And here we are, the final chapter of the PikaShipping trilogy at last. I don't really have anything to say about this one, I just hope that you'll enjoy reading the ending as much as I enjoyed creating it.
Thanks for following.
"This is bizarre," Brock grimaced as he viewed the League tournament listings. "According to this, Ash never entered the League at all; there's no record of him in it at all."
"What about all the Pokemon he registered?" Dawn asked.
"They aren't listed under him since Ash supposedly didn't enter," Brock answered. "But watch this; I enter in Ash's registration number and this comes up; look familiar?"
"But that's Yellow!" Dawn burst out.
"Right," Brock nodded, "and when you check out the list of Pokemon she has registered..."
"They're all Ash's Pokemon," Dawn murmured, her eyes scanning the screen quickly. "Glalie, Gliscor, Charizard, Tauros, Cyndaquil... even a Pikachu!"
"Yup," Brock confirmed.
"But what about the preliminary matches Ash won?" Dawn asked. "They have to have a record of that."
"According to this, Yellow was the one who fought in and won those matches," Brock said, bringing up the screen as he spoke. Dawn groaned and collapsed into a nearby chair.
"This makes no sense," she growled. "Are you telling me that all of the records have been changed to make it seem that Ash never competed?"
"It looks that way, but I don't understand how," Brock frowned. "This picture of Yellow, for example; there's no way somebody should have been able to get a picture like this. An hour ago she was still a Pikachu. There's no way any sort of picture of her should exist. And look at these screenshots from Ash's battles yesterday."
"He's not there... but Yellow is," Dawn said slowly.
"Right," Brock confirmed. There was a long pause while they tried to figure all of this out.
"How is this possible?" Dawn asked at last.
"It isn't," Brock answered, "but it's happened all the same." Sighing, he logged off the terminal and turned to see Yellow coming down the stairs at the far side of the room, her head bent and her eyes strangely clouded.
"Yellow, over here!" he called, waving her over. Looking up, she spotted the duo and began picking her way across the room carefully, her swaying body still not used to the longer and comparatively more awkward human limbs. She had almost reached them when she lost her balance and fell forward with a crash.
"Are you alright?" Dawn asked in concern, leaning out of the chair to help her up.
"How you walk with no tail?" Yellow asked, getting back on her feet awkwardly. "I fall three times."
"Did you hurt yourself?" Brock asked.
"No, but stairs hard," she replied.
"Hey... where's Ash?" Dawn asked, looking around. "Did you get things worked out?" Yellow avoided their inquisitive glances.
"No..." she said slowly. "I know... but I no know what to do."
"You know but you don't know?" Dawn asked, confused.
"I know why he this way," Yellow clarified. "He no tell, but I see." Dawn opened her mouth to speak again, but Yellow forestalled her. "I no tell either," she said, and Dawn closed her mouth with a sheepish grin.
"I'm sorry, Yellow; I didn't mean to pry," she said.
"Is okay," Yellow said with a small smile. "I just very confused... need think."
"We understand," Brock said. "Anyways, we found some stuff out. It looks like Ash has been taken out of the computer records somehow, and you've been added in his place. That's why Nurse Joy said that your Round Robin matchups had been decided."
"What that mean?" Yellow asked, feeling confused.
"It means that you're registered as a participant in the tournament, with all of Ash's Pokemon registered to you," Dawn replied.
"It means that you have to fight."
For the next several hours, Yellow did nothing but think. She wandered around the League grounds on her own, her arms folded across her chest, her mind racing, ever racing. Her feet moved automatically, no destination set in mind. The movement helped her to keep her mind focus, and so she continued to walk as the sun floated across the sky and the first tendrils of darkness began to claim the air, pondering the current dilemma.
On one hand, the images she had seen in Ashachu's mind unsettled her. But on the other, a strangely pleased sensation had developed within her breast because of it. She had travelled with Ash for a very long time, and he with her. They had been together for years, and in that time they had learnt so much about each other. They were best friends, and as close as it was possible for a human and a Pokemon to be. But...
He was a human! She was a Pokemon! That their roles had suddenly been reversed could not and would not change that. Such a union was unheard of, forbidden, no matter what passed in her dreams.
But she knew him. She knew him better than any human, even his own mother, could claim to do so. It frustrated her sometimes; he was achingly oblivious to the affection girls felt for him, even when they blushed right before his eyes. Angie, Anabel... even Dawn had been disappointed by his sheer obtuseness. That he, the master of denseness, would have these dreams was utterly surprising. That they were about her... she would have been less surprised if she had suddenly sprouted a pair of wings and learned to fly. Maybe that was why she felt strangely pleased, though.
