Chapter 1: I Choose you!

(It's currently 10:45 pm, a time where a 10 year old boy is watching a recording of an old Indigo League Finals Pokémon battle between two talented trainers, Samuel and Agatha. Both battlers have only 3 Pokémon left. The boy cheers on the two trainers from his Television screen as Samuel's Nidorino uses a Horn Attack on Agatha's Arbok, resulting in a knockout.)

"My, oh my" The Announcer roars in astonishment, "That was a hard hitting horn attack from Nidorino!"

"Ha, that's all you got, Agatha?" Samuel calls out to his opponent.

"My Nidorino knocked out your Arbok so easily, I'm worried what you said earlier might have been a bluff."

"Yeah yeah Sammy, keep rubbing it in." Agatha grumbled, retrieving her unconscious Arbok.

"It'll just make it all the sweeter when I beat you." Her annoyed expression turned into a playful smile as she grabbed another Pokéball from her belt.

"Gengar, I choose you!" Agatha calls out as the Shadow Pokémon emerges from its Pokéball as a shadow, eventually forming its body.

"Looks like Agatha has called her Ace Pokémon, Gengar. Does she have a particular strategy in mind?"

Samuel smirks. "Gengar, huh? Well then, Nidorino, use a Poison sting attack!" Nidorino spews out a multitude of small poisonous needles from its mouth, but this proves futile as Gengar turns into a shadow, resulting in the attack hitting nothing.

"Oh my, Nidorino's Poison sting completely misses its target."

"Wait, what? How did Gengar dodge?"

A bemused Samuel shouts as his Nidorino's signature move completely misses.

Agatha, with a wide grin, replies to her opponent's confusion "Oh dear Sammy, did you miss your attack? That's a Gengar's special ability, it can turn itself into a shadow to sneak up on unsuspecting people and Pokémon, speaking of which-"

Gengar reforms behind Nidorino. "Nidorino! Behind you!" Samuel shouts to the Poison pin Pokémon.

"Gengar, use Night Shade!" Gengar constructs a frightening mirage, causing Nidorino to freeze in fear before being knocked back by an unknown force.

"Nidorino!" Samuel calls out to his Pokémon. "That was a powerful Night Shade by Agatha's Gengar!" The Announcer shouts. "Nidorino, are you okay?

Can you keep fighting?" Nidorino lets out a roar of determination as it re-assumes its battle stance.

Samuel sighs in relief as he sweats nervously. "Oh? What wrong Sammy boy? Didn't expect Night Shade to hurt that much? Gengar, use Double-edge!"

Gengar charges forward at a near breakneck speed. "Ok Nidorino, use an Ice beam attack!" Nidorino concentrates icy-cold energy into its horn before firing it. Gengar melds into the ground, becoming a shadow once more to avoid the attack.

"Again!? I know your trick Agatha. It's not gonna work" Samuel shouts confidently. "Nidorino behind you, Ice beam!" Nidorino turns around to fire the icy-cold beam of energy once more, but doesn't see its target anywhere. "Wait, where's Gengar?" Samuel questioned.

"Sorry Sammy boy, but did you really think I'd attack from behind again?" Agatha laughed proudly. "Gengar, use Night Shade!"

"Gengar appears out of the shadows and lands a direct hit with NightShade once again" yells the Announcer. "That Night Shade seemed to do more damage than the last one. If Samuel isn't careful, he could lose Nidorino."

Samuel grunts in frustration.

"He's right you know," Agatha says. "If you don't act quickly, Nidorino won't last much longer." Samuel is lost in thought as he tries to come up with a plan.

"Now, use Confuse Ray." Agatha calls out to her Gengar. Nidorino is bombarded with bright lights flashing in his eyes, causing the Poison pin Pokémon to stumble in a daze, repeatedly slamming its head into the floor.

"Now use Mega Punch!" Gengar charges forward at Nidorino, and slugs it with a punch thrown with muscle-packed power, knocking Nidorino further into the ground. "That was a direct hit! Will Nidorino survive this flurry of blows?"

Samuel, snapped out of his daze, decides to act. "Ok, it's now or never! Nidorino, snap out of it and knock Gengar away!" Nidorino shakes off the confusion, and knocks Gengar off it with a close-range Poison sting with its horn.

"Nidorino escapes, and with stamina to spare! But will it be enough to see its fight against Gengar through?" Agatha smirks. "About time you came to. I got tired of watching Gengar beat Nidorino without you putting up a fight. Try not to lose too hard, Sammy boy."

