Electric Tales

Chapter 1

It is night in Pallet Town. We set the scene in the bedroom of a young girl no older than 4years old, with a mop of unruly fire red hair. She sleeps soundly in her bed, accompanied by a rather famous pikachu (belonging to her father) resting below her feet. Both are completely undisturbed by the periodic flashes lighting up the room and distant sounds of rumbling from a raging storm taking place outside.

Pikachu and the toddler adore each other, their relationship almost as special as the bond between the electric mouse and Ash Ketchum himself. Most nights Piakchu would sleep in the little girls room - her friend, babysitter and protector - a night light if needed to be and champion at warding off any unfriendly monsters that might be under the bed or in the closet.

Abruptly Pikachu's ears perk up and he wakes with a small start. Something from outside has gained his attention. He rises and crawls towards the sill of the large bay window at the side of the bed. The movement disturbs the sleeping toddler.

"Hmmm Pikachu?" she mumbles wiping the sleep from her eyes. The electric mouse says nothing, it's looking out at the stormy night sky.

She follows her protectors lead to the large window and looks out into the inky blackness. Suddenly a large flash of brilliant yellow light fills the sky, dazzling and luminous. Blinded the toddler shields her eyes, but as her eyes adjust an awesome sight fills her vision.

It's here.

It's here, right now, outside her house, outside her own window! No more than 15 feet away. Zapdos. The legendary bird Pokémon of Thunder.

This is the moment small chocolate brown eyes first meet those piercing white eyes. With no fear she opens her window, not once breaking eye contact between herself and the legendary pokémon.

As if on auto pilot, she instinctively starts to move slowly yet confidently out of the open window, towards the outside ledge. The wild Zapdos mimicking her movements, also comes slowly and calmly towards her.

"Pika!" Pikachu tries to get the girl's attention. "Pi-kaaa" he pulls on her pyjama top, but she doesn't register the small pokemon's opposition to her actions. Mesmerised she continues to move closer and closer, now on the ledge, not noticing her companion running out of the room.

A small hand reaches out as a large sharp beak inches forward. Almost touching…

"OH MY GOD! NO! AASSSSSHHHHHH… AASSSSSSSSSHHHHH!"

A crack of lightning and the mood quickly changes as if a switch has been flipped. The once calm and serene scene now replaced with the piercing sound of her mother's screams and Zapdos screeching wildly. Claps of deafening thunder drown everything out, the result of the mighty birds wings flapping wildly trying to create distance between itself and the offending noise.

The sensation of her small body lifting off the ground, getting further away from the window and placed into her mother's embrace. She sees her father, turning and running back towards the window, launching a pokéball out and jumping onto a flashing red light which moulds and forms into the giant fire lizard Charizard, Pikachu loyally following his trainers lead and jumping with him onto the pokémon.

The noise of thunder sounding further and further away, her mother holding her tightly speaking words but the girl registers nothing of what is said.

This is the earliest memory of Amber Ketchum.

Now aged 15, Amber is the youngest child of famed all round Pokémon Master Ash Ketchum and Misty, the former gym leader of Cerulean City.

As expected, the girl has a strong love and interest in Pokémon and Pokémon training. She spends her time doing chores and helping out on the family's large Pokémon Ranch estate in Pallet Town and training pokémon with her mother.

In particular (and despite her mother's best efforts for her to follow in the Waterflower name) the girl has fallen completely in love with Electric Pokémon. Her bedroom was adorned with pictures and plushies of her favourites, and as she got older, posters, article clippings and memorabilia of famous electric type trainers – in particular her celebrity crush and idol Volkner the Gym Leader of Sunyshore City in Sinnoh.

As much as she loved the families Pokémon and cherished her special bond with Pikachu, he was and always would be her father's companion. Oh, how she longed for her very own Pokémon to raise and train. To set off on her own journey and battle in the Pokémon league. It was about time that dream came true…

"But Mom, I'm 15!"

It was a beautiful spring morning; Misty was outside hanging the laundry to dry, Amber at her side, "helping" out. However, the teen had another agender.

Not this again… Misty braced herself for a discussion (and more often argument) with her daughter that was becoming more and more frequent. "Sweetie please we've been through this."

