I awake from my deep sleep, exhausted from yesterday, but life changing ordeal. Lying still upon the bed and eyes still closed, I feel something weighing down on my chest. Slowly opening my eyes, I notice something yellow and curled up sleeping on me.

What's this? It's surprise after surprise. I better not startle it in case it proves to be hostile.

Its back is faced towards me, showing two brown streaks. Looking down the body, I see a yellow, jagged tail protruding a little bit since the rest of its tail is curled into the body. I turn to the other side of the body and see a pointed yellow ear with a black tip.

I'm pretty sure I know what this is, but I'm not going to hold my breath on it.

I start to scratch the little creature behind its ear, waking it in the process. The yellow animal turns its head towards me; I notice it has a red pouch on each cheek.

I was right. It is a Pikachu.

I take a look in its eyes and I see them quivering, even its body is shaking a little bit.

Noticing its scared action, I say in the most soothing voice I could muster, "Good morning, little one." I make sure to grin to prove I don't have any ill intent. "Did you sleep well?"

"P-pi~~~" it says in a quivering voice. Its body is still trembling just as much as when I woke it up.

It's without a doubt terrified of me. It probably thinks I'm mad at it since it slept on me all night.

"Don't be scared; I'm not mad at you or anything for sleeping on me, just a bit surprised." I again keep my voice as soothing as possible to calm its nerves. It slowly stops quivering as I begin to scratch behind its ear again.

"Chu~" it says, very pleased with the way I'm scratching it. Its previous fear of me is apparently gone.

My stomach rumbles as I'm scratching the Pikachu. "Um, Pikachu, do you mind getting off me please? I'm kind of hungry, as you can tell."

It acknowledges with a "Pi-ka," and gets off me, stretching its small body while I get out of bed and do the same. I hear a small grumble from the Pikachu whilst covering its eyes with its paws out of embarrassment.

"Come here," I say as I pick it off the bed and put it on my shoulder. "I'm going to eat breakfast, so come with me, okay?"

All I get is a nod of the head, prompting me to exit the room and walk into the hallway. I take a look at the photo with the Pikachu is embraced in the young boy's arms before going to the stairs.

I wonder if this is the same Pikachu in the photo.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Nate, what's yours?"

What's up with me this morning? All it's going to respond with is variations of its name.

"Pika-pi," it shyly says as its stomach grumbles again.

Ok, I'll find out later.

Hmm, what should I make for breakfast? Pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, Kanto toast...I think I'll make some banana pancakes. Clara, Layla and I love them and I'm sure Nate wouldn't mind some pancakes either.

I start grabbing the ingredients necessary for making banana pancakes: two bananas, pancake mix, butter, water, a flat pan, and a spatula. Mashing the two bananas until they're the consistency of clumpy mashed potatoes, I measure out the necessary amounts of pancake mix and water, mixing them together in a separate bowl before adding the mashed bananas in.

"G'morning, Miss. How did you sleep?" Clara asks, yawning as she enters the kitchen. She's in her humanoid form, her red hair all over the place.

"Morning, Clara. I slept well, considering yesterday's crazy ordeal," I put the pancake mix on the hot pan, "I'm making banana pancakes. You want some?"

She looks up to me as she's setting the table for breakfast, a condescending look in her face. "Have I ever refused when you offer banana pancakes?" I think for second, but shake my head. "Two pancakes please." A large grin on her face appears as she sits down.

"Okay, just give it a couple of minutes," I flip the pancakes over so as to get the other side cooked. I walk away from the stove, putting it on low and grabbing four plates. Clara already set the table with forks, cups, and napkins. I put the plates down on each placemat. I return back to the stove and wait a couple more minutes for the pancakes to finish cooking.

"Good morning, Holly. Clara. How are you?" Nate asks, entering the dining room and grabbing a chair to sit down in his seat from the previous night.

"Good, good. How did you sle-" I nearly drop the spatula from my hand as I see Layla comfortably sitting on his shoulder.

