"Aaand done!" I exclaimed, throwing the switch down the window as the rattling of my door grew louder, foreshadowing what was about to happen.
I slumped on my chair, reflecting that if things could be different, mmm yeah, I should have stayed in the school; I would be headmaster by now and not waiting for my death in the hands of revolutionaries, no matter how justified they are." Aaah." I shouldn't have let comfort dictate my life, but the offer was so good. As secretary of the governor, I only hide his shit during 1 hour, and the rest of the time I spend playing games that, in hindsight, let the corruption grow and divert people from the cause. I kind of deserve what is coming.
The door broke, revealing a pair of armed men who proceeded to shoot toward me. As the bullets signaling my death approached, I could only think in relief, "At least mom will get out of this mess."
Darkness creeps over me. It's comforting, like a motherly embrace, warm and humid. I open my eyes to find myself in a grove lying on the grass. "What?" I pat myself on the back as my heartbeat grows louder. "I am alive." I breathe slowly to calm myself, a technique particularly useful when dealing with conceited politicians, only to feel the grass on my legs as I notice that I am wearing blue shorts and a lack of muscle on my calves. "Not my body; alright, I would never wear shorts." A loud screech snapped me from my musings. "Fuck was that?" Then I saw it drinking sap from one of the trees. The loud motherfucker is a Ninjask.
I watch the Pokemon until he finishes and disappears from my sight in an instant. It seems I failed to comprehend how fast that thing can move, gaping at the tree for a minute before sitting with a tree as support for a while, maybe two.
My daze was disrupted by the virtue of a Taillow, with whom I promptly started a staring contest.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Tai?"
I avert my gaze, in victory, back to that succulent emptiness that begs for my attention. "Taillow!" It was said before to get off the tree and stand by my side, but dashing is more important right now. "Tail?" she chirps lowly as it gives me a few gentle pecks. Of course, I slump more and continue to daze. "Taillow," she declares before flying away. Now, without interruptions, a nap may clear my head.
"Mmmm, good nap," I comment as I stretch a little, yet I am still in this place. "At least the sun calms down a little," I muse while checking the place as I stand up, a few Zigzagoon fooling around and a Skitty napping like me in the shade—a valuable clue, if I must add.
Letting shock take hold of me made me a little numb to the fact that I encounter myself in what is, depending on who you ask, one of the best or worst worlds to find oneself. Let's hope for the better and think about where I am. Hoenn, that much is obvious. Thanks to the Skitty, I should be east of Rustboro. Thanks to God, I sneaked a switch into work. This also explains why I was not mauled while sleeping in the wild. Pokemon here must be used by people. Speaking of people, I better find someone who can take me to an officer now that my body has become like this. I glance at my childish self. I can try to ask for help, or so I hope.
I advance forward, where the charismatic trash pandas were playing.
"Excuse me," I call them.
"Zig?" "Zigza!" Both turn to me.
"I am lost. Could you tell me where I can find humans, please?" I plead with them with an awkward smile.
"Zig Zigza" smiled, and one of them pointed to my right, "Zig Zigzagoon."
"I see." I did not. "Thanks; sorry for bothering." With a smile, they return to their play.
Despite my null comprehension, going right seems like my best, so off I go.
A while later, I luckily spot a green building with an orange roof, and "oh boy," neither of my bodies handle trekking well. As I approach the door, a sign comes to view: Tunnelers Rest. If there was any doubt about where I was, that settles it.
Opening the door, I mutter, "Sorry." Let's hope my acting skills are up to the task, I think, as the three men inside turn to see me.
"A boy?" Comment on the older of the men.
"What else, old man?" said the scruffy man at his side with a grin.
"Qiet you two." The well-built man said, approaching me, "Hello there, can I help you?" He asked while leaning.
"I need help. I wake up in the grove and don't know where I am," I tell myself while hunching myself.
As his eyes widen, he reassures me, "Don't worry, you're safe here. I'll contact the rangers, so wait, a little name's David, by the way," David says before walking toward a phone in a counter close to the table where they are seated.
"Mine's Cormack kid, this one is Kyle. Come sit here." The old man waved at me.
"Thanks; may I ask where we are?" I ask the men.
"Aren't you polite? We are on Route 116." Kindly tell Cormack.
"You look weary, kid. Want something to eat?" Ask Kyle before I respond.
"I am fine, but can I ask for a drink?" Shyly, I ask.
"Ha ha ha, no problem, lad, wait a sec." Laugh, Kyle, despairing behind a counter.
"I contacted the ranger post; they are sending someone to all this. What's your name, kid?" David asked me to sit down after coming back from the call. That being said, why are they contacting the rangers so close to Rustboro? Shouldn't the police handle it?
"Kid?" David, break my thoughts.
"Sorry, I am Marcus Poplar. Tough everyone calls me Mark," I truthfully present myself.
"A pleasure, Mark. How do you end up in the grove, by the way?" Quizzically inquire, David.
"I don't know; I just woke up there," I answer while looking downward.
"Must be an Abra; he must stumble it and teleport; it is known to leave one shaken if not done properly," theorizes Cormack, stroking his chin.
Forget about psychics; that can be a problem. I wonder how laws are respected; hopefully, being a child can get me a free card.
