Aries

Ash died. Between a battle against Mewtwo and Mew, he intercepted to sacrifice his own life only to see the afterlife wasn't interested in keeping him for long. Thrusted into a new version of his life, where everything seems to go in a way that seems determined to break him and his few friends in half.

At least he has a new close friend in this Steven guy, and a new bucketload of experiences that he used to never have... that he doesn't remember.

But the Butterfree effect rings true, and a man can only take so much stress before he starts breaking and fraying at the edges himself a little.