“Gary.” Gary didn’t know how long it had been. He’s lost track of time, but it was darker now. This time Brock had come to see him. He shifted uncomfortably. He didn’t really know Brock too well, only that he drooled over any unfortunate girl who happened to be within his sight.
“Gary, I haven’t come to tell you to go back. I’ve come to ask you why. Ash is upset and by the looks of it you are too.”
“I just can’t.”
“Arcanine is in turmoil, Gary. He doesn’t know what to do, what he is. He doesn’t know who to go to. He’s terrified.” It had never occurred to him Arcanine wouldn’t know what to do.
“I...I can’t tell you.” Brock bent down and sighed.
“Are you worried about that thing people say, about how you can tell how well you’ve trained them when they shift?” Gary’s voice was barely audible.
“Y-yes.” Brock sat down properly.
“How is it you can tell again?” “By...how pretty they are...” Brock smiled warmly at Gary. It wasn’t a goofy smile, or a pitiful smile, it was one that said ‘I know how you feel.’
“He’s beautiful.” That came as a slight shock to Gary. He hadn’t expected Arcanine to turn out ok, and he certainly hadn’t expected someone like Brock to use those kinds of words.
“R-really?” “Really. He’s one of the best shifts I’ve ever seen.” Gary couldn’t quite believe it.
“So, I’m not a bad trainer?” He said in disbelief.
“Of course not!” Brock smiled again. “You want to go back then?” Gary paused and then nodded. Suddenly, he glanced over to his side and for a fleeting moment, he thought he saw himself as a child, but he blinked and it was gone. Unnerved, he grabbed Brock’s hand, and allowed himself to be led back to the camp.
Ash and Misty were resting in a small open space surrounded by loads of grass, though they weren’t far enough away to not be able to see Viridian. Ash’s expression was one of mixed worry and sadness. Gary let go of Brock and went over to him.
“I’m sorry I shouted at you.” He looked at his feet. “I forgot what it’s like, none of my pokemon have shifted for a while.”
“That’s alright. Brock talked some sense into me.” Ash grinned.
“He’s good like that, isn’t he?” Gary turned back and smiled at Brock in a way of saying thanks, and Brock nodded.
“So.”
“Mm.”
“He’s over there.” Ash pointed to one of the larger trees. “ He was kinda, erm, naked, so we gave him some of my trousers.”
“...I’m ready.” Gary took a deep breath and walked cautiously towards the tree. Ash went to follow him, but Misty grabbed his arm, holding him back.
“Let them have some time alone.”

Gary stopped about a metre from where Arcanine was sitting. His nerve hadn’t left him, and his knees were beginning to feel a bit weak. He took another few deep breaths and shut his eyes.
“Arcanine.” He said. It wasn’t a request. He heard a scrambling noise, then silence. Gary didn’t want to open his eyes, but he knew he had to. And he was glad he did. The boy standing before him was older than Gary (in pokemon years, anyway), and Brock had been right. He was breathtakingly beautiful. Gary gasped, his hand to his mouth, holding back tears. Arcanine’s human shaped body was covered in a fine orange fur, so thin you could barely see it. His golden hair was whipping about his face in the wind and between his slightly pointed ears. His eyes were a deep, pearly mahogany and his striped tail hung just above the ground. His hands and feet had thicker fur, so that it looked like gloves hiding his ivory claws.
Gary couldn’t help it. He made a choking noise, burst into tears, and grabbed Arcanine into a fierce hug. Arcanine held him too, so that there wasn’t an inch between them. His claws dug into Gary’s back, but Gary didn’t care.
“My Windy...” He whispered.