Chapter 1: Pokémon - I Choose You!
Hey everybody, it's me, and wow, I can't believe I'm doing this again after failing in 2019.Cloud4012 and I really needed a break from "Starting Thing's Differently" because it was just wearing us down with planning and different ideas and stuff that wouldn't work.So we thought to once again create our own Pokémon Anime rewrite to settle it and maybe perhaps replace "STD." I know it has its fans, and we just passed the 1-year anniversary, but things happen, and we get burned out. I literally had a meltdown not too long ago, trying to write, so please understand.
This was heavily inspired by Anarchy-Gale's "Rising Ash - An Anime ReWrite" and Star-Eyes Pendulum Dragon's "Pokémon Ash the legendary Rainbow Hero" stories and I happen to be a fan of both so check them out if you like.
With that out of the way, hope you enjoy.
Chapter 1: Pokémon - I Choose You!
Two creatures stood opposite one another, facing off in battle. These creatures were Pokémon called Nidorino and Gengar.
Nidorino resembled either a rabbit or a rhinoceros, was colored light purple, standing on all fours with spines on its back and a long, pointed horn on its forehead. While Gengar was dark purple with a rounded body made of gas and a sinister expression on its face. Nidorino charged at Gengar, who easily dodged and ducked past every of the Poison Type's advances.
"And Nidorino begins the match with a Horn Attack!" Said an announcer as the camera zoomed out to reveal the Pokémon were fighting on a battlefield of a stadium with millions of people watching, cheering with excitement.
Gengar hops over another last strike and plants its feet on Nidorino to leap to the other side of the field. "Oh, but Gengar bounces right back! And there it is, folks! The Hypnosis power of Gengar!" Gengar holds its hands up, releasing energy waves that struck past Nidorino, making it feel drowsy as it begins to wobble before eventually falling over, sleeping.
"This could be the end for Nidorino, but wait! What's this?!" Taking out a green and white spherical, the trainer calls back Nidorino with a red beam, shooting out, turning Nidorino into energy. "The trainer has called back Nidorino. What Pokemon will he choose now?" Taking out a Pokeball the trainer threw it, releasing a giant rock snake Pokemon. "And it's Onix!"
The fearsome Rock Snake Pokémon roared loudly at its opponent before its trainer, a muscular man who was shirtless and wore only martial arts pants, commanded it to attack. Onix charged in and slammed its head into the ground, knocking Gengar in the air in the process.
On Gengar's side of the field was an elderly woman in the purple dress, balancing on her cane, who did not seem disturbed at all and ordered an attack from Gengar. The Ghost-type Pokémon obeyed and fired an orange energy beam from its mouth, striking Onix and knocking it to the ground.
"Gengar used Hyper Beam and hit Onix, but it wasn't enough to take it out!" Onix reeled its head up and slammed its body onto the ground, sending a wave of bluish-white energy towards Gengar. "Onix retaliated with an explosive and super-effective Fissure attack! But Gengar looks like it's still ready for more!" Gengar got back up on its feet, albeit bruised, not wanting to quit.
"Oh man, this year's battle is intense!" Zooming out we see the battle was being watched on a TV screen.
The voice came from a young man in his early teens with tealish black hair, brown eyes with jolt-like markings below them, and fair skin.
He wore a blue short-sleeved jacket with gold trim, a white collar, and sleeves; a dark teal T-shirt; blue jeans with light blue cuffs; black and white sneakers with red dots; green fingerless gloves with light green borders; and a red and white hat with a green stylized 'L.'
This was Ash Ketchum, a boy who resided in Pallet Town.
You see when a child turns 10 they are able to finally get their first Pokemon and travel the region and Ash was finally old enough to start his journey. Needless to say, he was excited.
