The last ferry from the mainland was the only one I could catch so, unfortunately, I didn't get to see the sun dip below the water. That was my favorite part of sunsets because it looked like the ocean was swallowing the sun. Things were almost as pretty at night since the moon had a certain flirtation with the waves I couldn't keep my eyes off of. There were a few others on the deck with me: a couple with a young child, fast asleep in their parents' laps; a trio of women friends, chattering excitedly about the island attraction we were all heading toward; and an older gentleman with a canine companion as stately and proper as he was. Lights were still twinkling around the park, which took up a good chunk of the island—it seemed the rumors were true that there was an attraction for every hour of the day and night for its visitors.
My ex-boyfriend, Hector, had invited me to The League, a Pokémon-themed amusement park, for a weekend of fun and relaxation. He had correctly guessed that I never stopped working too much after we parted ways about six months before and offered me a pre-paid ticket, no strings attached. We both shared a love of the Pokémon franchise and had made fleeting plans to visit when were still together. The park had been open for about a year and was located on a man-made island off the coast of California. Despite its proximity, traveling to and staying on the island—let alone buying tickets into the park when they were available—were expensive beyond reason. There wasn't an airport on the island, either, so the only way to get there was by boat. Still, many loyal fans were all too eager to cough up the coin and make the voyage. I'd only read about some of the different activities and services offered and knew there were probably many more I'd discover once I got to see the park for myself, believing I would get Hector's money's worth from the weekend visit.
Fledgling trainers, upon entering the park, could register as a guest or as a member (with additional fees, of course). In addition to all the perks advertised openly to the public, members also gained special privileges, which were, for the most part, kept private to entice more people to pay and find out why it was so great. Hector told me he had a surprise for me, and I was quietly hoping for a membership. This was mostly because it would give me an excuse to get back to the island after that weekend, quite possibly by myself the next time, and then I'd be able to explore it on my own terms.
It was rather cute, but I hadn't noticed until all the passengers were stepping off the boat that the faint jingle of the S.S. Anne's theme was drifting from the speakers around the ferry. While the actual S.S. Anne was more luxurious than the heap I stepped off of, I appreciated the homage. I had heard, though, that the last few trips of the night from the mainland usually did not see passengers over in the usual vessel of the daytime. I figured it had something to do with maintenance or that preferred guests probably did not steal away to the island in the middle of the night. I snapped a photo of myself striking a peace sign on the pier with the boat in the background and sent it to my best friend and roommate, Laryn. She replied instantly.
Laryn: omg so excited for you! can't wait to see all your pics from the weekend! and pls send live updates about how it goes with Hector—hope it's not the most awkward weekend of your life xoxo
I responded with a middle finger emoji followed by another text with a kiss mark. Earlier that morning before we both left for work, she asked if I thought it'd be weird to hang out with Hector for an entire weekend after moving out of the place we'd rented together and then not seeing him for half a year. I was in denial and wanted to assume everything would be fine since we'd obviously kept in touch, but I had some reservations about how our in-person interactions would go. As far as the breakup went, I had initiated it, but we both agreed splitting up would be the best thing. Laryn was great and asked me to move in with her when I told her what happened. We'd practically grown up together, so she was like a sister to me. I wished there'd been a way she could've tagged along for the trip, but she was as poor as I was and also not really into Pokémon.
"Besides, how is Hector supposed to get back with you if I'm in the way, third-wheeling?" she had teased with a wink me before we rushed out of our apartment before work. She was indifferent about Hector and me being together. Mostly, I guessed she wasn't sure about if I wanted to get back together and reserved sharing a stronger opinion. I hardly even knew myself. Being in a relationship had been nice, but being single was fine, too. I probably complained too much about wanting to cuddle with someone at night, though. Laryn would joke that I wasn't her type; otherwise, she'd happily oblige.
I hurried to catch up with the rest of the passengers who I figured were heading to the same place I was. Once I passed through the port area, no one was in sight, so I followed some signs until I found Roserade's Retreat, the name of the island's hotel. Violets and red roses seemed to be blooming from the walls and climbed all the way to the 30-foot ceiling, and the air smelled sweet—likely to attract wild Pokémon if hotel management wasn't careful. Guests were still milling about and chatting excitedly with each other throughout the lobby, even after midnight. From simply listening to the conversations, I would've guessed everyone else were school-age children.
I made my way to the front desk and checked into my room. Hector made sure to book us separate rooms, although I wondered if maybe he had initially wanted us to share. It would've been cheaper, but I insisted on paying for my own room, at the very least. We planned to get breakfast together in the morning, though, since we both knew I wouldn't arrive until late. I immediately took the elevator up to my room on the fourteenth (technically thirteenth) floor and snaked through some hallways before reaching my room. Inside, the room looked rather professional, which was a small disappointment as I was hoping to be surprised by Pikachu plushes and Poké Ball pillows everywhere. Next to a small display of roses (from the hotel, hopefully, and not Hector), there was a map of the island and pamphlets about other things to do and see outside the park. I grabbed the map, threw my bags down, ran into the bathroom to freshen up, and immediately set out to do some night exploring.
The better idea probably would've been to go right to sleep, but someone from work who'd visited the island recently told me to find a bar called Hypno. I was afraid I wouldn't want to leave the park after stepping foot inside, so it seemed as good a time as any to explore other parts of the island. I also figured it'd be one of the only moments I wouldn't be practically glued to Hector, and with going to a bar, I thought I'd enjoy it more as a solo experience.
I asked the receptionist downstairs to help me find the bar on the island map. It was far from the hotel, but I was happy to walk and look around. It was fun to see so many buildings were associated with Pokémon in some way. There was a barber shop called Snips with the letters squeezed in by a Scizor's claw and a large gym called Machampion. A flexing Machamp was obviously the mascot and smiled arrogantly in the window at everyone walking by. There were many other Pokémon-themed buildings, and it actually felt like I was walking through a small city in one of the Pokémon regions. The taller buildings were ordinary, though, most likely apartments for the staff who operated the park. Before arriving to the island, I'd looked up a map of the park that showed it was practically in the center of the island and stretched a bit toward the pier. A high wall surrounded the park, made of smooth and cold metal that was covered in pictures of Pokémon framing "The League" in the iconic big yellow Pokémon font. I took a few pictures of the wall, but it was too dark for any of them to come out clearly. At some point, I'd try to remember to take pictures during the day and continued on my trek toward the bar.
Traffic seemed to cross through wider streets while the smaller ones were quiet and peaceful. Eventually, I cut through a shaded park, and immediately after, there was a shift in the atmosphere. I found myself surrounded by dark and run-down buildings. The roads were not paved for cars, and they were slick with water, even though the other areas I walked through were dry. A light yet pungent odor hung in the air, and I swore I would see a Koffing fly by or a Grimer grab at my feet when I passed a sewer opening.
No people were around, and the occasional streetlight I passed by would flicker ominously. Above, some clotheslines with laundry on them hung and flapped in the breeze. Maybe it was silly, but I felt like I was being watched from the shadows. Eventually, though, I found the bar. A giant neon sign hung over the door with the name of the bar and the Pokémon's swinging pendulum, flashing back and forth. I couldn't help but stare at it, feeling like I was actually being hypnotized. A few men were on the ground outside, drunk and hollering. I ignored them as I pushed past the door and stepped into a dark room.
