Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“Goh?!”

Ash scrambled off the dirt floor, ignoring the fresh scrapes on his knees. Before Goh could even fully process the sheer impossibility of the moment, Ash had crossed the distance.

Ash…?!

No—there’s no way…How?!

His breath hitched, thoughts stumbling over themselves, unable to catch up with what his eyes were seeing.

Ash dropped to his knees right in front of him and threw his arms around Goh, pulling him into a fiercely tight hug.

Goh froze. He didn't even realize when Bonnie had slipped off his lap.

His entire face exploded into a brilliant, burning shade of red at the sudden, overwhelming closeness. Ash was solid, warm, and entirely real. He smelled like ozone, pine needles, and the distinct, comforting scent that was just so uniquely Ash

"I was so scared," Ash breathed into Goh's shoulder, his deeper, older voice trembling with emotion. He pulled Goh closer, his grip tightening as if he were terrified Goh might vanish into the green light again. "I thought I lost you. Please... please don't ever do that again.

The raw vulnerability in Ash's voice broke through Goh's shock. The flush on his cheeks softened and he closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around Ash's broader shoulders and burying his face in the crook of his neck, hugging him back just as fiercely.

"I'm sorry," Goh whispered, his voice thick. "I'm so sorry."

I missed you so much.

"I was so worried I'd never find you," Ash mumbled, finally pulling back just enough to look at Goh's face, his hands still resting warmly on Goh's arms.

Goh let out a wet, breathless chuckle. He smiled warmly, gazing up at Ash. "It's okay now you are here. You found me."

Ash is here.

The older boy let out a long, heavy sigh, the tension visibly draining from his shoulders as profound relief washed over his features.

The heavy silence was broken by a sudden, familiar weight launching into Goh's chest. Grookey scrambled up his shirt, tiny hands gripping the fabric for dear life. Instead of its usual chaotic chattering, the little Grass-type let out a heartbreaking, wailing sob, burying its face into Goh's chest.

"Oh, no... hey, hey, it's okay," Goh cooed, his heart shattering as he rubbed the Pokémon’s back. "I'm right here. I'm never leaving you like that again, I promise."

As Grookey’s sobs quieted into soft hiccups, the rest of the team swarmed in. Inteleon glided forward, wrapping its long, slender arms around both Goh and Grookey.

"Were you invisible this whole time?" Goh asked with a light chuckle, reaching up to pet Inteleon’s head.

"Intele!" the agent Pokémon replied with a soft, confident trill.

"Pika!!" Older Pikachu ran over, leaning on its hind legs to give Goh’s hand a fond, static-filled nuzzle.

Cinderace, Greninja and Lucario crowded close too as the bunny pokemon joined the hug.

Ash looked up, his face breaking into his signature, brilliant grin as he affectionately ruffled Lucario’s head. "Good to see you again, buddy!"

Lucario, immediately leaned into the touch, his tail wagging a little, letting out a soft hum of contentment relived to be reunited with its trainer again.

“Wow Goh! Your Greninja evolved!”
 
It was a beautiful, heartwarming reunion.

And it was taking place in front of a completely stunned, dead-silent audience.

The Kalos gang was frozen in place, staring at the older boy in the blue and yellow vest with absolute, unadulterated shock.

For a few seconds, the clearing was filled only with the soft, happy sounds of the Pokémon.

"Wait, WHAT?!" Younger Ash finally shrieked, his voice cracking loudly in the quiet clearing.

"What's happening?!”

Older Ash blinked, looking up from Lucario. He looked at the younger boy that looked just like him sitting just a few feet away. Then he looked at Serena. Then Clemont. Then Bonnie.

His auburn eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.

"Wait... WHAT?!" Older Ash yelled, jumping to his feet. He looked wildly between Goh and the Kalos group.

"I'm... We are back in Kalos?!"

“Is this some weird Team Rocket thing?! Because it’s not funny?!" Younger Ash interrupted.

"Team Rocket?" Older Ash repeated, looking incredulously at his past self.

"Firstly, there's too many of us, and secondly, why would they dress up as you to fool you?"

"They dressed up as us that time-" Clemont added.

"That was to fool the town Clemont, they weren't trying to trick us," Older Ash corrected Clemont.

"Hey! How do you know that?!" Bonnie exclaimed, her eyes widening in total shock.

Before Goh could even attempt to stop the chaos, the rest of Younger Ash's Pokémon—Hawlucha, Goodra, Talonflame, Greninja and Kalos Pikachu—curiously stepped forward.

They sniffed the air, tilting their heads in confusion. The scent was identical. The grin. The same kind, brown eyes.

This was their trainer!

“Pikapi!” “Hawlucha!” “Flaaame!”

Ash couldn't help himself. He reached forward, laughing as his Kalos team swarmed him.

He pulled Noivern, Hawlucha and Goodra into a big hug—completely unbothered by the fresh coating of slime—while scratching Pikachu’s chin and smoothing Talonflame’s warm crest feathers.

But as he looked behind them, his eyes found Greninja.

The sleek Water/Dark-type stood a few paces back, its arms crossed, observing him. Older Ash walked over, his expression softening into something incredibly profound and longing. He reached out, wrapping his arms around Greninja in a firm, lingering hug.

Greninja stiffened in surprise for a fraction of a second, then somehow sensing that this version of Ash needed a hug, it slowly returned the embrace, leaning its head against his shoulder.

Goh watched the scene smiling softly, his heart swelling with a bittersweet warmth. Ash was just... incredible. He was the kind of person who could transcend time and space and still be recognized by the hearts of his Pokémon.

Goh blinked. Once. Twice.

And then, his smile vanished.

Ash…is here…

ASH is here?!

The blood drained entirely from his face.

Oh, Arceus. No. No, no, no!

Goh panicked internally, his eyes darting frantically between older Ash and the Kalos gang who were looking at Ash stunned.

I had told them everything!

His mind screamed, racing a mile a minute. He had told everyone around the campfire that he liked his ‘best friend’.

…I don't even know if my best friend likes boys…

…I realized I liked him. I realized I liked boys…

He had told Serena—literally just a few hours ago by the stream—that he was in love with his best friend!

…I don’t know if he feels the same way about me, but that’s never stopped me from loving him…

Goh swallowed hard, a cold sweat breaking out on the back of his neck.

If the Kalos gang realized that the "best friend" he had been crying over... the one he had confessed his romantic feelings for... was Ash...

Goh slapped his hands over his face, mentally screaming.

Oh, Arceus. How did I end up in this situation?! Why did I say so much?!

He took a deep, shaky breath, slowly lowering his hands and turning to the stunned Kalos group.

"G-Guys, I... I can explain everything! Just please, everyone please calm down—"

But nobody was looking at Goh. Their eyes were entirely glued to Older Ash.

Ash, realizing he was the center of attention, rubbed the back of his neck and offered a sheepish, incredibly awkward laugh.

"Hey everyone…um... long-time no see?" he waved at them as he sat down beside Goh nursing his scraped knees. All the pokemon settled around them curious about the new Ash.

Younger Ash couldn't contain it anymore. He lunged forward from his spot on the ground, his knees hitting the dirt as he pointed a trembling finger at his older-self.

"Are you... are you really me?!"

Older Ash laughed, a rich, hearty sound. "Yeah. I am."

"Whoa!" Younger Ash gasped, his brown eyes sparkling with a mix of awe and sheer disbelief tilting his head back and forth as he stared hard at his older self’s face, looking for any proof that this wasn't just a dream

"You-You really are me! The hair, the face... everything is the same!"

Older Ash chuckled, crossing his arms with a confident smile. "Yeah, I'm the same Ash. Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"

Younger Ash’s eyes widened even more at that, his excitement bubbling over instantly.

"Then—then tell me!" he blurted out. "Did I become a Pokémon Master? Did we do it?!"

For a moment, Older Ash didn’t answer. The smile on his face softened turning more thoughtful. He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a small, sheepish laugh.

"Heh… not yet."

Younger Ash blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"

Older Ash shook his head, but there was no disappointment in his eyes—only steady determination.

"We’ve come really far. Way farther than you can even imagine right now," he said, his voice warm but firm. "But becoming a Pokémon Master… We’ve still got a long way to go."

Younger Ash tilted his head, trying to process that. "So… we’re still trying?"

Older Ash grinned again, this time brighter, more familiar—full of that unshakable fire.

"Yeah!

There was a short pause… and then Younger Ash broke into a huge smile, clenching his fists with renewed excitement.

"That’s awesome!" he declared. "Then I’ll just have to keep getting stronger until we make it!"

Kalos Pikachu jumped from Ash’s shoulder and trotted up to Older Pikachu. "Pikachu?" They stared at each other, mirroring each other's head tilts perfectly. After a moment of mutual confusion, they simply bumped noses, their cheeks sparking as they happily shared electricity, instantly accepting the weirdness of the situation.

"And you even have Pikachu!" Serena gasped softly as she looked at the older, slightly more battle-scarred electric mouse playing with its identical younger self.

Clemont clumsily pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose, stepping closer to inspect the temporal anomaly. "Fascinating... truly fascinating! You really are the exact same person, just subjected to the linear progression of time! This proves that a person can actually meet their past self! So the Two-Pikachu theory has just been proven completely wrong! It’s a ground breaking discovery!"