"Tomorrow is the day I'm finally able to get my Trainer's license and become an official Pokémon Trainer!" Ash exclaimed, pumping himself up as he turned his hat backwards, and grabbed an alarm clock that resembled a Pokéball from his shelf. "I will journey across the land to gain the wisdom of Pokémon training, and I hereby declare to all of the Pokémon in the world that I, Ash Ketchum, will be the greatest Pokémon Trainer, no, the greatest Pokémon Master of all time!" He said, raising the ball high. "That's what I aim to-"
"ASH! Get to bed!"
Yelping Ash's grip on the ball loosened.
Flying across the room, a woman with brown hair, a pink shirt, and blue skirt caught it revealing the ball was actually an alarm clock. This was Delia Ketchum, Ash's mother.
"It's 11 o'clock and you should be asleep." She said.
Ash cringed at the sight of her stern gaze. "But Mom, tomorrow I start my Pokémon journey; I can't sleep!"
Delia sighed, knowing her son was just too excited at the moment. "Well, you should at least watch something that could help you get ready, and those seasonal League exhibition matches aren't the answer," she said, scooping up the remote to change to another channel (much to Ash's dismay), featuring an elderly man in a red shirt and a lab coat. "Here, Professor Oak's lecture is playing right now. Once it's over, go straight to bed, understand?"
"Oh alright." Ash sighs knowing this was the best he could get.
"And be sure to change into your pajamas." Delia said, closing the door.
Turning his attention back to the television, Ash watched as the man giving the lecture was renowned Pokémon researcher Professor Oak, the man who would be giving him his first Pokémon the next morning.
Professor Oak, pointing to three large pictures on the wall behind him, said, "These three, are the three Pokémon that beginning trainers may choose between to start their journey with." He then continued, "The first one is the fire type, Charmander." He pointed to an orange lizard-like Pokémon that was standing on two feet and had a flame on the tip of its tail. "The second one is the water type, Squirtle." He gestured to a blue turtle with an orange and yellow shell. "And the third one is the grass type, Bulbasaur." He gestured to a blue frog-like Pokémon with a large green bulb on its back.
"Oh man, which one of those am I going to choose?" Ash asks himself.
Once the program finished, Ash went to sleep like he promised. BUt that question was still stuck in his head even as he was sleeping.In his dreams, Ash imagined himself having each of the starter Pokémon and using them in battles.
"Charmander...Squirtle...Bulbasaur," Ash murmured in his sleep as he imagined himself holding a Pokéball. In reality, he was reaching for his Pokéball-shaped alarm clock. "I...choose...you!" He threw it and the alarm clock sailed across the room to smash against the wall. The noise barely registered in Ash's mind; he merely mumbled "Either would be perfect..." in his sleep and rolled over onto his side.
The next morning, the sun was high in the air as a Dodrio played the role of a rooster and as it cried through the air Ash woke up.
"Huh?! What the?" Looking at his destroyed clock, Ash panics. "Oh no! What time is it?!"
Throwing off the covers, Ash quickly jumped out of bed and got his shoes on.
He ran out of the house, not even realizing or caring that he was still in his pajamas and had gotten stares from the neighbors.
Ash didn't care; he had to hurry to make it to the laboratory post-haste!
'Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur… any one of them would be perfect, just please save one for me!'
At the top of the hill, near a big building with a windmill, a whole crowd of people and a few cheerleaders were waiting out front.
"Gary! Gary!" They chanted when Ash ran through.
"Excuse me! Pardon me!" Ash said, trying to get through the crowd only to bump into someone and fall backwards.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" snapped a tall, thin young man of Ash's age, with light skin, brown eyes, and tall, brown spiky hair. He wore a long purple shirt, dark gray pants, a yin and yang necklace, and brown boots with black straps encircling them.
He looked down at the person who had bumped into him and chuckled, "Well, well, look who finally decided to show up, little Ash Ketchum. Better late than ever, but at least you came to see me off." He sneered, which made Ash groan in disgust at him.
"Morning to you too, Gary." He said, as he stood up.
