Location: Serene Village Plaza
Date: June 18th
Troublesome news. Mr. Farfetch'd has gone missing! He was with Ms. Audnio last night doing rounds and he just…vanished! During his investigations, Magnezone uncovered a witness account of Farfetch'd being dragged along the road by some invisible force, seemingly surrounded by ghostly blue flames!
That really shook everyone who heard it – namely Raticate, Lombre, Roselia, and Lyra. Magnezone told them to stop their fussing and disperse to their homes, which everyone but Lyra did. She's trying to put on a brave face, but I can tell she's utterly terrified. I'm more worried than terrified – I hope Farfetch'd is alright. First Watchog, now him…this can't be a coincidence.
Nuzleaf is in the plaza too, doing some investigating of his own. He assured me everything would be alright, and to just keep my head low and be extra vigilant in case…well, I knew what he was getting at and I nodded in understanding. Lyra was nearby and so were a few other listening ears, so we didn't need folks eavesdropping on us about the Beheeyem.
With his unspoken warning in mind, I prepared for our expedition.
Location: Home
As per the agreement, we got through the last of Nuzleaf's questions after dinner. Some of them were as basic as "What books do I like to read?" Some didn't have a right answer…such as "What's more important – freedom or safety?" Some I told him I don't know, such as when he asked, "What time of th'day would ya say is best for cleaning the house?"
Still, he accepted those "don't know" answers and we got through all the questions. Finally, I turned the tables on him and tried asking a few off his list. He was amused at first, giving simple answers like his favorite color being turquoise and his favorite flavor being sour. When I started getting into the heavy questions, he just sort of…gave me a look. A sort of "don't make light of that question" look. As if my answers somehow determined the fate of the world, and I had no right asking him the same questions he'd asked me.
There was one question I asked him that wasn't on his list, but I still wanted to know the answer. I'm sure he gave me the look, but I wasn't paying attention because I was imagining the answer already. I'd asked, "Where did you come from?"
It was a question Pancham had asked me several days ago, and I'd answered by telling them about me being human. This led to his accusation of me lying and…well, it sort of answered his question. I'm from the human world. Nuzleaf knows that, too, but I don't know nearly as much about him. And if he were trying to get to know me, perhaps I should try the same for him.
I was imagining him as a Seedot surrounded by older Nuzleaf siblings and two Shiftry parents, maybe a Shiftry grandparent, in a densely wooded area. Seedot him is giggling joyfully as his siblings played with him…it's a really nice vision.
However, Nuzleaf brought me back to reality by saying he's from a place he doesn't intend to share with the rest of the world, especially not me lest it feed my curiosity too much to lure me there. He didn't specify beyond that, and frankly the pained expression on his face told me that was more than enough for tonight. I apologized for bringing up horrible memories, and…that actually made him smile again. He told me not to worry about it and thanked me for answering his mountain of questions. Told me there's a nice surprise in store for me, and I should look forward to it.
I'm…worried he might be trying to mask the pain I reminded him of. I hope he's not suffering too much from the memories. That really wasn't fair of me. Nuzleaf's done nothing but try to be a good parent this entire time, and for me to dredge up stuff that doesn't even matter now…well, I guess I shouldn't beat myself up too much over it. How was I supposed to know? That's the point of asking questions, ain't it?
I'm sure he'll be okay, but for him to so adamantly refuse to share the place he's from and insist that I not go there…what kind of place is it? Is it really that bad?
Ugh, thinking about it too much will keep me from sleeping. I'm sure I'll uncover the answer someday, but now's not the time to worry about that.
Another long day tomorrow.
Location: Home (still night)
I can't sleep.
Insomnia's the worst. I don't know what's preventing me from sleeping. Could it be the chilling ghost stories? The trembling fear of Mr. Farfetch'd getting kidnapped? The spooky chill in the air?
