A/N: Well, I expected a lot of different responses about the dream Ash had. This will be a recurring thing throughout the rest of the series. Foreshadowing, hints, and more dreams will happen throughout the rest of the series.
Also, it pleases me to see Serena might be getting an Eevee in the anime. I beat them to it lol!
One more thing, to the guy who keeps sending me essays about why he hates Paul and tries to pass it off as a review, please stop. That is not a review for my story nor does it have anything to do with it, and I will delete it every time so there is no point. Send something like that in a PM.
Now, please enjoy chapter 2. :)
Chapter 2: A Request from Professor Oak
Red Ketchum.
If there was anyone who would know if this dream was worth worrying over, it would be him. Still, Ash's father did have a tendency to never answer his calls. He did tell Ash he would try to pick up more often, though. Ash might as well try right now. It had only been a few days since he saw his dad so maybe the man wasn't so wrapped up in whatever he does to notice his son was calling. It wasn't like Ash had anything else to do. Everyone else should almost be done with cleaning up so Ash wouldn't have a chance to go back to sleep anyway.
Ash pulled the Pokegear out from his pocket before flipping it open. He hadn't really used the device as often as he could have. Not only could it be used for making calls, but he could listen to the radio, check a map to try to determine where he was to avoid getting lost. It was so handy. Ash then saw his father's number before dialing it and placing it to his ear. Ash immediately heard ringing on the other end. He almost smiled when he actually heard his dad pick up after almost a few rings.
"Hey there, son. Did you miss me already?" Red asked in a joking manner.
"Dad? You knew it was me?" Ash questioned.
"Of course I did. I have caller ID on my Pokegear so I always know who's calling me. It's pretty useful when you get a lot calls that you could do without. You can know just to ignore them," Red replied.
"I see. So how are you doing?" Ash asked as he briefly thought about what kind of unwanted calls his dad would have.
"Well, I'm doing just fine, and Aerodacyl is doing well, too. It misses you already," Red replied on the other end.
As if on cue, Ash heard a happy screech come from the other end, and he immediately grinned. "Hi, Aerodactyl! How is my dad treating you?"
"Aeerooo!" it replied happily.
"Hahahaha. Yeah. I just now got back from traveling from the Indigo Plateau so I haven't really had a chance to bond with your Pokemon yet, but I think we'll get along just fine!" Red said.
"That's good to hear," Ash responded.
At some point, Ash knew he and his Aerodactyl would be reunited. Red was going to be training it in the meantime. Ash couldn't wait to have it back and see how far it's come along since he last trained with it. His dad would really train it well.
"Hey, Ash. As much as want to believe that you called me just to say hi, something tells me that isn't the case. Is there something on your mind?" Red asked once he noticed Ash's silence.
"Well, yeah. Sort of. I don't even really know if it's something I should be worrying about, though," Ash muttered.
"Okay. What is it, son?" Red inquired, exchanging his light hearted tone for a more serious one.
"Dad, do you…believe in dreams predicting the future?" Ash asked, not knowing how else to put it.
"What do you mean? Did you have a dream of some kind?" Red wondered.
"Yeah. It was really weird, too. It was about me winning the Pokemon League. I had all of my friends and you and Mom and Uncle Riley around me, even people who I hardly know. They all took turns congratulating my Pokemon and me, and then everything changed," Ash started.
"Go on," Red urged gently.
"These really dark clouds began to roll in to cloud all the happiness I was feeling, and this really weird person…or thing appeared with the scariest and craziest laugh I've ever heard. All of my Pokemon and friends were glaring at it. For some reason, Serena was even more terrified than I was. Her fear almost scared me as much as whatever it was in front of me. Then it spoke a really strange message," Ash continued.
"What was it?" Red questioned curiously.
Ash sighed. This was the part where it got the weirdest of all. Who went around saying things like that anyway? What on Earth did it even mean? Ash wished he hadn't woken up so soon so the figure could elaborate on what it had told him. Nevertheless, the message was still very eerie.
"It told me that the world was dying," Ash finished.
Silence was on the other end of the phone. If Ash didn't know better, he would have thought his father had hung up on him. However, Ash could tell that this meant that Red was probably thinking about everything that he had been told. It took a while, but Red finally spoke.
"Well, there's no doubt that was a very cryptic message," Red muttered.
"Do you think there is any truth to that, Dad? Should I just not worry about it?" Ash asked.
"I'm not sure myself, Ash. You have the gift of aura, and sometimes that gift may allow you to see into the future, or at least symbolize it," Red answered, sounding thoughtful.
"So this could have happened because of my aura?" Ash wondered.
"Possibly," Red replied.
"So does this mean that this will happen?" Ash asked, suddenly sounding worried.
"I didn't say that. For all you know, this could have just been a crazy dream with no meaning whatsoever, or it could very well show what the future may hold for you…and the rest of us," Red replied.
"Have you ever been able to predict the future with your dreams?" Ash wondered.
"I've…had a couple of times where that has happened as rare as it was. At the same time, I've also had dreams that I thought meant something, but in the end, nothing of the sort ever happened," Red answered.
"I see. So there's no way to tell if this dream means something, or if that thing or person even exists?" Ash asked, a little disappointed he couldn't learn more.
"The way I look at it, Ash, is even if this does happen, it won't be anytime soon. You said that there were people you hardly knew in the dream, and you were a lot closer to you companions than you thought. Not to mention, you won a League. None of this has happened yet. If that dream is true, it won't happen until all that criteria has been met," Red said.
