Reaching the Apex (Pokémon SI)

PatrikWriter · Feb 16, 2026

Disclaimer: Pokémon and all associated characters, locations, and names are the intellectual property of Nintendo, Game Freak, and The Pokémon Company. This story is written strictly for entertainment purposes and no profit is being made from its publication.

After spending the weekend playing Pokémon Revolution with my girlfriend, I felt inspired to kick off a new project. A lot of current fics follow established champions and elite trainers, but I've really been missing that gritty, 'from the ground up' realistic journey. I wanted something a bit darker that follows the climb from zero to the very top – and that's exactly what this is.

I woke up with a sharp intake of breath. I immediately tried to bolt out of bed, but a split second later, my head slammed into the steel structure above me, which held a lamp.

"Fuck! God damn it!" I barked, swearing like a sailor.

Besides the excruciating headache—as if someone were hammering directly into my temples—I had physically injured myself. Groaning, I felt my forehead and could already feel a lump beginning to swell.

"Just what I needed," I thought bitterly.

A moment later, however, I began to look around in confusion. It was a room that felt both foreign and familiar at the same time. On one hand, I was one hundred percent sure I had never been here in my life. On the other, my memory was feeding me images of working here regularly, cleaning up to earn some Pokédollars.

"Pokédollars? What the fuck...?" I whispered, paralyzed.

Suddenly, a chilling laugh and the blood-red eyes of a massive monster surfaced in my mind. It looked like some deformed dragon, like a Digimon from the cartoons I watched as a kid.

"Digimon? What is wrong with me?" I cursed again.

The confusion in my head grew, and the pain became unbearable. I pressed my fingers hard into my temples in a futile attempt to find relief, but to no avail. My vision began to darken. The last thing I sensed was falling back onto the hard mattress.

Knock, knock, knock.

An annoying banging on the door woke me. I would have preferred to keep sleeping, but after the third hit, the hinges moved with a faint creak. I reluctantly opened my eyes, and in that second, it clicked.

It wasn't just that I recognized the person who entered the room from the cartoons of my childhood. It was mainly the realization that the uncrowned king of this city was standing before me. My head was a terrible mess; two sets of memories were slowly weaving together.

On one hand, I saw him as a Champion on the back of a majestic Dragonite or Charizard—always smiling in that adorable, sweet world of Pokémon. But this was no cartoon. Professor Oak wasn't animated, and he certainly wasn't smiling.

He was a tall man with brown hair already mirrored by the silver of grey strands and a beard. Instead of a kind gaze, he had a serious, almost stern expression. He was the former ruler of Kanto, and I had been slaving away for him on part-time jobs for the last five years to save up for gear for my own journey.

Here, too, my memories diverged drastically. In the stories, some guy named Ketchup overslept and still got a special Pokémon "just because." He set off into the world without a care. In reality, however, they constantly emphasized in school that this was the worst thing an inexperienced person could do.

Even the best-bred starter is lethally dangerous to a trainer unless they break it in. Sure, grass types tend to be milder and non-confrontational, but a Charmander is a born warrior—many a rookie has perished under its attack on the very first day. After receiving a Pokémon, a person had to train with the creature and achieve harmony for at least a week before even leaving the city gates for the wilderness.

The reason was simple: a Pokémon had to obey every word, or the trainer ended up in the morgue. And the leadership of the Kanto region, like any other state, wanted successful and powerful trainers, not corpses in the grass.

The statistics were relentless: nearly half of the trainers who set out on a journey died before completing it. The goal of the journey was different for everyone. For some, it was enough to earn four badges, which allowed them to get hired by a company requiring capable protectors for a good salary.

A trainer's career was royally paid but extremely dangerous. You head out to sea? A pack of water Pokémon ambushes you and, in the best-case scenario, drowns you. In the worst, they feed you alive to their young. Traveling through a forest? One moment of inattention, one poisonous quill, and without an antidote, both you and your Pokémon die in convulsions while carnivorous predators already sharpen their teeth for you. You aren't even safe in the air—a Fearow can shoot you down before you even notice it.

A soft cough snapped me out of my grim thoughts.

"Professor," I greeted him curtly and immediately blurted out a question: "What happened?"

Oak studied me thoughtfully, curiosity showing in his stern face. "I assume that the gift... or the curse of your lineage has just awakened within you," he spoke after a while.

I immediately gasped for air. I was an orphan; I had grown up in an orphanage in Pallet Town since I was a child. I always thought my parents were some drug addicts who, with the last shred of goodness in their hearts, preferred to leave me at the home rather than sell me into slavery on the black market.

"What? Lineage? What lineage? What are you talking about?"

Lineages in the Pokémon world were noble and ruled cities and society as a whole. Kanto was controlled by eight powerful families, most of whom also had the battle gyms under their thumb. These families recruited trainers themselves as mercenaries who carried out their orders—from business protection and road guarding to personal security. They basically did everything.

For example, Brock Harrison from Pewter City or Lance Blackthorn from Blackthorn City were well-known. Some families, or clans in the case of ninjas, were incredibly powerful. It was therefore impossible for me to be a member of any of them. If that were the case, I wouldn't have had to scrub Oak's dirty rooms just to earn money for gear and food!

I saw his shoulders grow slightly heavy and his lips tighten into a saddened grimace. If I hadn't known him, I probably wouldn't have even noticed. But I did know him, and my second set of memories gave me enough experience with people and reading non-verbal communication. While I was an introvert, my other self was a pure extrovert and quite old.

"You are fifteen, so I will tell you at least what I can," he began in a low, serious voice. "Your family is powerful, but due to wars and cowardly assassinations, you are the last two members left." He paused for a moment but immediately continued. "The current leader of the lineage decided to hide you in safety, right here in my town. Nothing happens here without me knowing, and so, with a little help, I have watched over you for all these years."

"What lineage is it, and what gift or curse has afflicted me?" I asked with undisguised fear in my voice.

"Unfortunately, I cannot reveal that to you. I had to promise to keep their identity anonymous for your own safety. The leader of your lineage will find you himself only when you are powerful enough to protect yourself," he cleared his throat and continued: "I don't know exactly what it is. I only know that an old friend of mine passed out at the same age you are now. For a while after that, he acted strangely and sometimes called it a gift or a curse. He never confided in me with more detail; it was a family secret."

I knew I shouldn't confide my thoughts or the memories of my other self. It would be useless, and it was actually my greatest advantage. I was getting lost in my thoughts. I thought I was just ordinary Patrik from Pallet Town, but in the end, just before my journey, I find out that I have a family out there and we are in danger. And the only thing stopping me from reaching them is that I have to be more powerful?

I was extremely determined to choose Charmander immediately and grow stronger. Charizard will burn all danger to ash, and I will finally be powerful enough to be with my family. While the other Patrik had his family and experienced them in good times and bad, I had felt my whole life that something was missing. Every time I walked through town and saw families with children getting ice cream or at the cinema...

"Professor, when can I choose my Charmander? As soon as possible?" I asked, full of determination and fire.

Oak forced a smile, and I began to suspect something was wrong. "You cannot choose Charmander, Patrik," he paused for a moment and continued: "Already..."

I immediately cut him off: "What do you mean? I studied and slaved away at school for years to get the best points and grades! It's not fair at all! Am I going to get some ordinary Rattata now?!" I shouted.

The standard procedure was that in Kanto schools, a certain number of the top students could choose special starters—Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur. Others had the chance to choose from completely common captured Pokémon, which were from the wild and thus harder to tame. Furthermore, these Pokémon tended to be weak, with low potential, and you never knew what their personality would be like.

Special starters immediately increased the chance of success, which is why so many beginners tried to reach the highest level possible. Personally, I finished third out of everyone and should have had the right of choice. And now this asshole tells me it was all for nothing?!

With a nervous smile, he wrung his hands before finally putting them into the pockets of his white coat. "You studied for years so that you would know what you are doing, Patrik. That will serve you well on your journey. Unfortunately, you cannot choose a Pokémon. Already when I took charge of you, a Pokémon had been chosen for you by your lineage." With a fluid motion, he pulled out an ordinary Pokéball and handed it to me.

"Since it's from my lineage, it can't be a weak Pokémon," I thought with interest.

"Wait, since my birth?!" I blurted out after a moment. "That Pokémon must be quite old by now."

He shook his head in disagreement and answered sternly: "Think, you didn't study for nothing!" he immediately reprimanded me.

It took me a moment before it clicked. Most Pokémon lived as long as humans, except for bugs, which lived shorter lives, and ghosts, who lived substantially longer—until they decided to leave this world themselves.

He saw that I understood, so he gestured for me to release the Pokémon. I didn't wait and immediately pressed the Pokéball twice. With the first press, it enlarged, and with the next, a red beam shot out, in which a Pokémon appeared.

"Gastly..." I whispered.

A large black levitating ball appeared with two prominent eyes and a wide grin. A deep purple gas floated around it. Poison.

"This Gastly is above average; it's about a third larger than common individuals. Also, if you notice the shade of the gas, it is ready to evolve into Haunter. Expect it to happen any moment now," he paused for a while and then added with a smile: "He has waited for you for a long time, Patrik."

"Gastly! Gastly!" the ball of gas cried out and nodded with a wide smile in a sign of agreement.

Honestly, I wanted a Charmander. My other self preferred it too, although he didn't know Pokémon very well—except for a few childhood scenes. His impressions and memories were completely off. Especially those where Pokémon were just cute little animals. I mean, they are literally called Pocket MONSTERS. Every other minute, there are reports on the news about some city having to fend off an attack from wild packs. Death and destruction. Only Pallet had a great position; waterfalls at the back prevented the arrival of powerful water types, and the front had a forest with weaker Pokémon that were completely deterred by Oak's legendary Pokémon.

After a moment, I nodded with a smile and said thanks. Gastly looked extremely friendly and obedient. Ghosts were relatively human-like, even though they fed on dreams and emotions, so if they listened, they were great helpers. Also, a Haunter could hide in my shadow, which meant I would be safe with him.

Before I knew it, Oak vanished from the room like steam over a pot. I was left there alone with Gastly.

"Gastly, are you ready for some hard training?" I asked him.

