On the outskirts of Striaton City, the massive ruins of a research facility lay abandoned. From the wreckage, it was clear an explosion had shattered the place.
Overloading their research into dream energy caused the blast. Now, only exposed ruins and underground labs remained. Some researchers and psychics still worked in its depths, while outside, children played.
The abandoned structures had become their playground.
The steel skeletons gleamed bluish-gray under the sun, rust spreading like old tree roots. Towers that once cut the sky now curled like withered branches.
"Yo! Trainer from outside, battle me!"
"Ah! Are you Professor Juniper? I'm so sorry!"
Such voices rang around Hikaru, but thankfully Professor Juniper's presence made the eager youths hold back. When asked why they challenged everyone, their answer was simple and firm:
"When Trainers' eyes meet, they must battle!"
Leading them was Shorts Boy Gorou, king of the local kids, with two Minccino and a Lilipup, forever immersed in battles.
"I'm going to challenge the Unova League someday! I have a goal, and my Pokémon are with me. No matter what happens, I won't give up!"
"Okay everyone, back to battling!"
They were so young, yet their love for Pokémon was pure and honest. Hikaru could feel their hearts blazing with hope and dreams for the future.
What do you mean, "Fight to survive"? Hikaru inwardly teased.
Soon, they reached the underground entrance.
In the games, Musharna with its Hidden Ability appears here every Friday. Fennel's target now was likely that Musharna.
But upon entering the basement, Hikaru saw a crucial sight—
Psychics bouncing around everywhere!
In the game, the psychics here avoid fighting the player, even fleeing!
"What are they hopping around for? Doing some mysterious ritual?" Professor Juniper's quip spared Hikaru from speaking.
His thoughts exactly.
"Hmm… over there… ah, Saeko!"
Fennel spotted a familiar female researcher. Though eager to share her C Device progress, Hikaru had warned her to keep silent, so she forced it down and asked if Saeko had seen Musharna lately.
Saeko, in the games, is one of the basement researchers. Her Musharna is Lv. 60, but based on their dialogue, she caught it months after Fennel developed the C Device.
Right now, Saeko only had a Jigglypuff.
"Musharna? Now that you mention it, I saw one last Friday. But it disappeared quickly. Why are you looking for it?"
"Still researching the dream world? Oh, Professor, give it up. We've proven with multiple psychics that it's impossible. The dream world is a dead end."
"Our focus now is on psychic powers and the subconscious. Dreams are just one part. The energy here is mysterious, a great place for psychics to train."
"The dream of psychics is to influence the subconscious and heal trauma – that's the research now."
The basement wasn't chaotic like in-game. Researchers and psychics lived here, converting it into an underground residence.
The ruins above were beyond salvaging.
"Indeed, this strange energy makes my psychic powers feel stronger," Hikaru noted. His spiritual sense and psychic power both surged. Dreams, will, subconscious, and soul were deeply linked.
The psychics noticed Hikaru's aura and brightened.
"A powerful psychic! You're here to experience the wondrous dream energy and train yourself too?"
"Would you battle with us?"
These psychics were eager. Some had trained here since the lab's destruction, honing their powers and Pokémon to perfection.
"No. Fighting here could destroy the entire basement."
Hikaru refused. Frightening Musharna away would ruin everything. His Pokémon's moves were too strong for these fragile ruins.
This wasn't a game – a cave-in would be catastrophic.
The psychics sighed, but they weren't battle maniacs and quickly shifted to discussing psychic training. From them, Hikaru learned many techniques.
They weren't as strong as Caitlin, Cheren, or Sabrina, using basic telekinesis, object transfer, and simple precognition.
[Acquired: Psychic Hope / Psychic Tatsumi / Psychic Mirai's Insights]
[Effect: Hope's Psychic – mental strength and resilience +50%; Tatsumi's Psychic – psychic defense and counter +50%; Mirai's Psychic – foresight +10%, curse power +20%, insight +20%.]
[Note: Battling any psychic grants minor telekinesis rewards.]
"I just refused to battle them…" Hikaru sighed.
Fine, I'll spar with them later.
