Author's Note: Welp, here's the beginning of my fanfic, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Origin. It's pretty much another Explorers of Sky Fanfic, starring my Explorers of Sky Team, Team Sunstars.

HOWEVER. I will be adding a few now extras and surprises here and there, especially with a few of the characters. I'm also planning to include a few Unova generation pokemon, though they won't appear in the story right away. (This actually started out with a Sonic the Hedgehog and PMD crossover when I began writing this, but the plot got so messed up, I recited the MMP motto and said "Screw it.")

Well, here's my first chapter, so...Enjoy! (or don't)

Pokemon belongs to Nintendo®.
Characters belong to meh.

"...

"...W-where...where am I?..."

I opened my eyes a little. I can barely see anything, except...except something. Whatever it was, it was obscured by some blinding light...it was murmuring something to me I couldn't understand...who...what is it?

"...W-what...happened..."

"Whoa! A-are you okay?!"

"No! I-I can't hold on!"

"Just a little further! We're almost there!"

"I-I can't...I can't...Grovyle...I'm sorry...!"

KRRRACK CRAAAAAAASSSHHH

"WAAAAAAAHHHH!"

"NOOOOO! PABLOOOOOOOOOOOO—!"

"...Can't move...Fading out...can't...hold on..."

...Accept our quest, hero!

0~0~0
It was just another beautiful day in Treasure Town.

The sun was shining, the sky was blue as can be, and everywhere in the square, pokémon went through their daily business as usual. It was days like these that make you wanna kick back, relax, and let the time roll by.

But not for one kid. A lone riolu standing in front of a Wigglytuff shaped dome. He looked pretty nervous, but this was usually expected from him.

I ought to know. I was that riolu, afterall.

"...Hmmm..."

I paced the grounds a little, then looked back at the building.

"No. I'm not running away anymore. I've got to steel my courage today. This is your big day, Tyrone! Just join the Wigglytuff Guild, and make everyone proud!"

No one was watching me act like this, what a relief. Joining the guild's something I thought was almost impossible. I had tried to go in there at least several times, with encouragement from some of my friends, but was too scared to actually join them.

Wigglytuff's Guild was an association of Pokémon, who were excellent explorers. You see; it was always my life-long dream to become one of those explorers, ever since I was little. Today, however, like all other days, didn't look so promising.

As I stepped onto the grate, I hear that same, unfriendly voice:

"Footprint detected! Footprint detected!"

"Whose footprint? Whose footprint?"

"The footprint is riolu's! The footprint is—"

At this point, I didn't even stay to listen. I was already running away from the guild as fast as my little four feet could carry me. Joining the Guild just blew right past me. All I thought about was running and running, and running...

I finally stopped at the bottom of the steps leading toward it, and looked back.

"Aww! I did it AGAIN!"

Good thing no one was still around. I didn't know why I was so cowardly when it came to this. All I know that that I was scared. I'm just too scared to join.

"I guess this wasn't the day..."

I looked down at the stone tied across my neck.

"This treasure...it was supposed to inspire me. I thought I was going to get in today because of it. But...I just don't know if I can do it..."

I felt my ears droop sadly. Maybe I was wrong. All this time I've been trying to prepare myself to become and explorer, to become braver: and for what? THIS?

Maybe joining the guild isn't worth it. Maybe this whole exploration idea wasn't worth it. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't.

I shook my head miserably, turned around and headed for the beach.

"Well, just another day in the life of me, I guess..." I sighed, walking out towards the ocean.

As I walked, I looked down at the relic fragment across my neck. It looked like a piece of rock, from afar. But there these riveted patterns upon it, including two noticeable symbols in the middle: an orange sun with a red center, and a yellow moon with a blue outline layered on top, looking as though they one of the same thing. I didn't know much about this thing, either, but I knew it's probably the sole thing that sparked my passion to become an explorer.

But then, exploring was something my family was known for; they expected me to find interest in it, but never thought I would plan to make something out of my life because of it. It was probably because...

No. I just didn't want to think about that right now.

"...Oh! It looks like I came at the right time, again!"

I smiled, looking up to see the many bubbles floating lazily in the air.

Every day, whenever the weather was good, the krabby would come out to blow bubbles. All those bubbles—they were so beautiful, catching the sun's rays, then rising up like colorful balloons. I have to admit, it filled me with awe, just watching this.

I stood there silently, to let the feeling sink in. This was why I enjoyed coming to this place when I was down...no. I loved it here. It was just so uplifting.

Still, I thought that today was going to be another normal day: I would try to join Wigglytuff's Guild, and either get caught by the sentry and flea, or give up.

Yes, this was definitely going be another normal day...

"...Huh? What...what's that?"

...That is...until I met him.

