"It seems like even in a different timeline our meeting was similar".
Ash mused as he got out of the shower, the steam clinging to him for a moment before dissipating.
He grabbed a towel, slinging it around his neck as he padded out of the bathroom.
The memory felt both distant and incredibly close, a strange echo from a life simultaneously his and not his.
'Her terrified face... that look when she realised that I was...'
He shook his head slightly, water droplets flying from his dark hair.
Maybe it's fate.
Or maybe just a really, really persistent cosmic coincidence engine that enjoys throwing him and certain people together, often involving minor peril and inconvenient feelings.
Well whatever it is, I need to get going.
A mental image flashed – Serena tapping her foot, Dawn with her hands on her hips, maybe even Misty giving him that exasperated 'you're late again' glare he knew so well from another time.
Yes, definitely need to go to the ranch.
Or else those girls will chew me out.
And while dealing with angry Pokémon was second nature, dealing with annoyed partners required a different, often more complex, skillset.
Ash got ready, pulling clothes from his drawers with practiced speed.
He wore a black shirt, simple and comfortable.
And blue pants, durable enough for training or impromptu Pokémon encounters.
He quickly pulled them on, his movements efficient, honed by years of needing to get dressed and out the door to train or help others.
Put on gloves.
His signature fingerless gloves completed the look, feeling familiar and right on his hands.
A habit formed long ago, practical for grip, yet now an inseparable part of his identity.
And put on a red jacket.
The red jacket, bright and bold, felt comfortable and somehow centered him, a constant in a life.
"Alright where did I put my Bike".
Ash Thought as he looked outside his house through the window.
He scanned the yard, his eyes searching past the familiar fence line, over the neatly trimmed lawn his mother insisted on.
His gaze swept past the garden gnomes Delia sometimes rearranged just to see if he noticed.
And found his bike parked near a tree.
There it was, a sleek, powerful machine leaning casually against the thick trunk of the old oak tree at the edge of the property.
Its metallic finish gleamed even in the shade, hinting at barely contained power.
Beside the tree, a huge Venusaur was relaxing, practically blending in with the lush greenery.
The massive Grass/Poison-type Pokémon lay contentedly in the sun, soaking up its rays like a giant, leafy battery recharging.
It was Green's Venusaur, often left here to enjoy the Pallet Town peace when Green was busy with research or… other things.
Its massive flower on its back was in full bloom, petals wide, radiating a sweet, calming fragrance that filled the air.
"Hey there Venusaur.
How's the Day treating you?".
He spoke in a light tone as he walked over, completely relaxed externally, projecting an air of calm confidence even though he knew, logically, he was incredibly late.
Panicking wouldn't make him get there faster, after all.
"Saur Venus Venusaur?".
She rumbled, the sound deep and resonant, like shifting earth.
Her large, wise eyes blinked slowly, observing him with ancient patience.
(Days good and shiny but when are you going aren't you late?).
Her tone was calm, but the question held a subtle, knowing weight.
Venusaur had seen Ash rush off late more times than it could count on its vines.
Ash gave a grin, leaning against the bike's handlebars.
"Chill there girl.
I am not late."
He paused for dramatic effect, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Its just the time moving a bit faster today.
Trying to keep up with me, you know?".
He winked playfully at the giant Pokémon, tapping the bike's seat.
Venusaur snorted, a sound like leaves rustling in a strong wind, and waved a thick vine dismissively towards the road.
A clear 'get on with it' gesture.
(Just go away.
You are disturbing my photosynthesis with your illogical time theories).
Ash chuckled.
"Alright, alright, I get the message.
Peace and quiet it is.
See ya later, Venusaur.
Tell Green I said hi if she calls."
He swung his leg over his bike, settling into the familiar contours of the seat.
He turned the key.
The engine roared to life with a throaty growl, a deep vibration humming through the frame, a sound that hinted at immense, barely restrained power.
It wasn't just any bike; it was tuned, modified, special.
And with a final, loud VROOM from the engine that definitely disturbed the peace, he left.
He shot off, kicking up a small cloud of dust from the driveway.
The powerful machine shot down the familiar Pallet Town road with incredible speed, a red and black blur against the green landscape.
(Sigh… At least don't make such noise before leaving.
Some Pokémon are trying to achieve inner peace here.)
Venusaur grumbled, adjusting its position slightly, its peaceful nap momentarily, and quite rudely, disturbed.
Ash zoomed past the quiet streets of Pallet Town, waving briefly at a few familiar faces who looked up, unsurprised by the speeding trainer.
He was a known quantity here, after all.
