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Taking in a sharp breath causes me to gag. Water surges down my throat! My eyes snap open with the realization that I'm slowly sinking in murky, darkness.

I'm drowning!

Thrusting one arm above the other and kicking my legs with all my might seems to do little against the current, but without giving up I slowly ascend. I sense the corners of my vision darkening even as my hand breaks the surface.

Floating onto my back I cough up what seems an absurd amount of salty water. My body lifts and falls with the waves.

Simple white clouds drift above in a pretty evening sky. I can hear the sound of waves breaking on a nearby shore.

After catching my breath I turn towards the sound and begin swimming towards land. The beach is narrow, with a rocky hillside close to the water and a forest beyond that.

Taking it easy, the swim gives me time to think.

Where is this?

How did I get here?

Nothing comes to mind past a moment ago.

At least the water isn't freezing and looking ahead, I'm nearly to the shore. Reaching shallow water, I choose to float the rest of the way in. Just a few kicks against the course sand below with the tide before I finally wash up on the beach like a mess of seaweed.

My clothes are going to be drenched for the rest of the night, the sun is already close to the horizon over the water. The sound of the wind blowing through the woods makes me look towards the forest.

Pine trees with topically warm sea water? I'm not sure of anywhere like that in America. Maybe Japan, or the Mediterranean? It's not chilly or overly hot either, does this place have seasons?

"Heeeeeey!" I hear the voice of a woman.

A brunette gal in a denim outfit is hopping down the rocky hillside.

I stand up, stretching sore muscles. As she gets closer I notice she seems far more concerned than I think is warranted.

Running over to me, "Are you alright? I saw you swimming in and then you just collapsed here. This isn't exactly safe water for swimming either." Her eyes search my body before sighing with relief, "Well, looks like you're not missing chunks and bleeding out."

Don't tell me I could have been eaten by sharks, "I feel fine, a bit water logged but okay. I don't suppose you can tell me where I am?"

Her face tilts to the side, "Aren't you a bit old to be getting lost this close to town? Er, not that I'm saying you look old, I'm sure you look fine when you don't look like you've been lost at sea for days."

Do I? I scratch my chin feeling the bit of unshaven scruff that itches from the salt water.

She awkwardly gets back on track, "uh, anyway what's your name?"

Feeling confident from who knows where, "Ah I'm….uh...huh."

Nothing. Confidence shattered.

Why the hell don't I know my name!?

She laughs, "What don't know your own name?"

I can only nod in a slight panic.

Worry creeps back into her expression, "I'm sorry, um, my name is Janice. I'll get you to the center in Rustboro. It's just a bit past this tree line. Maybe they can look up your information and get you set with some new clothes."

Glancing down, my grey t-shirt is shredded and my jeans are torn down the sides, I don't have any shoes. I check my pockets in search of ID but find nothing.

Janice leads me up the rocks and we head into the woods. I can hear the chirping of insects similar to cicadas.

The walking isn't too bad, not worse than anything you'd find elsewhere at the edge of a town near mountains… except this is the coast? Really, where is a warmer version of Seattle that speaks English?

Something about the town name strikes me as familiar. Seems I haven't lost everything. Doing some quick mental gymnastics; math and science are fine but I couldn't say how much school I've had. A few songs and movies easily come to mind. I could list the 50 states but not say which one I'm from.

My guide suddenly crouches down and signals me to do the same. She starts creeping forward on her knees and peers over a bush. I follow suit and try to listen to my surroundings. Wind rustles the trees stirring a few cicada or some other loud bug.

She turns around, her face serious, we wait in the following silence for another moment before she stands back up. I never heard anything over the noisy pests.

I whisper, "So uh, what was that about?"

"The bug types around here can have a nasty temper. It's best we avoid them if possible."

Types? Before I can question What that even means I hear the distant sound of a car.

Just a couple minutes further of walking and we exit the trees on the edge of a small yet busy town. The buildings all seem built in the same style of older brick masonry.

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Janice breathes a sigh of relief, "Welcome to Rustboro City. You're lucky I passed by, wouldn't want you wandering around lost and finding yourself in a Nincada nest." She snort laughs, "That happened to my neighbor, Jose, once. Anyway, the Pokemon Center is just down this road."

"Did you just say…" No, she couldn't have.

"Nincada? Oh yes, these woods may be narrow but they're definitely not the place for a picnic. The Mightyena pack is extremely protective of their new pups this time of year as well. Which is a problem since the little adorable fluffs like to explore."

She starts off down the road. I follow in disbelieving silence.

No way in hell am I in the pokemon world. This chick is crazy! This town seems no different from any modern city in the world.

The thought no sooner crossed my mind as we pass an open air café. At one of the front tables, an elderly lady is sipping coffee with her little red fox creature. It looks exactly like that thing that evolved to Ninetails... ah, Vulpix!

Shit that had to be a doll. A little boy runs past with his pink, pet cat chasing him, a Skitty, I think.

Maybe this is a movie set? Why can I remember a childhood game but not my own damn name?!

The nail in the coffin presents itself as we round a corner.

Before me stands what would normally be just a large clinic if not for the giant, red and white pokeball sign on the front. The level of detail in the building is clearly beyond a movie set. From the neon lights, to the trainers coming and going with their partner pokemon at the front door.

You know, I bet the younger me, whoever I am, would be thrilled right now.

"Hey Janice, would you slap me please? This must be a dream."

She looks at me with a bit of confusion, "Um, I don't think that's really necessary…"

"Just do it!"

