A/N: So sorry that this chapter took so long to post out. Surprisingly though… I already had this chapter written for a long time… just takes me a long time to post. Hee. I written it before Thanksgiving, but we left for a four day vacation that week, and I didn't have time to post. So sorry and now… ah! Finals next week… so scary. Never taken high school finals before… Biology… geography… you know how evil Russian Geography is? So many spelling glitches!! Such torture and they all end the same way. All those countries with a "stan" ending. AHH!!! Any ways! Enjoy!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
Reviewer's Comments:
Daniel::: Eep! I'm not at all good at doing sex scenes… besides I think I rated this fic too low to do a lemon or a lime in here. Besides I've only done one sex scene or close to one and was terrible if you don't believe me read the prologue for Gone like the Wind Yami's Side. Thanks for the review.
KristieXXNguyen::: Guess you didn't like Misty doubting Ash's love for her huh? Sorry. I sure will… update… even if it takes a long time. Thanks for the review.
The White Dwarf::: Sorry… lucky for you this chapter is a more upbeat… and happy? Am not sure… I think I just hit the angst section of this fic, and it's hard to get it happy right now. Sorry. Any ways thanks for the review.
Uriel Martin::: Hmm… thanks… a lot. :blushes: I don't think this fic is that great… and besides I think this fic is a little too long to animate and stuff. But… wow thanks. Hmm… the Ash and Misty thing… its… hmm… you'll see. It err… changes… I guess… later. I don't really want to say anything since it's… a… shh… surprise. Yeah… trigger happy… sorry… I have too clue what I was thinking when I wrote gun-happy. Hmm… I find that really sweet and sentimental actually… they believe that dying is the only way to be together… so… sweet… so precise… shows how much they love one anyone. Thanks for the review.
Yami Yuugi Lover AKA Kiyo::: I'll try. Thanks for the review.
Labannya::: Hmm… sorry. I'm so sorry that I shattered your heart. So sorry… but hopefully this chapter will… hmm… put it back together some. Thanks for the review and please stay with me to the end. I need all you reviewers… you keep me going.
Hawaiian Potagee::: Hmm… you'll find out what happened to Ash… later. Probably not in this chapter or the next two… but soon… soon it'll be reviewed. I promise. Thanks for the review.
Etherelemental::: Yes… trigger happy… I know. Can't believe I made that mistake. Hmm… right… Ash distant thing… yeah… oh yeah. He's seen a lot… oh yeah. Erm… uh huh… you got that part right… they are stressed… really… really stressed and soon you'll find out why… and err… hopefully this chapter will shred some light. Thanks for the review.
Anie::: I'll try. Thanks for the review.
Maria::: Really… I'll try. Thanks for the review.
Kit Kat::: Uh huh… Ash changed all right… nearly eight years gone by. Thing? What thing? Wait! I know what thing you're talking about… I think. Sorry can't say. Nope. My lips are sealed. Who's in charge of the Pokémon… uhmm… can't say… but all will be revealed in due time… I promise, and I'm hoping it'll surprise you all. Thanks for the review.
Pokémon Fanatical::: I'll try… for the next chapter. Thanks for the review.
Crystalstorm21::: Oh yeah… she'll confused all right. I'll try. Thanks for the review.
Ash and Misty forever::: Thanks. Yep… sadness. I love putting sadness and pushing the characters' emotions to their limits… so fun. Thanks for the review.
SulliMike23::: Wish the characters would believe Ash like you do. Then this fic would be so much simpler. But then again that's not fun is it? Doubt is fun right? Thanks for the review.
Chapter 29
No! No! How can I be thinking like this? Of course I love Ash. I love… of course I love him.
Normal POV
"I love him!" muttered Misty.
"I love him!" shouted Misty more clear and full of confidence this time.
Misty's POV
But still… still… I can't help but wonder… what happened to him these last seven years. He looks so healthy… so strong. So he obviously wasn't been deprived of food. And his Pokémon… Pikachu… how… how can Pikachu still be with him? Why didn't Pikachu trade… like all my Pokémon? Like everyone's Pokémon. It's like it wasn't affected… its eyes. They're full of innocence, kindness, serenity, and love, not like the Pokémon that we fight in battle. Could that be the reason why I caught Pikachu when it leaped into my arms? Could that be why I didn't realize it was a Pokémon for so long?
But… but still… Ash's return? Pikachu wasn't the only Pokémon he had with him. He had more…
Normal POV
"Ash," muttered Misty once again pulling Ash back into her embrace… but this time he didn't take it. Instead he pushed her away. Seriousness washed over his face as he pushed her down on the ground.
"Stay," commanded Ash. His voice full of command and power Misty trembled obediently, but she didn't move. "All of you," added Ash quickly. Misty's eye brows twitched as looked up. Ash eyed her quickly, and she immediately understood.
