of the fridge... but then I remembered everything about it. Apollo ordering it, us fooling the delivery guy, how dirty we got trying to eat it, even the delivery man petting me.

I leaned my head forward and just rested it on the freezer for a minute, closing my eyes. I suddenly didn't feel like pizza anymore. I had a feeling I wouldn't want hot dogs for a while either. I kept my head leaning on the door of the freezer, taking some comfort in the feel of it, before finally looking back up. The pizza made a soft thump sound as I dropped it into the trash can and looked back at Apollo.

"There's nothing to eat. Want to go shopping?"

The Espeon nodded and walked over to the door. "Okay... let me grab my stuff and we'll go."

I walked back into the bedroom, still avoiding glancing at the bed, and grabbed my socks and shoes. I dug around a bit looking for my wallet - it had been a while since I had needed it, and I hadn't bothered to figure out where it had ended up - but I finally found it in the pocket of a pair of pants that lay crumpled on the floor. I reached for Apollo's PokeBall on instinct... but I decided to leave it. Apollo could help me carry the groceries back, and it would be fun to have another walk with him. I had a feeling that he would enjoy a walk after sitting around the house most of the day.

I locked the house behind us and we started walking towards the path that led to the street. It was late afternoon, but I figured we still had two or three hours of sunlight left. I thought about singing again... but I was too embarrassed to sing, and I didn't much feel like it anyways even though the walk was a pleasant one.

I could tell Apollo wasn't enjoying the walk as much as he should have either. He occasionally looked to the side or at something lying nearby, and would give a halfhearted sniff or two at something, but he didn't stop to smell anything and never ran ahead of me, and started to seem almost bored after only a few minutes. We reached the street and walked for another fifteen minutes before finally reaching the store.

The greeter waved at me and Apollo - the store didn't mind Pokemon inside, so long as they were accompanied by a trainer and they didn't damage anything - and I waved back as I grabbed a basket. I started down the first aisle, Apollo walking slowly behind me and occasionally sniffing at a few of the foods we passed. Even though I was hungry nothing seemed particularly appetizing. I grabbed a few random things as I passed them - cookies, canned soup, cereal, potato chips, sodas - but nothing really jumped out at me for dinner, and I was starting to worry about carrying everything back home.

We made it through most of the store without bumping into anyone, but when we reached the frozen section we found another trainer browsing the aisles with a Swinub. The trainer was occupied comparing the nutrition of two frozen dinners, but the Swinub looked at Apollo and waddled over to us. It sniffed Apollo and made chattered, a string of 'swi' and 'nubnub' and 'swinnnn!', then bounced up and down. Apollo looked annoyed and backed up a step, but the Swinub followed him, still making excited noises. Finally Apollo flattened his ears and gave an annoyed "Esss!" sound; the Swinub let out a squeak and ran back to its trainer, hiding behind her.

The trainer looked up in surprise, then looked at her Pokemon. "Piggy, what are you... Oh! Hello! Was she bothering you?" The trainer looked up at me (and Apollo), her expression worried.

Apollo was still glaring at the Swinub, but I shook my head apologetically. "No, no; she's fine. My Espeon just likes having some space is all." I grabbed a box of frozen burritos and started the other way before Apollo started opening freezers and throwing food at the Swinub. "I think I've got enough... ready to go?"

Apollo gave another glance at the Swinub before looking up at me and nodding. I looked down at him as we walked. "What was that all about?"

Apollo just made a huffing sound and rattled off some Poke-speak before strutting off ahead of me. Apollo usually was fairly friendly with other Pokemon, but for some reason the Swinub had gotten his tail up in knots. I shrugged it off as another of life's mysteries and followed after him to the checkout counter. The cashier asked how I was doing and I lied and told her everything was fine, and she rang up the food in silence. I paid, grabbed my bags, and headed out of the store. Apollo followed after and grabbed a few of the bags from me and we walked back home in silence.

When we got home I put everything on the counter, then popped four of the burritos in the oven and put the rest in the freezer. The rest of the food wasn't frozen and I didn't feel like doing anything with it just then so I left it on the counter. Apollo stretched out on the floor in the living room and turned the television on - with his psychic powers it was no problem for him to use the remote - and flipped through a few channels before settling on an older movie that was playing on one of the local stations. I set the timer for the oven and followed him, stretching out on the couch and reaching an arm out to rub his head. Apollo rolled over so that his head was closer to me, and we lay like that for the twenty minutes it took the burritos to cook.

