That Fateful Day -MissingNo.-

I remember that day.

It was not long after I found the open world. Not long after I began searching for an answer to my problem.

My problem? I am incomplete. Anyone can tell you this. Even when I first came to be, I was only part of what I was to become. But at that point I could not become whole. I came to be before I was complete. I had no control over this.

And because I am incomplete, I have no control over myself.

The strange contraption the humans ended up placing on me, this "belt" of sorts… it helped, slightly. When I first came to be, my physical form was nonexistent, and my composition held no limits. The belt managed to keep things together as best it could. It even gave me the ability to communicate, as basic as the communicating ability may be. But I couldn't hold back the corruptive force that I emanated. I tried. Or rather, I wanted to try. But whatever part of me was needed to do so didn't exist.

When I came to be, the humans who first saw me suffered. They experienced the same corruption I was composed of…and some couldn't remove it. It made me sad to see them suffer, but I couldn't make it stop, even after they condensed my composition into a small space with the belt. I was later locked up by the humans in a strong vault to prevent me from harming anyone else unintentionally. I understood their feelings.

But I wanted to resolve the issue. I wanted to have my problem fixed, not hidden.

It would be years until I'd even get the opportunity to find my own answer. The vault was broken apart after a strong eruption caused by a nearby volcano. I was free, and there were no humans in the vicinity. I decided to begin my search for an answer.

During most of my searching, I witnessed more of my corruption's effects. The poor humans and Pokémon that started to suffer as I came within reach of them. I felt so sorry for them. I wanted to help, but I knew that I would only make things worse. All I could do was keep looking for my answer. And even with all the searching I had been doing, I found nothing.

Not until that fateful day.

I entered a forest that was hidden away from most of the humans. It was fairly quiet, probably because it was the night and everything was sleeping. I tried my best to avoid affecting the forest's inhabitants with my corruption.

And then he showed up.

A very strange creature jumped in and stood in my direct path. He had long ears and a pair of sharp-looking red antlers. I couldn't see his eyes amidst his low-hanging hair, but there was no doubt that he was looking right at me.

I didn't approach him. Uncertain of his intentions, I remained still and waited to see what he was going to do.

Suddenly he began to hit me. Punches, kicks, all manner of attacks. Needless to say, I was very surprised. I had no desire to fight him—I wasn't even trying to pose any threat. But he was relentlessly attacking me…and strangely, he was not phased by the corruption I exuded. He was very strong.

His attacks were hurting me. I was feeling physical pain for the first time, and I did not like it. I became angrier the more he hit me, until I couldn't put up with it any more.

I retaliated.

I charged toward him, unsure of what harm it would cause, or whether it would actually do anything. He attempted to guard from my pursuit with his left arm, but it proved futile. The charge knocked him back rather far.

But I felt something odd occur when the attack connected. It was as though my force was dissolving the target I struck.

I didn't realize how right I was.

He attempted to get back up, but he suddenly noticed his left arm became missing. What had been left below his shoulder were random traces of my corruption, ending his arm extremely short. I felt bad…I didn't mean to cause that to happen.

But then I felt my own change.

I noticed the strange presence of his arm—his own composition—suddenly surging through mine. And I could feel it slowly become part of me. It was as though I was an unfinished puzzle, and his composition was filling in the missing pieces. I felt like I was starting to become whole.

I realized then that I found my answer.

The composition also introduced an extension of me I never had before. A set of tactile extremities began to form. "Hands," as it were. Perhaps it was because it was his arm. But regardless, I marveled at the change, the addition. I had seen the use of such extremities before, and now I could do the same. To an extent, at least.

I turned to face my attacker, who I recalled was kneeling at the ground, shocked at the loss of his arm. I remember at the time, I wasn't sure what to do next…whether to run, or stay still, or try to absorb more of him.

But he was already gone. And I was thus alone once more, still incomplete.

But more complete than before.

I knew then what I needed to do. The creature I fought had the missing pieces of the puzzle. His composition seemed to complete mine for some reason. Be it his strength, or power, or some deep-rooted compatible material I am unaware of…he was the answer to my problem. I knew it would have to result in an unpleasant sacrificing, but I had been searching for so long, trying to find an answer to what I began to feel was an unsolvable problem…. It didn't matter so much what would happen to him.

I wanted to gain control of myself. I wanted to see what else about me had yet to be shown. I wanted to know what I could really be.

I still do.

I MUST FIND HIM.