The place was big inside and surprisingly sophisticated. All the tables were fixed into the ground—a reflective black sea—and stood on one leg each, accompanied by only two tall backless stools (also immovable) situated across from each other, which seemed a poor choice for somewhere people went to get drunk. Or maybe it wasn't supposed to be that kind of bar. The tables and stools were arranged in such a way that if the floor were a chess board, each set up would have its own black square, and the white squares would be empty space. All the furniture was constructed from a sleek and silky white material, and at the base of each table and stool were three rings of neon light. The bar was in the back right, all lit up with bright whites, pinks, and yellows to adequately illuminate the display of bottles. The mirror behind the bar helped bring a little more brightness into the room, as well, but overall, it was difficult to see much more than the outlines of people's jaws. I saw that most of the tables were filled, though, and most people, leaned across their tables, were speaking in hushed voices to each other. I supposed if I had less than savory business, Hypno would be an ideal choice for a private meeting.
Strange music was blasting—a mixture of synthetic sounds remixed with Drowzee's and Hypno's analog cries every now and then. It made me feel like I was in a dream or maybe on a spaceship. It was rather catchy when it wasn't attempting to split my skull open. I guessed it made it easier to have a private conversation.
People glanced suspiciously at me as I weaved through the tables but eventually lost interest in me. I found an empty seat at the end of the bar and slid into it. The someone from work I knew had suggested the place because of a specialty drink called the Hypnosis. I was rightfully skeptical of the name but figured I needed to indulge for the weekend. I flashed my ID, and the bartender smiled mischievously as she prepared my drink. While I waited, I swiveled around in the stool to shoot a quick video to send to Laryn. Above us, there seemed to be an upstairs seating area, and I imagined a long velvet couch wrapping around the back corner. On it, there were probably lots of pretty girls surrounding some men puffing on joints and cigarettes, booze spilled all over the low table in front and on the floor. Maybe some of the girls were dancing in slow-motion with each other to the music, pulsing almost visibly in the dark while other dangerous-looking men and women sitting in close proximity were eyeing very closely how tightly their dresses fit, how short they were cut…
My drink arrived and snapped me out of my lurid imagination, and I stopped recording. I closed the tab and took a sip of the Hypnosis. Looking at my drink, I thought it'd be cute to send Laryn a toast and tried to balance my phone in front of me while I threw back the drink.
"Cheers!" I shouted at my phone and gulped down the shot in one go. It was all I could do not to spit it all over my phone, and I noticed the bartender waiting to see what I'd do next as she worked at the cash register. For a moment, I thought I would throw up, but then the feeling passed. Figuring Laryn would get a kick out of the recording, I sent it along with the first video and hoped she hadn't gone to bed yet. The bartender laughed, impressed by me, it seemed, and returned with my change.
"Anything else for ya?" she asked as she picked up the empty shot glass and wiped down the counter in front of her. I shook my head and smiled politely. I just wanted to sit and people-watch for a bit before heading back to the hotel. After a few minutes, I saw in the mirror that a man walked into the bar. My eyes had adjusted to the dark a little bit, but it was still hard to really see anything. The alcohol had also begun to take hold of me. It felt like the man's eyes had been on me since he walked in, but I was too loopy not to ignore him. Soon, he sat next to me at the bar, and at that moment, the music became quieter. It was something jazzy and unmemorable.
"Having a good time?" he said to no one in particular. Then he ordered something. The bartender came back with two drinks and set one in front of me. The man looked over at me as he began drinking whatever he'd ordered for himself. He was quite handsome so I felt I could be friendly.
"What's this?" I asked with a smile. I picked up the drink and swished it around the glass a bit before bringing it to my nose. It smelled very sweet.
"A virgin Bellossom. Don't worry—I'm not trying to be devious. Go on. I assure you it tastes perfectly fine." His smile was charming as he spoke, quiet and calm. I took a small sip. It was very fruity and sugary but had no alcohol. I'd been a proud drunk in grad school and developed a keen taste for alcohol, no matter how masked it was. I decided to take my time with it, unlike my first drink, which tasted like acid. "So," he started to say, "are you here for business or pleasure?" My thoughts were thick with flattery for I hadn't imagined an attractive man would flirt with me on a trip with my ex-boyfriend.
"Pleasure, mostly. I'm actually on vacation with a friend. Well, an ex," I answered and laughed into my drink before taking another small sip. He smiled again, seeming sure of himself.
"Friends with an ex? Unheard of!" he exclaimed, amused by his own reaction. His teasing felt lighthearted and flattering. "Do they still have a chance?" I scoffed, almost offended, but ended up smiling some more.
"I guess we'll see. And you? Are you here with anyone?"
"Oh, I'm not a visitor so it's not uncommon to find me around the island. I just can't help myself whenever I see a new face, though," he said. I nodded, becoming uninterested but decided to carry on the conversation.
"This is my first time here. We'd wanted to come sooner when it first opened, but plans fell through."
"Did you break up recently then? The park's one-year anniversary is actually this weekend." He was young and clearly sharp, but I felt myself dulling and rusting under the influence of the Hypnosis.
"It's been almost half a year, but we ended on good terms. I'm excited to see the park at any rate. And I didn't realize the anniversary is this weekend. I knew it had opened around this time last year, but I guess it's exciting to be here now. Maybe they'll do something special to celebrate."
"Yes, it's quite the place for visitors. I'm sure you'll enjoy it very much if you're a fan of the franchise. There seems to be more people here this weekend because of the anniversary, so I'm sure there's probably something special planned. There are many secrets here, though—I think they like to keep guests guessing about what amazing wonders will be released next," the man said and chuckled with amusement. There was a slight pause in the exchange. He was looking around a little bit like he was waiting for someone to appear. I was beginning to feel like I had to go to the bathroom. "Your ex…is a man?" It was a strange thing to ask—only made stranger by how he asked it—but I nodded my head. He grinned like it was a victory. I grew tired of talking and finished off my drink, determining at that point it was safe to fully consume.
"I think I need to use the restroom but thank you for the drink…," I said and trailed off, hoping he'd share a name.
"My friends call me G."
"Well, thank you for the drink, G," I said. I looked to the bartender to ask about the bathroom, who must have overheard and pointed around the bar before I could ask. As I walked away, I heard him ask for my name. I felt like I was far enough away that I didn't have to answer.
In the restroom, I did actually have to pee. Then I washed my hands and splashed some water on my face. It was clean inside and smelled faintly of cheap antibacterial soap. The mirror was in need of a good wipe down, though, which didn't help as the Hypnosis was stronger than I thought it'd be and was blurring the edges of my vision. Staring at myself in the reflection, I thought the edges of my face were starting to shift. Splashing on some water helped me snap out of the stupor a little, at least enough that I felt I'd be okay to walk back to the hotel. I had the idea to text Laryn about the encounter with the man but figured she might've already gone to sleep. When I walked out of the restroom, the bartender seemed to be waiting for me.
