Pokémon Kanto Adventures
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, nor other content that you recognize. I am receiving no money for my work.
Chapter One: I Choose You
I wanna be the very best
Like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test
to train them is my cause
I will travel across the land
searching far and wide
Each Pokémon, to understand
The Power that's inside
Its You and Me,
I know its my Destiny
Pokémon!
Your my best friend
In a world we must defend
Pokémon
A heart so true
Our Courage Will pull us through
You teach me and I'll teach you
Pokémon!
Yeah
Every challenge along the way
With Courage I will face
I will battle every day
To claim my rightful place
Come with me the time is right
There's no better team
Arm and arm well win the fight
Its always been our dream
Pokémon
Its you and me
I know it's my destiny
Pokémon!
Oh, your my best friend
In a world we must defend
Pokémon
A heart so true
Our Courage will pull us through
You teach me and I'll teach you
Pokémon!
Yeah
The old Television Ash had subsumed into his room gave a faint crackle as the Commentator announced the arrival of Nidorina onto Indigo Stadium. The fourth Pokémon to appear from the challenger was purely a blur to Ash. Ash listened to the Commentator more than anything else to see the battle. From his seat on the bed, Ash settled for closing in on the fuzzing screen, pricking his ears for the commentator's voice.
"And Nidorino begins the–"
Hundreds of cheers drowned the Commentator's voice as battle was joined. On the screen two blurs leapt at each other and Ash watched with a spike of excitement a blur dancing up and over the other. When his ears caught the announces voice as the Pokémon landed away and behind the other.
"but Gengar" Ash heard, before the voice was lost in the cacophony.
The Pokémon on screen paused and Ash sucked in a quick breath.
"Hypnosis," Ash caught as he gripped the bed.
A breath was shot out over the roar of Indigo Stadium.
He could not hear a thing now, and his heart thumped in time with "GEN, GAR!" Which thundered up, eclipsing "NIDORINA," at high speed.
Then, suddenly, a blur collapsed. Ash felt a jolt when he could not tell which. It was with profound nervousness that Ash watched, a moment passing before red light engulfed the Pokémon. Ash thought the speaker's might be broken, when the sudden voice of the commentator appeared.
"Which Pokémon will he use now?"
Red light shot forth, forming into a colossal shape as a thousand voices screamed.
"IT'S ONIX!" Ash heard as fans leapt up in jubilation.
As battle was met once again Ash leapt forth with a sudden excited burst of energy. Television forgotten as he shot upwards and onto his feet. Grabbing a makeshift Pokeball from his bedside clock. Ash struck forward as his chest burst, and with a decisive thrust of the ball forward Ash was free to speak.
"I am Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town," said Ash, with as much seriousness a ten year old could muster, "Tomorrow I will get my Pokémon License and Starter Pokémon from Professor Oak."
Ash sucked in a deep, largely ceremonial breath. And resumed, quitter.
"I hereby declare to the Pokémon of the world," continued Ash, "I will journey to gain the wisdom of Pokémon training and I will be a Pokémon Master!"
"POKEMON MASTER! That is What–"
"ASH!" his mother yelled, "Go to Bed."
Then the door was opened, and Delia Ketchum's face appeared stretched into a thin line of long-suffering. Glaring at Ash. Who had in his surprise, shot the Pokeball in his hands forwards. Sailing through the air the device entered the doorway and into his mother's quick hands.
Thumping down a rapidly growing surge of red creeping along his cheeks, Ash's earlier excitement forgotten as his mother began to speak.
"It's eleven O'clock," Delia Ketchum said, "you should be asleep."
"But tomorrow I begin my Pokémon Journey!" Ash said, "I can't sleep."
"You can watch the rest of the match tomorrow," Delia said no less firm then previously. "From that new Pokedex I spent 4200 Pokedollar's on!"
"But–"
"Bed!" she commanded, "and change into your Pajama's!"
Ash groaned as he looked in despair towards the TV, there was far too much excitement in him to simply go to bed. Ash looked back at his mother.
"Okay I'm going," Ash said, with resignation he hoped hid a lie.
The TV was turned off and his draws were opened. Ash felt a sense of accomplishment as he turned expectantly at his mother. She rolled her eyes. Muttered a quick promise of pain for disobedience and then closed the door. Now free to revel in his excitement Ash quickly shrugged his green and gold pajama's on. Very carefully controlling his want to jump as he stepped towards the TV.
A quieter program with no loud noises. Ash grabbed the remote, and moved the television away from League reruns, and into the main menu. Disney Plus floated in the left corner of the screen, and below it Ash found an item labelled National Geographic. Clicking on the Documentary with a Bulbasaur, Charmander and Bulbasaur on the front, Ash sat back onto the edge of his bed. Raising the volume so he could hear the tone of Sir Attenborough as he talked about Japan's Starter Pokémon introduction Program.
Morning came through the sharp calls of a Dodrio which was perched on a roof somewhere in the town. The call of the bird dragged Ash from his sleep, and with a contemptuous groan Ash rolled over. Smothering his face in pillow. Hiding his eyes away from the sunlight streaming in through the window. Ash made his way fitfully back to sleep.
The sleep Ash entered was fitful, Ash found himself in a half-exhausted doze. A poor simulacrum to the deep blackness he had enjoyed before the Dodrio arrived. When he did finally come too, hours after the Dodrio had first appeared Ash mournfully recalled the night before. It was but a single useless Documentary, Ash had seen it hundreds of times. Spent the last week scouring the internet for anything useful for his journey.