The powerful machine ate up the road, leaning into the curves with practiced ease.
The wind whipped past him, carrying the scent of cut grass and wildflowers.
It felt good, this speed, this freedom.
A different kind of connection to the world than the one he felt running through the forest, but exhilarating in its own way.
And quickly, much faster than any normal bike could manage, he reached Professor Oak's lab and ranch complex.
The sprawling grounds were already buzzing with activity.
He pulled up near the main entrance, the scent of countless Pokémon – hay, fur, ozone, pollen, earth – filling the air, a perfume unique to this place.
Ash smirked at how fast he reached here, cutting the engine and letting the bike rumble into silence.
He swung off and gave the machine a grateful pat on its sleek fuel tank.
"I guess I need to thank Erika for this gift huh..".
He spoke the words softly, a genuine note of appreciation in his voice.
This Motorbike wasn't just transport; it was a statement, a marvel of engineering likely tweaked with Grass-type energy efficiency secrets only Erika would know.
It had been a gift to Ash from the Celadon City's Young Lady on his Seventh Birthday, presented with a serene smile and a comment about needing 'appropriate velocity for his spirit'.
It was one of his most prized possessions, symbolizing a bond, a connection, a shared understanding.
Although, he had to admit, he received many similarly thoughtful, impressive, and sometimes intimidatingly expensive gifts from his other... wives.
A custom Lure Ball set from Misty, incredibly rare evolutionary stones from Cynthia, advanced Encyclopedia from Green, performance-enhancing contest accessories from May, even surprisingly practical survival gear from Lina...
Each held a special place in his heart, a tangible piece of their complex, interwoven lives.
Though he sometimes struggled to keep track of them all, let alone the implied commitments and expectations that came with them.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair again, the wind having messed it up during the ride.
He decided not to dwell too much on it right now.
Thinking about his complicated relationships could wait until after he survived camp duty and the inevitable lectures about punctuality.
One multi-layered life crisis at a time.
He reached the ranch's designated place for the Participants of this Summer camp to gather – a large, open field near the main corral.
A group of kids, ranging from wide-eyed toddlers clinging to parental legs to slightly older, know-it-all pre-teens comparing Pokemons, were milling about.
Parents chatted amongst themselves, some looking excited, others looking relieved to be handing their energetic offspring over for a few hours.
The air buzzed with anticipation and barely contained chaos.
He soon noticed Dawn, her distinctive blue hair making her easy to spot even in the crowd.
She was helping to guide a boy who looked thoroughly uninterested in whatever guidance she was offering.
She was patiently explaining something, pointing towards a sign-up sheet on a nearby table, her voice calm despite the boy's obvious reluctance.
And the boy... he was somewhat familiar.
That dark hair, the intense gaze, the slightly aloof posture...
Ash squinted, trying to place the boy's face in the context of this timeline.
No, not just familiar.
He was someone he knew pretty well from another life, another journey.
It was Goh.
The realization struck him like a Thunderbolt, a wave of unexpected nostalgia washing over him.
Goh, the ambitious boy who wanted to catch Mew, his fellow research assistant under Professor Cerise...
But of course, he couldn't just call out to him like an old friend in this timeline.
They hadn't even met in this iteration of his life.
Here, Goh was just another kid attending summer camp, probably dragged here against his will.
'Right, play it cool, Ash. Staff member persona: engage.'
He decided to call out to Dawn instead, plastering on his most charmingly apologetic smile.
"Hey Dawn!
I am here!
Sorry to be late, got held up!"
He waved, hoping his usual charm and slight helplessness routine would mitigate the inevitable annoyance.
Dawn looked up, spotted him, and her expression immediately shifted from patient guidance counselor to distinctly irritated wife.
Her blue eyes narrowed slightly, the sparkle replaced by a stern glint.
Her hands found their familiar perch firmly on her hips.
"Finally!
Mister 'Train Hard, Forget Everything Else' decided to grace us with his presence, huh?"
Her voice dripped with sarcasm, though thankfully lacked the full force of her Contest-battle commands.
She really looked annoyed, her usual cheerful 'No need to worry!' demeanor temporarily shelved.
"Honestly, Ash, sometimes I think you'd be late to your wedding if a rare Pokémon flew past the window."
Ash winced internally but kept the smile locked in place.
Time for Operation: Charm Offensive.
He walked closer, joining his hands together in a pleading gesture and bowing his head slightly in mock supplication.
"Please, Lady Dawn!
My most beloved, incredibly patient, lovely, talented, stylish, and utterly cute wife!
Forgive this idiot!
