6 Meeting Professor Oak, Ash and Gary

At midnight on the third day, a loud voice sounded through the intercom.

"Attention all passengers and crew! We are arriving in Pallet town momentarily. Please find a chair and fasten your seat belts."

Ignacio sighed before he finished eating a piece of fish. Afterward, he put his seatbelt on and looked out the window.

'I'm glad normal fish exist in this universe, too. I wouldn't feel happy if I was forced to eat Pokémon if I wanted meat." Ignacio thought, grateful as he put his hand under his head.

"Ignacio, when we land, we'll head to a laboratory. However, we need to reach the obscure airport here first." Acacia stated while ruffling his beard before looking outside.

"Wait, weren't we supposed to arrive in the day?" Ignacio asked while looking out the window and seeing only darkness, as it was a new moon.

"Well, I considered what you said and decided to arrive at night so you can be even more secretive." Acacia replied before smirking.

"Thank you for this, professor Acacia." Ignacio replied gratefully before feeling the airplane start to go down.

"No problem. Also, since you already have a Pokémon, you won't need a starter. Or do you want two starting Pokémon?" Acacia asked while raising a brow.

"I'm alright. I have Tentacool." Ignacio stated while patting Tentacool's head gently.

"Alright, however, I hope you can greet the other new trainers as well, perhaps even have your first Pokémon battle." Acacia suggested before smiling once again.

"Well, I have no clue what moves Tentacool knows yet." Ignacio replied while smiling wryly and scratching the back of his head.

"I understand. Perhaps you'll battle them later on your journey. However, I hope you find some friends to travel with." Acacia responded

"Eh, I'll think about that." Ignacio stated before sighing.

However, before the conversation could continue, the plane landed on a lake before it moved to the lakeside.

"Attention all passengers, we have landed. Now, please exit the plane." A voice sounded on the intercom.

Ignacio and Acacia rose and quickly grasped the luggage before leaving the plane with Tentacool. Afterward, they walked to Pallet Town within two hours. Once they arrived, they spent fifteen minutes approaching the laboratory.

As Ignacio saw it, a burst of nostalgia assaulted him, remembering the laboratory from the series.

"Is this where I'll be getting my Pokémon license?" Ignacio asked, ensuring he sounded like he's never heard of this place.

"Yes, it is Ignacio." Acacia replied before looking at it again.

As they talked, Tentacool hid behind Ignacio, hugging his leg.

Meanwhile, the door opened, and an older man walked out of the laboratory. Afterward, he stopped right in front of them.

"Professor Acacia, it's been twenty years. How have you been?" The older man questioned while smiling.

"I'm alright, Professor Oak, and you?" Acacia reciprocated the question.

"I've been doing great. However, let's hurry inside. I have lots to show you." Oak replied

"Well, I have brought a guest. He's Ignacio, and I wonder if you can give him a Pokémon license." Acacia asked before patting Ignacio's back.

"Sure, I can. Does he need a starter Pokémon?" Oak asked while looking at Ignacio.

"No, he doesn't. He already has a Pokémon he's raised." Acacia responded

"Alright. And Ignacio, can I see the Pokémon you raised?" Oak asked.

"Sure. Tentacool, you can come out." Ignacio stated before smiling.

"Tentacool!" Tentacool nodded, walking out and standing beside Ignacio.

"You have a unique Tentacool. May I have a closer look?" Oak asked with his mouth wide open, and his eyes widened.

"Alright. Tentacool, do you want to greet Professor Oak?" Ignacio asked while patting Tentacool's head.

"Tentacool!" Tentacool nodded and walked to Oak before standing right in front of him.

"Hello, Tentacool." Oak greeted, patting her head.

"Tenta." Tentacool replied before walking back to Ignacio and standing by him.

"Let's head inside. You both can stay here as long as you like." Oak stated before walking towards the laboratory.

Ignacio and Acacia nodded before following Oak inside.

***

Inside the living room, the trio all sat down on the couches while Oak held a cup filled with tea.

"Ignacio, I'll give you your Pokéballs, Pokédex, and Gym badge case when the other trainers are ready." Oak stated before he drank some of his tea.

"I understand. It must be bustling all the time." Ignacio replied while smiling.

"Yes, it is. However, I have something else to ask later on." Oak responded

"Alright, however, I'm sadly very sleepy. I apologize." Ignacio stated before yawning loudly.

"That's okay. You both can sleep in the living room for your stay. However, I need to go back to sleep as well." Oak stated before yawning.

"I understand. However, when will the other trainers be ready?" Ignacio asked while tilting his head to the side.

"In two days. I'll talk to you both in the morning. Goodnight." Oak replied before leaving and returning to bed.

Acacia, Ignacio, and Tentacool all fell asleep right after, and two days passed by quickly.

During this time, not much occurred. However, this soon changed when a knock sounded at the door in the morning.

"Grandpa, I'm ready to get my first Pokémon!" A voice sounded beyond the door.

