Lugia lands on the ground near the bridge, and Ash and Serena get off. The two of them only have a moment before they suddenly feel arms wrapping around them and pulling them toward something. They are taken aback until Ash realizes that it's Misty and Max who are hugging him, and Dawn and May are hugging Serena.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're safe," Misty says in relief.
"Me too," Dawn says with a huge sigh. "I don't know what I would have done if my two besties were harmed."
"Me neither," May says.
"Piplup," Piplup chirps behind Dawn.
"Oh, you guys," Serena chortles as she hugs May and Dawn with both arms.
"We're okay, guys," Ash says with a warm smile.
"I'm glad to hear that, Ash," Max says.
"Me too."
The five teenagers turn around to see Timothy, Coovers, Gary, Koga, Agatha, Gary, Electchu, Poliwrath, Odyssey, Shockwave, Looker, and the rest of the International Police walking towards them with Dr. Zager, Butch, Cassidy, and the other Team Rocket scientists and grunts cuffed. While some of the police drag the members of Team Rocket away with two of them carrying an unconscious Agent Basker, Timothy, and Coovers smile as Ash and Serena run over to hug both of them.
"I take it this means the stone is gone?" Timothy asks.
"That's right," Ash says, breaking the hug. "Serena destroyed it."
Serena breaks her hug with Coovers and gives Timothy a nod.
"And I assume you also freed Arceus?" She asks.
Timothy smirks and takes out the Master Ball in his pocket. Gary looks at the man in the "H.A.K." shirt in shock.
"Wait, you mean to tell me that Arceus is in your Pokeball?!" He exclaims.
"That's right," Timothy answers.
"Wow, so you captured Arceus! That's awesome!" Ash says.
"You got that right," Coovers says excitedly. "And I can't wait to see how Timothy uses it in battle. Not to mention all the ladies we'll attract together."
Everyone chuckles at Coovers until Timothy lifts the hand, holding the ball to look at it.
"Actually, Coovers, I already have something in mind that you're not going to like," he says.
Everyone looks at him curiously as he presses the button, making it expand. He then holds it up, and the ball opens with a light blue energy coming out to reveal Arceus. The alpha Pokemon has its eyes closed until it slowly opens them and looks down at Timothy.
"You have released me," it states in a curious tone.
"WHAT?!" Everyone but Timothy screams while Timothy's Pokemon all let out their own calls of shock.
"Timothy, how can you do that?!" Coovers shouts.
"Raichu!" Electchu shouts in agreement.
"Yeah, think about all the Pokemon leagues you can win easily with Arceus," Gary says.
Timothy turns to all of his friends with a smirk and says, "I know, but I don't want to accomplish my dream with a Pokemon as powerful as Arceus. It just wouldn't feel like I've earned my dream that way. I may find another powerful Pokemon worthy of using the Master Ball on someday, but as long as I still have a dream to accomplish with my other Pokemon, it's not going to be someone like Arceus."
Everyone else is still flabbergasted with what Timothy has done until Agatha speaks.
"He's right," she says. "If his dream is to win every league and beat every champion in the world, it should be done with the hard work between him and his Pokemon and nothing else."
"Agreed," Koga says plainly.
Coovers turns to the gym leader and the member of the Elite Four as if they said something ridiculous before turning to his best friend.
"But...but...but...but what about attracting the ladies?!" He shrieks. "Think of all the gorgeous women that could be fawning over both of us because you have captured the Original One, and I'm your best friend!"
Timothy chuckles and says, "Well, that's your dream and not mine, Coovers. And even then, I think the ladies would be focusing more on me than you just because I caught it and I don't think you'd like that. And I'm sure you would prefer that you find someone who likes you for you and not just because I'm your friend."
Coovers thinks for a moment before he reluctantly admits that Timothy is right.
"Plus, for once I agree with Brandon on something," Timothy begins, turning to Arceus. "It would be cruel for you to have to serve a new master just to be free from another one.
