In my past life, I was just an ordinary person living a normal college life on a planet called Earth. As far as I remember, I didn't cause any major trouble—I just went about my days studying music, working out, and playing games for fun. Out of all my hobbies, the one that stuck with me the most was Pokémon.
Back on Earth, Nintendo was a big part of my childhood, and while I played plenty of games—like The Legend of Zelda and the Mario series—nothing made me smile as much as Pokémon. I have these hazy memories of picking up the console, moving it around, putting it down, then picking it up again. It's funny how something so simple feels so distant now, like a moment I'll never get back.
Pokémon wasn't just a game—it was a huge part of our culture. The whole idea was raising these little digital creatures, training them, and going on adventures. Cute ones like Pikachu made the game even more special.
Honestly, I'd call it the game of my life. I spent more time on it than anything else. And the last thing I remember before my past life ended? Catching one more Pokémon.
One day, while wandering through a thick forest, a sharp pain split through my skull. And then—I remembered.
The truth crashed over me: This was my second life. This was the world of Pokémon, a place I had only known as a game back on Earth.
A storm of emotions raged in my mind—confusion first, swirling like fallen leaves in the wind. Then, as if a tempest had passed, the chaos gave way to wonder. And then, joy.
A world where humans didn't just live alongside ordinary animals, but with Pokémon.
If given the choice—a smog-choked city of steel or a vibrant world alive with creatures like Pikachu and Eevee—I'd pick this one without hesitation.
And yet, it was all so sudden. My thoughts felt fractured, like a mirror dropped mid-reflection. I stood there, numb, just breathing, trying to piece together what was real.
A story from my past life floated to the surface—Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up. Back then, I'd read it and felt nothing but childish whimsy. But now? Now I understood.
Growing up on Earth, I'd envied kids—their freedom, their ability to laugh without weight. There were days I wished I could shrink back into that simplicity, to act spoiled and carefree just one more time.
But here… maybe I could.
Was it mere luck that brought me to the Pokémon world in my second life?
I hadn't even considered it a divine blessing—not at first.
But as I stood there, taking in my new form, I couldn't ignore the strangeness of it all. My hair, pale as polished jade, fell in soft, powdery waves. My reflection stared back—a girl who seemed plucked from a summer's daydream. "A beauty with crimson eyes," someone might say.
Then, like a dam breaking, forgotten memories surged forward, and with them came something I hadn't felt in years—a desire to live. Not just exist, but thrive. The journey I'd abandoned in my past life… maybe I could start it anew here.
For the first time in what felt like eternity, I had a purpose.
As the numbness faded, the world sharpened around me. The damp earth beneath my feet, the crisp scent of pine and moss—it all felt alive. And so, did I.
"I'm looking forward to this."
My pulse quickened at the thought of meeting faces I'd only known through a screen. Red, the silent hero who started it all. Pikachu, the electric-hearted icon of a generation. Blue, the rival who stood just one step short of glory.
And beyond them—gym leaders testing my strength, the Elite Four guarding their thrones, champions who'd carved their names into history. Even the shadowy factions lurking in the corners of this world.
This wasn't just a game anymore.
It was my life. I gazed up at the winged Pokémon circling overhead and the curious eyes peering at me from the treetops, my mind adrift in uncertainty.
Was this the animated world I'd glimpsed in passing? The pixel-perfect regions from the games? Or something entirely unfamiliar—a place untethered from the stories I knew?
If this were the anime, I'd be at a disadvantage. My knowledge of Pokémon came mostly from games, not Ash's journeys. I'd only absorbed fragments—heated online debates, fleeting spoilers. Like the outrage after the Kalos League, when Alain's victory over Ash sent fans into an uproar. That much had been impossible to miss.
A game world would be far more convenient. Trainer-friendly systems, accessible items…
Wait.
My fingers brushed against my sleeve. Something felt off. I tugged back the fabric, revealing a sleek black device strapped to my wrist—something akin to a smartwatch, but sharper, more advanced. Its surface hummed with unfamiliar technology, a single button gleaming on its side.
Instinct took over. I pressed it.
A hologram flickered to life in the air before me, displaying a grid of familiar creatures—a digital Poké Box, floating in empty space. Strangely, no one else seemed to notice it.
Logically, I should have been used to this by now. But each time I saw it, echoes of my past life resurfaced, sending a shiver down my spine.
This wasn't just technology.
It was a bridge—between who I'd been, and who I was becoming.
My fingers hovered over the holographic display, trembling slightly as I tapped the arrow beside "Box 1."
Row after row of familiar faces materialized before me—partners who had fought by my side across countless battles. I scrolled endlessly through the digital pages, each swipe revealing more companions from my past life.
They were all here. Every generation, from Kanto's rugged trails to Galar's glittering stadiums. Yet conspicuously absent were the legends—no Mewtwo slumbering in Cerulean Cave, no Rayquaza coiled atop Sky Pillar.
In games, I'd captured them all. But this world operated by different rules.
Mythical and legendary Pokémon existed beyond human reach, bound by duty to their domains. Guardians of balance, keepers of order—their isolation wasn't cruelty, but necessity. Though I remembered every location where they dwelled, I understood: some forces aren't meant to be wielded, only revered.
A quiet laugh escaped me. Wasn't it enough that I had these loyal partners? To crave legendries too would be the height of greed.
Memories washed over me like watercolors—vibrant, blending, transforming the monochrome of my confusion into something brighter. I tilted my head back, drinking in the boundless blue sky. The clarity above mirrored the peace settling in my chest.
With a deep breath, I made a silent vow:
It's time to chart a new journey.
My first question burned brighter than any other: Is this truly the game's world?
If so... that meant Red might be out there somewhere. Just the possibility sent electricity through my veins. Though I had no proof, my heart had already decided—this had to be the game universe. Anything without Red's silent, cap-wearing presence would feel... incomplete.
A foreign energy surged through me, wave after wave of prickling warmth. It wasn't unpleasant—more like sunlight breaking through winter clouds, urging dormant things to grow. I surrendered to it, this undeniable change.
The Pokémon world had always been about human protagonists (Mystery Dungeon aside). Yet here I stood—not a trainer, not a hero, but something... other.
Then the transformation began in earnest.
Muscles rippled beneath my skin as gravity's pull lessened. My arms flailed uselessly—then melted into my shifting form. The ground shrank beneath me as my perspective warped, colors and textures rearranging across my expanding body.
When the chaos settled, I beheld my new self:
A serpentine form coiled with power, adorned with spiral horns glowing like dawnlight. My hide bore the fierce markings of some primordial beast—vermillion and onyx stripes running vertically, flanked by slate-gray plating. Where legs should've been, dagger-like spurs jutted crimson and sharp, while a draconic ridge traced my spine like a blade forged in shadow.
I was no longer human.
I was evolution incarnate.
I stared at my reflection—a towering shadow with glowing red eyes and jagged wings. The truth hit me all at once.
A dry laugh escaped me.
"Huh. So, I'm Giratina now."
It made sense—the strange power humming in my veins, the way the air bent around me. Once a Pokémon trainer, now the very legend I used to chase.
I flexed my claws, curious. This... could be interesting.