Pokémon: Where are the guys? Chapter One: Waking in the Wild (Patreon)

The first thing Mateo Alvarez noticed was the smell of grass, damp earth, crushed leaves, and a faint, sugary floral note carried on a crisp breeze. The second thing he noticed was the sharp, aching pain in his lower back.

"Ugh..." Mateo groaned, wincing as he slowly forced his eyes open.

Golden sunlight filtered through a dense canopy overhead, casting dappled, flickering patterns across the forest floor. He lay motionless for several long seconds, staring blankly up at the branches. ‘Where am I?’

Pushing himself upright, he took inventory. Denim jeans, worn sneakers, a dark T-shirt, and the light casual jacket he had slipped on before heading out.

‘Heading out…’ His chest tightened as he reached for the memory. He remembered unlocking his front door, stepping onto the sidewalk, and walking. After that? A black void. An entire chunk of his life had simply been erased.

Mateo scanned his surroundings, the silence of the woods pressing in around him. "Okay... this is bad." No roads. No power lines. Not even a footprint or a scrap of trash. Just trees, endless, towering trees.

"Did I somehow wander off a trail?" He muttered, scrambling to his feet and vigorously dusting damp soil from his jeans. He reached into his pockets. Empty. No phone, no wallet, no keys. "Great. Absolutely fantastic."

He spun in a slow circle, a cold prickle of panic creeping up his spine. He was eighteen years old, completely alone, stranded in a wilderness he didn't recognize, with zero survival gear. By all logic, he should have been hyperventilating. He should have been screaming for help.

Instead, the sound of a quiet rustling noise snapped his attention to a thick patch of brush nearby.

Mateo immediately froze mid-breath. "Hello?" His body tensed as he wondered what would come out.

Then the leaves parted again revealing two small, plant-like stems poked through, followed by a round, teardrop-shaped body that hopped delicately onto the mossy ground.

Mateo’s jaw went slack as he stared in disbelief.

The creature blinked its small, dark eyes in mild curiosity, tilting its head. Mateo stared back, paralyzed, his brain flatly refusing to process the image.

"No way..." He rubbed his eyes hard, half-expecting to wake up in his bed. When he opened them, the creature was still there, observing him with calm, innocent interest. Mateo's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "No... way."

It wasn't an animal or plant. It was a Pokémon. A living, breathing Pokémon.

The familiar design clicked instantly in his mind. "Budew..."

The little grass-type gave a tiny, inquiring blink.

Mateo forgot how to draw air into his lungs. "Oh, my God."

"Bud-ew?" It squeaked softly.

Dropping into a cautious crouch, Mateo extended a trembling hand. "You're... you're real."

The Budew shifted its weight, eyeing him as if trying to figure out what kind of strange, oversized specimen he was.

A breathless, incredulous laugh then bursted from Mateo's chest. "This is insane." Instinctively, he reached for his back pocket to snap a photo, only to remember his phone was long gone.

Yet, the rising panic in his chest vanished, replaced instantly by a wave of shock. He knew where he was. Or, at least, he knew what kind of world he had been thrown into.

"I’m in the world of Pokémon..." The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. He stood up, looking at the forest with entirely new eyes. The woodland was no longer a terrifying, anonymous wilderness, it was a Route. The faint calls echoing through the high branches weren't strange wildlife; they were Pokémon.

He could become a Trainer. He could catch a team, travel between bustling towns, challenge Gym Leaders, explore uncharted ruins, and battle his way to a Regional League.

His heart pounded against his ribs, a broad, uncontrollable grin spreading across his face. "I'm in the Pokémon world!" A burst of pure, childish glee erupted from him, and he let out a triumphant laugh. "I'm actually here!"

Startled by the sudden outburst, the Budew gave a high-pitched squeak and leaped backward into the safety of the bushes, disappearing from sight.

Mateo barely registered its departure. Years of childhood dreams, uncountable hours spent clutching a handheld console, watching the anime after school, memorizing Pokédex entries, and daydreaming during class had suddenly materialized around him.

