Pokemon-Aster

Aster's POV

A lot has happened since I came into this world. Being reduced from a fully functioning adult to an infant was humiliating at first, but I have come to accept my circumstances. There's no point in dwelling on the past—this is not that kind of story. Over the years, I've proven my ability to function well to Lorelei, or rather, my mom. I've grown more comfortable calling her that, though it took some time.

Currently, my mom and I are on an aircraft heading to the Indigo Plateau. In the anime, after a trainer successfully collects all eight badges and wins the regional tournament, they earn the right to challenge the Elite Four for the Champion's title. Today is the regional tournament finale, meaning the winner will soon go up against the Elite Four.

This is my first flight in this world, and while I would have enjoyed the experience more, my toddler physiology is working against me—I'm exhausted. It's 4:00 a.m., and I can barely keep my eyes open. While I understand that some people fear flying, statistically speaking, aircraft are the safest form of transportation. That logical thought should have kept me entertained, but my body demanded sleep instead.

One interesting development is that my system has finally reactivated. I haven't received any missions since the first two, so I welcome its return. The quest to capture a Pokémon has been lingering for months. I wanted to get started, but my mom has been blocking me at every turn, claiming I'm too young. My past self would have agreed, but I can't afford to wait forever. I managed to convince her to take me to the Indigo Plateau by appealing to her emotions—I simply told her I wanted to spend time with her. In truth, I hoped to meet others who could help me complete my mission or at least build future connections.

The flight was relatively short, lasting only a few hours. By the time we landed, it was 7:00 a.m. Inside the airport, I had a small bottle of milk and some cookies for breakfast while Lorelei had her usual coffee. Around 8:00 a.m., we finished eating and headed toward the Pokémon League Building. While trying to leave the airport, we were swarmed by paparazzi, but some well-dressed men in suits escorted us to a sleek black limousine.

Inside the limo, three other people were already present—the rest of the Kanto Elite Four.

Bruno, the Fighting-type specialist, sat with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable as always. His sheer physical presence alone made the car feel smaller.

Agatha, the Ghost-type expert, peered at me with sharp, calculating eyes, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. She had an air of mystery, her presence commanding attention without effort.

And finally, Lance, the Dragon-type master, exuded confidence as he leaned back in his seat, his signature red cape draped over his shoulders.

The moment we entered, all three turned their attention toward me. Their curiosity was apparent, though only one of them chose to voice it.

"Hmph." Agatha's gravelly voice broke the silence. "There's something strange about this child. Not often do you see eyes like those on someone so young." She studied me with an unsettling intensity, as if she could peer straight into my soul. "Lorelei, you sure he's yours? He doesn't seem ordinary."

Lorelei, unbothered by the remark, simply shrugged. "He's mine, alright. And he's just a kid, Agatha."

Lance chuckled, amused. "Well, well, Lorelei. You never told us you had a kid. The League keeping secrets now?" He leaned forward, observing me with intrigue. "Red hair, sharp eyes… he's definitely yours."

Bruno remained silent but gave me a brief nod of acknowledgment. He seemed to be the type who only spoke when necessary.

I remained quiet, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention. While part of me wanted to act like a normal child, I knew Agatha was sharp—too sharp. I had no doubt she would notice if I spoke in a way that didn't match my apparent age. For now, it was best to let them assume whatever they wanted.

As the limo continued toward the Pokémon League, I knew one thing for sure—this trip was going to be far more interesting than I originally thought.