Chapter 01: I Choose You!

"Oh come on, that's bull crap!" A fifteen year old teenage boy with black hair and brown eyes complained as he wore a simple black shirt and blue jeans.

His name is Austin Kevin and he was annoyed beyond belief.

"How the hell does Pikachu, the Pokemon who took down a Regice and held his own against a Latios lose to a rookie Snivy?" Austin asked in disbelief. "I mean yeah his electric attacks were gone but he could've used Iron Tail to send that snake flying!"

This wasn't the first time he's been annoyed like this about the Pokemon Anime. There was the time that Ash only took Pikachu to Hoenn and didn't even use any of his other Pokemon with the exception of Bulbasaur for one episode before he did it again in Shinnoh.

Shaking his head as he muttered to himself he turned the TV off. "Anyone could do better than that." Austin frowned as he turned away and began playing some music with his headphones on.

It'll be another hour before his parents come back so he was going to enjoy himself however he could until then because after they get back it would be time to go shopping for school.

Closing his eyes as he was listening to New Divide, Austin couldn't help but think about the Black and White Series and how awesome it could've been if they kept the development that Ash made in Diamond and Pearl.

Hell if he took more than Pikachu they could've done more than have him lose against someone who literally just started a journey.

That was freaking ridiculous.

It was only a minute into the song that Austin realized how tired he was, which was weird because he was energetic a second ago.

Giving a yawn, Austin figured he could take a nap before his parents got back home as he slowly drifted to sleep.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Austin felt his nose twitch as he shifted his head away from the sunlight that was streaming in and curled up in his covers.

… Wait.

He didn't pull any covers over himself.

Cracking his eyes open, Austin stared because he was in a room that was definitely not his.

Quickly jumping out of bed, Austin stumbled as if he couldn't walk and he saw a Clefairy piggy bank along with a Zubat hanging from the ceiling and a Snorlax bed on the floor before seeing a busted voltorb clock that had a mini Pidgey on it.

Austin blinked a few times before he walked, stumbling as he passed a mirror, giving a glance.

He stopped dead as he saw Ash Ketchum staring back at him.

Dressed in the green pajamas from the very first episode.

Austin slowly walked to the mirror as Ash's reflection got closer and lifted a hand up to his face, the reflection doing the same.

'N-No way.' Austin thought in complete shock.

There was no way this was happening.

I-It couldn't be.

"H-How-." Austin stopped because that wasn't his voice.

… It was Ash's.

Taking that all in, Austin did the sensible thing.

He screamed.

It was a few seconds after he did so that he realized it wasn't such a good idea as he heard footsteps coming quickly and the door opened to show a young woman with mahogany hair and amber eyes, wearing a pink buttoned shirt and blue pants looking worried.

"Ash, are you alright?" Delia Ketchum asked as Austin felt dread.

His first thought was to say he wasn't Ash, this was insane.

But he didn't want to look crazy.

… Crazier.

So he improvised by guessing where in the timeline he was due to the broken clock. "I overslept!" Austin shouted going into the role of Ash so she wouldn't ask questions as he managed to run by her, a bit awkwardly considering he wasn't even in his own body, so it stands to show that he wasn't used to the body of a ten year old.

"Ash wait, you need to eat-." Delia stopped when she saw Ash running out the door and she had a small smile. "Just like your father."

Austin was panicking as he ran down the street, not having any clue on where he was going but he didn't care.

He needs to find out what was going on!

'This is a dream.' Austin told himself in a mantra. 'It's a dream, it's a realistic dream but a dream nonetheless.'

This couldn't happen.

Any second now he would wake up back home with his parents about to take him shopping for school supplies.

… Any second.

Coming to a stop as he was panting, Austin saw he didn't run that far from Ash's home as it was still within his sight.

"Alright I'm in Pallet Town obviously." Austin said to himself for the sake of staying sane… Or to stop himself from screaming. "And I became Ash."

Shaking his head Austin took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself down, wondering if he truly lost it and was in a rubber room thinking he was in Pallet Town.

Hearing a commotion, Austin looked up to see a huge crowd standing in front of the gates that led up a hill where the Oak Pokemon Lab was as he calmly walked over in time to hear an arrogant voice. "Well Ash, better late than never I suppose."

