New story. Just came to me and wanted to write it down. Unsure if/when next chapter comes. Work keeps me busy so who knows.
The sounds of Pokémon chirping could be heard ringing throughout the town. Littleroot town was small, barely more than a single neighborhood, but Alex loved it all the same. It had been five years since he "woke up" in this world. More specifically, Alex found himself in the body of a ten-year-old boy living in the fictional town of Littleroot.
'Well,' he thought, 'not so fictional anymore.' Being an avid Pokémon fan in his previous life, it wasn't hard for Alex to realize that he found himself in the starting town from the third generation of Pokémon video games. It was quite the shock! The last thing he could remember was falling asleep at his desk after an especially grueling day of work, and the next thing he knew, he opened his eyes to be greeted by a Zigzagoon owned by his new family.
It took close to a week for him to acknowledge that this was, in fact, not a dream. One week full of looking like a crazy person who spent an ungodly amount of time staring at himself in the mirror and repeatedly pinching his arm. The reflection that stared back was not all that different from what Alex remembered looking like at a young age.
Gone was his receding hairline, instead a full head of brown hair once again graced his scalp. His familiar brown eyes, less baggy and without his glasses, were visible in his reflection.
'I suppose that a lack of screen time in this body has its benefits.' he chuckled internally. As far as he could tell, his eyes were fine. It remained to be seen if his eyes would deteriorate again, as in his previous body he didn't end up needing glasses until he was 19. His eyes weren't the only change that Alex was glad to see. His body was in significantly better shape than before. Alex's previous body wasn't fat by any means, but the reality of being a working adult was that he simply didn't have enough time to maintain the shape he was in as a teenager or young adult.
All in all, Alex was content to be a perfectly average looking individual. Of course, if this world was anything like he remembered from the games, average was different enough. Shaking his head to remove himself from his musings, Alex stood up and shut his window. Grabbing his bag, he took one glance at the mirror in his room to double-check that he looked presentable.
He stood at about 5'7" and was wearing brown denim pants and a green T-shirt. Fortunately, Littleroot stayed warm year round, so he was comfortable going out without a coat. Giving himself a nod, he stepped out and began to head downstairs.
"Zig!" Alex lifted his head to greet his family pet. "Good morning to you too, Zigs!" Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, he knelt down to pet the tiny raccoon Pokémon. The Zigzagoon leaned into his hand, appreciating the attention.
"Good morning, Alex." Alex looked up to see his mother standing in the kitchen, having finished preparing breakfast. Despite looking similar to how he did in his previous body, Alex's mom looked different from the one he remembered. His new mom had light brown hair, with some gray sticking through. She had a warm face, with signs of her age showing in the wrinkles around her eyes and on her forehead. As far as mothers go, Alex counted himself lucky to have been the son of two great ones.
"G'morning, mom!" Alex said as he sat down to eat. "Thanks as always for breakfast!" Pancakes were on the menu this morning, and they happened to be his favorite.
"Of course, dear," she replied. "By the way, what time do you three need to meet with Professor Birch?" The three she was referring to were of course Alex, but also Brendan and May. Alex wasn't too surprised to find out that the two main characters from the third generation of video games also existed here. As expected, May was the daughter of Norman, the Petalburg gym leader, with Brendan being the son of the previously mentioned Professor Birch.
"Our meeting is at 11:00, so I've got plenty of time!" Alex replied, glancing at the clock on the kitchen wall. "I've been looking forward to this day for so long, I can hardly wait!" Today was the day when Professor Birch's sponsored trainers would receive their long awaited starter Pokémon. Of course, the three starters awarded by Birch would be Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip.
"And I have been excited for you, hon." His mom replied. "I am so glad that your hard work for the last five years has paid off." The last five years, essentially from the moment Alex acknowledged that this was his new reality, Alex had been spending a ton of time in Professor Birch's lab. It took a lot of pleading, but eventually he was able to prove to the professor that he knew his way around Pokémon.
A trainer sponsorship was a big deal. Not only would you receive a starter Pokémon, which were rare in and of themselves, but you would receive a Pokédex and your sponsor would hold on to any Pokémon not actively on your team. Alex thought back to memories of watching Ash Ketchum and his journey. Any Pokémon he couldn't carry would be hanging out at Professor Oak's lab, eagerly waiting for their chance to shine in battle.