My eyes caught sight of an out-of-place obstruction on the shore, just as the waves rolled out. It doesn't look like anything at first, just a bright orange rock covered in some seaweed.

"...It's probably just a funny-looking Magikarp." I chuckled.

Boy, oh boy, was I wrong.

"...Hey...HEY! Th-that's not a Magikarp!"

I don't know how he got there, but he was there...just...lying there on the shore, salt water slowly spilling out his nostrils.

I quickly dashed towards him and got a closer look. By the looks of him, he was a charmander, and a very drowned out one at that.

What happened to him? Was he dead? I felt his pulse—

No, he was breathing. Definitely alive.

The tides were rolling back in. I had to do something, and fast.

0-0-0
...

...What happened? Where am I?

I feel a gentle breeze...it's so nice and cool...

I think I hear a voice...who's shaking me?

"...Ar...kay?

"..ake up! C'mon! Please say something!"

"Uggghhh..."

I let out a gurgle as I open my eyelids halfway. I felt like I just hit with a heavy load of muddy water, and took it down whole. Feeling it rush up my lungs, I tilted a little to my side so I could spew it out freely. It took a couple minutes, but soon I could finally breathe in some fresh air.

I rolled onto my back again, and try to identify my surroundings.

Where was I? I was lying on a beach, because I felt cool sand on my back, and I could now hear the gentle ocean waves.

What time was it? It was afternoon, I could tell from the color of sky, looking up.

Who was talking to me?

The hell should I know? I couldn't even see him.

I slowly got into a sitting position, rubbing my head as I sat up.

"Oh! You're awake! That's a relief." The voice sighed, relieved.

"Yeah...Ohhh...What happened last night?"

"Well, there was a heavy storm last night. I sure hope you didn't get caught—"

I cut him off.

"Wait a minute...w-where am I?" I stood up and stared at my surroundings.

"You're on the shore of a beach. This is This is Lignume—the Forest Region. It's surprising that you swam all the way here."

"No. That couldn't have happened...the last time I remember swimming was—" I turned to the source of the voice.

"—was..."

A blue jackal was standing in front of me, on two hind legs. He was a pale blue on his top half, and black on the bottom, where a pastel-like pattern raveled across his torso. The mask across his face and muzzle had two dreadlock thingies dangling on either side of his head. He looked at me with gleaming red eyes, but they didn't seem to be threatening. In fact, they seemed to look very friendly. It was a riolu: the eminent pokémon.

"Anyway, my name's Tyrone. Glad to meet you!" He replied cheerfully. "And who are you? I don't think I've seen a pokémon like you before."

"Um...you're talking to me? You were talking...to me."

The riolu's smile faded and he looked at me in confusion. You would too, seeing a pokémon talk for a first time.

"Um...yes, I was talking to you. It should be normal to you, being a pokémon."

"Well, maybe it's because I'm not! I'm a human!"

His eyes widened.

"What?"

"...You're...a human?"

"Well, DUH! Of course I am! Who do you think I am?"

"Well, it's just..." He got up, looked at me from an angle a couple times, then finished, "You look like a normal Charmander to me."

I blanked. What did he just call me?

"Hello?"

I chuckled. This was just a joke. He couldn't seriously think I was a pokémon.

"That's funny...heh...For a second, there, I thought you said I looked like a pokémon!"

"Well, you do! And maybe it's because you ARE one!" He pointed to one of the small tide pools for me to look into.

This riolu's gotta be kidding! I thought to myself, laughing.

I finally got a good look at my—claws? What happened to my hands? My fingers were tiny and—orange!

I quickly rushed to a tide pool, just to take a good look at myself.

The reflection of a salamander was staring right back at me. His face was all orange, and he had two peridot eyes, wide with shock.

I cried in astonishment, jumped back, and looked frantically at the rest of my body. Boy, was I wrong.

My body was all orange, extending to my short legs. My toes—three tiny white claws on the bottom of each. A cream-colored part covered my belly reaching all the way to the bottom of my tail—my tail! My tail was on fire!

This...this CAN'T be me! I thought for a second. I-I've GOT to be seeing things...!

I tried blinking back to reality. Nothing changed.

"I-I'm dreaming..! I have to be dreaming...!"

I slapped myself in the face. Nothing changed.

"I've got to be HALLUCINATING! Yeah, that's it! It's all just a hallucination! Just gotta make it HURT, that's all!"

I immediately bit into an arm, hoping that it would snap me out of this crazy dream. Instantly, I felt a heavy burning sensation in my—wait. I just felt that.

So that means—

"...GAAAAH! IT BURNS! IT BUUUUURRRRNNS!"

