"I can't believe you, sometimes, Ash," Misty sighed, as Zapdos dropped her friend off on the ferry he'd nearly missed. "How do you get so engrossed in Pokémon battles?"

"Because Pokémon battles are a great way to test your skills, make new friends, and learn new things!" Ash replied. "Also, that guy had a Croconaw and I wanted to see how Totodile might battle if he'd evolved."

Misty thought about that answer, as Ash called Zapdos back with a flash of red light.

"Okay, that's acceptable," she decided. "Just about."

Brock chuckled. "Anyone would think you were telling him off!"

"Anyone except Ash would," Misty grumbled. "If he thought I was telling him off he might listen one of these days."

"Did I just see you using a Zapdos?" one of the other passengers asked. "How did you manage to catch that?"

"Mostly dango, really," Ash replied. "It was generally home made, but she's okay with store bought which is good 'cause otherwise I'd have to go back home every week."

The passenger who'd asked blinked a few times. "Uhh… I… guess my next question is, what kind of home made dango did you use?"

"It's my mom's recipe," Ash told him. "I think it's the best! Though I guess you kind of have to think that about your mom's cooking, huh?"

Misty considered adding something to her notebook of Things People Said About Ash.

"But if you've got a Zapdos, why are you using a ferry boat like this?" the young man added. "How come you're not just flying everywhere?"

Ash shrugged. "It's because flying everywhere is kind of… not the point? It's about travelling! And I guess I might ask Zapdos to fly me around if there were only a few weeks left to pick up the badges, but I'd much rather spend ten months travelling around and meeting new friends and have a month to prepare for the League than to fly around, do the whole thing in a week, and then spend nearly a year in the same place training. I'd go crazy!"

"Sort of assumes you aren't already," Pikachu noted.

"This attitude is interesting," Zygarde declared. "I am already everywhere in some respects so I do not need to travel to experience it, but spending time on the move is an interesting new way to see things. It gives a better sense of how large a country is."

The Dragon-type stuck their head over the side of the boat, then let their tongue loll out in the breeze.

"Also, it is enjoyable."

"You know, since you're interested in Pokémon, perhaps we could head to my hometown," the boatman said, as they reached the other end of the ferry journey. "It's Arborville, and there's plenty of wild Pokémon there."

Ash frowned. "Who isn't interested in Pokémon? I guess there must be some people, but I'd think most are."

Mr. White chuckled. "Well, I don't mean it like that. I mean you have the right respect for Pokémon – there's people out there who'd think nothing of going into a forest like the one we have around Arborville and capturing Pokémon left and right, just so they could sell them or battle them. But I've seen you interact with your Pokémon on this trip, and train them, and even talk to them. You and your friends – you're the right sort of person."

He clapped Ash on the shoulder. "Don't think you have to. But I think you'd like it there."

"That makes a lot more sense," Brock admitted. "And yeah, Ash isn't the sort of person who'd catch a Pokémon unless that's what they wanted."

Misty frowned. "I don't think I would, either, or… well… there's a couple of Pokémon who I did catch in a battle, or a bit of a battle anyway. But I think they're all happy with it now."

"If you're worried about that kind of thing, you're not the sort of person I'd be worried about," Mr. White told her. "And, just between you and me – I heard you talking about how you're a water Pokémon trainer, and sometimes…"

His voice lowered. "There's been three different times in the last forty years that we've seen Suicune around Arborville!"

"Fancy that," said Suicune.

Mr. White had to sit down quite hard after that.

Once the boatman had recovered, he took them to Arborville.

This turned out to involve his boat actually being able to transform (in this case, into a blimp) and heading up a waterfall without the benefit of a Pokémon that actually knew Waterfall.

Misty had two Pokémon who did, and of course Mew knew everything, but it did save some time.

Then they saw Arborville itself, which had a name that was well-earned.

"So all the houses are in trees," Ash said, looking around. "That's kind of neat. It means you're staying out of the way of the Pokémon on the forest floor, right?"

"That's one thing it means," Mr. White agreed. "But if you're planning on heading into the forest to look for Pokémon, you'll want to get advice from old Towa."

He nodded. "She lives just over there, in the same house she's lived in for over fifty years."

Ash whistled. "I don't think I could ever do that… or, I guess I could live with having a house, but I wouldn't spend most of my time there."

"You might change your mind when you're older," Mr. White said. "Do show her Suicune, though. I think she'd love to meet the Messenger."

