PSEUDO dismounts CECIL the SEAKING at the edge of an island beach.

PSEUDO: My dudes… we have arrived.

Cinnabar Island. An island town consisting mostly of beach, a volcano looming behind. PSEUDO’s team ‘ooh’s and 'aah’s at the site.

PSEUDO: Now, we’ve got some preparations to do.

PSEUDO enters the nearby Pokemon Center and approaches the desk.

NURSE: Hello! Welcome to the-

PSEUDO: We all know why I’m here.

While his Pokemon are restored, PSEUDO uses the PC.

PSEUDO: And, for my next trick…

PSEUDO retrieves a Pokeball from the PC.

PSEDUO: Here she is, healthy as a Ponyta!

DIANA: Ready to GO!

PSEUDO: Good to have you back, Di. Feelin’ okay?

DIANA: Annoyed. But okay.

PSEUDO: You gonna channel your anger into a passion for success?

DIANA: Sure.

PSEUDO: Spectacular.

PSEUDO’s team regroups to discuss tactics.

PSEUDO: Right, guys - Fire gym means no ice or grass… looks like Verne’s gonna have to sit back for a while.

ROD: For once.

VERNE: Hey!

PSEUDO: I reckon we’ll be fine with Cecil leading the charge - you up for that, Cecil?

CECIL: Exciting-!

PSEUDO looks at BIFF the SLOWPOKE.

PSEUDO: Biff, I’m afraid I don’t think…

PSEUDO trails off. BIFF is staring past him, drooling half as much from both sides of his mouth.

PSEUDO: … you’ll be fine.

BIFF gets BOXED.

PSEUDO: And - big moment here, guys - there’s only one other route in Kanto besides Victory Road that we haven’t gone to, yet…

Route 21, a grassy patch on the mainland by the ocean’s edge. PSEUDO catches a TANGELA.

PSEDUO: Gotcha!

PSEUDO transfers it to the PC.

PSEUDO: I shall name him Chord!

NEW POKEMON: CHORD the TANGELA, Lv28

PSEUDO: Get it? Because CORDS get TANGLED? Hehe-

CHRIS knocks the back of PSEUDO’s head with his wing.

CHRIS: Can we GO, now?

PSEUDO: Yeah, fine.

PSEUDO starts to lead the team back to the water’s edge.

ROD: (sarcastically) Stellar naming system, as always.

CHRIS: (smirking) I’m laughing my beak off-

PSEUDO: HOLD IT.

The team freezes.

PSEUDO: ABOUT FACE.

Everbody turns around. PSEUDO is pointing dramatically at the other side of the route.

PSEUDO: Pallet Town is RIGHT THERE.

It’s true - just behind them is a path leading to PSEUDO’s hometown.

CECIL: Pallet Town?

JASON: Is there another Gym there?

PSEUDO: What? Oh- guys, that’s my home! That’s where I came from!

CHRIS: We’ve gone in a circle?

WARP: There’s country planning for you.

PSEUDO: I’ve been gone for weeks… MONTHS, even! Hell, feels like YEARS since I started this adventure!

WARP: Well, you have been quite liberal with your breaks.

PSEUDO: I gotta visit my mum, I haven’t talked to her in so long.

PSEUDO leads his team to Pallet Town. Not much has changed, the same people are hanging around as when PSEUDO first left. He heads to his house.

PSEUDO: Aw, guys, you’re gonna meet my mum this is gonna be so sweet.

PSEUDO enters his house. Sitting at the table is his MUM, who is surprised to see him so suddenly.

PSEUDO: Mother Dearest!

MUM: Pseudo! What a lovely surp-

MUM sees the team standing behind PSEUDO: an oversized rat, a huge bird, a blue dinosaur, a floating fish, a firey dog and a bipedal psychic fox.

MUM turns white and faints.

PSEUDO: … wow, real polite, mum.

Later. MUM is drinking coffee, still a little pale. PSEUDO is sitting beside her at the table. WARP and DIANA are lounging on the couch, ROD and CHRIS are playing with the TV. CECIL is in the sink and JASON is investigating everything in the room he can reach.

ROD: (playing with the TV) Does this place only get news channels?

CHRIS: Go back, I saw cars!

DIANA: Will you two behave?

PSEUDO is talking to his MUM about his adventures.

PSEUDO: - and we thought we lost Warp for a bit, but he was fine, we just smacked him around a bit - Jason took down Sabrina’s gym pretty much all by himself, it was so intense - and we found one of the Legendary Birds! You know Articuno? Old folk tale? Found him sleeping in a cave, just defeated it, no big deal.

MUM: My goodness…

PSEUDO: But now we’re here in the neighbourhood, so I thought I’d drop by for a visit!

