Nameless
Chapter One
The boy is late to everything. It's a fact that the old professor of Kanto had long come to terms with. Even today, the day of the journey, the boy is late.
Professor Oak chuckles, shaking his head slightly. When will that boy learn?
A slam from the laboratory's entrance and a yell.
"I'm here to get my pokemon!"
The professor winces, knowing what this means to the boy.
"Very well. Follow me, please."
The boy is disheveled, probably due to a lack of sleep. The professor wonders briefly how much his mother had to drug the boy before he slept.
Three small spheres rise slowly from inside a capsule, fog filling the air dramatically. Damn assistants and their affection for the dramatic. This never happened under Leaf...
The drama, despite the professor's internal cursing, is achieved. The boy's amber eyes are saucers as the three red and white spheres roll into their slots.
"Today is a special day, a day which you will remember for the rest of your days. Today, you start your journey into adulthood. Today, you will meet your partner."
The professor clears his throat, drawing the boy's attention.
"In each of these spheres is a pokemon. Choose carefully, for the one you choose will be bound to you by fate."
The boy reaches for the first of the spheres, one marked with a small blue sticker. He pushes the button on the sphere. It opens, a futile puff of air greeting him.
"I'm sorry, but Squirtle was taken by a boy who was on time."
Panicking slightly, but not terribly frightened, the boy grabs the second sphere. The red ball marked with a green sticker opens, the same puff of air dashing the boy's hopes.
"I'm afraid Bulbasaur was given to a girl who wasn't late."
Desperately, the boy grabs the third and opens it. The sphere with the flame sticker opens, a wince crossing the boy's face.
"The early bird catches the worm, I'm afraid. Charmander was taken by a boy who listened to his alarm clock."
Forlorn, the boy's eyes watch his toes. The professor shakes his head, frowning.
"Look... I'm not supposed to do this, but how badly do you want a pokemon?"
In an instant, the boy is looking into the professor's eyes with pleading amber orbs.
"More than anything."
"I thought as much. Please don't hate me, but it's the only pokemon I have left."
Professor Oak smiles sadly as he hands a worn pokeball to the boy. The child runs his fingers across the chipping gold paint.
"Raising this pokemon will be a challenge. I guarantee that you will lose almost every battle you fight."
The boy looks at the professor.
"You didn't..."
Gold flakes of paint fall to the ground as the pokeball opens. A small red fish splashes about on the floor.
"Would you like to name your magikarp?"
The light fades from Ash's eyes.
"Nameless."
"Delia-"
"Don't you 'Delia' me, Sam. You crushed my son's spirit, you know."
"It had to be done."
"No, it really didn't! I wanted my little Ashy to go out into the world with a pokemon to keep him safe, and you gave him an Arceus damned magikarp!"
"I only gave it to him because I know he can train it! Delia, I love that boy like my own son."
"Well, he isn't your son, is he? He's mine, and you crushed him!"
"Delia-"
"You crushed him!"
"I didn't mean to! He's also his father's son, Delia. Don't forget that. If anyone can train a magikarp, it's Ash."
"...I know, Sam. It's just that I worry about him..."
"He's just like his father, Delia. I doubt you have a need to worry."
"If he's just like his father, then I have every need to worry."
A knock on the door of the house snaps the boy out of his stupor. He groans before moving to open the door. Professor Oak smiles down at the boy apologetically.
"Hello, Ash. May I come in?"
The boy steps to the side.
"Thank you."
He sits in a chair in the den.
"Ash, I've come to apologize. The truth is that I believe you can train your magikarp-"
"Nameless."
"Nameless, then- to its full potential. However, I realize that I may have been cruel."
The young child stares at the elderly man, unamused.
"There is... another pokemon. I would like you to take it."
"You told me Nameless was the only one you had."
"Yes, and I was lying. The other pokemon is one I recently caught. It is... wild."
"Go away."
"W-what?"
"Go away!"
"Why?"
"You gave me a damned magikarp, Professor, and you had another pokemon all along!"
"Well, yes, but I thought that-"
"You thought wrong! Just go away..."
"...Fine. Take the pokedex, though."
"Whatever."
The boy with the raven black hair glares out at the plains of Route One, a hat with the emblem of the Pokemon League placed on his crown. He stares down at the small gold-plated pokeball angrily before chucking it and releasing the small pokemon from within.
"Karp karp!"
