Chapter no.1 I Choose You

Author Note : Before we begin, I would like to share some information with you ( readers ):

• This is a continuation of another fanfiction that I grew to love by Spidey108 [ Pokemon : A Surprising Journey ]

• By continuation I mean, I want to take Spidey's work and put my own spin on it so from the very first chapters changes are going to occur. Small changes that are going to be minute at first but are going to grow Catastrophic proportions.

• If you have read Spidey's fanfic; here are some of the changes that I have made.

No.1 : There is no Astral Ash to guide Austin.

No.2 : This world is a much darker version than Spidey's.

• So Spidey had written 117k words for this story, I have already written down 300k words for it and I will be uploading/publishing daily.

• This is kinda embarrassing but I read a lot of popular fanfics, so tropes and story elements from those fanfics will be included in them and before someone says I can't do that, I want to tell you that any and all story elements and arcs used will be under the permission of the original author so like I asked for permission and after I got it, I continued this series.

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If you have a dollar to spare or you like my work and want to support me.

https://www.p.atreon.com/Adamo\_Amet

....

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Why is this here? Because I enjoy writing, and some people seem to enjoy my jumbled ramblings on other sites like Royal Road and Webnovel enough to donate towards them. That seems wild to me, but it's not my place to dictate what people can and cannot like, eh? Take note. Under no circumstance will I hold fanwork hostage behind a paywall. I am grateful for anyone who wishes to support me, and I WILL NOT ever delay anything because I feel like I'm not being paid enough. I've seen people lose themselves to that big-fish, small-pond egomania and it's ugly.

If you have a dollar and you want to support me, you can; if not then that's is absolutely fine but please join me on discord, I would love to talk to anyone.

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Austin Kevin, a fifteen-year-old teenage boy with black hair and brown eyes, sat on the couch in the living room of his suburban home, wearing a simple black shirt and blue pants. The television screen flickered with images of Pokemon battling against each other in a colorful world filled with magical creatures. As he watched, Austin's face contorted with frustration.

"Oh, come on, that's nonsense!" he grumbled, his voice filled with indignation. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, as he watched his favorite Pokemon, Pikachu, losing against a rookie Snivy. Austin couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"How the heck can Pikachu lose against a rookie Snivy, the Pokemon who defeated a Regice and held his own against a Latios?" he exclaimed, incredulous. "Yes, his electric attacks were gone, but he could have utilized Iron Tail to launch that snake!"

Austin had always been a huge fan of the Pokemon Anime, but lately, he found himself getting more and more frustrated with the show. There was a period when Ash only took Pikachu to Hoenn and didn't use any of his other Pokemon for one episode except for Bulbasaur, before doing it again in Sinnoh.

He shook his head in disbelief and switched the TV off, muttering to himself. "Anyone could do a better job." Austin grimaced as he turned away and put on his headphones to listen to music.

The room was quiet, the only sound being the soft strains of music emanating from Austin's headphones. The air was still, and the only light in the room came from the flickering of a nearby lamp.

As Austin sat there, lost in thought, he couldn't help but think about the Black and White Series of the Pokemon Anime. He thought about how much better it could've been if they had retained the growth that Ash made in Diamond and Pearl. They could've done a lot more with him if he'd taken more than Pikachu. That was a complete and utter farce.

Austin Kevin's eyes began to droop as he listened to the pulsing beat of the music. The rhythm seemed to match the pounding of his heart as he reflected on his frustrations with the Pokemon Anime.

Despite his initial excitement, Austin noticed that he was exhausted only a minute into the song. It was strange, as he had just been exuberant, lost in the music's driving beat. But now, as he sat there, his body felt heavy, as if he had been carrying a great weight on his shoulders.

He let out a deep yawn, feeling his eyes grow heavy. The air around him seemed to thicken, and his thoughts grew muddled as he fought to stay awake. It was as if a dark fog had descended upon him, wrapping him in its tendrils and pulling him down into a deep slumber.

