Seeing how Gary entered the lab like an angry Tauros charging at its enemy, Daisy was extremely angry.
"Gary, is that how you enter a room?" Daisy berated Gary, her voice sharp with disapproval, her arms crossed over her chest.
Her eyes narrowed, conveying her annoyance at his boisterous entrance.
Even though she had remained silent when Ash had similarly burst into the lab earlier, her current indignation was palpable.
A subtle twitch of her lips hinted at the amusement she felt at the contrast, but her tone remained stern.
"Ah, Si...Sis! You were here," Gary stammered in response, his confident demeanor momentarily faltering under Daisy's unexpected scolding.
His usual swagger seemed to deflate slightly.
He shifted his weight uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact with his sister and glancing nervously at the others.
"Gary, just how many times have I told you not to cause trouble?" Daisy continued, her voice laced with exasperation.
She tapped her foot impatiently. "Just the other day I heard you were trying to—"
"Now, now, don't scold my grandson too much, Daisy," Professor Oak interjected gently, a soft expression on his face as he looked at Gary, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"Gary, what's up? Did you come to see your gramps?" he asked, his voice calm and reassuring.
"Ah, no," Gary replied bluntly, his attention solely focused on Ash, his earlier surprise quickly morphing back into his usual competitive spirit.
"I came to see if Ashy-boy finally came crawling to my gramps for a Pokémon," Gary sneered, a smug look plastered across his face.
He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms with an air of superiority.
"Hah! Finally, you've let go of that stubborn 'I don't need Pokémon for now' attitude of yours, huh?" he taunted, a mocking glint in his eyes.
"But unfortunately for you, slowpoke, you're too late! I already got my amazing Squirtle way ahead of you!" Gary boasted, puffing out his chest slightly and punctuating his words with a confident, mocking laugh.
However, his triumphant expression faltered as his gaze finally registered the sight of two identical orange lizards snuggling affectionately with Ash.
His eyes widened in disbelief, and his smug grin vanished.
His jaw visibly dropped, hanging slightly open as he stared at the two Charmanders.
"Wait a minute… why do you have two?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with confusion and a hint of genuine annoyance.
"That's not fair! How did you get two starter Pokémon?"
"Gary, don't talk so rudely to Ash," May chided from the side, a playful smirk dancing on her lips as she enjoyed Gary's bewildered reaction.
"He's your brother-in-law, remember?" she teased, nudging Daisy with her elbow and winking.
"Yes, Gary, May is right," Daisy nodded, a subtle blush creeping up her cheeks as she glanced shyly at Ash, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Like hell I'll admit he's my brother-in-law!" Gary retorted, his face scrunching up in disgust. He pointed a finger at Ash.
"He just got lucky, that's all! I will never acknowledge him as anything!"
"Oh dear, Gary, is me being your big bro that dislikesable?" Ash said with a scheming smirk, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
He tilted his head slightly, feigning sadness.
He continued, his voice dripping with mock sorrow, "If that's the case… if that's the case, why don't we settle this like real trainers? Why don't we have a battle?"
Gary was visibly surprised by Ash's sudden challenge, his smug expression replaced by one of genuine shock and a flicker of intrigue.
He hadn't expected Ash to stand up to him like this, especially so soon after getting his first Pokémon.
So were May and Daisy, who exchanged bewildered glances. Professor Oak, however, stroked his chin thoughtfully, a knowing smile slowly spreading across his face as he realized the playful yet competitive glint in Ash's eyes. He had a feeling this was going to be interesting.
"So, Ash," Professor Oak said, his voice filled with amusement, "you want to battle Gary, and with a bet, I presume?" He raised an eyebrow, waiting for Ash's confirmation.
"Like in official battles between trainers, where they bet money and the winner gets the amount in PokéDollars," Professor Oak clarified, his gaze firmly locked on a still-stunned Gary and a confident Ash.
"Yes," Ash replied confidently, nodding his head, his eyes never leaving Gary's.
He then turned back to Gary, his smirk widening into a full-fledged grin. "Gary, I am deeply saddened that you won't call me Big bro out of the kindness of your heart. So, let's have a battle! If I win, you have to call me Big bro, even if it's just once!"
Even though he said that he was going to make Gary call him brother for once but he intended to make it a memory for a lifetime.
A triumphant grin stretched across Ash's face. He knew Gary's pride wouldn't let him back down from a challenge.
"Ah, that's a wonderful idea!" May exclaimed, clapping her hands together, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Maybe… maybe that's okay," Daisy nodded slowly, a hint of apprehension in her voice as she glanced at Gary, worried about what he might say or do.
Gary finally calmed down, his initial surprise fading and replaced by his usual confident smirk, though it seemed a bit forced this time.
"If you wanted to humiliate yourself so much, Ashy-boy, you could have just said so," he scoffed, adjusting his stylish jacket with a flick of his wrist.
"But if that's the case, I'd like to make a condition as well."
He paused dramatically, his eyes narrowing as he looked directly at Ash, a cunning glint in them. "I want you to break up with my sister."
A collective gasp filled the room.
Daisy's eyes widened in alarm, her face paling slightly, and May's hand flew to her mouth in shock.
But Ash remained calm, an almost serene expression on his face, as if Gary's condition was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
He was certain of his victory.
Yes, he thought to himself, a confident smirk playing on his lips. Between a former world champion and an inexperienced brat who just had his Pokémon for a few months, who has the better chances? This will be easier than I thought.
