Pokémon dungeon

Under the dim glow of a flickering streetlight, a boy huddled in the shadows of a forgotten corner of the city. 

The streets whispered stories of bustling lives, but for him, they offered nothing but cold concrete and emptiness. 

Kay pulled his threadbare coat tighter around his thin frame, the chill of the night sinking into his bones. He wasn't afraid of the dark; he had lived in it for as long as he could remember. 

The world had forgotten him long ago. At five, he lost his parents in an accident he barely remembered, and with them, any sense of belonging. 

The orphanage had given him food and a roof but little else. By eighteen, he had been cast out and told to make a life for himself.

Life, however, had other plans. 

Kay was invisible now, a shadow among shadows. He had long stopped counting the days since he last slept in a bed, felt warm, or ate more than scraps. The nights blurred into one another, filled with endless thoughts and haunting silence. 

Tonight, however, felt different. 

The city seemed quieter than usual, the air heavier. Kay closed his eyes without knowing that it was his last night in this world.

***

As Kay opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the soft embrace of a warm bed cradling him. 

The feeling was so unfamiliar that his first instinct was to recoil. Blinking groggily, he squinted against the gentle glow of a shiny room. 

The walls shimmered faintly, reflecting light from an unseen source. The bedding beneath him was smooth and soft, unlike the rough, cold ground he had known for years. 

He sat up slowly, his breath hitching as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings. Was this a dream? He rubbed his eyes once, twice, then a third time, expecting the illusion to shatter. But the room remained, as real and solid as the ache in his chest. 

For a fleeting moment, Kay thought he might be dead, and this was some version of the afterlife. 

The thought was both terrifying and strangely peaceful. But just as he began to settle into that belief, a soft knock interrupted his spiraling thoughts. 

The door creaked open, and a young woman stepped inside. She was radiant, her presence filling the room with warmth. 

Her long hair shimmered like sunlight, and her eyes sparkled with a kindness Kay had never known. Her smile was soft and bright, like the first ray of dawn after a storm. 

"How is my son this morning?" she asked, her voice gentle and filled with affection. "Did you sleep well?" 

Kay froze. The words hung in the air, strange and disorienting. 'My son?' His head began to throb, an ache so sharp it made him wince. 

The woman's voice stirred something deep within him, unlocking a door he hadn't known existed.

Memories not from his life on Earth, but from somewhere else rushed into his mind like a torrent. 

He grasped his head as images flashed before him: running through a sunlit field as a child, a warm embrace from this woman, laughter echoing in a cozy home. 

Her name floated to the surface of his mind 'Reina'. She was his mother. And then, more fragments emerged; a tall, strong man with a booming laugh named 'Max'. His father. 

Kay's breathing quickened as the memories settled into place, fitting together like pieces of a puzzle. 

He wasn't on Earth anymore. This world was something else, something unfamiliar yet strangely comforting. 

And in this world, his name was still Kay, but he wasn't the Kay who had spent years surviving on the streets. Here, he was loved. 

*** 

Kay was only five years old when he arrived in this world. For three years, he adjusted to his new surroundings. 

He cherished the affection of his parents, something he had never known before. Then, when Kay was eight, his family grew. 

His mother gave birth to a baby girl; Kay's little sister. The household buzzed with joy and love, and for the first time, Kay felt truly at home. 

Years passed, and Kay settled into his routine. By the time he turned thirteen, life in this world felt completely normal. But everything changed when the gates began to appear. 

Out of nowhere, mysterious portals began to open across the world. From these gates emerged terrifying creatures; beasts that defied imagination. 

The creatures varied in size and power. Some were small, but others were enormous and created chaos wherever they went. 

Humanity's weapons proved ineffective against these monsters, except for the weaker ones. 

Cities fell into chaos, and people fled to hideouts, seeking refuge from the onslaught. 

Kay's city was not spared. Some gates appeared, though fortunately, they was all small ones, and the creatures that emerged were just small ones, and the military managed to contain the threat, at least for now. 

Still, fear gripped the population. Families, including Kay's, were forced to abandon their homes and seek safety in underground shelters that were prepared for nuclear attacks. 

As Kay and his family ran through the streets toward the nearest hideout with the guidance of the army, a gate opened right in front of them. 

For a moment, panic seized their group, as they were facing the big white gate. But, happily soldiers were there to intercept the threat. 

As Kay's family and the other families changed the road to another one with the guidance of one of the soldiers, the gate shimmered ominously, and from it emerged the first creature; a small, purple rat with white fur on its underside. Two sharp teeth jutted out from its mouth, giving it a menacing appearance despite its size. 

As they were running Kay took a glance back to see the creature that would appear from this mysterious gate. 

What he saw made his heart pounding. The creature was eerily familiar. Memories from his days in the orphanage flooded back. 

The creature looked exactly like the rat Pokémon (Rattata). Kay couldn't believe his eyes. 

He blinked, rubbed his eyes, and looked again. There was no mistake. It wasn't just a random rat. It was a Rattata, a creature from his old world's games and stories. 

As the soldiers engaged the Rattata, Kay's mind raced. Was it a coincidence? Or was there a connection between this world and his previous one? 

The thought gnawed at him, even as they reached the safety of the hideout. While his family huddled together, Kay sat apart, lost in thought. The image of the Rattata lingered in his mind. 

Moments later, Kay sat with his family in the shelter, listening intently to the radio for updates about the outside world. 

Reporters described the chaos, detailing battles against the creatures and recounting their unique abilities. 

Each description sent a chill down Kay's spine. The more he listened, the more certain he became: these creatures were Pokémon; the same ones from the series he loved in his youth. 

Days turned into weeks, with families huddled in shelters, relying solely on the radio for news. 

Over time, Kay pieced together a clearer picture of the world outside. Cities where large gates had appeared were obliterated. 

One week after the disaster, no survivors were reported from these places, and no one knew what was the fate of humanity there. 

Among the creatures mentioned in the broadcasts the names Kay could guess were Sandshrew, Ponyta, Primeape, Pinsir, and Persian. 

Hearing that these names created this chaos brought Kay no comfort. If these were only the weaker creatures, he dreaded the thought of what might come next. 

The military's strength dwindled as more soldiers fell in battle. Humanity's hope dimmed with each passing day. 

Then, exactly a month after the gates first appeared, a chilling announcement spread across the airwaves. 

All the gates around the world had broken open, releasing even more powerful monsters into the world. 

Each gate released in addition to the other monsters one creature, far stronger; this creature seemed to be the leader of the herd. 

The news sent waves of fear through the shelters. Reports of gates breaking simultaneously across the globe only deepened the sense of despair. 

Kay's heart sank as he realized the world's fragile balance had shattered completely. 

And yet, he couldn't help but feel that his connection to these creatures held the key to humanity's survival. The question was, what could he do about it?

To be continued...