Me: Okay-I've left you guys hanging long enough, so here we are-the next installment in "The Power of Two!" I don't own Pokemon, of course. Nor do I own Creed's song "My Sacrifice."
Ash: Finally-have you been held up or something?
Me: Something like that, but it revolved around schoolwork.
Ash: I wouldn't know that much about school, since I only do Pokemon training, but I know enough.
Pikachu: Pika! (That's true!)
Pokemon: The Power of Two
Chapter XVIII-Ash's Sacrifice
"We'll meet again someday...goodbye, old friend. Don't forget me!" -Ash Ketchum
"During our previous adventure, Ash and Lugia finally got to battle against Gary and Ho-oh,
but the result ended up to be a standstill-neither one could technically defeat the other since
they both could use Recover attack! As for Misty's part in this, she had Suicune, Raikou and
Golduck use Hyper Beam to destroy the airship once and for all. Also, the combined attacks
destroyed the hypnotic inducer that Giovanni had used on Gary beforehand. Unfortunately, the
leader of Team Rocket had one more ace up his sleeve...he used a gigantic ray to knock out and
capture Misty and her Pokemon! Now, Ash must attempt a rescue if he ever wants to see Misty
alive again..."
(Theme song; Fanfare starts as Misty says the name of the episode)
Misty: Ash's Sacrifice!
Misty cried out as Giovanni threw her-hard-onto the rough floor of the jail cell that was directly underneath Team Rocket's base.
"What do you want with me? You've already got what you need-you destroyed my Heavy Balls and captured my Pokemon-what use do you have for me?" Misty yelled angrily.
"It's not that simple, my dear-" Giovanni suddenly pulled a gun out of nowhere and aimed it at Misty's head. "-or, is it? If I were to agree with your statement, I would have to kill you, and dead little redheads are of no use to me in this plan. The boy comes to save you-with the Legendary Pokemon in tow, of course-and we trade...as far as he knows."
As Giovanni chuckled evilly, Misty felt tears come to her eyes, but she had to wipe them away.
"Where are you, Ash?" Misty whispered to herself.
"Hello, my friend, we meet again; it's been a while-where should we begin? Feels like forever
Within my heart are memories of perfect love that you gave to me...oh, I remember
"Tired? We should be-it's been nearly three days since Misty's been captured, and we have no idea if she's okay, or what." Brock muttered.
"True. But, this is my duty, as the Chosen One, to protect these Pokemon. The question is, would I give up the safety of the entire world for just one girl?" Ash asked. Every time Ash asked himself that question, he always came up with the selfish answer, the one that cost the fate of every living being on the Earth, including his mother's.
"Ahh!" Ash cried out as he felt a twinge of pain on his shoulder.
"Raikou and Suicune have been caught, haven't they? Don't think I haven't noticed your tiny bruises show up out of nowhere."
Ash looked down at Pikachu and Chikorita, who were looking up at him with expecting glances in their eyes.
"Yeah, two days ago. I guess Giovanni destroyed her Heavy Balls. Espeon and Lugia keep healing me every now and then, but something tells me that even their healing techniques aren't gonna work for long."
Ash bowed his head to the ground, feeling the tears rise up before they dropped to the dirt underneath his shoes.
"Every time I remember something she did for me, or whenever I said something stupid, she was always there for me. Now, I feel like I've failed her in every way."
"Pika pi, pikachu!"
"Chiko, chiko!"
"What do you guys mean 'it's not my fault?' If I'd been quicker, I could've saved her!" Ash insisted. Brock pulled Ash's face back up until his eyes were looking into his own. (A/N: What's wrong with Brock's eyes in the first place? The universal question that'll never be answered.)
"You couldn't have done anything to save her, Ash! You were on top of Lugia in the air; I was on Onix. Neither one of us could have saved her from Giovanni, but we can now. All we need to do is come up with a plan."
"And if it doesn't work...we'll be making the biggest sacrifice of all time..."
Chorus: "When you are with me, I'm free, I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others, we'll fly; this brings tears to my eyes
My sacrifice...
"We had our ups and downs in life, Mist and I. I was scared she would try to leave me when we were at Trovita for Rudy, even though I didn't say anything to Tracy. I thought it was over back in Lavender Town when Haunter separated me and Pikachu from our bodies, but it wasn't. I thought she'd left me against the Legendary Pokemon before my Johto League match; she thought I was gone back in Shamouti the first time and our first meeting against Mewtwo..."
A second later, Ash found himself in front of Mewtwo.
"Waaa! Not again."
"Trust me-it's for the best." That's when Mewtwo stepped aside and Ash felt whole again.
"Misty!"
"Ash!" Both trainers hugged tightly and kissed until the Psychic Pokemon cleared his throat with impatience.
"If you're quite finished. Not even I can suspend time for long. Misty being kidnaped wasn't something I'd seen until it happened, so Ash will literally have to make a decision that could bring about the end of the entire future."
Ash nodded in agreement. "You know I know about Raikou and Suicune, right?"
"Yes, and I felt I had kept this from you for far too long."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked. Misty unconsciously clutched Ash's hand.
"The reason why I didn't allow Misty to feel any sort of pain, even right now, is because of the future. She might not have been able to bear children."
Ash and Misty both facefaulted in amazement.
