Author's Note: Enjoyed coming up with this story. This is an all, new 'original' story of mine. Pokémon has always been a passion of mine. I've played the games. I watched the animé and to this day, I collect the trading cards. Obviously I don't own anything Pokémon. Anything and everything is owned by the Pokémon Company. Satoshi Tajiri's story will be embellished in this to suit the story/narrative. This is not how his life and history went down. I just made it up. This is just for entertainment. Please don't kill me. Pokémon is still a passion of mine. I enjoy it and it was time for me to tell a story. I have some ideas as to how this story will go. I hope it goes well just like my other story that I'm currently still working on: Webslinger. Anyways, without further adieu...read on and enjoy!


POKéMON GO

MACHIDA, TOKYO 1976

Forests were always lush with life. They were the embodiment of pure nature. Trees surrounded the entire area, some smaller than the others. The larger ones practically touched the sky. Some trees had been cut down and now stood as obstacles for any traveler. A lake teeming with swimming fish was nearby. All this and the forest maintained its green hue. Aside from the occasional chirping of both birds and buzzing of bees, one forest in particular, maintained its peace quite well.

But the silence was interrupted by a bicycle carrying a lone figure, riding his way through the forest.

It was a stepup from his parents' garden. Today was the day he was going to a new level with his insect collecting. For as long as he could remember, Satoshi Tajiri always enjoyed collecting insects and studying them. To him there was nothing better that what lurked in the wildlife. Trying to find out what made them so unique. He had always found bugs in his backyard but now it was time to go broader. Get a better perspective of what other creatures there were.

Getting off his bike and collecting his containers, Satoshi kept his guard up. His eyes and ears perked up for anything that he might find of interest. Anything made him alert. He even walked slow as a secondary precaution. Her mother reminded him of something that, to this day, stood out to him very prominently.

'Life is like a game, Satoshi. Do not disrespect the game of anything or anybody, it strikes back in ways you cannot imagine...' she had said.

It wasn't long that he spotted it, the small worm-like creature slithering sluggishly on the ground beside the tree.

After he placed the caterpillar in his glass box, Satoshi stepped back to take a picture of it with his large camera. Once he was done, he then gently put the caterpillar in his hand and guided it into his small container.

"You're coming with me, friend." he said smiling. He was then about to leave.

"Well! Well! if isn't Doctor Bug!" was what destroyed the peaceful moment.

Looking up, Satoshi saw who the intruder in the forest was. Hajime. He and his hoodlum friends surrounded Satoshi. The fear crept in for he knew what was going to happen. At school, he was a nightmare to endure and he was just as difficult outside of school.

"Seems like 'anybody' can be in the woods, these days!" another boy Ken said.

"Anything, you mean." one other boy spoke.

"What do you got there? More disgusting insects?" Hajime taunted.

"A bug collecting bugs." Ken said laughing.

"That's why he's called Doctor Bug!" someone else said.

"Leave me alone." Satoshi bravely said. "Don't disrespect the game of the forest. It holds surprises."

All of them expressed their feigned awes and the mocking only became worse.

"Leave it to the wise Satoshi to come up with nonsense." Hajime said and got off his bike. He then took Satoshi's container with both hands.

"Give it!" Satoshi shouted but Ken and the others pushed him away.

"Look at this ugly thing, just like you, Satoshi...now to unleash it back into the wild." Hajime then smashed it to the ground.

"NO!"

"...and let nature deal with it!" Hajime then smashed the caterpillar with his foot.

His anger boiled. Satoshi tried to get at Hajime, only for him to be grabbed and thrown to the floor.

"You're not part of the 'game', freak!"

That was when he was punched and kicked by everyone.

"You'll never be anything but a disgusting worm!" Hajime said down to him and cackled. Everybody finally left, leaving Satoshi on the ground, looking as if a part of him was stolen. His bugs were gone. They were smashed and dead. He wanted to cry right then and there. And he did. He felt as if his best friends had gone and died.

Picking it up, he discovered the lens was cracked. The camera was broken. He felt so distraught and after a few seconds of looking around, he went home.

"You got into a fight again?" his mother had asked. The worry settled in once she saw Satoshi enter through the front door. His mother was making dinner. She looked horrified at the sight of him. She touched his bruises and proceeded in patching him up.

Satoshi nodded slowly.

After he was looked after and tended, dinner had started at the table. His father and sister among them. Satoshi merely poked and stirred his food with his sticks, showing no interest let alone any appetite whatsoever. The feeling of morose was not leaving him. His father was already voicing his displeasure not at the fight itself but rather in him. He actually thought it was a blessing.

"Serves you right..." his father said as he chewed away.

"Sweetheart..." his mother tried to intervene.

"You're not like other boys, Satoshi. You should be like everyone else. This insect collection of yours! It makes no sense. Why do you go and waste your time on disgusting creatures that serve no purpose?"

Satoshi found his voice again. "They're fascinating, father! I like them. These creatures are part of the world! They were here before us..."

"You dare talk back to me?!" his father stood up abruptly.

"No, sir." Satoshi backed off and sat back in his seat.

"Then explain why."

"It's just a hobby of mine, father. I like collecting. Maybe I want to study insects one day."

"You wish to be an entomologist?" his mother asked.

"Maybe yes, I-"

That reply caused his father to let loose. "No! NO! That is a useless profession."

"Sweetheart, please. Just hear him-"

"Do not talk back to me woman!" he yelled back at her, surprising her Satoshi and his sister. They went silent, almost frightened now.

His father looked back at him with utmost patience he could muster. "You must find a profession that can make you money. Lots of money! You do not want to end up like those bums out there in the street! Living like rats begging for scraps and change! This mindless hoarding is only confusing you. You must stop, son. Just because something is interesting, doesn't mean it's going to turn out to be as good in the long run. I know you well, son. You think a forest isn't going to have danger? Of course, it is! Now stop with this and do your studies like I tell you!"

"Yes, sir. I will then. One day...I'll do more with my life. I promise."

"It's just a phase sweetheart. He's not doing anything bad. Most kids his age collect cards." his mother started.

His father gave the biggest scoff he could muster. "Cards! Pieces of cardboard that 'also' serve no purpose! Well, I hope this phase of yours will pass soon enough. There's more to this world than just catching and collecting."

Satoshi felt his world was crushed.

"What do you wish to be one day? What kind of person?" his father asked.

"I don't know. Someone special. Someone adventurous."

"Darling, this is too soon to ask a question to a child."

"When I was his age, I had to grow up fast. And now I'm a successful car salesman. The same must apply to my own son." he then got up and excused himself from the table. "I must excuse myself. Think about what I said, Satoshi!" he pointed at him.

Satoshi can only nod in response.

Eventually, it was time to go to bed. Satoshi, still feeling distraught as to what just happened to him in the forest and with his father, didn't feel like sleeping. In his bed, he contemplated while staring at the ceiling. He looked around the room and pictures of nature and insects surrounded the room. Drawings and other projects occupied it. And aside from an Ultraman poster, the room was almost looking like a pale imitation of a forest itself.

'Am I really just wasting my life?" he asked himself. Satoshi was about to go to sleep when a knocking was heard on his door. His mother came in gently.

"How are you?"

"I don't know." he said turning his head away from her.

She came in and sat beside him. "Remember what I said about the concept of the game." she said. "Do not disrespect the game. The game of life. For it strikes back tenfold."

"I remember. You said I have my own 'game'. But people beat me at my own game."

"Because you let them. What do you want to be, Satoshi?"

"I don't know. Whatever my dad says..." Satoshi responded with an expression that indicated he could care less.

"It doesn't matter what he thinks. It should matter what you think. I would rather he be angry with you than me seeing you not doing what you were meant to do. If he does not appreciate what you really want to do, then he doesn't deserve to be called 'dad'."

