Inside a small house, inside a small town named Pallet, lived a family of two. Mother and Son.
Given the town's tiny population, they were well-known. Delia and Ash Ketchum, having lived there since the latter was born ten years ago.
Ash also had a reputation entirely his own, however, being named a 'menace ' and 'troublemaker' throughout the trainer's school he attended. But, on the upside, he was also known for his love of Pokemon and penchant for adventure. Both could be considered good or bad, often both during school hours.
Due to the former, though, his other traits were overshadowed. He didn't have many friends, aside from stray Pokemon who often sought him out for petting or food, but his journey would change that.
Speaking of, said journey was quickly approaching. So quickly, in-fact, that it was today.
Today was Ash's eleventh birthday, the customary age for children around the world to get their Pokemon-trainers liscense. Such a thing meant they could legally own a Pokemon themselves, battle, and go on their journeys, which were a turning point in many people's lives.
And Ash, given the excitement that bad kept him awake late last night, was still asleep.
He stirred with a grumble, nestled warmly under his sky-blue covers. The morning light shine through the curtains he's forgotten to close, directly onto his face and eyes, which had scrunched up in annoyance.
He didn't want to be awake, yet. He'd been having a wonderful dream, about to pick his starter in the form of—wait.
He shot up, gasping awake as his eyes widened to dinner plates. His starter, of course!
"Oh no!" He exclaimed, honey-brown eyes frantically darting around in search of any clue to the time. "What time is it!?"
Thankfully, he found one quickly in the form of his pokeball-clock. 8:02, it read.
He breathed an audible sigh of relief, shoulders sagging as he stared at the time. It flicked to 8:03, and he let out a laugh. He dropped back down to the mattress with a thud!
His heart thumped in his chest, coming down from it's racing pace. He'd been so scared, for a moment, but thankfully he wasn't late. He was actually up at exactly the right time, with an hour to spare.
After a moment, in which his eyes became heavy and started to slip closed, he regained the sense to sit back up. He couldn't fall asleep, he couldn't! Not today!
Therefore, he pushed himself to stand up, eyes lingering longingly on the still-warm mess of covers. He shook it off quickly, forcing his eyes away and switching his focus to clothes. He made quick work of getting ready, at least, choosing a black T-shirt, blue jeans and a blue vest-coat. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, he took a red and white cap off his bedside and fit it over his mess of spiky black hair.
Why was it so important, you may ask? Well, it was quite special in various ways; for one, he won it in a contest, being the first to phone in and answer a question (about Pokemon, too! Ash was bound to be the victor). Two, only a hundred copies were made - a hundred!
Therefore, it was a must-have for his soon-approaching journey.
Dressed and ready, Ash grinned brightly as he looked in the full-length mirror. He looked 'smart', as his mother would put it, and 'cool' as he would.
Speaking of, as if summoned by her son's thoughts, a knock sounded on the hardwood door. His mother's voice came quickly after.
"Ash?" She said, turning the doorknob and opening it a crack. Met with the sight of her son, fully dressed and already full of energy, she smiled warmly.
"Awh, honey!" She cooed, earning a red-faced Ash at the tone. "You look so cute!"
Ash, who now has his eyes on the coral-pink, carpeted floor, groaned. "Mooomm!"
Delia chuckled, giving an apologetic smile. "Sorry, sorry, Honey, you just look…" she paused, eyes crinkling with an even wider smile. "Adorable!"
"Mom!" Ash repeated, indignant and red. "I'm not 'adorable'! I'm a Pokemon trainer, ready for his journey!"
Delia muffled a laugh, to which Ash pouted. Once she'd stoooed, she sighed. "I'm sorry, Honey, really." She apologised. Ash looked up, meeting her eyes as he sensed a motherly-talk coming. "You are a trainer, I know. It's just…such a big day - who knows how long it'll be before I even see you again?"
Ash's annoyance faltered, at this, making way for guilt this. "I'll still call, Mom!" He reassured quickly, giving a small smile of his own. "And i'll come back to visit, every gym, promise!"
Delia''s smile became a little less sad, but Ash continued.
"Well, maybe not every gym," Ash quickly added, having realised how long a treck that would be around the third. Unless he could get a flying Pokemon, but that'd take time… "But i'll visit, swear!"
Delia simply nodded, pulling him in for a hug. She trusted her son, despite his forgetfulness, and knew he would stick to his promise.
After a moment, she pulled away, giving a smile. She looked at Ash's digital clock. "Well'," she started "how about we have breakfast? You have more than half an hour to go, after all."
Ash checked the clock, too, then turned back and nodded enthusiastically.
Soon enough, Ash was digging in hastily to a pile of pancakes while Delia ate hers at a leisure pace. She was honestly worried at one point, though, not even seeing Ash chewing.
But thankfully, her son did not choke. By the time they were done it was 8:49, 11 minutes to go. Ash decided to set out early, grabbing his green rucksack which he quickly packed.
The rest of his things were simple; a Pokemon typing-guide-book, some black and green fingerless gloves, clothes, underwear (which his mother made sure of, embarrassingly enough), and an empty like all he'd been waiting to use.