"So what should I do?" Ash asked in an unsure tone.
"I don't want you thinking about this dream so hard, Ash. Don't blow it off completely, but just keep it in the back of your mind somewhere. Also, don't tell anyone else this dream, not even Serena. There is no sense in anyone getting worked up over something that isn't happening anytime soon. It may even never happen," Red told him.
"Okay. It's just that dream reminded me of the time when Serena and I were talking to Moltres. It told me I would one day be going against something that was pure evil. What if that thing was it? I couldn't feel any amount of good coming from it," Ash muttered.
"As I said, Ash, you shouldn't overanalyze this dream just yet. If you truly want to figure out if this dream meant anything, the best thing you can do is just simply go about your life as if it never happened," Red said seriously.
"Alright. I'll do that. Thanks, Dad," Ash said.
"I don't know how much help I was, but you're welcome," Red responded.
"Alright. It was good to talk to you again. I think I'm going to be meeting my friends soon so I'll let you go, and you're probably busy, too," Ash stated.
"It was good to hear from you, too, Ash. Say bye to Ash, Aerodactyl," Red said.
"Aerrroo!" Ash heard the delighted cry on the other end.
"Hahahahaha! Goodbye to you, too, Aerodactyl!" Ash laughed before finishing, "Bye, Dad."
"Goodbye, son."
With that, Ash ended the call and took a deep breath. So according to his dad, this could all be some sort of huge prophecy…or a total dud. Either way, it felt quite real. He could almost feel how evil the figure was in front of him. He could sense the fear in Serena and the others. He shouldn't be able to feel something like that in just an ordinary dream. Maybe a glass of water will do him some good.
Ash then took one look at his dozing partner and let out a smile. Everything was so peaceful right now. He should just leave things like that. He walked into Professor Oak's bathroom and took a paper cup from a small stack before filling it with water from the faucet. He took a few big sips before sighing. That really hit the spot right now.
Ash looked in the mirror and studied himself closely. He was trying to look to see if there was any trace of his aura showing right now. Normally, his eyes would be glowing blue if it was activated, but they were perfectly normal right now, as was the rest of his body. Ash then realized how ridiculous he was being and let out a light chuckle to himself. If his aura was showing up in his dreams, he wouldn't know it, would he? He couldn't control it yet so if it decided to show up again, it would.
As Ash made his way back into Professor Oak's lobby, he heard the backdoor open up, signaling that everyone had finished cleaning up. Sure enough, Professor Oak showed up in the room about ten seconds later followed by Serena, Brock, Misty, Leaf, and Daisy. Pikachu woke up upon hearing the slight commotion and gave a stretch before sitting up.
Serena immediately made her way over to Ash before greeting him with a hug. "Did you rest okay, Ash?" she asked him.
"Togeprriiii!" the spikeball Pokemon added shrilly by her side. As long as it wasn't left alone, Togepi no longer required to be held at all times.
Ash stared strangely at her. Her beautiful face had such a serene smile on it right now. It was such a sharp contrast to her contorted horrified expression he saw in his dream. It was almost as if it would impossible for Serena to make such a face judging from her expression right now. It looked so peaceful and gentle.
"Ash?" Serena asked, upon seeing his expression.
Serena's questioning tone caused the others to glance in his direction. Ash shook his head upon seeing he was drawing unneeded attention to himself. The last thing he wanted was to worry everyone over something that could possibly be completely bogus. Ash smiled at her.
"I rested just fine, Serena. Thanks for asking," he replied.
"Good. You had me worried for a second that something had happened," Serena sighed before letting go of the embrace and instead holding his hand.
"Hahahaha! You know me! Relaxation is my middle name!" Ash laughed as he gave a cheesy grin at her and rubbed the back of his head with his free hand.
"Hardly. You're always active when you aren't sleeping," Leaf rhetorically said with a roll of her eyes.
"Ha. Ha. Ha," Ash muttered sarcastically.
"Anyways, now that I have you all here, there is something I would like to ask of you all," Professor Oak started.
The group then gave Professor Oak their full attention. Upon seeing that they were listening, Professor Oak continued.
"You see. I need you to run a very important errand for me on Velencia Island in the Orange Archipelago," he said.
The group tilted their heads in curiosity. The exception was Ash, who looked thoughtful. If he recalled, this was the place where his Uncle Riley said he would be visiting for the next few months. It was something about this collector person. Did Professor Oak know anything about this, but then again, would it really matter if he did? It was then something occurred to him, but Serena beat him to it.
"Wait, Professor," Serena interjected. "Why do you need us to do it? Not to be nosy, but don't you usually have Daisy run errands for you?"
"Ah, yes. I would normally have my granddaughter do this for me," Professor Oak answered as he glanced at Daisy. "Unfortunately, she will be off on another errand in the Johto region and may be gone for a few months. I'm very eager for the errand in the Orange Archipelago to be completed so I simply can't wait that long. I would also ask my grandson, Gary, to do this, but he's…"
"I understand, Professor. We'll be happy to do this for you," Ash said.
"So what is this errand you were wanting us to do on Valencia Island?" Leaf asked this time.
"I need you all to go there so you can retrieve a mysterious pokeball from my friend, Professor Ivy, so I can study it," Professor Oak answered.