"I don't know..." Satoshi muttered.

"I know that getting beat up makes you think you're weak. But what if I told you that they did what they did because they don't know any better? In the long run, they might grow up and having little to nothing. You on the other hand, will be somebody who will have enough. You say they beat you in your game? Well, they will lose in the long run and they will lose big. I know that. In the meantime, keep being the special little man that you are."

"No, I won't. Tomorrow I'm throwing everything away." he told her.

"Sweetheart. I see all these things here in your room and it's wonderful."

"No, it's not. Father says it's rubbish."

"He doesn't see the magic in things, like you and me. That's what's so special about you, Satoshi. You see things in a new way. I can tell...when I come in your room that it's a new world. A world that's better than ours. You have a unique way of seeing the world for what it is and what it could be. I don't ever want you to lose that."

"What are you saying, mother?"

"I'm saying you can change the world. You can offer something no one has ever seen. I know it. One day." she said kindly. But the seriousness was there. "But if you want to change the world. You must change yourself. Be strong. Be brave. Don't ever let anyone tell you, you can't be or do anything. If you let them...in your head, they win. No matter what you choose to be, always know you have a proud mother."

Satoshi considered this. The confidence in him was reborn and it was only going to grow from that point forward.

"Now...what do you really want to do?" her mother asked again strongly.

"One day, I'll create something that will change not just 'my' world, but 'our' world..." Satoshi declared to himself.


Chapter 1: The Glitch

PRESENT DAY

When something is just too good, one cannot get enough of it and apparently the world just can't get enough of Pokemon. Addicting would be an accurate term. Interesting creatures that one can collect, train and fight against others. Trainers win badges to compete in tournaments and fight enemies using pokémon. There were many adventures to be had. What was not to like? Not all pokemon were the same however. Most went by their unique traits and characteristics given to them by their type. Their nature rather. Their types include fire, water, electric, ground, psychic, plant, darkness, ghost, rock, normal and many more. Pokemon is short for 'Pocket Monster' or 'Pocket Monsters'. It originated in Japan, brought forth by Satoshi Tajiri along with many others. Its popular mascot, Pikachu, a yellow electric mouse pokemon known for its cute demeanor and electrical power were more than enough reasons for luring people in on the franchise. The idea of pokemon is these amazing creatures can be caught by a special red and silver orb designed for capture and storage, called a 'Poke-ball'. When one throws it and strikes the pokemon, it can be captured. Yet, it would need to be in a weakened state or even in a state in which trust between human and pokemon is established. Trainers teach their pokemon how to fight and become stronger. Others used them for fighting and collecting. Other trainers were of the soft heart-kind and used pokemon as friendly companions. Pets mostly. Over the years, people happily accepted the arrivals of new pokemon and pokemon-related products whether it be through animé, manga series, video games, toys, movies, and the trading cards of course, and people ate it up.

Indulgences aside, pokémon go through many changes themselves. Some can evolve into bigger, powerful versions of themselves. With each battle that the trainer subjects their pokémon to, their levels increase, their experience mounts up and the big change happens as the time is right. And yet even more interesting is that there are some Pokémon that can evolve with special gems that are applicable due to their type. A thunder stone can evolve a Pikachu into a Raichu. A water stone can evolve a Poliwhirl into a Poliwrath. A fire stone can evolve a Vulpix into a Ninetails. And that's just to name a few. New pokemon are discovered as the years go by. Some are recently found that give off a 'shiny' appearance, which enhances its usual appeal and value. A pikachu can give a glowing appearance or even in a different color other than yellow.

As pokemon evolve so does technology itself. Especially in the 21st century. With the introduction of smart phones, people today rely on them everyday not just for communication in terms of texting, and calling but using them to make their lives easier by connecting with other people via social media and yet with everything smart phones offer, it can distract their lives. Apps or smart phone applications have arisen and have become insurmountable over the years. More and more apps come and go. And so did one app in particular…

In 2016, POKéMON GO was introduced to not just the United States but to the entire world and it is an app like no other. An augmented reality mobile game created by Niantic, a software development company in collaboration with the Pokémon company and Nintendo. Now, people can catch pokemon in the real world. In the app, he or she can create and customize their own avatar. Using a phone's GPS, where you went, your avatar went. How you moved, the avatar followed suit. It was up to you or rather, your avatar to find, catch, and battle as much pokemon as you could and have many adventures in the process. A park downtown in the real world could serve as a gym in the pokémon Go virtual world. The app recently had been downloaded five hundred million times. To call it a success from Satoshi would be an understatement.

But that success can bring much more than just mere surprises...


The pain she felt was good. She had done her last crunch for the morning. There was never even a point where she wanted to stop to catch her breath. She kept going. Not trying to lose weight, for she had been naturally thin and healthy, but rather to maintain her incredible physique. Afterwards, she went to the computer and went to her next objective.

Brit typed away at the screen. Lines of code raced across the screen. Her eyes speed over each line with rapid precision. She never missed a single detail. 'They say the devil is in the details.' Her had used to say. 'The devil wins if you avoid them.' It was probably the only wise thing he had ever said to her.

"I wish the Pokemon universe was real..." she thought dreamily. To Brit, the universe of Pokemon would have been so much fun being around interesting creatures, catching, training them and going on adventures to win battles and save the world.

On her computer, she was doing something that was going to be huge. Right now though, she had to save her progress and get ready for the event happening. She was only 18, witty and full of spunk and energy. She considered herself a fitness model in the making and a cosplayer by the amount of outfits she had in her room as well as exercising every day with her weights and posting her results online.

She remembered the day she got into fitness. She remembered the person who influenced her to do so. Her mother.

She was a little girl and she was practicing riding her bike with her mother at the park. Her dad at the time was nowhere to be seen. She rode her bike well for her age. A while later, she saw her mother working out in the garage using weights and other equipment. She was done for the day.

Her mother saw her and greeted her.

"Why do you like doing this stuff, mommy?"

"You want to tackle the mean things in life, sweetheart? You have to be strong." she had said.

The memory ended abruptly when she heard the door behind her slightly opening and a face poked out. Her father tried to creep in. She knew it was him. She knew when he would come. It was like clockwork. Her dad knew when to respect her privacy but seeing as how it was getting late in the day, he had to breach that term. He was about to speak when Brit got to him in time.

"Nice of you to come in uninvited, dad. I'm coming." she said without even tearing her gaze from the computer screen. Her fingers continued to go fast on the keyboard as well.

Standing now, she was sporting clothing that would never be seen out in the public. Not without getting stares or even, glares. She would only wear the costume once. Today was such an occasion to do so. Designing it took time but she enjoyed doing so. The jacket was large enough only to be considered as a crop top. However the corners on top were pointy in an acute pattern, making the jacket look almost like a vest. She had a white shirt underneath that also served as a crop top. She also wore short jeans complete with a utility belt.

It was her Pokemon trainer costume. She went as an original character. Putting her own style to it. Looking at it in her hands, she was proud of it. 'It's like my second skin...' Brit thought and continued to relish it before finally donning the last part to her outfit, a cap.

'I hope Jack likes it.' she thought as she turned to the side. Jack Garnet was a boy she was friends with for many years. They always hung out. They talked. They played sports. He understood her and they both shared a passion for all things Pokémon. Lately, she was feeling a certain way for him. As they both grew older, Brit started seeing Jack in a whole new light. He was someone who had his stuff together and got offered a full scholarship. He was truly bright. He was a guy who could go places.

'What a geek...I love him.' she wanted to giggle. 'I don't know if he feels the same way. If he does, he's shy to do anything about it then...'