Ooh…actually, the slight chill feels nice. It's been warm lately, so a nice walk through the village at night sounds blissful. However, I'm not sure that'd be a wise idea what with the freaky phenomenon…but if I stay awake and stay in my room, I might never fall asleep.
Curses, why do I have to be wide awake? So annoying…
Maybe Nuzleaf has an insomnia cure. If he's still awake, I'll ask him.
Location: Home (late night/early morning)
Turns out Nuzleaf didn't have a cure for insomnia, but when I shared my idea of taking a night walk, he said he'll accompany me. Given Farfetch'd's disappearance, I don't blame him.
We decided to sit on the big tree hill and stare up at the stars. It was a peaceful and beautiful night. Air was as crisp as I thought it'd be. For the first few minutes, Nuzleaf and I exchanged small talk. Well…more like not-so-small talk. We went long lengths of time without saying anything, and when we did say stuff it was kinda profound.
I started things off by asking him if he thought our worlds were connected. We both know what humans and Pokémon are, so perhaps there's a link. Or maybe my world is a planet thousands of miles away from this one and as we looked up at the stars, I pointed at a random one and said that maybe that one's my world. Or that one. Or that one. He found that amusing and said he believed our worlds are connected, but they're more like…two pieces of land separated by a river. So similar in many ways, yet totally different in others.
I admitted that there's still so much I don't know about this world, and that it's all so bizarre. Still don't know how I could be a child in this world but be a young adult in mine. Nuzleaf had a theory – Chikoritas are plant-based creatures who live for a very long time thanks largely to Meganiums and their incredible power to revive dead plants with their breaths, so it's possible that my age in human years translates to a much younger age in Chikorita years. If I was a 54-year-old human, a 54-year-old Chikorita would translate to the human equivalent of an 18-year-old.
Wait…so, my age as a Chikorita is actually 1/3rd my age as a human!? Dear Arceus, no wonder I sometimes act like a child. I'm in the body of one! Now more than ever I'm frustrated I can't remember my human age! Uuugggh, how appropriately embarrassing! My human-mature brain was trapped in the flesh of a not-mature Chikorita shell. I'm a kid, but I'm also not. I'm a freaking paradox.
Never thought I'd get that ashamed from getting an answer to that confusion. Nuzleaf just laughed and pat my head. He reassured me that it's just a theory, there's no definitive proof that that's really why I'm younger in this world than in mine. Who knows? Maybe being transported to this world reverses the aging process, and he cracked a joke saying that if I know any worlds where I could be reverse-aged again to let him know so he could tag along.
Glad my unfortunate younger state can bring him such delight.
After another long time of staring at the stars, Nuzleaf asked…well, he started off asking if I was a Pokémon trainer in my world, and I told him that I think I was. He asked if I recalled having a Nuzleaf on my team, and…I admitted that I couldn't remember. I don't remember them clearly, but…I remember that I relied on them a lot, and I always took care of them. One of them was a male Sawsbuck, which could explain my fondness for my Deerling classmate in this world. The rest eluded me.
Nuzleaf pondered what that must be like – to travel with a trainer who you trust beyond anything. Someone weaker than you, but someone you trust to help you become your best possible self. Someone you'd protect, no matter what happened to you.
It was my turn to crack a joke, saying that some trainers considered themselves the parent of their Pokémon, and he found that mildly funny.
"Ya reckon you can imagine me as a trainer?"
Heh, I can't picture that. Maybe a human pretending to be a Nuzleaf, but even that I can't picture.
Something occurred to me, and I asked him if there were…degenerates in this world. He was confused by my question, and I further explained that…if the concept of school exists in this world and it's much like how it is in my world, then that means…there's horrible Pokémon in this world just like there's horrible people in mine, right?
He said I shouldn't be asking questions like that…but yes, there are. Figured that'd be the answer. I mean, the Beheeyem come to mind, but I don't know if they're truly horrible. Maybe I did something to them before I lost my memory, I dunno. Pancham also comes to mind, but he's just an immature kid. I don't think I've come across a Pokemon I could truly label as a degenerate. Everyone I've fought thus far has had something to protect or been understandably afraid of strangers wandering into their territory.
