Chapter 10/Final: Alive & Farewell

Ash was down. Ash was out. Ash…may be dead. Kari, Yolei, Misty came over to Ash and Pikachu's side, worried that they've witnessed the last moment of his life. The 800-plus members of Pallet Town heard the explosion from far and wide in the Togepi Paradise that they raced over to see what happened. The girls, including Angewomon, vainly tried to alert Ash awake. Blood, staining the once healthy green grass, became a sign that the curtain may have had finally lowered onto Ash.

(? Dream)

Ash's eyes were opening, reeling from the concussive blast…into an area where everything was an ooze of numerous colors. "Oh, man," he groaned. "Anyone get the registration of the bomb?" Wherever he was, he was still out of it. That's when noticed a feeling…or lack of. He looked down, or up, or whichever way and saw that his body was missing. All that was there was his head. That's scary! "Okay, forget the registration joke. What happened to my body?!" Someone was about to fill Ash…or his head in on the situation.

"It seems that you've survived from the explosion, but barely," a voice echoed in the background. Out of the multicolored area, a midget of a man emerged. He was garbed in a white cotton jumpsuit with red pieces of fabric sticking out over zippers and a purple witch's hat with a skull as an emblem. He also wore boots with crescent moons over shoestrings. A purple scarf was over most of his face. The only thing you could see was his eyes.

"Who are you?" The man came over to the disembodied head, seemingly interested with how a head was able to talk, let alone be alive.

"You protected Kari and battled alongside Gatomon, didn't you?" Ash could easily recall the battle against LadyDevimon. He used the Energy Spheres to stop the fiend from causing more havoc and murder.

"Yeah, including protecting everyone from my home. Why did you mention only Kari and Gatomon?" The man placed a hand on Ash's head, since that was the only body part available.

"Relax." Okay, that didn't really answer Ash's question. Suddenly, there was a glow. Ash's head lit up like the star ornament on a Christmas tree. That's when his body began to spurt out from the lonely head. His body and clothes were restored. Ash was now able to move again…except that he was still in that mess of a place. "Consider me a friend. Thank you for watching over them." That was quite a compliment. Ash was a bit awed by the politeness of this "friend."

"My pleasure, I guess." The man was silent, not waivered by Ash's return.

"There is something else that I want to award you with." Something else? Like what? Ash began to think that this person was being a little too compassionate. Regardless, the man continued. "I want you to clear your mind for a couple of seconds." Not too difficult to perform.

"I haven't been thinking since you gave my body back." See? The man placed his hand on Ash's chest, flashing a blue light. The light illuminated Ash once more. The glow would last a few seconds. There was no real change. Even Ash felt left in the dark. "What did you give me?"

"An ancient power that I withheld from creatures that would abuse it. However, since I've seen what you were able to do from beyond, I can entrust you with its energy." This ancient power…what power could it contains? Powers that could destroy? Powers that could heal? Both, perhaps?

"I'm not sure that I get what you're saying, but all right. Well, if I am alive, shouldn't I wake up?" No one's telling you to remain dead.

"You may. I won't stop you." Ash nodded to the new man before he closed his eyes.

(END ? DREAM)

Ash began to moan, almost bringing a tear to Ash's mother's eyes. Everyone, all 800-plus, were surprised to hear Ash moaning. "Oh my goodness," the mother shuttered.

"He's alive!" Max screamed so happily as Ash opened his eyes to such a worried crowd. Kari, tears flooding her face from the eyes down, leaped onto Ash, hugging him.

"Ash!" she cheered, choked up with watery eyes. Ash understood how fearful she was when he wasn't waking before. Heck, everyone got easily frightened about Ash dying at a tender age.

"Ash, you had us all panicking that you got killed," Misty sniffled. Well, even he doubted that he managed to survive that horrific battle.

"I can tell," he smiled. "Sorry about that." What's he got to be sorry about?

"Ash, remember on Shamouti Island?" her mother sobbingly wanted to scold. "You're the world to me. Sure, I may have been a reckless mother, and you've got some of my habits, but you're still my little boy, and nothing in this world can take that away." Even the professors choked up with the honest mother's cry.

