The forest thinned gradually, then suddenly—one moment they were pushing through undergrowth, the next they were standing at the edge of a paved road, staring at the back of a sign that read:
WELCOME TO VIRIDIAN CITY
Gateway to Victory
Gamma was the first to speak.
"There's a road. A real road. With signs and everything." She turned to the others, eyes wide. "Guys. Civilization."
Alpha let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "About damn time."
Beta adjusted Aurora on his shoulders—the Dratini had insisted on being positioned to catch the morning light just so—and peered down the road. "What do you think it's like? The city, I mean."
"Only one way to find out," Omega said, already walking.
The Gastly floated beside him, its permanent grin somehow looking more curious than threatening now. The three young Rotom—now named Spark, Volta, and Watt by Gamma, who had insisted—bobbed along in Beta's makeshift sling, their forms bright and healthy.
They rounded a bend in the road, and Viridian City spread out before them.
It wasn't what they expected.
Buildings rose in clean lines, modern but not overwhelming. Trees lined the streets. People walked along sidewalks, and beside them—with them—walked creatures of every shape and size. A woman with a pink egg-shaped creature bouncing at her heels. A man with a small green lizard on his shoulder. A child laughing as a fluffy orange fox chased its tail in circles.
Pokémon. Everywhere. Living with humans like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Gamma grabbed Alpha's arm. "Look. Look at all of them. They're just—they're just existing together."
"Like it's normal," Alpha breathed. "Like it's always been this way."
Beta stepped forward, his medical mind already cataloging. "That creature with the woman—it looks healthy. Well-cared for. The fur is groomed, the eyes are bright. And the lizard—excellent muscle tone, good color..."
"You're staring," Aurora murmured—well, not murmured, but her head turned and her eyes narrowed in that judgmental way of hers.
Beta blushed. "Sorry. I just—I've never—"
"First time seeing humans and Pokémon together?" A cheerful voice interrupted.
They turned to find an elderly man sitting on a bench, a small brown and white creature sleeping at his feet. He smiled at their expressions.
"Easy to spot newcomers. That look on your faces—half wonder, half terror. Seen it before." He chuckled. "Where are you from? One of the smaller towns? Out in the boonies somewhere?"
"Something like that," Omega said carefully. "We're... travelers. From far away."
"Ah, an Adventure Team in the making?" The man's eyes sparkled. "You've got the look. Young, eager, surrounded by interesting Pokémon." He gestured at their companions. "A Kangaskhan, a Dratini, an Abra, a Gastly... and Rotom too, unless I'm mistaken. That's quite the collection for beginners."
Khan, the Kangaskhan mother, shifted protectively closer to Alpha. Kanga waved from her pouch.
"We're not exactly beginners," Alpha said. "We're just... new to the area. Can you tell us where we might find information? About the city, the region, how things work here?"
The man pointed down the main street. "Pokémon Center's at the heart of town. Big red roof, can't miss it. The nurse there—Nurse Joy—she'll set you straight. Best source of information for new trainers and travelers."
"Thank you," Omega said, nodding politely.
As they walked away, the man called after them: "And welcome to Viridian! Hope your journey's a good one!"
---
The Pokémon Center was impossible to miss.
It rose three stories high, its red roof gleaming in the morning sun. Large windows revealed a bustling interior. A Pokéball symbol decorated the entrance. And through the glass doors, they could see people and Pokémon sitting together, laughing, eating, resting.
Gamma pressed her face against the window. "It's like a community center. A hotel. A hospital. All in one."
"For Pokémon," Beta breathed. "A medical facility specifically for Pokémon. I didn't even consider—of course they'd need healthcare. They're living creatures. They get sick, they get injured—"
"Can we please go inside before Beta has a full medical revelation?" Omega pushed the door open.
The interior was warm and welcoming. Soft lighting. Comfortable seating. A cafeteria area in one corner. And at the front desk, a woman with pink hair curled in an elaborate style and a gentle smile that seemed to welcome everyone equally.
