You know that feeling when you read about stepping into a new world in fiction, all magical and exhilarating? Yeah, well, reality check: it's more like stumbling into a chaotic carnival ride…on crack, and anyone who claims otherwise is probably selling said crack... or delusional.

𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼-𝗼

He hadn't been in this world long and honestly, it was unsettling how quickly he was adapting to it. He had died, he felt himself die; his heart stopped, everything in that instantaneous second stopped and he somehow knew for a fact he was already gone. Then there was a pull.

And he was suddenly in darkness.

But no darkness was inaccurate, it looked like… Like the in-between of time and space like for the first time he could comprehend such a concept

It seemed to last an eternity, then suddenly diminished into no time at all. Simultaneously everything was happening too fast, and too slowly. There was a world of roses and their luscious world grew dimmer as it was torn away, like paint running from a canvas, and then there was more darkness all of a sudden, but not actually. There was black and gray and white all at the same time. Trying to describe it is like trying to describe the color of a mirror.

There was geometry that didn't make sense, like squares with five sides or triangles comprised of 90 degree angles. A place without space or time. He couldn’t breathe because there wasn’t any air, nor did he have a body to breathe. He was conscious, and yet not. Simultaneously existing and not existing, dying and living. He may have been there for seconds or hundreds upon hundreds of years, it was hard to say. Both felt the same, an array of illogical and random thoughts like a fever dream, sentences and impressions infinitely repeating. He drank in a circle, a circle he could not break out of. It was both euphoric and utter hell. He knew everything, yet nothing. He doesn't know if he could even perceive anything he saw....

His hell

His heaven

To comprehend everything all yet so very little.

Then he was ripped from it

And then, ripped from the between dimensions, a place between all realms he could only think a single thought

THE PAIN.

EVERY FIBER SHREDDED

EVERY ATOM RIPPED APART

HIS VERY BEING SPREAD UNFATHOMABLY THIN

END THIS NOW

SATAN, GODS, ARCEUS, ANYONE, END THIS SUFFERING, MAKE IT CEASE

STOP IT

STOP IT

STOP IT

STOP IT

STOP IT

Please.

He could feel his essence stretched so thin, he was unsure if he could piece himself together into existence from this brutal, relentless agony.

Then he 'awoke', a mild sense of unease filled him, then a headache. Then time started to slow down as both gradually became worse with an intense pressure behind his eyes and inside his head, followed by a strange pulling sensation as if something inside of his body was pressing against its outside, trying to force its way through then with human eyes began the memories but it wasn't exactly his memories but… They were.

He lived through them like it was his first time experiencing them, yet they felt familiar like deja vu. He thought he was living them, yet his own memories were not in order. He’d jump between them in nonsensical ways, his old and new memories coming together causing him to question his sanity. He met people he knew were dead, or did not know. The contradictions made him realize none of it was real, at least he thought it wasn't...

Then he snapped into place.

Entering a new body was an unsettling experience. He started feeling a spinning and pulling sensation. He felt sick and high. The not-reality he was in gave way to reality. Being in a body was... uncomfortable for a bit. He wondered how people operated in these *things*, almost wanting to go back to non-reality before--like a rubber band; reality set in place and he felt... human. His eyes were open, yet he could not see. It felt like his body was rearranging itself for what felt like days, but was merely seconds. In a paradoxical state of dual embodiment, his mind struggled to grasp the surreal new reality. He tasted color and heard shapes...

For the first time he felt pain. It shot like electricity through his veins. It awakened him, but he only opened his eyes when the pain had dulled. He felt weak, limp. Inside a world of green liquid he was suspended with chains around his wrists, restricting movement. There was movement inside the green; shadows all similar in appearance but separate, moving around, huddling together. He blinked. No, it was outside, they were outside. He was inside.

Trapped.