"He was talking to the army," thought Misty. She raised her left hand before looking up to find Ash's back to her.
His feet were apart, and he was looking at the sky. Finding that whatever was in the sky was what made Ash so… serious… she too found that looking at the sky was important. She followed in suite only to find another flying figure encircling them all. A large screech filled the air. A massive beast swooped over them. No one moved. The beast continued the circling… casting a dark shadow before them… covering the moon. Ash snorted as he gave a side-glance to Misty and the 'army' behind him. "How pitiful! They're all trembling with fear. Well now they'll see a real pro in action," thought. He smirked.
"Espeon go!"
Misty watched as from the mass of bodies a purplish Pokémon leaped out. Its lavender skin was shinning brightly as it landed beside Ash. "Espeon?!" gasped Misty in wonderment. "It's so beautiful," thought Misty. Such grace and beauty encircled its aura.
Ash grinned, looking down at the Pokémon. The Pokémon beamed, looking up at Ash. Its eye shone with passion as it stood there, brimming. "Esp," said the Pokémon simply. A smile covered its face as it looked up into sky.
Ash nodded. Misty watched in puzzlement as both human and Pokémon were briefly covered in a shining crystal coat of light. "They're joined," thought Misty. Her body held fast to its paralyzed state as she watched.
"ESP!" called the Pokémon. Though that brief period of time, total unity came about the two as Ash had ordered an attack. Obediently the ruby stone upon the Pokémon's forehead glowed a pure white color. Its eyes flashed pure white as it opened its mouth. A blast of white light came from its mouth filling the sky… illuminating it.
"Such power," muttered Misty stunned at how high the Pokémon's level must be. The light faded and from the sky a pitch-black figure fell. Misty watched in amazement as a purple light surrounded the Pokémon. She turned towards Espeon and found its eyes concentrating hard on the figure, slamming it hard on the ground beside Ash.
Ash grinned before speaking. "Good job, Espeon." The Pokémon cooed as Misty watched stunned at how obedient the Pokémon was. Its hind legs bent, and it sat down beside Ash, patiently. His eyes flashed, watching the Pokémon as it tried to get up. It cocked and shrieked in defeat. Its wings banged on the ground as a strong gust of wind came from its body. His brow furrowed at he watched the Pokémon manage to regain its ability to fly. Struggling, it started to flap its mighty wings once more.
Misty sat simply, unable to do anything. Seeing that Ash was no longer watching her movements. She got up and turned only to find Haruka and Takeshi standing within mere centimeters from her. Wataru and Sakaki weren't far behind. Walking up to her, Haruka immediately started to speak in a hushed voice. "Kasumi, I know. You would know if you really saw Ash…even after all these years, but… but this guy…I don't know. I do know. I sense this really weird vibe around him."
"Yeah, Kasumi. He's got Pokémon. That's not good," muttered Takeshi. "I say we launch an attack on him."
"No!" hissed Kasumi. "No, we wait. That Pokémon, that huge Fearow that they knocked from the sky, let's see what he does with it…"
"You guys mind?" hissed Ash.
"Huh?" The generals gasped. Surprised at how acute this young man who claimed to Ash's hearing was.
There was no response to the remark as Ash stared at the Pokémon. Its eyes opened, flashing a crimson shade of red. It didn't take much brain-power to know this Pokémon was bad. Reaching into his back pocket he pulled out a small spear and a silver pokéball. The point of the spear was covered in that of pure white liquid. Placing the point onto where the activation part was, he raised it to his mouth and blew on it. A mere ten seconds later the spear vanished into a whisper of smoke, leaving only the liquid which covered the ball, radiating it, creating a comforting glow around it.
Pleased, the young man threw the ball into air, landing around the Pokémon. It burst open swallowing the Pokémon in a beam of white light. The army behind the young man gasped at such a sight. The light that illuminated the sky disappeared just as suddenly as it had came. The ball didn't wobble, nor did it burst open, instead it returned to the young man's hand. He grinned before throwing the ball into air. It burst open illuminating only that of white light… A shape appeared that of the imprisoned Pokemon.
Misty's POV
But it wasn't like before. The Fearow, it was… it seemed reenergize and calm. Its wings… they sparkled. But… but that wasn't all… when it's eyes opened… they weren't red anymore. They didn't have a trace of anger left in them. They were innocent, pure, and kind. Its eyes were alive just like Pikachu's and Espeon's.
How did Ash do that? How? What special powers does that pokéball that he used have?
Normal POV
Pleased at the results Ash called the Pokémon back. Changing it back into its smallest size. He gently blew around the ball. An almost holographic look surrounded it as it dematerialized from his hand.
The dematerializing, that got to Misty most as much as the sudden change of Pokémon appearance. How did that happen? And with Ash not wanting to talk about what happened the last few years, the chances of her receiving the answers to her questions were close to none right now.
