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Ash was so disappointed in himself, he dropped a whole class! A whole class, at this point he should just quit the league because battling against Leon and winning are never going to happen. There is no way he can beat Leon if he can’t ev- Goh turned to Ash and yelled, “You better get ready Ash here we go!”
Ash’s thoughts weren’t interrupted by Goh, instead they shifted. Now he was thinking about how he let down everyone. His pokemon because he is a weak trainer and can’t win a battle, Goh because he expects more from him, his mom because all she has been has been supportive and he can’t even win a battle for her and all of his friends present and past because they all helped him and they got him to where he is now and now he can’t even honor their memory by winning a single battle.
Ash feels like such a failure, his losses and thoughts eating away at his confidence, well what was left of it. Because there was not a lot left, especially after dropping a whole class!
Goh sighed and walked over to Ash in the corner he had banished himself to, reaching for his hand to drag him along when a bright light filled the whole room.
Everyone was blinded for a second and had to blink furiously to clear their vision. When the spots cleared they were met with a stranger standing in the middle of the room, a Greeninja standing next to them.
The Greeninja seemed relaxed and didn’t even assume a fighting stance which confused Goh but he ignored it in favor of shifting his stance in a way that he could protect Ash in the corner. Goh tensed, reaching for another pokeball in case he needed it, readying himself for a fight with the mysterious guy and his Greeninja. Pikachu, Riolu and Scorbunny all copied Goh and got into fighting stances as well, not sure whether this guy was a threat or not.
Professor Ceries cleared his throat, ignoring Goh and all of the pokemon’s reactions, taking a step toward the stranger asking, “Hello who are you? Do you need something?”
The stranger ignored him as their eyes landed on Ash in the corner behind Goh, something alight to acknowledgement bloomed in their eyes and posture, they seemed to relax, no one able to tell that they were even tense in the first place. Grinning big, they waved at the unresponsive Ash yelling, “Hey Ash!”
Everyone was thrown into confusion, Goh and the pokemon dropping their fighting stances as they all looked between the stranger and his Greeninja to Ash in the corner sulking.
“Ash, you know this guy?” Goh asked, giving Ash a half glance behind his shoulder. Ash ignored Goh and the stranger calling out to him.
The stranger looked at his Greeninja and some unspoken communication seemed to pass between them because the Greeninja took a step toward Ash and called out, “Ninja gre nin.”
That seemed to reach Ash because immediately he looked up with disbelief written all over his face as he took in the stranger and his Greeninja. Ash’s eyes filled with tears as he asked, “Greeninja is that you?”
The Greeninja nodded saying, “Greeninja, ninja.” Ash grinned big, scrambling to stand, shoving past Goh and reaching for the Greeninja. The Greeninja reached for Ash back and they met in the middle, the Greeninja wrapping his arms around Ash and Ash in turn wrapped his arms around the Greeninja.
Pikachu grinned and ran around the two in excitement, seeming to understand who this was. Riolu and Scornbunny looked so confused as they dropped their stances, completely relaxed now that they knew that the strange pokemon meant no harm.
Professor Cerise, Goh and all of the other researchers in the room were confused too as they watched Ash and the Greeninja hug. The stranger that appeared with the Greeninja just stood there and smiled at the two with fondness in their eyes.
“Okay wait, you know the Greeninja, does that mean you know the person too?” Goh asked, confused as to how Ash knew the Greeninja.
Ash looked up from where his head was on the Greeninja’s shoulder glancing at Goh in confusion before spotting the stranger standing there watching them have their reunion. Frowning Ash shook his head no.
“I have no idea.” Ash said to Goh for further emphasis before pulling away from Greeninja, not going far. Ash smiled at the stranger, introducing himself, “Hi! I’m Ash from Pallet town. And you are?”
The stranger smiled at Ash, responding with, “I know, because I’m Ash from Pallet town.”
Ash’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“I’m in the past, I think.”
