This two-part episode is dedicated to 25th anniversary of the Pokémon anime.

Episode 141: The Very Best Part 1

Ash is in the middle of the battle, except it's not quite Ash. Instead of his regular outfit, he's wearing a red shirt with white sleeves over a black shirt. His hat, which is turned backwards, resembles the one he wore in Kanto. Other details, such as his face and hair aren't quite right either. Pikachu sits on his shoulders, but it seems to have put on some weight. The uncanny differences of the two are so shocking, it's Electric, as if they're right out of an Electric Tale.

Standing across from him is the mysterious man in a red and blue mechanical suit known only as The Master. The Master says in his intimidating mechanical voice, "Choose the Pokémon you will use to protect your world. It will make no difference."

Electric Ash looks at the intimidating figure with some confusion. "I don't know what you're going on about protecting this world, but a battle is a battle, and the Orange League Champion runs from no one! Go, Fearow!"

A Fearow appears from its Pokéball. "Feeeeearow!"

The Master crosses his arms. "So, a Fearow. That is what makes you different. I will admit. Only 1% of Ashes captured that Pokémon. Even less use it. Regardless of the novelty, it is still useless."

Ash demands, "Are you going to just stand there babbling nonsense, or are you going to fight me? Let me guess. You're afraid of battling me. You should be. I'm so strong, I make Chuck Norris look weak!"

The Master stares silently at Ash for a moment. "I have no idea what that means."

"Oh, come on. You know Chuck Norris. You have to."

"Enough babbling!" He holds up his arm-cannon and a Master Ball appears inside of its loading chamber. "Go!" He fires the ball from his cannon, sending his Pokémon into battle. It's a Ho-Oh. The Pokémon looks to be in great pain and distress.

Ash is stunned. "Woah! What is that Pokémon!?"

The Master chuckles. "So, you are of the 7.3% of Ashes who never met Ho-Oh. Somehow I doubt that bodes well for your strength."

"Fearow, show him he's wrong! Use Drill Peck!"

"Feeeeeearow!" The Pokémon flies at Ho-oh, with its beak spinning like a drill.

The Master snaps a finger. "Sacred Fire."

Ho-Oh refuses to follow the command.

"You will obey me!" The Master presses a button on an arm control panel. Ho-Oh is electrocuted by an unseen force. It shrieks loudly in pain. "The pain will stop when you obey me!"

"Hoooo-oooooh!" The Pokémon is given no choice but to listen. It flaps its wings, summoning a storm of rainbow flames which engulf Fearow before it has a chance to land an attack. Once the flames subside, Fearow is down on the ground, knocked out.

Electric Ash shouts in surprise, "Fearow!" He looks at Ho-Oh in disbelief. "That power…"

The Master recalls Ho-Oh. "And, just as 100% of Ashes do, you have fallen before me. You are insignificant. Your world is forfeit." He taps the side of his helmet and announces, "Detonate the Alpha Bomb."

The voice of The Doctor responds, "You have thirty seconds."

The Master turns back to Ash. "You falling before me is simply the natural order of things. I am the best. No one, anywhere in the multiverse, can match me." He enters a command into his wrist and a large golden ring with a swirling vortex inside of it manifests behind him. "Look upon your end and know that there was nothing you could have done to stop me in this reality."

"My end…?" Suddenly, the ground shakes violently. Pikachu falls off of Ash's shoulder. Off in the distance, Ash spots what looks to be a massive black bubble growing at an alarming rate. "What the…"

"So long, Ash." The Master turns around and passes through the ring. It disappears the moment he crosses it.

Ash shakes his head. "I don't like the looks of this, Pikachu."

Pikachu agrees, "Pi…"

Then Ash realizes the bubble is growing so fast that it will soon make it to his location. "Run! Run as fast as you can, Pikachu!" The two take off.

As the black bubble shockwave grows, everything it passes seems to be erased from existence. It leaves behind nothing but a white void. Despite their best efforts, the blast wave quickly catches up with Ash and Pikachu.

Ash shouts in despair, "No! I'm too young for this! I've never even kissed a girl! May!"

Then a portal opens in front of them. Mirror Team Rocket poke their heads through and shout, "Quickly! Get in here!"

Ash is confused. "Team Rocket? Why are you back in uniform? And what about the baby?"

Mirror James urges, "We'll explain later! Just get in here!"

Mirror Jessie grabs Ash and Pikachu and pulls them into the vortex. The portal closes just moments before the shockwave passes the spot where Ash just stood. What was once a lush and beautiful world is now nothing but a formless white void.

In a much more familiar scene, a familiar Ash and Brenda are battling against a familiar Team Rocket. Ash shouts, "Team Rocket, do you really have nothing better to do than pester Pikachu and me!? Do you ever get bored!?"

Jessie laughs. "You must severely underestimate our attention span!"

"Wobbuffet!"

James agrees, "It may feel like we've been doing this for 25 years, but we could do this for an actual 25 years, if we had to."

Meowth remarks, "Not that it would take that long for thieves of our caliber."

Ha ha ha! Twenty-five years! It does feel like we've been following our heroes for that long, doesn't it? But it would seem that our hero Ash isn't the only hero out there. Across a vast multiverse there exist countless heroes of all shapes and sizes! What wonders does this unknown multiverse hold for us?

"Twenty-five years or not! You should know by now that you can't defeat me!"

Brock advises, "Ash, you shouldn't get so overconfident. Team Rocket has found ways to surprise us before."

Ash laughs. "As if that matters. Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"

"Kappaqueous, use Aqua Bomb!" The two Pokémon launch their attacks together against Repiv and Haking.

