Beneath the shade of an unfamiliar berry tree, a tense standoff was taking place.
A small Pichu stood its ground, cheeks sparking faintly as it clutched a berry in its tiny paws. Its fur bristled with electricity, and its eyes narrowed with determination.
"Piiiii-chu!!"
Across from it, a wild Nidorino snorted, glaring at the berry as if the mere sight of it offended him. Although the fruit was sour and hardly his favorite, he wasn't about to let some yellow rodent stroll into his territory and snatch it without a fight.
The situation was already heated when Ash arrived, and he paused behind a bush, watching with curiosity.
A Pichu and a Nidorino locked in a standoff over a berry.
At first, it just seemed like a common wild encounter… until Ash's Aura stirred.
That Pichu. There was something about it. Something familiar.
Ash's expression softened.
Could this be… the one?
The Pichu suddenly perked up, sensing his presence. It turned its head slightly, eyes locking on the boy in the distance with a questioning look.
"Pika?" it seemed to whisper.
But in that brief distraction, the Nidorino made its move. With no warning and zero honor, it lowered its horn and charged forward.
Ash's eyes widened.
He didn't even hesitate.
A pulse of Wave Guide Power surged through him. In an instant, a soft blue shield flared to life around Pichu, intercepting the strike.
At the same time, Ash raised his palm and conjured an Aura Sphere, launching it with practiced precision.
He didn't use much force—just enough to redirect the attack.
The Aura Sphere struck Nidorino in the side, knocking its charge off course. Unable to stop in time, the Pokémon crashed straight into the trunk of the berry tree, dazing itself.
Ash sprinted forward and knelt beside the little Pichu.
"You okay?" he asked gently, checking it for injuries.
The tiny Pokémon looked up at him, eyes wide with surprise. Its little paws still clutched the berry, though now it seemed more curious than afraid.
Ash smiled.
There was no doubt in his heart anymore.
This wasn't just any wild Pichu. This was the Pokémon fate had destined to become his closest partner.
"Pi~"Thank you, human.
Ash blinked. He had clearly understood that. Not just the tone — the words themselves.
With his Wave Guide Power and the Psychic gift from Mew, he could now comprehend the Pichu's speech almost as if it were his own.
He smiled warmly. "Pichu, my name is Ash. My dream is to become a Pokémon Master. Will you come with me? Be my family, my partner? We'll grow stronger together, side by side."
Pichu tilted its head, confused."Pi~ Pichu?"What are dreams… family… partners?
Ash froze for a second.
He hadn't expected that.
This little one… didn't even understand the meaning of those words.
He knelt beside it and gently explained. About dreams — the goals that gave life purpose. About family — the bonds that gave warmth and comfort. About partners — the friends who stood with you through battles, joy, and hardship.
Pichu listened silently, eyes wide and ears twitching.
And when Ash finished, the little Pokémon's expression changed.
Its eyes sparkled. A quiet longing surfaced on its face — something it had never known how to name before.
From the moment it was born, it had wandered alone. It had watched flocks of Pokémon playing, laughing, resting together. It had always stayed on the outskirts, uncertain why something inside felt incomplete.
But now…
Looking into Ash's sincere, hopeful eyes, that empty space inside its heart began to fill.
Pichu raised its tiny paw and reached forward.
Ash gently took the paw with a smile. "Then from today on, let's walk this path together. I'll take care of you, Pichu."
He lifted the little Pokémon and placed it on his shoulder.
"Pichu~"
And just like that, a bond was formed — not by a Poké Ball, but by heart.
One boy.One mouse.One promise.
A new journey had quietly begun.
After confirming Pichu's trust and willingness, Ash finally opened a system function he had been intentionally avoiding until now — the Pokémon Info Scan.
The system's detection mode could digitize detailed data for any Pokémon. But Ash had left it disabled until now. He believed that real knowledge came from study and experience. The system was powerful, sure, but relying on it too much would make him soft.
This time, though, was an exception.
A small translucent screen appeared in front of his eyes.
[Pokémon: Pichu][Gender: Male][Level: 12](Supplementary Level Classification: Normal (1–10), Elite (11–20), Excellent (21–30), Gym (31–40), Quasi-Elite (41–50), Elite (51–60), Quasi-Champion (61–70), Champion (71–80), Quasi-God (90–100), Secondary God (101–110), Primary God (111–120), Creator God (121+ Unique))
[Abilities: Lightning Rod, Actor (Acting MAX), Fifty-Fifty (Becomes stronger against stronger foes, weaker against weaker ones)]
[Aptitude: ???](Note: Aptitude ranks from Normal up to Creator God. It reflects growth potential but not destiny. As one book says, there are no useless Pokémon — only useless Trainers.)(Reminder: Please don't impose power scaling from other novels into this one.)
[Skills: Tail Whip, Thunder Shock, Nuzzle, Volt Tackle...]
[Description: A unique yellow-furred rodent Pokémon. Its final evolution is Pikachu. For unknown reasons, it cannot evolve into Raichu using a Thunder Stone...]
Ash's hands tightened slightly.
No doubt about it. This Pichu wasn't just a Pichu.
It was his Pichu. The one destined to become the Pikachu beside him in every timeline.
The legendary Pika God.
These abilities alone were ridiculous. "Actor" and "Fifty-Fifty"? That combo practically screamed protagonist's partner energy.
Just then, the system's mechanical voice chimed in his mind.
Ding! Bond detected with future Pika God.Rewards issued:– 10,000 Points– 1× Super Light Ball– 5-year supply of custom top-tier energy cubes for Pichu/Pikachu– 1,000,000 Alliance Coins
Ash blinked. Then smiled.
"This system knows how to treat a trainer. What a luxury starter package."
