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Dear Ian Wright,

Congratulations on your acceptance into Pallet Academy! We are thrilled to have you as a student. Your passion and dedication to Pokémon have impressed us, and we are excited to welcome you to our prestigious institution.

As you embark on this extraordinary journey, we want to share the fascinating curriculum that awaits you. At Pallet Academy, you will study the Pokémon world and its creatures in-depth, along with other subjects of your choice.

Among the volumes in our library, you will find titles such as:

- Pokémon: A Comprehensive Guide

- The Art of Pokémon Training

- A Look at World History

- Second Great War

- Pokémon Breeding: Theory and Practice

...

These books will guide you throughout your time in Pallet Academy.

In recognition of your exceptional abilities and dedication, we have a special gift for you. Attached to this letter is a PokéBall containing your very own starter Pokémon. Open it and discover which Pokémon has chosen you as its trainer.

Remember, the bonds you form with your Pokémon are crucial. They will be your allies and companions on this extraordinary adventure. Your starter Pokémon will be your faithful friend, offering guidance, companionship, and untapped potential.

We eagerly await your arrival at Pallet Academy tomorrow! The journey ahead is filled with excitement, challenges, and opportunities for growth. Our institution is buzzing with anticipation, ready to welcome you into our vibrant community.

Congratulations once again, and we look forward to witnessing your extraordinary journey unfold at Pallet Academy.

Sincerely,

Professor Samuel Oak

Pallet Academy

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While reading through the letter, I found a PokéBall in the parcel. I held it up to the light to see more clearly. It was in its compact form, the size of a small pebble. There was a note attached to it.

[A reward for being 1st in your iteration.

— Castor]

I gave it a quick glance, and then put it on the side. Who was Castor? Hmm.

‘I have to meet him. He must know a lot of stuff.’

Excited as I was, I looked through the other contents of the parcel. There were some potions, and a chip with Pokédex written on top of it.

"What is this now...?"

I picked it up and observed it. It appeared similar to an SD card of sorts.

"Oh, could it be..."

I looked over at my watch. Could it be that this chip somehow worked with the watch? If so, it could be of extreme use, and definitely an improvement.

I took off my watch and flipped it open, then inserted the chip into the only socket there was.

Click.

There was a small clicking sound, and then It turned on immediately, displaying [Loading].

The Pokédex opened up with different kinds of tabs. Though it was empty for now, sadly.

"Yes... It actually works with my watch..."

I closed the watch and picked up the potions to inspect them.

The moment I picked one of them up, my watch buzzed. Looking at it, I found out that it showed me the information on the potion, which was very useful.

After going through each potion, this is what I had:

[Regular Potions x5]

[Hyper Potion x1]

[Poison Antidote x2]

I sighed. This wasn't enough. I knew how much I needed them given that I was considering this situation as reality now.

I put the potions in my bag. I should get some more after I figure things out.

After making sure I had everything, I picked up the PokéBall.

"What could be inside this thing? Maybe a Bulbasaur? Or a Charmander? Perhaps it's a Squirtle..."

I held the PokéBall and gave it a few shakes. It felt really cold and hard. I brought it close to my ear and listened. It was silent. What did I even expect? I had a weird urge to lick it but I refrained myself.

"Let's see who you are at least."

I held the ball up, ready to throw it. Before doing so, I took a deep breath.

'Here we go...!'

With one slow swing, I flung it forward. I didn't want it smashing into my new room.

The ball spun and twirled, dancing in the air. Finally, it landed on the ground with a soft plop, then rolled over to a spot under my bed.

A flash.

I heard the ball beep, then open up, revealing a Pokémon inside.

I got down on my knees and peeked under the bed.

What came out was...

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"A... Cyndaquil?"

I had to admit, I was a bit shocked.

A Cyndaquil, in Kanto?

"Kiu?"

The creature tilted its head at me, looking at me up and down.

I put everything on the back of my mind, I'd think about it later.

Instead of that, I tried to grab it.

"CindaKiuu!"

The Cyndaquil got scared and its whole body twitched into motion. It lunged under my hand, and scurried back a little, cowering in fear as it curled into a ball. It was very cute.

I assumed that it was scared of me.

'What to do then?'

I moved back.

"Okay, okay, I won't touch you."

"Kiu?"

The Cyndaquil looked at me as I retreated. It looked at me with big, hazel eyes, like a scared child. Well, it could open its eyes huh.

"Okay, I won't hurt you. See, I have nothing in my hands."

I held my hands up in the air.

"Cyndaquil?" It tilted its head with its eyes closed now.

[Image]

[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1119637615436648528/1122892600832167956/63776-16813439600656-1920.png]

Cyndaquil was a petite, bipedal Pokémon sporting a coat of bluish fur atop its body, contrasted by a creamy underbelly.

Its eyes remained closed, while its slender snout extended gracefully. Although its arms were short, its legs displayed a bit more development and featured a solitary nail on each foot. Notably, four vivid red circles adorned its back, adding a striking touch to its appearance.

"Okay, see, I won't hurt. Now, I'll be picking you up, okay?" I said.

I knew Pokémon were intelligent... I hoped it would understand my intentions.

I brought my head close to its snout and let it take a few whiffs. I then moved my hand a bit above its head and looked at it. It didn't look scared anymore. It was staring at me, intensely. Yep, eyes open again.

"Good girl...? Boy? Whatever."

