Oh my! What could the Pokémon be?! This is such a cliffhan- ...oh wait...
Just to reiterate, Pokémon doesn't exist in this world. Which means "Poké Balls" aren't a thing.
TRANSCRIPT Ash: I'll become Pokémon champion first, and then I'll ban that little s(obscured) Prof. Oak (GM): Oh, I thought I heard someone else out here. Kevin: Who is it this time? GM: Professor Oak. Ash: Finally! I need a Pokémon so that I can destroy your grandson! Prof. Oak (GM): How nice. Follow me. GM: He takes you up the path into his lab. GM: Do you know what Pokémon you're starting with? Ash: Of course! GM: You see three Poké spheres. Kevin: Poké spheres? GM: It's how trainers store their Pokémon. Kevin: But why spheres? Why not orbs? Or balls? GM: Shhh. Adam, what is your starter Pokémon? Ash: I pick... Ash: ...Mew! GM: Oka- wait, what?! Mew wasn't an option! The Poké sphere is empty. Pick something else. Ash: Ugh. Okay, fine. I pick... Ash: Moltres! GM: No, no, NO! You can't pick Moltres! Empty sphere, try again. Ash: This is so unfair. Alright. I pick... GM: Before you say it, you cannot pick Mewtwo, Zapdos, Articuno, Dragonite, Dratini, or Dragonair either. Ash: What?! Then what can I pick?! GM: Did you even read the list of starter possibilities?! Ash: Yes. Ash: Well... I skimmed it. GM: That's it. I'm choosing for you. Professor Oak pulls out one extra Poké sphere and gives it to you. Ash: What is it? GM: You'll see. GM: When you open it, lights start flashing. sfx: BZZZT!!! Kevin: Whoa, cool strobe light! GM: Thanks.
Just to reiterate, Pokémon doesn't exist in this world. Which means "Poké Balls" aren't a thing.
TRANSCRIPT
Ash: I'll become Pokémon champion first, and then I'll ban that little s(obscured)
Prof. Oak (GM): Oh, I thought I heard someone else out here.
Kevin: Who is it this time?
GM: Professor Oak.
Ash: Finally! I need a Pokémon so that I can destroy your grandson!
Prof. Oak (GM): How nice. Follow me.
GM: He takes you up the path into his lab.
GM: Do you know what Pokémon you're starting with?
Ash: Of course!
GM: You see three Poké spheres.
Kevin: Poké spheres?
GM: It's how trainers store their Pokémon.
Kevin: But why spheres? Why not orbs? Or balls?
GM: Shhh. Adam, what is your starter Pokémon?
Ash: I pick...
Ash: ...Mew!
GM: Oka- wait, what?! Mew wasn't an option! The Poké sphere is empty. Pick something else.
Ash: Ugh. Okay, fine. I pick...
Ash: Moltres!
GM: No, no, NO! You can't pick Moltres! Empty sphere, try again.
Ash: This is so unfair. Alright. I pick...
GM: Before you say it, you cannot pick Mewtwo, Zapdos, Articuno, Dragonite, Dratini, or Dragonair either.
Ash: What?! Then what can I pick?!
GM: Did you even read the list of starter possibilities?!
Ash: Yes.
Ash: Well... I skimmed it.
GM: That's it. I'm choosing for you. Professor Oak pulls out one extra Poké sphere and gives it to you.
Ash: What is it?
GM: You'll see.
GM: When you open it, lights start flashing.
sfx: BZZZT!!!
Kevin: Whoa, cool strobe light!
GM: Thanks.