POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

The sound of cheerful chanting filled the air as Ash walked toward Professor Oak's Laboratory.

"Gary! Gary is the best! Come on, Gary!" a group of children shouted, their enthusiasm obvious.

Ash sighed, recognizing the scene all too well. "Gary…" he muttered. Even though his memories of the animated series weren't complete, this moment felt like a clear callback.

Gary Oak, Professor Oak's grandson, had always been the arrogant, flamboyant rival in Ash's life. With his self-assured grin and his entourage of adoring fans, he epitomized the image of a young man destined for greatness. Handsome, wealthy, and confident, Gary was the quintessential "winner in life."

But Ash couldn't help feeling a pang of regret as he thought of Gary's future. After the Silver Conference, Gary would leave his path as a Pokémon Trainer and turn to research, following in his grandfather's footsteps.

Before Ash could reflect further, Gary himself appeared, stepping out of the lab. His swagger was unmistakable, the Poké Ball in his hand spinning effortlessly on his fingertip.

"Well, well! If it isn't Ash!" Gary smirked, his voice dripping with mockery. "You're late! Too bad for you—I just claimed the last Pokémon!"

Ash's lips twitched in annoyance, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Gary…" he muttered, eyeing his rival. Gary's confidence was almost overwhelming, but Ash reminded himself that this was Gary before he'd faced any real challenges.

"There's nothing left for you, Ash," Gary continued, grinning. "Guess that makes me the better trainer already!"

Ash ignored the taunt, walking past Gary without a word. He had no time to waste on petty arguments. He needed to see Professor Oak and secure his own Pokémon.

"Hey!" Gary called after him, frowning at being brushed off. "Don't think you're off the hook, Ash! If you do get a Pokémon, let's have a battle. This time, I'll win for sure!"

Ash waved dismissively over his shoulder. "Then wait for me," he said without looking back.

Gary's confident expression faltered. No matter how much he boasted, he had never beaten Ash—not once. Even their one tie still stung, a blemish on his otherwise perfect record.

Gary's hand drifted to the necklaces hanging around his neck. One was for show, a flashy accessory, but the other was hidden beneath his shirt—a chain holding half of a cracked Poké Ball, a reminder of a rivalry that burned deep in his heart.

---

Meeting Professor Oak

Ash climbed the small hill leading to Professor Oak's lab and pressed the doorbell. Despite being a familiar place, he knew better than to barge in unannounced.

The screen lit up, revealing the Professor's kind face. "Ah, Ash! You're late today. Come on in," Oak said, unlocking the door.

"Sorry for the trouble, Professor," Ash said as he entered the lab.

Oak sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. "Ash, what happened? You've never been late before. This is very unlike you."

Ash scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I stayed up late watching the Elite Four Challenge last night. I guess I overslept," he admitted. It wasn't entirely true, but he couldn't reveal the real reason for his hesitation.

The Professor nodded as they walked deeper into the lab. "Well, these things happen," he said. "But, Ash… there's a bit of a problem."

Ash tensed, already guessing what was coming. "What kind of problem?"

Oak led Ash to the storage room, where the Poké Balls for the starter Pokémon were kept. He gestured toward the now-empty table.

"The Pokémon League only provides three starter Pokémon for Pallet Town each year, and they've already been claimed."

Ash frowned. "What? But how? There are only three trainers in Pallet Town—me, Gary, and one other. That should be enough!"

Oak sighed again. "Normally, yes. But this year, a trainer from the next town over came here to claim a Pokémon. There was an error in their registration, and they weren't able to receive their Pokémon in time. They were higher on the registration list, so the League allowed them to collect one here."

Ash's stomach sank. "So… there's nothing left for me?"

"I'm afraid not," Oak admitted, his voice heavy with sympathy. "But the League has offered a solution. If you're willing to wait six months, you can claim a new starter Pokémon. They've also promised compensation for the inconvenience."

"Six months?" Ash exclaimed, his frustration boiling over. "I can't wait that long! My journey starts today!"

Oak hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Well… there is another option," he said, pulling out a single Poké Ball.

"This Pokémon wasn't provided by the League," he explained. "It's one I recently recovered from the wild. It's strong, but it still has its wild nature. It may not listen to you at first."

Ash's heart skipped a beat as he stared at the Poké Ball in Oak's hand. He didn't need to ask to know what was inside.

"It's Pikachu, isn't it?" he whispered.

Oak nodded. "Yes. If you choose this Pokémon, you'll still receive the League's compensation, but you'll need to work hard to earn its trust."

Ash didn't hesitate. "I'll take it," he said firmly.

Oak smiled, handing him the Poké Ball. "I thought you might say that. Take good care of it, Ash. This Pikachu has a lot of potential if you can bring out the best in it."

Ash held the Poké Ball tightly, his resolve strengthening. He didn't need a perfectly obedient starter to prove himself. He would earn Pikachu's loyalty and become the trainer he had always dreamed of being.

---

The Rivalry Continues

As Ash stepped out of the lab, Gary was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, his arms crossed.

"So, you actually got a Pokémon," Gary said, his smirk returning. "Good. That means I can beat you fair and square."

Ash grinned, holding up Pikachu's Poké Ball. "Don't get too confident, Gary. You've never beaten me before, and today won't be any different."

Gary's eye twitched, but he quickly regained his composure. "We'll see about that, Ash. We'll see."

As their rivalry reignited, Pikachu's Poké Ball felt warm in Ash's hand. This was only the beginning of their journey, but Ash knew one thing for sure—he wouldn't let Gary, or anyone else, outshine him.

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