Were they keeping him here? Who were they? He was still questioning many things when a bolt of pain, equal if not more powerful than the first, exploded into his body. His whole form jolted. He opened what he learned was his mouth and screamed. There was something within that scream, something that was not sound, but feeling; a strong feeling, a power trying to push out, trying to attack the oppressors, anything to make the agony stop.

He didn't know what that feeling was, but he didn't care. All he knew was pain. This power was like a separate being, it answered by blowing the glass and green liquid outward and away. The shackles chain snapped and he fell forward.

For a moment there was silence everything was spinning his mind was racing trying to find out whose memory was whose? What had happened? How had he gotten here? Memories were flooding his mind so fast it was overwhelming he couldn't even remember his name!! But as he attempted to remember his name

Noise began flooding in people in white coats surrounding him

Some part of him knew what they were saying some part of him thought maybe he should listen figure out what was going on

But he didn't 'What is my name!' he thought obsessively clawing at his face it was all wrong! This was wrong he tried to breathe calm his racing heart this wasn't his body his...his... Heart! Yet his soul-

One of them spoke, casting a questioning glance at his companion. "Could that be attributed to the professor's enhancements?"

The other nodded thoughtfully. "It's possible. The professor's methods are always cutting-edge, but we'll need to monitor him closely to be sure."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“This could genuinely be the first ever case of-”

He tuned their words out they were hollow to him. Memories trickled back, but they were few and far-between and even more puzzling.

His muscles began to tense as he went to stand. The professor knelt down to meet his gaze but no offer of assistance was made. "Do you know me, @#-;+?" He scowled at him. His memory allowed speech but he could not find the grace within the words. After a long silence, he seemed to register the stubbornness in his eyes. His mouth turned into a thin line as he leaned towards him to touch his shoulder. He whipped around

‘DON'T TOUCH ME!’ He roared atleast mentally… and once again that power responded yet this time it *talked* to him it hissed and growled whispering in his ears "Destroy, Pain, Destruction"

This power it wasn't friendly not to him not to any body but he didn't care he knew it wouldn't let him die and briefly, he let it flood out of him.

And all hell broke loose.

All the scientists were pushed back by some sort of psychic force all of them levitating and being pushed against the walls of wherever he was

"My name..." he pondered, his thoughts gradually clarifying despite the pounding migraine. Two names occupied his mind: HIS name and his name—but which to choose? His intellect insisted his name was 'Damon,' yet his instincts, his very being, whispered 'Asterion.' Was Asterion the moniker of this body's former inhabitant?

"Da-" he attempted to speak, flinching at the discomfort.

It felt alien, false. Clenching his fist in frustration, he seethed internally, "Seriously? Who do they think they are, playing god?’ He seethed more ‘They need to learn-’ before he could finish that thought pain filled him.

Perhaps out of some sort of thought of a threat the power reacted again. The scientist once more being pushed against the wall then letting out wails of pain

‘Good’ I thought

Placing him within a body not his own, disposing of its original occupant—for what purpose? He couldn't fathom. Nevertheless, perhaps out of reverence, he uttered, "Asterion."

For the first time since he had 'awoken' he took in his surroundings there were red lights flashing an alarm ringing and the scientist against the wall were groaning in pain.For a second longer he let them feel a fraction or a fraction of his pain before thinking "Youre killing them, drop them please." He didn't know exactly who he was talking to but he spoke anyway. He wouldn't stoop to their level; he was no murderer. It was at that moment he realized he spoke physically it pained him some but he was glad for it.

The power murmured hesitantly, attempting to assert control but proving rather easy to quell. "Release. Them" he spoke once again commanding firmly, and finally, it stopped.

As the scientist groaned, he realized the longer he stayed like this, the more his brain kicked into gear. Every moment that passed, his thoughts got clearer—not like a sudden surge, more like things slowly coming into focus.

This boy, This body... Asterion...

Before he could conclude his contemplation, the sound of approaching footsteps intensified from the door across the chamber. Time appeared to decelerate around Asterion, perhaps it actually did his breaths labored, disregarding the nearing footsteps. He walked over to what had just caught his eye.

