Beneath the bright sunshine lie blue skies and white clouds.
Groups of Pidgey soar freely, led by a Pidgeotto.
Looking down, there are rows of lush, green trees.
In the flourishing treetops, Mankey and Venonat are frolicking.
Further down, one can see Metapod clinging to the trunks, silently gathering strength to evolve into butterflies.
And on the ground.
Naturally, there is lush green grass.
Only by looking very carefully can one distinguish the Oddish mixed within it.
The timid Oddish is both afraid and unable to resist curiously observing the strange-looking Pokémon sleeping under the tree.
“It” has no sharp fangs, no sharp claws, and neither wings nor a tail.
Its hair is also sparse, with only a little growing on its head.
Although it is large in size, it doesn’t look very strong…
Is it a Pokémon as weak as it is?
The Oddish cautiously approaches.
This strange Pokémon is sleeping very soundly.
It completely failed to notice its approach.
Although this forest is relatively harmonious.
It is not entirely without danger, after all.
The Oddish is a bit worried, but afraid of disturbing the other.
After considering for a while…
It decides to stand guard for “it”!
One minute, two minutes…
ten minutes…
Zzzzz~
The scent emanating from this Pokémon is even better than its own, and it is very reassuring, so.
Without realizing it, the Oddish falls asleep leaning against the youth, and it is the one sleeping even more soundly.
Mmm~
Time slips away in dreams.
Who knows how much time has passed.
The youth slowly opens his eyes.
Through the dense leaves, dappled sunlight spills onto his face, but it is not dazzling.
A gentle breeze in the forest blows away some of the heat.
After a month.
Edward has become accustomed to days of sleeping under the open sky and using the earth as a bed.
From the moment he opened his eyes and saw a Pikachu scamper past, Edward understood that he had transmigrated.
He is very happy.
Because this is the world he has dreamed of, a world with living, breathing Pokémon.
Besides, for him, Earth.
Was already devoid of any attachments.
Why not start a new life in this dreamlike world!
Although there is no mirror, Edward can clearly feel that his body has become smaller.
However, judging by the familiar moles on his palms and the insides of his elbows.
This seems to still be his original body.
It just went through some special changes…
After all, even when his body was at its peak after becoming an adult, he couldn’t jump onto a five-meter-high tree branch in one go.
A transmigration reward of Ash Ketchum-like constitution?
Edward is instantly even more delighted.
In the next few days, Edward is like an elementary school student on a spring outing.
He begins to explore this strange yet familiar world.
First, he can confirm that he is in a huge forest.
The forest is rich in resources.
Fruits and fungi can be seen everywhere.
On the second day, Edward discovers a lake.
The lake water is clear.
Occasionally, he can see Magikarp or Poliwag jumping out of the water.
Combined with the Pokémon he saw before, they are almost all from the Kanto region.
So, is he in the Viridian Forest?
This excitement of Edward’s is extinguished on the seventh day by a bucket of ice-cold water.
Because.
He hit a wall!
Literally hitting a wall!
He touched an invisible wall!
An invisible wall?!
Edward is terrified.
Could it be that he didn’t transmigrate into the “Pokémon” anime version, or even the Special Manga world, but instead came to the “Pokémon” game world?
He has become an NPC?!
A Youngster?
Or a Bug Catcher?
His only mission is to provide a small amount of experience and money for players.
In any case, it is definitely not an important character!
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be unable to leave a single map!
Edward is not resigned.
So, for the following time.
He gropes along the barrier, measuring the range he can move in.
Then he discovers with renewed confusion.
First.
This range constraint only applies to him; Pokémon can move freely.
Second.
If this is a game.
The upper and lower limits of Pokémon levels are too large.
Not to mention those common Caterpie and Weedle.
Edward outrageously sees traces of a Dragonair!
There is a pseudo-legendary in the newbie village?
Although if this really is the Viridian Forest, there is indeed a probability of seeing Ho-Oh or Celebi, but Dragonair…
Could it be some kind of ROM hack?
“Dark Rising”?
“Ultimate Emerald”?
Additionally.
Edward also vaguely saw a Gliscor streaking across the sky at night…
This is way out of line, regardless of level or region!
Finally.
It has been so many days, not to mention people.
Why can’t he even see a ghost of a person!
Such a big map can’t just have him as the only NPC.
And even if it is a game.
Since he has already transmigrated, the AI and plot development of other NPCs should be more logical.
Don’t they need to catch Pokémon?
Where is the real Bug Catcher?
Can’t they see such a big Heracross?!
Where is the real Youngster?
I think this Nidoking still has its charm!
…
After tossing and turning like this for a month, Edward…
gave up.
As the saying goes, life is like that thing; if you can’t resist, just enjoy it.
At least from his sensory perspective.
These Pokémon are not rigid, low-level AIs.
They have emotions, feelings, and perceptions; they are living, breathing existences.
Although he hasn’t found items like Potions or TMs, and definitely no Poké Balls, he cannot be a Trainer.
Cannot train, battle, or collect.
But just being able to observe them at close range, get close to them, and even touch them.
Edward is very satisfied.
…
Hah~~~
Time returns to the present.
Yawning widely, Edward wakes up from his nap.
Looking at the Oddish still sleeping soundly beside him, he feels completely healed in an instant.
He carefully reaches out to stroke the cluster of dense “hair” on the Oddish’s head.
The texture is very strange.
It feels like grass and like fur, soft yet resilient, as if it contains vigorous vitality, making it hard to let go.
Perhaps it is also a transmigration perk.
Edward discovers that he has a considerable degree of affinity for Pokémon.
So much so that even without capturing them.
He has also formed a considerable degree of friendship with some Pokémon, for example…
Rustle~
Speak of the devil.
The bushes shake.
The Oddish is startled awake instantly.
Looking at the already awake Edward, it instantly widens its bean-sized eyes, seeming very panicked.
But soon it notices the Tyrogue walking out from behind the bushes.
It immediately uses Vine Whip.
It wraps around Edward’s hand and drags him along to run.
As a result, it didn’t pull him at all.
It falls over instead.
Seeing this, Edward finds it both funny and heart-wrenching.
Feeling a little touched while also feeling a bit guilty.
He hurriedly goes up to pick up the Oddish, sets it upright, and then strokes its small, furry head, saying.
“Don’t be afraid, it is my friend.”
“Naso?”
The Oddish looks up at Edward, tilting its head in confusion.
It doesn’t quite understand the complex Growl emitted by this Pokémon.
But it can generally perceive that the two, who are similar in size, do not seem to be enemies.
Standing there for a moment, it then scampers away on its own.
“Balu~”
Humanoid.
The entirely pink Tyrogue walks over, holding a pile of berries.
A head shorter than Edward, it gazes at the fleeing Oddish, looking at Edward with confusion and a hint of apology.
“It’s fine, a cute little scatterbrain.”
Edward shakes his head, signaling that he doesn’t blame it.
Then he changes the subject.
“By the way, as a Fighting-type Pokémon, isn’t it a bit unseemly for you to always ask me for a sparring match?”