"Repiv, stop those twerpish Pokémon with Poison Sting!"

"Haking, you add your Sludge Bomb!" Repiv's Poison Sting forces the Aqua Bomb to explode prematurely, while Haking's Sludge Bomb blasts Pikachu out of the air.

Brock warns, "You two better be careful."

Ash laughs. "Careful? Come on, Brock. This is Team Rocket we're dealing with. I might as well be an expert at defeating them." He chuckles. "Speaking of, we might as well cut right to the chase. Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaaaaa chuuuuuuuu!" Pikachu's attack is widespread enough to hit both Team Rocket and their Pokémon. The powerful electrocution sends them flying.

Ash shouts after them, "And remember, I'm the very best, like no one ever was!"

They begin to shout, "Looks like-!" but they're cut off by the opening of a gold ring portal right in their path. They disappear into the ring.

Brenda asks with shock, "What in the world is that!?"

Ash glares at it with surprise recognition. "That ring…! But how?"

Using jet boots to float, The Master emerges from the ring. He looks around. "This would be the world where The Doctor failed his mission. It won't happen again."

Ash demands, "Who are you!?"

Brock asks with horror, "And did you say The Doctor?"

The Master chuckles. "You are the ones who repelled The Doctor when I sent him to capture the Ash of this world for me. I suppose I should thank you. It was that defeat that encouraged me to take matters into my own hands. It was that defeat that inspired me to purge this multiverse of its plague."

Ash shouts, "What are you talking about!?"

"Ash Ketchum! I challenge you to a battle! If you lose, then your world will end."

Ash's eyes widen. "What!?" He looks at The Master angrily. "And what if I don't accept?"

"Then your world will end. The only way you can save your world is to defeat me, The Master, in battle."

Brock abruptly shouts, "I'll fight you! Guardgoyle, use–!" Brock has already sent out Guardgoyle in his haste to battle, but it and Brock are suddenly surrounded by a bubble of energy. Brock pounds against the barrier to no avail.

The Master declares, "I challenged Ash, not you. I have no time for the likes of you."

Brenda steps forward and shouts, "You can't do that! Kappaqueous–!" Like Brock, Brenda is contained in a bubble before she can do anything.

Ash shouts, "Let them go!"

The Master looks to Ash. "Do you accept my challenge?"

Ash grimaces. "You'll free my friends if I do?"

"It will be done."

"Then I accept."

"Of course you do. 99.98% of Ashes do, after all." He loads a Pokéball into his cannon. "Since you already proved yourself in defeating The Doctor, I will give you a fair chance at victory."

"I don't want you to go easy on me! I'm Ash Ketchum, and I can take whatever is thrown at me!"

"Overconfidence. A trait in 68.72% of all Ashes. Regardless, nothing I do is going easy." He fires the cannon. The Pokéball he shoots releases a Venusaur.

Ash takes out a Pokéball of his own. "I don't know what this guy is babbling about with his odds, but let's give him something he doesn't expect. Arborrior, I chose you!"

"Attempting to throw me off-guard by going with a wildcard Pokémon choice. A tactic utilized 23.4% of Ashes. Abnormal, but not unexpected."

"How about this? Arborrior, use Fire Punch!"

"Borrior!" Arborrior leaps at Venusaur with its fist covered in flames.

"Venusaur, use Vine Whip to redirect."

"Venus…" Venusaur makes no movement.

"As stubborn as ever. Submit." He presses the button that causes his Pokémon to feel pain.

Venusaur shouts out in pain until it finally listens and uses Vine Whip. The vines knock Arborrior away just before it can land a hit.

Ash demands, "What was that!? What did you do to it!?"

"Venusaur is too strong-willed for its own good. I do what I must to ensure its obedience."

Ash says with horror, "You're a monster…"

"I only do what is necessary to be the best. Venusaur, use Razor Leaf."

"Arborrior, you use Razor Leaf too!"

The two Razor Leaves collide, but Venusaur's is much more powerful than Arborrior's. Arborrior's attack is quickly overwhelmed, and Arborrior has no chance to avoid the incoming Razor Leaf. It is promptly knocked out by the powerful attack.

"Arborrior!" Ash can't believe his Pokémon went down so easy. He recalls it quickly.

The Master also recalls Venusaur. "We'll discuss your stubbornness later." He loads another Pokéball and fires. This time a Typhlosion appears.

Ash swaps his Pokéballs. "Let's go, Solurtle!"

Th Master states cynically, "I don't know what you plan on accomplishing by playing games with me by matching my type, but know that it will fail."

Ash ignores him. "Solurtle, use Flamethrower!"

"Sooooool!"

"Flame Wheel." Typhlosion curls up into a ball and rolls at Solurtle as it gathers flames around itself. While passing through the Flamethrower, it adds Solurtle's flames to its own, making the Flame Wheel bigger.

Solurtle attempts to stand its ground and use its bulk to withstand the Flame Wheel, but the attack is far too much, and Solurtle is completely overwhelmed. It too is knocked out.

The Master recalls Typhlosion. "So much talk, so little to back it up. I was hoping for more out of this version of you. I'll give you one last chance." He fires another Pokéball. A Samurott appears.

Ash looks at hm angrily. "We'll show you everything we've got! Go, Dashilisk! Use Aqua Jet!" Not allowing The Master any time to react, Ash jumps straight into action this time.

"Dashi!" Dashilisk jets at Samurott.

"Razor Shell." Samurott draws its blade, holds it up and slashes at Dashilisk as the Pokémon flies in. Once it's knocked aside, The Master commands, "Now Hydro Pump." Dashilisk is impacted by a torrent of water so powerful, it instantly succumbs to the damage. Samurott is recalled. "It would seem that the Ash of this world is no different than 100% of other Ashes. He stands no chance of defeating me. Not a surprise. Ash Ketchum, your world has come to its end.

