SUNSHINE DAYS

Disclaimer: As always, nothing beyond my OC-Characters and this idea belong to me and no I don't get any money for it either.

AN: I know, I know, I should be updating Like Fireworks instead of starting a new story. But Remy and the Gundam Boys went on a strike and are still going strong. But no worries, I haven't given up on Like Fireworks and the story will be continued. Sooner or later at least. Just to clarify for those interested, no this is NOT a Self-Insert. It's a OC-Insert, part of the OC is based on my personality but the rest is put together from bits and pieces.

For now I hope you will enjoy my newest story. As always, please don't be shy to point out mistakes or share your thoughts. Hope you enjoy. Love Loraliell

Summary: Butterfly Effect - the idea, used in chaos theory, that a very small difference in the initial state of a physical system can make a significant difference to the state at some later time.

And have they ever been right. Now I'm stuck in the Pokémon World, with no way back home and the questionable honor to bring things back on track. But really?

Was it too much to ask to give me at least a grown-ups body? What's worse? Being stranded in the body of a 5-year-old with no obvious way to return home or having to grow up all-over again. I really can't decide. OC-Insert

Rating: T (for now at least)

Warnings: Gender-bending, mild cussing

Chapter Three

I would lie if I said that after that little episode with Ferris everything suddenly went better. It was a never-ending struggle, trying to come to terms with being trapped not only in a different body with a different gender, but also being in a complete other world and a much more dangerous one then my own. I'm sure there are more than a few people in my old world who would love nothing more than to have the Chance to explore the Pokémon world. But me?

I have a much more pessimistic outlook on life and the thought of what kind of damage someone could do with a Pokémon and the right Motivation was enough to give me nightmares. And considering that there were organizations like Team Rocket out there, who specialized in stealing Pokémon and violence - I pretty sure that no trainer worth their salt would ever give up their Pokémon, their partner without one hell of a fight. I think it was an understatement to say that I was absolutely terrified and it showed.

I've never been one to panic much in my former world, I was too laid back for that, but here in this strange world I was lucky if I could visit the toilet without panicking at the fact that I was trapped in the body of a boy. It was awkward and strange and so disconnecting to be in a body that was just too tiny and fragile and just wrong that I even blacked out the first time I had to shower and I can't really say what's more humiliating. Being found unconscious in the bathtub by my 'father' or the following sponge-bathes I got to avoid any future incidents.

Ferris being there to sooth me when I was on the edge of another panic-attack was a real blessing. After the first time it happened in his presence, he had given me a sharp assessing look before he launched himself into another story of one of his adventures. He didn't ask questions, or tried to touch me all the time. But he gave me something to concentrate on and for that he had my eternal gratitude and adoration.

I had learned very quickly that Ferris was frighteningly adept at reading body language and facial expressions. The slightest twitch could give him a clue to what was going on. It was part of what made him such a terrific Trainer. He was a steady presence, always offering strength and protection and the knowledge that I could get a hug from him anytime I needed it. He was patient with me and didn't pressure me. He stayed calm even during the worst of my temper tantrums. He offered me his help unconditional and I knew he wouldn't be offended if I refused it. But the thing that earned him my adoration most of all was, that he didn't treat me like a little kid like everyone else did. He treated me as an equal, sure he made sure to not use big words when talking to me, but he didn't talk down to me or as if I couldn't understand what was happening around me. It was a slow going process, but slowly and steadily he started to chip away the walls I had built around myself. It helped that he wasn't like anyone I've ever met before.

Ferris was a good man and an even better father. He cared deeply for his family and Pokémon and I couldn't help but feel guilty for bereaving him from the chance to raise his son. I would never be able to call him Papa like I used to with my father, but Ferris had more than earned himself the title Father or rather Dad. I have never been overly fond of formalities and to be frankly, Ferris deserved better.

I also met Blaze, Ferris Flaeron. He was unbelievable cute and his favorite spot was being curled up right next to me on my bed, where I could easily reach his ears to pet. His furry little presence went a long way to keep me calm and content enough to stop my temper from getting the better of me.

But as well as things went with Ferris, Rain on the other hand was a whole different story. I still could barely stand being in her vicinity, let alone being touched by her. I was able to bear it while Ferris was there, but sadly enough he had to return to Fuchsia City a week later.

