Ash opened his eyes taking in the scene in front of him, it's so familair he grew up waking up in this room everyday in his childhood, it's his bedroom. Ash tried to remember how he got here, the last thing he remembers is jumping in front of Misty to save her and his shield exploding and then nothing. Can he really have forgotten all that's happened since then.
Ash sat up in the bed and looked up at the massive holes in the roof allowing him to look up into the dark sky above him. Ash kicked off his covers looking down at the clothes he's wearing they're slashed and burned terribly and now there's only a few bits of cloth holding it all together. Ash moved his hands round to his back sliding them down feeling the scars left by Umbra's claws.
Ash swung his legs round to the edge of the bed jumping down landing on the floor. Ash felt it creak and he had to quickly step to his left as the floor he had been stood on gave way and he could now see the floor below him through it.
Ash moved out the bedroom and onto the landing, like his bedroom the roof here is also damaged and Ash can see outside. "Mum, Pikachu are you here?" Ash called as he moved over to the staircase moving down the stairs. Ash reached the bottom of the stairs moving through all of the rooms on the bottom floor calling for his mum in each room, but with no luck. 'Where is everyone?' Ash thought to himself as he moved back into the living room, there's no sign of his mum, Pikachu or any of his other pokemon, there isn't a single pokeball on his belt right now.
"Oak's lab", Ash quickly said out loud to himself rushing over to the door opening it stepping out closing the door behind him getting a good look at the outside of the house. It's massively damaged the roof has like ten holes at different locations and the walls have massive cracks all over them. "What happened here?" Ash said out loud.
"War happened", A female voice said from behind Ash.
Ash turned spotting a tall thin black haired woman stood a few feet away with a massive creature gliding above her. She's giving him the same small smug smile she gave him back on temple island when she ordered Umbra to kill Misty, "You! What are you doing here?" Ash asked starting to shake in fear. He's on his own and the last time he remembers fighting Umbra it took him and six of his strongest pokemon to fight him, Ash doesn't know if he can face him alone. Ash tried to summon a ball of aura in his hand ready to fight back if he needs to, but nothing happened.
"We heard rumours that you had been spotted in the area, so I came to see for myself and what do you know here you are exiting your childhood home, but it's not looking in very good condition is it. Ash you've done well it's been years since we last saw you, you've managed to evade us extremely well, but I guess after a while you've got to face your mistakes. Ash you've come to visit them haven't you, the friends you lost", Bellatrix replied.
"The friends I've lost?" Ash asked confused trying to summon another ball of aura, but like the first time nothing happened. Why can't I summon any aura Ash thought to himself as he tried again and once again no luck.
"Come on follow me, we flew them all back once we had gained complete control of the regions, we always knew that sooner or later you come home and we hoped that you seen the news story we put out about the graveyard we created for the people who stood against us to show that even though they fought against us we respected their bravery", Bellatrix replied motioning for Ash to follow her moving away from the house and through the ruins of Pallet Town.
Ash and Bellatrix continued through Pallet Town with Umbra gliding above them obviously to keep Ash from running away till they reached the land that used to Professor Oak's lab, unlike the houses which still stand in pieces the lab is completely gone there isn't any sign that it used to be there. Bellatrix moved up the stairs and Ash followed her letting out a large cry as he reached the top of the stairs and saw the hundreds of headstones covering the area in front of him. "No it can't be", Ash stuttered as he rushed towards the first set of headstones reading each one, one by one. Misty Waterflower, Brock Harrison, Pikachu, Lucario. Ash moved his gaze to the headstones behind the first set reading the names on them as well, Professor Samuel Oak, Gary Oak, Tracey Sketchit, Delia Ketchum.
Ash moved past them noticing that the graveyard had started to widen as he reached the next set of headstones. Ash looked dwon upon the gravestones of his remaining travel companions, May, Max, Dawn, Iris, Cilan, Clemont, Serena, Bonnie. Ash spotted Davis, Lana, Alan, Cynthia, Steven, Alder, Diantha in the row behind his friends and like Misty's, his mum and Pikachu's gravestones their date of death seems to range from the day Ash last remembers, the day Umbra woke to about four months later.
