Chapter no.2 I Choose You Part 2

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Smell ya later?

I bit down a snort. Gary's catchphrase might've sounded cocky coming from a kid in a cartoon, but hearing it in real life? It was just… weird. And cringe. The guy strutted off with that same smug grin, like he'd just won something, and I had to fight the urge to burst out laughing.

Before I could even process how strange all of this felt, a deep, familiar voice broke through the noise in my head.

"So, you decided to show up after all."

I whipped around, and there he was—Professor Samuel Oak. My heart stopped. For a moment, I just stared, dumbstruck, as he stood there in the flesh. The man looked like he'd walked straight out of the anime, with the same grey hair, the same wise-but-wry expression, the same white lab coat… but up close, there were so many details that felt real. I noticed the creases at the corners of his eyes, the faint hint of stubble on his chin, and even a bit of dirt on his cargo pants.

I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but my brain was lagging, like a computer trying to load too many things at once.

"P-Professor Oak?!" 

Oak raised an eyebrow. "Well, you look like you're ready for bed, not Pokémon training."

I blinked, looking down at myself in confusion, and realized… he was right. 

I forced out a laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. "Uh… yeah. I guess I, uh, had a rough morning?"

My voice cracked a little, betraying the nervous energy bubbling up inside me. But then something hit me. Wait. Why the hell am I so freaked out? This is a dream, right? Just some weird, super-vivid dream. The kind where everything feels too real. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to relax. If this was a dream, I might as well enjoy it.

"But I am ready for a Pokémon," I said, my voice gaining a bit of confidence.

Professor Oak's lab was… breathtaking. Way cooler than I'd ever imagined. The machines lined the walls, buzzing and blinking with little lights. There was a faint chemical smell in the air, and it all felt so… high-tech. 

But at the same time, a knot was forming in my stomach. This is too real. Every smell, every sound, the way the fluorescent lights buzzed slightly… dreams weren't supposed to have this much detail. Part of me was thrilled—my inner child bouncing with excitement—but another part of me felt cold and sick, like I was teetering on the edge of something I didn't understand.

Ahead of me, a glass panel slid open with a hiss, revealing three Pokéballs. The sight of them made my heart race with excitement. This is it. I'm really here. But then Oak's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Are you alright, Ash?"

Ash. The name sent a chill down my spine. I forced a smile, trying to shake off the creeping dread. "Oh, I'm fine, Professor. Just… excited."

It sounded fake even to my own ears, but I didn't know how else to act. Oak was watching me, his eyes narrowed just a bit, like he could see straight through me. My stomach twisted again. What if he realizes I'm not who he thinks I am?

"Hm… well, alright then," he said slowly, like he was giving me the benefit of the doubt. He gestured to the Pokéballs in front of me. "So, who will be your choice?"

I swallowed hard, trying to think. I furrowed my brow, pretending to be deep in thought as I did not know if this dream was going to follow the anime or not.

"Well, Gary said he got a Squirtle, so that's out," I muttered, reaching for the nearest Pokéball.

I figured Charmander would be a solid choice. Fire-type, a classic… I grabbed the Pokéball with growing confidence, but as soon as my fingers brushed the cold metal, I realized it was empty.

Oh, come on.

I tried to hide my disappointment, glancing back at Oak, who was barely holding back a smile. "That one was also taken by a kid who wasn't late," he said, clearly enjoying himself.

I swallowed my frustration, reaching for the next ball.

"Bulbasaur is a great Pokémon—" But this one was empty too. 

Oak just chuckled, like he was enjoying some joke at my expense. "The early bird gets the worm, or in this case, the Pokémon."

Why the hell didn't you just tell me? I thought, teeth clenched as I forced a grin that felt more like a grimace. "So… there's no Pokémon left?" The words came out tight, strained, and I could feel the heat of frustration burning up my neck.

Professor Oak didn't seem to notice. "Well, there's still one left, but I—"

"I'll take it!"

