Last chapter…. Wow, another one I've finally finished! Hope you all like this one! Don't forget to listen to sad music! (such as hymn to the sea' formteh 'Titanic'

And, for all of you flamers out there, if you don't like it, why read this far? I chose a bad time to write this, yes, and this doesn't even necessarily show my views on war. I just thought it would be a good story. Now, if you reeeeally want to know my views, there are as followed: (if you really couldn't care less, then just skip on to the story ^_~)

I voted for a war, yes, but only because I believed it was needed. If we go into a war without totally viewing the facts, I do not go for war. A lotof people die in wars, sometimes it's a good thing, such as the war for Independence. Sometimes it's not. Kapeesh?

Ages ~

Ash ~ 15

Misty ~ 16

Brock ~ 18

Gary ~ 16

Ritchie ~ 17

Josiah ~ 16

Rosie ~ 6

War and Death

~Part 7;


 'Go away… I'm alright.'
H. G. Wells (1866-1946) , Last words

It was his choice. He decided to address the people of Kanto. So, very solemnly, Lance stepped into the TV room in the League building and told the cameraman to start rolling. With sad eyes and a heavy heart, Lance took a deep breath and began his speech.

"My fellow Kanto citizens. I do not bring you happy news that we won the war, but sad news that we had to fight it. For many people, they do not care if there is a war or not, they only care if their loved ones survived. And I'm sorry to say that not many will return alive….

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  Josiah could only gap at what used to be his house. Where there used to be a small, but cozy brick house was now nothing but ash, dirt and a few bricks and burnt belongings that managed to survive the attack. A few pokemon raced about across the piles oblivious of what a sacred place it was to the crushed boy in front of them. Josiah fell to his knees with his hands dropped limp at his sides, his eyes showing nothing but pain and anguish. "They can't be dead." He choked out. "They can't be." Memories flashed through his head like a bullet.   He smiled ruefully, remembering his little sister and how much he sometimes annoyed him, but he still loved her. Did she know that? Will she ever know that? A bitter smiled crossed his face. His mother was the one who told him not to go. She thought he would get killed, but who's the one who was dead now? Josiah slowly and painfully got up and walked over to the small pile. He bent down and raked his hand through the ash. He pulled out a gold necklace, black on the edges, but he could still make out the small charms around the front. His eyes filled with tears. This was his mother's favorite necklace, the one she always wore. He gripped the necklace in his hands and stood up. His eyes were dry and sore from crying so much and they stared out into the other burnt or crumbling houses around him.   An officer jenny ran up the empty street to the boy and grabbed his arm. "What are you doing out here? You should be in the shelter with everyone else!"     Josiah's green eyes widened and he looked at Officer jenny with disbelief. "Shelter?"   "Yes!" Jenny pulled Josiah's arm. "Come on!"

  Josiah blindly nodded and followed Jenny willingly to the 'shelter'. Relief and hope followed through him like a torrent.

  Josiah was led to the pokemon gym building with many pokemon surrounding it. "We joined all our pokemon together to fight together and protect us in the shelter." Jenny explained, still dragging Josiah. "We have most of the people from Viridian in here, so if you're looking for someone, here's the place to do it." She nodded at to large growleithes guarding the door. The both 'barked' and moved aside to make way for their master and the boy.

  Josiah wrenched himself from Jenny's grasp and ran through the large doors into the building.  

  Many, may people were crowded in the gym. One corner had some injured and dying people with nurses and doctors trying to help them as best as they could. Josiah shuddered and desperately prayed Rosie nor his mother was there. All around were people hugging or comforting each other, or just talking about nothing to try and get their attention away from the situation outside. Another corner held a bunch of smaller and older children. Josiah strained his eyes to try and see if Rosie was in that group.

  "JOSIAH!"

  Josiah whirled his head around to see a small girl running up to him with blinding speed. She head butted him in the stomach causing him to fall to he ground, but he didn't mind. He held the small girl close, grateful tears streaming down his cheeks. The small head that was buried in his stomach looked up at Josiah with big, teary, black eyes. "You here!"

