The morning sunlight slipped gently through the curtains of the small house in Pallet Town, spilling warm golden light across the wooden floor and creeping up the side of Ash's bed.
"Ash, wake up! Or we're going to be late!" his mother called from downstairs, her voice bright and cheerful as always.
Ash blinked awake and stared at the ceiling for a second before slowly pushing himself upright. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and let out a quiet breath.
"Coming right up, Mom!"
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and shuffled toward the mirror. For a moment, he just stood there.
Messy black hair sticking out in every direction. Bright brown eyes still half-asleep. A small face that looked ordinary enough… but determined, somehow.
It had been four years.
Four years since he had opened his eyes in this world as a newborn baby not as himself, but as Ash. In the Pokémon world he used to watch from behind a screen.
At first, it hadn't felt real. Everything had been bright and loud and overwhelming. The smell of fresh air. The warmth of hands holding him. The sound of Pokémon outside instead of traffic.
Confusing.
Bittersweet.
Sometimes, flashes of his old life still drifted through his mind like fading dreams. A room lit by artificial light. A screen glowing in the dark. The feeling of watching adventures instead of living them.
But those memories felt heavy now.
Because the longer he lived here, the harder one thought pressed against his heart.
He wasn't meant to be here.
When he first understood that the original soul who should have been born never existed, guilt had settled quietly inside him. It wasn't loud or dramatic. Just constant. Like a small stone in his pocket he could never put down.
Replacing a life.
Taking a place that had been meant for someone else.
Sometimes, when the house was quiet and the world felt still, he would wonder if he truly deserved this life. If he deserved Delia's warm smile. This room. This name.
His reflection stared back at him, silent and unchanged.
Ash reached up and adjusted his hair, trying to flatten a stubborn strand that immediately sprang back up.
"…Guess I better not think too hard first thing in the morning," he muttered to himself, letting out a small breath that was almost a laugh.
Downstairs, he could hear dishes clinking and his mother humming happily to herself.
The sound was warm. Real.
"ASH! Hurry up!" Delia called again.
Ash snapped out of his thoughts. "Yes, Mom! I'm coming!"
He hurried downstairs, nearly tripping on the last step but catching himself at the railing.
"Mom, I'm ready!" he said excitedly, practically bouncing on his toes.
Delia Ketchum turned around with a warm smile. "Well then, let's go! It's been a while since I've seen Amber. And I bet you're excited to see all those Pokémon, aren't you?"
Ash's eyes lit up immediately. Whatever heaviness had lingered earlier was replaced by something bright and genuine.
Ash's eyes sparkled. "I heard Professor Oak has a lot of Pokémon. I want to see all of them!"
He grinned from ear to ear, looking completely adorable.
Delia chuckled. "Oh, there are definitely a lot. I'm sure you'll love seeing them, dear."
Together, they stepped outside. The morning air was fresh, carrying the scent of grass drifting in from the distance. A few Pidgey fluttered overhead, and somewhere nearby, a Rattata scurried through tall grass.
Ash walked a little faster, trying not to look too eager.
Before long, they reached the familiar white building with the red roof Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Ash paused for half a second, heart beating a little faster.
This was it the starting point.
He still remembered the first time he watched the anime. Back then, it was just on a screen, something distant and exciting. But now, standing right in front of the lab, it felt different. Real. His heart was beating a little faster, and he didn't know if it was because of nostalgia or nerves. It felt strange and exciting at the same time, like a childhood dream slowly turning into reality.
They were just about to knock when.
CRASH!
A loud clatter echoed from inside the lab, followed by the unmistakable sound of something metallic hitting the floor.
Ash and Delia exchanged a look.
"…Umm," Ash said slowly, tilting his head, "should we check what's going on in there?"
Delia sighed, though there was fond amusement in her eyes. "Yes, let's go. I think the Professor might be in trouble again."
Ash blinked. "Again?"
Before Delia could answer, another crash rang out this time followed by a very familiar voice.
"WAIT! Not that button!"
Ash's eyes lit up.
He couldn't help it.
He grinned.
"Okay… now I really want to see what's happening."
Delia laughed softly as they stepped inside. "Haha, Professor Oak has a long history of getting beaten up by Pokémon. You'll see soon enough."
The sliding doors of Professor Oak's Laboratory opened with a soft hiss.
And immediately
Thud!
