The morning sun spilled over the Travis ranch like gold poured across the fields. Dew glistened on the grass, and the coastal breeze carried the scent of salt and warm earth. Pokémon moved through the property as naturally as birds and wildlife. Mareep grazing in soft clusters, Ponyta galloping in the distance, Vulpix curling in warm patches of sunlight. Even as a child of ten, Aiden could feel the energy of the ranch like a pulse beneath his feet.
He was awake early, far earlier than he expected he would be.Excitement had pulled him from sleep before the alarm could.He had a partner now.
Arcanine rested near his bedside like a fiercely loyal guardian, chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths. It was not yet the towering, majestic adult form Aiden remembered from the games, it was still young, but already powerful, with a wild beauty in its striped fur and sharp yet kind eyes.
When Arcanine felt Aiden stirring, it lifted its head, ears flicking forward.
"Morning," Aiden whispered, reaching out a small hand.
Arcanine gently nudged his palm.
Aiden smiled.A genuine warm smile, something he hadn't felt in years, in two lifetimes.
After washing up, Aiden joined his parents in the main barn — a long, open building that smelled of hay, berries, and the faint electricity of Pokémon energy.
Elena was already at work, surrounded by notebooks, feeding schedules, grooming tools, and a half circle of attentive Pokémon. Her Alolan Ninetales — elegant and serene — lay at her side, watching Aiden with soft blue eyes.
James was training with a pair of Charmeleon near the combat yard, shouting commands that echoed across the field like sharp drumbeats.
This was a world Aiden knew only as fiction.Yet standing here now, watching his parents at work, he felt a flood of gratitude so sharp it nearly hurt.
Elena smiled when she saw him.
"There's my little assistant," she said warmly. "Ready for morning feeding?"
Aiden nodded."I'm ready. What do we start with today?"
Elena handed him a small list and a tray of Pokéfood she had prepared the night before.
"Well, since you bonded with Arcanine yesterday, we'll begin with fire-types. Their diet needs balance protein heavy, but not too much spice at this age. Their digestion can be a bit sensitive without proper seasoning."
Aiden blinked, surprised."Seasoning? Like cooking?"
Elena laughed softly."Exactly like cooking, sweetheart. Pokémon food is just… specialized cuisine."
The revelation struck him like lightning.
In his past life, he'd always loved cooking.Loved experimenting with spices.Loved watching cooking shows.Loved the creativity of it.
That passion slid seamlessly into this world.
In fact, it felt like a gift from his old life.
Arcanine watched his every move as Aiden mixed the ingredients, his little hands trembling with concentration. He added Sitrus shavings for sweetness, Oran puree for recovery, and a tiny pinch of charcoal powder for fire-type metabolism.
The aroma rose like warm smoke.
Arcanine's tail wagged in approval.
After breakfast duties, James called to him from across the yard.
"Aiden! Come over here."
Aiden approached, Arcanine trotting at his side.
James folded his arms, assessing the pair with a trainer's sharp eye.
"Since you're a Gym Leader's son, the League allows early supervised training. But remember, this is not about battling. Not yet. It's about discipline, trust, and understanding your Pokémon."
Aiden nodded firmly.
"Yes, Dad."
"Good. Show me how Arcanine follows your commands."
Aiden inhaled deeply.
"Alright… Arcanine, sit."
Arcanine obeyed instantly.
James raised a brow.
"Good bond already. Next — a simple movement drill."
Aiden pointed at the row of training cones.
"Arcanine, weave!"
The Pokémon darted forward, moving between cones with impressive agility for its age. Its paws kicked up dust as it weaved smoothly, stopping perfectly at the final marker.
James whistled.
"Fast learner. Both of you."
Aiden flushed with pride.
Arcanine barked joyfully.
Later that afternoon, Aiden sat alone behind the old storage barn with Arcanine resting nearby. He closed his eyes, trying to feel the strange sensation he'd experienced the night before — the flicker beneath his skin, the warmth in his chest.
The world felt different when he focused like this — layers of sensation unfolding in the quiet.
He could hear:
The hum of Mareep wool.The crackle of Charmeleon embers.The ocean's distant breath.
And beneath all of it…
A pulse.Not his heartbeat.Something deeper.
Aiden exhaled slowly.
Aura.
In the Lucario movie, it looked mystical.In the games, it was symbolic.But here?
It was alive.Vibrant.Responsive.
He concentrated harder.
The air shimmered faintly.
A small blue glow flickered at his fingertips — weak, but real.
Arcanine lifted its head, sensing the disturbance, and moved closer protectively.
Aiden smiled softly.
"It's okay. I'm just trying to understand it."
He wasn't afraid.
If anything, he felt… connected.Grounded.Awake.
For the first time in both his lives, he felt like he was exactly where he needed to be.
Over the next weeks, Aiden discovered himself in this world — not as a lost adult, but as a ten-year-old with a world of opportunity ahead.
He developed hobbies:
1. Cooking Pokémon Meals
He experimented with berry mixtures, roasted poffins, dehydrated fruit strips, and protein treats tailored to Arcanine's growth.
2. Drawing Pokémon Anatomy
He sketched everything — paws, scales, ears, wings — learning muscle structure for future breeding and training.
3. Studying League Battle Footage
He watched old tournaments late at night, absorbing tactics, synergy, and the rhythm of elite battles.
4. Caring for Eggs
Elena taught him how to regulate temperature, rotate shells, and sense the faint life inside—a skill only true breeders mastered.
5. Reading Pokémon Behavior Studies
He consumed books on instinct theory, evolution stress response, emotional bonding frameworks, and aura-compatibility research.
These weren't chores.
They were joys.
And they were shaping him into something extraordinary.
By the end of his first year in this world, whispers spread across the ranch staff, then across nearby towns, then across regional breeder networks.
"The Travis kid? He's gifted.""He calms Pokémon instantly. Even the wild ones.""He makes fire-type food better than half the adults.""I heard he rotated a Dratini egg perfectly on his first try.""James's boy might be a future Elite Four contender.""No… I think he might be a future Champion."
Aiden heard none of these rumors.
But Elena did.
James did.
And they exchanged looks of both pride and concern.
Because the world was beginning to notice something special.
And the world never ignored something special for long.