Clink!
"To the Fairy King! Long may he sparkle!"
Laughter erupted through the Sandgem Research Lab as a dozen glasses—filled to the brim with chilled, sparkling Grepa Berry juice—clinked together. The atmosphere was electric, a far cry from the quiet, dusty silence that usually defined the facility.
"Please, Marcus, stop with the 'King' stuff," I groaned, though I couldn't keep the grin off my face. "It's embarrassing. I'm just a guy who happened to fall through a hole in the sky and noticed that some Pokémon were pinker than they were 'Normal.'"
"Modesty doesn't suit a man who just rewrote the global curriculum, Julian!" Marcus laughed, taking a long swig of his juice. "Do you realize the chaos you've caused? The League had to reprint three million textbooks last month. Every student from Kanto to Kalos is currently cursing your name because they have a whole new set of type-matchups to memorize for their finals."
I winced, thinking of the poor kids in Pokémon tech schools. "Yeah, I've seen the forums. Apparently, I'm the 'Final Boss' of homework now. Some guy in Goldenrod City sent me a letter saying I owe him for the ink he used to cross out 'Normal' and write 'Fairy' on his Togepi notes."
A year. It had been exactly one year since I woke up in the mud of Eterna Forest.
In that time, my life had shifted from a confused survival story to a whirlwind of academic stardom. I was no longer "the amnesiac kid." I was Doctor Julian Reed, the youngest licensed Pokémon Researcher in the history of the Sinnoh League. Not only had I officially classified the 18th type, but I had also shattered the glass ceiling of Eevee evolution by introducing the world to Sylveon.
As if on cue, a soft, ribbon-like feeler wrapped around my wrist. I looked down to see my second partner, Sylveon, looking up at me with soulful, sky-blue eyes. Her bows fluttered in the light breeze, and her fur was so white and soft it looked like spun sugar.
She had hatched from an egg I'd requested for research purposes—a special Eevee with the rare Anticipation ability. In the games, Anticipation just let you know if the enemy had a scary move. In reality? It meant she had "danger senses" that were off the charts. When she evolved, that sensitivity transformed into the Pixilate ability, allowing her to turn any "Normal" sound or strike into a devastating burst of Fairy energy.
"She's a beauty, Julian," Professor Rowan said, stepping away from a group of visiting scholars to join us. He looked older, perhaps a bit more tired, but his eyes were bright with pride. "The discovery of Sylveon's evolution method—friendship and the mastery of a Fairy-type move—has opened doors we didn't even know existed."
"She's more than a research subject, Professor," I said, scratching Sylveon behind her long, rabbit-like ears. She leaned into my hand, purring like a kitten. On my head, Flabébé let out a jealous "Pei!" and tugged on my hair.
"I know, I know! You're still the captain of the team," I laughed, reaching up to give Flabébé a gentle pat.
As the party began to wind down, Rowan led me toward the balcony overlooking the sea. The sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the Sinnoh sky in shades of violet and gold.
"So," Rowan began, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "The papers are signed. The Fairy-type is law. Your villa is paid for. You could stay here for the rest of your life, Julian. You could become my lead associate. You'd have a comfortable life, a massive salary, and all the instant noodles you could pretend not to eat."
I looked out at the ocean. I could see a flock of Wingull heading toward Iron Island in the distance.
"I think my research is done for now, Professor," I said softly. "I've spent a year in a lab coat, looking at screens and blood samples. But when I look at Flabébé and Sylveon... I see more than data. I see a world I haven't actually seen yet."
Rowan nodded, as if he'd expected this since the day I woke up. "The heart of a Trainer. It's a restless thing."
"I want to see the ecosystems for myself," I continued, my voice gaining excitement. "I want to see how Fairy-types live in the wild, how they interact with the legends. I want to feel the dirt of the road, not just the tile of the lab. I want to earn my place as a Trainer, not just as a 'Doctor.'"
"Spoken like a true pioneer," Rowan said. He reached into his coat and pulled out a high-tech, sleek black Pokédex. "I've already upgraded this for you. It's a Master-Level unit. It has maps of all the major regions, a direct link to my database, and the highest clearance level available. Consider it a parting gift."
He also handed me a belt of empty, high-grade Poké Balls. "Take these. I'm very curious to see who you'll choose as your next companions. When one life meets another, something new is born. A famous woman once said that, and I believe she was right."
"Cynthia," I whispered. "The Champion."
"Indeed," Rowan smiled. "Go find out what the world has to offer you, Julian. But remember—if you find yourself eating gas station snacks every night, my kitchen is always open. And for the love of Arceus, keep me updated on your team's progress."
That evening, the backyard of my villa was lit by the moon. It was a beautiful, expansive space I'd converted into a private training ground.
"Okay, girls! Let's focus!" I shouted, standing in the center of the grass. "One more round before we pack our bags!"
Sylveon stood on one side of the field, her ribbons swaying rhythmically. Flabébé hovered on the other, her blue flower glowing with a soft, internal light.
"Sylveon! Disarming Voice! Give it everything you've got!"
Sylveon opened her mouth, and a beautiful, haunting melody filled the air. But this wasn't just music; it manifested as a shockwave of pink, circular energy rings that rippled through the grass, vibrating with enough force to shatter glass.
"Flabébé! Use the Counter Shield! Spin it!"
This was a trick I'd "borrowed" from my memories of Ash and Dawn. Flabébé began to spin like a top, but instead of just a gust of wind, she projected a Fairy Wind that spiraled around her like a protective dome.
The Disarming Voice slammed into the spinning pink shield. The energies clashed, creating a spectacular display of light and sound—sparks of glitter flying in every direction. Flabébé held her ground, the centripetal force of her spin deflecting the sonic waves upward into the night sky.
"Perfect!" I cheered, clapping my hands. "Take a break, you two. You've earned it."
Teaching them the Counter Shield had been a nightmare of dizzy Pokémon and sandy clothes. When Sylveon was still an Eevee, her Sand Attack would get everywhere. I'd spent countless hours in the bathroom, meticulously brushing sand out of her fluffy neck fur while she looked at me with apologetic eyes. But now? Now they were a team.
The Journey Begins
An hour later, I had my bags packed. I sat on the rooftop of my villa, the cool night air of Sandgem Town smelling of salt and pine. Sylveon was curled up in my lap, her ribbons draped over my arms like warm silk. Flabébé was perched on my shoulder, humming a quiet tune.
"Do you remember that Pinsir, Flabébé?" I asked, looking toward the distant shadow of Eterna Forest. "The day we met? I thought I was a goner."
"Pei-Pei," she chirped, nudging my cheek. She remembered. We had come a long way from two lost souls in a rift.
I looked at the map on my Pokédex. Tomorrow, I'd be heading toward Oreburgh City. My first Gym Badge. My first real step into the professional Trainer circuit. I wasn't just a fanfic reader anymore; I was a protagonist in a world that felt more real than my old life ever had.
"The Sinnoh League," I whispered, the words feeling heavy and exciting. "The Contests. The legends. We're going to see it all."
Sylveon let out a soft, melodious trill—the "Sylveon speech sound" that always felt like a blessing. Flabébé let out a determined cheer.
"Alright," I said, standing up and looking at the horizon. "Get some sleep, girls. Tomorrow, we stop being researchers... and we start being legends."
As the stars twinkled over the Sinnoh region, I felt a sense of peace I hadn't known in two lifetimes. I had a home to come back to, a Professor who believed in me, and two partners who would walk through fire (or Dragon Breath) for me.
The journey was finally beginning.