As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Reyan sat in the stillness of the early morning, the air crisp and cool around him. The campfire had long since burned down to glowing embers, casting faint warmth in the chill. Dratini lay curled beside him, still peacefully asleep, its smooth scales catching the soft light of the rising sun.
The encounter with the Guardian of the Pokémon Dimension lingered in his mind like a fading dream. Was she truthful or deceptive? He couldn't be sure. The fact that she had chosen him as her vessel was both a gift and a curse. Perhaps it meant a new power awaited him—but it also meant she could seize control of his body at any moment. That thought unsettled him.
Even more perplexing was her reaction—or lack there of—to his memories. She should have been shocked to learn that in his world, Pokémon were nothing more than fiction. Did beings like her simply view such knowledge differently? Or had she not seen that far into his mind?
He exhaled a long breath, watching it mist in the cool morning air. The answers eluded him, and there was no sense in dwelling on them now. Turning his eyes toward the distant silhouette of Viridian City, he made a decision.
For the next two days, he would stay here, honing his skills and training Dratini and the newly caught Spearow. He would be ready—for the challenges ahead and for whatever plans the Guardian might have.
Reyan took his backpack and opened it, revealing a miniaturized version of various items stored inside. Thanks to dimensional comprehension technology (DCT), the backpack could store up to 100 items and offer 5 cubic meters of space. This basic model, available to new trainers, costs 9,999 Pokédollars and is upgradable. The backpack detects living signatures, so when someone reaches inside, it won't minimize the items, making it easy to retrieve them.
He took out one of his most essential items: the 'CleanPod EX.' Designed for trainers who travel in the wild for days or months, the CleanPod EX is a compact device, roughly the size of a water bottle. It's activated by clicking the button on its cap, causing it to expand into a privacy booth with 360° privacy and durable noise-canceling holographic walls that camouflage to match the environment. Inside, it has a smart toilet, a shower and automated lights. Waste is immediately processed through molecular decomposition technology (MDT), breaking it down into harmless, odorless particles. The water is recycled and can even be generated from the atmosphere. Powered by a small, rechargeable solar cell that harvests ambient sunlight, the CleanPod EX can also be recharged at any Pokémon Centre. Nanobots inside the device automatically clean and repair it, and the waste particles are stored in waste chambers, which can later be extracted to use as fertilizer.
The CleanPod EX costs 49,999 Pokédollars, a luxury most new trainers can't afford. Reyan, however, was fortunate—his parents are at Peak of Veteran Rank Trainers and Elite Members of the Pokémon Alliance, a special rank within their organization, only of Pokemon Trainers designed to maintain balance throughout the regions. As part of this role, they receive a salary of 450,000 Pokédollars per month tax excluded, plus health insurance, life insurance, and additional benefits, including free services at Pokémon Centres. Extra earnings come from completing special missions.
After retrieving the CleanPod EX, Reyan decided to clean up his camp area. He recalled Dratini, still peacefully sleeping in his Pokéball, not wanting to attract wild Pokémon or any other potential disturbances while he shifted into the Pod. He hung his backpack on the door hook and entered the CleanPod. Half an hour later, he emerged fresh and clean, ready to continue his journey.
Reyan called out to Dratini, who slowly awoke with a huff, clearly irritated. She was a female, as confirmed by the Pokédex, though Reyan hadn't been able to tell at first glance. She turned her head, likely frustrated by the confines of the Pokéball, even though the Pocket Space Technology (PST) ensured that it provided a comfortable environment for any Pokémon. However, Dratini, being a dragon-type, had a natural aversion to being caged.
"Sorry, Dratini, but it's for your safety. Unless we become stronger, you won't be able to come out as easily. I can't risk losing you," Reyan said, his tone apologetic. "So, until then, please bear with it, and let's train to become the strongest partners ever."
