"Auron, time to get up!"
"It's the day of your mock exams. If I get another call from your teacher, just wait and see if I don't tan your hide!"
Auron Vale jerked awake, sitting up in bed as he stared at the person in the doorway holding a spoon. Instinctively, he called out:
"Got it, Mom! I'm getting up now."
His mom nodded in satisfaction and returned to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Auron scratched his head, feeling a bit lost.
"Mock exams, but I'm a salaryman earning 3,500 Dracocoins a month…?"
"Wait, didn't I rent an apartment next to my company? How's Mom here?"
Getting up, Auron planned to go out and ask his mom why she was here making breakfast for him today.
As he passed the wardrobe, he caught a glimpse of himself in the full-length mirror.
"???"
"Wait, is that me?"
Staring at the youthful face in the reflection, he couldn't help but reach up and touch his lips.
"Beard… Ha, there's no stubble! Not a trace of those rough bristles!"
Auron couldn't suppress the joy in his heart and let out a shout:
"Wooo! I'm back!"
"What's all the shouting for? Come out and eat!"
"Yeah, coming!"
In the bathroom, while washing up, Auron stared at his seventeen- or eighteen-year-old face in the mirror, thinking to himself:
"So, I didn't catch the wave of transmigrators, but I somehow ended up reborn?"
"Still this handsome. Man, I really was dumb not listening to that talent scout back then."
"Hmm? Maybe this time I'll become a star."
The more he thought about it, the more excited he got, humming as he brushed his teeth.
"Being a star, future blockbusters, hit TV shows—wouldn't that be a way to take off?"
He finished washing up, strutting confidently into the living room.
"A… Audino?!"
Auron froze, watching the Audino carrying plates in the living room.
"This must be a dream, right? Has to be a dream!"
"Ow—!"
Suddenly, a sharp pain like a needle jab stabbed his brain.
"So that's it…"
Auron gave a wry smile.
"I'm not actually reborn—it's the world that's changed."
That's right, Auron himself was the same, but the world around him was totally different.
"You two, come eat. School or work, either way you'd better not be late."
His mom looked at the two men—one reading the newspaper on the couch, the other daydreaming in the bathroom doorway—getting a bit worked up.
"Alright, alright, we're coming," they replied in unison, sharing a look that flashed with mutual understanding. Like father, like son.
They sat down for breakfast.
"You two, after breakfast… Auron, you know what's up. If your teacher calls me again after this mock exam, you know what'll happen."
His mom brandished a flatbread, her gaze sharp as she stared at him.
"Alright, I know, I know."
Auron sighed inwardly. The world had changed, so who knew what this exam would be like?
"Ashen, after breakfast, go to the shop first. Don't rush off to your study—feed the Pokémon with Audino first."
"And keep an eye on the store. The kids will be eligible to get their Pokémon soon, so business should pick up. If I'm not around, watch the place for me, okay?"
Ashen Vale swallowed his bite before replying, "Sure thing, honey."
His dad's answer made his mom sneak a glance at Auron (Auron: Why are you looking at me? What can I do? The place isn't that big—I'll just play dumb).
She shot Ashen a playful look, cheeks tinged pink, her tone unconsciously softening.
"I'll tidy up here and buy some groceries before heading over. Wait for me at the store—it won't be long."
"Alright, I'll wait for you."
"Dad, Mom, I'm done eating—heading to school now!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Auron grabbed his bag and dashed downstairs.
"Hey, slow down, and do your best on the exam, alright?"
"Got it!"
"This kid…"
As he walked to school, Auron quietly reviewed the new information that had flooded his mind.
The Dragon Kingdom was still the Dragon Kingdom. The world's structure hadn't changed much.
But now, the five major powers didn't have nuclear weapons; instead, they had pacts with legendary Pokémon.
Only five countries in the world had forged bonds with the top-tier Legendaries.
For example:
Dragon Kingdom's Rayquaza.
America's Yveltal.
Russia's Regigigas.
Britain's Lugia.
Some smaller nations had their own deals with Legendaries, too.
South Korea had Zapdos; its neighbor North Korea had Moltres. The two always glared at each other, but fortunately, Articuno stayed up in the northeast and rarely showed itself, or it would be an all-out battle of the three legendary birds.
Italy had Latios and Latias, but they mostly stayed inside Aquapolis and rarely ventured out.