All eyes turn to Arceus, wanting to hear a response from it. The alpha Pokemon looks upon all of them before it closes its eyes and nods.
"You are right," Arceus answers. "I do not wish to be any person's Pokemon. Besides, I am needed in my dimension and I've been away for much too long."
Ash smiles and says, "Okay. Take care, Arceus."
"You as well, Ash," Arceus says with a friendly nod. "I wish all of you well."
Everyone smiles and waves at Arceus as it flies off and disappears inside a portal in the sky. At the same time, Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno are flying towards the group and land right beside Lugia. Pikachu is on Zapdos' back before it hops off and runs over to Ash. The raven-haired boy holds his partner tight while Pikachu snuggles its head against his chest, thrilled that Ash is alive. Articuno lowers its head to reveal Persian and Mew lying on its back. Looker and Coovers walk over to Articuno and take the two Pokemon off its back.
"We'll be sure to heal both of them," Looker says to Articuno. "We might imprison Persian because it is Giovanni's Pokémon, but we'll make sure it gets back in good health first."
Articuno nods in approval before Serena steps in.
"Actually, it was his Pokemon," she corrects.
Everyone but Ash looks at her, confused until they realize that Giovanni is not around.
"Where is he?" Timothy asks.
Serena and Ash look at each other before Ash turns to Timothy.
"He fell," he says. "He caught Mewtwo with a Pokeball before he fell off the edge with none of us able to do anything to save him. And we have no idea where Mewtwo is because its Pokeball fell off the edge too."
Everyone else's faces turn grim at news of Giovanni falling to his doom. But at the mention of Mewtwo, Moltres lets out a brief caw and raises its right talent to reveal it holding something. Everyone looks at a curiously until it opens its talent, dropping a Team Rocket Pokeball.
"You found Mewtwo," Ash says with a bright smile. "Way to go, Moltres."
Moltres nods and caws a few times, making Lugia frown.
"Moltres found the Pokeball lying on the ground next to where the machine for Arceus was," it says before it hesitates and says, "And there was a body lying next to it."
Everyone looks away from each other, uncomfortable with this news. Everyone stays silent until Ash clears his throat and picks up the Pokeball.
"Well then, I guess we better go ahead and free Mewtwo," he suggests.
Everyone nods in agreement, and the raven-haired boy tosses the Pokeball high into the air. The ball opens to reveal Mewtwo floating in the air and shaking its head with its eyes closed. Ash smirks at the sight of seeing his friend free before he catches the Pokeball and turns to Pikachu.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" He shouts, tossing the ball into the air again.
Pikachu grins as it climbs on top of Ash, jumps high in the air, and uses Iron Tail to chop the Team Rocket Pokeball into pieces. Mewtwo turns to everyone just in time to see the remains of its former container and turns to Ash with a small smile.
"Thank you, Ash," it says. "This makes it twice now that you've saved me from Team Rocket."
Ash gives Mewtwo a toothy grin and scratches his nose.
"No problem. I'm happy to help," he says.
"Pikachu," Pikachu says.
"It's good to see you, Mewtwo," Misty says, stepping in.
Mewtwo turns to Misty and nods before saying, "And you as well."
May and Dawn look at each other, confused before the former asks, "You know this Pokemon that Team Rocket used to kidnap you, Ash?"
Ash turns to the two girls and chuckles nervously.
"It's kind of a secret," he says.
"Yeah, but it looks like the secret is out," Misty says, turning to Mewtwo with a concerned look.
"So it would seem," Mewtwo says, frowning. "And given that I appeared publicly, I doubt I can erase the memories of everyone who has seen me ever since I was brainwashed."
"Yeah, that sadly happens when you appear on TV at the end of a Pokemon league for a lot of people to see," Coovers says, giving the genetic Pokemon a sympathetic look.
"Yeah, but not many people know much about you apart from what you look like or that you are a psychic-type," Ash points out. "There are Pokemon in the world who have only been seen at most, and that's all people have to go on. Right now, only everyone here along with Brock are the only ones who know who you are."