"Why can't you just have it transported to you, Professor?" Misty inquired.
"That isn't possible for some reason. Every time Professor Ivy tries to transport it to me, nothing happens," Professor Oak responded as he folded his arms and let a sigh.
"It won't transport?" Serena asked in confusion.
"No. She's already tried it multiple times," Professor Oak confirmed.
"So what is it that makes this pokeball so mysterious?" Ash wondered.
"Well, besides the fact that it can't be transported, it also won't open, and it's color is different from a normal pokeball. It's silver and gold in color," Professor Oak answered.
"So where did Professor Ivy get a pokeball like that?" Ash pressed further.
"I don't know, and she isn't sure where it came from either. She found it on the beach on Valencia Island," Professor Oak sighed.
"That's a really unusual place to find something as strange as a pokeball like that," Leaf commented.
"Indeed. That is why I would like to study it," Professor Oak said.
The group then thought about it for a moment. Professor Oak was sending them on an errand to Valencia Island to get a mysterious pokeball. If it was in the Orange Islands, that would no doubt equal beaches, as well. They hadn't been on a proper beach since Cinnabar Island, and even then, they didn't utilize it to the fullest.
"So the Orange Islands? What do you think, Pikachu?" Ash asked the yellow rodent on the ground next to him.
"Pika Pi!" it cheered. Like the others, it hadn't had a chance to fully enjoy the beach. Being an electric-type, however, it needed to be careful in the water.
Ash and Serena were thinking about how much fun they would have. They would play with their Pokemon in the water and do all sorts of beach games with them like volleyball. Not to mention, the beach could be a pretty romantic setting, but that was mostly on Serena's end. Leaf was thinking about all the different types of Pokemon she could find there and learn about how if different habitats affect the Pokemon. Brock was thinking about ways of studying the Pokemon there and learn if they require different needs to be taken care of. The pretty girls that would be in swimsuits was an added bonus.
Misty's thoughts, on the other hand, were diverging a little bit from the others. Sure, she could work on her tan, and her water Pokemon would have a blast. However, there was another reason she wanted to go. She suddenly remembered a dark red-haired teen that she had met quite a while back. Rudy, was his name? He was the first boy who had ever showed a true interest in her, and he was so charming! Misty remembered him saying that he and his sister lived on Trovita Island in the Orange Archipelago. She got his number, so maybe she could call over there to let him know she would be in the area? Wait. What if he didn't remember her? She would be so embarrassed!
"Misty, are you okay? Your face got really red all of the sudden," Ash commented from beside her.
"Ah! I-I-I'm fine Ash! I was just thinking of the great time I'll have in the Orange Islands!" Misty said hurriedly.
"Now hold on a minute. This isn't a field trip I'm sending you on. I don't want you all to forget what you're really going there for," Professor Oak said while waving his hands upon seeing where this was going.
"We know, Professor. Sorry about that. I guess we got carried away," Ash said apologetically.
"It's quite alright. Going to the Orange Islands is like vacation. I don't mind you having some fun while you're there. Just make sure to bring back the pokeball in one piece," Professor Oak stated.
"Of course. We promise, Professor," Serena confirmed.
"Hold on. How are we going to get to the Orange Islands? We don't have that kind of money," Misty suddenly spoke up.
"Hahaha! I would never send you all to do an errand for me without making sure you all are taken care of! I'm paying in full for your trip there and back!" Professor Oak laughed.
"Wow! Thank you so much, Professor!" Ash exclaimed.
"Of course! It's you all who are doing me the favor!" the Pokemon professor replied.
"We look forward to when you will have the pokeball back!" Daisy added.
"Sounds good! We won't let you down and promise to bring it here safe and sound!" Ash stated while he gave Professor Oak and Daisy his signature thumbs-up.
Ash flopped down on his bed as he let out a sigh. With as much as he was gone throughout his journey, it always felt nice to be back in his own bed. He didn't want to admit it, but the clean sheets and cleaning that Mimey had done earlier that morning really helped with the comfort. It was still a little annoying that Pikachu did that to him, but in the end, it worked out okay. Pikachu was on the floor with Togepi trying to teach it how to do a small puzzle while Brock was beside Ash on the floor in a sleeping bag, reading a book.
"Hey, Brocko. Whatcha reading?" Ash asked as he propped himself on his elbow and turned in Brock's direction.
"Just a book on some Pokemon breeding techniques," Brock answered simply.
"Really? I thought it would be a picture book of beautiful girls," Ash joked.
"Not so. It's true that I'm girl crazy, but I much prefer to see them in person. Besides, Pokemon breeding is actually my passion," Brock replied with a smile as he gave brief glance at Ash.
"Yeah, and you're really good at it," Ash added.
"You know, Suzy actually wrote this book," Brock stated before sighing. "It must be nice to have such a knowledge of Pokemon breeding to actually write your own book. It just proves that I'm miles behind where I should be to be the best Pokemon breeder."
"How long have you been learning of breeding techniques anyway, Brock?" Ash asked.
"Well, because I started off as a gym leader and always taking care of my siblings, I had very little time to focus on Pokemon breeding. I would sometimes go throughout the whole week without once experiencing different techniques with my Pokemon. It's not that resented caring for my younger brothers and sisters. I love them and would choose them every time. It's just that it really kept me from getting a head start as most people. It's only when I started traveling with you did I really start my breeding career," Brock explained.
