c3: Gastly
Before the three of them stood three familiar small figures who else could they be but the iconic Hoenn starters?
"Bari bari!" The blue Mudkip gave a cheerful splash of its stubby feet, exuding an innocent cuteness completely devoid of the tactical confidence it would later show as a Swampert in the manga.
"Chamo…" The aloof Treecko leaned against the lab table, its amber eyes half-lidded like some kind of green Kakashi, disinterested in conversation but subtly alert—just like the one Sapphire would eventually evolve into a mighty Sceptile.
"Gamo gamo gamo!" The fiery Torchic hopped around excitedly, full of pent-up energy and clearly the boldest of the three.
But none of them paid the slightest attention to Alex. Instead, the three starter Pokémon fixated entirely on Ruby, as if Alex and Professor Birch were merely part of the scenery.
"Hehehehe! Little Alex! You were acting all cool earlier, wiping out that pack of Poochyena like some kind of elite trainer!" Ruby burst into exaggerated laughter. "But look now you've been completely ignored! Karma hits fast, huh?!"
Ruby's smug delight at Alex's apparent snub revealed his childish streak. It was classic Ruby behavior, as noted even in the manga his need to shine, to outdo, and to be the star of the room. Alex rolled his eyes. He's still just a kid right now, he reminded himself, even if he's got the confidence of someone who thinks they're already a Contest Champion.
Ruby quickly stepped forward to choose. After a dramatic pause and a flair of his red jacket, he pointed decisively. "Treecko. Cool, aloof, stylish—it's just like me."
Tch, Alex thought, funny didn't you absolutely dislike Treecko back in the original manga?
But this Ruby had clearly been shaped by growing up alongside Alex. His personality had shifted less vain than the Ruby who clashed with Sapphire in Pokémon Adventures, and more grounded. Still flashy, though.
The League-issued starters were, as expected, top quality. Each came with 3 perfect IVs a clear indicator of official breeding standards. Ruby had luck on his side; his Treecko's IV spread included max values in both Attack stats and Speed, making it a top-tier physical or mixed sweeper candidate.
Now, Alex had to pivot the situation in his favor. He had no intention of accepting any of these three. He needed to continue hiding his Ghost-type specialization while getting access to a suitable new partner.
He'd already crafted a story: "Professor… you saw what just happened, right? The starters completely ignored me. This isn't the first time it's been like this for years. When I was around five, I started to notice something strange… Ghost-type Pokémon are naturally drawn to me. It's like they sense something in my aura."
He delivered the lines with a straight face, the tone measured and plausible. "Because of that… I've never been able to bond with non-Ghost-types. It's not just awkward it's like we're on different wavelengths. No chemistry at all."
Professor Birch tilted his head in thought. He was a field researcher, not a combat specialist, but he'd seen stranger things out in the wilds of Hoenn. "Hmm… I see. That's unusual, but not unheard of. It's similar to how certain trainers have a natural affinity for elemental types. You're saying Ghost-types come to you, while others avoid you."
Alex nodded seriously. "Exactly. But that's also why I need a Ghost-type with fast growth potential. Dreepy's strong, sure but pseudo-legendaries evolve extremely late. I need something more practical for my early journey."
"Huh. Now that you mention it…" Professor Birch rubbed his chin, looking intrigued. "I may have something for you. A rare one, actually."
Ruby, meanwhile, stood forgotten to the side once again.
Ruby: "Why am I being ignored again?!"
Professor Birch rummaged through his desk drawers and pulled out a different Poké Ball, marked with a silver star. "This one came through a trade network between labs. Technically not Hoenn-native, but it fits your situation. I wasn't sure what to do with it, but now…"
He pressed the release button. A red light burst out, and a cloud of purplish-blue mist swirled into the air. Suspended in the gas was a wide, mischievous face with large eyes and a toothy grin.
A shiny Gastly.
Alex blinked. He had read the stats. He was ready for surprises. But this?
...A shiny?
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Pokémon: Gastly
Level: 5 (Shiny)
Type: Ghost / Poison
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Ghost
Individual Values:
HP: V
Defense: V
Special Attack: V
Attack: 15
Special Defense: 10
Speed: 25
Nature: Naughty (crossed out) → Timid (Nature Mint applied)
Gender: Male
Moves: Lick, Confuse Ray, Hypnosis
Held Item: None
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Gastly's Timid nature and strong Special Attack IVs made it a perfect candidate for evolution into Gengar, one of the fastest and strongest Ghost-types in the series. Its speed stat was already above average even for a Level 5, and its access to status moves like Hypnosis and Confuse Ray gave Alex excellent crowd-control options right out of the gate.
"Shiny Gastly… That's more than I hoped for," Alex murmured, watching the gas-type Pokémon float effortlessly in front of him. Gastly stared right back, as if sizing him up. Then it let out a low, amused chuckle—"Gaaaassssss…"
The connection was instant.
