A human transformed into pokemon goes into rehabilitation. Hope you enjoy!

The Taiga Hospital, a massive foundation for the health care of humans. At least the majority of them. The human health care program is dedicated to the eastern side of the hospital, which many physicians, doctors, burses, and other health related careers have taken employment. However, the main focus of this story is contained in the west side, an otherwise small portion compared to the east. This west end had a pokemon center incorporated into the foundation, and for a good reason too. While humans may undergo sickness, there is another uncommon misfortune that some undergo.

A transformation.

Robbing of their humanity, the pokemon transformation affects at least a tenth of the human population. Scientists and doctors accept the theory that sometimes the human genome cannot replicate perfectly in each cell of the body, and eventually will break down with each mitosis. So to adapt, the genome undergoes evolution as to remake the entire genome and therefore keep the person alive…as something different. There is no cure for it, and the attempt to reverse it was far too cruel and grim to consider into treatment. The only option…is to move on. Fortunately, people who have transformed can be compensated to live their lives as normally as their previous one.

But there is one final gamble that happens when the transformation is finished, either they keep their identity and memories intact, or the instincts will take over and they remain as a feral pokemon. In this story, we focus on an elder boy who is about to undergo the last stage of the transformation, and will be given anesthesia to endure it painlessly.

“Hey Mom…” said the boy, who was straining and sweating in the cold hospital. He wore a rubber mask, mainly on his mouth like a bandana, and on his hands as well, and also his feet. Due to this, he was predicted to become an electric type pokemon. Mainly an organic one.

“Oh my sweet Leo!” Laufey, his mother, rushed in as the rest of the family followed behind to watch with concern. “You have been through so much now, you’re going to make it, and you will remember me.” The hug on his body tightens further. Roy, the father, watched with a silent expression, deep in thought.

With a strained voice he chokes out, “Can’t…pain…”

“Oh sorry.” Quickly letting go of her elder son. “Well…as a gift we had brought you something.” It was a box of some sort, no present wrapping to decorate it.

“Oh.” His surprise was not present from the pain he was facing as he tales the box and opens the lid.

In the box was one of the newest phone models. It broke his heart slightly, knowing that they bought it for him but knowing there is a chance that he won’t use it. Or remember them at all, for the time that he had, it was at least a happy one.

“Well see you soon my sun lion, just hold on to yourself.” The father reassured his son, the doctors already coming in with a small metal table with alcoholic wipes and an obvious syringe.

His heart skipped, and he says “I’ll try.” Before the family was ushered outside.

As they were steered out of the patient room. Tay, the younger brother, whimpered. The father and mother both hugged one another, while their young child willfully joined in the circle. In silence they wept, and prayed for the chance that Leo would not fade away.

*+*
Leo noticed he was in some sort of dream, a bit wobbly seeing that he was under anesthesia. It was like he was drunk in his dreams as he only stood still and just tried to keep himself in balance of his body.

“This wasn’t so bad…” Leo muttered to himself, struggling to keep his eyes open.

His vision tumbled about as he tried to control it, though as he gained stability he had noticed something wrong about his arm.

“Huh?” he slowly steered his vision.

His arm was entirely different than that of a human, four fingers that were a bit blue and pudgy. Ivory claws extended from his new forearm. Covered in yellow fur with black markings resembling that of lightning. The upper arm held black fuzz instead of full on fur, a bit muscled yet still thinner and obviously smaller than his forearm. His other arm was at the same status, causing Leo to freak out.

“No! I’m not ready!” resisting was impossible, yet he tried to do so despite this being a dream.

His chest had gained a tuft of fur which spread to his back as well, yellow as his arm. Coursing downward, his stomach gained more fuzz and had become thinner in the process. V marks of blue take form just below his chest tuft. The thighs exploded with yellow fur as he suddenly had pants…or at least what was like pants. The remainder became digitigrade, turning into three toed pudgy paws. Ivory claws also extend further from his new lower half. Leo yelped as he suddenly felt a new sensation, turning back to find a tail resembling that of lightning as he fell and lost his balance.

His body was so heavy, unable to pick himself up as the head remained human. Leo only whimpered as he felt the final pieces of physical humanity torn from him. His face extended to a small muzzle, black fuzz covers a part of his face as his nose turns pink. Ears sprout into a different direction, outward and slanted like a cat…wait…

“Cat…?” he managed to say, suddenly aware of what he was becoming. What electric type was a cat? None that he knew of as of now.

