Ripple gives a little shake, seeming proud, before clearing his throat. At least, I think that’s what he did. Is Ripple a boy or girl? Would it be weird to ask?

“...Violet? Did you hear me?” Ripple asks and I realize they must have been talking.

“Sorry,” I shook my head.

“I just wanted to let you know about the gate system, so you don’t feel nervous,” they explain again and I nod. I remember it from the game; in fact, it had been a minigame within the game, too. Pokemon wanting to enter the guild would have to step on a grate and have their footprint identified. Even if I was just visiting as a guest, I would also have to complete the strange procedure.

“What is the gate system?” I ask, since Ripple seems to be waiting for me to, and the words tumble out of the mudkip’s mouth before the question is finished. I nod my head at the right times, watching the stars begin to appear above in the purple twilight sky. The stars come out before its fully dark here, I notice. I see my little feet and wonder what Pokemon I am; just because I played the game doesn’t mean I can identify all Pokemon by feet alone. I try to remember all the Pokemon you could start as. Maybe Chikorita, or Meowth? No, Meowth has proper paws, whereas my feet end at a small nubbin, with no real toes or paws. It’s a wonder I can walk at all.

“Remember, you won’t fall,” I feel Ripple’s tail on my side and hear his words. Belatedly looking up I see we’ve arrived. The grate is visible despite the dim light, each side of the path being marked by torches. It’s much larger than I’d expected it to be, or maybe because I’m smaller? The flickering fire gives off ominous shadows as it dances and I feel a tendril of apprehension.

Wait, it's all a dream, right? I try to remind myself. But nothing of this has felt like a dream. And this…this is scary. Why is this so scary? Get a grip, Violet. Taking a deep breath, I walk across the bamboo covering and stand in the middle, tense and waiting. Thankfully, it’s sturdier than it looks, my feet staying firmly planted as I wait for identification.

“Pokemon detected! Pokemon detected!” I hear a high voice holler from below. I jump slightly, even though I’m expecting it, feeling like all my hair-or fur- is standing on end.

“The Pokemon is…the Pokemon is….” I hear the voice falter, just like in the games when the main character first arrives. “The Pokemon is…Skitty?” It finally says hesitantly.

Oh, I think. I’m a Skitty? Interesting. I don’t remember a whole lot about the pokemon, since I usually got fire or water type starts. I think Skitty was a normal type?

“Please wait at the entrance for a guild member to assist you,” I hear the voice call up from below. I walk to the other side, sitting down in the grass as I watch Ripple walk up to the entrance, still lost in thought. It’s amazing how realistic it feels; the slight ruffle of the wind on my fur, the twitching of my large tail, the smell of the sea.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Ripple!” I hear the voice shout immediately, sounding like a rebuking parent. “What are you still doing out! You were supposed to be back before sunset! Why are you bringing strange Pokemon here so late at night!”

I see the mudkip’s tail tuck down, twisting to lay flat against their belly. Their little orange whisker fins twitch as they reply, “I found them, and they needed help! It’s not a scam this time, I promise, Granite.”

“You wouldn’t know a scammer if it came up and bit you on the fin!” The Pokemon named Granite retorts. “Well, be ready to explain yourself; the Guildmaster herself is on the way to see you.”

I see Ripple tremble slightly at the news before their eyes flit to me and they stand a little straighter, hiding their apprehension. I hear some more grumbling as the mudkip walks off the grate and sits next to me, giving me a small smile.

“Don’t worry,” Ripple tells me. “The Guildmaster will understand. The Guildmaster is nice.”

But by the way they’re saying it, I don’t know if they’re trying to convince themselves or me.

We aren’t waiting long, with Ripple mostly looking awkward; they’d open their mouth like they want to say something, but keep changing their mind and pretending to yawn or cough and close it again. I just stare at the stars, which seem to actually glitter, pulsating beautifully. Do aliens exist in Pokemon world? They do, right? They’re basically just different Pokemon. I can’t really remember, and right now I’m still not entirely convinced this is real. Maybe I’m actually dying in my house back home, having some strange last dream before I kick the bucket and ascend. Who knows, really?

After just a few minutes of existential pondering and social awkwardness, a slender pokemon a bit taller than me stalks out from the elevator, the doors opening without being touched. It was one of my favorite Eevee-lutions, and I could feel my jaw drop at the sight of them.

The Espeon’s fur was a beautiful lavender, sleek and glossy. Despite her smaller stature, her body was strong, the muscles rippling as she walked. The jewel on her head was dim, a dark garnet with a faint glow of ruby red in the middle.

Also notable was her forked tail, twitching back and forth in irritation, and her glaring violet eyes scanning the mudkip and me. Ripple was half crouched and looking at the ground, as though expecting to be reprimanded. When Espeon met my eyes, I didn’t look away, instead fascinated by the changing hues in the irises. It was as though her eyes were always shifting from blue to purple, never quite the same from one moment to the next. It was almost hypnotizing.

“Ripple, what’s going on? You know the rules. Not only are you back late, but you bring another stranger along?” a strange metallic voice from behind the Espeon pipes up. I hadn’t noticed them at first and I glance behind to see a floating eyeball staring at me.

Accidentally letting out a squeak, I jump and take a tiny step back. I recognize the pokemon after a moment, but it’s still shocking to see a Magnemite when it’s not 2D and pixelated. The guildmaster cocks her head at me, eyes staring without blinking for a long moment, before her gaze shifted to Ripple.

“Explain yourself,” she said in a low voice.

“I’m sorry, Guildmaster Eyla,” Ripple began in a trembling voice, the words tripping over themselves as they tried to explain. “You see, it’s just that I found them, and I thought they were hurt, they were at the beach, and I swear it’s not a scam-”

“Enough, enough!” the magnemite interrupts. “You’re not even explaining properly-”

Guildmaster Eyla gently laid her forked tail on the magnemite’s shoulder, the large eye turning towards her.

“There is…something odd about you,” the espeon tells me. “I do not want to deal with this tonight. You will stay here, we will sleep, and discuss this in the morning.”

“Yes ma’am,” Ripple answered on my behalf, nudging me with their tail. I dipped my head and said thank you as well, but Eyla didn’t reply. With a wish of her tail and a flick of her large purple ears, she turned and walked back to the elevator. The magnemite followed, making a strange whoosh sound as it hovered along the ground. Ripple didn’t move to follow them, so I waited patiently as the doors closed and the gears shifted, moving the pair of pokemon out of sight.