'Coo...'
With the sharp chirp of the alarm clock, the small bedroom filled with the pale glow of early morning. A boy in his teens slowly opened his eyes, the lingering fog of sleep clearing as he focused on the digital numbers blinking on the screen. For a moment, he simply stared—then a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He stretched an arm out and clicked the alarm off, the sudden silence replaced by gentle morning sounds seeping through the window: distant bird Pokémon calling, wind brushing against leaves, and the faint rustling of the curtains.
On the bed beside him, a tiny yellow mouse Pokémon shook its body like fluffing off static, sparks flickering playfully across its red cheeks.
"Piga-pi!" Pikachu chirped brightly, its tail swaying with energy that didn't belong to someone who had just woken up.
Ash grinned and reached out to pat the little Pokémon's head. Pikachu leaned into the touch with a pleased hum.
"Of course, we are ready, Aibo." Ash replied as if the Pokémon's odd mix of chirps and squeaks were completely normal speech—and to him, thanks to his Aura ability, they were.
Both boy and Pokémon hopped off the bed in sync. Ash stretched once more, shook his messy hair, then dashed over to the mirror. A quick check—shirt straight, cap ready—and he rushed out of the room. Pikachu leaped onto the railing, kicked off the wall, flipped midair, and landed neatly on Ash's shoulder.
Downstairs, the warm smell of toasted bread and something sweet wafted through the air.
"Ash, good morning."
Delia's gentle voice greeted him as he appeared in the kitchen. She stood by the counter in casual morning clothes, her red hair tied loosely. The soft light of sunrise gave her a serene glow.
"Good morning, Mom. I'll be getting my starter today, so I'll have a quick wash."
Ash spoke hurriedly as he slipped past her, Pikachu hopping off his shoulder to the table.
"Pika?" Pikachu's eyes glimmered at the sight of neatly arranged egg bread with a small dish of tomato ketchup beside it.
"Good morning, Pikachu."
Delia chuckled softly, giving the Pokémon's cheek a light, familiar touch. Pikachu purred, sparks crackling faintly as it grabbed a piece of bread with its small paw.
"Pika-chupi..."
A blissful sound left it as the sweet tang of ketchup met its tongue.
The quiet of the house made the moment feel almost ceremonial. Pikachu ate calmly, savouring each bite—the last peaceful breakfast before countless days of travel, battles, and adventures.
Ash, towel around his neck as he came back down, noticed Pikachu's unusually serious look.
"We will be able to come back from time to time, Pikachu." He said, drying his hair.
"Pika-PIKAAA!" Pikachu protested—loudly.
"Well, yeah… it will be like a few months before coming back." Ash admitted.
"Pika-Pikachu." Pikachu nodded like a tiny general delivering orders.
Their animated conversation continued, the air filled with a mix of human words and Pokémon chirps. Delia watched the two with a smile that held no surprise—Ash speaking fluently with Pikachu was something she simply accepted as one of his charming quirks. She never questioned how he understood everything.
Ash, however, felt a small flicker of thought as he chewed on his bread.
'In the anime, Ash didn't receive a starter… He got Pikachu instead. So what is Professor Oak going to give me now?'
He bit into the egg, added a small blob of ketchup, and blinked at how good it tasted. Pikachu immediately gave him a smug thumbs up.
"Okay, okay, you're right," Ash laughed softly, giving him a thumbs up back before grabbing his backpack.
He stepped forward and hugged Delia.
"I'll be back, Mom."
Delia wiped a tear away, smoothing his hair like she always did.
"Take care too, Ash. I'm sure you'll do just fine, baby."
She leaned down to Pikachu.
"And you—take care of my son."
"Pika!" Pikachu replied proudly.
With that, the two left the cosy warmth of the house. Outside, a morning breeze swept across Ash's face, carrying the earthy scent of Pallet Town's fields. The sky glowed with gradients of gold and soft blue, Combee humming faintly somewhere across the meadows.
Ash adjusted his cap.
"Let's go."
He jogged down the familiar path, greeting neighbours who were tending gardens, watering lawns, or preparing their Pokémon for morning chores. Children pointed at Pikachu, waving excitedly.
The closer he got to Professor Oak's lab, the more the excitement settled into his chest.
Finally, the massive facility came into view—far larger in reality than the simplified version he remembered from the anime. The sunlight caught the steel-and-glass structure, reflecting brilliance across its sprawling campus.
Tall towers, research wings, outdoor habitats, fenced training grounds—Professor Oak's wealth and influence were impossible to miss. His estate stretched far beyond the entrance, deep into forests and plains designed to let Pokémon roam freely.
Ash picked up his pace.