"Mr Gary to you. Well Ash you snooze you lose and you're way behind right from the start. I got a Pokemon and you don't." Gary smirks.
"You got one?" Ash gasps.
"That's right, loser, and it's right inside this Poké Ball." Gary taunted, taking it out and spinning it on his finger. The crowd and the group of cheerleaders began to cheer for Gary even louder, as he embraced their praise. "Thank you, my fans, thank you! I promise to you all now, I will become a great Pokémon Master, and I'll make the town of Pallet known all around the world!"
Ash tried to hold back his annoyance and tapped Gary's shoulder, briefly stopping his gloating. "So which one did you pick?" he asked, wanting to know the starter Gary had chosen.
Gary's only response was a scoff, "None of your business!" He mocked with a grin, while putting the Pokéball away. "Why should I tell my competition what I'm using? Not that you ARE in any case qualified for competition whatsoever, but if you had been here earlier, you would have seen that I got the best Pokémon in there!" He laughed with the most punch-able grin plastered on his face. "It pays to have a grandfather in the Pokémon business, you know!"
"Hard to forget. You keep reminding me." Ash mutters.
Gary turned and jumped into the back of a bright red sports car with a chauffeur and waved to the crowd as the car drove off. "Thank you all for coming out to see history in the making!" he called. "Now, I, Gary Oak, am off to learn the ways of the Pokémon Trainer!"
As the crowd went to see him off, Ash was all by himself coughing up dust from the car.
"Ugh, he is such a pain!" Ash growls.
"Oh you know Gary. He loves to make a spectacle. And don't worry, that car ride stops at Route 1." An elderly voice said walking up behind Ash.
Turning around, Ash faced the renowned researcher himself. Instantly, his attitude changed as he turned to greet him with a smile. "Oh, Professor Oak! Good morning, I'm here for my Pokémon!"
"Oh I can tell, but I hope you're not planning to compete in your pajamas." Prof. Oak said.
"No sir. There was a little incident and I was running late, but believe me I'm ready for a Pokemon." Ash said.
Inside the lab, Ash found himself standing before a round, table-like machine. With a whirring sound, three small circular holes opened up at the top and three Poké Balls rose up, one through each hole. One had an image of a blue water drop on it, another had a green leaf, and the last had a red flame.
"I've thought long and hard about this, and I've decided that the Pokémon I want is... this one. Squirtle!" Ash said, picking up the water drop ball. To his surprise, when he opened it, it was empty.
"Sorry, it has already been taken by someone who arrived earlier, I'm afraid." Prof. Oak said.
"Oh, well it's my fault that I overslept, but that's fine, because I'll go with my second choice…Bulbasaur!" Ash picked up the one with the leaf, but when he opened it, it was also empty.
"That was also taken by another trainer who wasn't late," said Prof. Oak.
Frowning, Ash looked at the last ball with the flame on the front. "Well, that's no problem, because my Pokémon will be Charmander!" He grasps it and silently prays that the Pokémon is inside.
However, when he opened it, the ball was also empty.
"The early bird gets the worm, or in this case, the Pokemon," Professor Oak said.
"Does…" Ash frowned, the empty ball down again. "Does that mean I'll have to start without a Pokémon?" He asked.
Professor Oak rubbed his chin thoughtfully "Well… I do have one more, but…"
Hearing this, Ash's eyes lit up, and said, "Professor, I'll take it!" He may have a chance at a Pokémon after all.
A fourth Poké Ball with a lightning bolt appeared from the middle of the machine.
"Now I should warn you Ash, this one is a little different than the others." He said, taking it.
"Please Professor, I have to have a Pokémon." Ash insists.
"Well..if you insist." Prof. Oak reluctantly said as he opened the ball up and a bright light shined from it. A yellow, mouse-like Pokémon with black-tipped pointed ears, a flat tail shaped like a lightning bolt and bright red pouches on its cheeks, materialized before him.
"Pikachu?" it said, blinking its eyes.
