It was a beautiful yet warm day out and little Harriet Potter of Radiant City was sleeping in. It had been a little over a year since that day at her relatives house and the egg she had won that day sat silent in the incubator her grandparents had gotten for her once she had gotten home. You'd think she'd have gotten up already since today would be one of the most important days of her life. Sadly she had stayed up the previous night far longer than she should have in her excitement over it all. Today was the day she turned ten and would officially be receiving her invitation to the region's most premier school for trainers, Hogwarts School of Pokémon Training. While Harriet herself had no idea what she actually wanted to do with her life, she did know one thing, she absolutely loved Pokémon and couldn't wait to get her own. Especially after her cousin's egg from the previous year hatched into a Tyrogue and Hogwarts taught all kinds of Pokémon knowledge from breeding, to research, to different types of trainers.
It was a pounding on her door that awakened Harriet today along with the cry of, "Wake up cousin!" as her cousin Dudley decided to be the one to wake her up today.
The sound jolted her from her dreams of being at Hogwarts already. "Let me sleep!" she shouted somewhat groggily as she wiped the sleep from her eyes, not quite fully cognizant of what was going on.
"You don't want to sleep through your birthday do you?" Dudley said back through the door, and though she couldn't see it he sported a cheeky grin. "I can always tell Grandpa and Grandma you no longer care about your letter and that you don't want to go to Hogwarts anymore." He stated almost calmly.
"What?! NO! I'm up, I'm up!" was the hurried reply he received from her before her door was slammed open and Harriet stood before him, her big beautiful emerald green eyes opened wide and her long black hair, that reached down to her lower back, looked more like a nest than usual and fanned out everywhere. Dudley had to look down at her because while he was tall for a ten year old at four foot seven inches, Harriet was well not tall for her age. At all, she only stood four foot two inches tall. Both still had some baby fat left, but while Dudley was tanned, like most people who enjoyed the weather of their home region, Harriet showed all the signs of having porcelain like skin and never tanned.
"Hello baby cousin," Dudley greeted her. "It's nice to see you up on this beautiful day." He told her with a bit of sass in his voice.
"M'not short!" She practically shouted at him, easily falling for his mild taunt. Something he'd started as he noticed he was continuing to get taller while she didn't.
Dudley, now laughing, told her, "Of course you aren't, cousin. Grandma sent me to wake you up though, she said you'd been sleeping long enough." He said to her, relaying the message before turning to go down stairs. "Oh and you might want to get dressed! You're still in your pajamas!."
Harriet moaned before back inside her room slamming the door shut. She dug around for something to where and almost put on her usual clothing before she stopped. She knew her grandmother wouldn't have any of that, at least not on her birthday, and expected her to wear proper clothes befitting a lady today. Sighing to herself, Harriet grabbed a green sleeveless tiered summer dress that was one solid color, because blugh patterns. She already hated dressing in traditional girly clothes, no need to make it worse. She strapped on the black flats she only wore with dresses before grabbing a bag that was also black before going to head downstairs. Upon reaching the door though she caught herself in the mirror. She stopped, sighed again, before making a pitiful attempt at brushing her hair before she pulled it back in a low ponytail. Satisfied she wouldn't just be sent back up to her room, Harriet ran downstairs her excitement building now that she was fully awake and ready. "Morning grandma, Morning grandpa." She said happily as she went to sit down at the table. "Dudley." she deadpanned.
Dudley snickered as their grandmother came to the table, setting food down she had prepared.. "Good morning Harriet dear, are you excited for today?"
"Now Dorea, you know she is. Even if she did sleep in late." Charlus said to his wife as he directed his grin over the paper he was reading towards Harriet.
Harriet, now pouting, since both her cousin and her grandfather were already picking on her first thing in the morning, turned to her grandmother before replying. "Of course I am grandma! Today is the day I get my invitation to go to Hogwarts and then a month from now, I get to start learning more about Pokémon!" They were halfway through eating when a Raichu joined them at the table sitting in her own chair designed to let her eat at the table. "Good morning Raichu." Harriet greeted the Pokémon.
"Good morning dear," Raichu replied to her before telekinetically lifting a napkin up and wiping Harriet's face. "What did I tell you about making sure you ate like a proper lady?" Raichu asked her after she finished.
Harriet grumbled at this. If Harriet didn't know any better she'd swear she was born from a Pokémon egg Raichu had laid. She always mothered Harriet everywhere she went when she was home. "But, I'm really excited for today." She complained to the Pokémon. "I wanna finish eating so we can start the day off quick! Besides I'm not a baby you don't need to mother me." She mumbled out the last part though but Raichu still heard her.
