It was a warm spring evening in Kanto, specifically in Pallet Town - it was famous because it was known as the home of Alola Champion who went by the name of Ash Ketchum.
The now eighteen year old raven-haired boy was laying on the hill by the ranch - owned by the famous Professor Oak. Next to the teenager was a male Pikachu who could be found cuddling up with his beloved trainer.
"Man! It's really nice out this evening, huh buddy?" Ash grinned as he looked towards his long term partner who gave the sound of approval.
"Pika! Pika!" The mouse Pokémon nodded, smiling happily with his trainer.
The two had just gotten done dealing with a long day at the ranch, visiting Ash's Pokémon and putting in some training for his future adventures. While Ash wasn't set on where he would go next, he figured that it was important to train up his Pokémon that he had gathered over the last eight regions.
The teenager seemed to be relieved that there wasn't any danger. He'd been knocking onto wood to hope that there wasn't one anytime soon, as he was blissfully unaware of the happenings in the Paldea region - a region entirely unknown to him.
Meanwhile in Paldea Region
In the laboratory that was located in the crater, an older man that seemed to be in his late 40's had been running off. Someone had broken into his laboratory and took control of his latest invention.
"Turo." The male voice spoke out, capturing the professor's attention as he backed up against the wall. "I will not repeat this again for the last time, I want your invention. Either you give it to me willingly, or I can simply end your life and find it myself."
"Do you realize the consequences if my invention fell into evil hands like yours?!" The professor snarked, shaking. "What if it kills everyone? Surely, you may have loved ones that you don't want in the path of potential disaster!"
"You're useless." The man remarked darkly, raising his gun to aim at the professor who gasped in fear. "I have one very simple thing to ask, and apparently it is difficult for you to understand it."
Screaming could be heard as the gunshot fired before everything went quiet.
Pallet Town, Kanto Region
"So, buddy." The teenager spoke after several minutes, glancing over at his starter. "I wonder where our next adventure will be, what about you?"
"Pika… Pikachu!" The said Pokémon chirped happily as he flickered his ears in response.
Grinning in response, Ash moved to get up. "Wanna go over to Viridian Forest and see if we can find Butterfree? I've been meaning to meet back up with him someday and see if he wanted to rejoin our team." He asked Pikachu, who jumped and settled onto his shoulder in response as he chirped in response.
"Pika, chu!" Pikachu cried out, his cheeks starting to spark as he looked over at his trainer with determination in his eyes.
"Let's go and say goodbye to mom, then we'll hurry over there!" Ash ran inside of his home to tell his mother of where he was going and when he'd be back.
"Be safe!" The older woman called out over to her son as she watched Ash run out of his home and into Route 1 to head towards the Viridian Forest.
Little did Ash notice, the sky was starting to get dark as bright lights began to flash in between the darkening clouds. It seemed like it was going to storm soon, but that could not be further than the truth.
Two hours later…
"Finally, we're here at the end of Route 1!" The teenager exclaimed happily, letting out a sigh as he started to look around his surroundings. "Why is it darker than usual?"
Pikachu looked up at the sky in curiosity upon his trainer's comment, now noticing that the sky was darker than usual. It was only late afternoon, so it should not be dark already.
"Pika… Pika…" The yellow mouse whimpered as his ears went down, looking around the surroundings. His ears suddenly went up, picking up the Pokémon cries. "Pika!"
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" Ash asked his starter in concern, noting how Pikachu was reacting nervously to their surroundings.
Pikachu was going to respond when a strange Pokémon flew into the two, causing both Ash and Pikachu to cry out in surprise. The electric mouse then immediately jumped up after recovering from the impact, his cheeks sparkling as he glared at the source.
"What the…" The Ketchum teenager muttered, rubbing his head as he looked up and noticed the familiar Pokemon seemed more grayish as if it was more metal than flesh. He could still recognize what Pokemon that had attacked the two. "Why does that Spearow look different?"
