C. Cowboy: All right everybody; I have one thing to say about this, expect the unexpected. What you think is the truth could easily become a lie, and those you think are enemies could be friends, and likewise. This chapter has a bit of a sadder and more serious tone to it, And those wondering if this is going to be an Ash/Melody or an Ash/Misty fic the answer will be somewhat obvious by the end of this one. This chapter also contains the song Till You Come Back To Me Again by Garth Brooks. R&R, enjoy, and get out the hankies!     

Chapter 6: Sad Reunion

"PIKA!!!!" Pikachu screamed holding on to Spinarak-Man's shoulder as he swung between a few skyscrapers.

"I'm really getting confused, Pikachu." Spinarak-Man stated, sticking to the side of a building just long enough to spin another web line to swing from.

"P-pika?" Pikachu asked nervously.

"I love Melody. I know that." Spinarak-Man said flipping off a flagpole making the electric rodent scream with terror, "But when Misty kissed me yesterday…I…never felt like that."

"Pika pi kachu pi?" Pikachu asked gripping his neck.

"Mel? She never yells at me, or hits me with a mallet. She's so sweet and kind and beautiful. I really do love her, Pikachu." Spinarak-Man replied.

"Pika pi kachu cha?" Pikachu asked again as Spinarak-Man came to a stop, crouching on a gargoyle.

"Misty?" Spinarak-Man asked sliding his mask off. "She's been my best friend since I was ten. She's always been there pushing me to do my best, and never give up."

"Pi" Pikachu said sharply.

"And?" Ash asked looking at his first Pokemon, "She is really beautiful, especially in that kimono she had on yesterday, and those eyes of her are so filled with life."

"Pika kachu, pikacha, Pikapi?" Pikachu asked patting his shoulder.

"Do I love her too?" Ash asked looking down off the skyscraper, "I…I'm not sure."

Ash then slid his mask back on, "Lets go home, buddy."

And with a loud 'PIKA!!!' The two were back in the air.

Meanwhile in a warehouse in downtown Goldenrod, Melody's eyes slowly fluttered open. "Wha…what happened?"

"Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty." An evil voice sounded in front of her causing a massive recall of her kidnapping the night before, "What do you want with Ash?" She snapped tugging at the ropes that tied her to her seat.

"Oh he hasn't told you his little secret, my dear?" Hobgoblin asked laughing.

"What?" she asked in a mix of confusion and fear.

"You'll find out when he comes for you." Hobgoblin informed jumping onto his glider and shooting out the broken window.

Goldenrod Gym around an hour later…

Misty stood in the shower, and let warm water run over her, and wash away the morning sleepiness. Three guys were running through her mind, her current boyfriend, Gary Oak, the guy who had saved her life, Spinarak-Man, and her long time crush Ash Ketchum. Since Ash found out about her relationship with Gary, their friendship, which she treasured above all other things, went down the crapper. Now that she's found herself attracted to the Friendly Neighborhood Spinarak-Man, who knows what will happen with both Ash and Gary.

"Misty, you home?" a voice called from the living room.

"Gary, that you?"  Misty asked climbing out of the shower.

"Yea, baby, you in?" Gary asked again.

"No." Misty said leaning against the wall in her bathrobe, "I'm a figment of your imagination."

"I can't stay long, I have to meet someone in a little while, I was just wondering if you wanted to go out for dinner tonight?" Gary asked with a smile.

"Sure Gary, sounds great, around seven?"

"Make it eight," Gary corrected, "I'm expecting a long evening."

"Ok." Misty said with a caring smile, "I'll see you then."

"Alright," Gary said happily, "I'll go and let you get back to your shower, Bye!"

"Bye, Babe." Misty said sliding into the shower, leaving the door open.

Gary giggled lightly, and decided to take a quick peak. He snuck around the corner and slowly brought his head into the door, only to be slammed to the floor by a massive mallet, "Be a gentleman." Misty growled, "no peaking."

"Yes ma'am…" Gary groaned as he slowly pulled himself up and left.

