1-5
Gary OakÆs day started out fantastic! He got the best Pokemon in the lab, had his fans cheer him when he left, and even got a brand new car for his journey. Earlier, things had been a bit tough, getting out of bed and all, and he couldnÆt sleep last night, but, in the end, it had been worth it.
Now all he needed to do was get out of town in one piece and start his journey to become the worldÆs greatest Pokemen Master! ôGary! Garry! HeÆs our man, if he canÆt do it, no one can! Gooooo Ga ûoh my god itÆs Ash! Run!ö
ThatÆs when Ash Ketchum showed up. Now, donÆt get Gary wrong, Gary didnÆt always dislike his rival (not that he would ever admit it) but ever since Ash started spending more time in the wild, without any Pokemon, he had gotten a bit strange.
For example: he always carried a bat.
Yes. A very large, sturdy bat.
Gary hid his nervousness as Ash approached. He couldnÆt show fear, no, not him. He was Professor OakÆs grandson for LugiaÆs sake! Why on Earth would he be scared of Ash Ketchum? For one thing, Ash had zero inherited talent. Not many knew a damn thing about his father, and the less said about his aloof mother, the better. Sure, Gary liked Miss Ketchum, and, more than once, wished she was HIS mother, but give him a break!
Ash was a commoner, a nobody, and, above all else, a loser.
A loser with a surprisingly large bat.
ôiÆm not late am I?ö Gary didnÆt want to turn around. No. He wouldnÆt do it. Not this time. If he turned around he would have to talk to him. No. Gary wasnÆt scared of Ash, not afraid of him whatsoever. The rumors he heard about Ash coming back from the wilds with a bloody bat were just that: rumors.
Still, he had to at least tell the loser off. Maybe rub it in his face that he has the best Pokemon? That his grandpa was Professor Oak? That he had a truckload of fangirls? Oh, yes Gary Oak would get his hits in before he left this stupid little town. ôHey, Ashy boouyyyyyy holy crap whatÆs that your holding!ö
In front of Gary was Ash. He looked the same he did a year ago, which was the last time they spoke. He was shorter than him, by half a foot, wore that strange blue jacket, like he was getting ready for a baseball game, and blue jeans. That was surprising because he normally wore those clothes when he went out for long amounts of time.
Did the guy just come back from some trip? No matter, that wasnÆt even the problem. You see Ash carried two very important things with him at all times. Spending long amounts of time in the wild, without a Pokemon, was a dangerous venture. So, being the clever child that he was, he carried with him arms. Not guns. Not pepper spray. Not even repel potion. No. Not any of that, he instead carried a very simple and effective tool.
A very sturdy wooden bat.
And it was bloody today.
Ash looked down at his bat, then looked at his rival (not that Ash would ever admit it either). He looked tired; his eyes were bloodshot, his hair a mess, and his clothes filthy. ôHeyà.do I know you?ö He looked at Gary carefully. ôYou look familiar?ö
Gary got a tick mark. ôItÆs Gary.ö He waited for Ash to recognize him. They had been best friends for years, how the hell could Ash just forget him? Sure, they had a falling out, but that was mostly due to Ash not showing up in school, and coming back from the wild with strange trophies like Ratata heads. How the hell do you stay friends with a kid like that?
ôHuh, Gary, Gary, Garyà.oh snap! Gary!ö Ahh, so Ash didnÆt forget him. ôHow you been buddy?ö
Gary frowned. ôNever better.ö His attempted sneer at Ash wasnÆt going well. ôI just got the best Pokemon in the lab.ö
Ash scratched the back of his head. It wasnÆt a nervous gesture. No. instead he pulled out some bugs, dropped them on the floor, and used his bat to smash it. Gary, and the crowd around him, flinched at the impact. The kid was strong, far too strong to be wielding something like that. If he swung now, at this distance, would Gary survive?