This absolute dumbass you unfortunately call a husband!
My training zeal blinded me to the cruel march of time itself!"
Ash gave an overdramatic apology, laying it on thicker than molasses, complete with puppy-dog eyes he'd perfected over years of similar situations.
He knew it was ridiculous, but...
It worked more than well.
Dawn's cheeks instantly flushed a delightful shade of rosy red.
She sputtered for a moment, her annoyance evaporating like morning mist.
"Wha- Ash!
Don't say things like that so loud!" she hissed, glancing around quickly to see if anyone overheard his declaration.
"A.. Alright!
I..I Forgive You.
Honestly..."
She stuttered, looking away and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, trying desperately to hide her flustered expression.
"Just... don't repeat it again.
Professor Oak nearly blew a gasket."
Ash smirked internally, chalking up another successful deployment of strategic flattery.
'Victory.'
Over the years, interacting with the formidable group of women who had somehow become central figures in his life, he'd learned a crucial survival tactic: sincere (or sincere-sounding) praise and well-timed flirting could de-escalate almost any situation arising from his own occasional denseness or poor timekeeping.
He had grown up.
And perhaps, inevitably, become something of a... well, 'Playboy'
No it sounded wrong.
It wasn't malicious.
He genuinely cared for all of them, deeply.
No, it's better to call it using the most effective communication method when necessary for maintaining harmony.
Yes. Strategic charm deployment for domestic tranquility.
It was all about efficiency.
Umu, that's right.
Ash nodded sagely to himself, a small, self-satisfied smile playing on his lips.
"Alright, alright," Dawn said, taking a deep breath and regaining some semblance of composure, though the blush lingered.
"If you're finally here, then help guide this fellow find his friend.
He's been looking everywhere."
She gestured towards Goh, before quickly retreating towards the sign-up table, a hand flying up to touch her still-flushed cheek.
As she hurried away, one clear thought rang loudly in her mind.
'Seriously... that... that Idiot! He became so dangerous now! My poor heart can't take it when he does that! Gotta stay focused! Camp! Kids! No need to worry!'
Ash watched her hasty retreat with a wryly amused smile.
He then faced Goh, who looked even more annoyed now, having been thoroughly ignored during the entire exchange.
The boy had his arms crossed tightly over his chest, radiating boredom and impatience like a budget-brand heat lamp.
"Ah, so," Ash began, turning his attention fully to the kid and extending a friendly, professional hand.
"Sorry about that.
My name's Ash, one of the camp assistants.
And your name is?"
Goh eyed the outstretched hand suspiciously before pointedly ignoring it.
"So you finally care about my presence? Humf."
His voice was practically dripping with pre-teen sarcasm.
"Took you long enough.
I was beginning to think I'd turned invisible."
He sniffed disdainfully.
"As expected, I shouldn't have come to this boring place anyway.
There's probably nothing interesting to catch here at all."
Ash felt a familiar vein begin to bulge slightly in his forehead.
He took a slow, calming breath.
'Okay, staff member hat firmly on. Deep breaths. He's just a kid. A very annoying kid.'
Was Goh always this... abrasive?
He vaguely recalled a certain initial standoffishness, but memory might have softened the edges.
Still, hearing his hometown, a place teeming with diverse Pokémon if you actually looked, called boring?
That stung.
"Well," Ash replied, keeping his tone polite and even, channeling years of dealing with difficult trainers and Gym Leaders.
"Pallet Town might surprise you.
Sometimes the most interesting things aren't the rarest, but the ones you learn the most from."
He kept his hand extended for another moment before casually lowering it.
"You mentioned you came with someone?
And I haven't got your name yet, have I?"
Goh seemed slightly taken aback by the calm response, perhaps expecting an argument.
He uncrossed his arms, though his expression remained guarded.
"Whatever.
My name is Goh."
He replied in a bored tone, as if revealing classified information.
"And I only came because my friend Chloe dragged me here.
Said it would be 'fun'.
I haven't seen any fun yet."
He scanned the area again, clearly unimpressed.
"So, can I ask where Chloe is?
Or am I expected to use psychic powers to find her in this crowd?"
Ash sighed internally.
'Definitely annoying.'
Still, a promise was a promise.
He decided to help him locate his friend.
He scanned the crowd, looking for another familiar face based on Goh's description.
He started to point towards a group of children gathered near a large Tauros enclosure, where another assistant seemed to be telling a story.
"I think I saw a girl with brownish hair over..."
But before he could finish...
"Goh!
So That's where you were!"
A sweet, melodic female voice echoed from just behind Ash.
He turned back, slightly surprised by the interruption.