“There's no way… It's surprisingly authentic… I… Remember this clearly vividly” he murmured, gingerly tracing his finger along the elegant metallic sphere, crafted with precision Its smooth surface glimmers with a lustrous sheen, reflecting light in a mesmerizing display of sophistication. The ball is embellished with intricate patterns reminiscent of a legendary Pokémon it exuded a sense of exclusivity and refinement.

The reality of his situation enveloped him like a suffocating mist. None of this felt plausible; it belonged to fantasy novels! His breathing quickened, caught in the whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

Asterion's world shattered like fragile glass, the pieces slicing through his sanity with merciless precision. As the realization of this sank in, his mind fractured, each shard a jagged edge of panic and disbelief.

"I-I can't... " he stammered, his voice trembling with the weight of his crumbling reality. He clutched the pokeball containing the unknown pokemon

he whimpered, questions flooding his memories echoing in the emptiness of his psyche.

This had to be a dream, it had to be a dream… then why didn't he believe that?

In the tumult of his breakdown, Asterion struggled to find a grip on his unraveling sanity, clinging desperately to the fragile threads of his unraveling mind.

Suddenly, the room was flooded with a group of people dressed in striking orange suits and sharp black ties. Their presence was amplified by the imposing figures of Houndoom, pyroar, and Drapion standing alongside them. The atmosphere crackled with intensity as these individuals exuded a palpable sense of command and purpose, their arrival marking a significant shift in the room's dynamics.

He backed away his eyes widening

A female member of the orange-clad group approached Asterion cautiously, her tone calm yet firm. "Hey, just calm down, okay? We're not here to hurt you unless we have to."

Asterion narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her words. *'Don't make us...'* he thought to himself, his instincts warning him to stay vigilant.

The woman glanced back at her colleagues briefly before returning her gaze to Asterion, her expression earnest. "Look, we just need you to cooperate. No one wants this to get messy. Just come with us peacefully."

Before Asterion could respond, another member of the group barked a command. "Bind him."

Asterion's muscles tensed instinctively, his senses on high alert as he assessed his options. The tension in the room escalated, the air thick with uncertainty and the unspoken threat of force.

“Dammit Elron, I was close!” came the frustrated female voice from the group.

“He was about to run!!” the male voice exclaimed urgently.

The female sighed as they attempted to shackle him; his muscles had gained some strength but not enough to fully and steadily control his own body. Not that they cared; they pushed and shoved until he fell to the ground. He was less than an animal now. He crushed my eyes shut tight

“Look kid I'm sorry If you just cooperate I'll make sure-”

Suddenly another feminine voice yelled out:

"Chesnaught use mudshot!" A small girl spoke atleast compared to her partner, the colossal Pokémon barreling into the room, nearly knocking her over. She stumbled for a moment but quickly regained her composure, standing tall alongside her formidable partner.

Without any effort at all Chesnaught conjured forth a deluge of thick, viscous mud from it's mouth. The muddy projectile surging forth with incredible speed, propelled by the Pokémon's strength and determination. As it hurtled through the air, the mud gathered momentum. Upon impact, it splattered and engulfed them and the pokemon, coating them in a sticky mess and hindering their movements, leaving them vulnerable to further assaults.

He couldn't help but gaze upon the pokemon his mouth wide open before suddenly the pokemon charged at him

He flinched but the pokemon simply moved him out of the way blocking a houndoom that had tried to attack him from behind

Chesnaught and Houndoom engaged in battle but before he could really register it someone grabbed his hand

She pulled him up dramatically "Come with me if you want to live!" Her cloak was a strange purplish-blue that obscured her body in a mysterious haze.

Despite the urgency of the moment, Asterion couldn't help but let out a nervous chuckle. *'Corny...'* he thought, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead. Part of him wondered how he even knew the meaning of these words with little to no memories.

