I would like to dedicate this final chapter to ObiwanKatie, Physic Mew, Ash's #

I would like to dedicate this final chapter to ObiwanKatie, Physic Mew, Ash's #.1 Fan and everyone else who reviewed for all their reviews(If you guys don't mind!) . Thanks you guys. You don't know how much your kind words meant to me!

Here goes nothing!

The Future

Ash sat at the bottom of his garden absentmindedly tossing stones into the stream. Pikachu quietly sat next to him.

He had finally been discharged from hospital after a month long coma. Looking back he wished he had died.

A large marquis was erected in the Oak's garden and final preparations were under way. Florists and caterers rushed about like ants.

He had been released that morning and, on request from his mother, was staying in Pallet until he was fully recovered. All the time he was in hospital he hoped and paradoxically feared a visit from Misty. The last thing he remembered from the cavern was her beautiful sky blue eyes staring down at him.

She never came though.

And now the reality that he had been avoiding since Gary had announced the engagement was coming true. He had lost Misty forever.

A slight rustling behind him alerted him to someone's presence. Turning his head he saw Brock making his way down the path. He was dressed in a tuxedo; his hair gelled back in a vain attempt to control it. He shifted slight under Ash's stare, digging his hands into his pockets.

"Hey" Brock said quietly sitting on the grass next to Ash. "How you holding up?"

Ash continued to stare out over the forest. The sun was preparing to set, reminding him of the last time he had been there.

"I don't blame you for being mad at me. Its just...Misty asked me to give her away…and, well, she's my friend too. ..I just couldn't say no to her."

"It's ok, Brock. I'm not mad at you…..I'm mad at myself. If only…" he sighed. "What does it matter now. She's gone. I've lost her." He added quietly.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Eventually Brock stood, looking at his watch.

"I better get going." He said sympathetically. "Are you gonna be ok on your own?"

"I'll be fine." Replied Ash, his head lowered.

Pikachu placed it's paw on Ash's leg and smiled at Brock reassuringly.

Brock began walking in the direction of the marquis. Before he had gone ten paces he turned to Ash, who had returned his stare to the forest canopy.

"It should be you Ash." He said sorrowfully, then turned and continued towards the marquis.

Ash sighed deeply, closing his eyes to prevent new tears welling up. He put his hand in his pocket and removed Misty's engagement ring. It glistened in the setting sun, causing rainbows of light to dance across his face. He squeezed it tight in his hand, almost drawing blood.

It was time to let go.

Misty walked around the marquis. She had been dressed and ready for over an hour now, leaving her with at least two before the ceremony started.

Two hours too long. All she had done for the past three and a half weeks was think, ever since they had got back from the jungle.

They had been successful in stopping the Apocalypse but Ash had been terribly injured.

Using the location devices given to them by Professor Oak they had alerted the emergency services and managed to have him choppered to hospital. He had spent the next month in a coma. Every day her heart begged her to visit him but her head forbid it. She didn't trust herself around him.

She'd heard he'd been discharged today.

This information evoked such fear in her. Why today of all days? She wasn't afraid of what Ash might do, but of what her actions might be. Ever since seeing him again old, forgotten feelings had begun to resurface.

She had never stopped loving Ash; she had left him because she thought he didn't love her. She wouldn't have been able to face him telling her that so instead she ran away.

But now she was with Gary and she…she loved him.

She brought her hands to her face, gently brushing away tears. These thoughts had plagued her ever since she had seen Ash again.

Blinking rapidly she pushed such thoughts aside. She had come out of her room to escape such thoughts.

She decided to inspect the wedding gifts. She entered the large room allocated to them. It was a large room, filled with tables piled high with gifts. Inspecting them she soon found out she and Gary would be surviving solely on toast from the rest of their lives. She moved from table to table, with each one becoming more distraught.

What ever her feelings concerning Ash it was too late now, she couldn't call it off now. She had promised Gary.

"You promised Ash first!" A voice reminded her from deep inside.

Clearing her mind she continued to look at the presents, but not seeing any at all.

Something caught her attention in the corner. Turning she moved closer to it.

She gasped when she finally recognised what it was. A bicycle! A brand new, shiny, red bicycle! Perfect for a girl about eleven years of age. Slowly she approached it.

On the handle bar hung a delicate white envelope. She took it and opened it, pulling out a small note.

All that was written was:

I said I would pay you back some day.

Ash raised his hand above him and with all his might threw the ring towards the steam. It sailed through the air; shining and glistening like a tiny star.

Just before it broke the surface of the chattering water it stopped, bathed in a blue glow. It hovered above the surface momentarily, before slowly rising up and flying over his head.

Ash turned full circle, standing up in the process.

Misty stood before him, cradling Togepi. The ring glided through the air, apparently controlled by the egg pokémon. Misty opened her hand and Togepi relinquished it's physic hold over the ring letting it drop into Misty's palm.

Ash stared at Misty. Never before had he seen anything so beautiful. Her wedding dress was simple, flattering her slight figure. Her autumn coloured hair cascaded down her back in a series of gentle waves, leaving wispy tendrils to fall around her face.

She looked so beautiful, and it was all for Gary.

She was looking mournfully at the ring, almost oblivious to his presence.

Sighing she looked up at him, her eyes moist with unshed tears.

She looked around her, smiling slightly to herself. "I knew I'd find you here."

She set Togepi down on the grass. Pikachu grabbed it by the wrist and the two pokémon hid in a bush not far from their trainers, observing their every move.

