"What in the?" Ash asked, as the light faded. "Where am I?" Ash asked, looking around. Groudon and Rayquaza were nowhere to be seen, and he was now in a lab? No not just any lab, this was Professor Oak's lab! How'd he get back to Pallet Town? Ash heard some people come up the stairs, and was shocked to see not just Professor Oak, but also himself? Was this some multiverse shenanigans again? But they didn't seem to notice him as they walked into the main lab.
"I've thought about it a lot, and it took me a long time, but I finally decided to choose Squirtle." The other Ash said, picking up a Pokeball only for it to be empty. "Ohhh."
"Already taken by someone who was on time." Professor Oak said.
"Wait, I remember this." Ash said. "Except from a slightly lower point of view."
"Ahh yes, it's interesting how your choices can affect your life." A voice said.
"You weren't here." Ash said, seeing a young boy dressed in white, with long golden hair.
"And neither were you, at least not this you." The boy said. "But this event wasn't a choice. Every you in every timeline I've visited has woken up late and taken Pikachu as their starter."
"So is this a multiverse problem?" Ash asked.
"No no." The boy said. "I was simply passing by when I saw you slip into the aura realm and thought I'd see if there was any damage."
"Damage, what kind of damage?" Ash asked.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with." The boy said. "Oh, this is my favorite part."
Ash watched as a familiar Pokeball opened up, sending out a single Pikachu onto a small table.
"It's name is Pikachu." Professor Oak said.
"Oh, its so cute, its the best of all!" The younger Ash said.
"You'll see." Professor Oak said, as the younger Ash lifted up Pikachu.
"Oh, hi Pikachu." The younger Ash said, hugging the electric type, only to get zapped instantly, as the room was filled with a bright light.
"Wait whats happening?" Ash asked, as the lab disappeared.
"Your mind is taking you to familiar points, your body took severe damage and is in need of recovery." The boy said. "I wonder when you're taking us next."
The light faded as they were now by a river bank
"I don't remember this. Why are we here?" Ash asked.
"I think like before, you were at a different point of view." The boy said. "Look over there, do you recognize anyone?"
"Misty? But she's at the Cerulean Gym, and where's Togepi?" Ash asked.
"I believe Togepi hasn't even been found just yet." The boy said.
Misty suddenly began struggling as her fishing line was being pulled.
"We have to help her!" Ash said.
"You can't, we are just passerbys on this memory." The boy said.
"Hey I got a bit! Oh wow, I really think this could be a big one!" Misty said, as she reeled in her line.
"Wait, this is the first time I met Misty." Ash realized, seeing his younger self flung out of the river.
"Misty and you share a special bond, not like the one between you and Pikachu, but she was your first real friend." The boy said. "And you were hers."
"Yeah, we had some great adventures together, before everything changed." Ash said, chuckling as he watched his younger self steal Misty's bike. "This is also the moment where Pikachu and I became best friends."
"Yes, but I think our time here is done." The boy said, as the flock of Spearow flew overhead, a flash of light following them.
The light faded as they found themselves in a forest with rain pouring down
"No why here?" Ash asked, rushing forward.
"What's here?" The boy asked, as they saw a younger Ash, Misty and Brock rushing forward.
"Knock it off!" The younger Ash said, throwing a stone at some Spearow.
"A moment that changed my journey forever." Ash said, seeing a small flame barely lit under a leaf.
"Use Thundershock Pikachu!" The younger Ash called out.
"This was my Charmander." Ash said.
"I'll make sure it's tail flame stays lit." The younger Ash said, taking off his rain coat and putting it over Charmander's flame.
"I'm confused, for most of you this is a happy memory, of you getting one of your strongest allies." The boy said.
"Yeah, for most of us." Ash said, as the scene shifted. Years flew by in front of them, now back in Pallet Town.
"What is this?" The boy asked in shock.
"Charizard's grave." Ash said, kneeling next to the him from a few months ago, as he set his Pokemon League hat on the gravestone.
"I'm sorry Charizard. I never should have had you try that." The younger Ash said, trying to hold back tears. "I'm going to Hoenn tonight, you're the only one I've told this to. I, I need to get away from everyone asking if I'm alright, I just can't keep living like this knowing I failed you."
"This was the hardest day of my journey. The day I buried Charizard and ran away." Ash said, watching his other self and Pikachu run off towards the port. "It took a while for me to finally forgive myself."
"Charizard's death was not your fault." The boy said.
"Thanks, but that's not what I was talking about." Ash admitted. "I left my friends, my mom, even my other Pokemon behind and ran away from my problems. We were supposed to have a big dinner that night to try and cheer me up." Ash said. "And like a chicken I ran away from the people who cared about me."
"But that changed, didn't it? You've made new friends." The boy said.
"Yeah, but I didn't want to at first." Ash said, as they moved forward in time a few days.
"Pikachu keep them back with Quick Attack!" The younger Ash commanded.
"Mudkip use Tackle!" Brendan called out.
The two Pokemon slammed into a pack of Mighteyena causing them to run off.
"That was amazing!" Brendan cheered excitedly.
"I have to agree. Young lad, if you hadn't shown up when you did, I don't know what I would have done." Professor Birch said. "What's your name? Where'd you come from?"
"My name, its Ash…ton Ashton." Both Ash's said in unison.
"I came to Hoenn and used my full name for the first time in years. Almost immediately I met Brendan but things didn't go smoothly."
"How about working together?" Brendan said. "You clearly know your way around battles, you could teach me."
"Lesson one, get out before it's too late." The younger Ash said.
"I pushed Brendan away for a while, not wanting anyone with me, to avoid the pain." Ash said.
"But that changed." The boy said.
"Yeah, I finally opened up to him, and started catching Pokemon again, and even made other friends along the way." Ash said, as images of Brendan, Wally, Flannery, Drew, May, and his Hoenn Pokemon flew by. "I finally got over my fear of battling, and started enjoying the journey again."
"And yet you were willing to give it all up to save one person who wouldn't do the same for you." The boy said.
"That's the price of being the good guy." Ash said. "Sometimes you have to give up everything so that there can be another day."
"You have taught me a lot today Ash Ketchum." The boy said. "I hope to be able to use these lessons when the time comes."
"Wait when what comes? Who are you?" Ash asked, as the boy faded away.
"I am someone you have never met, but knows you quite well." The boy said, as he disappeared in a golden sparkle.
"But how do I get out of here?" Ash called out, as a hole appeared beneath him. "OH COME ON!"
Back on Seven Island
Rubble was moved out of the way as the young boy floated down, seeing the mangled bodies of Rich and his Pokemon.
"I was taught that sometimes you must make sacrifices for the greater good." The boy said. "Your sacrifice will not be in vain, your son will live thanks to you." The boy continued before noticing something leaking from Rich causing the island to disintegrate beneath him. "NO! How did I miss IT? I was right here?!" The boy exclaimed. "I wish I could save you, I really do, but reviving you would only strengthen IT's power." The boy said. "By the power vested in me, I cast Judgement on you!"
A beam of light shot out of the boys hand, engulfing Rich and his Pokemon as they disappeared.
"I must act fast, while the trail is still warm." The boy said, opening a golden portal.
