He wasn't sure how he knew, but there was a Pokemon in danger. He ran through the forest towards it, towards where he knew that Pokemon was. It was like a pull he felt, a pull towards the Pokemon in need. Following the pull led him towards a clearing, where a Pikachu was locked in combat with a Nidoking. The Pikachu was badly injured, panting heavily while trying its best to keep up with the Nidoking that didn't even look winded.
Nidoking lowered itself and charged.
Pikachu lowered itself to attack or dodge but flinched.
Ash was moving before he even thought about it. Somehow he got to Pikachu first, diving to scoop the Pokemon into his arms and roll out of the way. Nidoking stopped and turned to face Ash before charging forward. Ash made to jump away but winced when he felt a stinging pain in his ankle. He'd rolled it when he jumped in and saved Pikachu.
Nidoking charged with its horn aimed right at Ash.
Ash closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable.
A small ball of pink flew in between them. The moment the horn touched it, the entire clearing was covered by a bright pink light.
-x- 5 Years later -x-
Ash took the trophy in his hand and held it over his head. He'd done it, he'd finally done it! He was the Indigo League Champion, a Pokemon Master!
Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder and Ash looked at his oldest friend. The Electric rodent grinned, before blasting Ash with electricity.
The boy from Pallet fell off his bed, hitting the ground with a loud thud. Unhurt, he bolted up, catching a zigzag-shaped tail passing out the door. Ash groaned, pulling himself to his feet before dragging himself downstairs.
"Finally awake, are we?" his mother said once Ash took his seat at the table.
The Pallet boy grunted in reply, gently placing his head on the table. Something brushed his leg and he looked down to see Pikachu down there, grinning up at him. Ash scowled at the yellow rat in reply.
"When do you need to be at the Laboratory?" his mother asked.
It took Ash a moment to understand what his mother was asking, the sleep still heavy on his senses. Right, he was going to start his journey today.
"I just need to pick up my Pokedex and a few other essentials. I already have my starter" his leg bumped Pikachu under the table. Ash has known this Pokemon for the longest time, there was no other Pokemon he would start his journey with.
"Good, then you can help me with chores around the house after you have your breakfast" his mother exclaimed.
"Well-" Ash sweatdropped.
-x-
It was after all the chore work that Ash finally arrived at Professor Oak's Laboratory. He'd been a frequent visitor here for the past five years, helping the Professor out with Gary and learning things from the older man. Ever since the incident the Professor had always kept Ash close.
Sadly that had done nothing in the way of improving Ash and Gary's dynamic. Gary was still a jerk.
He walked into the Laboratory, the sound of a gentle chime greeting him.
"Professor?" Ash called out.
"Second floor!" the Professor called back.
Ash climbed the steps to the upper level to find the Professor hunched over his work desk, a sight he had become quite familiar with in the past five years.
"You're late," the Professor said, disapproval plain in his voice.
"You said I could drop by to pick the things up any time" Ash explained.
The Professor stopped his tinkering and turned around. He took note of what Ash was wearing, and out outdoorsy the clothes were.
Realization flickered in the form of a twinkle in his eyes.
"You're supposed to start your journey today as well" and the man was off rushing around his lab. Ash, for the barest of moments, feared that the Professor had not prepared everything for his journey and he had to postpone a day. He couldn't have that, he needed to start today. It was his birthday, after all, all the children started their journey when they turned ten!
But when the Professor returned with a few things, Ash felt the fears pass away.
"Good thing I programmed and prepared these last night," the Professor said with a smile. "I don't believe I need to tell you what these are?"
He didn't need to. Pokeballs and the Pokedex were things Ash had grown familiar with in the last five years, watching other trainers start their journey from Pallet Town and hearing Professor Oak explain all of these things.
The Pokeball was meant for catching Pokemon.
The Pokedex was a trainer's identity card, an encyclopedia about Pokemon, and a device that could tell the moves of a trainer's Pokemon.
Ash collected them and put them in his jacket pockets.
"When you show your Pokedex to a Pokemart, you will receive a package that will contain essentials you will need going forward. I have an agreement with the Pokemarts and the package will be prepared according to my design since I will be paying for them. You will also receive a set amount monthly from the Pokemarts as an allowance. I advise you to spend it wisely."
Ash nodded at the information, but it was not something new to him. He'd heard the Professor give this speech to other trainers he'd sponsored from Pallet Town. All of this was part of his research, which was why his research funding paid for all the sponsorships.
Ash turned to Pikachu and held out a Pokeball for the yellow rat.
"Go on, we had a deal."
Reluctantly Pikachu touched the Pokeball and got himself caught, but moments later he popped back out looking a little grumpy.
Pikachu hated confined spaces.
"That should be all," The Professor said with a smile, "I believe yu are ready to start your journey now."
Ash smiled up at the Professor and with a word of goodbye and gratitude he turned to leave. His eyes then caught the computer the Professor was working on, specifically on the picture that was pulled up.
"Is that?"
"I believe so. It took five years, but we finally have a picture to go with your recount of the day."
Ash stared at the screen for a moment, Pikachu doing the same thing. So this was the Pokemon…
"Does it have a name?" Ash asked.
"It does. I believe the one to discover this Pokemon called it the father of all Pokemon" the Professor explained. "He called the Pokemon Mew."