Tsunami rubs his stuffed stomach contently, lying next to a few crumbs on the shiny white plate on which he feasted. "Shaaaa…" he sighs.
"Ditto, buddy." Kaminari burps, disgusting nearby customers. "That was delicious! Mom never made smoked Basculin at home." She searches the room for her waiter, but can't find him. "Cilan!" she shouts, disturbing the relaxing mood set by the fancy jazz band in the back of the restaurant. "Your generous customer is ready to get outta here!"
Zest, full of exotic berries that were roasted to perfection, licks some sauce off of Tsunami's cheek and accidentally paralyzes him. The furious otter attempts to stand and chase the quivering monkey, but the most he can manage is a low battle cry and a flop onto his stomach. His limbs flail around as he wails vengefully, promising to get back at the apologizing fire-type.
Cilan approaches the loud table in embarrassment, wishing he never allowed the rambunctious group into his high-quality restaurant. "Is there a problem, Miss?"
"Yeah." She groans and rolls her eyes. "You forgot to address me by my full title. C'mon, we went over this."
Cilan sighs and blushes in humiliation. "What would you like, Ms. Superior-of-Mine?"
"That's better." She smirks. "I'm ready to go. Do you want to get paid or not?"
"Yes, ma'am." Cilan pulls out a slip of paper and sets it gently on the table in front of the righteous girl.
Kaminari digs around in her pocket before slapping a wad of cash on the white tablecloth and placing her Pokémon back in their Poké Balls. "By the way," she mentions as she stuffs the spheres in her bag. "You might want to go over my title with your brothers for when I come back." With that, she rushes out the double doors and into the chilly night air.
A woman in a lab coat and glasses spots her immediately and races up to the teen. "Greetings. Are you Kaminari? My name's Fennel, I'm a friend of Professor Juniper."
"Oh yeah. She told me to look for you here." She holds out her hand to shake, but the long-haired woman simply gives her a questioning glance.
"Right. I have to give you something. Follow me." The woman whirls around and strides briskly down the street.
"Nice to meet you, too." Kaminari grumbles as she trudges along after the quirky woman.
She leads her into a tall apartment, where the residents on the first floor systematically step out of her way as she heads toward the staircase. A small boy sitting in front of the steps shoots up and stands at attention. "Welcome back, Ms. Fennel!" he yells. "I kept your lab safe, like you asked!"
"Very good." Fennel travels right past him without a second glance, prodding up the stairs to the second floor. "Carry on, everyone."
Kaminari carefully prances up the steps after the scientist. How did mellow Professor Juniper become friends with this weirdo? She thinks to herself.
The second floor is empty except for a small table, a bed and a couple of machines. A Pidove lies in the soft bed, and one of the attached devices displays a strange scene on the screen, which is monitored by a little girl scribbling notes on her clipboard.
"Don't mind her. That's my sister, Amanita." The woman nods to the girl in the corner and smiles proudly. "She developed Unova's PC system. Of course, she couldn't possibly have done it without me." Fennel sits in the single seat by the table, leaving her guest to stand uncomfortably by the stairs. "As I said, my name is Fennel, and I'm a scientist who researches trainers."
"You're creepier than I thought." Kaminari mutters under her breath, eager to move on to Route Three before Cheren can get his first badge.
"See, there's this Pokémon called Munna that produces an interesting fluid known as Dream Mist." Fennel continues. "I need that so I can gather trainer files through the PC. That's where you come in. Munna live in the portion of the Dreamyard that is blocked by a tree, so I'll give you this Hidden Machine to remove it."
Fennel hands her a silver disk similar to the one given to Kaminari by Cress, only this one has a black outer lining. "That device allows you to teach compatible partners the move Cut, which can be used to decimate small trees." Fennel turns her attention to the computer on the table and begins typing confusing codes with the keyboard. "Be careful using Hidden Machines. Those moves aren't easily forgotten."
"What's that mean?" Kaminari asks while she scans over Zest's move-set on her Pokédex.
The scientist groans at the stupidity of her rash guest. "Never mind. Just go collect the mist and I will reward you."
"Oooooh!" Kaminari's eyes sparkle at the thought of yet another gift tonight. "What is it? A super potion? An Ultra Ball? A Master Ball?"
Fennel huffs in disappointment at her greedy guest. "You'll see, just go retrieve the mist." As the teen eagerly plods down the steps, the scientist can't help but wonder why her old friend thought it was a good idea to give that girl a Pokémon.
