After getting the system, Dante hurriedly made an excuse to get back into his room and explore his system.
"A Pokemon Mystery Dungeon System? Huh, is it the game I was about to play before traveling through this world?"
Musing to himself, Dante opened the computer to try accessing the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon or PMD. Looking at the desktop, Dante found a new application named "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Another World".
Clicking and opening the app, Dante watched the usual introduction that happens during the startup of the game. At the start screen, there was the option of 'Start' and 'Options'.
Dante directly chose Start and the screen changed directly to: Chapter 1 - Welcome to Another World. Dante felt dizzy and his vision began to darken. 'Am I going to travel to another world?' was the last thought in Dante's mind before his head hit the computer table.
…
…
The first thing Dante noticed before he woke up was the splitting headache. After that was the sound of the waves hitting the beach. Opening his eyes, he found himself at the beachside in the middle of the scorching sun. Dante struggled to move, but his headache was so intense and his body so sore that he fainted again.
Dante felt someone shaking him. Opening his eyes, he found a male Pikachu nudging him with its hands. Don't ask how he knew it was male, he just felt that the Pikachu is a male.
"You're finally awake! That's a relief, I thought I have to give you some air though the mouth."
Dante stared dumbfounded at the talking Pikachu. He also felt a sense of incongruity with himself, as well as a sense of deja vu at what is currently happening.
"Hello, are you ok? Can you hear what I am saying?"
The Pikachu waved his hands in front of him which finally brought Dante back from his stupor.
"Ah yes, sorry about that. It's just the first time I saw a talking Pokemon so I am a little surprised ahaha."
Dante replied, feeling a sense of novelty for talking to a Pokemon for the first time and let out an awkward chuckle.
"First time? Where are you from? And aren't you a talking Pokemon yourself?"
Pikachu's words brought Dante back from his senses and also finally realized where his sense of incongruity came from after looking at his hands- or rather, paws.
'I've become so short! No, I've become a Pokemon! I remember now, I opened the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game and this is the start of the game where the protagonist meets his partner.'
Dante looked around and saw that it was already dusk, with the sun beginning to set. He awkwardly walked to the side of the beach under the strange gaze of Pikachu and looked at his reflection.
'I've become a Hisuian Zorua! I remember I also chose this starter when I played the PMD game before I traveled to the parallel world. Is that game the reason for all my world traveling experiences? And am I stuck here or can I go back to the human world?'
"Are you alright? Do you need any help? I am Pikachu by the way, an aspiring Mystery Dungeon Explorer!"
The Pikachu unknowingly came to his side, positioning himself as if to prevent Dante from being dragged into the water. Dante also then remembered that he chose a Pikachu as his partner through a randomizer back then.
"I'm alright, thank you. And I'm Dante, a newly qualified Pokemon Trainer."
"Huh, Pokemon Trainer? What is that?"
Tilting his head to the side, Pikachu questioned with a confused expression on his face.
"Heh, it's a profession from where I came from. We basically partner up with Pokemons, train them, and then battle together. Sigh, I just don't know whether I will be able to come back."
"Ohhh, so it's like forming a Exploration Team! That's similar to m– ouch!"
While Pikachu was speaking, a Zubat suddenly came up from behind and tackled him. Dante didn't even notice where the Zubat came from. It was just that fast.
"Ouch! What did you do that for?!"
Dante helped Pikachu up while staring at the Zubat and Koffing in front of him. In the game, they are just your typical third-rate villain that the protagonist needs to pass through at the beginning of the game. But facing them in real life, Dante felt very intimidated.
"Heh, we just want to mess with you. And also to get this thing. It would be a waste for it to be left in the hands of a wimp like you. Who knows, maybe it's the key to some hidden treasure kekeke."
Zubat took the Relic Fragment from Pikachu when he tackled him and is now holding it in his mouth.
"That's my treasure! G-give it back!"
"Kekeke, it's ours now. Whatcha gonna do? Fight us?"
PIkachu just stared at the two of them with some tears glistening in the corner of his eyes.
"Wow, are you gonna cry? Wahahaha, I didn't expect you to not even put up a fight and just cry. What a coward!"
Both Zubat and Koffing left while laughing at Pikachu, leaving Pikachu trembling and Dante staring at the two of them.
'Be patient, Dante. Those two have been part of an exploration team for some time and should have done many tasks. I don't think me and Pikachu, level 5 newbies, can even pose a threat to them.'
'Come to think of it, both Pikachu and I will be able to beat them just after going through one dungeon. In the game, that was because of plot reasons. But translated into the real world, it means Pikachu and I are so talented that we grew strong enough to confront them after just one dungeon run. Or, maybe those guys are not that strong?'
Dante looked at Pikachu with a crestfallen expression in front of him and patted his back to comfort him.
"Wh-what should I do?"
"What did they take from you? Is it something important?"
"That's my personal treasure. It means everything to me. It was the reason I wanted to become a Dungeon Explorer. I-if I lose that…"
Tears began accumulating in Pikachu's eyes again after saying that.
"If it really means everything to you, why not try fighting for it?"
"B-but, I can't beat them!"
"So? Is that all your dream is worth? Giving it up because you can't beat two guys that don't even look that powerful? You want to be a Mystery Dungeon Explorer, right?"
Pikachu hesitantly nodded his head at Dante who suddenly took a lecturing tone.
"That means you'll have to fight much more powerful Pokemons than those two. If you can't even muster up the courage to fight them, then it's better to give up now and look for a new dream."
Pikachu visibly trembled at Dante's words, with a look of frustration on his face. Finally, he seemed to realize something, and with a look like a man- a Pokemon on a mission, Pikachu resolutely said.
"You're right! I can't keep backing away from a fight if I want to realize my dream. There's no time to waste, I'm gonna chase them and get back my treasure!"
And with that, Pikachu ran towards the direction where Zubat and Koffing headed towards. Dante stared at Pikachu that was running in the distance, feeling a small amount of pride at himself for delivering that pep talk. However, as Pikachu got farther and farther away, Dante got confused.
"Eh? Ehhh!? Shouldn't he ask me to help him in getting the treasure back? Hey, Pikachu! Wait for me!"