He finds himself drifting about a starry void. There's no one else there, he is all alone. Being alone is not exactly a novel experience, he thinks to himself. But while it isn't new, he doesn't like it. And being so alone in such a vast space makes him feel more alone than ever before. He tries to call out, yell if anyone else is there… but no words come from his lips. Slowly, the stars dim and wink out and he is alone in pure darkness.
He floats aimlessly in one direction, at this point he can't tell if it's up, down, left, or right. But he goes that way, unstopping. There are still no stars, still no other people, or even any Pokémon. He feels his eyes wet, tears welling up. Is this… Is this what it was like for Mom? he wonders. Alone, in the dark, knowing there was no way out?
Unbidden, his mind rewinds to ten years ago. His mother falling and hitting her head. Clutching his mom's hand, begging her to wake up… Being rushed by air to the nearest hospital off the plateau. A heart monitor going beep beep beep. His dad running in and hugging him. His dad, his strong, invincible dad, crying over his mom. His dad wrapping his jacket around him to serve as a blanket. The beeping slowing. His mom slipping away. Beep beep beeeeeeeeep. Nurses and doctors rushing in. His mom's hand slipping out of his. No, Mommy! MOMMY! MOMMMMMYYYYY! A child screaming his throat raw.
He shudders. He doesn't like to think of those days. Beep beep beep. He covers his ears. Beep beep beep. Even if he covers his ears, he can still hear it when things are at their worst. Beep beep beep. Like a record stuck on one line, over and over and over.
Slowly, oh so slowly, the stars return to the void. It's a little better than before, and he is no longer alone in pure darkness, just alone. It's a slight improvement at least, and the beeping ceases to echo. Strangely, he gets the feeling he isn't alone. No one else seems to be there, but he gets a strong feeling of being watched. For most this would probably be disconcerting, but he feels no malevolence from the unseen watcher. The presence is a comfort, because now he knows he isn't alone in… well, whatever this place is.
He hears something, some voice. At first, it's impossible to make out but slowly… slowly he can piece together what's being said. The voice is still distant but… "A new soul? I see… I do not know how you found this place my son, but welcome. Welcome to the world of Empyrean."
"Empyrean?" he asks, confused. The heck is Empyrean?
"A world of the godlike, child," the voice said. "If you have reached this place, even in dreams, you have the potential to reach us… It is fascinating."
He didn't know what to say to that. Godlike? In dreams? What did any of it mean?
"What is your name, child?"
"I'm… I'm Jace, Jace Fortune," the young man said.
"Very well, lad. Our information on you is complete. I suspect very strongly we'll be seeing you very shortly." The voice faded out with the last words and so did the stars. Jace found himself fading out too.
"Jace, come on, wake up! I need you to help me pack!" a familiar voice called.
Jace sat up in bed and stretched. "I feel like I had a weird dream…" he said to no one in particular.
"Jace come on we're headed for the coast, help me pack!"
The vacation. "Coming Dad!" he yelled. The dream going forgotten, at least until it was much too late.