Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Course of Everything

Chapter Five: Beginnings

"It's been three days, Winnie," Anais said, "And you've already told her you're a human?"

Winnie and Harper sat next to each other in front of Anais, and exchanged a look. The pair had made their way back to the familiar cave after Winnie's confession, and though the Archen hadn't been nearly as skeptical as Winnie had expected, the constant barrage of questions on the trail home had been more than a little taxing. Winnie had thought it would be a relief to tell another Pokemon that they were a human, and it had been at first, but now a dull ache of homesickness lay in their chest. Still, they kept a smile as they responded.

"We're friends now, I feel bad keeping secrets from friends," Winnie said.

Anais sighed, looking resigned. The Absol seemed older than ever, looking between Winnie and Harper for a moment longer, before padding towards the exit of the cave.

"Harper, don't go telling anyone else about this," Anais said.

"Of course I won't," Harper replied, eyes wide. "I mean, I don't even know any other Pokemon, so who would I tell?" A crooked, nervous grin spread across her beak. Anais didn't return it, merely nodding.

"Thank you," Anais nodded, and then looked to Winnie, "Sweet, I'm going to collect berries, don't wander too far, okay?"

"I won't," Winnie promised, crossing over their heart in a gesture they knew Pokemon didn't know, "Promise."

With that, the Absol said their goodbyes and left the two younger Pokemon to themselves. As soon as they disappeared from sight, Harper turned to look at Winnie.

"I know it's been like an hour," Harper said, "But I still can't wrap my head around this. Can I ask you a question? Or four?"

Winnie bit back a sigh, and nodded. "Go for it."

"You're a human," Harper said, "But now you're a Pokemon, and you don't remember how you became a Pokemon and not a human."

"Yep," Winnie replied.

"So," Harper continued, clicking her talons together, "You don't remember being human, like, before all this?"

Winnie winced.

"No, I remember being human," they said, "I remember my family and stuff, and everything like that. Just don't know how I got here."

They expected a new series of questions at this, but to their relief, Harper didn't say anything for a while. She almost seemed disappointed in their answer, and shuffled her feet as her eyes nervously darted.

"Have you ever tried finding out?" She finally asked.

Caught off guard, Winnie took a bit to respond.

"Er, finding out what?"

"You know," Harper waved a wing as if to gesture to something only she could see, "Like, why you became a Pokemon?"

Winnie blinked, surprised. They had never seriously thought about finding the reason they had become this way. The thought had crossed their mind, sure, but the world was much too big to explore on their own. Anais had taken good care of them the past few months, and had taught them a lot. The idea of leaving the Absol made Winnie's chest tighten in an uncomfortable way. How would they even go about finding a reason?

"No, not really," Winnie said, shaking the thoughts from their head.

"Okay," Harper nodded, "I just thought, you know, it seems like it would be a good idea, but, you know." The bird-Pokemon trailed off, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. Winnie broke the silence after a few moments, forcing the odd feeling rising in their gut away.