 Three hours later

I fire had broken out in the downtown area, fire trucks and squad cars surrounded the burning two-story apartment building. 

"MY BABY!!" A woman screamed fighting two firefighters and Officer Jenny who were holding her back, "MY BABY'S IN THERE!! SOMEONE SAVE MY BABY!!!!" The woman screamed looking up at the top window where her baby's room was, but gained hope when a yellow and green figure swung in at neck breaking speed, breaking the window and entering the apartment.

Only the sound of fire was heard as everyone stared in hope and awe, as Spinarak-Man remained unseen in the burning building. Then the upper levels exploded into a ball of flame and the woman broke down again. But just then Spinarak-Man spun out of the window and swung down in front of the woman, "Here you go, ma'am." Spinarak-Man said softly, "You've got a brave little baby. He never cried once." He said as he handed her the baby, hardly a scratch on her.

"Oh…oh thank you so much…" the woman sobbed hugging both Spinarak-Man and her baby, "God bless you, Spinarak-Man, I don't care what that paper says, you're an angel from Heaven!"

"Glad I could be of help, Ma'am." Spinarak-Man said as Officer Jenny came walking quickly toward him, with her sidearm drawn.

"Freeze, Spinarak-Man!" she yelled, "You're under arrest!"

Just before Spinarak-Man could respond a voice sounded from inside the building, "HELP ME! PLEASE SOMEONE! HELP ME!"

Officer Jenny and Spinarak-Man both looked and Spinarak-Man looked into the police officer's decision torn eyes, "I'm going, Jenny." Spinarak-Man stated.

"Go." Jenny said lowering her gun, "I'll be here waiting for you when you get back."

"I'm not coming back, Jen!" Spinarak-Man said swinging back up and into the building.

"Help me!" the voice yelled again.

"WHERE ARE YOU??" Spinarak-Man yelled when he finally spotted a person in a long coat with a hood. "Hang on, I'm going to get you out!" he said as he moved toward the mysterious person while dodging falling debris.

He got to the person and started to reach for him, when his danger sense went wild, he back step, but not enough to dodge Hobgoblin's back hand to his face.

"You again, Smiley?" Spinarak-Man asked throwing a punch at the Hobgoblin.

The two exchanged blows till Hobgoblin threw a pumpkin bomb that exploded into several spinning blades flying toward Spinarak-Man. "not good." Spinarak-Man said as he quickly dodged the blades. "I hope these things are recyclable!' he said as he dodged one and launched several poison sting needles at a few making them explode.

Once Spinarak-Man finished off the last blade he looked up at Hobgoblin who was watching him with his arms crossed, "Not bad." Hobgoblin chuckled, "here you go." He said as he tossed Spinarak-Man a small box, and disappeared into a smoke bomb.

"What?" Spinarak-Man asked as he slowly opened the box and when he seen what was inside, his heart stopped "Oh no…He knows who I am…" he gasped as he handled Melody's flute and read the note:

"Hey Hero,

If you ever want to see your girlfriend alive again, meet me at Goldenrod Tower at fifteen till seven tonight. See you then Ashy Boy!

Hobgoblin"

He then remembered he was in a burning building and quickly swung out and escaped back to his apartment worriedly.

Ash changed out of his costume, and threw himself on his bed, 'nothing I can do till fifteen till seven…I…I don't know how he found out…but if he hurts her…' Ash then rolled over trying to shake the thought out of his head, but to no avail.

Later that evening…

Spinarak-Man arrived at Goldenrod Tower thirty minutes early.

"HOBGOBLIN!!!" Spinarak-Man yelled as he hung onto the side of the high radio tower.

"No need in yelling, Bug Boy." Hobgoblin snickered as he floated up on his glider.

"Where's Melody?" Spinarak-Man growled.

"What?" Hobgoblin asked in mock-disbelief, "No jokes? No snappy comebacks?"

  "Where is Melody?" Spinarak-Man asked again showing even more hate in his voice.

"Fine, follow me." Hobgoblin ordered turning the glider around, "I'll take you to your bed bunny."