Ash slammed upwards.
For moments sleep and adrenaline fought, deadlocked over Ash's body before the terrifying force of panic dwarfed them. Taking but a single hurried look around his room and deciding everything could be grabbed later. Ash took but a single giant step to cross from his bed to the door. Thundering out and down the stairs in a single leap. At the bottom Ash flung on the first pair of shoes he found.
Striding across the squat little living room and passing out of the last door of the house. Ash heard his mother shout something behind him. Ignoring her, and ignoring everyone else in his panic, Ash began pelting down the lonely dirt road that formed the town. Passing by the string of suburban houses in seconds, Ash moved past the four stores that fed the little hamlet stuck between the forest and the Oak Ranch.
Turning sharply outside of town, Ash turned into the twin tire tracks that formed the Oak Ranch entrance road. Three kilometers' distant to the Oak Laboratory Complexes Public Entrance. Running through the open gates. Ash was beset on both sides by the wire fences of A and B paddocks. Along his right Ash passed row upon row of endless, massive trees filling the paddock with the mighty forest jungles of Northern Kanto. Where Gary and he would spend entire weeks lost inside searching for glimpses of the Pokémon within. On the other side, as Ash crested the hill and the Oak lab complex came into sight Ash came in view of Habitat 45 and 78. Two massive White painted steel and glass domes that rose up out of the sweeping pasture fields and formed. Inside Ash could make out the artic and desert environmental neighbors. Then a scant kilometer away from the Pokeball bejeweled gates Ash ran atop the small wooden bridge crossing the only stream on the property he and Gary were allowed to fish from.
When Ash came close to the steel gates of the public entrance, his legs wobbly under him as he stumbled into a grating halt, and stared in front of him. For the Pokeball engraved steel gates where obscured, and the crowd that eclipsed them reached all the way out to the Dragonite statue. From somewhere near to the gates Ash realized he could hear a faint chant.
Gary, Gary, He's our man.
If he can't do it, nobody can.
The crowd itself was a collection of goggler's and parents. Alongside sons and daughters of varying ages. Numerous Pokémon were scattered around with children of age with him and the sight brought a tiny bubble to Ash's gut. Some were shuffling from foot to foot, others were in their new trainer's arms. Forming around into small family sized groups inside the greater crowd.
Moving forward on unsteady legs through the crowd of patchwork groups, Ash recalled the amount of money that was required to take part in the Introduction Program. After which he tried not to take note of the clothes and the jewelry. Ash was suddenly keenly aware of he was still in his sweat soaked green and yellow pajamas. Making sure not to look too long as he passed by family's, Ash worked his way towards whatever convoluted idea Gary had thought of.
Ash would never admit it but surrounded by Kanto's to-do's he was rather relieved to see their attention was solely on Gary's spectacle. It allowed pajama clad Ash to make a quiet entrance into the small bubble of space Gary had built himself with what looked like a group of pretty, teenage girls.
Eye's drawn inexplicitly towards the six girls wearing the Pallet High School girls uniform. Ash walked. He did not think knew any of them. Although Ash only knew naught but the dozen girls in his grade of the sole primary school in Pallet Town. Nor could he recall anyone that looked faintly like that in the year or three above him. That was when guided by naught but his legs he walked headfirst into someone.
"Hey," said the offending back, and Ash knew immediately who it was.
"Watch where you're going!" Gary said. The only person in town possessing an Ego large enough to hire a high school cheer squad.
It turned round, wearing shiny new blue jeans, a shiny new blue shirt and half a Pokeball proudly on display. Ash was stuck standing in his pajama's. Late. To the most important day of his life. In front of Gary Oak, which Ash was beginning to realize was an extremely poor decision. Gary seemed to realize this as well if only because Ash recognized the blooming smile on his face.
"Hey Ash!" Gary said, "Better late than never, I guess, at least you get the chance to meet me!"
"Gary," Ash said, looking quickly at the closed gates.
"That's Mr. Gary to you!" Gary said, poking Ash in the chest, demanding his attention, "Show some respect!"
"Well Ash, you snooze, you lose," Gary said when Ash gave him silence, "And you were way behind right form the start."
Ash was silent, scowling at Gary when the crowd laughed, it was a stupid pun.
"You see, if you hadn't been lazy and stayed in bed all morning then you would have a Pokémon as well!" Gary was talking more to the crowd than Ash, and maybe it was the late night, or the mad dash to the Oak laboratory. But Ash did not think much about what he said next.
"You got your first Pokémon."
"That's right!"
"I Gary Oak," Gary said, carrying his voice all the way back to the Dragonite statue, "grandson of the great Pokémon Professor have my first Pokémon!"
He took out a Pokeball and expanded it. Raising it up above his head like a trophy for all to see. In the background, the high school students earning money for shouting a name grew substantially louder. Which was when Gary got up on a car. A luxurious red sports vehicle that Ash knew should be nowhere near any dirt or farm road. On the car, that had its own Shaffer driver, Gary began speaking again.
"I Gary Oak, promise you all that I will become a Pokémon Master, I will take up what my grandfather started and make Kanto known around the world."
As cheering erupted form the crowd Ash crept up to the feet upon the vehicle. Still not quite thinking his decisions through he asked in what might have been a whisper amongst the noise asked, "What Pokémon did you choose?"
"None of your business," Gary snapped, as he waved a hand out for the crowd. "If you had shown up on time, you would have seen that I got the best Pokémon from Professor Oak."
