Chapter 2

As we settle back home, the comforting aroma of dinner being prepared by Mom fills the air, while Dad engrosses himself in his work. My newfound siblings—Mark, Trenor, Minami, Golly, and Insey—gather around, their curiosity piqued by the revelations from earlier.

Minami voices the question on everyone's minds, "So, it's true that we're actually blood-related? How is that even possible?"

I nod, confirming, "Yes, the gene tests at the hospital showed that we share genetic similarities."

Insey chimes in eagerly, "And Mom and Dad said you come from the Pokemon universe! What do 'real' Pokemon look like?"

Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I glance out the window and spot small avian creatures resembling Taillow. "Well, they look like those outside," I explain, gesturing towards the tiny bird-like beings.

Mark nods in understanding, "Ah, you mean birds. There are some bird Pokemon in the Pokemon universe too, like Pidgey and Fletchling."

As I gaze at the television screen, I'm taken aback by the sight of the 'Pokemon' anime, showcasing a pivotal battle from my past against Clemont for the fifth gym in Kalos. Golly's nostalgic remark brings a flood of memories rushing back.

"That was the battle of 'Satoshi' against Clemont for the fifth gym in Kalos," Golly says with a wistful smile. "This one is from a long time ago, probably 10 years ago, but I still think that the Kalos Arc is the best."

"That battle," I murmur, my voice tinged with a mix of pride and nostalgia. "I used Goodra to defeat Luxray, after it had already triumphed over Hawlucha and Pikachu. It feels surreal to see it on screen like this... like reliving a chapter from my own journey."

"Really?" Trenor's curiosity sparks a new line of questioning, "What happened next? The anime ended a year ago, so what came after defeating Leon and saving Latios with Misty and Brock? Can you tell us?"

I pause, feeling a sense of unease as I delve into the gaps in my memories. "Well... most of my memories are a blur," I admit, my tone somber. "I believe it's because of what happened back then... my text message indicates that I was battling Team Rainbow Rocket, and I ultimately sacrificed myself."

Minami's gasp draws my attention to my Arc Phone, a device that seems to hold significance beyond my understanding. "Arc Phone?" she exclaims, her eyes widening with recognition. "That's a communication tool from the Pokemon: Legends Arceus game!"

Legends Arceus? The mention of it piques my interest, but before I can inquire further, Golly interjects with additional information about Team Rainbow Rocket. "They're the evolved form of Team Rocket, who took over the Aether Paradise in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon," he explains animatedly. "They were led by all the bosses of the evil criminal groups and even had Legendary Pokemon at their disposal!"

Legendary Pokemon? All the bosses of the evil criminal groups? The questions from my new siblings come fast and furious, each one adding another layer of complexity to the already bewildering situation.

"If you really are Satoshi," Mark begins, "does that mean you always bring Pikachu on your journey? How does it feel when Pikachu shocks you?"

"And who is your girlfriend?" Insey adds eagerly.

The barrage of questions threatens to overwhelm me, but I take a deep breath to compose myself before responding. "Well, Pikachu's electric shocks are definitely shocking," I chuckle lightly. "It's not enough to cause serious harm, but it's quite an experience."

As for the question about my girlfriend, Golly jumps in to provide some context. "A lot of fans have been arguing about your relationship," he explains. "Some believe that you and Misty are the best couple, while others think Serena is your true love. There are even fans who deny both and suggest other girls, since you always have at least one female companion in your journey."

The mention of Serena makes me blush slightly, memories of her sweetness and talent flooding back. "Serena was amazing," I admit with a smile. "Her performances were top-notch, and she made the best macaroons."

But then Golly brings up Misty, causing a slight furrow in my brow. "Misty and I?" I shake my head, chuckling. "She's definitely not my girlfriend. Our dynamic was more about friendship and our shared adventures. Besides, she was always after me to repay her for her bike! But hey, everyone has their own opinions, right?"

"So are you really together with Serena?" Trenor's direct question brings a moment of introspection.

"Well... I don't think I've been in any relationship before coming here," I explain, contemplating the complexities of romantic connections. "But if I were to choose, yeah, I definitely would have chosen Serena..."

"Obviously, just check this out and you can see why we think you and Serena are a couple," Mark interjects, showing a video from YouTube titled 'Top 10 moments of Amourshipping.'

"Amourshipping?" I ask, unfamiliar with the term.

"It's a ship name given to you and Serena," Minami clarifies.

As the video plays, I find myself blushing at the scenes depicting moments shared with Serena. The subtle gestures and interactions captured in those clips reveal a deeper bond that I hadn't fully acknowledged before. When the scene of me asking Tierno about Olympia unfolds, I'm surprised to see the dynamics between Serena and Shauna, the latter causing Serena to blush profusely and emit visible steam from her head. It's evident that there were unspoken feelings between us, moments of tenderness and closeness that I hadn't fully realized during my journey.

"This is so embarrassing..." I mutter, feeling a mix of amusement and discomfort as I watch myself falling sick and being taken care of by Serena. The top-ranked moment, the kiss she gave me before leaving for Hoenn, elicits a range of emotions, from nostalgia to a tinge of longing.

"But Serena doesn't exist in this world... maybe you'll find someone here who's similar to her," Insey suggests optimistically.

