Plot Bunnies: Story 2 - Untitled

Hi all,

Here’s the next Plot Bunnies chapter. The story's premise revolves around an apocalyptic Pokemon world in which our main character awakens in the body of a Pokémon. He’s trapped in a cage, one of many Pokemon used for various nefarious purposes at a facility known simply as the Factory. Can he escape and forge his own path in the world?

Chapter 1

Devlin glanced up from his phone, the buzz of the bustling subway station echoing around him as he awaited the tardy train's arrival. An unusual delay for such a busy route. The restless crowd around him, who were craning their necks and grumbling loudly about the delay, shared his impatience. 

A woman stumbled into him, and she apologised profusely. He shifted nervously, unaccustomed to being in such a loud crowd. His anxiety was usually manageable, but being stuck on a platform with dozens of other people made it nearly impossible not to feel claustrophobic.

Usually, he would avoid taking the train, but his schedule didn’t allow him to drive an hour through rush hour traffic. As it was, he would be lucky to make it to his lecture on time.

His attention shifted back to his phone. He was reading about the new Pokemon: Sword and Shield game that had been announced. There were some new features that looked interesting, such as the new Dynamax transformation, which would add a new dynamic to combat. Dynamaxing dramatically increases a Pokémon's size, as well as changing the Pokémon's moves and increasing their max and current HP in battle according to their Dynamax level. Although it sounded interesting, the feature was only available for the game's new Pokemon. Perhaps this would change later, but he wasn’t holding his breath.

He was more interested in the new Pokemon. After scrolling through them, he concluded that the Pokemon's design continued to deteriorate with every new generation. While most designs looked lacklustre, others, like Impidimp and its evolution, stood out for their unique blend of fairy and dark types. As soon as he got his hands on the game, he was going to make sure to capture it.

Despite financial constraints, Devlin found solace in gaming, a bright spot amid life's challenges. He sometimes missed meals to sustain his hobby, but he felt the sacrifice was worth it. He liked the Pokemon games the most because he could spend hundreds of hours on one and never get tired of them. 

Devlin had never been one to believe in luck. From a young age, it seemed misfortune followed him like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over every aspect of his life. It was as if fate itself was making sure he lived up to his name. Devlin meant misfortune, a name he inherited from his Irish grandfather, who had immigrated to America when he was around the same age as him.

He grew up in a rough neighbourhood because his family was poor, and he faced adversity at every turn, from struggling to make ends meet to being constantly discriminated against and bullied at school. Despite his difficult circumstances, Devlin was determined to rise above his challenges. He threw himself into his studies, finding solace in books and knowledge. He managed to get a partial scholarship, which was a lifesaver because he couldn’t attend university otherwise.

But even at university, misfortune continued to plague Devlin. From financial struggles to a failed personal relationship, it seemed like nothing ever went his way. Yet, through it all, he remained resilient and determined to persevere.

His luck was changing for the better. He could feel it in his bones. Once this year was over, he would be able to graduate and begin looking for work that would lift him out of poverty.

Devlin felt a sudden, hard shove from behind. Before he could react, he stumbled and lost his balance, falling off the edge and onto the tracks below. Panic and fear gripped him as he tried to get up, but it was too late. The screeching sound of the approaching train became increasingly louder, drowning out his screams for help.

His life flashed before his eyes. In the fleeting moments before him, he saw a tapestry of moments that defined his journey: laughter from happy times mixed with shadows of hardship and sorrow. He couldn’t let it end like this, when he was on the verge of success. It was too unfair.

The train barreled down the tracks in an instant, its lights blinding him as it approached. Devin's heart pounded in his chest as he desperately attempted to crawl out of the way. The train struck him with a deafening impact, throwing him to the side as the speeding locomotive mangled his body.

