The Viridian City Library was everything Omega had hoped for and more.
Five stories of towering bookshelves, quiet reading rooms, and research terminals that connected to databases across multiple regions. Sunlight streamed through stained glass windows depicting legendary Pokémon, casting colored patterns on marble floors. The smell of old paper and new knowledge hung in the air like incense.
Omega stood in the entrance hall, Gastly floating beside him, and felt something he rarely experienced: genuine wonder.
"This is..." He trailed off, unable to find words adequate.
VIRIDIAN CITY LIBRARY. ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH FACILITIES IN KANTO. FOUNDED 150 YEARS AGO.
His phone buzzed with the Rotom's helpful text. The yellow creature inside was doing slow loops, clearly enjoying Omega's reaction.
"The energy surge," Omega murmured. "There have to be records. Research papers. Theories about what caused it and why."
MANY THEORIES. FEW CONCLUSIONS. RESEARCH ONGOING.
"Then we have work to do."
He walked into the main reading room, Gastly drifting behind him like a purple shadow. Librarians nodded politely. Researchers hunched over terminals. A Snorlax slept in one corner, its trainer reading peacefully beside it.
Omega found an empty terminal and began.
---
Hours passed in focused research.
Omega pulled up everything he could find about the energy surge—official reports, academic papers, eyewitness accounts, speculative theories. The data was overwhelming but fascinating.
The surge had occurred exactly three years, two months, and fourteen days ago. It had no known epicenter—it simply happened everywhere at once. Every region, every island, every corner of the Pokémon world had felt it.
And the effects were still unfolding.
New Pokémon species had appeared. Existing species had developed new forms. Ancient powers like Mega Evolution and Z-Moves, once region-locked, had become accessible worldwide. The very fabric of reality seemed to have shifted.
"Fascinating," Omega breathed. "Absolutely fascinating."
Gastly floated closer to the screen, its eyes narrowing as it read. The creature couldn't understand human text—Omega didn't think—but it seemed to grasp the importance anyway.
"The leading theory is dimensional resonance," Omega continued, half to himself, half to his companions. "Some researchers believe the surge originated in another dimension entirely—a bleed-through of energy from a parallel reality. But there's no evidence to support—"
"Interesting theory. Completely wrong, of course."
Omega froze.
The voice came from behind him—confident, amused, and dripping with intellectual superiority. Omega turned slowly to find a boy about his age leaning against a bookshelf, arms crossed, a smug smile on his face.
He was tall and lean, with dark hair artfully disheveled and sharp gray eyes that sparkled with challenge. Beside him stood a Pokémon Omega didn't recognize—white fur, curved horn, and a mournful expression that somehow looked both sad and knowing.
"Alexander Brex," the boy introduced himself, pushing off the shelf. "Junior researcher, like yourself. And that's Absol." He gestured at the white Pokémon. "She's the reason I know your dimensional resonance theory is garbage."
Omega's eye twitched. "I didn't propose it. I was merely summarizing the literature."
"Same difference. You were giving it credibility by repeating it." Alex stepped closer, peering at Omega's screen. "Dimensional resonance is a lazy hypothesis. It explains everything and nothing. Of course the surge felt dimensional—everything feels dimensional when you don't have better data. But correlation isn't causation."
"I'm aware of basic scientific principles."
"Are you? Then you should know that the surge's simultaneous global impact suggests an internal source, not an external one. Something within this world, triggering a cascade effect across existing energy systems."
Omega stood, turning to face Alex directly. Gastly floated up beside him, its eyes narrowing suspiciously at the newcomer.
"And what evidence supports this internal cascade theory?"
Alex's smile widened. "Glad you asked."
He pulled out his own phone—a sleek device with a blue Rotom inside—and tapped rapidly. A holographic display flickered to life, showing graphs and data streams.
"Energy readings from the moment of the surge. Note the pattern—" He highlighted a section. "It doesn't radiate outward from a single point. It resonates simultaneously across multiple locations. Like a bell being struck in different places at exactly the same time."
Omega studied the data. His eyes narrowed.
"That's impossible. Simultaneous resonance would require—"
"Pre-programmed energy nodes. Exactly." Alex's eyes gleamed. "Something set up the surge in advance. Prepared the world for it. Then triggered it all at once."