After a quick stop to the Pokémon Center, Kaminari races back to the Dreamyard and abruptly halts in front of the small tree. She whips out the disk given to her by Fennel and releases Zest onto the grass. "Okay buddy, step onto that disk for me, please." The girl utters, trying to keep her patience after finding out she might possibly get a Master Ball for doing this.
"Pan!" Zest obediently tip-toes over to the shiny disk and stands completely still in the center. To his fright, the disk spins and glows, causing him to emit light as well. After merely a moment, everything stops and the dizzy monkey stumbles off of the round object.
"You okay, Zest?" Kaminari kneels and gently pets his head.
"Seeeeear…" he groans, seeing three blurry images of his trainer in front of him.
"Well, let's see if we got what we needed from that." The teen sets the fire-type on his feet and points at the tiny tree. "Cut!"
With glinting claws, Zest dives at the thin trunk and swipes fiercely, leaving only a small stump standing. "Good boy! Let's go!"
"Waaaaaaait!" Bianca jogs up to the pair and shrieks at the adorable yet terrified Pansear beside her friend. "You got a red monkey? Soooo cuuuuuuute!"
"What're you doing here, Bianca?" Kaminari asks impatiently.
"Oh, sorry." She blushes. "You know how easily I get sidetracked. Anyway, are you looking for Munna, too?"
"Yeah, actually." The brunette becomes suspicious, wondering if her closest friend is after her prize. "Why?"
"I just think it's cool how that whole dream-thing they do works. Plus, I heard that they're pink with purple flowers on them. You can't get more adorable than that!"
Kaminari rolls her eyes, wondering why she wasn't expecting that answer. Bianca was never the conniving, ambitious type, after all. "Why don't we go look for one together?"
"I'd love to!" the blonde chirps before grapping her friend's hand and rushing into the main part of the Dreamyard. In the middle of the inner courtyard, they find a floating pink creature searching around the area nervously. "It's a Munna!" Bianca screams to the dismay of Kaminari, who just wasted effort to conceal herself in a bush and avoid capturing the wild Pokémon's attention. Startled, the Munna hurries away and bumps into a couple of people in Team Plasma uniforms.
"We have you now!" They chase the poor creature back to her initial position in the center of the ruins. They surround and grab her, leaving the Pokémon defenseless. "Alright, stupid Munna, make that stinking mist already!" The man backs up a bit and swings his leg around, striking the creature with his iron-toed boot. Munna cries out in pain and rolls onto the ground.
"Hey… cut it out!" Bianca cries meekly, barely loud enough to get their attention. "You're hurting her. Can't you see how cruel you're being?"
"Our priority is the Dream Mist, and we have orders to do whatever it takes to get our hands on it." The woman remarks snidely. "Hit it again."
As the man kicks the Munna once more, Bianca begins shaking angrily, like a slight tremor warning for an earthquake. "You monsters!" she screams. "Stop it!" To her dismay, they ignore her demand completely. "Why does nobody listen to me?" the girl weeps and turns away from the horrible scene.
Storming ferociously out of her place of hiding, Kaminari chucks Tsunami's metal Poké Ball at the man's head, putting a small dent in his thick skull. Oshawott emerges confused, peering around at his new environment in an attempt to figure out why he was called out of his ball. In response to the furious demeanor of his trainer, the otter stands by her feet, crosses his stubby arms and glares at the grunts. "How does that feel, scumbag?" she roars. "You like getting hit with metal?"
"Ow!" The grunt rubs his pained forehead. "Do you wanna battle me, brat?"
"I'd love to, wimp." Kaminari shoots back without hesitation. "Let's see if you battle as well as you whine."
"Hold on, Nari." Bianca timidly whispers to her friend. "Don't be so rash about this. You don't know what kinds of-"
"You saw what they did to the Munna!" Kaminari shouts. "Are you just going to stand by and let them get away with hurting Pokémon?"
"I sense a double battle ahead." The female grunt looks at her comrade. "Take out your weapon; it's time to fight in the name of our king!"
"What?" Bianca cries. "No! D-Don't hurt Nari!"
"Then join me." Kaminari encourages the blonde with confident eyes. "We can beat these punks together."
"This is dangerous, Nari…" Bianca backs away timidly. "I don't think they battle by the rules like you or Cheren. They said that they would do whatever it takes to get the mist-"
"Then we'll do whatever it takes to stop them." Kaminari attempts to convince the nervous girl. "C'mon, you can trust my judgment."
"Are you fighting or not, little twit?" the aggravated man yells. "We're running on a tight schedule here."