But... it was impossible for her to quantify what her feelings truly were. She was so confused that she didn't know how she was supposed to feel. Should she be disgusted with him? Accepting? Understanding? Eventually she decided that she would not be able to come to a conclusion without knowing what feelings had caused them. And for that, she needed to go to the source.
To Ashachu.
Ashachu was a very worried little Pikachu as he sat there in the room. When Yellow left he sat still, dismayed by what had happened. He didn't understand the irresistible draw of Yellow's eyes. He didn't understand how she could have seen through him like that.
He didn't understand a lot of things.
He quickly lost track of how much time passed as he sat there motionless, miserable; not even his stomach roused him. He was only jerked out of his thoughts by the soft clicking noise as the bedroom door shut. Standing there alone was Yellow; a funny look was on her face as she gazed at him, though what it was he could not say.
"I need know," she said softly.
"Pi?" he asked.
"About dream," she answered him. "Why you have?"
"Pi-pika," he replied, and she frowned.
"You no know? You must," she asserted. "Dream has reason; what are feelings behind dream?"
"Pi-pika," he answered again. Yellow sighed and shook her head; her ability to speak was still somewhat limited, and she couldn't find the right way to phrase what she meant. She decided to try a different tack and approach it from another angle.
"When dream start?" she asked, and he lowered his head.
"Pi... kachu pi, chuuh," he muttered, and she understand.
"After I change first time," she repeated. She looked at him inquisitively, a glimmer of comprehension in her mind. "What your feelings for Pikachu?" she asked.
"Pikachu?" he asked, confused.
"For Pikachu," she repeated, "when Pokemon," and he understood.
"Pika chu, kachu chu, chah pi," he said strongly, waving his arms in emphasis.
"Best friend..." she repeated. "Always, forever, now... friends... Then what your feelings for Yellow?"
"Chu?" he tried, but she shook her head.
"No, Yellow not Pokemon. Pikachu is Pokemon. Yellow is person. What your feelings?"
"Pi... chu pika..." he murmured, his face turned away, and with that one sentence she understood.
"I understand, but no like," she muttered to herself. "Dream about Yellow, not Pikachu, but he no know difference. That why he no tell. Confused." She sighed. "I confused, but I know. Maybe it be okay now. Still friends." A grin broke across her face as she remembered something else too. "Change no last long; Maybe change back in sleep!"
With the knowledge that she and Ashachu had resolved some of the prior difficulty, and the hope that in the morning all would be normal again, she fell asleep in bed that night with little worries. Maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay after all. And had things worked out that way, she would have been a very happy Pikachu. But there was one factor she hadn't counted on which destroyed those hopes.
That night, the dream came to her.
Brock, Dawn, even Ashachu noticed it the next morning. Yellow was strangely distant when they awoke, answering questions with short answers and not offering any conversation on her own volition. She avoided Ashachu's gaze altogether and, shortly after getting dressed, she left the room to explore the League grounds more thoroughly on her own. Brock and Dawn both noticed the striking similarities to Ash's behaviour of the last few weeks, though of course Ashachu did not; he was surprised about Yellow's sudden coldness towards him, and more than a little hurt. Giving it some thought, he concluded that some facet of their conversation from the day before was still bothering her, and resolved to speak to her about it as soon as he was able.
But Yellow avoided him all day. In her three round-robin matches she used reserve Pokemon, while he was left sitting sadly on the sidelines on Dawn's lap. He cheered for her of course, but dearly wished he could be down there with her.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much," Dawn whispered to him at one point during Yellow's third battle. "She's just working some things over in her mind, that's all." He could only give her a sad look in return.
It was quickly established that Yellow would advance; her opponents were no match for her ferocious tactics, and Ashachu even felt a twinge of admiration for her abilities; he suspected that, despite her lack of experience in commanding Pokemon, she could even defeat him in an even battle.
Giving only a quick bow after her third and final victory, Yellow left the arena. Brock, Dawn, and Ashachu quickly followed behind, Ashachu riding on Dawn's shoulder; he soon learned that it was not as secure a perch as he'd imagined it to be for all these years. It was a struggle to catch up with Yellow, and anyone's guess as to where she might be headed. Brock thought the Pokemon Centre while Dawn suggested the food court. Ashachu was of the opinion that she'd gone back to the room, but neither Brock nor Dawn understood him when he tried to bring it up.
