Author?s Notes:
Don?t we all know the infamous Mewtwo.�Translated Pok�mon words, don?t read this until you?ve read thefirst Cinnorare Island, and a few other notes.

First things first.� Don?t get me wrong on this, I?ve always liked Richie (sort of).� He?s in here,but you have to find out how. Also, remember the spoiler at the end of Part 1 from Reno.� A bit of that is changed, take off the first sentence of ?Reno?s life was flashing before his eyes.?� I took that out, it didn?t fit the story.� And Desi?� Well, I guess I was taking my anger of losing a guy I liked out with her, so she?s a little devilish. She?s not exactly the character she seems as well - she?s actually really purple-eyed and was probably angry enough to be devilish after Cyro was through with her. Hehe. Inside joke.

NOTE:� Even if you get depressed reading some parts of this, STAY WITH IT!!!� I think you?ll like it.�The ending won?t be depressing or anything like that, I swear you won?tbe disappointed with how the romance ends up in Chapter 3!! And near the end don?t be disappointed with Misty. You?ll find out. Also, if you REALLY don't like the fic, you don't have to tell me, but if you do it's okay.I don't like it either...� I'm so dissatisfied with myself....

In the previous:
Ash, Misty and Brock find themselveson an abandoned island, with a cave.� They journey into the cave tofind Team Rocket.� A creature brings them to a horrid stop in theirjourney, but wake up unharmed.� A band of Pok�mon finds themand saves them, taking them to another island.� But they must movequickly from the beach in order to keep the island newcomers alive.

After that happens, they are takento a Pok�mon center and a nurse?s house, where they spend the nextfew days playing games, staying up late, catching Pok�mon, and chatting.�But strange things happen, causing them to flee their place in the nurse?shome.

But searching for another island,they find that it has been mysteriously moved.� One of the Pok�monhad given another a gift, but that gift was something he was yet to findout.� Finally, after searching for such a long time, they find theisland, and find that what they had come for was already done, just throughtheir devotion to each other, teamwork, love and friendship, the greatestgift ever.

In Part 2:
And yet, through all of this, readersmay have forgotten that Ash and friends have not yet found home.�And they get someone new to take on the trip (surprise for you).�The band of Pok�mon will help them as much as they can, but shouldone promise something he is not sure if he can do, deep trouble may followthe whole group.� And we all know Misty likes Ash . . . or do we?But when a friend indeed becomes a friend in need, and those who need tohelp are frightened by the only signal to them, how can they save him?

Chapter 1
Lose ?em and Love ?em

The sun was setting over the clearblue seawater, adding silver, purple, orange and gold streaks to the ocean.�Unidentified dolphin-like Pok�mon leaped in and out of the water,graceful as ever.� The young couple sitting up in the mountain?s lushgreenery were observing all of this in perfect peace.� Below them,Reno and his friends, along with Brock and Andrea and Team Rocket, werecelebrating the loss of Azon.

Ash could overhear just a few thingsReno was telling the others.� He picked a few words out here and there,about how grateful they were to lose Azon, how they would celebrate, andother things.

He whispered something in Misty?sear.� She suddenly took her peaceful expression off her face, anda stressed one replaced it.

?How do we deal with that?? she askedanxiously.

?I think Reno will help us,? Ashsighed.

Misty happened to glance down belowher to see Reno fiddling with Ash?s Pok�dex, which had apparentlydropped.� Suddenly it began to go haywire, and Reno tossed it up tothem.� Ash grabbed it in the air, but immediately dropped it nextto him.� It had shocked him with electricity.� But as he tookanother look at the screen as it settled, he saw a picture of him and Mistykissing from the game of Truth or Dare earlier.� He sighed.

?What?s wrong with it?? Misty asked,just as Ash closed it.

?Nothing.� Just got a new pictureinstalled.?

?Ooh!� Let me see.?

?No!?

Misty looked at Ash with a hard lookin her eye.� ?Let me see,? she ordered.

?Um . . . it?s kinda . . . disturbing.?�Ash looked at it again, turning so Misty could not see it.� Then hequickly shut the Pok�dex.

Misty almost shouted this time.�?C?mon!� Let me see the picture!?� Ash quickly pushed it intohis pocket, but Misty reached for it and nearly grabbed it.

?It?s too . . . intense for you!?Ash replied.

Misty caught him off guard and snatchedit from his pocket a few minutes later.� ?Hey!? he cried.� ?Givethat back!?

But Misty had already looked at thepicture, and was staring at it wide eyed.� ?Who got that on film??she muttered.

?I don?t know, but if I find outwhoever did will eat my fist,? Ash mumbled, realizing that he had enjoyedit so much by looking at the photograph.� He had just been so trancedand shy at kissing her he hadn?t noticed at the time he was pulling herclose.

?No kidding,? Misty breathed, buta smile was breaking on her face, and she shut it closed and handed itto him.� He put it into his pocket as she leaped up and pulled himunderneath a bush into a hidden place in the vegetation.

Reno had climbed up onto the placethey had been, and arrived just after Misty had yanked Ash underneath.�He hadn?t seen what she had done, and was surprised they weren?t there.

?Where the heck are they?? he askedhimself, scratching his head.� ?And how did they disappear like that??

He didn?t hear what was happeningin the vegetation.� Instead, he just jumped into the gentle waterfallseries flowing about 5 feet below Ash and Misty?s old perch.

Misty had pulled Ash into an areathat had looked so small, but inside he realized the entirety of the place.�Ash decided to investigate the area.� ?I wonder if lots of Pok�monlive here,? he said in awe as he saw the huge cave.

Misty frowned.� ?I doubt it.�I sure don?t see any.?

Ash turned and looked at her.�?Yeah, sure,? he laughed.� ?Since when will a wild Pok�monwill just appear in front of you??

?Uh...never, if I remember correctly.?

?Exactly.?

Meanwhile, back on the beach, everybodywas frantic of the loss of Ash and Misty.� Everyone except Shelly,who decided making jokes was better.

?I bet they just hid so they couldmake out,? she laughed.� ?I can picture it now: Ash and Misty, pornoprofessionals!?

Reno rolled his eyes, stared overat her, and muttered, ?Shelly, Ash and Misty probably wouldn?t make outfor� . . . um . . . well.?� He thought for a moment.� ?Actually,I bet they would.� After that little encounter with my picture!?

?What?d you do?? Charcoal asked,chuckling.

?Mew took a picture of Ash and Mistykissing.� I stole Ash?s Pok�dex for a little while . . .? hehad to pause so he could laugh, ?and installed it on there!?

?You are so mean,? Charcoal cried,but he was laughing so hard he had fiery tears spilling out of his eyes.

?I knew they would enjoy it,? Mewgiggled, pulling something in her paw.� Reno grabbed it.

The laughing increased as everybodystared at it.� It was the picture?zoomed in and focusing on the closeembrace between Ash and Misty.

?I bet Ash had a hoot,? Reno laughed,wiping tears away with his paw. ?Heh. . . he looks pretty shy and trancedthere. I bet once he saw it he realized just how much he ENJOYED it. .. heh heh!?

?He WAS tranced,? Jessie sighed.?That little twerp was always squabbling over Misty. It makes so much sense.So romantic.?

?Romantic?? Charcoal asked. ?Theonly thing romantic about that picture is the fact that it IS kissing.It?s much FUNNIER to IMAGINE them kissing, rather SEEING it is even MOREfunny. Augh, I don?t know what I?m saying.?

?I know,? Reno said sweetly, ?it?sbecause you NEVER know what you?re saying.?

?Hey!? Charcoal snapped.

?They?re awfully young, don?tchathink?? Mew sighed.� ?Only 10 and 12.?

?Well, serves ?em right.?� Renocrossed his arms.� ?If they wanted to play this game, it only goesto sense they would?ve been dared to kiss.?

?Yeah, they?ve been playing a prettytough game all right?the game of love,? Mew added.

?I wasn?t talking about that game.?

?Oh.?

Mew, thoroughly embarrassed, dugher face into her hands, blushing hotter than a red tomato.

?You look like Ash and Misty didafter they kissed,? Reno joked.

Mew had a question mark above herhead.� ?What!??

Reno sweatdropped.� ?You?reblushing. . . tomatoes . . . red face . . . embarrassment. . .?

?Etc. . .? Mew finished.

Reno wore a goofy grin.� ?Y-Yeah!�That?s it!?

Suddenly a recognizable voice filledthe air.

?Reeeeeeeeeennnnooooooo. . .? camean echo, piercing the air.

?Ash?? Reno shouted.� The voicesounded like it had done some bouncing.

?RRRRaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnneeeeeeeeerrrr....?came another unmistakable echoed voice.

?Misty?? Rainer yelled.

Two extremely large shadows pushedonto the ground.

?Ash? Misty?? Shelly cried, puttinga hand to shade her eyes of the sun.

But was it them?� The echoesseemed to keep bouncing.

?Where are you?? came another echo.

?Please, please, where are you??the echoes screamed.

Sunset from over the mountain madethe two shadows cast even larger as the sun?s angle turned even more.

?Is that you, Ash?� Misty??Reno shouted.

The shadows moved.� It was them,or. . .

Two pairs of red eyes glowed fromthe shadowy figures.

Sweatdropping, the two Pok�monlooked at each other with uneasy grins on their faces, spouting a similar,?Eh- heh heh heh. . .? and running off quickly.

Brock shaded his eyes(if you couldcall it that).� ?Ash?!� What?s wrong with you??

Suddenly the voice we know all toowell sprouted from over the mountain.� Another shadowy figure withbright brown eyes leaped out of the bushes.

?Bulbasaur!� Go, take down thoseclones with one grasp!?

?Starmie!� Slice those clonesopen with freezing cold blades of water!?

The red light of a Pok� Ballflashed as two Pok� Balls opened and released their Pok�mon.�Standing side by side, on the top of the mountain, with the sun at theperfect angle for a victory pose, Ash and Misty were there, giving peacesigns.

The two lookalikes to Ash and Mistyturned, their eyes glowing a blood red.

A voice crusaded its way throughthe air.� It sounded evil and robotic almost.� ?I will followmy master.� Die.?� A flash of black light blasted out of theAsh clone?s finger.� Ash jumped out of the way.

?Pikachu, Bulbasaur, throw them awaywith your teamed attacks I taught you!� TEAM DAGGER!!?

The two Pok�mon?s eyes beganto glow white as the bulb on the dinosaur Pok�mon?s back glowedwith the same light.� Pikachu had a soft light of electricity aroundhim.� The two forces of the Pok�mon reached in the air andcombined.� A loud sound like the sound of two swords bashing togetherpierced the air as the force of electricity and grass bound together andstarted charging.� The energy started to flash rainbow colors andshaped itself into a dagger in a split second, and slashed the two clonesto bits.

Suddenly another blaze threw itselfinto vision as two rivers of water slashed through the air.� Then,encasing what was left of the clones in a hard enclosure of ice, the iceshattered, leaving nothing of those clones.

Ash and Misty stood triumphantlyon the mountain.

A silence followed for another 5minutes before Brock broke it.

?Now THOSE are attacks.?

Ash and Misty?s voices came together.�?We are incredible, ain?t we??

Ash started leaping down.� ?Iworked really hard, in secret, to teach Bulbasaur and Pikachu to do that.�But I couldn?t let anyone know how I did it.� Boy, if Richie saw howwell I was doing in my training now, he?d be sorry he ever beat me!�I?m sure I?m way better than him!?

?I wouldn?t count on that, Ketchum.?

?Misty?� Was that you?�I always said you sounded like a guy. . .? Ash started.

But Misty, shaking her head, was�a little too convincing.� ?Ash, that wasn?t me!?

?That was me.?� The voice dronedover the mountain.

?RICHIE?!? Ash shouted.

A head popped over the mountain.�?You think you?re better than me?� Ash, you don?t know anything aboutme!� Zippo!� Sparky!� Team Attack!?

The Charmander and Pikachu used theirfire and thunder, but Ash quickly ordered for another Team Dagger.

In a split second, Richie?s Pok�monwere fainted.

?Looks like Richie was taken fromthe winner?s circle to the loser list,? Ash chuckled.

?Hey, I beat you in the Pok�monleague,? Richie shouted angrily.

?Guess what?? Ash said mockingly.�?I know that already.?

?Just making sure...? Richie growled.

?Boy, you?ve changed,? Ash sighed,looking Richie up and down.� Richie had changed?attitude and looks.

He was wearing a black short sleevedshirt tucked in at a pair of light blue jeans.� Over his shirt wasa blue coat, also with short sleeves.� He almost looked like Ash,except he still had brown hair, and was no longer wearing his hat, andhe had done something a bit different with his hair.

Misty?s heart caught in her throatfor a second, convincing herself a few things.� I still like Ash,I still like Ash, I still like Ash, she thought repeatedly.

?Yeah,? Richie said, lifting up hisgloved hand.� ?But I guess since we were friends, we can still befriends. . .?

Ash looked down at his hand, thensmiled and laughed. He shook it.

Misty took another glance over atRichie.� Man, he?s cute now, she thought.� ?H-How?d you get overhere, Richie?? she asked.

?Here? On this island?� A hurricane,?Richie said, shaking his head.� ?A bad one.?

?Us too,? Ash sighed.� ?How?llwe ever find our way offa here??

Reno?s eyes lit up.� ?I?ll getyou off, I promise!? he said.� ?C?mon, let?s go back to Cinnorare!?

