Disclaimer: I only own my Original Characters, all the other characters, as well as creatures are the property of Nintendo, Creatures Inc., and Game Freak.

I was just a normal teenager, living my life as the adventure that was the life of every roaming Pokémon Trainer. Everything changed when that blasted blizzard hit without warning.

It all started when I had the brilliant idea to visit the giant white tree, right at the top of the biggest mountain range I had ever seen. 'There's already a path, a lot of people go there to pray to their god.' Those were my excuses. Now here I am, freezing to death, with no idea of where to go.

"Oh Arceus, what did I do to get here!" I couldn't help but wonder, I was always good to every pokémon I had seen during my journey and had fought against all those organizations who wanted to harm either pokémons or trainers. Only for me to end up dead with my leg stuck under a rock that came with the avalanche.

What will be of my pokémon, I don't think they'd be too happy with me if I just released them here. Well, I can't do that seeing as I only brought my Boltund.

'Idiot Sebastian and his idea to relax in a city stuck in the middle of infinite snow!' Oh look, I'm talking to myself in the third person now, I couldn't just die from hypothermia, I'll die a crazy man with hypothermia. Great!

I guess this is it, Professor Oak will take care of my pokémons, mom might not forgive me, but I guess she'll leave without financial troubles with all those prizes from those tournaments.

Man, and to think that I'd finish my journey with a loss. Damn Leon and his stupid Charizard, I was so close, just like every other league. I even lost to Ash back in Alola, now he has one up on me. Champion of a region, I guess it wasn't for me.

Hah, I'm starting to feel tired, is this how it goes? I just pass out and never wake up again? Well, there's only one way to find out, goodbye mom! I hope I get to see you in the afterlife, wherever that is.

'Hmm! What is this? I'm feeling warm, is this because I died?' I thought as I opened my eyes. I guess not, since I can see all these covers on me.

"Hello!" I tried my best to scream, alas all that came out was a rough sound that I'd be surprised if anyone would be able to understand as a word or listen for that matter.

However, it seemed that it was enough. A door to my right opened with the sound of those really old ones, the ones that need a bit of oil on their hinges.

I tried to look at who or what had come inside the room, what I saw stumped me for a bit, there stood a giant man, with very long and dark hair and beard, he also was rather fat.

"Great, you're awake lad!" A loud voice came from the giant of a man.

I tried to sit up but failed miserably. "Oh don't move too much, you were pretty bad when Lucy here found you." The man continued.

"I'ma go and bring you some water, just don't try to move yah' know, might pass out from all the strain," he said as I saw the door closing behind him.

Well, it looks like I was saved, the guy sounds nice enough, a hiker if I were to guess by his attire. They were always nice, those hikers. And he also mentioned Lucy, I wonder who she is. Probably a pokémon, but could also be a spouse or something like that.

The door opened again, now that I'm not thinking about anything I can hear his footsteps, it seems that it's not only the door that's old. And I was right on my first guess, right behind him entered a beautiful Absol. She does look strong enough to lift the rock that was pinning me.

While in my musing, the hiker got closer and I could see that he was holding a cup, it looked like it had water in it.

I didn't have much time to think about it as I felt the cup touch my lips, my body was in such need of a drink that my lips opened up on their own. "Here you go lad, don't drink too fast you might undo all that me and Lucy did," he said while tilting the cup so the wonderful liquid, that I now identified as water, could quench my thirst.

And how great it was, so great that I closed my eyes to focus even more on the feeling, I could feel my throat opening up, the air that didn't feel cold going to my lungs. 'This is it, I am alive!' I couldn't help but shout in my mind, after all, I can't strain my vocal cords.

Thinking about them I got brave and tried using them. "Where am I?" I did it! My voice came out.

"Ho, you're a tough one ain't ya lad! A cup o'water and yah'ready talking! Haha. That's great!" Well, that's one excited fella. But he didn't answer me. I guess I'll have to ask again.

"Where…" "Ah lad, yeah, didn't answer ya. My bad, my bad. You're at my cabin, just near Max Lair, here in the Slippery Slope."

I see, so he probably found me and took me to his home. Perhaps Arceus heard my prayers? Ha, as if that ungrateful bastard would do that. Oh, something is moving.

