Second Chances

~ Part one; Life and Death ~

Misty was skeptical at first to say the least. Since when did they let them go on a mission? It's not like they were the best suited for the job. In fact, they were probably on the lower scale. But non-the-less, they were chosen for this mission. Ash on the other hand was thrilled to be given such a task.

   "Just think Misty! We get to go on a real mission! Our first one! Maybe this means we'll be called more often!"

   Misty had to smile at Ash's enthusiasm. She didn't want to douse his spirits, so she kept her cynicism to herself.  

   Just before they were to leave to their mission, they were to meet Michael, THE Michael the arch angel at the golden brick house, also known as the mission house. Ash had almost skipped the whole way there, if it wasn't for his slight maturity and the little dignity he wanted to keep. He waited patiently for Misty to catch up with him, then run off to wait for her again, much like a little anxious child would do.

   Finally, they reached their destination, both slowly walked into the sacred house.

   "Welcome" There was a figure at the back of the room, he was sitting on a fancy chair with an amused smile placed on his lips. He slowly rose to his feet, grace and a great sense of honor was shown even in his footsteps. Ash and Misty followed in awe, but did their best to keep their jaws shut.

   Michael finally stopped in front of a door and turned to look at them. "I assume you both know what you're here for?"

   Misty nodded. "We're here because we were called for a mission, sir."

   Michael nodded. "You two were chosen for this mission to protect and help these two individual people.

   "Now, as it is usually, you will change into a human form, but closer to their age instead of when you died. Do you understand that much?" Both nodded. "Good, you will return when we say it is safe. Never, and I mean never, reveal your true forms unless you feel it absolutely necessary. Are there any questions?" Ash and Misty shook their heads. Michael smiled with satisfaction and nodded. He opened the door he had stopped at. Through the door was a bright golden path that led to the gates, the gates that were the barrier between Heaven and Earth, and even between Heaven and Hell. Neither Ash, nor Misty had even been this close to the gates, save when they first came to Heaven.

    "Are you ready?" Michael asked, he held the door wide open, waiting for Ash and Misty to pass through. And pas through they did. With hands held tightly together, they both walked the long path towards the golden gate.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   "Ash! Ash! WAKE UP!"

   "Waaa….." Ash slowly blinked open his eyes and impatiently waited for them to begin to focus. "Misty?" He looked around. "What happened?"

   Misty shrugged and sat back against a nearby tree while Ash to sat up from his laying position. "I don't know, we were walking through the gates when we passed out," she looked around. They were in a forest sitting right beside a path. Pokemon were playing and running all around, totally ignoring the new comers. "And from the looks of it, we're back on earth."

   Ash nodded and bent his head. "Yea… headaches are one thing I didn't miss…"

   Misty gave a slight smirk. "Did you notice anything else, Ash?"

  Ash looked up and scanned the area. What was he missing? The clueless look remained and Misty sighed. Ash still didn't change. Finally, she gave up and said, "Us Ash! Look at US!"

   Ash look down at his own clothing and his eyes widened. They looked like teens! He was wearing a black t-shirt and blue-jeans. A black hat was set backwards on his head and black sneakers. His eyes widened still as he looked over at Misty. She had tan cargo jeans on and a blue bellie tank-top. Her hair was down and reached to the middle of her back. She also had a little hair clippy in her hair preventing the hair from falling in her face.

  "Yes, Ash, I guess the people we're supposed to help are teens too."

  Ash shook out of his daze and nodded. "But how do we know who they are?"

  Just then, they heard some voices coming from down the pathway coming their way.

   "It's your fault!"

  "It is not!"

  "Is too!"

  "I didn't get us lost!"

  "oh, so then I guess Shadow here read it and was leading us in the wrong directon."

  Ash could see red and black hair appearing.

  "Don't blame it on Shadow! It was his fault either!"

  "Ever heard of sarcasm, idiot?"

  Ash and Misty both looked at each other with an eyebrow raised. They could now see a long black haired girl with maroon streaks and seep red eyes, almost purple. The boy beside her had red hair, green eyes, and was freckled right on the bridge of his nose. The girl had a black shirt on with a heart on it and flare jeans to go with it. The boy just had on a red shirt with a pokemon on it and blue-jeans. Ash noted with interest, that a Mightyhena trailed behind the two.

   "Yes I have! And I'm saying it wasn't either of our faults!"

  "Oh?" The girl stopped right in front of Ash and Misty to stare at the boy. "Then whose fault was it?"

  The boy stopped as well and looked around nervously until he spotted Ash and Misty staring at them. "Oh! Hey! Do you know where we are?"

  Ash shook his head but Misty stepped up and nodded.  "Pewter city is thataway one mile." She pointed down the hill where they came from.

  The girl mumbled something under her breath. "I KNEW we should've taken that path to the right! But nooo, we had to take the one on the left!"

   The boy snorted. "ME?! If I remember correctly, you were the one who was saying, "Oh look! I can just sense civilization this way!"

   The girl nodded defently. "Right! And I was pointing to the right!"

  Misty took this time to intervine. "Would it be better if we took you there?"

  The girl smile gratefully and nodded. The boy just shrugged and Ash stared at Misty. How ere THEY supposed to help THEM? Not to mention the small fact of how Misty knew where they  were and how far it was to Pewter.

   Misty smiled. "What's your names?"

   "Ruby" The girl smiled back.

  "I'm Joey, the best pokemon master in the world!" Ruby rolled her eyes. "And this," He continued pointed to the pokemon beside him, "Is Shadow."

   Misty continued to smile. "I'm Misty, and the person behind me is Ash."

   Ruby and Joey both looked at each other then back and Ash. Ash started to chuckle nervously. "What?"

   Joey looked skeptical. "Are you one of those people who pose in the museum?"

   Ash cocked his head, totally confused now. "Wa?"

   Ruby continued. "You know, one of those guys who dress exactly like master Ketchum and tell about his story."

   Joey nodded. "Cuz you look exactly like him and even have the same name!" His eyes started to sparkle. "Are you a relative to him?!" Ash started to sweat-drop and looked to Misty for help. "Well see –"

   Ruby jumped in front of Misty, her eyes sparkling as well. "Best part is you look just like Misty! The water master! Also one of the few who came close to beating master Ash, not to mention his wife!" She sighed romanticly. "Ah, it was such a sweet love story! See – "

   Joey slapped his hand on her mouth and said, "I'm sure they've heard it, everyone has!"

   Misty blinked in surprise. "Everyone has?"

   Joey raised and eyebrow at them. "Of course! And their look a-likes should surely know." He shrugged. "Besdies, you can't be them, so you must be their grandchildren maybe. They've been dead for eighty-years."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ah, the sweet irony of it all… ANYHOO, dunno if that surprised you or not. Do hope it did. MORE TO COME!

~Smile Jesus loves ya!a