Just as before, the ground shakes violently as an explosion releases a pitch-black shockwave in the distance.

Ash is speechless. "You're a madman…"

"No. Not mad. No madder than you, at least." The ring portal opens behind him. "But do not take this loss as an insult. It is only the natural order of things. You could not seize the power you were offered, so you're weak. I have seized power. I am the best."

"Pikachu, stop him!"

"Pikaaaaaa chuuuuuu!" Pikachu uses Thunderbolt on The Master, but only as he's slipping away into the portal. It closes before the attack can hit.

Ash glances at the incoming shockwave. He has seconds until it reaches him. He realizes his friends are still immobilized. "Brock! Brenda!" He runs to Brock's bubble and pounds away at the barrier, only to be flung back.

Brock urges, "Ash, you have to run! There's no way you can free us and escape!"

Brenda shouts, "Get out of here! Now!"

"No! I won't leave you! Pikachu, can you-?"

Before he can finish, a portal opens beneath him, and he falls into just a moment before the wave passes.

Who's that Pokémon!?

This Pokémon has a horn that is harder than a diamond. If it senses a hostile presence, all the barbs on its back bristle up at once, and it challenges the foe with all its might. It was one of the first two Pokémon to appear in the anime.

Ash looks around frantically. "Huh? What!? Where am I!? What happened!?" He finds himself among others. Others of him, to be exact. Standing around him is Mirror Ash, Ash the Rainbow Hero, Electric Ash, and the alternate version of Ash from the world where Palkia and Dialga caused Pokémon to de-age into eggs, who wears different colored versions of Ash's current clothes, including a blue hat. Ash leaps back in surprise. "What the world!?"

"Worlds, would be the proper term." It's Mirror James saying this. Mirror Jessie and Meowth are also there.

Ash looks around. "I'm so confused. What's going on here?"

Mirror Ash steps forward, "You already know that you and I come from different, but similar worlds. These are Ashes from even more worlds."

Ash shakes his head in disbelief. "Even more worlds?"

Rainbow Hero Ash explains, "We all have one thing in common. That madman that calls himself The Master attacked us all. Team Rocket is who saved us."

Ash looks around to Mirror Team Rocket. "How is this possible?"

Mirror Jessie explains, "It's no more impossible than someone from your world traveling to our world, and that happened twice."

Mirror Meowth details, "We began tracking the multiversal villain known as The Master shortly after our last encounter with you. At first, he simply traveled to other worlds to defeat their respective versions of you in battle, but soon that wasn't enough for him. He began his mission to purge the multiverse of all Ashes."

"Purge?"

James elaborates, "First it meant simply to destroy the Ash of the world, but he grew bolder with time. Recently he somehow obtained the ability to erase an entire universe."

Ash is mortified by the implications. "Are you saying…?"

Rainbow Hero Ash states bluntly, "Your world is gone. As are ours. We're all refugees."

Ash's eyes widen as he goes into shock. "No…it's not possible… It can't be…" He thinks of everything he lost. "Brock… Brenda… Mom… Professor Oak… Gary… Misty… Everyone…"

Pikachu senses his emotions and looks to him with worry. "Pikapi?"

Mirror Ash and Alternate Ash both sob together, lamenting their lost worlds, as well as Ash's. Electric Ash and Rainbow Hero Ash just look sadly away.

"What am I supposed to do now?"

Mirror Jessie puts her hands on Ash's shoulders to get his attention and stares him in the eyes. "There's only one thing you can do. You help the Heroes of Justice to stop this villain, and make sure that no one else has to go through what you're going through right now."

Ash sniffles as he tries to control his emotion. "Has he only done this to our five worlds?"

Jessie shakes her head as she averts her eyes. "No. These five are the only ones we were fortunate enough to be able to save before they met their end. We can't track The Master. We have no way of knowing how many more worlds he's destroyed."

Ash rips away from her and turns around. "Why save me? Why not save others from my world?"

Mirror Meowth explains, "We have to assume that The Master is seeking out and destroying Ashes for a reason. If we stand any chance of defeating him, we need to save as many Ashes as we can."

For the first time, something dawns on Ash. "Wait, if your world was destroyed too, where are we now?" He looks at his surroundings for the first time. They're in an outdoor laboratory atop an island floating in a vast void. "What is this place…?"

Mirror James explains, "We're in a world between worlds. A pocket dimension that exists nestled between multiple universes. Whatever method The Master uses to track Ashes, it seems to not lead him here. So long as we stay here, we're safe from him."

Ash announces, "I don't want to be safe."

Alternate Ash asks, "What do you mean? Your world was just destroyed. You don't want the same to happen to you, right?"

Ash shakes his head. "I want to fight back. I'm not going to sit here and cower. We need to launch an offensive against The Master. Surely if we all combine our power, we can stop him."

Mirror Ash cries again. Between sobs he asks, "But how… His Pokémon are so powerful… No one could beat him…"

Electric Ash points out, "We don't even know how to find him."

Ash shakes his head. "Clearly that's not the case." He looks to Mirror Team Rocket. "You've been able to find him at least five times in order to save the five of us. We just need to travel to a world he's attacking before he sets off his weapon that destroys it."

Mirror Meowth shakes his head. "Unfortunately, not possible. We can only find him because of the unique energy signature of his Alpha Bomb. That gives us just enough time to open a pan-dimensional super-conduit and get the Ash out of there. Anything more is impossible."

