Ash And Misty's Tough Choice

.

Plot: those worried about that cliffy I left you with last chapter fear no

Derek: fear not? You left my life hanging in the balance!

You think I'm really going to kill you off

Derek: well

You're the hero and my own creation. Why would I get rid of you?

Derek: oh... Right

Anyways the Chapter is in Misty's pov. " " Is humans talking and italics are thoughts while () is translated Pokemon speech. Enjoy!

XxX. XxX. XxX

My heart broke as I gazed over at my injured sleeping son from the chair next to his hospital bed. . "Derek. My poor brave baby." He looked pretty bold for what he went through at J's hands. I took in the countless wires attached his body from the machine on the other side of the bed, the cuts on his face and arms and the long white scar on his left arm where the IV from a hanging bag of clear regular antidote fluid was connected to his body. I knew that underneath light covers and his hospital clothes his injured ribs had hospital sash bandages over them. He moaned as he slept

It was two and a half days after Ash, Derek, Sami, Aki, Storm and Jaden had escaped from J just by the skin of their teeth. Jaden had taken a nasty bullet wound to the arm when they escaped from her. Jesse, and James had been beyond furious at him when they found out how he got the bullet. I truly couldn't blame them. When I heard what happened in the hidden gym my face had gone paler than Violet's Dewgong and my heart had skipped a few beats. I knew she was vicious from that sneak attack but what she did to them was nearly as malicious and inhumane as what dr. Yung did. I was furious at Hunter J for doing this. He was far worse off than poor Storm or my husband, who'd been the center of her revenge. Despite having all of his wounds including his wrenched shoulder and being thin and starving-something his mother had decided to remedy right away- he told me he'd been had been tremendously lucky. He said that she had been planning for much worse torture. I shuddered again. I don't want to even contemplate what she was plotting " I can't believe she did this to them. "

I jumped up-my heart racing- as the door opened and someone came in. As the door closed I relaxed, as it was only Sami-. She wore a white tee shirt with a picture of the three Kanto starters on it and blue capris. Her hair hung limply and Gary's old ying-yang pendent lay against her shirt. She was trying to catch her breath, her face flushed. "Parents. Let me come ...way too mad at first...horrified when I told what. Happened. Grounded me ". I didn't want to know how Gary and Dora reacted. Dora hadn't met J but Gary had met and battled her back in Sinnoh. Probably the same way I did when she'd shown me the note.

I motioned for her to sit down in the chair next to me -she collapsed into it. She sighed as her gaze turned to the bed for a few minutes before returning to me. " How-how is he?" she asked casually, like she was asking about the battle park matches, but with unmistakable concern in her voice. Does she like him?

Keeping my voice steady I told her I knew- "He has a crushed rib and a lot of blood loss but the doctors attended to that pronto. The tricky part is getting the poison because it's very tough to combat. Poisons differ greatly along with their antidotes. The poison in his body seems to be some sort of a cross between an Ariados and a Drapion.

"I saw the creature that did it or at least a burned part of it. " Sami looked at me, her amber eyes clouded. " Mrs. K- "

I rolled my eyes at my husband's goddaughter. " Sami I've told you don't have to call me that. Ash and I have told you plenty of times you can call us by our first names." My young preschool students said my hyphenated name was too long so they shortened it and it stuck.

"Sorry, Mrs-Misty. It's a habit from the School that's been drilled into my head. As to that... Horrendous hybrid It-it was pure evil. Something like that should only allowed to exist in ghost stories. "

"Jaden told me-... he told me she ordered the Ariapion- that's what she called it to crush and finish him. "

She gasped. "That evil psychotic witch! Apollo's vision didn't tell or show me that I didn't see it try to crush him. I came in right as Derek fainted from the poison. If I had gotten there any later he... He. " She trailed off

I patted her shoulders. "It's okay Sami. " I changed the subject to get her off the horrible topic of his very close brush with death. "What happened to J?"

