The twinkle of stars.
White, Yellow, Red, Blue, Orange, and Green.
Stars shimmered in all these colors, and the intensity of the lights poked through the night sky. But there was one in particular, it stuck out in a vibrant emerald green. Filled with luminosity and grand splendor, even from light-years away.
Stars in the sky were similar to our Sun. Some were huge, taking up so much space, their light reaching far throughout time. Whilst other stars were tiny but immensely hot and only appeared as dim specks from far away. There were many more all scattered throughout the galaxy.
What type of star would I be? Would I be the brightest star in the sky?
A gentle warmth swept over my body. It was the Sun's. My head felt fuzzy and a smile crept onto my face as I took it in. For some reason today I loved the Sun's warmth. Really loved. It was like eating the most divine and filling food over and over, a rich 2-course gourmet meal. But the light didn't make sense. Why did it pour over?
It made me fuzzy, an odd sensation. I wanted more light. Carefully my eyes opened slowly and saw a bright cloudy sky. There was a tall brown building off in the distance, with a striking round yellow roof. I could tell the whole structure was large as it was imposed behind some odd trees. I focused hard on the tree's features, the wispy dark green leaves, narrow limbs, and bright thick foliage. Some trees had strange fruit.
I think I've seen these types of trees before. Subtropical, no, not the tropics. Maybe deeper. Wait, they're rainforest trees? Jungle trees. I leaned forward and jolted. What's this?
In front of me were two light green things, they looked like cat paws. Who'd dye their cat green? Wait. I knew it! Sprigatito was a green kitten. I have a memory of something, a rare Pokemon. Something about grass and plants. Hmm, that's really odd. I reached out with my hand, the paw moved too!
"What the?!" I yelled, scampering forward. When I did I fell, and my head shot down. Then I saw it. Some tree bark with rich dark brown wood. A thin twig, high up, and I was on this tree branch?! That held me?
Somehow I righted myself. Below me was a wide river. My thoughts spiraled as I fell. Shoot, what should I do? Should I swim, could I swim? Sprigatito swimming?
The word left me puzzled. Swimming. Why was that?! I splashed into the river fast. The refreshing cool water swallowed me whole, and it pushed me around. By flailing I managed to resurface. For a minute. I didn't float in place.
I wasn't going to, not in this current. It was too strong! "Help! Anyone!" I shouted. I have to fight! Fight against the river! I cried out again and flailed my limbs in an attempt to swim to the riverside. But my cat paws, no, my cat body couldn't win.
Maybe a stronger Sprigatito would win. I'm not used to being a Sprigatito. Wait? What was I before? Before I woke up? It doesn't matter because I sank further in the waves. "I'm drowning!" I screamed out. I don't remember what else I yelled, water deep in my lungs.
My will to struggle faded slowly. But just as my eyes closed I saw it. Well them, a Pokemon.
They had a white face with freckles, a big nose, and cute ears. There was a shell on their smooth belly, as they approached me, and pulled me above the water.
This Pokemon was my savior. They were crying? Slowly, worn out from my struggle I fell asleep, as my eyes lidded over and my consciousness faded. Oh well.
Awakening slowly but surely rolled throughout my body, and roused me out of sleep. As I lay there on my stomach I took a deep breath and my eyes snapped open.
Oh my goodness, I-I nearly drowned! Shoot, shoot, shoot! Is that how weak I am? My heart started to race and I gripped the grass with my claws.
Fresh air entered my lungs through my nose and I felt something odd in my throat. Something on top of my head twitched and I shuddered for a moment. Then a glob of water flew out of my mouth.
Blagh . I'm all soggy, it doesn't help that my stomach was tight and bloated. That was a lot. Way too much water. Even for a Pokemon like me. Like me?
Then I finally took in my surroundings. What waited for me was the same similar jungle landscape of scraggly moss, thin vines, dense trees, and large vibrant flowers that danced in the wind every which way.
The sounds of running, no rushing water beside me made me flinch. That same river is close by, the one that almost claimed my life. To avoid thinking about it any further I glanced to the right.
Beside me was the same Pokemon from before with a white, and light blue body. One with sparkling green eyes. They were an Oshawott if I remembered correctly. I studied what I presumed was their brave, heroic face and I was a tad confused. They were still crying.
I stirred again. Their dark navy triangular-shaped ears perked upright and they sniffled to themself before turning towards me.
"OH YOU'RE AWAKE!" the Oshawott cheered suddenly, getting even closer.
Woah that was loud! My eyes widened slowly, and I let out a little cough.
"I-I mean you're awake," the Oshawott repeated in a slightly deeper voice, still at a fairly higher pitch before sniffling.
Did they cry over me? How bad was it? I glanced at them some more.
