Pokemon Black and White Rebirth.
Chapter 6.2 Once upon a dream.
Ash once again woke in the dead of night. He checked his body to make sure no damage was done to it. The boy sighed in relief, and slowly looked around to find Pikachu snoring on the side of his bed, muttering something about waffles. Those did sound good to Ash right about now. Purrloin, now recovered, was sleeping and purring next to Pikachu. The boy could make out Pidove, Tepig, and Oshawott in their own part of the Pokemon Center bed he was sleeping on. Their trainer slowly removed himself from the bed, and slowly climbed down the ladder of the bunk bed. He spotted Iris and Axew sleeping next to Bianca in the bed below him. Lillipup was sleeping on Pignite's, raising and lowering, belly on the pillow covered floor. He was about to open the door and leave, when he heard a voice.
"Papa Ash, could you get Mama, Bianca, and me some water?" The Tiny Axew requested.
"Ok." He muttered while opening the door, and quickly shutting it.
"Stupid N, stabbing me with a sword, and locking my friends in cages! I'll show him!" He mumbled remembering his nightmare in the dark, as he walked to find a water cooler. After bumping into things in the dark, Ash finally found a water cooler, and paper cups. He filled up the cups for his friends. After bumping into a few more things, he found his room, and gave Axew, Bianca, and Iris their water. Axew drank his and went back to bed, while Ash put the other two cups on a table in the room. The boy tried to go back to sleep, however his body wouldn't let him.
Ash's ears suddenly picked up crying. He looked around to find out where it was coming from. He checked the bottom bed, to find Iris, Bianca, and Axew sleeping peacefully. He looked down to see Bianca's Pokemon were fine. So where was the crying coming from? He went back to his own bed to find Purrloin crying next to a snoring Pikachu, while covering her tail with one of her paws.
"Purrloin?" Her trainer whispered, forcing her to look at him.
"Are you crying?" Ash asked with concern for his Pokemon.
"…Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to keep you-" The cat Pokemon started to say when he hugged her tightly.
"Hey, you're okay now. You're fine, everyone's fine." Ash told her, while holding her. He could feel tears running down his shirt.
After a few seconds the crying stopped. Purrloin purred as she rubbed her face on his.
"Look, it was just a few fights. We will get better." He assured her.
"Thank you, but I just, bit my own tail while I was asleep." She explained.
"Oh, well ouch…you're not bleeding are you?" Ash asked.
"No…It just really hurt." Purrloin muttered.
"Okay…well, night." He muttered, as she curled up into a ball, and went back to sleep. Sadly, he was the only one in the room awake.
Bianca was enjoying some blueberry pancakes. Iris was biting on an apple, with some cereal, while Ash came in with eggs, bacon, toast, and oddly coffee. The Pokemon were chowing down on bowels of Pokemon food. Iris noticed that her talisman was dripping with milk, so she took a napkin and cleaned it, or at least wiped off the milk.
"Hey Iris." Ash muttered to her.
"Mmm?" Iris asked with an apple in her mouth.
"I've been meaning to ask more about your charm thing. Where did you get it?" Ash asked.
"Yeah, is it magic?" Bianca added.
Iris swallowed the piece of apple she was eating.
"Why do you wanna know?" The purple haired child questioned her new friends.
"Cause you said it was based off those Legendary Pokemon, and it looks cool." Ash said.
"Well Bianca, it does have magic powers! Ash knows that it can let me know if someone's telling me the truth or not, and it can show me what my heart wants most." Iris said.
"No way! You're like a living lie detector, and kinda like Captain Jack Sparrow. That's so cool!" Bianca gushed with her widened eyes. The reference was lost to Iris and her Pokemon, since they hadn't seen any of the Pirates of the Orange Islands movies.
"Hehe… Thanks, I am pretty awesome." Iris boasted.
"So, where did you get it?" Ash asked while drinking his coffee. He made a face of disgust. Pikachu handed him sugar to make it taste better, and he in return gave his little buddy the bottle of ketchup.
Axew popped out of Iris's hair as she fed him part of her apple.
"Mama's always had it." Axew said. The trainer who could understand what Axew said and the few Pokemon that were listening tilted their heads.
"I've always had my talisman. Ever since I was born, they never told me who gave it to me. That's all I really know. I'm sure it has other powers, but they would never tell me anything else." Iris said vaguely.
Ash wanted to ask more; however that train of thought went missing as Bianca jumped up from the table when she saw Cheren with his Snivy coming their way.
"Ohmygosh, it's him. He's coming this way. What do I? What do I do?" The rookie trainer asked while getting flustered.
Iris rolled her eyes.
"Bianca, calm down. He's not the champion. Not a big deal." the Dragon Trainer muttered.
"But he's so cool." The ditzy blond gushed before he came to the table.
"Hey, you-um miss are you okay? Cheren asked.
Bianca just giggled, while bouncing up and down.
"Don't mind Bianca, she's just hyper, so what do you want Snivy boy?" Iris asked.
"Well Miss…ummm…" Cheren muttered while trying to think of the Dragon girl's name.
"Iris." She helped him, he nodded thankfully.
"Iris, I wanted to ask…um what's his name again?" Cheren asked while pointing a thumb to the Kanto trainer.