And then, with a kiss goodbye and a hug, Ash was off.
—
He arrived at the lab near immediately after leaving the door, it being only a house away.
The building was…quaint, he supposed? It still looked like a lab, but fit into Pallete town's cozy feel. It stood out, but not extremely so, being about the height of his house but doubled in length.
Outside, as Ash approached, he saw two other trainers. One was a girl from school, with sandy-brown hair and light skin, who's name he couldn't remember; the other, to his extreme annoyance, was Gary Oak.
He should've expected it, really. Gary was the grandson of the Professor, surely going to have first-pick of the starters. Regardless, it didn't stop him from groaning aloud.
It caught Gary's attention, unfortunately. The boy grinned when he saw him, placing a hand on his hip.
"Well, well," he started, sounding cocky as ever. "Didn't think you'd show up, Ashy-boy."
Ash glared, eyes narrowing. "Yeah? Well-" he came up short. "Well, um…shut up!"
Gary laughed. "Really? That's the best you can do?" He asked, them huffed amusedly through his nose. "I'm telling you, just go home now. 'Pops doesn't wanna waste a starter on you."
Ash's face burned hot, scrambling for a retort.
Thankfully, before the silence could stretch and Ash could get redder (which he didn't think possible), the door opened and all eyes turned to it.
Professor Oak stood inside, smiling. "Ah, good, you're all here. Early, too." He remarked, eyes scanning the trio. When he saw Ash, they flickered with surprise. "Let's go inside, shall we?"
They did, door shutting behind them. Ash and the girl looked around in awe, having never seen the inside in person; Gary just grinned, clearly having been here many times.
Everything inside - save for books and shelves - was white. White walls, white-tiles on both the floor and ceiling, and a white light illuminating the building.
Therefore, anything with colour grabbed their attention. There were many books, mainly Pokemon and science-based as you'd expect, but on a table, at the end of the room, were three balls with bright-red tops.
Ash's eyes lit up at the sight, same for the other two, and he rushed over. He was stopped by Professorr Oak right before he could grab one.
"Now, Ash," He started giving, Ash a firm stare. The boy gave a sheepish grin. "We must take turns; Gary goes first."
Ash muttered a small 'of course he is', begrudgingly letting Gary shove past him without audible complaint.
The boy, once he got to the table, looked over the three balls. After a moment, he grinned and picked one up, pressing the button to open it.
Out flew red energy, directing toward the ground and taking the shape of a mass. It quickly retreated inwards to another more defined shape, fading out until other colours were revealed. Blue and brown.
"Squirt?" It said, looking up with deep brown eyes. Gary grinned wider, getting down in one knee to talk to it. He did so hushedly, shooting Ash a side-glance every single often.
The Squirtle seemed to warm quickly, eagerly accepting his trainer. Ash felt a spike of jealousy, seeing his rival be so skilled with his first Pokemon, especially the one he himself wanted!
But no matter; there were two left, and he wouldn't mind either. Plus, he'd be just as good with his Pokemon - better than Gary!
But, slightly worryingly, the girl went next. Turns out, her name was Lia. She repeated the process, thinking it over then releasing her pick and befriending it. She chose Bulbasaur.
That left only one. Not his first or second pick, but still. His enthusiasm, despite having dipped after his two choices were taken, returned tenfold as he opened the last ball.
"Char?" It said as the energy faded, looking up. It's eyes were black, tinted blue. Ash knelt down like Gary and Lia had, putting his hand out. The lizard-Pokemon eyed it skeptically, then looked up at him.
"Hey, buddy." He started quietly, glancing at Gary to make sure he couldn't hear. He bit back a grin when he saw Gary getting annoyed as he had. His attention retuned to the Charmander. "I'm Ash Ketchum, from Pallet town."
Charmander tilted it's - his, her? - head, and he elaborated. "That's where we are right now - guess you might not've seen it, being cooped up in a ball and all…"
He looked over to the device in question, Charmander's eyes following. It looked sad, at the mention. Ash gave an apologetic look.
"You didn't like it, did you?" He asked, quiet. Charmander shook it's head. "Yeah, i guessed…must'a been hard, right? Being caught?" A Char of agreeement. Ash nodded, understanding. For whatever reason, he felt a strong connection with the Pokemon already. "But I cant release you. Or, I can, but…I think we'd be great partners, don't you?"
The Charmander met his eyes, and he continued. "My dream is to become a Pokemon master," he grinned as he said so. His enthusiasm seemed to rub off in the Pokemon, who gave an enthusiastic Mander! "And, if you want, you could help me. We'll go on a journey together, me and you."
A moment of pause, before the Charmander nodded eagerly with a small smile. "Char!"
Ash grinned wider than every before. In a quick series of movement, he picked the Pokemon up and stood, pulling to his chest. The fire of its tail didn't burn his skin.
"Yeah! We're gonna be best buddies, Charmander!" He said, lifting it once again to meet its eyes.
Charmander, by the glint in it's eyes, found itself agreeing.
—
Today, Ash's journey begins. This time, unlike others (which he doesn't know of), alongside Charmander.