Chapter 1: The Beginning?
"ASH! Wake up, you're late!" A loud voice cut through the quietness of the Ketchum residence as Delia shouted from the bottom of the stairs up to her only sons room. A few seconds later a few thumps were heard before a loud voice shouted back "I'm up! Oh Arceus. I am so late."
Before Delia could blink, a figure blurred past her and the sound of the front door closing echoed. Blinking in bewilderment, she shook her head. 'I wonder if he remembered to put on his clothes first.' Turning around she started cooking when something on the TV caused her to stop. Eyes widening she thought sadly 'Oh no...Poor Ash.', not noticing the figure behind the kitchen window.
With Ash
'Shit, shit, shit!' Was the only thought in the ten year olds mind as he ran faster than ever towards the lab. He forgot to set his alarm and stayed up late due to the final match of the Indigo Plateau. Then his alarm went and rolled off the bedside table and broke. So yea, it wasn't a good start for him.
As he ran he noticed another boy running along. Catching up he noticed it was his one-time friend and bully, Gary Blue Oak, grandson of Professor Oak. Both looked at each other with a glare as they tried to outrun each other.
Finally reaching the lab, both stopped in front of the door and panted harshly. Taking a moment to breathe, the boys looked at each other and smirked before rushing through the door.
Inside the lab they found the professor standing there with a sad look in his eyes but what surprised them the most was the girl standing in front of him, crying.
"Leaf? What's wrong? What happened" asked the concerned boys.
As the girl fully turned to look at them, they saw her red eyes and tears sliding down. They were silent until she spoke. "Th-The Po-Pokemon League made a new rule."
Gary raised his eyebrows. "So? How does it affect us?"
Leaf seemed to struggle to find the words and as she went to open her mouth, the professor finally spoke. "Gary, Ash. There is no easy way to say this but the Pokemon League has made a new rule that only people from fifteen years old and over can become Pokemon Trainers and travel around due to the increase of different crime syndicates around the Regions. Unfortunately this took place last night and is only now being broadcasted around Kanto and other regions."
As the professor spoke, both boys eyes grew larger and larger and slowly anger started sparking in them. "WHAT!" Shouted Ash, always one to be loud. "That's not fair! We have been waiting all our lives for this moment and now they decided to change it!"
"For once I agree with him." Spoke Gary calmly, though there was an undercurrent of anger in his voice, "This isn't fair. This isn't right. These syndicates have been running longer than we have been born and now they decide this."
The professor sighed "Unfortunately, I still can't give you any pokemon due to this rule. You will have to wait until you are fifteen to get a Trainers license and go on to your journey."
Leaf just continued to sniffle, Gary clenched his fist and Ash actually growled. "First Yellow ups and goes by herself and now this. This is bullshit."
"Ash! Language young man! I understand your angry but letting you anger rage out like this will not bring about a solution!" Came the stern reply from the Professor. Ash merely glared down, knowing that was true.
"Gramps, I have an idea.." Gary suddenly spoke up, making the rest of the individuals look at him in askance. "What if we choose our starters and simply train them and once we are old enough we can officially catch them."
That idea brought a smile to the Professors face "Good idea Gary. You can even train them in the Coral...Hmm..Yes. All three of you come with me."
Leaf smiled happily and even Ash nodded a thanks to Gary. As they walked through the lab, silence reigned since all assistants were currently out in the Coral. The Coral was were hundreds of Pokemon lived. These Pokemon were captured by trainers and sent here due to the limit of Pokemon available being only six.
Finally they came to a stop in a room with a desk and three pokeballs on top of it. Each one had a different symbol. One had a drop of water in the shape of a tear, the other a green leaf and the last one a flame.
"Each one contains a Pokemon Starter. Starter Pokemon are different than normal Pokemon because they are quite rare and very powerful once they reach their final form." The Professor started explaining. "The Water Pokemon is Squirtle, known as the Tiny Turtle Pokemon. Powerful in it's own right, it becomes quite the tank when it fully evolves into Blastoise." Finishing, he grabbed the pokeball with the tear shaped sticker on and clicked the button releasing said Pokemon. The Tiny Turtle looked around for a moment before its eyes settled on the three kids. It waved and they responded in kind.
"The Grass Pokemon is Bulbasaur, known as the Seed Pokemon. Small yet easy to handle, Venusaur is a powerful Pokemon amongst it's kind." A second Pokemon appeared. The Seed Pokemon took a moment to look around as well before spotting the three excited children. It cocked it's head and stayed still looking at Leaf. The girl smiled a huge smile and waved at it.
