Chapter Text

Getting through the gate hadn't been as dramatic as Bean expected.

People out of Kalos, Hoenn, Kanto, Johto, and Sinnoh had been rioting outside Unova's impenetrable wall for years. It had always been a useless endeavour - the Unovan security would fire warning shots around the edges of the crowd, arrest some of the more violent rioters, and eventually the others would drift away for a few more weeks. People had long ago given up any real hope of getting into Unova. But, sadly, it was still their last and best hope of survival.

Chased from their homes by wild, savage Pokemon, unable to defend themselves or even buy medicine for their own partners, everybody fled - to the countryside, to the homes of their more well-off friends, anywhere where they could stay safe for a while.

Bean barely remembered a time when he and his family and friends weren't running. He'd been barely five when the Tech Rising had occurred - such a huge leap forward in technological advancement, prices for all new devices and products out of most companies soared. Suddenly, nobody could afford to live. Trainers couldn't afford medicine for their partners anymore. New trainers were scarce due to the hike in price of Pokeballs and safari tours. Wild Pokemon bred like crazy, and since most were never caught, their population doubled and tripled until most human populations were overrun. The rich gathered in large city centres and barricaded themselves in their mansions and estates. Everybody else was left behind.

Mom had never wanted to go to Unova. "It's no use," she always said. "They haven't let anybody through their gates in decades. Even when I was young, nobody got in or out."

But after eleven years of running from farm to abandoned farm, their travels finally brought them to the Wall.

"No rioters," said Torr, Bean's long-time friend. He and his family had traveled with Bean's ever since they were children.

The wasteland leading up to Unova's borders was deserted. Not even a wild Pokemon in sight. But Bean didn't relax - hadn't really relaxed in a long time. "Something's off," he said. "There haven't been any big uprisings outside Unova in a long time, but people are always saying there's somebody outside their walls asking for entry."

"Let's go check it out," Torr said. Before anybody could protest - and Bean was sure they all wanted to - he strode across the hard-packed dirt toward the looming metal walls that surrounded Unova region.

They all followed, glancing over their shoulders and looking uneasily at the gate they were approaching. They headed toward the long red rectangle of light that indicated the gates were locked. When they reached it, they stopped, uncertain what to do.

After a few moments uncomfortable silence, there was a short buzz. Bean flinched. The rectangle turned blue, and a voice came from the speaker underneath it. "Business in the region?"

Bean and Torr exchanged a look. Torr's grandfather cleared his throat, saying, "We're looking for safe haven." Five words they'd all said many times.

A hiss of static. Another long, tense silence.

The light turned green.

"Officer Jereth will show you to the registration tent. Welcome to Unova."