His legs tapped the stool he was sitting on. It was slightly uncomfortable, but he found himself unable to move. He didn't remember nor have a clue why he was stuck in a science lab in the dark, but he started to get the feeling no one was coming for him.

He might as well entertain himself.

"The sun", he began to sing in Korean, one of his native languages, "Will rise again. After tears. After joy"

The melody was quite playful, like a lullaby, though the meaning was not.

"Dream as you wish"

He always loved to sing. Especially when things like this happened. He remembered seeing his father, then a few events after that he was sure took place. But it was as if he didn't want to remember them. Like he was subconsciously ignoring them.

Before he could start to sing again, the lights flickered on, and he could see everything. Blueprints, beakers, liquids that looked like potions. 

He found that idea quite interesting. Potions, magic. Something supernatural. He was never sure why.

"I'm sorry", said a deep voice entering the room, "There was an unexpected power outage. You're alright now, son"

"...Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"...Do you believe in magic?"

The scientist turned to his son, looking simultaneously bewildered and alarmed.

"Hmm?"

"Magic. Bending the elements, manipulating fire, water, nature. A creature that can inflict pain with a dash of their hand"

The scientist smiled, making his way to his son. He placed a hand under his chin and lifted it so they faced each other.

"Why, I already know a being like that, my son"

He'd say that every time asked. Every time he'd ask about something out of the ordinary, or something magical, that's what he'd say. Even at the times he'd have to escape life-threatening situations. When time was against him and he somehow still survived. Over and over, the ending would be the same.

"Woah. You've been through a lot, huh?"

"Yeah. It always ended the same. My father would come to me, and we'd have the same conversation. I never understood what he was talking about"

"Well did you ever consider..."

"I don't like to think about it. My mind is hiding something from me, and if that's the case, it's probably for a reason"

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Alain spoke again.

"So, uh..."

"Yes?"

"Remember the first time we met?"

"Yes. I took your hand and we ran away from a crowd-"

"No"

They came to a halt again.

"The first time we met was at night"

Ash body slowly rotated itself to face him.

"I helped you from a gang of people called Team Rocket. They were trying to steal your Pikachu"

How did he know all this? It couldn't be possible. That people would have linked dreams, right? Especially since he was in a coma, in which it was already unlikely to be dreaming.

"We battled more and more. You had something special. A power that no one else had. And I'm still getting that feeling right now"

"What feeling?"

"That...you know. You're kind of a genius, in your own little way. You're great in difficult situations, and you don't realize how brave you are. You had some sort of power...like a phenomenon"

His words made Ash think, though he didn't want to. He was scared by how accurate his description was, but he also thought back to the 'phenomenon'.

It was always quite strange how he managed to survive every single one of those challenges. Yes, challenges. Someone was challenging his abilities all those times. But who?