Disclaimer: Pokémon is owned by Nintendo, Game Freak, Creatures, and Satoshi Tajiri.

Chapter Seven: Trouble in Dreamyard

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[Dreamyard]

[A plant site used as a playground for children and Pokémon.]

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What once was a functional research facility now became an overgrown jungle among the ruins of the buildings. Despite this, many trainers would choose to come here through the walls for extra training. Occasionally, children would wander here and happily play around with the Pokémon living here.

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Peggy, however, was not feeling so happy, as she cries her cheeks off alone in the facility. She couldn't help herself. She let her trainer and her friend down again...

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What good am I? How can I hope to be brave now...? She whimpered, depressed about her weakness. Her trainer must be so disappointed in her right now...

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"Munna? (Hello?)"

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[!]

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She flinched and shakily turned to gaze at something unusual...

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Meanwhile, Hilda went on a frantic search outside the abandoned buildings. She checked around the trees but could not see the small rodent.

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"Peggy!" She called out.

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Nothing.

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She can't stop worrying because as much as she needs to calm down, she couldn't imagine what would happen to her.

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"Peggy! Where are you?!" She called again.

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Still nothing.

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It's my fault she's missing. I pushed her too far.

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"Peg- Oof!"

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Suddenly, she collided with something solid, like a person. It seems like she didn't watch where she was going.

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"Oh, sorry-" She stopped mid-sentence, as she glance at the person she bumped into.

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"Bianca?" She exclaimed. She couldn't believe it. Her friend Bianca is in the Dreamyard too, apparently with a small Lillipup next to her.

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"Oh! Hi, Hilda!" She greeted, ecstatic to see her friend again.

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"Hey, Bianca... What are you doing here?" She asked.

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"Well, a woman named Fennel asked me to find a Pokémon and I heard they're around here somewhere. Are you looking for the mysterious Pokémon, too?"

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"Well, sorta but I got a problem. My Pokémon ran off and I'm trying to find her!" She explains urgently.

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"Oh my! Well then, we must find her! I'll help you!" She declared.

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"Bianca, you don't have to."

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"Don't be silly! I want to help you because you're my friend!" She smiled, as Lillipup barked in agreement. Hilda couldn't help but smile a little. She's very grateful for her friend's help.

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Thank you.

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"Now Lillipup! Help us find her Pokémon!" Bianca directed.

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"Pup! (Right!)" The cream puppy jumped ahead and begin sniffing the ground for any clues. As they explore deep into the Dreamyard, Hilda couldn't help but dazed off a little bit while looking at the ruins. She's not sure why, but something about this place seems familiar to her...

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"So you're looking for the Pokémon Munna?" Hilda asked.

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"Of course! I've always wondered how showing dreams work..." Bianca pondered.

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"Munna! (Hi!)"

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[!]

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The girls stop to hear a small cry from somewhere. Lillipup tries to listen closely.

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"Hey! Did you hear that?"

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Lillipup sniffed the ground a little more until it came across a small bush. The puppy jolted up and signals the girls near the wall.

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"It seems to be coming from the other side of the wall." Hilda observed.

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"Come on! Let's go see!" Bianca called out, as they ran towards where the sound came from.

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Meanwhile, Peggy couldn't move a muscle as the floating pink Pokémon stared at her rather curiously. She's not if she should be scared or curious.

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"P-Patrat... (H-Hello?)" She greeted meekly.

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"Muunaa? (Are you okay?)" The Pokémon asked.

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Peggy lowered its head in sadness, showing signs of being upset. The pink Pokémon's eyes glowed blue and, an Oran berry floats near the rodent. Peggy stared in awe at the mysterious Pokémon's powers, having never seen a psychic type before.

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"Mun. (Here.)"

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The berry neatly lands on her paws. She shyly takes a bite and proceeds to eat the rest. She brightens up at the Pokémon's kind gesture.

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"P-Patrat! (T-Thank You!)" She smiled.

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Eventually, Hilda and Bianca push through the bushes to take a peek and what they find was rather cute: Peggy and the Munna running around the wide warehouse, enjoying each other's company. They were a little confused about the pink Pokémon in front of them. Naturally, Bianca reach for her Pokédex and scanned it from the distance.

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[Munna]

[The Dream Eater Pokémon]

[Munna always floats in the air. People whose dreams are eaten by them forget what the dreams had been about.]

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I wonder if this is the Pokémon we were supposed to find... Bianca thought.

