Pokemon: WATG Chapter 2 Escort to Civilization (Patreon)

For several endless seconds after Lillian casually announced that she had considered offering him a formal marriage proposal, Mateo could do nothing but stare.

The surrounding forest remained almost insultingly peaceful. Flying-type Pokémon chirped in melodic harmonies somewhere high among the sunlit branches. A gentle breeze whispered through the foliage, scattering golden shafts of sunlight across the damp dirt path.

The serene, idyllic wilderness felt completely at odds with the absurd conversation taking place beneath its canopy.

Mateo took one very deliberate step backward, putting a solid meter of breathing room between himself and Lillian. "You don't know me."

Lillian nodded once, her expression entirely serious. "Correct."

"And you met me roughly five minutes ago," Mateo continued, gesturing frantically between them. "Yet you're already thinking of marrying me." He genuinely had no idea what planet or reality he was living in anymore.

Lillian tilted her head, considering his protest with a thoughtful frown. "When you frame it like that, you make it sound really unreasonable."

Marissa groaned loudly, dropping her head into both hands. "Because it is unreasonable!"

Lillian crossed her arms, entirely unbothered by her friend’s exasperation. "You're just mad because I took the initiative first."

"I wasn't going to propose to a total stranger!" Marissa snapped, though she abruptly froze, her face flushing a dark, furious crimson. "...Yet!"

Dead silence fell over the path.

Mateo slowly turned his head to look at her.

Marissa’s eyes dilated in sheer horror as the echoes of her own words registered in her mind. "I—"

Mateo raised both hands in a crisp, universal time-out gesture. "Okay. Stop. Right there. We are establishing basic ground rules before this conversation descends any deeper into madness."

Both women fell quiet, though Lillian looked far more amused than she had any right to be.

Mateo held up a single finger. "Rule number one: zero proposals. We haven't even properly exchanged names yet. So let's start there, like normal, functional human beings. My name is Mateo Alvarez."

The reaction was instantaneous.

"I'm Lillian Vance, from Petalburg City!" The white-jacketed woman volunteered brightly, taking an eager step toward him.

Marissa instinctively grabbed the back strap of Lillian's hiking bag and yanked her backward before she could close the distance.

Lillian barely registered the physical correction, continuing without missing a beat. "And I have a very respectable record as a Pokémon Coordinator, just so you know! I even have an official Sinnoh Contest Ribbon to my name."

Mateo blinked. ‘A Pokemon Coordinator.’

Lillian leaned sharply to one side, peeking around Marissa's shoulder. "Does wherever you come from happen to have a high concentration of guys like you?"

"Lillian, shut up!" Marissa’s entire face was practically radiating heat. She shoved Lillian back another half-step before hastily straightening her posture and turning to Mateo. "I am so, so sorry. She has zero sense of decorum."

"I have excellent decorum," Lillian muttered from behind her.

Marissa took a steadying breath, trying for a composure she clearly didn't feel. "I'm Marissa Hall, from Fortree City. I'm an explorer."

Mateo’s focus sharpened instantly. ‘Petalburg City. Fortree City.’ The names hit his brain with the force of a hammer. Those were iconic locations in the Hoenn region. The realization that those places actually existed in this world, that he could theoretically board a ferry and visit them, made him feel giddy with excitement.

Before he could digest that revelation, Marissa pushed on. "And... well, Lillian isn't completely making things up about the situation." Her embarrassment gave way to a somber, genuine gravity. "There really are significantly more women than men here."

She offered him what was likely intended to be a comforting smile. "But I promise we aren't going to kidnap you."

Mateo deadpanned. "That is un-reassuring." He wasn't entirely convinced he shouldn't be looking for a tall tree to climb. Still, the weight of the situation was settling in. Forcing his mind off the dizzying scope of the Pokémon world, he dragged his attention back to his immediate predicament. "So when you say 'significantly more women than men'... exactly how severe are we talking?"

Marissa tapped a finger against her chin, considering. "Here in Sinnoh?"

Mateo froze mid-breath. ‘Sinnoh.’ He was in Sinnoh. For a brief second, memories opened. Images of playing Pokémon Platinum late into the night flashed across his mind, traversing coastal roads, scaling the jagged, snow-dusted heights of Mt. Coronet, navigating the icy track toward Snowpoint City, and challenging the Elite Four. Yet, in all his gaming hours, the games had certainly never mentioned a massive, region-wide gender imbalance.

