The problem with being a multi-dimensional traveler, I realized, was that you didn't always have a game plan. Sure, I knew how this whole Pokémon thing worked in theory—catch 'em, train 'em, collect badges. But in practice? Not so much.
I glanced around the forest. Exactly not a good place to start my path to be a Pokémon Master. Or is it?
Anyways, before everything else time for some prep.
I reached into my Celestial Inventory and pulled out a small leather slingbag. It was compact but surprisingly stylish. Perfect for holding some essentials. At the same time allows me to blend in, I mean I can't exactly use my inventory in front of other people. I also made sure to fill it up with essentials,
I slung it over my shoulder, feeling the weight of it settle comfortably, and gave it a quick once-over. A couple of compartments, a decent strap.
I also pulled out a simple pokeball belt strap. I strapped it around my waist, I'd make sure to fill this belt up. Because, of course, I would need more than just Zephyr. How else was I supposed to become the greatest trainer ever?
Six Pokémon, maybe a few more—that should do the trick.
Anyway, I wasn't planning on using my abilities unless absolutely necessary. Or maybe? I don't know depends on the situation. I was here for vacation, after all.
"Alright," I muttered, "Time to make this official."
With a snap of my fingers, I summoned it.
A sleek, state-of-the-art Pokédex, shining with a soft glow. It wasn't just any regular Pokédex, though. Oh no, this was the ultimate version.. Modified to hold all functions of every existing Pokédex in the omniverse, with access to every Pokémon, every ability, every stat. It had everything.
A portable, all-knowing encyclopedia of everything I could ever need for this journey.
I call it the Ulti-dex.
"Ta-da!" I held it up letting the screen flash to life. "Meet the Ulti-Dex, our new best friend."
Zephyr tilted his head, clearly unimpressed.
"Alright, let's see what we're working with. "
Zephyr (Pidgey)
Type: Normal/Flying
Level: 5
Ability: Keen Eye (prevents accuracy from being lowered)
Moves:
Tackle
Sand Attack
I stared at the screen. Solid starter stats. Not flashy, but not weak either. Classic underdog material.
There were more options below—IVs, EVs, attributes, natures, held items, etc but for now they don't matter yet.
"This is good. Not bad," I said quietly, eyes still on the Ulti-Dex screen. My mind was already racing with ideas—different ways to improve Zephyr's potential. Maybe a little genetic enhancement, some ability fusion… even a Devil Fruit, that'll work.
I shelved the thought for now. First, though—we had to get out of this damn forest.. And of course, the old-fashioned way.
I glanced down at my gear again—everything was in place. Bag? Check. Belt? Check. The Ulti-Dex tucked safely away? Check. I was officially ready.
—
It didn't take me long before I found a road that led me to civilization.
Viridian City.
Then it hit me.
Route 1. I had just walked the entire stretch between Pallet Town and Viridian City without even realizing it. That little forest? The one where I arrived in? That had been the starting line. The place where so many journeys began.
Route 1. The Beginning of Everything
What are the odds?
Coincidence? Maybe.
I stepped into the Pokémon Center, and yeah—wow. The difference between fiction and reality? It hit. Hard. Like, I knew what to expect. I'd seen it in the anime, in the games. But standing here, actually here? It was something else entirely.
My inner child was doing cartwheels. My outer adult? Awkwardly trying to pretend I wasn't on the verge of fangirling.
Then I saw her.
Nurse Joy.
She looks exactly like in the anime—rosy pink hair, crisp uniform, voice like a lullaby wrapped in professionalism. That same unshakable calm, like she hadn't spent her morning dealing with a Psyduck having an existential crisis or some poor rookie bringing in a barbecued Bulbasaur.
Oops. I think I stared too long.
"Welcome to the Pokémon Center," she says, smooth as ever, her voice that perfect blend of warm and professional. "How can I help you today?"
I flash her a grin and hand over the Poké Ball like it's no big deal. "Just caught it. Figured it'd be smart to get my Pidgey checked up. Gotta keep him in top shape, y'know?"
Nurse Joy smiles politely, nodding like she's heard this a hundred times before. "We'll have him good as new in no time."
