[Ash: I still don't have my first Pokémon yet. By the way, what was my first Pokémon in other worlds? Was it Squirtle?]
At this moment, Ash had completely forgotten that he was late and hadn't received his other Pokémon. His mind was full of curiosity about his starter Pokémon in other worlds.
[Champion Ash: It's Pikachu.]
[Ash the Aura Guardian: +1]
[Breeder Ash: +10086]
[...]
With Ash's remark, all the Ashes from various fields popped up in the group. Without exception, their starter Pokémon were all Pikachu.
Ash was stunned as he looked at the messages in the group. It seemed that even though he achieved different things in each world, their starter Pokémon were all the same, but...
[Ash: I'm just asking, what kind of Pokémon is Pikachu?]
As soon as these words came out, the whole group fell silent. Ash waited for more than half a minute, yet no one replied. He even wondered if there was a glitch in the chat group.
[Tactical Master Ash: I can only say that it's hard to answer that question. Maybe you should go get your starter Pokémon first? Then you'll know what Pikachu is.]
[Ash: Right!! I still need to get my starter Pokémon! How do I get out of this place!!]
Tactical Master Ash's reminder snapped Ash back to reality. He still needed to claim his starter Pokémon! There was no time to linger in this chat group now!
[Champion Ash: It's simple. Just think 'exit' in your mind, and once you've got your starter Pokémon, we can slowly tell you about the group and its useful features for you.]
[Ash: Okay!]
Ash hastily replied and then quickly thought 'exit' in his mind.
His consciousness blurred, and he returned from that chaotic space to the real world.
At this moment, he was half-crouching on the ground, holding his head with one hand. Not far in front of him was Oak's Research Institute.
From here, he could see a crowd gathered at the entrance of the Oak's Research Institute, seemingly seeing someone off.
Recovered, Ash hurried into the crowd, squeezing his way to the very center until he met the gaze of a boy surrounded and admired by the crowd.
Oak's grandson, Gary!
He was also starting his journey today and already seemed to have received his Pokémon.
"Yo, isn't this the dim-witted Ash, who is useless except for his strength?" Gary said with a mocking look as he saw Ash suddenly rush in.
"Damn you, Gary! Who are you calling that!!" Ash waved his fist, yelling with anger.
In every town in the region, the Alliance sends lecturers to teach children about Pokémon knowledge and science.
In Pallet Town, Professor Oak was responsible for this duty. His knowledge level was more than enough to teach ordinary children, and he was even qualified to be a Gym Leader's lecturer.
Under Professor Oak's teaching, many notable Trainers emerged from Pallet Town, though none had reached the position of Elite or higher.
Ash and Gary were both students taught by Professor Oak, always competing with each other. In terms of knowledge, Ash was no match for Gary and was even at the bottom among Professor Oak's students.
But when it came to physical prowess, even ten Garys couldn't compete with Ash.
Lucky for Gary, Ash wasn't the kind of child to hit randomly or cause trouble. Otherwise, with Gary's confrontational personality, he would have been beaten by Ash over a hundred times from childhood.
Yet regardless, Ash still carried the title of 'simple-minded and brawny'.
"Even on such an important day as today, you're late. Your mind must be really big. Just make sure you don't get eaten by a Gyarados on your first day of traveling with such a brain," Gary taunted with a sarcastic smile.
Ash gritted his teeth in anger, clenching his fists, but he couldn't find anything to retort.
For any fifteen-year-old in the Pokémon League, one could apply to receive a Pokémon from the league's town envoy once they turned fifteen.
This date was designated on the 8th of each month by the League, and missing it meant having to wait until next month.
So the youngsters would never miss the first 8th day of the month after turning fifteen, as missing it would mean delaying their Pokémon reception by a month, which was unacceptable to many, including Ash.
"Did you already get your Pokémon?"
"Of course, I'm about to set off; would I not have my Pokémon? As for you, if you don't go in soon, you'll probably have to wait until next month," Gary's mockery carried a hint of warning.
Hearing this, Ash hurried past Gary and rushed into Oak's Research Institute.
Gary took a deep look at Ash, then continued to talk with the townsfolk about his ambitions, stating that he was about to embark on his journey.
...
Upon entering Oak's Research Institute, Ash immediately spotted Professor Oak, who was examining something under a microscope. He quickly ran up to him, eagerly shouting, "Professor Oak, I'm here! Where's my Pokémon?"
Immersed in his research, Professor Oak was startled and, upon turning his head, realized Ash was already beside him.
"You scared me! So it's Ash. I have to tell you, how could you be late on such an important day it is today? If you were any later..."
"Stop, stop, stop! I know I was wrong, Professor Oak, so where's my Pokémon?" Ash quickly interrupted Professor Oak's lecture; who knows when he'd get his Pokémon if the professor kept talking.
"Well, it's over there." Professor Oak pointed to a lonely Pokeball on a platform, marked with a yellow lightning symbol on top.
No choice for the latecomer; that's only natural.
In fact, having a Pokémon still available is already very lucky. At least Ash wouldn't have to wait until next month.
"No choice means no choice as long as there's something left. I wonder if this Pokémon will be the same as 'mine' said, that so-called Pikachu..." Ash muttered as he walked to the Pokeball and picked up the one with the lightning symbol.
Without hesitation, he threw it: "Come on out! My starter Pokémon!"
The Pokeball opened mid-air, and with a flash of light, a small yellow Pokémon appeared on the ground.
With yellow fur, two brown stripes on its back, a tail shaped like a zigzag lightning bolt, red electric sacs on its cheeks, and long ears with black tips, this Pokémon was the well-known electric mouse of Kanto—Pikachu!
"So this is Pikachu?" Ash blinked, trying to etch Pikachu's appearance into his memory.