Hunger

Forrest had searched for months, at least, it felt like it. The sun didn’t shine and the stars didn’t burn in the night sky. It could’ve been days, or years, that he searched. The only indicators of time passing were the collapse of society and the stubble growing on Forrest’s chin. He had tried to return to Drifas, but it wasn’t safe and without the sun, he couldn’t tell which direction he should go. With each passing day he felt a little weaker. Still, he endured.

Now, Forrest stared out over the desolate wasteland. Clouds sat unmoving in a grey sky. Boulders hung frozen in the air. Trees stood in full bloom, waiting to birth fruit that would never come. Waves were raised high in the ocean, but could not crash.

In this time, when the only warmth to be found was in your own blood, and gentle company, Forrest tickled the chin of the Treecko clinging to his shoulder.

Treecko chirruped appreciatively, stretching to expose more of his chin to Forrest’s gentle touch.

Smiling to himself, Forrest pried the little lizard from his shoulder, placing him down. ‘I’m going again, Treecko.’

‘No!’ Cried Treecko.

Forrest scoffed, he often talked to himself and Treecko had begun to learn some of the words. Now, the lizard had a vocabulary to match his todder-esque nature.

‘I’ll be back as fast as I can, I promise.’ Forrest’s face hardened and he pointed at the ground. ‘You stay here. Don’t move this time. It’s not safe out there.’

Treecko gazed upon his surroundings for the thousandth time. A small cluster of trees with a ramshackle hut built between them. Brambles were piled against the roof and walls, making the home look more like a giant thorn bush. Treecko had been upset when Forrest implemented the disguise; the human had gotten countless scratches from the thorns. Eventually, Treecko nodded.

Satisfied, Forrest smiled and rubbed the Treecko’s head. ‘Good boy. I’ll be back soon.’

Treecko watched Forrest’s retreating form as it slowly disappeared over the dark horizon, then he scurried inside and began to play with the ball Forrest had made him. One question burned through the young Treecko’s mind, ‘if it’s not safe, why do you go?’

Treecko knew the answer, but that didn’t make it easier. So, Treecko played with his ball and tried not to think about it.

Across the darklands, Forrest’s destination came into view. Since the planet’s paralysis, food didn’t grow. Any existing food stores were quickly ravaged and very little could still be found on the planet’s surface. The only reliable spot to find food was in mystery dungeons, and even then it was always grimy, and almost worse than going hungry.

Mystery dungeons were strange places, with no logic to them. How the items appeared or the layout changed, Forrest didn’t know. Not that it mattered. As long as food kept appearing, he could survive another day, and he would survive. Provided he didn’t die first.

Aggresive Pokemon roamed mystery dungeons, competing for food and items, or having just deemed the dungeon their home. Unable to compete with their strength, Forrest found himself relying on speed and agility to escape. His policy was to get in, get out, maximise items with no complications. It was a practical, yet unrealistic, policy.

Forrest had returned to the dungeon and now strode through long, dark hallways. The grey floor looked as if it were made of clouds, but it crunched like dirt. Thick walls of red and purple stone lined the edge of the dungeon.

Exiting the hallway, Forrest cautiously stepped into a room, his gaze settling on what looked like a purple stone. He checked the coast was clear and dashed forwards, arm outstretched for the grimy food.

An explosion rocked the room and Forrest was sent careening backwards. He skidded across the ground, coming to a rough stop. His legs burned and itched with the feeling of grazed skin. A Mismagius hovered protectively over the food, and it’s eyes glowed blue as it prepared another Shadow Ball.

Forrest was lucky the first attack had missed him, but he wasn’t out of the woods yet. Standing slowly, he held up his hands innocently and began to back out of the room.

Mismagius watched cautiously, and held it’s attack, the ball hanging ominously before it. As Forrest reached the corridor he had entered from, Mismagius decided it didn’t want to take any chances, and launched the attack.

Seeing the Shadow Ball fire, Forrest dove into the corridor. He landed hard and covered his head, shards of debris raining down on him. Then, he was up and running, desperately fleeing for the next floor. Mismagius gave up the chase and devoured it’s prize.

‘Moving on,’ muttered Forrest, slowing his pace. He continued his meticulous dungeon crawl and came across the stairs without finding any more food.

Forrest stumbled on the stairs and rolled onto his back, suddenly finding himself lying on the next floor. From his position, Forrest could see a Drifloon watching him, it’s eyes wide.

Drifloon emitted a loud, high-pitched whine. The cry was answered a moment later as a Drifblim floated in.

Drifblim’s gaze narrowed and it spun, a ghostly wind bursting out from it. The Ominous Wind filled the room, slicing Forrest’s clothes and leaving countless cuts upon his bare skin.

