It was a wonderful, almost idyllic day.
The waves gently lapped against the sand on the beach, leaving a soft salty fragrance in the air. Warm rays of sunlight illuminated the sea water, making it shimmer and look much pure than anything I'd ever seen.
Some rather cartoonish crabs (or maybe I should call them lobsters?) were lurking on the beach, and what I could only rationalize as Tentacools swam peacefully in the crystal-clear waters, like the pests they were. Seagulls I assumed were Wingulls squawked happily in the distance, occasionally accompanied by a much deeper squawk that I expected to be a Pelipper.
Nothing seemed strange, at least by the standards of this world. Nothing seemed out of place… except the half-buried corpse of a young woman lying next to a toy shovel.
Aaand, that was me. Both were me. To be precise, the body was what I had once been, and the earth under the shovel in what I had become.
With a small shake, the pile of dirt in which the toy shovel sat on rose, forming the amorphous figure of a slime… of sand… with a large hole in its center and white stones where the eyes would be… Okay, maybe I didn't look like a slime at all, but the bases were the same. Just a bunch of things that, inexplicably, formed a living being.
Or wasn't I?
Shaking my undefined head, I focused my attention on the decaying body in front of me, wondering for the eighteenth time since I woke up on that beach how this had happened.
It had been a normal day, for the most part. I'd stayed up until the wee hours of the morning playing the latest Pokemon game; the Scarlet version. A very productive way to spend my vacation, no doubt.
Toning down the sarcasm, the game wasn't as terrible as the reviews made it out to be, though I don't think it was worth the price. The graphics and animations looked like they wanted to stab my eyes, bugs were definitely a thing, and the overall level of polish was… sloppy, if I wanted to be generous (I'll never forget that sandwich-eating animation).
However, at least I had fun for a whole week, and that was something that most of the fangames and hackroms I'd played had never achieved. That last battle against the professor/AI/paradise protection protocol/final boss had been a very refreshing and somewhat challenging experience, leaving me with a smile on my face.
As the game's credits rolled, I went to find a quick late-night snack before going to sleep, humming the theme that was playing from the speakers of Nintendo's best console; my PC. Unfortunately, my plans were cut short when, as I opened the fridge, an iridescent ring appeared under my feet and left me, ironically, falling from the sky like in the opening of digimon on the beach of an abandoned island.
After that, I only remember letting out a long list of expletives aimed at a God I hoped would be benevolent, my head crashing into the sand, everything going black (not just because of my best ostrich performance) and discovering, to my horror and fascination, that I had turned into a Sandygast… right next to my own dead body.
That hadn't been a very good first impression, to be honest. 2/10, at least the views while falling from the clouds had been nice, although it was a bit dark to fully appreciate them.
Refocusing, I stared into the hollow, lifeless eyes of what recently had been my head and considered my options. I hadn't paid much attention to the island during my impromptu flight, with everything submerged in the darkness of the night and me being a bit busy cursing a certain Cosmic Llama and a certain Portal-loving Djinn, but from what I recall, this island didn't have a single building, and the most striking thing I could see was a large lake in its center.
So, I was stranded on a desert island, transformed into a Pokemon weak to water, without any possibility of fly or swim and with a whopping 15 base speed points; slower than, literally, a rock with arms.
Wonderful.
Not wanting to see only the bad side of… death, I guess, I tried to see the positive side. Being in the 'Pokemon World' seemed like a dream come true, to be honest. Giving up my lonely, monotonous office girl life in exchange for exploring a fantasy world, full of magical creatures and amazing places, was a pretty good deal in my books.
Sure, I still have to see how such a world translates into harsh real life, but even the Tentacools seemed super chill…
Suppressing a shiver that I was pretty sure a pile of sand shouldn't be able to have, I tried to come up with some kind of plan for the future. If there was one good thing about being a Sandygast it was that I didn't need to eat or drink, at least not in a conventional way, so my continued survival was not in danger.
After all, almost anything could be classified as my food, since the world itself was alive. Wisps of what seemed like aura emanated from anywhere I could imagine, permeating everything. Water, earth, air, plants… each element was filled with that strange life energy that made my continued existence possible.