Bonnie, however, was entirely unfazed by the scientific impossibility of it and discoveries. She practically vibrated with excitement tugging on older Ash's shorts. "Do I have a cool Pokémon in the future?! How do I look in future?! Did any of big brother’s inventions go famous?! Did you win the Kalos League?! Did you beat Diantha?!"

Older Ash chuckled, reaching down to gently pat Bonnie's head. "Woah, woah! You're firing off questions faster than a Swift attack! But sorry, Bonnie," he said, rubbing his neck sheepishly. "I can't reveal any of that. If I tell you what happens, it might change the future!"

Younger Ash blinked—then suddenly pointed straight at Goh, eyes wide. "Wait! How do you- I mean I know Goh in future?! What's exactly happening?!"

Goh clapped his hands together loudly, desperately trying to draw their attention before Ash accidentally blurted out something about them being best friends.

"I was just about to say that!"

"Sorry!" both Ashes yelled at the exact same time, apologizing to Goh.

They both blinked, looking at each other with wide eyes. A second later, they both burst into laughter, simultaneously raising their hands to give each other a high-five.

Goh let out a deeply exasperated sigh. Seriously, any Ash could never stay serious for more than thirty seconds. But, as he watched them laugh, he couldn't help the fond smile that tugged at his lips. At least the ridiculousness of the situation had diffused the heavy tension in the air.

Goh reached over from his spot and poked a finger firmly into older Ash's cheek, stopping the laughter mid-breath. "Focus, Ash."

"Ow! Hey, that hurt!" Ash laughed, though the giant grin on his face proved he was lying. He playfully swatted Goh’s hand away and rubbed his cheek. "Okay, okay! I’m focusing!"

Goh took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the possible fallout. He looked at the Kalos gang, his expression turning serious and apologetic. "I'm so sorry, everyone. This... this is my friend. Ash."

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Goh saw them lean in slightly, waiting for him to continue.

"When I fell out of the sky yesterday," Goh continued, addressing the group, "I was just as shocked as you are now. I was pulled through a rift in time created by Celebi but when I saw Ash, and Serena, and Clemont, and Bonnie... I-I had to hide the fact that I knew you. I couldn't risk changing the future."

He looked down at his hands, his voice softening with genuine regret. "I already knew all your names and the incredible journey you've been on. It felt wrong to keep acting like a stranger when I knew so much about you, but I had to do it and I'm really sorry I had to keep you in the dark. I just didn't want to mess anything up."

"It's okay, Goh," Serena said warmly, her voice full of genuine empathy. "We completely understand. Protecting the timeline is so important."

"So that's how you knew about Team Rocket!" Bonnie cheered, pointing a tiny finger at him.

Younger Ash scratched his cheek, looking completely lost. "Oh... so I didn't actually tell you about them yesterday?"

"No, Ash," Goh giggled, shaking his head. "I already knew about them because they follow you around in the future, too."

Ash groaned immediately, shoulders slumping as he dragged a hand down his face. “Ugh… they still do that?” he muttered, cringing.

Older Ash's smile faded slightly, replacing it with a look of genuine concern. He looked at his younger self, then at his Kalos companions and Pokémon. "Wait... Goh, now that they all know who you are, and that they’ve met me too... won't that change the future anyway?

Goh frowned, the temporal mechanics spinning in his head. He looked up at Older Ash. "Ash, do you remember any of this? When you were traveling through Kalos, right before the League, do you remember meeting a time- traveller or a boy named Goh who fell out of the sky? Do you remember meeting your older self?"

Ash closed his eyes, his brow furrowing in deep concentration. The clearing was silent as everyone waited for the verdict. After a long moment, Ash opened his eyes and shook his head.

"No," Ash said slowly. "I only remember walking through Santalune Forest with everyone, rushing to get to Lumiose City a week before the League started. We got caught in a few Team Rocket traps... but after we blasted them off, we just kept walking. Nothing else much happened. I definitely don't remember meeting you, Goh. Or myself."

"How is that possible?" Goh mumbled, chewing on his lower lip. "Celebi is a Legendary Pokémon you should remember an encounter with it at least”

Older Ash leaned closer, resting a warm hand on Goh's shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Hey. Don't overthink it so much. You're involved in this, so of course I would have remembered meeting you if it really happened to me back then. There has to be something we're missing.”

"Not necessarily!" Clemont interjected, his glasses doing that reflective glint as he adjusted them. "There are actually several scientific theories regarding Temporal Memory Suppression. Some researchers believe that when you interact with your past self, your mind 'locks' those memories away to prevent a paradox. It’s only once you return to your own time and the loop is completed that the memories finally click into place!"

Older Ash blinked, looking a bit confused but mostly impressed. "Whoa... so you're saying I'll remember all of this later?"

"Exactly!" Clemont nodded enthusiastically. "Think of it like a save file that hasn't finished uploading yet!"

"Wait, I know what you’re talking about!" Goh exclaimed, his eyes widening. "That’s just like what happened to the heroine and her Snubbull in that movie I watched! They didn't remember anything until they were back in their own time!"

"Cinder! Cinder-ace!" his partner cheered in agreement, while Grookey added a loud, happy "Groo!" from his shoulder.

Older Ash blinked "Wait, you watched The Snubbull Who Leapt Through Time already?"

"Yeah, we watched it months ago at lab" Goh smugly replied.

So that’s what its name was not Back to the Future or Butterfly Effect that had been stuck in my head.

I thought I had the right one.

Older Ash laughed, his tension finally vanishing. "Well, if Clemont says so then, I guess I’ll just have to wait for those memories to kick in!"

"What if...” Clemont suddenly says.

“Wait…” He continues “If you don't remember this happening to you when you were younger, does that mean you're... not actually him?" Clemont’s voice trailed off, his eyes darting between the two Ashs. "Does that mean you both are from a completely different world?"

Ash paused, his eyes lighting up with a sudden realization. "Wait! If it helps! That Celebi... it's the exact same Celebi I helped in the Ilex Forest back in Johto few years ago! I know it’s the same!"

Ash looked directly at his younger self. "Hey Ash! Do you remember helping a Celebi in a forest when you travelled through Johto?"

Younger Ash's eyes widened in recognition. "We were travelling with Misty and Brock! Yeah! With Sam's help! We had to save it from a poacher!"

"Exactly!" Older Ash grinned. "It's the same Celebi! So at least that also proves we are the same Ash!"

Same Celebi huh…

Goh bolted upright, completely ignoring the flare of pain in his ankle.

"Wait! If it's the same Celebi, and it brought you here... where is it?!"

Older Ash's eyes widened. He suddenly looked up, scanning the tree canopy above them, then peering into the nearby bushes as if the Mythical Grass-type might just be hiding behind a leaf.

"Uh... I don't know?"

The clearing was dead silent for a full three seconds.

"What do you mean, you don't know?!" Goh shrieked. "You came here with it, right?!"

Older Ash immediately threw his hands up in a defensive gesture, knowing full well the terrifying wrath of an angry Goh.

"Okay, okay, look! I tracked Celebi down in the forest back in Johto. It took me a few hours, but I found it! I tried to explain that it took my friend by mistake, and I asked it to bring you back to me!"

Ash rubbed the back of his neck, laughing nervously. "But... I guess Celebi got confused? I don’t know… Instead of bringing you to me, it time-traveled me to you! And when I landed, I was just so happy to see you... and then I saw my younger self, I totally forgot about Celebi!"

Goh let out a long, long, long sigh, burying his face in his hands.

Typical Ash.

He drops into the past, defies the laws of physics, and immediately forgets the time-traveling deity that brought him there because he was excited to say hello.

"Well," Goh mumbled through his fingers. "Now we're both stuck in the past. And we have absolutely no money. So now we both have to work side jobs in Lumiose City to afford two plane tickets to Johto so we can track Celebi down again." he said that all in one breath.

"Oh! Wait!" Ash reached behind his back. "Ta-da!"

With a flourish, Older Ash produced two heavy backpacks—his own, and Goh's red and grey one.

Goh stared at his backpack, his eyes shining like he had just beheld a miracle. He reached out, clutching his precious bag tightly to his chest. "Ash... where did you even keep these when you fell?!"

Ash just grinned, tapping the side of his head mysteriously.

I will let out Raichu and Flygon later. I have revealed more than enough future till now.

"Well, this changes everything! Now we can just take a plane to Johto and find Celebi right away!" Goh said excitedly, his spirits instantly lifting.

He looked up at Older Ash. "Ash, Clemont even built an amazing device just this morning! It can detect Celebi's specific psychic frequencies! And he even calibrated it to track Mew's waves, too!"

Ash's face lit up. He immediately reached forward, slinging an affectionate arm around the flustered Gym Leader's shoulders. "Are you serious?! Clemont, you're the absolute best! Science really is amazing!"

Serena giggled behind her hands, watching the older Ash beam with that identical, goofy grin. "This is definitely Ash, alright."

"I-it was nothing, really!" Clemont stammered, his face burning bright red under the praise. He adjusted his glasses frantically. "But...wait... how exactly did you find Celebi in the forest? And so quickly?"

"Oh," Ash laughed, releasing Clemont. "I just used my Aura to track it."

"Aura?" Serena asked, tilting her head.

Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie immediately turned their confused gazes to Younger Ash.

