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WELCOME TO GALAR
Six months have passed since the events of Sword and Shield, and Galar has once again opened its gates for all to participate in the new season of the Pokémon League.
With only a select few receiving an endorsement, these Trainers must travel the region and win all 8 Gym Badges in order to participate in the final tournament as the whole of Galar watches.
"So, are you going to tell me what happened to your eye?" Rowan poured out a cup of tea for Sage, who was dressed in the new clothes that his mother had given him. Sage accepted the cup gratefully and took his time sipping it, trying to think of how to respond.
"If I am being perfectly honest, I'd rather not say at the moment," he said. He looked into his cup and took another sip, feeling his body warm up as he drank the liquid. It felt as if the heat had spread throughout his body, but most of it was clustered in his stomach, like the nucleus of an atom.
"Either way, it is a pleasure to have you back Sage. How did you find your time at Azure? Obviously, before the tragedy," Rowan said as he sat down across from Sage. Sage nodded as he put down his mug, not particularly eager to talk about Azure but understanding that it was going to come up eventually.
"Well, I definitely learned a lot from my experiences there, both good and bad. I am grateful for the hands on experience I got there, as the academic challenge was admittedly quite easy," Sage said. He tightened a tie a little bit more as it began to loosen. It was going to take some time to get used to these new clothes his mother had gotten him. "Splendid! You have amazing potential and I am ecstatic that you found some experiences to help you flourish. What are your plans for the future?" Rowan asked, his big and burly frame heaving as he talked, his happiness showing. Sage took a moment to answer, collecting his thoughts.
"My immediate plan is to journey around the region. I plan to take on the gyms, as I believe that I could learn a lot from those experiences," Sage said. "Although, my life goal is to follow in your foot steps."
"Ah, so you aim to be a professor? Well you certainly have the potential for it, I've known that since I first took you as my assistant. However, it may be a while for a position such as that to open up, so I am happy to hear you plan to journey around the Sinnoh region. Ah, that reminds me, how is the Turtwig I entrusted you?"
"Ah, Oakley has actually evolved into a Grotle," Sage answered.
"That's wonderful!" Rowan answered. "And have you gotten any other Pokemon?"
"Ah yes, I have caught a Shellos, a Mothim, and received Magby from an egg while at the Academy," Sage answered. He subconsciously put a hand on his Pokeballs, switching between each as he said the names of the Pokemon that inhabited them.
"My my, you have got yourself a team there! I remember the day you first left for Azure and you received Turtwig. And look at you now, you have grown so much. Both physically and mentally, actually. At this point you may be almost as tall as me!" Rowan said with a laugh. "Ah, but that reminds me. A new trainer is supposed to receive their first Pokemon from today. Would you like to stay and help? It will be just like before," Rowan offered. Sage smiled softly, remembering a time when things were simpler and less chaotic and worrisome.
A day of nonstop travelling had past since Selena made her "great escape" from Veilstone City. She was filled with both fear for the future and some regret for leaving so hastily, but she knew this was her calling, for destiny awaited her in this lively journey. "We are now leaving Jubilife City. The next station is: Sandgem Town. Please take all your belongings with you." Selena looked up from her knitted hands fidgeting between one another when the automated announcement was made and she turned her attention to the town coated with waving trees and a floor full of gritted sand. It was a beautiful sight - something so different to the modernised Veilstone City - so Selena grasped onto her bag that was sitting besides her and moved up towards the doors.
As the ride came to a halt and the doors opened, Selena brushed shoulders with several people that accompanied her in pouring from the train. She moved her hand to the tip of her hat and securely kept it down whilst looking around. She frowned. "Right, OK. Now where is--! AH!" Selena's mumbles where forced to become a short yelp when the phone attached to her side vibrated and jolting against her thigh. "ZZCHT! ZCCHT! We've arrived in Sandgem Town! We're here to meet Professor Rowan!" Blurted out a robotic voice. Selena caught her breathe and pouted her lips to one side with her eyes trailing down to the phone. "Porygon, what have I told you about doing that?! I know we're here - you don't need to be so abrupt. Now, can you get the directions up?" The "eyes" that sat above the screen on the phone blinked up to the girl, and it hesitated until making a faint beeping noise. "Getting directions for: Professor Rowan's Laboratory, Sandgem Town, Sinnoh, now!"