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Austin's eyes slowly fluttered open, adjusting to the bright sunlight streaming into the unfamiliar room. He felt disoriented, almost dizzy, as he tried to piece together what had happened. The room was cluttered with various Pokémon-themed decorations, including a Clefairy piggy bank, a Zubat hanging from the ceiling, and a Snorlax bed on the floor. As he sat up, he noticed a smashed Voltorb clock with a small Pidgey perched on it, and his nose twitched at the musty odor in the air.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head as he stumbled out of bed, almost tripping over the rumpled sheets. He felt a strange sense of detachment from his body, as if he was watching himself from a distance. And then, he caught sight of his reflection in a nearby mirror.

It was Ash Ketchum staring back at him, dressed in the same green pajamas he wore in the first episode. Austin's heart started racing as he lifted a trembling hand to his face, feeling the rough texture of Ash's skin against his fingertips.

"N-no way," he stammered, his voice sounding strange and unfamiliar to his ears.

He took a step closer to the mirror, his eyes widening in disbelief as Ash's reflection drew nearer. He could see the dark circles under his eyes, the stubborn cowlick of black hair, and the determined set of his jaw. It was as if he had been transported into the body of his favorite childhood hero.

After taking it all in, Austin made the prudent decision.

He let out a shriek and quickly realized that it wasn't such a good idea a few seconds later, he heard footsteps approaching, quick and urgent, as if someone was in a hurry to check on him. The door burst open to reveal a young woman with mahogany hair and amber eyes, her face etched with worry.

"Ash, are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft and soothing.

Austin felt a jolt of fear run through him as he tried to compose himself.

His first reaction was to say that he wasn't Ash and that this was absurd.

He didn't want to appear insane, though.

... And it gets worse.

As a result of the broken clock, he had to improvise by estimating where he was in the chronology.

"I didn't get enough sleep!" he exclaimed, trying to mimic Ash's voice as he ran past her, feeling a little unsteady on his feet. He could feel her eyes on him as he bolted out the door and down the street, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Wait a minute, you have to eat-." When Delia spotted Ash sprinting out the door, she came to a halt and smiled. "Just like your father," says Delia

As he ran, he took in his surroundings with new eyes. He was in some kind of suburban neighborhood, with neatly manicured lawns and colorful flowers blooming in the gardens.

Austin felt like he was in a dream, but a very vivid one. He couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped in someone else's body, as if he was a prisoner in his own mind.

And then, he came to a halt, panting and gasping for breath. He realized he had run far from Ash's house, which was still visible in the distance. He had no idea where he was or what he was supposed to do.

"This can't be real," he muttered to himself, trying to convince himself that he was hallucinating.

But then, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him, and he turned to see a small group of Pidgeys pecking at the grass. He could hear their soft cooing and the flutter of their wings as they took off into the sky.

Austin's heart skipped a beat as he realized that this was all too real. He was stuck in the body of a ten-year-old boy, in a strange world filled with mythical creatures and dangerous adventures.

"What the hell is happening to me?" he whispered.

As Austin muttered to himself, the words felt like they were slipping through his fingers, as if he was grasping at something intangible. "Well, obviously, I'm in Pallet Town," he thought to himself, trying to hold onto some semblance of sanity. His mind felt like a frayed rope, about to snap at any moment.

Austin shook his head, disoriented and confused, trying to make sense of what was happening to him. And then, he heard a commotion in the distance, a cacophony of voices and footsteps.

As he made his way towards the source of the commotion, he saw a crowd of people gathered in front of a gate that led up to the Oak Pokemon Lab. And there, standing at the forefront, was a familiar face - Gary Oak, the arrogant and entitled kid who always seemed to rub Ash the wrong way.

"Well Ash, better late than never I suppose," Gary sneered, his voice dripping with condescension.

Austin felt a surge of anger rise up within him, but he forced himself to remain calm, to keep his cool. He couldn't let Gary get under his skin.

But then Gary revealed that he had a Pokemon - a Squirtle - while Ash had none. The nerve of the guy, to act as if he was better than everyone else just because he had a Pokemon!

"Must be some Pokemon if it has to put up with your big head," Ash retorted, his voice laced with sarcasm and disdain.

Gary looked taken aback, as if he wasn't used to being spoken to in such a way. But then he quickly composed himself, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.

"I bet you're wondering what Pokemon it is-" he started to say, before Ash cut him off.

"Squirtle," Ash said flatly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Gary's eyes widened in shock. "How did you know?!" he demanded, his tone bordering on hysterical.

