Always.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Pokémon. Or the full range of human emotions. But I can sell ‘em to ya, cheap...

Summary: How do you face life without the one you love?

Speech. Misty Talking. Thoughts. <Pokémon talking>.

Part 2.

Seven years later...

“Okay, do you have everything?” The girl rolled her eyes and sighed. “Yes dad, for the fifth time, I have everything. Anything else and I won’t be able to lift the dratted thing.” ‘That might be a good thing.’ Her father chuckled as the thought crossed his mind. “Well, okay... but if you need anything...” “I’ll be sure to call home, or send a flying Pokémon with a message. Can I go now?” she added, shouldering the backpack with a grunt. Ash sighed. “Like I could stop you.” Rayne smiled. “’Kay, bye dad!” she grinned as she ran out the door.

Ash sighed. Life sure was gonna be different without Rayne around. ‘It’ll be quieter, for one thing.’ He smiled, and sighed deeply. Up til now, he hadn’t really realized just how big and quiet the house was without Rayne running around, screaming about something. ‘Empty too.’ Pikachu heard him sigh again, and turned to look at him. <She’ll be okay, you know. After all, she is your kid. And Misty’s too, of course.> Ash sighed. “Exactly. Don’t you remember how much trouble we got ourselves into?!” “Don’t you mean, how much trouble YOU got us into?” Ash turned with a start. “Misty?! You’re back!” she smiled at him. “I never left, idiot. Hey, Pikachu.” <Misty...> Pikachu looked sadly at her. “I know, I wish I could give you a big hug too, Pikachu.” Ash stood up and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Rayne’s...” Misty smiled. “Yeah, I know. She’s finally started her journey.” Ash sighed. “Yeah...” Misty drifted closer. “Don’t worry Ash, she’ll be fine. After all, like Pikachu said, she is OUR daughter. Unless she’s the next Chosen One, somehow, I think she’s gonna be just fine.”

“Misty, can I , ask you something?” “Sure Ash, what?” Ash shuffled nervously. They’d relocated out to the picnic table in the backyard. Ash was sitting on it, but Misty was sitting IN it. It was rather disconcerting. (weird). “What’s it like, being, you know, dead?” Misty shrugged. “Kinda weird. Thoughts are clearer, for one. Back when I was alive, I used to have all these great ideas, but they’d be covered up by other ones before I could write them down, you know? It was like my brain couldn’t shut up. But now, everything’s so clear. I don’t have to worry about whether or not I’m gonna say the wrong thing and upset anybody, because even if I did, it’s not like they could do anything to me, you know.” She turned and grinned cheekily at him. “Between you and me, whenever you took Rayne up to the Lab, I’d go and whisper insults in Gary’s ear, just to see if I could make him squirm.” Ash smiled as Misty giggled.

“You know, I’ve kinda missed that.” Misty raised an eyebrow. “What? My insults, or my insulting Gary?” Ash smiled. “Your laugh. It always used to cheer me up, back when we were kids, ya know?” Misty cocked her head to the side and smiled faintly. “Yeah?” Ash nodded. “Yeah. If I’d just lost a battle, or if you’d just insulted me, somehow, that laugh of yours would always make it seem, I dunno, alright, like it didn’t matter that I’d lost, and that you really didn’t mean what you’d said. It meant that you were happy, and somehow, that made me happy too.” Misty smiled and ran a wraithlike hand over her mouth, kissing her fingers and touching them gently to Ash’s face. If he concentrated, he could almost feel the transferred kiss. “Why do you think I always told puns and jokes? Your laugh had the exact same effect on me.”

Misty’s head turned and her eyes went out of focus, like she was listening for something. “Oh, um, I gotta go now Ash. I can’t stay visible for too long, you see...” Ash nodded. “Oh, okay. I’ll see you again, right?” he added, hopefully. Misty grinned. “Oh, like you could get rid of me THAT easily, Ash Ketchum.” She giggled, before stopping and leaning in closer to him, turning slowly so that she was upside-down in front of his face. “Hey Ash?” “Yeah, Misty?” Ash struggled to keep her in sight as she slowly started to fade away again. “You still love me, right?” Her voice echoed as it drifted away. Ash smiled. “Always, Misty. Always.”

Okay, I’m sensing a theme of sorts here...

PROFESSOR WOLFSBANE

18 Sep. 09.