Author; Arraye

(This story is really old so don't yell at me if its rubbish!)

Better late than never

(Ash &co don't belong to me they belong to Nintendo.)

Mewtwo strikes back: the aftermath

            "Please stop fighting; stop it; stop it!"  A bolt struck the figure squarely in the back; he collapsed into a crumpled heap on the floor.  The monsters gave him a quick glance and then continued fighting.  A young girl ran out to his defence and she too was hit by a bolt.  It knocked the wind of her and she fell to the floor; but she continued to move; crawling on her chest bent on helping her fallen companion.  Another youth was standing just outside the field; he was clearly agitated and wanted to help his friends but he was afraid he too would be hurt.  He watched from a safe distance as the young girl slowly crawled towards her friend.  Her eyes pleaded with him to wake up and tears welled up as she saw his body go stiff.  His pet tried to resuscitate him but to no avail.  She still continued to crawl towards him until she was hit again by a bolt.  This time the damage was more apparent.  She till continued to drag herself even though her breathing was shallow and she felt physically weak.  As she finally fell to the ground, with her last breath she uttered the words she could never say, "Ash; I love you."

            A small Pikachu began to weep.  The monsters stopped to find out what was going on.  When they saw the fallen figures they stopped fighting and one by one began to weep.  Their tears were absorbed by the fallen boy and his body began to soften.  His finger's twitched and his eyelids fluttered; slowly he began to regain consciousness.  The youth who had been watching rushed in as soon as he had noticed the monsters had stopped fighting and cradled the young girl in his arms.  He began to sob and rocked her.  He saw his other friend recover and open his eyes.  He was glad but could not contain his grief over the young girl.  He saw the boy take a few faltering steps and fall down; he chuckled to himself but stopped when he saw the Mewtwo approach him.  "I'm sorry but I am going to wake you in the docks with your memory gone; I can not afford to have you passing own your knowledge of this place to others."  The young man was shocked, "but if you do that my friend will die; I won't know what's wrong or how to help her."  "Well, why don't you tie a knot in something," it said sarcastically and walked away.  What will I do now?  Wait that's it, I need something to help me remember.  He rummaged through his pockets and brought a piece of paper.  He began to write down everything; from what happened; the cure; to the girl's last words.  He then carefully folded it up and put it into his jacket.  He gave one last look at the figure in his arms," I hope this works, your life depends on it."

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Monday 6.30 pm at the docks

            Ash woke with a jolt.  He peered down at his watch; strange it said 6.30, yet he couldn't even remember getting up.  He turned to look at Brock who seemed confused also.  "Ash where are we?"  "It looks like the docks."  "But.....but how did we get here?"  "No more importantly why have you got Misty in your arms?"  Brock looked down; he was so surprised he almost dropped her.  He touched her hand; it was cold and stiff.  "Misty," he whispered softly in her ear.  She lay there lifeless in his arms.  Tears welled up in his eyes, "what's going on here, I....I'm so confused."  "Brock calm down, she looks hurt we better get her to a hospital."  Brock reached into his jacket for his map but instead he found a piece of paper. "What is it?" Ash asked.  "I don't know," said Brock, he slowly looked down and began to read.  "Dear Brock, this is Brock you won't remember anything because Mewtwo just zapped you to make you forget," he paused.  "Go on, read on," Ash urged.  "Ash I don't think..."  "Come on it may be important."  He sighed and continued.  "Ash almost died and Misty got hurt when she tried to save him.  The cure to save her is water; keep her wet and she should recover.  Her last words were......", he stopped.  "Well", said Ash who was getting impatient.  "It seems I didn't have time to write that", with that he quickly put the piece of paper in his jacket.  "Well you heard what it said, get her wet!", he laid her down on the floor.  Ash turned back his hat and threw his Pokeball, "go Squirtle; water jet."  While he was doing this Brock signalled a boat, "quick take us to the hospital".  The crew turned; it was Jessie and James.  Oh no! he thought, not now.  "We won't help, sorry", said Jessie, "am I right James?"  But James wasn't listening he was looking at the young girl lying on the floor being cuddled compassionately by her friend. "James?"  He looked at Jessie and then back to the girl, he saw love in the young boy's eyes and his heart began to melt.  He turned to Brock, " we will help you, bring her aboard."  Brock looked shocked but went to get Ash.  Jessie turned to James, "are you crazy!, they're the good guys, we're the bad guys, we're enemies.  We don't help them!"  He turned to her and grabbed her wrists, " I don't care what you think.  That girl is dying and I'm going to help so you either start rowing or get off."  "Huh," she said defiantly, "there's no way I'm helping or getting off this boat."  He grabbed her and swung her overboard followed by Meowth.  He waited until Bock and co were aboard and he set off; happy in his mind that he had done the right thing.

