Misty's Awakening Part 24 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* * * *

Two Weeks Later:

* * * *

The ring was the most stunning thing Misty had ever seen.

It sparkled in the sunlight, more brilliant than the sun or the stars or the moon. It held its own world of meaning.

The box was held out before her. Misty had forgotten where she was, and her entire world focused upon the little piece of diamond that was being offered to her. Offered? No, *given*.

People didn't just *give* other people diamonds. They were too expensive. They represented, on a ring, the undying feelings of love that two people possessed for each other. It meant a new bond that should never be broken. It meant....meant....

Getting married.

And Misty remembered, suddenly, where she was.

The grass waved at her and Ash like an applauding crowd, ushering Misty to answer the question that still hung uncertainly in the air. The rock where she sat had felt cold but a moment ago, and now she didn't even know of its existence. It was a perfect day, only a small nip of cold in the air, and a breeze was wafting over the field beneath a crisp blue sky.

Her lips were parted. She wasn't sure why. Was she supposed to be answering something? Maybe this was a dream, or maybe she was still in a coma and all of this was playing out in her mind as if it were real. At this thought she gasped quietly. Was this person in front of her, the one she loved, not here in real life but only in some funky hallucination induced by a coma relapse? Was it....

'Stop it,' she thought. She was far too old for such silly thoughts. This had to be real, right?

All of it was real. Waking up again from her coma, slowly regaining strength over the following weeks, returning to Ash's house again to stay in their guest room. She'd been very careful lately, just to be sure that she didn't make the same mistake that she had before, that night, when she'd worn herself out and wandered off into the cold night....that had been a dumb thing to do. She nearly killed herself. Ash had told her all about it, like when he'd carried her up to the ambulance and then waited at her bedside at the hospital. He'd wondered all along if she'd pull through....and she almost hadn't.

And she'd lived, and so now she was here. *Really* here. With Ash. Who had just asked her a very important question.

Ash seemed very nervous. Misty couldn't recall seeing him this nervous ever before, and as he sat there, staring at her face, Ash seemed quite worried about something. He was waiting....for her.

Misty looked down at the ring, then glanced up at Ash's face, then down at the ring again. The diamond wasn't as big as it had seemed right at first. She couldn't have cared less. A few years ago she probably would have been a bit more concerned, but now this little diamond that Ash had bought just for her with his savings from the PokeMart job meant so much more than any large rock would.

Ash....he'd been acting a little differently these past few days. He must have been trying real hard to keep this secret concealed. That must be a hard secret to keep.

Oh! And he wanted an answer from her. She would make this much easier for him if she just said....

"Yes."

Ash's face lit up. There was a strange kind of silence. He looked, almost, like he didn't quite believe what she'd said.

"Yes, Ash, I will marry you."

That seemed to satisfy him. "Misty..." he whispered as a real smile broke for his lips. He slid the little ring onto her slender finger, and they both laughed. Misty found tears gathering in her eyes. Ash was starting to cry, too, she noticed.

They didn't need to say another thing then, because within an instant their lips had met and they were holding each other and crying all at the same time. After the kiss they just laughed, letting the tears roll down their cheeks as they held onto each other, looking into the other's eyes.

"Ash....I love you," Misty told him. She let her head rest on his shoulder as soon as the excitement had subsided a little.

"And I love you, Misty. With all my heart."

She smiled. This was a bond that would never be broken.

Kissing Ash again, she went over again in her head all that they'd been through. She thought of the wedding that had taken place only a few weeks before.

"But Ash...I want to suggest just one thing, alright?"

He raised his eyebrow. "What's that, Mist?"

"Let's elope."

* * * *

Indeed, it was a simple wedding. Misty insisted on not making it much of a big thing, and Ash had no objections to that.

It was midwinter when they met in the chapel to exchange their vows, with only a select few people present. The engagement period had lasted but a few weeks....as Ash had put it, "It feels like we've been engaged for years already." They both wanted to get married, so they saw absolutely no need to wait. They were young, but in just this recent year they'd both grown more than most people grow in a lifetime.

Snow blanketed the ground thinly as they left the chapel, this time as husband and wife. There would be no reception, even though Misty knew she probably could have handled it after all. She had gotten so much stronger. But still, they decided to just leave on their honeymoon. After all, they were quite excited to be on their way to the cabin in the mountains, which Ms. Ketchem had arranged for them to stay the weekend.