"I'm Ash, and that's my buddy Pikachu. Oh, and this is Purrloin." He said while introducing his Pokemon.
"Sup four eyes?" Pikachu said.
"Morning." The cat muttered. Oshawott and this new trainer's Snivy were just glaring at one another, while Bianca's Pignite was trying to keep the peace between the two old rivals.
"And I'm Bianca-AH!" the blond yelled as she lost her balance and fell out of the chair and right on her butt. Cheren helped her back up.
"It's nice to meet you all, again. I'm sorry if I forget your names, I'm sadly bad at remembering names." Cheren admitted, a tad ashamed of himself, while adjusting his glasses.
"Hey don't worry about it, so what did you want to talk about?" Ash asked with a hardy laugh.
"Right, I wanted to ask if you got the badge from the triplets." Cheren asked.
"Yep, we sure did." He said while showing him the new badge. Cheren's glasses flashed and flickered with a bit of respect, but also a tiny bit of envy.
"Impressive, so do you have any tips, or hints?" The rookie asked.
"Well…I'd pick just going after one of them, and I'd make sure to have a Pokemon that counters the ones they have, and they all know Dig and Close Combat."
"Thanks, I think I have a good team. Wait Close Combat? I don't think Pansage, Panpour, or Pansear can learn that. How did they do this?!" Cheren questioned as he checked his Pokedex to make sure.
"Beats me, we'll ask Cilan when we join up with him." Ash said while shrugging his shoulders.
"Huh, what do you mean?" Cheren asked, confused and out of the loop.
"Come with us, and we'll explain." Bianca offered while holding on to Cheren rather tightly.
"Um…I was going to challenge him or his brothers anyway, so sure why not." Cheren gasped.
"YAY! Let's go!" The blond cried as she ran with Cheren, while smacking Ash, forcing him to fall into the Pokemon Center's mini water fountain. Pikachu, Iris, and the rest of his Pokemon were trying to pull him out since he was stuck in one of the fish Pokemon's heads.
"Whoops." Bianca muttered with sweat drops going down both her and Cheren's heads.
Cilan, Cress, and Chili were sitting at a table. Cilan and Pansage looked down on the table, as Cress scowled with Panpour at his green haired brother. Chili and Pansear were just trying to find the right paperwork.
"Cilan…what you are thinking of doing is not only reckless, but irresponsible!" Cress chewed him out.
"We got the paperwork so Cilan can take a leave." Chili said.
"Thank you Chili, please work on that, I'll edit your horrible spelling before we send it to the Elite Four." Cress said. His hot tempered brother growled at him for that remark.
"Cilan, are you really doing this because you think something horrible is happening, and you wish to stop it? Or are you just bored with the job, and are using this as an excuse to run off?" The blue haired Gym Leader interrogated.
"Cause if it's the latter, I will hurt you." Cress warned.
Cilan's head rose up, as he adjusted his bow tie.
"Well… it's a bit of both, Cress. For one, I've looked at some police reports, and sightings of the people Ash and Iris have described, and they are suspect of stealing Pokemon, along with anti Pokemon Trainer speeches. It would seem they have been around for a long time and are just now coming out of the woodwork."Cilan said while showing his brother what he printed out while packing.
"Also, forgive me for saying this, but I do feel rather bored here. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy cooking, and as much as I enjoy your company brothers…our fighting style has gone stall…and fighting the same starting trainers has grown tiresome." Cilan said.
Cress looked at the small files, and photos, while nodding in an understanding tone. He knew Cilan's many hobbies, and knew that if he felt bored things might turn to disaster. So maybe this was a good thing.
"I'll have to report this to the champion and the Elite Four then. Cilan, I know of your allergy to routine, so I guess I have to understand, and I wish you luck in this." Cress muttered making his brother smile.
However, I'll ask you bring a few badges and act as a traveling Gym Leader while you are traveling. Don't think you're going to be slacking off now! That's the deal, understand?!" Cress stated in a slightly understanding, and condescending tone of voice while putting out his hand for his brother to shake.
Cilan shook his brother's hand in agreement while standing from his chair.
"You have a deal brother…oh and Chili, you have some spelling mistakes, there, here, and there." Cilan said while pointing out his passionate brother's mistakes.
"I KNOW, GOD GET OFF MY BACK! YOU'RE AS BAD AS CRESS!" Chili yelled, clearly annoyed as papers flew everywhere. The Pokemon did their best to catch the papers, while the red and blue brothers argued. Cilan was trying to play peacemaker as always.
"Okay, be calm, think happy thoughts." Cilan whispered to his hot tempered brother, along with Pansage.
"Like some of the sexy maids? Or Nurse Joy" Chili asked happily.
The two brothers rolled their eyes.
"Sure, whatever." They both said.
Unknown to them, one of the waiters was listening in. He left to use the restroom. He locked the stall, making sure no one was around, while pulling out a small head set.
"Ma'am, they know, they have files on us." He whispered.
"Nonsense, they don't you anything about anything." The voice in his ear piece muttered.
"However, wait and destroy all traces of what they have. We have a few grunts in the Dream Yard to get that mist. Regardless of if they go into the area or not they'll take care of that Gym Leader, and the little brats who dared to defy our King." The woman on the other end said.
The young spy made a gulp in his throat. He hated when they had to "take care of." someone.
