A thunderous crash ripped Cerise from unconsciousness. Her eyes shot open, but the darkness that now surrounded her was absolute. I... I can't see a thing! Didn't I leave my nightlight on?
She tried to get up but found that her legs were more awkward than she'd remembered. That's odd, she thought, opting to go on all fours for the time being. Hm. Why does this feel so... natural?
She crawled over to where she thought her nightlight was, feeling around for a wall socket. It took her longer than she thought it would to reach the wall, but when she did, she noticed something was off. This wall... it's made of stone. It's jagged, too. Oh no...
"This isn't my room!" she yelled. I'm in a cave! She shivered violently, fear locking up her joints. I'm in the dark... in a place I don't know... and I can't even walk properly. I didn't even know I had a "worst nightmare" until now.
As she lay there, she noticed a very faint light in the distance. It illuminated the cave walls just enough for her to see where she was and suppressed her fear enough for her to move. She slowly got up and began a shaky walk towards the light.
Getting closer, she heard voices and the occasional loud crash. Just like the one that woke me up. Stepping ever closer, she was eventually able to make out what the voices were saying.
"... if it's not here? We might be wasting our time!"
After another crash, a different voice said, "But there has to be one here! We've scoured nearly every other cave around!"
The first voice spoke again. "If evolution is so important to you, why don't we just go buy a Shiny Stone in town?"
The second voice scoffed. "You know why. Everyone selling them just has to make a profit. I'm not gonna buy it for more than it's worth!"
The following silence lasted only moments, as yet another crash rang through the cave shortly after.
At this point, Cerise had nearly reached the place the voices were coming from. The light was only getting brighter, and her fear was ebbing away with every step. At least I was able to find help. I don't know how long I would've stayed in that one spot if I still couldn't see anything.
It was then she reached a large opening in the cave, a severe contrast to the tunnel she'd been in just before. Translucent yellow crystals dotted the room, along with some very large formations that jutted from the walls, floor, and ceiling. She noticed that many had been completely shattered. Were those the crashes I heard?
As if to answer her question, another crash brought her attention to a far corner, where she saw something grey with an exceptionally large fluffy tail and equally large ears standing before a newly shattered crystal formation. A candle, which appeared to be the source of the light she followed, stood just behind it.
The creature threw its arms up in apparent exasperation. "Not here either!"
An inquisitive look crossed Cerise's face. That thing was the one talking? She looked around but was unable to see anything worth talking to. Odd. I thought I heard a second voice.
Suddenly the candle behind the creature moved, revealing tiny arms and a single eye to Cerise. "I'm still betting there's not one in this cave."
Cerise cocked her head, stunned. Something's definitely off here. She watched as the creature and the candle walked over to the next intact formation. The creature took a fighting stance. Its tail suddenly took on a very metallic look, seemingly adding considerable heft to itself. The creature then swung its tail at the formation, breaking it into a million pieces.
Cerise didn't have time to react before a large chunk of crystal smacked her in the forehead. She shrieked as she fell backward from the blow, falling unconscious for a second time that day as her head hit the ground.
This unconsciousness was short-lived, however, as she was soon woken back up by two swift smacks to the face. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing that both the grey creature and the candle were now standing over her.
She quickly tried to get back to her feet but toppled over once again. She looked up at the two, disoriented and scared. "Wh- What are you?" she asked shakily.
The grey creature recoiled slightly at her question, looking deeply concerned. "Oh no, did that hit screw with your memories!?"
Cerise blinked, taken slightly aback. "Am... I supposed to know what you are?"
The candle shifted, momentarily revealing its other eye to Cerise. "Well, yeah. It's practically unheard of for a Pokemon to not recognize other species of... Pokemon."
"What are you talking about?" Cerise asked. "I think I know what Pokemon are, but..." She trailed off, her realization striking harder than the crystal had. Pokemon aren't real! She scrutinized the beings in front of her. But... these creatures kind of look familiar. Are they... are they Pokemon?
At this point, the grey creature waved a paw in front of her face. Cerise jumped, realizing she'd been staring off into space for a while. "So... you two are Pokemon, then?" she asked.
"Well, yeah," the candle replied. "I am a Litwick and she's a Minccino."
"So... am I dreaming?"
The Minccino's ears twitched. "Uh, no. You're not dreaming."
"But Pokemon aren't real. They're fictional. So... what I'm seeing right now, it can't be real."
The Litwick pointed at Cerise. "But you're a Pokemon, too."
Cerise looked down at her body, and now being fully illuminated by the Litwick's light, what she saw was unavoidable. Fur? Slowly standing up, she further examined her new self, confirming that she did, in fact, have purple and cream-colored fur covering her entire body. She also noticed that paws had taken the place of her hands and feet. So that's why I couldn't walk normally! Rounding off her examination, she found that she now possessed a tail that ended in a scythe-like tuft of fur. She wiggled it around, finding she had quite a bit of control over it.