She guided him through the chaotic surroundings, her grip firm yet gentle as they navigated the tumultuous scene. Amidst the commotion, he attempted to voice his confusion, but she silenced him with a single word, her hand halting his inquiry. Three figures clad in vibrant orange darted past them, further adding to the mystique of their surroundings. Despite his persistent queries, she maintained her enigmatic demeanor, her identity veiled in shadow as she continued to lead him forward.

"Can you PLEASE tell what's going on?" he said exasperatingly "Even in this surreal dream, a hint of the plot would be appreciated." As those words came out he knew he was lying to himself not even for a moment did he believe that not on a conscious level not on a conscious level in fact he almost wanted to scoff at the very fact he said it despite so desperately wanting to believe it

Though her features remained obscured, he could sense a subtle amusement in her demeanor as she finally spoke, her voice carrying a hint of enigma and intrigue.

"Unraveling the plot would take away the charm of this surreal dream, wouldn't it?" she replied

He could swear he could feel a vein appear on his head.

She then grabbed a pokeball from her waist releasing it before he could make it out

She giggled mischievously, seizing Asterion's hand and propelling him forward as they sprinted. In a heartbeat, they ascended to the rooftop, leaving Asterion momentarily disoriented by the abrupt shift in scenery.

"Did we just teleport...?" he muttered incredulously, his mind struggling to grasp the surreal experience.

"Celabiii!" The green psychic pokemon floating Infront of him

His jaw dropped as he attempted to touch the pokemon but it floated away giggling

As Asterion's gaze swept the horizon, the girls movements became swift and purposeful. With a surprising swiftness, she lunged forward, seizing him by the collar, it was strangely suddenly becoming aware of sensations. It was the first time he even realized he was wearing clothes.

Her grip felt firm yet oddly gentle as she pressed him against the edge of the roof. The suddenness of her action sent a jolt of adrenaline coursing through his veins, his heart pounding in his chest as he looked into her eyes, now intense with an energy.

There was a fleeting moment of disorientation, a silent question lingering in his mind as to the nature of this sudden escalation. Yet, as he felt the cool night air brush against his skin and caught the glint of city lights below, he found himself spellbound by the intensity of the moment.

Her hold, though firm, carried a strange sense of reassurance, as if daring him to confront the unknown that lay beyond the edge. And in that fleeting instant, as their gazes locked in a silent exchange of curiosity and intrigue, he couldn't help but wonder.

Asterion's eyes widened in disbelief as The girls grip tightened, her determination palpable even in the dim light of the rooftop. "W-Why?" he stammered, his voice tinged with confusion and a hint of defiance.

"You're too important to let them fall into their hands," she replied, her tone unwavering despite the urgency of the situation.

"What does killing me accomplish?!" Asterion shot back, his scowl deepening as he struggled against her grasp.

"You won't die," she stated matter-of-factly, her grip loosening slightly as if to emphasize her point.

Asterion's expression shifted from defiance to incredulity. "Wait, wait, wait—what's your name?" he demanded, a note of urgency creeping into his voice.

Without missing a beat she leaned in, pressing two fingers against his forehead with a gentle poke. "My name..." she whispered, her voice distorted with a hint of mystery.

With a sudden release, she let go of Asterion, her expression shifting to one of serene innocence his heart began to beat faster as he felt himself fall for but a moment he felt the power suddenly rushing through him Calebi's materialized swirling around him in a vibrant display of shimmering lights and gentle energy.

As the mythical Pokémon enveloped him in its radiant embrace, Asterion felt a sense of calm wash over him, the worries and uncertainties of the moment fading into the background. With a soft hum, Calebi's presence seemed to soothe his troubled thoughts, its mystical aura offering a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still as Asterion and shared a si

lent connection, their spirits intertwining in a dance of harmony and unity. And in that fleeting moment of tranquility, amidst the bustling cityscape below, Asterion couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards the enigma of a girl.