DJ's Terrifying Nightmare by WyldClaw

Plot: . This is an updated Animeverse one shot I majorly changed after writing the Family Reunited (For The Most Part) chapter of Animeverse Adventures . After a terrifying nightmare DJ finds out what happened between Ash. Derek, Hunter J Dr. Yung... well kind of. originally called DJ's Bad Dream Takes place a few days after Derek, Jaden, Aki, Storm, Ash and Sami escape from Hunter J in Blast from Dad's Past. I own diddly-squat asides from the OCs. ( ) have translated Pokemon speech, " " is regular human speech and Italics Are thoughts. Warning: some spoilers for A Blast from Dad's Past and name reasoning fanfics. There is some slight cursing in the second part. Enjoy and please read and review!

last edited : April 2024

XxX XxX

{Dream begins} {Dream begins} {Dream begins} {Dream begins}

DJ Noelle Miracle Waterflower-Ketchum was having a wonderful blissful dream. The four and a half year old- wearing a simple tye-dyed And light blue summer capris was siting in a warm sunny flower dotted meadow. There were all kinds of various friendly Pokémon lounging about A Vulpix was playing Tag with a a teddiursa, a Litleo and a Squirtle. Chikorita Bellosom, a Galarian Ponyta and a Leafeon were sunning themselves . Butterfrees , Cutieflies and ledybas were among the flowers. Among the Pokémon were ones from her favorite cartoon TV show 'My Little Ponyta: Friendship is Forever'. .

She was petting a sleepy baby male Shinx and giggled when the lion cub like Pokémon tried to swat at a leaf drifting in the air to the ground in the light breeze. "Silly kitty." She smiled.

(I'll get that leaf after.. m-my n-nap ) the Shinx yawned sleepily as he rubbed his head against her right hand.

DJ chuckled . "Yes. you will " He yawned lay his head onto her lap and fell asleep.

The little girl gazed around the meadow in happiness. Like her brothers Derek and Aiden, she had inherited her parents' deep love for Pokémon. The three of them were total fascinated by the amazing creatures that populated their world. She sighed blissfully as she closed her eyes feeling the sun's warmth on her skin and face . She was perfectly content . This is my happy place .

She didn't know how long she was like that but she felt a chilly cold breeze that made her shiver. She felt the Shine get up and twitch his ears. She opened her eyes and saw a bight gleam from the Shins. He was on the ground, his fur fur glistening. She knew from her parents that was what happened when a Shinx sensed danger. she looked around and saw many of the other Pokemon looking anxious and panicking. A dark cold fog had overtaken her surroundings.

"What's wong? " she asked the light blue and black baby Pokemon .

(I really dunno. Something's not right. ) He replied .

the dark cold fog overtoo the once peaceful meadow and all the Pokémon had cried out as they panicked and they started vanishing. "Wh-what's h-happening Diamund?" She asked a Pokemon from My Little Ponyta: Friendship is Forever': a light bluefemale Rapidash with a purple mane, a blue tail and three jewels on her side.

(I don't know my dear. It's not good whatever it is. Run while you still can) she replied.

The little girl fled but tripped over something on the ground right as a dark cold eerie mist engulfed her and her surroundings. as the mist surrounded her She'd felt a variety of things at once- a cold feeling similar to a Froslass griping her tightly, great immense pain and an agonizing burning sensation. She also thought she heard a both a woman and a man's cold laugh and her father's name being yelled.

She squeezed her eyes shut for about ten-fifteen minutes- which felt way longer than that and felt the chilling cold mist wrap around her. But as suddenly as it began, the coldness seemed to vanish. She re-opened her eyes and saw she was in a small clearing in a dark foggy forest. There was thick covering of trees with thorny vines covering the top.

That's weird. Super thin beams of sunlight poked through the treetops leaving very little light in the foggy . There was none of the usual forest sounds- no bird Pokemon twittering or even sounds of forest dwelling Pokemon. Wh-what happened to all the Pokémon? Where am I? "H-hel-wo?" The four and a half year-old asked into the air. " H-Hel-wo? Is A-Anyones there? Wh-Where am I? " No response so she tried again but All she heard was her own ghostly echo.

The little girl gulped as she walked, her footsteps echoing loudly in the silence. She began to feel creeped out and shivered as goosebumps appeared on her arms,. I fought I could con-twol my dweams.

She thought she heard a voice in the distance weakly repeatedly saying "Mom. Dad …help me .. Mom. Dad …help me "

"That sounds like Derwek or some one in twouble. " she said to herself. "D-Derwek? Where are you?" She called out as she blundered about. She shivered as she called out his name again. "D-D-Derwek?" But she didn't hear a reply. . She felt chilled- she didn't like how her good dream had turned into this. I don't like this new dream.

As she tried to find her older brother, she felt the temperature drop at least twenty-five degrees and the fog increased. She looked for the source of the temperature change and backed away as something with short stubby legs emerged from the shadows.

As the short roundish grey ghost Pokemon with the single red eye in the middle of its head formed, her heart pounded loudly against her chest It was one of the few Pokémon aside from Mismagius -that utterly terrified her . D-D-Dusclops. It just had to b-be a Dusclops. She had always thought Dusclops were terrifying and been scared of them. She didn't know where the fear seemed to come from. Her mother had a fear of them but she didn't think a fear like that could be passed down from parent to daughter. But then again, Pikachu's small daughter Aki- who only had half her tail due to an unknown incident when she was little-had a fear of small spaces and Pokeballs just like her father.

Soon the Dusclops, which glowed an eerie white-fully emerged. she made sure not to look at it right in its single eye. (Hello little girl…) it looked down at DJ, who could see sweat sticking to her tan tee shirt. (You're a little too young to be out here) It sneered. (What are you doing out here... all alone?)