?Cinnorare?? Richie asked.

?It?s an island around here.�Great place,? Ash said, putting a smile on his face as he thought backto it.� ?Great place for some R&R, fun, anything really.?

I still like Ash, I still like Ash,I still like Ash, Misty thought, trying to repress an urge to gawk at Richie.

Brock, looking at Misty, elbowedher.� ?Is it just me, or do I sense a secret immediate crush?? hewhispered.

Misty shook her head.� ?No.. . I?m not a traitor. . .?

?Traitor to who?? Brock asked.

?No one.?

?I still think you?re suddenly inlove with Richie or something,? he said with a smile, walking off.

Misty scowled at him.� Thattwerp.

Jessie and James noticed Misty, also.�?Hey, little girl,? Jessie said.

?What?? Misty asked.

?You like that weird guy, huh??

?N-Noooo. . .? Misty said, stillhaving a thought train of I still like Ash, I still like Ash. . .

?Then why are you gawking at him??Jessie remarked matter-of-factly.

Misty had been so caught up answeringquestions she hadn?t noticed she was staring at him with a little bit morehint of gawkery (is that a word?� Well, it is now. ^_~) than she hadhoped for.� Her mouth hung open as her eyes, focused on Richie, werealmost crossed.

She shook her head and turned awayfrom him.� ?I?m not gawking at him!?

James laughed.� ?Last minutereturn, Jessie!� I think what we said on the blimp was wrong!?

Ash, happening to overhear, shouted,?Yeah, because Brock?s here!?� (It would be a little hard to justmake him disappear, wouldn?t it? And you must remember: Ash and Misty stillwon?t admit that they like [or liked in Misty?s case] each other in public.)

?No, no, Ash,? Jessie said, giggling,?I think that Misty doesn?t like you!� I think she likes that othertwerp!?

Richie gasped.� ?You calledme a twerp!??

?Leave Richie alone!? Ash demanded.

Richie started thinking about whatJessie had said.� Misty like HIM?� What about Ash?� He lookedover at her . . .

. . . and saw a very cute girl withcarrot red hair, done weird but cute, a yellow sleeveless shirt and strapsconnected to denim shorts, and bright blue eyes.� Misty.� (OK,OK, confession, I?m a girl so I don?t write these detailed things thatare Ace-type works.� So sue me! And I happen to think Misty is oneof the ugliest, stupidest creatures to roam the planet, no offense Mistyfans, but I still pair her and Ash up for some odd reason. I also changeher personality. ^_^)

He lost all his emotional controland gawked like her.

Misty noticed Richie.

Richie noticed Misty.

They blushed and turned away fromeach other.

Ash fell anime style to the ground.

Chapter 2
Misty and Richie, sittin? ina tree. . . Don?t Look Now, Cuz it?s ASHY!

**CINNORARE ISLAND**

Ash sat on the front steps of Andrea?shouse, lost in thought.� What?s wrong with her?� Does she likeRICHIE now?� Man, and we were so close, too. . .

His thoughts were interrupted byBrock.� ?Ash, you look blue.� What?s wrong??

?Actually, to me, only his coat andjeans look blue,? Pikachu said, getting a fist in the face from Brock for.

?Nothing,? Ash said.

?Uh . . .? Brock said, looking athim.� ?Something?s wrong.?� He paused.� ?It is . . . Mistyand Richie.?

Ash looked up at him and scowled.�?Telepath.?

?No, I can tell.� You were finebefore, and now that they?ve been flirting with each other, you?ve neversmiled.?

?But . . .?

Ash and Brock were immediately silencedby a sound.� Ash held a finger to his lips for silence.

?Why Richie, I?d LOVE to!?�Misty?s voice.

Ash?s face fell even lower.

?I was right,? Brock sighed.

***
On the front steps of the Pok�moncenter, Richie was sitting by Misty.� He was wearing his normal outfit,except no hat, with his hair still the ?cute? way (in Misty?s opinion.�I?ve drawn a picture of him, and I think other girls would think that mynew Richie?s cute too. ^_~)

Misty had a huge smile on her faceas she looked at Richie.� He had just asked her for a night out onthe beach.� She had agreed hastily.� If there was anything shewould enjoy, it would be knocking the remembrance of Ash out of her mindfor now?it was Richie she liked.� His attitude towards Pok�mon.. . his cute looks. . . his care for all living things . . . they madeup Richie!

Ash, on the other hand, was gettingthose vein bulges on his head.� Angry as ever, he stormed up the stairs.

Misty couldn?t help but notice, andshe almost felt sorry for him?almost.

?What?s wrong?? Richie asked, noticingthe concern on Misty?s face for a moment.� ?Not him, right??

?Oh, nothing, just wondering whyAsh is so angry,? Misty said with a stretch and a yawn.

A Pok� Ball fell out of thewindow and landed on Misty?s head.� A note popped out of it.

Misty picked it up to read:

?Roses are red,
A deep crimson hue,
When you just saw Richie,
You sure were too.

?And earlier on,
when I looked at your face,
I knew that deep inside my heart
you had your place.

?Sure, you probably
hate me for this.
But I?m not in any place
to ruin your bliss.

?So go on ahead,
Love Rich to the core.
I?m gettin? used to it now?
you were always a bore.

?Love, Ash Ketchum?

Now it was Misty?s turn to get thevein bulges.� She looked up angrily and scowled, rubbing the bumpon her head, to Ash, who was staring into the sky upward, ignoring her,whistling casually as though nothing had happened.

Richie looked up too, to be answeredto another Pok� Ball in the face.� Another note came out.

It read:

?The wonderful poet
I am seeming to be
Will all be destroyed
when you try to kill me.
For reading this poem
shall strike you a pose
Where your face is bulging,
Your eyes red like a rose.?

Richie stopped reading long enoughto stare up and wonder for a few moments what Ash could mean by that.

He continued:

?And when you?re done with this letter,
shove it right up your nose.

?Now the feature is here,
Enjoy it, the piece
This work is for you--
Your good side, at least.
For my dear Richie,
perhaps this you don?t know
But deep down inside, Misty
wants to be a FELLOW!!

?From, Ash Ketchum?

Richie and Misty exchanged glances.

**SUNSET**

Richie brushed the last bits of dustoff his black T-shirt (Don?t ask me where that came from for a night onthe beach) and patiently awaited Misty.� To his surprise, and relief,she didn?t come dressed up either.� They laughed, seeing that neitherwas really prepared for anything special, and joined hands as they rantoward the beach.

Meanwhile, in Ash?s room, Ash wassitting by a window looking at the beach of the west coast.� But hewasn?t really paying attention to the scenery.� He was thinking.

Why was it that Richie had to buttin on everything of his?� First it was his Pok�mon knowledge.�Then it was knocking him down and humiliating him by always seeing Richiebetter than him.� And worst it had been when Richie beat him in thePok�mon league.� He had used his most cheerful expression hecould then, but in his heart he was angry and sad.� Now Richie wasintruding his love life (if you can call it that) and making his life miserable.�Don?t you know when to butt out? he thought, looking at Richie runningwith Misty toward the curve.� They were going to the north beach.

?Pikachu!?

Ash turned around.� ?Oh, hi,Pikachu.?

??Sup Ash?? Pikachu asked as he leapedinto Ash?s arms.

?I got a lot on my mind,? Ash sighed.

?Let me guess: something to do withMisty running around drooling over Richie?? Pikachu replied.

?You win,? Ash muttered.� ?It?sjust so unbelievable.� How could they do that to me?� Richiedoesn?t know when to get out.?

?And when he?s been a good friendof yours, it doesn?t help seeing him run off with your would-be girlfriend,?Pikachu finished for him.

Ash searched for some words.�?A-A-I-Eh-Uh-He-G-Re-Uh?you took the words right outta my mouth.?

Pikachu, shaking his head, mumbled,?That Pok�mon league victory was cheated.� A sleeping Pok�monisn?t fainted or anything.� They can still fight, just Charizard wasn?tdoing it willingly.� And whatever happened to good old fashioned switchingPok�mon to one that wasn?t fainted?� I was fine.?

?If I could say them,? Ash crowedwith hatred in his voice, ?I?d give Richie a select few words.?

He leaned over.� ?My eyes areburning. . . my fingers are tingling . . . my mind is throbbing . . . Ifeel so light-headed . . .?� He passed out.

The cries of Pikachu echoed all overthe island for the next 5 minutes.

***

Misty yawned.� ?What?d theydrag us out here for?? she asked Richie tiredly.� It was the middleof the night.

?Misty, do you have any idea howhard Ash took this??

Misty looked up to see Brock.�The expression on his face meant no-nonsense-shut-up-and-listen-or-you?ll-regret-it.�She shook her head.

?Then c?mon over here and take alook.?� She followed Brock into the room where Ash had been sleeping.�He had just awoken, and his eyes focused to see Misty and Brock standingover him.

?My head. . .? he mumbled, and hiseyes crossed as they focused.� Anger crossed them the second he sawMisty and he turned to the side, narrowing his eyes.� He hated hernow . . . or did he?

?Ash?? Brock asked.

?What?? Ash asked with annoyancein his voice.

?Exactly how hard is this for you??

?Basically can?t be explained exceptI fainted just thinking about everything that?s happened.� Richiedoesn?t know to quit while he?s ahead. . . he?ll regret it . . .?

?Ash!� Don?t talk like that!?Misty?s voice pierced Ash?s ears.

?Shut up, Misty, before I have tohurt you.?

?Ash,? Brock muttered.

?Ash,? Pikachu sighed.� ?You?rereally taking this seriously.?

?What am I supposed to do?? Ash mumbled.

?You could leave me and Richie be,Ash Ketchum,? Misty almost shouted.

Ash sat up, despite the aching painsin his body.� ?Maybe if emotional problems could cause you this muchtrouble, you would think like me!?

?Shut up, all of you!!?

?Reno?? Ash asked, rubbing his head.

The Raichu bowed.� ?Right.�Like I was saying, you?re all playing the toughest game of all.� Thegame of love--?

?No, I said that they were playingthe game of love, cheater.� That?s my humble thought.?� Mew crossedher arms after the comment.� ?You said they were playing truth ordare.?

?Yeah, whatever.� But anyway,get used to it?heartbreak comes after love.?

?Or in Misty and Richie?s case, ababy,? Ash muttered quietly.

?Huh?? Misty asked, apparently nothearing clearly.

?Ash,? Pikachu retorted.

?Well, anyway, Ash, good luck, gofor another girl.?� Reno walked out, and Shelly, Rainer, Mew, andCharcoal followed.

Ash closed his eyes.� ?Hmnph.�Just leave me alone.?

?Gladly.?

?Goodness, Ash,? Richie said, ?youget out of the wrong side of the bed this morning??

?Sure did,? Ash joked.� ?AndI got the bump to prove it.?

Richie pretended to cough.�?HACK WHEEZE COUGH COUGH *lame joke* HACK COUGH COUGH WHEEZE!!?

?Thanks.?

***
**ABOUT 3 AM**
Richie lay in bed, thinking.�What was wrong with Ash?� Was it the good night kiss he gave Misty?�Or what?

Or what, he thought.

A knock.

?Come in,? he called.

The door creaked as it opened.�Who could that be?

?Richie,? a scratchy voice hoarselysaid.

?Ash??

?You?ve forgotten everything, haven?tyou??

?Huh??

?The game, the battles, the fun .. .?

?What are you talking about??

?Why didn?t you help him while youhad the chance??

?Who are you??

?You.?

Richie sat up immediately.�Though he could hear the voice, he saw no one standing there.� Buthe saw Ash pass by the door moments later, and a faint light by the doordownstairs.� He would?ve been suspicious, but was too lost in thoughtand confused.� ?Ash, what was that for??

?Huh?? Ash asked.

?Why were you saying those thingsto me??

?What things??

?You know what I?m talking about.?

?No, I don?t!� What were youtalking about??

?Why did you say those to me??

?I?m telling you the truth, Richie!�I wasn?t saying anything to you!?� Ash really sounded convincing.�He really couldn?t have been saying those things, Richie noticed.

?Then . . . who did??

Ash shrugged.� ?Things are gettingweirder since you came, Richie. . .?� The anger in his voice was unmistakable.�What Richie didn?t notice was that Ash had Pikachu on his shoulder, withhis backpack all packed up.� In his room, the bed was all made up.�Ash was mostly feeling better physically?but emotionally, he was dead.

Quietly, to himself, Ash mumbled,?Take care of yourselves. . .? and snuck out the door.

Reno?s keen sense of hearing noticed.�He wasn?t asleep, and popped one eye open to catch Ash leave.� Hedecided to wake his friends and go after him.

**NEXT MORNING**

?What do you mean, you can?t findAsh, Pikachu, or Reno and his friends?!?

?I?m telling you, Misty, they?renot here!? Andrea said.� ?Nothing left of them is here either!?

Misty stormed to Ash?s room.�But to her surprise, everything was gone.� Pikachu?s bed, Ash?s backpackand other belongings, and the bed was made.� She looked around andsaw a note on the desk with a $100 bill attached.

?Dear Misty,? it said, ?Guess you?recontent with Richie.� I knew it wasn?t the bike why you followed mearound.� Here, this money?s for a bike now though?because now thatyou like Richie, you won?t be following me for what you used to.�Take care of yourself.

?Bye.
Ash Ketchum?

Misty gasped.

