Cassie's the kind of person I could never fully grasp.

  Not that I generally excelled at knowing people, but Cassie was open and weird much beyond my comprehension.

  "You want to be a magician?", I ask carefully, failing to hide a small smile that's lingering on the edge of my lips. There's something truly endearing about her.

  "Yes, though, that doesn't really exist", she admits, making my head turn around.

  "What do you mean, it doesn't exist?", I question, partly because I'm intrigued, partly because I know she wants to talk about it.

  "Just like that, I made it up", she shrugs in laughter.

  "You're strange", I laugh with her.

  "Says a guy who claims to have died and appeared on the hill", she reminds me playfully.

  "What is a magician then?", I wink at her, "are you going to ask me to pick a card?".

  "No, not that kind of magic", she notes, swipping at my hand, "like, pokemon trainer magician".

  "How does that work exactly?", I say, now fully emersed into her playful ideals.

  "I don't know, but I'll find out", she says, "I just always thought it would be cool, having pokemon that look like performers, making battles look like a magician's performance".

  "So, you want to battle?", I asses.

  "Yes, I want to battle, and so much more", she almost squeals, "I'm talking showstopping battles, contest appearances that take your breath away, street performances where the crowds go wild, everything".

  The words seem to make her eyes light up. That face of hers, that had looked plain and uncomfortable in its teenagehood still, quickly turns into something new, a picture of youthful idealism. I can only smile back weakly at her, thinking how lucky she is, to get to dream up things like that.

  "I already have the beginning planned", Cassie doesn't seem to notice the shades of silent envy on my face, "I even convinced aunt Lydia to get me two pokemon to start off, one is the official starter, and the second one is a present for her favourite niece, of course".

  "Sounds like you've set yourself up already", I let her go on a rampage.

  "Yes, I am so excited to meet my new partners", she almost jumps out of her chair, "I literally couldn't sit still, that's why I was at the park".

  "Then, I guess I'm flattered I'll get to meet the partners of the best magician in this place", I offer her an encouraging smile.

  "I'd be the Hoenn's only magician", she nods, instantly accepting her fate as a trailblazer.

  "What pokemon are you getting?", I ask, instantly realising that I know 10 pokemon at the very best.

  "Not saying", she shakes her head playfully, "you'll have to wait and see".

  "Fair enough", I nod, realising that I might get a pokemon as well today. If Cassie's aunt has any spares. Suddenly, I wonder what spare pokemon even is.

  "Hey, uh, Cassie", I decide to ask, "so how does that whole thing work, getting a pokemon and registering as a trainer, I mean?". Once she's gone, I'll have to do this myself, might as well ask her how to settle this.

  "People usually sign up for it with someone authorised to give out starters, request the starter of their choice from the available roster, and then they get their starter", she explains, "well, it's not always the same, if you request a starter from the gym leader they might give it to you on the spot, or breed it themselves, if you request it from a researcher, they have to get it from Trainer's Association more often than not, so it's a bit of a wait".

  "Okay, and how do you register as a trainer?", I nod along.

  "You'll get a pokedex along with your starter, I know aunt Lydia has those in spades, so you just go and ask to get registered in the pokemon center", Cassie says simply.

  "Good", I say, "so it's not too much of a hassle then".

  "Not at all", she confirms.

  "And you think your aunt might have a spare pokemon to give me?", I ask cautiously.

  "Well, she's a biologist, so she doesn't usually have too many pokemon on her, but it can happen", Cassie notes. "I mean, if it's end all be all, I could ask you to give her one of my pokemon, since I have two, but...".

  "No", I says quickly, noting how unwillingly she had suggested that, "don't do that".

  "I mean, if there's no other option", Cassie offers, with the weak smile.

  "If there's no other option, I'll figure it out myself", I say firmly.

  "Right", she shuffles in her chair uncomfortably.

  "Right", I nod, thinking that I have no clue what I'll do if her aunt doesn't have a spare pokemon.

  "So, um, Rory", she says carefully, "what kind of a job would you want, I can't help too much, but I can give you some pointers".

  "I don't know", I admit, "whatever pays enough to cover for living, I guess". Not that I have ever had too many chances to think about what I wanted to be. I was a soldier, and I doubted that was necessary in this world that had electric rodents and fire-breathing lizards.

  "Is there anything you want to be?", Cassie asks in careful curiosity.

  "I wanted to be a pilot", I admit, "I was on my way to becoming one, then I died".

  "What's a pilot?", she sighs, still not used to the fact I stem from a world much different than hers.

  "That's a person who flies planes", I explain shortly.