"Welcome to the Viridian City Pokémon Center!" she chimed. "How can I—"
She stopped. Her eyes swept over them—their clothes, their companions, their expressions—and her smile somehow grew warmer.
"First time in a Pokémon Center?" she asked gently.
Gamma nodded mutely.
"Then you've come to the right place. I'm Nurse Joy." She gestured them closer. "Bring your friends—all of them. Let's get everyone comfortable, and we'll talk."
---
Twenty minutes later, they were settled in a quiet corner of the Center with warm drinks and full stomachs. The Pokémon had been offered food as well—Khan accepted a large berry with dignity, Aurora sniffed at hers before deeming it acceptable, Abra ignored everything, and Gastly simply floated contentedly near Omega. The young Rotom had been given a small charger to play near.
Nurse Joy sat across from them, her smile never wavering.
"Now then," she said. "Let's start with the basics. Those devices you're carrying—may I see one?"
Omega handed over his phone. Nurse Joy examined it, her eyes lighting up with recognition.
"Rotom Phones! I haven't seen many of these yet. They're quite new—developed by the Rotom themselves, actually, after the great energy surge. They bonded with technology and created these devices to help trainers document their journeys." She handed it back. "Yours seem to have actual Rotom living inside them. That's special. Most Rotom Phones just have Rotom-inspired software, not the real creatures."
"The Rotom chose us," Gamma said, glancing at her phone where the purple Rotom was doing a happy loop. "Well, sort of. They kind of... exploded into our phones. It was a whole thing."
Nurse Joy laughed—a musical sound. "That sounds exactly like Rotom. They're curious, energetic, and they know what they want." She stood. "I can update your phones for you, if you'd like. Add the World Wide Pokédex function. It's standard for all registered trainers and Adventure Teams."
"Adventure Teams?" Alpha perked up. "What are those?"
Nurse Joy's expression shifted—excitement, wonder, a touch of something like awe.
"Ah. You really are new, aren't you?" She sat back down. "Let me explain."
She told them about the energy surge—a phenomenon that had occurred three years ago, rippling across the entire world of Pokémon. No one knew where it came from or why it happened. But the effects were undeniable.
"Pokémon changed," she said softly. "New forms appeared. Ancient powers resurfaced. Mega Evolution, which was once exclusive to certain regions, began appearing everywhere. Dynamax and Gigantamax, once unique to Galar, started manifesting across the world. Z-Crystals from Alora became active globally. Terastalisation from Paldea... suddenly everyone could access these powers."
"And new Pokémon," Beta added, remembering the Rotom's earlier messages.
"New Pokémon, yes." Nurse Joy nodded. "Creatures never documented before. Some appeared fully grown, as if they'd always been there. Others evolved from existing species in ways we'd never seen. The world changed overnight, and we're still trying to understand it all."
"That's where Adventure Teams come in," Omega guessed.
"Exactly." Nurse Joy beamed at him. "Adventure Teams are groups—of trainers, researchers, coordinators, doctors, explorers—who travel the world documenting everything. They discover new Pokémon, new forms, new locations. They study how the energy surge changed things. They help the global community understand this new world we live in."
She leaned forward. "It's become incredibly popular, especially among young people. The chance to explore, to discover, to make a real difference... there's nothing else like it."
Gamma's eyes were shining. "So we could join? Become an Adventure Team?"
"You could." Nurse Joy smiled. "In fact, I'd recommend it. With companions like yours—" she gestured at their Pokémon, "—you're already ahead of most beginners. And Adventure Teams get access to resources, information, and support that ordinary travelers don't."
The four friends looked at each other.
"We've been looking for a purpose," Omega said slowly. "A reason to be here, in this world. This... this feels right."
Alpha nodded. "We're already a team. We've trained together our whole lives. We just didn't know what for."
"Now we do," Beta whispered.
Gamma grinned. "Team Origin, ready for action!"
Nurse Joy's eyes widened slightly. "Team Origin? That's the name you've chosen?"
"It's what we've always been called," Gamma explained. "Back home. It just... fits."