Logically, his situation was dire. He had no idea where his family was, what had happened back on Earth, or if he would ever see his home again. He didn't even know what region he was standing in. His stomach twisted into a knot at the thought.

So, Mateo did the only reasonable thing he could think of: he pushed the terrifying existential questions to the back of his mind. He could panic later. Right now, he had a brand-new world waiting for him.

"Alright," Mateo said aloud, striking a confident stance and pointing grandly toward the tree line. "First things first. I am becoming a Pokémon Trainer."

The silent forest offered no response.

Mateo then lowered his hand, his dramatic posture faltering. "...Now I just need to figure out how." The immediate reality of his situation set in, deflating his enthusiasm. "Right. Details. Important details."

No Poké Balls. No Pokédex. No money, no food, no map, and no gear.

"Step one," he corrected himself, scratching the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "Find civilization."

Picking a direction, he set off through the woods. Up close, the ecosystem was breathtaking. Small, avian Pokémon darted through the canopy like flashes of colored light. Further in, a distant, melodic cry echoed off the trees. Every few steps, Mateo couldn't help but stop and stare in awe.

A Buneary bounded through the undergrowth with cheerful rhythm. A small flock of Starly swept across the patch of blue sky above, and a pair of colorful Wurmple slowly navigated the mossy bark of a fallen log.

He felt eight years old again, except this time, there was no glass screen separating him from the magic.

"Unbelievable..."

After twenty minutes of steady walking, the dense trees began to thin, revealing a narrow, well-trodden dirt path cutting through a bright clearing.

Mateo’s face lit up. "A trail!"

He quickly stepped onto the beaten path, his pace quickening. Within a few hundred yards, he spotted distinct impressions pressed into the dry dirt, boot prints. Fresh ones.

"Actual people!" He breathed out, feeling a surge of relief as he followed the tracks at a brisk pace. Before long, muffled female voices drifted through the air, carrying over a slight rise in the path.

"...I'm telling you, I saw it!"

"You probably saw a Bidoof, Sarah."

"It was NOT a Bidoof!"

"Then what was it?"

"A Pokémon I haven't caught yet!"

Mateo rounded a bend and came to a dead halt.

Two young women were walking along the trail ahead, dressed in practical athletic gear. One wore a crisp white jacket over a black top, complete with a leather utility belt holding three miniaturized Poké Balls. The other carried a heavy hiking pack and wore a wide-brimmed straw hat.

The moment Mateo stepped into view, their conversation cut off sharply.

Silence fell over the clearing.

The two women froze, their eyes locking onto him with an intensity that made Mateo instantly self-conscious.

"Uh... hi?" Mateo raised an awkward hand in greeting.

The woman in the white jacket dropped her canvas bag straight onto the dirt. The woman in the straw hat slowly unclasped her hands, her eyes wide. "...Is that a guy?"

Mateo blinked, taken aback. "Yes?"

The women exchanged a sharp, wide-eyed look, then slowly turned their gaze back to him, staring as if he were a mythical Legendary Pokémon that had just wandered out of the tall grass.

Mateo shifted his weight, his skin tingling with sudden discomfort. "Is... something wrong?"

The woman in the white jacket took a hesitant step forward, studying his facial features, his shoulders, his height. "You're... an actual man?"

Mateo frowned slightly. "Last time I checked, yeah."

In an instant, she whirled around and grabbed her friend by the shoulders, shaking her violently. "Marissa, there's a man!"

"I can see that!" Marissa squeaked, trying to keep her balance.

"An actual, real man!"

"I KNOW!"

Mateo took a cautious step backward. "Okay... I'm starting to feel like I took a wrong turn."

The two women immediately huddled together, whispering furiously in tones that were entirely too loud to be private.

"He's handsome."

"And he's completely alone!"

"Do you think he's a Trainer?"

"He doesn't have a belt. He must be lost—or new!"

"Should we talk to him?"

"I'll talk to him!"

"Why do you get to talk to him?!"

"Because I spotted him first!"

Mateo stared at them, thoroughly bewildered. "...I can hear you both, you know."

Neither paid him the slightest attention.

