Darkness had fallen over the quiet Pallet Town in the Kanto Region, the home of the world renowned Professor Samuel Oak, a researcher studying the relationships between people and Pokémon. Pallet is also home to a 13 year old boy by the name of Ash Ketchum. Ash is about 5 feet tall with black hair. Ever since he turned 9, Ash has been studying under Prof. Oak to learn as much about Pokémon as he can. Ash lived with his Mother, Delia Ketchum, and her Oddish.

A sleeping Ash awoke to a strange sound coming from the roof.

"The heck is that?" questioned Ash. Another sound came from the ceiling, it sound like some sort of electrical sparking. "What the…?" he was really curious about the sound now. He left his room, picking up a torch along the way, and headed towards the ladder leading up into the attic. He climbed up and saw a small flash of sparks in the corner of the room behind some boxes. He flashed the torch in the direction of the sparks and saw something that appeared to be the shape of a lightning bolt sticking out from behind the boxes; he assumed it was a Pokémon of some kind. He crept towards the Pokémon and peered over the cardboard cubes, and saw a small, yellow, rodent like creature.

The Pokémon sensed ash's presence and perked up its ears, making the sound "Pi?", Ash knew immediately (thanks to Prof. Oaks teachings) what the Pokémon was: Pikachu.

"Hey there, little guy," Ash said to the electric mouse calmly, trying to soothe it. He didn't really want to take a Thunder Shock and risk waking up his mother with his screaming, though he had experienced a few shocks holding electric types at Oak's Lab. Pikachu looked up at Ash; a little frightened at first, but quickly started to calm down, but it was still on high alert just in case. It walked towards Ash on all fours, sniffing him to check his scent. Much to Ash's surprise, Pikachu jumped into his arms, and started nuzzling him.

"Hey you're kind of cute," said Ash, he enjoyed being able to hold a Pokémon outside of the Prof's lab. Pokémon, Lab, Oak, words started to fill his mind. "Oh shoot!" Ash exclaimed, louder than he meant to, as he remembered what day tomorrow was. "I'm supposed to get my Starter Pokémon tomorrow!" Unexpectedly, Delia, with her Oddish beside her, had come up into the attic to see what was going on.

"Ash! What are you doing up here?" the mother questioned her son.

"Well you see…" Ash began explaining what had happened, once he was done, Delia sighed.

"You should be asleep, you have to get up early tomorrow" reminded Delia.

"I know" Ash responded, frowning a bit. Delia continued,

"Take Pikachu outside and go to asleep, do you understand me?" She told her son.

"Yes…" Ash replied sadly.

"Good" His mother finished, and went back to bed, Oddish following behind. Ash left the house and put Pikachu down on the foot path.

"Sorry little guy, but you can't stay here" He told the electric mouse.

"Pika…" Pikachu replied sadly, starting to walk away.

"Wait!" Ash called out. "Do you know where Professor Oak's lab is?" questioned Ash. Pikachu nodded. "Stick around there tomorrow, I become a trainer tomorrow, and once I do I'll catch you, how does that sound" he asked.

"Pikaaa!" it replied happily with a nod, and ran out of the front yard in the direction of the lab. Ash smiled, and went inside to bed.

The beeping sound of Ash's alarm clock filled his room. Ash immediately shot out of bed and went to get ready; he had finished packing his backpack the previous night. He reached the bathroom and began his shower. As the water fell on him, he thought about which Starter Pokémon he wanted. He had experience handling all three while working with the Professor, but he still wasn't sure. He finished up in the bathroom and went back to his room to get dressed. He pulled on a pair of light blue jeans, a black shirt. Next was his jacket, it was blue with a white collar and sleeves, and yellow highlights along the bottom and pockets. He put on his socks and white and black shoes, as well as his green finger-less gloves. Finally was his official Pokémon league cap it was mostly red with white on the front, and a green L symbol, which stood for the Pokémon League, which tournament where trainers from all over the region, that have collected eight gym badges, compete for the title of league champion. This was Ash's main goal on his journey. He pulled on his backpack and headed downstairs, where his mother has already made breakfast.

"Morning, honey" she said to her son.

"Morning" he replied, already stuffing a pancake into his mouth. Delia sighed and sat down at the table.

"Have you decided which Pokémon you want to pick yet?" questioned Delia.