I heard a vague explanation from Ash but I wanted to hear her version. Sami's face got paler. She gulped and bit her lip. "She won't be bothering anyone Ever. Terra, Aki and Storm took care of that. She's-she's- ". She lowered her voice. "She's dead"

I gasped. "Dead? But how?"

The words came spewing out of her mouth. ."We were in the air thinking we'd escaped then bullets came at us. One grazed Jaden's arm and another one hit Terra's wing. J was in a jetpack behind us. She taunted us "- she caught her breath for a minute. "Saying she'd continue to follow us everywhere and attack our loved ones unless we surrendered. We wouldn't be safe anywhere until she captured us or killed us. Ash and I –we-we knew what we had to do so I had Apollo teleport Jaden and Derek here. . Th-then Terra used Giga Impact to send her back into her hideout. Before she came out Storm and Aki used hyper beam while Terra sent a Flamethrower..." she trailed off. She trembled as if she were in Snowpoint City's chilly environment. "Other-Otherwise-"

I understood Ash's vague words: " I didn't have a choice. She. Won't be bothering us again."

Now I know why he didn't elaborate. I hugged her. "It's okay Sami. You did the world a favor and you saved many lives. We'll send Skylar to double check."

She glanced down at her hands in her lap as if she could see a taint of the death she caused on them. I knew it would haunt her for a while. She looked out the window at the crowd outside the hospital - Aurora and Sybil were keeping the mass of reporters away. "I should have been there earlier. It's my fault"

"It's okay sami. It's not your fault-"

She turned back to me, her face wet. "But it is! If I had paid only attention to Apollo's nagging then ...maybe he wouldn't been poisoned"

"We both know he didn't know exactly when it would happen. Even if you did maybe there is a reason it happened," I said. "Sometimes things happen for a reason. We can't see the reasoning until much later."

She gave a confused look. "Huh?"

"Let me put it this way" I explained. "If I had never fished Ash out of the pond when he was ten and he didn't ruin my bike we never would have travelled together nor fallen in love over the years. Or if your dad hadn't lost at the Johto League he never would have become a researcher and gone to Sayda Island-".

She nodded, understanding. "And met Mom and fallen in love."

She was still upset so I changed the subject again. "How long has he had the Growlithe?"

She looked up. "How did you know about Flamie?"

"Ash and Storm told me about her," I stated.

"Oh." She fiddled with her ying yang necklace as she spoke. "About a year now. He was walking one day when he saw a half-dead figure get beat up by this Spearow pack so he stepped in and fought them off. " So he wasn't lying that day when he said a Spearow attacked him. "He noticed she was hurt so he brought her to my house. Mom healed her up. The owner came by for her but she kept on coming back with new bruises and injuries –"

I pieced together the rest. "He was abusing her so she ran away. But he came back looking for her. You, Jaden and Derek got word of what the man was doing and somehow Derek fought him off "

She nodded. " We used different things from Jaden's parents' shop so that the trainer didn't recognize him. He was about to whip both Derek and Flamie when Jaden's parents stopped him. He said th-that if the trainer knew who he was he might return with back up." Like father like son.

I smiled. "I can see him standing up to that trainer- he's so like Ash that way. He stood up to Sunset's old trainer when he came looking for her, not caring she was gravely injured. ". Our compassionate shiny Charizard had been in ill shape when Ash and I found her a few years before we got married –thin, scars everywhere her right wing nearly torn off and nearly dead. We took her under our care and treated her. It was sort of the same story but there was a long trial in the courts. We won- the trainer lost his permit- and she was free to go but she chose to stay with us. Then the ex-trainer reappeared in a clearing when I was alone just before our wedding. He drugged me took me to a hidden cabin and - I pushed back the memory. Don't think about it. It's in the past. He can't come back. . My husband had taken charge, saved me and had been extremely furious at the other man, now in a high security jail for kidnapping, poke-abuse, attempted rape and other charges.

