Hi guys, it's time travel time!

Don't get confused, there will be two timelines going simultaneously during this story: AG!Ash in present time, and SM!Ash in the past. The aim is to have them take about half-and-half of each chapter.

This is not a rewrite-story and will have its own plot! I'll have this be canon compliant to some extent but don't take anything too seriously! :)

Mew was… fading.

Simply put, it was dying. The whole Tree was dying, and so were all the pokemon living alongside it.

The brave lucario, and the brave boy with the magnificent Aura – they were dying, too. They were exhausting themselves trying to save it. In minutes it would be over, and at least one of them would sacrifice their life for everyone else.

Mew knew it had to save them. It was a higher order, a command from the other gods that filled its head and made its will bend to their will. And there would be no objecting to that.

Mew had to think fast.

They needed someone stronger here. Someone… someone who could take the strain of losing majority of their Aura and still survive. Someone with a healthy, powerful spirit and the blessing of legendaries on their shoulders.

Mew looked at the little boy in front of it.

He had a lot of potential. He had already been through a lot, Mew could tell. Had survived more than a normal child ever should. But it wouldn't be enough, this time. If he were just a little bit older, a little bit more experienced, a little bit more… enduring. Then, he could save the Tree, and himself.

Yes, it had to be done.

Pushing through the powerful Aura surrounding it, Mew surged forward and grabbed the child's face between its paws.

And the universe shifted.

.

.

There was a loud crash from the loft.

Kukui raised his head from the morning paper and set his coffee cup down. He looked towards the loft, smiling to himself. There never was an uneventful day when living with Ash.

He was about to go back to the paper – it was still raving about Ash's victory, and about Kukui's Masked Royal identity, and it was funny – before he heard Ash mumbling something and he paused, frowning.

"Lucario… no, Lucario!"

Ash was yelling, panicked, frightened. Kukui stood up, coffee forgotten, everything forgotten, and quickly walked closer.

"Ash?" he called, heart racing. "Are you okay up there?"

Silence followed, only filled with Pikachu's worried sounds. He called Ash's name again but still, there was no answer.

"What happened…?" muttered Ash's voice then. "Where am I?"

Kukui's stomach dropped. That was worrying.

"I'm coming up there", he cautioned, slowly, gently. "Ash, just stay where you are."

He climbed the ladder and peeked over the top of it into the loft. Ash was sitting on the floor next to his sofa bed, his eyes wide and an unusually haggard look on his face. He turned his head to look at Kukui, frowning slightly. There was no recognition in his eyes.

"Who are you?" he asked in a weak voice. "And where's everybody else?"

Kukui's grip on the ladder was white-knuckled.

"Where's Lucario?" Ash demanded, and he sounded increasingly anxious with each word. "What about Mew? What happened to the Tree? Where am I?"

Kukui climbed up to sit on the edge of the loft. He's hands were shaking badly, and he slowly leaned towards Ash.

"Ash… You are at my home, in Alola. I'm Professor Kukui, your… teacher. Don't you recognize me at all?"

Is this amnesia? Has he hit his head or something?

But Ash wasn't really listening. He had lowered his gaze to stare at Pikachu who had climbed onto his lap and was pawing at his stomach, calling his name. Ash brushed a tentative hand over the fur between its ears and it cooed back at him in a questioning tone.

"This isn't my Pikachu…" he said quietly, and Pikachu let out a hurt sound, its cheeks sparkling. Ash frowned, rubbing a hand hard against his forehead. "No, it is. Huh? Pikachu, what happened to you?"

"Pikapi!" it yelped, its little nails pulling on Ash's shirt. Slowly, Ash wrapped his arms around it, turning his head again to stare at Kukui.

"Did I teleport here?" he asked suddenly, startling Kukui. He sounded much more relaxed already.

"Um", said Kukui blankly. He dug out his mobile and started typing on it with trembling fingers. He needed help. He needed Burnet.

Come home SOS!

He hit send just as Ash stood up, Pikachu still tightly wrapped up in his arms. "I gotta go", he said. "I gotta get back to the Tree."

He walked slowly towards Kukui. Kukui did not move, his gaze fixed at the kid he had housed and taken care of for over a year. The freshly declared Alola Champion, even.

"Where are you going?" he asked worriedly. "What tree?"

Ash frowned. "You know, the Tree of Beginning. Which way is it?"

Kukui blinked. "There's nothing called the Tree of Beginning here. Ash? Where do you think you are right now?"

...Is this a flashback? Is he reliving a memory?

Ash stopped right next to him, leaning forwards to look over the edge of the loft. He looked like he was considering jumping down. Kukui fought against an urge to grab his arm and hold him.

