Hey again, I'm brain dead so if any inconsistencies appear or anything that bothers you (shitty/forced dialogue or scenarios you think could be better or use more detail) just tell me and i'll do my best to fix what i see fit.


Chapter 4- Push it to the Limit

Alex never really considered himself out of shape, underweight, yes, skinny? Yes, but out of shape? Not until he tried chasing Shauna as she ran at full speed down the road. As if to rub salt on the wound, she had been stopping to let him catch up and she was still beating him.

"Shauna… min- wheeze mind if we take a break for a minute I think ill do better if I get some food in me" Alex says while collapsing on a rock, his legs shaking.

Shauna skids to a stop before turning back to him, seemingly a bit disappointed she couldn't keep going. "Uh… sure, I guess we can stop for a minute and catch a breather"

Alex started rooting through his bag, pulling out one of the prepackaged snacks chowing down while he made small talk with Shauna.

"So, what's got you bothered?" Alex looked at Shauna with a confused look, sure he was in a bad situation but… he didn't really feel upset? Out of all the situations he could be in he felt this was one of the better outcomes… could've ended up in Warhammer…

"What do you mean? I'm feeling alright?" she didn't seem to like that answer very much, "well this entire time you've been going around with that frown on your face!"

Alex looked at her silently for a second before saying slowly "that's just my resting face I guess?" not sure if that answer will be enough 'is that not… normal? I guess the more I think about it I haven't really seen someone who wasn't happy… is that the norm here? Is a resting frown reserved for those edge lord trainers?'

She seemed conflicted, "you suuuuurrreee there's nothing wrong? Can't have my traveling buddy sad!" Alex just responds with a small smile and a nod, seemingly enough to satisfy Shauna; "well alright then! And remember, we're friends now! So don't be afraid to ask for help!" she says, delivered with a sweet smile.

"Thanks Shauna, ill try to keep that in mind… and hey, I'll try my best to do that same for you" Alex responded, finishing his little snack, the little bar was way better than he was expecting. Feeling energized again he jumps to his feet ready to hit the road again, Shauna for her part, looks excited to hit the road again.

"Looks like that Oran bar did the trick! Alright let's get this show on the move!" and she then took off again, just as fast as before. Alex, for his part, did feel a little bit faster, maybe it was that Oran bar or whatever Shauna called it 'I guess the berries work like they do in the games… I wonder how that works, are my muscles just numb to the pain or are they restored?'

The sun setting over the horizon ended their race near a small stream, Alex rolled out a sleeping bag he dug out of his magic ha- travel bag. Whereas Shauna the ever-subtle girl, pulled out a small cube that deployed into a whole tent… Alex totally wasn't jealous or anything… 'well if I have one thing, I can be thankful for its that there's no mosquitos at least, that'll make the night bearable, hell a world without mosquitos might be enough of a selling point for most people to switch places with me'

His spartan sleeping conditions addressed, he turned his attention to the next item on his agenda. "Alright I'm going to go gather some firewood, are you staying here?" shauna gave him a thumbs up, not even bothering to look up, "yeahhhh I'm gonna stay here wooo I'm beat after all that running today…" well… at least she knows her limits? "Alright then I'll be back in a few" with that Alex made his way into the woods, the darkness encroaching more and more. He wasn't too afraid; he at least knew whatever tried attacking him here would give fair enough warning… unless there were Pokemon that hunted people? 'Nows not the time Alex, just focus on the wood' grabbing all the sticks and branches he could carry Alex started making his way back towar- Y̷̻͓͑̏̃̔̀̿̔͝o̵̡̪̣̪̥͖̫̹͇̱͚̘̗͓͉̓̉̈́͆̽̔̿̎͗̓̊͘͝u̴͍̘̭̩̹̩̱̠̫̳̤̽́̀͛̌̅̿̆̚͝ͅ

What

Was

That

It sounded like it came from nowhere and everywhere, inaudible yet screaming, telling every nerve in his ape brain that something was there, something knew he was here… turning back the way he came slowly he saw it, two purple pearls sat in the tree line, the rest of… whatever it was completely obscured by darkness.

Alex, being a rational man, took the only rational option available to him… he threw the firewood down and bolted as fast as humanly possible back towards the camp site. 'I knew this was a bad idea! What if it comes for me! It was in my brain!'

Alex only started to calm down once after a couple glances over his shoulder confirmed he wasn't be followed 'to my knowledge' and the camp was firmly in sight, the small lantern Shauna had shining brightly amidst the darkness now surrounding the camp.

She looked up at him amused "what's got you all worked up? You scared of the dark or something?"

Alex doubled over wheezing "I'll pant pant have you know pant pant something ugh, chased me" that got her attention

"What! Are you alright? Oh gosh and you don't have any Pokemon either do you? Did you see what it was at least? Id like to know what I might be up against!" Alex shakes his head "didn't get a good look, just saw… eyes… big glowing purple ones and this voice in my head"

Shauna's serious expression wavered and then she broke out into laughter "haha! Ahh Alex you're so gullible, some psychic type was just messing with you! And here I thought there was a rampaging Tyranitar chasing or something from the way you were acting!"

Alex's ears turned red "well you don't need to rub it in… whatever the case! I'm not going back out there tonight; I think it's too dark for that anyway… no I guess I won't be making a fire or anything…"

Shauna looked a bit confused, wiping a tear of amusement from her eye, she asked Alex "huh? Why would we need one? Its not like we're cooking tonight or anything?"

"Well, it's gonna be cold out here I guess I just wanted something to keep me warm for a little bit while I sleep"

"But aren't we sharing a tent what are you talking about sleeping out in the cold?"

That threw Alex for a loop "huh?"

Shauna looked at him like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "well yeah, travel buddies remember? I'm not just gonna let you freeze out here! Theres plenty of room!"

"Well, I mean if you insist- "

"I do"

"-then I'll have to choose but to accept your gracious offer" Alex said while performing a mocking bow.

She rolls her eyes "well then I'm hitting the hay, shake out your bag before you come in, I don't want dirt all over the place its brand new!"

With that, Alex was left by himself, following Shauna's instructions he shook all the loose dust off the bag and followed suit. Shauna was sprawled out on her sleeping bag already sound asleep.

Alex tucked himself in, feeling comfortable as the soft sleeping back eased the days travels.

'Look at me go… I'm already making friends, God-er Arceus, whatever, this place is amazing… just sucks that it was forced on me, if I was given the option willingly… would I have chosen this over my life back home?'

Alex closed his eyes 'was I sent here for some reason? Am I meant to be like some savior or something? Or was this just some freak accident, something small the slipped through even the hand of literal gods of space time?'

'Somehow… that second one seems more plausible'

And then sleep took Alex, leaving him clueless to the pair of eyes spying on him from the forest, unblinking, unwavering, no words said.

Only thought.

Y̷͑̏̃̔̀͝o̵̡̪̣̪̥͖̫̹͇̱͚̘̗͓͉̓̉̈́͆̽̔̿̎͗̓̊͘͝u̴͍̘̭̩̹̩̱̠̫̳̤̽́̀͛̌̅̿̆̚͝ͅ


Scene, i think this is much better than the original take on this chapter, and actually explaining Alex's story instead of the cold open i did for the original that was literal weeks into his journey, like seriously i did the one thing i hate more than anything, a story that sets up a plot that doesn't use the unique perspective of the character in that situation. It's like the isekai/SI fics and media where the protag just goes along with whatever is happening to 'not be suspicious' when the literally have no reason to.

Do you know the amount of money you could make if you invented the steam engine? its not that hard and if these magic assholes aren't smart enough to i'm gonna do it myself thanos style.