The screams of horrified onlookers echoed throughout the station as they witnessed the man's tragic and brutal death. The man's life was snuffed out in an instant, his final moments filled with terror and despair as he met his untimely demise on the unforgiving metal rails.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

A sudden noise jolted Devlin out of unconsciousness—the creak of a heavy door swinging open. Blinking groggily, he struggled to make sense of his surroundings. The room was enveloped in darkness, pierced only by the light filtering in from the doorway. His viewpoint seemed oddly skewed, low to the ground, with metal bars obstructing his vision. The realisation that he was confined in a cage caused him to pause, his memory foggy about how he had ended up in this perplexing situation.

He attempted to fall back asleep, dismissing the bizarre scenario as a dream. The unsettling anomalies, however, refused to be ignored. The hard, uncomfortable metal beneath him, the noxious mix of unidentifiable odours assaulting his senses, and the cacophony of voices that erupted after the door opened all indicated that something was wrong.

Devlin strained to make sense of the snippets of conversation.

“—do you think they came to take us away to the slaughterhouse?”

“Where is my food? I’m so hungry.” 

“—likely. What other use do they have for us?”

"Turn off the lights. I need to sleep."

“—out of here! I can’t take it anymore!”

"Poor soul. Still adjusting to the Factory."

Who were these people and what were they talking about?

With a sudden jolt of alarm, Devlin sat up, his mind racing to piece together the fragments of his recent ordeal. The memories flooded back, sending shivers down his spine as he recalled the chilling moment he was pushed off the platform.

Questions whirled through his mind like a raging storm. Who pushed him off the platform? The sensation of hands on his back before his fall ruled out any accidental misstep—it was a deliberate act. 

As he sifted through potential suspects, his ex-girlfriend's possessive and threatening new boyfriend loomed large in his mind, a figure with a history of disturbing behaviour towards him.

Despite maintaining a distance from his girlfriend following their breakup, the boyfriend's constant warnings and confrontations had become a source of irritation. Had he underestimated the severity of the threats? 

All of his efforts came to an end when he took a dive off the train platform. How had he survived the fall, only to awaken confined in a cage? It was large enough for him to move around freely, but it still felt confining. There was a slot on the door, which he assumed was for a tray of some kind. 

Devlin approached the cage and grabbed onto the bars. He gasped when he caught sight of his body, softly illuminated by the light coming from the open doorway. His form was altered beyond belief—three pink fingers and a diminutive body that bore no resemblance to his former self. The surreal nature of his predicament left him reeling, questioning his very existence. Was this some bizarre reincarnation or a twisted nightmare?

"What in the world is happening?" Devlin's voice quivered as he rattled the bars.

A fleeting thought crossed his mind, a whisper of disbelief—no, that was impossible.

"Quiet down," a voice hissed. "You don’t want to draw attention to yourself like the others here."

Turning his head towards the source of the voice, Devlin recognised the cage next to him as the source of the cautionary words. But he couldn’t see who the voice belonged to.

Footsteps sounded on the concrete floor, and Devlin craned his neck to see outside of his cage. A man was walking slowly towards him, pulling a cart. The man pulled out a tray and slid it into the slot in one of the cages. It must be feeding time.

 Devlin huddled back in his cage as the man's legs appeared in front of him. The man bent down and inserted a small tray of food into his cage. He waited until the man had moved on before approaching to inspect the food. His nose wrinkled with disgust. The food was nothing more than an unrecognisable grey slop.

"I wonder if this food came from one of my comrades," the familiar voice muttered from the neighbouring cage.

“What do you mean?” Devlin asked.

“Have you lost your memory, Imp, or have you gone crazy? You have been here long enough to understand my meaning.”

Devlin didn’t respond. Ignoring the unappealing meal before him, he retreated to the depths of his cage. The weight of his confinement, as well as the mysteries surrounding his situation, weighed heavily on him, leaving him feeling uneasy and fearful.

What was he supposed to do next? Devlin sat there for a few minutes in silence before he noticed a strange itch in his mind, as if he were trying to recall a memory. Frowning, he shook his head to try and get rid of the sensation, but the feeling only continued to grow until it became impossible to ignore. He felt a compulsion wash over him, and he involuntarily opened his mouth and uttered a single word.

“Show Status!” 