"There has to be something we can do! There has to be!"

Rainbow Hero Ash questions, "What if we got moving the moment we detected the signature of an Alpha Bomb, and we all traveled to that world?"

Electric Ash realizes excitedly, "Then while Team Rocket works on saving that world's Ash, we can work on disabling the bomb!"

Alternate Ash continues, "The time that buys might be enough for us to work together to defeat The Master!"

Mirror Ash stops crying. "And if we can stop The Master right there, he won't be able to hurt anyone else!"

Ash grins. "I think we have a plan." He looks to Mirror Team Rocket. "Do you agree?"

They weigh the plan carefully. Finally, Mirror James states, "Yes. It might just work. And at the rate The Master has been traveling across the multiverse, I suspect we could get our next signal any time now."

As predicted, an alarm goes off. Mirror Meowth announces, "This is it, people. Let's get moving."

Mirror Jessie pulls out the pan-dimensional super-conduit generator and quickly explains, "We can only make one super-conduit at a time. We can't risk jumping to the Ash's location until The Master is gone, so you're going to have to go to the bomb's location on your own. Understood?"

The Ashes all nod in unison. "Understood."

Jessie activates the generator. It rips open a hole in the fabric of space. The Ashes leap in without hesitation.

They reappear atop the wall of a massive colosseum. On a battlefield below, Pokémon are doing battle with their own species. Charizard fights Charizard. Squirtle fights Squirtle. Pikachu fights Pikachu. They don't battle with moves, but with physical attacks. It's a dreadful sight.

Ash looks down in disbelief. "I can't believe it…I recognize this… Mewtwo…"

As he says this, Mewtwo and Mew fly by. They're ramming into each other as they fight. Though familiar, everything also seems different. As if everyone is more well-rounded and three dimensional. It's when Mewtwo struck back, but it's evolved.

Electric Ash looks to the fight below and says with horrified disbelief, "Brother, my brother…"

Mirror Ash asks, "What's going on here?"

Ash explains, "Mewtwo created a race of clone Pokémon he thought was superior. Those Pokémon down there are fighting to prove him wrong. Except everyone was wrong. No one should have been fighting like that…"

A tear falls from Mirror Ash's eyes. "In my world, Mewtwo was created by Saint Giovanni to protect the helpless. Mewtwo's clone Pokémon are his guardians of peace. How could such a good Pokémon cause so much pain in another world?"

Alternate Ash looks at Mirror Ash with surprise. "Mewtwo is a superhero in your world?"

"Basically."

Rainbow Hero Ash shakes his head in disbelief. "Am I the only one here who hasn't met Mewtwo?"

Electric Ash chimes in, "I haven't either. But I've heard it's the strongest Psi Pokémon in existence."

Ash states, "That and more…"

Alternate Ash notices something below on a lower roof level. "Look! Down there!" He points to a large spherical device being operated by a figure.

Ash announces, "That looks like a doomsday weapon if I've ever seen one." They all run down to find The Doctor working at a control panel on the giant metal sphere. A countdown timer displays on a screen.

Rainbow Hero Ash shouts, "Stop right there, Doctor!"

Brock's mirror duplicate turns around to see the Ashes jumping down to him. "So, my theory was correct. There have been Ashes escaping my creation. A shame. I will have to adjust my calculations."

Ash shouts, "Doctor, disarm that bomb now!"

The Doctor waggles a finger at Ash. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Once this bomb is activated, there's no disarming. We have about…" he glances at the display, "two minutes before this world is gone, like so many others."

Mirror Ash steps forward and shouts, "Doctor! You destroyed your own world! How can you live with yourself!?"

"My own world? Ha! I was never a part of that world. I have found a greater calling."

Mirror Ash shouts hysterically, "You destroyed them all!" Rainbow Ash pulls him back and restrains him.

Ash steps forward, as does Pikachu with sparks flying. "Disarm the bomb, Doctor."

"I won't be doing that. My partner says otherwise." The Master is floating behind him. With attention turned to The Master, The Doctor disappears into a ring portal.

The Master shakes his head in disapproval. "I had a hunch that not all Ashes would go down so easily, but until now I had no sample size to prove it. It would seem that about 1% of the Ashes I face manage to escape annihilation. It makes no difference. Once I find the Origin Point, virtually 100% of all Ashes in the multiverse will be immediately eradicated, including you four."

Electric Ash shouts, "You're a monster!"

"No. I am simply the only one here willing to do whatever it takes to achieve a dream."

Rainbow Hero Ash accuses, "Only a monster would have a dream that requires the destruction of multiple universes!"

"Call me what you like. It makes no difference."

The four Ashes suddenly freeze up as they notice that Mewtwo has appeared behind The Master, and he's ready to attack.

Without even turning to face Mewtwo, The Master points his arm cannon behind him and fires a Master Ball, which quickly captures the clone Pokémon with no resistance. The Master Ball lands in his hand. The Ashes stare dumbfounded at him. That shock only increases when The Master tosses the Pokéball off to the side, where it lands in the ocean and immediately sinks.

Mirror Ash cries in despair, "Mewtwo!"

Ash demands with outrage and utter disbelief, "What did you just do!?"

"I disposed of a despicable Pokémon that has no right to exist in any world. You should be thanking me."

Alternate Ash shouts, "You really are a monster!"

"Your opinion does not matter, especially when you will soon be gone from this multiverse." A ring portal opens for him. As he enters it, he fires a Pokéball. "Blastoise, keep them occupied." He exits through the portal, leaving his Blastoise behind.

Ash tries to run after him, but Blastoise steps into his way.

