I woke up early today, earlier than usual. The sun had just started to rise, casting long shadows over the quiet streets of Oreburgh City. Off in the distance, I could already see miners preparing for their shifts down in Oreburgh Mine.
For me, though, the day was just beginning. And my first stop was the Poké Mart.
I picked up a bundle of thirty Oran Berries, way more than I'd need for just one Pokémon. But I didn't plan to keep all the Gible I caught yesterday. I only needed one, the right one. Still, if I was going to release or send the others off, it felt right to at least give them a parting gift.
While I was at it, I grabbed a bundle of Poffins, each in a different flavor. I'd need them for nature testing later.
After that, I made my way back to the Pokémon Center and headed to the PC terminal in the lobby. It was a common area, but thankfully relatively quiet at this time of day, allowing me to focus on the task at hand.
I pulled out my Pokégear and called Reggie.
He picked up after a few rings.
"Hey! Morning. You caught a lot of Gible yesterday! I was surprised when I found some of them with me out of nowhere. A warning would've been appreciated, Paul!"
He delivered the words with a playful tone, making sure that I knew that there was no genuine annoyance behind it.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that," I replied. "I was planning on only catching one, but I ran into a group of them. I couldn't tell which one had the ability I was looking for, so I decided to catch all of them and figure it out later. Are you alright though? Four of the Gible should be with you."
"Yeah, I've been keeping them calm. A little rowdy at first, but I think they figured out what was going on. They're actually a lot better now."
"Good," I said, already reaching for my belt. "I'm sending over four of my team. I'll need them out of the way while I sort through the Gible."
"Alright, that's fine. Once I get them, I'll send over the Gible on my end."
I nodded, even though he couldn't see it. "Sending now."
I placed Ursaring, Larvitar, Chimchar, and Elekid's Poké Balls into the transfer slot. One by one, they blinked out of sight.
"Alright," Reggie said after a moment. "Got 'em. Sending the Gible now."
Seconds later, the PC system hummed. Four new Poké Balls materialized on the tray in front of me.
I took them all and headed toward the quiet training grounds near the back of the Pokémon Center. There, I brought out Alakazam and Dusclops.
I didn't think I'd need backup. Reggie said the Gible were calm, but it never hurt to be cautious.
"Stay sharp," I told them both. "We're bringing them out now."
Alakazam gave a small nod, and Dusclops hovered into place beside me, silent as always.
One by one, I released the Poké Balls.
With six quiet flashes of red light, the Gible materialized around me. They were stout, rugged little dragons with bellies of deep crimson and blue scales that shimmered in the morning light. Their black eyes, round and inquisitive, blinked as they adjusted to their new surroundings, glancing at each other with curious grunts before turning their attention towards me.
No snarling. No tension. Just some idle sniffing at the dirt and a few curious glances.
Reggie must've taken time to explain what was going on, and it seemed like they listened. That was very helpful of him.
Now comes the real test.
I stepped forward.
"Alright, you guys," I began. "I'm only going to be keeping one of you. Yesterday in the cave, I noticed that two of you were able to hide in the sandstorm more easily than the others. That means at least two of you have the ability Sand Veil."
Some of the Gible tilted their heads. One yawned.
"Sand Veil is one of the abilities that Gible can get. It helps you blend into sandstorms, making you harder to hit."
They didn't seem to know which of them had it, and honestly, I wasn't expecting them to. That was fine, we can just manually find out.
"One of you used Sandstorm in the cave. I'd like you to use it again now."
At first, nothing happened.
Then, one of the larger Gible, the same one I vaguely remembered taking charge in the wild, lowered itself to the ground. It growled low, and a gritty energy began to swirl around its body.
A swirling spiral of dust built up in the air around us. Loose soil and dust began to swirl as the move activated, kicking up a localized storm that stirred across the training grounds.
It wasn't harsh enough to hurt, but it stung the eyes and muffled visibility.
"Perfect." I stepped back and shielded my face. "Now, all of you go deeper into the sandstorm. Let's see what you've got."