"Yes, but as far I am concerned, I am your mother," Raichu said back cheekily before adding sadly. "After all, my sister in all but blood did leave me in charge of you."
"Yeah, I know," Harriet replied somberly as she reached out and pet her pseudo mother on the head trying to cheer her up.
"Oh, now that's cheating," Raichu said as she leaned into the petting. "By the way, I have my own gift for you today."
"You do? Awesome!" Now Harriet was truly excited. Pokémon don't really give gift gifts except for truly special ones.
"Ahem," her grandfather interrupted. "If you're done talking with Raichu we should be on our way shortly before the crowds get too bad at the amusement park." He seemed to pause as if remembering something. "This came in the mail for you today." Charlus said handing her an envelope.
Harriet perked up further at the mention of the amusement park but even more so for the letter. She really did enjoy the thrill ride that they had, but contained herself as she turned to her grandfather while putting down the envelope. "Raichu said she had a gift for me, and I want to see what it is first before we leave!"
A knowing smile graced her grandparents face before they said at the same time, "Very well but hurry up." Then they looked at each other and laughed.
"Come dear one," Raichu prompted as she finished her own food before floating down and heading out the side door in the dining room. "Your gift is out here." She informed Harriet as she left.
Harriet took a minute to open and read her letter of acceptance to Hogwarts with a big grin on her face knowing it was now official before getting up to follow Raichu. When she reached the back area Raichu was already waiting with a box floating in front of her. As Harriet approached the box floated towards her. "Thank you Raichu," Harriet said with a soft smile before opening the box. Inside was a single Pokeball already expanded to its full size.
"Open it little one," Raichu encouraged her.
So Harriet did just that. She picked up the ball inside and released the Pokémon that was inside and gasped when the energy cleared and a tiny Pichu was there. "Hi there little one," she practically cooed at it.
"Hi!" Pichu greeted her before turning to look around and spotted Raichu. "Meema!" Pichu shouted with joy before darting to its mother and glomping into her.
"My dear little one," Raichu started as she rubbed Pichu's back. "This human is the one I told you about." Raichu informed her child.
"You mean she's Harriet? The one who will be my trainer?" Pichu asked its mother. Seeing Raichu nod her head Pichu darted back to Harriet before jumping up and making its way to Harriet's shoulder. "Hi again! I'm Pichu. Meema told me you would be the one to train me to be strong like her!"
"Hi Pichu, it's nice to meet you." Harriet giggled at Pichu's energy and antics. "And Yes, if you want to come with me I'll help you train to become strong too."
At this Pichu's eyes had gone wide. "You can understand me?" It asked her. It hadn't known that about the human its mother told it, it would be going with.
"Yep, I've always been able to. Though no one knows why since no one else in the family could. Though my mom could read the surface thoughts of Pokémon since she had mild psychic abilities, it's not quite the same thing however." Harriet informed Pichu.
"Yes," Raichu interrupted them as she approached. "Harriet is my sister in heart's daughter and I hope you two will be sisters in heart as well." After saying this Raichu gave Harriet an earnest look. "Please look after my daughter the way your mother looked after me."
"Of course I will," Harriet said with determination back to Raichu. "I will always make sure to take care of her and I won't let you down." She finished as she kneeled down and hugged Raichu. "Thank you for giving me something so precious to you."
"Don't forget I see you my daughter too," Raichu chose to inform her. "Now hurry up before you don't get to go out for your special day."
"Oh! You're right! Hold on Pichu, Let's go!" Harriet said excitedly again as she dashed off to go around the house to the front.
"Ah, there you are Harriet." Charlus said to his granddaughter. "Are you ready to,"
He started to ask but cut off seeing Pichu. "I see you got the Pichu Raichu wanted you to have."
"Yeah," Harriet said with a smile. "She entrusted me with something precious to her."
"Now remember, Pichu won't be registered to you until later. She's much too young to be used for your classes at the school yet. After all she only just hatched last week." Charlus informed her.
"That doesn't mean she can't stay with me anyways and learn until she's ready to participate!" Harriet said, smiling.
"That's right! I'll never leave her side like meema instructed me." Pichu added in, puffing up her tiny chest.
This caused Charlus to chuckle. "Looks like Pichu agrees with you." He said to her smiling.
"Of course she did! She wants to be just as strong as her mom," Harriet informed her grandfather while petting Pichu's head with a smile. "But that's for later, let's go already we're ready to have some fun!"
