Authors note
Thought I'd go over the current standing of where everyone lies in terms of believing. Chloe and Delia believe that this is Ash's newest way of dealing with what's happening. Serena and Goh haven't believed it from the start, and the remaining lab staff is still uncertain.
Ashley woke up to a thud against her window. She knew exactly who it was though. Opening the curtains was the Munna from the hospital.
"I have to thank you for waking me up the other night, but I can't risk you letting Ash take control back, so head back to where you belong, and don't come back." Ashley said, a black aura coming from her eyes.
Looking out the window as the Munna ran/flew away, Ashley smiled. Almost everyone believed her, all that was left was Goh, and she'd be set. Though if she had to, maybe making him have another mental breakdown would work just as well.
Serena wished she was surprised when Pikachu entered her room to sleep that night. He only did that if Ash wasn't in the lab, so clearly whoever it was, wasn't Ash.
"Come on Goh, hurry up with that help." Serena plead.
"Goh, get some rest, there's nothing we can do right now." Brock said.
"But what if Ash is hurt, or replaced by an evil clone, or Darkrai made this part of his plan all those years ago." Goh said freaking out.
"A, it doesn't sound like he'd be hurt, B, clones, really? And C, do you realize how much planing and hoping it would take if Darkrai did this back when Ashley first showed up?" Brock listed off. "We'll be there around eight, so for now just relax."
"You're right Brock, and thanks again for flying us Miss Wicke." Goh said.
"Ash is an Ultra Guardian, retired or not, he's someone we look out for." Wicke said.
Back in Kanto
Serena kept a distanced eye on 'Ash' today. She didn't have any solid evidence yet, but she knew this imposter had to mess up sooner or later, and right now she was the only one left to know Ash was not themselves.
A bit later back at the lab
"Goh when I sent you to Alola, I was thinking Kukui, Burnett, Principal Oak, even Lusamine. Why'd you get Brock?" Professor Cerise said.
"I don't know half of these people, and the ones I do know don't live where they used to." Goh said.
"Goh said Ash might be in danger, what's wrong?" Brock asked.
"He's just starting something new, sorry to have brought you all the way out here Brock." Professor Cerise apologized.
"If it's all the same with you, I'd like to see Ash, just to make sure." Brock said. "You still have the outdoor arena, right."
"Yes, Ash uses both enough for us to keep them." Professor Cerise admitted.
"When Ash comes back, tell him I'm out there waiting for him." Brock said.
"Brock, what's your plan?" Goh asked.
"I'm going to give Ash what he loves more than anything. A battle." Brock said.
"Chloe said that Ash is battling just fine though." Goh said.
"Against someone he's never fought before maybe, but I trained him in the early days, and this fight won't be over that quickly." Brock reassured.
A few hours later after school had got out
"Ash, it's good to see you, there's a guest waiting for you at the outdoor arena." Professor Cerise said.
"I don't think I got a challenge notification." Ashley said confused.
"It's an old friend, they wanted to stop by." Professor Cerise said.
"Oh, I was going to spend some time with my mom while she was here though." Ashley said. An old friend might notice something, she had to think quick.
"Oh it's alright Ash, I can wait, let's go see who it is." Delia said delightedly.
"Yes! Brock!" Ash said excitedly. Surely he'd notice something was wrong.
"Hi Brock." Ashley said with a smile.
"Ash, you look great." Brock said.
"No, no no no no no! Don't do this Brock!" Ash said quickly worrying.
"So what brings you here to Kanto?" Ashley asked, even though she could figure it out.
"Your friend Goh came to me in a panic, but it looks like everything is fine." Brock said.
"Yep, just trying a new look." Ashley said with a slight curtesy. "Well, thanks for stopping by."
"Hold on, I was thinking since I'm here, how about a battle, for old times sake." Brock offered.
"Come on Brock, you know how that'll go." Ashley said trying to get him to go quickly.
"I've been training with my Pokémon between shifts, I think you'll be surprised." Brock said, not budging. "And if nothings wrong, let's make it a full battle."
"Okay, let's have a battle, but don't think I'll go easy on you." Ashley said.