Unlike May and Brendan, Alex didn't have a father who was well-connected. In fact, he didn't have a father at all. According to his mom, Alex's dad lost his life in an accident working for Devon Corporation. The money from the settlement is what allowed them to live so peacefully in Littleroot.
This lack of connections is what made it so crucial to work his butt off and earn the respect and sponsorship of Birch. His previous knowledge of Pokémon was very useful. Professor Birch's work focused on Pokémon and their habitats. Having previous knowledge of where certain Pokémon could be found was quite useful in that regard. In his previous life, Alex wasn't the biggest fan of science, but Pokémon science was something he was willing to dive headfirst into.
Standing up from the table, Alex stretched out his arms and yawned. Glancing back at the clock he noticed it was 10:15. Grabbing his plate and silverware, he walked to the sink and began to rinse his dishes. After finishing and washing his hands, Alex started toward the door.
"Thanks again for the food, Mom! I'm gonna start heading to the lab now," he said. In response, his mom smiled. "Be sure to come show me your Pokémon after things wrap up over there," she said.
Alex smiled and nodded before stepping out of his house.
Upon exiting his house, Alex was hit with the comfortable warmth of Littleroot. Taking a deep breath, he started thinking about his upcoming journey. 'I'm going to miss this place,' he thought, grinning to himself. 'But the Pokémon League won't know what hit 'em!'
Continuing his walk through town, Alex took the time to appreciate all the sights that he wouldn't be able to see for some time. He loved Littleroot, but at the same time, there is only so much one could experience here. At the end of his walk, he stood outside the lab. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out his lab assistant badge and used it to unlock the door. Stepping inside, he took a look at the clock near the door and noticed that it was 10:30. Realizing he was early, he decided to hunt down Professor Birch and see what he was up to.
Approaching the man's office door, Alex gave it a knock before poking his head in. As the door opened, he could hear the professor having a conversation on the phone.
"Thank you so much for assisting with this project, Professor Magnolia!" he heard Birch say. "This Pokémon will be a big help in researching information for my next project." Curious, Alex continued to listen.
"The plan? Well, so far my plan has been to enlist the help of a lab assistant to make observations on my behalf. I can't exactly go out as often as I used to!" Birch continued. "My goal is to see how the Pokémon reacts to the environment of Hoenn compared to a member of the same species without the Galar adaptation."
Alex raised an eyebrow at that. 'What a neat idea,' he thought. 'There are several Pokémon with Galarian forms that you can find in Hoenn, I wonder which one it is.' Not wanting to eavesdrop any further, Alex stepped out to the lobby and took a seat. Deciding to pass the time by reading one of the many books the lab had available. Today's read was 'The Fieldwork 101', one of Professor Birch's works.
Passing the time in content silence, Alex took another glance at the clock and noticed that it was now 10:45. As he started putting the book away, he noticed the door to Birch's office open, and out stepped the man himself. Professor Birch was a larger man, with brown hair and a scruffy beard. His face didn't show his age, though, he always looked like he was having so much fun.
"Ah, Alex! Good morning, excited to meet your new partner, huh?" the professor asked. Alex nodded in reply. "I can't wait, sir!" he said as he stood up to greet his boss and sponsor.
Birch chuckled. "Come on now, Alex! You know there's no need for formalities between us," he said, checking his watch. "Brendan should be here any minute, and May shouldn't be too far behind." As if summoned, the door to the lab opened and in walked a sleepy-looking Brendan. The teen looked as Alex remembered from the games, albeit significantly more tired than usual. On top of his head was his signature cap, which for years Alex mistakenly thought was his hair.
"Couldn't sleep?" Alex asked his peer.
"Dude, no way! I'm finally getting a Pokémon of my own!" the sleepy teen replied. Laughing, Alex turned back to the door to notice May walking in. Unlike Brendan who was wearing an outfit reminiscent of his look in Pokémon Emerald, May came in wearing something more akin to what she wore in the Pokémon anime.