Drifblim was blocking the only exit to the room and was already readying another attack. Forrest curled into a ball and ushered a silent plea that Treecko would forgive him. Yet, the attack never came.

A strange black Pokemon, with flowing white hair, dove into the room. It fired two quick attacks, knocking out the Drifloon and Drifblim effortlessly.

The Pokemon turned upon Forrest, it’s icy blue gaze piercing his soul. ‘I finally found you.’

Standing slowly, Forrest raised his hands. ‘I’m not looking for a fight.’

‘I hope not. You’re pitifully weak.’

Forrest didn’t dare take his eyes off the stranger. This Pokemon was too powerful to fight, and too swift to outrun. Just standing near it made Forrest feel heavy, tired.

‘I am Darkrai,’ said the stranger. ‘I mean you no harm.’

Floating backwards, Darkrai drifted into the hallway, beckoning Forrest to follow. Forrest debated the wisdom in following this creature of shadows, but figured he didn’t have much of a choice.

Forrest crept after the Pokemon and Darkrai, satisfied, turned and began to navigate the dungeon. Several times they were attacked, but Darkrai defeated the foes in an instant, leaving Forrest to wonder at it’s power.

As they went, Forrest kept his eyes peeled, and managed to claim a single piece of grimy food. After that, Darkrai hastened his escort and they soon found themselves outside the dungeon.

Standing at the mouth of an impossibly dark cave, Forrest nodded solemnly. ‘Thanks for your help. I’ll, uh, I’ll see you around?’

Darkrai stood impossibly still, his flowy body somehow without movement. Though, his eye seemed to quiver, almost as if he were tearing up.

‘Forrest, I had the most terrible dream.’

Forrest froze; he had never given his name. How could this Pokemon know it? The question quickly fell by the wayside as Forrest felt a tug at his heartstrings. The Pokemon’s voice, it carried such pain.

With a sigh, Forrest sat and began to draw in the dirt. ‘I know the feeling. I was convinced I was trapped in a nightmare once. Eventually, I realised I wasn’t. That it was reality.’

‘What happened?’

‘I’m not really sure.’ Forrest paused his drawing and gazed sadly upon the stick figure family before brushing it away. ‘I went to sleep one night. When I woke up, everyone I loved was gone. I don’t know how, but in an instant, I was alone.’

‘I didn’t know.’

Forrest couldn’t help but scoff. ‘Then, it happened again.’

‘Pardon?’

‘I was with my friend, Flip. I went to sleep, and when I woke, he was gone, and the world was like this.’

That was it, the straw that broke the Camerupt’s back. Vine and Forrest were one and the same. Flip’s brother had been beside him all this time, and Forrest had carried the loss of his entire species. So many family, friends, people he could never reclaim. His entire race wiped out and Forrest would never know why. No mercy, no closure, no peace.

Forrest had carried this pain all this time, and Flip had never known. Now, it broke his heart.

Darkrai darted to where Forrest sat and struck his ethereal finger through Forrest’s head. Forrest stilled, as if paused, unable to see or hear, and Darkrai wept.

‘I’m sorry! I failed you. Forgive me, brother! Please, forgive me.’ Darkrai howled his pain and wept until no more tears would come forth.

Eventually, Darkrai pulled his finger from Forrest’s mind and slipped into shadows, disappearing. Forrest was left with a roaring headache and words that seemed to flow into his mind.

‘Seek out the Time Gears. Return them to Temporal Tower. Restore the world, and make things right. Take this gift, the Dimensional Scream. It will help you.’

Clutching at his head, Forrest whimpered in pain, eyes clenched shut. When the torture finally ceased, Forrest looked about, only to find that Darkrai was gone, and that a gleaming red apple lay before him.

Forrest nearly drooled at the sight of the apple, but resisted it’s temptation. Reaching into his pocket, Forrest pulled out the Grimy Food, and ate it quickly. Forrest’s body was wracked with stinging pain as it’s ill effects rapidly spread.

Still, Forrest collected the apple and began the journey back. Every step was agony, poison shooting through his body likes hundreds of glass shards. There was no ignoring it, so, when Forrest eventually reached his ramshackle hut, he bit down upon his tongue.

Forrest strode in, smiled at Treecko, and handed the little lizard his apple. Treecko looked at the fruit in wonder, then glanced suspiciously at Forrest.

Forrest smiled and sat, leaning against the wall. ‘I found two, but I was so hungry I already ate mine. Go ahead!’

Needing no further prompting, Treecko tore voraciously into the apple, relishing it’s sweet juices.

Meanwhile, Forrest only tasted the warm blood spewing from where he’d bitten too hard upon his tongue. Still, he smiled. All the pain in the world couldn’t tempt him to ruin this moment for Treecko.