Twig Woodland B1F

I walked you through the dungeon, my flipper-like legs squelching against the dirt with each step. Such an alien, uncomfortable feeling. What I wouldn't give to be me again.

Focus, you idiot! We're still looking for that Charmander! You thought.

Right, right. Had to focus. We had to find that Charmander.

We entered a corridor, only for me to be immediately tackled by a Poochyena. I felt your grip tighten on what we held. A strange orb with a bright light inside, and an oran berry, both picked up on this floor.

You zapped them with a Thundershock, and they fainted. Something buzzed within my snow. I had completely forgotten about those. You hadn't.

Forget about that for now! That Charmander's probably on the next floor by now! You thought.

Bloody Unovan. I thought back, as we resumed down the corridor, and ended up in a wide room.

Your region is the one that manufactures the freaks of nature we're stuck as! You thought, before we saw the stairs tucked away in the corner, and a Phantump approaching us. Forget about that for now! Go!

I tried my best to run over, internally cursing how slow my new method of locomotion was, as the Phantump grew closer. Just before it reached us, we made it down the stairs.

Twig Woodland B2F

Immediately, we were ambushed by a Sewaddle, who promptly snatched your oran berry and ran. I heard your curses, both internally and externally. I'd make sure it never saw the light of day again.

Idiot! The Charmander is still in here! We have to find it! You thought, as I ignored you, going down a corridor after the Sewaddle, as it got farther and farther away. I didn't give up, though, as we entered the room it was on the other side of.

Abruptly, a horde of Pokemon dropped down. Now look what you've done!

The only thing we had that could possibly get us out of this was that orb. Neither of us had any idea what it did. It could make things worse.

Would you rather just let them kill us? I thought, as the mob surrounded us.

Once we get out of this, I'm strangling you. If we get out of this. Blasted, bloody, giant pink hand.

You threw it at a Skiddo right as it lunged for us. A pillar of light enveloped us, and before we could comprehend what was happening, we were lifted up.

Twig Woodland B4F

"The layout's still the same, it seems. This shouldn't be too difficult, then," Burhalla said, as we emerged into a larger, oddly rectangular clearing bordered by a thick layer of trees, with gaps in many places.

"Hold on!" I yelled, as the two started to walk towards one of those gaps. "What were you talking about with this being a dungeon?"

Burhalla halted for a second. "I'll explain as we walk. It's not safe to stay in one place in a Mystery Dungeon," Burhalla answered, as he continued onwards. I hurried after him, stumbling a few times due to my new body shape. My legs were so short that I almost had to uncomfortably waddle instead of walk. I had to deal with the weight of my tail, too, which had its own set of weird feelings as it dragged against the ground.

As we entered the gap, I noticed that it led into a narrow pathway, still bordered by trees, perfectly straight.

Wait a minute.

That clearing was too rectangular, and this path too straight, to be natural.

Something was up with this. Is this what they were talking about with this being a Mystery Dungeon?

"You really don't know what a Mystery Dungeon is?" Saltriv asked, bringing me out of my thoughts. "Everyone knows about them!

"Nope," I said, as I shook my head.

"They're places where reality isn't working right. I've only been in a few before!" Saltriv explained.

Before I could question further, Burhalla spoke up.

"Mystery Dungeons are places where reality is unstable. They have a certain number of floors, connected to each other by stairways. Each floor is made up of a set of rooms and corridors connecting them. The stairways are never in the corridors, always in the rooms, and with few exceptions, every floor only has one staircase. Every time one goes into a Mystery Dungeon, the layout changes," he said.

I heard him mutter something about being able to recite it from memory.

This didn't sound like anything I've heard of back in Johto. Really, nothing here did. Reality being unstable in places? Humans being legends? Pokemon that lived in towns without humans? Everything here was so strange and foreign, including my own body.

There was nothing I could do about that right now, though. For now, my only real option was to go with Burhalla and Saltriv.

I did wonder, though. How big was this place? How much longer until I'd be out of here, and could hopefully start figuring out what was up with everything?

"How many floors does this one have?" I asked.

"Four," he answered.

"When do you suppose we'll be out?"

"The layout hasn't changed, so not very long. I remember where the stairs are for each floor. The stairs for this floor are just up ahead,"

Just a little bit longer in this odd place. Just a little bit longer.

Soon, the path opened into another rectangular clearing. These clearings were probably the rooms Burhalla was talking about.

"There they are!" Saltriv yelled, as they ran into the room, Burhalla following after. Not wanting to be left behind, I hurried after the two.

There was a staircase at the side of the room, and a shiny red apple on the ground next to it. Come to think of it, I was feeling a bit hungry, and it did look pretty appetizing. Was it safe to eat, though?