Looking back at the two Pokemon in front of her, she said, "I... I have to be dreaming, right!? I'm- I'm a human! I was certainly not whatever this thing is last time I remember!"
She stood there, starting to hyperventilate as the Mincinno and Litwick processed what she said.
After a short while, the Litwick broke the silence. "A... human?"
The Minccino turned to the Litwick, eyes wide. "But... but humans don't exist!" She turned to look back at Cerise. "Do they?"
"I've heard stories, but I never thought they were true."
"B- But she just looks like a Purrloin! Humans don't look like Pokemon, right?"
"They did in the stories."
While the Litwick and the Minccino talked, Cerise glanced at a nearby crystal formation, catching her reflection in the process.
"That face!" She shouted, cutting both Pokemon off midsentence. As they stared at her, she continued. "I saw that face when... when- when I played that game! It was the last thing I saw before I wound up here! I... I never thought that face would be mine."
The Minccino stepped forward, now looking more confused than scared. "What are you talking about?"
Cerise slowed her breathing, attempting to get a hold of herself. "Last night, or maybe it's still that night for all I know, I was given... some kind of device." She paused, trying to remember exactly what it was, but the details floated just beyond her reach. "I was also given a... a game that I could use with the device. When I tried playing the game, I got sucked into the device. Now, I guess I'm here. And not quite myself." Really taking in how different her body had become, she added, "There's no way I'm dreaming."
"Well, not much of that made sense, but I am sure of one thing," the Litwick said.
Cerise made eye contact with the Litwick, awaiting its response.
"If you really are a human who got sent to our world, you'll need the help of a guild. There's Pokemon at these guilds who know more about the stories I've heard and your situation than I could ever hope to." It turned to the Minccino. "Morgan, we need to take her to the Roselia Guild."
Morgan's eyes narrowed, and she shrunk backward, looking scared at the very idea. "You know I can't go back there!" She glanced around at the crystals that littered the cavern. "Not until I've evolved."
"Morgan-"
"Fuse!" Morgan shouted, cutting the Litwick off. "You heard me. I can't."
Fuse, which Cerise figured was the Liwick's very fitting name, sighed, putting a nub of a hand to his face. "Fine. I'll take her by myself."
Morgan balked at this statement. "B- But... we've never been apart for more than a day! And you know I can't see in here without you!"
Fuse stretched his arms upward, drawing a small amount of flame from the wick atop his head. He moved the flame in front of his face, focusing on it until it grew to the size of the fire burning on his wick. He let his arms drop to his sides, but the flame remained, burning strongly in the air. "There. That Will-O-Wisp should last you a while." He turned to Cerise. "Let's go- uh, do you have a name?"
Cerise nodded. "It's-"
"No! don't leave me here!" screamed Morgan, her voice echoing off the cave walls. She sighed, then said quietly, "I... I'll go with you. Don't expect me to go inside when we get there, though."
Fuse smirked at Cerise, then waved a hand toward his Will-O-Wisp. In an instant, it disappeared, the only trace of it left behind being a wisp of smoke. "Alright then. Let's get going." He began to make his way towards the entrance Cerise had come from, Morgan following slowly behind.
Cerise had started to follow when she remembered the question Fuse had asked a moment before. "My name's Cerise, the way."
Both Morgan and Fuse turned back towards Cerise as they continued walking. Fuse gave her a nod, but Morgan just gave her a depressed look.
What could have happened to her there? Cerise thought. I almost don't want to go so she won't have to, but... I do need help.
She trailed behind the two, trying to ignore their bickering as they made their way through the cave. She only succeeded by trying to remember anything else from before she woke up, her mind's voice drowning out those of the Pokemon in front of her. Despite her efforts, she only remembered a single word: multiverse. She didn't know why, but it felt important.
Eventually, the group made it to the cave's entrance, where a star-filled sky and cool mountain air greeted them. Cerise breathed in deep, feeling somewhat relaxed for what felt like the first time in ages.
"We should stay here for the night," said Fuse. "We'll be able to see the guild from here when the sun rises."
Morgan sat down beside Fuse, her tail curling around herself like a blanket. "Can't argue with that," she said tersely. She laid on her side, closing her eyes as Fuse did the same, opting to sleep standing up.
Cerise also moved beside Fuse but had trouble finding a sleeping position. Being in a new body, combined with the fact that she was laying on stone, made it nearly impossible to get comfortable. Eventually, finding herself curled up in a tight ball, she closed her eyes.
And slept.
