Chapter 175 Nightmare Begins Part 2
Before they are leaving, they are surprised to find Anna in the middle of the road.
Ash: Anna! Is that you?
Anna: Hi, Ash! Charlotte as well! I didn't expect to see you here! You still remember me, right?
Charlotte: Of course, we remember you, why?
Anna: Because, it seems like not many others do. I'm sorry I'm still asleep on the other side! I super-ultra double- no, triple pinky promise that I'm doing my best to wake up! I'm not sure where I'll find the third pinky, but I'll manage somehow! It seems like everything I did to try and manage the timeline enough so you could beat Lin took a toll on me... But to be honest, I think it could've been a lot worse! If I had done more, I may not have been able to be there at all... And then I'd miss all of you terribly! I know you can finish the job even without me though! You've come so far! Just a little further, and we'll defeat Lin for good!
Ash and the others nod as they bid Anna farewell, knowing that this might be where Anna is when she's fallen asleep. Then they go to the mysterious person and give him the 3 Nanab Berries.
?: Ahh, you're back from your expedition, I take it? You look exhausted, Trainers. Come on, what's so difficult about finding a few berries? Hmph... I suppose berry-hunting is just a touch harder for some. Well, I don't have all day, so you'd best show me what you've found.
Ash nods as he tries to take out the three Nanab Berries, only to find them gone.
Ash: Hey! Where did it go?
?: Is something the matter? Where are the berries?
Charlotte: Ash, I thought the berries are with you.
Aria: They're gone? How is it possible?
?: Oh, you don't have any? Come now, Trainer. Why didn't you mention that from the start? How bold of me to assume we were finishing up here... Well, that's disappointing. I thought bringing me three relatively common berries would amount to being quite a simple task. Now you're just wasting my time. I can say with certainty now that you're not who I was looking for. Well, I guess you'd best keep up your search. I'll be waiting... but the clock is ticking.
Ash: I swear I had put the berries here...
?: I'm going to assume you haven't found those berries, have you? Who knew such a simple task could prove to be so difficult?
Ash: Or maybe you just took it without our notice, admit it right now.
?: Hmm... Your reactions aren't as entertaining as I would've hoped. You're no fun, that's for sure. Okay, fine. I'm done messing with you. Are you ready for the reveal, Trainer?
Charlotte: What do you mean by that?
?: Well, it turns out... I had the berries the whole time!
Ash and the others are watching with surprise.
?: Okay, I'm waiting for a better reaction...
Then they decide to turn into the glare.
?: Any day now... Hmph... This encounter continues to disappoint me. Whatever the case, I'm a man of my word, I suppose. Whether or not I think you deserve it, I'll show you the way home as promised. (Points in a direction) Just up there is the path ahead. If you follow it, you'll find your way out of this dreary little dream. You'll be able to wake up, and freely roam around that merry existence you call home. (Turns back to the three) Though, really, you could've just left at any time. Did you not even notice that? I can't say that it's been pleasant meeting you, Trainer. When you first appeared, you were unusual enough for me to come and find you. But it turns out, you weren't at all the kind of trainers I was looking for. I suppose the silver lining is that we'll never have to see each other again. Now come on, Trainers. Run along, before I change my mind. There's nothing more for you here.
Ash and the others decide to head to the path, at the end of the path, there is a door.
Ash: I guess that's the way out, let's go.
But after they get into the door, they find themselves back at the beginning of the Endgame.
Charlotte: Hey! We're back from the beginning! I know we shouldn't have trusted that guy.
Aria: And that guy is in front of us, let's see what he's up to right now.
After getting to the man once more, he just turns away from them.
?: Hmph... It's about time you woke up.
Ash: You can stop talking about the same thing. We know what you're going to say.
Shiv: To be honest, Trainers... you've got me thinking. What I saw was quite peculiar, really. You're not quite the Trainer we need, but at the very least... you've raised my curiosity. Hmph... The name's Shiv.
Ash: Now we're introducing ourselves, huh? I'm Ash, and this is Charlotte and Aria.
Shiv: Ah, so all three of you are called Lin? Hah! What kind of name is Lin?! It sounds like something you just made up on the spot.
Ash, Charlotte, and Aria are confused, they are not Lin, why is he laughing and how is this possible?
Shiv: Honestly, the longer I talk to you, the stranger you become. Hmph... Maybe you really do belong here. Anyway... uh, Lin... Look, I said I'd let you leave, and I'm certainly a man of my word... However, before you go, I want first-hand experience of how you battle. Doesn't sound too difficult, right? After those three battles you endured... How tough can little old me be? Well, I'd ask what your choice is... But obviously, you don't have one. Let me know when you've prepared yourself, and we'll get this show on the road. And please, don't dawdle... You took long enough to do everything else around here.