"Spar!" The strange Pokémon cried, the teenager couldn't help but to notice that the voice sounded… robotic. The robotic Spearow then snarled, immediately rushing towards Ash.
Except that it was stopped by Pikachu's Thunderbolt and collapsed upon impact.
"Pika! Pikachu!" The electric mouse cried out, looking at his trainer with a serious face.
"Yeah, I'm not sure why it's attacking us. I wonder if it's Team Rocket?" Ash seemed to think over it as he carefully got up, not certain about the said Spearow. "Maybe the Professor would know what to do with that weird Spearow.."
Before Ash could react, many of the similar Spearows began to attack the two out of nowhere. The trainer knew that he had to do something, especially if they didn't want to become these Spearows' meal.
"Pikachu, use Electroweb on those Spearows!" He commanded his starter who happily obliged the command.
"Pika! Pika!" The electric mouse cried out as he launched Electrowebs after Electrowebs in an attempt to stop the robotic Spearows.
Except that more were coming, and they did not seem to be letting up. Unfortunately for the duo, several of the Spearows avoided Pikachu's electroweb and started to use their Fury Attack on the electric mouse and his trainer.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried out, covering his face as he kicked several of the Spearows off of him. He definitely regretted leaving the remaining of his team at Oak's ranch, they were outnumbered at the moment. "Use Agility, then thunder shock on those Spearows!"
"Pika…Pika!" The yellow mouse panted out as he started to move quickly to avoid the attacking Spearows before giving out a cry as he used thundershock against the robotic looking Spearows.
It took about thirty minutes before all of the robotic Spearows were all down, the teenager looked around as his starter let out pants - clearly exhausted from taking down the robotic looking Spearows.
"You good, buddy?" He finally asked after several minutes of silence, glancing over at his starter in concern. He knew that his Pikachu was exhausted, but he was grateful that the robotic Spearows didn't seem like they were coming anymore.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu gave an affirmative as he jumped back onto Ash's shoulder for some rest. He looked around the fainted robotic Spearows, glaring at them to make sure that they stayed down.
His trainer chuckled softly in response as he ruffled his starter's head gently, he then frowned at the state of the Spearows as he seemed to be deep in thought.
"I wonder why those Spearows were trying to attack us. Maybe we need to call the Professor and see if he'll have any…" Ash mumbled to himself, before stopping upon noticing his starter was starting to tense up again. "What's wrong, Pikachu?" He finally asked.
"Pika…" Pikachu growled, glaring at the sky as his ears flickered with his cheeks starting to spark. Following his starter's glare, Ash let out a gasp as something crashed down from the sky - sending the two flying against the tree.
"Ow!" The raven-haired teenager cried out, rubbing his lower back after the impact as he glared at the source. His eyes widened in shock. "What the hell? What is Garchomp doing in Kanto…and why does it look different?"
"Chu… CHU!" the electric mouse growled, moving to get in front of his trainer. Despite his exhausted state, Pikachu was ready to protect his trainer - no matter how exhausted and injured he was from the previous Spearow attacks.
"GARRRRRRRR" the mentioned Pokemon cried out, letting out its mighty roar as it moved into a battle stance against the yellow mouse. The raven-haired teenager realized that the robotic Pokemon wanted to fight, and couldn't help but to worry about his starter's condition.
'Shit…' Ash thought as he carefully got up, glaring at the robotic looking Garchomp. 'Pikachu has already taken all of the beating from the Spearows, and now Garchomp wants to go after us. I don't really have a choice, as much as I'd rather not use him and use someone else.'
"Alright, Pikachu." The teenager announced, glaring at the robotic Garchomp. "Let's use Volt Tackle and fry that robot out!"
"Pika… Pika!" Pikachu cried as he started to surround himself with electricity before dashing towards the robotic looking Garchomp, jumping onto the branches as he ran.
