Me: Okay, I think I've left you guys hanging on the brink long enough. I don't own Pokemon.
Ash: So do I!
Me: Uh...what do you mean? I also don't own Creed's song "Is This The End?"
Ash: You said you left them on the brink, haven't you? So-get them out!
Me: Aiyaaaaaaaa! Next thing you know, you'll be saying you're related to Jackie Chan!
Ash: Huh? (I whack him upside his head) Ow!
Pokemon: The Power of Two
Chapter XIV-One Last Chance
"He...is the Chosen One. He...will bring balance..." -Qui-Gon Jinn
Last time, Ash was furious with Misty for suggesting that they take the train Whitney sent them
back to Ecruteak City-so furious, he broke up with her during one of their latest fights! But, even
so, she decided to go help Ash in capturing the Legendary Pokemon, Ho-oh. But, Gary was
watching Ash's every move and was determined to catch Ho-oh for himself. Now, it's down to
Master Ball V.S. Heavy Ball as we find out which trainer will be successful in capturing Ho-oh:
Ash, or Gary?
(Theme Song; Fanfare starts as Misty says the name of the episode)
Misty: One Last Chance!
Every eye watched as the Master Ball and the Heavy Ball headed closer to the weakened Ho-oh; only Ash, Misty, Efram, Morty and their Pokemon were all hoping that Ash would triumph, whereas Gary himself wanted victory. Surprisingly enough, the Master Ball suddenly swerved to the right and struck the Heavy Ball, sending both Pokeballs to the ground!
"What...?" Ash began in shock, not understanding what had happened.
"Don't you watch baseball, Ash? That was a curve ball! I knew you'd only have one Pokeball left, so I got myself two-one, so I could deflect your ball, and...well, you can guess the second reason. Master Ball, GO!"
Ash's eyes narrowed into slits as Gary tossed a second Master Ball straight toward Ho-oh!
"CHIKORITA, VINE WHIP NOWWWWWW! CHARIZARD, FLAMETHROWER!" Ash screamed at the top of his lungs. Instantly, Chikorita fired two vines directly toward the fallen Heavy Ball, while Charizard fired a quick blast of fire toward the second Master Ball, but it was too high up. Everyone gasped as the unbeatable ball hit Ho-oh and pulled him in!
"Ash...it can't be..." Misty slowly sank to her knees as the Master Ball shook and rattled near Ash's feet.
"Pika pi..."
A second or so later, the Master Ball pinged and grew silent.
"They've lost...but, all hope is not gone. They can still reclaim what was taken from them, if
they hurry back to where his greatest battle took place, far from the regions of Johto."
The rage in my eyes could have compared to the eye of a sun
Then rain took it's course through the hands of the Son-repent for all time!
The world is at war, leaving all hope behind...
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" Ash cried out in undescribable agony a second later after the Master Ball grew silent, already feeling his injuries-which hadn't completely healed up from the incident on the airship-reopen, the blood dripping onto his shirt and down his face.
"ASH! GARY, YOU'D BETTER RELEASE HO-OH NOW!!" Misty demanded angrily, feeling fire flow through her veins as she glared at Gary, who had picked up the Master Ball.
"Pika pi! Pika...CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!" The Lightning Pokemon charged up, then sent a powerful electric attack aimed at Gary. It almost hit him, but he nimbly dodged and avoided the path.
"Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that! Ho-oh, GO!"
The Fire/Flying Pokemon was released from the Master Ball, in as much pain as Ash was. Shrieking in pain, Ho-oh was barely able to stay aloft.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go find some news reporters who are early risers! Later, Ashy boy! Ha ha, ha ha!"
"GARY, YOU JERK! GET BACK HERE NOW!" Misty cried heatedly, being forced to watch as Ho-oh fly into the distance until he was completely out of sight.
"Pikachu pi!" Pikachu's cry of warning had alerted Misty to forget about Gary momentarily and refocus back on Ash. The young trainer was writhing in silent agony, the blood still flowing freely from his right arm and left cheek.
"Ash? Can you hear me?" Misty asked worriedly, afraid to get too close for fear her gentle touch would cause him more pain.
"Misty...I'm sorry..." Ash gasped out, seeing her through blurred eyes, his vision fading in and out.
"Don't speak now, Ash. If you're talking about earlier, I forgive you-just please, don't speak."
"I have to...maybe this is the end for our journeys together..." Ash coughed up some blood at that moment. Chikorita worriedly ran over to him and tried to soothe him with her Sweet Scent attack. It worked, but only for a brief time.
"What do you mean, 'this is the end?' It can't be over, Ash! It just can't be!" Misty had to fight to stay strong and not break down. Efram and Morty had left to go and get some help as fast as possible; Pikachu, Charizard, Espeon, Chikorita and Suicune could do nothing but watch the scene unfold as it came.
