In Other News
Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2026 @ 3:49am by Novice Trainer Willow Osbeck & Novice Trainer Lilith Hedman & Novice Trainer Rachel Anderson & Novice Trainer Nikolai Kerrigan & Novice Trainer Emery McEntyre & Novice Trainer Silvio 'Sil' Valerio
4,549 words; about a 23 minute read
Mission:
S1E0: They Grow Up So Fast
Location: Ravnasfjord, Erehwon
Timeline: January 9, 1988
”You’re watching ERTV News At Nine- helping you to start your morning right.
And now, the host of ERTV News At Nine, Lars Kjellberg:”
The footage cut to a sterile grey newsroom, with a backdrop consisting of repeating protrusions of the ERTV News At Nine logo. Situated at the anchor desk was the titular host in question- a forty-ish man with a receding (if well-groomed) hairline and wide-brimmed glasses, sporting his signature navy blue cardigan over a white collared shirt.
“Good morning, Erehwon,” the reporter announced as he leaned forward and adjusted his glasses. “Kicking things off today, the competitive world was in shock this morning when Edgar Forsberg announced he would not be returning to defend his title for the 1988 season. The previously three-time regional champion and winner of the 1986 Coronation Series cites his failing health due to complications from AIDS as one of the driving factors behind his decision to retire. ERTV was on the scene when he made the announcement at the Osvolund Pokemon Center this morning.”
The news feed cut to a press room, where a tall, spindly blonde was propping himself up in front of a podium; standing just off to his right was an Electrivire, arms neatly crossed and a look of concern for his associate evident on his face.
”I sat down and had a talk with my Doctor, and we get to this point where she looks me dead in the eye and says, ‘Edgar, I’ll be brutally honest with you; based on how your numbers are trending, I don’t think you’re going to make it to the Championship this year; and if by some miracle you do manage to hold out for that long, I’d say the odds are high of you keeling over and dying on live television’,” the man explained. “And that was the moment where I sat back, thought about it, and decided it was time for me to hang up my coat.”
“Forsberg cites a botched blood transfusion he received in November of 1985, not long after winning his first Championship, as the direct cause of his AIDS diagnosis,” Kjellberg continued. “However, he suspects that other contributing factors, such as a prior history of smoking, put him at greater risk for the disease.”
”For those of you out there who think you’re safe from the virus because you’re straight, consider this your wakeup call,” Forsberg warned. “It can affect anyone, anywhere, given just the right conditions.”
“With his health taking a turn for the worse, Forsberg has announced he will dedicate the last few months of his life to raise awareness about AIDS.”
”I decided I had two options; either I spend the last few days of my life wasting away in a hospice and feeling bad for myself, or use my inluence to help support those whose lives have been completely and utterly uprooted by this terrible, terrible disease,” Forsberg explained. “I don’t think the decision was even a close one- if I’m going out, it’s going to be on my own terms.”
“Forsberg intends to hold a charity auction in Osvolund in June, where he will be auctioning off personal paraphernalia, including 10 unhatched Elekid eggs that will be bred from his prized Electivire; all proceeds from the auction will go directly to the Global AIDS Research Foundation. Additional fundraisers are also planned to be held throughout the year.”
”...But above all, I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone who’s supported me through this trying time,” Forsberg expressed, his lips curling in a faint smile. “My girlfriend, my family, my doctors, my Pokemon, and especially my fans- you’ve helped to make what should’ve been the worst years of my life into some of the best.”
The footage cut back to a different part of the newsroom, where Kjellberg could be seen seated on a sofa opposite a tall, sinewy, tan-skinned woman in a long black dress, an Absol curled up and resting at her feet.
“We return now to the Studio, where I am joined by Natjurheim Gym Leader and runner-up for the 1986 Coronation Series, Kali Magnusson,” Kjellberg announced, before shifting his attention over to his guest. “Kali, good morning, and glad you could make it here today.”
“Thank you for inviting me,” Kali said, her hands clasped together on her lap. “Even if it’s not in the best of circumstances.” Long-time fans of the Erehwon Coronation Series knew her story; she had been a contender for the championship but lost in the finals to Edgar. Clips from their final match, epic as it was, would be broadcast during this interview segment.
“You’ll ruin your eyes doing that!”
Lilith heard her mother’s shout from the kitchen, but didn’t move from her spot sitting on the floor less than a foot from the wood-framed television on the living room floor.
“It’s okay, it’s the news!” she shouted back. “You wanted me watching the news! Kali is on!” she added excitedly.