At this, Harriet, her cousin Dudley and their Grandparents got in the car since they had to drive to the northern part of Long Island. Where the amusement park they planned to visit lay. The day ended up full of fun with Harriet riding all of the crazy scary rides with Pichu while egging her cousin on to ride with her. After a long day, Harriet was found in the window seat of her bedroom. As she and Pichu watched the stars she finally spoke. "You know Pichu, I don't really have a dream or know what I want to do," she told her first Pokémon. "I hope that I can find something when we get to Hogwarts though."
"Why don't you have anything you want to do?" Pichu asked because she could not understand someone not having something they wanted in life.
"Because growing up I always stayed in doors. I never went out like other kids. I was always afraid of being crowded. Whether it was people who saw me as my parent's daughter or the Pokémon who crowded me for my ability to speak with them. It always frightened me. It was only this last year that I even started going outside at all." Harriet explained to the baby Pokémon.
"What made you finally go out?" Pichu asked, tilting her head.
It was at this point Harriet got up and moved over to the cabinet holding her egg she'd gotten the previous year before moving back to sit down next to Pichu with the egg. "This egg is the reason I started going out more. I carried it everywhere with me." She explained, pausing and to think. "I guess you could say I do have a short term dream though. It's to see this little one hatch and show it the world."
"Well when it hatches we'll do just that then." Pichu said to her while she curiously examined the egg, sniffing it and running her tiny paws over it. "You know there's a little bit of movement inside it already. Not much but it is something."
"That's good to know," said beaming at this. She had never felt anything from the egg. So for Pichu to confirm it was moving around even if it was just a tiny bit, was a huge victory for her and her promise that day. "In a couple of weeks we'll be going to get all the school supplies I'll need." She informed Pichu as she changed the conversation back to what they were originally talking about.
"And then we go to that Hogwarts place?" Pichu asked her with a bit of excitement knowing it was there she'd finally get started on her own dream of being as strong as her meema.
"Yes, and that's where we'll start our adventure. For you to get stronger and for me to finally and hopefully find out what my own dream will be." Harriet confirmed with determination.
Her and Pichu stared out at the clear night sky for a bit longer before finally turning in to go to bed for the night. Both girls mind still racing with what the future may have in store for them.
Two months earlier in the region of Kanto
"Ash you need to get to bed!" a woman informed her son as she stood in the doorway of his bedroom. Ash Ketchum of Pallet town, the son of Red and Delia Ketchum, whined at this. He couldn't sleep at all and was extremely excited for the next morning, his mind filled with thoughts of which Pokémon he wanted to choose for his starter and the adventures he'd get to go on. "Well if you're going to bed up at least watch something educational like this." Delia said to her son as she turned the television to a documentary of the town's local professor who was doing an exposé on the starter Pokémon new trainers would get to choose from.
Meanwhile at Oak's laboratory. "Okay Pikachu, the trainer you'll be going with will be coming tomorrow. He doesn't know that he doesn't really have a choice on which Pokémon he gets to have, but I know he'll love you and care for you all the same." Oak explained to Pikachu.
Pikachu himself wasn't too happy about this. While he knew that the kid coming tomorrow was the son of his own father's brother in heart. He didn't like the idea that the kid would be forced to take him. He'd heard of trainers who mistreated their Pokémon. Especially ones they didn't really want in the first place. However, he was determined to give the kid the benefit of the doubt at least. "Pikachu, Pikapi!" He said to the professor while nodding his head. The barmy old codger had a plan apparently and Pikachu could only hope it'd work.
Back at the Ketchum household, Delia sat on the cough in the living room holding an old photo of her husband and running a finger over it. "Oh Red," she started in a quiet whisper. "He's so much like you it's not even funny. I only hope he doesn't get in over his head before he's ready." Delia continued. She herself had been a bit of hellion at 10 herself though in a completely different way. She had stolen her first Pokémon from Professor Oak before setting off on a journey that'd have her running into Red quite often. Their son was nothing like her when she was younger. Though her parents were quite happy when they'd found out who she was and didn't care about some of the more unsavory things she had done like stealing. "Tomorrow he starts his own journey and all I can do is wish him the best of luck on it despite wanting to hold on to him for dear life and not let him go anywhere." She continued before sighing and closing her eyes. She ended up falling asleep on the couch that night knowing if she'd even remotely tried to go to bed she'd just toss and turn.
The next morning Delia got up and began making breakfast. It was only when she realized that Ash's shoes were still by the front door did she go up and check on him. Sure enough her baby boy was still asleep talking about Squirtle. She giggled to herself and admitted that maybe he was a bit like her. She, herself, had the same habit of letting nervous or excited energy keep her awake. "Ash Ketchum!" She finally spoke up. "Your late young man!"
"What?" Ash asked groggily sitting up before looking around. "Oh no, I am late," he lamented before quickly jumping out of bed and rushing past his mother.