"That man wanted me to give you this," she said and handed me a dark object before heading back to the bar. It was a small black box, neatly tied up with a red ribbon. I figured I'd open it when I got back to my room, but I did notice it was surprisingly heavy for such a small package. I looked over to the bar, but the man was nowhere to be seen. Excited to text Laryn about it the next morning, I put the box in my jacket pocket and started the walk to the hotel. The entire walk back was a vaguely slurry memory, but I mostly thought about what Laryn's reaction would be from me receiving a gift from a strange man only moments after meeting. I made it back without incident and slept soundly that night, despite being excited for everything I would see and do in the morning.
Hector and I arrived at breakfast at the same time, which was probably unusual for him to see since I was often late for everything when we were dating. We smiled when our eyes met and quickly approached each other in the hotel lobby.
"Wow! Look at you! You finally decided to chop off The Bush!" I said, laughing. Hector laughed, as well, and seemed to be internally debating about hugging me. I decided to just go in for a hug and made sure it wasn't too long or too short. I arbitrarily decided that would be three seconds. Hector had always kept his hair medium-long (more on the long side), which was known affectionately as The Bush among our friend group. He was very particular about how he styled it, though, and would spend forever in the bathroom coifing it some mornings. He would get upset if anyone ever messed it up on purpose or on accident. I had never really thought about what he'd look like if he bothered to change his hair style, but his chestnut-colored hair looked better with a shorter length since it wasn't so overwhelming. Aside from that and maybe some new clothes, it seemed he hadn't changed much, but I supposed six months wasn't actually very long in the scheme of things. He was still pale, a characteristic that earned him the name of "basement dweller" with my mother. She didn't understand what he did for a living and thought he looked like a man-child. She was overjoyed when we broke up.
"Yeah, I thought it was time for a change since… Anyway, you think it looks all right? It's only been this way for a couple weeks," he said. Without missing a beat, I agreed with him.
"No, you look like you're ready to spend the day in a park with thousands of screaming kids, no doubt! You bring a hat, though? It's supposed to be hot and sunny all day." He half turned to reveal his familiar green backpack, which was slung over his shoulders. Seeing it brought back some fond memories of hikes and camping trips we'd taken. Fastened to the handle of the backpack was a black baseball cap with a Poké Ball embroidered on the front. "Well, looks like it'll fit you now without all that hair." Like me, we'd opted for our most Pokémon trainer-y outfits. He was wearing a light-blue t-shirt with a simple red circle on it, khaki shorts, and open-toe sandals. Hector also had some leather bracelets and a big smart watch on his left wrist that reminded me of a Z-Ring. I had my hair tucked under a short-brimmed straw hat already (it resembled a bug catcher's hat) and was wearing a shirt I had custom-made when I knew I'd be visiting The League. It was a tank top covered with a pattern that looked like Milotic's scales—discreet enough to wear in everyday life, but any Pokémon fan would recognize the design immediately, especially since the trim was cut in the distinctive pink matching the creature's hair. The bright colors popped against my navy chambray shorts and a red canvas drawstring bag I'd just bought because it resembled Misty's. I rocked on my heels in my comfortable but worn sneakers. The familiar silence that marked the end of our relationship had crept up on us so soon, and suddenly, I felt tired, despite my excitement. Worry started to sprout in my thoughts that this would set the pace for the rest of the day, and it was almost enough to make me want to go back up to my room, pack up my stuff, and leave.
"Well, are you hungry? I actually grabbed a table before so we could sit down and review today's plan." That was enough to snap me out of my negative trance. Smiling, I asked him to lead the way.
Sitting down at a table by the large windows in the dining room overlooking the island, we agreed to confirm the itinerary and pulled out our respective notes on what we wanted to see and do. Waitstaff came by a few times to bring us muffins and coffee. It was a little early for me to feel hungry, but I ate as much as I could. Hector already had some continental breakfast items at the table and seemed ravenous. I wondered if he was actually hungry or just nervous about what to say to me. He would look up periodically, looking like he was going to say something, but then would just turn his attention back to his plate or his map. I was bouncing back and forth between deciding to stare out the window in silence or starting the conversation myself. I wanted to pull my phone out and text Laryn about it but thought that would seem rude, so I just pretended to read through my notebook where I'd written down some attractions I wanted to visit. Hector seemed to be trying hard to act normal, maybe like how he was when we'd been together, but it seemed to prevent him from saying anything. That continued for about 10 minutes.
"Umm, so, we'll start with the main attraction and do The Journey, right?" Hector finally asked before shoveling scrambled eggs into his mouth. Then he grunted with realization and handed me a pamphlet. "Someone was handing this out in the lobby before you came down. I'm sure they'll hand them out in the park, but it'll give us something to read when we're in line." Hector pulled a thick pamphlet from his backpack on the ground and handed it to me. The glossy paper was folded into six sections and was colorfully illustrated with chibi Pokémon and the signature Pokémon font. I started to open it, but realized it was huge and would be a hassle to close again, so I slid it into my bag, saying I'd look at it later. "Registration is just around the corner from the entrance, and that's where we get to pick our starters! Unfortunately, the later gen starters require Poké Coins in order to select so I'm sure you have feelings about that," Hector began to explain to me as we both rifled through the attraction guides left for us in our rooms. He seemed less nervous to be explaining the check in process, probably because he knew more about it than I did. Either way, I was anxious for the talking to become easier and figured I should've just started us talking about the park in the first place.
"Oh, yes, I see that now. Do we automatically get Poké Coins when we enter? Or is that something extra we'd have to pay for?" I asked, looking at him over the top of my notebook. He didn't look up and was actually trying to hide his face from me, but I could tell he was smiling. He continued talking about other things, but all I could hear from him was "Oh, you'll see…"
"And anyway, we can battle with any Pokémon we catch, but it's best to stay away from the higher-level areas for now. I've heard the other guests that hang around those areas are pretty snobby about who they'll challenge, and if they win, they can take all our items." I was very eager to participate in The Journey as the guide said all Pokémon were catchable around the park depending on the zone, time of day, and even time of the year. They even had zones with simulated weather effects, which also affected which critters would appear. Of course, there were special promotions throughout the year when legendary Pokémon were more likely to appear, and even though that weekend was the 1-year anniversary of the park opening, neither of us had heard about any special Pokémon being available. Aside from that, there were beauty contest halls, video studios, gift shops, restaurants, photo walls, and roller coasters and other rides around the park. It truly seemed like a fantasy world come to life. The Journey was likely meant to give guests something to focus on while running around the island to be distracted by the other additions.
"Well, I can't wait to see the actual Pokémon! I read somewhere that the holographic technology used to render them is the most sophisticated used anywhere in the world. Who would have thought we'd advance science for a little amusement?" I remarked and laughed to myself.
Soon, we were past our limits with impatience and decided to cut breakfast a little short. I had only nibbled at a muffin and had a few slurps of coffee, a decision I was sure I'd regret later, but for the moment, my excitement would sustain me until I became unbearably hungry. Outside the hotel, a shuttle designed to look like Arcanine took us to the entrance gates of the park. Alongside the other very energetic guests, we raced to get in line for entry into the park. The sun was stretching its sleepy rays through the few clouds hanging in the sky. Thankfully, I was immune to the harmful effects of sunlight as I could tell the clouds would burn off in no time at all by later in the morning. My hat would work hard to keep the sun off me at any rate. Hector was slathering on sunscreen, and I had to point out a few spots he missed. I also applied a layer of sunscreen, though, just to be safe.