"Mornin' guys!" May said cheerfully. Everyone took their turns greeting each other before the professor took another look at his watch.
"Well, seeing as everyone is here, we might as well start early," Birch started. "Follow me to the main room of the lab, and we can get this underway." The three aspiring trainers shuffled through the lab to a more open room. Alex recalled this space being used when Pokémon would be let out of their Pokéballs. The equipment in this room was all behind protective barriers that would help in the case of a more rowdy Pokémon
Arriving at a table with three Pokéballs on it, Birch stopped. Reaching for a keyboard, he started typing away before a projection of each of the three Hoenn starters appeared above the ball with some basic information.
"So as I'm sure you know at this point, the three Pokémon my lab provides for sponsored trainers are Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip," he began. "I've gone ahead and pulled up some of the basics that you need to know about each species before making your decision"
Alex's eyes moved to the projections. First, he read over Treecko's information. Treecko was the wood gecko Pokémon, a grass type. It stood between one and two feet tall. This Treecko was male. Alex had always thought Treecko was cool, but stopped reading because he knew that Brendan was adamant on receiving this Pokémon
Taking a glance at the next Pokémon's information, Alex found it was Torchic. Torchic was the chick Pokémon, a fire type, who stood just over one foot tall. This Torchic was female. Again, Alex knew May had her heart set on this little one, so Alex finally addressed who he was planning to receive as his partner.
Mudkip, the mud fish Pokémon, a water type that would evolve into a powerful water and ground type with only one weakness. This Mudkip was also a male. Alex smirked. 'This little guy and I are about to take over the region!' he thought.
Professor Birch gave each teen a moment to read the information before continuing. "Now, it's time for each of you to make a choice," he said. "But now, who is going to be picking first?"
The three sponsored trainers laughed. "How about we all pick at the same time?" Brendan suggested. Alex and May nodded in response as they each reached out and grabbed the partner Pokémon of their choice. Professor Birch, upon seeing the delighted looks on the faces of the young trainers, couldn't help but laugh.
"I see you've discussed this before," he said. "No matter! Now, before releasing your new Pokémon, let me give you this." Professor Birch brandished three Pokédexes, handing one to each new trainer.
"You are probably already aware, but that is a Pokédex," he started. "That device will catalog information about any Pokémon you encounter and catch. Additionally, it will also act as a form of identification, allowing you to register for various competitions including the Pokémon League and contests."
"It's also worth mentioning that my sponsorship comes with a few other perks," continued Birch. "First, any Pokémon you catch above the legal carry limit of six will be automatically transferred here. I promise to take good care of your partners. The next perk is that you will be receiving a monthly stipend for trainer-related expenses. The exact amount has yet to be determined, but I will communicate that to you via the Pokédex once finalized."
Alex was standing with his full attention on the professor, but couldn't help but glance down at the Pokéball that was now attached to his belt. Eager to meet his new partner, he couldn't wait for Professor Birch to stop talking.
Noticing this, the professor smiled. "I promise I won't talk too much more, but I do need to mention the final perk," he said. Alex's ears perked up at the mention of another benefit of his sponsorship.
"Here, take these," Birch said, handing each trainer a tray of Pokéballs. "This tray has 10 Pokéballs. Use them wisely." After carefully placing all of his new items in his bag, Alex looked back to the professor.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Birch asked. "Let's meet your new friends!" Not feeling the need to wait any longer, Alex, May, and Brendan released their starter Pokémon. Appearing in a flash of light in front of him, Alex immediately recognized Mudkip.
"Hey buddy, nice to meet you!" Alex said. "I'm your new trainer, Alex. Are you ready to turn the league upside down with me?" Mudkip smiled and responded jovially. "Kip, Mudkip Mud!"
Alex reached down to pet his new friend as he pulled out the Pokédex to scan Mudkip. Deciding to wait before reading the more specific information, he only looked at the basic Pokédex entry.
[Mudkip, the mud fish Pokémon. On land, it can powerfully lift large boulders by planting its four feet and heaving. It sleeps by burying itself in soil at the water's edge.]
Nodding in appreciation, Alex addressed his Pokémon once again. "I have a feeling you and I are gonna get along just fine!"