It was the flash of Yellow's stunning hair that caught their attention halfway across the square; Brock and Dawn instantly rushed forward, hoping to catch up with her before she vanished into the thick crowd, but it was soon apparent that there was no need to rush. She stood stock-still, her fists raised and clenched as she glowered at the person who stood nonchalantly in her way. Ashachu felt his heart sink. Of course. It just had to be Paul.
"So, looks like I'll be your first opponent tomorrow," he said calmly to Yellow. "You managed to make it through the quick battles okay; do you think you're ready to go on to the six-on-six final rounds?" He grinned. "Maybe you'd better just give up now," he said. "You don't have a chance against me, and I wouldn't want to humiliate you in front of so many people." Yellow tensed and, despite the fact that she was human, Ashachu could have sworn that her cheeks were sparking.
"Yellow," Brock called in a loud voice, and she whirled around quickly. She relaxed slightly upon seeing who it was and turned back to Paul as Brock, Dawn, and Ashachu stepped to her side.
"Oh, it's you," Paul said, looking over the trio in disdain. "I see Ash isn't with you. I'm really not all that surprised, to be honest. I always knew that he was pathetic, but to not make it past even the preliminaries! I'm not surprised he doesn't dare show his face around me. So much for his claims that he could beat me. What a loser."
"Chrrrr," Ashachu growled, his cheeks sparking, but Yellow cut across in front of him.
"You no say bad things," she said, her hand and finger trembling with rage as she pointed it in his face. "He great battler, good person. He much stronger then you. Pokemon no make trainer; trainer make Pokemon!"
"Listen to yourself speak," he said scornfully. "The last time I heard someone speak that way they were in diapers."
Yellow flew at him. Only Brock's quick reaction in grabbing her from behind prevented her from lynching Paul. Even with his intervention she was still able to scratch his face before being hauled back. He took a surprised step back, holding a hand to his smarting face.
"I think it would be a good idea to go," Dawn said to him coldly. "I wouldn't bet on Brock being able to hold on to her for too long, and her Pikachu may decide to have a go instead." Paul eyed Ashachu and turned away without a word to her, walking away at his usual calm and even pace. Ashachu distinctly heard him mutter "psychotic bitch" under his breath thanks to his sharp hearing, though Brock and Dawn both missed it. Casing a sideways glance at the furious Yellow, he saw that she, however, had heard it. Her teeth clenched and her fists shook violently as she futilely strained to escape Brock's grip. Only after Paul had vanished and a small crowd had gathered around them curiously did she relax enough for Brock to let her go.
"You no help," she said to Brock and Dawn angrily. "He hurt; I hurt back."
"Get him back on the battlefield," Brock advised. "That's what will hurt him the most."
"He nasty, vile, small..." she struggled for the words, and Dawn sighed.
"I don't think I'll ever understand what drives him to act that way," she said.
"Fear and his own insecurity," Brock answered. "It leads him to take it all out on whoever he's around at the time."
"I kill him," Yellow muttered, her fists still clenched.
"You mean you'll beat him on the battlefield tomorrow," Brock said, giving her a searching look.
"Yes," Yellow growled. "I show him... I use six Pokemon he scared of most when he see Dex. Beat him easy!"
"That's the spirit," Dawn encouraged. "No need to worry, you'll tear him apart! But, um... who were those six Pokemon anyways?"
"Grotle, Gliscor, Monferno, Buizel, Staraptor, and..." Brock's voice trailed off.
"Oh dear," he said.
Yellow was quiet the next day, and though Brock, and Dawn put it down to battle nerves, Ashachu began to suspect that there was another reason. He did not know that the dream had visited her for the second consecutive night, and though he would have been shocked had he known, he would have had no time to dwell on it for he was also a bundle of nerves.
He'd wanted to battle Paul at the League of course, but not as a Pikachu.
On her part, Yellow was quiet for another reason. For with the dream came memories of her own, memories that she had thought were suppressed. Memories from Johto...
She shook the thought out of her head; she did not want to feel guilty, and she did not need these distractions now. She had a battle to go to.
She stiffened slightly as Ashachu jumped onto her shoulder, and his ears drooped at her reaction. But then she gave a slight smile and tickled him lightly under the chin. Ashachu sighed in content, realizing just why Pikachu loved it so much. Despite that Yellow could not quite look him in the eye, and he knew that there was still a great deal of coldness between them, though he couldn't say what the reason for that was.
