c1: Preface, with Prequel
This is the author, Old Shirt Steve, a new and enthusiastic writer. This chapter primarily serves to introduce the worldview of this fan novel to readers, especially those familiar with the Pokémon franchise.
A brief note to new readers: when I first began writing this, it was purely for fun, a personal hobby born from my love for Pokémon. I never expected it to attract so many readers. Consequently, the beginning chapters were written very casually, without much polishing. If you're looking for more refined storytelling, you can start reading from the arc involving the Four Heavenly Kings (Elite Four equivalent). Feel free to skip the earlier parts if you're impatient. That said, if you're open to reading content with a few inconsistencies or a rougher narrative style, you're welcome to begin from the start. I personally don't recommend doing so, since I wrote the early chapters as if I were casually narrating my own playthrough of a game—full of indulgent worldbuilding and loose structure that even I struggle to reread now.
Also, because this novel started as a side project during my downtime (I have a full-time job unrelated to writing), I can't always guarantee timely updates. I typically aim for a chapter every other day, but during busy stretches, I might only post once or twice a week. I hope readers can be patient—maybe just check in weekly on weekends to catch up in batches.
The story's setting is based heavily on the Pokémon games, with particular inspiration drawn from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (Paldea region) and elements of the Pokémon Adventures manga. The protagonist, Alex, hails from the Hoenn region—specifically Littleroot Town, home of Professor Birch. Personally, I have a deep appreciation for Ghost-type Pokémon, especially their lore-heavy roles in games and manga (think of Phoebe of the Hoenn Elite Four or Acerola from Alola). Thus, I designed the protagonist to specialize in Ghost-types. Thanks to Scarlet/Violet's introduction of the Tera system, Alex will also acquire non-Ghost Pokémon that possess Ghost Tera Types, allowing for more tactical depth while keeping with the spectral theme.
As an amateur author, fanfiction—particularly involving Pokémon is purely a passion project. I don't expect likes, reviews, or popularity. I just write for those who enjoy this niche genre. That said, if more people do happen to read and support the story, it naturally motivates me to continue. One thing to note: I tend not to write female leads, not out of dislike but personal writing preference. At most, I may include canon female characters like Blue (Green in the Japanese manga), May (Haruka), or Sabrina. These are generally side characters or rivals, not romantic leads.
That should cover most of the necessary disclaimers. Realistically, I manage to update a chapter or two per week, typically on weekends. If this sounds like your kind of story, feel free to follow along. If not, no hard feelings—just please don't leave unnecessary criticism.
---
(Below is the protagonist's setting)
The protagonist, Alex, was once a stressed and overworked university student living on Blue Star a world not unlike our own. Tragically, after collapsing from exhaustion during midterm season, he died and unexpectedly found himself reincarnated in the world of Pokémon. Specifically, he awoke in the Hoenn Region, in a familiar small town that fans will recognize as Littleroot home to Professor Birch and the starting point for countless young trainers.
At the time of his transmigration, Alex found himself in the body of a five-year-old boy just five years shy of the age when most children receive their starter Pokémon and Pokédex from Professor Birch.
Opening his eyes, Alex's first thoughts were a mix of confusion and disbelief. "No way I actually died so young," he muttered internally, "Maybe genius really is destined to burn out early…"
As he scanned his surroundings, he realized the room was clearly lived-in. He sat atop a modest twin bed, the floor beneath made of polished wood, and the walls painted a soothing mint green. The cream-colored curtains at the window let in soft daylight. Beside the window stood a small wooden desk with a simple backpack hanging from the back of a rustic oak chair—perhaps similar to the ones seen in the homes of Brendan or May in Emerald.
"Did I… transmigrate?" Alex murmured, stunned. Slowly, however, a sense of renewed hope surged within him. "Maybe heaven really does open a window when it closes a door. Looks like I've joined the ranks of transmigrators!"
Suddenly, a more worrying thought struck him—one seen in countless transmigration stories: gender-swapping. Alarmed, Alex quickly inspected his body. Thankfully, he was still male. Relieved, he sighed but then came another realization. He was five years old. Too young to begin his journey. That would mean years of waiting before he could travel with a starter, build his team, and take on the Hoenn League.
Just then, a neutral, electronic voice echoed in his mind, without emotion:
"Binding host."
Alex's heart leapt in excitement. "Is this… a system? So the legends are true!"
The voice continued:
"Host successfully bound. Welcome to the Pokémon Master System."