"Damned fish."
"Kaaarp."
He glares at the fish before pointing a small red device at it.
"Magikarp, the Fish Pokemon. A magikarp living for many years can leap a mountain using Splash. The move, much like the pokemon known for using it, remains useless, however. This magikarp, nicknamed Nameless, belongs to Ash Ketchum."
"Move known is splash. Gender is male."
"Why did Professor Oak even bother giving me a pokemon?"
Ash grimaces at the fish.
"Hey, Ashy-boy!" calls a voice familiar to him. He winces, recognizing his rival's voice.
"Gary..."
"Ha! I always knew you were a loser, and what do you know? I was right!" sneers Gary.
"Shut up, Gary."
"Nah, I like this." The boy smirks and crosses his arms. "I've always been better than you, Ashy-boy."
"I..."
"What? Meowth got your tongue?"
The two boys glare at each other.
"I... I challenge you to a battle!"
Gary cackles loudly, continuing to smirk at Ash's declaration.
"Why should I even bother? We both know you'll get crushed. Oh well... Who am I to reject a challenge?"
He throws a pokeball, red light condensing into the form of a blue turtle.
"Squirtle!"
"Nameless... Prepare for battle."
The fish splashes its way to a spot in front of Ash.
"Karp!"
"Squirtle, tackle attack!"
The turtle runs at the magikarp, hitting the fish head first.
"Nameless, splash."
Ash grimaces again as the fish hops into the air uselessly. Damned Professor. Why'd he have to give me such a useless pokemon?
Gary laughs as he calls out the next command: "Squirtle, tackle again!"
"Nameless, splash."
The fish, using splash, hops over the slightly stunned aquatic turtle. Landing again, the magikarp continues to splash uselessly in the dirt.
"Squirtle, bubble. End poor Ashy-boy's sadness."
Squirtle stops moving to blow a single bubble at the fish. It floats through the air slowly, tauntingly, mockingly. Ash growls at Gary, knowing the attack is meant as a taunt.
"Nameless, splash again."
The raven haired boy starts in surprise as the magikarp flies into the sky.
"Hahaha, I shoulda known that you would get the only magikarp who'd flee from battle. Squirtle, take a small break. The stupid fish'll faint when it hits the ground, anyways."
Both pokemon and trainer laugh at Ash's misfortune. The boy drops his head, barely able to acknowledge his loss.
"Magi... KARP!"
All three of the land-bound creatures look up at the cry, astounded by the fish's velocity. A red streak slams into the turtle from above, dust covering the entrance to Route One.
Gary continues to laugh as Ash runs into the cloud of dirt. "Amusing as that was, there's no way that fish is still conscious."
"Karp... karp..."
Immediately, the laughter stops.
"No," gasps Ash's rival, "it can't be."
"Squirtle's unconscious, Gary. You lose."
"Impossible!"
Route One no longer intimidates the raven haired boy with a slightly thicker wallet than before. No, the boy feels invincible, and he owes it all to the fish; his fish. He smiles, tossing the gold-plated sphere into the air, catching it as it returns.
He sees a glimmer from the corner of his eye, glancing into the sky. A majestic golden bird flies across, leaving behind a rainbow trail. Ash smiles, stepping forward.
A single step onto the route, and he knows that he'll succeed. Nothing can stand in his way.
The cry of a spearow strikes the boy, sending him rushing down the dirt path of the route. Route One is known for the flock of vicious spearow, a fact that the boy had forgotten in his haste to leave.
Spearow are extremely territorial beasts, prone to violence at minor infractions. This particular flock is especially violent due to an unrestrained reign over the territory. Every trainer the league sends to fight them off ends up missing.
He runs, knowing that his fish would not last against a single spearow, much less an entire flock. The only hope for survival lies with the flight from danger.
The boy glances at the sky as thunder booms. He winces.
As if this situation could get any worse.
The rain starts to fall, the sudden torrent of water drenching the boy. Ash swears at his situation.
Briars scratch his legs as he runs into the forest, the cries of spearow accompanying him. Closer and closer they come, the boy's plight futile.
The birds dive at him, talons reaching for the boy's skin. He ducks one only to be scratched by another. Blood runs down his back as he continues to run, staining his jacket with his life.
He slips in the mud, sliding closer to the edge of a cliff. A split second decision sends the trainer over the edge and into the depths of the murky river.
End Chapter One