Misty Waterflower, the famous Water Trainer from Cerulean City has grown up from the tomboy mermaid persona she was known for and blossomed into a world beauty.

Her signature short fiery red hair has grown out and now cascades down her back. Her bangs also grown and now naturally flattened down, framing her flawless porcelain face and bright cerulean eyes. She has maintained her slender frame and athletic figure but has traded in her booty shorts for flowing skirts and summer dresses. She married her childhood friend Ash Ketchum and the two started a family.

Retiring from her role as Cerulean Gym Leader and the world of competitive Pokémon training, Misty settled down to a life in Pallet Town and now spends her time raising the world-class pokémon the pokémon power couple have caught over the years, and of course being a mother to her own children. Despite the change in lifestyle she is still a well-regarded and respected trainer, world known for her offensive water type style and fiery disposition.

"But mommm, kids younger than me are visiting Oak Labs every year and getting a partner pokémon, starting off on their own adventure…" Amber whined, determined to get her own way.

"Then all the more reason to take the offer of training internship at the Cerulean Gym. It's a wonderful opportunity, so many pokémon trainers would give anything to train with the world famous Waterflowers! You'd get great experience and your Aunties would absolutely love it, you"

Amber cut Misty off before she could continue.

"No Mom! It's no different than being here training with you! I want to see the world. I want adventure. Get out on my own, live my own life. More than anything, I just want my very own pokémon to raise. I want what Dad has with Pikachu, … I… I want to be an electric type trainer. The greatest Electric Pokémon Master! Of all time!"

Misty's eyes widened before taking her gaze to the floor. It was no secret her daughter's interest had always been electric type Pokémon and Pikachu played a huge part in that. Misty had always deluded herself into thinking it would be a phase, that water types were in her daughters genes same as hers. To now finally hear it out loud … it actually stung a little to hear her baby girl really didn't want to be a Waterflower.

She really is her father's daughter, she thought with a melancholic smile.

Oblivious to her mother's internal struggle, Amber carried on with her monolog "All my life I've been seen as the daughter of. The sister of. The niece of. Or worse not even seen at all! No! I want to make a name for myself, I want people to see me for me, who I am not who I am… you know?".

Misty tilted her head. "Sort of?"

Narrowing her eyes and grinning, the teenager cheekily added, "besides what I am really going to learn from Aunty Lily? How to style my hair?"

"Hey now!" Misty warned but then softened, not allowing her temper to rise. She took a deep breath and slightly bent her knees so she could look her daughter straight in the eye. Oh, how Amber reminded her of Ash. The girl may have inherited her mother's hair, colouring and slender frame, but her cheek bones, mannerisms and eyes were the exact copy of her fathers. Chocolate brown and burning with ambition. Naïve to the world but overcompensated with pure enthusiasm and love of pokémon.

The former gym leader sighed, she hated playing the role of bad guy. Her next words she had to choose very carefully. How could she word this without sounding like the world biggest hypocrite? Or worse an overbearing, overprotective smother?

"Listen ..." Misty sighed. "I do get it. I was just the same at your age. I wanted nothing more than to escape the shadow of my famous Sisters and make a name for myself and yes, I did that. I left home when I was younger than you, I met your father and your uncle Brock, and we had wonderful years travelling around together before I settled down to become the Cerulean Gym Leader."

Amber clenched her fists she knew the B word was coming.

Misty continued "But"

There it is

"This world we live in now, it's not the same as when me and your dad were kids, it's changed ..."

Misty paused now came that hard part … is it time to tell the young girl the full story? Ash and Misty had purposely left out some certain chapters in the re-telling's of their glory days to their children… With that pause something caught her attention. Looking up and using her hand a visor against the shining sun a familiar silhouette came to view.

Saved by the devil himself she thought happily and grinned.

A familiar Pidgeot was now visible in the distance, coming towards them at great speed. A man with messy black hair (now tinged with grey and sporting a beard) and a pikachu riding atop of the flying Pokémon. He was waving and then the sound of his voice was heard.