Not paying attention until he remembered that he was Ash right now, Austin looked over to see a brunette kid the same age as he was now wearing a blue shirt and black pants holding a Pokeball.

"G-Gary Oak?" Austin asked his brain short-circuiting a bit.

"That's Mr. Gary to you, show some respect." Gary said causing Austin to remember what a douche Gary was in the first season. "Well Ash you snooze, you lose and you're way behind from the very start, I have a Pokemon and you don't."

Not liking his attitude one bit, Austin didn't stop a retort. "Must be some Pokemon if it has to put up with your big head."

Gary felt his eye twitch as some surprise flickered on his face considering how Ash didn't use insults like that. "I bet you're wondering what Pokemon it is-."

"Squirtle." Austin deadpanned causing Gary to gape.

"How did you know?!"

Realizing he might've said too much, Austin sighed. "There are three choices, I just chose one." He lied, trying to be convincing.

Gary looked at Austin weirdly before shaking his head. "Well it doesn't matter, I have a journey to start." He said getting in the red car as it showed another person was driving it. "Smell ya later Ashy-Boy."

Austin glared at him. "Man how did Ash stand him for so long?" He muttered unaware of another figure approaching him.

"So you decided to show up after all." Professor Samuel Oak, an old man with greying hair wearing a white lab coat over a red shirt and brown cargo pants.

His sudden appearance caused Austin to jump and fall over before he saw the man and he was gaping. "P-Professor Oak?!" He asked in amazement.

Raising a brow at the awestruck look in the kid's eyes, Prof. Oak shook his head. "Well you look like you're ready for bed, not for Pokemon Training." He said in amusement as Austin blinked and looked down before seeing that he pulled what Ash did in the Anime in his panic.

"Uh… I can fix this." Austin said nervously before he realized what was coming next and he grinned.

Since this was a dream, he may as well enjoy it as much as he can.

"But I am ready for a Pokemon."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Austin couldn't help but look around as he was standing in the lab while a glass panel around three Pokeballs opened up. "Are you alright, Ash?" Prof. Oak asked a little concerned because something was off about him.

Eyes widening, Austin lied. "Oh I'm fine Professor, I'm just excited." He said hoping he was convincing because he didn't think he could keep up the act for long.

"Hm… Well alright." The Pokemon Professor decided to drop it for now as he backed up. "So who is your choice?"

Frowning in thought, Austin put on an act. "Well Gary said he got a Squirtle so that's out." He said as he reached for Charmander's Pokeball. "I choose Charmander."

Even though he knew it was empty, Austin put on a disappointed face to fool the Professor who chose that time to speak. "That one was also taken by a kid that wasn't late."

"Well that's fine, Bulbasaur is a great Pokemon-." Austin faked another disappointed look as it opened to show it was empty.

"The Early bird gets the worm, or in this case the Pokemon." Prof. Oak said cupping his chin.

"So… There's no Pokemon?" Austin asked knowing the answer as Prof. Oak looked a little conflicted.

"Well there's still one left but I-."

"I'll take it." Austin said a little too quickly.

… What? He wanted to be on his way before his parents woke him up.

A little surprised by the reaction, Prof. Oak pressed a button and a Pokeball with a lightning bolt emblem on it came up.

"I think I should warn you, there is a problem with this last one." Prof. Oak said as Austin fidgeted.

"I'll take my chances."

"Well in that case." Prof. Oak handed Austin the Pokeball.

Grinning as he pressed the button, Austin barely looked away as a flash of light erupted to show the small, bipedal yellow mouse with the red sacs on his cheeks and a lightning bolt tail twitching as he blinked his black eyes.

"His name is Pikachu." Prof. Oak said as Pikachu looked towards them and frowned.

"Pika." Pikachu muttered crossing his arms.

"Hi Pikachu." Austin reached over before he remembered one detail as Prof. Oak tried to call out a warning.

It was too late as Pikachu began to electrocute him and Austin began to spasm in pain.

… He forgot how much of a dick Pikachu was in the beginning.

As Pikachu huffed, Austin realized one detail.

He just felt pain… Oh shit he wasn't dreaming.

Austin probably would've freaked out if it wasn't for the fact that he was twitching a bit from the electrocution.

"Shocking isn't it?" Prof. Oak quipped with a straight face.

