Chapter One: Pikachu, I choose you!

*Ring, ring, ring*

Ugh, why the hell did I put my alarm clock on the other side of the room? Oh yeah, I usually break them if they're close to me, Ashlyn thought to herself.

Jumping up from her bed, she went over and turned off the alarm. She got dressed for the day.

She wore a white t-shirt with a thick black vest and a hood to hide her figure, green cameo jeans and black running shoes. She tucked her hair into her green cabby hat. Her bangs covered her eyes. All in all, she looked like a boy and a black sheep boy at that.

She put up her hood, grabbed her bag, and put her backpack on.

Heading downstairs, she stopped and sweat dropped at the sight in the kitchen. Delia Ketchum was sitting on one side of the kitchen table, which was loaded with a feast.

"Morning, sweetie! I made all your favorite foods for breakfast today!" Delia said, smiling.

On the table were plates of food: scrambled eggs, tofu, sausage, pancakes, blueberry muffins, and orange juice.

"Ah... that's great, Mom, but do you think we could pack some of this to go so I'm not late?"

"Of course. You just eat while I get the Tupperware."

Ashlyn ate her fill, put the leftovers in the duffel bag, then ran to Prof. Oak's lab. Fifteen feet from the entrance she stopped.

Breathing in, she gathered the energy within in her then used it to see what was ahead of her. Gary Oak gathered a lot of people for his grand send off. That big ego of his will get him in trouble one day, she thought as she cut off her sight and jogged to the lab.

Ignoring the crowd at the entrance, she ran up the steps and into the lab. She went straight to the room where new trainers get their Pokemon.

Gary and Prof. Oak were both in the room.

"Ah! Good morning, Ash. You're right on time," Prof. Oak said, calling Ashlyn by her old nickname.

"Hey there, Ashy-boy! Took you long enough. What happened, you sleep late," Gary said. Yes, Gary thought Ash was a boy. Actually, all the kids Ashlyn's age and younger thought she was a boy. Only the adults of Pallet, along with a few older kids, knew she was a girl.

Ashlyn didn't respond to Gary because she'd long ago given up on talking to the big-headed boy. Not talking to Gary after he spoke to her made him annoyed which amused Ashlyn.

"Gary Oak! How many times do I have to tell you not to tease other people?" Professor Oak scolded his grandson. "Gary, you'll have to take Squirtle as two other trainers took Charmander and Bulbasaur. Ash I have a Pokemon for you; he's a bit difficult to handle so I thought you'd be a good trainer to give him to." Professor Oak said, handing Gary Squirtle's Pokeball, 5 empty Pokeballs, and a Pokedex.

"Ha! As if Ashy-boy could handle a difficult Pokemon! He'll come back crying for a different one in no time! See ya, Gramps, Ashy-boy," Gary said cockily as he left. The two left in the room just shook their heads at his behavior.

"He really is as dense as we believed. I just know his 'my grandpa is a famous Pokemon professor and my sister Daisy was a Spring Pokemon Contest Grand Champion so I'm destined for greatness' ego will get him in trouble someday. You did mention to him that I've been your volunteer aide since I was four, right?"

"Yes, but this information went in one ear and out the other."

"Then it's his problem if he doesn't learn much. So what Pokemon am I getting and why exactly is it so difficult to handle?" Ashlyn asked.

Prof. Oak handed Ashlyn a Pokeball with a little lightning symbol on it. Letting the Pokemon inside out, she saw that it was the electric mouse Pokemon, Pikachu.

"Well, he looks healthy," Ashlyn said, looking at the Professor. "Then what's-" a sparking sound reached her ears in time for her to dodge a Thundershock attack from said Pikachu.

"As you just saw, this Pikachu has, pardon the pun, an electrifying personality! It'd be a bad idea to send him with any trainer so I chose you."

Pikachu and Ashlyn stared at each other for a moment... "Yeah, I'll take him. I may not be a Pokemon Ranger like my mom was, but I can still connect my feelings to my Pokemon."

Professor Oak nodded before handing Ashlyn five empty Pokeballs, and her Pokedex. Ashlyn put her Pokeballs in her pouch, the Pokedex in her vest pocket, and hooked Pikachu's Pokeball to her belt.

"So, would you like to ride on my shoulder, or walk?"

