The sharp rays easily pass through the barred windows rousing a man from his slumber.

Jared sat up with a yawn and reflexively pulled the phone off the charger to check the time.

He scratched the top of his head with sleep still in his eye's "How did I end up sleeping this long? I know it should have been around six pm when I got home"

"and..."

As sleep is finally shaken from him, he started to recall the prior day's event and clenched his fists. He fell back down on the mattress with a defeated sigh, "I hope those children are okay."

The phone suddenly vibrated in his hands. He sat back up and found the same message as yesterday staring back at him, it was threatening him to go to Halu High School or else.

With heavy feelings, he began preparing himself for the day.

Thirty minutes later, and with the two papers inside his mostly empty backpack, he's out the door once the bag is strapped to his back.

"This damn door, I've just moved in and I'm already sick of fighting to get it closed"

Taking a quick glance around the empty alleyway, and with one more check of the GPS, he was on his way to the school.

Still feeling pangs of guilt about the previous day, Jared decided to dial Brian the baldie to check if the kids were alright.

It rang a few times until Brian's familiar voice is heard, "Hello, Jared... I didn't expect you to call me so soon, did you manage to remember anything?"

Brian sounded tired, but so was he. Jared went straight to the point, "Do you... I mean,*cough* I was there yesterday when those two kids got mauled by the Houndour and Growlithe, are those two kids okay?"

Brian went quiet for a few seconds before he spoke, "They", He takes a deep breath. "Didn't make it"

Jared felt as if someone gave him an invisible blow, he stumbled back almost falling down and dropping his phone.

Kneeling on the sidewalk, he clenches the phone in a vice-like grip.

Brian said something, but Jared can no longer hear it. He no longer wants to hear it.

Feeling his mind start to feel the jolts of yesterday's emotional meltdown, he once again loses himself in waves of stinging emotions. Each jolt a new memory, each thought a bee sting in his mind.

(...When I came to this world I felt this was a paradise... but this isn't like the pokemon world I fell in love with. Why does the world seem so beautiful at a glance, and then so disgusting on closer inspection?)

Jared then takes a shaky breath,

(Why... I want so badly to see its beauty, but at every turn... it proves that it's all skin deep, like an apple with a pristine outer layer, but full of maggots just under the surface. WHY WHy Why why...)

Jared clenched his fists unknowingly,

(...This isn't supposed to be like earth, it's supposed to be better than that... It's supposed to be ... I don't know... more... it ... yes... it ...s... was the world of pokemon always this way? Was it always this cruel and corrupt? Was I just living in a beautiful delusion all along and refused to see it for what it truly was?)

Tears well up in his eyes,

Jared choked back sobs, "They were just kids, why did they have to die for a bit of food? How come the bystanders stood there and did nothing?)

He gasps for air as he comes to a new realization. A few passers-by give him curious looks at his dramatic display.

"I I... I was the same as them."

Clenching his fists harder, until his unclipped nails dig into his skin.

Blood begins to drip onto the pavement, but he doesn't feel it.

"Even... even if I would have been mauled by those pokemon, I could have tried to save those kids, but I ... I watched them, I let them die, I let them die, just like the others. I was just as selfish, just as cruel, only thinking of myself!"

"Hypocrite, hypocrite! HYPOCRITE!!"

(...I know this pain better than anyone! Yet... yet I still did nothing. No, I won't be a bystander any longer, I won't allow this anymore!)

His tears suddenly stop as he opens his palm, and lets go of his fist.

He reaches his hand out. He could see something. This... something was intangible, but he felt he could grab it. Yes, he could make it appear if he only reached out!

His rolling emotions began to calm with newfound clarity.

"...Yes, that's right, I don't have to be a bystander any longer! Unlike earth, I could become strong, I bet the strongest trainers could even bend the society around them to their will! Maybe I could be that trainer! And maybe...maybe I could become strong enough to make the world of pokemon the way it was meant to be."

Jared whispered again, this time with a little more madness in his eye's, "Yes, only I can change it!!!"

Delusions of grandeur begin to fill consume his mind,

(I must be special, that's why I was brought here, these people living in this world accept this cruelty because they were born into it. I'm different! I've seen what this world can be, Yes, it must be why I'm here! It's because everything is wrong, only I know the way things need to be!)

He begins laughing with a twisted smile, then suddenly shouts and scares a passer-by, "Yes, hahaha hahaha I wasn't wrong, I didn't make the wrong choice back then!"

(...Walking around and solving every injustice is only treating the symptoms, and not the root cause. Unless I change the laws and policy, only then will things truly change. ...Yes! I was brought here to make things right! I can't save others if I have no strength, and if I threw my life away to save those children then who is going to save this world?)