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"Peggy!" Hilda called out.

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The two Pokémon turned to find the voice. Peggy beamed as she recognized the voice.

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"There you are! I was so worried about you!" She expressed, relief to see her alright.

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S-She was worried about me? Peggy pondered, now feeling a little touched by her trainer.

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"Muuuun... (Ummm...)" The Munna appeared hesitant toward the strangers. It slowly begins to turn away from them, prompting it to float away. They noticed it trying to run away.

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"Patrat! (Wait!)" She ran after her, intending to tell Munna that the strangers are good people.

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"Oh! Wait!" Bianca called out to the Munna. Hilda and Bianca both pursued after them so they wouldn't lose them again. Munna wasn't too sure about them but one of them seems to know the Patrat well, so maybe...

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Boom!

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Suddenly, a large net descends from the sky and ensnares the Munna. The Munna struggles from underneath as it is forcefully dragged near two new strangers.

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"We found you, Munna!" A female stranger exclaimed.

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The Munna, scared and confused, cried out as one of the two culprits roughly grab its body out of the net.

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"Come on! Come on! Make some Dream Mist!" A male stranger demanded harshly. Meanwhile, Hilda and the others finally catch up to find Munna in the clutch of two people in pawn-like uniforms. Instantly, she recollects them as grunts from the weird group called Team Plasma.

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"Hey!"

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"Hmm!" The two grunts turned toward the source of the voice. Hilda stood angrily in front of them while Peggy hide behind her leg. Bianca, however, was puzzled by these people. Why are they doing this?

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"Who are you?! What are you doing?!" She asked.

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The grunts glared at the "intruders".

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"Are you talking about us? We're Team Plasma. We battle day and night to liberate Pokémon from foolish humans!" The male grunt declared.

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"What are we doing? The Pokémon Munna and Musharna emit a mysterious vapor called Dream Mist, which shows people's dreams. We're going to use that to make people want to release their Pokémon..." The female grunt claimed.

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"We'll show them dreams to manipulate their hearts."

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"Now, out with it!" The male grunt kicks the Munna by the side.

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"Mu... Na... (Please... Help...)" It moaned in pain. Peggy, wanting to save her friend, ran up to stop the grunt.

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"Peggy wait!"

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"Come on! Spit out that Dream Mist!" He demanded viciously. Suddenly, he felt a biting pain in one of his legs. He looks down to see Peggy gnawing his legs back, wanting to pull him away from Munna.

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"Out of our way! Filthy rat! He growled, cruelly kicking the poor rodent away. Hilda quickly scooped her shaking Peggy up in her arms and backed away from these dangerous people.

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"Stop that!" She barked, glaring at them fiercely.

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"Why are you doing this?! This is so mean! Aren't you trainers too?!" Bianca pleaded.

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"That's right. We're Pokémon Trainers too, but we're fighting for a different reason. Unlike you two, we're fighting for the freedom of Pokémon!" The female responded coldly. The male rubbed his bruised leg in frustration.

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"And setting Pokémon free means that we win Pokémon battles and take Pokémon by force!"

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By any means necessary. He hands the hurt Munna to his partner.

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"So, on that note, we are going to rescue your Pokémon from the two of you!" He declared, who turns to Hilda first.

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"Starting with you Girly!" He harshly grabs her arm in an attempt to snatch her Peggy away.

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"Let go!" She struggles to pull her arms away as he tightens his grip further.

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"Don't hurt Hilda!" Bianca pleads.

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Pop!

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"Oshawott! (Let go of her!)"

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Oscar pops out of his Poké Ball and sprays water at the grunt's face, forcing him to release her arm. In retaliation, he sends out his own Patrat, who looks vicious to bite the otter's face off. The female sends out a Purrloin to assist his Patrat.

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"Patrat! Purrloin! Dispose of these intruders!"

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"Oscar! Look out!"

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Oscar jumps back as his two opponents start attacking him. He pushes them back with Water Gun but they're still attacking him.

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"Ohh... Tepig! Help us out!" Bianca throws her Poké Ball out, and the fire pig materializes next to Oscar.

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"Tepig! (Alright!)"

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"Help defend Oshawott with Ember!" She commanded confidently.

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The pig's nostrils sparkle as it spews streams of tiny fire toward the enemies. Their opponents back away from the burning embers and Oscar.

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"Osha! Oshawott! (Thanks a lot!)" He smiled.

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"Te! Tepig! (No problem!)" He smiled back.