"T-trying to find m-my -someone."

It stepped forward and she edged away. (He's not here.)

"Wh-who?"

The Ghost type Pokemon got closer to her and she could also feel the temperature drop.. (The boy.)

" Wh-what boy?" she gulped.

"D-Dunno who- you're t-talking about."

(Don't lie to me little girl. You were looking for a certain boy.)

"B-But I heard him s-say h- help loud and clear."

It wagged a ghostly hand at her. (The wonders of voice manipulation. It was meant to bring someone .. else here instead but ... you'll do quite nicely…)

"Y-you d-dragged me here? But Wh-why?" Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. Don't just stand there- run! Her brain yelled at her but her legs had turned to Grepa berry jelly.

(Look into my eye and I can see if you are one of his.) It rumbled as it walked forward as the eye glowed.

She forced herself to stare down at the ghost's belly away from the single eye as she backed away She had hears that one one looked right into a Dusclops' singular eye it was extremely easy for the ghost to manipulate and even hypnotize a person . "N-no. Wh-what d-do you mean one of his? Why are you glowing like that?"

It threw a Shadow Ball at her as it but she ducked as she tried to get away. (Don't fight me little girl. I can sense him on you, all over you actually. It's almost like you are wearing a sign saying you're related to… him. We know the boy is his and he did mention siblings.)

Fear gripped her like an ice-cold Weavile claw. Her mother had told her very few details about the person who'd kidnapped her dad and majorly injured her brother, Related to him? Does it mean-?

She tripped over a big rock that had appeared out of nowhere and skidded on the ground, feeling her right jeans leg rip and a pain in her right knee. Her tan shirt was covered in dirt. She got slowly up and looked down. She winced as she saw a line of red coming from her skinned knee and bit her Lip but a tear came down "G-g-go away you– m-meanie g-ghost!"

The ghost laughed as it used Disable to stop her in her tracks and then Confusion to lift her a few feet off the ground. (I don't think I will.)

"Let m-me go!" she cried out as the arrack stopped her from moving but it was no use. She knew from hearing stories about when her mom's dimwitted Psyduck actually used those two attacks- and seeing her father's Noctowl use her Confusion attack there was no way of escaping the combination attack's power.

The ghost type simply lifted her higher. (Why would I do that little girl?) It waved a finger in a circle and she went around in a fast circle. (I want to make you scream.)

She shook her head. It waved its finger high into the air and moved it up and down, causing DJ to move up and down in the air like a yo-yo. "Wh-why are y-you doing this to me?"

(Seeing you this terrified is amusing.)

She bit her lip. It growled as she dropped down to three feet above the ground. (Tough little mite aren't you? but I know a sure fire way to make you scream.) It clenched its right hand into a fist and turned it in the air. As it did DJ felt her own right arm twist not if its own accord and she felt the pain?

Tears streamed down her face. She heard a POP and saw her arm hang limply at her side as she felt an enormous amount of agonizing pain. "Oww! D-d-daddddy! Mommy h-help!" she cried. But there was no answer.

(Just as I suspected. You're one of his feisty brats) The Ghost Type smirked as it let go of DJ who dropped to the ground on her injured knee.

"Wh-what do you want w-with my Daddy?"

(That's only for me to know and you to know never find out. it's very major grownup stuff. Now to get you to stay still,) it said as it became outlined in white energy and raised its head. Multiple large sharp gray rocks outlined in white energy formed around its head in the shape of a ring. The glow around the ghost then faded causing the rocks to fall on either side of her- citing off any escape paths. It moved toward her, freezing the Rock Tomb. DJ felt herself back up against a nearby tree and knew she was trapped. It lazily pinned her tan sweat stained shirt to the tree with a powerful Icicle Spear attack.

"H-how c-can you know Icicle S-Spear? It's n-not possible-" she struggled as she tried to get loose but no luck.

(Why should I tell you?)

"Lemme go!" she cried out trying to get free but the Dusclops simply waved a glowing arm and a blue jolt of electricity hit her arms and legs. She screamed as the Thunder Wave pinned her limbs to her side - paralyzing them. She couldn't move as her shirt ripped from where the Icicle Spear was holding it in place and she fell to the ground.

(You won't get free now girlie ) it snickered as its eye glowed and it lifted up a long rope by its feet and tightly tied her up. Then it tied a tighter piece of rope around her hands binding them behind her back and put a gag around her mouth.

"W-Watch m-," she started to say through the gag but the paralysis stopped her from completing the sentence.

She heard footsteps approach them in the fog and saw a pair of black leather shoes and pants with burnt patches come out of the fog and stop a few inches away. She heard a woman's cold voice. "Well done my pet, you successfully used your powers to drag a s brat's sleeping self here." The little girl saw a ghostly pale finger - so white and see though like a cloud- reach down and stroke her chin, which chilled her . "Hello. little girl. . what are you doing all alone?" the voice asked as the Ghost Pokemon went over to the tree trunk, took the pieces of fabric from the tree and went over to the woman

DJ said nothing- the strange woman's voice sent goosebumps up her skin and the hairs on the back her neck stand up. Her heart was pounding as fast as a running Rapidash. She was truly terrified .She didn't know who the ghost woman was. She guessed by the ghostly chill and pale appearance, the woman was a ghost or a spirit She was beyond scared of what the ghost woman and the Dusclops wanted with her. Her instincts told her it wasn't good.

the stranger voice stayed silent for a few minutes. "This has to be one of his kids."

DJ tried to say something through the gag but she failed. huh? His kids?

(She admitted to it.) The Dusclops said.

