029: Young People and Ideals! !
"My young master kindly took them to tour the town, but those two looked like their noses were glued to the sky."
"One even told me flat-out, 'I'm not interested in this kind of rural town.' Said he only came to Pallet Town for the summer camp because he wanted to meet Professor Oak," Gary huffed, clearly irritated.
Ash, never missing a chance to tease, grinned and fired back without mercy.
"Hahaha, Gary, you talk like you don't usually have your nose up in the clouds too!"
"Anyway, what about those two now? Did you just leave them at your place?"
Gary rolled his eyes with a dramatic sigh.
"Am I that awful in your eyes? I just couldn't bother entertaining two kids who clearly think they're royalty."
"Since they worship Grandpa so much, I handed them off to one of the lab assistants and had them tour the research wing instead."
"I figured I'd meet you after I unloaded them," Gary added with a smirk, then turned his gaze to the two unfamiliar faces standing beside Ash.
"Gary, these two are Tierno and Trevor from the Kalos Region. I'm just showing them around town."
"Tierno, Trevor, meet Gary my best friend here in Pallet. And as you've probably heard, he's also Professor Oak's grandson."
"Hello~"
"Hello~" The two Kalos boys greeted politely, clearly intrigued upon learning Gary's lineage.
"Hi Tierno, Trevor. I'm Gary. Since you're Ash's friends, you're friends of mine too. No need to be formal."
Since Ash's near-drowning and hospital recovery two days prior, Gary had mellowed somewhat. Though once arrogant and aloof, his rivalry with Ash had softened after Ash earnestly admitted their friendship.
The truth was, Gary wasn't bad at heart. Being Professor Oak's grandson had always set him apart, and many kids in Pallet treated him differently. His aloofness had long been a mask, a way of attracting attention and seeking genuine friendship.
"By the way, Ash, Tierno, Trevor are you guys planning to walk around town? Just my opinion, but I don't recommend it," Gary interjected.
Ash noticed the spark of curiosity in Trevor and Tierno's eyes, but they hesitated to ask. So he spoke for them. "Why not?"
"There's a huge influx of summer camp kids in town today. The streets are packed, and it's noisy and chaotic."
"And besides, let's be real there's not much to see in Pallet. The only thing worth visiting is Grandpa's lab, but that's off-limits to most campers."
Gary raised his brow with a knowing smirk.
Ash squinted. "So what you're really saying is, you could get us into the lab?"
"You're just dragging this out, acting all smug again. Gary, you're such a show-off."
"Well, geez " Gary scratched his cheek, slightly flustered after getting called out. "You in or not?"
Ash turned to the two boys beside him. "What do you guys think?"
"Of course! I'd love to!" Trevor exclaimed. It was a rare moment usually quiet, Trevor's enthusiasm burst forth. "That's Professor Oak's Lab! That's the main reason I came to Pallet Town!"
"I forgot to mention," Tierno added, "While we both dream of becoming Pokémon Trainers, Trevor also wants to be a world-class Pokémon photographer and researcher."
Ash and Gary exchanged looks, impressed.
"That's great, Trevor! Then the lab's perfect for you. You'll get to see the daily work of a researcher up close!" Ash smiled, genuinely happy for his new friend.
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Among young people, ideals and dreams are the perfect conversation starters and often, the fastest way to form bonds.
Trevor, out of the four, had the broadest range of aspirations: to be a Pokémon Trainer, a researcher, and a professional photographer.
Next were Tierno and Gary, who each had two major dreams.
Tierno's were unconventional. Besides aspiring to be a powerful Trainer, he dreamed of forming a Pokémon Dance Troupe. In fact, his Squirtle was already an agile breakdancer. Later, in the Kalos League, even after evolving into a large Blastoise, it could still pull off spins and floor work with shocking flexibility.
In the manga and anime, Tierno's team Blastoise, Raichu, Ludicolo, Hitmontop, and Seismitoad all shared a flair for rhythm. His troupe eventually gained fame for their synchronized performances, combining art and battle strategy.
Gary, though he often complained about being seen only as Professor Oak's grandson, deeply respected his grandfather.
He had long dreamed of becoming a Pokémon Trainer and, in time, a researcher worthy of the Oak name.
After tough losses at both the Indigo Plateau and Silver Conference, Gary reassessed his goals. In the later chapters, he chose to pursue research more seriously, ultimately working alongside Professor Rowan in Sinnoh. Yet even then, he never gave up his Trainer's heart.
In the world of Pokémon, the Trainer's path isn't a profession it's a foundation. Whether one becomes a researcher, photographer, breeder, or even a dancer, it all starts with being a Trainer.
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