THE ULTIMATE SCARIFIES "Pika pi? Pikachu?" came Pikachu's voice near Ash's ear. Ash woke up and looked at Pikachu. "What's wrong Pikachu?" he asked. "You sleep to long. I told Pikachu to wake you up, gentle." came Tigress's reply. Ash sat up. Tigress was standing in front of him. "Sorry. I guess I was really tired." he said. "That's fine. Emerald said that its best for you to be awake while she explains what's going to happen. Come on, everyone's all ready there." Tigress told him. Ash got up and followed her to the pool. Every one was there as humans. Gato sat in Misty's lap and Pikachu ran to find a spot. Ash sat down next to Misty and Tigress stood near them both. Emerald stood on a rock in the pool and Sara sat on another, her Vaporeon tail dipped in a little. "Good. Your all here." she said looking around. "Get on with it! I have fur to groom!" Gato snapped. "Gato! Hush!" Misty said. Emerald ignored Gato's comment. "I have you here today so I can tell you what we plan to do. Mewthree will send more troops to battle us soon, I can count on it. So until we battle some more troops and destroy the leader of each one, we will not be ready to fight Mewthree. After all that, we can challenge him." Emerald told them all. "How long will that take?" asked Tiger who was sitting next to Ash. "I'm not sure. We still have to bet Poison, the leader of the Scales. After that there are at least a couple more." Emerald answered. "Do you know who we have left to fight?" asked Misty. "No, but Icy is leaving soon to check it out and spy." Emerald said. "Right. Speaking of which. I'll go now." Icy said. Ice sparked around her and she changed into her Articuno form. she said. She flapped her wings and flew out the mouth of the cave or a fake cave anyway. "Good. Now, today is going to try and be a relaxing day. Try to still keep alert if you go outside. That is all." Emerald said. Everyone began to leave to go outside. Emerald, Sara and Ruby were the only people who stayed inside. Ash and his friends went out and found a pretty lake to rest. "Hey! I know! We could give our Poke'mon some sun." Misty said. "Great idea!" Brock said. They all opened there Pokeballs. From Ash's came Charizard, Gray Wolf, Jolteon, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Flareolteon, Pidgeot, and Phoenix. Tiger and Pikachu joined them. Form Misty's Pokeballs came Staryu, Starmie, Goldeen, Psyduck, Horsea and Vaporeon. From Brock's Pokeballs came Geodude, Onix, Vulpix, and Zubat. Charizard, Phoenix, and Flareolteon went on the other side of the river and took a nap. Charizard growled at Ash from time to time before falling asleep. Jolteon and Vaporeon sat together next to the river. Gray Wolf, Tiger, Pikachu, Gato, and Vulpix all sat in the shade of a tree and played. Squirtle, Staryu, Starmie, Goldeen, Psyduck and Horsea all splashed in the river. Bulbasaur fell asleep near them. Onix, Geodude and Zubat also fell asleep near the river. Pidgeot joined Tiger and played. "The Poke'mon must love it here." Brock said looking at his Vulpix play tag with Pikachu and Gato. "Yeah. It's so perfect for them." Misty agreed. Ash sat down near the river and soon Misty joined him. Brock went to feed his Onix. "I still can't believe this. We have to stop Mewthree. Something that's more powerful than Mewtwo and Mew." Ash said. "Well, I think we can do it. I mean, who knows what we can do together." Misty said. Ash still had his doubt. "You know I think its weird. Tigress was a human and I met her before." Ash said. Misty looked at him. "Well, I remember seeing her. I was awake when she came and when she left." Misty said with a hint of disgust in her voice. "Don't say it like that. The Wolflithe mind was powerful and interested in her. I couldn't help it." Ash said. "You act like I care!" Misty laughed. Ash started to get mad. "What you mean act like?" he asked angerly. "You say that it wasn't your fault and all. I didn't care what you did." Misty answered simply. "Oh really? Well then how come you said it with disgust?" he shot back. "I did not! Why do you think I care what happens to you?" she snapped. That hurt. "Your a little brat!" Ash yelled. "A brat! I am not! You should talk mister I-want-to-be-a-Poke'mon-master! You couldn't even it you tried!" Misty yelled back. Ash was very mad but had nothing to say to her. He got up and stormed away. He sat down with Tiger. Tiger and Gray Wolf lied together talking and looking at