Goh raised an eyebrow, “How do you think, I would guess that it would be pretty obvious.”
Future Ash grinned, “Well I was 99% sure that I was but now, I am 100% sure that I am.”
Ash’s eyes stared, “Really!? That's so cool! How did you get here!?”
Future Ash grinned, “I don’t know, Greeninja come here.” Greeninja pulled away from Ash and walked to his trainer, folding his arms in a resting position.
“Wow, this is amazing! We could study this and have a big breakthrough about time traveling pokemon!” Ren shouted, excited about the prospect presented to them.
Chrysa grinned, spinning in her chair, “Should I bust out the research information that we already have about time traveling pokemon?”
Goh smiled, “Wow, this is so cool! Can I help!”
Professor Cerise smiled, pushing up his glasses, “While we would appreciate the help Goh, someone has to go deal with the sandstorm.”
“Awe man, I forgot about that.” Goh deflated, visibly disappointed.
Future Ash laughed, smiling at Goh, giving him a weird look. “While I would love to help you guys with a breakthrough, I’m afraid I can’t. I’m just here to talk to Ash.”
Goh’s mood instantly bounced back as he shot Future Ash and Ash a look. “Why do you need to talk to Ash?”
Future Ash shrugged, “I don’t know, maybe about the fact that he.. I lost 3 battles just barely.”
“Why would that warrant you coming to the past though?” Chrysa asked Future Ash.
“Yeah, it doesn’t make any sense.” Ren added looking thoughtfully at Ash and Future Ash.
“Well it doesn’t matter as long as he can help Ash get out of his funk.” Professor Cerise said smiling. Clearing his throat he said, “How about we leave Future Ash with Ash and Goh.”
Ren frowned as he looked between his computer and Future Ash before signing and getting up to leave the room. Chrysa shot a quick look at Future Ash and then the Professor but he just gave her a look and she stood leaving the room and giving them an absent wave.
“Well, I will leave you guys to sort this out but do be fast Goh and Ash, because someone has to go take a look at the sandstorm. Nice to meet you, Future Ash.” Professor Cerise nodded to all of them as he followed his co-workers out of the room.
“Well now what do we do now that we are alone?” Goh asked, bringing his hand up to his chin, tapping it as he looked at Ash and Future Ash.
“Well now that we are alone, I will talk to Ash.” Future Ash said, shooting Greeninja a look that neither could decipher.
“So what are you going to talk to me about?” Ash asked, looking confused himself.
“Maybe it would be best if Goh left so that we could talk.” Future Ash said, bringing a hand up to rub at his neck, shooting Goh an awkward look.
Ash frowned and Goh squawked in injustice. “Why would Goh need to leave? He is my best friend."
“Yeah! Hey! I’m right here and I take offense to that!”
Future Ash held up his hands, “I’m sorry, I just thought it would make this conversation easier.”
“What's that supposed to mean!?” Goh asked hostility, gearing up for a fight, Scorbunny following suit in his trainers' lead.
Future Ash sighed and Pikachu climbed up Ash to settle on his shoulder, Riolu coming to stand by Ash looking up at all of the trainers. “Can we please just put the pokemon away?” Future Ash asked, sounding tired.
Goh opened his mouth but Ash beat him to it saying, “Sure!” Ash pulled out Riolu’s pokeball and Riolu gave Ash a surprised “Rio” before Ash recalled Riolu into the pokeball. Goh sighed deflating again and pulled out Scorbunny’s ball, recalling the pokemon.
“Thanks.” Future Ash said.
“Great so now, can we decide that Goh isn’t leaving?” Ash asked.
“Yeah! I’m not leaving Ash by himself!” Goh shouted, his energy coming back just as fast as it left.
“Okay.” Both Ash and Goh looked surprised that Future Ash folded so quickly but neither wanted to speak up and make Future Ash change his mind. Future Ash sat on the floor where he was previously standing while Greeninja knelt next to him, both of them looking expectantly at Ash and Goh.