**EARLIER THAT MORNING, A BIT PAST3 AM**

Ash was running as fast as he couldwith Pikachu running by his side, trying as hard as he could to hold backtears.� ?She and Brock have been with me for over a year,? he coughed.�?But . . .?

?Ash, what are you doing?? Pikachuasked.� ?You?re abandoning them who need you!?

?Nobody needs me,? Ash choked.

?I need you!? Pikachu cried.�?If you weren?t here with me all the time, I?d probably be with someonewho didn?t care as much as you do about me.� You even let me stayout of my Pok� Ball! You understand my words!� How much morecan I need you??

Ash was too tired to run any furtheras they reached the beach.� ?If you needed me any more, Pikachu .. .? Ash sighed, breathing heavily, ?You?d already be in the wild.?

***

?Misty, what?s wrong with you.�He?s gone!� You can?t do anything about it.� Why can?t you getover it?? Andrea asked the sobbing girl sitting next to Richie.

?Because he?s our friend!? both Mistyand Richie barked.

?After all that he did to you, I?msurprised,? Andrea said with a sigh.

Richie closed his eyes.� ?Butafter all he did to me. . .?� A tear fell from his eye.

Misty picked up Togepi.� ?Why?�Why?? she asked the little egg.� ?Do I still like him?� Aahhh!!?

?I thought Mommy always loved Daddy!?Togepi said to Psyduck.

Misty gakked and swatted Togepi inthe face. ?Mommy loves Richie. Not the daddy you know, Togepi.?

In her mind, Misty heard words repeatingthemselves.� ?Hey Misty, your hair?s not purple!?� She rememberedhow when Ash came back he thought of her.

Richie?s blue eyes had a glint ofsadness in them.� Was it. . . his fault?� But what had thosewords last night meant?

He stood up suddenly.� ?I?vegot to find the answers to that question.� Maybe that was me.?

?Huh?? Misty asked, tears still fallingfreely from her eyes.

?WHERE ARE RENO AND THE GANG?!? Andreasuddenly shouted.� ?I can?t take it anymore!!?

?Are you looking for Ash??

?Huh? Reno??

?He?s split.� Gonzo.?

?What do you mean?? Andrea asked.

?Put it short and simple now: Misty,if you like your precious Richie, forget about him.?

?Wha . . .?? Misty trailed off.

?He saw me and told me to tell yousome things.� It takes a second to crush someone, a minute to likesomeone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.�Someone like you.?
(--Quoted from Pok�_Gal~)

?I really can?t stand this!? Mistyfinally screamed.� ?I?m going to find Ash!?

?Hope ya have a good water Pok�mon,?Mew sighed, rolling her eyes.

?I?m a water Pok�mon trainer,?Misty replied.� ?Where did he go??

?At about four this morning, he was4 miles off the west coast of the beach.?

?And that means . . . within onehour, he had already gotten 4 miles off this beach?!? Richie shouted.

?Apparently so.?

Misty ran to the west coast.�?Starmie!?

Richie arrived moments later.�?Blue!?

?Blue?? Misty asked.

?My Marril,? Richie replied.�The Pok�mon appeared in front of him.

?Let?s go on Starmie!? Misty ordered.�?But what will Marri-I mean, Blue-do for us??

?Marril?s sense of smell is incredible,?Richie remarked.� ?Marril, sniff out Ash!?

Marril nodded.� ?Sure thing,Richie!?� He looked at Starmie.� ?Now I?ll tell you directions.?

Soon they were moving very fast alongthe water.� Something lurked underneath. . .

Chapter 3
Danger at Sea

Darkness. Silence.

?The time has come.?

A pair of red eyes.

?Come now.� It is time.?

?Time for what? Who am I?� Whoare you??

?Awaken.� You are a Tidal Mewtwo.?

?What does that mean??

?You shall be united with the powerof destruction that the original Mewtwo used. . . go on, he?s near. . .?

***

Tears fell onto the dirt.� Ashcollapsed onto the ground.� He had been at this island for hours.

?Aaaaaaaasssssshhhhh. . .? yelleda voice from afar.

He would know it for the world.�Had to be Misty.

?Whhheeeerrreee aaaarrrrreeee yyyoooooooouuuuu??

Richie.

He picked up Pikachu and ran intoa cave.� Ice clung to the walls.� Ash shivered.� Why wasthis happening to him?

Footsteps echoed into the cave fromoutside.� ?Check in there!?� Misty?s voice hissed.

?Careful, this cave is made up completelyof ice!? Richie?s voice said.

?What is this place??

?This is Cinnobat Island.� It?sknown around Cinnabar Island, yet never discovered, for the herds of Golbatthat flock here for the ice.?� That had to be Rainer, in his know-it-alltone.

?Here, take this jacket, Misty.�I?ll go in first.?

Ash knew he couldn?t hide much longer.�Charcoal?s flame found him in an instant.

?What was that for, Ash?? Misty asked.�?You had us all worried!?

?Wonderful intro,? Ash muttered mockingly.

?I was so scared that you . . . that. . . I . . .? Misty said sympathetically, closing her eyes as tears clungto them, ?. . . that I would never see you again . . .?

Ash snorted.� ?Sure.� Theonly one you?ve been SEEING is Richie,? he scoffed, looking away angrily.

Misty was too sorry for making himattack her like this that she didn?t get mad at him.� ?We were justtoo afraid to tell each other that we liked each other,? she sighed.

?Who said I ever liked you, you uncutemaniac?!? Ash shouted.� ?You?re ugly, and you?re just like Richie!�You two are meant for each other!� You?re both suckups!!?

?What?!? Misty shouted.� ?Ijust think Richie?s cute and all, but that does it.?� She pulled outand didn?t hesitate to use her trusty mallet from her pocket.� Sherealized what she had done and blushed.

Then and there, she realized it?shestill liked Ash.

She looked at Richie, gave him a?hold on, I?ll get back to you? signal with her hands, walked to Ash, madesure everyone was looking, and kissed him right on the mouth.

Ash looked as stunned as Richie,eyes wide open in shock.� But Misty?s eyes were closed?and Ash?s weresoon, too.

After about 20 seconds, Misty partedfrom him.� ?How do you feel now, Ashy?? she asked, smiling.

Ash remained speechless, but hischeeks gave the answer, as he was blushing hotter than a red tomato.�Reno chuckled.

?Nothing keeps him from Misty, muchless Richie.?� Richie scowled at looked at Reno.� Reno laughed.�?Oh, sorry Richie.� I guess you?re kinda hurt by that, huh??�Richie?s head did a response of a quick turn.� But a warm smile replacedhis look of evilness toward Ash.

?Nah, not really.� I?m overit already.� Oh well, I?d only known Misty for what, 3 days?�Ash?s known her for a year already.� What do I think I was doing withher??

?Kissing her, maybe?? Ash said.

Misty blushed, looking away.�?I don?t remember that. . .?

Richie did the same, but replied,?I don?t see what harm a peck can do. . .?

?But anyway. . .? Ash sighed, ?Reno,how are we gonna get home??

?Leave that to me, Ash.� I promiseI?ll get you home, but I?ve got some patrolling to do!� Now, all ofyou go back to Cinnorare and be good while I?m gone...?

***

A loud hiss pierced his ears.�What could that be? he thought.� He twitched his little ears as helooked around for a trace of other life.� Nothing.� But wait.. . what was that?� Two yellow eyes?� Or were they a light blue?Or a light red?� They were changing fast.

?Is anybody here?? he asked.

?Are you the one they were talkingabout?? a strange voice filled the corridor in question.

?Who are you?� What are youtalking about??

?Who I am does not matter right now.�But who are you??

?I?m Reno of the Tidal Turret Gang.. .?

?Tidal Raichu Reno it is then!�Exactly who I was looking for . . . heh heh heh. . . if you want to live,come with me. . .?

?Who are you?!?

?Tidal Turret Gang, you know thatyou are not the only tidal Pok�mon from the Cin Islands, right??

?Sure do. . .?

?I am the Tidal Mewtwo, Desiree.. .?

***

?Hmmm, where could Reno be?? Ashsighed as he walked along the trail to the Pok�mon center.�?It?s been over 2 hours!?

?He said he had some things to do,?Misty replied, ?maybe they?re taking longer than he expected.?

?I doubt he would even take thislong,? Richie remarked, and Brock nodded.

Misty shook her head and sighed.�?Boy, I wonder what could?ve happened to him??

***

Reno could taste blood.� Hecould feel it as he opened his eyes.� Nothing was familiar.�He couldn?t remember anything.� He started to weakly roll over.�He was in a dark place, in a very shallow pool of. . . water or blood,he couldn?t tell.

?The treatment to a lie could bevery easily death for you. . .?

?Pry your easy way into my damn mind,why don?tcha?? Reno hissed.

?How do you like the water?�I was hoping it would soothe your wounds.� You probably have enoughof them. . . heh heh. . .?

?Well, at least I know I?m not bathingin my own blood.?

?Heh, I think that soon enough youwill. . .?

?Wha-What?� You?re. . . I remembereverything now. . . Tidal Mewtwo Desiree??

?Look at yourself.?� With thatword, a firework seemed to explode from Desiree?s finger.� Immediatelya reflecting pool was in front of Reno, and the lights were all in suchan angle so he could see himself perfectly.� His blue fur matted itselfall over. Slashes and burns made him look like a walking rag doll of blood.

?What have you done to me?�And why?? Reno stammered, using a red, sticky paw to wipe his face.

?Liars will not be forgiven fromDesi?s paw of death!?� With that, she sent another firework to knockReno?s eyes closed.� He snapped a static bolt.� Immediately,he fired a hard thunderbolt onto Desi.

Desi screamed.� ?Share not yourpity on me, that blood belongs to you!?� Her usual blue eyes flashedred again.� The look on her face was something that scared Reno ata glance, but he wouldn?t show it.� Hatred stung her face like nothingelse.� ?I will not let you beat me!?

The cries of the Tidal Mewtwo echoedall over as light exploded out of her, shocking Reno.� Finally hepulled himself away, and he looked at her destroying face.� ?I promisedI would get them home . . . but now I?m unsure if I?ll even save myself. . .?

***

More than a day had passed sinceReno had disappeared.

?I could?ve sworn I heard the loudestcry of that monster. . .? Misty choked.� The tears flying out of hereyes devastated Ash.� For a half hour now, Misty had been claimingto be hearing the cries of a terrible monster and also the cries of theirfriend Reno, though none of the others had . . .

?Are you sure?? Ash asked.�He couldn?t bear to see her like that.� She barely let him get nearher, like he was dangerous to her existence or something.� ?What iswrong, Misty?� We can?t hear anything. . .?

?I?m positive,? Misty breathed, ?itwas just so horrible. . . I heard him crying for help. . . and then theangry cries of someone or something else, and then Reno screamed. . .?

Ash wiped a tear from her eye andlooked straight into her teal blue eyes.� His brown gaze was sympathetic,but Misty snapped her eyes shut.

?Misty. . .? Ash mumbled, reactingin the only way he knew how.

?I don?t understand it,? Brock sighed.�?She was fine a while ago, and now she?s gone berserk!?

CCCRRRRAAAAACCCKKKK!! went the skyas it blackened and a streak of ice blue lightning slashed through theair.

?Not good,? Ash remarked, as rainstarted falling.

?We can hope this storm won?t begoin? on too long. . .? Charcoal squeaked, curling up to protect the bluefire on his tail.

* * *

Hoarse laughter echoed throughoutthe dark cave.� A faint, still blue light glowed around 2 figures.�One lay on the ground, still, lifeless, unmoving, while the other stood,laughing horrendously and letting her eyes glow the same blue but brighter.�Desi and Reno, side by side.� One awake, and one sleeping.� ButMisty?s mind raced in unison with Desi?s?would that sleeper ever wake?

Slowly the glow in Desi?s eyes faded.�But the infinite blue iris of the evil Mewtwo?s eyes was unmistakable,visible for distances around.� The devilish creature could easilybe mistaken for caring for one just staring into her kind, soft lookingeyes.� But the everlasting stare was not a stare of care?more of deathor anger.

Desi sensed some movement.

She snapped her head downward toher prisoner.

Reno?s aqua green eyes stared backat her.

?Fool!? she cried.� ?Die thedeath of the Tidals that never were!?

Reno?s eyes became bigger as he sawsome psi energy flaming down to him, and then he snapped them shut.

?Noooo!� What has he done?!?

Reno was pushed away, unexpectingbeing saved but rather killed.� The voice that had yelled was a youngvoice of a boy, sounding about 10 years old.� As Reno opened his eyes,he didn?t see Desi but rather a young boy.

The boy looked about 10, with brownhair, spiked, and dark, crystally, big blue eyes.� They really werecaring?unlike Desi?s.� He had a white T-shirt on with a blue vestmuch like Ash?s coat, but the sleeves were the sleeves of his shirt.�His vest had a collar, making him look almost like Ash with spiky hairand no hat.� He had a pair of baggy carpenter?s jeans, and a lookof determination on his face that conveyed the message of ?I?m winningthis!?

He snapped his gaze over to Reno.�?You OK? We?ll talk more later.� I?m Kinsi, ?nough said, I?ll keepyou alive!?

?Kins!? Desi shouted.� ?Areyou betraying me??

?You betrayed me!� I said tofind Reno of the Tidal Turrets!? Kinsi shouted back.� ?Orders of Turikhimself!� He said to bring him prisoner!?

