Flashing lights. Shouts and cries, barely recognizable words. Someone calling my name. Ringing in my ears. A sensation of falling, followed very quickly by the sensation of NOT. I have landed...somewhere. As my consciousness wavers, the last thing I'm aware of is the smell of grass and the gentle breeze on my face.

I'm not sure how long I lie there, in the middle of who-knows-where, but at some point I become aware of a presence beside me. I say "aware" as though I am greatly in tuned to the universe and the things in it. In reality I am in tune with the stick that is repeatedly being poked into my side.

"Uhm...are you...uh...um..."

The stick-wielder seems unsure what to make of this situation. I must look in pretty bad shape if they can't tell whether I'm alive or in some unsafe state of decay. Using all my might (which right now is very little) I crack open my eyes. Mistake - I must have hit my head harder than I thought, because the nervous stick wielding creature before me is a skitty.

"Oh! You are alive! Uh...can you walk? I can try to bring you back to town"

Status check. I'm alive. I may or may not be able to walk. There is a town nearby. A skitty is talking to me. I'm sure I've had stranger days, but...but...

Oh, ohhhhh that's not good

I-I can't actually remember anything.

"Huh? You can't remember anything?" The curious face peers down at me. I hadn't even reailzed I was speaking out loud

"Uh...that's right...I think I hit my head really hard...I've got a pounding headache, I lost my memory, and...and I'm sorry…it's gonna sound weird, but I'm seeing you as a skitty"

My companion seems stumped. "Well what else would you see me as? I'm Skitty, nice to meet you!"

Did my little injury grant me understanding of Pokemon language? That's exciting, and I feel the sense that it would be incredibly useful for...something I can't quite remember. Is there a Pokemon I know I would've wanted to talk to? Someone out there looking for me? Maybe they know what caused my injuries.

"Huh? You're mumbling again, is there someone around you know? Here, let me help you up, I think we should get you healed..."

As I shakily get to my feet, I can't help but notice there are...well more of them than there should be. I look down to see four gray paws. A mirror! The thought pops into my head, I keep a mirror in my bag! But where is...

That's when I notice Skitty has it. She must notice me looking at it aghast. "Oh, is this yours? I found it before running into you! Here you go!"

"Thanks..." a little concussion is no excuse to forget one's manners. I rummage through the bag of goods that look carefully packed, but totally foriegn to me (did I pack these, or has my new acquaintence been fiiling the pockets?), until I come across the mirror. Seeing my reflection, I consider submitting my case for world's most bizarre concussion contest. Staring back at me is a confused expression on what appears to be a white Zorua with long wisps of fur coming from its head and neck, each tipped in red.

"Hey, are you alright? You've gone pale-well, paler. But you don't look too bad, considering you must have had quite a fight!"

"It's...it's not that...I'm a Zorua!"

"Mmmhhmmm" Skitty says while wrapping her tail arond my back, guiding me out of the forest.

"No! That's not the weird part, I...I'm supposed to be a human!"

Now THIS seems to get her attention, she stops in her tracks. "Huh? A human? I thought those were only in the legends? There's none of them around here anyway"

"...well maybe so, but I AM one, and my name...my name is Gwen!" (thank Arceus I rembered that at least).

"Wow, a human? Really and truly?" Skitty says with shock. I'm still not sure if she's being serious or just trying to talk me down from what she probably thinks is some kind of mental breakdown. "Wow, that's really amazing!" she steps in front of me, huge grin, tail wagging back and forth excitedly. She really seems genuine. I'm surprised to find myself hoping she'll stick around after bringing me to this town. "I've always been fascinated by legends...I'm actually part of an exploration organization. I'm still an apprentice, but they say once I can find some team members, I can graduate to leading my own team!"

I...I'm not actually sure how to respond to any of this, so I just nod dumbly while smiling and going "ah, I see..."

"I've done all the training, but when it comes to finding team members...well let's just say I have a little trouble finding anyone who wants to join a total rookie, so I haven't got to do any real exploring yet, but…..if you wanted...I mean, if it's not too much to ask...would you be willing to join my team? Maybe we'll even discover something about who you are, why you lost your memory, and where you came from!"

Now it's my turn to be shocked. I'm still reeling from my injuries and apparent transformation, and now I'm being handed a…job opportunity? What does being in an exploration team even mean? What are they exploring? Still, she's right, I have no idea who or where I am, I seem to be in a place where humans are the stuff of legend, and I don't know who-or if-anyone is even looking for me.

I realize she's still looking at me expectantly. "Ok...I mean I'm no explorer, at least I don't think so...but-"

"Great!" She's beaming now "that's not a problem! I'll watch your back wherever we go, and I get the feeling you'll pick it up fast!"

I'm...happy. Yes, I may not know where, or who, I am, but as we slowly make our way to the town, as Skitty excitedly tells me all about the Exploration Center, running through names I've already forgotten the moment they've left her mouth, and tells me all about what being in an exploration team means, I realize I am truly excited for the things to come.