Ash jumped from Charizard's back as soon as they were low enough to the ground and rolled to break his fall. He scrambled to his feet as quickly as possible and threw the pokéballs containing Bayleef and Greninja. Both Pokémon appeared in a flash of light and stood waiting for their orders. Ash sent Pikachu off to find Brock and Brad. Bayleef and Greninja would fight the Team Rocket woman.
The woman ran into the clearing and saw Ash waiting for her. She smiled broadly. "Giving up?" she asked jokingly. Ash didn't reply. She shrugged. "Houndoom, use flamethrower on Bayleef," she called and released another Pokémon, it was a Golbat. "Golbat, use supersonic," she commanded. "Bayleef dodge and use body slam. Greninja use double team and then cut!" Ash ordered and his Pokémon rushed forward towards the enemy.
Pikachu rushed through the forest. It had been reluctant to leave Ash behind but it knew this was the best way it could help its trainer. Pikachu spotted Brock and Brad having an argument ahead. "Look, it's not my problem you don't trust me Brock but I came back to protect Ash!" Brad yelled furiously. Brock crossed his arms. It was a pose he used to make his younger siblings know he was serious. "Brad, you haven't really told us anything. How do you know Ash in the future? Why did you lie about the device? How can we trust you?" Brock interrogated sternly. Brad gritted his teeth. "I told you I can't tell you everything, it might affect the future," he growled in response. "I thought that was why you came back," Brock replied. "No! I came back to stop Team Rocket changing anything!" Brad exclaimed angrily.
Pikachu could see that the argument was going to escalate possibly to a full on fight. Pikachu ran into their view and jumped up and down, chattering to get their attention. Brock shook his head at Brad and looked at Pikachu. He noticed that Pikachu looked panicky and realised that Ash probably sent Pikachu to find them. "What's wrong Pikachu?" Brock asked concerned. Pikachu took a deep breath and tried to explain again. "Pika, pi pi ka chu chu Pikachu Pikapi pika pi pi ka chu chu," Pikachu started but saw Brock's blank face. This was going to be difficult. That was until Pikachu saw that Brad seemed to get the gist of what it was saying. "Why did Ash send you again?" Brad prompted and knelt down to Pikachu's level. Pikachu turned to Brad. "Pi pi chu pika Pikapi chu pi ka ka chu pika Pikachu Pikachu pika chu chu pi chu ka," Pikachu explained quickly and Brad nodded. He turned to Brock. "Pikachu says that Ash is battling a Team Rocket member and Serena and the younger Ash are on Charizard," Brad translated, half guessing some of the details as Pikachu had spoken a little too quickly. "How did you understand Pikachu? I've spent years with Pikachu and I can't," Brock inquired slightly in awe. Brad rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. "Er… I've spent a lot of time with Pikachu in the future," Brad offered, hoping that Brock wouldn't press for details.
Together they rushed after Pikachu as it ran back to where Ash was battling. Bayleef had fainted and it was now Greninja against Houndoom and Golbat. Ash and Greninja knew what they had to do and merged together creating the Ash-Greninja form. As one they battled. Houndoom was knocked out by a massive water shuriken and then it was Golbat. Greninja used double team and cut again and managed to cause Golbat to faint.
The woman returned the Pokémon and looked back at Ash. She didn't even look upset. In fact she smiled playfully at him. The woman unnerved him and he could tell she knew that she did. Brock, Brad and Pikachu arrived in the clearing. The woman glanced at them and shrugged. "Guess I lost this round, I know when I'm beaten. However this round is far from a loss in my eyes. I think I might know how to achieve my goal and all I have to do is switch targets," the woman announced and purposefully looked directly at Pikachu. She smiled sweetly at the Pokémon and pulled out her device and before anyone could stop her, she tapped a number of buttons and vanished.
Charizard landed shortly afterwards and Serena and the younger Ash jumped off. The younger Ash had an excitement in his eyes. He grinned at his older self. "You were amazing!" the younger Ash announced. The older Ash smiled at himself and shrugged. "I'm not that amazing, after all I let her get away," Ash countered his younger self. The younger Ash shook his head vigorously and started to point out his favourite parts of the battle, which turned out to be the entire battle. Brad walked closer and asked for a moment with the older Ash.
"Ash, I kind of lied about that I thought your younger self would just forget. I have a device Clemont invented with me that can get rid of memories. It was meant to restore memories but… the point is, do you want me to remove your memories of the last day or so?" Brad admitted and waited for Ash to answer. Ash considered his younger self and decided it was for the best. He nodded to Brad. Brad smiled apologetically and asked everyone but himself and the younger Ash to leave the clearing. Brad pulled a strange device out of another pocket. It looked like a handheld mirror with antennae and pointed to the younger Ash. He pressed a few buttons and removed the memories he had of being attacked by Team Rocket. The younger Ash's expression went blank for a few seconds and Brad used that opportunity to run out of the clearing and hide behind a bush. The younger Ash shook his head and scanned the clearing. He spotted a large hollow tree and ran inside to shelter from the rain. He rubbed his bare arms for warmth and then noticed a bunch of cold and frightened Pokémon watching him. He didn't notice the four teenagers and Pikachu disappear into the trees as he invited the Pokémon inside with him.
So that's the end for the younger Ash. No more possible spoilers now.
And so until the next chapter.