Pokemon: Bounty Hunter Alex

When Alex arrived at the Research Center and was ushered into a private examination room, he was surprised to find Clarissa had aged. Physically, she looked no different. She still wore the same bodysuit designed to withstand Master ranked attacks, her face remained smooth and free of wrinkles, and her hair had simply been trimmed with her nails neatly cut. The real change wasn’t in her appearance but in the aura she carried. The youthful energy she once had had given way to a calmer, more composed presence.

“You look good,” Alex said. “You must have been through quite a journey if you’ve aged 20 years.”

Clarissa laughed softly. “Thanks. It was definitely an eye-opening experience.”

Alex studied her for a moment. “Do you want to talk about it?”

She shook her head. “Maybe later. Right now... I just want you to hold me.”

“I think I can manage that.”

Alex stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. Clarissa let out a quiet sigh as she melted into the embrace, the tension she had been carrying slowly beginning to melt away.

“Welcome back,” he whispered.

She closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest.

“I’m home.”

Neither of them spoke after that. Clarissa simply listened to the steady rhythm of Alex’s heartbeat. Only after several long breaths did the tightness in her shoulders finally begin to ease.

They stayed like that while the scientists in the room rummaged through her belongings, examining the contents of every space bag and Poké Ball before setting aside the items that didn’t appear to belong in this world, most of which were food and personal care products. Among them was a Poké Ball that, upon inspection, was found to contain a White Kyurem, immediately sending the room into an uproar.

Alex noticed their excitement but paid it little mind, continuing to hold Clarissa in his arms. Nothing was more important than helping ground her at that moment, not even the fact that she now possessed a Legendary Pokémon. Even so, he would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious to hear the story behind it.

“We have completed your examination and found no cause for concern,” one of the attending scientists said. “The biological samples collected from you tested negative for any foreign pathogens, parasites, or other anomalous microorganisms. The food products you brought back have also been determined to be safe for consumption, and the Pokémon accompanying you show no signs of corruption to their energies. At this point, we would like to request a detailed account of your expedition.”

“It’s going to be a long story,” Clarissa replied.

“We will provide you with anything you need, including as many hours of rest as necessary, but you will need to remain in this room until the debriefing is complete. It is standard procedure to ensure we collect comprehensive data on all dimensional expeditions.”

“Fine,” Clarissa said with a sigh. “Let’s just get this over with.”

“I apologize for the inconvenience.”

Clarissa took Alex by the hand and dragged him over to a couch. She pushed him down onto the cushions before settling onto his lap, taking his arms and wrapping them around her waist as she leaned back against his chest comfortably. Meanwhile, the scientists took seats opposite the pair, their notebooks and recording equipment at the ready.

Despite the maturity she now carried, Clarissa was acting a little clingy, almost childishly so. Alex couldn’t blame her. From her perspective, they had been separated for years, much of that time spent alone in an unfamiliar world. After finally returning home, it was only natural that she wanted to stay as close to him as possible. If clinging to him helped ground her in the present, then she was entitled to unreasonable demands.

“I was standing in the Prism Tower when, after a brief flash of light, I found myself in the middle of a forest,” Clarissa began, a nostalgic look in her eyes. “The first thing I noticed was the Pokémon. They were remarkably docile compared to ours. Even in the wild, they behaved more like a domesticated nest than territorial predators. They lacked the desperation and aggression we normally associate with wild Pokémon.”

“Their strength was comparable to ours, but the way they developed it was completely different. They didn’t depend on consuming high-ranked meat. Regular battles alone was enough for them to grow stronger. I caught several specimens to study the phenomenon and attempted to form a bond with them. My energy entered their bodies as expected, but nothing happened. It was as though whatever biological or metaphysical mechanism allowed our Pokémon to exchange energy with humans and establish a deterministic bond simply didn’t exist within them.”

“After leaving the forest, I spoke with the locals and eventually learned I was in the Unova region. At first, I assumed it was simply another version of our world, but the differences quickly became impossible to ignore. There was no organized Underworld worth mentioning, no large-scale Pokémon nests threatening civilization, and no fortified cities surrounded by defensive walls. Society was... peaceful to a degree I would have considered impossible. Looking back, it felt almost naïvely innocent.”

“As I gathered more information, I realized I hadn’t just crossed dimensions. I had also traveled nearly a century into our world’s past.”

“I decided to study the timeline while searching for a solution to our world’s problems, though I had little hope of finding one given the outdated setting. During my travels, I encountered a young Lenora, the only Gym Leader of Nacrene City. After defeating her in a battle, she entrusted me with the Light Stone containing Reshiram. I still don’t understand why she chose me.”

“Seeing an opportunity to acquire a Legendary Pokémon, I traveled to the Giant Chasm and captured Kyurem. Unfortunately, while I knew the Light Stone housed Reshiram, I had never studied history in enough detail to know how to awaken it. Rather than risk the opportunity, I continued exploring the world while searching for a DNA Splicer.”

“Travel between regions was effortless compared to our world, and with so few life-threatening dangers, I had more freedom than I ever expected. I spent the next 20 years researching, training, and exploring, hoping to find some solution to the problem facing our world, but in the end, I found nothing as expected.”

“Eventually, I found a DNA Splicer. Since I still couldn’t awaken Reshiram normally, I broke open the Light Stone by force and fused its energy with Kyurem, with whom I had gradually built a mutual understanding over the years. The result was White Kyurem.”

“Before returning, I visited Kanto hoping to find Alex. Instead, I discovered the timeline had diverged so drastically that his parents hadn’t even met, much like my own, who remained nothing more than professional acquaintances.”

“Once I had exhausted every reason to stay, I activated the return beacon. The next thing I knew, I was back in the Prism Tower,” Clarissa finished. “That concludes my report.”

The scientists exchanged glances before one of them spoke.

“You were fortunate. For your first expedition, you arrived in an exceptionally peaceful world. Considering you were also displaced nearly a century into its past, it is understandable that you found no solution to our world’s problems. Even so, your findings are of immense scientific value, and returning with a Legendary Pokémon is an extraordinary achievement. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. Are we done here?”

“Not quite yet. There are a few details we’d like clarified.”

The debriefing continued as the scientists questioned Clarissa extensively about the other world. They asked about its technological development, the upper limits of human and Pokémon strength, its social structure, ecology, and every significant difference she had observed compared to their own world.

Throughout the questioning, Alex remained silent, content to simply hold her. Whenever Clarissa paused to gather her thoughts, his reassuring presence helped steady her before she continued.

Only after every answer had been documented did the scientists finally set their tablets aside.

“This concludes the debriefing. On behalf of the Research Center, thank you for your service and your contribution to our understanding of dimensional travel.”

“Good. Let’s go, Alex.”

After collecting her belongings, Clarissa took Alex by the hand and quietly led him out of the Research Center. They headed straight for the Recreation Center where, despite already having a perfectly adequate room, Clarissa reserved a new one for reasons she considered entirely justified.

“I’d like to rent a Master ranked bedroom for a month, please,” Clarissa said to the receptionist.

“What package would you like? We have—”

“Whichever one I can fuck my husband in without destroying it. I’d also like an escort service to keep our Pokémon trained and well fed, along with regular meal deliveries for the two of us.”

“Understood,” the receptionist replied without missing a beat as she handed over a key card.

Alex, meanwhile, simply let himself be dragged along without complaint. If he was being honest, however, he felt a faint sense of dread about what awaited him over the next month. At the very least, he expected to end up making a visit to the Pokémon Center once it was all over.

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R-18 chapter available.