'S-S-Screw y-you.' Austin thought with a twitch.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Once he could move, Austin looked at Pikachu who wouldn't even meet his gaze.

Now that he knew for a fact that this wasn't a dream, Austin couldn't help but think.

How did he get here?

And if he was here in Ash's body, where was the real Ash?

Was Ash in his body?

Austin felt some worry because he didn't know how his parents would react to someone in his body claiming they were Ash because he was pretty sure that's what he would do.

'I have to find a way to fix this.' Austin thought as Prof. Oak handed him the Pokedex and Pokeballs. 'Somehow, someway… Knowing my luck I'll probably be in the mental hospital when I get home.'

Austin looked at the Pokedex and messed with it to see how it worked before pointing it at Pikachu who finally gave him a look, wondering what he was doing.

"Pikachu the Electric Mouse Pokemon, the red sacs on its cheeks store up energy to equal a lightning bolt, if one finds a charred berry in the woods it is a sure sign that a Pikachu is nearby." The Pokedex said surprising Austin as he wondered how he survived being electrocuted in the first place-... Hell how does Ash survive a point blank Flamethrower in the future? "This Pikachu is Male and the ability is Static. Currently this Pikachu knows Thundershock, Growl and Tail Whip. The Age of this Pikachu is Two Years and Five Months."

Austin was even more surprised when he saw that the Pokedex also gave him the age of the Pokemon as Pikachu huffed and looked away.

"You may want to return him to his Pokeball." Prof. Oak suggested gaining Pikachu's attention as he tensed.

Remembering that Pikachu didn't like the Pokeball, Austin smiled. "Nah, I think he would like to be out of it." He said surprising Pikachu that he got it. 'Hopefully this will keep him from electrocuting me.' "Besides how can I be his friend if I keep him in the ball the whole time?"

Pikachu shook his head as if to say, 'Yeah, good luck with that.'

Prof. Oak scratched his cheek. "If you're sure Ash."

Austin swallowed a bit as he realized he had to go by Ash to avoid questions now.

It'll take awhile before he was used to that though.

Closing his eyes as he took a deep breath, Austin began trying to get into the mindset of being Ash as he opened his eyes. "You alright, Ash?"

"Uh yeah." Austin said with a sheepish smile. "I'm just trying to calm myself because I'm so excited."

Prof. Oak chuckled as he heard that.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

To Austin's surprise, Delia-er Mom wasn't in front of the Ranch with the group of people from the Anime.

'Well that's one thing that's different.' Austin thought knowing it would take awhile to force himself to call Delia 'Mom', but he didn't want to make her worry about what happened to the real 'Ash'.

"So come on Pikachu." Austin said only for Pikachu to turn his head from him.

"Pikachu. Pika Pi." Pikachu said not even paying him any attention.

'Right, Ash gain Pikachu's friendship because of the Spearow mess.' Austin thought to himself as he wondered if he should instigate it to gain Pikachu's trust before shaking his head. 'No, I'm not going to pull that stunt.'

Giving a sigh, Austin looked at Pikachu. "Come on, don't I get the benefit of doubt due to not putting you in the Pokeball."

Pikachu just gave him a blank stare. "Pika Pi."

Now he wasn't sure what Pikachu said but the tone sounded like an insult.

Then again, there's no way Pikachu would take him seriously in his Pajamas.

Giving a sigh, Austin walked back to Prof. Oak's lab as Pikachu scratched his head with his foot before coming out wearing rubber gloves and he picked Pikachu up causing the Electric Mouse to try and electrocute him and yet nothing was happening.

"I'll put you down in a few minutes, but I just want to go home and change out of these Pajamas." Austin said to Pikachu as the Mouse was giving him a death glare.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

On making it to the house, Austin put Pikachu down who growled at him. "Hey you were the one that didn't want to go anywhere." He snapped as Pikachu's cheeks were sparking. "Look can't we just have a compromise?"

Pikachu raised an eyebrow.

"We go through Route 1 and if you still don't like me by the time we get to Viridian you can go your own way." Austin offered holding out his hand. "Deal?"

Pikachu however frowned as he was expecting for Austin to break the deal even if he agreed. "Pika Pi Chu Pika!"

"Ash, is that you?" Delia came out only to see Austin talking with Pikachu. "I was wondering when you would come back to get your stuff."