Ash made no reply but simply stared back at her.

She had come here to say her good-byes; soon she would be lost to him. He couldn't take it; he couldn't listen to the "Lets always be friends" line. He could never again be friends with her, not when she meant infinitely more to him.

She looked down at the ring in her hand again. "You kept it?"

Ash cast his eyes to the ground and nodded, embarrassed.

Misty inhaled deeply. "Ash, I-"

"Don't" He cut her off. "I can't. I can't listen to this." He turned and briskly began walking in the direction of his house.

"Ash!" Misty ran after him. She stopped dead in front of him leaving him little room to move. She took his hand in hers.

Ash sweat due to her close proximity. Her sweat breath sent shivers down his spine. He kept his head low; knowing his eyes would betray him.

"Ash" She sighed lightly touching his left temple, inspecting his now almost completely healed cut.

He grabbed her roughly on the shoulders, staring deeply into her eyes. "Why are you doing this, Misty? You're marring Gary toady! Do you delight in torturing me?"

"No! Ash I..." She whispered apologetically, tears running down her face. She fell forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and sobbing into his chest. "I'm so sorry, Ash. I don't know what I was thinking. I've…I've never stopped loving you."

Ash froze. His arms remained limp at his side. He neither welcomed her embrace nor pushed her away.

She pulled away and stared up at him with pleading eyes. He looked down at her feeling immature and unsure. Slowly she moved closer to him and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Ash started but almost immediately pulled her closer and claimed her lips again.

But something was wrong. He should be happy. He was with Misty again. This was what he wanted. But something was wrong. Too much had happened. He pulled away from her.

"You better go." He gently pushed her away.

"Ash?" She stared at him, eyes wide and glistening.

"I can't go through it again. You've already broken my heart, I don't think I could take it again. Please leave me alone." He spoke calmly.

"So that's it? It's over?!" Anger began to boil within Misty.

"It's been over for two years, Misty! I think you getting married to someone else might had made that kinda obvious!" Ash retorted sarcastically.

"You weren't saying that in the cave!"

"No, actually you were the one saying it was over in the cave! Or do you not remember? Now all of a sudden things have changed and you decide it's not over! Well sorry, Myst, but it doesn't suit me to be played like that"

"So you're going to throw away what we have because of wounded pride? I always said you were dense, but I never thought you were down right stupid!"

"Well if you weren't so bloody stubborn-"

"Ha! You calling me stubborn. That's ironic!" She strode up to him and crossed her arms.

"Yes! Stubborn! If you had told me what you were feeling two years ago none of this would have happened!"

"I tried! Maybe if you were around once in a while I could have told you!"

"No! No way! It's my fault? I did all that stuff for you!"

"Sure Ash!" She added condescendingly.

"Yes, I did. Everything I did, I did for you! Catching pokémon, winning badge after badge, becoming Pokémon Master. It was all for you, so that for once you might be proud of me. So that you might…might love me the way I love you."

"What?" She stared at him in disbelief. "Why did you never tell me this? We were going out for three years!"

"I dunno. Once we started going out there seemed little point in telling you. What would it have mattered. And plus it was a little embarrassing, you know, being in love with your best friend for nine years, its kinda pathetic"

"You…you loved me that long? Since we met?"

Ash blushed when he realised what he had admitted. Laughing lightly he looked her in the eye.

"I've always been in love with you, Misty"

She stared back at him. It seemed to they as if the past two years had never happened for those brief moments. The pain and hurt was forgotten as they were lost in each other's eyes.

Suddenly the church bell tolled signalling the beginning of the ceremony.

Ash reversed the convertible out of his mother's drive at break neck speed. He pulled out onto the road and looked to the passenger seat. Misty beamed over at him. He leaned over to her and kissed her passionately, running his fingers through her flame red hair.

"Are you sure about this?" He was almost afraid to ask her.

She smiled down at the spectacular blue diamond engagement ring adorning her left hand.

Ash took this to be a "yes" and revving the engine took off down the road. As they came closer to the Oak's ranch, Ash could hardly suppress a smile. Gary paced back and forth in front of the marquis while Brock and Duplica lounged in the shade of a tree, occasionally looking around for any sign of Misty.

As they gained on Gary, Togepi, with remarkable accuracy, telekinetically threw the ring Gary had given to Misty at him, hitting the unfortunate groom square between the eyes. The little pokémon never had liked that guy.

Ash speed past them not looking back. That part of his life was over. The past was past. He had his life with Misty to look forward to now. Finally they were together. He smiled over at the beautiful women he loved, the woman he had always loved.

THE END

Oh my God! My first fic is finished! I can't believe it! I hoped you all enjoyed it! Thanks a million to everyone who reviewed and so gave me the confidence to go on with it.

I'm tossing around a few more ideas in the old noggin but two weeks of college entrance exams (EEP!) and a holiday to America (which I SO can't wait for!) are coming up, so I may be a while getting anything written.

Thanks for keeping with mw throughout the fic even when it seemed a bit on the depressing side! I made it a happy (or should that be sappy?) ending coz I finished school forever on Friday and at the mo I'm all sentimental! I was tempted to have Ash and Misty go their separate ways and then write a sequel or put a question mark after the "THE END" but I decided against that coz of the unavailability of time, the sentimental kick I'm on and, well, I wanted to see how it would all end up!

Any thanks again for reading and please review!

Love,

Ánachia