“Indeed,” Kjellberg lamented. “It's undeniable that Mr. Forsberg was a generational talent, and his absence will no doubt be felt across the sport."
”It will,” Kali agreed, nodding sadly. “But I know he wouldn’t want us moping around.” She had a look of fierce determination in her eyes. “We’ll make it a tournament worthy of him. He’ll be watching from the stands or from home, and we’ll give him a good show.”
”You keep saying ‘we’,” Kjellberg observed.
”You picked up on that, huh?” Kali said. “A few of us gym leaders will put our names in for contention. Once the training season is over and the tournament begins, Absol and I will be there.”
“Sol!” mewled the Absol at her feet.
“Something to look forward to then,” Kjellberg concluded. He turned back toward the camera. “That was Kali Magnusson, Leader of the Natjurheim Gym. We’ll be back after these messages.”
Lilith’s eyes were saucers and her mouth was wide in a grin. Kali would be competing again!
“Did you hear that Popplio?” she said to her partner next to her. “We can see her compete!” She gasped. “We can compete against her! Like an equal competitor!”
“Not without badges you can’t.”
Lilith turned and looked up, and saw her brother Marcus, who reached down and tussled her hair. “Hey kid.”
”You’re back!” she cheered, leaping up to hug him.
“Haha, yeah, just for a day though,” Marcus said. “The job of a courier is never done, but it usually brings me through town every now and then. But yeah, are you serious about competing?”
Lilith nodded excitedly. “I have it all planned out. I get the badges, place highly in the League, and get permission to found my Ghost gym somewhere. And then Kali looks at me and gives me a thumbs-up, like this!” She took on a pose of quiet cool and grace, smirked, and lifted one thumb into the air. “Then trainers will come by to compete for my badge and I’ll give them a tough fight.”
”You’ll need a few Ghost Pokemon to do that, you know,” Marcus quipped.
“I know,” she sighed. “I guess I’ll find some while on my journey. Willow’s been teaching me a bit about approaching wild Pokemon.”
”I didn’t realize you two were friends.”
She shrugged. “We are a bit, I guess. She knows more than me about the wilderness. We’ve been talking about journeying.”
”Sounds like maybe she’d be a good companion out there,” Marcus said. “It gets lonely otherwise. Just sayin’.”
Willow had just finished lacing up her boots as she made her final preparations before setting out. It had already been a few weeks since her Trainer's License had come in through the mail, and despite her parents' concerns that she should aim for something a little more realistic, she had, nonetheless, persevered in her studies, and now the day was finally upon her where she set off on her journey, to finally bring herself some personal closure to what had been eating at her for the better part of a year.
Waddling around at Willow's feet was a beady-eyed Torchic, his oversized head bobbing from side to side with every uncertain step he took on his thin little talons. Occasionally, he would stop and glance up at his trainer, or-as he chose to do in this particular instance- peck at his reflection in the polished hardwood floors.
She chuckled. "Stop that," she ordered as she reached down and scooped the chick Pokémon up in her arms. "You're going to get me in trouble with Mom."
"I think I can give you a pass today, Sweetheart."
Willow glanced up; her mother was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, arms folded and a proud-but-equally sad smile on her face. To her credit, this was her one and only child whom she'd spent the past 12 years raising while also helping to manage a successful real estate firm, so evidently it was going to be hard to let her go.
And Willow understood that- unlike most kids her age who couldn't wait to get out and away from parents that they didn't connect with, she at least understood that her parents were doing the best they could to give their daughter a stable home life. All well and good. But just because she could see where her parents might be coming from didn’t necessarily mean that she was on the same page with them. She didn't consider herself a rebel, per se- on the contrary, she was ever grateful to have a roof over her head and food on the table- but sometimes their expectations of her felt a bit... overbearing, like they were expecting her to grow up without truly experiencing life first.
"Right, then," Willow nodded, gently pushing herself up off the bench with her free hand. "Guess I'm off, then?"
Her mother sighed, as Willow half-expected. "You do realize you've got a place with us if you decide this isn't what you want to do, right?"
But it was what she wanted to do; her mother didn't seriously think she'd spent the whole of last summer studying up for Trainer's License only to get cold feet at the last moment, did she?
"Yep," Willow replied, if only just to appease her mother.
There was an awkward pause before her mother moved into the foyer and pulled Willow into a hug, making sure not to smoosh Torchic between them.
"Stay safe out there, Sweetheart," she sighed once more. "And do remember to change your underwear every single day? I know Uncle Isak let you get away with that, but you're gonna get a rash if you're not careful."
