Of Starters and Spearow: The New Reality

**"Of Starters and Spearow: The New Reality"** is the second chapter of *Pokémon Reset Bloodlines.* As told by Arceus, Ash wakes up in the new timeline right the day he's set to become a Pokémon Trainer only to find that many things, himself included, have changed. After going to Professor Oak's lab and reuniting with Pikachu, the two set out to begin their Pokémon journey together once more.

## Plot

Ash wakes up in a dark place that seems familiar, and he realizes it's his old room, though he notices a digital clock he did not have before marking 3:00 am. Upon checking himself physically, he realizes to his relief that he still remains himself, barring the fact that he's now physically older than he remembered as evidenced by his increased height and facial hair. Slowly but surely, the memories of both timelines start sorting themselves out and he's able to think things through: he still lives with his mother in Pallet Town, knows Professor Oak and for the most part his life has been the same, though he still can't recall anything about his father in either timeline.

He spots a videotape and the remains of a mail package sent by Oak, and also a letter from Serena, with whom he's remained in touch in this timeline, recalling the events of Oak's summer camp one year earlier. He promptly inserts the videotape in his TV, also grabbing a pair of headphones so as to avoid waking his mother up.

The tape contains a video message from Professor Oak, who informs him that he's passed his test for a trainer license with a score of 90% or above and thus he's earned the right to get a Pokédex and a starter Pokémon from him. The message also tells him he must show up at Oak's lab at 8:00 am or he won't be able to get a starter Pokémon. Ash wonders if showing up earlier means he won't be able to get Pikachu this time around and he would have to make do with a different starter Pokémon. The message continues talking about the legal responsibilities he assumes as a trainer, causing him to doze off and fall asleep again.

After the sunrise, Ash heads for Oak's lab with a few minutes to spare, pondering about how his mother has Mimey living with them already (which spared him of cleaning duties after breakfast). By the time he arrives to Oak's lab, he sees the professor talking to a large and intimidating man who "thanks" him for his "cooperation", leaving the scientist distraught for some reason. After the man leaves, Oak finally spots Ash, and promptly apologizes because the starter Pokémon have already been taken away.

Oak invites Ash for some tea, and explains that the man he saw earlier was sent by an important politician whose twin children attended the summer camp, but did not score high enough in their trainer test. Thus, he forced Oak to give his children starter Pokémon on threat of suffering a budget cut when he's already having monetary issues to fund his research. Ash understands and tells him he's willing to come back next year, but Oak tells him he can still give him a different Pokémon, and takes him to a storage room full of Poké Balls, explaining that he often gets some spare Pokémon from eggs and he could offer one to Ash as a substitute starter.

Ash picks up the first Poké Ball and releases Pikachu. Despite Oak's warning that the electric mouse could get violent, making physical contact with Ash restores Pikachu's memory, sparing the trainer from being attacked. Afterwards, Oak gives Ash his Pokédex and Poké Balls so he can begin his journey officially, and they head out where Delia is waiting for Ash to see him off along with Mimey. After Ash leaves, Delia and Oak comment about something they saw about Ash sometime ago, with Oak commenting he gave Ash scholarship in his camp to see if he would show it again, while Delia muses with some sadness and worry that her only concern is about *who*might see it.

While walking across Route 1, Ash deduces that Pikachu has regained all his memories until shortly before the reality collapsed, and explains to him everything that Arceus told him about Cyrus and how they have to stop him, as well as some of the things that have changed, like him being in touch with Serena (which makes Pikachu give him a strange look), and that his Pokédex has data of more Pokémon beyond Kanto this time around. After spotting a pair of Pidgey, the two decide to finally get started, but upon trying to call for using Electro Ball and Iron Tail, Pikachu realizes to his shock that he can't perform those attacks. Ash calls for a Thundershock, which Pikachu reluctantly complies, scaring the two Pidgey away, and the two then realize that Pikachu might have regained his memories, but his former power and moves have been lost. The mouse lets out a scream towards the sky in frustration.

Afterwards, Ash realizes how Pokémon seem more territorial and aggressive than he remembered the last time, and while he's almost as frustrated as Pikachu for their loss of experience, the two decide to begin training to regain them. They manage to pull off a successful Iron Tail in a short time, while Ash also checks that the Pokédex has many additional functions that it did not have the last time around. Seeing that it's getting dark already, Ash decides to turn in for the day and continue to Viridian, thinking that they won't be getting there so fast without a murderous Spearow flock chasing them. Right then and there, the aforementioned flock quickly swoops on them for trespassing their territory.

A bit further down the road, Misty is fishing for Water Pokémon while her Psyduck watches. She catches a Goldeen and uses some kind of mind-control ability to get her to enter the Poké Ball willingly, which Psyduck finds creepy. Misty celebrates her sixth catch while Psyduck reminds him she still has over a hundred more to go to reach her goal. She accidentally falls into the river and uses Waterfall to get back to the bank safely. Right then and there, Ash and Pikachu show up, being chased by the Spearow and Fearow flock, making her comment that it's not the first time something like this happens.

Meanwhile, Ash and Pikachu try to fight back the Spearow and Fearow. While Pikachu manages to hold them back with his electric attack for a while, the birds wise up enough to circle around and use their sheer numbers to eventually overwhelm them. After taking down a Fearow who attempts a Drill Peck, another charges in with a Drill Run. Ash instinctively jumps in front of Pikachu to shield him with his own body, and without realizing, he unleashes a Counter that knocks out the remaining attackers, but the effort leaves him unconscious.

Misty and Psyduck have been watching it all the while, and she becomes surprised when she sees Ash using Counter to defend himself. As she approaches, Pikachu looks at her and recognizes her, while she's surprised to see him looking at her as if he knows her. She comments "I've never met another one like me before..." before taking an old undershirt to try and bandage his wounds. Upon touching him, however, a sense of familiarity for Ash and Pikachu awakens in her, giving her a feeling that she has to save him no matter what. Calling for her Staryu and Starmie for help, she heads for Viridian City to get Ash proper medical attention.

## Continuity

* First in-story appearances of Misty, Delia, Mimey, Ash's Pokédex, Misty's Psyduck and Professor Oak.
* Elwood and Aideen are first mentioned, albeit not by name. They get proper introductions in the *Oak's Summer Camp Gaiden*.
* Misty is shown to have already caught Psyduck prior to her first meeting with Ash. Their meeting is shown in the *Misty Gaiden* sidestory.
* Both Ash and Misty make their first in-story display of Bloodliner abilities.

## Characters

### Humans

* Ash Ketchum
* Professor Samuel Oak
* Delia Ketchum
* Government Official's Crony
* Misty Waterflower

### Pokémon

* Bulbasaur (Starter option; tape)
* Charmander (Starter option; tape)
* Squirtle (Starter option; tape)
* Mr. Mime (Mimey; Delia's)
* Pikachu (Ash's)
* Dunsparce (Pokédex entry)
* Pidgey (Wild)
* Rattata (Wild)
* Spearow (Wild)
* Fearow (Wild)
* Psyduck (Misty's)
* Goldeen (Misty's)
* Staryu (Misty's)
* Starmie (Misty's)

## Trivia

* This chapter has been released under two slightly different titles on different platforms.
	+ "Of Starters and Spearow The New Reality" on FanFiction.net.
	+ "Of starters and Spearow: The new reality" on archivesofourown.org and royalroad.com.