The system's energy cubes were premium items far superior to market-grade ones. Having five years' worth meant he could pour his saved resources into other training efforts.
He reached into his system space and pulled out a shimmering Luxury Ball, dark red with gold trim.
He knelt slightly and held it out to the small Pokémon on his shoulder.
"Pichu," he said softly, "would you like to enter this Poké Ball and become my very first official Pokémon partner?"
Pichu blinked at the Poké Ball in his hand.
"Pichu?"
The Pichu tilted its head and stared curiously at the shimmering Luxury Ball in Ash's hand.
Ash smiled and began explaining gently.
"A Poké Ball is a tool that helps build a connection between Pokémon and humans. When you go inside, it doesn't mean you're trapped or owned. It's a safe place, a resting space, and it lets us travel together more easily."
Pichu listened carefully, eyes blinking as it tried to process the idea.
After a moment, it gave a small, thoughtful nod.
Then, without hesitation, it reached out its tiny paw and tapped the surface of the ball.
A soft red light wrapped around its body and pulled it gently inside.
The Luxury Ball trembled once. Then again. And on the third pulse, it gave a soft click.
"Dong."
Ash's eyes lit up. He raised the ball into the air with pride.
"I caught Pichu!"
He couldn't help but grin and strike a celebratory pose.
But before the moment could fully settle, the Luxury Ball burst open with a flash of white light.
"Pichu~"
The little Pokémon had already popped back out and landed nimbly on Ash's shoulder.
Apparently, while the space inside the Luxury Ball was much more luxurious than a standard Poké Ball, Pichu still didn't like being confined.
Ash laughed softly.
"Alright, alright. I guess you're not the type who likes staying inside. Do what makes you comfortable."
Pichu chirped happily, rubbing its cheek against his.
Their bond was official now — not because of the Poké Ball, but because of trust.
Meanwhile, on the far edge of Viridian Forest...
Beneath a wide tree, a small figure sat huddled against the trunk. A soft wind rustled the leaves above, and the fading light made the shadows stretch longer.
"Is... anyone there?"
Serena curled her knees to her chest, her voice barely above a whisper.
She had gotten separated from the others and wandered too far. The stillness of the forest, normally peaceful, now made her feel exposed. The quiet pressed in around her, heavy and eerie.
Her heart beat faster with every sound.
She had never felt so small or so alone.
Serena sat quietly under the tree, hugging her knees, her face streaked with tears.
Her eyes were red and puffy, and she sniffled as she whispered to herself.
"I shouldn't have come... I thought this camp would be fun, but it's just scary. Summer Camp is so annoying…"
She had only chased a pink Butterfree out of curiosity. One step led to another, and before she knew it, she was deep inside the forest, far beyond where she should have been. When she finally realized her mistake and tried to return, she twisted her ankle badly.
Every small movement sent sharp pain through her leg. She had no choice but to sit there and call for help, hoping someone would hear.
And then, just when her voice was about to break from exhaustion, she heard another.
"Are you here for the Summer Camp too?"
The sudden words made Serena's heart skip a beat. She looked up, startled.
A boy stood in front of her, taller than her by a head. His voice was kind, and a small Pichu sat calmly on his shoulder.
It was Ash.
After forming his bond with Pichu, he had come straight to find Serena using Aura guidance.
"Mm..." Serena nodded, her voice soft. Her cheeks flushed as she quickly wiped her eyes.
Ash glanced down and saw her swollen ankle. His expression grew concerned.
"Are you hurt?"
"Yes..." she whispered, lowering her head in embarrassment.
"Do you mind if I take a look?" Ash asked gently. "Professor Oak taught me how to treat common injuries."
Serena looked up at him, eyes wide with surprise.
"You... you know how?"
Ash nodded with a reassuring smile.
"I promise I'll be careful."
Serena hesitated for a moment, then gave a tiny nod.
"You can."
With Serena's consent, Ash knelt beside her and gently examined her ankle.
"It's a sprain, nothing serious. No sign of bone damage," he said with relief. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Serena shook her head. "No, just my ankle."
"Alright. I'll give it some basic treatment now, and then we'll head back to camp. The doctors there can take a closer look."
Ash reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a small spray bottle. In truth, it was a high-quality Potion from the system store, something he had exchanged for fifty points. He gave the bottle a good shake, then sprayed the medicine onto Serena's swollen ankle.
A cool mist settled over the injured area. Almost instantly, Serena's pain began to fade. She blinked in surprise and let out a soft breath.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "My name's Serena. I'm from Vaniville Town in the Kalos region. If you hadn't shown up, I don't know what I would've done."
"I'm Ash, from Pallet Town. And this little guy here is my partner, Pichu," he replied, pointing to the yellow Pokémon on his shoulder.
Pichu gave a cheerful chirp, but inwardly it was watching Serena carefully. From its perspective, its newly recognized trainer seemed far too eager to help this strange girl.
Pichu tilted its head thoughtfully.
So... is this what they call love?
Ash didn't notice Pichu's suspicious expression. He scratched his head and added, "Actually, even if I hadn't found you, Professor Oak probably would've noticed and come looking."
Serena smiled and shook her head. "That doesn't matter. You're the one who found me. You saved me."
Ash looked down, a little embarrassed. Her words made his heart feel unexpectedly warm.
He cleared his throat. "The medicine helped, but you still need rest. I'll carry you back so the doctors at camp can help properly."
Before Serena could even respond, Ash gently scooped her up into a princess carry. His movements were steady and secure, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her heart thumping louder than before.
Her face flushed.
Ash, meanwhile, walked confidently toward the path out of the forest, silently grateful for the excuse to show his strength.
As for why he didn't carry her on his back? Well, part of it was to avoid squishing Pichu. But mostly... he wanted to look cool.