Hearing Hikaru possessed rare spiritual powers, the psychics grew curious.
"Whoa, mind-shattering psychic power? Never heard of it. Can you use it on me?" asked Hope, pointing at himself.
"Lately, my mental state has been poor. This place's energy feels mixed with something sinister. It affects us."
Hope said strange happenings plagued the ruins lately. They couldn't locate the source and felt drained and depressed, as if trapped in a nightmare.
"If you need it, I'll begin."
Hikaru raised his hand.
Mind Shatter!
Bang! Hope's eyes widened as a negative emotion in his heart shattered like glass.
"Oh! What is this?!"
"I shattered your shadow self. You should feel—"
Hikaru saw pink psychic waves burst from Hope. His aura burned brightly.
"My hidden power awakened! I've never felt so alive! Thank you!"
"Ohh, so this is my dormant psychic power… Ha!"
Hope struck a metal door with his palm, leaving a deep print.
Such power! Even Hikaru was stunned.
Mind Shatter not only healed them but strengthened their psychic power?
Thinking about it, many psychics' powers arose from "heart barriers." Sabrina and Caitlin both had issues, their isolation fueling power.
That's why Hikaru had sold Calyrex plushies to help them. Was his power now beyond Calyrex?
…Well, at least beyond the plush.
Mind Shatter broke their barriers like opening a faucet fully, letting their psychic power surge out.
"Amazing! Me next!" Psychic Mirai rushed over, while Tatsumi followed. "I've been feeling down too. Please treat me, Master!"
Master?! Spare me that scammer title.
Under their desperate pleas, Hikaru placed a hand on each of their heads and used Mind Shatter simultaneously.
"Whoa! I see the future! Three days from now – heavy rain! My dream is to foresee everything!"
"This power is amazing! Look at my projection shield! It reflects like a mirror!"
Both went into ecstasy from their power boosts. Mirai, in her excitement, tried peeking into Hikaru's future, only to be slammed back by his "psychic counter," nearly fainting.
"Ahh! I can't see your future! It's too mysterious! My head hurts!"
Mirai clutched her head while the others laughed.
Hikaru sighed.
Another precog… Everyone treats it like a special skill. But even Elite Four Cheren and Caitlin couldn't see his future.
Is helping them with Mind Shatter not considered battle?
"Hey everyone, Saeko agreed to help us search for Musharna!"
Under Fennel's relentless pleas, Saeko agreed to help catch Musharna and resume research – but only this once.
"The dream world is just shattered hopes. Working on something with no future is painful," she sighed.
"Follow me. I'll take you to where it appeared."
The basement was vast, researchers and psychics using only a third. Unlike in-game.
In a spot where the ceiling had collapsed, wild greenery flourished. Nature had reclaimed the metal and stone. Vines wrapped cables embedded in basalt, copper cores entwined with tree roots like a double helix.
Human traces vanished, replaced by thriving life.
"Musharna was sighted here."
Saeko gazed at the overgrown area. Every visit filled her with awe.
Human strength paled before nature.
"But how will we find it…"
"I brought a device to detect Munna's dream waves. Leave it to me!"
Fennel powered up her scanner. They had studied Munna before, but after the lab explosion, it returned to nature.
However, she still had its data. Hikaru recalled that Fennel should own a Munna, though only Lv.10.
Perhaps she hadn't re-caught it yet.
The device scanned the surroundings.
"Let's help, Riolu, use Aura."
Riolu closed its eyes, releasing invisible Aura waves.
"Right! Aura can scan the environment and see through objects!" Fennel clapped.
Riolu's Aura swept like a radar, combining with Fennel's device to map nearby Pokémon. Sensitive ones peeked from grass, ruins, and vines to see the intruding humans.
"There's so many Pokémon here… Did they make this their home after nature reclaimed it?"
Juniper's eyes shone.
Hikaru knew why. Her Origin Project included Pokémon habitats, similar to Professor Birch in Hoenn.
In Black 2 and White 2, her father upgraded the Pokédex to National Mode, adding the "habitat" function to track all catchable Pokémon in each area.
"Watchog… Ariados… Ledyba… Kricketune… Minccino…"
Whoosh!
