AN: This is my first official Pokémon fanfic. ("official fanfic" sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? :P) When reading and reviewing, please remember that this is solely a fanwork and should not be taken as canon. The content in this story represents my thinking of the settings, plot, characters and concepts in the anime.

As you probably already know, the Pokémon franchise is not my original work. :P Please support the official release, particularly the new X and Y games. If you cannot donate money, maybe you should at least send friendly messages on construction paper to their programmers. Game programming is probably very hard work.

Just as a heads up, Ash is 12, Iris is 12, Cilan is 16, and Pokémon can talk.

I'm dedicating this fanfiction to my favorite fanfiction writer, Toadettegirl2012. She writes amazing fanfiction, much better than this one. Go check it out, or I will hack off your limbs with this plastic spoon (holds up spoon). I will fill ALL of your holes if you do not comply.

"Iris! Ash! It's breakfast time!" The green haired teenager known as Cilan made a twirling motion with a piece of dishware as he called to his young friends with the promise of a hot meal. Today was a good morning for him: It was sunny, but not blaring, warm, but not hot. Several Minccino were playing in a nearby tree. A group of Pidove were picking the ground nearby for a 's own Pokémon, particularly Pansage, felt just the same way, taking in both the smell of the freshly cooked food and the natural environment around them. It smelled of flowers and honey, and the smell of pancakes added a welcoming sense to it. Normally, Cilan would want to savor this moment before he called the two teens, but he felt like sharing his good mood, no matter how rambunctious his friends may be. Not to mention that Iris would have been angry at him if he let the food get cold. Ash, on the other hand, was more of an eat first, ask questions later kind of guy.

About a minute passed, and Cilan called for them again. "Iris? Ash?" ... Still no response. "C'mon, guys... this isn't funny!" Cilan sighed. "Pansage?"

"Mmm?" Pansage acknowledged Cilan sleepily.

"Did you see Ash, Iris, or Pikachu this morning?"

Pansage snapped out of his daze and began rubbing his chin in thought. Then, his head snapped towards Cilan's direction. "They aren't missing, are they," Pansage brusquely questioned.

"Well... not exactly, I just can't find them."

"That's what 'missing' means, Cilan! And to answer your question, I haven't seen them since last night."

"Don't worry, Pansage. They're probably off in the woods playing... or battling... or arguing." Cilan sighed. "I guess we'll just have to wait until they turn up."

The trainer and his Pokémon just sat there for a while, before trying to make conversation to pass the time.

"Say, Cilan... did you hear those noises last night?"

The night before...

Ash stood in a strange field with purple grass. Where was he? He didn't remember coming to an open field. "Pikachu? Iris? Cilan? Where are you guys?"

Ash looked around for a couple minutes before for retiring onto the grass. His head was pounding and he was very nauseous. He closed his eyes.

When he opened them, there was fire all around him.

"Wahhh! Someone! Help!" Ash cried this out in vain, knowing that no one could hear him. However, he did see a small shadow approach him through the fire.

"Pikachu! There you are! We have to get out of here, and fast!" Ash called out to his Pokémon, but no reply came. "P-Pikachu? What's wrong?"

Pikachu had his head down so low that it was impossible to see his face. He took slow steps toward Ash until he was right in front of him. Ash began to get nervous. This was all very strange.

"Pikachu! Say something! You're scaring me!" Ash reached out his hand to Pikachu's face, only to be met with Pikachu jerking it's head up and snarling. Pikachu's teeth were sharp, and it's eyes were a blood red. (AN: Creative, aren't I? :P) Ash was startled, but tried to keep composed. "Buddy? Don't you remember me? It's Ash! We're the best friends in the world!"

Pikachu bit down, very hard, into Ash's wrist. He yelped in pain, praying that Pikachu would come to it's senses. "Pikachu, it's me!"

Suddenly, Pikachu stopped biting. It simply sat there, with an evil looking grin... then simply became a pile of ashes.

Ash was flabbergasted, and extremely confused. He could only sit there, very stunned, as the orange world consumed him.

Ash awoke with a start, panting, his forehead drenched with sweat. His head was pounding, and he felt like he was going to throw up. As he lay there, hyperventilating, a face looked up at him from the tree above him.

"Ash, what are you breathing all heavy for? Some people are trying to sleep, you know. Isn't that right, Axew?"

Axew was still fast asleep.

"Axew says I'm right." Iris looked at Ash smugly, her head in her hands.

Ash smirked up at his friend. "Looks to me like he's fast asleep."

"So accusing! You're such a little kid." Iris grimaced. "I'm going back to sleep."

Ash couldn't help but warmly smiling up at Iris. Such, she could be rough sometimes, but he found it sweet in the oddest sort of way.

"Huh? Where's Pikachu?" Ash suddenly asked to no one in particular. "Pik- ack!" Ash felt a cough come up in his throat.

Pikachu, who had been sleeping several feet away, walked towards Ash and snuggled around his leg. "Looks like your awake pretty earlier." Pikachu remarked.

"Yeah, and he seems to think that everyone should feel the same."

Ash rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Iris. Just go back to bed."

"Assuming that that would be possible..."

"Anyway, Pikachu, sorry for waking you up, I was just scared because I thought that you had gone missing. Sorry for being paranoid, it's just... well, after that nightmare I just had, I was worried that something had happened to you."

Pikachu's ears perked up. "A nightmare? What was it about?"

"I-I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh... so it was pretty bad? Well, don't worry. It was just getting really hot being next to you, so I moved away to find somewhere else to sleep or the remainder of the night."

"Are you kidding me? It's practically freezing over here!"

"Actually, Ash..." Pikachu put a hand on Ash's forehead. "You feel really hot. You should probably go back to sleep... I can sleep with you, this time, if you want me too."

"Geez, what are you, my mom? Relax. If it's too hot over here you don't have to sleep with me."

"Well, alright. Just, don't push yourself too hard."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

Before too long, everyone in the camp was sleeping once again.

AN: So, that was the first chapter. What do you think of it? Pretty awesome, huh? Nah, but please leave feedback. It doesn't have to be good, but I would like it to be helpful. I know they are fun to post, but reviews that are things like "pretty good" or "retarded and gay" are not very helpful. If you are going to leave a review, would like it to be something that at least tells me that you actually read it. But, enough dictating. I will post more soon, or, at least whenever I'm in the mood to write fanfiction. Which is pretty often. :P