Simone turned round, the candlestick she was struggling to fit in the holder slipping from her grasp. It rolled off the table, breaking in two on the floor. "Ah! I'm sorry! I'll clean that up right away!" she squealed, scooping up the pieces held together only by the wick. This wasn't an easy job with her stubby fingers. "And-And yes. I'll go help out."

She bowed, then scurried off to throw the broken candle away and fetch what she needed. As she rushed down the hallway with a hairdryer and one of her dresses from when she'd been human, a loud shout from the guest room made her wince. "I'm on my way!" she called, her ears pressed flat against the sides of her head. Sensitive hearing had its downsides.

Bundling up the items in one arm, she opened the door to see a Lopunny in the bathtub, wringing murky water from the fluff on her wrists. Even from several paces away, she could hear the frantic thrum of the girl's heartbeat. The new arrival had clearly been through a lot besides her transformation, which must have been traumatic enough.

"Umm... Greetings!" Simone bowed again. "I hope the dress is ok. It's nothing fancy, and it might be a bit loose, but I can try to take it in, if you want." She hoped it was at least close to what the guest wanted, but had a feeling it wouldn't be.

---

As soon as Gabrielle climbed into the tub, it felt as if weights had been attached to her wrists and ears as her fur became waterlogged. She leaned back to ease the strain on her neck and arms, only to yelp as she lay on her tail. Twisting round only resulted in her hip crushing her ear, right where she'd stepped on it earlier. She swore and sat back up, resigning herself to the least uncomfortable position. Why did this body have to be so inconvenient?

This body... Now that all distractions were gone, the situation hit full force. Her fame, her lifestyle, even her humanity had been taken from her, all because of some ghost's cruel prank.

She couldn't just sit here and dwell on it. She reached for the shampoo, only for her wrist fluff to brush against a bottle of shower gel, knocking it over. As its contents spilled all over the floor, she groaned. This was the last straw. "Did anyone get sent up or am I going to have to wait around all evening?!" she called, rubbing shampoo into her fur. She heard the squeal of a reply, accompanied by hurried footsteps.

"About time," she snapped as an Audino burst in, clutching a hairdryer and... a plain pink dress that looked like it could have been found in a thrift store? Was she really supposed to wear that? She scowled at the Audino's babbling. "How very... minimalistic. Surely once you know who I am, you'll find something more suitable? After you've cleaned up that mess, that is." She pointed to the puddle on the floor.

"S-Sorry! I'll get started right now!" The flustered wreck of an Audino bobbed her head, leaving the items on the bed and fetching cleaning supplies. At least, Gabrielle thought, maybe she'd still get recognition from people here once they knew.

---

Mira couldn't sleep. She shifted this way and that, adjusting the pillows, but it was no use. The feeler on the back of her head throbbed as if metal wires were wrapping round and digging into it. Lying down put pressure on it, and she couldn't exactly turn her head because of the discs on either side getting in the way.

At the sound of shouts from the guest room, she grumbled and sat up. Florentine would worry, but she might as well intervene. The new arrival, traumatised or not, had no right to treat staff members this way.

The maid climbed out of bed, taking care not to stand up too quickly, massaging her pulsing ribbon, then her forehead. The four bow-like fixtures on her front twinged as she walked, though not as badly as her primary one. Nearing the guest room, she frowned at the voices issuing from it. Demands from the Lopunny, and panicked apologies from Simone.

With a firm knock at the door, Mira spoke. "Ahem. May I remind you that you are a guest here, and I ask that you treat us with respect. Simone's doing everything she can to help you, so the least you could do is thank her."

Despite her tiredness, she tried to keep her tone sharp and alert. There were things the girl needed to understand.

Florentine was taking a nap. Something in the back of the head forced him awake. When he wakes up, he sees that Mira leaving the room. Florentine moans as he stands up to follow her. He sees that she stops at the guestroom, most likely the one with the Lopunny from what Florentine can gather.