"You can keep going further into the graveyard and you'll find the rest of your pokemon, all of your friends pokemon and hundreds of people who stood by your side in the battle against us and fell in your name", Bellatrix informed Ash and he turned looking at her.
"They died because of me", Ash replied and Bellatrix nodded.
"Yeah they went into battle believing that you could collect the keystones and staff pieces needed to wake Lucida and when you realised that you couldn't beat us, you ran away and left everyone else to face us. Ash they died believing that you were still searching for the items to awake Lucida, but it reality you had run away and you've continued to run to this day five years after we last saw each other", Bellatrix replied and Ash couldn't look at her so he turned his gaze to the ground. If she's right then he's a giant coward he left his friends to die while he ran away.
"Why did you bury them all here? it must of been easier just to bury them where they died" ,Ash asked continuing to look at the floor.
"We knew you most likely return to the place you called home so we decided to fly all the bodies over here and well we were right and you know the best bit Ash we've finally beaten you it's taken years, but we've done it and it feels amazing. I ordered Umbra to attack your girlfriend because I thought that would beat you if you didn't make it to her in time or killed you id you did, but even though you got in the way you were only injured not killed and once you were healthy again you continued the battle against us", Bellatrix replied.
"What are you going to do with me now?" Ash asked.
"Well to start of with we're going to take you back to our headquarters and then we're going to screen you to the whole world and you're going to tell the small amount of people still battling us to stop and to bow down to Team Infinta or suffer the same fate as you, an execution live on TV for everyone to see", Bellatrix replied letting out a large laugh and Ash looked up at her.
"And if I refuse to tell them to bow down?", Ash asked.
"Well I guess we'll just have to attack them and kill them all like we did you friends, you could save all those people or go to your death knowing that because of your ego more people had to die than was actually necessary", Bellatrix replied.
"And what if I don't want to go with you? , what if I decide to fight you here and now?" Ash asked a new determination flowing into his body, if his friends did die in his name then the only thing he can do is to fight Team Infinta till the end, he can't just let them win.
"Ash..." Ash let a small smile creep into his face he knows that voice, it's Lucida.
"Lucida", Ash called inside his head.
"Ash you can hear me good, I've been trying to contact you for ages. Ash you've got to let go of your fear this isn't real. Ash when you jumped in front of Misty you took Umbra's attack, the attack is called Hellish Nightmare and that exactly what this is, a hellish nightmare. Ash this is happening inside your head and that means you control what happens, all that's happened so far is what you most fear and it's that feat that's driving you at the moment. Ash so now you must let go of that fear and change it into something better so that you have the upper hand I'll help you as much as I can", Lucida replied.
"You think you can beat me and Umbra on your own, I don't think so", Bellatrix replied snapping Ash out of the conversation and back to Bellatrix and the graveyard they're stood in.
"Maybe, maybe not, but you know I think I would like to see how far I can get", Ash replied and he focused on summoning balls of aura in each hand and they appeared growing larger and larger till they were the size of Ash's head. "Oh looks like things seem to be going my way", Ash said firing off both balls summoning another two before the first two hit Umbra knocking him out the sky crashing down into the graveyard destroying at least twenty headstones as he landed.
"Interesting, but you're still alone and I've still got more pokemon to help Umbra", Bellatrix replied pressing all her pokeballs and her Skuntank, Cofagrigus, Ariados, Aggron, Trevenant and her Rapidash appeared in front of her as Umbra jumped back into the air gliding above Bellatrix's pokemon. "Still think you can win Ash, you're alone and I've got my six pokemon plus Umbra, you first attack was a lucky shot", Bellatrix continued.
"Maybe my first attack was a lucky shot, but you're wrong about one thing", Ash replied thinking about what Lucida told him.