Clemont gasped, his scientific mind immediately connecting the dots. "Wait! I've read about this! There are legends of ancient humans who possessed Aura powers, identical to the abilities of the Aura Pokémon like Lucario! But... I always thought they were just myths!"

Younger Ash rubbed his cheek, looking incredibly sheepish as the identical blush spread across his and his older self's faces. "Yeah, I um... We kind of have it. We found out about it when we visited the Kingdom of Rota and met a Lucario."

Goh felt a cold shiver run down his spine at the mention of Rota. He knew the story. Ash had told him the entire, tragic tale of Sir Aaron, the Tree of Beginning, and the Lucario who had sacrificed its life to save the world's energy. It was a deeply traumatic memory for Ash.

When Ash had first told Goh the story, Goh had practically hyperventilated when he realized Ash had met Mew. He had immediately suggested they inform Project Mew, hoping they could track the Mythical Pokémon down.

But Ash had stopped him. He had shaken his head, his eyes dark with a rare, immovable seriousness. Ash had explained that the Tree of Beginning was a sacred place, a fragile ecosystem that relied entirely on Mew. If the world found out, poachers and researchers would swarm the Cameron Palace, destroying everything Sir Aaron and his Lucario had died to protect.

Ash had trusted Goh with the secret, and Goh had solemnly sworn never to use that knowledge for his own dream.

Goh looked at Ash now. He had a hand resting gently on his younger self's shoulder. He offered the Kalos gang a soft, slightly melancholic smile. "We trust you guys," Older Ash said quietly, his deeper voice carrying a heavy weight. "But... it's really hard for us to talk about Aura. We went through a lot during that time."

His fingers tightened slightly against his younger self’s shoulder, almost unconsciously.

"It’s not that we don’t want to tell you," He added, voice softer now. "It’s just… some of those memories aren’t easy to revisit. Not everything about Aura is exciting or heroic."

Younger Ash nodded beside him, "Yeah… it wasn’t all good stuff."

Older Ash exhaled slowly, eyes distant for a brief moment.

"There were people… and Pokémon… who sacrificed a lot. And some places that… are better left protected, not talked about too much."

He gave them a small, apologetic smile.

Bonnie leaned forward and wrapped her arms around both Ashes, hugging them tightly around the waist. "It's okay! You don't have to be sad!"

Serena and Clemont immediately slid closer beside them as well, to join the embrace.

"You never have to tell us anything you aren't comfortable with, Ash," Serena said softly, resting a hand on his arm.

"We're just glad you're okay," Clemont added gently.

Goh watched them from his spot on the log, his heart swelling with an overwhelming sense of affection. Ash truly had the most amazing, caring friends in every region he visited.

They broke apart after a long moment, the heavy atmosphere slowly lifting.

Clemont pushed his glasses up, his intellectual curiosity returning. "If you don't mind me asking… does the Bond Phenomenon with Greninja also occur because of your Aura?"

Younger Ash furrowed his brow, scratching his cheek as he thought hard about it. "Um... I think Aura and the Bond Phenomenon are kind of the same, but different at the same time?"

Older Ash nodded, taking over the explanation. "When we use Aura, it's like we can sense people and Pokémon's emotions. We can connect with them, and even share our Aura with them to heal them or understand them. But the Bond Phenomenon is different. It's an emotional and physical synchronization. We actually share sensations. If Greninja takes a hit, I feel it."

"I don't think it happens because of Aura," Younger Ash concluded, looking at his Greninja and smiling at it. "But I think having Aura makes it easier for the connection to happen."

Goh watched older Ash during the explanation. His gaze kept drifting back to the newly evolved Greninja standing by the trees. There was a profound, aching longing in his auburn eyes.

Goh’s stomach twisted. He knew exactly why Ash missed the Ninja Pokémon. He knew the sacrifice Greninja was going to make in just a few short weeks to protect Kalos from the negative energy vines.

A massive moral dilemma erupted in Goh's mind. Should I tell them? he wondered frantically.

If I tell them about Lysandre and Team Flare now, they can stop the Kalos Crisis before it even starts. The city won't be destroyed. Clembot…Clemont’s precious memories with it won't have to be sacrificed. And... Greninja won't have to leave Ash.

He looked at Ash, imagining how happy he would be to bring Greninja back to Cerise Park with him along with his other pokemon he used to bring on every Sunday from Professor Oak’s lab.

But then, Goh looked at Younger Ash, currently laughing as the older Pikachu climbed onto his head.

No, Goh decided, his heart heavy but resolute. It's not my place.

It was Ash's journey. Ash was the one who fought that battle, who made those sacrifices, and who ultimately saved the region with everyone. If Ash wanted to warn his past self, he would. But if he chose to remain silent about it Goh had to respect that. He couldn't play Arceus with his best friend's life.

Older Ash suddenly turned away from Greninja, his gaze snapping down to Goh's legs as if to distract himself. His brow furrowed in deep concern. "Hey, Goh... what happened to your ankle?"

Goh waved his hand dismissively, offering a reassuring smile. "Oh, it's nothing! We fell into one of Team Rocket's pit traps earlier, and I just sprained it a little. But it's totally fine! Ash took care of it!"

He gestured to the cold compress wrapped tightly around his ankle.

Ash leaned down a bit, his eyes scanning the makeshift bandage. "Thanks," he muttered to his younger self. "Good job, Ash!"

Then, Ash squinted. He leaned closer, inspecting the light blue fabric wrapped around Goh's skin. His eyes widened in horror. "Hey! That's my handkerchief!"

He shifted on the ground so quickly that he nearly knocked Younger Ash over. He pointed an accusing finger at his past self.

"You listen to me! Keep an eye on that thing! I lost it somewhere in Kalos, and when I got back to Pallet Town, Mama literally scolded me for three hours straight! It's her favourite!"

Younger Ash visibly stiffened, a look of absolute terror crossing his face at the mention of Delia Ketchum's anger. He immediately saluted his older self. "Got it! Thanks for the warning!"

Older Ash let out a quiet huff of laughter, shaking his head at his own goofniess.

Then his attention shifted.

"Wait a second," Older Ash muttered, turning back to Goh. His eyes scanned over Goh's outfit—the slightly short dark jeans, the familiar blue jacket.

Oh yeah. Goh blushed. I am wearing his Kalos clothes

Ash’s gaze traveled upward, stopping right at Goh's waist.

A bright, genuine smile broke across Ash's face. "Hey, Goh! You still have my cap! I thought you lost it when you fell!"

Goh froze.

The blood that had just returned to his face drained away all over again. He looked down at his belt loop, where the red-and-white cap with a G-like green logo was securely hooked.

Oh Arceus…

The cap.

The same cap Goh had literally told the Kalos gang was given to him by the ‘best friend’ he ‘loved’.

"Thanks, Goh!" Ash said happily, completely oblivious to the Goh’s internal crisis. He reached his hand out, expecting Goh to unhook it and hand it back.

But Goh’s hands felt like lead.

“Wait! Ash! This is your cap?!”

Bonnie’s loud voice shattered the heavy tension like a glass pane. She was pointing a small finger directly at the red-and-white fabric secured to Goh’s belt loop.

His stomach twisted painfully.

Older Ash blinked, entirely missing the sheer panic radiating from Goh. “Yeah!” he answered cheerfully, “I had given to Goh before we—well, before we separated.”

Can I run?

Can I pass out?

Bonnie gasped, her eyes going wide as dinner plates. She looked at Older Ash, then at Lucario sitting calmly behind Goh, and then back to Older Ash. “So then… Are you Lucario’s trainer?!”

Older Ash tilted his head, utterly confused by the interrogation. “Uh…Yeah… why? What happened?”

Goh’s stomach completely dropped out from him. He looked around the circle. Clemont’s glasses had slipped right off his nose and dropped from his face, he was too shocked to even catch it. Serena’s eyes were wide, her hands flying up to cover her mouth as the final piece of the puzzle clicked perfectly into place and the younger Ash was looking at him directly with wide eyes.

Goh quickly looked down

Oh Arceus, no.

No, no, no, please…

“Oh my gosh!” Bonnie whooped, literally jumping into the air with sheer delight. She pointed triumphantly at Older Ash. “So you are Goh’s best friend! The one who gave him his cap! And the one Goh loves!”

The clearing went dead silent.

Goh was mortified. The entire world seemed to slow down to a crawl. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think. He was completely exposed, his deepest, most guarded secret ripped out into the open in the most spectacular, humiliating way possible.

This can’t be happening, his mind screamed. Ash is going to know now?!

Ash is going to reject me…

Goh’s thoughts spiraled, sharp and frantic.

Think. Fix this. Say something.

Goh frantically tried to formulate a lie. Anything to save their friendship.

What if I say Bonnie misunderstood? What if I say I meant ‘love’ like a brother? I can still fix this, I can still—

No—no, no, no…

Goh’s chest tightened, his thoughts tripping over each other.

He’s going to figure it out.

Ash’s going to know.

Goh swallowed hard, panic rising sharp in his throat.

I messed up.

Before he could say anything—before he could even try to fix it—Ash suddenly leaned forward and kneeled in front of him, gripping his shoulders tightly.

“Goh,” Ash breathed, his voice steady but serious. “Did you mean it?”

Goh looked up at Ash, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly.

Ash’s grip on his shoulders tightened just a fraction, his auburn eyes searching Goh’s face

“Goh, please,” Ash repeated, his voice cracking slightly. “Did you mean it?”

