Sinnoh region, Veilstone City Breeding House. This is one of the breeding houses officially certified by Veilstone City.
Today, the new breeder Reggie is online. That's right, Reggie returned from his travels and officially inherited the family business!
"Brother, are you really giving up?" Looking at his elegant and demure elder brother with long purple hair, the gloomy looking boy with the same purple hair frowned, looking at his brother Reggie.
"Well, it's not that I gave up, it's just that I saw my limit," Reggie spread his hands and looked at the photo frames hanging on the wall.
Kanto League Gym Badges, Johto League Gym Badges, Hoenn League Gym Badges, Sinnoh League Gym Badges, and one missing symbol from the Battle Frontier.
Every badge represented Reggie's irreplaceable youth. Only now, he saw his limits as a trainer and chose to become an excellent breeder instead.
Starting from Sinnoh, Reggie experienced four league conferences, his best result being the top eight of the Sinnoh League. After that, Reggie, who was unsmiling as a trainer and always insisted on an elite focused strategy, met the Era of Legends.
After being crushed from beginning to end, Reggie had an epiphany. Stop forcing himself, and stop forcing his Pokémon. Go home and be a gentle Pokémon caretaker with peace of mind.
In truth, there was nothing wrong with this. In this world, those who could become professional Pokémon trainers and stay in the profession long term were all talented individuals. * Didn't Ash Ketchum himself start as the number 4 ranked rookie from Pallet Town! *
Pokémon training consistently ranked high among hazardous occupations. Although trainers could reach the top of society, it also meant very few actually stood at the pinnacle.
If a trainer couldn't smoothly grow into a Gym Leader or Elite Four level challenger, they would eventually return to a more normal life. Many former trainers found value and held important positions throughout society.
Paul studied his older brother; Reggie didn't look depressed, his eyes were very clear. He had truly let go.
* The Battle Frontier... that missing symbol.* Paul remembered hearing about it, how anime Paul had also challenged it, driven partly by Reggie's perceived failure here, obsessed with proving his harsh training methods were superior.
* But looking at Reggie now... he seems genuinely at peace. He accepted his limit, something the original Paul might never have done back then. Paul thought, Maybe I can succeed where they both stumbled, but without that cold ruthlessness.*
"Ah, alright. Brother, let me help fulfill your dream," Paul made a serious promise and patted his brother on the shoulder.
Having inexplicably transmigrated into the world of Pokémon, Paul, caught completely off guard, had been taken care of by Reggie for over ten years. To this day, Paul hadn't figured it out. He just fell asleep while reading a book. * Was it really necessary to let me leave that world without a sound? *
The whole process was disturbingly smooth. He went to sleep, and then he was gone!
When he opened his eyes, he was a little baby with purple hair, a milky voice, and fierce looking eyes. Paul felt he was not psychologically prepared at all; those first few years as a human cub were simply a nightmare.
Fortunately, the adults at home were often absent. In Paul's childhood, only this 'borrowed' older brother clumsily took care of him. Relying on the high end skill of talking at age one and handling his own basic needs by age three, Paul finally achieved independence at age five.
He stumbled along until today. Paul is 12 years old and considered an adult ready to start his journey! * I, Master Paul, am ready! *
"Haha, my dream is over. You don't have to live for my dream. Paul, you have to go on a journey for your own dream," Reggie lovingly ruffled Paul's short purple hair, which provoked Paul into gritting his teeth.
"Brother, don't mess up my hair! My dream is to surpass you, become an excellent trainer, and finally win the position of Sinnoh Champion!" Paul clenched his fist and said confidently.
Reggie looked at his energetic younger brother, as if seeing himself back then: same self confidence, same intense, fierce eyes. Perhaps this was also a kind of alternative inheritance.
Paul scowled internally. * I don't have fierce eyes! I was born this way! *
"Haha. Alright, today is your big day. Go unwrap your presents," while feeding the Pokémon cubs in the breeding house, Reggie reminded Paul that the Pokémon he chose had already arrived in his bedroom.
Since there was no Pokémon Research Institute in Veilstone City, new trainers aligned with the league in this city received their initial Pokémon mailed directly home.
Beforehand, a special email would ask which starter Pokémon they wanted. In the Sinnoh region, the choices were Chimchar, Turtwig, and Piplup.
If there were no issues, trainers generally received the starter they requested. However, if unlucky and their choice wasn't available, they would receive one of the other two.
"Don't worry, I'll help you finish up here first. Otherwise, you won't have time to take me to the airport later," Paul patiently helped Reggie clean and groom the Pokémon.
After working for a while, they finally made all the Pokémon in the breeding house comfortable.
Reggie cleaned up the used food bowls and nudged Paul, "Okay, there's only a little left. You go, don't let your Pokémon wait too long."
