Salt.
That was the first thing I tasted.
Salt and wind.
My eyes snapped open to the cry of Pidgey overhead and the deep horn of a ship cutting through morning mist.
For a second, I didn't move
"...Where am I?"
Then the pain hit.
Not physical.
Memories.
Not mine.
A small house in Kalos. Laughter in the kitchen. A mother with soft hands. A father who was training his pokemon.
A crash.
Smoke.
Silence.
Funeral.
Letter from Kanto.
Vermillon City.
Uncle.
My breath hitched as the flood of memories forced themselves into place. They weren't dreams. They weren't imagination.
They were this body's past.
I wasn't James anymore.
I was-
Oliver Montclair from Dendemille Town in the Kalos region. A 14 year old handsome boy with white hair who had just lost his parents and was being shipped across regions to live with an uncle in Vermilion City.
And yesterday I turned 14.
The trainer age.
I slowly sat up.
The ferry horn blared again. Crew members shouted as the ship approached port. I run to the railing excitedly looking as the ship was approaching Vermillon City port I saw pokemon from Pidgey to Sparrow flying in the sky as I see the beautiful sceen I couldn't contain my excitement.
And shouted "Hello Vermillon City" as I continue to look at the City of Vermillon.
In my previous life I always wanted to go travel the world but, school made it so that I couldn't.
Ring, ring, ring.
I take out my phone and see it's my uncle Adrian Cross a former trainer I quickly answer.
"Hey Uncle how have you been."
"Good my boy have arrived safely" he asked.
"Sure have why did Uncle call I was just on my way."
"Well my boy I wanted to tell you to hurry to my house I have some good news".
"Really I'm on my way" I say as I put the phone down.
I could no longer contain my excitement I took my bag and ran off the farry that has anchored into the bustling City of Vermillon.
"It's so beautiful" I shouted attracting weird look from everyone around me I sheepishly rub the back my head and continues to explore the City as I make my way to my uncle's house.
I arrived outside the house it was a beautiful two story house with a backyard for his pokemon to live.
I walk to the front and knock on it. I heard nothing I look at address on the letter but this is the right address just as I was about to knock again the door swings open almost hit me and a tall blond man with muscle
and a handsome face came out I recognized him
"Long time no see Uncle"
He then smiles at me and says "Sure has look how you've grown."
He then says "follow me." As he gives me a tour and shows me my room we then went to the the living room.
I then ask "What the good news."
He then smiles and says "right to the point well your amazing uncle remembered that you said you want to be a pokemon trainer so I called a friend of mine he's a professor thats in the process of opening his Lab and he need a field researcher so I told him you would do and he said he will give you a starter pokemon.
I tried thinking of which character this professor is and the I remember the only character it can be Professor Cerise form the Journeys anime.
I then ask my uncle "Really".
He simple nodded.
I started jumping up and down with excitement as I celebrate and my uncle starts chuckling and says "he's at the Cerise laboratory I told him that you will been arriving here to day so he's probably waiting for you already".
I wave goodbye and ran before my uncle could tell me where it is.
He sighs and says "it's fine he'll find his way."
I ran for 10 minutes straight then suddenly stopped shit I didn't ask where it is. I was in alleyway but saw a main road so I ran out of the alley but, then I ran into something and got knocked onto my back.
As I started to stand up I hear a girl voice "ouch".
I finally stood up and dusted myself off when I saw the daughter of the man I was looking for this girl was Chloe Cerise a beautiful girl from the Pokemon Journeys anime see her felt unreal, but as looked at her she looked older than in anime but then I remembered the trainer age was 10 in the anime where in this world it's 14.
Looking at her I realized my luck so I extended my hand and asked "are you all right" with a smile
She looked at the smile on my handsome face and blushed for a bit before take my hand.
She says "I'm fine but next time look where you're going" she then introduce herself "My name Chloe Cerise what's yours."
I fainted surprise before introduce myself "My Oliver Montclair from the Kalos region and was kinda looking for the Cerise laboratory what luck running into you." I said with a goofy smile.
She simply nods and says "follow me."
As we walk to the Lab I try to strike up a conversation with her but she didn't seem like the talkative type.
We then reached the laboratory she then says "this is the lab goodbye then." she turns to leave but, I stop her she turns around confused "do you need something" she asks "not really I just want to say thanks".
She nods her head and say "no problem" the turns around and starts to leave. She a bit cold but, she a nice person.
I then look at the beautiful laboratory that look like castle. Let get my journey started as I walk to the Labs door