Tall grass swayed lazily in the center of a dim clearing. A small blue creature shook her head with pain and confusion.
Her mind felt blank. No memories came to her, and the world around her felt no more familiar. Save for her, the clearing contained only a short stone pedestal. The area itself was oddly regular – the tangle of trees surrounding her felt more like walls than a living forest.
VAPOREON: What– ugh. My fucking head...
She sat down grumpily. Time to take stock.
She was a Pokemon, named... Vaporeon, presumably. She didn't remember if she had a name. Pokemon typically didn't, but some chose them to stick out. Her species was quadrupedal, semi-aquatic, and around average in terms of size. She was a good swimmer, she assumed. Her fins had to be there for something.
Vaporeon was in... a dungeon, she decided. Her memory there was fragmented too, but she remembered the basic concept. A dungeon was an area that randomly shifted in layout. They tended to be similar in structure, so to speak, with the materials based on the surrounding area. She could have sworn there was one made out of clouds somewhere.
New resources appeared every time the layout changed, so Pokemon with more brawn than marketable skills often chose dungeon life over the surface. Competition for space could get fierce. There was something about bosses, too... her head hurt even worse. Enough thinking.
Vaporeon stood up slowly. She tried a slow stretch and toppled over immediately. Practically her entire front-left leg was missing – that would have been nice to know sooner. All that was left was a stump that showed no signs of scarring. She examined the rest of her body; her fins were angled oddly for her species, but that felt rather less important.
Vaporeon stayed on the ground for a while. Here she was, lost and alone, with nothing to her name but pain and uncertainty. There was no reason to get back up. Where would she even go? Out, she supposed. Whatever answers she needed, they weren't here. Turning swiftly to the room's only exit – too swiftly, her headache informed her – Vaporeon left.
The next clearing opened just as wide as the previous, though at least with more light to see by. A campfire crackled by the exit. Two Pokemon rested next to it – a Luxio and a Wartortle – and a Flareon patrolled the area. None of them had noticed Vaporeon yet, as far as she could tell.
Wartortle pointed a claw at the book he and Luxio were bent over. He seemed a little small for his species, but the scars all across his shell gave his cocky grin some credence. He said something she couldn't hear and laughed uproariously. The Luxio didn't manage more than a conciliatory chuckle. He was larger than Vaporeon by quite a bit, and sparks crackled from his fur as he groomed himself.
Vaporeon stumbled back into the entrance. Had these Pokemon done something to her? Her claws flexed as she tallied up her options. They might not even be aggressive, if she was friendly, but that was a hell of a risk. She could also go in fangs blazing, and they might just surrender. She didn't like her chances against the Electric-type lion, but they didn't have to know that.
Flareon turned a corner on its patrol, and Vaporeon was certain it was looking directly at her. It stood there for a moment. She held her breath.
It moved on, as if it had nothing on its mind. Before she could think better of it, she quietly followed behind. She was getting used to her form, but the altered gait forced heavy footsteps upon her. After only a few seconds, Flareon sat down.
FLAREON: Bold of you to sneak up on me.
Its voice was steady, but its muscles were tense. It didn't turn to face her.
VAPOREON: I'm just trying to figure out what's going on.
FLAREON: Worry about your safety, first.
VAPOREON: Are you going to attack me, then?
FLAREON: You're not worth my time. I'll let the others pick you off.
VAPOREON: And if they win?
It sneered at her. Pure hatred coiled beneath its uninterested facade.
FLAREON: Don't let that happen.
FLAREON: That's my last handout, before I kill you myself.
Vaporeon's blood boiled. Whether this was their fault or not didn't matter anymore. Everyone in this room was out to get her, and it was the last mistake they'd ever make.
