This is a revision of the first chapter. The original was in the present tense and generally hard to read. Anyway, Thank you for joining me on this story!
Daniel gazed out at the rolling waves, losing himself in the rhythm of the sea. He sat at the base of a palm tree, its leaves swaying gently overhead. Though only 23, a weariness beyond his years clouded his eyes. The gentle rustle of the palm fronds was solace enough.
Huh. Why am I at the beach? He thought.
The man rose to his feet, his brown eyes scanning the tranquil beach. The water was crystalline, and even the sea foam was pure white. Yet the soothing breeze and steady pulse of the waves did little to calm his growing unease. He turned, facing the tropical forest behind him. Towering palms, tangled underbrush and long grass swaying in the wind met his gaze. The trees seemed to stare back, their rustling leaves whispering ominous secrets. He felt utterly alone, lost in this alien place. How did he come to be here, and why couldn't he remember? The mysteries of the island threatened to overwhelm him. He longed for something - anything - familiar, but there was only this endless beach and looming jungle.
Alright, what's going on? Why am I here? Why can't I remember getting here?
Daniel looked at his bare left wrist.
And what happened to my watch... and my wallet... AND MY PHONE?
The reality of his bizarre situation began to sink in, sending Daniel's mind reeling.
'Tis can't be happening. No, wait wait. I probably just left them on a table somewhere or something. The house or hotel or whatever must be nearby.
The blazing sun forced Daniel to squint as he walked along the deserted beach, sweat beading on his brow.
I must be on vacation or something. But why would I pick a tropical vacation? I got enough of the beach as a kid. Maybe some of my friends wanted to go and I decided to go with them. But this isn't a mainland beach. The water is too clear. No way any of them wanted to fly out to some island. Not only that, I would have worn different clothes. Maybe break out the Hawaiian shirts.
Daniel glanced down at his ragged attire. Flip-flops the color of a sunset adorned his feet, protecting them from the warm sand. Faded gray cargo shorts held up by a cracked leather belt hung loosely around his knees. Over his torso, he wore a faded yellow t-shirt, blank except for a few stray threads.
Try to retrace your steps, Daniel. The last thing I was doing was... was walking home from the gym. That would explain the clothes, maybe not the flip-flops though. But that doesn't explain the location. I was several hundred miles from the sea. Judging by the increase in elevation inland, this is a volcanic island. I can't think of any lakes with volcanic islands in the USA. And what happened to my stuff? If I had my phone I could just...
Daniel halted, staring at the massive crab emerging from the forest. It scuttled sideways towards the sea, claws like meaty boxing gloves, white legs skittering across the sand. But it was the eyes that riveted him - huge, expressive, almost cartoonish in size. No ordinary crab had eyes like that. They darted about, focusing on Daniel with unsettling intelligence, seeming to stare into his very soul. Transfixed by that penetrating gaze, Daniel stood frozen as the creature watched him intently. Then, with a surprised twitch of its eyestalks, the crab continued its determined march toward the crashing waves.
Excuse me but what kind of crab is this? It looks like it could reach my kneecaps and smash them. And its eyes. That crab looks surprised to see me. Well, the feeling's mutual, buddy.
The crab kept scuttling toward the water, its unnerving gaze still fixed on the man. Daniel resumed walking, giving the creature a wide berth as he passed. After a few paces, he glanced back over his shoulder. The crab had stopped, swiveling to track him with those disquieting eyes.
Well, that was weird. Can't find that in the US. Are all the animals here so...
Daniel stopped short at the sight of a bizarre bird perched in a palm tree. Its yellow beak was split clean by black. Rectangular wings bearing blue bands stretched out stiffly, ending in dual points like ribbons. But most striking were its eyes - vertical black bars, cartoonishly expressive. Daniel's jaw dropped in astonishment at the strange creature.
'That looks like a singular
"Wingull! Gull!" the bird squawked in a parrot-like voice. At its cry, two more of the creatures swooped down to perch in the palm tree.
Oh my god, that is a wingull. And that crab... that was a Krabby! Why are there Pokemon here? Is this the real world or the Pokemon world? Is this VR or something?
Daniel grabbed his face in disbelief, then clutched the sides of his head, fingers digging into his scalp. This was no dream. The blazing sun on his skin was real, the heat beating down as the bizarre sights confronted his eyes.