The Oshawott then wiped their eyes and stared at me for a moment, tears still pouring down their face. "I'm- I'm okay!" they asserted.
I just stared at them some more, trying to figure out how their shell… How the scalchop thing stayed on their stomach.
"I promise!" Finally, their tears stopped. "See!"
Wait a moment! This isn't just any Pokemon.
"You," I started.
"Y-yes!?" the Pokemon answered.
"You're an Oshawott?"
They nodded what I assumed was a 'Yes'. Then asked."Are you okay?"
I looked down at my surroundings and took in a deep breath. "Yeah, I think so." My fur wasn't drenched in the water anymore, but it still felt wet. Carefully I stood up and shook my entire body, and the droplets flew off my fur coat with every second. "How did you find me so fast?"
The Oshawott wiped a bit of water from their muzzle and grimaced. "I was practicing swimming in a stream nearby."
"Why were you practicing?" I asked, stretching my back.
"Because I want to get stronger."
"Stronger?" I repeated.
They looked down at their body and back at me. "Yes, thankfully I was strong enough to rescue you from that powerful river."
My ears fell to the back of my head and I gazed into the Oshawott's eyes. "How did you do it?"
"I didn't expect it to be so difficult to carry you out of the raging current and help free water from your lungs but I managed."
"Thank you for saving me," I thanked the Oshawott. "I still want to know more about what you were doing though."
"You do?" they replied.
"Yes."
"I took a break from practice to collect some Berries."
"Berries?"
The Oshawott suddenly held out a large yellow pear-shaped fruit. "Yeah, but then I heard you calling for help downstream."
No idea what it is but it's a Berry. I took another deep breath and tried to move but ended up falling. "T-thank you for saving me."
"You're welcome, Sprigatito," the Oshawott gently held my shoulders. "I was scared you wouldn't wake up so I tried really hard."
That confirmed it, I was a Sprigatito. But was I always one? "Really?" I questioned before I let out a cough, and reeled back. I just woke up and I almost died right away, insane. That's right, I nearly drowned to death in that river. The same one this Oshawott practices in. And they're weak?
"You obviously aren't okay," they placed their paws together and sniffed again. My nose twitched too. "What are you doing here?"
What am I doing out here? I don't know, just chilling in a tree, but what about before? As my thoughts built up, the Oshawott gave me a confused look, and their ears tilted up.
"Erm, I don't know," I said. "I was sitting high up in a branch above the river, mesmerized by this huge brown building."
"Huge brown building?" the Oshawott repeated before their eyes went wide. "Oh snap!"
"What's wrong Oshawott?" I asked, my whiskers flickered and I leaned back.
They glanced at me, with their brow furrowed, and then looked around. "We are not in a formal setting so maybe I'd like… er rather you call me Jordan," they reached off to the side to part some leaves.
"Okay, Jordan-" I started.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Jordan cut me off and bowed. "I never asked you your name, and if you were okay with us being formal. Also, it looks like your totally younger than me but if you are older then I've definitely screwed up. I mean I did save you and have you following me around but-"
Their stammering was cute but I was a little bored and wanted to explore more of this jungle. To stop the Oshawott I brushed my head against their side, and earned a flustered yelp. "It's fine really- I can think about all those specifics, maybe while we walk."
"Okay, we can head upstream," the Oshawott took in a deep breath before they trudged through some bushes.
In the foliage there was a rather large straw basket, it looked like it could hold about 10 or so of those yellow Berries.
"I'm just still so worried… what if those guys are right," Jordan mumbled. "Sprigatito am I okay?"
"Okay?" I replied. "I still don't understand. What's wrong?"
The Oshawott then placed the yellow Berry inside the basket and tapped their feet on the ground. "I need to go pick some various Berries. These are the best healing fruit and I may not be able to find them today."
"What else do you need to do with those very special Berries?" I narrowed my eyes and traced them over the Berry.
Jordan waved their paws and frowned. "They aren't super duper special. They just assist in healing wounds and help endurance while eaten in certain environments."
Oh yeah, Berries were great for helping Pokemon. It made sense it was the same here. "You have to tell me more about them later," I said as my tail swayed slowly.
"Definitely Sprigatito," the Oshawott bowed. "The most important thing is to uh deliver the Berries to the Martial Arts Society,"
"The Martial Arts Society?" I asked.
Jordan glanced at me before looking away toward some fauna. "Well uh, it's a super cool organization in Bulalakaw City! It's brought out the best and brightest because it teaches and helps hone Pokemons' battle prowess and education through Martial Arts!"
So I'm near Bulalakaw or Meteor City, interesting, I wonder what it looks like. But more importantly, this 'Society' that specializes in teaching Pokemon Martial Arts?