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"Why you little... Purrloin, target the green hat girl!" The grunt ordered. The Purrloin bares its claws as it dashes towards Bianca.

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"Look out!" Hilda warned quickly.

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Tepig took notice of the grunt's Purrloin and runs back in front of his trainer to tackle the cat back. The Purrloin crashed towards the female grunt, forcing her to release the injured Munna.

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"Catch it, Bianca!"

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Bianca rushed forward and catch the pink Pokémon safely in her arms. The Munna moans in pain as it tries to wriggle out of her arms, still nervous about strangers.

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"Don't be frightened. You're gonna be alright. I promise." She reassured. Munna stared widely at the blond stranger. These people are kind enough to protect it from the bad ones.

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"Grrr... nosey brats! Finish them off!" The female grunt angrily ordered. The two Pokémon angrily gang up on Oscar and Tepig, raising their claws and fangs at them.

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The duo barely dodges and counters every move they try to pull at them, but each time they do, they grow more and more tired as their opponents attack them relentlessly. Eventually, the Purrloin slashes its claw at Tepig, throwing the poor pig back.

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"Oh no! Tepig!"

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The Tepig struggles to get up, greatly tired after taking damages from them. Patrat moves in to finish it off but then, Oscar came up in front of him and tackles it back. However, the Patrat sinks its fangs into his arms and brutally bites down, causing Oscar to cry in pain.

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"Oscar!"

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The rodent throws him back down, leaving the otter tired and hurt. Peggy feels shocked at her's friend's state. He couldn't be defeated...

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"Oshaaa... (Noo...)" He grunted, slowly struggling to stand up. No matter the pain, he could not let everyone down.

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"Give it up! You've lost!" The male grunt taunted. Hilda worries for her partner.

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If he keeps taking hits like this... She slowly reaches her belt for his Poké Ball.

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"Osha! (No!)" He shook his head behind her. She stood there bewildered at her partner's refusal, but then she catch a glimpse of Oscar's eyes: drained but still determined. It was at this moment that she realized that Oscar does not want to stop fighting, knowing that he won't protect them.

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I see now... Her hand backs away from her belt and curls into a fist.

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"Come on Oscar! Get up!" She encouraged, finally understanding what she has to do. Peggy stared at her friend struggling to get up, yet he still wants to fight and now her trainer is encouraging him to fight back.

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They're doing so much to fight back...

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The grunts snickered evilly at their pitiful attempts.

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"Patrat! Purrloin! Finish them!" The two Pokémon quickly dash towards the struggling otter, baring their claws and fangs for one final attack.

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I can't let them hurt my friends! Peggy finally glares at the grunts and their Pokémon.

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"Oshawott! (Come and get me!)" He cried out, preparing to defend one last time.

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Blam!

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However, he stood there shocked to see Peggy defending him from their attacks. She seems to be enduring their bites and scratches, as her body slowly begins to glow red.

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"Peggy?" Hilda was surprised that her Patrat is defending them.

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"Pat... Rat... (I... Won't...)" Her body's glowing redder. The grunts, however, couldn't care less about some weak Pokémon.

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"Dispose of this rodent!" He ordered.

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"Oshawott! (Peggy!)"

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"Pat... Rat...(Let... You...)" With each attack they inflict on her, her body is storing up more force to revert it as power, but that's exactly what she needs. Because for the first time in her life, she's not afraid anymore.

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For the first time, she's being brave.

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"PAT! PATRAAT! (HURT MY FRIIEENNDDSS!)" She ultimately releases a powerful stream of white beam at her opponents, throwing them all back from them. Hilda and Bianca covered their eyes at the bright light, as the beam shoots up into the sky. Meanwhile, Fennel paced around her triplex apartment wondering about the girl's progress in the Dreamyard.

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Boom!

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[!]

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Suddenly, she sees a bright white beam shooting up at the sky. Many people in the streets wondered about the mysterious white beam, but Fennel observed that the beam was coming from the Dreamyard.

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The girls! She realized, as she quickly heads to the Dreamyard.

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Back at the Dreamyard, Peggy stood her ground, heaving from the powerful beam, as she stared at the grunt's Pokémons, who are on the floor defeated. Abruptly, she recoils and begins to fall back. Hilda shakes off her shock.

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"Peggy!" She runs over to catch her Pokémon, and she checks her condition. The beam must've worn her body out. Still, Peggy grew a tired smile towards her. She finally helps them in her own way.