Has Hell frozen over? Layla has never gotten close to anyone since her mother left with Drew on his quest to become a Pokémon trainer. And why does Clara have this devious look in her eyes as if she knows what's going on? Wait, does she know what's going on?

"Um, why are you two looking at me as if I've committed some sort of heinous crime?" Nate asks, perplexed, as he looks at the both of us.

Clara looks at me and says, "Miss, I think the pancakes are done now."

"All right, thanks." I turn off the flame on the stove and grab the pan with the pancakes, walking over to the dining room and putting two small pancakes on every plate, only pausing at Nate's. "Sorry, I didn't ask, but do you want banana pancakes?"

"That sounds great! Thank you." Layla jumps off his shoulder as he says that, walking over to her side of the table and smelling the pancakes on her plate.

"Pi~!" she excitedly screams before digging into the pancakes with her paws.

I walk around to my seat and sit down. "Um, Nate, how did you get Layla to be comfortable around you?"

"So Layla, how'd you sleep last night?" Clara deviously asks Layla while she is slightly choking on her pancake before it becomes dislodged from her throat after a coughing fit.

"So that's its name. I'm assuming it's a female then?" Nate asks before getting another bite of pancake.

I simply nod as I want him to continue on with his explanation.

He swallows the pancake and takes a drink of orange juice. "So when I woke up this morning, I noticed Layla curled up in a ball, sleeping soundly on top of my chest. I woke her up by scratching behind her ear, but from what I can tell by your reaction, she isn't comfortable around strangers as her body was quivering when she noticed that I saw her on me. In a soothing voice, I talked to her, calming down her nerves and well, here we are."

"So Layla, did you do anything else besides sleep with him?" Clara devilishly asks Layla.

"Pi-pi!" Layla cries out in a desperate voice.

"Uh-huh. Sure you didn't," Clara retorts sarcastically.

While those two go at it for a little bit more, I'll try and get some info off of Nate and see what he's going to do here. I think.

"Nate?" I ask. He looks up, practically done with his pancakes, and ignores those two while they argue.

"Yeah, Holly. What's up?" he gets up and puts his dishes in the sink before returning back to his chair.

"Do you have any plans while you're here?"

He ponders my question for a bit. "I do want to find out how I arrived here in the first place, and this ring tells me absolutely nothing. If I do that, I'll have to leave this fantastic home of yours and go on a journey, most likely involving me becoming a trainer." Both Clara and Layla stop bickering after they heard him say 'trainer'.

"A trainer? As in a Pokémon trainer?" both Clara and I ask him quizzically.

"Yes, that's it. Is there something the matter with it?"

Both Clara and I look at each other before I explain. "The profession of a Pokémon trainer is quite possibly the most rewarding but most dangerous profession legally available to anyone."

"I understand, but why is so dangerous?"

I continue to explain. "It's dangerous because wild Pokémon will attack you if they so choose. Many people have died from wild Pokémon attacks, especially beginning trainers as they go upon their journey. Over the years, fewer and fewer people are willing to become trainers but as it is a very rewarding experience; there will always be someone who wants to become one, regardless of what people say." I say the last phrase a bit sadly.

Oh crap, I let something slip about Drew. Hopefully he doesn't pick it up.

I quickly start to speak up so he doesn't ask why my voice felt sad. "Continuing on, the world you described is crazy. No parent in their right mind would let their ten year old son or daughter become a trainer. Even most kids don't want to be a trainer, as they're aware of the dangers it poses. If you so do wish to become a trainer, I'll help you, but please think it over. It's not like the children's game in your world."

This isn't like the games predicted where people don't die. This is the real world now and I'm in a world full of danger, but I need to know how I got here and maybe even a way to go back home. I can't say no to this. It has been my childhood fantasy to go on to become a Pokémon trainer and now that the opportunity presents itself, I won't decline this once-in-a-lifetime chance.

"Holly, I'll go and become a trainer. I need to find out why I'm here, and if there is way for me to go back home," I tell her with confidence in my voice.