?How could Turik say that?? Desiasked, quieting down, and the look of anger on her face turned more questioning.

?Doesn?t matter.� Turik wasusing us!� He?s killed EVERYONE that wasn?t out on errands not askedby him!� I was telling you his orders to find Reno when he killedthem, and then when I arrived, I saw him leave?and dead people all around.?

?I always knew he was a smurf.?

????

?Y?know, a little blue man.?

Kinsi rolled his eyes.

?Let me get this straight. . .? Renocoughed, ?you two were working for some weird guy, but he was using you?�So the only reason I was being killed was for your master?� But youdon?t want to kill me anymore??

?No, Reno.� You?re free to live,?Desi replied.� ?Y?know, you look like a smurf too.?

Reno Thundered her.� ?Why doyou say that, you PIG??

?Well, you?re little, y?got bluefur, you?re a male, you fit the little blue man description PERFECTLY!?

?I?d fit it,? Kinsi said sarcastically.�?My blue vest makes me completely blue, I assume!?

?That wasn?t funny,? Desi muttered,looking over at him.

?Who wants to hear a blonde joke??Reno asked.

?Why??

?The symbol on your belt?s yellow,so I think that you?re completely blonde!? Reno answered, cracking up.

Kinsi and Desi looked at each other,then leaped on top of Reno and started beating him up.

***

?Funny,? Misty said wearily.�?The cries stopped about 5 minutes ago.?

Ash smiled quickly.� ?Glad you?reokay . . .?� Then he rolled his eyes.� ?Wait, never mind.?

Brock chuckled.� ?Why didn?tyou two confess the items sooner??

Ash and Misty both stood up and ranto Brock and gave him a horrid evil eye, and he shut himself up.

Richie yawned. ?Wherever Reno is,I?m anxious to meet him in reality.?� He shoved his fingers throughhis brown hair and his blue eyes were half-closed in boredom, apparentlyhorrificly annoyed at what he had earlier said was not going to botherhim at all.

?Richie, don?t sweat it. Reno shouldbe here in a snap.?

***

?Whoa, it?s dark in here.?

?Shut up, Reno.� We?ve gottaget outta here.?

?What?s that?!?

?What?s what?� I don?t see anything.?

?Those two blue things glowing!?

?Probably Desi?s eyes.?

?But. . . they aren?t shaped likehers. More like . . . yours, Kinsi!?

?Wha...?!� How could MY eyesbe glowing?!� I?m just a regular guy!?

Desi?s voice broke into their conversation.�?No, Kinsi. . . you?re NOT just a regular guy . . .?

?Huh?? Kinsi asked, his eyes boringonto Desi as she sighed heavily.

?Let me explain, Kinsi.� Youwere too young to know this before, but . . .?

***

Richie sighed.� ?Well, Mew,I don?t know why, but Ash just seems to be stealing from me.?

Mew stared at him blankly.�?How?� What do you mean?� Don?t you think you seemed to be stealingfrom him?� His wish to become Indigo League champion because of you?�His would-be girlfriend to you?� Well, I guess that was changed now,but...?� She shrugged and sighed.

Richie stared back.� ?I justdon?t know.?

***

?You are a Pok�mon Ukana,which in the language of the ancient Ukanas means King.� That glowto your eyes is the mark of the Ukanas.� This means you have beendescended from these Pok�mon people. . . and the Ukanas were allpartially Pok�mon,? Desi told Kinsi.� His eyes widened withdisbelief.

?I was told about the Ukanas frommy mother, on her deathbed . . .? he breathed, ?and she mentioned somethingabout them. . . about me. . . I didn?t understand what she said!�She told me ?Keep watch for the Pok�mon Ukanas, for your life liesin them,? and then she died.� Later, when I was older, my father alsodied and told me basically the same thing.� Does this mean . . .??

?Your mother?s eyes were green,?Desi replied.

?How did you know?? Kinsi asked.

?Easily.� The ways of a Pok�monUkana eye colour all results from parents.� Your mother was partiallyhuman, but also partially Bulbasaur. I have heard much about the last one.. . whose parents would be the grass and fire types who would have thewater master. . . and your first Pok�mon was Squirtle.?� Desiflashed her head back to Kinsi.� His eyes were glowing in the darkness,a blue that seemed mystical and magical . . . and ancient.

?You were curious of your dad?s redeyes, weren?t you, Kinsi?? she guessed.� ?When you were in schoolfor those 4 years, no kid you met had red eyes.?

?Yes,? Kinsi replied.

?So this is all true!� The lastPok�mon Ukana is the one whose parents were the 2 grass and firestarters of Professor Oak... Bulbasaur, Charmander, and finally, the firstPok�mon Ukana with eyes of blue. . . who is partially a Squirtle!�But he was the last Ukana...and the last Ukana would evolve with his Pok�mon!�And your Squirtle evolved months ago!?

Kinsi?s eyes grew large, and hismouth opened wide. He heard a quick word, and started to walk away, stoppingevery once in a while to look back at them. But a small crystal the colourof his eyes was where he had been.

?It. . . it looks just like his eyes,?Reno gasped.

Desi looked straight at him.�?The last of the Pok�mon Ukanas, said in the Pok�mon prophesy,was going to find a companion of the Pok�mon who would aide him.. . but whose side he?s on . . . who that companion is remains a mystery.. .?

With that, Desi spun around and disappeared.

Chapter 4
The Awaited Decision

?AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!?

Ash spun around in the dark cave.�Misty usually wouldn?t scream like that for nothing.� Probably a bug,he thought.

?I think I just saw a monster. ..?

Ash spun a 90 degree angle to seewhat she had seen.� That green glow . . . what could it be?

?It isn?t coming our way, Misty.. . we should get outta here though . . .?

They ran and caught up with Richie,Brock, Jessie, James, and Meowth.

?About time you two lovebirds gotyour butts up here,? Meowth muttered. Immediately Ash and Misty, thoughblushing, punched Meowth so hard it saw little Pidgeys flying around itshead.

Richie chuckled to himself.�?What were you doing back there?? he asked.� ?CERTAINLY not makingout, I hope!?

For that, he got punched as hardas Meowth?if not harder.

?I thought I saw a MONSTER, Mr. Richie!?Misty shouted.

?Okaaaeeeayyy,? Richie wailed pitifully.

?Ash.?

Everyone turned at the sound of thevoice.� Could it be?! Could Reno be back?!

Sure enough, to the Tidal Turretgang?s delight, there stood the creature, with blue fur and gray blue ears,tail bolt, paw tips, cheeks, and back stripes, and eyes the colour of tropicalocean.

?Reno!? Mew squealed in delight,hugging him tightly.

?Hi, Mew. . .? Reno heaved happily,reunited with his friends after a day and a half.� ?Watch out though,I?m practically a red machine...?

Mew released Reno long enough tolet all the others come in, and then studied him.� Sure, he may havebeen caked with his own blood, in some areas, but he seemed to have recovereda bunch.

?What happened?? Rainer asked, gentlyspraying Reno to clean him.

?Let Desi explain,? Reno mumbled,apparently very tired.

?Who?s Desi?? Rainer asked.�But then he could feel eyes staring at him, and he turned slowly to seea black shadowy outline of a Mewtwo, and two glowing blue eyes.

?This is Desi,? Reno gasped, usinga small flash.� She appeared in front of them, and almost everyonefreaked out . . . except for Ash, Reno, Mew, and the hiding creature inthe shadows. . .

Ash pulled out Dexter. ?Mewtwo. Apsychic genetic Pok�mon. No specimen of this type has been seenlike this before.� No other information available.?

?So Dexter doesn?t know anything.. .? Ash breathed. ?I?ve long awaited the day I would see a Mewtwo. . .?

?Ash,? Desi remarked, ?you have seenthe original Mewtwo known as ?Cyro? already, the first and original Mewtwo,who the Tidal Mewtwo was spawned from. . . and Ash, you have forgottenit all due to his actions.� Do not feel bad, he commanded this tohappen. . . and now, it is time to tell you about your true self.?

?Huh . . .?? Ash trailed off.

He followed Desi into an ice-coveredmisty cave opening.� The air was chilling and icy, thick with thecold.� The sky was white, out of the cave.� Ash shivered andrubbed his arms to try to warm up.

?Ash, you are the chosen one of theancient Ukana Pok�mon people.� No, I am not saying that youARE a descendant of them, being one of them that is part Pok�mon...no,I am not saying that at all.� But rather the chosen of them, the onewho would be stronger than all of the other Pok�mon masters in theworld . . . yes, the chosen one who would destroy the Pok�mon Hikans.. .?

Ash scratched his head in confusion.�?I don?t understand.?

?You will not understand this now.�But you shall, someday. . .? With that, Desi disappeared.

Ash stood, scratching his head, untila young, kind voice broke the silence.

?Have you seen Desi??

Ash flung himself around and sawthat spiky headed boy that Reno had seen?eyes glowing their bright seablue, hair coloured brown with a few gold glints shining here and there,cream coloured skin and a look so sad, yet trusting and caring on his face.

?She just disappeared,? Ash replied.

?My name is Kinsi.� Glad tomeet you,? he said, extending a hand with a very very very dark blue fingerlessglove on it.

?I?m Ash Ketchum, future Pok�monmaster,? Ash remarked, shaking his hand.

Kinsi stared intently at him.�He seemed, to Ash, as if he knew something that he didn?t.� Like hehad some hidden knowledge.� As if he could understand Desi?s words,know what that crazy Pok�mon had meant.� If only he knew himself!�He thought that he would never understand this mess!� Why was lifeso complicated sometimes?

?You have to be the chosen one ofmy people.?

Ash gasped.� ?Can you explainthis to me??

Kinsi shook his head.� ?Uh,nope, I can?t.� Wish I could, man.� But hey, I?m just startingto understand myself.? He laughed.� ?Dude, I wish my life wasn?t socomplicated.� Who cares if I?m part Wartortle??

Ash raised an eyebrow.� He startedto say, ?What?? but restrained himself. ?Then what?s significant aboutthese ?Hikan? people?!?

Kinsi shrugged.� ?Well, theUkanas were part Pok�mon, but could not be captured in Pok�Balls.� My best friend CAN be caught in a Pok� Ball.�Why that?s that, I?ll probably never know, but I?ve heard he?s somethingspecial...?

?I asked about Hikans. You deaf??

Kinsi stared at him.� ?OOHH.�Well, I?ve heard those are like anthropomorphic or something.� Maybesomeday you?ll come along a guy with hooves.� Ha, or a Rapidash witha human head.� Whatever.? He walked off laughing.� Ash saw agreen glow, and almost freaked out, diving back into the cave.

***

Misty violently shook Richie, whohad just collapsed on the ground, and for absolutely no reason.

?Richie, Richie, Richie,? she urged,?Wake up!!?

Instead, he just shook the way sheshook him?unconscious, but his breathing was so hard and short that shewondered if something had happened in his lungs.� He had no athsmathat she knew about, and it probably would?ve affected him in the pastif that had been the case.

Suddenly, it occurred to her to checkhis pulse.� She checked his pulse and his breathing.

Nothing.

***

Somewhere in the distant depths ofthe ocean, there was a hidden lab.� Inside a test tube, a boy wokeup, floating in a greenish yellow liquid.

Nothing was familiar to him.�Everything was different.� All around him were other test tubes, scienceequipment, strange looking Pok�mon, and a man sitting at a tabledoing an experiment.

He suddenly looked up at the boy.�?Ah, I see you are awake.?

?Who are you??

?I?m Dr. Worl, but you can call meEli.� This is successful, finally.?

?Who am I??

?You? I suppose, in a previous life,you were that Ice Islands League champion, but why would that be importantto you now?� You have the opportunity to become the greatest trainerin the world!?

The boy suddenly came to, lookingat himself.� ?Hey!� What have you done to me?!?� He wasable to breathe in this liquid, and talk, as if he were a fish or something.Even though the liquid was very cold, he knew this because of a temperaturemeter attached to the tube apparently used to make sure that specimenswere not affected by temperature, he felt fine.

?Like I said, you can become thegreatest master in the world!� You may become part Pok�mon,the part of one who takes on a partial appearance of one, and be immuneto many temperature changes!� Right now you are cold-blooded so yourbody temperature is adjusted to this. Together, you and I could conquerthis world!?� Eli threw his head back and laughed evilly.

The boy looked at himself.�His fingernails were growing longer, pointier and thicker, like claws.�His feet were only four-toed and the nails were emerging like claws fromthe middle.� He could see his reflection on the sides of the testtubes all around, and his teeth were growing pointy and sharp, and longer.�On the top of his head, he had two stubs, almost like horns, growing up.�He had a short tail. He had no shirt, a strange skin grew off his elbowsand needs, and he had some jeans on that were growing into scales at thebottom at his animal-type feet.

?You have done this to me already!?the boy cried in despair.� ?Who was I?� Ice Islands champion. . .?

Then, as suddenly as he said that,he heard echoing in his head, not his own thoughts but rather somethinginterfering his thoughts, ?RICHIE!!!!!!!!!!?

***

?And he just died like this?? Ashasked Misty, who was crying her heart out.

?Yes,? Misty sobbed, blowing hernose.

?Are you sure he?s dead?? Brock asked.

Misty nodded her head. Brock checkedfor signs of life.

Once again, Richie lay there, stillas a statue, as Misty once again yelled, ?RICHIE!!!!!!!!!!?

***

?It?s time.?

