@Farla
So I capitalize things like Pikachu, Pokemon, and even moves like Quick Attack because of the source material. Both the games and mangas produced have those capitalized. I understand that from a grammatical standpoint it doesn't make sense, it's simply how they're normally spelled. The way I write dialogue may not be perfect at times, I know it isn't, but I don't have an English degree or a team double checking my writing, I do my best to make the story as interesting and well written as I can.
Why did Ash wait a year? That will be explained later on.
Why is Gary still his old self? Without Ash or the others Gary hasn't become a better person yet. He also isn't the antagonist or rival of this story, Gary has already competed in the Indigo League, he gained nothing by defeating him except to prove Ash didn't know what he was doing in battles. I introduced him in this chapter because he's a known rival and character. It's an easy way to start for now.
Why didn't Ash get Pikachu earlier, yet still got him now? In my last story I had Arceus explain that Ash and Pikachu are a multiversal constant. And again why Ash didn't get Pikachu a year ago will be explained. But because Professor Oak had more time to work with Pikachu he was able to warm him up to working with humans,
Ash was dumb at the start to teach us, not himself. Yes, but he was also dumb, he's a new trainer, even knowing types doesn't help everything, mistakes can be made, and he will learn from them.
While writing a fanfic like this I have to be able to tell a story without completely retelling a story, so certain events have to change, I can't have Ash and Pikachu be at odds and then make them friends the exact same way, otherwise that would be boring.
Please remember this is a new story and we're only on chapter 2! While this won't be as long as Trap Ash, this will be a several month long project, the story hasn't even begun.
@Blades of Chance
Thanks for the support!
Anyways, onto the chapter!
"Will he be okay Nurse Joy?" Ash asked as he handed the nurse Pikachu.
"Don't worry, we take great care in all of our patients." Nurse Joy said. "Feel free to take a seat, I'll let you know when he's in fighting condition again."
Ash slumped down at a booth, dropping his head onto the table.
"I messed up, big time." Ash groaned. "Pikachu got hurt because of me."
"No, it was Gary's fault, he shouldn't have challenged a brand new trainer to a battle." Cassie argued.
"I still agreed to it." Ash said. "He was right, I need to know more if I want to win. Once Pikachu is feeling better I'm going to learn everything I can at that school."
"If that's what you think will help." Cassie said.
A bit later
"Ash?" Nurse Joy asked.
"Uhh, yeah, hi, is everything alright?" Ash asked.
"Everything is just fine, I'm happy to say your Pikachu has made a full recovery." Nurse Joy said, as Chansey rolled Pikachu out on a trolley.
"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed, happy to see his partner was okay.
"Pikachu." Pikachu said, happily rubbing his head on Ash's palm.
"I promise I'll be a better trainer from now on, and it's going to start by me learning everything I can from the trainers' school." Ash said.
"Oh, I hope you weren't intending on attending there today." Nurse Joy said.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"Well the public class is over for today, you won't be able to attend until tomorrow." Nurse Joy said.
"Oh, I guess we'll have to find a place to set up camp for the night then." Ash said.
"Oh, that's not necessary, many Pokemon Centers have rooms available to passing trainers at no extra cost." Nurse Joy said.
"Oh, then can I get a room for two." Ash said.
"Most trainers don't get a bed for their Pokémon though." Nurse Joy giggled.
"Oh, it's not for Pikachu, I'm traveling with my little sister." Ash said smiling.
"Oh, how nice of you, I'll have a room set for you, you're welcome to explore the town in the meantime." Nurse Joy said.
"Come on Pikachu, let's go find Cassie, we've got some training to do." Ash said.
Outside Vermillion City
"Are you sure about this?" Cassie asked. "Pikachu just got better."
"It's fine, you're ready, right Pikachu?" Ash asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu said in agreement, taking an offensive stance.
"There!" Ash shouted, seeing something move in the tall grass. "Use Thundershock!"
A jolt of electricity shot out from Pikachu, striking the hidden being.
"Nido!" A Nidoran male yelped, before lunging at Pikachu.
"Pikachu use Thunder Wave!" Ash shouted, the move had sent a Pokemon packing earlier, it must be strong. The spiral of electricity shot out at the Nidoran, it's muscles spasming as it fell to the ground.
"I don't think it's dealing damage, try something else!" Cassie said, looking in a small notebook.
"Okay, what else does Pikachu know?" Ash said looking at his Pokédex. "Okay that's a lot of moves. Pikachu use Double Edge!"