"Gastly!" he nodded enthusiastically.

"Will you obey my every word?"

His smile froze for a second, but then, with slightly less enthusiasm, he nodded again.

"And if you don't like something, will you let me know somehow?"

"Gastly!" he agreed immediately.

I nodded satisfactorily. I had a week to find out his strengths and weaknesses. By the time I get ready for the journey, buy everything necessary, my career as a trainer will begin. I didn't intend to underestimate anything.

I immediately began to get up. I recalled Gastly back into the Pokéball, and when I felt I had everything, I set out on the way to the orphanage. I needed to sort out my thoughts because I still felt like an unnatural, weird mix of two personalities.

While according to the cartoon, Pallet Town only had four houses, in reality, it was a smaller city with approximately fifteen thousand inhabitants. So it took me a good half hour to get from Oak's lab to the orphanage. While in his world, orphanages were old and dilapidated, in ours, they were maintained, renovated, and generously funded. A high percentage of orphans tried their luck as trainers. Most children in the homes were actually the offspring of trainers. And how did that happen?

Quite simply. Bloody regional wars and a multitude of dangerous Pokémon took a heavy toll on the population. Trainers were needed. Since many people died in Pokémon attacks, everyone wanted to enjoy life to the fullest. Morals were quite loose, at least regarding nudity and sexuality. If you could die tomorrow, wouldn't you enjoy an evening full of passion? Moreover, contraception didn't exist in this world... It only took a few trainers dying, and the orphanages were immediately full.

It was relatively free here, at least compared to those other memories. While it seemed natural to me that we shared showers with girls and knew everything about sex, in his world, it was quite conservative. In our world, a person became an adult immediately upon turning fifteen, and some people already had their own children at that age.

As soon as I arrived at my room, I stripped and, with only a towel, headed to the shower. I needed to get myself together and sort out my thoughts. As soon as I entered, I noticed I wasn't alone. A completely naked woman stood in front of the mirrors. She was looking at herself, lifting her breasts with her slender palms and casting seductive glances at the mirror.

"Lily," I greeted matter-of-factly.

She immediately flinched in surprise, but as soon as she saw me, she smiled coquettishly: "Patrik! Sweetie, how are you?"

If you're wondering who Lily is, honestly—she's my childhood crush. I've been in love with her since I was a kid and imagined we'd be together. While I clung to her and hoped she'd return my feelings, she secretly mocked me. She made jokes about my shyness while heartlessly sleeping with anyone and everyone. She was gorgeous: cold blue eyes, full red lips, a flat stomach, and wide hips. Added to that were large round breasts and curly blonde hair. She was simply perfect, like an angel—except for that personality.

Only yesterday, I would have thought she was glad to see me, but with the rush of new memories, I noticed how she looked at me with disdain and mockery. It was a gift; thanks to it, a shy introvert had become a bold and experienced extrovert. With a mocking smile, I replied:

"Great, Lily. Are you going to keep whoring around, or has someone already fucked you today?"

She looked at me in shock. She was used to my red cheeks and eyes fixed on the ground. Under other circumstances, I would have shakily stuttered some answer, but now? While she stood there in shock, I walked over to the transparent shower stall. I pulled off my towel and, just as God made me, I started showering in front of her.

After a while, I only heard her slam the door loudly. The bathroom was finally mine alone.

"A beautiful whore, but the whole town has probably had her already," I said to myself out loud.

While my original self was still a virgin, my second set of memories already had some experience. So if an opportunity arises, why not? Of course, training comes first!

Author's note:
What can you expect from this story? Pokémon catching, gritty battles, and world-building with a unique system—no IVs like in the games. This is a more realistic take on the Pokémon world, featuring adult themes, the criminal underworld of Team Rocket, and the influence of money and power. I hope you
enjoy the ride!

Join our Discord community: tgdTNZYVKt - Vote on the plot, chat, and get the best FF recs!

The shadows are shifting... If you can't wait to see where the darkness leads, you can find the advanced chapters on YOU-KNOW-WHAT.

Support the craft and keep the ink flowing. Your contribution in the Restricted Section directly allows me to dedicate more time to this dark world and bring you deeper, faster updates.

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PatrikWriter · Feb 19, 2026

A new Pokémon team poll is coming to our Discord soon! Don't forget to join if you want to have a say in who joins the squad!

The next day, immediately after waking up and grabbing a quick breakfast from the simple buffet tables, I headed toward the water. I needed time to think. While the orphanage stood at the far north of the city, the sea lay to the south, serving as its natural protection. It appeared tiered, as if someone had created it artificially: it consisted of a calm surface, a smaller waterfall through which no danger could penetrate, another quiet section, another drop, and finally a smaller sea where water-type Pokémon swam undisturbed.

A park and recreation zone stretched along the coast. I saw a few people there with fishing rods; every once in a while, a fisherman managed to pull out a Magikarp or a Feebas. It was a decent, albeit slow, way to make a living. Fish Pokémon were a staple in every household, and there was constant demand for them from restaurants as well.

However, I focused mainly on myself and the changes taking place within me. While the old Patrik had been completely incompetent regarding Pokémon, he occasionally had interesting know-how in his head, even if most of it was total nonsense. Who had ever heard of a Pokémon evolving through trading? It was utter bullshit—if that were true, everyone would probably have an Alakazam, Machamp, or Gengar right away. I found the claim about evolving Magikarp into Gyarados using a waterfall much more intriguing. Unlike him, I had spent the last ten years in dedicated study.

Where we radically differed, however, was in personality. I was a shy introvert; he was a confident, older extrovert. Where I didn't even know how to throw a punch, he fought in Muay Thai and trained in MMA. Where I was too ashamed to look my childhood crush in the eye, he considered her just another slut, good for nothing more than a one-time distraction.

Furthermore, there were significant biological differences between our worlds. While in his world a large percentage of people were obese, slow, and weak, everyone here was relatively athletic, even if they didn't actively exercise. The vast majority had great physiques. Thanks to a low body fat percentage, people were more attractive, though some hadn't exactly won the genetic lottery in the face department.

We also matured faster—at fifteen, I already looked like a grown, athletic man. I didn't run, I didn't train, and yet I was in incredibly good shape. From his memories, I dug up something about Aura. Did every human in this world possess an Aura that biologically enhanced them? It made sense. People didn't get sick; they didn't know common flus, and diseases like cancer or STDs didn't exist here. At the same time, we were more resilient to the elements. As a species, we likely had to adapt so that Pokémon wouldn't wipe us out.

It was also interesting how advanced his world was in terms of weaponry. Electronics and household appliances were similar, but weapons were missing. We were still living, so to speak, in a medieval era—daggers, swords, spears, and bows. Why? There existed a portable refrigerator that minimized into a pocket at the press of a button and stayed charged for months. So how is it possible that there are no pistols, assault rifles, or nukes here? I immediately began to conspire.

What if the world had once been destroyed by nukes and animals mutated into Pokémon? What if weapon development was forcibly halted to prevent history from repeating itself? What if the top leadership knows about it, but general society does not?

At the same time, there was a difference in the understanding of battles. Here, it was a sport, a honing of power, but also everything else. It wasn't customary for a Pokémon to die in a battle. In the wild? Frequently. In an official match? Rarely. Trainers of a similar level fought like gentlemen; it didn't happen that someone would pull out a Gyarados against a Rattata.

People in my world were also Kinder, more helpful, and smiled more than in his Europe. Life had taught them that if they wanted to survive, they had to stick together. Historically, small groups clustered together until they formed cities, just to withstand the wilderness.

That didn't mean my world was an idyll, though. There was an extreme number of criminals capable of robbing, raping, killing, or selling you into slavery on the black market. In Kanto and Johto, it wasn't common, but that was exactly why export existed. Drugs and prostitution? They were just as common in this world, although they weren't created synthetically. Grass-type Pokémon could create some interesting blends.

Anyone could own a Pokémon, but they had to be able to control it. One mistake with a disobedient Pokémon in the city—if it injured someone or hurt them without cause—and your life could be over. In this, the laws were relentless.

However, it wasn't like everyone had a Pokémon, and certainly not a strong one. Many species were natural predators; to catch them, a human had to defeat them first. Subsequently, if the trainer didn't want it, they could sell it for Poké-dollars. Dragon Pokémon? Millions. Rattata? A few hundred.

Actually, that was why a career as a trainer was extremely lucrative. If you were strong, you could catch whatever you wanted and monetize it. You could get hired as a bodyguard for an influential company, defend cruise ships or roads as a Ranger, or serve in the police. You could protect fields and farms that raised Tauros for meat and Miltank for milk. The entire society stood on the shoulders of powerful trainers. Thanks to them, people in cities lived relatively peacefully. Trainers were respected and admired. Only the mortality rate was unbelievable.

A trainer's family received tax benefits from the League for the first year. The trainer himself received free access to League-owned hospitals and hotels for the same period. Food and lodging for free. However, such a career required iron determination.

Originally, as a timid introvert, I just wanted to prove to everyone that I had what it takes. Now, I know that was a weak goal. It was enough to be myself and people would show respect—it was enough to be unafraid and look everyone proudly in the eye. Now? With this gift, I gained a new goal: Reach the Apex, or die trying.

I was determined.

I pressed the Pokéball twice, and in a flash of red light, Gastly appeared beside me.

"Gastly!" With a wide, chilling smile, he fixed his gaze on me.

"Hey, Gastly. Ready for training?"

"Gastly!"

Pokémon in this world didn't have clearly defined moves. Every strike was essentially just an energy infusion. Tackle? Adding Normal energy to one's body and slamming into the opponent. Flamethrower? Fire energy. Gastly's well-known "Lick"? Ghost energy concentrated on the tongue.

What am I trying to say? That controlling a Pokémon's internal energy is the most important thing. Theoretically, a Pokémon can use energy for any attack—it just has to be able to create, shape, direct, and release it. A Flamethrower can be thin, direct, and extremely hot, or so wide that it engulfs everything within a four-meter radius.

Of course, the energy output varied. Actually, I could call it auric output. Gastly, as a combination of Ghost and Poison types, possessed two auric energies, and given his biology, he could learn to work with others as well.

