"I've never seen you before—who are you?" Roland asked with a frown, his eyes narrowing at the group of four standing just outside the entrance to Rastor's Safari Zone.
Roland, a rugged yet kind-faced middle-aged hunter from Rastor Village, was originally hired by Arthur to help care for the Miltanks at the Miltank Farm. That role eventually led him to become an apprentice Pokémon Breeder. Now, dressed in green ranger attire and wearing a silver badge shaped like half a star, he stood as an apprentice Pokémon Ranger—a symbol of his evolving identity.
Currently, Roland was stationed inside a small booth at the Safari Zone's entrance. His duty was straightforward: act as the front desk attendant, issue items and rules, and oversee those hoping to test their luck at capturing Pokémon within the Zone.
Though he didn't understand why Arthur kept shifting his responsibilities, Roland felt content with the life he had now. After months of observation, Arthur had apparently seen something in him—enough to make him the very first apprentice Pokémon Ranger and the ideal candidate for this sentry post.
As a reward for this new title, Roland had even been granted the rare privilege of attempting to capture his very first Pokémon inside the Safari Zone.
At his feet, a Farfetch'd—a brown duck Pokémon—twirled its leek stalk with a flair that resembled dancing. It peered warily at the newcomers, but with only its beak and leek visible from behind Roland's legs, its cautious movements came off as more comical than threatening.
Roland turned his full attention to the group of four now inside the booth. They looked around with open curiosity, though their eyes kept drifting to Farfetch'd. Like many others, they were clearly fascinated by Pokémon—creatures they might have seen before, but never up close.
Just then, a man with shoulder-length black hair stepped forward. He had the rugged look of an adventurer and smiled confidently.
"We used to live here a long time ago," he said. "We haven't been back in years, but we've always been part of Rastor."
Bullshit! Roland swore silently. Who would actually buy that excuse?!
This wasn't the first group today trying to bluff their way into the Safari Zone. People came up with all kinds of stories on the spot—but in the end, they always had to leave.
It wasn't because Roland was particularly powerful, nor because his week-old Farfetch'd posed any real threat. But here in the Safari Zone, strength didn't matter—not when the magic circles rendered everyone inside effectively powerless.
Anyone who tried to stir up trouble would be instantly teleported away—straight to the Village Chief's house, where poor Chief Joey was already overwhelmed dealing with a growing number of these incidents.
Village Chief Joey had agreed to help Arthur maintain order in the Safari Zone—but not like this!
Thankfully, with Porygon's assistance, it was usually easy to amplify the teleportation circle's power and eject most of them—provided they weren't too strong.
But now, Porygon was sweating.
It had just scanned the four strangers—and realized they were far more powerful than it had expected.
Not just one of them—any of them could overpower it.
Panicking, Porygon immediately alerted Arthur, who was currently monitoring the Safari Zone alongside his family and Virelyra, watching as the villagers awkwardly attempted to capture Pokémon.
"They're strong for humans," Virelyra said confidently, lounging on the sofa and toying with a Luxury Ball—her new home. "But they're no match for me."
Arthur gave a small nod. He recognized this group—they were the same people he'd seen before at Village Chief Joey's house. Friends or acquaintances of the chief, no doubt.
Unfortunately, Rosaria hadn't been able to join them to witness the Safari Zone's opening. Ordered by her father, the King, to remain at the royal castle, she was stuck there, much to her frustration.
Had she been present, she would've recognized exactly who this strange group really was.
An energetic man with flowing red hair streaked with silver, dressed simply in farmer's clothes; a rugged adventurer with shoulder-length black hair; a composed woman with a long brown ponytail, clad in gardener's attire; and a woman with heavy-lidded eyes, draped in witch's robes.
His Royal Majesty the King and Queen, accompanied by their closest guards!
The vibrant red-haired man was none other than King Gadeon Roseflame Krosia, and the composed woman with the long brown ponytail was Queen Lavinia Moonstone Krosia. The other two were Knight Commander Ingrid and Mage Commander Lorelia.
