Although he'd technically lived ten years of life in this world before then, it was like he'd awoken from the first time. Alter jolted upright in his bed, assaulted by a decade's worth of memories in what felt like a single moment. Memories of loving parents, a bright, colorful life and a want for nothing. Knowledge of unique and fantastical creatures that humans happily train and live alongside. A cursory glance at his newly diminutive limbs confirmed exactly what he'd both expected and feared: he was indeed a child again. That girl had not lied. He almost seemed ready to shed a tear, although he could not place why at first. Perhaps it was the realization of the next eight or more years of drinking and sleeping around (to which he was quite partial) being ripped away from him in an instant. Ah, the innocence of youth: an unwelcome poison to any self-respecting bachelor– at least, that was Alter's feeling on the matter. The woes of stolen adulthood aside, Alter was now resolute to get his bearings quickly and complete the journey he had agreed to set out on.
The nature of the situation was not entirely lost on him. Regardless of where he ended up, he had been ripped out of his old, familiar world and forced to actively live a decade in a strange, new one. Despite this world being "easy-peazy lemon-squeezy," as that girl had put it, there was still a non-zero chance he could die there.
He recalled a conversation he had with his parents the day prior; discussing his departure from the house to begin a journey many ten-year-olds take in this world. His journey began the next day. His parents, ever the doting caregivers, were supportive of this dream of his. Or rather, the dream of this new body he's inhabiting. As he thought about this, he tried to consider other options. The part of him with knowledge of his goal preferred to go about it a bit safer. The apparent normality of this ritual aside, the idea of a ten-year-old, even with the abilities he had, going alone in the world didn't sit right with him. But no matter how hard he tried to heed this instinct, there was an overwhelming directive that compelled him to take this journey. The girl had explained something about this before– about how the memories created in his new life took precedence over his old ones, and that it would take a lot of work to overcome the impulses and personality changes that would result from it.
Damn, it looks like I hardly even have a choice with how I'm taking this, the young man thought to himself. Still, he was not entirely discouraged. Even in his new childish frame, he knew he had the capability to face any adult, and likely many Pokémon if it came down to it. It was simply something he intuitively knew, and it confirmed that his pre-jump options had an impact right from the start. Of the choices he was given before this new life began, his focus naturally went toward those that would help him in whatever world or situations he had been placed in, even if to him he was simply going for things that sounded cool. It was tendencies like that which made the girl send him there.
Amidst this myriad of thoughts, Alter heard the familiar yet entirely unfamiliar call of his mother from downstairs, informing him that breakfast was ready. After a quick, I'm coming! rang from Alter's room in response, he headed toward the bathroom to prepare for the meal, as had become ritual in this new life of his. In his old world, Alter had hardly bothered with such frivolities– clean hands and sitting at tables were quickly foregone in favor of delicious gluttony. It seemed his time growing up in this world had quickly transformed him into what one would expect from the son of a wealthy family. He was surprised at how easy such a conflicting role had come to him, although he had no doubt it was the work of the girl who sent him.
Reaching the mirror in the bathroom, Alter was allowed his true first look at himself. To his surprise as well as relief, much of his appearance, including his clothes, was retained, albeit 10 years younger and with some modifications to fit better into the world. Or at least, he assumed the modifications to his clothes were for that purpose, because despite them, he still looked entirely out of place. His favorite high-collared red leather jacket and black pants remained on his person in a new, shrunken, cuter form. Perhaps most egregious of the entire ensemble was the pair of triangular sunglasses that adorned his face, framed by his white hair. All in all, the mirror before him depicted what seemed to be a pretty eccentric and strangely fashion-forward rich kid. However, Alter shrugged this off and finished his preparations.
Heading down the stairs and toward the dining room table, Alter could smell his mother's cooking wafting through the air. Even though they were extremely wealthy, Alter's family had never stopped living modestly, and his mother continued to cook their meals. Alter sat down at the table and greedily (but respectfully) devoured his bacon and eggs. After the meal, Alter's parents joined him at the edge of New Bark Town. With a tearful goodbye from his mother, Alter set out toward Violet City, the site of the first gym, with the shiny Heracross from his parents in tow.