"Delia, you raised a good son," Prof. Oak murmured. Good, reckless, brave…anything else? Ho-oh, watching the giant crowd, never made a move or a sound. It just stood there, awed by the scene unfolding. Kari and Delia helped Ash onto his feet, receiving hugs from Sara and Yolei and exchanging fives with Max.

"Alright, guys," he voiced. "What do you say we all go home?" Sounded like a good idea. A unison of agreements prompted Ho-oh to start flexing its wings. Well, that's when Ash flopped onto Misty. Just like that, he appeared to have fainted. Exhaustion could be the reason.

"Hey, take it easy!" Misty jumped. Angewomon swooped down and felt Ash's head, hearing breathing that seemed pretty heavy but rather normal.

"He's worn himself out," she figured. "Let's let him rest. He earned that victory the hard way." Indeed, he did. Everyone decided to pack up and depart from the Togepi Paradise. Everyone exited the parallel world, returning to the Mirage Kingdom. Sara and Kari escorted Ash, asleep from the fight, into the castle and its guest bedroom. While he slept, everyone else was set for the trip back home. The next day, Ash woke up, refreshed from his quarrel with LadyDevimon. Thanks to Sara, everyone got numerous escorts leading from the shores of the Hoenn Region back to Kanto, one leg of the homecoming. As Ash arrived with the rest, he was greeted with some giant blue sea dinosaur-like creatures with long necks and shells on their backs. Ash and Misty recognized the school approaching the shoreline.

"Lapras!" Ash cheered. The Lapras saw the extent of all the people that needed to get home. Thankfully, Ho-oh and Sara not only offered help with safe passage, but she scrounged up a fleet of blimps. That's got to be enough for everyone to come home to. Ash boarded the leading Lapras, helping Kari and Gatomon onboard. Misty and Max jumped on another Lapras as did Yolei and Delia on one more. The trip would take a little longer than when Ash, Kari and Yolei arrived to begin with. The following day, everyone was back in Pallet Town, a warm homecoming by the Digidestined boys and May. May was overjoyed to see Ash alive…with the entire town behind him. Over the next few days, all of the Pokémon that were stored in a secret compartment inside made it back to Pallet, all thanks to the miracle of technology. The Digidestined, who decided to hang out while defending the digital world at the same time got a chance to see and coincide with them, along with the Digimon. As May had her chance to see the rest of the lineup, the boys were able to interact with plenty of the townspeople. A news report told pretty much the background of this entire story.

"The 852 citizens of Pallet Town, who vanished without as much as a trace last week, returned in what had to be the most heart-cringing time for loved ones worldwide," an anchorman read. "Today, Pallet Town appears not to have lost a day, despite a whole week of mystery of being away from the hustle and bustle that this small town derived from. There was one notion of gratitude: Ash Ketchum, who was first reported amongst the missing townspeople, was actually away on an errand run by Samuel Oak, Pallet Town's Professor, in the Orange Islands. In addition, Ketchum received help from more kids, known as the Digidestined, though little information has been given about this team of five." One week had passed since Ash's friends, family and neighbors vanished by Sara's interference among an evil invader, the sun rose. A bright day shined over the possible grim outcome that may have been. A three-headed bird echoed to caw the morning sun. In the Ketchum household, Ash was sleeping again, just not alone. Kari and Yolei were snuggled side-by-side with Ash. Those three were the real heroes in this caper. On the drawer, Pikachu, Gatomon and Hawkmon were also in dreamland, cuddled together like wolves in a den. The morning sun stirred the three awake. You could bet that the girls felt comfort with Ash sleeping beside them. They greeted the morning and each other before coming down for breakfast.

"Morning, you guys," May welcomed. She seemed unusually cheerful about Ash having a couple of cute girls sleep beside him.

"Morning, May," Kari greeted her back. The three sat and had some OJ to start the day.

"You know, we did have a lot of fun here, even before everyone was rescued," Yolei reviewed the adventure. "If not for our duties of protecting the DigiWorld, we would more than likely tag along with you through the Battle Frontier and the Pokémon Contests." May didn't seem too worried about this setback, nor did Ash, but he wouldn't mind about the extra company.