The timer beeped loudly from the kitchen. Apollo jerked in surprise as he was dragged from his nap, and he mumbled something under his breath that I was pretty sure was a French curse of some kind. I tried not to smile too much as the Espeon glared towards the kitchen. Instead I got up and took the burritos out of the oven. I shut everything off and carried the burritos over to the table on two plates, setting a place for me and Apollo. I pulled out my chair and sat down, but grimaced as Apollo looked uncertainly at his chair.

I remembered the rules we had in place before, where I wouldn't let Apollo up on the table. It seemed silly to try and enforce it after everything that had happened and how often Apollo had been on the table. "Oh... um... it's okay; come on up on the table."

Apollo still looked a little unsure, but he finally hopped into the chair and then the table, sitting down before his plate.

Dinner was awkward. We couldn't really have a conversation and the burritos were still too hot to eat, so instead we just watched the television while the food cooled. When the burrito didn't burn my fingers anymore I picked one up and started munching on it. Apollo looked at me and started talking. "Esp on on..." The Espeon suddenly trailed off and looked away, looking uncomfortable, and covered by going for his own food. I wasn't sure what he had said, but I had the feeling it was something he would have instinctively said to Lily but felt weird saying to Leo. Maybe it was a comment about how burritos looked like hotdogs, or something French, or how much he enjoyed his own burrito.

I tried not to draw any attention to it, instead coughing lightly before turning back to my own food. We ate the rest of the meal in silence, and when we were both finally done I picked up the plates and moved them to the kitchen. I didn't really feel like doing anything else with the dishes and still didn't feel like putting the rest of the groceries away, and I definitely still didn't feel like going back into the bedroom, so instead I went back to the living room and stretched out on the couch in front of the television. I flipped through a few channels just in case there was something more interesting on, but there wasn't, so I left it on the movie Apollo had found.

Apollo rejoined me in the living room, grooming himself for a bit before stretching out on the floor again. I rubbed his head until I finally began to feel sleepy, and as night fell I drifted off to sleep.

At some point in the night Apollo must have moved to curl up on my chest. I woke in the morning to feel his warm body through my shirt, and I reached up to gently rub his head. "Good morning Apollo... I need to get up."

The Espeon yawned and stretched, his tail flicking a little as he woke up. He blinked up at me, smiling for a half second... but his expression fell suddenly. "Onnn." His voice sounded sad, but he gave my hand a little nuzzle.

I shifted a little to get up, and Apollo curled back up on the couch with a yawn. I smiled at him for a minute, remembering how it felt when he curled around me as a Vulpix... I shook my head to clear the memory and slipped through the bedroom and into my bathroom. I reached for the toothbrush to start brushing my teeth, but paused as I caught my reflection in the mirror.

It was a harsh change from the Vulpix I had become used to seeing stare back at me in the mirror. I couldn't help but think back to the first time I had seen a Vulpix in the mirror and how different I looked now. Instead of smooth, bright red fur I saw an unruly mop of dull black hair that was dirty and tangled; instead of sleek curves and a petite figure I looked clunky and overly large. The expressive, triangular ears I had grown used to having were gone, instead replaced with odd chunks of flesh that seemed to be tacked on and were disappointingly immobile. Instead of pretty red eyes I was met by ones that were dull brown and shaded as if I hadn't had enough sleep last night. My limbs seemed too long and dangly, I felt fat and pudgy; I even had a week's worth of stubble growing on my chin, which I felt was an unnecessary thing Phobetor had probably given me just out of spite.

Even though it was the body I had lived with all my life, even though it was a perfectly normal and even handsome human, it felt wrong to see it staring back at me, like it was somebody else's body. It was supposed to be a Vulpix looking back at me, wondering what had happened to her. Hopping up on the sink to get a better look at herself... or maybe leaning down and lifting her tails for Apollo, watching her own expression while he...

The face in the mirror flushed in a sudden blush, and I felt a sudden mix of longing and depression. I grabbed my toothbrush and a razor and stepped into the shower, shutting the thoughts of the mirror out of my mind. I brushed my teeth and shaved as best as I could under the running water, trying to think instead of something I wanted to do today.

Nothing came to mind.

I thought back to what I used to do back before I had become a Vulpix, but that was just staying home and hoping something interesting would happen, or going to the PokeCenter and hoping something interesting would happen. Neither seemed particularly appealing, though I had the feeling Apollo felt a little uncomfortable around me as a human. Or maybe I felt a little uncomfortable around him. Either way things felt uncomfortable. Maybe some space would do us both some good.

