New Recruits (Incineroar and Primarina TF/MC)

Ash and Pikachu were tired. After a long day of walking, battles, and a Team Rocket run-in, which had ended predictably with them blasting off again, the two were ready to get some sleep.

“Good grief, Alola’s been just as crazy as every other region we’ve explored, hasn’t it Pikachu?” Ash asked his lifelong partner. The yellow rat emitted a “chu” in agreement before dozing off at Ash’s side. Ash removed his red hat and brushed his black hair out of his eyes before curling into his sleeping bag and closing his eyes. From the shadows a pair of eyes watched the two fall asleep for the night. The creature to whom the eyes belonged smiled and waited until the trainer’s and Pokemon’s breathing had grown steady and slow, before moving in on the electric rat. Giving the Pikachu a tap, the Hypno dangled his pendulum before Pikachu’s eyes before the Pokemon could alert his trainer. Swinging the pendulum caused Pikachu’s pupils to widen, a sign, the Hypno knew from experience, that he was entering trance.

“Follow me, little rat,” the Hypno said with a smirk, confident that the Pikachu was in his power. The two walked away from the sleeping Ash,  so that what was to follow would not prematurely wake the boy. For you see this was no ordinary Hypno. What was different about this Hypno was the magnitude of his hypnosis abilities; they were so powerful, he could manipulate the thoughts of anyone under his power to the point that they would physically change to match those thoughts. And being a nearly omnipotent hypnotist, he loved to screw around with people and Pokemon and make them into whatever he pleased. Because of course.

“You are not a Pikachu, you are a Primarina. And an especially talented one at that.” Hypno’s words quickly became fact, as Pikachu’s body elongated, becoming white and more suited for marine life. Pikachu’s prior exposure to the performer Pokemon made his transformation much easier as he could replace the mental image he had of himself with that of a Primarina. As he envisioned its face, his own changed to fit that image, growing a long snout with round, pink nose and replacing his brown eyes with bright blue ones topped with full, white eyelashes. He even grew a long braid of light blue hair, tied up with pearls.

“You’re quite the dancer, too, Pat,” the Hypno continued, using the name that would replace the Pokemon’s old one. With this suggestion, Pat’s lower half became an ocean blue mermaid tail with a white split fin replacing his legs. His arms also became white fins, allowing him to swim and better support his thin frame. Finally, a tiara pearls with a sea star appeared on his head.
“Excellent, Pat. Now as your sponsor, I know you have an exquisite voice, but I need you to stay quiet for a bit longer. In fact, why don’t you rest a bit. All the performances you do must be taking their toll.” Pat nodded and closed his eyes. With Pat the Primarina all done and asleep, Hypno moved in on Ash. With a shove, he riled the boy to wakeness. Before Ash had time to notice his friend was missing, Hypno had already drawn his attention to the pendulum. With a few waves, Ash’s mental barriers lowered and he was completely suggestible.

“What are you, boy?” the Hypno forcefully asked the entranced trainer, already knowing how he’d answer.

“Human,” came the predictable response from Ash’s lips. ‘Not for long,’ the Hypno thought with a smirk.

“Wrong like pineapple on pizza. Do humans have such vibrant red and black fur?” Ash thought for a second before shaking his head. “Then why do you?” As the Hypno talked, Ash began to sprout red and black fur all over, with large tufts of red extending from his cheeks, forming a great mane around his head.

“I… I don’t know,” Ash admitted.

“You don’t know? What about your belt of fire? Do you know anything about that? I don’t think any human has one of those.” Ash’s pants turned to ash as the fire consumed them, exposing far bulkier legs than the ten-year-old had before.

“You know what I think? I think you’re not actually a human. Which is good, why be a human when you could be a strong Incineroar? Hey, that’s it!” Hypno snapped his fingers in fake discovery. “You’re an Incineroar! That explains why you’re so tall and well-built, too.” At this statement Ash bulked up, with his arms and legs growing more muscular and gaining black stripes. His torso underwent a similar expansion, becoming gray with a black stripe stretching like a gash from navel to breastbone. “Of course, you’re not really an Incineroar yet. You’re still missing your tail,” the Hypno spoke with glee. The soon-to-be Pokemon nodded as a long tail emerged from the base of his spine, covered in the same pattern as his arms, and ending with a club-like tuft.

“You’re a physical trainer. Like to box. Explains the powerful paws.” Ash’s hands bulked up, becoming rough and scarred despite their new paw pads. From his fingers grew razor sharp claws, which he looked at with a newfound sense of pride. At this point, Ash looked like an Incineroar with a human child’s head, an image that made the trickster chuckle.

“Don’t forget about the rest of you. No self-respecting Incineroar has a head like that.” Ash’s ears became smaller and pointy as they migrated to the top of his head. Finally, his face began to change, as he grew a short snout with a small red nose. His mouth widened and filled to brim with sharp teeth, with two bottom teeth elongating to resemble stalagmites, giving him a sabretooth tiger appearance. Ash’s chocolate brown eyes turned a brilliant green with yellow sclerae; this combined with his sharp, angular eyebrows to give him an intense expression, ready for a fight.

“Now you have a few memories in that head of yours that you don’t need anymore: they’re just taking up space. Let me help you with that.” The Hypno placed a paw to the Incineroar’s head, who gained a vacant expression as he lost what made him Ash the Pokemon Trainer. Soon, those thoughts faded to nothing and the blank-slate Incineroar stared at the Hypno, ready to have his mind molded.

“Your name is Leo. Tough guy, always ready for a fight. I helped you open your own gym and in return, you help me when I need some muscle.” The newly dubbed Leo nodded his head in agreement. Hypno brought over Pat then addressed both entranced Pokemon.

“You two have known each other since you were starters and are each other’s best friends. You support each other’s interests despite being polar opposites. When you’re together, Pat, you keep Leo from flying off the handle. Leo, you encourage Pat to take more risks. Now when I clap my hands, you’ll wake up and remember everything I told you as your lives.” Hypno clapped his hands and the two Pokemon came out of trance.

“Hey, Hypno, what are you doing here?” Leo asked with a smile for his benefactor, Pat bowing his head in respect.

“I wanted to introduce you too to my brother. He runs an… operation, shall we say, that might benefit from your unique talents.”

“Sure, lead the way,” Pat said quietly. The trio walked through Alola on their way to the Pokemon Mafia Leader’s home.