There, in the middle of the lab, was Professor Samuel Oak… currently pinned to the floor by a large purple Arbok.
The Arbok's coils weren't tight enough to hurt him, but they were definitely firm enough to keep him from standing. Papers were scattered everywhere, and one overturned stool lay on its side nearby.
Ash froze.
Delia didn't even look surprised.
But the moment Oak noticed them, his expression brightened as if nothing was wrong at all.
"Oh! Delia! And little Ash!" he said cheerfully, still flat on his back. "How are you, my boy?"
Ash stared. "…Um, I'm good, Professor. But… are you alright?"
Oak adjusted his glasses as much as he could from that position. "Oh, it's nothing! I was conducting a bit of research. Just a small misunderstanding." He gestured awkwardly toward a nearby table. "There's a Poké Ball over there. Would you mind putting him back for me?"
Delia walked over to the table without a word, picked up the Poké Ball.
A beam of red light enveloped the Arbok, and in a flash, it disappeared back into the ball.
Oak immediately sat up, brushing off his lab coat like this happened every Tuesday.
"Thank you, Delia," he said with dignity that didn't quite match the situation.
Delia let out a slow sigh, her shoulders dropping as she looked at him. "Professor, you really need to take care of yourself. You're not getting any younger, you know."
Oak let out a booming laugh. "Hahaha! Don't worry, Delia. I still have plenty of strength left in me. I'm not that old!"
Ash looked at the scattered papers, the knocked-over stool.
"…If you say so."
Oak cleared his throat and straightened his coat properly. "You're here to see Amber, right? She and the kids are out in the garden. You can go ahead and meet them there."
Delia smiled warmly. "Alright, Professor. We'll go see Amber. Take care of yourself, okay?"
She paused near the door and added casually, "After all, Lady Agatha isn't here to look after you."
For a split second, Oak froze.
A visible twitch ran through his eye as he entered a trance-like state, as if a sudden wave of PTSD had dragged him back to something connected to Agatha.
Ash tilted his head. "Professor?"
Oak forced a laugh. "H-Haha! Yes, well! No need to bring her into this!"
Delia hummed innocently and took Ash's hand. "Come on, Ash."
As they stepped outside toward the garden, Ash glanced back once.
Professor Oak was standing very still in the middle of the lab, staring into space with the expression of a man reliving distant battlefield memories.
"…Mom," Ash whispered as they walked down the path, "what did Lady Agatha do to him?"
Delia smiled sweetly. "Oh, nothing you need to worry about."
Ash wasn't sure he believed that.
But as the fresh scent of flowers drifted in from the garden ahead, his curiosity quickly shifted to something much more exciting.
Pokémon.
-------------------------
The garden behind the lab was wide and bright, filled with neat flowerbeds and open grassy space where several Pokémon wandered peacefully under the morning sun. A gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh soil and blooming flowers.
Near a row of berry bushes stood a graceful woman with soft brown hair tied back neatly.
"Oh, Delia! It's been so long!" she said warmly as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her old friend.
"Yes, it's been years since we last saw each other," Delia replied with a bright smile. "How have you been?"
Amber pulled back slightly, her expression soft and content. "It's been good. I retired recently, so now I just look after the kids and help around the lab when needed. It's quieter… but I like it."
She then noticed the small boy standing politely beside Delia.
Her eyes widened gently. "Oh my… Ash. Look at you! You've grown so much. You look just like your father. Oh, if only Blue and your father were here, it would be a great reunion."
Ash felt a small, familiar tug in his chest at those words, but he kept his smile steady. He gave a small, respectful bow.
"It's nice to meet you, Aunty. Mom talks about you a lot."
Amber blinked.
Ash straightened up and turned toward the two children standing beside Amber. The older girl had long brown hair and a confident stance. The boy next to her around Ash's age had spiky brown hair and sharp, curious eyes.
"Hi," Ash said with a friendly grin. "I'm Ash. Nice to meet you."
The boy crossed his arms immediately. "I know. Grandpa talks about you sometimes."
Ash tilted his head. "He does?"
"Yeah," the boy replied proudly. "I'm Gary."
Gary Oak gave a small smirk, though it didn't look unfriendly just competitive.
"And I'm Daisy," the girl added. "I'm older, so you can call me big sister."
Ash nodded seriously. "I'll try my best."
Amber, meanwhile, stared at him thoughtfully before kneeling down.