"Its name is Pikachu." Oak said.
"Aww. It's so cute. It's perfect." Ash smiles.
"You'll see…" Oak muttered.
"Hi, Pikachu." Ash said, picking it up.
"Pika." Narrowing its eyes, sparks emitted from Pikachu's cheeks before electrocuting Ash, making him exclaim in pain.
"Pikachu is also known as the Electric Mouse Pokémon. It can he rather shy with people, but it also has an electrifying personality," Professor Oak explained as Ash's shock torture died out, making his hair look frazzled and was extended with a stunned look on his face. "Shocking, isn't it?"
"T-that's one way to put it." Ash stammered, trying to recover.
"Also you'll need these." Reaching out, Prof. Oak presented Ash with a red device along with 5 Poké Balls. "Your PokéDex and Pokeballs. Your PokéDex will serve as your ID and license as a trainer. Do not lose it."
As Pikachu hopped out of Ash's hands, Ash shook off the shock he had just received and quickly grabbed the items. "Thank you, and I won't let you down, Professor Oak," he said, grateful for this opportunity.
"Ash?" The 2 and Electric Mouse turned to see Delia walking up the steps, carrying Ash's clothes and a green backpack. "Good, I managed to catch you before you left. It wouldn't be great for your send off to be in your pajamas, would it?"
"Thanks Mom." Ash smiles happy to be greeted by somebody.
"Oh my, is this your Pokemon?" Delia asks, noticing Pikachu.
"Yup, this is Pikachu." Ash nods. "With him by my side, I'll catch all of the Pokémon I'll need to be a Pokémon Master in no time flat!"
"But, I thought all Pokémon stayed inside their Poké Balls?" Delia questioned.
"Oh right." Ash said, taking out the Pokeball. "Pikachu, get in the ball."
Ash tosses it down but instead of going in, Pikachu smacks the Pokeball back into his hand. Surprised, Ash's eyes narrowed. "Hey, I said get in." He tried a couple of times before Pikachu had enough and smacked the ball with his tail, right into Ash's face, making him cringe.
"Ack! Hey, what gives?" Ash cringed, as he pried the ball off and rubbed the spot of the bruised area.
"Well you see, this Pikachu doesn't really like to be in its Poké Ball." Prof. Oak admits. "Not one for confined spaces I suppose."
"So how did you get it in the ball the first time?" Ash asks.
"With great difficulty." Prof. Oak said, scratching his face.
Ash turns to Pikachu, who was growling at the sight of its Pokéball. Not wanting to anger it even more, Ash said, "Alright, then, if you don't want to go in, I won't force you." He said, surprising the mouse.
"Alright, Ash I packed everything you need: change of clothes, snacks, travel supplies, a little extra money to help you out, and plenty of extra underwear." Delia lists.
"Thanks mom, but uh, could you please ease up with the underwear?" Ash asked rubbing his head. "I'm not a little kid anymore. I can take care of myself."
"Oh my little boy is growing up. I'm gonna miss you." Delia chokes trying to keep it together.
With mutual feelings, Ash moved in and hugged his mother. "I'll miss you too, Mom. I'm gonna make you proud of me."
"You always do." Delia smiles hugging back.
After the family members embraced, Ash quickly excused himself to go to Prof. Oak's bathroom and changed into his clothes.
Walking out in his clothes from yesterday, Ash made his way to Route 1.
"Alright, Pikachu; are you ready?" Ash asked.
"Chu!" Looking the other way, Pikachu didn't budge.
Ash sighed in resignation, "Come on, Pikachu; you can't keep acting like this forever."
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed in a huff.
"How am I supposed to do this if you won't follow me?" Ash asked himself before looking at his bag. Ash opened his bag and looked for anything that might help; he found a pair of rubber gloves and a clothesline his mother had put in for laundry.
Ash realized what he had to do; since Pikachu wouldn't move an inch, he would have to make him go with him.