Focusing and getting herself ready, she then went downstairs and at the same time, braced herself. She hoped her dad would let her out in her costume.

Brit walked past the TV which showcased another news bulletin about a political problem facing the country. She could care less and took her seat. Yet the jargon the news reporter was saying on the case kept going on and was only getting on her nerves even more. Hence, the stress she was feeling was winning.

"Unless you're trying to get the police to put you in jail for indecency, you will change right now, young lady!"

"This is only for today. It's for the convention, dad! Besides I'll be wearing a coat."

"I'm part of the community, dad! I have to go!"

"Not with you wearing 'that'. It leaves little to the imagination. You either change or you're not going."

"All the other people are going to be wearing their own thing!"

"I don't care! You want to be grounded or not?"

"Fine..." she marched upstairs in frustration.

"And don't even think about coming back down and sneaking that out of here in a bag! Believe me, I can tell!"

Brit gave another frustrated yell.

Once she got in her room, she put her idea in effect. She took off her costume, put it in a bag, went to the window in her room, opened it and threw it out in the backyard where it landed underneath in the bushes. She then went back downstairs in regular clothing. Without looking at her dad, she made her apple cinnamon oatmeal and sat down, taking some bites in. The TV stationed in the corner of the kitchen was annoying her to end.

"Please change it before I jump out the window in a ridiculous fashion..." Brit said rubbing her head with each of her hands.

"You need to listen to this sweetheart, you need to know what's going on in the world."

"Why bother? Every time the TV's on, it's only a reminder of why I hate this world. I mean, I got it. War, poverty, disease. All a myriad of problems that will never go away. Bottom line, this world's screwed." Brit said slumped. Her chin on the table.

"Don't say that. It's 'our' world and it's the only one we got."

"What can 'we' do about it, dad?" Brit muttered.

"Stay informed. It's always good to take the necessary precautions."

"I say you're making yourself worry more by watching all this..."

"I say you're wasting your life."

That made Brit turn to her dad.

"You just 'had' to go there, didn't you? Always invading my personal life. At my age, we're supposed to be 'wasting' our lives, dad." Brit said. "Don't worry, when I'm in my twenties, I'll panic about it. I'll even have a psychotic episode."

"Please don't joke. I really don't want it to have to come to that even though you're getting there and you don't even know it. I don't want you to have to come to me one day saying 'why is my life so screwed up?' College is almost coming up and you still haven't even signed up for a school. You know, you're lucky you're even graduating at all!"

"I call it charming ingenuity..."

"Brit...I'm just saying you could put your talents to good use if you focus them more on important things."

"Like you?" Brit bit back.

"Do not make this about me. You will lose in that department. Brit, college is coming up and you still haven't submitted your application."

"Dad, I will. Stop bothering me, OK?"

"What could be more important than your future?! This stupid game of yours?!"

"It's not stupid! Look, let's get back to what's really the issue. You're frustrated because you can't control me anymore. I'm 18. I'm an adult. I can do whatever I want."

"This whole thing is tearing you away from reality, Brit. Please, I just-I just want my daughter back. I want her to do her best."

Brit turned back to her dad in a roguish manner.

"Don't worry. One day, I'm going to be the very best..." she then exited the house, leaving behind her annoyed father. Brit then ran to the backyard where she retrieved her large bag and left the premises. She found an alleyway nearby and immediately began to change. The convention had to start soon. It was more than imperative that she be there. Once Brit was done, she then turned her cap backwards and went on her way.


At the POKeFest, crowds of smiling men, women and children all dressed and carried anything representing PokeMon were impossible to avoid. They were everywhere in the building holding the convention. Some cosplayed as their favorite Pokemon human characters. Some cosplayed 'as' a pokémon. One of the most famous is Ash Ketchum from the popular TV series. Another is Red from the old original PokeMon gameboy games. The POKéFest was a large convention in the city that spread to not just inside the entire building but outside the building as well.

Some people were off in tables or seated on hard floors with their backs on columns, playing Pokemon in old-school Gameboys. A few other groups were playing the popular trading card game either battling, trading or selling their cards to one another. Folders containing their cards were shown to other card collectors. A little girl happily embraced her newly bought stuffed-toy Pikachu from one of the stands. It gave an automatic lifelike 'Pika! Pika!' reply when she squeezed it and the girl happily squealed in delight.

Throughout the entire building, a certain Pokémon theme song from the television series blared continuously on a loop.

'...you teach me and I'll teach you...POKéMON! Gotta catch 'em all...gotta catch 'em all. POKéMON!"

"You'd think it was easy to get somewhere in here..." the young man said as he gently pushed himself through the crowd. "And I thought Times Square was bad." he said to himself.

Roger Stone, moved around the area. He sighed. The agitation getting to him by how slowly he was getting by, looking around and walking to areas of interest was a struggle. The entire building was getting full. He got to a corner from an exhibit to check his texts on his phone.

He typed a group message. Roger was trying to find some friends. He had yet to find them.

'Where you guys at?' he typed.

"Right here."

Frowning, Roger turned to his left and right. He didn't see anybody aside from the crowds of people. Nobody looked familiar.

Suddenly a hand grasped his shoulder, making him jump. He turned to see the owner of the hand.

"Ha! Ha!" the young man chuckled. "Gotcha!"

"Man, Jerry you suck!" Roger said catching his breath.

"I'm the best, what are you talking about? Hiding in a fortune teller exhibit...?" Jerry said looking around the small stand. "...very smooth."

Roger scoffed. "Hey, what I can say? I like the strangeness."

"You see the others?" Jerry asked.

"Brit and Jack? Nah, I'm still waiting."

"Come on then, let's get a snack while we search." Jerry said.

Roger put his phone away and was about to follow when someone spoke behind him.

"Something...will happen to you..."

An elderly lady sitting in front of a table, with a crystal ball in the middle of it.

"Yeah, it did. It was call a jumpscare. They do it in movies too. Only they have more charm to it. A little late in warning me but thanks." Roger rolled his eyes as he replied.

"To you...and your friends..." the elderly woman continued on. "You must be careful! Stay away! Stay away from me!"

"Way ahead of you lady..." Snorting, Roger then went on his way.


Brit 'the Grid' Teerson was staring at a slowpoke on her phone sitting idly. Using her finger, she swirled the pokeball located at the very bottom of the phone screen a few times before she flicked it with her finger, letting it go, making the non-existent ball on the screen givign the impression that it had been thrown, hitting the pink creature on the head. The pokeball immediately absorbed it in mid-air, landed on the ground. Brit began to hold her breath.

The ball shook once.

"Come on..."

Then twice.

"Yes...?" her eyes widened with hope.

It then gave its final shook and stopped, much to her relief and delight. The unmoving of the ball assured Brit that the Pokemon was indeed caught and a chance for it to escape was no longer possible.

Afterwards, she walked all over the convention. Her phone on the screen showed her avatar following suit on a map based on her location at the present time. Her avatar was in a remarkable world in other words. Brit unlike her avatar, was in a world different world. Opposite. She wondered for a while if anything exciting were to ever happened in this world despite what the news told her.

A young man made his way through the crowd. Jack Garnet, wondered what the commotion was up ahead. There were many exhibits that drew in crowds but Jack wanted to know what this particular one was. Finally getting a better view, Jack saw what was going on. On a podium next to his exhibit, a strange overweight middle-aged man addressed the crowd.

"Red has been lost for a long time. Decades. One has to wonder where he is. Did he descend to a higher position? If so, where did he go and why keep his existence away from us? Did Blue do something to him?"

"Maybe he just doesn't want to come out of the hole he crawled himself into because he's still pissed off that a rip-off of him is doing better than him."

