Chapter Nine: The Secret of the GS Ball

Ash: (irritated) What do you mean, the gym leader isn't here?

Lily: (condescending voice) Just what I said!! Misty isn't here so there isn't anyone to battle you! Sheesh, how dense are you?

Ash shakes his head and looks around the room with frustration. He and Brock arrived in Cerulean City around 9:45 and immediately headed to the nearest Poke-mart. After stocking up on potions and revives the two trainers decided to head to the gym and challenge the leader. They arrived to find, much to Brock's delight, three beautiful teenagers practicing synchronized swimming in the gym's gigantic Olympic sized pool. Unfortunately, Ash soon learned the truth, that the gym leader was out and their entire trip had been wasted.

Ash: Can't one of you battle me?? Pleeeeaaaaaase!!! I really want to earn a badge.

Daisy: We can't. She took all the Pokemon with her when she left. And besides…(flips her hair arrogantly) We're busy working on our swim routines. (Ash falls over)

Ash: (picks himself up and glares at the girls) What kind of gym leaders are you!?

Violet: You're welcome to wait here until Misty gets back, but I doubt she'll want to battle anyway.

Lily: (laughs) Yeah, this morning she kind of stormed out in a really bad mood.

Ash: (glares at them) I wonder why?

Daisy: (getting angry) HEY, you little twerp, you don't even know us! Watch what you say.

Brock: (in girl mode) Yeah, Ash, don't be so rude to the beautiful ladies. (holds Violet's hands) Waiting here for you sister will be no problem. I could watch you practice all day.

Violet: (big sweat drop) Um…ok that's nice. Who are you??

Brock: (hearts in eyes) I'm Brock, and you three are the most beautiful creatures I've ever laid eyes on.

Lily: (strikes a pose) Well, at least he's got good taste.

Brock: (grabs the hands of all three sisters) Marry me!!!!

Lily: (sweat drops) I take it back. He's creepy!!

Ash: (long sigh) This is pointless. I'm going to take a walk, I'll catch up with you later Brock. Come on Pikachu.

Brock: (not really listening) Ok, whatever you say. (turns back to the sisters) So, how about dinner tonight?

Daisy: (calls after Ash) Hey kid, aren't you forgetting something?? Take your perverted friend with you!

The three sisters watch as Ash walks out of the gym and slams the door behind him. Large sweat drops form as the three slowly turn back and look at Brock. The young gym leader strikes a suave pose and smiles at the three girls.

Brock: (lowers his voice) So ladies, what time should I pick you up?

Daisy: (spins around and bolts) RUUUUUUUUN!!!!

Lily: (following her sister) Daisy, you distract him while Violet goes and gets the stun gun and the ropes. I'll call Officer Jenny.

Violet: (nods as she runs) Got it,

Daisy: (crying) Why do I have to be the decoy???

Brock: (gone totally insane from girl overload) Wait girls. Your Brocky-poo is here.

Daisy/Lily/Violet: AAAAAAAAAH!!!! (pick up the pace)

meanwhile Misty sits on the bank of the river and lets her feet dangle in the cool clear water, as she contemplates her life and feelings. The place is a semi-hidden cove on the river that runs near Pallet Town. The fishing is especially good. She often comes here to think and calm down when she's had a bad day; it is one of her favorite places. It was this place that she ran to several months ago when her sisters forgot her birthday. That day she had contemplated running away, just leaving town and starting her own Pokemon journey, but she had known that she would never really go through with it. Despite how much she wished she could leave Cerulean and the gym she knew she would never go on a journey alone. Come to think of it, it was that very day that all her problems had really begun. Ever since that day Misty had felt as if she had missed something, something important, and since then her life had seemed even more boring and repetitive. Now every day Misty feels as if she's living some fake life, as if she's really meant to be doing something completely different, but she can't figure out what. Misty leans forward and looks down into the flowing blue water, a feeling of sadness overtaking her.

Misty: (a little depressed, talking to herself) I wish I had someone I could talk to. My sisters never listen to me, they are always taking me for granted. I wish I had a real friend.