"I for one think that you're an excellent Pokemon breeder, Brock. Even Suzy said so," Ash said.
"Thanks for saying that, but I'm nowhere near as good as I could be," Brock replied.
"So what do you plan on doing when you actually do become the world's best Pokemon breeder? Do you just stop?" Ash wondered.
"Hmmhmm. Just like a Pokemon master's journey, a Pokemon breeder's journey never ends. I would be constantly learning new things every day whether it be from someone else or my own experience," Brock chuckled lightly before putting on a more serious expression. "If there was only someplace where I could learn about Pokemon every day and live with a beautiful woman, it would be a paradise for me."
Togepi then lost interest in the puzzle it was doing and gave a yawn. Despite it being a while since hatching, sleep was still one thing it did a lot of. It then walked over to Brock and gave a happy chirp, causing Brock to smile down at it.
"Hey there, Togepi. Wanting a snack before you go to bed?" Brock asked warmly.
"Togepriiiiii!" it answered happily.
"No problem. Brock's got you taken care of," the tanned boy said as he reached into his backpack next to his sleeping back before withdrawing one of his specially made Pokemon food. He then handed a small portion to Togepi since it was just a snack. The spikeball Pokemon munched away at the snack before giving a contented sigh. It was about to fall asleep standing up but Brock reached out and gently caught Togepi before handing it to Ash who set it on the foot of his bed where it slept with Pikachu. It wasn't long before the yellow rodent joined it, aso.
"I think Togepi is a great example of how great a breeder you are, Brock," Ash told him. "Togepi doesn't warm up to just anyone. You, on the other hand, were able to win its trust really easily once it realized you were always with Serena and me. I think the term 'Uncle Brock' suits you quite well for Togepi."
"Hmm…maybe so," Brock mused as he thought about it. Togepi was terrified of him at first and always cried if it wasn't in Ash or Serena's hands. Now, it was coming to him!
"If anyone deserves the title of the world's best Pokemon breeder, it's you," Ash said seriously.
"Well, it's definitely a nice thought," Brock smiled as he turned back to Suzy's book.
Ash stared at the Pokemon Breeder for a moment. It looks like they were off to another journey again starting tomorrow. Granted, they may just be gone a few days, but it was still the opportunity to travel again. The fact that Brock was coming was a huge help. He was always the group's main meal provider and caretaker despite Serena starting to learn, too. It was then that Red's words rang in Ash's head…
"Don't just take Brock for granted. Learn from him."
"Hey, Brock," Ash spoke up again, causing the breeder to turn from his book. "Thanks a lot, for everything."
"What do you mean?" Brock wondered as he gave Ash a curious look.
"I mean thanks for being there with me, Serena, and Misty on our journey. You did so much for us," Ash told him.
"It's no trouble, Ash. I enjoy it," Brock smiled before turning back to his book.
"No, Brock. Really. Thank you," Ash said sincerely causing Brock to look at him again. "If it wasn't for you, we would have been totally lost. You cooked for us, cleaned for us, shopped for us, discovered our Pokemon's tastes, and you always had a map handy before we got our Pokegears. Serena can only do the things she does now because you taught her. I don't how we would have made it on our journey if we never met you. I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate all you have done for us so far."
Brock stared at Ash with a slight look of surprise. He did mean what he said about enjoying the chores, but he never really thought about if the others really appreciated him. Of course, he knew they thanked him for another delicious meal and for cleaning the dishes, but to hear it said like this from Ash was rather…touching. It always felt good to know that everyone really valued him.
"Thank you, Ash. It means a lot," Brock replied.
"Despite how much I don't want to admit it, I know you won't be with us forever. If you could pass on some of your techniques to me, that would be great," Ash said.
Brock seemed to think for a moment. He already had a pupil in the form of Serena. Maybe having two wouldn't be such a bad thing that he could manage. To know that the two were really wanting to learn to take care of themselves was the best thing that Brock could ask for from them.
"Of course, Ash. It would be my pleasure," Brock smiled.
"Great! Thanks, Brock!" Ash said with a thumbs up.
"Don't think that I'm going to go easy on you. The Brockster is really going to whip you in shape for these tasks," Brock stated as he rubbed his chin.
"I look forward to it!" Ash declared before giving a yawn. Talk about ruining the mood.
"Yeah. I guess we better go to bed so we don't oversleep. The boat to Valencia Island leaves at six in the evening tomorrow so we need to leave as soon as possible to make it in time since it's quite a walk," Brock stated as he put Suzy's book back in his backpack.
"Yeah. Good night, Brock. Good night, Pikachu. Good night, Togepi," Ash said as he switched off his lamp.
"Good night," Brock replied getting comfortable in the sleeping bag.
"Pika Pi," Pikachu muttered. Togepi was already asleep.
With that, everyone entered the dreamland.
Serena was brushing her hair in the bathroom as she prepared for bed. Her hair was out of the usual small ponytail style and held back by a pink headband with a bow on top, and she was in her pajamas. She was really excited for the coming trip to the Orange Islands. Not only would this be a great chance to have some time alone with Ash, but it may also help her decide what she really wanted to do with her life. The Orange Archipelago would be a strange place to find a career, but she did discover the Battle Chateau her first night of her Pokemon journey so who knows?