ôSorry about that, IÆm a little paranoid,ö Ash said, still sounding tired. ôGot chased by Beedrill for the past three days.ö
Gary looked at him closely. There were holes on the boyÆs jacket: lots and lots of them. There was even one huge gaping chasm, and beneath that were bandages? Had a Beedrill managed to hit Ash? That didnÆt make any sense! Ash should be dead if that were the case. What the heck was going on?
ôAhh, yeah, right,ö Gary said. He wasnÆt sure what you could say to your best friend/rival/ enemy after heÆd just got out of a life and death situation. ôWell, Ashy boy, IÆll be seeing you around.ö
Before Gary could turn Ash grabbed his shoulder. Gary tried to bat it away, but AshÆs grip was strong. Despite being shorter than himself, Ash Ketchum had more muscle, judging by his larger than average shoulders and bicep. Gary didnÆt understand how a ten year old could be built like that, but when you spend enough time in the wild strange things DO happen.
Just look at his gramps.
ôLet go of Gary!ö his fangirls said.
ôYeah, letÆem go Ketchum!ö the crowd said.
AshÆs bloodshot eyes glared at his fangirls. That shut them up. He turned to the crowd and did the same. Most of them kept their mouth shut too. It didnÆt matter that Ash was the dead last, that he was likely not to get a Pokemon, or that he was dressed like some kind of bum, something about the boy told them to PUT UP or SHUT THE FUCK UP!
ôGary,ö Ash said slowly, his voice cracking. Had the boy eaten anything in days? ôBefore you go, can you tell me what Pokemon you got?ö
Gary knew the answer to this. ôWhy Ash! IÆm offended! What do you think I got?ö
Ash didnÆt respond. He looked too tired too. Gary noticed, however, that he kept gripping the bloody bat he held. He decided maybe, just maybe this wasnÆt the time to make fun of his childhood friend in public, in his own town, where everyone would riotously say æYeah, Ash beat the $^$#$#@ of OakÆs grandkid after he talked about his mom,Æ not that Gary would ever talk about AshÆs mom. It was just something the locals were likely to say.
ôIÆm guessing Oak gave you the best Pokemon?ö Ash asked.
ôWell, he IS my grandpa.ö
Ash nodded, frowned slightly, and looked at his bat. ôI think IÆm gonna go in there.ö
ôWhy bother?ö Gary asked.
ôWhat do you mean?ö
ôI mean there arenÆt any Pokemon left, Ashy boy.ö
Ash frowned. ôIàI donÆt think I like you calling me Ashy boy.ö Ash didnÆt remember ever letting Gary call him anything other than Ash. ôAnd whatÆs with your attitude?ö
ôWhat?ö Gary didnÆt expect this. ôWhat the heck are you talking about?ö
ôWeÆre friends, Gary, and I talk to you in like a year and you start treating me like this?ö
Once again, Gary wasnÆt sure how to respond. ôFriends? Please! As if I was ever friends with a loser like you!ö
The towns people sucked in their breath. Even his fangirls looked a bit wary. Gary figured he gave Ash a good talking too. He felt proud of himself. Not only did he make himself look superior to the short loser, but he established their new relationship. They would be rivals, and there would always be a bigger rival, and that would be him!
ôGary,ö Ash said slowly, his tiredness going away with every second he looked at his old friend. ôYou didnÆt just call me a loser, did you?ö
ôAnd what if I did?ö Gary glanced at the bat once. Then back at Ash. ôYou arenÆt gonna swing that bat at me are ya?ö
Ash showed him teeth. Gary was surprised how sharp his teeth were. Were his teeth always that sharp? Like some kind of shark? Why didnÆt he ever notice? He certainly wasnÆt like this a few years agoàbut then he never kept track of his loser ex-friend, so why should he care?
