That time Gary Oak reincarnated as Gary Oak.

Gary stood at the boundary of Pallet Town, watching as the red sports car carrying his cheerleaders disappeared down the road.

He felt lighter now.

The cheerleaders had been a distraction—nothing more than needless baggage. They admired his talent, his name, or maybe the image of him. But admiration wasn't understanding. They wouldn't get why he has to push himself, why he has to be the very best.

So he let them go.

Gary adjusted his backpack and turned toward Route 1. All these earthen paths and greenery surrounding him was giving him feeling of dejavu

Then, his mind wandered to someone else.

Ash Ketchum.

Gary snorted. "What a loser."

Oversleeping on the most important day of his life as a trainer? Showing up late and getting whatever was left over? How could I take someone seriously if they don't even take their own journey seriously?

And yet…

Gary's expression darkened.

He became a world champion or at least will become in possible future.

The knowledge clashed with everything he believed. How could someone so careless and lazy rise so high?

Does he deserve my respect?

Gary frowned. No. Not yet.

Right now, Ash was still the reckless idiot he had always known. The so-called 'future champion' didn't exist yet. And until that changed and ash prove himself a worthy chellange he won't get any respect from Gary and he saw no reason to waste his time thinking about him.

'Focus on your own journey'

With that thought he stepped onto Route 1.

---

Route 1 stretched ahead, a dirt path lined with tall grass and scattered trees. Gary walked confidently, Squirtle trailing behind.

After a while, he glanced back.

"You're slowing down."

Squirtle huffed but kept walking.

Gary sighed. He crouched down and motioned. "Come on, get on."

Squirtle hesitated before climbing onto Gary's shoulder, gripping his shirt.

"Better?"

Squirtle gave a small nod.

Gary smirked. "I know what you're thinking. 'why didn't I picked Charmander or Bulbasaur instead of you, right?'"

Squirtle stiffened.

"Well, too bad." Gary's voice was firm but warm. "Even if the other Pokéballs had Arceus or Mew, I still would've picked you."

Squirtle blinked, clearly caught off guard. The small turtle didn't even know who Arceus and mew were but from the way Gary had mentioned them they have to be far stronger than charmendar and bulbasaur.

Gary continued, "I don't pick Pokémon without potential and if I have picked you then trust me , I must have seen something in you. So stop looking down on yourself and believe in the judgement of best trainer in world.."

For a moment, Squirtle was silent. Then, slowly, his grip on Gary's shirt tightened—not in fear, but in determination, this human was someone who had put his trust in him and he will give his all to make sure that this person, his trainer isn't wrong.

Gary smirked. Good.

---

The first few battles came quickly. A Pidgey swooped down, eyeing them.

Gary set Squirtle down. "Alright, first real fight. Show me what you've got."

Pidgey lunged with a peck attack.

"Dodge and counter with Tackle!"

Squirtle barely managed to evade before slamming into the bird, sending it stumbling back.

More battles followed. Squirtle fought off a few Rattata and Caterpies , landing hits, dodging better each time. Eventually, he levelled up to somewhere around level 10 and learned Bubble .

Gary grinned. "Nice."

Gary decides to do some precision training by targeting empty soda cans with bubble once squirtle was able to his all stationary targets as rapidly as possible, He decided to move onto mobil targets by tossing a rock in the air. "Let's take it up a notch ."

Squirtle tilted his head.

"I'm gonna throw these, and you'll hit them mid-air with Bubble."

At first, Squirtle missed some of them. But with practice, he started hitting most of the moving targets.

Gary smirked. Not bad. Once we reach Viridian, I'll get some proper clay targets.

---

A shadow passed overhead.

Gary barely had time to react before a Fearow dived at them, its beady eyes locked onto Squirtle like a predator eyeing its prey.

"Squirtle, dodge!"

Squirtle leaped aside just in time, but Fearow wasn't finished. It banked sharply, whipping up dust as it circled back for another strike.

Gary's mind raced.

Fearow aren't supposed to be here.

Then, it clicked.

This Fearow might have been released here by a trainer or a wild spearrow has been evolved after a battle, Someone might have tried to catch it. Maybe they injured it, maybe they failed, and now it was lashing out and we just got in the way.

Damn it.

"Bubble—now!" there was desperation in his voice.

Squirtle fired a stream of bubbles. The attack struck Fearow's face, but it barely flinched before diving in with a blindingly fast Peck.

Too fast!

The attack connected, sending Squirtle tumbling across the dirt.

Fearow loomed over him, its beak rotating like a drill. Drill Peck.

It was about to finish him off.

Gary acted without thinking. He dashed forward, grabbed a fallen branch, and swung it with full force from behind Fearow's head just before it could lunge.

CRACK!

The wooden branch smacked into Fearow's skull. It screeched in surprise and reeled back, momentarily disoriented.

"Squirtle, get up!"

Squirtle groaned but pushed himself up, eyes burning with determination.

Gary narrowed his eyes. Fearrow was already tired and possibly injured from whatever it had encountered before now It was even more weak. "We can win this" he muttered.

"Let's finish this! Bubble—full power!"

Squirtle inhaled deeply and unleashed a concentrated stream of bubbles, striking Fearow's face point-blank. The large bird flailed, disoriented.

"Now—Tackle!"