Serena hummed happily as she exited the bathroom which was adjacent to her bedroom. She entered it and already found Misty and Leaf in their pajamas, as well. Because everyone would be leaving to go to the Orange Archipelago first thing in the morning, it was more practical for Leaf and Misty to stay the night. Not to mention it was also just a good time for an all girl's sleepover. Serena hadn't had one of these since before she left Pallet Town a year ago.
"You seem happy," Leaf smiled as Serena sat down on her knees between her and Misty.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I be? I'm going to be traveling to a new place I've never been to before," Serena said happily.
"I bet that's not all your thinking of," Misty said slyly.
"What about you?" Serena asked, completely unashamed of her romantic thoughts. "You sure were red earlier when we heard we were going to the Orange Islands. What's up?"
Now it was Misty's turn to blush completely red. She quickly turned away and put her hand behind her head causing Serena to smile triumphantly. She had effectively turned this conversation around and everyone knew it. Being so shy and crushing on Ash for as long as she could remember before they officially were going out, Serena was no stranger to the look Misty had on her face right now. It could only mean one thing.
"Is there some boy in the Orange Islands that you're looking forward to seeing?" Serena inquired in interest.
"Of course not!" Misty said firmly.
"Come on, Misty. I told you about my crush on Ash when we first met. Now it's your turn to tell me who you have a crush on. It isn't like Leaf or I would tell anyone," Serena told her, followed by a nod from Leaf.
"Okay. Maybe there is someone I met that does live in the Orange Islands," Misty mumbled so quietly that Leaf and Serena actually had to lean in to hear her despite being right beside her.
"I knew it!" Serena said brightly as she clapped her hands together. "Spill the beans! What's his name?!"
"Umm..well…it's not important," Misty murmured as she scratched her cheek. "He probably doesn't even remember me."
"I guess we'll just have to tell Ash and Brock that Misty has a crush on someone," Serena shrugged.
"Okay! Okay! His name is Rudy!" Misty said frantically.
"Rudy? Where did you meet him? That name doesn't ring a bell of anyone we met on our journey," Serena said as she gave a puzzled look at Misty.
"That's the thing. I've only met him once. It was during the Fuchsia Festival," Misty admitted as she turned away again.
"Yeah. I remember that. It was when Ash and I had our first real date," Serena recalled dreamily as she thought back.
They had visited the zoo, learned breeding techniques from Suzy, and had a wonderful time dancing together. It had been such fun. Serena recalled Brock was talking to Suzy throughout most of the festival so she was curious about what Misty had been doing the whole time. Now it looked like she finally knew. It made her happy that Misty hadn't been alone the whole festival.
"I had a lot of fun with Rudy, and he even had a cute little sister named Mahri. He was one of the first boys that treated me like a real lady rather than tomboy like most people. He even kissed my hand and told me I was graceful. He was such a gentleman to me. Before he left, he told me that he lived on Trovita Island in the Orange Islands and that if I were ever in the area to let him know," Misty explained.
"That sounds like a great time," Leaf smiled.
"It was, but that was months ago so I doubt he really remembers me," Misty sighed.
"Misty, I think that if Rudy made that much of an impact on you, you made just as big of one on him. I don't think he's forgotten you," Leaf assured.
"It's a nice thought," Misty said as she wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees.
"Well, Misty. You have our support. If we're ever near Trovita Island in the Orange Islands, we'll be sure to make a stop there just for you so you can see him!" Serena told her.
"You don't have to do that just so I can see some guy who might be interested in me," Misty muttered.
She didn't know what was wrong with her. When she first heard the prospect of going to the Orange Islands, she was beside herself with joy. Now that Serena knew and was offering to help her see Rudy again, she was backing out. Why? Misty was surprised when she felt Serena gently lay her hand down on her own. Misty looked up inquisitively at Serena to find a warm smile on her face.
"You're our friend and part of our group, too, Misty. You always have been ever since you joined us in Viridian City. You get a say on what we do, too. If you really want to go to Trovita Island to see Rudy, we'll understand. There's no point in not going and being in mystery of if he remembers you or not," Serena said gently.
"What if he doesn't remember?" Misty grimaced.
"Then I'll make him remember by smacking some sense into him," Serena joked and made an uppercut in the air, causing Misty and Leaf to giggle.
Misty really did appreciate Serena's words. She had always been worried that she had sometimes gotten in the way of the group and was only a third wheel. She never really did anything in the past year despite wanting to prove herself to her sisters. If she really wanted to impress them, she needed to step up her game once they got to what would probably be a water Pokemon paradise. Not to mention, Rudy was there, too. To hear that Serena called her a friend and part of the group really warmed her heart. Yes. With this confidence, she would really try to make her name as the world's greatest water Pokemon trainer.
"Thanks a lot, Serena. That really means a lot to me," Misty said sincerely.
"Of course, Misty. Leaf and I are here if you ever want to have some girl talk," Serena told her before giving a yawn.
On that note, the three girls took it as a sign that they should go to sleep. It was almost midnight anyway. They had stayed up late just chatting about whatever, and then the conversation with Misty had happened. Serena set her alarm clock for seven in the morning before turning off her lamp and climbing into a sleeping back between Leaf and Misty. It was a lot more fun to sleep on the floor than in her own bed when she had friends over.
"Good night," she murmured before closing her eyes to go into dreamland.
"Good night," the two other girls muttered sleepily before joining their friend in sleep.