The six Gible charged forward into the sandstorm.
Almost immediately, I saw the difference.
Four of them moved normally, their forms clearly outlined against the swirling sand, occasionally blinking against the sandstorm.
But two of them seemed to melt into the sandstorm. Their edges softened, their blue scales blurring as the sand danced around them, making it difficult to track their exact position. It was as if the sand itself was concealing them, their presence becoming hazy and indistinct within the miniature tempest.
I had to strain my eyes just to keep them in sight. The storm seemed to embrace them, rather than buffet them.
Sand Veil.
I nodded, satisfied. "Alright, the two of you come over here, on my right."
They trotted back, obediently standing side by side.
"The rest of you," I said, gesturing left, "you guys line up over there."
Once the dust settled and the storm faded, I walked over to the remaining four. I knew that these four didn't have the ability I wanted, however Gible can have another ability. Out of curiosity I wanted to see if any of them had it.
Running my hand over the first two revealed nothing unusual. Crouching down, I then reached out to the third, letting my fingers trace the lines of its scales.
The difference was immediate. Beneath the surface, I felt something like hidden thorns—small, hard barbs just under the skin. Not enough to break skin at a light touch, but I knew that if I pressed harder, I'd regret it.
This one had Rough Skin, alright. Not what I was looking for, but still a solid ability.
So that made it clear:
Two with Sand Veil, one with Rough Skin, and three of them had no ability at all
The two with Sand Veil were now the only ones left to consider.
I recalled Alakazam and Dusclops. The Gible had been cooperative through the whole process. No growling, no resistance, not even a stray bite.
Now, all that remained was figuring out which of the two Sand Veil Gible I'd keep. One was a male, and the other was a female.
Moves don't really matter at this point, I can just teach whichever one I pick the moves I want them to learn. However, what I can't control is the nature they have.
Nature affects how a Pokémon grows. What stats they'll lean toward, what kind of role they'll fill. Garchomp's best assets are its raw power and speed, so ideally, I'd want a nature that boosts one without compromising the other.
I knelt down in the grass and opened the bundle of poffins I'd picked up from the Poké Mart earlier this morning, each flavored to test their taste preference.
I started with the male Gible.
He strolled over at a casual pace. He sniffed each poffin, then nibbled one with a calm, deliberate bite.
Bitter. He liked that one. Took another.
But when I offered him a sweet poffin, he practically grimaced. He didn't flinch or growl, just turned his snout away and gave me a slow blink like, Really?
He had a stocky build and a slow-but-steady way of moving. There was nothing timid about him, just a nonchalant attitude.
Since he favors bitter flavors, that would indicate a boost to its Defense stat. And his aversion to sweet flavors suggests a decrease in Speed. Putting it together means that he has a Relaxed nature.
Solid durability, sure, but that drop in speed? That's a dealbreaker. Speed is one of Garchomp's biggest strengths. Without it, it's just a bulky Dragon that gets outpaced by faster threats. Mega Garchomp had a huge increase in power, but was worse overall because of a slight speed drop.
I gave him a nod, then turned to the female.
She didn't wait for an invitation. The second she saw food, she was already halfway to me.
She barreled straight into the poffins with wild eyes and a wide grin, chomping down on the spicy one like it owed her money. Sparks of excitement lit up in her eyes, and she gave an eager, guttural growl, demanding more.
I offered her a bitter one, she ate it readily enough, though without the same enthusiastic chirps she gave the spicy blend. The dry poffin was met with a similar response, a quick sniff before consumption.
But when I offered her a sour one, her whole face twisted up like she'd been hit with a Confuse Ray. She gagged dramatically, pawing at her tongue with a tiny claw before flopping onto her back like she was dying.
I had to stop myself from smiling.
She definitely has a Naughty nature. It'll boost her Attack and lower her Special Defense.
Not the ideal nature, I was really hoping for Jolly, which would increase Speed at the cost of Special Attack, but Naughty is a solid choice.