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            "Squirtle come on, keep trying; Brock he's getting tired!"  "Don't worry I can see the hospital, we're almost there."  "But that's a Pokemon hospital!"  But Brock didn't listen, he thanked James and quickly grabbed Misty and headed for the hospital.  "Brock slow down," said Ash as he quickly ran after him.

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            Ash stared at his watch again; what is going on in there?  The doors suddenly swung open and Nurse Joy stepped out.  "Well I did what you said, she is on a machine that will replace her fluids; she is stable but I must warn you that the first 24 hours are the most critical."  They both sighed.  "Thank you for your help," said Brock, "I mean; well it is out of your line of work."  "My pleasure, I hope she recovers."  "Erm can we see her?"  She turned to Ash, " yes of course" and with that she walked off.

            Nothing had prepared Ash for what he saw.  He gasped and tears welled up in his eyes.  He could hardly see her, there was a mass of wires and drips covering her body and she was pale, in fact almost pure white.  He walked up to her and the first of many tears began to fall.  He lowered his cap so it shadowed his face.  "Ash, don't.." he turned and saw Brock was crying too.  He slowly sat down and clasped her hand.  Although it only showed how cold and lifeless she was, it gave him comfort and he settled into a comfortable position so he could watch and protect her through the night.  Brock watched with compassion as he saw his friend's unknown acts of love.  He tapped him on the shoulder and motioned he was going and then went to get some rest.

            Brock couldn't sleep; he got out of his bunk and decided to see how Misty was doing.  He noticed his friend's bunk was also empty.  He walked through the empty corridors until he came to her ward.  He slowly swung the door open and what he saw melted his heart.  Ash was still sitting at her side, his eyes puffy and red and he still had her hand in his.  He tenderly put a lock of her hair behind her ears.   He began to sob, quietly at first then uncontrollably.  "Misty don't die, please; I need you.  I'm sorry I said you were a bad trainer; oh Misty I'll miss you."  His heart ached and his eyes were sore; she couldn't die, she couldn't.  "Goodnight Misty," he said softly and gently kissed her on the forehead.  Brock opened the door and went out again; he needed to leave his friend alone with his thoughts.  He noticed Pikachu was sitting on Ash's bunk, "you can't face him either huh?"  He stroked its head, "I've never seen him like this before, he most care about her more than he thought," with that said he got into his bunk and began to dream about the future.

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            2 weeks passed, although to Brock and Ash it felt like 2 years.  Time was running out, if Misty did not regain consciousness soon her life support would be switched off.  Brock dreaded to think what would happen if it was.  Ash would be heartbroken and he himself would be devastated.  They were a team; it wasn't the same without one of them.  He was also becoming worried about Ash, he could hear his desperate pleas at night and they were beginning to haunt him in his dreams.  He hadn't slept once; he had just sat there by her side; never moving or eating.  He was beginning to look worse than Misty but no amount of urging or physical force could move him or persuade him to sleep.  Come to think of it he hadn't spoken to him since she had come in.  He hadn't known what to say, so he just hadn't said anything.  Pikachu had taken to lying on Misty's lap so he could be near Ash.  Pikachu's were supposed to be able to detect dying people or Pokemon; he hoped it wasn't true.  He slowly walked towards Ash; he sighed and sat down.  She didn't look any nearer to consciousness.  He was joined by Nurse Joy, "anything?," she asked.  He shook his head.  Suddenly Ash stood up, "she moved! she moved!" he shouted.  They peered in for a closer look, her fingers were moving as if she was stretching them.  "This is good news indeed, the machine won't be turned off and she should regain consciousness in a few days," said Nurse Joy.  Brock and Ash were relieved.  Suddenly Ash's tiredness became very apparent to himself.  He began to struggle to keep his eyes open.  Brock tapped Nurse Joy and motioned to Ash.  He slowly covered him with a blanket.  "No," said Ash, "I have to watch her," but already his eyelids were lowering.  "Ash she's going to be alright, you need to rest so you can greet her when she wakes up."