ôGary, IÆve got a question.ö
Gary didnÆt like the tone of AshÆs voice. ôShoot.ö
Ash looked at his bat once, then looked at Gary, then at the bat, then at Gary again. ôIs that your Car?ö
Gary looked behind him. Yes. It was his car. It was an early present from his parents. They didnÆt want him walking around the Kanto region, so a car was the best thing. Let the loser trainers walk from gym to gym. Gary would take the expressway, and he would do this in style. In a luxurious sports car with fine ladies, food, and enough money to make Ash jealous. Not that Ash EVER got jealous of things like that, for some reason ever since he started carrying that bat he seemed satisfied with life.
ôThatÆs my car, Ashy boy.ö He smirked. ôLike it?ö
Ash glanced at it once. ôIz ailghht.ö
ôJust alright?ö He couldnÆt believe this! ôThatÆs the latest model! Do you know how much itÆs worth?ö
ôA lot, probably.ö Ash said, while shrugging.
ôYouÆre an idiot, Ketchum,ö one of his fangirls said. ôThat carÆs worth more than your house.ö
Ash looked at her. He analyzed her up and down. It made the blue haired girl feel fairly uncomfortable. Like Gary, she had grown up with Ash as well. In fact, all the children in the town had grown up with Ash. Until he started wandering into the woods on a regular basis they were all pretty decent friends. Of course, after he started carrying blood bats, rocks, sticks, stones, and occasionally knives, there was just some kind of tension between them all.
It was as if Ash just felt, she couldnÆt place it, like a predator?
ôDonÆt I know you?ö he asked slowly.
ôWe went to the same kindergarten class?ö
Ash shook his head. ôNo memories there.ö
ôSame preschool?ö
Ash shook his head.
ôWe were in the same class last year,ö she finished.
Ash put the bat down, and rubbed his chin. ôNow itÆs coming back.ö He frowned. ôDidnÆt you say I was some kinda homicidal psychopath?ö
ôWell, I, um, that is to sayà.ö The girl decided to wisely back away. Sure, she had mentioned that once or twice, but saying it to AshÆs face? She would have to be mad! The kid carried around an effing blood bat. Lord knows what he did with it! Could he beat her to death with it? Hell yeah! Could he beat up Gary to death? Well, she would like to think GaryÆs Pokemon could handle it, but she HAD seen Ash come back with Pidgy bones once or twice.
ôAnywayyyy,ö Ash said, trying to change the topic. ôI think IÆm gonna get me a Pokemon.ö
ôI told you, there arenÆt any left.ö
Ash looked at his bat. ôNo, there is always a Pokemon left.ö
ôFor the las-ô
ôAlways.ö He gave a pretend swing, scratched out more insects from his hair, and walked in.
à.
When Ash entered the lab the first thing he did was yell. ôAhhhhmmmaaaannn I totally forgot to check in with mom!ö The older Ketchum was going to kill him. He had lost the map, wandered all across Viridian forest for the past week, lost his food, and had to live off wild Pokemon. ôMaybe I should just leave before saying goodbye?ö
ôI wouldnÆt recommend that,ö a voice said behind Ash.
The ten year old turned around. ôHey Professor.ö He gave him a winning smile.
ôHey yourself, Ash, and I hope your journey went well.ö He looked at AshÆs bat, then frowned. ôOr not.ö
Ash shrugged. ôWhen youÆre trapped in a forest of carnivorous insectsàyeah things get tough fast, real fast.ö
Oak nodded. ôYes, I see.ö Though he didnÆt understand why this only happened to Ash. Most Pokemon tended to not harm other trainers too harshly. But for some reason Ash was an odd case. Maybe he just provoked them? Hmm, judging by the club he carried around with him it didnÆt surprise him.
ôProfessor, I just met Gary outside. ô Ash looked kind of sad. ôHe was such an ass.ö
ôYes, he can be. He just came into my lab earlier, took the Pokemon I was saving for you, and left.ö
Ash glared. ôYou just let him.ö He tightened his grip on his bat.
ôCalm down,ö Oak said.
