Pranav stared long and hard at the thing, it in turn matched his gaze with a tired look, as if it would have rather gone to sleep instead.

“Hey…” He said tentatively “You’re a…a Bidoof right?”

If it understood him, it didn’t show it, instead giving him a slight huff before flopping onto the shore of the lake. It appeared that he had interrupted its nap.

You’d figure they’d run from humans, he thought. He sat next to the thing, slowly inching his way over to get a closer look at it. Despite it’s fluffy exterior, he could see the hard muscles beneath, rippling and tensing with every slight movement the Bidoof made, this Pokémon was wild, through and through.

In most cases, touching a wild animal was a surefire case of a bad idea. Pain, missing digits, fleas, rabies…a lot of terrible things could happen fucking around with a wild animal. And if his time playing Legends Arceus had taught him anything, it was that Pokémon would absolutely destroy him unless he had the athletic ability of an Olympic Athlete (he did not). But Pranav had just died, and seeing a Pokémon so close had caused him to feel a little…bold.

One hand slowly reached out, touching the top of its head. He could feel the Bidoof immediately tense, eyes flicking open regarding him warily. He gently began massaging its head, his fingers digging into the soft fur and tougher muscles, years of expertise gained from massaging his parent’s shoulders now put into effect. It relaxed almost immediately, shifting closer to Pranav to make it easier for him.

“You like that eh?” He asked, giggling “Look at you, so tiny and cute, man I’d spoil you rotten.”

Being given the ok, he brought his free hand onto its back, working the muscles there too, the Bidoof sighing in pure bliss. He worked for a minute, before suddenly flipping the thing, giving it a surprise belly rub.

He laughed as its little paws flailed about, but after the panic it simply relaxed, enjoying it like it was just another day at a spa. Dumb little thing he thought as its face slackened, tongue lolling out in what Pranav thought was the absolute cutest thing he’d ever seen.

“Never had a Pran patented belly-rub eh?” he asked, “Yea I bet you didn’t, look at your little dumb face, absolute-Umph!”

The breath was knocked out of him suddenly, as the Bidoof instantly righted itself, throwing it headfirst into his stomach. It sent him sprawling a few feet away, clutching his stomach as the pain rocked him.

“Holy shit!” he laughed “I forgot you guys can understand me.” The Bidoof looked slightly annoyed at him, standing proud, eyes narrowed.

“Hey I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it ok?” He stood up as he spoke, dusting himself off. “You’re really something aren’t you? I bet all the other Pokémon here know not to fuck with you.”

Bidoof's eyes shone with pride, and Pranav knew he was forgiven. Its chest puffed up, Bidoof promptly turned and began to wander deeper into the forest, stopping to look back and motioning for Pranav to follow. Seeing how there wasn’t anything in his schedule, he followed, keeping pace with his new companion.

The Forest around him enraptured Pranav, distant calls of Pokémon he could recognize echoed through the canopies. Flocks of Starly’s perched in a tree, Wurmple’s and Cascoons hidden among the branches, watching him with curious eyes, Budews standing in clearings, taking in the sunlight, it was all so…peaceful.

From time to time Bidoof would trundle off into a random bush or tree, usually ones with berries, and look to Pranav to help it pick some. Obviously he did, taking the largest and juiciest looking of the fruits, splitting it between himself and his new friend. Oran berries were a little strange, he didn’t enjoy them much for taste, but every time he finished one he found extra pep in his step, akin to a full cup of coffee.

He wondered lightly if too much Oran was bad for one's health, but then figured it was the Pokémon world, and there probably weren’t cases of berry overdose.

Pechas were his favourite, the cool sweetness tasted of mangoes and strawberries, and he greedily took a few extra whenever Bidoof would find a bush that sported the snack.

After the two had eaten their fill, Pranav and Bidoof had taken to napping by a river, the plump creature unceremoniously claiming his chest as its perch. Not that he minded, Pranav rather enjoyed its presence, absentmindedly stroking its mane while he asked random questions that popped into his mind.

“What were you doing by that old lake?”

“Oof.” Nap

Something else he realized was interesting, though Pokémon spoke their own language, he could understand the intent behind their words. So far however, he could really only understand Bidoof, and even then she (He found out it was a girl) had to simplify its sentences for him, as the nuances and proper linguistics of the Pokémon language evaded him. Pranav figured that the only reason he could understand his furry friend was either because he had taken the time to get close to her, or the other Pokémon were hiding their intent from him.

“So, why were you alone?”

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Not alone.

“No? I don’t see anyone else here,”

Family, nap. Wander, you.

“Hmm.” He hummed. The mention of family made him think of Arun. He’d been so preoccupied with everything else he forgot about how he even ended up in this world in the first place.

They really isekai’d me, huh? He thought, though who “They” were, Pranav couldn’t say.

He felt tears begin to creep up as Arun entered his thoughts again, his older brother. They spent a long time together, just the two of them alone. After the incident that left Pranav paralyzed, all he could do was watch as Arun pulled him along from one place to another, all with a smile on his face, and with minimal complaint. After a while, when he spent longer and longer in the abyss, the image of his brother’s stalwart figure kept him sane, if Arun could carry him around for hours on end, he could fight to stay lucid as well.

“What’s your family like?”

Very big, am best girl.

He chuckled at that “Yea I bet you are.”

A deep growl emanated from behind him, and Pranav immediately shot up, the startled Bidoof rolling off and unceremoniously landing in the grass below. The guttural sound emitted again, causing Pranav’s heart to hammer in his chest. There! Tall grass, two narrowed eyes were locked in on him, a dozen more shifting behind, causing the grass to sway.

