AN: Great news everybody! My copyright finally went through so this mega update is to celebrate! My short story is called 'The Stranger' and you can find it on amazon. There will be a link to it on the Facebook page for my stories. I want to thank everyone for supporting as I write and for anyone who ends up getting my story. This is hopefully the latest step to becoming a full-time writer.

AN2: In this I'm making Pikachu less of a brat in the beginning so he's going to give Ash a chance. He won't be instant best friends but also won't be trying to commit electric murder on everyone that isn't a Pokémon.

Fight Smart

Chapter one

-Ash-

"And finally, Ash," Samuel Oak, regional professor of Kanto smiled at him as he stepped forward to pick up the remaining Pokéball on a table, the other trainers having just gotten their Pokémon "be sure to choose carefully." The old man quipped.

"Ha ha," he rolled his eyes and looked at his new starter, behind him Gary, Leaf, and Damian having already let out their starters and were observing them "at least you can be safe in the knowledge that you can try stand up if being a professor falls through."

"Comforting." The professor snorted dryly, "But be careful Ash, you've got a prideful one there. If he doesn't think you're a good enough trainer he might leave you."

"So, the twit'll lose his Pokémon within a week." Damian cackled, the pompous prick sharing a great deal of Gary's poorer characteristics without any of Gary's talent or empathy.

"Damian, Ash is an idiot but even he could kick your ass if you don't shut it." Gary snorted, the younger Oak's new Squirtle cackling as Damian's Charmander frowned and tried to stand away from its trainer.

"Ugh, boys." Leaf sighed, her Bulbasaur nodding in agreement.

"So, Ash," Gary grinned, shoving Damian aside as the fool squawked in protest "you up for a little battle? Gotta start my winning streak somewhere right?"

"I need to get heading to Viridian actually Pine tree." Ash smirked at the twitch in Gary's eye, having found the younger Oak hated being called by random tree names "There's a tournament there that I want to sign up for before all the spots get filled up."

"I didn't know there was a tournament soon." The professor frowned in confusion.

"It isn't for a little over a month, but the spots are limited, and first place has a cash prize, a full set of evolution stones, and an egg from one of the local gym leaders Pokémon." Ash grinned widely "If I get signed up I can focus on catching and training a team for the tournament before working on the gym circuit."

"Not a bad idea Ashy boy," Gary grinned, a competitive fire burning in his rival's eyes "I'll give you and Leaf a lift to Viridian and we can sign up. I'll need someone good to battle to make my win feel earned after all."

"What about me?!" Damian scowled, having picked up how Gary hadn't offered to give the trainer of Charmander a ride.

"You can walk, your skinny ass could use the exercise." Gary brushed off the glare, as the professor tried hard not to laugh at the conversation.

"Come on boys, you two can have your little measuring contest later." Leaf grabbed his and Gary's wrists, "If we have a tournament to sign up for then we'd better go."

"Works for me." He grinned, the trio leaving Damian behind as they ran out to where Gary's car was waiting, he and Leaf having put their foot down at Gary wanting to bring a squad of Cheerleaders with him on his journey. His mom was waiting for them at the car, smiling fondly as she made sure to give them each a hug, a basket of food prepared for them.

"Be careful you three," Delia Ketchum told them fondly "be safe, and listen to Leaf."

"Oh, come on mom, you always tell us to listen to Leaf." He groaned, Gary trying, and failing, to not sulk.

"She's the smart one." His mom teased.

"I take offense to that." Gary grumbled, yelping when Delia Ketchum started tugging his cheek.

"You're so adorable when you get offended." Delia teased as Ash and Leaf laughed at their fellow trainer's misfortune.

"You gonna come cheer us on at the tournament?" Ash asked his mother, having told her about his plans when he first heard about the competition being set up.

"Of course!" his mom gave a gasp of mock offense "Perish the thought of me missing Leaf wipe the floor with you boys."