ôCal ûsorry.ö He relaxed. ôWell, thatÆs fine. AS long as I get a new Pokemon.ö
The Professor looked kind of nervous. ôWell, Ash, about thatà.ö
Gary OakÆs day started out fantastic! He got the best Pokemon in the lab, had his fans cheer him when he left, and even got a brand new car for his journey. Earlier, things had been a bit tough, getting out of bed and all, and he couldnÆt sleep last night, but, in the end, it had been worth it.
Now all he needed to do was get out of town in one piece and start his journey to become the worldÆs greatest Pokemen Master! ôGary! Garry! HeÆs our man, if he canÆt do it, no one can! Gooooo Ga ûoh my god itÆs Ash! Run!ö
ThatÆs when Ash Ketchum showed up. Now, donÆt get Gary wrong, Gary didnÆt always dislike his rival (not that he would ever admit it) but ever since Ash started spending more time in the wild, without any Pokemon, he had gotten a bit strange.
For example: he always carried a bat.
Yes. A very large, sturdy bat.
Gary hid his nervousness as Ash approached. He couldnÆt show fear, no, not him. He was Professor OakÆs grandson for LugiaÆs sake! Why on Earth would he be scared of Ash Ketchum? For one thing, Ash had zero inherited talent. Not many knew a damn thing about his father, and the less said about his aloof mother, the better. Sure, Gary liked Miss Ketchum, and, more than once, wished she was HIS mother, but give him a break!
Ash was a commoner, a nobody, and, above all else, a loser.
A loser with a surprisingly large bat.
ôiÆm not late am I?ö Gary didnÆt want to turn around. No. He wouldnÆt do it. Not this time. If he turned around he would have to talk to him. No. Gary wasnÆt scared of Ash, not afraid of him whatsoever. The rumors he heard about Ash coming back from the wilds with a bloody bat were just that: rumors.
Still, he had to at least tell the loser off. Maybe rub it in his face that he has the best Pokemon? That his grandpa was Professor Oak? That he had a truckload of fangirls? Oh, yes Gary Oak would get his hits in before he left this stupid little town. ôHey, Ashy boouyyyyyy holy crap whatÆs that your holding!ö
In front of Gary was Ash. He looked the same he did a year ago, which was the last time they spoke. He was shorter than him, by half a foot, wore that strange blue jacket, like he was getting ready for a baseball game, and blue jeans. That was surprising because he normally wore those clothes when he went out for long amounts of time.
Did the guy just come back from some trip? No matter, that wasnÆt even the problem. You see Ash carried two very important things with him at all times. Spending long amounts of time in the wild, without a Pokemon, was a dangerous venture. So, being the clever child that he was, he carried with him arms. Not guns. Not pepper spray. Not even repel potion. No. Not any of that, he instead carried a very simple and effective tool.
A very sturdy wooden bat.
And it was bloody today.
Ash looked down at his bat, then looked at his rival (not that Ash would ever admit it either). He looked tired; his eyes were bloodshot, his hair a mess, and his clothes filthy. ôHeyà.do I know you?ö He looked at Gary carefully. ôYou look familiar?ö
Gary got a tick mark. ôItÆs Gary.ö He waited for Ash to recognize him. They had been best friends for years, how the hell could Ash just forget him? Sure, they had a falling out, but that was mostly due to Ash not showing up in school, and coming back from the wild with strange trophies like Ratata heads. How the hell do you stay friends with a kid like that?
ôHuh, Gary, Gary, Garyà.oh snap! Gary!ö Ahh, so Ash didnÆt forget him. ôHow you been buddy?ö
Gary frowned. ôNever better.ö His attempted sneer at Ash wasnÆt going well. ôI just got the best Pokemon in the lab.ö
Ash scratched the back of his head. It wasnÆt a nervous gesture. No. instead he pulled out some bugs, dropped them on the floor, and used his bat to smash it. Gary, and the crowd around him, flinched at the impact. The kid was strong, far too strong to be wielding something like that. If he swung now, at this distance, would Gary survive?
