Dreamer

Chapter 8: Awakening Potentials

Kurai slowly walked back to the main office barely able to keep his composure. The final minutes with the fight with Ash had proven Kurai’s research to be positive. It was a good thing he expected it otherwise he could not be around to tell his tale. Kurai suffered some mild injuries and some bruises but he still feels the tingling feeling of Ash’s brutal final attack.

Kurai: Ash really does have the “potential.” Father’s going to be disappointed that I haven’t brought him back.

*****

Everyone sat around Ash’s bed as Ash tried to recall what just happened. He couldn’t remember to well but all he remembered was seeing Misty in a strangle hold and then seeing nothing but white after.

Ash: So what did happen?

Gary shook his head and then seriously looked at Ash. Ash wondered about Gary’s composure, first off he was very pale, then he never saw such dead serious expressions from Gary before, and then lastly was the way Gary spoke. He sounded scared, shocked, and amazed all at once.

Gary: Do you really want to know?

Ash: Yeah ofcourse!

Gary: During the fight with that someone you . . .

*****

Kurai choked Misty hoping to anger Ash. As he tightens his grip he felt a force rising around him. He looked at Ash and saw him starting to stand up and ready to fight hard. Things appeared strange though, it almost seemed like Ash was unconscious when he was doing this. Kurai dropped Misty and faced against Ash. Lina and Gary quickly ran to retrieve Misty, by doing so they were able to see the full rage of Ash’s potential power.

The electric bolts coursing through Ash’s skin awed Kurai; he looked like a human electric wild wire. Once Ash was fully standing he immediately grabbed onto Kurai who didn’t even have a chance to think to dodge. Electricity shocked Kurai and a deadly tingle feeling ran up and down his body. Kurai summoned all his strength and pushed Ash off. Kurai was successful getting Ash’s potential out but it nearly did him in.

Kurai: Finally you wake up.

The electricity was getting more intense, the potential level wouldn’t stop rising. Kurai felt a bit scared at how powerful Ash could get and his limit hasn’t even been reached yet. It would be best to retreat for now and await a better chance to take Ash to the main office. Before Kurai had a chance to make a swift getaway, Ash unleashed a sparkling shot from his hand right to Kurai. Kurai couldn’t evade in time so he had to block with his own hand. A thin dark cloud appeared in front of Kurai deflecting the electric beam. The dark cloud was shattered in the process, which surprised Kurai.

Kurai: No good, he’s too strong.

Quickly Kurai jumped right up to the sunlight, this blinded anyone watching him, and then without a trace Kurai disappeared.

*****

Gary: . . . you passed out afterwards.

The whole story sounded ridiculous, like something out of a fairy tale or comic. Ash didn’t believe it but since he wasn’t in any position to argue he just kept quiet about the entire issue.

Ash: Well at least we’re all okay. Misty are you hurt in anyway?

Misty: No, not really. Nothing to worry about.

Ash: Okay, that’s what’s important.

Ash stood up and shook off any cramped up feeling within his body. He stretched every way he could then sat back down on his bed.

Ash: I’m gonna hafta find this Kurai guy and give him a few lessons in pain.

This was Ash’s pledge. He was going to find Kurai somewhere in the city and get his revenge for all the trouble he and his friends’ been put through. It was one thing to mess with him personally but a very different thing to mess with his friends. Ash had no plan on trying to find Kurai but when he did have a chance to find him, he would take it without a moment’s hesitation.

*****

A lonely boy sat on a bench looking down and depressed. The children at his school laughed and teased him for any reason. Some days they would make fun of his spiked up long black hair and other times it was his clothes. Black wasn’t the best among the variety of colors but it was what he wore almost everyday. The boy just stared down on the ground and waited till his parents came to pick him up. As he waited for them a ball rolled by his feet. He looked at it then looked up to see where it came from. There were three other children in front of him, one that looked very cheerful and playful with black short pointy hair, a girl that had a lighter color hair and dressed in a yellow shirt but it was hard to tell because of the sun, and the other girl had short blond hair.

Cheerful Boy: Hey, wanna play with us?

Blonde Girl: It’ll be fun.

Y.Shirt Girl: Please play with us.

The depressed boy smiled and stood up. He picked up the ball and handed it to the other boy.

Boy: Okay. My name is Kurai.

*****

Kurai woke up from a dream. He was taking a rest in the main offices lounge and he accidentally fell asleep. His father the City Master felt disappointed that Kurai hasn’t brought in Ash but Kurai said he’ll have another chance later. Kurai felt drained from the fight and letting down his father. As far back as he could remember Kurai always did whatever his father asked, down to the last detail and also without fail. Today was the only day he failed but some how he wasn’t guilty about it. His father wasn’t too disappointed either but still moved along with the schedule. There were other people on the prodigy list and they needed to be tested.

Kurai: As long as father keeps his schedule things aren’t so bad. But exactly how many more prodigies are there?

*****

Day turned to night rather quickly or so it seemed for four young adults. Ash sat on his coach trying to relax, Misty was sitting next to him resting her forehead on his shoulder, Gary was inspecting Ash’s apartment for something, and Lina was admiring Ash’s sketchbook drawings.