She sighed as she finished getting dressed. Pinning the last strand of her hair back she placed the last piece of her costume on. Even though this year's Christmas party's theme was fairy tales, she still felt foolish dressing up like sleeping beauty. At least she was somewhat grateful that this costume wasn't as bad as the one last night, this one wasn't that much different. Instead of Cinderella theme with the pure white low beyond low cut dress, this one was actually a little tiny bit higher, and it was blue. She loved blue a lot more than white at least there was a much lower chance of it being see-through.
Placing the tiara upon her head she sighed as she twirled around her bathroom. One small clap was heard then another and another. Misty immediately blushed, cursing herself that she didn't realize that Ash would be back soon. Turning she found Ash in a cute prince costume. He looked so adorable in that medieval prince look. Even Pikachu who was sitting upon his shoulder had a cute little Robin Hood type hat and a small cross brow around its body. She immediately curtseyed and to her surprise Ash followed in suite.
"My ladyth, thy lookth pretty…pretty-th e thy dress-th?" Ash's brow raised as he tried to make his sentence sound as medieval as possible. His stumbling led to a great round of laughter from Misty.
"My, my. What great accent thy has? How many dances aut thou save for thy queen?"
Ash smiled walking up to Misty. Looping his arms around her thin waist, he placed his chin upon her shoulder. Inhaling all of her pleasant strawberry amour that covered her body. He muttered "All of them my queen."
"Of course, my prince." Freeing his arms from his love, he led her away from the bathroom and out into the streets of the city.
Misty took the lead as Ash followed with Pikachu in his arms. He had already sensed the many sets of eyes that followed his and Pikachu's movement. Most, Ash recognized as many of the people that he had met during his journey. It startled him a lot, how much they had all changed and especially seeing them all here. He didn't know all the details to the forming of this vast emperor that Misty had built for herself.
The things that she managed to accomplish these last seven years were… were frightening. Sure, he had prepared himself for this moment for a long time, but now it was a reality. Clinching Pikachu's body tightly he boarded the train for Masera. He seated himself close to back of the train, cursing himself that he didn't bring his cloak. He felt so naked sitting here, everyone looking at him. He heard the remarks that were made about him. The unnatural aura he gave off. The Pokémon he held in his hands. Ash had long expected this to happen. Being outcast by everyone. The strange one, the sideshow freak that had managed to deceive their beloved general into believing that he was Ash, her true love. He felt his face burn brightly. Misty's comforting hand on his arm. He passed her a side-glance. She was smiling.
Obviously it didn't matter to her what everyone thought. Just seeing her happy and smiling was all that Ash needed. He wasn't going to abandon her again. He wasn't going to disappear and go away again. This was his life now. He had chosen it the moment he let Misty shoot him down.
"We're here," muttered Misty. Ash looked up and found the train nearly empty. Surprised that he didn't sense the movement of the crowd dispersing. The train entered Masera's station where the couple got off.
"Wow," muttered Ash. It was so real. Masera looked just like Pallet… too much like the once glorious Pallet that set on the edge of one of Indigo's many borders. Misty let him no time to reflect on what he saw as she hurriedly pulled him into the streets. They were empty. The homes and houses were all empty and bare. The only light source was that of the dimly lit streetlights, and the looming laboratory that sat upon the hill.
"Prof. Oak's lab?" Reaching the building, Ash immediately recognized the lab that he had spent much of his childhood in.
"Yeah. Now come on, everyone's waiting."
"Everyone?"
"Yes everyone. All our old friends that we met in our childhood and more."
"More?" Ash gulped as Misty pulled him into the dimly lit laboratory. Clinching Pikachu's soft and heavenly body tightly he sent the rodent a psychic vibe. This is it.
The Pokémon nodded, agreeing with its trainer. A small gasp of air left Ash's lips as he followed Misty into the lab. Walking though dozens of doors they finally reached their destination. The largest room in the laboratory. Ash recognized the room almost immediately even in the dark. It was here in the original room that he and Gary had sworn to the Pokégods that they would make Pallet proud. They would become future Pokémon Masters, soaring above all others. It was here that he received Pikachu, his first Pokémon. It was here that he first felt the electric shocks soaking and burning into his skin. A feeling of being fried alive that he been feeling for the last thirteen years. Such strong and ever lasting memories that were emboldened into his soul, his memory longing to escape the confinements of his mind.
He felt his body shake uncontrollably. Feeling Misty's comforting hand easing his pain muttering words of encouragement into his ears. "They're our friends, Ash. Our friends, you're home now. You're finally home."
"Hmm."
"Now come."
"The party's not here?"
"Course not. We couldn't possibly all fit here. Now close your eyes," coaxed Misty. Ash sighed before sealing them tight. "You too Pikachu. No peeking."