MUM: Oh, thanks, Pseudo, it’s been quite a while.

MUM smiles.

MUM: So - I lost count, how far in your adventure are you?

PSEUDO: About to go for the seventh badge.

MUM: Out of eight? That’s wonderful, dear!

PSEUDO: It’s so friggin’ cool, mum.

MUM: So… you were in the neighborhood?

PSEUDO: Yeah, Cinnabar’s just across the ocean back there.

MUM: (smiling) … is that the only reason you’d visit!

PSEUDO: Gah-! No! I just-

MUM: I’m kidding, Pseudo. I know you’re busy.

PSEUDO: God, mum… no, no I am sorry. It’s… it’s been a rollercoaster, mum.

The tone grows more serious.

MUM: … have many of your Pokemon…?

PSEUDO: … yeah. A few.

PSEUDO’s team pause to listen.

MUM: I’m sorry to hear that.

PSEUDO: … I still don’t know how to feel about it. I want to think it’s been… you know, that we all knew what we were getting into… and most of the time I’m pretty sure it’s been other people - I mean, I think I’m smart, I think I know what I’m doing when we’re fighting like this, but… I feel like I’ve been letting them down.

PSEUDO’s team slowly approach from the living room area, behind PSEUDO.

MUM: Pseudo-

PSEUDO: I don’t want to think it’s my fault… but sometimes I think it is. Like I didn’t do something I was supposed to, or put them in too much danger… that I brought them into this thing in the first place. Whatever choices I’m making… I don’t know who they’re meant to be helping, sometimes.

MUM sees PSEUDO’s Pokemon overhearing, looking sombre.

MUM: Well… you’ve certainly not gone without hardship, Pseudo. Everyone has to, you know.

PSEUDO: Yeah…

MUM: But I know you’re doing your best to get through it. And you know it, too. You want what’s best for the people and Pokemon you care about, whether you’re taking risks or making tough calls in this adventure you’re on. Do you believe that?

PSEUDO: Of course.

MUM: And you know, I’m sure they do, too.

PSEUDO sees his MUM looking behind him. He turns and sees his team, smiling back at him. They nod, assuring him they do. PSEUDO smiles.

MUM: You’re doing great, Pseduo.

PSEUDO: … thanks, mum.

He hugs her.

PSEUDO: I missed you.

MUM: I missed you, too.

The front door opens suddenly and somebody barges in, holding a toolbox and a sheet of instructions.

OAK: Okay, I found the wrench but I have no idea what this thing d-

OAK sees PSEUDO and stops.

OAK: Pseudo!

PSEUDO: Bye, moment.

OAK: Did you become the Champion already?

PSEUDO: Nah, not yet - just visiting.

OAK: Thought not, would’ve seen it myself. Good to see you again, in any case!

OAK roughly shakes PSEUDO’s hand.

PSEUDO: Er- you too, Professor.

MUM: Sam’s been helping out around the house since you left. Keeping me company, and all.

OAK: New bookshelf’s getting put in. What are family friends for?

PSEUDO: Replacing children, apparently.

OAK: So, Pseudo - where are you in your adventure, then?

PSEUDO: About to take on Cinnabar Gym.

OAK: Hm. That’s a tricky one.

PSEDUO: Huh?

OAK: The leader there’s a bit… well, you’ll find out.

PSEUDO: … gee, thanks for the sagely wisdom there.

OAK: Don’t mention it!

OAK notices the group of Pokemon, who have moved back to the living room area.

OAK: Ah! And are these your Pokemon?

PSEUDO: Uh-huh! That’s Chris, Diana, Rod, Jason, Warp and Cecil!

Everybody is watching TV.

OAK: Where’s Verne?

PSEUDO: Taking a break - Cinnabar’s the Fire type, after all.

OAK: Ah - a pity, I was looking forward to examining his growth.

PSEUDO: It’s a flower, now.

ROD: Shh!

CHRIS: Reeve’s about to poke the Croconaw with a stick!

Later, PSEUDO leaves home once more, heading south back to Cinnabar. His MUM and OAK stand at the door, waving him goodbye.

MUM: Take care, Pseudo!

PSEUDO: Will do, mum!

DIANA: Thanks for the casserole, Pseudo’s mum!

PSEUDO’s MUM watches him leave, chatting with his team. She sighs.

PSEUDO: If he gets himself killed I’m gonna kill him.

OAK: Oh, he’ll be fine.

MUM sighs again.

MUM: I know, Sam. I know.

They watch PSEUDO board CECIL and Surf off.

OAK: Pokemon’s a safer hobby than some, anyway. He could be getting involved with parkour. Or crime.

MUM remembers PSEUDO’s summarized account of challenging Team Rocket. She grumbles.