After two more days, Ash and Serena finally met up with Clemont and Bonnie again. After contacting several old friends, it seemed clear that everyone wanted to meet up again and Clemont and Bonnie had been setting up the meeting. Ash and Serena explained the events over the past two days and with Bonnie looking worried, Clemont thought about the situation.

"It seems like they are just messing with us, maybe slowing us down?" Clemont wondered out loud.

"I thought that too. But, they seem confident that no one can stop them this time" Ash replied, also thinking deeper into the situation. 

"Cut it out guys, the others should be here soon" Serena reminded them both.

"Oh yeah, Brock said Misty was getting back this afternoon," Ash said to the others, his excitement rising over the thought of seeing everyone again.

"How convenient" Clemont laughed.

"Pika pi" Pikachu agreed, sitting on Ash's shoulder. 

Both Ash and Serena decided to keep the things that were happening to themselves. Serena hadn't told Ash and vice versa. They both didn't think that there was any need to let people know. The group continued to wait for a few minutes, when Dawn and Misty appeared at the end of the path, running up to the group.

"Misty, Dawn!" Ash shouted before everyone collided with greetings. 

"It's great to see you guys again!" Dawn smiled at everyone.

"Same" Misty folded her arms, the usual 'tough' look, but she couldn't help smile. 

"You was with Dawn this whole time?" Ash laughed, scratching the back of his head. "We thought you were super busy after we called Brock"

"Nah, I was just having fun" Misty replied, waving her arm to signify a new topic. "Where is Brock anyway?" 

"He was just closing up for the day" Clemont explained, shifting his glasses up. 

"How come you decided to meet with us all now?" Dawn asked Ash, who mentally facepalmed.

"That's right! We forgot to tell you what is going on. It can wait till everyone else gets here" Ash explained, not giving anything away, which made Dawn want to know even more.

One by one, everyone made it to Kanto and the group was back together, save one person.

"I'm going to be a little late, do whatever you have to without me, I'll be there soon" Gary explained once everyone had called him. 

Ash disconnected the call and they all sat round a large table in the usual cafe they use to go to. He took the time to look around and smile. Misty, Brock, Clemont, Cilan, Iris, Miette, Serena, May and Dawn, all together once more. Gary was the missing puzzle piece, but it would be completed soon enough, Ash knew that much. Bonnie was the new puzzle piece added to the group.

"I have missed this" Ash contemplated the view in front of him. Everyone looked around and it was all smiles between the group. 

"So, you wanted to tell is what is going on?" Dawn, the one who had been intrigued, impatiently asked Ash.

"I met with Parker again" Ash brought silence to the group, save Clemont, Bonnie and Serena. 

"But there is more to it then that, right?" Cilan and his great deductive skills made Ash grin. 

"Of course" Ash looked to everyone with uncertainty, but knew they would have to get involved. "I am not sure how dangerous the situation is, but Team Shadow escaped and now they are threatening not just one region, but every region" 

Ash's words brought murmurs across the group as they looked around at each other. There were a few moments of silence as each person digested the information. Bonnie stepped forward and had the same look of determination Ash had in his early years as a trainer.

"That's why we are all going to stop them!" she broke the silence and everyone was smiles again.

"Of course, we will" Cilan chuckled. "But of course, if you don't know how dangerous the situation is then that implies you don't know what it truly is"

"Correct," Clemont said, pushing up his glasses. "I believe it will involve legendary Pokemon again" 

This made Ash feel uneasy. He still needed to figure out what these dreams were about and why he was having them. They made him feel like there was a Darkrai around, but he also knew that they felt too real. 

"It could be anything. We know nothing right now, so what should we do?" Misty asked, folding her arms and staring hard at Ash. 

"Lance said he will get us help, so we will work with his team to solve this" Ash replied, remembering he was still waiting for Lance. 

"Shall we have some fun while we wait?" May piped up, Dawn looking at her like she was a genius.

"Let's do it!" she replied excitedly. Everyone agreed but Ash shook his head, Pikachu staring at him suspiciously. 

"What's up, Ash?" Miette tilted her head, staring with a puzzled expression at Ash, who scratched the back of his head and smiled.

"I just need to do something back at home. Go on without me" Ash said. Serena walked up to him and quickly kissed him on the cheek.

"Don't be too long" she said to him, before running off to catch up with the others.

"Go too if you want, Pikachu. Don't let me keep you from having fun" Ash said to Pikachu, who seemed adamant that he was going to stay with Ash. 

"Pika!" he replied, folding his arms and grinning.

