One cup of water, one ice pack, one tablet of headache medication, and one Abra sitting on Iron Will's head later, the pokemon were ready to talk to their host. The reason for all of those items was quite simple: Water to help combat dehydration, which would only make Vicent's headache worse. One tablet of headache medication because none of them knew how his body would react to more, so he couldn't just 'take two and call in the morning' until they knew how he'd react to one, and proximity to Iron Will's brain would make forming a link easier, so that the minotaur could understand the pokemon.

...The ice pack was just to round out the cliches to begin with, but Vincent would be lying if he said it didn't help.

"So once again, now that we can talk to you properly, thanks for looking out for us and our friend."

The minotaur waved a hand at the Scyther. "Iron Will was merely doing as his morals told him to: Help the helpless. And while Iron Will does believe that you could have taken those ponies, it would not have been without casualties."

Lucy and Vincent shuddered at the idea. They'd already lost so much, it would have been cruel if they'd lost each other. Vincent made his 'voice' known then. Regardless, thank you Iron Will. So, what would you like to know?

The minotaur looked upwards towards his new hat before looking at the other bipeds in the room. "Let us start simple. What exactly are you?"

Sam picked up the thread of conversation then. "Pokemon. Members of a race of species from...what I'm gathering is another world. Right Vincent?"

So far, yes. And normally, I'm not one of them.

Iron Will looked up again. "What do you mean, little fox?"

Somehow, Vincent sighed through the mental connection, and then he realized Sam and Lucy would be confused if he didn't speak aloud. Bracing himself, he opened his mouth. "I mean that normally, I'm not an Abra. Something...happened."

Lucy nodded and chipped in her two cents. "Yeah-huh! I was having a nice dream, and then this really old voice came in and said something about resting and waking up on a new world."

Sam appeared startled at that. "Wait. Wait wait wait. Was it something like...Rest now my children, for when you awake a whole new world shall be your home?"

Vincent nodded. "Same here. And when I did wake up, I turned from the human I had been into the Abra you see before you. Someone or something is responsible for moving us here...moving us all here...and changing me in the process."

Iron Will slowly nodded. "So someone forced you all from your home?"

...At this, Sam laughed, followed by Vincent. Eventually they got a hold of themselves, but it wasn't without the odd stare from Lucy or Iron Will. Sam replied first. "That place was as much our 'home' as this place is to you. Only difference is, you have the choice to leave."

Vincent nodded and frowned as he began to recount their experiences. "My...'father', Doctor Nurem. A pokemon researcher, who is probably infamous for asking one question and not letting any of society's morals or rules or ethics stop him from answering it. 'Let's see what happens, shall we?'" The little Abra shuddered at the memories, while Sam picked up Lucy and cradled her gently.

"Do you see these little bumps on her arms?" Iron Will nodded at the Scyther's question. "Those are supposed to grow into proper arm spikes when she gets older, and she's supposed to have one on her chest as well. She'll be lucky if that happens. The 'good doctor' put her under for a procedure to modify her skeleton, make it denser, more resistant to change. She might never get her marks of adulthood. We don't know."

The minotaur growled at the thought of someone experimenting on a child in such a fashion. "And you two? What did he do to you?"

Sam sighed and looked at the ground, while Vincent answered for him. "Father injected him with a cocktail of serums. In the end, it made his exoskeleton harder, but it made his flying so much more difficult as well, due to the added weight. Once again, there might be a way to fix it. But we just don't know if it'll work..." The Abra looked up and whistled. "Or if there's any Metal Coats here, or things that could function as them."

The Scyther looked up, as though he hadn't thought of the idea himself. "A fair point, Vincent. We'll have to look into it later..."

The minotaur looked up again. "And you, little one? What did your father do to you?"

Vincent merely smiled. "Gene therapy. From when I was little enough to the day when we left, it was injections, test, and more injections and more testing. From what I can understand, he wanted to bridge the gap between Pokemon and humans. Either it was meant to make a way for humans to understand Pokemon, or it was meant to give humans the powers of Pokemon. So there was probably a bit of Pokemon in my DNA. It'd make sense. Far back as I can recall, I could understand these two. Of course, the downside made itself evident eventually."

Sam and Lucy nodded at the story. They'd only lived it so many times...and relived it in their nightmares. When Vincent got old enough, the 'good doctor' had failed to see a need for anesthetic. After all, all creatures had pain tolerance for a reason, according to him. Iron Will grunted and waved a hand around. "What was the downside?"

"Headaches," the little Abra replied. "Headaches and voices in my head. I was actually glad when I arrived here, even if it was in a new body, because the headaches and voices stopped. And then what do I go and do?" Here, Vincent laughed a few times. "I go out and give myself headaches while listening to voices in my head!"

Iron Will laughed along with the fox. "It is good to test your limits, especially in a new body. So...what can you do? Iron Will assumes that you," here he pointed at Sam, "are no slouch in a fight, and that this one's," now pointing at Lucy, "sheer cuteness would disarm any foe."

Sam and Lucy preened a bit at the praise, and Vincent nodded. "Well, when I recover, I can maintain a communications link between a fair few creatures, and I can even borrow Lucy's eyes to see with, which allows me to make quick links for the purpose of gathering surface information with anyone she looks at. Can't do it with Sam, our types are incompatible. You...maybe." And here the psychic sighed.

Iron Will got over his slight panic at the thought of his mind and eyes being 'borrowed' and inquired. "What is the matter? Those sound like formidable powers indeed."

Vincent nodded. "Oh, they are! They also require that I keep my eyes shut so that the feedback loops don't start to pile up and snap the connections, and I can't even do the most basic move that all Abra know yet, but sure, communications and spying? I can do that!"

Iron Will blinked, then slowly grinned. "You mean to say that when you are back to normal, little one, that your mind is your most dangerous asset?"

Vincent slowly nodded. "I'm a Psychic, it's what we do. I'm getting used to my strength, but little things like mind links aren't an issue..."

Iron Will nodded. "Very well. Iron Will will help you recover, and in exchange, you and your friends will help Iron Will."

Sam cocked his head to one side. "Help you with what?"

At this, Iron Will sighed. "Iron Will was once motivational speaker for the ponies. Help them stand up, be assertive. Thought it would be good for them, but one little pegasus took it too far. And when Iron Will went to collect, she made Iron Will see the light. Was not teaching ponies to be assertive, was teaching ponies to be bullies. So Iron Will took his belongings and money and decided to see all of Equestria. See what living in pony lands was like for little ponies. It was good and grand!"

Iron Will looked to the apartment around him and shook his head. "Then Iron Will came here one night and got drunk. Next thing Iron Will knows, Iron Will has very few of his belongings or money, and they were replaced with massive hangover. Iron Will was able to afford this place, but rent is coming due."

Iron Will looked up at the Scyther, his face and eyes alight with determination. "Iron Will will help you all recover, house you, but Iron Will needs money to leave this place. Help Iron Will to claim enough to leave, and Iron Will will pass this place on to you afterwards. It is not much, but it could house you while you figure things out yourself. With your abilities and Iron Will's understanding of the locals, there is not a casino that could resist us!"

Silence reigned for a minute before Vincent spoke up then.

"This...is the start of a beautiful friendship, I think..."

Sam chipped in then. "That, or this will end terribly."

Vincent waved off the Scyther's concerns. "You have yourself a deal, good sir."

And that was when the mental communique from Lord Arceus came crashing down on everyone, causing a feedback loop in Vincent's head near instantly. This time, he focused the energy into a single, coherent blast, and aimed away from everyone.

Pity. It had been such a nice wall...