It was a calm and sunny day for a bustling metropolis littered with skyscrapers. Everyone, trainer and the like walked it's street in relative peace. All with the exception of one person.

Alice Winthrop, for the lack of better word, was quite bored as she sat on her desk all the while mindlessly surfing the web for anything that might be of use.

A seasoned trainer she is, but even the most seasoned trainers tend to fall at the last second against the champion of any region. Her most recent memory simply served to remind her of her loss against a champion.

That was...unacceptable, which is saying something after her third loss against someone of high caliber.

And now she was surfing the web for something to do before dinner, if only because she lacks the destination for her next league challenge she'd rather take.

As she was scrolling the screen of the latest Mega Evolution magazine, the corner of her eyes came upon something. Curiosity overcame her and she scrolled back upward, it reveals to be an advertisement, about something called, 'Challenge'

Alice is a girl of challenge, she likes it, she lives for it. Otherwise, she would not find the satisfaction in defeating her opponent. Of course, she'd rather not make a habit of losing either. Perhaps this challenge might give her the satisfaction she needs and the culmination of skill needed to take on anymore champions.

Wanting to know more, she clicked the image and soon a newer tab overtook the screen as the girl began to scan it.

Needless to say, she was in trance as she read it. Never before she read such things with that level of intensity, unless it's a Pokemon magazine for the latest trainer trend.

The scrolling finally stopped and she find herself with the name of the region that it advertised. "...Reborn." Alice nodded as her mind began planning for the inevitable future.

As the light of dawn began to surface across the horizon, Alice walked, now donning a sleeveless black grey shirt with a white collar, a short black grey skirt and detached sleeves of the same color with white lining. To top it all off, she wore white sneakers coupled with socks of the same color as her shirt that travels upward, stopping short near her skirt.

For this endeavour, Alice decided that leaving her veteran party at home would be most desirable. If she is to become the most powerful trainer in the world, then she must challenge herself by tackling this so-called Reborn Region without the help of her veteran Pokemon.

She was ready, ready to tackle the new region with determination. Perhaps finding some new Pokemon along the way.

Walking across the deserted pavement, Alice saw that the familiar building that is the station is in sight, housing a familiar bullet train that will take her halfway across the world. With that, she continues to walk at a leisurely pace.

"Alice!"

Of course, her pace halted when she heard the familiar voice of a relative.

Turning around, as expected, she came face-to-face with her mother. She is the spitting image of Alice, only dressed in casual black tank top, longer blonde hair with two, curving locks of hair framing her face and was topped off by a black bow on her right cheek which results in a wavy lock of hair.

But that still leaves Alice with some questions regarding the impromptu delay. "Mom?"

As if she was running a marathon, the older woman took a couple of deep breath to calm her heart. Alice waited patiently, knowing that it's not like the train will be going anytime soon.

And so, she was presented with a familiar bag, the staple of many trainers worldwide.

Alice's face was as expressionless as ever, but if one were to look closely, they would be able to see a hint of red across her cheeks. Alice can't believe it herself she actually forgets about her bag.

Sighing to calm herself down, Alice returned her mother's help with a smile. "Thanks, mom." Taking the bag and slinging it across her shoulder, she found that it was not as heavy as she had thought.

"I know that you want to go to Reborn as soon as possible Alice, but you could have at least said goodbye." Alice's mother chided gently.

Now Alice felt horrible, her desire had overcame her common sense it seems.

"I'm sorry, mom. I don't have any excuse for that." Alice apologized softly.

Smiling, her mother walked a few paces across before hugging her only daughter.

Alice admitted, this would ruin the stoic image that she maintained, but it was her mother so she made an exception and hugged her back.

"It's okay." Alice's mother said, patting her daughter's back before she separates herself to look her daughter in the eye. "I'm sure anyone would be excited when they travel to a newer region."

Alice decided to stay quiet during the exchange, waiting for her mother to make the next move.

Seeing her daughter being so stoic, Alice's mother simply smiled again. "Look at you, just like myself in my youth. Well, I won't be keeping you any longer, you have a train to catch right?"

Alice simply nodded, knowing that it is time to depart from her mother's familiar presence for a while.

Giving her mother one last smile, she decided to turn around and resume her walk. Knowing that looking over her shoulder would only guilt trip her, she will not do any such action.

"Alice!"

Sighing, she glanced over her shoulder at her mother. "What is it?" Alice questioned, admittedly getting tired at being called again.

"Be careful now, you hear. I hear that the Reborn Region is much more difficult that most other regions from what my friends say." She hollered.

Which is exactly what Alice wanted. If what the advertisement said was true, then some of the higher gym leaders would be able to easily surpass Cynthia or Red herself. If she failed to defeat the Elite Four or Champion, then she wanted to at least be able to defeat the entire gym in the region.

Setting aside the matter for now, Alice nodded back at her mother. "I will, mom."

Resuming her pace, Alice saw the sunlight peeking over the horizon which began to blind her. Quiet she maybe, but even she can appreciate the beauty of nature even as she walked.

Meanwhile, Alice's mother saw the retreating figure of her daughter. She was already starting to miss her, but as every mother knows by now, a child must leave its nest someday. Alice did that three times already.

She can only gave her daughter a final farewell. "Take care, Alice."

If the registration is correct, then this train would be scheduled to arrive and the acting manager of the Reborn League Administration would meet her at the train station. That would be the place where she is given the run-down of the region.

