Jake woke to silence.
The first thing he noticed was the ceiling. Not the cracked drywall he'd stared at every morning in his cramped apartment, but wooden planks—smoothly polished, the faint lines of grain catching the light. Sunlight spilled through half-drawn curtains, striping the room in gold.
The second thing was the smell. Not the faint, dusty tang of city air, but something cleaner—wood, grass, and the faint sweetness of flowers drifting through an open window.
The third was the undeniable truth: none of this was his.
He shot upright, heart hammering.
"What the…?"
The bed creaked under his sudden movement. His eyes darted around—bookshelves lined with neatly stacked volumes, a small dresser, a sturdy desk under the window. Old-fashioned furniture, the kind you'd expect in a countryside inn. Nothing like home.
Panic buzzed through his chest. Did I… black out? No, I don't even drink. Did I hit my head? Am I in a hospital?
Then—his reflection.
In the window's glass, a boy stared back. Dark brown hair. Familiar eyes. But not the same. Too young. Fifteen, maybe sixteen.
Jake stumbled back. "No. No, no, this isn't—"
Memories slammed into him. Running barefoot across grassy fields. A woman's voice calling him in for dinner. Long afternoons talking about the day he'd finally leave Pallet Town to begin his Pokémon journey.
Pokémon.
The word pulsed in his mind like a heartbeat.
"No," Jake whispered. "That's impossible. That's a game. A show. It's not—"
But the memories didn't stop. His two lives tangled together—late nights grinding in Emerald, watching Ash stumble through Kanto, reading fan theories about Champions. And now, memories of chasing Pidgey out of gardens, listening to Professor Oak's lectures at the community hall, arguing with Gary Oak at the edge of town.
He clutched the desk, knuckles white. His breaths came sharp and uneven.
This isn't just a dream. It's real.
But with that realization came fear. If wild Pokémon weren't pixels or cartoon sketches… then they were predators. A Beedrill's stinger could pierce his chest. A Fearow's talons could rip him apart. Team Rocket, the Elite Four, Champions… none of it would be safe.
A voice drifted up from downstairs, grounding him in the moment.
"Jake! Breakfast is ready!"
His legs felt heavy as he moved.
The kitchen glowed in morning light. At the stove stood a woman with brown hair tied in a loose bun. She turned, smiling warmly.
"Morning, Jake. You're up early."
Jake froze. His throat tightened. Her face was both unfamiliar and yet achingly familiar—the mother this world had given him.
"…Morning," he croaked.
She set a plate of toast and eggs on the table. "You must be excited for tomorrow."
His fork paused midair. "Tomorrow?"
She chuckled. "Your journey, of course. Professor Oak's got the starter Pokémon ready. You, Gary, Ash… and that girl from Viridian." She waved a hand. "Can't remember her name. But what a year for Pallet—four trainers at once."
The words landed like thunder.
He managed a weak smile. "Right… tomorrow."
Her brow furrowed slightly. "You're pale. Cold feet?"
Jake forced a laugh, though his stomach twisted. "Just nerves."
Her expression softened, then grew firm. "Remember—no wandering into tall grass before then. Not without a partner Pokémon. Wild ones are dangerous. You remember what happened to Mr. Yamamoto's Tauros."
Jake's appetite vanished. He chewed slowly, the toast turning dry in his mouth. This wasn't the cartoon world of endless adventures. Beneath the sunshine, there were claws and fangs and things that could kill him.
But tomorrow, he'd have answers.
---
By midday, Jake stood before Professor Oak's laboratory.
The dome-shaped roof gleamed in sunlight, and Pidgey scattered from the eaves as he approached. Inside, the scent of books and humming machines filled the air.
"Ah, Jake!"
Professor Oak emerged, white coat flapping as he strode forward, smiling warmly.
"Curious, are you? Sneaking a peek before tomorrow?"
Jake hesitated. "I… guess so."
Oak chuckled. "Perfectly natural. This year will be one of Pallet's finest. Four new trainers setting out at once—it makes me proud."
Jake's pulse quickened. "The others… it's me, Gary, Ash… and someone from Viridian?"
Oak nodded. "A girl, yes. Rare, but not unheard of."
So it was true. A piece the anime never showed.
Jake's heart pounded. He needed one last piece of proof.
"Professor… after the Indigo League… what happens? Who do you face at the very end? Is there a… Champion?"
Oak's eyes narrowed slightly, studying him. Then he nodded. "Yes. The Elite Four guard the Plateau. Defeat them, and you may challenge the Champion. Why do you ask such a strange question?"
Jake exhaled, tension leaving him all at once. It was both. Anime and game. A world with Ash's dreams and the Champion's shadow.
The lab doors banged open.
"Hey, old man!"
Gary Oak strolled in, all confidence and sharp eyes.
"Gary," Oak sighed. "Right on time."
Gary smirked at Jake. "So you're part of the batch too. Figures."
Jake met his gaze. Calm, even. "That's right."
"Don't bother getting your hopes up," Gary sneered. "Tomorrow I'm taking the best Pokémon. The rest of you can fight over scraps. You'll be eating my dust before Viridian."
Jake tilted his head, lips curving faintly. "Careful, Gary. Pride's a heavy weight to trip over."
For a heartbeat, Gary's smirk faltered. Then he scoffed. "We'll see who's tripping. Try not to embarrass Pallet."
The door slammed behind him.
Oak shook his head with a weary chuckle. "Don't let him get under your skin. He works harder than he lets on."
Jake said nothing. His mind whirled.
---
That night, he sat at his window, the horizon burning orange and crimson. The air hummed with distant birdcalls. In the distance, a Fearow shrieked, sharp and wild.
Today had shattered any doubts. This was real. This was Pokémon.
And tomorrow, it began.
Jake's fists tightened on his knees. He wouldn't let himself be overshadowed. Not by Gary's arrogance. Not by Ash's recklessness. He wasn't here to play by the script.
A thin, determined smile curved his lips.
"Alright," he whispered, eyes locked on the stars blooming above Pallet Town. "If this world is real… then I'll win. No matter what."
The Fearow's cry echoed again, carrying into the night.
And Jake's new journey began.