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After a bit of walking, the XY group were starting to become a bit tired.
Considering that they have been trying to get back to the route of the next gym for a few hours now.
Plus it was a hot day today in the Kalos region.
But thankfully, Clemont sees a spot which has a river on it and has an idea.
“I think we should take a break from walking and set up camp here.” He said to everyone.
Which really surprises our hero, but were happy to hear it.
“That’s actually a great idea, Clemont.” Bonnie said happily.
“Yeah. Plus we might be able to get enough water from this river.” Serena says while pointing at the river.
So while they set up their tents and eat some cooking that both Serena and Clemont made.
Bonnie was surprised to see that during that time, Ash has gotten silent.
And he was looking at his Pikachu with a sad look on his face.
Cause yeah a few hours ago the group were attacked by a legendary pokemon known as Yveltal.
That was able to turn anyone into stone with it’s Oblivion Wings.
And much to Ash’s dismay, Pikachu was hit by that move and no one realises that until after the legendary pokemon was gone. {As you could tell how much despair he was in when his Pikachu fully turned into stone}
So she asks the trainer something.
“Hey Ash, you ok?” Bonnie asked.
Which thankfully causes Ash to snap out of it.
“Yeah, I’m fine Bonnie. Everything is A.O.K.” Ash said.
“You mean you don’t remember anything about what happened to Pikachu?” Serena asked.
“Since it was pretty sad to see your Pikachu succumbing to the effect of that Yveltal’s Oblivion Wings.” Clemont also said in concern.
Mentioning that causes Ash to look scared.
But he was still able to put on a happy face to his companions.
“Of course I do. But you guys do remember that after that, Xerneas showed up and restored everyone back to normal including you too right Pikachu?” Ash said to his little buddy.
While also patting it’s head.
“Pikachu Pika-Pi.” Pikachu said happily.
So after that they ate all of the foods,
Then watched Ash train with Clemont for his next gym badge.
And then once it hits night time, everyone goes to sleep.
As hopefully everything will be fine the next morning.
…..Except it wasn’t.
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As when it was midnight {while having a dream about I assume ketchups.}
Pikachu wakes up to see that it’s trainer is tossing and turning in fears.
Turns out that he’s having a nightmare.
But about what?
Maybe losing a gym battle?
Failing to catch another dunsparce {again}
Or even worse,
The same event where Pikachu got turned into stone?
It doesn’t matter now as suddenly Ash wakes up with a jolt of fear.
“Pikachu!” He yelled with a scared tone of voice.
Unfortunately due to how loud it was, it scared the electric mouse pokemon.
Causing Ash to see his Pikachu cowering in fear.
Until suddenly he gives it a hug.
“Pikachu! Oh I was so worried that i was going to lose you! I thought you were going to stay petrified forever bud.” He said in a upset and sad tone of voice.
And after a minute of hugging.
It seems like the nightmare is starting to take a toll on him.
And in order to get rid of them, he grabs Fletchinder’s pokeball {because I think this movie takes place after the XY summer camp arc}
And heads outside, but not before he looks at his Pikachu with determination on his face.
“Hey Pikachu? Wanna do some more midnight training with me?” He asked.
Which the electric mouse pokemon accepted.
So it hops on his shoulder,
And they head off into the middle of the woods.
To start their midnight training.
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Clemont then woke up with a dry feeling in his throat.
Turns out that he’s just thirsty.
So he grabs his water bottle and tries to drink it.
Only to see that it’s actually empty.
So he heads out of the tent, goes to the river,
Use the water from it to fill up the bottle,
And then he was able to drink it.
But then just when he was about to go back to bed,
Clemont sees that both Ash and Pikachu are not there.
So he suspects that their doing their midnight training again.
Due to how he secretly saw them doing it to train for the Cyllage City Gym.
So he decides to find where they are and if their doing the midnight training again.
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A few minutes later, Clemont was able to find where the 10 year old boy is.
And it turns out he was right.
Both Ash and Pikachu were doing their midnight training.
But this time with Ash’s Fletchinder also participating in it.
And just like last time, the inventor watches in secret as he sees how much Ash is in the zone now.
And everything was going fine.
Until suddenly it wasn’t.
“Alright Fletchinder use ember on Pikachu!” Ash commanded.
Which the fire bird pokemon does.
But then this happens
“Quick Pikachu dodge-“ Ash tried to tell his buddy.
But then he starts to have flashbacks of the events from yesterday.
With Fletchinder being seen aa the legendary pokemon Yveltal.
And the ember only being seen as the move Oblivion Wings,
Ash realises what’s going on and is now worried that Pikachu might get hit by the move again.
And get turned into stone again.
So with no hesitation, he runs towards Pikachu.
“Pikachu! Look out!” He yelled at the electric type pokemon.
So he pushes it out of the way,
Only to get hit by the move which reverts back to being an ember.
And that all of that was just a traumatic experience.
But it also did caused Fletchinder, Pikachu and even Clemont to be shocked about what just happened.