Ash sat first with almost no hesitation, Pikachu jumping off his shoulder to land in his lap, curling up in a way that allowed his partner to watch Future Ash and Greeninja. Goh followed shortly after giving the ground a disgusted look. The 3 of them forming a loose triangle. Ash leaned back on his arms and looked at Future Ash expectantly.
“So, you wanna know why I’m here. It's because you lost the last 3 battles, Ash. I’m here to give you some advice that will come in handy in the future.”
Ash tilted his head and said, “Huh?”
Goh frowned, “That makes no sense, why would you be here to give Ash advice, anything you learned he could learn too right?”
“Yes he could but the reason I’m here is because without intervention it all goes downhill from here. Also, I never learned what I’m about to tell you, a Future Ash told me when I was in the exact same situation as you, Ash.”
“Wow, that's so cool, does that mean in the future I get to come back to now to give myself advice!?”
Future Ash smiled, “Of course who else is going to keep ourselves in line?”
“Thats amazing, it's like a time loop.” Goh said, his thinking face appearing as he thought about the implications of that statement.
Future Ash laughed, “Yeah you're right.” Greeninja looked at Future Ash with a look that Ash couldn’t understand which made him frown and tighten his grip on Pikachu who looked up at his trainer with concern. Ash shook his head subtly and Pikachu looked suspiciously at Ash before looking back at Future Ash and Greeninja.
“So, does that mean my future is set in stone?” Ash asked, looking at Future Ash with some sadness in his eyes.
“Yes and no.”
“What does that mean?” Goh asked, looking confused, “I thought that you could choose your own destiny and fate depending on what you did. So how would Ash’s future be set in stone but at the same time not?”
“Well you are right, you decide your own fate depending on what you do but then again there is a time line of some sorts which also is how your fate can be set in stone. Does that make sense?”
“Not at all, what are you talking about?” Ash asked, looking more confused than sad now.
“Okay so basically there are different worlds for every decision you make. You decide to take one road instead of another road then another world is created where the other Ash takes the road you didn’t. And so forth. But you can’t forget that future and past exist too so now for every decision you make there was an Ash before you that chose the same thing. So now the Ash before you is making the time line so, he is saying that this is your future but that is only if you do what that Ash has done. If you don’t then you are booted onto another time line which means a new future. So yes your future is set in stone but also not at the same time. What sets and decides your future is by what you do on a daily basis. Does that make more sense?”
“Yeah, it does. That's so cool! Is that the same with everyone!?”
“Yes, everyone has a world where they didn't do another thing and everyone has different futures depending on what they do.”
“So there's a world out there where I don’t get advice from my future self?” Ash asked, tilting his head as he took all of the information in.
“Exactaly. There is also one where you didn’t become a pokemon trainer if you can believe it.” Future Ash said looking amused at the thought of not becoming a pokemon trainer.
Pikachu stood and looked horrified, “Pika, chu pi pikachu ka.”
Future Ash laughed, “You don’t have to worry about that Pikachu, you are here in this world and time line, nothing can change that because Ash already decided.”
“Wait but if Ash has already decided does that mean Past Ash’s are going to follow their Future Ash and become a pokemon trainer too?” Goh asked
“No, if the Past Ash’s choose to become a pokemon trainer then their future will look like Ash’s until they do something different then what Ash did, then they are booted into another future.”
“Hm, I can see how that would become tricky. How do you keep it all straight?” Goh asked as his thinking face appeared, looking at Future Ash expectantly.
“I don’t know, I just do, it's like second hand nature at this point.” Future Ash said shrugging.
“So right now unless I do something different your my future?” Ash asked, petting Pikachu where he had sat back down in his trainer's lap.
“Thats right, until you do something different then you could have another Ash as your new future. Personally I hope you do something different, this future isn’t all that good.” Future Ash said looking sadly at Ash and Pikachu.