Virelyra had recognized them instantly when her eyes first landed on the group. Amused and speechless, she chose to keep their identities secret from Arthur—it was far more entertaining to stay silent. Besides, she saw no reason to reveal them, especially since they had gone to such lengths to disguise themselves.
Arthur didn't hesitate. Activating the magical michophone he'd invented, he whispered directly into Roland's magical earpiece, ensuring only he could hear, "Let them pass."
Roland paused, stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered without overthinking it.
He scrutinized them briefly, then nodded thoughtfully. "I seem to remember you from long ago. Alright, you may enter."
The black-haired man—Knight Commander Ingrid—looked briefly confused, then smiled politely and thanked him.
Roland handed each of them a Poké Ball and explained the rules carefully. "One Poké Ball per person. You may only capture one Pokémon, and it must be willing. You can try befriending the Pokémon you want—convince it to join you—or use any method that doesn't harm them, unless the Pokémon itself challenges you to a test of strength. If the Pokémon agrees to follow you and willingly enters your Poké Ball, you succeed.
"Keep in mind, you have only one Poké Ball each. If you try to force a capture and break your ball, you'll have to wait until the Safari Zone reopens to try again.
"No magic is permitted inside unless your life is in danger. And I repeat: do not actively harm any Pokémon. We'll detect the moment any mistreatment occurs."
Arthur didn't actually mind Trainers using multiple Poké Balls to capture a Pokémon—as long as the Pokémon itself wanted to challenge the trainer to a battle. Respecting strength was part of every wild creature's nature. However, since his own wild Pokémon were still quite weak, he limited these aspiring Pokémon Trainers to just one Poké Ball for now, hoping to discourage them from relying on battles and instead choose gentler, friendlier methods.
After all, they only had one chance.
Ingrid nodded politely. "Simple enough. Don't worry, we'll abide by the rules."
After a moment's thought, he asked again, "How do we tell which creatures are Pokémon and which are just monsters or ordinary animals?"
Though most people were familiar with common monsters and animals, many species remained undiscovered, so it was a fair question.
Roland nodded calmly and handed them four slim, rectangular devices. "I'm about to explain that. These are called Pokédexes. They can identify any Pokémon. All you have to do is..." He then demonstrated how to use the device before adding, "If you fail to capture any Pokémon, you'll have to return the Pokédex to me. But if you succeed, you get to keep it."
The unusual group of four exchanged curious glances as they examined the Poké Balls and Pokédexes in their hands.
Roland glanced toward the long line of aspiring Pokémon Trainers waiting outside and quickened his pace. Pointing to a box on his left, he said, "For fellow Rastor villagers, Safari Tickets are 99% off—you only pay one silver coin per person to enter."
The other three showed little reaction, but Ingrid's eyelid twitched slightly. Charging a full gold coin for outsiders? After considering it, he decided it was worth the price. Having already seen the potential of these small creatures called Pokémon, the fee seemed quite reasonable—actually, quite cheap.
Ingrid dropped four silver coins into the box, and at last, the group was allowed to enter the Safari Zone.
"Finally! I'm here! My Pokémon dream!" The energetic man with flowing red hair streaked with silver—King Gadeon Roseflame Krosia—jumped excitedly, his eyes shining as he took in the vibrant scenery inside the Safari Zone. Closing his eyes, he reached out with his perception, sensing the breath of life and activity all around.
Though he was on the path of a Knight, his perception was extraordinary, able to cover nearly a quarter of the vast Safari Zone. If he chose to channel mana, he could easily extend it to cover the entire area, but despite his carefree nature, he respected Arthur's rules and refrained from using magic.
The others also engaged their senses, scanning the surroundings and spotting many Rastor villagers eagerly trying their luck at capturing Pokémon.
