c1: Pokémon World
"Brother, it's almost time, the sun is setting, let's go back."
The speaker was a little girl who looked to be five or six years old. Her clothes were heavily patched. In her dirty little hands, she held a basket containing some Sitrus Berries.
"Alright, let's go back. Yan must be hungry, right? Here, eat this."
The one who replied was a young boy, holding three pink, peach-like Sitrus Berries in his hand, which he handed to the little girl.
The young boy was Alexander Yuèxià, 15 years old this year, a transmigrator.
Two years ago, Alexander's predecessor, a young man from Blue Star named Liu Chuang, died unexpectedly and transmigrated into this body. This body had succumbed to poisoning after being bitten by an Ekans while foraging on a mountain—one of many wild Pokémon known to be aggressive when defending their territory.
After Liu Chuang awoke, he became Alexander. Relying on his memory, he stumbled down the mountain and found his home again.
When Alexander first transmigrated, he had no idea where he was.
It wasn't until he saw several Rattata scavenging near the roadside and Pidgey gliding across the dusk-lit sky that he began to understand.
As the memories in his mind gradually settled, he finally realized that this was the Pokémon World,not just the anime, but a world closer in tone to the manga, particularly the Pokémon Adventures series, where danger was very real and survival wasn't guaranteed.
Back on Blue Star, Alexander had played Pokémon games obsessively and followed the anime. But the manga grittier, more intense, and brutally realistic had left a stronger impression. He loved the creatures and the adventures, but never thought he would one day become part of this world.
Alexander held the little girl's hand and walked down the rugged trail with the supplies they had collected.
The little girl was Alexander's younger sister, Yuèxià Yan. She was 7 years old this year.
Because of long-term malnutrition, she looked much younger than her age.
When Alexander first arrived in this world, Yan had been on the brink of starvation at home.
Had it not been for his efforts over the past two years, she might not have survived.
In this world, Alexander only had two remaining relatives: his sister and their mother.
He had once belonged to a prestigious family, one with ties to a minor Trainer guild. But internal power struggles led to his father's death.
Following that, the rival faction exiled the remaining family members—Alexander, his mother, and his sister giving them nothing but contempt and expecting them to quietly disappear.
But their mother, He Zi, refused to surrender.
Despite tremendous hardship, she fought tooth and nail to keep her children alive—taking whatever work she could find, and often walking miles to the town for day-laborer jobs.
As they spoke, the siblings arrived at what they called home.
It was little more than an abandoned storage hut near a stream, barely sheltering them from the elements.
Their mother had gone to the nearby Viridian Town during the day to find cleaning work.
At home, Alexander cared for his sister. Together, they often scavenged the surrounding hills for items of value mostly Berries.
"Brother, Mom hasn't come back yet. I'll go prepare dinner first. You can sort the Berries."
After speaking, Yan quickly removed her worn shoes and ran barefoot toward the nearby stream to wash the Sitrus Berries.
The stream beside the house made water collection easier—a small grace in an otherwise unforgiving environment.
Alexander sat on a flat stone, opened the basket, and began sorting their collection.
Today, they had been fortunate. Among the harvest were Sitrus, Oran, Pecha, and even one Lum Berry a rarity due to its high healing properties.
The Lum Berry alone could fetch 100 yuan from a PokéMart or local Healer.
Altogether, they had around thirty Berries. Each common Berry like Oran or Pecha typically sold for 20 yuan. This haul would cover food for three days assuming no unexpected events.
But not all of it could go toward food.
Alexander had a deeper purpose: to become a Pokémon Trainer.
In this world unlike in the games or anime not every ten-year-old could start a journey. The manga made it clear: without resources, connections, or innate talent, children couldn't just walk into Professor Oak's lab and receive a starter Pokémon.
Red, Blue, and Green had all shown exceptional promise trained privately, or backed by mentors. They were exceptions, not the rule.
In the real Pokémon world, Starter Pokémon were bred and distributed by the League, reserved for children of trainers, researchers, or government workers.
If one didn't belong to a sponsored group or a known family, one had to catch a Pokémon on their own.
Even then, you needed to register as a Trainer, which cost 20,000 Alliance currency, not including the Pokédex license, which cost 100,000 nearly five years' income for a commoner.
To treat a Pokémon at a Pokémon Center, the cost was 200 currency per visit. Only League-backed Trainers received free care.
Raising Pokémon was even more expensive. Poké Balls, food, medicine, gear—all required money. Wild Pokémon injuries could be fatal without the proper supplies.
In this harsh reality, ordinary people were discouraged from becoming Trainers unless they had powerful backers.
But Alexander believed in effort. In the manga, Red caught his first Pokémon, Poliwhirl, with nothing but guts. Blue studied under Professor Oak. Even Gold had to steal a Cyndaquil to begin though he later redeemed himself.
Alexander wasn't naïve. He wasn't expecting a miracle encounter with a legendary. He only wanted a fighting chance.
Now at fifteen, the last legal age to register without requiring a recommendation, he was determined.
But before any of that, he needed a Pokémon.
Then he would need to apply to the Alliance, pay the fee, pass the basic survival assessment, and acquire a license.
Only then could he begin the journey to reshape his destiny.
He could then challenge the Gyms. As long as he earned a Gym Badge, he could register for the Alliance Tournament. If he placed well in the tournament, Alexander might finally change the fate of his mother and sister.