Pikachu turned looking at Ash confused at what he was asking.
"What about Mega Kick? Thunder? Toxic?" Ash listed off. "Maybe Quick Attack?"
Pikachu's face turned to a grin, that one it knew. His body became a blur as he charged through the field at the recovering Nidoran sending the Poison Type into a rocky wall.
"Pikachu use another Thundershock!"
Pikachu sent a final jolt of electricity forward, zapping the Nidoran as it scurried away.
"We won!" Ash exclaimed.
"Didn't Gary say you can't win like that though?" Cassie asked.
"What does he know? The Pokémon fled, so that means we won." Ash said.
"Can't argue with that, wouldn't even know how." Cassie admitted.
"Look Pikachu! Another one!" Ash exclaimed, seeing a Pokemon come at them. "Pikachu use Thundershock!"
A Rattata lunged out of the grass, heading straight for Pikachu. Slamming the electric type to the ground.
"Pikachu use Thunder Wave!"
A spiral of electricity shot out wrapping around the Rattata as it stopped moving.
"Now use Quick Attack!"
The Rattata fought through the sparks around it clamping it's fangs down on Pikachu as the two tumbled into the distance.
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted. The electric type leapt up from the ground, having ended on top. The Wild Rattata having scurried off into a hole.
"Great work!" Cassie said encouragingly.
"Best team ever, we're on the fast track to the top." Ash said confidently.
The next day
"So you finally decided to leave Pallet Town?" A boy asked as Ash left the Pokemon School.
"Gilbert?! What are you doing here?" Ash asked in surprise.
"When I heard that Professor Oak had a special Pokémon set aside for you, I was hurt. Who's more special than me? I'm the mayor's son, but seeing it's such a common Pokémon like Pikachu? You deserve that for being a year late." Gilbert taunted.
"Shut up." Ash said angrily.
"I bet you couldn't even beat me with that little thing." Gilbert said.
"I'll show you!" Ash said. "Let's do this Pikachu!"
"Come on out Squirtle." Gilbert said.
"Pikachu use Thunder Wave!"
"Squirtle use Withdraw!"
A spiral of sparks shot out across the path, tipping Squirtle off balance. Squirtle rebalanced itself, ducking into its shell in the process.
"Pikachu use Thundershock!"
"Squirtle use Bubble!"
The bubbles were burst as the small spark of electricity shot forward, zapping Squirtle.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Squirtle use Tackle!"
Squirtle struggled in its shell as Pikachu sped forward knocking the tiny turtle onto its back.
"Squirtle!" Gilbert exclaimed. "It won't be so easy next time." Gilbert said before returning his Pokemon and rushing to the Pokemon Center.
"I see getting a Pokémon has done nothing to Gilbert's attitude." Cassie said. "And you didn't even get to use that new move."
"There will be more battles." Ash said, lifting up a new bag.
"Whats with the new bag?" Cassie asked. "Wasn't your green one just fine?"
"I want to be able to help Pikachu and when I get more, my other Pokémon when they're hurt, so I got this bag, it holds more items a bit cleaner than a regular backpack." Ash said opening up the top of it, showing a few healing items in it, along with his equipment.
"You'll make a great trainer in no time with that!" Cassie said happily.
"That's my hope." Ash said. "Now let's get going, our first gym is in Pewter City, apparently this one caught fire."
High above Viridian City three shadowy figures looked down where the gym once stood.
"Stay here, keep an eye on the investigation, make sure they find nothing." The larger figure said.
"Of course, and if they find something, no one will find them." The female figure said.
"As for us, what do we do?" The lanky figure asked.
"Continue with the plan. You head to Pewter with some troops, get the artifact and get out, I'm heading to our secondary base, see if Giovanni has resurfaced." The larger figure said. "All hail Giovanni."
"All hail Giovanni!" The other two repeated with a salute before going their separate ways.
Character of the Day: Gilbert
Gilbert originally appeared in the spin off anime Pokemon Chronicles. Having gone to Professor Oak's lab asking for Pokémon that were already trained to their final form, as well as a special Pokémon like Ash's Pikachu, or a Vigoroth he had seen a while back. In the end Gilbert picked Bulbasaur only after Ash's Bulbasaur saved him. In this universe Ash doesn't have Bulbasaur, and as such Gilbert picked a Pokémon who's evolved form made big news in Pallet, a Squirtle, to have a Blastoise like Gary. I believe that without the intervention of Ash's Bulbasaur, Gilbert's personality would not have changed to a nicer one, and instead still stayed entitled.