Rainbow Hero Ash urges, "We have to stop that bomb! We have less than a minute!"

Electric Ash tries to run at the bomb, but Blastoise hits him with a powerful Hydro Pump that knocks him away. Blastoise now moves into a position to protect the bomb.

All five Ashes order at once, "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Even with a five-on-one, super effective advantage, Blastoise is able to pull into its shell and absorb the damage. When the attacks stop, it quickly reemerges to blast all four Pikachu with another Hydro Pump.

Mirror Ash cries, "It's no use! Blastoise is too strong!"

Ash asserts, "We can't give up! There has to be a way!"

Blastoise is preparing to attack again, but before it can, someone shouts, "Zeraora, use Close Combat!"

Ash gasps. "I know that voice!"

A Zeraora appears and swiftly delivers a powerful kick at Blastoise's shell. It follows up with a series of quick punches. This knocks Blastoise away, giving room for Rainbow Hero Ash and Alternate Ash to run to the bomb.

Ash looks in the direction of the voice and sees a man wearing a red cloak over a black shirt as well as a red hat with goggle over it. "Dia!? No way! How are you here!?"

Dia asserts, "That's a long story that we don't have time for now."

Rainbow Hero Ash shouts, "We don't have time for anything! We've got ten seconds until this thing blows! There's no way we could disable it in time!"

Electric Ash shouts, "We're toast!"

But just in time, a portal opens next to the Ashes. Ash shouts, "Everyone jump!" The other four Ashes and Dia jump into the vortex. Ash looks back at Blastoise and extends a hand. "Come with us, Blastoise!"

"Blast!" Blastoise turns away and ignores Ash.

After a second of hesitation, Ash leaps into the portal, just in time to avoid the Alpha Bomb detonating. Another world is destroyed.

It's Nidorino!

Ash is panting when he reappears in Mirror Team Rocket's hidden base. He clenches a fist and says angrily, "That monster…he not only destroyed a world, he left his own Pokémon behind to ensure its destruction. How could someone be that evil…?"

Dia states, "In an infinite multiverse, anything is possible. Even the most unthinkable evil. All it takes is one bad world."

Alternate Ash looks to Mirror Team Rocket solemnly. "Did you at least manage to save the Ash of that world?"

The three shake their heads in regret. Mirror James explains, "Unfortunately, we were forced to choose between saving the six of you or saving the one Ash of that world. The choice, though unfortunate, was clear."

Everyone takes a moment of silence to honor those that were just lost.

Ash looks back to Dia and Zeraora. "Dia, what are you doing here?"

Dia sighs. "That maniac destroyed my world after he defeated Zeraora and me in battle." He looks down in frustration. "We were so close to rebuilding everything that Guzzlord destroyed, only for the entire world to end." He slams a fist into a wall. "I only survived because I escaped into an Ultra Wormhole. Since then, I've been trying to hunt down The Master."

Ash objects, "But The Master is only after versions of me. Why would he go after you?"

Dia sighs. "There's something I didn't tell you last time we met." From his pocket, he pulls out a picture. It's a group of children and their Pokémon in front of the Alola Pokémon School. "Do you remember this picture?"

Ash nods. "Yeah, it was at your version of the Pokémon School."

"I never told you that I'm in this photo. That's me." He points to the boy in the front.

Ash looks at the picture closely and gasps. "No way!" The boy wears a red t-shirt and hat. His face is immediately familiar. "That's me!"

Dia nods. "I suspected it after we first established you came from a different world than me. I am my world's version of you. I may not be named Ash, but I am still an Ash just as much as you."

"It all makes sense now. You went to the Pokémon School. You were a part of the Ultra Rangers, like I was part of the Ultra Guardians. You have an Electric Pokémon partner. I never would have guessed…"

Electric Ash chuckles. "I guess we've found another member for our A-Team." He laughs.

No one else laughs.

"Come on guys, A-Team. Get it? The Ash-Team?"

More blank stares.

"You know, like the TV show?"

Finally, Rainbow Hero Ash says, "Never heard of it."

"Huh. Guess you guys don't have that one in your worlds then. In my world, that would have been a hilarious joke."

Ash chuckles slightly. "We'll just have to take your word for it."

Mirror Meowth asks, "Did you happen to learn anything about The Master in your last encounter that could help us stop him?"

They all think back. Ash realizes, "He did say something strange. He said that once he finds the 'Origin Point' he'll be able to destroy all Ashes in the multiverse at once. What could that mean?"

Mirror Jessie doesn't like the sound of that. "I think I know what he's looking for. He's seeking out Ash Prime. The original Ash from the original world from which all other worlds with an Ash sprouted. If he can wipe that world from existence, then he would wipe all traces of Ash from across the multiverse from existence."

Ash objects, "Wait, aren't I Ash Prime?"

Rainbow Hero Ash laughs. "Yeah right! I'm the only one here who's the Rainbow Hero. Obviously I'm Ash Prime!"

Electric Ash objects, "As if! I'm clearly the original! You all are just the loose adaptations based on me!"

Alternate Ash argues timidly, "Maybe I'm the real Ash Prime…"

Mirror Ash cries, "I'm not the real Ash…?"

Dia doesn't even try.

Mirror James explains, "It made a hard truth to accept, but all of you are variations on a pattern established by Ash Prime. That doesn't mean you're not real, it simply means you weren't first. That doesn't make you any less important, though. You all matter. You're all a vital part of this multiverse."

Ash is dumbfounded. "How can I not be the original…?" He stares at his own hand. "Just this morning I was calling myself the very best, like no one ever was. But now… Now I'm just another copy…"

Pikachu pokes its face into his vision. "Pikapi."

