By Mishakal
A/N: Well, this is the final part of the series. Everybody's happy. I know I am. *sigh* I liked my other series better. Oh well. This is overdone, totally corny, and not very original. But Ash and Misty kiss! Doesn't that make it all worth it? (well, it would for me but I'm easy to please!) Anyway, on with the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. The end. *smirks at any and all people who may have clicked on this story just to read the disclaimer* Hah!
Part 3: A Spirited Recovery
"What!?" Brock, Misty and Ash all said at once.
The healer fixed them with a stare. "If you don't believe me, wait the three days. I would advise against it, however."
"But what does this Gared guy want with me?" Ash asked, looking partly confused and partly nervous.
"I don't know yet," Daniel confessed. "But I have a way to find out."
"Uh... what are you going to do?" Ash watched him nervously.
"Just hold still," the healer said, his voice almost ominous in its attempt to be calming. "This won't hurt a bit!" He suddenly spun around quickly and jabbed a needle into Ash's arm.
"OWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!" Ash howled, jumping about three feet in the air. "Hey! What'd you do that fo -- uhhh..." His eyelids drooped, and he flopped back onto the cot.
"Hey!" Misty protested.
"Why did you do that?" Brock demanded.
"Well, you can't expect me to do this while he's still conscious, can you?" Daniel explained, almost defensively. "The part that's still him would be getting in the way."
"Oh..." Misty looked anxiously at Ash. "Well, I still don't li -- AAAAAA!!!" She shrieked and pointed. "His eyes are open! I thought you said he was asleep!"
"Ah!" The healer leaned over to look at Ash. "So it worked!"
Ash's eyes shifted to look at him. "You wished to contact me, medicine man? I'm here. Alone," he added bitterly.
"Ash?" Misty questioned.
Brock shook his head. "That's not Ash. It's that ghost. It's got to be."
"Why did you choose to share this boy's body?" Daniel asked, ignoring Brock and Misty. "You'll kill him if you stay too long."
"Not my intention," Ash said dispassionately. "I was calling for my princess, and his dreams interfered. There is only one way I can leave now."
"How?" Misty demanded, shoving the healer aside.
"Find Melanna's spirit, and bring her to me," Ash answered. "Until we are together, we must remain in our earthbound state. Once I've found her, I will be able to leave."
"Find her spirit?" Misty repeated.
"How do we do that?" Brock asked.
"A female nearby will be suited to carry her, even as I am being carried. Find this female. Melanna will know her."
"How do we do that?" Misty wanted to know.
"I think I know." Brock turned to Daniel. "You say this girl was a village princess. So does that mean she has a grave in the village?"
The healer nodded. "Of course."
"Then we're probably supposed to get this girl near it, so Melanna's ghost can become part of her, like Gared is with Ash. So to find out who this girl is, we'll have to get all of them to go into the general area and see which who attracts the spirit's attention."
"Oh great," Misty commented, with a sigh.
"Is that right?" Brock asked, ignoring her.
"Correct." Ash nodded. "I'd suggest you hurry. You haven't much time, you know. This boy is a great deal younger than I was when I caught the disease. It may be harder on him."
"We'll do our best," Misty promised, eyes blazing with determination. Brock nodded.
"Best of luck, then. I'll give you your friend back." Ash's eyes closed again, and he was still.
"Here." Daniel handed Brock a slip of paper. "Go straight to the chieftan and give him this. He'll get all the girls from the village to help you."
"Help him what?" Ash asked groggily, struggling into a sitting position. "Did I miss something?"
"Well, you kind of had to," Misty told him. "We're all going into the village again, so you'd better wake up a little more."
"No, he won't have to." The healer shook his head. "He's not going."
"Why not?" Ash asked, instantly awake.
"You're a very sick young man," was the answer. "I'm not going to allow you to worsen your condition, particularly not in this case."
Ash blinked. "Huh?"
"Then I'm going to stay too!" Misty announced. She glared at the healer. "If you think we're leaving him alone with a stranger, you're crazy!"
"I'll go," Brock said. "We won't need more than one person for this job anyway." He grinned at Ash. "Don't worry, guys. I'll be back before you know it, with the ghost of a village princess!"
Ash stared at Brock's retreating figure in confusion. "What did he mean by that?"
Misty sighed. "I guess I can explain it to you," she decided. "We've probably got lots of time."
Brock stared at the group of girls assembled with a considerable amount of dismay. There must be hundreds of them! This is going to take forever!
