Carefully climbing onto her back, just as I did before, I bent low so my face was close to the Pidgeot's. "I need you to fly me somewhere really far away." I whispered softly. "Do you have the strength to do it? With both mine and Pikachu's weight?"

      She paused for a moment, and then nodded. As I felt the touch of Pikachu quickly climbing into my lap, I closed my eyes and sucked in a deep breath as I gripped Pidgeot's back feathers tightly. I knew that this time, the flight wouldn't provide me with as much freedom as I wanted. I was flying to the rainforest out west, and nowhere else. Until I found Ash, I would continue to feel locked up inside.

      The Pidgeot took a few running steps before soaring up into the skies, the wind pushing me backwards, daring me to fall. My eyes flashed open as I was met with the sight of fluffy clouds scattered throughout the bright blue sky, sunlight streaming down onto our faces. But I still hadn't let that breath out. 'Breathe.' I told myself silently. 'Just breathe.' And so I did. As I let that single breath out, all of my once-tense muscles seemed to relax, and so did Pikachu's. For a small moment when happiness swelled up inside my heart, I forgot where I was even going. But then the reason quickly came back to me. Ash. I couldn't let myself become distracted again. I had to focus.

      And yet...

      "Sometimes..." I said softly. "...I wonder if it would be better to just... let go."

      My words were completely unheard from others' ears as the blowing wind gracefully carried them off my lips and into the distance.

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

      I never had a chance to find Ash. Of course I didn't.

...The sound of my Pidgeot's cry as the Fearow's claws dug through her skin...

      I had forgotten that out here, I wasn't alone in the skies. There were others here with me. Another reason I couldn't achieve freedom until I found Ash.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" I yelled. ...But then I remembered that Pikachu could no longer use any attacks, let alone battle.

      I felt so helpless. I couldn't stand it. Its not that I was afraid of dying... I knew I wouldn't. I was still Ash's turn. Then again, maybe it would've been better if I had died. Then Ash would be safe.

We were spiraling down towards the earth below. The skies surrounding us were now just blurs of colors. I could hear a shrill scream piercing the air. It took me a moment to realize I was the one screaming.

      Was fate trying to play some sort of sick game with me? But then, I had an idea. What if I lost on purpose? Then Ash would win, no matter what. This was only a two player game, after all.

I used one hand to tightly cling to Pidgeot's back, and the other to keep Pikachu from flying out from underneath me. I then tightly shut my eyes as I braced myself for the impact. It came... then blackness.

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

      I gazed out into the valleys beyond, ignoring the piercing pain running up and down my leg. I had already gawked in horror at the deep bleeding cut that ran up the left side, and I didn't need to see it again. Pikachu was sitting at my side. I had long since returned Pidgeot, the most injured of all of us, to her pokeball to rest. The pokeball itself was carefully held between Pikachu's two small furry paws.

      I looked down at the vast, wide open area below me. Never before had I stood on the edge of a cliff as high as this one. The wind weaved through my hair, pushed against my body, urging me on. I reached back to pull at my ponytail holder, letting my hair fall down so it lay limp by my scratched shoulders. Staring down at the small object in my hands, I took out a small pen.

      "I wish I had been able to tell you this before, Ash." I barely said above a whisper to myself. Holding the ponytail holder up close, I struggled to use the pen to write on it. But eventually I managed to scribble to words "I love you, Ash.". Afterwards I set the pen back in my pocket, and carefully slid the ponytail holder onto Pikachu's left ear. "Pikachu... please try to find him." I pleaded. "I know he'll still be alive when you do."

      I took a deep shuddering breath, and continued to gaze out beyond the cliff. Was I afraid? I couldn't tell. The only thing I knew at that moment was that there wasn't much time left before something dangerous could happen to Ash again. Because I couldn't find him, this was my way of protecting him. My thoughts were interrupted as I spotted a bright red hot air balloon slowly floating my way. I could barely make out the figure of a man standing in it, but the only features I could make out were his shaggy brown hair.

      "Hey, you!" The man shouted in my direction. "Miss! What are you doing?!" Worry and alarm sparked in his voice.

      I ignored the voice, and instead focused only on what I had to do. I couldn't help myself from starting to feel angry towards the man, though. Alone. I wanted to do this alone.

      Taking one last deep shuddering breath, I pushed off the ground with my feet, and leapt off the edge of the cliff, my arms flailing by my side.

      "No!"