Jack knew what 'rip-off' the guy was referring to. Ash Ketchum. A pokemon trainer character that was based on the Red character from the red, blue and the rumored green pokemon Gameboy games. Ash proved popular enough to replace Red and since then has become a pivotal character in the video games and the animé.

Jack looked at the book with skepticism.

He went passed several people who were glued to their phones. One of them gasped in delight and said "It's hatching. It's hatching!" indicating that an egg he had had for quite some time was ready for a pokemon to come out.

"Yo, Grid!"

She saw him up ahead. "Jack!" she was delighted to finally see him.

They got close to each other but only gave fistbumps. There was a point where Brit really wanted to hug him. But she couldn't, not wanting to be awkward.

"Hey, you made it!"

"So did you..."

"Nice costume."

She gave a little twirl for him. "Thanks. Getting out of the house in this was a struggle."

"I'll say. Whatever you did must have been 'super effective'." Jack joked.

"Wow...you almost, almost made me laugh at that. But no. Not really." Brit smirked while shaking her head in disbelief.

"Looks real. You made it yourself?" Jack said impressed.

"I did. Took hours, weeks and even months but I finally managed. Also, I had to work out more extensively than usual so that I could look the part."

"Well, all that work seemed to pay off. You look good, I-I mean, great." Jack stammered.

Brit tried hard not to blush. Jack was indeed someone she liked for a long time. But she never told him her feelings for obvious reasons. 'Perhaps this is the day he'll man up and tell me if there really is something between us...'

"So, how'd you get here?" she asked finally speaking up after an uncomfortable few seconds of silence between them.

"Got here by bus and train. Finally got in after an hour. It's packed. There's a crowd of people outside still waiting to get in."

"Wow. I feel sorry for them." Brit shrugged. "Almost."

"Nice to see you're still caring." Jack scoffed.

"And it's nice to care when it's needed." Brit smirked.

"You heard from the others?"

"No, not yet. Should be coming soon enough. You would think, they being fans that they would be here on time."

"Look up the word 'punctual' in the dictionary and you would 'never' see any of their faces." Jack nodded. Brit and he laughed.

"So what have you been up to here, so far?" she asked.

"Just looking around basically. Haven't done any catching so far. I'm waiting until the rest of the charming gang arrives."

"Oh. Very nice of you. Don't want to steal any of the good ones for yourself?"

"Of course not. I like to share."

"Good to know."

"So...did you know...?" Jack finally thought of something to ask Brit. But then went with another approach. "That..."

"Yeah?" she waited almost too eagerly.

"That...Ash Ketchum is a ripoff of this other guy named Red? From the original Gameboy Pokemon Red? I just found that out today."

"Oh." she said a little disappointed. "Yeah. Yeah. I knew. I think anybody who's a die hard Pokemon fan knows. I'm surprised at you, Jack."

"Sorry, it's just...I've been a pokemon nut only for a while now and this is the first time I'm hearing about this."

"You still have much to learn, my young apprentice." she said trying to sound like a wise man.

Jack laughed. "Wrong franchise, Brit."

"Was that 'really' what you wanted to tell me?"

Jack became nervous. He didn't answer. At least not right away. But he did.

"Yeah." he smiled.

"OK." she smiled and then went on her way. "So you ready for the match?"

"I have my Pokémon beyond Level 5-"

"That's not what I asked you. I mean, are you ready or nervous?"

"A little." He admitted. "I keep hearing that if I beat this Pokémon trainer Archeode54, I'll be the top trainer in the Pokémon Go community. Tell me if that doesn't raise your blood pressure."

"Nobody stands a chance against you. You've beaten everyone so far. It's led you to this." Brit said reassuringly.

"You never know." Jack smiled. "There's always someone better..."

"Yep." They continued on their way. Jack and Brit saw old Gameboys being sold in one of the stands.

"Old technology." she said looking at her phone, comparing her device to one of them.

"We went from Gameboy cartridges to this..." he waved his smartphone. On the screen was him, his avatar, standing still. Just as he was. "Right in the palm of our hands now."

"So, I'm in the mood for more Pokémon, how about you? Forget the guys. Let's get started."

"Let's go hunting then." Jack agreed. Soon they were going on their way, letting their phones guide them. In areas of the room, Pokémon appeared on the phone once their avatars stepped on a certain spot on the map. At some point, Brit grew agitated.

Looking at the screen on her phone in which her small avatar was shown merely standing idly in an empty grid, she groaned in frustration. "I don't have Eevee! Where can I get it? I thought I'd get it here at the PokéFest!" she said looking around.

"Wait! A normal Eevee or a 'shiny' Eevee?" he asked wanting to be sure. Shiny Pokémon were also a must to have. They were basically the same Pokémon with the only difference being that they were of a different color than their actual counterparts. They were extremely rare.

"Normal."

"Oh my God!" he rolled his eyes. "You don't even have a normal version of Eevee?"

"No one is perfect right away..." she muttered in annoyance. "That's the only downside this app has, you only get to find certain Pokémon in special areas. I would have thought being here in this convention would provide me with 'said Eevee'."

"I know. I had to walk two miles away from my house trying to get a Venusaur one time." Jack said.

"Try ten miles for me. Trying to catch a Lapras." Brit said.

"What about Pikachu?"

"He's overrated...and besides I already have both normal and shiny versions of him. Actually I have a lot of Pikachu in my inventory." she said now that she thought about it.

"GUYS!" a guy jumped out of the corner of a vendor to their right. Jerry, one of Brit's friends.

"Jeez! What are you trying to come with? Panic attack or heart attack for us?" Jack said still surprised.

"How about 'anxiety attack'?" Brit added with a tone of annoyance.

With much bravado, the young man declared in a proud demeanor. "They say it couldn't be done. They said it was impossible but I'm now proud enough to say 'screw you' to haters and trolls around."

"Besides that charming intro, what have you done? Or are we going to wait until the next decade?" Jack asked annoyed.

"I finally evolved my Pupitar into a Tyranitar!"

"Man, do I hate you!"

"Once a drama queen, always a drama queen." Brit rolled her eyes.

"Stop, you're making me blush..." he then gave a joyful sigh. "But lo and behold, I have become a man."

"How'd you do that? That had to have taken forever!"

"The man part?"

"No, the Tyranitar. You'll never become a man so don't hope to evolve into one..." Brit replied.

Both Jack and Brit laughed loudly.

"Whatever, at the end of any given day, I'm awesome!"

"Keep thinking that." Jack patted his back.

Jerry explained his own opinion of Pokemon once the three caught up. They were walking amongst the crowds of people. More were coming in. The whole place seemed packed beyond.

"Roger's around here someplace." Jerry had said. "As I was saying, with pokemon you don't have choose quality or quantity, you get to have 'both' quality and quantity!"

"Hey..." Jack gave a soft nudge to Brit on her shoulder. He was staring at something up ahead. "Get a load of this."

Brit saw someone staring at a TV held up by someone doing an exhibit. He was watching it so close, his nose practically touched the screen.

It was an old episode from the animé series. The cartoon showed the pink balloon-like pokemon putting people and a few pokemon to sleep with just a simple yet, beautiful song.

" Jig...a-liiiii...puff...jig-a...liiiii...puff... "

"I'm gonna regret asking this I'm sure...but what the hell are you doing, Roger?" she asked.

The young man snapped back to reality when Brit forcefully turned him to face her. "I'm trying to understand why Jigglypuff isn't making anyone asleep watching the animé? If in the cartoon she sings and puts people to sleep, why don't we as well?"

"Oh my God...I'm not even going to answer that..." she shook her head in disbelief.

"Dude...maybe because it's a cartoon?! It's not real?!" Jerry said.

She pulled Roger away from the TV screen. "OK, you like Pokémon, you got a bigger collection of stuff than we do put together, so why do you feel you need to dissect it and feel like what happens in the animé should happen in real life?"

