The next morning, I woke up bright and early, feeling the cool summer breeze filter in through the open window. Mincinno was curled up on my chest, her soft fur rising and falling with every breath she took. I gently stroked her head, earning a content hum from the small Pokémon before she stretched and blinked at me sleepily.
"Morning, Mincinno," I whispered.
"Min?" She tilted her head before hopping off and stretching her tiny arms.
Today was the day the Pokémon Summer Camp started, and as one of the assistant professors, I needed to make sure everything was in order. Professor Oak had briefed me the night before about my role: I would be assisting with lectures, helping younger kids get comfortable with Pokémon, and also giving a short demonstration using Mincinno.
After getting dressed in a comfortable but presentable outfit—a dark blue vest over a white shirt with black trousers—I grabbed my satchel filled with notes and research papers and made my way downstairs. Professor Oak and Daisy were already waiting by the kitchen.
"Good morning, Alex! Did you sleep well?" Daisy greeted with a smile.
"Yeah, the bed's way softer than what I'm used to." I nodded and took a seat, Mincinno hopping onto my lap.
"Well, eat up! We have a busy day ahead of us." Professor Oak gestured towards the table filled with pancakes, toast, and fruit.
Over the years, I had grown quite close to the Oak family. Despite our same age, Gary initially thought I was a wimp because of how cute my Pokémon looked. That changed the day a Rhydon went on a rampage in Professor Oak's Pokémon Preserve. The massive Pokémon was furious, stomping around and destroying parts of the habitat, causing the other Pokémon to panic. While everyone scrambled for safety, I stepped forward, Mincinno perched on my shoulder, ready for battle.
Rhydon charged, its horn spinning like a drill, but I remained calm. "Mincinno, Double Team!" I commanded. Instantly, several illusions of Mincinno spread across the field, confusing Rhydon as it swiped and struck at empty air.
"Now, Agility into Quick Attack!" I commanded. Mincinno's form blurred as she accelerated, darting across the battlefield in a silver streak. Rhydon roared, swinging its massive arms wildly, but Mincinno was too fast, weaving through its attacks like a shadow.
"Now, Iron Tail!" As Mincinno closed in, her tail gleamed with a metallic sheen before she spun mid-air and delivered a powerful strike to Rhydon's head. The impact sent the massive Pokémon reeling, its steps staggering as it let out a pained bellow. It stomped the ground in frustration, sending a shockwave my way with Bulldoze, but Mincinno swiftly dodged, moving with an elegance that made it seem like she was dancing on air.
"Time to end this—Aqua Tail!" Mincinno's tail shimmered as water energy coated it. She spun, striking Rhydon right between the eyes, sending it staggering back before finally collapsing with a heavy thud. The preserve was silent for a moment before cheers erupted from the watching aides.
Gary, who had been watching the entire battle, had his jaw practically on the floor. From that day on, he never questioned my skills again and, instead, started looking up to me as an older brother figure.
Daisy absolutely adored Mincinno, often pampering her whenever she had the chance. Mincinno, in turn, would puff out her chest proudly whenever she felt she had accomplished something, whether it was successfully cleaning up a mess or executing a move flawlessly. Daisy also enjoyed being around me, particularly because of my singing and my ability to form deep bonds with Pokémon. Whenever I strummed my guitar in the evenings, she would sit nearby, quietly enjoying the melodies.
As for Ash, he saw me as a rival from the very first day we met. Every time he saw me, he would swear that he would defeat me one day. I never took him too seriously—I would just give him a smirk, which only seemed to frustrate him more. But I had to admit, his determination was admirable."
After a quick but satisfying breakfast, we set off towards the campsite, which was a little past the training fields near Oak's research center. The journey was filled with casual chatter, mostly about the camp's schedule and the number of kids attending this year.
As we arrived, I saw dozens of children gathered in small groups, chatting excitedly among themselves. Several professors and aides were moving around, making final preparations. Professor Oak clapped his hands, gaining everyone's attention.
"Welcome, everyone, to this year's Pokémon Summer Camp!" His voice carried across the clearing. "We are thrilled to have you all here, and we hope this experience helps you grow into fine Pokémon trainers and caretakers. This year, we have a very special assistant helping out." He turned toward me. "Please give a warm welcome to Alex!"
The kids clapped politely, some murmuring amongst themselves. I gave a small bow and stepped forward.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Alex, and I'll be one of your assistant instructors this year. I've had the privilege of working closely with Pokémon in different regions, and I hope I can share what I've learned with you all." I smiled, then gestured to the small Pokémon now perched on my shoulder. "And this here is my partner, Mincinno."