Wrapping it around his waist, Ash yanked Pikachu down the road.
"Come on Pikachu. It doesn't have to be like this." Ash said in between pulls.
"Pika.." The frown on Pikachu's face said otherwise. It was bad enough the old man kept him locked up in the devil contraption called a Pokéball and now he had given him up to some kid?
Pikachu was putting up so much resistance that Ash hadn't even made it to the top of a hill before he was winded from all the pulling.
Deciding to stop for a break, Ash bent down to the mouse and said, "Look Pikachu, I don't know why you don't like me, but I just want you to just give me one chance to show you I'm not all that bad."
"Pika Pika." Pikachu said, not buying it.
"Look I mean it. I'll even get rid of the clothesline and gloves. See?" Ash said removing it all.
He offered a small handshake to Pikachu, but once again, the stubborn mouse refused to budge. Ash whined to himself, 'Oh man, why did I have to be late? This is getting me nowhere. How can I call myself a trainer if my own Pokémon refuses to listen to me?'
The other Pokémon Trainers would definitely be very far ahead of him and would likely laugh at him, especially Gary.
Suddenly, they heard some movement in the tall grass nearby.
Turning around, he and Pikachu saw a small brown bird land nearby.
"A Pidgey." Ash drew his Pokédex and scanned the Pokémon for its data.
"Pidgey is a Flying-type Pokémon. Among all the Flying-type Pokémon, it is the gentlest and easiest to capture. It makes for a perfect target for the beginning Pokémon Trainer to test their Pokémon's skills."
"Well, it looks like it's our lucky day!" Ash grinned as he closed the PokéDex. "A little battle is just what we need to be a team. Go get it, Pikachu!"
"Pi." Pikachu refused to move.
"Are you ever going to listen to me?" Ash asks.
However, Pikachu's response is climbing up a nearby tree and sitting on a branch, making Ash even more frustrated.
"Fine! If you won't listen to me I'll catch a Pokemon that will!" Ash snaps.
Turning away from the tree, Ash plucked an empty Poké Ball from his belt, and stared at his prey. "I pledged to become the greatest Pokémon Master, and I need to catch all of the Pokémon that'll help me along the way. And it starts right here." He declared as he threw the ball towards the unsuspecting Pidgey. "Poké Ball, go!" he shouted.
The ball landed on the surprised bird, pulling it inside with a red energy beam and closing it tightly. But before Ash could celebrate, he saw the ball wiggling back and forth with the button glowing red. The ball then burst open, sending it back into Ash's hands as the wild Pidgey broke free and escaped into the tall grass.
"Aw man!" Ash groans while Pikachu just bursts into laughter.
Normally you would battle with your own Pokémon to weaken the wild Pokémon making it easier to catch but Ash didn't have that luxury.
A scowl formed on Ash's face as he turned away from Pikachu's taunts yet again. Now he had to find another way to get a Pokémon.
Looking at his bag, a new idea came to Ash.
Breaking off some of his snacks, Ash put a piece down in a clearing to use as bait.
He hid behind a tree, waiting for a Pidgey to come by to take it, and once it does, that's when he'll spring into action.
Snickering, Pikachu was waiting for this to blow up in his face.
However instead of a Pidgey a small purple rat Pokemon approached the food.
Sniffing it, the vermin smiled and quickly took the food before scurrying off.
"Oh no you don't!" Ash threw the Poké Ball at it but Ratatta ran into the tall grass causing Ash to miss. "Aw man!"
Rattata were known to steal food from unsuspecting and inexperienced trainers, and it just so happened that Ash was the unlucky one to have his stolen by one.
Pikachu couldn't contain itself and fell onto its back, laughing hysterically until it was nearly breathless.
"The second I catch a new Pokémon I am giving you back to Prof. Oak so I can be done with you." Ash growls.
"Chu." Pikachu scoffs, with a grin, saying 'good'. It didn't want to be nobody's trainer anyway.