Willow rolled her eyes. "I'll be sure to keep it in mind."
"Well, then..." her mother glanced around with an air of fretfulness before taking a deep breath and patting Willow on shoulder. "Best not keep you waiting, then?"
Willow simply nodded before she turned and stepped out the door, soundly closing it behind her with her eyes locked firmly on her future.
"Here, I'll walk you out," Marcus said as he passed his little sister her backpack. "You have everything?"
"Just like you taught me!" Lilith said excitedly as she took the bag from him. "Pockets for everything. A few Pokéballs for those first routes, in case I find a Ghost friend. A few potions. Food. Clean clothes. And a spot for Popplio!"
"Pop! Pop!" Popplio barked as she climbed onto a well built perch on the backpack's top.
"Never forget to wash up!" he reminded her. "And never turn down a warm bed if it's from somewhere you can trust."
"You've told me all this!" she insisted. Still, she liked hearing it from him. "Are you heading our way?"
"No, I'm taking the ferry East," he said. "But I'll walk out with you. Now go say bye to mom and dad."
As was typical for a Saturday morning in early January, the air was brisk as Willow trudged her way down the Snomgatan; the massive cooling towers of the Solvik Power Plant- a familiar sight for locals- towered just off in the distance, their imposing silhouettes partially shrouded in the early morning fog. Torchic was wriggling around impatiently in Willow's arms, evidently wanting to be set back down so he could get a better look at the Blipbug that was quietly feasting upon Mrs. Rosendahl's Cabbage. His efforts only managed to elicit a chuckle from Willow as she gently shifted her arms to cradle him more securely, much to the Torchic's disappointment.
"I'm sure there'll be plenty more opportunities to see a Blipbug once we get out on the road," she assured him as she playfully ruffled his plumage.
As she passed by Lillith's residence, she was just in time to catch the younger trainer as she exited the house, joined by an older boy who looked strikingly similar in terms of appearance. Judging by the fact they'd just come out of the same abode, she could only guess that this was Lillith's older brother, of whom she shad poken so fondly of in their past interactions.
Huh, so that's what he looked like... kinda cute, though Willow would be hard-pressed to admit something like that out loud.
"Lillith!" she called out, waving to get the younger trainer's attention. "All set?"
"Yeah," Lilith said as she and her brother crossed the distance to where Willow was.
Marcus chuckled at his little sister, who had been so excited just a moment ago but now was acting all aloof. "You two look out for each other. And you!" he pointed to Popplio and Torchic, "you look out for them too."
"Pop!" Popplio smiled and used one flipper to salute Marcus.
Willow’s Torchic, evidently not clued in to what Marcus was going on about, let out a delighted chirp.
"I'm sure he'll do me just fine, even if he doesn't know it yet," Willow chuckled, before shifting her attention over to Lillith. "So, I take it this here's your brother, Lillith?"
"Oh, you've not met," Lilith said. "Yeah, this is Marcus. Marcus, meet Willow. She's helped me at school before. Remember when I was telling you about the Sandersons messing with me? She stepped in."
Marcus smiled and nodded at her. "I appreciate you looking after her."
"Hey, no sweat," Willow shrugged. "Peter Sanderson's a self-serving lowlife who needs to be knocked down a peg every now and then."
Lilith looked away, hiding a blush on her cheeks. "Okay it's time to go."
"Pop!" cheered Popplio excitedly.
"Is your brother coming with us?" Willow asked, glancing at Marcus.
“No he’s just leaving,” Lilith answered quickly. “Bye bro.” She gave him a hug.
A hug which he tightly returned. “Have fun kids. Be safe out there!” He went on his way toward the ferry station.
“So…” Lillith said. “This way then?” She pointed to the road West toward the Professor’s lab.
"Right along the outskirts of Route 1," Willow nodded as the two of them set off. "Can't miss it...
"Attention, passengers; the time is now 9:13 AM, and we are approaching Ravnasfjord Station; please make sure you have gathered up all your personal belongings and Pokémon, and once the train has come to a complete stop, begin making your way towards the nearest exit vestibule in a neat and orderly fashion; once you have disembarked, make sure you follow the station attendants' instructions so as not to impede on-boarding passengers. On behalf of all of us here at Erehwon National Rail Services, we thank you for riding with us today and wish you a safe journey."
As the doors opened a fluffy Eevee hopped out onto the platform, it seemed rather excited and ready to run off into the crowd.
"Eevee! Wait! No!" a voice called after it. The Eevee seemed intent on not listening and skipped through the crowd. Then it stopped when it reached the ticket barriers.