"Remarkable how she doesn't even look like him one bit unlike the other one." The stranger's voice sent a chill down her spine. Other one? But then again the other boy looked nothing like him either."

"Lemme go! "Lemme go! "Lemme go!" she cried out through the gag, the sound echoing through the quiet air.

"Loud little squirt isn't she? " the cold voice of the ghostly woman asked the Ghost Type. " Shut her up tand Make her pass out, it will be much easier to hypnotize her that way and she'll be easier to control . Well get a Mismagius to make sure her sleep self stays here. "

DJ gasped as the Pokemon put one cold clam ghostly hand around her throat. She tried to move away but couldn't. The gag fell off and she yelled. "D-D-Daddy! M-M-Mommy! " she choked out .

(Shut up.. you meddlesome brat.)

"H-help. Somebody, anybody. help!" She yelled. She wanted to get this creepy ghost away .Please .. somebody.. anybody.,. help..

A burst of white light shocked the ghost. it quickly removed its hand from DJ's throat while the ropes binding her started to break .(Yeooow!) it screamed as it was pushed back seven and a half feet feet away. While some of her bindings were broken DJ couldn't seem to get up or move her legs due to the paralysis from the Thunder Wave. (You Aura using filthy brat) It snarled.

. I-I- I did that with Aury? She'd inherited some of her dad's Aura abilities but her powers were very minimal . I didn't know i wa that strong?

"NO!" the cold voiced ghostly woman cried. "The brat's stronger than I thought! Dusclops get her and knock her out! "

(

DJ was terrified.- he heart pounded and she tremble as the Ghost Pokemon got up and walked close to her again. please .. someone help.

she heard running footsteps as it fired a volley of huge Shadow Balls at her only for them only for to vanish about afoot or two away from the little girl .

(Arceus-Dammit! ) it swore. ( what the hells? ) it said in surprise-for a bright shining barrier had suddenly appeared in front of her and stopped the attack .

She blinked a few few times. " How did i -"

"This is not your doing little one. " A deep voice said in front of her. She looked up and saw a pale white glowing figure standing in front of her. The figure was wearing a blue cloak and simple brown pants. Due to the brightness of the glow she couldn't make out a lot of details about the person who, had a glowing hand was outstretched making the barrier. " Are you okay?" The figure asked.

She nodded. . "I f-fink so.. my arms n' legs are just t-t-tingly. W-Who are you?"

"Call me .. an ancient friend of your father's. Hurry little one ." The figure kept the barrier strong despite the volleys of Shadow Balls still hitting the barrier. "You must make yourself wake up. She can't touch you in the the waking world ."

Huh? In the waking world? It took DJ a few seconds to realize what the stranger meant. Oh right.. This is still a dream . That's it! "Th-Thank you . " She thought of her cozy room and bed and willed herself to awaken from the dream . . Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Her surroundings started to blur as she closed her eyes…

{Dream ends} {Dream ends} {Dream ends} {Dream ends}

…

DJ gasped and blinked, finding herself back in her room. it worked! She sat up in her bed- her throat felt cold- like that Dusclops was still clutching it. "Just a dream. It was only a was only a dream." She repeated to herself and brushed a lone strand of brown hair out of her eyes. The dream-though it felt more like nightmare- scared the little girl. "Huh?" she saw scars along her arms- scars that matched the scars the rope made in the dream Her arms and legs felt tingly as if she really had been been hit with the Thunder Wave attack in her dream. "That's weird."

Right after she said this. she felt hit with a huge wave of emotion like a combination of horror , agony and pain. Her brown eyes were wide with terror and her heart raced. She squeezed her eyes shut. Her stomach felt clenched tight and .sweat clung to her matching 'My Little Ponyta: Friendship is Forever' pajama top and bottoms. .She bit her lip and tried to tell herself it wasn't real. She stayed like that for fifteen minutes but it felt much longer.

After that awful feeling subsided, she opened her eyes again and her body went back to normal. Once her heartbeat was back to normal, she cast around in the dark room-her Pokeball clock and Vivillon nightlight were the only real sources of light . She heard her two and half year-old brother Aiden sleeping. She felt a warm glow radiating from him, which meant he was happy with his dream.

"Th-that was weally scary." She said under her breath. She rubbed her eyes and looked at her illuminated Pokéball clock next to her bed and groaned-it was just past one in the morning. She groan "Ugh." This wasn't a rare occurrence that she'd woken up like this. She'd inherited a bit of her parent's Aura powers and she was such a light sleeper .but the littlest things could set it off. However her scary nightmare and the strange emotional wave really creeped her out.

She hugged her favorite 'My Little Ponyta: Friendship is Forever ' plush Pokedoll on her bed - an orange Ponyta doll with a light yellow-red mane and tail and apple symbols on its side –with one hand and wiped sweat off her forehead with the other. She hugged the Pokedoll tight . "Th-that was a scary dweam AppleJacks. I didn't like the bad feeling an' the dweam. Where did it come from? "She made the Ponyta Pokedoll plushie shrug. 'You don't know either? weird . "

She bit her lip again and tried to pinpoint the source. Her parents told her that when Aura kicked in to stop what she was doing, look around, and try finding the source. "It's not coming from Aiden. Mom, dad. an' Aki Storm, Pikachu an' Taran are downstairs". That leaves one person in the house, "It's coming from Dewek. Should we check it out?" She made AppleJacks nod again . "Okay. Let's go,"

Quietly she got out of the bed-still clutching AppleJacks, and slipped into her soft pink slippers by her bed and opened the squeaky door. The sound woke her brother up and she heard his voice from the other side of the room. He yawned and sleepily opened one eye . "Deejay? Wh-wh-what goes on?" He said sleepily.