"Uh, probably somewhere in Cameran Palace", replied Ash distractedly. "I guess Mew sent me somewhere away from the Tree, so I'd be safe."

Cameran Palace? It sounded vaguely familiar, but Kukui was still at a complete loss.

"Mew sent you?" he asked, just to say something, just to keep Ash talking.

"Hey, can you move a bit? So I can get down?" Ash spoke over him. "I really gotta go."

Kukui moved, just slightly, so he covered even more of the exit space. "I can't, Ash. I- I think I'll need to take you to the hospital. You might be suffering from memory loss. Or something similar."

Ash glared at him. It was a weird look on him – one Kukui had not seen aimed at him before. "I'm not suffering from anything", he huffed, annoyed. "I remember everything just fine. We were about to save Mew, 'cos it was gonna die. And if I don't get back soon, Lucario might…"

He gritted his teeth, pushing past Kukui. He gripped the railing with his right hand and before Kukui could do anything to stop him, Ash jumped – surprisingly fluidly, he swung his body over the edge and dropped down.

"Don't-!"

"Pika!"

He landed hard on the floor, staggered shortly and dropped down to his knees.

"Ow ow ow", he groaned, picking himself up from the floor and rubbing at his legs. He looked at his little companion still in his arms. "You okay, Pikachu?"

"Pikaa…" It muttered. It didn't let go of Ash's shoulder. Kukui quickly climbed down the ladder, trying to come up with a way to stop Ash that would require the least amount of physical force.

"Hey, wait up!" He called, just as Ash's hand touched the doorknob. "You wanted to see Lucario, right?"

Ash turned around, looking at him suspiciously. "Yeah, so?"

Kukui fingered his belt, debating whether it was a good idea or not. If it would help Ash or just make this – whatever this was – worse.

But Ash was looking like he was about to bolt out of the door any second, and Kukui needed to play time until help arrived.

"Come out, Lucario!" he called, releasing his trusted companion. Ash had seen his Lucario during the league so maybe, just maybe, it would help him remember.

But as Lucario appeared in front of him, the reaction was not what Kukui had expected.

Ash stumbled back, his back hitting the door and he stared at the pokemon in shock. All color drained from his face and Kukui could see a violent shiver running through his body.

"Lu- Lucario…" he whispered. "Why is it…"

Then, suddenly, his expression changed again. He looked away from Lucario, straight at Kukui.

"That's not Lucario", he said angrily. "This- this isn't my Pikachu. You're not… I've never seen you before. Is this some sorta trick?"

He grabbed the door handle again, and with his other hand he pried Pikachu off his shoulder. It was frozen, stricken by the harsh words, and Ash managed to grab it by the fur of its neck and drop it on the floor.

"I get it now; you're trying to fool me! Are you… Team Rocket? Team Magma?" he continued accusingly, while Kukui stared at him in complete shock. "Anyway, don't try to stop me. I'll save Mew, whatever it takes!"

He pulled open the front door and ran out.

Oh shit. Oh SHIT.

"Wait!" Kukui yelled, finally getting his voice back, totally beside himself. "Ash! Don't leave-"

He followed after Ash, but he stopped short at the threshold, his heart in his throat.

Because Ash was standing only a few steps away from the house, looking around the landscape with a blank expression. Slowly, he turned around and looked back at Kukui.

"What is this place?" he asked softly. He looked like a trapped animal, even though there was nothing but space around him. "I guess you weren't lying about… all this. Wh-where am I?"

Kukui's heart broke a little bit. Pikachu ran down the steps and latched onto Ash's pant leg, chirping angrily. Ash didn't shake it off this time.

"I told you", Kukui replied quietly. "This is Alola. You live here."

Ash blinked, confusion clear on his face. He still seemed wary, about Kukui, about everything, but at least he had calmed down slightly.

"Alola?" he asked blankly, hugging his arms around himself. "Where's that? I was just in Kanto."

Kukui worried his lip. "Would you come back inside?" he suggested then. "We should talk about this, properly."

For a moment, Ash just looked lost. Then, he glanced down at Pikachu, and something shifted in his expression. He bent down and gently picked up the pokemon, holding it at arm's length. Pikachu stared at him with big eyes, whining softly.

"You are my Pikachu", Ash muttered, a slight smile appearing on his lips. "You're just… a bit different. I'm so sorry I said all that stuff to you."

"Pikachu pika pikapi", replied Pikachu, and Kukui thought it sounded almost offended.

Ash laughed softly, and he let Pikachu clamber onto his shoulder again. When he looked back at Kukui then, there was new determination in his eyes.

"Okay, let's talk."

.

