Chapter 48: Enter the Dream World

Once they take Zenith to the hospital, the group leaves Amphitrite City and head towards Narra Town. Once they arrive there, they see a person standing in front of the stairs.

"..." The person looks at them as Ash asks, "Who are you?"

The person didn't answer him, it says, "You look small. Not just you. Your... people. There's just something very fragile about you. It's odd. It's very different. I'm not sure how to describe it."

The person steps forward and says, "You don't know who I am, do you?"

"Who exactly are you?" Gladion starts to feel annoyed, but Arceus is starting to panic. "No..."

"You haven't seen much of us, nor will you- until we make our move. ...I'm sorry. But this is something we need to do. Everything is going just as I predicted. You guys and the mercenary- the fake prophet- we hired took down the Infernal Cult. You took down the Abyssal Cult by yourselves, as well as the Perfection Cult."

The person is staring at the bag where Ash puts his Crystal. "And now, the shards of the Crystal are moving again. Very soon, you will see the true power of that crystal. Of our crystal."

Just then, her body starts to fade away, "...I am really sorry. But it is time for the earth to return to the mirror."

Once the person is gone, Nora asks, "Who is she?"

"No clue..." Ash says. "But she dresses just like Giratina..."

"What is going on here?" Alice asks.

Arceus suddenly shows herself. "She is the SHE that I told you last night..."

"Wait, you mean...the one we are going to protect the crystal from?" Ash asks, "The one who gave Zenith the powers of Mind Control?"

This causes shock to them, and Ash says, "We must take care of the crystal, we can't let the two of them fall into her hands."

"You're right." Nora says.

As they are going to the Narra Border, they bump into an old man.

"Ow...why you little..." Just then, the group gasps as they see the man no other than Malde.

"Grandfather? What are you doing here?" Taen asks. "And more importantly, where are your tentacles?"

"Oh, it's you. I don't like disguising myself, but I was worried about running into someone. I trust your little adventure in the mountains went well? Good. Well, no time to chit chat." He says, "I am off to Shade Forest."

The word Shade Forest comes across the people's minds. Damian says, "That is where the base is, right?"

"Yeah..." Ash says.

"Specifically, a very special place there. Absolutely do not follow me. Not to the only significant area in Shade Forest where you were held captive. Things are happening there that are far too dangerous for your little child-eyes to see."

"Hey, we are grown-ups and we have already disbanded three cults." Zachary says.

"But if, hypothetically, you went anyways...There are some very, very exciting things about to happen." Then Malde teleports away.

"We really need to go there." Nora says as they nod.


On the way back to Darkrai Base, they go to the Midna Town's school first, since Damian and Nora meet the teacher and let her know that they are fine. And the teacher is also proud of them destroying the cults.

After going into the base, they see Diana and Tobias waiting for them. "So you have come."

"Yeah, Diana, did you see two people looking like Deoxys here?" Emily asks.

"No, you mean Malde and Lillie, right? Are they here as well?" Diana asks.

"Yeah, we have the vial to cure them, but we have to find a Dark place to cure them, or else it won't work." Alice says.

"But first, we should go inside the base and stop Persephone." Ash says as they enter with the disguises.

They look at the prison doors, Ash says, "This is where I was during this year...and it still looks creepy..."

"I know." Emily says. "I wouldn't want to get back if it wasn't for this..."

Then they get to the ritual room, Persephone is already there and she says, "It's been a while since we were here last. My friends, it's been one long ride. Years and years of developing machines, studying pokemon and the world, all to help Darkrai see how loyal we really are. But every time we introduced ourselves to Darkrai, it abandons us. Flees. Runs away to my brother and sister. All of that changes today. In my right pocket, I have the Pokeballs that holds both Darkrai and Cresselia."

The other members cheer as Persephone sends out Darkrai. Diana whispers, "This is madness..."

"I know..." Tobias says.

"Darkrai." Persephone looks at Darkrai. "I'm not going to beguile you with compliments like last time. This is the third time we've met. The last time, you ignored me. You ran off to my sister. That was the night Ash Ketchum escaped. And we all know what happened the first time."

She takes a deep breath. "We nearly found the cure to immortality. That was the day Jaern, you, and I get rid of the first Augur and his wife...and if those Aether Siblings and their Legendaries didn't come in at the last minute to rescue our prisoner, we might have finished them off for good."

"So where exactly did she hide them?" Zachary asks as no one has the answers.

"I can tell that you don't want to be here." Persephone says as she holds Cresselia's Pokeball. "But, I feel I should warn you. Leave, and your little friend here...won't ever leave her Pokeball again."

Darkrai is surprised and Persephone says, "All I have to do is to damage it a little bit. Then the release mechanism will be broken. Do you hear me? Darkrai? Make a move, do anything I don't like, and your friend's gonna be stuck."

Before Ash and his friends can interfere, they hear a voice, "You know, in my new world, I plan to make the abuse of Pokemon illegal."