Should I say no? He thought, his heart pounding so hard it physically ached.

If I say no, we can go back to normal. We can just be best friends.

But then… when would he ever get this chance again? When would he ever be brave enough to say the words out loud to Ash’s face? Even if Ash rejected him, even if this was the end of their travels together… at least his feelings would finally be conveyed. At least Ash would know that he loved him.

It’s now or never.

Goh looked up in his eyes.

Taking a trembling breath, he shakily nodded his head.

“Yes”

Goh saw Ash’s eyes widen. He heard the quiet, collective gasp from the Kalos gang, mixed with the Pokémon’s startled sounds—and then the world seemed to fall silent.

Goh squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the impact. He waited for the polite rejection. He waited for Ash to say he already had a girlfriend, to apologize for leading him on. He waited for Ash to pull his hands away, to gently say that they were just friends.

He waited for the awkward distance that would settle between them, between their friendship from now on.

I am sorry

Instead, a sudden, warm weight crashed into him.

Ash threw his arms around Goh’s neck, pulling him flush against his chest in a fiercely tight, overwhelming embrace. He buried his face into the crook of Goh’s neck, his breath hot against Goh’s skin.

“I love you”

I…love you?

“I love you so much.” Ash whispered fervently, his voice thick with overwhelming emotion.

“I love you too, Goh.”

Goh’s eyes snapped open, wide with absolute shock.

Wait…

WHAT?!

“Wait?! What?!” Goh gasped out, his voice squeaking in disbelief.

Ash let out a wet, breathless laugh against Goh’s skin. He hugged him even closer, refusing to let go, gently rocking them both.

“I love you. From the day we met in Vermilion City, riding on Lugia’s back…I-I love you so much.”

The world exploded into noise.

“Pika-piiii!!” the older Pikachu cheered loudly from the sidelines, its cheeks sparking with joyous electricity.

“Groo! Grookey-key!” Grookey whooped, drumming wildly on a nearby log. Cinderace let out a triumphant roar, bouncing up and down hugging Lucario and Inteleon  while Greninja simply smiled, folding its arms with a satisfied nod.

But Goh couldn’t focus on their Pokémon. He couldn’t focus on the cheers. All he could feel was Ash. The warmth of him, the scent of him, the impossible, miraculous reality of his arms holding him tight.

A massive, overwhelming wave of pure, unfiltered joy crashed over Goh. He let out a breathless, sobbing laugh, finally wrapping his arms tightly around Ash’s torso and burying his face in Ash’s shoulder.

“I love you too!” Goh cried out, laughing and sniffling at the same time.

“Arceus, I love you so much.”

His grip tightened, fingers clutching at the back of Ash’s jacket like he was afraid this might still disappear if he let go.

“I thought—” his voice broke, words tumbling out unevenly, “I thought I messed everything up… I thought you’d—”

He shook his head quickly, pressing closer instead, unable to even finish the thought.

“You have no idea how scared I was,” he admitted in a rush, a shaky laugh slipping through.

“But you…” he breathed, almost in awe, “you just—said it.”

Ash held him firmly, his hands gently rubbing Goh’s back. “I was going to tell you,” Ash admitted softly, his voice full of relief. “Back in the forest, right before Celebi whisked you away. I was trying to confess. I’m so sorry this is the most unromantic confession ever, literally …”

Goh broke the hug, pulling back just enough to look at Ash’s face. His eyes were wide, shining with unshed tears. Goh remembered the Johto forest.

…You look really cute when you're flustered…

…There's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while now…

He remembered how Ash had reached out to take his hand.

“Wait… so it really was a confession?!”

Goh let out a watery chuckle, wiping a tear from his eye. “I—I thought you were telling me about your girlfriend!”

Ash’s jaw dropped in exaggerated offense.

“My girlfriend?! Goh, I was dropping hints on our calls—you seriously didn’t notice?!”

“What hints?!”

Ash shook his head, a bright, genuine laugh escaping him as he wiped a stray tear from his own eye. “And everyone calls me dense!”

Then—almost like it hit him all at once—Ash froze.

Slowly, Ash turned his head to the very obvious audience.

Oh. Right.

Reluctantly, Ash pulled back slightly, though he kept his hands resting warmly on Goh’s waist. He turned his head toward the Kalos gang, his face suddenly flushing a brilliant shade of red. He reached up, rubbing the back of his neck with his signature sheepish grin.

“Uh… sorry you had to see this” Older Ash chuckled awkwardly.

“Are you kidding?!” Bonnie cheered, scrambling forward on her knees and throwing her arms around both of them in a massive, group hug.

“This is the best thing ever! I knew it! I just knew you guys were going to end up together!”

Clemont, whose face was completely dusted in a heavy blush from the overt display of affection, smiled warmly and pushed his glasses up. "Congratulations you two! It’s really wonderful... honestly, I can't imagine a better match for either of you. I'm so happy for you!"

Goh looked over at Younger Ash, who had currently turned the color of a ripe Tamato Berry. The younger boy was sitting rigidly, completely flustered, while both his Kalos Pikachu and the older Pikachu sat on either side of his shoulders, openly smirking at him.

Goh’s gaze shifted to Serena. His heart gave a painful twinge of concern. He remembered her tears by the stream. He remembered her confession. He looked at her, worried about what she must be thinking, feeling terrible that she had to witness this right in front of her.

Serena was sitting quietly, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her blue eyes were shining with unshed tears, but when she met Goh’s gaze, she didn’t look away. Instead, she offered him a beautiful, incredibly brave, and encouraging smile. She nodded softly at him, her expression full of genuine happiness for his sake.

Goh’s chest tightened with profound gratitude. He mouthed a silent ‘Thank you’ to her. He knew, without a doubt, that he needed to have a private talk with her later. He needed to apologize, to make sure she was truly okay.

Younger Ash finally managed to unfreeze himself. He shuffled a bit, stammering and blushing furiously. “S-so… um… are you guys… t-together now?”

Ash didn’t even hesitate. He grinned, casually slinging an affectionate arm around Goh’s shoulders and pulling him flush against his side. “Yeah. He is my boyfriend!” He exclaimed blushing himself.

Goh felt his entire face catch fire at the word, but he leaned into the touch, a massive, unstoppable smile taking over his features. “Y-Yes,” he agreed softly.

For a moment, everything felt perfect.

Too perfect.

And then—

His smile faltered.

Goh looked at the younger Ash, the terrifying reality of their situation suddenly slammed back into him.

“Wait—” Goh gasped, his eyes going wide.

“The time travel—this just made everything more complicated! H-he—this Ash  knows now—he knows everything!”

He turned to his boyfriend, panic rising fast, his words starting to tumble over each other.

“Ash, this could change everything between us,” he said, voice unsteady. “What if… what if he does things differently when we meet? What if something changes and we don’t even become friends the same way?”

His grip tightened slightly on Ash’s sleeve.

“What if we don’t meet at all…?”

Younger Ash leaned forward immediately, hands curling into tight fists in his lap. His face was still burning red, but his eyes were steady.

“Don’t worry, Goh!” he said quickly, voice cracking just a little.

“I won’t let anything change! I—I want my future to be like this too!”

Goh stared at the younger boy blushing himself, his heart doing a chaotic flip.

Arceus, Goh thought, feeling incredibly faint from all the blushing.

He wants his future like this? Does… does this Ash like me too?

…Don't do that, Bonnie…

…You could have anyone you want…

…I’ve seen it. The way he looks at you… how he blushes sometimes…

…But… he likes you…

Goh blushed even harder. Yes. This Ash liked him, too.

Older Ash caught the look on his younger self—of course he did, he knew that expression all too well and smirked, pointing at his younger self.

“Alright, mini-me. Then here’s your mission—find Goh,” he said playfully.

He glanced at Goh, something softer flickering across his face. “And yeah… there might be times you’re not together and that’s okay.”

Ash locked his eyes with his younger self, a silent understanding passing between them—something only they could recognize.

His grin returned. “Just don’t go losing him to someone else, got it?”

Younger Ash straightened where he sat, blushing furiously but nodding with absolute resolve. “I know… And I won’t!”

“So does this mean you’re going to go on real dates now?” Bonnie chirped, her eyes sparkling as she leaned in toward them. “Because I have plenty of ideas for romantic spots! And big brother can help us plan everything out!”

“W-Wait—me?!” Clemont squeaked, his hands flying up in a panic. “Bonnie, I don’t think a science-themed picnic is exactly what they have in mind!”

Serena giggled, leaning forward with a warm, knowing glint in her eyes.

“Actually, if you’re going to Lumiose, there’s a beautiful terrace that overlooks the Prism Tower at night. It’s incredibly peaceful—I think you’d both love it.”

There was a rare, effortless quality to Serena’s kindness. The way she rooted for them—completely and without a flicker of hesitation—made him realize just how much he’d underestimated the sheer strength of her heart.

Seeing her selflessness firsthand made him certain that she was someone he wanted in his life long after today.

"Thanks, Serena," Goh said, his voice thick with genuine gratitude. "That... that sounds really nice."

Before anyone could say another word, the wind in the clearing suddenly died completely.

The air grew heavy and still. A familiar, high-pitched humming sound vibrated through the trees. Suddenly, a brilliant, blinding emerald-green light erupted in the center of the clearing, washing over everyone and casting long, neon shadows against the trees.