"Gastly, do you know how to work with your energy?" I asked curiously. Usually, young individuals didn't know how. My Gastly, however, was older than me.

He nodded in agreement.

"Stick out your tongue and concentrate Ghost energy into it."

He obeyed immediately. He stuck out his red tongue, which slowly began to change color to black until the energy started escaping from it like gas. I watched him thoughtfully for a moment, then concluded: "It took you too long. In a battle, that would be fatal. To start with, we need to improve your speed."

"Gastly!" he confirmed determinedly.

"Dissolve the energy and try again," I commanded.

He followed my word instantly. I watched him for a while. Before, it would have felt normal to just stand around and do nothing. Now? I felt like a lazy prick, and I didn't like it. I immediately started warming up my joints. He wasn't going to be the only one working hard.

We worked hard until the afternoon hours. Gastly was likely a genius; he had increased the speed of his energy infusion into his tongue by at least half. It was already relatively battle-ready. While he trained, I managed to do shadow boxing and sets of push-ups, squats, and sit-ups based on memories from the other world.

The biology of this world was absolutely insane. Without any problems and without prior training, I was able to do over 300 repetitions of each exercise with only small breaks! Running was a bit worse—my lungs couldn't keep up, as cardio wasn't my strong suit.

I'll have to change that. In the wild, stamina will be key. While a Ghost Pokémon in the normal sense of the word cannot die, I can. In the worst-case scenario, Gastly will have to buy me time while I make a run for it.

I had less than a week left before we set out. I needed to use that time to get physically fit and teach Gastly techniques that would save us trouble. Gastly as a starter isn't exactly the easiest choice. He isn't elemental, so every Normal-type we encounter will be riskier for me. Luckily, at the beginning of the journey from Pallet Town, the Pokémon are weaker. But the risks are still there.

Pidgey, Starly, Spearow, Rattata, and their evolutions. While Pidgey is calm, Spearow is aggressive and attacks in flocks. If I were to encounter a hungry Fearow, it's quite likely I'd end up as lunch.

I went through my shopping list in my head. In addition to the classic survival kit, I need a dagger or a sword. Preferably both. Plus food, antidotes, and a raincoat. Since I was out of money, I'd only buy the basics and I'd have to hunt for the rest—so I immediately added a fishing rod to the list. Then it occurred to me: according to Oak's words, I come from a powerful house. Don't I have some resources from them? I'll have to ask about that.

We rested for a moment. Gastly didn't consume normal food, so he didn't need anything for now, but me? My stomach was growling loudly, and I had completely missed lunch at the home. I decided to buy fried Magikarp fingers with fries. It was my favorite treat, even if a bit unhealthy—though according to his memories, this food was significantly healthier and more nutritious than what they usually ate. It wasn't even expensive; one portion cost me 5 Poké-dollars. Thanks to part-time jobs and the orphan's allowance, I had a little over $5,000 in my account, but that would definitely go toward quality gear and other necessities. I also needed better clothes. I'd be miserable in the wilderness in ordinary sweatpants and a hoodie.

While I ate, Gastly rested in the sun with me. He levitated a meter away from me with a satisfied smile. If I didn't know he was a Pokémon specifically from my family, I'd doubt if it wasn't some kind of trick. No Pokémon, not even a Grass-type, would obey like this on the first day or be so devoted.

Ghosts were usually malicious, stubborn, and mischievous; murder was no problem for them. Every now and then, there was a story where a Ghost kidnapped a person and fed on them using hypnosis until the poor soul died. My Gastly, however, behaved like a little angel.

"Gastly?" I began.

He immediately nodded to show he was listening.

"Have you been waiting for me since I was born?"

"Gastly!" he blurted out in agreement.

"Did my family order you to?"

The Pokémon simply nodded again.

"Who are you loyal to — me or my family?" I asked, deciding to clarify. "If it's me, nod. If it's the family, shake your head."

He nodded immediately.

"Do you have a goal in life?"

I knew that every Pokémon was different. Some wanted to be the strongest, others desired to travel, and still others just wanted to eat in comfort. Some lived only for battle. Everyone had their own motives—even a Dragonite could, in the end, be extremely lazy and relatively weak.

Gastly nodded and put on a wide, chilling smile. I had to ask step by step.

"Do you want to be the strongest?" A nod.

It didn't look like that was all, so I continued: "Do you want to eat a lot?" An enthusiastic nod and an even wider smile followed.

"Do you want to fight?" A nod.

"Do you want to travel?" No reaction. Neither disagreement nor a nod. Apparently, he didn't care as long as the other conditions were met.

"Did I forget something?" I asked at the end.

Gastly nodded again.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, shame he can't talk," I thought bitterly. He was definitely more intelligent than other Pokémon—if I don't count Psychic types. Still, he could only answer me with a simple yes or no.

Experienced trainers said that over time they began to understand their Pokémon as naturally as they did humans. So I hoped that in our case, it would come sooner. Otherwise, I'll seriously have to get some letter boards and teach him how to write and read.

I decided to guess.

"Do you want a Lady Gastly? Do you want to haunt people and Pokémon? Do you want to protect me? Do you want to evolve into Gengar? Do you want to be recognized?"

In order followed: a shake of the head, an enthusiastic nod, another nod, another nod, and no reaction to the last question. Recognition was clearly irrelevant to him as long as he could scare someone to death and become a Gengar in the process. I hoped that was all for now and decided to continue training.

"Great, Gastly! We have plenty to do in the future. You'll be the strongest Gengar in the world. Continue with the tongue infusion training."

The truth was, however, that evolving into Gengar would be a problem. There were truly few Gengars in the world. Haunters? There were relatively many of those, but even if someone managed to evolve a Haunter, every trainer kept the secret of that evolution strictly to themselves. It wasn't publicly known at all, and one thing was certain—the transformation definitely didn't happen by simply reaching a certain level, and certainly not through some nonsensical trade. There had to be something more to it. Something more complex... and maybe more dangerous.

Toward evening, after the hard training, we headed back to the orphanage, exhausted. Gastly was released from his Pokéball and slowly floated behind my back. Every now and then, he peeked out curiously to see what was happening in front of us.

I was just a short distance from the home when a girl ran out of a nearby house in front of me. Lindsay.

"Patrik!" she shouted, waving at me and running in my direction.

She was a short, attractive blonde with blue eyes and her hair in a bun. The old Patrik would have labeled her the "girl next door." Exactly the type of woman who would interest him for a serious relationship—pleasant, kind, loving, and polite. Until recently, I thought she was just being friendly, but after merging memories, it was immediately clear to me that she liked me.

"Hey, Lindsay. How are you?" I greeted her with a smile as soon as she stepped closer.

"Great, Patrik, and..." in the middle of the sentence, she cried out in fear and turned pale.

From behind my shoulder, Gastly had flown out at her with a chilling smirk and his tongue sticking out. Lindsay immediately started screaming and backing away.

"Gastly!" I called out after a moment with a smirk, finally stopping my laughter.

"Gastly! Gastly!" the satisfied Pokémon chimed in. I felt like he was practically bragging to me about how much he had scared her.

"Are you okay, Lindsay? I probably should have warned you. Sorry," I told her. The girl stood three meters away with her hand on her heart and death in her eyes.

"I-I am," she stammered, but immediately continued more boldly: "You jerk! You really should have warned me, I almost had a heart attack!" After a moment, she calmed down a bit and added: "Where did you get a Gastly? I thought your starter was going to be Charmander. You talked about it for so long!"

Lindsay was probably the only one I could talk to normally. Around others, I used to be far too shy, which made me a weirdo, but with her, I always discussed everything. Lindsay knew very well that I was in love with Lily, whom she honestly detested—whether for her questionable morals or out of jealousy.

While Lindsay was pleasant and fiery, Lily represented cold beauty. Morally, they were like two completely different worlds. The question remained: how was it possible that Lindsay was in love with me? According to my new memories, my previous behavior could be described as that of a total pussy.

"Professor Oak gave me Gastly yesterday, and I think it was a great choice. Gastly is amazing," I replied with a smile. Even though a piece of disappointment still gnawed at me that I didn't have Charmander, Gastly was truly determined and listened to my every word. I felt that I could rely on him one hundred percent.

"Gastly!" the Pokémon cried out with a pleased expression.

Lindsay watched us both in silence for a while, then nodded with a supportive smile.

"He looks strong!"

"Gastly!" the Pokémon confirmed her words and nodded importantly.

I saw her thinking for a moment until she finally spoke up with quiet hope: "Would you like to go for a walk with me?"

With an apology in my eyes, I had to refuse.

"Sorry, Lindsay. We've been training since morning, and now I need a shower and a real meal. I also need to get some sleep; the next few days before my journey will be really demanding."

She lowered her gaze in disappointment and whispered almost inaudibly: "Will you at least say goodbye to me before you leave?"

I stepped toward her and did something I would never have had the courage to do before. I gently lifted her chin with my fingers, leaned in, and pressed a short kiss onto her cheek.

"Before I leave, we'll definitely go for a walk, Lindsay," I promised.

She stood there completely stunned. I didn't wait for her reaction; I turned and headed home. Gastly, with a satisfied, almost appreciative smile, followed me into the shadows of the street.

Author's note:

We are diving deeper into the story of my Pokémon world. As you've seen, Pokémon energy can be manipulated in various ways—it all comes down to skill and mastery.

Based on these opening chapters, you can expect plenty of combat, tension, and high-stakes action. But life in this world isn't just about training; there will also be romance and explicit adult content. Furthermore, Team Rocket certainly won't be portrayed as innocent or bumbling villains—expect them to be a real, dangerous threat.

Are you curious to find out what Patrik's second Pokémon will be? Stay tuned!

Join our Discord community: tgdTNZYVKt - Vote on the plot, chat, and get the best FF recs!

The shadows are shifting... If you can't wait to see where the darkness leads, you can find the advanced chapters on YOU-KNOW-WHAT.

Support the craft and keep the ink flowing. Your contribution in the Restricted Section directly allows me to dedicate more time to this dark world and bring you deeper, faster updates.