The land shark Pokemon growled as it prepared for Pikachu's attack, not seeming to have an intention of dodging the electric mouse's incoming attack. Without any warning, the said Pokemon started to radiate electricity which shocked Ash.
'Garchomp isn't an electric type, last I checked.' The raven-haired trainer thought worriedly as he watched the battle with intensity, preparing to give his starter further commands. 'What the hell is that thing even?'
"PIKACHU!" The electric mouse cried as he hit the robotic looking Garchomp into the head, creating an explosion of dust. Ash watched with worry as he watched for his Pikachu to make sure that he hadn't hurt himself worse than he had been.
As soon the dust cleared up, Pikachu was standing in front of the odd looking Garchomp as he panted heavily. The electric mouse looked like he had taken onto some heavy damage, but the Volt Tackle did nothing to damage the robotic Pokemon.
"What the..." Ash gasped in horror as he grinded his teeth. "Pikachu, are you okay?!" He called out over to his starter, receiving an affirmative cry in response. He knew that Pikachu wouldn't last much longer like this, so he had to start thinking of a strategy to somehow defeat the robotic Garchomp.
However, he wouldn't have much time to think as the robotic Garchomp let out a cry as it sent a thunderbolt towards the electric mouse, sending the said Pokemon into a tree and effectively knocking him out.
"PIKACHU!" Ash cried out in horror, running over to his starter to pick him up. "Are you okay, buddy?" He asked in panic, glancing between his defeated Pikachu and the robotic Garchomp.
"Pika…" Pikachu mumbled quietly as he woke up, giving a whimper of pain as he looked up at his trainer before slowly standing up shakily. It was clear that the electric mouse was intending to try to protect his trainer, no matter what. "Pika…!"
"No, Pikachu. Don't push yourself." The raven-haired teen mumbled quietly as he picked up his Pikachu. "We're going to have to run and get back to Oak's Ranch so we can get backup." He stood up, glaring at the odd looking Garchomp before starting to dart towards Pallet Town with the robotic Pokemon following behind and attempting to send out attacks towards the two.
"Chu…" Pikachu whimpered into his trainer's arms as the two dodged electric attacks after another for the millionth time. After several minutes, he managed to get enough energy to jump out of Ash's arms despite his trainer's protests.
"Pikachu! Please don't, buddy. This is not worth it." Ash pleaded with his starter as he stopped running upon feeling Pikachu to jump out of his arms. This wasn't good at all, he knew this. "You're really hurt, and you can't fight anymore, buddy…"
The electric mouse glared at his trainer weakly as it stood up slowly in front of the Garchomp, ready to take a battle stance. "Pika…" He mumbled quietly as electricity started to radiate off of his cheeks once again.
The robotic land shark stopped what it was doing as it glared at Pikachu. "Garrr…" It then tilted its head up as its mouth began to surround an black fire orb, as if it was preparing for a Hyper Beam.
"Oh no… Oh no…" Ash gasped in horror when he realized what the Garchomp was doing. 'Pikachu isn't going to make it if the attack lands… I need to save him..' He thought as the robotic Garchomp prepared the Hyper Beam. He had to save Pikachu, there was no way that he was going to let him try to take on any further attacks.
As the robotic Garchomp shot off the Hyper Beam, he jumped in front of his starter electric mouse as he pulled the weakened Pikachu into his arms as he squeezed his eyes shut to brace for the impact. The raven-haired boy would sacrifice himself in order to save his Pokemon or anyone he loved.
Except that the impact never came. It seemed like that time just froze suddenly without any warning, therefore preventing the Hyper Beam from hitting Ash and Pikachu - saving them from a certain death.
Ash slowly opened his eyes after several minutes as he slowly realized that nothing came. He looked up in confusion before letting out a scream of horror as he backed away, holding his injured Pikachu tightly into his arms.
"WHAT THE?!" the teenager cried, noticing how close the Hyper Beam had been to Pikachu and himself. "Wait a minute…Why is it frozen..?" Ash mumbled to himself as he held the weakened Pikachu, who was blinking at the current situation.