Then Gary turned his attention back to the crowd.
"Thank you for coming out to see history in the making."
The car started and the wayward high school girls piled in. Gary fled the Oak Ranch waving at the crowd. Standing atop the back of a sports car that had no business going smoothly down the bump ridden tracks that called themselves the entrance road to the Oak Ranch.
With the departure of Gary and is entourage the dispersal of the crowd began. Ash's compatriots leaving for their own adventures. At time with, and at times without their parents. To Ash's surprise a small number even chose not to leave, a few simply going back to their homes. Sitting down on the dirt next to the steel Oak entrance gates, looking at one of them was when Ash first saw Professor Oak. Walking out of the entrance as the last few left, the Professor took a short few precious minute's talking with the last ones there. Before turning to Ash.
So, I see you decided to show up after all," Professor Oak said in a lit tenor. "Gary thought something horrible might have happened."
"Professor," Ash greeted. As the Professor gestured him into the complex.
Ash walked past the Professor and crossed through the gates.
"I know I'm late–"
"Oh yes, I know," the Professor cut in, "Delia rang, said you were going to be late."
The Professor raised an eyebrow, "Something about watching League reruns."
"Wha– you knew," Ash said, then more quickly, "does that mean you saved a–"
"No, unfortunately," the Professor said, face as grave as stone, "there seems to have been a break in last night. When I informed your mother this morning when she rang, and she was of the opinion that you would be willing to take the short straw."
"Oh," Ash said, his shoulders hanging in dejection.
"Don't look like that," said Professor Oak, "It's simply a matter of informing the Breeder that we have a trainer in need of a Pokémon."
Oh yes," Samuel Oak nodded, as he ushered Ash the rest of the way through the gate. "On occasion we find that Pokémon have taken their futures into their own hands, as it were. Or a match cannot be found between child and Pokémon."
"Really," Ash said, "that happens?"
"Quite frequently," said the Professor as he led the way into the lab complex. "You will remember in the agreement it was stated quite explicitly that the Pokémon selection was limited, and the League would not endorse giving a Pokémon to a trainer where the Pokémon had not shown a willingness to go."
The Professor looked at Ash as he held the entrance door open. "You did of course read the agreement, didn't you Ash?"
"Of course, Professor," Ash said wile the Professor led him away from the familiar front desk, and into the laboratory proper. A place he was rarely, if ever, allowed.
The professor sighed as they walked, smiling and waving at a parsing technician. "Anyway, in these cases these cases there is usually a month waiting period–"
"What," cried Ash, jumping in alarm as he walked, "Professor I can't wait a– Gary will–"
"Yes, I'm quite aware of your rivalry with my grandson," the Professor continued, silencing Ash with a patient look. "Fortunately there is another option open to you, should you choose it."
"What is it," As asked as the Professor waved, and stopped to say hello to a passing trainer. Who had a question about his Electabuzz. The professor answered it, with what seemed to take an age, before saying he would be over later to have a look. Ushering Ash onwards.
"Well," the Professor started, as he turned his attention back to Ash, "The Ranch houses a number of Pokémon suitable for Starter's–"
"But how– Oh, the other options." Ash said, remembering the various different options of the Program. Then Ash went red. He had completely forgotten, since his mother worked here, and opened a lot of the wealthier options to him.
"Yes, if you have read the document properly you would know that Ranch is responsible for more than simply the Advanced Starter Package." The Professor opened a final door, before entering a long room, filled with Databanks along the walls. "Your mother informed me that it was likely you would choose this option, and so I have taken the liberty of finding what Pokémon we have."
The room, Ash realized, was filled with Server databanks, Pokémon data banks. It had transfer technology as well, and Ash spotted a screen with his picture on it. His trainer ID, and next to it was a search function.
Pokémon data banks, Ash realized, as he began looks around the room. It was the digital monitoring and control center of the Ranch. "Now, seeing as how this month's group has already been through there aren't many left. But I believe there should be someone on hand that should suit you Ash."
Then he looked at the search function, Beginner Trainer License was ticked, and Egg Proficiency had been denied. Ghost and Dark specialization were likewise denied as well. Bug, Dragon, Fighting and Normal types were simply disregarded.
"Professor," Ash asked.
"yes," Samuel Oak answered, turning his head Ash's way. Then Ash nodded his head at the screen.
"Oh, you see there was this lovely girl that came in this morning," he said, "She didn't complain at all about missing out on a Starter Pokémon."
The Professor looked at Ash pointedly.
"She left with a lovely Cleffairy that was a bit too excitable for anyone else," he continued, "I don't think the rest of the normal types in the Kanto Regional League are really suitable, unless you want a Pidgey?"
Ash nodded grumpily, then quietly. "I meant the Dragon types."
"Pfft," the Professor gasped, as he looked at Ash with a smile. "Ash I'm not giving you a Dratini, and I'm afraid all my Charmander are gone."
The 1/3 evolutionary and 2/3 evolutionary stage boxes were also included in the search.
Underneath it, there was a picture of a Pikachu, a Zubat facing away, an Oddish, a lone Diglett and a Geodude.
"what about Pokémon from other regions," Ash asked, looking at his choice of four.
"Oh, we give those back to their native regions when we can," the Professor answered patinetly, "the League's policy against invasive species, and the rare one's who manage to stay are usually the first picked by the other children."
"Oh," Ash said, as he looked back at his four choices.
