Chapter 2: Waking Up
Serena opened her eyes, and found it was night.
The moon, in a crescent shape, hovered and was visible from her window. The only other lights visible were ones from lampposts, as it was probably shortly past midnight.
She was on a hospital bed, that was for sure. Her readings were normal and even, so perhaps she was just fine.
Then she noticed the clipboard at the side of her bed.
She picked it up and looked for a light. Her eyes spotted a small lamp, and she pulled the chain to bring out blinding light.
Serena blinked as her eyes adjusted. Then she read the clipboard's notes.
12:30-Patient is sweating without reason. No heart problems or hot temperatures.
1:00-Patient is screaming and tears are coming out of her eyes. Seems to be living a terrible dream.
2:00-Patient has stopped screaming, but is writing a message. Message is under clipboard.
Serena, upon reading this, noticed a piece of paper where she had picked up the clipboard. She held it and read the scratchy, large writing.
I AM COMING FOR YOU ASH KETCHUM
Terrifang's scarred eye flashed across Serena's vision. It disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
It was only then she heard the grumbling.
With his head on the foot of the bed, Ash meebly stirred and opened his eyes slowly.
"Serena?" he asked.
Serena smiled nervously and said, "Hi… Ash."
She noticed that Pikachu wasn't around there. He was probably sleeping with everyone else.
"You saw him, didn't you?" Ash asked.
"Erm, yeah. I saw you fighting…"
"Buried Alive. An old corpse of the other strongest trainer alive."
"What?"
"Terrifang said something once… that I would be the greatest trainer of all time, but he would stop me…"
That was Ash's dream, but he didn't seem too happy about it.
He smiled weakly and patted her knee.
"You should get more rest."
Serena tried to argue, but she was already slipping off.
She wish she hadn't.
He twirled his SMGs and studied the two, plus the Pokémon.
His detection could allow him to see them from this darkness, the sky blacker than Death itself.
That is, according to the phrase…
The two held hands while walking to no destination in mind. They just roamed freely.
The Pokémon stood on the boy's shoulder, electricity crackling on its cheeks. It wasn't in its pokeball like any other pokemon, but just stood there like an easy target.
He stuck all of his things in the case and adjusted his tie. He slipped through the alleyways and acted like he was normal.
He pretended to check his watch, although he knew the time: nine o' clock.
His eyes flicked forward to see them every now and then, but he still 'checked' his watch.
Then he pretended to trip on a crack in the sidewalk and fell down. His glasses cracked and his suitcase went off in some direction.
The two immediately noticed and came up to him.
"Hey, mister, you alright?" the boy asked.
"I'll go get the suitcase!" the girl informed him and dashed off.
He slowly got up and replied, "I'm good, I'm good…"
The Pokémon came up to him and patted his knee softly, murmuring its name.
The girl came back with his suitcase and asked, "Ash, does he seem fine to you?"
Ash nodded and told her, "Seems perfectly fine. Except for the glasses…"
"Oh, I'm good," he said. "I'm just nearsighted, thankfully."
"Hey, what's your name?"
"My name is Issac. Nice to meet you…"
"My name is Ash, and that guy there is my buddy Pikachu."
Serena woke up again.
This felt like… she was human, but not. Her vision was normal but stronger. She felt like her muscles had bulged.
Plus, she had seen… herself.
She was holding hands with Ash, which should have been a good thing. But it was like with Ash telling her that Terrifang told her he was to be the best Trainer.
Not a good sign.
Ash was gone, but this time it was Bonnie who was watching her.
Bonnie, upon noticing Serena's awakening, immediately having her giant smile and shouted, "Big brother! Serena's awake!"
"Awesome!" Clemont shouted from the other side of the door. "I'll go tell Ash!"
His footsteps became quieter, and Bonnie asked Serena, "So, I guess we're staying here a bit longer because of your… problem, so guess what Clemont got us?"
"I don't know," Serena told her, curious.
"Front row seats for that 'Immortals' concert!"
"Awesome!" Serena thought back for a second, then frowned. "How'd you get front row seats?"
Conveniently, Nurse Joy came in and told her, "You can go, but if anything strange happens, come on back!"
Bonnie led Serena, all dressed to impress (Ash), to a clearing, where Ash, Pikachu, and Clemont were watching someone do… something.
The guy was about fifteen, with pale skin, and almost square violet eyes. He wore a black hooded sweatshirt, black jean pants, and black sneakers that looked worn. There were a few bulges underneath his sweatshirt: six pokeballs and two other objects. Two lumps stuck out underneath his hood.
Clemont was first to notice them.
"Oh, hey Serena!" he called. "Feeling better?"
Ash turned to see her, and his smile grew.
"Serena! Glad you could join us!" he greeted. "This is our new friend here…"
"Lloyd," the guy told her in a surprisingly child-like voice. He strummed the electric guitar he was holding and did a solo.
Serena cocked her head to the side. She saw something familiar about him…
Six pokeballs… two somethings poking out of his sweatshirt, like a cane… two lumps under his hood…
"You're that guy that saved us from the bank, right?" she asked.
Lloyd laughed and said, "Ding ding ding ding!"
He did another solo.
"I'm many things," he explained. "A hero, a sculptor, a marksman, a skateboardist, and an electric guitar player. I felt bad for your spiky-haired friend here, so I gave you guys some tickets I bought for the Immortals. They're good."
"You're one of them, are you?"
All of the color from Lloyd, clothing included, drained out, making him pure white.
"Uh, yeah."
Ash clapped quietly, and Serena started blushing.
Lloyd fixed a look, and asked, "Can I talk to you for a bit? Privately?"
Ash stopped clapping, and his expression became hard to read. Serena could tell it wasn't a good emotion.
"Erm, sure…" she replied.
Lloyd make a shoo-ing motion, and her friends left.