AN: Heya everyone, this is the official sidestory of AVNT (A Very Normal Trainer). Don't know if I should put it by chronological order or purely random and mixed as of now but here, have this my dear readers.
Disclaimer: I claim no rights to Pokémon or own any rights whatsoever, this only fan made content and fanfiction.
"Kelvin, that was fun. Let's come back here next week," my friend Justine said, grinning.
I smiled back. "Yeah, sure. I've got enough money to buy more time on our balance here at Net Central."
It had been a great Sunday. Too bad school was starting back up tomorrow—the second week already. But at least I'd saved enough for the next time we could come here and play. Our home computers were dead shit anyway, so Net Central was our only option. Honestly, though, it was awesome not dealing with lag on Roblox for once.
"Oi! We got food!" Karl called out, walking over with James. They had bags from a nearby 7-Eleven. "Here, have some chips."
They handed out the snacks, and we dug in happily.
I looked up at the sky. It was nice—clouds blocking out the sun, a gentle breeze blowing, but no sign of rain. I checked my phone. 3:20 PM. Still plenty of time to wander around and do random 'shiz' with the guys.
"Hey, check this out," James said, pulling out his phone and showing us the latest news. "Quiboloy's bounty is up. Five million pesos, man. That's insane."
We all stared at the screen, wide-eyed. It's not like any of us were going to capture the infamous fake pastor who scammed the elderly like a damn parasite. Still, five million was a lot of money. Wish we could get that lucky someday.
Karl laughed. "Yeah, five million's a ton, but no way we're catching him, dead or alive. Don't be stupid."
James rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. "I'm just showing you, chill out, bruh."
Justine quietly munched on his sour cream Pringles, while I just sat there, watching Karl and James bicker like idiots. Some things never change.
As we finished the snacks, the conversation naturally turned toward school. It always did after a weekend of fun.
"So, how's Grade 12 treating you guys?" I asked, looking at Karl and James.
Karl scoffed. "Man, it's only been the first few days, and it already feels like hell. Teachers are coming for our necks this year. No chill at all."
James tossed his empty chip bag in the trash and nodded. "Right? They're acting like we need to prep for college in the most brutal way possible. No time to breathe. And don't even get me started on the thesis project they dropped on us."
"A thesis already?" Justine asked, wide-eyed. "It's only the first week."
"Yeah," James sighed, running a hand through his hair. "They're not messing around. We've got two weeks to submit our proposals. Two weeks! Like, gimme a break."
Karl snorted. "Break? That's a myth. I'm already drowning in assignments, and this is just the beginning."
I shook my head. "Glad I'm still in Grade 11. We haven't hit the crazy stuff yet. It's just the usual getting-to-know-you stuff. Teachers keep saying we'll 'feel the pressure soon,' but so far, it's chill."
Justine shrugged. "Same here. Grade 11's been pretty easy so far. Just orientation and reviewing last year's lessons. But I'm sure they're gonna drop a bomb on us any day now."
"Yeah, no doubt," I muttered. "Just waiting for the moment when they pile all the work on us at once. Teachers really love watching us squirm."
Karl leaned back, cracking his neck. "Enjoy it while you can, Kelvin. Next year's gonna hit you like a truck. Grade 12 is a whole new level of pain."
"Thanks for the heads-up," I said sarcastically. "I'll make the most of this honeymoon period while it lasts."
James laughed. "Trust me, bro, savor it. Once you hit Grade 12, it's all deadlines and sleepless nights."
I smirked. "Sounds like you guys are in for a rough year. I'll be sure to remind you to have some fun now and then."
Karl raised an eyebrow. "Oh, we'll have fun—after we survive the academic massacre."
Justine chuckled softly. "Well, at least we've still got weekends, right? We'll just have to make the most of them."
"Yeah, no kidding," James added, shaking his head. "These few hours of freedom at Net Central are probably the only thing keeping me sane right now."
I laughed. "So much for the 'fun' the school brochures promised us, huh? Anyway, let's head to the plaza. Maybe we'll find something interesting there."
"Yeah, let's go," Justine agreed.
We packed up our stuff and made sure everything was in place. The plaza wasn't far—just a short three-minute walk—so it wasn't a big deal to head over.
But then, out of nowhere, I heard the screeching noise of a car coming up behind us. Fast.
I turned around.
Shit.
A car was barreling toward us, full speed, and the driver didn't even bother to honk.
Without thinking, I pushed all my friends out of the way. They barely had time to react.
*WOOSH-CRASH!*
*Car Alarms-Beeps*
"AAAAAA! Someone got hit by a car!" a woman screamed.
"Kelvin!" My friends shouted my name, panic in their voices.
Everything was a blur. My vision started fading fast. I could see people rushing over, trying to help, but the pain—god, the pain was unbearable.
Blood. So much blood.
My hips were crushed. I'd been run over.
Is this… is this how I die?
Before my vision went completely dark, I caught a glimpse of a shop window, filled with Pokémon plushies, figurines, and merchandise. The irony wasn't lost on me.
If reincarnation is real… I'd pick the Pokémon world. It's peaceful there.
I smiled weakly, my last thought slipping away as everything went black.
At least… my friends are safe. That's all that matters.
Everything went pitch black.