Lina: Ash were you trying to draw me here?

Ash: Tried too. Drawing isn’t exactly my forte.

Misty sat up and looked over at the sketchbook. She complemented Ash on the fine job but she knew a friend of theirs could draw anything.

Misty: That’s pretty good. Though I think no one can beat Tracey when it comes to drawing and sketching.

Ash looked down and rubbed his head a bit. He had a strange déjà vu feeling like he heard that name before.

Misty: And if you don’t remember him, Tracey was our traveling companion back in the orange islands.

Ash: Sounds familiar but I can’t picture it.

Lina chuckled a bit and showed everyone a funny picture in Ash’s sketchbook.

Lina: Hey Ash! This is a pretty cute picture of a girl with a side ponytail. Is this a carrot and pepper next to her?

Misty laughed when she saw the picture and silly slapped Ash a few times.

Misty: And you said you don’t remember.

Lina was confused but she continued to laugh at the picture. Misty reached into her pocket and pulled out a band to wrap her hair in a side ponytail look. When Lina saw Misty she immediately recognized that the picture was of a younger version of Misty.

Misty: I hate carrots and peppers.

Ash: Too bad carrot head.

Misty was frozen for a moment then silly slap Ash a few times.

Misty: I’m not a carrot head!

After the silly mood cleared out of their system they talked about the sudden memory bursts Ash had been having.

Misty: You always called me carrot head to tease me. So does that mean your getting back your memories?

Gary and Lina looked at each other for a moment and then at Ash.

Ash: Maybe. Then again how could I forget a carrot head like you.

Misty didn’t know to blush or slap Ash but she decided to do both. As the two played with each other and teased one another Gary and Lina whispered to each other.

Gary: Think he’ll remember soon?

Lina: Well if he does remember, it’ll be one less thing to worry about. I think a good dosage of the dreamstalk will get things going. I’ll be right back while I go get some from home.

Gary: Need any help?

Lina: My aren’t you willing.

Gary: Actually this room is getting a bit steamy. See.

Gary pointed to Ash and Misty who were cuddling with one another on the couch, looking into each others eyes and light kissing one another.

Lina: I see. Hey you two, we’ll be right back. Just gonna get some food. We’ll be back in a few minutes so don’t get too frisky alright.

Ash/Misty: Alright!

Ash: Oh Gary wait take my cap. Just in case the cops are looking for ya.

Gary and Lina left Ash’s apartment and headed to Lina’s place. Gary felt uncomfortable wearing Ash’s cap, he rarely ever wears a cap anywhere. On the way Gary felt like asking a few questions about Lina, but where to begin?

Gary: Hey Lina, when did you realize Ash was your cousin?

Lina: Well I guess the first hint was a dream that I had. It was all about me when I was younger and meeting with a cousin who was obsessed with Pokemon. Other things happened in that dream but I can barely remember. Anyway that morning I wanted to test the reliability of a dreamstalk but seeing if my “dream memory” actually did let me see something that happened long ago. It took me awhile but when I reached a certain part in my virtual diary it had mentioned that I met my younger cousin Ashie when we gathered together at someone’s house. So it was kinda simple to find out that Ash was my cousin. I realized it all the morning I told you.

Gary: Amazing. So you figured it all out through some computer right?

Lina: Yeah ofcourse. How else would I find the info? Computers are really handy dontcha think?

Gary nodded. From what Lina told him it seems the computers in the city hold a lot of data and log about their students. Not only their academic skills but also their past and so on. Maybe there’s a log at what happened to Ash after he fell off the airship. Where did they find him and in what condition was he in, is exactly what everyone is asking. The two reached her apartment building and entered into her place. Lina quickly started to mix Ash’s special drink for his daily dosage. Gary wanted to use Lina’s computer to check for any info regarding Ash.

Lina: I don’t think you can find too much, some history files requires a password.

At first Gary tried to log into Ash’s full bio. The universal information was password protected but Gary pretty much guessed what the password was after a few tries. Gary looked over the information but didn’t find what he was looking for. He checked Ash’s medical records next, despite a few head colds and allergies Ash barely had a record. There were a few cases when Ash was electrocuted when he was very young, around nine years old.

Gary: I guess who would not get shock with his type of pokemon.

Gary tried the hospital servers but he couldn’t break in. He sat thinking about where else he could research the information. He was a stumped, couldn’t figure out what to do next. He wished he had an electric type that’ll help him get a jump-start on his brain; just like what Ash did before. He must’ve gotten use to it after having them since nine years old.

Gary: Nine years old . . . nine years old . . . man with all that time Ash would be use to the voltage . . .

Then it hit Gary right behind the head. An idea that gave a clue about Ash in general.

Gary: Wait a minute, Ash didn’t get his pokemon till he was a bit older. So why did he get electrocuted?

Gary really wanted to check Ash’s medical history for any hints what that the electrocution accident means. Gary couldn’t go far but he found a small hint of info about the accident.

Gary: Hey Lina. Listen to this. Says here that Ash stuck a knife in a toaster while it was plugged in. He was electrocuted but luckily he wasn’t harmed at all. He became a living example to most children those days that to never stick your knife in the toaster.