They made their way down the stairs, snow falling over them like soft confetti, and a few friends and family members waited by the car. It was simple, Misty thought, but so perfect. Ash was holding her arm for support, keeping her warm. Perfect.

Ms. Ketchem met them, with her arm latched around Professor Oak's. Ash and Misty looked at each other at the sight, laughing with their eyes, and all the people crowded around for their congrats and goodbyes.

"Good luck, sis," Misty's sisters said, tears in their eyes. She hugged them all, her own eyes beginning to cloud

"Congrats, Misty," Brock said, and Misty turned to face him. "Don't let Ash cause you too much trouble, OK?"

They both laughed, and she hugged him too, tightly. "Thanks for being such a good friend, Brock. It means a lot."

He smiled warmly. "And I can say the same for you."

Ms. Ketchem hugged her, too, and Professor Oak, and there were a few more good lucks and congratulations. Then she turned to see Ash, waiting by the car. His face, positively beaming, could have melted the winter snow. Misty ran to him, her long, white coat tracing over the ground slightly, her body falling into his arms, and she gave him another kiss.

They waved to everyone, and got into the car.

The vehicle drove off, and snow flew up behind it like a mist.

Even after all they'd overcome, they were the two happiest people alive. And they were one, now.

Their life together was starting, right now.

And than they were gone.





~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Epilogue

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Spring.

The flowers were only just starting to rise up from the ground, renewing the earth, singing a brand new song. It was like magic.

A sound came from the little cottage, the one that Mrs. Oak (only weeks ago Ms. Ketchem) had owned once. She'd moved into her husbands home, however, and was letting her son and his wife stay there for a while.

"ASH!"

"Huh?"

"What do you mean, 'huh'? We've got to get going! I should have known you'd never grow out of sleeping in late!"

Ash smiled, and leaned over to kiss his wife who sat next to him in bed. "Right, right...I'm getting up. I know we need to go— you all packed?"

Misty huffed. "Yes, of course. I was ready last night."

"And now, I just—"

"I've already packed for you."

Ash shot up. "You did? Wow, you're on the ball, aren't you?"

"Yup, where would you be without me to do these things for you? Oh, and I packed you plenty of clean underwear, by the way."

Ash laughed, and got up from the bed. Misty was already dressed, so he hurried himself through the shower, and then got dressed himself.

A quick breakfast, and they were out of the house.

Each of them had a backpack, and no more, as they left the front yard. In her pack, Misty had all of her pokemon, and in Ash's, he had what were left of his and even a couple more he'd caught in the forest. He was ready now, at least, as ready as he'd ever be.

They walked up over the hill together, the early morning sun cascading its friendliness over everything. There was so much to be explored, even here in this insignificant town. But they weren't staying here.

Down they went, into a blooming field, and Ash took Misty's hand. He was so thankful to her for this....

"You sure you ready for all this, again?" Ash asked his wife.

"Absolutely. We're going to finish what we started all those years ago. Now."

He smiled. He'd been waiting for this. He didn't feel too old for it, or unsure, or discouraged— not now, since Misty had persuaded him. And he really did want to go on with his pokemon journey.

Azure skies stretched out like opportunity for the young couple. This was the perfect life. This was the way they had wanted it.

Ash and Misty Ketchem walked through the majestic fields, reaching the forest.

"Here we go again," Misty said, and they walked into the shade of trees.

Together.

No matter what hardships befell them.

Because this— Ash and Misty, together— was how it was always supposed to be.

They could no longer be seen from the hilltop, but the little Pikachu knew where his master had gone. He squealed with delight and bounded down into the fields and toward the forest. It had been a long journey for him, too....

But now it was over.

Only minutes later, the whole forest was echoing with joyous laughter-- laughter of Ash, Misty, and their long lost friend..

Their new journey had begun.



_____________ THE END ____________



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No, your eyes do not deceive you! That says The End, really! No more continues! It's all done! Are you proud of me, or what?

Well, I hope you guys and girls liked it! I've had a lot of fun with this, and I do hope you've had fun reading it!!! Look out for more of my stuff in the future (though there won't be much), and I'll try to look out for yours, too!

Thanks for sticking with me!

--Starglider