Oak hurriedly ran and opened the door.

"Hello, grandson, come inside." Oak replied before moving to the side.

Gary and two other trainers walked inside. However, their eyes narrowed after seeing Acacia and Ignacio.

'Oh no, I'm going to get involved with the main characters.' Ignacio thought while his heart constricted, realizing Ash was coming soon too.

"Who is that grandpa?" Gary asked, pointing at them.

"My old friend Professor Acacia and a guest Ignacio." Oak responded while introducing them.

Gary looked at Acacia with respect but at Ignacio with jealousy and shock before turning his gaze back to Oak.

"Grandpa, why does Ignacio have a Pokémon before us? And why does his Tentacool look so different?" Gary asked indignantly

"He hatched his Pokémon. I didn't give him that starter one." Oak explained before sighing.

Gary nodded before approaching Ignacio.

"Hello Ignacio, I'm Gary my Pokémon will be stronger than yours." Gary proclaimed with conviction.

"We'll see, but shouldn't you pick your first Pokémon?" Ignacio stated neutrally.

"Fine, but after, we will have a Pokémon battle." Gary replied, challenging Ignacio.

"I'll pass. I need to train Tentacool first." Ignacio stated, waving his hand dismissively.

"Grandson, are you ready to choose your starter Pokémon?" Oak asked, intervening.

Gary nodded and followed Oak alongside the two other trainers. They'd spend about twenty minutes picking their Pokémon before coming out. Afterward, they left through the door.

"Professor Oak. Can I obtain my Pokéballs and Pokédex?" Ignacio asked while looking at him.

"Yes. Professor Acacia, can you explain to him all the functions? I need to wait outside for any new trainers that are late." Oak replied before asking him.

"Sure."

Oak nodded, placing the Pokéballs, Pokédex, and Gym badge case into Acacia's hands before leaving the laboratory.

"Alright, Ignacio, these are your Pokédex and Pokéballs. Your Pokédex will answer most of your questions. However, it's incomplete." Acacia stated, remembering most regions haven't shared their information.

"Alright, I understand. What about my Pokéballs?" Ignacio questioned

"Ah yes, your Pokéballs are used to catch Pokémon. But you need to battle Pokémon first before you can catch them. And your badge case can hold all your Gym badges." Acacia stated

"Alright, and thank you for watching over me and teaching me for the time I stayed on your yacht." Ignacio replied in gratitude.

"You're welcome. Ignacio, what is your dream?" Acacia asked while looking upwards.

"To explore the world and become a strong Pokémon trainer." Ignacio replied while sighing.

"Tentacool!" Tentacool yelled in excitement.

"I see. Good luck with your dream." Acacia responded.

"Thanks."

Acacia nodded. However, the conversation was interrupted by the door opening, and Oak and Ash walked through it.

"Wait, Professor Oak, Is he also a new Pokémon trainer?" Ash asked while looking at Ignacio and Tentacool.

"Yes, he is. However, he hatched his Pokémon." Oak replied while nodding

"Hey Ignacio, do you want to be friends and travel together." Ash asked hopefully

Ignacio froze and pondered if he should accept, weighing the pros and cons. Before sighing, planning to get involved with the plot some, but not join Ash and his friends when they face entire organizations or legendary Pokémon.

"Sure, but I will travel alone most of my journey." Ignacio stated while shaking his head.

"Come on. It's safer and more fun to travel in a group." Ash replied

"..." Ignacio stayed silent, hoping Ash would give up on trying to get him to travel with him.

"Hey, perhaps it will be a good idea if you travel together." Oak stated while pondering

Ignacio's facial expression froze when he heard that.

"You can watch out for each other." Acacia nodded in agreement.

Ignacio sighed.

After their suggestion, Ignacio stayed silent as Ash went to get his Pokémon. Once Ash and Oak left, he put his stuff away.

"Forgive me, professor Acacia, but this is where we part ways." Ignacio states, shaking his hand.

"Don't leave just yet. I have some farewell gifts for you." Acacia stated before he went to a closet and pulled out a lot of equipment.

There was a military-grade backpack, many clothes, two pairs of hiking boots, a small one-person tent, and a small cooking kit and cleaning kit.

"Thank you, Professor Acacia." Ignacio replied, grateful.

"You're welcome. However, I suggest both you and Ash journey together." Acacia suggested

"I'm afraid I have to decline." Ignacio stated, not wanting his actions to cause the plot to go astray too much with his intervention.

"Alright, go ahead and head out. But please contact me in Viridian city." Acacia stated, hoping he'd do so.

"Alright, I will." Ignacio nodded before leaving the place quickly.

'I hope you find some people to journey with.' Acacia thought while looking outside.

Later on, Ash was not happy when he learned Ignacio had left before him.

(What's everyone's opinion?

1: Ignacio travels alone with only his Pokémon to accompany him.

2: Ignacio travels with Ash and his friends directly on most of their adventures.

3: Or Ignacio meets other trainers who he travels with.)