Ash sighs. "Sorry, Pikachu. You're right. This isn't the time to have an existential crisis." He looks back to Mirror Team Rocket. "Okay, given that information, what do we need to do? How do we find Ash Prime?"

Mirror Meowth states, "Finding Ash Prime is no easy feat, or else The Master would have already done it. Instead, he's tearing his way through worlds as he attempts to find a needle in a haystack. However, we do have good news."

Alternate Ash says, "I could use some good news right now."

Meowth continues, "We have plotted all the worlds we know The Master has visited on a multiversal chart, and we believe we can predict where he will head next."

Rainbow Hero Ash realizes, "If we can get there before him, we can set a trap!"

Mirror James nods. "Our thoughts exactly. We may not be able to defeat him in direct combat, but if we can set a trap, we might just have a chance."

Ash declares, "Then what are waiting for? We're wasting time! Send us to the next world!"

Mirror Jessie grins. "Hopefully this world will be the origin of something good."

In another world, an intense battle is underway in a grassy field. A Mega Charizard X is battling against a Velocivity. Both have sustained heavy damage. A voice orders, "Charizard, don't give up! We're almost there! Use Fire Blast!"

Charizard shouts an intense, animalistic roar as it spits a symbol of fire at Velocivity. But the Lightspeed Pokémon is quick on its feet and able to dodge. It grunts with an equally animalistic quality as it does so.

"Incoming! Use Mega Punch!"

Charizard pivots about and punches Velocivity as it rushes at him. Velocivity is flung back.

"Fire Blast! One last time!"

Charizard roars again as it unleashes an even more powerful flame. Velocivity doesn't have a chance to dodge this time. It is overwhelmed by the flames.

Charizard's trainer throws an Ultra Ball at the downed Legendary Pokémon. The ball shakes three times, then clicks. The trainer picks up the Ultra Ball and checks his Kanto-styled Pokédex. Velocivity's information appears on the screen. The trainer cheers, "We did it! We caught Velocivity! The Tenno Pokédex is complete!"

He is visible for the first time. It's a boy with light brown hair wearing a red and white shirt and hat with a yellow backpack. It's Red. He has a wristband on each wrist, one of which has a Keystone embedded. There's a Pikachu at his feet.

He runs up to Charizard, as the Pokémon reverts to its regular form and hugs the Pokémon. "We did it again, Charizard! That's another region's Pokédex completed!"

His Pikachu cheers with a squeak that sounds more like a mouse than a Pokémon.

Red grins profusely. "Back when we started this all, we were so naïve. We thought there were only 149 Pokémon. But look at us now. We've captured over a thousand different species. We've come a long way."

He stops celebrating when he hears murmurs in the distance. Electric Ash insists, "There's no way he's one of us. He looks completely different from us."

Dia asks, "And what about me?"

Mirror Ash points out, "He does have a Pikachu."

Ash shouts, "Enough of this, let's just ask him!"

Red asks cautiously, "Um…hello…?"

Ash, followed by the others, leaps out from behind a bush. "Hi! This may sound odd, but we need to know something. Is your name Ash?"

Red is very confused, especially by the five identical people standing in front of him. He shakes his head. "No…I'm Red."

Dia reminds them, "A different name doesn't mean he's not one of us."

Rainbow Hero Ash asks, "Now this is going to sound even stranger, but can you tell us your story?"

"My…story…?"

"Like…what was your adventure like?"

Red stares at them silently for a moment. "Fine. I'll bite. I come from Pallet Town. It was my dream to complete the Pokédex for Professor Oak. After receiving Charmander as my first Pokémon, I set off on a journey to do just that. My rival was Professor Oak's grandson, Blue. He also wanted to complete the Pokédex and to become the strongest trainer. While journeying through Kanto, I battled the gyms, helped a Cubone who lost its mother, defeated Team Rocket, and eventually became the Kanto Champion. Upon capturing the previously unknown Pokémon known as Mewtwo, I completed the Kanto Pokédex. Except, I really didn't, because Mew was still out there. After that, I went on a journey around the world with Charizard and Pikachu, who I had caught while in Kanto. We journeyed to many regions, battled many foes, and even worked to complete the other region's Pokédexes. Along the way we saw met and battled many powerful Legendary Pokémon, like Zapdos, Lugia, Latias, Latios, Regigigas, Landorus, and Zygarde."

The Ashes all stare at him, as if judging silently. Finally, Mirror Ash says, "Well…he did come from Pallet…"

Electric Ash admits, "And Blue sounds exactly like Gary." He pauses. "I wonder if he has a sister…"

Alternate Ash adds, "And all those Legendary Pokémon encounters sounds like us."

Ash grins. "And let's not forget the most important part of all. He has a Pikachu." Dia seems to involuntarily grimace at the statement.

Ash's Pikachu runs up to Red's Pikachu and greets it. "Pik pika!"

Red's Pikachu stares at Ash's Pikachu. It squeaks back question in response, but Ash's Pikachu seems unable to understand it.

Everyone says together, "He is an Ash!"

Red continues to stare at them in confusion.

Rainbow Hero Ash comments with bewilderment, "I'm still stuck on the capturing Mewtwo part. How in the world did you manage that?"

Red sighs. "Okay. I'm done being left out. What is going on here?"

Ash sighs. "It's hard to believe, but it's all true. And we need your help to save the multiverse. You see…"

Red is sitting cross-legged on the ground, staring up at the Ashes. He looks completely overwhelmed. "So…you're all alternate versions of me…and we need to team up to stop a villain from wiping out other versions of me…including the original version…who apparently isn't me…?"