"No-fing Denny. couldn't sleep cause I hada bad dweam."

"Bad d-dweam?" he echoed

"Yeah. I think it had to do with a … feeling."

"A feeling fwom Aury?"

"Yeah. Fwom my Aury ." She agreed. "I think. It's coming from Dewek's room. I'm gonna check it out."

"Oh. O-okay." He yawned again and closed his eye again . Within minutes he was fast asleep again . She sighed she was so envious of her two brothers' inability to see/have Aura. It was such a pain at times. But she supposed once she got older it probably wouldn't bug her as much. Then again. her dad hadn't known he even had Aura abilities until he was in Sinnoh. It was extremely rare but a guy named Riley who was able to help him out.

She silently closed the door and went out into the carpeted hallway, AppleJacks in hand. She turned left and started walking the five feet to her older brother's room. Suddenly she was overcome by such an immense feeling of intense agonizing pain-one that made the feeling she'd had in her bed seem like nothing- that she dropped the plush doll and fell to the carpeted floor. Her head throbbed with pain. "Ugh!"

The four-and-a-half-year-old girl clutched her head and moaned in pain. She tried to get up but found she couldn't move. She lay there for ten minutes or perhaps longer-she was only aware of the pain. Tears leaked out of her eyes and rolled down her face . "D-d-daddy...M-mommy. Pikachu... S-Storm... p-p-Pease… help. Pain hurts"

She saw the hallway light from downstairs turn on about ten minutes later, heard footsteps run up the stairs then her father's voice say, "Sweetie! Are you all right?"

She looked up and and met her dad's black eyes filled with concern . He knelt down and clumsily lifted her to her knees. His right arm was in a nighttime soft sling and his dark night shirt and gray pj bottoms hung loosely to his body. His untidy black hair- so much like Derek's -flopped around his face. His Pikachu-who was next to his feet -looked worried as well. (Are you okay DJ) the mouse Pokemon asked.

She nodded. "I-I thinks so." She wiped a tear from her face.

"Sweetheart ..what happened to your arm?" Her dad frowned as he took in the scars on her arms.

"Sweetheart ..what happened to your arms?" Her dad frowned as he took in the scars on her arms.

"I... I dunno . I had a nighty-mare an' woke up an' th-they were like th-that . My arms an' legs feel tingly."

Her dad frowned. "Oh pumpkin... let me get those wounds cleaned with a damp rag out of the bath-." His sentence was cut off as he groaned in pain .At the same she felt a blast of pain and she bit her lip-one or two tears felt down her face .

Pikachu 'shivered as he saw the look of pain on both father and daughter. .He also had felt his trainer's pain . (Are you both okay? ) He asked concerned for both humans.

Ash nodded. "Yeah... just my shoulder wound. Stupid psycho-" Pikachu cleared his throat and stopped his trainer from saying a very .. colorful description. "

(It's okay DJ. It's just the pain from your dad's wounds . )He told the little girl and nosed her wounds. The mouse looked up at his trainer. (Those wound need cleaning. I . I'll get a healing cream tube from the bat hroom )

Ash nodded, "There should be a damp washcloth on the towel rack fwom last night." DJ told the yellow electric type Pokémon, who nodded. Within a few minutes he had run into the bathroom and gotten the small washcloth and the small tube of healling cream using his Agility and run back out. He put the small damp blue washcloth into her hands and she pressed it against the wound for a few minutes, "Thanks Pikachu."

(Anytime.)

Her father frowned at the wound and she saw his worried expression. "I'm fine Daddy. They don't hurt much now. "DJ told him as she put the rag on the other arm for a few minutes. He sighed with relief.

(Why were you moaning in pain?) Pikachu asked as he took the washcloth from her arm, . She knew the mouse; his mate Storm and her parents didn't like to use their Aura powers unless they needed to.

"Aura. Interrupted my b-bad d-dream." She described her dream- really more of a nightmare. The two were a great audience. Her dad hugged her as best as he could with his one good arm and Pikachu licked her face.

"No wonder you were scared, peanut. I don't blame you. "

(That sounds beyond terrifying) Pikachu added

"Th-then … I felt pain coming from Dewek's room."

Ash looked sad as he glanced to his oldest son's room then back to DJ. "Oh sweetheart,"

"Daddy, why is he feeling like that?"

He sighed. "It's ...complicated. You're only four and a-"

"I gotta know Daddy.." She fixed her brown eyes onto his dark brown ones. "I can handle it. I'm a big girl now. I gots to know why he's in pain. Please? "She begged, determination in her eyes. "Pease?

Picks looked from her to Ash and back again . (You may look like your grandma DJ but you've got your dad's determination.) He looked up at his trainer and best friend, knowing he could never refuse her when she got like that

He chuckled. "All right peanut-you win. I know when I'm beat. Mommy's gonna pound me me for telling you this. "

"Mommy's not weally gonna pound you is she?"

(It's just an expression.) Pikachu told her.

Ash's eyes twinkled.. "Not really sweetie..She'll probably have Corsola use Pin Missile or Horn Attack on my butt. Let's sit on the bottom step and. I'll tell you. It's not… a story for Aiden's ears. "

DJ picked up her Pokedoll from the floor and followed them down the stairs. Her dad groaned in pain and Pikachu and the little girl looked at him. "Daddy? What's wrong?"

He managed a weak smile. 'N-nothing. Just my shoulder wound acting up/"

"Oh…"

They reached the bottom step and sat down. (You know that you don't have to do this) the mouse told his best human friend and trainer.