Host: Alex
World: Pokémon World
Location: Littleroot Town, Hoenn Region
Pokémon: None (yet)
Host Panel
Stamina: A (Hey, if Pallet Town can produce legends like Red, then Littleroot can too!)
Looks: C
Wisdom: B
Alex felt a rush of excitement. As a lifelong Pokémon fan who had just completed Pokémon Scarlet before his untimely death, he was thrilled. He already understood much of the lore, mechanics, and regions especially the interplay between Ghost-types, type advantages, and battle strategy. He even knew about more obscure mechanics from the Pokémon Adventures manga, like the shadow manipulation tactics used by Ghost-type specialists such as Agatha or Morty.
Then the system announced a new function:
"Activating attribute specialization."
At first, Alex was still ecstatic—this sounded like an RPG-style boost. But as soon as he heard what it was, his heart dropped.
"Matching in progress… Match complete. Specialized attribute: Ghost-type."
Effect: The host will have an extraordinary affinity with Ghost-type Pokémon.
Ghost-types will be easier to locate and capture.
Training Ghost-types yields double results.
The host's Ghost-type Pokémon will exhibit abilities and strength beyond the norm.
Restriction: The host may only capture Ghost-type Pokémon, or Pokémon with a Ghost Tera Type.
Alex was stunned. "Wait, only Ghost-types?!" Sure, he loved Ghost-types but limiting his captures to just one type? That was like doing a Monotype Nuzlocke in real life.
Still… if he could master this type and build a fearsome spectral team, maybe he could reach heights no trainer had before. Phoebe had done well in Hoenn's Elite Four with Banette and Dusclops. Acerola had trained a powerhouse Palossand. And then there was Giratina a literal god of antimatter and the Distortion World. Maybe he could aim even higher.
Alex clenched his tiny five-year-old fists, his determination reignited. "Fine then. I'll become the strongest Ghost-type trainer this world has ever seen. I'll carve a path from Littleroot to the Pokémon League and beyond."
Let the journey begin.
Upon hearing the system's description, Alex felt as if his brain had been hit by a hundred Arceus all using Judgment at once. "Damn it! How am I supposed to survive like this?!" Any seasoned Pokémon fan especially someone like Alex, who had completed Scarlet and Violet just before transmigrating—would know that Ghost-types are notoriously rare in the early stages. In Hoenn specifically, Ghost-types such as Shuppet and Duskull don't appear until later routes like Mt. Pyre, where wild Pokémon are well over level thirty. Those areas are completely off-limits to a kid with no starter Pokémon, and certainly beyond the reach of a five-year-old. Sure, this specialization would give him a late-game advantage, potentially rivaling even Phoebe of the Hoenn Elite Four, who also specializes in Ghost-types, but that wouldn't matter if he couldn't even get out of the proverbial starter village.
Just then, his internal rant was interrupted by a soft, melodic voice: "Alex! Breakfast is ready! Didn't you promise Ruby you'd go on a picnic today?" It was his mother—his Pokémon world mother, that is. Thanks to the fragments of memory inherited from this new body, Alex already knew that he and Ruby, the Pokémon Adventures manga protagonist (known as Yuuki in some translations, but Ruby is more fitting here), had been childhood friends. Unlike in the manga, where Ruby moves to Littleroot Town from Johto at age ten, this version of Ruby had always been a local. Alex had taken liberties with the timeline and setting just as fanfiction allows and this Ruby had always lived in Littleroot, maintaining his manga traits: fashion-conscious, confident to the point of arrogance, and a flair for dramatics that screamed chuunibyo.
"Coming, Mom!" Alex replied. He shook off his earlier frustrations, washed up, and headed downstairs.
After eating a warm breakfast that tasted better than anything he remembered from his Earth life, Alex said goodbye to his parents and made his way toward the northern path leading out of Littleroot. There, standing as if posing for a photoshoot, was a tiny, five-year-old version of Ruby in a red bandana and stylish outdoor gear exactly as he appeared during the early arcs of Pokémon Adventures: Ruby & Sapphire.
"You're late again, Little Al!" Ruby called out, tapping his foot in mock frustration. Alex remembered that Ruby had always arrived early, just to stand around and deliver his lines with exaggerated flair when others showed up. It was classic Ruby behavior—one part annoying, one part endearing.
"Alright, alright. Let's just get going," Alex replied.