He paused. "...you don't have a Celebi anywhere, do you?"

"Not that I know about," Ash replied. "Though, uh… there probably is space in my backpack for one, and I haven't checked lately."

Ash listened to the guidance about going out into the forest for about as long as it took Brock to notice someone attractive was nearby, then decided he could probably fill in the rest and headed out.

"What kind of Pokémon do you think we'll see?" he asked, tilting his head slightly to the side so Pikachu knew it was a question for him. "Something rare?"

"I hope there's not a Pichu," Pikachu said. "My last encounter with those did not go well."

"I don't think I heard about that one," Ash admitted.

"It involved being chased around by a Houndour," Pikachu said. "And, what's worse, not being able to properly fight the Houndour because otherwise I'd be setting a bad example."

Ash chuckled. "I guess that makes it harder, huh? But what I mean is, I wonder if there's a Dunsparce around here?"

A flare of blue light interrupted them, and Ash threw up his arm as a shield.

When he lowered it again, there was a boy there, and the sound of something zipping off into the distance.

"I wonder how that happened?" Ash asked. "Do you think it was a Teleport?"

"It could be, but I thought those were differently coloured?" Pikachu mused. "Maybe he was under an illusion? Zorua can't do those but I think Zoroark can…?"

"Oh, or it could be like the ones Noctowl does," Ash agreed. "Or… well, maybe Giratina did it? Do you think he'd be able to tell us if we asked?"

"Or you could just ask him," Pikachu suggested.

Ash nodded. "Good point. Hey, uh, are you okay?"

The boy rolled halfway over, then looked up at Ash. "I – wait, there was someone after us – do you know where he went?"

"Pikachu?" Ash asked.

"Can't see anything," Pikachu replied. "Can't hear anything either."

"It sounds like they're gone," Ash said. "Or, well, maybe you're gone, because we just saw you appear out of nowhere. How did you do that?"

"It must have been…" the boy began, then stopped himself. "I, um… I'm Sammy."

"Oh, right!" Ash brightened. "Huh, I wonder how the Professor knew I'd be meeting you. I've got some things for you to have."

He rummaged in his pocket, then reached for his backpack, and Mew passed them out to him with a giggle. "Here we go. The Professor sent them to us after we left Ecruteak, and said I had to give them to someone called Sammy."

Sammy took them, then blinked a few times. "I, I feel kind of dizzy."

"That's all right," Ash told him, offering a hand, then pulled Sammy upright and offered him a shoulder. "There's a town not far this way, you'll be okay there."

When Sammy had been taken care of back at Arborville, and his story came out – about meeting Celebi, and protecting them from a poacher, along with Towa getting out the sketchbook Sammy had left behind four decades ago – Ash exchanged a glance with Pikachu.

"I don't think we've met a Celebi before," he explained. "That's kind of cool! So you're really from the past?"

He frowned. "Then I really wonder how Professor Oak knew to give you that Z ring and Z crystal."

"Professor Oak?" Sammy repeated. "That's my surname, uh… how old is Professor Oak?"

"Really old," Ash summarized. "I mean, he's cool, but… yeah, kind of old. His hair's all grey."

"Maybe it's… my dad, then?" Sammy asked. "Or my uncle or something? Or maybe it's just a weird coincidence. I guess we could ask Celebi-"

He got up. "Wait, we need to make sure Celebi is okay!"

"Right!" Ash agreed. "Zapdos, Suicune, can you two help us look? Brock, can Crobat help as well?"

"You know Celebi might be just fine, right, Ash?" Brock checked. "The poacher got left in the past, by the sound of it."

He rubbed his temples. "Sorry, I just realized what's going on. I just need to get used to this now."

Shaymintwo came out of his Pokéball. "I'm looking too. It's safer to check than to assume anything else."

"Shaymintwo is right," Ash agreed. "If we don't find Celebi, and there's nothing going on, then it's fine, but if Celebi is in trouble then we're going to need to help."

Not far away, a man in an iron mask grinned.

"Excellent," he said, a Dark Ball in his grasp. "Now… Celebi."

The Time Travel Pokémon looked up, eyes dull.

"Create a time lock," he ordered. "Make sure that no other Celebi – or even Dialga – can interfere."

Celebi exerted their powers, and space and time twisted into a glittering blue knot over the Lake of Life.

"Now…" the Marauder said, considering. "I have all the time I need… to decide what time should be."

