It was the next morning.
Ethan and Kitsu woke up early—too early—already buzzing with energy. They rushed downstairs, slid into their chairs, and basically inhaled breakfast like it might run away from them. Their mom barely had time to laugh before they were thanking her, grabbing their pre-packed bags, and slinging them over their shoulders.
Pokéballs. Supplies. New shoes that hadn't even been scuffed yet.
They were ready.
Ethan had one hand on the door when it opened again.
Outa stepped in front of them and crossed her arms.
"Really?" she said, pulling both twins into a hug before they could dodge. "You're going to leave without waiting for Sabrina, Erika, and Whitney?"
Kitsu groaned softly. "We weren't leaving-leaving."
Outa raised an eyebrow.
"…We were just going to step outside," Ethan tried.
She didn't buy it for a second.
Outa sighed, then smiled, that familiar mix of teasing and affection. "Also, give me five minutes to get ready. I'm walking you out."
Before either twin could argue, the doorbell rang.
Kitsu perked up. "That's Whitney."
"And Sabrina," Ethan added, already sensing two familiar presences outside—one warm and emotional, the other sharp and focused.
Outa smirked. "See? Fate agrees with me."
The door opened to reveal Whitney practically bouncing in place, her pink backpack almost bigger than she was, Skitty plush tucked under her arm. Erika stood beside her, calm and composed in a light green dress, a small Gloom peeking out near her feet. Sabrina stood just behind them, hands folded, red eyes already locked onto Ethan like she'd been waiting all night.
Whitney waved. "Morning!"
Erika smiled softly. "Good luck today, Ethan."
Sabrina tilted her head. "You're late," she said flatly.
Ethan blinked. "We're… not even leaving yet."
She stepped closer anyway. "Still."
Outa watched the whole thing with open amusement. "Alright, alright. Everyone's here. No running off before proper goodbyes."
She crouched in front of the twins, adjusting their collars, straightening straps, fixing things that didn't need fixing.
Then she hugged them again—longer this time.
"Be careful," she said quietly. "Both of you."
Kitsu hugged back without complaint.
Ethan nodded. "We will."
Outside, the road stretched forward—wide, open, and waiting.
Their adventure hadn't started with a dramatic farewell or a heroic speech.
It started with family, friends, and the feeling that once they took that first step…
There was no turning back.
After that was done. They climbed into the car Ethan's dad had prepared, the engine humming softly as it pulled away from the driveway.
Whitney, Erika, and Sabrina had somehow all ended up pressed against Ethan—Whitney on one side, Sabrina on the other, Erika leaning in close enough that her hair brushed his shoulder. Ethan accepted his fate with the quiet dignity of a man who knew resistance was pointless.
Kitsu glanced down at her Pokégear, scrolling through the map. "So," she said casually, "what's first?"
Erika adjusted her hat and answered before anyone else could. "We're heading to Bark Town. The Professor wants us to meet the other three children he's sponsoring."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, his arm still comfortably wrapped around Sabrina. "So… there are more than just the four of us?"
Whitney giggled, clearly enjoying the moment. "Technically, your family is sponsoring me and Erika. Sabrina's covered by hers. And you and Kitsu are sponsored by both your family and the Professor."
Ethan shrugged. "Fair enough."
Sabrina, who had been quiet, spoke softly. "It makes sense. The Professor wouldn't put all his hopes on a single group."
Kitsu smirked. "Still means we're the main characters."
Whitney gasped dramatically. "Wow. Bold of you to say that out loud."
The car ride continued with light chatter, the tension slowly melting into excitement. Outside the windows, the scenery shifted—quiet roads, clusters of trees, and the distant outline of Bark Town beginning to form.
Before long, the car slowed.
"And…" Driver said from the front, smiling through the rearview mirror, "welcome to Bark Town."
The town was small—cozy, even. A few houses, the salty scent of the sea in the air, and the unmistakable building that stood out above the rest: the Professor's lab.