Looking up, Alex noticed both Brendan and May bonding with their new Pokémon. The scene caused him to smile, both knowledge from his previous life and experience from this one told him that both of these trainers would absolutely cherish their Pokémon. His musings were interrupted by Professor Birch.
"Hey, Alex," the professor started. "When the other two head out, please come by my office. I've got one more thing for you." Alex nodded affirmatively, but couldn't help but be curious. Regardless, he had one more pressing matter to attend to.
"Hey Brendan!" Alex exclaimed. "You know what it's time for, right?" Brendan smirked.
"Heck yeah!" he replied. "Alex, I challenge you to a Pokémon battle!" Alex could hear both May and Professor Birch chuckle.
"Alright, you two," the professor started. "I'll go ahead and referee. This will be a one on one battle. Needless to say, there will be no substitutions. The battle will go until one Pokémon is unable to continue, or I deem one unfit to battle. Let's head out back to the practice field."
Brendan and Alex followed Birch through the back door alongside their starter Pokémon and arrived at a crudely marked Pokémon battlefield. Both trainers took their positions at either end, while Birch occupied the official's position.
"Now, both trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
Both trainers had their Pokémon run into the middle of the field, as neither had been returned up to this point. Alex, realizing something, pulled out his Pokédex. Holding it up, he once again scanned his Mudkip.
[This Mudkip has the ability Torrent and knows the moves Tackle, Growl, and Water gun. Its nature is jolly.]
Nodding, Alex turned back toward his Pokémon. "Alright, Mudkip, let's show them what we're made of!" Internally, Alex was nervous. This was real. His only Pokémon battle experience was in the video games of his previous life. While his knowledge was useful, he couldn't rely on all of it during a battle. His thoughts were interrupted by his friend shouting from the other side of the field.
"Treecko, let's win!" Brendan shouted. "Tree, Tree-cko!" the Pokémon exclaimed in response, taking a ready position. Seeing this, Alex addressed his Pokémon.
"Hey buddy, I know it's our first battle, but I'm trying to win. I'll do my best to direct you, but we need to look out for one thing," Alex said as Mudkip was looking at him. "Whenever Treecko tries to use Absorb, you need to do everything in your power to get out of the way."
"Mudkip mud!" Mudkip responded with a determined nod as he turned to face his opponent.
"Both trainer's Pokémon have hit the field," Birch said. "This battle can now begin!" Hearing this, both trainers stopped hesitating and began their assaults.
"Mudkip, use Growl!" Alex, shouted. Mudkip, who was running around the field, let out a fierce growl that should cause his opponent to be more hesitant with its moves, effectively lowering its Attack.
"Treecko, keep after him with a Pound attack!" The Treecko was closing in and leapt up, ready to unleash his attack with his tail.
"Mudkip, jump out of the way and use Water Gun!" As Treecko was airborne, trying to land a Pound, Mudkip jumped out of the way before the attack could land and a jet of water spat out of its mouth and at the Treecko.
"Treecko, power through and use Pound again!" The Treecko shook off the water attack, and this time his attack managed to connect.
"Mudkip, now that he's close, use Tackle!" Mudkip used his hind legs to propel him right into Treecko. "Nice!" Alex said, pumping his fist. "Keep the pressure up!"
Brendan, not eager to be beat, started giving commands with more urgency. "C'mon Treecko! Get out of the way!" Mudkip had managed to land one more Tackle before Treecko was able to dodge.
"Now Treecko, Absorb!" Brendan commanded. Green energy began forming around Treecko's mouth before starting to fly towards Mudkip.
"Mudkip, you need to dodge no matter what!" Alex urgently yelled. Fortunately, Mudkip managed to escape the trajectory of the attack, only suffering a glancing blow.
'Even a glancing blow is enough to weaken Mudkip with a super effective move,' Alex thought. 'If Mudkip is this tired, Treecko should be as well. We need to end this now.'
"Mudkip, don't give him a chance to rest, keep using Tackle!" Alex shouted. Mudkip, following the instruction, was right on top of Treecko before the gecko Pokémon had a chance to change positions. "Keep at it, Mudkip!"
