You had always believed yourself to be an average human. Your life was exceptionally ordinary; boringly normal. But recently, strange visions were plaguing you, preceded by violent episodic vertigo. Upon returning home one day, such an episode had abruptly occurred. You could remember collapsing, before visualising being lifted from your crumpled state and becoming enveloped in a brilliant blue light. You remembered a voice, as clear as if it had just been spoken, telling you that you were "not human."

You attempted communication, confused by its words, but your vocal chords seized up, preventing speech.

"Protect them."

Holding onto your thoughts was becoming increasingly difficult, and they diminished to near nothingness. Everything faded, disappearing before you.

You woke up, gasping for air, unsure of how long you had been collapsed. The world was bright and invasive, a brilliant ray of light assaulting your vision.

You could scarcely detect words, seemingly directed at you.

"-Okay?"

An extended moment passed.

"Hey! Are you okay?"

You lifted your weary head, looking around. There was a figure approaching, inquiring as to your wellbeing. You sat up, squinting with a drunken expression; examining the world and trying to orientate yourself. "I'm fine," you replied, despite your throbbing headache. Your eyes finally adjusted, and the world's details fit together.

"You sure? You were yelling; that's what drew me here."

You blink. Yelling? Fleeting memories evaporated; you winced at your lacking lexicon regarding yourself.

"I-" you stammered. Your heart was thumping. Focus. You scrutinised the creature before you. It was a Machop—a Pokémon. He stood with his arms on his hips, a well muscled specimen. His expression was one of concern, as he observed you.

"You don't look fine. You're white as a sheet," he said.

"This..." you paused, hastily convincing yourself this was a dream. You took a deep breath. "Sorry. I think I passed out. I just need a moment."

The Machop nodded, understanding. He kneeled, offering you his hand. "Here. There's a pond nearby, perhaps a drink?" You took his hand, and he easily hauled you to your feet. You swayed, and he held you steady. "A-ah, sorry. Little fast, huh?"

You smiled weakly. "A little. But I appreciate it."

He returned the favour. "No problem."

The Machop silently led you to the pond. "This might sound strange," you mumbled. "But I have no idea where we are."

He grimaced at you. "Tiny Woods, friend." He paused. "Not from around here?"

"I... I don't know," you replied, feeling befuddled.

"What do you know?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. The question seemed strangely specific, and you had little answers.

"M-my name," you replied. "It's Scorp."

"Nice to meet you, Scorp. I'm called Atlas," he said, and you nodded cordially. "Anything else?"

"I am human, and I'm somehow speaking with a Machop," you continued. He cocked his head, obviously perplexed. "That's all I know."

Atlas sighed, shaking his head. "Are you playing with me? You, uh, look like any normal Charmander to me."

"Ch-Charmander?" you repeated, your doubts growing.

"See for yourself," he affirmed, pointing at the pond. You acknowledged his suggestion, kneeling to witness yourself. Your eyes bulged as you observed the Charmander before you; he moved and breathed in time with you. He moved his hand and touched your face. His tail flicked erratically, its flame dancing. Atlas was right.

"How... how is this possible?" You clutched your stomach, feeling sickly. Conscious or not, your surroundings felt jarringly palpable.

"Try and take a drink, bud," Atlas prompted, his face sympathetic. "Maybe you hit your head?"

"Right... right." You did as instructed. The water cooled your throat, right down into your stomach. Your headache alleviated somewhat.

"Better?" Atlas asked. You nodded, scooping water into your hands and taking another drink. "Is there anything else at all you can remember about yourself?"

You squinted up at him. "You know as much as I do," you grumbled. "I can't remember a thing, and now I've just woken up here."

"So, you think you're a human, but have no memory. And your name is Scorp. Have I got it all?" You nod solemnly. "Well, you should know there are no humans here. Haven't been for... well, for as long as anyone can remember." Atlas looked at you, his expression somewhere between curiosity and concern. "But don't worry, we'll figure it out together. Maybe there are some clues around here that can help us piece things together."

Despite the hopeless dread surrounding you, Atlas seemed a blazing light in the dark. You smiled. "You'd really help me?"