Ethan stepped out first, stretching his arms. "So this is where it officially starts."
Kitsu stood beside him, eyes sharp and curious. "First town. First meeting. First real step."
Whitney bounced on her heels. "Okay, I don't care how cool we act—this is exciting."
Erika smiled softly. "A new journey always is."
Sabrina looked toward the lab, her gaze thoughtful. "And from here… everything changes."
The doors of the lab slid open.
"Well then," Ethan said, cracking a grin, "Day one of our Pokémon adventure. Let's not mess it up."
And just like that, they headed inside—unaware that this quiet little town was about to become the starting point of something far bigger than any of them imagined.
The door opened with a small jingle as Professor Elm Sr stepped forward.
He smiled warmly at the group. "Ethan, Erika, Sabrina, Whitney, Kitsu—glad you kids could make it."
Ethan lifted a hand in greeting. "Hey, Professor."
Elm Sr chuckled, clearly pleased. "Come in, come in. I'll introduce you to the other kids."
They followed him into the lab, the space alive with motion. Assistants moved between machines, screens flickered with data, and the soft hum of technology filled the air. It smelled faintly of disinfectant and something electrical—comforting, in a strange way.
They stopped near a training section of the lab, several Poké Balls resting neatly on a nearby table.
Three kids were already there, clearly in the middle of practice.
Ethan froze.
He just… blinked.
'No way.'
The first was a purple-haired boy who, at a glance, could easily pass for a girl. He wore a scout-style outfit and carried a bug net slung casually over his shoulder. He looked about thirteen—same as the others—and moved with focused precision.
[Insert image of Bugsy.]
Next to him stood a blue-haired boy with sharp eyes and uneven bangs, one side of his face partially hidden. He wore a simple shirt and pants, his posture calm but alert.
[Insert image of Falkner.]
And then—
A girl with brown hair tied into low pigtails, fair skin, and warm brown eyes. She laughed softly as she adjusted her stance, completely familiar.
[Insert image of Lyra.]
Ethan's mind short-circuited.
'Two future Gym Leaders…'
His gaze snapped to the girl.
'…and my childhood friend from my past life.'
His expression remained neutral on the outside. Inside?
Pure chaos.
'Arceus,' he thought flatly, 'this is your doing, isn't it?'
As if summoned by his stare, Lyra noticed them and waved enthusiastically. "Oh! Are these the other trainers?"
Bugsy adjusted his glasses, curiosity lighting his eyes. "Professor, are they starting their journey too?"
Falkner gave a quiet nod of acknowledgment, his sharp gaze briefly meeting Ethan's—just long enough to feel like a silent challenge.
Elm Sr smiled proudly. "That's right. You'll all be starting your Pokémon journeys together."
Whitney leaned toward Ethan and whispered, "You look like you just saw a ghost."
Ethan forced a smile. "Something like that."
Kitsu glanced between the three newcomers, then at Ethan. "You know them?"
"…In a manner of speaking," he muttered.
Lyra stepped closer, tilting her head. "Hey, have we met before? You look weirdly familiar."
Ethan swallowed.
"…Probably just destiny," he said.
Somewhere in the universe, Arceus definitely laughed.
Professor Elm Sr clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, let's do proper introductions," he said cheerfully. "Since you'll all be traveling the Johto region at roughly the same time, it's only fair you get to know each other."
He gestured to the three already training.
"Bugsy, Falkner, Lyra—these are Ethan, his twin sister Kitsu, Whitney, Erika, and Sabrina."
Bugsy immediately perked up, practically bouncing on his heels. He adjusted his glasses and smiled brightly.
"I'm Bugsy! I specialize in Bug-type Pokémon! They're misunderstood, elegant, and way stronger than people give them credit for!"
Whitney blinked. "…You mean the creepy ones?"
