I suddenly realise that Ash's Pikachu, who would normally be hanging out on his shoulder, isn't there. "Misty," I ask, "Where's Pikachu?"

"Ash left it at the Pokémon Centre for some R 'n' R," she answers. She pales and her pupils dilate. "Oh, no…" She gets up and runs to him. "Ash, what happened?" she asks again, grabbing his shoulders.

"The Pokémon Centre was broken into… Nurse Joy is injured pretty badly and all the Pokémon are gone," he answers.

I get up, rush to Ash's side and Misty and I lead him over to the table. "Was it Team Hell?" I ask almost inaudibly.

"I think it was Team Rocket."

Misty rolls her eyes. "Not those three again!"

"Misty, you don't understand; it wasn't those three. Not Jessie, James and Meowth. Giovanni was leading the operation with Maxie, Archie, Cyrus and Ghetsis. Their Grunts were running rampant!"

"Yep. Team Hell."

By now, a crowd has gathered. I realise why they're not moving. All their Pokémon were at the Centre!

Suddenly, I decide to take charge. "Iris and Brock, can you please go to the Pokémon Centre and do what you can to help Nurse Joy?"

"Certainly! Come on, Brock!" Iris yells, grabbing her backpack and rushing out of the room.

'Slow down, Iris!' cries Axew, hanging on for dear life.

"Hey! Wait up, Iris!" Brock calls back, grabbing his backpack and rushing out after her.

Now I'm just trying to think what I should get the rest of them to do. There's absolutely no way we can stop them without the help of our Pokémon! Hang on. I've still got eighteen of them! "Guys!" I call out to my friends. "Do you still have your Pokémon?"

"Yes!" they call out in unison.

"Okay, good… we'll have to go outside to the courtyard for this next bit. When we get downstairs, you'll have to lend yours to everyone else until you have one left. Then those who remain will have to partner up with one who has. Clear?"

In answer, everyone rushes towards the door and heads downstairs. Only Ash stays back. He mumbles something inaudible and I take his hand and try to pull him up. "Pikachu…" he whispers.

I have to lead the poor man downstairs. I have no idea what to say, but I might try comforting him in the way that he comforted me. But what should I say? Pikachu has been with Ash for seventeen years! In my heart, I know that Pikachu is alive and well. I would like to believe it, but after what a partly sane and partly insane Ghetsis did to my family, I'm not sure. Mei was so much better at this sort of stuff than I am!

Before I can say anything, Ash's phone starts ringing. He jumps and then starts fumbling in his pockets for it. "Hello, this is Ash…" he murmurs in answer to the call. He suddenly stiffens. "What do you mean, Pikachu's being held for ransom?!"

I gasp and clap my hand over my mouth.

"Okay… alright, yep… we'll be there as soon as we can. What? They only want Rosa? Let me explain to her first. Hang on." He takes the phone away from his head and puts it against his shirt. "Rosa… Ghetsis wants you as a ransom for Pikachu."

I sway on my feet. The stone stairs start swinging, forcing me to sit down. Okay. So this is it. This is how I'm to die. At the hands of those horrid Team Leaders. I can feel the Poké Balls in my pockets rattling. Victini, Meloetta and Samurott pop out. Seeing my distraught face, the two Psychic-Types rush into my arms and Samurott starts licking my face. I wish I could stay strong for them, but I can't. Tears start falling out of my eyes. "I might never see you guys again…" I whisper.

'Rosa, what are you talking about?' Victini cries. I can feel the V heat up. I welcome its warmth. Knowing that it could possibly be the last time I feel it, I let the dam break. Tears fall out of my eyes and cascade down my face. Ash sits down next to me and I lean into him.

"Team Hell has taken Ash's Pikachu for ransom. They don't want any money, they want me."

'Rosa, no!' cries Samurott.

I nod, sobbing. "I'll have to go outside to say a proper goodbye to you all. I love you all so much and am so proud of each and every one of you."

"Where do you want to go, Rosa?"

I think for a moment. The perfect place to say goodbye to my friends would have to be my favourite sad place in the whole region.

Samurott knows what I'm thinking. 'The tower out past Mistralton, right?'

I nod. "Yes… Celestial Tower…" I want to ring the bell there one last time. I haven't done it in ages. How fitting it is, to ring the bell that is meant for calming Pokémon… but instead to calm my own spirit before I go. I'll miss my friends and Pokémon more than I'll ever be able to say.

"For some reason, it fits the situation, Rosa." Ash gets up and takes my hand, leading me up slowly. "The Pokémon Cemetery is the sight of many last goodbyes…"

"Yeah…" I return my Pokémon to their Poké Balls and we continue down the stairs.

Before I know it, we're outside and on the courtyard. Isla rushes up to me and gives me a squeeze. The comfort I feel in this hug is enough to keep me going until it's time. Her small arms are so strong and she feels rather cold. "Rosa, don't do it!" she murmurs. Ice cold tears soak into my shirt.

I gently prise her off me, grab hold of her shoulders, and kneel down so we're at eye level. "I have to, Isla… if I don't, Team Hell will go nuts."

We embrace again, for perhaps the final time. When Isla lets go, Iris is behind her. I stand and she squeezes me. She is strong enough that I feel like I'm being strangled. "You're of more value to them alive than dead, so don't do anything rash, okay?" she whispers. "We'll come get you. Once we know where you are, we'll find you."

"Thank you, Iris."

The tearful goodbyes continue for at least another hour. Out of all of them, I think Hilda and N cry the most. Even Reshiram and Zekrom shed a few tears. N is going to take me and Hilda to Celestial Tower on Zekrom. The knowledge that I may never meet any of them again is almost enough to break my heart in two and shatter my soul like an eggshell. I suppose Ghetsis now wants to finish the job. But Iris may be right. I could be worth more than the finest gold alive and not even a Splash dead to them. I hope she's right.

This seems a little cheesy, right? But Rosa's not going to die. Not until it's her proper time to go.