Suddenly a vague picture pops into Misty's head, an image from her dream this morning. It was the image of a boy. The picture is not clear enough to see his face, but Misty still feels a sense of connection to this mystery boy. Misty, shakes her head, confused as to why she is suddenly thinking about some make believe dream boy, but the image refuses to go away. Misty suddenly feels even more alone and isolated than ever and her favorite fishing spot suddenly becomes less inviting. Misty is suddenly overcome with the urge to be near other people, and decides to head back to the City.

several hours later

Ash exits the Cerulean City Pokemon center and begins walking down the street. He has just finished dropping Pikachu off with Nurse Joy for a check-up. Pikachu had been in need of a Pokemon Center visit for a few days, or at least that's what Ash would tell anyone who asked. The truth was that Ash really wanted to be alone, and dropping Pikachu off at the center was an excellent excuse. Ash walks on down the streets of the city for a few blocks before coming across a little outdoor café. Ash orders a milkshake and sits down at one of the tables near the street. As he sips the drink, Ash gazes out and watches the pedestrians walk by, as he mules over his feelings. He has been on his Pokemon journey for the last several months and had finally gotten back to Pallet Town only a few days ago. It had been a fun, rewarding journey and he had had many great times with Brock, but Ash still couldn't shake the slight feeling of emptiness that he had sensed since the first day he started his journey. Brock was a great friend and everything, but Ash still couldn't help feeling lonely throughout his journey, for some inexplicable reason. It was as if something was missing, but Ash couldn't place his finger on what it was. For a while he had thought he just missed home and his mother, but when they had returned to Pallet Town the feeling continued to persist, in fact it had grown stronger. Ash lets out and long sigh and lays his head on the table.

Ash: (depressed) I don't get it. Why do I feel this way? I've got Brock and Pikachu and all my Pokemon friends. I shouldn't feel lonely at all. And…Why was I so upset about the fact that the Cerulean Gym leader was out? It's not like I can't come back another day.

Ash suddenly remembers his dream from that morning. The image of the mysterious red haired girl appears in his mind again. For some reason the image calms Ash, but he has no idea why. Ash pushes the thought away and decides to head back towards the downtown area, hoping a little more shopping in the local stores will take his mind off his disappointment with the gym and his strange feelings.

(making my way downtown, walking fast, faces pass, and I'm home bound…)

Misty pushes her way through the huge crowds of pedestrians as she weaves her way through downtown Cerulean city, trying to make her way back to the gym. Her anger with her sisters has finally dissipated and she is anxious to get home and see if there are any gym challengers. A good Pokemon battle might help take her mind off her strange feelings and the dream images that keep popping up. Fixing her eyes on the street she's trying to get to, Misty keeps pushing through the masses of people.

(Staring blankly ahead, just making my way, making a way, through the crowd…)

Ash walks down the crowded downtown streets, making little progress in the afternoon traffic. He can see his destination, a large mall packed with tons of different stores, only a few blocks away. Suddenly, the image of the girl pops into his head again, and his emotions towards it suddenly flare. Ash stops for a moment at the corner of a street and holds his head, totally confused by what he is feeling.

(And I need you…And I miss you…And now I wonder…)

The image of the boy moves forward again, stronger than ever, and Misty tries to push it away and ignore the strange feeling of connection that is associated with the image. She stops for a moment and closes her eyes as she fights to regain her thoughts. After a moment she looks up and continues on.

(If I could fall into the sky do you think time would pass me by? 'Cause you know I'd walk A thousand miles if I could just see you…Tonight)

Ash continues to walk on towards the mall, but the girl's image continues to pop into his mind. Ash suddenly hit with a feeling that he missed something, and quickly turns around and begins to walk back the way he came.

(It's always times like these when I think of you and I wonder if you ever think of me. 'Cause everything's so wrong and I don't belong, living in your precious memory)

The image continues to pervade Misty's thoughts and she shakes her head again in an attempt to get rid of it. Suddenly Misty turns around, feeling profoundly as if she is walking the wrong way, as if her true destination lies in the other direction. The feeling is so strong that she can't help but turn around and head back towards the mall. She quickly reaches the end of the street and stands at the back of a small group of people waiting for the light to change.

