So, Ash is starting his journey now. Some things in the beginning might seem very similar, but in later chapters it will deviate immensely.

Already, some of the ways that Ash thinks about Pokémon are very different.

This is kind of a filler, to get us to the real changes and action to come.

Thank you to CharmedMilliE and afeleon276 for reviewing, and thanks to everyone who added this story to favorites and/or alerts.

Italics are translated Pokémon speech.

Ash sighed and looked down at the angry Pikachu behind him as he wandered down the path away from Pallet Town.

"I will not be put into a cage!" it snarled at him, red cheeks puffing out small electric shocks in it's anger.

"Then I won't use the Pokeball. Alright?" he asked his first-ever Pokémon. He didn't want to own a Pokémon, but his Mama told him he could make friends, and they wouldn't be owned, but companions.

Pikachu froze, it's brown eyes widening. "You speak?"

Ash nodded. He'd never forgotten. Mama took him to habitats and preserves all of the time to make sure that he remembered that part of his past. "Before Mama took care of me as a hatchling, Pokémon did. I don't want to own you. I want to be friends."

Pikachu thought about that, coming up beside the boy. "I'll think about it. No cage?"

"No cage." Ash promised. "My name is Ash. Pika-pi." He told the young Pokémon.

"Pikachu." It responded,

Ash grinned. "Nice to meet you, Pikachu."

They came across a Pidgey next, and the conversation went well until the Pidgey saw one of his Pokeballs and flipped out, flying away.

"No, wait!" Ash cursed. "Stupid Pokeball. I told Professor Oak that I didn't want them." He snapped, unclipping one off of his belt and resizing it. He stared at it for a long moment and put it back onto his belt. With a yell, he picked up a rock and threw it into the forest.

He heard it thud, and frowned, looking up. He paled rapidly as he saw a Spearow swoop down in a rage.

"Battle it." Pikachu advised. "Fight as a human fights, using Pokémon."

Ash shook his head as he dove out of the way of the attacking Spearow. "I won't use Pokémon against each other unless they agree to it. Please stop!"

But the Spearow was too angry to listen, and flew toward him again, screaming insulting words at him. Pikachu shocked him to keep him away, wondering where the instinct came from to protect this human. He wondered why this human was so special.

Then, a whole flock rose up from the trees and descended on the two. Ash gulped, grabbed Pikachu, and started running, but they kept getting hit. He jumped down a waterfall to avoid them and, hopefully, lose them.

Underwater, he saw a bobbing ball on a string above him, and grabbed it, using it to haul himself to the surface, one hand firmly wrapped around Pikachu. A hard pull from the other side sent him flying out of the water and onto the shore.

"Oh, it's only a stupid kid." A female voice complained. Ash tensed and stared up at the red-head as she began cooing over Pikachu.

"Get him to the Pokémon Center in Viridian City! He's hurt." She was saying when his brain began making sense of her words again.

He nodded. "Right." He grabbed her bike. "I need to borrow this! I'll give it back, someday!" he shouted back to her, putting Pikachu in the basket on the bicycle and peddling away furiously.
The Spearows found them a few minutes later, and Ash hit a rock on his "borrowed" bike. He and Pikachu were thrown to the ground.

He placed Pikachu's Pokeball in front of the electric mouse and stood between him and the attacking Pokémon. "I am Ash Ketchum, and I protect my friends! Attack me if you must, but leave my friend alone!" He didn't even realize that he was speaking in the Pokémon language.

Pikachu's eyes widened, and he forced himself to his feet. "I believe you. I will come with, and we can be friends." Pikachu whispered to Ash. Ash glanced back, eyebrows draw together in confusion. Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder and then into the air, crying, "Pika-chu!" and releasing a Thunder attack, driving the Spearows away and knocking both him and Ash to the ground.

Pikachu licked his cheek. "Friends." Pikachu told Ash as Ash lay looking at him.

"We won. They're gone." Ash murmured.

"Yes." Pikachu agreed as Ash stood and picked him up

And then Ash started to run.

He glanced up and saw a bird-like Pokémon flying over the rainbow forming as the clouds parted. He didn't take the time to appreciate it, though, and kept running for Viridian City with his new friend, Pikachu, lying exhausted in his arms, leaving the charred bike behind.

So, I hope this wasn't too bad. As always, reviews are wonderful, even if they're just one word. Constructive criticism is good as well, and flames will be used to like fireworks. Pretty.

If you want more of Ash growing up, let me know and I'll see what I can do.