He speaks to Mira in a whisper. ”Is this really needed? I know that she is not the most grateful guest but is it worth it to do it now?” Florentine is concerned about Mira’s health and that takes priority over telling off the guest at the moment.



Porscine is cooking away at the stoves. He goes to the door that leads out to the garden. ”Alyssa,can you bring in the various tomatoes and mushrooms please. I need them for dinner.” He goes and finishes off the baked cheesecake topped with strawberry and has a ginger biscuit base. He marvels at his own creation before putting it in the fridge to set properly.

At the sound of the maid's voice, Gabrielle cringed. She hadn't trusted her or Florentine right away, but she couldn't help feeling bad about how they'd gotten into trouble going to get her. She let out a long sigh. "It's just there's surely a better dress around here," she grumbled.

Once the mess was cleaned up, Gabrielle climbed out of the bath, ears trailing on the floor from the weight of the soaked fluff. She rubbed the back of her aching neck, the heavy wrist fuzz making it a more difficult task than it should have been. How would she ever get used to this?

"All this is going to take forever to dry," she moaned as she strode back into the bedroom, watching Simone hastily plug in the hairdryer and start it up.

---

Mira turned around, trying not to squint and blink too much against the hall lights. "There's nothing to worry about," she replied. "I'm alright." Even as she tried to reassure Florentine, she knew neither her words nor her body language would bring comfort. It wasn't easy to hide things from a psychic, particularly a Gallade, and even before the transformation, he'd been good at reading her. His protectiveness meant it was in his nature to worry about others.

"Well... I will be," she continued as she moved away from the door, looking over in a gesture for him to follow. She wanted to make sure both Normal types would be ok, but intervening further would cause Florentine more stress, and she didn't want to be overly harsh with the Lopunny after her experience. At least the guest had stopped yelling - for now.

"Both of you in there," the head housekeeper called towards the door, "if there's a problem at all, please report it to me." Simone wasn't the type to report rudeness, but she shouldn't have to suffer in silence, and if the Lopunny was unhappy with something, Mira would rather get vented at than let it happen to someone else.

---

Alyssa was singing to herself as she watered a bed of roses, the sweet-smelling blooms being by far her favourites in the garden. They reminded her of a certain someone...

She turned her head as the door opened. "Hey there!" she greeted the Emboar. "No problem! So, I'd better pick a few extra, right? I hear we've got a guest." Her tone lost some of its brightness. "Someone in the same boat as us... That must have been especially tough, if they thought they were alone." She perked back up, a smile lighting her face, as she continued. "But a good meal and some company has to be just what they need!"

As Porscine left, Alyssa grabbed a basket and skipped towards the vegetable patch - well, tried to skip. She'd only just gotten the hang of walking on her tiny leaf feet without falling over. Plucking tomatoes from vines and mushrooms from a stack of logs, she thought over the best ways to cheer up the new arrival and make them feel at home.

Florentine sighs heavily as Mira continues to push herself. ”Since sleeping is not going to work, why don't we relax in the foyer.” Florentine takes Mira to the foyer and seats her in a two seater couch. He sits next to her. ”Rest on me. Please don't push yourself.” Florentine waits for the dinner bell with Mira.



Jean stands in front of the mirror. He has a tailor made waistcoat for his new form. He is making sure that it fits him perfectly and all of the other adornments are in perfect shape. This waistcoat has long ‘tails’ at the back that almost touch the floor. It is purple with a white inner lining and a red handkerchief. Once everything is in order, Jean goes to library and goes to the globe by an armchair. It pops it open to reveal two glasses and a bottle with an amber liquid. He pours himself a glass, sits on the chair and waits for the dinner bell.

Mira leaned her head on Florentine's shoulder, careful not to prod him with her hair-like discs. "Thanks..." Despite the stress of recent events, she gave a warm smile up at him.