Samuel smirks "I plan on winning this Agatha." Samuel looks to his Nidorino as Nidorino looks back to him and nods in agreement.

"Nidorino, use Poison sting." Nidorino spews out a multitude of small poisonous needles from its mouth like before.

"Again, with the Poison stings? That's not gonna work. Gengar, you know what to do!" Gengar becomes a shadow on the ground and approaches Nidorino.

But Samuel was hoping for this. "Nidorino, spin around and use Poison sting!" Gengar emerges to use a Night Shade, but is preoccupied dodging the Nidorino's Poison sting attack, and this was what Samuel was waiting for.

"NOW USE MIMIC!" Nidorino halts its barrage of poisonous needles and copies Gengar's Night Shade attack, as Gengar is knocked back and lands on the remaining Poisonous needles on the ground.

"Incredible, spreading Poison sting on the ground and knocking Gengar on the ground with it's signature move to take more damage from the needles on the ground.

"Gengar! Grr, looks like you caught me off guard Sammy, but we're not done yet! Gengar use Mega Punch."

Gengar charges forward at Nidorino, but Samuel was expecting this. "Nidorino use Ice beam" Nidorino concentrates cold energy into its horn and fires the cold, blue beam of energy, which Gengar dodges.

"Ha, did you think that would hit Gengar?" Agatha says as she gives a cocky smirk.

"I wasn't aiming for Gengar'' Nidorino's Ice beam hits the ground, turning Agatha's half of the Battlefield into an iced over.

"What? What are you doing?" Agatha asks with a bemused expression. "This! Use Poison sting with your horn, and charge at Gengar!"

Nidorino's horn glows a bright purple as it charges at Gengar.

The two Pokémon clash and the attacks cancel out. "Gengar, use Mega Punch!" Agatha commands. Gengar charges at Nidorino as its fist glows with energy.

Nidorino dodges due to Gengar having extra momentum from the ice. "No way!" Agatha shouts in disbelief.

Samuel pumps his fist in relief as Gengar leaves itself open to an attack. "Use Ice beam, once more!" The Poison pin Pokémon fires the beam of cold energy from its horn, this time the attack strikes true, hitting Gengar before it could react.

"Gengar!" shouts a surprised Agatha. "Remarkable! Using the extra momentum from the partially iced Battlefield to make Gengar slide out of control, leaving it open to an attack from behind!"

As Gengar stumbles back to its feet, Agatha calls out "Gengar, are you ok? Can you still fight?"

Gengar nods, affirming it still has strength left. "Good! Gengar, use Hypnosis!"

"Nidorino, get out of the way!" Samuel yells out, but the iced Battlefield results in Nidorino slipping and being caught by the move, putting it to sleep.

"Seems like Agatha is using Samuel's advantage to her advantage. What's Samuels next move?"

Samuel calls Nidorino back into its Pokéball calling for another Pokémon."Nidorino, come back. Go, Onix!" Onix stands tall against Gengar as the two Pokémon charge at each.

Before they could clash, the tape is cut short by an irritated Delia. "Young man, what are you doing up at this hour!? It's past 8:30!"

"Come on mom," The boy pleads "Just 5 more minutes?"

An exasperated Delia replies "You asked that two hours and fifteen minutes ago. Now go on, off to bed. You wouldn't want to miss becoming a Pokémon trainer, would you?"

The boy's eyes light up. "Oh right, I forgot! I'll get my Trainer's license tomorrow from Professor Oak's lab, tomorrow!" "

That's right, make sure to get lots of sleep for tomorrow, because you wouldn't like it if the other trainers got their Pokémon before you, right?"

"Right!" The boy climbs into his loft and tucks himself in.

"Would you like me to wake you up?" Delia asked her son. "Mooom," the boy groaned. "I'm not a little boy anymore. I can wake myself up."

"Ok honey, but set your alarm just in case." "Ok, Mom." The boy replies as sets his Pokéball clock for past 6 o'clock. He goes to sleep and dreams about the 3 starter Pokémon he could possibly get.

"Charmander, it's a Pokémon that takes awhile to raise, but can be invaluable if you evolve it." The boy mumbles in his sleep.

"But there's also Bulbasaur. That's a Pokémon that's simply to raise, makes it a Pokémon great for beginners." The boy tosses and turns in his sleep, snoring louder than before.

"No, wait, I'm gonna choose Squirtle. That's a Pokémon worth raising. It can fit almost any battle style or strategy."

