Arc 5: Gods Among Us

Chapter 87:

Awakening

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"Why?"

My voice echoed through the endless white void I found myself in. Despite the seeming lack of any dimensions I could hear a female voice coming from somewhere above me.

"Who says there has to be a reason? Have you ever considered you are just an accident? An afterthought or just a bad joke?"

"You're insane," I whispered in disbelief.

"That's funny, you keep calling everyone and the world insane." The voice chuckled. "You've seen nothing yet."

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With an explosive gasp I woke up. My eyes shot open and I drew in a sharp breath.

For a short moment I had no idea where I was. I was lying on a soft surface. A pillow drenched in sweat pressed against my head and it felt like it was suffocating me.

It felt like I woke up from a nightmare even though I couldn't even remember what I was dreaming about. I was sweaty and hyperventilating.

Then it all came back to me: Hylla's request, the man covered in blood, the abandoned orphanage. Memories moved in front of my eyes like pictures and I shivered; bodies, blood, monsters and a cold smile.

"Oh fuck," I croaked.

Yeah, I like waking up with a few positive words.

"Dust!" A young voice called out. Before I could get up I felt a weight move over my chest, pinning me down. "Say something!"

A blue furred Riolu was in front of my face. Her eyes wide and her voice way too loud for in the morning.

"You're heavy," I muttered when I noticed that I couldn't move. "Get off please."

"Oh." The Riolu looked down, noticed she was crushing my chest and flustered. "Oops, so-"

{My turn!} Another voice interrupted Fay. This time it was a telepathic one. A white Kirlia moved in front of Fay and bowed over me, effectively adding weight and making my situation worse. {Dust, we made it!} The Kirlia giggled ecstatically. {We are all alive and fixed.}

She moved down and gave me a hug, rubbing her head with horns against my chest which would have been cute if she and Fay weren't currently crushing my chest with their combined weight.

"Hey," A raspy voice came from my left. I moved my head a little and saw a small fox looking down on me with a smug grin. She clearly saw I was stuck, yet she didn't reach out to help me. "Did you know that a Munchlax is about 100 kilo (231.5 lbs)?"

"Oh sure." I answered with a sigh. "I didn't plan on leaving my bed anyway."

Finally seeing the problem Fay moved off my chest. Still blushing, she said. "Luna, you are crushing him."

That wasn't really true, Luna weighed far less than Fay but still, it was rather annoying.

{No I'm not.} Luna interrupted her frantic hugging. {He is bedridden, he needs hugs.}

Thinking this was an interesting scene to watch unfold, I said nothing.

"You are the one pinning him down," Fay answered with a scowl.

"She's saying you are fat." The Zorua joined the conversation with a sly grin.

Luna's eyes snapped towards Project Z with a glare that honestly would make me feel like pissing myself. Project Z hesitantly took a small step back, genuine worry on her face.

"Luna please move," I hesitantly tried with a smile, making sure to send some positive vibes her way.

Luna pouted like a child told it was bedtime.

I argued. "You can always hug me later."

Luna happily nodded and moved off my chest to sit down next to Fay. Before anyone could change their mind I quickly sat up right, placing my back against the wooden frames of the bed.

"Morning." Fay coughed awkwardly while I took in my surroundings.

"Yeah morning too."

I was lying in a bed, my sheets were messy, not only because of Luna and Fay but also because I tend to twist a lot in my sleep. Sunlight shone through an open window along with a cool breeze. The sun was already high up in the sky, shining upon a colorful town.

The furniture in the room was pretty standard, a desk was placed in the corner with a monitor up on the wall. My backpack was lying on the floor even though there was a closet and a nightstand not even two steps away from the bed. A door led to a bathroom while another led to the main hall.

The air was clean and fresh, the atmosphere of the entire room was overall positive and calming, so clearly it wasn’t my own room.

I was in a Pokémon Center.

Sometimes I am just amazed how insane this fact is, I can just casually say I am in the world of Pokémon.

A cold hand clenched my heart as other, less pleasant, thoughts dawned on me.

I am in the world of Pokémon. No one told me why I was here, ripped away from my old life, no tutorial and no guide. Not even an explanation.

I am not saying that my life was great before but at least it made sense. I was born, did work and eventually died. Here, things were not that easy. People and Pokémon die but I wasn't born here. And worse, apparently some Pokémon and people don’t even die properly but turn into ghosts.

