As I'm walking down the beach towards the village, the three kids are running around in glee and messing about as if they're lives weren't literally in danger just a moment ago. How nice it is to be kids, without a care in the world. This pikachu told me that he wants to show his gratitude back in his house so who am I to refuse, right?
"Sorry for the hostility by the way. As you can see, the kids are being targeted so I'm just staying cautious. I don't like being indebted to anyone so you can stay my place to rest if you don't have a place to stay at right now."
He didn't explicitly say it, but I'm assuming that's a thank you.
"You said your name's Evv, right? I'm Kachiro. The cleffa is called Capu, the pichu there is my brother Pachiru, and the turtwig is called Goa."
These names sound very foreign to me, but I guess these are actual pokemon-like names. They actually sound very different from what we would normally name them. It's sinking in deeper that I'm actually conversing with a bunch of pokemon and it feels so strange, I'm not sure if I'll get used to this any time soon.
'So, Kachiro, why were those wingulls after the kids?'
I hope I'm not intruding or overstepping my boundaries by asking but I am curious. They seem like innocent kids, after all.
"Hmm, you don't seem like one with ill intent, so I guess it's fine if I tell you. It's not really a secret anyways."
Awh, I'm touched you feel that way about me, but I thought you're supposed to stay cautious? These two really are siblings, I guess.
"Specifically, it's Capu that they're after. Cleffas are a rare type of pokemon that usually appear at night when there are shooting stars around. Some believe they come from meteorites, while some believe they have the power to grant wishes, just like shootings stars. Regardless of which rumour they believe, cleffas can fetch a high price in the black market."
So even pokemon have their own black market and gang of thugs. This gives off team rocket vibes.
"What about you? Why was an eevee found unconscious on the shores of our little village?"
'It's uh, a long story. Some other time, maybe.'
I'm not sure if anyone here would believe me when I tell them I was a human who woke up as a pokemon without any memories. I feel like it'd just bring in suspicions on me. Although being secretive would most likely do the same. Sigh... I'll tell him eventually.
"Anyways, here we are, welcome to Undella Village."
As we got closer towards the village gates with the kids dashing in impatiently, there was one thing that catches my attention right away: the crowd of pokemon walking about the city, living human-like lives. I see kecleons managing their small market booths and seeling their wares, a smeargle painting in the streets, a roselia selling flowers, and a variety of other pokemon co-existing with each other in a very human-like village. It's actually amazing and I'm almost lost for words. I never imagined different pokemon settling into a small civilization like this. It really feels like I'm in a whole new world. Maybe I actually am in another world. That would explain the talking pokemon.
Wait a minute, did he say Undella? As in Undella Town? I may not have any memories of myself as a human, but I'm pretty sure Undella is a resort town in the east side of the Unova Region. Could this be a parallel world where pokemon rule the world instead of humans? I should really ask.
'So uh, where are all the humans?'
"Huh, are you serious?"
'Was that a weird question?'
"Yes, very weird. Extinct of course. Where were you the past 20 years?"
…
I'm sure that me staring blankly at Kachiro, in shock, is giving away the fact that I'm not from around here. Did I hear that right? Humans have gone extinct 2 decades ago? This might not be another world, then, but the future instead. That would explain why I'm in Undella Village right now, and not Undella Town.
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"This is my house, make yourself at home."
Undella Town was a small town for tourists to rest in during their travels, but Undella Village seems bigger for some reason. It took longer than expected to get to Kachiro's house. Knowing this is a village, I kind of expected to get from one end of the village to the other relatively fast. Maybe it's because I've turned to an eevee and everything seems bigger in comparison though.
Kachiro's house seems very cosy. It's far from large, inside and out, and it has wooden walls with light brown exterior and dark brown interior, giving off the feeling that it welcomes me sleeping all day inside. A slightly more morbid take of it is that it burns down easily though.
"Hey Kachi, I'm hungry!"
"Go eat yesterday's leftovers, I haven't prepared anything else."
"I don't want to eat the same thing again, that's boring."
"Your fault for not finishing your food."
Kachiro may be Pachiru's brother, but he's also taking care of him as a guardian. He seems like an apathetic parent at first, but I can tell he cares about his brother. At least, I think he does, judging from the thirty minutes I've known him.
"Okay, now that we're here, do share that long story of yours, I have some time. You may have helped save the kids, but you still look suspicious. You were found unconscious in the shore and you didn't know that humans are extinct. I'm not risking anything. I'd be the one responsible for bringing you in the village if anything happens, after all."
Hey, hey, you told me to make myself at home but now you start pointing fingers at me? What home of mine would make me feel threatened! I can't blame him though; I'd probably act the same if I were him. No more running from reality I guess, time to tell him the truth. I'd need help if I want to make heads or tails of what's happening to me, anyways.
…
"So, you're telling me you were a human that woke up as an eevee with no memories of your previous identity, aside from the fact that you were human?"
'Yep, that's basically it.'
There's no way he's going to believe me. I couldn't believe that this wasn't a dream myself at first. Looks like I need to think of a plan on how to survive in the wild by myself. I'd buy supplies from those kecleons I saw in the streets, but I don't have any money on me. Do pokemon even use the same currency here? I'll have to ask around for some of this world's common sense too. I just hope the region structure hasn't changed much in the last 20 years. I also have to find a way to get my old life back after all that, I don't want to stay as an eevee forever.
"That's a peculiar situation. The village chief might be able to help. It's getting late though, so you can stay here for the night, I'll take you to the chief tomorrow."
No fucking way.
'Wait, you actually believe me?'
"Eh, was that all a lie?"
'No! It wasn't, but I just thought that the story just seems too unrealistic. I didn't believe it myself either at first.'
"If you're not lying then that's fine. Just take it as a thank you for helping me save the kids earlier. Like I said, I don't like being in debt."
I'm glad I have accommodation taken care of for the night and I'm even getting some help tomorrow, but these two brothers are way too trusting of others. I just met them but I'm already a bit worried for them. I just woke up not too long ago but I'm already weirdly exhausted, so I'll just take Kachiro up on his offer and think about things tomorrow.