Epilogue

Team Rocket ambushed the trio the next afternoon. Ash-tachi had set out early that morning, down the road that Brock was positive went straight to Verdant City, though Ash couldn’t help notice that Brock had been holding the map upside down when he announced what route to take. Ash was in too good a mood to say anything, though. He wouldn’t have minded if they never found their way to the elusive city.

As they walked, three figures standing under the shade of a roadside tree slowly came in focus. "What do you want?" Ash yelled to the three Rockets as they neared them.

James glanced at Jessie, then at Meowth, who seemed to be almost entirely covered in bandages, evidence that his victorious battle hadn’t gone quite as well as he had hoped. The Rocket reached behind his back and pulled out four Pokeballs. Jessie hefted up a handful of Pokeballs, and a red backpack.

"Just returning what we thought you’d need," Jessie answered quietly, dropping the Pokeballs into Brock’s outstretched hands, and handing Misty her backpack.

James tossed Ash his Pokeballs, one at a time. "It was a helluva lot of trouble getting these," he grinned shyly.

Ash caught each Pokéball, gaping in surprise. Finally he got a hold of himself. "Th-thanks," he stuttered, surprised. "Why are you doing this?"

Jessie shrugged, wincing as the material of her shirt chafed against the wounds on her back she had received the night before. Giovanni had no proof that they’d helped the trio escape, but Giovanni was no fool. He’d managed to accuse them of not keeping a close enough hold of their Pokémon, and given them twenty lashes each. But that’s what it was like, sometimes, being a Rocket. "Just think of it as our way of apologizing."

James nodded, trying not to move lest his back start bleeding again. "We’ll see you tomorrow, then, to try and capture Pikachu. Look out for holes in the road." He winked.

Meowth rubbed the back of his head painfully. Giovanni had been amused at the thought of him challenging the Top Cat, and so he’d received no punishment. But the beating he had gotten in the fight itself was penalty enough. "Yeah, don’t think we’re gonna go easy on ya now."

Jessie grinned. "Till tomorrow, then." She tossed a small cylinder of glass at the ground. The glass shattered, and there was a loud bang, a cloud pink-and-blue smoke, and a shower of red roses. When the air finally cleared, the Rockets were gone.

Ash attached his Pokeballs to his belt absentmindedly, staring at the roses drifting to the ground. He hadn’t told her yet, about how he felt about her. But now he was ready. Misty needed to know. He bent down and picked up a rose, and then turned to Misty, opening his mouth to speak.

"Ash, I need to tell you something."

Misty stared off in the distance, thinking, unaware she had cut him off. Finally she turned to him. "Ash, in the HQ, I was thinking, and I realized something. Something very important. I can’t hold it in any longer." She caught a rose in mid-air as it drifted downwards, held it to her cheek, took a deep breath, and then she told him.

It took a minutes to register in Ash’s brain. His mouth still hung open.

Misty blushed, and said quickly, "Oh, I’m sorry. Did I interrupt you? What were you going to say?"

He blinked, then laughed. He started to laugh. Back in his cell, he had almost lost all hope. He could have died right there. But now he was alive, and he had so much to look forward to. He had his dream. He had his friends. And now, most of all, he had Misty.

"Misty, I need to tell you something, too." He took her hand in his, holding it for a minute, the happiness inside him swelling until he thought he would burst with pure joy. Placing his rose in her hand, he looked into her eyes, almost losing himself in their clear blue innocence. And then he told her.

Misty gave a little gasp, and then her eyes filled with tears. Happy, happy tears.

Pikachu, perched on Ash’s shoulder, smiled joyously.

And the three friends continued down the road.