Choices

Epilogue:

At the Beginning

Note: First off, thanks to all of you readers who have been following this story for some three years now- I’m glad to have been getting feedback for all these years and people who have kept with it despite my drawbacks on updating and my regression in the Pokemon fandom- but I’m back! And full of energy for writing my beloved Pokemon fandom! :D I suggest any cross-shipers like myself honestly go check out my Writing Journal (the link’s on my author profile) for ficlets and such- there’s oneshots, drabbles, fanfiction, ranging from Pokeshipping, Egoshipping, Palletshipping, Advancedshipping, Contestshipping and even some Imageshipping! ^_^’’ I know sounds like a lot but honestly, I love the Pokemon fandom and I’ve been writing for nearly four years already- I’ll never leave it- I just cross-ship a lot in it. XD However, Pokeshipping is my OTP and I will defend it always! :) So you’re safe in knowing that only Pokeshipping shall appear here! Now enough of my babbling, once again thanks but onto the long-awaited ending of Choices! Enjoy! ^____^

Characters:

Ash: 28

Misty: 28

Dan: 29

May: 27

Drew: 27

Sharon: 28

Damien: 28

Brock: 32

Britney: 32

Max: 22 ½

Mary: 22 ½

Lily: 32

Daisy: 32

Violet: 32

Amy: 8

Anna: 8

Richard: 8

Tadahiro: 5

Luke: 6

Katie: 4

Keitaro: 6

A/N: Song, “At The Beginning” by Richard Marx & Donna Lewis- THE ULTIMATE AAML SONG :D

____________________________________________________________________

*5 ½ years later…*

“Hey mom what are you looking at?” Amy blinked over her mother’s shoulder. “I’ve never seen that photo album.”

“That’s because it’s special.” Misty smiled up at her young daughter. “Ash and I just finished putting it together with Dan’s help of course.”

“Oh…” Amy nodded, her Pichu sitting on her head, slipped slightly but the young Pokemon gripped onto her master’s hat preventing it from falling. “When can I see it?”

“As soon as everyone else comes.”

“Awww… Mom!”

“Amy.”

“Pretty please?” Amy pouted.

Misty laughed, “You’re so cute sometimes.”

Amy pouted again and huffed, an affronted look crossing her features. Misty and Amy sat on the grass beneath the open sky, waiting for others to come. It was one of those small reunions Sharon loved to organize whenever she came back from a vacation. Everyone was going to come- Sharon and Damien of course with their three children, Anna, Luke, and Katie; Britney and Brock were bringing their two boys Richard and Keitaro; Max, Mary, Lily, Daisy, Violet, May, Drew, and Dan were also coming; and of course Ash was running a little late in bringing their younger son Tadahiro.

“Hey Misty!” Sharon exclaimed waving as she held onto her younger daughter’s hand with the other. “ Whatcha got there?”

“Just something Ash, Dan and I made.” Misty grinned at her sister, waving back at her.

“Mommy!” Tadhiro ran towards Misty, letting go of Ash’s hand and embracing his mother.

Soon all the children had joined along with their parents- everyone surrounded Misty, sitting beside her as they sat on the blanket beneath the tree.

Tadahiro had Ash’s dark spiky hair and brown eyes, however he had lighter eyes; Luke had brown eyes and brown spiky hair; Katie had red hair and brown eyes- a combination of Sharon’s mother’s genes and Damien’s father’s genes. Richard and Keitaro looked just like their parents with brown hair, dark eyes, and tan skin.

“Hi guys.” Misty greeted with a light smile.

“Hello!” the children all chorused together- oh she’d never get tired of hearing them together.

“What’ve ya got there Misty?” Lily asked curiously as she settled herself on the other side of Daisy.

“A photo album with pictures, duh.” Misty rolled her eyes. “It has pictures of me, Dan, Ash, May, Max- the whole gang while on our travels together and apart.”

“So you finished it?” Dan blinked in confusion, sitting by his daughter, pulling her into a brief embrace. “So fast?”

“Yeah.” Ash nodded. “She still won’t let me see it though- mean isn’t she?”

“Quite.”

“Hey!” Misty glared. “Don’t talk like I’m not here!”

“Did I hear someone speaking?” Ash looked around, fake puzzlement crossing his face.

“I believe it was the wind Ash.” Dan replied, likewise doing the same as Ash.

Everyone laughed as Misty scowled angrily. They would never tire of these silly fights- each one was so special in their own way.

“Then I’m not going to show you guys the finished album!”

“No c’mon show us!” Ash pouted unhappily.

“Still so impatient.” May shook her head grinning as she held onto the hand of her fiancé, Drew.