.

There was no warning. Nothing to prepare him for it.

It was an early morning, two days after his league victory, and Ash woke up to the comforting aroma of coffee and Kukui's soft humming coming from downstairs. The sky was bright blue behind the skylight window and Ash couldn't wait to go for a morning swim with his pokemon.

Smiling, he sat up on his sofa while Pikachu skittered over his legs with bounding enthusiasm. He was about to stand up when he was hit by an abrupt wave of vertigo that made him feel like he was falling backwards. His stomach dropped and the world around him blurred and spun and he blinked, startled.

And in that moment he wasn't in Alola anymore.

He was in… he recognized the scene it instantly. He was inside the Tree of Beginning, sitting slumped on the floor with Sir Aaron's gloves on his hands, and Lucario was about to die.

Ash didn't care if it was a dream, or a vision, or a memory. He wouldn't hesitate this time.

He scrambled up, jumped forwards and pushed Lucario to the side.

Its telepathic voice instantly filled his head.

What are you doing, Ash?! You will die!

"No, you will!" yelled Ash, throwing his hands at Mew and focusing his Aura towards the dying mythical. It felt like a lifetime since he had last done this, but it felt like second nature at the same time – like welcoming back an old friend. A friend he thought he had left behind, a long time ago.

His Aura flowed through his fingers and he felt lot stronger than he remembered ever feeling.

He could hear Pikachu calling his name, Kidd calling his name, Lucario, yelling, desperate. His life force was draining, transferring into Mew, and he let it all go. Painful shockwaves ran through his body. His legs grew weak and the world turned hazy around him, but he still kept going. He would give Mew every bit of his energy if it meant that it would survive, and Lucario would live, this time.

And then, finally, the chamber was lit by a green glow, and Mew was back.

It flew over to the injured Tree, transferring the healing energy into it. Before their eyes, the world changed, and life was released back into the place. Ash dropped onto his knees and pulled off the gloves, his hands trembling so badly even that simple task felt difficult. His arms were pale and grey-tinted under them, almost transparent, and he tried to remember what had happened next, all that time ago.

"Ash, are you okay?" yelled Kidd, leaning down to look at him. Ash didn't have the breath to answer her.

"Pikapi!" called Pikachu, and it ran up to him and stared at him with wide eyes.

It had already seen him die once that day, remembered Ash, and now it might be happening again.

"It's okay", he whispered hoarsely, fighting against the waves of pain, against the overwhelming dizziness. "Mew is safe… Lucario will… Lucario can finally live, now…"

What did you do, Ash? demanded Lucario, horrified. It grabbed his shoulders, shaking him harshly. Why did you push me aside?

"You would've died…" wheezed Ash. "I know… I'm from the future…"

What? What do you mean by that?

"Ash!" Kidd shouted. "Stay with me!"

"Pikaka?" asked Pikachu, pausing its fussing for a moment. The future?

Ash grinned wearily while Lucario helped him sit down against a big glowing rock. "Yep!" he breathed. "I mean, this seems… pretty real at least."

"Hey, just try to rest for a moment", Kidd exclaimed, crouching down next to him. "This is very real, Ash. And you're doing just fine, I promise you…!"

Ash leaned his head against the rock, breathing out deeply. His head lolled to the side, and he spotted a time flower close by. He knew there would be a memory for Lucario to see.

He reached out his hand, and with his touch the surroundings turned misty and they could see Sir Aaron – all alone in that very chamber, his last minutes rapidly ticking to an end.

'Lucario… Forgive me… Please understand, I had to seal you inside the staff. I knew if I didn't, you'd follow me here and suffer the same fate. I only wish you could've known the real story…'

Lucario was near tears. It leaned towards the projection, trying to reach it.

I understand!

'One day you will be released, in a distant and a more peaceful time. What will it be like, I wonder…? I have… no regrets. My journey has been good. I served a beautiful queen and you and I shared many adventures! Those memories… will always be with me.'

Master, Lucario answered, tears flowing freely now, if you can only hear me, I want to tell you how much you mean to me!

'Lucario, fare well. You were more to me than just my student. You are my closest friend.'

Lucario nodded softly. I feel the same.

'Who knows, it could be, one day… we will see each other again. I hope so my friend.'

Aaron smiled for the last time, and then the image faded.

Lucario was openly crying now, and it broke Ash's heart once again.

Aaron my friend! I'm sorry I failed you!

Ash grabbed its hand, staring at it intently through his squinted eyes.

"That's not true", he stressed, struggling to keep his voice steady. He remembered the words he used to console Lucario the last time. "You did all you could… You proved you're a… true guardian of Aura… like Sir Aaron!"