Before his excitement could completely derail his focus, Marissa delivered the punchline. "It's severe enough that most men don't trek through isolated wilderness routes without at least a couple of trained Pokémon at their side."

Mateo’s childish excitement vanished instantly, replaced by a cold knot in his stomach. "...For self-defense?"

"Among other reasons," Marissa admitted vaguely, wincing slightly.

Lillian, apparently deciding the atmosphere wasn't nearly chaotic enough, chimed right back in. "And since you don't even have a single Poké Ball on your belt, you're essentially walking around like a grand prize at a festival!" She gestured enthusiastically at him. "Young, unattached, good-looking, completely defenseless, and maybe coming from somewhere nobody's ever heard of!"

Mateo narrowed his eyes on her. "You really have a gift for making a guy feel safe and secure."

"I'm simply laying out the reality," Lillian defended herself with a proud huff.

"You're doing it horribly," Marissa grumbled.

Lillian ignored her. "If a group of competitive Trainers from one of the local academies spotted you out here alone, you'd have half of them trying to impress you before you even hit the next route sign."

Mateo frowned, trying to rationalize it. "Trying to impress someone isn't the same thing as ambushing them."

Lillian gave him an incredulous look. "Most wouldn't stop at polite conversation, trust me."

The words did nothing to lower Mateo's heart rate. His expression tightened. "Wait. Are you seriously telling me somebody might actually try to drag me off against my will?"

Marissa’s tone softened, turning firm and reassuring. "Not legally or normally, no. Sinnoh isn't a lawless wasteland. Just because men are rare doesn't mean women are allowed to abduct someone simply because he's attractive," she explained patiently. "We have laws, Officer Jenny, Ranger patrols, Trainer Association regulations, all the standard protections."

Mateo let out a slow, cautious breath, his shoulders dropping a fraction.

Then Marissa added, "However… if my assumptions are correct, you're currently standing in the woods completely undocumented, without identification, without a partner Pokémon, and without basic survival supplies."

The temporary relief evaporated instantly. "So I'm a massive liability."

"A massive, helpless liability," Lillian corrected cheerfully. "Which is precisely why you are coming with us."

Mateo looked at her flatly. "I notice that wasn't framed as a request."

"Because it wasn't."

"Lillian..." Marissa sighed, though she didn't contest the point. She turned back to Mateo. "She's right about one thing, you shouldn't be out here alone. We were already heading toward Sandgem Town anyway."

Mateo’s head snapped toward her. "Sandgem?"

Marissa nodded. "It's just down the line. A short walk down Route 201."

‘Route 201. Sandgem Town.’ Another hit of pure nostalgia struck him. He knew that route or at least, the grid-based, digital layout of it. A peaceful, short strip of grass connecting Twinleaf Town to Professor Rowan’s coastal haven.

But looking out at the towering canopy, the winding dirt path, and the vast, living ecosystem surrounding them, Mateo realized that real-world geography was infinitely vast, complex, and wilder than a handheld screen could ever capture.

Lillian adjusted the straps of her backpack, striking a decisive pose. "Once we reach town, we can take you straight to the Pokémon Center. We'll get your lack of ID sorted out, figure out if you're registered in any regional database, and—ideally—get you set up with a proper Trainer license."

Mateo’s eyes flared with immediate interest at her last words. "A Trainer license?"

Lillian caught the spark in his eye and smirked knowingly. "That's the real goal, isn't it?"

Mateo didn't even bother putting up a front. "100%."

Marissa let out a soft, amused laugh. "Your whole demeanor changed the second she said that."

"I have clear priorities," Mateo replied with a light shrug.

It was half a joke, but mostly a defense mechanism. If he allowed himself to dwell too deeply on Earth, on his family, his friends, his lost life, and the terrifying void in his memory. The sheer existential dread and panic lurking beneath his thrill would swallow him whole. So he made a deliberate choice: he would push it down. He would focus on the breathtaking world right in front of his eyes. He could process the trauma when he had four walls around him and a safe place to sleep.

Lillian closed the distance slightly, stopping at a respectful, non-threatening distance this time. "And while we're in Sandgem, ideally, you'll allow us to buy you a proper lunch."