Mincinno let out an adorable chirp before hopping down in front of the kids. Immediately, several of them gasped, and a few girls cooed at her fluffy fur.
"She's so cute!"
"I've never seen a Pokémon like that before!"
"That's because Mincinno is from a faraway region called Unova." I explained, kneeling beside her. "She's extremely cleanly and loves to keep things tidy."
As if on cue, Mincinno noticed a bit of dirt on a nearby table and immediately scurried over, using her tail to wipe it clean. The kids laughed in delight, some clapping in amusement.
"Wow, she's like a little cleaning fairy!"
"She's so fluffy!"
"She's also very strong," I added, rubbing Mincinno's head. "Later, I'll show you all some moves she's learned. For now, let's get started with today's camp activities."
The first half of the day went smoothly. The kids were introduced to the basics of Pokémon care, including feeding and basic training techniques. I assisted with the younger kids, making sure they weren't too nervous around Pokémon. By lunchtime, the camp was lively with laughter and chatter.
It was during the lunch break that I decided to take a short walk around the campgrounds. Mincinno was resting on my shoulder, lazily swishing her tail.
As I took a moment to scan the horizon, my eyes widened at the sight of a flock of Spearow, led by a fierce-looking Fearow, descending in our direction. I knew well that Spearow were notoriously territorial, and during migration, they became even more aggressive.
"Mincinno, we need to warn everyone!" I said urgently, turning on my heels and sprinting back toward the camp.
I pushed myself to move faster, but by the time I arrived, it was too late. The Spearow flock had already reached the clearing, and their piercing cries echoed through the air as they swooped in to attack. Fearow led the charge, its sharp beak gleaming as it dived toward the gathered trainers.
I stepped forward, eyes locked onto the Fearow as it hovered above, wings flaring out in an intimidating display. I knew how prideful Fearows were, and if I wanted to end this without a full-blown disaster, I had to appeal to that pride.
"This territory has already been claimed," I called out, my voice strong and unwavering. "If you want it, you'll have to defeat me first!"
The camp fell silent, the aides staring at me in shock while the children watched with wide eyes, their hands clenched into nervous fists. Professor Oak, however, merely observed with an appreciative nod, understanding my intent. Fearow screeched loudly, its piercing cry carrying over the clearing as it seemed to weigh my challenge. With its pride at stake in front of its flock, it had no choice but to accept.
The air grew tense as Fearow swooped down, its sharp gaze locked onto me. I stood my ground, unwavering. Mincinno leapt from my shoulder, puffing out her chest with confidence. The battle was on.
Fearow screeched and flapped its wings fiercely, sending powerful gusts of wind across the battlefield. Mincinno dug her paws into the ground, bracing against the harsh winds. I narrowed my eyes and called out, "Mincinno, use Iron Tail! Hold your ground!"
Mincinno's tail glowed a bright metallic sheen as she slammed it into the earth, anchoring herself to resist Fearow's wind-based attacks. Fearow let out an enraged cry, its sharp eyes locking onto us before diving down, its beak spinning in a lethal Drill Peck.
"Wait for it... now! Dodge and use Shock Tail!" I commanded at the last possible second.
Just before Fearow could strike, Mincinno leaped aside with incredible agility, narrowly avoiding the deadly beak. As she twisted midair, Thunder Wave crackled along her still-glowing Iron Tail, the combination of moves forming her special attack—Shock Tail. With a final spin, Mincinno brought her charged tail down in a chopping motion directly onto Fearow's neck.
A loud crackling sound echoed through the battlefield as the electricity surged into Fearow's body. The mighty bird let out a sharp screech before Shock Tail's force sent it crashing into the ground with an explosive impact, creating a crater beneath it. Dust and debris shot up into the air as Fearow's body twitched from the electric current, its wings splayed out in defeat. The battlefield went silent, the force of the attack leaving an undeniable mark on the terrain.
A stunned silence followed before the aides erupted in cheers. Even Professor Oak gave an approving nod, his eyes shining with admiration. As the dust settled, Mincinno landed triumphantly on top of Fearow, standing proudly with her tail still sparking from the battle. She puffed out her chest, ensuring everyone saw her victory as Fearow twitched beneath her, completely defeated.
I smirked, walking up to my partner. "Nice work, Mincinno. That was perfect."
She let out a proud chirp, nuzzling against my leg, fully aware of her own accomplishment.
The aides and I started doing a headcount to make sure we were all accounted for.