Enter the Restricted Section here: you-know-what/PatrikWriter

Upcoming Chapters – Already written:
3. Silver Liquid, Dark Shadows
4. Gear and Ghostly Gestures
5. A Liver Hook and a Farewell
6. Lessons of the Wild
7. Steelix Finish and Dirty Dealers

Despacitoleo · Feb 19, 2026

PatrikWriter said:
Are you curious to find out what Patrik's second Pokémon will be? Stay tuned!

a 9mm

ScotttheBard · Feb 19, 2026

So is Patrik going to figure out a way to train his own aura? Or is he going to do something else?

ScotttheBard · Feb 20, 2026

Twintails said:
-spam removed by moderation-

How the duck did we get one of these things here?

PatrikWriter · Feb 20, 2026

Despacitoleo said:
a 9mm

Haha, in this world, a 9mm would probably just be a very weird-looking Steel-type that doesn't know any moves.

Patrik is stuck with swords and shields for now!

ScotttheBard said:
So is Patrik going to figure out a way to train his own aura? Or is he going to do something else?

Who knows? (I do!

) For now, it seems like the infusion of old Patrik's memories is more about life experiences and impressions. As our MC said, his memories regarding Pokémon were absolute garbage and totally unrealistic.

So, do Aura users exist there? Maybe. The plotline for that is definitely open through his family line.

ScotttheBard said:
How the duck did we get one of these things here?

What was that?

I missed it before it got deleted.

ScotttheBard · Feb 21, 2026

PatrikWriter said:
What was that? I missed it before it got deleted.

It was one of those spammer posts. The kind that people on discord normally click that talks about NSFW or Gambling discord servers and services.

PatrikWriter · Feb 22, 2026

Once again, we found ourselves by the sea south of Pallet Town. With only a few days left before our departure, we continued our grueling training. Gastly's tongue was pitch black after an infusion of spiritual energy, and the speed at which he could conjure it was truly impressive.

The problem, however, remained the waste. Although he executed the technique correctly, energy was constantly leaking from him like gas. The more he spent on preparation, the less he'd have left for the actual battle. Gengar was essentially a special attacker; he didn't have an overwhelming physical constitution or much stamina, so we had to manage his reserves wisely.

"Gastly, that's enough. Take a break," I called out to him, finishing my last squat.

"Gastly!" he levitated toward me with a smile. "Gastly?" he asked immediately after.

I was beginning to distinguish when he was answering and when he was asking a question. Thank God for that.

"Catch your breath for a moment, and I'll explain our next step."

"Gastly!"

"The speed of the infusion into your tongue is excellent. The problem I see is that you're wasting too much energy, and your supply is limited," I paused, watching as he waited curiously to see what I'd come up with. "Try to channel the energy into your tongue with focus, but at the same time, make sure not a single drop escapes. Hold it there firmly until you choose to release it."

"Gastly!" he nodded instantly and got right back to work.

"You were supposed to be resting, you training addict!" I thought with a smirk.

Honestly, I'd had enough myself. My muscles were burning, and it was no wonder—I was increasing the intensity every day. Standard push-ups, squats, or crunches were no problem thanks to the biology of this world, but I had decided on a different approach. What if I stretched every single push-up to last a full minute? Slowly down, slowly up. That was what was truly killing me. If I kept this up, I'd end up looking like Schwarzenegger from my other memories.

While the other Patrik had discipline in his blood and enjoyed training, I was only at the beginning. But I wasn't about to be outdone by my own Pokémon. A proper leader leads by example. With a heavy sigh, I collapsed into the grass and started another set of crunches.

Before evening, when I felt nearly dead while Gastly levitated beside me with a satisfied smile, I decided to finish the session with a run. I needed speed more than bulky muscles. At the same time, I knew my partner could use it too—Gengar needs speed like air. Even if he can move through shadows later on, such tricks surely cost a staggering amount of energy. If he learned to dodge quickly and physically in combat, it would be a massive advantage for him in the future.

"Gastly, we're going for a run. Keep pace with me," I commanded determinedly.

"Gastly!"

I immediately set off at a brisk jog through the park toward the cycling path. Cars didn't drive in Pallet Town at all, so the whole town was interlaced with wide sidewalks and bike paths commonly used by runners and cyclists. In the Pokémon world, bicycles were the most useful means of transport. They had special features, could pedal for you, and were suitable for rough terrain—which is why they cost a fortune. Every once in a while, a Rapidash would thunder down the path with a rider on its back.

Gastly was lagging behind slightly. His levitation wasn't as fast as my run, but did it have to stay that way? It occurred to me that if he tried pumping energy into his entire body, he might speed up significantly.

I stopped for a moment, struggling to catch my breath, until a disappointed Gastly drifted over to me. He clearly thought he'd be faster than me.

"Gastly, it's okay. You'll be much faster in the future," I reassured him. "But I was thinking you might speed up if you concentrated your energy throughout your whole body. Try it while moving."

Determination immediately flashed in his eyes, and with a loud "Gastly!" he nodded.

We ran on. Gastly still couldn't keep up, though I saw purple-black-gray gaseous energy leaking from him occasionally. He was trying, but without success so far. It was a shame I couldn't give him more hints; I didn't even know if it was actually possible. The idea only came to me because of my other memories of Naruto and chakra work. I figured it might motivate him if I picked up the pace.

"Don't be a wimp, Gastly, catch me!" I yelled over my shoulder and broke into a sprint.

I heard an annoyed cry of "Gastly!" behind me, but I still started pulling away.

I ran at full tilt for about two minutes before I hit my limit. I couldn't see Gastly behind me. I slowed to a jog. There was no one ahead of me at the edge of town. Finally, I came to a complete stop in front of an old house on the west side of Pallet. I gasped for air, looking around for Gastly. Not a soul in sight.

I was just starting to think about tomorrow's shopping when a chilling grinding of teeth sounded right by my ear. It scared the absolute shit out of me, I won't lie. I instantly lunged forward and spun around. My heart was pounding so hard I felt like it would jump out of my chest. And there?

"Gastly! Gastly!" he laughed delightedly.

When I managed to calm my heart rate after a few seconds, I had to admit he'd gotten me good.

"You got me, Gastly. You scared me! But it won't happen next time," I declared defiantly. A determined glint shone in his huge eyes. The gauntlet was thrown.

"How did you actually do it? I didn't see you anywhere; I was looking back the whole way," I had to ask. Did he move through the shadows, or did he actually speed up?

"Gastly, Gastly... Gaaastly!" He paused for a moment and added triumphantly: "Gastly!"

For fuck's sake... I still had no idea what he was saying.

"Great job, Gastly. But please, just show me how you did it instead," I praised him.

Gastly nodded determinedly and began to focus. I saw black gas leaking from him. After a moment, he started moving away from me, his speed increasing until he suddenly whipped around and flew back to me like a bullet. He had managed to speed up using energy, but he was wasting it incredibly. Gas was leaking from his entire body.

"Interesting technique, but inefficient for now," I thought. "But what if we trained running regularly and tried to fine-tune it? It has huge potential for the future."

Also, he probably scared me because he was actually hungry for energy.

"Wow, you did it!" I didn't forget to praise him. "You already took your reward by scaring me, right?" I asked with a smile.

"Gastly!" he nodded contentedly.

"Did my fear taste like grapefruit juice?" I asked jokingly.

He looked at me curiously and just blinked in confusion. My joke fell flat—he clearly had no idea what juice tasted like.

"Never mind, Gastly. Great job!" I repeated, pausing for a moment. Then I added: "If you weren't just gas, I'd give you a scratch as a reward."

And that was when it happened. Gastly began to glow with the blinding white light of evolution until he disappeared into it completely.

It lasted only a few seconds before the blinding light dissipated and a peaceful evening returned to the park. Where Gastly had been levitating before, a Haunter now hovered. He was huge. Even as a Gastly, he'd been a third larger than others of his kind, but this Haunter exceeded standard measurements by a good half.

The biggest change, however, was that he gained a partially physical body, exactly as I had wished. He could control his poison so precisely that he was no longer dangerous to the touch for those around him. I immediately stepped toward him and, with undisguised joy, began scratching his head. Haunter was a significantly more powerful companion now. Evolution had given him hands, which opened up room for entirely new techniques, and his energy core had noticeably enlarged.

"Haunter! Haunter!" he cried out, fascinated by his new palms and long, dangerous-looking claws.

I had to admit that in those few days, he had truly grown on me. I definitely wouldn't trade him for any Charmander now. Especially knowing that he had been faithfully waiting for me since my birth. After a while, he eyed me inquisitively. I realized he was waiting for more praise... a total diva.

"Great job, Haunter! You're a natural. You'll be the most powerful Haunter in the world," I repeated, scratching him again.

It seemed the energy-boosted run and my comment about not being able to touch him were the final impulses he needed to evolve.

"Haunter! Haaaaunter!" he flexed his claws proudly.

I watched him for a while longer, but then I made up my mind. We were going to see Professor Oak. At this hour, there wouldn't be any assistants at his estate; we'd only find him. It was only now, with the experience of a second life, that I realized how unusual it was for such a prominent man to take an interest in a single orphan.

"Let's go, Haunter. We're going to Oak for the gear for our journey!" I commanded, and we headed south toward the sea where the Professor's estate stood.

"Haunter!" he nodded and melted into my shadow in a second.

It was an extraordinarily strange feeling—slightly chilling, but not unpleasant. I saw shadows swirling unnaturally beneath me. It meant he didn't have enough practice controlling his new abilities yet, but that would come with time. It was perfect, though. He didn't have to stay in a Pokéball at all; he could be with me constantly. In this dangerous world, that was probably the best protection I could have asked for.

On one side lay a large, luxury villa—Professor Oak's residence, where he occasionally hosted the elite of the Pokémon world. I had even worked there once as a dishwasher; for an orphan, it was relatively decent pay back then. Behind the villa was a massive ranch, home to his own Pokémon, breeding stock, and dozens of others belonging to his students and clients that he cared for.

On the right, however, stood his laboratory. The Professor spent his time there from morning until late evening. In fact, he even had a private room there where he slept, which was exactly why I was sure I'd find him there. As I approached, the light in the windows confirmed I was right.

