Unprecedented Nightmare
Alec's POV
Alec woke up and found himself looking at the ceiling in his room in the Pokémon Center. The group had arrived in Coumarine City the previous evening and Ash was about to run off and challenge the gym leader, but Alec and Clemont managed to remind him that it would be too late for a gym battle.
[Morning sleepy head!] Ethan shouted as he jumped on Alec.
"I'm up Ethan. I'm up," Alec muttered as he pulled himself out of bed. He changed into his normal clothes before heading downstairs to see the rest of the group up.
"Morning Alec," Serena said when she saw him.
"Mornin'," Alec muttered, still a bit tired.
Clemont then came out of the kitchen with breakfast. "Oh good. Everyone's here," Clemont said, putting the food on the table. They then released their Pokémon and Ash's looked like they were ready for their gym battle.
"Eat up, gang. We've got a gym battle to win today!" Ash told his Pokémon as he started digging in as well.
"Ash, slow down. You don't want to overdo it," Serena told him.
"I'll be fine Serena," Ash reassured her.
"Still, just be careful," Serena said quietly.
[What the-] Pikachu suddenly said and Alec looked to see Nightmare moving like crazy.
"Nightmare? What's going on?" Alec asked.
[Something's here! Something's here!] Nightmare answered, still moving like crazy.
"What's here?" Alec asked.
[Must find it!] Nightmare shouted as he went through the wall and outside.
"Nightmare!" Alec shouted after him, but he didn't listen. "Stupid Gengar," Alec muttered as he and his Pokémon ran after Nightmare.
"What's going on with Nightmare?!" Clemont asked as the rest of the group ran after Alec.
"I don't know. He was saying something was here and he needed to find it," Alec answered.
"Shouldn't we help find it then?" Bonnie asked.
"We've got to find Nightmare first. Who knows how much trouble he'll cause looking for whatever it is," Alec replied. "Soar, get an aerial view." Soar nodded and flew higher into the sky.
[If that dumb ghost type is pulling another one of his pranks I swear it won't be pleasant when I catch him,] Samurai stated.
[We all know only I can control him,] Voltier pointed out.
[And you did such a good job,] Samurai replied.
"Zip it, Samurai. I don't want to hear it," Alec scolded, not wanting to deal with Samurai's attitude right now.
A screech was then heard and Alec saw Nightmare floating threw a shop. He hadn't broken anything yet and flew out before he did. [Not here,] Nightmare muttered as he flew past Alec.
"Get back here Nightmare!" Alec shouted after him.
[Voltier, let's cut him off,] Ethan shouted. Voltier nodded and the two ran past Alec.
"Ethan, hit him with a Dark Pulse once you've got a shot!" Alec shouted. Ethan then fired, hitting Nightmare in the back and forcing the shadow Pokémon to the ground. Alec caught up and stood in front of Nightmare. "What in the world is going on?" Alec asked him, trying and failing to keep the scorn out of his voice.
[Something is here! I have to find it, I have to find it!] Nightmare answered and faded into the ground before anyone could stop him.
"Nightmare!" Alec shouted after him.
[I've got him! He's heading towards the center of the city!] Soar reported.
"Can we please slow down!" Clemont shouted as he and the rest of the group caught up.
"Is Nightmare always like this?" Serena asked.
"Unfortunately. The only reason I caught Nightmare is because I was having trouble with a psychic type gym when Ethan was still an Eevee. I just can't ever get through to him," Alec admitted.
"Sounds like a big problem," Ash stated.
"That's a huge understatement," Alec said as he headed after Nightmare, not wanting him to get too far away.
When they arrived in the center of the city, he found Nightmare out of the ground and looking through shops, startling people and other Pokémon. [Nightmare! Cut this out!] Voltier shouted. Nightmare looked over before heading towards the edge of town.
"Super, cut him off!" Alec ordered. Super got in front of Nightmare with the rest of Alec's Pokémon coming up behind him. "Nightmare, stop this at once!" Alec commanded.
[I can't stop. I have to find it. It calls to me,] Nightmare said before fading into the ground. Super reacted quickly and hit Nightmare's shadow with Shadow Claw, forcing him out. Nightmare responded by firing Shadow Ball at Super before slipping past.
