A/N: Here it is, the final chapter to the story! I'm so happy that I can now call it finished! It's been such a joy writing it, but I'm also glad that I can now devote some time to my other stories, and possibly start some new stuff.

Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, liked, and shared this story. I'm grateful to all of you!

Please relax and enjoy the final installment!

Sarah

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of its characters.

Chapter Fifteen: The Red String of Fate

Ash leaned over the rail, watching the waves chop against the side of the boat as they moved away from the island. He sighed, resting his head into his folded arms. His thoughts drifted back to the tomboyish mermaid. She was probably a married woman at this point, and he—well, he was alone.

It was getting to be hot in the suit he had purchased only a few days prior. He had honestly considered it—going to the wedding in the end. He had been a masochist that morning—wanting to watch the love of his life marry someone else. He had even gotten ready and everything. He had no idea what he had been thinking.

In the end, he chickened out. He couldn't do it. He couldn't watch her go. It was too painful, and by the time he had made his final decision, it was almost time for the ferry to leave, so he never had time to change back into normal clothes. He would change at a Pokemon Center as soon as he reached the main island. Then he'd have to find a hotel somewhere for the night before his flight in the morning. There was so much to do, and all he felt like in that moment was crawling in a hole and dying. Everything about this situation just sucked. It was as simple as that.

"I don't know, Pikachu," he said to his yellow companion. "Maybe I should do what Brock does. Hit on every woman that I see. One of them should eventually want me, statistically speaking, I mean."

"Pikachupi ka chu pi."

"Okay, maybe not."

Pikachu didn't reply. He was standing on the deck, below Ash's line of vision. After nothing but silence, Ash peered down at his Pokemon. Pikachu was staring at something down towards the other end of the deck. Ash bent down and waved his hand in front of his face. Nothing. It was almost as if he were stunned by something.

Ash turned his head to try to see what Pikachu was seeing. His breath caught in his throat. He saw Misty standing about twenty feet behind him in front of the back rail, panting and clutching her chest.

He had to be dreaming. There was no way that she could have been there, standing before him, an angel in white, her beauty captivating him. What was she doing here? Shouldn't she be at some cliff right now saying "I do?"

She hadn't seen him yet. She was too preoccupied trying to catch her breath. That had been close. Somehow she had made it over that railing. One slip and she would have been in the ocean where she would have surely drowned. Her dress would be much too heavy to swim in, and she doubted that she would have had the strength to even swim at that point. Running had wiped out all of her energy. Besides, she hadn't been planning on doing a triathlon today anyway.

Her breathing improved as she managed to get it to slow for the second time that day. Ash took a few steps toward her, unable to believe his eyes. Pikachu remained rooted on the spot.

She looked up and saw him. Ash. He was there in front of her. He stared at her face as he took a couple of steps more. He was there, truly there. She had not let him go. She had made it.

She went to walk towards him, but tripped over the hem of her gown in the process. She stumbled, throwing her arms out to catch herself as she fell forward. Ash rushed to her, catching her in his arms.

She tipped her head, gazing into those chocolate eyes. Tears began to form in her own. She had thought that she was never going to see them again.

He looked down at the beautiful red-head. He couldn't fathom this moment. She was here, truly here. She was in his arms. He would never let go this time.

He swooped down and planted his lips against hers. Rules be damned. He loved this woman and he was going to kiss her like he would never get the chance again. Every time he would kiss her like this. He never knew when the last time would be.

This. This is what real love felt like. How had it taken so long to know this? Misty pushed it out of her mind as she reciprocated the kiss. There was no time to worry about that. There were more important things to be doing in that moment, like kissing the love of her life.

They continued their dance of lips and tongues before Misty realized that she desperately needed air. She didn't want to stop, but her lungs could not take any more abuse that day. They had had enough. She broke off, gently pushing him back and gasping for breath.

There was a long silence before either of them spoke.

"Misty, what are you doing here?"

"It's you, Ash. It's always been you. All those things that Rudy had always been saying to me were the words I wanted to hear from you."

He inhaled sharply. She wanted him. Now he was sure that he was dreaming. He gazed into her expecting eyes, and he knew. There was never going to be anyone else he wanted.

"Marry me."

"W-wha-what?"

"I want to get married."

"Ash, don't you think that's a bit going too far? We only reconnected a week ago, and we should date you know. Take it a bit slow, don't you think?"

"No," he said, tipping her chin up with his hand. His eyes blazed with an intensity that she had never seen. "I don't want to just date. I already know that I want forever with you. I've already waited over a decade for you to come back to me. I don't want to wait minute more."

