.

Welcome!

Yes! Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of Pokémon!

Wha?

Ah, I am sorry. I seem to be getting ahead of myself.

This is the portal to the wonderful world of Pokémon. I cannot actually let you through yet. Most certainly not as you are now.

I… I don't understand.

Where… where am I?

Who are you?

Where are you…? Where—I can't see myself—why can't I—

Shh…

Who are you—where ISthis place? What is going on? Tell me!

It is all right. Be at peace. There is no reason to panic. Do not worry; there is nothing that can harm you here.

…okay. That's comforting. I was hoping that if something did hurt me, I could ask it where they saw me and point me in my direction—where am I!?

Be calm. Here. Come here. There is no need to fret, there is only us here and I only wish to talk. Now, be calm.

…okay.

…okay….

Good.

Okay.

…now, in order to let you through, I need to ask you several questions. It is important that you answer them truthfully and straight from the heart. Are you ready?

…no. But that's not going to stop you, is it? ...ask away.

Very well. Let us begin.

Are there many things that you would like to do?

…

Do not think, just say. Let me see who you really are, not who you think you are. I am not the one to judge you, just the one to listen.

But… you're asking me these questions for a reason. Questions are made to judge people.

Is that so? Every question? Even if I ask what you had for breakfast?

Then you judge if I'm eating properly. It's no matter if you like or hate blueberry waffles, you'd twist it into a comment for better or for worse. Questions… questions are tools for extracting information to use, even when there's no real answer. Nothing more.

Can we move on? I'm… not too sure how to phrase this one.

If you would like.

On vacation outings; do you go alone, or with others?

I'd, umm. I'd like to say I'd love to with everyone else, but I'm never that lucky to get invited to go somewhere or be at the right place at the right time when something is happening. Wait, no. That's not true. I get invited to things, but they're things I don't want to go to.

Have you ever asked?

If I'm in a group, I get swept along with it. But even then, I can't help but feel like I'm out of place. Like I'm always the odd one out. It's not like everyone doesn't like me it's—I don't know—asking just makes me feel even more out of place—I know it's just me, it's just….

Tell me only yes or no. Do you like to noisily enjoy yourself with others?

…yes. But—

A delinquent is harassing a girl—

But—! …nevermind. Is there anyone else around?

Do you help her? Even if you're afraid? Do you call the police? Or do you do nothing out of fear? Do not think too much.

You're not telling me enough.

On the contrary, I am telling you all you need to know. You are not good at making these snap-decisions. I see.

I can. I just need to—

I'll move on then—

Fine! I help her, even if I'm afraid—it's what I'd do. I think—I don't know! I've never been in that situation! How would I know how I'd react?

…if there were other people, then I'd help whoever else was helping her. There's always one hero in the group.

That hero just is not you?

I'm not insane.

That is not an answer.

…

Very well.

Do you like to fight?

I try not to get into fights.

But you would help the girl.

I can fight if I have to. That doesn't mean I like it.

Grab any finger on your left hand—

What hand?

A fair point.

What does that have to do with anything anyway?

Do you dislike being the last one to leave every day?

Who are you again? And how do you know…?

…

I don't mind it. It gives me time to think on my own.

What about your friends, do you have many of them?

More people call me their friend than I'd call them mine, but I have several.

One final question.

Are there many things you would like to do?

This again? No, that's alright. I have my answer now.

There are, um, three things—three goals I want to obtain in life and I guess I can say that they motivate me at every moment—but there are a lot of other things that I'd like to do along the way. Whether I would actually do them is another thing—everyone wants to go bungee jumping, but I'm always afraid the line would snap.

So tell me then, what are those three things? I wish to hear what your aspirations are.

If they were anything else….

No. Okay, let's try it this way. Goal… Goal number Three. Err, Goal Three is—I'm sorry, but this is the only way I can say this.

Goal Three it's out there. Nigh-impossible, that's a good way to put it. Nigh-impossible and I know it. But I keep trying, even if it's getting hard lately. But I promised, and the only word I trust is my own, so I make it count.

Goal Two is only slightly closer, just as impossible but it's my own goal. I set it when I was twelve and I've been striding for it ever since.

As for Goal One… that one's… personal. That one takes priority over all else. The moment I see the way to get it—I don't care about anything else. I've worked so, so hard for this one, I can't just let it slip away because I'll never get another chance! The moment I see it, I take it. Nothing else matters at that moment. Just… just finally… finally putting Goal One to rest.

I know I'm being vague, but what they are isn't—they might be important, but that's all I'm saying about them. Really, you'd laugh if I say what they really were. I make it sound like I'm trying to be the first man on Mars or something. You're trying to figure out what kind of person I am. So all you need to know is my attitude towards those goals. The journey, not the payoff, right?

This is me, so who am I? According to you?

According to me, you are yourself.

…awesome. Can I go home now?

And you know who you are as well. You are aware of all your faults, but possibly not their extent. Furthermore, where you do not underestimate your strengths, you lie to yourself about them. Yes, you would help that girl, but only because your better nature wins out over your fears. You decide on it, and you commit your very being to it to the very end, even at a cost to yourself.

You are curious, stubbornly strong-willed, perhaps even clever at times. But still, you are paranoid and it is that paranoia that fuels your caution, thereby hindering yourself with your fear of the unknown. It is only when you fully understand that you act, but not a second before.

You say you feel like you are alone in a crowd, but only recently has it occurred to you that it is your own actions, not others', that separate yourself from those around you. You are holding onto a grudge, one from where the paranoia stems from. Furthermore, though you say your goals drive you, your goals themselves stem from that same grudge.

This one solitary grudge drives your entire life to where it is now inseparable from your very being. But you never give it up. Oh, you can never give it up because you've come so far.

This entire test was a sham—you know exactly who I am! EXACTLY!

And that is why, at the heart of your very soul, you are lonely.

Oh, shove it….

You are afraid of letting anyone into your heart in fear of being used by them, or losing them at some point. Or even worse, force you to fail in what you strive for. So you push them away, keep them at arm's length, and attempt to manipulate and use them. Just as they had used you in the past.

But never deny strength of loneliness, because only you know what it's like to be alone.

So when the time comes that all hope is lost, all your friends had fallen and it would be just you, forcing one foot in front of the other. All in search of that light at the end of the tunnel that would make it worth every torment and punishment you endured in your life. All you need to do… is put one foot… in front of the other… and you will eventually… reach it because it must be there, it has to be there.

When that time comes, you would be alone once more. Yet then and there, you would be at home.

All so very… very alone.

Indeed. Such a lonely Pokémon like you? Yes. You would be a Cubone.

I now deem you ready, and will permit you one boon on your new life: you will choose who your new partner is going to be. Befriend him or manipulate him; that is up to you. Just choose... wisely. As, either way, he will be the greatest asset you will ever have.

…

Very well.

Now then. Our time together has come to an end; I must now let you through, into the world of Pokémon! A wondrous and terrifying journey is ahead of you. Remember, one foot in front of the other, never faltering, never wavering from this path you have burdened yourself with.

Let the blazing light at the end of this journey be your ultimate victory!

Good luck!

…

…

…

I do hope you fare better than the last.

Aquifer, A Prophet's Guide to Dungeoneering

a Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team story