"And what's that?" Bellatrix asked.
"I'm not alone, am I guys?" Ash said thinking with all his might that they'll appear. Ash heard the ground shake and six of the graves exploded outwards and Pikachu, Lucario, Charizard, Sceptile, Greninja and Snorlax jumped up out of them landing beside Ash each give him a small smile which he returned. "Seems we're close to even now, shall we see who wins?", Ash continued a large smile covering his face as he looked at the look of confusion mixed with fear on Bellatrix's face.
"How? we killed them. We killed them at the same time as your girlfriend and all your other friends", Bellatrix stuttered taking a step back away from Ash.
"Actually you know, I don't think you killed anyone, I think they're all alive", Ash replied and as soon as he finished all the graves exploded outwards and their occupents climbed out.
"What is going on?, how are you doing this, they should all be dead", Bellatrix said continuing to stutter as she took another step back.
"Well you see this isn't real and it's happening in my head so I control what happens and you know what I don't feel like fighting anymore so I guess you better just go away", Ash replied growing more confident in controlling the dream. Bellatrix started to slid back and all six of her pokemon were dragged back into their pokeballs. Bellatrix flew off her feet flying towards Umbra who caught her. Umbra looked down at Ash and he flicked his wrist and a massive hurricane appeared crashing into Umbra carrying him swiftly away and out of Ash's sight.
Ash looked around the area around him shaking his head, 'no this isn't what Pallet should look like, it should look like this', Ash thought to himself and he closed his eyes visioning Pallet how he remembers and he felt the area around him start to shake and when he opened his eyes he was stood inside Oak's lab all the machines beeping around him with all his friends looking at him from the table in the lab.
"Ash you did well, now that you've beaten the nightmare I can talk to you easier. Ash I need you to come outside there's something I want to speak to you, it'll help you understand my husband and my children and the reason they feel so much anger towards humans", Lucida voice said inside Ash's head and he gave a nod moving past his friends till he reached the door to the pokemon area opening it stepping out looking at the large dragon stood facing him.
"Lucida, Alan's description was no where near as amazing as you are in person, you're beautiful", Ash said and Lucida gave him a small smile.
"Ash you flatter me, right climb aboard we'll go for a little journey. On the way we can talk about a few things and you can ask anything you have on your mind", Lucida replied and Ash nodded climbing on board. As soon as Ash was comfortable Lucida took the air soaring higher and higher and Ash was treated to the amazing scene of the town returned to normal. All the houses have been repaired and the town looks alive and vibrant. "Ash we haven't got long I can feel my connection failing as we speak. It takes less energy to contact you now you're asleep, but it still takes a lot of energy to project my thoughts and appearance into your mind more than I really have. I'm still recovering from the effort it took to project some of my power through you to stop my husband's Hellish Nightmare attack, but don't you worry that's not your fault you did a great job, we just need to discuss something I noticed", Lucida continued as they soared south away from Pallet Town.
"What's that?" Ash asked as they left the safety of land and started to fly over the sea.
"Ash when you were fighting my husband on the island you were only ever using your aura in a defensive manner, yet here in the dream you were quite happy to attack him with your aura, why?" Lucida asked as they glided over Cinnabar Island.
"I don't know, in the dream I knew it wasn't real and no matter what I did he wouldn't... die", Ash replied.
"Ash you can't hold back because he won't, Ash there's no way that you could kill my husband I couldn't do it back when he first attacked the humans. Ash the only thing we can do is weaken him enough that I can turn us all back into stone form and Ash to do that I'm going to need you at your best and not holding back. Ash can you do that for me?"
Ash thought it over for a few minutes before answering, "Yeah I guess you're right."
"Good to hear no lets get down to business, I'm going to tell you something that only me and my family know about now the reason this all started, the reason the peace between the Immortals and the first humans was broken", Lucida replied.