And saw a familiar girl, though she looked older, more mature than the last time he'd properly registered her existence, even in memory.
Chloe Cerise stood there, looking slightly out of breath.
She had grown quite a bit more than her in his memories , taller, her features refined.
With... impressive proportions for her Age, Ash couldn't help but objectively notice, his internal 'appreciation mode' briefly kicking in before he shut it down.
'though she is just 7... probably'
'Focus, Ash! Camp! Staff! Not... that.'
Umu.
It's good... that she found her friend.
Yes.
He nodded internally, adopting a sage-like look of helpfulness.
"Chloe!
That's my question!
Where were you?"
Goh looked annoyed as he said it, turning fully towards the approaching girl, his previous boredom momentarily forgotten in favor of friendly bickering.
"I've been waiting here forever!"
Chloe looked nervous for a split second, glancing quickly behind her before focusing back on Goh.
"I was talking to my Dad and..."
And surprisingly, following behind Chloe were three adults Ash recognized instantly.
Leading the small procession was...
'Mom!!!' Ash almost shouted the word internally, his eyes widening in genuine surprise.
It was Delia Ketchum, looking radiant and cheerful as always, chatting animatedly with Professor Cerise.
And bringing up the rear, looking slightly flustered and carrying a stack of clipboards, was Professor Oak himself.
The three adults approached the group, their arrival drawing the attention of several nearby parents and kids.
"Ash!
There you are!
You are quite late, my boy!" Professor Oak looked quite grumpy as he finally reached them, adjusting his lab coat and fixing Ash with a mildly stern look over his spectacles.
His brow was furrowed, the picture of grandfatherly disapproval.
"Holding up the schedule, you know!
We have an itinerary!"
"Ah, sorry, Grandpa," Ash said quickly, reverting to the familiar title for the Professor.
"I got a bit... lost in training, but I came as soon as I realized!"
He trailed off as his gaze landed squarely on his mother.
He hadn't expected her to be here at the camp check-in.
"Mom?
Why... uh... what are you doing here?" he asked, genuinely perplexed.
To his question, Professor Cerise answered, stepping forward with a warm, friendly smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, which seemed to hold a mischievous twinkle.
"Why, Ash, isn't it obvious?
Delia-san kindly agreed to accompany me today!"
He gestured between himself and Delia.
"Of course, I had to come personally!
It's practically obligatory!
I had to talk to the mother of the fine young man my daughter is engaged to!"
Ash froze.
The air seemed to thicken.
He heard a distinct buzzing sound in his ears.
He took a low, slow breath and let it out raggedly.
He sighed.
'Again!!' The internal scream was deafening this time.
'Seriously?! AGAIN?! And I don't even know when this one happened! Was there a memo?! Does Dad just hand out engagement promises like flyers?!'
This was becoming a recurring, and frankly alarming, theme in his life.
Professor Cerise laughed a bit at Ash's utterly bewildered, slightly horrified expression.
He seemed to find Ash's shell-shocked reaction genuinely amusing.
"Ah, my boy, don't look so surprised!
Of course you wouldn't know!"
He chuckled again, clapping Ash good-naturedly on the shoulder, seemingly oblivious to the internal meltdown he had just triggered.
"It's because I never even informed my own family properly before today!
Kept it under wraps, you see."
He winked.
"It was just something your father and I decided between us, years and years ago.
Old friends, shared dreams for our children, you understand."
Another piece of... wonderful... legacy from dear old Dad found...
Ash's internal frustration reached critical levels.
He could practically feel his sanity fraying at the edges.
'Give me a break, damnit!'
He looked tired.
Overwhelmed.
Like he might just turn around, get back on his bike, and ride directly into the nearest ocean.
Chloe, meanwhile, looked curiously between her father and the suddenly pale Ash.
Engaged? To him? The late camp helper with the cool Pokémon?
'He looks... cool,' she remarked again in her mind, processing this new, unexpected information.
And kinda hot when he's not looking like he's about to faint. Engaged, though? Dad never said a word!'
She couldn't help but be a little impressed by his appearance, the attention he commanded (even if it was annoyed or flustered attention), and now this sudden, dramatic revelation.
This camp was getting interesting.
While this whirlpool of awkward revelations and internal crises was swirling around Ash, everyone seemed to have completely forgotten about Goh again.
The boy stood there, mouth slightly open, looking from his best friend to her supposed fiancé, to the adults, looking increasingly ignored, bewildered, and utterly out of place.
'Hello? Earth to everyone? Am I the only one completely lost here?! Engaged?! Since when?!'