Then Malde and Lillie come into the room, Persephone says, "Oh look, it's the Aether and the codger."

"This kind of stuff is disgusting. You can't go around like this." Malde says.

"Heard it before. It's funny that you two showed up. I guess I should have expected resistance. And don't think I haven't noticed you guys there, Ash Ketchum and his group of friends, not to mention my siblings..."

The group is shocked that they are busted, Persephone just laughs, "It seems everyone's come to see the full glory of the Cult of Darkrai!"

"Release it, Persephone. I'd die before I see another legendary Pokemon get enslaved by humans."

"I mean...that can be arranged, if you really wanted..." Persephone says. "You folks are immortal, right? A side-effect of the virus? We have a way around that. It's like a loophole. It's fun. I've accomplished my goals. Let me pay it forward!"

"Persephone, you have to stop this!" Tobias yells at her.

"Don't worry. I am not evil anymore. I've gotten Darkrai!" She turns to the group. "And don't worry, you will be able to see your parents soon. Send them to the Dream Realm! Especially Ash's! We'll finish the job we started!"

But Darkrai stops as he doesn't want to. So Persephone says, "Darkrai...I am warning you...fine." Persephone steps on the Pokeball that contains Cresselia, causing Darkrai to be enraged.

"Now, you little jerk, do as I say. Send them to Ash's Dream Realm!" Persephone yells.

Darkrai is angry, he just sends everyone away. "Wait, no! Not the cultists, those freaks!"

Just then, everyone is gone except Tobias and Ash. Ash is on the floor unconscious while Tobias shakes Ash. "Ash, are you okay?" But Ash doesn't respond, and Darkrai also teleports Ash away. "Darkrai...what have you done..."


As Ash wakes up, he sees that he is on a platform with nothingness around. "What the..."

Then he sees Pikachu, Eevee, Gladion, Nora, Damian, Taen, Zachary, Alice, Emily, and Diana. "Guys, wake up." He shakes them as they all wake up.

"What...where are we?" Nora says.

"Is this afterlife? Are we killed by Darkrai?" Gladion asks.

Just then, they can see some images floating in the sky, there is a scene when Ash stops Abyssal Cult, and then the one that they see Harmony and Reukra gets along.

"What...the...what's going on here?" Damian says.

Then they also see when Ash and Lillie's first encounter as well as Pikachu's. They then see Persephone standing in front of them.

"What's this? The Dream Realm? Are you serious?" Persephone says. "A dream sequence? How cliched can you get? Are we really doing this? And it's basically the nightmare realm, too. Everything's black and red, it's so edgy. Except for those crazy images in parts of the sky..."

Diana mutters, "Persephone..."

"I mean...I guess it makes sense, given that it is Darkrai and all, but still...I can't believe it. Of course, this would happen. The one time everything's going right for me. The one time I had Darkrai... and under my control too. Unbelievable."

Persephone yells at Ash Ketchum, "This is your fault!"

"My fault?" Ash asks. "I didn't do anything!"

"Somehow, you're behind the reason I'm in your stupid edgy mind dimension." Persephone says.

"Wait, so we are in Ash's mind?" Emily asks. "And those images are Ash's memories?"

"But Ash is here, as well as his Pokemon..." Zachary says.

"I'm gonna tear you to pieces, then find my way out of here. Consider this payback! I'm going to love every minute of this!" Persephone yells as she sends out Spiritomb, Houndoom, Alakazam, Metagross, Hydreigon, and Gengar.

"Spiritomb, Mega Evolve!" Persephone yells as she changes her Pokemon's form.

Ash sends out Pikachu, Venusaur, Pidgeot, Butterfree, Gengar, and Charizard, they have a fierce battle. After battling them for a while, Ash says, "Wait for a second...if this is in my mind, maybe I could make her Pokemon weaker so I can win this battle."

As he thinks while continuing to command his Pokemon, it works as Persephone's Pokemon are easily getting defeated.

Persephone just looks at her fainted team with surprise and anger, but she doesn't want to yell at them as she can only say in a calm tone, "Oh, I lost? What a surprise."

Suddenly, she starts to laugh hysterically as she says, "Losing and having nothing go right for me? What a brand new experience!"

"Perse..." Diana says, feeling worried for her sister as she is gone crazy.

"I am so done with you." Persephone then recalls all her Pokemon and leaves. "I'll find my way out of here, I promise. And then, I'll find you. I'll crush you. So keep an eye out. I'm coming for you."

After she runs off on her own, the others are looking at one another. Gladion asks, "So what are we going to do now?"

Emily says, "If we are in Ash's mind, there must be an exit for us to get out of here."

"But seriously, if this is Ash's mind, why is there a lot of Ghost Type Pokemon? And why is there a town in front of us?" Alice asks, and Nora says, "A town, maybe we can ask the people there if they know something."

The others nod as they head towards the town.


Here is a new chapter, and now Ash and the group are stuck inside of the Dream Realm with Persephone's fault. And will they find something interesting in there and how are they going to get out? I hope you like this chapter.