Misty couldn't believe it. Could this man possibly be Ash. It couldn't be! "I watched him die myself. There's no way he could have lived through that. Especially after being gone for almost 3 years. Why would he up and appear now? Maybe there's another man named Ketchum that Butch knows. But why would he save me? The only Ketchum I knew was Ash and Ash's father was never around so he'd have no idea who I am. And that's if he was even alive." Misty thought to herself. Her mind was racing now. She had no idea what was going on. Her feeling of fear quickly disappeared and was replaced with curiosity and wonder. She had to see his face. Misty sat up and stared hard at the back of the guy's head. Waiting intently for him to turn around. But she didn't have to wait that long. Because once he spoke. She knew.

"Leave her alone Butch. Didn't you get enough last time? You just don't learn your lesson do you?"

"I could same the same about you. You were suppose to be dead. What the hell are you doing back?!"

"None of your business. Just know that you can't easily kill me. And I'd never let you hurt her!" He yells. Butch smiles and eases out of his fighting stance. "Too late. You already have. See, she's my wife now. So what I was trying to do with her was perfectly legal. And now that you're back and she can't have you because she's with me. It make's it all sweeter!" He grabs his keys from the table. "Well seeing as how there's nothing you can do to me since you have no evidence of anything. I'll be leaving. Leaving you two alone to cry over what can no longer happen is reward enough to me!" He blows Misty a kiss and walks out the hotel laughing. The man stands up straight and sighs. He then starts to walk to the door as well but then he's stopped.

"Ash?" Misty say's quietly and nervously. All the signs pointed to it infact being Ash. But she had to see his face to know for sure. "Ash?" She says again a little louder. He stops moving and stands still. Misty slowly gets up and walks towards him. She then slowly turns him around to face her. And once they connect eyes she immediately gasp and holds her hands to her face and starts to cry. For almost 3 years all she could do was dream of him. And now, she was looking into the chocolate brown eyes of the trainer that she had fell in love with so many years ago. Misty takes a few steps back in disbelief. Still unable to speak. And after a few seconds she finally gains her voice. And just as she's about to speak he takes off out of the hotel. Misty tries to go after him but her legs wouldn't move due to the shock of just realizing that Ash Ketchum was indeed alive. She drops down on her knees and bows her head and cries. Ash was alive. And he ran off. And she didn't know how to contact him or anything. She wipes her eyes and looks up to see a letter on the floor. She slowly picks it up and reads it. It was written to and it said.

Dear Misty,

If you're reading this it's because you've came in contact with me. I'm sorry if i didn't speak to you. I don't think I could. It would be way too difficult.

I've been following you for a few months now. Secretly of course. It's been difficult because i've had to mask my strength and keep my distance so that Pikachu didn't notice me. Although I did get caught. Brock caught me once so he's the only person that knows i'm alive other than you. But i'm sure now that between the two of you everyone will soon find out.

I was in a coma for 2 years. I woke up in the orange island. I don't know how I got there but I did. I then spent half a year getting my strength back. I didn't want anyone to see me again as a skeleton. Probably would think i'm a zombie or something.

Anyway, I don't have much else to say. I'm sorry I had to meet you again in the way that I did. More than likely it's because something bad happened and that's what I was afraid of. Don't bother looking for me. I don't want to be found. I've been hiding all this time for a reason after all. Continue living your life.

-Love, Ash

Misty carefully folded the letter up and put it in her pocket. She then stood up straight and wiped her eyes. She was done crying. The tough fiery red head that she use to be disappeared. But she was tired of crying. No more. Ash was alive and she wasn't going to settle for sitting there crying her eyes out. She was going to find answers and she was going to find them now. She put her clothes back on and got her stuff then quickly left the hotel. She wasn't going to lose him again.

THE NEXT DAY

"Okay is everyone here?!" Asked Misty loud and clear.

"Yes!" Say's everyone. "Now do you mind telling us what's going on and why you're not with Rick on your honeymoon?" Said Tracey

"Yeah." Say's Paul. "Me and Dawn had some important stuff to tend to but you said it was urgent so we're missing it. It better be good."

"I'm getting to that!" She says almost yelling. "And Paul do NOT test me right now. Not until I get some answers!."

"Misty what's going on? I haven't heard you like this since.. well, since Ash died." Said May.

"Speaking of that." Misty turns to Brock. "When did Ash die Brock?"

"Misty everyone knows when he died, why are you asking Brock?"