"Battle prowess and Education hmm sounds interesting," I watched Jordan pace around, tilting my head. Why is this Oshawott so shy about it but excited at the same time? "Why are you collecting Berries for them?"
The Oshawott flinched, and their tail smacked the ground. "Be-because some members asked all of us to help out."
"So who is this 'all of us', are you students or something?" I asked with a wave of my paw.
They stepped away, kicked a nearby stick, walked back over to me, and sighed. "I should have made it… Anyway, we are prospective applicants for the Martial Arts Society."
What's going on? "Ah, so you are nervous about joining this organization?" I took a shot.
"No," Jordan looked down at their paws and into the basket. "Well, that's kinda a lie. Right now I'm worried I won't be able to find enough of these Berries."
My eyes widened as I realized what that large yellow Berry was. It was a Sitrus Berry! I glanced around in a circle and looked at the thick leaves of the treetops. "Are there any Berries around here that we can collect?"
The Oshawott shook their head what I assumed was 'No'.
Well, that's not good, they'll have to leave this jungle to search for Berries. I watched as their tiny whiskers twitched as they looked side to side again.
"And then those Pokemon might be there, oh no," the Oshawott murmured before they patted themself on the shoulder. "No no, it's okay I can go to the other forest."
Jordan turned to the left and my eyes followed, which allowed me to see a dark dirt path leading through the clearing of trees, and plants. Then they started to walk away.
"Jordan?" I called. "I don't think I know anything about er… uh this area."
"I can take you with me if you want Sprigatito. D-do you want to come?"
Maybe if they hadn't had to save me then they could have started to collect some Berries by now. "I could try to help you," I started.
The Oshawott blinked. "Don't feel pressured or anything!"
"But I don't think I'm any good at anything," I groaned.
"D-don't say that, You need to be like me against those three lame-os from the Club Guild," Jordan ranted.
"The what?" I laughed, and a purr came out of my throat. "What did you do against them~"
"I fought. And lost. But don't fail like me. You just have to try."
So that must mean there are various Guilds, whatever that means entirely at the Martial Arts Society. I wonder what the rest of them are for. "I guess I can stay by your side," I offered before I followed Jordan across the jungle.
"Y-you will?"
"It's the least I can do."
"You d-don't have to feel obligated to help a Pokemon like me, Sprigatito." the Oshawott pushed aside a tangle of vines in our way.
Hmm, the way they called me Sprigatito. It made me feel just as warm as when the sun hit me. But maybe we shouldn't be so formal.
They raced around all these dips and roots in the ground, mainly hidden by the thick overgrowth of foliage. As I followed I tried my best to keep up. But then one of my paws caught on something hard beneath the leaves and suddenly my snout hit the ground. Crap!
"A-are you okay?" the Oshawott ran up to me and held my shoulders.
I slowly stood up, and frowned, before I winced as the dull pain swept around my left cheek. "M-maybe. I'm not used to this uh-" am I used to this body? I don't know if that's true. I held my tongue.
Jordan stepped away from me and blushed. "Oh no, I'm sorry for getting so close and making you rush." Then their ears and tail drooped down.
"You didn't make me rush or anything," I waved my paw. "What makes you so nervous?"
"Well I want to act like the other teens around our age," the Oshawott lowered their tail even further.
"Our age?" I raised my eyebrow.
"I mean my age! My age," Jordan stammered and turned away. "The ones in the Martial Arts Society."
"The Martial Arts Society again?" I asked.
"Yeah it's very important," the Oshawott rubbed their chin. "Say uh are you uh from out of town? Anymon from around Bulalakaw City knows at least something."
Am I? I'm not sure I'm even from anywhere, to begin with. "Yes, I would love to see the area."
"I can help you get on your paws," Jordan fidgeted with their scalchop. "But just know there'll be plenty of hard work."
"Hard work? I might not be able to manage but okay," I sighed.
The Oshawott looked over at me and then turned back to the path with a blush. "Oh uh d-don't worry about it!"
We continued walking along beside the same river I fell into. Finally, we were out of the deep jungle and in a more sparse area. The trees were spaced apart between tall grasses and piles of dirt.
As we walked I looked over at Jordan more carefully. They said they weren't strong but from their body, I can't really tell. I mean they were smaller than me but that could be Pokemon differences.
How did other Oshawott look? How did…Suddenly a thought crashed into my head. Who am I? What do others think of me? And Jordan, what does Jordan think? What do they- wait, what are Jordan's pronouns really? What are mine?
How should I do this? I don't want to assume or do anything awkward. No one would like that. I wouldn't. Especially if that happened to me. Ok, I'll just be clear. "Oh uh, Jordan I never asked your pronouns," I stated, feeling my tail curl against my hind legs.