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"...I can't believe we lost!" One grunt complained, still perplexed about their Pokémon's defeat. They couldn't have lost to some nobody and their pests... Finally, Hilda glared at the two crooks.

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"It's over! Now leave!"

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"This can't be! We won't allow it!" Suddenly, the male grunt quickly got in front of Bianca and snatched the hurt Munna away. The sudden movement startled her and she couldn't react quickly.

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"Bianca!"

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"We have to obtain the Dream Mist!" The grunt begins kicking the Munna again. It starts moaning in pain.

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"Come on! Make with the Dream Mist!" He demanded.

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"Knock it off!" Bianca shouted.

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"MUNNA! (HELP ME!)" Its eyes glowed blue.

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Suddenly, a pink fog starts gathering all over the floor, halting the grunt from his actions. Hilda look around to see where the fog was coming from, but it was hard to see from the color.

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"W-What? What is this?" The female grunt questioned.

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"You fools!"

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[!]

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Everyone turned to see a tall man come out of the mist. Hilda immediately recognizes the piercing eyes.

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It's Ghetsis!

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"What are you two doing goofing off?" He scolds harshly.

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"My lord! W-well, we wer-" The male grunt stammered, not even realizing he dropped the Munna. Suddenly, another Ghetsis appeared behind them.

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[?]

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"H-huh?"

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"We, Team Plasma, shall separate Pokémon from foolish people!" The other one glares. Finally, the two Ghetsis merged into one and appear in front of their frightened faces. Bianca quietly carries the Munna away from them.

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"If you cannot fulfill your duties..." His red eyes show a sense of anger and reprimand as if he's suggesting something dreadful. They gulped at his piercing gaze and stared back at each other.

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"T-this isn't... Ghetsis when he is gathering followers... Or when he is trying to control people by tricking them with speeches!" the female grunt stuttered.

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"Yeah... This is Ghetsis when a plan has failed, and he is about to issue punishment..." He quivered.

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"Well?"

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"B-but my lord..."

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"Don't! Let's hurry and say we're sorry so he forgives us!" They nod and they return their faint Pokémon into their Poké Ball and they make a run for it. But not before the male grunt glares at the two girls, specifically Hilda.

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"You haven't seen the last of Team Plasma!" He screamed as they leave the Dreamyard. Hilda simply glares at Ghetsis and was going to yell at him for the grunts. However, he quickly disappears, leaving her confused.

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What the...?

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"...What was that just now?"

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Then, a large pink-and-purple Pokémon floats down from the sky, with streams of pink fog coming out of its forehead. Hilda froze at the sight of the Pokémon.

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I-Is that...

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"Shaaar! (Hmmm!)" The mysterious Pokémon moaned unconsciously.

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"That Pokémon..." Bianca wondered as she scanned the mysterious Pokémon with her Pokédex.

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[Musharna]

[The Drowsing Pokémon, and the evolved form of Munna]

[The mist emanating from their foreheads is packed with the dreams of people and Pokémon.]

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"So that person called Ghetsis appeared all over the place, and it wasn't real, right?!" Bianca asked. However, Hilda was too focused on the Musharna in front of her. Her eyes were in a panic but she could have sworn it feels like it was staring at her as if something familiar was awakening. Could it have been a dream?

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"Oh! Girls!"

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Bianca turned to see Fennel running over them.

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"Are you alright? I saw a white beam and I couldn't wait, so I came over!" She chattered. She turns to Hilda and...

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"...Is that Musharna?!"

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"Musha? (Munna?)" Its eyelids glowed blue.

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"Munii! (Musharna!)" Its eyes also glowed blue, acknowledging its condition. It, or she, is in good hands. Satisfied with her safety, Musharna floats away before taking one last glance at Hilda. After it's gone, the pink fog disappears around the Dreamyard, now at peace once again. Now everyone was pondering what just happened.

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"Did something happen?" She asked both of them.

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"Oh, Fennel. Well, you see, Munna was here... But Team Plasma and Munna... And Musharna came... And it showed us something like a dream? And then, Team Plasma..." Bianca rambled on, still having trouble wrapping her head around the event.

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"Okay... I think I followed that... Hilda?" She turned to her, who was staring blankly at the sky for some reason.

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"Hilda?"

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"Hmm?" She finally snaps back to reality to see Fennel here. She still wonders about the Pokémon but she believes she owes her an explanation.

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"...It's a long story."

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She explains everything that happened here as best as her mind can comprehend: from her Peggy running away, to the Munna, to the arrival of Team Plasma, and then to the Musharna.

