Layton's Letters to Luke #1

[gentlemanlayton]

Dear Luke,

I do not know how I got here, nor do I know when or how I will return, but I have found myself in a strange place. The area is known as Johto, and I awoke to the strangest situation I have faced in quite a while. Upon waking, I was but the age of 10. Soon after I was rushed out the door by a nameless woman who asserted herself as my mother, who handed me a backpack filled with many items, a change of clothes and some money. Thrust into my hand was an odd device of which they call a "Pokéball", after which I was removed from my supposed childhood home and onto the streets of New Bark town. It was then I discovered myself to be my appropriate age once again, and all my memories came flooding back to me.

Despite the rushed entry, I have found myself welcomed in this place. From my very brief research I have come to find that I am not the only one who has been misplaced, as it were. There have been a few others who have been brought to Johto, and its sister region, Kanto. It is quite the interesting place, Luke. I'm sure if you were here you would be far more ecstatic than I would be in the situation. There are creatures here, that exist inside these capsule like devices known as "Pokéballs" of which the locals call "Pokémon". This is short for "Pocket Monsters". Pokémon are creatures with such extraordinary powers. They appear to have the innate ability to manipulate the elements at will. As you know, I am quite the logical man and am not so ready to believe in magic or the supernatural, but I have evidence that these creatures are in some way above the natural, or at least natural as you and I understand it.

It seems that everyone who arrives here, and many that live here, have these Pokémon partners. In fact, it is almost taboo to see someone who doesn't have some sort of creature with them. There seems to be no animals of which I recognize, only these creatures which are hybrids of our Animal Kingdom. Some are merely animated objects, pieces of Earth or plant. In fact, my own Pokémon partner is one of those such animated objects.

My fated partner is a creature known as a "Yamask". Apparently it is not the usual variant, but a species that hails from the far off region of Galar. The "Pokédex", which is a sort of encyclopedia for cataloguing Pokémon, describes Yamask as the "Spirit Pokémon". It also lists that this creature is a supposed vengeful spirit that was taken captive by cursed tablet. To me this seems like nothing more than a grand fairy-tale, of which I am hoping that I will wake up from, but as it currently stands Yamask is most definitely real. Well, at least the tablet part of it is real. Yamask shies away from my hand when I attempt to touch its shadowy form, but will allow me to touch the stone carving it holds. The stone is cold, but yet still very much alive. It's impossible for me to describe but I could not hold my hand to it for very long. A very unsettling feeling to be sure.

As stated before, Luke, I do not know if or when I will be returning home but I am writing these letters to you in the hopes that if I do return that they will serve as a diary of my journey. Of course, I am keeping further notes on the people and creatures I meet and will happy to share those with you as well once I have left this place. I am hopeful that this will not be a permanent residence, and that you and I shall see each other again.

Your friend,

Professor Layton