I slowly reached for its body. It didn't move. I slowly picked it up, and I could feel it get tense for a bit.

"Okay, that's it. Easy there."

I brought it up to my face.

"That wasn't too hard was it? You're so cute."

Cyndaquil seemed to calm down a bit. I cradled it in my arms, petting it gently. It felt so warm... and soft.

"Haha, you're so cute! Yes, you are!"

I hated the baby talk, but I had to. So, I sighed.

"Kiu." Cyndaquil seemed to like being a pet.

"Come on, let's get you out for a bit?"

I stood up and opened the door and made way to the Academy fields.

I walked into a grass field there and let Cyndaquil down on the ground.

It didn't move. It was looking around nervously.

"Come on, what's the matter?" I said kneeling down and petting its back. "See, the grass is so soft and soft. You can play in it. No one will hurt you here."

It looked at me, then back to the grass.

I moved to its back and started massaging it. It started relaxing, its eyes closed. It then turned around and started rubbing itself against my chest.

I sighed and looked at my watch. It was time to check the Pokédex.

—

Cyndaquil

Fire-type Pokémon

Gender: Male

Height: 0.5 m

Weight: 7.9 kg

Ability: Blaze (Powers up Fire-type moves in a pinch)

Moves: Tackle, Leer, Smokescreen, Ember, Curse (Egg Move)

—

"Kiu!"

Cyndaquil yanked at my shirt.

"What are you doing?"

It tilted its head.

I wondered what it wanted. "Hmm, what about we test things out a little?" I asked the Pokémon.

"We'll start with simple tests. Cyndaquil, can you play fetch?"

What was I even doing? I sighed.

Cyndaquil was happy with my suggestion, as it started running circles around me, hopping up and down. What was it? A puppy?

I played with it for a while, and then I decided it was time to test his moves. We got near a dummy placed in this field and then started testing.

"Cyndaquil, let's start, alright?"

"Cyndakiu?" It looked confused.

"Use Ember."

"Kiu!"

It nodded and its back flared up instantly. Fire erupted from its back in the shape of spines, and it opened its mouth. Fire shot out and hit the dummy. The fire dissipated after a few seconds, leaving behind a smoking scorch mark on the dummy.

"Wow, that was good," I praised. Praise was good; everyone liked praise, why would a cute little Pokémon not?

"Kyu... kyu...!"

It jumped up and down.

"Calm down, okay?" I chuckled.

I instructed Cyndaquil and tried a few other things. Battle Training, Accuracy test on flying saucers, etc.

We played for a bit, and I wondered why I got a Cyndaquil in Kanto. Who was Castor? Was he the one who got me this? If so, why?

"Fuuuh..."

I sighed and rubbed Cyndaquil's head as I trudged back to the dorm. I guess that was enough for today. Cyndaquil got exhausted very easily, so I had to stop and let it regain energy.

Cyndaquil was a unique starter. Given that there were three traditional starters in Kanto—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—Cyndaquil was certainly unique. It was a Fire-type Pokémon, which gave me an advantage against several Gym Leaders in the Kanto region.

It would be particularly strong against Grass-type Pokémon like those used by Erika in Celadon City.

Though I lacked information about Gym Leaders in this world specifically; I had not seen Misty, nor Brock. Ash was here though, but he was not a Gym Leader.

‘Anyways, It seems that Castor, the person mentioned in the note, had chosen Cyndaquil for me.’

I couldn't help but wonder about Castor's intentions.

‘Perhaps, is he someone I knew? Not me, but this body’s previous owner, I mean.’

Arriving back at the dorm, I found a cozy spot where Cyndaquil could rest. I sat down nearby, deep in thought.

I looked at my watch and was about to open the Pokédex when my eyes noticed something.

“...A note?”

I frowned and fetched the note that was on my bed.

It read:

[I hope you have a great time here, and I'm looking forward to what changes you make!

—PM]

And then, before I could process anything much, it burned to ashes.

‘W-what…’

Puppet Master?

What was going on?

I nibbled on my lip and thought for a bit.

Sighing, I threw it in the back of my mind and opened the Pokédex once again. This time, I navigated through its different tabs to gather more information.

The Pokédex was divided into eight sections denoting each region.

I read up on the information on Cyndaquil. It was not native to the Kanto region. It typically originated from the Johto region, which was adjacent to Kanto.

Curiosity sparked within me. Why would Castor choose a Pokémon from a different region? Did it have any connection to my own origins or the purpose of my presence in Kanto? I made a mental note to investigate this further and find out more about Castor and his intentions.

While contemplating these thoughts, Cyndaquil started to nudge my leg, seeking attention. It seemed to have regained some energy and was ready for more interaction. I smiled at the little Pokémon and decided to spend some more time getting to know it.

After all, having a good friendship with your Pokémon was always a good thing.

"Hey, Cyndaquil, how about we explore the campus a bit?" I suggested, extending my hand toward it. The Pokémon seemed eager and nuzzled against my palm, indicating its agreement. And then, hopped on.

As I walked through the campus with Cyndaquil perched on my shoulder, I wondered about my situation.

This wasn't a dream or a game. It was my reality now, and I needed to embrace it fully.

And then there was Puppet Master…

Gone were the days of doubting my circumstances or waiting for someone to explain it all to me. It was time for me to take charge, live—and survive—in this new world, and uncover the truth behind my presence here.

"Alright, Cyndaquil, let's make the most of our time here at Pallet Academy.”

I said and smiled.