"Wait…they also have a young trainer with them, just a little girl. You…aren't gonna have them take care of her are you?" The waiter asked with worry.
"If she releases her Pokemon, and aids in our cause, no harm will come to her I assure you. However if that's not the case, then she might end up as a prisoner of war at best. Now back to your post. Hail Plasma" The woman on the other end said.
"Hail Plasma." The Plasma spy in hiding muttered before ending the call.
The four young trainers were about to head to the gym when Cheren stopped.
"Something up?" Iris asked, as her Axew popped out of her head.
"Well, I'm just worried if my team are strong enough to take them." The rookie trainer thought out loud.
"Well, show us your team. What Pokemon do you have?" Ash asked. Pikachu and Purrloin's ears perked up.
Cheren took out three Poke Balls. What came out were Snivy, a male Pidove, and a break dancing Roggenrola.
"Oh neat, who's the rock guy?" Ash asked as he and Bianca checked their Pokedexes.
"Roggenrola...nice pun. Sounds like Rock and Roll." Bianca said with a giggle.
"Where did you get it? I didn't think there were any around in this area." Iris asked.
"Oh, I got him from a trade for a Munna." Cheren stated while patting his new rock buddy.
"What kinda Pokemon is that?" Ash asked while looking at his Pokedex more.
"That one." Iris pointed out while looking over his shoulder. Bianca peaked to find the pink, flower covered, and floating pillow Psychic Pokemon.
"Oh…my…Gosh! THAT IS CUTE!" Bianca gushed.
The girl then grabbed a hold of Cheren's shirt collar, and shook him a little bit.
"Where did you get one?! I must know!" Bianca demanded.
"The Dreamyard." Cheren stated a tad dazed.
"WHERE?! TAKE ME TAKE ME TAKE ME TAKE ME TAKE ME!" Bianca cried out while shaking the boy even harder, nearly knocking his glasses off. The young Unova boy's Pokemon that could see were amused. Ash, Iris, and their Pokemon couldn't help but snicker as well.
"But, but I have to battle a Gym Leader." Cheren tried to reason with her.
"Oh Ash and Iris could just go and get him, and when we find one of those cuties, you'll be able to get your badge." Bianca reasoned after letting go of him.
"So please help me find one of those Pokemon. Please, pretty, please?" Bianca begged while giving Cheren the Lillipup eyes, and quivering lip.
"Oh you poor sucker. She's even got me in her adorable spell." Pikachu thought, knowing full well how to use his cute charms to get what he wanted from the ladies.
Cheren just looked at the blond. He could do nothing but look at her. He was almost hypnotized by her green eyes. The boy had no idea what was going on with him. Logic and reason were slowly leaving him, as his mind turned into mush. However he quickly snapped out of it. His upbringing told him it would be rude to deny a lady a reasonable request, and he could always use the extra training. He did not want to come ill prepared again.
"Sure…I guess I can. It'll be good training for my Pokemon." Cheren slowly let out.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the best Cheren." Bianca cried out happily as she tightly hugged the boy, making his glasses fog up.
"Bye guys, see you later!" Bianca waved to her friends as she started to run off with her new friend.
"Have fun you two." Iris waved with a slight laugh.
"Jeez, she's got a lot of energy." Ash muttered. That gave the girl from the Village of Dragons an idea.
"Say Ash, wanna race to get Cilan?" Iris asked in a taunting, and challenging voice.
"You're on!" Ash said while pumping up his fist.
"Good, now I hope you like looking at my backside, because that's all you're going to see." Iris taunted in a joking matter, while making her friend's face turn red.
"If anyone is gonna be looking at anything. It'll be you, looking at my butt!" The boy retorted while making Iris slightly blush while shaking her head.
"Wait, that didn't come out right." He said while trying to get himself out of what he just said.
"Smooth man, smooth." Pikachu snarked while Purrloin snickered and Axew giggled.
"Uggh…leave it to a little kid to say something that immature and perverted. Tell me Ash, are you a pervert?" Iris interrogated, in spite of herself being a tiny bit of a pervert, but it's not like he needed to know that, or that she'd admit it to herself.
"No, I'm not!" Ash denied, however the teen had enjoyed watching his best friend Dawn kiss another girl, and he might have seen some of Brock's alone time magazines every now and then. Still, he wouldn't let Iris find out.
"Let's just do the race." Ash muttered a bit annoyed.
"Alright, let's have some fun." Iris said with a smile.
"Right, fun." Ash said with a smile of his own, as the two got in place.
"READY, SET, GO!" Both trainers yelled with sparks in their eyes, as they both started to sprint with their Pokemon on their heads.
Cilan, Cress, and Chili were standing outside the gym. However, the red and blue brothers were rather pissed, even more pissed then before.
"I swear, that boy is so fired! If he weren't so good looking I'd have fired him months ago!" Cress muttered to his brothers.
"Oh come on, I'm sure it was just a mistake. A rather horrible mistake, but still." Cilan said trying to ease his brother's nerves, and save a man from unemployment.
"He spilt hot coffee on me, and the Plasma stuff! I SAY WE LET HIM FRY!" Chili roared while a bit steamed.
"I did save it on my computer, and what's that sound?" Cilan asked.