(While the boy was sleeping, he knew he'd have an adventure of a lifetime, but little did he know that his journeys would be beyond his wildest dreams.)

"Wha-huh? What time is it!?" The boy looks around for his clock, before looking down at the smashed remains from his loft.

"Oops!"

Quickly cleaning up the smashed clock, the boy struggles himself dressed in a panic.

"Mom, why didn't you wake me up?" The boy questions his mother in a panicked tone, as he rushes into the kitchen.

"You said you wanted to wake yourself up," She replies. "Did you forget to set your clock like I told you?"

"No, I really did set my clock but I accidentally broke it." Delia gave an exasperated sigh. "At this rate, there won't be any Pokémon left." The ten-year old panics as he struggles with his pants zipper.

"It's OK honey, even your father didn't have the best start to his journey." Delia says as her son a reassuring smile. "Thanks mom, but-" he stares back at the clock, realizing that he might be even later, runs out the door yelling.

"SAVE A POKÉMON FOR ME!" Yelling after her son Delia says "Honey, be careful, there was a pothole near Oak's lab and you might-" But her son left her earshot seconds ago, sprinting like his life depended on it.

Making it to the Professor's laboratory, he spys a crowd of people near the entrance of the Lab.

And can hear a cheerleading squad energetically shout a name that made his blood boil "Larry Larry, he's our man, if he can't do it no one can! Larry Larry he's so great, becoming the best is just his fate! Goooo- Larry!"

The boy grumbles hearing that name. "Great, Larry's here." The boy pushes through the crowd, meanwhile apologizing to the people he bumps into.

Before he makes it to the staircase, he makes a misstep, accidentally stepping into the pothole, falling forward and slamming his nose hard onto the staircase.

Yelling out, the boy cradling his nose in pain as a familiar voice calls out to him. "Guess you really live up to your name huh, CRASHY BOY?"

Recognizing the voice, Crash looks up, turning his sour mood bitter.

"Larry!"

"Gee, didn't you see that pothole?" Larry asks in a sarcastic tone, "You should be more careful."

"Oh, shut it!" Crash snapped, "I didn't come here to argue with you, I came here for my Pokémon."

"Oh really," Larry replied with a cocky smirk. "Then go on ahead, I'm sure Gramps has plenty of Pokémon to give out." "I've already got mine."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Larry proceeds to spin his Pokéball on his finger. "What Pokémon did you get?" Crash asked. Even though Crash hated Larry, he couldn't deny that he was also curious about what Pokémon his childhood rival had picked.

"Well if you must know Crash, it's the best one." replied Larry with a prideful laugh. "Now if you excuse me, I have a car to catch."

"Car?" Crash asked with a confused look as Larry hops into the front seat of a convertible. Putting his index and his middle finger together, he mockingly salutes his dumbfounded rival. "Smell ya later, CRASHY BOY!" Garry calls out.

"Grr, that Larry!" Crash grumbled to himself. Snapping back to reality, Crash hurriedly ran up to the Lab door at a breakneck speed.

He rapped on the door furiously calling out: "Professor Oak? Professor Oak? It's me Crash Betchum. I'm here to get my Pokémon."

Professor Oak answers the door and sees a rather dirty boy at his doorstep. "Crash?" The Professor asked "Did you need something?"

Crash, pushing past the Professor, answers with "I'm sorry I'm late Professor, I overslept, but I'm here now, and I'm ready to get my first Pokémon."

"Are you sure you aren't already training a Pokémon Crash?" The Professor asked quizzically. "You look like a Pidgey used a Sand-Attack on you."

Crash stops in place to dust himself off before continuing to dash upstairs. Oak follows the 10 year old up the stairs and continues where he left off.

"I'm sorry Crash, but the Pokémon have already been taken by trainers that were on time." "They've already been taken?" Crash asked in disbelief.

"Yes they have." Oak answered. "I'm sorry Crash, but the early Pidgey eats the Caterpie."

A defeated Crash asks "Are there really no more Pokémon that I can have?" Oak sweats a bit before answering "Well, there is one Pokémon-" Crash's face lit up. "Really?" Crash asked in a hopeful tone. "There's one Pokémon left?" "Yes, but it's quite unruly. Not even I've been able to tame it."

"Don't worry Professor Oak, I'll take it, I'm not picky." Crash replied. "I don't care if it's a Rattata, or a Tauros. Any Pokémon'll do!"