(If I could fall into the sky do you think time would pass me by? 'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles if I could just see you…Tonight)

Ash waits at the cross walk with a small group of people, waiting impatiently for the light to change. The image in his head still remains, and even appears to be getting clearer as the moments pass.

(And I, I…don't want to let you know. I, I…Drown in your memory. I, I…Don't..,.)

The light changes and Misty begins to walk across the street with the rest of the people. At the same time the image in her mind begins to become more distinct.

(Making my way downtown, walking fast, faces pass and I'm home bound. Staring blankly ahead, just making my way, making a way, through the crowd)

Ash slowly walks out into the street, his mind still racing and contemplating the strange image that won't seem to fade from his mind. Suddenly, as Ash reaches the middle of the street, the image snaps into focus. It is the picture of a skinny, red-headed girl, wearing a yellow shirt, suspenders and short-shorts. Her face is kind and smiling. Ash is suddenly very sure that he knows this girl.

(And I still need you…And I still miss you…And now I wonder…)

Misty nears the center of the street and suddenly the image in her head becomes crystal clear. It is the picture of a short, skinny boy with black hair, wearing jeans, a vest, a black t-shirt, and a red cap. His face is warm and sweet, with just a hint of childishness. Misty suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling of deja-vu.

(If I could fall into the sky do you think time would pass me by? 'Cause you know I'd walk A thousand miles)

Ash and Misty pass each other at the center of the street as they both head towards the opposite side….and suddenly stop.

(If I could just see you…)

Both trainers' breath catches in their throats and their hearts begin to race at breakneck speed.

(If I could just hold you…)

Both trainers' turn…


(…Tonight)

And the world shatters.

-NO!!! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!! YOUR MEMORIES SHOULD HAVE BEEN WHIPED CLEAN! HOW COULD YOU HAVE DESTROYED AN ILLUSION THAT I CREATED!!!-

The angry voice echoes through Ash and Misty's minds and bodies as the world around them falls apart in slow motion. The street, the buildings of downtown Cerulean, and even the people all seem to break apart and fall, as if the world had been made entirely of glass and someone had just thrown a baseball into it. The shards fall away to reveal an inky blackness that seems to stretch to infinity. Ash looks at Misty and she looks at him and suddenly all their memories come flooding back. Their first meeting, their adventures together, Team Rocket, Brock, the battle for the world. Zohar. Ash suddenly feels overwhelmed with relief and reflexively hugs Misty tightly to himself. Misty closes her eyes and hugs Ash back, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

Ash: (a little freaked out, to say the least) Misty…I love you!! I never, EVER, want to forget you again!!

Misty: (crying softly) Me too Ash.

Ash and Misty could have stayed together forever right at that moment, but as the last remnants of the illusion fade away they feel Zohar's furious rage rising up towards them and they turn to face it.

-MY ILLUSION WAS PERFECT!! PERFECT!!!! I CREATED A WORLD FOR YOU WERE NEITHER OF YOU KNEW THE OTHER EXISITED, WHERE YOU NEVER MET. I TRIED TO SPARE YOU FROM THE PAIN AND REJECTION THAN INEVITABLY COMES FROM A PERSON BELIEVING IN SOMETHING LIKE LOVE. I TRIED…-

Zohar's voice trails off into a cry of pure outrage. The emotions assault Ash and Misty's minds but this time it is different. Zohar's supreme confidence has faded away and been replaced by rage and anger, and something more. Ash also senses doubt, confusion, and, deep deep down below all the rest, fear.

Ash: (smirking confidently) Are you ready to take back all those comments you said about human love?

-IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!! A MERE HUMAN COULD NEVER BREAK AN ILLUSION I HAD CREATED, AND CERTAINLY NOT WITH SUCH A WEAK AND PATHETIC EMOTION AS LOVE. I WON'T BELIEVE IT-

Misty: (shakes her fist at the darkness) Believe it Zohar. You underestimated us big time.

