CHAPTER 3 – PIKACHU

I ran to Professor Oak's lab not realizing that I had forgotten my sports, but when I arrived, I could see Gary coming out of the lab with a smile on his face while many girls dressed as cheerleaders cheered him on like a celebrity.

"Wow, look who we have here, is Ash Ketchum" – Gary said as soon as he saw me.

"What do you want, Gary?" – I asked.

Honestly, I don't like this Gary, but in the first seasons because he was very arrogant.

"Wow, you don't need to be so rude, although seeing your looks... I'd say you've fallen asleep" – smiled Gay.

Although Ash couldn't see himself in the mirror, his clothes were disorganized, his hair uncombed, and he wasn't even wearing his shoes.

"Well, I fell asleep due to certain reasons, but I'm already here to receive my first Pokémon" – I nodded.

I won't be angry with Gay, I'm too mature to be angry about something like a childish provocation.

"Hehehe, may you be lucky, although I don't even know why you try, I'm better than you after all, besides, in the Pokémon League I will defeat you effortlessly, well... that is if you are able to beat the gym leaders, which I doubt" - Gary said arrogantly.

"Haa... whatever you say, we'll see who laughs last" – I sighed.

I'm not going to play along.

"It's funny that you think you can beat me, but I wish you good luck, I really want you to get all 8 badges, so I can beat you in Pokémon League" – Gary smiled.

And then, without waiting for my answer, he left the place while his cheerleaders left with him.

"Poor thing, he wasn't even able to beat the original Ash, so I'm sorry Gary, but your defeat is already decided and I don't even have a Pokémon" – I said with a look of pity.

After Gary disappeared, I realized something very important.

"My first Pokémon, I have to get it now to start my adventure!" – I exclaimed.

Who knows what adventures await me, I want to get my first Pokémon now, I wonder what starters will be available, if Gary just came out that means there are still two left, right?

With a smile, I entered Professor Oak's lab, which seemed to be waiting for me.

"You finally show up, Ash, how come it took you so long?" – Professor Oak asked.

Seeing Professor Oak in real life made me almost let out a cry of excitement, but I restrained myself.

"I fell asleep, but the important thing is that I'm already here to get my first Pokémon" – I said.

I'll definitely choose Charmander and Pikachu... not that I care much, so if I have the chance I won't choose him, I'm sorry...

"I already imagined it, however, I have bad news for you, because you fell asleep, I have already gave all the starters Pokémon to the other trainers" – sighed Professor Oak.

If he had arrived on time, he could have received one of the starters Pokémon, but unfortunately it could not be like that.

"Hmm, but there has to be a way, I know I'm late, but I want to start my adventure today" – I said.

As I thought, is Ash always destined to start with Pikachu?

[Answering the host, yes, Ash and Pikachu's fates are linked regardless of the timeline, all Ash start with Pikachu as their starter Pokémon, without exception and that's something no one can change]

Well, anyway I don't care, that Pikachu is strong, very strong, I guess I shouldn't underestimate him, after all, his performance in the last season was remarkable, plus he also has an exclusive Z-Move and Gigantamax form so I guess he's pretty good.

"Well... it's not that I don't have any Pokémon available, but the one I have left is a little... we could say it's a bit special" – said Professor Oak.

In other words, Pikachu.

"I don't care, I'll accept any Pokémon no matter what it is" – I said.

"Okay, if that's what you want and you're so determined..." – said the professor.

Then, he went to the table where the starters Pokémon were supposed to be and pressed a button.

Suddenly, a small compartment opened revealing a Pokéball with a yellow lightning bolt in the center.

"First of all I have to warn you that this Pokémon is a Pikachu, but not just any Pikachu, this Pikachu is a little... peculiar so I had to keep him in his Pokéball, do you still want him?" – asked the professor.

"Yes, without a doubt" – I nodded.

Anyway, Ash and Pikachu end up being friends in a few episodes, I don't see why the same thing can't happen to me.

"Then grab your Pokéball and meet your new friend" – said the professor.

But as he said it, I could see how he slowly walked away, this professor... It seems that he knew what would happen.

Excited to get my first Pokémon and nervous about what could happen, I took the Pokéball, but the moment I made contact with it, the Pokéball opened a white light crashed to the ground forming a very peculiar figure that everyone would recognize, it was Pikachu.

Unlike the first chapter of the anime, this Pikachu was not fat, he was the same as the Pikachu of the later seasons.

When the professor saw that Pikachu came out of his Pokéball, he took cover behind his desk, but what he thought was going to happen did not happen.

For a few seconds, Pikachu and Ash stared at each other, Ash didn't know what to do because he didn't know if, for the first time in his two lives, he was going to be electrocuted, while Pikachu looked at Ash very curiously.

At first Pikachu planned to electrocute him as he did with Professor Oak on several occasions, but... When he stared at his face, he thought better of it... That boy in front of him didn't seem to be that bad.

I looked at Pikachu as much as I could, but I could observe something curious, Pikachu's tail was heart-shaped, which meant that it was not a male Pikachu like in the anime, but a female, What's going on here, system? Didn't you say that Ash is always meant for Pikachu no matter what timeline it is?

[Yes, but there are slight differences, all Ash have the same talent and all Pikachu will be equally strong, but depending on the timeline, Pikachu will be male or female, just as Ash can be a boy or a girl.]

What, is that possible? Is there really a female Ash?

[Yes, but you don't need to worry host, this Pikachu you see in front of you has exactly the same potential as the Pikachu from the Ash from the anime, the only difference is that this one is female]

Well, I guess I don't care if Pikachu is female or not, it doesn't change any of my goals if it's female or male, plus if she has the same potential as Ash's Pikachu from the anime... I have no reason to complain, do I?

"Pika pi!" – Pikachu exclaimed.

After a few seconds that seemed like hours, Pikachu smiled and with a quick movement climbed on Ash's shoulder and gently tapped him on the shoulder as a sign of friendship leaving Professor Oak with his mouth open in surprise, where is that Pikachu who electrocuted him when she came out of the Pokéball? How could she possibly get along so well with Ash when she had just met him? Professor Oak had many questions and all of them were unanswered.

"I don't know why you were so scared, professor, look how friendly my companion is" – I said while I took Pikachu and stroked her little head.

She was so cute...

Professor Oak was speechless for a few seconds, but recovered a few seconds later.

"Ehem, I'm glad you get along wit her, but before you go, I have to give you this..." – said Professor Oak.

Then, he opened a drawer on his desk, took out six Pokéballs and a Pokédex, although it looked more like a smartphone than a Pokédex.