Author's Note: Here be the story. Pokémon be not mine, but this story be mine.
"Misty?" Ash whispered. He almost wished that she were unconscious, but he knew he needed to say goodbye to her, in case...He refused to carry that thought out to completion.
Misty didn't move, so Ash tried again, a little louder. "Misty?" He touched her with a finger.
Her eyes sprang open, then she breathed a sigh of relief as she saw him. "Oh, it's just you, Ash...Oh, Ash." She buried her face in her hands, and Ash moved to put his arm around her.
"It's okay, Misty," he said, trying to soothe her.
She continued to sob. "It's not fair, Ash, why does everything always have to happen to us?"
"It's just the way it goes, I guess," Ash told her with a sad smile.
Uncomfortable, A.J. backed up to stand in the doorway. He hated to see his mother cry.
"We're going to go get Riviera, Misty. I don't think this is something the police could handle, and I need to leave now."
Misty wiped her face and struggled to stop crying. She began to rise, saying, "Ash, let me go with you--"
"No," Ash said, gently pushing her back down. "You need to rest. You can't use Recover like A.J. and me."
"A.J.," Misty repeated with a sniffle, confused for a moment, and then she saw him. "Ash, you can't take A.J. with you, what if--"
"I can't make him stay," Ash said to her softly. "Pretty soon, he's going to be starting his Pokémon journey...He needs to do this."
Misty squeezed her eyes shut. "What happened back at the house?"
Ash, knowing that was her way of consenting without giving consent, gave her an abbreviated version of what had happened, then bent down to kiss her on the forehead. "I love you, Misty, and no matter what happens, that love will survive."
Misty covered her eyes and started crying silently. Ash gestured at A.J., who moved close to his mother.
"Mom, I love you. Don't worry, everything is gonna be okay," A.J. said quietly.
"I love you both," Misty said haggardly. "Be careful," she whispered, turning onto her side away from them.
A.J. hugged her, Ash touched her shoulder lightly, and then they both left the room.
Ash walked over to his friends and parents, A.J. trailing behind him. "We're going to go get some of my Pokémon, and then we're going to leave." He gazed at everyone in turn, and they saw the serious look in his eyes.
Delia jumped up and hugged him. "Be careful, Ash!" She turned to A.J. and told him as she hugged him, "You be careful, too! When you get back, I'll make you some of that pie you like so much!"
"Thanks," A.J. smiled.
Ash looked at Jessie and James. "You tell those two kids of yours hi for me,...if I don't get to see them."
"We will," James answered, but Jessie looked like she were about to burst.
"Can't any of us go with you?" she finally asked.
Ash shook his head. "This is going to be dangerous, and the fewer the better. Plus, A.J. and I are part Pokémon, so we stand a better chance than any of you." He looked at his father, who gazed solemnly back. But they didn't need words. They both felt everything they wanted to say in their hearts, and they knew it was enough. "I love you all," Ash said quietly, "but we have to go now...Pikachu?" The electric Pokémon jumped up into his arms and then onto his shoulder.
A.J. gestured at Peach, expecting her to do the same, but she remained on the ground. "Pi," she said simply, scampering off towards the hospital's exit.
"Goodbye, everyone," Ash said, turning around and not looking back.
"Goodbye," his friends and family echoed.
A.J. followed his dad, but he couldn't help but turn around...Would he be seeing any of these people ever again?
Ash retrieved his Charizard, Venusaur, Blastoise, Umbreon, and Skarmory. A lot of his Pokémon had come and gone on his ascent to Pokémon League Champion. There had also been a lot of captures and evolutions along the way. But still, he cherished all of the Pokémon he had fought with.
He looked at his Pokémon seriously, and he told them that they might not be coming back, and they should feel free to decide to stay. But they all wanted to go with him, so with Pikachu on his shoulder, Pokéballs at his belt, and a backpack on his back, Ash went to where A.J. and Peach were waiting for him, and they set off to the forest, where Ash would try to find the scent trail.
Ash's Arcanine nose found the scent finally, and he ran after it, Pikachu, Peach, and A.J. following.
They ran for a long time, with just a few breaks (mainly for A.J.'s sake). Finally, Ash stopped near the Neo Team Rocket building, but not so close that they would be discovered yet. He turned and looked at A.J. "You're sure you want to do this?"
Trying to ignore his beating heart, A.J. gulped and nodded. He was going to do it.
"You're not going to do it alone," a voice said, and the pair swiveled around.
Author's Note: You likely saw that I chose four of Ash's main Pokémon in the series and two others that are more random. I chose Umbreon and Skarmory so that nearly every weakness of one on his team was countered by someone with a resistance to it. Also, sorry this is a shorter chapter, but it felt like a good place to end this chappie ;)