Oak, finally letting up, hands Crash a peculiar looking Pokéball. It looks similar to a regular Pokéball but with a stylized "S" pattern on top of it that looks reminiscent of a Thunderbolt, along with a large circular yellow pattern on both sides on the ball.

"What type of Pokéball is this?" Crash questions. "It's a custom Pokéball." Oak answers matter-of-factly. Crash gulps with anticipation.

He presses the button and it opens, and a small rodent Pokémon emerges and calls out "Pikachu." "Woah!" Crash called out in wonder.

"That's a Pikachu." Oak answered. "It's an Electric type Pokémon that, despite its small size, can wield enormous amounts of Electricity."

Crash scoops up the electric mouse happily. "Hi Pikachu. I'm Crash and I'm your new trainer." Crash beamed.

Pikachu, annoyed that a strange boy picked it up so suddenly, greets the ten-year old with a Thundershock.

"But if threatened, it will let loose an electric charge from the red sacs on its cheeks. Shocking, isn't it?" Oak joked.

"Yeah, really shocking Professor…" Crash answered back.

Oak walks over to his desk and grabs a weird device and a belt containing 5 empty Pokéballs. "Here Crash, every good Trainer needs these"

Oak says handing him the device and Pokéballs. "That device is a Pokemon Index, or a Pokédex. It has information on all Pokémon in the Kanto region. It also acts as a Trainer card."

Crash puts down Pikachu and grabs the Pokédex in wonder. "Wow, science is so amazing!" Crash smiles as he scans the device from all angles.

Crash grabs the belt and Pokéballs from Oak, and tries to grab Pikachu, but Pikachu simply shocks him again. "This'll take a while," Crash groaned in pain.

After dragging Pikachu out of the Lab and down the stairs, Crash walks outside the Lab and is greeted by his mother.

"Hey Crash!" Delia calls out. "Oh hey mom," Crash answers. "What're doing here?"

"Oh I came to give you your Bag. I made sure to only pack necessities. I packed you some change of clothes, a week's worth of food, a washboard, rope and gloves to do your laundry, a thermos filled with lemonade in case you want something cold and a thermos with hot chocolate in case you want something hot, but make sure not to burn yourself, some pocket change, and some Potions and antidotes for your Pokémon."

"T-thanks, mom." Replies an awestruck Crash, overwhelmed by how many things his mom was able to fit in his bag.

Delia looks down and sees the electric mouse Pokémon. "Oh, is this little charmer your Pokémon dear?"

She asked with interest as she knelt down to get a better look at the electric mouse. Pikachu blushed a bit, not being used to compliments

"Yep," Crash affirmed, beaming with pride. "Pikachu is my Pokémon."

Pikachu, hearing that, snaps out of its trance and turns its back to Crash. "Pikachu?" Crash calls out. "Pi!" Pikachu lets a few sparks loose from its cheeks to stop its trainer from touching him.

Crash, understanding that Pikachu wanted to be left alone, pulls his hand back with a look of fear on his face. "Hey Crash" Delia asks.

"Yeah mom?" Crash answers back, attempting to regain his composure.

"I thought that Pokémon stay inside their Pokéballs."

"O-oh right. Alright buddy," Crash calls out pulling out Pikachu's Pokéball.

"Back in the ball!" A red beam shoots from the center in Pikachu's direction, but the mouse Pokémon nimbly sidesteps the beam. "Come on buddy," Crash grumbles in an increasingly irritated tone, trying to stay calm, "Get in the ball."

A red beam once more shoots from the center in Pikachu's direction, but is, again, able to nimbly sidestep the beam.

Crash continues to try returning Pikachu into its ball, but it proves fruitless as Pikachu dodges all the attempts to be put back into its Pokéball.

Crash attempts once more, but Pikachu knocks the ball out of his hand with its tail. The ball falls to the ground and Crash is in disbelief.

"Really?" Delia asked. "He doesn't seem to like you very much."

Crash walks over to pick up Pikachu's Pokéball and replies "Don't worry mom, we'll become fast friends, right buddy?" Crash asked as he turned to face Pikachu opening his hand. Pikachu turned to Crash and used its tail to knock his hand away.

"I hope so, it'd be such a shame if a Pokémon and their trainer couldn't become friends," Delia cooed. Pikachu opens an eye to look back at Delia, and sees her opening her palm out as if inviting the mouse Pokémon to come closer. "Right Pikachu?" She asked, giving a gentle smile.

Crash, internally panics, worrying that the electric mouse would shock his mom.