He nodded, smiling back. "Sure. You look like you could use the help." He offered you his hand again, and you stood. But before anything else could transpire, you heard a distant screech.

"What was that?" you asked, looking around frantically.

Atlas scanned the area. "Sounds like someone else is in serious distress."

"Help! Somebody!"

Atlas wore a serious look. "We should check it out." You gravely nodded, and he led the way towards the voice. You found a Butterfree, flapping in a panic. She noticed your approach, and beseeched you.

"C-could you be a rescue team? Pl-please, help!"

You stared, confused. Rescue team? Were dangers so common here that people regularly needed rescuing?

"We'll do what we can," Atlas assured her.

You watched as he approached, kneeling beside the Butterfree. "Th-thank you! My son—my little baby boy! The land suddenly opened beneath us, see? He fell right down here, and I'm too large to fit. I can't fight, I... I-"

Atlas waved his hand. "It's all right. Try to remain calm." You felt impressed by his commanding attitude. He locked eyes with you, before examining the crack. You attempted to emulate his behaviour, staring into the large earthly gash. You struggled to perceive the visual information inside, but Atlas seemed confident.

"We should be able to find your child if we progress deeper into the woods," he stated to the distraught mother. "We'll help you. Right, Scorp?" You blinked, confused. You had no idea where you were, and suddenly you were being conscripted. But Atlas had helped you out, and your debt still stood. You nodded, and he grinned. "We'll be back soon, ma'am."

"W-wait!" the Butterfree cried. "I can help! Take these." She retrieved a small bundle of berries from inside a pack, handing them to Atlas, who nodded, placing them inside a pack of his own you had previously failed to notice.

"All right, thanks. You stay here, and don't panic. We'll get your boy back."

You nodded once more, feeling a glimmer of hope from the mother. Together, the two of you began traversing the path deeper into the woods.

Atlas led the way, and you followed closely. "A-Atlas, do you know where we're going?"

"Hm?" He looked back at you. "Oh, right. You have no memory. This here is what's known as a mystery dungeon. They are never the same twice, so we just have to feel around blindly for a way down."

You caught yourself wondering what caused such a strange phenomenon to occur. Regardless, your journey continued through the trees. Their thickness increased substantially the deeper you trudged, reducing light levels.

Your stress ramped in correlation, and you scurried closer to Atlas knowing that he was your only source of guidance. Careful not to trip over Atlas, you decided upon grasping your own tail, wielding it as a torch. "What's a rescue team?" you asked, attempting to distract yourself, and he chuckled.

"Exactly what it sounds like."

The sun was getting low in the sky, casting long shadows through the forest. Your fatigue began to intensify. Atlas eyed you, before stopping. "Dangers are increasingly common these days. Quakes, fissures; no one quite knows why."

"What about you, Atlas? Are you in a rescue team?" you asked.

He smiled. "No, but I've always wanted to be." While talking, he reached into his pack, retrieving one of the berries provided earlier and handing it to you.

"I-I could have sworn you were already in one- oh, thanks," you said, sinking your teeth into it. Its flavour was peculiar, yet sweet and tasteful. You felt a vibrant energy coursing through you.

"Hm? What gave you that impression?" he asked, taking a bite out of his own berry.

"Well, you helped me. Then you immediately jumped to help that Butterfree. You look strong, and confident."

He raised a brow. "You really think so? Well, thanks, Scorp!" he said, beaming at you. "I guess you must have a good impression of me, then."

You nodded, enjoying the momentary respite. But, as if on cue, a loud chittering erupted from the thick trees nearby. An angered Beedrill burst forth, sporting an aggressive posture.

"Right. I forgot to mention. The recent quakes have really riled up the Pokémon in this area. They're prone to attacking anyone who wanders by, which is another reason rescues are in high demand." Atlas sounded calm and matter-of-fact as he stared the insect down. He looked at you. "You ready? Just stay behind me."

You stared in disbelief at the insect, trembling. It looked highly dangerous and violent with its thick, venomous tail and drills. "R-ready for what!?" you yelled. You had never fought anything in your life. You had no idea what you were doing, but Atlas seemed unfazed.