The Ashes all nod and answer at once, "That's the gist of it."

Electric Ash adds, "You know, minus the part where we're a version of you. You're a version of us…or something…"

Red doesn't try to argue. "As crazy as it all sounds, I can't come up with any reason why there would be five identical twins with similar stories to my own. I'll buy it." He pivots on his bottom and leaps up to his feet in one fluid motion. "So, what's the plan?"

Dia explains, "We've mapped out the most likely locations for The Doctor to appear and plant his bomb before The Master challenges you. We're going to set up a trap to capture him the moment he appears. If he fails to report in, we suspect The Master will check in physically to see what went wrong. We'll have a second trap waiting for him. With any luck, this nightmare will soon be over."

Red nods. "Sounds like a plan to me. Let's get to work."

Everyone is working together to set up the trap. A net is carefully obscured by leaves and dirt. Red, with the help of Charizard, is lifting a counterweight into position. Red's Pikachu sits on his shoulder. It squeaks encouragingly.

Alternate Ash asks timidly, "I've been wondering…why does your Pikachu squeak…?"

Red looks at him with confusion. "As opposed to what?"

"You know…make Pokémon sounds."

"Pokémon sounds? That's what its squeak is."

"No, it should…you know…say its name…"

His Pikachu agrees, "Pika."

Red stares at Alternate Pikachu. "Now that's just unnatural. Do all Pokémon in your world do that?" Alternate Ash nods. Red shakes his head at the thought. "How weird. So, do you name the Pokémon after what they say? Or do the Pokémon say whatever they were arbitrarily named? And what about what they're named in different languages?"

Alternate Ash starts to answer but stops himself when he realizes he doesn't have one. "Well…um…you see…um…well…maybe…um… I don't know…"

Red laughs. "For whatever it's worth, it seems like I'm the outnumbered on that one, so I suppose a squeaking Pikachu is the strange one."

Elsewhere, Ash and Rainbow Ash are working on making sure the net is perfectly hidden. Rainbow Hero Ash asks, "Where'd you get the idea for this trap?"

Ash laughs. "Ironically, this is a rare example of Team Rocket being helpful. This is one of the traps they spring on me all the time."

Rainbow Hero Ash chuckles. "Good old Team Rocket. They're as annoying as they get, but they also make life more interesting. You hate them when they're with you, and miss them when they're gone."

Ash laughs. "I couldn't have said it better myself." He ponders. "You know, I've never met someone with as much experience dealing with Team Rocket as myself. Sometimes I don't think anyone else in the world could understand my feelings on the subject, but you just nailed it. I guess that still is true since you aren't in my world."

Rainbow Hero Ash asks, "Hey, does your Team Rocket do the disguise thing?"

Ash laughs. "Every day! I don't know how they keep fooling me! They're such bad costumes, in hindsight!"

Rainbow Hero Ash joins in the laughter. "I know! Right? They never even bother to change their hair, their most recognizable feature!"

"And yet, we fall for it every time!" They laugh together over their shared misfortune.

Ash sighs. "I wonder what Team Rocket's doing right now. They escaped my world through The Master's portal before he could destroy my world."

Rainbow Hero Ash chuckles. "Knowing them, they're probably having a multiverse romping adventure of their own. Maybe they've even taken over something."

"Yeah, that would be the safe guess." He grins. "You know, maybe having others just like you isn't the worst thing world."

Rainbow Hero Ash nods. "I get what you mean. It's nice talking with someone else who truly understands you."

"It really is." He looks to Rainbow Hero Ash. "So, what does being the Rainbow Hero even mean?"

Rainbow Hero Ash sighs and pulls something out from his backpack. It's the black feather that used to be the Rainbow Wing. "I don't know anymore. When The Master appeared in my world, he captured Ho-Oh and corrupted the Rainbow Wing. Ever since then, I've been questioning what being the Rainbow Hero even means."

Ash grins at his doppelganger. "Hey, regardless of what it means, I think it's pretty cool that Ho-Oh chose you to be the Rainbow Hero."

Rainbow Hero Ash puts the feather away and forces a grin back. "And I think it's cool that you've managed to do as much as you have without being chosen. Makes me wonder if I put more importance on the title than I should." They smile at each other with a newfound sense of respect.

Meanwhile, Electric Ash rubs the sweat off his forehead and sits against a tree to rest. He pulls a photo out of his pocket. It's a picture of a girl eating rice balls. He sighs as he stares at it. "I'm sorry…"

Mirror Ash approaches him. "What's wrong?"

"Just thinking about everyone that's gone now."

Mirror Ash sits down next to him. "I can't let myself think about that or…or…or…I start to cry…" he says as he battles back tears. Trying to think of something different, he asks, "Who is that?"

Electric Ash grins goofily. "That's May Oak, Gary's sister. I went out on a Pokémon journey so that I could impress her."

Mirror Ash nods in understanding. "You have a crush on her." He blushes. "I have a crush on someone too…"

Electric Ash looks to Mirror Ash. "Who?"

"You…wouldn't care…"

"Come on. You can't say something like that and not tell me. Who is it?"

Mirror Ash relents, "It's…Misty…"

Electric Ash cracks up in laughter. "You have a crush on that tomboy? You really are the mirror version!"

Mirror Ash gets defensive, "She's not a tomboy! She's the definition of feminine beauty! They call her the Water Flower of Cerulean City!"

Electric Ash pictures his contrastingly different version of Misty and laughs. "Yup. Mirror World."

Mirror Ash looks away shyly. "Just don't tell anyone."

Electric Ash laughs again. "Don't worry, my embarrassment for all of us will keep my lips sealed."