"The Fire Pokemon is Charmander, known as then Lizard Pokemon. Powerful yet very hard to gain it's loyalty, though once you have it Charizard will never let you down." The third Pokemon didn't even look around before it's gaze found the three individuals.
"So, now you know. Which one will you choose?" Asked the curious Professor.
Before anyone could move, Leaf walked over and started petting Bulbasaur. "I've always liked Bulbasaur and I can't wait to have a Venusaur."
Gary smirked "Yea well, I'm going after my middle name and choose Squirtle. Best Pokemon ever!" He walked over and fist pumped the Pokemon who smirked back.
Ash looked into the Charmanders eyes and smiled. "Well Charmander, my name is Ash Red Satoshi Ketchum and I will become the greatest trainer of all time. Whatcha say buddy?" Kneeling down he smiled as the Charmander nodded in agreement.
"Great! Well as you know, you won't have a pokeball nor a Pokedex until you are fifteen. Take this time to learn all you can about Pokemon kids." Said the happy Professor.
" Oh yea! Let's go Squirtle! Time to get to training!" Shouted the excited ten year old before turning around and running off. "Well Bulbasaur, let's get you familiar with everything first." Said Leaf before walking off.
Professor Oak smiled as he saw the kids go before frowning when he noticed that Ash was still here. In fact the boy was looking at him a bit uncertainly. "Ash is something wrong?" Asked the curious Professor.
"Oh no Professor, eh I was just wondering, if its possible for eh.." trailed off the boy looking very uncertain. Confused the Professor offered a smile, hoping to encourage the child. Said child took a deep breath before saying "Is it possible for me to study under you for the next five years?"
The question actually shocked the old man. He never expected this from Ash. Maybe Gary or Leaf but not Ash. Not that Ash isn't smart, he just couldn't sit still enough to actually learn. Taking the silence as a no the boy lowered his head in disappointment and started walking away, while his starter looked at him worriedly.
Snapping out of his stupor, the Professor called to Ash, "Now wait just a minute. I did not say no, young man." That stopped the child in his tracks. Looking back, he gulped slightly at the serious look on the usually relaxed old man.
Said Professor looked calmly at the boy. " While I understand your wish to study under, I have to warn you. If I even think for one second you are being lazy, trying to find an easy way out or not doing things in an appropriate manner then I will effectively cut off the internship. I don't like it when people waste my time since I am a very busy man and I do very important research. Those are the rules. You give it your all and nothing less."
The boy gulped, steeled himself and nodded. "I understand Professor. I'll do my absolute best."
At that the old man nodded satisfied. "Very well. From now on until you go on your journey, you will make your way here everyday at 7 o'clock sharp and I will have different things for you to learn. It might be simply reading a book and writing an essay to actual on the field testing."
The kid nodded happily and quickly thanked the Professor. "Since, you are heading home, I'll come with you to have lunch. Arceus knows your mother makes amazing food." And so Professor and student walked along the road towards the Ketchum residence.
As they walked, Charmander was looking around, taking it all in. Eventually they reached the street and made their way to the modest looking house. Ash took off running ahead eager to break the news to his mother. When he got to the front door, he went to open it when suddenly and explosion from the inside threw him a couple of meters in the sky and then he landed on the ground hard, knocking him out. The Professor and Pokemon took off running and reached the boy. "ASH! Oh dear Arceus. He needs medical attention now. Bastalas! I need your help." The Professor unleashed a Pokemon known as Dragonite. "Bastalas, fly to the medical centre quickly and bring a doctor quickly." The Dragon nodded before flapping it's wings and disappearing in a massive boom.
Turning around, Oak looked at the wrecked house and frowned. He took out another pokemon and this time released a Blastoise and commanded it to put out the fire. In a few minutes the fire was gone and only a few remains of the house were still standing.
Running into the debris, Oak looked around until he found what he was looking for. Slowly walking towards a blackened figure, he gazed sadly knowing this would change a lot of things. For Delia Ketchum laid dead with a knife stabbed into her stomach.
A/N:
Hey there people! This is my first Pokemon story and I seriously hope it goes well. This will have a certain dark undertone to it though there will be fun and games...I hope.. Anyway, yes Delia is dead. Yes Ash and Gary are Red and Blue. Yes Leaf is here but Yellow isnt? The heck. Anyway, this will hopefully develop into a good story. If it doesnt..welp s34r\
Leave a review! Or don't. But then don't expect me to read your minds.
Charmander: Scratch, Leer ( Male) (Ability: Blaze)