Chapter 1 – Outcasts but friends
Deep in Space, a red being is floating around when he sees a green dragon rush past him. Rayquaza, the guardian of the sky was that deep in space? The red being, Deoxys, was truly perplexed as Rayquaza seemed afraid of something…Meanwhile, in a forest a Snivy laid on the ground, instead of the yellow eyes, collar and back, it was black. The leaves on it's tail were sharp and curved in spots, like blades. It had stripes on it's mid-section, the stripes being red before returning to skin color. The Snivy was breathing out icy cold breath and had a long light blue scarf wrapped around it's neck. "…Human…dangerous…must eradicate." The Snivy weakly opened it's eyes, it felt like they were hearing words in their head. "Where am I…Ugh…my head…Hmm…I feel parched…ah, there we go, a lake!" The Snivy walked over and drank some water, their eyesight becoming less blurry, and they got a good look in the water. "W-WHAT?! I'm…A Snivy? But I look so different…What is going on here?" The Snivy suddenly saw three figures floating over to it's left side. As the Snivy moved back it noticed it's left arm had a scar, but…it didn't hurt. The three figures turned to one another as their fingers flicked before turning to the Snivy.
"…Um…I guess you three don't want to play cards? Wah! Hey watch it…You guys aren't going to stop…Neh…I gotta get outta here!" The Snivy rushed off, eventually seeing a brown creature with a mask on, with a leaf attached to it's head.
"Whoa there bucko, what's all the ruckus?" The creature, Nuzleaf, tilted it's head toward the Snivy. Sure was weird, this Snivy. It didn't look normal.
The Snivy blinked a bit surprised the Nuzleaf talked to it, but before the Snivy could speak, the three creatures appeared and tried to attack them.
"Whoa…Come on child! Run!" As the Snivy tried to run, it tripped on it's scarf, being grabbed by the Nuzleaf and carried in his arms as they ran into the forest.
"Ok…So we're in a mystery dungeon…these places change every time we enter…Ah sorry, let me introduce myself. My name is Nuzleaf. What's your name kiddo?" The Snivy blinked, tilting his head a bit.
"Um…Well my Name is Brad…but I ain't no kid. I'm 28…Wait don't we need to escape those creatures first!"
"Well, consarn it you got a point, Brad…Here follow me and we'll talk. But 28? You look at least maybe…7? 8? Anyway, where did you come from?" Nuzleaf led the way, Brad and Nuzleaf sneaking around enemies.
"Well…I was used to be a human. But I don't have any other memories besides my name, age, and that I was a human."
"Ah yeah memory loss is…Wait a human?!" Nuzleaf's outburst made enemy Pokémon appear. As they got backed into a corner Brad opened his mouth to scream but a beam of ice rushed out scaring off the enemies. "…Ok…You're very different…A human but a Snivy able to use Ice beam? Hm…Well you had some leaves fall off. Imma hold onto this. Let's keep going and we'll talk." Brad followed Nuzleaf through the dungeon. "Anyway…Those Pokémon chasing you are known as Beeheeyem. They're a dangerous type for sure. But consarn it…I got dragged into your mess without havin' any part…But I guess I can forgive you. Seein' as you are unique and we aren't hurt." Brad nodded and gave a sorry as the group got out and were exhausted after.
"Alright…Seems we lost them Beeheeyem…Look here, Brad…I'm goin' back home. Ya best get home yourself…ah…but you did mention bein' a human…Hmm quite a predicament…Alright, got it. You come and stay with me at my home. Sure, you'll have to go undercover by goin' to school, but I got some friends that can see why you're such a unique lookin' Snivy. So what'cha say?" Nuzleaf put his hands on his sides in a fist shape. He seemed to be wanting Brad's answer. Brad thought it over, he really didn't have anywhere to go, and he didn't want to have the Beeheeyem hurt anyone looking for him. "…Will we really be safe? Those Beeheeyem are going to be after me."
"I reckon' we'll be safe. My village is pretty far so those Beeheeyem shouldn't be findin' you anytime soon."
"Alright, I'll take you up on your offer Nuzleaf. Let's go."
"Yee-haw, alright ya stick real close now, the walk is long. Maybe you should hold your scarf's extra length so you don't go trippin' or draggin' it across the ground."