Without warning, Goh, Older Ash, his Pikachu, Inteleon, Grookey, Cinderace, Lucario, and the newly evolved Greninja all began to lift off the ground, their feet hovering a few inches in the air, enveloped in a soft, green aura.

“Whoa!” Goh yelled, looking down at his hovering feet, his anxiety instantly spiking. He looked wildly at Ash. “What’s happening?!

Ugh! I am totally done with this time traveling stuff!

Ash simply held onto Goh shoulder ,keeping him steady in the air, and offered a calm smile. “It’s okay, Goh. It’s normal. Celebi has the power to make people float when it’s manipulating temporal energy.”

The Kalos gang scrambled to their feet, shielding their eyes from the bright glow.

“Biii!”

A joyful, melodic chirp echoed from above. Everyone looked up to see the Mythical Time Travel Pokémon, Celebi, fluttering happily above them in the center of the green vortex. It did a playful loop in the air before swooping down directly toward Goh.

Celebi hovered near Goh’s injured leg. It reached out a tiny, green hand and gently tapped Goh’s wrapped right ankle.

Instantly, a warm, soothing sensation washed over his leg. The sharp, throbbing pain completely vanished. The swelling subsided in a fraction of a second, leaving his ankle perfectly healed.

Goh gasped, carefully rolling his ankle in the air to test it. It was healed! He looked up at Celebi, realization dawning on him. The green rift in air. The floating.

“We’re going home,” Goh whispered, a sudden, heavy lump forming in his throat.

He looked down at the Kalos gang standing on the grass below them. This was it. The goodbye.

No—no

No, I have so much to say—to apologize for. No, this can’t be it

“Serena!” Goh called out, leaning forward “Serena, I am so sorry about-about everything! I—”

“No!” Serena interrupted quickly, stepping closer to the him. A single tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek, but her smile was radiant and genuine. “It’s really okay, Goh. I’m happy. I’m so happy you and Ash are together.”

She quickly reached into her bag, pulling out the square, boxy Celebi-Tracker device Clemont had built. She reached up, holding it out to him. Goh stretched his arm down, his fingers brushing hers as he took the device.

Serena held onto his hand for just a second longer, her blue eyes locking onto his. “Thank you, Goh. For what you said by the stream. Thank you for everything!  And… I will keep my promise. Don’t you worry!”

Goh’s eyes glistened with fresh tears. He gripped the device tightly. “Thank you, Serena.”

She stepped back, wiping her eyes.

Goh quickly turned his attention to the blonde Gym Leader. “Clemont!” Goh called out. “Thank you for the device! And… you will figure it out too, okay? Don’t worry. You have wonderful people with you—never doubt yourself. Believe in yourself!”

Clemont’s eyes watered behind his glasses. He reached up, managing to wrap his arms around Goh for a quick but deeply heartfelt hug. “Thank you, Goh! Have a safe journey back to your time!”

“We’re going to miss you so much!” Bonnie wailed, tears streaming down her face as she joined her brother, hugging Goh’s leg tightly. Dedenne squeaked sadly from her bag.

“I’ll miss you too, Bonnie,” Goh whispered, his heart breaking as he gently patted her blonde hair.

Goh finally turned to the younger Ash. The boy was standing there, his red cap casting a shadow over his eyes, a sad, bittersweet smile on his face as Kalos Pikachu perched on his shoulder.

Goh looked at him, remembering the immense kindness this boy had shown him.

Goh reached down, taking both of Younger Ash’s hands in his own. He looked deep into those familiar but still different auburn eyes.

“Thank you,” Goh whispered softly. “For everything.”

And then Goh leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss against Ash’s cheek.

Younger Ash’s entire face erupted into flames. His eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. He stared up at Goh, completely mesmerized.

“I'll find you,” Younger Ash whispered, his grip tightening on Goh’s hands, refusing to let go. He swallowed hard and leaned in just enough, voice dropping into a quiet whisper only Goh could hear.


“I love you.”


Goh’s eyes widened at the confession, but a beautiful, warm smile spread across his face and he whispered. “I love you too.”

Ash slowly, reluctantly, let go of Goh’s hands.

Goh watched quietly as the older Ash moved through the group, giving his own goodbyes and hugs. He shared brief, heartfelt hugs with everyone— He didn’t say much—he didn’t need to, and then he hugged them each in turn.

His Pokémon gathered close as well, brushing against him, calling out softly. He crouched still floating, resting his head against them, his eyes closed— gently holding them close—one hand resting against familiar fur, another brushing softly along a wing or shoulder like he was memorizing the feeling.

Ash he slowly stood reluctantly letting go his Pokémon and turned to his younger self.

For a moment, he just looked at him—really looked at him—like he was seeing both who he was and who he would become.

He pulled his younger self into a tight warm hug.

“I’m proud of you,” he murmured, his voice low but steady. “No matter what happens next… keep going. Keep trusting your heart. You’re stronger than you think.”

Younger Ash blinked, surprised—but then he grinned, nodding with that same unwavering determination and wrapping his arms around his future self.

“And don’t be afraid to lean on the people beside you. You don’t have to face everything alone.”

“Yeah! I won’t!”

The older Ash chuckled softly pulling back, giving his shoulder one last squeeze before stepping aside.

“Bye Goh! Bye Ash! Bye everyone!”

“Biiii!” Celebi chirped loudly, breaking the moment.

The Mythical Pokémon fluttered rapidly over the Kalos gang. With a graceful wave of its tiny wings, a shower of sparkling, glowing green dust rained down over Younger Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie, as well as all of their Kalos Pokémon.

The moment the dust touched them, their eyes drooped shut. Without a single sound, they all collapsed onto the soft grass, falling into a deep, peaceful slumber.

“W-wait… what is it doing?” Goh’s voice wavered, his eyes widening as he leaned forward to float towards them. “Ash, they just—”

Before he could go any further, Older Ash gently pulled him, one hand settling at his waist to steady him.

“Hey… it’s okay,” Ash said softly, pulling him back just enough to stop him.

Goh’s eyes widened in horror and glanced up at him. “Okay?! They just collapsed?!”

“…I don’t think they’re hurt,” he said after a moment. “Celebi wouldn’t do that.”

He looked down at his sleeping friends and younger self, a profound, melancholic sadness in his eyes. “It’s… It’s wiping our memories.”

Wiping…memories…?

Before Ash could elaborate further, the humming of the temporal energy reached a deafening pitch. The green light flared to the intensity of a dying star, blinding them completely.

The world twisted. Up became down. Time folded in on itself in a rush of wind and colour.

And then, just as suddenly as it had started, the light shattered.

Goh, Ash, and their Pokémon fell the remaining few inches, their feet hitting solid ground with a soft thud.

The oppressive wind was gone. The bright afternoon sun of Kalos had vanished, replaced by the cool, dappled morning light filtering through a dense, ancient canopy. The air smelled of damp earth and old moss.

They were back.

They were standing in the exact same spot in the forest in Johto where Goh had first been taken.

The time rift closed. The silence of the present timeline was heavy and grounding.

“Pika!” Pikachu sighed in relief, hopping off Ash’s shoulder to stretch. Grookey climbed down from Goh’s shoulder on the ground, chattering happily, while Cinderace, Greninja, Inteleon and Lucario looked around, recognizing their proper time.

Ash let out a massive sigh of relief, his shoulders slumping as the adrenaline finally left his body. “We made it,” he breathed, turning to Goh with a bright smile “We’re home Goh!”

But Goh didn’t respond.

He was standing perfectly still, his head bowed, his shoulders were trembling violently.

“Goh?” Ash asked softly, stepping closer.

They-they forgot me

Goh dropped to his knees on the forest floor. He clutched the square Celebi-tracker device to his chest, his knuckles white. The tears that he had been holding back finally broke free, spilling down his cheeks in hot, rapid streams.

“They forgot,” Goh sobbed, his voice shattering in the quiet forest. He squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head. “They forgot everything, Ash.”

Ash’s heart broke. He immediately dropped to his knees right beside him, and wrapped his arms securely around Goh, pulling him in a tight tight. Goh buried his face in Ash’s shoulder, his fingers digging into the fabric of Ash’s vest as he cried openly.

Their Pokémon immediately crowded around them. Wanting to offer as much as comfort they could.

“I’m sorry, Goh,” Ash whispered, resting his chin on top of Goh’s head, his own eyes watering. “I’m so sorry.”

Goh sobbed, his fingers tracing the once warm, now freezing cold metal of Clemont’s device. “All those wonderful memories we made… they won’t remember any of it.”

-Good morning, Goh! Did you sleep well under the stars?-

-That means you're gonna be here for the Kalos League! You can watch my matches!-

-This is Squishy! I found him in my bag. Isn't he the cutest. Here Goh! Pet him!-

-Goh, try this one too! It’s really good!-Bonnie! The plate is already full—be careful, it’s going to fall!-

-I think it's absolutely beautiful, Goh. You're a very brave person-

He looked at his hand Serena had squeezed.

-Goh! My brother Clemont is a really, really good person! Will you marry him!-

Goh let out a wet, broken chuckle, the memory flashing vividly in his mind, leaning closer into Ash. He wasn’t sure if Ash had heard it or was choosing to give him that quiet moment—but either way, bless him, Ash’s arms tightened around him, holding him just a little more closer.

