Pokemon: The Gameboy Effect

Downstairs, Queen, the Kirlia was happily swinging back and forth, her radiant form gleaming in the sun.

Out of nowhere, Lucy and Grace pulled out their phones, snapping pictures from every angle.

"Aaaaaahhh!" they both squealed, voices filled with joy. They were completely mesmerized by the Kirlia.

John raised an eyebrow at their exaggerated reactions, half-wondering if they'd end up fighting over the Pokemon.

'Maybe they're a little too obsessed with her' he thought, rubbing his temples. Their constant "aww" sounds were already giving him a headache.

"Lucy, don't forget to help Grace get settled in her dorm," John reminded, noticing that Queen was enjoying the attention and showed no signs of going anywhere soon.

Back home, Kirlia had little to do besides practice Calm Mind, so it was nice to see her getting some playtime with new people.

Setting down his bags, John took a look around his new living space, admiring the high-end furniture and quality details. His home for the next four years looked perfect—it felt more like an upscale setup for someone with way too much money than a standard dorm.

"Alright, everyone, out you come!" he said, tossing a Pokeball into the air with a grin.

One by one, his Pokemon appeared: Combusken, Frogadier, and Makuhita.

Combusken immediately started exploring, clucking happily as it wandered around, visibly curious about its new home.

Frogadier, on the other hand, gave Combusken a single glance, then silently made its way to the small pool near the entrance. With a quiet splash, it slipped into the water, clearly staking out its own personal haven.

Meanwhile, Makuhita flopped down on the couch, lazily reaching for the remote and flicking on the TV. Within seconds, it was watching an episode of 'Local Daughter-in-Law, Foreign Nia'.

"Looks like everyone's found their groove," John said with a smile, watching his Pokemon settle in. He stretched, checked his watch—it was just past 1:30 PM.

With military training not starting until tomorrow night, along with a class meeting, John had the rest of the day to himself.

John settled at the small tea table on the balcony, poured himself a cup, and pulled out his phone. He ordered some extra supplies, opened his laptop to watch anime, and eventually picked up his handheld console to continue his game. Finally, a chance to relax.

Earlier, he'd explored Slateport City and picked up a few items—a Pokeblock Kit and a Swagger TM. But the real prize was a gift from a Pokemon fan club member: a Soothe Bell.

The Soothe Bell was invaluable for building bonds between a Pokemon and its trainer, subtly boosting affection. This was critical for Pokemon that needed high friendship to evolve, like Munchlax into Snorlax, Riolu into Lucario, or Eevee into Espeon or Umbreon.

More importantly, MEGA Evolution had its own hidden requirement—bonding. And John had three Pokemon—Combusken, Frogadier, and Kirlia—that could all potentially MEGA evolve in the future, making the Soothe Bell a true asset.

For now, he decided to give it to Frogadier. Its MEGA Evolution, tied to 'Battle Bond', was intriguing, although 'with each movement, the bell gave off a constant ring' John quickly realized this would get annoying. Queen, with her graceful movements, seemed like a better fit. The bell slipped easily onto her wrist, jingling softly as she moved.

During his Slateport exploration, John had also picked up a Powder Jar from a vendor in the market. It was a special container for holding powder made from crafting Pokeblocks, which he could exchange for rewards at Big Mom's shop.

The current exchange options were:

Berry Powder: 50 pieces

Revival Herb: 300 pieces

Leaf Stone (20% chance): 600 pieces (one per exchange)

Protein: 1000 pieces (one per exchange)

Unlike the previous version, where he could exchange various items to enhance stats, this one seemed to limit rewards a bit. Protein, for example, no longer increased a Pokemon's base stats but boosted their attributes directly. John wasn't sure yet if he liked the change, but he'd adapt.

Back in the game, John continued progressing, making his way to Slateport's shipyard to deliver a letter. After talking with the shipyard's manager, he moved on to the Oceanic Museum to meet the curator.

The Team Aqua members who had previously blocked the museum's entrance were now gone, and John entered freely. Following his habit, he chatted with every NPC along the way. One captain standing near the shipyard entrance caught his interest.

[Captain: "Hello! Are you interested in traveling to another region? My ship is the best way to go!"]

'Really? I can travel to other regions?'

The idea of exploring regions beyond Hoenn was thrilling. Until now, he'd been stuck with the limitations of the Emerald version, unable to catch Pokemon outside of Hoenn. If he could visit other regions, it would open up a world of possibilities!

He eagerly clicked [Yes] to see if the captain could make it happen.

The captain chuckled. [I can tell you're excited, but unfortunately, my ship's still under repair. It'll be a while before I can take you anywhere. Don't worry, though, I'll let you know once it's fixed!]

The captain muttered to himself, [Maybe I should ask some friends for advice...]

"Thanks for getting my hopes up" John sighed, shaking his head.

It seemed he'd have to wait a little longer before he could leave Hoenn. Still, the very possibility of traveling to new regions was an exciting twist.

Smiling, he pushed forward in the plot, deciding to be patient for now. His journey had only just begun.