The Oshawott's ears perked up as they jumped a bit and blushed. "O-Oh, so you assumed them in your head?"
"Well, I didn't mean to," I bowed my head.
"W-which ones did you give me?"
"They them," I replied in a low whisper.
"Oh thank Solgaleo," Jordan gasped, dropped their basket, and fell down onto the ground.
I crouched down and glanced at them, and avoided looking too close before I spoke again. "Was I right?" I flinched.
"Honestly I don't know," the Oshawott placed their paws between their legs and sat forward. "But I'm happy you thought that."
Phew, I think that Jordan is cool with this! "I uh… Don't know much about Pokemon's gender expression here. What do Pokemon normally assume for you?"
The Oshawott narrowed their eye and looked at the ground. "She her, recently I've started to not like it."
"Mmmmhmm," I hummed in acknowledgment. "What would you like me to refer to you as?"
"I don't really know yet, I'm okay with what you assumed for me."
"I'm wondering the same for me," I replied.
"Same?" Jordan jerked upright to attention. "I- I assumed they them for you as well!"
"No," I narrowed my eyes. I'm in a new body now there's no way I could be free. Or is that a lie? What do I want? "What did you think when you saw my body? And heard my voice?"
"Uh…. Do I have to-to answer?" the Oshawott mumbled.
Who am I? "Please," I begged, my ears low. "I can take whatever answer you give me."
They stood still for a moment and stared at my paws. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Unfortunately, when I saved you Sprigatitto I first thought I truly thought you were a he him," Jordan explained slowly.
"What?" I unconsciously hissed, and my claws slid out. Even as a Pokemon… Wasn't I always? Why? I can't remember! I stood unmoving as I tried to process my emotions.
"But I didn't want to assume based on things you couldn't control or tell me Sprigatito so I automatically adjusted to they them."
No. It's the same as before. Before Sprigatito. Before? Before. Before! "I'm glad you changed for me Jordan," for some reason some tears rolled down my muzzle.
"What?" Jordan panicked and stepped away from me. "No no no no!"
More tears clouded my vision as they dripped from my eyes. "I can't bear the pain of misgendering and explaining my worth anymore. I'm not what you- you first thought."
"I'm sorry!" the Oshawott's ears flattened back against their skull. "Sprigatito you'll never have to prove yourself to me. I'll protect you Sprigatito, I'll never let you feel that way again. I'm sorry I made you feel that way, Sprigatito. I'll-"
I'm not just Sprigatito am I? "You don't have to do all that for me," I replied, still sniffling through my tears. "I didn't remember."
"Did- did I make you cry Sprigatito?" Jordan asked, their thick tail curled in between their legs. "I'm just as bad as those three jerks who kicked my tail in. Dang it! I'm sorry for my stupid thoughts and everything."
I moved closer to the worried Oshawott and leaned my head on their chest. "No, it's okay. I'm sorry for not telling you."
"If you say so Sprigatito," Jordan said as they patted the ground with their feet. They then let out another sigh and picked up the basket.
"We don't need to be so formal, remember?" I asked as I followed them further up the trail.
The Oshawott led us further and as we continued. I heard the sounds of pouring water. Then they stopped. There was a tall gorgeous waterfall before us. "D-do you like this?"
"Woah," I gasped and took in the full landscape.
The waterfall stemmed from the large hill across from us, filled with more jungle trees and fauna. The water from it formed a large pool right beside us. I watched as the splattered droplets caught the light from the surrounding trees and sat down. "We're almost at the harvest site!" the Oshawott pointed to the right.
"Yep! You get to be my tour guide though!" I reminded them as I peered into the pond's surface. "I won't leave your side till I'm ready!"
Jordan smiled for once and let out a laugh. "Of course! I won't leave you either. However, I need your name before we continue. I can't just show up to the Martial Arts Society and all the way back home with Sprigatito."
I took a glance beyond the nearby trees and saw one with bright blue fruit, and another with just what we needed. The yellow Sitrus Berries.
I got it. I remembered who I am! "That's right, I'm Cameron the Sprigatito!" I beamed, as my tail swished in the mist. "I'm gonna try to help you get stronger."
"Okay, Cameron. I'm gonna try to help you find yourself," the Oshawott patted their hip. "But we've got a lot of work to do."
Just as they said that there was a green flicker of light in the sky, almost like a shooting star. Then I swore the earth shook, and a deep rumble erupted from the entire land.
"What was that?" I yelped as I scrambled for cover.
Jordan shivered in place and then took in a deep breath. "W-we'll have to check it out in the City later, the older Pokemon will deal with it. I think so. I hope so."
"I hope so too," I tried to reassure them. "Come on, let's go!"