"Well, you still have a good choice here Ash," the Professor said, "I know it doesn't look it, but Oddish and Geodude are statistically on par with the Starter's."
Ash sighed, he didn't really want any of them, although he guessed the Professor was right. But he didn't remember seeing many Golem's or Vileplume's in the battles he'd seen.
The Professor looked at Ash then, in what seemed to be a study of the younger man.
"Ash, my advice is to choose the one you get along with," the Professor said, "Strength and ability will come later, what you want is a friend."
"A friend?" Ash asked.
"Yes, a friend" the Professor said, pausing, Ash could tell he was searching for the right words. "Your dream is the become a Pokémon Master, right?"
Ash nodded and the Professor began speaking. Testing the words that exited his mouth with his togue before they departed.
"What would happen if you caught a Pokémon, trained it, and halfway through the journey it decides it wants to leave," the Professor said suddenly. With a look of triumph in his eyes.
"Oh," said Ash, could he let a Pokémon he caught go? "I would–, uhm?" Ash sucked in a breath. "I–"
"That's why you should choose a Pokémon you get along with," Professor Oak interjected. "So you don't have to make a decision like that."
"Oh, okay," Ash said, "So I should choose–," and Ash had lost the reason.
He thought a moment more. "The Pokémon I get along with the most, not the most powerful?"
"Exactly."
"Okay, then," as Ash took a breath, he still wanted to simply rewind the last four hours. "I guess you'd better bring out the first Pokémon then."
"Excellent," the Professor cheered, and pressed on Pikachu, and a moment later, a Pokeball with a small, yellow lightning bolt integrated with reality inside the room. As it appeared, the ball shook, and it sparked, a snapping open as a red light escaped. There was a Pikachu loose in the room.
"Pika!"
"It's so cute," Ash said, as he brought his face right up close to it, "Hi Pikachu!"
And then Professor Oak was there, pulling Ash away from it.
"Now you can't just get close to a Pokémon that doesn't know you like that Ash," he said, as the Pikachu studied the strange pair.
"Ah-hahaha, Professor," said Ash, as he rubbed his hair awkwardly, "I'm just excited."
Then Ash went back to looking at the Pikachu, this time safely outside of it's personal space.
"Pikachu this is Ash Ketchum," the Professor began, looking as awkward as Ash felt, "He's starting his Pokémon journey today and he needs a Starter Pokémon."
"Pikachu," it said sitting down on the small table it had emerged onto. Disinterested in the two Human's.
The Professor sucked in a breath and looked back and forth between the two. After a moment, the Professor seemed to reach a decision because he spoke.
"Ash how about you introduce yourself."
"I can," Ash asked, looking at the Professor with permission, before launching headfirst into a introduction. "Hi, I'm Ash Ketchum From Pallet Town! Today I start my journey to become a Pokémon Master–"
"Yes well," Said Professor Oak, when he saw the Pikachu was no longer showing disinterest, but slight annoyance. "He's going to be travelling around Kanto doing the Gym Challenge, and hopefully entering the Regional League."
The Professor coughed.
"Of course, that would mean that if you travelled with him then you would be travelling all around Kanto," the Professor said, and enthesis was added. "Getting out of this laboratory. You would only need to agree to travel with Ash here as he attempt's the Kanto Gym Challenges.
Pikachu's ears had perked up, and he was staring at the professor in what might have been mistaken for incredulity. Before his eyes turned to Ash, studying him.
The Pikachu said "Pika," once, which might have been a condition, but neither human's could understand.
Then it nodded.
Which seemed to be all the excitement Ash could hold, since Ash jumped on it, hugging it to his chest. "it's so cute Professor," Ash said, as the Professor brought his palm to his face. "It's the best starter in all of Kanto. No, all the world!"
Pikachu's face scrunched up. And with a mighty cry a Thundershock was let loose, and Ash was punched back, a bolt of lightning grinding into his chest and crawling along his body as it flopped him back onto the Laboratory floor.
After a moment of study, the Professor spoke.
"Ash if I might give you some more advice, Pikachu might be cute, but the reputation they gained for ill house pets is well earned, they have a nasty habit of shocking people they don't trust or they think are dangerous when they get too close."
"Oh, so it doesn't trust me," Ash said, as he picked himself up of the floor. Woozy. "but–"
"Trust will come with time," the Professor answered smoothly, "but you will need patience for it to form."
Ash looked at him.
"You have known each other five minutes," the Professor said, "you have befriended him as much as you could in that time."
The Professor looked at the both of them. "If both parties are ready, we can move on to the administrative side of things." He said, as he picked up the Pikachu's Pokeball. Handing it too Ash.
"Now I can get most of the things I need off of your mother at work later," he said, and he grabbed a hearto ignored set of paper from the desk.
Studiously ignoring the small dance the two underwent again as Ash found out Pikachu didn't like his Pokeball.
"But," the Professor said, grabbing their attention with a single strong word. "your mother took the opportunity this morning to change several of your details in your enrollment of the Introduction Program."
"What–" Ash asked, suddenly far less excited. "What did she change?"
"Well, firstly she decided that since you were going to be part of the lower bracket Introduction Program she has decided that you should be enrolled in the Elite Schooling Course."
"What," Ash said, and it was a nearly a shout, because Ash remembered the form. All the begging he had to do, simply to stay inside the Standard Course options. Now he had jumped not one, not two, but three grades up in his schooling. "I can't, I mean, Professor, there's got to be–" the Pikachu was laughing. "Professor I'm a horrible student."