As we waited in line, Hector seemed to be hiding the ticket confirmation from me. I just knew it had to be something to do with the memberships but tried not to seem too curious. In my head, I was practicing an authentic expression of surprise. I could tell he had spent a lot of time and money planning this weekend and wanted to show my appreciation however I could. Maybe it was apparent to both of us that we still had lingering feelings for each other yet to be resolved, but at that point, I thought we were both also okay with being single. I pulled my phone out and told Hector to smile for a picture.
"Say, 'Hi, Laryn!'" I shouted and formed a little heart with my fingers while Hector raised both his arms like a gorilla, crossed his eyes, and made a weird shape with his mouth. I stifled a laugh and sent the picture to Laryn. A few minutes later, she responded.
Laryn: whoa! he cut his hair?! also tell him I say hi 3
I showed Hector the text, and he laughed and waved hello to my phone, so I texted Laryn that Hector said hi back. I was hoping she would text again, but she didn't.
My impatience and excitement compounded only to aggravate the wait; it felt like I'd aged years before we got past the ticketing booths. A banner had been strung across the entrance gates just before the booths, commemorating the 1-year anniversary of the park's opening. It was a bright red sign with white lettering, held up by Pikachus with little angel wings. I figured maybe there would be some extra special events happening in the park we hadn't heard about and quivered with excitement. Hector then reminded me about reading through the pamphlets he grabbed earlier to kill the time. Before I could actually read anything, a few people behind us in line asked where we got the giant pamphlets. We said someone had been handing them out in the hotel, and they seemed disappointed not to have gotten any. I turned back around when the conversation ended but felt them reading over my shoulder. Deciding to be helpful, I held it up as high as I could without it feeling awkward. The font was somewhat small, but I figured they could look at the pictures.
I was unaware, but there was apparently a narrative surrounding The League. Trainers from around the world were invited to visit a new region called Panngaia, which was a mysterious island that was home to all currently known Pokémon. Obviously, it took its name from Pangea, the supercontinent, but it was fitting. After its discovery, the island became a Pokémon haven and attracted many powerful trainers quickly. The first to arrive established gyms and a Pokémon League so that the region would bring in even more trainers. The narrative description ended with a statement about many mysteries and new Pokémon still being discovered on the island, which seemed like a necessary insert for future generations to be included in the park. It also begged the question of if The League had plans to expand the island at some point to accommodate new Pokémon and areas.
When it was our turn to enter the park, I confirmed that, lo and behold, Hector had indeed gotten us both memberships. He was beaming proudly as he handed over the confirmation to the assistant in the booth, although I detected a pang of panicked realization at how much money he'd just let go of. I was sure to put on a tasteful show of surprise and elation. After settling down—because I was genuinely excited—I gave him a quick peck on the cheek, which seemed to surprise him, right before the assistant began explaining some of the members' perks.
"We're so very happy you've joined the Pokémon Fan Club! Congratulations! As you may know, members have rankings based on how many visits to the island they pay. You will both begin at the Blue Level. To start, you'll have 100 Poké Coins automatically credited to your accounts, which actually has a lot of buying power in activities like The Journey and attractions around the park, such as the gift stores and the Giratina Transport Express. Lines for any attractions are divided into rank. As Blue members, you can get ahead of regular visitors but not before Yellow members. To increase your rank, you need only to spend three days on the island! So, it is possible for some members to rank up multiple times in one visit—I've seen it happen before!" Our eyes widened at the thought of ranking up so soon as we continued listening. "The perks of each rank increase and become more fantastic so I'll give you this handy pamphlet which explains all the benefits. The other noteworthy perk of being a member is access to the Indigo Room. All members have the same privileges inside the Indigo Room, and it's quite a spectacle to behold inside, even if you don't take advantage of any of its other experiences. That's all I can say about it for now, though! The Indigo Room opens at 8PM every night and stays open until 1AM, but I recommend you go right as it opens—trust me! And for the 1-year anniversary, new rooms will be opened to guests to enjoy just for tonight! I've worked here since the grand opening, and even I don't know what's in those new rooms!" Hector and I tried to look amused when we both probably really wanted the attendant to stop talking. "Anyway, if you have any questions about any of the features or attractions of the park, please look for a park attendant—we're all wearing red and white!—or visit a Poké Booth to get answers from Professor Oak himself! I hope you enjoy your stay!" the attendant explained enthusiastically and gave us a number of additional reading materials. It was all very helpful information, but I was relieved when they finished because I wanted to pick out my starter. I hastily stuffed all the pamphlets into my backpack, which seemed to shock the attendant, but I knew I wouldn't get around to really reading through them until I was probably back home, wishing I was still on the island.
At the registration desk for the Journey, there was another long line. It seemed like everyone had the same idea we had and funneled directly from the admittance line. Thankfully, the Blue line was slightly shorter and having Hector reading through all the information we got and then telling me about it helped to pass the time.
"Oh, wow, we can get free samples at certain snack shops! I mean, have you ever wondered what a poffin tastes like?!" I squealed excitedly when I decided to read the pamphlet over Hector's shoulder. I felt like a kid again as Hector and I gushed about everything we wanted to see. The people around us also seemed very happy, not like some people at other amusement parks with their sun-tan-lotion-greasy-faces and shrieking kids in silly hats. Everyone genuinely seemed as excited as we were to be there, no matter how old they were, and it made me more excited to see how energetic they were.
"Looks like camping is even a part of the park! I think we can only camp in certain areas, though, but if we pick up a Curry Kit, we can try our own recipes!" Hector added.
"Oh, and there's an area where you can ride around in a cart and basically play Pokémon Snap with a special camera! Apparently, you can earn special merch if a photo you take ends up on Professor Oak's Wall of Fame!" We went back and forth about the attractions we wanted to see on our first day, and we reached the booth before long.
"Welcome to The Journey! Have you already downloaded The League app?" the attendant asked. We both nodded. "Excellent! Please enter your information onto these screens so I can activate your accounts!" Hector and I input our usernames and passwords. "All right, your accounts are now synced with the park's main program, and I've activated your Journey registrations. As you adventure about the island, collecting Pokémon and battling through gym leaders and the Elite 4, the app will provide you some narrative about your travels. It also acts as your Pokédex and can display information about any Pokémon you've caught. All information will be relayed via Rotom in Rotom Dex form automatically, but you can change the settings to the standard Dexter if you prefer. In time, the app will also explain its other functions as you need to know about them. Additionally, it will display how many Poké Coins you currently have in the upper right-hand part of the screen, if you've purchased any. If you're a member, the app may randomly pick up Poké Coins or items for you, depending on where you walk so be sure to explore everywhere! The League app, otherwise, includes a map, which attractions are open for the day, which rides have the shortest lines at any given point, and other information tied to your personal accounts. I do also need to point out that the Dynamax Arenas are still under construction, so I'm sorry you won't be able to enjoy that attraction yet." It was so much information to take in, and I felt I was going to burst at any moment from waiting to start the actual thing. "Now, we can start the fun part! On the screen, you can now cycle through the selection of starter Pokémon to accompany you for the Journey. Please note for starters from generations six, seven, and eight that these Pokémon require a fee of 15 Poké Coins to select."
