Ash was thrashing in his sleep, his nightmares were getting worse and worse they were taking a toll on his mental strength, every night he suffered. This wasn't an uncommon situation for the young trainer to be in, at only twenty years old he had already saved the world at least three times: from MewTwo and his fascination to remove humanity, the incident on the Orange Islands involving the three birds or even that last incident in Hoenn. At twenty Ash had done more and suffered more than most people ever would.

Pikachu looked over at the restless form of his friend, whilst he couldn't comprehend what exactly was going on he knew it was bad and he had to help the best way he knew how "pikaaa chuuu" and the whole room filled with an intense yellow-blue light as electricity arced from the small rodents cheeks over to Ash.

With a scream Ash was awake and alert, if not slightly on edge. "Ah what was that?" as sweat dripped down his face and onto his cold torso.

"pika pika chu" the Pokemon responded, whilst miming Ash's thrashing.

"Oh. Sorry bout that pal, they seem to be getting worse lately, I just wish I knew why they were happening" despondently Ash looked at the ground, whilst tears welled in his eyes he refused to be defeated by this, it was only another battle after all. "Anyway, as we're up, we may as well make a move from here" looking around the small room in the Pokemon Centre "Pallet isn't far away, and we really should be getting home by now".

As Ash traveled along the road to the town of Pallet he knew that his mother and the world renowned Pokemon professor, Samuel Oak, would be extremely pleased to see him, this helped to lift his spirits as a small, almost untraceable, smile crept across his face. Of course there were still people he had to see now that he was back in Kanto, this was of course Misty and Brock, his two closest friends and whilst they had all gone their separate ways a few years back they still remained close. Or at least he hoped, this uncertainty had been with our destiny struck hero for a long time now. Looking up from the road Ash found himself looking straight at his mom's front door, had he really walked ten miles already, maybe that's what pondering the reactions if your loved ones does, it makes time fly.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Ash? Ash! You're home, it's really you" his mother choked out as she saw her son for the first time in over a year.

"yeah, of course it's me, I said I'd be back today, and well, here I am"

Beaming Delia Ketchum pulled her son into a tight hug and exclaimed "you haven't been eating, you feel like a rake. Are you okay honey?" and it was true, Ash thought, he probably hadn't been eating, his appetite just didn't seem to exist. But he knew that wasn't good enough, he couldn't have his mother worrying anymore than she already did.

Smiling "we've just been working really hard haven't we Pikachu?"

"Pika pika"

"and it to mention how hot it's been, I've just sweated away"

"well, if that's the case I'll have to cook up a fine dinner tonight, no more hard work for a while" Delia was well aware of what her son was capable of, and what he had been through, and even though she knew he had been lying to her there, she understood Ash must have had a good reason. She frowned inwardly, this could be a long few weeks. "anyway professor Oak said he wanted to see you as soon as you returned, so off you pip" and without a second breath Ash and Pikachu were outside again.

The trip to Professor Oak's lab took no more than five minutes, and as the sun was now clearly in the sky and the birds were chirping away Ash allowed himself to feel a brief moment of content.

Hundreds of miles away Misty sat looking at her phone, the name on the screen was a Ketchum, but not Ash, no it was his mother, immediately Misty's heart skipped a beat, why would Ash's mother be riding me, oh god has something happened to Ash, no that was silly.

"Hello, Misty speaking."

"Hallo Misty, it's Delia, I wondered if you had a moment to talk? "

" yes of course" Misty had a lot of time on her hands at the moment as her Gym was closed for renovations "what can I help you with"

"Well... Um... It's Ash" again the young girls heart skipped a beat (why do I keep feeling like this, Misty thought inwardly, sure she was friends with Ash, but this sheer dread seemed to be something new) "well it's just that he's back home and I was wondering if you could round up Brock and come over, I know it's..."

"yes" what no Misty thought, why was she acting so rashly? "that is to say... Um yes I'll find Brock and we'll come, I assume you're throwing him a party?"

"thank you misty, we'll see you soon..." and the line went dead. How odd thought Misty, she didn't answer, I wonder if something did happen, pondering what might be the case she resolved to ring Brock later that evening and head down to Pallet on the next available train.

Although Ash was tired from waking up before dawn, he knew that sleep would evade him for a large part of this evening, even after the huge meal his mother had cooked for him, the prospect of being at the whim of his own twisted imagination was not something he was looking forward to. Sighing, Ash resolved that he try and stay awake for as long as possible, to see if he could outwit whatever his own traitorous mind threw at him.

the small mouse uttered softly dragging Ash out of the trance he seemed to have placed himself in, just thinking.

As the Pokemon moved closer and curled up into a ball beside Ash on his bed Swiveling around on his bed the trainer laid back and stared at the ceiling.