Bianca's eyes flick back and forth from the cruel glare of the Team Plasma grunts to the encouraging gaze of her best friend. Kaminari repeatedly mouths the words you can do it to her wavering friend. "No!" her green eyes attempt to hold back her upset tears. "I'm sorry, I… I can't do this!"
The two grunts burst into cruel laughter. "How am I the wimp?" the man snorts, causing Bianca to sob more.
Enraged by their taunts, Kaminari flings Zest's Poké Ball at the ground. "You said you're too busy to waste time. Let's do this!"
Her opponents whirl out a Patrat and a Purrloin, immediately giving them commands to Tackle and Scratch. Unfazed by their disregard of the eye-contact rule, the teen first points to the cat, who lunges at Tsunami. "Go for Water Gun!" she quickly shifts her focus to the idle monkey at her side. "Zest, Incinerate the Patrat!"
Shocked by the sight of the beaten Munna, both partners follow their trainer's orders and attack their opponents with water and fire. Purrloin barely manages to swipe at Tsunami through his strong torrent while the Patrat is barely able to drag himself away from the pillars of flame and Tackle Zest.
The stunned grunts decisively command their partners to follow the same orders as before, only this time they discreetly pick loose stones up from the ground as their Pokémon approach their opponents. Just as Kaminari's partners are about to attack, they whirl the rocks at Zest and Tsunami, causing them to miss as they just manage to dive out of the way. The Patrat and Purrloin successfully land their attacks and prance back to their trainers.
"You two wanna fight dirty, huh?" The teen's tone is full of rage. "Fine! Tsunami, use Water Gun on Patrat non-stop. Zest, I want you to Incinerate Purrloin until he's down."
Both of her partners glance back at her, reluctant to follow her orders. It's dangerous to use a move longer than intended, after all; it can cause harm to the user that may last long after the battle. "Osha?" Tsunami asks, wondering if he heard his trainer correctly.
"Nari, you know that can be dangerous for them." Bianca cautions her. "Consider what might happen after the battle-"
"Do it!" Kaminari roars, blinded by her fury. "Nobody throws stones at my Pokémon and gets away with it!"
While the fire-type quivers and backs away from his oncoming opponent, Tsunami unleashes an unforgiving blast of water on the Patrat without hesitation. The stream of blue doesn't let up until the little rat is unconscious, at which point the Oshawott faints.
"Go now!" Kaminari screams. Startled by his trainer's outburst, the reluctant monkey attacks the cat as he leaps in the air, burning relentlessly through his wet fur. When he emerges on the other side of the pillars of flame, Purrloin crashes into the tile, defeated.
"You pesky fool." The woman sneers as she returns the cat to its ball. "This changes nothing. Kick it again."
Once more, the man launches his foot at the limp Munna. She wails and into the other grunt. "I thought I told you idiots to knock it off!" Kaminari storms right past her breathless partner, cracking her knuckles like she does when she's about to beat some sense into Cheren.
Suddenly, a towering figure clad in robes with cryptic patterns appears next to the male grunt, who scrambles away frantically. Ghetsis. Everyone stops and stares at the strange sight, with Zest cowering behind a pillar next to Bianca.
"Team Plasma's goal of Pokémon equality is of the utmost importance. They must be liberated from careless trainers, such as the rash teenager who stands before us." Kaminari opens her mouth to retort with foul words, but is stunned when another Ghetsis appears behind the petrified woman. Both versions of him approach the terrified grunts and glare at them with their intimidating red eyes. "However, should this mission fail due to the incompetence of our members…" Both shadowy figures disappear.
A single Ghetsis forms in the back of the courtyard, looking like something from the worst nightmares of the bravest human in existence. The entire area grows darker than before as his raspy voice echoes throughout the abandoned factory. "…punishment shall be severe." He slowly steps toward his subordinates, striking terror in them with each tap of his staff on the tile.
The man rushes towards his partner with shaking knees. "This isn't Ghetsis convincing outsiders to liberate their Pokémon…"
"No." The woman replies, equally scared. "This is Ghetsis about to administer punishment." She immediately drops on her knees and grovels, prompting her partner to follow her example. "Forgive us, Lord Ghetsis! This girl has impeded on our mission. Spare us, your greatness!"
Ghetsis doesn't stop moving towards them, apparently intending to crush them. The two scramble out of the Dreamyard, still pleading for his forgiveness as they flee.
The shadowy figure keeps moving, his eyes staying directly on target. He strides right past the gawking brunette, towards the far side of the courtyard. It isn't until she turns that she remembers her fainted partner, lying helpless on the tile. She springs forward, sprinting past Ghetsis and scooping her starter up in her arms. "You can't hurt him!" she cries, hugging Tsunami to her chest as the towering figure approaches with a twisted look in his eye. As soon as his pointed boot makes contact with her body, his entire form disperses into a dark mist, which makes a sparkling puddle on the ground.
