One idea could be that Ash and Dawn visit Paldea for a special Pokemon exchange event. They meet new Pokemon and trainers, and Ash gets into some friendly battles with the local champions. Dawn, on the other hand, discovers new forms of Pokemon contests in Paldea and decides to participate.
In Paldea, the interactions could change because of the different cultures and Pokemon battles. For example, if there are new battle styles in Paldea, Ash would be eager to learn and participate. Team Rocket might try to disrupt these battles to steal Pokemon. But as they interact more, they could start to understand each other better. Ash could see that Team Rocket might be more desperate for success in this new region, and Team Rocket could see Ash's determination to adapt and grow.
The plot could revolve around Ash and Dawn being chosen to represent their home regions in a big Paldean Pokemon tournament. They train hard together, learning new techniques from Paldean trainers. However, they soon discover that there is a conspiracy to rig the tournament, and they have to expose the plot while still competing.
One possible plotline could be that Ash and Team Rocket accidentally team up in Paldea to face a common enemy. Maybe there's a powerful and mysterious Pokemon in Paldea that's causing chaos and they realize they need to combine their efforts to stop it. Ash could bring his skills and positive attitude, while Team Rocket could use their sneaky tactics in a good way for once.
Pikachu is a very likely candidate. It's Ash's most iconic Pokemon and has a deep bond with him. Whenever Ash is in trouble, Pikachu often steps up to protect him.
Ash could be a Pokémon trainer with a different starting point in this fanfiction. Born in 1987, by 1997 he might have already made a name for himself in local Pokémon battles. He could have a team of Pokémon that he rescued from difficult situations, like a Charmander that was abandoned by its trainer. His story could revolve around giving these Pokémon a second chance and proving that Pokémon don't need to be 'perfect' to be strong.
The impact of Ash's loss in the fanfiction could extend beyond just himself. His Pokémon might also feel demoralized. However, this could also be an opportunity for them to grow stronger together. Ash could start training more intensively, seek new training methods, or even try to catch new Pokémon to strengthen his team.
One popular type of Pokemon Ash and Pikachu fanfiction might be adventure - based. For example, Ash and Pikachu could embark on a journey to a new and mysterious region filled with undiscovered Pokemon species. They might face challenges like difficult terrains and powerful, previously - unseen Pokemon. In this fanfiction, Pikachu's electric powers could be enhanced in some unique way, and Ash would have to strategize differently to overcome the obstacles.
One popular aspect of Alola fanfiction with Ash could be his growth as a trainer. In the Alola region, Ash had unique experiences. Fanfiction might explore how he further developed his skills, formed new bonds with Pokemon, and interacted with the local culture. For example, his relationship with Pikachu might be delved into deeper, showing how they overcame new challenges together in the Alola setting.
In a fanfiction about Ash born in 1987 and his situation in 1997, we could see an alternate story where Ash is not the typical rookie trainer. Since he's a bit older than in the original, he might be more knowledgeable about Pokémon lore. He could be on a quest to uncover some ancient Pokémon secrets in 1997. He might travel to different regions, not just for battles but also to study old Pokémon texts and artifacts, and along the way, form an unusual team of Pokémon that are attracted to his in - depth knowledge.