As Serena drifted further and further into sleep, her thoughts began to wander…
XXX
Serena was happily styling her hair as she sat in front of a mirror. With the type of room she was in, she felt like she was some sort of star about to give a concert. She had her honey-colored hair in a large ponytail tied with a large pink ribbon, not too unlike what she wore in the Battle Chateau. She had small traces of glitter in her hair, too.
As Serena stood up from her chair, she looked herself over in the mirror and smiled at what she saw. She was in a mostly red dress with a black line across the bottom which opened up into pink. She wore black pantyhose with a pair of red flats. To complete the look, Serena wore white gloves. Serena couldn't wait to show Ash how she looked. While the Battle Chateau gave her more of a cute, elegant look, what she was doing now had more of a stylish feel to it.
Serena then looked down at her Jigglypuff and Gloom. They were going to be the stars of the show she was about to perform. Her Jigglypuff was going to give the best Pokemon concert while Gloom was going dance gracefully like no Pokemon before it. It was going to be a huge hit. She could feel it. Serena then nodded to the two Pokemon and they headed out the door together.
Once she exited the room, Serena saw Ash waiting for her. He didn't say anything. He just pulled the cap down over his eyes and blushed which caused Serena to blush herself. She thought Ash looked so cute when he was turning red like that. The couple then entwined their hands as they headed to the stage. Serena wasn't quite sure how Ash managed to get backstage undetected, but it didn't matter. He could support her from the sidelines. The closer Ash was, the better.
As Ash and Serena got closer to the stage, she passed by many of her friends. Leaf was first as she gave Serena a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before clapping. Brock was next as Serena stopped to give him a quick hug which he returned before continuing. Next was Misty who gave Serena wink and a smile. Grace, Serena's mother, was there, too. The woman had tears of joy in her eyes as her daughter was about to perform. Finally, the rest of Serena's Pokemon were cheering her on in two lines as she passed between them. At last, Serena reached the stage.
"Thank you for your patience everyone. We now have our debut of the rising starlet, Serena Gabena!" a man in a French accent announced as he swung his hand in a presenting manner, giving Serena her cue to enter.
Serena let go of Ash's hand before walking onto the stage with Gloom and Jigglypuff beside her. Once she made it to the edge of the stage, she saw it was an outside performance. Weird, she could've sworn they were all indoors. Well, it doesn't matter. The man with the French accent handed Serena a microphone, and Serena took it before handing it to Jigglypuff.
The pink puffball smiled happily that this would be its first concert in front of so many people. It probably wouldn't even put them to sleep this time! Jigglypuff then took a deep breath as it prepared to sing but stopped as it saw the audience's attention was directed elsewhere.
Serena followed their gazes and saw ominous dark clouds approaching. How could it have gone from such beautiful weather to dark in such an instant? Serena looked down at her Pokemon and saw Gloom looked rather scared while Jigglypuff was puffing up its cheeks in anger at having its moment ruined by the dark clouds.
As Serena stared at the clouds, she didn't know why, but there was growing sense of dread in her. Sure, they looked frightening to begin with, but should she really be as scared as she was now? It felt like something was off about her behavior, but even she didn't know what it was. It was like something was haunting her. It was like something that had been pushed into the back of her mind only to resurface as the scariest thing she could imagine.
That's when the booming laughter sounded throughout the performance hall. A figure appeared in front of Serena, continuing the echoed laughter. Whatever this thing was, it was clearly insane, but that didn't make it any less horrifying. Before Serena knew it, she had fallen on her hands and knees and was covering her head with her hands and screaming at the top of her lungs. What was wrong with her?!
It wasn't long before all of her Pokemon surrounded her, growling at the figure as they prepared to attack whatever that was. It was hard to tell because it was cloaked in shadow. Serena, meanwhile, felt like her head was about to explode. There was so much pressure there at the moment. It was like she was absorbing too much information and was unable to contain it. Either that, or one giant piece too big for her to handle. Was that figure causing this?
Serena felt a small rush of air by her. That was when she stopped feeling the pain and saw Ash tearing across the stage with Pikachu beside him. It was then Serena was pulled to her feet by Leaf as her other friends surrounded her. Despite how terrified Serena was of the thing before her, she knew it was going to be okay with Ash taking care of it. He was her hero. He would make this thing go away.
That was until the figure abruptly reached out and grabbed Ash by his throat. It had stopped laughing and had now put on the most menacing expression a being could muster. It then kicked Pikachu away like it was some small toy before a burst of blue energy erupted from it, hitting every Pokemon and human in the room except for Serena. The girl looked around, horror struck as all of her friends and Pokemon lay around her, unconscious or worse.
Serena began to have that terror in her eyes again as she turned back towards the figure and saw it was literally choking Ash to death. Its large hand was crushing Ash's windpipe as he struggled to break free. Why was she unable to do anything? She was too scared to move! She could save Ash! All she had to do was make her feet work, but they were frozen on the spot!
Ash's struggles were becoming weaker and weaker before they finally became limp by his side. Serena's eyes widened as she screamed her loudest yet that Ash had just been ruthlessly murdered by this figure, and the worst part was, Serena had been unable to do anything. Why was she so scared of this thing and unable to attack it? Nothing added up! Tears burned Serena's eyes as she began to cry openly about how anything could be this cruel.
