"Ash, what's wrong? Try to breathe and calm down," Brock called softly to his friend, seeing Ash's panic at not being able to breathe. Brock guided Ash away from his past self and into the tree line. They had just reached it as Ash and Pikachu came to. Brock saw Ash and Pikachu look up into the sky and saw Ho-oh. He heard Ash's old pokédex trill, "there is no data. There are still Pokémon yet to be identified". The past Ash scooped Pikachu into his arms and set off once again for the Viridian City Pokémon centre.

Brock watched the past Ash leave, still a little in awe. Brock hadn't realised how hopeless the situation had been from the story Ash had told him. Seeing what it had truly been like only showed Brock that Ash had always been and will always be a kind and thoughtful trainer. Ash had calmed down a lot and had stopped choking and was now wheezing. Brock hoped that the powder wasn't too dangerous and was only meant to make it harder for Pikachu to breathe. However he couldn't shake the feeling that the Team Rocket woman hadn't really switched targets and had only said what she had said to lure Ash to her.

Serena and Brad ran after the Team Rocket woman. She laughed at them and taunted them. She took her time, she only ran fast enough to stay ahead of them. Serena realised that she was only leading them away from Ash and angrily grabbed her pokéball containing Slyveon. She threw it and Slyveon appeared in a flash of light. "Grab her," Serena ordered. Slyveon nodded and sent her feelers out and wrapped them around the woman's arms and legs and lifted her into the air. The woman screamed in anger. "Let me down, right now!" she yelled outraged. Brad ran right up to her. "No. What was that powder?" Brad demanded. The woman regained her composure instantly. She smiled evilly at him. "It was a poison. Very potent," she whispered like she was telling him about a surprise party. Brad paled. They had to get back to Ash and Brock and find an antidote. "Serena, we've got to get back to the others," Brad informed Serena, his voice shaking slightly. Serena understood and didn't question him. Slyveon carried the woman as they made their way back to Ash, Pikachu and Brock.

Serena heard Ash before they saw them. Ash's breathing was laboured and rattling. He was being held up on his feet by Brock and Pikachu was sitting on the ground looking up at its trainer, clearly concerned. Brad rushed forward and took some of Ash's weight from Brock who smiled gratefully. Ash's breathing was growing more laboured by the second. Brad motioned for Serena to come over. He knew they had to get back to their camp in Ash, Serena and Brock's present. He remembered that Brock was studying to be a Pokémon doctor and had always been prepared for anything. If anyone had an antidote to the poison, Brock would. Brad pulled out the device and set it for the time jump. Slyveon unwound one of her feelers and touched Brad with it after being told to by Serena. Brad reached up and held the woman's ankle firmly and switched the device to his hand supporting Ash. Brock touched Brad's arm holding Ash and Serena held onto Brad's arm reaching up for the woman. Pikachu touched Brad's ankle, still watching Ash with concern. Brad made sure everyone was touching him and while struggling to keep a hold of the woman pressed the button on the device and with that they vanished.

They reappeared at the edge of the trees around the camp. They saw Ash collapse clutching his head as the headache that started the time jumps occurred. They watched as Brock and Pikachu rushed to Ash's side. They all realised that they had wait until they left before they could go to the camp. They watched Brad get up from his nap and rush over to Ash and take control of the situation. "Ash, listen to me! You have to tell me what you're remembering! Ash! Come on try!" Brad shouted into Ash's face. Brad waited and then nodded. He pulled out the device and started to calibrate it for the time jump. "What are you doing?" Brock asked accusingly. "Ash has that headache because Team Rocket is messing with his past. They're trying to change events so that Ash doesn't… win. I need to time jump to when they are and stop them," Brad explained, while working on the device, trying to ignore Ash's whimpers. "Wait, you can't go there alone. You haven't any Pokémon and Team Rocket might be ready for you this time. You need back up. Besides I know quite a bit about Ash's past," Brock reasoned. Brad spared Brock a glance and bit his lip. "You could mess things up more if Ash sees you and recognises you," Brad countered weakly. "Then we'll make sure that Ash doesn't see us," Serena called with a determined expression, holding the younger Ash to her comfortingly. Brad thought about it but eventually sighed in defeat and knelt beside Ash. "Alright then Brock, Serena, Ash and Pikachu. You all need to touch me. The device can transport anyone touching it and transfers over through one person. Hurry up," Brad explained and waited for everyone to touch him before pressing the button to activate the time jump.

The moment they disappeared, Brock and Brad led Ash over to the camp. They set him down gently next to the fire and stew still cooking. Brock ran over to his pack and took out some rope and tossed it to Brad and then started to search for his medical supplies. Brad caught the rope and tied the woman up as Slyveon lowered their prisoner down to the ground. Serena thanked Slyveon and returned it and sat next to Ash and Pikachu. Ash was desperately trying to stay conscious but the effort to breathe was exhausting. Serena brushed a hand against his arm, hoping that her presence would help him. His skin was burning up with a fever. Ash had a headache and his legs were starting to feel numb. Pikachu called softly to him to stay strong, unsure if Ash could even hear it.

Brock tossed everything out of his pack in frustration. He couldn't find any of his medical supplies. He was certain he had stocked up in Viridian City. The woman laughed at Brock and Brad turned to see Brock beginning to panic. "Brock, what's up?" Brad called, all too aware of the Team Rocket member watching the scene intently. Brock turned to Brad. "I can't find the antidote," he cried fearfully. Brad turned back to the woman. She looked up at him, politely curious. "Are you sure it isn't in there?" she asked with obviously fake concern. Brock's face reddened in anger. Brad grabbed her by the shirt. "When did you take it?!" he demanded furiously. She smiled mischievously. "Last night. Poor Brad, you really aren't a very good look out," she informed him condescendingly.

Brad gritted his teeth and took a breath before he did anything he'd regret. "Better think of another plan Brad, daddy isn't looking too good," she stage whispered. Brad glared daggers at her as he felt Serena and Brock's stares on his back. "What does she mean, Brad? "Daddy isn't looking too good"" Serena asked softly. The woman grinned at Brad. She knew she had let the Meowth out of the bag and she loved it. "Didn't Brad tell you? He's Ash's son from the future. Ash figured that the safest person to send back would be either himself or Brad. But when he broke his leg during a training session, Brad had to go. Ash knew that the only way to stop Brad stopping me was to get rid of Ash. That's actually really smart for Ash," the woman explained. Brad's face reddened at the insult to his father's intelligence. "Shut up!" Brad growled. He had to think. They weren't anywhere near a Pokémon centre or hospital. They didn't have any antidote. They didn't have any Pokémon that could heal him with them. Brock had left Chansey at the school to keep studying. Brad was trying to remember any of the stories his father had told him. Looking for any way to save him. "Give us the antidote!" Brad demanded angrily. She laughed. "You really think I'd be stupid enough to keep the antidote on me," she giggled. Brad furiously ran to Ash's bag and pulled out a spare pair of socks and shoved them into her mouth. He couldn't handle her remarks. She merely smiled at him around the sock and watched the scene before her.

So, did you expect Brad to be Ash's son? I've left hints throughout but I didn't make it obvious. I'll point out some of the hints in the next chapter.

So, until the next chapter.