A/N: So, here's something I need to say. I've spent the last month working on fan requests that I thought were easy. That I could get through in the first week or two, maybe. But after a whole month, I'm just burnt out trying to get through it all. So I'm taking a break from writing fan requests so that this story can finally get underway. I will get back to them, but I really wanted to do this more than continue in a slump. So, here we go.
It's March 21st of 2011, the Spring Solstice. A woman was walking to someone's house carrying a present. The sun is shining high in the sky, since it was a few minutes before noon. The air smelled fresh as Spring finally came after a good winter. The smell of freshly blooming pink/white roses wafted through the air of the peaceful place of Nuvema Town along with the salty scent of the nearby ocean, constantly filling the place with the sound of soothing waves. And in Nuvema Town is the birthday of a 16 year old boy called Ash Ketchum. Ash was playing on his Wii playing Super Mario Galaxy 2 when his mom knocked on the door leading into his room.
"You may come in." Ash said. His mother, Delia Ketchum, entered carrying a blue box with green ribbon holding it together. On her right shoulder was her pet Minccino, the Chinchilla Pokémon. She helps with keeping the house clean.
"Hello sweetie. Professor Juniper just arrived. She wanted me to hand you this." Looking to his right, he saw the present and became excited.
"Oh wow, it's my very own Pokémon! Thanks mom!" He sat up and hugged her, and she laughed as the woman returned it.
"You're welcome. I'll let your friends know it arrived." She headed back down the stairs as Ash placed the gift on his desk, and waited patiently on his bed. The first to arrive was one of his two best friends, Cheren Griffith.
"Hello Ash." He greeted in his typical cool and composed manner.
"Hey Cheren." The birthday boy responded back.
"So that's it huh? They're finally here?" The black haired teen asked as he gazed upon the present, adjusting his under rimmed glasses. "Hmm. I wonder where Bianca is?"
"She'll be here any second." And right on cue, the downstairs door opened and they could hear the girl with her loud, excited voice.
"Hello Mrs. Ketchum! Thanks for telling me! I'll just head right on up!" They could hear her running, and just as she entered the room, she tripped on the last stair, falling straight onto her face against the wooden floor. She cried out in pain.
"Bianca! Are you okay?" Ash inquired with worry, rushing to her.
"It hurts. But...I'm okay. Thank you Ash." She hugged him gratefully, and he returned it with a smile. Helping her up, Ash led her into his room and the blonde gasped. "Is that the Pokémon?!"
"Bianca, I've known for 10 years that you have no sense of time, but...seriously?"
"Hey don't blame me! It's my dad's fault!" She complained. Ash didn't hold it against her. In fact, he almost never does. Ever since she's been diagnosed with autism, her dad has been really overprotective for her, resulting in Bianca Schroeder being a bit of an airhead when it comes to certain things. Good thing her mother is more willing to let her have the freedom to have hobbies, play with her friends, and have a love for Pokémon. In fact, aside from her mom and Ash himself, she had more of an affinity towards Pokémon than people, but she did still like Cheren, Ash's mom and Professor Juniper when she was in town. "Anyway, let's finally get our Pokémon. Since it's Ash's birthday, he get first pick." She decided.
"Naturally." The cool boy agreed, readjusting his glasses. "Open the box if you'd please." Nodding to his request, Ash unraveled the green ribbon and took the lid off to see three Pokeballs and a note. Reading it, he said,
"Happy birthday, Ash! I've brought three Pokémon. One for you and one for each of your friends. Please settle your choices politely. On the left is the Grass Snake Pokémon, Snivy. In the middle is the Fire Pig Pokémon, Tepig. On the right is the Sea Otter Pokémon, Oshawott. Enjoy your Pokémon! Professor Juniper." Well then. I'm going for the coolest type of the three, fire! I choose Tepig!" Ash chose, taking the middle ball.
"Great! I call dibs on Snivy!" Bianca cheered.
"No fair calling dibs!" Cheren complained. "Oh never mind. I wanted Oshawott from the start anyway. Water is more my style like a calm pond."
"Yeah! Now we all have a Pokémon! That's that! Hey I know, let's have a Pokémon battle!"
"Bianca...honestly." Cheren pinched his nose in annoyance. "Even though they're weak, you still shouldn't have battles in a house."
"Oh don't be so bothered. They're weak, like you said. We have to let them battle so they'll get stronger. It's settled Ash! We're having a Pokémon battle!"
