I don't own Pokemon, nor do I profit off this work.
A bubbling blue brew sent out a voluminous wave of white mist from inside its tiny glass container. A girl wearing a pointy hat inspected it before nodding to herself in affirmation, the potion looked to be ready.
"Now then, who will be the first volunteer?" Lily the Pokemon Magician asked, turning towards her captive audience of four.
Three travelling trainers looked back at her, one was a trainer from Pallet town with a Pikachu on his shoulder while the other two were gym trainers with one even being a gym leader. Brock the former Pewter city gym leader wasn't really focused on testing Lily's potion and more on Lily herself while Misty a trainer hailing from the Cerulean city gym wasn't keen on trying a strange mixture whose effects hadn't been tested yet.
That left the final trainer Ash along with his Pikachu as the volunteers, both of whom had worked pretty hard to gather the ingredients necessary for Lily to finish her magical potion which would allow humans to understand Pokemon.
A task made even more difficult due to Team Rocket's interference, but they still finished retrieving the ingredients and now the potion was ready. It would give a once in a lifetime opportunity and Ash wasn't about to pass it up. "I will, please pick me! Please!"
Ash was practically jumping in place, unable to contain his excitement as he imagined all the things he could ask his team.
"All right Ash, just remember you'll need to finish it off with Pikachu's Thunderbolt." Lily reminded Ash.
"Yes," Ash nodded along. "right!"
Lily then said some strange words that neither Ash or Brock and Misty for that matter, could make heads or tails of.
That didn't really matter to Ash though since he didn't really expect to truly understand 'Pokemon Magic', all he cared about right now was finishing this potion. Ash looked towards Pikachu who was perched on his shoulder the two shared a glance, both of them were more than ready.
"Now Pikachu, use Thunderbolt." Ash shouted with a smile.
Pikachu was quick to comply leaping off Ash's shoulder to send off an electric attack directly into the magical mixture with a cry. "Chuuu!"
The mist that was let off from the potion abruptly changed color once the electricity touched it, sending a collage of colors that eventually settled on a dark blue which swirled around Ash who stood right in the middle of the mysterious phenomena.
Of course Ash wasn't too worried as he had experienced weirder, like those Unknown creating crystal growths and Pokemon out of thin air back in Pallet town a while back. He did feel a bit strange though which must mean that Lily's magical Pokemon translator must be working!
"I feel like I can read Pikachu's mind." Ash mumbled to himself, slightly dazed as impressions of memories flickered in his mind.
As the blue fog dissipated Ash could finally see Pikachu again and was pleasantly surprised when he heard the words that came out of his starter's mouth.
"Ash?" Pikachu questioned with evident confusion.
The Trainer from Pallet town was so happy that he didn't notice Pikachu's concern as he moved to hug his buddy. "I can understand you Pikachu! This is awesome!"
"Ash," The electric types speech halted from being poked by two orange horns jutting out of his trainer's chest before hesitantly continuing. "you look really strange."
Ash blinked looking from Pikachu to the arms holding the electric mouse, they didn't look like his arms. The black arms that held his best friend almost looked like lacy gloves.
Still that wasn't what really worried Ash. The truly strange thing was that he could feel worry, shock, disbelief, and several other emotions. Yet he somehow knew that they weren't his own despite sensing them.
"Huh?" Ash eloquently replied before turning his head towards the strange emotions he could feel only to spot Misty and Brock.
"Is that really you Ash?" Brock asked in shock.
"Uh, yes." Ash retorted only for Misty and Brock to gape in disbelief.
The shocked stares might've continued for hours if Misty didn't take the initiative pulling out her hand mirror to show Ash his appearance. "Just look Ash."
"Whaaa, What am I?" It was now Ash's turn to cry out in surprise as he looked at the Pokemon that was reflected in the mirror.
It was something Ash had never seen before, sporting blue helmet like hair covered by his signature hat and a white body that seemed to be wearing by what at first glance appeared to be a poofy black dress. Finally there were two orange blades poking out of his chest that seemed to be made of some type of crystalline substance.
