Anomaly

Chapter 1: A Dream in Motion

Chapter 1: A Dream in Motion

Walking along Route 101 felt like stepping into another world. The asphalt road stretched out before me, winding between lush green fields and trees swaying gently in the wind. The air smelled fresh, nothing like the busy city air of LaRousse, and the quiet was comforting. It was the kind of peace that helped me process everything that had just happened.

I still couldn’t believe the scene at the airport. A wild Glameow just… catching itself in my old Poké Ball? And those people in black uniforms chasing after it? It felt like a dream, and part of me kept expecting to wake up back in LaRousse. But here I was, on my way to Professor Arbutus’ lab, carrying a Glameow I didn’t even know I wanted.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Focus on the journey, I reminded myself. Springlake Town was behind me now, and the lab wasn’t too far off, just down this road. The professor was the whole reason I was here in Itoriko, after all. I needed to get my official starter Pokémon and figure out what to do next.

As I walked, something caught my eye—a flash of pink fluttering just above the tall grass. I stopped in my tracks and looked closer, my breath catching in my throat. A Vivillon. A real, live Vivillon. I had only ever seen pictures of them in books or on television, but there it was, hovering gracefully with its wings shimmering in the sunlight.

I smiled, watching it for a moment. I never thought I’d see a Vivillon in person, let alone so close to me. It was a Pokémon from the Kalos Region, so seeing one here in Itoriko made me realize just how diverse this region really was. There were so many different types of Pokémon to meet, and the thought made me excited. What kind of team would I build? What friends would I make along the way?

As I kicked a small pebble along the road, lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard footsteps behind me. Startled, I turned around to see a boy walking toward me. He was about my age, maybe a little taller, with dark hair and glasses that barely covered his striking green eyes. He was wearing a pair of loose gray slacks, a black leather jacket, and olive sneakers. Beside him was a small green Pokémon, walking with a confident stride.

A Treecko.

I immediately recognized the Pokémon from my time in Hoenn. Treecko was a Grass-type starter there, one that was known for being quick and agile. It looked up at me with a cool expression, its tail flicking slightly as it walked next to the boy.

“You’re Francesca Novak, right?” the boy asked, his voice calm but curious.

I blinked, still processing the fact that this random boy knew my name. “Uh, yeah. I’m Cesca,” I replied, eyeing him cautiously. “Who are you?”

He smiled slightly. “Name’s Edmund. You can call me Ed. Professor Arbutus sent me to pick you up.”

That caught me off guard. “The professor sent you?” I repeated, confused. “I only just heard about Professor Arbutus from the plane’s announcement before I landed. How did the professor know I was coming?”

Ed shrugged, pushing his glasses up his nose. “The professor’s got connections, I guess. Said I should make sure you didn’t get lost on your way to the lab.”

I paused, trying to make sense of it. Then it hit me. My mom. She’d mentioned a friend who worked in Itoriko, someone she trusted. Could it be that Professor Arbutus was the friend she was talking about? It would make sense.

Shaking off the confusion, I glanced down at the Treecko walking beside Ed. “So, is Treecko your starter Pokémon?” I asked, changing the subject.

Ed nodded, smiling fondly at the small reptile. “Yeah, I chose Treecko a few weeks ago. We’ve been training together ever since.”

“That’s cool,” I said, feeling a little envious. I still hadn’t chosen a starter, and yet somehow I already had a Pokémon—if you could call Glameow mine.

Ed seemed to pick up on my hesitation and tilted his head. “What about you? Have you decided which Pokémon you’re going to pick?”

I let out a small, awkward laugh, scratching the back of my neck. “Actually, something strange happened at the airport. I didn’t even get a chance to pick a starter yet because… well, a wild Glameow ran into my stuff and caught itself in one of my old Poké Balls.”

Ed’s eyes widened. “Seriously? It just caught itself?”

“Yeah, it was being chased by these people in black uniforms. I didn’t know what to do, so I just kind of... let it happen,” I said, shrugging helplessly. “Now it’s in my Poké Ball, and I’m not even sure if I should consider it mine.”

Ed looked thoughtful for a moment. “That’s pretty wild. But you know, sometimes Pokémon choose their trainers. Maybe that Glameow saw something in you.”

His words made me pause. I hadn’t thought of it that way. To me, it seemed like Glameow was just trying to escape from whoever was after it, but the idea that it might’ve chosen me? That was a little heartwarming, though I still wasn’t sure if I believed it.

“I don’t know,” I said, glancing down at the Poké Ball in my bag. “It just seemed desperate to get away. I guess I’ll ask the professor about it when we get to the lab.”

Ed nodded, and we continued walking down the road, the wind picking up slightly and rustling the leaves of the trees. In the distance, I could see the silhouette of a building—a large, modern structure with sleek lines and glass windows that reflected the sunlight.

“That’s the Arbutus Research Laboratory up ahead,” Ed said, gesturing toward the building. “We’re almost there.”

As we walked, Ed turned to me again. “So, are you planning to pursue contests like your mom did?”

The question made me smile. “Definitely. That’s why I’m here. I want to be a top Pokémon Coordinator, just like her. But I also want to make my own name in the world of contests.”

Ed grinned. “That’s awesome. I’m sure you’ll do great.”

“Thanks,” I said, feeling a boost of confidence. It was nice to meet someone who didn’t seem intimidated by the fact that my mom was a big name in the contest world. Ed seemed genuine, and that made me feel more comfortable about the journey ahead.

As we reached the lab, the cool blast of air conditioning hit us as soon as we stepped inside. The lobby was bright and clean, with a few researchers in lab coats bustling around. The hum of machinery and quiet conversation filled the air, giving the place an energetic but calm atmosphere.

Ed led the way toward the reception desk, where a young woman greeted us with a warm smile. “Welcome to the Arbutus Research Laboratory. How can I help you?”

“We’re here to see Professor Arbutus,” Ed said. “This is Francesca Novak. The professor’s expecting her.”

The receptionist nodded and gestured toward the seating area. “Please have a seat. The professor will be with you shortly.”

As we sat down, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. This was it. I was finally here, ready to start my journey in the Itoriko Region. With Glameow’s Poké Ball resting in my bag and the promise of a new starter Pokémon just around the corner, I couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead.

For the first time since I landed, I felt a sense of certainty. No matter what happened next, this was the start of something big.