In this fanfiction, Ash's character development might involve him becoming more empathetic. He could meet Pokemon or characters in the Lunar region who are in difficult situations. For example, if there are Pokemon being exploited in the Lunar region, Ash would step in to help. This would make him grow as a person and a trainer. Also, his understanding of different types of Pokemon and their needs could expand, since the Lunar Pokemon might have different requirements compared to the ones he's used to. He might also develop new skills in communication, if the Lunar region has its own way of communicating with Pokemon.
Some popular themes include Ash's new adventures in the Lunar region, his encounters with new and unique Pokemon. Maybe he teams up with a character from the Lunar area and they go on a journey to save the Lunar Pokemon from some sort of threat.
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.
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.
There are also fanfictions where Ash catches Rayquaza. This could be set during a time when the sky is in chaos due to some dark energy. Rayquaza is drawn to Ash because of his pure heart and determination. Ash, with his usual courage, teams up with his pokemon to assist Rayquaza in restoring balance. As a result, Rayquaza allows Ash to catch it.
If we consider the common growth pattern in the Pokemon series, Charmander evolving into Charmeleon could be an early evolution in the fanfiction. Since Charmander has a clear evolution line and Ash has a strong bond with it, it would make sense for it to be one of the first to evolve, perhaps due to a tough battle or a special encounter that accelerates its growth.
Ash's loss could lead to a change in his journey. Instead of just aiming for Pokémon battles and championships, he might focus more on self - improvement and understanding his Pokémon better. He could travel to new regions to learn different training techniques or seek out wise Pokémon trainers who can give him advice on how to avoid such losses in the future.
Maybe it's a legendary Pokemon in disguise. In some fanfictions, legendary Pokemon often play important roles. It could give Ash the egg as a test or because it senses that Ash has a pure heart. Another possibility is that it could be a young trainer who can't take care of the egg anymore and trusts Ash to do a good job.