"Yeah, that's right," Ash remembered. "I've got to make sure we have enough first-aid for going around Kanto once again." So, not only was there this Battle Frontier, but something about contests? We never got to know anything about the Frontier, let alone a contest.

"About that," Kari opened up. "What is the Battle Frontier?" Thank goodness someone asked the question.

"The Battle Frontier plays out like many gym battles that I've entered. There are seven symbols that I'm going to earn by battling the leaders, or Frontier Brains. The trick to getting seven is the first six. After those six, the seventh will be revealed. Whether or not after those seven do I earn a spot for a tournament or something big, I won't know until I complete the quest." Finally, it was about time that someone explained the detail. Kari and Yolei seem to have the message down. That's when May decided to speak of a suggestion.

"Say, before we go, is it all right if I see your world?" she asked. Guess she was fascinated with the Digimon.

"I don't think that there's any harm in you, Max and Misty to visit us," Yolei allowed. How about that? Ash and May could tell Misty and Max that they could come with the rest to see the digital world…and hear Pikachu talk like a human to freak them out.

"Thanks. It may be more promising than when I suplexed Davis." Yolei became a tad frightened. She put Ash in a sleeper hold, but May knew how to put the harm in the grapple. Ash had a pretty good idea on why Davis deserved such punishment.

"Let me guess," Ash spoke up. "Davis was talking smack?" May bobbed a nod, confirming Ash's suspicions. Nervous laughter shrouded the room in a hint of fear of May's savagery. After breakfast, Misty, Max and Delia, along with Pikachu, Gatomon and Hawkmon decided to join the others at the cave that connected both worlds. "Well, this is the cave." This was where Ash found the connection and the start of the adventure.

"This is the cave where that devil lady came from?" Max pondered. She was a Digimon so it was very likely that this was her starting point.

"It's the home for all Digimon," Kari pointed out. "Come on in." Kari, Pikachu and the Digimon entered first, followed by Ash, then the rest. Soon enough, everyone made it to the other side. The newcomers saw the new world, not really impressed with the new setting.

"Okay, so this is the DigiWorld," Misty sighed. Talk about unsatisfied customers.

"It's a little more than just land," Ash tried to reassure. "Right, Pikachu?"

"Absolutely right, Ash," Pikachu backed his friend. Delia, Misty and the siblings freaked a little at Pikachu's new voice. "This is probably the only place where the Pokémon would be able to talk freely, unlike Meowth who could speak freely wherever he goes." As punctual as Pikachu voiced, May still couldn't fathom the fact that Pikachu was able to speak like a human being.

"This is something that Prof. Oak or Birch might take to consideration," Delia warned. "Who knows what technology could be stemmed from a discovery such as this." A dangerous one, no doubt.

"It's already weird enough with Meowth," May sighed. "But, I think taking Mrs. Ketchum's advice might be the best idea to keep both worlds from going into chaos." Everyone acknowledged Delia's idea, going by any means for peace amongst the Digital Pokémon worlds. That's when flaps were heard. They looked up, eying Ken flying over on the gargoyle-like winged beast. Ken flew over, not even looking down at the group of invaders. This was off. No acknowledgements of checking to make sure.

"Now, it's that eyesore that needs to be treated," Yolei growled. Kari and the Digimon knew that with Ken messing things up in this world, there was no way that her group would relax. Ash saw things in a different light…as if he just needed a slap in the face.

"Why don't you guys head back and formulate a plan?" Ash offered. The girls acted a little surprised with Ash's calming demeanor to the struggle that the Digidestined were contending with. "What Ken needs is a good dose of reality. It may get him to listen in how wrong it is to corrupt these worlds." He may be onto something there. Of course, it was also Ash's first time seeing Ken. Kari and Yolei seemed to have some sort of thought process from Ash.

"I think we can get Ken to snap out of this ruling business." They turned to Ash, ready to wish him luck in his next adventure. "Ash, May, Max, you guys have a good time around the Kanto Region." Ash and May bobbed determined nods to Yolei, ready for their trip though the Battle Frontier and the Pokémon contests.

"We will," May pumped. Kari came up to Ash, also wishing him farewell.