"A fresh apple! The Kecleon brothers have been running low on them. They'll be happy to have some more," Saltriv said, as they ran over towards the apple.

I noticed Burhalla's expression pale, as I wondered who the Kecleon brothers were. He walked over to the apple, and put it in his bag. "I need to tell you something," he said, looking at Saltriv.

"Huh?" Saltriv responded.

"Let's go to the next floor first." He started walking up the stairs, and Saltriv and I followed behind.

What was that all about?

Twig Woodland B3F

We emerged into a square room, with corridors to my front and right. Also to my right, there was a small pink heart-shaped thing, with lighter spots near the point of it, and two green leaves on the opposite side. I'm pretty sure that was a pecha berry. They cured poison, right? Would I need to worry about poison? It would probably be a good idea to take it just in case. I walked over to it as the other two talked, picking it up with the end of my left arm. I didn't have any fingers anymore, yet I could still grasp it, like my nubs were some sort of suction cup almost. It felt completely different to grabbing stuff with my hands.

As I pondered this, Burhalla said, "About the Kecleon brothers...Leon's gone missing. Kecky and the rest of the Kecleon clan have been searching for him for weeks."

"What do you mean?! I talked to them just yesterday after the last day of school!" Saltriv responded.

"Saltriv...you've been missing for months."

"W-what?!"

"School ended a while ago. I haven't seen you at all since then. Just today, I saw your missing poster on the bulletin board. I thought you had gone shadowy, like Patrat had. I thought I was going to have to fight you once I found you. But you're ok, and I'm so glad for that."

"B-Burhalla…I've really been gone for that long?"

"You have, but you're here now. Come on. Let's go home."

This was a lot to take in. First off, Pokemon had school here?! Was there an entire civilization of Pokemon in this world? Leon, whoever that was, and Saltriv had both gone missing for quite a while, apparently. And there was a Patrat that had gone shadowy, whatever that meant, and Burhalla had thought Saltriv did too? Did that have anything to do with that shadowy aura I saw around the Pokemon back on that platform, including Saltriv?

I was about to run over and ask what any of that meant, when I heard something to my right. Once I turned in that direction, I saw a bird Pokemon with black, white, and red feathers as well as a long, narrow beak flying down the corridor towards me. Did that Pokemon know anything about what was happening?

"Hello? Who are you?" I asked it, only to be swiftly answered by it ramming its beak into my forehead.

"GAH!" I yelped, as my free hand immediately went to where it had hit me. I didn't seem to be bleeding, but it still hurt.

This Pokemon was behaving like the wild Pokemon back home. Did those exist here, too? I didn't have much time to ponder that, as it tried pecking at me again. I grimaced in pain as its beak collided with my forehead once more.

I had to do something against this. Come on, what moves did Oshawotts know? Water gun? Totodiles can know it, so maybe other water-type starters can as well? How do I do it, though? Do I just say it? Just point at it? Just imagine doing it? Couldn't hurt to try all three at once. I pointed my free arm at the Pokemon, and yelled, "Water gun!" trying to imagine a stream of water being shot at it.

Nothing happened. It pecked at me again. Ow. I think that one broke the skin.

Ok, so I didn't know how to do moves. Hopefully just trying to punch at it can suffice?

Before I could try that, a burst of flame flew by me at the bird Pokemon, followed by a leaf going even faster.

"Gen!" I heard Saltriv's voice beside me. I looked to my left, and saw them and Burhalla there.

The bird Pokemon tried to peck at me again, only for a glint to appear in Saltriv's eyes, and out of nowhere, a rock crashed down upon it. It crashed to the ground, and the rock crumbled into dust.

"Are you ok?" Burhalla asked. Saltriv looked at me in concern. Both of them had their eyes wet with tears.

"I can manage," I replied. "What was with that Pokemon?"

"Let's go down the corridor before we get attacked again," he said, as he brushed past me and headed down the path the Pokemon that attacked me came from. I followed suit, shortly followed by Saltriv.

As we headed down the corridor, he began, "In Mystery Dungeons, there are many Pokemon that will attack anyone that have entered the dungeon. Very few are able to listen to reason."

Before I could try to formulate a response, I heard snickering behind me. I turned around, only to see Saltriv seemingly trying to suppress a laugh.

"What is it," I said.

"You really don't remember how to use moves, do you? You can't just yell the name of the move and have it work!" Saltriv answered between giggles.

"I don't remember how moves work," I answered. It wasn't a complete lie.

"Something is seriously wrong if you don't even remember that. Do you at least know what that is that you're holding?" Burhalla asked, pointing to the pecha berry I held.