"Uh yeah, I panicked when I woke up Mrs-er Mom." Austin said hoping that she didn't notice the slip-up.

Pikachu however gave Austin a curious glance wondering what he was about to say. "Pika?"

"Oh is that your Pokemon?" Delia bent down to pick him up as Austin panicked.

"Wait D-er-Mom-."

Pikachu was about to electrocute her only for Delia to rub a spot in between his ears and his mind thought of nothing but bliss as he smiled. "Chaa."

Austin stared in pure disbelief at that. 'Now that's not fair.'

"Your clothes are out on your bed." Delia said as Pikachu was enjoying the head rub.

"R-Right." Austin walked in and up the stairs feeling a sense of familiarity for some odd reason as he made it to his-... Ash's room to see the clothes from the first three seasons on the bed.

In a few moments, he was dressed in the black shirt as the blue vest was worn over it, blue jeans, black and white sneakers and a red and white hat over the dark hair.

Pulling the fingerless green gloves on, Austin was a little unnerved in how he looked like Ash more than ever now.

Turning around as he grabbed the Backpack, Austin walked down to see Delia had a thing of breakfast ready.

Now Austin was feeling extreme guilt.

Here he was pretending to be her son when in truth he was trying to find out how this happened in the first place.

Not only that but he was about to 'steal' Ash's journey from him.

Pikachu was eating some Pokemon food that Delia kept, usually to feed the Pokemon that were with the trainers in the Restaurant she runs.

He looked pretty happy.

"Hey Pikachu." Austin tried but Pikachu looked away from him. 'Yeah… Still a dick.'

"Eat up, you'll need your strength before your journey." Delia said as Austin managed a weak smile.

"Got it M-Mom." He said trying not to be suspicious as Delia gave him a worried look before he got to eating.

Delia however was surprised because 'Ash' was eating differently.

Usually he stuffed his mouth but here he was eating slowly and using manners.

Sure it was a nice change, but now that she thought about it, Ash was acting differently since he woke up.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Austin was very grateful that he managed to leave after an hour of Delia telling him to be careful, changing his underwear and the awkward hug that she gave him.

But now he was in Route 1 with Pikachu who actually walked with him to avoid being carried again because he knew Austin still had the rubber gloves.

"Well here we are." Austin said not sure where to go before deciding to stay on the path. "Our Journey awaits."

"Pika Pi?" Pikachu asked and Austin was pretty sure he said something like 'Our' journey?

Breathing in slowly, Austin began to walk as he saw various Pidgey's flying around.

There were no trainers on Route 1, but Austin kept moving as Pikachu just followed behind him before taking off and running up a tree.

"Seriously Pikachu?" Austin asked as Pikachu sat on it sticking his tongue out.

Pinching his nose, Austin just sat down. "Well you'll have to come down eventually." He said with a smirk.

"Pi?" Pikachu looked a little surprised that Austin wasn't going to try and use the Pokeball to force him to come down.

'Alright so not the best start.' Austin thought to himself before he looked up. 'But if I'm ever going to find out what happened I need to continue on and to do that I need to gain Pikachu's trust.'

Again he was considering instigating the Spearow incident before stubbornly shaking his head.

He wasn't going to risk his or Pikachu's life like that, plus if Pikachu ever found out he did instigate it for that reason it would make things worse.

'But it was a major part in the series and if I don't do that there could be a butterfly effect-... Or is it Butterfree effect now?' Austin randomly thought.

Giving a sigh, Austin looked up to see Pikachu eating an apple that was hanging from the tree. 'Well catching a Pokemon all comes down to luck so if I try to catch a Pokemon that isn't a Spearow I should be fine.'

Opening his backpack, Austin took an empty Pokeball that Prof. Oak gave him out and stood up.

"I don't suppose you'll help me catch a Pokemon?" Austin tried only for Pikachu to laugh as if he told a joke. "... Yeah, didn't think so."

With that he looked around for a bit as he walked away from the tree.

Pikachu watched him leave before smirking.

Now was his chance to get away.

With that done, he ran down the tree and began to run off before colliding with something.

Shaking his head, Pikachu glared only for it to be a Spearow as it glared back at him.

"Spear!" Spearow took to the air as it was about to attack Pikachu, something that caused Austin to turn and notice as Pikachu ducked.

