Ever been dozing off only to jolt awake like you just missed the last step on the stairs?
Yeah, that's the one.
There's a phenomenon known as "Hypnic Jerks." Basically, it's that little betrayal your body pulls when you're falling asleep—just minding your own business—when suddenly, your brain decides, "Hey, what if we pretended to fall off a cliff real quick?" And boom—full-body spasm.
Completely normal, happens to everyone. Scientists aren't entirely sure why it happens, but theories range from caffeine consumption to stress, to your body just being a dramatic little gremlin.
"Allen! Enough lazing around. It's time to wake up!"
'Ugh… Grandma, do you not know that for every spasm, the body needs time to adapt first? Especially in the morning!'
But Allen didn't dare to say it directly in front of her. Grandma's baby talk had faded significantly, and her speech had become more refined, likely due to her extensive experience in raising children.
She had mastered the delicate balance between nurturing and discipline, knowing exactly when to coax a smile and when to insist on responsibility.
Last night, Allen stayed up late, working on what he called his scientific Pokédex.
Originally, he planned to complete the entire project in one go, covering everything from Kanto to Paldea. But the deeper he read, the more mysteries he uncovered—and that was just within the Sinnoh region alone.
You can imagine how massive the task would be to document every Pokémon from Kanto to Paldea. This made Allen reconsider his approach, leading him to narrow his focus and start with Sinnoh first.
After hearing no further calls from Grandma Dracelia, Allen let out a sigh of relief and sank back into the embrace of his true best friend—his beloved pillow.
THUD THUD THUD
The dreaded footsteps echoed through the wooden floor. Oh no. The boss battle was approaching.
Throwing off his wool blanket, he leaped up and scrambled to make it seem like he had been awake for ages.
Time for school!
Just as he was pulling his uniform over his head, he heard a knock on the door followed by it creaking open.
Popping his head through the collar, he shot his Grandma a mock scandalized look. "Grandma! What if I was nude?"
"Oh, come now, boy. It's not anything I haven't seen before. I cleaned you up when you were just a babe," she replied, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Even more reason to wait before barging in!" he shot back, trying to maintain his exasperation.
She shot pointed looks at the mess strewn about, but Allen chose to ignore it. With no other choice, Grandma Dracelia unleashed her trump card. After all, they had lived together for so long.
"Didn't you want to help your Grandma pluck Cherubi fruit? Or has your promise expired now?"
Cherubi is a small, cherry-like Pokémon, easily recognized by its round, deep-pink body and two stubby feet.
Each Cherubi has a vibrant green leaf sprouting from its top, connected by a slender stem to its two heads.
The larger head functions as the brain, while the smaller head is packed with essential nutrients that are crucial for its evolution.
Allen panicked instantly. When he was still very small—at least by the standards of this world—he thought that the people of Celestic Town relied only on farming staples like potatoes, cabbage, and other common crops.
However, after the avalanche that buried the area around Route 210, something unexpected happened. When the snow finally melted, it enriched the soil, making it fertile enough to support more than just the usual crops.
It wasn't the usual crops that took over Route 210's plateau. Instead, wild Cherubi began to settle there, and from what he'd heard, nearly all the Cherubi from Mt. Coronet had gradually claimed the area as their own.
This unique feature means that Cherubi doesn't need to consume much food; instead, they derive most of their nutrients from the smaller head. They love to soak up sunlight, basking in the warmth of the sun. However, this idyllic lifestyle comes with its challenges.
Cherubi must stay vigilant to avoid flying Pokémon like Starly, which are known for trying to peck at their smaller head to eat it because of its sweetness.
At first, Allen thought the Cherubi would most likely be driven out. Unexpectedly, the folks instead built a grove made of tall, leafy trees that offered ample shade, allowing the Cherubi to bask in the sunlight while remaining hidden from the prying eyes of predators like Starly.
Confused, he asked, and only then did he realize that this was actually a Cherubi farm, which stunned him. He knew about berry farms, but a Cherubi farm? Was Cherubi eaten or something?
"Why not come out now?! Cynthia's already waiting for you outside!" the impatient Grandma Dracelia called to the dazed Allen.
"Yes, Ma'am!" Allen quickly scrambled to get ready, trying to shake off his grogginess.
Kindergarten.
A place where kids first learn the basics—shapes, colors, numbers. But of course, it was different when you try to relate it to the Pokémon world.
Both Cynthia and Allen had already passed the five-year-old threshold, an age old enough for them to take their first steps into formal schooling.
The educational pathway in the Pokémon world was interpreted this way:
Ages 5 - 6: Kindergarten
Ages 6 - 10: Primary School
Ages 10 - 15: The Gap Year
Ages 15 - 18: University or Vocational (not mandatory)
You notice the difference, right? We'll discuss that later.
It's basically like a prototypical American K-12 institution. You proceed through school, taking courses in various subjects mostly about general knowledge and in-depth understanding of Pokémon.
The reason for this division is that Pokémon knowledge and general knowledge are simply too broad. It is necessary to separate these fields so students can focus on their respective areas of study.
Even the school has two options: the regular one, like a standard school, and the Pokémon school.
After getting ready, Allen quickly grabbed his breakfast, making sure to greet his Grandma, Miltank, and Buneary, as well as his Grandpa and Electabuzz, who were helping tend to the crops.
"Slugma! I'm heading out!" Allen called, but there was no response from the lazy fire-type Pokémon lounging by the chimney.
Not disappointed, Allen simply shrugged and turned to head out the door. As he stepped outside, he spotted Cynthia waiting for him.
"Morning, Cynthia!" Allen greeted, a grin spreading across his face.
The two of them then set off for their kindergarten. It wasn't too far from home, and the path was familiar to them. After the avalanche incident, no one dared to send their kids to the daycare anymore.
Whether he liked it or not, the mayor used the funds to build a new small school to cater to the town's education.
"Allen," Cynthia whispered, motioning for him to look as she pointed at the nooks in the branches and the piles of dead leaves.
There, nestled among them, was a Cascoon.
This was precisely what Grandma Wilma had warned them about. As winter thawed, the aftermath of the Dustox swarm became apparent.
It was likely the reason why Mayor Monny and the people of Celestic Town had quickly set up Cherubi farms.
They needed to replace the crops that had been destroyed when the Wurmple eggs hatched.
Now, the Wurmple had evolved into Cascoon, soon, they would turn into Dustox again. And so the cycle would continue, endlessly, with no end in sight.
"Let's go," Allen said to Cynthia as his eyes briefly met the red eyes that never seemed to leave him.