  "Oh, those metal things that can fly", she remembers, "really? That's what you wanted to be?".

  "Yes", I nod, "I was training to be one in the military, but, this whole thing happened and...". My words betray me. I'm not really sure why I wanted to be a pilot. When I was a kid, it seemed cool, soaring into the sky. Then I grew up, and becoming a war pilot only seemed natural.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "Well, not really too much you can do with that around here", Cassie hangs back in her chair, seemingly deep in thought.

  "That much I figured", I try to convince her everything is fine with a smile. I fail.

  "I don't know about the job", she says slowly, "but if you want to fly, try catching a flying type, that's how we do things around here".

  "I'll see about it", I reassure her. Not that I have any plans on dealing with pokemon. I was hopeful I would get one from her aunt, but only so I get acces to free food and shelter. Other than that, I was not dealing with superpowered animals. I have already died once, and flying around on giant birds sounded like an open invite to do it the second time around.

  "What can I say, except good luck", Cassie offers me a comforting smile.

  "Thanks", I accept it. She's already done more than enough for me.

  "Actually", she straightens up suddenly, "I do have an idea, for a job you could try, I mean".

  "Really?", I raise my eyebrow in disbelief. Just how does her mind work is a great mystery to me.

  "You say you were a soldier", she notes, "why don't you try joining the police?".

  "Police?", I echo the last word. It's strange. I have no idea what police even does in this world, but they are certainly not writing parking tickets. Though, it does make sense, and it's the only job I am somewhat qualified for, other than waiting tables.

  "Yeah, I mean, you could try it out", Cassie's face reddens, "there are stations in every big city, not in Verdanturf, but in Rustboro and Mauville".

  "Oh, Mauville is right next to this town, right?", I remember.

  "Yes, but I think you should go to Rustboro", she says decisively.

  "Why there?", I question, "isn't this other city closer?"

  "Rustboro is close as well", she says, "and Xander, Leo, and I are going there first, so you could come along with us".

  "Oh", I'm not really sure how else to react, realising that this girl has just invited me to come along with her.

  "It's just that you'd have to go to Mauville on your own", she waves her hands almost defensively, "and you said you don't know much about pokemon, so it might be safer for you to go with us".

  I take slight insult at her thinking I need a chaperone, but unfortunately, she might be right. I'm not sure if I can deal with pokemon.

  "I appreaciate your offer", I say, "I'll think about it".

  "We are leaving tomorrow morning though", she reminds me, "the other two won't have any problems with you joining, but I don't think I can convince them to wait around for you to make up your mind".

  "No worries", I say carefully, "I'll decide by the time you leave".

  "That's good", she nods, taking the final sips of her latte. "We should get going to the lab soon".

  "How much time do we have?",

  "Half an hour, she responds. "And Rory?", she gives me a careful look.

  "Yeah?", I say.

  "Better let me do the talking", she decides, "don't go spouting your reincarnation bullshit to my aunt or friends, alright?".

  "Alright", I laugh a little bit, thinking that I had no intention to tell anyone else about it. Not that Cassie believed me herself, but she obviously believed me enough to try and help me out.

  She waves over the Zangoose waiter, handimg him a small wad of cash that looks eerely unfamiliar to me. I have to refrain from asking about it, since it feels too stupid. If I do end up tagging along with them, I'll get a chance to ask follow up questions. I put that down as a pro of going along with Cassie.

  "Let's go", she all but launches herself out of the chair. Yet again, I follow her through the array of tables, keeping the Zangoose in my sights.

  Cassie is practically running as we walk outside, she latches onto my arm, joyfully dragging me along. I wonder if she'll be like this as well if I agree to go to Rustboro with her. I try imagining what her friends are like, but I find it hard to predict. Cassie seems like one of those people who get along with everyone. Although I sure hop the other two weren't as energetic as she was.

  "Xander and Leo are supposed to be in front of the lab already", she informs me inbetween breaths, "we'll meet them there".

  As Cassie leads me through a small maze of similar looking houses, I can't escape feeling as if she had decided to make me a pet of sorts. Perhaps she's thinking of keeping me in one of those pokemon balls. That's one thing I remember from back when I was a kid - that pokemon are kept in some sort of special balls. It seems very practical, frankly, although I have no idea how it works.

  Excitment that courses through Cassie seems to rub off on me as well, as with every step we take, I start thinking about this more and more. I might get a pokemon. It wasn't certain, but I might.

  And maybe I harbored no intentions of immersing myslef in childhood escapism, but the idea of having a small creature started to seem nice to me. In the very end, I'd have someone to keep me company.