"Oh, yes I know," and then he smiled, "but your mother thought it a suitable punishment."
"I–" Ash said, and then groaned, loudly. "What's even involved in that one anyway."
"A Private High School Curriculum and the expectation to maintain a higher than a B grading."
"How am I ever going to be doing that while travelling around Kanto?" Ash asked. "All the kids that enroll in Private School's actually go to their schools."
"Yes, a majority of them do, but some of the better ones in Kanto do offer distance education for children who could not otherwise attend. You would simply be one of those."
"And how did mum convince the school to let me in, her discount doesn't extend outside of League owned corporations."
"Well, since you are no longer part of the 50,000P$ package and settled for the 30,00P$ option we were able to finagle your way into it by the clever use of nonexistence refunds."
Ash let out a long, pain filled sigh, as his Pikachu laughed at him.
"I should mention she also signed you up for field research as well," Professor Oak smiled as Ash groaned. "which does grant you access to the Researcher Pokedex."
"Now changing your schooling actually proved rather simple, since most of it goes through your parents at your age, but the field research I'm going to need your signature's for some documents."
The professor put two forms before him, a pen, and grumbling about his mother Ash signed both.
Then Professor Oak smiled, "look on the bright side Ash, doing field research means you get access to the Researcher's Pokedex."
"Which is empty," Ash hissed, "I read that part of the brochure, the first thing I'll be doing is a year long survey of Kanto's Pokémon. It's why I didn't choose it."
"Yes," the professor nodded, "but most of the data needed for the survey you'll find naturally as you travel. You'll simply be entering it into your Pokedex for me to look over."
The Professor smiled, and then winked, "and I think you'll find that citing field research is an excellent way to avoid assignments at school."
Then the Professor frowned. "But don't think it'll work on me, so only do that on your schoolteachers."
Ash nodded, and very much doubted either option would work.
Ash whined as Pikachu laughed, jumping up onto the desk that Professor Oak had placed the rest of the forms out on. Spreading them out so Ash could sign these in turn. Most of them were revised versions of forms already entered, and Professor Oak had already transferred most of his details onto them. In the end, Ash had signed up for Private Schooling and his first year as a junior field researcher.
"Now," Professor Oak said as the forms were stuffed away inside a folder. "For the moment I just expect research to be you photographing all the Pokémon you see, and noting down anything you think is unusual about them."
"okay," Ash nodded, "I can do that."
"I'll have a look at the end of the week and see how your note keeping is, and then we can go from there."
"Now lets go back out to the front and see if your mother's arrived yet."
Ash nodded, as he moved the Pokeball back to Pikachu, who buzzed his cheek sacks.
Ash put the ball away.
"How about you stay out for a while," Ash said, as he nodded to himself, and Pikachu looked at him in annoyance.
At the steel gates Ash's mum was waiting and in Delia's hands was Ash's backpack. A thick grass green she had chosen a week ago. Exiting the facility, and walking up to her, Ash was struck by the bazar urge to smile, and had to take careful note of where he walked. Less he trod on Pikachu.
"Mum!" he shouted in greeting, as Professor Oak opened the gates between them.
"Oh Ash, I'm so proud of you," she said in return, misty eyes as she held up her phone. Taking a picture of him and a perpetually scowling Pokémon beside him. "You're going to start your Pokémon Training."
Ash could have grumbled about his punishment, he could have grumbled about anything this morning. But their was just something about the wetness around the eyes of her face that made Ash reluctant to say anything.
"You know that if you ever have any trouble you can always just come back," she said, as sternly as a mother could, "Oh I'm going to miss you so much."
"I packed your sneaker's and Jean's," she said as she pulled them out, pushing them into his arms. "Some nice clean shirts and underwear."
She sucked in a breath, gulping down a lung of air greedily, "your favorite snacks, and hot chocolate. In case you want something hot."
These enters his arms as well, and you could no longer see his chest.
"But be careful not to burn yourself," his mother continued in a rush, "and a pair of rubber gloves to do your laundry. And a new clothesline to hang it out to dry."
Finally his mother forced his backpack upon him as well. with a gentleness that hadn't been there for everything else. it dwarfed his head and blocked his view. All that was left that he could see was his Pikachu as his feet. Bored. When their eyes caught, Pikachu's flashed with laughter, and Ash reddened. Carefully, Ash placed is bag onto the ground, and everything was placed messily on top. Before he turned back to his mum.
"Mum, your embarrassing me in front of my Pokémon," Ash said, "I'm a big kid now, Trainer's can take care of themselves."
"I understand," Delia said, deftly promising no such thing as she brought Ash into a hug. Placing numerous heavy kisses atop his head as he squirmed.
When she was done, and she had his head cradled safely inside her arms she finally took the time too look around.
Professor Oak was smiling, and Pikachu was at his feet, trying not to laugh.
"You have a Pikachu?"
"Pikachu!"
"Yep, that's my Pokémon," Ash said, managing to escape as she became distracted with kneeling down to eye level with it. "With Pikachu at my side I'll get all the Pokémon in the world."
"Doesn't he like he Pokeball," Delia said.
"I don't know, look," and then Ash dropped the Pokeball on it. Only for it to hit it away with a whip of its tail. And spark its cheeks in threat.
"Ash, you shouldn't try to put a Pokémon inside a Pokeball if it doesn't want to," Delia said, and Pikachu's annoyance lessoned.
"But I see your friends already," Delia remarked.
