EDIT: This is a challenge fic using Ash and a new start from mellra.

Fixed: 10/12/16

Age: 5

Ash cried out, slipping off of the raft at camp. He fell into the water of the shallow creek bed, hitting his head on the rocks beneath the surface. He was scooped out by the camp's scout master and taken to the medical cabin.

"I choose Squirtle!" Ash held up the ball, only to find it was empty.

"Uh, Charmander!" The ball opened to reveal it was empty as well. "Bulbasuar?" The ball opened at it was empty as well.

"Those pokemon were all picked out by trainers that arrived on time." Oak said to a dismayed and distraught Ash.

Ash sighed, accepting his loss. "Oh, well that's alright. I can wait until more Pokemon come in. It's fine."

Oak hummed. "Well, I do have one more option." He pushed a button, a hole opened up in the center of the table and a podium was raised. The podium held two pokeballs. One had a thunder marking and the other had no insignia. Oak picked up the ball with the thunder marking and it popped open. Nothing came out, so that left the blank pokeball.

Ash slowly reached for it, not knowing what was inside. But one thing was certain, he would take it.

Ash's eyes opened. It was that same memory and dream. Every night from when he was six years old, almost to the day it happened. He was now eleven years old, his journey waiting a year due to his mother's worrying and his waking up late the year prior. He had slept in his clothes for the day on the couch, his backpack by the door so he could run out the door in respectable attire this time.

Today, it seemed, Ash woke with the rising sun. He sighed, getting up off of the couch and going to the kitchen for something to drink. "Why did I wake up so early? I still have four hours until I get my Pokemon." He looked out the kitchen window as he shut off the water faucet, watching the sun rise.

After Delia woke up and breakfast was made, they sat down and talked.

"So, your okay with me going this time mom?" Ash asked, pulling his glass of orange juice to his lips as he glanced at his mother.

Delia nodded, setting her napkin down. "I'm confident that you won't have as much of a problem with your headaches, dear. You'll be fine."

Ash smiled. "Thanks mom. I'll call you as often as I can from my Pokegear, and whenever I get to a Pokemon Center."

After breakfast was eaten and Ash was forced to shower and redress, giving Delia time to stash more underwear in Ash's backpack, they walked to the lab together. They arrived just was the other trainers and their families were gathering.

"Hey Green, Richie." Ash greeted them. Blue Jr., Gary and Daisy's younger half-brother, was there too. He wasn't one for small talk, unlike his older brother who bragged about everything.

Green, a light skinned girl with light brown hair and gray/blue eyes, nodded at him. "Hey Ash."

"We told Blue that you'd be here on time." Richie said, adjusting his blue and yellow cap with buttons on it. His red hair was as crazy as Ash's, without their hats.

Delia began making small talk with the children's parents as they waited for the kids to be allowed in. Ash had met Green and Richie earlier in the summer, and they had been almost inseparable ever since. Even more so since Richie was revealed to be Red's long lost son. making Ash and Richie cousins.

This is as far as I got. Blue Jr., Green and Richie will not be shown after this until the Kanto League, but they will be referenced on the statues in the gyms as homage to the video games.