"Thanks, Nurse Joy. You're a lifesaver,"
I give a casual nod and turn to go sit in the waiting area, but before I can make my escape, she stops me. "Actually, I'll just need to see some identification before we proceed."
I pause. ID? Right. Standard procedure, I guess. No biggie.
I reach into my bag and I pull out a sleek, metallic card.. It's a multiversal ID, courtesy of my Celestial Inventory, and it pretty much guarantees I'm good to go no matter what world I end up in. As of right now, I am from Aiden Leonhart from the Paldea Region.
"Here you go."
"You are from Paldea? Thats a long way from here. What brought you here?"
"I'm here on vacation." I flashed her a grin.
"I see. Hope you enjoy you stay here"-.
A quick beep, and she hands it back.
"All set,"
Anyways, after that.
I was kind of disappointed.
I guess I'd been expecting the whole "just drop the Poké Balls in the machine and poof, Pokémon healed!" moment, like in the games. Nice, neat, and super efficient. But nope. Reality check: it's not that simple.
The whole healing process felt more like... a doctor's checkup. They take the Pokémon in the back, poke and prod them, make sure everything's in order—like an actual medical evaluation.
While I was waiting for Pidgey to finish its check-up, I found myself thinking about my next move. And then it hits me—there's only one path ahead of me now.
The gym challenge.
I mean, being a farmer, a breeder, a ranger—all those jobs sound pretty cool. But as a die-hard Pokémon enthusiast, the thought of taking down every gym and competing in the League? That's where the real excitement lies.
After a few moments, Nurse Joy called me back to the counter.
"Your Pidgey is perfectly fine. Rather, he's in excellent condition."
"Thanks. I really appreciate it. Oh, and I've been meaning to ask, I'm planning to take on the Gym Challenge here in Kanto. Is there some kind of procedure or registration I need to go through?"
"Ahh. Yes. Just hand me your ID again, and I'll get you registered in the League System. Once that's done, you'll be officially eligible to challenge gyms across the region."
"That easy?"
"Yep."
I hand over my ID, half-expecting her to suddenly pull out a Pokémon quiz or something, but nope. Just a few clicks, a cheerful ding, and I'm in.
"Thank you, Nurse Joy."
As I step out of the Pokémon Center, I think about my next step. So, it's settled. Time to train and catch my next Pokémon.
I already have an idea of who to catch next, a little cat-monkey-pig with some serious anger issues. If my game knowledge holds up, this troublemaker can be found in the area surrounding Viridian City.
Mankey and Primeape have always been some of my favorite Gen I Pokémon. And don't even get me started on Annihilape. The final evolution? Chef's kiss. It's like the developers knew exactly what we wanted and gave it to us in spades. Well, in my opinion.
With that in mind, I head west of Viridian.
It doesn't take long before I spot movement in the trees—a flash of brown fur and a loud screech.
There it is. A Mankey, looking like it's in a bad mood, as usual. Perfect.
I let Zephyr, my trusty Pidgey, out of its Pokéball. It flaps its wings and perches on my shoulder
Time to battle.
The Mankey growls at me, ready to fight.
"Zephyr, let's go!" I say, and the Pidgey hops off my shoulder, wings flapping in the air.
The Mankey charges, slashing with its claws. "Dodge, Zephyr!"
Zephyr quickly swoops to the side, just avoiding the attack. I grin. "Nice! Now, hit it with Sand Attack!"
Zephyr kicks up a cloud of dirt, sending it straight at the Mankey's face. The little monkey stumbles back, temporarily blinded and growling in frustration.
It doesn't take long before Mankey charges again, this time with a Low Kick aimed at Zephyr's legs.
"Watch out!" I shout.
Zephyr leaps into the air, avoiding the kick by inches.
"Tackle, now!"
Zephyr slams into Mankey with full force, sending the angry monkey stumbling back. Mankey's clearly exhausted, but it's still glaring at us, unwilling to give up.
"Zephyr, one more time! Tackle!"
Zephyr darts forward with surprising speed, slamming into Mankey one last time. The monkey stumbles, its energy completely drained. It lets out a frustrated screech before dropping to the ground, too tired to keep fighting.
I pull out a Luxury Ball from my bag. "Time to make you part of the team," I murmur, tossing the ball.