"Yes, I do pal." He looked at his daughter . "Sweetheart ... what you were feeling was your brother still in a lot of pain from what that …awful person did to him . remember how i told you, Aiden, Grammy and Taran about that cruel Pokemon bounty hunter"

She gulped. She remembered him telling her. Pikachu and his son Taran . Aiden and her grandma, the sparsely detailed story about the cruel Pokemon bounty hunter and what she did to her brother , her dad and Pikachu's mate Storm. "uh-huh." she nodded.

"Well.. this bounty hunter sent this very vicious horrible creature to hurt your brother, Flame and Aki/ " His face went white as if remembering the details terrified . "It was this horrendous blend of an Ariados- that's that big spider Pokémon from johto and a Drapion." He saw the confused look on her face. "A Drapion is this threatening horrible Poison and Dark type from Sinnoh. It's this huge purple scorpion with powerful stingers and claws so strong they can rip a car apart and turn it into scrap metal quite easily. She called it a… . Ariapion."

She shuddered when she heard the description and tried sounding it out. "A-a-a-wee—uh-p-p-pee- yen. It sounds crweepy."

"It was peanut.. it very creepy, dangerous and deadly. She made it almost too brutal."

"Why did she do that? Why did she hurt Derwek?"

Ash opened his mouth to say something, closed it and looked at Pikachu. "Y-y-you start pal."

The yellow mouse Pokemon was silent for a minute then took a deep breath. (You have to know something first DJ. Not all the people your dad and I met were good. Though many of the villains we stopped were part of criminal gang there didn't have good intentions-)

"'en-tense-shuns?"

(In-ten-shuns. Plans.) Pikqchu told her. ( There were many that acted alone that weren't part of a criminal gang . Remember how your dad told you about that) he shuddered (bad bounty hunter?)

" Uh huh.. the meanie bounty hunter " She gulped hugged her stuffed Pokedoll and remembered what Derek's friend Jaden's parents had been a part of before they mysteriously quit and moved to Pallet City a few years ago. "was she like Mr. an' Mrs. Smyth when they was after you'?"

Ash looked a bit blankly at the name. "Smyth. Smyth?"

His partner Pokémon rolled his eyes, sighed and poked him with his tail. (Jaden and Jordan's parents. You know-) He paused, ( Jessie and James.)

"Oh... right. No. Not like them,. They always bungled things up and never succeeded… much. Even when they did get away with their plan your mom, your godmother, Iris, your uncle brock . Dawn and I would stop them. Bounty hunters will do. … he shuddered "anything th-they can to get their prize. And this one… nearly killed me with her Drapion. "'

The little girl's heart pounded in her chest and her brown eyes bugged out. "H-H-how?"

"I was trying to save a special Riolu that she stole . It knocked them aside and wrapped its claws tightly around my stomach and began to squeeze me. ". He saw the look of shock on her face." Don't worry I got free but after … she held a deep grudge. After I faced her near the end of my Sinnoh journey I thought she was gone.. forever. "He looked at his injured shoulder." 'But I was wrong. She … wanted to hurt me and Pikachu and … Mommy t-tried to stop her as her Ariados hurt Storm. "

The little girl remembered how worried she and her grandmother had been during the few days her they had been missing. Then she recalled that cold female voice from her nightmare. "Daddy … d-d-does Hunter K have a cold v-voice?"She asked in a whisper as she hugged her plush Ponyta.

He gulped. "Y-y-yes." He saw the scared look in her face. "I think that woman's voice you heard in your scary dream w-was hers."

"I- I didn't like the sound of her. S-sounded very mean an-an' the d-Dusclops r-really scared me. "He hugged her as much as he could."W-was that why she wanted to hurt me in Th-the dream?"

Her dad nodded. "I think so…"

"Sh-she w-wanted to k-knock me out to make it easier t-to c-c-control."

He hugged her again. "Oh peanut... It's not your fault she made it into your dream. it was just a bad dream . " he reassured her

"I -" a few tears fell from her eyes and rolled down her face. - "I w-wanted m-my good dweam back."

"I know baby I know." Ash said as he wiped the tears off her cheek.

(If we had a feather from Cresselia handy we'd give it to you to keep away the bad dreams) Pikachu told her.

"What's a Creeselluh? And why would its feathers help keep away bad dweams?" DJ asked them.

"It's pronounced Cre-sell-ee-a," her dad kindly, corrected her. "She's a Psychic type Sinnoh Legendary that can dispel nightmares. People say holding one of her feathers can bring happy dreams. You know that blue, swan-like Pokémon with the yellow, crescent-shaped things and pink wings in Aden's learning the Legendaries book?" She nodded. "That's her."

"She's pwetty. Did you ever meet her, daddy?"

He smiled. "Just once and that was very briefly. She defeated this other Pokémon called Darkrai who was causing nightmares from a distance when Pikachu, Dawn and I were in Canalave City. I didn't actually meet her face to face like I did with lots of the other Legendaries. "

She wiped her nose on her pajama shirt. "She sounds weally neat. I'd ove to meet a Pokémon like that. "

Ash smiled and felt his daughter's fright fade and ruffled her hair with his good hand. "I'm sure one day you will You never know... I would have liked to meet her up close."

"But you met lotsa L-Legendaries." The little girl pointed out.

(But she was a different type of Legendary than we'd ever met and her tale is special ) Pikachu pointed out. (She's a female only Legendary species. she and Darkrai each live on an Island: Cresselia on Fullmoon Island, and Darkrai on Newmoon Island which directly faces each other and have no Pokémon can be found aside from the duo. When Darkrai casts nightmares on the people, Cresselia arrives and replaces them with pleasant dreams. She's also mainly a defensive Pokémon.)

"Oh… I-I-is H-Hunter K… gonna come back? "

"No DJ. She's not going to come back… ever . "he said with absolute certainty but she noticed he briefly looked away when he said it.

