The walk to his house was uneventful as Ash made his way home. The quaint town of Pallet seemed to have settled into a peaceful slumber. Pallet town was usually a serene place, but at night, it took on a different charm, exuding a tranquil beauty.

His house was situated at the eastern edge of the town, the very last one in the row. It had the privilege of being closest to the beach, and on this quiet night, the sound of waves crashing against the shore, just over the hill, was faintly audible.

Arriving home, he unlocked the door and entered, the lights were off and the house was silent. He felt a sense of relief that his mother wasn't home at the moment. She went to the Orange Islands just a few days ago. He knew she had made the journey to avoid the emotional goodbyes, and he was glad for that, as today had already been an emotionally charged day filled with memories of the past.

Delia remained the loving and caring mother he had always known, mirroring the depiction in the show. However, the difference was in her career as a Pokémon researcher. Back in her youth, she had been Professor Oak's assistant, studying under his guidance. Her father, Ash's grandfather, had been a close friend of the professor, and it was through this connection that Professor Oak accepted her as his apprentice.

Pikachu hopped down from Ash's shoulder and made its way upstairs, his small, nimble feet barely making a sound on the wooden steps.

Ash walked through the hallway, passing by the kitchen on the way. He poured himself a glass of water and leaned against the counter for a moment, savoring the stillness of the night. With the glass drained, Ash made his way upstairs to his room. He found Pikachu already settled in his corner.

The room was simple and neat, free from extravagant decorations, reflecting his preference for a minimalist ambiance. His desk usually a chaotic mess of research papers, Pokémon battle strategies and books that his mother referred to as “warzone” had been meticulously organized earlier that morning.

Laying against the wall next to the bookshelf was his backpack, neatly packed and ready for the journey. It was a marvel of the latest resizing technology. It could compact and expand to accommodate all the essentials he needed for his adventure.

Approaching his bed, Ash let out a soft sigh of contentment as he settled under the blanket. Closing his eyes, he felt the weight of the day's emotions slowly lift, and he drifted off to sleep with the distant sound of waves crashing on the beach serving as a soothing lullaby.

Ash awoke at dawn, the room still shrouded in darkness, with only the soft glow of the moon filtering through the window providing faint illumination. He slipped out of bed, and made his way downstairs, careful not to disturb the sleeping Pikachu, who was still soundly asleep in his corner. He had always been an early riser, a trait that was the total opposite of the Ash from the anime.

In the kitchen he set to work, preparing breakfast. The clinking of dishes and the sizzle of bacon in the pan were the only sounds that punctuated the quiet morning. After skipping dinner the previous night, his stomach was now keenly reminding him of its presence. The rich scent of coffee brewing in the background was invigorating, promising a much-needed caffeine boost to kick start his day.

Once everything was ready he settled at the kitchen table with his PokeNav in hand. With a few taps on the screen, he began to search for news about Lance. However, it seemed that the news had not yet been officially announced. The information he had received about Lance's appointment as the Champion must have come through the professor's extensive contacts within the Kantonian Indigo Association.

As he scrolled through the news feeds, the device vibrated, signaling a new message. "Don't forget to often change your underwear." The message from his mother brought a warm message to his face. He chuckled, some things, it seemed, were universal and transcended the boundaries of reality.

At that moment Pikachu descended the stairs, still a bit groggy, and with a small yawn, it hopped onto the kitchen table. Offering a silent wave as a good morning, it started its own breakfast that Ash had prepared and set out on the table.

Ash finished his own meal and stood to take care of the dishes, tidying up the kitchen with practiced efficiency.

After a refreshing shower, he dried himself off and dressed in a comfortable black T-shirt, a cream cargo pants, and a pair of sturdy sneakers suitable for long journeys.

He checked his backpack one final time, ensuring that all his essentials were packed and ready. His new Pokédex, ten Pokéballs, and a small first-aid kit were neatly organized inside, alongside a change of clothes, a few water bottles, and some snacks for the road. He then placed the sleeping bag at the bottom and his tent in the middle to put the least strain on his back.

With everything in order, Ash made his way back to the kitchen, where Pikachu had finished its breakfast. He hoped on his shoulder.

Ash slung his backpack over the other shoulder, and with a final glance around the house, he opened the door and stepped out.

He took a deep breath and whispered to Pikachu, "We finally begin our journey. Are you ready?"

Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, his cheeks crackling with electricity. The message was clear.

…

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The first few rays of the sun broke over the horizon, painting the still-sleepy streets of Pallet town in hues of orange and gold as Ash made his way toward Route 1.

"Remember, Pikachu," he said, his voice, though soft, seemed to echo louder than it should have in the early morning stillness, "don't burn any bicycles, and definitely don't provoke any Spearow."

Pikachu responded with a series of sounds that resembled a succession of "chu." Another difference, in this world, Pokémon didn't repeat their names as they did in the anime.

They had their own distinct and unique vocalization. It was more like in the games where each Pokémon had its own unique cry, akin to the sounds of normal animals on Earth, well animals with the powers to burn cities and change the weather.

"I knew it's a little farfetched, but there is fate, and Celebi will perhaps try to make things go round, who knows," Ash pondered.

A lot of things changed from the anime’s timeline. For one, he had Pikachu a full year before he can officially start his journey, which was at 16 and certainly not at 10. However, the encounter with Pikachu remained strangely familiar. Professor Oak still found his starter nibbling on the lab's cables, a quirky connection to the anime.