"Geodude, I choose you!"
"Come on out Meganium!"
"Geodude use Gyro Ball!"
"Meganium use Petal Dance!"
Geodude spun around the petals, striking Meganium from the side.
"Meganium use Vine Whip!"
"Geodude use Rock Slide!"
Rocks were thrown every direction the vines went, as Meganium was unable to get ground.
"I don't get it, why isn't Ash able to land a hit." Chloe said.
"Because like I've been saying, that's not Ash. If it was he would've chosen a weaker move to close the distance." Serena said.
"Meganium use Body Slam!"
"Like that?" Chloe questioned.
"Geodude use Double Edge!"
The two Pokémon collided in mid air, Meganium's greater size pushing Geodude back.
"Now use Petal Dance!"
Petals shot around Geodude, covering it in the pink petals as it was defeated.
"Geodude return! Croagunk I choose you!" Brock said tossing out his second Pokémon. "Use Poison Jab!"
"Use Vine Whip!"
Croagunk managed to knock back vine after vine, slowly working his way forward, striking Meganium in the center of its chest.
"Meganium use Body Slam!"
"Croagunk use Venoshock!"
Meganium's body began shaking violently, stumbling to the ground.
"Meganium!" Ash cried out.
"Meganium return. Come on out Snorlax. Use Hyper Beam!"
Snorlax came out of his Pokeball, completely asleep, and unmoving.
"Sorry about this Ash, but if I'm going to help you, I need to beat you!" Brock said the last part louder. "Croagunk use Brick Break!"
Croagunk leapt at Snorlax, it's fist sinking into the fat, only to bounced back out.
"Snorlax get up and use Ice Punch!"
"Use Poison Jab!"
Croagunk kept going at Snorlax, hit after hit while Ashley kept trying to wake up the sleeping Pokémon.
"Why isn't Ash switching out?!" Chloe cried out.
"Because that's not Ash." Serena argued.
"They look like Ash, sound like Ash, and for the most part battle like Ash, how is that not Ash!" Chloe countered.
"Because Ash cares." Brock said. "Meganium didn't battle at its full, and Snorlax isn't waking up because even they know it's not really Ash. Whoever this is, they don't care for their Pokémon."
"Just shut up!" Ashley yelled, a black pulse of aura throwing everyone to their feet. "I'm Ash now, and there's nothing anyone can do to change that!" Black aura bubbles began surrounding everyone lifting them into the air.
"Those are my friends!" Ash said pounding the inside of where he was stuck. As he did it, the aura constructs faltered. "You don't have the control I have." Ash said realizing what he had to do. He began banging on the window to the outside, screaming and shouting.
"Will you just stop!" Ashley said entering the area.
Back outside
The aura bubbles disappeared as Ash's Body went limp.
"Is he,". Serena said on hasted breath.
Brock ran across the field to check on Ash. "He's alive but I'm not sure what's going on."
"My own son wasn't himself, and I didn't even notice." Delia said.
"They had most of us fooled, thankfully Brock, Goh, and Serena didn't give up." Professor Cerise said.
Back inside Ash
"This is my body, and I'm taking it back!" Ash said running at Ashley.
"Not happening, it's my turn!" Ashley said focusing. "Where are my powers!"
"For someone who's spent all their time here, you really don't know how this works." Ash said, tackling Ashley to the ground.
"And neither do you, or haven't you realized you don't grow tired." Ashley scolded.
"Who said I was trying to hurt you? I just needed to pin you long enough to regain control." Ash said as he vanished.
Back outside of Ash
Ash slowly came to seeing Brock staring at him.
"Ash, is that you?" Brock asked.
"Yeah, oof, but I need some space, Ashley's trying to regain control." Ash said, his eyes glowing blue. "I've got one shot at this."
Ash focused on making an aura bubble inside him and then pushing out. A blue burst of aura shot out from Ash as well as a shadowy mist that flew off into the distance.
"Ash! Are you okay?" Serena asked.
"Yeah fine. Just give me a sec, might hurl." Ash said.
"Glad to see you're back to your old self Ash." Brock said, grabbing a Pokeball.
