'Throughout all reality there is one constant, there is always Ash and his Pikachu. But what would happen if Ash was more than just a little late starting his journey?' Arceus's voice narrated.
"I still get to go with you, right?" A young girl's voice said.
"For the millionth time, I wouldn't want to do it without you, I promised I'd show you everything out there." Ash said, packing his bag.
"So did Professor Oak say what his special gift for you was?" The girl asked.
"All that he said was that it was a unique starter he'd been saving for me." Ash said. "Now get down from there before you hurt yourself Cassie."
A young girl, a few years younger than Ash, hopped off the top bunk with a smile, her brown hair landing messily around her face.
"I bet he got you a Dragonite!" Cassie said.
"Yes, a perfect starter Pokemon, a Dragonite." Ash said sarcastically. "I'm going to be late if I don't get going soon, I'll see you at the north part of town okay?" Ash said, putting his cap on his short black hair.
"Okay, I'll see you there big bro." Cassie said.
'Ah yes. In this universe, Ashton Richard Ketchum is not an only child, rather he has a younger sister, Cassandra Leanne Ketchum, or Cassie as Ash lovingly calls her. In this universe Ash waited until his eleventh birthday to start his journey so that Cassie could go with him.' Arceus's voice narrated.
"Professor Oak, I'm here!" Ash shouted.
"No need to shout Ash, today is a special day only for you." Professor Oak said. "I know the past year has been difficult for you, so I've been working with this Pokemon, and I think they're ready to see the world with you."
"What is it?!" Ash asked excitedly.
"Well, here is its Pokeball, how about you send it out?" Professor Oak said, handing Ash the ball.
"Finally! My own Pokémon! Okay come on out!" Ash said tossing the Pokeball into the air.
A small yellow Pokemon popped out of the Pokeball, it had pointy ears, and a lightning bolt shaped tail.
'Pika?' The Pokemon said tilting its head.
"It's called a Pikachu." Professor Oak said. "I found him a few years ago, and have been helping him trust humans ever since, and I felt you two would be a perfect match."
"Hi Pikachu, I'm Ash." Ash said extending his hand.
Pikachu sniffed Ash's hand before nuzzling his face into Ash's palm.
"He seems to like you a lot Ash". Professor Oak mused. "Before you go, a few other things for you." Professor Oak said digging through his lab coat. "Here a Pokedex, it can tell you anything you want to know about a Pokemon, and these are spare Pokeballs, for catching more for your team."
"Thanks Professor, and I already know who I want on my team." Ash said.
"Oh do you now?" Professor Oak mused. "The road will be difficult, your choices may change as time goes on."
"Maybe, but this team is going to be special." Ash said. "Ready to go Pikachu?" Ash said, holding out the Pokeball, and tossing it at the electric type. Pikachu however knocked the ball right back at Ash.
"Get in the ball Pikachu." Ash said throwing it harder this time, only for it to be launched back yet again, even harder this time.
"Ow." Ash moaned, picking his Pokeball back up. "So you don't like your Pokeball? That's okay, you don't have to stay in it then. Come on Pikachu." Ash said, offering the electric type his hand.
Outside of Professor Oaks lab
"Hi honey." Delia said rushing up to Ash.
On most starting days for a new trainer there would be crowds gathered, but this was a bit more of a private event.
"Is that your starter?" Delia asked.
"Yeah, Professor Oak left it just for me." Ash said.
"Then you know what that means? He has high hopes for you." Ash's dad said.
"Yeah, I won't disappoint him, or you guys." Ash said.
"Just do your best honey." Delia said. "Did you pack everything?"
"Yes mom." Ash said.
As Ash reached the edge of Pallet Town, he saw his sister there waiting for him.
"Cassie!" Ash shouted waving, and running up to her.
"Ash!" Cassie responded. "Is that yours?! He's so cute!"
A bit of walking later, Ash saw something rustling through the grass.
"Ready for out first fight Pikachu?" Ash asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu said eager to battle something.
"Alright then, Pikachu use Thundershock!"
A small jolt of electricity shot through the tall grass, before sending a small puff of smoke into the air.
"Pidg? Pidgey!" The wild Pidgey screeched diving at Pikachu.
"Pikachu dodge it and use Rock Throw!"
Pikachu was confused by the commands, getting hit by the swooping Pidgey.
"Wait, the Pokedex! It can show me what you know!" Ash exclaimed scrambling for it.
"Pikachu look out!" Cassie shouted only for Pikachu to be knocked off of his feet.
"Oh this one sounds powerful. Pikachu use Thunder Wave!"
What looked like a spiral of sparks shot out at Pidgey, causing smaller sparks to fly across the birds body as it flew away from the battle.
"Yeah! We won our first fight!" Ash exclaimed, running up to Pikachu.
"I mean, you can call that a win if you want Ashy boy." A voice said.
"Gary, I thought you were out seeing the world?" Ash said.
"And miss your big day? How about a battle, show you how a real win looks." Gary said.
"We can take you, right Pikachu!" Ash said confidently.
"Here, I'll even give you a type advantage. Blastoise come on out!" Gary exclaimed sending out the large water type. "You do know what type Blastoise is right?"
"Of course I do." Ash said, trying to sneakily look at his Pokédex.
"It's a water type, go ahead I'll give you the first move." Gary said confidently.
"Alright then! Pikachu use Thundershock!"
A small jolt of electricity shot up towards Blastoise, the large Pokemon simply brushed off the attack.
"That's just the warm up. Pikachu use Thunder Wave!" Ash said.
A spiral of sparks made their way towards Blastoise, hitting him in the center of his shell, a few smaller sparks going across it.
"Are you done yet?" Gary asked.
"One more time! Pikachu use Thunder Wave!"
Another spiral of sparks flew from Pikachu, but this time they simply dispersed as soon as they hit Blastoise.
"Wait! Why didn't it do anything?!" Ash exclaimed.
"You have to be joking!" Gary said laughing. "Now watch a real move. Blastoise use Hydro Pump!"
"Pikachu dodge it!"
Twin jet streams of water launched across the field, sending Pikachu flying into the air, as Ash just barely caught him.
"That's how you win, when the Pokémon can't even run away." Gary said. "I get why you didn't study as much on Pokémon, so I'll give you some advice, there's a Pokémon Center in the town right up ahead, along with a trainers school, go there, heal up Pikachu and learn a few things before you try doing something stupid."
"Hey Gary." Ash said, cradling Pikachu.
"I'm not being nice, I'm just giving your Pikachu a fighting chance." Gary said.
"Next time we meet, I'm going to win." Ash said.
"Good luck with that." Gary said nonchalantly.
Up at the top of the hill ahead of Ash, Pikachu, and Cassie was a sign saying Viridian City, the first stop on their journey through Kanto.
Character of the Day
Ash's Pikachu
Originally Ash got Pikachu because he woke up late and it was all that was left. In this timeline Pikachu was set aside for Ash when he didn't start his journey immediately, making the electric type more willing to work with the new trainer.