"Greetings, Chosen One." A voice suddenly spoke, startling the two who jumped in response. "I have frozen the time in order to save you and Pikachu from the death that was certainly to come."
'The voice…' Ash thought as he jumped slightly from the unexpected voice before he looked over, his eyes widening when he realized who it was.
"DIALGA, PALKIA, CELEBI?!" The raven-haired teenager cried, his eyes bulging out at the presence of the three legendaries who were standing by the trainer and his Pikachu.
"Hehehe! That face!" The time-travel pokemon giggled as she flew around, grinning at Ash for a moment before she frowned. "Though, we don't have time to goof off, Ash."
He blinked slowly, watching the three legendaries. "Wait… I can understand you…" He mumbled quietly before grimacing as he slowly got up. "Nevermind that… What's happening?"
"There was a disaster that occurred in the Paldea region." Dialga spoke yet again. "An evil individual went after the Paldea region's Pokemon Professor and took over his invention. The Pokemon that you were battling were no ordinary Pokemon, but rather a Paradox Pokemon who have come from both the past and the future."
"THE PAST AND THE FUTURE?!" Ash cried out in shock, he couldn't believe the information that he was receiving. He then realized something about the weird Spearows and Garchomp before speaking again. "Wait… if the Spearows and Garchomp are robotic looking…"
"Then they are from the future." The third legendary Pokemon responded to confirm the raven-haired teen's question. "Garchomp for example appears to be an electric / ground Paradox Pokemon from the future. It has the ability Lightning Rod."
"So… that's why Pikachu's attacks did nothing to that Garchomp…" Ash grimaced at the thought, looking down at his starter with worry. "If you three are coming here, does this mean that the world is under attack by those Paradox Pokemon?"
"That's right." Celebi chimed in quietly. "The evil individual released all kinds of the Paradox Pokemon and somehow commanded them to attack everyone in the world. Unfortunately, a lot of trainers and Pokemon alike have perished as a result."
"P…perished?!" The trainer asked quietly. "Does this mean… they were all killed?" He asked with worry in his voice.
"Unfortunately, yes." Palika responded as it looked down at Ash. "There is also nothing that we can do to save this current timeline, as all of our resources have been exhausted."
Ash looked down quietly, frowning at the legendary Pokemon's response. "If there's nothing we can do, then how come you're saving me and Pikachu from them? We're going to be killed just like everyone else.. You should have seen how they took down Pikachu!"
"We were just getting to that, actually!" The Johto legendary Pokemon grinned. "The good news is that we are able to send you back in time, which will give you an opportunity to restart your Pokemon journey!"
"Wait… so you're sending me back to the day where I got Pikachu?" He asked hesitantly. "What if Pikachu doesn't remember me? How will I know where all of my Pokemons will be?"
"Pika…" The electric mouse mumbled weakly as it slowly sat up in Ash's arms, seeming to take interest into the conversation.
"That's why we've taken an exception for your case." Palkia explained. "Because you are the Chosen One, we have decided that you would retain your memories along with Pikachu's." It waited for any further questions before continuing. "We will grant you an unique power that will be using your aura for the Pokeballs which will help to restore your Pokemon's memory, along with the ability to identify which Pokemon are yours by the usage of Aura Sight. However, you will have to train your Pokemon up from scratch as they will be in the bodies from the past."
"That would make sense…" Ash mumbled quietly, rubbing his forehead. "It would be strange if I had Charizard to set Brock's gym on fire with no known experience." His eyes then widened. "Wait a minute, how will my friends remember me? Will I have to meet them again?"
The three legendaries looked at each other for a moment, as if they were thinking about the question. Finally after a moment of silence, Dialga spoke up.
"You would have to meet your friends again, but you would need to battle with them in order to regain their memories of their adventures with you." the Sinnoh time legendary Pokemon explained. "You will need to make sure that they know how to train their Pokemon from the ground up like you do."