A transparent screen appeared in front of him, suspended in mind-air, shocking him so much that he slammed his back against the back of the cage. 

“What in the hell?”

Devlin reached out and poked the screen, and his hand phased right through it. Frowning, he started reading the information on the screen, hoping it would clue him into the strange phenomenon.

==============

Pokemon Name: Impidimp  

Type: Dark/Fairy

Level: 1 AP: 0 

Experience Points: 0 Next Level: 100

HP: 36/36 (45)

Energy: 44/44 (55)

Attack: 8 (10)

Defence: 8 (10)  

Special Attack: 8 (10)

Special Defence: 8 (10)

Speed: 8 (10)

Special Attribute

Perception: 8 (10)

Ability

•  Power of the Gamer 

Held Item:

• None

Status Condition:

• Malnourished: (Attributes -20%)

Moves:

• Confide (Normal-type, Status, Power 0, Cost 5)

• Fake Out (Normal-type, Physical, Power 40, Cost 7 )

• Bite (Dark-type, Physical, Power 60, Cost 10)

Affinities:

• Normal 30%

• Dark 35%

• Fairy 30%

==============

As he read through the information, he saw that the screen was showing him details on his parameters as a Pokemon. It displayed things like his health, energy, attributes, and moves he currently had. Devlin tried to wrap his mind around the insane situation he found himself in, but he found it hard. Who had ever been in this situation before? Maybe transmigrating into a Pokemon was a regular occurrence for recently deceased people.

“So, I am a Pokemon,” Devlin muttered. “With some kind of gamer system? Fuck, my back luck has followed me into the…”

His voice trailed off. Did he really come to the Pokemon World? It was the only conceivable conclusion he could come up with. Furthermore, he was an Impidimp, something that he had been checking out before he died. Was it merely a coincidence?

He was somehow a part of a virtual reality game or real life simulation. The itch in his mind made sense now, as it was like a prompt to check his status within the game. Were there other commands that he used to give him more information? Just as he thought that, another itch appeared and had him blurting out more commands.

“Dismiss! Show Current Quests!” 

The screen disappeared, and another appeared in its place. 

==============

Main Quest: Breakout

Description: Devlin finds himself reincarnated as an Impidimp and imprisoned in a cage within the mysterious Factory. Determined to escape his confinement and uncover the secrets of his new surroundings, Devlin must navigate through the treacherous facility. It's a race against time as he strives to break free before his captors become aware of his escape attempt.

Main Objectives:

• Escape the Factory: Break out of the cage and navigate through the various levels of the Factory to freedom.

• Uncover the Factory's Secrets: Delve deeper into the Factory's history, purpose, and the sinister forces at play (optional).

• In Allies We Trust: Form alliances with the other imprisoned Pokemon (optional). 

• Harness Your Abilities: Experiment and explore the unique powers of the gamer system (optional).

• Discover the layout: Find a map of the building's layout to aid in your escape plan (optional).

Hint: Use the "Show Skills" command to reveal some additional perks.

Time Limit: 2 Days 

Quest Difficulty: High 

Rewards:

• 1000 experience points; 3 Potions; 1 Ether.

• +10% dark affinity 

• Unlock a new special attribute: Charisma

• New skill learned: Nightvision.

• 500 experience points.

Failure: Do I really have to point it out to you? Fine. A permanent visit to the slaughterhouse. 

==============

Devlin frowned. It sounded like a tall order to complete even one objective. He didn’t even know how to break out of the cage. 

He dismissed the screen and approached the bars to look out. The man had just finished serving the food and was heading for the exit. 

"Wait!" Devlin's voice echoed through the dimly lit room.

The man halted his movements, swivelling to meet Devlin's gaze with a detached expression.

"Could you please let me out?" Devlin's voice held a hint of desperation. "I shouldn't be here."

Ignoring Devlin's request, the man continued pushing his cart out of the room, and the door shut behind him. The room was plunged into darkness.

"That wasn't very helpful," Devlin muttered under his breath, frustration simmering within him.