Omega stared at him. "You're suggesting the surge was intentional. Orchestrated."
"I'm suggesting it's a hypothesis worth exploring." Alex dismissed the display. "Unlike dimensional resonance, which is just fancy words for 'we have no idea.'"
Gastly made a low sound—almost a growl. It didn't like this boy. Omega couldn't blame it.
But he also couldn't deny the quality of Alex's reasoning.
"You've done good work," Omega admitted reluctantly. "Your data is clean. Your logic is sound."
Alex's eyebrows rose. "Was that a compliment? From a rival? I'm touched."
"We're not rivals."
"We absolutely are." Alex grinned. "First day at the library, and you're already deep in the surge research. That's my territory. I've been studying this for two years."
"And you've made zero progress toward a conclusion."
"Neither have you. But together—" Alex's eyes sparkled. "Together, we might actually get somewhere. Assuming you can keep up."
Omega felt something unfamiliar stir in his chest. Competition. Challenge. The desire to prove himself against someone who might actually be his equal.
"Keep up?" He stepped closer. "I'll leave you in my dust."
Alex laughed—genuine and delighted. "Perfect. Absolutely perfect. You know what? I like you. You're arrogant enough to be interesting."
"I prefer 'appropriately confident.'"
"Same thing, different font." Alex extended a hand. "Truce? For now? We can compete while cooperating. Share data, challenge each other's conclusions, see who breaks through first."
Omega looked at the offered hand. Then at Gastly, whose expression clearly said I don't trust him but this is your choice. Then at Absol, whose mournful eyes seemed to hold secrets no one else could see.
He took the hand.
"Truce. For now."
Alex's grip was firm, confident. "Excellent! Let's start with the anomaly clusters. I've identified seventeen locations where surge effects were most pronounced. If we cross-reference with historical records, mythological sites, and—"
"Wait." Omega pulled his hand back. "You've identified seventeen clusters? I only found twelve in the global database."
"Global database is incomplete. I have access to regional archives—Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh. Family connections." Alex shrugged like it was nothing. "I'll share. Like I said, cooperation."
Omega felt his competitive fire ignite. This boy had resources he didn't. Information he couldn't access. But he also had arrogance that might become overconfidence.
And Omega was very good at exploiting overconfidence.
"Show me," he said. "All of it."
Alex's grin returned. "Thought you'd never ask."
---
They worked together for hours.
Alex's data was indeed more comprehensive than anything Omega had found. Seventeen anomaly clusters, each with detailed energy readings, local testimonies, and documented effects. Some clusters showed evidence of new Pokémon appearing. Others showed existing Pokémon transforming. A few showed nothing obvious—just energy spikes with no observable outcome.
"Those are the interesting ones," Alex said, pointing at the last category. "Energy with no effect. Why? Where did it go? What did it do?"
"Maybe it's still there," Omega murmured. "Latent. Waiting."
Alex's eyes lit up. "That's a terrifying thought. I love it."
Gastly had relaxed slightly as the hours passed. Alex's Absol sat quietly beside him, its sad eyes occasionally flicking to Omega with an expression he couldn't read. The blue Rotom in Alex's phone and the yellow Rotom in Omega's had established some kind of communication, occasionally flashing in sync.
At one point, Alex leaned back and studied Omega with new interest.
"You're not from around here," he said. "Originally, I mean. Your accent is weird. Your references are off. And you didn't know about regional archive access, which any Kanto-born researcher would have learned in basic training."
Omega went still. Gastly moved closer, protective.
"I'm a traveler," Omega said carefully. "From far away."
"Far away meaning another region, or far away meaning—" Alex gestured vaguely. "Something else?"
The question hung in the air. Omega considered lying. Considered deflecting. Considered ending this conversation entirely.
But Alex's eyes weren't accusatory. They were curious. Genuinely curious.
"Why do you ask?" Omega countered.
Alex shrugged. "Because I study anomalies. And you, my new rival, are anomalous." He tapped his phone. "Absol agrees. She senses disaster—that's her thing—but with you, she senses... something else. Not disaster. Just... difference."
