Troubled Dream by WyldClaw

Plot: short AAML (Ash and Misty Love) .WCverse . Misty's POV. Fic takes place a few days after my two-part story Pokemon the Movie 2000 II Lawrence's Revenge/ . Misty gets troubled after a TR attack and helps her boyfriend after a nightmare. Do I look like I'm getting royalties from the merchandise? Nope so I DON'T OWN CRUD! ""Are humans, italics is thoughts, {italics} is mind speak- meaning the Pokémon can mentally talk to the trainer while in their pokeball. I have modified it so that Golduck can use it outside of his pokeball. () Is Pokémon talking. Jessie James and Meowth are not in this fic- they are currently being treated for injuries they got in the two part story. . Enjoy!

XxX

It was a warm night in the clearing we were spending the night in but I couldn't sleep. I shivered as I stared as the extinguished reminders of the fire as I sat near my sleeping boyfriend. I felt a chill as Butch and Cassidy's parting words from earlier that day echoed in my mind: 'You can't hide! We'll be back for you and your little Pikachu too. We' have many ways of finding you.'

Those two Team Rockets grunts-being somewhat smarter than Jessie James and Meowth-did a sneak attack earlier that day , luring us using disguises as herbalists. They sprung a trap involving a small traveling store with scents for Pokémon and human alike- claiming they had medicine that could heal painful memories. Naturally, my boyfriend jumped at this news- I knew the memories of seeing his first Pokemon take the bullet meant for him and briefly die along with everything else that had happened on Lawrence's airship still haunted him. They had succeeded in separating Ash from us by taking him to some kind of side room - but it was Cyndaquil, Pikachu, and Togepi who noticed something was off. Once their cover was blown they removed their disguises and the trap's front and showed us the gagged and tied up teen in a van , who looked like he'd been hit with a stun dart . They refused to let him go, used some kind of glue bomb to stick me in place and glue Pikachu's paws together and brought out some strong electrical current -draining machine and used it on the mouse and nearly drained all of his electrical voltage. Luckily before they could grab the weakened drained mouse Togepi used Metronome to stop them with a Thunder Wave attack . Golduck popped out and I ended up saving the day and sent the Rockets packing .

Even after I freed my boyfriend and healed him with medicine I'd bought at the last town we'd stopped at , he was badly shaken up. Golduck and Bayleef had to use Hypnosis and Sweet Scent twice to get him to sleep. But if I was honest with myself was it shook me up as well. "It's over. We sent them packing. It's over. We sent them packing." I repeated under my breath.

I glanced to the side to make sure they were still there. I smiled as I watched them sleep- Phanpy curled up at the foot of Ash's sleeping bag-she was his guard for the night, Pikachu sleeping next to his trainer. My boyfriend had a slight smile on his face- I did tell Noctowl to give him good dream vibes. He looks so peaceful. By the look of that smile i bet he's having a good dream . Probably something like finally beating Gary or kissing me or something of the like. Bet he's having a good dream in what seems like forever. He needs it after... .

(Couldn't sleep again?) Golduck looked over at me from where he was sitting against a tree a couple of feet away - one hand glowing blue. He was keeping a large barrger barrier around us steady. I still found it incredible he evolved to save my life. He had gotten very good at barriers.

"Nope." I admitted as I went over to him.

(Was it because of Cassidy and her side-dolt butch's attack?)

"Yup. That was a real scare today," I muttered

(We've beaten them before though.)

"I know." I admitted and sighed. "That was different... they were just after rare Pokémon those times. You remember the first time we encountered them when they ran that Breeding Center scam in Kanto. " He nodded. "And i-I .. l-l.. just eft you there to..." I trailed off, remembering the scam.

(You didn't know it was a scam. You thought they could help fix my vacant looking eyes and expression. It's not your fault.) he told me.

"I know its not my fault .. but I still felt bad. "

(Don't dwell on it.. it's in the past. I admit I wasn't the most intelligent Psyduck in the Poke-world back then. but now.. ) he stretched his arms and winked.

"You're the handsomest bravest Golduck I've ever encountered." I briefly smiled at him.

(Yeah) he winked and paused ( it's not just that. is it? . It's more about what they said about following us that's bugging you.)

" You mean about us never being able to h-hide from them and that they'll get Ash and Pikachu one day?" I asked and he nodded. ".. Yeah.." I admitted.

(Do you think they have,,, spies? )

"I wouldn't doubt it=. They seemed determined..,," "A-after what happen I'm worried if they're going to follow around everywhere until we give up. "

(We'll be fine. There is no need to be troubled by them. ) the blue duck Pokemon rassured me. (They can't track us all the time)

" Guess you're right ." I sighed, looking at the remainders of the fire again. I knew this would happen. even with the hair dye they were still able to tell it was Ash. "I don't know Golduck. I wonder if you-know-who put a bounty on us or something. " I gulped.. recalling how Ash told me that their malicious boss knew where he lived.