But Ash just shrugged, trying to play it cool. "There are three choices, I just chose one," he lied, hoping that Gary wouldn't catch on.

Gary gave him a suspicious look, as if he knew Ash was lying, but then he just shook his head and got into his car.

"Smell ya later, Ashy-Boy," he said, before driving away.

Austin stared at Gary Oak's retreating figure with a mixture of disgust and confusion. The boy was insufferable, the kind of person who made you want to peel your skin off just to get away from them. He muttered to himself, wondering how Ash had ever put up with him.

But before he could contemplate Gary any further, a new presence made itself known. Professor Samuel Oak, an old man with greying hair and a white lab coat over a red shirt and brown cargo pants, appeared out of nowhere, causing Austin to jump in surprise and fall over.

"P-Professor Oak?!" he stammered, his eyes wide with amazement.

The professor raised a skeptical eyebrow at Austin's awestruck expression. "Well, you look like you're ready for bed, not for Pokemon training," he observed with amusement.

Austin blinked and looked down before seeing that he pulled what Ash did in the Anime in his panic.

"Uh… I can fix this." Austin said nervously before he realized what was coming next and he grinned.

Since this was a dream, he may as well enjoy it as much as he can.

"But I am ready for a Pokemon."

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Austin stood in the sterile laboratory, his eyes scanning the pristine white walls and tile floors. The air hummed with an electric charge as he waited for the glass panel to reveal the three coveted Pokeballs. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, his nerves on edge as he stood next to the legendary Pokemon Professor, Oak.

The professor's sharp eyes flicked over to Austin, a look of concern crossing his face. "Are you alright, Ash?" he asked, noting the sweat on the boy's forehead.

Austin swallowed hard, trying to mask his nerves. "Oh, I'm fine Professor," he lied, hoping to convince the older man. "I'm just excited."

The professor nodded, but Austin could tell he wasn't entirely convinced. "Alright then," he said, his voice low. "So, who is your choice?"

Austin frowned in thought, his eyes darting between the Pokeballs. "Well," he said slowly, "Gary said he got a Squirtle, so that's out." He reached for the Pokeball that held Charmander. "I choose Charmander," he said with a hint of disappointment.

The professor shook his head. "That one was also taken by a kid that wasn't late."

Even though he knew it was empty, Austin put on a disappointed face to fool the Professor who chose that time to speak.

"The early bird gets the worm, or in this case the Pokemon," the professor said with a wry smile.

"So, there's no Pokemon?" Austin asked, his voice laced with disappointment.

The professor looked conflicted for a moment before he spoke. "Well, there's still one left, but I-"

"I'll take it," Austin interrupted, a little too eagerly.

The professor hesitated, pressing a button on his console. A Pokeball with a lightning bolt emblem appeared, and the professor's expression turned grave. "I think I should warn you, there is a problem with this last one."

But Austin was already reaching for the Pokeball, his eagerness getting the best of him. "I'll take my chances," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

The professor handed him the Pokeball, and Austin pressed the button eagerly. A blinding flash of light filled the room, and he shielded his eyes as the light faded. When he could see again, he saw the small, yellow mouse standing before him, its red sacs on its cheeks and lightning bolt tail twitching as it blinked its black eyes.

"His name is Pikachu," the professor said, his voice serious.

Austin reached out to the cute little creature, his heart pounding in excitement. "Hi, Pikachu," he said, a wide grin spreading across his face.

But as soon as he touched the little creature, he felt an electric shock course through his body. His muscles spasmed, and he fell to the ground, writhing in pain.

He forgot how much of a **** Pikachu was in the beginning.

As Pikachu huffed, Austin realized one detail.

He just felt pain… Oh, shit he wasn't dreaming.

Austin probably would've freaked out if it wasn't for the fact that he was twitching a bit from the electrocution.

The room spun around him, and he could hear the sounds of his own labored breathing, punctuated by the crackling of electricity. He could hear the hum of machines and the beep of monitors as the professor rushed to his side.

"Shocking, isn't it?" the professor quipped, his voice strained.

'S-S-Screw y-you.' Austin thought with a twitch.

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Once he could move, Austin looked at Pikachu who wouldn't even meet his gaze.