"Oi!" he and Gary exclaimed in tandem, offended at that while Leaf just gave his mom a high five.

"Well you three be safe, call regularly, and all of you be sure to change your underwear." This time all three of them were mortified together at the comment from the woman who treated them all as her children.

"Yes ma'am." It scared Ash sometimes how in sink they were with that response whenever his mom gave the reminder.

"Alright guys hop in on." Gary jumped the frame into the driver seat of the convertible, revving the engine dramatically.

"Careful Gare-Bear, your compensation is showing." He grinned, taking the backseat as Leaf grabbed shotgun.

"Just don't stink up the seats Ashy-boy."

"Girls, girls, you're both pretty. Can we go now?" Leaf asked, nodding in eagerness at the thought of hitting the road.

"As the good lady commands!" Gary laughed and hit the gas, the little town of pallet soon fading into the dust behind them as Damian could be seen finally getting close to the exit of town. Halfway to Viridian Gary pulled the car off to the side of the road so they could stop for lunch and let their starters stretch out.

"So, Ash, what Pokémon did you get?" Leaf asked him as they started dividing out the ambrosia and nectar that was his mothers' cooking.

"Don't know," he frowned at that before pulling out the Pokéball "but let's find out. Come on buddy!" with a flash of light the Pokéball opened and the energy released formed into a small yellow creature.

"Pika." The small electric Pokémon stared Ash down, recognizing the Pokéball and silently judging both Ash and the item in question.

"Hey there little guy, name's Ash." He offered the starter half of his sandwich and the mouse Pokémon seemed a little happier at that as they both munched away. "So, the old man said you were a proud one." The Pikachu just smirked around his sandwich "At least things won't be boring." A thought struck him as he smirked up at Gary "And my starter has advantage over yours and Damian's if he ever gets it to evolve into a Charizard."

"Shut it Ketchup boy." Gary scowled, throwing a condiment packet at him while trying to ignore Leaf's snickering. Catching the ketchup packet Ash noticed Pikachu's eyes following the condiment hungrily so he tossed it to the Pokémon who let out a happy cry and tore into the tomato treat.

"Well that's helpful." Leaf rolled her eyes but put aside the rest of the ketchup, so they could bribe the small yellow Pokémon if he ever got attitude.

"Just like how Bulbasaur likes your chips." Ash asked, pointing to Leaf's plate where her pile of chips had been stolen by the small grass starter who tried to look innocent despite the crumbs covering its face.

"Why you little!" Leaf started to chase Bulbasaur around the clearing as he and Gary laughed.

"At least Squirtle doesn't have a problem like that." Gary smirked, taking a smug pose for a second before sighing, "He's doing something like that right behind me, isn't he?"

"Let's just say you need a new soda." He grinned as Squirtle wiggled on its shell and drained Gary's drink.

"Keep laughing Ashy-Boy, I'll kick your ass in the tournament." Gary opened a new drink and made sure to keep an eye on his starter to protect that one.

"Care for a little wager?" Ash asked his friends and rivals as Leaf rejoined them, a smirking Bulbasaur flopping beside her.

"What are the stakes?" Gary asked.

"And the rules?" Leaf added.

"Whoever makes it the farthest in the tournament is the winner." Ash explained "And they get one thing they can demand from both losers, within reason, for winning. A veto can be done but both losers have to agree it's not reasonable."

"You've got yourself a deal Ashy-Boy," Gary grinned "and I have two months to think of what to make you do."

"In your dreams, you both know I'll win." Leaf tossed her hair back with a smirk.

"I think Pikachu and I will have to disagree." The three of them held an intense stare off for only moments before it became too much, and they burst out laughing, the rest of their lunch spent relaxing and joking.

AN: A bit of a slow start but it's to set up Ash's personality and relationship with Gary and Leaf. He's not going to do any gyms till after that tournament, so it will be mostly training and catching a team before then. Any suggestions are welcome for what he catches but they have to be something you CAN catch in Kanto or Johto in any of the games.