I was just about to ring the bell when the door opened silently. Behind it levitated an Alakazam with its eyes closed. As soon as I entered, it gave a curt gesture for me to follow.

After a moment, we arrived at Oak's office. The room was filled with a massive library, a couch with a small seating area, and a heavy desk with a computer. That was where Oak was sitting. I didn't see him working, though. On his desk was a bottle of luxury alcohol—Golden Tropius Reserve. A single bottle of this vintage cost several thousand dollars.

He poured himself a glass with focus, but as soon as he saw me, he placed a second glass on the desk and poured one for me too.

He stood up immediately.

"Hello, Patrik. Have a seat in the armchair or on the couch. I'll be with you in a moment."

I obeyed and settled into a comfortable velvet armchair. I watched him as he stood, quickly clicking something on the computer. He must have given Alakazam some invisible gesture or mental command, because the glasses and the bottle rose in a second and levitated to the table in front of me.

The Professor must have been in a strange mood. Alcohol was allowed, of course, but not something this strong for people under eighteen. From age fifteen, usually only light liqueur or diluted drinks were tolerated, but this bottle was exactly 54 percent. And for the Professor himself to pour it for me on his own initiative?

After a while, he sat down opposite me and studied me thoughtfully. He didn't break the silence until a long moment had passed.

"Congratulations." When he caught my confused look, he immediately added: "On the evolution of your Gastly."

"Thank you. Haunter is a natural," I replied. The shadows under my feet flickered contentedly, but the Pokémon remained hidden.

"I'm glad you came, Patrik. At least we have time to talk before you set out on your journey."

I simply nodded and waited. I sat a bit tensely, which the Professor noticed, and he gave a reassuring smile.

"Nothing serious, Patrik. Just... I'm glad we can say goodbye before you leave." He paused for a moment and then continued: "How have you spent the last few days? Is Haunter behaving?"

"I've been training from morning till night. I have to admit, Haunter is an extraordinary talent. I'm glad I have him. He listens to me perfectly, and I think we have a great relationship," I answered with a satisfied smile. Right after, I tossed a question into the air: "Right, Haunter?"

My shadows shifted, and Haunter emerged from them. I noticed Alakazam shift on guard a few centimeters closer to Oak, but otherwise, it didn't react.

"Haunter! Haunter!" the Pokémon agreed with a wide grin.

"I'm pleased you get along so well," Oak began with a smile, but then he turned serious. "This Haunter is a bit special. When you catch other Pokémon, please don't underestimate their training or upbringing. They are extraordinarily dangerous creatures, but once you truly earn them, they are the best companions for a lifetime."

I didn't intend to underestimate anything, so I just nodded in agreement. That wasn't enough for him, though, and he continued melancholically.

"During my life, I've seen many trainers who underestimated the power of a Pokémon or imagined that they already had its certain loyalty. It always proved to be a fatal mistake."

With a touch of sadness in his eyes, he reached for his glass and downed it in one go. Like a champion, he didn't let any burn show on his face. As soon as he set the glass down, the bottle rose, the cap unscrewed itself, and the silver liquid refilled it exactly to the mark.

"Thank you, Alakazam," he whispered gratefully. He didn't need to say it out loud; he had probably been drinking for a while.

"Are you all right, Professor?" I asked cautiously.

Oak blinked in surprise, as if he had just returned from the distant past. "Yes, sorry. Just old memories."

His story was famous—a war hero, the uncrowned king of Kanto. But of his family, only his granddaughter remained; everyone else had died.

Silence fell in the office, unexpected and quite peaceful. To me, Oak was something of a grandfather—probably the closest adult figure I'd ever had. His Alakazam disappeared in a second and immediately reappeared with a package, which it levitated over to me.

"A Pokédex, five Pokéballs, five Antidotes, and five Potion elixirs," Oak listed as I unwrapped the package.

I received the Pokédex third in line, which meant I'd actually earned it. Otherwise, its price was almost the same as the most luxury bicycle. It was a high-end pocket computer that could do almost anything, which is why it was so valued. it contained a map with precise location, internet connection, social media, Pokéwiki, alarms, notifications, and a Pokémon scanner. The Pokéballs were standard, but Antidotes? Those weren't usually given out. He'd also given me more potions than was customary.

When he caught my questioning look, he immediately understood what I was thinking. He simply shrugged.

"A little nepotism won't kill you. It'll come in handy, and I'll be more at peace knowing you have more resources."

"Thank you, Professor," I replied gratefully. All those things were incredibly expensive, and thanks to this gift, I could invest more in my own gear. But I immediately had to ask about what was burning me most. "Since I come from that powerful house... did they leave any resources for me for the future?"

Oak frowned, but the anger was clearly aimed at someone else, not me. He thought for a moment about how to phrase it before finally explaining.

"According to the head of your house, you must first prove that you have the skills to succeed on your own. Only then will you receive all the family assets as the rightful heir. You either prove it, or you die." He paused for a moment as if something were fighting inside him, but then determination flashed in his eyes. "If you want, I'll give you the money myself, Patrik. And you never have to pay me back," he promised matter-of-factly.

I had to think about it for a moment, but in the end, I decided to refuse. Thanks to the gifted potions and antidotes, I had enough of my own money left for decent equipment, even if it wouldn't be the most luxurious. I'd keep my pride, I wouldn't owe anyone anything, and I'd prove to the head of my house that I had what it takes.

"Thank you, Professor, but I'll manage on my own. The antidotes and potions will already help me significantly. Truly, thank you," I refused firmly.

"Just like her," he grumbled dissatisfiedly under his breath. I had a feeling I'd only imagined it as he emptied his glass again. He still looked relatively sober, though.

He'd always seemed fine to me, but only now did I realize how much he must have actually been suffering. When all he had left of his entire family was his granddaughter... It was only thanks to my second memories that I understood he carried that pain deep in his heart.

Alakazam refilled his glass again and disappeared, returning an instant later with my trainer card. It had my photo, age, name, hometown, and a barcode.

"I've uploaded that ID to your Pokédex as well, but keep a physical copy on you just in case."

"Thank you, Professor." I still hadn't touched my glass, though I already had everything I needed. I decided to thank him a bit more sincerely. "Thank you for everything, Professor Oak. For taking care of me since I was a child and watching over me. For being here for me when I needed it." I paused for a moment. Showing emotions had never been my strong suit, but this time I went for it: "You're like a grandfather to me."

He looked at me sadly for a moment before speaking: "And you are like a grandson to me." After a short pause, he added: "If you should need anything—absolutely anything, even in the middle of the night—don't hesitate to reach out. Call me immediately."

I nodded in agreement. That clearly satisfied him, because he gestured for me to finally drink with him. I carefully lifted the glass, we clinked them together, and I decided to imitate him. I downed the entire contents at once.

According to my memories, I shouldn't have had a problem. The older Patrik drank Jack Daniel's, quality vodka, and Bombay gin. He handled it fine, so I thought it would be okay... How wrong I was.

I immediately started coughing and sputtering. My throat was burning like crazy. Meanwhile, the Professor laughed from the bottom of his heart until tears stood in his eyes. By the time he calmed down, I was gasping for air again and heading for the exit. Oak walked me all the way to the door, where he gave me an unexpectedly strong hug. It was the first hug I'd ever received from him.

"Patrik, anytime and anything. Get in touch with me!"

With those last words, I stepped out into the darkness. I'd spent much more time with him than I had originally planned.

Author's note:

He finally did it! I've been looking forward to writing Haunter's evolution since the very first chapter. I really wanted to emphasize that evolution in this world isn't just a magical glow, but a physical and biological shift—especially the fact that he finally has hands! Also, getting to see a more vulnerable side of Professor Oak was important to me. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Join our Discord community: tgdTNZYVKt - Vote on the plot, chat, and get the best FF recs!

The shadows are shifting... If you can't wait to see where the darkness leads, you can find the advanced chapters on YOU-KNOW-WHAT.

Support the craft and keep the ink flowing. Your contribution in the Restricted Section directly allows me to dedicate more time to this dark world and bring you deeper, faster updates.

Enter the Restricted Section here: you-know-what/PatrikWriter

Upcoming Chapters – Already written:
4. Gear and Ghostly Gestures
5. A Liver Hook and a Farewell
6. Lessons of the Wild
7. Steelix Finish and Dirty Dealers
8. Steel and Stingers

ScotttheBard · Feb 22, 2026

Have Patrik channel his inner Weeb when/if he finds he has Aura. Have him try and see if he can use Chakra exercises from Naruto or something like that to mold his Aura into attacks. Lol

PatrikWriter · Feb 23, 2026

ScotttheBard said:
Have Patrik channel his inner Weeb when/if he finds he has Aura. Have him try and see if he can use Chakra exercises from Naruto or something like that to mold his Aura into attacks. Lol

Should I, though? Haha. But unfortunately, he's got a lot on his plate right now—Haunter needs to train his technique, and Patrik is focusing on getting back into shape, or rather, improving himself physically. Maybe in time!

PatrikWriter · Wednesday at 6:15 PM

I was jolted awake by a terrified woman's scream. It tore me instantly from a pleasant sleep, but as soon as I opened my eyes, I noticed Haunter was gone. Apparently, he'd gone out to "feed" on someone's fear, and judging by the noise, he'd been successful. I slowly rubbed my eyes, threw on my sweatpants, and stepped out into the hallway.

A crowd was already gathering. In the middle of the corridor stood Lily, wearing nothing but her panties, with a Pidgey perched on her shoulder. A group of other kids huddled around her, looking both amused and surprised. Clearly, I wasn't the only one she'd woken up. Her Pokémon was a predictable choice.

"She liked birds, so she got another cock," I thought, amused.

Haunter was nowhere to be seen, but after a moment, I felt that familiar, gentle chill. He slipped from the floor directly into my shadow, and I heard his dark, quiet snicker nearby. At that moment, Lily noticed me. She didn't seem to care at all that she was standing there in her underwear.

"You!" she snapped angrily. "Keep that Pokémon of yours on a leash!"

She wasn't stupid, she just had questionable morals. She noticed the way my shadows were flickering unnaturally. The others watched us with interest, but I couldn't have cared less. I gave a disinterested yawn and turned back to my room without a word. I had a busy day ahead.

