Chapter 61

(Flashback)

In the quiet of the Canalave Inn, bathed in the soft glow of the moon filtering through the curtains, Ash and Alice lay asleep in their separate beds. The room is peaceful, save for the occasional rustle of the sheets as they shift in their slumber.

As the night wears on, a subtle change begins to take hold. Ash's peaceful expression twists into one of discomfort, his brow furrowing in distress. His breathing becomes erratic, punctuated by soft whimpers that grow louder and more desperate.

Alice stirs from her sleep, a sense of unease settling over her as she senses something amiss. She watches with concern as Ash's distress escalates, his whispers turning into anguished cries.

"Alice! No, Alice!" His voice, filled with raw emotion, cuts through the stillness of the room like a knife. His body tenses, muscles tensing as if he's fighting an invisible enemy in his dreams.

Alice wakes up in the inn, hearing Ash's voice, and sleepily mumbles, "Ash?"

However, her drowsiness vanishes in an instant when she sees Ash enveloped in a Dark Void, with Darkrai standing beside their bed.

"Ash? What have you done to him, Darkrai?" Alice demands, her concern turning into frustration.

Darkrai responds calmly, "I was asked by my father to join your team. But I wanted to test how deeply you care for Ash as his partner. This trial was meant to demonstrate that."

Alice's anger rises as she retorts, "Why should I have to prove anything to you? What's your real motive for subjecting Ash to a nightmare? Do you find enjoyment in his suffering?"

Darkrai clarifies, "I never take pleasure in causing nightmares. I use them as a means of delivering warnings. If you truly care about Ash, you should wake him up now and help him discern reality from illusion."

With those words, Darkrai places the Customized Poké Ball on the table and retreats into the shadows. Alice rushes to Ash and embraces him tightly, whispering soothingly, "Ash, it's just a nightmare. I'm here with you."

Slowly, Ash begins to open his eyes, tears welling up as he gazes at Alice. "Alice... is it really you?"

"Absolutely, Ash. What you experienced in your dream wasn't real. Darkrai was playing with your mind. I'm right here, and I won't ever leave your side," Alice reassures him.

Confusion lingers in Ash's eyes as he questions, "But Darkrai... why would it do this? I genuinely believed I had gone back in time..."

"I can't say for certain why Darkrai is acting this way, but you must remember that you're not facing this alone," Alice tells him, her voice filled with warmth and support. Ash nods in understanding, finding comfort in her words.

At the ranch, Darkrai stands before Arceus and reports, "The mission you assigned to me has been completed."

Arceus nods in acknowledgment and remarks, "Excellent. This trial will prove to be a significant challenge for both Ash and Alice. I am curious to see how they will navigate it."

Darkrai, however, expresses some concern. "Are you sure this is a wise decision? Alice didn't seem pleased with the nightmare I inflicted upon Ash."

Arceus responds confidently, "Do not fret. I am the one who bears responsibility for this. You need not worry."

With a nod of understanding, Darkrai retreats into the shadows, leaving Arceus to contemplate the unfolding events.

As Ash and Alice continue their training with their new Pokémon, Ash's mood grows increasingly somber, causing Alice to become increasingly worried. Whenever she inquires about the details of the nightmare Darkrai had subjected him to, Ash brushes off her concerns, reluctant to burden her with his troubles.

As days pass, Ash's siblings also begin to notice the subtle signs of his distress. They exchange worried glances and share hushed conversations, their concern growing with each passing night. It becomes evident to them that something is deeply troubling their brother.

Then, one fateful day, the weight of their fears manifests in a chilling reality. As they gather with Alice in the living room, their hearts drop when they realize Ash is nowhere to be found. Panic sets in, adrenaline coursing through their veins as they race to his room, their footsteps echoing through the silent halls of their home.

Without hesitation, they reach Ash's door and find it locked. Fear gnaws at their insides as they realize that time is of the essence. Without a second thought, they join forces, their combined strength enough to break open the door.

When the door opens, they are stunned to find Ash holding a knife with a fresh scar on his skin. Alice exclaims, "Ash! What on earth are you doing?"

"Brother? Are you seriously trying to commit suicide?" Mark gasps in horror.

Ash wears a solemn expression and replies, "I was trying to figure out if I'm still trapped in a nightmare or not..."

Alice, with tears welling up in her eyes, chastises him, saying, "But you should never resort to hurting yourself!" She hastily searches for a bandage and starts tending to his wound. Golly turns to Pikachu, "Pikachu, why didn't you stop him?"

Pikachu explains that he was in the kitchen, engrossed in eating ketchup, and he didn't realize what Ash was doing until they arrived.

Once the cut is cleaned and bandaged, Alice pleads, "Promise me you'll never do that again. I understand how the pain from your past haunts you. I love you, and I can't bear the thought of losing you."

With a heavy heart and a sense of remorse weighing down his words, Ash looks into Alice's eyes and whispers, "I'm so sorry, Alice. I promise I won't ever attempt to hurt myself again." His voice is filled with genuine regret, a stark contrast to the pain he had been hiding inside.

Alice, her eyes filled with compassion, nods in understanding. She places a comforting hand on his shoulder, silently conveying her support and unwavering belief in him.