"Trust me, Mist-it'll all work out...You'll see..." Before Ash finally blacked out, he saw Misty,
tears staining her face, lean forward to capture his bloodied lips in a final kiss.
Chorus: Is this the end for us, my friend?
Is this the end for us, my friend?
Ash awoke to find himself once more at somewhere in Johto.
"Not again! I thought after all these journeys, and all these adventures, that it would all be over for me." Ash complained irritably.
"It can never be over. Not as long as you are the Chosen One." a voice declared. Ash didn't even have to turn around, simply because he knew who it was-Mewtwo, the most powerful Pokemon throughout the world.
"And just what do you mean by that?" Ash demanded, feeling anger rise up from within his body, so he knew he was still alive.
"Even though you were mortally wounded just moments ago against Gary, your heart still beats. That means that there's something-or someone-worth fighting for here on the Earth. And, even though you had been bested in your quest to capture Ho-oh, there's one more Legendary Pokemon you can claim as your own, but you'll have to return to the islands you haven't been to in over two years. If you're worried about pain, Espeon's Psychic power will periodically heal you. I promise, when this is all over, I'll inform you and Misty about why I protected her from experiencing any pain whatsoever." Ash gritted his teeth, instantly knowing what-and who-Mewtwo was speaking about.
"Lugia. I've got to return to the Orange Islands, specifically, Shimoutee."
The saints in the sky are there to remind us of man and his fight
When two worlds collide, one steals the life like a thief in the night, so look to the sky
Back in Ecruteak, before Mewtwo had summoned Ash, his breathing had grown irregular, and he was straining to breathe with Misty and the other Pokemon watching, Suicune excluded-she'd recalled him earlier.
"Don't you do this to me, Ash Ketchum! I had to sit by and watch you leave me once before-I
can't go through this again, not now! Please, wake up and prove me wrong!"
"I almost died tonight, didn't I?" Ash asked calmly. The Psychic-type nodded.
"If I hadn't summoned you, not even Lugia or myself could have brought you back."
"So, what does that mean?" Smirking, Mewtwo turned toward Ash and motioned back to where his limp body and Misty's were suspended in time. His, on the brink of death; Misty's tear stricken and right by his side.
"That means you still have a duty, Chosen One. Together, you and Misty must return to the island of Shimoutee and you must claim Lugia as your own to battle against Ho-oh. Only then can you destroy the unbeatable Master Ball and capture Ho-oh."
"So, this isn't the end, is it?" Ash said, already beginning to feel pain radiate through his arm.
"Not by a long shot, my friend."
Chorus: So, is this the end for us, my friend?
So, is this the end for us, my friend?
So, is this the end for us, my friend?
So, is this the end for us, my friend?
"At least he's in a better place." Brock said. He, Whitney and Team Rocket had finally made it to the top of the Tin Tower. They'd gotten the gist of the information from Morty only minutes before.
"I don't want Ash in a better place! I want him here!" Misty cried sadly, no longer caring about hiding her tears. Pikachu, Chikorita and Charizard all solemnly stood by their fallen trainer, whereas Espeon laid next to Ash's side.
"Think about it, Misty-Ash probably isn't suffering anymore. He isn't crying because he knows you're safe, and he isn't in any pain because that was all taken away." Brock explained, trying to hide his tears from Misty, and failing.
"I'm...not gone yet, Brocko..."
"Ash!"
"Pika pi!"
"Chikori!"
"Charrrrrrrrr!!!"
"You've done it again, Ash-you've beaten the odds and come back!"
"Trust me, everyone..." Ash admitted as he accepted the hugs he received from Pikachu,
Chikorita, Charizard, Espeon and a kiss from Misty. "...this truly isn't the end-not by a long
shot."
Well, as though we rise, as the day breaks the dawn, and as the moon hides the sun
Oh, the sun
No more sorrow, all those crying days are gone
No more sorrow, now it's gone
Now it's gone, now it's gone...
Chorus: So, is this the end for us, my friend?
So, is this the end for us, my friend?
So, is this the end for us, my friend?
So, is this the end for us, my friend?
After being helped up by his friends and made sure that he was okay-for the most part-Ash slowly, but surely, made his way down the Tin Tower, promising himself he'd tell Misty, Brock and the Pokemon about the path the quest had taken now.
And so, Ash barely recovered from this harrowing escapade. Now, he and Misty-with Brock going along, of course-have to return to Shimoutee Island to find and capture Lugia in order to do battle against Gary and Ho-oh. Can Ash truly accomplish what he's set out to do? We'll find out next time!