Chapter 1

Ash stared at the yellow mouse in front of him that had materialised from a flash of golden light originating from the Pokeball. Its tail zing-changed like lightning and its cheeks were a bright, crimson red. The yellow mouse, a Pikachu, Ash concluded was small but held great power. Although Ash could not help thinking that he would have preferred a proper beginner Pokemon, a Pikachu would do just as well. After all, it was his fault he was late. He had gotten too caught up in a book to realise the time.

"Pikachu!" The Pokemon questioned and Ash could not help but smile.

"Hello, Pikachu, it's nice to meet you."

Beside Ash was a grey-haired ageing man, who wore a cotton white lab coat, red shirt and brown trousers. This man was Professor Oak and he was in charge of given trainers their beginners Pokemon. Unfortunately, this term there were four eleven-year-olds going on their journey and the elder man had only managed to obtain one of each beginner, a Squirtle, a Bulbasaur and a Charmander.

Professor Oak then began to speak, making his forgotten presence known to the Pokemon and its trainer. "As you said Ash, this is a Pikachu-"

However, Ash cut the Professor off, "The electric mouse Pokemon and when numerous of them gather together they can create lightning storms. Their electricity is generated from the red pouches on their cheeks."

The Pikachu in front of Ash blinked in bewilderment and Ash smiled once more, "My name is Ash Ketchum and, if you agree, I would like to be your trainer Pikachu."

The yellow Pokemon stared at Ash and tilted its head contemplation before saying slowly, "Pi-Ka."

"Great!" Then Ash offered to Pokeball to it and said, " Do you want to get back into the Pokeball or stay out."

In response, the mouse smacked the red and white ball from Ash's hand and it fell to the floor with a small clang.

"Excellent," cheered the grey-haired professor. "You are the perfect match for each other. At first, I was a little worried because of this Pikachu, in particular, is quite temperamental, which is shocking because most are very shy."

"I just think that Pikachu did not like being in the Pokeball much," commented Ash. "Don't I need my Pokeball's and Pokedex?"

"Ah, yes, I almost forgot. Here were go Ash," and the Professor gave the boy six empty red and white balls (not including Pikachu's) and a red Pokedex. This was because trainer could only hold up to six Pokemon at a time and the seventh ball would be used to capture extra Pokemon. This seventh Pokemon would be transported to the lab and another empty Pokeball would take its place.

"Thank you, Professor."

"That is quite alright Ash."

Ash and his newly acquired Pokemon began walking back towards his house to meet his mother and get ready for his journey, however halfway there the boy froze and smacked himself on the forehead.

"Pika?" The yellow mouse questioned.

"Sorry, Pikachu I forgot to scan you. How am I suppose to know what moves you know or not if I don't scan you with the Pokedex."

With that said, Ash took out the red box and flipped it open. Pressing down on a button the boy scanned his Pikachu. Then the Pokedex said in a male, robotic voice, "Pikachu, the electric Pokemon. When several of this pokémon gather, their electricity could build and cause lightning storms. This Pikachu is male and has the ability static. Known moves: Growl, thundershock, quick attack and tail whip."

Ash nodded in acknowledgement as he memorised Pikachu's move set and the two continued back home.

When home, Ash packed the last few things into his bag (including a few books with helpful tips) and waved goodbye to his mum. Delia Ketchum waved back with a small sob as she watched her baby go out into the world.

"Okay, Pikachu here is the plan, the first year is going to be training a capturing Pokemon. Going straight into gym battles may give us more experience, but if we don't have enough Pokemon for those battles then we will be turned away and if we don't have the skill then we will be running in blind. A plus would be that we can still practice by battling other trainers." Ash looked put at the Pokemon that had climbed onto his shoulder some time ago.

"Pikachu," the yellow mouse agreed.

The two then fell into an easy chatter getting to know one another. As Ash continued to asked Pikachu yes or no questions the yellow mouse's ears began to twitch. "What is it?"

Pikachu pointed in the direction where his ears had picked up the sound of falling footsteps and said, "Pika!"

"A Pidgey!" exclaimed Ash as he finally saw the Pokemon. "Okay, Pikachu, do you want to try battling it."

"Pikachu!" the Pokemon said, determination colouring its voice as it jumped from Ash's shoulder a few meters away from the bird Pokemon.

"Okay, Pikachu, start with quick attack and get close to it."

Instantly the Pikachu followed the command and was suddenly extremely close to the bird Pokemon.

"Now, thunder shock!"

Strong, bright yellow sparks filled the air around Pikachu and the Pidgey fell on its side, taken by surprise at the quick step-by-step attack Ash and Pikachu had initiated. Then, with a well-aimed throw, the Pokeball bounded off the Pidgey's body and the Pokemon was pulled into the red and white ball.

"Alright! Great work, Pikachu," Ash cheered happy at being able to catch his first Pokemon.

"Pikachu!" His Pokemon cheered with him.

With the sun shining brightly, Ash decided that he should take a break and treat the Pidgey he had just caught. So, finding a slightly shaded area, Ash called out the bird Pokemon and pulled the medicine from his bag.

"Pidgey, come here for a second," Ash said and with small bird slowly hopped toward the black-haired boy.

Ash gently ran his hand down the brown and white feather searching for any cuts and scrapes and, when he found them, he carefully sprayed them with antibacterial medicine. Then gave it an Oran berry to boost its energy.