His neighbour's voice cut through the silence, a touch of amusement colouring his words. "Quite the talker, aren't you? What did you hope to achieve by speaking to him? It’s not like he can understand what you are saying.”

Devlin grunted in response. "I had to try."

"Feeling trapped, I see. I can't blame you for that.”

“How do I get out of here? Surely these cages aren’t sturdy enough to hold all of us here?”

“Don’t even think about it. These cages are specifically designed to suppress our energy, and they are strong enough to withstand physical damage from the likes of us." 

Devlin initially did not believe him. He banged violently on the bars, attempting to break them with his fists. It felt both strange and natural for him to use his new body. Despite his low attributes and small body size, he felt slightly stronger than when he was human. Even a scrub like him could probably take out the average human without any problems.

After failing to damage the bars, he felt around for the lock in the darkness and found the keyhole. He tried inserting his finger into it, but it was way too big. If he only had a piece of wire, he might be able to pick open the lock. Defeated, he slumped back, accepting his current situation for the time being.

Since he could not escape for the time being, he focused his attention on learning more about his neighbour.

“What’s your name?” Devlin asked.

"I don't share my name with just anyone," his neighbour replied curtly.

"Make one up," Devlin suggested.

“Fine. Call me Bill.”

"Bill, huh? Not very imaginative," Devlin teased lightly.

“There’s nothing wrong with it!”

Devlin changed the subject. “Why don’t they keep us in pokeballs? It should be more secure than keeping us inside a cage.”

Bill snorted. “You're not very bright, are you? Pokeballs are a luxury they can't afford to waste on the likes of us."

Devlin's brows furrowed. “I thought pokeballs were fairly common.”

For a moment, there was silence. “Forget it. If you can’t even remember that much, there is no point in explaining it to you.”

Devin tried to continue speaking to Bill, but the Pokemon refused to speak. It seemed like he would have to figure things out on his own. 

“What was that command word again?” Devlin muttered.

He snapped his fingers. “I got it. Show skills.”

Another screen appeared in front of him. Conveniently, it was bright enough that it provided enough illumination to light up his cage.  

==============

Skills Acquired: 1

Skill: Open Lock | Level: 1 | Experience Points: 0/300 | Type: Utility/Active  | Energy Cost: 20

Description: The "Open Lock" skill is a critical utility skill in the adventurer's toolkit, enabling them to overcome locked doors, chests, and other barriers that stand in their way. As the skill is levelled up, the character gains the expertise needed to tackle progressively more intricate and challenging locks.

==============

"I should've checked this earlier," Devlin grumbled, frustration evident in his voice. "Now, how do I use it?"

Devlin placed his hand on the lock and pronounced the skill name aloud. A satisfying click followed, and the lock released, allowing the door to swing open. A triumphant grin spread across Devlin's face as he leaped out of the cage. He kept the screen open to light his way.

As the onlookers witnessed Devlin's escape from confinement, a clamour of voices broke out. Among the chaotic chatter, one recurring topic stood out: how Devlin had managed to free himself from his captivity. He ignored the commotion and focused on the adjacent cage.

Inside, a creature resembling a white duckling caught his eye. Its features included a yellow beak, blue eyes, teal webbed feet, and a distinctive teal crest atop its head, adorned with a feathery tuft and a unique curving white line resembling a wave.

Above the Pokemon's head, a display revealed some brief details: Quaxly Level 7

“Well, I see now why you called yourself Bill,” Devlin smirked. 

Bill's reaction was one of astonishment. "How did you manage to break free, Imp?"

He pursed his lips. “Call me Devlin.”

"Nope, you'll always be an Imp. So, now that you've escaped your confines, what's your next move?"

"Escape, naturally," Devlin replied nonchalantly.

Amid Bill's doubtful quack, Devlin reassured him, "Don't fret, little duck. I'm going to explore a bit. Who knows, I might even return to rescue you

So, what do you think? I wanted to go a bit further, but this is a good enough stopping point for the time being. 

Thanks for reading.