"Hold on, we're not done yet." Ash said holding up a finger, still catching his breath. "Okay, better. You challenged me to a battle, and last I checked, I haven't gotten a turn."
"Snorlax and Meganium are out though. Even if you extended it to a three on three you'd be at a disadvantage." Goh pointed out.
"That's my favorite kind of odds, and I know just who my third Pokémon will be. Pikachu I choose you!" Ash said, his eyes still glowing blue.
"Croagunk use Poison Jab!"
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
Pikachu quickly closed the distance, blocking Croagunk's attack.
"Now use Thunderbolt!"
"Croagunk use Venoshock!"
Pikachu's and Croagunk's attacks passed each other heading right at their targets.
"Pikachu block it with Iron Tail!"
Pikachu swung at the Venoshock, sending the attack in a scattered formation as Croagunk was zapped.
"Now Croagunk use Brick Break!"
"Pikachu use Discharge!"
Croagunk was stopped mid attack as electricity flew around it, zapping it from every angle.
"Croagunk return." Brock said. "Just so you know Ash, I don't plan on making this easy."
"I was hoping you wouldn't." Ash said.
"Steelix I choose you!" Brock said, tossing off his shirt in the process.
In the stands
"Chrysa, your staring." Ren said plainly.
"Plus he's taken." Goh added.
"Still not gonna stop me." Chrysa said, not taking her eyes away.
"It's time to mega evolve!" Brock said activating his keystone.
"Fully Power!" Ash said, a blue aura filling him and Pikachu.
"Steelix use Iron Tail!"
"Pikachu you use Iron Tail!" Ash's voice echoed.
"Chloe, start recording this, I think this might be a big discovery." Professor Cerise said, as Pikachu was able to hold back Steelix's attack.
"Steelix use Dragon Breath!"
"Pikachu use Agility!"
"Wait, since when does Pikachu know agility?" Serena asked.
Pikachu meanwhile was picking up speed, avoiding the attack.
"Steelix use Dig!"
"Pikachu use Thunder!"
"And that's five now." Goh said holding up his hand.
Thunder broke apart the ground, revealing Steelix underneath.
"Steelix use Stone Edge!"
"Counter with Volt Tackle!" Ash's voice echoed once again.
Pikachu charged through rock after rock, breaking them apart, heading straight for Steelix.
"Now use Thunderbolt!" A large echoing of Ash's voice called out.
The attack was strong enough to even pierce through the ground type's defenses.
"Steelix is no longer able to battle, the winner is Ash and!" Professor Cerise said, turning to see Ash collapse again, Pikachu soon followed him.
It was a few hours later when Ash finally came to. He could feel he was restrained slightly.
"Guys, it's still me." Ash said.
"How do we know that?" Chloe said.
"Ironic coming from the one who doubted the least, but to answer your question, why does it feel like all my clothes are tighter now?" Ash said.
"Welcome to how most girls dress to get attention." Serena said, letting Ash go.
"So what happened?" Serena asked.
"I was hoping you could tell me, I don't remember much after Steelix was sent out." Ash admitted.
"Check this out." Chloe said playing the video.
"Pikachu doesn't know those moves though, at least not any more." Ash said confused.
"That's what we thought too. Professor Cerise thinks your powers are beginning to mature again." Goh said.
"For now, get some rest. We can figure out how you did this later on." Serena said.
Elsewhere on an island somewhere by Sinnoh
"Oh you fool. Ash Ketchum, you have no idea what you've just done." Darkrai said, absorbing the shadowy force. "I'm now more powerful than ever." Darkrai gloated as his figure changed from Pokémon to human, and then back to Pokémon.
The Adventures of the Mysterious Pokémon
"That green one showed me I need to be stronger. I cannot rely on my previous training alone if I wish to show my full power." The Pokemon said facing a tree. "I need to be patient and strike at my most powerful point."
They reared back a fist striking the tree. Instantly every leaf fell from it, and the wood separated into splinters.
"Still not good enough." The Pokemon said, walking to the next tree. Dozens just like the other one surrounding him.