Mateo eyed her suspiciously. "Is purchasing lunch considered a romantic overture here as well?"

Lillian’s eyes gleamed with mischievous amusement. "It certainly can be."

Marissa groaned, slapping a hand against her forehead.

Mateo didn't hesitate. He immediately turned and pointed a commanding finger down the trail. "Lunch sounds fantastic, but we are sticking strictly to walking first."

"Understood!" Lillian chirped, her energetic stride matching his, while Marissa followed alongside, looking equal parts excited and utterly exhausted by her companion.

Mateo set a brisk pace down the dirt path, trying to look as confident and capable as possible.

Behind him, he caught Lillian’s hushed, hurried whisper: "I call sitting next to him at the booth!"

Marissa’s exasperated whisper came back instantly: "You cannot call dibs on restaurant seating!"

Mateo closed his eyes for a brief, long-suffering second, letting out a quiet sigh. Yeah, he thought to himself. This is going to be a very, very long journey.

—----------------------

The three of them set off down the dirt path. Mateo made a conscious effort to stay sandwiched in the middle, keeping a watchful eye on his two self-appointed bodyguards. Despite their slightly terrifying lack of boundaries, Lillian and Marissa seemed genuine enough.

As they walked, the tension gradually bled out of the air, replaced by Mateo's overwhelming curiosity.

"So," Mateo began, glancing at the leather utility belt slung low on Lillian's hip. "You guys are actual Trainers? What kind of Pokémon do you have?"

Lillian's posture immediately straightened, a proud smirk spreading across her lips. "Glad you asked!" She unclipped a red-and-white sphere from her belt. With a practiced flick of her wrist, she enlarged it and tossed it into the air.

Flash!

In a brilliant burst of white light, a small, avian Pokémon materialized on the grass. It had sleek grey feathers, a bright yellow patch on its crest, and sharp, determined eyes.

"Star-ly!" It chirped, fluttering its wings and striking a proud pose.

Mateo stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes shining. He had seen Starly overhead earlier, but up close, the details were staggering. The individual preening of its feathers, the sharp tiny talons gripping the dirt, the rhythmic rise and fall of its chest as it breathed...

"Starly..." Mateo breathed, dropping to one knee. "It's incredible."

The Starly tilted its head, fluffing its chest feathers under Mateo's wide-eyed admiration.

Lillian looked like she had just won a medal. "Right?! Her name is Swift. She's the first pokemon I caught in Sinnoh! I have two more but for now they are resting"

"You really act like you've never seen a Pokémon up close before," Marissa noted, watching Mateo with a keen, analytical gaze as she walked beside him. "Where did you say you were from again?"

"A... very isolated community," Mateo lied smoothly, mentally patting himself on the back for quick thinking. "No wild Pokémon nearby. We mostly... read about them in books."

Marissa raised an eyebrow, clearly not entirely buying it, but she didn't press. Instead, she unclipped a Poké Ball of her own. "Well, if you like Starly, check out one of my partners."

She released her Pokémon. With another flash of light, a plump, brown, beaver-like Pokémon appeared, instantly letting out a relaxed, wooden thud as its flat tail hit the ground.

"Bidoof!" it grunted happily.

"See?!" Lillian burst out, pointing dramatically at the beaver. "I told you that you saw a Bidoof earlier!"

"Shut up, Lillian! Barnaby is built like a tank!" Marissa snapped back defensively.

Mateo chuckled, watching the Bidoof waddle up to him and nudge his sneaker with its broad snout. He reached out, gently scratching it behind its rounded ears. The Bidoof let out a contented rumble, leaning heavily into his hand.

"He's awesome," Mateo said genuinely.

Marissa’s face softened, a faint blush returning to her cheeks as she watched Mateo interact with her Pokémon. "You're... really good with them. Most guys who aren't Trainers are kind of jumpy around wild or semi-trained Pokémon."

"I've spent a lot of time... studying them," Mateo admitted, standing back up as the two Trainers recalled their partners to their Poké Balls.

They continued down the path, the trees gradually giving way to open rolling hills. In the distance, past a line of coastal bluffs, Mateo could see the sparkling blue expanse of the sea, and nestled right along the shoreline was a charming cluster of red-roofed buildings.

Sandgem Town.