"Speaking of training." The second Sinnoh legendary spoke before continuing. "Ash. Many of your Pokemon have opportunities that were never unlocked because you chose not to evolve them. Pikachu, included."
"Pikaa…." Pikachu growled, glaring at Palkia upon the mention of evolution. "Pika! Pika!" He cried out angrily, as if he didn't like the legendary Pokemon blaming Ash for not evolving his Pokemon as it always had been their choice.
"I understand that, Pikachu." Palkia sighed before continuing. "There is only so much power that you can take in your current form. Now, I have one question for you. If evolving was the only way to save the world - and more importantly, your trainer. Would you do it?"
"Pikachu, buddy…" Ash mumbled quietly, moving to ruffle his starter's head gently. "You don't have to think or worry about me when it comes to things like this. It's your choice, and you know I've always given you a choice."
The electric mouse's ears went down, seeming to think about Palka's question. He knew that he was struggling to defeat Garchomp and he just couldn't do it. He couldn't do it to save his trainer, and this frustrated him to no end especially since he was defeated like a mere Rattata in the wild.
"Pika… Pikachu!" Pikachu looked up after several minutes with an affirmation. Ash watched in wonder of his electric starter's reaction.
"So you will choose to evolve." The Sinnoh legendary Pokemon confirmed, surprising Ash. "Good choice. You will not have to evolve right away, but it is critical that you do before you and Ash face the threat."
Pikachu nodded, seeming to be relieved that he wouldn't be forced to evolve right away. He was grateful to remain as a Pikachu for how long that he could.
"Palkia, if I could add to this." Celebi suddenly spoke up, catching everyone's attention. "As I know that several of Ash's Pokemon have wanted to remain in their current forms. I propose to grant them the ability to shift between their final form and their preferred form in the evolution chain after they've evolved to their final form."
"So this means that Pikachu, for example, can choose whether he'd want to be a Pichu, a Pikachu or a Raichu?" The raven-haired teenager asked. "Just like Chloe's Eevee could with its power of Eeveelutions, except that they'd actually evolve and de-evolve?"
"That is correct." Celebi grinned happily. "I think it's a good compromise that we can settle on for these Pokemons that are hesitant to evolve in the first place."
"I agree." Palkia nodded. "It may convince more of Ash's Pokemon to evolve without the fear of losing their pre-evolved state that they're content with."
Pikachu listened to the conversation as he continued to rest into Ash's arms, ears perking up as they discussed the idea of shifting between evolution stages.
"Pika, Pikachu!" The electric mouse called out, as to contribute to the discussion. Ash looked down at his starter before giving a small smile, ruffling the injured Pikachu's head gently.
"One more thing before we send you back into the past." Celebi spoke once again, looking over at Ash and Pikachu. "Because we will be changing things in the past, there is no certainty that everything will remain the same. So you have to be prepared to face the challenge, no matter how much it has changed." She sighed softly. "You are also welcome to catch any additional Pokemon that you never got a chance to catch, as well determining several of your Pokemon's future including Pidgeot, Butterfree, Lapras, Goodra, Greninja, and several others."
Ash nodded quietly as he and Pikachu listened to the discussion. He then stood up and tightened his fist as he grinned in response.
"Let's do it, buddy!" The raven-haired trainer declared to the legendaries, looking down at Pikachu with a grin.
"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu cheered in response, determined to help his trainer to save the world.
"Very well. I trust that you two will be capable of this task." Dialga nodded before he used his powers to send the two back into the past, causing a blinding light to appear before the said trainer and his Pikachu disappeared.
There was a moment of silence before Celebi blinked.
"Oh, oops. I forgot to tell Ash that we'd be granting the ability for him to talk with his Pokemon normally through the usage of Aura." The Johto legendary Pokemon giggled before shrugging. "Oh well, he will figure that out."
Dialga and Palkia sweatdropped at Celebi's response.