He had arrived much earlier than most new trainers.
Today, everything began.
"Ash! You are late."
The moment he reached the entrance of Professor Oak's lab, a familiar, confident voice greeted him. Gary stood near the stairs with his arms folded, an easy grin stretching across his face—one that practically screamed, I beat you again.
Ash sighed lightly.
"Yeah, right?" He replied, rolling his eyes. Gary never missed a chance to brag, and truthfully, Ash found it strangely comforting. Some rivalries were just part of life.
Before he could say more, footsteps echoed from the lab's sliding doors. A girl stepped out—bright blond hair tied in a ponytail, yellow irises matching her clothes. Even the light morning breeze seemed to glow around her.
"Ash! You are here." Yellow Brook smiled warmly.
"Good morning, beauty."
Ash chuckled as he approached. With a playful ease, he reached out, gently flicking a strand of her ponytail aside as he leaned in just a little. Her cheeks flushed immediately, heat rising to her ears.
Gary watched from the side.
'There he goes… the shameless Ash.' He muttered inwardly, smirking.
Yellow took a quick step back, her face still bright red. She shot him a tiny glare—more embarrassed than angry.
"Can you stop teasing me, Ash?" She tried to sound stern, but even her irritation had a softness to it.
"Really? You still think I'm just teasing you?"
His eyes held hers for a brief heartbeat before a burst of laughter escaped him. He walked past, leaving her flustered, face steaming like a kettle.
If this had been an anime, a comedic mushroom cloud of white steam would have puffed out above her head.
"Rascal…" Yellow whispered under her breath—though the insult didn't carry even a trace of real anger.
Gary couldn't help laughing. He knew better than anyone that Yellow was stubborn, sharp, and tough to deal with—but Ash alone could make her melt into that shy, blushing version of herself. Watching it was pure entertainment for him.
Romance, however, was the last thing on Gary's mind. He was the grandson of the Kanto Pokémon Professor, raised in an environment full of battle talk and research debates. His head was too full of ambition and strategy for anything else. Ash, on the other hand, seemed perfectly capable of managing both battles and girls—and enjoying every minute of it.
Maybe one day, Ash thought, half-jokingly, he'd have a crowd of girls around him, leaning into his arms. The idea made him grin as he walked into the lab.
"Ash. So you are here."
Professor Oak strode into the hall, clipboard in hand. He looked tired… and a little guilty.
Ash had a faint idea why.
"Professor Oak, can I choose my starter Pokémon today?" he asked, anticipation flickering in his chest. If Charmander were available, that would be ideal. He had always liked it—along with Froakie, considering Ash-Greninja.
Oak cleared his throat.
"Ash, cough… you see… At this moment, all three of the starter Pokémon are taken."
The professor winced as he explained.
He had actually saved a Charmander specifically for Ash—but the previous night, a League trainer had unexpectedly sent a child under his care, demanding a starter. They didn't wait for the morning ceremony, took Charmander immediately, and left after Oak filed the paperwork.
He had scolded them thoroughly, but the damage was done.
Oak sighed.
Even he felt helpless.
'Hmm. I guess it goes just like the story did.' Ash thought, not surprised. Fate liked following the script, it seemed.
"It's alright. I still have Pikachu with me." Ash shrugged lightly
He wasn't upset.
Oak blinked, a little shocked by how easily Ash accepted it. But then he remembered—Ash had always been curious about one thing in his lab.
"But there is something you might like." Oak said, motioning him to follow. "I have an egg. It was here for research since it refused to hatch. Perhaps you'd like to try raising it?"
'An egg, huh.' Ash's curiosity sparked instantly.
"Hmm. An egg. Let me try it."
The professor smiled, relieved. "Good! I'll also give you some of the Association's hatch-care funds assigned to me. Use it however you want."
A gesture to make up for the missing starter—Ash immediately appreciated it. In the real world, Pokémon diets, tools, and travelling supplies cost money. Even with his advanced Pokémon breeding skill, materials weren't free. "That would be great. Thanks, old gramps." Oak chuckled at the nickname.
"Come with me, then…"
They walked deeper into the lab, past polished floors, humming machines, display tanks, and assistants sorting through data. Eventually, Oak stopped before a containment unit filled with softly glowing jelly-like fluid. Inside it rested a small egg—dark patterns swirling faintly across its surface.
Ash stepped closer. Without hesitation, he activated his Identify skill. A translucent screen flickered into view—only visible to him. High-Grade Nutritional Gel — Normal Type Enhancement, Egg Identity — [Riolu] Ash couldn't help the smile that crept onto his face. As he suspected—it really was a Riolu egg.