Misty smiled and turned to open the album of a picture Sharon had taken at Cerulean City Gym-Ash, Brock, Misty, Sharon, Pikachu, their Pokemon were all there. The first picture of many…

We were strangers

Starting out on a journey

Never dreaming

What we’d have to go through

Now here we are

And I’m suddenly standing

At the beginning with you

“That’s when I came to the group!” Sharon laughed happily, pointing at herself. “You lost that battle with Ash right?”

“We tied.” Ash grinned sympathetically at his wife who suddenly stiffened. “That was when the group finally become complete- though you left from time to time.”

“She came to visit me a lot.” Damien nodded, smirking as he tightened his hold on Sharon’s waist.

“I couldn’t stand being away from my dear hubby!” Sharon laughed, embracing him back.

Misty nodded and turned to another picture with just her and Ash standing beneath a sign, arguing, Brock trying to calm them down, a sweatdrop forming on his head. Everyone laughed at the sight of it- memories tugging at their minds.

No one told me

I was going to find you

Unexpected

What you did to my heart

When I lost hope

You were there to remind me

This is the start

“You two are arguing mommy. Why?” Tadahiro blinked, pointing at the picture, his Pichu held in his arms. “Don’t you two love each other?”

“We do Tadahiro-kun.” Ash nodded. “But she was a pain sometimes.” He whispered that last bit low in his son’s ear so she didn’t hear.

“Hey look it’s mommy in a kimono!” Amy exclaimed. “One’s with Ash and the other’s with Dan! Both my daddies!”

Misty grinned at her daughter’s enthusiasm. Amy loved having two fathers and so did Tadahiro even if his father was really Ash. Everything was all okay between them. She turned to the next set of photos.

There was she, Ash, Sharon, and Brock sleeping underneath a tree. The one next to it had her, Britney, Mary, Damien and Dan all asleep on a hill of flowers. She smiled at the children’s laughter.

And life is a road

And I want to keep going

Love is a river

I wanna keep flowing

Life is a road

Now and forever

Wonderful journey

“Dad’s asleep here!” Richard laughed. “Just like always ‘cept why’s mom not in this picture dad?”

“It’s complicated son.” Brock ruffled his hair. “One day I’ll tell you the story of how your mother fell for my good looks.” He made a pose. “And who could blame her, with looks like this?”

“Oh shut up- otherwise you’ll sleep on the couch.” Britney rolled her eyes, pulling her husband back down to the ground beside her.

“Everyone’s sleeping. How boring.” Katie pouted.

“Now Katie.” Sharon warned with a slight laugh. “We had to sleep on our travels too! Otherwise we wouldn’t be able to survive.”

“Yeah but can’t there be more interesting pictures like of battles and stuff?” Katie asked eagerly.

“One at a time.” Misty laughed- Katie had taken up her mother’s love of battles and tomboyish attitude- she turned the page. “There ya go- pictures of battles and stuff.”

I’ll be there

When the world stops turning

I’ll be there

When the storm is through

In the end I wanna be standing

At the beginning with you

And true to her word, there were pictures of Ash and Misty battling- Corsola versus Totodial. A picture of Sharon and Damien battling, her Delibird versus his Rapidash. Then a picture of Mary and Britney battling, her Chinchou versus her Mantine. And another one of Misty and Dan battling, his Aron versus her Politoad. Countless of pictures followed, depicting battles, showing the victors and loser’s reactions- the attacks, the Pokemon fallen and those called upon.

Misty smiled in reminiscence as the children fawned over the pictures and their parents- all those battles, so long ago- all leading up to them being Masters, Breeders, Coordinators, Researchers. They all had their dreams come true- after such hard work they were living them, happily.

We were strangers

On a crazy adventure

Never dreaming

How our dreams would come true

Now here we stand

Unafraid of the future

At the beginning with you

She turned to the next page and giggled at the children’s various reactions

“Kawaii!” Amy and Anna giggled together.

“Yuck!” Katie, Luke, Richard, Tadahiro and Keitaro made faces.

There was Ash and Misty hugging- visible blushed on their faces surrounded by some of their friends- May had a distant look on her face while Sharon was absolutely giddy with happiness. The one next to it and Misty and Dan holding hands, as they shared a milkshake- laughing at Misty’s Pikachu eating all her french fries.

“I took that one.” Brock laughed, pointing at the picture with Ash and Misty hugging each other.

“But why?” Keitaro made another face. “They’re all lovey-dovey. That’s just gross!”

“One day son…” Britney laughed. “You’ll know why your father did it- he’s a lost romantic.”

“But cuz of that you fell into my arms.” Brock grinned kissing her hand.

“No, not really.” Britney pulled her hand away, rolling her eyes again.

And life is a road

I wanna keep going

Love is a river

I wanna keep flowing

Life a road

Now and forever

Wonderful journey

Misty once again turned the page- and she winced slightly at the memory. It had been the Christmas she spent at Cerulean City after leaving Ash and one of the year before. Bother were considerably different.

