Realms of Darkness and Light

She saw him, falling. The distance was great. She watched from above as he fell. His screams echoed throughout the area, and the fear she had of losing him caused her heart to split in two.

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Misty quickly sat up, breathing rapidly. A dream? No, a nightmare. She laid back down and tried to calm down. This was the same dream she had since she, Ash, Brock and Pikachu reached the Safari Zone. She was on a cliff overlooking the plains as a herd of Rydons ran by. The tremors made by the stampede knocked everyone off balance and Ash fell off the cliff. The distance had to be ten stories. Possibly a fatal fall. She looked at Ash. 'Why him?' she would always ask herself. Why was it that she loved him? She thought he was kind of cute and he cared more than just about anything for his pokemon, and she just loved him to the core. She looked up at the stars. She was never one for camping out. She thought back to Ash for a few moments. She would not let herself get too close. Why one may ask? She was afraid. Afraid of getting hurt. About losing what they have. The thing that made this worse was that she didn't know how he felt. What if he rejected her? Or embarrassed her? She thought it was best to leave well enough alone and get some shut eye.

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Ash awoke as morning light graced the forest. He looked about as he worked the kinks of sleep out of his system. No one else was awake, save the Pidgys fluting about, branch to branch. He thought about… 'Nah' he joshed himself. 'It would never happen.' He got up to stretch his body. He yawned and tried to get back on track. Pikachu also awoke. Ever since their day with the Spearows, Ash has managed to understand Pikachu's words. Of course, along the way there were more than enough misunderstandings. Nothing the two couldn't settle. He decided it best to let the others sleep.

"Pika, Pikachu. (Morning Ash.)" Pikachu said as he let out a yawn.
"Morning Pikachu." Ash said as Pikachu looked over the site.
"Pika, Pika, Pikachu, cha? (Going to wake them up?)"
"Nah. Lets go find some pokemon."
"Pikachu. (Sounds good.)" The two left a note before they left. Ash had high hopes of finding something out here.

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Brock was doing some cooking over the fire. Just basic bacon and eggs. Misty sat and read a book she bought in the last city. Ash and Pikachu walked back to the camp.

"Catch anything?" Misty asked.
"Nope. Nothing seemed to be even awake yet." Misty chuckled as she went back to her book.
"Where's the next town Brock?" Ash asked as he and Pikachu sat on another stump.
"If I recall correctly," Brock said flipping the bacon.
"Sun Ward City. A town next to the beach. Tourist go there every year to get some R&R."
"Oh just imagine," Misty said as she put her book down and day dreamed.
"Just sitting on a beach, sun bathing away as the waves run to the shore." She sighed as Brock and Ash just looked at each other. Brock went back to his cooking as Ash looked through his Pokedex. Misty was still day dreaming about the beach as the breakfast was served.

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"Where does this path lead to?" Misty asked as she looked over Brock's shoulder to see the map.
"Safari Summit." He said as he looked up.
"A cliff over looking the plains. Just on the side of the cliff is a path leading to Sun Ward."
"Hey! Check the view!" Ash called back as he stood two feet from the cliff's edge.
"Whoa!" Brock said as he looked about.
"Hey! There's Sun Ward City!" Brock said as he pointed to the left. The town wasn't all that far from the cliff's foot.
"We can take the path and…" Brock stopped as a rumbling was heard. A dust cloud could be seen crossing the plains.
"What the…?" Ash said as he took out his Pokedex.
"Rydon, a rock pokemon. Often traveling in herds of up to 30, a Rydon's massive weight often causes the ground to shake like that of an earthquake. Approach with extreme caution."

As the small computer stopped Misty felt that this was very familiar. Everyone started to waver about as the tremors shook the ground. Misty and Brock fell back to safe ground as Ash had less luck and tumbled forward off the cliff.

"ASH!" She yelled as she withstood the tremors to get to, and look over the edge. Ash had already fell half way, bouncing off the cliff's side along the way. The tremors slowly stopped as Ash smashed into the ground.
"Quickly!" Brock said as he lead Misty down the path. New fear sprouted in Misty as she knew that she may never tell Ash of her feelings.