"Then you kids should go to the ranch outside the lab," Professor Oak said, his voice firm yet laced with amusement.
He gestured towards the back door of the lab.
"After all, I don't want you two further disfiguring the already… unique condition of my research area."
"Alright," Ash nodded with a confident smirk, already picturing his victory.
"Whatever," Gary muttered, trying to sound nonchalant, though a hint of nervousness flickered in his eyes.
He didn't really care where they battled, as long as he could wipe that smug look off Ash's face.
In the expansive, grassy fields of Professor Oak's ranch, bathed in the warm afternoon sunlight, two young boys stood facing each other, a palpable tension hanging in the air.
Ash, with a determined set to his jaw and a playful glint in his eyes, stood opposite Gary, whose usual arrogance was now tinged with a nervous energy that he tried to mask with a confident stance.
A short distance away, the small group of bystanders had gathered to witness the impromptu battle.
May and Daisy stood side-by-side, their expressions a mixture of anticipation and concern, Daisy especially worried about the outcome of Gary's condition.
Professor Oak sitting while leaning on a tree, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he observed his two grandsons, a nostalgic smile on his face.
The newest addition to their audience, Green, stood slightly apart, leaning against the wooden fence, a curious and slightly mischievous expression on her face.
"So, what the heck is happening?" Green said, turning to May and Daisy, her voice laced with confusion. "One minute everything was normal, and the next Gary's bursting in here like a wild Exeggutor and Ash has suddenly sprouted two Charmanders!"
"You guys disturbed a important reaserch of mine," Green grumbled playfully, though her eyes held genuine curiosity.
May and Daisy quickly filled Green in on the dramatic events that had unfolded in the lab – the increased age limit, Ash's initial despair and sudden change of heart, the hatching of the second Charmander, and the ensuing rivalry and bet with Gary.
Green listened intently, her initial confusion giving way to a wide smirk.
"Heh, that sounds like fun," she commented, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She clapped her hands together in anticipation.
She then raised her voice, shouting across the field towards Gary, who was busy giving instructions to his Squirtle. "Hey, Gary! If Ash wins, you have to call me Big sis as well!"
Gary visibly flinched at Green's playful taunt, shooting her a glare over his shoulder, his cheeks slightly flushed with annoyance. "Oh, shut up, Green!" he retorted, turning back to face Ash.
"Ah, that's a good idea! Me too, me too!" May chimed in enthusiastically, jumping up and down slightly.
"Hey, Gary! If Ash wins, you have to call me Big sis too!" She grinned, clearly enjoying the prospect of teasing Gary and adding to his potential humiliation.
Ash laughed heartily at May and Green's playful teasing of Gary, the sound echoing across the ranch, further irritating his long-time rival.
Gary rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath about annoying siblings and even more annoying friends who somehow managed to become even more annoying when they ganged up on him.
"This is ridiculous," he grumbled.
He then turned his attention back to Ash, a renewed determination hardening his gaze.
"Alright, Ashy-boy," he called out, his voice echoing across the field, his Squirtle now standing confidently beside him, its blue shell gleaming in the sunlight.
"You wanted a battle, you got one! But don't think for a second that you're going to win! And as for your ridiculous bet… well, you'll be the one doing the apologizing to my sister later!" With a flourish, he sent out his Squirtle.
"Squirtle, let's show him what real training looks like!" Squirtle stood ready, a determined glint in its eyes.
"Gary, wait just a minute!" Ash called out, holding up a hand to pause the impending battle. "I just need to prepare a little bit here." He knelt down, his eyes meeting Y's.
Gary stumbled back slightly, his face contorting in annoyance. "Prepare? Prepare for what? What in the world have you been doing until now?" he growled, tapping his foot impatiently.
Ash ignored Gary's complaints, his attention fully focused on his two flaming partners. He knelt down, looking at X, the newborn Charmander still nestled in his arms, its tiny form radiating warmth, and then at Y, who was looking at him with expectation, its tail flame flickering steadily with anticipation.
"So, since X is still a newborn and probably a little tired from all that hatching," Ash said gently, stroking X's head with a finger, "Y, you should handle this battle, okay?"
Y let out a soft hum of approval, puffing out its chest slightly, its tail flame burning a little brighter, eager for action.
But X, nestled comfortably in Ash's arms, let out a small, indignant "Char!" and pouted, its tiny brow furrowing in protest.
"It can't be helped, little guy," Ash said soothingly to X. "You're not quite ready for a big battle just yet.
You need some rest and to get a little stronger first. Maybe next time, okay?"
"Cha!" X protested again, lapping its tiny hands in frustration and wiggling in Ash's arms.
Finally, after a bit more gentle consolation from Ash and a reassuring nudge from Y, X finally seemed to give up, letting out a small grumble of disappointment and settling back into Ash's embrace.
"Alright then, Y," Ash said, standing up and turning towards Gary and Squirtle with a determined look. "Let's go!"
Ash was just about to send Y onto the battlefield when Daisy shouted a warning from the sidelines, her voice filled with concern.
"Ash, remember that Gary, even though he never formally 'trained' Squirtle like a regular trainer, he did spend a lot of time using various TMs on it when he got him! Be careful! It might know some surprising moves!"
"Alright, Daisy, thanks for the heads-up," Ash replied with a confident smirk, not turning around. He pointed at the blue turtle and commanded Y with enthusiasm.
"Y, go and turn that Squirtle into a grilled sandwich!"
Ash's first battle after the regression it's gonna be intresting.