Of course, that means, Alice have yet to arrive even with the absurd speed that is the bullet train she is in. Reborn is apparently far away compared to most regions, known for its punishing difficulty even against the earlier gym leaders. 18 of them, in fact, waiting to be challenged by her.

But it won't do seeing as Alice knows she is stuck inside the train for a few more hours at best. Once again, she was bored.

Reading won't do, she had already read the guidelines and rules that is made exclusively for Reborn that is one of the reasons that made it all the more difficult.

So she decided to sleep for the next few hours.

Even now, her face, the right half partially covered by a blonde bang, was a sure sign of serenity. Sleeping for the remainder of the trip.

The blaring of the intercom jerked anyone still asleep awake. "Attention!"

Alice cracked open her eyes groggily, wiping her eyes, she tried to get the drowsiness away in vain.

"We are approaching our last destination, Reborn City. Please mind your belongings, we are not responsible for any missing contents of your belonging. Thank you and have a nice day!"

If anyone hadn't been awake now, they sure do now. Sighing, Alice made sure to sling her bag across her shoulder once more and saw that everyone around her was slowly coming back to reality as well.

Outside the window, she saw a sprawling desert, and if she is correct, she saw a mountain in the distance, snowy one. Most of all, looking toward the front of the train, she saw an imposing black wall, which in her opinion was made to stonewall the harsh desert region against that particular part of the region.

"Reborn City..." She whispered.

As the train started to pull into the station, she couldn't help but smile knowing that her next journey starts now.

As Alice walked out of the bullet train alongside the other passengers, she took the first look at the station.

The station was...not quite what she expected. It was quite massive, yes, but it was also in a state of complete disrepair. She swore she saw the occasional cracks too running along the wall. For some reason, the wall is painted a dreary black as well.

The advertisement warned her of this, disrepair and hostility awaits any tourist whose destination is Reborn City. Without a doubt, that is an understatement.

Ultimately, her purpose here is not to judge the interior decoration of the Reborn region. Her purpose here is to defeat the champion like usual, at the very least gain victory over the 18 gym leaders if that isn't possible.

As she mused to herself, a hand clamped itself onto her shoulder, surprising her.

Alice turned around frantically and slapping the offending hand off her shoulder. Taking a good look, she found the supposed assailant was an older woman in her early twenties. White shoulder length hair, similar icy blue eyes like her. Black and white blouse was her choice of clothing, as well as a black scarf. Purple jeans and black boots to top it all off.

The woman expression quickly turned apologetic "I'm...sorry about that, Alice. I thought you didn't hear me calling for you."

It was then came to Alice that this woman knew her name. "You knew me?"

The woman's expression turned into a smile. "Of course, after all, it is my job to know everything about a challenger for the Reborn League. I officially welcome you, Challenger Alice, to Reborn." The woman finished with a nod.

Alice knew then that this woman must be the Administration Manager for the Reborn League. "Alright, can I perhaps ask your name, ma'am?"

"My name is Ame." Putting her hand on her chest, she nodded. "As you probably already know, I'm the manager of the Reborn League. Did you by any chance already read the guidelines for Reborn League Challengers?"

Alice simply nodded, it simply won't do for her to walk into a wholly unique region blind.

Satisfied with that Ame, turned to her hip and patted a Pokeball. It promptly burst open, with energy coalescing into the familiar form of Absol.

"I know I might sound like a broken record knowing that you've already read the guidelines, but it would be best if I give you one more rundown, for both our sakes."

Alice found that...acceptable. It would be good to review what she had read, for in some worst case scenario...she might forget a few things. She motioned for Ame to go on with a nod.

"You must already be an accomplished trainer, but in Reborn City, where we'll go soon, wild Pokemon are kind of scarce."

Nodding, Alice remained still as Ame reviewed what she knows about the region.

"Reborn City is...Well, I'm sure you already seen it for yourself, but it's not an ideal place for many Pokemon to live."

Alice simply raise an eyebrow at that, as if that wasn't an understatement enough judging from the state of the train station.

Patting her Pokeball again, Ame motioned for Absol to return, which it did, returning into the ball in the form of red energy.

Ame's expression turned solemn. "Reborn is a region ravaged by impurity. After the last fall-out, many people abandoned the region, but that's changed since the Reborn League was re-opened."

Opening her arms wide, as if the gesture everything around, she smiled. "Many strong trainers such as yourself have been flocking to the area! If only simply to seek a better challenge. That's why you're here isn't it?"

Alice couldn't help but let out a minor smile. Many trainers with the same goal as her has been here, which simply says, it's opportunity for her to get stronger than ever.

Ame must have saw her smile if she let her arms fall limply onto her sides with a smile. "I'll take that as a yes. Alice, I've arranged for an acquaintance for you when you arrive and she'll be your guide to the city, alright?"

"Of course." Alice simply said.

"The strong, silent type, are you?"

Alice simply nodded again, deciding to grace her lips with a smile.

Ame couldn't help, but smile herself...which promptly turned to a frown. "...Um? Did you hear that?"

"Hear..." Alice then found she heard a very suspicious beeping noise, must be what Ame was talking about. "..what?"

Looking around, it seems everyone else heard it too, judging from the sudden lack of activity.

Ame looked around for the sound of said noise, then her eyes widened as she understands the implication.

Turning her head every which way, she took a deep breath and yelled. "RUN!"

Everything had gone into slow motion, the moment Ame had said that, a deafening explosion rattled the ears of all those present. What's worse, however, the blast was coming from everywhere, engulfing many of the area and so many unfortunate people scattered in the station...a blast that was also heading straight at her.

And her vision is no more.