Chapter 3 The Dream and Family
Ash slowly opens his eyes, blinking against the bright light surrounding him. His body feels weightless, as though he's floating. As his vision clears, he finds himself standing in a vast, ethereal space. The walls shimmer with a golden light, and the air is thick with an otherworldly energy. He recognizes the place from legends—the Hall of Origin.
"Where am I?" Ash murmurs to himself, his voice echoing slightly in the grand hall.
A soft, radiant light suddenly appears before him, growing brighter until it takes the form of a majestic, glowing figure. Ash's breath catches in his throat as he recognizes the figure—Arceus, the Alpha Pokémon, the creator of the Pokémon world.
"Arceus..." Ash whispers, awe and confusion mingling in his voice. "Is this... a dream?"
Arceus's voice resonates through the hall, deep and all-encompassing. "Whether this is a dream or reality, even I cannot say. You were struck by the jet's attack and have fallen unconscious. But this moment—this meeting—was always destined to happen."
Ash's mind races, remembering the chaos of the missile attack and the pain in his shoulder. "So... I'm still alive?"
"For now," Arceus replies, the light surrounding it pulsing softly. "Your body lies wounded, but your spirit remains strong. You have been brought here for a reason."
Ash looks up at Arceus, his heart pounding. "Why have I been summoned? What's going on?"
Arceus's gaze softens, and it begins to speak, its voice filled with ancient wisdom. "You have heard the prophecy, Ash Ketchum. You are the Devil Prince, the one destined to challenge the rulers of the United Region and bring an end to their tyranny. The path ahead is fraught with danger, as you have already seen."
Ash listens intently, the weight of his destiny pressing heavily on his shoulders. "But... why me? Why was I chosen?"
"You possess the qualities of a true leader," Arceus explains. "Courage, compassion, and an unyielding spirit. These traits are what make you the chosen one. But even with these qualities, the task before you is monumental. That is why I am here—to offer my assistance."
Ash's eyes widen in surprise. "You're going to help me?"
Arceus inclines its head slightly. "Indeed. You will not face this challenge alone. I shall call upon the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon to aid you in your quest. They, like you, wish to see balance restored to the world. Together, you will have the strength to face the darkness that awaits."
Ash feels a surge of hope and determination well up within him. The idea of having such powerful allies by his side is both reassuring and awe-inspiring. "Thank you, Arceus. I won't let you down. I'll do whatever it takes to fulfill the prophecy."
Arceus's form glows even brighter, filling the hall with a warm, comforting light. "Remember, Ash Ketchum, you are never truly alone. The bonds you share with your Pokémon, your friends, and now, with the forces of nature itself, will guide you through the trials ahead."
As the light intensifies, Ash feels his consciousness begin to fade, the hall around him slowly dissolving into the light. Arceus's voice echoes one last time in his mind, a final word of encouragement as he begins to wake from the dream.
"Awaken, Devil Prince. The journey continues."
With that, Ash is pulled back to the waking world, his body heavy, but his spirit renewed.
As Ash's consciousness fades into the dream world, the reality of the situation remains dire. With Ash unconscious from the missile strike, Delia and Golly immediately shift their focus to a safe landing. The winds whip around them as they guide their Pokémon toward the ground, scanning the terrain for a suitable spot to touch down.
Meanwhile, Ash's Charizard and Pikachu are consumed with fury. Charizard roars with rage, its eyes blazing with determination, while Pikachu's cheeks spark with intense electrical energy. They won't let the attack on Ash go unanswered.
The mighty dragon unleashes a torrent of fire toward the final jet, the flames roaring through the sky with unrelenting power. Pikachu's cheeks flare with electricity, and it releases a massive bolt of lightning that crackles through the air, striking the jet with pinpoint accuracy. The combined force of fire and electricity overwhelms the jet, causing it to explode in a brilliant flash of light. The last threat is neutralized, but the battle has taken its toll.
With the skies now clear, Delia and Golly bring their Pokémon down for a landing, descending toward the lush green fields of the Viridale Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of Grass. The moment they touch down, they're met with a surprising but welcome sight.
Four figures emerge from the dense foliage—Mark, Minami, Insey, and Trenor, Delia's other children, Ash's siblings. Their expressions are a mix of relief and determination as they rush to help.
"Mom, Golly, we're here!" Mark calls out, his voice strong and reassuring.
"Is Ash okay?" Minami asks, concern etched on her face as she hurries to Charizard's side, where Ash lies unconscious.
"We need to get him to the Team Alpha hideout, now," Trenor says, his voice firm as he takes charge.
Without hesitation, they work together to carefully lift Ash from Charizard's back. Pikachu, still charged with adrenaline, hops down to walk beside them, its eyes never leaving its trainer.
Golly nods to her siblings, grateful for their timely arrival. "We'll take him to the hideout for treatment. He needs medical attention immediately."
As they move swiftly through the forest, heading toward the hidden base of Team Alpha, Delia looks back at her son, worry gnawing at her heart. But she knows they have to stay strong—Ash's destiny is far from over, and this is only the beginning of the battles to come.
Ash slowly comes to, his senses gradually returning as he becomes aware of his surroundings. He feels a dull ache in his shoulder and realizes that he's lying on a bed, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. Blinking, he looks around and notices that his wounded shoulder has been carefully bandaged.
Beside him sits Pikachu, its big, worried eyes immediately lighting up when it sees him awake. "Pika!" it cries out softly, nudging Ash's hand with its nose.
