Pokemon Re:juvenation- Starting Afresh In Another Region

Chapter 2: love at first fight

Oceana pier
Crossing the pier, passing by grazing Fletchling (a bird Pokémon), and hearing a guy shout something about a trip to Hoenn, Ray stumbles upon a sight that awakens some repressed memories: kids in school uniforms.

(Flashback 2 years ago)
Unova region
Castelia city
Castelia middle School

Castelia City is one of the biggest cities in Unova; therefore, its school was high maintenance. The kids were all rich snobs. Ray was also wealthy, but that did nothing for his personality. The kids in school were by the book, liking the same things: music, movies, games, etc. However, the dark-skinned boy enjoyed some weird stuff, like combining different snacks, reading manga, shouting Pokémon moves aloud, and posing strangely. To top it all off, he was honest to a fault and didn't hide his true nature from others.

During an assembly, after singing their school anthem, all the students put their right hand to their chest. However, Ray covered the left side of his face with his hand and made a menacing face, leaving the others confused.

In the cafeteria, Ray had a sandwich with peanut butter, yet he added soy sauce on top.

"Dude, are you sure that's a good idea?" a boy passing by said.

"Yep, the spicy taste of the sauce, the sweetness of the bread, and the peanut butter come together perfectly!" Ray replied as he took a bite, making the others feel disgusted.

In class, some students were discussing their favorite artists, actors, and trainers.

"Did you hear DJ Leo's new song 'Dig It Out Alola'?" a girl with green hair said as she sat on her desk.

"Yeah, I did. It's awesome. I think it's going to be in the new movie 'Kalos 7' with the famous actress Diantha. She's so hot!" a boy with an afro said, smiling.

"Lance, the Dragon Master, is going to be in it too, right? Hey, Ray, are you excited for the movie?" another girl with pink hair tied into a ponytail asked.

"Not really... The manga is better. There, the protagonist is a guy with a Magikarp that faces evil, while in the movie, it's a girl with a Shaymin..." Ray rambled on until he noticed his classmates had ignored his rant and continued their discussion without him, making him feel even more left out.

These events were just a small portion of what he experienced in school, becoming an outcast for having his own special individuality and not following the norms, one of the main reasons he's not fond of his home region, Unova.

Present
"Hey kid, kid! You okay?" a man with a gray shirt said to Ray, who was spaced out.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine..." Ray said calmly.

"You look gloomy. Gearan is just up ahead," the man informed him.

Ray thanked the man and headed for the south gate of Gearan.

Gearan south gate

Ray entered the gates to find a receptionist calling him. She had brown hair and wore a white dress. Her name was Mable, and she collected his trainer card since he didn't have any more passports. Mable then got up from her desk and moved to another receptionist wearing the same dress, with Ray behind her.

"Hey, Sable, I need you to verify this trainer's card. If not, you know what will happen to him," Mable said with a stern face.

"Hai hai, got it!" Sable said as she put the card into a computer and pulled it out again.

Mable collected the card and handed it back to Ray.

"Congratulations, Ray, you're a verified trainer of Aevium now! Good luck."