"Here it comes, Scorp."

The Beedrill flew with speed towards you, its drills directed straight at your face. You yelped, frozen in fear, but Atlas promptly stepped between you, intercepting its path. He grabbed both of its spinning drills, stopping them cold and halting the bug's momentum. The Beedrill let out a hissing noise, and Atlas pushed it back, slamming it against a tree. It seemed dazed, but in an irritated stupor it thrust its tail towards him. He jumped to avoid it, releasing its drills. It flew forward, suffering its angered momentum and surging into the ground on its back.

"Scorp! Fire!"

You stared, momentarily confused, before realising he was referring to your type. You hesitantly opened your mouth, feeling warmth filling your stomach. With a roar, a gout of flame erupted from your mouth, engulfing the buzzing bug. You burned it to a crisp, and it lay unmoving. "Great!" Atlas yelled, approaching you. "That was some heat. Nice job!"

It filled you with a strange sense of pride being complimented by your Machop companion, and you grinned, feeling genuine happiness for the first time since waking.

"Was that your first time fighting?" he asked, examining you for any signs of damage. You nodded, and he grinned. "Well done, Scorp. Beedrill's a tough customer."

"L-lucky it's a bug, I guess," you stammered, feeling bashful. "Thanks for not letting it skewer me."

He chuckled, flexing an arm. "I can handle the rough and tumble." You grinned, suddenly enjoying yourself. Atlas turned, pointing. "Look. There's an opening ahead."

You followed him as he walked along the widening path. Glimmers of orange light flickered beneath your feet, emanating from above. The mystery dungeon warped your sense of reality; it felt more cave-like than forest, yet in reality it resembled a deep, sprawling ravine.

"Are all mystery dungeons like this?" you asked, scanning above.

"Most, yeah. They've sure earned their name—no one really knows much about them." Your brow furrowed. This new world continued to perplex you. "Over there. That's our rescue target."

A tiny Caterpie was cowering adjacent to a thick tree, too petrified to move. You took a deep breath, preparing to approach it.

"Wh-who are... Where's mommy?" he asked, tears in his eyes.

"She sent us to get you," Atlas explained in a softened tone. "We're here to help." He gently lowered his hand, and the Caterpie crawled towards him, before climbing his arm. He perched himself atop Atlas's shoulder, looking relieved. "Let's go, little guy."

Atlas turned to you, smiling. "This is the fun part; follow my lead." He beckoned to you, rustling through his pack. You approached, taking his outstretched hand. You stared at him as he lifted something into the sky using his free hand—a badge of some sort. Light engulfed the three of you, glaring enough you squeezed your eyes shut.

Suddenly, it felt as though you were being violently dragged through time and space, and within moments the Butterfree was before you. "Oh! You're back, and- C-Caterpie, my dear sweet child!"

"Mommy..!"

The words felt foreign and distant, as your equilibrium faltered. Atlas's hand tightened around yours, as he aided in steadying you.

"Wasn't sure that'd work," he stated, an excitable glint in his eyes.

Before you could inquire, the Butterfree invaded your space, gawking at you both in awe. "M-my baby boy, you saved him."

"Whew, we sure did," Atlas agreed. "I'm just glad everything turned out okay."

"H-how can I repay you?" the Butterfree asked, shaking her head. "I'm afraid I have no money I can offer."

"No need!" he interjected, shaking both hands. "Consider the oran berries payment. Seriously, just make sure Caterpie gets home safely."

You nodded, sitting down to catch your breath. Everything seemed somewhat distant. "Oh, my. We will never forget- Caterpie, show these boys you're grateful!" she said.

The Caterpie nodded at you both. "Th-thank you. Are you guys heroes?" Machop nodded with a wink, and he smiled back, his eyes shining. "C-cool..."

After some more emotional blathering, the two moved on, and Atlas turned to smile at you. "Whew. That was some journey. Thank you for your help, Scorp." He stared you down. "It takes a certain sort to jump headlong into danger that way."

You nodded, uncertain. "Well, there wasn't a lot of time to think. I just did as you asked."