I made my decision and turned off the shower, toweling off and slipping into some comfortable clothes. Apollo had moved cushions while I was gone, curled back up on the last one I had slept on as a Vulpix, and I felt another pang of guilt. I walked over and rubbed his ear, smiling as he woke up. "Hey Apollo... I'm going to head to the PokeCenter for a bit... do you want to come, or would you rather stay here?"

Apollo was quiet for a few seconds, as if considering it, before finally laying his head back down on the cushion. "Ess."

"Okay buddy... I'll be back later." I gave him one last rub on the head and left, locking the door behind me.

The trip to the PokeCenter was a quiet one. I was about halfway there before I realized how late it was - the sun was almost directly overheard. That struck me as odd. Apollo, like all Espeons, was connected to the sun; it was pretty rare for them to be sleeping during the day, when they were most filled with energy. If he had slept in until noon, and still wanted a nap...

The rest of the trip was a bit more depressing as I realized just how hard Apollo had to be taking this.

I made it to the PokeCenter and was greeted by the nurse. "Hi Lillian! Been a while! How's Apollo doing?"

I waved back at her. "He's doing okay, if a little lethargic."

"Aw. He's still getting plenty of sun?"

"Yep! He's been outside most of the day all this past week, actually." I grinned, remembering all the time we had spent outside training on the candles... though the grin faded as I remembered that wouldn't be happening anymore.

The nurse didn't seem to notice, her attention already back at the paperwork on her desk. "Well, you know my theory then. Poor thing is probably just lonely. I told you not to give away all of your other Pokemon; he probably just wants somebody he can talk and play with."

Stab. Twist.

I tried to smile politely. "You're probably right... maybe one of the neighbors will want me to housesit for them soon, and he can play with one of their Pokemon."

"Good luck. I think the Hutchinson's might be going out of town soon; I'll let them know if they stop by. They have a cute little Nidorino that might enjoy meeting him."

"Thanks... I think he'll like that." I smiled at the nurse again and walked over to the lobby, taking a seat and flipping channels on the television. A magazine sat on the table and I picked it up to thumb through. The magazine was about wild Pokemon native to another region. It had a few articles about Pokemon care and where to find them, but what attracted me most were the pictures. They were pretty good pictures, and I thought I recognized the style and quality of the photographer - a person named Cam whose work I had been seeing more and more lately. I spent about twenty minutes thumbing through it and reading the articles before I came across an advertisement that caught my eye. The picture was another of Cam's, this one of a Furret curled up in a comfortable looking Pokemon bed. The ad was for the beds, with a description of how Pokemon who sleep in that particular brand of bed are more rested and stronger in battle - something I highly doubted - but I thought Apollo might enjoy one as a gift anyways.

I thumbed through a few more pages of the magazine before coming to a picture of a Vulpix sitting next to a trainer. The Vulpix looked annoyed; the fur was ruffled and it was glaring out of the photo with what looked like a pout. It was wearing a pretty pink bow in the curls on its head and was sitting on a pink frilly pillow. The Vulpix looked like it had tried very hard to get the bow out, but the trainer had clearly been just as determined to keep the bow on. For some reason I just knew why the Vulpix was so unhappy. I knew I wouldn't have realized it before, but looking at its expression, its ears, the way it curled its tails, things I would never have picked up on before actually being a Vulpix, I just knew why it was pouting and wanted the frilly pink bow out of its fur. The picture didn't show anything obvious, but I knew.

The Vulpix was a male, and it hated that it had been dressed up like that or forced to sit on that pillow.

I giggled a little at his discomfort, but as I continued to look at the picture I just started to feel sad again. I turned the page and looked at a few more pictures, but I wasn't able to enjoy the pictures anymore. I didn't want to see any other Pokemon. The thought that one might wander in with a trainer and come see what I was doing suddenly made me unhappy, and I just wanted to leave.

I had a sudden flash of insight and I realized what Apollo was going through. When he growled at the Swinub last night, why he didn't come with me to the PokeCenter... seeing other Pokemon was upsetting him. He didn't want to see any others; he wanted Lily back.

Just like I did.

I put the magazine down and left the Pokemon center, waving goodbye to the nurse who was busy with her paperwork. It was about a ten minute walk to the PokeMart, and about five minutes of searching before I found a really nice looking bed about Apollo's size. I also grabbed a few treats, paying for them and heading back home. I still thought Apollo might be uncomfortable around me... but I didn't want to leave him alone anymore, and the thought of seeing him when he got a new present was too much to resist. I picked up my pace and jogged the rest of the way home.

I opened the door quietly in case Apollo was still asleep, but when I walked into the living room the Espeon wasn't on the couch. I checked the kitchen and the rest of the house, but he wasn't anywhere, so I finally slipped into the bedroom.