"Sorry, I'm just on such a Pokemon high right now." Roger said.

"Dude, we all are! But I don't try to make myself go to sleep by a Jigglypuff." Jerry said.

"Or watch that banned Porygon episode." Jack suggested.

"I actually saw it!" Roger admitted.

"Yeah how that go?"

"Woke up in the hospital a day later..." he said sheepishly.

"Serves you right." Brit said.

"Imagine if Pokémon actually existed..."

Brit rolling her eyes again, couldn't help but wanting that to happen as well. But she tried not to show it. She didn't want to encourage Timmy any more than he already was.

"Imagine how they would look like!" Timmy continued while imagining.

"I think the closest they would look in real life would be like in the movie that just came out not too long ago." Jack said.

"Detective Pikachu?" Jerry answered. Indeed, Detective Pikachu was the first live action Pokémon movie ever made. The Pokémon were entirely computer generated in the film but most of the creatures did show life-like qualities.

"Hold up guys..." Brit stopped. On her phone, she changed from her avatar walking and stopping to a regular camera pointing the ground and showing her feet. She focused her camera phone up ahead to show a non-existent Pokémon, a Squirtle on the screen. She had changed her setting to augmented reality mode.

Jack and the others saw nothing on the spot Brit was pointing at. But on Brit's phone it did. That was the fun of it. Objects or characters from the mobile game enhance or rather, show up in a real world environment.

"Here." Brit handed Jack her phone. "Take a selfie."

Brit was standing by herself. Her phone told different. Jack, holding the phone and focusing it, saw the Squirtle on the screen of the phone, smiling and bouncing to and fro. He snapped a couple of shots.

"Got a few." He then gave her phone back.

"Thanks." she smiled. Her smile continued to have an effect.

"Looks so lifelike, don't you think?"

"Almost." Jack shrugged.

"Way to criticize..." Brit rolled her eyes at him.

"I don't know. We've come a long way from chasing pixilated versions of Pokémon on a DS or Gameboy. I'm glad they look the way they do." Jerry said beside them.

"I was trying to find an Eevee here just so that I can finally sleep at night and not have to worry." Roger said to them, looking at his phone.

"So did I. I think some are over in that corner." Brit pointed to an area to her left. But they were then distracted by another exhibit.

It was actually a contest of sorts. One included for the POKéMON GO app. A contest as to what player on POKéMON GO had the highest amount of Pokemon.

"I only have over 35,000 and only 200 found."

"Then we lost before we began..." Jerry said.

Brit and Jack laughed. They lost interest and they were about to walk when they heard more.

"As a special added surprise, this year at the Pokéfest, we're introducing a brand new character to the PokéMon Go adventure or should I say...old character?" the man said mischievously. Brit also expressed her confusion along with everyone in the crowd.

"Anyone who has read the manga series should know who this individual is!"

Now everyone was getting excited when some people in the crowd began to express their theories.

"Only by getting a certain amount of Pokémon and having completed the activities and tasks on the app, can you get this character!"

"Just say who it is for crying out loud!" Josh said over the cheers of the crowd.

"For fans of the manga...Red!"

"Red?!" Brit said incredulously.

"They're integrating the past Pokémon characters into the Pokémon Go universe." Jack pointed out.

"Pokémon universe? That's a good way of explaining it."

"I don't know how else to put it." Jack said. "I just reiterate."

"I so wish I could live in the Pokémon universe. It's a better one than this one..." Brit was reminded of today's discussion with her dad. How the world was today was indeed affecting her.

"It's not real, Brit." Jack said.

"Well, it should be." Brit said adamantly.

"Brit...is this about you and your dad? Because-"

"I don't want to talk about it." she said firmly to which made Jack get taken aback.

"Sorry. Sorry. Didn't mean to go there but I guess I'm curious as to why you'd feel a certain way."

"Jack, all my life I've gotten this...feeling that...I don't belong. Here. In this world. I don't know. I guess it's really easy to get lost in fantasy and to be honest, I don't mind. This world...should be more."

"But it isn't. Stick with reality. It's boring but it's safe. This..." he held up his phone. On the screen his avatar was still just like his real self was. "...is fantasy and escapism at its best. It's best to enjoy them once in a while."

Her friends gave her a nod. She was still feeling down however.

The group continued to go on their way catching Pokémon using the app and taking selfies. It was safe to say that they were having a good time. Now they were waiting for the real reason they came. Something big was coming to the Pokémon app. No one knew yet. It was to be announced today as a sort of surprise. Until then, Jack had something big to accomplish.

"Alright. It's almost starting."

"The Battle League. You got this, Jack." Brit patted his shoulder.

The Pokémon Go battle league allowed players from all over the world or in this case mainly the convention to battle with one another. It was a way for the trainer's Pokémon to get experience. This particular battle had four champions competing with one another. Jack was one of them.

"So...everyone ready for the big moment in an hour?"

"Jack's gonna smoke those guys!"

"No need to be cocky for me guys, please..." Jack rolled his eyes.

"We're just stating facts." Brit smiled. "Do you always take compliments this well?"

Brit had given him a stare that for a moment emitted longing. Longing for him. Perhaps Jack was imagining things but one thing was certain, he was feeling more nervous, to the point where he was getting too overwhelmed and he began to blush. He finally found his voice after a while.

"Guess I'll get used to it. I'm uh...I'm...going to look at something real quick. Excuse me." Jack said leaving a confused Brit behind. He went to an exhibit where they were selling Pokémon Funko pops. The truth was seeing and being around Brit was making him shy.

He felt someone behind.

"Boo." Jerry said unenthusiastically. "Hey, Jack." He gave him a friendly fist-bump.

"Still annoying. What's going on, Jerry?"

"Not complaining. That's the important thing."

"Can't complain in a place like this." Jack said looking around at the large facility they were in.

"So, what's with you and Brit?"

"Me and Brit?"

"Yeah. Have you two…?"

"Well, I don't think-"

"I'll take that as a 'no'."

"Look, I'm just-"

"Nervous? Feeling like you're not good enough for her? Thinking she'll say no and you'll be miserable for the rest of your life?"

"Dude, you ever get tired of finishing people's sentences?"

"I'm just trying to help you out, man. I've been wanting to see you guys get together since we learned how to walk. If you don't make a move, someone will." Jerry said. "I mean, come on, Brit got insanely hot this year, now's the time."

"Look, I will OK? I will." Jack said. But truthfully, he wanted the conversation to end. Jerry meant well but that didn't mean he had the best approach to things, much less relationships.

"Do it today!"

"Today?"

"Yes. You got to. I'm telling you, the sooner you do it, the better you'll feel."

"What if she says 'no'?"

"At least you will have gotten your feelings out. Having all that baggage can wear you down. The not-knowing. Bottom line, you'll never know until you try." Jerry said walking away. That comment really made Jack think now. He would do it but he had to focus on what lies ahead.

"Hey...!" Brit appeared behind Jack, startling him.

"Oh hey!" Jack chuckled. "Just looking around here."

"You done? We got to get going."

Jack went along with Jerry, who gave him a look that read 'you better do this today'.

It was a small stage set for the announcer in his podium and a table save for only four participants. A crowd of people were going to watch the show, making it the one of the most prominent to watch in the convention. The hour was upon them. But Jack thought it like a death sentence. He had a rule. 'Never underestimate other trainers. Looks can be deceiving...' he had thought.

"It's time!" Brit said to him full of excitement herself.

Immediately Jack went to his phone and on the Pokémon Go app, he went to his lists, where alongside the rare candy and pokeballs at his disposal was a pass for any participating challenger to use for the event. A Remote Raid Pass. He activated it and soon he was online with several other challengers.