Hector and I were trying to decide if that was worth the cost since we only had 100 each and no idea what else we could purchase with the coins. I decided to go with the classic choice, Squirtle, and Hector selected Torchic. Our new friends were rotating on the screens in front of us, and I felt as though I were actually about to embark on an epic journey with the critter. At that point, the attendant handed us two pairs of somewhat large high-quality-plastic glasses. The design was intelligent, and the lenses were clear and wrapped around the side, as well. "These will allow you to enjoy the full experience of our holographic technology. There are small speakers at the tips here," the attendant said and pointed to the stems of the glasses that rested on the ear, "if you want to enjoy some classic Pokémon tunes while you travel around the island. The volume can be controlled on the side here with these buttons, and these glasses are synced with your apps, too, so you can control the song selection or if you want to listen to music at all. So, go ahead and put them on!"
At that point, I'd already put the glasses on. They felt big on my face, and I already knew I'd be adjusting them all day. Seeing some people ahead of us, I realized they were slightly larger so they could be worn over prescription glasses, and there was even a small clip to connect the stems together. Wholly impressed, I focused on getting through the screens so we could hurry up and experience the park.
The original theme was playing from my glasses, and I imagined Professor Oak assigning me my first Pokémon. When I looked over at the screen, Squirtle was standing on top of it! My phone vibrated and was prompting me to name it. Being a purist, I didn't give it a nickname but still felt much affection toward my new friend. The attendant had a few more things to say, which I really wasn't paying attention to so I hoped Hector was paying attention and would fill me in later. I sort of drifted away and watched as Squirtle jumped down from the screen and waddled behind me, looking up curiously. Fighting hard to maintain my composure as a grown adult, I resisted crying out of sheer joy and waited at the edge of the first patch of tall grass for Hector to catch up. He seemed similarly enthralled by his Torchic.
"Well…," he started to say, hiding his face from me. I imagined it was because he was trying not to cry, too. "Let's battle!" he shouted dramatically and pumped a fist in the air. Others overheard him and discreetly turned their bodies to watch. I rolled up my sleeves and assumed a battle position.
"All right, Squirtle! You're up!" I yelled back, and Squirtle leapt into position. Obviously, we had the advantage over a fire-type since Squirtle already knew Water Gun. The battle was over quickly, but I decided to be a gracious victor and not demand any battle spoils. "We'll stop at the first Poké Center we see!" I said and winked. I wasn't sure how everything worked with the voice commands and holograms, but everything was so responsive. It felt as though I had actually been commanding a little pocket monster to do my bidding, and it looked real enough to touch, too, although all the Pokémon did seem to have a cartoonish quality to them. The creature models actually seemed pretty consistent with what was used in Detective Pikachu, except they were even higher quality in-person. I was most impressed by how the light seemed to shine on Squirtle's skin and shell, as if the real sunlight was also part of the holographic world.
As we ran around the first few zones, our Poké partners followed us loyally while Hector and I tried to catch every Pokémon we saw. When we wanted to catch something, we selected a Poké Ball on the app, and then it would appear in our hand. Although we weren't actually holding anything, if we pretended to throw it up into the air just to catch it again, the holographic technology simulated the animation as though we were holding a ball. The attention to detail was incredible. Remembering all the promo videos for The League I'd watched, I couldn't believe how real the experience was proving to be. The videos had all seemed highly edited for the special effects, but seeing it all in the flesh, they probably hadn't edited anything. And I thought maybe I'd been pasted into a digital Pokémon utopia instead.
We later discovered that we could get free Poké Balls by stopping at the Poké Booths to ask Professor Oak questions about the park. There were also some NPC holograms stationed around the zones who would challenge guests to battles, and upon beating them, they would offer some items and a few Poké Coins. By noon, Hector and I were exhausted (but still very excited) and decided to take a break for lunch. We walked into a restaurant by one of the water zones and were seated at a table under a large umbrella on the deck. As I had predicted, the sun became scorching early on in the day, so it was nice to get into some shade. The way it sparkled on the lake was stunning, especially with people riding in Swanna pedal boats to fish for water Pokémon. A red Gyarados leaped out of the water over a couple pedal boats and somehow caused waves and splashes in the water. I laughed and pointed it out to Hector, but when he looked, he had just missed the Gyarados' tail disappearing into the water.
There were tons of people swarming all over the park, but the layout of the place was smart about how it directed the flow of traffic. Even getting into the restaurant didn't require a long wait at all, and while I usually felt suffocated being around too many people, I was surprisingly comfortable.
"Wow, what a day so far, huh?" I sighed with a smile as I opened the menu, which had surprisingly normal options. Squirtle was playing by my seat with a Clefairy I'd caught. The two were chasing each other in circles underneath the table, which was adorable to sneak glimpses of. Hector's Torchic was snoozing in the sunlight, next to his Pancham, who was also napping peacefully. I was curious about all the programming power that went into rendering the Pokémon and how many unique animations and interactions each had.
"I'll say. Did you see those racers when we passed through Zone 3? I would love to zip around a track on an Absol! And then there was the Drifblim ride over the park—oh, I wonder if we can find flying Pokémon up there!" Hector said animatedly. Clearly, he was still very eager to try a lot of things. This made me start listing attractions I still wanted to do and see. I realized it was only the first day, but I wanted to make sure we got the full experience. As I was talking, I noticed Hector was staring somewhat intently at me, and not in a I'm looking at you because you're talking kind of look. Honestly, I wasn't sure he was even paying attention to what I was saying. It was somewhat endearing, so I carried on like I hadn't noticed.
Eventually, the waitstaff came by to take our orders, and while we waited for our food, I wanted to send Laryn a picture of us with our Pokémon.
"Wait, wouldn't she not be able to see them because of…," Hector murmured and touched his glasses.
"Oh, damn, you're right. Wait, there's a camera button in The League app, though." When I clicked on it, sure enough, the Pokémon were visible on the screen. Hector's face lit up with surprise and glee.
"They really thought of everything," he whispered incredulously. We snapped a few pictures, which seemed to get the attention of our Pokémon. Then for the last couple, they jumped at the camera and climbing over each other to get into the frame, making for some chaotic and hilarious shots. We continued chatting about more of the attractions on our list until our food came.
After we finished eating, Hector went to the restroom. I couldn't believe how stuffed I was and only had the energy to scroll through some of the pictures I'd taken on my phone and sent a few to Laryn. I figured she'd be on her lunch break and would be able to reply.
Laryn: whoa so jealous! looking like a fun day so far! how has the day been/being with him?
Me: its been really good actually. I think the ex thing maybe just got to my head. it sort of feels like nothing's changed in a way
Laryn: ooOoo 😍 does that mean youre getting back together?!
Me: haha idk about that yet. well see after this weekend ;)
Hector came back from the bathroom, and then we were back on our feet. Before the end of the day, we'd battled youngsters in shorts (and lost somehow), solved puzzles in the Unown ruins, dove to the bottom of the ocean zone in a Wailord deep sea bus, and had some snow cones at Delicious Vanillish. Hector and I had developed our teams substantially and were poised to take on the higher level zones the next day. Our starters had evolved, along with some of the other Pokémon we'd caught.
