They had been at the hospital for several hours now, waiting for news of their friend. They all had had their wounds attended to, but it didn't make them feel any better. Ash paced the waiting room, awkwardly supporting himself with crutches, anxious to find out any possible news.

" Ash." He looked in the direction of the raw, emotional voice and saw Misty indicating a seat next to her. He slowly sat down, and placed his arm around her, letting her head rest on his shoulder.

" I wonder if she's still in surgery."

" The doctor said that it would take several hours. The bullet did a lot of damage." He lent his head upon hers. He didn't want to sleep, but he'd been awake for so long that his body begged for rest.  His eyes began to drift, and darkness fell over him, until...

" Ash, Misty. There's the doctor," Brock told them.

They both looked in the direction of the man in the green overalls who was walking towards them. They all stood, Misty helping Ash, Pikachu on Brock's shoulder. The man's face was grim and there were bags under his eyes.

He lowered his head solemnly.  " We tried everything within our power, but the damage to her internal organs was too extensive.  I'm sorry...but she passed away a few moments ago."  He glanced up to see the shock on the three young people's faces.  He knew who they were and had heard stories of all they had done.  After all they had experienced, he felt even worse that he had to hurt them even more.  Knowing his place, he walked away from the friends, allowing them to grieve in peace.

They stood for a moment, taking in the news, before all looking at each other in perfect unison.  The glance did it.  Instantly, the three broke down into sobs, embracing one another in a tight embrace.

And that was the way they remained, allowing their emotions to free flowly,  something they hadn't truly done together since the beginning of it all.

Several people stood in the graveyard, all in black, gathered around a small opening in the ground headed by a simple grave stone.  Silence reigned.

It had been five days since the end, and life was slowly returning to normal, or at least as normal as possible.  The dead were being buried, buildings rebuilt.  But everyone knew that the effect the occupation had wrought upon every individual throughout the region would never leave.  Everyone and everything had been altered in some way.

Ash, Misty and Brock had received a message two days previously telling them that their families were all safe, but despite this news, to them it didn't feel that the hell was over.  They were still suffering it's after effects.

They stood nearest to the stone, each holding a single white lily, watching as the metallic coffin was slowly lowered into the ground.  The emotions that her death had raised within them were still raw and painful, and being there at her funeral had once again awoken their wraith, and their minds were in as much turmoil as they had been the day she died.

Ash lifted his head slightly and stared across the cavity to Kiyoko's handcuffed father. He was flanked by two police officers, who stood a few feet behind the man, as if to respect his daughter's memory. Out of all of Team Rocket, he was the only person Ash could find himself forgiving. He didn't know how long the man would remain in prison, but Ash felt that maybe suffering the loss of his daughter, the man's only family, may have been punishment enough. He may have supported the occupation, but had never truly down anything to harm others. He had given Team Rocket control over Viridian, but if he hadn't, possibly hundreds of people would have died in the city trying to hold Team Rocket off, just as they had in many other areas.

He took his eyes from the middle-aged man and glanced at the many faces surrounding him. Some he didn't recognize, but most he did. Erika, probably Kiyoko's closest friend, had her face almost totally obscured by a black vale, but he could still notice the tears glistening over her pale face. Next to her stood Masamune.  He had only met Kiyoko in the last days of her life, she never able to attend one of the many meetings for fear she was identified, but Ash knew he had respected her for laying her life on the line when she was in no danger from Team Rocket. But probably more important than being there to show respect, he was there to comfort his close friend.

Next to them there were many members of several of the resistance groups, none of whom Ash really knew. It was three others standing next to them that captured his attention; the three former members of Team Rocket who had followed their consciences and did the right thing. He wondered after an experience like this, would they finally go straight? Maybe not, he thought. So many times had he convinced himself that they would give up their life of crime, but they always returned to it.  He wondered if, after the fall of their former corporation, they would not just start their own little rogue group. Well, maybe that's their fate, just as long as they leave Pikachu alone.

