"Hello, Ash," Professor Oak greeted, not even turning around from what he was doing to see who it was.
Ash resisted the urge to ask how the Pokémon Professor knew it was him. "Hi, Professor Oak."
"Have you made up your mind yet?" the old man asked, at last turning his head slightly.
Ash nodded. "Yeah...I...I want to give it a try."
This time, Professor Oak turned all the way around. "You do realize that it might be somewhat dangerous and that you should under no circumstance tell your mother about it, don't you?"
Ash nodded his head again, gulping.
"I admire that in you, Ash. You realize that when you fall off a Ponyta, you must get back on." Samuel Oak clasped his hands together, a hint of some emotion Ash didn't recognize glinting in his eyes. "Do you want to start today?"
"Yeah," the young trainer said, his mouth dry.
Professor Oak looked at him for a minute, appearing to think about something. "I don't think you should rely on one of your own Pokémon, like Pikachu to—how did you get here alone, by the way?" he inquired as the thought hit him.
"It wasn't easy," Ash admitted. "It took three bottles of ketchup to get Pikachu to leave me alone, and three bottles of liquid fertilizer and a big basket of berries for Bulbasaur to even think about letting me leave...Mom went to the store, and I convinced Misty to go swimming and Brock to try out some new recipes."
"And where is it you told them you would be?"
"Uh...out training with Kingler. But that's not the point!"
Samuel Oak smiled. "All right, Ash Ketchum. You'll get your time. I'll send you out there with a high-level Starmie left here by a trainer—" (at this, Ash thought somewhat angrily: Probably Gary's.) and a warning: be careful. Don't tempt Houndour, or you'll regret it."
"You're not coming with me?" Ash looked worried.
"I wish I could, but I have a lot to take care of." Professor Oak gestured to his work station. "Do not be afraid. You'll be in good hands." He raised his voice slightly, "Starmie?"
The Mysterious Pokémon Teleported into the room. Ash stared at it.
"Starmie will take good care of you should anything unusual happen, making sure you come to no harm."
"Uh, all right," Ash said, not too surely.
The Psychic-Type's core glowed.
"It can even save you the long walk out there," Professor Oak stated right before Starmie Teleported itself and Ash out of the room. Do take care of him, Starmie, Professor Oak thought towards the now-absent Pokémon. We nearly lost him once, and we don't want that to happen again...Hopefully this plan of mine will heal two broken hearts rather than breaking one frail body.