Ash: Yeah. You may have pulled that mind game of yours to try and show us the error of our beliefs, but I think you only succeeded in doing the opposite. You know, Zohar I finally realized something. You were half right about us.

Misty: (surprised, turns to Ash) Huh, what are you talking about Ash.?

Ash: (turns to Misty, speaks gently) He was right. I've always had doubts about our feelings, about us. We're together now, but I kept wondering if we could always be together. Would we one day break up, go back to our separate lives, maybe one day date and marry other people? How many people do you know who married their first loves?? How many couples in high school, let along earlier, stay together indefinitely? You get what I'm saying?

Misty: (expression suddenly becomes sad, looks down) Yeah, I guess I do. And I admit that I've (hesitates as she looks away)… I've thought the same thing sometimes.

Ash: (gently turns Misty's head back to look at him, smiles) It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's natural to think that way sometimes. Anyway…now I know that we are meant to be. Even in the illusion, in a world where we never met, we were still able to find each other. In that world I was still a successful Pokemon trainer, but I felt incomplete, as if their was something missing, a part of me that I couldn't find. Did you feel the same way?

Misty: (wipes away a tear and smiles) Yes. I was a good gym leader, better than my sisters, but I still felt as if I wasn't doing what I was supposed to, and I felt lonely.

Misty reaches out and takes Ash's hand in hers. The two of them suddenly begin to glow with bright blue light. They feel Zohar's sudden fear and surprise as he retreats away from the glow.

-WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE DOING, STOP IT!! STOP IT NOW!! THERE IS NO WAY I WILL FALL TO YOU!! I AM ETERNAL, I CANNOT BE DESTROYED-

Ash: (looks deep into Misty's eyes) All this time I've wondered, but not anymore. Misty, I love you more than anyone else in the world, more than even the world itself. I could never love anyone as much as you. You are the person just for me, the one I want to be with forever. I know we'll still fight and disagree sometimes, but I know that we'll be able to get through any hardship or trial no matter what as long as we believe in this feeling.

Misty: (crying tears of joy) Oh Ash… I love you too, more than anyone, more than the world, more than the entire universe.

Ash and Misty leans forward and kiss each other gently on the lips. Suddenly the darkness is lit up by a brilliant blue flash and the darkness fades away to reveal the swirling orange void once more. Ash and Misty stare in surprise as a glowing blue orb forms right in front of them. The orb grows steadily larger and larger and then the blue light suddenly goes out, revealing the GS ball. Ash and Misty suddenly feel a wave of immense fear emanate from Zohar.

-NO, IT CAN'T BE!! I AM THE STRONGEST; I AM THE ONE WHO SHOULD RIGHTFULLY CONQUER THE UNIVERSE. I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED BY SOME PATHETIC SPECIES ON A BACKWATER PLANET!!-

Ash and Misty stare at the GS ball, floating in space before them, and suddenly they know exactly what they have to do. The two trainers' take the pokeball in their hands and glance at each other, smiling.

Ash/Misty: GS BALL!!! GOOOOOOOOO!!!

Ash and Misty fling the pokeball out into the orange abyss. The ball flies through space and then bursts open. And icy blue light begins to pour from the open pokeball and spread throughout the void. The blue light pulses and seethes just like the orange light of the void, but Ash and Misty feel no malice from it, only warmth and safety. As the blue light flows and absorbs the orange Ash and Misty can feel Zohar's presence slowly drain away. His voice rings out once more in their heads, but even as he rants against them, they can feel his strength slowly fading.

-NO, NO NO, NO!!!! I CAN'T HAVE BEEN DEFEATED SO EASILY. HOW COULD HE HAVE WON?? THAT PATHETIC, WHINING, INSUFFERABLE, DO GOODER, COULdn't have beaten me!! You cheated, wave existence!!! I am the great Zohar, I am unstoppable, I am eternal!! I am….-

As the blue light overlaps the last of the orange Zohar's presence evaporates from the void. Ash and Misty continue to look on as the bright blinding light where the GS ball opened slowly begins to fade and a figure becomes visible. The creature floating in the void has green skin, short arms, antenna, a head that slopes up to a point, and huge round eyes that nearly engulf its face. Ash looks at the creature with wonder, and then with sudden recognition.