[You're not going anywhere!] Samurai shouted as he used Razor Shell on Nightmare's back. Nightmare then flipped around and used Drain Punch on Ethan, gaining most of his energy back.
"You alright Ethan?" Alec asked as he ran up to his partner.
Ethan groaned before answering with, [I'll be alright. Just give me a bit to breathe.]
[I've lost sight of Nightmare. Last I saw he was heading out of the city,] Soar reported before asking, [Should I pursue?]
"No. It's clear that I've lost all semblance of control over Nightmare. Maybe sometime along will do him some good," Alec answered.
[What?! You're just going to leave him out there?!] Voltier asked in shock. Alec didn't answer as he returned to the Pokémon Center. He found the others already there waiting for him.
"Did you stop Nightmare?" Serena asked when she saw him.
"Unfortunately. Some time alone would do that Gengar some good. If he's going to act like this he's not going to be a part of my team," Alec answered.
"What does that mean?" Bonnie asked with a small amount of fear in her voice.
"It means that I may have to release Nightmare," Alec answered. His friends looked at him in surprise, but their reactions were nothing compared to the ones of Alec's Pokémon. They knew that Alec didn't consider releasing lightly. Surprisingly, Voltier was the one to break the silence.
[How can you think of such a thing!?] he shouted. [Sure, Nightmare can be a bit of a problem sometimes but I always thought that you'd always stand by us! No matter what we do!] The rest of Alec's Pokémon looked at Voltier in surprise, as he was normally the quiet one.
"I don't like it anymore then you do Voltier, but Nightmare's been nothing but trouble for this group since day one," Alec stated.
[So? Snake was a problem, but he came around. Root still won't talk to most of us willingly, and don't even get me started on Cannon,] Voltier resorted.
"Look Voltier, I'm not confirming anything, but I have to keep the option open," Alec said, trying not to lose his temper, which was at breaking point as it was.
[The only reason you're considering this is because he attacked Ethan! If it was any other Pokémon you wouldn't be acting this way!] Voltier accused.
"No, it isn't!" Alec shouted, losing patience with this. "Nightmare is too much of a wild Pokémon right now and maybe he was always meant to be that way!"
Voltier then suddenly used Thunderbolt on Alec, electrocuting and sending him into a wall. [So's Sparky! But you wouldn't consider abandoning him! I'm going to find Nightmare, and you aren't going to stop me!] Voltier shouted before running out of the Pokémon Center.
[That stupid little rodent. Accusing an honorable trainer such as yourself is shameful,] Samurai stated. Alec was included to agree with him, but, as usual, he took it a step too far. [Good riddance to that Gengar anyways. We don't need him.]
[How can you say such a thing?] Soar asked him. [I've never liked Nightmare myself but he still has a place on the team.]
Super and Ethan had watched the whole thing, the former lacking any expression while the latter looked disappointed with what just happened. His mood was similar to everyone else's, with Bonnie's having shock mixed in as well. Alec stood back up, more shocked that Voltier had attacked him more than anything else.
Alec sighed and started to leave the Center, Ethan right behind him. "Stay here. All of you. I need some time alone," Alec said, unable to mask the disappointment in his own voice.
Voltier's POV
After running out on his team, Voltier searched the outer edge of town for Nightmare, but didn't find anything. He then heard what sounded like crying coming from a nearby large tree. Voltier ran over and saw Nightmare on the shady side. [Is he really going to abandon me?] Nightmare asked, looking at Voltier.
[You heard that?] Voltier asked.
[Some of it. You didn't answer my question though,] Nightmare replied.
[I'm not sure. But I won't let him. I'll face Flame in open combat before I let Alec abandon you,] Voltier told him.
[I appreciate your loyalty. But I don't want you to risk yourself for me.]
[I don't care. Besides, I won't abandon a friend,] Voltier stated. Nightmare looked at Voltier in shock.
[You… You consider us to be friends?] he asked.
[Yeah. Sure, I've gotten mad at you a few times, but I always thought of you as a friend,] Voltier answered, knowing he was telling the truth.
Nightmare couldn't seem to contain his joy however, as his eyes teared up and he hugged Voltier. [This is amazing! All this time I thought you hated me!] he shouted.
[Ghost body… Feels weird…] Voltier said, getting an odd feeling in him in the spots that made contact with Nightmare's body.
