Entering the polished confines of the local police station, Shane can''t help but be struck by the cleanliness and order. It''s so vastly different from the small, understaffed station back home on Osmer. Yet, as he takes in the unfamiliar surroundings, he feels a pang of grief. How quickly ''home'' has become a memory, an echo of a life now submerged beneath unfathomable depths of water.
Being from a small society like Osmer, where everyone knew everyone else and confrontations were usually direct and transparent, he is unsure of what to do in this sprawling unfamiliarity. He''s lost, in more ways than one.
As he approaches the reception desk, his mind swirls with uncertainty. He almost laughs at the absurdity of it all, finding himself in this strange land, standing in a pristine police station, trying to explain a catastrophe.
The woman at the reception desk looks up from the computer. “Hello, can I help you?”.
Shane freezes for a moment. He’s not sure what to reply.
“Yeah, i… I got lost at sea and ended up here. My home was… destroyed by a wave, I think. I don’t know where to go.”
The woman blinks and is silent for a few seconds. Her surprise mirrors his own disbelief, as if the enormity of his words still hasn''t fully sunk in.
“That is… i’m very sorry. How… Wait, I have to make a call for the Officer.”
Shane nods.
“Hi, Kate at the reception here. Could you come? There’s a man saying his home was destroyed, and he ended up here. Okay, thank you.”
She continues to Shane, “She’ll be here in just a moment” and smiles politely.
Shane finds himself fighting back tears as he waits for Officer Jenny, the woman assigned to his case. He waits next to the reception, and in barely a minute, a woman comes through a door next to him. She’s wearing a dark blue police uniform, with a large light blue triangle on the chest. Her uniform hat seems to be somewhat like a blue cap, with a black hard screen. Her hair is also pointed and light blue.
The woman looks at him from top to bottom and notices how dirty he is. He seems tired and slightly malnourished.
"Hi, I''m officer Jenny. How might I help you today?"
"Hi, I''m Shane. Shane Thomson. I…"
The nervous man bites his lip.
"I am from the Island archipelago Osmer. A week ago, a big wave came and destroyed everything."
Tears start forming in the young man’s eyes.
"I am the only one who escaped. I don''t really know where I am, and I don''t know where to go. I don''t know what to do. Please help me".
“This feels embarrassing,” Shane thinks, the feeling filling his head like dulling cotton. “A grown man goes to the police for help, even though no crime is committed. What are they even going to do?" he doubts in his mind.
Jenny replies "Oh, I see… That is quite unusual indeed. Where did you say you were from?"
"Osmer," Shane sobs, while trying to hold it back.
"Okay. I have to make some calls, but I believe there are regional policies in place for situations like yours. Follow me to my office."
They both walk through the door she came from, and proceed through a few corridors until they arrive at an office, large enough for him to stretch his arms to both sides 4 times over in.
"Would you like something to eat? This might take a while and you look quite hungry," she asks.
"Yes please."
Jenny proceeds to push a button and says "Kate, could you come here with some sandwiches and…"
She releases the button.
"What would you like to drink? Coffee, water, soda?"
Shane doesn''t recognize two of those options. They didn''t have those things on Osmer.
"Water please, thank you so much, " he replies with a slight smile.
"... and water please, thank you Kate." Jenny says into the apparatus.
Jenny continues "So, I’ll have to get your whole story first, before I contact the Hoenn Immigration Office. Is that okay with you?"
"Of course," Shane nods back.
The two of them proceed to play out the whole story of what happened. Jenny also asks basic questions like what age Shane is, what he worked with, family relations and such, the latter part being quite the sensitive subject. Shane’s fingerprints are taken and checked toward a cross-regional database to ensure he’s not an existing citizen in any of them, returning nothing.
Shane feels a knot tightening in his stomach. It''s one thing to experience a disaster, but articulating it, reliving it in words, that''s an entirely different ordeal. Jenny is patient, however, guiding him through the process, the questions she asks simple and direct, yet they each feel like a stab, dredging up memories he''d rather not revisit.
After finishing the short conversation, Jenny proceeds to make some calls. Meanwhile, Kate from the reception comes with a tray, with two large sandwiches and a bottle of water.
"Oh. They''re both for you by the way, you seem hungry, " Jenny says from the side of the phone.
Shane proceeds to eat them both, deeply sunken into his own thoughts, not taking notice of what Jenny is saying over the phone.
He''s tired, so very tired. He takes the opportunity to regain his composure, his gaze roaming aimlessly around the room. The conversations happening over the phone seem distant, detached from his reality.
When he finally finishes his meal, exhaustion washes over him. He''s physically and emotionally drained, the events of the past week finally catching up to him.