"Indeed," Looker agrees. "As long as we keep your identity a secret and make sure everyone in Team Rocket can't say anything while they are being locked up, your identity will be safe."
"That's right," Serena says with a smile. "Though if it's not too much trouble, Mewtwo, would it be okay if Ash tells me how he knows about you? I promise from the bottom of my heart, I won't say a word about it."
"Yeah, me too," Dawn says.
"Me three," May says.
"Same here," Max says.
Mewtwo looks at the teenagers and thinks for a moment before he gives them a brief nod.
"Very well," it says. "I know that you are all honest trainers who will do what you say for me as long as you only speak to people you can trust."
Serena, Dawn, Max, and May smile, and the honey blonde girl says, "Thank you, Mewtwo."
Mewtwo gives Serena another brief nod and turns to Timothy, Electchu, and Coovers. The three of them smile and nod at the rare Pokemon, and Mewtwo gives them a small smile.
"So have you found peace with Team Rocket gone?" Timothy asks.
Mewtwo nods and says, "I confess I would rather see their leader be taken alive, but I suppose he was bound to doom himself in his grasp for control. All things considered, though, I am content. But what about you? I heard about your own past with Team Rocket when I was spying on you. Does their defeat bring you peace?"
Timothy thinks for a moment and turns to Electchu and Poliwrath and smiles.
"Yes, I think it did," He says. "There are still plenty of bad people in the world, but I think I can continue pursuing my dream better knowing that Team Rocket is gone for good and that Trent Lane will truly never enter my life again."
Mewtwo nods again, content with Timothy's answer.
"I'm glad to hear it," it says."In the meantime, however, we must look into how we should return all of these Pokemon back from where they came."
"Hmmm. That's a good idea," Looker says. "Though how are we going to do that?"
Everyone hums in thought, unsure of how to answer Looker's question. But as they are thinking, something pops up behind Ash and Serena with a childish grin.
"Ash! Serena!"
The two of them, along with Pikachu and Absol, jump in alarm and turn around to see Hoppa floating behind them.
"Oh, hey, Hoopa," Ash says with a smile. "How are you?"
"Better now that I'm not controlled by another powerful force," Hoopa replies with a smile. "But enough about me. I couldn't help but overhear that you need all of these Pokemon brought back to where they were."
Serena smiles with her mouth open and says, "That's right. Can you help us?"
Hoppa giggles like a little child and says, "Just watch me!"
With that, the golden rings hanging on its horns fly up in the air and begin to expand into two giant portals. Everyone but Ash, Pikachu, and Serena look in awe, making Hoopa giggle again.
"Where you sup -" Hoppa begins boastfully before Looker steps in.
"Wait a minute, we can't bring those Pokemon back yet," he says. "Many of them likely need medical attention."
Lugia nods and says, "You're right. Many need healing before they can be brought back to their trainers or their homes in the wild."
Everyone mutters words of agreement while Hoppa grumbles silently, bitter that Looker and Lugia stepped on its moment.
"Well, if that's the case, then why don't we use these portals to bring some Nurse Joys and doctors from other regions here?" Coovers suggests.
"That's a good idea," Max says. "With so many medical equipment and supplies destroyed, we can hardly heal any Pokemon who were fighting Team Rocket much less any Pokemon that were forced to fight for them."
Looker scratches his chin and says, "That could work. Now that Mewtwo's storm is gone, we can contact Pokemon Centers and hospitals in other regions first so that they can gather what equipment and supplies they have before they are transported through Hoopa's rings."
"Great," Misty says with a smile. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's gather every fainted Pokemon we have out there so that they can be helped."
"Right," Ash, Serena, May, and Dawn say simultaneously.
"Pika!" Pikachu cheers.
"Piplup," Piplup chirps.
Lugia nods and says, "Zapdos, Moltres, Articuno, and I can help."