"I'm so sorry Ash, please forgive me!" Bianca cried, on her knees and hands begging for forgiveness. Turns out Cheren was right since the room was an outright mess. The bed and rug were pushed around, his desk lost both legs on one side so it was laying partially down. Books were knocked out of the shelf, the potted plant was knocked over letting the dirt soil the floor, the trash bin was emptied out spilling crumpled paper and plastic wrappers and his tv was pushed back into the wall, though thankfully not broken. Even the walls had hoof prints on them! Miraculously, the Wii system was the only thing undamaged throughout all of that.
"I warned you." Cheren told her so. "Sometimes, you're just so hopeless." He sighed.
"Cheron, she said she's sorry. Lay off." Ash defended his friend before crouching down to her eye level. "Bianca, it's okay. Aside from the desk, it's not like the room has been completely totaled. We just got carried away is all." He hugged her so that she could try to calm down. Cheren scoffed at this while rolling his eyes. To him, Ash always seemed to baby Bianca whenever she was sad, regardless if she needed it or not. Sure, if something wasn't in her control then he was sympathetic and helped her too. But more times than not, if something is her fault, then it's her responsibility to fix the mess she made.
"Fine. How about I heal your Pokémon, and then you and I battle outside so that we don't destroy anything else. I'd hate to be the one to damage your Wii."
"Sure. Thanks." Ash agreed. Once Bianca was all well and good, the three headed downstairs. Delia...her face seemed unreadable, having heard their battle.
"Perhaps you'd like to say something, Bianca?" Cheren asked the blonde.
"Oh...uh...yes. I humbly apologize for demolishing your son's bedroom. Please forgive me. I'll clean it all up." She bowed her head, accidently letting her hat fall to the floor. The girl twirled her hands around, trying to shake some of her distress out. Delia then let a smile grace her face.
"It's okay Bianca. Today is a special occasion. So you won't have to clean up his room right now."
"Oh thank goodness. Thank you so much Mrs. Ketchum."
"Wait, what do you mean by 'right now'?" Cheren asked suspiciously. Delia and Minccino grinned at each other and she answered,
"You don't have to do it right now, but the next time you three come back home, you will have to clean it then."
"Seriously?!" All three gasped.
"You did do a Pokémon battle in the house, and Cheren allowed it to happen even though he didn't participate. So it's your responsibility to clean it up. Just on a later day."
"Aw man." Ash and Bianca groaned at the same time.
"But moving on, shouldn't you three be on your way to meet Professor Juniper?"
"Oh yes. Please excuse us ma'am. Thank you for letting us come over." The black haired boy said quickly as he pushed Ash and Bianca out of the house. "Whew. We're lucky our punishment is being postponed."
"Yeah. Sorry Ash." The sad blonde said again, but he shook his head.
"I said it's okay. How about we just forget about it and have Cheren and I battle?"
"Fine by me. You'll be my opponent, for our first Pokémon battle. I'll heal your Pokémon first then we'll get started." Once Tepig was healed, Asha and Cheren were at a respectable battle distance. The rival picked out his Pokeball. "Let's see what you can do Oshawott!" He shouted as he unleashed his water starter. He had a cyan colored body and a white head with black ears. A shell was hanging on his chest. He stared confidently at the orange and black pig with the long black ears and coiled tail with a sphere at the end.
"Tepig, use tackle!"
"Dodge and use tackle as well!" The fire type tried hitting the water starter, but he sidestepped away and rammed his head into Tepig's side, dealing damage. Since the two were nearly exact in moves and skill, it was basically just two Pokémon bashing their heads into each other. Something that helped Oshawott was that he was slightly faster, so he could dodge slightly better and attack faster. With one final tackle from the Sea Otter, Tepig was knocked out, defeated. "So, that's a Pokémon battle. And I won my first one ever. This feeling...finally. I'm a Pokémon Trainer." He looked really happy, his eyes and mouth smiling in a sense he achieved something great.
"Tepig, return. Thanks buddy. Can't win them all but you did your best." Ash said to his Pokémon. Congratulations Cheren." He held his hand out to his childhood friend, whom returned it.
"That was great Cheren! I have to go home first, but you can go on ahead. I'll be with you two soon." Bianca assured before running off, though tripping up when she nearly ran into a flock of pidove in her way.
"Well, let's go thank the professor. Taking a moment first to heal their Pokémon, the two boys went the lab, and upon entering, found the female professor, whom turned to them with a grin on her face.
"Hello boys. Where's Bianca?" She asked.
"She went home for some reason. She told us not to wait up. We came here to say thank you for the Pokémon, Bianca included." Cheren explained.
