The dirt road from Viridian to Pallet, hardened by countless travelers, snaked through the forest in a gradual meander.

  Tall trees leaned in on either side, their canopies turning the morning light into a gentle green haze. The air smelled faintly of moss and sun-warmed bark, fresh in a way that city air could never compare.

  Orin walked a few paces ahead of me, nose to the ground, sniffing everything around him.

  Every so often, he'd look back, ears perking and his eyes blinking, then huff and keep going. He'd grown healthier since I'd rescued him, still small and scrappy, but his fur had thickened, and he didn't look like he'd been starved.

  The trail curved and dipped in gentle slopes. My boots left faint impressions in the dust.

  It had been two days since I'd left Vermilion.

  Hailey had managed to pull a favor and get me a teleport to Viridian's outer gate; from there, I'd decided to walk, just me, my Pokémon, and the open road.

  Pallet wasn't far, technically. You could take a bus, but walking made it feel earned.

  I smiled to myself as the forest thinned slightly, and a gentle breeze blew through the branches. Somewhere above, a Pidgey called out, its cry fading into the distance.

  I'm living the dream of a lot of people would kill for,

  I thought in amusement, A Jr. Ranger, a real team, and an invitation from Samuel Oak himself.

  And Family... I smiled softly

  Hailey stood next to the teleport platform, jacket half-buttoned, hair pulled into a messy knot. She'd stood with her hands in her pockets, trying to look unaffected, but the twitch in her jaw gave her away.

  "Got your pack? ID? Food?" she'd asked, briskly, like checking boxes on a form.

  I nodded. "Got everything."

  She glanced at me, then at the technician releasing a Kadabra. "You'll land at Viridian's southern gate. From there, it's just… walking. You'll be fine."

  I stepped closer, trying to smile. "You sound worried ~"

  Her mouth curved faintly. "Don't push it, brat."

  For a second, her act slipped, her posture softened, her eyes lost that practiced calm. She reached out, grabbed my shoulder, then pulled me into a quick hug.

  "Be safe, Arata," she said, her voice lower now. "And don't forget, I'm proud of you"

  The world had twisted a second later, and the tPhysic energy swallowed everything.

  I blinked away the memory as the forest opened wider ahead.

  A flicker of movement caught my eye.

  High above, a Spearow broke from the canopy, wings wide, the wind ruffling its feathers.

  Orin froze. The small bear's claws flexed, fur bristling, a low growl vibrating in his chest.

  "Easy," I said softly.

  His head tilted back to me, eyes still locked on the bird. The Spearow tilted its wings, angling toward us.

  My hand drifted to my belt, fingers brushing Caesar's Poké Ball, but I didn't move to throw it. Yet

  "We don't need to fight," I murmured.

  The Spearow swooped once, low enough that the air stirred against my skin. Orin's growl deepened, but I crouched, hand lightly on his back. "Hold... don't attack yet."

  He twitched, his little muscles tense, but didn't disobey.

  The bird's sharp eyes passed over us, calculating, then with a sharp cry, it pulled up, beating its wings hard and rising higher, fading back into the canopy.

  Only when it was gone did I exhale. "Good job, Orin," I whispered, rubbing Orin's fur.

  "See? Not every Pokémon wants to fight."

  He blinked up at me, then huffed and waddled forward again.

  I followed, shaking my head smiling,

  By midafternoon, the trees had begun to thin completely. The trail widened into a dirt road edged by wooden fences and long stretches of grass that swayed with the breeze. In the distance, I could see rooftops, red-tiled and small, smoke curling from chimneys.

  A weather-worn sign stood at the crossroads, its paint faded but still readable:

  → PALLET TOWN – 0.5 km

  I stopped for a moment, just looking at it.

  Pallet. Where it all began.

  My steps felt lighter after that.

  The road bent slightly, revealing a valley of gentle hills dotted with farmhouses. Wooden fences bordered plots of tilled soil, some holding Tauros herds, others fields of berries or small orchard groves. A pair of Pidgey took off as we passed, startled but not afraid.

  Orin slowed, sniffing at every fencepost, occasionally pawing at the ground.

  The town was peaceful.

  No roaring engines, no crowds moving about.

  The town center was small, built around a circular square with a fountain shaped like a Poké Ball. Kids ran around it, splashing water. A delivery truck passed, marked with the PokéMart logo.

  I approached an older man sweeping the path in front of a shop. "Excuse me," I said. "Could you tell me how to get to Professor Oak's Lab?"

  He looked up, eyes bright behind his glasses. "Ah, new visitor, eh? Keep heading south past the hill, and there you'll see a long fence and a wind turbine. That's the Oak property."

  "Thank you."

  He nodded, smiling, and went back to his broom.

  We kept walking until we passed the turbine. Ahead, a wide expanse of land opened up into rolling green fields dotted with grazing Pokémon.

  The entrance gate stood open, marked by a small sign:

  OAK RESEARCH FACILITY – Visitors Welcome

  I hesitated just long enough to take it all in and then stepped through.

