Chapter 1: The Three Starter Pokémon and the Fourth Pokémon, Pikachu
I was in my room, glued to the TV, watching a Pokémon show. I declared my introduction to no one in particular: "I am Ash Ketchum, and I want to tell the world that soon,
the name of a new Pokémon Master will echo across the globe! And that person will be me! Hahaha!" I laughed heartily.
But just then, my mom opened the door and walked in. "Ash, it's already 11:00 PM. Why aren't you asleep yet? If you go to bed now, you'll wake up early tomorrow and get to meet your Pokémon."
Looking at her, I replied, "Mom, you know that tomorrow I'm setting out on my Pokémon journey! I'm so excited I can't sleep at all. Tell me, what am I supposed to do?"
My mom thought for a moment, then picked up the remote from the nearby desk and changed the channel. Professor Oak's program appeared on the screen.
"Ash, if you can't sleep, watch Professor Oak's show. You might gain some useful knowledge about Pokémon," she told me.
I nodded in agreement and started watching the program.
"I'm leaving now. And don't forget to put on your pajamas," Mom reminded me before leaving the room.
On the TV, Professor Oak was speaking:
"Good evening, residents of Pallet Town. Tomorrow, four children will be coming to receive their first Pokémon. So, I will give you some information about the Pokémon that are available."
He gestured towards three Pokémon and said,
"The first is Squirtle, a Water-type Pokémon. It is playful at all times, and its type weaknesses are..."
"The second is Charmander, a Fire-type Pokémon. It is always full of energy, and its type weaknesses are..."
"The third and final one is Bulbasaur, a Grass and Poison-type Pokémon. It has a strong sense of responsibility, and its type weaknesses are..."
...
It was 1:00 AM. I was finally asleep in my room, clutching an alarm clock shaped like a Poké Ball in my hand.
I was dreaming that I had chosen Squirtle and released it from its Poké Ball. Then I dreamt I chose Bulbasaur, and then Charmander.
But because of this dream, I mistook the alarm clock I was holding for a real Poké Ball and threw it.
CRASH! It broke.
...
Morning arrived. The sun rose from between the mountains. Perched atop a nearby house was a Pokémon.
"Dodrio! Dodrio! Dodrio!"
Dodrio's three heads crowed together, announcing the morning. I was still asleep in my room until the sunlight hit my face.
I woke up with a start. When I saw my broken alarm clock, I had a bad feeling. Then, when I looked at the wall clock, I realized I was late getting up.
"I'm late! And this alarm clock is broken—the one I set specifically to wake up on time! Did I break it?
Well, if I did, I don't have time to think about it now! Ash, run as fast as you can, or all the Pokémon will be gone!"I said this to myself.
Still in my pajamas, I bolted out of the house and ran down the road toward Professor Oak's lab.
Outside Professor Oak's lab sat a shiny red sports car. Inside was a boy with spiky brown hair it was none other than Gary. Next to the car, four cheerleaders were cheering for him.
"Gary, Gary, he's our man! If he can't do it, no one can!"A crowd had gathered.
"Out of the way! Excuse me! Coming
through!"
I finally arrived and started pushing through the crowd, but then I bumped into someone. Thud! It could only be Gary.
"Oh, it's you, Ash. You're so late today," Gary sneered. "Look, I already got my starter Pokémon. It's right inside this Poké Ball." Gary showed me his Poké Ball.
My eyes sparkled. "Tell me, Gary, which Pokémon is inside? Which one did you choose?" I asked eagerly.
"Oh, you want to know? Why should I tell you?" he scoffed. "By the way, let me tell you something—you won't get any Pokémon. You'll have to wait until next year! Bye-bye!"
After teasing me, he drove off in the red car with his cheerleaders.
Vroom!
The entire crowd followed him, leaving me standing there alone, grinding my teeth in anger at Gary's words. "Just wait one day, Gary. If I don't teach you a lesson, my name isn't Ash Ketchum!"
Just then, Professor Oak appeared at the gate and saw me. "Oh, Ash. You finally found the time to come? And in your pajamas, no less. Are you planning to train Pokémon dressed like that?"
When I heard the Professor's voice, my expression instantly changed from angry to innocent. I quickly made up an excuse.
"Professor, I was going to come early, but I overslept this morning, that's why I'm late! Please listen to me, Professor, I'm telling the truth!"
"Alright," Professor Oak said. "I believe you. Now come inside, a surprise is waiting for you."
...
Inside Professor Oak's lab, three Poké Balls sat waiting upon a table.
"I've thought long and hard about this, and I choose... Squirtle! Come on out, Squirtle!" I announced, picking up the Poké Ball.
But nothing happened... because the Poké Ball was completely empty.I looked at Professor Oak with a questioning gaze, silently demanding an explanation.
Ahem! ahem! Professor Oak cleared his throat before speaking. "That Pokémon was taken by my grandson, Gary."
Then I tried the second one, and the third, only to find that they were both empty as well.
Where did my Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur go? Was Gary right? Will I really have to wait until next year? No, Ash, you can't wait a whole year! If you do,
Gary will get ahead of you and tease you every single day. I have to start my journey with any Pokémon I can get, I thought desperately to myself.
"Professor Oak," I looked at him with pleading eyes. "Isn't there a single Pokémon left? I'll take anything! Even a Rattata or a Magikarp would be fine!"
What is this boy saying? Asking me for a Rattata or a Magikarp? Do I look like the kind of person who would hand those out? If I did that, my reputation would be ruined!
Professors from other regions would laugh at me for failing to give a child a proper starter Pokémon. The Professor seemed to be mentally scolding me for my desperate request.
"How could you think I would give you a Pokémon like that?" Professor Oak said, hesitating slightly. "I do have one good Pokémon left for you... but there is a slight problem with it."
My eyes lit up. "Professor Oak, I'll take it! Problem or not, I'm ready!"
"Alright then. But don't say I didn't warn you later."
He pressed a button in the center of the table. Click. A cylinder rose from the table, revealing a Poké Ball marked with a lightning bolt symbol.
He handed the Poké Ball to me. Trembling with excitement, I popped it open.
Flash! A blinding golden light burst forth from the Poké Ball.
Then, materialized within the golden light on the table, a Pokémon appeared. It was mouse-like, yellow in color, with black-tipped ears and red cheeks.
"It's so cute! This is definitely worthy of being my Pokémon." I reached out and picked the Pokémon up in my arms.
Oh, finally! Freedom from that cramped Poké Ball! But wait... who is this grabbing me? Don't I have the right to enjoy my freedom in peace? Take this Thundershock!
He unleashed a Thundershock attack right on me.
ZZZZZZZAP! I felt the electricity course through my entire body, shocking me to the core.
Professor Oak, who had anticipated this very outcome, had already put on rubber gloves.
"This is Pikachu. It's an Electric-type Pokémon," Professor Oak explained calmly while I sizzled. "It's a bit shy by nature. Whenever it meets new people, it tends to greet them with a Thundershock."
To be continued...