Pokémon: Rich Re:Start

The road from Pallet Town to Viridian City was a two-hour journey by bus. Surprisingly, the ride was much quieter than Julius had expected. Most of the kids were focused on Professor Oak, who clearly knew how to capture their attention. His voice carried just the right energy, keeping the young trainers engaged. But to Julius, it all felt too basic—surface-level knowledge he had already surpassed long ago.

As the wheels kept spinning and the bus hummed along, drowsiness crept in. His eyelids grew heavy, and before he realized it, he had dozed off—unknowingly leaning against the shoulder of the blue-haired girl beside him. Ethan, sitting nearby, chuckled softly at the sight. The girl, however, sat completely frozen, unsure of how to react. Moments later, Julius shifted in his sleep, sliding from her shoulder to her lap.

It was then that he jolted awake.

His eyes fluttered open, and the first thing he saw was the blue-haired girl, her face a shade of bright red. Beside her, the pink-haired twin stared at him with narrowed eyes.

"Sister, sister," she muttered in a sharp tone. "We seem to have come across a creep."

Rem sat there, completely frozen, her wide eyes staring straight ahead, still processing what had just happened. Julius slowly sat upright, realizing where he had been resting. His expression immediately shifted to one of calm courtesy as he stood slightly and gave a small bow.

"My sincerest apologies," he said with grace, voice calm and composed, "I must've dozed off without realizing. Please forgive my rudeness."

But inside, he was screaming.

What the hell was that?!You absolute fool! What happened to all that discipline? You just fell asleep on a girl's lap—like some sloppy kid?!And why her of all people? Blue hair? Soft voice? His Waifu of the past. Of course. Of course this would happen.Good job, Julius. Reincarnated into a new world, and here you are—becoming the very thing you used to judge in anime fanfics…

His heart was pounding, not from embarrassment alone, but from the overwhelming sense of shame that crept into his spine like a cold breeze. He straightened his coat, trying to look composed. The damage was done—but at the very least, he could walk it off like a proper gentleman.

If only the pink-haired twin would stop glaring.

The pink-haired girl crossed her arms, her glare still sharp enough to cut steel.

"Sister, sister… we've encountered a pervert with a nobleman's mask," she muttered, her tone laced with disdain, yet oddly melodic—like she was reciting a line from a fairytale with venom.

Rem, still red in the face, finally blinked and looked at her twin. "Ram… I-I don't think he meant to…"

Julius bowed his head slightly again, ignoring the sting of Ram's words, his pride keeping him steady on the outside even as he screamed inwardly. Just endure it. You're the one at fault here. Be dignified.

"I promise you, it was unintentional," he said quietly, more to Rem than Ram, then turned to look out the window, feigning interest in the passing scenery—anything to escape the heat crawling up his neck.

Ethan, still seated across from him, leaned slightly and whispered with a smug grin, "You sure are good with the ladies, huh?"

Julius gave him a sidelong glance. "I don't need that from you right now."

Ethan chuckled softly, amused. "Hey, it was cute. Kinda."

As the bus continued its slow roll toward Viridian, Julius sank a little deeper into his seat, clutching onto whatever composure he could salvage. He closed his eyes—not to sleep again—but to center himself, breathing slowly.

Get it together, Julius. You've survived worse in your past life. This… this is just social damage. You'll recover. Eventually.

As the bus rolled to a smooth stop, the children began to stir with excitement. Julius, however, stepped off with a curious expression. The sun was almost at its peak—just past noon—but the weather was surprisingly mild. A gentle breeze swept across the campgrounds, the air fresh and clean, not heavy or smog-laced like he remembered from the world he once knew.

Strange… shouldn't it be hotter? he thought, glancing up at the clear sky. There wasn't even a haze—just a sharp blue dome stretching endlessly above them.

Then it hit him.

Of course… this Earth isn't as polluted.

He looked around, noticing the thick greenery and sparkling water sources nearby. Pokémon. That was the answer. From what he'd read, Pokémon like Gloom and Vileplume naturally purify the air. Grimer and Muk were managed through ecosystems. Even Pokémon like Torterra and Meganium promoted healthy plant life.

The ecosystem here wasn't fighting against pollution—it was living with harmony. Pokémon not only coexisted with humans but actively maintained balance in the world. No wonder global warming didn't seem to be an issue.

This world… it's what Earth could've been if humanity had evolved differently, he mused.

With a subtle sigh of content, Julius tightened his grip on his bag strap and followed the others toward the camp, a faint smile on his face.

