The sudden lurch of the truck, the screech of tires, then nothing. Darkness. And then, a strange, ethereal light. Htee blinked, finding himself not on a grimy road, but in a vibrant, sun-drenched forest. The air smelled of damp earth and blooming flowers, a stark contrast to the exhaust fumes of his previous life.
"W-where am I?" he mumbled, his voice sounding strangely young. He looked down, and instead of his usual clothes, he was wearing a simple white t-shirt and khaki shorts. His hands, too, were smaller, uncalloused.
Then, a flicker of light in his vision. A translucent blue screen shimmered into existence before him.
SYSTEM ACTIVATED
User: Htee
Location: Hoenn Region
Objective: Become the Pokémon Master.
Htee stared, dumbfounded. Pokémon? Hoenn? This was straight out of a game! As he tried to process this, another message appeared.
SCANNING ABILITY: POTENTIAL SIGHT ACQUIRED
Potential Tiers:
* Bronze
* Iron
* Diamond
* Champion
* Royal
* Legendary
Just then, a small, green gecko-like creature scampered out from behind a tree. It had a leafy tail and bright, curious eyes. Htee knew this Pokémon. A Treecko.
Instinctively, he focused on it. The blue screen flickered, and new information popped up:
POKÉMON: Treecko
TYPE: Grass
POTENTIAL: Iron
"Iron, huh?" Htee whispered. It wasn't the highest, but it wasn't the lowest either. A solid start. He watched the Treecko for a moment, then looked around. A world of possibility stretched before him. He could hear the distant cry of a Wingull, the rustling of leaves, and the faint murmur of a nearby stream. This wasn't just a second chance; it was an entirely new game, and he had a cheat code.
His first thought wasn't about vengeance or regret from his past life. It was about what kind of Pokémon he could find with Royal or even Legendary potential. The thrill of discovery, of building something truly incredible, surged through him.
The Journey Begins
Htee took a deep breath, the fresh air filling his lungs. He had no Poké Balls, no trainer ID, nothing. Just himself, a new body, and a system that promised to show him the true power of Pokémon.
He looked back at the Treecko, which was now tilting its head, seemingly curious about him. An "Iron" potential Pokémon might not be his ultimate goal, but it was a beginning. A step into this new, wild world.
The Treecko chirped again, a soft, questioning sound. Htee gave it a small, reassuring smile, then turned his gaze towards what looked like a faint, worn path through the dense undergrowth. It wasn't a paved road by any means, but it was a clear indication that others had passed this way. Civilization, and hopefully answers, lay ahead.
He began to walk, pushing aside ferns and ducking under low-hanging branches. The sun dappled through the leaves, creating shifting patterns on the forest floor. He kept an eye out for any more Pokémon, his "Potential Sight" ready, but for now, he saw only common bug and grass types, all registering as Bronze.
After about fifteen minutes of walking, the sounds of the forest began to change. The rustling of leaves gave way to the distant murmur of voices, and then, the distinct sound of a motor. Hope surged through Htee.
He broke through a final line of trees and found himself on the edge of a dirt road. In the distance, he could see a small town, its rooftops peeking above the trees. A few small houses, what looked like a General Store, and a building with a red roof that he immediately recognized from games: a Pokémon Center!
SYSTEM UPDATE:
New Location Discovered: Oldale Town
Htee grinned. Oldale Town. The first town many trainers passed through on their journey. This was real. He took a deep breath, the smell of woodsmoke and something sweet – maybe freshly baked bread – filling his nose.
As he walked towards the town, he noticed a young woman tending to a patch of berries near the road. She had vibrant blue hair and wore a white and orange shirt, a familiar sight for anyone who knew Hoenn. May. Or rather, a trainer who looked exactly like May.
Htee considered his options. He had no money, no Pokémon, and no official identity. Approaching someone directly seemed like the most logical first step, but how would he explain his situation? He was a kid who appeared out of nowhere.
He opted for a casual approach, hoping to observe first. He walked slowly, trying to appear like he was just wandering into town. As he got closer to the berry patch, he heard the young woman talking to a small, fluffy Pokémon.
"Alright, Wurmple, just a little more! These Oran Berries are almost ripe!"
Htee focused his gaze on the Wurmple.
POKÉMON: Wurmple
TYPE: Bug
POTENTIAL: Bronze
As expected. It seemed the common Pokémon were indeed at the lower end of the potential spectrum. He continued to walk past, heading straight for the Pokémon Center. It was a public place, and hopefully, someone there could help him without too many questions. He needed a place to rest, to figure out his next move, and most importantly, to understand how he could truly begin his journey to find those Royal and Legendary Pokémon.
Htee decided that finding civilization was the most logical first step. He was in a strange world, with a strange system, and he needed information. Resources. Maybe even a Poké Ball or two.
He bid a silent farewell to the Iron-potential Treecko, which watched him with its curious gaze before scampering back into the undergrowth. Htee began walking, pushing through tall grass and weaving around ancient trees, his eyes scanning for any sign of a path, a worn trail, anything that hinted at human activity.
The sun was warm on his skin, and the sounds of the forest were a symphony of chirps, rustles, and distant cries. It was beautiful, but also a little overwhelming. After what felt like an eternity, but was probably only an hour, he spotted it.
A faint, almost overgrown dirt path wound its way through the trees. It wasn't a paved road, but it was undeniably a path. Hope surged through Htee.
He followed the path, and soon, the sounds of the forest began to mix with something else: the distant murmur of voices, the faint clatter of tools, and a distinct, familiar "Pika!"
As he rounded a bend, the trees thinned, revealing a small, quaint town nestled amongst rolling hills. Wooden houses with red roofs dotted the landscape, and a few people were bustling about, some with Pokémon walking beside them. In the distance, he could see a tall, distinctive building with a red roof and a Poké Ball symbol – a Pokémon Center.
Relief washed over Htee. He hadn't just been dropped into the wilderness; he was in a populated area. Now, to figure out how to navigate this new life without looking completely lost and confused. He still had no possessions, no money, and no official identity in this world.
As he approached the edge of the town, a man with a fishing rod emerged from a nearby pond, a Magikarp flopping in his net. Htee's "Potential Sight" flared.
POKÉMON: Magikarp
TYPE: Water
POTENTIAL: Bronze
"Well, that's not surprising," Htee thought wryly. Still, it was a data point. He took a deep breath and walked towards the town, ready to face whatever came next.