I instinctively opened my eyes and looked down, my hiker friend was removing the covers. I guess they were the ones pinning me down.

As he removed the last cover, I could finally sit up and look at my body. My leg was in a cast. And that was it, all the rest of my body seemed fine, I also didn't feel any pain, I guess I was exaggerating back in the snow.

"This leg o'yours will take a few more days to heal. 'Least is what Nurse Joy said when I got'ya here."

Great, I hope he doesn't mind me staying here until I remove the cast.

"Ah, thanks for taking care of me. If you don't mind me asking, how long have I been here?" I couldn't help but ask, the way he said it seemed as if I stayed here for a while now.

The hiker looked at me, I saw pity in those eyes. I won't like his answer, will I?

"Well, it's been a few weeks, coming to a month three days from now."

There it was, I've been sleeping for a month, I guess I wasn't overreacting, I nearly died.

"I see, once again thank you for looking after me for that long. If there is anything I can do to pay you back, please let me know."

The man gave me a full-blown smile, it seems he liked my answer.

"Aye lad, t'was no problem, tis usually only me an' Lucy, so t'was no problem looking after yah." After saying that he stop for a moment to think, then continued, "I don't wanna make ye give me what ye don't have, so I don't know what to ask."

Well look at this guy, let's see what he would accept and don't think that I'm paying too much.

"In that case, I'm Sebastian, a Pokémon Trainer," I said while I found the strength to hold my hand for us to share a handshake.

He returned my gesture and smiled saying, "I'm Bart the Hiker, pleasure."

After we shook hands my new friend pointed towards the Absol and continued with the introductions, "And this right here is Lucy."

At that, I looked at the third member of the room and with a smile said, "Hello Lucy, thank you for saving my life."

Her answer was a nod and a "Sol", I believe she appreciated the grateful words.

Looking back at Bart I ask him, "Can I have my backpack? Did you bring it with you?"

The man gave me a nod and pointed at the foot of the bed where my backpack stayed seemingly untouched.

Feeling a bit more strength coming back, I crawled to my bag and opened it. I admit that the state of it surprised me, everything was as I remember letting it.

"My ma taught me that we shan't mess with others things. Don't worry I ain't messing with your stuff."

'I need to work on my poker face, the man is good at reading expressions.' Were my thoughts at the moment.

Finding the only occupied Poké Ball within my bag, I took it out and released the pokémon that was within it.

Out came a canine pokémon. Its two front paws were white with a yellow stripe above each one, leading to its desaturated green legs. Its back two paws are a darker yellow with a lighter shade on top of it, its legs, and the side of its body is a desaturated green. It has a thin, yellow tail and hind legs with two spikes on the top of each of them.

With a bark the Dog pokémon looked up to its trainer and jumped at him, showering the surprised teen with countless saliva-filled licks.

"Com'on boy, we have company," I said trying to pry him off of me.

The Boltund was unmoved and, at the sound of laughter, I had to wait until my companion was done with his greeting.

It took some time, but when he was done he jumped back down to the floor, sat down, and waited for any commands.

"This is my Boltund, he's a very lovable guy."

Agreeing with me, he gave me another bark, but this time he stayed put.

"Now that you have company I'll go and talk with Nurse Joy, I reckon she'll want to see you today," Bart told me as he left the room.

Now alone I returned to my bag and took out my Pokédex, I checked to see if it was working and found that it wasn't.

I messed with it for a bit, clicking the buttons, giving some love taps here and there, eventually, the item turned back on.

I was flooded with notifications, the bigger one was a blizzard warning, 'It's a bit late now Mr. Pokédex.'

The next most glaring warning was the dozen of messages and missed calls from mom. 'Well, fuck! I hope she's not too worked up.'

Not even bothering to see what were the other notifications, I called her. I didn't even have to wait, I think she was staring at it for her to pick up that fast.

"Sebastian is that you? Where are you, honey? Why didn't you pick up or message me back?"

"Yes mom, it's me. I'm sorry to worry you. I'm fine, my Pokédex kinda broke and turned off. I don't know how long I'll have before it goes away again, right now I'm at a cabin in the Slippery Slope, I'll try to go to Freezington. When I get there I'll call you back."

That was all that I managed to say before the Pokédex died again. I should have gone to Prof. Oak before this trip, I bet his new model wouldn't be this faulty, well this is an eight-year model.