In the Cerulean City it was mostly of their Pokemon playing with their new toys- Misty and Sharon hasn’t been talking to each other during the holiday. The other one was of Ash, Brock, Sharon and her- all in a Pokemon center, helping Nurse Joy with decorations

‘So many choices… So man paths… so many futures.’ Misty thought looking from one picture to another- if she had refused her sisters she would’ve been with Ash instead of at the Gym that Christmas.

“Such different pictures.” Lily murmured.

“Yeah.” Misty nodded a little sadly.

I’ll be there

When the world stop turning

I’ll be there

When the storm is through

In the end I wanna be standing

At the beginning with you

“But most are different.” Daisy added. “They’ve all got different people at different times.”

“And most are happy.” Violet smiled, patting her sister.

Misty nodded. Yes, all the pictures had different people, times and places but they had the same ending- she was still with Ash after all these years- even if they had been separated for a while.

As she continued to flip through the pages- the children soon grew bored and began to play with their Pokemon a little away from the adults. Everyone else stayed around her, laughing at photos- old memories playing about them- as new ones were made. The old-time friends creating new memories to be remembered and treasured forever.

I know there was somebody, somewhere

Like me alone in the dark

Now I know my dream will live on

I’ve bee waiting so long

Nothing’s gonna tear us apart.

Misty smiled at the picture of her wedding day, feeling Ash’s arm around her waist, tighten considerably. She looked over at Dan and saw him smiling- he had been Ash’s Best Man. Such a happy memory- it was the right choice she made in her life, everyone told her and she agreed wholeheartedly. It was the selfish choice but the best one in her life.

Would she want to go back and change ever having met Dan? No, she loved her life how it had been- she learned from her mistakes and enjoyed telling the story of her life that way- it sounded more human- not like some cheap romance novel.

She grinned as Ash pressed a kiss to her cheek, causing her friends and family to coo.

“Leave that for the bedroom ne Ash?” May winked.

“Speaking of the bedroom…” Drew muttered something in her ear making her blush.

“Whoo. Go Drew.” Daisy joked, laughing.

And life is a road

And I want to keep going

Love is a river

I wanna keep flowing

Life is a road

Now and forever

Wonderful journey

“So Misty how long did it take you to get all these pictures together?” Sharon questioned, grinning as she turned away from the cute image of May and Drew.

“Not long- Ash and Dan helped me after all.” Misty smiled. “They’re always there to help me. Especially Ash…”

“Of course- anything for you Misty.” Ash smiled, tugging her hand in his.

“I’ll always be here to help.” Dan shrugged. “It’ll always be a pleasure.

“Just make sure Mindy doesn’t get jealous!” May winked.

“Mindy…?” Mary suddenly asked, giggling. “So what I heard was true?”

“Who’s Mindy?” Max asked curiously.

“My sister.” Damien growled under his breath. “You had better treat her good Dan.”

Dan laughed a little nervously but otherwise nodded.

“Well Misty, I guess it’s time we all head on home ne?” Ash suggested.

“Yeah.” Misty nodded. “Home…”

‘Home with Ash…’ Misty thought. ‘My choice was always you- I was just too stubborn to see it.’ She shook herself mentally. ‘But now I’m not blinded by all my other choices- I made my decision and it’s you. You’re always be choice.’

“Hurry up Misty!” Ash called out.”

“I’m coming!” She smiled. ‘Always my choice Ash…’

I’ll be there

When the world stops turning

I’ll be there

When the storm is through

In the end I wanna be standing

At the beginning with you

(yeah yeah!)

Life is a road and I wanna keep going

Love is a river I wanna keep going on…

Starting out on a journey

Life is a road and I wanna keep going

Love is a river I wanna keep flowing

In the ending I wanna be standing

At the beginning with you…

(Mmm…)

Note: OMG. IT IS DONE! WHOOT WHOOT! *throw confetti and sprinkles* Once again, thanks to all readers and reviewers who have stayed with this as long as they have. I mean four nearly four years since this whole idea began! So I hope you congratulate yourselves for staying around that long! I know I can be a pain when I don’t update and don’t reply to reviews but you’ve got to admit, I’ve gotten better! :D So for those interested in what happened in the contest, check out this entry and you’ll find out! And also, I’d like for people to leave a comment here to find out which fanfic you’ve liked best! :D It doesn’t matter if it’s anonymous! Just reply to my comment and I’ll be happy! ^.^ Please reply to the last comment posted by madwanderer (that’s me!) don’t press the link that says “Post a new comment” okay? I’ll either respond by daydreamer64 or madwanderer kay?

Once again thanks! I couldn’t have done it without any of you guys! I’ll miss writing this so much but don’t’ worry! I’ll be working on other things as well! ^.^ Next up is NANF&OR kays!?

Byes & L8rs!

DayDreamer