After a few more minutes, Jenny turns to scribbling things down on a note to him, concludes the phone call, then turns to him and says “Okay, things seem to go quite smoothly for you here. Tomorrow morning, you will meet with a representative from the immigration office. Since the Pokemon League is one of the most resourceful authorities around, they have a close cooperation. You will get a temporary quarter in the pokemon center for tonight, along with guest access to their computers if there is anything you want to look up as a newcomer. The representative will come at 10AM to speak to you. Is there anything you want to ask about?”.
Jenny''s news about his situation offers a glimmer of hope. While he doesn''t understand everything she''s saying, he catches phrases like "temporary quarter" and "pokemon center". It''s all foreign and confusing, but it''s also a plan, a path forward in this new life he''s unexpectedly been thrown into.
Shane is completely blown away. He never imagined things to go this well upon arrival.
“Well… What’s a pokemon center?” he nervously asks.
“It’s a place where pokemon trainers go to heal their pokemon after tougher combats and to have quarters during the league season. They also serve as a general medical center for people when hospitals are not nearby, along with serving as an assisting function in other emergencies.”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.“Okay. That… concludes things, I guess? Where is it?”
“No problem, I will follow you there, it’s not far. By the way, here’s some temporary login credentials if you want to do some research at one of the center’s computers.”.
She hands him a note containing two rows of words, seeming to consist of random letters at places.
Shane doesn''t quite understand what a computer is, let alone ''login credentials'', but he takes the note from Jenny with a grateful nod. He''s too tired to ask any more questions. For now, he just needs to rest. To grieve. And then, when he''s ready, to start figuring out what comes next.
They both get up, out of the police station, and start walking west.
Again, Shane is amazed at the multitude of pokemon wandering the streets along with people, but also from how different the town looks from his hometown on Zenith. It’s definitely bigger, and the buildings are huge.
He even notices some pokemon on their own, some carrying bags.
After a few short minutes they arrive at a two-story building considerably larger than the police station, with white walls and a red roof. Inside, they are greeted by a woman in white nursing gowns and pink hair.
“Good evening, Jenny.”
“Good evening, Joy”
“And good evening you too, I’m nurse Joy. And you?” the nurse asks.
“I’m Shane, good evening.”
“Hi Shane, How may i help you tonight?”
Office Jenny chimes in: "This young man needs a room, on request of the immigration office. I hope that''s not a problem, now that the season is just about to end."
"Oh no, not at all, let''s see…" Joy starts tappning at a set of buttons on the table, looking at a light-emitting box depicting various colored squares and words.
"That''ll be room 15, here''s the key. Dinner is available from the upper floor service point until 7PM. Is there anything more I can help you with?" Joy smile towards Shane and the officer.
Shane takes a brief moment to think. "No, not really, you''ve been very helpful miss".
"Please, call me Joy," Joy replies in a polite manner, expressing just the manner you could expect from the best of nurses.
Shane smiles.
He turns to Officer Jenny, "Thank you for all your help, Officer Jenny."
Jenny grins, putting a hand on Shane''s shoulder. "It''s no problem at all. Be sure to take care of yourself, Shane."
With those parting words, Jenny makes her way out of the Pokémon Center, leaving Shane alone with Nurse Joy. Shane takes a deep breath, the reality of his new situation slowly sinking in. From the bustling streets of Hoenn filled with strange creatures called Pokémon, to this kind woman with pink hair who just handed him a room key. Everything was new, different and… overwhelming.
Shane nods his thanks to Nurse Joy, a polite, slightly nervous smile on his face, and walks toward the stairs leading to the upper floor. The Pokémon Center has a warm, inviting vibe, filled with the soft chatter of people and Pokémon alike.
As he walks by, he can''t help but glance at a group of people gathered around a table. They''re engaged in lively conversation, a few pokemon looking on curiously from their perches or spots on the floor.
A small, yellow creature with pointy ears and a lightning bolt-shaped tail catches his eye – a Pikachu, he recalls from Bob''s hasty education earlier.
Shane finds room 15 easily. It''s modest but comfortable, with a small bed, a desk, and a window overlooking the bustling town.
He decides he needs to freshen up and heads to the shower room. The hot water is a welcome sensation, washing away the sea salt and tension from his body.
Feeling refreshed, Shane changes into the clean clothes provided in his room and heads back down to the first floor. He finds the service point, collects his dinner – a bowl of warm soup, bread, and a side salad – and eats at one of the public tables, observing the interactions around him. The room buzzes with talk of Pokémon battles, training techniques, and shared adventures, despite there being very few trainers around. Probably due to the time of the season, as they mentioned earlier.
After eating, he recalls the piece of paper Jenny had handed him earlier, the one with "login credentials". His attention is drawn to a row of sleek, rectangular devices on a table in the corner of the lobby. It must be the computers Officer Jenny had mentioned. Shane approaches the table, nervously looking around. He had never used a computer before. But curiosity and the need to learn about this new world drives him to sit down and power one up.
