Um, this is a bit old, but reading your bugmaniashipping posts (I know your blog has more ships, this one just struck me >//_//<💦): during the Kalos League, Ash gets into more danger than canon and ends up stressed out, nervous, dreading the world was out to get him this time. Upon coming to Alola on a vacation supposed to change his mind, he meets Guzma and his gang, who are able to validate his feeling of having a target on his back. (1/2)
He's still a good kid, but also a bit more prone to trouble. Guzma decides to teach him how to deal with that kinda shit in life while Ash more or less unofficially joins the team, donning some accessories (really just Guzma's way of being territorial). Kukui disapproves but does note Ash seems happier with Guzma around, so he lets it happen hoping they both heal. He's basically the roll in sinnamon roll to Guzma's sin. (he also flirts... but it's too silly. It still works on Guzma) (2/2)
Pfft XD what utter Dorks they are. Poor Ash though, hard times for the protag here.
I always imagined that just the canon Kalos alone fucked him up quite a bit, what with having to leave Greninja behind and being held hostage, told he was going to watch as everyone and everything was killed/destroyed because he was ‘special’. Which is why they didn’t end Kalos by segueing into the next region like every previous series had. Boy gets some depression and doesn’t know where to go from here after all THAT drama.
So Mimey, being the good Mime Dad that he is, wins them all a trip to Alola which is just what Ash needed to reignite the excited spark. Delia legit was WAITING for him to ask to stay behind, she knows her son.
On a side note, why did they let a psychic-type play the LOTTERY?