"Oh, what a cute little Eevee!" the barrier attendant swooned. She crouched down and began to pet its brown fluffy coat. "Do you have a trainer? Or did you wander in here by your own?"
It was then that a young girl appeared, clearly out of breath from running through the crowd. She was crouched over, hands on her knees panting heavily. "I told you not to run away..." she panted.
"So this is your Eevee?" the woman asked.
The girl nodded. "Yeah. I've just become her trainer, but she's a little... mischievous."
"Ah I see. Well maybe you should keep it in its pokeball?"
The girl nodded. She unclipped the red and white pokeball from her belt. "Eevee return." A red beam hit the Eevee and it soon disappeared into the ball. "Sorry about that..."
The woman smiled as she straightened back up. "Do you have your ticket and identification?"
The girl nodded. She held out her train ticket and her standard identification card. The woman checked it and then pushed a button to open the ticket gate. "Welcome to Ravnasfjord Rachel. I hope you and Eevee have a fantastic time."
Silvio stepped off the train, headphones over his hears, as he listen to Queen's Under Pressure which also featured David Bowie. His eyes were focused in front of him as the song reflected a soundtrack for his current feelings. He was under pressure to succeed and show his father what he was made of. Like his brother, Cristobal, he was determined to go all the way to the top. To win a championship and rub it in his father's face. The thought of it brought a smile to his own face.
He felt a slight nudge against his calf, urging him to move forward and keep going, a strength and impatience that could only come from one thing. Silvio looked back and locked eyes with his Zorua. The dark coated fox looked up and smiled a playful smile. "Easy, Zee. I'm going." He replied before feeling a hand on his shoulder.
"Excuse me, son." The voice of a man came as Sil turned again to face ahead of him, noticing the man at the barrier. "Do you have a ticket?"
The boy gave the man a smile, responding with a soft. "Yes... of course." As he pulled his Galarian Obstagoon bag from his side to the front. He opened it and reached into it, grabbing a handful of papers, before proceeding to pull them out. The papers fell from his grip and scattered throughout the floor. Silvio catching a slight frustrated sigh escape the mans lips. "I'm sorry. I know its here."
Zee remained behind Silvio, obscured from the man's vision by his partner's body, before catching a glimpse of his treasure. The ticket Sil was looking for. Just by his sneaker. The fox eased slowly forward, before gripping it with his teeth and pulling away, keeping hidden from the ticket man's sight. He had the ticket in his mouth and was planning to give it up, but the urge hit him. Like the smell of an Oran Berry, the sly Zorua's eyes suddenly began to glow, as he felt the urge to play.
The Zorua jumped into the air as his body began to glow. With a turn of his body, the pink glow enveloped him, as his changes his body to look like a Trubbish. The ticket still in his mouth, the now smelly trash bag Pokémon stepped forward, willing his hands and letting out a happy sounding "Trub-Trub-Trubbish."
"There it- Oh my." The man said, pulling back slightly, his eyes and nose locking with the smelly Pokémon. "Good Lo-" He began, before covering his nose with his tie. "Is this your Pokémon?"
Silvio looked down at the Trubbish, his brow raised as he covered his nose slightly, about shake his head no before catching a glimpse of it's eyes as the trash bag looked up at him. The glow from the eyes was a giveaway that this was his Pokémon, just not his actual Pokémon. The Trubbish gave him a smile, which prompted Silvio to do the same.
"Yes." Sil replied as he looked over at the man by the ticket barrier. With a bit of a smile, he pulled his had away from his mouth and nose, to say. "Your ticket is right there, Sir. Although, I would be careful. He has the ability Sticky Hold so grabbing it might be a bit of a challenge."
The man reached down to the Trubbish, but the closer he got, the stronger the scent became. It got to the point where the ticket man just gave up and held his hand out to the boy. "Just... hand me your identification. Quickly."
Silvio looked down to the Trubbish before looking through the papers in his hand. Luckily, as he was picking them up earlier, he noticed the Identification was among them. He handed the paper to the man by the ticket barrier while shoved the other ones in hand back into his sack. As he placed the sack by his hip, he noticed the man give him a second glance. Then a third. His eyes raised slightly in shock, which only meant, he noticed his last name.
"Valerio, eh? Silvio Valerio." He said as he handed back the identification paper. "Should you be traveling in a private jet?"
Silvio let out a soft sigh, before gesturing to the gate. "Can you just let me through, please?"
The man tapped the button, releasing the lock and opening the gate, before stepping aside to let the boy through. "You'd think, a boy with your family, would catch something better than a Trash Bag Pokémon."
