Sorren
Morning was…a mess, to put it lightly.
Mom and Dad found Alex and me asleep on the balcony, completely surrounded by our Pokémon. You can probably guess what came next: a full-on parental meltdown, courtesy of Mom. Her voice would have woken a Snorlax.
Thankfully, I managed to defuse the situation. How? By accepting the invitation to Pasio. The second those words left my mouth, their expressions did a full 180.
Now, after soaring through the sky on Dad's Salamence, I've landed at Jubilife's airport. My entire body is buzzing with nervousness
Can I really do this?
The thought slips in like a shadow, uninvited but impossible to ignore.
I shake my head sharply. No. Not now. There's no going back.
"The flight to Pasio will begin boarding shortly."
The announcement crackles through the terminal, pulling me back to the present.
"That's our cue, Pikachu," I say, giving my partner a small smile.
"Pika pi!" he chirps cheerfully, perched on my shoulder.
We move with the flow of the crowd, weaving between trainers and their Pokémon, until we reach the gate. I hand over my ticket to the flight attendant, who gives me a polite nod before directing me down the boarding ramp.
This is it. My first time going anywhere without Mom or Dad.
The flight attendant guides me to my seat. I slide into the window side of Row seven and tuck my backpack under my seat. Pikachu hops down from my shoulder into my lap, curling his tail around himself.
I stare out the window, trying not to hyperventilate.
Calm down, Sorren. Everyone there will be strangers. No one will judge you…probably.
To distract myself from spiraling further, I grab the headset connected to the seat screen and tap on the in-flight video selection.
A face pops up on the screen—brown hair, sharp eyes, a confident grin. A Pidgeot stands tall beside him.
He looks familiar...
"Hey there, pal! Welcome to the world of Pokémon Masters!" The guy greets, voice confident and casual. "I'm Blue! I'm kind of a big deal around here."
Ah! That's why he felt familiar. I've seen his match against Red—the current Kanto Champion.
He continues, "Not sure if you know this, but Pokémon battles on Pasio are a little different. Let me show you the ropes."
The screen shifts to a dazzling three-on-three match. Blue, Red, and Green with their signature Blastoise, Charizard, and Venusaur on one side and on the other...
"Aunt Cynthia!" I squeal before I can stop myself.
The woman sitting beside me shoots me a look. I wince and mutter an apology, slouching lower into my seat as my cheeks burn.
Onscreen, Cynthia teams up with Steven and Lance. The moment I saw Garchomp appear beside her, I knew this was going to be legendary.
…Or it would've been.
Because just as the battle heats up, the screen flickers and cuts away.
"What?! No—what happened to the rest of the battle?!"
Pikachu squeaks in protest too, leaping in my lap and staring at the screen.
"You wanted to see who won too, right?" I groan. "My money's on Aunt Cynthia's team."
"Pika pika pi!"
Blue's voice returns on the screen, unfazed. "That battle was great, wasn't it? What you saw right there was a team battle."
"Was it great?" I grumble. "You didn't even show the winner…"
He continues like it was nothing. "Well, you better buckle up, because there's a huge team tournament coming up—the Pokémon Master League, or PML for short!"
"It's like one big festival for Trainers. You'll form teams of three, and each Trainer uses just one Pokémon. The real challenge? Teamwork."
A team of three…?
I gulp. "I hope I'm not too late to form a team…"
Just the idea of walking up to strangers to ask them to team up is enough to make me sweat.
"And only one Pokémon…?"
I glance at Pikachu. Luxray's Pokéball rests at my hip. Both Electric-types. I'll probably need to alternate based on the situation, but…
Do I even have enough experience to pull this off?
"You'll meet a ton of awesome Trainers—it's kinda wild to think about," Blue says, smiling. "Well then, see you on Pasio!"
The screen fades to black.
I lean back in my seat, breath slow but steady. My heart's still hammering, but this time it's not entirely out of fear. Excitement is there too, crackling beneath the nerves.
Everyone on this plane…they're either allies or rivals. As I lift myself slightly in my seat, I glance over the rows ahead. The people who boarded this plane are all so different. There are tourists with cameras hanging around their necks, merchants carefully guarding their briefcases, and trainers quietly polishing Poké Balls or chatting with their partners.
I sit back down as the pilot's voice fills the cabin, announcing that we are about to take off. My fingers tighten around the armrests for a moment, Pikachu patting my arm reassuringly with his paw.
I do not know when or how it happens, but at some point during the steady rumble of the engines and the soft hum of voices around me, my eyelids grow heavy. Before I realize it, sleep pulls me under.