"How are you finding it?" she asked in a sleepy mumble. "Learning to use your abilities? Of course, I knew soldier boy would adapt well to any challenge life threw at him." Given his military past, it wasn't surprising that Florentine was coping best out of anyone with the unfamiliar situation, as well as easily learning to use his new skills in combat. "Do you have any advice on getting the hang of this? Or is it just one of those things that takes time to get used to?"

Being close by him was already easing her tension, as it always did, replacing it with a sense of comfort. Deep down she still felt she should be checking on the situation, but maybe it was best to relax while she and Florentine could.

---

"What are you even doing? Curl it under here!" Gabrielle pointed to the fur on her left ear. "And smooth it out here!" She gestured to a tuft sticking out on her right, rolling her eyes as Simone nearly dropped the hairbrush in her attempt to style the puffy mass. "Oww! Don't tug like that, there's a nasty bruise!"

"Sorry!" the Audino squealed. "Uhh, maybe this will help a little..." Switching off the hairdryer and setting it down along with the hairbrush, Simone put her hands together. A faint pink light shone on the injured membrane, then faded, as did most of the pain. "That's the best Heal Pulse I can manage, sorry about that..."

Gabrielle ran her fingers over the formerly bruised patch to find much of the swelling had gone down. "Hm... I guess it'll do. Now, quit apologising and get me a dress!"

The other rabbit instantly blurted "I'm sor-" before raising a hand to her mouth. "Uh, yes! I'll try not to be long!" With that, she scampered from the room.

She'd better not be, Gabrielle thought as she turned her eyes back to the mirror. Back to that face that was no longer the well-known one on TV and magazine covers, but one she couldn't yet associate with herself. Arceus only knew what the press was saying about her now.

She kept glancing at the door, foot tapping on the ground, until she heard the servant hurry up the stairs. The pink Pokemon reappeared in the doorway, a dress draped over her arm, a sewing kit in her other hand. "Is this ok? It's something someone else had around, she said you can have it."

Gabrielle stood, took the dress and held it up. A cream-coloured one with yellow flowers embroidered on the bodice. "It's something of an improvement, though it's rather long, and loose."

Simone gave an awkward smile. "I'll alter it as much as I can."

As Gabrielle tried it on, the fabric trailed on the floor. Memories rushed back, of the dress that had once complemented her figure swamping her within seconds while everyone around stared. Yet another reminder of her lost humanity. Her fingers clenched around the material hanging shapelessly from her new body.

She wanted to protest as Simone placed a hand on her shoulder, but couldn't. Dammit, she shouldn't need comforting. She certainly didn't need pity. It was only when the servant started on the dress that she spoke up again.

"Ow! Careful with that needle!"

"Sorry! It's just, these hands..."

"Oh, quit with the excuses!"

This was going to be one long evening.

Florentine thinks about the questions that Mira asked him. ”I think it is mainly because of my mentor. He has lots of confusing tenets and some might even seem to be contradictory but the one that sticked to me, which is applicable here, is 'Don't force the situation to fit you but adapt to fit the situation. Don't use preconceived ideas to every situation, even if it the same as one you have experienced.' I am in the dame boat as everyone but the fact that I already accepted my fate before I knew what it was probably helped. ”


Jean hears the muffled shouts though the floor boards. He sighs and pours a second stiff drink. This night is going to be hell. Who ever the guest was in the past must have been pampered like a princess. He has interacted with real old time royalty and old money while hearing stories of new time royalty and new money . Old timers is far more civilized than these younglings. Sure, Jean thinks to himself, that even old timers, including himself, have their faukts and flaws but we had honor, loyalty and mutual respect.

Mira listened to Florentine's advice. "So, I guess that applies to our preconceived ideas about Psychic type Pokemon," she replied. "And you're saying I need to know my limits, I take it?"

Despite what she'd just said, she sat up when the other maid rushed past in a panic. "Hm? Simone! Is everything ok?" All she got was a hurried reply that everything was fine before the Audino disappeared down a hallway, probably in search of something or someone.