Now that he knew for a fact that this wasn't a dream, Austin couldn't help but think.

How did he get here?

And if he was here in Ash's body, where was the real Ash?

Was Ash in his body?

Austin felt some worry because he didn't know how his parents would react to someone in his body claiming they were Ash because he was pretty sure that's what he would do.

'I have to find a way to fix this.' Austin thought as Prof. Oak handed him the Pokedex and Pokeballs. 'Somehow, someway… Knowing my luck I'll probably be in the mental hospital when I get home.'

Austin looked at the Pokedex and messed with it to see how it worked before pointing it at Pikachu who finally gave him a look, wondering what he was doing.

" Pikachu are a small species of pokemon which many people find cute, and for this reason have become quite popular as pets, even among people with little interest in pokemon battles. This is an unfortunate fact which leads to many electrocutions, for a Pikachu can be quite dangerous to handle.

Pikachu are a pokemon that store electricity in their cheeks, but this electricity must be released on a semi-regular basis lest the pokemon use powerful electric attacks at random, shocking everything in sight. Typically this is handled by occasionally hooking the rodent up to a special battery which is recharged by its shock, then using the electricity to power the household. Furthermore, they do not only use thundershock to release energy, but also when startled or angry, and they do not have especially forgiving tempers. Many a trainer has been hospitalized or worse when quarreling with their pokemon, some passing away from shock wounds which could have been properly treated were the trainer not embarrassed for how this reflected upon them as a trainer. Moreover, there is the issue of weather; Pikachu can seldom be cooped up inside for long, but they are prone to causing nearby people to be electrocuted in rain, and its tail can attract lightning in thunderstorms. Proper care involves the usage of a pokeball in inclement weather, but Pikachu are often reluctant to be so confined. Many inexperienced owners are equally reluctant to use them, fearing it will mark them as pokemon trainers and force them to accept challenges and see their precious Pikachu injured.

Despite this, with a gentle spirit and proper caution, Pikachu can make for excellent pets.'

The Pokedex said surprising on the unique Dex entry he had never heard before in the games, anime or manga.

Austin deep down still wondered how he survived being electrocuted in the first place-... Hell, how did Ash survive appoint-blank Flamethrower in the future?

" This Pikachu is Male and the ability is Static. Currently, this Pikachu knows Thundershock, Growl, and Tail Whip. The Age of this Pikachu is Two Years and Five Months."

Austin was even more surprised when he saw that the Pokedex also gave him the age of the Pokemon as Pikachu huffed and looked away.

"You may want to return him to his Pokeball." Prof. Oak suggested gaining Pikachu's attention as he tensed.

Remembering that Pikachu didn't like the Pokeball, Austin smiled. "Nah, I think he would like to be out of it." He said surprising Pikachu that he got it. 'Hopefull,y this will keep him from electrocuting me.' "Besides how can I be his friend if I keep him in the ball the whole time?"

Pikachu shook his head as if to say, 'Yeah, good luck with that.'

Prof. Oak scratched his cheek. "If you're sure Ash."

Austin swallowed a bit as he realized he had to go by Ash to avoid questions now.

It'll take a while before he was used to that though.

Closing his eyes as he took a deep breath, Austin began trying to get into the mindset of being Ash as he opened his eyes. "You alright, Ash?"

"Uh yeah," Austin said with a sheepish smile. "I'm just trying to calm myself because I'm so excited."

Prof. Oak chuckled as he heard that.

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Austin stepped out of the Ranch, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of Delia or the group of people from the anime. But to his surprise, they were nowhere to be seen.

'Well, that's one thing that's different.' Austin thought knowing it would take a while to force himself to call Delia 'Mom', but he didn't want to make her worry about what happened to the real 'Ash'.

The sun beat down on his skin, its rays scorching the earth. The vast expanse of land stretched out before him, with its rolling hills and barren trees. The dry wind howled, kicking up dust and debris that swirled around his feet.

He tugged at the collar of his pajamas, feeling sweat bead on his forehead. His eyes darted to Pikachu, who was standing a few feet away from him, his back turned.

He cleared his throat, trying to get Pikachu's attention.

"So come on, Pikachu," he said, but the Electric Mouse didn't even turn to look at him. "Pikachu. Pika Pi."