-Here, these are my spare night clothes. You will be warm in them-

-It’s a Poké Puff! I always make some! Ash already ate three, so… I kept this one safe from him. Here, Goh!-

-He is our new traveling companion! Do you have a problem with that?!-

-Viola’s Vivillon was fast—but see! I won the badge!”

-Here you go, Goh! It’ll hurt less now!-

Goh pulled back just slightly, looking at Ash with tear-blurred eyes, needing to get it all out.

His lips parted, but for a moment, nothing came out. His breath hitched, uneven, like even speaking might make it all hurt more.

He tightened his grip on Ash’s vest, his voice breaking as he finally forced the words out.

“They… they trusted me, Ash.”

His shoulders shook again, but he didn’t look away this time.

“They gave me a place to belong, even if it was just for a little while…” he whispered. His fingers curled slightly, trembling. “They didn’t question me, they didn’t hold back… they just… let me in.”

A shaky breath left him, and he laughed weakly through the tears.

“I didn’t even earn it. But they still…” He swallowed hard. “They still cared about me so much.”

His gaze dropped for a second, then lifted again.

“And now it’s gone.”

His voice cracked sharply.

Goh’s hand tightened over the Celebi-tracker, pressing it against his heart like he was trying to hold onto something that has already slipped away.

His eyes squeezed shut again, fresh tears slipping down.

“I know we had to save the timeline. I know we had to let it happen that way…” he whispered, his voice smaller now, fragile. “But it still hurts, Ash. It really, really hurts so much.”

He leaned forward again, resting his forehead against Ash’s shoulder, his grip softening just slightly—he was exhausted from holding it all in.

-But it's going to get chilly Goh! Why don’t you sleep with me and Ash we can adjust!-

-Does that mean... as soon as we get to the city, you're going to say goodbye to us? Don’t leave so soon!- 

-I… I included its frequency patterns too. So, it might help you with your dream of catching Mew as well!-

-I’ve… never said it out loud to anyone…but… I trust you Goh-

- I promise you, I’ll find you in the future-

-I love you-

Goh choked on a sob, his chest heaving.

“I never wanted it to end,” Goh mumbled miserably into the fabric, his fingers brushing against the blue handkerchief still tied securely around his fully healed ankle.

Ash held him tight, rubbing his back in slow, soothing circles. He let Goh cry, simply offering his presence and his unwavering support.

“I wanted to travel with them more. I wanted to sit in the stands and watch your Kalos League and cheer for you. I wanted to hear Bonnie proudly talk about how great Lumiose City is, only to immediately complain that it’s boring a second later. I wanted to see Clemont’s ridiculous inventions blow up in our faces and laugh with him. I wanted to sit in the audience and watch Serena perform and be happy.”

-Everyone, come here! Say ‘Greninja!-

Goh slowly pulled away from the hug, sniffling loudly. He reached into his pocket with a trembling hand and pulled out his Rotom Phone. He opened the gallery, pulling up the selfie they had taken just hours ago.

He stared at the screen, fresh tears falling. In the picture, they were all squished together, their faces lit up with pure joy. Everyone’s mouth was slightly open, caught in the exact moment they had all yelled ‘Greninja!’ instead of cheese.

Goh let out a watery laugh, his thumb gently brushing over the image. He looked up at Ash, his eyes red and puffy. “Did you know… we could charge a Rotom Phone with Pikachu’s electricity?”

Ash blinked, genuinely surprised. He shook his head softly. “No. I didn’t know that.”

Goh chuckled wetly, wiping his nose with his sleeve. He moved his thumb over Younger Ash’s smiling face on the screen. “Y-you gave me that idea.”

A small, embarrassed laugh slipped out of him as he sniffed.

“I was about to show Ash Grookey’s photos,” he whispered, glancing down at the device, “but then I remembered… it’s basically filled with your photos.”

He huffed out a breath, half-laughing, half-sobbing.

“So I just—panicked and ran off to hide in the bushes for like five minutes straight.”

Ash couldn’t help but chuckle softly at that “Really? You hid in the bushes?”

“And…You have my photos?”

Goh gave a small, embarrassed nod, his gaze dropping.

Ash smiled instantly.

He pulled Goh back into a hug, just as tight—just as warm.

“…I have too,” Ash murmured quietly against his hair.

His hand came up to rest on the back of Goh’s head, holding him there, steady and sure.

“Of you.”

“Did you know Serena actually likes watching those Charjabug races in Alola? She said they’re kind of cute.”

Ash hummed, his thumb brushing away a stray tear from Goh’s cheek. “Yes. I remember she liked it.”

“…Clemont and Bonnie awlays end up holding hands when they walk… without even realizing it”

Ash’s arms tightened around him just a little, his thumb brushing gently against Goh’s cheek.

“…Yeah,” he answered softly.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

They just sat there in the quiet, the forest calm around them. Their Pokémon settled comfortably beside them radiating warmth.

Goh’s breathing hitched now and then, small sniffles breaking through, the occasional hiccup slipping out as the last of it left him.

When Goh didn’t say anything else—his words finally giving way to quiet uneven breaths—Ash shifted a little closer.

Ash rested his chin on Goh’s head, his expression shifting into something incredibly gentle and profound. He rubbed soothing circles on his back.

“Goh…” Ash said softly, his voice soft and soothing. “You made them happy…When you were there, you made them feel trusted. You made them feel cared for.”

Goh sniffled, nodding slowly.

“Even if we don’t remember you,” Ash continued, his hand resting over Goh’s heart. “You still gave us that happiness. You still shared that warmth with us. And that doesn’t just go away. The feelings we felt in those moments were real.”

His thumb pressed gently against Goh’s chest, a grounding touch.

“They don’t disappear just because we can’t remember them,” Ash added quietly. “They stay… in the way we trust people, in the way we care, in the way we reach out without even thinking about it.”

He smiled softly.

“That’s why it felt so easy for them to accept you. That’s why they cared about you like that.” His voice softened even more. “Because you gave them something real to hold onto.”

Ash’s arms tightened around him again, warm and safe.

“So it’s not gone, Goh,” he murmured. “It’s still there…”

He rested his chin more firmly against Goh’s head, his voice dropping quieter, but still full of certainty.

“And you when met them for the first time… I think they felt it. They felt like they already know you. Just like I did.”

Ash smiled, a beautiful, reassuring sight. “And… you aren’t the only person who knows this happened. I’m right here. Our large Pokémon family is here and and at the Cerise Park” Ash gestured to Pikachu, Lucario, Cinderace, Inteleon, Greninja, and Grookey, who all nodded in agreement. “You can tell us everything. Every single detail. We will remember it with you.”

Goh stared at Ash, his breath catching as the profound weight of those words settled into his soul. The crushing grief slowly began to recede, replaced by a warm, comforting light.

“You’re right,” Goh whispered, a genuine smile finally breaking through his tears. He shook his head, looking down at his hands. “If… if you all accepted me so easily, then… you all can now, too!”

Ash let out a bright, ringing laugh.

He moved his hand from Goh’s cheek to playfully flick his forehead.

“Not me, dummy, everyone else! I already chose you! So when we finally meet them all again in this timeline, I want you to make new memories with them. Memories that we all will remember together.”

Goh laughed, a true, happy sound that made the Pokémon around them cheer in relief.

Ash sighed dramatically, leaning back on his hands and looking down at Goh’s legs. “Well… at least the mystery of my handkerchief is finally solved. I spent weeks looking for that thing. I thought a pokemon stole it or something.”

Goh burst into a fit of giggles, reaching down to touch the blue fabric. “Sorry to be the thief.”

He carefully kept the device down on the ground and untied then folded the handkerchief and pocketed it in his jeans pocket.

Ash grinned, his auburn eyes traveling up and down Goh’s form. He tilted his head, a mischievous, appreciative glint in his eye. “I didn’t want to say anything while we were having a temporal crisis, but… you look really cute in my clothes.”

Goh’s face instantly flushed a brilliant, violent shade of red. “A-Ash!”

Ash tapped his chin, pretending to think deeply. “You know, if you look this good in the Kalos gear, we should definitely have you try my Unova ones next. I think the blue and white would look amazing on you. Actually…” Ash grinned wickedly. “Why don’t you just try every outfit I’ve ever worn!!”

Goh shoved Ash’s shoulder, his entire face burning up. “Sh-shut up, Ash!”

Ash laughed, catching Goh’s hand and holding it gently in his own.

Ash looked at Goh, his auburn eyes dark and searching. A heavy blush dusted his cheeks. He swallowed hard, his thumb nervously tracing circles on the back of Goh’s hand.

“Goh?” Ash asked, his voice suddenly very quiet, very tentative. “Can I… can I kiss you?”

Goh’s eyes widened to impossible proportions.

K-Kiss?!

His breath hitched in his throat. He looked at Ash, his heart slamming against his ribs so hard he thought it might break through. He felt a blush so hot it practically radiated heat off his face.

Ash immediately panicked at the silence, completely misreading Goh’s shock.

“W-Well, I mean, a-actually I wanted to kiss you back when we confessed in Kalos! But everyone was sitting right there and were watching, and I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable! And it’s not like we have to kiss right now if you don’t want to! We can totally wait! I have no problems waiting, really, I just thought—”

He was entirely cut off.

