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I'm completely circled in by grandfather clocks. The second, minute and hour hands on the clocks don't move an inch but I can still hear the ticking. What is this place and why have I come here? I walk around in the circle to see if there's a way I can get out, I can't even peer out from between the clocks. I can't push them either, they won't budge no matter how hard I push at them.

Suddenly, there's a blinding light above me and I shield my eyes. It's even more blinding than the white void already all around me.

I cautiously peer through my fingers to see something on top of a clock, taking some notes. It's some fairy with a giant red V on their head. I try to think of what to say but they speak before I can think of anything.

"Finally found you! Man, this human hunting thing is tiring." They scribble something down on their notepad.

"Who- Who the heck are you?" I ask.

"My name's Victini, Vick for short! One of the few Mythical Pokémon of this world, not quite a god but pretty close~" Victini puts the notepad aside along with a pen and a bottle of ink. The bottle is so close to the edge that I feel it might fall and splatter across the white void floor at my feet.

I'm skeptical. It feels like I'm dealing with some evil force, like I'm about to be forced into a deal that I can't escape from. "I'm here to bring humans to the Pokémon world." They speak plainly.

"Wait, what? What are you talking about?"

"Oh, you're going to the Pokémon world, to be more clear~" Victini beams. So I was right!

"Wait, you're serious!?" In disbelief I ask, "The Pokémon world? But… I'm already in a Pokémon world! There's trainers and gym leaders and-" Victini waggles a finger and I stop speaking.

"Tsk, tsk. Nope, it's different than that. In the Pokémon world there's no trainers or gym leaders, it's all just Pokémon with no humans to be found~ So naturally that means you wouldn't be a human. If you sit down and listen for a while and not panic, that'd be grand. I tire of dealing with you humans who freak out at the notion of becoming a Pokémon."

I suppress my fear and confusion. I lean against a clock. There's a thousand questions running through my mind and I suppress those, too.

"There are questions I do need to ask you first. Your name?"

"My name's uhh… Walker." It took me a bit to fish that detail out of my mind- How could I almost forget that?

"Walker! Lovely name, now- If you were to describe your own personality, how would you do so?"

"Quiet." I wasn't sure how to answer but I knew that much was true

"Huh… Alright. Guess I'm not gonna get a good answer."

Suddenly I feel a sharp headache, I gasp through my teeth and hold my head. Then just as quickly as the headache came, it's gone. I rub my forehead.

"The hell?-"

"Ah, ok! So you're the quiet type with a lot going on in your head that you most times don't even realize… If that makes sense. You're perceptive. You've got a strong sense of justice. Oh, wow. Wait, this is actually the perfect fit I think…" Victini grabs their notepad and flips through it with their eyes beaming as they turn through the pages. "...YEP! Oh boy am I getting PAID!" They exclaim.

"Hey! Don't just do that! Ask first before you dig around in my head!" I exclaim, frustrated. It feels like there's some static leftover in my head after Victini did that.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, it's just business." Victini shrugs. I can feel a shiver crawl up my back. They just did it like it was nothing.

"Now, more questions… Hrmm… Well, you're already the perfect fit it seems, asking more questions is unnecessary at this point but that's not entirely true. It's better I know you so that if we work again in the future, we can know each other better-!" Victini is interrupted by the sound of a lightbulb flickering. The white of the void surrounding us flickers too. I flinch and Victini looks up, idly putting a finger to their mouth.

They look back to face me and upon seeing my face, they mutter "Oh, right."

"That happens a lot. It's usually a sign that I need to hurry this up. Don't worry Jira- I'll be done in a sec!"

"Jira?"

"Now, what can I ask..." They say, ignoring me. Victini ponders, they float down from the clock to stand in front of me. They're so freaking short but that's only because I'm still human for now. They look up to me and point a finger.

"Since you know what Pokémon are, what's your favorite type?"

"...A psychic type." I don't wanna be any type. I don't wanna be a Pokémon but so far it's looking like I don't have a choice. Victini snaps their fingers and gives the most gremlin grin I've ever seen. The tick tock of the clocks starts up again. The hands of clocks still stay still.

"Noted. I should have everything set up for you, I hope I'm not missing anything else I'm doomed… One thing, two things… Check. Ok! Yeah that's probably everything, I'll be seeing you around Walker! The Pokémon you'll be is… E. S. P. Farewell!" Victini backs away and waves, I begin to lift a hand before recoiling from the shining light, and then Victini is gone just like that. Damnit, there's so much more I wanted to ask!

E. S. P…

The clocks continue to tick without their hands moving, and it's the last sound I remember before my vision fades out.

This is a nightmare. At least, I hope it is.

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"Do you think Victini picked the right one?"

"Well, we hired them for a reason. They're known for pulling off victories despite odds leaning heavily against them so they must've picked a winner. I think it will be fine. At least, I can hope. No one else was available at the time to take in humans."

"I don't know, Victini is always cocky as a result of that fact they're always winning. I feel like one day they'll meet their match."

"Did Victini miss anything, Jirachi?"

"They forgot the gift."

"Ugh, that moron!"

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