For a moment, Mira considered getting up and following Simone. Looking over at Florentine, she stayed where she was. He'd worry again, but did that really mean it was better to tolerate the guest's rudeness? "This whole situation's about as ok as that houseplant was when the branches got caught in my hair, or whatever it is now," she muttered.

It wasn't long before Simone ran back upstairs, and the muffled yells began again. "This can't just be ignored," Mira said, standing up, only for her headache to spike. With a groan, she sank back down. So much for knowing her limits.

"I know it is hard but you have to know which battles to concede and which ones to go for. It is not about the battles on the daily basis but the war as a whole. can we just rest and enjoy each other until dinner? That is all I ask" Florentine rests with Mira. He tries to keep her seated every time there is an outburst from the room until dinner. They hear the dinner bell and then make their way to the Dining Hall.



Jean has drinking a few stiff drinks already. Due to his new form, he is able drink this amount of heavy liquor without being too badly intoxicated. He hears the dinner bell and makes his way to the dining hall. Most of the servants,including Mira and Florentine and barring Simone are standing attention to serve. Jean inspects them all and seats himself at the one head of the table where the two settings are placed. he calmly waits for the guest to arrive.

Mira remained restless as she waited for the dinner bell. She tensed at every shout, but Florentine's grip on her shoulder reminded her to stay by his side. She leaned against him, trying to relax for both their sakes. He didn't need to deal with her stress as well as the sparks that would surely fly over dinner, but the problem was, that was what occupied her thoughts.

At the sound of the dinner bell, she stood up, her top tiers swaying. "I'll be fine doing this," she insisted, heading into the dining hall to help the others. It was only fair to make the atmosphere as comfortable as possible. Both for Jean, who sat trying to drink himself into a stupor, and for the guest, ungrateful as she was. Not that the efforts would do much good.

---

Gabrielle was turning this way and that, viewing the newly adjusted dress in a full length mirror, when the dinner bell sounded.

"Ah!" Simone's ears pricked up. "We'd better not keep the others waiting!" With that, the Audino scurried from the room. Sighing, Gabrielle followed. She hadn't thought she'd be hungry after the day's events, but all that running had taken a lot out of her, and she had to admit those were some rather appetising smells wafting from downstairs. To think she could have had to resort to eating grass in a forest... or ended up as food herself for wild Pokemon... She shuddered at the thoughts. Trying to push them away, she held her head high and strode into the hall.

The moment she did, she pulled back as an overenthusiastic mass of yellow and green bounced over, flowery hair bobbing around her shoulders. "Ohh! So you're our guest!" the plant Pokemon squealed, gripping the edge of the table as she nearly lost her balance. Clearly she wasn't used to moving around on her mermaid-like tail. "Welcome, and do take a seat! Consider the dress a gift."

Gabrielle glowered. "If by guest, you mean someone who doesn't exactly have a choice but to be here, then yeah," she replied, narrowed eyes flicking from the nymph to the creature sitting at the end of the table. She grimaced. That was the lord of this castle? That repulsive slimy frog? "Although I guess things could have been worse," she added, every word dripping disgust.

Mira bristled, turning that frosty blue glare on her. "Could we at least try to keep this introduction civil?"

The floral Pokemon's grin became a strained rictus. "Well... This has been a challenge for all of us," she explained. "But at least we can all support each other. Oh! And speaking of being civil, where are my manners? I'm Alyssa." Sweeping her arm in a wide arc, she introduced each of the other servants. "And this is our lord," she said finally, "Jean Ambiphian. Now, what's your name?"

Here it was. Her moment to make sure everyone knew to treat her with the respect she'd had all her life. Placing her hands on her hips, she looked around the hall before speaking loud and clear.

"Does the name Gabrielle Angouras ring any bells?"

