A/N: This story will be the first one ever that I have written in first person. I have great plans for this one. Now I'd love people's opinions on this, and quite possibly criticism, as pointers, so to speak, of where I'm going right or wrong. Now that that's out of the way, enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon in any shape or form, but the characters, themes, ideas and concepts of this story, I do, and are not to be reproduced without my consent.

Dreams can open a gateway to another world. A world that can be many things; unpredictable, horrific, beautiful… But, these manage to slip away upon awakening. The one thing that doesn't, however, is the inspiration they can give.

"Emri, here. Get here, quick."

The Pidgeot glanced at me from her hiding place, her body half-hidden in the shadows of the corner of the building. She studied me for a moment, then turned her head away to look at the earth below.

I shuddered and pushed myself further back against the wall. I could hear the sounds of Arcanine barking below, and the occasional shrill squeal of a klaxon. It didn't help that it was cold up here, and I was beyond freezing. Once again I looked to Emri, watching as she shuffled a little on her slightly too small perch.

Taking a deep breath I beckoned her over. She tilted her head to the side to stare at me through one grey eye, then promptly fluttered to my side. There was barely enough room for the both of us, but her warm presence came as a comfort to me.

Emri nuzzled my cheek gently, then pulled back, her long multihued feathers quivering in the light breeze. 'We stay much longer and we will be in danger,' she chirped quietly.

"I know," I replied, placing a hand against her side. "Just a few more minutes, and then we'll leave, I promise."

'That is what you say, but those few minutes will grow in length until they are much more in likeness to that of a lifetime.' Her expression was one devoid of emotion, but her mouth alone gave away her nervousness. Set in a straight line, I could recognise it anywhere.

"They will come shortly, I am sure of it," I reassured her. "Just hang on."

'Very well.'

With a ruffle of her feathers, she fell still, and together we waited.

Her words struck true. Every second felt like it had been stretched out before me. Every minute felt like an hour, and every hour felt like an eternity… I shuddered and pulled up my coat collar in a vain attempt to rid myself of the chill, then folded my arms.

It was the scraping sound, (what seemed like an) eternity later, that alerted me to another presence. It was quiet, barely noticeable above the breeze and the noise. But there nonetheless.

I shifted a few inches to the right, and glanced to my companion. She made no indication that she had heard the sound, her gaze fixed forwards. I find myself holding my breath, and quickly let it go. Breathing in deeply, my eyes still fixated on the wall in-between me and Emri.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then a ripple of pure blackness emanated from the surface. A long violet arm pulled out from the darkness, followed by a torso, then a hooded head. Silently, it turned towards me, it's body billowing out like a cape behind it.

I licked my lips; my throat suddenly felt dry, and spoke, "did you get it?"

The ghost dipped its head in acknowledgement, then raised one shadowy hand, its palm upturned. You were brave to wait, the Mismagius said, staring at me with those oddly unnerving, glowing gold and scarlet eyes.

Without a word, I reached out and took hold of the object, then pulled it towards me, eyeing it carefully. "Thank you," I said, looking back up at the floating spectre. "This is exactly what we needed."

She bowed her head, then as quickly as she had appeared, she left. Fading into a dark purple mist that snaked it's way back into the wall it'd risen from.

'The Wakeless Dream… Are you sure that this is the true one?'

I jumped, and looked to Emri. "… Yes, the pattern is right, and the colour is too." I glanced to the city below, tracing the stream of blue lights flashing along the streets below. "We need to leave. Our work here is complete."

Emri hopped forwards, her large scaly feet clutching tight to the ledge as she half-opened her wings. Knowing this as an invitation to get on, I carefully clambered onto her back. As soon as I was comfortable, the Pidgeot shot off, throwing her great wings up, then down powerfully as she pulled herself up into the air.

I straightened up, and planted my legs firmly on either side of her body. I trusted Emri with my life. I knew that she would never let me fall. But, it was an automatic reaction, a thing that I had grown into since her evolution into a Pidgeotto.

As we rose further up into the sky, skimming past the skyscrapers and small houses, I took another look at the small crystal at the end of its silver chain. In the darkening light it was growing harder to see the thing in detail, but the few dim lit lamps we past by cast enough upon it to just about see… Yes! It was definitely the Wakeless Dream; the intricate glowing white veins, the pale blue hue… This was the thing we had been searching for, for so long.

'The rest of the inhabitants of Saffron are waking, we must hurry.'

"Right then, Emri, please take us away from here."

'Yes, Max.'

