Oldale Town

I wake up slumped against a poké mart, a silver ball is taped to my hand. Before I try to take it off it gives me a little jolt and a familiar looking shadow appears above it.

Caldar! You made it? We thought we’d lost you for a moment. Where exactly did you land? We couldn’t track you properly when you entered the anomalous timeline.

- Anoma-what? Zinnia, this isn’t home! I thought I was going home? And why is this damn ball stuck to my hand?

I was afraid this’d happen, what was the last thing you remember?

- You were dressed up as Diantha, I bashed the Doc’s machine, Arceus messed up some stuff, then a bunch of trainers came and sent him away… and I remember you promising to get me home…

I did promise to get you home and I won’t break it, but I did talk you into doing this one thing for me first.

- I don’t remember that part!

You’ve had a rough journey, it’s swiss cheesed your recent memory.

- A likely story…

Look, you agreed to go. This big anomaly is mostly your fault anyway!

- You seem to know a lot about these things so why aren’t you here too?

I tried to go with you but there’s something off about that timeline’s resonance. Our techs have no clue how to solve it, apparently we’re lucky to even be in contact via the beacon.

- Beacon?

The silver ball I taped to your palm so you wouldn’t lose it. We can track any anomalies like rifts or incursions near to you with it. Which reminds me, where are you right now?

I look around a little, a nearby sign reveals my location.

- I’m in Oldale Town, Hoenn.

Great, you’re near a Pokémon Center! Go inside and place the beacon in contact with the PC. You’re going to need some companions for your journey.

- Journey? But I’ve been to Hoenn before, I can’t catch any more pokémon.

But you’ve left plenty of them in the PC!

I head inside the Pokémon Center while ripping the tape off my hand and the orb. I step to the PC and place the orb on it.

OK, I’ve established a connection and tied in your ID numbers. You should have access to all the pokémon you’ve ever left in the box.

- There are only two.

- And they’re… younger than I remember.

That’s odd, I can’t transfer any more right now. I’ll get the tech guys on it, you’ll have to make do for now.

- Make do in what? Why am I here?

Something has created that timeline you’re in, we were made aware of it around the same moment Arceus appeared. However we’re not even sure if that was just a coincidence or not, the current theory we’re working on is that whatever is causing this is within that timeline somewhere.

- So?

Whatever it is, this artefact is still active and is beginning to interfere with other timelines. This could cause utter chaos!

- So how do I find it?

We’ve narrowed it down to one region, but you’re going to need to do some legwork to find the artefact. The beacon should relay any relevant data to us, we’ll let you know if you get close. We tried to land you as close to it as possible, so we’re safe to assume it’s in Hoenn.

- Right…

I hope we got you an appropriate disguise, we tried to pinpoint the year you’d land in but to be honest we have no idea what decade or century you’re in.

- My clothes look familiar, but a different colour.

Let’s hope it doesn’t draw too much attention. Better get going, we’re starting to get data from your beacon. It looks like there’s a small anomaly to the north.

Route 103

I start to train Susan and Logan for a while before I take a good look around. It doesn’t take too long before I’m confident enough to continue.

Well, well. Look who it is!

- Blue?!

That’s me! So the professor sent you too?

- Doc? Not exactly…

Whatever. Hey let’s battle with our new pokémon?

- But-

Go.. um… Torchic?

I easily defeat his torchic with Susan’s water gun.

Wait, didn’t you get a Bulbasaur? … and why did I think I had a Charmander…?

Blue thinks to himself for a moment, looking puzzled.

Anyway, at least I got this new pokédex! It’s so high-tech! Birch gave it to me.

- Oh?

He didn’t give you one? Here, you can have my old one. Smell ya later!

I look at the pokédex. It’s identical to Dex only in much better condition, almost new. I switch it on.

Greetings. Do you have an inquiry?

- I didn’t know what to expect…

I’m sorry, I don’t understand the question.

I point it at a nearby wurmple.

- Could you at least be of any use? Who’s that pokémon?

Pokémon not recognised.

I point it at Logan.

Pokémon not recognised.

I point it at Susan.

Lapras: A Pokémon that has been overhunted almost to extinction. It can ferry people across the water.

- Heh…

I switch off the pokédex and put it in my bag. Zinnia appears above the silver orb in my bag.

Whatever that was it wasn’t the artefact. The anomaly near you seems to have dissipated for now. There’s another to the west.

Route 102

I continue westwards, defeating a few trainers who challenge me. As I near Petalburg City I see a familiar person by the tall grass.

Thanks again for helping me catch my first pokémon, Caldar!

- But-

We should get back to the gym and give Norman his Zigzagoon back, right?

Wally walks off and vanishes as he passes through the city threshold.

- What the hell?