Encouraged by Alice's compassion, Ash gathers his courage and decides to open up to his siblings about the nightmares that have been haunting him. As he shares his fears and guilt, his brother Trenor listens intently, his expression softening with empathy. "Brother... you are not the one who killed our mother," Trenor says gently but firmly, his words carrying a sense of conviction.

Minami adds her voice to the conversation, her tone filled with love and understanding. "Trenor's right. We are a family, and family stands together. Nightmares aren't real, Ash. Hating you for something you didn't do is not going to happen."

Ash's frown deepens as he struggles with his guilt. "But... it was my fault that she was murdered," he insists, his voice tinged with self-blame.

Alice interjects with wisdom and patience, "Yes, and her justice will be served. We have to be patient, Ash. Blaming yourself won't bring her back, but standing strong together as a family will help us heal."

Feeling a surge of gratitude and warmth, Ash wraps his arms around Alice, holding her tightly as if she's his lifeline. He cherishes their bond, knowing that she's different from his other friends, offering him a unique kind of support and love.

Looking at his siblings, Ash feels a sense of belonging and reassurance. They may have their differences, but their love for each other runs deep. As they embrace, Ash realizes how fortunate he is to have such a loving and supportive girlfriend and siblings who stand by him through thick and thin.

(Another Flashback)

"So everything is happening because of this person named Ark," Delia says, her eyes scanning the list of her targets.

"Ark's father is the infamous Lysandre from the Lysandre Labs," Yveltal reveals. "That foul man... he tried to harness my powers for the Ultimate Weapon. And when that failed, he attempted to use Zygarde to control Ash and create vines."

"I remember seeing the news," Delia responds, her expression darkening. "It's disturbing. Ark even ended up in jail for harassing Valerie's store."

Yveltal inquires, "What's your plan for dealing with him?"

Delia's smirk grows as she replies, "I have an idea."

As Delia steps into the prison, her eyes immediately lock onto Ark, who sits in the lone prison cell, his demeanor filled with simmering anger. He's tossing paper balls at the wall, his mutterings filled with venom. "Just you wait, once I get out, you're going to suffer!" His words drip with malice, a reflection of the hatred that has consumed him ever since his father's death at the hands of Ash Ketchum, the person Alice fell in love with.

Delia's heart clenches with a mix of sadness and rage as she delves into Ark's troubled thoughts. She understands the depth of his animosity, fueled by a sense of entitlement and privilege bred from his father's influence. Ark had reveled in the glory of being the popular figure in school, basking in the adulation that came with his father's power. In his distorted worldview, Alice's refusal to acknowledge his status was the catalyst for his downfall, and he harbors no remorse for the pain he caused.

The situation worsened when Alice, unable to cope with the trauma and turmoil, dropped out of school. Her absence triggered a chain reaction that led to her parents reporting the school, ultimately forcing it to shut down. Ark, blinded by his own resentment and arrogance, fails to see the destruction he has wrought upon Alice's life.

Delia's anger boils over as she realizes the extent of Ark's callousness. His actions not only led to Alice's suffering but also resulted in teachers unfairly targeting her, adding to her misery. The injustice of it all fuels Delia's determination to see Ark face the consequences of his actions.

As Delia nears the cell, a cacophony of strange noises fills the air, causing Ark to shout, "Who's there?"

Delia, cloaking herself with her aura, speaks in a haunting voice, "Ark... I am your worst nightmare..."

The dark aura emanating from Yveltal permeates the prison cell, intensifying the atmosphere. Ark, now visibly shaken, cries out, "Is anyone there?"

"No one can hear you," Delia's voice echoes chillingly. "Today marks the end for you... and no one will come to your aid."

Overwhelmed with fear, Ark inadvertently loses control and urinates on the floor. To his astonishment, from the puddle emerges a monstrous figure resembling a grim reaper.

"N-no... it can't be real! Please don't kill me!" Ark pleads desperately, but the grim reaper, now revealed to be Alice under the hood, only cackles, her face morphing into a skull. "Why would I spare you?" the skull-faced figure mocks.

"A-Alice?" Ark stammers in disbelief, watching in horror as Alice's visage transforms into a grinning skull. "You've made everyone hate me... you've ruined my life... I've suffered worse than death because of you," the skull-faced Alice accuses.

"I-I'm sorry!" Ark cries out in a last attempt to plea, but the grim reaper, wielding a sickle, raises it menacingly and screams, "GO TO HELL!"

In reality, Ark's cellmates hear his anguished cries, and a fellow inmate witnessing the scene asks, "Hey, buddy? What's happening?"

The onlooker is horrified to see Ark convulsing violently until he falls lifeless to the ground. When the authorities arrive, they determine that Ark succumbed to a heart attack. Based on the accounts of his cellmates, they conclude that it was a nightmare induced by stress that led to his untimely demise.

Delia and Yveltal are now on top of the police station, Yveltal says, "That was one way to use my Dark Aura..."

"Indeed, it seems that Hypnosis with Phantom Force can really deal a lot of heart damage." Delia comments before leaving the place.

Here is a new chapter, and this chapter is not easy to write because of a lot of things. I hope you like this chapter and we're going back to the present in the next chapter.