Yellow fur extends out from his face like a mane, while the whiskers of blue grow from his muzzle. The whiskers were also like lightning, a single pair that was rather lengthy, but the last details should be added. From his head grew a sudden single plume of fur, just as blue as the rest of parts of his body. It stays detached from the rest of his body, while his eyes shifted to an icy blue spectrum.

“I’m…” Leo didn’t understand what he was, just what is he?

But suddenly he realized something, who was he? ‘Wait…who am I?’ He tried to focus on the pieces. ‘I’m…uh…um, maybe I can-“ Knowing less and less as what he could put together fell apart. A new information surfaces to his mind, while his lingering will held onto whatever it can find.


“Zera…ora…” suddenly Zeraora collapsed in the dreamscape, and into the darkness he went…


*+*

Tay, Roy, and Laufey have waited the entire day. Despite all of them going home they refused to sleep. When it was finally time to go to the hospital, they were all hesitant on the result.

“Honey,” Roy placed his hand on the shoulder of her wife. “If things…don’t go as intended, you know we have the papers ready. He’ll be sent into adoption, where he’ll be taken care of someone else.”

“Or…we can keep him. Even if he isn’t no longer Leo, he’s our family.” Laufey offered another entire option.

“I’ll take care of him!” Tay chimed in. “You know I’m going to be a pokemon trainer when I get older, so if you want, let me keep him.”

“That too.” Both parents agreed.

Before regret could take over, Tay just opened the door and rushed right in.

The sound of snarling and panicked hissing was accompanied by the sound of restraints keeping the victim in place. When Roy and Laufey walked in, both of their hearts have sunk to their stomachs. The wild eyes and untamed voice of a feral pokemon was before them, struggling to break free. Sharp white claws, pierced through the rubber gloved as small bluish sparks arc from the razor tips.

“Oh no…” the mother was distraught, while the father kept his grief in silence.

The young brother was the rather astonished. “No way. Is that…?” Taking s closer look at the pokemon who was once his brother. “A Zeraora?”

It was rather true, the patient bed held at least two signs. One sign held the name of Leo. Beneath it was what he had become, a Zeraora.

“A what?” Laufey composed herself to ask without blowing tears out of her eyes.

“It’s one of the mythical pokemon, and is still new on discovery.” Explained Tay, who was rather good with the context of many creatures.

“Leo turned into something new…?” Roy was intrigued by this, staring at his former eldest offspring as it continued to struggle, before exhausting itself.

*+*

An hour has passed at best, Leo’s parents were discussing on what to do with their eldest son. This was one of the processes in which they can decide the fate of their transformed child. While Roy was willing to let go, Laufey refused to give up so easily.

“We have all the papers signed, so we can set Leo up for adoption.” Passing the papers to the doctors.

Laufey pressed her hand on the papers as it was being passed up. “But we haven’t come to a full agreement to do so.”

“You know we can’t afford to take a care of a pokemon, it would be like a pet-“

“That was our son Roy. Don’t just turn Leo into an animal the moment he doesn’t look like him.”

“I’m doing this for the best of all of us.” Tension escalated, but the doctor manages to cut in before it got onto more sensitive subjects.

“Well, I can tell this was…hard on all of you.”

“We haven’t gotten any sleep last night.” Muttered Tay.

“I can see…” the recent bags under their eyes was formed from stress. “Well, despite the options given to you, there are others that can be done.”

More papers piled before the parents, staring at them as Roy picked one up. “Research waver…?”

“Yes,” the doctor adjusts his tie. “Because your son has transformed into a Zeraora, which is a new species of pokemon recently discovered, you can sign a waver that allows Leo to undergo research.”

Laufey quickly interjected. “No, no one’s going to pry him open.”

“And no one will, you can ultimately control that to an extent.” Replied the doctor. “Another is to send Leo into the wild. After all, he is a pokemon now and thus can be released. Though the environment of a Zeraora is on the Alola Islands, which is far from here.”

“That’s too far.” Laufey huffed, searching through the papers.

“There is one more.” The doctor shows the last paper file from the bottom. “You can take him to the pokemon rehabilitation center with a 5 day term.”

“The what?” Both were just as confused and curious.