The boy who looked part Pok�monopened his eyes.� They glowed red.� His dark red-brown hair wasflat due to the liquid surrounding him.� Deep under the red glow ofhis eyes, they were a grayish blue colour.� Under the depressed faceand hypnotized soul was a heart so kind it could stop someone from hurtinga fly. The flat, emotionless expression on his face was usually a brightsmile and joyful eyes. He had been totally transformed.

?Come, make your choice now. . .would you like to go with your previous life, or stay as you are?? Eliasked, but more of an answer than a question was what the transformed boyheard.

His voice was robotic. ?I shall followthe path of the Pok�mon Hikans.?

?Good.? Eli laughed evilly and theemotionless face on the boy changed to an evil smile. He had no thought.He saw nothing with his own eyes.

***

Richie groaned as he opened his eyes.What was this?� He was in a portal of some type, or something. A turquoiseand black mist surrounded him.� There was no ground underneath him.He lifted himself up, seeming to be floating and yet pulled into a hiddenwall of gravity.

Suddenly he heard a voice.

?Hello, Richie. Welcome to our realm.?

He spun around and saw an old man.He was very tall, with a long white beard and a mustache that covered hismouth. He looked kind of like an old teacher. He also seemed kind of familiar,but Richie had no clue where from. He just stared, with his mouth open,kind of searching for words. And yet, he was slowly backing up, as if toescape something.

?I suppose you are wondering whoI am, and where you are, where you have seen me before, and why you arehere. You are partially afraid of me and yet want to know more at the sametime.?

Richie looked down, but no groundmet his eyes.

?I am the teacher. . . you know whatI mean, and you wonder how at the same time.?

Richie snapped his head up and staredat the old man. He was right. He was the teacher of the ancient Pok�monrealm, but he didn?t know how he knew that.

?I?m guessing you want to know whereyou are.?

Richie slowly nodded.

?This is the point that those thathave no life come to.? With that, Richie?s eyes widened. ?This is the placewhere those that have no life...and yet those who have no death come.?

Richie spoke for the first time.?You mean . . . I?m dead, but I?m not dead??

?This is your true soul here. Yourbody is in one place, with Misty and Ash and them. Your brain is beingcontrolled in a separate body that is being transformed. It is up to youto find out how to get Ash to save you. . . before it is too late.?

***

Ash was restless in his sleep. Somethingjust didn?t seem right. Like as if Richie?s supposed death hadn?t beennatural. He had a strange dream that night.

In that dream, there were three Richies:an evil Richie, a normal Richie, and a dead Richie. The evil one and thenormal ones collided, and Ash saw a twisted transformation happening rightbefore his very eyes. The evil Richie became a twisted tidal Charizardanthropomorphic character, so unlike any real thing Ash had ever seen.

Ash quickly awoke, very early inthe morning. He woke his friends. ?C?mon!? he cried. ?I don?t know why,but I can just feel that Richie needs help. . . a friend in need is a friendindeed. . .?

***

Desi wiped tears from her eyes.�She didn?t think this could happen. Why did she have to abandon her friendslike this? She didn?t want to?it wasn?t right. And yet, she had to. Somethingwas calling her to it. Something was leading her to something. Maybe whatshe was doing was for the best.

Reno stared up into the dark morningsky as the sun just sent its first rays of daylight over the mountainsinto the blue gray sky. Raindrops pelted Reno?s thick blue fur. The soundsof rain colliding onto rocks and sliding off of mountain walls and droppingover the entrance of a cave were the only sounds. He started to scan thearea for a sign of either of them. But the only thing he saw was so eeriethat he almost fainted in fright.

A shadowy figure, the only thinghe could make out was two glowing eyes like those of a vicious monster,was emerging from the gray fog.

Immediately he followed his instincts;he dived away back into the cave.

A voice sighed. ?Why don?t they justforget their instincts. . . there is no reason for them to need them. ..?

***

Kinsi yanked his fingerless gloveson as he grabbed his belongings. He quickly wrote up a note and left itwith the others, who were all sleeping in the cave. He had awoken and neededto leave, to help someone, when he saw Ash and Reno awake.

?Yo yo Kinsi, where ya goin??? Renoasked, noticing Kinsi all packed up.

Kinsi sighed. ?To warn him.?

?What??

?J-Just tell Ash that he must makehis choice between Richie or Misty. And if he chooses Misty, well, he?llhave to live with the consequence.?

Reno just stared as Kinsi silentlycrept out of the cave and into the downpour.� Then he slowly shookhis head and crawled back to the hole on the cave wall, lined with cloth,that was his travel bed. He curled up in it and fell asleep, to have ahorrible dream that would lead to the all-out decision. . .

***

The boy was still flat-faced andemotionally dead. He now had full ears of a Charizard. His hands had transformedinto those of a dragon. Now all that was left to transform until he wasa Pok�mon-human mix was his tail.

?What is your mission, oh great one??Eli asked.

?To destroy the chosen one,? theboy replied, no expression in his tone at all.

?Very good, and what are you doingthis for?? Eli questioned, more testing his knowledge than looking foran answer.

?To protect the Pok�mon Hikansand keep our reign going forever.?

?Very good!? Eli snickered, handingthe boy some more garments of clothing and fingerless gloves.

Outside, the boy looked evil?yetcontrolled. But inside a battle was being fought. His mind was in his head,but it had wandered to the depths of a place not known to human beings?theland called the Pok�mon Realm.� And in a cave, with the coldsurrounding it and being poured by rain on, there was yet another body?withthe real mind of the boy. But the evil control had invaded the real mind,leaving it up to the mind inside this strange Pok�-human to savehim.

***

Ash groaned.� He kicked hisblanket off of him and pulled his shoes on.� ?Reno,? he called, hisvoice low and scratchy with the morning. ?Why did Kinsi leave??

Reno was just busy staring at thelocation where he had last seen the water trainer.

?Reno??

Reno continued staring.

?HEY YOU STUPID !@(&$#@&$*@)#!!!!!!C?MON!!� COME TO!!!!!!?

?SHUT THE HELL UP ASH!!!!!!? everyoneelse yelled in unison, and then clunked back to sleep. All except Misty.

She groaned, sat up, and muttered,?Man, I wish Kinsi were still here, then I could battle him...?

Suddenly, Reno jumped. ?HE?S HEREHE?S HERE HE?S HERE!! KINSI?S BACK HE?S BACK HE?S BACK!?

Kinsi walked inside. ?I?m comingback to battle Misty. But after that I?m gone. C?mon Mist, show me whatchagot!?

Reno leaped up out of his tranceand led them out into the icy weather and to a place sheltered, but madeperfectly for a Pok�mon battle?through natural terrain. Water ranthrough the course in such a way that there was an area for trainers tostand in, and a battlefield lay in the middle. Kinsi settled in one side,and Misty ran to the other. But they were both thinking something aboutthe battle, Misty a little bit MORE than the battle. . .

Heh heh, little does she knowabout Kadabra and Raichu! Kinsi thought, feeling the two Ultra Ballson his belt. Even though I specialize in water types, I use 3 types,Water, Psychic and Lightning! Ha, she?ll be overpowered by Wartortle, Dewgong,Gyarados, Raichu, Kadabra, and MEW!!!

Misty, on the other hand, had differentkinds of thoughts going through her head. Ack! How am I gonna fighthim? What if he has other types of Pok�mon than water? And he?seven better looking than ASH! He?s about as young, but his spiky brownhair and glowing blue eyes the colour of the sea. . . my passion, the sea.. . his gentleness is just like Richie?s. . . oh, what could?ve happenedto Richie anyway?

?Let the battle begin!? Reno called,and Kinsi threw a Pok� Ball. ?Wartortle! I choose you!?

?Starmie! Go!? Misty shouted. Shethrust her Pok� Ball. Out came the Water Pok�mon, a starglistening in the dim foggy light.

?Wartortle! Hyper Beam!? Kinsi ordered.

?Hyper beam . . .?? Misty trailedoff. She hadn?t known whether or not a Wartortle COULD learn Hyper Beam.

But suddenly her thoughts were yetagain interrupted by Reno?s quick noise. ?Starmie is unable to fight! Battleone goes to Kinsi!?

?Wha. . . ?? Misty asked, callingher Starmie back. ?G-Go Staryu.?

?Wartortle, dodge her attacks whileyou recharge!? Kinsi told his loyal Pok�mon.

?Staryu, fill the room with a spinningtackle! Go so fast he can?t see you! He?s only a Wartortle! So he mustbe pretty low in level!?

?Wrong, Mist!? Kinsi laughed. ?It?sonly because I hate Blastoise! So I kept mine from evolving for months!Wartortle, Withdraw!?

Wartortle drew its body into itsshell, and Staryu bounced right off.

?Ack! He?s too strong!? Misty gasped.?Staryu, use Water gun!?

The huge blast of water struck rightinto Watortle?s shell. But he wasn?t affected at all. Not hurt the leastbit.

?Wartortle, take it down with Bite.?

"BITE?! What kinda wussy . . . WHAT?!?!"Misty screamed as she saw her Staryu bitten by strong jaws. He was down.

?Ack! Staryu...?

Kinsi slowly said, ?Misty. Your Pok�monare strong. But I can see your weak point.? Mist looked up at him. ?Yourweak point. . . is your offense. Your Pok�mon are slow for an allout offensive. They also don?t have the defense to guard against even weakattacks like Bite. Sorry, Mist. But the truth is in the trainer.?

?Wha. . .? Misty started.

Reno interrupted. ?If the battleis over, Kinsi wins, but if Misty has more Pok�mon let it rage on!?

?Psyduck! Go!? Misty shouted, throwingthe red and white Pok�mon capture device onto the arena.

?Psyduck?? Kinsi said to himself.?OK then. How about I give it a headache. . . but I won?t faint it. . .?

?Wartortle, bite its head!? he ordered,giving a little sign with his fingers Misty didn?t notice. Even if shedid, she didn?t know what it meant.

Wartortle lightly bit Psyduck?enoughto give it a headache!

?PSY PSY PSYDUCK!!?

?I did it for you, Kinsi,? Wartortletold its trainer.

Psyduck all of a sudden let loosea strong blast of Psychic energy. Even though Wartortle didn?t really feelanything, he faked a faint and Kinsi called him back. Out went Kinsi?sRaichu!

?You have a Raichu??!? Misty wailed.She was ready to forfeit.

Suddenly, Ash came running out. ?Stopthe match! Stop the match!? He was gasping for air.

?What?s wrong Ash?? Misty asked.

?I understand everything now! I can?tunderstand why I didn?t get it sooner. . . the reason Richie was gone wasto revive. . . to bring back the enemy! To destroy the race that broughtus the joy of Pok�mon! If it weren?t for them. . . WE WOULDN?T BEPOK�MON TRAINERS TODAY!!? Ash was almost screaming.

?What do you mean?!? Misty asked.?Why are you going crazy??

?Didn?t you like Richie before??Don?t you want him BACK!? Aren?t you with me here??

?I don?t get it, Ash. Richie tookeverything from you. I didn?t take anything from you. Why do you want tosave him? This is a choice, Ash! You can leave him or you can save him!But if you leave, you leave me!?

Ash dropped his mouth wide open.?B-But. . .?

Misty stood her ground. ?I?m leavingthis up to you! It?s me or him!?

Ash shook his head in dismay as heturned around. ?I thought you liked ME, Misty. But I guess I was wrong.I?m going to save him. . . no matter what the consequence may be.?

With that, Kinsi called back hisRaichu, grabbed his backpack in the corner, gave a sign to Reno, and witha sober look on his face, started off with Ash. Misty caught one last glanceright into his glowing blue eyes.

The rest of the Tidal Turret gangfollowed after Ash as he walked off. Misty stood ground. ?Good bye Ash.I was wondering if I missed you.?

Chapter 4
I Thought I Trusted You

The green-yellow liquid encased acreature so twisted and deformed that no one could tell what it was. Itseyes were closed, its hair floating in the liquid, and its arms foldedaround it.

And suddenly, the stillness was brokenby the abrupt movement of the creature?es eyes. It opened them.

It was all an illusion to him: nothingwas real, nothing existed. He was in a world called the Pok�monrealm. He must destroy that realm. If he could not, the Pok�monHikans would be destroyed, and this time they could not be revived. Hehad to destroy the one last place that the mind could roam to save theultimate being. The transformation was near complete: it would only befinished, however, if all traces of the mind were gone, and a pure Pok�monHikan would come. That mind only roamed in the Pok�mon Realm. Theoriginal body was dead; one body was just an illusion created by the mind,set into a world for that mind to discover its way out and its way to saveitself; and one body was a twisted, deformed creature with intentions onlyto destroy the mind. To delete this . . . illusion. To destroy the body?sway of reviving the soul and have, once again, the rule of humans overthem. Over Pok�mon. Over morphs of both.

The colour of the room changed asa light flipped on. Voices bounced back and forth over speakers in theroom.

?He is awake. His blood is beingpumped at .92841 per beat. His temperature is 40� Fahrenheit. The cylindertemperature is 1� Celsius.?

?Good. Now change the doses.?

The creature felt strange. As ifsomething was. . . wrong. He put his arm to his head to find, attached,strange cables. He looked over and saw, behind him, a machine in whichthe cables were attached. He read as they had said; awake, .92841, 40,and 1. But below it was strange information, things he did not recognize.It read:

5.2 GPS dr. 2.5 GPS pdr. 5.0

And as suddenly as he had read it,it changed.