I told him that every similarity I can draw between this world and my own will help me understand it better. That means that…there's probably good Pokémon who do horrible things. It's all a lot to think about.
There was something else I wanted to mention, and I hesitated at first because I was worried that I would offend him. Deciding that being open has done nothing but good so far, I pushed that worry aside and asked him if we spend too much time together. Sometimes it feels like I spend more time with him than Lyra, which makes sense seeing's how he and I live together, but it's still rather odd that I hang out with him so much. An outsider might even label it as creepy.
Nuzleaf said that we spend no more time together than a son and father with the same hobbies and interests, but he'd be lying if I wasn't the first Pokémon to bring that up. Carracosta gets on his case about hanging out with the other adult Pokémon all the time, but Nuzleaf said he simply didn't have the same interests as them. Plus, he found solace in spending time alone. If not for me living with him, he'd probably just keep to himself most of the time.
"Some folks are happiest bein' on their own, and I'm one of 'em. Ain't nothin' for me t'gain from hanging out in large groups all the time, and sometimes the feeling of loneliness creeps up even when I'm hanging out with others. Would rather have one or two close friends to hang out with on occasion than a buncha fake friends to be miserable around."
He said that there are some new situations he's had to deal with since having me with him, including attending parent-teacher conferences, village paternity club meetings, and the International Pokémon Assembly of Dads, or the IPAD. I uh…thought of mentioning how iPad might be a licensed or copyrighted name, but…eh, whatever. This is the Pokémon world. Who cares?
Anyway, of the necessary things he's had to attend, he particularly enjoys the IPAD meetings. It's a nice gathering with lots to offer and plenty of advice he's utilized thus far. However, he hasn't passed the initiation to become a true IPAD member yet. They didn't tell him what the initiation consisted of, but he'd know once he passed. It'd be a spectacle that's be hard to miss.
Well, that's…ominous. Not reassuring at all, just ominous.
For my take on it, I said that perhaps it is a little strange for me to spend so much time with him. However, I don't consider it that weird since I have no memories of my previous parents. What I do have are…bad feelings and instincts with dark implications. If my previous father wasn't good, then it'd make sense I'd want to spend time with my father who is good.
I wasn't brave enough to tell Nuzleaf this, but if I was being honest…Lyra and Nuzleaf were probably the best things I have in this world. If I was faced with something I didn't understand, I went to one of them because I know I can trust them. The other day cast a shadow of doubt over Nuzleaf, but I was foolish then and that dark cloud is gone now. Lyra and Nuzleaf are my family and I want to protect them. I love them.
As my mind began to wander, I unconsciously started whistling. Nuzleaf brought me out of my daze by asking what that was, and I said it's just a song I used to listen to all the time in my world. Heh…human me always wanted to learn how to play the song on the piano. He didn't know what that was but when I started whistling again, he pulled out the leaf on his head and made a flute out of it. He then tried playing the song alongside my whistling. It uh…the notes were harsh and unnerving. The song's gentle tones were definitely not meant to be played on a flute…but despite the roughness, it was still really nice. It helped calm my nerves.
After a little extra time staring up at the stars, I told Nuzleaf I was ready to go back home. On our way back, I could hear him humming the tune I taught him, and it made me smile. It really is a gentle melody. I'm glad I was able to share something with him, and maybe it'll bring him the same amount of comfort it brings me.
And here's hoping he won't try playing it on the flute again.
A/N: The song they were whistling/fluting was "Familiar" from Steven Universe. Freaking love that song. If you look up a flute cover of it on Youtube, there's only one video and I'd recommend giving it a listen. It really is a little unnerving, but it's still nice. And hey, Nuzleaf's Pokedex entries say that listening to its flute-playing fills the listener with unease after all. How fitting!