INTRODUCTORY NOTE: Welcome back to another chapter of the Shattered Memories. Please if you have any suggestion to make the story more interesting don't hesitate. Leave a review to further enhance this story.

And without further ado...

Chapter 4:

Ash drifted aimlessly at the dream. The last thing he knows is the excruciating pain in his head, like a herd of Tauros ravaging his mind. After that is a long silence, to which he found himself in a long darkness.

"Hello?" He reverberated in his mind. The darkness was like a vacuum. No reply was made, no matter how loud, how weak. "Where am I?"

The darkness was cold, and unforgiving. There is nothing there, except him.

"Ash Ketchum..." suddenly a new voice entered. It was familiar, yet he don't remember. "Who are you? Show your self!" In the eternal darkness, Ash managed to muster to make his voice be heard.

"In due time, young one. You have a task at hand..."

Inside the hotel was composed of 15 floors with 5 rooms each. In the room was a small living room, two bathroom, a small kitchen, and three bedroom. Right now, the gang is on the hotel room of Ash. His sudden headache has caught everybody tense, and it is not helpfull that Cilan is there. He managed to tell his own story, of his regrets and sorry to what he did. They all managed to agree to give him a chance, but all of them are on high alert in his pressence. Cilan was grateful, but is unerved by what they told him.

"Alright, we all agreed to to another chance to you." Anabel stated in a strong firm voice, "But you must know, outside you will call him Aoi Sycamore."

"But wh-"

"You may remember that fact greenie. It's the only way you are getting to us, or near him. Don't call him Ash outside, or when you are face to face. Oh and play along when he wakes up." Paul interjected the connoisseur. Cilan only nodded in confusion about the arrangement, but nonetheless will try to win their trust.

They have been there for at least 3 hours waiting for him to wake up. Serena stayed besides him, and napped a little while holding his hand. Pikachu was playing with the others, and the gang was on the living room. Cilan, Brock, and Clemont has managed to make a plethora of snack for everyone and the pokemons. Everyone was impressed by the cooking of Cilan, and there was no sarcasm in their praise for the cook.

Serena, on her nap, was half-awake in every 20 minutes. Luckily, she timed it perfectly when Ash started to stir in his sleep. Ash's face looks like he was in pain, but more like of a groggy face rather than in pain. He managed to hum a little signaling he is awake, and Serena managed to catch it all.

"Ash!" Serena exclaimed first, that caught the attention of the others outside the bedroom. The all rushed in in time for his eyes to open, even Pikachu and Riolu was excited.

"Ugh... My head..."

"Easy there bud. You just had a major headache. Rest easy on bed." Brock made his way with Clemont to check on him.

"How are you feeling Ash?" Serena asked, unconsciously holding his hand and squeezing it.

"A little better..." A groggy reply made by Ash still feeling his head a little shacky.

"Anabel, Serena, and I saw you collapse. I think you are just tired after a lot today." Brock finished checking his conditions. He moved out of the way for the two lovebirds, and went to another corner.

Ash started to sit up straight, noticing the hand in his palms. He just squeezed it also, assuring them both that he is alright.

"Is there something you like to do Ash?" Anabel asked from the center of the room. The answer, however, came from the stomach of the trainer. Everybody just sweatdropped from the sound.

"I guess that sound makes it you are alright Ash." Gary mocked the trainer with a stiffled laugh. Nobody noticed but Dawn managed to take a tray of food from the kitchen to the bedroom. She just placed it in front of the trainer, and allowed him to take a sip of the soup.

"Wow this is great. You made this Brock?" The raven haired trainer asked, failing to notice the tensed room from his remark.

"Uhh... Actually no..." the squinted eye man replied. "Oh... Clemont then?" The blonde gym leader shrugged his shoulder to the disappointment of Ash. "Oh... Who then?"

"That would be Cilan." Anabel answered after a five second of silence. The green haired connoisseur raised his hand weakly so that Ash may recognize him.

"Ahh... You are battling Anabel earlier!" Ash exclaimed.

"Allow me. My name is Cilan, a pokemon connoisseur." Cilan made a small bow to the man before raising his head.

"My name is Aoi Sycamore. Pleasure to meet you." Ash grinned to the man to which a smile was returned.

"We should probably let Ash have some rest and time." Korrina stated this time.

"Good idea. See you tommorow Ash." Clemont stated and one by one, except for Serena left the room.

"Are you alright really Ash?" Serena asked again, now they are in private again. Ash felt the tense aura to Serena, and he know it was from his fainted act earlier. He wanted to say the events from his dream, but with the state they are now, he decided to omit it first.

