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Chapter 1: A Rocky Start and a Voice in the Wind
The sun rose lazily over Pewter City, painting the stone-paved streets and weathered rooftops in a golden glow. Nestled at the edge of the towering gray cliffs, the city woke with its usual calm. But for one ten-year-old boy, this morning was anything but ordinary.
Jay stood at the window of his room, watching a flock of Pidgey glide past. His hands trembled slightly—not from fear, but anticipation. His reflection in the window showed a face that didn't quite match the soul inside. This body's name is Jay, he reminded himself, and today's the day everything changes.
Behind him, his room looked half like a museum exhibit and half like a kid's dream—rock samples, fossil models, books on ancient Pokémon, and a neatly folded backpack sitting on the bed. His parents, both fossil researchers, were already out at the excavation site north of the museum. They had left him a note and a warm breakfast, but most importantly, they'd left him a final gift.
Pinned to the note was a small badge: a trainer's license.
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Ten minutes later, Jay was standing in front of the Pewter Gym's massive stone doors. The building was quiet, but not deserted. Inside, he was greeted by a gym assistant—an older teen with spiky brown hair and a friendly grin.
"You must be Jay," the assistant said. "Brock told me to get you ready."
He handed Jay a Poké Ball without ceremony. "This one's got a good head on its shoulders. Won't give you trouble."
Jay accepted it with both hands, feeling the familiar buzz of power ripple through the capsule. "Thanks."
As the assistant walked him out, he added, "Remember, most kids get their Pokémon from the Center, but you're lucky your parents helped us with fossil dating. You've got Gym-level trust. Don't waste it."
Jay smiled faintly. I won't.
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Outside, under a tall pine tree, Jay pressed the button.
A flash of red light, a rumbling sound—and there it was. A Geodude floated before him, arms crossed, eyes steady.
"Hey there," Jay said calmly. "I'm your trainer now."
The Geodude nodded. Not exactly warm, but not hostile either.
"Let's do our best."
Geodude floated closer and bumped its rocky fist lightly against Jay's hand. A sign of acceptance.
Jay felt a strange warmth in his chest—and then everything changed.
> System initialization complete. Host recognized.
Activating Trainer Simulation Support System…
Scanning environment… 1 km radius.
Ready.
Jay blinked. "What…?"
A translucent circular radar lit up in his vision. Objects glowed faintly on it—colored dots scattered around the city.
> Detected: Poké Ball (85m northwest), Potion (110m east), Hidden Object (Camera Device – 127m southeast).
Jay's heart raced. A system? Like… a game system? His thoughts scattered, memories of his past life on Earth flooding in. This was real. His reincarnation wasn't a dream—and now, it came with tools.
> Only you can see, hear, and access system interface. Scans refresh upon movement or every 30 minutes. Tracking usable, undamaged items only.
Jay steadied himself. "Alright. Let's check out that camera."
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It took fifteen minutes to reach the spot—a narrow trail behind the museum, lined with shrubs and scattered stones. Jay pushed aside some overgrowth and found a half-buried, rust-stained metal shed. The radar beeped again.
Inside was dust, old training mats, a rusted weight rack—and a tripod. On it sat a weathered camera with a cracked screen, still blinking faintly.
He picked it up and pressed the side button.
Whirrr…
A video flickered to life. A gruff-looking man in a gym uniform stood in a rocky field, a Machop and Growlithe at his side.
> "Lesson One," the man's voice echoed. "Quick Attack isn't about just running fast. You have to use your whole body like a coiled spring. Channel Normal-type energy from your core to your limbs—then explode in one motion."
Jay's eyes widened. "Combat breakdowns…"
He fast-forwarded. More videos. More techniques. Real battle theory. Explanations on how to read moves, train Pokémon from the outside, and even teach move variations. This was more than a lucky find—it was a treasure.
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As Jay left the shed, his system pinged again.
> Alert: Wild Pokémon activity – Meowth detected – 63m east.
He followed the signal carefully. Behind the museum's garbage zone, next to overturned crates, he found her.
A Meowth, limping slightly, one ear torn. She growled when Jay stepped closer, baring her fangs.
But Jay didn't move in aggressively. He knelt down and pulled a small pouch from his pack—leftovers from breakfast, and a healing potion.
"It's alright," he said softly. "I'm not here to fight."
The Meowth twitched. Her nose sniffed the air. Hunger warred with suspicion.
Jay gently rolled the food her way. Then uncapped the potion and sprayed it on a visible scrape near her hind leg. She flinched—but didn't run.
They stared at each other for a long moment.
"…You don't have to come with me," Jay whispered, "but you'll be stronger if you do."
Meowth limped forward, picked up the food—and then, after a pause, sat beside his foot.
Jay smiled and took out a Poké Ball.
"Let's try this."
Click.
The ball wobbled. Once. Twice. Ping.
> Meowth caught.
Jay let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
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That night, as the sky turned purple and orange, Jay sat at his desk back home. The Poké Balls of Geodude and Meowth rested beside the glowing screen of the old camera.
He played the first lesson again, this time taking notes.
"Whole-body movement... energy channeled through core... tail stabilizes turn speed..."
This wasn't just about being a trainer anymore.
He had a system.
He had two Pokémon.
He had real techniques.
And tomorrow, he would register for the Kanto League.
The journey had begun.
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End of Chapter 1
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