𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓙𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓼 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 *EDITING*

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 1: 𝙳𝚒𝚍 𝙸 𝙳𝚒𝚎?

Ash's POV:

"AHHHHH!"

"PIKA! PIKAPI!!!"

"Ugh," I grunted as I fell on my knees, my hand gripping the soft, wet soil. My head turned swiftly to see the swarm of Beedrill on our heels, neither of them showing signs of exhaustion or impatience. Pikachu leapt up into the static air and blasted another Thunderbolt, which barely scratched the huge number of giant Pokémon.

Upon witnessing yet another futile attempt, I grabbed Pikachu, squeezing him in my arms as though he might be snatched any second and ran. I ran, ran and ran as fast as my legs could carry me. Another sharp slender branch scratched my bony cheeks, which were covered in salty sweat.

It amazed me how I could defeat starfish-shaped Legendary the size of a stadium, yet was threatened by pests that ruin crops.

I guess I wasn't worthy of the title 'World Champion' after all.

"Pika pika!" Pikachu screamed a second too late. We tumbled headfirst down the rocky slope. My forehead hit a stone-hard corner and everything begun to swirl around me. Pikachu's blurry voice sounded so close yet so far. Torn from each other, I stretched out my hands with the rest of my energy in a pathetic attempt to feel the soft, yellow fur again. A comfort to myself, and an assurance that my companion was alright.

Hissing sounds surrounded me as my bottom hit something fleshy. I recognised the cries to be those of Seviper. A sharp pain spread all over my tired body from my arm. I squirmed from the excruciating pain as my leg suffered the same treatment. A yelp from Pikachu made me jolt up and lean against a boulder, staring at the bloody mess I had become.

Pikachu's cries rang in my ears, but my eyes couldn't even find his shadow. Cold fangs rested on my neck, causing me to freeze like a statue. I didn't even feel the pain before my life flashed my eyes.

Old memories floated around in my fuzzy mind. Beautiful memories. Bold adventures. Various friendships... Ash-Greninja. The day, my journey had officially begun, with Pikachu by my side...

"Professor Oak!"

The day Misty joined my journey...

"I'm Misty."

May, and her little brother Max...

"Jirachi!"

My adventures in Sinnoh...

"Arceus!"

Meeting Iris and Cilan...

"What about Genesect?"

The science genius Clemont and his sister Bonnie...

"Squishy!"

How was Serena's life as the Kalos Queen...?

"Go, Sylveon!"

Professor Kukui and all my Alola classmates...

"Cosmos?"

And of course, my carefree endeavors with Goh...

"I choose Mew!"

All those scenes seemed so far back, as though they were ancient history. Was it too late to show them I care? Show them that, even though I became the Champion, those experiences were not forgotten? That I would cherish those memories... forever?

My toes were tickled again, likely a subsitute feeling for pain in my numb state. Pikachu's non-existent cries still echoed in my hurting head. My eyes opened groggily and blinked.

Around me was a swirling black cloud of endless darkness. There were no sensations felt by my limbs, and my only evidence of their existence was my unreliable sight. Where is this place? Is this the afterlife? Unanswered questions raced through my mind. With my miraculously clear mind, I used my aura energy to create a sphere of bobbing light. Nothing could be seen beyond the darkness. No horizons, no nothing; the eerie yet comforting place resembled the abyss. Am I dead? Funny, because I was still very much conscious at that time.