"You're a pretty amazing trainer, Ash!" Sammy said, holding on tightly as Zapdos flew into the air. "I didn't think anyone could possibly have caught a Legendary Pokémon – I don't know where Charmeleon and I would even start!"

"It's not really about that!" Ash called back. "That's what I think – it's about making friends first! That's how that works, really!"

Zapdos flew a little higher, and Ash leaned out over her back as she banked to see the other Pokémon who were looking – the high-speed blur of Suicune as she ran along the forest floor with Brock and Misty hurrying along behind on Onix, and the occasional flashes of light as Shaymintwo went from Flame Charging to Teleporting.

Cyndaquil and Chikorita were still in their Pokéballs for now, but Ash was sure they'd be able to help out if any trouble came up.

"Ash!" Pikachu called, urgently. "Look – what's that!"

There was a tangled knot of blue light in the distance, hanging over what looked like a break in the forest canopy now they were high up enough.

"That looks like what Celebi did!" Sammy said. "I think we need to get over there!"

Zapdos didn't need any more encouragement, and accelerated towards the lake.

"I think… perhaps Team Rocket is the place to start," the Marauder said. "Going back and making myself the leader of Team Rocket, instead of that timid fool Giovanni… and then dispensing with this silly behaviour of hiding in the shadows. I could rule Kanto… no, with Celebi I could rule the world…"

His Scizor called out in warning, and the Marauder looked up.

There was a Zapdos approaching… and it had a rider.

And there was only one person that could be.

"Celebi!" he called. "Stop him! Change time so he isn't here!"

The world rippled.

What do we do? Ambertwo asked. We need to save Celebi, but how do we do it?

"I know just what we need to do!" Moltres insisted, his magenta flames sizzling up and down his wings. "We need to get over there and stop that guy! He's the one who's doing this!"

"Moltres, we need to be careful," Ash said. "I know you want to help – I want to help as well – but he caught Celebi and he's forcing them to do what he wants, and he did it in minutes. He could catch you as well, or Ambertwo, or any Pokémon."

"Then what do you think we should do?" Moltres demanded. "That's a Legendary Pokémon over there in trouble!"

"I think what we need to do is to think about stopping the guy in the iron mask," Todd said.

His Natu piped up. "It's what he can see that's the problem!"

"Right!" Ash agreed. "We need to set it up so he doesn't know what the problem is, that way he can't order Celebi to deal with it, and if he does see something then it's not what he thinks it is! Tracey, can you get your Scyther to deal with that guy's Scizor? Wyrdeer, we're going to need an illusion, and then Ambertwo can teleport Pikachu and I in to try and get at those Pokéballs!"

"I think Scyther might need some help," Tracey said. "He's got a Sneasel as well, and I think I saw a Tyranitar."

"I guess that means Spearow and Blastoise will have to help," Ash decided.

"I'll help too!" Sammy insisted. "Charmeleon is going to be great against the Scizor and the Sneasel, but I can't help with the Tyranitar."

"Blastoise can," Ash promised. "Actually, that would make it a really good distraction!"

He got the Mega Ring out of his bag. "Ready for this, Blastoise?"

The world rippled.

"Celebi is supposed to be the voice of the forest," Eusine said. "It's one of those Pokémon titles, like the Storm's End, or the Guardian of Altomare… nobody really knows what they mean, until they don't just study the legends but experience them. But I didn't expect this!"

He waved at the gigantic plant construct that Celebi had formed around itself.

"We're going to have to deal with that any way we can," Gary agreed. "Ash, I think I can keep his Pokémon busy – Blastoise and Nidoqueen between them are going to give him a bad time. Think you can get Celebi out of there?"

"Uh…" Ash said, thinking hard. "Eusine, is it going to be okay if the tree thing gets damaged?"

"It's going to have to be," Eusine replied. "But… it shouldn't be a problem, as long as the damage is a long way from Celebi itself. But it's the Pokémon who's going to be vulnerable."

"Right," Ash said. "Okay – Pidgeot, Ho-Oh, Latias, you're going to need to try and hit the construct's legs. Keep it busy, but try and make it so it can't move much."

He pointed at Sammy. "Celebi trusts you, we're going to need to try and get there. Bulbasaur is going to help us climb, and Haunter is going to try and find where Celebi is so we can get them out of there!"

"Right!" Sammy agreed. "Let's go!"

The world rippled.