The doctor takes a deep breath, as if it was grave news. But in the contrast, it was hopeful. “If you believe your son can still be in the mind of the Zeraora, then you can transfer him to the rehabilitation center. The 5 day term means Leo can stay there for free, though after that it is a bit expensive to pay since there are many transformed pokemon that go through rehab. The results doesn’t always have expected success, but if you want the chance to at least try, then sign the waver.”

“I wi-“

“Honey,” Roy’s hand stops Laufey from reaching the pen. “Just…let us all think about it. Okay?”

After a long silent thought, a driven out sigh comes from the wife, and they set out of the office to discuss. Tay followed in suite, mainly keeping to himself.


*+*

Zeraora didn’t know where he was. What he did remember was that for some reason he was bound to some kind of comfy floor, in a cold room with many sounds that he didn’t seem to understand. He heard something new, it felt so familiar. Voices…Zeraora was hearing voices. Out of no reason desparation had suddenly taken claim of his emotions, wanting to escape these binds as quickly as he could. Something…something! Those voices! They feel familiar to him, and he didn’t know why. Desparation turned into rage as he fought against the bondage holding him down, blinding his vision of recognition as he fought in front of people he didn’t seem familiar with. Zeraora unleashed his claws as electricity sparked from his paws, though it was meager and weak. He didn’t get it, why was he here?!

Zeraora struggled and struggled until he ran kaput on energy, panting and wheezing as he stopped fighting for now. The strange people went out of the room, his sudden feeling vanished and instantly some kind of guilt plagued his heart. Zeraora didn’t understand, he didn’t know those things, and yet…yet he still felt like there was something about them. He didn’t get it, but his current position gave him a bit of time to sort out his feelings.

…

…

An hour passed, Zeraora felt much better now. Things slowly clicked into place, all he had was feelings right now but they seemed very familiar. Calm and collected Zeraora still didn’t remember anything from when he was still Leo. But feeling sparked his mind…feelings of disconnection. He knew what he was, but there was something screaming at him at the back of his mind saying that this wasn’t right. Slowly he began listening to that little voice, and the more he put attention to it, the more that feeling grew. Everything was off for the Zeraora. What should have been instinctual now created a sense of foreign ailing to the pokemon, like…these things weren’t his. His body didn’t feel as familiar as he thought it would.

Suddenly people in white coats had entered the room. Zeraora’s conflicting mind kept his instincts from springing into action, much less than what the doctors seemed prepared for. Curiosity takes form as he stares at some kind of needle and fluid, clear as water. His forearm was cleaned, the pokemon tilted his head before yowling as pain pierced the forearm. Everyone pounced on the zeraora to keep him pinned down, his instincts finally kicked in but was still too late as everything turned hazy. Zeraora felt sleepy, and connected that the clear fluid in that object had made him sleepy. This temporary thrashing quickly ceased before sinking into darkness.

*+*

His eyes shot wide open as he suddenly remembered what happened. Zeraora stood right up and scanned his surroundings as his heart drummed in his ears. Where was he? His mind took in what appears to be a lush green field, and a sky of blue with clouds that were unmoving. Strange things surrounded the zeraora, a blue thing, shaped like…whatever the shape is, and smaller objects right on top of the big one. Zeraora lurched close to this object, finding that it was a couch with pillows…what’s a couch? And what is a pillow? Zeraora shook his head, he didn’t know how, but he knows what these things are. Further inspection of his surroundings lead to a conclusion that the zeraora was still trapped. Some kind of place that was made to look like the outside world. But on the contrary he had more room, and was at least free to move about.

There was also a door…door? Well…it was disguised as the rest of the environment, probably so that he wouldn’t notice so easily. The door suddenly clicked, Zeraora’s hairs stood on end as he hopped back in expecting of a threat. The door slowly opened, suddenly he saw those familiar people again. Zeraora stood still, his body still tense but his mind raced with thought on the feeling of familiarity. His body conflicting with his mind as they disagreed on a topic of trust between a people that doesn’t seem familiar to either.

*+*

Laufey, Roy, and Tay had stepped into the room Leo was being kept in. Yesterday they had made the decision to put Leo in the rehabilitation center, where he should be taken care of as they try to recover his mind. A nurse was guiding them on how to do a safe process on rehab.

“Thank you so much for taking this option.” The nurse expresses gratitude in opinion. “Surprisingly not many actually take this option once their loved ones become pokemon.”