Feeling newfound strength and determination he stood up, but then bent over to pick up his phone. He had dropped during his emotional episode.

He then called Brian back, he didn't want to risk Brian sending someone to check up on him due to a misunderstanding.

With only ten minutes until eight, he double checked the coordinates.

(For now, I should keep this deep in my heart... I think if others know... then I might really get put in a straight jacket.)

.

In five minutes he was right before his destination, the Halu high school gates.

The school ground was one acre wide and two acres across in a rectangular shape. A chain-link fence reaching two meters in height surrounded the whole perimeter.

Watching the cramped school grounds Jared muttered, "Quite a small area for a school isn't it?"

Looking past the fence was a large blue-painted concrete building. Those that paid attention would find a single large plaque at the front of the building which reads *HALU HIGH SCHOOL*

Turning his eyes away from the buildings beyond, Jared noticed a middle-aged security guard with a Pidgey on his shoulder. He was standing next to an opening in the fence.

Jared stopped when he observed a few youths making their way through the gate, however, they were shockingly all around nine or ten years old.

(Isn't this supposed to be a high school?)

Jared continued walking, and he noticed the kids were smiling happily at the bird pokemon. He couldn't help but smile too.

However, he felt his smile was not the same as theirs, it was a smile with meaning and intent behind it, perhaps it was an ember of resolve... but it was hard to say if it would stay lit, for it was but an ember, and it had not yet been tested by sweat and blood, nor time and adversity.

With two bronze-colored rings through his right ear and a walkie-talkie strapped to his belt, the security guard eyed the suspicious adult.

In an effort to create no misunderstandings, Jared opened his backpack and pulled out his papers before heading up to speak.

Accomplishing that task, Jared walked up to the man while trying to seem friendly, "Hello sir, I was told to come here by eight am, so here I am."

The deadpanned man looked him up and down. His eyes landed on the papers in Jared's hand, "Is that so?"

He began reading from where Jared had directed him, and soon he handed the papers back.

"Quite an interesting situation you are in Mr Jared..."

Scratching his chin for a second, he lifted his arm, and with just his thumb he pointed over his shoulder, "Head in and contact reception."

Jared quickly nodded "Thank you... Mr? "

Still deadpanned the security guard replied, "Haku"

"Alright Haku, thanks for your help!"

Joining the small stream of children, Jared made his way into the building. He got a few looks, but he didn't mind.

Through the open door, Jared was immediately greeted by a reception desk.

At the desk sat a lady wearing a large polka dot blouse, with an especially large chair supporting her weight. Two kids were chatting with her as Jared came in.

Looking from the doorway, it could be seen that the reception area was separated by a wall in an L shape. The hallway bends around the corner on the left. On the right was a single smooth hardwood door, it was just a few meters away.

The obese reception lady finished talking with the kids. Her sloppy eyes then beckoned the newcomer with interest, "Can I help you with sumthin hun?"

She slightly straightened up, and through her folds of fat, a nametag popped out which read *Nana*

Jared wasted no time handing her his papers, " Hello Nana, I was told to come here by eight am"

Nana scans the paper with a grunt, but just then the bell rang.

Still holding Jared's paper's in her clammy grip, she uses the reception desk to struggle herself up with her free hand.

Finally standing, the obese reception lady waddled over and knocked on the fancy door.

After ten or so seconds, an authoritative voice can be heard from behind the door.

Following the obese woman into the office, Jared finds a very expensive mahogany desk. A few were papers neatly placed on the side.

From his presence alone, Jared reckons he must be the principal, or whatever passes for one in the pokemon universe.

It wasn't due to the fact, that the plaque on the door literally said, *principal's office* but the fact that he gave off an air of authority.

His stern features and strong chin gave Jared the impression that he won't tolerate nonsense from anyone, and his tired eyes show that he longs for retirement.

There was no nametag on his beautiful and expensive black silk suit, but there was one on the desk.

The receptionist spoke kindly, and to an observer, it could be seen, that the way she spoke was quite different than her usual sloppy ways, "Principal Kale, the gentleman you have been expecting has arrived~"

The obese lady made a bit of small talk with the principal, while Jared clicks his tongue, he feeling quite impressed, (...This guy's got quite a nice place all to himself, and I can't imagine those portraits on the walls are cheap!)

After a few more words, the lady waddled back out the door and closed it shut. A screaming chair could be heard outside. This indicated to Jared that the woman was sitting back at her post.

Seeming to be done with his reading, the principal stood up to give a firm handshake, which Jared reciprocated, "I've been expecting you Mr Jared"