His Pokémon managed to land two Tackles in rapid succession, causing Treecko to stumble. Brendan looked worried.
"No, Treecko!" he yelled. "You need to stand up! Use Absorb one more time!" Treecko, hearing his trainer, managed to climb to his feet. Green energy was once again traveling toward Mudkip. Alex, seeing this, gave one final command.
"Mudkip, if you dodge this, we win! Get out of the way and use Tackle one last time!" With what must have been sheer determination, Mudkip dashed to the side and propelled forward with one final attack.
The dust on the battlefield had kicked up, making it impossible to see the result of the attack. Brendan and Alex sat silent, waiting for any sign of movement. After several seconds, the dust started to settle. In the center of the field where two Pokémon once stood, it was clear that Mudkip alone stood victorious.
"Mudkip, Mud!" Mudkip stood proudly, turning to his trainer. Alex was overcome with pride.
"Treecko is unable to battle, therefore the winner is Mudkip and Alex!" Professor Birch exclaimed, raising his arm toward the victor.
"You did it, buddy!" he yelled, running towards the Pokémon, "Come here!" Alex enveloped the starter in a hug. Brendan, disappointed, recalled Treecko to the Pokéball.
"We'll get him next time, partner," the boy said to the ball before walking toward his friend.
"Don't get used to this, Alex!" Brendan said, extending a hand toward Alex. "Treecko and I will win next time for sure!" Alex took his hand and shook it.
"Mudkip and I will take you on anytime!" he responded. Mudkip nodded, looking determined. From the side of the field, May and Birch approached the pair of trainers.
"That was a great battle, you guys," the professor started. "Alex, your strategy of prioritizing evasion paid off. Brendan, as your father, I am impressed by your ability to gain the trust of your Pokémon so quickly."
Both boys nodded appreciatively at the praise before May cut in. "Don't think Torchic and I will fall behind!" she said. Alex and Brendan laughed, everyone enjoying the moment.
'A not-so-wise man once said: "Make certain all your attacks hit! Avoid enemy attacks for sure! You do that, you'd never lose!"' Alex thought, laughing to himself about using a strategy that was so obvious yet so goofy.
Several minutes later, all three trainers were once again in the room that they received their starters in. Brendan and May were both eager to head out.
"I've got to return to Petalburg soon and see my parents before I leave for my journey," May said. "My dad will want to be introduced to your Pokémon, so please stop by and say hi when you get there!"
Promising to meet again near Rustboro, May took off in the direction of Petalburg, her Torchic in tow. Brendan, having had his Treecko healed by this point, had just finished packing the last of his items.
"You sure you don't wanna tag along?" Brendan asked. "It's no trouble, I swear!" Alex shook his head.
"I appreciate the offer, but this is something I need to do on my own," Alex said. Brendan nodded, accepting the answer.
"Alright then, but we meet back up around Rustboro as agreed. It's there that I will have my rematch!" he said as he stuck out his fist. Alex smiled, returning the fist bump.
"And it's there that I will be up two to zero!" he replied. Brendan scowled playfully, before butting his backpack on and heading toward the door.
"In your dreams!" he yelled, as he ran out of the lab to begin his trek through the Hoenn region. Alex finished packing the last of his items before returning to Professor Birch's office. He gave the door a knock, getting a "Come in!" from inside. Stepping into the office, Alex looked around for what would be the last time in a long while. The office looked exactly like a stereotypical college professor's office. A desk surrounded by lots of bookcases with papers everywhere. He was glad that he would no longer be tasked with cleaning the mess of papers anymore.
"Pardon the intrusion, Professor," Alex said. "But you said you had something for me?" The professor turned to face him after grabbing something from his bag.
"That's right. Recently, I have been working with a professor in the Galar region," Birch began. "Professor Magnolia, to be specific, but that's neither here nor there. I have been wanting to research how certain Pokémon that have adapted to the Galar region would react to being in an environment that their species is native to. That leads me to this."
As Professor Birch finished speaking, he pulled out a Pokéball and released a familiar Pokémon. Rather, this Pokémon was almost familiar to Alex. Out of the Pokéball came a Zigzagoon, or rather, a Galarian Zigzagoon. Unlike the Hoenn counterpart, a Zigzagoon from Galar has black and white stripes with a larger tongue and black star-shaped marks over its eyes.