A new announcement crackles through the speakers and snaps me awake. I blink fast, disoriented for a second, before leaning toward the window.
The sight waiting for me steals the breath right out of my lungs.
Pasio stretches out below us like a painting. The forests look rich and vibrant, a deep green that seems to glow under the sun. Rivers twist around the landscape like silver threads. And right in the heart of the island stands a massive stadium that rises proudly above everything else.
Pikachu perks up on my shoulder, pressing his paws against the window.
"Pika!" he chirps, tail flicking with excitement.
I smile, unable to stop the flutter in my chest. My journey is about to begin. A new place, new people, new battles. Everything will be different from here on out.
And as we descend closer to the island, I cannot help but marvel at the fact that this is really happening.
"We have successfully landed on Pasio Island. Enjoy your stay!" the pilot announces through the speakers.
As soon as the seatbelt light turns off, everyone begins to file out of their seats. I reach down, pull my backpack from under the seat, and move along with the flow of passengers toward the exit.
The moment my shoes hit the concrete floor of the airport, a warm breeze sweeps through my hair. I inhale deeply, taking in the unfamiliar air of a new place. Pikachu hops down from my shoulder and stands proudly beside me.
"Let's do our best, partner," I say with a grin.
"Pika!" he squeaks back, tail raised in excitement.
After going through all the standard procedures at the airport and grabbing a map from a nearby stand, Pikachu and I begin our search for the Pokémon Center. The streets feel lively, and everything around me hums with a different kind of energy.
Once we arrive, I take a moment to stare at the building. It looks nothing like the Pokémon Centers in Sinnoh. The structure is larger, more open, and has elegant white pillars framing the entrance.
I call Pikachu back to his Poké Ball and step forward. The woman behind the counter is not the usual Nurse Joy I am used to seeing. Her uniform is slightly different, and even though she has the same pink hair as Nurse Joy, she looks like a totally different person.
She must have noticed the uncertainty on my face because she speaks first.
"Do you want to rest your Pokémon, sir?" she asks in a gentle tone.
"Umm…yes, but…" I stammer, rubbing the back of my neck.
She tilts her head slightly. "Hmm? Is something the matter?"
"I have two Pokémon with me," I admit quietly. "I think that might be against the rules here."
A brief silence hangs between us. Then, the woman lifts a hand to her mouth and lets out a light, amused chuckle.
"I see you are new here. The rule you are talking about only applies to battles. You can carry a maximum of six Pokémon, as I am sure you already know," she explains kindly.
"Oh. Is that so? That's a relief." I let out a breath I did not know I was holding and give her a small smile.
She returns the smile with gentle professionalism. I place Pikachu and Luxray's Poké Balls on the counter, and she takes them before turning around to place them in the healing machine.
While I wait, I straighten my backpack strap and look around, trying not to appear too nervous. That is when I sense two figures approaching me.
"Hey," a warm voice calls out. "I overheard your talk with Nurse Trista. You are new here, right?"
I turn around and see a tanned man standing confidently in front of me. He wears a sleeveless orange vest over a black top, paired with green cargo pants. His posture is relaxed, but his eyes are sharp with curiosity.
This is your chance, Sorren. Make a good impression.
I pull myself upright, trying to look composed rather than terrified. My palms feel sweaty, but I force a polite smile onto my face.
"Umm…yes. I just arrived," I answer, hoping my voice sounds less shaky than I feel.
"We will get straight to the point," the woman beside him says. Her tone is confident and straightforward. She wears a bright yellow crop top and high-waisted denim shorts, and her orange hair is pulled into a playful side ponytail. She studies me for a moment before continuing. "We have already formed a team and we need a third member. Would you like to join us?"
"This is…sudden," I reply, blinking in surprise. "We don't even know each other's names…"
"That can be solved right now!" she says cheerfully and lifts a hand in a lively gesture. "I am Misty from Kanto. I am the Gym Leader of Cerulean City." She then nudges her head toward the man. "And this is Brock. He is also from Kanto and the Gym Leader of Pewter City."
The moment their names register in my mind, my posture shoots upright. I stare at them with wide eyes.
"I…I know you guys!" I blurt out. The excitement rushes through me so fast that I nearly lose my balance. "I made a trainer manual for myself and I keep everything in my book."
I quickly drop to one knee beside my backpack and rummage through it. Papers rustle loudly as I dig deeper, determined to prove I am not making things up. After a few seconds of frantic searching, my fingers close around a familiar thick notebook stuffed with handwritten notes and pasted clippings.
