Journal Entry #1

Hi there! My name is Chris Chambers and today is my first day writing in this journal. I come from Anville Town in Unova, where I spent almost all my life in isolation with a few friends and family. I would have made an entry of me saying goodbye to them, but I just received this notebook last minute from a distant friend of mine. It was technically a hand-me-down, so he left the notes he wrote down the last time we were together for memories. Guess I can read them over whenever I want. Let's start from the peak of the sunlight in the morning.

"I hate heights!" My yell could barely be made out as I gripped Dragonite, the ride rental to my destination, tightly without letting go. "Why couldn't I just take a boat to here..."

The Dragonite grumbled while looking back at me. He let out a discontent sigh. "This is the fifth time you've tried to scream that out. Let me remind you that Unova is an ocean away from Galar. No boats we have currently have enough distance to reach Galar."

With the limited air I had, I let out a puff of air towards the sky. It made it seem like white smoke exited my body. "But we have to be nearby, right?"

Oh, right! I should've said before I started the day... I'm not entirely human. The only other place I've been in minus the local forests nearby was an entire different world where Pokémon, and only Pokémon, live in harmony. I ended up being "silverlisted" to the place, and spent about six or seven months as a shiny Eevee, evolving into a Leafeon in the process! I can technically change forms from a human to a Leafeon, and vice versa with a device that I'll explain later.

In other words, I can understand Pokémon.

The Dragonite suddenly started dropping in altitude, startling me suddenly with a yelp. "Wait, we're already here?!" I shouted again. My grip was about to start tightening up if it wasn't for the Pokémon smacking one of my hands.

"Okay, firstly, calm down. I need to focus on our descent to Postwick, so could you try to stay calm for a minute?" I responded to him by keeping silent for a couple of seconds. "Thank you."

Since I had one free hand now, I decided to reach in my left pocket. The only thing I could grab was a green orb wrapped in what one of my old teammates called twine. If you looked around it, it had what looked like a leaf outline on one of the sides. This tiny orb was how I can switch forms, but I keep on forgetting what Cord called it. "Well, at least I still haven't lost it in this ride." I felt something was off in the next few seconds, but couldn't put it correctly. We were descending a bit faster with every second, but I thought that was normal.

I realized it was completely wrong when we were in a crash course in someone's house.

"Dragonite, I suggest you pull up!"

"What do you think I'm doing?!" He yelled at me. His wings started flapping quickly to start angling upwards. It was a bit too late by then; Dragonite clipped part of the roof, and we crash landed near the backyard of the same house.

It actually seemed like no one was inside currently, so I could make any getaway I wanted at any time! My right pocket had enough change for the trip from my hometown to here... Well, technically, I didn't know what was here, so I decided to ask him.2

"This is what I assumed to be one of the houses in Postwick. Smallest town in the world currently, since it's near the Slumbering Weald. If you take the exit of this town, there's a pathway that leads to Wedgehurst. You'll get your starter Pokémon there."

A sleeping forest...? That's what my local dictionary told me what a weald was. I was about to ask why a forest would be sleeping in the daytime when he snatched the coins from my hand and flew away.

For the first time in my entire life, I was alone. No friends or family by my side; just me, gyms, and a tournament all lied between me and becoming a regional champion.

Route One was shorter than I thought it was. All of it was just one dirt pathway down, and bam! You're in Wedgehurst. I thought I was gonna have to blend in as a Leafeon and hoped I didn't get caught, but I was completely wrong! It was anticlimactic, but it made me breathe a sigh of relief.

I had to ask again for directions to this region's Professor laboratory. I don't mind actually, but I need to keep in mind asking someone where I could buy a map, or maybe a phone compatible here. In no seconds flat, I found it and bolted over there. The first person who greeted me inside was about a twenty year old female with a peculiar hair design. Not saying it looked weird, it just confused me that someone would have their style hanging from the side of their head.

I'm definitely gonna have to get used to that.

The female introduced herself as Sonia, the granddaughter and the assistant of the professor here. I didn't expect familial lines to work in a scientific setting, but I guess that's to be expected for me being with only Pokémon for a few months. Since her grandma, Professor Magnolia I think she called her, was currently doing another research trip, she decided to introduce the starter Pokémon to me.

You already know the three starters, I suppose. Scorbunny, the Fire starter, and what looked like what a creature Manny called a bunny. Sobble, the Water starter, which looked like a creature called a frog. Last, but not least, Grookey, the Grass starter, he or she looked like a monkey. I don't know what they exactly said, but here's them saying hello to me simplified.

"Hi there! It's nice to meet you Chris!" The Scorbunny's eyes burned like a fire, probably pumped up about seeing a trainer for the first time.

The Sobble waved before trying to give off a fake smile. "I-It's nice to meet y-you..." She looked down, mad or frustrated about something.

The Grass type just turned his head around, completely giving off a sigh towards me. I looked at Sonia before blinking a few times. "How long has Grookey gone without being chosen?" I asked her.

"Well, he hatched a few weeks ago, so I'd say about a month he hasn't been chosen. Why do you—?"

"I'll take him then!" A grin came upon me as I kneeled towards the Grass type. His eyes widened as he turned around towards me. But before he responded, Sonia sucked the Grookey up to his Pokéball. It was a shame I couldn't hear his voice for the first time, but I guess it'll be better if I talked to him alone, without any humans around. The female gave me the essentials: five Pokéballs, a Pokedex that's apparently powered by Rotom, and a train ticket to this place called the Wild Area. She noted to me that's the surest way that I can catch Pokémon and gain more experience.

Now on the train, I'm literally clenching on my starter's Pokéball. It feels odd to keep someone in there, especially since I've done it to my best friends a few months back. I'm gonna end this entry and start talking to my partner for the first time; hopefully explain everything in one sitting.

CC out!