"It's to do with your daughter isn't it, the one that looks like a wolf with wings, the forgotten Immortal", Ash replied.
"Yeah it is I'm impressed Ash, there are only a few people who have worked out that the symbol on the wall of the temple is my daughter the forgotten Immortal, but the one thing no body knows is what happened to her it's been lost over time", Lucida answered.
"What did happen to her?" Ash asked.
"Well I believe your friend Alan told you that an accident started the war well he's right. The accidental death of my daughter Glaciem the immortal of ice that started the war. The humans didn't mean to kill her, one of them threw a spear at her after she startled them by landing near them and gave them a playful roar, they thought she was attacking and so they attacked back and before they knew it she was slain. I met the guy who killed her and he was remorseful he didn't mean to do it and I forgave him he offered his life to me, but I knew it wouldn't bring her back", Lucida replied and Ash could hear in her voice that it was hard to talk about it.
"But Umbra and the others didn't feel like that did they, they wanted revenge not just on him, but on everyone", Ash said and Lucida nodded.
"Yeah they felt the humans did it on purpose and that we would never be safe while the humans still lived."
"How did they react once they realised you sided with the humans?" Ash asked.
"They were angry and they told me that from that moment on I was nothing to them, but I still hold onto the hope that we can be reunited that they'll let go of their anger and just leave with me to somewhere we can live in peace and let the rest of the world live in peace as well, but I know it's a silly dream so I'll fight them again with you in the future and turn them back into their stones and maybe this time it'll be for good", Lucida answered.
"Lucida if we do win I'll promise I'll make sure that the stones are placed somewhere no one can use them again, but I'll put you all together because I think that's where you belong together and maybe your light can show them out of the darkness they seem to be trapped in right now, just like you've helped me escape my nightmare."
"Ash that's so sweet, I know I've made the right choice in choosing you as my champion, right we're nearly there so if there's anything else you need to ask hurry because I think once we land the connection will break", Lucida replied and Ash looked forward watching as a familiar island appeared in the distance and Lucida slowed down slightly.
"Lucida there's just one thing I need to ask you, do you know what happened at the island after I took the attack, have I failed and let Team Infinta take over the world? Is Misty still alive?" Ash asked as Lucida started to descend towards the runway on the island.
"Ash, Misty's alive and waiting for you to wake, she's been waiting for quite a while and I think it's time you return to her don't you. Ash you've not failed and Team Inftina haven't won, yes they've taken anyone at the last two temples prisoner, but a lot of people escaped in different locations around the regions and are ready to head into battle with you again on this island in the real world", Lucida replied as she landed on the runway and Ash slipped off her back moving round to her front so he could see her face.
"Misty's alive", Ash said and Lucida gave him a small nod, "And not everyone was captured", Ash continued and Lucida gave him another nod. "Well I better wake up then, can't leave them all waiting any longer and you know what I'm going to free everyone who has been captured", Ash added and Lucida gave him a small smile.
"Well I guess it's goodbye for now, Ash I'll try and help as much as I can, but before we part ways there just one more thing I need to say. Ash you have many human allies and you if you free everyone you'll have more, but don't forget they aren't your only allies. The pokemon of the world will fight with you all you have to do is ask or call I know there are quite a few pokemon who would happily come to your aid round the regions just ask your friend Lucario for help contacting them", Lucida said and Ash nodded understanding what's she's getting at.
"Goodbye Lucida see you soon", Ash said and Lucida jumped into air disappearing completely. Ash took a deep breath before closing his eyes, "Time to go back", Ash said to himself and he felt everything change. He felt himself fall backwards expecting a hard landing, but it didn't come instead he felt something soft under him and a light blanket covering his whole body except his left hand which someone seems to be holding.
"Oh Ash, please wake up I need you. If I lose you I don't know how I'll cope", Ash heard Misty say and Ash felt his heart skip a beat happy to hear her voice again.