"Begone, fools!" Zacian declared, dodging out of the way of an attack by Scizor. That meant she dodged into an attack by Tyranitar, and the controlled Rock-type hammered her tail down with a stunning blow.

"Zacian!" Riolu called out, then a paw landed on his shoulder.

"Don't worry," the Fairy-type whispered. "Remember, things are not always what they seem. Use your Aura."

Riolu nodded, closing his eyes, and watched what was really going on.

Tyranitar had quickly worked out that the Fairy-type she'd hammered into the ground was an illusion, but the moment's inattention had cost her. Keldeo had charged while Tyranitar was overextended, and his Secret Sword shone like fire as he fought inside the range Tyranitar could effectively battle – alternately hammering the Rock-type with his horn, then dodging out of the way and letting her waste her strength.

Further in the distance, Riolu could see the enemy Sneasel battling Whitney's Miltank and Forrest's Rhyhorn. And that left Aerodactyl and Butterfree free to help Ash and Pikachu try and rescue Celebi.

"I get it," Riolu said, then clenched his fist. "But Keldeo needs our help now!"

"Indeed he does," Zacian agreed. "Pick your moment, young one, and then – strike!"

She surged into motion, darting forwards in an Extremespeed, and Riolu ran behind her with a Fire Punch glowing on his paw.

"Celebi, I told you to stop him!" the Marauder demanded. "You're not changing the right things! Make it so that boy isn't there!"

The world rippled-

"Ash, I think that ball of light is getting stronger!" Brock said. "That can't be good!"

"It feels unhealthy," Eevee added, swallowing. "Something about it is sick."

rippled-

"…think it must be light distorted by travelling in time," Eusine said. "It would make sense of that blue flash we saw – look out!"

rippled-

"How come Hoopa hasn't helped out, yet?" Whitney asked. "Didn't you say they're usually doing that by now?"

"I guess something must be stopping them," Ash guessed. "Something related to time?"

rippled-

"-related to time?"

Then that must be what that blue thing is! Ambertwo said. We need to break it somehow!

Rippled-

"If we break it, is it safe?" Shaymintwo asked. "There's a lot of energy in there."

"There has to be some way to sort it out!" Ash said. "I'm not leaving Celebi in there, not when we can help them out!"

rippled-

"We need to force energy into the rift," Gary insisted. "Create something to fill in the hole, but I don't know what."

"It's those things you gave me," Sammy said.

rippled-

He rummaged in his pocket, and took out the Z-crystal and Z-ring. "They're not for me, Ash. They're for you – I just realized. This is how you have them when you need them."

Sammy pressed them into Ash's hands. "They're going around in a loop."

rippled-

Ash took the ring, and slipped it onto his wrist. "Then… how do I use them?"

"I've seen them used," Todd said. "You strike the right pose, and the energy just comes from there."

The crystal dangled, then Ash reached into his bag. "Mew!"

rippled-

There was a crash as Zapdos/Moltres/Aerodactyl/Latias went down, and Ash struck a pose. "We have to do this right first time!"

Yeah! Mew agreed, striking the same pose, then his eyes widened. Whooaaaa-

"Genesis Supernova!" Ash shouted, and then there was light.

The flare of brilliant energy slowly died away, and the Marauder stared.

His time lock was gone.

And there was a very large, very angry Dialga staring at him, fins extending.

"Celebi-" he began, and then Dialga Roared.

"Great work, Mew," Ash said, catching the psionic kitten as she floated down like a deflating balloon.

Ow, she said. I'm glad I only have to do that once.

"I… feel really weird," Misty said. "What just happened? There was a fight, but… I can't remember the details?"

Dialga walked through the Lake of Life towards them, each foot touching the water as if it were solid ground.

"The Marauder wounded time badly," Time's Guardian informed them. "But, though wounded, it did not break. Your actions kept him from changing history in a more permanent way, and the actions of Ash and his friend Mew cauterized the wound… allowing me to heal it."

He bent down. "If you are confused, do not worry. There was a chaos of alternate timelines clustered around this fight, but Ash has saved the day in every one of them and so they have subsided. Everything is as it should be."

"Oh, that's jolly good then," a female voice said.

Dialga groaned. "Fairy types. Do you mind, Zacian?"

"I did hear you say that everything was as it should be," the Heroine of Many Battles pointed out. "And I seem to still be here, and frankly if you have not tried the kind of cooking Brock can produce you need to try. Though, actually, you don't because then you'd try and take my place on the team."