So hoping that the 10 year old boy is ok,
Clemont has no choice but to run towards his friend and see where the ember had hit him in.
“Ash! Oh my god are you ok?” The inventor asked worriedly.
But thankfully, Ash wakes up which makes him really relieved.
But the 10 year old boy was confused about his friend being there.
“Clemont? Why were you here? You know that midnight trainings are only for me and my pokemons.” Ash asked.
“Sorry, but I wanted to know why were you doing it right now and gotten hit by the ember.” Clemont said.
So with one of his friends knowing about it.
It seems like he’s forced to tell him the truth.
“How about we go alert the others about my burns. And then I’ll tell you guys everything that happened tonight ok?” Ash asked.
“Ok, as long we’re here to help you Ash.” Clemont replied.
And so after Ash returns Fletchinder back into it’s pokeball,
They {including Pikachu} both head back to the camp,
So that Ash can have his burns treated.
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Aftr they made it back to the camp,
Clemont woke up both Bonnie and Serena to tell them what happened.
And while Serena was tending to her childhood friend’s burns {while blushing of course.}
Ash could tell that all of them were really concerned about him and his Pikachu.
So it was time for him to tell them everything.
Which clouded the nightmare he had.
“I had a nightmare tonight.” He said to his friends.
“Well that’s ok, since nightmares can be a bit scary. I know that Bonnie used to have nightmares when she was little so I had to comfort her and-“ Clemont tried to say to Ash.
“But this nightmare wasn’t like an actual nightmare.” The 10 year old boy said.
“What happened in it?” Bonnie asked.
Upon hearing it, Ash takes a big sigh and proceeds to tell them everything.
“It was basically the same events playing. With Yveltal being gone, us feeling relieved that we’re safe now and Pikachu turning into stone. Instead this time, Xerneas never showed up to fix everything. Meaning that the enemies, their pokemons, the carbink servants and even Pikachu would’ve stayed petrified forever. Which I was upset about. Because boy did that event really messed me up.” Ash said in a sad tone of voice.
Causing his friends to feel really bad about him.
But they still try to make him feel better about the whole situation.
“But hey, at least Pikachu’s still alive. And that’s that.” Serena said.
“Yeah but I’m starting to feel like that this is how Pikachu reacted every time I died. Especially my first death.” Ash said in a sad tone of voice still.
Causing everyone to be shocked about it and Ash covering his mouth upon realising that he just beeped up.
“What do you mean your first death?” Bonnie asked.
“Yeah how many times did you died from?” Clemont also asked.
“And how are you even still alive?” Serena also asked.
These were the questions that Ash was going to answer big time.
So after the burns were treated,
They all gathered around the campfire {that Serena’s fenniken was able to turn on just for this occasion.}
And Ash opens his mouth to answer all of his friends’ answers.
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“The first death happened when Me and Pikachu got hit by a chandelier and 3 ghost type pokemons pulled out souls out of bodies back in Kanto. The second death happened while there was a battle between Mewtwo and Mew. Where I got turned into stone just like Pikachu. The third death was when me including my other friends from the Hoenn regions got swallowed by these orange blob looking things, who are actually the security of the tree of life. The fourth death happened at the sea of temple where while trying to return a crystal back to it’s position, I drowned. And the fifth death happened back at the Unova region where me and Pikachu were in space and I froze to death due to how cold it was. And even though I died like 5 times, I still don’t know why I’m even still alive.” Ash said to his friends.
“Seems like with all of those deaths, you still look fine. I guess it might be a form of PTSD.” Clemont said.
“What’s that?” Ash asked.
“It’s basically when you still remember all of those traumatic experiences you were in. And it seems like you still remember the 5 times you died which is pretty impressive but also scary.” Clemont replied.
“Yeah you’re like an immortal.” Bonnie also said.
“Bonnie please. But anyways, it seems like you also gained another form of PTSD through Pikachu being petrified. And it seems like we did as well.” Clemont said.
Which causes Ash to be surprised about it.
As he has never head of any of his companions talking about their shared traumas with him too.
“Wait you all mean it?” Ash asked.
“Yeah Ash, you’re not the only one who was crying for Pikachu too. As we also witnessed it too.” Serena said.
“Plus, Pikachu is too cute to die. Just look how fuzzy and happy it is.” Bonnie said happily while hugging Ash’s Pikachu.
But she did hugged it unguarded, so it electrocuted her before going back to Ash.
“Wow, thanks guys. I guess it makes me feel better now. {Then he looks at his Pikachu and smiles.} And Pikachu, I’m glad Xerneas was able to revive you. As who would I be without my buddy. I love you.” Ash said to his buddy as he hugs it.
“Pikachu Pika-pi.” Pikachu also said happily as it gives him a hug too.
Then after a few minutes later,
It was time for the group to head back to bed.
And while they head back to their tents.
Ash smiles for a bit,
As no matter how many times he and his Pikachu have always been in peril.
They’re happy to see that their friends will always be there to remember them.
Even if that means one of them is dead.