"I found it," I say, pulling it out triumphantly. The book looks a little worn around the edges, but it is practically my treasure. I flip through the pages until I reach the section on the Kanto region. Once I find it, I turn the book around and show them the notes.
"Brock…the Gym Leader who specializes in rock type Pokémon, and his ace Pokémon is Onix. Misty…the Gym Leader who specializes in water type Pokémon, and her ace Pokémon is Starmie," I read aloud with a proud smile.
When I glance up, both of them look pleasantly surprised.
"Looks like someone has been keeping tabs on us," Brock says with a low chuckle. Misty nudges him lightly and grins, clearly amused.
"Oh! Sorry, I never introduced myself," I say quickly. I close the book, slide it back into my backpack, then straighten up. "I am Sorren Faelanor from Floaroma Town in Sinnoh."
"You're from Sinnoh?" Misty asks, her eyebrows rising with interest.
"Yeah. My father is a Pokémon Ranger, so we are settled there." I rub the back of my neck, a little shy under their attention.
"Nice to meet you, Sorren," Brock says kindly. He gives me a polite nod before his expression turns thoughtful. "May I ask…have you registered yet?"
"Registered for what exactly?" I tilt my head, completely lost. Brock and Misty exchange a look that says everything.
"Sorren…have you ever registered for any Pokemon League?" Misty asks.
Her tone is gentle, but the question still makes my stomach twist. I can feel my fingers tightening around the strap of my backpack. Unlike the trainers they have probably met all over the world, I have nothing to show.
"I…uh…this may sound like I am some idiot but…no. This is my first time going into a real battle with others." My voice comes out small and I scratch my cheek awkwardly.
Misty raises her brows. "And you chose Pasio as your first experience?"
"I…did not want to at first," I admit quietly. "But I want to make my family proud. It is okay if you guys want someone more experienced."
My head lowers. A hollow feeling settles in my chest as I stare at the floor. It feels like my journey is about to end before it even begins.
But then, to my surprise, both Brock and Misty let out soft chuckles.
I glance up, startled. "Is something…funny?" I ask quietly. My fingers fidgeting with the pocket of my pants as I glance between them.
"Just the fact that you are different from the people we have seen," Brock says. His expression is calm as he folds his arms.
"It does not matter how much experience you have, Sorren," Misty adds. She leans forward as she smiles at me. "We are all here to either learn or teach others. And you have a reason behind your travel. That kind of purpose comes in handy a lot." She turns to Brock with a playful grin. "Isn't that right, Brock?"
"As you say, Misty," Brock replies with a short laugh. He shifts slightly closer to me, his tone turning more serious. "Sorren, you should talk to Nurse Trista. She can get you registered and give you all the necessary items." He gestures toward the exit. "We will wait for you outside the Pokemon Center."
As Brock and Misty leave, I turn my attention back to the nurse I spoke with earlier. Now that I know her name, I call out softly, "Nurse Trista?"
She turns at once, pausing her work. "Yes sir?"
"Please just call me Sorren," I say with a small smile. "And…is there any registration for the league that is going to happen?"
Her expression brightens. "Oh? Are you deciding to join, Sorren?"
"Umm…yeah. I am lucky enough to find a team…" I scratch my cheek, feeling the heat creep up my neck.
"Alright. I will register you quickly. Just answer a few questions for me. Please state your full name."
"Sorren Faelanor."
"Where are you from?"
"Floaroma Town in Sinnoh."
"And finally, how old are you?"
"Eighteen years old."
"That will be enough." She nods, clicks something on her screen, and pulls out a device that looks like a phone. "This is a Poryphone. It is a multi-purpose device that is an absolute must-have here on Pasio. You can talk to people on it and even use it as a Pokedex." She hands it to me, then retrieves my pokeballs from the machine. "Your Pokemon are all well and healthy."
I take the Poryphone carefully. With my other hand, I attach Luxray's pokeball to the belt on my hip. Then I press the button on Pikachu's pokeball. A burst of light forms into Pikachu, who stretches with a squeaky groan before climbing onto my shoulder. He yawns loudly and pats my cheek with sleepy affection.
"Sorren, one more thing," Nurse Trista adds. "I believe you will be going to Centra City since it is quite popular. While you are there, you will hear the term 'Sync Pair'."
"Sync pair?" I repeat.
"Yes. It is the name for a trainer and their partner Pokémon. You will understand it better during your travels. Now please enjoy your journey in Pasio."
I thank her and begin walking toward the exit, only to be intercepted by a woman in a lab coat. She steps directly into my path, smiling brightly.
