"Professor Kukui, sorry to bother you." A nurse said walking up to him.
"Not a problem, just stretching my legs." Kukui said, turning around. "How can I help you?"
"Well, you are listed as a guardian while Ash is here, and they've woken up. I was told to get you." The nurse said.
"That's great news, let's go see how he's doing." Kukui said with a smile.
Kukui walked in to see Ash, just staring off into the distance. Pikachu was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey Ash, how are you feeling?" Kukui asked.
Ash didn't respond.
"Ash, are you okay?" Kukui said placing his hand on Ash's shoulder.
"Sorry, who's Ash, and who are you?" Ash asked confused.
"Come on, I'm Kukui. You were at my wedding Ash." Kukui said thinking it was a joke.
"I was, and are you sure my name is Ash? That doesn't seem right." Ash said.
"Well, it's not your full name, just a nickname we call you." Kukui said. "I'll be back in just a minute okay."
Ash simply smiled and nodded.
"Okay I thought you said there was no brain damage." Kukui complained to the doctor.
"It's possible this was caused by mental trauma. A serious shift in emotions, great fear, or uncertain times can cause the body to react in many different ways." The Doctor said calmly.
"And what's with the staring off into space. Should we be concerned?" Kukui asked.
"It's possible he's trying to piece together what little he can remember. Create a single memory if you might." The Doctor said.
"So what do we do?" Kukui asked.
"For now, we'll keep him overnight. Make sure everything else is okay. After that, I'd say a familiar environment to help jog memories." The Doctor said.
"Come on you two, I think I've got some spare cots back at my place." Kukui said, ushering Goh and Chloe out. "If anything changes call me."
At Kukui's house
"What do you have there Goh?" Professor Kukui asked.
"Well, here is the Rotom that was in Ash's phone. Goh said referencing the pokeball. "And this is what we could find of his phone." Goh said pointing to the various pieces.
At the hospital
A figure approached Ash's room, unnoticed by any. Making quick changes to the notes on his situation.
"Hello." Ash said. They were standing in a black area, in their hospital gown. Below them was water.
"Hello there Sweetie." A calming voice said.
"Who, who are you?" Ash called out.
"Don't fear, I'm an old friend. Call me Krai." The voice said.
"Krai, if you're an old friend, maybe you could help me. I don't remember anything." Ash said glumly.
"Not to worry, how about you tell me what you know, and I can try and help fill in the blanks." Krai said calmingly.
"Well, I was told my name is Ash, well it sort of is. It's just a nickname, but I can't remember for what. Then there's this guy called Kukui, apparently I was at his wedding?" Ash said, it wasn't much, but it was something.
"I can help with that much. Your actual name is Ashley. That man Kukui, he's your Uncle, raised you ever since you were a little girl. He got married a little over a year ago, and you were part of it." Krai said.
"Can you show me memories, of anything at all?" Ashley asked.
"Of course. Let me show you." Krai said.
The space in front of Ashley warped as memories appeared. They were of a little girl with raven hair. Learning to walk. Riding a bike. Swimming. Growing up. Her uncle Kukui was in a lot of them.
Wiping tears from her eyes, Ashley focused. "Krai, what happened to my parents?"
"I wish I knew, but even I have my limits. I can help reassemble your memories, but only those I know of. Let me show you some more recent ones however." Krai said.
Memories of her rescuing Mudkip, and reviving Lileep. On the day her cousin Lei was born. Going to school with her friends. Even going to Kanto on a field trip once.
"Am I a trainer?" Ashley asked confused.
"Many people like you are a trainer, but Mudkip and Lilleep have rarely battled. You always enjoyed the company of Pokémon, but stayed away from fighting." Krai said.
"That sounds right. Thank you Krai." Ashley said.
"I will try my best to help you remember more, but it might take some time." Krai said.
The next morning
"How is he doc?" Kukui asked.
The whole class had come to visit Ash. Word had spread quickly about what had happened. Goh and Chloe however were asked to return to Kanto for the time being late last night.
"Well, some memories have surfaced, but I must warn you, they aren't exactly his." The doctor said worridley.
"I'm sure whatever they are is fine." Kukui said, walking into the hospital room.
"Uncle Kukui!" Ashley said.
"Hi Ash." Kukui said confused at the feminine tone coming from Ash.
"It's Ashley, at least until everything comes back. Where Auntie Burnett, and Little Lei?" Ashley asked.
"Oh, Lei isn't feeling well, so they're at home. Do you remember your friends from school?" Kukui asked cautiously.
"Of course, are they here too?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah, let me go get them." Kukui said quickly exiting.
"What happened!" Kukui whisper shouted.
"That's what I was trying to tell you, he believes his name is Ashley, and is your niece." The doctor explained.
"The lie." Kukui realized.
"What was that?" The doctor asked.
"A while back, he needed a cover story for a bit, and that was the lie. He was my niece named Ashley. It was easy because of his more feminine appearance." Kukui explained.
"Ahh, well then perhaps, while he regains his memories the safest place is with you." The doctor explained. "It's possible the shock of what happened, pushed Ash's main self into a corner, not having something to fill it, it used what you had created and filled in some gaps."
"So is this permanent?" Kukui asked.
"No, I'm going to contact some other professionals, see if they might have some wisdom. Until then, there isn't much reason to keep him here after today." The doctor said. "And not to worry, I won't say a thing about the him/her problem."
"Thanks doc, I should let his friends know, they've been waiting to see him." Kukui said, going over to his class.
"So, good news is, you can see Ash two at a time. Bad news is he thinks he's my niece Ashley." Kukui said shaking his head.
"Oh my." Lillie exclaimed.
"Remarkable." Sophocles declared.
"Poor thing." Lana worried.
"Is there anything we can do?" Mallow asked.
"Be yourselves, she seems to remember you all, and I'll have her rejoin the school, hopefully we can jog the real memories back." Kukui said, before looking at Kiawe. "Is everything alright Kiawe.
"No, I was with him yesterday, and I see two big problems. The first is yellow and packs enough power to take out Tapu Koko, the second harnesses that power." Kiawe said angrily.
Pikachu was missing, and so was Ash's Z-ring.
"We have to keep an eye out for them as well. Both are unique and dangerous, and possibly the key to restoring Ash's memories." Kukui said worridley.