This new Pokemon was him…
All in all this was officially the weirdest thing Ash had ever experienced. Yes, it even beat that incident with the Unknown, having his friends turned into dolls by Sabrina, or even seeing those huge Pokemon at Bill's lighthouse and the Pokemopolis ruins.
"How did this happen!" Ash looked around uneasily, trying his best to not freak out and failing badly as he started to move erratically.
"Ash, if that is you," Brock said in his best soothing voice. "we can't understand you. All we're hearing is Gar, Garde, Voir, Gardevoir."
'That doesn't help me at all Brock!' Ash couldn't help but think, his worry rising even as the foreign emotions hounded the edge of his awareness.
Lily observed at the results of her concoction in confusion. "Strange that's not how it was supposed to happen."
The Pokemon Magician opened her grimoire easily flipping the pages back to the spell she had just used. Lily read the passage again to see where she went wrong, but everything seemed to be in order. She turned the next page hoping to find a clue, only to be unpleasantly surprised.
"No Way!" Lily cried out in horror, immediately catching Brock's attention.
"What? What is it Lily?" Brock asked the Pokemon magician, while he moved closer to her.
Misty looked towards Brock with consternation as she couldn't tell whether Brock's focus was on finding out what happened to Ash or badly flirting with Lily. She quickly concluded that it was probably a bit of both options.
"Brock it's the spell, it looks like it continues on to the next page," Lily starts to tear up as she breaks down into hysterics. "but the next page is too smudged up and I can't read it! Oh no, what have I done?"
Misty was concerned for Ash and also bit disturbed since it could've easily been her that was turned into a Pokemon. "Lily, Is Ash going to permanently stay a Pokemon?"
"No, don't be silly. Ash will be back to normal just as soon as the spell wears off." Lily denied, relieving the concern the three traveling Pokemon trainers felt.
After hearing the Pokemon magician loud and clear Ash's panicking stopped realizing just how cool this was again.
"You hear that Pikachu? We can actually talk to each other for a while, isn't this the best thing ever?!"
Pikachu jumped for joy as he replied to his best friend. "Yeah!"
The Pokemon trainer turned Pokemon could still hardly believe the words coming out of his Starter's mouth. Ash had never imagined he would get the chance to talk to Pokemon, he was pretty sure there were tons of people who tried their entire lives to little success.
"So what do you want to talk about?" Ash questioned Pikachu as he was somewhat at a loss now that he could actually talk to his electric starter.
Pikachu contemplated for a bit before shrugging. "I dunno, haven't really thought about it before."
Thinking for a moment Ash noted something. "Pikachu you're a guy, right? Because you kind of sound like a girl."
Turning sharply Pikachu retorted a smidge upset. "I'm a guy! Like you're one to talk Ash, you sound like a girl too!"
Startled Ash pointed towards himself as his voice heightened in pitch from disbelief. "I do!?"
Pikachu nodded vehemently, Ash sounded more like a girl now than he did as a human in fact.
"Goo ga." A sound interrupted the Orange League champion's thoughts.
Looking towards the source of the noise Ash spotted Misty's Togepi continuing to make odd sounds. "Baa buu."
"Hey Pikachu?" Ash asked his partner.
"Yeah Ash?" The yellow rodent responded back.
Ash pointedly looked at Misty's egg Pokemon. "I thought I could understand Pokemon now, so why does Togepi sound like that?"
"Togepi sounds like that to me as well Ash." Pikachu reassured Ash before leaping back up on his trainer's shoulder. "Not all Pokemon are intelligent enough to carry a conversation, though Togepi can say a few words."
"Huh…" This was news to Ash yet his enthusiasm about talking to his team hadn't dimmed, in fact Ash would talk to his whole team right now!
Ash's hands went for the Pokeballs attached to his belt only to grasp his new black dress. Thinking that their location may have moved Ash searched his new form only to find that his Pokeballs were conspicuously missing.
"Where did they go!?" Ash screamed in horror, prompting Pikachu to look around wildly searching for the missing items.