The three legendary birds nod, and together with Lugia, they fly up and start picking up unconscious Pokemon with their talents. Ash, Serena, Misty, May, and Dawn follow suit with their Pokemon and Hoopa, leaving Timothy, Coovers, Mewtwo, Looker, Gary, Koga Agatha, and Timothy's Pokemon alone.
"I shall remove Team Rocket's building and bring back New Island in its rightful place," Mewtwo. "I will return to assist bringing all of the Pokemon back."
Everyone else nods in approval while Mewtwo flies toward the Team Rocket tower.
"Well, it looks like we know what to do next," Timothy says.
"Indeed," Koga says.
Everyone else nods in agreement until Gary frowns.
"Wait a minute," he says. "Where are those two Team Rocket guys with the Meowth?"
Looker, Agatha, Koga, and Coovers frown and look around in confusion.
"Come to think about it, I don't think I've seen them since we crossed the bridge," Koga says.
Looker frowns and turns to Coovers.
"Do you still have their Pokeballs with you?" He asks suspiciously.
"Yes, I do," Coovers says, reaching into his coat pocket. "They're right -"
But as he's reaching into his pocket, Coovers' eyes widen. Looker looks at Coovers disapprovingly while the man from Unova stutters frantically.
"Well?" Looker asks in a low growl.
"I-I-I-I swear I left them in here," Coovers pleads. "There's no way they could have taken them without me noticing."
"And yet here we are with both them and their Pokeballs gone," Gary says, crossing his arms.
Koga and Agatha look at the leader of their former squad disapprovingly with Looker while Timothy frowns and turns to Electchu.
"Guess they're not quite as reformed as they led us to believe," he assumes.
"Raichu," Electchu says with a nod.
Timothy nods back and looks out at the field where everyone else are gathering fainted or injured Pokemon and says, "Still, I wonder what they're going to do now with Team Rocket gone."
Over on the other side of the large grassy field, many members of Team Rocket are put inside police cars and trucks. Two Officer Jennys are forcing Dr. Zager, Butch, Cassidy, Matori, and Agent Basker, who is now conscious and has an eye patch covering his broken robotic eye into a truck. The former cyborg whimpers quietly like a child, devastated that he will never get another chance for revenge for the rest of his life. One of the Officer Jennys looks at the former Team Rocket members inside her truck and smirks before turning to the other one.
"I don't know about you, cousin, but I've been waiting to see all of Team Rocket behind bars for the longest time," she says
"You and me both, cuz," the other Officer Jenny says as the two of them close both doors to the back of the truck.
The two officers get inside the front of the truck, with one of them turning it on. As they start to dive away, Butch and Cassidy look out the door windows and hold on to the bars with comically sad faces.
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off one last time!" They wail.
"Oh, shut up!" Matori shouts.
Unknown to the officers sending the rest of Team Rocket to jail, Jessie, James, Meowth, and Wobbufet are watching from a distance, wearing coats and hats to disguise themselves. The three of them resist the urge to laugh out loud at the sight of their former rivals being taken away.
"It always is a pleasure to see Butch and Cassidy sent to prison," James says.
"Not to mention how seeing that Matori behind a police truck just soothes my soul," Jessie says blissfully.
"And I have no idea where that good-for-nuthun Persian is, but I betcha it won't be in a place as comfortable as being beside da boss," Meowth adds.
"Yes, and while the police didn't see us, we snatched Goirgeist, and Inkay's Pokeballs," James says. "And while we were heading downstairs after helping them, we were able to snag our Pokeballs for Seviper, Yanmega, Mime. Jr, and Carnivine while they were so focused on destroying the Gieldenstone."
"Exactly!" Jessie exclaims cheerfully. "And after finding you safe and back to normal, dear Wobbufet, we are all together again!"
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbufet says, cheerfully.
All four of them sigh in content before Jessie frowns.
"Still, with Team Rocket gone, we're out of a job with no boss to try to please by stealing Pokemon," she says.
