Today was the day! Ash had just turned ten, and was ready to start his pokémon journey!

The golden rays of sunlight peered through the window, shining a honey glow in his room. He groggily shuffled out of bed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He briefly glanced at his clock, then the window, and finally his hat. That was when it clicked. He was late!

Ash gasped, immediately scrambling out of bed. He hastily bounded outside, his shoes padding against the sidewalk as he dashed to Professor Oak's lab. But he was too late.

Right as Ash arrived, panting and sweating, Gary had taken off with a starter. After a brief conversation with the stuck up and future rival Gary Oak, Ash grumbled and moved to enter the laboratory. Hopeful, he gently pushed the door open to Professor Oak's lab. He was greeted by an unimpressed Professor staring at him, hands behind his back and a scolding look on his face.

"You're late," he said, his voice stern but not rude.

"Yeah, I know. I overslept," Ash excused. He quickly got his head in the game, a determined expression on his face. "But I'm ready to choose my starter!"

Professor Oak raised an eyebrow. He sighed, gesturing to the open and empty pokéballs on his table.

"I'm afraid you're too late. All the starters have already been chosen," the Professor informed reluctantly. Ash's smile dropped from his face, instead replaced by a nervous and upset expression. How could all the starters be taken?! Without a starter, how could be become the pokémon master?

"Then what will I do?" Ash inquired, hopeful the professor would have at least* something *for him. Professor Oak briefly glanced at the center of the desk with empty pokéballs.

"I may have a solution. But there is a proble-" Professor Oak started, before he was rudely interrupted by Ash.

"I'll take it!" Ash declared, clenching his fists with a determined grin.

The center icon morphed and suddenly parted, a pokéball rising from the middle. Ash eagerly clutched the ball and released the pokémon inside, a {{user}}.