Lucario lowered its head. Thank you, Ash. But now you are dying in my stead. I am so sorry…!

Ash smiled, relaxing against the rock. "Don't be. I don't think I'll… die… right now."

"Pikapi…"Pikachu crawled onto his lap, and Ash cradled its head gently between his hands.

I would have been glad to go, Lucario continued, but I am truly thankful, Ash. You gave me a chance to see the world, like Aaron wished I would.

Ash coughed, breath rattling in his chest.

"Mew! Help him!" Kidd demanded desperately, somewhere out of Ash's line of sight. "Look at him! Can't you do anything?"

"Don't mention it… Lucario", Ash chuckled, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, Mew was hovering in front of him, a curious look on its face. Ash whispered: "Mew…"

"Mewew", it responded softly. It reached out to him, but Ash jerked back, shaking his head.

"No!" he objected quickly. "Mew, don't… You're still weak. I'll be fine."

"Pikapi pi pikaka!" said Pikachu from Ash's lap, glaring up at Mew. "Pikachu pika!"

Mew twirled around slowly, its tail twitching anxiously. "Mew me…"

"Did you… sent me here from the future?" asked Ash, staring at his gloved hands. He hadn't worn those gloves since… a long time ago. His body felt smaller too, weaker. Mew had done something to him.

Mew stopped hovering, settling down to sit on the floor, eyes wide and strained. Ash's fingers were still tingling with traces of pain, but color was slowly returning to his skin and he found he could breathe a little easier. The fatigue, however, was overwhelming, and he struggled to stay alert.

If he fell asleep, would he wake up in his own body?

"How do I get back?" Ash asked Mew, petting Pikachu distractedly. "Can I get back?"

Next to him, Kidd was talking through her wireless equipment, giving someone a report of the situation. Ash had barely heard a word of it, but he noticed when she stopped talking and turned around to stare at him once again.

"Wait… Are you being serious about this, Ash?" she asked, hurriedly dropping her call. "Mew sent you from the future? It… replaced your mind – your spirit – with your older self? I mean, your younger self? Ugh, whatever. Can it really do that?"

Ash shrugged, smiling slightly. "Eh, I guess so! I was in Alola just now, before I appeared here. I think my time is at least, uh, a couple of years from now…?"

Pikachu tilted its head and jumped off his lap. It looked at him carefully, suspicion in its eyes now that he wasn't actively dying. "Pika?"

Did your other self go to the future, then? questioned Lucario, totally confused. This… seems strange.

Ash rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed for some reason. "It's not really as strange as you'd think…"

He sighed then. What a hassle. He was having such a good time and everything. He had just won the league, for Arceus's sake. Couldn't he have more than two days to enjoy it?

Mew explained something to Pikachu and Lucario, and Lucario nodded.

Mew says it indeed did swap you with your other self, because otherwise someone would have died. It can swap you back later, but it is too tired to do it right now.

Ash scratched his hair. "But how come I remember someone dying? If this is the past, then this… this all should've already happened to me before, right?"

"Mew, mewwew mew."

Mew tells you to not think about it too hard, Lucario translated. Then it frowned, indignant. But that was a valid question, Mew!

"We should search for Brock and the others", suggested Kidd, interrupting Mew's snarky reply. "They must be getting really worried about us."

"I guess you're right", said Ash, still a bit perplexed. Then he grinned, excited. "Man, I can't wait to see May and Max again! It's been so long!"

He pushed against the rock to stand up but was instantly thrown off his feet again. The world shook, and the roof of the chamber above them caved in with a thundering crash. A giant aircraft followed the crash, landing harshly on the cave floor.

"What's going on?" yelled Kidd, stepping closer to Ash. Pikachu's cheeks sparkled, and it crouched nearby, ready to attack. Lucario, still exhausted, inched closer to the group.

The aircraft's door opened revealing a cluster of grunts. They didn't spend any time messing around, instead rushing forward with a clear plan and surrounded their small group effectively. One of them shot a capture beam at Mew that turned it into a stone-like statue, zapping its power away from it. Ash pushed himself up, his entire body shaking with exhaustion and anger.

"Hey, stop it!" Kidd shouted at the grunts. "What are you doing? You can't do that to Mew!"

"Pikapika pikachu pika!"

Stop it! Do not harm Mew!

Ash was the only one silent, his eyes fixed on the aircraft with a mix of fear and rage on his face. More precisely, he was looking at the person standing at the threshold of the aircraft. He glanced around, feeling an intense sense of dread pooling in his stomach.

He grabbed Kidd's arm, speaking quickly under his breath.

"Kidd, careful, that's… She's Hunter J!"