The brothers noticed a cloud coming towards them. In a flash Chili was trampled on by Ash and Iris, who were panting, and gasping for breath, hunched over. Their Pokemon were hanging on for dear life. Well Axew looked like he had fun.
"I WON!" They both declared, while glaring at each other.
"Are you joking Iris, I got to Cilan first, I won!" Ash barked.
"Oh please, leave it to a little kid to not know when he's been beaten." Iris snapped back.
"We are the same age, stop calling me a little kid." Ash snapped.
"Well then stop acting like one, and admit that I won the race." Iris retorted.
"Never!" The boy stated defiantly.
"Girls, girls, your both pretty." Purrloin snickered.
"SHUT UP PURRLOIN!" They both yelled, making the cat's ears go down, as she got off Ash's shoulders.
"Children, children, please calm down. And could you please get off my brother?" Cilan requested while getting their attention with a few claps from his hands.
The two looked down to the trampled Chili knocked out and on the ground. Sweat drops came across both of them as they stepped off the Gym Leader.
"Sorry, about that." Ash muttered as they helped him up.
"We are very, very sorry." Iris added as Chili slowly came to.
The Gym Leader dusted himself off.
"Next time, you two should watch where you're going!" The red head snapped.
"Oh, and Pikachu kid, we are gonna need that badge back." Chili added.
"Huh?!" Ash asked as confused as Iris, Pikachu, and Axew.
"Yeah, it turns out your Pidove blinding my brother with its waste was something that was out of bounds." Cress stated.
"Sadly Ash, I will need the badge back." Cilan said sadly.
"Oh come on!" Both Pikachu and Ash yelled.
"Don't you think you guys could have just told him yesterday and not get his hopes up?" Iris questioned. "Also, Ash, I thought you didn't care about badges?" The Dragon Master in training added, wondering why her friend was making a big deal.
"It's the principal of the thing!" Ash defended himself.
"We worked our butts getting it. No way are we giving it to these losers!" Pikachu added.
"Ugh, you men and your pride. It's a worthless trinket that you can win by battling Cilan anytime." Purrloin said, a little annoyed by the drama that was interfering with her nap.
"You can always battle me again; I'll be acting as a Gym Leader on the road. No harm done." Cilan assured his new friend.
"Ash, just give him that badge so we can go. Don't be a little kid." Iris ordered, while blowing out a puff of air.
"Fine." Ash and Pikachu muttered as they unhappily gave the badge back to Cress.
"Thank you, now good day children. Take care Cilan, be sure to write often." Cress said while waving at his brother as he left.
"See ya later half pints, make sure Cilan doesn't drive you love birds crazy!" Chili teased while leaving,
The two teenagers looked nervous and angry!
"We aren't love birds!" Iris protested, a tad flustered for some reason.
"Yeah, we are just friends." Ash added while denying his true feelings
"Right." Pikachu and Purrloin muttered sarcastically.
"Ha ha, I'm just teasing you, have fun babysitting Cilan, try not to go train crazy okay?" Chili said with a snicker while leaving. Cilan looked at the steamed faces of his new friends. Axew blew a raspberry at the Gym Leader behind the red head's back.
"Babysitting?! Why that little-" Iris was in mid rant feeling insulted, however Cilan cut her off before she could finish.
"So…where is that other girl that you had with you from the other day?" Cilan asked.
"Oh, Bianca and this Cheren guy went to some place called the Dreamyard to catch a Munna." Iris explained.
"Ah, I see, that boy with the Snivy…well…Ummm…shall we meet…them? I can…cook us lunch…la-later on." Cilan stuttered as he started to walk away from his home.
"What's eating him?" Ash whispered.
Iris and Axew simply shrugged.
"Cilan, are you okay?" Ash asked at many people started to stare at the trio, well mostly at a jumpy, twitchy Cilan.
"Well Ash." He gulped, however Cilan adjusted his bow tie again. "I hate to be rude, and a bother, however your Purrloin." The Gym Leader started to say.
"What about her?" Pikachu growled. Purrloin gave a slight gaze of interest, if just barely.
"Could…you please put her back in the ball, please?" The moss haired man requested.
Ash gave him an arcing brow.
"Why?" The trainer asked.
"Actually, I would like to be back in my ball, it's getting a bit hard to nap." Purrloin muttered.
"Are you sure?" Ash asked as the cat Pokemon nodded her head. He got out her Poke Ball.
"I'll see you later Sweetie, and Ash if see any Plasma Grunts, let me take care of them." The feline said in a low hiss as she was returned.
"Better now?" Iris asked.
"Yes, thank you." Cilan breathed a bit easier now.
The newly formed trio walked past the Pokemon Center, trees, and many artistic looking buildings. They took a right turn to a bend across many lines of trees. As they were walking an Officer Jenny was beating a young trainer over the head with her baton as he was crying in pain, and fear. The police woman gave the overseers a glare. Cilan wanted to just keep going; however Iris shot the cop a glare of her own, along with Axew sticking his tongue at the Jenny. The officer then pulled out her baton, and pointed it at them in a threatening manner, which made Iris hide behind Ash and force her two male friends to hurry along the path. Near the end of the road was an old and battered sign that said Dreamyard entrance: A place for novice trainers.