Austin frowned, wondering if Pikachu was already ignoring him. He remembered how Ash had gained Pikachu's trust during the Spearow incident. But he didn't want to pull that stunt. He shook his head, dismissing the thought.

"Come on, don't I get the benefit of the doubt for not putting you in the Pokeball?" Austin asked, his voice laced with desperation.

Pikachu just stared at him blankly, his tone suggesting an insult that Austin couldn't quite comprehend. He glanced down at his pajamas, realizing that Pikachu probably wasn't taking him seriously.

Sighing, Austin walked back to Prof. Oak's lab as Pikachu scratched his head with his foot before coming out wearing rubber gloves he picked Pikachu up causing the Electric Mouse to try and electrocute him, and yet nothing was happening.

"I'll put you down in a few minutes, but I just want to go home and change out of these Pajamas," Austin said to Pikachu as the Mouse was giving him a death glare.

On making it to the house, Austin put Pikachu down who growled at him, clearly not impressed. "Hey, you were the one that didn't want to go anywhere," Austin snapped back. "Look, can't we just have a compromise?"

Pikachu raised an eyebrow, waiting for Austin's proposal.

"We go through Route 1, and if you still don't like me by the time we get to Viridian, you can go your way," Austin offered, holding out his hand. "Deal?"

Pikachu frowned, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. He was expecting Austin to break the deal, even if he agreed. "Pika Pi Chu Pika!" he exclaimed, his cheeks sparking with electricity.

Delia emerged from her humble abode, eyes squinting in the morning sun. And there, in the company of her beloved Pikachu, stood Ash. Or at least, that's who she thought it was.

"Ash, is that you?" she asked tentatively, noting something was amiss.

But Ash's reply was hesitant, laced with a hint of panic. "Uh, yeah, I panicked when I woke up, Mrs-er, Mom."

Pikachu regarded him with a curious gaze, almost as if he knew something was off. But before Delia could press any further, she picked up the yellow Pokemon, and in one smooth motion, rubbed the spot in between his ears. And just like that, Pikachu's mind was filled with pure bliss.

Austin, for that was who he truly was, watched in disbelief. "Now that's not fair," he muttered to himself.

Delia, oblivious to Austin's inner turmoil, continued with her motherly duties. "Your clothes are out on your bed," she said, gesturing for him to follow.

And so Austin found himself in Ash's room, surrounded by clothes that were all too familiar. Donning the black shirt, blue vest, blue jeans, black and white sneakers, and red and white hat, he felt a sense of familiarity wash over him. It was as if he was becoming Ash, piece by piece.

As he made his way downstairs, he was met with a spread of breakfast. But guilt gnawed at him from within. He was deceiving Delia, pretending to be her son, when all he wanted was to find out how this strange phenomenon had occurred.

Pikachu, ever the opportunist, was gobbling up some Pokemon food that Delia had kept for the trainers at her restaurant. But when Austin tried to speak to him, the yellow Pokemon simply turned away. "Yeah...still a ****," he muttered under his breath.

Delia watched as 'Ash' ate his breakfast, a faint worry creeping into her mind. Something wasn't quite right. The way he ate was different, slow and deliberate, almost as if he was trying to put on a show of good manners.

"Eat up, you'll need your strength before your journey," she said, her eyes fixed on his face.

He managed a weak smile. "Got it M-Mom," he replied, trying to keep his suspicions hidden.

Delia continued to watch him, her motherly instincts telling her that something was off.

As he ate, Delia couldn't help but notice how different he was acting. Normally, Ash would stuff his mouth full of food, barely taking the time to chew before swallowing. But this imposter was different, eating slowly and using good manners.

It was a nice change, she thought to herself. But as she thought more about it, she realized that 'Ash' had been acting differently since he had woken up.

.....

Austin couldn't help but feel a sense of relief as he finally managed to leave Delia's incessant fussing behind. The woman had clung to him like a barnacle, reminding him to change his underwear and pressing awkward hugs upon him until he was ready to scream. But now he was on Route 1, the wide-open road stretching out before him like a great maw, promising adventure and danger in equal measure.

Pikachu trotted beside him, no longer willing to be carried now that Austin had the rubber gloves. Austin couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at the creature's presence. Pikachu was acting strange, like it was aware of something that Austin wasn't. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about the yellow rodent.