Brit took a glance to look at Jack's Pokémon list which showed their profile. How strong they were, what level of experience they had and basically what levels they were at. So far, his Pokémon looked to be in good shape.

'Not bad…' Brit thought as she looked at the stats of each one on his phone.

"Your CPs on your pokemon look good, Jack. You've been making them work out every day now, huh?" she joked. CPs stood for Combat Power.

Jack chuckled back. "You know it." He tried not to sound anxious. He looked back at Brit who was busy looking at her phone. He took in a breath of air and tried to focus.

"Don't get nervous, Jack."

"I'm not."

"You're shaking." She said typing away on her app indicating she wasn't even looking at him to know that he was nervous.

"This is like the Elite I'm going up against."

Brit looked back at him seriously.

"Jack, everything you have ever done, everything you've prepared for has all been for this moment. I can't believe I would ever actually say this but…I believe in you, OK?"

That comment made Jack rather elated.

"You do?"

"Of course."

"Listen, Brit. There's something I want to say-"

"It's time for Pokémon Battle to begin!" the announcer ahead loudly said all of a sudden. "If I could get our fighting-ready combatants up here, please!"

"Go! It's time!" Brit said.

"Oh…OK…"

"Good luck!" she gave a slight fistbump to his shoulder. Jack awkwardly went on his way. 'I almost told her…'

"Let's let our competitors get connected!" the announcer said. "Our four champs here have won fight after fight prior to this big convention of ours. They came here due to the amount of fights they've gradually won over time. That makes them winners in their own rights. But whoever remains standing will be declared the ultimate Pokémon Go trainer in the community! He will become the 'ultimate' winner. Yes. This is a big one ladies and gents! It's all about who wants it more and who wants it bad enough! The fight will start now. We will select two random players from the four. Only the trainer's strongest Pokémon will fight in this. Yes, one Pokémon will be used."

The crowd cheered and Jack and his opponents got ready. Their apps on. The connection spread to the large screen above them. Their avatars on the screen ready. From the computer screen held up on stage, which was big enough for all people far and near to see, Jack could see his name and the other three being switched around and around. It reminded him of a lottery machine.

"And stop!"

Two names were highlighted and chosen.

"OK! First match is a go! First two are chosen! Firerageman and Dragonlord675!"

Whatever happened on their phones was now going to be shown to the whole crowd of people. It was on.

"And START!" the announcer clearly didn't waste any more time.

On the large screen, Brit and the others saw that one player had a Dragonite, emerging from a thrown Pokéball, a tall orange dragon creature but essentially representing ice as well. Its XP was a tad higher than the other Pokémon. The other combatant sported a Magmar, a fire type Pokémon. The latter had the advantage for fire is strong against ice.

"Fire melts ice. This will sure be a quick one…" Roger said to Brit who was focused on the screen.

The CGI-Dragonite started out with a Thunder Punch attack, to which had the combatant's CGI-Magmar stunned and it issued a low drop in its health bar. The Magmar recovered and retaliated with a flamethrower attack.

The health bar to Dragonite dropped considerably, to the point where it was halfway now.

"Super Effective!" the announcer declared.

"I think it's over." Roger said.

"Never say over." Brit said. 'Don't jinx it!' she wanted to say.

Suddenly the dragonite powered up by taking a massive amount of energy. It finally shot a massive beam to the Magmar, hitting it.

"Hyper beam!" the announcer said.

The life force of the Magmar dropped very, very low now. The health bar showed it was halfway to zero now.

The Magmar came back with another flamethrower attack. Everyone drew their breaths in. For this was a possible KO for the Dragonite.

The lifeforce on its health bar dropped, dropped continued to drop until it got to zero.

But it never did. There was a sliver of life left. But only a little. If Brit had to guess, it was at a 1%. The crowd shouted their amazement.

"What are the odds?!" the announcer declared.

The Dragonite came back with a fierce attack. A thunder punch, which only caused a little bit of damage to the Magmar but it was still up and running.

"Why would he go with that?" Roger shouted through the cheering crowd. A thunder punch wasn't always the sure way to go.

"That's why!" Brit pointed.

The next line that showed in the bar below read that it was now 'paralyzed'. Unable to move, much less attack. It was its turn to attack but it remained paralyzed.

"Oh, I think it's in trouble now, folks!" said the announcer.

It was the Dragonite's turn and this time, it let out another devastating hyper beam. The health bar showed the Magmar's life force diminishing, diminishing until finally…

It was down and out for the count. Dragonite won.

"Firerageman has been eliminated, now it's time for our next contender!"

The other player went due to the lottery which had only three people now including the one in lead. Jack had saw that it wasn't him this time but rather the other player going up against the player's Dragonite.

"Alright, second match now ladies and gents! Who will win! We'll find out! Let's go guys!"

The new player. Rumcon428 connected quickly and soon he was fighting the Dragonite with a Raichu. The evolved form of Pikachu.

"Oh, this is not looking good for Dragonite, folks!"

Sure enough, the Raichu after being hit with a slam from the Dragonite, retaliated with an astounding Thundershock attack, completely taking down the already-weak Dragonite.

"No way he could have kept going." Roger said.

"As expected!" the announcer said. "Next challenger!"

Rumcon428 remained victorious and the worst part was that his Raichu barely got a scratch.

Two were left. Jack and another. Names were flipped again and again until it stopped. The underlined name revealed it wasn't him. Jack couldn't help but feel more adrenaline pumping into him. It was almost his turn.

"Mimey9678!"

The challenger went up against Rumcon428's Raichu with a Gengar, who was at a high level. The battle began with Raichu going with a Thunder attack. But it missed. That made the people gasp and cheer. The Gengar went with a hypnosis attack. It immediately put the Raichu to sleep. No chance of attacking, the Gengar went ahead with its dark Night Shade attack and then a Dream Eater attack.

The Raichu went down. The crowd cheered instantly. It was almost over. There was only one name left.

"Final challenger! Are you ready?!" the announcer looked at Jack.

Yes, it was Jack's turn now. At this point, there could no be doubt, no fear, and no mistakes. The margin of error was inexplicable.

"That's you, Mr. GarnetX250!' Roger said in his ear.

"I really need to change that..." Jack muttered.

"Whoo!" Brit cheered for Jack, to which he couldn't help but feel a little more excited. After getting his bearings, he went in and connected.

"Last battle here folks! How will it end?"

Jack took out his most strongest pokemon he had at the top of the list. Alakazam.

The confident-looking Mimey8678 turned from Jack to the announcer. "I'd like to switch Pokemon."

"You'd like to switch pokemon? Folks, he wants to switch Pokemon! Do you have another pokemon as your champion? You already have your Gengar on a roll! Are you sure?!"

"Yes..."

"Where's he going with this?" Jerry next to Brit asked.

The large screen showed that he had discarded his Gengar with another Pokemon. The creature materialized from the pokeball. It was large with wings. It drew out a breath of fire. Brit and the rest of the crowd couldn't believe it.

"That's a Charizard!" Jerry cried.

"No..." Brit said in wonder. This Pokémon had a black hue to it.

"It's a shiny Charizard!" the announcer yelled and so did everyone else. The crowd grew even louder when they saw the Charizard's stats.

"Level 50?!" Jerry asked incredulous.

"Oh great…" Brit said annoyed.

Level 50 was the highest level a pokemon could get in the app. It meant that its strength and endurance had been enhanced through training and experience.

"Oh wow, folks! This just got a whole lot interesting. What will happen?!" the excited announcer blared.

"Come on, Jack!" Brit's voice was heard.

Finally acting, Jack attacked first. With his Alakazam, he went with a Psychic attack, administering a great blow much to his excitement.

