Explorers of the Life Force, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon

Prologue, Let's Begin

There was a pause... before a heart attack came from a loud shout, "Hello!" As I yelped, I leapt backwards into a hard wall. I flinched, slightly dazed by the action. "Uh-oh! Please don't hurt yourself! Wait... can you hurt yourself here?"

A disembodied voice seemed to vibrate within my head. "Your close to the truth of that! Except you don't have a head!" I grew confused at the voice's statment, yet realized I didn't have a body at all! "Yup, you are the soul of Chase! Don't worry though, your body is fine!" I grew panicked and decided to speak my thoughts for once.

"What did you do to me?!"

The voice giggled, which didn't exactly instill confidence in me. "Oh calm down silly. There is another world out there that needs your help!" I huffed in complaint before speaking.

"Oh really? A magical world needs my help so you strip my soul from my body? I highly doubt that. Who are you anyway?! Why can't I see you?!"

"Aw, don't be like that, besides, you're the one that wanted to come here."

I grew ever more impatient with these word games, and shouted out in frustration, "Answer me! What happened?!"

The voice seemed to sigh in boredom, "Fine, if you really want to know, you were tired of your daily life so you came here with my help. Your body is fine and time has slowed to almost a halt while you're away so relax. Just let me do my job and you'll be fine."

I sighed, nothing made sense right now, and it was only becoming more confusing. "Fine, but what do you need me for?"

The... I'll call it being, seemed to bounce with joy and excitement. "Alright! I knew you would come around! Now let's get to work! I'm going to ask you some questions, answer with a true and open heart okay!" I nodded before he... she... it began.

"Okay! Question one, someone stole the last cookie from the cookie jar. How do you respond?"

I raised my imaginative hand. "Okay, first off, why? Second, what is with the questions? You obviously can just read my thoughts right? So why bother with questions in the first place?"

"Well silly," They said a tad bit annoyed. "You are ruining the point of this whole process. You are supposed to answer my questions, not ask the purpose of them. Besides, I only read your immediate thoughts. That's why I have these questions. To, understand who you really are."

I nod again, "All right, I'll try to play your game."

"Excellent!" They cheered, before continuing on more enthusiastically than before. "Now, someone stole the last cookie from the cookie jar. How do you respond?"

"Well, I would get upset and complain a bit to myself, maybe complain to them depending on circumstance?"

"Hmm... interesting. Next one! You are walking to school, but left your important school book behind. What do you do?"

I mentally shrug, "Well, it's important so I guess I would go back for it if there was time."

"I see... do you like karaoke?"

I paused, unsure how to respond to their short and seemingly strange question. "Uh, is that a quiz question, or more of a question, question?"

"Does it make a difference?"

Couldn't argue with that. "Uh, okay... well... yes then, I love singing."

"Sweet! We should totally sing together sometime!" Their glee was short lived as they became aware at their sudden outburst. "Oh! Um, right. On with the show as they say right? Uh-oh! You have a surprise speech in school!"

"... Oh that's it? I guess I would get up, feeling nervous and all, but present the speech as best as I could with the façade of confidence."

"Okay, last question. Your best friend thinks you are selfish and greedy. How do you respond?"

"Uh... well, I get angry and upset with them. Then go off to think on what they said to me."

"Alrighty then! It's the grand revelation! Oh, but not the one where we all go up into heaven and all, just the results."

"I know what you mean."

"Great! Well, by what you described, you are a ball full of mischief!" I nearly double over from laughter at that response. "What? What is so funny?"

"I'm a ball of mischief?!"

"Oh, would you let me continue?" I tried my best to control my laughter as they resumed. "Yes, you seem like a hardy kind of person, but also have hints of sass." I tried to suppress my chuckling, yet what ever this being was knew what I was doing. "Would you stop laughing?!"

After a brief pause it continued, "Thank you. Now, I can tell you used to be quiet and isolated. Recently however, you've allowed yourself more freedom of character. Many can see you as being selfish or self-centered, yet there is a hint of generosity and kindness that others can pick up on. You make people happy, you make them mad, but you truly care about your friends in the end. With a personality like that, I know just the right form you should take!"

I started waving my hands in a timeout sign. "Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah! Back up, a form?! What do you mean a form?!"

"Aw, don't worry about it! I think you'll end up having balls of fun when you get there!" I snickered despite my concern, causing another fit from the being, "What is so funny?!"

"You're the one that reads my thoughts, you figure it out."

"Ugh! Your such a little kid!"

"Hey, I can say the same. This whole thing is like a huge game to you, and I happen to be along for the ride. I don't even know who or what you are."

"Well for your information." They said pointedly, "I am a friendly spirit creature who happens to help people like you!"

"... So, what? Your going to leave me in a world with a whole new body alone? What do I do there? What are the customs? Do I shake another friendly... uh, whatever's there hand, or do I shout to greet them?"

"Gah! Your so difficult!" They complained, "Why is it that I'm left answering the only curious human, when you won't even remember being here in the first place?!"

I stopped my current retort, hesitating on their last statement. "Wait, I won't remember being here...?"

"Well... yes."

"... But, I don't want to forget. Is there even a small chance I'll remember anything?"

"... You... don't want to forget your time here... with me?"

It's not exactly what I thought, but I shrugged kind of seeing the two being similar ideals. "I mean, it's not like it was bad meeting you and all. Besides, you wanted to sing karaoke together right? How can we do that if I don't plan on it?"

I kind of half joked about it, but something seemed to shift in the atmosphere. Strangely enough, I felt myself actually wanting to stay here. It may not have been my initial desire, but the desire was there now.

"Well, I can't make any promises, but... maybe later I can let you remember. Not now though, I've spent too much time with you as it is. Your new life awaits. Goodbye, and take care!" I couldn't respond as I found myself drifting off into a deep slumber.

[(Author's note)]

Hi, this was and currently is the shortest chapter/part in the story. Usually they are twice as long with the chances of being longer around Chapter Ten.

I made this almost six or eight months ago before around chapter four when I fell into a writers block. I just couldn't muster up the inspiration to continue writing this until more recently. Anyway, to those who have waited with no explanation on why I didn't continue, I am sorry.

This will most likely be the only author's note I will make, yet I plan on updating each chapter with more efficient editing. I have already started writing new chapters and will hopefully continue to do so.

Thank you for your time and enjoy the story!

[(End of Author's note)]