"Pidgey," the healed bird cried out happily.

"Glad you're better," Ash laughed and took out his Pokedex.

"Pidgey, the tiny bird Pokemon. A common sight in forests and woods. It flaps its wings at ground level to kick up blinding sand. This Pokemon is a female and has the ability: Keen eye. It knows the moves tackle and sand attack."

"Pidgey!" the small bird agreed.

"All we need to do now is capture four more Pokemon to have a full team and then we will start training. I beat if we went deeper into the forest we could find more."

Both Pokemon nodded and Ash pointed his Pokeball at Pidgey, asking her to return. The tiny Pokemon did so with no fuss, so the boy assumed that it did not mind being in it.

Walking across the luscious green grass, the trees slowly began to thicken around Ash and Pikachu and stretched out over the tops of their heads. Occasionally, the pair would hear a rustle of leaves but they saw no Pokemon.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a small purple blur jumped out of a long patch of grass and Ash sprang into action.

"Ready, Pikachu!" he said.

"Pika!"

"Okay, Pikachu, start with growl."

The Pikachu let out a threatening growl, deeper than its usual voice was and the purple rat trembled in fright, its limbs unwilling to move.

"Quick attack!" Ash shouted.

However, as the yellow Pokemon charged towards the Pokemon its legs suddenly came back to life and the creature jumped out of the way. Then on instinct, it tackled Pikachu in the side.

"Your okay Pikachu, shake it off," called Ash, more for support than to chide the Pokemon.

"Pika," Pikachu replied bouncing back from the attack as if the Pokemon had jump poked him with its cream colour paws.

"Use thundershock and follow it up with a tail whip."

The command was quickly followed and the smaller Pokemon did not stand a chance. As Pikachu executed the tail whip the purple mouse flew hard into a truck of a tree and collapsed unconscious onto the ground.

"Great! Go Pokeball," the black-haired boy threw the slightly enlarged ball at the Pokemon and, just as what happened with Pidgey, the small Pokemon was pulled into the ball.

Not wanting to waste all of his Pokemon medicine just yet, Ash decided to let the Pokemon sleep within its ball until he got to a Pokemon Center in order to heal it. Although, he did scan it: "Rattata, the mouse Pokemon. Bites anything when it attacks. Small and very quick, it is a common sight in many places. This Pokemon is female and has the moves tackle, tail whip and quick attack."

Once Ash looked up from his Pokedex and then down at Pikachu he could see the electric mouse looked tired. So, with a smile, the trainer took his bag off his back and reached in grabbing one of the several berries he had packed with him for the trip. He then gave it to the Pikachu, who promptly took it and climbed onto Ash's head.

"Should we keep going then, since we are doing so well," the boy questioned as he started walking at a slow pace.

"Pika," the mouse consented.

Ash and Pikachu spotted much more Pokemon such as Beedrill and Caterpie, but the two decided to let that Pokemon be. They had been wondering from the forest for some time before Ash had found the forest Pokemon he was looking for, a Mankey. Mankey had a pig-like nose and light brown hair that stood on its end, with chocolate brown paws and a flexible tail.

It was a fighting type Pokemon and was strong again normal, rock, dark and steel types. This, of course, Ash reasoned to be a great advantage when he would start battling next year.

"Okay, Pikachu this will be our last capture in the forest, then we will continue to the Pokemon Center to get Rattata healed.

"Pika," said the mouse Pokemon.

"Man-Mankey!" exclaimed the angry Pokemon as it hopped from one foot to the other.

"Pikachu, use thundershock, then quick attack."

The Mankey was hit by the thunder but successfully shook it off and dodged the secondary attack. The fighting Pokemon then kicked at Pikachu.

"Dodge it!"

Pikachu jumped into the air, causing the low kick to miss entirely, "Good, now, while you're still in the air, use tail whip."

"Pika!"

The tail whip hit many with more effectiveness than Ash could have hoped for, but the fight was far from over.

"Quick, Pikachu, use thunder again."

This time the electric yellow sparks hit the wild Pokemon head on and once the attack ceased it panted, starting to grow tired.

"Let's finish this with growl and then quick attack once more."

And just as Ash predicted the Pokemon fell to the ground exhausted and the trained captured the fighting type easily within its Pokeball.

"You did brilliantly, Pikachu."

"Pika- Pikachu," responded the mouse.

"Now let's get out of here!"

Once out of the forest, Ash and Pikachu continued on down the path that leads from Pallet town to Veridian city, the home of ground type Pokemon.

Apologies for any grammar and spelling errors, however, I do not have a beta and I have no desire for one. This is my first Pokemon fanfiction and I would appreciate any help or constructive criticism given.

There are some things that I wish to inform you of and if you have more questions that I haven't answered, please ask away:

Firstly, no I won't be naming Ash's Pokemon because the amount that Ash will be catching and training would make it very hard for me to name them, all. Also, I do not believe in favouritism so I will not name one or two of Ash's main Pokemon.

Secondly, this fanfiction is going to be mostly based on the anime but may have hints of the game within it.

Thirdly, Ash will not be capturing any of the legendary Pokemon such as mew or Ho-oh etc... That would just make the story ridiculous!

Additionally, no the Pokemon will not talk and Ash will not be able to understand them beyond his ability in the anime, end of story.

Chapter revised at 16/12/16