Chapter 2
The Professor took one look at Ash's mud-covered clothing before pointing dejectedly towards a door to the side of his office, "Ash I'm sorry I've told hi-"
"Don't be silly Professor, his actions are his own. I'll run and change before meeting my Pokémon if you don't mind – first impressions matter right?" The Professor only nodded as Ash walked towards his little corner of paradise in Oak Lab's. He had only been 15 when Professor Oak started to notice how Gary was behaving, and the sorry state that Ash would turn up to his office in, and the only solution he could think of was creating a small room for Ash that contained the bare essentials; spare clothes, healing balm etc. to compensate for whatever his grandson had done that time. No matter how hard he tried, his Grandson would always refuse to accept that his actions were unacceptable – and as much as he loathed giving the spoiled boy a Pokémon, he was only a Professor, he had no authority to refuse a trainer their Pokémon.
He was interrupted from his thoughts when Ash strode back into the room, pulling a fresh t-shirt over his head and hiding the lean body that hid beneath – you couldn't work with Pokémon every day, build fences in the coral and help the professor with manual labour jobs and not develop some form of muscle after-all. "Ok Professor I'm ready to receive my Pokémon, I think I've kept it waiting long enough, don't you?"
"You certainly have young man, it's rude to keep a Pokémon waiting you know! But I do want to check… you're sure you want this as your starter Pokémon? It's not exactly know for it's strength it'll make the start of your journey far more difficult…"
"I'm sure Professor, I promised all those years ago that I would prove pig-headed trainers wrong and reveal the true power of all Pokémon."
"Good. Good I'm glad you are still sure, I knew I could rely on you."
Saying this, he took a gleaming red Pokéball off the table and handed it to Ash – it had taken the work of only a few minutes to call his fellow Professors and have them send over the desired Pokémon, it wasn't rare by any stretch of the imagination. They had been confused about why he wanted that Pokémon, rather than a superior starter Pokémon, but he had remained tight-lipped and insisted it be sent straight away.
Ash grabbed the ball, grinning like a small child being given candy for the first time. He wasted no time in pressing the release feature and summoning his new friend from the confines of the ball. Materialising before him was a small, bulb-like Pokémon. Yellow in colour, with three vivid brown stripes running vertically down it's body and a small green sprout protruding from the top of its head. This Pokémon, a Sunkern, had been Ash's first choice of a Pokémon ever since he read a Pokémon biology book at 14 years old that started with "Sunkern is known to be very weak". No. No Pokémon was inherently weak and he would prove it, not only to everyone else, but to his Sunkern too.
Bending down, enabling the small 1'00" tall Pokémon to have a better view of him, he smiled and introduced himself "hello Sunkern, my name is Ash Ketchum and it is my dream to defeat the Pokémon League challenge and prove that any team can be strong. Will you join me?" A few moments passed before the Sunkern let out a small cry "sun!" and bobbed the small sprout on its head as though nodding enthusiastically. It leaped (somehow) onto Ash's head and sat proudly waiting to begin its adventure.
Laughing loudly, Ash reached up to stroke his new partner gently "you managed to get me one Professor, thank you!"
"It really was no problem Ash, unfortunately the sunkern line isn't exactly… highly desired in their home regions so there was an abundance of free ones for me to choose from" at this declaration sunkern seemed to droop a little on Ash's head, looking dejected "oh sunkern I didn't mean any offence! I know you will do Ash proud with your power".
"Yeah, ignore what anyone else says, you're my starter and I couldn't be more proud already." Hearing this the little seed Pokémon grew tall and proud once again, stretching it's leaves up to make itself as tall as possible and show off it's form.
"You already gave me my Pokedex and spare balls Professor, so I hope you don't mind me rushing off – Leaf and Mom are waiting for me by the entrance to town and I don't want to keep them waiting!"
"Hang on a minute Ash, I got a special gift for you, it's inside the box but I don't want you to even open it until you are midway through your gym challenge." A sly smirk appeared on his face, "promise me Ash. No peeking"
Ash smiled back, knowing the Professor was serious, "I promise Professor, I can't thank you enough for everything but I really have to go. Say bye sunkern!" With a small cry, sunkern bid its farewell before turning on Ash's head and using a delicate leaf to point impatiently towards the door. "Alright , let's go"
x-x-x
A quick 5 minute jog later and Ash and sunkern found themselves near the gates to town, quickly approaching the two women waiting for him. "Hey guys!" he called, making them turn slightly from their conversation to acknowledge his arrival "sorry to keep you waiting".
"Oh shush Ash, as much as I love you, you aren't the important one here let me see the little angel on your head" replied his mother, a cheeky smile showing that it was only a joke. She reached a slender hand up gently to stroke along sunkerns small leaves. "An excellent specimen; healthy leaves, good yellow colour and a lovely shine. Hello sunkern, I'm Ash's mother"
Sunkern, who was too busy enjoying the gentle massage to reply properly, just smiled back and jumped into her hands for more pampering.
"Yes, it really is an adorable pokemon, a wonderful match to my own starter." Ash glanced down to Leaf's side and noticed a cheerful looking Bulbasaur lounging in the warm sun.
