Professor Oak rubbed his eyes as the coffee machine sputtered. He was awake far earlier than he liked to be. Oak sipped his coffee as he surveyed the laboratory. The eastern wall had floor-to-ceiling windows which allowed long, diagonal sunbeams to cover the floor and walls. The walls opposite the windows consisted almost entirely of bookshelves filled to the brim. While his younger research assistants used digital, Oak preferred traditional reading materials which were less stressful on his eyes. Most of the books were full of highlighted sections, handwritten annotations, and yellow discolorations in the center of the fore-edges where Oak routinely fingered through the pages.

The back of the laboratory, where Oak made his coffee, also had a whiteboard on an easel, a flat-screen TV, and a conference table with chairs. The area served as a meeting room for Oak and his colleagues as well as a makeshift classroom for when students from the local schools would visit for field trips. As popular as those field trips were among his colleagues, none of them compared to Oak's latest scheme.

It would never work, they had said.

Professor Oak kept in contact with his colleagues in other regions through various means, but video calls were the most common. Each of his colleagues he had contacted about his idea had said the same thing, more or less, ranging from gentle skepticism to outright disbelief.

"Sam," the youngest of them had said, "I'm not sure that it's the best… use of your time."

"But that's the beauty of it," Oak had replied, "this way, I won't have to go out there myself anymore. None of us will."

"I would appreciate not having to go out into the field as much," another had said as he stroked his beard, "the wild Pokemon around here can be rather aggressive. But how will we be able to ensure enough data is being gathered?"

"The system will continuously synchronize with our own databases," Oak had said, "I'll be with them every step of the way."

"Hmm," the oldest had said, "I thought I taught you better than to entrust your research to children."

That had stung him.

"I believe they are capable of more than you think," Oak had said after a moment of consideration, "or have you forgotten you once called me your 'most hopeless student'?"

The silence that had followed was uncomfortable, but Oak knew better than to break it.

"Well!" the youngest had finally said, "I supposed there's no talking you out of this, huh?"

"That's right," Oak had said with a smile.

"I'm curious to see how it goes," the other had said, "you'll keep us updated?"

"Of course," Oak had said.

"Very well," the oldest had said, "if you truly are convinced this is the best way, I wish you four the best of luck."

The automatic doors of the laboratory slid open with a near-imperceptible hiss, but Oak wouldn't miss a pin dropping to the floor after spending almost a decade inside the building.

"Hey, Professor!" Ash said with a wave.

"Hello, Ashley," Oak said, setting down his empty mug. "You're early."

"I wanted to get here as soon as I could," Ash said as she approached.

Ash grinned as she reached the professor, displaying a wide set of crooked teeth under her blonde hair. Ash was short for her age, thin, and not in the least bit embarrassed by her smile; all of which made her appear far younger than she was.

"I don't suppose you saw your friends on your way here?" Oak asked.

"No," she said, "but I think I see them racing up the hill now."

Ash pointed out the window to her right, which overlooked the grassy slope and the path that led to the laboratory. Sure enough, two boys were running up the path while simultaneously trying to shove past each other.

Ash laughed as they ran around the bend and out of their view. Oak sighed.

"Why do they have to turn everything into a competition?" he groaned.

The doors slid open again and the two boys burst through, nearly falling over due to the change in friction.

"I win!" Ryan shouted, throwing his arms in the air.

"That's not fair!" Josh protested, "We said on 'go' not 'three'!"

"It's your own fault for not reacting fast enough, anyway," Ryan said, undeterred.

"Technically, I beat both of you," Ash said.

"How did you even wake up so early?" Josh asked.

"It's called an alarm clock."

"All right, settle down, kids," Oak said.

The three quieted and gathered in front of Professor Oak, beaming at him. Oak couldn't help but think of the first time he had met the three of them, years ago. Of course, he had watched his grandson Ryan grow up. But their shared fascination with all things Pokemon never ceased to endear them to the old Professor. They reminded him of himself, but each one in a different way. Looking at them was like looking into a house of mirrors. Here you are, from every possible angle.

"I'd like to thank you three once again for agreeing to participate in this," Oak said, "I've dedicated my life to researching Pokemon. But after 25 years, there are still many mysteries to solve. I'm too old to keep working in the field, but I believe there is still a way to continue my research with your help."

Oak walked to a desk to his right, his three listeners following him and assembling on the other side. Three red devices were lined up on the desk between them. "This is my invention," Oak said, "I call it the Pokedex. It's a digital encyclopedia. This device will record any and all data on the Pokemon you encounter. There is one for each of you."