He kneeled down and offered a fist bump to Dratini, who paused and looked him in the eyes for a moment. She seemed to consider it before gently nodding in agreement. Reyan smiled, relieved. Together, they moved to prepare breakfast. He spread out a mat under the shade of a large tree, laying out the special Pokémon food he had brought for Dratini, knowing it was costly. He had enough for a month, but he would need to figure out what to do once it ran out, considering how important it was to keep her well-fed.
Reyan also pulled out some bread, honey, dry fruits, instant coffee, a bottle designed to make cold and hot water and an energy bar for himself. As they ate quietly, the sounds of wild Pokémon nearby soon reached their ears. A group of baby Rattata appeared, drawn in by the smell of their food. Reyan, sensing the situation could become dangerous, grabbed his taser gun from his extra pocket of his pants, a tool capable of incapacitating a Peak of Basic Rank Pokémon.
It didn't take long for the wild Raticate to appear, likely the mother of the Rattata. With a precise shot, Reyan managed to strike it, and the ensuing shock made it stagger back and then unconscious. The baby Rattatas, afraid of the situation, tried to retreat, but Dratini, disturbed by the commotion, unleashed a small Twister, scattering the group of wild Pokémon.
Reyan sighed, knowing that the Raticate and her babies were only trying to survive in the wild, but they couldn't afford to risk their safety. After finishing their breakfast, Reyan decided to move on. He left some food near the unconscious Raticate, hoping it would help.
They reached a lake, where Reyan planned to set up camp and train for the next two days.
Before Reyan released Spearow, he took a deep breath and surveyed his surroundings. The area around the lake was peaceful, but he was aware that wild Pokémon, particularly other Spearow, could be nearby. He hesitated for a moment, weighing the risk of releasing the newly caught Spearow into the wild. He didn't want to give it a chance to call for help from its wild counterparts. Finally, deciding it was time to face the challenge, he released Spearow from its Pokéball.
The moment it appeared, Spearow shot out of the ball, flapping its wings wildly. Its sharp eyes glared at Reyan with anger and distrust, its body still tense from being captured. In a flash, it lunged toward him, intending to attack. Reyan reacted quickly, dodging the charge, but before the Spearow could make another move, it suddenly froze up, its muscles seizing in place as the paralysis from his earlier tactics took effect once again.
Spearow struggled in vain, its body still stiff, unable to move. The hunger in its eyes was evident, its small chest heaving with frustration. Reyan knew that the Pokémon's anger wasn't just from the paralysis—it was also from its hunger and the lingering resentment of being caught. But he wasn't going to give up on it just yet.
He crouched down, pulling out some of the common Pokémon food he had brought along. He knew that this food was far better than what the wild Pokémon typically ate, and he hoped that it might help ease Spearow's ire. He held it out, keeping his voice calm but firm, "Look, Spearow, I know you're angry, paralyzed, and hungry. And I won't deny that I did this to you. But here's my proposal—stay here, in this wilderness, paralyzed and starve to death, or join me and my adventure to become the greatest and strongest Pokémon Trainer of all time. Just think of becoming the strongest Fearow, and of course, you'll always have good, tasty food."
Spearow initially struggled with the words, its eyes still flashing with anger. But as Reyan mentioned becoming the strongest Fearow, a flicker of interest passed over its face. The mention of tasty food seemed to catch its attention as well. The wild Pokémon's eyes widened, its earlier hatred momentarily replaced with a starry look of longing. Reyan chuckled inwardly—sometimes, even the harshest of creatures could be swayed by the simple promise of food.
Reyan took out a Paralysis Potion and sprayed it on Spearow, easing the effects of the paralysis. He then followed it up with a Super Potion to help heal the damage from their earlier confrontation. Once the Pokémon was free to move again, Reyan allowed Spearow to eat freely, watching as it devoured the food with enthusiasm. Reyan's heart lightened as he saw the Pokémon relax, at least for now. They were starting to bond.
Just as Reyan was about to sit back and enjoy the moment, a piercing scream reached his ears, making his heart leap into his throat.
"IS THAT DRATINI???"