Bugsy gasped, clutching his chest like she'd just insulted his ancestors. "Creepy?! Bug Pokémon are beautiful! Scyther's precision, Heracross's power—"
Whitney leaned back, whispering loudly to Ethan, "Yeah, he's definitely a Gym Leader."
Bugsy paused. "Wait—what?"
Erika gave a soft, polite smile. "Pay her no mind. I find Bug-types quite fascinating, actually. Nature expresses itself in many forms."
Bugsy's eyes sparkled. "You get it!"
Whitney pouted. "Traitor."
Elm Sr cleared his throat, suppressing a laugh, then gestured to the blue-haired boy.
"This is Falkner."
Falkner gave a short nod. "Flying-types. Speed, control, and battlefield dominance."
Sabrina's gaze sharpened slightly as she studied him. "You value positioning over raw power."
Falkner met her stare without flinching. "Power means nothing if you can't land a hit."
There was a brief, heavy silence.
Ethan mentally noted: Yeah, these two are going to butt heads. Hard.
Whitney leaned closer again. "Why do I feel like they're already arguing without talking?"
Kitsu nodded. "Because they are."
Lyra stepped forward next, smiling warmly. "I'm Lyra! I don't really have a specialty yet—I just love Pokémon. I want to travel, get stronger, and have fun!"
Her eyes flicked to Ethan again, curiosity clearly growing.
"…Seriously," she added, squinting. "I know I've seen you before."
Ethan's soul briefly attempted to exit his body.
He laughed lightly. "Must be one of those faces."
Lyra folded her arms. "That's not reassuring."
Elm Sr quickly jumped in before destiny decided to get too involved.
"Now, Bugsy, Falkner, and Lyra are also trainers I'm sponsoring. You'll be rivals—friendly ones, ideally."
"Rivals?" Bugsy repeated, eyes shining.
Falkner's lips curved just slightly. "Good. Competition sharpens skill."
Whitney grinned. "Ohhh, I like him already."
Sabrina's eyes flicked toward Lyra again. "…She's important."
Lyra blinked. "Uh… thanks?"
Ethan stiffened.
'She can tell,' he thought. 'Of course she can.'
Erika looked between everyone, serene as ever. "Then it seems this journey will be… lively."
Bugsy suddenly pointed at Ethan. "What Pokémon did you get?"
Ethan shrugged casually. "Mudkip."
Bugsy's jaw dropped. "A Water-type?! That's not fair!"
Whitney snorted. "Skill issue."
Falkner crossed his arms. "Types matter less than how you train them."
Kitsu smiled. "Then we'll see how far that belief takes you."
Lyra practically bounced over to Ethan, hands clasped behind her back, eyes sparkling.
"I got a Cyndaquil," she said proudly. "So—can I see your Mudkip?"
Ethan chuckled. "Sure thing."
He flicked his wrist, the Poké Ball clicking open with a soft snap.
"Come on out."
A flash of light spilled onto the floor, and Mudkip appeared with a cheerful "Muuud!", fin twitching as it looked around curiously.
Lyra leaned in immediately. "Oh my Arceus, he's adorable."
Mudkip puffed up just a little, clearly pleased with the attention.
Beside them, Kitsu smiled and released her own Pokémon.
"Turtwig, let's go."
Turtwig landed solidly on the floor, blinking once before giving a determined little nod. Kitsu knelt and gently rubbed the sprout on its head.
"That's my boy."
Falkner, watching quietly with his arms crossed, stepped forward next. "If we're showing partners…"
He released his Pokémon with a precise throw.
"Totodile."
Totodile popped out with a loud, energetic "TOTO!", immediately snapping its jaws playfully and spinning in place like it was ready to wrestle the entire room.
Whitney burst out laughing. "Okay, yeah, that one has chaos energy."
Totodile immediately pointed at Mudkip and growled excitedly.
Mudkip tilted his head. "…kip?"
Bugsy, not about to be left out, adjusted his glasses and threw his Poké Ball with theatrical flair.
"And here's mine!"
