Chapter Text
{Across the infinite realms of Arceus— every form of life is designed through a combination of stardust and Aura, the essence of all living beings.}
{Aura is a form of psychic energy. In the same way our bodies inherently emit infrared energy or thermal radiation, Auras naturally emanate from our bodies via psychic waves, creating coalescing ripples that carry complex, abstract, or metaphysical sensations. This process is typically subconscious and untraceable to the average human being...However, in rare exceptions, a person capable of extrasensory perception may be able to identify, influence, or attune to the Auras of…}
”…… Ash, are you even listening?”
A squalling snowdrift swirls past Goh as he meets Ash’s zoned-out gaze with deadpan eyes. Across their campfire, Goh’s Cinderace snickers, trying not to wake Grookey and Floette where they’re curled up in its warm arms, sound asleep. Ash’s Lucario growls, cuffing its distracted trainer across the back of his head.
Ash’s dreamy eyes pop open, at full attention. “Mhmm! Life. Aura. Metal-Fizzics. Got it.”
The aspiring Aura conceptualist glares playfully back at him before smiling and jotting down a couple quick edits to his abstract-in-progress. “Am I boring you?”
“No!” His boyfriend answers adamantly, eyes sparkling. “You know I love hearing you talk all smart and sciencey… I could listen to you all night.”
Feeling sheepish now, Goh shiverishly adjusts the hood of his winter coat to hide the blush rising to his cheeks. Even after three years of dating Ash, that unbridled sincerity never fails to fluster him.
When Ash starts grinning, he tries to hide how affected he is, clearing his throat and turning seriously back to his notes.
“Er… Where was I…?” he mumbles, fumbling with the tablet through his gloves. “…in rare exceptions, a person capable of extrasensory perception may be able to identify, influence, or attune to the Auras of others. These gifted individuals are known as ‘Aura adepts’…”
“That’s me!” Ash chimes, making Goh laugh.
“Uhuh… First-hand accounts from Aura adepts suggest that an Aura field’s waves can be measured and analyzed by scientific means, just as we’ve learned to measure waves of visible light, radiation, sound, force, and so on. This hypothesis indicates there could be a key link between psychic phenomena, the laws of physics, and all living beings— Humans and Pokémon alike.”
Pikachu crackles happily as it pokes its head out of Ash’s coat. “Piiika!”
Goh looks up at his research partner and primary source. “Did I miss anything you can think of?”
The Aura adept hums in thought, petting the top of Pikachu’s head.
“Well, there’s something I’ve been wondering for a while now…”
“Yeah?”
“…Where do you think Souls fit into all of this?”
Goh blinks a little in surprise. “Souls?”
“Yeah!” Ash gazes up at the starry night sky, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Like… Do all living things have souls, too? What makes us who we are? Are our souls connected to our Auras?” He looks directly at Goh, grinning rosily. “Are our souls connected to one another?”
“……Uhh…” the researcher chews his cold lips, totally stumped. “I’m not sure how to answer that. The concept of a soul is more of a philosophical venture. You can’t really… prove souls exist.”
“But… they do!” The romantic protests under his breath, careful not to wake Grookey and Floette. “You believe in souls, don’t you?”
Ever the pragmatic, Goh smiles awkwardly, setting his tablet down. “Um. Well… Not really…?” When Ash just pouts at that, Goh meets him halfway. “I mean— No one can prove they don’t exist, either! So… who knows?”
“Me,” Ash insists stubbornly, crossing his arms over Pikachu. “I know souls are real.”
“Piiika-pikaachu~!”
Goh just chuckles, amused by the champion’s steadfast confidence. “Okay.” he concedes, pretending to update his notes. “Souls. Are. Real. Source: my boyfriend said so.”
“Pikachu can vouch for me!”
“Piiika!”
The researcher opens his mouth to argue when another biting wind buffets them with snow, blowing off their hoods. “Ughh-ghh-ghh,” he moans, pulling his hood back down and gritting his chattering teeth. “Those rumors about Suicune b-b-better be true. It’s to-o-tally m-m-miserable out here.”
Ash’s lips press into a guilty line, averting his eyes as he fiddles with something in his pocket “Ahah…Yeeaahh…” he chuckles, scooting closer. Using his free arm, he pulls his shivering boyfriend into a relatively warmer hug. As the wind picks up, Cinderace huddles closer to Lucario, shielding the little ones.
