At last, we have finally reached the end. Took seven years to do it, but better late than never. Hope you guys enjoy this final chapter.

Troy threw his head back and basked in the feeling of the morning sun beating down on his face. The cool island breeze then came along to counteract the sun's warmth as it came off the bay. A bright smile spread up his face.

Last night was fun in a lot more ways than one. He almost didn't want to wake up after spending the whole night alone with Carol in her room, but the sun made sure that such a thing did not happen. As he reluctantly got up from bed and got dressed, he realized that the two of them were late for breakfast. Carol and Melody's grandfather, along with several other elders, decided to throw one last big breakfast to send him and the rest of the gang off. Troy thought it was a bit much, but he would not dare refuse the invitation.

Just like the feasts from both nights, this one was full to the brim with food. While Ash stuffed his face with food, Troy took the simpler route and had a cup of coffee with eggs, rice, and toast. A big breakfast like this was a tremendous luxury while out traveling. Ever since Brock decided to stay on Valencia Island, an apple or orange plucked straight from a tree or a freshly caught fish were the recent staples of breakfast. This was a real treat, so he made sure to savor all of it and he did.

Now he stood at the very edge of the pier just before the ground met the wooden boards. His gaze went all the way down to the end of the walkway where his friends were putting all their packs on Lapras. Maren offered to give them a ride again, but where they were going was completely out of her way, so they politely declined. They made sure to come by to send her off when she left though, which was about twenty minutes ago.

Troy took one last look around Shamouti Island. From the lighthouse to the shore and the trees as they curved up into the mountain that stood guard over the entire island. This was paradise in every sense of the word. Perhaps the most beautiful place he had ever seen in his life. Over the last day and a half since they arrived, he'd grown to love it in more ways than one. Maybe once his journey with Ash was over, he could come back here for a brief spell and maybe see Carol again. He blushed remembering the events of the night before.

"Troy!"

Troy stopped just before he began his way down the pier. His heart leapt into his throat and threatened to strangle him. He chewed on the inside of his lip as he turned and saw Carol standing just a couple of feet away from him. She was the one person he wanted to see most before leaving. This was probably going to be the hardest goodbye he's ever had to say – he wasn't there to say goodbye to his mom before she passed away due to his altitude training on Mt. Silver.

"Hi, Carol," he said. "Nice of you to come see me off. You have no idea how happy that makes me."

Carol stood still for a moment until she moved toward him. He stayed perfectly still until she was mere inches away from him. Her scent wafted up his nose from this distance, making it even more difficult for him to say what he was about to say. Before he could say a word, however, she spoke first.

"You know, you don't have to go with them," she said. Her green eyes shined like she was trying to hold back tears. The desperation was clear to Troy. "You could stay here with me forever. I'll see about us getting a place of our own, Troy."

Troy listened quietly. That was quite a tempting offer. As nice as it sounded, however, he couldn't leave his friends. Ash still had much more to learn from him, and he swore that he would stay to help Ash for as long as he wanted him to. Some things were more important than love.

"That would be nice," he said wistfully. His hand wrapped around one of hers. "Waking up to a beautiful island sunrise with you every morning, feeling the breeze in my face, us holding hands as we sit together and watch the sunset." He paused before giving the three words that would put an end to that fantasy. "But I can't. My place is with my friends, Carol."

Her face fell. That was definitely not what she wanted to hear. The tears visibly welled up in her eyes.

"Troy –"

"Ash needs me, Carol."

"So do I. I need you." She sniffled as a tear ran down her cheek. Her voice came out choked as she said the three words he did not want to hear right now. "I love you."

He bit down harder on his lip. For a moment, Troy was worried it was hard enough to draw blood. No taste of iron filled his mouth so it must not have been hard enough. Those three little words made him so happy to hear yesterday, but now they were a knife in his heart. She really had to make this harder than it had to be, didn't she? He took a deep breath as he sorted through the options he had before him.

"I made Ash a promise when we first met, and I'm not someone who goes back on my promises." He raised his hand to cup her cheek. "You're a lovely girl, and I'm glad to have met you but I have to go."