Pikachu nudged his trainer's hand. (Be glad her boss wasn't there)

He shuddered as he stroked his partner's fur with his shaking good hand. "I'm glad he wasn't. If he'd been there that situation would have been much worse. W-we may not have even made it out..." He trailed of not wanting to say the last word: Alive.

"Who's that?"

(Another foe your parents and I faced before) the mouse said. (A very deranged man who only cared about himself... Let's call him ...Dr. W. He created this system called the mirage system that unleashed these vicious holographic Pokémon called Mirage Pokémon that could do any attack)

He sounds horrible. She shuddered and gulped. "A-any attack?" Ash slowly nodded. "B-but how?"

(We'll never know. He wanted to create the 'perfect Pokémon' in order to get revenge on members of the Pokémon Institute who expelled him. He tricked your parents, your godmother May and Sami's great- grandfather and I. Your mom battled with him and badly lost. He kidnapped Sami's great-grandfather. When he wouldn't do what he wanted . Dr. W had a Mirage Pokémon track us down, g-g-get me and-and) He s shuddered and stopped speaking.

His trainer stroked him gently for a few minutes, making soothing sounds and reassuring him everything was okay until he stopped shivering . It must have been really bad if he still won't talk about it. "I'm sawy I brwought it up Pikachu . "DJ told the Electric Type Pokemon.

He blinked. (Don't worry. It's not your fault- You didn't know. )

"What happened Daddy?" She was really into the story

"W-With some help we got them free. We escaped but there was a fire. We thought Dr. W was gone but-"

"But what?" She hugged AppleJacks tightly.

"Like w-with Hunter K ... I... I was wrong, He reappeared when Derek was about three. He attacked Mommy your aunt and cousin , Aki and Derek-whom he knocked out- w-with Mirage Pokémon when they were on a walk, Dr. W hurt Mommy so she couldn't move and took him from her arms." The girl gasped

(Want me to finish it for you?) The yellow mouse Pokémon asked his trainer.

He shook his head. "I think I've got it but thanks," He took a few breaths and continued. " H-he told her if she wanted to see him again she had to bring me into the Virid- I mean the Overgrown Forest shortly or- or..." Ash stopped mid-sentence and halt figuring how to describe it without terrifying her. ".. Nothing good would happen Pidgeot was nearby so she got your mother back here and we healed her. When she told me who took him I was beyond horrified. "

(We wanted to keep my pups and Storm safe just in case he decided to go after them next. But no matter how hard we tried Aki was firm about going with us) Pikachu sighed. (I think she felt bad about being unable to stop his kidnapping and wanted to make up for it.)

"What happened? Did he use that Mirage Pokémon on you again? How did you get him back? Was this when she lost her tail? How did-"

The mouse suddenly looked distracted (I. have to go check on something. I'll see you later .)

.

"Pika-"DJ started but he jumped off the stair and went over to the living room. She looked up at her father. "Daddy, d-did I say something wong to upset him?"

He shook his head. "No sweetie. It's just He's very sensitive about Aki after wh-what w-with .. Hunter K and Dr. W. It's not your fault- I'll tell him you didn't know. I don't blame him at all. If he'd been there..." his eyes darkened for a few seconds, and then lowered his voice. "He doesn't like to talk about it but that's how she got her tail like that."

"S-s-sawy if I upset him." she rubbed her eyes and yawned . "How d-d-did it h-happen? An' what hap-happened w-w-w-with Dr. W?"

He looked pained for a second and she felt a bit of his sadness, which made her sad. Stupid Aura... "She- she evolved and saved Derek's 's life." He saw her struggling to stay awake- the nightmare and the super early hour must have wiped her out . " You look like you're about to fall asleep. I don't to keep you up any longer . I'll tell you the rest another time . Its way past your bed time. Come on, pumpkin… let's get you back to bed."

He stood up and she did the same plucking her Pokedoll . from the ground

…

After they headed back up the stairs and he clumsily tucked her back into her bed with his uninjured arm, she asked as he pulled the sheets over her , "Daddy?"

"Hmm?"

"Who do you fink the stwange man who save-ded me fwom the Shadowy Balls was. "

He smiled. as he fluffed up her pillow " I don't think peanut -I know who it was.. His name was Sir Aaron and he was an ancient Aura guardian from countless generations ago. He and his partner Lucario protected this ancient kingdom and this very special tree called The Tree of Life. But centuries ago .. there was a misunderstanding between the two of them and he had to seal Lucario in his special staff before he sacrificed himself to save the kingdom… Lucario's spirit was bitter about it for all that time.. I accidentally released him when I won this tournament and got to hold his special staff. I eventually helped to patch things up between the two and they made peace with each other before their spirits moved on."

"W-w-wow.." she yawned. "D-do you think h-he k-knew I was we-lated t-to y-you?" Her eyes fluttered.

"Probably sweetheart. He was really smart "

She was quiet for a few seconds. "H-how do you deal with painful Aura feelings like that?"

"I t took me a while to figure that out. I know it's hard but when you feel a painful Aura like that, you have to tell yourself it's not coming from you and concentrate on happy things instead . "

"Like you an' mommy an; Aiden an; Derwek an' Grammy?"

He nodded and kissed her forehead. . "And all the friendly Pokémon of Mommy's and mine that love you."

Her face brightened up . " Like Bayleef, Sunset, Quilava, Talonflame, Storm, Ki , your dwagonite, Caswin, an' Tidal?"

"Yup. And don't forgo=et your uncle and aunts' Pokemon too. "

She smiled but then after a minute she asked in a quiet voice. "Wh-what if I get another bad dweam?"