The chieftan pointed to a large stone statue. "This marks her resting place," he told Brock. "Perhaps each girl should take a turn to touch the statue?"
"Good idea." Brock mentally sighed. So much for the afternoon! He faced the crowd again. "Well, let's get to it."
Ash watched Misty dip the cloth into her container of water. "That water's not too cold, is it?" he asked, wincing a bit.
"It's freezing," Misty answered pleasantly, and brushed the thoroughly soaked cloth across Ash's left cheek.
"Yikes!!!" He shuddered violently, then scowled at her. "Do you have to do that? It feels horrible!"
"Well," Misty answered, continuing to dab at Ash's face. "It wasn't my idea. You have a fever, whether you can feel it or not, and this is supposed to help."
"You don't have to enjoy it so much," Ash muttered sulkily.
"Just be quiet and hold still!" Misty replied irritably. "It won't kill you, you know!"
"I guess not." Ash sighed, and gave in. He felt very tired -- too tired to argue. Of course, he couldn't let Misty know that. "Hey, Misty, there's something I've been wondering."
"Mmm... what, Ash?" She lightly brushed the cloth across his face again, making him shiver from more than just the cold.
"If I'm carrying this Gared guy, and he's in love with that princess, does that mean I have to be in love with the girl who carries her?"
Misty frowned. "Of course not! That's ridiculous, Ash! You won't even know this girl!" She pulled back the cloth, scowling. "It better not be true," she muttered, under her breath.
Ash leaned forward. "What'd you say, Misty?"
"Nothing." Misty sighed. "Lie down, Ash. You're going to knock yourself unconscious again."
"OK." Ash flopped back down. "Oh, there's something else I was wondering."
"What?"
"Does this healer have any ice cream?" Ash gave her an attempt at an endearing smile. "I'm too sick to check, so... bring me back a double-scoop of chocolate, will you, Misty?"
Misty gave him a hard look. "If you weren't about to die, I'd kill you myself," she snapped, getting up to check the kitchen.
"OK, who's next?" Brock faced the group of girls with a growing apprehension. A starry-eyed little 10-year-old hopped up to meet him.
"Is the guy we're supposed to cure very handsome?" she squeaked hopefully. "I heard that whoever wins this gets to marry him! Is that true?"
"Uh... I don't think so." Brock heroically kept in a laugh at the thought of what Ash's face would look like if he thought he had to get married. "But, as for handsome, er..." He pictured Ash's messy hair and the face he made when Pikachuu thunder-shocked him. "Uhh, yes," he lied. "He's very handsome."
The girl clapped her hands. "Oh, I hope I'm the one!" she squealed.
I don't, Brock thought, glancing nervously back at the rest. With my luck, the right girl will be at the end of the line.
He sighed and dropped back into a chair. He was too tired to even find any of these girls pretty any more -- a miracle for him.
"I should've stayed to help Ash," Brock muttered, under his breath. "And made Misty do this part."
"I should've gone to find that girl," Misty muttered, under her breath. "And made Brock do this part."
She looked up from cleaning chocolate ice cream off the floor, and sighed. Ash was dead to the world, one arm splayed out across the bed to drape over the edge. Well, at least he's not muttering in his sleep.
Absently, Misty trailed her fingers over Ash's flushed cheek. "You're going to be OK, Ash," she promised him softly. "Don't you even think about dying on me yet, or I'll..." She left the threat hanging and sighed again, staring at his face. "You just stay alive, OK?"
He smiled a little in his sleep, as if he heard her.
"So, how are things going?" Daniel asked, coming in behind her.
Misty jumped guiltily. "Oh!" She stood and tried an appealing smile. "Fine! I mean, Ash fell asleep and dropped his ice cream on the floor, but other than that, things are going great!"
The healer shrugged. "It's all right." He looked down at Ash. "Hmm. He seems stable." He smiled faintly at Misty. "I would suggest you let him wake up on his own this time."
Misty blushed. "Oh -- of course."
"I am curious," Daniel said, giving her a penetrating stare, "as to why you haven't tried to become the carrier for Melanna's spirit yourself."
Misty frowned. "I wouldn't be the one."
"Why not?"
She started to say something, then stopped. "Well... I just woudn't, that's all!"
"Have you tried?"
"No, but..." Misty looked at Ash's face again, then sighed and stood up. "All right, fine. You want proof? I'll go over there right now and show you." She marched out of the room. "I'll be right back."
Daniel smiled. "Not alone, though, I expect."
"Brock!"
The Rock Pokemon Trainer didn't even look up from where he sat slumped over in his seat. "Next," he said dully.
