*Time skip 3 months*
(Ash POV)
'It's been five months since I came to this new Pokémon world,' Ash thought as he was laying in the crib with a Pikachu onesie
'Not much has happened in these 3 months, I haven't made much progress in training my Aura. I have learned that it seems to be less connected to my emotions, and more connected to my willpower. But other than that not much yet.'
'I have been able to learn how to walk and talk again, but I prefer not to talk because when I talk I can't say most things properly, and as a twenty-four year old man, it is embarrassing, even if I am a child again.'
'Besides, I can't say much. I can mumble out simple words or phrases, but I don't even have all my teeth yet'
'And even though I can walk, it's more of a slow waddle. Besides, I can't even leave my new mom's field of vision, even if I can walk. So at best, this revelation allows me to add light exercises to my daily life of acting like a baby and meditating to try to learn about Aura.'
Ash rolled over in his crib, arms flailing slightly from the effort. He sighed internally. From the outside, he probably looked like a baby fussing before nap time. In reality, he was just annoyed that his tiny legs weren't strong enough for squats yet.
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*Time skip 7 months*
'It's been a year since I got into this new world.'
'I still haven't learned basic Aura, but I'm starting to feel something around me every time I meditate, one time i looked at the door a second before Delia walked in, that's something, right?'
'I can currently walk relatively fine, but talking is still a bit iffy. Not all my teeth have come in yet. But if normal children usually get all their teeth around age three, then I should have mine in about five to six more months. Then I'll be able to talk normally.'
'However, I'm still not allowed to leave without someone watching over me. So, no real development there.' Ash thought sarcastically as he sat in his booster seat, swinging his legs idly while watching Delia prepare his lunch. She was humming a song to herself, completely unaware that her "baby boy" was mentally cataloging Aura theories.
'More time. I just need more time,' he muttered softly, but the words coming out as a babble. Delia turned and smiled, thinking he was asking for more juice.
*2 years later*
'I am currently 3 years old, and some things have happened'
'Biggest thing is I can kinda start getting a feel for the basic Aura, however, I am not close to mastering basic Aura or getting to the minimum I am going to need to learn before my deadline, which is ironically my death if I can't get barriers with Aura down before I turn 10'
'No rush. No rush. Still got seven years.'
'During these past few years, I also got a call from my dad. Apparently, he was too far away to get video to work, but he managed a voice-only call. And it was exactly how you'd expect, like he was talking to a baby. He told me I should become a Trainer like him, to follow my dreams, and to live without regrets. He also said he was on a "super secret mission" for Professor Oak.'
Ash was sitting cross-legged on the carpet, surrounded by alphabet blocks and foam Pikachu toys. He kept one hand gently hovering over a stone he'd brought in from outside, a focus tool for his Aura training. Delia thought it was his "favorite rock." He'd given up trying to correct her after the first dozen baby-voiced protests ended in giggles and hugs.
Ash closed his eyes and tried to focus, with his cheeks puffing up like a Chipmunk as he concentrated. Then the block tower nearby fell over, and Delia quickly looked into the room, "Sweetie, are you okay?"
Ash nodded and quickly babbled, "Owkay!" before giving her a goofy smile. It was exhausting, stupid adult pride
'During these few excursions I ended up meeting Gary again, he was talking to the other kids from pallet town, He is still a bit cocky, but he isn't vindictive, after all the only reason he treated Ash like he did was because every other day he would go yelling out to everyone that he was going to be a pokemon master. He just wanted Ash to actually live up to that promise, he was even happy to see Ash make it to the league.'
'Still, I need to maintain some sort of relationship with him, since well Professor Oak and all. Not right now, though. For the time being, I'm more focused on scouting out what this town has to offer. Besides, we're neighbors. We've got time.'
Ash waddled along the cobbled path, hands stuffed into the oversized pockets of his hoodie, well, as much as a three-year-old could manage, 'Let's see… Oak's Lab is obviously the biggest building here. Then there's a small movie theater, a tiny Pokémon arena that looks like it's used for friendly neighborhood battles, a Pokémon school, a humble little library, and a Poké Mart the size of a living room.'
Not too many places of note, though the playground was bustling. That's where the other kids, including Gary, were hanging out.
'Well, I guess if I need to be friends/rivals with Gary this is my best chance.'
Ash let out a quiet sigh before puffing up his tiny chest and calling out, "Hey, guys! Let me join in too!"
Gary looks over and grins, "Ash, I challenge you to a Pokemon battle."
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(Delia POV)
At Pallet House, Delia sat across from Professor Oak, taking a short breather. The clock on the wall chimed noon, just before the usual lunch rush began.
"Little Ash seems to be getting along with the other kids in Pallet," Oak noted, glancing out the window. His eyes softened as he watched his grandson and Ash playing pretend Pokémon battles in the sun.
Delia smiled warmly. "Yeah, it's good to see him having fun. But it'll be time for him to start school soon, ah i remember when you where my teacher, fufufu"
"That's right I wonder what he wants to do" Focusing on Ash, "Gary has made it clear he wants to be a Pokemon trainer not a professor like his poor old grandpa. Gary and Ash seem to be having fun."
Delia smiled, "Well it's best to see what they end up doing when the time comes, but for now how is Daisy doing?"
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(Back to Ash)
"My Kangaskhan will defeat your Nidoking" Gary yells out as their pretend Pokemon battle continues. "Use, Hammer Arm, and end this battle!"
All the Kids in the audience were eating it up, and the referee seemed to be a little girl with slightly messy dark brown hair that goes up to her lower back. She seems to be wearing a sleeveless black dress with a bit of cyan under a pair of shorts that are also cyan. She seems familiar somehow.
"Ok, let's play rough," he said, then yelled out with full baby gusto, "You're right about one thing, this battle ends here! Focus Punch, now!"
The kids around them gasped in awe, like Ash had just unleashed a top-tier move from a tournament finals. Even Gary's jaw dropped for a moment.
Then the little girl jumped into the middle and she thrust her hand in the air and declared, "Double knockout!" The kids erupted into chaos, cheering, laughing, bouncing around like it was the greatest moment in history.
Gary stepped forward, brushing imaginary dust from his shirt. "That was a good battle," he said with a grin. "But a tie's the best you'll ever get against me. I'm gonna be the greatest Pokémon Master."
Ash smiled back and said, "What a coincidence, I plan on becoming a Pokemon Master too, I guess that makes us rivals."
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Woo bonus chapter, so it is a bit different I needed to change my original plan for this, but probably next chapter more things will happen.