We have a bit of a stare-off. Me, trying to figure out what to say - him, deciding what he's supposed to do. After a few seconds of nothing being said or done, he grows bored and starts to explore the room.
I let out a sigh and sit down on the side of the bed. I didn't know what to say. Not knowing anything about him or myself just makes this awkward. At least he doesn't hold any form of animosity towards me. So that's a plus, I guess. I watch him intently as he moves to the center of the room and starts pushing stuff out of the way until he has enough space for himself. He then begins stretching before starting a workout routine.
Well, color me surprised. I guess the old me gave him a routine to work on. I mentally keep track of the exercises he's doing so I can join him once my arm is one hundred percent better. Sucks, I'll have to keep this sling for another week. Dr. Kaguya said the damage had been minor and miraculously hadn't hit anything vital. He stressed the word miraculously because it was a clean run-through. Some kind of pipe had lodged itself in my shoulder. I can't even begin to imagine what might have happened to me.
I watch Tyrogue continue to exercise before eventually moving on to a shadowboxing routine. He continues this for half an hour before I hear a gentle knock on the door. Tyrogue immediately takes up a fighting stance towards the door. Now that’s an interesting response, I wonder what has happened to elicit that kind of automatic reflex.
"Good afternoon, is this the room of Erembour Lionheart? My name is Lucas Sterling, I am one of Prof. Oak's assistants."
A smooth voice carries over from the crack of the door, its soothing tones filling the room.Tyrogue looks over in my direction waiting for orders, I motion for him to relax. He nods and goes back to his training.
"Yeah, this is my room. You may come in." I called back to Lucas.
"Ah. Excellent! I have come here to help you get out of this hospital and to assist in setting you up for your journey. Serena left all of your starter equipment at the lab. Give me a few, I’m going to get your paperwork started for your discharge. In the meantime, however-"
His voice has this comforting warmth that just makes me feel at ease. He walks into the room, and the first thing I notice is how tall he is. Almost standing at six feet his dark brown hair is styled and neatly combed to the side, giving him a relaxed and put-together look that matches his brown eyes which are partially hidden behind a pair of black-rimmed glasses, giving weight to the intelligence hiding in his eyes. He’s wearing a stylish black lab coat with a black shirt with a double helix graphic on it, and black cargo pants to complete his ensemble. I notice he also has a trainer belt with 3 great balls attached to it.
He has a friendly smile that falters slightly when he sees me, his eyes lingering on the left side of my face. He quickly regains his composure and finishes walking in, making sure not to get within Tyrogue's practice area.
"-I did manage to sneak away your new Rotom phone. Figured you might want to catch up on all the details about the Indigo Plateau Conference this year. Lucky for you that there's still time for you to join in. You might also want to take a look at the Pokedex feature… And some of the other extra ones on there too."
He tosses a green smartphone over to me which I attempt to catch only to see it float on its own, hovering in front of my hand before flying to the front of my face. The LED screen lights up to reveal two blue eyes and a smiling mouth looking at me before fading away. A standard smartphone homepage appears with several app icons.
"You don't have to use a keyboard. It is voice-activated and understands your commands. Anything you might need to activate or open, it will do it for you. I'll leave you two alone so you can get better acquainted and set system parameters up.” With that, he walks out of the room.
I look at the phone and peruse the app names while it hovers in place. It has the standard Pokedex, a Battle Assistant, a map and navigation tool, a Pokemon Capture app that reveals the information of Pokemon it scans, a Trainer Social Network app called PokeConnect, a news app for the Kanto Chronicles, an item catalog, it even has a Move Tutor app.
I look over to where Tyrogue is as he sits cross-legged meditating. Letting curiosity get the better of me, I turn the phone towards him and click on the Pokedex app. It scans him, and immediately a dull monotone voice echoes out in the small room.
“Tyrogue, the Scuffle Pokémon. Tyrogue is a spirited Fighting-type Pokémon. It is known for its desire to test its strength against other Pokémon, often engaging in friendly bouts with its fellow Tyrogue. With its disciplined training and rigorous exercises, Tyrogue gradually develops its muscles and martial arts skills. It measures its progress by how much power it gains in its punches. This Pokémon is always eager for a challenge, seeking out opponents who can push it to its limits.”
The screen flashes a broad image of a typical Tyrogue, showcasing its appearance and features. Then, the stats and details follow suit—gender, ability, and the moves it has learned. As I glance at the screen, a low whistle escapes my lips. This Tyrogue has the Guts ability, which is impressive in itself. But it's the moves it knows that catch my attention.
Among the standard moves that all Tyrogues start with—Tackle, Helping Hand, Fake Out, and Focus Energy—this little guy has some unexpected surprises. Bulk Up, Rock Smash, Rock Slide, and even Mega Punch adorn his move set. I can't help but wonder how much combat experience he has under his belt. What battles has he been through? And what role did I play in shaping his abilities and moves?
