A/N: With the day nine theme being “psychic”, I naturally decided to go with Pokemon as the setting because psychic types are awesome. Also, I figured a nice wholesome tale would be a change of pace, though CW for abuse and trauma at the very start. Don't worry, it gets better.

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Moonlight filtered through the trees cast strange shadows on the forest floor as Devon ran through the brush, sobbing and whimpering. At only 5 years old, he had already known far too much pain for his age; first, his parents died in a fire. Then, he was sent to live with relatives who heavily resented him, and displayed that resentment regularly with beatings and other humiliations. For his part, Devon had tried to be good, and was certain that he had done something wrong to deserve the treatment. But no matter how much he obeyed, no matter how much he tried to show respect, the punishments continued. Then, after one black eye too many—this time for not cleaning off the back porch properly—the metaphorical dam broke; Devon fled, his uncle not even bothering to chase after him... and, in fact, encouraging him to leave, angrily shouting about how ungrateful Devon was and how he wasn't worth the trouble. The cruel words continued to ring in his head long after he had ceased to actually hear them, and the fear of going back was far greater than the fear of the forest he was now lost in, or the darkness of the night that surrounded him. After running nearly to exhaustion, he stumbled over to a thick tree trunk and slumped down at the base, hugging his knees and sniffling.

Unbeknownst to him, his cries had been heard by the denizens of the forest; though many of them were wary of humans, others saw the boy for what he was: a lost child. One pokemon in particular felt a deep sense of sorrow as she watched Devon from the shadows; she could sense his pain and trauma, and her heart shattered at the thought of a hatchling that young being so cruelly treated. As she observed him, an odd thought crossed her mind, and grew into something else entirely; this boy needed her. With a deep breath to steel herself, she slowly stepped out of the darkness and carefully inched toward the weeping boy.

Devon looked up at the sound and saw an odd shape approaching; paralyzed with fear, he shouted through his tears. “No! No no no! Don't hurt me!”

~Shhh... fear not, little one...~

The voice seemed to come from within his head somehow as the figure was slowly illuminated by the light of the moon. Before him stood a bipedal pokemon with yellow fur, a large nose, and a white tuft around its neck. He briefly recognized it as “Hypno”, a monster from a scary story his Aunt had told him one night, about how if he didn't obey her every command it would steal him away in the night.

The Hypno stopped for a moment, shocked that humans still told such ridiculous tales. Shaking her head, she knelt down to his level in an attempt to make herself less intimidating. ~Poor little hatchling, your mind is so full of pain and sorrow and fear... don't worry. I will make it all go away.~

Something about the voice did indeed allay Devon's fear, if only slightly. Hiccuping through his tears, he drew his knees closer to himself and tried to speak, only for his voice to come out as a frightened whisper. “Y-you don't want to eat me? P-please, I promise to be a g-good boy...”

~It's okay,~ The Hypno said with a warm chuckle and an even warmer smile; ~I know you're a good little boy. But if you want to show me how good a boy you are, just look at this...~ Holding out her hand, she dangled a coin that sparkled in the moonlight, tied with a string.

Curious, Devon looked at the coin... and felt a strange fog come over his mind, like a soft, fluffy cloud had drifted into his head. It was a strange feeling, but not an unpleasant one; in fact, it was quite nice, and he felt his fear slowly slipping away.

~Yes, that's right... you like my pretty coin, don't you?~

Devon could only nod and stare. “Uh-huh...”

~But it makes it a little hard to think, doesn't it? Well, don't worry. Just let me do all the thinking and keep staring, so you can keep feeling nice and comfy...~

“N-nice,” Devon said, a smile starting to form on his face. Hypno was so nice to let him look at the pretty coin; somehow, he knew he was safe here, that this pokemon would never hurt him.

~Shh... now keep watching, child, as I swing the pretty coin...~

Back and forth. Back and forth. Slowly. Oh-so-slowly and gently. Devon did as he was told, his eyes keeping the coin firmly in sight; in a way, he almost felt as if he was going back and forth just like the coin. The pretty, shiny coin. Pretty, back and forth, shiny shiny.

The Hypno smiled as the human child quickly became enthralled by her powers; it wasn't exactly an orthodox method of help, but it was what she knew how to do, and it was rare that she was able to use this ability to help another creature. ~There we go... all nice and fluffy, like a cloud. Keep watching the coin, little one, and listen very carefully, okay?~

Devon nodded again, his smile growing wider. Yes, his mind was filled with white puffy clouds, pushing out all the fear and leaving him a little bit sleepy but so relaxed. He'd listen to the pretty coin pokemon.

~Your mind, your memories, so full of sadness and pain... let it all go, child. Let it all slip away like sand, drift away in the moonlight.~

He nodded, and felt the clouds in his mind wrap around his thoughts like a warm blanket. It was a good feeling, one he had never felt before.

~Forget, child. Forget all of it. The death, the pain, the mean words and bad thoughts. Just forget. Forget. Forget...~

And so he did. The fluffy feeling wrapped around his memories, and he happily let it happen, feeling them fade away, leaving a blank hole filled with clouds and the shiny coin.

~Very good. Now, it's time to remember. Remember this place, remember my coin, remember me...~

Devon nodded yet again. Yes, that was definitely familiar. He knew this pokemon. He knew this forest. He knew it all as if he'd spent his entire life with her...

~Yes, that's right... you've lived with me all your life. I've always been here, taking care of you. You can remember me holding you in my arms, rocking you back and forth like my pretty coin. This forest is your home.~

New memories formed to replace the hole where his old ones once were; he felt silly for being afraid earlier. Why was he afraid at all? He was home. And... wait, if this was his home, and this pokemon took care of him, did that mean... “...Mommy?”

~Yes, dear. I'm your mommy. And mommy will always protect you. Be a good little boy and say it back to me, okay?~

“You're my mommy... mommy will always protect me...” Devon knew it was true. She was safe and warm. He knew mommy loved him, and that he never needed to be afraid while she was there.

~Very good... say it three more times.~

“You're my mommy, and mommy will always protect me. You're my mommy, and mommy will always protect me. You're my mommy, and mommy will always protect me.” In spite of his drifting and the clouds in his mind, there was a certainty there that he could never deny, and it grew stronger with every repetition. The more he said it, the more true it was.

~That's right, Devon. You're such a good boy. My good little hatchling. There's one last thing you need to do for mommy, though... and it's very simple. All you need to do is feel sleepy for me...~

Devon yawned. He was sleepy.

~You're safe, mommy's here. Just feel sleepy and I'll take care of you.~

Another, bigger yawn; Devon could feel his eyelids growing heavier, so heavy he could barely keep them open. But he wanted to watch the pretty coin more.

~Shhh... it's okay, you'll see the coin when you close your eyes, too. Just let them flutter shut, little one...~

He obeyed, and sure enough the image of the sparkly back-and-forth coin lingered as he yawned one last time.

~Drift away now, Devon. Drift off to sleep, and dream of happy things. Mommy will keep the nightmares away. Just sleep... drift away and sleep.~

As Devon finally nodded off, he slumped over, only for Hypno to use her telekinesis to gently catch him and float him through the air into her waiting arms. She looked down at the little boy's face, slumbering peacefully with a content smile. Softly stroking the tip of Devon's head, she carried him off into the forest. When the sun rose, he would wake, and begin a happier, better life. Perhaps one day he would return to live among his kind, but until that day she would be the best mother she could possibly be. Don't worry, little one. You'll never hurt again. I promise.