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"Pokémon" – Normal Speech

'Pokémon' – Thoughts

Pokémon – Flashback

Pokémon – Move Names

{Pokémon} – Pokédex

Master of Bad Dreams

Train Trip

Previously on Master of Bad Dreams,

"Well kid, you surprised me once again." Brandon said as Officer Jenny and her men rounded up Hunter J's men, with their leader now a lifeless statue in a heavy fortified containment unit; she is going to be place where she will be forgotten and if Hunter J is discovered, no one will be able to free her.

"It doesn't change anything that happened in just one day Brandon, but thanks anyways." Ash said, still not actually feeling any better about all this. There was still this proverbial, emotional tug of war inside his mind that is also tugging at his chest; one between pride that the 'uncatchable' Hunter J has been defeated and regret that Ash made himself look like a monster to do it, not even thinking about anything else.

"No problem Kid. Now that I have encountered Regigigas, I will ask that the press and public are not to be told of this." Brandon then turned to Officer Jenny, explaining he didn't have the desire to catch Regigigas, despite catching and owning the Regi trio. Brandon didn't want the public to find out that Regigigas is real and where to try and catch him; that won't be right. It was the most the Pyramid King can owe since it was Regigigas and its Hidden Power that cured both him and his Pokémon out of the petrification.

"Of course." Officer Jenny said and ordered her men to clean up and see to it that this incident never happened, and thus was never witnessed.

"It's a start." Ash muttered and walked away for some air. Somehow, being around people was not helping him. And when Ash had found a tree with a shadow, he decided to take a little rest, with Pikachu around as always. But Pikachu was not the only one looking after this tormented and tired Ash, his shadow did as well; like all shadows do because we do the same.

"Ash…" Dawn tried to speak up to her close friend. Ever since the police took away the infamously cruel and sneaky Pokémon hunter and her men, Ash had to answer to Officer Jenny about everything. And everyone saw that Ash was not comfortable talking, not while he is trying to settle himself about condemning J, as cruel and inhumane as she can be, to a fate that can be similar to death; forever petrified and never restored. Hunter J was still a trainer and a human being, so Ash's judgement over her could be described as 'murder'.

It was when Ash had released all his pent-up emotions, showing off a menacing aura and suffocating presence for all to see and feel it rattle their nerve fibers, that Officer Jenny had agreed to not report Ash's involvement in J's capture; his companions were also given the treatment. Yet Ash was not sasified,

Which brings to them taking a train from Snowpoint City to the final Pokémon Gym within Sunyshore City. Ash was sitting and gazing out of the window of the trainer car, and hadn't spoken a word since they left the area around Snowpoint City. Then he shifted his eye towards the young trainer who flinched,

"Yes Dawn? Is there something on my face, that I don't see for myself?" Ash spoke in a cold, callous tone. All the while, Ash was shifting his right hand to a second belt that overlapped the one keeping his pants up. It also had a few Pokéballs attached, a couple familiar ones.

"No…" Dawn tried to say. Brock couldn't even find his voice to get himself involved. "It is just that…Are you going to keep the Pokémon? The ones that you stole from Hunter J, that you were allowed to keep?" Ash responded with a sigh,

"I will work something out Dawn. If you are more worried then you can help me out." Ash spoke and Dawn wasn't sure how to respond. "But other than that, my problem is what Paul said about the gym in Sunyshore City."

Both Dawn and Brock looked at each other with confused eyes. And somehow, Ash picked up on that. "He had nothing but distaste for the Sunyshore Gym. He called it a 'sham of a gym', with a gym leader that doesn't even try to do his duties. And yet it is the closest gym where I can try for my eighth gym badge."

"And given how we know Paul he has no reason to make this up." Brock added and Ash nodded. "Are you sure we can't just find another gym? Sinnoh must have more than just eight gyms."

"I could but there are only three months until the start of the Sinnoh League." Ash responded and Brock had to slap himself for forgetting about that. And while Dawn wondered what the big deal was, "I need all the time I have left after getting eight badges to get ready for the Sinnoh League. I plan to make it this time."

Ash said with determination and yet disgrace at the same time; like he was upset with himself over something. Dawn and Piplup had no idea while Brock hid a wayward look on his face. After so many failures already, how much can a single trainer take?

XXXXX

It was only an hour later that the train started to shake violently. This awoke everyone in the car as the impact was nearly enough to snap necks. "Now what? Can't a guy even sleep in peace?" Ash said like an old man who missed out on his nap. His friend could have sworn that his shadow also grumbled.

A man in a conductor's uniform came through the passenger cars with a professional look that still had a few beads of sweat. "Our apologizes for the sudden stop. We spotted a blockade down the ways a bit but we are just about done clearing the way." He explained but the passengers were still not happy about their leisure time interrupted.