"Huh–Ahh yeah, sure," Ash returned, Pikachu let out a noise.
"Oh, look at you," Delia exclaimed, then she picked Pikachu up.
Held aloft in study, "what a beautiful little guy you are." And then Pikachu was brought into a hug. And Delia turned to Professor Oak, while she began scratching Pikachu on the head.
"I didn't know the lab had a Pikachu," she said, "Professor Oak, I thought we didn't have any of them at the moment."
"Well, yes, but this one was captured the other night gnawing on some cables," the Professor answered.
And Ash was busy pitying the Pikachu as it squirmed in his mother's arms.
"Oh, so you were the one doing that," Delia said, "no wonder my Rattata bait didn't work."
Then Pikachu decided to electrocute her. It was justified, Ash thought, looking at his mother, he would have done the exact same thing if he could whenever she hugged him.
"I'd recommend getting to know each other a little better before trying something like that Delia." Interjected Professor Oak, "Pikachu aren't the friendliest of Pokémon to things larger than them."
"But it's so cute!"
"Yes, but it's also an electric type, and to them personal contact is a sign of extreme trust."
"It is," Ash asked, looking at Pikachu, who had quickly escaped from Delia's reach.
"Oh yes," the professor said, "not to worry, electrical attacks aren't usually that dangerous, and it would take several times that voltage to do some damage. It's just their way of warning you not to touch them."
"Okay," Ash said,
Then he asked if there was anywhere that he could change.
It would be the beginning of afternoon when Ash finally managed to escape from his mother. Marching forward at imperious pace. While Pikachu trailed along behind him, every so often he would stop, and look to the side, look back to Ash, and then continue forward. It was after the eighth time he had done this that Ash came to a stop. It had taken him a while, but the combination of the number of times had given him clues towards what Pikachu wanted.
"Look, Pikachu," Ash began, trying extremely hard to bury any feelings of frustration. "Are you going to be like this the whole way."
"Pi," it said back, the thin ears tossing at it's head jerked to the side.
Ash thought it looked like it was ignoring him and trying not to groan he began walking forward again. Why couldn't his Pokémon cooperate with him, it had decided to go with him, hadn't it? Pikachu had nodded back in Professor Oak's lab.
So why was it going so slowly.
Ash hoped it was not thinking about escaping. Could it do that, and even if it did, Ash could simply force it to return it too it's ball. It reminded Ash uncomfortably of Professor Oak's question.
Ash closed his eyes.
A trainer's Pokémon was supposed to listen to them. Why did Ash have to pick the one that didn't?
Maybe he should return to town. Ask the Professor if he could choose another. No, he couldn't stand the embarrassment of the thought. Something else.
Ash stopped again.
Turning to the Pikachu, and sighing in frustration.
"Look, can you just cooperate until I can catch a Pidgey or something? And then I'll release you at the next Pokémon Centre."
"Pi!" it tossed it's head again.
"Is it because you don't like me?"
The Pikachu nodded his head.
"Well, I like you a lot," Ash said, feeling crushed, and angry, why had it decided to come with him it wasn't going to cooperate "And I'd really like to get along with you?"
"Pi," it said, turning away.
"What if–" Ash said, "what if – Arggh, I don't know."
Ash let out a exhausted breath.
"Pikachu what's wrong, if you don't want to be my Pokémon then I'll let you go."
The Pikachu was looking at him in expectation now, and it made Ash suck in his breath. "But first you have to help me capture a replacement."
"Pi," Pikachu said, shaking it's head away in a no.
"Pikachu, come-on, you're my only Pokémon," Ash said, "if you leave I'll have none, and you heard the Professor, 30,00 dollars for a Starter Pokémon."
"Pi," it said, this time carefully considerate, it nodded it's head.
Ash felt like cheering internally, which just made him feel more frustrated. He could have been halfway to Viridian by now if he hadn't slept in.
"Right," Ash said, and he almost let out a happy laugh, "does that mean you'll help me capture a Pokémon."
Pi," Pikachu said, this time it turned it's head to the side.
Ash screamed.
And Pikachu ran up a nearby tree.
Ash looked at Pikachu afterwards, up in the tree, and spent the next five minutes circling the base. Eventually Ash pushed his hands along his face in a tired sigh. He would have to capture a Pokémon himself then. He could do it; he would just have to find one of the weakest in the area. That way it would not get out of the Pokeball when he threw it.
An hour later, Ash finally found a Pokémon that looked satisfactory weak.
It was a Pidgey.
A singular one that had moved away from a nearby flock because of its stature.
It was smaller then the rest of them.
Ash moved close to it, his backpack lying on the tree nearby and a Pikachu watching lazily from a nearby tree.
"Hey," Ash spoke, as the Pidgey's eye's found his.
The Pidgey eyed him with what Ash thought was curiosity. But Ash could not tell if it was simply deciding to fly away. Ash let out a slow, steady breath, trying not to startle it. for his plan to work, the Pidgey had to stay were it was while Ash retrieved his Pokeball.
In school it was taught that you were supposed to talk to Pokémon to calm them.
"Do you want me to capture you," Ash asked, as he took a step closer.
The Pidgey fluttering nervously from foot to foot as he spoke. Before it chirped, a single "Pidg." When it glanced quickly at its flock.
Which was when Ash threw the Pokeball. Hitting it amid a panicked flight. Engulfing it in light.
It wobbled once.
Twice.
Three and four times it wobbled.