Ash Ketchum. He has travelled the globe, been to every known region, encountered and captured many, many, different kinds of Pokémon. He has claimed victory over all Elite 4 members and won the Pokémon League Championships in all regions. He is now classed as the world's Greatest Pokémon Master and heads the Global Pokémon League.

When he first gained the title "Pokémon Master", he returned to his home land of Kanto and married his best friend Misty Waterflower. Together they produced two children a boy and a girl respectively. From all their success and fame, they invested in Ash's hometown of Pallet Town and created a world-famous Pokémon Ranch Estate that rivalled even the famous Professor Oaks laboratory. It became home for their beloved family and Pokémon.

Although admired and regarded a hero by many, the man has also gained a lot of enemies during his life, most famously the notorious Kanto based Team Rocket. Being thwarted by Ash (and Misty a fair share to her credit) many times, the bad blood had become personal overtime. The lingering threat over their loved ones and the scary and frankly dangerous moments of their past adventures were always at the back of the parent's minds. So, decisions were made over the futures of their children. Decisions that maybe or may not have been right for them to make.

Jumping down from the Pokémon, he thanked and waved his old faithful friend off as she took off back to her flock in the copse just outside of Pallet Town. Pidgeot was one of the earliest Pokémon Ash had ever caught, and although he released her to protect her fellow pidgey and pidgeotto she would always remain Ash's faithful friend and be there when ever he needed her.

He walked over to his two red headed girls, Pikachu running ahead.

"Pi-Kaa! Pikachu-Pi!"

Ash had been out of town for a few days on official Pokémon league business. It was good to be home! He greeted his wife, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her in close placing a kiss on the top of her head. Smiling at his daughter and Pikachu who was playfully climbing up onto her shoulder then on top of her head much to the teens enjoyment. Completely unaware of the tension he'd dropped into, he stood there in complete bliss until his wife turns to him with those burning crystal blue eyes and says the 4 words he always dreads.

"We need to talk."

Amber stood outside the living room trying to eaves drop on the conversation her parents were currently having in private. Ear pressed to the closed-door, Pikachu by her side mimicking her actions.

"Well it's been quiet on that front for a while now…"

"But what if….?"

"No, you're right, I mean the dangers we put ourselves in..."

"You mean the dangers YOU put us in…"

"How about training at the Cerulean Gym?"

"No, she's already shot that down"

"How about with Brock at Pewter or Gary?"

"It's just the same for her as training with Daisy, Violet and Lily. It's just not what she wants ..."

"Then maybe we should…"

"Out of the question!"

"Well how about…?"

"Maybe we could speak to…?"

"Gym Leaders code?"

"It's a great city…"

"I know… but what can we do? She takes after us…"

"That's what I'm afraid of…"

"Pikachu, can you hear what they're saying?!" The girl spoke in a hush tone to her partner in crime.

Stood fully on her tiptoes, Amber looked down at the electric mouse who looked up and shook his head "Chuu".

The girl pressed the side of her face closer against the door as if physically possible. They were clearly discussing her, so it wasn't snooping! Concentrating so hard on trying to hear more, Amber didn't notice the handle of the door turning…

SPLAT. The pair fell fully forward, Pikachu unfortunately breaking the teenagers fall.

"Errm, whatcha doing down there you two?" Ash looked down puzzled at the heap of teenage girl and small yellow Pokémon on the floor in front of him.

"Kaaaa Chu" Pikachu sighed out – less than impressed.

"Were you spying on us?" Misty playfully scolded hands on hips.

Amber looked up and grinned, pulling herself up off the floor, Pikachu following suit.

Ash trying to use his best serious poker face looked to his daughter "Ok so me and your Mother have been talking, now it's not for definite so don't get your hopes up but …"

"I'M HOME!" a voice billowed out from down the hallway. A figure stood in the doorway, a plethora of men in suits and sunglasses with earpieces piled in covering entrances.

"COLE!" Misty and Ash cried out in union.

"Pikachu Chu!" Pikachu joined in.

"But what?! But what Dad?" Amber's question fell on deaf ears as her mother and father were all but running down the hallway to meet her brother. "BUT WHAT?!" She shouted after them. It was no use. Closing her eyes, she sighed and followed them.