"Delia…"
"Yes?" Delia replied casually.
"How is your son so polite?"
Delia twitched. "Is that a problem?"
"N-No!" Amber waved quickly. "I just assumed..."
"You assumed what?" Delia asked sweetly.
Amber felt a chill.
"Nothing! Daisy, Gary, take Ash to see the Pokémon!"
Daisy nodded immediately. "Come on."
Gary turned and began walking ahead without waiting.
Ash glanced at his mother. Delia gave him a thumbs-up and mouthed, 'Have fun.'
Ash grinned.
As the three children walked deeper into the garden, the sounds of soft Pokémon cries filled the air. A few Pidgey fluttered from tree to tree. A Meowth stretched lazily in the sun. Near a pond, a group of Poliwag splashed happily.
Ash's eyes widened.
Even after three years in this world, the sight still felt magical.
Gary noticed his expression and smirked. "What? Never seen Pokémon before?"
Ash snapped out of it and smiled sheepishly. "Not this many at once."
Daisy chuckled softly. "Grandpa raises Pokémon for research. Some are from trainers. Some were injured. Some just stay here."
Ash walked slowly, taking it all in the soft rustling grass, the sparkle of water, the relaxed atmosphere. It was peaceful. And for the first time that morning, Ash felt something settle quietly in his heart. This world wasn't just exciting. It was warm.
Gary suddenly stopped in front of him.
"So," he said, narrowing his eyes slightly, "do you like Pokémon?"
Ash looked at him for a second.
Then he smiled and said "Yeah, I really do."
Gary stared at him. crossed his arms and lifted his chin slightly.
He gave a confident nod. "I guess I'll become your friend."
Bump!
Daisy elbowed him lightly in the side.
"Don't act like you weren't looking forward to meeting him," she said calmly.
Gary immediately stiffened. "I was not..."
Daisy ignored him completely and turned to Ash with a warm, polite smile and said. "please don't mind Gary. He has a few screws loose."
"I do not!" Gary snapped, his face turning red. "You're the one making it weird!"
Ash blinked, then let out a small laugh before he could stop himself.
Daisy's smile softened. "What I mean is… he gets competitive. Especially when he's interested in someone."
"I'm not interested!" Gary protested, which only made it worse.
Ash scratched the back of his head, grinning. "It's okay. I think I get it."
"I was looking forward to this too," Ash said honestly. "There aren't many kids in Pallet Town, so I don't really have many friends."
Both Daisy and Gary went quiet for a moment.
They exchanged a quick glance.
They had traveled with their mother for a long time before coming here. New places. Short stays. Not many lasting friendships.
[Author's Note: I made some changes in this story. So in this timeline their Mother Amber was a Pokemon groomer and since she did not want them to grow without her she decided to take them with her.]
"…Yeah," Gary muttered softly.
Daisy cleared her throat and brightened up. "Well then! Let's go play with some Pokémon. I'll introduce you to some of Grandpa's Pokemons."
She led the boys further into the open field near the lake.
Ash's eyes widened as the view opened up.
A flock of Pidgey swooped overhead, their wings catching the sunlight. In the lake, several Water-type Pokémon swam gracefully Seadra gliding beneath the surface, a cheerful Politoed bouncing near the shore, and a few Magikarp splashing energetically.
Across the field stood larger Pokémon resting peacefully Tauros grazing in a cluster, a Venomoth fluttering lazily through the air, and an Alakazam sitting quietly under a tree, eyes closed in meditation.
And not far from them, partially in the shade, lay a massive Dragonite, its orange form rising and falling gently as it slept.
Ash stopped walking.
"…Wow."
His voice was soft, filled with pure admiration.
Daisy noticed where he was looking and quickly raised a hand. "Let's not get too close to Dragonite. He doesn't like being disturbed during his naps."
Gary nodded seriously. "Yeah. He's strong, but he's also grumpy when he wakes up."
Ash chuckled quietly. "Got it."
Gary then pointed toward a small patch of grass nearby. "Let's go play with those Oddish."
A group of Oddish were swaying gently in the sunlight, their leaves fluttering slightly in the breeze.
Ash nodded and followed.
"Be careful," Gary said in a low voice. "Oddish get scared easily. You have to approach them slowly, or they'll run away."
As if on cue, the Oddish noticed Gary stepping forward.
They froze.
Then
Poof!
They scattered into the grass almost instantly.
