Hello Readers! This is my 1st Fanfiction, so I might start off a bit shaky. Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

As the clock struck 8:30, Ash turned on the TV. Agatha was competing in an exhibition battle against Bruno. The battle between the two Elite Four Pokémon trainers was as tense as a battle could get. But Ash wanted to be more than an Elite Four Member. Ash wanted to be the very best Pokémon trainer in the world, and to do that he had to strive past every one of the Elite Four, including the champion of the Kanto Region, Lance. Ash was going to receive his 1st Pokémon tomorrow, and his mother, Delia, had told him that he should probably go to bed so he could get the starter Pokémon he wanted tomorrow. Ash wasn't worried. He had already made a pact with his best friends, Leaf and Gary, the only other people receiving a Pokémon tomorrow. Ash had warned them that he was going to take Charmander. Leaf had reserved Bulbasaur. Gary wanted Squirtle. As Ash watched the battle between Agatha and Bruno, he saw a fierce Gengar, Agatha's signature Pokémon, give a devilish grin to Bruno's Hitmonlee. Agatha attacked first.

"Shadow Sneak," she hissed. Gengar disappeared into the shadows.

Unlike Agatha, Bruno roared at the top of his lungs. "Stay alert!" he called out to Hitmonlee.

Gengar took his time in the shadows. Waiting for what Ash felt was an eternity, Gengar finally popped out of the shadows and flew at Hitmonlee.

"Blaze Kick, " Bruno roared out. Before Gengar reached Hitmonlee, Hitmonlee's legs extended out and crashed into Gengar, sending Gengar reeling.

Interrupting the battle, Delia swiftly grabbed the remote and turned the TV off. "Do you want to be late to get that Charmander of yours?" she asked.

Sheepishly, Ash shook his head.

"Get some sleep then!" Delia said. Ash walked up the stairs to his room because an angry mother like Delia was more dangerous than an angry Hydregion.

Light filtered through Ash's window and into his eyes. Reluctantly pushing himself up, Ash caught sight of a poster in his room. The poster was of a Charizard. No, not a Charizard, but the Charizard. Ash had watched as Lance's Charizard had single handedly taken out beasts like Giovanni's Rhyperior and Lorelei's Mamoswine. Ash realized, "I'm getting a Pokémon today!". Now energized, Ash prepared to go to the famed Prof. Oak's lab. Dashing down the stairs, Ash looked at the pancakes on the table and started devouring them. Every second he wasted eating was a moment without his 1st Pokémon.

Delia saw him eating and commented. "Slow down young man. You can't make a first impression on Charmander by throwing up." Ash slowed from the pace of a Snorlax to the pace of a Munchlax. Once he was finished with his breakfast, he nearly burst out the door.

Delia stopped him. "You forgot your bag! Where are you going to keep all your findings with Charmander?".

Ash replied," I got it!".

Delia told Ash, "I'll be there in a few minutes. I have to get ready for work. Go on ahead without me". Ash flew out the door with his bag.

The run to Prof. Oak's lab was a long one, and it gave Ash time to reflect. He thought about how lucky he was that he managed to make the top three on the exam Oak had given all the young trainers in Pallet town. Only the top three would be getting Pokémon. The rest would have to wait another six months for a Pokémon. If Ash hadn't made the top three, he would only have six months to prepare for the Indigo League. In a time gap that small, Ash doubted he could even get six gym badges. Ash, Gary, and Leaf were the top three students. When at Oak's lab, Ash discovered he was the last of the three to be there. Gary snorted. "Yo Ashy boy, we've been waiting here for the last 6 months!".

Ash replied, "Even if you got a six month head start you wouldn't have beat the Cerulean Gym by the time the Indigo League started".

Leaf commented, "Wouldn't matter. Both of you will be beaten by me in the League anyway."