Aria: For some reason, this is a trap, should we battle him?
Ash: I guess so. Let's do this...
Shiv: I'm glad you took the time to prepare, Lin. But to be honest... I don't know why you bothered. It won't make any difference in the slightest. After all... this dream isn't yours alone.
Just then, Shiv goes for Roserade, and Ash decides to go with Pikachu to battle, but much to his surprise, all of his Pokemon are suddenly becoming Level 1, and Roserade just use a Giga Drain to knock Pikachu out.
Ash: How is that even possible?
Ash also checks into the bag and finds nothing inside, and in the end, all of his Pokemon are defeated just by Roserade's Giga Drain.
Aria: I knew it was a trap...but Ash lost all of his Pokemon...
Charlotte: You know, this place is a mess...I want to get out of here, but there's no exit as well...
Shiv: Okay, so perhaps the scales were somewhat tipped out of your favor. But I suppose I never lied, did I? As I said before, any amount of preparation wouldn't matter in the slightest. You have your tricks... and I have mi\^
Just then, for some reason, Ash, Aria, and Charlotte are knocked out again, and when they wake up, they are back at the beginning for the third time.
Charlotte: How many times do we need to do this again?
Ash: Maybe something IS wrong with this Shiv.
They march to the man again, and he is still standing there.
Shiv: I'm glad you took the time to prepare, Lin. But to be honest... I don't know why you bothered.
Aria: Stop with the same dialogue, please...
Shiv: I thought you would've already been dealt with for good. Once again, you continue to raise my curiosity. Such a shame that you're not the one we're looking for... Whatever the case, I suppose you've been messed with enough. You're clearly a cut above the average folk skulking around this world, so perhaps you deserve just the slightest touch of respect. You know, maybe I went a little far, putting you through such a long-winded ordeal... After all, you fell into this dream purely by accident, didn't you? So... how could I possibly make it up to you, hmm?
Ash: (Gives up struggling) Please, just get us out of here...
Shiv: Hmm... Well... There is one thing, perhaps. Of course, what is the most useful thing that could be given to a budding trainer, such as yourself? The answer is clearly a Pokémon, hmm? Hmph, indeed... but which one? When you have the talents I do... you could pick anything, really. But I imagine you'd want something at least... well, serviceable. Perhaps something from the dream that will help you to keep me in your thoughts once you're gone, not that you needed any help with that. Something obviously stronger than you... But with an equally cunning side... Perhaps... A Darkrai, then?
Ash, Charlotte, and Aria are surprised to hear the name Darkrai, and it all makes sense since they have been in a nightmare for so long.
Shiv: Hmph... Yes. I think that'll suit quite nicely.
Then they are given the Poke Ball of Darkrai, much to their surprise.
Ash's New Capture in Endgame: Darkrai (Event)?
Shiv: Don't get ahead of yourself though. This isn't some kind of all-powerful Darkrai, you know. You're in your own head if you think you deserve a Pokémon like that. This one should be good enough, to be sure, but training it, and melding it into something useful in battle... That's your responsibility. What a strange day this has turned out to be... And what unusual Trainers you are. I'm not entirely sure where you've come from, but it's certainly a different land from what I call home, at least. Now, with all that aside... I suppose it's time to send you home, isn't it? After all, you've been dreaming for far too long. I'd say we'll be in touch... But I suspect you'll never see me again. Farewell then.
Just then, Ash, Charlotte, and Aria are blacking out again, as they really hate to do so. But when they wake up, they find themselves in front of the New World door.
Ash: So we were just sleeping in front of this door all this time?
Aria: I guess so... Let's head back to the Night Club.
But just as they head back, they find that nobody is at the Night Club Counter, except for a Smeargle.
Charlotte: Guys! I can't find my sisters in the Night Club!
Ash: What is going on? (Walks towards the Smeargle)
Smeargle: "human help?" "human go stinky wet" "stinky place door!" "below city now place!" "human go help door in stinky water place below city!" "help human go go!"
Ash: I guess he's telling us to the Water Treatment Center...but something is still fishy... (Checks the PC) Darkrai is not in my PC.
Charlotte: I knew that guy is lying...but first, we should see if anyone else is in the city before heading there.
The others nod as they all rush towards the whole city.
And there you have it, Shiv is a character from the game Pokemon Desolation! I haven't played that game, so I don't know about the true story, but the quest is ended, or is it? I hope you like this chapter.