"Ahh, see? That's what I mean, you have to....."
Gary turned around mid-sentence.
And blinked.
All of the Oddish had quietly gathered around Ash instead.
Ash was crouched down, smiling softly, holding out his hand without moving too quickly. One by one, the Oddish waddled closer. One brushed its leaf against his fingers. Another leaned gently against his knee.
Ash laughed lightly as he patted one of them.
Gary stared.
The same Oddish that ran from him were now happily circling Ash like he was part of the garden.
"…Hmph," Gary muttered, though there was no real annoyance in his voice just confusion.
Daisy crossed her arms thoughtfully. "That's strange. They're usually shy with new people."
Ash tilted his head innocently. "Really? But I Think they like me"
Soon the three of them moved around the garden together.
Gary tried showing Ash how to feed the Magikarp near the lake.
"Watch this," Gary said confidently, tossing a bit of Pokémon food toward the water.
The Magikarp jumped energetically and splashed him completely.
Daisy burst into laughter.
Ash tried to hold it in, but he couldn't help it. "Pfft...sorry!"
Gary stood there, soaked from head to toe, blinking water out of his eyes.
"…It slipped," he said with forced dignity.
"Into the lake?" Daisy teased.
Ash offered him a hand. "Here."
Gary hesitated for a second, then grabbed it and pulled himself up from the muddy edge.
"Next time," Gary declared seriously, "I'll show you something cooler."
They wandered further, greeting more Pokémon along the way.
Tauros allowed Ash to gently pat its side. Venomoth hovered near him curiously. Even the normally reserved Alakazam opened one eye and studied him for a long moment before giving a small, approving nod.
Ash felt it clearly.
The Pokémon weren't tense around him.
They weren't cautious. They were calm. Comfortable.
As if something about him simply put them at ease.
Daisy noticed too.
"Even Alakazam doesn't warm up to people that quickly," she said quietly.
Gary crossed his arms again, but this time his expression was thoughtful rather than competitive.
Under the bright sky of Pallet Town, surrounded by Pokémon and new friends, the morning drifted by peacefully.
------------------------
"Kids! Come here and eat something!" Delia's voice carried gently across the garden, soon joined by Amber's warm call.
The three children paused mid-step. Gary had just been about to attempt another dramatic Pokémon demonstration when Daisy nudged him.
"Food," she said simply.
That was all it took.
They ran toward the patio area near the garden.
"Mom! We're here!" Daisy called out first.
On the shaded terrace, Delia and Amber were sitting together at a small round table with teacups in hand. A neat spread of snacks sandwiches, berries, and homemade pastries was laid out on plates.
On the other side of the table sat Professor Samuel Oak, now fully recovered from his earlier incident. Beside him rested his large Dragonite, happily munching on what looked suspiciously like half the snack tray.
"Dragonite…" Oak said mildly. "Those were for sharing."
Dragonite blinked innocently and continued chewing.
Delia smiled as Ash approached. "Did you have fun, dear?"
"Yes!" Ash answered eagerly, still a little breathless from running. "There are so many Pokémon here, and they're all really nice!"
"Really nice?" Gary muttered under his breath. "They ran from me."
Daisy elbowed him again.
Just then, Dragonite paused mid-chew. Its antenna twitched. Slowly, it turned its large, gentle eyes toward Ash.
Ash looked back.
For a moment, boy and dragon simply stared at each other. Dragonite stood up.
Daisy instinctively stiffened. Gary took a cautious step back.
"Ash…" Gary whispered.
But Ash didn't move. He just watched, curious and calm.
Dragonite stopped in front of him. There was a brief pause.
Then....."Drago!"
Dragonite suddenly leaned down and wrapped its large arms around Ash in a warm, crushing hug.
"Wah!"
Ash disappeared into soft orange scales. The adults blinked.
Daisy blinked. Gary blinked twice.
Ash, meanwhile, relaxed almost instantly.
"…It's so soft," he mumbled from within the embrace, his voice muffled but blissful.
Dragonite hummed happily, holding him gently but firmly.
There was complete silence for a second.
"Well," Gary said at last, crossing his arms with a small huff, "I guess I should get used to it. For some reason, all the Pokémon like him."
There was a hint of envy in his voice, but more than that curiosity.
Professor Oak, watching the scene thoughtfully. "It certainly seems that Pokémon are very fond of you, Ash."