He chuckled, approaching you. "Would you mind if I asked you another favour?"

You sighed, leaning back on your arms. "Sure, what is it?"

"Well, you have no idea who or where you are, right?" You nodded with a glum expression. "And you clearly seem capable in a scrap."

"Where... are you going with this?" you asked, already suspecting.

"If you need a place to stay, I can provide you one."

You scoffed, shaking your head. "I don't even know if you're real; I might be dreaming." Your tone was casual, despite your seriousness. The previous events felt so realistic, yet fantastically impossible, leaving you bewildered and disoriented.

Atlas chuckled. "Well, let's say for a moment you aren't. Would you like to stay with me, and... and form a rescue team!?" He asked the last part lightning fast, the glint from earlier returning to his eyes. His energy was contagious, to the point you laughed.

"Well, if those two thought we were a team, maybe it's not so farfetched. I don't see any harm in sticking with you—you're strong."

You stared at him, and he stared back, practically bursting. "So you will? You'll be my partner?! Yes!" He pounced, giving you a hug.

His grip was strong, and you chuckled. "Whoa, there. Try not to break me."

He laughed with you. "S-sorry. It's just you need to have more than one member to be considered affiliated with the guild, and I've never had anyone to join me."

You smiled at your new friend. Things were at least looking up. "I'm glad I can help, Atlas. I think I'd be lost without you, after all."

He nodded, beaming. "Follow me, then. Let's go home."

You stood, ready to follow the Machop you had placed all your faith in to your new home.

Atlas informed you the return trip would be short. He had a permanently visible spring in his step that felt endearing to witness.

"The guild will probably be relieved I've found a partner," he chirped. "Took me ages to get them to give me a badge." You chuckled, and he elbowed you. "What's so funny?"

"Your energy is just contagious," you admitted.

He paused before smiling. "I'm glad it's not annoying."

"Why would it be?"

"Some people in town find me overbearing," he mumbled. "I wonder if we'll get requests." He seemed pensive momentarily, and you patted his arm. He locked eyes with you.

"You're dependable, Atlas; people will come to know that."

He grinned. "Don't forget about yourself. We're a team!" You nodded, despite the current uncertainty of your adequacy in fulfilling the role. "Look!" he said, pointing over yonder. "That building's the one."

There stood a plot hosting a cosy looking building. As you approached, Atlas seemed eager to hear your opinion. "What do you think?"

"It's quaint," you said.

"Quaint?" he repeated, chuckling. "I guess, though I was going for something grand."

"Wait, you were-?" you asked.

"That's right," he beamed. "I built it. It was supposed to be a base."

"That's amazing..!" you said, closely inspecting the outline. It was somewhat resemblant of a yurt, made from clay, with a painted gray pattern, likely to represent himself.

He followed your eyes and grinned. "We could add some fiery colour to represent you in future."

"Sure," you agreed. "You really threw everything into this, huh?"

"Mhm." He beckoned to you, flourishing his arm. "In you go!"

"You did this all by yourself?" you asked, stepping through the doorway. "There's no way you could have done it without help."

"Well, I did some work in exchange for the materials and their refinement," he explained. "But I built it from the ground up."

Inside held the bare essentials. A makeshift wooden table with some leftover food, several portable pots - also constructed from clay - for water, and a single bedroll; it looked to be made of hide. You wondered what sort, but refrained from asking. A soothing nighttime breeze flowed through the open door, and you breathed deeply, enjoying its exotic scent.

"It's nice in here," you said, sitting down on the sturdy floor.

"I'm so glad you like it," he replied. "I'm afraid I lack a second bedroll, but you can take mine tonight." He eyed the floor, intent on inhabiting it.

"Absolutely not," you protested, chuckling. He cocked his head, but you motioned to the bed. "It looks large enough for both of us."

"O-oh, well. Yeah," he stutters. "If you're comfortable with that, then all right." You crawled towards the bed, allowing your fatigue to overcome you. "Just watch the tail," he continued, seemingly feeling guilty for mentioning it.

"Oh!" Truthfully you hadn't considered it. "R-right. I will."