Hobgoblin and Spinarak-Man moved quickly through the city, on to the warehouse he had Melody hidden.

"Where is she, Hobgoblin?" Spinarak-Man asked coldly.

"We're a lot a like, you and I." Hobgoblin stated jumping gingerly off the glider. "Do you know how many countless 'ants', that some call people, that roam the world? And do you know what their purpose is? Their soul purpose in life is to lift a certain few extraordinary people onto their shoulders. Those extraordinary people are you and I, Webhead."

"I'm nothing like you." Spinarak-Man stated, "You use your abilities to hurt and use people, I use mine to help."

"You always were the Hero." Hobgoblin laughed, "I've watched you for along time, Ash Ketchum. Standing up in the middle of Mew and Mewtwo's fight to the death, risking your life to aid Lugia and Melody in the Orange Islands, putting your own life on the line to save your mother from Entei and the Unknowns. You've always been a hero, but like every Hero, you have a weakness. You care about those around you! That's the real difference between you and me, you see I couldn't give a damn what happens to my boss or my friends or even my family. It really doesn't matter, it all comes back to make me look that much better in the end."

"You heartless…" Spinarak-Man growled taking a step towards the Hobgoblin.

"Temper, Temper!" Hobgoblin chuckled, "As I was saying, I really don't care, where you… you are willing to throw your life away so that some little no body gutter trash might make it another day. I really don't understand that, BUT to each his own I guess."

Hobgoblin then pressed a switch on his wrist, "For example." He looked up and Spinarak-Man followed his eyes, and seen Melody slowly lowered, she had her wrists tied up, and as she reached the floor, Hobgoblin unhooked her ropes from the crane and pulled her to him by her throat.

"S-Spinarak-Man?" she whimpered fearfully.

"Don't worry, Mel, I'll save you." Spinarak-Man said reassuringly.

"See what I mean?" Hobgoblin said, "You're willing to risk your life to come here and save her? And who is she? Melody? Nice name. Goes well with the fact she plays the flute. She is a beauty." He said running a finger across her cheek, "but she isn't all that special you know. You could easily find better women on the sidewalk at night who are hell of a lot cheaper: one quick down payment, and one night of hot fun. Girlfriends are highly overrated. All they are good for is taking money for presents and dates and dinners and meeting the parents and all that bull. Why I ask you? I do not know the answer. Whores are so much simpler to understand then girlfriends."

"You're insane, Hobgoblin." Spinarak-Man stated.

"Isn't sanity really just a one trick pony anyway, Spinarak-Man?" Hobgoblin asked cocking his head to the side, "I mean all you get is the one trick, rational thinking. But when you're good and crazy, the sky is the limit!"

"Melody has nothing to do with this." Spinarak-Man stated, "Let her go."

"You really do love this girl, huh, Web Brain?" Hobgoblin inquired, "So be it, you can have her." Hobgoblin then took a knife and cut her ropes.

"Ok, Mel" Spinarak-Man taking a defensive stance, "Slowly come towards me."

'There's a ship out

On the ocean

At the mercy of the sea'

"O-ok…" Melody whimpered as she slowly walked away from the mad man.

"One step at a time." Spinarak-Man said soothingly.

"No sudden moves now, Spin," Hobgoblin said reaching behind his back, "Hate to have to hurt you both."

'It's been tossed about

Lost and broken

Wandering aimlessly'

"I…I'm scared…" Melody whimpered, as she was almost half way in between the two.

'And God somehow

You know that ship is me'

"You can do it, Mel." Spinarak-Man said as he took one step towards her.

"Uh oh, didn't I tell you not to move!" Hobgoblin chuckled as Melody slowly looked back, just in time to see Hobgoblin throw a pumpkin bomb above her.

"MELODY!!!" Spinarak-Man yelled as the bomb went off sending him flying backwards against the wall.

'Cause there's a lighthouse'

"Melody?" Spinarak-Man asked, picking himself up, and looking around at the rubble. He looked down and his costume was ripped and torn. "Melody? Where are you??"