The figure then tossed Ash's lifeless body aside like some ragdoll before looking at Serena dead in the eye. Serena instantly felt her fears multiplied by a thousand and then…sudden calmness? What? How on Earth was she feeling calm at a time like this?! The burly figure then spoke for the first time since arriving on the scene.
"The world...is dying," the figure said, almost softly.
XXX
Serena's eyes snapped open once the dream ended. She quickly sat up and glanced wildly around for any sign of the evil figure, but all she saw was darkness. Serena breathed a sigh of relief at the horrible nightmare she had. The truth was she was surprised she didn't wake up screaming, but that probably would have startled Leaf and Misty. Seeing all of her Pokemon, friends, and Ash killed around her was terrifying indeed.
Another really strange thing was how scared Serena was. What was it about that figure that made her so afraid? She didn't think she had more terrified of anything in her entire life. The weirdest part of all, however, was not that, or even when everyone around her was killed. It was the sudden calmness she felt when the crazy being had looked at her when the madness had stopped. How could she be feeling calm at a time like that? Furthermore, what did that mean when it said the world was dying? It was all so unsettling.
The dream left so many questions. In the end, however, was it really just a bad dream that had no meaning? Should she tell Leaf, Misty, or Ash about it? Would that cause them to worry? What was she even doing in the dream? It sort of reminded her of what she had read about Pokemon performing? Still, Who was the evil being? All this was swimming through her head as she laid her head back down on her pillow. Serena had felt so peaceful as she was about to go to sleep earlier so why had she had a dream like that now of all times?
Serena ultimately decided not to dwell on it too much for the moment. If she continued thinking about it, she knew she would be up all night. Then she wouldn't be fully rested for the trip tomorrow to the Orange Islands. Maybe a vacation…err…errand like that would take her mind off of the nightmare she just had. It was then Serena began thinking wonderful thoughts about how much fun she would have while she was in the Orange Archipelago. It would just be her, her Pokemon, and her friends.
It was these peaceful thoughts that finally allowed Serena to drift off into sleep once more. She had wonderful dreams for the rest of the night. Little did she know, however, was that Ash had a similar dream earlier that day.
The weather was perfect the next day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky which made it excellent for traveling. The group was really hoping the weather would stay like this their entire time in the Orange Archipelago. Then again, Professor Oak needed to keep reminding them why they were going there in the first place. He, along with Delia, Rose, Grace, and Daisy all stood in front of the group to see them off on their new destination.
"Now remember. I want you kids to have fun on this trip. Just try not to lose focus of why you are there in the first place. From what Professor Ivy has told me, this pokeball could be very important so it needs to be delivered to my hands as soon as you are able to," Professor Oak told them.
"No problem, Professor! I promise you that will be the first stop we make in the Orange Islands!" Ash smiled with a thumbs up.
"Good. If you decide to visit anywhere else, just let me know when I can expect you back," Professor Oak nodded.
"Remember, Ash. Don't forget to…," Delia began, but was cut off by Ash.
"Don't worry, Mom. I won't forget. I promise," Ash said, knowing exactly what she was about to say.
"He's got the Brockster with him, Mrs. Ketchum. I'll take care of him," Brock reassured, causing Ash to blush in embarrassment. Brock wasn't wearing his sleeveless vest anymore and put it in his backpack. With the Orange Islands having a warmer climate than Kanto, Brock needed to be more comfortable. Besides, all the girls would see, according to him, his well-toned muscles. He tried to convince Ash to go the same route but was unsuccessful. Ash told Brock he was okay in his current new clothes.
"I remember going to the Orange Islands almost twenty years ago with Red and Blue. There were a lot more islands than I thought there would be. There were also stores that sold things like no other. They really are unique," Rose said thoughtfully.
"I'll make sure to bring you back a souvenir, Mom," Leaf told her mother. Like Ash and Serena, Leaf had opted to change her clothes for the Orange Islands, but it was to something more tropical to fit the mood. She was now wearing a white sundress with a few flower designs on it. She wore a pair of white flip-flops on her feet and a yellow sunhat on her head.
"Also, Leaf. Make sure to get good use out of that Super Fishing Rod I gave you. It should help you catch some really great water Pokemon in those Islands," Rose winked.
Leaf smiled and graciously nodded her head. Rose had recently purchased the expensive Super Fishing Rod for Leaf when she realized her daughter was really serious about filling up the pokedex. This amazing rod would allow her to catch some of the best water Pokemon around, and in a place like the Orange Islands, she may even catch something of a different color or pattern. Leaf couldn't contain her joy when she received it.
"Hey, Leaf. I hate to ask, but you wouldn't mind if I used it occasionally, would you?" Misty asked hopefully. Trying to be a water Pokemon master, Misty owned several fishing rods, but had never been able to afford the Super Fishing Rod. Sure, her sisters could afford it seeing that they were famous, but Misty doubted they would actually send her money just so she could buy what was in their eyes "just some old rod."
"Not at all," Leaf smiled.
Misty cheered silently. She had always wanted one of those things. Like the others, Misty had changed her clothes to a short, bright yellow, sleeveless jacket which opened up into a red shirt. She had on bright yellow shorts which matched her jacket. She wore orange tennis shoes. Lastly, Misty no longer had her hair in a side ponytail and preferred to let it down to where it reached right at her shoulders. She said her reasoning was so she could feel the ocean breeze flow in her hair better.
"Stay safe, Serena. Don't get into any sort of trouble," Grace told her daughter.