Everything was black. Quiet. Cold.
Is this… the afterlife?
I couldn't feel my body. There was nothing—just a vast emptiness, like floating in an endless void. My thoughts echoed in the silence, and I wondered if this was how it all ended. No bright light, no pearly gates—just darkness.
Suddenly, a voice boomed through the void. It was deep, resonant, and calm, yet carried an overwhelming presence.
"Nay, mortal. Thou hast not yet entered the realm of the afterlife. I am here for something else."
The darkness trembled. Before me, light began to take shape. My heart—or whatever was left of it—raced with confusion and fear. As the light grew, it solidified into a massive, ethereal form, towering and radiating a power I could scarcely comprehend.
My breath—or the echo of it—caught.
Before me stood Arceus. The god of all Pokémon, the creator of the universe—fictional, right? Pokémon were supposed to be just games, shows, toys. Not… real.
"Wh-what the hell?" I stammered. "This—this can't be happening. You're supposed to be fiction!"
Arceus's eyes glowed with ancient wisdom, and to my shock, a deep, rumbling chuckle filled the void.
"Fiction, thou sayest?" Arceus intoned, his voice like thunder in a distant storm. "We are indeed real, for the multiverse is vast beyond mortal understanding."
I stared, my non-existent mouth hanging open as I tried to process the sight before me. My mind—or was it my soul?—raced, struggling to make sense of it all.
"How… how is this real? Where am I? What's going on?" My voice trembled, the weight of a thousand questions pressing down on me.
Arceus gazed down at me, his presence both overwhelming and strangely comforting. "Thou art not where thou once were, nor art thou truly alive in the manner thou didst know. This place lies between realms—between thy world and the next."
He paused, his gaze heavy with purpose.
"I have brought thee here for a reason, Kelvin. Thy soul was not yet destined for this crossing. In truth, thou wert meant to live a long and fruitful life, a hundred years perhaps, aiding in the rise of thy homeland, the Philippines, to greatness. But alas, death claimed thee before thy time."
I blinked—or would have, if I had eyes. "I… I wasn't supposed to die?"
"Indeed," Arceus replied, stepping closer, his form looming over my disembodied soul. "Yet fate hath been altered, and so, I offer thee a gift."
"A… gift?" I asked, still trying to wrap my mind around everything.
"Thou wert destined to bring aid and hope to thine homeland. A soul pure and true, with a heart set on bettering the world. But thy path was cut short, and thus, I shall give thee another chance." Arceus's voice softened slightly, and I swore I saw what could only be described as a smile on his divine face.
I was utterly confused. "Wh-what do you mean?"
Arceus chuckled again, the sound rolling through the void like distant thunder. "Thou shalt have a second life, Kelvin. A chance to achieve what thou couldst not in thy first. Thou art no mere mortal, for thine heart is pure, and thy soul worthy of more than what fate hath offered."
From the depths of the void, Arceus's form loomed even closer, and for a moment, the god of all Pokémon… bowed. It was not a bow of submission, but one of reverence, as if recognizing the weight of what was about to transpire. I could hardly comprehend it. A deity, bowing to me?
Without a word, Arceus raised a glowing, golden orb, radiant with divine power. It pulsed gently, and as I watched, he carefully lowered it, pressing it into my soul.
"Wha—!" The sensation was overwhelming. A rush of warmth, of energy, surged through me. Then, suddenly, everything began spinning.
"Aaaaaaah!" I screamed, my vision twisting and warping. The darkness was swallowed by blinding light, and I was spinning, faster and faster, until—
Everything turned white.
--
I gasped, sitting bolt upright.
My heart pounded in my chest, though... no, this wasn't my chest. I was in a bed—soft, warm. The air smelled like freshly cooked food, and sunlight poured in through the window. I looked around, disoriented.
Where… where am I?
Suddenly, a flood of memories surged into my mind, unfamiliar yet intimate and significant. My name… my name is Genera? Genera Jenson?
Was it all… a dream? But I… I died, didn't I? Yet now... Blank. My mind hit a wall—memories too distant, too fuzzy to grasp.
Before I could gather my thoughts, the door creaked open, revealing a man in his late thirties. His face was kind, his expression full of concern. Instinctively, I knew—he was my father.
"Genera, are you alright? We heard you scream," he said, voice tinged with worry.
I was still breathing heavily, but I managed to compose myself. "It was just… a nightmare. I'm sorry."
He sighed with relief, the tension melting away. "Phew, that's a relief. No need to apologize. But hey, why don't you come down for breakfast? You've got your first day of school tomorrow!"
Before I could respond, another voice came from down the hall. A woman—my mother. "Riku, dear, is he alright?" Her tone was filled with concern.
"Yeah, he's fine! Just a nightmare, my love!" my father called back cheerfully.
I could hear the relief in my mother's voice as she replied, "Thank you, my lovely husband!"
My father chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Married for years, and I'm still not used to Kalosian love language. Jeez."
I sat there for a moment longer, trying to piece it all together. The dream… was it really just that? A dream? Or was it something more? I could have sworn I was talking to someone... but who? And what was it about? My mind was still clouded, but one thing was clear—I wasn't Kelvin anymore.
I am now... Genera Jenson.