The group walked through the forest, thoroughly soaked to the skin. Ash was lost in his thoughts. He was concerned about Pikachu. The Team Rocket woman had made a point to looking directly at his Pikachu before leaving and told him she was going to switch targets. He was searching his memories for any moment in his life when Pikachu was particularly vulnerable. He remembered the times when it had been controlled but usually it was surrounded by people or Pokémon. Ash had a feeling that Team Rocket would want to avoid that kind of scene. There were the times Team Rocket had stolen it but it was rarely for long. There was that time when Ash went to Hoenn and Pikachu had gotten really sick, so sick it hadn't even recognised him. Although Pikachu had been really dangerous to be around. Ash doubted that the woman would want to take that risk. Of course the comment could have been to throw Ash off his game. He couldn't think of any time in particular that Pikachu was vulnerable like he had been at the Orange Islands or when he was a kid in the forest.
"So, now what?" Brock asked, forcing Ash out of his thoughts. Ash looked at Brock and shrugged. "That woman said she was going to switch targets and she looked at Pikachu. I think she's going after Pikachu now. I've been trying to think of when she'd go after it," Ash replied to Brock. Brock saw that Ash was asking for Brock's thoughts on the matter. Brock scratched his head thoughtfully. He didn't know of any time. "What about the time Pikachu turned to stone?" Serena offered. Ash shook his head. "I doubt it, I was there and so were you, Clemont and Bonnie. As far as I can figure, Team Rocket want to make it look like it was an accident. Like at the Orange Islands, she just tried to pull me under and drown me. It's like they aren't causing the situations only nudging the situation in a way that makes it less likely for me to survive it. It will be a time when no one is around but Pikachu is in danger," Ash retorted gently. "Not necessarily. It might just be a time when no one will see them. Like when she tried to drown you. Pikachu was there but it wouldn't have seen her," Brad interjected. Ash scowled thoughtfully at Brad. Then he remembered something in important. "My first day. We were attacked by a flock of Spearow. Pikachu was in a bad way but we were both unconscious after Pikachu used a powerful thunderbolt. It's the only time I can think she would attack it," Ash revealed. Brad's eyes widened and he pulled out the device and started tapping away on it. Then they all held him and they vanished.
They appeared in a back alley in a small town. They shrank back as they saw a boy run past. He was strangely dressed in his pyjamas and muttering desperately to himself about a Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Charmander. Serena looked to see Ash looking a bit embarrassed. He shrugged at her. "I slept in," he informed her. "Where are you going?" she asked softly. Ash smiled awkwardly. "To Professor Oak's… to meet Pikachu," Ash answered.
The group crept through the back alleys towards the lab and saw a big group of people gathered in front of it. "Are they there to see you off?" Serena asked in awe. Ash laughed. "No, they're here to see Gary off," Ash contradicted. Serena frowned but then spotted the past Ash and Gary talking. The past Ash was visibly annoyed about something and hurried inside with Professor Oak after a short conversation once Gary left with his farewell crowd. Ash motioned for the others to follow and they managed to hurry around to the back of the lab without being seen. Ash led them to a window and smiled at Pikachu as he overheard himself speaking with Professor Oak.
"The early bird gets the worm or in this case the Pokémon," Professor Oak informed Ash awkwardly. Ash turned to Professor Oak. "Does that mean that all the Pokémon are gone?" Ash asked sadly, hoping against hope that he was wrong and Professor Oak had one left after all. "Well there is still one left but I er…" Professor Oak started. "Professor, I'll take it!" Ash interrupted. "I think I should warn you there is a problem with this last one," Professor began again warily. He knew what Ash was like and already knew what Ash would say. "I have to have a Pokémon," Ash replied stubbornly. "Well in that case," Professor Oak retorted in defeat and handed Ash a pokéball. It opened and in a flash of light Pikachu appeared beside the empty pokéballs still on the table. "Pikachu," it greeted. Ash stared at the Pokémon excitedly. He had never seen a Pikachu before. "Its name is Pikachu," Professor Oak introduced it. Ash was only half listening. "It's so cute. It's the best of all," Ash exclaimed and picked up Pikachu and hugged it. "You'll see," Professor Oak assured Ash ominously. Pikachu was not impressed by its new trainer. "Pika," it warned and shortly afterwards used its thunder shock attack on Ash. "It's also known as electric mouse. It's usually shy but can sometimes have an electrifying personality," Professor Oak explained while Ash cried out in pain. "I see what you mean," Ash replied as Pikachu finished its attack. "Shocking," Professor Oak commented as he pulled out some empty pokéballs and a pokédex and handed them to Ash. "Now take these, your pokédex and pokéballs," Professor Oak informed Ash. As Ash reached for the pokéballs and pokédex, Pikachu released another electric attack, this time not just shocking Ash but Professor Oak too. "Thank you," Ash called through the pain. "You're welcome," Professor Oak replied in a similar manner.
Serena, Brad and Brock turned to Ash and Pikachu once the past Ash and Professor Oak left the lab. Ash was scratching behind Pikachu's ear and smiling nostalgically. "How did you guys ever become friends?" Brad whispered incredulously. Ash laughed softly. "Yeah, we had a bumpy start, you'll see why we get along now later. But I guess Pikachu had trust issues to start with," Ash commented and Pikachu playfully whacked Ash on the shoulder. Then the group followed Ash out of Pallet Town and stopped along the path and hid themselves in some bushes. "What are we doing here?" Serena asked as she snapped a twig off the bush that had been poking her painfully. "This is where things got interesting. Just stay down until the chaos calms down a bit, you'll know what I mean," Ash answered softly and nodded to his younger self walking along the pathway pulling a reluctant Pikachu along behind him with a washing line and wearing rubber gloves.
So, this chapter is referencing the first episode of Pokémon. In case there is any confusion. When I'm talking about Ash and Pikachu or Professor Oak, it is the Ash from the first episode. When I'm talking about Ash and Serena and co. it's the Ash from this fanfic. In case that wasn't clear.
So, until the next chapter.