"Last one home has to sleep on the floor tonight!" Ash suddenly said, putting Pikachu down and dashing off. They ran all the way back to Pallet Town and to their house.

"Pika Pi!" Pikachu jumped up, really happy, while Ash came walking through the trees. 

"I can't believe I lost" he laughed, before opening the door for Pikachu. "I only came to have a sleep. If you think something is happening to me, please shock me"

Pikachu looked back, really confused. However, he knew he could never ignore Ash and nodded.

"Pika" 

Ash headed upstairs without a word and instantly collapsed onto his bed. He slowly closed his eyes, forcing himself to sleep.

Meanwhile...

"I wonder why Ash went home" Serena wondered, looking worried. May slapped her on the back and smiled.

"Don't worry about him, just enjoy yourself," she said, before slurping on the biggest milkshake ever. 

"When you said something fun, I didn't expect us all to relax in some shade" Miette giggled, but then shrugged. "It's nice to catch up"

"It's been so long" Dawn nodded in agreement.

"I am glad to be relaxing, the gym is so boring sometimes" Misty sighed. She was looking up at the sky from underneath a giant tree, the tree towering over them all and giving them lots of shade to keep cool from the sun.

"That makes two of us" Brock sat against the large tree and put his arms around the back of his head, leaning back against the trunk. 

"I like my gym, but it's good to get out sometimes" Clemont continued the conversation and Brock looked up at him.

"Who runs the gym when you are away?" he asked.

"I made a robot that does everything for me while I am gone" Clemont shrugged like it was no big deal. 

"Incredible!" Brock smiled, impressed with Clemont. "I knew you were good with inventing but that's amazing"

"I have my brothers take care of the gym" Cilan said, Miette looking at him with surprise.

"You're a gym leader too?" she seemed a little too shocked.

"Yep. Have I never mentioned it?" Cilan went straight-faced as he tried to remember.

"I can't remember, that's why I was a little surprised" Miette shrugged. 

Serena continued to look on, worrying about Ash. She knew it was not like him to just avoid having fun, especially with friends he had not seen for over a year. 

"He is probably prioritising the investigation into the problem" Bonnie came from the other side of the tree, having been playing with Dedenne and her Caterpie. 

"You're probably right, but I still feel worried. I'll get it out of him soon" Serena sighed, still keeping her own problem to herself. 

Pallet Town...

Pikachu watched Ash sleep. Everything in the room was so quiet that literally any noise would be noticeable. He was waiting, ready to do as Ash had instructed when Ash tensed his face and sweat began forming on his forehead. Pikachu decided to wait a little longer, just in case. 

Ash's Dream...

Ash was back in the hole once again, but this time, his Pokemon were gone. Instead, Serena was staring at him, her eyes as red as they used to be during their first confrontation with Team Shadow. 

"You believe I actually loved you Ash? You're pathetic, weak" she hissed at him, scowling wildly. Ash couldn't help but feel hurt, even though he knew he was dreaming. It felt so real to him and he couldn't find the strength to wake up. 

"I know what is going on, so just give up" Ash sighed, sweat forming on his forehead. He decided to ignore his pain and stared at Serena with a blank expression. Serena cackled and then folded her arms.

"We knew it wouldn't take you long, so what do you think is going on?" she asked Ash, a sly grin forming on her lips. 

"This is some sort of experiment right? It feels like a dream Darkrai could conjure up, but I know for a fact that you guys don't have Darkrai anymore" Ash continued to stare with a straight face and Serena slowly nodded.

"Yep, you got it right. We are doing lots of experiments, heh, you won't find out about anymore for a while" Serena pulled out a Pokeball and put it on the ground. The Pokeball opened up and Pikachu came out of it, to Ash's surprise. Ash's own Pokemon shared the red eyes Serena had.

"Pikachu?" Ash looked on, waiting for something to happen.

"Thunderbolt" Serena sighed and before Ash could react, he was being shocked by Pikachu, feeling the pain like it was real. Except it was real. Ash woke up from the dream, feeling pain from Pikachu, who was shocking him. Ash waited for the shock to pass and collapsed back onto his bed, looking up at the ceiling.

"Thanks Pikachu" was all he could say, collecting his thoughts from the dream. Ash knew for certain that legendary Pokemon didn't have to be involved, Team Shadow were clearly experimenting with Pokemon. One thing that confused Ash, was that most of the things seemed to be a twist on reality, so why did the Serena in his dream have red eyes. Also, why did she deliver the message through his dream and what was actually going to happen?

With so many questions in his head, Ash prepared to contact Lance. He wanted answers and he wasn't waiting any longer.