[Oh, sorry,] Nightmare said, putting Voltier down.
[Okay. I have to ask. What was this all about?] Voltier asked.
[Well, at breakfast I felt something weird. It was like something was calling out to me, promising untold power if I found it,] Nightmare explained.
[Well, then let's answer the call,] Voltier stated. Nightmare smiled and led the way.
Alec's POV
Alec walked around in silence, thinking about what just happened. Was he really going to consider releasing Nightmare? He never gave any thought about it with any of his other Pokémon that proved to be trouble, so why would Nightmare invoke such a thought from him? He didn't know, and that's what scared him.
As he entered the city's park, he heard someone behind him. "I thought I told you to leave me alone Ethan," Alec said, sounding tired.
"Then it's a good thing I'm not a Pokémon," a voice answered. Alec turned to see that it was Serena who followed him. "Do you need to talk about it?" Serena asked, clearly worried for him.
"To be honest, I don't know what to think. As much as I want to be rid of Nightmare, another part of me won't let me do it," Alec answered, sitting down on a nearby bench with Serena next to him. "It would be so easy. Just pull out his Ball and crush it. Done, no more worrying about Nightmare."
Alec sighed before Serena said something. "Well, what is it about Nightmare aggravates you?" Serena asked.
Alec looked at her with a bit of surprise but quickly hid it. "He almost never listens. He's fine in battle but once he's out of battle, it becomes impossible to control him. He won't even listen to Ethan and he's basically the leader of my team," Alec answered.
"And?" Serena encouraged.
"I've always had to rely on Voltier to control him. Out of all my Pokémon, he seems to be the only one Nightmare will listen to," Alec continued.
"And how does that make you feel?" Serena asked.
"Furious… and… weak. It feels like an uphill battle to control him and the harder I try the worse it becomes. And the fact that I need another one of my Pokémon to control Nightmare makes me feel like a failure as a trainer. If I can't control a single Pokémon, then how can others see me as a powerful trainer? How can I see myself as a powerful trainer?"
"I can't begin to imagine what that's like. But you haven't failed as a trainer. You beat Diantha for crying out loud," Serena said.
"You're trying so hard to make me feel better," Alec muttered.
"Is it working?" Serena asked. Alec chuckled at that.
"A little bit," he answered.
"Can you really abandon Nightmare though?" his sister asked.
Alec thought about that before answering. "No… No, I don't think I could go threw with it."
"Then let's go find him," Serena said, standing up and looking at Alec with confidence.
"I appreciate you cheering me up, but this is something I have to do myself," Alec told her. Serena gave Alec a pleading look. "No. You're not coming," he said.
A few moments later, Alec was riding on Soar with Ethan on his shoulder and Serena holding on to Alec. "Remind me not to ever tell Serena that she can't come with me," Alec told Ethan.
"I heard that," Serena responded. The two were able to get Alec's Pokémon without alerting the others and Alec returned Samurai and Super before getting on Soar for an aerial search. The Braviary more than able to hold both humans while maintaining flight.
[Last I saw Nightmare, he was heading outside of the city. If Voltier's found him then it should be pretty easy to spot them,] Soar reported.
"Did it look like he was heading someplace specific?" Alec asked.
[Not that I could see. My best guess is to fly in the direction Nightmare was last seen heading,] Soar answered.
[Better than nothing,] Ethan stated. Soar then flew lower to the ground to allow his passengers a better look at the ground.
Voltier's POV
Nightmare led Voltier to a small rock formation that was mostly just some medium-sized rocks sticking out of the ground with cracks running throughout. [Okay. Whatever is calling me seems to be at its strongest here. I think we should spread out and search,] Nightmare advised.
[Agreed. But let's stay within shouting distance,] Voltier said and Nightmare nodded in agreement.
The two then spread out to search and Voltier had no idea what to look for. He settled on finding something that didn't look like it belonged. After a while, neither of them were having much luck. [You find anything?] Nightmare asked.
[No. I don't even know what I'm looking for,] Voltier answered.
"What is going on over there?" A very annoyed voice asked. The two Pokémon looked and saw the familiar faces of Team Rocket.
"Hey, it's the powerful twerp's Pokémon!" James shouted with a mix of surprise, horror, and pleasure.
