[ EU ] The Pokémon universe is a Virtual Reality created for terminally ill children

Alina gently runs a hand over her daughter ’ s head, offering her a soft smile. It ’ s an attempt at reassuring her. It ’ s not a comfortable feeling saying goodbye, perhaps permanently. She ’ d never tell little Katrin that though. 
 
 “ Mommy, what ’ s happening? ” Alina gives another gentle smile. Children are always so perceptive though. 
 
 “ The doctor ’ s going to help you sleep and when you wake up, you ’ ll be better. ” 
 
 “ Oh. ” Katrin wiggles under the hospital blankets. Her hair has long since fallen out, dark rings under her eyes telling more of the tale of the illness racking her body. “ You ’ ll be there when I wake up? ” 
 
 “ Of course. ” Alina reassures her. “ I ’ ll be there whenever you need me. ” 
 
 They lapse into silence until the doctor enters the room. Alina continues to comfort her daughter as the machinery is set up in the room. Katrin watches the doctor and the assistants with great interest, eyes observing over the machinery in the room. Stepping over to the pair of them, the doctor also offers Katrin and Alina a reassuring smile. 
 
 “ Hello Miss Katrin, how are you today? ” The doctor asks, drawing Katrin ’ s attention. Some of the more disturbing equipment is being setup, the neural networks needed for creating a proper virtual reality. 
 
 “ I ’ m okay. ” Katrin ’ s voice is a small, shy. 
 
 “ That ’ s good to hear. Are you excited about today? ” He continues to distract her. Alina is thankful for him since she ’ s not sure she would be able to distract Katrin from what ’ s going on around her very well. 
 
 “ I—I don ’ t know. ” Katrin ’ s eyes stray for a second. 
 
 “ Oh, why? ” The doctor shifts to the side, blocking the sight of the large needles that would eventually be used. Katrin doesn ’ t seem to notice them, refocusing on the doctor before she can. 
 
 “ I—I don ’ t wan na be the hospital. ” Katrin ’ s voice stays extremely quiet. 
 
 “ That ’ s the best part of this. ” The doctor smiles brightly, appearing to perk Katrin ’ s interest. “ You ’ ll just wake up at home and everything will be normal. ” 
 
 “ Really? ” Katrin questions, sounding more excited. Her voice is still weak though. 
 
 “ Really really, ” the doctor replies. Katrin looks to Alina, looking for reassurance from her mother. Alina nods in agreement with the doctor. 
 
 “ Really, sweetheart, ” Alina confirms. She ’ s not sure if her shaky voice sold it or not but Katrin has skipped over it, a beaming smile on her face. The excitement seems to be wearing her out quickly though. 
 
 “ And you ’ ll be there when I wake up? ” Katrin asks again. 
 
 “ I ’ ll even make you your favorite breakfast. ” Alina smiles very softly. The nurses hand over the first of the needles, the one to start the process, to the doctor. “ Now, be good and do what they say or it won ’ t work. ” 
 
 “ Okay! ” The quick nod seems to wear her out even more, Katrin taking a couple breaths as she trembles, collapsing further into the bed. 
 
 The first shot takes a few minutes before Katrin begins to doze off. The second shot puts her completely asleep. The third is meant to stop the pain. 
 
 Alina gets to her feet and escapes out of the room before they can set up the neural headset, trying hard not to imagine the needles plunging deep into her daughter ’ s head and neck. Even if she wouldn ’ t feel it, Alina would feel it for her. With a hand to her mouth, she attempts to stop herself from sobbing outright in the hallway. 
 
 Footsteps run towards the room, drawing her attention up to the oncoming man. She sets her jaw as the man comes to a stop just shy of her. 
 
 “ I ’ m sorry, I got stuck in traffic, she ’ s not under yet, right? ” Her husband looks at her hopefully, moving to open the door and head in. 
 
 “ You ’ re late, Bastian. As always. ” Alina ’ s voice trembles even as it carries a flat tone. “ She ’ s asleep. They ’ re putting the network in place. I ’ m sure you don ’ t care to watch them. ” 
 
 Bastian grimaces, pausing before pushing into the room. Alina stays outside, trying to force herself to feel angry at her husband instead of upset for her daughter. Just so she wouldn ’ t break down into sobs. The door opens again, Bastian and the doctor coming out. 
 
 “ She ’ s doing quite well. ” There ’ s a very short pause as the doctor looks at Alina. 
 
 “ She won ’ t remember anything, right? ” Alina questions. It ’ s one she ’ s asked many times before but she asks again, just to be certain. 
 
 “ It ’ ll be something hazy and then her mind will adapt to the new reality. ” The doctor shakes his head. “ She won ’ t remember the hospital. And if she does, it ’ ll be a very short event in her past. ” 
 *** 
 Katrin blinks slowly awake, staring up at the ceiling of a room. It ’ s a warm, yellow colored room. She ’ s groggy, rubbing at her eyes as she takes the room in. It feels familiar. There are the sounds of a town outside. Katrin pulls herself up to sit on the bed. For a second, it feels unfamiliar, as if she hasn ’ t done it in a very long time. 
 
 The moment passes, Katrin smiling happily as she gets to her feet. It feels like a good day. She can smell breakfast downstairs, wafting up the stairs. She gets dressed, pulling her hair around into a pony tail. Again, there ’ s a moment of unfamiliarity with having long hair. It too passes. 
 
 “ Oh good, you ’ re finally up. ” Katrin smiles at her mother as she descends the stairs. For a second, she doesn ’ t recall the house being like this. Then she wonders why she ’ d think such a thing. It ’ s always been this way. Alina smiles at her. “ I made your favorite. You ’ ve got to hurry up, eat, and get going! ” 
 
 Katrin pauses, troubled for a second as she attempts to figure out what she needs to get going for. 
 
 “ Remember? ” Alina places the plate on the table. Pancakes, syrup, sausage, and a cup of orange juice. “ You ’ re going to see the Professor today. He wants your help with something. ” Alina smiles, taking a seat across from Katrin. “ Maybe he ’ ll even give you your first Pokémon. It ’ s exciting! ” 
 
 Katrin seems to think for a second. It doesn ’ t work mentally for a second before it all snaps together. She would be meeting the Professor in his laboratory where he studied Pokémon because he wanted her help. She nods, legs kicking under the table as she smiles broadly at the idea of getting a Pokémon. 
 
 “ After all, you ’ re ten years old, it ’ s only right for you to get a Pokémon. ” Alina fills Katrin ’ s cup of orange juice up again. The smell of coffee permeates the room, her mother retrieving a cup for herself. “ I ’ m so proud of you, sweetie. ” Katrin gets a kiss to her head when Alina comes back to join her at the table. 
 *** 
 Alina stands above her daughter ’ s bedside. She holds herself, staying far from Bastian despite the distraught expression on his face. Blinking furiously to keep her tears away, she struggles to keep her voice strong. 
 
 “ I ’ m so proud of you, sweetie. ” Alina hesitates a second, looking to the doctor. 
 
 “ It ’ s all right. She ’ s completely immersed. One hundred percent, ” the doctor assures her. 
 
 With a nod in response, Alina leans down and presses a kiss to Katrin ’ s head. 
 
 “ I love you. ” 
 
 *** 
 *** 
 ^ ( *Find more of my writing at r/Syraphia* )
