Pokemon appear in the real world, and every person has a soul pokemon (or, in other words, a pokemon that is automatically bonded to them). The pokemon bonded to children will keep changing forms until a child has reach 13 and the Pokemon will never change forms again (unless it evolves, obviously). It is possible for a person to bond with wild pokemon but the person and the pokemon must trust each other completely. Most people bond only to 5 other pokemon (to keep the traditional 6 Pokemon team), but it is not illegal, taboo, or look down upon to be bonded with more, it's just recommended. You can tell when a pokemon is bonded when they share your eye color. (If they don't have eyes, then something significant on their body.)
Request (but optional): Throw in my OC as the Lead Researcher!
Her name is Violet White, she's 23 with shoulder length half shaved purple hair, 6 feet tall, and usually wears black skinny jeans, a purple sleeveless turtleneck, black heeled boots, and a white lab coat with a triskele symbol on the back. Her Team:
Columbine - Cubone/Alternative (Alolan) Marowak - Male
Vervain - Honedge/Doublade/Aegislash - Male
Edelweiss - Poochyena/Mightyena - Female
Rhododendron - Deino/Zweilous/Hydreigon - Male
Yarrow - Ralts/Kirlia/Gardevoir - Female
Zephry - Beldum/Metang/Metagross - Non-Binary
Be sure to comment a link to your story so I can read it!