Feeling a bit like he''s fumbling in the dark, he eventually manages to enter the words from the note into the device. The screen changes, presenting him with a search bar. A few clicks later, he''s reading about Pokémon, Hoenn, the Pokémon League, and a world so vast and diverse that it leaves him breathless.
With a head full of new knowledge and questions, Shane retires to his room. He falls asleep that night with his mind buzzing with information. His last thought before he drifts off is that he''s in for a wild ride. There''s so much to learn and experience, and he''s both excited and anxious about the adventure that awaits him in the morning when he meets with the immigration representative.
At the break of dawn, Shane is already up. He washes up, gets dressed, and makes his way to the lobby to wait for the representative. He''s eager to start this new chapter in his life, though the pain of losing his home still lingers at the back of his mind.
Just as he''s about to get lost in his thoughts, a tall, bald man in a smart suit approaches him. "Shane Thomson?" he asks in a deep voice, extending a hand.
Shane stands up, shaking the man''s hand firmly. "Yes, that''s me."
"Good morning, Shane. I''m Frederick from the Hoenn Immigration Office," the man introduces himself. "I''ve been informed about your situation. It''s quite a story, I must say. But don''t worry, we''re here to help you get settled."
As they begin their discussion, Shane looks out the window. It''s a beautiful morning in Hoenn, with the sun sunlight filtering through the leaves of the tall trees and painting the city with hues of gold. Pokemon scamper around, some playfully interacting with their trainers, others merely enjoying the vibrant morning.
As Frederick begins to explain the process Shane will undergo to get fully settled in Hoenn, Shane can''t help but get distracted by the world outside. The region is bustling with life, so different from the tranquility of Osmer, yet strangely welcoming in its own vibrant way.
"So, the first step is going to be a registration process," Frederick is saying. "This will allow us to help you with the process of integration more efficiently. You''ll have to provide some information, nothing too strenuous. Age, previous occupation, family ties, and so on."
"Sure," Shane replies, pulling his attention away from the window. He''s eager to get the administrative part of his new life out of the way so he can start exploring Hoenn in earnest.
Over the next hour, Frederick guides Shane through the registration process. Once that''s complete, they discuss the potential opportunities for Shane in the region, considering his skills and interests. To his surprise, Frederick suggests that Shane might consider becoming a Pokemon Trainer.
"It''s not an uncommon path for newcomers to our region," Frederick explains, noticing Shane''s surprised expression. "Interacting with Pokemon, learning how to train and care for them can be a deeply rewarding experience. Plus, it offers a unique way to explore the region and learn about our culture and way of life."
Shane is thoughtful. He had been struck by the bond between people and their Pokemon ever since he landed in Hoenn. Now, he''s being offered a chance to forge such bonds himself. He''s never had pets, and the thought of having such a unique creature as a companion is quite appealing.
After a moment, he nods. "Alright. I''ll give it a try."
"Excellent," Frederick beams. "In that case, your journey starts at the local Pokemon gym. There, you''ll be given your first Pokemon and learn the basics of being a trainer. Normally, trainers are either sponsored by a regional professor, some even by local gyms or businesses, but most are initially funded through savings or with help from their family, soon often transitioning into being entirely funded by the earnings they make on their journey. You may be entitled to get an introduction benefit of 1500 credits, together with three months of initial support funds, at 500 credits each, the first one arriving at the same time as the benefit payment. You will be expected to mainly provide for yourself as soon as possible, but these funds will allow for basic sustenance and purchasing necessary starting equipment, in case things don’t immediately work out as expected. This, together with getting an ID for you should be ready within three days, after which you can go to the gym to get your starter. ”
“Wow, that’s a lot to take in. Really… just like that?” Shane nervously replies.
“Yes, of course. Nothing in your backstory stands out as suspicious, and these are the procedures which I am allowed to call upon in your case as I see fit. I think you need it.”
Shane almost gets a tear in his eye, but manages to hold it back. “Thank you so very much, this is way more than i… than i thought i would get help with when i arrived here yesterday”.
“Ah, no problem. After all, it’s what you need, right?” Frederick replies with a happy visage.
As he departs, Frederick gives Shane a small booklet. "This should help you get started. It contains all the basic information about Pokemon training. I look forward to seeing you progress, Shane."
With that, he leaves Shane alone, his mind full of anticipation for the new path he''s about to embark on. Shane opens the booklet and starts reading, ready to embrace this new chapter in his life in the vibrant world of Pokemon.
From the loss of his home to the chance of a new beginning, Shane can''t help but feel that life has brought him here for a reason. As he gets lost in the pages of the booklet, he finds himself looking forward to the adventures, friendships, and challenges that await him in Hoenn.