Pikachu huffed before jumping to the ground, signaling he'd walk.

"Oh! And this was sent here for you by your grandfather." Professor Oak gave Ashlyn a package wrapped in plain brown paper. "Your father's father I believe. I wonder why he keeps sending the packages here instead of your house?"

Ashlyn packed it in her backpack glad both her bags were water-proof. Then, both Pikachu and Ash left Pallet Town.

...

Stopping in a field near the forest and sitting down looking at Pikachu, Ashlyn got out her Pokedex.

"Pikachu, the electric mouse Pokemon. It has small electric sacs on both it's cheeks. If threatened it looses electric charges from the sacs."

Putting the Pokedex away, she watched Pikachu climb into a tree. Ashlyn decided it was time to try and use her second talent to try and bond with Pikachu. She sat and listened. To the average person Pikachu was speaking in it's own language that humans wouldn't normally understand, but Ashlyn wasn't normal.

Humph! First I get caught, then I'm given to a boy with a girly name! Talk about humiliating! The Pikachu said.

Ashlyn left her bags on the ground and walked up to the tree. "Actually, I'm a girl. I just don't feel comfortable walking around dressed like one. What's your name?"

Pikachu nearly fell out of the tree in shock. Bolt... my name's Bolt. And how are you able to understand me?

*Sigh* "I'm not actually what most would call normal." Ashlyn turned around when she heard something near her duffel bag. She saw a purple curly tail sticking out from her bag. She quickly gathered the blue energy into her fist and used it to hit the Pokemon. The Pokemon was knocked out of her bag and slammed into a nearby tree.

Rattata, and it looks like a young one, Ash thought quickly before throwing a Heal Ball at the young Pokemon. The Rattata was caught.

What was that? What was that blue glow on your hands? Bolt asked.

"I think my grandfather called it "aura" once in a letter to me. There may be another letter in the package, but I'll read that when we get to the first city."

What city is that?

"Viridian City. It's right up the path we're taking. Bolt, will you try battling with me?"

Hmm... I guess I'll try. But I get to pick the Pokemon!

"Alright. Just let me check the Pokedex for Rattata's data." Ashlyn said, taking out said Pokedex.

"Rattata, the Rat Pokemon. They are common. They will bite anything and attack with their sharp teeth."

Look, a Pidgey! Bolt said. Ashlyn only had enough time to turn and point the Pokedex at the Pokemon before it flew off.

"Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokemon. Pidgey are gentle creatures and would rather avoid battle."

Dang. Missed it. Okay, I'll get the next one. Bolt said, looking around. His ears twitched and he fired a Thundershock attack. The Pokemon that came out wasn't a Pidgey.

"Spearow, the Tiny Bird Pokemon. This little bird has a ferocious temper. This Pokemon travels in flocks and will attack as one if a member is threatened."

"Oh, that's not good. Bolt, let's run!" Ash said as they took off in the direction of Viridian City with a flock of Spearow following them. Ash glanced quickly behind them. "Crud!"

What?

"The Spearow have a Fearow in their flock!"

Double crud! Bolt said as they sped up and ran past a bridge and into a red-haired girl.

"Hey! Watch it!" said the girl. Ashlyn took hold of her duffel bag and shoved it at the red-head.

"Take my bag over to the Viridian Pokemon Center and I'll pick it up as soon as I get there!" Ashlyn said as the girl took the bag. Ashlyn and Bolt ran from the flock of angry birds for nearly two hours with a heavy rainstorm that began an hour after the chase had started. The size of the flock had dwindled to about 12 Spearow and the Fearow. Ashlyn knew she had to do something soon.

"Bolt, fire out a Thundershock attack while it's still raining! It'll do twice the damage! Trust me, it'll save our hides!"

'Kay, Bolt said as Ashlyn turned so they were facing the flock. Jumping off of Ash's shoulder he let out the strongest Thundershock he could manage. The flock took a big amount of damage. Taking an Ultra Ball out of her pouch, she threw it at the Fearow and caught it. With the Fearow caught the Spearow left. Ash and Bolt sat on the ground and looked up at the sky as the storm cleared. They both watched as a rainbow bird Pokemon flew off into the distance. They looked at each other then smiled. No words needed. Bolt got onto Ash's shoulder as she got the Fearow's Pokeball and continued their journey to Viridian City.

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