“Wha-! How is it sad!? Greeninja is back with us again! That’s something good!” Ash yelled as he leaned forward to get closer to Future Ash as if that would help Future Ash understand.
“But look around, where is my Pikachu and if Goh’s your best friend, where is my Goh?” Future Ash asked, a hint of hostility entering his voice.
Ash, Pikachu and Goh all froze at that statement realizing that they didn’t see a Pikachu or Goh, only a Greeninja. Feeling the dread at that statement and what it could mean they all paled drastically.
“Wha-. Where is Pikachu and Goh?” Ash asked softly and everyone in the room could hear the fear in his voice.
“You really want to know?”
“Yes, please, I need to know, what happened to Pikachu and Goh?” Goh gulped, glancing between Ash and Future Ash.
“Okay, but just for a fact this is why I was wondering if you wanted Goh to leave. It’s not exactly happy news.”
“If it involves me, I should be here to hear it.” Goh said stubbornly even though both Ash’s could tell he was nervous.
“Okay, but that was your last chance to change your mind.” Future Ash said, looking at Goh for a second longer. Goh shook his head no. Future Ash sighed and looked at Greeninja, Greeninja nodded and gestured for Future Ash to continue.
“This isn’t exactly happy.” Future Ash muttered again softly. Clearing his throat he spoke again but louder this time. “You, well I, lost Pikachu on a journey. We were in the mountains, it was snowy, we were trying to find shelter and we didn’t see the Swinub until it was already attacking. Pikachu was trying to fight it off but it was snowy and slippery and the Swinub already had the advantage. The short story is that the Swinub hit Pikachu and because of the snow and slippery ground Pikachu fell off the cliff. The swinub then attacked me and threw me off the cliff. Luckily I survived, when I finally got my bearings I don’t know how long it had been but it wasn’t snowing anymore. I went to find Pikachu and when I found Pikachu he was laying there motionless. I rushed him to the nearest pokemon center but by then Pikachu had been dead for hours. It's lucky I survived at all.”
“Do you know what killed Pikachu? The cold, the attack, or hitting the ground?” Goh asked carefully not to try to further hurt Future Ash’s feelings.
“No, I don’t.”
“Why.. why were you up on the mountain in a snow storm anyway?” Ash asked looking at Future Ash for some clarification, hoping that if he knew why when it came his time he would be able to avoid the event all together.
Future Ash went to open his mouth but the Greeninja put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. Future Ash frowned but nodded back at Greeninja. “I’m sorry I can’t tell you.” Future Ash said, not looking at Ash or Goh.
“Why not?” Goh asked as Ash sat there in disbelief.
“If I do, it could ruin your life, Ash.”
“Wouldn’t my life be ruined when Pikachu dies?” Ash asked, his voice cracking around Pikachu’s name.
“Yes but not in the same way.” Future Ash said looking Ash straight in the eyes.
“What does that mean?” Goh asked, not understanding the cryptic sentence at all.
“I can’t tell you that either. I don’t know the other versions but the one I am currently on but I do know that the other versions can be just as bad if not worse then the one Ash is currently on so I don’t want to make it worse for him.”
“But couldn’t they also be better than the one I’m on?” Ash asked, squeezing Pikachu tight, hating the idea of maybe losing him one day.
“Yeah but who’s to say it will be better?” Future Ash asked with a raised eye brow.
“He does have a point, Ash.” Goh said slowly, not liking that he agreed with Future Ash because he loves Pikachu almost as much as he loves Scorbunny.
Ash sighed, hugging Pikachu tighter. “Okay, fine but what about Goh?”
Future Ash frowned, sad, reaching for Greeninja’s webbed hand. Greeninja allowed it and even reciprocated, wrapping his hand around Future Ash’s. “Goh.. it's complicated.” Future Ash said.
“What’s so complicated about my future?” Goh asked, confused. “I would think it's pretty simple, I catch all the pokemon and then I catch Mew, like I planned to do.”
Future Ash shook his head. “Its not that simple I’m afraid."