I fell flat on my face in the sand and squint my eyes shut, trying hard to will myself back to reality. This was all just a crazy dream, and all I had to do was wake up, and...

I opened my eyes again. My hands—my body—my everything—they were still a charmander's.

"No...it-it's true! I've turned into a—a pokémon!...That's pretty awesome, actually! Wait, WHAT?! What am I SAYING?! WHERE AM I WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO ME?!" I shook my head frantically.

"Hey, hey! Calm down!" I felt a paw grasp my arm, shaking me back. I slowly eased up.

I looked up at the riolu, who was starting to look really worried.

"This is...real?" I asked nervously.

"I'm afraid so. Are you really sure you're okay? You're not making some kind of joke, are you?"

"N-no! I'm not kidding! Seriously!"

The riolu looked at me for a few for seconds, then sighed.

"Okay...I believe you. I'm sorry for doubting you."

"Thank you...Well, I'm the one who was freaking out over everything. So, uh...ahem. Thanks for stopping me."

"Oh, it's okay." The riolu—Tyrone—chuckled. "So, you say you're a human, huh? Well, if that's the case, how did you turn into a pokémon?"

"Well...um...err..."

I tried to think back to whatever happened before I landed here—whatever it was.

...Why wasn't it coming to me?

...why couldn't I...remember...

"...I dunno. I can't remember anything that happened."

"Oh? Y-you forgot who you are?" Tyrone asked surprisingly.

"Yeah...All I know is that I was a human, and that, just today, I woke up looking like this."

I did a little dance with one foot, just to make sure I was still awake. "Nothin' else."

"Well, what about your name?"

"Huh?"

"Your name." Tyrone repeated. "What's your name?"

"My...name? Um..."

I lowered my head a bit, thinking. I couldn't remember enough about myself, but I know I remembered my name.

I think. It started with a P...PB? Paul? Paulo? Pablo...!

"...Oh, yeah, I remember. It's Pablo. The name's Pablo."

Well, it was a good thing I remembered that, at least.

"...I see. So, your name's Pablo, huh? Well—"

All of a sudden, the kid started laughing. "It's a funny name!"

I blanked at him, then gave a little chuckle. "Well, excuse e' moi? But Tyrone doesn't sound like a normal name, either! You know what? I'm just gonna call you Ty."
Ty, regaining his composure, finally said, "A little touchy, eh? Well, call me what you will. At least you're not a bad pokémon. You see, recently, many bad pokémon have started to show up on Lignume. It's all starting to become lawless..."

"Well that must suck real bad." I said with a bit of unease.

"Yeah, I know. But what about you? Being a human? That's almost imposs—AUGH!"

All at once, the riolu toppled into the sand.

I looked up to who, or what, knocked him down.

Two floating creatures: one a bat, with pale blue skin, no eyes or legs, and purple ears and wings, and the other a purple ball with cloudy smog coming out of its pores.

Yep. I thought. These two are nothin' but trouble.

0~0~0
"Pardon us!"

"We just came to mess with wimps like you! Heh-heh!"

I turned around to see two pokémon hovering above me: Koffing and Zubat.

"Well? Are you gonna fight us? Or is it cause you're a little scaredy-puppy? Heh-heh!"

"M-my treasure!" As I sat up, I saw my Relic Fragment lying behind me.

"Your TREASURE?" Koffing exclaimed. "Now there's something we find interesting!"

"I'll take—vhat!" Zubat clamped the piece of stone between his teeth.

"H-hey! Please give that back!"

"Whoa ho-ho! Not even gonna try and make a move on us? I didn't think you'd be such a big scaredy-puppy!"

"...Uh—I—"

"We beth vschedadle! Lather, shkarety-phuphy! Gheh-gheh!"

And before I could say anything, they were off, laughing the whole way into the left-hand cave.

"Hey wait! Oh...oh no..."

I stood there for a few moments in shock, then sunk to my knees

"M-my treasure...That's all I have left! If anything happens to it, I...I...I have to get it back. I'm sorry...it was nice meeting you...Pablo..."

And before he could react, I was off running after Koffing and Zubat, trying my best to hold back mixed tears of cowardice and humiliation.

...What if they're right? I am too scared to do anything. What if I'm too late? They're probably miles away by now! Oh man...What am I gonna do?

"HEY!"

I suddenly heard Pablo call out my name, and I quickly veered my head to him.

"Yeah?"

He closed his eyes.

"I may not know what's going on here. But watching you getting picked on the way you were…that just makes me plain sick. So—"

He suddenly opened his eyes, and a look of determination formed on his face.

"—I'll help you get your treasure back.

"R-really? You mean it? T-thank you!"

"Don't mention it. But we can't just stand around while those two are making off with our prize. They've gotten a good head start on us—so, let's go!"