Time's Guardian snorted. "In the timeline you came from Brock wasn't even Ash's companion."

"His brother was," Zacian pointed out. "And there was exactly one birthday party he cooked for. I have never been so pleased."

She flirted her tail. "Honestly, you may as well just accept it at this point."

Misty leaned over to Ash. "...I only got half of that. What's going on?"

"I think Zacian's coming with us because she was one of my Pokémon in another timeline," Ash replied.

Misty shook her head. "Of course she is. I'm not sure why I expected anything else at this point."

Celebi was a little stunned but otherwise basically okay, and Ash gave Sammy the Z-ring and Mewnium Z before saying goodbye.

Then Celebi took Sammy back to his own time, and after that it was just the friends sitting by the lakeshore.

"Well," Zacian said, after a minute or so of silence. "This is awkward."

"It kind of is, a bit," Ash admitted. "I met you a couple of times, but I don't really know you."

"I know you, and Pikachu, but the rest is… a bit of a blur," the Fairy-type confessed. "I didn't want to mention it while Dialga and Celebi were there, because I do want to travel with you. But… maybe it's for the best."

She straightened. "So. My name is Zacian, as you know already. I left my sword back in Galar, and I may need to go there in a hurry if the Darkest Day happens, but for now my brother can hold down the fort. He likes forts."

Brock hummed. "Uh… is it a problem that you've got all those cuts and scars? Do you need a doctor?"

"They are the scars of honourable battle," Zacian explained. "And they're a part of me. So no. Anyway… I'm afraid one of the things that's a bit of a blur is which way we're heading."

"I guess if you don't mind the scars," Ash shrugged. "And, actually we're heading to Olivine City, which is where there's a Steel type gym."

Zacian shook her head. "Of course the next gym is Steel type. If it were Poison type I'd have a remedy."

She chuffed. "Well, I'm sure that can be sorted out… what other gyms are there in Johto?"

"If it helps, there's a Dragon gym," Pikachu said.

The Heroine of Many Battles most emphatically did not lick her lips.

Suicune chuckled, then stood.

"Well, then, allow me to be the first Legendary Pokémon to say this-" she said, but Shaymintwo bounced up onto her back.

"Welcome to Ash's team," the Grass-type interrupted.

"-welcome to Johto," Suicune said, sounding slightly put-out.

"I'll do my best to fit in," Zacian promised. "In this version of events, does that still mean causing as much disquiet as possible?"

"I think that depends on if you're doing it deliberately…" Chikorita said. "I sort of do it by accident? But not completely by accident, because it's pretty entertaining."

"Oh, yeah, I should probably tell Professor Oak thanks," Ash realized. "I mean… he already knows, I think? But he hasn't heard it in, however long Sammy went back in time…"

He groaned. "I just realized I told Professor Oak that Professor Oak looks really old."

Professor Oak chuckled. "Well, Ash, now you know I didn't have a boring time as a young Trainer, don't you? Though I have to say I didn't actually catch any Legendary Pokémon, while I think you're setting some all time records already."

He squinted into the video call. "Isn't that Zacian behind you? Does she need a lift back to Galar?"

"No, she's decided to come with me," Ash said. "It's… kind of confusing, admittedly."

"Ash, do you realize that Zacian is a Legendary Pokémon who can create illusions?" Professor Oak asked. "That's… actually, I don't know why I expected anything else. She's a perfect fit for your team."

"She wants a Repeat Ball," Ash told Professor Oak.

"Of course she does."

AN:

Oops an actual serious one happened.

Briefly.

For the record:

Ash Pokemon on hand for this: Pikachu, Zapdos, Shamymintwo, Cyndaquil, Chikorita, Suicune

ATL 1 Ash companions: Tracey, Todd (with a Natu)

ATL 1 Ash Pokémon on hand: Pikachu, Galarmoltres, Ambertwo, Blastiose, Spearow, Wyrdeer

ATL 2 Ash companions: Forrest, Whitney

ATL 2 Ash Pokémon on hand: Pikachu, Zacian, Keldeo, Riolu, Butterfree, Aerodactyl

ATL3 Ash companions: Eusine, Gary

ATL 3 Ash Pokémon on hand: Pikachu, Ho-Oh, Latias, Bulbasaur, Haunter, Pidgeot

All four had Mew in their backpack.