Walking
Jared waved at her as she made her way west up the hill. “Yeah, you too.” His mind was stuck on the whole ‘Mayor’ thing. So, I’m a mayor all of the sudden? Is that because I’m a Lugia? This was a degree of separation greater than the other universes where he was anthropomorphic. He hadn’t been the mayor of anything in any of those. Was his name still Jared/Jasmine here? Did anyone have names, or were they the name of their Pokémon like in the show and the games? Every week it’s something new that I can’t explain. Whatever laws and intricacies he would have to deal with in this world, it was much preferable to being a sleazy fisherman’s selkie wife.
He wasn’t going to figure anything out by standing in the doorway of his house. There was a whole village for him to explore, one he was apparently the leader of. He hopped off the front porch, dusting the pads of his feet with the dirt of the road which fed life into the settlement. He trudged up the hill where the Meowth lady had gone, hearing the distant murmur of civilization on the other side of its crest. Only halfway there and he was made painfully aware of his arms’ immensity. His legs started to ache, and a sweat broke out across his brow. Geez. I think as the mayor I can afford a car or something. But they might not have cars. I don’t know, a carriage.
The focus on his fatigue was done upon reaching the hill’s summit where the rest of the village greeted him. Much unlike the secluded traffic circle where his home was, there thrived a community of Pokémon walking and talking about, living their lives and enjoying each other’s company. The road split into two avenues, each one lined on both ends by a strip of homes and businesses attended by busy Pokémon folk. A Machamp swept the patio in front of his store. A Flaaffy teacher herded her class of schoolchildren down the street. One Rhydon was leaning back against a house, chatting with his two friends, a Grovyle and an Infernape. They all possessed bipedal forms and acted like real people. From the few conversations he was close enough to hear, Jared could tell that they all spoke English like he did. Not sure what I expected. I guess I can’t shake the thought that Pokémon should just say their names.
One fellow, a Charmeleon carrying along a grocery bag, passed by and noticed the gormless Jared standing there. “Hey, Jared!” he said with a friendly wave before coming over.
Jared panicked a little. Oh God, I don’t know anyone’s name. How am I supposed to recognize anyone here? Jared gave a forced smile and waved back. “Hey there!”
The Charmeleon’s amiable smile faded once he got close to him. “You alright there? You look out of breath and you’re sweating.”
“Oh! Yeah, I’m fine. I just…” Jared played it off by pointing over his shoulder with his thumb. “Just need to walk up that hill more often, I guess.” He cringed on the inside. I probably walk it every day.
Written by TheGreatJaceyGee on 23 August 2025
The end (for now)