"Aww!" Hobgoblin mocked from above on his glider, "First Mommy now the little woman. Poor, poor little Ashy boy! You might need a scooper to get your girlfriend!"  Hobgoblin then turned his glider toward the hole in the roof, "CYA AROUND LOSER!" he yelled as he took off quickly, but Spinarak-Man could care a less.

'In the harbor

Shining faithfully'

"MEL! MELODY! ANSWER ME!" Spinarak-Man pleaded as he ran to the pile of debris in the center of the warehouse and began to dig for his loved one. "Please, Mel, please be ok!"

'Pouring its light out

Across the water'

He finally found a bloody hand, and felt for a pulse and found a weak one, "Hang on, Mel, I'm coming!"

'For this sinking soul to see'

Spinarak-Man finally uncovered her and found a steel rod through her lower belly, "Oh Mel…" Spinarak-Man sighed sadly as his hope was fading.

"A-Ash…" Melody said weakly, opening her dull eyes which once held the fire of on who loved life. "I…knew…you'd come… I knew it…"

"You… know?" Ash asked holding her body gently so not to cause her anymore pain.

"Heh, what kind of girl…friend… would I be… if I didn't… see through that silly costume…" she chuckled through painful breaths, "I knew you… you'd save me…"

'That someone out there

Still believes in me'

"But… you're hurt…" Ash said as he slowly pulled off his mask, "I… couldn't save you…"

"You did… your best… that's what matters…" Melody whispered with a smile, "It's getting…so dark… I'm scared Ash…I'm so scared…"

"No… Mel… stay calm you're going to be alright!" Ash panicked, "Just hang on… I'll get help…"

"No… please don't leave me…" Melody begged slowly closing her eyes, "I want you… to stay with me till… the end…" She let out a faint sigh, "You…know Ash, I'm…sure you made… your mother proud… cause… you made me… proud…"

"Mel…" Ash begged tears streaming down his cheeks, "Don't talk like you're going anywhere, cause you're not, you're going to be just fine… just fine…"

"I…love you, Ash…" Melody whispered hoarsely.

"Stop it Mel," Ash begged, "Don't leave me alone…"

"Ash… don't you know…" Melody said with a broad smile on her face, "You're never going to be alone… you'll always have…" she whispered growing quieter and weaker with each word, till she took one last deep breath, "You'll always have…Misty…" she sighed as she went limp in Ash's arms.

"Mel? Mel?? MELODY??" Ash sobbed shaking her lightly.

'On a prayer, in a song'

"Oh god no, Mel." Ash begged, "Please no…" Ash cried as the words his mother said repeated in his head, 'With Great Power must always come Great Responsibility'.

'I hear your voice and

It keeps me hanging on'

"SPINARAK-MAN!! FREEZE!!" Officer Jenny yelled bursting in and seeing Ash's back to her.

'Raining down'

Ash quickly pulled his mask on, and swung out of the hole in the top of the warehouse dodging gunfire from the police inside and out of the warehouse. He didn't know where he was headed, he was just going, and the only thing he could see through the tears soaking his mask was Melody lying dead in his arms.

 'Against the wind

I'm reaching out'

Spinarak-Man swung around the city till he found a large gargoyle to take shelter from the sudden storm, both actual storm and the storm of emotions, which ravaged his soul.

'Till we reach the circle's end

When you come back to me again'

He cried his heart out under the gargoyle, holding his knees to his chest, all those he's helped, all the lives he's saved, yet he lost the one that meant the most to him and could do nothing to stop it from happening.

Ash eventually made it back to his apartment and was happy to see Brock was out, probably flirting with Nurse Joy. He switched on the TV and turned it right back off when he seen that the news update was on every channel that Spinarak-Man is accused of murdering a girl in the warehouse district.

He jerked off his accursed costume and threw it under his bed, tears never stalling, and threw himself on it, sobbing into his pillow with Pikachu patting his back in an attempt at comforting his master.