Delia nodded. "It's not just here. Recently, when we went to Viridian City, I noticed the same thing. Pokémon really do seem to trust him."
Amber looked between Ash and Dragonite with quiet surprise. "Even Dragonite doesn't warm up this quickly…"
Ash, still wrapped in warmth, let out a content sigh. "It feels sooo nice."
Dragonite gave a pleased rumble.
Oak chuckled. "Alright, Dragonite. You can let Ash breathe now."
Dragonite hesitated.
Very slowly, and a little reluctantly, it loosened its grip and set Ash back on his feet.
Ash swayed slightly from the sudden freedom but quickly steadied himself. He looked up at Dragonite and gently patted its round belly.
"Don't worry," he said brightly. "I'll come play again."
Dragonite's eyes sparkled. "Drago!" it replied, nodding happily.
Daisy laughed softly.
The adults smiled quietly at the children.
Under the warm Pallet Town sun, with tea growing cold and snacks slowly disappearing (mostly into Dragonite), the peaceful afternoon continued filled with laughter, and the simple comfort of friendship.
------------------------
The sun had already begun to set by the time Ash and Delia left Professor Oak's lab.
The sky above Pallet Town glowed in soft shades of orange and pink. Ash walked beside his mother with his hands behind his head. The town felt calm lamps beginning to flicker on, a few Pidgey gliding toward the forest.
Delia glanced down at him with a warm smile. "You had a good day, didn't you?"
Ash nodded, grinning. "Yeah. It was really fun."
"I'm glad," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as they crossed the quiet street.
Ash hesitated for a second, then looked up at her. "Mom… can I ask you something?"
"Of course, dear." Her voice was gentle, curious.
Ash scratched his cheek. "I have a dad, right?"
Delia nearly missed a step. She blinked at him. "Well, of course you have a dad. What else would you think?"
Ash shrugged lightly. "I don't know. I just thought maybe he was some beat-up, loser who abandoned us."
Delia froze for half a second then burst into laughter.
"HAHAHA! A beat-up loser?" She laughed so hard she had to steady herself. "He would be absolutely heartbroken if he heard that!"
Ash blinked. "So… he's not?"
"No, he is not." She wiped a tear of laughter from her eye, still smiling. "The truth is, your father was a very strong Trainer back in the day. He and Professor Oak's son, Blue, were rivals. Always competing, always pushing each other."
Ash tilted his head slightly, listening closely, a quiet thought forming in his mind.
'Is it the same person I'm thinking about? '
"I met him during his travels," Delia continued, her tone softening. "He passed through Rota Kingdome. We travel together… and, well, things happened." She gave Ash a playful look. "And then we ended up together."
Ash coughed awkwardly. "Okay, okay, I get it."
Delia chuckled. "Right now, he's away on an important mission. He and Blue are working on something together. But if all goes well, he should be back before too long."
Ash nodded slowly.
They reached home soon after.
After Dinner and washing the dishes together and saying goodnight, Ash headed upstairs.
"Don't stay up too late!" Delia called from below.
"I won't!" he replied automatically.
Ash sat down on the edge of his bed.
The easy grin he had worn throughout dinner slowly faded into something more thoughtful.
He raised his right hand in front of him and took a slow breath.
He focused.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then a faint warmth stirred beneath his skin.
A soft green glow began to form around his hand smooth and steady, like early spring sunlight. It pulsed gently, calm and alive.
Ash watched it carefully.
"It really is…" he murmured. "The power of Viridian."
He remembered the Oddish that had approached him without fear earlier. Alakazam's quiet, thoughtful gaze. Dragonite's sudden affection.
They hadn't been reacting randomly. They had been responding to this.
Ash slowly closed his glowing hand into a fist. The light brightened slightly, then settled into a steady pulse.
"I still can't control it perfectly," he whispered. "But it's getting stronger."
He opened his hand again, relaxing his focus. The green glow gradually faded, leaving only moonlight resting against his fingers.
Ash lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
In his previous world, abilities like this had only existed in games and anime he used to watch, imagining what it would be like to stand in this world.
Now he was here.
He had been born here. Raised here. This was his home.
And somehow… this power belonged to him.
Outside, the wind rustled gently through the trees. Somewhere nearby, a Pidgey gave a soft chirp before settling into its nest for the night.
Ash let out a quiet breath.
A small smile formed on his face as sleep slowly pulled at him.