Begginings

The TV flashed bright colors, picturing a professional Pokemon battle. Gengar was about to land the finishing blow, and-

"Ash Ketchum, what are you doing up this late!?" his mom's voice ripped his eyes away from the screen. "I told you to be in bed by nine and it's already past ten! What do you think you're doing?"

"Oh- mom, I'm really sorry, it's just, with tomorrow and everything, I just can't sleep, so please let me stay up a little longer mom, please?" Came his lame reply. His mother sighed.

"Well, I suppose that's true. Your father was the exact same the day before the Choosing, his excitement and energy-" she cut off, then restarted quickly, "I mean, if you have to watch something, let's have it be educational. Here, this will teach you all you need to know, but when this is over it's off to be with you, no excuses."

Ash breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks mom, really." The channel she had set it to wasn't as good as the previous one, but it kept Ash's mind occupied, so he didn't complain.

"There are many types of Pokemon, and upon each Choosing Day, children, upon coming of age, are transformed into budding trainers by the selection of a Battling Pokemon companion." The TV-Professor Oak droned on. Though he had been told so many times, Ash could never get used to the idea that their small town Professor was famous outside of Palet; he just didn't look right on TV. "The three standard starting Pokemon are Bulbasour, Squirtle, and Charmander. Though there are a few exceptions, young trainers will most likely receive one of those three State Approved Pokemon. Each has different strengths and weaknesses, so choose carefully." The program continued for another quarter hour, explaining different trainer tools such as the newly developed Pokedex, and when it was done Ash obediently shut down the TV and crawled into bed.

Morning sunshine flitted through the gaps in his curtains, throwing his room into twilight. As a beam found his eye, Ash awoke. He got up, yawned, and stretched, then threw open the curtains to let in the full daylight and banish any clinging shadows.

"What time is it?" He wondered aloud, rubbing his eyes. He glanced at his alarm clock and almost fell out of bed; it was nearly nine. In his exhausted stupor last night, Ash had forgotten to reset his alarm and hour early for Choosing Day, and now he was over half an hour late. He threw on his cloths and sprinted out the door, not bothering to say goodbye to his mother. Friends and family watching the Choosing come an hour later to see the new trainers leave, since they aren't allowed inside during the decision, so as not to sway the trainer in his or her choice.

He ran past the small houses lining either side of him skidded left onto the dirt road that led to Professor Oak's home and laboratory. Ignoring the pain in his side, Ash ran up the hill and saw the white dome of the laboratory. Panting, he sprinted past a small crowd of onlookers who had come early, barely hearing the "Hey, Ash, aren't you a little late?" and stifled giggles, bursting through the double doors of the laboratory.

"Oi! Hey Ash, I was just thinking you weren't going to show up." Gary laughed. Ash didn't even have enough breath to reply as he doubled over, panting hard. "Well, I'm leaving, Gramps, you'll probably see me on TV sometime soon." Gary said as he left the room. Ash muttered a few choice words under his breath and stood up. He was in the main room of the laboratory, messy as ever despite the special day it was. Oak's laboratory was large, and had it been anyone else's it would've been roomy, but somehow Oak always managed to clutter it with research and coffee mugs. Oak was watching the place where Gary had stood just a few moments before with a peculiar expression on his face, but then he composed himself.

"Ah, Ash, how was your morning run?" Professor Oak started, but then stopped when Ash threw him an "I'm-not-amused" look. "Now, now, I was just joking, no need to be so serious. So, young Ash, which Pokemon shall you choose?" The professor routinely asked.

"Well, I've thought about it, and I'll take Squirtle!" But as he said these words, Professor Oak fidgeted.

"You see Ash, the thing is, Squirtle's already been taken by someone who got here, well, on time."

"Damn it, did Gary take Squirtle?" Ash exclaimed.

"Calm down Ash! You very well know I cannot tell you other trainer's choices, and watch your language or I may very well refuse you a Pokemon until you can learn to speak properly."

"Sorry Professor Oak, please give me a Pokemon." Ash mumbled. Professor Oak sighed.

"Young Ash, I'll be frank. The three standard Pokemon have already been chosen by different trainers."

"You don't mean-" Ash began, horrified. The idea that he would have to wait another year for his Pokemon, give Gary that much time to get ahead, gave him a sick feeling in his stomach. "I mean, you have to have something left for me! I don't care if it's not standard, as long as it's a Pokemon! Please Professor!"

"I'm sorry Ash, but that's the fact of the matter. We didn't expect so many new trainers, so we weren't properly…" But Ash had stopped listening. Something had caught his eye, something to the left of the professor that gleamed behind a small stack of papers. There was no doubt about it; it was a Pokeball.

Hope surged through Ash as he reached for it. He would get a Pokemon! The Professor was just playing some mean joke on him for being late, but Ash would get him back when he became a champion with this Pokemon!

"Professor!" Ash said with a smile. "I'll take this one!" He reached for it, his hand closing around the cool, round surface. It felt right in his hand. But Professor Oak looked very wrong.

"Ash, wait, no!" He cried. But it was too late. Ash had already pressed the small, round button in the center of the Pokeball, releasing the seal and causing the Pokemon's matter to reconstruct into its original form: a Pikachu.

It was small and yellow, with long ears and an even longer tail that zigzagged as if it had been struck by lightning. It's eyes so dark they seemed to have no pupil, yet they were also very bright and alive. It grinned, the red pouches on its cheeks releasing some excess static electricity, and cried in a loud voice "Pika-chu!"

Ash marveled at it, until Professor Oak moved in front of it with his arms spread wide, blocking it from view.

"Ash Ketchum you may not have this Pokemon! I would never dream of giving a Pokemon like this to a rookie trainer like you." He cried, angrier than he should have been. "Now give me that Pokeball and go home!"

"Wha- What?" Ash said, aghast. But his surprise quickly transformed into anger, too. "Why not? It's a Pikachu, not an Ursaring! It's a fine starter Pokemon, and just because I'm a rookie doesn't make me a bad trainer! Are you trying to give Gary a leg-up or something?" Ash accused, clutching the Pokeball tight. He was fuming and the Professor was unrelenting, still standing with his arms spread wide as if that would solve the problem.

Then the phone rang.