 Ash didn't know how long he laid there, time moved so slowly, but he jumped lightly when he heard a knock on the door.

'It could be Hobgoblin…here to finish the job.' Ash thought as he slowly reached down for his costume. But the voice he heard on the other side was not Hobgoblin, but surprised him to no limit. "Ash… you in there… I just heard on the news, are you all right? Please let me in…"

'There's a moment

We all come to'

"Misty?" Ash asked as he slowly came to the door, drying his eyes.

Ash opened the door and she stood there, she was wearing a nice dress, but her hair wasn't done up and she was lacking any makeup or jewelry, probably was in the middle of getting ready for a date. "Ash?" she asked meeting his sad eyes.

'In our own time and

Our own space'

The two looked at each other, and said nothing. The past few weeks have been a nightmare for both of them. Best friends from the word go. One knew that no matter what the other would be right there behind the other always. But the last few weeks, the Gym, Gary, Melody, Spinarak-Man, it all drove a wedge between them.

'Where all that we've done

We can undo'

All the animosity, all the bitter words, all the arguments that ever took place, it all disappeared with two words from her. "I'm here."

'If our heart's

In the right place'

The two collided in a tight embrace, Misty held Ash tight to her chest as he sobbed loudly, and she rocked him lightly, and whispered simple words to him as he cried his heart out.

'On a prayer, in a song'

"I… I loved her… I loved her so much…" Ash sobbed into her chest as she brought them to the couch and eased him down to a setting position and gently rocked him.

'I hear your voice and

It keeps me hanging on'

"I know… I know baby…" Misty whispered soothingly as she rocked him.

'Raining down

Against the wind'

"Thank you…" Ash whispered softly sniffling, "I…I can always count on you… huh, Mist?"

'I'm reaching out till

We reach the circle's end'

"Yeah," Misty replied resting her chin on the tip of his head, "Same as I can always count on you, Ash."

'When you come

Back to me again'

"You remember that time, we were in that really bad storm, Ash?" Misty asked a small smile forming on her lips.

"Huh?" Ash replied pulling away slightly but not from his best friend's embrace.

"You know, we were helping… that kid… you know the one with the hoppips, and we were taking shelter in a cabin, and the storm tore the roof off and almost pulled me away, but you reached up and saved me, do you remember that?"

'And again I see

My yesterdays in front of me'

"Yeah? Why?" Ash asked inquisitively

  'Unfolding like a mystery'

"I liked that." Misty said with a blush and a smile.

'You're changing all that is

And used to be'

"Me too." He said resting his head on his shoulder still crying but calmed down a lot.

'On a prayer, in a song

I hear your voice and

It keeps me hanging on'

"Thanks…again…Misty…" Ash whispered as he slowly drifted off to sleep on his best friend's shoulder.

'Raining down

Against the wind'

"You don't have to thank me, Ash." Misty whispered while watching him sleep. She then leaned over and gently kissed him on the forehead, "I'll always be there when you need me." She whispered almost silently into his ear.

'I'm reaching out till

We reach the circle's end

When you come

Back to me again'

She then gently laid him back down on his couch, and got a spare blanket from the closet and placed it over him. "I'm always going to be there, Ash, I promise." She whispered before giving in to some unknown urge and gently kissed him on the lips.

'When you come

Back to me… again'

She kissed him for less then a second and pulled away, and held her breath till she realized she didn't wake him with this sign of affection. Gary be damned, Spinarak-Man be damned, right now, Ash Ketchum needed his best friend's shoulder, and Misty Waterflower was not about to let him down, weather or not either of them had a problem with it or not. She wasn't sure whom she really loved at the time, she had feelings for all three, Gary, Ash, and Spinarak-Man, but right now, that didn't matter, Ash needed her, and that's all that mattered.

She brushed a strand of hair from his face, and gave him a faint smile, "hang in there Ash." She whispered as she set down and made herself comfortable in the reclining chair across from him, "You'll make it though this. I know you will…" she sighed as she herself began to fall asleep.

TO BE CONTINUED…