And now, Shaun Garin Films presents SWITCHING PLACES A pure Pokemon fanfic Chapter 1 : A Pokemon Friend? Maybe Two! In every part of the universe, there is a small section of life that just decided to change direction. In the conditions of this one, something different did happen. For the better or for the worse, we do not know. <><><> Meet Ashley Ketchum, age ten. A young black haired girl, her hair tied back in a ponytail. She wears some jean shorts that goes to her knees, a black tanktop with spaghetti straps, and a stylish blue vest. Atop her head, she wears a red and white League hat, her hair sticking out from the small hole in the back. Blue fingerless gloves were worn on her hands and she tightened a Pokeball Belt at the front. Her brown eyes glistened with anticipation before finishing dressing. The dawn of the morning glittered over the hills near her home, creating a calm, soothing and serene picturesque view of the Pallet Valley. On went her backpack, packed from the night before. Decending from her bedroom and taking a long last glance at her home, she slipped on her sneakers, opened the door and vanished into the early morning mists. On the road towards Professor Ivy Oak’s home, she wandered the trees, watching the early morning Pidgey do their dance. High above a farm house, a Dotrio sounded its wakeup call. People started to open roadside shops, some waved to her and she waved back. Taking in the deep clean Pallet air, she approached the door of Professor Ivy Oak and rang the doorbell. “Professor Oak, I’ve come for my Pokemon licence and Pokemon!” she called out. The door opened creakily and a giant head screamed at her, “GO AWAY, IT’S SEVEN IN THE MORNING!” Ashley screamed and tumbled backwards down the walkway and into the bushes below. The giant head deflated to reveal a rather cute but grumpy red head. “Oh, it’s you Ashley. Come in already, Grandma’s here.” Inside, Ashley set down her backpack and followed her rival into the workroom, where a purple haired woman in a tight red dress, white lab coat and wore a white cross around her neck sat, hunched over a computer terminal. “Grandma,” Gillian said, yawning, “Ashley is here.” “Oh so you are here,” she said, turning about and knocking back a beer, flattening it and tossing the can into a recycling bin. “So, you’re here for your Pokemon. Well you’re in luck Ashley because the Pokemon you wanted is available.” “SUGOI!” she squealed happily. “Where is she?” “She, is a HE. Pika-honey?” A furry yellow head with cute brown eyes poked out from behind the door. “Pika-honey, your trainer is here. It’s okay,” she said, turning to Ashley who was staring in wide eyed delight. “He’s alright. Ashley, meet Pikachu. Pikachu, meet Ashley.” The little mouse Pokemon padded over to her, cocked its head to the side and asked, “Pikachu?” “You’re so ADORABLE!” she said, jumping like a little girl. “Hi, I’m Ashley.” She extended out a finger and Pikachu grasped it with a tiny paw. “Pika pika, Pikachu.” “Pikachu! I’m so glad that we’re finally going to be able to travel together!” “Katchu?” “Pikachu is a free spirit,” Ivy said, flatting another beer can after draining the contents. “He doesn’t like to be in a Pokeball.” She reached over to the desk and picked up several Pokeballs and a Pokedex. Now here’s your Pokeballs and Pokedex. Now get going or you’ll miss out on a lot.” “Okay! Coming Pika-honey?” “Pika pika!” He jumped up onto her shoulder and draped himself over her shoulder. Ashley laughed delightedly. “I think we’ll be best of friends Pika-honey.” <><><> Less than an hour into the forest between Pallet and Veridian, Ashley and Pikachu encountered the first sign of life. In the form of a guy. Lets flash back to the part just before her jaw dropped in shock. <><><> “Wow, it’s really warm today.” Ashley took off her cap and wiped the sweat from her brow. Then, unhooking her canteen, she took a sip, and gave Pikachu some water. Soon though, her mouth felt like a desert as she drank more. She drank until finally, she was empty. “Uh oh. And there’s no faucets for miles.” Pikachu stood on his hind legs, sniffed and pointed to the west. “Pika pika!” “What’s that Pika-honey? Water? That way?” At Pikachu’s insistance, she broke out into a run. Soon, the sound of rushing water was heard and she and her companion broke into a hidden river, a crashing waterfall a bit upstream. “WOW!” Stooping to fill her canteen, she took some water and washed her face with it. When her canteen was full, she said, “Pika-honey? Let’s go and check out that Waterfall, kay?” “Pikachu!” Pikachu gave a thumbs up at the suggestion. When she neared the waterfall, the spray was so inviting on her face that she quickly looked about and said, “Pika-honey? Stand guard, I’m taking a dip.” Quickly stripping of her clothes, she dove into the water. A second passed and she broke the crest of the water and swam about for a second or two. “AH! Pikachu? Is there anyone there?” “Pika piii!” Pikachu’s voice came in a “NO.” She smiled and let the water chrun about her body. As she closed her eyes, she could have sworn she heard a voice. Then there it was again. It sounded like “HEY! GET DRESSED WILL YA?” Her eyes opened and there was a guy, blushing horribly, and as naked as she was. Apparently, he was beneath the waterfall during her swim and couldn’t get out. Her jaw hit the ground as she screamed. <><><> “Look Miss, I’m really sorry about that. I don’t usually tell people I’m swimming in the Veridian Falls.” “PERVERT!” Ashley shouted at him, wrapped in a towel the boy had dug out from her pack. “AS IF YOU DIDN’T MEAN IT!” “I DIDN’T!” he protested loudly. “Anyways, its not my fault that you didn’t announce your arrival earlier. And swimming nude wasn’t a great idea EITHER!” “Jerk!” Ashley growled under her breath. “Then why didn’t I see any clothes or travel gear when I came here with Pikachu?” “Pika pika!” The boy sighed and