"You're very welcome. Now that you're all Pokémon trainers, you're now on a journey you shouldn't take lightly. Today is a day to remember always. Tell me, how are your Pokémon doing?"
"They're doing good. Ash beat Bianca but I beat Ash."
"Awesome! That must mean your Pokémon trusts you already!" The professor cheered before composing herself. "Yes then. As you know, I am researching when and how the creatures called Pokémon came into existence. The reason that I gave you each a Pokémon is because-"
"Sorry I'm late!" Bianca yelled as she entered the laboratory. The girl was twirling her hands and shaking her blonde head as she walked to her friends. "Ugh! You would not believe my dad. He didn't want me to go! But I'm a trainer now, and I'm listening to my mom!"
"Every child needs to go on a Pokémon journey if they wish to be a trainer." Juniper agreed. "I would advice though is that if you're late you try to do so professionally and formally."
"Sorry. Please, what were you saying?"
"I was saying that the reason that I gave you each a Pokémon because it's for the Pokedex." The woman finished.
"Pokedex?" Bianca asked, confused.
"Yes. As much as you've all studied Pokémon, especially you Cheren, you just don't have the time or space to write it all down in multiple notebooks, do you? But the Pokedex is a high tech device that automatically records the Pokémon you capture. So I want the three of you to go out and visit many places to meet them all in the Unova region! There is approximately 145 Pokémon out there. My request to you all is this! Ash, Cheren, Bianca, will you go out and complete the Pokedex?!"
"Of course. Thank you very much." Cheren accepted.
"Ok! Oh, I mean...yes, Professor." Bianca agreed awkwardly. "I think that's the kind of thing my autism could help me excel at."
"Sure. It'd be helpful to know what I'm catching." Ash shrugged.
"All of you, thank you! You have given me the best possible answer!" Each of them were handed a Pokedex from Juniper. "I'm assuming you all know how to meet and catch Pokémon?"
"Yes. We watched how to videos together."
"Great! Then go out on your adventure, younglings! Go!" She cheered, prompting them all to get out of the lab.
"Our first adventure!" Bianca exclaimed. "I can explore and maybe find out what I want to do in life. My heart is pounding." The girl rubbed her hands together in excitement.
"Of course." Cheren agreed. "We can travel however we like while completing the Pokedex." But before they could get started, Ash's mom walked up to them.
"So, what did the professor say?"
"We've been assigned to complete the Pokedex, mom. Here." Ash handed her the device.
"I can't believe it! Well, I mean I can, I knew this was going to happen but, that's not the thing. Both of your moms and I got each of you these!" She handed each of them a map and a Xtransceiver!
"Wow, thanks! What does the watch do?" Bianca asked with amazement.
"Think of them as digital phones. Now you can have far distance conversations with four people at once, provided that the signal is clear.
"We'll take good care of them. Thank you." Cheren expressed gratefully.
"Yes, thank you so much!" The blonde girl cheered all giddy.
"Thanks mom." Ash said with a smile.
"With your Pokémon by your side, you'll be safe wherever you go. I hope you get to see everything the region has to offer. Have a great trip." Giving her son a hug, she went back to the house.
"With these, we'll never be lost and be able to contact each other whenever. These are certainly helpful. So, shall we get going to Route 1?"
"Let's go, let's go!" Bianca shouted. They each took a hand and went down the road, leaving their hometown and coming across a sign that showed the perimeter limit of the town and the route. "Wait a minute!" The blonde girl shouted, stopping the boys.
"What is it?" Ash asked.
"If we're going to start this right, then take our first step at the same time! Jump over the line!"
"I guess I don't mind." Cheren shrugged.
"Okay." Ash agreed. Once they were just before the metaphorical line, Bianca counted.
"One...two...three!" All three of the teenagers jumped and landed at the same time on Route 1, the first time as trainers together. "Isn't this exciting?! I'm a Pokémon trainer!" The female trainer ran with unrestrained joy as she ran and frolicked through the roses, just letting the sheer fact their adventure truly began sink in. The two boys laughed as they chased after her, certain that this was going to be a great day.
After spending a whole day and night trying to see who can catch the most Pokémon, they tied at three since the only Pokémon on the route where Patrat and Lillipup. But regardless, they still had a fun day as they battled against each other once they had the same four Pokémon. The first night they slept together in their pajamas, and woke up with sore backs from not sleeping on a bed for the first time in years since the last out door slumber party. As their journey continued, they each received a ringing from their watches. They each responded to see who it was. It was Professor Juniper!
"Hello! How is everyone doing?" She asked them all happily. "You and your Pokémon are getting along great now, right?"