The group left the room with little delay, eager to get to the battlefield. Brock and Dawn bade them farewell after only a short walk, leaving for their reserved seats in the stands. Yellow and Ashachu continued on their way, entering the trainer's room to prepare themselves mentally in the little time they had left before the match began. Though Ashachu remained on her shoulder, they said nothing, each preferring to keep their own thoughts private.
Despite her outward calm, a fierce struggle was taking place within Yellow. She longed to say something to Ashachu, to hug him.
To confess.
And yet she couldn't. Only now did she understand the power and the shame of the dream. Only now did she understand the fierce fight between longing and dread. Only now did she realize why Ash had kept it all hidden inside. She needed to tell him, but she couldn't. The dream prevented it. And even if it hadn't, how could she tell him when her own feelings were so convoluted?
She wrestled with her thoughts so deeply that she did not even notice when the official came down to inform her that she should begin the procession onto the pitch. It took another attempt for him to gain her attention, and when she finally began the long march she struggled desperately to empty her mind and focus on the battle at hand.
She succeeded.
She contemplated who she should send out first; Ashachu was not an option. He may have had the body of a powerful Pikachu, but beyond walking and eating he had no idea how to use it. Any electrical attack he produced would be weak and ineffectual in a battle such as this, and it had a very good chance of being uncontrollable. No, she would not use him until last. Perhaps it would have been best to choose a different Pokemon, but...
They were partners, forever and always. Nothing could ever change that. For this one match, they had to be together. They had to take Paul down as a team.
"Gliscor, go!" she cried, and Paul grinned.
"Gliscor, let's go!" he shouted in retaliation, and the two former group members exploded onto the pitch.
Ashachu watched nervously as the battle unfolded. Yellow got off to a fantastic start, utilizing the field in ways that Paul could not comprehend to take down two Pokemon before Gliscor fainted. The crowd groaned, disappointed in Paul's effort as he quickly went down three Pokemon to one. It was much the same in the second half. Soon Paul was left with only one Pokemon, while Yellow had four remaining. But that one Pokemon was all he needed.
Paul's Torterra was devastating. It seemed able to take any attack that was launched at it, and Monferno, and Buizel were taken down very quickly. Now both Ashachu and Yellow were sweating nervously. Yellow's fifth Pokemon, Staraptor, was fast and dangerous, scoring more damage than either of them had hoped. But despite its incredible power, it was soon taken down by a Leaf Storm.
Yellow recalled Staraptor and looked at the Poke Ball a moment before turning to Ashachu. "Stay low, dodge attack," she advised. "Hit belly; weak point." Though her tone was confident, her eyes gave away her true emotions. Ashachu nodded and was about to jump onto the field when she held him back for the briefest of moments.
"Stay safe," she whispered.
"Pika," he replied, and turned to face the Torterra. It suddenly struck him how massive the Pokemon truly was. It towered over him, and even if were to stand on his hind legs and stretch up, he doubted that he could have touched even the lowest point of its underbelly. The Torterra took a step forward, and he winced as he felt the ground tremble under its weight; he dreaded to think what it would be like if it were to stand on him.
He knew then that he had no chance of victory. Electrical attacks would not work, and he had no idea how to use Iron Tail. But he still squared up to it, ready to battle for his pride and for Yellow. He was ready.
"Go, Quick Attack!" Yellow shouted, and Ashachu ran towards Torterra as fast as he could manage. A ripple of laughter broke across the crowd at the sight of his abysmal speed and he gritted his teeth, wishing that he had the coordination to at least move on all four legs instead of just two.
"This won't take long," Paul grinned. "Torterra, Withdraw!" His Pokemon roared and hunkered down to the ground, causing Ashachu to run into the hefty protective plates. Reeling from the impact, he fell back and was met with a barrage of razor sharp leaves that pelted his chest and face; a scream escaped from him as one of them sliced into his ear, while another cut his flank. Stumbling back in panic he managed to avoid the next few leaves, and the attack subsided. Panting, he turned to grin at the Torterra, but it quickly turned into a look of horror. The massive Pokemon was bearing down on him in a full on charge. He made a move to leap out of the way, but the ground was shaking so much under Torterra's massive weight that he fell over almost instantly.
The Rock Climb thundered into him, and he screamed as he felt himself go flying through the air before hitting something very hard. Dazed, his eyes unfocused, he did not notice that he was pinned in the corner of the battlefield. He did not hear Yellow's scream for him to move as Torterra charged in again to rear up and deliver a finishing Body Slam. Confused from the impact of the attack, he did not even realize that he was trying to go through a roar.