Goh grabbed the lapels of Ash’s blue vest, yanking Ash forward with surprising force, and crashed their lips together.

It was a clumsy collision. Their noses bumped awkwardly, and their teeth lightly clacked together in the rush of movement. It was Goh’s first kiss, and he was painfully aware of how unpracticed he was. He didn’t know exactly where to put his hands, eventually settling on gripping Ash’s shoulders like a lifeline.

But despite the clumsiness, despite the lack of finesse… it was the most wonderful thing Goh had ever experienced.

But Ash wasn’t any better.

He froze at first, eyes wide, clearly just as startled and just as lost. When he did respond, it was hesitant and uncertain. His hands moved without much coordination, one landing a little too abruptly at Goh’s waist startling him, the other brushing awkwardly against his neck before settling there, unsure but warm.

They both tried to adjust at the same time—and only made it messier.

And yet…

Neither of them pulled away.

The clumsy pressure of it, the uneven rhythm, the shared inexperience—it made Goh’s chest ache in the best way. Ash’s breath hitched softly against his lips, and that tiny, unsteady sound sent a spark racing down Goh’s spine.

Goh sighed shakily in the kiss, leaning closer, pressing into Ash like he didn’t want to lose this—like he couldn’t.

And somehow, that made it everything.

When they finally broke apart, they were both gasping softly for air. Their foreheads rested against each other, their eyes closed, living entirely in the beautiful aftermath of the moment.

Both of their faces were flushed a deep, brilliant crimson.

“W-wow,” Goh breathed, his voice barely a whisper.

Ash opened his eyes and let out a quiet, nervous breath, looking incredibly vulnerable and shy. He bit his lower lip. “D-did I… um… was that okay?”

Goh let out a breathless, dizzy laugh, his hands still resting on Ash’s shoulders. “How would I know?” he said, a teasing lilt slipping into his voice. “I’ve never done that before.”

But then Goh looked into Ash’s eyes, which were full of a raw, flickering vulnerability, his voice softened into absolute adoration. “Ash…I-it was wonderful. I-I loved it.”

Ash’s face lit up with a grin so bright it rivaled the sun. He couldn’t resist. He leaned forward and kissed Goh again—a quick, firm, happy peck on the lips.

Goh made a surprised little sound, breaking into soft giggles as they pulled apart again, their noses brushing this time instead of bumping.

Ash didn’t move far, though.

Instead, his expression shifted—still warm and bright, but certain.

He reached down, taking Goh’s hands in his, holding them close against his chest.

“Goh,” he said, a little quieter this time, but no less sure. “These past two months… I-I missed you. I missed you so much”

Goh stilled.

“Every time I saw a new Pokémon, I wanted to tell you about it. Every battle… I kept looking for you in the stands looking for your cheering.” Ash huffed a small, almost embarrassed laugh. “It just—it didn’t—it never felt the same without you.”

His fingers tightened slightly around Goh’s, like he was afraid he might disappear if he didn’t hold on.

He looked into Goh’s blue sparkling eyes.

“I-I don’t want to say goodbye again. Not like that. Not again. I never want to let you go away again”

There was a small pause—just long enough for the weight of it to settle between them.

Then, he asked a little more softly—

“Will-Will you… travel with me again?”

Goh’s vision blurred instantly.

He didn’t trust himself to speak—not without completely losing it.

So he didn’t.

Instead, he launched forward, wrapping his arms tightly around Ash and knocking them both back onto the grass in a mess of limbs and laughter.

“Yes!” Goh choked out, burying his face against Ash’s neck. “Yes, yes, yes—of course I will!”

Ash let out a surprised laugh, arms coming up around him without hesitation, holding him just as tightly.

And this time—

neither of them let go.

They barely had a second to themselves before a rush of movement came crashing in.

A chorus of delighted cries filled the clearing as their Pokémon charged forward all at once—no hesitation, no restraint.

And then—

they were buried.

Pikachu leapt right onto Ash’s shoulder with a triumphant “Pika!”, Grookey scrambled in with excited chatter, and Cinderace all but flopped down beside them, laughing in its own loud, energetic way. Inteleon joined more gracefully but didn’t stay back, settling close with a soft, amused huff, while Lucario lowered himself beside them, calm but unmistakably happy to be part of it. Greninja lingered only a second before stepping in too, completing the circle.

It turned into a warm, chaotic pile on the grass—arms, paws, and laughter all tangled together.

After a few minutes of joyous chaos, Goh finally pushed himself up, he smiled offering his hand to Ash. Ash took it, and with a strong pull, Goh hauled him back to his feet. Their pokemon happily scrambling up with them.

“Alright,” Ash said, brushing the dirt off his shorts and adjusting his vest. He looked at Goh, his eyes sparkling with the thrill of a new adventure. “So, where do you wanna go boyfreind?”

Goh looked around at their assembled Pokémon. He looked at his Greninja, standing tall and proud in the Johto forest. He looked down at the blue jacket he was still wearing, and the red cap still secured to his belt. He carefully picked up the device from the ground and safely kept it in his bag. He smiled, a confident, determined gleam in his eye.

“Kalos,” Goh said firmly.

Ash’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but then a massive, excited grin split his face. He tightened his grip on Goh’s hand, his fingers intertwining with Goh’s. “Kalos it is!”

“Wait! Ash!” Goh shrieked, his hands flying to his head.

“What?! What is it?!” Ash panicked.

“Team Rocket!” Goh yelled, pacing frantically. “When I was in the past, Team Rocket trapped us in a pit! They saw me too!”
 

Ash froze. He blinked once. Twice.

“Ughhh,” Ash groaned, rolling his eyes. “I don’t care anymore.”

“What do you mean you don’t—"

“Goh,” Ash interrupted him laughing, grabbing Goh’s hand again. “It’s Team Rocket. If they did remember—which is a huge if, considering how many times Pikachu has shocked their brains into oblivion—they probably must have just thought you have a long-lost twin brother. Besides, I just got you back. I just found out you love me. I am not letting Jessie and James ruin this day.”

Goh looked at the boy in front of him—his best friend, his boyfriend. Ash was right. They were together. And as long as they were together, they could handle anything the world—or the timeline—threw at them.

Goh smiled, a bright, radiant expression that reached his eyes. He squeezed Ash’s hand tightly.

He has some people to meet!

Ash threw his free fist into the air looking at Goh, their voice ringing with pure, unadulterated excitement.

“To the Kalos region! Let’s Go!”

❃゜・。. ・゜゜・。. ・゜❃BONUS❃゜・。. ・゜゜・。. ・゜❃

The world returned to Ash in a slow, hazy blur of soft sunlight and the gentle rustling of leaves.

For a moment, he simply floated in the quiet, a strange, overwhelming sense of warmth radiating through his chest. It felt as though he had just woken up from the most incredible, heartwarming dream, even though he couldn't grasp a single detail of it. His right cheek felt strangely warm, tingling with a phantom touch that made his heart flutter in a way he didn't quite understand.

"Ash! Hey, Ash, wake up!"

The urgent, cheerful voice broke through the fog. Ash groaned softly, his brow furrowing as he felt a pair of small hands shaking his shoulder.

"Come on, sleepyhead!" Bonnie’s voice demanded, closer this time.

A softer, much gentler hand rested on his other shoulder. "Ash? Are you alright?" Serena’s soft voice floated down to him.

Ash finally forced his eyes open, blinking against the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense green canopy of the forest. He found himself lying flat on his back in the middle of a grassy clearing. Standing over him, casting long shadows in the late afternoon sun, were Bonnie and Serena.

Both of them looked just as groggy and confused as he felt.

Ash pushed himself up onto his elbows, shaking his head to clear the lingering dizziness. He looked around the clearing, his brow knitting in profound confusion.

"Wh… what happened?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "Where are we?"

He sat up fully, looking past the girls. A few feet away, Clemont was sitting in the dirt, groggily adjusting his glasses and confused how he had ended up taking a nap on the forest floor.

"Why are we lying around here in the middle of nowhere?" Ash asked, his voice laced with genuine bewilderment. He looked down at his clothes, noticing a few stray blades of grass clinging to his shirt. "Did we stop to take a break?"

Clemont looked up after his glasses fit properly, his expression completely blank. He simply shrugged his shoulders. "I… I honestly have no idea, Ash. The last thing I clearly remember is walking past that large boulder near the edge of the woods yesterday, and preparing breakfast and then… nothing."

A whole day…?

Bonnie rubbed her eyes, a small pout forming on her lips. She looked around the quiet clearing, her hands resting on her hips. "This is so weird! We all just fell asleep at the exact same time? That’s not normal at all! Did a Jigglypuff walk by or something?"

Ash frowned, looking around for any sign of the balloon Pokémon, but the woods were entirely still.

Jigglypuffs don’t appear in Kalos…

His gaze drifted to the edge of the clearing, and his breath caught slightly.

Lying in the soft grass, completely dead to the world, were his Kalos Pokémon. Hawlucha was sprawled against Noivern, both snoring loudly. Goodra was curled into a massive, squishy pile, while Talonflame had tucked its head under its wing. And resting against a nearby tree trunk, arms folded even in sleep, was Greninja.

"They're completely wiped out," Ash whispered softly, a fond, affectionate smile breaking across his face. He didn't want to disturb them; they looked like they had just fought the hardest battle of their lives, even though Ash couldn't remember a single battle taking place today.