It was almost dark outside when Bart came back followed by Nurse Joy, I don't know where he found her, I don't think there is one in Freezington, perhaps I'm wrong.

The nurse beelined towards me, when she got close, she gave me a look over and went to check my fractured ankle, she removed the cast with her cutting thingy and started messing with my foot.

I was flabbergasted, what is this? Not even a hello, nice to meet you? Once again my hiker friend caught on to my discomfort and tried to reassure me.

"Don't give her that look lad, she had a right tough day, poor lass having to deal with building a new Pokémon Center all on her own."

That does it, after that all I can do is comply with her wishes and wait to see her diagnosis. I moved as she requested, rising and lowering my leg, twisting and turning my foot. We both were glad that I didn't feel any pain with those exercises.

That done, she finally looked me in the eyes and with slightly pink cheeks she said, "I'm sorry for how I acted, like Bart said today was a very tiring day and this cabin isn't that close to the village."

I gave her a reassuring smile, which prompted her to continue.

"Now about your condition. You won't need the cast anymore, you'll have to move it daily so it builds back strength, don't strain it too much, that means no going to the village or Max Lair, stay near the cabin if you want to walk around, I'll come back and check up on you in three days."

Better safe than sorry, I guess.

And like that three days passed, I walked some laps around the cabin every day, Boltund accompanied me. Bart didn't stay at his home, so I only saw him during the night, he always left before I woke up.

We got to know each other a bit more, he was surprised when I told him that I got Top 8 in every single league I competed in, he was even more interested in my battle with Leon and how I almost won.

When morning came I was woken up by the knock on the door of my temporary bedroom. Getting up and not even bothering to put a shirt on, I saw who wanted to see me.

It turned out to be Nurse Joy and her Indeedee, my choice of clothing gave the woman a stop, I could see her eyes going from my chest to my abs and back up again, this small trance was stopped when her companion pulled on her skirt and walked in my room.

The awkward atmosphere didn't last long, with a small cough, Nurse Joy pointed towards my bed and said, "Let me see your leg, depending on how it is I'll be able to take you with me back to Freezington."

Naturally, I complied, the examination was quick and my discharge was granted, I was free to go back home.

Bart was there waiting for us in the kitchen, from his looks he already expected my departure, it came with a hug, a "You're welcome whenever you're around" and an "Absol" from his companion.

Our track wasn't very long, Boltund would run ahead and take our minds off the path, so we didn't notice the time it took to get to the village.

Nurse Joy was quick to show me the location of the soon-to-be-built Pokemon Center and, after some questioning, the closest PC, or the closest thing that I could find here.

It turned out that there was a smaller device, I think Prof. Oak said that he implemented it to the newest Pokédex model, I hadn't bothered with it in the past since I always tried to capture only six pokémons per region, now it came to bite me in the ass.

Unfortunately, I couldn't use the device, safety protocol, and all that, thus I had to call the professor to get my pokémon transferred.

Using the poképhone, the professor didn't seem too surprised hearing my voice, I assume mom told him that I was alright.

We were in the same mindset that it'd be better to cut to the chase and speak face to face, so after some pleasantries and guarantees of my well-being, he sent me an Ultra Ball, one that I used a lot when I went on my first journey.

I didn't delay in releasing my partner, with a soft white glow out came a humanoid Pokémon with a large mustache, a long, thin snout, narrow eyes, ear-like spikes extending from the top of its head. Covering its yellow, skeletal body are brown armor-like sections over its chest, shoulders, forearms, and knees.

He turned himself towards me, raised his two spoons, and sent me a telepathic message, "Master, it is good to see that you are well, we should leave at the earliest, I believe that Master's mother is impatient regarding your return."

I gave him a nod, returned the Boltund, and said goodbye to the helpful nurse.

Upon hearing me, Alakazam teleported us back to Pallet Town, more specifically in front of my worrying mother. I barely had time to see where I was when I felt a crushing hug and a wet spot starting to form on my shirt.

All I could do was return the hug and wait for her to let it all out.

Once she was done we had an important conversation, it began with us both taking a seat.

"Sebastian I think it's time you stop going around leaving your strong pokémon here and getting into trouble as you did this time."