Reyan's eyes widened in shock. He cursed under his breath, realizing his mistake—he had let his guard down, forgetting that they were near the city and that this lake was known to have varieties of water pokemon and attract Pokémon Trainers. He had become too comfortable. And now, someone had seen Dratini.
In a moment of panic, Reyan quickly turned to find the source of the scream. It wasn't long before he spotted a familiar face—a girl with fiery orange hair, teal eyes, wearing a wears a yellow tank top that reveals her midriff, red suspenders, denim shorts that stop at her thighs and red high top sneakers with yellow lining and white laces while giving a confident stance.
'Shit, it's Misty Waterflower.'
Reyan's mind raced as he recognized her. Misty was one of the heirs to the Cerulean Gym, and her father, Tide Waterflower, had been a Mid Veteran Rank Trainer. However, he had gone missing a few years ago, leaving the gym under the care of Mother but she became mentally ill after overstressing herself. Now Misty's sisters run the gym. It was only a matter of time before Misty would return to take over the gym herself, as it was her destiny to restore it to its former glory.
Reyan quickly assessed the situation. He hoped Misty wouldn't cause trouble, but he knew she was a serious trainer. If she had seen Dratini, things could get complicated. His hand instinctively reached for the taser gun, though he hoped he wouldn't need to use it. Misty's reaction would determine what happened next.
Misty's POV:
Misty Waterflower was 18 years old and had recently reached Advance Rank Trainer status, a prestigious accomplishment at such a young age that required her to have three Low Advanced Rank Pokémon. She was proud of her team, which included the likes of Starmie, Vaporeon, and Gyarados are at Low Advanced Rank. Her other Pokémon, such as Poliwhirl, Horsea, and Psyduck, were all Mid Intermediate Rank, but they still had their uses.
Today, she was taking a rare moment of peace before returning to her duties. Having come from the Indigo City, the heart of the Kanto Region's Alliance headquarters, where she had completed all the necessary tests to become an official Gym Leader, Misty now only needed to show her certification to her sisters and relieve them of the burden of running the Cerulean Gym. With that done, she could finally take her place at the helm.
However, before heading to Cerulean City, she decided to take a break by the lake near Viridian City. It was the perfect spot to clear her mind before the responsibility of leadership weighed her down. But as she walked along the shore, Misty was caught off guard by something she hadn't expected to see— a handsome teenage boy, probably a rookie Trainer, with black hair and grey eyes. He was crouched near a Spearow, feeding it, seemingly unaware of his surroundings.
But it wasn't just the boy that caught her attention—it was the creature beside him. A Dratini. The sight of that dragon-type Pokémon sent a rush of excitement through her chest.
"IS THAT A DRATINI?!"
The words slipped from her mouth without hesitation. She couldn't help it—Dratini was an extremely rare Pokémon, one that could evolve into Dragonite, a pseudo-legendary. Its power was just below that of third-tier legendaries. The thought of such a rare Pokémon made Misty's heart race, especially since Dratini was something few people had the privilege of seeing, let alone training.
The cost to purchase a good Dratini from the Blackthorn Clan was astronomical, and the chances of finding one in the wild were nearly impossible. It was the kind of Pokémon that attracted poachers, rogue Trainers, or even Team Rocket members, all of whom would go to any lengths to capture it.
Misty narrowed her eyes, assessing the situation. The boy seemed oblivious to the value of what he had. He was focused on his Spearow, but Misty noticed he was vigilant, his hand instinctively reaching for a taser gun, as if anticipating trouble. She smirked, noting that even a rookie Trainer had some sense.
She stepped forward, confident in her own experience. "If it was another bad person, they would've already killed you by now and taken your Dratini, you know." Her voice was sharp, but it was also laced with a hint of amusement. "Hmph! Is this how you behave to someone who gave you advice? Moreover, I'm Misty Waterflower, soon-to-be Cerulean Gym Leader." She tilted her head slightly, sizing him up. "What about you, Rookie? Are you from some young master of a wealthy family or clan who came here to play with your Dratini just to flaunt it to others?"
