The morning sun filtered gently through the dense canopy of towering pine trees, casting long shadows over the worn-down farmstead nestled in the outskirts of Sinnoh. The smell of fresh earth, mingled with dew and wildflowers, filled the crisp air, awakening senses that Riven hadn't felt fully alive before.
His eyes fluttered open to the soft creak of aged wood and the distant chirping of Starly. The ceiling above him was cracked, patched with wooden planks and moss — a stark contrast to the sterile laboratory he'd left behind in his old world. But despite the unfamiliarity, something deep inside him felt oddly right.
Riven's body ached as he sat up slowly, the dull pain reminding him of the strange journey he'd undergone. One moment, he'd been tending his greenhouse, studying rare plants; the next, he was in this place — a world where creatures of myth and legend walked freely, where nature and battle were intertwined in ways he could barely understand.
A soft chime echoed in the quiet room, and before him, a translucent blue window shimmered into existence — the unmistakable interface of the Farmbound System.
[Farmbound System — Interface Activated]
Welcome, User: Riven
Current Location: Sinnoh Outskirts, Forsaken Farmstead
Farm Level: 1
Farm Points (FP): 0System Points (SP): 10
Owned Pokémon: 1 / 60
Riven's heart skipped a beat as the system displayed his first companion.
New Pokémon Acquired: Riolu (Level 5)Status: Abandoned, Injured, Aura-sensitivePotential: ★★★☆☆ (3 Pank)
Moveset: Quick Attack, Counter, Endure, Vacuum WaveAbility: Inner Focus
His gaze drifted to the small pen outside, where the slender blue figure of Riolu lay curled on a rough bed of straw. The Pokémon's ears twitched as it stirred, wincing slightly as it shifted its injured leg.
Riolu's amber eyes met Riven's, raw and vulnerable, carrying a silent story of abandonment. Someone had left this small fighter behind, broken and forgotten. But Riven could see something else beneath the weariness — a spark of strength, a deep well of untapped potential.
"I won't let you down," Riven said softly, stepping outside into the cool morning air. The farmstead was a humble patch of land, overgrown with weeds and dotted with rocks, but it held promise. He could feel the earth humming beneath his feet, as if waiting to be awakened.
The system's interface flickered again, this time with new options:
[Farmbound System Menu]
Farm Status
Pokémon Status
Inventory
Upgrade Farm (FP)
Acquire Seeds (FP/SP)
Purchase Tools (FP/SP)
Battle Mode
Riven exhaled deeply, his mind racing. This system was unlike any other — it wasn't just about battles or catching Pokémon. It was about growth, nurturing, and turning this forgotten land into something extraordinary.
He glanced back at Riolu, who was now attempting to stand, wincing but determined. The fighting-type Pokémon radiated a quiet aura, one that Riven instinctively understood. Together, they would heal. Together, they would grow stronger.
And as the sun climbed higher, casting golden light over the land, Riven's resolve hardened. He wasn't just here to survive — he was here to thrive.
Beyond the farmstead, in the vast wilderness of Sinnoh, wild Pokémon stirred. Somewhere in the distance, the roar of a mighty Garchomp echoed, and far above, the faint shimmer of legendary wings brushed the clouds.
The world was vast, full of mystery, danger, and opportunity.
And for Riven — this was only the beginning.