Ash: (not really believing his eyes)…Celebi??

meanwhile, outside Ash2 and Misty2 continue to guard the vortex with their contact powers. For awhile they lost their small mental link with the other contacts and began to worry that maybe they had been defeated. The vortex continues to steadily grow, and although the psychic barrier slows it down it still continues to grow at a steady pace. Ash2 and Misty2 are just about to the edge of their strength when the vortex suddenly flashes an icy blue and ceases to expand. The two of them feel the others' minds come back into focus stronger than before. This time they can feel their emotions and words clearly and they suddenly know, beyond all doubt, that the battle has been won. Suddenly a blue light issues forth from the center of the vortex and spreads out across the portal until the whole thing is consumed. Now Ash2 and Misty2 finally allow their bodies to relax and as they look at each other their faces display their feelings of relief. The barrier they created slowly fades away and the two of them stand together before the transformed vortex. After a moment Misty2 reaches out and takes Ash2's hand, squeezing it affectionately as she turns and smiles at him.

Misty2: Well…I guess they did it.

Ash2: (flashes his peace sign) What did I tell you? All we needed to do was believe!

Misty2: (looks at him, slightly frustrated) Yeah yeah, I know. You're always right, (smiles at him warmly) right?

Ash2: (smiles back warmly) Right. But I couldn't have done anything without you here with me.

Misty2: (blushes embarrassedly) Ash…you know….

Ash2: (a little confused) What is it Misty?

Misty2 blushes a brighter red as she looks down at the ground. After a moment she takes both of Ash2's hands in hers and holds them in front of her. She squeezes his hands gently and looks back up into his face.

Misty2: (blushing bright red) You know…I think what the others said in there is pretty true. I've always had doubts too. I worried that we wouldn't stay together, for one reason or another. I worried about disappointing you in some way, about not being good enough.

Ash2: (interrupting) There's no way!! Your perfect Misty, there's no way you could ever disappoint me. (looks away sadly) You think you have doubts? Well I have ten times as much reason to have them as you do. If anything I'm the one who doesn't deserve you. Not after…

Misty2: (angrily) Don't start that again!! It's in the past!!

Ash2: (turns back to her) But…!!

Misty2 grabs Ash2's face in her hands and plants a kiss on his lips, effectively silencing him. Ash2 is taken by surprise at first, but after a moment let's himself sink into the kiss and puts his arms around Misty's shoulders. After a minute they break apart, very red in the face.

Misty: (laughs lightly and smiles) Just shut up for a minute Ash. I don't care what doubts you have or what you think of yourself, because it doesn't matter. I love you, and I want to stay with you always. I know that doesn't mean we won't have problems every once in awhile, but I know if we believe in this feeling we will overcome, because were meant to be.

Ash2: (sighs and smiles) I guess I can't argue with that. You win. (squeezes her hand again) I love you too Misty.

The two of them start to lean forward to kiss again when they suddenly feel a new surge of emotions from the other contacts inside the void. At the same time the world around them begins to shift in and out, like crazy double vision. In an instant the mental connection tells them everything, and panic suddenly hits them.

Misty2: (worried) NO!! They don't have enough energy, their going to burn themselves out!

Ash2: (equally worried) I know, but what can we do!?

Misty2: We have to use our powers too, all of them. Maybe that will be able to stop it without anything happening to them.

Ash2: (nods slowly) Yeah, maybe. (turns to the vortex with determination) I really hope your right. Come on!!

Ash2 and Misty2 run right up to the swirling portal and grab hands. Summoning up every last ounce of strength and willpower the two of them charge of their powers and send them straight into the void, straight to the other contacts.

meanwhile, in the void:

Dexter's voice: Celebi, the time travel Pokemon. This Pokemon wanders across time. Grass and trees flourish in the forests in which it appears.

