Jun leaned back in his chair, watching the port city of Hulbury hustle and bustle outside the café window. The salty breeze carried the laughter of children happily chasing each other along the waterfront, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled enticingly with the scent of the sea. He took a sip of his own drink, the warmth spreading through him, a comforting reminder that he had made it to Galar.
His gaze drifted to Gardevoir, who was perched gracefully on the bench beside him, her elegant form glowing softly under the pale afternoon sun. "You good?" Jun asked, a smile creeping on his lips as he offered her a pastry. She accepted it delicately, her eyes glimmering with the joy of being in the outside world after being cooped up in a Poké Ball for a week.
With Gardevoir well-fed and content, Jun turned his attention back to his laptop. The flickering blue glow illuminated his focused expression as he sent an email to his mentor back in Sinnoh.
Subject: Arrived Safe in Galar
Message:
Dear Professor Aria,
I hope this message finds you well. I’ve safely arrived in Hulbury and already soaked in the sights. The local Pokémon are fascinating, and the culture feels vibrant! Gardevoir is doing well, though I think she’s relieved to be out of her Poké Ball.
I’ll be commencing my search for my starter soon, then I'll begin documenting the occurrences of branching evolutions, but I wish to familiarize myself with the local area and its Pokémon habits first. I thought it best to introduce myself to Professor Magnolia, as you suggested.
Best regards,
Jun
After hitting send, he opened another email addressed to Alyssa, his closest friend since the orphanage. She had confided in him in her previous email that she had managed to nab a Shinx as her starter.
Subject: Made It!
Message:
Hey Alyssa!
I made it to Galar! :D This place is incredible, the seaside views, the buzzing energy... I can’t wait for you to see it. Gardevoir is with me, and she’s as graceful as always. I’ll be meeting the local Professor soon. Fingers crossed for the perfect Blipbug!
Keep in touch and take care of Shinx! :P
Jun
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Closing the laptop, Jun took a moment to breathe in the atmosphere. He took a quick peek at his SystemDex, in just a single morning, his data had exploded.
Name: Jun
Age: 15
Talent: [Bug Affinity I]
Pokemon(observed): 159
Pokemon(owned): 0
Pokepoints: 59
Barely a few hours in a new region and he had managed to *observe* over 15 new pokemon.
He pulled himself away from the SystemDex, "What's our next move, Gardevoir?" he asked, leaning towards her. She gave a soft blink, as if considering, before standing up, her graceful aura shimmering around her. ‘Let's take a look around.’, her soft voice whispered in his mind, as she held out her hand.
With a smile of agreement, Jun slipped his laptop into his bag and accepted her help getting up, the brief moment of contact bringing out Gardevoir’s details in his mind.
Pokemon: Gardevoir
Ability: Telepathy
Gender: Female
Level: 58
Moves: Hypnosis, Dazzling Gleam, Teleport, Confusion…(expand for more)
Jun admired the wide variety of moves Gardevoir knew for a quick moment, before leaving the cafe.
The sun hung high in the sky, painting the town in hues of blue and gold. Jun knew that the first step in any adventure was to scout the surroundings, and the docks were always a good place to start.
As they walked along the harbor, Jun noticed the trainers around him; some were battling fiercely while others simply watched or cheered from the sidelines. There was a camaraderie here, a shared love for Pokémon that transcended mere competition. Envious, he hoped to find similar companions during his time in Galar.
After a little exploration, he reached the large structure marked as Hulbury Station. Upon inquiry, he learnt that Professor Magnolia’s research lab was situated in Wedgehurst, a small town that basically sprung up around the Pokemon Research Lab.
Acquiring a train ticket, he stepped onto the platform then into the iron gray carriage, as Gardevoir serenely followed.
Disembarking from the locomotive, he exited Wedgehurst Station, vast expanses of grazing fields stretched in every direction, punctuated with the occasional farmhouses. The path was cobblestone, exuding a rather rural atmosphere. Following the simple directions given by the ticket officer, he made his way towards the largest building in town. Jun's heart raced with anticipation, he felt both excitement and apprehension. What if Professor Magnolia disapproved of him showing up unannounced? He took a deep breath and quashed his anxiety as deep as it would go.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door felt monumental. The soft murmur of voices greeted him, accompanied by the occasional sound of sparkles and mechanical whirrs. He trudged through the clutter of research papers and equipment, searching for a familiar face. Just then, an elderly woman with warm hazel eyes behind triangular half-lens glasses and a comforting grin approached him.
"You must be Jun! Professor Aria mentioned a bright young intern was coming from Sinnoh. It’s lovely to meet you!" Her voice was dry but sincere, instantly putting him at ease.
“Professor Magnolia?” Jun asked, eyes widening.
“Yes, that’s me. Come, let me show you around,” she responded as she led him deeper into the lab.
As they walked through the halls, Jun’s curiosity bubbled to the surface. He pointed out fascinating specimens, asking questions about the Pokémon they had. They passed displays of Galar’s native species, and Jun couldn’t help but notice how different they were compared to those back home.
The conversation shifted, and Professor Magnolia spoke passionately about her research on the effects of Dynamaxing Pokémon. “You’ll find that the Dynamax phenomenon is quite common in Galar. An overabundance of some sort of energy that gets absorbed by Pokémon. This type of energy accumulates in all pokémon present in Galar., with enough accumulation and a catalyst, pokémon can, in a way quite similar to the Mega Evolution first discovered in Kalos and Hoenn, spontaneously empower itself and grow to a tremendous size. It's all quite fascinating I assure you. I've spent most of my career on this Dynamax phenomenon to be honest with you, and I've felt that there's still so much more to learn.”
Jun’s mind quickly turned the page on Galarian pokémon in his SystemDex and glanced at the bottom of the list where the silhouettes of Eternatus and the two dogs were placed. He dearly hoped that he wouldn't meet those legendaries during his trip. He was 100% certain that as powerful as Gardevoir was, she wouldn't be enough to shield him from harm if those pokemon showed up. Regardless, they weren't the reason for him being in Galar, he had to find an opportunity to ask Professor Magnolia not just about Blipbug, but about the presence of any branching evolutions located in Galar as well.
After their tour, he made his inquiries and thanked Professor Magnolia again, promising to make strides in his research, and she wished him luck.
As Jun left the lab, a new determination coursed through him. In this land of mysteries and diverse Pokémon, he would find his Blipbug, his chosen partner.
Beside him, Gardevoir’s presence felt reassuring, her gaze fixed forward as her voice rang out wistfully in his mind, ‘Let's explore this new world together, it's been a long time since I've gone on a journey.’
“Tomorrow,” Jun decided, patting her green clad hand gently, “we begin our search.”