"Professor?! Oh yeah, we're doing great! We each caught a lillipup and a patrat!" Bianca answered.
"Great to hear! Why don't you come meet me in the Pokémon Center in Accumula Town? I'd like to show you around so you'll know where to look for in any town and city."
"Alright, sounds good. We'll be there soon." Cheren stated before the call hung up. "We've got a plan."
"Yeah. Let's get rolling." Ash said with a nod. It took a few hours but they eventually found the Professor at said center.
"Welcome younglings! Traveling is truly one of the joys of being a trainer. Let me show you the inside." Following the Professor, the teenagers observed the inside of their first Pokémon Center. "Now to the right of any center is the mart. You can get anything you need proportional to the amount of badges you have. And down the isle is the nurse who takes care of your Pokémon. And one of the best perks is it's free!"
"Oh sweet, free Pokémon health care!" Bianca marveled.
"Now if only that extended to humans as well." Ash chuckled at his friends' sarcastic quip.
"Would you like to give it a try?" The nurse asked politely. They each handed her their Pokémon.
"Now Cheren, can you explain what happens when you reach over the '6 Pokémon' limit?" Juniper asked the raven haired boy.
"They get transported to wherever you designate them to go. In this case Nuvema Town." He answered while adjusting his glasses.
"Correct. You can transfer them with any Pokémon if you want to switch a Pokémon with a new one and vice versa. Truly amazing, isn't it? Even though over 20 years has passed since Bill created the PC it's still so marvelous to me." Their conversation was interrupted when horns blared out from the outside. Bianca yelped and covered her ears as she crouched down, feeling under attack from the invading noise.
"Sounds like something is happening." Ash commented. Turning to his friend, he spoke to her as best he could. "Bianca, we're going to investigate. Just stay here and wait for us." She nodded her head rather violently. The two boys and the professor went outside and saw a group of knights in a neat row. In the middle was an old man wearing a robe that was on one side purple with beige accents looking like an eye, and the other but the colors looked inverted. Around his shoulders looked like a truly cumbersome crown thing Ash didn't know how better to describe it, and the center had a emblem of a shield with a neon blue P and a z going through it. His right eye was covered by a red lens.
"My name is Ghetsis." He spoke,(A/N: His voice in the anime reminds me of Emperor Palpatine.) "I am here representing Team Plasma. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk about Pokémon liberation. I'm sure most of you believe that we humans and Pokémon are partners that have come to live together because we want and need each other. However... Is that really the truth? Have you ever considered that perhaps we humans... only assume that this is the truth? Pokémon are subject to the selfish commands of Trainers... They get pushed around when they are our "partners", our "friends" at work... Can anyone say with confidence that there is no truth in what I'm saying?" The crowd started to mumble about this speech. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, Pokémon are different from humans. They are living beings that contain unknown potential. They are living beings from whom we humans have much to learn. Tell me, what is our responsibility toward these wonderful beings called Pokémon?" As they talked, one of them said liberation in a questioning tone, and Ghetsis jumped at it. "That's right! We must liberate the Pokémon! Then, and only then, will humans and Pokémon truly be equals. Everyone, I end my words here today by imploring you to consider the relationship between people and Pokémon... and the correct way to proceed. We sincerely appreciate your attention." As they were packing up and preparing to leave, Ash sarcastically clapped his hands, having an unconvinced grin.
"Well, that is certainly a different point of view, I'll admit. Sure, we have the capacity of mistreating them, pushing them too hard and other stuff. But you forgot one thing. What about people who own them just as pets? No battling or coordinating. Just have a pet cat or mouse? My mom owns a minccino, and she's not our property because of a pokeball or leash, but rather she wants to be with us, ever since we saved her from being eaten by a predator a couple years back. It was her choice even, not ours. So while you miiiiiight have an argument about trainers and coordinators if you're more strict, but you have no grounds on pet owners who keeps Pokémon just for the accompaniment. Now what do you say to that?" The trainer challenged. All the Team Plasma members were silent, having no answer to this aspect that he presented. That is until Ghetsis scoffed.
"You think that's enough to sway our beliefs? I'll admit, there are simple pet owners, but they are a vast minority to those who enter tournaments and contests. Given how you're clothed, you must be a trainer yourself. So tell me, whoever you are, how many pet owners will you encounter, compared to the swarms of your fellow battlers? 1 out of 10? 20? You're just a child, so you have no grounds to critique my beliefs. This discussion is over." And with that, all the knights surrounded Ghetsis and left, leaving the stumped crowd and Ash, his smile gone after his counter argument was rejected.