And then he was flying through the air again, his senses sharp and alert as a piercing scream cleared his mind again. He hit the ground rolling and spun back in Torterra's direction, desperate to avoid another hit.
The world froze.
Pinned underneath Torterra's legs, her face white and her chest bloodied, was Yellow. Her outstretched arms left him in no doubt that she was the reason he had gone flying; she had pushed him out of the way and taken the entire force of Torterra's attack herself.
His legs, human legs, gave way and he fell to his knees in shock. "Yellow," he whispered in his own voice. That he was human again registered in his mind only vaguely as he crawled towards the injured girl who lay on the Stadium floor. Torterra, horrified at what had happened, backed off as he approached, looking like it wished it had never been sent out for this battle. Even Paul seemed stunned, though whether it was because his Torterra had just crushed a human or whether it was because a Pikachu had just turned into his most bitter rival was impossible to say.
"You... change..." Yellow whispered as Ash's face loomed over her. "Person again, but... I not Pokemon... Why?"
"I don't know," Ash said softly, crouching at her side and lifting her gently so that her head lay n his lap. "I don't know why I changed but you didn't." He took a shaking breath and looked into her eyes; they were clear, and absent of any pain. "Yellow, why did you do that?" he asked. "Why did you push me out of the way?"
"You do for me," she said simply. "You catch when I fall. You take attack for me. You stop me be hurt. I do for you."
"You shouldn't have done it," he said.
"You do for me, I do for you," she repeated, her voice quieter than before. There was a pause while she took several painful breaths before speaking again. "Yellow... safe?" she asked and Ash nodded, his chest feeling constricted.
"Yes... you're safe with me, Yellow," he whispered. She smiled up at him and then her body fell limp, the pain overriding her struggles and sending her into unconsciousness. There was a commotion above him as several medics began to make their way to the tunnels so they could access the battlefield, but they froze as a bolt of bluish flames exploded from the centre.
His back turned to the field, Ash did not see the torrents of dust blow outwards. He did not see as the fireball turned into a tall pillar of violet flame leapt up from the ground, eliciting screams from the spectators in the Stadium. He did not see it expand, did not see the outline of the majestic quadruped appear behind it.
But he felt the pebbles strike the back of his neck, and he felt the heat; and he turned slowly, Yellow still in his arms, to face it. Holding her protectively, he watched silently as the flames crested and burst, sending tendrils of blue sparks careening through the air before they dissipated harmlessly at a whisper from the Pokemon's breath. A curious look was on its face as it gazed at them, and Ash stared impassively back.
"Your road has been hard," the Entei rumbled, and as with Raikou and Suicune Ash had the feeling that it spoke not with words, but with its eyes. "I am sorry you have been through so much pain."
"Why are you here?" Ash asked it quietly.
"The bond you share with your Pokemon is unique," the Entei stated. "Many of those whom you have met in your travels have noticed this; they marvel at the lengths you go to keep your Pokemon safe, for they know that they could not do the same if they were in the same situations."
"Why are you here?" Ash repeated.
"My brother, Raikou, gave you a test, young human. He had seen the extraordinary efforts you undertook and wished to see how you would react if you were forced to save your best friend without the assistance of your Pokemon. Raikou's Test was a test of courage, and you impressed him greatly with your response to it.
"Our curiosity was aroused; it was clear to us that you were unusual for a human, and we became intrigued by the particularly close bond you shared with your Pikachu. And so my sister, Suicune, took it upon herself to give you a test of the heart. It is easy to see someone as they appear, but it is not so easy to see them as they truly are. People and Pokemon go through great changes, and feelings towards others can often change with them. You experienced confusion, but ultimately you responded like any true friend would. By putting aside the conflict within and following your heart, you allowed your true Emotions to shine through."
The Entei paused and took several paces forward. Leaning forwards he breathed softly on Yellow, and Ash felt the heat of a thousand volcanoes pass over his skin.
"With the permission of my father," the Entei murmured, bowing his head as Yellow stirred. She blinked once, staring up at Ash before letting out a sudden exclamation as she sat up and felt her chest.
"The injury... it gone," she whispered, looking at Ash with wide eyes. "What... what happened?"
"Sacred Fire," the Entei breathed. "As your wound was my fault, I have undone the damage with my father's aid." Yellow's eyes narrowed as she turned to look at the Entei, breaking free of Ash's grasp as she did so.
"What you mean 'it your fault?'" she asked. "You do to me?"