"Of all the Pokémon I had to be stuck with I had to say yes to the laziest, disobedient, pain in the neck I've ever met!" Grabbing rocks Ash threw them through the tall grass in anger causing several Pidgey to fly into the air but one Pokemon wasn't so lucky and got hit in the back of the head.
Ash's clouded anger died out once he saw that he had struck a Pokémon. He thought it was a simple and gentle Pidgey, and was going to apologize to it...until it raised its head from the grass to reveal that it wasn't a Pidgey after all.
It was another brown bird Pokémon, short but with pinkish-red wings, a cream-colored underbelly, and a menacing look in its eyes as it turned to face Ash.
"Wait, what's that one?" Ash asked as he took out his PokéDex.
"Unlike Pidgey, Spearow has a terrible attitude. It is very wild and will often attack other Pokemon and humans."
"Wait what?" Ash exclaimed with a yelp, not liking this at all.
"SPEAROW!" The tiny sparrow caught sight of Ash and rose into the sky rapidly. Ash panicked and made a beeline for the tree, with the Spearow aiming right at him. Ash shouted before making a divebomb, ducking the sharp beak of Spearow before it flew up.
However, with Ash out of his line of sight, Spearow turned to the closest target...Pikachu.
Its eyes narrowed at the sight of the electric rodent, and Ash gasped as the bird turned in the air, zeroing in on its new target.
"Pika?! PIKA!" Pikachu realized Spearow was coming for it and dodged.
"Hey, leave him alone!" Ash shouted, but the Spearow paid no attention. "I was the one who threw the rock!" His PokéDex beeped again.
"Wild Pokémon often exhibit jealousy toward trained Pokémon. Be cautious if one attempts to attack."
"What is with everyone telling me something important at the last minute?!" Ash angrily asked about his streak of bad luck.
"Pika!" Dangling from the branch, Pikachu narrowly misses the attack.
While the little Pokemon had been nothing but a pain, Ash couldn't help but worry about it since it was under attack because of him.
Turning around, Spearow flew in with a gleaming beak.
"Pikachu, look out!" Ash yells.
"Pika-CHU!" Pikachu shouted as he zapped Spearow with a Thundershock, causing it to scream in pain. The flying type Pokémon tumbled out of the sky and landed in some long grass.
"Y-you got it!" Ash said, before realizing that Spearow was now injured. Quickly, he pulled a Pokéball out and threw it at Spearow.
The ball lands right onto Spearow's head before sucking it inside with a bright red energy beam.
As the ball landed on the ground it wiggled 3 times before making a clicking sound indicating that Ash had caught it.
Silence was spread around the field as Ash and Pikachu while trying to catch their breath looked at the ball. Spearow didn't break out of it.
"I.." Ash broke the silence as he slowly walked up to the Poké Ball and picked it up. "I caught it?" He asked himself. As the realization slowly kicked in, a big smile formed on Ash's face.
"Aha! Yes! Finally! My first Pokémon!" Ash cheered.
Ash jumped and danced around, cheering while holding the Pokéball of his newly captured Pokémon. Meanwhile, Pikachu stood idly on the sidelines, watching him. He had just helped Ash capture a Pokémon, and he felt odd about it.
He didn't want anything to do with Ash but he helped him. And the weird part was he didn't hate it. He actually had a warm feeling inside. "Hey, Pikachu!" Pikachu turned to face Ash, who had briefly stopped dancing to face him. "Are you OK?"
"Chu Pika." Pikachu shrugged, saying not much.
"Well, I got to thank you." Ash said, pulling the ball out. "Even though it was an accident, we caught our first Pokémon together." Together?
"Chu?" Pikachu pauses hearing that word. Together.
However before he could process it any further they heard a familiar squawking noise making them both freeze.
"Uh, Pokemon can't talk from inside Poké Balls, right?" Ash pauses.
"Pikachu." Pikachu shook his head.