"Well here it is. A nice, quiet, and peaceful, place for budding young trainers to hone their skills, like putting a fine beef shank in the crockpot to simmer" Cilan started to prattle in a dramatic pose as he held his right arm out into the air, like a Shakespearian actor.
"So, does this place have any Dragon types?" Iris questioned while getting her hopes up.
"Sadly, no." Cilan stated.
"Pity." Iris muttered a tad disappointed.
"Hey, maybe you'll find a new friend for Axew to hang with. Who knows?" Ash offered as they walked.
"That would be awesome!" Axew cheered while clapping his tiny hands as they entered the Dreamyard. It was just a large yard full of tall grass covered by a broken chain fence and stone wall around it. Behind the yard was a clean, but slightly old building.
"Hey Cilan, what's that place?" The Kanto boy asked.
"Oh, that's a research facility based on dreams. In fact, I was hoping to have us stop by to return a book that I borrowed, if that's alright with you two?" Cilan requested.
Both Ash and Iris looked at each other.
"Sure, let's go." Iris said as Axew pointed the way.
Pikachu's ears twitched as he could hear Cheren and Bianca in the grass.
"Did you find one yet?" Bianca asked.
"No." Cheren said annoyed.
"Hey guys!" Ash yelled causing the two new trainers pop up from the tall grass.
"We are gonna go in there for a bit, then Cilan can have his rematch with us after."
"Fine." Cheren said as he went back to looking.
Bianca however raised her hand up and jumped up and down.
"Yes Bianca, do you need to use the bathroom?" Ash teased making her blush.
"No smarty pants! I just wanted to ask you a question. Do I have to fight the Munna to catch it? They look too cute to have Pignite or Lillipup fight it!" Bianca gushed.
"Well how else are you going to catch it? It's not like there is another way." Cheren asked her.
"Actually, that's not true. I've caught Pokemon without having to battle them." Ash told them.
"Huh?" The two rookie trainers asked while looking at the older Kanto trainer.
"Well I've learned that talking with the Pokemon, or just being friends with it is also a way of getting the Pokemon to come with. And if they want to battle then that means that they really want to see if you're worth your stuff as a trainer." The world traveler explained.
"Really?" The two asked.
"Yeah, hey Iris, you got an apple with you?" He asked his purple haired friend.
She quickly pulled an apple out of her hair, and gave it to Ash, who then tossed it to Bianca. She caught it, but fell down into the tall grass.
"So you want her to bribe the Pokemon?" Cheren asked.
"Hey, some Pokemon and people think with their stomach." Iris said while pointing her thumb at both Ash and Pikachu.
"Thanks guys, come on Cheren, let's keep looking!" Bianca said as she started to run around the yard like a madwoman, seeing much more common Pokemon.
The three more seasoned trainers walked into the building. They found scientists in lab coats scurrying about a large, circler container like device at the center of the floor, wired to all of the many computers all around the walls. The device was also hooked up to clear pumps full of a cloud of pink dust.
Cilan recognized one scientist, as she was tending to the floating Psychic Pokemon that Bianca was looking for, while removing the book from his bag. A tall, skinny young woman, with a flower clipped mop of dark blue hair reaching the end of her dress-like lab coat. Her square glasses, gleamed covered, passionate blue eyes looked to find the Gym Leader, and ran to him.
"Dr. Fennel, it's been too long. I'm sorry to have kept your book away from you for so long." Cilan said to the good doctor, who embraced him in a loving hug.
"Cilan, it's good to see you…I'm sorry if the place is a bit busy." Dr. Fennel said while breaking the hug. "Oh my book, thank you for returning it, I hope you enjoyed it." She said while taking her book back from Cilan.
"Oh yes, it was a wonderful read on dreams." Cilan said. "Oh, Dr. Fennel these two are friends of mine, Ash and Iris. Ash and Iris, an old family friend, Dr. Fennel" Cilan introduced his new friends to his old one.
"Hello, nice to meet you." Iris said.
"Hi Lady!" Axew shouted.
"Hi." Ash said.
"Yo." Pikachu causally said.
"Oh my, you two are so adorable, and so are your Pokemon…" Fennel flattered. The doctor had recognized the boy and his Pikachu from what her good friend Professor Juniper had told her, after they had laughed their heads off at the embarrassing snap shot of Oak at the Christmas party.
"Oh thank you." Iris muttered while Axew blushed.
"So…what's that thing?" Ash asked while pointing at the device.
Dr. Fennel then looked like she had a spark in her eyes.
"Tell me something Ash, Iris; have you ever wondered what your Pikachu and Axew dream about?" She asked.
"Um, that would be cool to know." Ash thought out loud.
"I don't remember my dreams." Pikachu admitted.
"That would be amazing." Iris said with Axew agreeing with her.
"Well this handy machine that we have been working on can show us a Pokemon's dreams, and so much more. It can also ease and end bad dreams, psychologically scan the Pokemon, their hopes, fears, and so much more. All the sleepless nights, but it was so worth it!" Dr. Fennel stated with passion.
After adjusting her glasses, she picked up her Munna, which was snoozing.
"And it's all thanks to this little Pokemon's Dream Mist. Oh thank you!" Fennel said gratefully as she kissed her floating friend.
"So…does this work on people too?" Ash asked.
The doctor slumped down, as had many of the people in the building.