Her heart would not stop hammering in her ears. He was serious about this, wasn't he?

"And besides," he added. "We're already dressed for the occasion."

"Ash, how are we do it right now away? I don't see any priests running around, do you?"

"Maybe not," he replied. "But this ferry has a captain, and captains can legally marry people at sea."

"I-It's so soon."

"Well, while you're figuring this all out, I'm going to go fetch the captain."

"What?"

"C'mon Pikachu!"

"Pika!"

"Ash, wait!" she shouted as he started to run off.

"Don't worry!" He called back. "There's no way you could say no to me now."

She watched him rush off, her heart racing. This was crazy. They couldn't just get married now. They had to go on dates, maybe try living together first before even considering such a thing. This would never work.

Or could it? She put her fingers up to her lips. They had had at least one date, and that had gone well enough. She had felt more from that one date than too many to count with Rudy. Not to mention, they had spent many months living together, though it was when they were kids and that home was primarily the woods. Still, if they could handle that without killing each other, maybe they could handle domestic life. What was she saying? This was still a crazy notion. Did she want to really become Mrs. Ash Ketchum?

As she stood there, the balmy breeze blowing on her face, a moment of clarity hit her. Why else would she run out on her actual wedding to be with someone? She didn't want just for now with him, she wanted forever.

Ash and Pikachu returned with a portly man wearing a captain's uniform and hat. He was wearing a warm smile behind his snow white beard and mustache. Misty glanced at Ash. He looked like he might be sick. Misty inhaled sharply.

"Okay," she said. "Let's do this."

"Really?" Ash's eyes lit up. The captain raised his eyebrow at the two.

"Yes," she said with a laugh, grabbing both of his hands and clasping onto them. "Besides, like you said, I'm already dressed for the occasion."

Misty turned her head at the captain, looking at him expectantly. Ash followed suit.

The captain's brow furrowed. "Hey, aren't you Rudy's fiancée?"

"You must have me mistaken with someone else," Misty replied, not missing a beat.

"My apologizes miss," he said with a chuckle. "All right. Let's get started then.

"We gather here today to bring these two individuals together in the union of holy matrimony. It is a union built on mutual respect, trust, and love. A union that will remain for all eternity.

"Now if you two would please state your vows—"

"Oh we didn't have anything pre—"

"Hang on Mist," Ash cut her off.

She turned back to him. He stared directly into her eyes. A shiver ran through her spine.

"Mist," he began. "I never thought I would find anyone like you. From the moment you pulled me from the water, you became a very important part of my life. I'm so sorry it took me this long to figure out just how important you really are.

But here we are now, and I relish my chance to spend the rest of forever with you because I love you, and I'm going to be spending my whole life showing you how much I do."

"Ash—" Misty muttered as a few tears spilled out from her eyes.

Ash rummaged in his pockets, extracting a pink handkerchief. He handed it over to Misty, who took it gingerly. She dabbed her eyes before handing it back to him. He shoved it back to his pocket, never taking his eyes off of her.

"Ash," she started. "I didn't know that you were going to come into my life the way that you did, but I'm so glad you did. You've saved me as well, in more ways than one. The best thing that ever happened to me was fishing you out of that river. It was lucky that you destroyed my bike. It led me on the most wonderful journey—wonderful because I got to spend it with you. I love you, Ash, and I can't wait for the next one."

Ash beamed at her. The captain cleared his throat.

"Now we'll continue with the rings."

"We can skip that part," Ash said.

"Well then," the captain replied. "By the power vested in me by the great sea, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

Ash wasted no time, swooping in and crashing his lips against hers. It was a kiss full of all the things you would imagine to be in one of true love. This was no different. Ash thought it was better than even becoming champion as he would happily tell that to anyone.

Misty was elated. She couldn't believe she had actually done this—ran off and married Ash instead. It was so unlike her current self and more like the one of the past. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins. She thought of Daisy and the others back on Trovita. She knew that she should have felt guilty about it, but she didn't care. This was where she belonged.

It was the red string of fate that bound them together. No matter how far apart they were or how long it got, it would always there. Misty's choice all those years ago didn't matter in the end because no matter what, they were always going to find their way back to each other. They were meant to be—destined to walk the same path. He was her soul mate in each and every way. There was no doubt about it. She beamed at him once the kiss had been broken. He pressed his forehead against hers. Sometimes it takes being with the wrong person to realize who the right one is.