Pikachu cautiously approaches the outstretched hand in front of him, giving it a quick sniff. And instead of an electric shock the mouse Pokémon gives a visual shock as it clambers up her arm and hops onto her shoulder. "Oh my!" Delia yelped in surprise. "I didn't expect that to happen." Pikachu then started nuzzling her cheek like a family pet. Delia returns the gesture by petting the electric mouse as one would do with a Cat Pokémon.

Crash, exchanged a dumbfounded look with the Professor. They couldn't believe that the wily Pikachu that they had had to drag out of the Lab, while it bit and electrocuted them, was now laying in Delia's lap.

Crash then attempts to reach his arm out to his starter, but the mouse Pokémon rejects, swatting the back of the boy's hand and turning away.

The mouse Pokémon then hops out of Delia's lap, and turns to face him in a battle ready position, as its cheeks spark with electricity.

Crash, a bit fearful, puts his hands up as he approaches the electric mouse. "Hey, Pikachu. I don't mean any harm. I just wanna be friends."

Pikachu's cheeks sparked more intensely with each step as Crash took.

"C'mon, Pikachu, calm down." Crash calls out to the electric mouse, attempting to calm it down, but Pikachu, deciding that this human was close enough, charges a Thundershock.

But before it could fire its attack, Delia rushes over and lifts Pikachu up. The bit of discharge had stung her, but wasn't enough to cause lasting damage. Pikachu, shocked at this, stares back at the kind hearted woman. While Delia holds the electric rodent in her left arm and begins caressing it with her right, the mouse Pokémon lets out a soft cry, signaling that it enjoyed the attention.

"I see that you don't like humans very much," Delia started, with Pikachu giving her a look that read 'Of course I don't.'

"But you can trust me when I say that my son isn't bad." Delia continued. "Sure, he's stubborn, but he's kind, and genuinely cares for you. I'm sure if you travel with him long enough, you'll grow to like him. Maybe even more than me. So, will you give my son a chance?"

The electric mouse ponders this for a bit, before looking up at the kind woman and replying with an affirmative 'Pika.'"Wonderful," She smiled, "but first," Delia's grip on the electric mouse tightened a bit, startling it. "You need to apologize for being so rude to Crash." The small rodent nods its head in agreement. Hopping out of Delia's embrace and bowing its head at the 10 year old.

Crash, meanwhile, was still processing the events that had transpired thirty seconds earlier. After a quick tap on the shoulder from his mom, he then welcomes the electric mouse Pokémon to his team.

After saying his final farewells, Crash makes his way out of Pallet Town to truly start his Pokémon journey.

After a short walk, Crash and Pikachu make it to an open field and spot a Pidgey, pecking at the ground. "All right, a Pidgey!" Crash says, pumping his fist in excitement "Now all I need to do is battle it. Hey, Pikachu!" Crash looked to his side looking for the electric Pokémon, but saw that it was no longer by his side. "Huh, Pikachu? Pikachu, where are you?" Crash called out. But the electric mouse was nowhere to be seen. "Hmm, this is bad. The Pidgey'll fly away if I can't find Pikachu in time." Crash weighs his options for a moment, before deciding that he'd find other Pokémon and continues his search for his starter.

He then spies the electric mouse in a nearby tree, happily snoozing away in the noon sun. Crash, now a bit irritated, shouts "PIKACHU!" This is enough to wake the mouse Pokémon from its sleep. "I've been looking all over for you. And you decide to abandon me?"

"Pika." The small mouse Pokémon nods, still a bit sleepy. Crash grumbled. Even after his mom pacified the rodent, it was still disobedient.

"Fine! I don't need you! I'll just catch the next Pokémon I see by myself! And that Pokémon'll be my starter" Crash shouted back.

"Pi?" Pika tilted its head curiously. Before falling back in a fit of laughter. It didn't know a lot about humans let alone Pokémon trainers, but it did know that another Pokémon was required for catching another.

Crash looked back at his electric starter, annoyed.

"Keep laughing. Once I catch a Pokémon without your help, you'll have to respect me."

Crash opens his backpack and pulls out a lunchbox. He pulls a spinach, lettuce, and cucumber sandwich out and cuts it in half with a butter knife. He lays out one half in an open field on the ground, and takes a bite out of the other.

Mom really out does herself with these, doesn't she? Crash smiled to himself.

He crawls backwards into the tall grass and waits for any Pokémon to spring his trap.

And now we wait…

5 minutes pass.