Before I closed the door, I caught a glimpse of Haunter leaning out from behind my back for a split second. I don't know where he learned it, but he gave her a rather rude gesture. I was proud of him. Behind me, all that remained was her furious screaming and the loud laughter of the others.

It wasn't long before we found ourselves back at our favorite training spot. I decided we'd train until noon and then go shopping. Towards evening, I planned to stop by Lindsay's—to say goodbye. The Pokédex warmed my pocket; I'd decided to turn it on for the first time today.

The display lit up with a quiet beep. I navigated through the simple menu to the Pokémon scanner. I had to admit, the UI/UX of the Pokédex was polished to perfection. Everything was logically arranged and intuitive.

"Haunter, front and center," I commanded.

He immediately drifted out of my shadow and took a position in the air directly in front of me. I aimed the device at him, and after a short loading sequence, it began to speak in a mechanical but clear voice:

"Haunter. The Gas Pokémon. Ghost and Poison type. Average height: one point six meters; weight: approximately zero point one kilograms. It feeds on fear and life energy. Its tongue can cause convulsions and paralysis. It can pass through walls, hide in shadows, and increase its weight at will. It avoids direct light, though it does not cause significant harm."

The Pokédex continued reciting general facts until it finally reached the data that interested me most:

"Subject: Haunter. Height: two point four meters. Estimated base weight: zero point one five kilograms. Auric energy level: 35/100."

"You hear that, Haunter? You're powerful!" I praised him, to which the Pokémon simply offered a joyful grin.

According to the statistical bureau, a freshly evolved Haunter typically had an auric energy level of around 25. However, it didn't work like in the games; this number didn't automatically guarantee victory. The Pokédex simply scanned the Pokémon, compared it to the global database, and determined the average for the specific species. The most powerful Gengar on record reached a value of 100/100. It was an indicator of internal energy capacity, not combat skill. It was common for a Pokémon with a lower level to win if it handled its energy with higher quality. For me, however, it was clear proof of Haunter's massive potential.

"Haunter, your tongue is mostly fine now. But energy efficiency is a long-term goal," I began matter-of-factly. Noticing his confused look, I immediately explained: "I mean, it'll take a long time to reach the level of focus we'll need at the absolute top. For now, we need to expand your arsenal. Lick is combat-ready for close quarters..."

"Haunter!" he nodded enthusiastically, waiting for what came next.

"We either need a way to close the gap instantly, which would be a great combo with Lick, or a proper ranged attack."

Haunter shook his head once and then gave a firm nod.

"So, a ranged attack?" I clarified.

"Haunter!" came the agreement.

He was right, actually. Given how much he could accelerate, getting close to a target shouldn't be that much of a problem. The priority was a ranged move. Only one thing came to mind—Shadow Ball. Theoretically, it should be beyond his strength since he only evolved yesterday, but the principle of the attack was simple at its core.

"Alright. Just concentrate your ghostly energy and try to compress it into a solid sphere. When the attack is ready, hurl it into the water," I ordered.

He obeyed immediately. A swirling blackness began to gather between his palms, gradually condensing to the size of a tennis ball. Some energy was still bleeding out into the air, but once the ball seemed relatively stable, Haunter flicked it toward the surface.

"Genius! On the first try?" I thought even before it could land.

Halfway through its flight, however, the sphere completely fell apart. Nothing hit the water. Haunter growled in disappointment but determinedly tried another one. The result was the same—the attack dissipated again before impact. He looked at me hopefully, as if expecting some miracle answer, but all I could do was motivate him.

"I'd love to help you, Haunter, but you have to master the technique yourself. Power isn't free; everyone has to earn it." I paused for a moment to let my words sink in. "You are exceptionally talented, and I have no doubt that with hard work, you'll master this. Try using less energy at the start, though. It'll be easier to manipulate."

"Haunter! Haunt! Haunteeer!" he nodded with resolve and threw himself back into the work with renewed energy.

Just like me. We both had to grind.

In the afternoon, I stopped for a moment and asked Haunter if he wanted to rest. He just shook his head and stubbornly continued his Shadow Ball training. I was starving by then, so I quickly headed to a fast-food joint for my favorite Magikarp fingers and fries.

Five minutes later, I was walking back, satisfied. Haunter had made great progress in that short time. He managed to keep a miniature orb in a consistent shape until it struck the sea surface. On impact, it created at least a small splash of water.

Not bad for a start, I mused. One or two of those and a weaker Pokémon would go down.

According to TV clips, though, I knew an experienced Gengar could trigger a massive wave with such an attack. We still had a long way to go.

I sat with my lunch and watched him. I liked his determination; it honestly motivated me to train just as hard. He was my starter, and I felt like I couldn't have asked for anything better. When I finished eating, I decided to call it a day.

"Haunter, that's enough. We have to go buy supplies for the road."

"Haunter!" he nodded, but he couldn't help himself and tried the technique one last time. This time, he decided to pour much more energy into it. A sphere the size of two tennis balls hit the sea with a dull thud, and a few drops even landed on me. I could see the exhaustion on him; the technique had cost him a huge amount of strength.

"Great work, Haunter. That was a good hit," I praised him sincerely.

He just nodded. He didn't look satisfied; he looked hungrier. He quickly levitated into my shadow, and we were ready to go shopping.

We headed into the heart of the city. For starters, we needed survival gear. The best and highest-quality equipment could be found at the Camp & Catch chain, which had a branch in every major city. They often had sales, and a typical PokéMart stood right next door. As soon as I stepped inside, a salesman in glasses approached me.

"Good day, can I help you with anything?" he asked with a professional smile.

"No, thanks. Just looking around," I replied. I knew exactly what I needed and wanted to consider every item in peace. I took a shopping cart and headed for the clearance aisles first.

I began to fill it:

A durable two-person tent—just in case I ran into pleasant company in the wild.
A warm double sleeping bag—for the same reason, to make cold nights more comfortable.
An electric lighter—with solar charging and a standard connector.
A solid flashlight—also with a solar panel and fast-charging function.
Five meters of heavy-duty rope.

I didn't forget a more luxurious, minimalist cooking set. It was the most expensive item because it featured a micro-button function. Upon pressing it, the entire set shrunk into a small orb and lost almost all its weight. It contained everything: a plate, a cup, a thermos, a pan, a pot, a spatula, cutlery, and a ladle.

To go with it, I picked out a proper backpack. That was also pricey, but it was equipped with a power function for weight reduction and spatial compression. Honestly, I didn't understand how the technology worked, but in this world, I was a trainer, not a scientist. I viewed it as an investment in the future.

I also grabbed a simple bowl in case I caught a new Pokémon for the team. In total, I left about $3,000 in the store. I still had two thousand to spare; I planned to spend one on clothes and keep the other as an emergency fund.

The salesman saw me out with a smile after I paid—I'd clearly made him a nice bonus. I headed straight to the PokéMart next door. I quickly grabbed bandages for injuries and universal Pokémon food. It only cost a few dollars, so my budget was still safe.

I moved on to Victory Apparel. Compared to overpriced brands like PokéFit Gear or Champion's Closet, Victory was significantly cheaper, yet reviews claimed it offered the best price-to-quality ratio. It wasn't as "flashy" and didn't have big-name sponsors, but I didn't give a damn.

A pleasant brunette approached me immediately, but I turned her down just like the salesman before. Honestly, I hated clothes shopping. My other self felt the same—that version usually used About You with a courier to the door. In this world, however, e-commerce in that form didn't exist at all.

Maybe a business idea? flashed through my mind, but I quickly focused on the racks in the men's section.

I looked through the complete outfits. Honestly, I preferred black or dark green. Dark green was better for the forest and matched my eyes and hair. However, the only green set that caught my eye wasn't in my size. The last piece was a Large, and with my build, I definitely needed an XL.

So, black it was. It looked attractive, though as forest camouflage, it was fairly impractical. In the end, the sale price and the material won me over—pleasant to the touch, yet thick and durable. With my strength and conditioning, a few extra grams wouldn't be a problem.

I took two black sets. They fit so perfectly it was as if I were born for them, and I had to admit, I looked pretty fit in them. To that, I added two emerald-colored t-shirts with temperature-regulation technology for maximum comfort and several packs of socks and underwear with the same function. From my other memories, I knew that the army in the other world had the most trouble with socks during long marches. I took extra care with them—a whole day in the wilderness is basically a military march.

I rounded out the purchase with black durable gloves made of dyed Tauros leather. They were tough, and who knew what Pokémon I'd encounter on the road. I didn't forget a raincoat either. I briefly considered a baseball cap, but I never liked them, so I skipped it. Instead, I took a bandana to cover my mouth and nose—in a forest full of poison types, it would be a necessity.

After paying, I had a final $500 left outside of my reserve. I hoped it would be enough for some decent steel with a sheath.

I knew I didn't want to buy a weapon in the city center where just anyone could wander in. For that, I needed a specialized, non-mainstream shop. As it happened, I knew a blacksmith in a poorer district to the east. I used to help him with grunt work—carrying and cleaning—and I knew he always had some weapons for sale. In Pallet Town, crime was minimal despite the population, but somewhere like Viridian? With that many people, the situation was significantly worse.

So, I went to see him. It wasn't long before I found myself in the shop. He had a forge in the back where he usually hammered iron and steel, but today he wasn't working and was sitting quietly behind the counter.

"Hey, Patrick! Finally here for some real steel?" he asked with a smile that froze instantly the moment he noticed my flickering shadows.

"Yeah. I need something reliable for the forest. Can you offer me something?"

He nodded with a stiff expression, stood up, and walked over to me. "What do you have in mind? I've got swords, spears, daggers, axes, bows, needles... You know the drill, you worked for me."

"I need a sword and a dagger with a sheath," I replied matter-of-factly.

He gestured to the right side where blades were displayed with prices. I could afford the dagger, but I was short for the sword, even though I needed it desperately. A dagger was essential for skinning game and butchering, but a sword was about survival.

"Can you recommend something? Reliable and cheap. I don't have much money, but with a discount, I'd take both," I put on a charming tone and winked at him.

He blinked in surprise. He was used to my introverted behavior, which was now long in the past. After a moment, he recovered.

