Uploaded 08.06.17
My Pokemon Fanfiction is here! I've been waiting for a while for this story as the title was a pain to come up with (feel free to suggest better alternatives). I have little to say other than enjoy!
Chapter 1: Day 1 – A buzzing in his ears...
In the Pokemon world, there was a meadow. Lush green grass swayed in the breeze, as if waving to the endless blue skies above. A serene quiet encased the area and a pleasant aroma could be smelled at any hour of the day. In this meadow, there was a tree. It wasn't a large tree, nor was it grand. It was barely enough shelter for the sleeping form that lay beneath it. And beneath this tree was where the tale of two pokemon would begin. A tale that changed everything.
"Rise and shine, Drowzee-head!"
There was a rustle in the grass beneath the tree as the slumbering form got to his feet. A yawn and a stretch later revealed the figure; A sandstone-clad creature, with large and flat plates that sheltered his hide from the outside world. The tough plates, however, did nothing to protect him from the shock he received when he opened his blue eyes; A bee. A large bee. With his eyes now wide in disbelief, it was needless to say that the mouse pokemon was speechless. The petite bee, on the other hand, was taking much delight in the bewilderment of the confused pokemon.
"Hello, Sandshrew!" cried out the jubilant insect. The sentiment was lost on the Sandshrew as he thought about the second word that was uttered, as well as the fact that he was currently conversing with a bee – a scarf-wearing bee, at that! The countless questions threatened to topple the Sandshrew over. And they did. The Sandshrew fell to the ground, unconscious.
A soothing smell entered the nostrils of the distraught pokemon as he awoke once again. Still underneath the tree, he noticed that the shade no longer covered him. The sun was starting to set.
"You're funny, did you know that? I'm Ribombee, by the way."
The Sandshrew froze up upon hearing that his cheerful tormentor hadn't left but was sitting in the tree above him. She was no longer whizzing around, so the Sandshrew could get a decent look at his curious acquaintance. Two wings, almost as large as she was, idly fluttered behind her with markings on the wings that matched the colour of her scarf. Four small black limbs protruded from a yellow body and ended in small hands and feet.
"What's wrong?" The bee pokemon saw that something was clearly off about the Sandshrew. Maybe it was the way he awkwardly and clumsily carried his weight was as though he was wearing a suit. Maybe it was the fear that was deeply-rooted into his eyes. Maybe it his stunned silence. But he wouldn't remain silent for much longer:
"I'm not a... You're a... you can... talk," The Sandshrew stammered out. His words never failed him in a normal situation but this clearly wasn't a normal situation. Another titter was elicited from the bee fly pokemon. The Sandshrew made a second, more successful attempt at talking. The words, although small in number, changed the mood dramatically and altered the severity of his situation tenfold:
"I'm not a pokemon."
Ribombee almost fell out of the tree in shock before quickly regaining her altitude with her wings. They buzzed rapidly, faster than the average eye could decipher, albeit slightly unsteadily. The small buzzing helped to conceal the confused sound she made. A thoughtful expression upon her face, she thought about what had been said and if there was truth to it.
"You can't be. You're clearly a Sandshr – It would explain your confusion. But if you're not a pokemon, then you would – It would explain you being a little skitty-cat –"
"–Am not!"
"–Yes, you are. If you're not a pokemon, what are you, then?"
The Sandshrew pondered this for a moment. What was he? If he was a Sandshrew but not a Sandshrew, what did that make him? He felt that he was not always like this. He felt that not even yesterday he was something else. A human.
"I am – or was – a human."
The statement was said with all his confidence. Deep down, he knew it was true. He didn't expect Ribombee to know what a human was or that Ribombee would believe him but it was his best shot. The bee fly pokemon stared deep into the eyes of the Sandshrew as if she could see right through any lies that were uttered before delivering a verdict.
"I don't know what to think. Who's to say you're not pulling my leg?"
