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.::Stark::.

"So very late..." muttered Stark as he tiptoed into the room. He looked back to check on the pale blue egg resting on his back. He had found it abandoned in the courtyard, and, since it appeared to belong to no one, the only logical thing to do was--

"What am I doing?" he muttered. He and Rem were in no condition- mentally or physically- to care for a child. Much less one that was unwanted, apparently. But still, he couldn't just leave the little one to die. Stark sighed dramatically, but not too loudly, seeing as Rem was asleep, buzzing contentedly on his mat.

How can you sleep on that thing? thought Stark as he set the egg on his cushion. He then lay down, curling himself protectively around the egg. He yawned, still a bit irritated by this turn of events.

You better be worth it, kid, he thought as he drifted away.

.::Stark and Rem::.

Stark was just starting to feel content when suddenly, two Pokemon burst into the room.

"Wha--" he began, before being shot in the face with a Hydro Pump. Rem awoke, buzzing around frantically, trying to save his many drawings. Finally, the torrent of water subsided. Stark stood, shaking himself off, a look of murder in his eyes. Rem panted in a corner, holding a sheaf of slightly dampened papers, and mourning over the ones he could not save.

Stark approached the pair with a look of death. He looked back at the egg on his cushion. Thankfully, it was unharmed. Then he directed his attention back to the idiots who trashed his room. "Might I inquire," he said, deathly quiet, then, voice rising, "WHAT IN THE NINE HELLS YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!!"

Rem sniffed in his corner, gazing at a pile of what looked like mulch. "It was my favorite one, too..."

Stark's anger clicked up another notch. "Explain yourselves. Now!"

.::Stark and Rem::.

Stark lay on his cushion, dozing lightly, when a sudden jar by his abdomen awoke him. He sat up abruptly, and glanced at Rem's "bed." He still slept on. Bemused, Stark started to lay his head down when the feeling came again. He sat up straight, an angry look on his face.

"Alright, what gives?" he growled quietly, looking round about for the source of the annoyance.Probably some damn Ghost Pokemon screwing with us... He waited for a moment... There it was again! By his hind leg! He whipped sharply around and came face to face with...

The egg. Stark lowered his claw, raised instinctively, and looked at the egg closely. Oh, Arceus, not now. Please, not now... After a moment's wait, the egg rocked again, even more violently than before. Then again. And again.

Stark paled- as much as an Absol could, anyway- when he realized what was happening. "S***. Rem, get your a** up!"

Instantly, the Nincada was at Stark's side. "What do you need, sir?" he said crisply.

"One, shut up! Two, don't call me 'sir!' And, three, JUST TAKE A LOOK!" he shouted, indicating the egg. Rem looked hesitantly. Hairline cracks had started to appear in the egg, widening with each rocking motion.

"Perhaps you would want to keep your voice down, sir. You'll scare the baby."

Stark was livid. "F*** that! We are about to be parents, Rem! Legal f***ing guardians! That doesn't scare you sh--"

Suddenly, the egg burst open violently. Stark and Rem looked as the Pokemon emerged from the egg. It was a Mudkip. An odd-looking Mudkip, to be sure. For one, most of its body was a dark charcoal grey. Its fins were all white, and the one on its head appeared to have a notch cut out of it, giving it a vague moon-shaped appearance.

The Mudkip shook itself off, then glanced at Rem momentarily, looking him up and down. It then glanced at Stark, then down at herself, then back at Stark. A wide smile broke out over her face, as she trotted over to Stark and nuzzled against him.

"Daddy," she said, nuzzling warmly against him.

Stark paled. Oh, damn. What have I gotten myself into now? he thought. Rem chuckled lightly next to him.

"Thank Arceus it's not me," he said, still chuckling.

Stark glared angrily at him. "When this kid falls asleep, I'll kill you," he said, glancing sidelong at the Mudkip. He sighed in resignation.

This is going to be a long day...

Alexander was awoken by the strange feminine screaming in a nearby room. His eyes opening, he found himself in a much different position from when he had gone to sleep. He scrambled off the ground as he examined his new body in surprise, causing his paws to slide over the hardwood floor, leaving him back on the ground. "What's going onnnnnnn..."

Alexander resolved himself to find out. This wasn't where he'd gone to sleep, for certain. A few more failed attempts to stand up found Alexander pulling himself along the floor by his claws. He would stretch one paw forward and thrust it downwards, then pull himself along before pulling his paw back up and repeating with the other arm. It was slow, painful going. But, at least it was going.

.::Luna::.

Luna yawned and looked up to see her father scratching his way busily across the floor. Now, why would he do that? Normally he just walked. But this looked more fun! Luna jumped down from her bed, giggling as she circled Stark, chanting, "Yayy! Daddy! Daddy! Play!" before jumping on top of him, hugging him fiercely. She then hopped to the floor, jumping about excitedly.

"This new game, Daddy? Yayy! Play!" she shouted happily, before crouching down on all fours and slinking along in a much more graceful way than the Absol.

All of which meaning she was totally oblivious to her father's mind being swapped for someone else's. Joy.

.::Stark::.

Stark woke up suddenly with an monstrous scream of fear and anguish. He looked around spasmodically, taking in his surroundings. It's still here... it's all still here. Is it? Recap. Walls; check. Window; check. Rem and Will? He looked frantically at both sleeping quarters. Rem lay silently on his tatami mat, while Will tossed in his sleep slightly, his paws batting at the air as he lay on his back.

Stark heaved a monumental sigh of relief. They're alive... Stark looked around to Luna's bed. She lay peacefully, half-buried under blankets. Stark sighed again. At least Luna hadn't suffered any nightmares.

It was then that Stark realized how bone-tired he was, despite his apparent night's sleep. He blinked in exhaustion, and lay his head down, trying to ignore the residual image of the dream still etched on his mind. Within seconds, his eyes were closed, his breathing the slow and even sighs of the sleeping.