Ruby smirked and leaned in, "Let's head out of town. Real wild Pokémon, man! Don't tell me you're scared?" The way he said it sounded straight out of a shonen manga panel. "C'mon, are we bros or not?"
Alex hesitated. "We don't even have Pokémon yet…"
Ruby waved him off. "That's a lame excuse! You coming or not?"
And just like that, Alex was convinced. How could he, a mentally twenty-year-old transmigrator, get cold feet when a literal child was challenging him? "Fine! Let's go."
The landscape beyond Littleroot was a patchwork of green hills and forest—more expansive and vibrant than he remembered from any of the games. The manga had occasionally shown similar areas during the early parts of Ruby and Sapphire's journey, especially when they trained outside of town before acquiring Gym Badges. The forest trail they explored wasn't on any standard map but probably resembled the routes between Littleroot and Oldale, adjusted for storytelling liberty.
Ruby's curiosity led them down a less-trodden path, into a deeper, wilder section of forest. The trees here were tall and densely packed. Buzzing insect Pokémon like Wurmple and Nincada rustled in the undergrowth, while Taillow zipped between branches above. A web spun by Spinarak glistened with morning dew, and a cluster of Oddish toddled along in search of sunlight. The ambiance was surreal both boys were in awe. Alex marveled, This is what wild Pokémon look like up close… Then it hit him—he couldn't catch any of them. If a Shiny popped up right now, I'd be forced to just… watch?! The thought was enough to mentally break a lifetime Shiny hunter.
Suddenly, the system chimed in again: "Ghost-type Pokémon detected nearby. Activating Pokémon Inquiry and Location Tracking functions."
Alex's heart nearly stopped. A Ghost-type here? In Littleroot?! That was unheard of—even in the manga, Ghost-types never appeared this early in the Hoenn timeline. This must have been a story-exclusive event created by the system. Excited, Alex followed the indicator, his internal radar guiding him through brush and tall grass. He could feel a subtle pull, a strange warmth deep in his chest, almost like psychic-type aura detection shown by characters like Sabrina or Eusine in the manga. Except this was different this felt mutual, a kind of resonance.
Finally, he spotted something: a grayish, dirt-caked egg nestled in the weeds, faintly glowing with eerie, plum-colored highlights. It was larger than most Pokémon eggs he'd seen illustrated in the Pokémon Encyclopedia, but unmistakably one of Ghost origin.
"This… This is perfect!" Alex whispered.
The system voice returned: "Scanning…"
Pokémon Egg
Species: Unknown
Type: ??? / Ghost
Level: None
Shiny Status: Negative
IVs: HP 31, Atk 31, Def 31, Sp. Atk 31, Sp. Def 31, Speed 31
Held Item: None
Gender: Male
Nature: Unknown
Tera Type: Unknown
Notes: This egg was abandoned deep within the Hoenn wilds. Species data unavailable until hatching.
"Six perfect IVs?!" Alex nearly fainted. In both the games and the manga, such Pokémon were nearly legendary in terms of rarity. A 6IV starter—he was practically holding a future ace, possibly even a rival to Sabrina's Alakazam or Morty's Gengar in terms of potential.
But before he could celebrate, a sharp bzzzzz echoed behind him. His face paled. "No… not now…"
It was a Beedrill swarm and the sound was unmistakable. In the manga, Beedrill are infamously territorial and violent. He remembered how even Red had trouble with a swarm back in the Red, Green & Blue arc. Grabbing the egg in a panic, Alex yelled for Ruby, who was busy gawking at what he swore was a baby Rayquaza clearly a forest mirage.
"Run, Ruby! Beedrill incoming!"
The boys bolted down the trail, dodging stingers and branches. Alex could practically hear a battle theme playing in his head—maybe from Pokémon Black and White, something dramatic and loud. Just as the red-eyed Beedrill got within striking range, a net shot out and snagged the lead drone.
"Stop right there!" a commanding voice called out.
It was Officer Jenny the manga version, not the generic anime one. She was stern, efficient, and absolutely not in the mood. She dealt with the swarm using a well-trained Growlithe, then turned her fiery gaze on the two boys.
Back in Littleroot, after a full scolding from Jenny, and later from their parents who looked equally worried and furious—they were finally sent to their rooms. Alex held the egg close, his body exhausted but his heart brimming with hope.
At least now… I've got a real Ghost-type. No more starter-village blues.
As he watched the incubator glow faintly beside his bed, he smiled and drifted into sleep, dreams filled with shadows, battles, and destiny.
---