James and Meowth both frowns as the former says, "You're right. Even though we defected from Team Rocket, I doubt the authorities will let us off without a hitch."
The three of them slump down sadly until Meowth's eyes light up.
"Hey, didn't da boss give us a really fat check before we moved out of our headquarters?" Meowth asks.
Jessie and James' eyes light up, and they start giggling like children.
"That's right. He did," James squeals.
"Oh, there's so many things we can do with all of that dough!" Jessie shouts in a high-pitched voice. "I can open my own fashion salon, where everything revolves around me and my beauty."
James and Meowth look at each other, worried that Jesse will waste all of their money on her idea. Luckily, James snaps his fingers and steps in.
"Tell you what, I hear that there is a tropical region full of clear skies, nice beaches, and cool water," he says. "Why don't we take a nice vacation there, and then we can figure out how else we can spend our cash."
Jessie's eyes light up, and she squeals, "Oh, that's a wonderful idea! Let's all go right now!"
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbufet agreed.
James and Meowth secretly sigh in relief before Jesse grabs their hands and start dragging them away toward the nearest airport with Wobbuffet following them, skipping with glee. As James and Meowth are forcefully dragged away, the two of them can't help but share Jessie's joy as the three of them and Wobbuffet all believe that nothing but bliss awaits them.
For the next several days, everyone has been working together to bring things back to normal. Looker was able to contact the other regions who have nurses and doctors get what they needed before they were transported to the remains of the battlefield through Hoopa's rings. Mewtwo used its powers to wipe Team Rocket's tower and machine from existence before sending New Island back in its place. Later it brought Giovanni's body to Looker, who had it taken away to be cremated. Afterward, Mewtwo flew away to seek a new purpose while Lugia, Zapdos, Articuno, Moltres, Entei, Raikou, and Suicune go back to their respective domains.
Day by day, more Pokemon who were brainwashed are healed and sent back to their homes or their trainers through Hoppa's rings. Sabrina and Anabel were thrilled to be reunited with their psychic Pokemon. Max and the other trainers who were part of Timothy's cavalry were relieved to see their Pokemon healed after everything that happened. Clemont was shocked while Alain was livid when they found out that Bonnie and Mairin could have been hurt when Spenser's Claydol attacked the medical camp. Alain, in particular, was so mad that Marian had to hold him tight while she and Professor Sycamore slowly helped him calm down. The rest of Ash's Pokemon ran towards him and practically ran him over, they were so happy to see that he is safe. Serena was happy to see the boy she admires reunited with his Pokemon even though she still disapproves of the way Charizard and Garchomp display their affection.
As for Brock, he has been working nearly non-stop at the medical camp, healing every injured or unconscious Pokemon he catches his eye on. Holly, Iris, Cilan, Dawn, Misty, May, Mairin, Professor Sycamore, Erika, Bonnie, Clemont, and Serena have been working hard to help him throughout the week. While Brock works, however, he glances at Holly every chance he gets. Neither of them have had a chance to talk the entire time they've been working. Whenever Holly has a chance to take a break or eat or sleep, Brock tries to take a break or sleep at the same time as her so that he can talk to her. But whenever he tries, it's always during a medical procedure or helping a Pokemon that needs a treatment that takes a while to finish. The more it happens, the more the tan-skinned man grows afraid that he will never have a chance to talk to her.
Finally, late afternoon on the ninth day, the camp comes closer to finish healing all the Pokemon. The area is less crowded with injured Pokemon and trainers. Brock tries to stay focused on what he's working on, but his hands start to shake, eager to finish so that he can talk to Holly. Eventually, everyone is done except for Brock, who is tending to an Unown. He sprays a Super Potion on the poor Pokemon, and it slowly opens its eye before floating in the air. Brock and all the doctors and nurses around him smile warmly at the wild Pokemon.
"Okay, now, Hoopa is going to take you home now, okay?" Brock says.
The Unown nods while Hoopa uses one of its rings to create a portal to its home. Unown happily goes through the portal, and the ring shrinks before returning to Hoopa's horn.