"Shit." He thought, "Of course, ‘don’t go into the tall grass’ bound to be some that want to fight." He took a quick glance at Bidoof, whose lazy eyes stared ahead without a care in the world. "Yea no chance I’m battling with her, at most she’ll know…what? Tackle and Defense Curl? Yea not happening. Pick her up, run away, find somewhere to hide, easy."

Tensing to grab his companion, he found that apparently Bidoof decided his plan was stupid, and promptly walked towards the source of the sound. Pranav stared in disbelief “She’s going to fight those things?” Bidoof stood to attention, raising her head high and calling out. “Oh fuck she’s going to fight.”

Just before Pranav could bolt into action however, Bidoof immediately lowered herself, dropping to the ground and rolling onto her belly, leaving him absolutely confused. The confusion quickly faded however, when a Bibarrel poked its head out from the tall grass, its eyes a sharp contrast to Bidoof, alert and focused.

From behind the Bibarel, no more than a dozen other Bidoof followed behind, all equally aloof and goofy looking, happy upon seeing their lost companion, and curious about the tall stranger accompanying her. Pranav had to remind himself he was still in danger, despite the silly little “Oofs” and “Bibo” sounds that came from the lot of them as the two sides communicated.

Bibarels gaze eventually went from hostile, to slightly wary as Bidoof explained her case. And after a few minutes spent scrutinized under its gaze, the Bibarel decided Pranav didn’t have any harmful intentions. It sighed and got closer to its charge, adoring it with a touching tenderness Pranav wasn’t expecting from something trying to kill him a few moments earlier.

See? Bidoof said, enjoying the attention, am best girl.

Pranav finally lowered his guard, laughing at the sight “Yea I get it, best girl.” He looked at the rest of the small pack, each greeting their missing sister in their own way, Bidoof languishing under their love.

"Wish Arun could see this." he thought "Always liked Pokémon more than me." The Bibarel at this point called out to its family, and they all stood to attention lining up single file, Pranav noticing his “best girl” was at the front of said line.

Everybody’s got family huh. he thought wistfully, Yea, best not get in the way, we can figure it out from here.

“Well, looks like this is where we split eh?” He asked, giving the group a small smile

Apparently that was a ludicrous idea as the Bibarel turned to face him, its face an expression of absolute shock and confusion.

“Well I mean, I gotta find other people right? Civilization, buildings, humans, the works.”

The stare continued, Best Girl giving him an incredulous look.

“Wait, stop looking at me like I’m stupid!” He begged “Come on! I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be with people like me! Maybe not as good looking, but you know, me.”

Bibarel’s face contorting into absolute disgust at the absurdity of Pranav’s previous statement made him want to cry.

“Yea ok I’m done.” He said, beginning to turn away. “I’m gonna go this way, you guys have fun do what you to-ack” A biting cold, wet force hit him square in the back, sending him sprawling to the ground, soaking his recently dried clothes once again.

He stared in disbelief “Did you just…did you watergun me?”

A second torrent of water shot out of Bibarel’s mouth, Pranav yelped, barely ducking out of the way as it slammed into a nearby tree, the impact causing loose foliage and a confused Wurmple to fall onto the ground. He looked to Bidoof for help, wondering what the hell he said to make it so angry.

Big Mama said roll call, you not rolling.

He looked from Bibarel, to Best Girl, to the other Bidoofs still in a perfect line.

“Wait a minute” He argued “I’m not one of hers, why do I have to?”

Best Girl shrugged, her little ears twitching Big Mama said, you do.

“What about the other humans?”

Follow

He grumbled, but not wanting to get hit again, complied. He lined up behind the other Bidoofs, feeling silly as he walked, a troupe of Bidoof and one lone, scraggly man following suit. As they walked however, Pranav more or less forgot about the embarrassment, and let his mind wander off again. There was a sort of hierarchy to the troop, the larger of the Bidoof’s covered the rear of the line, while the smallest were closer to Big Mama (he liked that name). Best Girl, being the youngest, stayed behind Big Mama, and from the attention she got from all her brothers and sisters, he figured he knew where the name “Best Girl” came from.

From time to time the formation would break up, members moving back and forth to check up and speak with one another with soft purrs and short barks, a strange language made up mostly of their names and intentions. Of course, he could only really understand Best Girl, but from the sheer amount of love she dispensed to her brothers and sisters, he figured the others were saying more or less the same. His eyes softened at one particular Bidoof, the largest of the pack, constantly moving to the front to check up on Best Girl, only to be nipped by Big Mama and sent back in line. It reminded him of Arun, after he lost his mobility and he began dragging him around, he’d always stop whenever the road got bumpy to make sure Pranav was alright. At the time it annoyed him, being constantly checked up upon, but thinking back, the gesture had made him feel safe.

"Guess it’s just me now, though." He thought. "At least I won’t be eating soup for the rest of my life, that’s a plus. Oh man what I’d do for some chicken, maybe beef. Wait, do they even have those here? Oh god am I gonna be eating Pokémon?" He stared at the Bidoof troupe ahead of him. "If I have to eat them for meat I’m burning the whole system to the ground, from now on everybody eats fish or vegetables, that’s it. Wait, do fish exist?"

Before he could scrounge his memory for any hint of fish in the anime, Bibarel had issued a short bark to the troupe, causing his focus to snap at the scene ahead of him. It was a clearing, and Pranav could only stop and stare at the sight. A gathering of Pokémon of all kinds, Budew, Bidoof, Wurmples and other species all gathered together, singing and communicating with one another.

But it wasn’t the Pokémon that had left him astounded, rather, it was the human they crowded. A face Pranav thought he would never see again, beaming at the Pokémon around him.

“Arun?”