Then he came to his closest friends. The occupation may have been over, but no elation showed on their faces. Brock's face showed a confounded sorrow, one which Ash could not understand. He knew his friend had a crush on Kiyoko, but her death had seemed to affect him more than Ash ever imagined.

He moved onto the face next to him, the face he loved so much. Misty's pale skin seemed paler than he had ever seen it, and her deep red hair, that always looked so vital, now hung straight around her face, dull and lifeless.  But despite those facts, she was still the most beautiful site Ash had ever laid his eyes upon.

Misty slowly closed her eyes, holding them shut for a moment, letting a stream of tears escape from them, before opening them again. It made him want to let down his defences, but he didn't want to show his weakness in front of so many people. In an attempt to comfort her, he passed the flower to his right hand, already holding onto his crutch, and brushed the back of his left hand to hers. She, in return, brought her hand from her lily and put it into his. He give it a reassuring caress, just to let her know that he would be there for her.

The priest finished his chant, his orange robes standing out in stark contrast to the clothes of all those gathered, as the coffin reached the bottom of the pit. Each member of the congregation threw their flowers onto the coffin, almost covering it's silver roof.  After most of the gathered left, her father walked slowly to the grave and added his flower to the pile as the friends watched. He then raised his solemn head and looked towards the friends opposite.

"I'm sorry for everything we did to you.  I was in a position to do something...but I was too afraid to stand up.  Maybe if I did...I could have saved her.  I'm responsible for her death." He lowered his head, his eyes noticeably glistening with tears.  After a few seconds he looked towards them again.  "I'm just glad that in her last days she had good friends to rely upon."  The man slowly moved over to the group, passing the grave, followed by the Police officers.  "I found this when I was sorting through Kiyoko's belongings."  He handed Ash a boxed CD.  "I'm guessing it's addressed to all of you."  He glanced around the group of young people in front of him, before turning and slowly leaving with the guards.

The five humans and two Pokemon walked from the grave, travelling down the gentle hill to a small lake surrounded by trees.

Ash looked down at the object, opening the case.  On the CD, the words 'To My Friends' were written with a black marker.

"It must be a recording she made before she..."  Misty finished before uttering the last word, her face still damp with tears.

"Does anyone have something to play it?" Ash asked.

"Yeah," James said as he pulled a player out of his long-coat pocket, taking out the CD that was already in it.  "Here," he handed it to Ash.

Ash inserted the CD and pressed the play button.  After several seconds, Kiyoko's familiar voice filled the silent air.  She spoke slowly, obviously in a state of emotion turmoil.  "I guess your all wondering why I have made a recording...and how I knew I was going to die before all this was over?"

Everyone looked towards each other, confused.  "She knew?" Brock said in awe.

"I had a vision tonight.  A prophetic vision of what was to come, something I have only experienced a few times before in my life...but has always come true.  I know everything that will happened in the next few days, things that now you've all already experienced.  Ash and Misty being captured, the rebellion succeeding...and Giovanni taking my life."  They heard a sob come from the small speaker.

"It was him," Ash uttered, his anger filtering through.

"I wanted to tell you guys what was to come, but even if I had, fate can never be altered.  So all I could do was to record this for you.  I just wanted to say goodbye.

"We've been together now for two months, an although it's been hard, I'm glad that I was able to spend my last months of lives with people I have grown to love.  We had a lot of great times...and a lot of bad times, but we always helped each other through.

"Jessie, James and Meowth.  You are a true example of morality over duty.  When the time came, you made the right decision, and I applaud you for that.  Not many people are willing to go so far to stand up for their beliefs.

"Misty, you don't know how hard it was for me that first night not to tell you how Ash felt, knowing the pain it was putting you through.  Having this kind of power, you would love to tell everyone information that can prevent them being hurt, but I can't interfere.  Things that are destined to happen always will, as you now know.  And believe me, Ash loves you as much as he tells you, probably a lot more."

Misty blushed slightly.  "I know," she whispered.

"I know you both are going to have a great life together."

