What does Pokemon mean to you?

The amazing world of Pokémon!

A world where Pokémon and humans co-exist.

But that wasn’t always the case.

Hundreds of years ago, The Arceus Devastation happened—an event that changed everything.

Most Pokémon became hostile toward humans, their aggression woven into instinct and survival.

Yet… those who manage to form a true bond with Pokémon are blessed by the ultimate being—Arceus.

These people are called Trainers.

The class claps for the teacher, sitting criss-cross applesauce like we’re supposed to.

Meanwhile, I lie in the back of the room, eyes closed, relaxed… but listening.

They tell that same story every day, drilling it into our heads.

Everyone here is young—between the ages of 4 and 5.

But me?

Why am I here?

Why am I in this tiny body?

“Able, wake up! It isn’t nap time yet!”

“You won’t get a gold star if you don’t listen to the story.”

I’m shrouded in darkness.

Then—my vision is overtaken by an image:

A child running, unmistakably with a Pikachu.

“The amazing world of Pokémon, where people and pok—”

The image freezes.

Cracks begin to form—

Then it shatters, like a glass screen breaking.

A voice I don’t recognize speaks:

“You’ve heard that intro more times than you can count, haven’t you, Mr. Sowisi?”

Suddenly, I can move again.

My hands, my body—it’s all visible now.

Though the space around me remains dark.

A spotlight appears.

A faceless body stands beneath it—no features, no eyes, just a shape.

He chuckles, snapping his fingers.

“Tell me…”

Snap.

“What does Pokémon mean to you?”

A Pokéball appears before me.

It’s life-sized—about the size of a baseball.

The games don’t portray the scale very well.

Still, I say nothing.

The figure sighs, casually shrugging.

“I’m not surprised.

To be honest, I’ve been watching you for a while.”

I look up from the Pokéball to meet the faceless figure’s gaze—

And suddenly, his body begins to shift, morphing…

“You’re… Professor Oak,” I say, amused.

“Ding ding ding!” he responds, cheerful and loud—far too energetic for the old body he now wears.

Then he changes again.

“Professor Sycamore?” I blurt out in confusion.

“Yes! I’m surprised you know the names of all of me.”

His body morphs again, changing with every word.

“I’ve…” (Professor Kukui)

“Been…” (Back to Oak)

“Watching…”

“You…”

“All…”

“This…”

“Time.” (Every professor in the games, one after the other.)

The dark void around us seems familiar, like the place where the Pokémon world is introduced at the start of every game—

Where a Pokéball is thrown into the air to show off a Pokémon.

“You’re a shiny hunter, right?” he asks, curious.

I lower my head at the mention of the title.

“Oh ho-ho! You are the great Sowisi!

The unwavering Pokémon playa!”

He finger-guns at me.

“You spent over 2,100 hours trying to get a shiny Darkrai.

That’s serious dedication, my dude.”

“That’s what made you famous. But tell me… why?

Why spend so much time just pressing the same five buttons over and over for a Pokémon that’s just a different color?”

He spins theatrically.

“There has to be a reason, right~?”

“So I’ll ask again… What does Pokémon mean to you?

An escape from reality?

A reason to live?

Entertainment?

Money?

Or maybe—”

“Pokémon means nothing to me,” I cut him off.

“It’s all pointless.”

Silence.

He returns to his original, faceless form.

“That’s… unfortunate.

But your story doesn’t end here, nor did it end on that rooftop.”

I look up, alarmed.

“How did you know about—?”

“I have a job for you, Sowisi—

Or should I say… Isaac.”

He walks closer, his voice calm but firm.

“You hold the potential to bring light to others.

You showed that through your unwavering dedication in your past life.

Now you’ll carry it into the next, into the true world of Pokémon.”

“Just like you, Pokémon has lost its purpose.

I believe you can save the world I hold dear.”

“But don’t worry—you won’t be alone.

Two others will be sent into this world alongside you.”

“The first holds the power of calculation, unfamiliar with the sensation of failure.

He can hone and fully utilize every tool and Pokémon available.

A competitive player.

An unstoppable force.”

“The third… is you—The Shiny Hunter.”

I pause, confused.

“Who’s the second per—”

“Ah!” He cuts me off.

“Not yet. Be patient—you’re good at that, aren’tcha?”

A white light extends from the void, blinding me.

“It’s time for you to re-explore and redefine the world of Pokémon!”

His voice fades…

“We’ll meet again in due time!”

When I regained my vision, I was crying—probably out of frustration and confusion.

But I was in the arms of a woman in her late twenties.

Black hair.

Gentle, hazel eyes.

“Isn’t he beautiful?” she exclaimed softly, careful not to startle me.

“He has your eyes.”

A man of similar age approached, grinning.

The woman chuckled.

“I’ll name you Able.”

The man turned toward her, who now sat upright in her hospital bed.

“I thought we were going to name him after me?

Gabriel Oxford II?”

She gave him a sharp glance. The kind of look that speaks louder than words.

“Able it is.”

This couple—Gabriel and Tiana—would be my parents.

I was too weak to even turn my head.

But then, a round, pink creature walked up from behind my father.

And that’s when it hit me.

That creature—

That thing—

Was a Chansey.

A real, living Pokémon.

I’ve been born into the real world of Pokémon.