Ash's Arc

Chapter 1 of 14

Ash was late for the most important morning of his life. He ran up the lab's front steps, sweat on his neck, and told himself he would win the League championship in every region someday. First he needed a partner. Trainers his age had already come and gone. He had overslept. Now three Poké Balls waited on a table, and he had no idea which one held his future. A researcher in a stained coat opened the first two balls. An orange lizard stepped out and swished its flaming tail. Beside it, a yellow mouse with red cheeks stretched and yawned. Both looked strong. Both looked ready. Ash reached for the fire lizard first. It bared small teeth and hissed. He pulled his hand back. He tried the yellow mouse instead. Sparks jumped from its cheeks and stung his fingers. He yelped and shook his hand. "They can tell when a trainer isn't sure," the researcher said. He crossed his arms. "Pick one and mean it." Ash froze. He wanted a strong partner, but strength meant nothing if the Pokémon wouldn't trust him. He looked from the lizard to the mouse. Neither would meet his eyes. Then the third ball rocked on its own. It popped open before anyone touched it. A small orange pig tumbled out. It had long black ears, a yellow snout, and a curled tail tipped with a glowing ember. It trotted straight to Ash and pressed its warm nose against his shin. The ember on its tail brightened. "That one wasn't part of the choice," the researcher said. He frowned. "It's stubborn. Two trainers already returned it." Ash knelt. The fire pig snorted a puff of smoke and grinned up at him. It didn't hiss. It didn't shock him. It leaned into his hand like it had already decided. "Him," Ash said. "I want him." The researcher sighed and closed the other two balls. The lizard and the mouse vanished in red light. "Fine. But those two were bred for battle. That one loses more than it wins." The words stung worse than the sparks. Ash's stomach tightened. He had picked the reject, the Pokémon nobody kept, and he had a championship to win. He stood and looked down at his new partner. The fire pig stared back, sure of itself, tail burning steady. Ash swallowed his doubt. "We'll prove him wrong," he told the pig. "Both of them." The fire pig squealed and stomped a small hoof. A spark leapt from its tail and scorched the lab floor. The researcher groaned and reached for a cloth. Ash grabbed the empty ball, called his partner back, and walked out the door. He had a Pokémon now. He also had a partner two trainers had already given up on, and no gym badge to his name. The first battle would have to come next.