"Okay, I see," nodding, Paul eagerly went to his bedroom.
On the desk sat a gift box tied with a ribbon patterned with gaudy flowers and butterflies.
Paul grimaced. * My brother's taste is getting worse and worse. The league wouldn't send out such tacky gift boxes. *
Approaching the table, he gently opened the gift box. Two Poké Balls and a Pokédex styled for the Sinnoh region appeared before him.
Without rushing to open the Poké Balls, Paul first picked up the Pokédex and examined it. This was an important tool for his training. * The Pokédex isn't just for scanning like Ash does when he encounters a Pokémon he doesn't know *.
The league issued Pokédex also had special functions like identification, determining a Pokémon's approximate level, monitoring its condition in real time, and even emitting special wavelengths to inhibit evolution if needed!
Only Pokémon fully registered in its database could have their energy levels and learnable moves accurately judged by the Pokédex. However, regionally issued Pokédexes generally only contained information on Pokémon native to that region.
He flipped through the Pokédex. As expected, it only contained information on Sinnoh Pokémon and some from Hoenn. Paul sighed. * It seems my decision to start my journey in Kanto, following my brother Reggie's path, was the right one to eventually get national data. *
* It's likely only Professor Oak has access to a truly national Pokédex *.
Putting the Pokédex into his pocket, Paul took out the two Poké Balls. One, marked with a water drop symbol, should contain the Water type starter sent by the league. The other was a gift Reggie had prepared for Paul: an Elekid!
First, the Water type starter from the league, Piplup. Paul opened the Poké Ball. A beam of white light flashed, and the round headed little blue penguin, Piplup, raised its flippers high, making its debut.
"Piplup!" * That's right, this time Paul chose Piplup, who eventually evolves into the Water and Steel type Empoleon. Empoleon's excellent Steel typing provides great coverage against troublesome Dragon types and Fairy types. And once Fairy Pokémon are dealt with, Dragon type pseudo legendaries become much easier to handle! *
Paul lowered his head, staring "kindly" at the little guy. "Hey, it's nice to finally meet you. Please take care of me from now on, Piplup."
"Piplup?!" Piplup looked startled.
Seeing a trainer with such intense eyes greeting it with what seemed like a cruel smile, Piplup's confidence instantly shattered. It immediately lowered its head, tears welling in its eyes as it seemed to pledge loyalty out of fear.
"Um... does this kid misunderstand me..." Paul took out a small mirror with some exasperation and looked at his reflection. * Still handsome, purple hair, maybe the lines under my eyes are a bit pronounced, and my eyes are a little intense *.
After stroking Piplup's chubby head to soothe it, Paul felt quite speechless. * Don't associate me with the Paul from the anime. I've changed from the inside out, okay? *
Fortunately, the Elekid raised by his older brother reacted very well to Paul. The Pokémon was super energetic. As soon as it materialized, it started swinging its arms wildly.
It fist bumped Paul in a friendly manner. Elekid patted its chest confidently. It wasn't afraid of Paul's preference for elites, because Elekid itself was an elite! * In fact, Elekid was almost always my ace in my previous life as Paul, equivalent to Ash's Pikachu in importance! *
"Okay, our journey is about to begin. Piplup, Elekid, let's win many, many victories together."
Seeing Paul's outstretched palm, Elekid placed its hand on it without hesitation. Piplup stared at its trainer, and after seeing Paul's determined yet kind expression, it nodded firmly and placed its small wing on top.
"Piplup, maybe sometimes I seem very strict, but my dedication to my Pokémon is second to none," Paul said with a smile as he patted Piplup's little head.
Hearing Paul's explanation, Piplup proudly puffed out its small chest. * Am I scared? How could I be? I'm super brave, okay? *
After finishing the introductions with his two Pokémon, Paul felt satisfied and recalled them to their Poké Balls. Then he picked up the backpack he had prepared earlier and walked out of the bedroom.
Reggie had been waiting for Paul in the living room. Seeing Paul come down, he asked with a smile, "How is it, satisfied with the gifts?"
Paul nodded, "Very satisfied. Thank you, brother."
"You're welcome. No need to be so formal between us brothers," Reggie took Paul's backpack.
"Come on, I'll drive you to the airport."
"Okay," Paul followed Reggie into the breeding house's minivan. The journey to the Veilstone City airport was smooth.
The new journey would officially begin in Kanto.
"Paul, be safe. Good luck," Reggie stood behind the security gate and waved goodbye to Paul.
Paul clenched his right fist and raised it above his head. "Wait for my triumphant return, bro."
As the jet plane took off, Paul sat in his seat and fell asleep peacefully.
* Kanto, here I come. This time, I will go further! *