"Critical Hit!" the announcer yelled.

The shiny Charizard retaliated with a Dragon Claw attack. Because of the Charizard's experience and attack level, the attack was a great blow to his Alakazam. The health bar showed it was down at least 20%.

Jack continued with another Psychic attack, to which gave it another great blow to the Shiny Charizard.

Mimey8678 went with another fierce attack. A fire blast.

The lifeforce on the health bar dropped drastically. Jack was getting nervous. But he held in there. With one more psychic attack, he could finish it. There was a chance.

'I'm gonna win!' Jack thought as he prepared another psychic attack. He felt elated now. He issued Psychic and Jack could feel the victory already.

But the unthinkable happened.

The crowd gasped and shouted their amazement at what transpired.

The attack missed.

"No!' he wanted to cry out in astonishment.

Mimey8678's Charizard then unleashed another devastating Fire Blast attack. Jack saw to his horror, the energy on his Pokemon's health bar was getting close to empty until finally...

It was.

He lost. The crowd cheered and applauded for the other player.

"We have a winner!" the announcer declared. "The new Pokemon Battle League champion, folks! Mimey8678!"

'I missed! I can't believe it!' Jack thought. He stood there in stunned silence while everyone acted like maniacs. He didn't care.

The loss was more than he could bear. When he walked off the stage, he couldn't hear his friends talking to him, attempting to cheer him up to no avail. He just wanted to disintegrate.


"Jack! Could you please just say something?" Brit asked beside him. They had long since walked away from the stage and went along with the crowd of people looking at exhibits. Jack was unresponsive. He was still shocked. Time and effort to train had been for this moment. Now, he felt if it was ever really worth it.

"Dude, this stuff happens..." Roger started. "...sometimes attacks can miss. It sucks. But it happens. Doesn't mean you suck as a player."

"That's right." Brit said. "So don't let this cripple you because if you let this loss get to you-"

"Well, well, well, look what the dog dragged in..." a voice was heard from behind interrupting them.

Turning around, Brit and the gang saw the worst people to exist on the planet. Immediately, she felt deflated once she recognized them. Clint and Kevin, along with their posse, made their way towards them. Back in high school, they were the worst bullies to ever antagonize Jack and Brit.

"Hey…it's Wacky-Jack!" Clint called out.

"Oh no…" Jack had also turned and found the owner of the voice.

"I'd like to think we were having a good time…" Brit said disappointed but went with her usual defensive front at once.

"Also, don't you mean, 'cat' dumbass?" Jack asked.

A bunch of 'ooh's' went around.

"Wow, aren't you the smart one? I mean, I guess you are, given what happened at school." Kevin said.

Jack knew that this was not going to go well. He knew that the dangers of reopening old wounds. Not after what happened in their school weeks before graduation.

Jack was walking down the hall going to his locker feeling content. Or rather he was thrilled. The scholarship he had been told he was going to get was one of hard work and sacrifice. The award was enough for Dartmouth, a school he was going. Everything was set. Now, he was truly going to enjoy his summer.

He was going to tell his friend Brit about it. He had been friends since they were freshmen. They had always hung out and had fun with one another. It had gotten to the point where feelings were beginning to develop. At least he was. He had no idea how Brit felt about him. If it was similar. He thought with the confidence he had gained for having a chance at Dartmouth, he was going to tell Brit how he felt about her.

The hallway had been empty, but it brought upon an end to silence. A noise was issued. In the bathroom, curious, Jack went to see what was going on. From the sounds of it, it sounded like a scuffle. He had to make sure before he reported it.

He then saw a boy on the floor getting beat on. Clint and Kevin were among the ones taking turns in kicking him. One of the boys taking delight to the scene was off to the side carried a folder with a Pokéball logo on it. From how he saw the folder, he knew it to be a collection of Pokémon cards inside. Jack's guess right then and there had been that the thugs wanted his collection. Cards could be quite valuable in the future. The kid on the ground didn't look like he was going to hold on for much longer.

That was when he intervened.

Clint's voice brought him back to the present before Jack could relive more of the memory.

"Don't think I haven't forgotten that day. I know 'you' do." Clint said.

"Yeah." Kevin agreed. "Also, we came here to congratulate the biggest loser in the convention. That being you. Yeah, we heard. Sucks when you suck, doesn't it?"

"Talk about getting the agony of defeat, eh, buddy?" Clint smirked.

"Don't you think it's silly holding onto a grudge long after senior year?" Jack asked.

"People don't forget." Kevin said.

"High school ended. Unlike you guys, we actually matured." Brit said.

"Says the girl wearing a stupid superhero outfit..."

"Look who's talking..." Jerry spoke.

"I think you guys should get the hell out of here. This event's ours..." Clint said menacingly.

"Gee, that almost sounded threatening except well...it ain't." Brit said unaffected. "We're not going anywhere."

"Well, if it isn't the girlfriend coming to the rescue! You letting her fight your battles for you?" Clint looked at Jack.

"She-she's not my girfriend!" he stammered.

That comment had Brit get taken aback.

Clint appeared pleased. "Oh, she ain't? I guess it's all for the best. You shouldn't be around shady people anyway, Brit. Jack here ain't what he appears to be. You think you do but you don't."

Brit couldn't help but frown. He looked at Jack who looked away from her.

'Is he hiding something?' she thought.

"You deserve better. So hey, Brit, how about it? Want to go out with a real man?"

"I do. The thing is, I don't see one here at all." she said not wanting to take any more crap from him.

Clint got angry with his friends actually looking impressed by what Brit had just said.

"You're mine!"

He was about to get to her. Surprisingly, Brit threw the first punch. A fast one to his nose.

"Brit!" Jack couldn't believe it.

Things escalated quick immediately. It was what happened when push came to shove. The first punch came and then the second one came from the other party. Everyone else had stopped what they were doing and stopped to see what they saw it as a spectacle. An actual fight.

One of the thugs smacked away Brit's phone to the side.

"You...!" she hit him square in the cheek.

The phone had been thrown to a fortune teller's exhibit. It hit a crystal ball, knocking it down, shattering it in the process. The phone landed next to it.

Throughout the scuffle, Jack saw for a split second some leftover dust from the crystal ball had touched Brit's phone. The dust swirled and lit up before landing on the base of the phone. The phone screen then went wild for a few seconds before it turned black. 'I'm probably seeing things!' he shook his head.

"I can't believe them! Excuse me!" Brit said impatiently as she barged into the old woman's exhibit to retrieve her phone. The woman looked horrified. She was almost afraid to talk.

After she retrieved it, she helped pick up Jack from the floor, sporting a bloody lip.

"You OK?" Brit had asked.

"Brit..." Jack said shaking his head and told himself what he saw was just special effects. It was a convention. A lot of weird stuff was sold and shown here.

As expected, security came. A few officers.

"Let's go! Out now!" the security guard said to them. To add insult to injury, Clint and Kevin and his friends were pointing at them and laughing.

"We didn't do anything!" Jerry said.

"It was them!" Brit said.

"I don't care! Out now!" the lead officer said.

"Please."

"No, out now. Or you'll be arrested."

Brit gave up and followed suit. She looked ahead at an old woman standing beside the broken crystal ball.

"It's broken..." the old woman said looking at the pieces. "I told you to stay away!"

"Just get another one." Jerry called out to her as they were led out. "I heard Earthbound Trading Company's selling them now."

"Jerry!" she gave a smack to his shoulder. Jerry could be funny but insensitive at times. Today, was no exception.

"You have no idea what you've done!" she yelled after them. "This is only the beginning!"

Brit rolled her eyes in response.

"What are you talking about?" Brit asked but they were close to getting out of earshot with her.

"A dangerous element will arrive! Beware!"

