Thirteen year-old Alex was fascinated by Pokemon, so fascinated that he wanted to live in Pokemon world and work as a real Pokemon trainer.
One day, it was announced on an online forum that there was a special virtual reality project for a new Pokemon game not yet released in stores. Of course, the thirteen year-old boy, named Alex, was ecstatic. He had already played all of the popular ROM hacks and of course he wore out the official games by Nintendo. This was very exciting. Alex watched the forums, eagerly awaiting more information.
Finally, the forum he was watching released a date, time, and location. It was at the old arcade, at midnight,-on a school night. He wasn't supposed to be out, but he just had to be one of the first ones to experience the new Pokemon game. Alex quickly got a plan together to sneak out the night of the release date.
The night arrived. Alex went to his room and went to bed extra early.
"Good night, Mom!" Alex said.
"Alex, it's only 8:30, are you sure you're feeling well?" Alex's mom asked.
"I'm fine. I just need to-study for a test, yeah, that's it," Alex said.
"Are you sure you're okay? I'll bring you some soup later honey, okay?" Alex's mom said.
"Yeah-soup-sure..." Alex said.
Alex made his way to his room, covered his head, and pulled out an old GBA copy of Pokemon Fire Red. He then began to play and fantasize about being a character in the anime.
This is going to be so cool! Alex thought.
The teen secretly set the alarm on his phone so that he wouldn't miss the big even. He was sure to wear earphones so that he didn't disturb his parents.
Suddenly, a buzzing sound went off in his ear, and his eyes sprung open.
Alex looked at his phone.
11:00...I need to leave now, or I'm going to be late! Alex thought.
Slowly, the teen opened the door and checked the hall. All of the lights were out, signaling that no one was up.
Alex started to leave his room.
Wait! What if Mom checks on me during the night? She thought I was sick earlier.
Alex eyed the Pokemon plushies he had scattered around his room; he had a plushie of almost every Pokemon ever released.
There. Perfect! Alex thought.
The boy took all of his stuffed Pokemon toys-he had stuffed versions of all 151 original Pokemon-in his bed and covered them with a blanket. He positioned a stuffed Snorlax at the top to make it look like his head.
Then he got on his bike and made his way to the old arcade. The night was still.
Alex barely noticed the foreboding atmosphere. He did kind of wonder why there weren't more kids, but then he just assumed it was a school night, and they weren't as dedicated as he was.
Carefully, he made his way into the building. The old door creaked, and the sound of something squeaking caught his ear.
Rats? Alex thought.
The boy was greeted by a pitch black room.
Slowly, Alex shuffled in.
I wonder if I'm in the right place. Alex thought.
Just then, spotlights came on, and an announcer's voice started playing.
"Congratulations! You are one of the few who made it here on time. Please, go to the basement floor; the test gear will be waiting for you!" the announcer's voice had a heavy Asian accent.
Alex felt an odd feeling in his stomach, like he should be nervous, but he tried to ignore it. He retreated back into his "Ash voice" to make himself comfortable.
Man! This is so exciting. I'm going to become a real Pokemon trainer! Alex thought in Ash's voice.
As he made his way down the dimly lit stairwell, he started reciting parts of the anime to himself.
I wonder what my starter is going to be? Charmander? Squirtle? Bulbasaur? Man, they all sound great! I wonder where I'm going to go and which trainers I'm going to battle!
Alex's daydream was drowning out the rickety clanging of the stairs and the growing uneasiness he was feeling subconsciously.
Wow, I wish I had a Pokemon to protect me down here. Flash is such a useful move. Alex thought.
Finally, Alex reached the bottom of the stairs and opened the door.
It was still dimly lit. There was a small crowd of people, mostly high school-aged and even a few adults, holding glow sticks and cups of something.
Probably alcohol. Alex thought to himself.
Carefully, Alex made his way to the corner of the room and took a seat.
"Man, I've heard this is some kind of space age technology we're going to get to experience," Alex heard one of the teens say.
"Yeah, it's the next big thing for sure. The Beta testers say that it's just like being there," another kid said.
My own Pokemon adventure is about to begin. Alex thought dreamily as he listened to the teens talking.
Suddenly, the dim lights went down, and the announcer came back on.
"Trainers, grab your gear!" the announcer's voice said.