Although, unfortunately, that was only sustainable if I did nothing.
Every little movement required a bit of this energy, even staying in my standard Pokemon form did. Absorbing this energy, ironically, also cost a bit of it, so the efficiency was almost negative.
Seeing that, in my current state I only had two options. Actively 'hunt' with my poor mobility, or go into my pile of sand form and wait for who knows how long, all in order to accumulate enough energy to be something more than a misshapen sand castle on a deserted beach.
Both methods were terrible, but one was clearly more likely to succeed than the other, as well as being much safer and morally acceptable.
Resigned, I finished burying my own corpse with my plastic shovel and I placed myself on top of the makeshift grave, seeking to satiate my new instinct to protect my old shell. After making sure everything was buried properly, I prepared to begin my super serious ancient Shaolin training, collapsing into a pile of sand and gathering that vital energy within me, using my shovel as a channel.
I don't know how much time passed, the days became blurred at some point, although it wasn't as boring as I initially thought.
From time to time, an unsuspecting Corphish would wander into my ever-expanding Absorb-tion range, and I'd get a taste of their energy before they unleashed the famous Joestar technique, running as fast as their tiny legs would carry them. I soon discovered a little trick; emerging from underground in their faces always Astonish them, leaving the crustaceans stunned long enough to Absorb a little more than usual.
Using those 'moves' consumed quite a bit of my collected energy, but the aura I extracted from the friendly lobsters more than made up for it, and each time I used those instinctive but still supernatural Pokemon powers, they consumed less and grew stronger. During the periods when nothing was happening, I tried to figure out how to use that vital energy for something more than just survive, to learn how actively do the things that my nonexistent brain knew how to do innately.
That had good results.
Practicing and concentrating more than I've ever done in my previous life, I managed to form small cyclones of Sand Tomb. That particular move was incredibly useful for a trap-based predatory creature like myself, since it immobilized the poor cartoonish lobsters, allowing me to Absorb even more of their aura before they fled in terror.
I was getting stronger and stronger, and it wasn't unpleasant at all. In fact, the feeling was somewhat addictive; the buildup of power seemed to be ingrained in the minds of each Pokemon, and I didn't seem to be the exception despite my peculiar past. That's why I wasn't too surprised when a particularly large Corphish challenged me to a battle.
No, seriously. He said to me, "Cor corphish cor, corphi-cor!"
Wise words from a venerable red crustacean.
My Poke-mind automatically translated it to something like, "leave my brothers alone, ugly Ghost!" but I was unable to take Mr. Krabs seriously. Maybe I should have, since the Bubble Beam he fired at me really hurt.
At least it served to prove that games' abilities were a thing here, sort of. The area of my body that the bubbles hit absorbed the water, becoming denser, firmer, and indirectly increasing my defense. Straining my 'eyes', I could sense that something else was happening there as well, but I had no idea what.
Seeking to focus on more pressing matters, I tore my gaze away from my hurt but hardened sand and fixed it on Mr. Krabs. Seeing that he was serious, I didn't hold back and unleashed my Absorb at full power, which at this point I was pretty sure had turned into Mega Drain. With practiced ease, my Sand Tomb enveloped him as well, preventing the lobster from running away or taking distance to blast me with another Bubble Beam.
Leaving only one path open, the crustacean lunged at me with determination. Dark energy pulsed through his claw, swinging it towards my 'head' in what I assumed was an attempt to Knock Off me. Knowing his plan, I further Harden the previously wet area of my body, making it even more resilient and using it as a shield to hold off the surprised Corphish.
Taking advantage of the opening, I also improvised a Sand Attack with what I'd learned from my experiments with aura, irritating the eyes of my reptantian opponent. Desperate, half-blinded and almost exhausted, both of Mr. Krabs' pincers lit up with a brilliant white glow, delivering a powerful Double Hit from both sides that passed through me… like the little Ghost that I was, leaving me unharmed.
Now completely exhausted, the unexpectedly dramatic lobster fell onto his stomach, limp, and said, "Cor cor… Corphish…"
…
Okay, I swear on my shovel this will be the last time I make that joke, but it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Now seriously, he (don't ask me how I know it's a 'he', I just know) said, "Please, take my life if you want, but don't involve my brothers in this…"
At that, I stared at him for a few moments, stunned, and I could only say:
"What are you talking about, dummy?"