It hits Mankey with a soft click, and the ball wobbles once, twice, three times before it settles. Got it.
I smile, satisfied with my first pokemon battle. The battle may have been simple compared to what I faced in Earthland, but it was enough to remind me that these Pokémon battles? They're a whole different kind of fun.
Zephyr chirps happily from my shoulder, and I glance at the Luxury Ball in my hand.
I pull out my Ulti Dex and scan the Luxury Ball, watching as the screen lights up with my new Pokémon's details.
Pokémon: Mankey
Level: 7
Type: Fighting
Ability: Anger Point
*Moves:
Scratch
Leer
Low Kick
Fury Swipes*
Not bad. It's a bit higher than Zephyr.
Mankey's definitely got some power to it, though. But from what I know, Pokémon in the wild are usually weaker compared to those trained by a Trainer.
I let Mankey out of its Pokéball, wanting to have a word with the little guy. It's still hurt from the battle, so I pull out a Full Restore from my bag and spray it over the angry monkey.
Full Restore really does work like it does in the games. One quick spray, and Mankey's already looking a lot better, his wounds vanishing almost instantly. The change is immediate—his posture straightens, and his energy seems to come rushing back.
"Man!" Mankey grumbles, clearly ready for round two. He's back to his old fiery self. How cute.
I chuckle to myself, watching the Mankey bounce around. Just as I'm about to say something, I hear a chirp from Zephyr.
"Pidgey!"
I glance at my two Pokémon and, to my surprise, I can kinda understand them. Not word-for-word, but there's something in the way they're communicating, the intent behind their sounds. It's like an unspoken conversation.
Mankey's asking for a rematch with Zephyr, no surprise there. But Zephyr's having none of it. The little bird puffs up, looking very proud, and from the way it chirps, I can tell exactly what it's saying.
"You're still weak. You don't have the right to challenge me again." Pidgey chirps with a touch of arrogance, as if the victory's already decided.
"Mah mah, don't fight, you two," I say, trying to play peacemaker.
Pidgey falls silent, but Mankey? Not so much. The little guy's practically vibrating with rage, his fists clenched, ready to go another round. I forget how unruly monkeys can be at first.
Sighing, I rub my temples, regretting my decision to catch this fiery little creature. "Mankey, relax. You've got your fair share of battles ahead of you, trust me. And you, Pidgey..."
Pidgey chirps, a sound that almost feels like a smug little acknowledgment. Like, "Yeah, yeah, I know I'm the better one."
Mankey's still hopping around, all energy and fury. I raise an eyebrow. "You're not even listening, huh?"
I think for a moment, then smirk. "Alright, from now on, you're 'Sun.'"
Mankey pauses mid-swing, looking at me like I just said something weird, but then he grins. He seems to like it. Guess he's got a thing for the legendary monkey king vibe.
I clap my hands together, hoping to regain some semblance of order. "Alright, enough squabbling. Time for a training montage!" I announce, striking a pose like I'm about to direct an epic sports film.
Zephyr tilts his head. "Pidgey?" He's looking at me like I've lost it, and maybe I have.
Mankey, on the other hand, immediately starts bouncing around in circles, hyped up like a toddler on sugar. "Man! Man!"
I sigh and cross my arms. "Yeah, yeah. You're ready, I get it. But before we get to the training, let's work on... not attacking your teammate every five seconds."
I watch as Mankey, or Sun now, bounces around, hyped and ready for whatever crazy training I throw at him. Zephyr's already perched on my shoulder, looking like he could care less about any of this, but at least he's not trying to pick a fight anymore.
I take a deep breath and survey the scene. "Alright, let's get started with something simple. Zephyr, try not to knock Sun out with your tackle this time."
Zephyr lets out a chirp that's practically a laugh, while Sun just stares, his face scrunched in determination. They're both raring to go, even if one of them doesn't quite know how to play nice.
For the first time today, I feel something I haven't in a while—peace.
I stand there, taking in the moment.
It feels... good. I'm not thinking about anything else. Not the Fairy Tail guild, not the chaos back home, and—surprisingly—not Alma.
As the sun dips below the horizon, I smile. Maybe this decision isn't so bad after all.
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