Today is my departure from Hoenn into the mysterious region called Reborn, I have been waiting for a half year now. I bid farewell to my family and friends and went to the train station to buy myself a ticket. I wasn't very well-versed in what the region was like, but I had heard some interesting things about their history, but their current League was rather new; formed 15 years ago. I lined up on a ticketing booth, wondering, what kind of secrets I will discover there. Ame Liddell- Reborn's champion in her 25's- has already waiting for me at the ticketing booth, so that I wouldn't have to wait in line too long.

This station, conveniently located in Route 111, had been under renovations until just recently, because they were adding a new lane for express trains that connected Hoenn to Kanto, Unova and Reborn. A direct connection between Hoenn and Reborn's Peridot Ward was, needless to say, very convenient for our trip today. "I wanted to thank you again for signing our partnership, Ambassador Birch," Ame said when I joined her in the queue. "Hoenn is the second region that has agreed to encourage trainers to travel to Reborn. I hope that this partnership will persuade other regions to jump in as well."

"Don't mention it. It'll be a good exposure for our talented trainers to become stronger abroad and I'm sure that will also help gather funds for your region's restoration," I replied. We talked some more but our conversation ended when we reached the yellow ticketing counter.

"Two tickets for the Reborn region, please." I said.

"Certainly. It will be 500 pokedollars," he replied. I took out my credit card from my wallet and handed it to the man so he could swipe it. He glanced once at the name on the card and another at my face, and smiled meaningfully. "Excuse my nosiness, but I'm new at this ticketing booth and wasn't expecting to meet a celebrity," he said. "I just want to say it's an honor to get this opportunity. Hope you have a great trip, Miss Mitsuko Birch."

"Thank you," I said and reached for the ticket, but his grip remained on it. "A bit of advice: I would watch your back in the Reborn Region. I heard it's a dump these days, but you'll never know what you might see or find there. So please be careful there" The man warned me in a low tone before he released his grip on the ticket.

"Thank you, sir. I'll watch my back" I promised, but I sent a concerned look in Ame's way. However, she didn't appear offended by the man's comments. After about 10 minutes, the train arrived and soon departed from the platform with us sitting within it.

Goodbye Hoenn and hello Reborn. I'm happy to finally make time for vacation, I thought, while staring at the window outside. We passed through the geophysical beauty of seas and landscapes that characterizes my home region. We could see the peak of Mt. Chimney and passed close to the beaches, where people were splashing away. Just looking at those landscapes was enough to stimulate some good memories to play back in my mind. As I remembered my younger days, my eyelids became heavy, and I drifted into a nap.

1 hour and 20 minutes later

I don't know how many hours passed, but I was suddenly woken by something that flicked against my cheek. I was still half asleep, but I noticed that Ame had stood up from her seat and was now standing in the narrow passage way between seats.

"Hello everyone! May I have your attention, please?" Ame called out, catching the attention of the passengers "My name is Ame, a representative of the Reborn region. This train is about to reach Grandview Station in 20 minutes. Make sure you don't leave anything behind and that you keep your ticket on you until you leave the train. We hope you all had a pleasant trip and would like to thank you again for having chosen Reborn as your destination. Have a good time in Reborn!" After this announcement, everyone clapped in respect.

Ame sat down again, this time in front of me, and giggled at me. I wasn't sure why she was smiling at me like that, but then I woke enough to realize that I had drooled while I slept. I cleaned my face with a handkerchief with some embarrassment. I coughed and tried to compose myself. "You mentioned that Reborn is in the process of restoration," I said, transitioning into our main topic. "I admire Reborn's resilience. Could you tell me how the project is going so far? I believe I could use a little refresher of what we talked yesterday, if you don't mind."

"Sure thing. You're kind for taking such interest in our restoration, since ambassadors tend to only care about their own interests," Ame said. "I can give you a refresher, but could you specify which part you'd like to get a refresher in?"

"I'd like you to talk to me about the Reborn League," I replied. "I think your history is interesting and I'd like to make sure I didn't miss any details about it." "Sure," she said, but her lips curved into a frown. I wondered if I might have asked something I shouldn't have, but Ame started talking before I could change the subject. "The Reborn League was originally founded 15 years ago by my father, who was the region's first Champion, wanted to open up to other regions. He dreamed about peace and his country being finally able to prove itself, so he gathered and hosted qualifications to find talents. First the Elite 4 was made and after a few days 18 Gym Leaders were found, in order to complete the league."