Omega looked at Absol. The white Pokémon met his gaze steadily, her eyes holding neither judgment nor fear. Just observation.
"I can't explain everything," Omega said finally. "Not yet. But yes—I'm from somewhere else. Somewhere very far away."
Alex was quiet for a long moment. Then, slowly, he smiled.
"Good. I was hoping you'd say that." He leaned forward. "Because if you're from somewhere that far away, then you might have information no one else has. About other dimensions. Other worlds. Other—" His eyes gleamed. "Other sources of energy."
Omega stared at him. "You think I'm connected to the surge."
"I think you arrived around the time the surge happened. I think you're here now, researching it intensely. And I think—" Alex's voice dropped. "I think whatever brought you here might be the key to understanding everything."
Gastly made a sharp sound—warning, protectiveness. But Omega placed a hand near it, calming.
"You're more perceptive than I expected," Omega said quietly.
"I'm a researcher. It's my job." Alex leaned back. "Don't worry. I'm not going to expose you or experiment on you or whatever you're afraid of. I just want to know the truth. And I think—" He smiled. "I think you want to know it too."
Omega felt something shift in his chest. Trust, maybe. Or the beginnings of it.
"I do," he admitted. "More than anything."
"Then let's find it together." Alex extended a hand again. "Partners in research. Rivals in discovery. Deal?"
Omega looked at the hand. Looked at Gastly, who had relaxed slightly. Looked at Absol, whose mournful eyes now held something like hope.
He took the hand.
"Deal."
---
They worked until the library closed, the librarians gently but firmly ushering them out. Alex walked with Omega through the darkening streets, their Pokémon floating and padding beside them.
"Same time tomorrow?" Alex asked.
"I have other responsibilities. My team—"
"The other Origin members. Right." Alex nodded. "I've heard about them. The battler who got crushed by Lex Arthur. The pageant girl who made friends with Ariel Delzel. The doctor-in-training who's impressing Dr. Octavian." He grinned. "You're all making waves. People talk."
Omega felt a strange pride. "They're exceptional."
"They'd have to be, to keep up with you." Alex's tone was genuine. "See you tomorrow, Omega. Try not to figure out everything without me."
"I make no promises."
Alex laughed and walked away, Absol gliding silently beside him.
Gastly floated up to Omega's eye level. Its expression was thoughtful—still suspicious, but also... curious.
"You don't trust him," Omega observed.
Gast.
"Neither do I. Not completely." Omega watched Alex's retreating figure. "But I trust his mind. And sometimes, that's enough."
Gastly considered this. Then, slowly, it nodded.
They walked back to the Pokémon Center together, the night sky glittering with unfamiliar stars, a new rivalry burning bright in Omega's chest.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt truly challenged.
And he couldn't wait to rise to meet it.
---
Later that night, at the Pokémon Center
Omega found his friends gathered in their usual corner, each clearly exhausted but happy.
"Productive day?" Gamma asked.
Omega sat down, Gastly settling beside him. "I met someone. Alexander Brex. Junior researcher."
Alpha perked up. "The Absol guy? Heard about him. People say he's a genius."
"He's... adequate." Omega's tone suggested otherwise.
Gamma grinned. "That good, huh?"
"He has access to resources I don't. Information I need. And a competitive streak that will be his undoing." Omega's eyes gleamed. "We're going to work together. Share data. Challenge each other."
"That sounds..." Beta tilted his head. "Friendly?"
"It sounds like a rivalry," Omega corrected. "A productive one."
Gamma laughed. "You like him. You actually like him."
"I respect his intellect. That's different."
"Sure it is."
Omega ignored her. "He suspects I'm not from this world. Connected me to the energy surge somehow."
The others went quiet.
"Is that dangerous?" Beta asked quietly.
"Possibly. But he's not interested in exposing me—he wants to understand. Wants to find the truth." Omega looked at his friends. "So do I."
Alpha nodded slowly. "Then we trust your judgment. If you think he's worth the risk, we're with you."
Omega felt warmth spread through his chest—an unfamiliar sensation he was starting to associate with his friends.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Gastly pressed against his side. You're not alone, the gesture said. None of us are.
And for the first time, Omega truly believed it.