Alex looked around to find out what they were talking about; he saw people putting on something that looked like a bicycle helmet with goggles attached to it. Carefully, he approached an empty helmet and reached for it.
Just then, he heard someone let out a yelp.
"Trent, buddy, are you okay?" Alex heard someone asking.
Someone had fainted.
The announcer's voice came back on.
"Remember to remain seated while you have on the helmet. Do not put on the helmet while standing!" The voice sounded urgent.
Suddenly, there were people surrounding the fainted teen. Alex gulped. Briefly, he removed his hand from the helmet.
Is this even safe? Alex asked himself.
Alex watched others put the helmets on. They were making it look safe.
Slowly, Alex took a seat in one of the chairs and reached for the helmet.
Here...we...go...Alex said to himself.
Immediately after Alex put the helmet on, he felt weird. It was pitch black inside.
Slowly, the logo for a Nintendo Pokemon game appeared through the goggles. Alex felt like he was leaving his body and being flung towards the credits. He let out a yelp.
"Oh, hi there! I'm Professor Oak," Alex heard someone say.
Alex looked around to see-
Professor Oak? In the flesh? Talking to me? Alex was freaking out.
It didn't look like any kind of virtual reality he had ever experienced before. That line that separates fantasy from reality had been erased. The closest Alex could compare it to was some kind of really good lucid dream, but it was more real than that.
Alex stood, stunned, looking at the professor.
"Hello, you must be..."
A screen came up for Alex to enter his name.
"A-S-H" Alex typed.
"Ah! you must be Ash! Pleased to meet you!" Professor Oak said.
Alex sighed at how life like everything he was feeling was. The goggles had disappeared. It was like he was asleep and having the Pokemon world beamed into his dreams.
This is incredible. Alex thought.
Alex looked at his avatar slowly taking shape. There stood the outline of a familiar character from the Pokemon anime, his hat turned backwards, his spiky raven hair sticking up through his cap.
"I'm Ash," Alex said again.
"So you are! Um, Ash, care to join the others?" Professor Oak asked.
Alex was snapped out of his daydream.
Wow, these NPC's sure are lifelike.
Alex looked behind him to be greeted by other anime faces.
Are those other players? Alex asked.
Carefully, Alex took his seat. Suddenly, it all vanished and he was standing in a room-his room. He then blinked and found himself lying in a bed with the blanket over his head.
Oh wow! This is surreal! Alex thought.
This wasn't the starter room from Pokemon; it was his actual room, with the Pokemon plushies and everything.
What? I'm back in bed-in my room-was I just dreaming the whole time? Alex asked himself.
Alex cautiously made his way outside to see what was happening.
His mother was in the kitchen.
Oh no. I was just dreaming! I bet I haven't left yet! I knew that whole sneaking out to the arcade trick was too good to be true!
Alex approached, faking a cough.
"There you are! How did you sleep? I was worried you were sick," Alex's mother scolded.
What? Oh no! Did I actually fall asleep instead of going to the arcade? Alex thought.
"Anyway, I guess it doesn't matter. You were supposed to leave home today anyway," his mother said.
"Leave home?" Alex asked.
"Yes, to start your Pokemon journey. You know, I was hoping you would be more responsible. It's not every day someone gets such an important responsibility," Alex heard his mother say,"
Alex just stood staring in disbelief.
"Did you say...Pokemon...journey?" Alex asked.
"Well, hurry up. You don't have all day, you know. Professor Oak is waiting in his lab!" Alex's mother said.
"Professor...Oak?" Alex asked, disbelieving.
"Yes, he's right down the road," his mother said.
Alex cautiously left the house, not sure what he was going to see.
It looked like his front yard and his neighborhood, except there was overgrown grass in some areas, grass he didn't remember ever being there, grass almost as tall as he was! For some reason, it was scary.
Alex listened for the familiar chirping of birds. Instead he heard-
"Odd-odd-ish-ish!"
"Pidgeoow!"
Fascination gripped Alex once again.
I wonder if there are actually Pokemon in there! Alex thought.
Without thinking, Alex sprinted toward the first patch of overgrown grass.
Suddenly, someone came running from a neighboring driveway.
"Wait! Don't go out! It's not safe! Wild Pokemon live in the grass!" Professor Oak said.