"Ash, these events have been harder on you than anyone else in our group.  You are the youngest, and before all this happened, the most innocent in heart.  I can sense how much you have changed through this, and the anguish that has, at times, sought to consume you.  You may think that you were able to hide your pain from everyone, but we all could see what you were going through."

Every one gave him an knowing look, and all Ash could do was look down and smile.

"I'm just glad that when you and Misty expressed your true feelings for each other, she was able to calm your mind.

"Brock."  She paused for a moment, sighing heavily.  "I'm really sorry about tonight.  The dream that you woke me from was the one that told me of what was to come.  I didn't want to hurt you anymore than was necessary.  That's why I left when we almost kissed."

At this, the whole group stared at Brock, shocked.  He turned beat red.

"I wish that there had been a future for the two of us, but that's not our destiny.  I know you'll find your soul mate.  All I know is...she isn't me.

"I'm not sure what else to say, so I must bring this message to an end.  I love you all and...I wish I could be there with you for the rest of your lives.  I know you're all going to do well, and I wish you all the best.  Just don't forget me."

The background noise on the audio dissipated, and the CD spanned down.  The group just stood in silence, contemplating Kiyoko's words.

"Well, what do we all do now?" asked Ash.

"Start our lives again, I guess," Meowth responded.  "Try to get everythin' back to normal."

"As normal as can be."  James placed a hand over his injured arm.  "We will all carry scars, physical and mental, from this for the rest of our lives."

Ash nodded, looking down at the crutch he relied upon to help him walk.  " So, what are you guys going to do now?"

" We're not sure.  Team Rocket has been our home for many years.  We don't really have anywhere else to go."

"Well, I'm sure we'll run into each other from time to time."

"Just don't count on us being on the same side," Jessie snidely remarked.

Misty giggled confusedly, unsure whether or not Jessie was joking.  "We won't," she replied.

"Well, I guess this is it," Meowth said sadly.

"Yeah,"  Brock answered in the same tone.

Unexpectedly, Jessie pulled Ash into a tight hug.  He awkwardly put his arms around her.  "Take care of yourself, twerp," she whispered into his ear.  She looked towards Misty.  "And of that girl of yours."

Ash, along with the rest of the group, looked dismayed at Jessie's behaviour.  After a few seconds, she released him, and gave her once enemies a final, melancholy glance.  She then turned back to James and Meowth.  "We better get going."

"Yeah," both James and Meowth replied dolefully.  The three of them walked away, and possibly out of their friends' lives forever.

Those that remained stood in silence for a few minutes before Brock broke the cessation.  "I'm gonna...go up and...say a final goodbye," he said softly.  His friends nodded sympathetically.

Brock walked back up the hill to the grave site. He knelt down beside the cavity, placing his hand upon the stone.  He read the words upon it for about the hundredth time;

He didn't know how he truly felt for her.  They hadn't explored their feelings, so how could he be sure.  But he knew there was something.  Now, with her death, he would never know.  He guessed that it was just something he had to learn to live with.

Ash and Misty watched their friend.

"I didn't realize there was something between them.  I knew he was attracted to her, but...well, he's Brock.  He likes most girls he meets." Ash paused.  "You think he'll be okay?"

"He always has been before.  He'll get through it.  It may just take a little time.  And he knows we're here for him."

"Yeah," he agreed.

"So what are we going to do now that the war is over?"

"I'd like to go back and spend a little time with my mum after the authorities are finished with us."

She put her arms around him.  "Have you told her about us yet?"

"Nope.  She'll be shocked, but I'm sure really happy, too.  She's crazy about you."

Misty giggled.  She looked up into his eyes.  "How do you feel?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean emotionally.  The occupation may be over, but that doesn't mean that everything's okay."

"I've still got a lot to sort out in my head, stuff to think about, but, if you help me, I can sort it out."

"As long as you help me as well."

"No problem."

"I love you."

He pulled her closer in his arms.  "I love you, too."

They stood by that spot for what seemed like an eternity, comfortable and consoled within each others arms, looking towards their friend's grave as a shadow was cast upon the ground, turning day into night.