Okay, this is definitely probably reality. If it isn't, it isn't different enough to matter. The sun is very convincing right now. But...
Daniel approached the sea, sinking into the wet sand as gentle waves lapped the shore. A swell rolled in, cool water washing over his ankles and briefly soothing his frenzied mind.
Sure feels like the sea.
Crouching down, Daniel dipped his hand into a receding wave and scooped up a palmful of seawater. He brought it to his lips, wetting his tongue with the salty brine.
Yup. That's saltwater.
Daniel resumed walking along the beach, wet sand sticking to his feet and flip-flops.
Ok, let's just accept this to be reality. No use in pretending otherwise. Right now, I'm in a world with Pokemon. I doubt I'll figure out which Pokemon world I'm in until I reach civilization. Hopefully, it will come into view soon.
As Daniel continued hiking around the island, he spotted more unusual creatures emerging from the trees and waters. Tangled vines ambled by like animate plants, while winged beasts soared overhead. Slow lumbering creatures traversed the sands, and the tides brought forth crabs, jellyfish, and peculiar fish.
He racked his brain trying to identify them, dredging up half-remembered names from childhood stories. Tangela, Magikarp, Psyduck - the words sounded familiar, yet foreign. These were creatures of fantasy, not anything he'd seen in real life.
Where could he be that such fanciful beings existed? Somewhere along the seashore, he guessed, far from any mainland. But even the remotest islands had inhabitants. If he kept walking, he should eventually find a port, a village - anything to explain how he came to be stranded in this strange land filled with Pokemon. For now, all he could do was follow the shoreline and hope.
Trudging along the shoreline, Daniel noticed familiar footprints in the sand ahead. He paused, realization dawning as he recognized the tread marks left by his own flip-flops. Without even noticing, he had circled completely around the tiny island.
No. No no c'mon. I... I'm stranded? I walked around the whole island and not a single sign of civilization. Not even a boat, a dock or even any trash! That's ridiculous! What kind of world doesn't have ocean pollution?
Daniel's stomach dropped as the reality of his situation suddenly hit. A cold bead of sweat streaked down his temple as his breaths came faster. Frantically he scanned the empty horizon in every direction, searching for any sign of life. But there was nothing, only an endless ocean under the pounding sun. Daniel was utterly alone.
Ok, Daniel just calm down. You've been in the sun for a while, find some shade and try to avoid dehydration. When was the last time I had some water?
The pit in Daniel's stomach yawned wider as dread consumed him. Still, the shade of the forest canopy provided some relief from the oppressive heat, the sea breeze drying the sweat on his brow. Despite the brief physical respite, his mind remained trapped in distress. Dread clouded his thoughts like a fog, clinging to him stubbornly despite the pleasant surroundings. The evidence was clear - he was stranded alone on this empty island. Still the questions tore at him. How did he get here? How long had he been wandering this strange land? Was there any hope of escape or rescue? Dark possibilities threatened to swallow him like the rising tide. For now, all he could do was take refuge under the trees and try to rein in his spiraling fears.
Just keep moving Daniel. Find a source of fresh water. There must be something to keep all these plants and Pokemon alive. Think about that trip to Hawaii. What did that tour guide say about water on the islands? Usually, islands have a wet side and a dry side. Judging by all the vegetation here I would say that I'm on the wet side. Water flows from high to low so maybe there's water in the middle.
Gazing inland through a break in the trees, Daniel surveyed the island rising before him. The sandy shore gently sloped upward, soon giving way to steep, craggy cliffs blanketed in lush vegetation. Past the cliffs, the land tapered into a soaring peak wreathed in wisps of fog that obscured his view of the summit.
'The volcano doesn't appear to have been active for a while. If it was there wouldn't be this much plant life right?'
Resigned to explore further inland, Daniel began trekking uphill. He grabbed a sturdy stick to beat back the bushes and tall grass obstructing his path. While the incline was gentle at first, it soon grew steeper, sapping his energy with each labored step.
Man, I'm way more out of breath than I should be. Damn that burger punk lifestyle. Taking a car everywhere hasn't done me any favors.