“Why is that?” Tay asked.

The nurse directed her attention to the younger brother. “Well, just through my speculation, people don’t like others holding them back. Or sometimes that forgetting them is the best option for all of them.”

Tay frowned, “That seems cruel.”

“It does at first glance.” The nurse sighed but continued her duty on informing. “But back to the topic. Try not to force Leo in remembering everything all at once, it stresses the pokemon out and often it may lead to harmful activity. Most importantly, try to just use key events or their own preferences. It should help recover Leo’s mind.” But the nurse had to add this final detail, as her job demands it. “However, even if you do all these things there is a chance that it won’t work. Meaning…he doesn’t have the mental strength to break through the memory suppression.”

Tay nodded, formulating a plan. “Alright. Mom? Dad? Can I be the first?”

“Just be careful, okay?” Roy nodded.

While the nurse took exit, Tay stared at Leo who was currently being cautious and defensive. His claws were now unsheathed like small ivory daggers, but Tay wasn’t as afraid as he seemed. To prevent sudden movements, Tay slowly brings himself to the floor and keeps eye contact to a minimum. The only thing he could see was Leo’s paws, which did not move a muscle as Leo continued to stare at Tay and his actions. But the younger brother was not stupid, he was committing to show an act of submission. Sometimes the best chances of survival is to make yourself as small as possible to the larger threat.

Leo slowly crept to Tay, leaning forward as the younger brother hears the sound of sniffing and other feral noises. Everyone fell silent, holding their breath in tension of what the zeraora might do next. Agonizing seconds pass before a purr was vibrating from his throat. Laufey and Roy let out a sigh of relief as they saw the pokemon now rubbing himself on Tay, who was now relaxed and sitting crisscross as he simply allowed the pokemon to do what it needs to do.

“Well, that’s a start.” Said Roy.

“It’s good though, you want to join in too?” offered Tay.

Both of them nod. Tay extended his hand in which Roy took it first, slowly showing the hand of his father to their transformed son. Leo backed away for a second, but soon leaned forward to let himself take in the scent of his dad. The same result happened as Leo purred and rubbed himself on his dad, apparently happy.

*+*

Zeraora looked at the people as they seemed to talk about something, keeping his attention focused on his survival as his body tensed in case of sudden action against him. The youngest of the three had placed himself in a position, appearing smaller than himself. Zeraora didn’t get it, but he felt pleased in knowing that he wasn’t in danger. Cautiously, the zeraora approached the young human and took a whiff of his scent. It felt familiar to him, he didn’t know why but it just did. Something about this small human made him feel…well, he didn’t know. But out of instinct he rubbed his scent on the small one, wanting to let other pokemon know that this was his property. The tallest male human now came along, it was surprising to Zeraora because it was such a quick intrusion. But the small human seemed to trust the tallest one, so Zeraora gave it a chance to be familiar with. Another whiff of the scent gave him the feeling that he was protected. Zeraora didn’t get why, as he himself felt like he was capable of protecting himself. But something about this tall human made him feel safe for some reason. Once again, he rubbed his scent on the tall one.

The female was the last to be included, the tall human extended his hand to the other as she sat down in front of him. Zeraora once again sniffed her scent, except this time he couldn’t process this new feeling as the female seemed to stretch her hands out to him. Zeraora immediately went still and defensive, hissing as his paws curled in preparation to scratch. The tall and small males yelped something, the hairs on the back of his neck straighten and puff out as his pupils thin out in the feeling of being threatened. But something sparked in the back of his mind, Zeraora was suddenly broken from his threatening posture. The female had managed to wrap her arms around him. The zeraora hesitated, a voice in the back corner of his subconscious begged and howled. All of a sudden he was thrashed with a feeling of pain. Not physical, but it was something that made him feel hurt, made him feel horrible. What did this feeling mean? Why does it hurt so much?

And why did it happen when the female wrapped her arms around him?

Zeraora’s vision went blurry, wetness drips from his eyes. He hears the sound of the two other human rather confused. There was no time to consider what they were saying, the Zeraora heard something in his mind again. “Hug” is what this was called. Did hugs always hurt like this? The voice didn’t say anything this time, but he got the feeling that it wasn’t always this “painful”. Zeraora felt this painful emotion bubbling inside of him, and he needed to channel it somewhere. Without thinking, nor consideration, he “hugged” the female. Retracting his claws, Zeraora wrapped his arms around the human, just like how she did. The pain excels as he hugged tightly, his vision blurred as he felt something wet on his face. Despite the pain being amplified, it felt good.