However, every step in this world was steeped in hardship. Even most ordinary families struggled to support a Pokémon. So how could someone like Alexander, who barely kept food on the table, hope to raise one?
But Alexander never gave up. Since fate had given him a second chance through transmigration, he would seize it. He would grit his teeth and press forward—no matter how difficult the road.
Just as Alexander was sorting through the Sitrus Berries, he suddenly heard Yan's startled cry from the riverbank.
His heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, he dropped the basket and sprinted toward the sound.
There, he saw a Rattata, baring its fangs and hissing at Xiao Yan. The greedy rodent clearly had its eyes on the berry she held in her hands.
Alexander didn't think. He grabbed a sturdy branch nearby and rushed in front of his sister, waving it and shouting.
The Rattata, startled by Alexander's sudden charge and fierce demeanor, hesitated, backing off a few steps but it didn't run far. Its eyes still gleamed with hunger.
Suddenly, a white blur streaked between them. A Meowth landed in front of the Rattata, fur bristling. With a deep, warning Growl, the feline Pokémon stepped protectively in front of Yan.
Startled, the Rattata hesitated for only a moment more before darting into the tall grass, fleeing.
Of course. Mice fear cats. Alexander stared in surprise at the Meowth. Its body was slim but agile, and its eyes held a glint of sharp intelligence.
Meowth turned its gaze toward Alexander and Yan, its expression calm, even friendly.
Yan walked forward slowly and gently patted Meowth on the head. Meowth narrowed its eyes contentedly and gave a low purr.
This Meowth was no stranger. It had wandered through the town outskirts before, often near their home. Alexander and his sister had once saved its life.
A few months ago, Meowth had likely been hunting near the river and slipped on a mossy rock, falling in. Yan had been the first to notice it struggling, and Alexander had quickly used a stick to haul the soaked cat from the fast-moving water.
Ever since, Meowth had made frequent appearances around their home—sometimes lurking on the roof at night, sometimes napping in the sun nearby. It had, in its own way, become part of the family.
Alexander let out a long breath and smiled at Meowth. "Thanks, Meowth."
"Meow~" Meowth replied lazily, flicking its tail.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps approached. Alexander looked up and saw his mother returning from town. Today, fortune had smiled on her the family she worked for had paid her a little extra and even gifted her a bundle of old clothes.
Yan ran over joyfully, holding her mother's hand and excitedly recounting Meowth's brave intervention.
Their mother smiled gently, brushed her daughter's hair aside, and turned to bow her head slightly in thanks to Meowth. The Pokémon tilted its head and gave a low meow, almost as if acknowledging her gratitude.
Alexander showed her the day's harvest—the sorted berries laid out in the basket. She nodded, pleased, and praised both children before heading inside to unpack her bundle.
That evening, under the glow of firelight, the family shared a modest meal—mostly wild greens, dry bread, and a few of the less valuable Berries. Meowth, as usual, sat nearby and gnawed on a peeled Sitrus Berry slice.
As they ate, their mother recounted her day. Then, with a smile, she took something from her cloth sack something that made Alexander's eyes widen.
It was a Poké Ball.
"Alexander," she said softly, "this Poké Ball was given to me today by the family I worked for. Their son received his first Pokémon and registered as a Trainer. They were celebrating. Along with my pay, they gave me some old things—clothes, a worn backpack, and this Poké Ball. It looks old, but I checked. It still works."
Alexander stared at the red-and-white capsule in awe. This ball a simple, mass-produced item—was worth 500 yuan, more than they could spare for something not related to survival.
He had secretly been saving toward one for months. A Poké Ball was the very first step in becoming a Trainer. Without one, even if you managed to subdue a Pokémon, you couldn't capture it.
Now, one had landed in his hands by a stroke of fortune.
"Alexander," his mother continued seriously, "I know you want to become a Trainer. It's the best path for someone like you. But you must know this road is harder for us than for anyone else. We have nothing to fall back on. You'll have to work twice as hard, endure twice the pain. You have to make it. For yourself, for Yan, for me. I believe in you."
She held out the Poké Ball.
Alexander's hand trembled slightly as he accepted it. Its surface was scratched and dull from age, but it clicked softly as he tested the latch. Still functional.
After dinner, Alexander sat outside the house, gazing at the star-studded sky. He held the Poké Ball gently, almost reverently, in his hands.
In the manga, Red had captured his own Pokémon without formal training. Gold had stolen Cyndaquil but later earned recognition. Even Blue, gifted and brilliant, had trained relentlessly under Professor Oak before beginning his journey.
Alexander wasn't them. But he had something they didn't: desperation.
He had to succeed. He had to give his sister a better life. He would become a Trainer.
Early the next morning, Alexander rose before the sun. Clutching the Poké Ball tightly, he stepped outside.
He stood silently on the porch, staring into the woods beyond the river, mind racing.
Should he try to catch a wild Pokémon?
Theoretically, it was possible. But it was a huge risk. Without a partner Pokémon to weaken the wild one, his chances were slim. A failed throw meant the loss of the ball and they had no spares.
Just one shot.
He was still struggling with the decision when a soft meow came from behind.
He turned. It was Meowth.
The Pokémon had slept on the roof all night. Now it dropped down gracefully, landing beside him with a soft thud, blinking lazily.
Alexander stared at it for a long moment.
Maybe... he wouldn't need to catch a wild Pokémon.
Maybe the one he needed had already been beside him all along.
Without a word, he stepped toward Meowth.
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