The Way Home

After three long days of hunting Shiny Pokemon in Granite Cave, John was nearing his breaking point.

He couldn't believe it.

Exams were finally over, but studying had been…well, practically non-existent. He'd spent the past few days holed up in his hotel room, either grinding through Pokemon encounters or binge-watching TV shows. Fifteen hours a day of wild encounters, nearly a thousand Pokemon, and still no Shiny.

"Maybe I just got lucky finding Ralts and Makuhita…maybe the chances aren't as high as I thought." he muttered, shoulders slumping. He'd expected Shiny hunting to be a bit like mining for gold—just keep at it, and eventually, you'd strike it lucky. But three days in, and he was starting to feel like the odds were stacked against him.

Makuhita, sprawled on the bed, didn't seem to mind. He was happily watching TV alongside Frogadier and Combusken, the three of them as close as ever, even when not in battle.

Meanwhile, Kirlia sat off to the side, deep in Calm Mind training, exuding her usual serene patience.

John sighed, rubbing his face. "That's it. I'm done. I'll just push through the main story when I get back. No point wasting more time here."

He got up, threw on a clean shirt, and returned his Pokemon to their Pokeballs, all while giving one last, wistful look at Granite Cave before leaving.

Back home, he was met with some unexpected good news. The results from Riverstone University were posted online. Out of a possible 450 points, John had scored 425, landing him at the top of the list.

His scores broke down like this:

Basic Knowledge: 128 points (as expected, no surprises there)Pokemon Battle: 150 points (the section he'd been most confident about)Breeder Knowledge: 147 points (a pleasant surprise—just three points shy of perfection)

"Huh, I guess I nailed that last question after all," he thought, feeling a sense of pride. If he could stay on top of his game in this strange world, the future was looking bright.

It was official—he'd been accepted into Riverstone University, and military training would start on August 15th. The admission notice was already on its way to his hometown and would likely arrive tomorrow.

The whole thing felt surreal, like everything was finally coming together.

Later that day, John boarded the train back to Aethermere City, then caught a bus out to the countryside. Hours of travel later, he finally reached Wyrm Village, his hometown, where he hadn't set foot in years. In his previous life, he'd moved to the city post-college and rarely visited, maybe only for the holidays. But now, things felt different.

As he stepped onto the familiar dirt roads and took in the unchanged village, a strange sense of nostalgia hit him, tinged with something new. With Pokemon now so common, his old hometown looked both familiar and surreal.

"John! Back from the county?" called a man he recognize as a family friend named Chuck from across the street, where he was feeding geese by the roadside.

"Afternoon, Uncle." John replied, automatically lifting a hand to wave before pausing.

Despite everything looking the same, the village felt different. Still, as he looked around, the odd feeling faded, leaving only a comforting familiarity.

"Just in time for dinner!" Uncle Chuck said with a grin. "Caught a big carp at the pond today!"

John laughed. "Thanks, but I've got to head home. My parents are waiting."

Waving goodbye, he continued on his way, crossing the bridge over the river that ran through the village. He'd spent so much time here as a kid, catching Magikarp, playing with Poliwag and Wooper. Had things not taken such a strange turn—if Pokemon hadn't become real—he might have ended up leading a simpler life, like so many others, maybe with a Poliwag at his side.

The thought lingered, but John quickly shook it off, only to be interrupted by a strange noise. He looked up to see three Psyduck waddling down the riverbank, heads swaying with each uncoordinated step. They seemed completely oblivious to him.

"Hello there!" John said, amused, trying his best to mimic their quacking.

One of the Psyduck paused to look at him with a blank stare, the other two following suit.

After a beat, the first Psyduck turned to the others. That guy doesn't seem too bright.

The second one nodded solemnly. Yeah, I'd say he's a little off.

The third shrugged. True, true.

John stared at them for a moment, then chuckled. "You guys are a riot."

He shook his head and kept walking. If they'd been any other kind of duck, he might have been tempted to stew them for dinner, but somehow, these three were too ridiculous to be mad at.

As he neared his house, a small Yorkshire Terrier came barreling toward him, tail wagging so fast it looked like it might take off. The dog leaped into his arms, and he caught it instinctively, the familiar weight and warmth grounding him.

This little Yorkie wasn't one of his Pokemon, she was just a regular dog he'd raised from a puppy, a simple companion who'd been part of the family for years. There was no mystical bond like he had with his Pokemon—just a natural, genuine friendship that felt good.

He reached his front door and pushed it open without knocking.

"John, you're back!" his mother called from the kitchen, her voice warm and welcoming. "Come on in, wash your hands, dinner's ready!"

He closed the door behind him, and the warmth of home wrapped around him.

"Little York is barking again, must be you." his mom teased, peeking out from the kitchen.

"Where's Dad?" John asked as he stepped inside.

"Playing chess with your uncle." she replied, setting a dish on the table.

The house was cozy and bustling with the sounds of family. His father and uncles sat around the chessboard, smoke curling up from their pipes, while his aunts chatted nearby. His younger brothers were lined up in front of the TV, absorbed in a cartoon.

The scene was familiar, nostalgic, and grounding. For all the changes in his life, coming back here felt like stepping into a sanctuary where nothing had really changed.

"John's home! Time to eat!" his brother Brian squealed, dashing over to the table, clearly ready to dig in.

John smiled and joined his family, feeling the weight of the past few days lift as he sat down for a warm, familiar meal. For the first time in days, he could finally breathe.