"Nice job, Hoopa!" Bonnie praises.
"Yes, thanks so much," Clemont says.
Hoopa giggles like a child and says, "My pleasure. I guess I better get back to my home too. Baraz and Meray are probably worried about me."
Serena nods and says, "That's a good idea. You should say goodbye to Ash before you go. He's with his Pokemon right now."
"I sure will," Hoopa says with a grin. "Goodbye, everyone!"
"Bye, Bye!" Bonnie shouts.
"Tell Baraz and Meray we said hi!" Clemont calls.
Everyone else among the camp, including Brock, Mairin, Professor Sycamore, Iris, Cilan, May, Dawn, and Erika, wave and call out 'goodbye' to Hoopa. Once the Pokemon is out of sight, Brock turns around to find Holly, but his face falls to see that the auburn-haired woman is nowhere in sight. He starts looking around frantically only to ultimately find her walking away already half a mile away from the camp. Brock starts to run to her when suddenly a Nurse Joy steps in front of him with her hands behind her back and a soft smile.
"Hey, Brock," she says shyly.
"Uh, hey," Brock says awkwardly. "Can I help you?"
Nurse Joy frowns slightly and says, "Don't you recognize me, Brock? I'm the Nurse Joy from Celadon City. You said none of the Nurse Joys are as beautiful as me."
"Yeah, of course, I recognize you," Brock says honesty, unsure of what she's getting at.
Nurse Joy looks away bashfully and says, "I wanted to say that I really appreciate all the hard work you've done to take care of the injured Pokemon."
Brock smiles and says, "Oh, don't worry about it. I was just doing what needed to be done."
He takes a step to move past Nurse Joy, but she steps in front of him.
"Yes, but I really admire how you kept your cool and stayed focused the entire time," she says. "Not many doctors can do that - leastways not when they constantly have as many patients as we had over the last several days."
Brock nods smiles again politely before taking another step to go past Nurse Joy only for her to step in front of him again.
"In fact, I was wondering what you're doing later tonight," she says. "Because I was thinking maybe I could take you up on your offer a while back about assisting me at my Pokemon Center and getting some dinner."
Brock loses his focus and turns to the nurse, finally understanding what she's doing. Before he can make a reply, however, he feels someone grab his left arm. He turns around to see another Nurse Joy looking at him with her cheeks heating up.
"Hey, Brock, I was wondering if you're free the rest of the day," she says.
The first Nurse Joy frowns and says, "Hey, back off, cousin. I'm already asking him out."
The second one pouts and says, "So? That doesn't mean he said yes."
"But he didn't say no either," the first one counters.
Then a third one comes up from behind and says, "Hey, hold off, you two. He was working with me the most, so he should be going on a date with me."
"Working with you the most?" A fourth Nurse, Joy rebukes. "I was in the same spot as him for days healing a lot of Pokemon."
"Oh please," says a fifth Nurse Joy. "I'm from the Pokemon Center in Pewter City, so I've known him the longest. If anyone has a claim to court him, it's me."
The next thing Brock knows, he is surrounded by a couple dozen Nurse Joys. All of them are arguing over who should be going out with him. Brock doesn't know what to do with so many of them crowding around him. Then suddenly, a loud whistle is heard, and the nurses and Brock turn around to see an Officer Jenny looking at them seriously.
"Step away from Brock," she orders.
"Why?" The Nurse Joys ask at the same time.
"You're crowding around him and making him uncomfortable," Officer Jenny says, walking towards Brock as the nurses back away. "I will not have you harass this poor man by fighting over who should go out with him."
Brock sigh in relief, glad to have a moment to breathe. His moment is short-lived, however, when the Officer Jenny steps in front of him and give him a flirtatious smile.
"Besides, I would like to hear him tell me how he took down that powerful Claydol over dinner," she says in a soothing voice.