"A...pecha berry?" I tentatively answered. I really hoped they were called the same thing in this messed-up place.

"That's right," said Burhalla, as he breathed a sigh of what was hopefully relief. "At least you remember some things."

We emerged from the corridor into another room, and the stairs were right in front of us. "Let's go," said Burhalla as he went up the stairs, me and Saltriv following behind. I noticed a single tear fall to the ground near them as we ascended the staircase. Was Saltriv ok?

Twig Woodland B2F

We emerged into another room, with a single corridor to my front. I was about to head towards it, but stopped as I heard Saltriv speak up.

"Who else went missing?" they asked, the laughter in their voice from before absent.

"Besides you and Leon, Treecko, Sneasel, Morpeko, Orbeetle, even Flapple. And that's just the ones I knew personally," Burhalla responded, melancholy evident in his voice.

"My mom and dad...are they still ok?"

"I'd have told you if they weren't. I'm not my father. I don't lie about things like that."

There was bitterness in Burhalla's voice as he said that.

This was bad. This was very bad. If he found out I was lying about not remembering anything, I'd be alone in this world. I was in too deep now to admit to things, either. He'd never believe me. The only thing I could do was keep up the act and hope he never finds out.

"Is something up, Gen?" Burhalla asked, looking at me now. "Your expression's a bit pale."

Crap, he might be onto me! Had to think of an excuse quickly. Come on, come on...

"Something's coming," I bluffed without thinking. No! That wouldn't work, unless I got extraordinarily lucky.

Before he could ask, a small Pokemon wrapped in leaves entered the room we were in through the single corridor. I breathed a sigh of relief, only to be cut short as I was covered in silk. The sensation of the sticky string against my new fur was not pleasant in the slightest.

As I tried to untangle myself, I saw two Embers head towards the Sewaddle, one after another.

Huh?!

I was pretty sure Chikoritas couldn't learn Ember, so where did that second one come from? I didn't see anyone else in the room besides me, Saltriv, Burhalla, and the now-fainted Sewaddle. Was that just a move I had never seen before? Double Ember?

To my relief, the silk quickly disappeared after the Sewaddle fainted, just in time for me to notice an oran berry rolling away from it. Those healed Pokemon, right? Maybe it would be able to heal my forehead after what that bird Pokemon had done to it.

I started walking over to it, only to see Saltriv running at me. "How'd you know that Sewaddle was coming?" they asked, an amazed, yet curious expression on their face.

"I just sorta...felt it, I guess," I lied. I was digging myself deeper, but it was too late at this point for me to be honest.

"Wow! That's amazing!" Saltriv exclaimed, as I saw Burhalla pick up the oran berry out of the corner of my vision, and put it in his bag.

"Let's go on," he said, as he proceeded into the corridor. "We can talk as we walk."

Saltriv rushed after him, and I followed suit.

"You just felt it coming?" Burhalla asked, his expression one of awe. I shuddered. What excuse could I give?

Before I could think up a reply, the corridor ended, opening up into the largest room yet. The moment we entered it, my eyes widened, and I held back a scream.

It was filled with Pokemon. There was a Skiddo to our left, and a Poochyena a bit farther in that direction. To our right, there was a Weedle next to a brown Pokemon that resembled a Pachirisu. On the far side of the room, there was a small Pokemon I didn't recognize covered in grass and twigs, and the staircase was to the right of it.

All of them turned to face us.

"Run for it!" yelled Burhalla. I immediately complied, hurrying towards the stairs as fast as I could manage, hyperventilating as I ran. This was terrifying!

Burhalla rushed straight through the room, and did two Embers in rapid succession at the Pokemon near the staircase, running forth as the Skiddo chased after him. Saltriv swerved around to the right, briefly pausing as the Weedle jabbed its stinger at them, but continuing onwards, tackling the Pachirisu-like Pokemon on their way. I tried to keep up, but I was knocked to the ground by the Poochyena tackling me. I tried to get myself back upright, only for it to bite my forehead right where that bird Pokemon had attacked me before. I yelped as pain flooded through my body, amplified as it tackled me once more.

Suddenly, I saw an orb of light shoot into the Poochyena. Its attacks slowed before stopping altogether, and I watched as the Poochyena's eyes closed. I had no idea what that was about, but I'll take it. I quickly got back up, and continued towards the stairs, seeing Saltriv and Burhalla right before them, the latter holding an odd purple stick that had a zig-zag formation at one end. The Weedle, Skiddo, and Pachirisu-like Pokemon were nearby, still standing.

"Hurry!" Burhalla yelled, before sending a single Ember at the Skiddo as it charged at them.