"Tell yourself that it's not real and you control your dreams. Think of something that makes you happy…. like Pignite and Quilava's babies that are gonna hatch soon"

She grinned as she thought about them. They were such a sweet couple and she loved them both. A warm glow radiated from her to dad as he mentioned the two Fire Type pokemon . "Daddy, I can feel your Aura glowing. - mine ' glowing too."

He smiled . "I'm happy for them. "

"Me too. Can we g-go see themt—to t-tomorrow "she fought to keep her eyes open.

"Of course DJ." he kissed her forehead again . "Now off to dreamland. Goof night peanut. Sweet dreams "

She yawned. "N-n-n-ight daddy."

She closed her eyes and was fast asleep within a few minutes.

XXX POV Switch XXX POV Switch XXX POV Switch XXX POV Switch XXX POV Switch XXX POV Switch

Ash stared down at his sleeping daughter in the thin beam of light coming in from the open door from the hallway for a bit He felt sorry for his little girl. He didn't know how she would react once she found out the truth-all of it. "My poor baby girl. I don't blame her for being terrified of that dream after what happened. How did J's evil ghost manage to drag her into that horrible dream? "

He'd heard that she had been extremely fraught with worry while Hunter J tortured the utter hell out of Storm and him. Out of his three kids she seemed to be the most like his mom: she was bubbly but could be could be quiet and reserved When the two of them got angered or worried it wasn't a pretty sight. The Aura didn't help her at all. He sighed. Poor DJ. It wasn't her fault Derek's emotions got into her dreams and ruined them. I'll have to call Riley or Morty in the morning to see if they have any suggestions on helping her out. It's not fair for her to have to deal with this burden alone.

In the thin beam of light he saw something yellow and doll shaped at the foot of Aiden's bed so he walked over to it. He bent down and smiled as he clumsily picked it up with his left hand . "Of course." It was Aiden's favorite Psyduck plush Pokedoll. He carried it around so much that Leavanny had to reattach its left arm with his sewing abilities. Daisy gave it to him for his birthday and it was almost as much of a headache to Misty as her own actual Psyduck. He put the doll carefully next to the toddler who wore a blue-footed onesie sleeping outfit and was sucking his thumb. He brushed his red-brown hair with his good hand. "There you go sport. Duckie's back." Aiden took his thumb out of his mouth and curled his hand around the doll.

He quietly left the room, leaving a small crack in the door open. He went down the hallways into Derek's room and opened the door enough to see the outline of his oldest son fast asleep in his bed. His heart melted taking in his brave near teenager asleep in addition to the snoozing Growlithe at the foot of the bed. "

The Fire type whimpered as she slept. She was no doubt dreaming about what she'd been through. If Jaden hadn't brought her Pokéball or shown up when he did. . He still couldn't believe how much danger the Jaden -whom J believed to be his own kid- had put himself in to save his best friend . In a way Jaden was related to him .. his godmother was Misty and he and Sami were over so much they felt like his kids/ . However he didn't want to how Jaden's parents' had reacted.

He gulped – he didn't even want to even guess at what evil punishments and abuse Hunter J had in mind for DJ and Aiden. Asides from the simple pleasant thought of having Snorlax Body Slam Hunter J, the thought of making it back safely to his wife and kids had been what got him through those times of torture. It wasn't easy, between the whippings, watching Storm get bashed around and the beating up by some of her Pokémon she'd totally taunted him by saying his wife and kids would be the next one to feel her wrath, how he'd become weak, how she and her boss would finally get him back and worse insults. It really hurt when her Dark Dragonite and Ariapion were beating up his oldest son in front of him. He'd been utterly petrified.

He gulped again recalling Derek take that Acidic Strike for Flamie, the Growlithe he'd secretly trained. He shook his head like a damp Eevee shaking raindrops off its fur – shaking off the bad memories. "Stop thinking about that." he scolded himself. He heard Pikachu come up the stairs and nudge open the door so he could slip through. "Hey pal."

He jumped up to his trainer's good shoulder. (Hey. Sorry about earlier. It's just…)

"I know, bud. It's hard when one of your kids gets hurt by something a-and you get reminded of it. L-the mouse nodded. "Beside DJ didn't know about that psychotic revenge driven "

( Acres dammed son of a she-Houndoom?) The mouse asked quietly and his trainer nodded. (I'm not blaming her. It's like with Aki and Dodgy Dirk's Carnivine. Even though Mewtwo wiped her memories of Dirk remember how frozen she was when she faced one in the school's tournament?) Ash nodded. The mouse paused then continued (what happened with J really upset the kids - all five of them. Aki and Derek ... no wonder why they are having nightmares and it's only been a few days.)

"Yeah. Even with Bayleef and Bulbasaur's Sweet Scent and Sleep Powder that can't keep the nightmares really away. DJ's caught in the emotional crossfire due to Aura and Aiden is too little to comprehend what happened... Taran knows that his sister and mom went through a horrible experience and I think he knows what we did to .. her "

Pikachu nodded. ( He figured it out. when you were talking . I think int was the haunted look in their eyes. )

"He's a really smart little guy I think Aki, Terra and Storm are-still scarred b-by what we had to do to escape from ... Hunter J." His face went as pale as a Seel as the memory came back. "We didn't a choice."

He shuddered and felt sick as he remembered Hunter J's final taunt before they'd killed her, "I'll chase you to the ends of the earth if I have to. I'll continue to follow you everywhere and attack your loved ones until I either kill or capture you. You shall be hunted like foxes in a never-ending fox- hunt, you're dead meat as soon as I get to you! "

Arceus, I hope Sami's not having the same kind of guilt plagued nightmares Storm and Aki are having. I wouldn't blame her if she was having nightmares. Gary would skin me alive if anything happened to saved our asses. My impulsive recklessness has definitely rubbed off on her. She showed up at the exact right moment If she hadn't arrived right when she did… he shivered , recalling how the Ariapion had poisoned Derek with Acidic Strike and his boy had been extremely close to not making it.

