Thanks for sticking with me you guys, it really means a lot to me. Well, as I promised, here it is:



CHAPTER 18



Throughout the remainder of the night, everyone worked hard. Samson had worked out a plan to build a raft for Ash and his friends, and had taken most of the stronger Pokémon into the woods to cut down some trees. Illumise led Volbeat and the other Bug-types in gathering vines.

During this time, Pikachu and the others went into the orchard to gather food for the trip. Bellossom instructed them on which berries could be used for food or medicine; it was quite difficult to remember the various uses for each berry.

Ash, in the meantime, was busily going back and forth between looking in on the Pokémon and tending to Mewtwo, who still wasn’t looking so good. It was true that he was sleeping comfortably now, and his breathing had gotten a little better, but he was still a great deal paler than he was before. Ash tried to convince himself that Mewtwo was getting better, but at the same time he grew increasingly worried about how long the poor Pokémon could possibly go on.

“Just hang in there, buddy,” Ash often whispered in Mewtwo’s ear. “You’ve gotta stay with us---your friends need you.”



A faint blue light could just be seen along the horizon by the time Samson and his team arrived. On their backs and shoulders they carried around twelve large logs, all neatly trimmed and stripped of their bark. Right beside them were Volbeat and Illumise led their troops; all of them were carrying freshly cut vines. Every Pokémon was heading toward the southern cove to begin building the raft.

Thinking he should be there to help, Ash quickly got dressed (luckily his clothes had remained in his backpack). Then he carefully wrapped Mewtwo up in the blanket, and carried him outside. Big Sis and Samson were heading towards the hut as he came out.

“Hi, guys,” Ash greeted, “Is everything okay?”

“All’s going according to schedule,” Samson said. “Everyone has gone to the cove. Big Sis will take you there; I’ve got to get something.” With that, the Pinsir marched inside, while Big Sis proceeded to lead Ash into the woods.



The southern cove was a much safer place to work; not just because the three ex-Rockets were camping out on the northern beach. The entire area was almost completely surrounded by high rocky cliffs; only a narrow channel on the very southern end---directly opposite the shoreline---separated this isolated lagoon from the open ocean.

Pokémon of every shape and size were running here and there on the beach; pulling, pushing, cutting, tying, and plugging up any potential holes that could’ve led to drowning at sea. Some exhausted Pokémon were sitting down under the trees while the others continued with the work.

Pikachu was one of those taking a break; he had been helping to tie some vines around a pair of logs a few minutes ago. Skater (the Surskit) was offering him a cup of coconut milk when Ash walked into view, with Big Sis at his side and Mewtwo in his arms.

“Ash!” Pikachu called. “Over here, Ash!”

Hearing his tiny companion’s call, Ash immediately headed in that direction. A few of the other tired Pokémon had gathered several large palm leaves, with which they proceeded to make a bed for Mewtwo. Ash laid the ailing clone carefully on the leaves.

Mewtwo’s eyes slowly opened the minute he was on the ground; a low moan rose up from his throat.

“Uhhhnnn…Ash…?” Mewtwo managed to say.

Ash knelt down beside his friend. “How are you feeling, buddy?” he asked.

Mewtwo cringed a little before answering. “I’m…not sure. What’s going on?” At that moment, Samson emerged from the woods; everyone was surprised to see him carrying Ash’s Shoal Shell bed---cushion and all---on his back.

Samson smiled at their confusion. “Well,” he explained, “you can’t expect the poor creature to spend the whole voyage without any bed rest, can you?”

“Uhh…voyage?” Mewtwo asked, as he attempted to sit up, “What is he talking about?”

“Please, Mewtwo,” Pikachu said, trying to keep him still, “don’t move around; you need to rest.”

“I’m sorry, Mewtwo,” Ash said, a mixture of guilt and sorrow across his face, “We all know you don’t like humans, but…” Ash paused; he couldn’t help but feel that he was betraying Mewtwo’s trust, “…I don’t know what else to do: you’re very sick, and all the herbal medicines on this island aren’t enough. You need real help…from a real doctor. I…I have to take you to…a Pokémon Center.” Ash braced himself, waiting for an angry blast of Psychic energy.

What followed instead was an uneasy silence. Pikachu and the other resting critters just sat and watched for any kind of reaction; even those who were still working on the raft couldn’t help but stop what they were doing, waiting to see what Mewtwo would do.

Surprisingly, the sickly Pokémon did not use any Psychic power---whether or not this was because he was too sick and weak to do so, no one was certain. He raised a shaky hand up to Ash’s face…and softly stroked his cheek.

Ash opened his eyes; he never expected Mewtwo to act like this! How could this Pokémon---who had once declared he would completely obliterate the entire human race---act so calm about being taken to a place where humans were sure to treat him like some circus side-show attraction? To Ash (as well as everyone else present), the whole thing went beyond weird.

“Your choice is hard, I know,” he said, almost whispering, “but many of the choices we make in life are not always the easiest, even if they are meant to help others. That is another thing I have learned from you.” He then smiled at the young boy; Ash smiled back. For a while there was more silence, until Illumise suddenly broke in.

