I like to think I'm normal. You know, fairly average guy. I put my pants on one leg at a time, just like anyone else. I go to school in the morning, go to the shop in the afternoon, and I go home in the evening for a bit of rest before I have to do it all again the next day. I try not to panic too much about finals, try not to think about girls too much, try not to slip up.

But I've always felt different. Like I'm not who I am. I feel out-of-place.

Sometimes, when I let my mind wander, I become someone else. Someone exciting. Someone confident. Someone who isn't afraid of screwing up. Someone who's cock-sure and cool and always knows what to say.

Someone who isn't afraid all the time.

"So," he'd always say, "What are we gonna do today?"

"Today? We're going to go on an adventure!" she'd always answer.

And she was always there with him. She'd always be right by his side. She was capable, too. Hell, if she wanted to, she could probably go off and become amazing all by herself. But for some reason, she didn't. She stuck with him. Through all of his adventures and his failures, she was a constant.

That's why I knew he wasn't me.

So I daydream in the shop most of the time. Watching tourists and snowbirds and locals alike, all mulling about unaware of the whirlwind going on in my mind. Every day, I hope for something exciting. Something that might let me become that guy I dream about. Something that'll let me become a hero. But day in, day out, it's the usual.

"Hello."

"Cash or credit?"

"Here's your change."

"Have a nice day..."

Eventually, I just gave up on it. I'll just keep tending the shop, I tell myself.

Nothing exciting will ever happen to me.

Chapter One: In Media Res

It was one of those really crappy Florida days. It was right at the start of the wet season (summer/fall) for all you non-Floridians). It was one of those hot, muggy days where even with air conditioning you'd put on all the fans in your house and just wilt. In fact, I'd just given this one old couple a few water bottles for free. I had the feeling that if I hadn't, then they would've died of heat stroke before they even reached their car.

I had just finished putting some cash from the tip jar in the cashier when the front door opened with its distinctive, little...

Ding!

A girl about my age came through the door. Ginger, a bit on the thin side, brown eyes.

Way out of my league.

And judging from her behavior (a bit overheated, flustered, generally having a look of being lost), a tourist, too. Doubly off-limits.

"Hey," I said.

"Oh! Hi! Do you have a map?" she asked with a breathless voice.

"Yeah." I pointed at the stand of road maps we had for tourists to he left of the counter. "Take your pick."

"Thanks." She walked over to the stand in an unsteady sort of walk.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," she said as she looked through the maps. "Just a little disoriented."

I looked at her a bit more closely. Her hair was disheveled and dropped down to her shoulders in long unruly strands. Her clothes were also in a similar state, ripped in some places, and very clearly grass-stained. I had to ask. "Were you in some sort of an accident?"

She blew off my concerns and walked to the counter. "It was nothing major. I got hit by a car, I think."

My eyes went a bit wide. "God. That's pretty serious! Should I call an ambulance?"

"Please don't. I don't want any trouble. I need to find someone."

"You weren't traveling with anyone, were you?"

"No. Just me," she said with a forced laugh. Then she coughed a bit.

"Hang on, let me get you some water." There was a water cooler behind the counter for personal use. I would've given her a water bottle, too, but my boss was very anti-charity. I filled up one of those conical paper cups that always come with water coolers and handed it to her.

"Oh, uh. Thanks." She downed the cup quickly.

"Who are you looking for?" I asked.

"Old friend of mine."

"Your friend have a name?"

"Chris."

"Oh," I said with a bit of surprise. "That's my name. What a coincidence."

"R-really?" She seemed to get a bit excited at that statement.

Ignoring it, I said, "Yeah, so anyway, most of the maps we've got are a dollar."

She didn't really seem to hear me and just looked at me. She seemed to be studying my face.

"Um, are you sure you're okay?" I asked.

"Oh my gosh," she said. "It's you!"

"I'm sorry?"

"It's you! I found you!"

"What?"

"Chris! It's me, Valerie!" she said.

Something in the back of my mind stirred slightly. Something from a half-remembered dream...

"Ready to go, Val?"

"Only if you are, Chris. Let's go find a Time Gear."

I blinked. It couldn't be. My dreams aren't real, are they?

"Don't you remember?" she asked.

"I-I," I stammered a bit. "I don't—" Then an idea wormed its way into my head. "This is a joke, right?"

"What?"

"I mean, you've got the wrong guy, or something. I can't be the guy you're looking for. I'm nobody."

"You don't remember...?"

"I-I-I," I didn't know what to say. "I can't be him. Sorry, uh, Val. I think you're looking for someone else."

"Chris..."

"I'm sorry." I pulled the map from her hand and rung it up. "This map's fifty cents."

Wordlessly, she pulled out a dollar bill from her pocket and held it out.

I took it and put it in the register. I dug out two quarters from their spot and said, "Here's your change." But then I looked up. And she was gone. I never even heard the bell.

Welcome to Val's Head

I sat down outside the store where I saw Chris. It was him, without a doubt. I clutched the map he sold me in my hands.

Why doesn't he remember?

I worried that something like this would happen. I should have guessed that he would have reacted like this. I even expected it.

It still didn't dull the impact of having to watch my partner not recognize me.

I looked at my hand. It was so foreign to me. I balled it into a fist, like Chris always did with his forepaws. I came this far. I'm not turning back now. I'm going to bring you home, Chris.

I promise.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Dreamers of the Day

A/N: Please, just bear with me a little, here.

(Also, I'd like to make that the tagline to all my works.)

Thanks for sticking with me, folks. You guys are the best.

Review and all that. CrizBN, signing off.