"Sadly no…but we are working on it!" Dr. Fennel said, getting out of her despair.
"So would any of your Pokemon like to try it out?" Dr. Fennel asked the two young trainers, since Cilan was more than aware of how it worked with Pansage.
Axew looked at the machine and shivered, hiding himself inside Iris's hair.
"Um…Pikachu?" Ash asked.
"Pass." He muttered, not interested.
"Well then, how about…" Ash muttered while looking at his Poke Balls. Purrloin's Poke Ball quickly opened by itself as she came out licking her paws. Cilan started to shiver. Iris rolled her eyes.
"Hello all." The cat Pokemon said as her trainer picked her up. She opened her mouth and let out a yawn… "I could use a nap." Purrloin mumbled.
"Cupcake, you always need a nap." Pikachu deadpanned.
The cat then got a playful spark in her eyes. "Oh, so you're calling me cupcake now sweetie?" Purrloin teased while making Pikachu look flustered.
"Well you gave me a nickname, so-so I figured I'd do the same." Pikachu mumbled.
Dr. Fennel had no idea of the banter going on, but she was amused all the same.
"Ash, Purrloin, would you like to see my dream machine first hand?" Dr. Fennel asked. The teen and Mouse Pokemon looked at the cat who just nodded her head.
"Fantastic, come now, let's get this show on the road." The doctor said while leading everyone to the machine.
"I'm sorry for what you're about to see everyone, but it's needed. You all must understand what must not be." The cat thought as she was being hooked up. The monitors were showing her brain waves, as the Dream Mist started to be pumped. Dr. Fennel typed something on her keyboard.
"Now Ash, before I start I must ask for the fee upfront, 100 please." The doctor ordered politely.
"Huh?" The boy asked.
"Doctor Fennel, I thought that it was a free service?" Cilan asked.
"Well it was, however due to budget cuts, we've had to start charging to keep our research going. Please understand." Dr. Fennel sadly admitted.
"Is it safe?" Iris asked, now having doubts.
"Oh of course! I would never endanger a Pokemon's life!" Dr. Fennel swore.
Ash took some money out of his wallet, and gave the doctor her fee.
"Thank you, very much." Dr. Fennel thanked him while stroking a few keys as the machine closed. Purrloin saw the Dream Mist come out of two nozzles. She slowly feel asleep while keeping what she wanted them to see fresh in her mind. Images started to come up onto the screen, but no one would be ready for them. Dr. Fennel caught something under her physiological profile.
"Post-traumatic stress disorder?" Dr. Fennel read to herself in a hushed tone so no one could hear her.
The images came from the Pokemon's point of view of a few gray looking hallways. She was running with a Raichu, and an older looking man dressed in mostly black who looked like he was carrying someone or something. Purrloin turned around to find blasts of energy being shot at them by some very odd looking metallic Bug Pokemon with a laser cannon on each of their backs. They were with many Team Plasma Grunts. Purrloin turned around to see they had been boxed in by two Stoutland covered in a dark purple aura.
"Shadow Pokemon!?" Both Ash and Pikachu gasped in confusion.
"You know what that is?" Iris asked.
The newly made Aura user and his loyal friend had flashbacks to Orre, about how they had to help an outlaw, and a girl pure in heart. How they took fighting machines clouded in purple smoke hidden to the normal eye, and changed them back into the Pokemon they were before the horrible process. They fought the monsters to protect the barely stable region, and shut them down.
"We thought we saw the last of them a year and a half ago." Ash said.
"Yeah…" Pikachu muttered as he looked at Purrloin tossing and turning while crying out in fright. The images they were getting froze and were covered over by another image, Purrloin's paws trying to reach a crying young girl who was falling down into a chamber with many other humans and oddly Pokemon. The Pokemon looked like they were gasping for air, looking at the door, the light in their eyes starting to go out.
"Hilda! Hilda! Hilda" The cat cried out, trying to claw at the door as the girl sank downward. Pikachu knew what she was feeling. How useless you could be when your human friend was in so much danger, death was knocking on their door.
Purrloin was suddenly picked up by a Team Plasma Grunt who started choking her.
"Huh, how'd this one get away from the Shadow Pokemon machine?" The grunt asked.
"OH F #K!" The Kanto duo yelled, confirming their fear.
"Oh well, since you came with that little brat who's about to die. You can join her." The grunt said cruelly as he opened the door, about to throw her in.
"WHAT?!" Iris screamed. The others were too shocked to say anything.
The grunt then stopped as his grip was loosened by a blow to the head. Purrloin looked to find the same man and Raichu.
"Ash, Pikachu…no it's Raichu now I guess." Purrloin said as she was picked up by the older man. Cilan and Iris looked at their friend. The man and him shared the same eye color, and zig zag lines on his face.
Ash and Pikachu's eyes widened hearing the Purrloin on the screen.
Iris kept looking back at the screen, then at her friend in shock.
The first image unfroze as a few of the grunts were blasted by a blue Aura, and Thunder. Another two Pokemon came to the battle, an Infernape and Sceptile.
Ash dropped his staff. This couldn't be.
"Those are my Pokemon. Dr. Fennel…what's happening?!" He asked.
"These…aren't…her dreams, or even nightmares. What your Purrloin is showing us…are her memories!" Dr. Fennel stated while shaking.
