The dusty roads of Pallet Town were much shorter on the way back. Two days after the fateful encounter in the woods, the Summer Camp had officially wrapped up, and a small parade of tired but happy children made their way back to the heart of town.
I had already stopped by the local pharmacy and photo center to get my pictures developed. I made sure to hand Serena a special envelope. It contained the group shot of the three of us, but more importantly, it had a set of "candid" shots of her and Ash from right before I'd interrupted. The look of pure, blushing joy on her face when she saw them was worth every cent of the development fee.
Soon, I found myself back where I had started: standing at the entrance of the massive windmill-topped Oak Laboratory. Only this time, I wasn't ringing the doorbell as a stranger; I was walking in as a colleague.
"Well then, Julian," Professor Oak said, hanging up his lab coat as we entered the main research hall. "I'll be relying on your guidance from now on regarding the Fairy-type data!"
"Guidance?" I laughed, waving my hands dismissively. "I wouldn't dream of it, Professor. I have a basic understanding of the new typing, sure, but you're the legend here. I'm the one who's going to be pestering you for tips and tricks!"
The next week was a blur of caffeine, late-night data entry, and heated debates over the breakfast table. Talking to Samuel Oak was like having a direct line to the Pokémon Encyclopedia. While I knew the "stats" and "moves" from my previous life, Oak knew the soul of Pokémon. He knew why a Slowpoke's tail tasted sweet and the exact humidity required for a Bellsprout to thrive.
"Julian, I have to tell you, I've benefited immensely from our time together," Professor Oak said one afternoon, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. "It's a real pity you're set on the Sinnoh League. If you stayed here for a few months, we could revolutionize the Kanto Pokedex together!"
"Thanks, Professor. I've learned more here in a week than I did in a year of reading textbooks," I replied sincerely.
Through our discussions, I'd finally managed to map out exactly how this world categorized Trainer strength. It wasn't just about badges; it was about a fundamental shift in how you commanded a battlefield.
New Trainer: Just got their starter. They usually spend most of their time looking at the Pokedex and wondering why their Pidgey won't stop hitting itself in confusion.
Beginner Trainer: They've snagged a badge or two. Usually the "pity" badges from Gyms designed to test basics.
Official Trainer: This is the real hurdle. These are trainers who can take down the fifth or sixth Gym in a region through sheer grit and strategy.
Superior Trainer: The heavy hitters. These guys are the ones you see in the Top 8 or Top 4 of a regional League conference.
Gym Leader Level: A massive category. It ranges from "local town hero" to "borderline Elite." It's a watershed moment; most trainers hit a wall here and never climb over it.
Elite Four Level: The regional troubleshooters. They handle the "end of the world" scenarios and criminal syndicates that the police can't touch.
Champion Level: The apex. To sit on that throne, you have to beat the Elite Four in a gauntlet. It's a level of power that defies logic.
"I'll be glued to the screen during the Sinnoh League, Julian. Do your best," Oak said, his eyes twinkling. "But are you sure you won't reconsider the Indigo Plateau? Kanto has a certain... charm."
I felt a bead of cold sweat roll down my neck. "Kanto... uh, maybe next year, Professor. I think I'll stick to the snowy north for now."
I wasn't lying. Kanto, in its current state, was a total madhouse. Looking at the "Lineup of Gods" running the Gyms right now made my skin crawl. If Sinnoh was a professional sports league, Kanto was a gladiator pit.
Think about it:
Pewter Gym: Brock's dad is still there. He's a grizzled veteran who doesn't believe in "going easy."
Cerulean Gym: The sisters are new, sure, but they're unpredictable.
Celadon Gym: Erika. She's basically a Grass-type General. In the manga version of this world, she's practically Elite-level.
Vermilion Gym: Lt. Surge. An actual retired Major from the Unovan army. He doesn't "battle"; he conducts military operations.
Saffron Gym: Sabrina. A psychic who can literally boost her Pokémon's power with her mind and turn people into dolls. No thanks.
Fuchsia Gym: Koga. A ninja master. Enough said.
Cinnabar Gym: Blaine. A former Elite Four member who got bored and decided to hide in a volcano.
Viridian Gym: Giovanni. The "Earth" himself. Even if he's hiding his Team Rocket identity, his power level is documented as Champion-tier.
Who in their right mind would walk into that lineup? I complained internally. And then there's the Elite Four. Kanto didn't have a Champion because the Elite Four were too busy in a four-way stalemate. Agatha could beat everyone but Lance. Lance could smash everyone but Lorelei (because Ice-types melt dragons).
Lorelei could beat Lance and Bruno, but Agatha's ghosts gave her nightmares. And then there was Bruno. Poor Bruno. He was the punching bag of the group—the guy who was "only Elite Four level" while the other three were effectively "Champion level." Whenever they fought, it was basically a three-way tie with Bruno getting kicked out of the room first.
It was such a mess that the League had to invent the "Pokémon Proficiency Test" just to give trainers a way to get into the tournament without being traumatized by Sabrina or Surge.
I'll stay in Sinnoh, thanks, I thought. At least Cynthia is polite while she's destroying your dreams.
"Oh, and Julian," Professor Oak said, interrupting my mental rant. "I almost forgot. I have a thank-you gift for your help this week. I think it's time."
He stepped into a back room and returned a moment later carrying a sleek, temperature-controlled incubator and a small velvet pouch containing two glowing Shiny Stones.
"I noticed your Floette is getting quite strong. She'll need a high-grade stone to reach her final form, so I pulled these from the League's research stash. And this—" he tapped the glass of the incubator, showing a beautifully patterned Pokémon egg. "His parents were exceptional. I think he'll fit right in with your team."
I stared at the egg. The markings were distinct—soft colors, sturdy shell. I recognized it immediately. Coupled with the two Shiny Stones, Oak's intention was clear. He was giving me a Pokémon that would eventually need that second stone.
"Professor... this is too much," I said, my voice thick with gratitude. "A Roselia egg? And two high-grade stones?"
"Nonsense!" Oak laughed, waving his hand. "Your insights on the Fairy-type genetic markers saved me months of work. These are small tokens of my appreciation. Now, the egg should hatch in about two or three days. I suggest you stay here until it does. Traveling with an unhatched egg is a headache, and I'd love to see the little fellow's first moments."
I looked at the egg, then at Sylveon, who was sniffing the incubator with curiosity.
"I think you've got a deal, Professor. I'm not in any rush to leave Pallet Town anyway."
"Excellent! Then let's get back to that theory on Dragon-type resistance!"
I smiled, settling back into my chair. Between a legendary Professor, a Mythical cat, and a new life-long friend, Kanto wasn't so bad after all—as long as I stayed away from the Gyms.