  Josiah smiled and hugged the girl again. "Yea, I'm here kiddo." He picked her up in one arm and smiled at her. "Oh!" He reached back and pulled out a stuffed Teddiursa.

  Rosie squealed with delight. "You got it! You got it!"  Josiah grinned and nodded. Rosie smiled and squeezed the bear up to her with a death grip.

  Josiah smile turned serious and he looked at his little sister. "Where's mommy?"

  Rosie still held her grin and she reluctantly pulled her hand from around her brother's neck and pointed over to one of the nurses.

  Josiah took a deep breath and placed Rosie down on the ground. "Stay here and play with your teddy, okay? I'll be right back."

  Rosie looked at her brother with big innocent eyes. "Pwomise?"  

  Josiah smiled and nodded. "Promise."

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"I wish everyone could get the memorial that they deserved, but war has so many casualties that very few will get the memorial they should get for their brave deeds, and even those who do get the memorial they should, it won't be enough…

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The wind blew Sabrina's blonde hair all over as she walked solemnly down the path of tombstones and flags with a single rose in her hand. She stopped at one of the graves and knelt down to place the rose of the freshly piled dirt She stood up and smiled sadly down at the two graves in a row. She then stepped back, tears flowing from her blue eyes, and gave the best salute to the grave of her leader hoping that he would somehow be able to know.  

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"Words cannot describe the immense pain and loss that people feel right now. Even the people who didn't fight in the battle had to fight their own in their very own homes and hometowns. They fought in a war that they didn't even want to fight in. They fought for something even if they didn't intend to, and for that, I believe every single citizen of Kanto should get a congressional medal of honor….

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 Misty slowly crept up to the figure on his knees in front of a small grave. "Ash…"

Ash made no response so Misty knelt down beside him and forced her tears down. "Ash, will you be okay?"

Ash finally shook his head, too afraid to talk. Misty did her best to swallow a sob, but she couldn't hide the tears any longer. She wrapped her arms around Ash and hugged him. "I'm so sorry, Ash."

Ash didn't acknowledge the hug, but said, "He was the best pokemon ever, Misty. THE best! He was so loyal! Loyal to a fault! He was one of my best friends! If I hadn't –"

"NO!" Misty interrupted with a force voice that surprised Ash. He looked at her with dull, red eyes. "It's NOT your fault Ash! Pikachu CHOSE to protect you! He chose to go in front of us! Pikachu chose this. It is in no way your fault."

"What if he didn't even come with me in the first place…"

"ASH! Pikachu was your very best friend, wasn't he?" Ash numbly nodded, his gaze still directed at the grave in front of him. "And I know that you were Pikachu's best friend! You only find friends like that once in a lifetime. I know Pikachu would rather have died now then have to face life with another trainer who wasn't his best friend and cared for him like you did!"

Ash blinked. He knew what Misty said was true, but it was so hard! "But whose going to chase team Rocket off now with a thunderbolt? Who's going to win my battles for me? Who's going to know me inside and out? Whose going to cheer me on even when all other doubt me? Who's going to lie right beside me and gaze and the stars at night? Whose –"

Misty gently turned his face towards hers and stared into his brown eyes. "I will." Ash opened his mouth, but Misty continued. "I may not be able to thunderbolt, but I'll beat them some how. I may not be able to win the battles your talking about, but I'll help you with others. I already know you pretty well, and I'll always try harder to. I'll always be there by your side to cheer you on and I will watch the stars with you."

Ash could say nothing, so he wrapped his arms around Misty and buried his head his her hair. Misty returned the hug. Ash moved his face to whisper in her ear. "I love you, thank-you."

"I love you too." 

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"Some people went out there without the slightest idea of what they were getting into, and most paid the price of not knowing. Although, I'm sure many still would have gone to fight to the death for their country…

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Tracey slowly stepped towards Professor Oak. "Did you want some lunch Professor Oak?"