Oak pressed a button, and a fourth Pokéball rose up from a hidden compartment. This one had a lightning bolt symbol on it, and I felt my heart skip a beat. Pikachu. My stomach fluttered with excitement, even as a little voice in my head whispered, This is a bad idea.

"I should warn you, there's a problem with this last one," Oak said, but I was already reaching for the ball.

"I'll take my chances," I replied, unable to hide the grin spreading across my face. This was it. This was really it.

Oak handed me the Pokéball, and I held it in my hands, feeling the cool metal, the weight of it. It felt so real. I swallowed, pressing the button, and a flash of light burst out, filling the room.

And there he was. Pikachu. Small, bright yellow, and scowling up at me with an expression that could kill. His little arms were crossed, his cheeks sparking faintly, like he was already annoyed just by being here.

"Hi, Pikachu," I said, smiling nervously as I reached out a hand. He won't zap me this is my dream afterall.

I barely had time to blink before a surge of electricity shot through me, lighting up every nerve in my body. Pain exploded in my chest, my arms, my legs—everywhere. My muscles spasmed as the shock tore through me, and I collapsed to the floor, twitching helplessly as the pain dragged on, endless and agonizing.

I heard Oak's voice somewhere through the haze, deadpan as ever. "Shocking, isn't it?"

I wanted to scream, but all that came out was a strangled groan. Fuck you, Oak.

When I finally came to, I was still lying on the floor, my muscles aching from the aftershocks. I slowly pushed myself up, wincing as the last bits of static faded from my limbs. Pikachu was standing nearby, still glaring at me like I was the worst thing he'd ever seen.

I took a shaky breath, a wave of conflicting emotions washing over me. Part of me wanted to laugh—this was Pikachu, my childhood favorite, right here! But another part of me felt a creeping sense of terror. If this was all real… if I was really here, then what the hell was I supposed to do now?

My mind spun, a thousand questions swirling around. How did I get here? Was I in Ash's body? Was Ash back in my world, trying to figure out my life? My stomach dropped at the thought. Oh God. What if Ash is in my body, talking to my parents?

"Here, you'll need these," Oak said, snapping me out of my spiral. He handed me a Pokedex and a couple of Pokéballs, and the weight of them in my hands felt both thrilling and suffocating. I'm Ash now. I have to be Ash… for however long this lasts.

Desperate for some sense of normalcy, I pointed the Pokedex at Pikachu, hoping the familiar voice would calm me down.

"Pikachu, the Electric Mouse Pokémon," it chirped. "The red sacs on its cheeks store energy equal to a lightning bolt. If one finds a charred berry in the woods, it is a sure sign that a Pikachu is nearby."

I listened, but even this felt different. I couldn't focus on the words, because every little detail reminded me that Pikachu wasn't just pixels on a screen—he was alive. He had fur, he had those sharp, intelligent eyes, he even had… an age? "Two years and five months," the Pokedex added.

I swallowed, staring at him. He huffed, looking away, clearly unimpressed.

"You may want to return him to his Pokéball."

Pikachu's ears twitched, and I could feel the tension radiating off him. I shook my head quickly, remembering how much he hated being in a Pokéball in the show. "Nah, I think he'd prefer to stay out."

Pikachu shot me a look.

"Besides," I added, trying to sound confident, "how can I be his friend if I keep him in the ball all the time?"

Oak raised an eyebrow, scratching his cheek. "If you're sure, Ash."

I have to be Ash now. I have to keep pretending. No one can know I'm not really him. I took a shaky breath, trying to channel some of that eager energy Ash always had.

When I looked up, I saw Oak watching me with concern. "You alright, my boy?"

My heart twisted. No, I'm not alright. I wanted to scream that this wasn't real, that I wasn't Ash, that I had no idea what was going on. But I bit it back, plastering on a sheepish grin. "Uh, yeah. Just… trying to calm myself down. You know… 'cause I'm so excited."

Oak chuckled softly, but his eyes stayed on me, like he could see through the lie. "Well, excitement is a good start for any Pokémon Trainer."

I nodded. Excitement… or pure panic.