Crash fiddles with a large blade of grass near his nose and sneezes. Looking back at the sandwich trap, it looked completely untouched. Crash sighed and continued to steakout.

10 minutes pass.

Crash stares at the sandwich intently before hearing a low growling sound. In a panic, he looks around the open field before hearing it again.

What was that? Was that a Nidoking? No… Nidoran can't be caught here, let alone a Nidoking…

The growling intensifies, startling him even more.

What could it be? An Arcanine? A Persian? Or maybe a-

The growling had become noticeably louder. As Crash looks down, he sees his stomach bulge out a bit before eventually stopping as the growling stops.

"Oh!" Crash realizes in embarrassment, "I'm just hungry." He pulls out a small bag from his pocket and munches on a few Pokémon-shaped Crackers.

30 minutes later

Crash had become a bit tired of watching and waiting for any Pokémon to take his bait.

"It's been almost an hour and nothing's -yawn- taking the bait." Crash mumbled sleepily.

"Eh, it's not gonna be a problem if I sleep a bit. After all, I'm not in a rush, and -yawn- the sun feels so good today." Crash eventually falls asleep with the warm sun shining on his face.

2 hours later

Crash eventually wakes up and spies a Rattata gnawing on the last bit of the sandwich bait.

Crash completely wakes himself before grabbing a Pokéball and throwing it at the purple rat Pokémon. The Rattata is caught off guard and the ball hits its mark.

"Alright!" Crash shouts in excitement. The unexpected noise wakes up Pikachu, still napping in the tree. The electric rodent shakes off its sleepiness and stares at its self-proclaimed Trainer, the young boy who was whooping and cheering as if he had already caught the Pokémon.

The ball shakes once. Crash stares at the ball in a mix of excitement and uneasiness, practically sweating with anticipation.

The ball shakes twice. Pikachu stares attentively. Whether from the hidden desire for it's trainer to succeed, or from anticipation, even Pikachu itself didn't know.

The ball opens up and the Rattata emerges from the Pokéball, a bit annoyed. Crash, in shock, attempts to reach for another Pokéball, but the Rattata finishes the last of the sandwich and scurries away.

"W-wait!" Crash called out in a shaky voice "Come back!" But it was too late. The Rattata had already scurried away, and far out of sight.

Crash looked back where the Rattata ran away to. Then to where the sandwich was.

Then he looked back to where the Rattata ran away to. Then back down to where the sandwich was.

Well this couldn't get any worse…

Crash though before he heard a disgustingly, bone-shuddering -squelch- that made him pause where he stood. He slowly lowered his head, whether it was from the adrenaline or from his rising anger, he didn't know, but right then he didn't care. He let out an enraged cry of anger.

"OF COURSE I STEP IN PIDGEY POOP! WHAT ELSE WOULD I STEP IN!?"

Crash would have continued his anger induced tirade, were it not for a sound. A familiar sound. It sounded like… laughter? But could it be? There was no one else around but him and-

Crash looked back on the branch the yellow mouse had perched itself on and he saw it leaning on the trunk, laughing so hard it seemed to have been clutching its gut with its free paw.

"He has the gall to laugh at me?" Crash snarled. The enraged 10 year old marched towards the giggling Pikachu, when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Crash gave a mischievous grin, as he had thought of a way to get back at the mirthful electric mouse . So he stepped back and picked up a rock that was just small enough to fit in his palm, and threw it at the electric mouse as hard as he could.

The thrown stone hits the electric mouse Pokémon squarely on its nose causing it to fall and lose its balance on the branch it was standing on.

Pikachu, its mind still dwelling on the fact that something had hit its face, was falling to the ground head first, causing it to hit its head hard on a bump in the ground.

Pikachu stumbles to its feet, reeling from the bump it felt was forming on its forehead. It turns in the direction of the boy it was watching prior. The electric rodent stares in shock as it sees the 10 year old laughing at it. This is enough to anger the mouse, causing its cheeks to spark with electricity. The angered Pikachu fires a Thundershock towards Crash. But due to it still being somewhat dizzy, the electric attack doesn't quite hit its intended recipient.

Crash is able to dodge it but the Pokémon behind isn't as lucky. As a sharp cry is heard Crash turns around and sees what the electric attack hit. He looks on in horror as the blackened body of a Spearow lies in front of him.

OhnoOhnoOhnoOhnoOhnoOhnoOhnoOhno! It hit a Spearow! What am I gonna do!? OK, just calm down Crash, if it's unconscious then we'd have about 10 minutes before it wakes up and calls for its flock.

