Chapter 1: How Ash Got an Eevee
Morning sunlight spilled across the dirt road leaving Pallet Town.
The world smelled fresh.
Grass.
Trees.
Adventure.
And somewhere nearby… a very loud argument.
Hidden in the tall grass, a small brown Eevee peered out, ears twitching.
Hidden in the tall grass beside the road, a small brown Eevee peered out, ears twitching nervously. Her tail flicked from side to side, a mixture of curiosity and calculation running through her mind.
"System check… where the heck am I???" she muttered under her breath, ears flatting slightly.
[Minimal data. Current location: Pallet Town.]
She gave herself a soft shake, scratching behind one ear with her paw. "Alright… system confirmed I'm in Pallet Town. That means the timeline should be…"
Her words trailed off. Something caught her attention, a movement down the road.
A boy, around ten years old, marched forward with determined steps. His backpack bounced against his shoulders, and on his head sat the iconic red-and-white cap. And behind him… something was being dragged.
Eevee's golden eyes widened. "…Is that… a rope?"
The rope stretched several feet behind him, taut with tension. At the end of it, a small yellow Pokémon dug its paws stubbornly into the dirt, electric sparks faintly crackling from its cheeks as it yelled:
"Pikaaaaaaaaa!"
The boy groaned, tugging at the rope. "Come on already! We're supposed to start our journey!"
Eevee tilted her head, processing the scene carefully. Then she stared harder, the pieces slowly falling into place. Her mind did a double-take.
"…Oh."
"…OH."
The boy in front of her was none other than Ash Ketchum.
And the extremely unhappy electric mouse he was dragging behind him?
Ash's Pikachu.
The exact scene from the beginning of the anime. Ash had overslept that morning, arrived late to Professor Oak's lab, and ended up with the only Pokémon left: a stubborn Pikachu that refused to listen to him. That Pikachu hated Poké Balls, too, which meant Ash had no choice but to drag it along with a rope as he began his journey.
Eevee slowly sat down behind a rock, watching with fascination.
"…So I really am inside the anime timeline."
Ash tugged on the rope again. Pikachu planted its feet, the rope going taut.
"Hey! Why are you so stubborn?!" Ash yelled.
"Pika!"
Clearly: Because I don't like you.
Eevee covered her face with a paw, stifling a giggle. "…Yep. Canon behavior."
She leaned back against the rock, eyes glinting, watching as Ash tried everything: tugging the rope, encouraging words, pleading, and, more often than not, a lot of frustrated yelling. Nothing worked.
Finally, Ash sighed. "Why couldn't I get a cool Pokémon like Gary…"
The dragged Pikachu rolled its eyes, sparks of annoyance flickering from its cheeks. Eevee chuckled quietly, ears perking as an idea began to form. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"…Wait."
If this was Episode 1, she reminded herself… then the Spearow attack was coming soon. The thunderstorm. The giant Thunderbolt. That was the moment Ash's Pikachu finally started trusting him.
But Eevee wasn't here just to watch.
She looked toward Ash. Then toward the Pikachu. Time to test something.
She stepped out from behind the rock, ears upright, tail flicking lazily, but deliberately. She crouched slightly, giving the softest little cry: "Vee…"
Humans would only hear a small, almost helpless-sounding whimper, but to any Pokémon who could read the tone… it was playful, curious, and slightly provocative.
Ash froze mid-step. "…A wild Eevee?"
Eevee didn't answer. Instead, she darted forward a few steps, then paused, tilting her head innocently as if to say: Try and catch me if you can.
Ash crouched, arms reaching down, lunging. Eevee leapt sideways, skittering across the dirt road like a tiny shadow. Her paws barely made a sound. Her tail flicked once, twice, daring him to touch her.
Round and round it went. She darted behind his backpack, circled his legs, hopped forward, then sprinted back, every movement calculated. She paused now and then, ears flicking, eyes glinting at the red-and-white cap perched on his head.
Perfect target.
Timing her movements carefully, she ran forward in a sudden burst and, with a precise leap, snagged the brim of his hat with her teeth.
"HEY!" Ash shouted, stumbling back. "My hat!"
Eevee yipped softly and darted to the side, tugging the hat just enough to make it wobble, her paws light on the ground, tail flicking. She bounded around him, ears flicking, teasing, daring him to chase.
Ash flailed, crouched again, lunging forward. He finally brushed against her fur and managed to wrestle the hat free. For a heartbeat, it wobbled in his hands.
Eevee froze, then let out a small, trembling whimper. Her eyes widened, glistening with tears. "Vee… vee…"
Ash froze. The rope-tied Pikachu blinked, watching the exchange, sparks of electricity slowly fading from its cheeks.
"…Alright," Ash muttered, sighing, loosening his grip on the hat. "Fine. At least I got the Pokémon…"
Eevee yipped happily, hopping lightly into the open Poké Ball. Once inside, she quickly perched the hat back on her head, ears flicking, tail swaying in triumph. Victory.
The rope-tied Pikachu blinked once more, then slowly nodded. Fair enough.
Ash scratched the back of his neck, a small smile forming. "I guess… having more Pokémon isn't the worst thing."
Eevee's inner system flickered briefly, giving only location data. That was enough for now. Observing and surviving was her priority. Soon, wild Pokémon would appear, and she could begin testing her skills and strategy for the first real battles.
Adventure waited on Route 1.
And somewhere in the trees, a very angry bird Pokémon was about to discover… that the timeline now had a new wildcard: a tiny brown Eevee with a stolen hat and a mischievous streak.
The story had officially begun.