"It was an unforeseen consequence of my test," the Entei said, lowering his head further in apology. "An effect unintentionally caused by my desire to extrapolate on my sister's test."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"We watched you closely afterward, human, and it was not long until we saw a repercussion take effect from Pikachu's initial transformation that Suicune had not anticipated. You know what it is that I speak of."
"The dream," Ash said.
"Yes," the Entei agreed. "With Raikou and Suicune having given their tests, it was deemed that I should deliver the next. And so I used the dream as the basis of my test."
"Why?" Yellow asked, still glowering at him. "Why you need do test? Why you make us change?"
"You felt hurt like you never had before," the Entei told her. "You knew that something was bothering Ash, and you resented the fact that he would not tell you what it was. Your bond became strained, and you did not know why. You did not realize it was because he had fallen in love with you in your human form, and he did not tell you for fear of his reaction."
"I no understand," Yellow said.
"It is easy to judge someone based on what you have observed, but much harder to do so when you view the situation exactly as they do. As your perspectives change, so do your opinions on certain matters. You, Yellow, now understand exactly how Ash felt for, though you did not tell him, you experienced the dream yourself and reacted in the exact same way as he. Ashamed and scared by his reaction, you kept silent, and not for the first time."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"He right, it... it not first time," Yellow whispered, lowering her head.
"What?" Ash exclaimed, stunned by that revelation, but she seemed unable to say more.
"When you travelled in Johto you became a Pikachu for a short time," the Entei said. "Though she did not admit it, Pikachu fell in love with you that day upon witnessing you after your transformation. After you changed back she was haunted by a similar desire as was visited upon you in your dream, though she did her best to repress it. Eventually, as more and more time passed, she succeeded.
"Ash, you now know how Pikachu felt when you refused to tell her what was wrong. You felt the same hurt that she did when you became distant from her because of your conflicting emotions. You felt her confusion, you felt her sadness, and you resented her because of it." There was silence for a moment while they digested what had been said.
"I guess we failed the test," Ash said eventually. "Neither of us reacted in any other way."
"My test was not to see whether you would act differently," the Entei replied. "We all judge through our own eyes; many know no other way of doing so. But to see through the eyes of another... that is a far more difficult and arduous endeavour. That was my test, and you have both passed."
"We pass? So what happen now?" Yellow asked. "I change? Ash change? No change?"
"That is dependent on Ash," the Entei proclaimed.
"What?" Ash asked, startled for the second time.
"It is your choice, Ash," the Entei said. "Yellow can change back into a Pikachu, or she can stay human. If you choose the former your best friend will be back as you remember her. If you choose the latter she will remain as she is, though she will never battle by your side again. Think carefully, for the choice is permanent."
"No," Ash said after a moment's pause. "I won't do that."
"You must," the Entei growled.
"I won't," Ash repeated stubbornly. "I can't and won't decide something like that."
"And why is that?" the Entei asked quietly.
"Because it isn't my choice to make," Ash said softly. "Yellow is the only one who can decide that."
The Entei stepped back, and there was the slightest hint of a smile in his eyes. "Then you have passed not only the tests of Raikou, Suicune, and Entei, but the test of our great father, Ho-oh, as well," he said softly.
The ground erupted into flames around the legendary Pokemon's feet, and Ash and Yellow both yelped in surprise as a separate fireball surrounded them too.
"Not all decisions are the right ones," the Entei's voice whispered in their minds. "Sometimes a choice that seems right at the time can have unforeseeable and disastrous consequences in the future. You understand that not every decision can be yours. You have demonstrated this by respecting Yellow's right to decide her own future. And so, for passing his test, I have a gift for you from Ho-oh."
The flames around them leapt even higher and turned colour as the Entei's last words reverberated through their minds.
"You now have the ability to change at will; you can be Pikachu or human as you please. Through our tests and your own adventures you have forged a bond that will forever stand the test of time. You are partners, and connected by far more than a Poke Ball. You are connected by the mutual feelings in your hearts.
"I wish you undying and everlasting happiness, wherever you may be in the world..."
The Entei's voice faded away slowly, and so too did the fire that surrounded them. A breeze picked up as they stood there in the centre of the field, looks of tenderness in their eyes as they held each other tightly. The silent crowd, none of whom had heard or understand any of what the Entei said, sat watching as, together, the boy and the girl walked out of the Stadium to celebrate the start of a new life.
Thanks again for reading; if you'd like to share your thoughts, please don't hesitate to leave me a review.