One of Goh’s brows quirks suspiciously at Ash’s reaction, but before he can voice anything, Pikachu’s ears suddenly flit up and hit both of them in the face.
“Pi!” It squeaks, wriggling out of Ash’s coat and springing to the north. It points urgently up at the night sky, the tips of its fur blinking with tiny flashes of static. “Pikapi! Chu!”
“What’s up, buddy?” Ash turns to watch it, followed by Goh, Cinderace, and Lucario. Thanks to Pikachu's commotion, Grookey and Floette gradually stir awake and blink up at the scene, too.
There, between all of them and the glimmering stars, phenomenal swirls of pink and blue auroras light up the northern atmosphere.
“Wo-ho-hoah…” Ash breathes in awe, beaming ear to ear.
“Wow… This is amazing—!” Goh gushes, pulling out his phone to take tons of pictures. “Pikachu must have sensed all the solar particle collisions happening in the— Hey!” He yelps as Ash grabs his arm, excitedly pulling him away. “Ash!”
Their Pokémon stay together by the camp, playing and rejoicing in the beautiful sights above them. The snowy landscape dampens their noise as Ash drags Goh further out into a wide expanse of tundra under the northern lights. Before Goh can even complain, Ash suddenly turns around to face him, cupping his cheeks and capturing his lips.
After a beat of shock, Goh melts against him, savoring his warmth with every kiss. Their Auras overlap like this, somehow keeping both of them warm in spite of their severe physical surroundings. When their eyes finally flutter open again, their breaths billow visibly around them, tinting pink, blue, and purple under subtle shifts in the aurora lights.
“…What was that for…?” Goh whispers breathlessly.
Ash just smiles, taking Goh’s hand and dropping to one knee.
“What are y—” Goh’s question freezes the moment Ash looks up, his eyes shining with determination.
“Goh, you seriously make me the happiest guy in the world.” Ash’s smile grows bigger as Goh’s eyes significantly widen. “You’re the smartest, most beautiful, thoughtful person I know— You make my heart soar every time I hear your laugh, or make you blush— And every time our Auras cross, it makes me feel all fizzy inside, like—” still holding Goh’s hand, Ash charades a flow of effervescent bubbles, punctuated with a subtle popping sound on his lips. Pwop-pwop-pwop-pwop-pwop.
One of those blushes Ash loves so much floods Goh’s face as a sudden laugh escapes him, high and shaky. “Ash—”
“You’ve given me so many reasons to smile, so many incredible memories, and the best years of my life. With you by my side, I feel like I can do anything,” Ash continues, squeezing his partner’s hand. Then he takes a deep inhale through his nose, gearing up to confess one of the most intimate things he’s ever had to say. Suspense climbs between them, turning Goh’s breath shallow.
“You’re not just my favorite person, Goh— you’re my soulmate.” Ash’s eyes smile as he pulls out a small Pokéball, bleeping the button to expand it in his palm. Goh’s lips drop open just before he covers them with his hand. “And I want to spend the rest of our lives together...”
The romantic pops open the Pokéball, revealing a gorgeous ring: two thin, wavy bands of silver curling into a Flabébé-petal pattern of rubies. Goh’s eyes tremble as he takes in the details, the colors in its facets gently glowing with the light show above them.
Chuffed with the shock on Goh’s face, Ash holds the ring out to him with a grin.
“Goh… Will you marry me?”
There's a breathlessly stunned moment of silence as Goh falls to his knees with Ash. He's still utterly speechless as his eyes flicker between the ring and Ash's serene smile. All the while, Ash waits patiently for his answer, watching Goh’s eyes well up with overwhelmed tears. “Wh— I… I-I wasn't… this is……” he stammers incoherently, his tears spilling over with a shuddering gasp. “—Ash.” He pulls his boyfriend into a deep embrace, burying his cold, trembling face in Ash’s shoulder.
Ash was expecting Goh to get emotional, but after a long moment of just holding one another, the champion clears his throat. “Uh, so… was that a yes?” He jokes, stroking Goh’s back.
When Goh doesn’t respond, Ash’s smile drops and his hand goes still. The bubbly texture of Goh’s Aura starts changing into something strange, more akin to the pin-prickly feeling of turning numb.