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"I see..."

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"What I don't get is the sudden appearance and disappearance of Ghetsis." Hilda ponders.

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"You see, Musharna evolves from Munna. So, maybe seeing Munna in trouble, it used its power, making dreams into reality, to trick Team Plasma and save Munna."

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"Wow..." However, Fennel sees the Munna in Bianca's arm still injured and sees Hilda's Pokémon tired from the battle. With the sun settling down, it'll be too dark to go to the Pokémon Center at this rate.

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"I think you two need to get some rest for your Pokémon. Tell you what, why don't you go over to my house over by the gates?" She suggested since they don't seem to have a place to stay for a while.

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"I think that's a good idea."

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"Yeah... Let's go!" Hilda and Bianca returned all of their Pokémon to their Poké Ball and made their way out of the yard. However, Hilda turned back to see Fennel still at the sight.

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"You coming, Fennel?" Hilda asked.

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"You go on ahead. I'm going to check the area for a bit. I'll catch up later." Fennel smiled. Hilda simply nods and followed Bianca, who was still holding Munna, out of the place. After they left, Fennel takes a look around the demolished building and lament the former research facility. It's been years since she have seen Musharna and now, it disappears once more.

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After all these years, why do you appear now?

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Then, her eyes catch a glimpse of something glowing pink near the rusty oil barrel. She steadily stepped behind the barrel and gasp at the sight of it.

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Could it be?

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Her house is the most welcoming place they could be in. The people there are very nice of them to nurse their Pokémon while they clean off the bruises they received. One little girl is especially nice to their Pokémon, taking extra care of them in the best way possible. Even Munna, who is usually shy around strangers, takes a liking to the kind girl.

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"Thank you so much for letting us stay here for the night!" Bianca praised.

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"No problem! A friend of Fennel is a friend of ours too!" A man assured. Then, the little girl stared at Hilda for a moment.

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"Say, do you use the PC at Pokémon Centers?" The small brunette asked.

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"Not very much. Why?"

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"Well, my name is Amanita. I'm in charge of maintaining the Box system." It was at this moment that Hilda remember the professor's words.

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"Someone" is the person who made and operates the Pokémon Storage System. ... Someone I'm sure you'll meet someday!"

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"Wait a minute... You operate the Pokémon Storage System?" Hilda asked.

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"Sure do. I make sure that every Pokémon trainer who uses it has easy access to all of the Pokémon they catch. Their data gets registered and stored in the box system, where they are transported here. Would you like to see where they go to?"

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"Ehh... Maybe later. I have to focus on the gym first." She considered.

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Knock! Knock! Knock!

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"Fennel?"

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"Hey slow down!"

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They turn to see what the commotion was about, where Fennel excitingly rushed upstairs to get to her room, A.K.A. her lab.

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"Amanita! I need your help quickly!" She requested.

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"What's the matter?" Hilda asked.

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"Can't explain right now! I've got so much to research!" She squealed in joy, as she holds onto a portion jar of pink mist.

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"Coming Fennel!" The girl runs over to her.

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"I'll explain everything tomorrow!" She promised as she closes her room door. Everyone just stood there for a moment.

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"What was that about?" Bianca wondered.

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"Well, knowing her, it seems to me that she may have made a breakthrough." The man suggested, smiling awkwardly about her excitement.

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Later in the night, Hilda went into one of the rooms she borrowed for the night to check on her Pokémon, and there she finds Oscar and Peggy laying down on the beds with bandages on their bodies. Sometimes, she wish she knew what they were thinking about.

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Perhaps I could find out tomorrow...

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She lies in her bed but her mind could not stop playing the incident over and over again. She wonders about what she just saw:

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She hears Bianca and Fennel talking but she could not take her eyes off Musharna. What does it want and why did it come back?

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What do you see in truth?

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Strangely, she hears a voice and sees something faint yet gleaming high in the sky. It seems to be a white creature of some sort, resembling a dragon. Hilda stared at it in awe, wondering if it was some kind of Pokémon.

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That Pokémon...

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The mysterious Pokémon flies over the setting horizon before fading from existence like it's not considered real. Could it have been a dream?

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Was it from a dream I once had?

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Hilda's team:

[1.]

Name: Oshawott ("Oscar")

Type: Water

Brave Nature, "Strong willed"

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[2.]

Name: Patrat ("Peggy")

Type: Normal

Timid Nature, "Highly curious"