Gadeon's perception stretched farther, focusing on areas untouched by humans—wild areas teeming with Pokémon, monsters, and animals.
In the open grasslands, a herd of Tauros grazed peacefully beside a group of Miltank, quietly watching as a pair of Igglybuff and Happiny played around in the sun. Nearby, a Cleffa rode on a Doduo's back, giggling as they trotted through wildflowers. A Meowth lazily stretched atop a sun-warmed stone, not even batting an eye as a Nidoran nuzzled up beside it. Farfetch'd stood sentry beside a pond where Rattata and Bulbasaur shared sips of water, while Ponyta and Growlithe pranced in circles, kicking up dust in play.
Even in the skies above, long-time rivals in other worlds, Pidgey and Spearow now flew side by side, scouting ahead and chirping in unison. They swooped down occasionally to hunt Jujig Boars or other insects together. Some of them also flew to the edge of the grasslands and share fruit seeds with a Sandshrew and Cubone, who were digging a shared burrow under the shade of a lone tree.
In the forest, Tangela stretched its vines to lift fruit for a tired Mankey, while a pair of Bellsprout sang softly, their voices mingling with the chittering of Caterpie and Venonat who rested under leafy mushrooms. Paras clambered up the gnarled roots of a tall tree while Pichu sparked little bolts to drive away Oddish's predators, the native monsters. A Scyther, normally aloof and fierce, stood patiently with a blush on its face while a group of Cleffa decorated its blades with flower crowns.
Near a sparkling stream, a Slowpoke sat with a confused smile as Poliwag, Horsea, Magikarp and Psyduck splashed around him, their laughter echoing in the warm, humid air. On a nearby rock, Ekans lay coiled, basking contentedly in the sunlight, while Zubat fluttered down from a shadowy waterfall cave above, occasionally dropping berries into a growing pile shared peacefully by Grimer and Tentacool.
Harmony even reached the wetlands, where Squirtle and Bellsprout worked together to water a cluster of Exeggcute, who dreamed of one day growing into a tall tree, nestled safely between two large stones.
Deeper in the caves, eerie silence had given way to soft sounds of play. Diglett tunneled around Gastly, who floated harmlessly and made funny faces that sent Drowzee into giggling fits. Onix carefully slithered past a tiny Mime Jr., whose psychic bubbles burst gently against his stone skin. Nearby, Koffing drifted serenely through the air, occasionally releasing faint puffs of gas in a controlled, deliberate rhythm—mindful not to disturb the other Pokémon around him.
Even in the mountains, where ruggedness ruled, scenes of kindness prevailed. A Machop boosted a Tyrogue onto a ledge while Geodude steadied them both with its rocky arms. Nearby, a playful Ponyta chased an Abra, who kept vanishing and reappearing in a game of tag, while a curious Kangaskhan watched over them—wanting to join, but too shy to try. Aerodactyl, known as a terror of the skies, now glided overhead without menace, casting its shadow over Cubone and Sandshrew as they forged a quiet friendship.
In the heart of the volcanic region—though no actual volcano burned here—molten rivers of cooled magma glowed faintly, and the air shimmered with warmth. Charmander and Magby sat side by side near a ring of blackened stone, their tails flickering with gentle flames as they carefully roasted a Jujig Boar. Vulpix curled atop a warm boulder, her six tails flicking lazily as Growlithe trotted nearby, barking softly at drifting ash that looked like falling snow.
And on the frigid snowy plains, Lapras sang a haunting lullaby to soothe a teary Smoochum while Staryu and Shellder slid on the ice, spinning joyfully with Poliwag. Even the mischievous Gastly kept its pranks gentle, phasing harmlessly through snowbanks as Cubone giggled and followed, eager to play inside a haunted house with its new ghostly friend.
So far, there was no infighting between Pokémon. They had begun forming communities and hunting together, just like Arthur had envisioned.