'Oh come on!' Austin thought running towards the scene. 'I didn't even throw the damn rock!'

"Pikachu use Thundershock!" Austin ordered as Spearow went to try again and Pikachu didn't hesitate as it electrocuted the Spearow causing it to cry out loudly before Austin threw the Pokeball.

As it was sucked in, Austin approached before the ball dinged, signifying the capture.

"Are you alright Pikachu?" Austin asked as Pikachu was about to answer before they heard a few more cries and both turned to see the flock of Spearow's flying towards them.

Eyes widening, Austin grabbed the Pokeball containing the newly caught Spearow and he grabbed Pikachu before taking off running, surprising the Pokemon as he nearly electrocuted Austin to get him to let go.

"Too many for you to fight." Austin panted out as he was running. 'And I'm way out of shape!'

He nearly saw stars as a Spearow slammed into the back of his head with the flock catching up.

"Pikachu get in your Pokeball." Austin told him as he felt more adrenaline from the hit and tried to run faster.

"Pi?!" Pikachu glared.

"Listen to me, I'm not going to let you get hurt." Austin told him.

'Plus I can run faster without carrying him.'

A Spearow jabbed at his arm as he was carrying Pikachu before Austin used his vest to keep Pikachu from being pecked and tried to fish around for his Pokeball before he realized one error.

He left it at Prof. Oak's lab.

"Crap." Austin muttered before another Spearow hit his head and this time he tripped over a rock and was sent rolling across the ground as Pikachu cried out in surprise.

Pushing himself up, Austin saw that the Spearows were circling around. "Pikachu get out of here." He told him.

Pikachu gave him a shocked look as Austin grabbed a rock and threw it, nailing a Spearow causing the flock to focus on him.

"Over here!" Austin shouted as they forgot about the Pikachu and flew at him.

Feeling a bead of sweat drip down his face, Austin began to book it.

Pikachu stared as Austin was getting further away in shock that a human just did that for him.

A human that he spent most of the day ignoring and electrocuted one time.

And now he was in danger because he ran into that Spearow.

Eyes narrowing Pikachu came to a decision.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

'Regret!' Austin thought running with his arms flailing as he tried to pick up speed. 'Regret! Major regret!'

He has to be suicidal.

That's probably why he did this.

Looking back to see if the flock was still following him, he ran faster at seeing how close they were.

'Irony.' Austin thought to himself. 'I didn't throw the rock that caused this and it happened anyways.'

His lungs were burning from the running he was doing before he tripped and was sent rolling again.

This time the Spearow surrounded him and they pecked and clawed at him as he cried out in pain.

'Not good.' Austin thought as he tried to get them to go away.

"CHU!" A Thundershock caused them to disperse as Pikachu ran up in front of him and glared at the flock.

Lifting his head, Austin was surprised by this as Pikachu had his cheeks sparking with the Spearows around.

"Pikachu, there's too many." Austin told him as he tried to get up wincing. "Get out of here."

"Pika." Pikachu shook his head as he wasn't going to just leave the kid after what the kid just did to try and save him.

Austin felt light headed as the Spearows got closer and the last thing he heard before blacking out was . "Staryu, use Water Gun!"

To Be Continued…

I know it's been awhile since I've typed anything and I'm sorry, life is keeping me away… Well that and I'm trying to focus on typing an actual novel with the prologue and the first chapter of it done, for the draft part of course.

But anyways I decided to do another Pokemon Fanfiction that followed the Anime but I figured this would be interesting.

A Self-Insert that wakes up as the Main Character, it could either be a very good story or be an extremely bad one depending on how it's done.

Oh and I may end up evolving Pikachu at one point, but not for a long time. If I do it'll most likely be during Shinnoh or Unova that I do so... If I make it that far.

Austin as Ash will catch both Canon and other Pokemon as shown when he managed to catch the Spearow.

I'm not making any promises on whether or not I'm going to keep going with this one but my computer hates Flight of Fate for some odd reason.

I had twelve-thousand words typed and was just finishing up when bam, surprise update and when it finished all of my work was lost.

That was actually why I avoided fanfiction for a bit really.

Anyways I hope you enjoyed this story as well as how I showed some differences from Canon already.

Spidey Signing Out!