"Yeah, fair point…huh where did this scarf originate from? Never had it as a human…" Brad followed Nuzleaf, traveling through valleys and hills, sleeping under the stars, until they finally arrived at Nuzleaf's home, Serene Village. A place where Brad would meet someone he could trust and who's destiny was intertwined together. As they were heading toward Nuzleaf's place, a voice called out.
" ! Welcome back! Who's the kid with you?! Did you have a kid in secret that me and pops never knew about?!" A young riolu rushed over, she seemed very eager, maybe 6, but close to 7? Brad wasn't sure what to make of this kid. "Well howdy there Emma, just relaxing today?"
"Yeah, Pops is busy and I didn't have anything to do. Who's the kid you gotta talk!"
"Well, he's not a secret kid I had. He was a kid I found on my way and has no memories or any family, so I decided to take him in. Introduce yourself kiddo." Nuzleaf gave me a small wink, which I knew meant to play along in order to not raise suspicion.
"Um…Hi, I'm Brad…Sorry my memory is real fuzzy so I don't have much I can say um…Emma was your name?"
"Mmhmm! Oh! , how about I show Brad around town, that way he won't get lost!" Emma's eyes were sparkling, Nuzleaf's arm flinched a tiny bit but not enough to give away his uneasiness, but he relaxed and smiled.
"I'd say that's a fine idea, go with Emma, Brad. Just don't go doing anything dangerous and be back by dinner!" Brad nodded as Emma led him to the town. Emma was humming as she led the way, before she suddenly let out what could be considered off key singing.
"SWEET CAROLINE, A BUMBUMBUM~" She seemed to giggle after singing it as the duo entered the main town area. "This is Serene village! As you can see we have Kangaskahn's café, Hawlucha's slam school, Kecleon's market…"
"There you are, Emma! You're the one who trampled through my Lotus pond aren't ya!" A green creature with a lilypad on their head walked over. "A-Ah…Um…L-Lombre…about that…I was just trying to have a small adventure…"
"Hold it right zere, Emma!" A brown hippo like creature came from the path Emma tried to rush off to.
"Ah! Hippopotas as well?!" "You are Ze one who vent into my cave! And vat's more you took ze treasure I had in there!" "N-No it was just like a dungeon exploration…and um you know…You gotta have a reward for clearing a dungeon…" Emma tried to break right before a blue turtle creature stopped her.
"Stop right there, Emma…"
"Ah, pops!" So that was Emma's dad…Well, both were blue…
"So, you're loitering about here hm? What about your chores back home huh? Playing hooky again?"
"No pops! I was showing this Snivy that returned home with so—"
"AND you've been snacking on the oran berries from my field again!"
"Nuh-uh"
"Yes"
"Nuh-uh!"
"Yes, and you'd better not try to lie!'
"Ok yeah I did, they were super delicious!" Brad got a dumbfounded face, did Emma just ADMIT to something she wasn't supposed to do? "Hey! There's Emma! Everyone Emma's been found"
"Oh muk…" Emma rushed past me.
"You can't run Emma, we'll catch you!" Carracosta led the charge with the other Pokémon.
"Well…That just happened…Well since I'm here, I guess I can look around a bit and get to know the lay of the land…" Brad walked around for a bit before noticing a pink deer talking to a grey shelled creature. Brad got closer, just enough to overhear their conversation.
"You guys challenge Goomy to do WHAT?!" The pink deer looked furious, her voice seemed to be one of a young child, maybe around 7 or 8.
"Well…you can't just blame me and Pancham, I mean, Goomy said he WANTED to do this." "I can, because you two ALWAYS push Goomy into it, and one day it'll be too late to say sorry! You are going to show me the way right now, or I swear to arceus…"
The gray creature jumped back a bit and led the deer a certain way. Brad decided to follow and saw them a bit later, the pink deer seemed shocked.
"He still hasn't returned?!"
A panda like creature with a stick in their mouth put their arms behind their head and looked at the pink deer. "Yeah, it's been quite a while. Knew he was a total wimp."
"Yeah, he should have just admitted he was a wimp and kept his mouth shut." the gray creature chuckled with the panda.
"Yeah, he said he was big and could do it. Probably crying and wet himself at this point." Both the creature laughed as the deer shook with anger. "You're so mean, Pancham! Goomy's barely six! He's even in the same grade as you and Espurr! Just because you're 7 because your birthday is early doesn't give you any right to be mean to Goomy!" "Well, you know Deerling, it's OUR job to prepare him for the harsh reality of life."