ôSorry about that, IÆm a little paranoid,ö Ash said, still sounding tired. ôGot chased by Beedrill for the past three days.ö
Gary looked at him closely. There were holes on the boyÆs jacket: lots and lots of them. There was even one huge gaping chasm, and beneath that were bandages? Had a Beedrill managed to hit Ash? That didnÆt make any sense! Ash should be dead if that were the case. What the heck was going on?
ôAhh, yeah, right,ö Gary said. He wasnÆt sure what you could say to your best friend/rival/ enemy after heÆd just got out of a life and death situation. ôWell, Ashy boy, IÆll be seeing you around.ö
Before Gary could turn Ash grabbed his shoulder. Gary tried to bat it away, but AshÆs grip was strong. Despite being shorter than himself, Ash Ketchum had more muscle, judging by his larger than average shoulders and bicep. Gary didnÆt understand how a ten year old could be built like that, but when you spend enough time in the wild strange things DO happen.
Just look at his gramps.
ôLet go of Gary!ö his fangirls said.
ôYeah, letÆem go Ketchum!ö the crowd said.
AshÆs bloodshot eyes glared at his fangirls. That shut them up. He turned to the crowd and did the same. Most of them kept their mouth shut too. It didnÆt matter that Ash was the dead last, that he was likely not to get a Pokemon, or that he was dressed like some kind of bum, something about the boy told them to PUT UP or SHUT THE FUCK UP!
ôGary,ö Ash said slowly, his voice cracking. Had the boy eaten anything in days? ôBefore you go, can you tell me what Pokemon you got?ö
Gary knew the answer to this. ôWhy Ash! IÆm offended! What do you think I got?ö
Ash didnÆt respond. He looked too tired too. Gary noticed, however, that he kept gripping the bloody bat he held. He decided maybe, just maybe this wasnÆt the time to make fun of his childhood friend in public, in his own town, where everyone would riotously say æYeah, Ash beat the $^$#$#@ of OakÆs grandkid after he talked about his mom,Æ not that Gary would ever talk about AshÆs mom. It was just something the locals were likely to say.
ôIÆm guessing Oak gave you the best Pokemon?ö Ash asked.
ôWell, he IS my grandpa.ö
Ash nodded, frowned slightly, and looked at his bat. ôI think IÆm gonna go in there.ö
ôWhy bother?ö Gary asked.
ôWhat do you mean?ö
ôI mean there arenÆt any Pokemon left, Ashy boy.ö
Ash frowned. ôIàI donÆt think I like you calling me Ashy boy.ö Ash didnÆt remember ever letting Gary call him anything other than Ash. ôAnd whatÆs with your attitude?ö
ôWhat?ö Gary didnÆt expect this. ôWhat the heck are you talking about?ö
ôWeÆre friends, Gary, and I talk to you in like a year and you start treating me like this?ö
Once again, Gary wasnÆt sure how to respond. ôFriends? Please! As if I was ever friends with a loser like you!ö
The towns people sucked in their breath. Even his fangirls looked a bit wary. Gary figured he gave Ash a good talking too. He felt proud of himself. Not only did he make himself look superior to the short loser, but he established their new relationship. They would be rivals, and there would always be a bigger rival, and that would be him!
ôGary,ö Ash said slowly, his tiredness going away with every second he looked at his old friend. ôYou didnÆt just call me a loser, did you?ö
ôAnd what if I did?ö Gary glanced at the bat once. Then back at Ash. ôYou arenÆt gonna swing that bat at me are ya?ö
Ash showed him teeth. Gary was surprised how sharp his teeth were. Were his teeth always that sharp? Like some kind of shark? Why didnÆt he ever notice? He certainly wasnÆt like this a few years agoàbut then he never kept track of his loser ex-friend, so why should he care?