Alex looked at Professor Oak and smiled.
No way.
Professor Oak led Alex back to his lab.
"You know I used to be a serious Pokemon trainer myself, once upon a time," Professor Oak said.
This is so surreal. I'm really in the video game? This sounds so scripted. I bet the NPC is programmed to say certain things...Alex thought.
Alex decided to test the NPC.
"I know...I know...you were once a serious trainer and then you ended up with only three Pokemon left, and you're going to let me choose one of them," Alex said.
"My word! That's absolutely correct! You know more about me than I thought you did, Ash!" Professor Oak said.
"What if I don't want Squirtle, Charmander, or Bulbasaur?" Alex asked.
"Well...I have a few more-don't tell the other trainers-but I suppose I could give you Eevee, Clefairy, Jigglypuff, or Pikachu. They aren't as easy to raise as the other Pokemon, though," Professor Oak said.
This is so cool! I've got to be dreaming!
Alex pinched himself.
"Ow!" Alex said.
"Any problems, Ash?" Professor Oak asked.
"How many Pokemon will we get to catch?" Alex asked.
"As many as you can-you see, I and some of the other Pokemon professors are working on something called a Pokedex-it's like an encyclopedia, except-" Professor Oak said.
"...except it's for Pokemon?" Alex asked.
"How amazing! Ash I believe you are going to go far in this world!" Professor Oak said.
"Do you still have that annoying grandson?" Alex asked.
"Eh...grandson? I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about Ash. My grandson is a world famous Pokemon researcher, but he was once a trainer like you, once upon a time," Professor Oak said.
"Oh...okay..." Alex said.
The NPCs here are awesome. Alex thought.
They arrived at a familiar white building.
Wow! I don't remember this being here! Alex thought.
There in front of him stood a state-of-the-art research building.
"Is this some kind of college?" Alex asked.
"Well, I am a professor, am I not?" Professor Oak said with a wry smile.
"No way!" Alex said.
"Yes, way, in fact, right this way...your Pokemon journey is about to begin!" Professor Oak said as he rushed Alex into a room.
A scientist in thick glasses wearing a white lab coat greeted them.
"Hi, I'm one of Professor Oak's research aides!" the scientist said.
"Professor Oak, you have aides?" Alex asked. The boy still had an immature sense of humor, being a middle school student, after all.
The NPC gave a small dry chuckle and smiled.
"Yes in fact, my research aides, Ash. They help me discover new Pokemon and run various tests," Professor Oak said.
Alex walked up the machine with three Poke Balls.
"Well, it's time to make your selection," Professor Oak said.
"I thought you said you had other Pokemon to choose from," Alex said.
"How about you let the Pokemon choose you, Ash?" Professor Oak said.
"Pokemon...choose me? That's interesting..." Alex said. Alex could hear his own voice turning into the "Ash voice" he often thought in.
"Yes! Come out everyone!" Professor Oak said.
In a flash, Alex was greeted by weird creatures. He sort of recognized them.
One looked like a bright orange salamander, only the head pointed like a dinosaur, and it walked on two legs.
"ch-char-ma-nderrr!" the Pokemon cooed.
It didn't sound like the anime. The Pokemon's cry sounded more like a roar, mixed with a gurgle. It was difficult to make out the word "Charmander" from the growl; he had to listen very carefully.
Without thinking, Alex reached out to pet it only to be greeted by a hot unpleasant burning sensation.
"OUCH!" Alex yelled.
"Be careful. Charmander can have a firey personality!" Professor Oak joked.
Alex clutched his burnt hand. It had char marks on it, and it really hurt.
"Am I going to be okay?" Alex asked, tears in his eyes.
"You'll be fine. Your burn's already started to heal up. I don't think this is the Pokemon for you, though. Let's look at some others, shall we?" Professor Oak asked.
Alex clutched his hand, still sore from touching Charmander's tail flame.
Ow. I ow can't believe the attention they paid to detail. Alex thought.
Professor Oak directed Alex's attention to another Pokemon.
Whoa! So that's what a Squirtle looks like in real life? Alex asked himself.
The next Pokemon looked like a giant Galapagos turtle in his shell. Only his shell was the color of a hazelnut and extremely shiny.