I ran as fast as my tiny legs could carry me, and soon, reunited with Saltriv and Burhalla in front of the staircase. The moment I arrived, they dashed up it. I quickly followed, not daring to look back.

Twig Woodland B1F

The moment we reached the room at the top of the stairs, I collapsed, breathing heavily. Luckily, the room seemed to be empty save for us, the staircase, and corridors to my left and right. Hopefully it would stay that way long enough for me to recuperate.

Saltriv broke the silence. "Oww...I think that Weedle poisoned me," they said, before turning towards me. "Do you still have that pecha berry? I need it."

I looked down at my left arm, and saw that, somehow, I had been able to hold onto it through all that. That made no sense whatsoever, but neither did a lot of things that happened since I woke up on that platform. Either way, Saltriv needed the berry. I nodded, and handed it over to them. The moment it was near Saltriv, they devoured it.

I could probably use a berry, too, of the oran variety. I could feel liquid streaming through the fur on my forehead. That Poochyena really did a number on me. Hopefully orans still healed Pokemon in this world. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't, given how bizarre everything here is. Then again, pecha berries still seemed to cure poison if Saltriv was anything to go by.

I looked over towards Burhalla, and said, "I need an oran berry. That Poochyena hurt me a lot."

He dug into his bag, and pulled out a small, round blue object with a short green top. "Here," he said, as he gave it to me. I grabbed it with my odd suction-like grip, and stuffed it into my face. It tasted odd, a mild mix of various flavors, with a noticeable lack of sweetness. Not bad. I could already notice my pain disappearing, as it was replaced by reinvigoration.

"Let's go. We're almost out," said Burhalla, as he proceeded towards the left corridor. "This way."

Saltriv headed after him, as did I shortly after.

"That was terrifying! I never want to go into a monster house again!" Saltriv exclaimed a few steps into the corridor.

"I don't think that was a monster house. With monster houses, the Pokemon drop from the ceiling. That didn't happen back there. There weren't any items there, either," Burhalla responded. "I think we just got very unlucky. But we've made it through that, and we're almost home."

"What's a monster house?" I asked. I wondered what he meant with items, but the term "monster house" seemed a lot more threatening and concerning.

"They're rooms in mystery dungeons where a bunch of dungeon Pokemon ambush you at once! They're filled with items to lure you in, then once you're there, you're surrounded!" Saltriv enthusiastically explained. "Leon once told me a story about how he had chased a thief into one! Once we're out of here, I'll..." they trailed off. Silence filled the corridor.

"It's going to be ok," said Burhalla.

The corridor ended, leading into a small room. There were corridors to my front and left, and to my right, was a gap in the trees larger than any corridor entrance I had seen in here, filled with light.

"There's our exit," said Burhalla. "Once we enter that, we'll be out of there, and it'll just be a short walk home."

"Wonder how much things changed since I…" Saltriv commented, before trailing off.

As I gazed at the light, I realized something.

I had very little idea what this world was like outside mystery dungeons. I barely had a clue about what life was like here.

Would I need to hunt for food, or did stores exist here? Would I need to sleep outside, or had Pokemon invented houses in this place?

Even if stuff like stores and houses were a thing here, I didn't have any of this world's money. Did it even have any, actually? Were goods here provided on some other merit, like battles won or something?

I did not know in the slightest. And if I didn't wake up back home in Goldenrod tomorrow, I'd need to know.

I needed someone to help show me how this world worked, and maybe get me a place to stay, at least until I get back home.

I looked over towards Saltriv and Burhalla. The two were conversing about something, though I wasn't paying attention about what.

They were the only two I had met since I arrived here. Maybe they could help me.

Hopefully they'd be willing to.

"Can I go with you two? I don't have anywhere else to go," I asked the two.

Burhalla smiled. "Of course! I already offered to bring you to the mayor to see if she could help." His smile faded a bit. "Did you forget that too?"

Right. With everything that had happened in here, that slipped my mind.

"No, I just...a lot happened," I responded.

"Maybe you could start keeping a journal to help you remember things!" Saltriv suggested.

I had no idea how a Chikorita would be able to write, or what writing in this world was like, but it wouldn't be much help for me. It didn't work out well when I tried keeping one years back, anyways. Trying it again now probably wouldn't turn out much better. If I really had amnesia, maybe it'd help, but that was just a lie.

Had to keep up the act, though.

"I'll keep it in mind," I replied.

I turned back towards the light-filled gap in the trees. Beyond this laid a world completely foreign to me. I didn't know what to expect, or what to prepare for.

At least I had some acquaintances who knew.

"Let's go home," Burhalla said.

The three of us walked into the light.