"Well" said Ash, "how could I not choose another grass type? Makes our first battle all the more interesting with no type advantages" a spark flashed in his eyes as he noticed her brace herself for battle
"Oh yes, I have been waiting for years to finally beat you in a real battle and now's my chance! Bulbasaur, step up we're ready for battle" a playful expression crossed her face, already enjoying the friendly rivalry they shared.
"Sunkern, get down buddy we need to show this pipsqueak who's boss!" Sunkern instantly perked up from his gentle massage and leaped to the ground. Ash whipped his Pokedex out and scanned sunkern:
Sunkern, the seed Pokémon, it tries to move as little as possible. It does so to conserve all the nutrients in its body for evolution. It does not eat a thing, surviving only on morning dew. This sunkern is female and has the ability chlorophyll. It's known moves are: absorb, growth, ingrown and grass whistle. It also knows Leech Seed as a result of it's parent Pokémon.
'Hmm' Ash thought quickly, 'not an ideal movepool for taking on a Bulbasaur but there are a few things I can try, pure power is not the only way to win a fight' – "Sunkern, quickly use growth, follow it with ingrain and wait for Bulbasaur to attack!"
Responding immediately, sunkern took a few seconds to concentrate, tightening it's focus and using it' bodies nutrients to reinforce key areas of the body for battle. Long green hoots sprouted from its base, absorbing more nutrients and locking it in place for stability.
"Bulbasaur quick, use tackle before it can strengthen itself!" Moving surprisingly quickly for a Pokémon with short legs, Bulbasaur raced across the battlefield, head lowered ready to slam into it's opponent
"Get ready sunkern, use growth one more time to prepare yourself and fire a leech seed directly at bulbasaurs legs" immediately withdrawing more nutrients from the ingrain, sunkern used the stability of its roots to give itself a strong base before firing several powerful seeds at the approaching Pokémon - the first few missing spectacularly, the small vines they developed wilting away when they hit nothing, but one seed managed to grasp onto bulbasaurs leg when it was only feet away from striking sunkern and tripped it in the process. The vines wrapped like spider webs around bulbasaurs legs and held it in place, all the while sucking it's energy from its body. The fallen bublbasaur skidded to a stop inches from sunkerns body, growling angrily at it's predicament.
"Bulbasaur, no! Use your vines to lift yourself off the ground, don't stay still for too long!" hearing it's trainers call the Bulbasaur slashed two powerful vines from inside it's bulb and started to lift itself into position, readying itself for battle.
"Oh no you don't, sunkern use grass whistle now, keep using it until the Bulbasaur succumbs to sleep!". Within moments a hauntingly beautiful melody drifted from sunkern, soothing everyone around it, to the point where Bulbasaur started to droop slightly as it was lulled to sleep. It's vines started to waver, shaking from the enormous pressure of holding its body upright and trying to fight off the urge to sleep. Suddenly, and without command it struck a vine forward slapping sunkern sharply and shocking it out of its melody. "A nice try bulbasuar, but not good enough" sunkern had already begun healing itself of injury, the ingrained roots fed it healing nutrients and the leech seed sending its owner strength from the victim, "grass whistle again. Finish this." Leaf herself knew she stood no chance, Bulbasaur was already beginning to waver, and so before sunkern could sing once more she recalled her pokemon to its ball.
"What an invigorating battle! You did your best, rest well Bulbasaur. And Ash, thank you for that, don't be naïve enough to think it will be that easy next time!"
He laughed heartily, "I wouldn't dream of slacking, I know you will both come back with a vengeance. Come back sweet, you need a rest too" although she had taken no damage sunkern relished the thought of a rest and confidently leaped back onto Ash's head and settled down for a rest.
"You bet we will! Anyway, we really need to run if we are going to heal up and start our journey. How about we meet up again in Pewter City and have another battle? You have my number so call me when you're free." Without even waiting for a response, Leaf had vanished into the distance heading towards Professor Oak to heal her Pokémon.
"Well baby, seems like you are ready for your journey – you really will be amazing if you handle every battle like that. It makes me proud to see you, you really are your father's son. I want you to take this, I got it specially this morning" from behind her, next to the fence, she lifted a rucksack and placed it in his hands. "It's that fancy new technology, just like a Pokeball it shrinks items so they fit in more easily for your journey, don't ask me how it works, it sounds ridiculous to me too!". Ash smiled at his Mom's ignorance of technology, he loved her dearly and would miss her rambling.
"Thanks Mom, I love you loads. Thank you for everything you've done for me so far, I'll call you as soon as we reach the next Pokemon Centre, I promise."
"Make sure you do young man!" To hide the tears forming in her eyes she leaped towards her son and pulled him into a tight hug "I'll miss you, but don't worry about me. Enjoy your journey and I will be there to watch you crush the league".
With a slightly sad smile, Ash pulled away from his Mother and thanked her once again before turning towards route 1. The start of his journey.
"Let's go sweet, we have a world to take on!", with one long stride, he passed through the gate and began the next chapter of his life, his partner rousing from her sleep long enough to cheer excitedly before resting again.