Crash then looks back at Pikachu, who's readying another Thundershock. Crash, quickly thinking, calls out to the electric mouse before it could fire off another attack.

"Pikachu, stop!"

"Pi?"

"Your Thundershock hit a Spearow, and if it wakes up, there's no way we'll get away. So please, we'll fight each other later but let's do it when we're safe from-"

Crash's sentence was cut short as a loud, shrill Screech was heard. Crash turned around as the same Spearow, barely conscious, was now shouting at the top of its lungs. Crash, now panicking, sprinted towards the Electric mouse. Unfortunately, the Spearow's flock had attacked the electric mouse Pokémon, with Pikachu doing its best to swat them away. Despite having the type advantage, Pikachu couldn't do much against the endless onslaught of Fury Attacks, with one Spearow landing a particularly nasty hit on Pikachu, causing a nasty gash on its forehead.

Fortunately, Crash was able to swat the violent Tiny Bird Pokémon away, and grab Pikachu before they could do any more harm. But by the time he had grabbed the yellow rodent however, he was greeted by an approaching flock of Spearow. Crash turned his cap backward, tucked Pikachu close to his chest, gritted his teeth and ran toward the angry flock. He barreled through some of them but didn't make it out unscathed. He continued to run. And he ran. And ran. And ran.

"I won't stop running," Crash shouted between breaths. His heart beat relentlessly in his chest, his legs aching with pain and he felt as if he could fall over at any moment. But when he thought about stopping, his gaze fell back to Pikachu, now covered in more cuts and bruises from his early charge through the flock of Spearow with its breathing slowing, bit by bit, his resolve strengthened, causing him to increase his speed even further.

Oh no, those Spearow had done more damage than I thought. If I don't find somewhere for Pikachu to rest, then- No!

"Just hang in there buddy," Crash called to the barely conscious Pikachu, "you're gonna be just fine! You hear me? You're gonna be just-"

Crash was cut off as he had reached a cliff and had nearly fallen off the edge. Crash looked down, trying to see how long the drop was.

A fall like that could seriously hurt me and Pikachu!

Before he could mentally solve the dilemma before him, he heard rampant angry squawking just behind him. Taking that as an answer, Crash tucked his starter Pokémon closer to his chest, and jumped into the stream below.

As Crash rode the waters downstream, he eventually found it hard to keep himself afloat due to his physical exhaustion, carrying Pikachu and the rough waters.

He found himself being bobbed up and down, most of the time unintentionally due to the water's force. Even after being whirled around by the speed of the stream and bumping into several rocks, Crash's only concern was the Pokémon he was carrying.

Once the whirling and bumping had ceased, Crash eventually found himself sinking lower, and lower to the bottom of a lake. He thrashed about, trying to reach the water's surface, but his efforts bore no fruit as he continued to sink.

He looked down and saw-

A Gyarados!? I have a plan but I need to time this right.

The Atrocious Pokémon swam by, not noticing the ten year old boy catching a ride on its back.

Ready… 3. 2. 1!

Crash pushes off the Gyarados's tail, giving him just enough of a boost Crash to ride the momentum to the surface. But Crash didn't expect to get pulled into a nearby current.

Here we go aaaaaaaaaaagain!

Crash felt himself slowly losing what little air he had inside his lungs as he was pulled in a fixed direction by the current. After what seemed like an eternity for the young man, he was finally back in calmer waters. After everything Crash had been through, he had no energy or any air to swim upward. Crash, exhaustedly lifted his head towards the light of the sun, still so far out of reach. When he suddenly felt a strong tug on the hood of his shirt. A quick tug yanks him out of the water, finally feeling air grace his lungs again.

As Crash began coughing up water, a voice call out to his direction

"Hey, are you ok?"

Crash looked up at who was talking, and it was a girl. She had striking red hair, wore a tank top, a pair of shorts and was for some reason, wearing suspenders. Whether they were for looks or held her shorts up, Crash didn't know, but he did know that they seemed to be around the same age.

"Yeah, I'm fine. A bit tired and cold but I'm OK. "

"Not you!"

"Wha?"

"I'm talking about the Pokémon you're holding! Is it still breathing?"

Crash paused to check for a heartbeat. It's beat was slower but it was beating.

"You should take that Pikachu to a Pokémon Center ASAP!"

"There's a Pokémon center near here?"

"Yeah, it's in Viridian City."

"In Viridian City?"

"Yeah, the next town over." She pointed northeast, towards a dirt path.