Misty noticed Ash's flailing and couldn't help but ask. "What's wrong Ash?"
"I can't find my Pokeballs anywhere Misty!" Ash yelled back.
Misty couldn't understand what Ash was saying, but as she looked at Ash pull and tug at his new form, she noticed his clothes seemed to be missing along with his backpack. In fact the only thing Ash seemed to have kept was his Pokemon League Expo hat.
Meaning that his Pokemon contained within their Pokeballs had also disappeared! Misty froze in alarm this wasn't good, at all.
"Brock!" Misty cried out what she had realized. "Ash's stuff is missing along with his Pokemon!"
The fifteen year old from Pewter had his focus quickly shift towards Ash noting that Misty was right, urgently turning back towards Lily Brock asked voice shaking. "Lily where did Ash's clothes and supplies go?"
The self-proclaimed magician just stared blankly for a few seconds before her hand started to rub the back of her neck as she answered sheepishly. "I, uh… don't know, this wasn't mentioned on the pages I could read."
If Ash had heard Lily's response he probably would have resumed panicking, but he was preoccupied with something else. The trainer from Pallet town had his eyes closed as he was lost in his own thoughts completely focused on a strange sensation vaguely tied to the foreign emotions he could feel all around him.
It had jumped to the forefront of his mind when Ash had thought about finding his missing stuff. So in a desperate move Ash recklessly pulled with all his might on the peculiar perception somehow knowing he was ripping apart a substance he couldn't indentify. A ping unceremoniously announced that he had accomplished what he wanted so Ash opened his eyes only to see a small dark hole hovering in front of him.
Blinking Ash watched the inky portal start spitting out all his missing possessions, everything from his Pokeballs and bag to his clothes.
Did he do that?
It seems Ash wasn't the only one who was astounded as Brock, Misty and even Pikachu all looked at the sight with slack-jawed awe.
"Well... I guess that solves that, but I can't help but wonder if that was part of the spell or if Ash gained the abilities of a Pokemon…" Brock wondered out loud, rubbing his chin in thought.
Dismissing the strange ability he seemed to have for now, Ash reached for his Pokeballs grabbing one to release first heart thumping in excitement at the prospect of finally understanding his Pokemon.
Ash didn't know who he had sent out since all his Pokeballs were jumbled together without their usual placement. So it was admittedly a mystery who would emerge with the only exception being Totodile due to his Pokeball being one of Kurt's distinctive lure balls.
The light from the Pokeball coalesced into the familiar sight of Bayleef, but instead of her usual routine of tackling Ash her head swiveled back and forth while her vines were poised to strike. The trainer turned Pokemon could feel Bayleef's agitation and confusion to the extent that he could practically taste it, however once Bayleef spotted Pikachu standing on Ash's shoulder her emotions shifted away from hostility and more towards confusion.
Bayleef looked to Ash then back again to the starter on his shoulder before giving Pikachu a puzzled frown only for Pikachu to nod in silent confirmation of the leaf Pokemon's unspoken question.
That was all Bayleef needed to know as she affectionately tackled Ash, despite his new form, shouting with joy "Ash I missed you!"
"Oh come on Bayleef, we saw each other just yesterday." Ash laughed after he recovered from both the tackle and the emotional whiplash he felt from the grass type Pokemon.
Bayleef pouted turning her head up, hmphing. "That's way too long, it's not fair that Pikachu gets to stay with you all the time while you keep putting me in that dumb ball. Why can't I stay with you all the time too?"
"Ummm." Ash didn't really have an answer to that, but that didn't mean he couldn't respond. "I guess I could let you out more if you really want that Bayleef."
Bayleef looked up from where she was nuzzling Ash, her eyes practically sparkling. "You can understand me!?"
"Yup, some magic turned me into a Pokemon so I can understand you now," Ash said with a grin "pretty cool huh."
Ash could feel the sheer happiness emanating from the grass type Pokemon as she shyly asked. "You really mean it then?"
"That I can talk to you?" Ash questioned, confused.