"Because Drew, I want to here my BROTHER tell me!" She turns back to Brock. "Again, Brock, when did Ash die?" Brock gulps and starts to sweat. "Umm, we all know that Misty."

"Oh do we?!" Say's Misty sarcastically. "You sure about that?"

"Yes" Says Brock quietly. "Ok Brock, since you're so sure look at this." She hands Brock the note. He reads over it then gets pale. He slowly folds it back up and looks at Misty. "Misty I'm sorry!" Misty lunges at Brock but is quickly grabbed by Gary and Drew.

"What the hell red!? We all know you have a temper but why are you going after Brock?"

"Tell them!" Yells Misty. "Tell them!" She says again on the brink of tears.

"Guys let her go. She has every right to be mad. And I don't blame her. But please hear me out Misty. And if you still want to hit me afterwards then go ahead. I know you're emotional right now but please. If what I read is real then it's only right for you to know." After a few seconds Misty calms down and the guys let her go. At this point Tracey, Gary, Paul, Dawn, May, and Drew are all confused and worried about what's going on.

"Ok Brock. Explain." Say's Misty with a very angry look on her face

"Ok." Begins Brock. "It's like this. I was on my way to see you and this happened

FLASHBACK

Brock is walking towards the Cerulean City gym. And as he' s almost there he begins to talk aloud to himself. "Misty probably could use some cheering up. She didn't see Rick the previous day and her emotions were kinda wild and bad. She could probably use a hug."Says Brock to himself. He rounds the corner to the gym when he see's a guy in a tree staring through Misty's window with a pair of binoculars. "HEY!" Yells Brock. "What are you doing?" He demands. Shocked, the guy gets startled and falls out of the tree. Brock hurries over to the fallen guy to make sure he's ok. "Hey man I didn't mean to startle you but i'm sure you have no business peeking through her window like that." Brock tries to help the man up but he refuses. "I'm just trying to help man. Either allow me to help you and you tell me what's going on or i'm getting the police." Says Brock hoping that the man choice the first one. He wasn't really one for drama so he was hoping he could avoid it. After a long pause the guy finally answer's.

"Fine, fine. I don't need to go to the police. Especially when they think I'm dead." He says a little quieter.

"Dead?" Ask Brock. "Who are you? why would the police think you're dead?"

"Because." The guy turns around. "I was attacked by a beedrill and fell off of a cliff over two years ago." Brock is frozen. He was trying to process what his eyes were seeing. There was no way that he was actually looking at his old pal Ash. "You died. You died. They filed a police report. You can't be Ash!" Brock says starting to get louder in disbelief. "It is me. I'm alive as you can obviously see." Brock starts shaking his head. "No no no this is a dream. It's got to be a dream." Brock closes his eyes and slaps himself. He then opens his eyes to see Ash still there but now standing. He's about to do it again but Ash catches his hand. Brock just stands there for a second and then wraps Ash up in a hug and starts to lightly cry. "Man we thought you were dead." Ash pats him on the back hard a few times. "I know man, I know. It feels like I have been. I've been in a coma for two years. I just woke out of it not long ago." Brock pulls away. "Man we have to tell everyone that you're alive." He starts to pull Ash but Ash pulls away. "No not yet Brock, there's a reason why I was spying on Misty. It's not just to because I'm shy." He dust himself off then starts to walk away. "Follow me." He says to Brock. Brock walks silently for awhile behind Ash. Still in disbelief that Ash is actually alive. After about 5 minutes they stop at this cafe not far from the Cerulean City Gym (obviously if its only five minutes away. lol.) They get a table towards the back of the cafe. After they start order their food Ash begins to speak.

"Okay. You've been thinking i'm dead for over two years so i'm just going to get straight to it. So after what happened with Butch I awoke in the house of this young lady named Candace. Apparently she had been taking care of me for about a year. After a year of being in one of the hospitals on the Orange Island, they were ready to just pull the plug seeing as how they had no idea who i even was or where I came from. Candace was a nurse there and instead of letting them do that she volunteered to keep me at her house until I awoke. So a year later I did. I tried to come back then but she wouldn't let me. Telling me I needed me to gain my strength first and she was right. So for about 6 or 7 months I exercised and regained my strength. Then when I felt good enough I came back. I thought about visiting my mom but I decided to wait until I checked up on a few things first. So I came here to check on Misty. And when I did I saw her with this guy." Ash's tone starts to drop now. "And I saw them kiss, and that's when I guessed that they were dating or something. But he looked a little suspicious to me. So i've been following them both around for about a month. And i've noticed some strange things. Like when Misty is alone all day she cries and looks miserable. But when she's with him she looks content. Only on the days that she see's him does she look content. And him, he hangs out with some shady characters and he just gives me a weird feeling. So for now i'm hanging back and watching. Making sure she's ok. And I don't want to mess everything up either. I'm not sure how I would. But I feel as if I did then something would change. And if she's happy honestly and he's not a creep then I want her to be happy." He says but not with a straight face. "So Brock don't tell anyone. I have to keep my distance and not be seen. Act like this never happened and never mention this to anyone. Not until we figure out what's going on here at least. Just continue to be a good friend and give her advice. Don't do anything or say anything based upon knowing i'm alive. Like I said. Act like this never happened." Brock reluctantly nods his head.