Then on the fifth wobble, when Ash had already begun jumping in the air, Pidgey burst out. And fled, back into the longer grass. Before taking flight for a tree on the other edge of the clearing.
Now it was watching him.
"Ahh, I blew it."
Pikachu started laughing.
Grumbling, and glaring angrily at Pikachu, Ash began sat down, taking out his new Pokedex. Before this morning, he could have expected it to contain information about the entire route he was travelling. Now there was nothing. Still he looked. However all he found was a blank page, and an expectation for dictation.
"Pidgey," Ash said, "A flying type Pokémon."
Then he thought of something to say about it.
"Would rather flee than stay and fight?"
"They travel in flocks of," and then Ash counted the other shapes at the end of the grove. They were all looking at him now. "Thirty."
"Very Docile," he noted, as he looked at all the birds.
Before picking out another of his Pokeball's. The other was useless now, the signature wasted on a Pidgey. Standing, he took a careful, considerate stance of the flock ahead. Then, aiming carefully he put a ball in the middle of them. It wasn't hard to hit a target at the fleeing flock.
This one broke out too, before fleeing with the rest of it's flock.
Ash looked around the grove in desperation, searching for anything else. A set of shapes that he couldn't make out were at the opposite end to the Pidgey flock had been. The first Pidgey was still on it's perch, watching him, alert, and without it's eyes travelling away from him Ash doubted he would be able to land another Pokeball on the bird. And he only had three left.
A laughing Pikachu up in the tree, Ash began looking through the Pokedex for information about capturing Pokémon. Something he had information on. Unfortunately, it kept recommending sending out his own Pokémon to weaken them first.
Pikachu had quieted down by the time Ash stuck his head back out of the Pokedex. It's laughed restrained furiously. Though Ash did not know why. Turning in the direction Pikachu's eyes were looking. Ash discovered his discarded bag. A Rattata going through it.
"Hey! Get out of there."
And it ran off.
Ash sighed, collapsing onto a nearby tree trunk as he began to look through his bag. The food was gone, and most of his shirt's had holes in them. Zipping it back up. Ash tossed it aside, 589 was the exact number, Ash recalled. Ruined. Looking at the shapes moving about in the grass. Ash considered trying to throw a Pokeball at one. Or he could simply move to a different area. find some new Pokémon.
Groaning, Ash thought later, as he grabbed his Pokedex, and began exploring earnest.
Hours later, and Ash noticed that one Pidgey had still not moved, and the shapes had migrated more towards him in the absence of the Pidgey flock.
They were Spearow, and in Ash's opinion they were slightly better than Pidgey. If only because they were rarer.
Hoisting himself up quietly, Ash grabbed his third Pokeball, and took aim at the nearest. Then he tossed it, hitting and engulf the Spearow. But it didn't even last one wobble, before it burst out in flight. Heading straight towards him.
Ash ran, jumping for the ground as the Spearow passed where his head had been moments before. Grabbing his bag, and using it as a bludgeoning weapon when the Spearow returned. Striking it off, it flew away easily. Ash did this four more times before the Spearow noticed the giggling Pokémon in the tree above him. The Spearow attacked Pikachu, swooping angrily at the Pokémon and knocking Pikachu from his perch.
"Pikachu," cried Ash as the Pokémon crashed into the ground. "Pikachu," he cried again, louder as he ducked when the Spearow came for his head.
The Spearow flew around, swooping at Pikachu again.
"Hey, leave Pikachu alone!" Ash shouted, "It didn't throw the Pokeball."
Spearow slammed into Pikachu, and Pikachu tumbled, bouncing once as it came to a stop.
With a loud cry, Pikachu retaliated, and a small bolt of Thunder was sent to the Spearow. The attack of lightning struck the bird and tendrils of light sparked outwards as Spearow was engulfed. Smashing it backwards and higher before the bolt was spent and with a unceremonious thud Spearow thumped into the grass. For a moment Ash thought to use another ball but the thought was driven from his mind when the Spearow leapt back up. Angry and charred, the bird let out a single, loud, furious call, before jumping into the air and circling up and into the air.
Ash spent a time studying it's flight. But the circle the Spearow as it moved away from him was quickly disregarded as his eyes caught a flock of bodies emerge from a canopy over the horizon.
There must have been at least a dozen bodies too it as the shadows converged into a flock. Flying at speed towards him.
"Should we run," Ash asked.
"Pi, Pi," Pikachu answered, as it began darting forwards with no heed to direction.
Ash began running too, sprinting in fact, but the Spearow's were faster.
"Pikachu," Ash shouted over the noise of furious wings, "jump on my shoulder and electrocute some of them."
"Pikachu," Pikachu roared back, in the same tone of voice it had refused Ash earlier.
It climbed his shoulder anyway. Settling down on it and Ash tried not to stumble as Pikachu began sending bolts of electricity behind them. The defense would not last. Ash was not sure how exactly it happened. Nor exactly when, the green pastures and thick trees they were fleeing through lent a sense of timelessness to themselves, but eventually a Spearow appeared over his shoulder. Ash stumbled once, and Pikachu clutched at his shoulder, sending a bolt of electricity at it too knock it from the sky. But as he did so another appeared on the other side. That one was shot down as well. Pikachu could not his the next one, and it swooped twice before Pikachu could get it. but there were already two more in front of him. The third Spearow knocked Pikachu from his shoulder.