  Wide, fenced paddocks spread across rolling fields. Ponyta grazed lazily in the sunlight, their flames burning low and safe.

  A pair of Rhydon lumbered through a training zone farther out, watched by two researchers holding clipboards. Near a pond, a cluster of Poliwag splashed around, supervised by another aide jotting down notes.

  "Woah…" I murmured without meaning to.

  This is surreal

  Orin let out a small noise, as one of the Rhydon let out a deep rumbling snort. I knelt and rubbed his head.

  "Not today," I said gently. "We're here to meet the professor, not pick fights with his Pokémon."

  He huffed, but leaned into my hand.

  A winding stone path led me toward the main building, a wide, white structure with clean, straight angles and huge glass windows that reflected the sky. Solar panels lined the roof. Another tall wind turbine turned lazily behind the lab.

  To the left, I saw a series of large fenced enclosures, each housing different Pokémon species. A couple of lab aides in white coats were moving between them, scanning data on tablets.

  The building itself sat at the far end of the hill, overlooking the valley, a sleek structure of white concrete and glass, clean panels, broken only by the wide terrace that faced the farmland. Solar panels gleamed on the roof, and a tall wind turbine spun lazily beside it.

  When we reached the door, I crouched and tapped Orin's Poké Ball.

  "Rest for a bit, alright? I'll call you out later."

  He blinked at me, then dissolved into red light with a tiny whirr.

  I stepped inside.

  The lobby was bright with sunlight streaming through overhead skylights. White tiles filled the lobby with screens lining the walls, displaying data I didn't understand. Researchers moved past briskly, holding tablets, paperwork, and mugs of coffee with equal urgency.

  A tall young man in a lab coat looked up from behind the reception desk.

  "Good afternoon," he said with an easy smile. "Welcome to the Oak Research Facility. Can I help you with something?"

  "Uh... yeah." I cleared my throat. "My name's Arata. I was… invited? By Professor Oak? About the Pokédex program."

  I didn't like how unsure that sounded, but the invitation email had been so vague.

  The aide's eyebrows lifted in recognition.

  "Oh! You're the Trainer from Vermilion."

  He checked something on his terminal, nodded once, then stepped out from behind the desk.

  "Right this way. The professor's expecting you."

  Expecting me... Huh

  We walked through a long hallway lined with glass panels that looked into various labs, each one busy.

  The place buzzed with quiet efficiency.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  We passed a row of closed doors before the aide finally paused and knocked twice on one of them.

  A muffled voice called, "Come in!"

  The aide opened the door and stepped aside, motioning me through.

  I took a breath, straightened my jacket, and walked in.

  Professor Samuel Oak's office was nothing like I'd imagined.

  I expected something cluttered, full of stacked papers and scattered books, but the room was tidy, organized in a way that spoke of the man's character.

  Oak himself stood near a table, examining a small monitor. He turned as the door closed behind me.

  He was older than I imagined; he had lines around the eyes, but his presence filled the room effortlessly. The sort of presence that didn't need any words.

  And when he smiled, it reached his eyes.

  "Ah... you must be Arata," he said, as though greeting someone he'd known for years. "Welcome to Pallet. I've been looking forward to meeting you."

  My throat went a little dry.

  "Uh... thank you, Professor. It's… an honor."

  He laughed lightly. "Oh, no need for stiff formality. Come, let's talk."

  He motioned toward a pair of chairs near a low table.

  I sat, trying not to seem too tense.

  Oak finally settled into the chair across from me, hands clasped loosely, posture relaxed, but his eyes remained sharp.

  "I've read your application," he said.

  My heart lurched. "The… Aura divergence theory?"

  "Yes." His smile was small but unmistakably real. "An ambitious idea. And quite refreshing"

  I swallowed, unsure of what to say.

  Oak leaned back slightly, studying me with a quiet stillness.

  "You wrote it well. Whether the theory is right or wrong is secondary; What matters is the thought behind it. And I do look for that in a trainer."

  His gaze softened, but the weight behind it remained.

  "Tell me, Arata… you're a Junior Ranger, a ceremonial post, by all accounts. So... why did you become one ?"

  Words about honour and protecting the region and serving the community rose up.

  No...

  I hesitated for a second, then answered honestly.

  "…I have three Pokémon, and Jn Rangers can own three Pokémon legally before they turn sixteen."

  Oak blinked in surprise, then amused. "Honest. How very refreshing, and the Pokedex? "

  I exhaled through my nose.

  "I want to train my team properly. And the Dex… will allow me to understand them better. I don't want to hurt them for strength."

  And maybe even help understanding my powers

  Oak's eyes warmed, like he was seeing something he'd hoped to see.

  "That," he said quietly, "is the answer I was looking for."

  He rose suddenly, motioning toward the hallway.

  "Come. Let's step outside."

  I followed him out the rear doors and onto a wide open training field behind the lab.

  Oak stopped, turning toward me with a nod.

  "Release your Pokémon."

  I unclipped all three balls without thinking.