"Grrr…You two are such idiots! If something has happened to him, you both are going to pay for it! I'm going in!"
The panda, Pancham, rushed forward.
"Whoa you can't go in, you'd get hurt! You're our Idol!"
"And we can't let our Idol get hurt!" "Than YOU both go in"
The two looked at each other and shook their heads no.
"…Geez, you two are such weaklings. Scared to go save a kid who's in your same grade. Fine, I'll do it!"
"Who are you?"
"The name is Brad, Nuzleaf took me in after finding me all alone. I'll go in and save this Goomy character."
"…Are you serious? This place is like, highly scary." The shelled creature spoke.
"Yeah, like…we won't stop you, but if you get scared and wet yourself before crying for Nuzleaf well—" the Pancham was suddenly hanging upside down.
"Listen here you lil' punk…Where did Goomy go?"
"Um there's a paper somewhat near the entrance. Like…floor 4?" Pancham was suddenly let down but not before an ice beam was fired between him and Shelmet, causing both to jump back a bit shocked.
"What kind of Snivy knows Ice Beam?!"
"This Snivy, Deerling was it? I'll rescue Goomy and bring him back safe and sound. I promise this."
"Please take care, I'm placing my trust in you." Brad nodded to the Deerling and rushed in, remembering the things Nuzleaf taught him, he fought past the enemies when needed, using ice beam and twisted to his advantage. Eventually he reached the 4th floor and found a gooey creature shaking near a piece of paper.
"Oh…why did I do this..."
"Hey…Um…are you Goomy?"
"Huh? Um yeah…Who are you?"
"I'm Brad. Deerling asked me to come rescue you. This is the paper you had to write your name on? Alright, we'll do this easy." Brad rolled the paper up and picked up Goomy with his vines and gently put him on his back, holding him with the vines.
"Um…Are you sure you can carry me?"
"Sure as rain, I'll keep my tail from you, since it's sharp. Alright let's head back!" Brad carried Goomy all the way to the entrance, dodging enemies as he did so. As Brad returned he set Goomy down.
"Whoa…you actually made it back?! Wait…that paper…Pfft…Look at this Shelmet! You can't even read it!"
"Hahahaha! You're right Pancham, let's go show everyone!"
Before Shelmet or Pancham could rush off, Brad pulled them both back with his vines.
"I believe I'll say this once. I don't take kindly to bullies. Apologize to Goomy, leave the paper, and go home!" The cold glare from Brad's eyes was enough to make Pancham and Shelmet listen before rushing off. "Ugh…I've had it up to here with those two…Thank you Brad, and I'm glad you're safe and sound Goomy. Still, you got to stop letting those two goad you into this stuff. Still…Besides the sloppy writing, you did good."
"Don't call it sloppy! But…Yeah…I wanted to show I had guts…Um…Thank you, Brad."
"Yes, thank you Brad. Here we'll walk with you back home. You going to be going to school right?"
"Well, I can't just not…Nuzleaf probably was busy getting me set up. Oh man…It must be close to dinner time…"
"Oh did Nuzleaf want you back by that? We'll be able to get you home on time."
"Yeah, first night in the village and all." Deerling, Goomy and Brad talked as they got Brad back to Nuzleaf's before saying bye. "Huh, so that's what happened today? I'll admit…I'm a bit darn annoyed you went into there, still you saved that kid…Grown-ups will always try to say you can't do this or that, but there are things in life you can't learn without experiencing it yourself…So I get it, if you get a hankerin' for adventurin' around town, I don't mind. I'm pretty lax, just don't go into anything overly dangerous ok? Now you gotta be up by 6:30 AM to be ready for school. So bedtime should be…"
"Given I'm 28, Nuzleaf, 10:30. That'll be a full 8 hours of sleep…Maybe 10 PM since I take a bit to fall asleep. Deal?"
"Heh, you drive a hard bargain, Brad. Deal, but if you start waking up tired to where it's affecting you at school, I will have to make you go to bed earlier."
"Alright, understood. Here I'll wash the dishes with you, that way if Carracosta or another villager sees us, they'll think you're teaching me life skills." Both Nuzleaf and Brad chuckled and chattered as they cleaned the dishes and tidied up the house, before Brad went to bed in the room Nuzleaf gifted him. Brad wasn't sure what would happen from here on, but he knew there had to be more to why he was turned into a Pokémon, but he had school in the morning, to not seem suspicious.