"I won't, Mom. I have Ash and the others with me," Serena assured. Despite having a nightmare the first part of the night, Serena wasn't tired as the rest was peaceful. She still hadn't decided to tell the others yet. If the opportunity ever presented itself, she might. For now, however, it was best not to worry about it…too much.
"Yes. You do. I'm so glad you made such great friends since we moved her," Grace sighed in contentment as she placed her hand over her heart.
It was the truth, too. Serena had been quite upset about leaving Vaniville Town at first. When they got to Pallet Town, Serena was so shy and quiet, Grace was starting to wonder what she should've done. Granted, it was a very good reason they moved, but she still didn't want her daughter to be miserable. Then, she met Ash, and the rest soon followed. Now, Grace couldn't be happier for her daughter and was content with the way things were now.
"The Orange Archipelago is my favorite place to go when I'm running errands for my grandpa. You all will really enjoy it," Daisy said with a smile.
"Thanks! We promise we'll have it back safe and sound!" Ash said with another thumbs up.
"In that case, you all take care. Call me once you get there so we know you made it there safely," Professor Oak told them as he waved.
"We will. Professor. Goodbye, everyone," Ash waved as he and the others turned around to leave.
"Make sure to tell Riley 'Hi' if you run into him," Delia called out.
"I will, Mom!" Ash replied, even though he seriously doubted he would. If Riley was in some top secret investigation, he would probably remain hidden. His Uncle Riley probably didn't tell his mom he was doing something potentially dangerous after just recovering from an incident with Team Rocket. He may have just said he was going there for a break like when he was on Cinnabar Island.
The group continued to wave until they could no longer see the adults. They then slowly put their hands down before fully turning around and starting on their way. This time, it wasn't for a journey across Kanto. They had new friends with them which made the trip even better. They couldn't wait to discover what the Orange Islands had in store for them. It might be a slight detour from the intense training and studying they promised themselves, but this couldn't hurt.
The priority, however, was the strange pokeball. They had no idea what kind of secrets it may hold, but from what Professor Oak described, it was definitely mysterious. A pokeball that couldn't transfer or be opened with a strange color scheme. That alone piqued the group's interest. Whatever was to come in the Orange Islands and the pokeball, the group knew that it would be a great experience. A new adventure was beginning for them all.
And that wraps up this chapter. I couldn't let it go by without Serena at least having a taste of the dream, too. It apparently has a different meaning for both her and Ash, but what? More hints and foreshadowing in the future will make everything clear.
Well, the next chapter is pretty obvious what it's about judging by the title, but it's going to play out...very differently. I think you all will like it.
Last thing, I think I may have found a good updating schedule in case you guys were wondering. I will try to update on the 5th and the 20th of every month, which is 15-16 days between chapters, giving me time to write them. The only exception will be is if one of those days falls on a Friday where I will be unable to update. In that case, it would be updated Saturday morning instead.
See you all on June 5th! Have an awesome rest of May!
Chapter 3: The Natures of Pidgeotto and Fearow
Answering the Questions: (Spoilers)
Does Ash's Wartortle still have his old sunglasses?
You'll see them soon.
Does Ash's dream, and Riley's mission coinside with the power of 1 movie? seems like it might.
Only half of that is right.
Will Leaf join Ash, Serena, and the others when they set of for the Orange Islands?
She'll be with them about halfway through before she leaves to travel alone and then return in Pummelo Stadium.
I don't know if you will include the Pokemon version of West Side Story, with a Mary and Tony Nidorans, do will you?
No. That episode won't be here.
Will Ash and Serena have their first fight as a couple in the arc or will you have them final go on another date, but official, as a couple?
I haven't planned for them to have a fight in this arc, but a minor skirmish may happen. I only have a single big one actually planned in the series. And yes, they will have another date in this arc.
Is Brock later going to decide to be a pokemon doctor, or is he going to stick with being a breeder?
A Pokemon doctor. It will be earlier than in the anime.
So they will be in the Orange Islands soon?
They arrive in chapter 4.
What will be the fate of pidgeotto?
Next chapter will reveal it.
Is the presence Ash felt that of Riley or his Lucario?
Lucario. Ash is aware of its presence now but doesn't know what it is yet.
Will Ash have any rivals in this arc?
No, but he will have some in Johto to make up for it.
When you write The Power Of One, will you have Melody give Ash her signature Traditional Welcome Kiss?
Yes.
Are you planning to give Mega Evolutions in this arc?
Mega Evolution won't be introduced until Sinnoh. It will be mentioned in Hoenn.
What will Serena do in The Orange Islands, now that she conquered the Battle Chateau?
Well...you'll see. It will be more than one thing.
How long will Brock be in the orange island chapters till he leaves?
Chapter 5
Will Ash and Serena get new Pokemon?
Yes. Ash will get two. Serena will get two. Misty will get one. Tracey will get one. Honestly, only the Pokemon Serena gets are surprises, especially the 2nd own she gets. None of you will see it coming.
Are the gym battles going to be modified at all?
Yes. I have changed them. I'm especially pleased with the final two.
Is Pidgeotto is still evolving before the journey officially begins right?
Yeah.
Is the dream foreshadowing something in the Sinnoh Arc since May and Dawn were there?
It is AT LEAST as late as the Sinnoh arc.
Are you doing the "Power of One" movie?
If the first chapter was any indication of a hint, yes I am.