  "Caesar. Livia. Orin."

  Light burst outward, and all three stood together under the sun.

  Caesar's massive form cast a long shadow across the grass. Livia perched next to him, wings tucked. Orin sniffed nervously but stayed close to my leg.

  Oak lost his smile.

  And he looked at them.

  His posture shifted just slightly. Not the warm professor. A veteran.

  A man who'd seen the front lines, commanded trainers, survived a war the history books tiptoe around.

  He stepped closer to Caesar first, eyes scanning tusks, and his size.

  "A Fraxure this young, this large…" he murmured. "Remarkable."

  Then Livia and then Orin, who tried to growl and ended up warbling instead.

  Oak finally looked back at me.

  "You've raised them well. Better than most trainers I've seen in the last decade."

  Pride warmed my chest.

  Then his tone shifted.

  "But need more from a trainer I give a Pokédex to."

  I tensed.

  Oak clasped his hands behind his back.

  "There is a youth camp hosted here on the estate every year for two months, beginning tomorrow. Kids aged eight to twelve come to learn the basics."

  I nodded slowly.

  "You want me to help teach?"

  "Not only teach," Oak corrected. "Supervise. Mentor. Lead activities. Handle safety procedures." A faint smile tugged at the edge of his mouth. "And be a responsible presence among children ."

  That's not so bad....

  "And if I do well," I said carefully, "you'll decide whether I'm worthy of a Dex?"

  Oak's smile widened.

  "Exactly."

  The decision wasn't hard.

  I bowed my head slightly. "I'll do it."

  "Excellent."

  He motioned toward the hill overlooking the ranch.

  "There's a guesthouse, the Ketchum Inn. You may stay there free of charge. Or, if you prefer privacy, Pallet has a hotel near the main road."

  I didn't hesitate.

  "Ketchum Inn is fine."

  Oak nodded, satisfied.

  "Your sincerity… is refreshing, Arata. Few your age carry both powerful Pokémon and humility ."

  Heat rose to my ears despite myself.

  Oak chuckled.

  "Go on now. Settle in. Tomorrow will be… lively."

  I recalled my Pokémon, thanked him, and stepped back onto the warm dirt path that led toward the cluster of buildings across the field.

  I couldn't help it, I grinned.

  The walk to the Ketchum property didn't take me long

  The Inn was nothing grand. It was quiet and peaceful.

  I followed a stone path up to the porch. The door was wide open, sunlight spilling across the wooden floor. It was … empty. No footsteps or voices.

  Just as I....

  "Mime?"

  I blinked.

  A Mr. Mime stood behind the counter, pink elbows resting primly on the desk. Its head tilted as soon as it saw me. Then it smiledand beckoned with a hand gesture that was way too human.

  "…Uh. Hi."

  I glanced around. "Professor Oak sent me to stay here?"

  Mr. Mime bobbed its head, then motioned with both hands for me to follow. I did, because refusing the psychic clown seemed like a bad idea.

  We walked through the back door and into a small orchard. Rows of Cheri and Oran berry trees glimmered like little jewels.

  From deeper inside the orchard came a voice.

  "Mime, is that you? I'm almost done with...oh!"

  A feminine voice, bright but carrying a strain of effort.

  Mr. Mime called back with a sharp, clear chirp.

  I followed the sound around a larger tree… and stopped.

  A Young woman stood on a ladder, reaching high into a canopy of berries, hair tied up loosely with strands falling around her face.

  Light summer clothes, sleeves rolled to her elbows. Soft, sun-touched skin. Her curves filled out her dress, soft where they should be, with hips that would make any guy in Kanto look twice.

  Delia Ketchum.

  She turned, smiling over her shoulder.

  "Oh! Are you the guest the lab mentioned?"

  "Y-Yeah. I'm Arata."

  Smooth, I scoffed internally.

  Her smile widened a little. "Nice to meet you! Welcome to the Ketchum Inn. Sorry... I'm just..."

  Her foot slipped.

  "...ah!"

  I moved on instinct, stepping forward and reaching up...

  But she didn't fall.

  A faint shimmer of psychic energy caught her mid-tilt, suspending her a few centimeters above my arms. Mr. Mime stood behind me, both hands raised, eyes glowing with concentration.

  Delia let out a small breath before the psychic grip gently lowered her to the ground, right in front of me.

  Close. A little too close.

  Her face flushed a soft pink as she brushed a hand over her skirt.

  "Sorry about that. I'm not usually this clumsy."

  "It's fine. I.. uh.. almost caught you."

  She laughed softly. "Almost."

  Her eyes were warm and kind.

  she was… beautiful.

  Mr. Mime crossed its arms like a protective father, giving me the side-eye.

  Delia placed a gentle hand on its shoulder.

  "It's alright, Mimey. He's a guest."

  It huffed anyway.

  She turned back to me.

  "Come on. I'll show you to your room. Oak said you'll be staying a while, so make yourself comfortable."

  I followed her down the orchard path toward the inn.

  We'll this is going to be fun