Silvio looked down to the Trubbish, before walking forward, passed the gates. He said nothing, until he heard the family sound of Zorua changing back, hinting to him that Zee's fun was over. The boy finally stopped, looked to the man, before asking. "What Trash Bag Pokémon, Sir?"
"That one." The man replied, turning to the Trubbish, only to find a Zorua in its place. The ticket still in it's mouth, before it ran toward Silvio, jumping into its arms with an excited yelp. "I swear there was-"
"Perhaps you need a break." The boy said as Zorua crawled to his shoulder. "Have a good day, Sir." Sil replied, turning around to walk away. As he placed his headphones back on his ears, the Zee looked back at the man, who remained staring at the boy confused. Zorua's eyes began to glow for a moment, before looking towards the direction they were going. Silvio reach up and took the ticket from his partners mouth and added. "Next time, trying something a little less... stinky." He joked as he slipped the ticket into his sack.
Zee let out a content growl, nudging Silvio on the side of his face, as the growl shifted to a pleasing purr. The Zorua was please his companion wasn't upset. He hated seeing people up with his friend, so Zee doesn't fight the urge to play his changing game to put a smile on his face. The sly little fox would upset as many people as he needed to keep that smile on his friends face.
A bright and energetic Yamper dashed along the trial to Ravnasfjord, ahead of his, somewhat belegered master. A shy and mousey boy dashing after it.
"Yamper, come back!" Emery called out to his faithful companion. He had wanted to take the train but having missed it, decided to fair the journey which wouldn't take him more than a day, though at the rate his Yamper wanted to dash off ahead of him, he hopes he would make it in time to see the Professor, a friend of his fathers.
Fathers. Plural. Josiah and Gunnar. They adopted him as a newborn. Raised him, taught him everything about being a pokemon trainer and then some. Josiah was the Gym Leader, mainly of normal and fighting types. Though he and his partner also raised Tauros' on their ranch.
Emery shook the lingering thoughts and cold and chased after his Yamper.
Sylvester by his side, Nikolai walked along the path. He took a deep breath and sighed as he again adjusted his windbreaker for the 8th time. He wanted to grow faster so he fit his clothing better.
The Litten suddenly jumped ahead and went into a pounce stance. "What is it, Sylvester?" Nikolai called out and looked over to where he saw a yellow and brown tail swirling around while the rest of the Pokémon was inside a bush.
"An Abra!" Nikolai exclaimed and grabbed a Pokéball off his belt. He knew to be quiet, but he had to be fast. Abras are notorious for teleportation and Sylvester didn't know any paralysis moves.
He threw the ball and waited. It hit the tail and opened, the Abra had pulled out of the bush but was turned into that pink energy as it was captured in the Pokéball. The middle light flashed once.
"Come on!" Nikolai chanted.
Flashed twice.
Then the ball opened, the pink energy flew out, reformed the Abra and he stared at Nikolai for several moments through the closed eye slits before the jagged distortion of teleport appeared around the Abra. It smiled as it vanished.
"Aww man!" Nikolai stamped his boot on the path. "Not again. Almost had him."
"Meow," Sylvester chimed in with mimicked anger as he ran over to where the Abra had been. He sniffed the area but returned disappointed. "Meow," he said in a defeated tone.
"It's okay boy," Nikolai said with a smile. "One day," he added and the pair continued on their way to Ravnasfjord, after he retrieved the failed Pokéball. He was to meet Professor Oskar Larch there to join the Pokédex program for young trainers.
He'd left his home in Oteme on the 1st and could see Ravnasfjord in the distance. The pair entered the town a little after 9:30am, they had watched the train pull into the station and the rest of the people around for a few minutes. "I wonder where the professor is?" Nikolai said, he figured it would be a good idea to go to the Pokémon Centre as they'd know.
He took a deep breath and marched with joy into Ravnasfjord proper.
Introducing:
Lillith Hedman
& her Popplio
Willow Osbeck
& her Torchic
Rachel Anderson
& her Eevee
Silvio Valerio
& his Zee, his Zorua
Emery McEntyre
& his Yamper
Nikolai Kerrigan
& his Litten, Sylvester
With special guest appearances by
Lars Kjellberg
News Correspondent, Erehwon Regional Television News At 9
Edgar Forsberg
1985-1987 Erehwon Coronation League Champion
Kali Magnusson
Natjurheim Gym Leader
Marcus Hedman
Courier
Zelda Osbeck
Parent
RSS Feed