ôGary, IÆve got a question.ö
Gary didnÆt like the tone of AshÆs voice. ôShoot.ö
Ash looked at his bat once, then looked at Gary, then at the bat, then at Gary again. ôIs that your Car?ö
Gary looked behind him. Yes. It was his car. It was an early present from his parents. They didnÆt want him walking around the Kanto region, so a car was the best thing. Let the loser trainers walk from gym to gym. Gary would take the expressway, and he would do this in style. In a luxurious sports car with fine ladies, food, and enough money to make Ash jealous. Not that Ash EVER got jealous of things like that, for some reason ever since he started carrying that bat he seemed satisfied with life.
ôThatÆs my car, Ashy boy.ö He smirked. ôLike it?ö
Ash glanced at it once. ôIz ailghht.ö
ôJust alright?ö He couldnÆt believe this! ôThatÆs the latest model! Do you know how much itÆs worth?ö
ôA lot, probably.ö Ash said, while shrugging.
ôYouÆre an idiot, Ketchum,ö one of his fangirls said. ôThat carÆs worth more than your house.ö
Ash looked at her. He analyzed her up and down. It made the blue haired girl feel fairly uncomfortable. Like Gary, she had grown up with Ash as well. In fact, all the children in the town had grown up with Ash. Until he started wandering into the woods on a regular basis they were all pretty decent friends. Of course, after he started carrying blood bats, rocks, sticks, stones, and occasionally knives, there was just some kind of tension between them all.
It was as if Ash just felt, she couldnÆt place it, like a predator?
ôDonÆt I know you?ö he asked slowly.
ôWe went to the same kindergarten class?ö
Ash shook his head. ôNo memories there.ö
ôSame preschool?ö
Ash shook his head.
ôWe were in the same class last year,ö she finished.
Ash put the bat down, and rubbed his chin. ôNow itÆs coming back.ö He frowned. ôDidnÆt you say I was some kinda homicidal psychopath?ö
ôWell, I, um, that is to sayà.ö The girl decided to wisely back away. Sure, she had mentioned that once or twice, but saying it to AshÆs face? She would have to be mad! The kid carried around an effing blood bat. Lord knows what he did with it! Could he beat her to death with it? Hell yeah! Could he beat up Gary to death? Well, she would like to think GaryÆs Pokemon could handle it, but she HAD seen Ash come back with Pidgy bones once or twice.
ôAnywayyyy,ö Ash said, trying to change the topic. ôI think IÆm gonna get me a Pokemon.ö
ôI told you, there arenÆt any left.ö
Ash looked at his bat. ôNo, there is always a Pokemon left.ö
ôFor the las-ô
ôAlways.ö He gave a pretend swing, scratched out more insects from his hair, and walked in.
à.
When Ash entered the lab the first thing he did was yell. ôAhhhhmmmaaaannn I totally forgot to check in with mom!ö The older Ketchum was going to kill him. He had lost the map, wandered all across Viridian forest for the past week, lost his food, and had to live off wild Pokemon. ôMaybe I should just leave before saying goodbye?ö
ôI wouldnÆt recommend that,ö a voice said behind Ash.
The ten year old turned around. ôHey Professor.ö He gave him a winning smile.
ôHey yourself, Ash, and I hope your journey went well.ö He looked at AshÆs bat, then frowned. ôOr not.ö
Ash shrugged. ôWhen youÆre trapped in a forest of carnivorous insectsàyeah things get tough fast, real fast.ö
Oak nodded. ôYes, I see.ö Though he didnÆt understand why this only happened to Ash. Most Pokemon tended to not harm other trainers too harshly. But for some reason Ash was an odd case. Maybe he just provoked them? Hmm, judging by the club he carried around with him it didnÆt surprise him.
ôProfessor, I just met Gary outside. ô Ash looked kind of sad. ôHe was such an ass.ö
ôYes, he can be. He just came into my lab earlier, took the Pokemon I was saving for you, and left.ö
Ash glared. ôYou just let him.ö He tightened his grip on his bat.
ôCalm down,ö Oak said.
ôCal ûsorry.ö He relaxed. ôWell, thatÆs fine. AS long as I get a new Pokemon.ö
The Professor looked kind of nervous. ôWell, Ash, about thatà.ö