"Konnichiwa. Bonjour. Pleasure to meet you. I am Professor Bellis." Before I can react, she lightly grips my sleeve and guides me to a nearby table where a wicker basket sits with a lid closed tight.
Is she really a professor? Why does she look at me like I am a rare experiment?
Still suspicious, I stay put.
"I am doing research on sync pairs here on Pasio," she continues. "You must have heard the term already." Her excitement makes her bounce slightly on her heels. "Oh, in all this I forgot to ask. What is your name?"
"Sorren Faelanor," I answer, although my eyes stay glued to the basket.
"Tell me, with whom have you teamed up?"
This feels strange, but I doubt she will let me leave without answering.
"With…uhh…Brock and Misty."
"Viola! What a beautiful team. It will be a treat to see what you three get up to."
"Umm…thank you?" I offer hesitantly.
"Pardon the change of subject, but are you familiar with Pokémon Eggs?"
Dad has taken Alex and me to a breeder before, so I know a bit. She does not need to know all that, so I simply say, "Yes."
"Wonderful. I am studying the bonds that form between members of a sync pair." She gestures between me and the basket. "Specifically when the trainer raises their partner from an egg."
Then she beams at me. "Would you be a dear and lend me a hand with my research, Sorren?"
"Me?" I point at myself, stunned.
"Yes, you. I have a feeling that a promising trainer like you would form a maravilloso sync pair with a lucky Pokémon hatched from an Egg."
"I am sorry but…me?" I try again, waving my hands slightly. I glance around at the many trainers passing through the area. There are so many better candidates. But Professor Bellis focuses only on me, completely unaffected by my panic.
She lifts the lid of the basket, revealing three eggs inside, each with its own unique pattern. "Here. I have three Pokémon Eggs for you to choose from. Pick one, and you can take care of it until it is ready to hatch."
Before I can talk myself out of it, I reach for the one in the middle. I pick it up slowly and cradle it in my arms. The shell is warm. As I look down at it, I hear a rustle. When I lift my head, Professor Bellis is gone. Now I am standing here, stuck with a Pokémon Egg.
Pikachu, who has been quiet, leans forward and rubs his paw gently over the shell. I let out a long breath. "Guess we have to be extra careful." Pikachu answers by rubbing his cheek against mine.
Careful not to jostle the egg, I walk out of the Pokémon Center. I spot Brock and Misty sitting on a steel bench. The moment they see me, they stand up, their eyes widening as they take in the sight of the egg in my arms. I approach them with the most miserable look I can manage.
"Brock…Misty…what am I supposed to do?" I whine. I sound like a child, but I truly have no idea how to take care of a Pokémon Egg.
"I thought we left you to get registered with the league. How did you end up with an egg?" Brock asks as soon as I reach them.
"There was a woman and she did not let me refuse. She told me to choose an egg," I explain. I keep both hands wrapped around the egg, terrified of dropping it.
"Woman? Did you catch her name?" Misty asks while leaning forward.
"It was Bellis…" The moment I say it, their eyes widen with recognition.
"Oh, Professor Bellis?" Brock says with a small laugh. "She is an eccentric woman. You can never tell what goes on in her head, but she reads talent like no one else. Maybe there is a reason she chose you to take care of the egg."
"Pika pi!" Pikachu chimes from my shoulder as if fully agreeing.
Misty's expression softens instantly. "What an adorable Pikachu!" She reaches out, lifts him gently by his arms, and pulls him into her chest. Pikachu squeals with delight and kicks his feet in excitement. His tail waves in the air like he is absolutely thriving.
Brock watches them fondly, then kneels down and rummages through his bag. "Here," he says as he pulls out a round device. "This is an incubator. You can store the egg in it. It will make a sound when the egg is about to hatch." He taps the top, and it opens with a soft click.
I carefully place the egg inside. It fits perfectly. Once the lid closes, I tuck the incubator into my bag and zip it completely shut.
"Where are we going then?" I ask, adjusting the strap so the egg stays secure. Pikachu hops back onto my shoulder.
"Centra City," Misty answers. She hooks her thumbs into her shorts pockets and starts walking. "It is the main hub for trainers from all over the world. We might even be able to add more members to our team."
I fall into step beside them. The path ahead opens into a wide walkway lined with palm trees and colorful banners fluttering in the breeze. Trainers pass us in groups, talking excitedly, some accompanied by their Pokémon.
Misty and Brock slip into an easy conversation with each other. I add a comment here and there, but my thoughts drift far away.
Alex…I need to tell him everything. About Pasio, about the egg, about how fast everything is happening. He will probably scream into the phone. He will be so excited to hear how my day is unfolding.