“…I…I love you,” Goh murmurs into his soulmate’s shoulder, his shivering grip tightening anxiously. He hesitantly pulls away, and it's so cold, the tears on his cheeks are starting to freeze. Ash’s heart sinks as he realizes they aren’t just happy tears. “I love you s-so m-m-much, Ash, b-but—”
But—?
A keening roar in the distance makes both of them look up, and Goh gasps.
There, in the distance, the legendary Suicune comes bounding across the ocean horizon, leaving spectacular beds of glacial ice with every step. It stops to howl up at the auroras, creating a wave of force that almost knocks both young men back a step. Then it leaps ahead, continuing its journey east.
Goh takes off running in pursuit, stumbling through the snow and shouting, “Suicune!!! Suicune, Wait!!” Grookey, Cinderace, and Floette all chase after their trainer, gibbering with excitement. Meanwhile, Lucario and Pikachu hang back, casting looks of deep concern at Ash, then one another.
”Piika?”
Lucario grimaces and rubs its chest like it hurts, solemnly shaking its head.
Ash eventually rises to his feet, still holding Goh's ring as the northern lights fade away.
—
“He didn’t say yes?!” Chloe, Dawn, Horace, Brendan, and Todd all scream in collective shock and devastation. Gary just snorts and stifles a mean laugh.
“Uh… he didn’t say no, either,” Ash mumbles, swirling the ice around in his tea. His gaze sweeps over Vermilion’s hilltop view where everyone’s Pokémon are— Swampert is dozing peacefully in the sun with Espeon, Gallade, Piplup and Magby. Yamper wriggles happily in Chloe’s lap as she hands it a treat.
Ash can’t help but think about how quiet it is without Grookey.
“Piiikapi,” Pikachu coos sadly from his shoulder, bunting its head against his.
“Arceus almighty,” Chloe sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose like she has a sudden, onset headache. This picnic was supposed to be a joyful celebration of Ash and Goh’s engagement with their closest friends.
“I’m gonna strangle him.” Dawn swears, standing up and slapping the picnic table with both hands. Beside her, Horace squeaks in fright.
“L-Let’s not jump to conclusions…” Goh’s old friend smiles nervously, coaxing Dawn back to her seat.
Brendan frowns. “Have you tried talking to him about it?”
Ash shakes his head solemnly. “I couldn't even get him out of bed this morning. He said he just felt exhausted from the trip, but… I can tell something’s really bothering him.”
“I bet he’s just freaking out. You know how he overthinks everything.” Todd answers encouragingly, passing him a sandwich. For once, Ash doesn’t feel very hungry, but he takes a big, angsty bite of it, anyway.
“True,” Chloe seconds, “He’s probably wallowing because he thinks you’re too good for him or something.” Across the table, everyone winces, grimaces, or otherwise frowns.
“…Really?” Ash’s brow tilts with concern, his heart aching at the thought.
“Oh, I remember him saying that once. After all the Team Rocket stuff…” Horace murmurs sadly. “He said he… didn’t ‘deserve’ you…” When Ash’s face falls, he backtracks anxiously, waving his hands out in front of him. “Aha! Er… but—! That was over three years ago! You guys have moved on from all of that by now… right?”
Ash thinks back to that fateful summer, recalling a number of times Goh expressed similar feelings:
“What if I was actually a… bad person?”
“He’s better off not knowing me… You would be, too.”
“Name one thing I’ve done to deserve you as a friend.”
“I know I don’t deserve you in my life after everything I’ve done, but…”
“I get why you left me— I deserved it.”
“…I don’t know what I did to deserve… any of this—”
In their three years together since, the frequency of Goh’s self-deprecating comments significantly came down, but not entirely. On stressful days throughout their travels, Goh was quick to blame himself for any tiffs, lost opportunities, or misunderstandings between them.
He’d usually disguise it with humor— just little jokes, here and there, but sometimes Ash noticed an unusual swirl just beneath the surface of Goh’s Aura.
“So, Ash, Do you regret asking me to come with you, yet?”
“Oh, yeah? If I’m such a brat, why do you even put up with me, then?”
“I truly cannot fathom what you see in me sometimes.”
“Do you really love me, or do you just feel sorry for me?”
“You just had to fall in love with me, of all people...”
Ash has known this side of Goh for a long time, but he always thought those moments were harmless— at most, a fleeting feeling. But in hindsight, this must be a deep wound that’s been festering inside of Goh, all this time, and even with his Aura powers, Ash never noticed the scar.
The hopeless romantic keens miserably into his hands as his friends all share a somber look with one another across the table.