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"Where am I?" Ash said as he looked about. Everything was black, save the floor with swirling gray.
"Welcome Ash." A voice said. A figure appeared before him. He had a cold voice and wore a black cloak.
"How do you know…" Ash was cut off.
"I know the names of all who pass through here." The man said as he held up a hand.
"I am Vilen." He said as he lowed his hand.
"Where's here?" Ash asked trying to figure out what was going on.
"This is part of a place. On your world it has many names, but you may know it as Limbo."
"Limbo?" Ash said as he looked down.
"Yes. A place between life and death." He pointed to the clouds.
"This spot of Limbo is called the Destiny Clouds. Very few in your condition pass here."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked hoping the answer wasn't bad.
"Your body has taken much damage. Most in your condition, or similar come here. Beneath you is death." Ash eyes opened wide as the last word passed.
"When the time for you to fight for your life comes from in here a hole will open up. If you fall you shall die. But if somehow you manage to hang on just long enough… you shall live."

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Misty was first hoping to enjoy the sight of a beautiful beach that would stretch out forever. A place where nothing could go wrong. Now she hoped to see Ash alive as the doctor came out of the ER. He approached Brock and Misty in their chairs as Pikachu whimpered on Brock's lap.

"Well I have good news, bad news, and worse news." Misty and Brock looked up as Pikachu listed with his head down.
"The good news is nothing's broken, just a bruised rib. The bad news is there's been a lot of internal bleeding. And the worse news is we ran out of type B blood. There's nothing else I can do."
"Can I see him?" Misty asked.
"Go ahead. Down the hall, and past the two doors on the end."

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Ash looked about as something weird happened. At least weirder than what has happened. A small part of the cloud glowed red.
"What's that!?" He shouted as Vilen took a look.
"A hole shall form." He said coldly.
"Prepare to fight." As the words go out a tear ripped the clouds. It dragged Ash to it, and if he hadn't caught the very edge of it, would have been taken past the hole. He dragged himself up a foot and stopped. The pull was too strong for him to pull himself up to safe ground.

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Misty sat by Ash on his stretcher. Should this be his end? She didn't want it to be but she knew by the weak beat and jagged breathing, this could be the end.

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Ash kept hold of what little ground he had. The pull from death pulled straight down. He had him arms on the clouds, digging into whatever he could. Vilen chuckled, but with out a hint of mockery.
"I have underestimated your spirit, and the fact your more stubborn than the old mule who passed here the other day. You may be the first since the light bulb was created to survive the clouds." Ash held his eyes closed as he held on to what he could. He didn't want to die! Not without… His thoughts were cut by the halt of deaths pull. As he opened his eyes he found he wasn't holding on to swirling masses, but a square stone with his feet a mere inch from the ground!

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Misty kept watch on Ash. She loved him and didn't want to let him go. Not yet. She saw a stronger beat and more regular breathing, but he still laid there in a powerful and possibly permanent sleep.

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"Where the hell am I?" Ash said as he looked about.

Before it was darkness but this… this was paradise! A beautiful field stretching as far as the eye could see. Flowers in full bloom, the occasional tree that had no visual markings of previous danger, a river blue as blue could get, and the sun and sky looking that of the best summers days.
"These are the Fields of Life." Another cloaked figure stood behind him.
"I am Lifen, keeper of these fields." Ash looked at the women. While Vilen was dressed in black and had a cold voice, Lifen had a sweet warming voice and a yellow cloak.
"You must be congratulated young man. I have not had company for many a year."
"What is this place?" Ash asked, still unsure of what just happened.
"This is where all those who held on to life come. After a short stay you shall be back in the physical realm. It is a shame you will not know of this place."
"Huh?" Ash was confused by what she meant.
"You see the thing about Limbo is those mortal who enter leave without the knowledge of this realm. Why, I know not. What I do know is that when your spirit recombines with your body, you will leave limbo, and your body may heal. Similar to your experience at Pokemon Tower." Ash was about to ask something but Lifen answered it before he could speak.
"I know of all the experiences of all who cross this place."
"Oh."
"Please. Follow me." Lifen then lead Ash on some kind of path. It was made of gold bricks like that in The Wizard of OZ.