Ash willed his eyes to open and slowly they did and his vision started to clear slowly as his eyes grew accustom to the light again and he realsied he was lying in the bed he and Misty slept in the night they stayed on the island. He turned his head slightly looking at Misty sat by his bed tears sliding out his eyes her head aimed towards the floor. "Misty.." Ash croaked.
Misty's head shot up and her eyes looked in to her and she wiped the tears away, "A...s...h you're awake", Misty stuttered before closing the gap between them pressing her lips to Ash's. "I love you so much Ash, don't you ever scare me like that again", Misty said as she pulled back from Ash taking her seat again and Ash could see that a huge weight seemed to be lifting off her, the look on her face is the exact one he had on his face when the roles were reversed and she was the one who nearly died.
"I love you to, Misty could you get me some water my throat is like a desert", Ash replied and Misty nodded getting up from her chair moving out of the room leaving the door to the office open. He heard the sound of water being poured a few seconds later she returned holding a glass of water. "Help me sit up a bit", Ash asked and Misty nod placing the glass down before helping Ash slide up the bed a bit moving the pillows so they were behind his back now resting on the headboard.
Misty moved the cup to his mouth and Ash opened it letting her tip a little bit of water into it waiting for him to swallow it before tipping some more inside continuing this action till the whole glass was empty. "I've got to go find your mum she'll be overjoyed to hear you're awake and I should really find the nurse Joy who is looking after you to tell her your awake", Misty announced placing the glass on the floor starting to move towards the door.
"My mum's here, her and the others made it here from Pallet", Ash shouted and Misty turned nodding at him. "Where is she?" Ash added.
"Well quite a few of us having been taking it in turns to sit with you so there was someone here when you woke. Your mum was sat with me until about thirty minutes ago until May and Dawn asked if she wanted to get something to eat with them. I said it was fine so she and Pikachu who has been sat with you every minute he can waiting for you to wake up went with them", Misty answered.
"May's here as well", Ash repeated and Misty nodded.
"Yeah, her, Steven and Max managed to avoid Team Infinta and helped to get May's parents, a large amount of people from Devon Corporation plus Professor Birch and a few others as well", Misty explained moving a step closer to the door.
"Where's Brock?" Ash asked.
"He's on a mission with Steven, Max and a few others, they've just left the Sinnoh region and they should be back late tonight. Over the last month we've been sending rescue parties to the different regions to collect people who want to fight Team Infinta plus anyone we feel Team Infinta might try to use against us such as Dawn's mum Johanna that's why Brock went on this mission, a friendly face for her to talk to on the way back", Misty answered.
"What about the rest of our friends?" Ash asked.
"Well everyone who was at the temple in Sinnoh except me, Dawn, Lana and Davis are locked up in the prison Team Infinta with everyone from the temple in Unvoa. Clemont is also locked up in the prison as well, but Serena and Bonnie seem to have escaped from the gym when it was attacked, but we don't know where they are we can't seem to contact them, but we've got people searching for them as we speak so I know we'll find them soon", Misty replied.
"Oh well I'm so glad that some of our friends managed to get back to the island and anyone who didn't will soon be back at the island I'm going to free them them from the prison and I will find Bonnie and Serena as well."
"Well Steven's actually started the ball rolling on breaking everyone out of the prison, but I'll let him tell you himself when he gets back", Misty admitted.
"Misty come back and sit down I need to know a few things before you get Nurse Joy who knows how long she'll want to spend checking me over before we'll get the chance to talk alone again and I want to be up to date with the events that have happened since the Immortals woke so that when Steven arrives he doesn't have to waste time bringing me up to speed", Ash explained and Misty looked at him then the door before giving a small nod moving back to her chair sitting down again. "Misty I need to ask you something before we get into what's happened since the Immortal rose it's important", Ash added.
"Okay what's that?" Misty asked.
"Misty how many days have passed since Umbra and the other Immortals woke, how long have I been out cold?" Ash answered.
"Ash you've been out cold for six weeks."