ALWAYS.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Pokémon. Leave it at that.

Summary: The end of an era...

Note: The song is ‘Lullaby’, by the Dixie Chicks, and can be found on their ‘Taking The Long Way’ album.

Extra Note: This part will be a little longer than the others...

Speech. Lyrics. Misty talking.

Part 5.

Six years later...

Ash slowly walked along the hallway, sighed and tapped gently on the door. “Who is it?!” “Me... is it safe to come in?” He stepped back as the door was opened, and his mother smiled at him. “Of course, dear. I’ll just leave you two alone.” She smiled again and walked away, leaving Ash to sigh and enter the room. “How do I look, daddy?” He looked up as Rayne twirled, showing off her gorgeous white dress. Ash smiled. “Perfect, kiddo...” Rayne huffed. “Daaad, I’m not a kid, okay. It’s my wedding day, for crying out loud...” Ash grinned. “Yeah, but you’re still a kid to me, kiddo...” “If I didn’t need you to give me away... I soo wouldn’t have invited you.” She frowned, a small smile showing that she was joking. “Yeah, but the guilt would have been unbearable, and you know it.”

Ash watched as Rayne adjusted her dark orange hair. “I wish your mother was here. She’d be so proud...” She glanced around as he sighed deeply and rubbed the back of his neck. “Daddy?” “Huh, yeah Rayne?” she fidgeted nervously. “Um, it’s just, can I ask you something?” Ash shrugged. “I guess so. What’s up?” Rayne sighed and sat down next to him. “It’s just... I, can’t remember mum. At all. No matter how hard I try, I just... can’t.” Tears welled up in her eyes, and she glanced away, sniffling. Ash wrapped his arm around her. “Oh, Rayne. Don’t cry. She died... a long time ago, so you probably would remember her...” Rayne wiped her eyes a little. “What was she like? What did she look like?” Ash sighed. “Just like you, except her eyes were as blue as the ocean. Her hair was bright orange, like a sunset, and her temper was just as fiery.” He laughed softly. “I should know, I set it off enough times.”

“What else? I wanna know everything.” Ash leaned back a little and sighed. “She loved water Pokémon, in fact, she was the Cerulean Gym Leader...” “Really?!” “Yep. She was so good, when we battle each other in a tournament, she won. That was when we were just kids, though...” He smiled. “She yelled, played tricks, hit us with mallets, made jokes, dragged your uncle Brock around by the ears, had a laugh for just about everything; little giggles to huge, insane cackling. Completely nuts...” Rayne giggled. “She sounds like she was a lot of fun...” Ash sighed. “Yeah, even when I’d done something stupid, like gotten us all lost again, and she’d yell at me, or I’d lost a battle and was feeling down, all she’d have to do was laugh, and everything just seemed to be okay, you know? Even if she was the reason I was feeling bad, one laugh, or that amazing smile of hers would always make me feel better...”

“When she had to go home to run the Gym, I felt like the world had ended. The greatest day of my life was when I came back from the Sinnoh region, and she asked me out...” “She, asked you out?!” Ash laughed. “Yeah, I was too much of a Caterpie to do it myself. I tried to, but my tongue felt like it’d swelled up, and I couldn’t speak. She was smart enough to figure out what I was trying to say though, so she asked instead. All I could do was nod like an idiot.” He smiled. “But at least I was able to propose to her... Then, when we had you, she was soo happy.” Rayne smiled sadly. “Really?” “Yeah. She would sing this song she wrote, just for you. But, I don’t know how it went, only she knew the words.” “Ash...” He looked up, and saw Misty, standing across the room, smiling sadly. “Sing it for her, please. Just repeat what I sing...” He nodded softly. “But, I can try to remember, if you want...” Rayne nodded.

“They didn’t have you where I came from.

Never knew the best, was yet to come.

Life began when I saw your face

And I hear your laugh like a serenade

How long do you wanna be loved?

Is forever enough? Is forever enough?

How long do you wanna be loved?

Is forever enough? Cause I’m never never givin you up.

I slip in bed when your asleep

To hold you close, and feel your breath on me

Tomorrow there’ll be so much to do

So tonight I’ll drift in a dream with you.” “Dream with you...” Misty added softly.

“How long do you wanna be loved?

Is forever enough? Is forever enough?

How long do you wanna be loved?

Is forever enough? Cause I’m never never givin you up.

As you wander through this troubled world

In search of all things, beautiful.” Ash cupped Rayne’s chin in his hand and smiled at her.

“You can close your eyes when you’re miles away

And hear my voice like a serenade

How long do you wanna be loved?

Is forever enough? Is forever enough?

How long do you wanna be loved?

Is forever enough? Cause I’m never never givin you up.

Is forever enough? Cause I’m never never givin you up.”

Rayne wiped a tear away, sniffing softly. “She wrote that, for me?” Ash nodded, his eyes on Misty as she smiled sadly. “Yep, just for you, her ‘Little Rayne Cloud’. That was her nickname for you...” There was a tap on the door, and they looked up as Delia poked her head in. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but isn’t someone here is supposed to get married today...” Rayne jumped up. “Ahhh!” She rushed around and quickly reapplied her makeup, which had been smudged by her tears. “Come on, Dad, we’ve gotta go!” “Okay, okay. There’s no real hurry, is there?” He backed away at the furious gazes of his mother and daughter. “Who said that? Not me. Come on, we don’t want to keep what’s-his-name waiting...”

“Goodbye, daddy.” Ash sadly hugged Rayne as they stood near the car. “And thank you, for telling me about her...” Ash smiled down at his daughter. “Anytime you want to know about her, just ask, okay?” He shook hands with his new son-in-law. “If you hurt her, in any way, I swear I’ll kill you...” he growled, squeezing just a little harder than necessary. “Daddy!” Ash waved sadly from the front of the crowd as the car drove away, and he could feel Misty standing beside him. “There she goes...” “I’ll miss her...” “She’ll be okay, she’s a smart young woman, who can take care of herself.” “Just like her mother...” Misty smiled. “Ash, thanks for singing for me. She needed to know that I loved her, more than anything. Even more than you, I’m afraid.” By now, the crowd had moved away, and Ash slowly walked back towards the now empty house. “I know. From the moment she was born, I knew she’d come first with you, and I had no chance of stopping that. I didn’t want to...”

“The place is gonna be pretty empty now, huh?” Misty smiled. Ash nodded. “Yeah... I wish you were still here...” Misty brushed a spectral hand against his face. “I’m always gonna be here, you know. I’m bound to you, by marriage and more. As long as you’re here, Ash, I’m here. Even if you can’t see me... Just remember that, okay?” She passed a hand through his arm, and he could feel the hairs rise up. “When you feel that, know that I’m here, and holding your hand. I married you ‘til death do us part’, but that wasn’t long enough. When I said I do, I meant for eternity. Always and forever.” She faded away. “See you, Ash.”

That was pretty sad... There’s only one part left. Break out the tissues, because it’s gonna be a sad one...

PROFESSOR WOLFSBANE

18 Sep. 09.

P.S. With the song, just imagine that Misty’s singing each line first, and Ash is repeating it to Rayne, okay?