"Don't seek revenge against my family?" he asked in turn, also sounding confused.
"Why would I do that? And why should I end your life?" I responded, sounding even more confused and tilting a little my head… torso… whatever.
A breeze blew some sand nearby, accentuating the awkward silence.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "Bad decisions have been made."
"True," the crustacean murmured, seeming to have regained enough strength to stand up. "I thought that… I guess it doesn't really matter. I shouldn't have been so hasty. I'm sorry for attacking you immediately without first trying to talk."
"Apologies accepted. I shouldn't have absorbed so much energy from your brothers either… or used Sand Tomb on them. That was just excessive."
"Yeah," the Corphish agreed, happy to see that I could admit my mistakes too, and raised a claw towards me. "So… friends?"
"Friends," I agreed as well, shaking his 'hand' with my deformed appendix and trying to smile with the gap that was my mouth. "Anyway, why did you attack me so suddenly? It's not that I didn't deserve it, but I don't think my acts bothered you enough to justify such a hostile attitude. It's not like I killed anyone or anything, you know."
"In retrospect, it's a bit silly…" he began, sounding a little hesitant, trying to find the right words. "You're a Sandygast, right?"
"In shovel and sand!" I exclaimed, curious to know where the conversation was going on.
"I don't want to offend, but, for what I've heard, your kind are known for destroying entire beaches, absorbing all the life that inhabits them and, eventually, becoming Beach Nightmares," Mr. Krabs explained, looking much calmer, although still alert. "When my brothers told me that such a monster had appeared on the coast, I had no choice but to gather courage and try to stop you before it was too late."
"Honestly… that sounds pretty stupid," I blurted out without thinking.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm not talking about your resolution, that sounds amazing!" I clarified to the offended lobster. "I'm talking about absorbing all the life on the beach. That would be counterproductive and just plain stupid."
"What is that due to?" asked the now curious Corphish, taking a seat in the sand when he saw that the conversation was going to be long.
"My kind needs living things on the beach to thrive. Eliminating them all wouldn't be the end of us, but it would make our growth and well-being almost impossible. Also, not to mention the obvious moral problems that would entail, devouring or driving away all life on the beach would be detrimental at best… and an absolute hell at worst."
"Uh?"
"Just imagine. You are practically an immortal being, restricted to a fairly small area by limitations in mobility. It would be incredibly boring to be there, alone, for the rest of eternity, wouldn't it?"
"Now that you mention it… I wouldn't want to be in your place, Sandygast," he said, more thoughtful and reflective than a lobster had any right to be.
That made me think.
Since I arrived in the Poke-world, I'd tried to keep myself busy with the magic of the place and with some good, old acid humor, but I couldn't stop thinking about what my existence had become. My life as an office girl had been lonely, but this one was shaping up to be even worse in that regard. I didn't want to think about what I'd lost, as I didn't want to end depressed in my pit of loneliness forever, but I couldn't help but worry.
My memories were also stranger than I'd initially thought.
On one hand, my personality and wit seemed intact, at least that I could check… which wasn't saying much, since it was really hard to check something as abstract as one's own personality changes without other people noticing them, but I would have to settle for now. I could also remember that Corphish learned Night Slash at level 28 and had a decent 65 base defense stat, but I doubted if that would be very useful for now, since I had no way to verify my information.
On the other hand, I couldn't remember my family, or my friends, or even my own name… although at least I could fix that last one.
"Please, call me Sandy," I replied after a short awkward silence, regaining my spirit a little.
"So, Sandy," he began, trying out my new name and hesitating a bit before deciding to change the subject. "Will you please stop sucking the life out of my family?"
"That's a hard one to answer," I evaded. "I can promise to stop using Sand Tomb on them and limit the amount I drain from each one, but I can't stop doing it completely."
"I figured as much, but it was worth a try. It's like asking you to stop eating…" he said with a sigh. "That doesn't seem fair of my part, there must be a better solution."
