"Ash Ketchum!" a voice called from downstairs, the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps accompanying before the knocking began at his door. "Are you up yet? You were supposed to leave for Professor Oak's lab an hour ago!"
Ash mumbled, half awake for a moment, before snapping his eyes open and launching out of bed, looking around before catching sight of the smashed Pokeball alarm clock against the far wall of his room.
I really need to stop using that model... he bemoaned to himself, having lost track of the number of those he'd accidentally smashed in his sleep. Shaking his head, he frantically tried to get dressed as fast as possible, hoping he didn't miss his chance.
Ready to go, he rushed out of his bedroom, running past his mother, Delia, standing with a half annoyed, half amused smile. Racing down the stairs, he passed by her partner, Mimey the Mr. Mime, who waved him off while sweeping, calling out "Good luck, kid!" in a chipper male voice.
"Ash Ketchum, you be sure you come back here before you head off, or so help me Arceus!" his mother called after him before he burst out the door, shaking her head as he ran off, smiling at her dumb yet eager son's enthusiasm. She knew he'd been waiting for this day for so long... she just figured he would have prepared better for it. But then, as much as he'd matured while waiting, he was still Ash Ketchum.
Ash arrived to find Professor Oak waiting outside with a knowing smile. "Late as usual, Ash. Alarm clock again?"
The young man decided to ignore his elder's question, catching his breath before sheepishly asking, "... Am I too late?"
Oak didn't answer for a moment, before slowly responding, "Well... yes and no. All of the traditional starter Pokemon have been selected already. However, I do have one I think I could give to you. It's a bit less standard, and may be a bit difficult to train, but... if you want one from me, it's all I can offer. Of course, there's also nothing stopping you from going out alone to find your own first partner, though we generally don't recommend that these days, you know."
Ash nodded in thought, having read plenty of stories about how Anthrolution had made certain wild Pokemon more dangerous. He considered his options carefully... and by that, we of course mean he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
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