Before we get to the chapter, I've got some things to say! First off, check out I_LOVE_AMOURSHIPPING, she made yet another fantastic cover for this story. She has some amazing stories and you should definitely check them out if you haven't already! Second, since this is different than the anime and I am the power having author here, what do you guys think about Ash having a Lucario? In the games Korrina gives you one and I've always thought Ash should have one so maybe I could work in a way where this happens. Let me know what you think because I would love to give him one. Third, this will not follow an overall plot of an episode of the anime because this is all adlibbed here. Anyways hope you enjoy!

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Ash had just managed to find his mirror counterpart. He saw him crying. He almost felt bad for cry baby Ash. He looked upon his counterpart thinking about anyway he could help him recover from his sadness but he was snapped out of his thoughts when he saw the other Ash suddenly move. He saw him jump into the giant slab of crystal he was once leaning against and disappear from sight. He then heard distant shouting, followed by a feminine voice shouting his name in glee. He turned and didn't see anyone... until he realized the sound was coming from the portal. He ran towards the now closing portal to see his counter part Ash with a huge smirk on his face.... holding Serena in his arms while she had the happiest expression he had ever seen, all the while the portal had slowly been closing as he gazed upon the two.

Ash looked into his reflection in the crystal mirror with pure confusion. Why would the other Ash want to be in his world? What could he possibly gain from this? He sighed in frustration as he held his hand up to the smooth surface.

"He went through didn't he?" Ash voice questioned.

Ash turned around to be see the mirror XY group standing a few feet away.

"Well figured he would run away at some point but not like this." Mirror Clemont said adjusting his glasses.

"I concur. Cry baby Ash has remarked multiple times of disregarding us." Mirror Bonnie said sadly.

"I don't mind. In fact if anything this is a good thing. We traded our Ash for this one." Serena said pointing to Ash. "He will be much better for battling with."

"What do you mean trade?" Ash said as he approached the group.

"Why don't we get out of this cave and I can tell you." Clemont said.

Ash nodded as he proceeded to follow the group as they maneuvered their way effortlessly through the cave. After a few moments of silence they had made it out of the cave. Clemont guided them towards a clearing on route 11 in the woods. Clemont began setting up their tents while Serena had began to prepare food. He noticed Bonnie had been sitting on a tree stump reading a dictionary. Shrugging all of this off he decided he was going to set up his own tent. He used to sleep in Clemont's but he thought it would be good to use his own for now. As soon as he started setting it up he noticed the 3 others near the campsite looking at him while whispering to each other.

"What's wrong?" Ash questioned.

"The cry baby Ash didn't know how to set up a tent." Clemont said.

"He was really bad at camping." Serena said bluntly.

Ash chuckled at the thought. An Ash that wasn't good at camping? He'd been camping for years. He could never imagined not being good at it.

"So Ash," Clemont said while sitting down on a picnic blanket with the others following suit, " Why don't you tell us about yourself?"

"First tell me what you meant back in the cave about a trade." Ash said sternly, also sitting down.

Clemont let a out a sigh. "Well, upon researching some spells in some old scrolls, I came across the legend of Reflection cave. It states that there are portals between different worlds that are similar to the one you are in but also has vast differences. In this cave, there are doorways that can only open when someone is in great need. I guess that means our Ash was desperately wanting to leave. And after the portal senses you went through, even though it wasn't you, it closed. Probably until someone else needs it open." Clemont said emotionlessly.

Ash sat there in shock. He saw Bonnie looking at him with sad eyes and Serena was inspecting her nails, uninterested in the conversation.

"So does that mean I can't go back?" Ash asked.

"Unfortunately so my friend." Bonnie responded hesitantly.

Ash was speechless. He couldn't go back to his home? What of his other pokemon? His friends and family? What was he supposed to do?

"I'm sure you're a bit unsure of what you think you should do, so might I make a suggestion?" Clemont asked politely.

"I suppose so..." Ash said.

"I think you should continue your goal in Kalos. Your friends should eventually realize that the Ash they have with them is not really you, so they will find a way to bring the portal back." Clemont said.

Ash didn't respond. His only goal was to compete in the league and enjoy his friends. Half of that was already impossible here... unless he could make friends with these mirror counterparts. The thought of that made him slightly happier. Of course he liked helping Serena with her training but this Serena wouldn't require his 'supervision' and this Bonnie seemed much more intelligent. This Clemont seemed to study magic and this was a disappointment to him because he loved the science machines Clemont would invent, even if they blew up. He thought this over but he would still miss his friends greatly.

"So how did you meet cry baby Ash?" He finally asked.

He saw Serena smile at his question. "I was sitting at in my house, recovering from a Taurus riding lesson from my mom. We were watching TV and we saw cry baby Ash fall from Prism Tower after a Garchomp chased him up there. I recognized him from a summer camp I went to when I was a kid and figured he could use my help."

"And my sister and I were testing a security measure for Prism Tower when we ran into him. I was intrigued by how such a... well... a bad trainer was able to accomplish all that he had. He made it to the finals of every league he competed in. So I followed him to see what his secret was." Clemont told him.

"Wow... this other Ash sure is something huh?" Ash questioned them with a chuckle. They all laughed and then a moment of silence passed.

"So under what circumstances did you encounter the other us?" Bonnie questioned.

Ash smiled as he told about his adventures upon getting to Kalos. About challenging Clemont and meeting Serena after he jumped off the tower, Pikachu jumping in with a 'pika' every now and again to show his agreeance. He told them about his adventures so far with his gym battles and team rocket. They were very interested in hearing the differences between worlds.

After listening to Ash's stories, they all sat in silence as the realization that cry baby Ash was no longer going to be traveling with them, but instead... the better version of Ash.

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Serena's POV:

'Since Ash has gotten back he hasn't quite been then same. We made it out of the cave but where usually he leads the group..... he's been trailing behind us all. And Pikachu is in his poke ball for the first time? This is very strange...'

The group had finally gotten back to the clearing that they were settling in for the night. They were still on route 11 and we're resting from the events of Reflection Cave. Ash had been acting very weird. He was extremely close to her no matter what the situation... she was really happy about it and seemed to never stop blushing but it just wasn't him...

"Ash would you set up the tents while Serena and I make some food for us?" Clemont asked as they set down their bags containing all of their camping equipment.

"Ughh... could you do it?" He asked nervously.

"But you always set up the tents..." Bonnie said to him.

"And where's Pikachu at? I haven't seen him since you got back from the cave." I said. It's true. Usually Pikachu will run right up to me, he loves when I scratch right beneath his chin.

"He wasn't feeling well so I put him in his ball until we get to the pokemon center." He told me while scratching the back of his head. "And I'm still feeling a little weird after reflection cave... I'd prefer not to set up tents tonight."

'What would he have to feel weird about? It's not like anything happened...'

Clemont hesitantly shrugged and began to set up both the tents. 'Great now I have to cook alone' I thought grumpily. I proceeded to cook the stew that Clemont had set up. I looked over towards Ash as he sat on a nearby tree stump. He was trying to sit there away from everyone but Bonnie kept pestering him to release Pikachu so that she and Dedenne could play with her.

'This is so wierd.... he looks.... less confident, he's less optimistic, less... like the Ash I used to know..... what happened to you Ash? '

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Hopefully you all read the message up top! Let me know what you think! The XY Gang definitely knows something is up... and the the mirror group seem happy to get a new Ash, how will this play out? Hope you guys enjoyed! :)