Ash was about to go back to sleep when another voice spoke up, "Pardon me sir." A man in a trench coat got out of his seat and approached the conductor. "I understand that this track has been approved to be free of rock slides. I must ask that you keep an eye out for anyone that wants to board this train, please."

The conductor looked like he was talking with a lunatic but nodded. "Also, I have heard about how this train runs not on fossil fuel but instead the electricity from a certain Pokémon. May I check it out?" Ash didn't bother to listen to what the conductor said but the idea of the train being powered by a Pokémon caught his interest. Maybe it will help cheer him up from having his nap cut short.

"May we come along?" Ash then spoke up to the man in the coat and the conductor and the latter just shrugged while nodding his head. "Brock, Dawn, will you like to come too?" Both of them did the same.

Soon enough, Ash had his attention towards something that definitely interested him. "The power source is an Ampharos, eh?" Both Ash and Brock had seen one before and while Pikachu waved at the big lug, Dawn took out her Pokédex;

{Ampharos, the Light Pokémon. The tip of its tail shines so brightly that in days gone by people used it to send signals to each other with the light.}

Ampharos is a yellow, bipedal Pokémon with a white belly. It has conical ears with black stripes and a red orb on its forehead. Its long neck has several black rings around it near the base. Its stubby arms resemble flippers and each foot has a single white nail. It has a long, black-striped tail with a red orb at the tip. The orb on its tail can shine so bright, that it can be seen from space. People have used the light as a beacon, or to send signals across the ocean. Ampharos is generally found in grasslands.

When the engineer asked, in a friendly tone of course, why he was having an audience, "Our new friend in the coat is acting that blockade was an attempt to board our train." Ash said blunt and to the point. "The rest of us just heard about how 'unique' this train was and wanted to see for ourselves." Ash then turned back towards the cars, "Please tell this guy to keep his paranoia to himself while I finish my nap. And no more braking!" That last one made everyone cringe and Ash left before they could respond. They all turned to Dawn and Brock who just looked nervous and shrugged their shoulders again.

One hour later,

"*yawn*" Ash let out a big one when he felt rested enough and got up in his seat. The first thing he sees is his friends trying not to stare at them. 'Don't blame them; this whole trip is a bummer for me and I am spreading it to them.' Ash had gone a long way from having the childish and sometimes cute streak of obliviousness. It is a sign of maturity but only one step to making up to friends when you have been grouchy with them.

"We were going to have a picnic, Ash." Dawn finally spoke up, as if trying not to set a bomb off. "If you still need to sleep…" Dawn froze when she felt a pair of hands gently take in hers, which were small in comparison.

"I am bringing the party for myself but I would like a picnic." Ash responded with a more friendly tone. "To make up for how I acted too." Before he knew it, both of his friends gently dragged him out of the train car to where the other passengers were having a good time on their blankets with their own Pokémon; chatting, relaxing and snacking alike. And for a good hour starting then, the train will rest while the passengers and staff will stretch their legs.

Ash did find the picnic rather relaxing and the scenery plus the beautiful weather helped him feel relived; as if all the stress and tension had left his system. While his friends, including Pikachu and Piplup, were enjoying a piece of the picnic basket, Ash noticed his shadow moving like a snake towards the food. The end turned into a blacken hand and reached in for an apple until Ash stopped it.

An image of a certain Dark-type Pokémon was about to come out in annoyance until Ash offered some apple slices. Now the prince of nightmares had an amused expression while taking the apple slices and dove back into his trainer's shadow to enjoy them in private. But something like this was too good to last when someone pointed out a hot air balloon that looked like the head of a Meowth.

Ash, Pikachu and Brock all knew what this meant; it was like they were cursed with something that draws that trio of trouble makers to follow every where they go. Dawn had gotten herself and groaned in her face palm. She really wanted to have a day off without Team Rocket, even just one.

Thankfully, Ash had an easy solution. "Ice Beam." That command was made with a tone just as cold as the name of the move itself. And, as soon as it was spoken, a beam of ice blue energy was shot out of Ash's shadow (out of nowhere to the other witnesses) and completely froze the balloon and the passengers in a giant block of ice.

And just like that, the trouble was resolved and the train trip finished out further incident. And they have arrived at Lake Acuity. The lake itself and the surrounding area was beautiful for sure but soon came something ugly. The looks between a pair of boys in a heated rivalry such as Ash and…

"Hello…Paul."

End of Chapter 11.

*Hello Everyone, I have come and gone on this chapter but I was determined to finish it at last. I thank you all for sticking with me, I really do! I know that it may not be much but it has been ages since the last chapter so I will try to pack in more action into the next one whenever I get it done.*