Professor Oak made no movement. He still sat on Gary's bed like he had been for the past hour staring at nothing. He'd been like that since he'd heard the news of Gary's death. 

Tracey sighed and stepped out of the room, leaving the door only slightly open. He was met down the hall by Mrs. Ketchum. "Why hello, Tracey! How is Sam? I brought some hot soup." She held up a tray with chicken noodle soup.

Tracey shook his head. "He hasn't moved. I'm getting worried."

Mrs. Ketchum just kept her smile on her face. "Don't' worry, I'm sure this'll cheer him up!"

Tracey couldn't help but smile at Mrs. Ketchum, the forever optimist and cheerful one. She stepped past Tracey and into Gary's room. If she was at all surprised or sad at Gary's death or Professor Oak's reaction, she never showed it. She still kept her smile on her face.

"I brought you some warm, home made chicken soup, Sam." She placed the tray on the table next to him. As gently as she could, she sank onto the bed next to him. "Sam?"

Professor Oak finally sighed and cast his tired eyes over to his grandson's pokemon posters. "He's gone Delia." Mrs. Ketchum wrapped her arms around her distraught friend as he continued. "He was so young!"

"A lot of people died Sam," Her once happy smile tugged down and the pain of the war was finally showing in the loving woman's face. "You're not alone."

Fire burned in Professor Oak's eyes and he broke out of Mrs. Ketchum's warm embrace to stand up. His fist clenched in front of him shaking from anger. "Exactly! This is precisely why I didn't want this war! The stupid, pointless war!"

"War is never a pretty thing." Delia stood up and placed a hand on Professor Oak's shoulder. "But sometimes it's needed, and you know it."

Samuel Oak nodded. The age was evident in his old, tired face. "I know, I just – I wasn't ready to loose him – or any of my other friends. I've lost so many already."

Delia said nothing, but she moved to give him another hug. There really wasn't anything else she could do but be a good friend.

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"Every single person was affected by this war, maybe some more than others, but every single person was affected. We must join together and comfort each other for out losses….

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Josiah took a deep breath and headed for the nurse Rosie had pointed to. She was busy washing some bandages, but made time to give a quick smile and a greeting to Josiah. "Yes?"

"Um, that girl, Rosie," he pointed to his little sister, "told me that you knew where our mother was."

The nurse immediately looked up and sighed. She nodded. "I do."

"Is she okay?"

She pondered her answer before replying, "In a sense…."

"In a sense?"

The nurse was hesitant for a moment, "She's not feeling any pain…"

Josiah's mouth fell open. "She's – She's dead?"

The nurse's eyes softened. "We found her and your sister buried under a house. You sister wasn't in bad shape, but your mother was hit in the head with a brick. So we took your sister here and I told her your mother is sleeping." She placed a comforting hand on Josiah's shoulder. "I'm sorry. She said she had an older brother so I figured you'd better tell her."

Josiah numbly nodded. "Thank-you." He managed with a hoarse voice.

She smiled sadly and returned to her work.

Josiah cleared his throat and walked back to where his sister was patiently waiting for him. She stood up and looked at him with expectant eyes. "Mommy awake now?"

Josiah bent down to her eye level and said slowly, "No, mommy isn't, she's going to be sleeping for a while."

Rosie cocked her head. "How long?"

Josiah hesitated. There was no putting this off. "Forever."

Rosie's face was blank for moment and Josiah thought he'd said something wrong. She finally looked in Josiah's eyes and asked, "Mommy's not going to tuck me in anymore?"

Josiah's eyes filled with tears and he shook his head to try and push them away. "No, but, you've got me now."

Rosie's eyes began to water and she nodded. Josiah picked her up in his arms and hugged her. She wrapped her arms around him as far as she could and rested her head on his shoulder. Josiah kissed the top of her head. "It's just you and me now, kiddo, but we'll be okay."