Before the bus even had a chance to fully park, the sharp-eyed among the children noticed a tall, sharply dressed man standing at the entrance of the summer camp grounds. With one hand behind his back and the other holding a wide, elegant black umbrella, he looked like a character straight out of a storybook.

As the doors hissed open and Julius stepped down, the butler took a single step forward, tilting the umbrella gracefully over his young master's head with practiced ease. His white gloves barely made a sound as they adjusted the angle, shielding Julius from the midday sun. His posture was perfectly straight, his face calm and unreadable.

Gasps and murmurs spread through the group of kids.

Rem's large blue eyes blinked. She gently tugged at her sister's sleeve."Ram… sister… he has a servant," she whispered, voice airy with awe.

Ram's gaze sharpened, narrowing as she crossed her arms."Of course he does. Someone like that wouldn't even sweat on his own," she muttered, the corners of her mouth tightening. "He's like a prince who forgot which story he belongs to."

A little silence lingered between them as they watched Caesar and Julius walk ahead, the umbrella casting a neat circle of shade that followed their every step. Rem looked on, unsure whether she was amazed… or envious.

"Ram… I think he's nice," she said in a soft voice.

Ram scoffed but said nothing.

Behind them, Ethan nudged Julius with a smirk. "Is that your butler? I want one."

Julius just chuckled lightly, eyes ahead, not breaking stride.

As they reached the edge of the gathering area, Julius gently tilted his head toward Caesar.

"Caesar… the umbrella," he said quietly, his tone formal but tinged with discomfort. "It's… drawing too much attention."

Caesar glanced around—his sharp gaze noting the curious eyes, the stares, and whispers rippling through the other children. Without a word, he smoothly closed the umbrella with a quiet snap, as graceful as ever. Julius leaned closer.

"Also… would you mind waiting in the car? Just for a while. I want to… blend in a little."

That sentence alone spoke volumes. For a boy like Julius—born into status, raised in grandeur—normalcy wasn't something easily grasped. But Caesar understood. He had always understood. He wasn't just a servant; he was a quiet guardian, a shadow that followed Julius through every step of his life, covering for his slips and protecting him from the strict scrutiny of his parents.

Caesar looked at him, eyes softening just a bit from their usual stoicism. He gave a small bow, more of a respectful nod between old friends than servant and master.

"As you wish, Master Julius," he said. "I shall remain nearby, should you need anything."

And just like that, Caesar turned and headed back toward the sleek black car, fading from the scene like a passing breeze—leaving Julius under the open sun, among kids his age, finally just a boy at summer camp.

As the children assembled beneath the shaded canopy near the camp's main courtyard, Professor Oak stepped forward with a clipboard in hand and a warm smile on his face.

"Alright, campers!" he called out cheerfully. "Before we dive into the real fun, we need to get a few things sorted. First—room assignments!"

The assistant standing beside him began calling out names, handing each child a printed camp schedule along with a keycard to their cabin rooms.

"Let's see… Julius and Ethan—Room 5A."

Ethan beamed and waved his card in the air. "Hey! We're roommates!" he said, nudging Julius on the shoulder with excitement. Julius gave a small smile, quietly grateful he wasn't paired with someone annoying or overly loud.

Once everyone had their room keys, Professor Oak raised his voice again to capture their attention.

"Now, your schedules! For the next two weeks, you'll be learning, exploring, and most importantly—bonding with Pokémon! Activities include guided nature hikes to observe Pokémon in their habitats, type-matching workshops, a Pokémon trivia tournament, berry-picking and potion-making classes, and even supervised wild Pokémon encounters."

There was a collective buzz of excitement from the campers.

Julius glanced at his schedule with mild interest. Though some activities looked fun, most of it seemed introductory. But at least there would be time in the wild—he was curious about what kind of Pokémon he might run into.

Next to him, Ethan was already planning strategies for the trivia contest.

"I'm gonna ace the type chart quiz," he said confidently. "Fire beats Grass, Electric beats Water… easy stuff."

Julius just smiled politely.

Easy for now, he thought.

The days at the summer camp passed in a blur of sunshine, sweat, and spirited activity. Julius, as expected, excelled in nearly every task—be it navigating trails, identifying Pokémon calls, or crafting Pokéblock substitutes—earning the admiration of instructors and the narrowed eyes of a consistently second-place Gary. The rivalry brewed quietly, like an unspoken tension between thunderclouds.

Then came the tracking day.

Groups were sent out into the forest beyond the camp's borders, each guided by a counselor and a map. It was supposed to be simple—follow the trail markers, observe wild Pokémon, and return before lunch. But not everyone returned as scheduled.