"This is a Galarian Zigzagoon, though I'm sure you recognize that," Birch said. "Alex, you've been a big help these last five years, and I would like to offer you the chance to be this little one's trainer."
Alex was floored. Galarian Zigzagoon not only evolved into Linoone, but even further into an Obstagoon, a powerful Dark and Normal type Pokémon.
"Are you sure, professor?" Alex asked. "Wouldn't it be unfair to give one of your sponsored trainers and additional Pokémon?"
Birch smiled. "See, here's the thing," he said. "You would be taking in this Pokémon within the capacity of a Lab Assistant. I would, of course, expect regular reports on how Zigzagoon here is acclimating to the environment of Hoenn."
Alex was eager to accept. "I understand, Professor. I would be glad to take care of Zigzagoon." Realizing this, the Galarian Zigzagoon began to walk up to Alex and sniff him curiously.
"Nice to meet you, Zigzagoon. I'm your new partner, Alex!" he said. The Zigzagoon barked happily in response. "I'm going to return you for now, but I'll let you meet our other teammate soon." Alex, taking the Pokeball from Birch, returned Zigzagoon.
"Wow, uhh, thanks so much, professor." Alex said. Birch smiled.
"Alex, I know you will do great things out there. I am already so proud of you, and I know you will continue to impress," the professor said. "It's going to be a lot duller without you and Brendan around."
Alex stood up, giving the professor a hug. Birch's support meant a lot to him. Without a father-figure in this life, Alex relied a lot on the support of this man. Attaching the second Pokéball to his belt, Alex said his final goodbyes to Birch and the others working at the lab before heading home.
Arriving back home around mid-afternoon, Alex was eager to show his new friends to his mom.
"Mom, I'm back!" Alex yelled. His mother walked downstairs shortly after his announcement.
"Welcome back, dear," she said, noticing the two Pokéballs on his belt. "Oh? What's this? I was expecting you to come back with one Pokémon, but it seems you've been busy!"
Alex chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, things didn't work out exactly like I had envisioned," he started. "In a good way though! Let's go outside to meet my new friends."
Stepping into the backyard, Alex released both Mudkip and Zigzagoon. The Pokémon both looked at him before noticing his mother and tilting their heads curiously.
"Mudkip, Zigzagoon, this is my mom. Make sure to be nice to her!" Alex said. Both Pokémon yipped in acknowledgement. "Also, this is your first time meeting each other. You two are my first Pokémon, so it's important we get along and set a good example for future team members."
"Kip!" "Zig!"
Alex's mother admired his Pokémon, surprised to see the Galarian form of Zigzagoon. "Oh my!" she said. "What a couple of cuties! I certainly wasn't expecting to see a Zigzagoon that looks like that."
The Pokémon both relished in the attention that his mother was giving them. Alex, noticing this, laughed and decided to go finish packing his supplies while his mom doted on them.
Twenty minutes later, Alex emerged from his room with all the supplies he had prepped for his journey. He made sure to include camping supplies as well as ingredients to prep food for himself, and his Pokémon.
"Are you ready, guys?" he said to his Pokémon. Upon seeing their nods, he recalled them both.
"Alex, remember that you always have a home here," his mom said. "No matter how far away you are, you are always my son. Please, come visit me on occasion and most importantly, be safe. I love you!" She enveloped Alex in a big hug which he reciprocated.
After promising for what felt like the thousandth time that he would be careful, his mom finally let go. "So long, my dear. Please call me when you get to the nearest Pokémon center!"
Alex continued waving goodbye to his mom as he walked towards the outskirts of town. Once he was out of sight, he turned back toward the road. He kept walking and as buildings became less frequent and started being replaced by trees, he knew he was getting close to the entrance to Route 101.
'It's time,' he thought. 'For the first step on my journey to defeat the Pokémon League!' Alex took one step forward, and with his Pokémon at his side, he felt unbeatable.
Again, the potential for new chapters exists, but isn't guaranteed. I also can't promise to respond to any reviews. Hope you enjoyed.