"I guess my little detour saved me some time."

"Yeah, at the cost of your Pokémon's wellbeing!"

"Look, I didn't want to jump of a cliff and into a stream, I was being chased by-"

An ear piercing Screech had cut Crash off before he could finish. Crash looked to where the sound came from and he was once again filled with panic. The Spearow hadn't given up their search.

"THEM!" Crash screamed as he ran toward a bike. Just as he placed The soaking wet Pikachu in the basket, the red haired girl yelled at him.

"Hey, what're you doing, that's my bike!"

"I'll give it back to you in Viridian City once my partner's ok!"

"You can't just up and steal a girl's bike!"

"I'll pay you back someday!"

As the girl grumbled from behind, Crash began to ride off in the direction of the dirt path, hoping that he would save his partner in time.

Hang in there buddy, we'll be in Viridian City soon. Just wait a little while longer…

Crash felt something wet hit his head. As he looked up he realized that it was beginning to rain. Crash felt the road was getting tougher to ride on, but gritted his teeth and pedaled harder. He rode a bit until he hit a stray pebble in the road and fell face first off the bike. Crash quickly dusted himself off and began scanning the now bent and dirty mess that was the bike he was riding on previously.

"Pikachu? Pikachu!? Where are you?" Crash called out. He began looking for his starter, but his sight was impaired due to the heavy rain. But then, a sharp but weak -Chaaaaaa- revealed that his starter was within a few feet away from him.

He rushed over to grab the weakened Pikachu, but the approaching cries of angry Spearow filled the air. Crash knew he wouldn't be able to outrun the Spearow in his condition. He was far too tired and he felt as if he would collapse with another step.

So he did the one thing he could do.

He knelt down and pulled out Pikachu's Pokéball, somewhat weathered but still usable.

"Pikachu, I know you don't like me but, you have to do as I say, if only this once…"

"Pi?"

Crash held out the Pokéball to Pikachu.

"Please go inside your ball. It's the only way you'll be safe, so please, go inside!"

Pikachu sat up, looking bad at the boy it had been fighting with moments before.

"If you're worried about me… then I'll be fine. Trust me! Just go inside your Pokéball and-!"

Before he could finish, the flock of Spearow had caught up, and were ready for revenge. Crash placed the Pokéball in front of Pikachu and turned to face the Spearow.

"HEY SPEAROW! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!? MY NAME IS CRASH BETCHUM AND I'M TEN YEARS OLD! I LIKE ADVENTURE AND POKÉMON BATTLES. AND I DISLIKE SELFISH, COCKY JERKS! MY DESTINY IS TO BECOME A POKÉMON MASTER! WHICH MEANS I'LL CATCH ALL OF YOU, YOU HEAR ME!"

The Spearow, without missing a beat, lunged at the exhausted ten year old. Crash stood his ground and opened his arms wide.

"IF YOU WANNA FIGHT ME, THEN FIGHT ME!"

Pikachu stood up, filled with vigor from its trainer's act of selflessness. It began to run up its trainer's leg and jump off of his shoulder.

"PIKACHU, STOP!"

"PI-KA-CHU"

As soon as Pikachu shot its Thundershock, a bolt of lightning hit its tail, supercharging its attack, causing everything and everyone to become enveloped by the wave of Electricity.

As Crash lay down on the muddy ground, completely out of stamina, he turned to see the electric mouse looking back at him, also exhausted.

"You did it… buddy."

Pikachu shook its head and attempted to lift its paw to point at Crash, then back at itself, before dropping down.

"You mean, we did it?"

Pikachu affirmed this by nodding.

Then as the clouds cleared up, Crash and Pikachu looked on and saw a Rainbow colored Bird Pokémon in the sky. As the Pokémon flew on it created a rainbow from its tail feathers.

"What Pokémon is that?" Crash asked quizzically.

Crash pulled out his Pokédex to get an answer but the Pokédex simply said that the Pokémon could not be identified, as there were even Pokémon that it had no record of.

"Unidentified Pokémon? Huh." Crash though aloud, as he stared in awe at the Rainbow the mysterious bird Pokémon flew by.

Then a -thud- breaks Crash daydream as he turns around and sees Pikachu laying on the ground face first.

"Ah, Pikachu! Don't worry buddy, I'll get you to a Pokémon Center right now."

Crash scooped up the unconscious Pikachu and began to sprint to Viridian City, hoping that he could still help his partner Pokémon.

End of Chapter 1