"Mom, I get it. I wasn't planning on that as well, it was an accident."

There was a bit of silence before I continued, "I don't know what to do. Journeying is all I've done for the past eight years. I don't think I can just stay at home doing nothing."

Mom shared my troubled expression, she knew what I meant.

"I understand you, dear. This past month I talked with Mr. Oak, I'm sure he'd be happy to have you as an assistant of his, he already took that grandson of his and he is doing great."

"I guess, I don't want to become a professor or a researcher, Gary does, that's why he's working at the lab."

Here my mother did something that I didn't expect, she gave me a knowing smile and took a pamphlet from the small table that stood beside the couch.

"I knew you'd refuse, you were never the type to sit in a lab and study pokémon. And I said that to Samuel, we were of the same idea, so he looked around to see if there was anything that might interest you."

Here she handed me the pamphlet. It was similar to all those tournament registration papers that got posted on the Pokémon Center's walls, only this one wasn't for a tournament, it was for a job application.

It seems that the Pokémon League is tired of trying and failing at replacing the spot of Gym Leader in Viridian City, so they opened the application for any trainer who had at least five years of experience and had placed at least in the Top 3 on an Official League Tournament, this placement also had to be in the past three years.

Those were pretty demanding standards, but I met them all.

"Gym Leader, I don't know mom. That seems to be something that I'd need more experience than I have, besides I'm not a type specialist, especially not a Ground type one."

Again she had the knowing smile on her face.

"Well, they tried the more experienced ones and they failed, and ever since Agatha stayed there they changed the typing of the Gym to Various typing, so you won't have to choose a specialization."

"Come on, I know you always wanted to be a big figure when it came to pokémon, if you don't want it to be through a Lab you have to do it by being a part of the League, and the first step is to become a Gym Leader. At least now that we agreed that you won't be running around regions collecting badges and attempting to become the Champion of the region."

She's really keen on that, she doesn't even want to give me the option to continue my journeys.

"First off, I never said that I'd stop my adventures, I just said that this one wasn't supposed to be one. And second off, I'd have to move out, I don't want to leave you alone here, you know that I'd take my pokémons and I remember you saying that you didn't want to move out of Pallet."

I received a hug for that answer, but it was a quick one, seeing as she debunked me, "Well, I don't think there are any other regions for you to go exploring, and I'm a grown woman, I can take care of myself. While you are here you don't see it but I have a good amount of friends."

To make her point clearer, she held both my cheeks and made me look into her eyes.

"I won't be alone or lonely Sebastian, and you'll be a few hours away from me. That is considering that you don't use your Alakazam or that Dragonite."

I was bewildered, I've never seen her be this forceful. I guess it doesn't hurt to give it a try, what is the worst that could happen.

With a resolute expression, I removed her hands from my face and said, "Fine. I'll give it a try."

"Excellent, wait here I'll go grab the papers you'll need for your interview."

Wait, what? That's not what she's supposed to answer.

"What do you mean mom?"

"Oh sweety, I knew you'd give this a try so I signed you up beforehand, your interview is scheduled to be in a few days."

"What? But I just got here from Galar, how could you know I'd be back in time?"

Here her smile falters a bit, "I didn't, that's why I gave you so many calls. At first, I was worried that you'd stay there too long and would miss the date, but when you didn't answer me I got preoccupied."

This woman. What am I supposed to say? Stop being such a good mom? Quit trying to find a job for me?

Hah, I'll just go with it.

"I'm sorry for that, I'll make sure that it won't happen again. Now tell me, what do I need to take to this interview?"

"I'm glad you will, and it won't be too much, just the recommendation letter from Oak and six pokémons, you can choose whichever, but be careful, I heard Oak saying that the League put an Elite Four as the head of these tests, so you might have to battle one of them."

That sounded interesting, I've never had the chance to battle an Elite before, this would be great.

"Noted mom. I should get going, I still have to choose my team."

She just gave me a smile and a wave. She really wants me to get this job… I'm wasting time, these few days will have to be spent getting back in sync with some of my pokémon, I guess I can do that in Route 1.

With that thought I ran to Professor Oak's lab so I could grab myself a team that had a shot at defeating an Elite Four, maybe I can get the professor to tell me who is the one so I can choose some counters.