Losing some Special Defense isn't optimal, but Garchomp doesn't typically rely on that stat anyway. That increased Attack, on the other hand, will significantly enhance powerful physical moves like Earthquake, Dragon Claw, and Stone Edge.
While Jolly would have been perfect, this Naughty nature is more than workable. It's a strong foundation to build upon.
I crouched down and met her eyes. "You're with me."
She blinked, tilted her head... then let out a pleased growl and curled her claws excitedly into the grass. A big, toothy grin spread across her face.
That settled it.
I stood up and looked over at the others. They weren't watching with jealousy or sadness, just blank curiosity. They barely knew me, after all. I hadn't raised them. To them, I was just the guy who beat them yesterday and was handing out snacks and instructions.
Still... it felt wrong to just send them off with nothing.
I pulled out the Oran Berries from earlier. A small parting gift, so they wouldn't be empty-handed when they arrived wherever they ended up next.
Though now that I think about it, I can still do a bit more.
I looked at the remaining five.
Three of them had no abilities. I'd be releasing them back to the wild.
But the other two? One had Rough Skin, the other was the male Sand Veil Gible.
I hesitated, then stepped over and picked up their Poké Balls. I pocketed them and headed back inside the Pokémon Center.
Reggie has always been a tremendous help, offering insightful advice whenever I need it, and generally keeping everything on his end running smoothly. Beyond that, he also diligently cared for and even trained the Pokémon I'd left in his charge. He never asked for anything in return, a selfless dedication I'd come to expect from him.
So maybe... this could be a small way to repay him.
As a breeder, I knew he'd see the potential in these two. Both have their abilities confirmed, and together they'd even make a solid breeding pair.
I pulled out my PokéGear and composed a quick message to Reggie.
Thanks for everything.
I thought these two might be useful for your team, or your ranch. Use them however you want.
One has the ability Rough Skin, and the other has Sand Veil.
I mean it. I appreciate your help.
Paul
I selected Reggie's contact and sent the message, a confirmation tone chiming from the device. Then, I initiated the transfer of the two Gible through the PC system.
A few seconds later, my Pokégear buzzed.
Seriously? These are amazing! Are you sure about this?
Thanks, Paul. Love you little bro.
A small, genuine smile touched my lips as I read his reply. A warmth spread through me, a novel sensation. It was still strange, this dynamic with Reggie, having a brother after a lifetime without one. But these moments felt… good.
I typed back a quick, simple message: Yeah, man. Enjoy them. Then, I closed the message and slipped the PokéGear back into my pocket, a quiet satisfaction settling within me.
Now that left the last three Gible, the ones I wouldn't be keeping.
I stepped back into the training grounds where they were still waiting and pulled out their Poké Balls and with a deliberate press and hold of the release button on each Poké Ball, a soft blue light emanated from the center of each Poké Ball, confirming they're released.
I sighed, kneeling to meet them at eye level. "Alright, you three, I'm sorry for dragging you out of Wayward Cave and putting you through all this. I know I caught you suddenly. This—" I reached into my bag and pulled out a bundle of berries, "—is my way of saying sorry."
I handed each of them ten Oran Berries, packed into small pouches like the others. One sniffed at the pouch before eagerly grabbing it with its claws. The other two took theirs as well, their stubby arms cradling the berries with contentment.
"If you want, I can take you back to Wayward Cave?"
None of them really responded at first. But after a few seconds, the one with the widest head yawned, stretched, and then began to dig into the soft dirt of the training ground. A second Gible followed its lead, kicking up dust as it tunneled deeper.
I watched as the two of them disappeared back underground, returning home.
I turned, surprised to see that the smallest Gible was still sitting in front of me.
Its head was tilted, eyes locked onto mine. Not with confusion, but with determination.
I recognized it now. This was the same one that held on until the very end yesterday. The last one standing, it had grit. It wasn't the biggest, or the fastest, or the flashiest. But it refused to give up.