Jean let Alyssa introduce the staff and himself to the 'esteemed' guest. He did see the face of disgust and the disgust in her voice. That left a sour taste stronger than any alcohol. It takes lots of willpower and silent mantras to keep his cool as his guest thinks so lowly of him and his hospitality thus far. He glares at her with eyes that are hard to read.

As the Bunny introduces herself, the surname rings a bell to him."I know of a Mister Angouras. He runs a textile industry if I remember correctly. Lots of my finest textiles for clothes, curtains and more are from him. Are you related to him?"

He also askes kindly for a servant to pour him and the guest some red wine from the cellar. Porscine bows and leaves for a short moment before bringing a bottle with a fancy label and wax seal. Porscine pours the wine in the respective wine glasses.

Unfazed by the frog's glare, Gabrielle held her head high.

"I'm his daughter. Right now I'd be at a rather important gathering he's hosting, mixing with the best of the best, if some meddling ghost hadn't screwed everything up." She strode forward and took a seat, looking away from the curtains, knowing which company they were probably from. Her father was most likely spinning some sob story about her disappearance at this very moment. The parting words he'd spat at her still stung like fresh wounds.

Once the Emboar had filled the wine glasses, she reached for hers, but picking anything up was like doing so wearing thick fluffy gloves. The glass fell over, red wine spilling all over the tablecloth. "Oh for Arceus' sake! Will somebody clean that up?!" she demanded, glancing around at the servants.

This really was not her day, to say the least.

Jean glares at the Bunny as he picks up, swirl, smell and drink the wine in that order. The proper order to taste wine. He notes the mention of a ghost. "What events transpired before then?" If this is the same being, then Jean has a reason to keep this brat. He doesn't care who her father is or who she is but she could be his ticket to getting his old life back.

As she spills her wine over the white tablecloth thus ruining it, she rudely demands a servant to clean it up, expecting it to be done right away and as if it is their fault. Even thou it is their job, they are worthy of some degree of respect and appreciation. Many a dinner party's success is thanks to Porscine and Alyssa . The house is immaculately clean thanks to Mira and Simone. With a dead seriousness, Jean talks in a respectful tone. "These servants are worth their weight in silver if not more. You give them the respect they deserve or I will teach you how lucky you are to have them."

Mira tutted and went to fetch a cloth, hoping Florentine wouldn't worry too much about her taking up her duties. "I will reiterate," she said, eyes narrowed at Gabrielle as she pressed the cloth to the stain and soaked up excess wine, "that you do not live here, and even if you did, that wouldn't give you a right to speak to us like that."

She tipped salt over the red patch. "That should make it easier to clean, although it may need bleaching," she reassured Jean. The spillage wasn't something she blamed Gabrielle for - adapting to being a Pokemon wasn't the easiest thing in the world. This woman couldn't help initial clumsiness, but what she could help was her attitude problem.

---

Gabrielle folded her arms, ignoring Jean's and Mira's scoldings. Surely people should be more impressed than this. "What part of 'I'm his daughter' don't you understand?" she snapped, eyes flicking from person to person before settling on Jean.

"As for how I got into this mess," she continued, "I was on my way, minding my own business, and this raggedy old woman tried to cheat me out of my money. Of course, what do you know, she wasn't an old woman at all but a Mismagius with a warped sense of humour." She scowled at the memory of that sneering face. "The kicker? I just had to end up like this right in the middle of the venue."

Her glare sharpened. "Alright, you have my story. Care to tell me yours?"

Jean's eyes narrow as he hears the story. his suspicions are all but confrmed. It is sounds like her. No. It must be her. There can't be any other being like her. He puts down his glass and leans on the table with his elbows and Nestle his fingers together. he looks like a serious bussiness man or a man going to confess a murder.

"It was nighttime and I was in the library, reading a new rare find of a book, listening to the drowning sounds of rain. I heard a knock on the front door. I went to open it and found an old gypsy eque woman. She wanted a place for the night. I turned her away in fear that she might pocket soomething and run off with it. After that, I felt light headed and though I heard a voice in my head. I decide to turn in for the night. In the bathroom, I turned into this form that so clearly disgusts you. My servants tried to help but my slimy skin doomed them to the same fate."