      I felt myself immediately stop in motion as two vines lashed out from the direction of the hot air balloon, wrapping their selves around my waist. Gazing towards their direction, I saw that they were connected to a Bayleef that had been released from its pokeball. The man ordered the Bayleef to pull me in closer. I soon felt myself being released from their grip, and dropping onto the surface of the cart the hot air balloon was carrying.

      "Are you okay?!" The man asked me quickly, firmly gripping my shoulders in his hands. Up close, I could see that he was my age, if not a year or two older. He was breathing heavily.

      I couldn't take it any longer. "No!" I shouted in reply. "Why did you stop me?!" It might be too late for Ash! And with that, I struggled out of his grasp, and lunged for the edge of the cart. Using quick reflexes, the man quickly grabbed a hold of my arm and pulled me in closer so I couldn't move towards the ledge. I erupted into sobs. "Stop it! Let me go!" I begged, struggling to beat him away with my fists, but failing miserably.

      "Please, just calm down, just calm down..." He urged me, continuing to hold me in place.

      Our words were suddenly interrupted as we gazed out at the cliff just in time to see Pikachu take a flying leap off the edge. This time it was me that was shouting for somebody's sake. For Pikachu's sake. No! What are you doing?!

      Just as quickly as the pokemon had done for me, the man's Bayleef once again lashed out two thick green vines, quickly pulling Pikachu in. "That was close..." The man let out a breath, now gripping both me and Pikachu. "What's going on here?"

      I remained silent as I stopped struggling for a moment, gazing down at Pikachu. I then gazed up into the man's eyes, which were a deep green. You saved him... My heart seemed to stop.

      His voice interrupted my thoughts. "Wait... what's wrong with your Pikachu now?" He asked me, confused. Sure enough, Pikachu's body was limp, his eyes closed. His breathing was in slow, yet short, gasps.

      Worry exploded through my heart. "Quickly! We need to get him to a Pokemon Center!" I shouted, beginning to feel the falling tears again as they rolled down my cheeks. The man nodded in agreement, his face growing serious. But before he yanked down on the lever to ignite the hot air balloon's flame, he gave one final glance in my direction. I did my best to give him a look that said I wasn't going to try to leap again.

      As the balloon began to move, I sank to my knees and buried my head in my hands. What had I done?

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

      I was sitting in the passenger seat of the man's car, gazing out the side window with tired eyes, carefully holding Pikachu's limp body in my hands. Both of us had been silent the whole trip so far. I had long since stopped crying, but my cheeks were still stained with dried tears. Just minutes ago the realization hit me that Pidgeot's pokeball had been left on the cliff of the valleys. But I was feeling too miserable about everything that had happened to pay too much attention to this realization.

      I spoke, shattering the deathly silence. "So... are you going to force me to go to a counselor?" I asked quietly, refusing to let myself glance in his direction.

      The silence continued as he didn't reply, focusing on the road, letting my words sink in. Then, he spoke. "No." He answered simply, sighing.

      We left it at that as a Pokemon Center finally emerged in the distance. I felt my heart leap as I felt Pikachu's heartbeat suddenly come to a stop. I drew in a shaky breath and gawked at the small electric mouse, wondering, waiting for another heartbeat. But it never came. The man glanced in my direction, noticing my startled look.

      "I... I think Pikachu died." I told him barely above a whisper, my heart thudding in my chest.

      His eyes grew sorrow as he just nodded in sad agreement. And yet, his eyes were also filled with confusion. "But why...?"

      Yes, why? I let past memories quickly flow through my mind.

      "Misty, I've told you many times what great friends I am with Pikachu, right?" Ash asked me, grinning widely.

      "I'm not really sure..." Ash's voice drifted off as the conversation came to an end.

      I stumbled out of the man's car as I quickly sprinted towards the Pokemon Center. Pikachu was now being carried in the man's arms. The small electric mouse was now gone forever, and I accepted that. It was the large flat screen TV I was searching for this time. Behind me I could hear the man's echoing footsteps as he followed close behind.

      I came to a sudden halt, staring at the screen in horror. No, it can't be... But it was. It had happened. I was too late.

      "...Pokemon Master Ash Ketchum, dead..."

      I sank to my knees, shuddering violently as I buried my head in my hands, letting the sobs escape from my heart. No, no, NO! But it was true. I knew it was. I had won, Ash had lost, and he was the one who had to pay the price. That decision couldn't be changed.