As Daniel pushed onward, he felt the eyes of the island's creatures watching him from the shadows. Though they had likely never encountered a human before, their caution outweighed curiosity, keeping them at a wary distance. Whenever he glimpsed movement from the corner of his eye, Daniel would turn quickly, hoping to spot the observers that continued to track his progress. He saw only swaying branches and rustling undergrowth, but the prickling sense of not being alone persisted.
I'm probably safe here unless there's an Arcanine prowling around or something. Islands tend to have a weaker meta so to speak. I should be fine.
Daniel tread carefully as the forest grew denser around him. With each step, leaves crunched softly underfoot, the sound unnaturally loud amidst the oppressive silence. Gone were the sunlit sands - here, sunlight barely penetrated the thick canopy overhead. What little light filtered down came only by the wind's fickle grace. The grassy undergrowth had vanished, replaced by tangled bushes and broad-leafed fronds. Vibrant red, orange and yellow flowers burst from the underbrush, their vivid petals unfurling in linear shapes unlike any he'd seen before. The steady whir of ocean breezes gave way to scattered insect clicks, bird calls echoing through the trees, and occasional strange cries from unseen creatures.
As Daniel ventured deeper, the very air seemed alive, humming with an energy he could not place. What extraordinary forces allowed such unearthly flora to thrive in the island's heart? With no beaten path to follow, Daniel pushed aside branches, forging slowly into the close, still darkness. He strained every sense, alert for the first signs of life beyond the vegetation's restless song.
Looking closely, I can see some actual bugs and even a few normal-looking birds. Are animals and Pokemon different things here? At least I won't need to eat a Pokemon. That is if I could take one down. I'm sure those moves hurt like hell.
The sound of running water caught Daniel's attention, pulling his focus to the left. Relief washed over him at the promising sound.
Drawn by the alluring trickle, Daniel hurried toward the sound until he arrived at a small but swift-flowing stream. Clear water danced over mossy stones, racing downhill with cheerful energy. He could easily step across the narrow brook, which bubbled over a cauldron of earth, forming a tiny waterfall no deeper than a foot.
Kneeling at the waterfall's pool, Daniel cupped his hands and drank deeply. The crisp, cool water soothed his parched throat and ebbed some of his worries. He splashed more on his face and arms, washing away the sticky sea salt and grime. For a moment, he just breathed deeply, tension easing from his shoulders as he listened to the brook's rhythmic bubbling.
Maybe drinking untreated water was a bad idea. I guess I'll find out how big a mistake that was in a few hours. I wish I had a cup or bottle to drink out of.
A flash of inspiration washes over Daniel
Wait... I could just use a coconut! I think I saw a particularly low tree on the beach somewhere. Coconut water is also probably better to drink right now. I just hope they aren't spoiled.
Buoyed by his discovery, Daniel continued following the stream downhill as it slowed to a languid pace. The land leveled out and soon the brook broadened, collecting into a still pond nestled at the edge of the forest. The pond was banana-shaped, about three yards wide at its fattest point and five yards from end to end. Moss blanketed the stones near the water's edge, while tall grass dipped its blades into the glassy surface. A few spindly trees provided shade, their leafy canopies protecting the pond from drying out.
As Daniel approached, an Oddish retreated swiftly from the grassy bank back into the shadows of the woods. He paused, listening for any other sounds of life, but only silence greeted him. The secluded pond exuded a sense of timelessness, its tranquil beauty belying the island's mysteries.
Kneeling in the soft grass, Daniel cupped more water in his hands. It was cool and clear, with no signs of any impurities. This pond fed by the stream could sustain him for some time, providing a reliable fresh water source. Hope flickered in Daniel's chest, pushing back the shadows of doubt and fear if only for a moment.
Ok, don't drink this water. Oddish are part poison type and it might have unintentionally poisoned the water. Plus it's still and I can't even see the bottom.
With a final look around to fix the pond's location in his mind, Daniel turned back toward the beach. He planted the sturdy stick that had aided his journey into the soft sand, marking the waypoint.
As the oppressive sun beat down from its sinking place in the sky, Daniel began retracing his steps along the shoreline. Though the freshwater pond had revived his spirits, the full impact of his bizarre predicament still weighed heavy on his mind. He was lost, stranded alone in a land that defied all logic and reason. He had found water but was no closer to finding real answers.
I noticed that many of my early chapters are written in the present tense. I don't know if I have it in me to revise all of them. Maybe I'll just let people see my evolution as a writer.