Brock's mouth drops, and the Nurse Joys look at Officer Jenny looking both flabbergasted and angry with what she just said. Before either of them know it, another Officer Jenny puts her hand on Brock's shoulder from behind.
"Now hold on, cousin," she says. "Who says you can just ask him out like that?"
Another Officer Jenny steps in and says, "Yeah, you probably don't know a good place to have a proper dinner with someone as brave as Brock."
A fourth Officer Jenny comes in and frowns disapprovingly at the other officers with her hands on her hips.
"Now, why would he care about where to go for dinner when there's a woman like me who can make him a meal he will never forget?" She boasts.
Several more Officer Jennys step in making similar claims. Brock becomes uneasy again while the Nurse Joys start to argue with the Officer Jennys.
"Back off! We were here first!" A Nurse Joy barks.
"No, you back off in the name of the law!" An Officer Jenny shouts.
"The law doesn't say you can claim who you can date!" A Nurse Joy yells.
"Will everyone just back off already!" The Nurse Joy from Celadon City shouts. "I made a move on him before any of you!"
"I still know him longer than any of you because I'm from Pewter City, where he lives!" The Nurse Joy from Pewter City yells.
"I'm from Pewter City too!" One Officer Jenny barks.
"So what?" The Nurse Joy from Pewter City. "He visits me more often so that he can heal his Pokemon!"
"Will you all just get out of my way?!" A Nurse Joy shouts from behind the crowd of nurses. "I want a chance to talk to him."
"And you're never going to get a chance once I get my date with him!" An Officer Jenny shouts.
"I STILL ASKED HIM BEFORE ANY OF YOU!" The Nurse Joy from Celadon City screams.
Before Brock knows it, all of the Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys are crowding him so much that he has no space to move. All of them are angrily yelling and screaming their heads off at each other like children. Some of them grab hold of Brock with one Nurse Joy wrapping her arms around him and snuggling her head against his right shoulder while an Officer Jenny also wraps her arms around him and rests her head on his left shoulder. The women create such a commotion that everyone else in the medical camp turns to see what is going on. Brock stands in place completely shocked to see so many beautiful women - many of which he has attempted to pursue in the past, fighting over him as if he's a rare, valuable item that they would do anything to possess. He blushes furiously the more the women closest to him begin to tug him back and forth or hug him tightly, and for the briefest moment, he begins to smile brightly, realizing his biggest fantasy has turned into reality.
But the moment his eyes turn back to Holly with her figure growing ever smaller in the distance, his childish joy disappears as quickly as it came. In his mind, the countless women bickering all around him are not there, and only Holly remains. His heart is aching to see her leaving him without a word for the third time, and he takes a large breath before he screams at the top of his lungs.
"STOP!"
Immediately, all the Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys stop fighting and turn to Brock. The women grabbing hold of Brock let go and step away while they all look at him. Brock stays silent for a moment before he speaks calmly.
"Listen, ladies, I'm flattered by your interest in me," he begins. "But, I already have someone."
All the women look at him, shocked and disappointed by this news. Brock sees this moment as a chance to make his way through the crowd and start running toward Holly as fast as his legs can carry him, desperate to reach her. When he gets close enough, Holly stops walking - hearing the sound of footsteps, and turns around to see the tan-skinned man running over to her. Brock's heart skips a beat at the sight of her looking at him again as he finally catches up with her.
"Brock, what are you doing here?" She asks.
Brock puts his hands on his knees and pants heavily for a few seconds before he looks up to Holly with a desperate look.
"Holly, please don't go," he says.
Holly frowns and says, "Why? You're with Lucy now and -"
"No, I'm not," Brock interrupts.
Holly looks at him, confused.
"You're not?" She asks.
"Of course not," Brock says. "I don't care about that bet the two of you made. It won't change the way I feel about you."
Holly frowns sadly and looks away.
"Maybe it should," she says. "I barely defeated one of Timothy's Pokemon, unlike someone like Lucy. She's clearly a better battle partner for you."
"Then why did you come back?" Brock counters.