Numerous gift stores were positioned by most of the snack and dessert bars and restaurants, which seemed a surefire way to attract more customers since people had likely already spent real money buying food. In one of the shops, I almost went ballistic with spending, but thankfully, Hector talked me out of buying too much.
"We probably shouldn't spend all our money on the first day," he said and laughed.
"Speak for yourself—I have no idea when I'll come back here! Besides, Laryn could cover my part of the rent for the next couple months…probably…" Hector crossed his arms and looked at me as if to say oh really? "Ugh, fine!" He was right, but, still, it was hard to put away the Nihilego veiled bell cap and Polteageist tea set I found. Together, they would have totaled over $500, though—almost half a paycheck. Still, I wanted to buy something. The decision paralysis was so bad, I had to go pee before I could make a choice. Afterward, I ended up getting a t-shirt that was light pink and featured Alcremie across the front above the word "Sweet!" in lettering that looked like frosting. Unable to resist, I also got a Squirtle mug for myself and a Pikachu plush for Laryn since that was the only Pokémon she recognized. I did force Hector to take a picture with me wearing the bell cap and holding the tea set so I could pretend to cry. The flash was on when Hector took the selfie, which made the veil of the hat light up in an unexpected and dazzling way. Hector got a wrist strap for his watch sporting the faces of Munchlax and Snorlax asleep with floating Z's above their heads. He also picked up a cute Kirlia stationary pack that came with a sleek white pen and Mega Gardevoir key chain. Snorlax and Gardevoir were his favorite Pokémon.
At the end of the day, our path took us to the gates of the Indigo Room right before it opened so we sat down on a bench for a few minutes while we waited. I decided to change the settings for my Pokédex because Rotom's voice had become annoying, especially since we couldn't walk two steps without hearing an overlapping cacophony of Rotoms the entire day.
"Could you also switch to Dexter, too? It's unavoidable if I hear Rotom from someone else, but I figure if we can avoid it ourselves, we should," I said and laughed. "Anyway, I heard in the ice cream shop that there's a place you can make your own badge and sign up for a gym leader trial so we should do that tomorrow! I wonder if that means we can apply to join the Elite 4…" I started flipping through the pamphlets to see if there was any other information. "Oh wait, if you pass the gym leader trial, they'll register your team and create an avatar after you. I guess that's still pretty cool, huh? Sounds similar to what they did in Pokémon Go."
"You could battle yourself if you visit again then," Hector replied and laughed lightly. He was staring intently at something on his phone. It looked like his camera app was open, so he was probably checking his face for burns.
"Gosh, I really am thinking about when I'll come back again! I could probably swing it if I worked really hard to save up money." I said and looked at him. "Oh, good, it doesn't look like you burned at all today." He seemed to blush and looked away as he shoved his phone back in his pocket. He also stuffed his hat inside his backpack. I absent-mindedly touched my head to check if I was still wearing my hat. Then I remembered I'd put it in my bag before we sat down to wait for the Indigo Room.
"It's a good thing I brought extra sunscreen, I guess."
"Yeah, I was going to offer to trade hats with you if you got too hot, but it looks like you didn't need it."
"We'll see in the morning, though. I've always been a—"
"Delayed burner," we both said at the same time and laughed. It was one of his often-repeated phrases when we'd dated. Whether it was a trip to a beach or a hike on a trail, he always mentioned it the second or third day after when he, inevitably, showed me his sunburns. After the laughter subsided, we sat quietly on the bench as others walked by, energetically recounting their days. It felt nice to be off our feet again, and the night air was cool but not too chilly yet. Soaking it all in made me feel like I'd gained back five years of my life.
"…Hey, I hope you know I really appreciate you inviting me to come this weekend. I'm having such a good time and have you to thank," I said and put my hand on Hector's forearm. He smiled wistfully at me before his gaze seemed to fall to my lips. Suddenly, the Hall of Fame theme blasted from beyond the gates, and lights sprouted from the ground. Confetti began falling from the sky, but when I went to catch some of the paper, I realized it wasn't real. I immediately started filming on the app so I could send it to Laryn.
"Makes the clean-up much easier!" Hector remarked as we rose to our feet. Stars began shooting across the sky, and more people began to gather around the gates. Dragonites, Ho-ohs, and pink Vivillions began fluttering around, and Pikachus with red caps and trumpets appeared from the bushes to join in the grand swell of music. Giant balloons with various Pokémon decorated on them were then released from the trees, and Mega Altarias burst out of them with clouds of gold glitter. The display was then topped off with a bout of fireworks; the last one to pop was a giant Pikachu holding up a victory sign and winking with one eye. Everyone applauded the opening show of the Indigo Room, and the crowd began to disperse after. I ended the recording by switching the camera view to show Hector and me, winking and flashing a victory sign before saving the video. It was a few minutes long, but I had no trouble sending it to Laryn.
Hector and I then headed toward the gate where other members were gathering. An attendant was confirming people's memberships via their phones. Once we got through the gates, we were ushered inside by another attendant with swarms of people's Pokémon excitedly following us inside. The attendants took us through a number of rooms, each bigger than the last, before we arrived in a large hall with an impressive spread of food laid out. Looking around, the chamber we stood in what could only be described as regal and luxurious. I was almost overwhelmed by the opulence—from the cream-colored plush carpet to the glimmering gold chandeliers, which I half-expected to spring to life as Chandelures (except that they weren't the right color), The League really spared no expense in decking the place out. One wall was entirely made of glass and allowed for a view of the rest of the park, and on the opposing wall, there was another set of doors with more paintings sitting above little tables and chairs. The set ups looked like places to sit for tea and desserts. Bistro tables with elegant scarlet cloths draped over them also stood by the windows, and some cocktails had been set out. Many of the guests seemed to head over there first. In the center of the room was the long table displaying all the food. It looked about 80 percent as long as the hall. I guessed it could have sat at least a hundred people, and there was still more space on all sides for mingling and maybe even dancing. I took a panorama shot and sent that to Laryn, as well. She hadn't responded to my video yet, so I figured she was busy.
"Wow! This place is huge!" I gasped in amazement and spun slowly as I admired the ceiling. There were epic paintings of legendary Pokémon battling each other across the panels.
"Yeah, somehow a lot bigger than it looked on the outside," Hector added and followed my gaze upward. He let out a big sigh as he stood next to me looking up. I took my phone out to take pictures and some videos but noticed my battery was running low. I pulled my portable battery out of my bag and charged it while I recorded the breathtaking scene. Hector also asked me to plug in his phone as my battery had an extra port for an additional phone to charge. More guests filtered into the room, and I overheard one of them say the Indigo Room was the largest building in the park.
"Not much bigger than the Visitors' Center but still impressive since it's only for members! I think I read in the guide that it takes up 23% of the land that's been allotted to the park on the island! For reference, the park takes up about 60% of the land while the rest is housing and some small businesses for the staff and regular people who live on this island. After the Visitors' Center, the next single largest area in the park is the Safari Zone, but that only takes up 15%!" the guest continued to say excitedly. Their companion seemed amused.