Voltier stepped into a battle stance but Nightmare seemed to be looking at something else. Voltier looked and saw Wobbufet holding some kind of case. [That's it! That's what's been calling me! Whatever is in that case!] Nightmare shouted and Meowth translated for Jessie and James.
"Oh, is this what you want?" Jessie asked mockingly, taking the case from Wobbuffet and holding it in front of her.
[If you don't mind,] Voltier answered, hoping to get out of this without a fight.
"Fat chance!" Meowth shouted.
"Pumpkaboo, teach them a lesson," Jessie said as she released the Pokémon.
"Alright Inkay, you too," James said as he threw out his as well.
[Get ready. We're going to have to fight,] Voltier warned Nightmare.
[Right. Let's do this,] Nightmare replied, turning very serious.
"Pumpkaboo, Dark Pulse!" Jessie commanded.
"Inkay, Psybeam!" James added.
The two attacks fired at Nightmare and Voltier respectively and both managed to jump out of the way. Voltier fired a Thunderbolt at Inkay while Nightmare used Shadow Ball on Pumpkaboo. Wobbufet then jumped in front of the attacks and used Mirror Coat to send the move back. Both Pokémon were hit this time, not doing much on Voltier but hurting Nightmare a lot.
[Nightmare!] Voltier called out.
[I'm alright,] Nightmare answered. He then fired Toxic at Wobbuffet before following it up with Venoshock. Wobbufet dodged the Toxic, and Inkay fired Psybeam to stop the Venoshock.
"Inkay, Tackle!" James shouted. Inkay closed in on Voltier and, out of fear, Voltier used Ice Punch on Inkay, hoping it would give Voltier some distance. He hated close-quarters combat.
While that was happening. Nightmare was hit by Pumpkaboo's Shadow Ball before jumping in on Inkay to use Drain Punch. It connected, but before Voltier could press the advantage over Inkay, Pumpkaboo fired another Shadow Ball into his side.
[Voltier! You okay?!] Nightmare asked fearfully.
Voltier merely nodded and set up a Rain Dance around them, causing heavy rain to fall around all of them. "Why'd you have to turn on the rain like that?!" Jessie asked in anger. Voltier didn't answer as his checks started sparking, preparing to use Thunder. "Oh no you don't. Pumpkaboo, Dark Pulse!" Jessie shouted.
"Inkay, Psybeam!" James commanded.
Both moves hit Voltier before he could react, sending him flying through the air. Nightmare was then hit by the same attacks and fell by Voltier. [I'm sorry I got you into this mess Voltier. I shouldn't have let you come,] Nightmare said, clear guilt in his voice.
Voltier struggled to stand on all fours. [We aren't finished yet,] Voltier said, checks sparking. He fired Thunder into the sky and it prepared to strike Team Rocket. Wobbufet then jumped in front of the attack and used Mirror Coat. Voltier's eyes widened in shock as he saw this and prepared for his own move to strike him.
"No!" a voice shouted from above. Voltier looked up to see Alec had jumped off of Soar and tackled into Wobbuffet, sending the amped-up Thunder into the sky. Alec then landed an uppercut on James before kicking the case out of Jessie's hands. In response, Inkay and Pumpkaboo fired attacks at Alec but he jumped out of the way to stand by Nightmare and Voltier.
"You want to hurt them. Then you'll have to go through me," Alec threatened.
Alec's POV
Alec looked at Team Rocket in the eyes as the rain continued to fall around them while standing in front of his downed Pokémon defensively. "Oh great. Why'd he have to show up?" Jessie asked, clearly annoyed at what just happened.
"That hurt you know!" James shouted, looking pretty angry.
[Alec, you see that case over there?] Nightmare asked, pointing to the case Alec had kicked out of Jessie's hands. Alec saw that it was cracked open. [That's what's been calling me. I'm sorry I didn't give you a clear explanation,] Nightmare finished.
"Get what's inside. Voltier, Thunderbolt!" Alec ordered. Voltier fired the electric attack at Team Rocket and missed, but the distraction was enough. Nightmare managed to get to the case and finish opening it to pull out a light purple stone with a mega evolution symbol made of dark purple and red.
Suddenly everything made sense for Alec. The Gengarite must have called out to Nightmare when Team Rocket got their hands on it. "Hey! That's ours!" James shouted at Nightmare, who flew over to Alec as Serena, Ethan, and Soar landed.