“Well— if Goh really feels like he doesn’t deserve you—” Todd pipes up with a smile, “All you have to do is convince him he does, right?”
“Sure, but… how…?” Ash rasps. “I told him all that stuff was in the past. All’s forgiven, y’know?? He knows how much I love him… at least, I thought he did…” he trails off in distress, gripping his hair. “Agh! I even told him we were soulmates—!”
Chloe gasps, “Wait— Back up! You did?!” Everyone leans in closer, eager to hear more. Everyone’s been keeping Ash’s well-guarded secret from Goh for three years.
“What did he say?!” Dawn clutches her heart in tandem with Chloe and Horace, but everyone’s excitement falls back into disappointment as Ash just shakes his head.
After an awkward moment of silence, Gary bluntly says, “He probably thought you were just being poetic.”
Horace nods very seriously. “Right— He doesn’t know soulmates are real like you do!”
“Yeah, but I can’t prove it!” Ash whines.
After a long moment of thought, Brendan hesitantly says, “What if… you could?”
His heartbroken friend looks up at him blearily. “How…?”
“Well, I’m just thinking out loud here, but… hear me out. I’ve read lots of theories about parallel worlds. They say our world is just one of infinite possible realities. Which means: there could be tons of other Ashes and Gohs out there. We already know Goh is your soulmate in this world… Two souls, destined to find each other, no matter the obstacles, right?”
”Right…”
”So— What if that bond actually transcends dimensions?” Brendan wonders aloud, tapping his chin. “And, if it does—“
The research fellow jumps as Dawn squeals. “AAAAH!!”
“—Are you saying we could actually prove soulmates are real?!” Chloe gushes, her eyes positively sparkling.
Horace’s eyes light up with realization. “If Ash and Goh are soulmates in every timeline…”
“…We just have to find a way to show Goh!” Todd whoops.
“And then he’ll finally realize you two were literally MADE for each other!!!” Dawn shouts, jostling Chloe and Horace around in her excitement.
“Cute theory—” Gary drones, rolling his eyes. “How exactly are you all planning to waltz between worlds?”
Chloe levels her old rival with a sour glare. Since Professor Cerise was good friends with Professor Oak, they used to spend a lot of time around their family’s labs together. “I’m sure if we all put our heads together, we can figure something out.”
Brendan hums in agreement. “Let’s see. There’s a number of special Pokémon powers that come to mind. Hoopa’s rings warp space and create gates to alternate planes… Unown create their own dimensions…Mew technically has all those powers and more, since it can teleport and transform into any Pokémon…”
“Hah! Those Pokémon aren’t exactly famous for their stable natures,” Gary comments, kicking back and closing his eyes.
“Celebi’s a benevolent mythical that summons portals to other timelines!” Horace chimes, excited to mention his favorite Pokémon. “And, technically, it’s not a Pokémon, but I’ve heard Cosmog can summon wormholes to Ultra Space! It’s said to be a gentle soul that trusts others. Maybe one of them could help us?”
Dawn gasps with intrigue. “Oh!! Dialga and Palkia control Time and Space, and they even have their own realms— The Sinnoh region has lots of stories about everyday people stumbling through rifts into parallel worlds—”
“Guys, guys—!“ Todd interjects, sitting back with an easygoing laugh. “You’re all way overthinking this.”
“Okay, genius photographer,” Chloe snarks. “What’s your big idea?”
Todd grins. “Who does every Pokémon take orders from?”
“Arceus?”
“Who’s the almighty architect of our universe, and presumably every universe? Who’s the reason Ash found Goh in the first place?”
“Arceus!!”
“Gee, If only someone among us could magically communicate with Arceus.” Todd sings sarcastically, casting a pointed look at Ash.
“Arceus isn’t just gonna hand over its reigns to the multiverse for a buncha random humans,” Gary groans under his breath, throwing his arm over his eyes.
“Maybe not to you—” Dawn counters, beaming ear to ear. “—But I bet the guy who saved its life can call in a favor~!”
“What do you think, Ash?” Brendan asks, and everyone looks up to see their friend frowning down at his hands, twiddling Goh’s ring in the sunlight.
When Ash finally looks up, he zones back in, confused to see everyone looking at him expectantly.
“……Uh, Sorry... Were you all talking to me?” Ash scratches his head, eliciting a colorful variety of face-palms and groans.