The three each took a Pokedex, inspecting them. The Pokedex was bright red and featured a small camera on the back side, in the top left corner. It was thin, about the width of a finger, and could be held comfortably in one hand. The Pokedex unfolded like a book, revealing an interior with a large square screen and a control pad under it on the left side, as well as another smaller screen and a series of buttons on the other side. The Pokedex lit up as it was opened, displaying a list of entries on the left screen.

"And we get our own Pokemon, right?" Ryan asked.

"Yes, Ryan," Oak said with a patient smile, well aware that Ryan had been eyeing the other desk since the moment he had walked in.

Oak walked to the desk on the other side of the room, followed by the three teenagers. The other desk had three Poke Balls lined up. Oak indicated to the first Poke Ball, on his right. "Inside this Poke Ball is the Grass-type Pokemon, Bulbasaur." He indicated to the Poke Ball in the middle. "Inside this one is the Fire-type Pokemon, Charmander." Oak pointed to the last Poke Ball. "And the Water-type Pokemon, Squirtle, is inside this one."

"How do we decide who picks first?" Josh asked.

Professor Oak shrugged.

"I don't mind picking last," Ash said.

Josh and Ryan exchanged glances.

"I'll let you pick first," Ryan said.

Josh approached the desk and surveyed the three Poke Balls. He had been waiting for this day for as long as he could remember. The day when he could finally start his own journey as a Pokemon Trainer. When Professor Oak had first approached him months ago he had also promised him a Pokemon but hadn't said which or that there would be any options at all.

Josh grabbed the Poke Ball on his left.

"Good choice," Professor Oak said, "Bulbasaur was my first Pokemon as well."

"Why Bulbasaur?" Ash asked.

"I don't know," Josh said, "my last name is Dale, I suppose it fits."

Ryan grabbed the middle Poke Ball.

"If you're picking the Grass-type, I'll use the Fire-type!" he said.

"What?!" Josh exclaimed, "You let me pick first just so you could get an advantage?"

"Well, yeah," Ryan said with a devious grin, "every battle we have will be easy this way."

Josh looked back at the table, but the last Poke Ball was gone.

"Sorry, Josh," Ash said, Poke Ball in hand.

Josh looked back down to his own Poke Ball, still in his own hand.

"Type isn't everything," Josh said, turning to face Ryan, "I'll still beat you even if you have an advantage."

Oak couldn't help but smile at Josh's response. In all his years, he had never seen a young Trainer shrug off a type disadvantage so casually.

Ryan opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by Professor Oak clapping his hands together.

"All right!" he said, "Now that you have all chosen your Pokemon, they are officially yours."

Josh, Ash, and Ryan looked at their Poke Balls and then to each other. After a brief moment, they all burst out laughing, the kind of laughter that only came out when friends didn't know what to say.

"Can we see them?" Ryan asked.

"Of course," Oak said.

Three masses of white light emerged from the Poke Balls as they were opened, each forming in front of their respective Trainer. The Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle each barely stood above their Trainers' knees and looked up at them with large, curious eyes.

"You can give them nicknames, if you like," Oak said.

Ash knelt down to her Squirtle while maintaining eye contact. She slowly lifted her hand and brought it to the Squirtle's head, caressing its forehead with her thumb.

"How about Pat?" Ash said.

The Squirtle closed its eyes, titled its head down, and gave a low chirp of approval.

"I'm gonna call mine Vulcan," Ryan said, eyeing the flame on the tip of the Charmander's tail.

The Bulbasaur approached Josh, sniffed his shoes, and slowly extended a vine from its seed and wrapped it around Josh's leg.

"I think I'll call you Pan," Josh said.

Professor Oak watched as each Trainer interacted with their Pokemon. Ash scooped Pat up into her arms, who proceeded to nibble on her hair while she giggled. Ryan played with Vulcan's tail, quickly poking his finger into the flame and pulling it out before it burned him. Josh watched as Pan used his vines to slowly untie his shoelaces with a look of fascination.

"Hey, Josh, wanna battle?" Ryan said.

Josh turned to face Ryan. He was standing next to his Charmander, their pride blazing as brilliantly as the flame on Vulcan's tail.

"Boys, boys," Oak said, "there's a time and a place for everything."

Oak stepped between the two Pokemon. Ryan watched the flame on Vulcan's tail dissipate as the Pokemon calmed down.

"You said these Pokemon were ours now," Ryan said.

"They are," Oak replied, "but I need you three to remember why I am giving them to you. These Pokemon are to protect you on your journey." Ryan opened his mouth to speak, but Oak raised his hand. "I know how long you've waited to have a Pokemon of your own, Ryan, but your Charmander is not meant for you to start challenging Gyms, he is meant to help you capture other Pokemon in order to complete the Pokedex."