"Don't worry, kid; here, this may help." Say Kyle is returning and placing a cup of green tea with an anpan. I think I forgot that I am in the Japanese equivalent.
"Thank you very much," I tell Kyle, doing a nod with my head.
"You are too stiff, kid. Relax and enjoy your food," Kyle reassured me with a grin.
I take a sip from the tea "Bitter." Turning to them, I ask, "Em, can you tell me what this place is?"
David and the others tell me about the tunnel and this lodge for the workers. Apparently Devon Corp. is making the tunnel so Rustboro can connect with Verdanturf but, more importantly, Mauville without the need of flying Pokemon or passing through Slateport, thus busting the economic prospects of the city. That being said, it means that I am before the game canon timeline, as the project was canceled and Wally's cousin's boyfriend works alone by that time; that's where the Aggronite comes from after all. Also, it turns out that David and Cormack run the lodge while Kyle is its cook.
While listening to the idle chatter, the door opens, showing a black-haired man in a Ranger uniform. "Excuse me, I came for a call about a lost child."
"Yes, I made the call; this is the one." Standing up, David tells the ranger, prompting me to do the same.
"Marcus Poplar, sir," I say, clasping my hands below my navel.
"Trevor Hartman. You seem fine; come, I'll take you to the officers in Rustboro," he said, analyzing me.
"Ok, thanks for everything," I tell David and company with a bow.
"Hahaha, don't worry, kid," Kyle laughed.
"Think nothing of it," Cormack reassured.
"Come visit if you are close, Marcus," David says.
"Will do, goodbye," I wave to them while leaving with Trevor.
Once outside, he told me to wait while tossing a pokeball, revealing a skarmory. "I will fly to Rustboro; come, I'll help you climb," he says, reaching out his hand and smiling with a shine in his eyes.
"…" I look at his expression, then at the Skarmory, who held his head high in a prideful manner, then at him, who hasn't moved his hand, and at the Skarmory again, who was immobile just like him.
"Showing off? Is he that green? Well, I am not a big priority, taking into account that that is quite safe here, so a newbie makes sense. Ah, he's still not moving; his arm is starting to shake. Better do something."
"Sorry, just it's the first time I see a Skarmory up close," I said after a quick shake of my head.
"Oooh, I see, but don't worry; despite looking sharp, it is perfectly safe to ride." He said, while nodding, "So, up you go."
"Eh." Trevor grabs me and puts me on the skarmory before climbing behind me.
"There is no saddle, so be careful," he commented while guiding my hands to grab the skarmory.
Careful? This is the knife bird! Why don't you have a saddle? Aren't rangers the embodiment of safety?
"I, *gulp*, this is the first time I fly," I hopefully tell.
"Your for a treat, then, Stella go," he commands.
"Skaaaaa" The skarmory began flying as I steadyed myself, grabbing its lower neck.
My heartbeat grows as the wind begins deafening me and I put more strength on my grip, be it the adrenaline or another reason I can clearly see the meadows and groves that compose Route 116, Pokemon roaming and trainers battling, then it hits me. I am in the Pokemon world, though I just wish the awe wasn't muted due to speed flight.
After 5 grueling minutes we finally reach Rustboro landing in what appear its the designated spot for flying Pokemon. After spotting us, two officers start heading toward us before I can process my disappointment toward the lack of Jenny Trevor picking me up from Skarmory and putting me in the ground, where my knees chose to give up after such a fly.
"I don't want to fly again," I managed to whimper.
"Maybe I overdid a little; Stella is a showoff after all." He has the gall to say that, seeing my trembling and sorry state.
"Skar," your input is unneeded.
"Ranger Trevor, we got the notification from your post. I assume this is the child. Is he okay?" The older officer asks as his younger subordinate helps me compose myself.
"Yeah, it was his first time flying, and I want to come fast." Trevor excused himself, scratching his head.
"We'll take it from here; thanks for your service," said the officer with an icy glare.
"A pleasure to serve; goodbye, Marcus." And with a salute, he climbs on his metal bird and flies away.
"Easy, everything is fine now." After the departure, I can finally divert my attention toward the gentle officer who is patting my back.
"Are you calm now?" The youth officer has brown eyes and hair and a gentle disposition. He is the type to marry early.
"We are Officer Rolf Malcolm and Nathan Jacobs. Don't worry, we are going to the police station to sort your case." The old officer, despite his demeanor, said that to me with a grandfatherly smile that matched his gray hair and black eyes.
"Ah! Marcus Poplar, thanks for the help," I said, standing up with my wobbly legs, only to grab Nathan's arm so he would not fall.
"Only our duty, son, come on this way." And so Officer Rolf guided us to our destination.
After reaching the station, I finally let go of Nathan's sleeve, now that I had regained the strength to walk on my own again. Once we enter, Rolf excuses himself while Nathan takes me to the reception, where there is Officer Jenny, who, after receiving a smile, starts talking with Rolf.
"This way," Nathan urges, leaving Rolf with the mythical officer; she was slightly different from what I remember, but to be fair, I didn't watch the anime in a long time.
Nathan opened the door to what's like an interrogation room—a bit more cozy than what I expected. "Nonetheless, funds in a public institution are something you never expect." I take a seat at the table.
"Now I'll ask you some questions," Nathan said with that gentle tone of his as he took his seat in front of me.