Ash, they had herd the whole argument. Pidgeot looked concerned. Pikachu, Gato and Vulpix played tag like nothing had happened. Pikachu was it and ran after Gato. It was a beautiful day. The sun shinned bright and the sky was blue with a few white, puffy clouds. Brock had seen it all. "That can't be good." he said to himself. Suddenly, Ash herd a low growling and a twig snap from some bushes near the river. He looked over to see if Tiger had herd it. Tiger and Gray Wolf were fast asleep. Ash was still a little worried it might be a Mewthree troop. Suddenly, he was right. A Scale burst though the bushes at Misty. It was Poison because of its big size. It happened in seconds. Ash got up and was able to push Misty away from Poison. Poison knocked him down and he felt teeth on his throat. Then suddenly, he felt nothing at all. * * * Ash woke up in a strange place. It was like being surrounded in white light. His friends were no where to be seen. He walked forward a little only to see a white dragon. It wasn't a Poke'mon. It was a strange, plan, dragon, if you could call it that. It had a beak like a birds and pink, feathered wings. It's tail was a birds tail. It was long and flowing. Like an Articuno's tail. It had three diamond shaped feathers on her head and blue eyes. It had a pink spine that ran from the tip of its tail to the top of its head. It wasn't that big, but still a good size. Maybe a foot taller than a Charizard. Ash wondered if it could breath fire. He slowly approached the dragon. "Where am I?" he asked. The dragon smiled. Not warmly, but with sadness. "I'm sorry Ash. Your dead." she answered. "I'm what?" he asked, not able to believe it. "You herd me. Don't make me repeat." the dragon answered, but with no harshness at all. Her voice was big and echoed. "I can't be dead. I'm... right here." Ash said looking at his hands. "In spirit anyway." the dragon answered sadly. "This has got to be a dream." Ash said stepping back. "I'm sorry Ash, but its real. You saved your friend Misty. You saved her life but gave your own. Poison killed you instantly with a rip from is teeth at your throat." the dragon said sadly, like she had been there. Ash was just speechless. He was dead because he saved a girl who didn't even like him! "I'm Mist by the way." the dragon said to him. Ash still was speechless. He wanted to know more, but couldn't force himself to speak. "Your speechless. I understand. It's not everyday that a huge dragon comes and tells your dead, huh?" Mist said with a sad, little laugh. Everything about her was, sad. She came down closer to Ash on her four legs that were strong. She took a white claw and pointed behind her. it was a swirl of light. Like a portal. "You can either go to the afterlife or be rewarded with any wish you want." Mist said with a twinkle in her eye. "Why do I get a wish." Ash finally was able to gasp. "Such bravery should be rewarded. You saved Misty's life by giving your own. Don't you think that's worth something?" she asked. "Yeah, I mean, sure." Ash stammered. Mist looked concerned. "Well, what's it going to be?" she asked. "I want a wish." Ash said quickly without thinking. "Great! Anything you name, I can give you." Mist said. "I want to...return." Ash said to her. "Return?" asked Mist. "Go back. I don't want to be dead." Ash answered. Mist nodded and looked sadder. "I can't. If I return you back, you still are dead." Mist sighed. "Then return me back to the day it happened! I can fix it all! Stop Poison from attacking us!" Ash said, trying to reason with the big dragon. "Can you? Can you really stop Poison from attacking someone?" asked Mist with a sort of anger in her voice. Ash stepped back. "I could....try." he said. He was beginning to lose his hope. And it was the worst way to die. The fight with Misty. "What about my friends? What will happen to them now that I'm dead?" he asked. Mist looked down and closed her eyes. She looked like she was trying to see something beyond her reach. "Pikachu and your Poke'mon will be giving to other trainers. Tiger will run away and be killed by a hunter. Gray Wolf will also be shot. Charizard will regret being mean to you and fly away and become a wild Charizard. Never captured until his death. Pikachu will become Gary's Poke'mon and die of abuse. All your others will live happily with another trainer and die of old age. They will always cry at night because they miss you. Brock will be sad and go