...What is this???...

- ...Hahahaha! And then you know what he...

- ...Woof!! Woof!! Sniff!...

- ...mommy! I missed you!!...

...I don't understand... Why are they so happy?...

...What is this world?... And that Pokemon... Why is it so weak?... Is that even a Pokemon?... Wait. Where are the Pokemon? I haven't seen a single one...

- Hahahaha! Hahahahaha!!

- Hahahahaha! Hahahaha!

...I don't understand, I don't understand, I don't understand, I don't understand! I don't understand!! I don't understand!! I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!..... a world without Pokemon... It's not possible....

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What the world would have been like,... If it was possible?...

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"Gasp!!.. Hah..hah..hah." the boy awoke with a start, a gasp escaping his dry lips as he flung the tattered newspaper off his frail body.

His chest heaved with the remnants of a strange dream, its unsettling images lingering in his mind like the distance echo of a song forgotten.

"...A world without Pokemon?.." he muttered, his thoughts tangled in confusion. The idea was bizarre, alien, but somehow... Concerning. His hand instinctively reached for his messy, red hair, trying to smooth out the wild strands, only to freeze as a sharp jolt of pain shot through his scalp. A large, rough hand had clamped onto his hair, yanking him to his feet.

"Aaargh!!" the boy cried out, stumbling as he was dragged upright by a hulking figure- a man whose appearance was a brutal blend of hooligan and beggar, his filthy clothes clinging to his bulk as if even they were too terrified to slip away.

"What the fuck are you daydreaming about?! Get the hell up! You have work to do!!" the man's voice was a rasping bellow, filled with fury that seemed as endless as the desolation around them. He shook the boy once for good measure before releasing him with a shove that nearly sent him sprawling.

The boy's legs moved on their own, following the man's broad back as they trudged through the narrow, crumbling alleyways. Each step brought them closer to the heart of the devastated city- a ruin of twisted metal, shattered glass, and broken dreams. The origin of the destruction was as mysterious as it was terrifying, the remnants of a cataclysm that had ripped through the city, leaving only despair in its wake.

As they neared a small cluster of survivors, huddled together for warmth and safety, the boy's gaze was drawn to a flash of white amid the soot-stained grays. There, across the cracked street, stood a little girl, no older than ten, her white hair glowing like a beacon in the gloom. Her clothes were just as tattered and worn as his, yet she beamed at him with an enthusiasm that defied their bleak reality.

"Hey!! Rag!! Over here!!" she called out, her voice bright and clear, as if untouched by the darkness that suffocated the world around them. The boy's heart lifted at the sight of her smile, a rare moment of light in a place where hope had long since been extinguished.

Behind the girl stood a small group of people, their faces gaunt and hollow, eyes empty from witnessing too much pain. Among them was the girl's mother, her once beautiful face now a mask of despair. She clung to her daughter with one hand, as if holding onto the last piece of her soul that hadn't been shattered by the relentless cruelty of their existence.

The big man slowed as they approached the group, his gaze narrowing as it fixed on the bright girl. He squatted down to her level, a grotesque smile twisting his cracked lips. "Hey there, Sera. How are you doing?" he crooned, his voice dripping with false sweetness.

"I am fine!!" the girl replied with a cheerful naivety, her smile unwavering.

"How old were you again?" the man asked, his eyes darkening as he licked his lips, a vile hunger barely concealed beneath the surface.

The boy didn't understand the flash of terror in the mother's eyes, the way her body stiffened, as though she might break apart at any moment.

"Um... 10 years old!" the girl said, a hint of pride in her voice.

"Hoh? Not many years, huh," the man replied, his smirk growing wider, more revolting. The mother's flinch was almost imperceptible, but to the boy, it was a puzzle he couldn't quite solve.

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"Now! Everyone, start working!... And you little shit," the man's gaze snapped back to the boy, his expression turning cold and cruel. "If I see you dosing off again, then I'll kill you and feed your disgusting body to my hungry Houndoom."

The boy's blood ran cold, his fear almost tangible as it wrapped around his heart like a vice. He managed a stiff nod, his eyes wide with terror.

The man turned to the girl's mother, his hand settling on her shoulder with a possessive grip. "Let's go, Julia. I have something interesting to show you," he whispered, his tone laced with sinister intent. The mother's resistance crumbled as she was led away, leaving her daughter behind, alone in a sea of despair.

The little girl waved at the boy, her smile still bright as she called out, "Come on, Rag! You'll be late!!"

The boy managed a small smile in return, though his heart ached at the sight of her innocence in such a world. He glanced up at the sky, where black clouds loomed heavy and oppressive as if reflecting the darkness in his thoughts.

"...What would the world be like if there were no Pokemon?..." he whispered to himself, the question a haunting echo of his dream- a dream that, perhaps, was more of a nightmare than he realized.

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***

- : USA, Illinois, Chicago : -

The blaring sound of his mother's voice pierced through the veil of Noah's sleep. He stirred groggily, his mind struggling to catch up with the morning's reality.

- ...oAH!! wake up! It's almost noon! Don't you have somewhere to go today?!..

Avanta's voice echoed from downstairs.

"Huh?"

'Argh! Dammit, my head...'

Noah woke up with a headache, hitting him like a karenic bitch.

"Sigh, What was it again?... I think... I had a dream?... Sigh, It was a weird dream... But I can't remember it..."

'Sigh, What a drag...'

Groaning, Noah rubbed his eyes and dragged himself out of bed. He glanced at the clock on his nightstand, which read 10:45 AM. He had a busy day ahead—Sydney's birthday party was tonight, and he needed to make sure everything was perfect.

He took a glance at Aaron, who was sleeping soundly on his bed without a care in the world.

