It was nighttime, and in a small house in Pallet Town, Ash Ketchum was glued to his TV screen. An exciting battle between two powerful Pokémon was playing on the screen On one side was Nidorino, and on the other was Gengar. There was a special sparkle in Ash's eyes.
In the background, the narrator's voice echoed, explaining that Ash was about to turn ten years old.In this world, turning ten means you are finally ready to become a Pokémon Trainer and set out on your own journey.
After the match ended, Ash lay down on his bed, but sleep was far from his eyes.
He was thinking about tomorrow—the big day when he would receive his first Pokémon from Professor Oak. "Which one will I choose?" he muttered. In his dreams, three starter Pokémon appeared—Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander. He was stuck in confusion about which one to choose.
While moving his hand in his sleep, he accidentally grabbed his Poké Ball–shaped alarm clock and threw it against the wall.The alarm clock broke, and Ash didn't even realize that he had ruined his morning.
The next morning, the sun was already high in the sky. Ash's mother, Delia Ketchum, entered the room and shook him awake.
"Ash! Wake up, it's very late!"
Ash jumped up in panic and looked at the time. "What? I'm late!"
He looked at his mother and said, "Mom, why didn't you wake me up earlier?"
Smiling, she replied, "You're the one who said you've grown up and will wake up on your own."
Ash didn't have time to argue. Still in his pajamas, he ran out of the room.In his hurry, his foot slipped, and he tumbled down the stairs, landing straight at the bottom. Without stopping, he opened the door and ran outside.
Outside Professor Oak's lab, everything was calm. Professor Oak was peacefully watering his Pokémon and the potted plants when Ash arrived, panting.
"Professor! I'm here! I'm ready!" Ash shouted.
Professor Oak turned around and pointed at the clock. "You're the last of the trainers coming to get a Pokémon today, Ash. You're very late."
Ash apologized and said, "I know, but I've decided. I'll choose Squirtle."
Professor Oak shook his head. "Unfortunately, another trainer already chose it."
Ash looked disappointed. "Alright, then I'll take Bulbasaur."
"That one's already been taken too," the professor replied.
"Then Charmander?" Ash asked hopefully.
"That's gone as well. The trainers who came on time took them," Professor Oak explained.
Ash's heart sank. The two of them went inside the lab. Sadly, Ash asked, "Professor, isn't there any Pokémon left for me? I want to start my journey. Professor Oak paused for a moment and said, "Hmm, there is one Pokémon left, but… there's a problem."
The sparkle returned to Ash's eyes. "That's fine, Professor! Any Pokémon is okay. I just need a partner."
Professor Oak pressed a button, and instead of a Poké Ball, a platform rose up in the middle of the lab. Ash saw a small, yellow, and cute Pokémon standing there.
"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed happily and ran toward it.Pikachu saw Ash and immediately ran away. Ash chased after it. Pikachu ran and hid behind Professor Oak.
Professor Oak explained, "This is Pikachu, an Electric-type Pokémon. It's a bit shy, and if it gets scared or angry, it releases electric shocks."Ignoring the warning, Ash lovingly picked Pikachu up in his arms. "You're so cute, Pikachu!"
As soon as Ash hugged it, Pikachu's face turned red with anger.
Bzzzz!
A powerful Thunderbolt shook Ash completely. His whole body turned black, and smoke started coming out of his hair.After that, Professor Oak gave Ash Pikachu's Poké Ball and a Pokédex. Just then, Ash's mother arrived with his travel clothes and bag.
Ash put on his trainer outfit. As she helped him wear the bag, his mother said, "Everything you need is in this. Take care of yourself." Then her eyes fell on Pikachu."Oh wow! This Pikachu is so cute," she said. "But it should be inside its Poké Ball, right?"
Ash tried. "Pikachu, go into the Poké Ball!"He threw the ball, but Pikachu hit it back with its tail.Ash threw it again, and Pikachu hit it again. This happened three times, and the last time, the ball came straight back and hit Ash in the face.
Ash's mother laughed. "Looks like you two are playing catch! You've become friends so quickly."
Pikachu didn't like that joke. Electricity sparked from its cheeks, and it released a strong shock—this time hitting not just Ash, but Professor Oak and Ash's mother as well. All three fell to the ground.
