I wake up in compete darkness. I’m jostled around as the room I’m in shakes and jumps, did I wake up in the middle of an earthquake?

I feel around the room as I struggle to stand, it’s not a very big room and it feels like there are stacks of cardboard boxes in here with me. Did I end up in a closet, or someone’s basement?

The room shifts again and I’m flung against a wall. The wall opposite lifts up and bright light floods in. Almost blinded by the light I can barely see two silhouetted figures, one of them approaches me…

VIGOROTH!

- Oh boy…

Littleroot Town

I make a mad dash for the opening.

Who’re you?! What were you doing in the back of my moving van?!

My eyes are starting to adjust.

- Aunt Caroline?

How’d you know my name? Are you a stalker or something?

- You don’t recognise me? I’m Caldar, your nephew!

My nephew doesn’t even live in Hoenn and he just celebrated his first birthday!

It’s my birthday?

- But–

I’m calling the police!

I run for the nearest exit to the town.

Route 101

It seems I really am in Hoenn. If I am only a year old then I really must have travelled back 20 years, now that I think of it aunt Caroline did look younger…

Heeeeeelp! Someone please!

The man is being chased in circles by a pokemon. I reach for a pokeball on my belt but I find none there.

You there! Help me please!

- My pokemon! I don’t have any of my pokemon!

The bag! Use it, get this thing off of me!

There’s a bag on the ground nearby. I open it to find three pokeballs, I choose one at random and it releases a small orange bird pokemon. It seems to respond to my orders quite well and quickly dispatches the pokemon chasing the man.

Thanks, I’m Professor Birch. I was conducting some field research and that crazy Zigzagoon just came out of nowhere! What’s your name, lad?

- I’m Caldar.

Oh so you’re Caldar, Professor Oak’s assistant, right?

- Er.. yes. How did you know that?

Professor Oak approached me about half a year ago, he said you were helping in his research project with some followup work. How is the project progressing?

- Um… slowly, I guess.

It seems like really interesting work, Oak sure knows his stuff. I’m surprised I’d never heard of him before.

- You wouldn’t happen to know where he is right now do you?

I’m not sure where he’d be right now, did you check the gyms? Maybe he even made it all the way to Ever Grande City by now.

- Looks like I’m going for another trip…

Yep! One of the pokemon I was carrying was meant for you to assist on your project. Torchic seemed to work well with you so why don’t you take him.

- Really? Thanks! Welcome to the team… Colonel!

Colonel ♂ Lv. 5

Before you start your part of this project, can I ask you to fetch my daughter? Her name is May, she’s about to start her own journey and I have a gift for her before she leaves.

- Sure, where would I find her?

She was surveying route 103 for me, head north past Oldale Town.

Route 103

It doesn’t take me long to reach a clearing where I can see May taking notes.

So the pokemon typically found on route 103 are… Hey who’re you? Are you following me?

- Oh, hi there. I’m Caldar, are you May?

Who’s askin’?

- Your father sent me, he said he had a gift for you to start your journey with?

Really? Well before I head back, why not have a pokemon battle?

- Um… OK?

It doesn’t take long, the Colonel and May’s mudkip trade blows but the Colonel is victorious.

Littleroot Town

Welcome back.

Hey daddy, what’s up?

I have a gift for you, I think it’ll really help you on your journey.

What is it?

It’s a new digital encyclopaedia, a Pokedex!

- !!

What’s up?

- Do you have a spare power outlet?

Sure.. just over there.

I rush to the outlet and hook my pokedex’s charger to it.

UAAAGH! Why?! I’ve told you before not to let my battery run down! I go to the dark place and it scares me!

What’s that?

- My pokedex.

Woah, it talks?! Sleek design, backlit LCD screen? This is some high tech stuff there!

Stop.. you’re embarrassing me!

You couldn’t get one like that for me, daddy?

- Oh, er. The Doc built mine, it’s a custom job, there aren’t any others like it.

You’re forgetting the one Doc gave to Blue?

I wonder if Blue’s pokedex ever talks back at him…

- Quiet, you!

Anyway, you’ll need these for your journey.

Birch hands May and I some pokeballs.

- Great, thanks!

All charged!

- That was fast, I guess I’m off to find the Doc! Good luck on your journey, May.

You too!

You can still vote for who’ll be in the legacy egg!