“That sounds ominous, I don’t like that.” Ash said, giving Future Ash a suspicious gaze.
Goh whipped his head around to look at Ash, jaw dropped he asked, “You know the word ominous!?”
Future Ash and Ash laughed at Goh’s reaction. “Of course, do you think I was stupid?” Future Ash asked through his laughs, Goh whipped around to stare at Future Ash now absolutely floored.
“N-no! I-I would ne-never!” Goh stuttered out panicked, waving his arms around as if to erase it from the universe, not wanting to offend Future Ash and Ash, it was a genuine question after all!
“It's okay Goh.” Ash said through his laughter. Goh went red with embarrassment as the Ashes started to settle down from their laughter.
“Okay that was priceless.” Future Ash said, wiping a fake tear from his eyes.
“I know right?” Ash said, sighing.
“So um.. what did happen to me?” Goh asked, trying to divert the attention away from this situation.
“Oh right.” Ash said, settling down further and slouching, holding Pikachu closer to him.
Future Ash froze and Greeninja had to bump his arm to get him to snap out of it. “Oh right.” Future Ash took a deep breath in and then slowly blew it out. “You weren’t feeling the best so you went to the doctors… the doctors found out that you had Arcane Siphon Syndrome.”
The whole room seemed to pause before Goh asked, "What's that?”
Future Ash let out a depressing laugh before answering, “It's an illness where you can’t keep your aura inside yourself so you start leaking aura. It's a terrible death. You start to feel weak and incapable and then as time passes and you lose more and more aura eventually the body can’t take the strain anymore and you pass away. It's a slow process, at first when you found out you were determined to keep finding pokemon and traveling but after a while it became impossible for you. You were so weak and tired all the time. 3 years after being diagnosed you passed away in your sleep. There isn’t a cure for it because it's so unique, 1/10,000 people even get it. You were just unlucky.”
“Wha- why didn’t you do something to help him!?” Ash yelled, glancing frantically at Goh as if he could see the aura leaking out of him.
“I tried! I looked and used all of my connections to try and find something but we found nothing! We looked for 3 years until Goh passed!” Future Ash yelled back, the tears evident in his eyes. Future Ash stood abruptly and started to pace back and forth in front of Ash and Goh. Greeninja looked worriedly at Future Ash but did nothing to stop him.
Goh had been quiet up until now, he quietly asked, “So I never get to reach my dream?”
Future Ash didn’t respond but Greeninja shook his head no. Goh deflated and looked at the floor, overwhelmed with this information.
“Well now that we know can’t we start early? We can start looking for cures now!” Ash said desperately trying to come up with something to save Goh.
“All you can try to do is change the timeline you're on.” Future Ash said, pausing his pacing to look at Ash and Goh.
“Okay! Then we’ll change the timeline! I’m sure we can do it!” Ash cried, moving one hand to reach for Goh’s arm.
“But can we do it in time?” Goh asked Ash, looking at him with a devastating expression.
“I don’t know but I promise we’ll try everything. I’ll do everything in my power to help you Goh! You're my best friend!" Goh smiled weakly at Ash and Ash felt his emotions raging in his mind and heart.
“As sweet as this is, I tried too but I failed.” Future Ash said bitterly, looking at the duo sitting on the floor in front of him.
“Greeninja! Ni gree ja ninja!” Greeninja said standing and giving Future Ash a look. Future Ash had the decency to look ashamed and turned away from his Greeninja. Greeninja looked at the boys on the floor and through the bond with Ash, shared an apology on the behalf of Future Ash.
Ash smiled as he felt the apology come through the bond. “Thank you but it's okay, I get it's hard to know you tried everything to help a friend and then nothing worked.”
Future Ash looked back at the duo on the floor and sat in front of them again. “Okay, my, or your timeline isn’t all that in the future but I’m not here to give you all the bad news. I’m here to help you so that when you do go through them you can get through them.”