Crashing to a stop, Ash's knees and ankles protested to him as he turned sharply. Finding Pikachu on the ground behind him. there was already several Spearow's on the ground next to him, attacking Pikachu with their beaks.
"Pikachu, no" Ash said, between deep lungful's of air. "I'll save you."
Then Ash jumped on the group of Pokémon, the leap of his body startling the birds away, and cradling Pikachu gently underneath him Ash felt more Spearows descend. Before forcing himself upwards. Ignoring the angry cries of the Spearows and with a renewed burst of energy sprinting for the nearest trees he could spot. Bursting through several trees, and dodging and weaving through thick undergrowth the Spearow's were forced overhead. Which let Ash lean against a nearby tree. While he listened intently for any Spearow's near him.
Which was when he heard a river, and with single inspired thought, ran for it. overhead he could hear the Spearow's tracking him. Coming upon the river, Ash took a single look at the open space of the embankment.
Shouting, "hold your breath to Pikachu," Ash took a single leap into the river. Disappearing under the surface.
Underneath, safely tucked away from the Spearow's for a bit, Ash took a single glance skywards before pushing off the shoal at the bottom and leaping downstream. Losing them within the torrents and foam as he moved away.
Eventually, the stream came to an end, and Ash entered into a small lake. Breaching the surface, Ash looked around, spotting a red haired yellow shirted girl looking at him stupidly.
"What are you doing in the water," the girl asked, as Ash made his way to her.
When he was out of the water he answered, truthfully, before spotting her bike. Just as the girl had spotted the Pikachu in her arms.
"Oh, a Pikachu," she said, and then she was in front of him.
"Oh, he's hurt," she said, and Ash took a moment to look at her. "Are you okay little feller?"
"Look what you've done to that poor little Pokémon." She said angrily at him.
"It needs a Pokémon Centre right away! There's one not to far from here in Viridian City," she continued, as she adopted a concerned tone, "but you've got to get moving now."
Ash nodded, before realizing he had no idea where he was.
"Can you tell me, which way do I go?"
"That way." She said, pointing at the end of the path disappearing behind the foliage of trees.
Then Ash heard a sharp cry, and turned round, a single Spearow could be seen, flying over the lake. It called again, and Ash suddenly realized their were dark shaped on the horizon.
"The Spearow are coming," he said, then looked at the girl. Who was looking at the Spearow.
"I'm boring your bike," he said, as he moved to the bike.
With a gentle shift of his hands place Pikachu into the basket at the front.
"Hey!" the girl said. "what are you doing?"
"I'm borrowing this," Ash said, as he took the girl's bike, "I'll return it later."
Then Ash hear a sound, as a flock of Spearow appeared over the canopy.
"That's my bike!"
"You should be fine if you hide," Ash said back, "there after me."
"I'll give it back later," he called over his shoulder, for he was already moving.
Then Ash pelted down the road, making pace with the approaching Spearow.
Tree's thundered past on the path, and as he flew and night grew over the horizon the only thing that Ash could here were the Spearow's behind him. Gradually catching up to him. for this was the third time today he muscles were moving with such abandon. With his teeth grit, and gentle rolling of thunder too the background of the night his legs began failing him. Sucking in great heaving gulps of air through the rain. Screaming no, no, no, no, no inside his head as he forced his body forward with his commands. The bike stumbled. Knocked loose by a rock, or a bump, Ash could not tell in the dark.
As Ash came free, and crashed into the ground, Pikachu landing in a heap next to him. He had but a moment to register what had happened before the Spearow arrived. Circling Ash and Pikachu like a great carcass. The Spearow began to gather closer.
Ash rolled himself to face Pikachu and felt a rock bite into his side. Matching eyes with the Pokémon, it was with an absent hand that Ash pulled the uncomfortable rock free from his side. Which was when the silver of it caught his eye.
"Pikachu," Ash intoned, "get inside."
Slowly, and with a great deal of pain, Pikachu shook his head, and Ash wheezed.
"Pikachu," Ash said, angry, "get inside the pokeball."
"Chu," Pikachu grunted back, just as angry.
Ash growled, "Pikachu listen to me and go inside the Pokeball."
Pikachu glared at him, and but did not protest when the Ash moved the ball closer. Pushing it as gently as he could against the top of Pikachu's head.
Nothing happened.
Ash laughed, a weak, coughing groan.
Before he rolled himself back to the Spearow's. They were within meters now.
Not wanting to lie down on his back as rain dropped straight into his eyes, and went right up his nose, Ash leaned forward. Groaning loudly before forcing himself upwards. Onto his knee's and then onto his hands. Then, mustering up his strength he launched himself upwards onto his legs.
"SPEAROWS," Ash shouted, twisting dizzily, "I'M ASH KETCHUM FROM THE TOWN OF PALLET. I'M GOING TO BECOME THE WORLD'S POKEMON MASTER I CAN'T BE DEFEATED BY THE LIKES OF YOU!"
Ash forced himself to stop spinning.
"I'M GOING TO CAPTURE YOU ALL!" he shouted, "YOU HEAR ME!"
Then quieter, more desperately, "Pikachu go inside the Pokeball, it's the only way."
COME AND GET ME!" Ash shouted in finality, as the Spearows attacked.
Ash did not feel when Pikachu climbed up his legs, heading at speed for his shoulder. He did not feel it when he leapt off, all he saw, as he stumbled and shouted in pain, was the greatest of Thundershock's to date. Released with no real target, the bolt of lightning scattered around them in a wide arc. Weaving around and through the Spearow's in the flock.