Prof. Oak ended the discussion. "They're going to be your Pokémon, not mine." That got all of their attention. "1st, the pokedex. These are national pokedex, and only you three will be getting them. The other trainers will receive Kanto Pokedex. Next, we have the Poke balls. You kids know what these do, I'd hope." Just then, a car parked at the lab. It was none other than Delia, Ash's mom.

She walked in and asked, "Did I miss Ash getting his 1st Pokémon?".

Prof. Oak replied, "No, I was just about to do that now. But first, the three of you should know that the Pokémon you will be receiving are special."

Gary said, "Gramps, these Pokémon are literally the starters for over half of Kanto".

Oak snorted after hearing Gary's rather confident tone. "These Pokémon are truly special. They have been specially bred with egg moves thanks to extra hours put in by Delia." At this, Ash looked at his mom with astonishment. He noticed that his mom had started to come home later from the past 3 weeks or so, but he hadn't realized that his mom was doing those extra hours for him, Gary, and Leaf.

Delia laughed. "I wanted the best for Ash and his friends!". Ash grinned at his mom.

"Thanks mom!" Ash said.

Gary grinned at the prospect of an even stronger Pokémon. "Ms. Ketchum, I owe you one!"

Leaf squealed with delight and said, "Thank you Ms. Ketchum!".

Prof. Oak said, "Follow me." Ash peered into the room they were entering. It was mostly empty, but there was a table with three poke balls on it. One poke ball had the sticker of a leaf, one the sticker of a fire, and one sticker of a raindrop. "Leaf, you may choose first, as you topped the class."

Leaf held the poke ball with the grass sticker on it for the longest time, as if she couldn't believe this was really happening. Ash couldn't blame her. He could barely believe it either. Popping open the poke ball, a Bulbasaur came out. Bulbasaur looked around, confused at why so many people were around him. Leaf bent down. "Bulbasaur, I'm going to be your trainer from now on, if that's what you want". When Bulbasaur heard those words, the small Pokémon smiled widely. Prof. Oak handed Leaf a Pokedex.

"This is the pokedex. Use it to scan Bulbasaur". Oak then handed Pokedexes to Gary and Ash. Leaf opened the pokedex and hovered it over Bulbasaur for a second.

Leaf told Bulbasaur, "This won't hurt. It will just look at what you can do." Bulbasaur nodded rather seriously. The Pokémon seemed to be desperate to leave Oak's lab. Soon, the pokedex had information.

Bulbasaur, The Seed Pokémon. This Bulbasaur is a Level 5 Male Pokémon. It knows the moves Ingrain, Petal Dance, Tackle, and Growl.

Leaf beamed at Bulbasaur. "You're quite a tough little guy, aren't you?". Bulbasaur nodded his head up and down fiercely, even extending a few vines.

Oak handed Leaf her poke balls and said, "Ash, you can pick next."

Ash walked up to the table and confidently grabbed the poke ball with the flame sticker attached. He opened the poke ball revealing a Charmander. "Char?", Charmander questioned. Ash realized that Charmander didn't realize what was happening.

Ash squatted down to look Charmander in the eye. "Charmander, do you want to be the strongest Charizard in all of the eight regions?". Charmander nodded his head and attempted to roar.

"Char Char!".

Ash replied, "I'm going to help you achieve that. This device in my hand won't hurt you. It will just look at your strength". Charmander already trusted Ash and let the Pokedex touch his head.

Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon. This Charmander is a Level 5 Male Pokémon. It knows the moves Dragon Rush, Metal Claw, Scratch, and Growl.

Ash whistled. "With a move set like this, you're already the strongest Charmander there is." Charmander let out a trilling noise which Ash interpreted as happiness. "I'm going to return you to your poke ball now. I'll release you when we're outside". While looking downcast, Charmander accepted it. Rethinking what he said, Ash changed his mind. "Actually, you can stay outside of your ball". Charmander looked at Ash gratefully. Oak handed Ash his poke balls and told Gary to take his Squirtle.