India, always eager to join the world's elite, had Cresselia as its pact Legendary.
Luckily for them, Cresselia didn't know the country expected her to stand on par with the top-tier Legendaries—otherwise, she might've flown off long ago.
Other countries had lesser Legendaries—some did, some didn't. The least populous countries often had Azelf.
Germany had Registeel.
Iceland had Regice.
Mauritania had Regirock, and so on.
Other Legendaries rarely appeared before humans. Some said Kyurem lurked in the Himalayas, or that Ho-Oh had been sighted near Phoenix Ancient Town.
Others roamed the world, like Suicune, Entei, Raikou, and the four Swords of Justice.
"Hey, Auron, why are you up so early today? Usually I never run into you at this hour!"
As Auron was lost in thought, a young man slung an arm around his neck from behind.
"Mock exam today. Of course I got up early."
Auron shrugged him off and shot him a look. This was his childhood friend, Jace Rowan. Their families were close, so they'd grown up together.
Jace was always "that other kid" his parents talked about—the one who got perfect grades. But since they'd played together their whole lives, Auron knew what Jace was really like, and didn't care about that "model student" label.
"Hey, you'll pass the Pokémon knowledge section, right? The hard part's just those last few questions they tack on for the overachievers."
The school always added a few obscure trivia questions to the end of the exam to set the geniuses apart from everyone else. Unless you'd read everything, there was no way you'd know them.
Even the entrance exams for top universities had them—like an invitation letter for high-fliers.
"Ugh, I doubt I'll do that well this time."
Auron felt a bit down. Sure, in his previous life, he'd been a big Pokémon fan—played every game, watched every show and movie, even the manga, countless times.
In fact, when he wasn't stuck in his dull office job, he was a minor celebrity online, making Pokémon videos.
But who knew what the exam would look like in this world?
"No big deal. If we sit close, I'll help you out," Jace said, putting his arm back around Auron's shoulders.
Auron casually brushed his arm away. "Heh, guess I'll just have to deal with it."
"Oh, right—after the exam, want to stop by your family's store? We can finally pick our first Pokémon today! You know what you want yet?"
Jace looked excited.
This was the last mock exam of senior year—three months before the final test. On mock exam day, you could choose your first Pokémon and train it for three months.
You could pick a newly hatched Pokémon, or a Pokémon egg. Hatched Pokémon weren't as close to their trainers as ones you raised from eggs, but you could check their stats. The better the stats, the higher the price.
After three months, you took the practical test. Both written and practical counted for 50% of your final grade. If you were exceptional in one area, you could get admitted anyway—but that was rare.
"I haven't decided. What about you?"
"I know what I want! I'm putting together a Sun team. I can't decide between Vulpix, Torkoal, or maybe skip a weather-setter and go straight for an attacker—Charmander, Houndour, or Growlithe?"
Jace started counting on his fingers, thinking it through.
"If you ask me, go with a strong attacker and pass the exam first," Auron said.
"But Charmander and Growlithe—one's expensive, the other's rare. Most Growlithe are with the police. Are you sure?"
Auron eyed Jace, thinking, Man, I'd want a Growlithe too.
"Don't forget about my aunt. Her Arcanine just had pups. She asked if I wanted one. If not, she'd take it back for her team. I'm still deciding…"
"Are you kidding me? That's a no-brainer—Growlithe, obviously! After it evolves, its base stats are 555. Strong and cool. Every Sun team needs an attacker like that. What's there to think about?" Auron was so excited he thumped Jace's head a couple of times. "You think a Legendary is waiting for you or something?"
"Alright, I'll call my aunt this afternoon."
Jace finally made up his mind. He'd take the Growlithe egg. After all, Arcanine could set up Sunny Day, and he could get a weather-setter later.
"What about you? Know what you want?" Jace asked.
"If you're going Sun team, I'll go Rain team, ha!"
"Screw you!"
The two of them started roughhousing as they walked down the road.
———
At home.
"Honey, I'm heading to the store."
Ashen finished eating, set down his newspaper, and called out to his wife in the kitchen as he put on his jacket.
"Alright—watch the shop for a bit. I'll be there soon."
"Okay."
Ashen stepped out the door. On the coffee table, the headline on the newspaper in bold print read:
Experts say a new Pokémon mystery zone may appear soon in the outskirts of Vantora. Please prepare accordingly!
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