"Pik," grumbled the Pokémon before compelling with Misty's orders.
Opening one of his eyes Ash gave Misty a death stare. "No funny business you hear? I don't want to go crashing into any walls like that one time…"
"ASH!!" snapped Misty.
"Sorry," grumbled the young man. Grumbling he closed his eyes fearing the worst. Misty lead him farther into the lab then out a door, splashing the coldness of the sea air upon his face.
"Now open."
Ash sighed preparing himself for the worst. He fearfully opened his eyes. "SURPRISE!" The up-to-scale garden boomed with cries of happiness. Pikachu gave a yelp of panic as it leaped out of Ash's grasp and onto Misty's shoulders. A body cobbled him to the ground, causing him to hit the grass hard. Ash groaned, moaning in pain as he pulled himself up. There sitting upon his legs was a young woman. She was dressed in a pink gown with radiating brown hair. Ash immediately smiled. "Long time no see, Haruka."
"Same here." Haruka grinned before getting off of Ash and letting his stand up. There he received simple punches to his shoulder from the males and short kisses from the females. Salutation and holiday greetings were exchanged before Ash was once again left alone with only Misty, Haruka, Brock, and Gary.
The five some each too embarrassed to speak a word. None, knowing what to say at that moment. Each, standing mere centimeters from the other. Misty sighed before speaking up. "You probably want to see your mom."
"Shit! How could I have forgotten? How is she? Did she take my disappearance very hard?" Ash immediately turned five shades of red, blushing badly.
"Why don't you ask her for yourself." A different voice spoke up, one not belonging to that of Misty. It was a comforting voice. One he heard all his life. One that gave him comfort in that deepest, darkest of nights. Placing Pikachu back into Misty's arms he turned around and there he saw her. She radiant and filled with youth even though her son was all grown up.
"Mum," muttered Ash.
"Ash, my boy. My son," the older woman in her mid forties beamed, opening her arms wide to be filled with that of her son's energy. The young man forgetting of his age and his manhood ran to her. Instead of receiving the comforting hug he longed for. A slap in the face was all he received.
"Ouch," muttered Ash rubbing the bruise that would soon appear upon his face. "Guess I deserved that huh?"
"You most certainly did. Worrying your mother like this for seven, eight years. When Misty, Brock, Haruka, and Pikachu returned to Pallet without you, you know how worried I was? I thought I had lost you, Ash. I know I've told you this for years, you're my world. Even now, now that you've all grown up. I still care. I love you, and I worry about you. You're all I have left, my son. Now give your mother a hug to show her you care."
Ash grinned before pulling his mother close. The fear, the danger, the death that he had faced the last few years ebbed away from his memory. He now knew that this choice was the best one he had made in a long time. No longer did it matter to him what had happened. All he cared about now was all here. His life here with the ones he loved.
**********
Ash sighed as he lay upon Misty's couch. She had volunteered they share her bed, but he declined. Fearing what harm may happen in any scenario where his curious and disobedient hands are concerned in. Pikachu was lying upon his stomach. His head upon Misty's legs. A TV program was playing before them. It was a love series. One that Misty had revealed she been watching for years.
"Mist."
"Hmm."
"Why didn't anyone at the party ask what happened to me?"
"Because… because…" Her face blushed badly before she spoke. "Because I told them not to ask. I called them on the train. Telling them not to ask you, that you would tell us in due time."
"Thanks."
"For what?" muttered Misty.
"For respecting my wishes. But… but how'd you call them on the train. I haven't seem one phone line or service center since I got here."
"Oh, we use digitized, signaled walkie talkies. They're like cell phones only more advanced. Which brings me to tomorrow. I have a meeting with the board about next year's fighting strategies and you."
"Me?"
"Yeah, we got to get you enlisted into the team and present you to Wataru and Sakaki, the other two generals."
"Wataru and Sakaki?"
"Lance and Giovanni," explained Misty.
"Oh," muttered Ash before going silent. "Guess that's the best," muttered Ash.
Or is it? Lugia told me to think this over carefully before exposing myself to the human world. Is this really the best thing?
Of course it is.
But still a part of himself, a nagging, the conscience side of him kept saying no.
The truth… the truth…
A/N: Woo… what's the truth? Wait! I already know what's going to happen. But do you? Well… how was it? I really need your input and encouragement. So stressed right now. Hopefully the next chapter will be up by next week. School's out next week Thursday at 11:20. So happy. I just love high school finals… not! Any ways… hopefully the next chapter will be out soon… if I get done fixing this one part. I already have it basically written. Yeah… Christmas is almost here… yet I'm still not in the Christmas mood. Strange… any ways… off topic. The Return of the King is out next week. Got to go see it. It's finally over… after a three freaking long year wait. Oh please review. I love reviews… and hopefully you'll get the next chapter next week.