"Yup! I'm fine. Just a bit of rest and I'm back in action." Ash replied with his toothy grin. Serena felt relieved from his actions, that she practically watched him eat his food in silence. Ash had managed to finish his food fast, and realized a sound of faint snores. He traced the sound in the room, and saw the peacefull face of his girlfriend. Slowly he got up from the bed, and took her bridal style to his bed.

"Sleep well Serena. Sorry for scaring you earlier." Ash planted a kiss to her forehead before slipped in between of covers. Unknown to him, Serena was awake that moment. She only mouthed her words of thanks, before she smiled on her sleep.

The morning came fast for the island. It was only 6:30 yet, Ash was starting to stir up from his sleep. He let out a weak grunt from the sun light that hit his eyes. He scrubbed then, and noticed a pair of blue eyes, honey blonde hair, and a smiling face in front of him.

"Morning Sleepy-head!" Serena greeted the man with a smile. Ash stared at the beauty first, before he pecked her cheeks with a light kiss. Serena, caught off guard becomes surprised by his action and blushed so hard, one can mistake her for a tomato. "Morning!" Ash flashed his goofy smile from his antics. After regaining her composure she stood up from her place and waited for Ash.

"Had an enjoyable dream Ash?" She inquired, seeing his everlasting smile. "I dreamt of you, walking in an aisle in a white gown." Ash teased that made Serena almost faint, if not for his laugh that echoed after his remark. The door also helped, since Anabel heard them and opened it with a smile.

"Hey lovebirds, want some breakfast? Clemont and Brock got'em prepared now." She asked the two. "Alright Breakfast!" Ash exclaimed, and the two ladies giggled only.

When they reached the room next door, they are greeted by a pleathora of faces. Dawn was fuzzing her hair, Clemont and Brock was happily setting the table, Gary was helping the food for the pokemon, and Korrina and Paul was still looking asleep. Everybody was still on their pajamas, when they rounded the table. As per usual, Ash's appetite was a sight to behold. Paul, Gary, and Korrina also had a big appetite actually, but not as much for the raven haired trainer.

"What are your plans for today guys?" Gary asked the table. "I got nothing besides reading for some of the competition." Clemont stated. "I could train my pokemon for tommorow." Both Ash and Paul answered. "And I could just watch the TV." Brock lastly answered.

"How bout you ladies?" Gary this time asked them. He could have regretted it already actually. "SHOPPING!" The girls chorused altogether. The men only choked on their foods, and can't help the shivers on their spines.

"Do we have to?" Ash first asked the ladies for reconsideration. "Yes!" The united front of ladies answered. "Can't we just send them here when you get them?" Clemont asked, probably with his new invention. "No!" They exclaimed. "Why do I have to be stuck with this?" Paul asked this time. "Because you are our boyfriends!" The ladies minus Anabel answered. "Umm... We have no relationships." Gary and Brock answered this time. "You two will carry my things." Anabel exclaimed this time.

The boys probably felt defeated, since they all had their aura's of depression hanging in the air. They only had one answer, "Guess our plans are ruined..." they stated as a united front in a defeated tone.

Breakfast came much faster, probably because of the ladies unstoppable force in shopping. The men practically have to wait for them in an hour and a half before they can go out. It was nearly noon when they entered the stores and skimmed one by one. The state of the men's mentality, and vitality was low already when the ladies have practically tried some dress and clothes. Then came the next part.

"Now let's look something for them." Dawn stated this time after dropping some bags to Paul. He already have 5 bags, while Clemont has 3, Gary and Brock has 6, and Ash has 4. It was pitiful for their pride, for what they thought all four.

"Come on boys. Let's get you some new clothes." Korrina rushed to the men's section already with the others.

"10$ Clemont gets the most ridiculous outfit." Paul whispered to Ash. "20$ Paul gets it." Gary this time. "50$ for Gary gets the most ridiculous." Brock whispered. "100$ Brock will have the most ridiculous." Clemont whispered surprisingly. "1000$ I get the most ridiculous." Ash whispered before they are pulled by the ladies.

"Huh?"

"What is it Iris?" May asked the wild girl that is staring off in some part of the store. She is with Cilan and Iris shopping for some clothes and probably suplies. Cilan, the different man there, knows he saw Ash being pulled by Serena followed by Gary.

"Funny because I think I heard Ash's voice." Iris replied looking around. "You are probably mistaken Iris." Cilan nervously replied. Iris eyed the man for a moment. She had been suspicious about his behaviour after he ditched the traitors last night and came back late.