8.3 GPS dr. 4.1 GPS pdr 8.6

His head felt strange. The cableson his head were attached to the machine, and behind it he saw a man. Hedidn?t recognize him. But the tools he held in his hands included a largecontainer of a strange liquid. He saw that man emptying the liquid intoa spout in the machine as soon as the strange numbers changed. And as soonas those numbers had changed, his head felt different. He discovered it.Those strange numbers were those ?doses? that voice had been talking about.Doses of something. What it was he did not know, but he did not like it.It felt . . . strange. Like a part of him was being added. He tried torip the cables from his head, but they were attached like glue.

?Uh oh. Eli, it seems A-9 is tryingto remove the alopestorine cables.?

?Add some pedrocani to the doses.?

?What will that do? Oh, fine.?

Suddenly, he felt even stranger.His stomach hurt. His head hurt. He was dizzy. He was tired. He closedhis eyes, and his world went black.

***

Ash wiped the water from his clothing.He and Kinsi were taking a rest before they continued to an island Renohad told them about: Cinnoat Island.

Kinsi, who had been sitting underneaththe eaves of the cave they were in beside the beach, finally spoke up.?Ash, are you sure you wanted to do that??

?Do what??

?Abandon Misty for Richie??

?I thought that Richie was more importantbecause. . . well, Richie could die if I didn?t go and save him. Why doyou ask. . .?

?Then what Ash says is true. . .?Kinsi interrupted. Ash stared at him. What did he mean? All that HE toldKinsi was true. But the way he said it made it seem like he was talkingabout someone else. Kinsi, to his surprise, pulled out of his pocket ablue crystal, the colour of his eyes. It shone and glittered even withoutsunlight. Ash looked at Kinsi with a look on his face of pure puzzlementand Kinsi replied, ?Let me tell you something, Ash . . . a story that hasbeen passed from my grandfather to my father and then to me and my bestfriend. A story . . . that may help you understand this crisis with Richiemore. And about Ash. . . this story will tell of him and what happenedto him. . . and why you would instinctively run away, knowing not of whatwould happen. Why did you do that? Because you were afraid. You were afraidof the truth. You were afraid that your routine might be changed. You wereafraid that this being that you saw would hurt you so that you could neversee Misty again. But the truth should be revealed to you now, chosen one.Come, Ash.?

Ash was about to move, but he sawsomething that made him freeze in his tracks. That same green glow he hadseen many times before was closer than ever. But just as he was about toturn, he felt Kinsi steady him and heard him whisper, ?It?s alright. Juststay here.?

Ash balanced himself out. ?Were youtalking to me??

?No. I wasn?t.?

At that moment, a boy?a boy, wholooked no older than 11 or 12?emerged from the darkness. Those glowinggreen eyes. . . they were what had been haunting everyone?! Ash couldn?tbelieve it.

?Ash. . . say hello to Ash Piercon.?

Ash looked at the boy. He lookedstrangely like Gary. Except for his green eyes. And many other things abouthim. But he had hair spiked like Gary?s, about the same colour.

Ash Piercon held out a hand, coveredin fingerless gloves. Ash put his hand out to shake. Ash Piercon?s handfelt cold to the touch, and the look on his face was as cold as his hands.He nodded. He started to speak. His voice was older than Kinsi?s. It wasa bit deep, and Ash felt as though he had heard it somewhere before.

?I?ve been waiting to meet you, Ash.I thought maybe you could save me. . . or my friends. . . but unfortunatelyit is too late. Kinsi told me all about something he felt for a long time.And then he told me later about you. At that time I was hoping I couldtalk to you. . . to get help for us. . . but you kept running away. ButI understand. You were afraid of the truth. The truth, Ash, is this isall just a Pok�mon realm. All Pok�mon out of this realm willbe destroyed. I had heard that the chosen one would bring peace to me andmy friends. But . . . my friends did not make it into this realm . . .the chosen one would be the only one who could save us. . . but he wastoo afraid of this sad truth to know about the outside world where Pok�mondid not exist.

?But now we are asking you a favour.Though 20 of my friends have died, we will ALL die if we do not destroythe force that is trying to destroy this. This illusion of our world. Butthis illusion is what we want. If we can get rid of the Pok�monHikans, we can create this world?we can make it real. But we need yourhelp,? Ash Piercon told Ash.

?So. . . Pikachu . . . Butterfree.. . Pidgeot. . . all of my Pok�mon. . . exist only in an illusion?And this is all just a world that was created by someone to show us. ..? Ash started.

?To show us the joy of somethingthat is not real,? Kinsi told him, interrupting. ?But it was also to bringus hope for a new life. In a perfect world there would be no pain, no suffering,no illusions of life. But this is that illusion. The final illusion. Andif you succeed, it will be an illusion. . . no longer. We?re counting onyou, Ash. This battle you?ll face alone. . . human vs. Pok�mon.Good luck.?

?What?? Ash exclaimed in horror.What could this all mean? So this illusion was going to become realityand Pikachu could be real if he could just destroy this force! It couldn?tbe hard. But what did they mean, human vs. Pok�mon? And why hadAsh P?s friends died in the real world. . . if. . .

?Oh, Ash. . . if you?re wondering,this battle will probably be harder than you think. Someone who you love.. . and someone who you hold dear . . . will betray you in the mind ofthose who are real. Someday this will make sense. But we are encouragingyou. Go, Ash, and set us free,? Kinsi finished.

Ash then noticed something. Kinsiand Ash P, standing side by side, both had the same level of eye. And theireyes both looked the same. They both glowed brightly--one a sea blue, theother a bright green.

Ash looked at Pikachu. ?C?mon, Pikachu.?

?OK, Ash.?

Ash and Pikachu walked slowly away.

As soon as he was out of sight, AshP and Kinsi started talking.

?Do you think you?ll manage to doit?? Kinsi asked.

?Yeah. You know me. I can do anythingif I set my mind to it.?

?But this one, you don?t have a realmind in here. Not until he?s done.?

?Do you think that matters? I cando it. And I?ll come back, I promise. Kinsi, if I don?t come back . . .you can curse us forever. And I have to come back. If I don?t, then I?mnot what my father was. . . Andrew Ash Piercon, the greatest man ever.. . but if I don?t return. . . I won?t be his son.?

?Ash, I?m not sure if that wasn?ttrue already.?

***

?What do you mean? That I?m gonnaattack someone who is a dear friend?? Richie exclaimed.

?Richie, he?s coming to save you.You are going to start feeling a bit strange. Drowsy. Possibly filled withpain. If you fall asleep, submit to the pain, or pass out, no one willcome back from here alive except for you. But nothing will be the same.Fight, Richie, fight for them. They?re counting on you.?

Richie sighed. ?But if they?re countingon me. . . why do I feel so weak. . .?

***

?What?s wrong with Misty?? Brockasked Andrea as Misty seemed to be having a fit.

?She left her poor Ashy-washy togo kill himself, or at least that?s what she says,? Andrea said, shrugging.?I don?t understand any of this crap.?

?Neither do I. Where is Ash, anyway??

?Ash? Well, don?t expect to see himback any day soon,? Reno interrupted. Followed by the Tidal Turrets, Renowalked back into the cave. He shook off his fur, drying off.

?What??

?Ash went to save the world, or soKinsi says,? Rainer said, shrugging. ?Well, wish him luck. He?s gonna needit.?

Brock put down a cup that he hadbeen drinking from and said to Andrea, ?Something tells me this is moreserious than Misty thinks.?

?You?re right,? Andrea replied, puttingdown her cup as well, and they walked over to Misty.

***

?It?s sure creepy in here,? Ash whisperedto Pikachu. His senses had led him to a very dark cave. The only lightcame from a place that Ash and Pikachu were coming to.

?Shh!? Pikachu hissed. Suddenly,some voices were heard.

?Do you think he?s going to come??one voice said. It was an old voice, seeming to come from an old man.

?Of course he?s going to come!? ayounger voice said. ?It?s a perfect trap! He won?t know what we cookedup, and we?ll have this place destroyed forever!?

?No!? Ash whispered to Pikachu. ?Isee what they?re doing! We?ll have to think harder. . .?

Suddenly he had an idea. Reachinginto his backpack, he pulled out a black utensil� and a white one.Soon the idea was underway. . .

***

?Why hasn?t he come yet??

A young man?s irritated voice madeEli look up in frustration. He gave the man a look that made him immediatelylook back to his work.

?Shut up, Musta. How should I knowwhy he hasn?t shown up yet? Do you think I control his fate?? Eli shoutedat him in disgust, his white mustache tickling his speech.

?Well, if you?re going to kill him,I?m guessing you do control his fate,? the young man squeaked.

Eli put a hand on his beard. ?Hmmm...Isuppose you?re right.?

?Hey Eli! We got something from thecompany?s Pikachu!?� A very young teenager, about 15, walked in. Hehad dark gloves and camouflage jeans on. He had a black shirt with theword ?Element? on it, and on his head over short light brown hair thathad a few longer strands that fell between his emerald green eyes, a blackcap with red letters spelling ?Birdhouse? on it. In his hand, he held asmall white sheet of paper.

?Go away, Tony?wait, what did yousay?? Eli?s gray eyes lit up as he saw what the boy, named Tony, held inhis hand.

?Aw, Eric?s Pikachu came with thisnote about our stuff, so. . .? Tony said, swiping the cap off of his hair,revealing a spike style that somehow stayed that way underneath the hat.His hair was a messy spike-style?too ?punkish? for the office men?s taste,as they would say.

?Give me that! . . . ohh, our glyconis in! Tony, watch the place while we go pick up our orders,? Eli orderedhim. He quickly walked off, and other men followed.

Tony stared after them. ?O-kaaay.I never thought Eric?s Pikachu meant THAT much.?

Suddenly Tony noticed the ?secret?that Eli had been talking about. In the room he was in, there was a largetube filled with a light yellow-green liquid. Inside was a beastly lookingboy, looking no older than 10 or 11, with cables attached to him. Thesecables were attached to a machine and the machine read with numbers andletters, obviously measuring something. ?Hey, who?re you?? Tony asked theboy. He opened his eyes, revealing a red glow that made Tony jump.

?I don?t know who I am,? the boyreplied. His voice was low, as if he was sick or something. But he wasable to talk in the liquid. The liquid seemed to glow. His voice seemedas if it was a bit higher than it sounded right now.

?I?m Tony. What have they done toyou??

?I don?t know. . . but they?re hurtingme.? The boy cried out in disgust a word that Tony could not make out,and then continued, ?It feels like they?re sucking out all my life andgiving me a new one. As if I?m some sort of experiment.?

Tony couldn?t help but chuckle abit. ?Well, from the look of things, I think you are an experiment. Lookat you! Cables connected to you, stuck in a test tube, with GALLONS PERSECOND written as some chemicals are inserted to you!?

?I noticed that. They?re suckingout my life! Ack. . . what did I ever do. . .?

Suddenly, a crash was heard. Tonyspun around to see broken glass on the ground. Inside, there was a boy.Suddenly the experimental boy shouted.

?Ack! Ash! Something. . . I knowyou . . . but why do I want to fight you. . .? he shouted.

?Richie! It?s you!? Ash cried.

?Richie! That?s who I am!? the boysaid, his eyes growing large. ?But why do I have this incredible urge tohurt you?!? He cried out again, but the glass around him shattered. Hiseyes glowed. The liquid splashed on the floor.

?Whoa! That?s what they were doing?!?Tony exclaimed, as the cables slowly fell off Richie.

Richie seemed inhuman, and he saidlowly in his sickly voice, ?This world will be gone once I destroy you.. .?

?Richie, buddy? What?s wrong??

?Who is Richie??

?You!?

?I know no Richie.?

?You ARE a Richie!?

Suddenly Richie jumped on Ash, hiseyes glowing brightly. He started to fight him?true to Ash and Kinsi?sword. Ash couldn?t move or talk. The pain he felt from those claws on Richie?shands and the force of his fists. Ash almost submitted to the pain andalmost gave up?but he opened his eyes before he stopped fighting. Besidehim, and trickling down his face, was red blood. He realized whose it was?hisown. He knew that letting too much of it would kill him, so he pushed himoff, getting up and throwing off his jacket.

?Ash?? Tony asked. ?I?m Tony. Here!?He threw him a white cloth, and Ash dabbed it to his eyes quickly justbefore he leaped out of the way of Richie?s lunge. Ash tossed the clothto the side, revealing its redness and wetness. Tony picked it up and wonderedwho this kid was.

Once again, Ash engaged battle withRichie. And once again, he was thrown back into the wall, and this timehe fell over.

?Why do you challenge me, Ash?? Richieasked in his sickly tone. ?You are overpowered by the Pok�mon Hikans,Ukana fiend!?

?Because I have to save my friends. . . why can?t you understand who you are and what you?re doing?!? Ashgroaned. He opened one eye and wiped it with his hand. He stood up, barely,and moaned.

Richie tried to punch him, but Ashblocked it. He threw him down, and for once the creature seemed weakened.A bit.

Ash took advantage of the time andreached for a metal rod lying on the ground. He had hit a cabinet whenRichie had thrown him around, and one of the rods holding it together hadfallen off. He whacked Richie to keep him down. Then he searched for Pikachu.His face had a stream of sweat rolling down it. Pikachu was nowhere tobe seen.