This world was strange.

Why? The burning question that loomed in the back of my mind. Why?

{Dust!} Luna interrupted my train of thought by forcefully pushing herselves into my vision.

"What?" I asked, confused and possibly sounding a bit more on edge then I should.

{Don't forget you have me and Fay.} Luna took a step back and smiled at me. {No need to panic, you have us.}

I was still wearing the clothes I wore yesterday, I smelled and felt dirty. However, my heart did warm a little when I saw Luna smiling reassuringly at me.

"Yeah, you are right," I muttered. "No point in worrying."

{Exactly!}

I looked at the clock. It was 11 in the morning. That at least explained why the sun was already shining so bright.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

I got out of my bed with shaky legs, feeling a bit dazed from the night. My Pokémon were watching me from the top of the bed.

I quickly flipped the Pokédex open. Multiple missed calls and messages greeted me, though none of them were from Hylla so I decided to put it off for now. Most of them were related to the launch of Tetris anyway.

"How did you two get here actually?" I asked while I was going through the drawers in the room. I was trying to find a towel so I could take a shower.

"The woman healed our wounds and then she brought us to your room," Fay explained. "Something about special orders."

"I guess that would be Hylla's doing."

{You spoke with her?} Luna asked curiously.

I nodded. "Yeah, in fact. I wonder how her clean up operation is going."

I opened the door to the bathroom and found a set of towels hung up against a rack on the wall. Yeah, I should have realized that the towels would be in the bathroom but my brain still felt a bit sluggish, as if I’d just woken up from a fever dream.

"I'm gonna take a quick shower." I said. "You girls can find the breakfast hall on your own?"

Fay nodded. "Already found it. Should we take something for you?"

"Coffee, I feel like drinking coffee," I said before closing the door behind me and stepping into the hot shower.

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I sat down on the bed again, making sure the blanket was straightened out before crashing down again.

"Already tired?" Fay asked with a hint of a smile.

"Ugh, being awake is a task on its own."

A floating mug of coffee passed overhead. I reached out to grab it and made an effort to sit up straight.

I took a sip. It didn't taste that good but it did help me feel a little bit more awake. Still, not wanting to do anything I reached out for the tv remote and turned it on.

Automatically it jumped to Sinnoh Live.

"Hey, I recognize that place!" Project Z called out.

Of course she did because the news channel was talking about the Red Orphanage. The footage was filmed from above, showing a collection of half ruined buildings that decorated the landscape. Multiple people and Pokémon were gathered there and it almost looked like an anthill.

A deep male voice accompanied the broadcast although I couldn't see who was speaking. "This secret facility has been cleared out right now and an extensive operation has been underway although there has not been an official statement from the Sinnoh League or the organization responsible for this bloodbath. We are still very much in the dark about what exactly has transpired here but one thing is sure. Nothing good will come from this."

I sighed and shut off the tv.

"So, what now?" Project Z asked. "You wanna go back, ask that woman for more details?"

"Well, I assume she'll call me. There's no way I'll even entertain the thought of going even near that cursed building."

Saying I had a bad experience doesn't quite cover it.

"What about you?" I looked at Project Z. "What are your plans?"

"My plans?" Project Z's voice raised in pitch. "What do you mean by my plans?"

I shrugged. "Well, you are free now, remember? So, what are you gonna do now?"

"Oww." Project Z's expression soured and her gaze dropped down. "You are right. I finally have my freedom now. At last."

"So, what are you gonna do with it?" I asked again. "I am pretty sure the League would be interested in your experience inside the A2 facility."

"I bet they would," Project Z muttered sarcastically.

"Maybe live in the wild?" I suggested.

Project Z didn't answer.

{Dust, don't-}

"Or, you could come with us," I said, my voice slightly louder.

Project Z looked at me with a perplexed expression. "Say what?!"

"You could come with us." I repeated myself. "I'm looking for a third Pokémon and I feel like you really could fill in that spot."

"Me, your third Pokémon?" The Zorua said with a mocking tone.

"Hey, it is just a suggestion," I shrugged, already knowing how the conversation would end. "But if you have no plans for the future you might as well stick around."

"And I will become your Pokémon?"

I scowled. "Saying 'your' Pokémon really sounds wrong to me. Maybe see it more as a partner? A team member?"