Holly is silent for a moment before she answers, "I didn't learn about everyone coming to fight Team Rocket until you were already close to their base. Even though I didn't think I would be of much use, I wanted to fight for the sake of the world. But when I saw that Claydol destroying the medical camp and you were in trouble, I couldn't stop myself. I was so worried about you that I had to do something to help. I'm ashamed that I didn't get there sooner."
"Holly, that's not your fault," Brock says with a small smile. "I don't blame you for what happened. No one does. There are Pokemon we were still able to help because of you. If we didn't take down Spenser's Claydol, then we wouldn't be able to give Timothy what he needed to get to Arceus. For that matter, it was you and me working together to stop Claydol to save the camp. Don't you see? You are the right partner for me. You always have been."
Holly is surprised by Brock's words before she looks away ashamedly again.
"I'm sorry, but I don't see it that way," she says. "Why would you think so highly of someone like me when there are women like Lucy, who would be better suited for a wonderful man like you?"
Tears begin to form in Holly's eyes, unable to say anything else. But then she feels Brock grab her by both shoulders, and she looks up just in time to feel him press his lips against hers. Her eyes widen, and she lets out a sharp gasp that's muffled by Brock's mouth. She doesn't understand why he's kissing her, but eventually, she closes her eyes and embraces the moment. After several seconds, Brock slowly moves his head back and stares at Holly for a couple of seconds before he breaks down, gets on his knees and rests his head on Holly's stomach while wrapping his arms around her waist. Holly looks at him in disbelief as he cries softly.
"Holly, I don't care about Lucy or any other woman," Brock says. "I don't care if you're the strongest or weakest trainer on the planet, I don't care that you lost, I don't even care that you competed at all. All I care about is you. If you had let me speak to you before your match against Timothy, then you would have learned that I choose you over Lucy."
Holly looks at Brock, shocked by his declaration. The tan-skinned man tightens his hug around her waist as he continues.
"Holly, my heart belongs to you," he says. "Everything that I am is yours. I'll do anything for you. Just say the word, and whatever you want is all yours. I swear I will never pursue another woman for as long as I live."
Hot tears begin to run down Brock's face as he finishes, whimpering, "But please...I beg you...never leave me again. I...I can't bear having to not having you in my life. Please, just stay with me forever."
Holly keeps looking at Brock flabbergasted as he cries quietly. To hear him say all of those things and see him in such a desperate and broken state shakes her to the core. Finally, tears begin to emerge, and her mouth quivers as she gets down on her knees. Brock lets go of her and lifts his head up just in time for Holly to put her hands on his cheeks and look at him as tears run down her face.
"Forever and ever?" She asks.
Brock smiles while still crying and says, "Please."
A small, sweet smile emerges from Holly's face, happy with his answer. She wraps her arms around Brock's head and pulls it toward her right shoulder. She rests her head against Brock's while petting his head with her left hand.
"I promise," she says. "I will stay with you until the very end."
Filled with indescribable joy, Brock doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Holly and squeeze her. The two adults stay like this until Brock breaks the hug, lifts his head, and reaches into his pocket.
"If I may make on more request, I also ask that you don't take this off again," he says.
He takes out the pearl and rock necklace from his pocket, and Holly gasps again, covering her mouth with her hands. She snatches the necklace from Brock and kisses it before she puts it around her neck and looks at Brock happily.
"It'll never leave my side," she vows.
Brock smiles with his mouth open, and the two of them embrace again, still on their knees. Unknown to them, Serena, Bonnie, Dedenne, Clemont, Mairin, Chespie, Alain, Professor Sycamore, May, Dawn, Piplup, Iris, Cilan, and Misty are watching the two of them from a distance. Everyone smiles at what is happening with Misty giving Brock a tearful look.
"After everything that happened, they've managed to reconcile," she says, wiping a tear from her eye. "I can't believe it."
Serena, on the other hand, puts her hand on her heart with small tears of joy in her eyes and quietly says, "I can."