She nods, satisfied with my answer. "I understand your reason to go, and it's a valid reason. Not like I was going to deny you your choice to become a trainer, but it's better to have a clear-cut reason why you wish to go. And yes, I'll help you become a trainer." She grabs Clara's and Layla's plates and puts them away in the sink.

Relief spread through me as I now know that she'll help me become a trainer. "Thank you so much, for everything. Is there any way I can repay you for all you've done for me?"

"Just don't die and if you find a way back home, send me a letter before you leave this world," she tells me with a grin on my face. "One more thing, do you mind waiting while I grab the equipment needed for you to become a trainer?"

"Sure thing, but may I use your shower before I go? I kind of want to get cleaned up before I set off."

"Go for it. The shower is the first door on the right when you head upstairs. Towels are in the cupboard above the toilet. You'll find everything you need to clean yourself already in the shower." She responds like policewomen giving directions. "Since you'll be taking a shower, just come on downstairs when you're done. I should have everything prepared for you."

"Okay, got it," I leave the dining room and head upstairs towards my room first. I grab the clothing that they lent me for day use: a black shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans. I then notice a pair of new boxer briefs underneath the clothing.

They even went out of their way to get me a new pair of boxers, unless they had a new pair somewhere in the house. But still, they're really nice for lending this to me.

I leave me room, carrying the clothes and enter the bathroom. I look for the toilet and above it on shelves are towels. I grab the closest one and start to undress what I'm wearing. I open the door to the shower and set the water to warm, putting myself in the spray of warmth and cleansing my body.

This is quite possibly the greatest day I've ever had.

I hear the shower turn on while I look for trainer gear Drew sends back home every now and then.

I know it's somewhere in this garage, but where is it? Why is it that every time you want something, it's not there, but when you don't need it, it's there?

I scavenge through the garage, looking at the labels of the multiple boxes till I find one in the corner labeled 'Drew's Pokémon Stuff'. I open up the box and inside is a large, grey backpack with many compartments for items. I take it out and feel it has some weight to it.

Hmm, I wonder what's in here.

I open up the top zipper of the backpack and peer inside. I see some Pokéballs, a couple of potions, some sort of electronic device, a solar-powered phone, and two necklaces with pendants in the shape of a lightning bolt. I pick up the bag and after looking through the box to make sure nothing was left inside, I open the door to the kitchen and set the backpack on the dining room table.

Both Clara and Layla look up to me as if to ask a question. "Miss, Layla and I were talking and she has something she wants to ask you," Clara says with some urgency in her voice.

"Layla, what's up?" I concernedly ask her.

"Pi, pika pi chu ka-chu pika pi ka chu," she tells me as I look to Clara for a translation.

"She says that she wants to go with Nate on his journey to become a trainer."

I'm shocked at what I just heard. The antisocial Layla wants to leave home and go on a journey from which she might never come back from. "Layla, are you sure? It's your choice if you want to go, but you know it's a dangerous world out there, right?"

"Pi pika. Chu, pi~ pi-ka pika chu." I again look at Clara for a translation.

"She says she knows it's dangerous, but if possible, she wants to see her mother again," Clara says as she pulls closer towards my ear. "And I think Layla may have taken an interest in Nate."

"Okay Layla, I understand but remember, it's not my journey. You need to ask Nate about this."

"Pi~."

I get out of the shower and dry myself off with a towel. I dress into the clothing they gave me and head out of the bathroom and go back to the bedroom. I grab my shoes and the clothing I arrived here in and head downstairs where Holly, Clara, and Layla are waiting at the dining room table with a backpack on the table.

Holly turns to me as I enter the dining room. "Nate, Layla would like to ask you something."

I turn to Layla as she starts to speak to me in her language. I turn to Clara who translates the whole thing.

"Basically, she wants to go with you on your journey and wants to know if you'll take her."

I look to Holly who only says, "It's her choice. All you have to do is give her an answer."