Squirtle dashed forward, putting everything he had into the attack. He slammed into Fearow's chest. The bird wobbled, wings flapping weakly, before collapsing onto the ground.

Gary didn't hesitate. He pulled out an empty Pokéball and threw it.

One shake.

Two shakes.

Three.

Click.

The ball stilled.

Gary let out a breath and walked over, picking it up. He decides to look after his partner first.

Gary crouched down infront of squirtle, pulling a potion spray from his bag.

"Hold still," he said as he carefully applied the healing spray to Squirtle's wounds.

Squirtle winced at first but quickly relaxed as the cooling sensation took effect.

Gary smirked. "Not bad for our first real battle, huh?"

Squirtle gave a tired but proud nod.

That Fearow wasn't a normal wild encounter. But whatever history it had, it didn't matter now. It was his Pokémon.

"Let's keep moving," Gary said, and Squirtle hopped onto his shoulder, ready to continue.

After a few more encounters with some wild pokemon, none as powerful or threatening as the fearrow earlier squirtle had levelled up even more and had learnt the move withdraw.

Arriving in Viridian City was a nostalgic experience.

The city wasn't particularly large, but compared to Pallet Town, it felt bustling. Trainers moved about, some heading toward the Pokémon Center, others preparing for battles or restocking supplies.

Gary stepped inside the Pokémon Center. The familiar, sterile yet welcoming scent greeted him.

Nurse Joy smiled. "Please place your Pokémon on the tray."

Gary placed both Squirtle and Fearow's Pokéballs down. "Make sure they're in top shape and be careful with that fearrow he is a quite aggressive and newly captured"

---

As he waited, the sound of a police siren grew louder.

A police bike skidded to a halt inside. Officer Jenny stepped infront of Joy's desk—with Ash sitting behind her, panic clear on his face as he clutched an injured Pikachu.

Gary arched an eyebrow. Typical Ash. Always in trouble.

Gary laughed. "Wow. You really screwed up."

It took him a few minutes to get to know what actually happened after hearing the talk amongst Jenny, Joy and Ash.

"Nurse Joy, please help! Pikachu got hurt—badly!"

Gary arched an eyebrow.

Typical Ash. Always in trouble.

Nurse Joy immediately took Pikachu, placing him onto a special healing tray. "Don't worry, we'll do everything we can," she assured him before rushing Pikachu into the treatment room.

Ash let out a shaky breath, looking completely drained.

Gary observed him silently.

Alright, what did you do this time ,ashy boy?

He walked over, arms crossed. "What happened? Overslept and ran into a Beedrill nest or something?"

Ash gave him an irritated glance but didn't snap back. He looked too worried to even argue.

"No," Ash muttered, rubbing the back of his head. "I… I tried to catch a Spearow."

Gary's smirk faltered slightly.

Spearow.

"Let me guess," Gary said, narrowing his eyes. "You threw a Pokéball at it without thinking, and the whole flock went crazy on you?"

Ash flinched. "H-How did you know?"

Gary didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he processed the information, connecting the dots.

A Spearow. Highly territorial. Got attacked by Pikachu's electric moves. Probably at the threshold of evolution. Lost, retreated… evolved into Fearow.

The same Fearow I caught.

Gary let out a short laugh. "Wow. You really screwed up."

Ash scowled. "Not like I did it on purpose! I didn't know Spearows live in flocks…"

Gary rolled his eyes. "That's basic knowledge, Ash. Maybe try reading a Pokédex entry before throwing Pokéballs around? You are lucky we don't have pokemon species like ursaring or drapion in kanto"

Ash's face turned red. "Not helping."

Gary studied him for a moment. Ash looked genuinely shaken. Pikachu's condition had clearly rattled him.

Mock him or console him? Gary was in great dilemma.

Gary let out a small sigh. "Relax, ashy boy. Nurse Joy will take care of Pikachu. He'll be fine."

Ash looked up, surprised. "You think so?"

Gary smirked. "Of course. Pokémon Centers are top-notch. Even someone as big of a loser as you won't lose his Pikachu on day one."

Ash gave him a half-hearted glare, but Gary could see the relief in his eyes.

Before Ash could respond, the doors slammed open again.

A girl with bright orange hair stormed inside, looking absolutely furious.

It was Misty , future gym leader of cerulian city gym from what Gary has gotten from memories of his future self.

"YOU!" she shouted, pointing at Ash.

Ash's face paled. "Uh… hi?"

Misty stomped up to him. "Where. Is. My. BIKE!?"

Gary blinked, then smirked as he leaned against the counter. This should be good.

Ash winced. "Uh… I kinda… borrowed it?"

Misty's eye twitched. "You borrowed it? YOU FRIED IT! IT'S DESTROYED!"

Ash held up his hands defensively. "Look, it was an emergency! Pikachu and I were being chased by Spearows! I had to get to safety!"

Misty wasn't having it. "That was MY bike, you irresponsible jerk!"

Gary chuckled to himself, watching the disaster unfold. Ash sure attracts trouble.

His Pokéballs suddenly beeped, signaling they were fully healed.

Perfect timing.

Gary grabbed them from the counter and smirked as he turned away.

"Ash has some weird fangirls. I don't envy him for this."

With that, he walked out of the Pokémon Center, ready for his next challenge.