back to his gym, giving up his dream. Misty will cry, regretting that fight you had before you died and saved her. She'll never recover and go back to live with her sisters in the gym. The ten Poke' people will win there war with Mewthree without your help." Mist said in a voice that made Ash want to cry. She sounded too sad for anything. When Mist lifted her head and opened her eyes to look at Ash, he saw tears shimmering in the light. They fell from her eyes and stained the floor. "It is not your time Ash. You should not die now. You have too much to live for." Mist sobbed. "I...do?" asked Ash. He was more confused by the suddenly outbreak of Mist's tears than him being dead. "You have loving friends and a beautiful relationship with your Poke'mon. Besides, could you live without Misty?" Mist asked, tears still in her eyes. "I.... no." Ash whispered. Mist smiled. A warm smile. The first warm smile Ash had ever seen from her. "Then your point is proven. You shall not die yet. It is not your time." Mist said. She raised her claw. "You are too much of a friend, Ash. May you live a long life." Mist said. Ash was suddenly engulfed in white light. He closed his eyes and suddenly opened them again. He blinked at the sunlight. He was sitting under the shade of a tree with Tiger and Gray Wolf. They weren't dead! Pidgeot stood near Ash. Pikachu, Gato and Vulpix happily played tag. Pikachu was it and he ran after Gato. "What in the world just happened?" Ash asked. Gato looked at him. "Uh, your sitting here?" she answered. "Yeah. I guess." Ash said. Ash suddenly herd a low growling and a twig snap. He didn't have a lot of time. "Tiger! Wake up!" Ash hissed. Tiger woke up and stood up. "What?" he asked. "Use Torpedo on those bushes now. Don't ask, just do it." Ash said pointing at the bushes where Poison would come from. Tiger did as he was told. He shot little blue lightning bolts out his horns. It hit the bush and shocked it good. Poison fell out of the bushes. He was burnt badly. He got up and ran. Tiger blinked. "How'd you know he was there Ash?" Tiger asked. "A lucky guess." he said. And a second chance, Ash thought. Tiger shrugged and lied down again. After awhile, they got up and went back to the cave. Everyone was there as humans. All the Poke'mon were back in there Pokeballs. "Did you hear anything, Icy?" Ash asked her. "Nope. I guess we'll just have to find out ourselves." Icy told him. Ash nodded and then saw Misty sitting by herself near the pool. He remember what he told Mist. "...Besides, could you live without Misty?"Mist asked, tears still in her eyes. "I....no." Ash whispered. That conversation was so clear. It was true. He couldn't live without here. Ash took a deep breath and walked up to her. She looked pretty sitting by the pool. "Misty?" he asked. Misty didn't look at him or say anything, but he knew she was listening. "I'm...sorry. I didn't mean to call you a brat and your not. I was just, angry for nothing I guess." Ash said. Misty still said or did nothing. Ash turned away and began to walk away. Pikachu was waiting for him near a tree to play a game. "Ash?" came Misty's voice. Ash stopped and faced her. "I'm sorry too. You'll be a great Poke'mon Master someday. I didn't mean it either." Misty said. Ash nodded to except her statement. "Pika pi!" "Come on Ash! You said you'd play with us!" Gato yelled. Ash looked at Misty and then turned away. He joined the two small Poke'mon. Misty watched him for a minute before she looked back into the pool. Mist sat in her cloud with a sad smile watching it all. "Your journey still has a ways to go, Ash. So does your life." Next time... "How in the world could you not tell her! It's the truth, isn't it?" Gato said. "Yes. But I thought she loved Ash." Tigress answered weakly. Gato snorted. "That's why you have to tell her what you did! She needs to know!" Gato continued. "But that would break them up." Tigress answered. Gato thought for a minute. "It would. I didn't think of that." Gato said. Tigress fell down anime style with a tear drop on her head. "What can I do Gato? I wasn't thinking." Tigress sighed. "Well, here's an important question, do you love Ash?" Gato asked. "Yes." Tigress whispered weakly. "Dose he love you?" "I don't know." Gato thought again. "We have a problem. If you love Ash and he loves you, what about Misty?" Gato asked. "Here's something to wonder, what if I asked, what's going on?" came Misty's angry voice.