Alright, maybe I'm freaking out a little, and apparently, Janice really knows how to box, because my face takes a more than perfect right hook.

Once more in a daze on the ground, "Ya know, the sidewalk also feels extra sturdy this time of year. Pretty sure I said slap, but the last couple seconds seem blurry. I mean if I didn't have amnesia before..."

"Well you startled me," Janice huffs, "and you asked for it... this is too weird, did Jose put you up to this?"

"Nope." rolling over, "Nice punch by the way."

Rolling her eyes, she starts to walk away, "Just head in, if your story is tauros shit then they can still check out the lump I just gave you."

I look over again at the giant pokeball sign over this alternate world's animal hospital, then rest my head back against the sidewalk, "Alright, this shit is real enough to punch me in the face. If I'm here, I need a pokemon, no question. Which means, I need a ball. Which means I need cash. They battle for cash, which means I need a pokemon..."

A guy with shaggy black hair runs out the door, "Oh man! Bro, I saw everything! Ya got dropped like a sack."

"Gee, thanks for pointing that out." Who expects a random college girl to be a hidden fighting champ, "Well, I may have asked for it.”

His excitement chills a bit, “My bad cuz,” he rubs his neck looking where she stormed off, “She be like that these days man. Used to be real cool, beating down bullies in school and shit.”

Taking another look at this dude in auto shop coveralls, this her ex or something? Wait! “Are you Jose?”

”Uh, Ya?”

That’s a wild coincidence… or just small town living, "She totally asked if you set that up as a prank!”

Jose's eyebrows raise in panic, "Shit cuz, my bad.” He offers me a hand to get up and It take it. He then scowls towards a larger building down the block, “That Winston fool pulls that shit. Look, I really don't want any hard feelings. Folks are cranky enough in town these days.”

He fishes out a small, dark blue ball out of his pocket, and tosses it to me, “Here, have a Net Ball and call it good, what ya say? I don't want you thinking everyone in Rustboro is a jerk."

Well damn, but I’m not about to pass this up. Feeling the raised, black net pattern, “You sure?”

“No worries cuz, just don’t hold it against her alright?”

Man, “You totally dig her don’t you?”

His eyes widen a bit and he starts speed walking away while talking rapid fire, “That ball means you can’t tell her this happened bye!”

”Yup, definitely a small town.”

Looking at the Real PokeBall, its heavier than I expected. Also, it's made of metal? Not sure why I thought it'd be plastic.

Facing the actual damn Pokémon Center again, "Right... I got this."

Walking in, I find several young teenagers scattered about the white tiled lobby. Some are watching what looks like a news program on tv, others are minding their various pokemon.

The variety is stunning, there are pink Wurmples, the blue water rat thing, Marill, even that ridiculous pineapple duck, Ludicolo.

I probably shouldn’t stand around staring.

Heading over to the counter I don't find the expected Nurse Joy. Instead its a blonde young woman with her nose buried in a thick textbook.

As soon she sees me approach, "Hi there! My name is Cindy, how can I... Arceus! What happened to you?! Are you alright?!"

Hmm, well here it is, truth or lies.. I don't think hiding everything really solves anything.

I'll just get to the point, "Well, I just woke up like this. Almost drowned off the beach nearby. I can't remember what happened, and even worse I can't even remember my name!"

"Oh Arceus!" She gasps, "Follow me upstairs, you can shower up in one of the empty rooms and I'll have the manager comp you a night. We can grab you some clothes from the lost and found. Once you've cleaned up, come down and I'll have the doctor look at you."

I'm not too proud to deny a bit of charity in this crazy situation. Although I'd really prefer to get on my own feet fast. I just don't see the point in making things even harder for myself here. What I can remember about the Pokémon world paints it as a very altruistic society with rare, extreme exceptions.

After following her to a staff area, I pick out a newish looking red jacket, grey shirt and jeans. Another bin actually has a pair of grey hiking shoes that fit me. Cindy assures me it's all been washed.

A walking giant plushy pokes it's head in from the hall, looking like a kangaroo sized pink Koala, "Ansey?"

"Mind the front desk please Chansey. I've got this handled." Cindy waves the pokemon on.

At some point I've got to ask about the egg.

The room upstairs feels like a standard, budget hotel. King size bed, small desk with a lamp, closet and bathroom. When I asked if this really wasn't an issue, Cindy just said 'Don't worry. It's the off season still. No one's looking for a rookie room.'

In the shower I run over everything I know about the pokemon games in my head. Some scenes from the endless seasons of anime come to mind. I'll have to figure out if Ash exists, could give me some kind of timeline context. Might have to study up that whole type chart thing at a minimum. As far as the pokemon themselves... I should at least recognise most of them I think.

Should make some kind of basic plan to start. The nurse mentioned it's the off season, when the new one starts am I too old to get a lab pokemon? After that... I highly doubt there is some convenient method of returning home, wherever that was.

Sighing, "Well at least it wasn't some crazy fantasy world where my life is on the line or a freaky sci-fi monster world... well it is but... whatever. This is all gonna be kid stuff right? These people kick their kids out to roam the nation when they're ten!"

The hot water washes away the exhaustion. Strangely, I feel really good, as if I was only barely in the water for a few minutes earlier.

Maybe I should be freaking out more, but no, this is figure shit out time. Solve one problem, then the next. The panic time has passed.

This isn't a video game either. That means I need a place to stay, food, and income. I don't have time to worry over the what ifs right now.

"Suck it up eh?" A small laugh escapes me as I turn off the shower.

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