The Sandshrew looked down. Needless to say, this was not the outcome he was expecting. His spiraling thoughts of negativity were swiftly interrupted by the bee, however:
"Hmm... Even if you are lying, Sandshrews are nomads, so, you would still need a home. And I feel you could be a good help back at the hive. Whaddya say? Interested?"
The Sandshrew scratched his head in contemplation, only to stop when he realised his claws were sharper than he thought.
"Well, I have nowhere else to go..."
"I knew you'd agree!" She cheered, whizzing a few laps around the Sandshrew's head, "What's your name?"
"I have a human name but that's not important. If I am going with you, we should probably keep the whole 'human' shebang under wraps. I guess I'm just going to be called 'Sandshew'?"
The bee fly pokemon chuckled at him.
"You catch on fast!"
Sandshrew was unsure as to whether a blend of sarcasm and wit was used or if she was just being nice.
"Your Majesty! Where are you?" called out a distant voice. The voice held a certain wisdom that came with age. The Ribombee whipped her head around to the noise and flew into the air before letting some sparkling pollen into the sky, acting as a flare.
"Over here!"
In a matter of seconds, another insect-like creature had arrived by the tree which was quickly becoming the most crowded spot on the meadow. Menacing red eyes and a metal sheen greeted the yellow mouse pokemon. Sandshrew was only just starting to connect the dots himself when his thoughts were interrupted by the Durant confirming his suspicions.
"Your majesty, where have you been? I turn my back for five seconds and you're gone! As your royal advisor, if something were to happen to you, Your Majesty –"
The Ribombee just snickered behind a hand in response before whispering to Sandshrew:
" –I'm sure he'd make a great replacement queen, don't you think?"
Any gravity or pressure that was weighing the Sandshrew down disappeared in a fit of laughter that caught the royal advisor's eye.
"And who might you be?"
When confronted with the seething iron ant pokemon in front of him, the Sandshrew's words dried up like a source of water next to a Cacturne.
"I... She was..."
"'She'? I shall demand you address her by her proper title! And what were you doing with Her Majesty? Kidnapping her? Are you in league with the Beedrills?"
This time, it was Her Majesty that took objection to the choice of words used.
"'Kid'napping? I'm old enough to run our hive, y'know!"
"You don't know how, though," the Royal Advisor scoffed.
Ribombee merely crossed her arms before the Royal Advisor addressed Sandshrew once again.
"You'd best be leaving, hadn't you?"
Ribombee rose a few feet in the air and corrected her posture before interjecting.
"Ahem. Actually, I believe that our acquaintance can help us out."
"What can this ragamuffin do to help us?"
Ribombee whispered in the ear of the Durant. He had a contemplative look on his face before nodding. At this, Ribombee fought to conceal a squeal of happiness before composing herself.
"Arise, Sandshrew. After much thought, we have deemed it beneficial for you to join us as a Royal Guard."
"Really? That's quite the step up from a... nomad –" Ribombee winked at the Sandshrew in understanding, "– to a royal guard."
The Sandshrew thought he was finished talking, but the formality-obsessed pokemon beside them glared at him to remind him of what to say next;
"Err... Your Majesty," Sandshrew said, bowing as he did.
"You won't need to call me that. Just 'Ribombee' will do," She chuckled.
Oh, the look Durant gave her at that…
The human-turned-pokemon, Sandshrew, wakes up in the presence of Ribombee, a queen. What adventures will ensue?
Chapter 1 is always one of the hardest things to write. It has to be revealing enough to entice the reader but vague enough to intrigue the reader. I had fun figuring out what tone I should use and I'm happy with the result.
On a serious note, I have an honest question I have to ask you all. My friends know of my fanfictions but they do not know my username or story titles. For a few years, I've kept specifics vague to stop them from finding it. Not out of fear or embarrassment, but out of... I don't know. I guess it's always been something I did solo (with the exception of a beta-reader occasionally) and them knowing of it may alter things in a bad way. Should I tell them the specifics?
Also, feel free to suggest a better title.
Thanks in advance!
