Chapter 1: Two Pikachu and a Stolen Hat
Morning sunlight spilled across the dirt road leaving Pallet Town.
The world smelled fresh.
Grass.
Trees.
Adventure.
And somewhere nearby… a very loud argument.
Our transmigrated Pikachu poked his head out of the tall grass beside the road.
"Alright," he muttered, scratching his ear. "System confirmed I'm in Pallet Town. That means the timeline should be."
He stopped.
Someone was coming down the road.
A boy about ten years old marched forward with determined steps. A backpack bounced behind him as he walked.
On his head sat a red and white cap.
And behind him…
Something was being dragged.
The otaku Pikachu blinked.
"…Is that… a rope?"
The rope stretched several feet behind the boy.
At the end of it.
A yellow Pokémon was stubbornly digging its paws into the dirt.
"Pikaaaaa!"
The boy groaned.
"Come on already!" he complained. "We're supposed to start our Pokémon journey!"
The transmigrated Pikachu stared.
Then stared harder.
His brain slowly rebooted.
"…Oh."
His eyes widened.
"…OH."
The boy in front was none other than Ash Ketchum.
And the extremely unhappy electric mouse dragging behind him?
Ash's Pikachu.
The exact scene from the beginning of the anime.
Ash had overslept that morning, arrived late to Professor Oak's lab, and ended up with the only Pokémon left: a stubborn Pikachu that refused to listen to him.
That Pikachu also hated Poké Balls, which meant Ash had no choice but to drag it along with a rope as they started their journey.
The transmigrated Pikachu slowly sat down.
"…So I really am inside the anime timeline."
Ash kept walking.
Or trying to.
Behind him, Pikachu refused to cooperate.
"Pika!"
The electric mouse planted its feet again.
Ash nearly fell over when the rope suddenly went tight.
"Hey!"
He turned around.
"Why are you so stubborn?!"
"Pika!"
Which clearly meant:
Because I don't like you.
The otaku Pikachu covered his face.
"…Yep."
"Canon behavior."
He leaned against a rock and watched the scene unfold.
Ash tried everything.
Pulling the rope.
Encouraging words.
A lot of complaining.
Nothing worked.
Finally Ash sighed.
"Why couldn't I get a cool Pokémon like Gary…"
The dragged Pikachu rolled its eyes.
The transmigrated Pikachu chuckled quietly.
Then his eyes sparkled.
"…Wait."
His brain started moving.
If this was Episode 1…
Then the Spearow attack was coming soon.
The thunderstorm.
The giant Thunderbolt.
That was the moment Ash's Pikachu started trusting him.
The otaku Pikachu crossed his arms.
"But I'm here now."
"Which means the timeline might change."
He looked toward Ash.
Then toward the other Pikachu.
"…Time to test something."
With that, he stepped out of the grass.
"Pika."
Ash froze.
"…Huh?"
He turned around slowly.
Another Pikachu stood in the road.
Ash blinked.
Then blinked again.
"…There are TWO of you?!"
The dragged Pikachu also looked up.
Their eyes met.
The two electric mice stared at each other.
Silence.
The transmigrated Pikachu waved.
"Pika."
The dragged Pikachu tilted its head.
"…Pika?"
Which translated roughly to:
Who are you?
The transmigrated Pikachu shrugged.
"Pika pika."
Long story.
Ash looked between them in confusion.
"Wait… are you friends?"
Before Ash could react further.
The transmigrated Pikachu casually walked toward him.
Ash crouched down.
"A wild Pikachu…"
His eyes sparkled.
"Awesome!"
He reached for a Poké Ball.
"Maybe I can catch this one instead!"
The otaku Pikachu smirked.
"Nice try."
He jumped.
Straight onto Ash's shoulder.
Ash froze.
"Uh…"
The Pikachu adjusted his balance like he had always belonged there.
Then he reached up.
Grabbed Ash's hat.
And placed it on his own head.
Ash screamed.
"HEY!"
"My hat!"
The Pikachu ignored him.
He tilted the cap slightly.
Perfect.
The dragged Pikachu stared.
Then slowly nodded.
"…Pika."
Which meant:
Actually that seems fair.
Ash flailed.
"Why are you stealing my hat?!"
The Pikachu pointed dramatically down the road.
Toward Route 1.
Ash blinked.
"…You want to come with me?"
The Pikachu nodded confidently.
"Pika."
Ash looked between the two electric mice.
"So now I have…"
"…two Pikachu?"
The rope-tied Pikachu looked offended.
"Pika!"
Don't include me in this.
The transmigrated Pikachu leaned back proudly on Ash's shoulder.
His tail flicked lazily.
Inside his mind, a blue screen appeared.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Timeline deviation detected.
Host has encountered Ash Ketchum.
Evaluating outcome…
The Pikachu smirked.
"Oh this is perfect."
If he played this right…
He could guide events.
Change outcomes.
Maybe even make Ash stronger.
Or…
Make everything way more chaotic.
Ash was still confused.
"Well…"
He shrugged.
"I guess more Pokémon is good?"
The dragged Pikachu glared at him.
"Pika!"
Ash ignored it.
He started walking again.
The rope tightened.
The dragged Pikachu groaned.
But Ash didn't notice.
The transmigrated Pikachu looked ahead.
He knew what was coming.
Soon Ash would try to catch a Pokémon.
He would anger a Spearow.
Then the flock would attack.
That moment would change everything.
The Pikachu grinned under the red cap.
"…Let's see what happens when the story has an extra player."
Ahead of them, the trees of Route 1 swayed gently in the wind.
Adventure waited.
And somewhere in those trees…
A certain very angry bird Pokémon was about to have a very bad day.
The timeline had officially begun.
But this time…
There were two Pikachu in the story.