  As Cassie had explained it, everyone picked their starters beforehand, a benefit I wouldn't have. Not that it mattered much, even if I had a choice, I wouldn't know what to pick. Frankly, I didn't even know what choices would be in front of me. Pikachu, perhaps. Yeah, I'd be down to having a Pikachu.

  Cassie finally slows her steps, as we find ourselves nearing a square looking building nested amongst what seems as a impromptu wild garden. Few young trees barely manage to rise above the grass, sticking out like sore thumbs, little to say, the place is in a desparate need of grooming. Cassie's aunt is not exactly great at gardening, I take it, thinking that I could take that up as a job.

  A few strange creatures hang around, pokemon I suppose. Small group of spider-like things glide across on their long and thin legs. They are unnaturaly blue, with their small body shaped like a dumpling, completed with a yellow blob on top of what I assume is a head. A group of bees is energetically buzzing near one of the trees. Bees, I'm the one who decided these things are bees. In actuallity they are not, but their bodies resemble honey combs, and they have a pair of translucent wings stuck to it. I'm certain that these creatures have names I don't know, and I don't want to ask Cassie, as her nerves seem to have turned into a ticking time bomb.

  I watch her, how she nervously skips steps, wiping her hands off of her skirt every now and again, or trying to fix her hair. This truly is a big day for her.

  I remember how enetring army felt for me, how my nerves jumped up and down as I stood still in a row of recruits. I was holding back an anxious snese, I remember.

  How different of lives did Cassie and I live.

  As she spots two boys stood in front of the building, Cassie's pace picks up again, and I have no choice but to follow along. She starts waving at them when we are still few feet away, and I find myself unsure of what to do. Those are definitely Xander and Leo. All expectations are lost on me.

  Cassie jumps up to hug both of them as we walk up towards them, and I hang back, feeling like a fourth wheel on a trycicle.

  The black haired boy, who's best described as sturdy-looking, mechanically returns her hug, while the other boy, a scrawny ginger with freckle-riddled face, uncomfortably hangs his arm around her waist, jumping back the very next second.

  They both give me a curious glance, which is not lost on Cassie, but she decides to ignore it. "Are you guys ready", she jumps up cheerfully, "I for once can't calm down".

  "As if you ever calm down, Cas", the ginger boy says matter of factly.

  "Who's your friend", the black haired boy asserts bluntly, pointing his finger at me. He really wastes no time, I think, deciding on the spot that I don't like him much.

  "I'm Rory, Rory Mulligan", I step forwards firmly, extending my hand, "nice to meet you".

  "Xander", the boy shakes my hand. His grip is firm, and he is quick to let go, not showing any emotion beyond common courtesy. "Xander Freeman".

  "I'm Leo Leonis", the other boy sighs, offering me a recluctant wave instead of a handshake.

  "Leo Leonis?", I raise my eyebrow, supressing a laugh.

  "Don't ask, my parents thought it would be funny", he averts his gaze quickly.

  "So, what's the story here?", Xander raises his eyebrow at Cassie, and I firmly believe he's doing his utmost best to be judgemental.

  "I want to see if aunt Lyidia has a spare pokemon to give to Rory", Cassie offers an explanation.

  "I've never seen this guy, Cas", Xander still refuses to acknowledge my presence, "he a friend of yours?".

  "We met in a park a few hours ago", Cassie crosses her arms, as if she's challenging her friend to tell her she's doing something wrong.

  "You can't just befriend strangers like that", Xander sighs.

  "Obviously I can", Cassie flashes him a cheeky smile.

  "Cas", the boy doesn't try to hide his dissapointment.

  "I'm just helping out, altight", Cassie looks away from him.

  "I won't take up too much of your time", I assert myslef, making sure to step into Xander's field of vision. The boy gives me a calculating look, ultimately deciding to let go off the matter. Not that I didn't appreciate his cautiousness, I just disliked the fact it was aimed against me.

  "Oh, also, Rory might join us on our trip to Rustboro", Cassie decides this is the perfect time to inform them of this. Since they are already coming to terms with my existance, might as well spring this on them too.

  Xander steps his foot forward, as if he's about to say something, but Leo is quick to chimme in. "Alright, Cas, we'll talk about this later", he offers in a surprisingly calm voice, "now's not the time to argue about your antics".

  "Agreed", Xander sighs, seemingly dissapointed he has to prolong speaking his mind.

  "Great, we'll settle this later", Cassie remains cheerful, "now let's go meet our partners".

  She is swift to latch onto the handle of the doors, opening them without knocing. As I follow them inside, I only become more certain that this whole thing isn't an illusion I created. I would never create someone like Xander.