Prologue: The Awakening

Elros had spent most of his life staring at the ceiling, confined to the four walls of his room, listening to the steady hum of medical equipment. His body had long betrayed him, crippled by a disease he could neither fight nor escape. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the doctors had called it—a genetic disorder that slowly ate away at his muscles, leaving him bedridden before he even had the chance to live a real life. As a child, he'd been able to walk, albeit awkwardly and with difficulty. But by the time he reached adolescence, his legs could no longer carry him. And then, it became his arms, his hands, and finally, even breathing was a challenge.

He wasn't bitter about it anymore, not like he used to be. There was a time when anger consumed him, a time when he questioned why he had to suffer while others lived freely. Why him? Why did he have to watch the world pass him by from the prison of his bed? But as the years dragged on, he made peace with his fate. His body might be failing, but his mind was still sharp. His heart still beat with the dreams of someone who had lived, even if only vicariously.

Pokémon had been his lifeline—his one escape from the limitations of his physical body. His childhood was filled with the joy of playing the games, learning about the creatures, and exploring the vast world of Pokémon. In those games, he wasn't the fragile boy who couldn't stand or breathe without assistance. He was a Trainer, strong and free, commanding teams of powerful Pokémon and saving the world from danger. His favorite moments were spent battling friends online, each victory giving him a taste of a life he would never experience. A life full of adventure, camaraderie, and triumph.

But nothing could last forever.

He remembered the last night clearly—the cool air, the quiet beeping of the machines beside him, and the crushing weight of knowing he wouldn't wake up the next morning. The doctors had warned him. The progression of his disease had been fast in the past few months, his muscles weakening beyond what even the strongest medications could help. He knew it was coming. His mother had been by his side, her hand warm but trembling as she sat silently beside him, unable to look him in the eye. She had always been his rock, but in that moment, he could see the cracks.

He had whispered something to her—something he couldn't even remember now—and she had broken down, sobbing quietly into her hands. That was the last sound he heard before everything went dark.

Was that it? he had thought. Is this how it ends?

But it wasn't.

Instead of fading into nothingness, Elros found himself standing—yes, standing—in a vast expanse of white. His legs held his weight, and when he looked down, he saw his arms, strong and muscular, like they had never been before. He flexed his fingers, marveling at the sensation of movement, of freedom. His body was… whole. Healthy.

"What is this?" he whispered to himself, his voice clear and strong. The voice of a young man, not the weak, strained rasp he had grown accustomed to.

"Elros."

The voice came from everywhere and nowhere at once, deep and resonant, like the sound of thunder rolling over distant mountains. He turned, but there was no one in sight.

"Elros," the voice repeated. And then, in a flash of light, a figure appeared before him. It was not human—it was far too large, far too imposing, far too divine. Arceus.

The creator of all things. The god of the Pokémon world.

Elros stared, his heart pounding in his chest. He had seen images of Arceus in the games, of course, but never like this. The being before him radiated power and authority, its golden rings spinning slowly around its body, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

"You have been chosen," Arceus said, its voice reverberating through the air. "Along with 107 others. You are to be given a second chance at life."

Elros blinked, his mind struggling to process the words. A second chance? Him? After years of living in a failing body, he could barely fathom what that meant.

"A second chance?" he echoed, his voice shaky with disbelief.

Arceus nodded slowly, the vastness of its presence almost overwhelming. "You, like many others, have lived a life of suffering. You have known pain, confinement, and loss. But you are not alone in this. All of those chosen were fans of the Pokémon world, like yourself. It is because of your connection to that world that you have been selected."

Elros swallowed hard. "Selected for what?"

The god's eyes gleamed with a mixture of wisdom and gravity. "To live again. You will be reborn in the world of Pokémon, free to live as you choose for the next ten years. However, there is a condition. At the end of that time, there will be a tournament—a grand battle royale. Only one of you will earn the right to remain. Only one will truly have a second chance at life."

The weight of Arceus' words settled over him like a heavy cloak. Ten years in the Pokémon world. A world he had loved since childhood, a world where he could finally be free to live, to explore, to battle. But there was a catch—a tournament that would pit him against others who, like him, had suffered and longed for a second chance.

"Only one?" Elros whispered.

"Yes," Arceus confirmed. "During the ten years, you are free to do as you please. You may travel, train, form bonds with Pokémon, or pursue any goal you desire. But at the end, all those chosen will meet in battle. Only one will win. Only one will live."

Elros felt a pang of guilt and fear. He wasn't a fighter—he had spent most of his life struggling just to breathe. Could he really compete in a tournament like this? Against others who had been given the same chance? He wanted to live, of course, but the idea of competing for survival made his stomach twist.

Arceus seemed to sense his hesitation. "You will not be left to fend for yourself. Each of you will receive six blessings. These blessings will allow you to call upon any Pokémon of your choosing, except legendaries. The first blessing will determine your starter, your companion who will be with you from the beginning. The remaining five blessings will give you the opportunity to summon a Pokémon, wherever and whenever you wish, and attempt to catch them. But remember, you must catch them. The blessing will only summon them. And you cannot catch any single Pokemon beyond the six."

Elros took a deep breath, his mind spinning. Six Pokémon. Six blessings. Ten years to prepare for a battle that would decide his fate. If he failed to catch a certain Pokemon with anyone of those blessings…he would die.

A strange sense of resolve settled over him. This was insane, yes. But this was also a chance he had never thought possible. To live again, in the world of Pokémon, to travel and battle like he had always dreamed—he couldn't pass that up.

"What happens if we lose?" Elros asked, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it aloud.

Arceus' eyes gleamed once more. "You will return to the state you were in before this second chance. Death will reclaim you."

Elros clenched his fists, determination flooding his veins. This was it—the ultimate challenge. And though fear gripped him, though doubt lingered in the back of his mind, he knew one thing for certain: he wouldn't waste this chance.

"Why?"

Arceus chuckled. "That is not your concern. Do you accept this chance or decline?"

"I accept," he said, his voice firm.

"Very well," Arceus said, its voice echoing like a celestial bell. "Prepare yourself, Elros. Your journey begins now."

With a blinding flash of light, the vast whiteness surrounding him vanished, and Elros felt the ground beneath his feet once again. When his vision cleared, he was no longer in the endless expanse. He stood at the edge of a forest, a warm breeze rustling through the leaves. He looked down at his hands—strong and capable hands—and clenched them into fists.

A sense of awe and wonder filled him as he took his first step into the Pokémon world. He was here. Really here.

And his second chance had begun.

A brief spark I had and I couldn't help but write it.