Selena's lips thinned into a faint smile, and she cupped her palm around the Porygon Phone and unclipped it from her shorts. The screen lit up and emitted a blue dot that connected to a trail which was said to only last a few minutes before reaching their destination. "Thank you!" She beamed, and with one hand around the phone and the other on the strap of her rucksack, she made her way to the laboratory.
After a few minutes of walking, Selena was hit with a sense of Butterfree in her stomach as her eyes met the light blue, spherical building. "This is it," She thought, "This is where it all begins.." She smiled to herself before pushing open the gate and making her way along the cobbled path that led up to two glass doors. She peered inside for just a second, to which she was able to make out two figures inside, and then she nudged the door open and walked in. "H-hello?" She chimed, raising her chin. "I'm here to meet Professor Rowa--!" "ZZCHT! ZCCHT! We have now arrived at: Professor Rowan's Labortaory, Sandgem Town, Sinnoh!" Selena yelped and clutched her hands tightly around the phone in her grasp. Her eyes darted from the duo, to the phone, and then back to them. She let out an awkward laugh. "UH! Haha.. Sorry about that! I'm Selena!" Her cheeks flushed a light shade of red and she rubbed her hand against the back of her neck, and then she clipped the phone back onto her side. "I'm here to meet Professor Rowan!"
"Is... Is that a Porygon Phone?" Sage asked, confused.
"I didn't realize that was possible," he said, mentally taking notes. He studied the phone with his eye, theorizing how that would work.
"Ah, yes! Come right in! My name is Rowan. However, everyone just calls me the Pokémon Professor. As you know, this world is widely inhabited by creatures known as Pokémon," Rowan said. Sage caught himself almost mouthing the words along to the speech. He had heard this so many times that he had it memorized.
"We humans live alongside Pokémon as friends. At times we play together, and at other times we work together. Some people use their Pokémon to battle and develop closer bonds with them. You may be wondering what I do. I conduct research so that we may learn more about Pokémon. We exist side by side with Pokémon. There comes a time when people should meet Pokémon. There is a world that should be explored together. For them, today is that time. The place, right here. Sage, would you please retrieve the starters so that Selena here may make her choice?" Sage nodded.
"Right away, Professor," he said as he left the room to go to a part of the lab further back. He made his way to the area where the Pokémon would be kept. He found his way around very easily, greeting the other assistants that he remembered from earlier.
"Excuse me, Professor Rowan needs the starter Pokémon for a new trainer," he politely asked one of the assistants.
"Yes, right away. Oh, and welcome back Sage," the aide said with a warm smile. He left and came back with three Pokeballs.
"Here you go, these are the three I believe," he said to Sage as he plopped the three Pokeballs into Sage's hands. Sage thanked him and returned to the main room where Rowan and Selena were waiting.
"Please, let them out of their Pokéballs, Sage." Sage did as he was told, letting them out one at a time. Turtwig came out first, the small grass type making a cry. Then came Chimchar, the energetic Pokémon letting out a loud cry. Last, came Piplup, who upon release stood tall and confidently, letting out a small "Pip."
"The choice is yours! It's a big decision and luckily you are the only one to receive a Pokémon today, so there is no rush," said Professor Rowan, his booming voice showing that despite all his years of experience, he still took great joy in this ceremony, so to speak.
Selena's eyes shifted from the Professor and towards Sage when he asked her a question. She nodded once, "What, this?" She patted the phone. "Yeah, it's a Porygon Phone! Super cool but also very annoying when he wants to be! My mother had it imported from the Galar region." She laughed, and then stepped further into the laboratory when Rowan greeted her.
