Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Distorted Duty

Prologue

'Its always too damn cold here,' Thought the Zorua as he went about his semi-secluded life in his mountainous home disguised as some small Pokémon or animal. He changes it often.

It had barely even been a few years... I think... since I, yes, I who is a former human who was now this young fox creature, inexplicably woke up in the body of a newly hatched cub with no family in sight. I didn't even get a memo from whatever force was at play as to why it happened. Hell, I can't even remember my human self clearly. It's like stuff I might need was there but everything else was hazy. My surviving this long was due, in no small part, to knowledge on Pokémon such as what I had become being widespread where I had come from. Along with the copious amounts of luck involved as well.

Credit where it's due and all that. The curiosities of my body swapping event aren't as much of a pressing concern as my survival anyway. The memories and life I lived in the past are just an edge up on the situation I have. I've already gone through the unstable stages of my existential crisis on that. Difficulties will arise regardless, I'm sure.

Now it isn't like I have yet to encounter anything or anyone else but given the physical age of the body I am in, no matter the yearning for social interaction I have, I have needed to play everything safe. So needless to say, I know no one and have avoided much of any Pokémon or animal that could prove a threat. Living in the wild is a massive pain. More so on a who-knows-how-large mountain somewhere I'm not familiar with.

I continue weighing the pros and cons of my situation as I wander my known safe area. On the cons, my body is rather young, with no parents, in an unfamiliar land, having no connections with anyone else. The pros are... That i know what I am and haven't encountered any situations patience and caution can't resolve. Oh and also my body and it's innate instincts seem to be actively making my... foolhardy life easier. Hunting, tracking, and other instinctual skills. The main question lies in why the egg of a Zorua was left unattended. They are a family oriented species and would likely never abandon their young.

'Maybe my egg was lost in a move of some kind... No, too high up unless it was a family of my species. Or dropped by a trainer assuming those exist here. Or ditched in some tragedy in hopes-'

All of these questions and speculations quickly became irrelevant when my distracted mind leads me to take a tumble off of a small hill on the edge of my safe zone straight into a small stream. Well, I call it small but I should say that it is one I could tumble down without anything more than a bruised ego... and maybe an actual bruise or two.

'Curse this small, inconvenient, body...' I thought in annoyance, as I carefully recovered. Climbing out of the water at the bottom of the drop and drying off took priority as I examined my surroundings.

'I needed to get out of my comfort zone anyway if I wanted to grow... to evolve. How would I even know when that'll happen anyway... Dammit.'

Still in the scenery of a forested mountain. Cold, snowy, and unfamiliar. Just less snowy than before. Though just from the ambiance I could tell it was definitely more lively than my safe zone as I took shelter in a group of low vegetation to tend to myself as best as my quadrapedal self could. Of course, also to take time to reestablish my illusion.

It was difficult at first, but instincts are intrinsic and eventually I could at least make myself at least look like the other suitable creatures around. The odd not quite squirrel or other mammal. After I am absolutely certain my disguise is handled, I leave my bushy hiding spot to wander and truly look around my new environment. I was considering moving from my shelter anyway beforehand.

'More same old, same old... Just a little lower,' My double sided relief and annoyance would most likely be visible regardless of my disguise as I realized this.