"Why do you think it's so big? Guess that's just another indication of how much they were able to cram into this park. But tonight, we actually get to see parts of the building that have never been shown before!" Hearing that, I wondered if maybe certain parts had been under construction until the anniversary.
Soon after, the attendants began telling people to sit down and enjoy the food while the welcome surprise for the members was being prepared. I looked at Hector as my stomach unleashed a piercing groan. Embarrassed, I chuckled.
"We were too busy running around that we didn't eat a proper meal after lunch," I said and scratched the back of my head, thinking of all the sweets we'd gobbled up throughout the day. Those free samples were no joke. His stomach growled fiercely, as well.
"Oh, to be so young and careless again! Let's eat as much as we can!" Hector bellowed jovially and patted his belly as if it were very round. We sat at the end of the table near the doorway we'd entered through and began shoveling food onto our plates. Looking around at others doing the same, they seemed to be a mostly older crowd, although there were still a bunch of younger people and kids in the room. It looked like every seat at the table had been filled, and it was a lot of fun to experience the atmosphere of a Pokémon lover's paradise with so many others. Looking out across the table with all the faces around, chatting happily, there were easily more than a hundred people in the room. A more accurate guess might have been two or even three hundred. It was hard to tell with all the movement and visual stimulation as all the Pokémon we'd brought in made the room even livelier. My Wartortle and Hector's Combusken had left our sides to play with the other critters in another part of the room, and they seemed to be dancing happily.
"Gosh, I've been so unlike myself since I got here!" I began explaining to Hector in between bites of truly exquisite cuisine. He was chewing vigorously but looked at me as if to say,
"What do you mean?"
"So, last night, I went to this bar on the other side of the island that one of my friends from work told me about—well, maybe you remember her that from that holiday party a couple years ago. Isabella? Except she went by Belle? So pretentious. We're not actually friends, I guess. Okay, but before I continue with my story, get this—she's missed the last two weeks of work without notice! And guess who's had to pick up her slack for no extra pay?" Hector hesitantly pointed at me. "That's right! Me! This isn't even the first time she's done it! I mean, last time, she said she was sick with some deadly stomach bug and blamed someone else in the office for it! I swear, that girl is next level…
"Anyway—tangent over—she told me about this bar called Hypno, and it was such a weird place! Like, I'm not a bar-going kind of person, obviously, but I'd never seen anything like it. This place may as well have been in someone's bizarro-wongo dream! The music was so trippy, and there were neon lights everywhere but still so dark I couldn't see anything! And then I got this drink called the Hypnosis, which was awful by the way. I mean it came in a little glass—like maybe a two-ounce shot glass—and I thought I'd drunken paint thinner. I was like, 'Wow!' after the first sip, but o-oh my-y! The bar tender was watching me to see what my reaction would be, like, I think she knows it's a terrible drink and still makes them anyway! So, refusing to be defeated, I sucked the whole thing down in one go. That's right! I committed! And then I was probably drunk right after that! It helped me get to sleep pretty easily at any rate when I got back to my room. I'm actually a little surprised I got back to the hotel all right. It was kinda a far walk back."
The entire time I was telling the story about the bar, Hector and I were laughing and smiling. It felt like we'd truly returned to the old days when we first started dating; conversation came so easily. Then toward the end, it seemed like we ran out of things to say, despite still caring about each other. In the back of my head, I wondered if I'd felt that way because I was around Hector again or if it had something to do with being on the island. Being surrounded by a fantasy world I grew up in for most of my childhood did bring back a rush of memories and feelings. I recalled the days when I would battle and trade Pokémon with my friends at school through a link cable and when I was concerned about searching every booster pack of trading cards I could get my hands on just so I could find a limited first edition holographic Blastoise (which I did eventually get by trading a holo Charizard to my cousin). I remembered my old house and all the little toy figurines I played with in the upstairs guest room, watching the same Pokémon episodes on repeat in the den because it was the only video cassette I had of the show, and even when I got a jelly jam jar that had a bunch of Squirtles on it, which I then just used as a drinking glass. Perhaps it was reassuring to know that the child in me, someone I really adored and felt I'd lost touch with over the years, was still alive and well on the inside.
I neglected to tell Hector about the man who had hit on me but that did prompt me to check my jacket for the box he'd given me. I had practically forgotten about it due to all the excitement of the day and decided to open it discreetly before showing Hector. I fished my jacket from my bag and patted the pockets to find the box. I was beginning to feel a little chilly anyway and decided to put the jacket on. Then I removed the box from my pocket and opened it to find a small Poké Ball! Unsure of what it was made out of, it was cool and smooth to the touch, but I wondered why it was so heavy. I was about to pull it out and show it to Hector when a hologram of Professor Oak appeared floating above the dining table. People applauded and cheered when they noticed him. Everyone stopped eating to listen attentively to what he had to say, and many had taken their phones out to record videos.
"Good evening, cherished members of the Pokémon Fan Club, whether it is your first or seventh visit! I am very excited to welcome you to this manor. While park staff refer to this place as the Indigo Room, you technically aren't there yet, which is a secret for members to keep and part of the special surprise this evening. All of us here at The League have been working very hard to deliver an experience to every visitor that is worthy of the nostalgia of your youth or whenever you first encountered the wonderful world of Pokémon. Since we opened this park exactly a year ago today, our leaders have been dreaming up new attractions, new rides, and new features and benefits, and it's all been to please you. With that being said, to commemorate our first-year anniversary of our Poké paradise, it is my pleasure to introduce to you the next phase of the visionary future for The League!" The lights dimmed and a quiet drum roll emitted from somewhere as the other set of doors in the room slowly opened. Everyone in the room could hardly contain their excitement, causing some to scream out in glee while others whispered among themselves with wide smiles. Everyone's attention was focused on the door, but I didn't have a clear view of what was happening as the open door obscured who or what may have been coming through. Even all the Pokémon seemed to be frozen in anticipation, staring patiently at the open door. People were silently waiting and watching, some lowering their phones in uncertainty, until someone sitting next to me quietly asked what was happening. The Professor Oak hologram was motionless, standing on an invisible platform above us. His warm expression seemed cold in the quiet that had settled. The magnanimity of his is raised arm and open palm rung hollow with the delayed arrival of whoever or whatever he was welcoming.
"Is someone coming through the door?" someone else asked aloud.
"I don't see anything. There's no light on the other side of the door, and it's already pretty dim in here," someone else answered. That person was sitting directly in front of the open doors and had turned around in their chair. One person remarked loudly that the other person was probably blind if they couldn't see what was going on right in front of their face. Someone they appeared to be with answered that the distance from the table to the doorway was no less than thirty feet so they supposed it would be difficult to see anything if those were the conditions. Everyone started to murmur and whisper to each other. Some, not sure how to react, resumed eating. One person on the other side of the table from Hector and me stood up, looking around the room.
"Does anyone see those park attendants anywhere? Where'd they all go?" the person called out. Some turned their attention to the Pokémon, who also had not moved since Professor Oak made his announcement. Some guessed that maybe there was a glitch with the hologram system that was delaying the reveal of the surprise. Suddenly, there was a strange, high-pitched yell, and everyone stopped. The sound had come from the open door, so we all turned our attention back to the dark void. Waiting for the cry again, I started sweating and lightly shuddering. Hector must have noticed because he put his hand over mine on the table. I looked at him but couldn't say anything. Then it came again, ghastly and alien.