Moving quietly, Ash pulled his Poké Balls from his belt. "Return, everyone. Get a good, long rest," he murmured softly. Five beams of red light shot out, gently recalling his heavy-sleeping friends back to the comfort of their capsules.

Ash walked over to the base of a log where a familiar patch of yellow fur was rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Pikachu was curled into a tight ball, its ears twitching slightly in its sleep. Ash’s smile at his best friend sleeping so soundly.

 He knelt down and with practiced gentleness, scooped it into his arms. Pikachu didn't even stir, simply letting out a soft "chaaa" as it unconsciously nuzzled its face directly into the warmth of Ash's chest.

Serena walked over, gently brushing some dust off her red skirt. She looked past the tree line, her blue eyes catching the towering, metallic gleam of Prism Tower in the distance.

"We are just outside Lumiose City," Serena said softly, her voice filled with quiet wonder and confusion. She turned back to Ash, her gaze lingering on the way he so tenderly held the sleeping Pikachu. “Why did we even stop here? We were so close to the city."

"This is so weird," Bonnie reiterated, crossing her arms and pouting at the sky.

Ash simply laughed, the bright, carefree sound instantly shattering the heavy, confusing atmosphere of the clearing. He adjusted Pikachu in his arms, his signature, unshakable grin returning in full force.

"Well," Ash chuckled, his auburn eyes sparkling with absolute trust in the journey, "weird things always happen with us! It’s probably just the forest or some pokemon playing tricks on us. No harm done!"

Clemont sighed, smiling in spite of his scientific frustrations. Ash's optimism was incredibly infectious. "I suppose you're right, Ash. There's no use dwelling on anomalies we can't measure. We should probably gather our things and keep moving before the sun sets completely."

"Right!" Ash agreed enthusiastically.

Holding Pikachu securely against his chest with one arm, Ash walked over to where his heavy, blue backpack was resting in the grass along with everyone else’s. He reached down and hoisted it up onto his shoulder.

The moment the strap hit his shoulder, Ash paused. He bounced on his heels, hefting the weight of the bag. He frowned, his eyebrows pulling together.

"Hey..." Ash muttered, his tone shifting to mild confusion. "My bag... it feels way less heavy somehow."

"Less heavy?" Clemont asked, stepping closer to lift his own bag. "Did you drop something?"

Ash quickly dropped the bag back to the ground. Using his free hand, he unzipped the main compartment and started rummaging through his neatly organized supplies. He pushed past his sleeping bag, his potion case, and his badge case.

Suddenly, Ash gasped, pulling his hand out of the bag.

"Hey! My extra set of clothes is completely gone!" Ash exclaimed, looking up at his friends with wide eyes. He frantically dug into the smaller front pocket of the bag. "And... oh! My handkerchief! The blue one mama gave me! It’s gone too!"

Clemont pushed his glasses up, his analytical mind immediately trying to find a logical explanation. "Are you sure, Ash? Had you taken them out earlier today? Perhaps to wash them by the stream we passed?"

Ash shook his head vehemently, absolute certainty in his eyes. "No way! I haven't opened this bag since we packed up camp this morning..? Or yesterday morning. Whatever that is? I know for a fact my clothes and my handkerchief were right here!"

Before anyone could formulate a theory about a phantom thief in the woods, a sharp gasp echoed from the other side of the clearing.

"Hey!"

Everyone whipped around. Serena was kneeling beside her own pink traveling bag, the zippers thrown wide open. Her hands were hovering over her belongings, her usually soft blue eyes wide with absolute shock and awe.

"Serena? What's wrong? Are you missing things too?" Ash asked, taking a step toward her.

"No," Serena breathed, her voice trembling with excitement. "I'm not missing anything... I... I gained something!"

"An item materialization?!" Clemont gasped, practically running over to her side.

"What is it?! What is it?!" Bonnie squealed, sprinting past her brother to peer over Serena’s shoulder.

Serena slowly, carefully reached into her bag. When she pulled her hands out, she was holding a bundle of soft fabric. It was her favorite, fluffy pink blanket—the very same one she always kept tucked away for only for emergencies. But the blanket was wrapped securely around something solid. Something completely unexpected.

Serena gently pulled back the folds of the pink fabric, revealing the treasure hidden within.

"An egg?!" everyone yelled in unison.

Resting perfectly in the center of the pink blanket was a Pokémon egg. It was a beautiful, pale green colour, smooth and completely unblemished, giving off a faint, incredibly warm glow in the afternoon light.

The entire clearing fell dead silent as the four trainers stared at the impossible sight.

"Where... where did that come from?" Bonnie whispered, reaching out to barely ghost her fingertips over the smooth green shell.

Clemont's mind raced, trying to connect the bizarre, entirely unrelated events of the past hour. He looked at Ash's open, half-empty backpack, and then down at the egg in Serena's hands. He adjusted his glasses, a look of profound, pseudo-scientific realization dawning on his face.

"I've got it!" Clemont declared, pointing a finger into the air. "It must be all related! Think about it! Ash's clothes and his handkerchief mysteriously vanish... and in return, a Pokémon egg appears, carefully wrapped in Serena's blanket!"

Clemont nodded to himself, his glasses doing that reflective glint as he adjusted them. "Perhaps a wild Pokémon, desperate to build a soft, warm nest for its eggs, took Ash's clothing. In gratitude, or perhaps by accident, it left one egg behind in Serena's bag where it felt safe!"

Ash stared at Clemont for a second, processing the wild theory. Then, he looked down at the empty space in his bag. A moment later, a bright, genuine laugh erupted from his chest. He didn't look upset in the slightest.

"Well!" Ash beamed, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the green egg. "If my clothes are gone because a Pokémon needed them to stay warm, then it's totally okay! I’d trade a jacket to make sure a Pokémon is safe any day!"

Serena looked down at the egg resting in her lap. She pulled the pink blanket a little tighter around it, bringing it closer to her chest. She closed her eyes, feeling a steady, rhythmic pulse radiating from the green shell.

"It's so warm," Serena said softly, her voice full of awe and gentle affection. She looked up, her blue eyes shining with determination. She looked at everyone. "I want to keep it! I want to take care of it until it hatches!"

Ash’s face lit up with absolute delight. He stepped closer, offering her a brilliant, supportive smile that made her heart skip a beat.

"Serena, that's amazing! It’s perfect for you!" Ash cheered, his voice ringing with absolute confidence in her. "You're going to be a fantastic caretaker. I know you'll do a great job!"

Serena felt a rush of heat flood her cheeks. She blushed a deep, pretty shade of pink, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, Ash," she murmured, clutching the egg just a little closer.

GRUUUUUMBLE.

The beautiful, touching moment was instantly shattered by a sound akin to a dying Exploud.

Everyone jumped, looking around wildly.

Ash froze, his face slowly turning a bright shade of red. He reached down with his free hand, rubbing his stomach with a sheepish, incredibly awkward laugh. "Ah, man... I guess napping takes a lot out of you, huh?"

"Ash can be hungry anytime" Bonnie sighed, though she was smiling warmly.

Ash's eyes widened.

Wasn’t Clemont and Bonnie’s dad giving us all treat today!

He looked at the towering spire of Prism Tower in the distance.

"Hey!" Ash exclaimed, his voice jumping an octave with excitement. "Clemont! Bonnie! Isn't your dad waiting for us in the city?!"

"Oh, yeah! Daddy is making us a huge welcome-back dinner!" Bonnie cheered, pumping her fists in the air.

Ash practically vibrated with energy. He quickly slung his lighter backpack over his shoulder, adjusting his grip on the sleeping Pikachu. "I am starving! And we don't have any time to lose! The Kalos League is right around the corner! I need to eat, I need to train, and I have to get ready to battle! I'm gonna beat Alain, and I'm gonna beat Sawyer, and I'm gonna win the whole thing!"

The sheer, overwhelming enthusiasm radiating from Ash was a tangible force. It swept over Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie, instantly reigniting the fires of their own excitement.

"Well, what are we waiting for?!" Clemont said, adjusting his own heavy backpack with a confident smile.

Serena carefully placed the wrapped egg into the safest compartment of her bag, securing it tightly. She stood up, brushing off her skirt again, a bright, competitive spark in her own eyes. "Let's get to the city!"

Ash didn't need to be told twice. With a wild, joyous whoop, he dug his heels into the dirt and took off sprinting toward the distant skyline, his sneakers kicking up dust in his wake.

"Hey, no fair! You got a head start!" Bonnie shrieked, instantly sprinting after him with Dedenne squeaking from her bag.

Clemont sighed, already out of breath, but he took off jogging after his sister, a massive smile on his face. Serena followed right behind, her heart feeling lighter and more full of hope than it had in a long time.

As they ran out of the quiet, mysterious clearing and onto the paved road leading to Lumiose City, the strangeness of the afternoon began to slip through their fingers. What had felt so vivid only a few moments ago softened at the edges, fading into something indistinct. Soon, it was just another clearing—no different from the countless others they had passed through on their journey—its secrets swallowed by time and distance.

They didn’t know about the boy from the future, or the tears shed, or the confessions made. To them, it was nothing more than a fleeting stop along the road ahead.

But still as Ash ran toward his destiny, surrounded by the laughter of his friends, he felt an undeniable, unshakable warmth in his heart.

"Come on guys!”

“Let's go!"