Chapter 2: A Storm and the Beginning of True Friendship
After some time, Ash began his journey toward Route 1. But the start wasn't good. Pikachu refused to walk with him.To protect himself from electricity, Ash wore rubber gloves and tied Pikachu with a rope, dragging it along.
"Come on, Pikachu!" Ash said while pulling. Pikachu stubbornly refused to move forward.
Suddenly, Ash stopped. He looked at Pikachu, who looked unhappy. Ash realized that he couldn't become Pikachu's friend by forcing it.He gently untied the rope and threw away his rubber gloves. He knelt down in front of Pikachu and smiled.
He wanted to tell Pikachu that he didn't want to treat it like a slave, but as a friend and partner.And from here began the story of the world's greatest Pokémon Trainer and his partner.
While walking through the grassy fields of Route 1, Ash spotted a Pidgey. He thought this was the perfect chance to catch his first Pokémon.Filled with excitement, Ash threw his Poké Ball at Pidgey.
With a flash of red light, Pidgey was pulled inside the ball. Ash was just about to jump with joy,but instead of stopping, the Poké Ball burst open—and Pidgey flew away.
Seeing this, Pikachu stood near a tree and started laughing.Annoyed, Ash said, "Hey! Stop laughing and help me!"But Pikachu turned its face away, as if to say, I'm not interested—handle it yourself.
Ash decided he would catch a Pokémon without Pikachu's help. He noticed some movement in the grass and, thinking it was Pidgey, picked up a stone and threw it.
But his aim failed. It wasn't Pidgey at all—it was a Spearow, and the stone hit it right on the head.Angrily flapping its wings, the Spearow flew toward Ash. It noticed Pikachu laughing nearby.
Thinking Pikachu was mocking it, Spearow attacked Pikachu.Pikachu defended itself with a ThunderShock. The attack hit Spearow, injuring it.
Ash and Pikachu thought the trouble was over—but suddenly, the injured Spearow let out a loud cry. In moments, hundreds of Spearow burst out from the trees and charged straight at them.
"Run, Pikachu!" Ash shouted.
They both ran for their lives. The Spearow flock was incredibly fast. They surrounded Pikachu and began pecking at it.Pikachu was badly hurt. Without hesitation, Ash picked Pikachu up in his arms and shielded it with his own body.
"I started this—why are you hurting Pikachu?!" Ash shouted as he kept running.
While running, they slipped down a slope and fell straight into a river. As they were swept away by the strong current, Ash saw a terrifying Gyarados swimming beneath the water.Somehow, Ash managed to struggle to the riverbank with Pikachu and climb out.
But the danger wasn't over yet. The Spearow flock was still chasing them.Just then, dark clouds filled the sky and heavy rain began to pour. Slipping on the wet ground, Ash fell along with Pikachu.
Pikachu was badly injured, and Ash was completely exhausted.Ash took Pikachu's Poké Ball from his pocket and placed it gently in front of Pikachu.Tears filled Ash's eyes as he said, "Pikachu, I know you don't like being inside this, but please… just this once, go inside. You'll be safe there."
Pikachu looked at Ash through half-open eyes. Ash then stood up, spread his arms wide, and placed himself in front of the approaching Spearow flock. He was ready to give his life to protect his Pokémon.
"Come on! If you want to attack, attack me!" Ash shouted.Seeing this, Pikachu was shocked. It realized that Ash truly cared for it. Pikachu gathered all the strength it had left. Instead of going into the Poké Ball, it jumped up onto Ash's shoulder and leapt into the air.
"Pika—CHUUUU!!"
A massive surge of electricity burst from Pikachu's body.The lightning from the sky and Pikachu's power combined into a tremendous blast that lit up the entire forest.
The Spearow flock fled in fear, and suddenly, everything became quiet.After a while, the rain stopped. Ash and Pikachu lay on the ground, both safe.
The clouds parted, and a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky.Then they saw a majestic, rainbow-colored bird flying across the sky.
It was Ho-Oh.
As Ho-Oh flew toward the rainbow, a glowing feather fell from its wing and gently drifted down near them.Ash looked at the feather, then smiled at Pikachu and said, "Pikachu, one day we'll find that Pokémon—and we'll challenge it."
Pikachu replied, "Pika!"
Now they were no longer just a Trainer and a Pokémon—they were true friends.And thus, their real journey began.
To be continued