Breathing in slowly, Austin began to walk as he saw various Pidgeys flying around. The creatures were a common sight on Route 1, and Austin couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the prospect of catching one. But he had to focus on the task at hand first. He had to gain Pikachu's trust if he was ever going to find out what happened to him.

As if sensing his thoughts, Pikachu scampered up a nearby tree and sat there, tongue sticking out. Austin couldn't help but roll his eyes at the creature's antics.

"Seriously Pikachu?" he muttered, pinching his nose in frustration. "Well, you'll have to come down eventually."

But Pikachu didn't budge, instead chomping down on an apple that hung from the tree's branches. Austin sighed, sitting down with a heavy thud. This was going to be harder than he thought.

He had considered instigating the Spearow incident, but he knew it was too risky. He wasn't willing to risk his own life or Pikachu's just for the sake of gaining his trust.

'But it was a major part of the series and if I don't do that there could be a butterfly effect-... Or is it Butterfree effect now?' Austin randomly thought.

Sighing, Austin looked up to see Pikachu eating an apple that was hanging from the tree. 'Well catching a Pokemon all comes down to luck so if I try to catch a Pokemon that isn't a Spearow I should be fine.'

Austin looked up to see Pikachu eating an apple that was hanging from the tree. 'Well catching a Pokemon all comes down to luck so if I try to catch a Pokemon that isn't a Spearow I should be fine.'

He had to find a way to break through to the creature, to show it that he was on its side.

And catching a Pokemon was as good a way as any to do that. Austin pulled out an empty Pokeball from his backpack and stood up, brandishing it in front of Pikachu.

"I don't suppose you'll help me catch a Pokemon?" he asked, half-jokingly.

Pikachu just laughed, as if Austin had told a joke.

"... Yeah, didn't think so."

With that, he looked around for a bit as he walked away from the tree.

Pikachu watched him leave before smirking.

Now was his chance to get away.

With that done, he ran down the tree and began to run off before colliding with something.

Shaking his head, Pikachu glared only for it to be a Spearow as it glared back at him.

"Spear!" Spearow took to the air as it was about to attack Pikachu, something that caused Austin to turn and notice as Pikachu ducked.

'Oh come on!' Austin thought running towards the scene. 'I didn't even throw the damn rock!'

But before he could find one, he heard a loud screeching sound. Turning around, he saw a Spearow descending upon Pikachu, ready to attack.

"Pikachu use Thundershock!" Austin ordered as Spearow went to try again and Pikachu didn't hesitate as it electrocuted the Spearow causing it to cry out loudly

Austin seized the opportunity, throwing the Pokeball at the stunned creature. It sucked the Spearow in, and the ball began to shake violently. Austin held his breath, waiting for the telltale ding that would signify his first successful capture.

And finally, it came. The ball dinged, and Austin let out a triumphant whoop. He had caught his first Pokemon.

"Are you alright Pikachu?" Austin asked as Pikachu was about to answer before they heard a few more cries and both turned to see the flock of Spearow's flying towards them.

Eyes widening, Austin grabbed the Pokeball containing the newly caught Spearow and he grabbed Pikachu before taking off running, surprising the Pokemon as he nearly electrocuted Austin to get him to let go.

"Too many for you to fight." Austin panted out as he was running. 'And I'm way out of shape!'

He nearly saw stars as a Spearow slammed into the back of his head with the flock catching up.

"Pikachu get in your Pokeball," Austin told him as he felt more adrenaline from the hit and tried to run faster.

"Pi?!" Pikachu glared.

"Listen to me, I'm not going to let you get hurt," Austin told him.

'Plus I can run faster without carrying him.'

A Spearow jabbed at his arm as he was carrying Pikachu before Austin used his vest to keep Pikachu from being pecked and tried to fish around for his Pokeball before he realized one error.

He left it at Prof. Oak's lab.

"Crap," Austin muttered before another Spearow hit his head and this time he tripped over a rock and was sent rolling across the ground as Pikachu cried out in surprise.

Pushing himself up, Austin saw that the Spearows were circling. "Pikachu get out of here." He told him.

