Chapter Text
White. All I can see is white. Blinding, headache-inducing white.
Where am I? I didn’t seem to be the forest anymore. I think there was a town I stumbled into? But that shouldn’t be possible.
I’m laying on something rather soft, but I can’t quite see what it is. It didn’t feel like the ground, which was a good thing.
Watson was nowhere to be found either. I suppose he must’ve ran off once I collapsed. I hope he’s okay at least. He was friendly, sort of reminding me of Chester.
Everything hurt. It wasn’t a sharp pain, but a dull, throbbing pain that spreads throughout my body like water.
I shifted, trying to see through the blinding light. I was regaining more of my senses. I could feel my arms and legs wrapped in gauze. My face had a patch on it, and there was something poking into my arm. It was uncomfortable.
I could hear a voice nearby. Were they talking to me? I can’t process what they’re saying. Hopefully they weren’t hostile.
“Hello?” I asked, not wanting to be rude in case they are talking to me.
“Oh, he’s awake.” I heard them say. They sounded male, but I still couldn’t see much. Was he human?
“Were…?” My voice was weak and raspy, still not accustomed to talking.
“The Pokecenter.” He said.
The what? Pokecenter? What is that? Is it some sort of hospital? It sure seemed like it, if my current location is anything to go by.
I shifted again. My eyes had started to adjust, and I could make out a few things. There was a window on the wall next to me (possibly what was responsible for all of the light), and the thing poking my arm turned out to be some sort of tube that led to a bag hanging in a stand next to my bed. It seemed to be siphoning some sort of clear fluid into my arm. I poked at it, trying to examine what it was.
“Try not to mess with that.” He said, gently moving my hand away from the needle.
“What… is it?” I asked, looking up at him. He was definitely human. At least, I desperately hoped he was.
There was a short beat of silence. Did I commit some sort of social faux pas? Where am I?
“It’s an IV bag.” He said, looking a bit confused.
“What… does it do?” I asked, curiosity taking over my judgement.
“It takes medicine from the bag—“ he motioned towards the bag, then towards my arm. “—and puts it directly into your bloodstream.”
“Ew.” I said, mildly disgusted. I know it’s probably a good thing that the medicine gets there quickly, but it’s still gross.
While I was impressed that they’re able to get it into my blood that quickly, I still wasn’t a fan of it. It sounded painful honestly, although it was honestly more uncomfortable than painful.
The man chuckled. Well, I suppose he’s not just a man, if the stethoscope around his neck is any sign.
“It’s actually not that bad.” He said, taking out what looked like a clipboard and sitting down in a chair, rolling up to the side of the bed. “Alright, so your Pokémon is fine—“
“My… what?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t mean to interrupt but I don’t have a… Pokémon…”
He looked up at me, studying my face with a concerned expression.
“A… Pokémon.” He said. “The Shinx that was with you? That’s a Pokémon.”
“Shinx? Do you mean Watson? He’s a Pokémon?”
The doctor nodded, writing something down on his clipboard. “Yes. Him. He’s safe, although when we checked who he was registered with we didn’t find anyone.”
Registered?
He paused his writing and looked up at me. “Is he yours?”
I stared at him blankly, mouth open a bit. I closed my mouth, thinking.
“No.” I said, shaking my head. “He isn’t. I found him in the woods, stuck inside of a capsule of some sort.”
The doctor raised an eyebrow, then nodded, putting his pen away.
“Well… if you would like we can register you as his trainer.”
Trainer? What is he talking about? What’s going on? Am I even in the Constant anymore? Is this all an illusion? Have I completely lost my mind?
I hope not. It was such a relief to see actual people again, even if they aren’t making any sense.
Wait didn’t he ask me a question? Oh no, I don’t want to be rude.
“I… yes?” I said. “I would like that”
I was lying to his face, but I think I’ve raised a bunch of alarms already.
“Alright--” He hung the clipboard at the foot of the bed “--I’ll go get him registered to your name. I’ll put him in a new Pokeball for you too.”
I nodded. I suppose Watson will be traveling with me from now on, although I’m still not entirely sure what that means.
“Wait!” I said, remembering something. “Where am I?”
The doctor paused in the doorway, turning his head to look at me.
“You’re Twin Leaf, specifically the Pokecenter.”
“Ah. Thank you.”
He left, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Twin Leaf town? Are there other towns? More people?
I’m not in the Constant anymore, am I? I suppose not. There weren’t any other people in the Constant other than me and Maxwell.
I rested my head on my pillow, staring up at the ceiling. Despite how pleasant the people here seem, it wasn’t home. It wasn’t my cabin, and it wasn’t my town. I suppose I’ll have to find a way to get home from here.