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Misty had finally got herself together. Ash had a normal breathing rate and a strong heart beat, but he was still out cold.
"I know you can't hear me," She began. Even though he didn't hear her, she was still nervous. He wouldn't hear her but she just felt like saying it.
"But I have to tell you something."

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Lifen had lead Ash to a flat, triangle, rock slab. It was smooth like marble. The most strange thing about it was the blue light in the center.
"The light will bring you to your body. Be strong. This is the path to your life. But remember. When you re-enter your body you leave Limbo and step back into the physical realm. And when you re-enter the physical realm..."
"I'll forget about Limbo." Ash finished for her.

He stepped up to the light. Before he entered he took a look back. All the beauty here was more like heaven. And if heaven was greater than this he doubted by much. He took a bold step on the light. All turned blue as the images before him were blurred. As his sight returned it was not green fields he saw as the light faded but a hospital room. He saw his body. He also saw Misty at his side. He stood by her and listened in.
"I know you probably wouldn't feel the same way," She began with tear filled eyes and pain filled voice.
"But since the day Caterpie faced Team Rocket," She took his body's limp hand in her two hands.
"I found out how much you cared for your pokemon. And when I got to know you, I fell in love." If spirits had tears Ash would have cried. He knew she wouldn't hear him but he said it anyway.
"Why? Why didn't you tell me?" He shouted. Not that she heard him.
"The only reason I kept arguing with you is I was afraid. I didn't want to get hurt." As she finished the sentence she leaned over and cried into his shoulder. Ash's spirit looked on.
"Misty. I love you too." He tried to place his hand on her shoulder, but it passed right through her.
"I just never had the courage to tell you." He chuckled at himself.
"You know after battles, and hunting ghost pokemon, and getting trapped in an upside down ship, sunk under the water, I don't have the bravery to say three words that could give us new things to explore." He sat up to get back in his body.
"Even if I don't remember this, maybe I'll be able to tell you. See you in a minute." He laid back down to re-enter his body.

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"I should have done something!" Misty kept crying into the body before her.
"If I knew that my Nightmare was more than a bad dream…" She kept on crying not even noticing the moan that came from the boy she loved. She didn't realize he was awake. As Ash looked about he remembered the last thing that happened to him. Slamming into the ground. He looked to his right, where the girl had not noticed Ash had awoken.
"Misty?" He said weakly. Misty looked up to see Ash's face. Misty smiled for the first time. Ash also smiled as Misty literally jumped up.
"Your all right!" She shouted in joy.
"I think so." Ash said as he tried to sit up. The pain from his bruised rib caused him to fall back down. Misty sat back next to him a little worried.
"Ash, your hurt."
"Believe me, I've noticed." He joked wearily. He tried again to sit up again, with no pain too great to be ignored. One thing laid on Ash's mind. He didn't know why but he had to tell her.
"Misty," He swallowed deeply.
"I got to tell you something, and I just have to sort of get it off my chest, so to speak." She made a quick nod as Ash took one of her hands in both of his.
"For awhile now we've been getting to know each other quite well and I'm not sure if you feel the same but…" He was about to finish but a sharp pain caused by his rib stopped him. Misty was about to say something but Ash held up one hand and she relaxed. The pain went Ash put his hand back where in was and tried to get back on track.
"I was never sure if you felt same Misty but…" He then looked directly into her eyes.
"I love you." He let his head hang as he waited for Misty to say something. She was as nervous as he was but she had to say something.
"I… I… I…" She was shaking as she placed her other hand on his.
"I… love you too, Ash." Ash looked at her and she at him. They slowly drifted together and let their lips touch. They broke it in a few seconds but both smiled happily. Happily until Ash's ribs decided to flare up. He held his stomach as Misty helped him back down.
"You'd better get a little rest." She said seeing a white sheet and the foot of the bed.
"I'll tell the others your all right." She then pulled up the sheet to his shoulders and a quick kiss to the forehead.
"Thanks." Ash said as she turned to leave him be.
"And Misty," She turned to listen.
"I'm glad I could get this off my chest, and tell you that." She smiled and gave him a look that said me too.
"Come back when you can and I'd like to just… talk." He said.
"Of course." Misty replied. She then left to let him rest.