Whispers of worry fluttered among the returning children. A group hadn't come back.

The names came in quietly—Serena, Rem, Ram and Ash.

Three girls, bonded over shared rooms and late-night whispers, had wandered off-course somewhere in the thick underbrush. Some said it happened while they were trying to follow a shy Bellsprout. Others thought it was a wrong turn near the riverbank. Either way, they were gone, and the forest around Pallet was not always so kind to those unprepared.

Julius's eyes narrowed as he heard the news. He remembered this scene. A flash of familiarity struck him like lightning—Serena getting lost in the anime… but there hadn't been Rem and Ram. This was different. Very different. His grip on the map in his hand tightened.

The Group's POV:

The forest trail was more winding than expected, with low-hanging branches and thick undergrowth making it hard to see very far ahead. Serena, Rem, and Ram had been assigned to the same tracking group, much to their delight. With clipboards in hand, they were tasked to observe and record different Pokémon behaviors in the wild.

"I think I saw a Bellsprout that way!" Serena chirped, pointing toward a narrow path branching off to the right.

"Wait, Serena," Rem called softly, "that doesn't look like the main path…"

"It's fine! I'll just check quickly and come right back!" Serena flashed them her usual bright smile before disappearing into the thicket without waiting for a reply.

"Rem, should we follow her?" Ram asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rem hesitated. "She said she'd come back quickly…"

The minutes began to stretch. A light breeze rustled the trees above, and the fading sun dipped lower. Rem clutched her clipboard, unease settling into her chest like a cold stone. The woods were getting quieter by the second.

"She's taking too long," Rem said softly.

Before they could decide whether to go after her, the bushes behind them shook violently. That's when the Carnivine appeared, and the nightmare began.

Before Rem could even process what was happening, a thick, thorny vine shot out, wrapping around her leg in a brutal grip. She yelped in shock and pain, the sharp pricks of the vines digging into her skin as they coiled tighter. She tried to pull free, but the Carnivine was too strong. It dragged her toward its gaping mouth, ready to swallow her whole.

Her heart raced as her mind scrambled to understand what was happening. Panic flooded her thoughts. The vines were tightening around her, and she couldn't break free. Her chest tightened as the Carnivine's jaws drew closer, its eyes wild and predatory.

This is it… I'm going to be eaten.

Her mind was a blur of terror. The feeling of helplessness weighed her down as she thrashed, but her struggles only seemed to amuse the Carnivine more, as its vine tightened and pulled, lifting her higher into the air.

Just as she felt her body being lifted into the air, an unexpected sound cut through the tense air—wham! A rock, glowing faintly with psychic energy, struck the Carnivine square in the head. The wild Pokémon recoiled in surprise, confused for a moment, its grip loosening just enough for Rem to fall out of its grasp.

Who... Rem thought, dazed and frightened, looking around.

Suddenly, Julius appeared, rushing out from behind a tree. His expression was a mixture of focus and urgency, his eyes sharp as he leapt forward. With lightning speed, he caught Rem mid-air as she fell. His arms wrapped around her in a secure embrace, and before she could fully register what was happening, he gently placed her on the ground.

"Are you okay?" Julius asked, his voice low but steady.

Rem, her heart still pounding in her chest, nodded weakly, her breathing shaky. She was still processing what had just happened. The Carnivine was recovering, its vines lashing in fury as it realized its prey had escaped.

Without wasting another moment, Julius grabbed both Rem and Ram's hands, pulling them up. "We need to go, now!"

The three of them sprinted towards the camp, Julius's grip firm on their hands as he guided them through the dense woods. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through him, but his focus remained sharp. The Carnivine wasn't done yet, but he wasn't going to let anything happen to them.

Behind them, the rustling of the Carnivine grew more frantic, but Julius's psychic abilities allowed him to push forward with even more determination. He could hear the monster's screeches grow faint, its pursuit lost in the chaos of the forest.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the campsite, the familiar lights of the campfire flickering in the distance. Julius stopped, breathless but relieved, pulling the two girls into the safety of the camp's perimeter.

Rem's head was spinning, and her hands trembled from the sheer shock of what had just occurred. She couldn't quite process it all. She had been so close to... to death, and yet here she was, safe in Julius's arms. She felt herself shaking, not just from the cold or fear, but from the lingering shock of being so helpless.

"Julius…" she whispered, her voice shaky. "Thank you."

Julius looked down at her with a quiet, unreadable expression. "Don't mention it. You're safe now." he said, steadying her with a reassuring grip. "But next time… don't wait for danger to find you before you call for help."