After a brief, intense round of silent hand gestures, the woman in the straw hat stepped forward, smoothing her shirt and attempting an organized, professional smile. "I'm sorry about her. It's just..." She paused, eyeing him with deep curiosity. "Where are you from?"

Mateo hesitated. Explaining the concept of Earth or parallel dimensions felt like a quick ticket to a psychiatric ward. "Far away," He offered vaguely.

"How far?" She asked, tilting her head, her eyes gleaming with genuine interest. Her companion leaned in closer to hear his answer.

"Very far," Mateo replied, attempting to sound calm and mysterious in hopes of shutting down further questioning.

The women exchanged another loaded look.

The one in the white jacket brushed past her friend with a bright, welcoming smile. "Then you're probably looking for a place to stay, right? A town?"

Mateo blinked, relieved to switch to practical matters. "Actually, yes. I'm completely turned around."

"We can take you to the nearest town," she offered instantly.

Mateo smiled, the tension leaving his shoulders. "Really? Thank you so much. I'd appreciate that."

The two women looked at each other again, but this time Mateo caught the subtle change in their expressions. It wasn't just friendly helpfulness; it was an intense, triumphant eagerness.

"Uh..." Mateo hesitated. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

The woman in the white jacket stepped well into his personal space, extending a hand. "My name's Lillian." She pointed over her shoulder. "And that's Marissa."

"Nice to meet you," Marissa added, giving a swift, energetic wave.

"I'm Mateo."

Both women beamed. Then Lillian crossed her arms, tilted her head, and delivered a question that knocked the air right out of him.

"Are you single, Mateo?"

Mateo choked on his own spit, coughing violently. "What?"

Marissa slapped a hand over her face. "Lillian! Oh my Arceus!"

"What?! We need to establish the ground rules!" Lillian defended herself, throwing her hands up.

"You can't just blurt that out!"

"You were thinking it the second he opened his mouth!"

"I was not!"

Mateo stared at the two of them, utterly lost. "...What is happening right now?"

The bickering stopped instantly.

Seeing Mateo's genuine, mounting distress, Marissa cleared her throat and sighed, offering an apologetic, embarrassed smile. "You really aren't from around here, are you?"

"I told you I wasn't," Mateo said, rubbing his temple.

"There's... something you should probably understand about this region," Marissa explained carefully, glancing at Lillian before meeting his eyes. "The demographic balance here is... heavily skewed. There are significantly more women than men."

Mateo blinked, digesting the information. "Okay... so?"

"So..." Marissa hesitated, searching for the right words. "Men are... well..."

"Extremely rare," Lillian interrupted flatly. "And incredibly desirable."

Mateo stared. "Desirable? What does that even mean?"

Lillian grinned. "It means finding an eligible, unattached young man wandering around out here is like finding a Shiny Pokémon."

Mateo slowly looked from Lillian to Marissa. "So... I'm a rare spawn?"

Marissa nodded gravely. "Pretty much, yes."

Mateo’s eyebrows shot up. He didn't know whether to feel immensely flattered or deeply alarmed.

"And since you look single—" Lillian took a bold step forward, her eyes locking onto his.

Marissa instantly snatched Lillian by the back of her jacket collar, hauling her backward. "Lillian, stop! You're going to terrify him!"

"I'm establishing a claim!"

"You were about to ask him to move in with you!"

"I was considering a formal proposal!"

Mateo’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Wait, what?! We just met two minutes ago!"

Both women flushed bright red.

"That came out wrong!" Marissa squeaked.

"...Only slightly wrong," Lillian muttered under her breath.

Mateo let out a strained, nervous laugh.

The morning had started with him waking up on the dirt in a strange forest, discovering that Pokémon were real, and realizing he was stranded in a fantasy world. Now, he was apparently a high-value commodity simply by virtue of existing.

He didn't have a plan, a team, or a single Poké Ball to his name. But as he looked at the two overly enthusiastic female Trainers waiting to guide him, one thing was unmistakably clear:

His new life in the Pokémon world was going to be far crazier than anything he had ever imagined.

Done. Tell me if you want more of this.