In this world, Gary had been away at the Pokémon Technical Institute since the age of 13, and his relationship with his grandfather, Professor Oak, wasn't as amicable as it had been in the anime.

Another thing, Ash had never attended any of the Pokémon Summer Camps, which meant he hadn't crossed paths with Serena as he did in the anime. However, he did encounter people he hadn't met at this stage in his journey, like Liza from the Charicific Valley, during a visit with his mother.

Some changes were major, others minor, and Ash had no idea how these alterations would impact the events to come.

…

About an hour after their departure from town, Ash and Pikachu continued along the main road, following its winding path. As they moved forward, they reached a point where the road gradually curved to the right, skirting the edges the forest.

If Ash chose to stay on the main road, it would lead them in a half-circle around the forest before resuming its northward direction toward Viridian City. However, the journey along the main road was long, and it would take around 13 hours to cover the roughly 80 kilometers to reach their destination, assuming no breaks were taken along the way.

He stopped there and took out a water bottle, drinking some water himself and allowing Pikachu to quench his thirst. Nearby, a few Rattata skittered by the edge of the forest before disappearing into the underbrush.

Taking a moment to consider his options, Ash made a decision. "It's best if we cut through," he said, glancing toward the forest. "It’s the only way we might reach Viridian City before sunset."

He turned to Pikachu. "Remember, Pikachu, leave the Spearow alone," he emphasized. "I think Professor Oak's Dragonite cleared them out a few months ago, but..."

Pikachu made a disgruntled sound, as if having heard this warning many times before.

Ash raised an eyebrow, refusing to let Pikachu off the hook. "Yes, I need to remind you. Did you already forget about what happened with the Sentret the last time?"

Pikachu let out an exasperated noise, and Ash countered, "What do you mean you were young? It was only two months ago!"

Pikachu made a gesture as if to say that it was in the past now, and in those two months, he had matured. Ash rolled his eyes, before he took the lead, stepping into the forest.

Ash and Pikachu ventured deeper into the forest, when Pikachu's ears perked up, sensing something in the surroundings. Ash noticed his alertness but saw that Pikachu didn't appear alarmed.

Before long, a small group of Pichu emerged from the underbrush. Their tiny forms were full of energy, as they darted around, circling Ash and Pikachu. Pichu were generally known for their playful and mischievous nature, and these little ones were no exception.

Pikachu greeted them with familiarity, and they hoped around him, showing excitement at the encounter. He then in a more mature tone, rebuked them, saying something about the need to be more cautious and avoid approaching strangers. However, it was clear that his words had no effect on the Pichu.

Ash couldn't help but chuckle at the interaction. "Ha, look who's talking."

Pikachu shot him a glare, which only made Ash grin even wider.

The Pichu remained in tow, accompanying them through their trek. Occasionally, one or two of the Pichu would zip away and return with berries, their small paws clutching the ripe fruit. Two of them even surprised Ash by presenting him with an apple they had found.

Pichu lacked significant predators in this area, with the notable exception of Spearow, but they tended to avoid Pichu when the electric Pokémon gathered in large groups. The small group of six that followed Ash and Pikachu was somewhat uncommon for their species, making them a little more vulnerable. Raticate, on the other hand, posed a significant danger to the Pichu. Unlike Rattata, their pre-evolved form, Raticate were pure carnivores and dangerous.

One of the Pichu darted away, after few minutes passed and it failed to return, the remaining Pichu began to grow restless. Their small forms flitted about anxiously, emitting tiny electric sparks that crackled in the air.

Ash couldn't help but groan. "It smells like trouble, plot, fate, or whatever a mile’s away," he remarked, recognizing the signs of impending chaos.

With a resigned sigh, Ash decided to let the situation unfold. "Pikachu, see if they can find their friend."

After Pikachu said something that calmed them. They began hoping in place, electricity sparked around their ears and jumping from one Pichu to another.

Ash admitted that was new to him, he never witnessed any behavior of the sort. This might be noteworthy and possibly of interest to Professor Oak or his mother. Ash quickly took out his Pokédex and began recording the Pichu's unique communication style and their reaction for further analysis.

The crackling electricity seemed to concentrate more and more in one particular direction, Ash couldn't help but make an educated guess. "I guess the troublemaker is in that direction," he commented.

Almost as if responding to his words, the remaining Pichu took off, dashing in the same direction. Though they seemed somehow drained, their determination was clear.

“Let’s go Pikachu.” With grin, Ash followed after them.

Ash raced through the forest in pursuit of the Pichu. Leaves rustled and branches swayed as he brushed past them, with the occasional fallen log challenging his progress. His breath quickened, and his heart raced in tandem with his footsteps. He felt a childish rush of excitement as he ventured deeper into the heart of the forest.

Pikachu, displaying his agility, seamlessly keeping pace with Ash, at times, he darted ahead, acting as a liaison between Ash and the Pichu, making sure that they stayed together and didn't lose sight of each other in the maze-like forest.

The Pichu's determination was evident, despite their clear exhaustion after whatever they did back there, they weren’t letting go.

A sudden, thunderous sound echoed through the forest. It was a loud thud, followed by a rhythmic thumping as if someone was hacking away at a tree. The noise grew louder the closer they got. Pikachu accelerated in response.

Ash knew they had reached their destination, and he braced himself for what lay ahead.