"Caster! What are you..."
Gary stared as Caster made quick work of opening his backpack and assembling his fishing gear.
Gary hesitated before saying, "Caster, my grandpa is still waiting for you! Don't you think you should go see him first?"
"Tell Professor Oak he doesn't have to wait for me, Gary. My fishing itch is acting up. I can't stop myself!"
In moments, Caster had assembled his fishing gear and baited the hook.
He stared at the Blastoise sunning itself beside a distant pond, practically drooling.
Come to me, you beautiful turtle!
Gary flinched when he realized Caster was eyeing his brother's Blastoise and rushed to stop him. "Caster, don't do anything stupid. My brother's Blastoise has a nasty temper. If you provoke it, one Skull Bash could send you flying."
"What?"
Caster froze.
A Skull Bash from a Champion-level Blastoise could probably punch a hole straight through a mountain.
Caster was certain his Pikachu's Protect would not stop it.
"Can't you put in a good word for me?"
Caster wasn't ready to give up. He looked at Gary expectantly. "Tell it we're friends. I just want to give it some homemade treats. I don't mean any harm."
"It won't listen to me!"
Gary shook his head hard. "That Blastoise only listens to three people: my brother, Red, and my grandpa. The last time I accidentally made it angry, it nearly knocked my lungs out."
Caster went pale and packed his fishing gear away at once. Then he said solemnly, "Gary, I've been thinking. Since I just arrived at your home, visiting Professor Oak first is only proper. It's a matter of basic courtesy. I was terribly rude just now!"
With that, Caster bowed deeply.
His fishing itch could wait after all.
"All right, let's head inside. Grandpa should be in the living room."
Gary led Caster to the laboratory's main entrance. Before he could open the door, someone opened it from inside.
A gentle-looking middle-aged woman stood in the doorway. She wore a pink top and a short skirt and carried a plate.
"Mrs. Ketchum?"
Gary blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
The woman was Delia Ketchum, Ash's mother.
"Oh, hello, Gary!"
Delia smiled. "I made some desserts at home, and there were too many for me to finish, so I brought some over for Professor Oak."
She looked up at the sky, her expression hopeful but worried. "Now that you're back, does that mean Ash will be home soon too? I wonder how his journey is going. That boy is always rushing into things without thinking."
Gary shrugged without answering.
Gary knew Ash's personality and skill. He doubted Ash could even collect all eight Badges.
He could think it, but he was not about to say it in front of Ash's mother.
"Unless something unexpected happens, Ash should be back within the next few days."
Caster spoke up. "I ran into him on Cinnabar Island a week ago. He already had seven Badges then. Given their route, he should reach Viridian City in the next few days."
"You know my Ash?"
Delia stared at the unfamiliar young man in surprise.
"We've met twice, so I'd say we're friends."
Caster smiled. "Ash might still be a little reckless, but he has two good friends looking out for him. He'll be fine, so try not to worry."
"That's true! Misty and Brock are both much more levelheaded than Ash."
Delia nodded. "Would you like to stop by my house? I made some delicious desserts!"
"No, thank you!"
Caster shook his head. "I'm on my way to meet Professor Oak right now. Once Ash gets back, I'll come visit."
"What a polite, responsible young man! If Ash were more like you and Gary, I wouldn't have to worry about him every day."
After a few more words, Delia left Professor Oak's Laboratory with her plate.
Caster finally met the famous Professor Oak in the living room.
His hair had gone gray, and he wore a white lab coat. Though getting on in years, Professor Oak looked full of energy.
Professor Oak was on the phone. When he saw Caster and Gary enter, he gestured for them to sit and wait.
The caller seemed to be from Celadon University. Caster heard enough to gather that the university wanted Professor Oak to give a lecture.
At first, Professor Oak declined.
Then he learned that Celadon University had also invited Kurt to teach a course on Poké Balls, Elite Four member Agatha to lecture on battling, and the Day-Care Couple to teach Pokémon breeding. Professor Oak changed his tune and accepted on the spot.
That caught Caster's attention. "If I remember correctly, Professor Oak studied science and engineering at Celadon University, then stayed to earn a master's degree in biology. Now he's a visiting professor of Pokémon studies there. Kurt from Johto, Agatha of the Elite Four, and the Day-Care Couple are all old friends of his..."
Professor Oak had once been an exceptional Trainer as well. After he retired to devote himself to Pokémon research, Agatha had decided he had grown weak and distanced herself from him.
Even after Agatha distanced herself, the two had not cut ties completely.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!"
After hanging up, Professor Oak apologized, then studied Caster closely. "You must be Caster. My grandson Gary has told me all about you. You've defeated him twice in a row and conquered Trainer Tower less than a year after beginning your journey. You deserve to be called a prodigy."
"You're too kind, Professor Oak!"
Caster sat up straight. "Gary and I learn from each other and improve together. We both still have a long way to go."
"Excellent! You've accomplished so much at your age, yet you're still levelheaded. You're far more mature than my Gary!"
Professor Oak praised him again, then turned to Gary and rubbed his chin. "Though Gary does seem to have changed quite a bit lately. He has become much more mature than he used to be."
After they chatted for a while, Professor Oak's research fever took hold, and he asked to see Caster's Pokémon.
Caster agreed and released the four Pokémon traveling with him.
"Remarkable! This Gyarados and Dragonair are both enormous. They far exceed the average size of their species."
Professor Oak's eyes shone as he looked at them. "Caster, how did you raise them? If only one of your Pokémon were unusually large, it might be a coincidence. But two of your four Pokémon have extraordinary builds. There must be a reason."
Professor Oak went to work at once. Magnifying glass in hand, he examined every inch of Gyarados and Dragonair.
As he worked, he remarked, "This could make a valuable new research topic."
"Professor, you're welcome to study them as much as you like. My Pokémon will cooperate fully. We still have some time before the Indigo League Conference begins anyway."
Caster grinned at the professor's excitement and rubbed his hands together. "But I have a hobby of my own. I love fishing. Would you mind speaking to the Pokémon in your habitats and asking them to cooperate fully with me too?"
"Cooperate with your fishing? What do you mean?"
Professor Oak stared at him in confusion.
Caster kept rubbing his hands and grinned. "Just have them line up and take turns biting my hook!"