Lina: What’s that got to do anything?

Gary: Its funny how Ash never got any injuries being shocked.

Lina: Well if its only momentarily it shouldn’t hurt anyone.

Gary: That’s the thing; it probably wasn’t for a moment but a long shock. I remember when I use to battle Ash to see who was stronger, do you know how much electric types he has! A lot more than me that’s for sure.

Lina: Yeah so what if he just liked electric types? Right now he’s pretty much attracted to water types.

Gary: Well he’s been like that ever since he hooked up with Misty. But anyway with that much electrical pokemon and yet being shocked by normal acts of idiocy and still not getting any major injuries are a bit strange.

Lina: But that doesn’t prove . . .

Gary: . . . hey, remember what happened today! Ash was surrounded by electricity and there were no pokemon around him. In fact the pokemon belt he was equipped with had nothing but water types. What does that tell you?

Lina: . . . something strange about Ash?

Gary: More like super natural if you ask me. And when it comes to Ash, super natural isn’t that strange.

Gary sighed and stood up from the computer. All the talk about super natural stuff with Ash started to drive him crazy plus he was sure it was driving Lina crazy too. For a change of pace Gary wanted to talk about something else. Something less important and more relaxing; he wandered to the balcony to see if he could see something.

Gary: You got a pretty good view of the city as well. To think the great PKMN Society is this; and all this is happening while I’m visiting.

Lina walked over to Gary and stood next to him on the balcony and looked down.

Lina: Well, your not exactly visiting, you sneaked in here.

Gary chuckled a bit, Lina was right, he did sneak in all because he found his missing rival. Its strange how things turn up especially about the fairy tales he heard about the PKMN Society. The one he remembers are how this place is a magical place full of wishes and dreams that come true. Who ever did told that sure got the attention of many youths and got them to pursue a life long dream to be in here. Yet it turned out to be nothing more than a city, there’s something strange in the atmosphere that isn’t all that good or bad. Gary just knew that it was different but what could be making it different.

Gary: So what made you decide to attend PKMN Society?

Lina: Hmm various things. This place has the highest academic power in all the world, I guess I wanted to be part of that. Hmmmm you know, I’ve always wanted to go here since I was little.

Gary: Really? When I was just a young boy I never thought of coming here even with all the stuff I heard about this place.

Lina: As a young girl I wanted to come here because I knew people who wanted to go here. They were my friends; and nothing is more valuable than your child hood friends right?

Gary: I guess. Have you met your child hood friends here?

Lina: Umm . . . no. Haven’t met any yet. Maybe they forgot. I did met Ash though and he’s like my child hood friend – relative sorta person.

Gary laughed and started to walk back in.

Gary: But you just found out not too long ago.

Lina: Well I guess that’s one promise that was kept by one person.

Gary turned around and faced Lina.

Gary: Promise?

Lina: Yeah. I promised my entire child hood friends that we’ll all go to PKMN Society together. I can hardly remember some of them but hopefully they’ll remember me. Ash is one of them but well I didn’t recognize him since it’s been so long ago since I’ve seen him. I guess maybe I just forgot who they were and stuff.

Gary placed a hand on her shoulder; Lina turned around and smiled.

Gary: Don’t worry, like you said, nothing more valuable then child hood friends right. You found Ash so there’s one down. Just think of who’s remaining.

Lina: Oh various friends. But I can remember the ones I hanged out with the most, a bit. First there was Ash ofcourse, but he looked so different back then from what he does right now. Then there was this one girl that hanged around me and him a lot, forgot her name. She had like red hair and kept it in a ponytail. She liked playing in the sandbox and make sand castles and stuff. I thought that maybe I’d find someone like that having a job at the beach maybe as a lifeguard.

Gary: But you didn’t find her did you?

Lina: Nope. Its hard to think who they are right now and the memory of the past is a bit blurry. I think one of the hardest people to find would be one shy friend that never really said much. He always looked so depressed when we first me him but once everyone became friends, he cheered up. He looked so common, he had black hair and black eyes and nothing totally outstanding about him.

Gary: Not much to go from there. Maybe you should take some of your own drink mix and hopefully you can remember.

Lina: I was thinking of doing that.

Gary gave a thumbs up and started to head back in. Lina touched his shoulder, turned him slightly around and gave him a quick light kiss on his cheek.

Lina: Thanks for hearing me out, I feel so much better.

In the next chapter: PKMN Society is a city full of dreams and wonders. It seems that its unique atmosphere affected everyone that has visited the city. It may not be the people or how the city is govern but everyone that has came to PKMN Society has been affected some way or another. A forgotten memory among friends appears in dreams, about how those who were called Prodigies will go to PKMN Society when they are of age. Ash seeks to know more about his lost memories of the past, not just about his child hood past but the origin of him being a prodigy. Misty’s dreams give clues to everything about back then. The City Master finishes evaluating the prodigy list.

Author’s Note: Thank you all for reading once again. I can’t believe everyone likes this story, I didn’t think anyone would want to read it. Anyway even I can’t update as fast as I use to with the beginning chapters I will update this fic when I have the chance to. Thanks for everyone’s support.