But before he left he took me aside and asked me quietly to give Rain at least a chance and to not make her cry and to this day I don't understand why I carved his approval so much. Maybe it was because he never, not once, ordered me to do something or got impatient with me when I threw another tantrum. He requested things, sure, but I always had the choice to decline.

So I tried.

It was hard, but at least Rain had gotten a hint – or Ferris told her to, but she stopped trying to touch me all the time, instead she sat herself in the visitor's chair and filled the room with idle chatter and stories from her own and sometimes even mine or rather Sunshine's childhoods.

It was entertaining and though I tried to keep my distance, I couldn't help the tiny sprout of fondness I developed for her. Just a smidge mind you, but it was there nonetheless. It was still an up-hill battle and sometimes I had to physically restrain myself from snarling at Rain when she thoughtlessly combed a hand through my hair.

Since I woke up that first time, I had developed a kind of routine.

It would begin in the mornings when I woke up. I would stare out of the window until it was time for breakfast and a short visit from Doc Jeane.

After washing myself and stubbornly refusing to look into the mirror – mostly to avoid another panic-attack – I continued with staring at the walls. Trying to name all the Pokémon decorating it.

Rain arrived everyday between nine and ten and stayed with me until it was time for lunch after which I continued staring out of the window until it was time for another round of Twenty Questions and various tests.

After wards I was allowed to visit the small hospital garden for a few hours, mostly with Rain and once I returned to my room it was already time for dinner and after brushing my teeth bedtime.

To put it bluntly, I was bored out of my mind and contemplating throwing myself out of the window just to end my misery. Not that I would, mind you, I was much too terrified of returning into the darkness to even seriously considering it.

Two weeks after I woke up in this strange world I was finally released from hospital. In my excitement of finally being freed from my boredom I even hugged Rain. The nearly blinding smile of happiness on her face made me nearly wince in guilt. I was trying, I really was, to be more considering of her feelings but it was incredible hard, especially when she did something that reminded me so much of Mum that I couldn't help myself but lash out.

I hastily shoved my musings into the back of my mind. I was finally free from hospital. This was a reason to be happy and not grumpy.

Viridian City was very much like in the games and nothing at all like it. Rather confusing I know. Well for one, when they say that Viridian City is surrounded by green they mean it literally. Wherever you looked there was something green, even some of the houses were painted in different shades of green. The difference between the games and reality was mainly that Viridian City was a bit bigger than showcased in the games and more people lived here.

It was nothing like the cities I was used to, but not as tiny as in the games. But still, after two weeks of confinement in hospital it was like a breath of fresh air and I was exhilarated and a bit hyper, much to Rains amusement and relief.

I for one didn't give a damn at all for once, that I used to be grown-up and above such childishness and promptly ran circles around Rain while laughing madly at finally being freed of the evil known as bed-rest.

"Sunshine, come along dear, it's time for lunch." Rain's voice was a mixture of amused fondness with a smudge of nostalgic. I stopped in my tracks, a small blush warming my cheeks and promptly ran after her. Trying to ignore the fond and slightly exasperate looks the people around us gave me.

I learned fairly quickly that Rain was, to put it lightly, a shitty cook. She could make a mean stew and her desserts weren't all that bad, but the rest of her culinary skills were more often than not hazardous to ones health.

After the third time in a row, were I had to pretend to be still full from lunch I decided enough was enough and went looking for a cook-book, only to discover that while the spoken-language was the same as in my old world the alphabet was most certainly not. It helped with my cover as a five-year old but for someone who loved reading it was literally hell.

After nearly two hours of trying to make heads or tails out of the gibberish on the pages, I finally admitted defeat and swallowed my pride. I went to Rain and asked her in the cutest tone of voice I could manage to teach me how to read. Rain had blinked at me for a few seconds, clearly baffled before a broad grin appeared on her face and she swooped me into a hug.

I bit my tongue to stop myself from saying something I would regret later and held still. I really wanted to learn how to read again and didn't want to spoil this chance by acting like a brat, so I endured the hug, even patted her back lightly. Besides, I promised Ferris I would try.

To my surprise, Rain was a rather good teacher, very patient and calm. It took me nearly a month before I was finally proficient enough to read books on my own again, but after that you needed a pry-bar to get me away from my precious literature.