"…I-I-I-I-I-ME…!" The cry that time was followed by a loud gasp, like someone was breathing air for the first time. No one moved. It came again a few moments later, clearer and followed by another gasp. "MI-I-I-I-I-ME!" After, I heard slowly shuffling footsteps, or something being dragged along the carpet. Then someone screamed. She was on the other side of the table—her back facing the tall windows. Her hands had flown to cover her face as she continued screaming. When it came into view, I almost screamed, too. The other guests had muted reactions, gasping in shock or pushing back their chairs to stand and then freeze on their feet. All eyes and cameras locked onto the newest guest in the room. Into the light, what looked like a very thin man wobbled toward us.
He had strange blue cones—or maybe it was hair—protruding from the sides of his head. It was lumpy and uneven and sagged downward at the tips. The rest of his head was bald. His skin was sickly pale and had a sheen that reflected in the light, coated with slime or sweat. His eyes were dark and balled up like fists, and from my distance, I couldn't see the whites of his eyes. On either side of his misshapen, lipless maw were two red circles, dripping down toward the absent chin like they'd just been painted on. He had no nose. In fact, it seemed as though there wasn't enough room on his face for one. What he was wearing looked like a bloated balloon or even an eggshell. The texture appeared rubbery and swollen; red puffs erupted around the shoulder and leg joints, and one sat prominently on the belly like a pimple ready to erupt. What protruded from those joints were bone-thin arms and legs that looked like they would snap if someone breathed too hard on them. The hands appeared to be suffocated by gloves—or the skin itself was discolored and swollen—with little red dots on each fingertip. The man didn't appear to have thumbs, only five pointy protrusions uniform in length radiating from each round palm. When his arms bent to keep balance while moving, they cracked like someone was eating a crisp apple or perishing under the weight of a heavy object. A white band sat across the midsection of his legs like knee pads, covering more crackly joints when he moved. On his feet were blue curled shoes that appeared to be made of the same material as whatever sat on his head, so it was unlikely to be hair. He seemed to stand about four feet tall. The thin man sauntered another foot toward the table before someone started laughing.
"This is hilarious! It's Mr. Mime! A Kantonian Mr. Mime!" a man called. He was sitting on the window side on the opposite end of the table and stood up. He slapped his hand to his forehead in realization, a big grin stretched across his face. He encouraged people to open their League apps and identify it with their Pokédex. Slowly, people began opening the Dex feature to scan the figure. Inevitably, an onslaught of Rotom Dexs provided a description for Mr. Mime, reciting the information as if singing in a round. Looking around the room, it seemed like everyone was recording videos on their phones. I took a few pictures of it and thought to send them to Laryn. The camera function on The League app didn't appear to be working so I tried using my regular camera. The creature appeared perfectly in the lens. I also tried to send a follow-up text to (attempt) to explain the pictures, but my phone said I suddenly had no service.
Still laughing, the man tossed his napkin on the seat and walked around the table toward the thin man. A woman reached out to him but didn't say anything or follow when he was out of reach. I took my glasses off briefly, prompting many others to do the same, but sure enough, the creature was no hologram.
No one said anything as the laughing man stepped up to Mr. Mime, who had stopped its terrifying advance. The laughing man seemed to observe the cruel imitation of the Barrier Pokémon and stepped in circles around it, examining its body and face, while Mr. Mime followed the guest warily with its stone pupils. "It's not a very accurate recreation, but I applaud the efforts of the park technicians. You see—" the man began to say and grabbed the thin man's hand. At that moment, the thin man released a frightened cry, and a strange light protruded from his hands. The laughing man was suddenly lifted into the air. Trying to return to the ground, he instead bumped his head on an invisible wall—almost as though he'd been shut into a box, which seemed to be directed by the hands of the creature. Bright lights and colors then exploded about the laughing man, who was crying in that moment, and the guests were, soon after, beset by raining blood and body parts.
What happened afterward was like a scene from a war movie. Everyone leapt from their seats, scrambling over the table and the food. They dragged the tablecloth with them as they tried to flee and tumbled to the ground. The children were kicking and screaming as their older companions tried to carry them far from the monstrosity. We were covered in a stranger's blood, and we were moving in slow-motion, like wading through a waist-deep pool. I could hear Hector shouting to me that we had to run, shaking my arm, trying to pull me somewhere, but somehow, I couldn't move after standing up. I could see and feel people rushing past me, occasionally bumping into me or rushing by so quickly I could feel a whoosh of air. I was staring at the woman who had been sitting next to the dead man. Somehow, his head landed in her lap, face down. She also wasn't moving, and it actually didn't seem like she was breathing either. Then a wave of consciousness collided into me when the table and all the food were lifted into the air, as if on an invisible ascending platform, then hurled against the glass. Instead of shattering it, the table broke against the glass—resounding with a metallic clank—and crushed the guests beneath who were pounding on it to get out. Food clung to the wall and seemed to take on a shiny appearance, revealing the glass and the scenery outside were merely an illusion. Professor Oak remained frozen in midair—his unchanged expression, in that moment, was chilling to look upon.
"We need to go. Now," Hector said calmly and firmly into my ear and yanked my arm. I flailed about helplessly as I struggled to keep my balance. We staggered toward the door we'd come through, but the people in front of us crashed into something, likely another invisible barrier. There was only a handful of guests left in the room. Most had gotten away, while the rest had been crushed by the table. I couldn't discern if the red fluid soaking into the cream-colored carpet was wine or blood. The creature lumbered toward those of us that were left. Two men were in the corner by the illusory glass, crying into each other's embrace and trembling violently. A woman and, presumably, her three children were hiding behind a couple of chairs beneath a painting of Rayquaza coiled around Giratina inside a black storm cloud, pulsing with veins of lightning. Rayquaza was poised to bite Giratina, whose spiked wings had stabbed into its foe's slim, emerald body. There was also a group of four or five teenagers fighting to get through the invisible wall but to no avail. Suddenly, I felt something cold at the back of my neck and was sure Mr. Mime's telepathic grip was starting to take me. Hector grabbed my arm but couldn't speak. I slowly turned to see a small skull affixed to a ball of frayed gray cloth emerge from my backpack. A red orb with a dim glow appeared to be bouncing around inside. I fell to my hands and knees to try and escape, but it followed and stared into each of my eyes with its own. The skull looked human, though it was shaved up to look like a mask, and it was small, like a child's. The lower mandible was missing, but three teeth remained embedded in the top row.
"A…D-Duskull?" I managed to whimper and began crying. The creature floated down toward my left hand and then vanished. It seemed the small Poké Ball from the mysterious man at the bar had fallen out and landed near my left hand when I went to the ground. I grabbed it and clutched it in my hand, surprised when the toy expanded in my palm. I had accidentally pressed the button, known for expanding Poké Balls in the show and video games. I stared at it for a moment, not sure what it meant that I was holding a Poké Ball that clearly was no simple plaything. When I heard Mr. Mime begin to cry again, I rushed toward it and threw the Poké Ball at it as hard as I could.