" Misty?" Sami's voice thankfully brought me back to reality. She looked up at me. "Please don't be mad at him Misty. He swore Jaden and I to secrecy not tell anyone."

How could I be mad for secretly training a growlithe he helped heal when I've kept those two attacks on his life hidden for all these years?" "I'm not mad at all. He saved her life and She saved his in return."

Her next question surprised me. " Are you going to let him go on a journey? "

I looked from Sami to Derek and back again. To be honest, I wasn't sure what Ash would say. There was still the secret we hadn't told him about. Who even knew if HE was still out there? "I don't know yet. I'll have to talk-"

Just then the door opened and a young strawberry- blonde haired man- Dr. Henry Stewart- popped his head in, "Mrs. Waterflower- Ketchum, we may have a breakthrough on getting rid of the poisons.

Sami and I both jumped up at the news. "A breakthrough?"

Her face lit up. "But h-how? "

Dr. Stewart motioned for us to come outside. "He needs his rest so I'll bring you outside to talk about it " We followed him out the door.

XxX Time Lapse XxX Time Lapse XxX Time Lapse XxX Time Lapse XxX Time Lapse XxX

I sighed with relief as I reached the house later that night. "He's going to make it." Dr. Stewart told us that they had discovered that a careful blend of antidotes mixed in with some Moo-Moo milk and vitamins would probably be able to get it out of his body. They would try it tonight and call us in the morning. He also said that if Apollo had gotten Derek there any later it would have been too late. I shuddered at that thought as I unlocked the door.

I turned on the light in the hallway after I closed and locked the door. Before the door even shut I was bombarded by questions from a bouncing yet tired bundle of yellow fur on the floor and a worried exhausted looking Growlithe.

(Misty! you're back! was it bad? Is he going to be all right? Mom's injuries were bad too but she said-)

(Is Derek gonna make it? Did they get it out?)

I chuckled. "For Arceus' sake Taran stop bouncing around like you've got a Joltik or two stuck in your fur. "

The Pikachu ducked his head in embarrassment and stopped bouncing. (Sorry)

"And Flamie don't worry he's going to be okay". Her tail wagged happily. "Where is everyone?"

She pointed toward my bedroom. (Mom, Dad and Aki all fell as-asleep in your r-room) he yawned (aiden and dj are in there too. dad hasn't left aki out of his sight)

He looked away and i knelt down to scratch him behind the ears " You look wiped out. Why didn't you go to sleep?"

(I … couldn't. i was too worried 'bout Derek and Aki … I was worried that something else bad was gonna happen.)

I knew what he was thinking- he had fallen asleep in the barn when it all happened and felt guilty. He was a very sensitive little mouse. "It's okay Taran. They're safe and on the road to recovery. " I understood. His littermates Zapp, Electra and Thora had left with their own trainers so Aki and his parents were all he had left. He was pretty close with my kids too. I had an idea. " Everything is going to work out why don't you go to sleep and tomorrow we can go see Derek."

(Mom and Aki too? I think seeing him would cheer them up.)

"Of course. I think that would help their healing process. We can have a little picnic in his room. " His eyes sparkled. "But you need to go to bed first " I told the little mouse.

(Okay. 'Night) I stood back up. I watched as he went into the living room, jumped into a soft poke-bed on the floor and instantly fell asleep.

" Poor guy. "

(He's a good boy) Flamie commented

"Yeah. His siblings, Zapp, Thora and Electra left with trainers so he and Aki are very close. It must have been hard for him and his dad when Storm was taken and Aki left. They were only little Pichus when Derek was born. They've basically grown up together. "

(No wonder why he was so worried about them) she commented. (He would have stayed up all night just to hear an update.)

I looked over at her. "How come you're not asleep Flamie? You must be wiped out after what you went through even after Dora healed you."