Selena listened tensely when the Professor talked in such detail about the importance of the partnership between Trainer and Pokémon, and for a moment, it made her feel wistful for her mother. Nonetheless, though, these feelings were pushed to the back of her mind when the question she was so dire to hear was mentioned. Which Pokémon will she choose!? Her eyes trailed after Sage when he left the room which gave her a few moments to look around the laboratory. It was surrounded by stacks of research paper, several operating computers and a few assistance taking doing theory work, and in front of her stood a metallic table with three vacant spaces awaiting the Sinnohan Starters. A few minutes later, Sage walked back into the room, though this time he was armed with three shining Pokéballs, which made Selena beam up! "Eek! This is so exciting!" She exclaimed as she bunched her hands up to her chest.
When Sage released the Pokémon from their balls, Professor Rowan moved to Selena's side with a light smile. "The choice is yours! It's a big decision and luckily you are the only one to receive a Pokémon today, so there is no rush." Selena glanced over her shoulder and smiled up to him, nodding. "Right, OK!" She said, stepping forward to the trio. "Hey, guys - my name is Selena! Aren't you three just so adorable!?" She laughed lightly, but then she knitted her brows together. This was a tough pick, and just like Rowan said, it was a very important one at that, so she had to concentrate. All three of the Pokémon stood tall to present themselves, but it seemed one in particular wanted to catch Selena's eye!
"Pip! Piplup, Pip!" Cried out the Piplup as it ran across the table. Selena's eyes widened momentarily, but she quickly put out her hands to catch the waddling Pokémon. "Hey, little one, slow down!" She laughed and scooped the Pokémon up into her arms, which only led it to nuzzle its head against hers. "Aha! So it seems Piplup has taken a liking in you," Chimed the Professor as he moved to their side once more. "Piplup seems to do this with a lot of new Trainers that come in here, but usually their hearts are set on choosing either Chimchar or Turtwig."
Hearing that made Selena frown momentarily, but she looked back down to the Piplup in her arms and smiled. "Well, that shouldn't be an issue anymore.. because I'm choosing Piplup as my starter Pokémon!" She cheered, lifting it into the air, which caused Piplup to cry out happily, too! "I think I'll call you.. Pipper!" She said, bringing Piplup back down, which caused her to flap her arms with a nod. "Ah, very well then! Pipper the Piplup it is for you, Miss Pearl. Now, allow me to give you these six complimentary Pokéball's as a token for you starting your journey. But remember, one is already being used for your Piplup!" Exclaimed Rowan as he lifted a container carrying the six Pokéball's up to Selena's grasp. "Thank you, Professor!" Said Selena as she took the Pokeball's and reached them across her side to put them in her bag.
"So, what is your first plan of action, Selena? Where will you be heading first?" Selena perked up a smirk when Rowan asked that, and without further hesitation, she looked over to Sage. "First things first.. I want to challenge you to a battle against Pipper and I! What do you say!?"
Sage studied the small Porygon Phone with curiosity. He didn't realize that Sinnoh had relations with Galar, but he hadn't been watching the news recently. He only found out about the closed borders through his parents, so it would make sense that he wouldn't be aware of the relationship between the regions. Sage watched tentatively as Selena made her choice. He remembered his own choice over a year ago and the two other people who chose with him. He remembered the redheaded girl who had also chosen Piplup and the redhead who chose Chimchar. He wondered where those two were right now. It wasn't very important, he supposed. He was lost in his own thoughts a bit when Selena broke him out of his little trance when she challenged him to a battle. A small smile creeped up on his face as it happened.
"Well, I suppose I would not be a trainer if I didn't agree. I accept your challenge."
Selena's lips leaned into a side-smirk, and she snickered under her breath. "Heh! Great, what do you say, Pipper!? You ready to win our first battle?" Exclaimed Selena. Piplup let out an energetic chirp and flailed herself around in Selena's arms, which caused the girl to laugh. "Alright, let's go!" She said before sprinting towards the exit and out into the open, luscious gardens of the laboratory.