As the sound of wings flapping echoed through the air, their eyes widened in horror as they saw a whole flock of Spearow flying towards them.
The Spearow must have seen their own kind get captured and are coming after the human and Pokémon for revenge!
Ash and Pikachu looked at each other. "Run? Now?" his voice was high-pitched.
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded with an equally high-pitched voice as they both quickly made a break for it, with the Spearow still hot on their heels!
Wanting revenge for their captured and injured comrade, the Spearow flew straight for Pikachu and started pecking at him mercilessly.
"Pikachu!" Ash gasped before growling. "Hey! Get off of him! Leave him alone!" He began pushing and grabbing each Spearow away from the mouse. He quickly picked up Pikachu and saw all of the bruises it had sustained.
Looking up at Ash, even though he was injured, Pikachu remained silent, "Pi..ka..chu." it croaked.
"Hold on tight; we've got to lose them!" Ash exclaimed as he ran into the forest.
Racing down the path, the Spearow followed close behind.
Making his way towards a waterfall, Ash looks down to see a river right below them but the cliff was too steep to run down.
However, with nowhere else to go and the flock of Spearow closing in, Ash took a deep breath, held Pikachu close, and readied himself.
"Here we go!" he exclaimed as he dived into the rapid waters below.
As he struggled to hold his breath while swimming, Ash gasped as he saw a large Gyarados swimming in his direction.
As he swiftly swam out of the way, he noticed something gleaming in the water.
On the shoreline nearby, a young girl was fishing by the river when she felt a tug on her line.
"Hey I got a bite! Oh wow it's a big one!" She said excitedly.
Standing up the girl pulled on the line with all her might and ended up yanking Ash and Pikachu out of the river.
Landing across from her, Ash could finally breathe as he hauled the water out of his lungs. "Oh it's just some kid," the girl commented as Ash stopped coughing to look at his savior. She looked to be around his age, if not two years older, with orange hair tied up in a side ponytail; she wore a pale yellow tank top, denim jean shorts, and red and white sneakers. "Oh, and a Pokémon! Are you both OK?!" She asked, coming up to them.
"Yeah I think I'm okay." Ash said, catching his breath.
"What about him? Is he breathing?" She asks.
Ash placed two fingers near Pikachu's neck to check his pulse, and luckily he felt a heartbeat, which made him feel relieved. "Yeah, he is too." He quickly got up and looked at the girl. "Listen, we just got attacked by a flock of Spearow and we had to jump in the river to escape them. Could you please tell us where we are?"
"Viridian City is about a day's hike that way. They have a Pokémon Center there and can fix up your Pokémon." She informs as she points down the path.
"A day?! I need to get there right away!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pi..kachu.." the poor electric mouse coughed in his arms. Ash looked down at his barely breathing Pikachu. There was no way they could make it there on foot in time.
That's when his heart sank, upon hearing the familiar cry of the Spearow approaching.
Panicking Ash looked around frantically and noticed a bike parked nearby.
"Are you going to Viridian City by any chance?" Ash asks.
"Yeah why?" She asks as Ash runs to her bike. "Hey, that's my bike!"
"I'm sorry, but I really need to borrow it!" Ash said while placing Pikachu into the basket at the front of it, before he began peddling away. "Come and get it back in the city!!!" Ash calls out from a distance, pedaling as fast as he could.
"Oh you!" She said frustrated.
As Ash was pedaling, the skies darkened up with storm clouds as rain soon poured down. Looking down into the basket, Ash saw Pikachu was panting heavily.
"Just hang on a little longer." Ash said when the Spearow managed to catch up to him and start pecking at his head, making him lose focus on the road as he rode off of a slope, causing Ash and Pikachu to fall off the bike.
Looking up with a groan, Ash saw his partner lay nearby and pushed through his own pain to crawl closer, placing a hand gently on Pikachu's side. "Pikachu..." He said under his breath as tears came in his eyes. "I'm so sorry..this is all my fault."