He shrugged his shoulders. (If he did, he would have sent worse after us not just the loser dolt trio and those two. )

I patted his head. "Fair point."

My gaze fell upon my sleeping boyfriend again, Pikachu next to him and Phanpy on the sleeping bag-. . I looked down and touched the ring he gave me that I kept on a chain around my neck. I smiled almost dreamily. At least some good came out of that incident.

Golduck took a look at the likely sappy expression I had on my face. (Don't worry. He's not going to vanish into thin air when you look away. Or do you want to fix his face in your dreams) he smirked as my face went red for a few seconds.

I swear his new idea of fun was making me blush. "N-No. I was just thinking about everything good that came out of that whole mess"

(Like yours truly saving your life and evolving or and finally telling him how you felt? Or a bit of both)

I rolled my eyes. "A bit of both I suppose."

Phanpy looked up from her spot on the end of the bag at me. She yawned and opened her eyes. (Misty?)

"Hmm?"

(Can I ask you something?)

'Sure, Phanpy" she got up and walked over to me. "What's up?

(Well...it's about that attack today)

Golduck gave me a look. (You're wondering why ole frog-voice and vain queen) she looked at him confused. (I mean Butch and Cassidy- that's the two Team Rocket grunts who attacked us- tried to take your trainer after the hair dye didn't work . )

She nodded. I looked at him. 'How do we tell her? We can't say the truth'I thought in mind-speak.

{Of course not! He'll explain when he's ready but not now. I think the wounds are too fresh in his memory

'Then what do i say?'

{Tell her that – that they know Pikachu would follow ash everywhere so they wanted to use him as bait} it wasn't really a lie-Just not the whole truth.

"It's because they know Pikachu would follow him anywhere even if it means right into a trap. " I explained.

(Oh.) The blue ground type Pokemon looked at her feet for a few seconds - not buying it (I thought that it had something to do with) she lowered her voice (...you know what happened a few days ago)

"You know what... it does." I bit my lip-. Those events haunt my nightmares .

(When we were in the Center that night, I had this dream saying that he needed my support because something broke his spirit. I don't know if it was instincts or what but it was like I couldn't ignore it. Everyone else had a similar dream. We could tell something hurt him deeply. Bayleef said-) she lowered her voice again and looked down. (She said that she saw/ heard some of it but she didn't want to talk about it)

I nodded. "Yeah..." I didn't blame her. Especially considering what she saw.

(Is that why he's. changed?) She asked.

I patted her on the head. "You're too clever to fool." she blushed- her blue skin on her cheeks going red for a few seconds. ."... That's it. He went through a lot," I said.

Golduck turned to her. (Trust me kid, you don't want to know what happened. But something good came out of it huh Misty?) He grinned. My face burned as I found myself remembering that kiss and the ring. I still found it hard to believe that we were finally dating. Over the past few days we had stolen a couple of kisses from each other and snuggled next to each other. I sighed with bliss, lost in memories.

But a scream punctured the silence and brought me back from me from my memories. Oh no! Not again!

I looked over at Ash, who had bolted up right in his sleeping bag, looking fearfully around. We ran over to him. He was shaking badly. I held his hand and kissed his cheek. "What's the matter Ash?"

(Why did you scream?) Phanpy asked.

He looked at me, one trembling hand stroked Pikachu's fur- his face pale. "N-nothing. Thought I felt a weedle rub against –"

"Riiiiight. And I have a Kingdra." I gave him a don't-try-to-fool-me-with-that-codswallop look. I wish

"Golduck, Phanpy? Anyone or... else around?" He nervously asked.

Phanpy stuck her trunk in the air and lifted her ears. (I can't hear anything but a bunch of Ledian and Gloom going about their business)

(Same here) he agreed.

He bit his lip. "Uh do you two mind leaving us alone for a few minutes. Go check out the perimeter of the barrier. If anything comes up, holler"

{Gettingrid of us so you can lip-lock} Golduck smirked as I blushed hot pink. .

'Tempting but no Mr. Smarty duck. I think his scream has to with something on the airship' I replied in my mind

He motioned toward the little ground type. (Come on Phan, our trainers need some err bonding time. )

Why did i get stuck with such a smart aleck Golduck' when he wasn't this snarky as a Psyduck I thought.

{You know you love me now] he replied.

I rolled my eyes. "Just, go check the barrier" He grinned as he motioned to Phanpy and she followed him out of sight.

.

As soon as they left I lowered my voice. "Ok spill. I know you didn't scream because a weedle rubbed against you. Trust me I would've screamed loudly. Weedles aren't active at night. Did your night terror have something to do about the airship?"

He stopped shaking and sighed. "S-something like that."

I jerked my head at Pikachu. "Was it seeing him get shot?"