"B-B-Bear children?!" Ash almost passed out if it weren't for Misty grabbing him and pulling
his head back up!
"We've seen our share of ups and downs, oh!
How quickly life can turn around in an instant
It feels so good to reunite within yourself and within your mind-let's find peace there
"You mean to tell me Ash and I are going to be married?" Misty managed to ask.
"Yes. It will be a glorious wedding ceremony-at least until Team Rocket crash the party."
"What-? Team Rocket's still around?!" Ash yelped.
"No-not the Team Rocket you know today. No wonder the future isn't to be tampered with..."
"So, what do I have to do?" Ash demanded worriedly. With a saddened look on his face, Mewtwo used Amnesia attack, wiping the entire visit out of Ash and Misty's minds before sending them back.
"I'm sorry, my friends. I had to do it...you'll thank me later. And Ash, the answer's been right in
front of you the entire time."
Ash found himself back with Brock, Pikachu and Chikorita at their campsite miles from Viridian City, struggling to remember what had just occurred.
"What happened to Gary, Ash? I had to guard Slowking as Maren took Melody back to her sister."
Deciding that the previous event probably wasn't that important, Ash shook it off. "Gary destroyed his Master Ball and allowed Ho-oh to return to the Tin Towers. He felt responsible for everything that happened up until now. You do know what happened to that Lawrence guy, right?"
"Yeah-the beautiful Officer Jenny took him away for a long time...Ahh..."
"Hey-Misty's not here to yank you by the ear, so PAY ATTENTION!" Ash screamed inside Brock's left ear as loud as he could. Pikachu and Chikorita stifled their laughter.
"I still can't believe Team Rocket told us that Giovanni has a base just outside of Viridian, and so close to Pallet Town." Brock mumbled.
"They're like that-one minute, trying to steal Pikachu, the next trying to help us save the world."
"Pikachu."
Ash pulled out one of his Heavy Balls and the infamous Master Ball from his belt.
"What are you going to do, Ash?" Brock asked grimly.
"What I have to do...the biggest sacrifice I thought I'd already made in my life." Ash admitted
while fighting to keep from crying. He'd already shed too many tears on this adventure alone.
Chorus: "'Cause when you are with me, I'm free, I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others we'll fly; this brings tears to my eyes
My sacrifice...
I just want to say hello again
"Lugia, Entei-COME ON OUT!" Ash demanded, tossing up the two Pokeballs one last time. Two flashes of light, and Entei and Lugia appeared in all their glory before Ash, Pikachu, Chikorita and Brock.
"Is there something you needed, Ash?" Ash shook his head, picking up the Master Ball and carefully placing it on a sharp rock.
"What I'm about to do is something no Pokemon trainer should ever have to do. I just wanted to say 'hi' one last time before I did this. Giovanni wants to use you, Entei, Raikou and Suicune to take over the world, and I can't let that happen! The only way I can ensure that you're safe is..."
SMASH!!! Ash collided the Master Ball with another rock, pointed end facing the unbeatable Pokeball. Instantly, it broke into two. Ash felt tears come to his eyes again, and he didn't try to stop them.
"I'm sorry, but I just can't go into battle with two powerful Legendary Pokemon by my side! Even though this Giovanni guy is evil, both of you could take his Pokemon down in one shot.
And, I play by the rules. Even if that means I'd have to lose Misty, I can't give you guys up to him." A second later, Ash smashed the Heavy Ball against that same rock, splitting it in half.
"Pika pi..."
"Chikori..." Both Pikachu and Chikorita felt Ash's pain threefold at that second.
"I just want to say hello again!
Chorus: 'Cause when you are with me, I'm free, I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others we'll fly; this brings tears to my eyes...
"It's okay, Ash.You did the right thing. We'll just have to come up with a different plan rather than a full-scale attack." Brock comforted his friend as he cried quietly into his hands, Pikachu and Chikorita carefully nuzzling Ash's cheeks.
"I may have a plan of my own that wouldn't entirely involve you sacrificing us. I know you did the right thing, and so do Pikachu, Brock, Chikorita, Espeon, Entei and even Mewtwo and Mew know. But, Giovanni and Misty don't. So, we can still trick them into thinking that Entei and I are still a part of your team..." Before Lugia explained his plan, Ash stopped him.
"No matter what, Lugia, you and Entei will always be a part of this team."
Chorus: "When you are with me, I'm free, I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others we'll fly; this brings tears to my eyes
My sacrifice...my sacrifice...(want to say hello...)
I just want to say hello again
My sacrifice..."(final chords; song ends)
The following morning, Giovanni was personally inspecting Team Rocket headquarters from the outside with his Persian when he saw a speck of light that shouldn't have been in the sky.
"What is that?" A second later, he heard a mighty roar and saw a tiny beam that quickly turned into a powerful blast of fire! Grunting, Giovanni ducked and looked back up again to see-Ash Ketchum, atop of Lugia with his accursed Pikachu! His squinty-eyed friend was nowhere to be seen, but Ketchum's Charizard was out of his Pokeball.
"Giovanni-you and me, 6-6 battle! No Legendary Pokemon-just six regular, run-of-the-mill Pokemon. If I win, you release Suicune, Raikou, Misty and all her Pokemon. If you win, you get me and all these Pokemon. Fair?"
"Ash, I hope you know what you're doing! Find out what Giovanni says in the next adventure!"