Ash closes his Pokedex and quickly returns it to his vest pocket. He and Misty both continue to stare at the strange Pokemon before them. Celebi looks down at them and smiles, blinking its huge friendly eyes at them.

Celebi's voice: "You have done well, my contacts"

Ash: (not that surprised) So you're the Wave Existence?

Celebi: "Yes, I am the granter of wishes, the one who controls time and space, the Wave Existence. On this planet I am known as Celebi."

Misty: So you've been to earth before?

Celebi: "Yes, I took a form that was suitable to the environment, one that would fit in. I visited this planet many times, and eventually I became part of legend"

Ash: So you were in the GS ball all this time?

Celebi: "The only way I could truly destroy Zohar was from within, so I sealed him away and then sealed myself within the GS ball. I knew that someday the contacts I created would appear to fight Zohar and they would finally release me."

Misty: How did you know we would win?

Celebi: (smiles warmly) "I didn't KNOW…but I believed. "

Misty: (looks down) We could barely stand against him. He was so huge and powerful and we were so small and insignificant.

Ash: (echoes Misty's feelings) We almost lost against him. It was extremely close.

Celebi: "You performed better than I hoped you would. In order to defeat Zohar completely you had to truly understand and fully accept your love for each other. It was only when you gained the power to save everything and the power to lose everything that you could truly use the abilities I gave you and become the contacts. You did well."

Ash: The power to…save and lose everything?

Celebi: (nods) "The power of your love, a love strong enough that you would sacrifice the world itself for the sake of your feelings and a love so strong that you would also risk your lives to save the world where the one just for you can live and be happy. This is your true power, and it was strong enough to push back Zohar and unseal me. The battle is won…"

Misty: (looks relived) So…now what do we do?

Ash: (smiles happily) I can answer that. Now we go back to our normal lives, back to our Pokemon journey.

Celebi: (hesitates a moment) "There is still one more test of your abilities. One more trial to pass before it is truly over."

Suddenly the void is hit by a mysterious psychic tremor that shakes straight through Ash and Misty's very beings. The world around them suddenly begins to distort and shift in and out of focuse and the two trainers are shocked to see the same thing happening to them.

Misty: What's happening?

Celebi: "The two worlds' are becoming unstable. The constant energy fed into the worlds by the sealed Zohar kept the original time distortion from collapsing in on itself. But now that Zohar has been destroyed the time distortion is starting to fall apart faster."

Ash: (confused) But what does that mean?

Celebi: "This timeline was once a single dimension. When the time distortion collapses the worlds will once gain become one"

Misty: (suddenly very worried) But if that happens what will happen to the people from the alternate reality created from the distortion?

Celebi: "The alternate reality will cease to exist. Everyone will become one again."

Ash and Misty are so shocked that for a few moments they can barely speak. Finally Misty chokes out a reply.

Misty: (crying) No…That can't happen!!!

Ash: After all that we've gone through, everything we've been through, it can't end like that. It just can't!

Misty: (looks at Celebi pleadingly) Is their anything that can be done to stop it?

Celebi: "The time distortion needs an injection of energy to maintain itself. "

Ash thinks for a moment and then the solution suddenly comes to him. He looks at Misty with a solemn face before turning back to address Celebi.

Ash: Will our contact energy work? (Misty gasps as she realizes the truth)

Celebi: "…Yes…"

Ash: (clenches his fist, and turns to Misty) Maybe if we give it enough of the energy Celebi gave us, we can stabilize the worlds?

Misty: (nods) But what happens if it's not enough? What if…(voice trails off)

Ash: We have to chance it. We can't just sit here and do nothing while the worlds collapse.

Misty: (nods sadly) Yeah, I guess your right.

Ash and Misty clasp hands and charge up their energy. After a moment they use all their will power to blast their energy out in all directions, permeating the void. They soon begin to feel the tremor of the disintegrating time distortion decrease as their energy rushes in to support it. As more and more of their energy rushes out Ash and Misty feel their bodies grow weaker and weaker, and they know that pretty soon they will drain themselves completely. Yet the time distortion still requires more energy and Ash and Misty are suddenly hit with the realization that they can't supply enough and still survive.