The reminder of Serena's absence in this world casts a shadow over my thoughts. The bittersweet realization that my friends and Pokemon from my previous world are not present here weighs on my mind, emphasizing the uniqueness of finding my parents in this unfamiliar universe.

As Mom calls us to dinner, we gather around the huge table, the aroma of her cooking reminiscent of meals from my life in the Pokemon World. We dig in, enjoying the familiar flavors and the warmth of being together as a family.

"So Ash," Mom begins after a while, "considering that you're 18 years old now, your Dad and I have discussed that you should attend university, just like Mark and the others."

"University?" I echo, a hint of confusion in my voice. "Is that really necessary?"

Dad interjects, explaining, "In this world, having a university degree opens up opportunities for various jobs. However, the challenge lies in choosing a department or major for you. Mark is in the Department of Physical Education, Minami is studying Law, Golly is focused on Criminal Justice, Insey is pursuing Culinary Arts, and Trenor is immersed in Equine Science or Equine Studies. What about you, Ash?"

I pause, feeling a bit lost amidst the options presented. "I... I don't know," I admit honestly. "I've spent most of my life traveling and focused on my Pokemon journey. I never really thought about anything else."

"It's alright, Ash," Mom reassures me with a gentle smile. "Classes won't start for another half month, so we have time to discuss and figure out what's best for you."

I nod, grateful for the understanding and support from my family. The prospect of navigating a new phase of life beyond Pokemon training is both daunting and intriguing, but for now, I'm content to enjoy this moment of togetherness with the ones I love.

After finishing dinner, I settle into my room, which is conveniently located next to Mark and Trenor's room. Across the hall, Golly's room is situated in front of mine, with Minami and Insey's rooms adjacent to theirs. It's a cozy setup that makes me feel more at ease in this unfamiliar world.

As I'm getting settled, Minami knocks on my door and invites me to her room. She excitedly shows me a pair of Joy-Cons for the Nintendo Switch, explaining, "This is the Joy-Con for the Switch. Since you come from the Pokemon World, I thought you might be interested in this."

I examine the Joy-Con and the box it came in, which features the cover art of a game called "Pokemon Violet" with Miraidon prominently displayed.

"Violet? And that's Miraidon?" I ask, intrigued by the familiar yet slightly different names.

"Yep, and check this out," Minami says as she powers on the Switch and loads the game. I'm astonished to see her character standing in front of a school that looks remarkably similar to the Naranja Academy.

"Isn't that the Naranja Academy?" I inquire, recognizing the iconic location from my own adventures.

"No, this is Uva Academy. In Pokemon Scarlet, it would be the Naranja Academy," Minami explains, showing me another game box with Koraidon on the cover. "Pokemon games are incredibly fun. You can capture Pokemon, battle other trainers, and explore vast regions. Let me give you a quick demo."

I watch as Minami's character rides on Miraidon and navigates to the South Province Area 1. With a few button presses, she initiates a battle with a Pichu and sends out a Fidough to weaken it with Tackle before capturing it with a Poke Ball.

"See? That's how capturing Pokemon in the game works," Minami explains with enthusiasm.

"Wow... it's amazing how they've created a game like this," I remark, impressed by the level of detail and immersion in the virtual Pokemon world.

As Minami guides me through the gameplay, I decide to interact with a trainer, which triggers a battle. The opposing trainer sends out a Shroodle, while I notice that my recently captured Pichu is still weak. Minami suggests, "Try using an Oran Berry or a Potion. Right now, Pichu is weak."

"But wouldn't that be cheating?" I question, feeling a bit conflicted. "Are you telling me to heal my Pokemon during battle? How is that fair?"

Minami chuckles and clarifies, "Oh, I forgot to mention. Since it's just a game, certain mechanics are simplified. You can't perform combo moves or exploit type disadvantages like in real battles. It's turn-based, so if you heal your Pokemon, you sacrifice a turn to attack, giving the opponent an opportunity to strike back. It's all about strategy within the game's rules."

Though initially disappointed by the game's limitations compared to real Pokemon battles, I start to enjoy the gameplay as I get accustomed to its mechanics. Minami eventually gathers the rest of my new siblings, and we all play together, even facilitating trades to evolve Golly's Haunter into a Gengar.

As we immerse ourselves in the game, I notice that each of my siblings specializes in different Pokemon types. "Minami, you focus on Fairy types, and the rest of you?"

"Yeah, I'm into Fighting types," Mark replies, while Trenor mentions his preference for Ground types, Golly for Ghost types, and Insey for Bug types.

"That's quite a diverse team," I remark, impressed by their dedication to their respective specialties.

Mark then brings up an intriguing invitation, "By the way, tomorrow our Pokemon Club is having a gathering. Would you like to join us?"

"Pokemon Club?" I echo, intrigued by the idea.

"Yeah, it's a group of us and 13 of our friends. We all specialize in different types and spend our time discussing Pokemon and having battles. It'll be fun to see their reactions when they realize you're the real Satoshi," Insey adds with a mischievous smirk.

With a slight sweatdrop, I contemplate the invitation to join the Pokemon Club. Despite feeling a bit apprehensive, I'm also curious about this new world and the people in it. Perhaps joining the club will help me make more friends and gain a better understanding of the world I'm now living in.

Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, it is mostly interactions with Ash's new siblings and how the Pokemon influences the current world. I hope you like this chapter.