Pikachu raced through the woods as fast as it could until it came to the cliff where they had first seen the palomino Rapidash. In the shelter of a clump of trees in the field below, the Rapidash huddled together for safety.

"Pikachu!" With a loud cry, the Pokémon dashed down the rocky face of the cliff overhanging the field and landed with a thump on its bottom in the field below. One of the Rapidash, a huge male that was obviously the leader, charged out of the trees to do battle with the interloper.

"Rapidash?" ["Who are you?"]

The little Pokémon leapt to its feet and stared down the horse Pokémon towering above it.

"Pikachu." ["My name is Pikachu."]

"Rapidash?" ["Why have you come here?"]

"Pika-pika-chu." ["Because my friend is dying and needs your help."]

The Rapidash snorted. "Dash?" ["Why should I help you?"]

"Pikachu-pi." ["Because all life is sacred – both human and Pokémon."]

The horse Pokemon's eyes narrowed. "Rapidash?" ["You are with the humans, aren't you?"]

Pikachu nodded. "Pikachu." ["My best friend is human."]

The Rapidash snorted in disgust and stamped its hoof. "Ra-pi-dash! Dash."["Humans are evil! They're better off dead."]

"Pika-pi!" ["That's not true!"]

The huge horse laid back its ears. "Rapidash. Ra-pi-dash-dash. Rapidash." ["It is true. A long time ago humans came and captured many of us. We are the descendants of the few that escaped."]

"Pikachu. Chuu." ["My friends didn't come here to capture you. We came here to study you."]

The horse stamped its foot in warning. "Dash! Rapidash-dash-dash." ["That's not true! Several of the Pokémon on this island said that a human male and female were trying to capture them."]

"Pikachu. Pi-pika-pi-pika." ["Brock and Misty were trying to find a Paras or Parasect mushroom to help Ash. They weren't trying to capture anyone."]

"Rapidash?" ["Why should I believe you?"]

"Pikachu!" ["Because Pokémon don't lie!"]

The Rapidash fell silent for a moment. "Ra-pidash?" ["Again, why should I help you?"]

"Pikachu. Pika-pi. Chu. Pika…chu…" ["Because my human – Ash – means more to me than anything else in the whole world. He saved my life earlier today when I jumped into the ocean to rescue Togepi. And now he's dying because of that. He would've given his life to save mine…and now…"] Tears started rolling down Pikachu's face.

The Rapidash stared at the little Pokémon. "Dash?" ["Your human was willing to give his life for yours?"]

"Pika. Pikachu." ["Yes. And I would gladly give my life to save his."]

The hostile look in the Rapidash's eyes disappeared. "Dash?" ["Why have you come here then?"]

"Pikachu. Pika-pi." ["Because I know that you can help Ash."]

---

"Pikachu!!!"

In the darkness and driving rain, Brock could barely see his hand in front of his face. But for Ash's sake he had to find Pikachu.

He reached underneath his rain jacket for a Poké ball. "Crobat, go!" The four-winged bat materialized in the black sky above. "Crobat, use your Supersonic to find Pikachu!"

"Crobat!" The Pokémon dodged a lightning bolt, then began emitting ultrasonic waves. A moment later, it started flying east.

"That's it, Crobat! I knew you'd find him!" Brock took off on foot after his Pokémon.

---

Misty tilted Ash's head back, trying to help him breathe easier. "There, Ash. Do you feel better now?" Misty smiled at Professor Oak. "It doesn't sound like the wheezing is so bad now. Maybe he's going to be okay."

"Misty, I'd like to believe that too, but the truth is…"

"Don't say it, Professor Oak!" Misty said stubbornly. "Ash is not going to die. He's not. He can't…he just can't."

Professor Oak laid a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder, and Misty threw herself into his arms.

"I love him, Professor. I don't want Ash to die. I can't let him die," Misty sobbed into Professor Oak's lab coat.

"There, there, Misty. It's all right." Professor Oak began stroking the girl's hair the same way he had done to comfort his children were they were little.

"I…I shouldn't have let Togepi stand on the ship's railing," the girl wailed. "And then Ash wouldn't have jumped in after Togepi and he wouldn't be…Oh, Professor, it's all my fault. Ash is dying and it's my fault." Misty began weeping hysterically.

"Oh, Misty…no. You mustn't blame yourself for what happened to Ash. It's not your fault. If anything, I'm the one to blame."

Misty stared at Professor Oak in disbelief. "You, Professor? Why?"

"Because I was the one who invited all of you to come with me to Mangrove Island. You kids were my responsibility and I failed miserably. Forgive me, Misty."

And forgive me too, Delia. When that no-good husband of yours left, I made a vow to watch out for you and Ash. I failed you, too.

Misty continued to sob against his shoulder. "Professor, do you think Ash is in any pain now?"

Professor Oak glanced over at where the unconscious boy lay. "I don't think he is, Misty. I don't think he knows what's going on now."

"Do you think that Ash knows that we're here with him?"

"Yes, Misty. I think he knows that. And I think having you near gives him comfort. It will make…it will make it easier for him." He didn't want to say the word "dying" and further upset the girl.

Misty wiped her eyes on the lapel of Professor Oak's lab coat. "Then that's what I'm going to do, Professor Oak." The girl set her jaw firmly, wiped away the tears from her cheeks, and turned her attention back to her dying friend. "It's all right, Ash. I'm here. Everything will be all right now." She kissed his cheek softly and lay down next to him. "And I'm not going to leave you. Not now, not ever."

---

"Do you see any sign of Pikachu, Crobat?" Brock shouted over the driving rain.

"Cro." The Pokémon shook its head.

"Try your Supersonic again," Brock urged.

The Pokémon started emitting Supersonic waves but then leapt aside to dodge another lightning bolt. The bolt hit a tree next to Brock, making him jump.

"Man, that was close. I thought for a second that…" A sharp crack overhead made Brock look up just in time to see a huge branch fall. The boy yelled and raised his arms to shield himself but it was too late.

An incredible pain exploded inside Brock's head before he fell to the ground and lay still.

"Crobat!" The Pokémon dived down to where its trainer lay pinned underneath a huge branch. The Pokémon seized the limb in its feet and, using every ounce of its strength, lifted it off of Brock.

"Cro?" With one of its wings, the Pokémon gently touched the boy, who lay facedown in the mud. Brock didn't respond.

The Pokemon began to emit Supersonic waves, but this time it aimed them at Brock's still form. From the ultrasonic echo that bounced back, Crobat was able to determine that Brock's heart was beating and he was still breathing. But the boy was badly injured and the Pokémon had to find help fast.

To be continued…