Crimson Tears

Chapter Thirty One: The Choice

The twisted acts of his foolishness. How many times did his father tell him what would happen? Misty even knew. Why was it so important? What was drawling him to the stone?

Ash hugged his knees to his chest and exhaled. A cloud of white mist rose form his lips. The place was emptier than empty. It was cold too.

Tears slipped down Ash's cheeks. They left trails down his cheeks. Ash rubbed the tears away quickly with the back of his gloved hand. He stopped and examined his hands. He felt so strange. He knew he was dead but yet he felt whole. He clenched his fists and stared down out them as if he had never seen them before. His heart pounded and he loosened his grip and gently pulled the black gloves off his palms. Where before a wound his finger nails had engraved in his palms lay noting but smooth skin. Ash smiled softly and played with his fingers gently. It was strange. Would he miss his body?

Ash slipped the gloves back onto his hands and smiled. He got back to his feet daring the cold. He wasn't going to stay here moping all his life… or afterlife. He was gonna have to make the best of it until Misty came.

Ash smiled at the thought of seeing her again. She would probably be a lot older. Who knows how long she would survive out on earth. She might even be a grandma. Ash laughed at the thought. Misty an old woman, who would of thought?

Ash grinned and called out into the empty white, "Anyone there? Helllllooooooooooo!"

Their was no answer to his shout. Instead the room grew warmer. Ash blinked as out of the corner of his eyes he spotted a flash of something. He swerved about to see much to his surprise four familiar faces.

"Ash," Kimi said softly. "You are strong. We are very proud of you. We were wrong to hide your powers before. Then maybe this could have been prevented."

Maria, Maya, and Kari all stood at her side nodding. The all looked pale and sad at the sight of Ash here at the bridge of the afterlife. Ash almost forgot that they had died. It was almost impossible to believe.

"That's kind of you guys to care," Ash smiled. "It's okay. Really. Being dead isn't all that bad."

Maya raised an eyebrow, "Are you serious? Really? You are fine with being dead. I know I'm not."

Ash let out a hearty chuckle. He seemed to hiding his true feelings in his eyes. Maria could tell he was quite stressed.

"I've be dead lots of time. This time is no different."

"Except for that this time you won't go back." Kari hissed. She wasn't the nicest elder and often said exactly what was on her mind. The other elders sent her death glares.

Ash bit his lip and tried to pretend that didn't sting. True. He wasn't gonna come back. There was no pokemon tears. No mew. No Haunter. No pikachu. No one to bring him back. No one at all.

All the elders could now see the distress in Ash's heart despite how hard he was trying to hide it. It was written all over him on how he missed earth. But they couldn't just give him back his life regardless of what he did for the world. He would have to earn his life back.

"Don't be so gloomy, Ash," Maria said cheerfully. "We can bring you back."

Ash's face lit up as if Christmas had come early.

"Really?"

"If that is what you want," Kimi said bleakly.

She was watching Ash's every move. This would determine if he was really suitable for his destiny. If he could with stand this, he could do anything set before him.

Ash cocked his head to the side and blinked, "What do you mean?"

All the elder's parted to one side allowing Ash to see the golden gates of heaven. Ash blinked several times at the sight of it. His heart seized up as he raised over to them. He clung on the bars and stared through to the other side. Miles on miles of a golden road and several different sites of beauty. A fountain that sprouted rainbows. Glittering stars scattered across the sky while people flew bouncing off them. Several amazing things indescribable to anything.

Maria touched his shoulder gently bringing Ash back to the problem they were facing. Ash blinked and looked over to her.

"You could be with your father. He is waiting on the other side if you decide to stay."

Ash bit his lip and looked back down at his feet. What did he want?


Misty opened her eyes slowly feeling awfully cold. A face wavered into focus above her.

"Ash?!" Misty gasped.

The person jumped back looking shocked that she was awake. Misty sat up and took a closer look at him.

"I'm sorry. I think you have me confused with my son," The man muttered sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.

Misty let out a audible gasp, muffled when she covered her mouth.

"But then you're Jeffery… you're dead!"

"Yeah. Thanks for reminding me," Jeffery moaned sweat dropping.

"Then I'm-"

"Oh… uh,"Jeffery scratched his head. "You're not… yet."

Misty blinked her bright eyes in confusion.

"Then…what?"

"You can go back. If you want to…"

"What do you mean? If I want to?"

"Well, I mean you know Ash is dead… so since you are his girlfriend I was thinking you might want to stay…"

Misty went bright red in the face. She looked as if she was going to burst with embarrassment, "I do not love Ash! We are just friends."

"Sure. Right," Jeffery smiled waving through the air as if blowing away hot air, "My mistake. Wrong red head I guess…"

"What?!"

"I mean there has to several other red head's that Ash hangs around… Misty, I dunno if you know this but in heaven we can see everything you do."

Misty blushed even brighter, "Everything?"

"Well, heh. Yeah. Like that one time. When Ash was sleeping and you came up and-"

"That's quite enough," A voice behind them snapped.

Misty turned to see much to her astonishment, "Daddy? Mommy?"

Jacen grinned and Sarah burst into tears at the sight of her daughter. She rushed forward and hugged Misty tight. Jacen on the other hand came up and started scolding Jeffery.

"She isn't supposed to know we were spying on her personal life!" Jacen snapped.

"Well… So I guess the wedding we planned for them is off their knowledge."

"Yes."

"Darn. Well, okay. Since she's yours I'll let that slide but Ash is getting all my tips!" Jeffery grinned doing a peace sign.

Jacen slapped his forehand and laughed, "The man's obsessed. But you gotta love it."


"Dad?" Ash whispered softly.

That was a word he missed saying. Was he really beyond those gates? Ash backed away glaring at the gates fearfully. Why couldn't he decide?

"Ash. Make up your mind. Do you or do you not to stay?" Kari snapped.

Ash dropped to all fours. He couldn't think. He had to decide, a lump in his jacket was starting to annoy him. Ash reached into his pocket and pulled out the gleaming Master ball. It was the size of a marble. Ash clicked the white button enlarging it to normal size. Ash could see his face reflected in its smooth surface. He also could see earth from his memories. The planet he had protected even when he wasn't trying to…

Ash's mind was made up. He looked up at the elders and grinned holding up at the ball.

"Mister Pokemon Master! That's me!" He winked.

Maria, Maya, and Kimi's eyes popped the size of volley balls. Only Kari seemed to understand.

She nodded and waved her hand gracefully, "Good choice, Ash. You will make a great master."

Then everything went white…


Misty broke apart from the hug that she had on her mother. Tears stung her eyes as she looked from the one person to another.

"I missed you."

Jacen smiled and nodded, "We did too… but we want you to go back."

Misty's eyes went blank. Hurt struck her heart painfully, "W-what?"

"Misty, You have so much to live for."

"But I want to stay with you," Misty cried burying her face in her mother's arms.

"Misty…please," Sarah muttered.

Someone placed a gentle hand on Misty's shoulder. Misty turned to face Jeffery, "They'll be waiting for you. Just like I'll wait for Ash. You can stay up her forever but down there you have only limited time. Enjoy it while it lasts… and marry Ash! I want grandchildren!" Jeffery laughed giving a peace sign.

Misty looked startled but then laughed, "Okay. I'll go back."

To Be Continued…

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Okay! When is fanfiction dot net gonna be up so I can post this up?!