Kanto Region.
Where everything began—Pallet Town.
"Gary, why are you up so early today?" Professor Oak asked, noticing Gary's early rise. The clock still showed an hour before the Rookie Trainers were scheduled to arrive.
"Of course, today is the day to select the Earl Dervish Pokémon, so I had to get up early," Gary replied with a confident smile. His reddish-brown hair and youthful charm were unmistakable.
"I think you just want to be the first to pick, worried that someone else might choose the Pokémon you want," Professor Oak teased, seeing through Gary's motives.
Gary, being the grandson of Professor Oak, had an undeniable advantage. He had been in close contact with the Earl Dervish Pokémon longer than most other trainers and understood their potential well.
Gary—whose real name was Qin Mao—was a time traveler who had been transported into the Pokémon world. He was thrilled to learn that he had become the grandson of Professor Oak. While Gary wasn't the protagonist like Ash, his position as Professor Oak's grandson still gave him a perfect starting point.
Gary had a clear goal: to become a Pokémon Master. He was determined not to repeat Gary's fate in the original timeline, where he gave up his dream after ranking 32nd at the Indigo Plateau Conference and 16th at the Silver Conference. Instead of giving up, Gary now intended to achieve his dream, and only after becoming a champion would he consider a career as a Pokémon researcher.
The reason Gary had come so early was not just to pick the first Pokémon, but because his system was activated the moment he chose his starter. The night before, Gary had received a mysterious message from the system.
[Current Task: Choose the Earl Dervish Pokémon, Squirtle. Reward: Deluxe Gift Pack x1.]
According to the original story, Gary did choose Squirtle as his first Pokémon. Squirtle was a strong starter, and its final evolution, Blastoise, was a powerhouse with Mega Evolution and Gigantamax capabilities. Gary was certain that Squirtle, the Earl Dervish Pokémon in this case, would be an elite choice.
One hour later, the laboratory was bustling with activity as various family members of the Rookie Trainers gathered. Among them were Gary's childhood friends, Kai and Kal. Like Gary, they had grown up in Pallet Town.
"Gary, didn't expect you to be here so early. I bet you've already decided on your Pokémon. After you choose, let's battle!" Kai said, his voice full of playful rivalry.
Kal, on the other hand, remained quiet, simply watching the exchange between Gary and Kai.
Gary wanted to decline the challenge, knowing it was pointless, but then the system suddenly issued another mission.
[Ding! Temporary Mission: Defeat Challenger Kai. Reward: Low-Level Rare Candies x3 (for Pokémon below level 30, level +1).]
"Alright, you'll be the one to taste defeat first," Gary responded confidently.
Kai, clearly not backing down, retorted, "We'll see about that!"
Gary wasn't concerned. He knew that Kai and Kal might have some early success in their Pokémon journeys, but neither of them would pose much of a threat. Neither had even participated in a Pokémon Conference, let alone reached the level where they could truly challenge him.
Professor Oak, witnessing the friendly banter, sighed in resignation but didn't interfere. Rivalries were natural among trainers.
"Alright, you can have your battle in the backyard," Professor Oak offered, guiding the group to a nearby area where they could begin.
"Let's go," Gary said, following the professor. He was eager to see the three starters.
Professor Oak pulled three Poké Balls from the pocket inside his white lab coat and tossed them onto the ground.
"Bulbasaur!"
"Charmander!"
"Squirtle!"
The classic trio of starter Pokémon from the Kanto region appeared before them. Each of them was as lively and eager as ever.
Gary, despite having spent time with these Pokémon before, couldn't help but feel a thrill at seeing them again. Kai and Kal's eyes sparkled with excitement. They had heard stories of these Pokémon but had never seen them up close.
"Okay, here they are. According to the order of arrival, Gary, you can choose first," Professor Oak said.
Gary smiled and walked confidently toward Squirtle.
"I'll choose Squirtle," Gary announced, extending his hand toward the water-type Pokémon. "Let's take on the world together."
Squirtle responded eagerly, jumping into Gary's arms with a happy cry, "Johnny!" Gary gently stroked Squirtle's head, feeling a strong bond form between them.
"Heh, you're my first Pokémon," Gary whispered as Squirtle squinted in contentment, clearly pleased with the attention.
[Ding! Mission Completed: Deluxe Gift Pack awarded.]
Gary felt a surge of curiosity as the system notified him of his completed task. The reward was now stored in his backpack, but Gary knew he couldn't check it just yet. There were more important matters at hand.
Next, it was Kal's turn to choose. Without hesitation, she approached Bulbasaur, lowering herself to the Pokémon's level.
"Bulbasaur, come with me," Kal said gently, and the Pokémon responded with a joyful "Seed!" Bulbasaur stretched out its Vine Whip and eagerly embraced its new trainer.
"Perfect," Kal smiled, delighted with her choice.
Finally, it was Kai's turn. He excitedly ran to the last of the three Pokémon, Charmander. "Charmander, you're mine!" he exclaimed, thrilled to have chosen the fiery little Pokémon.
Gary couldn't help but shake his head. Did Kai really not know that Fire-type Pokémon were weak to Water-types? He was about to face a tough challenge in their upcoming battle.
"Alright, let's get this battle started!" Kai challenged eagerly.
Gary, now slightly amused, couldn't help but think, Does he even know that Squirtle has a clear advantage here?
Kai, clearly eager to prove himself, was unaware that he had walked right into a disadvantageous match. Still, Gary couldn't blame him too much—after all, even Ash Ketchum had made similar mistakes when he was starting out.
"Let's battle in the backyard," Gary agreed. He wasn't worried. This would be a perfect chance to test out Squirtle's abilities and see if his new system was as powerful as it promised.
And with that, the three young trainers began their first step into the world of Pokémon battles.