Cautiously, Alex knocked on the shell.
A huge furry blue head peaked out, followed by a bushy blue tail and two fat stubby legs and arms. This did not look like any turtle he had ever seen, except maybe the shell. The head was almost like a turtle, but it was huge and round, and the eyes took up a good portion of the face. The tail, though, looked like it belonged to a squirrel, not an aquatic creature. The arms and legs were kind of turtle like, but they were also sort of elephant like, stubby and hefty.
"Squirr..." the Pokemon growled.
It sounded almost like Donald Duck, and, again, it was really hard to tell that it was saying "Squirtle." It sounded like it was burbling.
"Hey, buddy, would you like to come along with me on my Pokemon adventure?" Alex asked.
The water Pokemon lazily blinked his eyes and withdrew back into his shell.
"Is that a "no?" Alex asked.
Professor Oak nodded his head.
Alex felt something pulling at his pants leg. He looked down only to be greeted by-
It looked like a giant frog with some kind of weird growth on its back! Alex jumped back from it and yelped with surprise.
"Bul-ba-sssarr..."
The Pokemon turned around, and Alex was able to see the head. Now it didn't quite look like a frog. It looked more like...it was really hard to describe. It had a frog's body, but it's limbs looked more like a turtle, and that head-it looked like a scaley version of a few different mammals all blended together. It wasn't ugly, either, strangely enough.
It stared at Alex with its huge eyes.
"Burba"
Professor Oak laughed.
"This is a Bulbasaur, Ash. It's very easy to raise," Professor Oak said.
Alex reached out to pet it. The creature jerked away.
"Aw, come on. I'm sorry I jumped, but I never saw anything like you before," Alex said.
"Bulbasaaar" It sounded like it was burping. Again, it was really hard to make out "Bulbasaur" from those gurgles and groans.
Alex looked at Professor Oak.
"I see none of these Pokemon chose you. Maybe you'll have better luck with some of these?" Professor Oak said, as he led Alex to a room in the back.
"Pick up one of the Poke Balls, and introduce yourself to the Pokemon," Professor Oak instructed.
Alex carefully picked up one of the Poke Balls on the table. Real life Poke Balls were heavy. Alex felt almost like he was lifting a small weight. Clumsily, he fumbled with the Poke Ball.
"Don't you know how to open a Poke Ball?" Professor Oak asked.
Alex shook his head.
Press the button in the middle. Professor Oak instructed.
Alex's fingers found the button and pressed it. A flash of white light signaled the Pokemon's exit from the ball.
In an instant stood a medium sized ball of cotton candy colored fluff. It kind of looked like a really chubby rabbit with cat ears. It stared at him with big round blue eyes.
"Jigglypuff?" the Pokemon asked.
It was a high-pitched, almost screeching, that hurt Alex's ears. Without another word, the Pokemon opened its mouth. Alex didn't hear anything, but the next thing he knew-
"Ash, wake up!" Professor Oak shouted.
"Huh? What happened?" Alex asked.
"You let Jigglypuff put you to sleep!" Professor Oak said, annoyed.
Alex rubbed his head.
"Sorry, professor," Alex said.
"Well, I'm afraid that eliminates Clefairy as well; their sing ability is as strong as Jigglypuff's," Professor Oak said.
Professor Oak went into another room and came back carrying a small brown fox-like creature. Well, it's head was too round for a fox, really. It looked kind of like a rabbit mixed with a fox-like creature.
"Creevet!" the Pokemon cooed.
"This is Eevee," Professor Oak said.
Alex approached the little Pokemon and bent down on one knee to get on its level.
"Oh, hi buddy," Alex said.
Eevee approached Alex, sniffed him, and then turned away and ran back to Professor Oak.
"Oh! What now?" Alex asked.
"Well, that leaves only one more Pokemon, and if this one rejects you-I'm sorry, but you just aren't meant to be a Pokemon trainer," Professor Oak said.
What? Alex thought.
Professor Oak presented the last Poke Ball. This one had a lightning bolt sticker on it, like in the anime.
Alex's eyes sparkled with realization.
Pikachu...Alex thought.
The Poke Ball opened, and, in a flash of white light, there was a little yellow rabbit-like creature with a lightning bolt tail. Well, it didn't exactly look like a rabbit. It looked more like a cat mixed with a rabbit. The head was big and round, probably taking up a third of the entire body.