"Hmm... If you say so." Iris returned to her usual skimming, while Cilan breathed a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, the girls have becomes savages from the men as they gave them each 3 new clothes. Surprisingly, Ash had one of the most ridiculous clothes the ladies bought for him, earning him at least 180$ for the win.

"That should be it." Dawn sighed as she placed a new box for Paul. The men gave a big sigh of relief as they have finally earned their free time, that is...

"Oh right. Ash give them all of our things, you are comming with me outside." Serena stated with a bright smile. The men, except Ash, shuddered from her tone.

"Uhh... Serena that is probably a bad idea..." Ash remarked with a sweatdrop. "Oh I'm sure the ladies don't mind right?" Serena turned to Dawn, Korrina, and Anabel that gave a strong nod.

"W-wait! Don't you wan-" Paul started to blurt out an obvious fact when the ladies glared at them with the intent to kill. Funnily enough, the men almost pissed on their pants when they them like that. "You are saying Paul?" Dawn gave a shuddering cold tone, to which Paul, known to be the most calm person, becomes so afraid to her girlfriend. He quickly gave a reply, "Y-yeah Ash. We can take care of these things." While the other men started to also take some of Ash's baggage while humming a nod all together.

"Thanks guys!" Serena beamed a smile. "Come on Ash!" She then quickly grabbed Ash's hand and started to pull him. "But-" "Bye!" Serena gave a strong sprint to the exit with a dumbfounded man in her hands.

"Serena? Where are we going?" Ash asked, for at least the 4th time. They had been walking for 10 minutes now, towards an unknown direction. She hadn't answered the man in tow, only she had tightened her grip to him when he tried to escape. By this time Ash had finally gave up and allowed her to drag him.

A few more minutes. "We're here!" Serena exclaimed. Ash looked forward and saw a small lake in an clearing of a forest. It was a soothing sight, and no one could have actually noticed about it.

"Wow..." Ash remarked with his mouth wide. "Isn't? I just got a glimpse of this on the way to the center yesterday." Serena replied. Ash motioned to a small tree with Serena, "Yeah. It's beautiful Serena." he then replied. They took a seat to the trunk, and let the sight of nature fill their eyes.

"Serena?" Ash broke the silence between them. The honey blonde only tilted her head to the raven haired trainer. "Umm... Sorry if I made you worry yesterday about me fainting." The man only heard a giggle after his remark before he heard a new answer.

"It's alright. You would have done the same to me." Serena moved closer to Ash, until they are now only snuggled to each other. "What happened to you even yesterday to faint like that?"

"Well, I think I just saw a man with green hair like Cilan before in a memory. The pokemons and all, and with some girl that has a pokemon in her hair. All I just know is a rapid flash of unknown memories." Ash replied while Serena dug herself to his chest even further. "I won't let them ruin your dream Ash Ketchum." Serena murmured that Ash didn't caught on. "What was that?" Ash looked to his chest and found a smiling Serena that is asleep. He chuckled a bit only, and fixed himself to a sleeping pose too.

The afternoon came so fast for them all. Ash and Serena were out all afternoon, even missing out on a lunch. The returned to the hotel by 5:30, without being swarmed by fans.

"That was the best time of my life." Ash said while stretching to his toes. He saw the honey blonde giggled and replied, "I'm glad you like it."

They made it to the room afterwards, to see the gang waiting for something. "Hey guys! Is the matches out yet?" Ash entered seeing them glued to the television. "Just in time. They are about to flash them." Clemont answered without looking away.

On the side of the traitors, they are also waiting for the matches. "Let's see who am I going to destroy next." Max stated confidently. "Oh such a kid." Iris replied her favorite quotes that earned her a scowl from May.

"Don't compare my brother to that loser."

"Yeah, don't anger my beautiful rose." Drew stated cooly. He has been in the relationship with may for about two tears now. There is also Tracy that is holding Misty that seems angry from the remark.

"There it is!" Max exclaimed.

On the side of the Gang, they saw the shuffled list of battles. "Looks like an easy win for Anabel this time." Brock commented seeing her matched against an unknown trainer. "Ash also has it easy this time." Gary commented seeing him paired with the arrogant trainer Anabel is paired before. "Take it easy to the poor man Paul." Ash now commented as he saw a poor soul to be destroyed.

But the real highlights for both the group was the matchups they didn't expected.

Serena VS Misty

Dawn VS May

Clemont VS Virgil

Barry VS Gary