Pokémon is owned by Nintendo, Creatures Inc. and GAME FREAK Inc.

This is the sequel to Love & Heartbreak. Comments can be sent to Burori17@aol.com. If you must flame then give good reason.

Warning: This story contains real-world situations.

A Love Found, A Heart Mended

One year had passed since that day. The day when Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town had achieved his life long dream and had lost everything he cared about.

A week after Misty's funeral, Ash had either given away or released all of his Pokémon except Pikachu. He then left home and started wandering. Ash had no set destination; he was just trying to out run the pain of loss.

******************

Ash had set up camp near a cliff side and was staring at the fire. Pikachu’s eyelids were dropping as he sat next to Ash.

“Go to bed Pikachu,” Ash says, “I’ll put out the fire and lie down in a couple of minutes.” With a tired pika, Pikachu curled up and within moments was softly snoring. Ash puts out the fire, but instead of going to bed, walks over to the cliff and stares out at the horizon.

“Misty,” Ash whispers as a tear rolls down his cheek. Looking back at his sleeping pokémon, Ash quietly says, “Goodbye Pikachu, I’ll miss you.” With this, Ash turns back to the cliff, leans forward, and falls.

“Catch him Ditto!” a voice out of no where yells just as Ash begins to fall. A large hand catches him by the leg and he is pulled up. As he rises, Ash sees a Machoke, until he reaches the face, which looked just like a Ditto’s. The Ditto turns Ash over and sets him on the ground with Ditto between Ash and the cliff.

As his eyes adjust to the darkness, Ash sees a familiar green-haired girl standing near the tree line. "Duplica, is that you?" Ash asks incredulously.

"Well who else do you know who has a Ditto, Ashey boy," Duplica relies as she walks closer to Ash. "Now how about you tell me why you were trying to jump off the cliff."

Together, Ash and Duplica walk over to Ash's camp and relight the fire. While Pikachu and Ditto get reacquainted, Ash tells Duplica about winning the championship and the aftermath. “Wow,” Duplica says after a few moments of silence, “I had no idea. I’m sorry to hear it Ash. Misty was so kind to me back when you three stopped by the House of Imitate”

******************

After that night, Ash and Duplica began traveling together and quickly became best friends. About three months later, Ash and Duplica stopped in Saffron City to rest and recuperate from their time in the woods. Walking back to the Pokémon Center from a restaurant, a black-clad arm reached out and grabbed Duplica. The owner of the arm, a member of Team Rocket stepped out, placed his knife at Duplica’s throat and demanded all of their Pokémon and money. Without thinking, Ash jumps at the Team Rocket member and punched him in the face. Pushing Duplica out of the way, Ash turns back to the Rocket just in time for him to shove his knife into Ash’s stomach. Seeing what he had done, the Rocket ran off, leaving Ash lying in the street in a growing pool of his own blood. “Ash, please don’t leave me, Ash! I love you,” Duplica cries as a bystander runs off to call an ambulance.

******************

After a week, Ash was declared stable and moved out of the ICU. That same day, Duplica came to visit him.

“Hi Ash. How are you feeling?” Duplica asks as she walks in with a bouquet of flowers.

Looking towards her, Ash responds, “Pretty well considering what happened. I have a question for you Duplica.”

Looking confused and slightly worried, Duplica asks, “What is it Ash?”

“Was I dreaming or did you say that you loved me?”

“Well... yeah, I guess I kinda did,” Duplica asks with her head lowered and blushing a bright red.

Feeling Ash’s hand on her arm, Duplica looks up just as Ash pulls her down and kisses her. Breaking the kiss, Ash looks Duplica in the eyes and says, “I love you too, Duplica.”

******************

Later that year, Ash and Duplica were married in a private ceremony. They continued to travel until one morning, Ash awoke to see Duplica off to the side, vomiting. Rushing over, Ash says, “What’s wrong Duplica, are you okay?”

Looking pale, Duplica replies, “I don’t know. I woke up this morning and was overcome with a wave of nausea.” Picking Duplica up in his arms, Ash rushes to the nearest hospital. The doctor takes Duplica into the examination room while Ash paced worriedly in the waiting room. An hour later, the doctor came out and called out to Ash.

“What is it Doctor? Is Duplica okay?” Ash babbles as the he rushes over to the doctor.

Putting his hand on Ash’s shoulder, the doctor tells him, “I’m afraid that you and Duplica are not going to be able to travel for awhile.”

“Why not Doctor? Is something wrong with Duplica?”

Grinning suddenly, the doctor states, “You won’t be able to travel because Duplica is pregnant.”

******************

Ash and Duplica were transported back to Pallet Town, and nine months later, Duplica gave birth to a healthy baby girl. They decided to name the child Misty and settled down. Ash opened a gym on the outskirts of Pallet Town and he and Duplica had two more children, twin boys that they named Brock and Gary.