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            Ash woke up; that sleep had done him good and he felt refreshed.  He looked up; something felt wrong.  He touched Misty; the warmth was gone.  He looked at the machines and drips; they were off!  It suddenly sunk in.  He felt a fire build up inside of him and his fury began to engulf him.  He grabbed a nearby nurse, "you've killed her.  You switched the machines off!"  "I..I..I ," she stuttered.  "She was dead."  "No, she was recovering," he said in a voice he barely recognised.  "Didn't Nurse Joy tell you?!"  He grabbed her tighter and pushed her against a wall.  "You've killed her!," he rasped.  "Well; what do you have to say?!  Well?!" he began to shout.  On hearing the noise Brock rushed in.  "What's going on?!" he asked.  Seeing Ash attacking the nurse he grabbed him tight.  "Let me go, let me go."  "Ash calm down!"  "Why should I ?  This nurse  killed her."  "What?!"  Brock stood still.  "What?!"  Ash began to sob, "she turned off the life support!"  Brock turned, the machines !! Ash was right, they were off !!.  He too began to sob.  He turned and pointed at the nurse accusingly, " YOU!!!! you better get out of here; coz you  won't be here much longer once we tell Nurse Joy."  The nurse trembled and quickly ran out of the ward.  Ash ran and cradled Misty in his arms, "she was so close, " he sobbed.  Brock put his hand on his shoulder, "Ash I....."  "What!!!," he shouted, "I've lost her."  "Ash; not just you; we all lost her."  Pikachu nuzzled up to Ash, "Pika, Pika."  Ash turned and looked at him and hung his head.  He knelt down and kissed her tenderly, "goodbye," he whispered.  Saying that he collapsed on her chest and could contain his tears no longer.  Suddenly he felt her stir and he saw her eyelids flutter.  "Ash," she whispered.  "Misty!"  He embraced her, she held him and he brushed his hand through her hair.  She was surprised, she had never seen him look at her that way before.  They embraced again.  Brock began to smile and he cuddled her too.  "Hey you guys stop killing me," she joked. Ash didn't care; he was too relieved and he cuddled her again.

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            She looked up, "hey Brock!"  "Huh I'm surprised he left your side."  She laughed, " he was tired I let him go."  "He was really worried about you; you know," Brock said as he knelt over her.  She looked down, "how did you know what was wrong with me?, I can't even remember."  He smiled, "well Mewtwo zapped you and then erased our memory."  "Huh?" she asked.  "Look," he pulled out a piece of paper, I wrote down everything so I wouldn't forget.  See you got zapped trying to save Ash; the cure is water and your last words were...,"he stopped.  "What?," she asked.  He glanced at the door.  "I don't think I should say it," he passed the paper to her.  "Here."  She read down.  "Misty's last words were.....," she stopped; she blushed.  "Ash didn't hear it did he ?" she said looking worried.  "No," he shook his head, " it's been hard but I've kept it out of his hands."  At that precise moment Ash walked in.  Misty quickly hid the paper behind her back.  "What's that?" he asked as he tried to get it off her.  "Ash, please it's private."  "Oh I know it's your last words," he smiled and quickly snatched it off her.  Her face contorted with agony.  "Brock stop him!," she pleaded, but Brock was too slow ad big; Ash easily wriggled out of his grasp.  He quickly opened the paper.  "Hmmm, hmmm, ah; here we are, Misty's last words."  His face contorted with confusion.  "Is this some kind of joke?" he asked but hte look on Misty's face told him it wasn't.  He looked at her and she looked down, Brock began to shift his feet awkwardly and looked uncomfortable.  "Huh, how...how can you be in love with me?"  His voice became louder and louder.  "Why?! How?!"  Misty turned pale.  "I..I...I," she stuttered.  Ash began to run out the ward; Brock followed him.  "Hey Ash I can understand what you're saying, I mean it's not like you're in love with her.  If she could have seen you cradling her in your arms sobbing your heart out."  Ash put his hands over his ears, "I'm not listening," he said and quickly ran into the bedroom and locked the door.  Brock turned and looked at Misty.  He saw a single tear run down her cheek.  "Misty...I...I.."  "Brock it's alright, he would have found out anyway.  Now he won't talk to me ;" she began to sob.  "Believe me," he said wiping away her tears, "he would find that impossible."