"Exactly how much do you have? Let's see what we can do."

I wasn't afraid he'd cheat me. Argus was loud and vulgar, but he was an honest man.

"I have five hundred extra; in a pinch, I'll pull a hundred from my reserve," I admitted. He studied me seriously for a moment. I'd done good work for him, and he knew it. Although he called me a prick if I messed something up, he appreciated my effort.

He immediately pulled a simple dagger and sword from the racks. After a bit of rummaging in a cabinet, he fished out two sheaths of approximate size.

"Six hundred for the set," he blurted out with an earnest look.

"Are they good weapons?" I asked. I didn't know how to handle a sword yet, but I trusted my new instincts. All fighting is about movement, and I was confident I'd learn before I hurt myself.

He didn't hesitate for a second. "Best for that price. The sword is balanced, honest solid steel. It'll hold up in a fight." He paused for a moment and, with slightly reddened cheeks, added: "The dagger is a bit unbalanced, though... I'd had a few when I was working on it," he admitted with a crooked grin. "You won't feel it for defense or butchering, though. And the sheaths aren't exactly new, but I hope you don't mind."

I nodded. Argus spat on his palm and held it out to me. I looked at it with some distaste for a second, then did the same and shook it. At that moment, Haunter's mischievous laughter echoed through the shop. Laughing at me, the little bastard.

I quickly dropped my haul off at the orphanage and, after a refreshing shower, headed over to Lindsay's. It was time for our promised walk.

I gave their doorbell a short ring. Her mom opened it and immediately turned back inside with a smile, shouting, "Lindsay! Patrick's here!"

Then she looked at me: "Come on in, I think she's going to be a while."

I followed her into the living room, where she sat me down. She offered me tea, and assuming she was right about Lindsay's prep time, I accepted. The tea had time to get cold, and I'd finished it before Lindsay finally appeared. Her mom had kept me busy with questions about how I was doing.

Lindsay had really gone all out. Blood-red lipstick, a short black crop top, and sexy tight shorts.

"Hi, Patrick!" With a joyful hop, she threw her arms around my neck.

I caught her pleasant, fresh floral scent. While she was sexy, her looks were mostly down to her parents' genes, but she'd chosen that scent herself—and in my eyes, that was the best compliment. I returned her hug with a smile while her mother watched us with an amused expression.

"Hey. You smell great," I complimented her, immediately asking: "Ready for that walk?"

She nodded enthusiastically and pulled me outside. Behind us, we could hear her mother's voice with a laugh in it: "Home by ten, young lady! And no hanky-panky, you lovebirds!"

"Uugh," Lindsay muttered once we were on the street. She quickly turned curious, though: "So, where are we going?"

I still had some money for coffee, but this late, I preferred a more private walk through the evening city. Ideally towards the sea, back to where I'd been training. So, we headed for the coast.

Author's note:

A little bit of training, a little bit of shopping, and a lot of Haunter being a menace. I wanted to balance the "slice-of-life" moments with the preparation for the journey.

How do you think the date with Lindsay will turn out? Our MC is hitting the road very soon, and things are about to get a lot more intense.

Join our Discord community: tgdTNZYVKt - Vote on the plot, chat, and get the best FF recs!

The shadows are shifting... If you can't wait to see where the darkness leads, you can find the advanced chapters on YOU-KNOW-WHAT.

Support the craft and keep the ink flowing. Your contribution in the Restricted Section directly allows me to dedicate more time to this dark world and bring you deeper, faster updates.

Enter the Restricted Section here: you-know-what/PatrikWriter

Upcoming Chapters – Already written:
5. A Liver Hook and a Farewell
6. Lessons of the Wild
7. Steelix Finish and Dirty Dealers
8. Steel and Stingers
9. A War of Wings and Blades

Despacitoleo · Wednesday at 6:19 PM

Lol hope lindsay doesn't get clapped while hes out and about gryayayaysysy

Also awsoke chapter wonder if haunter can make a ghost field/gas fields and apply the soul sucking effects on it or other parts of his body a natural ability vs a move ability of ghosts which one is better???

And can he combine then

PatrikWriter · Thursday at 8:06 AM

Despacitoleo said:
Lol hope lindsay doesn't get clapped while hes out and about gryayayaysysy

Also awsoke chapter wonder if haunter can make a ghost field/gas fields and apply the soul sucking effects on it or other parts of his body a natural ability vs a move ability of ghosts which one is better???

And can he combine then

I hope not! Lindsay is basically my Sydney Sweeney of the Pokémon world.

As for Haunter, with enough auric energy and hard training, he can pretty much achieve anything

.

We'll just have to wait and see what he's truly capable of in the future!

PatrikWriter · Sunday at 6:42 PM

Announcement

Hi everyone! Recently, a few readers (not many, but they're there) have voiced their dislike for the torture, violence, and overall darker themes in the story.

I want to be clear: I truly appreciate everyone who comments, discusses the magic system, or offers constructive criticism. I love the engagement! However, I have little patience for 'snowflake' behavior. In the real world, we see theft, murder, drugs, torture, and war every single day. I strive to write a realistic world, and that means depicting both the kind and the cruel sides of life.

If you have a problem with a gritty, realistic world, this story might not be for you, and that's okay. You are free to stop reading.

To everyone else—including the objective critics—thank you! I value every single one of your comments and your support.

The evening shore of Pallet Town felt quite romantic. A gentle breeze toyed with Lindsay's hair while she smiled contentedly into the void. The usual small talk was behind us, leaving us to simply enjoy each other's presence in the silence. We both avoided the heavier topics—my departure and her feelings. There was still time for that.

After a while, we settled onto the last bench overlooking the sea, right at the edge of town. Finally, we had some privacy. Lindsay looked truly beautiful. Honestly, as a young guy full of testosterone, I wouldn't have needed much convincing. The only thing holding me back was our long-standing friendship and the fact that I didn't want to hurt her. Tomorrow, I was setting out on a journey where anything could happen. I definitely didn't want a serious long-distance relationship and, to be honest, I planned on enjoying a carefree life.

Eventually, she decided to break the silence. "When are you leaving, Patrik?" she asked in a quiet voice, her gaze fixed on the calm water.

"I plan to head out tomorrow morning, as soon as I wake up."

"Do you have everything? Poké Balls, Antidotes, Potions? A tent? Sleeping bag?"

I nodded dutifully at every item, but she couldn't help herself and meticulously continued the list.

"Cooking set? Flashlight? Rope? Food?"

"Got it, got it, and got it. I plan to hunt something in the forest. Caterpie is fairly easy prey," I replied matter-of-factly.

She frowned at me and commanded in a serious tone, "You should take some non-perishable food too, just in case. If you don't have time to hunt or if something goes wrong."

I raised my hands in surrender. "Yes, General!"

She nodded with satisfaction and continued: "Bandages? Toiletries?"

Shit... I forgot the toiletries. It hadn't really crossed my mind that I should bring shampoo, deodorant, or a toothbrush. She must have seen the expression on my face because she chuckled softly.

"What did you forget?" she asked, amused.

"Toiletries," I admitted with a smirk. "I'll have to go buy them quickly tomorrow."

"Well, well... what do we have here? A pair of lovebirds?" a mocking voice rang out.

I had been so preoccupied with Lindsay and our conversation that I had completely missed the approaching couple. Of course, it was Lily with her latest catch. Lindsay stiffened instantly. Whenever Lily appeared, I used to lose my confidence and fall silent. She likely expected the same, but those days were long gone.

"Don't bother us, you slut," I replied coldly. From the corner of my eye, I saw Lindsay's jaw drop in surprise.

"Excuse me? What did you just say?" Lily shrieked like a fury.

"Are you deaf? Go screw him in the bushes somewhere and stop bothering decent people."

"How dare you?!" She immediately turned to her suitor. "Are you just going to let him talk to me like that?!"

The idiot cracked his knuckles threateningly and slowly stepped toward me. He seemed confident, though I had no idea why. He was about the same height as me; perhaps I just looked smaller while sitting down.

I stood up, and in that same second, Haunter slid fluidly out of my shadow. The guy stopped dead in his tracks, taking a step back with a terrified expression.

"Easy, Haunter. Leave him to me," I commanded. The Pokémon watched me for a moment but obeyed. He trusted me.

The guy stood there uncertainly, looking as if he couldn't decide what to do first. He didn't want to lose face in front of the girl, but he clearly had the fear of death in his eyes because of Haunter.

"Jared! Don't be a coward! You see that Haunter isn't going to interfere. Defend my honor!" Lily exploded again.

Honestly, I didn't understand these morons who acted so irrationally on a first date, especially over someone like her. There were millions of men and women out there. I would understand if he were fighting for a woman of quality—then it's expected—but for a hussy like this? I had no doubt Jared knew her reputation. Was he just hoping for easy sex?

He resolutely thrust his hands toward me. I stepped forward to meet him, ensuring Lindsay wouldn't get caught up in the scuffle.

As soon as I got close, he tried to swing at me. It was one of those strange "hockey" swings—slow, predictable, and technically so poorly executed that he'd likely break his wrist upon impact. I dipped my head slightly, slipped under his arm, and with a lightning-fast pivot on my toes, I put my entire body weight into the counterattack.

A left liver hook landed with a muffled, hollow thud.

Jared collapsed to the ground instantly like a house of cards. He writhed in the dust, emitting only intermittent, high-pitched sounds. I could have hit him on the chin or the temple, which would have "turned him off" just as reliably. But if he fell uncontrollably, he could hit his head on the concrete, and who knows if he'd survive that. I had no intention of risking prison for one horny idiot.

Now it was Lily's turn for her jaw to drop. With absolute indifference, I turned my back on her and looked at my companion.

"Let's go, Lindsay. This company has stopped being pleasant."

She obeyed immediately. She followed me with unconcealed surprise in her eyes, and I could feel her intense, searching gaze on my back. After a while, she caught up, and side by side we headed back home. Behind us, the whimpering of that poor wretch slowly faded into the silence of the night. But he brought it on himself. As they say—play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

She couldn't stand the silence for long. "What happened to you, Patrik?" she asked curiously. "It's still you, but at the same time, you're completely different."