(I-I couldn't even if I wanted to.) She admitted (Growlithes stick to their promises no matter what. It's just something our instincts tell us. Before he f-fainted Derek promised me that no matter what to take care of his family until) she yawned (until I heard an update or he got better)

I patted her head " you're a very loyal protective Growlithe."

We walked towards the bedroom. She looked up at me. (How is he? Did they get the poison out)?

I nodded. "He's okay, thank Arceus."

(Are you upset with him? About ... not telling you about me?)

"Of course not. Sometimes –sometimes we have to keep secrets from the ones we love the most. It's not easy and there are times it can really hurt"

(Oh. I -) she yawned again (I get it)

We reached the bedroom door. I bent down to face her " You look like you could fall asleep any second " I commented kindly. "Go to sleep. Tomorrow we'll get you a bed of your own as well as a beautiful new collar. You have to get registered and checked out at the Pokemon Center too "

Her eyes widened in surprise. (Wait. a c-collar? bed? M-me?) I almost felt tears coming to my own eyes- remembering what Sami said about her horrible life before Derek saved and healed her. (You mean you want me to… to stay?)

I nodded " you earned it." She licked my face and bounced off. What a good girl. I thought as I quietly opened the door. Loyal, wonderful plus she can put up her own in a battle. What more could you ask for?

…

My heart simply melted when I saw my two younger kids asleep on the bed, huddled around Storm and Aki also fast asleep. DJ's India Jones And the Mystery of the Lost Temple book- with the cover showing a girl in an explorer's hat and outfit and a Sandshrew on her shoulders was on the bedside table Pikachu was on a little poke-bed on the chaise lounge and my husband was nodding off on his side of the bed. He looked up and saw me. (What's the news?)

"He's going to pull through. The doctors think they've found the right blend of antidotes."

He smiled. (Taran didn't want to go to sleep until he heard the news.)

I went over to the mouse and scratched him behind his ears. " I saw him. I told him that tomorrow well goes visit Derek. He fell asleep on the poke-bed in the living room. "

(I'll check on him later.)

" I also told Flamie that she deserved a collar and bed for what she went through."

He nodded. (I completely agree. She's earned her place. Ash wanted to talk to you. Better wake him up)

I cleared my throat loud enough for my husband to look up. "Hey water blossom. I was waiting for you. The kids fell asleep."

I walked over to hi. I planted a kiss on his cheek. I looked at his injures-they were pretty bad. He had a deep gash on his right shoulder and his arm was in a sling. Wounds danced all over him. He was still a bit on the weak side after what he'd been through. If j weren't dead I'd make her pay for this. "How are you?"

He tried to sit into a more comfortable siting position but winced and gave it up. "Stupid Freaking Hunter J. I'd be better if my wounds weren't being a royal pain in the-

I silenced him with a look. "Ash. The kids" I gestured to Aiden and DJ. I gave him another kiss. "At least you're all home safely. Well most of you."

"Yeah…. How was he when you went to see him "

"For what heck J put him through he looks good. The doctors said they think they found the antidote to the poison.

His face brightened. "That's wonderful news."

I shuddered. " If Apollo had gotten him there any later-."

"Don't do that."

"Don't do… what?" I asked.

"Worry yourself with what if scenarios. It causes wrinkles in your beautiful face." After a few minutes of silence he added, "Mist, I've been thinking."

"Hmmm?"

"Do you think we should tell him you know about what happened?" He didn't sound so certain

" About those two attacks on his life?" I sighed. "He's got to know sometime."

"I just hope he doesn't hate us for it". He gulped "I think that who J's boss was. "

I lowered my voice. " You know who? Or dr. Yung"

"D-definitely Yung. She said we messed up his plans and that he nearly got revenge on us years ago. " He lowered his voice. "S-she mentioned Butterfree's sacrifice at his hands." His black eyes locked with mine and I felt sorrow coming from them. "C-called him w-weak."