Gary, too, strode up to the table confidently and opened the poke ball swiftly. Squirtle looked around, disoriented by the sudden release into reality. When Squirtle saw the professor, he gave Oak a withering glare. Oak just smiled. "This one has wanted to leave the lab the day he hatched".

Gary said, "Squirtle, I'm going to be your trainer. Together we're going to make Lance's Dragonite look like a Caterpie." Squirtle turned to Gary and smirked devilishly. "Let me check what you can do". Gary tapped the pokedex to Squirtle's head.

Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pokémon. This Squirtle is a Level 5 Male Pokémon. It knows the moves Mirror Coat, Water Spout, Tackle, and Tail Whip.

Gary grinned. "Those are looking like some pretty tough moves, Squirtle. Maybe you'll be able to keep up with me." Squirtle didn't even bother agreeing, because he knew he was more than capable of keeping up with his trainer. Professor Oak gave Gary his poke balls.

"I know Gary and Ash have wanted to battle since they were toddlers. Just take the battle outside, will you?". Gary and Ash ran outside, Charmander and Squirtle on their heels. Once outside, Ash took a good look at Gary's Squirtle. It looked like it could take a few hits. Both of them looked as Leaf and Bulbasaur came outside.

Leaf told the pair, "Let me referee the battle". Both of the boys nodded their heads in acceptance. "This will be a One vs One battle between Gary Oak and Ash Ketchum. Let the battle begin!".

Gary started off. "Squirtle, use Tail Whip!". Squirtle turned around, wagging his tail at Charmander. Charmander got noticeably furious at the antics of Squirtle.

Ash told Charmander, "Calm down, getting mad will leave you more vulnerable to attacks. Use Scratch!". Charmander got up close to Squirtle and slashed at Squirtle.

Gary called out, "Squirtle, roll into your shell." Squirtle tucked itself into its shell and let the attack bounce off. "Now use tackle!". Squirtle popped out of its shell and crashed into Charmander, and the two Pokémon started wrestling each other. Neither Gary or Ash gave their Pokémon commands and just watched the two tussle it out. After a few minutes, Charmander stood victorious over a Squirtle on its shell.

Leaf called, "Squirtle is unable to battle. The winners are Ash and Charmander!'

Ash had a grin so wide he thought his face would split. He was proud seeing how Charmander was able to overpower Squirtle and even push Squirtle onto its shell so it couldn't move. "Good job!". He lifted Charmander up and took him to Oak's lab. "We have to get you healed up." Gary followed them.

"You won't get so lucky next time Ashy boy. Don't get used to winning against me," Gary warned Ash.

"Sure, Gary", Ash replied.

As the pair walked into Oak's lab, Ash found that Delia had already started her work. Oak asked them, "How did the battle go?".

Gary muttered, "He won."

Both Gary and Ash had their Pokémon healed up quickly. Gary left almost immediately. "Squirtle and I are going to train so hard that next time I see you, you won't even get to attack before I've won.".

Prof. Oak looked at Ash and said, "Ash, could you do me a favor?". Ash nodded his head. Prof. Oak had given him a Pokémon, so Ash should do something in return. "There is a parcel that I ordered for the lab waiting for me in Viridian City. I would send a scientist, but we have our hands full at the moment. Could you get it for me?".

Ash nodded. "That's a simple task. I'll do that".

Oak smiled gratefully. "Well, you should probably start your journey to becoming a Pokémon master now".

Ash took Charmander out of his poke ball and said, "Let's go!". With that, they walked out of Oak's lab and to the wonders of Route One.

So, how was Chapter One? Constructive criticism is appreciated. Leave a comment on what Pokemon you hope Ash will get. As a side note, I'm looking for Pokemon with personality. For example, even though Metagross is a cool Pokemon, Ash probably won't be getting one because he is a person with a lot of emotion, whereas Metagross is a factual Pokemon. Please leave suggestions about Pokemon a character should get or future rivals of Ash's.