"Becoming Gardevoir"

You had been walking home from work as the last rays of the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the city. Your worn-out sneakers padded softly on the sidewalk, and the drone of evening traffic filled your ears. You were looking forward to unwinding at home, perhaps catching up on the latest episode of your favorite TV series. Little did you know that your life was about to change forever. As you turned the corner, a strange, pulsating light caught your attention from an alley. Curiosity got the better of you, and you decided to investigate. There, lying amidst the discarded boxes and trash bags, was a strange, glowing stone. “What is this?” you wondered aloud as you reached out to pick it up. As soon as your fingers made contact with the stone, a jolt coursed through your body, and you felt an overwhelming sensation pulling you into darkness. You suddenly found yourself in a vast, open field surrounded by unfamiliar, vibrant flora. The sky above was a perfect blue, with fluffy white clouds drifting lazily by. Your heart raced as you took in the unfamiliar surroundings, realizing you were no longer in your familiar city. “Where am I?” you asked yourself, panic starting to set in. You tried to take a step forward, but suddenly, your balance shifted oddly. You looked down, and your eyes widened in shock. Your legs—no—your body was changing right before your eyes. Your jeans and sneakers were gone, replaced with a long, flowing white gown. You reached out to touch your face and felt smooth, cool skin where there should have been stubble. Alarmed, you looked at your hands—or at least where they should have been. Instead of fingers, you now noticed long, slender, green arms. Your heart pounded, and your breathing quickened as you realized this wasn’t a dream. "No, this can't be happening," you thought, trying desperately to cling to any shred of your former self. You tried to speak, but the words wouldn't form. "Help—" you began, but the sound that emerged was foreign to your ears, "Gar...Gardevoir..." Your voice faltered, and you paused, realizing it wasn’t just your body that had changed—you could no longer speak English. Each attempt resulted in variations of “Gardevoir” until even your thoughts began to cease their coherence. Your height continued to diminish until you were just over five feet tall, looking like a humanoid sylph-like creature with long, green hair obscuring most of your face. Reality around you seemed to warp and shift as your memories and personality were slowly being overwritten. The more you tried to recall your life as a human, the fuzzier the images became. Your apartment, friends, job—all were slipping away, replaced by the reassuring and comforting thoughts typical of a Gardevoir’s existence. “Gardevoir... sacrifice... protect...” you found these urges swelling within you. You remembered in hazy fragments of being loyal, of caring for others deeply. But who were they? Trainers? Fellow Pokémon? It didn't matter now; the overwhelming flood of these new feelings and memories consumed you entirely. The solid ground under your feet became softer and more welcoming. You no longer felt the harsh pull of gravity as you effortlessly floated. The trees and grass seemed more colorful, more vivid, as if every sense had been fine-tuned to perfection. The sudden realization struck you like a bolt: this was your world now—an existence where loyalty and sacrifice were paramount, where emotions and future events could be sensed instinctively. In the distance, you saw a group of Gardevoirs gathered, some caring for younger Ralts and Kirlia. A deep sense of belonging and purpose swelled within you, making you effortlessly drift towards them. As you approached, they welcomed you with gentle nods and an understanding in their eyes that filled you with contentment. One of the elder Gardevoirs turned towards you, their large pink eyes meeting yours. “Gardevoir,” they said softly, the sounds resonating with indescribable warmth and compassion. You nodded in understanding, feeling the final remnants of your human memories fading like a morning mist. You no longer remembered who you had been; you only knew who you were now—a Gardevoir, loyal and compassionate, ready to protect those you cared for at any cost. “Gardevoir,” you replied, your heart swelling with a sense of purpose and belonging that transcended words. You were home.