That monster! I kissed him to make him feel better. " Oh Ashy…I'm so sorry sweetie. You and I know what he did was true and noble to the very end " I tried to hug him with out the injury getting in the way.

(We're in a pickle if it is) Pikachu got up from the chaise lounge, leapt lightly and landed next to us. (I thought he was a goner after the last time…) he glanced at Aki's half tail. It was due to Yung she evolved but also lost her tail.

I scratched his left ear. "We never saw what happened with him and Mewtwo, Mew and celebi. I just don't want the same thing to happen to him again."

"None of this would have happened if we hadn't had his memory erased."

. "We don't know sweetie. She could have still attacked for revenge. He was only three at the time..." he replied. " Yung's attack frightened the utter blazes out of him."

"It sure did. " I answered recalling the terrified toddler's expression when he talked about 'the scarwy man' -as he dubbed Yung at the time- torturing him. "It wasn't his fault he got stuck in that mess."

(Plus he and Aki had those horrible nightmares about it) Aki's father added. (We thought. It was a good idea at the time.)

"He was so little then." Ash pointed out "not even five. If you saw him battle J, you'd have been so proud of him." He took a huge breath of air. " I really think it's time we told him what happened. We can't keep it from him forever. "

(He's gonna find out eventually.) Pikachu added.

I sighed. As much as I wanted to keep my boy safe from the truth I knew there was no putting it off any more. " You're both right. I wanted to keep him safe like a fledgling Pidgey chick to the nest. But after what he experienced. I think its time for him to spread his wings and fly. "

(That's right. i think he'll understand but i have a strange feeling he's going to be pretty shocked)

"Probably, Pikachu" I admitted

(When Storm told me what happened with Aki i felt like all the blood drained from my body. i was terrified but proud at the same time. she was so brave but i bet she was frightened as well) his gaze turned toward his sleeping daughter then back to us. (I know i have to let her go but as a parent it's hard to admit it. i'll still be worried for her saftey but knowing what Storm told me, i'm confident she can face the world on her own paws)

He's right. "You took the words right out of my mouth. That's how i feel about letting Derek go but i know it's for the best. I want him to be safe but-"

Ash chuckled. " You worry too much Mist. He'll be fine- he's a Waterflower Ketchum after all. " He kissed me.

…

I saw DJ stir as she opened her eyes. "H-hi M-Mommy." she looked up at me sleepily.

I went over to her and sat next to her. "Hey peanut." When she was born she was really tiny since she was overdue so that was one of her nicknames. " I see that daddy and you were reading your book."

" Uh huh." She nodded then gazed over at her dad's wounds.

" Whats the matter?"

"Is- is Derek going to d-d-" She bit her lip unable to finish.

I told her when he tried to rescue Ash and Storm a bad woman sent out a very strange Pokemon, which poisoned him. It was the basic truth but I wasn't going to scare the little five year old with the gruesome details of what really happened. " No DJ. He's not."

(He's too stubborn to go like that just like someone else i know. isn't that right?) Pikachu looked over at my husband, who nervously chuckled and then yawned.

"Mommy?"

" hmm?"

" did the person that hurt Derek an' Storm make those injuries on daddy ?" She looked over at him as he was trying not to fall back asleep.

I nodded then looked over at him. "Go back to bed Ashy. You still haven't regained your full strength. I'll call Your mother tomorrow and and explain the situation. Good thing tomorrow's Saturday and the Battle Park is closed ."

(We'll watch over the kids while you rest) Pikachu added.
He sleepily nodded. ".. okay. Night." He closed his eyes , lay back against the pillow and was asleep in minutes.

I looked at him. After the heinous torture Hunter J had put him I didn't blame him.

"Is the poison from the meanie Pokemon out of him? "

I smiled and hugged her. "Yes, it's out" I said. "He's 's going to be okay. Your brother is going to be better than fine. He's going to survive. Same with daddy ."

Saying those words out loud felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I sighed with relief. my boys were both going to be okay.