Bayleef shook her head. "No, not that. I mean what you said about letting me stay with you outside of the ball like Pikachu."
Ash wasn't sure about that, but he didn't have the heart to say no to Bayleef's pleading gaze especially when he could feel her emotions. "Uhm sure, all you needed to do was ask Bayleef."
"Pffft only you Ash," Pikachu interjected, laughing as he held his stomach. "like Bayleef hasn't told you that a dozen times already when she kept bursting out of her Pokeball"
The trainer from Pallet town looked away in embarrassment, it wasn't that weird that he didn't notice, right?
Once the leaf Pokemon processed what her trainer had said she joyfully tackled Ash to the floor, nuzzling him. "Thank you! Thank you! You're the best Ash!"
"Okay Bayleef I get it, but I need to get up since I still need to talk to the others before the spell wears off."
The leaf Pokemon rubbed her head against Ash one last time before reluctantly retreating. "Okay."
With that out of the way Ash grabbed his next Pokeball in the pile quickly releasing Cyndaquil, the fire type lazily blinked before saying. "Hey Ash."
"Hey Cyndaquil," Ash greeted casually until he noticed something odd. "how did you know it was me?"
Cyndaquil tilted her head to the side as she responded. "Who else would wear your hat or have Pikachu on their shoulder?"
"I guess you got me there, but umm you do realize I can understand you now right?" Ash was honestly stumped at how casually Cyndaquil was taking this news.
Cyndaquil hummed her agreement. "I guess, but I don't get how this is all that different from usual."
Pikachu sighed while shaking his head, he should've known this was how Cyndaquil would react considering how laid back and lazy she was.
Ash merely sagged with a bit of disappointment which Bayleef used as an opportunity to snuggle closer to Ash. Cyndaquil's reaction was a bit underwhelming, but Ash was relieved that the fire type was at least understandable unlike Togepi.
Cyndaquil lethargically laid down on the grass giving one last parting comment. "I'm going to take a nap, night Ash."
Okay this wasn't going how Ash expected it to so he settled on sending out the rest of his Pokemon and out popped Totodile, Phanphy and Noctowl.
Noctowl quickly flew to perch on the branch of a nearby tree while Phanphy looked around noticing something amiss he wasn't alone in this observation as Totodile began signature dance only to stop.
The first to ask about their missing trainer was Phanphy who turned to Pikachu asking. "Where's Ash and who's that wearing his hat?"
Instead of Pikachu answering the question, Noctowl was the first to respond. "The Pokemon wearing Ash's hat, is Ash Phanphy."
Phanphy turned to Noctowl with disbelief etched across his face. "Really? How would you know?"
Noctowl preened for a moment before deigning to reply. "Ash feels a bit different, but his aura remains mostly the same, that's how I know."
"That doesn't make any sense…" Phanphy trailed off sounding lost.
Pikachu's arms crossed as he agreed with Phanphy. "I don't get it either, but Noctowl is right, this is Ash."
Totodile started hopping a circle around Ash, Bayleef and Pikachu while singing a little jig now that he knew that Ash was okay. all while Phanphy silently stared at Ash completely stunned. The shiny owl merely resumed preening unruffled by everything happening around him.
"I think I actually sort of get it." Ash murmured to himself.
Pikachu's ears twitched as he looked at Ash in shock. "You do?"
The trainer turned Pokemon hesitated for a moment unsure of himself, but he didn't want to leave Pikachu hanging so he answered. "I can sort of sense you guys, kinda like a flavor of food, I guess? I don't know how else to really describe it."
"Wait, wait, wait, hold up!" Phanphy shouted. "You can understand us Ash?"
"Sure can!" Ash happily confirmed, his bright orange eyes lighting up with mirth. "It will only be for a while though."
Phanphy's feelings shifted to awe as he whispered. "So cool."
Now this was the reaction Ash had expected considering how his grin began to grow and his chest puffed up with pride.
Meanwhile a group of three people watched the unique scene a trainer turned Pokemon speaking to his team.
