I woke up to the flashing of the lights and the happy tone of Frank, my new father. “Rise and Shine! Hurry up if you want to eat breakfast in peace, we leave in 45 minutes!”
After he walked out of the room I dragged myself into the attached bathroom, what’s up with that? ‘Why would a teenager need his own bathroom?
Back from where I was from we had one for the family and a loo on the ground floor for guests. Perhaps a cultural thing?’ I mused while operating on auto pilot in the shower. After getting out I finally got a good look at my reflection in the mirror.
I was a tall boy for my age at approximately 170cm tall but apparently a bit too thin. Well that makes sense as I thought back to his past study behaviours. ‘That’s something that needs to change. I wonder if someone at the lab knows a bit more about fitness. Otherwise I will just stick to my old football (the real one, not that American thing) workout.’ I nodded in conclusion at my reflection and strode out of the bathroom to look and the closet for clothes.
‘I’m no fashion guy but right now I sure lack options.’ I chuckled as I grabbed a pair of jeans that where a bit faded, a black t-shirt and a grey hoodie.
Now washed and clothed I grab the bag that I prepared yesterday before going to bed. It contains just some change of clothes. The boy had no electronics like a PokeNav or a Computer in his room.
Walking into the kitchen I saw my dad at the stove cooking what looks like bacon and eggs. On the table I spotted a plate of toast, but I zeroed in on a coffee machine that just finished brewing. You see in my old world I had two very bad habits and thankfully I have no phantom urges. While I’m happy to stop smoking, I wont give up my coffee intake. Without it I just cant function in the mornings. Only the boy never had a acquired a taste for it, but I guessed if I can convince dad to let me work at the lab than I can surely get a cup of dark delight.
“Hey dad, can I get myself a cup of coffee?” I ask as I move to the cupboard that host said cups.
“Huh? Since when do you like coffee? Sure help yourself but don’t drink to much, can’t have you bouncing of the roof now can I?” He chuckled while attending the pan.
After we where done eating breakfast everything moved fast. We where out of the house ten minutes later, and moved towards the Pokemon center where the flight service will pick us up.
Said flight service looked kinda like the one from the galar games. You have to sit in a basket that has a wind shield and seatbelts and of you go. But more impressive was the massive Fearow that stood to the side preening its feathers.
“Whoa. Are all Fearows that big?” I ask my dad as we neared the Pokemon and its trainer.
“No not all.” He chuckled, “This one was probably bred and trained to be a transport Pokemon. A Fearow thats used for battles would be most likely smaller, but not much. Racing Fearows on the other hand tend to be smaller, although most people don’t use them for that purpose.” He explained in a low voice.
“Frank Inei and Iruni Inei? From Mahogany Town to Goldenrod?” The trainer asks as we approach.
“Yes that’s right.” my dad answers for us.
After a quick explanation on how to tie the seatbelts and the do’s and dont’s while in the air we where of at a moderate speed. I guess we cant go that fast with the basket.
The rest of the journey to Vermillion City was uneventful and before I knew it I was on the ship and in our cabin. After settling in my dad handed me a handful of books ‘to get started’ while he explored the bar. ‘Apparently my new dad liked his liquor.’ I thought to myself while I got comfy with the first book ‘Introduction to Pokemon’ by Professor Oak.
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Time flew on our journey and I learned quite a bit about my new world and the Pokemon in it.
While it looks like the anime Universe there were a few things that stood out to me. First Pokemon in the wild can be dangerous. For example that Spearow that Ash runs away from in one of the first episodes? Yeah that could have ended with a bleeding 10 year old or however young he was then. Frankly you don’t walk close to a nesting ground and you should always be respectful to Pokemon. Furthermore you should maintain a friendly disposition towards them. I can think of a few Pokemon that wouldn't care less if you are friendly and in their territory, Ursaring comes to mind and of course Gyarados.
Second point is that there are general beliefs about Pokemon based on their typing. That’s something I highly doubt, at least for the dark type Pokemon. I read that they usually are cruel in the wild and prone to violence. Trainers should be cautious if they want to train one. That point came from the last book that read like some pure academic wrote it, you know? Someone who never went out in the wild and observed first-hand. So I took it with a grain of salt.
On the topic of types, there is no fairy typing yet. Dark and steel have been found out a few years prior, and people finally understood why Houndour behaved different from other fire types like Growlithe.
I read about general care of Pokemon, but nothing specific more like ‘make sure your Pokemon stayed fed!’. Well I asked to introduction books, so that's what I got.
I got to watch a few replays of Pokemon battles in the lounge, battling itself was prohibited on the ship, and while it looked entertaining I cant say I’m that impressed with what I saw. I mean yes I saw a few set up strats and so on, but other than that I saw little what many fanfictions described as advanced tactics. When I asked my dad why they called almost every move and dodge he explained it to me.
“Those are the prelims and nothing special. The really good trainers get seeded into the main tournament. Many of those you see on screen got indeed eight badges but I guess they got half of those in the minor gyms.”
He further explained that Kanto and Johto had major and minor gyms because they got so many trainers starting each year. It would tax the starting gym like Pewter, Cerulean, Azaela and Violet city to much if every trainer walks through their gates. Hoenn on the other hand has a lower population in general so they only maintain eight gyms. Although that maybe be subject to change in a few years since Indigo (Kanto and Johto) and Hoenn started to link more in recent times.
That was another thing. The regions don’t all have contact with each other, at least the general public only knew about Kanto, Johto and Hoenn at the moment. I don’t doubt the higher ups would know more. That means Pokemon of the other regions are also not known so I wont be getting a Gible or something like that anytime soon.
Since we travelled light the arrival and getting of board in Petalburg was quick and we were of to the city to get cloth shopping and other essentials. I never was one for long drawn out shopping trips and quickly got what I wanted. Some shorts, as it was really warm here like 25°C, and some t-shirts and a hoodie or two. A few jackets, new boots and sandals and I was good to go. My dad was almost as fast as I was and we awere off to Littleroot town, after getting our stuff loaded on and boarded a flying service.
It was getting dark when we arrived in Littleroot town. Dad led me to a small house close to a building that could only be the lab.
“That’s our new home, it should have basic furniture and stuff. So check out you room while I order food for today.” he spoke as we moved into the house.
‘Yeah the next thing you tell me is to set the clock to the correct time.’ I thought amused as I moved upstairs into the first room that would me mine. It was a basic room with enough space. It had a bed, a desk with chair and a wardrobe, the basic stuff. I dumped my travel bad and my purchases on my bed and moved downstairs.
“Food will be here shortly. Tomorrow we will be going over to the lab and introduce ourself. I will start working the next day.” my dad explained while setting out plates.
“Good, then I will need to think about how I will ask the Professor to let me intern at the lab.” I mused as I set out glasses of water for us.
“Just be yourself son. Don’t try to hard and be honest, I’m sure it will be fine.” he said to reassure me.
After a tasty meal we both went to bed, we where kinda done with the day after the whole shopping and so on.