No one said anything as they looked at the screen. Infernape and Sceptile were being killed by those odd Pokemon, that just kept multiplying. Raichu, Purrloin, and this older Ash weren't fairing any better. Soon the whole hallway was full of Plasma Grunts, the purple metallic Pokemon, and many shapes and sizes of Shadow Pokemon. The older version of Ash returned his two Pokemon before they were utterly murdered. The shadow dog Pokemon ganged up on Raichu as they sank their teeth into him. He tried to shock them off, but was having a very hard time. The Aura man tried to aide his best friend, only to be stabbed in the back. The man fell down as blood dripped from his wound. He tried to get back up, however the many grunts dog pilled him and used their swords to make him look like a bloody pin cushion, while dropping a passed out Celebi.
Ash felt like his heart had stopped. Pikachu looked at this in horror. Two of his worse fears had just been played out in front of him. Iris and Cilan had to keep him from collapsing. However, they both started to turn green.
"Mama, what's going on?" Axew asked, slightly popping out of Iris's hair.
"AXEW, GO BACK IN!" Iris yelled, making the little dragon go back into her hair. He did not need to see a dead body.
Purrloin screamed as her trainer lay dead on the floor. Raichu saw this, and in a stroke of fury and agony, broke free with a Volt Tackle shocking half of the foes in the room. He charged at the men who took his best friend's life, however he was bombarded with lasers beam fire. After so many hits, Raichu fell to the floor, his body smoking. Purrloin ran to the passed out Pokemon.
"Sweetie?" Purrloin cried, tears falling from her face. However, the Electric type couldn't say anything. The dead couldn't speak.
Pikachu dropped off from Ash's shoulder. He felt sick, and the little Pokemon threw up on the floor. Ash did the same, much to Cilan and Iris's dismay.
"Shut it down! Shut it down!" Dr. Fennel yelled, her voice a bit cracked. She couldn't stand this anymore. She had seen Pokemon abuse, at the hand of other people, but nothing this graphic.
As they started to turn it off, the images came back with Ghetsis on a throne, the many people of Unova bowing to the Team Plasma banner, humans and Pokemon dropping dead while working in some kind of contained camp. The grunts and their Pokemon kept getting closer, and closer. Purrloin screamed "CELEBI!" before the machine was shut off.
Everyone held their breaths. Dr. Fennel felt like she was going to faint.
"What…was all that?" She thought.
"That was horrifying." Cilan muttered. The Gym Leader looked to find Iris tightly hugging her friend, who looked like he was about to pass out. Iris fought back tears as she held him, and Pikachu.
"AAHHHHHHHH!" They heard a young girl's cry coming from outside.
"Bianca!" Ash, Pikachu, Cilan, and Iris yelled, Ash having snapped back to reality. Purrlion had woken up, she was hissing as she yanked out all the suction cup wires attached to her head.
"PLASMA!" She hissed a war cry while jumping out of the nearby windows.
The three trainers followed her, but Ash went back to pick up his staff.
And they were greeted to three grunts. One of them had tied Cheren down, another one was tying up Bianca's hands, and the last grunt had a Munna. They had three Timburr with them.
"NO! Give Munna back, let me go, and let Cheren go too! Someone help!" Bianca begged only to get slapped in the face.
"Quiet you, you should have just handed her over, but you had to be a problem. So now we're going to have to punish you." The first grunt spat at the young girl.
"But, but...Munna's my friend! I couldn't just give her to you!" Bianca fired out with tears in her eyes.
"Aw, look at that, the little trainer's made a quick bond with the Pokemon, how sweet." The first grunt mocked.
"Aw, maybe we should let them go." The second grunt thought out loud, giving some hope to Bianca.
"Yeah, I mean what kind of cruel, heartless, evil monsters would deliberately break up such a loving relationship?" The third grunt asked.
"WE WOULD!" They said in a sing song voice, about to pull their blades on the two rookie trainers. Bianca closed her eyes, waiting for the attack while crying.
Sadly for the grunts, they were greeted with a Dragon Rage, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball, and some Bullet Seeds from Cilan's Pansage.
Bianca looked around to see her savors.
As the members of Team Plasma got up, Iris lunged at one of the grunts with a high jump kick. Cilan pulled out his scissors to cut two of the grunt's blades, while Pansage used Solar Beam on two of the Fighting Pokemon. Ash and Pikachu, in a rush of rage, helped Iris beat the ever loving crap out of the first grunt, while Purrloin was ripping away at one of the grunts' Timburr.
The second grunt still had his sword out, and was about to stab Iris. Axew and Pikachu saw this and fired at the guy. Cilan and Pansage were dodging a few punches from the third grunt; only to get bluntly attacked on the head by Cilan's scissors. Ash pulled out Oshawott and Tepig.
"Aw, this is bullshit!" The first grunt yelled.
"Your bullshit! Your whole team is a sick joke!" Ash snapped at them.
"Oh yeah? Well…F#$K YOU!" The second grunt yelled.
"Really, that's all you can say?" Iris muttered.
"DIE!" Purrloin screamed as she shot Shadow Balls at the grunts.
Cilan then went to untie Bianca and Cheren.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"I am now, thanks Cilan." Bianca thanked him while giving him a hug.