Cole Ketchum was the son and eldest child of Ash and Misty. 4 & 1/2 years older than Amber, he had inherited the star power of his famous Cerulean aunties - naturally confident, charming, charismatic and of course devilishly handsome to boot, he was picked up by talent scouts before you could even say Mew!

He had his father's black "bed head" hair that he pulled off seamlessly. Sun-kissed complexion but his mother's smooth bone structure and deep ocean blue eyes. Unlike his father who was a late bloomer, Cole had grown tall in his early teens and was well developed. Currently working as a model, he was becoming hot property and a well-known socialite, travelling the regions with an entourage of security and gaining celebrity. Although liking Pokémon and a born natural, had no interest in becoming a Pokémon Trainer like his parents.

To his younger sister however he was just more giant shoes to fill. She was the other side of the coin to her sibling, a near total opposite in every way. He seemed to of inherited everything positive from her parents whilst she felt she'd gotten the short end of the sudowoodo. There was one thing the two shared however – a natural rapport with Pokémon, and maybe, just maybe the one area in life Amber may best her near perfect brother.

"Mom, Dad, I have amazing news!" He chimed, as they came waltzing into living room, by passing his fuming sister not even glancing in her direction. "I've been cast for an upcoming movie by Cleavon Schpielbunk!"

Her parents gasped, stars appearing in their eyes. Amber pouted. But what about me?… she thought with a hint of bitterness.

"Pi-kaa" Pikachu looked up at the young red head sadly.

"Oh my god my baby is a star!" Misty cooed, hands on her cheeks, whilst Ash congratulated his son with well-meaning but hard pats to the back "Well done Son! You know I was once in a film by him too, my part got cut but well... you know… that's showbiz for you!" Ash put his hand behind his head and laughed "what was that film called again Mist?"

Amber rolled her eyes, her father - no matter what - had a unique ability to make anything about him. After all he had always been there, done that and got the story to prove it.

"Oh I remember, Pokémon in Love! My Psyduck got the lead remember?"

"Only because he was too stupid to move away from that Wigglytuff"

Misty growled at her husband before returning to star gazing at her adult son. It would be unfair to say Misty had favourites amongst her children, she loved and doted on them both with great amounts. She related and sympathised with her daughter being the youngest and often overlooked sibling as she herself was growing up, but Cole was her literal "blue eyed boy", so handsome like his father and Cole himself very much a momma's boy. The situation wasn't lost on Misty, but she just couldn't help herself, her boy was so perfect!

"Well no one would even think to cut my baby out; I mean just look at him!" Misty was now lightly pinching her sons face, who in return was laughing and enjoying the attention.

"Well what do you say Sis?" Cole diverted his attention away from his adoring mother and grinned at his baby sister, who was still not so secretly stewing from her brothers "impeccable" timing.

Composing herself she coolly replied. "Congratulations Cole. You managed to out audition a Psyduck."

"Oh please you couldn't even out class a muk" he retorted back with a smirk.

"YOU LOOK LIKE A MUK!"

"You WISH you looked like a Muk!"

"WELL YOUR MOM'S A MUK!.. oh wait…" Amber blushed and cringed at what she just said. Cole stifled a laugh. The round was his.

"HEY!" Misty snapped separating the two; Ash laughed wholeheartedly, his kids were just like him and Misty when they were young, well not just like them.

Eager to change the subject and go back to what her and her parents were originally talking about, Amber quickly changed the subject. "So Dad, you were saying?" she turned and looked at her father with hopeful eyes.

"Hmm?"

"About my Pokémon journey?"

Ash paused looking his kid. Um what did they agree on again? Misty coughed, elbowing her clueless husband pointed towards Pikachu. "Oh yeah!" He snapped his fingers "How do you fancy an internship at the Vermillion City Gym?".

Author notes: Hi this is my first fanfiction. I've had the story in my head awhile now so figured I'd put it down on paper. I've got a long story in mind, the first chapters feel a little slow but it will get more adult themed as the protagonist charatcer grows.

It's set in the anime, heavily based on Season 1 but also with game references. The ages and backstories of some gym leaders and characters will vary from cannon.