"Not yet, I want to see each one first, then pick" Ash told his mother.

"Fair enough" she replied.

After breakfast, Ash said goodbye to his mother, as well as Oddish, and headed towards the Professor's laboratory. He rang the doorbell, and shortly, one of the lab aids answered the door.

"Yes?" said the aid.

"I'm Ash Ketchum, I'm here to choose my first Pokémon" Ash informed.

"Oh, of course, come in" said the aid. "Professor!" the aid called out, "Ash Ketchum is here for his starter!"

Oak called out in reply from the second floor of the lab, "Yes, send him up". Ash walked up the stairs and into the Professor's lab.

"Morning Professor" Greeted Ash.

"Good morning Ash! Are you ready?" Oak questioned.

"Of course" replied Ash cheerfully. In the middle of the room, was some sort of table-like device, with three Poké Balls.

"Here Ash, these Poké Balls contain the three starter Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle" Oak explained, "Have you decided which one you want yet?,

"May I see them first?" asked Ash, still not sure which he wanted.

"Of course" Oak replied.

The man picked up the three balls and threw them into the air, each burst open with a flash of light. Each light formed into the shape of different Pokémon. One looked similar to a squatting dinosaur or frog with bluish-green skin and dark patches. On its back, was a green plant bulb, it was Bulbasaur. The second formed into a small, orange lizard with a cream coloured belly. Its tail ended with a small flame, Charmander. The final Pokémon looked like a blue turtle, its tail resembled the tail of a squirrel and it has a brown shell with a pale yellow belly. Squirtle. Ash looked at each one carefully trying to decide which he wanted. Oak approached Ash and handed him a red rectangular device.

"This is a Pokédex," he explained, "It gives you information about all the Pokémon you see". Ash took the device from the Professor, and pointed it at Bulbasaur.

"Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. It bears the seed of a plant on its back from birth. The seed slowly develops. Researchers are unsure whether to classify Bulbasaur as a plant or animal. Bulbasaur are extremely calm and very difficult to capture in the wild" he then pointed it towards Charmander.

"Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon. Charmander's health can be gauged by the fire on the tip of its tail, which burns intensely when it's in good health."

Then finally he pointed it at Squirtle, "Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pokémon. During battle, Squirtle hides in its shell that sprays water at its opponent whenever it can." Ash stood up and closed the Pokédex.

He turned to the Professor, "Professor, I choose Charmander!" he exclaimed.

"Very well Ash, good choice" Oak handed the boy Charmander's Poké Ball.

"Charmander, return" Ash ordered, "Char!" it replied happy and was converted into a red energy and absorbed into its ball.

"Here Ash, here are ten empty Poké Balls, I don't need to explain what they are for, correct?" Asked the man.

"No, I'm good" Ash replied.

"Very well, good luck" he said the prof.

Ash smiled and responded with, "Thanks!".

Ash stepped out of the lab, suddenly Pikachu jumped from behind and grabbed onto Ash's shoulder.

"Hey there, Pikachu" ash greeted. He began to pull out a Poké Ball. Pikachu flinched as it saw the ball.

"What's wrong?" ash asked, "Do you not like Poké Balls or something?".

"Pika" replied the mouse with a nod.

"You need to go inside so I can catch you," Ash explained, "but you can stay outside with me if you want". Pikachu's ears perked up, it then nodded, though it was still afraid of the round device. Pikachu jumped of Ash's shoulder and onto the ground, ready for the ball. "Poké Ball, GO!" Ash exclaimed as the tossed the ball. It hit Pikachu on the head and it was absorbed in side turning into the same red energy that Charmander did. The ball fell to the ground and started rocking. One, two, three times and the ball stopped rocking and made a dinging sound, signifying the capture was successful. Ash picked up the ball and released Pikachu from it. "You ready to go buddy?" Ash asked his new partner.

"Pikachu!" it replied happily. Ash pulled out his Pokédex once again and scanned Pikachu.

"Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon. It can generate electric attacks from the electric pouches located in both of its cheeks." Ash then released Charmander from its ball too.

"Okay, according to the Pokédex you two are both male, right?" Ash asked, making sure the device was correct.

"Pika!" "Char!" they both confirmed with a nod.

"Okay! Let's go!" Ash exclaimed, they then started walking towards Route 1.