"OK...what was that?" Jack asked as they finally got outside and the entrance door to the facility had closed behind them. It was empty of people outside. Jack couldn't get his mind off of that strange woman.

"What, that old lady? That's either crack or cocaine right there." Jerry pointed at the door.

"I don't think she was on drugs, Jerry." Jack said. "She seemed serious."

"Yeah, serious enough to belong in a mental institution..." Roger said.

"This is great..." Jack said looking at the closed door. He couldn't believe they were kicked out.

Brit wasn't paying attention. She was trying to restart her phone. After a few seconds, she finally got it up and aside from a crack on the screen, it was functioning normally.

"Finally."

"At least your phone's OK..." Jack said having stood by her side.

Brit was trying to go on the app but the background on the screen began to blur.

"Geez." Jack whispered.

"I don't know. It's acting weird. I think it is broken..." she said looking at the cracked screen. Brit used whatever visibility her phone provided to go on the Pokémon Go app. She clicked it but it went white for a very, very long time.

Jack sighed. "Sorry, Brit."

"It's bad enough we get kicked out, now this?!"

"Well, you did hit the guy in the nose, Brit..." Jack said.

"Oh, so this is 'my' fault?" Brit was outraged. "You just stood there!"

"You didn't have to hit him."

"So I should just stand by and let those guys get away with it?"

"I don't care what they say. They can say whatever they want. It goes in one ear and out the other." Jack said.

"What did Clint and Kevin mean when they said you're not who you appear to be?"

"What are you asking?

"You know what I'm asking. You and I have been friends for a long time, Jack. You shouldn't be having secrets from me. What are you not telling me?"

"Look, Clint and Howard are just-"

"What 'lying'?" Brit asked. There was doubt now. "What's going on here, Jack?"

Jack was hesitant.

"Guys..." Jerry broke up the argument and looked at Brit's phone. It was shaking, actually vibrating and she hadn't even noticed.

Suddenly the app came back online and what was shown on the screen was once again the usual field and mountains in the back. But something was off. The image was still standing still.

"I think I'm gonna have to restart it again..."

"Wait look!"

A figure appeared on the screen.

"It's some trainer..." Brit frowned.

"That's odd. It's usually Professor Willow that shows up on the app if it wants to give you some sort of challenge." Jerry said looking as well.

"Does he have a name?"

Brit shook her head.

Finally, the animated figure began to speak. His words in a bubble.

"You must help me! Team Rocket has gotten hold of a mysterious artifact which could threaten the very existence of the universe! I have managed to steal it but it's only a matter of time, before they get wind that I took it."

"That's new..." Roger said over her shoulder.

"Team Rocket?" Jerry said. The doubt dripping in his tone.

"I don't know...I think that 'the end of the world' concept has been done once or twice in other reiterations."

"You want to do it?"

"Are you serious?" Brit said. Just then, a new message appeared.

"Should you accept this mission, you must say Pokémon Go!"

"Yeah, right..." Roger said.

"I'm going home." Jerry said.

"No, wait..." Jack said. "We gotta figure this out."

"Whatever. Something good has to come from this..."

"You're not thinking?" Jack said.

"I'm temporarily nuts right now, Jack. Just got kicked out and maybe I'm not thinking straight. Anyways...always wanted to say this under the right circumstances! 'POKéMON...! GO!'"

Nothing happened. They waited longer. Nothing still.

"Well that was fun..." Roger shook his head.

"As expected..." Jerry nodded.

"Come on, Brit. Let's go home." Jack said.

"Fine..."

The phone then turned back on. Much to their amazement but it was acting in a way that was peculiar and unexpected for a phone.

A swirling mist of energy or more of a flash erupted from the phone. The color of it was either pink or purple. It was emitted from the screen and slowly formed into a upside-down mini-tornado, spinning and swirling. It grew upward and the funnel became so long, it shot out to the other side of the street. To an alley.

"Dude, did I just see what I just see or did I smoke too much of the Devil's lettuce today?"

"Maybe the surprise was that it was going to be like a whole new technology created. Like a hologram." Roger said.

"I wouldn't put it past the creators: Nintendo, Niantic, or the Pokemon Company itself for coming up with stuff like that." Brit admitted, albeit a bit nervous. What happened just now was pretty random, let alone new.

"Whatever shot out, it landed in that alleyway..." Jack said and pointed ahead.

"Should we check?" Roger asked.

"Say something did come out, it would prove it wasn't a hologram." Jerry suggested.

"But if it was?" Brit asked.

"Then we're idiots for believing it could be anything more." Roger replied.

"Screw it, we're already out here. Might as well check it out." Jack said and the four followed suit.

They got there. The alleyway was a path between two buildings. It was dark save for a few lamps but gave off very dim lighting.

"Where is it?"

"Who's that?"

They were all looking at a figure standing there with his back turned to them.

"Homeless person?" Roger suggested.

"His clothes look new, dumbass." Brit said.

"And weird." Jerry said behind them, also staring at the figure.

"Hey there! Need some help?" Jack asked the unknown figure.

The individual turned. Brit and the others saw him more clearly.

The young man wore a red and black stylized jacket, blue jeans and a red and white cap. He looked around his surroundings. Turning slowly and staring all over the area trying to understand where he himself is.

"Well, that's a dramatic entrance for a cosplayer." Roger said almost impressed but Brit could tell he rolled his eyes.

The young man finally spoke. "This area is so...strange! What is this place?"

"We call it...New York for the uninitiated and of course, for the...un-inebriated." Jerry said.

"I...feel...different." the boy said looking at his hands and feeling his face. "My hands...my body...it's all strange."

"Dude, you must have hit your head or something." Jack suggested.

"Where did you come from?" Brit asked.

"Me? I'm from Kanto."

"And I'm from Hawaii..." Roger scoffed.

Brit ignored him and inquired further. "Who are you?"

"I...am Red."

"And I thought the old lady needed mental help. This guy seems shy a few bricks."

"Red from the Pokémon universe?" Brit herself wanted to laugh.

"Yes."

"Dude, you're not Red." Roger said, not buying it himself.

"Well, I am!" the boy said confused. "And who are you guys?"

"Trigger happy fans." Jerry said. "Like you."

"Look, is there someone we could call for you?" Brit asked.

"Shoot, I'm calling 911. Tell them we got someone who hit their head." Jerry began taking out his phone from his pocket.

"No. No. I have to get on my way...as soon as I know...where I'm from." 'Red' said backing away and looking unsure at his surroundings.

Before they could say anything. Brit, who for sure wanted to say who was he kidding, never got a chance to because a small figure peaked behind the boy's legs, having hid this whole time.

"Come on, Clefairy. We should go."

A balloon-shaped furry, pink creature that Brit and the others almost shouted in shock from. Brit for a split second, almost thought it was a dog or a squirrel. Only it wasn't.

Brit gave a slight shriek. While the others gave loud gasps. They all practically jumped.

"What? What is it?" 'Red' asked them.

"What...the-?!" Roger said almost afraid.

"No way!" Jack was amazed.

"It's...a...!"

"An actual Clefairy." Brit stared in awe.

"Well, of course, haven't you ever seen a Clefairy before?" the young man 'Red' asked confused at their reactions.

"Yeah! Pixilated, animated or in card form! Not an actual being!" Jerry replied. He was either amazed or terrified.

"Of course, they're actual beings. They're the most wonderful creatures in the entire world. Especially this one right here." Red petted him gently.

"Clefairy!" the pink creature with its curvy forehead cried happily. The thing was so lifelike, it was surreal.

"More than that..." Jack said with bulging eyes that expressed his astonishment. "...it's an actual Pokémon!"

Brit didn't know if she was terrified or amazed.

"This day just got interesting...' she thought.