"There it is!" Lillian announced, pointing toward the town. "Professor Rowan's lab is right near the entrance, but we should head straight to the Pokémon Center first to get you sorted out."

Mateo’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Professor Rowan!’ The actual Pokémon Professor of Sinnoh! If anyone could help him figure out what to do or at least give him a baseline understanding of how this world operated, it was Rowan.

However, as they crossed the wooden sign marking the official boundary of Sandgem Town, Mateo quickly realized that his problems were far from over.

The main street was bustling. People were walking with their Pokémon, shopping at open-air market stalls, and chatting on bench tops. But as Mateo, Lillian, and Marissa walked past the first row of shops, the ambient noise of the town slowly began to die down.

Some heads turned. A woman carrying a basket of Berries stopped dead in her tracks. Two teenage girls sitting outside a café lowered their iced drinks, their eyes widening. A female Trainer walking a Luxio dropped her leash, though fortunately, the Luxio just stood there looking confused.

Mateo felt the temperature in his face skyrocket. Dozens of eyes were locked onto him.

"Uh... Lillian? Marissa?" Mateo whispered through gritted teeth, keeping his eyes locked straight ahead. "Why is everyone staring?"

"I told you," Lillian whispered back, stepping a little closer to his side and puffing out her chest like a bodyguard. "A guy is rare, plus you being new and a stranger doesn’t help as the town is a very close community. Various girls are wondering if they have a shot."

"But you two are my escort, shouldn’t that be enough to deter them."

"Yeah, but we're also two unknown Trainers," Marissa muttered nervously, glancing around at the crowd. "And right now, every single woman in a two-block radius is trying to figure out if you're taken, visiting, or single."

A tall woman with short purple hair and a sleek corporate suit stepped out of a boutique, her eyes scanning Mateo from head to toe. She smirked, turning to whisper to her friend, who immediately pulled out a phone.

"Let’s walk faster," Mateo urged, his survival instincts kicking into overdrive.

"Good idea," Marissa agreed.

They picked up their pace, practically power-walking down the cobblestone street. Up ahead, the iconic red domed roof of the Pokémon Center came into view, gleaming like a beacon of safety.

"Almost there!" Lillian cheered.

"Hey! Excuse me!" A clear voice called out from behind them.

Mateo glanced over his shoulder. A stylishly dressed woman with a Shinx perched on her shoulder was walking briskly toward them, a bright, predatory smile on her face. "Are you new in town? I'd love to show you around—"

"He's with us!" Lillian barked back, grabbing Mateo's arm and dragging him the last ten feet.

They practically burst through the automatic glass doors of the Pokémon Center. The doors slid shut behind them with a soft, pneumatic hiss, cutting off the murmur of the crowd outside.

Mateo let out a long, shuddering breath, leaning back against the wall. "That was terrifying."

"Welcome to life as a guy in Sinnoh," Lillian chuckled, dusting off her jacket.

"May I help you?" A warm, gentle voice called out from behind the front counter.

Mateo looked up. Standing behind the desk in her classic pink nurse outfit and white hat was Nurse Joy—complete with a Chansey standing happily at her side. Seeing her in person was almost surreal, but her calm, professional demeanor instantly put Mateo at ease.

"Nurse Joy," Marissa said, walking up to the counter. "We found him out on Route 201. He doesn't have a Trainer ID, a phone, or any gear. He seems pretty lost."

Nurse Joy’s calm smile shifted into a look of concern as her eyes landed on Mateo. She quickly scanned his clothes, taking in his lack of gear.

"Oh dear," Nurse Joy said softly. "A young man out on Route 201 all by himself with no Pokémon? You're extremely lucky these two found you before something went wrong."

She pressed a button on her desk. "Please, come sit down at the counter. We need to get your basic information processed. If you don't have a legal Trainer registration or identification, I'll need to notify the local authorities—and Professor Rowan."

Mateo swallowed hard as he took a seat on one of the swivel stools.

This was it. The moment of truth. He was in the Pokémon world, completely undocumented, being pursued by eager local women, and about to meet the most famous Professor in the region.

He took a deep breath and looked Nurse Joy in the eye. "My name is Mateo Alvarez," he said. "And... I think I'm going to need a lot of help."

Done. Tell me what you think and if I made any mistakes.