"Even though I don't agree with this i'll do it. I'm uncomfortable with the fact that I know you're alive and your mom, Pikachu and Misty can't know. You know how upset they're going to be with me if they were to find out that I knew?"

"Yes Brock I know. And I know its a huge favor but please do this for me. I want her to be happy and safe. I just want to make sure everythings ok. I don't want to mess up or influence anything. And I need to be able to keep an eye on this Rick guy ok?" Once again Brock nods his head. "Oh and another thing Brock. That drink that Misty is always drinking. Try to keep that away from her. She drinks that almost everyday. And she does drink it everyday that she's with him. That's kind of weird to me that she always drinks that when she's with him and he's always the one getting it for her. I can't explain but I think it's effecting her in some way."

"Ok" Says Brock. "I can do that. But you owe me"

"Great" Says Ash smiling. "Now, how about you catch me up on everything?" Brock smiles. "Sounds like a plan."

END FLASHBACK

By now everyone's mouth was hanging open. Including Pikachu who came down after hearing Ash's name so many times. He kept yelling "Pika pi!" excitedly over and over again.

"So Ash was watching out for me like always?" Asked Misty. Brock nods his head.

"So if you're upset I understand. But I promised him and i'm glad that I did. Because it turns out that this drink that you were drinking everyday had some kind of drug in it. It suppressed your emotions to the point where you would basically forget them and become nonchalant. That's why on the days that you were with him you wouldn't be too emotional. And on the rare days that you weren't you couldn't do anything but think about Ash and cry. He probably knew you would relate how you kept a mind clear of Ash when he was around to him and he took advantage of that. I think its clear to everyone in this room that you only married him because of that reason." Misty looks around the room and everyone nods their head.

"I wish I would of known this before hand." Says Misty. "He turned out to actually be Butch and he tried to rape me." May and Dawn gasp and looks towards each other and all the guys stand up.

"He tried to what!?" Say's Paul

"Yes, he did. Called me a bitch and told me that the reason he married me was to fuck me basically. And then he slapped me and started ripping my clothes and that's when Ash burst into the room. He knocked Butch on his back and protected me. Butch just laughed and left because Ash was back and I …" Misty gets quiet as she realizes what Butch said yesterday. She was stuck with Butch. He was officially her husband and she had no evidence against him. And that meant.. That she couldn't be with Ash, if he even felt the same.

"Misty?" Asked Brock. "Misty are you okay?" Misty, who was standing this whole time stumbles back into her seat and starts to cry. "Ash is back. The man of my dreams is back into my life and I can't be with him because i'm with that monster!" She says through tears. May walks up to Misty and sits beside her and holds her.

"I know Misty. I know. Don't worry. It'll be okay. We'll figure this out. There's got to be a way to get you away from him. And we'll all help. Right guys!?" She says looking around at everyone. Everyone nods.

"Don't worry Misty. This guy is a creep. All we have to do is catch him doing something he has no business doing and frame him. After all i'm sure he doesn't even think you're smart enough to come up with something. He thinks he has you where he wants you but he doesn't. We'll punish this creep and get you with Ashy boy." Says Gary with a grin.

"Well do you have something in mind?" Questions Dawn.

"Actually… I do.." He says with another trademark cocky grin. He then starts to explain the plan to everyone and by the end of it. Misty is smiling again with new found hope. With all her friends pitching in. There's no way Rick stood a chance. Now all that's left is to put it into effect….

A/N: Hey guys. I decided to make this chapter a little shorter than the other two. My next one should be my last chapter for this story. I thought that putting this part along with what the next chapter has to bring would be too much so I have it split up. Hope you're enjoying the story and looking forward to the next chapter. And as always. Any reviews and comments are always welcome! Looking to become better at this and feedback is definitely gonna help me get there!