I now approach Layla, who's sitting at the other side of the table. "Layla, you do realize it's a dangerous world out there, and I don't even know what I'm getting myself into. We could be attacked, caught in nature's wrath, or even die on this journey."

She nods her head, acknowledging that she knows the dangers of the trip.

"Well then, I'll be honored to have you come with me." She jumps up and down, ecstatic at the news. "Now I won't be alone this trip."

"Let me go grab Layla's Pokéball from my room," she says, leaving the table. Before leaving the dining room, she says, "The bag on the table is yours. Check the stuff inside." She then goes upstairs to her room.

I look at the bag and open it, pulling out the items inside. Two potions, five Pokéballs, a solar powered cell phone, and an electronic device about the size of an iPhone, but with a sliding keyboard are inside. I turn on the device and it reads on the screen 'Pokémon Trainer Registration'. It then asks for my name and date of birth among other things which I fill out. When I finish, the registration it says 'Please turn in at the nearest PokéCenter to receive your official registration card.'

About the same time, Holly returns with a Pokéball, which I assume is Layla's. She hands it over to me before explaining to me how to use a Pokéball. "With a Pokéball, you must register your DNA into the Pokéball so that the caught Pokémon is registered to you." She shows me the bottom of the ball, telling me to put my thumb there. "It's going to sting a bit but it's going to extract some blood from you, registering Layla as your Pokémon now."

I feel a small needle pierce my skin, but the pain doesn't last too long. She again shows the Pokéball to me. "See this number here? This number defines how much freedom you give to your Pokémon." She shows a digital number by the needle that extracted blood from me. On it is a number five. "You can adjust this number by rolling this slider up and down. The lower the number, the more freedom it has while as the number gets higher, the less freedom's on the Pokémon. But be warned, the higher the number, the more stress it puts on your body." Before giving me the ball, she says, "To open up a Pokéball, press these two switches on the side."

I absorb all this information, ready to take on this new world. "Okay, I understand. Thank you so much for telling me this."I start putting the items back in the bag. "Oh, can I have your phone number?" I ask her, offering the phone.

"I already inputted my name and number in there, and in the fridge, you'll find some prepackaged sandwiches and water bottles for you and Layla to share."

I walk over to the fridge and pull out the sandwiches and water bottles, putting them in the bag. "Layla, I don't want to rush you, but I think it's best if we say our goodbyes now. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to leave."

"Chu," she sadly says, but knows we must be going on soon. She goes to Clara and she picks her up, hugging her tightly.

"You kick ass, okay? If anyone is messing with you and Nate, make sure to show them their place."

I walk over to Holly and offer my hand. She grabs it. "Please take care of Layla. We're going to miss her, but this is her choice, and we must accept it."

"Don't worry. I will take care of her. Again, thank you for all you've done. You've been really kind to a stranger who you just met twelve hours ago who happens to be from a different world." All four of us walk to the front door as Clara gives Layla to me, who then crawls onto my shoulder.

"It's the least I can do; be safe out there. It's a dangerous world." She starts to pet Layla as she opens the door for us, allowing us to start on the journey.

I take a step outside, breathing in the fresh air. "Before you go, here's one more thing." She pulls out of her pocket an envelope and hands it over to me. "It's not much, but it'll help you along the way."

I open the envelope and inside are paper bills. "I can't accept this. You've given me too much already." I try to hand back the envelope, but she shakes her head.

"Take it. You'll need it on your journey." She pushes the envelope back at me and I pocket it.

"I guess we'll be going now. Thank you so much for everything," I sincerely tell Holly and Clara.

"Pika pi," Layla says, trying to hold in a tear.

"Goodbye, and don't forget to call every now and then," Both Clara and Holly say as I turn and walk away.

"Don't forget to kick ass!" Clara yells at us. I chuckle but raise my arm to acknowledge her statement.

"Well Layla, you ready?" I ask her, already knowing the answer.

"Chu!" she says excitedly.

"I'm assuming that means 'yes'. Well then, let's go," I say as we walk forwards towards Cherrygrove City.