In a tiny, cluttered Tokyo apartment, twenty-nine-year-old Alex sat hunched on the edge of his sagging couch, the blue light of the TV washing over his tired face. The World Coronation Series finale was in full swing—Aash Ketchum against Champion Leon. Pikachu was going all out, the crowd roaring so loud the cheap speakers crackled. For once, Alex actually felt something close to excitement. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, whispering under his breath, "Come on, buddy… you got this."
Then the pain slammed into him like a truck.
It started right in the center of his chest, sharp and vicious, spreading out in hot waves. His vision blurred. The remote slipped from his numb fingers and clattered onto the floor. On the screen Pikachu's Thunderbolt lit up the whole stadium in a blinding flash. Alex tried to draw a breath, but his lungs just wouldn't work. The last thing that crossed his mind was strangely peaceful.
Man… if only I could just walk into that world for real…
Everything went dark.
For a moment there was nothing. No sound, no feeling. Then a single clear line echoed inside his head, calm and final like a closing door.
[Major System Activation: Soul Transmigration Protocol Complete.]
[Host consciousness transferred. Original body deceased. New vessel acquired — Alex Boss, age 18, Pallet Town, Kanto Region.]
[Netori System online. All further notifications restricted to major milestones only.]
Alex's eyes flew open.
He was staring at a wooden ceiling with a small crack running across one corner. Sunlight poured through the half-open window, warm and golden, and the quilt under him smelled faintly of lavender detergent. His body felt… wrong. Too light. Too young. He pushed himself up on one elbow, wincing as a small knot in his neck popped, and that's when the memories hit him—not like a download, but like waking up from a long dream and realizing the dream had been someone else's life.
Alex Boss. Eighteen years old today. Parents gone in a car accident when he was sixteen. Just the two of them left after that, him and this quiet house on the edge of town. He'd been friends with Ash Ketchum since they were little kids—building forts in the tall grass, trading Pokémon cards on the porch, Ash always talking a mile a minute while Alex listened and nodded. Today was supposed to be the big day. The day new trainers picked their first Pokémon from Professor Oak.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up slowly, bare feet meeting the cool wooden floor. Tall, lean, black hair sticking up in every direction. When he caught his reflection in the old mirror above the dresser, the golden eyes staring back looked a little sharper than he remembered. He rolled his shoulders once, testing the muscles. Everything worked. Good enough.
A gentle breeze slipped through the window, carrying the sweet scent of fresh-cut grass and wildflowers. Outside, Pidgey were chirping like they didn't have a care in the world. Pallet Town looked exactly the way it always had in his memories—red roofs, white fences, green hills rolling under a perfect blue sky.
He padded over to the window and leaned out, elbows on the sill. That's when he saw her.
Delia Ketchum was hurrying along the little dirt path below, a wicker basket swinging on her arm. She must have been on her way somewhere, but the second she glanced up her whole face lit up with that familiar warm smile.
"Alex! There you are, sleepyhead!" she called, waving with her free hand. "Happy birthday, sweetheart! I was just coming to knock on your door. Ash and Gary left for the lab ages ago—Aash was practically vibrating he was so excited, and Gary was already talking about how he'd be Champion by dinnertime. You're the very last one, dear. Professor Oak's probably wondering what happened to you. Better hurry!"
Alex rested his chin on his folded arms, the morning sun warm on the back of his neck. He gave her the same small, easy smile the old Alex would have. "Morning, Mrs. Ketchum. Sorry… I guess I overslept on my own birthday. Thanks for checking on me. I'll head over right now."
Delia laughed, the sound light and kind. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "You and Ash have been best friends since you could walk. Make sure he calls me when you two reach Viridian, okay? And be careful out there, both of you. The world's beautiful, but it's big." She gave him one last encouraging little wave, then continued on her way, humming softly under her breath.
Alex stayed at the window a moment longer, watching her go. The memories were settling now—Ash's wild laughter, the smell of Delia's apple pie after school, the quiet nights in this house after the accident when it was just him and the creak of the floorboards. No other family. Just him, eighteen today, and a whole world waiting.
He turned back inside, dressed quickly in the clothes folded on the chair—plain black jacket, white shirt, sturdy cargo pants, comfortable boots. The empty Poké Ball belt felt strangely light around his waist. He slung the small backpack over one shoulder (a couple of sandwiches, a water bottle, a notebook) and stepped out into the sunshine.
Pallet Town was already buzzing in that cheerful, small-town way. Neighbors called hello across hedges. A flock of Taillow wheeled overhead, flashing blue and white. Over by the big oak tree in the square, Gary Oak's mother stood on the porch of their bigger house, still waving even though her son was long gone. Gary's two older sisters—both in their early twenties—were leaning against the railing, one doodling in a sketchbook, the other fiddling with a camera.
"Hey, Alex! You're super late!" the older sister called out, grinning. "Gary and Ash left forever ago. Good luck anyway—don't let them have all the fun!"
Alex lifted a hand in a casual wave. "I'll try." He kept walking, the path to the lab winding uphill beneath shady trees, Charmander's future already decided in his mind.
When he finally stepped into Professor Oak's lab, the big white building smelled like old books and faint ozone from the machines. Professor Oak looked up from his desk, adjusting his glasses with a warm chuckle.
"Alex! There you are, my boy. Happy birthday! You really are the absolute last trainer today. Ash came bursting in like a tornado and grabbed Pikachu, Gary took Squirtle right after, and they both shot off like rockets. I was starting to worry you'd changed your mind." He gestured to the single Poké Ball still sitting on the table. "Luckily we kept one back for you."
Alex gave a small polite nod. "Sorry I'm late, Professor. Ready now."
Oak smiled and tapped the ball. "Then meet your partner—Charmander."
The ball popped open in a swirl of red light. A little orange lizard appeared, tail flame flickering steady and bright, big dark eyes blinking up at him with open curiosity. It tilted its head, gave a cheerful "Char-char!" and waddled straight over to sniff Alex's outstretched hand.
The flame felt warm against his fingers, but never hot. Alex crouched down, letting the small creature bump its head against his palm. Charmander's skin was surprisingly soft, and it let out a happy little rumble.
Oak handed him the red Pokédex, five empty Poké Balls, and a thin trainer's handbook. "Take good care of each other, you two. The road ahead is full of friends, battles, and wonderful surprises. Your adventure starts right now!"
Alex clipped the Poké Ball to his belt. Charmander scrambled up his arm and settled on his shoulder, tail flame angled safely away. The little lizard felt solid and alive, like a small furnace against his neck.
He stepped back out into the bright morning. The path to Route 1 stretched ahead—tall grass swaying, distant Pokémon cries floating on the breeze. Ash and Gary were already somewhere up there, probably laughing and battling and dreaming big.
Alex adjusted the strap of his backpack, took a slow breath of the clean Kanto air, and started walking. Charmander nudged his cheek with a soft "Char," and without really thinking about it, he reached up and scratched behind the little lizard's ear.
Pallet Town shrank behind him, warm and peaceful under the sun, exactly the way he remembered it from a thousand episodes.
The journey had officially begun.