'What a life you have, buddy. Slacking and playing around the whole day without any care in the world. No tension, No running after relationships, just play and be happy.'

"Haha, look at me. Being envious of a naughty slacker like you." Noah gently petted the sleeping figure of Aaron with a smile and quietly exited his room.

After a quick shower, he dressed in his best casual attire. Today was an important day for him, the day that he awaited for 6 months to arrive; his 'for now' friend, Sydney Miller's birthday party, and he planned to make it memorable.

( A/N - ..... )

Downstairs, the aroma of breakfast greeted him. Avanta, his loving mother, stood at the stove, cooking with a smile and Gary was reading a newspaper like always, sitting at the end of the table.

"Good morning, Dad, Good morning, Mom." Noah greeted them as he took his seat at the table.

"..Good morning."

"Morning, sweetie. I made some pancakes."

Noah thanked her, grabbing a quick bite. He playfully exchanged some bickering with his mom, her nagging for her daughter-in-law, the birthday girl, etc etc.

After saying his goodbyes, Noah grabbed his phone and wallet before heading out the door. The brisk morning air felt refreshing as he made his way to Shawn's house. Shawn had promised to pick him up, and they planned to go together to the restaurant where Sydney's party was being held.

But he was already running late. So, Noah couldn't wait and just went himself.

Noah arrived at Shawn's house just as his friend was coming out with his bike, looking casual yet effortlessly stylish. Shawn flashed him a wide grin.

"Yo. Ready to make tonight unforgettable, Doug?" Shawn greeted him with his usual exuberance.

"Fck yeah. Just a little nervous," Noah admitted, feeling a knot of anxiety in his stomach. A mixture of excitement and nervousness evident in his voice.

"Don't sweat it. Just be yourself. Everything will be fine~," Shawn reassured him, clapping Noah on the back.

The two friends drove to the nearby store where Noah had planned to buy Sydney's gift. The shop was filled with an array of floral arrangements and jewelry, perfect for any occasion.

After some deliberation, Noah picked out a bouquet of red roses—Sydney's favorite—and a set of beautiful silver earrings that he hoped would make her smile. And of course, not without Shawn's approval.

He hoped the earrings would be a fitting complement to the roses. With these thoughtful gifts in hand, Noah felt a sense of accomplishment.

"Got everything?" Shawn asked, eyeing the packages.

"Yeah, I think so," Noah answered, glancing at the bags with a hopeful smile.

With the gifts carefully packed, they continued their journey to the restaurant. The restaurant was a short distance away, and as they arrived, Noah felt a flutter of anticipation in his chest.

The venue was beautifully decorated, with soft, ambient lighting and tasteful decorations. It was the perfect setting for a birthday celebration.

Noah and Shawn entered the restaurant, greeted by the cheerful buzz of the crowd. As soon as he entered, Noah's eyes scanned the room, looking for Sydney.

'...Ahh..'

There she was, radiant as ever, seated at a table with a few friends, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She looked stunning in her beautiful and modest blue-purple birthday dress, her smile lighting up the room.

The sight of her made Noah's heart skip a beat. He took a deep breath, readying himself for the moment he had been waiting for.

The party was in full swing when Noah and Shawn approached Sydney. She was chatting with her friends, a smile lighting up her face. Shawn gave Noah an encouraging nod before stepping back.

"Hey, Sydney," Noah said, his voice slightly shaky but warm.

Sydney turned to him, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Hi, Noah! Shawn! Glad you could make it."

Noah felt his nerves melting away as he looked into her eyes. "I got you something," he said, holding out the bouquet of roses. "I hope you like them."

Sydney's face lit up with genuine delight as she took the roses. "Oh, they're beautiful! Thank you, Noah."

He continued, "And I also got you these." He presented the silver earrings, his hands trembling slightly. "I thought they might go well with your outfit."

Sydney's eyes widened with appreciation. "They're gorgeous! Thank you so much. You really didn't have to."

"It's my pleasure," Noah replied, his heart swelled with joy at her reaction, feeling a surge of confidence. "I just wanted to make your birthday special."

Then Sydney looked at Shawn, who was happily chatting with Alex and Denial.

"Hey, Shawn. Where's your gift?" Sydney asked eying the frozen-up Shawn with a sweet smile on her face that did not reach her eyes.

But Shawn grinned, as he slowly stood up, majestically withdrawing his hand from his back pocket. And then!!... Took out a... ... Friendship band...

- Silence...

All of them looked dumbfounded at Shawn... Even some customers from other tables. What is he doing? They all thought. All of them looked at the birthday girl and... Alex and Denial backed away to Noah.

"...You.. Shawn. It's my birthday... And YOU GIVE ME THIS?!" She had a frown on her face, clearly angry.

"What do you want me to do? Last time you didn't like my gift, girl!" Shawn said frowning on his own, trying to defend himself.

"did not like it? You gave me 50 dollars!! And said, "Buy yourself a gift on your own~." who does that?!"

-Hahahaha!

As they started bickering one after another, Noah and the customers were laughing in the background as the audience. Then Shawn finished it with,

"...ell Noah! I too, have my hands on his gift, because I helped him to choose. His gift is my gift! That'll be enough."

"Huh!! ...Okay." She grunted, clearly not satisfied, but She still wore the band on her wrist. She didn't dislike it at least.

After they settled down, they chatted and laughed, enjoying the heartfelt moments and shared memories, the atmosphere was warm and joyful. The evening seemed perfect, and Noah found himself lost in moments of shared laughter and heartfelt conversations. Noah felt more confident about the confession he planned to make...

However, In the midst of the celebration, the restaurant's doors burst open with a violent force. Then from there, came out a boy of the same age as them.

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***