The Roulette of Destiny: Reincarnated in the Pokémon World

Ethan sat comfortably on a cushioned seat, his Bulbasaur sprawled lazily across his lap. Around him, the competition area buzzed with excitement.

Trainers and spectators were gathered, and the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. Ethan, however, looked as indifferent as ever, idly patting Bulbasaur's head while scanning the crowd for familiar faces.

Professor Oak took to the stage with his characteristic enthusiasm. He tapped the microphone, his voice booming across the area.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the grand Pokémon Performance Competition!" Oak's voice carried a mix of authority and warmth. "Today, we celebrate creativity, teamwork, and the bond between trainers and their Pokémon!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, and Ethan nodded slightly in approval. Cool intro, I guess, he thought.

Professor Oak continued, "The competition will test our participants' creativity in showcasing their Pokémon's talents through unique performances. They will be judged on style, innovation, and overall impact!"

Ethan raised an eyebrow, mildly intrigued but still confident in his decision to sit this one out. He leaned back in his seat, feeling like the smartest guy in the room for avoiding the hassle.

"And now," Oak's voice turned dramatic, "let's reveal the prizes for today's competition!"

Ethan's ears perked up slightly. Probably some basic stuff, like berries or a trophy, he mused.

Professor Oak gestured to a large screen behind him, where images of the prizes appeared one by one.

"For the first-place winner, an Aerodactyl fossil!"

Ethan blinked. His casual demeanor cracked for the first time, his body stiffening as the image of the ancient fossil filled the screen.

Oak wasn't done. "For second place, a Kabuto fossil! And for third place, an Omanyte fossil!"

The words hit Ethan like a Thunderbolt. His jaw dropped, and his mind spiraled into chaos. Wait… WHAT?! Fossils?!

A single tear welled up in his eye as he stared at the prizes. He had grossly underestimated the competition. His initial arrogance now seemed like the biggest mistake of his life.

Fossils?! Freaking fossils?! Ethan's mind screamed. I thought this was just some random performance thing! Why didn't anyone tell me?!

Green and Pink's earlier questions about his participation echoed mockingly in his head. They knew. Oh, they definitely knew.

Bulbasaur, sensing his trainer's internal turmoil, gave him a side glance, its pout as pronounced as ever.

Professor Oak, oblivious to Ethan's existential crisis, continued his speech. "For those of you who may still wish to participate, we are keeping registration open for another ten minutes! This is your last chance to join!"

Ethan froze, the temptation hitting him like a tidal wave. I could still join… His gaze flickered toward the registration desk, where trainers were eagerly signing up.

His mind raced. If I join now, I could win that Aerodactyl fossil! I'll just tell Green and Pink that I changed my mind! They'll understand, right?

He was about to stand when he felt a sharp tug on his arms.

"Bulba…"

Ethan glanced down and immediately froze. His Bulbasaur had skillfully used its vines to bind his wrists to the armrests of his chair. Its eyes narrowed, and it fixed him with a ferocious glare that screamed: Don't even think about it, you idiot.

"Bulbasaur, let's not be hasty—" Ethan began, but Bulbasaur tightened the vines in response, its expression growing darker.

Ethan swallowed hard. Oh no. It knows.

The grass-type leaned closer, its face inches from Ethan's. Its glare carried a silent but deadly message: You promised. You swore on me, you bastard.

Ethan's mind screamed in panic. How did it become this scary?! It's just a Bulbasaur!

Bulbasaur's glare intensified, daring him to defy it. Ethan felt sweat bead on his forehead. Finally, he slumped back into his seat, defeated.

"Fine, fine! I won't register!" he muttered under his breath, the words tasting bitter.

Bulbasaur huffed in satisfaction, releasing his hands before settling back on his lap, still pouting but visibly triumphant.

Ethan sighed deeply, his pride and dreams of owning an Aerodactyl fossil crushed. As the crowd cheered for the ongoing event, Ethan leaned back, arms crossed, muttering, "Why did I even leave my room today?"

Bulbasaur gave him another side-eye, as if to say, Because you're an overconfident idiot.

The final call for registration had passed, and Ethan sighed in resigned defeat. Bulbasaur, visibly pleased with its victory over Ethan's wavering resolve, gave a satisfied grunt before happily retreating into its Pokéball.

With Bulbasaur out of sight, Sylveon gracefully jumped onto Ethan's lap, nuzzling him affectionately. Its soothing presence was a balm for Ethan's bruised ego as it wrapped its ribbons around his arms in a comforting hug.

"Thanks, Sylveon," Ethan muttered, scratching the Pokémon's ears. "At least you're on my side."

The stage lit up as Professor Oak returned to the microphone, his voice booming across the venue. "Welcome, everyone, to the start of our Pokémon Performance Competition! Each trainer will showcase their Pokémon's talents, and the winner will be decided by your votes online!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as the event began.

Ash was the first to take the stage. He proudly introduced his Squirtle, who performed an energetic routine involving spinning on its shell while shooting Water Guns into the air like fireworks. The crowd cheered enthusiastically, and Ash beamed with pride.

Next came a series of performances from other trainers, each showcasing unique talents. Some were comedic, others elegant, but all had the crowd engaged.

When Gary Oak's turn arrived, he strutted onto the stage with his usual smug confidence. "Watch and learn, amateurs," he declared, tossing his Pokéball into the air.

Out came his Wartortle, who performed a synchronized combination of Rapid Spin and Hydro Pump, creating a shimmering water vortex. It was flashy and technically impressive, earning loud applause. Ethan couldn't help but note that Wartortle's performance outshone Ash's Squirtle.

Green and Pink's performances followed shortly after, with both trainers showcasing creative routines that highlighted their Pokémon's abilities. The crowd was captivated by their finesse and coordination.

As the competition continued, the event was broadcast live, with viewers voting online for their favorite performances. The cameras occasionally panned across the audience, capturing their reactions.

Ethan, oblivious to this, was still sulking about the missed opportunity to win the Aerodactyl fossil. Sylveon, sensing his gloom, nuzzled him harder, playfully wrapping its ribbons around his face to cheer him up. Ethan couldn't help but laugh as he tried to untangle himself.

"Alright, alright, I get it! Stop smothering me!" Ethan chuckled, his spirits slightly lifted.

Unbeknownst to him, the cameras had shifted to his section of the audience, primarily because Professor Oak was seated nearby. As the broadcast cut to their area, the live feed captured Sylveon happily playing with Ethan, its elegance and charm immediately catching the attention of viewers worldwide.

"Wait… what Pokémon is that?"

"That looks like a Sylveon! But… isn't that super rare?"

The online chat exploded with speculation and excitement.

"Who's the trainer?!"

"Is that Sylveon part of the competition?!"

Ethan, entirely unaware of the attention, continued playing with Sylveon, who was now nudging his cheek affectionately. The camera operator, realizing the stir, quickly shifted back to the stage, focusing on Professor Oak before returning to the performances.

However, the image of Sylveon had already left an impression on the viewers. Social media and livestream chats buzzed with discussions about the rare Pokémon and its mysterious trainer.

The competition continued, and Pink's turn marked the final performance. Her routine was a graceful display of her Pokémon's abilities, leaving the crowd in awe.