-Misty...did you put this in my backpack? Pikachu?- The two mentioned looked at Ash in bewilderment.
-But...I don't remember buying so many sweets...
-And I didn't put that there either - Misty pointed out.-
"Pikachu, that's not healthy for you, remember that you should also have a balanced diet." The redhead looked disapprovingly at the mouse, which could only shrug without knowing what was happening.
"Did you steal them, Pikachu?" The Pokémon shook its head frantically. Ash knew him well. I knew he wasn't lying.
"This is very strange." Ash growled. -Maybe the Tentacools can have those sweets. I believe in your honesty, Pikachu.- summarized the boy to calm down his faithful companion. .But we don't have too much time to investigate. We need to go check on the Tentacools.- At last, Lapras led them across the ocean to reach the reef area. Ash and Misty would separate, she would go with Starmie's help to one of the colonies and Ash would go to the other one that was half a kilometer away. Ash could not help but feel a sting of pain as Misty drifted away from him. He didn't know how to explain to her that his heart was only hers.
Just as he was about to reach the coral formation, he saw it again. Serena, a few meters away from him, was drowning and struggling to stay afloat in the middle of the sea. The boy felt a chill, the whole situation was very weird and suspicious, but he couldn't stay there, he had to investigate immediately to confirm if it was an illusion of his mind or it was true:
-Come on Lapras, we have to help Serena!- the faithful marine Pokémon looked at him strangely, stopping suddenly. Pikachu had the same look. He looked back at the place where he had seen his old friend. There he was, making the water splash.
-What's wrong Lapras, we have to go!- Ash began to get impatient. Lapras had to obey so as not to offend his owner, and she sailed at full speed right to the place where Serena was. Upon arriving, Ash saw her disappear under the water.
"What the heck?" The young man immediately had the urge to dive in to see what was happening. - Pikachu, Lapras, you must wait here! I'll be right back!- The Pokémon were still stunned by Ash's attitude. He finally submerged. There was nothing around him. Not under him. Unless Serena had been taken by some wild Pokémon, he would have seen her. There was no Pokémon so fast as to be able to swim away so quickly from the scene...
It had to be his imagination. There was no other reasonable explanation. Just when he was about to go out to get oxygen, he saw her next to him. She was smiling strangely in front of him. He didn't understand how he could breathe underwater if a few seconds ago he was fighting for his life. He started to get really scared. None of it made sense, it had to be a nightmare.
"So you love her more..." he heard Serena's voice in his mind. The young man wanted to speak, but he realized that he was beginning to run out of breath. He struggled with all his might to get to the surface, but Serena had grabbed his left leg and was dragging him down, grinning wickedly.
-We will be together forever, whether you want it or not!- The air began to leave his lungs, Lapras did not realize what was happening, the young man felt how his mind began to cloud as he was dragged to the bottom of the sea. ..
Misty's kiss woke him up. They were back over Lapras. The girl hugged him effusively as soon as she regained consciousness:
-Ash...I'm glad you're okay!- They separated. She looked at him with great concern as she put her hand on the boy's.
-What were you doing down there? There was still a little more to go to reach the Tentacool colony, why did you stop?-
-I'm going crazy, Misty. I could swear it...was Serena. She wanted to drag me to the bottom. I saw her, I wanted to help her because she was in the middle of the sea and...- Misty couldn't take it anymore. She was flushed with anger in an instant.
-Ah, for goodness sake! Stop your silly playing! If you miss her so much, why don't you go with her to Vaniville? You haven't seen it in years, surely you've gotten nostalgic. Come on, Starmie. We still have several colonies to inspect.- The young woman quickly got off Lapras with an impatient gesture and mounted her Pokémon without saying another word. Pikachu lowered his ears, not understanding what was happening.
Misty, wait!- Ash yelled, going after his girlfriend.- Let me explain, the truth is that this is too strange, I don't understand what's happening!- Ash made Lapras follow her, even though she was further and further away. He didn't have time to continue the talk. A huge Gyarados had risen out of the sea in front of him and blocked his path. It seemed quite enraged.
-I don't have time for this, go on, Mystery!- Ash sent his Pokémon to fight. Gyarados immediately launched himself into the energy sphere. The Gyarados's bite attack barely affected Mysterio, who countered with his signature air strike. It didn't do much damage to the sea Pokémon, which responded with a dragon rage attack. This time the blow did affect Misterio, who lost his characteristic shine and prostrated himself on Lapras's back, this time as a sphere of muted colors.-
Dang, I thought Mystery was stronger, its defense is not very good! Come back here! Come on Pikachu...- the mouse immediately jumped to launch a thunderbolt. Gyarados was surprised by the electric shock, which was too much for him. He swam away defeated, disappearing under the sea surface.
-I have to catch up with Misty. These holidays are starting to become very annoying...- the young man asserted. Come on Lapras, we have to go to the reefs. The Pokémon did not obey. She began to shake untimely, as if something bothered her. Ash tried to grab the spikes on her shell but Lapras kept moving. He saw her expression. She was very upset and looked at Ash with great contempt.
-But Lapras, what's wrong with you? Why are you acting like this? The boy finally slipped and fell into the sea. Pikachu looked at the scene with a stunned expression still on the back of the plesiosaur Pokémon. As soon as he appeared, Lapras's anger was gone. She immediately reached over, lowering her neck towards her trainer to help him back onto her back.
-What was that, Pikachu? Lapras had never behaved like that with me... Well. Are you okay, Lapras, is something hurting?.- The creature looked at Ash strangely. This further confused the ebony haired youth.
-I really don't understand anything. I must be losing my mind. Lapras, let's catch up with Misty...- And they continued their march across the ocean. Finally after a few minutes they reached the coral reef. Misty was finishing checking on the Tentacool. Nothing was out of the ordinary. The girl was still upset about what had happened a while ago.
-This is the last reef.- she pointed out in a very cold way without looking at her boyfriend.- I guess we'll have to go back to Cinnabar. Go ahead, I don't need you to come with me...- The boy felt a pang of pain. He had no idea how to explain to his girlfriend that this situation didn't make sense to him.
-Misty, I...- He didn't have time to say anything else. The girl's scream startled him and made him jump onto Lapras's back. Pikachu immediately moved closer to get a better look at her. She was paralyzed with terror as she pointed to a point on some nearby rocks in the middle of the sea.
-I-it's Giovanni! Its alive! He has Nidoking by his side!- Ash didn't see anything. Those marine rocks looked like any other.
-Misty, there's nothing there...- The young man fixed his eyes on the redhead, who wasn't listening to him.
-Starmie, attack! Don't let him escape!- The starfish didn't move. It simply hesitated to obey its trainer. Fear washed over Ash. He didn't understand what was happening. Now Misty was the one who was seeing things that didn't exist.
-It's coming here! - the young woman yelled. - Ash, help me! Aaah! The girl suddenly fell into the sea, struck by an invisible force. The young trainer dove into the water toward her. When he brought her to the surface, she had marks and bruises from having been hit with great force by some large, heavy object. There was no one else around but his Pokémon.
-This is too...disturbing.- the young man whispered, not giving credit to what was happening. Something or someone was playing with their minds, and that being or force had enough power to alter reality. He had no idea who to contact or where to investigate to find out what was going on. He put Misty on Lapras's back. He had to take her to the hospital immediately to find out the severity of her injuries. And he also had to take Mystery to the Pokémon center to heal him after the fight that day.
Ash... I don't know what happened... Giovanni, his Nidoking attacked me...- the young woman murmured as they returned as fast as they could to Cinnabar Island. Ash couldn't tell her anything. That situation began to become more and more strange and inexplicable...