"Brock, I want to try!" Misty announced firmly, not noticing his lack of enthusiasm. "And I've got to get back to Ash, so I'm just going to have to butt in line!" She strode directly toward the statue.
"Misty!" Brock sat up. "But..."
His words were cut off. Misty pressed her hands against the smooth rock surface. At once, a bright light exploded into being, and Brock yelled and covered his eyes.
"Misty?"
"Not right now, Brock." Her voice was entranced. "I..." She trailed off, and didn't speak again.
Brock risked a glance. The light was gone, but so was Misty. In her place, the shimmery image of a stunningly beautiful young woman stood. She turned to look at Brock.
"Huh..." Brock stared. "She's... beautiful..." He gazed at her wonderingly. "Hey, can I have your phone number? What's your name?"
She smiled. "Melanna."
Ash's eyes snapped open. "She's coming!"
Daniel smiled. "Well, it's about time."
"Look away," Ash gasped, just before he started to glow with a blinding intensity. "I've got to... become real... for a while."
"What?" The healer looked back, but Ash was gone. In his place was a tall man with sandy hair and green eyes. Daniel gaped.
"I have to go to meet her," Gared told him. He smiled. "Thank you for your help, medicine man."
"O-Of course." Daniel watched Gared leave the room. "My pleasure. Ah... good luck in the future." He flopped back into his chair. "I don't remember any fever patients with these symptoms," he gulped.
"Gared!"
Brock had to run to keep up, as Melanna suddenly rushed forward. He stared in disbelief as she threw herself into the arms of a tall man who'd been coming toward them.
"Melanna, my princess," the man murmured, holding her close. They both seemed to have a shimmery aura around them. Brock rubbed his eyes to be sure he wasn't seeing things. It was as if the love that these two had for each other was being made overwhelmingly obvious to the world.
"Oh Gared," Melanna responded happily. "Finally!" She clutched his arms and buried her face in his chest.
Brock scratched his head. "Ash?" he tried, barely whispering. "Uh... Misty?"
The pair turned to smile at him. "No worries, Trainer," Melanna told him. "We'll leave in a moment, and release them. Thank you." She smiled, and held her lover closer.
Gared leaned down to catch her lips in a passionate kiss, and their image blurred and faded. In their place stood Ash and Misty, arms around each other and lips pressed together clumsily. In a daze, they broke apart and stared at each other. They didn't seem to realize where they were.
Brock grinned, and leaned against a tree, waiting for them to become aware of what they were doing.
"AAAAGGGHHH!!!" They both yelled, jumping back at the same time.
Ash pinched himself frantically. "This is just another dream! That's right, another dream! Wake up! Wake up!" He looked up to see Misty and Brock staring at him. "Uh... something tells me it's not a dream this time..."
"This time?" Brock raised an eyebrow. "And just how many times have you dreamed of kissing girls?"
Ash blinked. "No, just Mist..." He slapped a hand to his mouth, realizing his mistake. "GAH! Forget I said that!"
"Oh, of course!" Brock laughed. "Just Misty. I should've known."
"You dream about kissing me?" Misty said incredulously. There was just the faintest hint of triumph in her eyes.
"They're nightmares, not dreams!" Ash shot back, face red. "And you kissed me, remember?" Disturbingly enough, he could remember every detail. I did not enjoy that kiss! I did NOT enjoy it!
"I did not!" Misty retorted indignantly.
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Hah!" Misty smugly crossed her arms over her chest. "So, you admitt it!"
"No fair!" Ash protested. "You tricked me!"
"Hey, is it my fault you're stupid!"
"I am not!"
Brock chuckled softly, and sat with his back against a tree. "Well, nice to know that things are back to normal," he grinned.
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Hah!"
"ARGH!!"
Definitely back to normal.
*grumbles* I hate endings. That was even worse than last time! Oh well, I've moved on. Review, and all that other good stuff!
I've got another story going right now! *jumps up and down* I've been writing like crazy! It's soooooo good! I just love it! (I hate this one, btw) Just wait until I finish it and type it out! Yay yay YAY!
The next story is going to be funnier. I promise. Plus, it's interesting and exciting. Expect an appearance from Team Rocket, an experiment in chemistry gone horribly wrong, and total and utter CHAOS! *insert evil laugh here*
Well, review this story if you want to see the next one! *grin* A lack of good reviews tends to discourage me.
C'ya!
~Mishakal~
Oh yeah, and if you have any good ideas for a story or whatever, email me! Please please PLEASE!!!!