She stood tall, her hands resting on her hips as she waited for the boy's response. Misty wasn't going to let herself be intimidated, not by a rookie Trainer or anyone else. If he wasn't careful, this Dratini might just be taken from him by someone more skilled—or someone with a darker purpose.
Misty's POV ended.
Hearing Misty's words, he couldn't help but think of those arrogant young masters from the xianxia or wuxia novels he used to read in his past life. A few key phrases rippled through his mind like: "fatty," "jade beauty," "Mount Tai," "fortuitous encounter"… He let out a small chuckle, unable to suppress the thought.
Unfortunately, that chuckle was all it took to push the already irate Misty over the edge. Her face darkened, and she began marching toward him with her fists clenched, clearly ready to throw a punch. He winced, knowing full well his taser wouldn't do a thing against her. She had just claimed she was about to become the Gym Leader of Cerulean City, which meant she was at least an Advanced Rank Trainer. Her physical strength alone would far surpass that of an ordinary human—certainly enough to leave both him and his Pokémon in a very bad state.
His instincts screamed at him to de-escalate. Technically, it was a crime for a Pokémon Trainer to attack another outside of an official battle, but this wasn't a sanctioned battle, and they weren't in a region where the law could easily intervene. He knew he had to play this smart if he wanted to maintain any sort of good relationship with her.
Throwing his hands up in a gesture of surrender, he quickly offered a hasty apology, lowering his head slightly to show he wasn't looking for trouble.
"Wait, wait! I wasn't laughing at you, I swear," he blurted, his voice quick and earnest. "It's just… something you said reminded me of a novel where these over-the-top young masters always think they're untouchable. You know, like when they shout, 'You dare not recognize Mount Tai?!' And then they immediately get their teeth kicked in by someone stronger."
Misty paused mid-step, her anger momentarily giving way to confusion. "Mount Tai? What's that supposed to mean?"
He relaxed just a little, sensing an opportunity to smooth things over. "It's like a mountain back in that story's world. But in those novels, it's a way of saying, 'How dare you not know how great I am?'" He gave a sheepish smile. "It's funny because they always end up humiliated right after."
Misty blinked, her fists slowly unclenching. A small, reluctant smirk tugged at her lips. "So… you're saying I'm like one of those arrogant young masters?"
"No! Not at all!" He shook his head furiously. "I meant the situation, not you. You're way stronger—and definitely way beautiful and cooler—than any of them."
She let out a soft chuckle, crossing her arms and eyeing him with a mixture of amusement and lingering irritation. "Hmph. You're lucky I have a sense of humor. But next time, watch yourself."
He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, grateful to have escaped unscathed—for now.
Reyan quickly recalled his already-stomach-full Spearow and alert Dratini back into their Poké Balls. He sighed, realizing he had gone a bit overboard with the whole thing today. He then invited Misty to his campsite, setting up a small table with two chairs, and brought out the one high-quality tea pack from the Johto Region that his mother had gifted him on his 15th birthday. He had promised himself he would savor it alone, but now it seemed like he was going to have to share.
Misty's eyes widened as she recognized the tea. "Hey, isn't that tea from Johto? Last time I had that, I was a kid… My dad bought it for me…" Her voice trailed off, the mention of her father making her mood shift subtly.
Reyan immediately regretted his choice of drink, cursing inwardly. It seemed like every time he tried to lighten the atmosphere, he managed to bring up something that dampened it instead. Dammit, Reyan, why can't you think before acting?
But it was too late now. The kettle was already boiling, so he took a deep breath and decided to try to ease the situation.
"Yeah, it's from Johto. I haven't introduced myself properly, though. I'm Reyan Sylvaris, 15 years old, and a Rookie Trainer from Pallet Town, sponsored by Prof. Oak. The Dratini you saw? It was a gift from my parents, per Prof. Oak's recommendation. Apparently, I have exceptional compatibility with Dragon-type Pokémon. And the Spearow—well, that's the first Pokémon I ever caught." He gave her a slight grin. "My goal is to become the greatest Pokémon Trainer of all time."