"I have to say, you really showed him Ash. Even though it didn't stick." Cheren complimented as he slapped his hand over Ash's right shoulder.
"Yes, I agree." Juniper added. "Liberation of Pokémon is impossible. We have spent thousands of years growing bonds and friendships with them. It's something we can't just forsake because of a few bad eggs."
"Ash, was it?" A teenage boy in very simple clothes and pale green hair approached them. He appeared to be calm and tranquil with his soft eyes and gentle smile. "You make a very compelling counter argument. My name is N.
"My name is-"
"I care not for either of your names. I'm only concerned with Ash." N cut him off, the same smile never leaving his face. Cheren grumbled as he readjusted his glasses. "Ash, what's your goal?"
"To become the Pokémon champion, and complete the Pokedex.
"So your goal is to be the best and confine many, many in Pokeballs for that then. I'm a trainer too, but I can't help wondering...are Pokémon really happy that way? Let me hear their voice."
"Well, if you mean you want a battle, then by all means. Professor Juniper, can you please get our Pokémon and bring Bianca out too?"
"Sure." She obliged, and only took a moment before she came out with the blonde girl and they all got their Pokémon back. Once the two boys were at a fair distance away, the battle commenced. N silently sent out a purrlion, a purple and cream colored cat, while Ash unleashed his Tepig. With simply a glare, purrlion pounced with its claws out, and scratched the fire pig. Ash was caught off guard, but he refocused.
"Counter with Ember!" From his nose, Tepig fired embers at the purple cat, whom cried out in pain as it got in its eyes. She combusted into flames due to the fire type attack. While his eyes looked worried, N still stayed silent as his mouth frowned, like he was telling purrlion what to do by thought alone. Again the Devious Pokémon scratched against Tepig, but the damage wasn't as bad as last time. "Tackle!" With a short charge, he bashed his head into the cat, and it grunted in pain and cried out when the burn acted up again. It tried to stand, but N said,
"Enough." He returned the purrlion so it no longer suffered. "I never expected your Pokémon to say such things."
"What are you, some kind of Pokémon whisperer?" Ash inquired, interested about his ability to battle without speaking.
"If you wish to see me as such, so be it. As long as Pokémon are confined inside Pokeballs, Pokémon will never become perfect beings. I have to change the world, because they're my friends."
"Dude, you own a purrlion. Don't be so hypocritical." Ash remarked.
"No. Unlike you, they're not bound to me forever. I only need them for as long as I am in the area." And without saying anything else, he left.
"Tepig, return." Ash said when Bianca came at him with a hug.
"That was great Ash! The Professor told me what you said to that man and I'm like, "There's no way I could live without Pokémon! They make me so happy and help me calm down!"
"Hehe, yeah. Team Plasma has no idea what they're saying. We didn't start on this journey just to stop at the first town by a couple of strange guys." The trainer chuckled, before the thought came into mind, and he broke the hug to bring out Tepig. "Tepig, are we friends? Do you enjoy battling with me?"
"Tepig!" He squealed, nodding his head. Ash grinned.
"Glad to hear it."
"Well, with that out of the way, let's head to Stration City to get our first badges." Cheren suggested, pushing his glasses up.
"Yeah!" Both Bianca and Ash agreed.
A/N: And there you have it everybody! Now's there's a few things in here I'd like to address. 1. I gave Delia a minccino just for the sake of Ash shooting Team Plasma down! Talk about satisfying. 2. In this story, I wanted to write Bianca as a high autistic person, maybe Asperger's if that's what you recognize. I looked at a website written by someone with Aspergers on how to accurately write them, and I myself am autistic so I figured, "Why not make Bianca a main character with a disability, and yet still be as awesome as she is in the game." It would also better justify her dad being overprotective since my parents overprotected me as well, though not to an unreasonable degree. 3. I'm thinking of making Emboar a pure fire type than a fire/fighting type. I mean, if the other two starters don't get to be dual types, than why should Emboar be the lone exception? 4. This will have more romance when Team Plasma isn't concerned so be ready for that. Oh, one more thing. If you read any reviews from Farla, St Elmo's Fire, Talarc, Spencer841, AshxSelene Writer, fanficmanager816, seeldewgong, EpicDinosaurs XD XD: ignore them. I've been warned they're trouble making bullies and I will not tolerate bullying on myself or anyone else. You've been warned, those who are mentioned. So, tell me what you think: Team Plasma, Bianca, Emboar being pure fire, the romance...I'm interested to hear your response.