pulled on a previously unseen rope at his side. With a spinning sound, a large backpack landed on the ground with a thunk. “I keep my stuff in the trees so that a wild Pokemon can’t gnaw into it.” Even Ashley could agree at the logic at that. “Then let me get changed. Pikachu-honey? If he peeks, shock him.” “Pi.” The rustling of clothes were heard in the bushes and Ashley soon emerged, fully clothed. “Okay then, who are you anyways?” “Oh, I’m Matt Waterflower, from Cerulian City.” He extended a friendly hand towards her and she narrowed her eyes, watching him for a bit before taking his hand. “Ashley Ketchum.” “I suppose you’re a Trainer, ne?” “Yeah. What’s it to ya?” “Well, I’m training to become the worlds best Water Master. You’re going to Veridian, right?” “Well...yeah...I guess.” “Great! Then I’m coming with you!” Ashley started in shock. “Coming WITH me?! I don’t need a perverted jerk following me.” “But you don’t know the gyms themes, do you?” Matt prodded. At her blank stare, he started. “Veridian is normally Ground types, but it changes a lot. And it’s usually closed. Pewter is a Rock and Ground type gym. Celadon is a grass, Saffron is a Psychic, Cinnibar is fire, Fuchsia is a poison gym and Vermilion is a electric.” “What about Cerulian? Doesn’t that city have a gym?” Matt looked up and nodded. “A water type gym actually. It’s my home.” “Fine then,” she said with a sniff and upturn of her nose. The next day came all too quickly as Ashley swung her Pokedex around in a wide arc as she travelled, Pikachu trailing beside her. Matt walked a bit behind to watch the forest around him, one hand resting on his belt of Pokeballs. As Ashley swung the Pokedex around, a chime came from the top of the machine. *Tangela, a Plant Pokemon. It’s thick blue vines shroud its true form from view.* Ashley searched the area with her eyes before alighting on a moving blue vine patch in the path ahead. She smirked a bit. “Perfect time to test our skills. Pika-honey, lets go!” “Pika!” The Tangela caught sight of the Pikachu charging it, with the trainer behind it, and went into a defencive mode, whipping out with several of its thick vines. Pikachu dodged the attacks which struck the ground with ferocious intencity. “Pikachu, thunderbolt attack!” Pikachu somersaulted up into the air, and curled up into a ball, it’s electric sacs charging with energy. “Pikaaaaa....” then, it uncurled, loosing a mighty electric blast. “CHU!” The electricity struck the Tangela dead on and it jittered for a second before tumbling backwards, its eyes spinning in exhaustion. Ashley pulled a Pokeball from her belt and expanded it. “Alright! Pokeball, GO!” The Pokeball soared far and true but suddenly, another Pokeball knocked it out of the air. It didn’t take long for the assailant to reveal himself as a tall green haired boy, dressed in a hakana. “Please refrain from capturing my Tangela,” he said in an even voice. Ashley blushed in embarrasment. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think it was tame.” He smiled a bit. “No harm done. Allow me to introduce myself : I am Eric Wildflower, leader of the Celadon Gym. I have come out here with my students to capture and study more plant type Pokemon.” Matt stepped forwards and said, “Eric! Remember me, Matt?” Eric smirked a bit condencingly. “I remember. How’s your brothers? Have they still gotten over their beating when they challenged my gym?” Matt took on a smirk. “Not on their lives Eric. They’re still willing to bet that Water Type can beat Plant Type with proper training. In fact, I challenge you!” Ashley smacked a hand to her face and grumbled, “Men.” Eric smirked a bit as his students rallied around him. “Go ahead, make my day. Lasselle, hold this.” he grabbed the top of his hakama and ripped it off, revealing a broad chest and green t shirt over his loose pants. Matt frowned and stripped off his jean jacket, and pulled loose one of his Pokeballs from his belt. The two stared each other down before Eric made the first move. “Pokeball, GO!” The red and white ball split open to reveal a flower petal Pokemon with a drip of nectar from its mouth. Ashley opened up her Pokedex and pointed it at the Pokemon. *Gloom, the flower Pokemon. This Pokemon attracts incects with its nectar, and releases many types of pollens in battle.* She frowned. “A plant type against a water type? Matt’s dumber than I thought.” “Pikachu,” the little mouse seconded. “Gloom again, eh?” Matt smirked. “I choose you, Staryu!” From the Pokeball, the orange star with a gem in the middle appeared with a hup like sound. Matt wasted no time as he shouted, “Staryu, tackle attack!” The Pokemon leapt up into the air and spun like a buzzsaw, barrelling into the Gloom who teetered on its feet for a few seconds. “Gloom,” Eric countered, “Acid attack!” Gloom began spraying the area with toxic acid to try and weaken the agile Water-type who dove towards it, dodging and spinning. Matt then shouted, “Hyperbeam attack!” From one of its points, the energy gathered into a rainbow colored attack which struck the Gloom dead on. The Gloom tottered before totally sucumbing to the effects, passing out. Eric’s jaw dropped in shock. “I don’t believe this!” Matt smirked. “Unlike my brothers, Daniel, Vargas and Lance, I travel around, learning to defeat Pokemon of the stronger types. Make a note of that Ashley,” he said in passing. Eric shook his head in amazement, recalling his fainted Pokemon. “I guess you win this round. I’ll see you back at my Gym the next time you get there. Ja nae.” Then, he and his students retreated to the van which held the logo of the Celadon Gym. Ashley sighed and said, “You did that to impress me. You got another thought coming you baka.” Matt turned, a smirk on his face. “Well, now that the Plant man is out of the way, why don’t we go capture some Pokemon of the plant type, ne?” Ashley sighed and hung her head. “Men,” she groused again.