"Really interesting. Your father had quite an ambitious vision. The 18 Gym Leaders, I'm assuming are for each type?" Ame nodded, "Yes it is. My father had pretty good ideas and wanted to make it unique. As for the Elite 4, there was a Battle Royal and the last 4 trainers, who managed to beat the competition, were selected for those, though today we have trainers that have replaced some of the original Elite members."

"Impressive. And what happens if one of those leaders wants to retire?"

"Then the Reserve Leader will take their place. The Reborn League has a Reserve Leader for every type: When a Gym Leader retires, the reserve leader takes their place. It tends to be a relative of the Gym Leader. It's interesting how talent and affinity for certain types runs in families."

"I wouldn't know about that, but I look forward to meeting the Gym Leaders if I get the chance." I had a bright smile on my smile, not waiting to see the differences between theirs and Hoenn's league.

"I think you'll meet many of them, but I do have an issue precisely regarding that for some of the leaders," Ame sighed and shook her head.

"May I ask what's the issue?" I raised an eyebrow, still allowing her my full attention and was ready to listen further.

"Indeed, many of these children don't have parents anymore, so they have to live in a building, who functions both as orphanage and treatment center for people with issues in Lapis Ward. Since the director of this place, Dr. Sigmund Connal, doesn't like visitors, these kids are basically shut off from interaction with almost anyone. This definitely has caused obstacles for many challengers."

My eyes widened a bit when I heard this, and I couldn't help but blurt out the following question: "How are the challengers suppose to complete the Reborn League, when the doctor is keeping the children away from them?"

"I know it's a complicated situation, but I really have my hands tied. Keep in mind that they aren't adults yet. The doctor's logic is that Reborn is dangerous and letting people in would increase the likelihood of accidents, which would cost money and cause some orderlies to be dismissed. In order to strike a deal with him and make things better, his daughter offered the idea to construct a battle area for gym battles and allow only legitimate league challengers to come into the orphanage. Hopefully it will be opened for challengers in the coming months." As she talked, her volume went a bit low.

The depressing talks were not over yet, because Reborn was a region that was pretty much under construction. The issues with the region's amenities was even worse than the issues with challengers being blocked from battling Gym Leaders. The pollution of Azurine Lake, the high rates of crime and illegal trafficking of pokemon, the decrease in wild pokemon populations and the repeated failures to reintroduce them in certain areas, were only the tip of the iceberg when it came to the problems that plagued the region.

"I hope you're not too distressed by what I'm telling you," Ame said with concern. "I don't want to hide anything from you, since we have struck a partnership. Our region still provides a lot of opportunities for adventures and training, but it definitely isn't an established region like yours. We could never get out of the current bad situation, if it weren't for foreign help like the one you're giving us along with Kanto."

I honestly didn't know what to say. What could I say, that wouldn't make me sound like a spoiled lucky girl? "It's terrible that people in the Reborn region are passing through such a bad time," was all I dared to say. I was now quiet, sinking into the same feelings of determination that had made me agree to form a partnership with Reborn during our meeting. I had no doubts that Reborn had a lot of wasted potential, currently, that could only be restored by interregional help. Even though I did come to Reborn to have a little vacation from work in my home region, I was also looking forward to assisting her with the coordination of renovation projects.

Ame looked at me, but also didn't seem to have anything else to say, but suddenly her expression changed into a surprised one, beginning to stare at me in confusion. "Ame? What is it now?" I asked her, as suddely I felt something touching my shoulder from behind and turned around to see... nobody?

"Huh? What was that?" I asked with a puzzled expression, when I saw Ame's panicked expression, as she looked from the window, "Are you alright, Ame? You look worried."

"Something's not right. Shouldn't we be decelerating already?" Ame said in shock

"Uhm... And why is the train going faster? Shouldn't it stop right now? I wondered heard some creepy noises now.

However before I could think more, I heard a sharp "Move!" from Ame, as she pushed at my side, out of the window, just as the sound of detonation could be heard near us and soon a fiery explosion was created out of nowhere. Flames swallowed up each of the wagons, one by one, as the passengers perishing in fire altogether. The deafening sound of havoc combined with their screams and burned bodies were the last things I witnessed, before hitting hard on something and lost myself into an endless void of unconsciousness.