Chapter 2
Wild Pokemon


For a while, Snivy and I walked through the dungeon in silence. I'm not used to having 4 legs, so I had to keep my mind on walking. Now, after a few minutes, I'm starting to get the hang of it, so I decided to ask a few questions.

"So, what makes a 'mystery dungeon' special? How is this place different from any old cave?"

"Oh, lots of things!" says Snivy. "Each mystery dungeon has special properties. Some properties work in all dungeons, but each dungeon also has its own unique properties! For example, this dungeon has lots of water flowing through it, like that stream over there."

I look where Snivy points, and sure enough, there was a small river of running water off to the side of the tunnel. I'd noticed it before, after I'd just woken up, but I didn't think anything of it at the time.

"Running water? That doesn't seem very special..."

"But it is! Come and look!" Snivy says, running over to the stream. "Look into the water."

I follow them and look down at the water. It looked crystal clear, and clean enough to drink! But what's really surprising is that the stone of the cave under the water is replaced by sparkling blue crystal, just like the ones in the cave walls! "Whoa!"

"Right? It's super pretty, and you'll never get thirsty in here! I've even seen the water here flowing uphill!"

We turn away from the stream and continue walking. "Wow, what else is special about mystery dungeons?"

"Well, mystery dungeons are also always changing and shifting, so after a while, the layout will completely change. Mystery dungeons also have a tendency to create things out of thin air, like berries or other items! Oh, and there's also wild pokemon."

"Wait, what was that last pa-"

I'm cut off by a sudden strike from behind, and I go tumbling forward.

"Wild pokemon!" Snivy shouts. I turn around to see a Buizel and a Marill, ready to attack us. "Get up, we need to fight!"

Snivy lashes at the Marril with a vine whip, but Marill dodges backward and sprays bubbles at Snivy. That's all I'm able to watch before I notice the Buizel running towards me! I jump to the side and avoid its attack, but in the process I trip and fall; walking forward is hard enough with this body, jumping is way to difficult.

As I get up, I'm hit with a blast of water from the Buizel. I stay standing this time, and I turn towards the Buizel to attack it. That's when I realize; I have no idea how to fight. Even back in my human body, the closest I got to a fight was watching pokemon battles on TV. I can barely move in this body, and I don't know how to use any moves like water gun. I'm completely helpless.

The Buizel runs towards me for another attack, quickly zig-zagging back and forth to keep me from knowing what direction to dodge. I brace myself as best I can as it tackles into me, knocking me backward. It runs towards me to attack again, and I decide I have to do something, so I jump towards the Buizel with my best attempt at a tackle attack!

It doesn't go great. We bonk our heads together and I end up flying backward, while the Buizel just gets knocked down. It rubs its head in pain before standing up and rearing back for another water gun. I get ready to brace myself, when suddenly a vine smacks the Buizel in the face, quickly followed by another that makes the Buizel stagger backward. Taking advantage, Snivy leaps up and strikes it with their tail, knocking it to the ground.

The Buizel lies motionless on the ground for a moment, then it... evaporates into smoke? I start to stand up, but as the pain hits, I wince and fall back down.

"Hey Mudkip, are you okay?" Snivy asks. "Nothing broken?"

I experimentally moved my legs. I landed pretty badly from that last attack, so they got hurt, but they don't feel broken. "No, just pain," I reply, rubbing my head.

"Here," Snivy says, pulling a blue berry out of a bag by their side and offering it to me. "It's an oran berry. They heal wounds and help with pain."

I reach out to take the berry, but I end up dropping it thanks to a lack of normal fingers. I have to use both my arms, or rather front legs, to pick it back up and put it in my mouth. Eating it isn't difficult, but it does feel weird and unfamiliar, especially without teeth. I end up accidentally swallowing it whole, and surprisingly don't choke. It only takes a few seconds before the pain starts fading away. "Whoa, that worked fast!" I say as I stand up.

"Yep! That's why you always come into a mystery dungeon prepared!" Snivy says, patting the bag at their side. I hadn't noticed the bag before, having been too distracted by a talking pokemon, then by me BEING a pokemon, then by 'mystery dungeons', and so on.

"But, uh... what was that?" Snivy asks.

I raise an eyebrow. "What was what?"

"I mean, what was that fighting back there?! I get that this is your first time in a mystery dungeon, but was that your first time in a fight too?" Snivy says, gesturing angrily.

"Of course it was my first fight! What, did your first battle go better?"

"I don't remember, I was a baby at the time! Didn't you ever play fight with your friends, or siblings, or anyone? Or ever learn to use your abilities? Seriously, its in a pokemon's instinct to fight."

"I'm NOT a pokemon! I'm a human, and my name is Jamie! And I just learned how to walk five minutes ago, how am I supposed to know how to shoot water out of my mouth and stuff?"

Snivy gives an exasperated sigh. "Whatever. Well, you're lucky I found you before any those wild pokemon did. I didn't realize you were this helpless."

That reminds me. "...Hey, why did that Buizel evaporate like that? And why did those pokemon attack us?"

"Oh yeah. Mystery dungeons can create fake pokemon called wild pokemon. They can't really think, and just act on pure instinct, attacking any intruders in the dungeon. I don't remember why, but they disappear when they take enough damage. They're the main reason mystery dungeons are dangerous. Also, I think I deserve some thanks for saving you back there, don't you agree?"

I glare at Snivy for a second, then sigh. "Fine, thanks for saving me. Hey, out of curiosity, what would those pokemon have done to us if we'd lost?"

"They'd kill us."

"SERIOUSLY?!"

"Ha ha ha! Nah, I'm just kidding. They'd probably have either left us there or thrown us out of the dungeon. Oh, and taken our stuff, too."

"Wait, what do you mean 'probably'?"

"Well, each mystery dungeon is different. Sometimes the wild pokemon in them behave differently as well. I don't think these ones would do anything that bad to us, though." Snivy turns and starts walking. "Let's move on. Unless you'd like to find out what they'll do to you?"

"I'll pass, thanks," I say as I follow Snivy through the cave.




Thanks for reading. Comments, questions, and criticisms are encouraged.