Funnily enough Rain and I bonded more or less over her wide-spread collection of books, there were also many books about Pokémon. From Care and Raising of Baby-Pokémon, over Training Methods and Health Care to Different Types and Evolution Theory. For someone who had never read anything like that, it was absolutely fascinating and more often than not you could find me in our garden with my nose in one or the other book about Pokémon.

Rain endured it with fond exasperation and a quick murmur of. "Just like his father. Birds of a feather, both of them."

It's not to say that everything was suddenly all sunshine and roses. I still had temper tantrums that could shame any two-year old and sometimes I changed moods fast enough to give myself a whiplash.

Part of it I theorized was because my mind went from inhabiting a fully grown and emotionally mature body to that of a child and with a child's body also came the maturity of one. I reacted differently than I used to. More often than not I tried to not think too closely about all the changes. They were enough to make me dizzy and drive me to the point of a panic-attack.

The one I had after the first time I finally swallowed my apprehension and looked into a mirror nearly put me back into hospital by a panicked Rain. I still avoided reflecting surfaces like the plague. Seeing my reflection. Seeing amber eyes instead of blue and short shaggy black locks instead of long straight blond and the soft round features of a little child. It drove home the point that I was, literally, trapped in another Universe like nothing else ever could.

So I avoided looking, more so I tried to avoid even thinking about how much out-of-place I was here. It may not have been the most healthiest method of coping but it was the one that kept me sane. I reserved remembering my former live, my family and friends for nights when I couldn't sleep and needed at least the little comfort remembering better times gave me among the tears and pain.

Over the next few weeks I started to develop a – if a bit fragile – balance. I helped Rain with cooking as much as possible. She was positively thrilled at the idea that I wanted to spend more time with her. I however only wanted to survive long enough to see the next sunrise.

And if that meant that I had to spent more time with Rain to make sure that she wouldn't poison me with her attempts at making food, so be it. It was a daily fight for survival and I prayed just as often for Rain to develop some cooking skills or for me to acquire a stomach lining of steel, whichever came first.

And then came the day were I turned six – again, I might add and no I'm not bitter about the fact, why ever would I?

At first I didn't know that this particular day would be any different from any other. I got used to the fact that on some days Rain was more cheerful and chipper for no clear reason. Over the last two months I had gotten used – more or less at least – to Rain's near constant need to pet and hug me. It got easier to accept after I found out that Sunshine, or Sunny as I was trying to convince Rain to call me, had been attacked for no clear reason, by a panicked and completely terrified wild Pokémon at the Playground.

Sunny had nearly died a few times over the following days and stayed in a coma for the next month until at last I woke up in his body. It softened my ire against her considerably and quite a bit of the rage and hate I had built against her cooled down to disgruntled annoyance. I could understand her constant mothering and to my chagrin I even started calling her Ma, just to make that sadness and guilt leave her eyes, at least for a bit.

So when Rain greeted me with a soft smile, a hair-ruffle and an equally soft kiss to the forehead, the only negative reaction I gave was a slight scrunching up of my nose and a soft disgruntled sigh, which she found apparently absolutely adorable. After Breakfast – which thankfully consisted of toast with a weird berry-jam and fresh, equally weird but very tasty, cut-up fruits (not even Rain could fuck up those) – I left the house to sit under my favorite tree to read another book.

When a shadow fell over me and blocked out the sun I looked up startled. I had been so absorbed that I hadn't heard anyone coming closer. I was greeted by amber eyes that crinkled slightly at the corners and a warm smile that tugged an answering smile from my own lips. Ferris crouched down in front of me. Opening his arms as an invitation.

It might not be obvious, but as a matter of fact I'm a very tactile person. I may hate being touched by strangers, but back in my old world I would, without a fail seek out a family member nearly every day for a hug or even just a touch. Here I had deprived myself from that comfort, partly out of distaste for touching a stranger, partly because I was just too angry to really care.

Now that a big part of that anger was gone, I started missing this little comfort – I might get along better with Rain, but that didn't mean that I liked her enough to seek contact with her. So I wasn't really surprised with myself when stretched out my own arms to receive a hug from Ferris. The warm grin that lightened the stern planes of his face was just an added bonus.

