When I opened my eyes finally, I felt like I must still be dreaming. My head was foggy, and I had trouble concentrating.

"Ugh... Where am I?"

The world around me was a void, shifting colors as I floated in empty space.

"Ah good, you're finally awake."

"Who said that!?" Head whipping around left and right, but I saw no one. "Where am I? What's going on?"

"To put it bluntly, you're dead."

"WHAT!?"

"Calm yourself, human," His powerful voice commanded. A light appearing before me, "Yes, you took a nasty fall on your way off Campus... And passed away some time later in the ER."

I felt my heart sink, some details coming back to my foggy mind. "I... I remember the fall." It was winter, some of the stone steps outside were still covered in ice. All it took was one misplaced foot. "Oh man..." Of course, maybe I was still dreaming in the ER, and this was all just-

"I can assure you this is no dream." Did he just read my mind? "Yes, I did indeed read your mind." Awesome, totally not creepy.

"So I died, but why am I here?" I questioned, looking away from the light to my surroundings. "Is this like... Purgatory? Limbo? Am I on my way to heaven?"

"Well, you could be... But, after reviewing your life during the judgement process, you were handed off to me to give you another option." The light in front of me suddenly took shape. It was one I immediately recognized, one that made me absolutely sure I was dreaming.

"ARCEUS?!" The "God" of pokemon or whatever? There was no way this was really happening. But he looked so real, not like a 3D model or 2D sprite! "H-Hold on, what? Why are you- But, pokemon aren't- I am so confused!"

"As you should be!" Why did he sound so enthusiastic about that part? "During review, the... Watchers of the Metaverse decided perhaps that you deserved a second chance."

Metaverse? Wait, hold on. "Second chance?" I repeated, gripping that strand of hope. "You mean I get to come back to life? I can live again?"

"Well, not in your old life no... However," Lights around me flashed and I saw images of beautiful landscapes and other Pokemon appearing all around me. "I am offering to revive you, in the world of Pokemon!"

My heart skipped a beat, my eyes no doubt lighting up. "The world of... Pokemon..." It was like every dream I had as a child and a teenager come true. The same dream every person that played a pokemon game had probably. I'd get to be a pokemon trainer! I could put all my years of useless pokemon knowledge to use! I could probably meet a bunch of cute girls too! "That sounds AMAZING!" I didn't care if this wasn't real, I would ride out this dream until I woke up!

"Then you are on board? Excellent," Arceus released a low, rumbling chuckle that shook the void. The images around us disappeared, "I will get you on your way shortly, but there are some questions I must ask you first."

"Uh, okay, sure?" A small wait, but whatever. I could be patient.

"Very well, let us begin." He nodded, "First, do you want to be taller some day?"

Okay, so maybe this was the part of the dream where everything took a super weird turn. "Uh, yeah I guess."

"Alright, the people at a table near you are singing Happy Birthday very loudly, what do you do?"

"Probably walk away and find a quieter table..."

"Do you prefer to be busy or have a lot of free time?"

Well I am- was a college student that's future depended on working hard so... "Being busy."

"Do you like Karaoke?"

"Y... Yes..." The guiltiest of pleasures.

"Do you think its important to aim to be the best?"

"I guess so, yeah."

"Hmm, interesting... Final question, are you a boy or a girl?"

Was... Was it hard to tell? "I'm a boy of course, are you blind?"

"I just didn't want to assume, anyways, wait right here while I take care of the paperwork!"

He disappeared in a flash of light, "Paper work?" I muttered, looking around at the colorful void. "He told me to wait around... But its not like I can go anywhere."

Being left in silence, while Arceus did his... Paperwork, I had a chance to reflect on things. My death, for the most part. I mean, I was in college, twenty-one years old and not really going anywhere. I had plans to be an engineer but... My grades weren't exactly great. I was barely scraping by, and while all my free time revolved around Pokemon, my "friends" were partying. So really the only people I'd left behind were my parents, but they hadn't really talked to me much since I moved out. I guess my life wasn't really that great, looking back on it. Sadly, Pokemon was the most enjoyable thing I had...

I really hope this is all real.

"I RETURN!"

"AAAAAGH!"

His arrival in an explosion of light nearly gave me a heart attack. And I was sent tumbling back through the void a few feet. "I am sorry did I startle you?"

"Yeah just a little," I grumbled in annoyance, trying to recompose myself. "You don't actually talk to people much do you?"

"Not really no!" He answered in the same confident, booming voice. "But I have finished the paperwork, now lets get you ready for your new life!"

"Alright cool," My grin returned in an instant. "So do I get to like choose my region or my starter or-" A beam of light crashed down on me from above. Enveloping my body and blinding me. "AAAAGH!"

When it finally stopped, my entire body was sore. I groaned, opening my eyes and rubbing my head. "It is done, I will send you to your new life once you are ready."

Hang on, why was he so much taller now? My vision became less blurry, and I looked down at my ha-

"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HANDS!?" They weren't even hands anymore! I was looking at two fuzzy blue paws! My eyes shifted to the rest of my body, and I immediately began to realize what happened. "You turned me into a pokemon!?"

"Yes," Arceus replied casually, "Riolu, to be specific."

"But why!?" I demanded, adjusting myself properly to glare at him.

"Because you are going to the world of Pokemon, why wouldn't I make you a pokemon? I even chose one that's awfully rare in the place you're going." He scoffed in response, "What do you think all those questions were for?"

He couldn't be serious. "I thought you were going to make me a trainer! Ya know, like in ALL OF THOSE GAMES I SUNK THOUSANDS OF HOURS INTO!?"

"You get to be a pokemon in Mystery Dungeon."

"I NEVER GOT INTO THE MYSTERY DUNGEON GAMES!" I exploded.

"Hmm... Well you should have been more specific."

"I thought you were READING MY MIND!"

"I was, until you thought that it was creepy."

Oh my god. "Okay, whatever, its fine, just change me back to a human and we can redo this, right?"

"..."

My eye twitched, "Riiiiiight, Arceus? You can fix this?"

"See, the thing is, I already did the paper work... And that took like, a whole hour."

"This is no time to be lazy!"

"Okay okay, how about a compromise," He offered, probably because I was basically foaming at the mouth at this point. "The rules say I can't make you over powered, so you have to start over as a first form pokemon... But, I could give you a second passive ability, how does that sound?"

I feel like we were ignoring the real issue here. "Fine, give me Wonder-"

"No Wonder Guard, that's too OP."

"Ugh, lame..." I grumbled, crossing my arms in thought. "Hmm... Maybe something that increases my attack, like Huge Power or Pure Power... Or Flashfire, then I can't even get hit by fire moves right? No... Give me Sturdy."

To which Arceus nodded, "Very well," A ball of light launched from his nose and pushed into my chest. Giving me a small rush of energy. "Now, go and do your best, I send you to a world where adventures are abound and people are always in need of an honest helping hand, good luck!"

Lights were beginning to form around me. I felt all tingly, "W-Wait! Hang on I need more information! Don't I get like, starter items or something!?"

"Nnnope! Bye!"

And before I could say more, everything went black.

Hi! If you decided to stick around to the end, I commend you! And I hope I have your attention! If not, I appreciate you just taking the time to look, and I hope you have a lovely day!

So, this idea for a story has been bugging me for awhile. For 2 reasons, one being that I've always wanted to write a Mystery Dungeon story. And 2, I HATE isekai :D and always wanted to make a silly parody that is less pervy than KonoSuba lol

And that has culminated in this likely dumpster fire. But if you want to see more or have ideas you'd like to see, please let me know! I love talking to readers :D