"But we'll have to battle wild Pokemon in order to catch them, right?" Ryan said.

"Yes, Ryan," Oak said.

"And we'll have to train our Pokemon so we can catch stronger wild Pokemon, right?" Ryan continued.

"Yes, Ryan," Oak said, suppressing his smile.

"And the best way to train is to challenge Gym Leaders, so—"

"Ryan," Oak said, "I know how it feels to want to travel the world and battle." Ryan rolled his eyes, earning a laugh from Josh which was stifled by an elbow from Ash. "If you really want to become a Pokemon Trainer, I won't stop you. You're my grandson, so this Charmander is my gift to you. But as your grandfather, I would appreciate if you return the favor."

"Don't worry, gramps," Ryan said, "we will. And his name is Vulcan."

Ryan held up his Poke Ball towards Vulcan. A red beam about the width of a pencil shot out from the button in the center, connected with the Charmander, and enveloped the Pokemon in the same red glow. The Charmander shrank and receded into the beam, after which Ryan pressed the button the center, shrinking the Poke Ball, and put it in his pocket.

Josh and Ash followed, recalling their Pokemon into their Poke Balls and stowing them.

"We will too, professor," Josh said, "Pan and I will catch every Pokemon and complete the Pokedex!"

"No, me and Vulcan will!"

"I like your enthusiasm," Oak said, "just be sure to say goodbye to your parents before you leave, all of you."

Oak watched as Josh and Ryan immediately ran out of the lab and back down the path. Oak smiled as the two boys disappeared from view. Only once he turned around to reach for his coffee did he notice Ash still in the lab, open Pokedex in hand.

"I didn't realize you were still here, Ashley," Oak said.

"Just seeing how it works," she said.

"I designed it myself," Oak said as he approached her, "I may make some improvements in the future, but they should accommodate all your needs for now."

"You put Dinah in first!" Ash said.

"Ah, yes," Oak said, "I forgot to thank you for that. Your Clefairy is the first Pokemon to ever be recorded in the Pokedex."

Ashley closed the Pokedex and held it to her chest. "So that's why you borrowed her," she said.

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you why at the time, but I was still testing it and needed approval from my colleagues."

"No, I'm happy," she said, "my first Pokemon is the first one in here."

Oak smiled as he watched Ash put her Pokedex in her bag. He had been shocked when Ash had returned from her vacation to Mt. Moon with a wild Pokemon — a Clefairy no less — following her. Despite her parents' worries, the Clefairy had never hurt her and was well-behaved the entire trip back. Ash had walked to Oak's lab the next day and asked for a single Poke Ball, which she used to formally catch her new friend. The Clefairy didn't resist.

Clefairies were notoriously rare. Oak himself had spent a month on Mt. Moon as an intern to study their behavior, but had barely caught a glimpse of one. All the children at Pallet Elementary School, including Josh and Ryan, were jealous of Ash and her Clefairy. They begged her to tell them how she managed to catch one, demanded she show it off; but she never did, as far as Oak knew. Ash only showed off her Pokemon in Oak's lab, where she watched Oak study it and listened to his observations with rapt attention.

"If you managed to catch a Clefairy without any Pokemon, I'm sure you'll complete the Pokedex in no time with two of them," Oak said.

"Don't worry," Ash said, "I won't be wasting my time challenging Gyms."

"No? I thought you loved Pokemon Trainers, like your friends."

Ash shook her head. "I like watching them, but I don't want to be one," she said, "I want to be a professor, like you."

"You'll be a great professor, I'm sure," Oak said, "you may meet some of my colleagues while you're traveling. I'll let them know you're coming. I may need you to pick something up for me in Pewter City, as a matter of fact…"

#

Oak laid his finished mug on the desk as he watched Ash disappear from view down the path leading to the lab. Again, Oak caught himself smiling as he thought of the adventure that awaited his three assistants — except 'assistants' wasn't quite right, was it? They had just turned 13 years old, and yet they had the same fascination with Pokemon as they did when they were children. While many other children in Pallet Town had brief dreams of becoming Pokemon Trainers, Gym Leaders, and professors, few of them stuck with it. Their parents often discouraged those kinds of ideas, pushed them to pursue more conventional jobs. Joshua Dale, Ryan Oak, and Ashley Delaney were the exceptions, much as Oak himself had been when he was their age.

Only once Ash had left Oak's lab and the professor had finished his coffee did he realize the full impact of her absence. He would not see her again for a quite some time.