Apollo was fast asleep on the bed. He was curled around something, though I couldn't tell what it was until I stepped closer. When I saw what it was my heart sank. I dropped the bag and sat on the edge of the bed, picking the Espeon up and holding him close to me.

The scented candle he had been curled around fell over on the bed.

Apollo opened his eyes, still waking up. I thought I saw tear tracks in his fur. "Apollo? Are you okay? What's wrong?"

The Espeon buried his face in my chest, and I held him closer. "I wish... we should have said yes instead."

I pet his back, trying to comfort him... and then realized I could understand him. "Apollo?... Did you just... speak?"

He looked up at me, confusion in his eyes, his body warm and soft in my arms. "Espe?..."

I blinked, confused. I was sure I had understood him, just like back when I was a Vulpix... I started to ask him another question, but before I could there was a roaring sound building in my ears. I looked around, trying to find the sound, vaguely aware that Apollo was looking around too. I couldn't find anything though, and as I looked the room began to grow darker. Within seconds I couldn't see anything, and the roaring sound was overwhelming.

Then all at once there was nothing but silence.

Then I woke up.

I flailed for a moment, scared and surprised, and felt somebody beside me jumping. I tried to understand what was going on and looked around. I was on a couch, and an Espeon was beside me... Apollo was beside me... or had been, before he had jumped somewhere... the couch was large, I wasn't even taking up a whole cushion, and... and... and...

I was a Vulpix!

I stopped flailing wildly and tried to calm down, bringing my tails back under control. I was a Vulpix again! I was _Lily_again! I looked around, feeling my tails wagging behind me, and found Apollo lying on his back on the floor. I giggled, overjoyed to be a Vulpix again. "Apollo! Did you fall off the couch?"

He blushed and rolled over, stretching to groom his back. "Sorry, ma dormer fleur. I had a... strange dream, and you startled me."

"A... dream?" I tilted my head at him, suddenly curious.

"I... think it was a dream? It felt very real... you had said no to Phobetor, and things were so... so miserable. But then I woke up and you were still... a Vulpix... so it must have just been a dream?"

I blinked, trying to think. It made sense... had it all just been a dream? A nightmare? But... why had we had the same dream? And why had it felt so... so real? "I had a dream just like that... You were sleeping all the time, and everything was weird, and stuff was boring... It felt so real though."

A thumping noise at the back door answered my questions. "Helllllloooooo... Anybody awake in there? The sun is way too bright out here, so if you could come out so we can get this over with..."

Apollo and I both looked to the door and spoke in unison. "Phobetor."

Apollo stalked to the door and opened it, the door opening a little harder than usual under his psychic power. The Liepard sat in the backyard, squinting from the mid-morning sun, and waved his scythe-like tail at us. "Gooooood morning sleepy heads! Have a good night?"

Apollo rolled his eyes. "Did you do that to us, Phobetor?"

The Liepard tilted his head and smiled. "Whatever do you mean, Apollo?"

The Espeon flicked his tail in annoyance. "The dream we had. Did you cause us to have that?"

The Liepard's smile brightened. "Of course I did! You were going to say no, after all. Do you have any idea how much effort it takes to make somebody change form? I've been trying to get my strength back from it this whole week! I wasn't about to go through all that effort to change you back only to have you come begging for me to change you again after just a few days. It was much easier to just let you find out in a dream before you made the decision in the first place."

He turned his head behind him, looking at the bright yard. "And speaking of your decision... it's time to actually ask! Am I your new housemate? Or do I head back to the forest?"

Apollo and I looked at each other, thinking. I remembered how sad he had been, how awkward things had been, how lonely he seemed... I couldn't do it. I had said no before because I didn't want to hurt him, but... I couldn't imagine him being more miserable than the way he was when I had said no. I saw some sympathy in Apollo's eyes and realized he was probably thinking the same thing about me. How uninterested and bored I was compared to as a Vulpix.

I looked back up at the Liepard. At Phobetor. "Come on in - I'll show you around."

The Liepard grinned and took a step in, but Apollo lifted a paw and stopped him. "Listen, Phobetor. I don't mind you staying here and enjoying the house - you did give us a gift, and I appreciate that." Apollo put his paw down and leaned forward. "But Lily is still my girl. I'm not going to just sit back and share her with you."

Phobetor just smiled, a wide grin that showed his gleaming teeth. "Hey, I'm not unreasonable. If you want to do more than just sit back, you're welcome to join in too."

Apollo rolled his eyes again and stepped back, letting the Liepard step inside. Phobetor looked back at the couch and at me. "So... there was a tour?"