“Listen, gang, this is all very well and good, but if we don’t get this craft finished then these guys aren’t going anywhere! Come on, let’s see some hustle here!” With those words, the work began anew.

A few more minutes into the activity, Ash noticed that Volbeat was struggling with some vines. Leaving Mewtwo in the care of Pikachu, he walked over to the little bug.

“Hey there,” he said, “need some help?”

Volbeat seemed very surprised at Ash’s offer, but he was so exhausted that he was grateful for any kind of aid---plus, his own sister wouldn’t allow him to take even five minutes of rest. He looked up at the human boy and grinned.

“Sure,” he answered, “Thanks.” Ash then proceeded to help tie the vine tightly around the heavy log. At the same time he couldn’t help but notice Illumise’s attitude towards the others: it was like every thing had to be done a certain way, and that it was her sole job to make sure it was done right; like she was the “great leader” or something.

Ash leaned his head near Volbeat’s, “Is your sister always like this?”

Volbeat glanced over at Illumise to make sure she wasn’t listening; then, with a sly grin, whispered back:

“Pssh…worse.”



The eastern horizon was just giving off a pinkish hue when a loud splash was heard in the cove.

In size, the raft itself looked big enough---not to mention strong enough---to carry around two-dozen medium-sized Pokémon. A single mast stood at least three feet away from the front; a large lily pad had been cut to size in order to make a decent sail. Ash’s shell bed had literally been tied down to the raft: more vines had been looped through the freshly drilled holes that circled the shell; Mewtwo was currently laying in it. Besides the sheet and blanket, he was also covered in rushes, which had been securely woven into a kind of huge “rug” (Samson explained that this would protect them from the rain and wind during the trip).

Ash and the others were just about ready to cast off when he suddenly turned around. Kipper and Big Sis were talking to each other one last time.

“I’m sorry I left last time, Mommy,” Kipper said sadly, “And I’m sorry I have to leave now, but Ash needs me…and…I like him a lot…”

Big Sis smiled, despite her own sadness of having to say “good-bye” to her little baby, and nuzzled him softly with her nose.

Kipper smiled back. “Don’t worry…I’ll be…fine.” The tiny Mudkip then turned around, ran to the water, and jumped right onto the raft. Ash was handing Croconaw a piece of vine that had been tied into a loop.

“Croconaw,” he started to ask, “Are you sure you can get us to the nearest town? I mean, we don’t even know how far the nearest town is.”

The chubby crocodile waved his paw. “Don’t sweat it, pal; it’ll be a piece o’ cake. I’ll get our buddy here to a Pokémon Center faster than a Moltres can fly through a thunderstorm.” Croconaw then dove into the water, and the party was soon heading off.

The Pokémon on the beach waved to their new friends as the distance between them increased; it was very sad to see them leave so soon. However, they all knew that the situation could not be helped.

As he turned to wave to Big Sis and the others, he noticed the sad expression on the Mudkip’s face. His heart went out to the poor little mudfish: it was hard for anyone---human or Pokémon---to leave their mother, and they had so little time together after so many months apart. Ash’s mouth suddenly formed a resolute smile.

“Look, Kipper,” he said, “maybe it would be better if you stayed here.”

Kipper looked at him in disbelief; was Ash actually telling him to stay?

“But Ash,” Kipper started to say, “I want to be with you guys; I want to see the world! I don’t want to stay here!” Tears fell from the Pokémon’s eyes.

Ash only kept smiling. “Yes, you do,” he contradicted, “You’ve been away from your mom and friends for so long; they’ve missed you---and I know you miss them. This island is your home; it’s where you belong.”

“But what about all of you?”

Ash patted Kipper’s head. “Don’t worry about us, we’ll be okay; we just want you to be happy, that’s all.”

“Ash’s right, Kipper,” Pikachu cut in, “Ever since I’ve known Ash, he’s always wanted us to be happy, no matter what. Besides, you need your mom right now. So go on, be happy!”

Kipper looked back and forth between the island he called home, and the friends he cared for so much. “Are you sure?” he asked.

Ash crossed his arms and put on a sarcastic grin. “Listen, Squirt, you’ve got exactly ten seconds to get off and go back to your mommy before I change my mind. What’s it gonna be?”

Kipper then broke out into a happy smile as he gave every one of the Pokémon (Mewtwo included) a big hug “good-bye.” After giving Ash a hug and a nuzzle, he dove right into the foaming brine and started dogpaddling back towards the beach as fast as his legs could go---occasionally turning around to wave to his friends. This went on until the raft slipped through the narrow rocky channel of the cove, and disappeared onto the wide-open sea.



As they got clear of the sharp rocks surrounding the high outer walls, Pikachu looked back at the opening, and then to Ash.

“Do you really think Kipper will be okay?” he asked.

With that same smile on his face, Ash pictured a happy crowd of Pokémon surrounding his friend, welcoming him back home.

“He’ll be just fine.”