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"I wish I could say 'this war should never have happened' but that's not the case. Those who died in the war fought bravely and died for a good cause. Johto will think again before attacking us! And hopefully think more for their people as well….

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A large gathering of people filled the whole field on the border of Kanto and Johto. In the front of the large crowd, a large podium was set up with pictures of deceased leaders on one side and the remaining leaders on the other. Out of the many alive leaders, most of the crowd stared in wonder at the man who had stepped up to speak. He held his head up high, ignoring the stairs and walked to the center of the stage with a strong sense of pride, resisting the urge to cringe at the sound of bagpipes playing Amazing grace in the background. He gazed at the silent, curious crowd for a moment before continuing.

  "Many of you know me, I'm the former gym leader of the Viridian gym, as well as the rocket leader. But," He glanced back at the other leaders staring at him, then back at the crowd, "I'm not here to talk about me and my life, I'm here to talk about one of the brave men who died. I had the privilege to fight with one of the men who died, and I don't say that about many people. Lt. Surge was good trainer as well as a good commander, if he was into the bad life, I'd say he would be under me in team rocket, not that that would matter to any of you…. He fought the battle well and died honorably during duty. He also respected me as a fellow citizen of Kanto fighting for us, not some rocket scum as many of you know." He glared at some of the crowd before continuing. "I'm not a big speech man, so I won't go much farther. As much as I despise good people, I'm proud to say I worked with him."

With that, Giovanni stepped back and motioned to his group of rockets down on the side. He walked proudly off the stage with head held high. His ban of rockets faithfully followed after him walking off on the road home.       

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"There is a place in the Bible that says 'there is a time and a place for everything' and as much as we all dislike war now, it had to be done. I'm sorry it was at such a price. These brave men and women knew what they were getting into and they fought bravely.

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James sat beside the bed, holding Jessie's pale hand in his own. Salty tears poured out of his green eyes and onto the white sheets. A small, bitter smile played on James' lips and he said, "You're the one who wanted to fight… now look at you."

Jessie gave him a small smile. "I didn't want us to sink much lower than we already were in our cowerdness."

"But at least we would've been alive!" James exclaimed, tears streaming out of his eyes, "At least we could've been together!"

Jessie smiled sadly and painfully shook her head. "There's nothing we can do about it now, James."

James' chest was filled with pain as he recalled what the doctor said. "No, doctor says the poison is spreading fast."

"I know…" Jessie cringed.

"Does it hurt?"

"Not really…."

"Liar." James squeezed Jessie's hand in support.

"Where's Meowth?"

"He was getting hungry."

Jessie smiled sadly. "Same old Meowth." She then frowned at looked at James in the eye. "James, watch my pokemon, including Meowth."

"Jessie…" James swallowed back a sob

"They'll trust you." She closed her eyes and resisted a gasp of pain. "James, my head hurts."

The tears kept coming as he placed a cool cloth on her head. "I know."

Jessie couldn't hold back the gasp this time and James knew. "Jessie?"

Jessie squinted open her eyes and gazed sadly at James. "Prepare for trouble."

James was sobbing now. "Make, make it double."

Jessie smiled and closed her eyes. Her chest rose and fell, never to rise again. Amidst his crying, James leaned over and kissed Jessie forehead. "Team rocket's blasting off for the last time."

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"Now, we must look on ahead and hope that we never have to do this again. Let us pass on to our children what we have learned. War is never a good thing. It may be necessary, but not one single person should be happy about it. As of right now, we counted a loss of 20,000 people, and still counting. I do not know how many people Johto has lost, but I have no doubt in my mind they have lost as much as we have, if not more. So let us get on with our lives as our friends and family would like us to, and live in peace."

Without another word, Lance stepped down from the stage and the screen went black.

That's the end folks! Sad poopie ending huh? That cuz war isn't a happy ending! We shouldn't go rushing into war, it does have casualties, but sometimes war is needed… so… um… yeah. Was that sad enough?

P.S. THANKS ETHERMENTAL!!!

Smile Jesus loves you!