Pikachu gave him a shocked look as Austin grabbed a rock and threw it, nailing a Spearow causing the flock to focus on him.

"Over here!" Austin shouted as they forgot about the Pikachu and flew at him.

Feeling a bead of sweat drip down his face, Austin began to book it.

Pikachu stared as Austin was getting further away in shock that a human just did that for him.

A human that he spent most of the day ignoring and electrocuted one time.

And now he was in danger because he ran into that Spearow.

Eyes narrowing Pikachu came to a decision.

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'Regret!' Austin thought running with his arms flailing as he tried to pick up speed. 'Regret! Major regret!'

He had to be suicidal.

That's probably why he did this.

Looking back to see if the flock was still following him, he ran faster at seeing how close they were.

'Irony.' Austin thought to himself. 'I didn't throw the rock that caused this and it happened anyways.'

His lungs were burning from the running he was doing before he tripped and was sent rolling again.

This time the Spearow surrounded him and they pecked and clawed at him as he cried out in pain.

'Not good.' Austin thought as he tried to get them to go away.

"CHU!" A Thundershock caused them to disperse as Pikachu ran up in front of him and glared at the flock.

Lifting his head, Austin was surprised by this as Pikachu had his cheeks sparking with the Spearows around.

"Pikachu, there's too many," Austin told him as he tried to get up wincing. "Get out of here."

"Pika." Pikachu shook his head as he wasn't going to just leave the kid after what the kid just did to try and save him.

Austin felt lightheaded as the Spearows got closer and the last thing he heard before blacking out was. "Staryu, use Water Gun!"

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[ Pallet Town - Ketchum Household ]

Delia Ketchum anxiously tapped her foot on the floor. Her anxiety was through the roof ever since her son had started his journey a few hours prior.

Growing up and living in a place like Pallet Town was pretty boring as it was an isolated place.

The only place of note for this little town was that it was the home of the famous Professor Samuel Oak. He was once a strong trainer that was on the level of the Elite Four – four of the five strongest trainers in Kanto. Though, before taking the Elite Four Challenge something in Samuel Oak changed. Samuel Oak just woke up one morning and realized that he didn't want to battle Pokémon anymore, no, he was much happier when studying and nurturing Pokémon instead.

So he left the life of a Pokémon battler behind and he set up shop in the town that he grew up in; Pallet Town. He and his Pokémon had never been happier as they too; were tired of battling for the sake of battling. Professor Oak became a well-known name in the Pokémon research scene and soon after he became the new Regional Professor – and was responsible for setting up aspiring Pokémon trainers with their starter pokémon and educating them for their journeys.

Her son was an energetic child – so energetic in fact, that it bordered on hyperactivity and as a result, was often easily distracted from his studies with Professor Oak and the little class that he taught in his spare time. The Professor had noticed this and had told her that he thought that Ash should be tested for any learning problems that were often found in those that couldn't stay focussed for long periods. Delia just waved the Professor's comment off with a statement that Ash's father was the same as his age. Professor Oak immediately backed off after the statement as he knew who Ash's father is/was: the legendary Red Ketchum.

But now when her son had gone on his journey, Delia realized that maybe she shouldn't have waved off Professor Oak's words. Ash while energetic wasn't the prodigy that his father was.

Maybe she shouldn't have been so protective of her son shielding him from the outside world.

Am I a bad mother ?!

Delia couldn't shake off the haunting news from a few days prior. A flock of Spearow and Fearow had descended upon Pallet Town, wreaking havoc on the population. A young trainer named Jimmy lost his life in the midst of it all, leaving behind a trail of tragedy and despair.

But what shook Delia to her core was the reason behind the deployment of Ace Trainers and Rangers. It wasn't to protect the lives of the innocent or to avenge Jimmy's death. No, it was because the Fearow flock had decimated the Caterpie population in the east of Pallet.

As Delia grappled with this chilling realization, she couldn't help but question the value of human life in this cruel world of Pokemon. Did the league truly cherish the lives of its young trainers, or were they simply pawns in a greater scheme?

Her heart ached at the thought of her son, Ash, following in the footsteps of those who had lost their lives pursuing their dreams of becoming a Pokemon trainer. But how could she crush his aspirations and rob him of his one true passion?

Delia was torn between her love for her son and her fear for his safety.

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