Carol's eyes narrowed. "So that's it?" she asked darkly. "You're just going to up and leave after everything? Last night meant nothing to you? You've gotten what you wanted and now I'll never see you again?"

"No, that's not true."

"Don't lie to me, Troy! I'm not stupid!"

He winced. That stung worse than a Beedrill's stinger. He didn't react as she shoved him back a step.

"Just go then!" Carol roared. "Get out of here! I never want to see you again!"

Somewhere in his heart, he knew she didn't really mean that. It was the hurt talking, which was more than justified. His heart skipped a beat in horror as he saw tears streaming down her face. He truly cared for her too much to let things end on that note. Troy tentatively pulled her in for a hug. She stuck her hand against his chest to stop him, but he gently moved it away. After a few seconds of no reaction from Carol, he finally felt her wrap her arms around his waist. He breathed a sigh of relief. At least the explosion was over.

They stayed like this for a few seconds before Troy made his move. His hand returned to her cheek. He used his thumb to wipe away a tear falling down.

"If we are meant to be together, Carol, then we will meet again soon someday," he said with a charming smile. He then quoted a line from a song that he had heard long ago but left an impression on him. "I don't know where, and I don't know when, but fate will guide us back together if it does intend that for us. I believe that with my whole heart."

That seemed to mitigate some of the damage that was done a moment ago. Carol's face wasn't as angry or sad as it was before. There was a hopeful glint in her eyes as she looked up at him. Her hand came up and rested on his cheek. Troy put his other hand on top of hers and leaned into her touch.

"Then I'll be waiting for you," she said warmly.

He smiled. At last, she seemed to understand he wasn't budging on this and that he meant it when he said they'd see each other again. He hugged her tighter.

"Keep me close in your dreams," he said. "And I'll keep you in mine."

Their lips met one last time. Troy savored it like someone drinking their last ever sip of water. Her lips tasted like the sweetest nectar on this earth. However, it was better to have one last taste of the forbidden fruit and savor it forever than keep it for himself and become bored with its taste.

Troy hugged her one last time as their lips broke apart. This was truly where they would say goodbye. He had brief trouble finding his voice to do just that.

"I'll miss you," he said.

"I'll miss you too," Carol replied.

"Goodbye."

Troy picked up his bag and took in one last look at her face. He memorized every single detail so that he would always remember her. His lips cried out for one last, quick kiss and he was more than happy to oblige. With that, he let out one last breath before turning away and running down the pier toward Lapras. Once he jumped on the aquatic Pokémon's back, the group got underway.

After a few moments, Troy looked back and saw the shore get further and further away. Even so, he saw that Carol did not leave her spot. She lifted her arm and waved to him. He smiled and promptly waved back. Hopefully the day would come when they'd be reunited. Until that day came, he'd do as he promised and keep her face in his dreams.

"So, mind telling me what it was that Melody said to you back there, Ash?"

The sound of Misty's voice snapped Troy back to reality. Oh great. This had the potential for trouble.

"None of your business, Misty," Ash replied.

Misty growled and grabbed Ash by his shoulders. "What did she say?" she shouted as she shook him. "You were blushing, so it had to be something big!"

"I was not blushing!" Ash shot back. "You don't need to know anyway! Back off!"

"Now, now, guys. Let's not –"

"SHUT UP, TRACEY!" the two kids snapped at the Pokémon watcher.

Troy could not help but chuckle. As much as he'd have loved a vacation from all this bickering, he also did not want to be anywhere else.

Our heroes are now off on the next stage of their adventure. Like the poet said, "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end".

Hope you guys liked that ending. Will Troy and Carol see each other again? That remains to be seen. For now, it's the end of an adventure that was filled with all sorts of twists and turns.

As always, be sure to leave a review letting me know your thoughts on the story. I always love to hear your thoughts. For now, it's time to say goodbye.

So long

Farewell

To you, my friends

Goodbye

For now

Until we meet again

Tootles.