Watching from the monitor room, Arthur smiled gently. Pokémon of all kinds—feral, timid, fierce, gentle—were sharing space, sharing food, even sharing affection.
It might have been a wishful dream… but in this moment, he hoped these scenes of harmony would last forever.
Gadeon, Lavinia, Ingrid, and Lorelia shared that feeling, their lips curling into quiet smiles as they breathed in the fresh air and took in the enchanting scene of Pokémon at play.
"Gad, you should prepare an apology gift for Rosaria," Lavinia said calmly, opening her eyes as she came out of her deep perceptive trance. "She's probably throwing a fit back at the palace—furious we didn't let her attend the Safari Zone's opening. If she finds out what you're doing here, she'll definitely hold it against you."
They all used nicknames among themselves, so she called her husband "Gad".
"It's fine, it's fine! My lovely daughter will never hate me!" Gadeon waved off her concern, already lost in thought about which Pokémon he wanted as his partner.
"Don't say it's fine! You snuck out of the castle and came here alone! How irresponsible can you be?" Ingrid snapped, clearly fed up with the King he'd sworn allegiance to.
When they realized Gadeon had already contracted old man Joey, it was too late to stop him. So all of them decided to come here—to make sure Gadeon behaved himself.
Well, that was their excuse to follow him.
Despite Gadeon's reputation for being unreliable, he was the legitimate King of Krosia Kingdom, so they trusted he wouldn't do anything too reckless or unbefitting of royalty. It was probably fine to let him come alone.
But truth be told, they all wanted their own Pokémon—including Queen Lavinia.
If they could place all the responsibility—and blame—on Gadeon, why not come along and capture their own partners?
That's why they were here together.
Ingrid suggested waiting to come with Rosaria's Bloodthorn, but Gadeon refused. His pride wouldn't let a commoner—a simple Rastor villager—get a Pokémon before the King!
Of course, they all knew that was just an excuse to get his hands on a Pokémon faster. After all, this King hardly had any pride or dignity to begin with.
Queen Lavinia looked around thoughtfully. As the strongest mage in the group, her perception far surpassed the others—even without using mana. She could sense dozens of eyes watching them from within the Safari Dome. Most were harmless Pokémon, curious or cautious. But one presence stood out—something conscious, something alive, swimming fluidly through the Dome's systems.
Porygon, the observer in question, froze. The moment Queen Lavinia's gaze locked onto it, an icy shiver rippled through its code. It immediately turned its focus elsewhere. The pressure this group radiated was overwhelming. It wanted nothing to do with them.
Lavinia finally withdrew her gaze from the sky and turned toward her loyal confidant, Mage Commander Lorelia. Just as Ingrid was Gadeon's right hand, Lorelia was Lavinia's.
"Relia," Lavinia said softly, "any Pokémon catch your interest?"
Lorelia's eyes remained half-lidded. She was silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head.
"Lavi! How about we get that worm!" Gadeon suddenly shouted, pointing enthusiastically at a trembling Caterpie perched on a low tree branch. The poor thing looked petrified by the overenthusiastic human hopping around beneath it.
Lavinia sighed and reached out to tug her husband's ear with practiced precision. "Don't scare the little guy, or I'll have Roland come and throw you out."
"I'm not scaring it! I'm befriending it!" Gadeon protested, unfazed by the fact his ear was now stretching uncomfortably in Lavinia's grip.
"Pi?" the Caterpie squeaked in horror. (This is your idea of befriending me? I thought you were going to eat me!)
With a frightened wiggle, it bolted up the tree and vanished into the leaves.
"No~ Come back~!" Gadeon dropped to his knees, clutching his chest dramatically, as if he'd just been rejected by his first love.
The other three—Lavinia, Ingrid, and even the usually stone-faced Lorelia—sighed in unison.
Will we even be able to approach a single Pokémon without him scaring them off? they wondered silently, the collective thought of kicking Gadeon out of the group bubbling dangerously close to the surface.