His eyes looked at me- I saw an older person reflected in them and he shook his head. "Oh no thankfully …not this time. On the airship when you were freeing Pikachu gi-giovanni dragged me to the other side of the room. He mentioned about going to pallet and s-seeing Delia again" he choked on the words. "Said that he kn-knew she liked seeing her b-baby. This was r-right before that loathsome Persian attacked."

"Delia… Who's that?"

"I t-think its mom's first name." he whispered.

I felt my dinner curl in my stomach. "You mean your mom had a past with that vile cold-hearted man?"

He shuddered. "I think so . It almost seemed like it. There is no way could he be my dad. No freaking way. It would just be sick and twisted,"

"That would be sick and wrong." I agreed with him on that statement. There was no way Giovanni- who tried to kill us all only a few days ago- could be his dad. It wasn't possible.You don't threaten someone then nearly kill him or her and his or her first Pokémon if you are that person's father.

"Anyways I was dreaming- it was us and the Pokémon on the beach at sunset. We were kissing "- we both blushed "and the dream changed. I was at home and he barged in through the door. He had some grunts hold me back. Mom was utterly terrified. She yelled at him. He laughed and said that he'd leave her if we'd join him. I tried to break free but a grunt punched me hard in the gut. He -He had a gun. He said th-that if I said no he'd shoot. She t-told me not to listen to him. M-Mimey tried to stop but Giovanni shot Mimey then he said that Th-this was going to happen if I refused. He fired at Mom and-and-" he couldn't finish the sentence.

I hugged him tightly and gave him a kiss on the lips. "It was only a nightmare, Ash. Only a stupid nightmare. Nothing more. "

"It felt so real though. I'm worried Mist. What if it's the truth? What if that's really going to-?"

I cut him off. "Look, it was only a bad dream. You were probably thinking about what he said to you in your mind so you saw that scenario unfold. Besides she's got Mimey to protect her."

"Yeah..." He didn't sound too convinced. "But how did he know where I lived?"

"The moronic useless dense trio of team rocket?" I suggested.

I saw a slight smile on his face. "I guess..."

Pikachu blinked and opened his eyes sleepily (Did I miss something? I heard you scream but it took me awhile to muster up… the strength. To wake up ) He looked totally drained- that stupid machine of Butch and Cassidy had made him pretty weak.

We explained about the nightmare to him. (Th-that's horrid.) He said yawning. (But was just an st-stupid dream. It doesn't mean anything)

"See?" I pointed out to his trainer. "I told you it was just a bad dream."

He looked away for a few seconds. "I guess you're right."

(Try to dream of something h-happy instead. That's what I'm going to do...) Pikachu suggested before falling asleep.

Ash sighed. "Wish it was as easy that."

"You have plenty of happy things to dream about. Your Pokémon, your accomplishment... Me," I jerked my head to the mouse fast asleep. , "His impressive but short evolution. You know, Pikachu did make an impressive Raichu."

A slight smile appeared on my boyfriend's face followed by a look of hurt as he remembered. "Yeah. He did. I still can't get over that. He really did save us. When that bullet hit him I thought I-I lost him. It w-was worse when I s-saw him-" he gulped

I silenced him with a kiss. "Shh, he's safe and alive. he's right there."

"y-yeah. You're right Misty. It's just …"

"everything.." I said and he nodded. I held a finger to his lips and squeezed his hand. "I know Ashy. I know."

We just sat there for a few minutes and then we heard Phanpy and Golduck come back. (...be stronger and bigger) Phanpy was telling the water type as they came into view. They were talking about evolution. (I mean you're stronger than you were before.)

(Don't rush it squirt. I had a reason to.) Golduck replied, grinning at me.

(You're plenty strong on your own. ). I heard Golduck ask me in my mind. [You two okay']

'Yeah. We're good. ' I replied

Phanpy looked up at her trainer. (A-are you okay?)

He looked from her to me and then patted her ears. "Yeah, Phanpy. I am."

Golduck went back to his tree and she curled up on his sleeping bag. I moved my sleeping bag next to his. "Don't worry Ash," I told him as I gave him another kiss and squeezed his hand.

(I don't like seeing you this sad cause that makes me sad. Whatever is hurting you me and my teammates are fight it for you. You're such a great trainer and I want you to go back to the human I met when I first hatched. . It's gonna be okay) the ground type told him and he smiled. Phanpy looked up at her trainer.

"Thanks you two. " he yawned. And before his head hit the pillow he was out cold. I kissed him on the forehead and stroked his hair. Holy mew. I love him so much. That nightmare he had better not c-come true.

I tried to stifle a yawn myself but Phanpy saw me. (Go to sleep Misty. I'll let you know if anything comes up.)

I got into my own sleeping bag. "Thanks Phanpy".

I closed my eyes and soon I was sound asleep as well.

The End