?Pikachu!? Ash shouted. Suddenlyhe fell over. A big wooden board explained why.

?You think you can defeat me?? Richiemuttered.

Ash almost passed out. He had somuch pain. And Richie wasn?t hesitating to whack him over and over withthe board.

?Heh. Some chosen one.? Ash had hiseyes closed and lay on the ground like a dead dog.

?What are you doing!?? suddenly rangout as Tony punched Richie. ?Get up Ash and fight like a man! And I?llhelp you!?

Ash?s eyes shot open, and he stoodup. He continued his battle.

As Richie blocked and punched, andgot punched, he thought, Yes, Ash, go ahead and fight me. . . but the truesurprise is yet to come. . .

Chapter 5
How will I ever tell Kinsi

Ash finished a kick to the human-Pok�monmix and watched him slam into the wall. The walls were stained red andthe ground was a mess of broken glass, dust, crumbled rock and cement,and other debris. One of the walls had broken right through into anotherlab room. Tony recognized that room as his lab room. Inside was a lot ofmachinery and other mechanical objects. Tony had built some of the machinesthat Richie had been hooked to, which was why he recognized what was happeningwhen he saw Richie in there.

Richie lept up almost unharmed bythe kick and brushed himself off. ?You do not realize that only those withthe power of the Pok�mon warriors can fight the Hikans to destroythem! But you, just a brush on the Ukana, the weakest race in Pok�monhistory!?

?Wrong,? Tony said, saving Ash fromharm right at the last second again. ?The Ukana were the wisest and mostdeveloped Pok�mon race and the Hikans were just the most battle-prepared.The Hikans loved war and were eventually wiped out by special weapons createdby the wise Pok�mon Ukanas! One of you has been revived, which isyou.?

?But we rise to power over you now!?Richie remarked. ?How else am I defeating him??

?Because he?s waiting for something.You are, after all, his friend. Can?t you see he?s waiting for you to comeback? He has to bring you back without killing you. Friendship and loveare more powerful than anything else in the world. But what are we findingby using violence to solve this? We?ll make it worse. You kill him, andyour life will continue like this. I remembered hearing your voice whenI was working in the lab complaining about this! Do you really want tostay like this??

Richie looked at him, and for a secondAsh could?ve sworn he saw his blue-gray eyes appearing again. But thenhe shook his head. ?Never! I hate this life! So once I eliminate this realm,all of those with the Pok�mon presence of mind shall be killed andI can be normal again!?

Tony suddenly remembered somethingEli had said. ?Follow your soul.? But he also remembered something hisbest friend had said when he left to work with Eli, due to his parents?sending him: ?C?mon, Tony. Be a punk like you used to be. Won?tcha staywith us? C?mon!? So he decided to act how he had been back at home.

He teamed with Ash to fight againsthim. But soon it made no difference. Ash lay on the ground, sides heavingas he tried to catch his breath, and the raging fight continued with Tony.

Whack! Tony fell, coughing, and landedon the ground. Richie stood up, panting, and searched for something sharp.Then, he muttered, ?It?s finished, losers.? He was ready to finish them?butsuddenly. . .

CRASH!

A shower of glass fell on Ash, wakinghim up, as he saw a quick blaze of colour flying past him. ?What the heck.. .? he mumbled, his vision still hazy and blurry. He could only tell whatwas going on by his hearing.

?Lay off! Hey, who are you??

?....?

?Get off of me! Cough. . . who areyou?!?

?Leave him alone!? That voice wasfamiliar?but in his weakness, he couldn?t guess whose it was.

Ash collapsed again, and had no ideawhat would be happening in the next hour he would be out. . .

***

Richie opened his eyes. Blacknesssurrounded him. ?What the. . .? he muttered. He couldn?t see very much.But he ached all over, as if he had been beaten up by something strong.

The old teacher he hadn?t known stoodbefore him, suddenly appearing to him. ?Congratulations, Richie. You madeit. The pain you are feeling is the pain that the self in the living partof the Pok�mon realm. If you can fight it, you can keep those alivewho rely on you. Your impulses are rushing faster than ever. You?re feelinga bit strange, as if dizzy, weak, in pain, and yet angry at dear friendsat the same time. But if you think about the good times and stay awake,you?ll be able to save them. . .?

***

?Whaddaya mean, Ash is saving theworld?!?

?I mean Ash is saving the world.?

?How can Ash save the world?? Mistyhad been taking this. . . interestingly well.

?Uh...how should I know?? Andreasaid with a shrug.

?Well, you?d BETTER know or I?lltake it to you. . .? Misty threatened in a low, scratchy voice, grabbingAndrea by the shirt, ?like this.? She ran a finger across her throat, kindof a ?dead meat? motion. Then she did a motion that somewhat resembledwhat could be a wrestling move.

Andrea?s eyes somewhat resembleddinner plates.

She nodded quickly, running off totalk to Reno to give her new-found enemy an answer to her question forher life.

***

Ash groaned. Where am I? he thought,rolling over. Around him, 3 things?he wasn?t sure what they were?were lyingaround him. But when he moved and felt the pain, he sat back down. He achedall over?that was nothing new. But then one of those objects around himmoved too.

He saw two glowing eyes and knewimmediately what all those weird things around him were.

He looked at the two remaining bodies,Tony and. . . who was that?

Tony groaned and rolled over. ?HeyAsh. . .?

Once again, the lights around themdimmed, and some zaps fired as the lights blinked, flashed, and dimmedto a low level. To dim Ash?s view of the other body. It lay in the shadows,sleeping, awaiting its time to come back into the world?if there was one.

?What?? Ash said, pulling a raggedpinkish cloth to him to wipe his face.

?You?re still alive. . .?

?Yeah.?

?I?m not.?

Ash raised an eyebrow.

Tony looked over at Richie, who waspulling himself up with a look so evil that it chilled him to think aboutit. But then suddenly he noticed the deep cut that slashed across his stomach.

?Psst, Ash! Kick him in the stomach!That will knock the wind out of him, and the blood!?

?Uck, really? I don?t want to seeTHAT!?

?Well, you?ve seen enough of it throughoutthis battle. I mean, you?re covered with it. Why would it bother you now??

?It?s just. . . brutal. Especiallyto be beating the crap out of a friend. It?s just so brutal to see thebloodshed by your friends and see the piece of them beaten out.?

Tony muttered, ?You could be friendswith this guy? I?m still wondering about that.?

?Yeah. He was a very nice person.. . before this soul possessed him. . . before this vile transformationtook place. . .? Ash replied, looking over at him, as he struggled to getup. He seemed to be inspecting the body lying in the shadows.

But as Ash prepared to fight more,Richie stood up with a questioning look. And Ash saw his once kind, blue-grayeyes again. ?Why am I doing this?? he groaned. ?Why am I fighting you??

?I don?t know,? Ash answered. Hehanded Richie the cloth he had used to wipe his face. ?Wipe that gash.?

Richie obeyed. Quickly a swish andsome footsteps were heard, but as Ash and Richie turned around, they sawnothing moving at all.

Ash reached his hand out for thecloth. Richie gave it to him, and then sat down in pain, groaning and holdinghis stomach.

?Quite a gash,? Ash said, lookingat it. It was pretty deep, but it would heal up.

?I just want to know what?s happeningto me,? Richie said, looking up.

?Huh?? Ash replied, looking at himup and down. ?You LOOK like you?ve been turned half-Pok�mon.?

?I noticed that. But I feel no different.. . except my mind controls itself. Sometimes I?m able to be myself andthen the next second everything is different. Like as if a big block ofmy mind is ripped out so all I remember is suddenly being aware that everythingis different. And this time I realized I was fighting you by the gash andthe way you were ready to fight. But I don?t remember anything before thatexcept when I was talking to you in that other room. . . before this placewas wreaked. Before there was weird things going on and before there wasblood covering the walls. Before I felt this way. Before I knew what washappening with my mind. Before my life really sucked.?

Suddenly Richie grabbed his head.?What?s happening to me. . .? Ash quickly grabbed him to keep him fromfalling over.

?Are you feeling okay?? he asked.

?Do I look okay?!? Richie asked him,in a groaning voice. ?I?ve got a big gash on my stomach, my head hurtslike hell, and I?ve got dry blood on me! Sure I?m okay!?

?Sorry. . . I meant are you feelingINHUMAN? Are you feeling like it?s happening again??

?No . . . yes. . . oh, yes. . . andit?s not good at all. . .?

Suddenly the red glow appeared again.Richie looked up at Ash and almost whacked him unconscious with his smalltail. Ash opened his eyes and saw it again. The shower of glass landedon him again, and he could recognize it now.

?Go away! You?ve come back!?

?. . .?

Ash vaguely saw two boys fighting.He recognized both of them.

?Ash Piercon!??

Sure enough, the red-brown spiky-hairedboy with the glowing green eyes was choking Richie. ?Go, Ash! I?ll handlethis!?

Ash coughed. ?Umm . . . okay. . .?

Tony tossed Ash a Pok� Ball.?Here, Ash!?

?What?s this??

?You dropped it. I?m not sure whoit is.?

Ash opened it up. ?Pikachu?!?

?Some guy put me in this Pok�Ball. That moron!? Pikachu mumbled, and Ash ran off, Pikachu followingclose behind.

***

Darkness showered in moonlight filledthe night. ?Where?s Ash. . .? said two souls. Kinsi Teras and Misty Waterflower.

Misty was just worried. Kinsi knewwhat was going on. He could feel and sense trouble, as if something hadgone wrong. As if the battle had been lost.

They sat near each other in the moonlitnight, and the midnight blue sky almost matched the sea blue glow in Kinsi?seyes. The moon, more of a dark golden colour on this particular night,shone brighter than many other nights.

?Kinsi, do you think he?s . . . alright??Misty asked in a worried tone.

?I don?t know, Mist, I really don?t.Something just doesn?t seem right.?

?It seems like he should?ve comeback by now. . .? she whined.

?Don?t underestimate this battle,Misty. Ash is up against someone he finds very close to him. Someone whois horrifically strong and powerful. Think about it. You might learn.?Kinsi leaned back and stretched. ?I?m wondering about MY Ash. You knowAsh Piercon has the guts for anything. . . but his strength is limited.. . ever since the accident.?

?Accident?? Misty asked, lookingover at the overly-cute blue-eyed boy sitting on a rock staring up at themoon.

?It happened about half a year ago,a bit after I first met him. The tidal Raichu are strange enough for Raichu.. . but this was no normal Raichu, nor even near a tidal Raichu. Ash?sefforts to save this Pok�mon resulted in the biggest knockout ofhis life?and to imagine he had just gotten beat up by a Geodude and friedby his Charmander (on accident) just less than 5 hours before. Ever sincethat horrid, fateful day, Ash hasn?t been able to fight the same. He stillhas his agressive spirit, oh yes, nothing can take THAT from him. But hisstrength is limited and he just can?t work out the same.?

?I?d be speechless, but I?m talkingright now.?

?I?d laugh, but I?m too worried todo that.?

?I don?t blame you. I almost feelsick of worry.?

?Don?t worry. I?m sick of worry too.?Kinsi smiled at her, and she smiled back, blushing like crazy. She washaving too much boy trouble over this week. That was for sure.

?Hey. . . Kinsi. . .? Misty saidwithout leaving her hint of uneasy crush out of her voice. Once again,she had been disappointed with Ash, and was yet again out for another guy.She slowly scooted over next to him, blushing tomato red.

?What are you doing?? Kinsi asked,noticing how close she had come. ?You aren?t. . .?

Misty smiled at him. ?Kinsi, I havesomething to tell you.?

Kinsi looked over at her, turningred, and as the moonlight dimmed in other places the clouds dimmed themoon to a small light formation around them two.

Kinsi gave her a look that showedsome disapproval and yet approval at the woman coming closer every second,until she basically knocked him over underneath the the moonlight and behindthe rocks. . .

***

?Get back here!!? Tony shouted.

Ash Ketchum ran back with Pikachu.There, Richie stood, triumphant, or was he, over the unmoving body of AshPiercon.

But as suddenly as he had stayeddown, Ash Piercon lept up. He started to fight with power overpassing hisage?he fought more like a 20-year-old man rather than a near-12 boy. Then,he beat Richie into a corner, where Richie then tried to retreat by climbingon lab items strewn around. Ash had just looked away when Richie pulleda small cord, as sparks struck for one second. Then a box started to fall,slowly.

?Get outta here now! It?s a bomb,Ash!? Tony suddenly yelled.

Ash stood tranced for a second, lookingup and watching as the box descended down from where Richie had pulledthe cord?he must have been planning to have Ash P knock him over there.Then he started to walk backwards, and then turned and ran. The last thinghe saw before he closed his eyes and fell onto the ground by the forceof an explosion was fire and sparks and Ash Piercon falling over, lookinglike a hurricane of fire and pain.

?How will I ever tell Kinsi. . .?Ash gasped. ?I believed him, too. . .?

***

Kinsi gasped as he leaped over therocks. ?That?s not right, Misty. I can?t.?

Misty looked up. ?Why?s that? I hateAsh Ketchum.?

Kinsi snickered. ?Yeah, right, youwere just worried sick half an hour ago. . . before we . . .?

?Oh, well, who cares? It?s not important.He?s just cute, ya know??

?Well, that?s what you said aboutme half an hour ago when you knocked me over. Remember?? Kinsi said witha hard look. ?And look what that leads to.?