In short time, the human had long let go of the zeraora, but he himself refused to do so. Zeraora, for some unknown reason, wanted to hang on to this feeling. It hurt, but it felt good. Eventually the two males earlier had to pry his arms away from the female. Zeraora didn’t object, he had the feeling they would come back soon. Zeraora watched as they left, apparently saying something.

‘Goodbye.’ Mimicked the pokemon silently.

*+*

During the night the zeraora had some strange dreams. He dreamt of being someone different, having a pack for a family. This pack consisted of the same people that he saw earlier, and they were all talking about something. They gave him some kind of object, and he seemed happy about it. Though, sadness plagued him, like…despair. Zeraora was curious on what this was all about, but he was waking up before he could even figure it out. The only thing that Zeraora got from the dream was that this was just simply more than a dream. It felt…real.

The next day came around, Zeraora was apparently given some kind of food. The people from yesterday were not here as of now, but that didn’t bother him. A familiar smell reeked in the air, his mouth watered as he tracked the scent. Right in front of the disguised door was an odd shape, but it smelled good. A yellowish white slice of something, brown on the bottom. Without thinking he grabbed the plate and dropped the food into his gullet. Eating it whole with a delighted warmth surging his cheeks, the zeraora liked this food very much!

‘Cake…’ the voice in his mind said.

He…HE NEEDS MORE! Zeraora crawled through the room like he was searching for the food, and as if on cue the people had arrived. With more cake too! Zeraora quickly leapt to the people and demanded for the cake through loud meowing. Though he was too distracted in desiring cake to realize he was now able to process the words the people were saying.

"Wow, Leo really remembered loving cheesecake." Said the younger male.

Who is Leo? Is that another person?

"It's definitely working, I just hope it won't take too long." The older one expresses worry over something.

But Zeraora continued to meow loudly for cheesecake. He was too focused on it to really care about what they're saying. But still, that voice in the back of his head hollered something, an ache takes shape in the Zeraora as he meows more softly this time.

"Alright alright. Have another slice." Opening the container, the tall male sliced another piece of cheesecake and handed it to the zeraora.

Quickly taking the cheesecake, he inhales it before demanding for more. But another headache surges through his skull, visibly flinching by the sudden throbbing pain. The other people seemed to notice as well, all of their eyes on him.

"Is he okay?" Tilted the head of the young one.

"Leo?" The female leaned closer.

That name...Leo...for some reason it felt familiar. Just a few seconds ago it was as if he never knew who this "Leo" was. But now there was a feeling that Zeraora can't describe, as if hearing that name gave him a sense of deja vu. His head instantly felt like it was hit with something heavy, clutching his head as so many things flood his mind. Recent memories, and far off ones that were so precious to him. Zeraora didn't get what these memories were...

...

But Leo did. Using his own memories, Leo manages to break through the memory suppression, taming his new feral self. Though it was not an easy win, as there was a massive flood of memories that came back to him all at once. While he knew what these memories belonged to, Leo could barely comprehend it all as it overwhelmed him. As such, Leo began to cry. There was just so much, so many emotions and remembrances that he couldn't hold it in and just started dripping tears. Leo couldn't tell if those tears were of joy or despair, either way, he called out.

"M...M-Ma..."

Laufey gasped. "Leo! You're...!"

Without warning Leo had jumped into her arms and hugged her tight. At first she was surprised at how sudden it could be, to recover so quickly than expected. But right after she was overjoyed, as she saw it as a miracle. Leo was strong indeed. With tears down her face, Laufey hugged her child once more. Soon the family huddled together to rejoice the reclaim of their zeraora, their lost child Leo.

*+*

At least two weeks have passed since his miracle recovery. Leo managed to baffle the doctors on how sudden he came around to regaining his identity. After being signed out of the hospital, Leo had to wear rubber fingerless gloved and socks as to ensure that he doesn't accidentally absorb electricity. Other than that, life was rather normal. But due to being a pokemon, Leo liked to experiment with his form to see what he can accomplish.

Though he shouldn't have done that while he was in the house. The power went out again.

"Oops." It should come back on, eventually.