Misty raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Heh, 'greatest Pokémon Trainer of all time,' huh?"
Reyan couldn't help but laugh, realizing how grandiose his words must have sounded. "Yeah, I know, it sounds like something straight out of a cheesy movie, right? The kind where the hero says, 'I will be the strongest there ever was!' and then proceeds to trip over their own feet during the first battle."
Misty's smirk widened into a full-blown grin. "Well, as long as you don't trip over your own feet while challenging me, I guess I can give you a pass on the 'greatest' thing."
Reyan chuckled nervously, the tension between them easing a little. "I'll do my best to avoid any embarrassing moments like that. Wouldn't want to make a fool of myself in front of the future Cerulean City Gym Leader."
Misty scoffed playfully. "Future Gym Leader, huh? Don't think I'm going to go easy on you just because you're a rookie."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Reyan replied, a confident smile forming on his face as he prepared the tea.
"So, what do your parents do? I don't think any normal parents can buy a Dratini only through the recommendation of the Professor," Misty asked, her voice sounding almost casual, but with a hint of curiosity, as she sipped the tea Reyan had prepared. It was good—refreshing and calming.
Reyan gave a slight nod. "Well, they're Elite Members of the Alliance," he said, his tone neutral. He too sipped his tea, a small smile flickering on his face as his thoughts briefly turned to his mother.
Misty raised an eyebrow. "I see, that's understandable. Now that I think about it, are you the son of Zian and Aisha?" She set her cup aside after finishing it quickly, her gaze fixed on him.
Reyan blinked, clearly surprised. "Huh? How do you know?" he asked, a mix of curiosity and mild caution in his voice. He set his own cup down as well.
Misty crossed her arms, her gaze sharp and knowing. "You're quite famous on the rookie trainer page of the Kanto Trainer site, though your image wasn't there. As you live in Pallet Town, close off to others. More importantly, your parents are well-known—only a step away from Elite Rank Trainers. But as you know, the Alliance limits the number of Elite Ranks per region to maintain balance between humans and Pokémon. So, they can't exactly buy high-quality materials to rank up their Pokémon to Elite status. If they were traveling trainers, they could move between regions, but your parents stayed in Kanto. Their growth has been... stagnant for years now, probably because of your birth."
Reyan paused, processing what she said. "Hmm," he replied, his expression unreadable, his mind drifting for a moment.
Misty shifted slightly, watching him carefully. "And you're going to be targeted by a large group of people—both good and bad. It'll be your job to figure out how to handle them."
Reyan hummed thoughtfully, the weight of her words sinking in. "Hmm."
Misty's voice softened just a little, though the authority remained. "Also, you can call me Misty, even though I'm older than you. But I'll call you Rey since you're younger. So here's my advice: Let me become your mentor. I'll train you for today and tomorrow. That way, I can at least say I was the first mentor of the greatest Pokémon trainer of all time, should you ever become one."
Reyan let out a small laugh, shaking his head in amusement. "Hahahaha, so you're going to claim that title, huh? You're confident, I'll give you that, Misty. But... becoming the greatest Pokémon trainer of all time? That's a pretty lofty goal of mine."
Misty smirked, her eyes gleaming with determination. "You have to aim high if you want to achieve greatness, Rey."
Reyan paused for a moment before replying, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, alright. You've got a deal, Misty. Train me for the next couple of days. But don't expect me to just hand you that title of the 'First Mentor'."
Misty nodded, clearly pleased with his response. "You'll be surprised what a little bit of guidance can do."
Reyan leaned back in his chair, a casual smile on his face. "We'll see, Misty. We'll see."
And just like that, the challenge was set—a mentor and her student, a bond forged in the fires of training. Neither of them knew where this unexpected mentorship would lead, but it was clear that their paths were now intertwined in a way neither could ignore.