Ash: (looks over at Misty and smiles weakly) I'm sorry Misty. I guess we won't be able to spend our live together, like we thought after all.

Misty: (smiles back) I'm just glad I'm here with you in the end. I hope all the others can have a good life.

Ash: I do too. (squeezes Misty's hand) At least we were able to save them, even if we didn't have enough energy to survive ourselves.

Ash and Misty's energy drains further. However, just as the two are on the edge of fading away they are suddenly both hit with a wave of new fresh energy that adds to their own and fills the void to the maximum. Both trainers suddenly feel their minds linked up with the minds of their counter parts, which fill their heads with emotions and words.

Ash2's voice: Don't give up. We're with you, we'll give you our energy too. We won't let you disappear.

Misty2's voice: If we can work together and combine our powers, I'm sure we can save both worlds.

Ash2's voice: (angrily) This is your story, you know. You're Pokemon Journey. You can't just end it like this. No one is sacrificing themselves on our watch.

Ash is surprised by the other two's determination and for a second he flashes back to what Misty said to him so many hours ago as they talked in a hospital room near Azalea town. "There's no point in sacrificing yourself in this. I don't want to lose anyone else. We have to work together to beat Zohar. It's…the only way."

Ash: (smiles, speaks softly) Thanks guys. We appreciate the help.

Ash2's voice: (laughs) Hey, were just happy to be participating more directly now.

Misty2's voice: You have no idea how boring it was out here waiting for you!

Misty: (laughs) I can only imagine.

The newly received power from the other two energizes Ash and Misty and they send a new stronger wave of energy into the void. It's only a few more seconds before they feel the tremor settle. The distortion has been stabilized.

Ash: (breaths a huge sigh of relief) We did it, we stopped the worlds from merging.

Misty: (smiles at him) And we did it without dieing after all.

Celebi: "Good work my friends. Now…it is finally over. I knew you all would find a way to overcome the final obstacle. "

Ash: (a little irritated) Yeah, yeah. NOW can we go back to our normal lives?

Celebi: "Yes, but never forget. This battle may be done, but your own adventures are far from over. There are many more hardships and challenges ahead of you on your journey, but I know you will face them admirably."

Ash: Yeah. We'll face them (looks over at Misty)…together. (Misty nods and holds his hand)

Celebi: "I am glad that I met you."

Ash: (smiles up at him) Same here.

Misty: Maybe someday we'll see each other again.

Celebi: "I'm sure of it"

Ash: (smiles goofily and makes his peace sign) The next time we meet, I'm going to catch you!!

Celebi: (laughs) "Dream on, human"

Ash: (smiles warmly) Goodbye, Celebi. The Wave Existence. Can't exactly say it was fun, but it certainly was interesting.

Misty: (waves) Goodbye. We'll always remember you.

Ash and Misty disappear from the void and return to the real world. Celebi watches them through the fabric of time, proud of the young warriors he chose so long ago.

Celebi: (thinking to himself) "Farewell my contacts. May light and hope guide you always, just as it did those fated crew members of the Eldridge. And may you never again lose your way."

outside in the real world Ash and Misty emerge from the vortex in front of Ash2 and Misty2. Ash and Ash2 immediately shake hands warmly while Misty and Misty2 hug.

Ash: Well…it's finally over.

Misty: We defeated Giovanni and Zohar, and saved the world. Brock's death has been avenged.

Misty2: We're just glad that you two made it out. We were really worried about you for awhile.

Ash: We would have never made it without you guys. We felt the encouragement you sent us, and if you hadn't lent us your energy we would have destroyed ourselves trying to stabilize the time rip.

Ash2: (points over his shoulder, at the door) You guys ready to go join back up with the others?

Ash: (laughs) You have no idea how ready!!

Misty2: (turns towards the exit) Then lets go!!

And with that the four trainers run together at top speed towards the door, out of the glowing core room, through the twisting turning halls of the ship, and finally out into the crisp, cool, misty air outside.