And now it didn't want to leave.
It looked up at me, expression intense. Hopeful.
It remembered the battle. It remembered me. And now, it wanted to stay with the trainer who bested it.
I exhaled slowly.
"Ah... this is tough."
I knelt beside it again, placing a hand on its rounded head. Its scales felt warm beneath my palm.
"You've got fight in you. That's clear."
The little Gible grinned, those jagged teeth peeking through as it leaned into my touch.
"But I already picked a Gible for my team," I told it softly. "And I won't be training two. You understand that, right?"
The grin faded. It looked down, its jaw quivering just a little. The weight of the moment sank in. But it didn't throw a fit. Didn't cry or panic. It simply stood still, quietly processing my words.
"I'm really sorry, little one. But you'll be fine. You're strong, and I know you'll get stronger. Whether on your own or with another trainer."
There was a long silence before it gave a slow, understanding nod.
Just as I stood up, brushing the dirt from my knees, I heard footsteps approaching.
"Hey, Paul!" a familiar voice called.
I turned my head and saw Ash, Brock, and Dawn walking toward the training grounds. It looks like they just arrived at Oreburgh City and were headed to the Pokemon Center.
Ash's eyes drifted from me to the little Gible still sitting at my feet.
"I saw you release those Gible just now. What's going on?"
I met his gaze calmly. "I caught a group of them yesterday. But I only needed one."
"You caught four and released three?" Dawn asked, her eyes wide. "That's kinda intense"
"I intend to add a Gible to my team, but I only want the one that best fits."
Ash frowned slightly. "You mean the strongest one?"
I folded my arms. "Sure, something like that. You know you can scan a Pokémon with your Pokédex to see what moves they know, maybe get a feel for potential. I just chose the Gible that would work best for my team."
Ash crossed his arms, that familiar spark in his eyes. "You know what I think? Any Pokémon can be strong, if you believe in them, train them hard, they can grow into champions."
I didn't bristle. In fact, I agreed with him.
"I'm not disagreeing with you. Any of the Gible I released could've turned into something great. If I trained them, they'd turn into amazing battlers." I looked back down at the little one. "But if I have a choice, I'd rather start with one that already shows promise, and build from there"
Ash seemed to take that in. He didn't argue back, just looked thoughtful.
Then his attention shifted to the small Gible, still watching me, still unwilling to dig away like the others.
Ash crouched beside it, his expression softening. "Hey... you don't have a place to go, do you?"
Gible turned toward him with a curious little grunt.
"You're looking for a trainer, right?" Ash smiled. "If you want you can come with me."
Gible blinked, then glanced back at me.
Almost as if asking for permission.
"It's your choice," I said quietly. "Ash is a decent trainer. He even gave me some trouble the last time we battled."
Ash scratched his cheek. "Heh, yeah. And I've been training hard since then, too!"
It turned back to Ash, growled softly, but with excitement, and took a step forward.
Ash grinned and pulled a Poké Ball from his belt. "Alright! I'll train you up and we'll get stronger together, just you watch!"
The ball clicked open with a flash of red light, and just like that, Gible was gone.
Dawn smiled. "That was sweet. It really liked you, Paul."
I gave a quiet shrug. "I noticed."
Brock adjusted his coat. "Well, it'll be in good hands. Ash is great with determined Pokémon. That Gible'll be tearing through gyms before long."
I gave a small nod.
It's good that Ash caught it. I would've felt bad crushing Gible's hopes. Now, it still gets its shot.
Without another word, I turned and headed back toward the Pokémon Center. I still had to get my team back from Reggie.
__________
AN: So, for a while I've been thinking about Ash's team. Specifically since Paul isn't giving up Chimchar, Ash loses his Sinnoh Ace. Originally I was going to just buff his Torterra and call it a day, but I saw an opportunity to do something else. I also felt like the Paul/Ash rivalry was weaker than the Paul/Barry rivalry since there was no development towards the rivalry, Paul just beat Ash and that was it.