Chapter Text
Sometimes, I dream about my first encounter with Munna. It's a rather hard moment to forget. Then again, everything from the beginning of my adventure here is a hard moment to forget...
Why would she pick me to save this world? I'm not exactly the most generous person by any means - a rich family tends to want to stay rich, after all. Is this a means of humbling me, like some stories I've read in the past? If so, I believe that she's doing that well.
My mind wanders into the space in which I sat. This place was where Munna told me of my role in this new world. Rows and rows of mist surrounded me, obscuring whatever existed beyond it. Several figures of familiar and unfamiliar pokémon stood around the watery pond - was it a pond? Or was it a window to the new world? With hindsight on my side, I know what it represented now.
While I couldn't remember the blue-and-white otter or the orange pig's name, who wouldn't recognize Pikachu? Even for someone like me - who only tried out a couple of video games here and there - I could instantly recall the yellow rat's name.
I was told by Munna to choose my new body. Was my human self not up to the task? I voiced as much to her, but she persisted.
"That's... just how it works," she unhelpfully claimed.
I suppose, with my current knowledge of this world, that being a human in a place only inhabited by pokémon wouldn't be too helpful - and it could be deadly. These creatures possess powers that no human can even hope to attain.
Two of the creatures resonated with me. I circled around the ring of water to meet them.
Axew. When I first met him, he only called himself that. I didn't know that this name also belonged to the scaled species that he was. Upon learning that fact, I was appalled - who could name their pet Cat? Or Dog? Such a practice was apparently common here.
Of course, when he asked me what I would call him instead, I chose a name off the top of my head: Kurtis. A formal name to accompany mine.
Kurtis - bless his soul - accepted the name with stride. Despite his insistence on shortening my name to "Alex," he seems fine with me addressing him properly.
Kurtis is very optimistic with… just about everything. He has a knack for finding something positive in anything - and anyone, for that matter. His focus never seems to be on himself; dare I say it, he's the perfect foil to my mannerisms.
The other pokémon that spoke to me spiritually - and the one I ultimately chose as my new form - was a green… lizard. I'm often tempted to call it a snake, partially due to its species' name, but this creature's limbs technically classify it as a lizard.
"You choose Snivy, then?" Munna sought to confirm.
Because of this dream, I'm only able to replicate the actions I did when I first arrived. I nodded, adding a simple, "Yes."
In the blink of an eye, my perspective had shifted. Gone were the other four creatures around the ring. I leaned into the pond, my body reacting with surprise.
Obviously, I wasn't truly surprised to find myself as a snivy the third time around - or was it the fourth? Fifth? These dreams have been occurring too often lately…
Even then, I still remember my initial thoughts on this revelation. Am I really this 'snivy' creature? Or is this just part of the dream?
This time around, I use this lapse in the dream to reflect. Now that I have the time to think on it, I can't help but wonder... How much have I really taken for granted? From a posh mattress in a lavish mansion to a bare pile of straw in a wasteland... Is this some sort of karmic retribution? I may have been rich, but I don't believe I did anything truly wrong. What else am I missing? If I save the world, will I go back to my world, where I can live in prosperity again?
...Would I even want to?
At this point, the dream continued. "Now, please go. Save the world and help--"
I heard a quiet snap, not unlike a radio changing stations. The voice went silent for a few tense moments, before waves of energy rattled my stance.
"H-Help me!"
Again, the image of an intimidating, three-headed dragon assault my mind. It chased a pink, pig-like creature with a floral pattern.
When the image disappeared, so too did the voice. I described the pink creature to Kurtis, who called it a "munna". Due to the... strange ways of this world, I shall call her that for now. I should think of a name soon. She plays a crucial role in my ability to save the world, so simply calling her Munna won't do her justice. Perhaps I should call her Selena...
The ring around the edge of the water drew closer, splitting into three patterned circles. I had no more time to contemplate, as a light shone beneath me and blinded me.
"Good morning, Alex!"
I open my eyes, still out of it from the dream. As I sit up, the wind blows a bit of dirt into my face. "Good morning, Kurtis. I thought told you to call me Alexander."
"Oh yeah, multiple times!" the axew confirms with a silly grin. "It's just a mouthful, though. Hey, how about we go get the gems Gurrdurr promised?"
"Right."
I suppose wondering about Munna or the ring won't do me any favors right now. Building a shelter sounds more important for the time being. I don't know how much longer I can last in the chilly winds of this wasteland. How can Kurtis call this a paradise?
...Maybe I'm just not thinking far enough ahead. Kurtis, you're quite an enigma...