Alex offered his arm, and Gastly slowly hovered over it, tapping his sleeve once with its vaporous body.
Professor Birch smiled. "Looks like it's chosen you too."
And with that, Alex had his second Ghost-type.
The game had just shifted.
Notes: Extremely mischievous and loves pranks. Even within the notoriously mischievous Ghost-type community, it's considered a top-tier trickster. Originally obtained through a lab trade as a prospective training Pokémon for field assistants, Gastly was ultimately rejected due to its extreme antics—it drove multiple interns to the verge of quitting.
(Incidents include but are not limited to: using Hypnosis to force its trainer to dance "Gokuraku Jodo" in the middle of Rustboro's main plaza, or manipulating illusions to make its trainer "borrow" items from Poké Marts under compulsion…)
Professor Birch was just about to warn Alex that this particular Gastly was unruly and troublesome. But then he stopped mid-sentence. The Gastly floating in front of them usually wild-eyed and unhinged according to the lab logs.suddenly floated forward and gently licked Alex's hand. Its signature smirk softened into something almost… respectful?
Professor Birch blinked. "...Huh?"
The cautionary speech caught in his throat. No pranks. No weird faces. Not even a Lick prank for laughs. Gastly's behavior had transformed, like a Houndour turning into a Skitty.
What kind of affinity is this?! Alex glanced at the system's entry for Gastly again, comparing it with the one obediently floating before him like a docile balloon pet. Surprised, yes. But more than anything relieved.
"Gastly… would you like to be my partner?"
"Jie-jie~!" Gastly responded with a spirited nod though to be fair, it just looked like it bounced up and down in midair while releasing a puff of mist.
For reasons it couldn't explain, Gastly felt an inexplicable pull toward Alex. Something in his presence promised long-term fun, growth, and… something more. Missing this chance would have haunted it forever—literally. So for once, it forgot the pranks and just followed its instincts.
Alex reached out and stroked Gastly's big, smoky head. It felt cold to the touch, like a midnight breeze. Much colder than Dreepy, in fact, whose ectoplasm was usually warmer due to its Dragon typing. Hmm… with its Speed and Special Attack growth, Gengar might make a great mid-game sweeper or, considering the AC-tier chill it gave off, maybe even a personal cooling unit for Hoenn's brutal summers.
"Domey!" came a huff from above. Dreepy, who had been perched on Alex's head this whole time, suddenly began tugging at his black hair, its boomerang-shaped head bobbing with envy.
Alex smiled and gave it a reassuring pat. "Dreepy, this is Gastly. From today, he's your little brother. That means you're the big brother now, okay? You've gotta set a good example can't be so clingy."
Dreepy immediately stiffened up, wings held straight, like a schoolchild being told to behave. It nodded solemnly, its expression suddenly very mature for a tiny ghost missile.
With a short giggle, Dreepy leapt off Alex's head, zipped in front of Gastly, and began making grand gestures pointing here, floating there, even puffing up its cheeks at one point like it was giving a motivational speech. Gastly's eyes started to glaze over. It tried to float away, but Dreepy pulled it back, delivering another dose of "wisdom." Poor thing looked like it was being inducted into the military.
Alex left the "big brother training" session to run its course and turned to look at Ruby.
Ruby, meanwhile, was in an escalating negotiation with his new Treecko. The Grass-type stood rigid against the lab wall, arms crossed like a green bouncer, giving off maximum aloofness. Ruby sighed and squatted in front of it.
"Come on, Treecko… I picked you 'cause you're cool, right? Work with me here."
Treecko didn't move. Instead, it raised two claws and rubbed the tips together.
"…Are you seriously asking for money?!"
Apparently, this outwardly stoic, reserved Treecko was actually hiding some rogue instincts. Who knew it had that kind of sass?
Professor Birch glanced at the boys, watching with amusement as they each struggled with their new teammates. Then, he remembered something and reached into his coat pocket. "Ah.before I forget, my daughter May is currently out near Oldale Town collecting data for my research. She's a year ahead of you two as a trainer and knows the routes well. Why not head that way and catch up with her?"
Alex paused. Ah, right. May…
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, May Birch wasn't featured prominently, but in adaptations and the games, she was Ruby's counterpart. In one timeline, Ruby even brought her home as his future bride. Maybe Professor Birch didn't know it yet, but his "independent researcher daughter" might need more supervision than expected.
As Alex turned back, he noticed Dreepy was still speaking in high-pitched chirps while floating in circles around Gastly. The shiny Gastly looked like it was sleep-floating, only to be prodded awake every few seconds by Dreepy's tail.
Alex decided not to intervene.
Thus, Alex and Ruby's journey officially began. They would travel together up until Oldale Town strength in numbers before deciding whether to split or stay teamed up.
"Domey?" Dreepy's confused chirp echoed once again, as if wondering when the actual adventure would begin.
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PS: Dreepy gained 2 levels after defeating 20 Poochyena, now at Level 22.