"Partner sounds much cooler," Project Z's eyes were looking everywhere except at me. "But why would I wanna go with you?"

I grinned. "Give me a reason why you shouldn't go with me?"

"You are clearly not a stable person." A smug smile was plastered onto her face.

"So are you." I smiled back. "Next argument."

"I ate a man!"

I blinked once, didn't really think she would pull this card. "Well, surprisingly that isn't the worst I've seen so far. Besides that, I know you wouldn't kill me."

"Why is that?"

My smile widened. I felt like doing something impulsive this morning. "I taste like plastic, remember?"

Apparently my smile was infectious because Project Z mirrored my grin. "Fair enough."

She raised her head as if she was royalty. "I guess I could grace you with my presence."

{Dust!} Luna interrupted the conversation. The expression on the ballerina's face was something I'd like to call mild fury. {Do we get a say in this?}

"Leave me out of this please." Fay scowled.

{Do I get a say in this?} Luna repeated.

Being smart, I didn't argue with her. Instead I just pulled Luna closer and embraced Kirlia in my arms. "No need to grow jealous, Luna."

{I'm not jealous.} Luna half heartedly stuttered.

"Definitely jealous," Fay coughed.

{No I am not.}

I held the Kirlia in front of me and put on something I hoped was a convincing smile. "You know that you will always be my first Pokémon."

{Your main right?}

"Yup."

Luna sighed. {Fine, I guess we'll just have to live with a reality in which I have to share you.}

It was a weird way to phrase it but I think she got the point. "Exactly!"

Sometimes it feels like I was running a kindergarten instead of a Pokémon team.

"Question," Project Z coughed, looking at me and Luna with a weird look. "Is there a reason why all your Pokémon are females?"

I frowned. "You know, now you mention it. That is weird. I mean, the odds are pretty low."

My eyes darted over Project Z, Luna and Fay. When it was just Luna and Fay the odds were pretty much 1/4. But now it feels like Fate is straight up fucking with me.

"Interesting." Project Z said, her voice having a certain edge to it. "Very interesting."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." Project Z said, feigning innocence. "Just something to keep in mind."

Making a deep sigh, I decided to just let the crazy fox be crazy. Instead I went through my stuff, looking for a spare Pokéball.

Luckily I still had a few in my backpack. I drew the typical red-and-white Pokéball and turned to face Project Z.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Oh yes, take me please." Project Z answered with the biggest grin possible.

"I don't get the joke." Our innocent Fay looked around, waiting for an explanation. Of course none was given.

Before Project Z could make me regret it even more I pressed the button on the Pokéball. The light sucked the small Zorua in and the light began blinking.

She didn't escape, which was a small relief. A small part of me was still prepared for the scenario in which she escapes and says 'prank' or something else stupid.

"Wow, so this is what silence feels like," Fay cracked a joke.

{Could get used to it.} Luna muttered.

The Pokéball in my hand stirred and the Pokéball broke open. A light shot out of it and materialized into a Zorua.

"Wow," she muttered perplexedly, "that was weird."

"You can stay outside the Pokéball," I said while pocketing it away, trying to keep it away from Luna's and Fay's.

"I think I prefer to stay outside my Pokéball. Yeah, being locked up isn’t my jam." Project Z nodded to herself. "Anyway, now we are partners, what's next?"

A heavy thud on the door followed that question. I looked at the door, wondering if someone had accidentally thrown a hammer against my door. A second bang followed.

"I guess that's next." I muttered with surprise. "Fay, Luna."

"One person," Fay answered with her eyes closed.

"Luna, get ready to teleport us all in case of an emergency."

Another thud.

I retrieved the gun I had hidden under my pillow, it was the silver one I got from Crimson. With slow and steady steps I walked towards the door.

Hiding the weapon behind my back I unlocked the door with my free hand and pulled it open, expecting the worst.

Instead of finding a monster on the other side I was met with a familiar face.

Long purple hair, deep purple eyes and a smirk. Yup, it was Hylla.

"Hi." Hylla greeted me. Her stark eyes were dazed and her hair was messy. She still had blood on her shoes. I gazed into the hallway and saw a red trail of footsteps.

She looked like shit to me, her eyes were unnaturally red and when she spoke her voice was hoarse.

"Good morning Dust."