Really it was a shame that he was my father and I was stuck in the body of a child. Ferris was a very attractive man after all. Not that my child-body was able to really comprehend such thoughts anyways. So I did the next best thing and relaxed into his warm hold as he lifted me of the ground. "How have you been little one?" Ferris deep baritone ripped me out of my thoughts. I scrunched up my nose in distaste. "I'm not little." I murmured sulkily. Of course I was little, downright tiny, but that didn't mean that Ferris had to point it out now, did it?

"Of course." He agreed with an amused glint in his eyes and an absolutely straight face. I eyed his expression carefully, marveling at the fact that he could keep his face free from his obvious amusement, before I huffed exasperate and gave in. "Ma taught me to read." I decided to just change the subject, I knew better than to start an argument with someone like Ferris.

Ferris lips twitched again. He had caught my less than subtle try at changing the subject. Of course he had. I nearly rolled my eyes. "Really now? I'm proud of you Sunshine, especially for giving Rain a chance. I couldn't have asked for a better son."

And really? What else could I do but beam up at Ferris? It was very easy to adore this insightful man. "So my little Birthday-boy. Have you planned something for us to do today? Rain told me that she invited some of your friends for this afternoon." I blinked in surprise at that. Birthday? And which friends was he talking about? I haven't even met any kids my age yet, let alone made friends with them.

Ferris light expression turned serious as he saw my obvious confusion and he sighed warily. "She forgot to tell you didn't she?" I blinked up at him and Ferris rolled his eyes before eying me with a slight frown. "Will you be alright?"

I frowned. It couldn't be so bad, after all I was used to my little cousins running riot around me. A few brats couldn't be any worse than them. Still I hesitated slightly before nodding with a little shrug. "Should be." The red-head pursed his lips slightly before nodding. "Tell you what, you manage to get through this day and I will take another few days off and we will spend some quality time together, just we two. Would you like that?"

Enduring a few hours of screaming brats for the chance of getting some more alone-time with my favorite person in this world? Bring it bitches. I sent another beaming smile up at him and nearly chirped an affirmative. Maybe I could even get him to teach me or at least enroll me somewhere for some self-defense.

Five hours later I wanted nothing more than to bang my head repeatedly against some hard surface in frustration. I couldn't remember ever being so difficult at that age and that rather arrogant assumption that this bunch of brats couldn't be any worse than my cousins was also just that, an assumption. These hellions were vicious little brats, that were just waiting for the slightest show of weakness to rip someone to shreds.

They were loud, caked in dirt and sticky things and they insisted on touching me, constantly. I had to repress a shudder at the thought. And just now we were stuck in a seemingly never-ending game of hide and seek. I wanted nothing more than take my book and hide in a tree until the brat-brigade was gone. But I promised Ferris to endure this, so endure I would. But I swore to every deity that would listen, that once this day was over I would do the best to avoid them wherever I could.

Ferris caught my gaze and his eyes lit up with silent laughter at my disgruntled face, a grin stretching his mouth. I sniffed and turned around, only to come face to face with a grinning little girl, clad in a frilly pink and white dress and her hands cover in what looked like the residues of a piece of cake, she reached out to touch my face and that was literally the last straw.

I turned around as fast as possible and raced towards the adults and most importantly safety from the Germ-factories that called themselves little children. I hid behind the nearest pair of legs, which incidentally belonged to Ferris. He looked down at me with a raised eyebrow, but I had forgone my pride a while back when the brats first insisted on playing Mother-Father-House. I stretched out my arms pleadingly, all the while looking around for more of those little monsters.

Ferris huffed in amusement, but complied with my silent pleading readily enough. Once safe up in his arms were none of the little sharks could reach me I finally relaxed. I could feel Ferris shoulders shaking slightly beneath my grip. "Too much?" He didn't even try to hide his amusement now. "Little girls are evil." I murmured sourly in reply, reaping a startled bark of laughter. "Really now?" I just nodded, too tired to really care about being mocked.

"They are troublesome." I laid my head on his shoulder, letting my eyes go half-lidded while I listened to his heartbeat. Rain was standing next to another woman, a smile on her face while she watched me and Ferris interact. Ferris ran his hand up and down my back. "That they are. Rest a bit Sunshine, you did good today."

I yawned slightly and nodded. "'Kay and it's Sunny." Ferris gave me slightly startled look before smiling gently down at me. "Of course Sunny."