"Then Team Origin it is." Nurse Joy stood and gestured for them to follow. "Come. Let's get your phones updated and your registration processed. There are a few things you'll need to decide first."
---
The update process was fascinating.
Each phone was connected to a terminal, and the Rotom inside seemed to absorb information—data streaming directly into them, then organizing itself into new functions. When Omega pulled his phone back, the screen had transformed.
"Icons," he murmured. "For Pokémon identification. Location mapping. Item cataloging. And..." He tapped one. "World Wide Pokédex. Accessing..."
Text filled the screen:
WELCOME TO THE WORLD WIDE POKEDEX
Your gateway to understanding the Pokémon world
This device contains information on:
· All documented Pokémon species
· All known regions and locations
· All cataloged items and resources
· Historical and cultural data
· Current events and discoveries
Data is updated in real-time as new discoveries are made by Adventure Teams worldwide.
"This is incredible," Beta breathed, scrolling through his own device. "It's like having the sum total of human and Pokémon knowledge in your pocket."
"Not just human knowledge," Nurse Joy corrected gently. "The Rotom contribute too. They share information with each other across the world. When one Rotom learns something new, they all know it eventually."
The Rotom in their phones seemed to puff up with pride.
"Now then." Nurse Joy pulled out a tablet. "Registration. You'll need to choose your focus areas—what you want to contribute to the Adventure Team network. Most teams have members with different specialties."
She explained the options:
Pokémon League Path: For those who want to battle, compete, and test their strength against the best. Becoming a Champion-ranked trainer required recognition across multiple regions—a challenge that only the most dedicated undertook.
Pokémon World Pageant Path: For those who wanted to showcase the beauty, grace, and coordination of Pokémon. Top Pageant Coordinators were recognized globally for their ability to bring out the best in any Pokémon.
Medical Path: For those who wanted to heal. Junior doctors could train under experienced professionals, eventually becoming top medical authorities capable of treating any Pokémon or human.
Research Path: For those who wanted to understand. Junior researchers documented discoveries, studied phenomena, and contributed to the global understanding of the changed world.
"There are other paths too," Nurse Joy added. "Exploration, conservation, education. But these are the most common starting points."
The four friends looked at each other.
"I think we already know," Alpha said slowly. "I've always been a fighter. Trained for it my whole life. The Pokémon League... that's for me."
Gamma nodded. "I'm an Artist. I tell stories, I connect with people. The Pageant path—showcasing Pokémon, celebrating their beauty—that's what I want."
Beta looked at Aurora, who gazed back with approval. "I'm a doctor. A healer. Medical path, absolutely. I want to understand how to care for Pokémon, how to keep them healthy and happy."
All eyes turned to Omega.
He was quiet for a moment, scrolling through his phone, reading the endless information available. Then he looked up.
"Researcher," he said. "Someone needs to understand why this happened. Why the energy surge occurred. Why the world changed. Why we were brought here." His eyes met his friends'. "I want to find those answers."
Nurse Joy smiled. "Then it's settled." She tapped her tablet. "Team Origin, registered. Alpha on the League path, Gamma on Pageant path, Beta on Medical path, Omega on Research path. Your credentials will be recognized at any Pokémon Center in any region."
She handed them each a small pin—a stylized Pokéball with an "AT" emblem.
"Adventure Team pins," she explained. "They identify you as registered explorers. Wear them proudly."
Gamma pinned hers on immediately. "So what now? What do we do?"
Nurse Joy laughed. "Whatever you want. That's the beauty of it. You can stay in Kanto, explore this region. You can travel to others—Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, anywhere. You can take on challenges, document discoveries, help communities. The world is yours to explore."
The four friends stood in the warm light of the Pokémon Center, their new pins gleaming, their Pokémon beside them, a whole world waiting.
Alpha cracked his knuckles. "Then let's explore."
Gamma grinned. "Let's find some stories."
Beta smiled softly. "Let's learn to heal."
Omega nodded once. "Let's find the truth."
And together, with their Pokémon beside them, Team Origin walked out of the Viridian City Pokémon Center and into a world of infinite possibility.