Dia has overheard the entire conversation and smirks slightly. He looks over towards Zeraora, who is moving a large boulder into position. "You doing alright, Zeraora?"

The Pokémon responds with a wordless and curt nod.

Ash approaches Dia and says, "I'm glad you two decided to stay together as partners."

Dia is taken off-guard. "Partners?"

"Back when we met in your world, you told me that you and Zeraora only worked together to achieve a common goal. Now that you've stopped Guzzlord, that goal is past. And yet here you two are as partners."

Dia objects, "I still haven't captured Zeraora, if that's what you mean."

Ash shakes his head. "It doesn't matter. You two are still partners."

Dia suddenly looks ashamed of something. He averts his eyes. "Partners…"

Ash realizes he said something wrong. "What is it, Dia?"

Dia sighs. "There's a reason I'm the only one here without a Pikachu."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember when we first met? I told you that I had personal reasons for staying and fighting Guzzlord when everyone else fled."

Ash nods. "Yeah. You never told me what they were."

Dia sighs. "When Guzzlord first attacked, we were completely unprepared. Many were lost to us. Among them lost was Pikachu…my Pikachu…"

Ash's eyes widen. "No…"

"Yes. It's the truth. Guzzlord took so much from my world, including my best friend. That's why I couldn't leave until Guzzlord was sent back to where it came from."

"Dia…I'm so sorry… I can't imagine…"

"Not a day goes by that I don't think about Pikachu." A tear comes to his eye.

"Zera…" Zeraora stands behind Dia and places a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Ash can't help but grin at the display. "I don't know what I would do without Pikachu. I would be lost without a partner. But I don't think that's something you have to worry about. You have a partner. Zeraora is there for you."

Dia forces a slight smile. "I suppose you're not wrong. I've always been reluctant to call Zeraora my partner because I was afraid of replacing Pikachu. But, if it weren't for Zeraora, I would have had no one. I would have been completely and utterly alone. I have to stop lying to myself. Zeraora is my partner." Abruptly, he turns around and hugs Zeraora.

The reclusive Pokémon initially tenses up at the close personal contact, but quickly relaxes before returning the hug.

Ash grins profusely at them.

Alternate Ash suddenly shouts, "Guys! We've got incoming!" Everyone turns to see a ring portal opening. The Ashes all move to hide behind a nearby tree.

The Doctor steps out from the portal. His Blissey follows behind him, carrying the bomb. He looks around. "Yes. This should be the optimal placement for the Alpha Bomb. Place it there."

Blissey sets the bomb down and returns to its Pokéball.

The Doctor grins. "I never tire of this." He takes a step forward, and something snaps. A net whips up from beneath him, ensnaring him and hanging him from a tree. "What is this!?"

The Ashes step into sight. Rainbow Hero Ash lunges at The Doctor and grabs the communicator from his ear. Dia does his same to take the Pokéballs from his waist.

Electric Ash sticks his tongue out at the captured villain.

The Doctor looks at the sight before him. "So. You managed to predict our next target. I would commend the intelligence that would take, but knowing your kind it was most certainly luck. But you've made a grave mistake. I should have reported the Alpha Bomb ready by now. The Master will know something is wrong. In less than a minute he will appear here, and now that he knows to expect you, you will not escape him for a third time."

Ash declares, "That's what we're counting on."

Rainbow Hero Ash announces, "Alright, everyone! Just like we discussed. Get to your positions."

Everyone pauses momentarily as the serious nature of the moment sinks in. They look to each other. Electric Ash grins and says, "I love you guys."

Everyone smiles at each other, then moves back into various hidden positions.

And on cue, another ring portal appears. The Master floats out. "Doctor, what holds you up?" He looks forward to see The Doctor suspended.

Before there's any chance for a response, Ash shouts, "Now!"

From atop a cliff up above, Red and Charizard push several boulders down. In order to avoid the rolling boulders, The Master must jet forward. This puts him in position for Alternate Ash to drop a net on him from above. Using a laser beam from his suit, The Master cuts through the net. But while he's focused on that task, Zeraora leaps in at Dia's command and punches The Master from the side. As he's flung to the side, Rainbow Hero Ash and Mirror Ash use a rope to clothesline him. Once he's down on the ground, Electric Ash, who's hiding in a tree, dumps a vat of goo that instantly glues The Master's feet to the ground. With him down, Ash and Pikachu step forward. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaaaaaaa chuuuuuuu!"

As Pikachu keeps up the attack against the trapped Master, Mirror Ash and Rainbow Hero Ash also join. "You too, Pikachu!" Two more Pikachu's add their voltage.

Then it's Electric Ash and Alternate Ash. "Let's go, Pikachu!"

Red commands, "Use Thunderbolt as well!" His Pikachu squeaks as it attacks.

Lastly, Dia orders, "Zeraora, lend them your Plasma Fists!"

"Zeraaaaaora!" Zeraora slams its electrified fists into the ground, creating a shockwave that travels to The Master.

Seven powerful electric attacks now combine around The Master. All the Ashes shout together, "Keep it up!"

The Master's suit sustains heavy damage. The helmet explodes, releasing a cloud of smoke. He shouts in anger, "Enough!" He swipes his arms outwards, generating a shockwave that blows everyone back, stops the attacks, and frees him from the goo. It also clears the smoke, revealing his face.

As the Ashes look back to him, they're all shocked by what they see. It's unmistakable. Beneath The Master's helmet is the face of an Ash.

No…this can't be possible…the villain of this story is our hero…? How…? Stay tuned.

Electric Ash shouts, "No! You can't end the comic here! I hate cliffhangers!"

To Be Continued…