"Psst! Hey, open your eyes, please, I'd like to speak to you!"
That voice. It sounds familiar, but it's not Skid or Vine.
"I know you can hear me. Please, this is of utmost importance."
Ugh, fine. I opened my eyes. Bad idea.
"Uh, I don't happen to remember falling asleep IN SPACE!" I shouted.
"Relax, you are only dreaming."
I turned to address who was speaking to me, but saw no one. Instead, I was greeted with the looming sight of a planet, covered in blue oceans and green landmasses. Perhaps that's where I crash-landed.
"Who's talking to me? I can't see anyone."
"Who I am is not important at this present moment. What's important is why you're here."
"In space?"
"No, silly! Why you're in the world of Pokemon."
"That was my second guess."
"Sure it was. Anyways, as you've been told by your friend Vine, lots of bad Pokemon have been cropping up as of late."
"Yeah, he did tell me something like that. Wait, how did you know that?"
"Not important."
"Are you spying on me?"
"Ugh. Yes and no. Really, I'm the one who sent you there."
"Why?"
"That's what I'm here to tell you. You see, you've been tasked with stopping the source of the negativity that's corrupting the Pokemon of this world."
"Uh... what?! How?! Why me?!"
"All will be explained eventually. It appears, though, that we are out of time."
"What do you mean?"
"Someone is prodding you awake. Do not worry, we will speak again."
"Wait-"
Before I could finish talking, the stars and planet around me vanished, replaced by darkness. The kind of darkness achieved by closing your eyes. I guess I'm awake now. And definitely being prodded.
"Hey. Hey. Who are you? Wake up so you can tell me!"
Ugh. Familiar scenario, not so familiar voice. I opened my eyes.
Staring at me from above was... Vine? No, Vine isn't blue.
"You must be Ivy," I said.
"How do you know my name?"
"Vine told me yesterday when you were out cold. He tried waking you up to introduce us, but you stayed asleep," I replied. "He didn't explain why you don't look like him, though."
"I'll explain that once you tell me who you are. It's only fair!"
"Alright, aright. I'm Xylus, I crashed on this world like a meteor yesterday, and I used to be human. Pleased to meet you."
"What!? As if I'd ever believe a lie like that! I mean, what kind of parents name a Scorbunny Xylus?"
I'm gonna have to get used to hearing that, aren't I?
"Well, to be fair, I was given that name while I was human. Also, those facts are the only things I remember from before I came here."
"That's still pretty unbelievable, but whatever. I'm sure I'll hear the truth eventually."
You already have! I'm sure Vine and Skid can back me up later.
"So what's the deal with your colors, then?"
"Right, that. Well, I'm a shiny Snivy."
"Could you... elaborate on that?"
"Well, when a Pokemon is shiny, its colors differ from its non-shiny peers. Like mine. This happens, like, really rarely too."
"That's pretty cool."
"It's whatever. All that matters to me is the fact that Vine and I actually look different."
Vine shifted on his cushion nearby. "Eh? Who's talking about me?"
"Ah, good morning, Vine," said Ivy. "I was just meeting your guest here."
"If by 'meeting' you mean 'rudely waking up and questioning,' then sure," I mumbled.
"Shush, you. You would have done the same thing if you woke up and saw a stranger sleeping in your home."
"Whatever."
Vine turned to Skid, who was still fast asleep on his cushion. "We should start getting ready to go."
"Go?" I asked. "Go where?"
"Back to the crater you made. Maybe there's something that's still there that better explains why you're here."
"Wait!" Ivy exclaimed. "You weren't lying about that?"
"Well, no," I answered. "Why would I?"
"Well, uh, um..."
Vine cut her off. "Again, we should get ready."
He got up, grabbed a cushion, and lobbed it at Skid. It hit him in the back, almost knocking him off his cushion.
"Wake up, Skid, We have things to do."
"And you couldn't have found a more polite way to wake me?"
"Nope. Let's go."
"Fine."
And so, in a matter of minutes, all of us were out the door, Ivy included, to go back to my crater.