            Ash couldn't sleep, why should he feel bad? It was all her fault!  Had she felt that way the whole time?  How could he speak to her without......  Life's unfair.  I was so glad she was alright and now this....  He stroked Pikachu, " sometimes I wish I was a Pokemon, life's so simple."  Pikachu shook his head as if to disagree.  "Do you think I should apologise?"  "Pika."  "I guess I should decide."  He walked down the corridor, he felt cold without his jacket but it was too late now.  He looked in; she was asleep.  He sat own and looked at her, she was quite pretty even then.  He smiled; although they had argued alot she had been a good friend.  He looked at her again.  He slowly closed his eyelids and fell asleep.

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            She gazed at him, so peaceful.  A tear ran down her cheek.  She gently ran her fingers through his hair.  "Ash I; I guess this is easier to say when your asleep. Can we forget what happened today?  I need you as my friend.  You're all I've got; my family won't even except me," a tear ran down her cheek.  She carefully kissed him on the forehead, " goodnight Ash," she whispered.  His hand grabbed her; she screamed.  On hearing her scream he began to laugh.  "Ash  that wasn't funny!" she said sternly.  He stopped and looked up at her, she continued, "Ash, you must have.... "  A nurse walked in, Misty turned, "it's alright; false alarm."  The nurse looked disgruntled and walked away.  "Ash, as I was saying; did you hear everything?"  He looked into her eyes, "yes," he said softly.  "Well can we forget; please."  Her eyes pleaded with him, his anger melted away, "I guess."  They sat in silence for a minute.  "Goodnight Ash," she said and slowly rested her head on her pillow.  He hesitated and then quickly kissed her on the cheek.  She blushed and watched as he sped off.  She slowly felt herself falling asleep.

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            She slowly took some faltering steps.  "Wow, this feels weird!"  Nurse Joy smiled, "Well it should, you have been in bed for a long time now.  Now...." she turned to Brock and Ash, "remember to keep her warm; her immunity is low at the moment, even a simple cold could kill her.  If you have any problems don't hesitate bringing her back to me."

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            Ash threw his backpack on the ground.  "Well I'm tired."  "Pika! Pika".  He laughed, "Pikachu agrees too."  Brock sat down, "this looks like a good spot; I'll get some wood for a fire."  He left Ash and Misty.  "Sheesh I'm hungry and tired, those gonala bars don't last long."  They laughed.  Brock returned with the wood, "Hey lovebirds!," he called.  Ash elbowed him in the back,  Time went quickly and the gang were soon falling asleep.  Well, Brock was asleep.

            Ash looked up, he could see Misty shivering and he remembered Joy's words.  He got up and took off his jacket and put it around her.  Wow good idea, he thought as he looked back over; now we're both shivering.  He looked over again; he couldn't; he wouldn't.  He blushed.  Well Nurse Joy said I had to keep her warm and I don't want her to die.  He slowly crept up and lay down beside her.  She woke up, "Ash what are you doing?"  "I have to keep you warm," he put his arm around her.  She did feel warmer but she just couldn't do this.  "Ash I'm not that cold!" but she changed her mind as the cold wind blew across her and snuggled in closer.  Of all the reactions Ash had expected this was definitely not on of them.  Being so close to her made him nervous and edgy; he couldn't help feeling that her fist would soon be coming his way.  After 20 minutes of tossing and turning on his part she turned to him, " Ash I know how awkward and uncomfortable this must be; thank you," she kissed him on the cheek. 

To be continued………………………………

(its all written ironically I've typed the end up but not the middle, I've scribbled it out on paper.  As I said in the beginning this is a really old story so don't flame me if its rubbish!  But reviews are welcome is it worth me posting the rest?)