Misty sighed. ?Well, you?re OVERLYcute.?

Kinsi slapped his forehead. ?It?sjust wrong, okay? Besides. . .? He looked back down. ?I only did that foryou. I don?t even LIKE you or anything. . . I mean, I don?t think you?recute or anything. No offense.?

?What?? Misty asked, looking at himhurtfully.

?Sorry.? He blushed and grinned.Had to get that out, he thought.

Kinsi lept back up over the rocks.His hair was rather messy and out of its semi-punkish style. Misty jumpedback up. She didn?t look exactly normal.

?Hey, Kinsi,? Brock?s voice suddenlysaid, and Kinsi leaped up in fright and fell over backwards behind therocks.

Brock laughed. ?What?s wrong, Kinsi?Been doin? something behind our backs? ...Whoa. Misty, you look. . . excited.?

Misty made a lopsided grin, eyeshalf-closed. ?Noth-ing. . .? she said in a weary, sing-song voice.

Kinsi jumped back up. ?She kissedme. I?ve never been kissed by a girl in my life.? He was a bit dizzy.

Brock stared at him in disbelief.?You sure she just ?kissed? you? You look more like you got smothered.?

Kinsi rolled his eyes. ?Well, I didn?tkiss HER. She knocked me OVER. And...ummm.... yeah.?

Misty muttered, ?Ash Ketchum sucks.I mean it.?

?Then the second he comes back, you?regonna be smothering HIM as much as you clocked Kinsi!? Brock joked.

?Yeah. Right,? Misty said sarcastically.She tried to slip her arm around Kinsi (isn?t that supposed to be the otherway around?) but he swatted her away.

?Psst! Misty! Remember, I have nothingto do with this,? he muttered.

?Yeah. Right,? Misty said sarcastically.

?Shut up, I don?t want anybody knowingabout this except Brock.?

?Hey Andrea! I caught Misty makingout with Kinsi! What a surprise!? Brock shouted into the room.

Reno was the first to appear. ?Youdid? Really??

Suddenly, Kinsi was in his face.?No, he didn?t. I was being myself and being worried sick about my bestfriend when suddenly Misty jumps on me and kisses me. Got that??

?Uhhh, no. I got that you jumpedon Misty, started to make out with her.?

?You never believe me. I hate you.?

?I was just kidding.?

?I don?t believe that.?

?You suck!?

***

Ash?s eyes flickered open. He rolledover off the ground. There was one thing rolling through his mind.

I hate being chosen, I hate beingchosen, I hate being chosen... Ash though as he staggered to his feet.Fire burned slowly and sparks rose into the dark air. The lab buildinghad its top blown off. Ash could see the cave roof. The fire had died down,and water was still dropping from stalactites on the cave ceiling.

Suddenly he looked around and sawTony shaking his head. His hair was drenched with sweat, spiked in alldirections, as he looked over the ruins of his old teen workspot.

?I think Eli?s gonna die of a heartattack the moment he sees this,? he mumbled, his eyes closed in disbelief.

?Really. Where?s the bomb-detonatingbox dude??

?You talking about this guy?? Tonysaid, pulling a still-lying figure to his feet. Burns lined him and woodsplinters scattered the floor where Richie had lay.

?Who else??

?Maybe him,? Tony said, pointingtoward someone else in the ashes and embers. ?But I guess I can?t guesshim. He?s gotta be dead. Having a bomb land on him like that? He?s probablyon fire.?

?No!? Ash said, running to the otherperson. He pulled him out of the ashes. His clothes were burned and singed,his hands full of ash and singed, and his hair burned to be at least halfan inch shorter. It was Ash Piercon. Tony was right, he had to be dead.He lifted him to his feet and held him for a second. ?You can?t be dead.. . even if you are.?

He pulled one of his eyelids up.He saw for the first time that Ash Piercon?s eyes were not the bright glowinggreen he had seen, rather, a dull hazel green. He couldn?t believe it.Was Kinsi like this too?

He wiped off the ashes on his faceand asked Tony for some water. Tony tossed him a water bottle and Ash splashedhim to try and clean him up as best he could.

?I can?t believe this!? Ash shouted.?How will I tell Kinsi! How?! How?!?

?Tell him what??

?THAT HIS BEST FRIEND IS DEAD!?

?I?ll help.?

?Do you even know Kinsi??

?Uh, no....?

Ash did the anime fall.

?I can still tell him what happened.To save you.?

?Uh, sure. Thanks.?

?No prob. Let?s head out.?

They started to walk out, but a voicestopped them.

?Tooooonnnnnyyyyyyyy!!!!!!?

Tony stopped where he was. It wasEli.

?WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO MY LAB?!?!??

Tony didn?t answer and ran out thesides of the broken lab with Ash.

***

Kinsi sat inside, head in his palms,looking bored as Brock lectured him about the reasons not to fall in loveat 10.

I don?t even LIKE Misty. She JUMPEDon me. What else could I DO? he thought, not even bothering to listen toBrock.

?Now do you understand??

Kinsi didn?t answer, nor did hisface.

?Uh, Kinsi??

Kinsi wasn?t paying attention toany of it, Brock soon realized. He facefaulted. ?KINSI!!?

?Uh huh! Yes! I know! Indeed! I won?tbe a loser!? Kinsi suddenly shouted, his eyes opening wide and his mouthexceeding the humanly known limit of opening, and sitting up.

***

Ash crashed into another wall. ?Ouch!?

Tony dragged him off the cave walland shoved him in front of him. ?Go THAT way.?

?Sorry.?

He crashed into a stalactite. ?Ow!My head!?

Tony shook his head. ?Whoo boy. .. this will take a while.?

***

In Eli?s lab, he looked around. Hesaw the tube Richie had been in destroyed, and the liquid all around.

?I guess he?s finished here.? Heshook his head.

Suddenly a figure appeared in frontof him. It was someone Eli recognized in a way, but he had changed.

?I?m sorry to announce your stupid?experiment? has been called off.? The voice was something he had heardbefore.

Everything all started to click.

?Richie?!?

?Yes, it?s me. No surprise. Thatkid over there?s dead - but I?m not.?

***

Richie was breathing hard and hiseyes were opened wide.

?What just happened? I?m so tired....but I feel a lot better.?

The old teacher spoke. ?You madeit. Congratulations.?

He looked up, and stood up. ?What??

***

Ash and Tony finally came out ofthe cave, and Ash had more blood on his head.

?You idiot,? Tony muttered. ?I didn?tknow it was humanly possible to crash into so many obstacles.?

Ash held a bruise on his forehead.?Shut up. Now I can?t see straight. Point me in the right direction, willya??

?Okay. Hold onto my shoe and youshould be fine. We?re crossing the sea now.?

?Oh, are we? Cool.?

***

Misty sat inside her ?solitary confinementroom? where Brock had put her. It wasn?t really a room. Just a cave areaBrock had closed off.

I hate Kinsi. I hate Kinsi. Ihate Kinsi.

She heard a knock on the rock.

?Come in,? she called.

It was Kinsi. Great timing,she thought.

?Your fault!? he shouted, ?Your fault!It was YOU! YOU! YOU!? Misty sighed.

All of a sudden, the rocks all burst.

?What?s going on?? said a recognizablevoice.

Misty and Kinsi stood side by side,eyes wide and mouths hanging.

?Well??

They snapped to attention. Pointingat each other, they both said something at the same time and quickly.

?He started it!? Misty shouted.

?She started it!? Kinsi cried.

?Started what??

?You forgot, Misty! Ash doesn?t knowyet!?

Ash was back, and that was for sure.

?Know what??

And suddenly Brock was right behindthem. ?That Misty made out with Kinsi??

?Waa!!? Ash suddenly shouted, mouthwid e.

Brock already knew all-too-well howthe mallet felt, so it was no different feeling to be banged again.

***

Lying wide awake in his bed thatnight, Ash was thinking. A new activity for him, but he was thinking.

So Misty likes Kinsi, eh... he thought.He suddenly looked up at someone talking.

Kinsi rolled over. ?I use the r-Hairgel 100 level, hyperactive hold, yes.? He was sleep-talking, but it gaveAsh an idea.

He snuck over to Kinsi?s sleepingbag and found his backpack on the ground. Reaching inside he pulled outthe 100 level hyperactive hold hair gel from the company r-Hair. He alsoyanked out some level 50 crazy hold hair spray from the same company. Squirtingsome of the gel in his hand, he snickered. ?This will be good.?

***

?Hmmm... yes? Yeah, I like frostydonuts,? Kinsi said.

***

Holding his head, Richie stumbledout of the destroyed lab. Seeing the trails of red along the ruins anddebris lying around and drops of it on the cave floor around him, he waswondering how it all could have happened so quickly. All he rememberedwas a few moments of pain, infestation, and so much other bits that hadall raced through his mind at once that he couldn?t remember them. He alsoremembered being an experiment.

?Oh Ash,? he whispered aloud, ?howcould you have gone through all of this for me?? A tear fell down his cheek.

But out of nowhere, the debris startedshaking. Dust and broken cement started rising from the rubble. And assuddenly as the noise and shaking started it stopped.

Richie?s eyes were open wide andso was his mouth... until the dust started coming in and he shut it.

Slowly backing away, scared halfto death, Richie whispered to himself, ?I?ll be okay... I?ve lived throughall that... nothing can kill me now...?

***

Meanwhile, while Richie thinks aboutlife, Ash thinks about love.... no surprise.

Feeling his hair, Ash thought, Shebetter like this.

Misty yawned. Her eyes flickeredopen?straight to Ash.

Why am I looking at him rightas I wake up... Misty thought, and suddenly noticed his hair. Andbefore I knew something was up with his hair... I didn?t think I stillcared!

Ash looked over at her. ?Whaddayathink Misty??

?Different,? she mumbled. Whydo I still want to be his girlfriend?

?Different?? he said, disappointed.After all she?s done to me, I want her as my girlfriend?

?Well... you look like Kinsi in away... well, not that much different if you look like someone... but differentfor you.? Why have I not wanted what we had before?

?Hehe,? Ash replied, quietly laughing.Why couldn?t I just go with her before?

And then they both thought, Ishould just admit it! And now!

They said at the same time, ?I loveyou.?

***

Richie opened his eyes. I?m sotired... he thought. That rest sure felt good.

He stood up, rubbed his eyes andyawned and stretched, and started walking. He stopped.

?Where the heck am I going?? he askedno one.

***

?Then the morning comes,? playedon the radio (hey Smash Mouth - credit here... ~Mewtwo)

Ash was wide awake, Misty was too,and Brock was in la-la land with Andrea, sitting on the beach.

The music was interrupted by someother music?drums and a bass guitar.

?I wanna be a bassist!? Ash suddenlyyelled, leaping up and running towards the noise.

Maybe I want a boyfriend, but howthe heck could it be HIM?Misty thought for a second, and quickly dismissedthe thought. Hehe... it could easily be him... he looks right so... yeah,it could be him, easily.

It turned out Reno and his ?band?were playing, and Ash?s new love for bass stuck him in there to hear theirmusic. (forgive me - I love writing songs)

But the music was interrupted byKinsi walking to Ash and talking to him. ?So, Ash. You never did tell mehow this went. Where?s my friend Ash P.? How?d it go? I see you?re backnow.?

Ash sighed. ?Well, I was kinda hopingyou wouldn?t ask... I don?t know how to tell you this but.... Ash Pierconkinda...?

?Kinda...? Kinsi said, his face falling.Ash couldn?t finish.

Tony walked in. ?OK, I?ll just clearthis up. This ?Ash Piercon? kid got blown up and dead. There. But he diedsaving the world I guess.?

Kinsi?s eyes opened wide, and suddenlynarrowed. His usually gentle nature was angry and sad... to no surprise,but as he started stomping and threatening to kill Ash himself, everyonestarted worrying.

Finally Kinsi started sobbing andcalming down. ?He said he?d do it! He said he?d be like Andrew! He said!He said! He promised me!!!?

?Sounds like a certain girl we knowwhen a guy ran off without her to save someone else only without the line?he said he?d be like Andrew,?? Reno said with a sly smile to Shelly. Therest of the Tidal Turret gang cracked up.

Misty, blushing, slapped them allhard.

?Ow,? they all said in unison.

Ash looked at Misty curiously. Sheslapped him too. ?Ow!? he cried, holding a red spot on his face.

?But now I?ll never see my best friendagain...? Kinsi quietly cried.

He was interrupted by some footstepsand a slamming door, and someone fell in the room.

?ASH!! ASH PIERCON, IS THAT YOU!??Ash questioningly shouted, eyes wide.

?Yeah...? said the beat up kid lyingon the carpetted floor of the house.

?Are you okay?!?

?No.?

All of a sudden the door opened again,and someone else stepped it. They also stepped on Ash P. on their way in.

?AAUH!? Ash P. yelled when he gotstepped on, eyes and mouth wide open.

?RICHIE!!!!!!!!!? everyone yelled,running up to him. All of them stepped on Ash P.

?AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!? hescreamed in pain.

***

The celebrating had been done. Ash,Ash P., Kinsi and Richie all sat in a group drinking bottles of root beerand slugging them down quickly. Ash was on his twenty-fourth bottle.

?So, Ash...? Ash P. happily sighed,?you just saved all Pok�mon, you just saved the world (with my help).So what are you going to do now, anyway??

Ash smiled. ?That should be easy.?

He stood up. ?I?m going to DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!?
�

The end!