A large puppy stood in front of me, snarling angrily. It leaped. I fell back and threw a Pokeball at it. The ball opened up to reveal Savio. He expertly grabbed the puppy and headbutted it. The puppy fell back, dazed.
"Well?" Savio snarled. "Catch it!"
I hesitantly took out another Pokeball. Savio impatiently gestured to the stunned canine. I gave a weak lob at the dog. The ball emitted a flash of red light, which absorbed the dog. Then it flew back into my hand. A screen of some sort emerged:
"Give a nickname to the male Lillipup?"
Below it hovered a digi-keyboard. Letters started filling themselves in. The screen beeped confirmation, and out popped the vicious, bloodthirsty... Gunther. Gunther leaped against my leg and started licking it.
"Oh boy! Adventure time!" he barked. "Let's do this!"
Gunther soon became more serious. "All right. I assume you are part of the simulation?"
I gaped.
"Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking. Truth is, I've been an integral part since the beginning. My program name is GUNT-space-R. I know why you are here, and how to help you escape. That whole bloodthirsty thing isn't really me, it's just my testing code. Now, do you want to leave?"
I nodded.
"Then follow my instructions! First, let's train. The simulation changes every time, so even I have no idea how this will play out.
So train us. Here, I'll show you how."
With that, Gunther leaped into battle with a packrat. He viciously tackled it to unconsciousness. With the packrat down, I heard a beep. Gunther grinned. "Ah! I leveled up. Good! You see, Spencer-yes, I know your name- training against the native wildlife helps us grow stronger and learn new techniques. Now, let's begin."
With that, we began to train.
Gunther and Savio threw themselves at the local packrats with a passion. When the carnage was done, Gunther was happily gnawing on corpses, while Savio tore them apart with vines growing from his shoulder collars. "This is the fundamentals of grinding! You see, I learned Bite, whilst your companion Snivy-"
"Savio" interjected said companion.
"Yes, Savio, learned Vine Whip. See? Training improves your chances of making it out alive. And I hope you do. You seem a likable fellow, unlike that other Spencer... I actually enjoyed dying that time, just to speed his demise along. But that's another story. For now, follow me to the next town!"
Gunther dashed off, Savio in close pursuit, leaving me to mull over just what I had gotten myself into while staring at packrat bodies.

I encountered Cheren and Bianca, who for some reason were simply standing at the edge of the route. They compared Pokemon with me, and bolted towards a cluster of buildings in the north.
I followed them carefully, and stumbled upon a sign.
"Welcome to Accumula Town", it read.
I looked past the sign.
It wasn't a town.
At best, it could be considered a park of sorts.
Small, sparsely dotted apartments, and a plaza marked this 'town'.
"Spencer! How are you?" The woman from before, Juniper, stood eagerly. She waved and greeted me. While she talked, I tuned her out and looked behind her.
A bright, orange-roofed building stood out. An icon suspiciously like the red orbs strapped to my waist identified it as some sort of market. It looked quite nice, until I saw how it was composed entirely of pixels. It was unnerving, and looking down at myself was even more unnerving. I was forced to return my attention to the building as I realized that Juniper was quite literally dragging me inside. I fought to extricate myself to no avail.
Inside, Juniper gave me the grand tour. As she gushed over the stalls and something called a Pokemon Center, where my fighting monsters could be healed free of charge, all I was thinking was that this structure was bigger on the inside.
I needed no further proof to know that I was on some kind of massive drug trip. I swore to myself then and there that whatever funky stuff I was taking would be taken no more as soon as I escaped this weird dream.
Juniper forced me to hand over Savio and Gunther's enslavement orbs to the nurse behind the counter. She placed them on a large machine that looked like a cross-section of an iron lung. They flashed, and the nurse handed them back to me, bidding me to return soon.
Juniper let me go.
I cautiously walked out. When I did, it was nighttime. Cheren was standing there.
"Hey Spencer, come listen to this."
He led me over to the plaza. A large crowd was gathered, and standing atop a raised platform were people who looked like a group of LARPers. They were dressed in white robes with an ornate 'P' symbol on their chests.
I had a really strange imagination.
At the head of the LARPers was a man in a flashy robe decorated with images of eyes. A jeweled collar laced it, while his left eye was underneath a red, oddly shaped monocle. He spoke, and the crowd hushed as if they knew he was someone important.
"My name is Ghetsis. I am here representing Team Plasma. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about Pokémon liberation."
The crowd stirred uneasily. I, for one, was intrigued by how well my drug trip was constructing this experience.
"I'm sure most of you believe that we humans and Pokémon are partners that have come to live together because we want and need each other. However... Is that really the truth? Have you ever considered that perhaps we humans... only assume that this is the truth? Pokémon are subject to the selfish commands of Trainers... They get pushed around when they are our "partners" at work... Can anyone say with confidence that there is no truth in what I'm saying?"
The crowd whispered among itself. I, for one, was all for Pokemon liberation. After what I had seen Gunther and Savio do to those packrats, vegetarianism was also something I wished to take part of. I vowed to join an animal rights group after this drug trip was over.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, Pokémon are different from humans. They are living beings that contain unknown potential. They are living beings from whom we humans have much to learn. Tell me, what is our responsibility toward these wonderful beings called Pokémon?"
"Free them?" called a voice from the crowd. I searched for the source but couldn't locate it. I called out, "Free them!"
A few other voices in the crowd took up the chant. It didn't take hold, but the crowd certainly buzzed.
"That's right! We must liberate the Pokémon! Then, and only then, will humans and Pokémon truly be equals. Everyone, I end my words here today by imploring you to consider the relationship between people and Pokémon... and the correct way to proceed. We sincerely appreciate your attention."
For a LARPer, Ghetsis had an engaging argument. He strode offstage, followed by his LARPers. The crowd dispersed. Cheren turned to me. He said, "Do you believe in Pokemon liberation?"
I nodded my head. He gaped.
"Really? But Pokemon are our friends. We cooperate and collaborate to improve all of our lives. Tell you what, why don't you go fight a couple of Gyms first? Once you have the Insect Badge, I'll ask you again. If you still feel that way, I'll help you release your Pokemon."
Cheren walked off, deep in thought. I watched him go, and thought about it. Then I wondered what he meant by fighting gyms. And what was an Insect Badge?
My thoughts were interrupted when my enslavement orbs shook and released my Pokemon. Gunther and Savio stared up at me.
"So, you heard Ghetsis' speech. What do you think?"
I gave Gunther a look. He stared at me, his surprisingly detailed eyes showing surprise.
"You really believe Pokemon should be liberated? This doesn't follow the rules at all!"
"What your Pokemon said... it intrigued me."
We turned. A boy wearing grey pants, a black bracelet, a Menger sponge necklace, and a black cap that rested atop startlingly green hair was staring at me.
We locked eyes briefly, and I got the feeling that I knew this person.
Then he tackled me in a hug.

ARandomDay here.

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Alex View: Maybe I should. Maybe I shouldn't. I'll consider it.

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