CRAP!!
"Professor, some of the kids ran off!" I called out to Oak, who nodded grimly.
"We need to get them back before something worse happens. Alex, take some of the aides and find them!"
"Understood!"
With that, I sprinted toward the forest, accompanied by a handful of the aides. We split up into groups, calling out to the missing children.
After a few tense minutes, I found a blonde haired girl sitting on the ground, clutching her leg. She had taken a fall, and her ankle was bruised.
"Hey! Are you okay?" I asked as I knelt beside her.
She nodded, though pain was evident on her face. "I-I tripped... I can't put weight on my leg."
I quickly assessed the injury before pulling a small first aid kit from my bag. "You're lucky. It's not broken, but you shouldn't walk on it. Here, let me help."
I gently wrapped her ankle and then crouched down in front of her. "Alright, hop on. I'll carry you back."
She hesitated but eventually wrapped her arms around my shoulders as I lifted her onto my back.
As I made my way back, I spotted someone stumbling through the trees—Ash.
"Ash? What are you doing here?" I asked, raising a brow.
He grinned sheepishly. "I was, uh, looking for Pokémon... Then I got lost."
I raised an eyebrow. "How long have you been lost?"
Ash scratched the back of his head. "Uh... since lunch?"
I froze for a second before realization hit me. That meant he had been wandering around long before the Spearow flock even attacked.
I sighed and shook my head in exasperation. "Unbelievable..."
I sighed but couldn't help smirking. "You're something else. Come on, let's get back."
With Serena on my back and Ash following, we made our way out of the forest and returned to the camp. The battle had ended, and the remaining aides had successfully repelled the flock. However, the situation had been serious—several trainers had minor injuries, and a few Pokémon had taken damage.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the camp settled into an uneasy calm. That night, we gathered around a crackling campfire.
I sat near the center, Mincinno curled up in my lap. With the tension of the day still fresh in our minds, I pulled out my guitar and strummed an acoustic melody from my past life.
Celestial (Acoustic) - Ed Sheeran (cover by Adam Christopher)
♫You see, tonight, it could go either way♫
♫Hearts balanced on a razor blade♫
Everyone turned to me as I sing. No one here had ever heard me sing before. They knew I played the guitar but my voice cut through the tense silence. Professor Oak looked almost entranced
♫We are designed to love and break♫
And to rinse and repeat it all again♫
I made eye contact with the group of children who were listening intensely to the lyrics.
♫I get stuck when the world's too loud♫
♫And things don't look up when you're goin' down♫
♫I know your arms are reachin' out♫
♫From somewhere beyond the clouds♫
Somewhere from within the trees started peeked out without anyone noticing as if entranced with the music.
♫You make me feel, Like my troubled heart is a million miles away♫
I looked down at Mincinno who was also captivated by the song I was singing.
♫You make me feel, Like I'm drunk on stars and we're dancing out into space♫
♫Celestial, Celestial♫
The tension started to settle as everyone was amazed by the song. The atmosphere almost exuded a sense of wonder as everyone was gathered under the stars.
♫I see the light shinin' through the rain♫
♫A thousand colors in a brighter shade♫
♫Needed to rise from the lowest place♫
♫There's a silver lining that surrounds the grey♫
I turned to look at the girl that I found in the forest and helped return to camp. She suddenly looked shy as she blushed and looked down.
♫When I get lost, will it come back around?♫
♫Things don't look up when you're goin' down♫
♫I know your arms, they are reachin' out♫
♫From somewhere beyond the clouds♫
The girl in question was thinking 'Is he singing about me?'
♫You make me feel, Like my troubled heart is a million miles away♫
♫You make me feel, Like I'm drunk on stars and we're dancing out into space♫
♫Celestial♫
at this something wonderous happened as the sky started to shower the night sky with flying comets as if to answer everyone's wishes but I continued to sing with a bright smile at my 1 in a million fortune.
♫We were made to be♫
♫Nothin' more than this♫
♫Finding magic in all the smallest things♫
Everyone was looking into the sky with absolute wonder at how surreal this experience was for them.
♫The way we notice, that's what really matters♫
♫Let's make tonight go on and on and on♫
♫You make me feel, Like my troubled heart is a million miles away♫
♫You make me feel, Like I'm drunk on stars and we're dancing out into space♫
♫Celestial, Celestial♫
♫You make me feel, Like my troubled heart is a million miles away♫
♫You make me feel, Like I'm drunk on stars and we're dancing out into space♫
♫Celestial♫