Might as well. You don’t have anywhere else to be.

You walked with Ash through town. As you walked, you took the opportunity to take in the sights and get your bearings.

You seemed to have been summoned into some sort of modern-ish fantasy world where machines are powered by magic. There were cool looking vehicles and trains, and people’s fashion tastes were rather avant-garde. It reminds you heavily of the setting of the Final Fantasy 8 game.

You and Ash were downtown in the city and had to take a train to get across town to Ash’s neighborhood.

Nobody seemed surprised to see a hulking orc like you walking around and getting on the train. You noticed that some people had creatures following them around as well. You deduced that, they must be trainers like Ash.

Ash had been yapping away all this while, happy to answer any of your questions.

“So you’re saying trainers are people with the ability to summon magical creatures called guardians, and they use guardians for battle?” You asked.

“Yup, that’s the gist of it,” Ash replied. “I’m so glad I managed to summon you. I’m considered somewhat of a late bloomer you see. Trainers usually awaken their power and catch their first guardian at 17 or 18 years of age. I’m 20-years-old and you’re my first guardian ever.”

“Huh…” You replied, “Haven’t you thought of changing professions instead?”

“But it’s my dream to be a trainer!” Ash gushed, “I’m gonna catch em all!”

“That again. What do you mean catch them all? All the guardians? How many are there?”

“As of today, there have been 1472 identified pokeguards.”

“Holy shit. Good luck with that kid.”

“Thanks! I will absolutely catch all of them!”

“What happens when you catch all of them?” You asked.

“Then I get a chance to be the next Pokekage!”

“The motherfucking what?” You asked,

“The Pokekage! That’s the highest seat in the Association of Pokemasters!”

“Sheesh, there are whole associations of you guys? Well, I guess it’s good to have a dream.”

“Isn’t it?” Ash replied happily.

“Is everyone in the world a pokeguard trainer?” You asked.

“Huh? Of course not.”

“So there are other types of magic?”

“Why yes, Ash replied. There are three types of pokemagic users. Pokeguard trainers are the first type. There are also pokeart ‘wielders.’”

“Okay… what are those?”

“Wielders have the power of summoning and equipping magical artifacts, hence their name, which is short for pocket-artifact wielders.”

“I see…” you said.

“Finally, there are the pokespell ‘channelers.’”

“Let me guess,” you said. “They have pocket-spells which they can lob at enemies.”

“Yup, precisely!” Ash gushed.

Do they all have to use those cards to summon their abilities?”

“You mean the pokecards?”

“Poke-yes. I’m poke-talking about the poke-cards,” you replied sarcastically.

“Yes, pokecards are essential to magic. Without them, most people won’t be able to use their powers.”

“Huh, that’s inconvenient. Where do you get those cards?”

“We can buy them or trade them. A company makes them.”

You sighed. “Is the company called poke-company?”

“Close! It’s Pokecorp!”

You sighed and mumbled to yourself, “I’m gonna go poke-nuts if this goes poke-on.”