"Skiddo, let's do this!" Serena shouted.
[Let's wreck these fools,] Skiddo said as he came out, sensing his trainer's anger.
[Is that a mega stone?!] Ethan asked in surprise.
Alec just looked at Nightmare and could see the determination in his eyes. Alec nodded at him. "If you think you're ready, Nightmare. Then let's do this!" Alec shouted as he pulled his keystone out of his pocket. He held his hand around the stone, letting the yellow lights string from the stone. The Gengarite let out light purple beams that met with the ones from the keystone, turning both white.
"Nightmare, mega evolve!" Alec shouted. Nightmare's body then shifted into Mega Gengar, filled with a sudden burst of energy.
"Skiddo, Tackle!" Serena shouted. Skiddo rammed into Inkay sending him back.
"Oh no you don't!" Meowth shouted as he went to use Fury Swipes on Skiddo.
"Drain Punch!" Alec shouted. Nightmare suddenly appeared next to Meowth and hit him with his new arms, taking Meowth's energy. "Now Toxic!" Nightmare fired the plume of sludge at Team Rocket's Pokémon, poisoning them.
"Skiddo, use Vine Whip!" Serena shouted. Skiddo sent the vines into Inkay and Pumpkaboo, sending both of them into their trainers.
"Let's finish this Nightmare! Shadow Ball!" Alec called out. Nightmare formed the ball of ghost energy in his mouth, being much larger than normal, and fired at Team Rocket, sending them into a blastoff.
The rain finally stopped, letting the sun shine through. "We did it! And Nightmare can mega evolve now!" Serena celebrated as Nightmare returned to normal, the Gengarite falling to the ground.
"You alright Nightmare?" Alec asked him.
[I… I thought you'd given up on me,] Nightmare said.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it," Alec admitted, but continued before Nightmare could say anything. "Serena helped me realize something about you. You always followed me in battle, but outside… because I couldn't control you outside of battle, I felt I'd failed you as a trainer. I thought that maybe you were too much of a wild Pokémon that I was never meant to catch you. But regardless of that, I'm here now. And I don't think I could live with myself if I ever let any members of my team go without a good reason. And yours wasn't good enough. I'm sorry about everything Nightmare."
Nightmare looked at Alec with tears in his eyes. [I'm sorry too. I never really took you seriously and saw journeying with you as a way to have fun,] Nightmare admitted. [And you didn't fail me as a trainer. I failed you as a Pokémon… as a member of this team,] Nightmare added. He then suddenly hugged Alec and he felt an uncomfortable feeling.
"Nightmare," Alec said, trying not to shout.
[Oh, sorry,] Nightmare said as he let go.
"That's going to take a bit of getting used to," Alec told him.
"So that's why Nightmare was acting so odd?" Serena asked, seeing the Gengarite still on the ground. Alec walked over and picked up the stone.
"Well, I'll send this to McGinty so you don't always have to carry it," Alec told Nightmare. "In the meantime, we'd better head back."
After getting back to the Pokémon Center and giving Nightmare and Voltier to Nurse Joy, Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie saw them. "Where have you two been?" Ash asked.
"We've been worried," Clemont added.
"I wasn't," Bonnie said bluntly.
[Why doesn't that surprise me?] Ethan asked rhetorically.
Alec and Serena then explained to the others what happened. "So Team Rocket got their hands on a Gengarite?" Ash asked.
"Yep. That's what seemed to trigger Nightmare the way he did," Alec answered.
"Well, at least they don't have it anymore," Clemont said.
The group then heard a chime and Nurse Joy showed up with Nightmare and Voltier. "Thanks for waiting. Gengar and Raichu are back in perfect health," she told Alec.
"Thank you," Alec said as his Pokémon ran up to him. "Glad you're both alright."
[Me too. And I can mega evolve now! I can't wait to use it full time!] Nightmare cheered.
"Well, if by the time I get the stone back and you're not with me, have Flame help you out," Alec advised.
[I'll make sure of it. Though Sandtrap's going to be pissed when he finds out Nightmare can mega evolve. He's always wanted to do that,] Voltier stated.
Ethan let out a laugh. [Oh that's too true. Might have to keep a low profile for a bit Nightmare,] he then said.
[I'll keep that in mind,] Nightmare replied.