I continue browsing through the various apps on the Rotom phone, intrigued by the possibilities they offer. The Battle Assistant app catches my attention. It seems like a handy tool to record our battles and provide AI feedback to help improve our strategies. I note that there's a feature for Real-Time information during battles, but I'll need specific battle spectacles to use it. That will have to wait for now.
Next, I came across the Pokemon Capture app. It seems more research-oriented, so I decide to leave it for later. Setting up an account on the PokeConnect site feels like a daunting task in my current tired state, so I skip it for now. I do note that the coffee Serena had given me hadn’t done much in the way of perking me up.
In search of any clues about what might have caused my injuries, I turned to the Kanto Chronicles app. Unfortunately, there isn't much of note except for the incident in Celadon City. It seems like a dead end for now. Determined to distract myself, I shift my focus to the updates regarding the Conference. It's scheduled to take place in Viridian City at the end of the year and participants will be grouped by their respective years. First-year trainers will compete against each other, and so on. The finalists from each year will then have the opportunity to challenge the Elite Four and strive to become a champion. One of the news articles states that the champion title was now nothing more than a glorified accomplishment for trainers ever since the likes of Blue and Red. I don’t blame the reporter for that bit. After that there was an uproar and the League had to change the entire structure of how the gym challenge works.
I scroll through the rest of the articles on the Kanto Chronicles app, stumbling upon some intriguing pieces. One catches my attention—the weird migrations of Pokémon from other regions to Kanto. It seems that Alolan Rattatas have been spotted near Lavender City, drawn to the burial grounds in the area. What strikes me as even more peculiar is the fact that Lavender City is experiencing longer nights compared to other cities. It's an odd phenomenon that piques my curiosity. The reporter in that one says scientists speculate that it might be due to a higher concentration of ghost type pokemon effecting the environment itself.
Another article mentions Trainers abandoning their Pokémon along the routes, leading to rare or foreign Pokémon being spotted where they shouldn't be. It's disheartening to think that some trainers would abandon their loyal companions. It also makes me realize that my journey won't be predictable or straightforward. I won't have an exact idea of what I might come across during my travels. It adds an element of unpredictability and challenges to my path. The idea of possibly coming across a Chikorita or a Scyther fills me with both excitement and terror at the same time.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
As I delve deeper into the articles, I come across helpful tips for beginning trainers. The general consensus seems to be that starting with the old gym route is a wise choice. Pewter Gym, with its more straightforward challenge, is often recommended as the first gym to tackle for obtaining the first badge.
However, one gym stands out as a formidable challenge—Seafoam Gym, which was formerly Cinnabar Gym. It’s located on the Seafoam Islands, and has a new gym leader named Kenneth who took over after Blaine's retirement. Kenneth brought significant changes, buying out the islands from the league and setting up land bridges. He's the first of the new gym leaders to take on dual typing and he specializes in both fire and ice types. The passing rate for his challenges is shockingly low, at around twenty-five percent. The thought of facing such a daunting battle sends a shiver down my spine.
I close the app, contemplating the path that lies ahead. This is going to be either a fun adventure or a death sentence. I feel like I’ll be ok, some of the articles stated that the survival rates of trainers are usually in the high eighty percentiles and I’m in the perfect place to start in Pallet City. I mean, what could go wrong from here to Viridian City?
Shaking the thoughts out of my head, I log into Pokeconnect and create an account, eager to explore what the platform has to offer. It feels reminiscent of the old forums trainers used to frequent fifteen years ago. There are sections for trainers to connect, dedicated areas for gym leaders, discussions about promising trainers, and even tips on securing sponsorships. It's a treasure trove of information and networking opportunities.
Curiosity leads me to click on the Pewter Gym tab. I want to gather some insights before taking on the challenge. To qualify for a match against the gym leader, Forrest, I'll need to defeat two of his league-sponsored trainers. Forrest, who is Brock's brother, initially followed in his brother's footsteps, specializing in rock types. However, he later adopted a dual typing style, incorporating both rock and ground types into his team, likely inspired by Kenneth's approach.
Realizing I'll need a grass or water-type Pokémon to have an advantage, I search for Pokémon sightings on the app. After scrolling through the sightings, I find what I'm looking for—an area near the farmlands on the way to Mt. Moon outside of Pewter City where Petilils have been spotted. Catching a Petilil would be beneficial for my upcoming challenge at the Cerulean Gym as well. I could try and catch one to use against both Forrest and Misty. With that small shaping of a plan in mind, I set the phone aside and return my focus to Tyrogue.
Tyrogue is still deep in meditation, his concentration unbroken. I approach him, taking a moment to gather my thoughts. Speaking softly, I address him.
"Hey there, buddy."
One of Tyrogue's eyes opens, and a gentle "rogue" escapes his lips.
"I wanted to talk and clear the air. You see, due to an accident, I've lost some of my memories. Well, scratch that. I’ve lost most of my memories. In truth, I guess you could say that they're all jumbled up in my head, and unfortunately, you're one of the memories I can't recall."
