The Pokémon:Isekai

After settling into the small hostel room—a space just big enough to fit a modest bed and a tiny attached bathroom—I let out a deep sigh. The journey had only just begun, yet exhaustion was already creeping in.

As soon as I closed the door behind me, Aria wasted no time jumping onto the bed, curling up comfortably to rest. Rotom, on the other hand, floated around for a moment before letting out a small hum and shutting itself down, its screen dimming as it went into sleep mode.

And just like that, I was alone.

The silence of the room felt heavier than I expected. It was only my second night in this world, yet something about it still felt unreal—almost like I was just visiting a dream I couldn't wake up from. I sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through my hair as I stared at the dimly lit ceiling.

Back home, I would've been chatting with Sakura and others, sending dumb messages or hopping into a call to talk about random things. But here? There was nothing. Just me, Aria, and Rotom, lost in a world that should've been exciting, yet somehow… felt a little lonely.

And then there was Meowt.

For the first time in years, I hadn't seen my idiot black cat for two days straight. No soft purring against my chest, no little paws kneading my blanket before curling up beside me. It was a strange, aching kind of absence, one I hadn't fully realized until now.

I let out a slow breath and leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

"…Guess I'll just have to get used to this even if i dont want to," I muttered to myself, closing my eyes as sleep slowly started to take over.

After a long night of rest, I finally woke up, feeling the weight of exhaustion still lingering in my body. The room was quiet, save for the soft, steady breathing of Aria, who was still curled up on the bed, lost in deep sleep. Even Rotomdex remained shut down, its screen dark and lifeless.

Careful not to wake them, I slowly got up, stretching my arms before making my way toward the small bathroom. The cool tiles beneath my feet sent a slight shiver up my spine as I turned on the faucet, splashing cold water onto my face. The refreshing sensation helped clear the last remnants of drowsiness, and after a few more moments, I decided to take a quick shower.

The warm water washed away the fatigue of the past days, soothing my muscles and refreshing my mind. After slipping into my clothes, I ran my fingers through my hair, letting out a sigh.

But just as I was about to step out of the bathroom, something startled me.

A loud buzzing noise echoed through the small space, and before I could react, the Rotomdex suddenly sprang to life, floating directly in front of my face with its screen flashing.

[Alex Carter! Incoming call! It's from Professor Cherry!] Rotom announced, its synthetic voice a little too energetic for this early in the morning.

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "W-What? Wait, now?" I stammered, instinctively reaching out to grab the device, but Rotom dodged my hands, hovering just out of reach.

[Yes, now! Answer the call, Alex Carter!]

Still slightly disoriented, I took a deep breath before finally pressing the answer button. The screen flickered for a second before displaying the familiar face of Professor Cherry, her sharp eyes and warm smile greeting me through the monitor.

"Ah, Alex! Finally, you picked up," she said, her voice carrying its usual calm yet authoritative tone. "How's your journey going so far?"

As I rubbed the towel against my damp hair, I glanced at the screen where Professor Cherry's face appeared.

"It's good, Professor. Did something happen?" I asked, adjusting the towel on my head.

"Yeah, something did," she replied, her voice slightly rushed. "One of my assistants contacted me this morning. There's been a report of a newly adapted Pokémon turned into a Dark-Type causing some trouble in Viridian Forest. I wanted to see if you could handle it."

I straightened at her words, my interest piqued. A new Dark-Type Pokémon in Kanto?

"I also called Sammy," she continued. "So if you want to catch it first, you better move fast. And don't forget to stock up on camping equipment before heading in—Viridian Forest is huge, and you might need to stay the night."

Just as she was finishing her sentence, a sudden crash echoed through the call. The screen shook violently, and before I could react, a small orange round shape barreled into the camera.

"Bounsweet!"

The last thing I saw was the Pokémon's startled face before the feed cut out, leaving only static.

I stared at the dark screen, blinking. "Uh… did that just—?"

[Well, that was unexpected,] Rotom muttered, floating beside me. [Did the Bounsweet just headbutt the Screen?]

"Yeah, I think it did," I said, tossing the towel onto a chair. I sighed and stretched, already mentally preparing for what was to come. "Looks like we've got a mission. A Dark-type Pokémon in Viridian Forest… and Sammy's after it too. This could be interesting."

[If you want to catch it first, Alex Carter, you need to hurry!] Rotom buzzed excitedly. [But first—camping supplies!]

"Right," I nodded, securing Aria's Pokéball. My heart raced with excitement at the thought of the different challenge ahead.

A Couple Hours Later

"And... I'm broke as f*ck..." I muttered, adjusting my backpack filled with camping tools as I stood at the entrance of Viridian Forest.

[Do not worry, Alex Carter. Think about the money you will have after becoming the Champion,] Rotom chimed in, floating beside me with its usual enthusiasm.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. (Yeah, it doesn't work that way, Rotom. 25K dollar isn't exactly enough to make someone rich and i am speaking throught the expreince) ı though to myself.

My funds had taken a serious hit after buying everything I needed—tent, food, potions, and a few extra Pokéballs just in case. I hadn't expected Viridian Forest to require so much preparation, but if I was going to spend the night here, I needed to be ready while thinking about the fact that my first camping expreince is going to be at Viridian Forest and not in a real place.

With a deep breath, I took my first step into the forest. The towering trees loomed overhead, their thick canopy casting deep shadows over the winding path. The sound of rustling leaves and distant Pokémon cries filled the air, a stark reminder that this place was alive and teeming with creatures—some friendly, some not.

[Alex Carter, according to my data, Viridian Forest is home to a variety of Bug- and Grass-type Pokémon. But be cautious—if a new Dark-type has adapted to this environment, it might have abilities we haven't seen before,] Rotom warned.

"But isn't it weird that some Pokémon adapted to the Dark type and now roam a forest full of Bug-types?" I asked, frowning as I stepped over a thick tree root. The thought had been nagging at me ever since Professor Cherry's call. Bug-types naturally had an advantage over Dark-types, so why would a Dark-type Pokémon settle here?

[I don't know, Alex Carter, but it is really weird. I wonder why as well,] Rotom replied, its screen flickering slightly as it processed the information.

The deeper we ventured, the more unsettling the forest became. The usual chirps of Bug Pokémon felt distant, almost muted. while looking around a noice came from a little far spooking me. "Hey! YOU there! I challenge you!"

I turned to see a kid, maybe ten or eleven, standing with a Pokéball in his hand, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Sorry, kid! Maybe later!" I shouted back, brushing off the challenge. My mind was too focused on the Dark-type Pokémon we needed to track down.

But then, something I hadn't accounted for happened

"Thanks for the money and the free win, loser! Hahaha!" the kid taunted before turning and running off.

My brows furrowed in confusion. "What did he mean by that?" I asked, glancing at Rotom.

[Alex Carter…] Rotom's screen flickered for a moment before it continued, [You… You can't refuse a battle. If you do, it counts as an automatic loss, and you have to pay the winner the same amount of money you would've lost in a normal battle...]

I froze. "WAIT, WHAT? BUT—BUT—AHH!" My brain scrambled to process what I had just done. "LET'S GO, ROTOM! I'M GONNA TEACH THAT KID A LESSON!"

Fueled by frustration and the loss of my already dwindling funds, I took off running, my eyes locked onto the brat as he disappeared between the towering trees of Viridian Forest.