After a few moments, Kaminari relaxes and turns around. "Where'd he go?" she asks groggily, placing the limp Oshawott and timid Pansear in their Poké Balls. Bianca kneels and pokes at the small, swirling pool.
"Don't touch that!" Fennel screams from across the Dreamyard, causing the blonde to shriek and leap backwards. The scientist rushes up and carefully takes a sample of the mist with a narrow tube. "Tell me, what happened to produce this liquid?" she asks as she places the tube in a small, handheld machine.
"There were these two Plasma grunts… and the Munna… and rule breaking… a Ghetsis… another Ghetsis… no Ghetsis…" Bianca attempts to explain the situation using the extent of her vocabulary.
The device in Fennel's hand beeps as two words pop up on the screen, along with a short summery. "I believe I understand. This is the Dream Mist I was searching for, which was used to protect that Munna over there from Team Plasma."
"Used by who?" Bianca tries reading the short analysis on the screen, but Fennel quickly snaps the machine shut and removes the tube.
Another floating creature emerges from the tall grass to greet the Munna- a larger Pokémon with pink mist emerging from a hole in his head. The majestic creature soothes the Munna with calming noises as he uses Heal Pulse on her weak body. She gradually rises and gratefully rubs her head against his, emitting sounds of joy and relief. "Musharna." Fennel exclaims in awe.
"Woah!" Bianca scurries up to the round Pokémon, frightening the smaller of the two. "Thank you for saving us, Musharna! Do you mind if I see your mist-thingy?"
Fennel sighs and sets the device in her huge pocket. "Thank you for your efforts. I'll be heading back to my lab now."
"Hold on." Kaminari narrows her eyes at the woman. "Where's my prize?"
"It's that important to you to receive the information of trainers you pass?" Fennel seems surprised. "Because for now that's all this can do for you."
"Are you serious?" The teen groans and crosses her arm. "You know, I'm pretty sure you promised me a Master Ball. This? This is lame."
"Lame?" Fennel snorts indignantly. "This is a scientific advancement; I assure you it is anything but 'lame.'"
As the two ladies go back and forth about the capabilities of the Dream Mist, the Musharna Bianca is observing latches onto her head like a magnet, knocking her puffy green hat off her head. The girl's expression goes blank as her dream is transmitted through Musharna's high-reaching mist. The image depicted is a wall during a heavily clouded day, with the soft pitter-patter of raindrops echoing into the dark sky.
Kaminari immediately goes silent and becomes engulfed in her friend's dream. Her muscles tense up and her eyes grow wide, yet she can't turn away from the nightmare. "How interesting." Fennel comments. "You see, Musharna feeds on dreams and uses their power to manipulate the Dream Mist to their will."
"Why do you dream about this?" Kaminari whispers, drawn into the dark fantasy before her. It all seems so real- the splash of the rain, the smell of wet grass, and the two faint shadows on the long wall. Kaminari takes a step forward unconsciously. "Don't do it." The words hardly escape her lips, riding on her light, panicked breaths.
The shadow lagging behind halts and whirls right back around. The first flash of lightning defines the dark figures travelling across the wall and is followed by the quiet rumbling of distant thunder. Kaminari abruptly stops and quivers uncontrollably. "Oh my, is something wrong?" Fennel questions her, legitimately concerned.
"No!" Kaminari yells, focused intently on the scene before her. "Don't go back!"
Fennel grabs her by the shoulders. "Calm down, it's simply a mirage!"
Electricity strikes the earth once more, much closer this time. "Turn back before it's too late!" the teen screams, her horrified heart pounding in her chest. "It's not worth it!"
"What's the matter wi-"
Blinding lightning strikes once more, leaving only one silhouette standing. Kaminari spins on her heels and dashes away as thunder shakes the earth, shattering her sanity as it echoes through her mind. Fennel calls after her, but she doesn't stop sprinting. Her mind only has one thought; to flee from the harm.
The teen rushes right through Striaton City, where all of the frantic residents scatter throughout the streets in response to the booming sound. She shoves aside all who stand in her way, trying to escape the terror behind her. The horrible noise of the thunder echoes in her mind, but eventually fades to another; that awful shriek from all those years ago.
The sounds are shaken from her mind when she slams into a soft object near the start of Route Three. A familiar voice greets her with indignant words; "That was quite a rude way to say hello."