Gary Oak was many things.
A genius researcher. A former trainer. A man who had spent years studying the very creatures he once battled alongside.
But for all his success, there was something he couldn't deny.
He regretted giving up his journey as trainer for becoming a researcher.
He had walked away from being a trainer too soon, chasing a path that—while fulfilling in its own way—left him restless. He missed the battles, the adventure, the thrill of growing alongside his Pokémon.
And now, standing alone beneath the night sky, he found himself whispering a wish.
"I wish… I wish I could do it all over again."
A shooting star streaked across the sky.
For a moment, the world went still.
And then—everything faded to black.
Gary woke up to the familiar scent of his childhood home. "How did I end up here?" He muttered and than got surprised for his voice sounded higher-pitched to his own ears.
And when he bolted upright and rushed to the mirror—there he was.
A ten-year-old Gary Oak.
Memories flooded in. Not just of his childhood, but of his future self. His years of research, reviving a long extinct pokemon like aerodactyl, researching in sinnoh with great minds like rowen , all the Pokémons he had studied, the knowledge he had gained—it was all there, buried in his mind like an extended dream.
And after checking the calendar he found out that today was the day he would pick his starter Pokémon. He pinched himself to find out if it wasn't just another dream created by his brain because of too much dwelling on past regrets , the pain was very much real.
For the first time in years, he felt excitement buzz in his chest.
"Alright, if I'm getting a second shot at this… I'm going to do it right."
With that, he threw on his usual clothes a purple long sleeved polo shirt, blue denim pants,ugg boots made from mareep skin and raced toward Professor Oak's lab.
The lab was exactly as he remembered—neat, sterile, filled with stacks of research papers and the occasional cluttered desk.
Professor Oak looked up as Gary entered. "Ah, Gary! You're the first one here."
Gary smirked, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Of course. Pallet Town's best trainer can't keep the world waiting, right?"
Oak chuckled, shaking his head. "Still as confident as ever."
Gary turned to the three Pokéballs sitting on the table.
Charmander. Bulbasaur. Squirtle.
And for the first time since waking up, he hesitated. In his memories he had chosen squirtle but would other pokemon have served him better?was the question that was biting him from inside.
He reached for one of the Pokéballs—but then hesitated.
"I already know what they look like… but somehow, I want to see them again."
He pulled his hand back.
"Gramps, I want to see all three first."
Oak raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Alright, if you'd like."
With a press of a button, all three Pokéballs opened at once—releasing a trio of Pokémon onto the table.
Charmander blinked and looked up at Gary, flicking its flame-tipped tail. Its orange scales gleamed in the lab's light, and even as a newly-hatched Pokémon, it radiated fire and raw energy.
Bulbasaur yawned, stretching its stubby legs before giving Gary an analytical stare. The bud on its back pulsed slightly—it was healthy, strong, and full of potential.
Squirtle crossed its arms, tilted its head timidly
Gary exhaled.
"Alright. No distractions. No nostalgia. Just pure logic."
Charmander – The Fire type
His hand hovered over Charmander's head
Charizard was a powerhouse.
Fast, aggressive, and capable of sweeping entire teams with its fiery attacks. If it had a hidden ability like Solar Power or Blaze, it could hit even harder.
It was a strong choice for an offensive battle style.
But… Charizard had a glaring 4× weakness to Rock.
Stealth Rock would cripple it before a battle even started. And while its speed was a great asset, it wasn't invincible.
A tempting option, but was it worth the risk?
---
Bulbasaur – The grass type
His hand shifted to Bulbasaur.
Venusaur was a great option.
With moves like Leech Seed, Sleep Powder, and Toxic, it could whittle opponents down while healing itself. If it had Chlorophyll, it could outspeed opponents under sunlight, turning into a surprisingly fast bulky attacker.
Fewer weaknesses than Charizard. More control over the battlefield.
But something felt improper
A strong, smart choice. But was it the right one?
---
And then… Squirtle.
Gary hesitated.
Even at his first life he hadn't thought much about choosing Squirtle at first , only choose it to riled up ash But then memories surfaced—flashes of battles, of his Blastoise standing tall through thick and thin.
Blastoise was a bulky tank, but not slow.
It had well-rounded stats, good offensive power, and a solid defense. Unlike Charizard, it had no crippling 4× weakness.
Plus, it had key moves that made it even more valuable in battle.Rapid Spin to remove hazards,shell Smash to turn it into an unstoppable force,Iron Defense to make it nearly unbreakable.
It was consistent. Reliable. A perfect balance of offense and defense.
He knew everything about this pokemons nature , ability likes , dislikes.
And, most importantly
It was his.
A small smirk played on Gary's lips as he reached for the little turtle and patted his head " I will choose squirtle"
The little turtle blinked up at him timidly and than smiled shyly.
Gary chuckled. "Heh. Yeah, I made the right call."
The smile on his squirtle's face was worth it.
---
Before Gary could dwell on his choice, the door swung open.
Two kids entered—fraternal twins.
Both were brunettes, their features eerily similar—but with noticeable differences.
The boy, Aiden, had spiky brown hair and sharp amber eyes. His red jacket and black shirt made him look similar to ash
The girl, Elaine, had long, wavy brown hair tucked under a white and red cap. She wore a light blue tank top with a black skirt and tall boots—a practical, stylish look.
Gary recognized them immediately.
Aiden and Elaine Beaumont, the twin trainers from Lavender Town.
Their parents used to ran a small herbal shop near Pokémon Tower, after their death both kids recently moved to pallet to their uncle's house and some people whispered that their family had a deep connection with Ghost-type Pokémon.
Aiden strode forward with confidence, grabbing Charmander's Pokéball.
"Looks like squirtle has been taken,Guess that makes me the fire-type trainer of this group," he said, tossing the Pokéball in the air before catching it. His amber eyes burned with determination.
Elaine studied the remaining Pokéball for a second before gently picking up Bulbasaur's.
"A solid choice," she murmured, her green eyes calm and calculating. "I prefer a strategy that doesn't rely on brute strength alone."
Professor Oak nodded approvingly. "You've all made fine choices. Now—"
Before he could finish, Aiden and Elaine exchanged glances. Both of them along with Gary recieved their pokedexes.
"Alright, I'm off," Aiden said, already heading for the door. "See you guys at the Indigo League!"
Elaine rolled her eyes but followed. "Don't embarrass yourself too much, Aiden."
And just like that, they were gone.
Gary barely paid them any mind.
Because he was waiting for someone else.
---
Minutes passed.
And then—
The doors burst open.
A messy-haired boy in pajamas stumbled in, panting. "Wait! I'm not too late, am I?!"
Gary turned, smirking. "Well, well, look who finally decided to show up."
Ash Ketchum—disheveled, panicked, and as clueless as ever.
Professor Oak sighed. "Ash, you overslept, didn't you?"
"I had a dream—I mean, my alarm—I mean—" Ash stammered before pausing. "Wait. Where are the starter Pokémon?"
Gary simply grinned.
This was going to be fun.