She climbed higher, and higher above the city, her wing beats loud in my ears, and the force of the wind beating against my face. Soon the large structures and black roads, were barely no more than a jumble of shapes.

I sighed and slumped forwards. My job was done.

Ever since I could remember I could understand Pokémon. Understand their language, their emotions, their thoughts, their dreams… It was how I got so close to them, I suppose. But, unfortunately, it made me feel a little… insecure, you could say, around the kids my age. I couldn't really bring myself to join in their games, even if they invited me. I just didn't understand them the same as I did Pokémon.

I guess this is why I started my journey, alone. With only my Pidgey for company.

I had decided to sneak out one night. Escape from my family and go out to see the world in all its glory.

Taking my bag; filled with items, food, and clothing, then scooping up Emri in my arms. I quickly placed down a note on my desk. One I had written a few minutes prior to packing. I wasn't too terrible as to just leave my parents without explaining where I was going. Then, without a word, I left.

The outside world was far from what I imagined it to be. To be honest I was expecting more plant life and less buildings. But from what I could tell the Pokémon were happy, and people treated them with respect.

I travelled to many places, finding things both of the familiar and the unexpected.

It was while I was travelling the road between Lavender Town and Celadon City that my simple journey suddenly changed. I was confronted by a girl, not much older than me, with an outfit that definitely fit in with her determined expression; she was dressed in a leather jacket, with a stripy black and white shirt beneath, and slightly torn combat trousers. With her was a creature I hadn't seen before, one that stood upon two legs with vicious looking scythes for arms, and a glare that could surpass that of a Gastly's.

"I see you have a Pokémon with you," the girl said, folding her arms. "You a Trainer?"

"Uh," I uttered, my mouth running before my brain could. Mechanically I glanced to Emri, who stared back, her head tilted to the side in confusion. "No, not really. I'm just travelling."

"But, you have a Poké Ball and a Pidgey with you," she replied, her hazel eyes sliding over to fix upon Emri.

"I got the Poké Ball from my parents," I explained. "I've never really used it."

"Hmm…" The girl frowned and turned to exchange a glance with her Pokémon. It copied her expression, and rubbed its left scythe arm over the right. "Well," she said, looking back to me, "you won't get very far out in the wilderness by yourself with just a little Pidgey for company."

I shrugged. "I've been fine so far."

"Even so, I suggest you find a partner, someone that'll teach you how to survive out here in the wild. You could end up injured by a wild Pokémon, or have your stuff stolen, or both! It's best you're not alone."

From the corner of my eye I caught Emri fluffing herself up, her brown and tan feathers puffing outwards. She didn't seem too happy with the suddenness of this girl, this amused me. The girl didn't seem bad. She was just worried about my wellbeing. Well, at least, I think she was.

She didn't seem like a thieving sort, anyway.

Coming to my decision, I gave a small shrug of my shoulders. "Alright, if your suggesting it."

"Really? Cool," she said with a grin. "Uh, look… I'm sorry if I'm seeming forward, it's just… I don't want to know that I just past by someone who barely knows anything about protecting themselves out here, and left them without help, or something." Beside her, her Pokémon shifted, leaning from one foot to the other, its eyes flickering from Emri to me. I suppressed the urge to shudder, not at all liking the look the creature was giving me.

"It's fine, really, I'm surprised there's anyone out here that cares for the wellbeing of others," I replied, keeping my gaze firmly on the girl, hoping that her scythe wielding insect would soon lose interest.

She smiled. "It's not that uncommon, there's quite a fair few other people I've talked to that more or less think the same as me. Lately there have been more casualties, mostly due to wild Pokémon… I guess you could say that the older generation is looking out for the younger." She laughed then, and patted her Pokémon.

"Oh, by the way, my name's Jennifer," she added. "This is Lock, my Scyther. He's been my good buddy for a year now." Lock glared at me, then lifted one of its arms in greetings. I barely found it in myself to nod in response, his look was that evil. Great Arceus, I was glad I didn't have a Pokémon like him…

"What's you and your Pidgey's name?"

Her voice abruptly broke me from my thoughts and it took a moment for me to compose a reply, "Uh, it's Maxwell, my Pidgey's called Emri." She chirped a polite hello, then relaxed back against my shoulder, her claws digging a little too deeply. I winced and turned to pull her off, cradling her in my arms.

"Well, it's nice to meet you both," Jennifer said with a nod, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Suddenly, her expression turned serious, and she folded her arms. "Right, so, you want to learn how to survive in the wild? Well, watch and listen…"