Alex waited for the familiar "Chaa" or "Pikachu" sounds from the anime, but that never happened.
Finally it said.
"-eeka...eeka!" It sounded almost like hiccups, or a mouse with the hiccups.
Alex sighed and looked at the little Pokemon.
I don't know what's wrong with this game, but I don't think this one wants me either. Alex thought.
Alex turned to leave.
Suddenly-
"eeka!" the little Pokemon yelled.
Something heavy suddenly landed on Alex's back.
"..eeka! eeka!" the Pokemon yelled.
Alex stopped to look at it. It looked at Alex with big round brown eyes and stood up on two legs.
"...eeka! eek!" it squeaked.
The little yellow Pokemon rubbed its head against Alex.
"Well, that settles it. Pikachu it is!" Oak said.
Alex left Professor Oak's lab with Pikachu riding on his back.
"...eeka...eek!" the little Pokemon squeaked.
"This is amazing. Isn't it Pikachu?" Alex asked.
Whoa! My voice sounds just like Ash from the anime. Alex thought.
"..eeka...shoo!" Pikachu cooed.
It sounded like it was sneezing.
"You okay, buddy?" Alex asked.
"shaaa!" the Pokemon cooed happily.
It was kind of a high-pitched squeal.
Alex looked around his neighborhood.
There's tall grass! I wonder what I'll find. Alex thought.
Carefully, he walked into the wall of grass that covered his head. Inside, he heard Pokemon noises.
Suddenly-
"Ekkk-annnssss!" the snake Pokemon hissed. It sounded like a clicking noise followed by a regular snake hiss.
"Pikachu, um, thundershock!" Alex commanded.
"..eeekaashoo!" the Pokemon yelled.
Alex felt his hair standing up.
Uh-oh. I should have told Pikachu to jump down first!
Alex felt Pikachu's electricity surge through him.
I'm glad this isn't real life. If it were, I would probably be dead by now! Alex thought as he fell down in a charred heap.
The electric shock stung. It felt like he put his hand in a socket, but his burns were healing pretty fast.
It's not real, so I guess I'm okay. Alex thought.
Alex looked over to the see the Ekans fainted.
"Great, now for the Poke Balls..." Alex said.
Alex rummaged through his backpack.
"Oh, that's right. I haven't gotten Poke Balls, yet!" Alex said.
Pikachu made a cute exasperated expression, like in the anime and then motioned for its trainer to continue.
Alex hiked to the nearest town. He was still in his neighborhood, and everything looked more or less familiar, with the exception of Pokemon and tall grass that is.
"That's the corner store, Pikachu. I wonder if they have Poke Balls," Alex said.
"..eeka," Pikachu sighed.
Alex walked inside to be greeted by the familiar Indian store owner.
"Hi, young man. Do you know Professor Oak?" the Indian man asked.
Alex nodded his head.
"His package arrived today. I was wondering if you could give it to him?" the Indian man asked.
"Sure!" Alex said.
It really was a short walk from the corner store back to Oak's lab, shorter than the walk there, or at least it felt like it. Pikachu found a path back that didn't have any tall grass, for one thing.
"Ah, Ash, how's my old Pokemon?" Professor Oak asked.
Pikachu nuzzled Alex with its head, and Alex patted it.
"It seems to be growing more attached to you every day," Professor Oak said.
Alex knew the whole spiel from being an avid Pokemon player, so he took his Pokedex and Poke Balls from the professor and then left to continue his journey.
The tall grass loomed in the distance.
"Well, it looks like we're back to where we started," Alex said.
"...eekashoo..." the Pokemon cooed.
Slowly, Alex approached the tall grass...
Meanwhile,
"I'm afraid young Alex is comatose. The gear he was wearing somehow affected his brain when we tried to remove it. I don't know if he will ever wake up," the doctor said solemnly.
An hour ago, Alex's parents were notified by the police that he had been taken to the hospital. Now, they stood horrified listening to the doctor's news.
"Right now, he's in a very deep sleep. The only thing we can do is wait," the doctor said.
I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was...Alex hummed to himself, oblivious to the outside world and still stuck in his Pokemon dream.