( hello? Earth to Ash? Ash? I can sense what you're feeling. It will get better in time) The Pokémon licked his cheek as if reassuring him things will get better. (I know how much that guilt can eat you up from the inside.) He'd had the same guilt plague him after he and Swoobat killed that terrifying monstrous hybrid beast of Giovanni's when Derek was just over a year old. (You went through kind of the same thing after Yung's ... attack nine years ago remember? When you were deciding whether or not to let Mewtwo erase their memories?)

The Frontier brain's face went back to normal. "That's right… And he said… that it would be painful at first but soon the memory would fade. He managed to put his past behind him. Thanks buddy- I needed that."

They stood there for a few minutes thinking about their respective kids. (Why h-haven't you c-come back to bed?) The mouse yawned. (Y-you still looks exhausted)

"I just got ... distracted."

(I thought Misty said a few days ago when you and Storm came back she wasn't gonna let you out of her sight.

"After w-what happened I'm surprised she didn't slap a tracking device on me."

(If you didn't have the bond I'm sure she would h-have done th-that in a heartbeat) the mouse yawned again.

"Come on pal. Let's go downstairs before she really has my head."

They headed downstairs into his bedroom, wincing at the pain from his shoulder. He turned off the stairway light and made his way to his room. Next he opened the door as quietly as possible- leaving a small beam of air and light from the hallway. Even in the darkened room the thin beam of light lit up the face of his orange redheaded wife. She was sleeping on her side of the bed and Taran, Storm and Aki were asleep on his side of the bed.

(Would you look at that?) Pikachu pointed lovingly at his son and daughter. Taran had put one paw over his little sister's back- evidently Aki had a nightmare and he had comforted her. (It's just like when they were pups,)

"Yeah… "= Ash reminisced. The two siblings were really close .

Pikachu yawned. (I'm g-g-gonna crash, night Ash )

"Night Pikachu."

.

The mouse jumped off his shoulder, landed on the bed, sat down and fell asleep near his mate and pups

Ash

"Come on you three... I'm upstairs for maybe half an hour and you take my spot." He clumsily tried to move them with his left hand without waking his wife up but failed. he winced

Just as he bent down to pick up Taran with his strong hand -the one in the sling- she sleepily opened her eyes. "You know I can hear you shuffling around n the dark even if they are fast asleep."

"Oops. Sorry, Mist. I didn't want to wake you up as I moved them."

She sighed. "Riiiight. You were going to move them with your bad arm. "

"But-but... I'm right handed."

She sighed. "Tell me you heard the doctor Ashy. You have to let it heal on its own."

"I heard him all right. But how am I supposed to-"

"Don't even try to argue your way out of this one. Mr. Hero. " she used the nickname she called him during the Shamuti Island Prophecy fiasco when they were on Fire Island and he blushed. "I'll move over and you can take my spot after I get the pillows set up for you." He walked over to her side as she expertly moved to his side of the bed without waking the four mice Pokémon up.

He got into the bed. "How'd you do that without waking them up?"

She propped up some pillows for him, "I've had lots of practice. All those times Derek got scared of the thunderstorms when he was little and when DJ and Aiden had bad dreams. You didn't hear them that much since you're such a sound sleeper."

"Oh ...right."

She leaned over and kissed him. "You are so dense but I love you anyways. What was wrong with DJ?"

He told her about her nightmare. She shivered at the mention of the dream Dusclops. Ever since Christyana's Dusclops had kidnapped her the day DJ was born. she had a fear of those Ghost types / She shivered and gulped at mention of Hunter J and her eyes widened when he recalled the last part of her dream. " That dead psychotic revenged driven bitch.." She swore as quietly as she could . " After even being killed , she can't leave our family alone?"

" I agree, honey. Arceus damm her.. " He paused. "I think Sir Aaron's spirit saved her."

Her eyes went back to normal. "Sir Aaron? You mean . the ghost of that ancient Aura Guardian of the Kingdom of Rota whose spirit you helped years and years ago ?" She asked and he nodded.

" Yeah.. The very same. I think somehow his spirit knew she was related to me-I dunno how. " he slightly shrugged his shoulders-wincing slightly . " DJ doesn't look that much like me. Derek.. that's a totally different story. "

She chuckled. "Well you are pretty unforgettable."

"It's been years and years and he's been in the spirit world . I don't know I guess that's a mystery I'll never be able to figure out. " He paused for a . " Mist. D-don't be mad at me but… I only scratched the surface with wh-what those power hungry sons of bitches Hunter K and Dr, W- that's what I called them d-did to DJ". She breathed with relief He yawned and continued, trying not to trip over his words- . ." I didn't even g-get to t-tell her what y-Yung did the second time- sh- She asked questions about Aki and I stopped the story there. She was p-pretty w-w-wiped o-out by then " He paused. "G-good th-thing I did or-or…"

She kissed him on the lips . "I agree. My poor babies, you included. " She noticed her eyes dropping during the story. "Ashy?"

"H-h-huh?" he yawned again as he leaned against the pillows.

"You're wiped out, Get some sleep. I'll go to the Battle Park around 9:30 for you tomorrow. You stay here and rest. - You look like a single Absorb attack could take you out. You don't look like you're back to normal yet."

He nodded. I still feel and probably look like Tauros dung so that's a good idea. "That's f-fine with me. Night sweetheart. See you in -" he fell asleep in the middle of the sentence.

The end.