Thump… thump…
Ash's heart was pounding in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears like a drumroll. They had finally arrived, standing right in front of the famous Professor Oak's lab.
The familiar wooden gate and the sprawling greenery surrounding the building brought a wave of both excitement and nervousness.
His hands trembled ever so slightly as he reached out towards the old, brass doorbell button.
This was it. He was about to meet the man who held the key to his Pokémon journey, and hopefully, a Pokémon of his own.
"Ash, why are you taking so long? Just do it quickly!" May exclaimed from behind him, her voice laced with exasperation.
She had been surprisingly quiet during the last part of their bike ride, but her patience seemed to be wearing thin now.
"Yes, yes, I am doing it!" Ash mumbled, taking a deep breath to steady his shaking hand. He finally pressed the doorbell button, a gentle ding-dong echoing from within the house. He held his breath, waiting for the door to open.
"Honestly, you are making me more suspicious by the second," she sighed, leaning against her bike and looking at him with a narrowed gaze. "All this sudden enthusiasm to see the Professor… it's not just about saying hello, is it?"
Clink… The sound of the lock turning echoed from inside, and the heavy wooden door creaked open. But the person who stood in the doorway wasn't the familiar figure of Professor Oak.
Instead, it was a woman with a warm, welcoming smile, her appearance suggesting she was slightly older than Ash and May. Her kind eyes and gentle demeanor immediately put them at ease.
It was Daisy, Professor Oak's granddaughter and, as Ash now knew, another one of his wives.
"Oh, Ash! Good morning! And May, you came as well," Daisy said, her bright smile widening when she saw them, especially her gaze softening with affection as she looked at Ash.
"Ah... morning, Daisy. Where's Grandpa?" Ash stammered a little, his mind momentarily thrown off by seeing another familiar yet also romantically linked face.
But he quickly shook off the surprise, remembering the burning desire that had propelled him here. 'Can't think about my relations now. My Pokémon comes first!' Ash thought firmly.
"If it's my grandpa you're looking for," Daisy said with a gentle chuckle, "he's probably eating ramen in his lab right now. You know how he gets when he's in the middle of his research."
She stepped aside, gesturing for them to come in.
"Come on in. He'll be happy to see you both, I'm sure."
"'Eating ramen right in the morning? Isn't that a bit much?'" May remarked, looking slightly weirded out by the seemingly unhealthy meal choice for a renowned researcher, especially so early in the day.
"I know, right? But he never leaves the lab when he has something he's really engrossed in researching," Daisy sighed, shaking her head with a fond smile as she led them through the hallway towards the lab door. "Sometimes I wonder if he even remembers to sleep."
"What is he researching now, anyway?" May questioned, her curiosity piqued. "Something really important if he's skipping proper meals?"
"Well, about that—" Daisy began to answer, a hint of mystery in her voice, but before she could finish her sentence, Ash, his earlier embarrassment forgotten, suddenly dashed forward as soon as he spotted the familiar door of the lab at the end of the hallway.
His eagerness couldn't be contained any longer.
"Ash, don't run like that!" May called out, her voice sharp with surprise and a hint of annoyance.
"You'll trip and fall!" But Ash didn't listen. His focus was solely on getting to Professor Oak.
He reached the lab door and slammed it open with a loud bang, the sudden noise echoing through the usually quiet building.
"Grandpa! I need to talk with you… for… something?" Ash's enthusiastic entrance came to an abrupt halt as he took in the scene inside.
His jaw dropped slightly, his eyes widening in disbelief.
The lab looked like a cyclone had just swept through it, with research papers scattered everywhere, strange gadgets lying haphazardly on every surface, and empty ramen containers stacked precariously on a corner desk, threatening to topple over at any moment.
The smell of instant noodles hung faintly in the air, mingling with the scent of various chemicals and dried plants.
"Oh, Ash! What's up, my boy? So early in the morning," Professor Oak said, turning around in his chair, a stack of research papers precariously balanced on his lap and a half-eaten bowl of ramen still clutched in his other hand.
He looked up at Ash with a warm smile, seemingly oblivious to the chaos surrounding him.
"Forget about me, Grandpa! What's with the state of the lab?" Ash exclaimed, his eyes wide as he gestured around at the mountainous piles of books and equipment. "It looks like a bomb went off in here! How do you even move around without tripping?"
"Oh, about that," Professor Oak replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head with a chuckle.
"I was a bit too focused on my research and, well, I suppose I forgot to tidy up. You know how it is when inspiration strikes! Sometimes cleanliness takes a backseat to discovery!"
"Grandpa, I've told you so many times to take care of the lab! It looks like a disaster! How do you even find anything in here?" Daisy sighed, her hands on her hips as she gave her grandfather a pointed look, her voice laced with exasperation. "Honestly, sometimes I think you enjoy living in this mess! It's a wonder the building hasn't collapsed yet!"
"Yes, yes, I will remember next time, Daisy," Professor Oak said, avoiding her stern gaze and placing the ramen bowl precariously on an already overloaded shelf, causing a stack of books to wobble precariously.
He quickly changed the subject, turning his attention back to Ash with a twinkle in his eye. "So, Ash, what's the matter? What did you want to talk to this Gramps about that was so urgent you had to burst in here like a Rapidash?"
"About that, Grandpa," Ash began, taking a deep breath, his earlier nervousness returning slightly under the weight of the messy lab and Daisy's disapproving stare.
"Can I get a Pokémon?" he blurted out, finally revealing the real reason for his hurried visit, his gaze fixed on his grandfather, hoping for a positive answer.
Hearing him say that, it finally clicked for May, the reason for his unusual behavior and his eagerness to rush to the lab.
"So, that's why you were so excited to meet Gramps," May sighed, a knowing smile spreading across her face as she finally understood Ash's sudden enthusiasm. "You little sneak! You just wanted to jump the line, didn't you?"
'It's not like you are one to talk, with that Alolan Graveler of yours,' Ash mentally complained, feeling a little defensive. "It's not jumping the line! I just… I really want a Pokémon now."
"But didn't you say you wanted to wait until you become a trainer at ten?" May continued, looking at Ash with a questioning gaze, her arms crossed. "What made you change your mind all of a sudden? Did something happen?"
"Ah, well, I changed my mind," Ash said, slightly embarrassed and pointedly avoiding her stare. He shuffled his feet, feeling a little guilty for not being entirely upfront about his jealousy.
"Hmm, it's a good thing you changed your mind, my boy," Professor Oak remarked, nodding thoughtfully, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he observed the interaction between Ash and May. "Though, I must say, your timing is rather interesting."
He then leaned forward in his chair, a serious expression replacing his earlier jovial one. "Because, as a matter of fact, the age requirement for obtaining a Pokémon League license has recently increased to fifteen."
A collective gasp filled the room. Ash, May, and even Daisy looked at the Professor in utter surprise, their mouths agape. "Fifteen?!" they all exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with shock and disbelief.