"Oshawott, Tepig, go help Purrloin!" Ash said.
"Axew, Dragon Rage!" Iris cried out while pointing at the Team Plasma Grunts.
Oshawott used Razor Shell, cutting the torso bit off the armor of the grunts, while Axew's Dragon Rage, and Tepig's Ember knocked one of the grunts out cold. Purrloin was thrown off the face of the first one. He barely dodged one Pikachu's Iron Tails, and kicked him back to Ash. The first grunt pulled something out, a bomb, and threw it into the lab.
"NO!" Everyone yelled as it exploded. The grunts used this time to get away.
"DR. FENNEL!" Cilan cried out as the lab went into flames. Suddenly a group of Munna appeared in front of them, with Dr. Fennel and the other scientist that were inside a pink barrier.
"Oh, thank Zekrom and Reshiram." Cilan muttered with a sigh of relief.
Purrloin wanted to chase after the grunts; however she and Pikachu were wiped out. Tepig and Oshawott dragged her back to Ash, who returned her to her Poke Ball.
"Is everyone okay?" Iris asked.
"Everyone's fine, but…All our research!" Dr. Fennel cried out, seeing her work destroyed.
"Ughh…my head." Cheren muttered finally coming back.
Bianca couldn't help but hug him and her Munna.
"Bianca, now's not the time for hugging, we need to go get the firemen or this fire's gonna burn everything!" He said.
"I'll have Oshawott do what he can, go!" Ash said. He watched the others leave.
"Oshawott, use Water Gun on that fire!" He ordered.
"Got it dude!" Oshawott cheered as he blasted a bit of the fire down.
Soon the fire department came, and they left before the police could come, mostly due to Iris's request. No one felt like eating lunch, so sadly everyone would have to wait before tasting Cilan's cooking.
Nighttime came back at the Pokemon Center, where Bianca was giving hugs to everyone.
"Oh thank you, you guys are the best!" She gushed.
"Alright Bianca, your welcome." Iris said with a smile as Bianca squeezed tighter.
"You guys weren't kidding about those Plasma people. They're monsters." Cheren stated while looking at his Snivy.
"Today just cemented our righteous path to stop their band of unjust people. The icing on the horrible cake of a terrible reality." Cilan thought out loud. "Thank goodness Dr. Fennel is with Professor Juniper. Who knew they were such good friends?" He continued.
"I don't think friends meet with passionate kisses on the mouth." Iris deadpanned. "Then again she did do the same for one of the guy scientists, so maybe that's what she does?" She thought to herself.
Ash, Pikachu, and Purrloin hadn't said anything all night, even when Bianca gave them one of her super hugs.
Bianca had moved from Iris to Cheren. Something about him being her knight in shining armor, and his protests of not doing much. He wanted to fight Cilan, but was feeling too tried, as was everyone else.
Iris then patted both Pikachu and Purrloin's head, and held onto Ash's hand tightly.
"Hey…I know what we saw was horrible, but we aren't going to let that happen again. I'll make sure of it." Iris promised. The boy gave a weak smile. Purrloin however, was dragged outside their room by Pikachu.
"We just need to talk. You two love birds can kiss if you want." Pikachu said making both trainers scowl at him. However, as he left the room, Bianca had everyone in group hug.
Pikachu looked at Purrloin.
"Look I'm just gonna assume you're a time traveler…and that that was the future right?" He asked.
She simply nodded her head.
"So…were you and I…close?" Pikachu asked. He watched the cat nod her head again.
"Very, very close." She whispered.
"Well, I'm not trying to hurt your feelings here. You're a great fighter, and your cute, but I don't think I can be the guy you knew. I mean…why do you like me in the first place?" Pikachu muttered, feeling very unsure about this Pokemon.
"Because, you cared for me when many would have just let me die. Your strong, loyal, brave, and…you were…no, are one of the most wonderful Pokemon that I have ever met. That is why I like you sweetie, and I shall not fail our trainer, nor shall I ask you to choose between the two of us. I owe that man everything." Purrloin said.
Pikachu looked flattered. "Oh thank you, and that's good…but since you know all about me, or future me, I'm gonna need to know more about you, and a bit of time if you want us to…ya know." Pikachu mumbled while playing with his tail.
"Be lovers?" Purrloin asked.
"Yes, that!" Pikachu muttered.
"Alright, we'll start slowly, and could you maybe give me a belly rub?" Purrloin asked as she laid on the ground cutely.
Pikachu just rubbed her stomach making the cat Pokemon purr.
"So…how much do you know about those Plasma guys?" Pikachu asked.
"We can talk about that tomorrow, on the road. More rubbing please." Purrloin said.
"Fine bossy." Pikachu muttered.
"That's Miss Bossy to you." Purrloin joked.
"Yes dear." Pikachu said in a playful manner.
"So…who's the love bird now Pikachu?" Ash teased. Pikachu turned to see the door open, and found not only his trainer smirking at him, but Iris and Bianca gushing, with Oshawott and Pidove making kissing noises. Cilan and Cheren just gave him curious looks. Needless to say, it was awkward for both Pokemon.
"So when's the wedding buddy?" Ash kept on teasing.
"…Shut up!" Pikachu blurted out.
End of chapter.