"If you bring me berries, I guess I could feed on them. I'm not agile enough to get them on my own," I stated, pointing with my sandy appendage at the forest that surrounded the beach, as well as the juicy fruits of what looked like palm trees. "I could also collapse into a pile of sand and absorb the life energy from the environment… although that wouldn't help me achieve my goals."
"Goals?" Mr. Krabs asked, curious about my dreams. "Do you have goals beyond just live?"
"Of course!" I replied, almost indignant. "I want to get stronger, evolve, and eventually leave this beach to explore the world."
"I see, I see. It sounds like what any Pokemon with the aspiration of having a Trainer would say…" he nodded, confirming the existence of humans in this world and easing some of my doubts about whether I'd ended up in the Mystery Dungeon spin-off. "Wait a minute. There's something I've been wondering since our battle. Are you a Trained Pokemon?"
"Why would you think that?" I answered with my own question, intrigued to know how he had come to that conclusion.
"There are many reasons. The first is that there has never been a Sandygast on this beach. In fact, we only learned what you are thanks to a gossipy Wingull… I'll have to ask her some questions later…" he muttered, ominously. "The second is that you don't act like a wild Pokemon, you're much more civilized than most of my siblings in fact. The third is that you have a name, which is quite rare for a Pokemon without a Trainer. Lastly, the fourth and most damning in my eyes; you fight too well for a wild Pokemon, even more so if you're as young as you look and sound."
"Uh…" I sighed, thinking of a way to argue with his claims. "The first could be due to misinformation, and there's always a first time for everything. The second is that I have some common sense and basic decency, thank you very much. The third… I literally just made up my name, believe it or not. And the fourth… I'm a super genius of battles?"
"Very humble, isn't it?" he said, snapping his claws as he let out a hearty laugh. "I can buy the first, second and third reason from you, Sandy, but not the fourth.
"Not to brag, but I am the strongest Corphish in my colony, so I am quite aware of my capabilities. I have the Type advantage, if I'm not mistaken, and I've also been the first to attack, but all of that wasn't enough to even make you break a sweat. You beat me in such a one-sided way that I find hard to believe you haven't been trained, so, where is your Trainer?"
"I don't really have a 'Trainer', it's just that my circumstances are… somewhat unique."
"Tell me about them, then. We have aaall day."
"…Fine…" I gave in. "I think it will be easier if I just show you something, but you have to promise me that you will stay calm and let me explain things before you do anything, understood?"
"Crystalline, Captain," he replied, making a mocking salute with his right claw. However, I could see that he only did it to reassure me, as the seriousness in his eyes was impossible to hide, and the glow in his aura didn't lie.
Hesitating one last time, I wondered if showing him my corpse was really a good idea. On the one side, this poor Corphish didn't have to bear my far-fetched origin story, and I didn't owe him anything either. On the other side… he was the first being in this world who had stopped for a moment to listen to me, despite the initial conflict, and he had literally asked for it, so he couldn't complain about my unconventional methods of explaining things…
Dispelling my doubts, I stepped aside and, using my increasingly powerful sand-bending, I dug up what was left of my corpse, much to Mr. Krabs's surprise and horror. Of my old body, only the bones remained, which gleamed under the intense rays of the sun, much more polished and clean than they should have been after being dug out of the sand.
Had it been so long? It must have only been a little over a week, right? Had my indiscriminate use of Absorb affected my corpse? Where had my pajamas gone? I know they were biodegradable, but isn't this too fast? All of them questions that would never find their answer.
"Holy Arceus, Sandy! Would it have killed you to say something before pulling a damn corpse out of the ground?!" the Corphish shrieked, scampering back and forth before freezing in place. "Wait, those are human bones. Was that your Trainer?! Sandy, what did you do?!"
As much as I delighted in his terror (which was worrying, but Ghost-stuff, I guess), I felt I needed to clear this up before it got out of control.
"Calm down, Mr. Krabs. You promised me you'd listen to me before you did anything."
"Mr. Krabs?" he asked, replacing much of his panic with confusion.
"Oops, did I say that out loud? Anyway, she wasn't my Trainer," I said, pointing at the pile of bones with my misshapen sand appendage. "She… She was me."
…
"What?"