I knew what she was talking about, but I gave her a questioning look to buy time and think of an answer.

"You're confident, more ambitious... my mom said she saw you running. Since when do you run, for heaven's sake? You always avoided gym class!" She paused for a moment, then blurted out: "And since when can you fight?!"

"It's a secret, so you'll have to keep it to yourself," I began cautiously.

She nodded immediately. If I couldn't trust her in this world, then I couldn't trust anyone. I decided to tell her at least a basic version of the truth.

"Professor Oak revealed to me that I come from a powerful bloodline. That's actually where I got my starter from. I'm one of the last living members, and for safety, they hid me here in Pallet Town as an orphan," I explained. I hesitated for a second before adding: "And the change in behavior? A family gift manifested in me."

She stared at me in wonder, finally asking with a smirk, "So you're basically a lost prince?" But she immediately continued: "I told myself Gastly was a strange starter. They're way more dangerous than average Pokémon for a beginner." Then she leaned in curiously. "And what kind of gift is it?"

"Yes, a prince. Bow to me," I replied with an amused grin, my nose tilted up arrogantly. "I can't tell you that. Family secret."

She punched me lightly in the shoulder. "The only one bowing here is going to be you!"

Eventually, we stopped in front of her house. We stood there in silence for a while, gazing at each other until Lindsay took the first step and hugged me tightly.

"What time are you planning to leave in the morning?" she asked into my shoulder.

"Well, since I still have to buy those toiletries and some food, probably around ten."

"Then I'll expect you here at ten. Exactly! We're going to say goodbye properly," she commanded strictly, though I could hear a tremor in her voice.

"You got it, Lindsay. I'll definitely stop by before I leave," I promised with a smile.

She reluctantly released me from the hug. She looked into my eyes, nervously biting her lower lip. After a moment, she plucked up the courage—she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek while I watched her with amusement. Immediately after, her face flushed red, she vanished into the house. I noticed a curtain twitch in the window. Her mother had clearly been watching us the whole time.

I didn't wait around and headed toward home. I needed a good night's sleep for my big journey.

I got up as early as six in the morning. Dawn was just breaking, which suited me because I had a lot to get done. I got ready quickly, splashed my face with cold water, brushed my teeth, and headed into town.

"Haunter, do you want to come shopping with me, or will you go train?" I asked. I felt safe in Pallet Town even on my own.

He immediately floated out of my shadow and looked at me questioningly. "Haunter?"

"Nothing's going to happen to me in this town, so you can go train while I shop. I'll come get you afterward."

"Haunter!" he nodded in agreement and immediately headed toward our usual spot by the shore.

I headed for the center. On the way, I went over my shopping list in my head: food for myself, toiletries, and a travel cloak. I needed something that would at least partially cover the scabbard of the sword on my back.

I went into the supermarket with a clear plan. Since I didn't have money to spare, I had to pass on the Miltank steak. Instead, I threw Magikarp fillets, rice, and Oddish leaves into the basket. I also added a pack of Bulba-stems, even though they were a bit more expensive. I rounded off the purchase with some pre-made food—a meat mix with rice balls. I could easily prepare all of it in the woods on a pan over a fire.

Along with the food, I grabbed coffee and basic toiletries: toothpaste, shampoo (in the Poké-world, basically only bio versions exist), and deodorant. My memories told me that deodorants in my original world weren't worth much, but here they were top-notch. Manufacturers had invested a fortune in their development—one spray and you were free from the smell of sweat for the whole day. I briefly considered a disposable razor but eventually decided to let my beard grow. The three-millimeter stubble my older self used to wear worked great with women, according to my memories.

I had seven hundred dollars left in reserve. Fortunately, food was cheap, so if I could get a cloak for under a hundred, I'd be in good shape. I headed back to the familiar Victory Apparel. They only had "cookie-cutter" cloaks, but that didn't bother me at all right now.

I ended up buying a simple cotton cloak with a very thin layer of genuine leather. It was such a thin layer that it only cost me ninety-nine dollars on sale. The color was an obvious choice—black. I simply buckled it on and stopped by to pick up Haunter, who was finishing his training, before finally heading back home. I still had to fill out the departure papers and say goodbye to the headmistress.

It didn't take long at all. So many children cycled through the home that I had absolutely no relationship with the headmistress. What did surprise me, however, was the five hundred dollars I received as a contribution for the future. It turned out that every orphan receives such a starting fund for life. I hadn't counted on it at all, so it genuinely pleased me.

I was apparently the only one from our home heading out today. Several peers had already left during the week, as was custom. The only trainer still remaining at the home was Lily. I hoped she had trained her Pidgey at least a little and hadn't just been chasing other "birds." Even though I despised her, I didn't actually wish her any ill will.

With a sense of a new beginning, I went to find Lindsay. Since she lived only a few meters from the home, I was ringing their doorbell almost instantly. I arrived a bit early, but I knew I wouldn't be bothering anyone. As soon as I rang, her mother opened the door. She was beaming with satisfaction.

"Welcome, Patrik, come on in."

"Good morning," I greeted with a curious smile. The intoxicating scent of fresh food wafted through the whole house. My mouth started watering, even though I wasn't hungry at all.

Is she happy that I'm finally leaving? Or is there something else behind it?

She noticed the unspoken question in my eyes and replied with an amused smile: "Lindsay has been busy in the kitchen since morning preparing treats for your journey. I'm so proud of her."

Lindsay genuinely hated cooking and baking. She often had conflicts with her mother over it, who tried to teach her. Even in this world, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

"Uh... is it going to poison me?"

She laughed heartily, and it took her a moment to reply. "Don't worry, I was giving instructions."

"Then I have no doubt it will taste perfect," I conceded. Her mother was a truly great cook, and I had been a frequent guest at their place in the past.

As soon as we entered the kitchen, I saw a disheveled and tired Lindsay by the oven. We watched her in silence for a moment until she noticed us. She shrieked in horror and covered her face with her hands.

"You were supposed to come at ten!" she blurted out and immediately snapped at her mother: "Why did you bring him in here?! Look at me!"

"You look great, Lindsay. And the food will surely taste just as good," I reacted quickly and reassuringly. Her mother just gave me a satisfied wink and discreetly left the kitchen.

Lindsay frowned for a moment longer but immediately started smoothing out at least the messiest strands of her hair with her hands.

"Sit down, I'm still finishing the steak!" she commanded and promptly turned back to the oven.

I sat down contentedly and watched her with a smile. Women like her were rare in life. My older self would likely have pulled out a ring at this very moment. It wasn't long before I had stacks of prepared meals, fruit cake, and gingerbread snacks in front of me. Good thing I paid extra for a decent backpack, otherwise I have no idea how I would have stuffed it all in there.

Only one last thing remained—saying goodbye. We had privacy in the kitchen.

With sadness in her eyes, she hugged me tightly. She still smelled great—fruity and fresh, despite having been in the kitchen all morning. After a moment, she pulled back slightly so she could look me directly in the eyes.

"Promise me you'll stay safe and that we'll see each other again," she whispered.

"I promise!" I agreed immediately.

"Promise me you'll get in touch at least every week!"

"I promise," I repeated firmly.

In that moment, she was incredibly sweet and attractive, even with her messy hair and the fatigue in her eyes. I gave in. I slowly moved my lips closer, giving her the chance to pull away, but she met me halfway. I began to kiss her gently, and after a while, I tasted her more deeply. It was a long, romantic kiss. Her lips were soft and warm. I held her by the hips and for a moment felt a wild desire to lift her right onto the kitchen counter... but I resisted. It was hard to pull away from her. She was breathing raggedly and looking at me with a glassy gaze.

I hugged her one last time and headed for the exit. I could still feel her longing gaze on my back.

A few minutes later, I was standing at the far north of town by a large steel-and-wood gate. Police officers with their Growlithes kept watch in the observation tower; they provided security in case wild Pokémon decided to attack the town. After a brief check-in and an ID scan, I found myself outside. With one last look at the houses of Pallet Town, Haunter and I set out on the journey of our lives.

TRIVIA

From the age of seven, every child had a mandatory subject in school focused on the world of Pokémon. A few hours a month were dedicated to covering the absolute basics: from identifying danger and methods of catching or feeding to determining threat levels. The state ensured that every citizen had basic knowledge of survival in the wilderness. It was a strategic insurance policy—in case the cities fell and humanity found itself under threat, individuals had to be able to survive and rebuild functioning communities.

At the age of twelve, it was time to choose a specialization. The options were wide—from various crafts and manual labor to medicine, law, or professional training. Every city placed a high emphasis on constantly raising the level of education. High school studies ended at age fifteen, and for those who wanted to reach the top of their field, highly specialized university followed.

Author's note:

I've never understood desperate guys who'd do just about anything for some pussy. Women can be good or bad, high-quality or total trash. The most important thing in life is having a woman who's actually worth it, and to me, Lindsay seems like exactly that. What do you guys think of her? It's honestly a bit sad how he left her behind. We're finally heading into the woods, though, and the real Pokémon journey begins!

Join our Discord community: tgdTNZYVKt - Vote on the plot, chat, and get the best FF recs!

The shadows are shifting... If you can't wait to see where the darkness leads, you can find the advanced chapters on YOU-KNOW-WHAT.

Support the craft and keep the ink flowing. Your contribution in the Restricted Section directly allows me to dedicate more time to this dark world and bring you deeper, faster updates.

Enter the Restricted Section here: you-know-what/PatrikWriter

Upcoming Chapters – Already written:
6. Lessons of the Wild
7. Steelix Finish and Dirty Dealers
8. Steel and Stingers
9. A War of Wings and Blades
10. Red "R" and Crimson Steel

ScotttheBard · 2026-03-02T18:03:43+0000

Lovely. So were most likely getting a harem and I hope Lindsay is the 'Head Wife'

PatrikWriter · 2026-03-03T06:19:53+0000

ScotttheBard said:
Lovely. So were most likely getting a harem and I hope Lindsay is the 'Head Wife'

I hate to disappoint you, but it's not going to be a harem

. We'll see how things work out with Lindsay in the future, though!

Reaching the Apex (Pokémon SI)

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