Wait, there’s no…people?

I wrack my brain, trying to remember the original plot of the game. You literally played as a human in the game! One that…had been transformed into a pokemon. But they were from the future, right? Did I…ever see other people in the game though? The realization sinks in slowly and it takes me a moment to find my voice again.

“It’s…a bit complicated,” I tell them. “I’m going to sound crazy, but it’s the truth.”

Eyla’s intense gaze never left mine but I saw her nod slightly, as though telling me to begin my story. With a deep breath, I start on that awful day that began this adventure.

As I started explaining, it all started coming out in a rush, the words falling from my mouth at an astonishing pace. I usually wasn’t one to ramble, but the last couple days had taken a toll on me. By the time I was done, I was sure they’d send me on my way, deeming me insane, but I felt much better. At least they had listened all the way through.

“That is…complicated, indeed,” Eyla tells me, closing her eyes as she fell into thought. The suspicion from before was gone, dissipating with my earnest story. Instead she seemed concerned, her forked tail lashing back and forth with a whipping sound. Magnemite had begun buzzing from early on in my tale and hadn’t stopped since, still vibrating anxiously as it hovered in circles, muttering to itself quietly.

My gaze turned to Ripple, who’s eyes were filled with something I couldn’t quite name. He didn’t seem afraid, though, instead staring openly at me with a renewed perspective.

“Are you really…from a different world?” the Mudkip asked. I nod, not sure what else to add.

“What is it like there?” Ripple said, taking a small step forward like a child asking for a bedtime story.

“We are not sure of the validity of these statements!” Magnemite shouts to Ripple from a short distance away, eavesdropping on our conversation.

“But we can, Flint,” Guildmaster Eyla replied to the Magnemite, drawing our attention to her. “If Violet is willing to do so, of course. Otherwise, it would be a painful and unpleasant experience.”

A shudder runs through me but I nod. As long as I agree, it won’t hurt, so I should be fine…right? I stuff any worries down and walk up to the Espeon, steeling myself. Espeon is a psychic type Pokemon, so I assume she’s going to look in my mind. While it feels invasive, I know it’s also probably the fastest way to gain their trust and have them confirm the truth.

“I will do my best not to pry,” Eyla tells me. “Think of the memories we need to see, and they will rise to the surface. Do not resist, and it will be painless.”

I nod and gulp, hoping I’m doing an ok job of hiding my apprehension. She instructs me to lay down and I do, resting my head on my paws. Flint and Ripple come closer to watch as the stone on Eyla’s forehead begins to glow. It shifts from a deep granite color to a brilliant vivid red. A thin line of sparkly red smoke began to emerge, snaking its way towards me. I flinch before remembering that I have to be accepting. Closing my eyes, I relax as I feel small twinge and a small push. It wasn’t a physical push, though, but a mental one. I could actually feel it in my mind; it was strange and disconcerting. My first instinct was to push it away, but I fight the response and try to let it in, instead pulling up the memories once again.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

It feels like there’s a second mind, or maybe a tether to another mind, within my head. I can’t see what they’re thinking, but I feel like if I pushed, I probably could. Instead though, I do my best to remember the details of my arrival, specifically the scene of being pulled into the game device. I replay the scene three times before I feel the second mind recede, the connection dropping like snuffling a flame. For a second, it feels like I’m falling and I sway, before opening my eyes to see Eyla looking at me curiously.

“How fascinating,” she murmurs. “What a strange world…”

“What? What did you see?” Flint asks, buzzing in the air above the guildmaster.

“What she says is true,” Eyla tells them. “She comes from a world very different than ours. I cannot fathom Arceus’s reasons for bringing her here, but the things I saw in her mind were not from here.”

All of the Pokemon fell silent for a moment, their eyes fixed on me as the knowledge sank in. I squirmed under their gazes, not sure how the knowledge would change their opinions of me.

“Are you…sad?” Ripple asks after a while, taking a few tentative steps towards me. “Do you want to go back home?”

“I…I don’t know,” I tell him honestly. “I feel like maybe I should, but the world I lived in was…not exactly easy. I don’t even know if my family is going to miss me…” I pause as Ripple presses up against me, resting their tail around me in an odd hug. Either way, it’s comforting, and I lean against the small Pokemon.

“It’s okay,” the Mudkip tells me, “Either way. If you want to go back, if you want to stay. We’ll help you out.”

“That’s a big commitment from you,” Flint hums from above. “Considering you didn’t ask the Guildmaster.” The Espeon sitting on the ground shot them a look and it paused.

“We have a guild, built around helping people,” Eyla says pointedly, pointing her pronged tail at me. “Of course we will help Violet.”

“But she’s not a Pokemon…” Flint protests, the one eye flitting back and forth from Espeon to me. “I mean, she is, but…”

“Enough,” Eyla says firmly, the stone on her head glowing for a moment. Magnemite’s screw spins furiously and it lets out a small flash of lightning before hovering away without another word, back to the guild.

“I’m sorry about him,” Guildmaster Eyla tells me. “Flint is very slow to trust. I hope that if you choose to stay here, you can forgive his attitude.” She pauses, cocking her head slightly. “Do you think you will chose to stay?”

“Well,” I muse, “I don’t really know much about this world. I need to learn more to be able to even see if going home is an option. And, this is an adventurer’s guild, correct?” Eyla nods and I continue. “If it’s alright with you, I’ll adventure around to learn what I can, and when I feel confident, I can set out to find a way home.” I didn’t know if that would ever happen, or if I wanted to go home at all, but I didn’t say that part out loud.

“That plan works for me,” Eyla agreed smoothly. Ripple swished their tail side to side in excitement next to me.

“Hey Violet,” Ripple said, trying to hide their enthusiasm and expectation, “Since you’re sticking around for a while, do you maybe want to be my roommate? And if you’re okay with it, you can join my exploration team.”

I have to force back the laugh at the sight of the overeager Mudkip, practically vibrating in place but trying to play it off. I pause and pretend to think about it before smiling to Eyla and and nodding.

“I think that sounds good. Thanks, Ripple,” I reply.

“Yay!” Ripple finally bursts, doing a small lap around the Guildmaster and me before coming to a stop before me.

“I can’t wait to show you all my favorite spots around here!!” he begins, and I can tell he’s going to go on for a while. Eyla notices too, and stops him before he can begin.

“Not today, you’re not,” she says, and I see Ripple exhale all the air.

“Oh yeah,” he says, sounding disappointed. But he perks back up a moment later. “But I can watch, right?”

“I suppose,” Eyla concedes with a flick of her ear. “IF you behave.”

“Watch…what?” I say, realizing belatedly whatever they’re discussing must involve me.

“If you’re going to join the guild,” Eyla says, “You have to take the exam.”

Oh no, I groan to myself. Even here, I couldn’t get away from tests.