"Any idea what they're talking about Brock?" Misty asked as she glanced from the conversing Pokemon towards the more experienced trainer.
"Hmmmm." Brock hummed in thought before saying. "Nope, not a clue."
"I should've figured." Misty grumbled in disappointment.
"You could always volunteer for my Pokemon translator spell too." Lily commented with a note of anticipation.
The youngest of the Cerulean sisters loved Pokemon, but that didn't mean she wanted to become one even if it was her favored water type. It sounded more like a nightmare than a dream come true to the redhead. Misty's face paled as she hastily plastered a shaky smile on her face, trying her best to politely refuse. "I think I'll pass, thank you for the offer though."
The former Pewter city gym leader abruptly dropped to his knees taking Lily's hands into his own, doing his best to impress her. "While talking with the Pokemon sounds great, I'm far more interested in hearing what a lovely lady like you-Ow."
Before Brock could further embarrass himself and by extension their group Misty pulled his ear, dragging him away from the Pokemon magician that he was trying to woo.
Brought to you by a broken bed, lack of sleep and a mercurial muse I present to you Ash becomes a Pokemon, while still being a Pokemon trainer. Not a new idea I know, but I still think this won't be too redundant.
This story will be primarily based on the anime with only a few game elements if any. Ash is still male, this is not a genderbender despite how he looks, as Gardevoir can be guys too. Ash will have the passive emotion sensing that all Gardevoir possess as stated in the Pokedex as well as the ability to distort dimensions, ignore gravity and see the future without needing moves.
Since Ash is a Pokemon he will know four moves by default, but that doesn't mean he'll know what they are or how to use them without a bit of trial and error. These abilities are entirely separate from Ash's aura abilities which will remain dormant unless someone helps Ash unlock his latent power.
Most of the movies until the B/W series will be canon to this story's timeline, although that doesn't necessarily mean that they will appear in this fic.
The story starts near the end of the Johto arc instead of the very beginning of Kanto, so I won't start where a thousand fics already have. Instead it lands in a nice midpoint that allows me to write without retreading the same ground that most Pokemon stories have already covered.
Which is why I skipped over Ash becoming a Zorua, Latios or Mew, since they've already been done.
Some might ask why Gardevoir and there are a few reasons, the first is that Ash needs to be a psychic type for him to reasonably continue being an effective trainer if his Pokemon form is going to be permanent. I mean imagine Ash trying to compete as a trainer in the Pokemon league as a Dunsparce, Houndoom, Salamence, or even a Lickitung I mean it's just a ridiculous mental image.
Why Gardevoir out of all the psychic types though? Well first he can't be something like the Abra line as they're far too intelligent for Ash to still be himself after turning into one, I mean 5000 IQ is way too much for Ash. Similar reasons applied to most of the other psychic types as either they were too smart, too alien, or just lame.
I settled on Gardevoir for a pretty simple reason other than lacking super intelligence though, they're a lot like Ash. What I mean by that is Gardevoir are said to be extremely loyal to the point they will sacrifice their lives to save their trainer's. Ash is exactly the same except he'll sacrifice himself to save his Pokemon. We've seen this trait pop up multiple times and he's actually died because of it, so Gardevoir fits Ash quite nicely personality wise.
Now why a Mega Shiny Gardevoir? Well I wanted Ash to be special, but not Legendary special. It's still enough to paint a huge target on Ash's back which can lead to tons of interesting scenarios playing out, well that and to celebrate my third shiny in PoGo being a Ralts.
Speaking of Ralts why does Ash start as a final evolution instead of the base form? Well in the episode that this story takes place, Ash turns into a Pikachu which is a bit strange considering there's a pre-evolved form of Pikachu named Pichu that was introduced in the very same generation. We all know the real reason why Ash became a Pikachu, but it does allow setting Ash to any stage I want without it being too out of place, that and he needed a way to get his stuff back and I didn't think he would be able to reasonably compete in the Silver Conference if he's stuck as a low powered Ralts or even Kirlia for a while.