Chapter Text
Have you ever wished that you could redo one moment in your life?
One that you desperately wanted to change after regretting giving up on it?
Many people would wish to restart a hobby or goal they have abandoned because of their lack of confidence or skill in the field.
However, there were times when you couldn't restart it because of your current life. Whether it's your current passion or job, you cannot go back to amend your regrets.
But what if fate has a funny way of giving you a second chance?
Maybe... Destiny has a way to reignite your passion...
In exchange for one simple, yet life-changing favor.
"That shortsighted NITWIT!"
A blue-haired researcher screamed in anger after dropping the call. She growled while leaning on her arm, staring at her laptop beside a pair of strange-looking goggles. She tapped her fingers on the table, still reeling at what she heard.
"That stupid mayor's poured even MORE money into this ridiculous urban redevelopment plan?!" She exclaimed. "Sure, great-more Pokemon! Love it! But you can't just throw 'em in a wild zone and call it a day! No, you got to have scientists SURVEY and STUDY these things to figure out what's safe!"
"Um... Excuse me..." A voice called out to her.
"But who can keep up with all the work when they keep adding wild zones every time I turn around?!" The researcher continued, ignoring the voice.
"Director?"
She broke out her negative thoughts the moment she heard the voice the second time. Looking up, she saw a teenage boy strolling into her office. Yet something about him seemed oddly familiar. His green and black jacket, black slacks, and red sneakers aside, he has black curly hair and narrow gray-blue eyes. Other than that, he seemed like he might be one of the participants for a little "contest" she enacted for the lab. Sure, it wasn't much of a contest than a little job hiring post to help out with a special Pokedex that records entries of Pokemon that were suddenly appearing in Lumiose City lately. Was it a bit deceiving? Yes. But she needed extra hands to help out with her research lest she would end up losing a few hairs over the mayor's crazy demands.
"Oh, oh, oh? Looks like we have a visitor. You here on your lonesome?" The researcher asked with a smirk.
"Technically, no, I'm not," the boy answered. "But that's not impo-"
"Well, of course you're not! You have your Pokemon, huh?"
She then stood up and walked up to the boy with her white Rotom Phone levitating by her side in its tablet form.
"I'm the acting director here. Call me Mable," she introduced herself. "And if you came all this way to see me… Then I guess you must be here about the prize? Of course, that's why. So let's see..."
"Mable, I'm not here for the prize!" The boy answered in desperation. He then looked around with sweat on his forehead before turning back to her. "I need to know first. Has anyone asked about Professor Sycamore's whereabouts lately?"
The researcher raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Not that I know of. Besides, you should have heard the news by now. He retired from his position as the director of this lab, and as I said, I'm the acting director at this time."
"I'm aware of it. I also know that you were part of Team Flare, the same group that tried to use the Ultimate Weapon to destroy Kalos. And because of that, you were arrested, but accepted a plea deal and appointed as an acting director in his place, am I right?"
Mable's eyes widened. It seemed like he knew her well. Too well.
"Well, you seemed well informed for a kid," she said with her eyebrow raised. "Though if you want to chat about my life for the rest of the day, then I suggest you should make like a leg and shoo! I'm a busy scientist, and I have other problems to take care of."
The boy sighed after seeing the woman sit back down in her office chair. "Problems, huh? I heard that the urban redevelopment plan in Lumiose City was attracting detractors. Not all of the residents agreed to it, and some even protested to remove them. And yet, you were busy setting up this farce you called a 'contest' to get some hired help instead of going through procedures. Honestly, I'm disappointed in you."
The former Team Flare scientist slammed her hands on the table, now furious at what the boy said. "I had enough of this! Unless you have anything more to say, then you should leave!"
She was about to reach her Rotom Tablet to change it back to its phone form, but the boy grabbed her hand and said, "I can't. Because I was your boss before I resigned, and I need your help."
Mable froze at what he said. This boy...was her boss.
"What are you talking about?" She asked in disbelief.
The boy nervously scratched the back of his head. "That I'm Professor Augustine Sycamore... And I'm now stuck as a teenager..."
The boy...was Professor Sycamore??! The former director himself?! Mable looked at him for a while until she made a conclusion.
"And I think you're insane," she declared. "I'm calling security!"
But just before she could, three small creatures suddenly jumped out from the Poké Balls situated on a display case. To Mable's shock, the blue turtle, green reptile with a bulb on its back, and an orange lizard with a flame on its tail tackled the teenager in glee. But rather than attacking the boy, they instead greeted him while asking to play with them. This was very strange, Mable thought. They were well-behaved when she fed them on rotation. However, the only person who gained their reaction was none other than the former director himself, and yet, this stranger managed to gain the same admiration as him. It's as if they already knew this boy.
No, it couldn't be. It seemed impossible that what this boy said was true. Yet what she saw with the three young Pokemon was undeniable proof of his words.
"T-Then tell me... How in the world did I end up working for you?" She asked in caution, still trying to process what she witnessed.
"I went to you after hearing the arrest of Team Flare members. You tried to ask about Lysandre, and I ended up losing my temper for a moment. And you ended up being tackled by my Venusaur afterward."
Her eyes widened. She and Sycamore were the only ones that time, and no one, not even the police, saw everything. At this point, the impossible became the truth of the boy's existence.
"S-SYCAMORE?!" She stood up in shock, with her goggles almost falling from her face. "No way... Is it really you?! What on earth happened to you?"
The boy who claimed to be the former director sheepishly chuckled while carefully holding onto the orange lizard, getting up from their playful tackle earlier.
"I would have turned back to normal if I had the answer," he sighed. "But can you please lower your voice? I don't want the others downstairs to know that I'm...you know."
Mable quickly sat back down and adjusted her goggles as she groaned in defeat. "I've seen a lot of things during my time in Team Flare, but not like this. Spill, what on Arceus happened while you were gone? I thought you were supposed to be in another region with that new apprentice of yours."
"If you mean Trevor, he's still there. I just left a message that I went somewhere on another research," Sycamore explained. "As much as I want to tell him of my current predicament, I don't want to drag him into a potential threat coming towards me."
"Right... Then I ask again: How did you get shrunk as a teenager in the first place? I'm all ears for a long one. It's not like that stupid mayor is pushing more wild zones behind my back again," she sneered. "Then again, I fear he might do that if I do."
Professor Sycamore sighed, trying to find the words to tell her about this impossible event.
"Well, since you have the time..." He sat down on the chair next to the bookshelf with the three Pokemon following him. "It might be a long story, but what I'm about to tell you might shock you..."