“How are you going to do that?” Ash asked skeptically after learning that he loses Goh and Pikachu in the future.
Future Ash smiled, “Well one thing I did was go back to Kalos and join Greeninja in the mission to protect it and its people. Another thing I do is continue to look for a cure for Arcane Siphon Syndrome because even though I lost Goh to it I know that there are others that could benefit from it if I found the cure. The main way I cope is that I continue to help people and see the good in everyday life. Because that's what made me start my journey in the first place. I saw how wonderful pokemon were and I wanted to be the best pokemon master because of it. So Ash if you can remember to keep seeing the good in everyday life and you remember why you came out into this world as a pokemon trainer and stick to those even when it gets hard you will get through it. It won’t be any easier but it will give you some guidance when all feels lost.”
“Wait, why did you want to become a pokemon master?” Goh asked, looking at Ash, confusion written all over his face.
“At first I wanted to be the best and the most recognized trainer in the world but my friends and Pikachu taught me that maybe to be a pokemon master I have to learn to become one with the pokemon. That's why I travel through the regions to learn all about pokemon and what makes them, well them and making friends with them is very important to learn about them. Well I just love making friends so that part might just be because I want to have more friends. Either way they are very intertwined.” Ash said looking very serious.
“I never knew that. That makes so much more sense. I was always so curious about your different methods to be a pokemon trainer but now it all makes sense.” Goh said, looking at Ash in a new light.
Ash smiled and brought his other hand up to rub at his neck. “I don’t think I’m that different of a trainer.”
“You are Ash, I’ve never seen a trainer like you before.” Goh said, emphasizing the never and before.
“Well I guess I’ll take it as a complement then.” Ash said, dropping his hand to pet Pikachu.
“Ash, if you don’t forget what it means to be a pokemon master and you keep making friends and helping people you will get through everything that life throws at you. Just don’t forget that you have other friends and pokemon that can help fill the void of losing Pikachu and Goh and while they won’t ever actually fill the void they will help cover it.” Future Ash said, looking Ash in the eyes.
“Okay, I won’t forget. I promise.” Ash said nodding to Future Ash.
“Also don’t forget that even if you do change timelines, what could be on the other timeline could be even better or worse.”
“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.” Ash said, squeezing Goh’s hand where their hands were resting in his lap, intertwined together.
“Okay then I guess I’ll go soon.”
“It was great to meet you.” Goh said, smiling at Future Ash weakly.
Future Ash smiled back, “I would say the same but I think it's more appropriate to say it was great to see you again Goh.” Future Ash stood, Greeninja stood with him. “Don’t forget this.” Future Ash said right before a bright light filled the room, leaving Ash, Goh and Pikachu to blink furiously trying to clear the spots in their vision.
“So that just happened.” Goh said, rubbing at his eyes with his other hand.
“Yeah it did.” Ash said, staring at where Future Asha and Greeninjna had been standing seconds before.
“Ash I don’t know if we can change the timeline but no matter what happens I promise you that we will get through it together.” Goh said sincerely, grabbing Ash’s other hand and squeezing both of his hands.
“How would we get through it together if you die?” Ash asked, trying for funny but instead it ended up sad and depressing.
“Okay, right. Let me amend that. I promise that we will do it together until my death or until your, whichever comes first.” Goh said, flushing red in embarrassment at his mistake.
“Why would my death come first? We just learned that you die and I don’t. Don’t you remember Future Ash?” Ash asked, giving Goh a smirk knowing that Goh just made another mistake and not wanting to give up the opportunity to mess with him.
“Okay! You know what I mean.” Goh said growing even redder.
Ash stopped smirking and smiled at Goh, “I know what you mean and yeah, we’ll do everything we can together until it happens.”
“Pikachu pi chu ka ika.” Pikachu said standing up from where he was on Ash’s lap gesturing between the three of them. Ash and Goh smiled down at Pikachu before looking at each other and both of them got the feeling that they would make it through whatever their future held for them together.