Ash smiles weakly, relieved to see his loyal companion by his side. "Hey, Pikachu," he whispers, reaching out to pat the Pokémon's head. The familiar presence of Pikachu soothes him, but as he glances around the room, his eyes land on a girl sitting quietly beside him, her expression one of deep concern.
She looks young, with soft features and wide, innocent eyes. Ash blinks in confusion, his mind still groggy. "Who... who are you?" he asks, his voice hoarse.
The girl offers him a gentle smile. "I'm Insey," she says softly, her tone filled with warmth. "I'm your youngest sister."
Ash's eyes widen in surprise. "My... sister?" The realization is slow to settle in, his mind still trying to catch up with everything that's happened.
Insey nods, her smile never wavering. "Yeah. I'm really glad you're awake, Ash. We were all so worried about you."
Ash processes this new information, still finding it hard to believe. "Where's Mom?" he asks, his thoughts shifting to Delia.
"She's in the meeting room," Insey explains, her voice lowering slightly. "She's talking to all the members of Team Alpha. They're planning what to do next."
Ash nods slowly, taking it all in. The events of the past day feel like a blur—a whirlwind of revelations, danger, and now, new family members he never knew he had. But as he looks at Insey's reassuring face and feels Pikachu's comforting presence, he knows he's not alone in this. No matter what comes next, they'll face it together.
Insey quickly stands up and moves to the door. "I'll get Mom," she says before hurrying out of the room.
A few moments later, Delia rushes in, her expression filled with relief and worry. Behind her, Ash sees four more figures enter the room—his siblings, whom he had just met before he passed out. Mark, Minami, Trenor, and Golly all follow closely, their concern evident.
"Ash, are you okay?" Delia asks urgently, rushing to his bedside.
Ash nods, still feeling groggy but managing a reassuring smile. "Yeah, Mom, I'm okay," he replies, trying to sit up a bit straighter.
Delia lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, her hand gently resting on Ash's bandaged shoulder. "Thank goodness," she murmurs, her eyes filled with a mix of relief and lingering worry.
Before Ash can say anything more, a loud noise interrupts their moment. It's coming from outside—an unsettling, almost celebratory sound mixed with ominous chanting. Ash furrows his brow, trying to make sense of it.
"What's that noise?" he asks, glancing toward the window.
The room falls silent as they all listen. The noise grows louder, and soon it becomes clear. It's a parade, but the words echoing from the speakers send a chill down Ash's spine.
"The Devil Prince has come to the United Region!" a voice booms through the speakers, the words laced with fear and condemnation. "Beware, for he seeks to overthrow the kingdoms, to plunge us all into darkness!"
Ash's eyes widen in shock as the words continue, painting him as a villain, a threat to the entire region. "They're making me out to be some kind of monster," he mutters, disbelief and anger mixing in his voice.
Mark clenches his fists, his face showing clear distaste. "They know you're here because of the prophecy," he says, his voice low and filled with frustration. "And now they're trying to turn everyone against you before you even have a chance to fight back."
Trenor nods, his expression equally grim. "This is their way of controlling the narrative, making you look like the enemy."
Minami crosses her arms, her eyes narrowing. "It's disgusting. They're twisting the prophecy to suit their own agenda."
Delia, sensing the rising tension, steps forward, her voice firm. "Listen to me, all of you. I know you're angry, and you have every right to be. But we cannot act rashly. That's exactly what they want us to do."
Golly nods in agreement, her expression serious. "We need to be smart about this. They're trying to provoke us, to force us into making mistakes."
Ash, still processing the ominous sounds outside, suddenly remembers something crucial. "Where are my Pokémon?" he asks, a hint of urgency in his voice.
Minami steps forward, her expression softening. "Don't worry, Ash. They're safe," she assures him. But then her eyes narrow slightly, a look of curiosity crossing her face. "But there's something strange... We found some Pokéballs with your things, and they're unlike any we've ever seen before. Inside them are Legendary Pokémon, Mythical Pokémon, even Ultra Beasts and... something called Paradox Pokémon. What's going on?"
Ash's eyes widen in surprise as the memories of his dream rush back to him. He looks at his siblings, their expressions a mix of confusion and anticipation. "I need to tell you all something," he begins, taking a deep breath. "While I was unconscious, I had a dream—or maybe it wasn't a dream. I was in the Hall of Origin, and I met Arceus."
His siblings exchange glances, clearly intrigued by what he's saying.
"Arceus told me about the prophecy," Ash continues, his voice steady. "He said that I wouldn't be alone in this fight. To help me fulfill the prophecy, Arceus is sending the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, Ultra Beasts, and even Paradox Pokémon to assist us. They're going to fight by our side."
For a moment, there's silence as his siblings take in what he's just said. Then, slowly, smiles begin to spread across their faces.
"That's incredible!" Mark exclaims, his earlier frustration melting away into excitement.
"This could change everything," Trenor adds, his voice filled with renewed hope.
Minami nods, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. "We've been struggling for so long, fighting this war with everything we've got. But with the help of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon... we might actually stand a chance."
Golly smiles warmly at Ash, her earlier seriousness softening into genuine happiness. "This is exactly what we needed. With Arceus and these powerful Pokémon on our side, we can finally turn the tide."
Ash feels a surge of hope and determination, bolstered by the support of his family. The path ahead is still dangerous, but now, with the help of the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, they have a real chance of fulfilling the prophecy and bringing peace to the United Region.
Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, Ash finally reunites with his family and he also gets the Legendaries by his side to help. The next chapter will be the history about the region and also meeting Lillie.