A sudden flash burst forth – a furious Pokémon leapt from the grass, its glaring face terrifying the Professors.
Hikaru gestured. Riolu stopped scanning and used Quick Attack with Mind's Eye!
Bam! The creature toppled. Looking closely – it was an angry Watchog.
Watchog emitted light from its eyes and markings to scare enemies.
Though it lacked Intimidate, its ability was Illuminate – preventing accuracy drops and increasing wild encounters.
Hit by Riolu, Watchog grew more enraged. Like it had been provoked before, it lunged with Hyper Fang!
Riolu nimbly dodged and countered with Aura Sphere under Hikaru's command!
Fighting moves were super effective against normal types. Watchog fell hard but rose again, wounded but not defeated.
"Whoa, it didn't go down? Its level must be high."
Watchog's eyes shimmered oddly. Hikaru sensed it – Hypnosis!
Riolu dodged and countered with Mimic – Hypnosis!
Watchog, shocked its move was copied, collapsed into sleep.
"Whew! Why did it attack suddenly?!"
"Wait – we're surrounded!" Juniper realized the gathering Pokémon.
"Ri!" Riolu gestured politely to stop them.
The Pokémon radiated faint hostility. When questioned by Riolu, they refused to answer, only wanting to fight.
Then, Aegislash appeared.
Its kingly presence calmed them. Pokémon revered its power and felt kinship with its aura.
"They stopped… just like on the news!" Juniper was shocked. "Your Pokémon… how is it doing this?"
"My Aegislash is a 'King' – a special Pokémon that rules others."
King – a type unheard of. Juniper watched in awe.
"Aegislash is calming them. But we need their help. They say humans recently harmed Pokémon here, so they're wary of us."
"That's impossible. We never harmed wild Pokémon!" Saeko protested.
Their research had moved to psychic studies long ago.
Aegislash and Riolu explained, asking if they'd seen Musharna or Munna.
The Pokémon whispered among themselves, then guided them.
"That's the old core lab. After the explosion, nothing should remain there," Saeko said.
"No, something remains," Hikaru interjected. "Dreams."
"Dreams?" Saeko asked.
"Dreams of those who worked here. When all else perished, dreams stayed."
"Indeed, mysterious energies here must hold countless dreams!" Hikaru said.
"Wow, so romantic!" Fennel clapped. "Your thoughts match mine exactly! I believe people's dreams linger here too! If we get Dream Mist, we can connect them all!"
"Yes," Hikaru nodded. "People's dreams never end."
As they spoke, they arrived. Under a shaft of light slept Musharna, releasing strange pink mist. Countless illusions swirled around it like drifting sands – everyone saw the dreams directly for the first time.
In the game, Musharna used illusions of Cofagrigus to save Munna from Team Plasma.
"Dreams made real – that's Musharna's power!" Fennel cried, pulling out a Poké Ball to catch it.
But Riolu suddenly looked to the shadows.
Aura sensed hostility!
Hikaru's blue crystal pendant glowed. A wave of nightmare energy pulsed out from the darkness!
[Nightmare Wave assault! You are immune to psychic debuffs!]
Nearby Pokémon fled in pain.
But Juniper, Fennel, and Saeko clutched their heads in agony.
A voice echoed:
"Dreams become reality… So our research was correct!"
Researchers stepped from the darkness. Simultaneously, attacks erupted towards Hikaru's group!
Moves roared, shaking the ruin. Among them stood an old man in sage's robes.
"We've watched since they entered the basement. That youth matches Lord N's description. He seeks something important."
"And we didn't expect this bonus. A Pokémon that turns dreams to reality – exactly what Team Plasma needs."
"Hmm?"
Old Sage Asura expected easy victory, but when the dust cleared, a giant golden shield blocked everything!
King's Shield!
Aegislash's gaze radiated terrifying pressure. Asura's narrowed eyes opened slightly.
"That Pokémon… could it be the rumored 'King'?"
"How troublesome… Fine. I'll handle it. Capture Musharna!"
"Come forth, Cofagrigus!"
(End of Chapter)
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