Squawks and cries drew Ash's attention as the flock drew closer, and the young Trainer narrowed his eyes in determination as he pulled out the lightning bolt-marked Pokéball at his belt and placed it on the ground before standing up.
"Pikachu, get inside the ball," he said. "I know you hate going inside of it, but you'll be safe from those guys." Pikachu looked into his former imprisonment, and then to the boy. "Just please for once, listen to me. I'm doing this, because I want to protect you. After that..you'll never have to listen to a thing I have to say again."
With that, he stood up and turned to the Spearow flock in the sky. He turned his hat around, raised his arms up to shield himself in front of Pikachu. "Spearows! Do you know who I am?! I am Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town! I'm destined to be the world's number 1 Pokémon Master! No way I'll ever lose to the likes of you!! I'll catch every single one of you!!" Lighting struck, shadowing everything. Ash turns to see Pikachu was still there. "Pikachu, get in the ball! It's the only way!!"
He turned to the Spearow one last time before shouting:
"COME AND GET ME!!"
Roaring in determination the entire flock of Spearow flew down towards Ash with beaks and talons gleaming.
As lightning was about to strike a nearby tree, time slowed down as a bright light shined.
Running up Ash's body, Pikachu jumps off his shoulder towards the flock with sparks emitting from his cheeks just as the lightning bolt came down.
"Pikaaaa-Chuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!"
A zap of lightning illuminated the sky, followed by a bright flash of light. Then, everything faded into darkness, accompanied by a loud explosion. The Spearow scattered and flew away in fear.
The storm clouds had disappeared, and the setting sun filtered down upon the land. The bicycle layed forgotten, and completely destroyed after getting caught in the blast.
Nearby trainer and their Pokémon were lying down. Ash opened his eyes and heard the calm in the air surrounding them.
He looked at his Pokémon and saw that Pikachu, too, was awake. "Pikapi," the mouse smiled in a weak voice.
"Pikachu..." Ash slowly brought Pikachu over to embrace him. Pikachu leaned in and licked his cheek, surprising him. "You did that for me...?"
"Pika.." Pikachu nodded again. Ash felt his eyes water and he smiled and hugged the mouse softly, who nuzzled him in response with a small 'Cha~'. After going through all of those lengths to protect him, Pikachu felt he needed to return the favor.
"You were pretty amazing out there." Ash smiles. "Maybe...you could start over? What do you say? Partners?"
"Pika." Pikachu smiles, saying partners back.
But what happened next was something neither of them expected. A majestic screech was heard in the air, making Ash and Pikachu look up to see something truly amazing.
Flying over the rainbow was a beautiful bird Pokemon, flapping high above the orange sky . "What is that?" Ash gasps.
"Pika." Pikachu said speechless.
Reaching to his Pokédex, Ash turned it on.
"Unknown Pokemon, no available data." It said, confusing Ash. A Pokémon that not even the Pokédex could register?
The unknown avian Pokémon flew right above their heads, Suddenly from the Pokémon a feather dropped down towards Ash. Slowly reaching out Ash caught it in his hand.
Once he held it, the feather glowed, surprising him. He watches the Pokemon fly away until it disappears under the rainbow and the feather stops glowing.
"Pikachu...it's beautiful." Ash said in awe.
"Cha." Pikachu smiles.
"This is a sign buddy. As of now you and I are a team. We have a big journey ahead of us and this is proof we're gonna be the best." Ash smiles.
"Pika..chu," the mouse agreed before closing his eyes and snuggling up against Ash's neck. Ash pets the mouse before placing the feather on the inside of his coat pocket.
And with that done; he walked down the trail towards Viridian City, where the two would get some much-deserved rest.
Ash's first day as a Pokémon Trainer was nothing like he had hoped. But despite everything Ash had made it to the next city with his new partner, a newly caught Spearow and a new source of inspiration.
One day down and many more to come. And the big question is what will happen next?