"Ash…" she began to hesitate. "I…don't know if I can see you again. I kinda wanted to stay and watch you do your training, and even help out with your adventures." Knowing what Kari was trying to say, Ash placed a hand on her shoulder, telling her that everything will be okay.

"Kari, you don't really need to get all emotional because we have different businesses to traverse on," he smiled. "You, Davis, TK…all of your friends can visit whenever you want, whether it's for hanging out or helping out. We'll be here to greet you." That put a smile on Kari's face…and May's, Max's, Delia's…everyone brightened with understanding.

"Thanks, Ash." That's when she leaped up and gave him one more for the road…which now everyone got to see. Misty and May hiccupped at the kiss, thinking that Kari had a great heart for Ash. Max's reaction: awe. Delia's reaction to her son getting a smooch: happy? Did anything faze her…besides seeing her son looking dead? With that, and Gatomon and Hawkmon saying bye to Pikachu, the girls left, a fond farewell for now.

"Well, Ash, should we get ready?" Misty asked. Ash acted ready to go on his next journey.

"You bet," he excitedly roared. The group had gone back through the tunnel, back to their world and onto new adventures. However, this wasn't the last that Ash and friends would see the Digidestined.

(TWO MONTHS LATER)

Ash was alone on a pier looking out into the ocean beneath the nighttime sky. Holding a case with four shimmering gold coins, Ash's confidence became a climber, nearing the peak of perfection. "Pike Queen Lucy was a tough one to battle," he reviewed to himself. "Only three more to go and next is the Battle Palace." Looking up to the moon, he saw a shimmer of sparkles. In the sparkles, a bluish butterfly-type creature fluttered above. That creature prompted Ash to remember something that had been on his mind. "Well, that reminds me. I wonder if Kari's Metapod had evolved into a Butterfree, yet." As if on cue…

"That is my Butterfree, Ash," echoed…Kari? Hearing her voice, Ash twisted his head, seeing none other than Kari, herself. Ash was a bit surprised to see her.

"Kari, what's up?" Kari walked toward Ash, stepping onto the pier and allowing her Butterfree to join the fun as Gatomon entered as well.

"Well, Ken's surrendered his spot and has joined us, and we've been battling newer enemies, but nothing too outrageous." So, Ash's talk of smacking some reality into Ken paid off. "Other than that, I've been bored and missing you." She just came by to visit. How nice of her. Not like that one Boston Red Sox/New England Patriots "fan" who threw a slice of pizza at another ballpark attendee for trying to catch a legitimate foul ball at Fenway Park.

"Well, I just earned my fourth symbol, and now, we're going to May's next contest on Chrysanthemum Island." Ash and his crew were ready to move out tomorrow. Right now, he sat back on the wood, reminiscing in thoughts of when he was revived by that "friend" in his sub-consciousness. "You know, when you told me that Wizardmon was the one who restored my body and that story, I felt rather inspired." The guy that was in that dream state was Wizardmon? Kari sat beside him, wanting to know what it was like meeting him…unless that happened during the homecoming.

"Even when I told you about how he sacrificed his life to protect me, I still shed tears." It was heartbreaking to hear about what happened to Wizardmon. "But, since knowing that you have a piece of him, I feel better." Ash was happy to hear these comforting words.

"Because when you see me, you see him, too?" Kari happily sighed, saying that this Wizardmon was a part of Ash. That's when her nose started to tickle…and thus she turned to Ash. He was stinky.

"When was the last time you bathed?" Ash was a bit stunned with this discovery. Quickly, he gave himself a nosy go-around. That's when he smelt that pungent odor, and nearly fainted for it.

"It must have been from Jessie's Seviper's Haze. I forgot all about that." Was that before or after your battle with Pike Queen Lucy?

"Well, I know one solution to that." That's a bath, young man. Kari pushed Ash into the lake with her foot. That's a start. Ash resurfaced, wondering why she was committing violence on him. "I'll make sure that you're all cleaned up for the morning." Grabbing shampoo, soap, conditioner, the main essentials, Kari dove in after Ash. She began to scrub just about every piece of Ash. This hero of multiple worlds had a grungy job to do. Now that it's all cleansed up, there's only smooth sailing as Kari clung onto Ash, not wanting to let go of him, no matter where he went.

THE END