Another starter could be Totodile. Totodile is a very energetic and friendly Pokemon. If Ash started with Totodile, his story would be more centered around water - type Pokemon battles in the early days. He would also likely have a more humorous journey as Totodile is known for its goofy behavior. His friends might have to deal with Totodile's mischief more often, and his training methods would be adjusted to Totodile's personality.
Poochyena could also be a starter in fanfiction for Ash. This would be a very different start as Poochyena is a dark - type Pokemon. Ash would have to deal with the stigma that some people have against dark - type Pokemon. His battles would be unique as he would be using a type that is not as common as Pikachu's electric type. His journey would involve more exploration of the darker side of the Pokemon world, both literally and figuratively.
One possible reason could be that Ash senses a dangerous situation where Pikachu's full power might attract unwanted attention or put them in more danger. For example, if there are powerful and unseen enemies nearby, Ash might hold Pikachu back to keep a low profile.
Another reason might be related to Pikachu's own growth. As Pikachu becomes more powerful and self - aware, it might feel that it needs to go on its own journey without Ash. It could be seeking new challenges and experiences that it believes Ash can't provide, like exploring regions that Ash has no intention of going to or training with Pokémon of a different caliber.
In this fanfiction, Ash's personality might change in a way that he becomes more in tune with nature and other Pokémon. The Pikachu ears and tail could give him a different perspective on the world of Pokémon. He may start to communicate more like Pikachu, using simple sounds and gestures. This could make him seem a bit more wild or untamed at first, but as he learns to control his new form, he would blend his old personality with the new traits, becoming a more complex and interesting character.
His friends would be very shocked at first. Misty might be a bit worried and try to find a way to turn him back quickly. Brock, on the other hand, would be more curious and start observing Ash - as - Pikachu to see how his behavior has changed. His Pokémon friends would also be confused. Pikachu himself might be both excited to have a 'Pikachu - like' friend but also a bit sad that his trainer is in this strange state.
Definitely. The idea of Ash and Pikachu's friendship is very popular in fanfiction. Their relationship is iconic. Fanfictions could tell stories of how they first met and how that initial connection grew into an unbreakable bond. It could also include side characters from the Pokémon world who notice and are inspired by their friendship, like Misty or Brock seeing how Ash and Pikachu always have each other's backs.
In this fanfiction, Ash's training style would likely change significantly. Since a female Pikachu might have different energy levels or responses to training stimuli. He may need to be more gentle and patient. Instead of pushing her too hard in intense physical training, he might focus more on mental training and strategy building. Also, he might need to take into account her social needs as a female Pokémon, like allowing her more time to interact with other Pokémon in a positive way during training breaks.
Perhaps Pikachu is lured away by something more appealing. There could be a rare and powerful Pokémon or a special kind of food that distracts Pikachu from protecting Ash. Also, Pikachu might have received some false information. For example, it might have been tricked into thinking that Ash has a better chance of escaping the Spearow without it. In the heat of the moment, Pikachu makes a hasty decision based on this wrong information.
Ash would be terrified. He is facing a group of Spearow without his most reliable Pokémon by his side. He would also feel disappointed in Pikachu. After all the adventures they've had together, he never expected Pikachu to leave him in such a dangerous situation. He might start to doubt their friendship and partnership.
Ash would be completely devastated. Pikachu has been his closest companion since the start of his journey. He would probably go into a state of shock at first, unable to believe that Pikachu was gone.
His relationship with Pikachu might become more competitive at first. Since Ash already has a strong starter in Charmander, Pikachu might feel the need to prove itself more. But over time, they could learn to work together better, with Pikachu using its electric attacks to complement Charmander's fire attacks in battles.