Gabrielle's eyes widened as she took in the story. For a moment, she was able to put aside her annoyance at the lack of recognition. "A voice in your head... I heard a voice too, in the venue, just before I transformed in front of everyone." That frown settled across her features again. "So, seems like we've both had a run in with the same being. Did she give you any cryptic advice on how to fix this too? All I got was I needed to give her a good reason."

What would count as a good reason to a tricksy ghost? Ok, the Mismagius had probably been implying wanting an apology - as if Gabrielle had the first idea how to track her down - or some crap about giving more. Like she owed anyone anything. She'd had a feeling the woman would turn out to be some unsavoury type, and how right she'd been. Besides, Ghost types were notorious for lying. What if the hint about breaking the curse was part of the trick, and there was no way to lift it?

"Mine is probably a lesson of sorts. Probably to show more hospitality and don't judge a book it's cover thou that is easier said than done. Anyways, we better get to eating before the food gets cold. I know you will enjoy the meal as there is no finer chef in the land."

The first meal is a tomato soup in a ornate bowl. The next one is a medium rare rump steak with the creamiest and most fragrant mushroom sauce. The dessert is the cheesecake. It looks better than any baker could make and it taste better too. The whole course was made to perfe6and beyond.

Gabrielle sighed. "So we're supposed to trust the dregs of society? Some lesson." As she spoke, though, she couldn't help recalling what the ghost had said, not just about her distrust but about her tone. Like that had been something to blame her for. She'd had somewhere important to be, after all.

The meal, at least, turned out to be just what she needed. Better even than the food at the dinner parties she'd grown up with, although she wasn't going to admit this. Of course, everything had its downside, and at several intervals she scowled and muttered, dabbing soup, sauce or soft cheese from her wrist fur with a napkin.

Once she'd finished the cheesecake, she went back to trying to clean the accumulated traces of all three courses from the fluff, to no avail. She groaned and flung the stained napkin to her plate. "How on earth do you even get used to being a Pokemon anyway?"

Jean takes another sip from his glass. He seems to be dedicated to finishing the bottle of wine by himself. He does so to keep his nerves settled and to not waste a bottle of fine wine. After all, It is still one of the few things he can still enjoy as a Pokémon if it is any consolation.

"Time and patience. You only been one for a few hours. We have been like this for weeks. Don't think that it is easy thou. We still have difficulties. For example, your excessive shouting probably has hurt Simone's sensitive ears quite a bit." Jean takes another sip to let that knowledge settle into her mind.

A shudder of guilt ran through Gabrielle as she glanced at Simone, who gave a mutter of "I'm ok." Her own hearing had become sensitive enough, and an Audino's was apparently even sharper. This had slipped her mind earlier, the thought that she may have hurt someone not even having occurred to her.

"Alright, alright, I'll keep it down," she mumbled. "But how do you overcome the difficulties?"

This body was probably something she'd be able to get used to. At least she was still pretty... Although what did that matter when she was no longer in the public eye, she couldn't help thinking as she kept trying to clean her fur. The main difficulty wasn't the new form, but the lifestyle and family she'd been forced to leave behind.

Jean finishes the wine in his glass and puts it down. He pondered the question for a moment before he gives his answer"It is like riding a bike or learning to read. You work at it. Each failure teaches you something to improve on the next time you try. Like I said, you been a pokemon for several hours and we have been like this for a few weeks. It is like comparing a master craftsman with years of experience to an apprentice with days of experience."

He waves to his servants to clean up the last remaining dinnerware and other things. "It is getting late. It is best to get some sleep. You need it more than anyone. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 9:30 am. I bid you goodnight." Jean stands up and gives a respectful bow before going to his room. He gets out of his waistcoat and sits on his bed for a few moments before laying down and going to sleep.