A green blur appeared, leaves fluttering as Chikorita emerged gracefully, letting out a gentle, happy cry.
"Chiko!"
Bugsy clasped his hands together. "Isn't she perfect?"
Erika smiled warmly. "She's lovely. Very calm."
Chikorita preened at the compliment.
Whitney squinted. "…Why does it feel like everyone else got 'starter Pokémon' and I got emotional support Pokémon?"
Sabrina glanced at her. "You chose it."
Whitney paused. "…Rude."
The four starters looked at each other now—Mudkip, Turtwig, Totodile, and Chikorita—each reacting differently.
Totodile immediately tried to headbutt Mudkip.
Mudkip squeaked and ducked, splashing a little water in surprise.
Turtwig stepped forward, planting himself between them with a low, determined "Turt."
Chikorita hurried over and nudged Totodile's side with a vine, clearly scolding him.
Bugsy pointed dramatically. "See? Teamwork already!"
Falkner raised an eyebrow. "Or Chikorita keeping Totodile from starting a fight."
Ethan crouched and gently placed a hand on Mudkip's head. "Easy. Plenty of time to battle later."
Mudkip relaxed instantly, tail fin swishing.
Lyra watched the interaction closely, her smile softening.
"…You're really natural with Pokémon."
Ethan froze for half a second—then shrugged casually. "Guess I've had good teachers."
Lyra studied his face again, that familiar look of suspicion returning.
"…Yeah," she murmured. "That's not what I meant."
Kitsu noticed. Of course she did. Twins didn't miss things like that.
She smiled innocently. "You thinking of racing us to Violet City?"
Lyra's eyes lit up instantly. "You're on."
Falkner smirked. "I won't lose."
Bugsy pumped his fist. "Let's do this!"
Whitney grinned, cracking her knuckles. "Guess the Adventure Arc officially starts now."
Sabrina's gaze lingered on Ethan, unreadable.
Fate had made its move.
And Johto's journey had truly begun.
Once they stepped outside the lab, the three of them stopped at the same time.
All eyes went to the sleek car waiting out front.
Bugsy blinked. Then blinked again.
"…You came in a car?"
Ethan nodded casually. "Yeah."
Bugsy slowly looked down at his bicycle. The basket. The bell. The very obvious fact that he'd planned to pedal across Johto.
"…I packed snacks," he said, like that somehow made this worse.
Lyra turned her head toward her house down the road. She'd been fully prepared to grab her bag, wave goodbye, and start walking.
She stared at the car.
Then at Ethan.
Then back at the car.
"…You know what," she said, hands on her hips, "I'm not even surprised."
Whitney leaned out of the window, grinning. "Want a ride?"
Lyra groaned. "Why does this feel like I'm already losing?"
Falkner didn't say anything at first. He just stared at the Poké Ball in his hand—the one his father had given him. His ride. His plan. His air travel.
He slowly closed his fingers around it.
"…I was going to fly," he said flatly.
Ethan looked at him. "With a Pokémon?"
Falkner nodded once. "Yes."
There was a pause.
Then Whitney burst out laughing. "Okay, that's actually cool."
Sabrina tilted her head slightly. "Risky, but efficient."
Erika smiled politely. "Very… Falkner."
Bugsy adjusted his glasses. "So we've got a car, a bike, a house start, and air travel. Truly balanced."
Ethan scratched his cheek, feeling just a little awkward.
"…We can still travel together. The car's just getting us out of town."
Lyra sighed, then smiled. "Fine. But I'm calling it now—this is going to be unfair."
Kitsu opened the car door. "Welcome to traveling with the Hermonia family."
Falkner glanced once more at his Poké Ball, then at Ethan.
"…I'll keep up."
Ethan met his gaze and smirked. "Looking forward to it."
The engines started, the road stretched ahead—
And Johto officially watched five future powerhouses take their first step forward.
To be continued
Hope people like this Chq and give me power stones and enjoy