"Ash you need to…" Delia started before realizing he wasn't even hearing her. She sighed and began to pack some things into her son's pack he'd not thought to pack before grinning evilly. 'Ignore your mother will you?' she thought as she began to scheme up a way to get him back for running out without saying anything or acknowledging her presence.
Ash ended up running into his childhood friend Gary who talked to him like he was a complete stranger and was completely arrogant about the fact he already had his Pokémon before Ash before hopping into a convertible, to be driven to his destination. "Smell ya later Ashy boy." Gary said much the same way his father had said to Ash's years before when they'd started their own journey.
Ash shook his head to clear it of the anger that had built up before running inside. "Professor Oak, I'm sorry I'm late. Where's my Pokémon?" Ash blurted out in a rush.
"You're Pokémon?" the professor asked him as he turned to face Ash.
"Yes my Pokémon! I'm ready to start my adventure." Ash exclaimed excitedly to the professor.
"You look more like you're ready for bed, not to become a Pokémon trainer." Oak said calmly to the boy. He was slightly amused at Ash's enthusiasm despite being irritated that the boy came so late. Then again it made everything much easier and he had already known ahead of time that Ash would be late. Not that Ash needed to know that tidbit of information. "I hope you're not planning to train your Pokémon in your pajamas." He added to stay professional about it.
"Oh no Professor, I just got messed up this morning and I was a little late. I promise I'm ready for a Pokémon." Ash practically begged the professor.
After going through a little show of allowing Ash to pick a Pokémon and then claiming it was already taken, which in this case they all were, in hopes of driving home the lesson for Ash. Professor Oak finally informed him. "I do have one Pokémon you can have, though it isn't the traditional starter Pokémon and it does have a bit of a problem."
"I'll take it Professor," Ash told him and grabbed the ball letting the Pokémon out.
"Pikachu," it said as it appeared.
"Aww, It's so cute it's the best Professor," Ash claimed as he picked up Pikachu and hugged him before getting shocked completely missing the Professor's warning of 'you'll see'.
"His name is Pikachu, It's the electric mouse Pokémon and it has quite the shocking personality." Oak told Ash, secretly pleased. He thought the Pikachu was going along with the plan quite well. "I caught him chewing on the wires to my lab outside." Oak informed Ash, which was true he had caught Pikachu chewing on them which was why it was currently inside its Pokeball instead of out of it like it usually was. Oak then handed Ash his own Pokedex and five Pokeball to get started with but before he could explain what the Pokedex does to Ash they both got shocked by Pikachu.
As Ash left the lab he met his mother outside. However he failed to notice the gleam in her eye she used to get when she had a scheme in mind otherwise he'd have run for the hills in the opposite direction faster than Pikachu could say it's name. Instead he fell for her little prank of revenge for his ignoring her that morning when he had dashed off. She had gathered a few people in town that Ash personally knew and he had helped out with chores as he grew up when they were babysitting him for Delia as she ran the local restaurant her parents had left to her when they'd found out she was alive. She then proceeded to embarrass him with mushy stuff before adding the icing on the cake by reminding him to change his underwear in front of everyone. Her revenge finally achieved, she turned sincere. "Please be careful Ash, I love you so much and I'd hate if anything were to happen to you." She told him as she hugged her son for the last time in a long time.
"I will mom, and I'll call you every time I reach a Pokémon center. I promise." He told his mother in return. "I love you too mom." He finished before turning to leave.
Pikachu was not going along with the plan though. Not exactly, because he was originally supposed to be somewhat mischievous but still behave and follow Ash's orders. However, because this kid had shown up late. This led to Pikachu getting hungry and getting caught trying to absorb some electricity from the wires to the lab and getting put back inside the accursed ball he hated. So Pikachu had a bit of a chip on his shoulder and decided to punish Ash by misbehaving more than originally planned at first. If only he had realized what this decision almost cost not only him, but also what it could have cost Ash. Ash had ended up needing to protect Pikachu from a flock of Spearow and its Fearow leader, and stood in front of the whole flock blocking them from Pikachu as he announced his dreams and determination. It was then that Pikachu was able to absorb a timely lightning strike from the storm and chased off the flock with a powered up thunderbolt. As Pikachu lay on the ground after that fiasco, he looked at Ash and silently promised he would never misbehave in those kinds of situations that led to this ever again.
Ash would go on to meet many people and Pokémon, make many mistakes, but also have many successes as he journeyed on through the regions he'd decide to challenge, but it wouldn't be for four years he would finally learn something about his father in a fateful encounter that would change the course of his life forever. However that's part of the story for another time.