Tyrogue opens both eyes, studying me intently. His expression is hard to decipher— is it pity? Contempt? I can't quite tell. He sighs and rises to his feet, assuming a boxing stance.
"Ty. Tyrogue, Ty."
He throws a few punches into the air before pointing toward me. It seems he wants me to join him. I guess it couldn’t hurt, maybe doing the routine might trigger something.
"Alright, I'll give it a try."
I mimic his stance, my body instinctively remembering the movements. He then proceeds to throw a set of slow jabs and as I throw a light jab of my own with my left hand, a sudden flashback overwhelms me.
I see a Karate Master in a black Gi, nodding approvingly as Tyrogue—this very Tyrogue—gazes up at me, clearly starstruck. "Alright, Champ. It's time for us to go. Welcome to the team," I hear myself say, accepting a Poké Ball from the Karate Master.
The flashback vanishes as quickly as it came, leaving me with a throbbing headache but also a newfound sense of clarity. I now clearly remember how I obtained Tyrogue—Champ, rather—from one of the Saffron City dojos. It seems I had been in Saffron City at some point in my past. Perhaps when I arrive, I can seek out that Karate Master and learn more about myself. I strain to recall his appearance—mid-thirties, sharp features, bald, and towering in height. Well, that describes just about almost all stereotypical dojo masters.
"Ty!" I hear Tyrogue calling out to me, his voice tinged with concern. I guess I must have spaced out on him.
"I'm fine. I’ve got good news, at least. I remember how I got you, Champ," I reassure him, a smile spreading across my face as a look of relief washes over him. It's good to have some progress. Little by little, things will get better.
I join Tyrogue for a while in the exercises, but soon the movements start to make my right shoulder ache. I take a seat in the armchair and patiently wait watching some mundane shows on the TV. After some time passes, Lucas returns, holding a bag and my discharge papers. I notice there's no sign of any nurses or doctors with him as he places the bag on the bed and looks at me.
"Alright, your paperwork is all done. You're cleared to leave as long as you keep your arm in a sling for a couple of days. Don't overexert yourself. I brought you some fresh clothes to change into. The ones you came in with were beyond repair. I tried to pick something that matches your current appearance."
I take the bag from him and make my way to the bathroom, cautiously getting used to walking again. I stare at my reflection in the mirror, taking in the sight. My left eye is covered in gauze that is taped securely around my head, and three rough scars run from the top left of my forehead down the left side of my face till it reaches my jawline. The scars are a deep shade of red, slowly healing and starting to raise. My wavy is pure white, reaching slightly below my ears, and I notice some white stubble growing on my face that I couldn't remember having before. Everything else about me seems the same, except for the hazel eye staring back at me. Panic surges through my veins. This couldn't be me. Something is wrong here. This isn’t me. It just can’t be. Anxiety, hostility and rage bubble up inside causing me to clench my left fist and raise it. I almost strike the mirror in frustration, but Tyrogue's gentle tug on my hospital gown stops me.
I nod in agreement. "You're right. It wouldn't be worth it. I'll just have to deal with it."
"Need any help in there, Erembour? Should I call a nurse?" Lucas calls from the entrance.
"Nah, I'm fine! It might take a while, but I'll manage."
Shaking off the discomfort of unfamiliarity, I examine the contents of the bag. Lucas had packed a simple white T-shirt with a black fighting-type emblem in the center. There's also a plain black jacket and a pair of black jeans. The bag also holds a trainer belt adorned with compartments, pouches, and magnetic Pokéball carriers. It features a black and white Pokéball buckler on the front. It all feels strangely familiar and matches what I look like perfectly. I motion for Tyrogue to go outside and start dressing up. It takes me some time, but I manage to put everything on by myself.
Walking out of the bathroom finally clothed, I feel both relieved and exhausted.
"Thanks for the clothes! I'm surprised you got my measurements right, but considering the circumstances, I guess it's not too surprising," I mumble, giving a slight head bow.
"Oh, no problem at all! I'm glad you like them, and you look great in them," Lucas says, beaming with a smile. "Now, come on! Let's get you out of here so you can start preparing. Just because you joined close to the start of the challenge doesn't mean you have time to waste!"
With that said, I return Champ to his pokeball as we both exit out of the room and leave the hospital. I’m raring to go to get this started and finally be free.
“I almost forgot, here are your discharge papers. We have some stuff to discuss once we’re in my truck.”
He hands me the papers, and as I glance over them, I notice streaks of black redacting certain bits of information. The top of the paper reads: “Subject John Doe in Ditto Regeneration Experiment.” I skim through it and come to understand the extensive amount of damage my body had gone through. The hospital, which also functions as a research and development facility for the League, had taken extreme measures to use me as a test subject while I was in a coma and unable to provide consent.
I look back at Lucas with a blank look on my face who’s beaming at me with a gigawatt smile.
“What the fuck?”