Hi everyone!!  SK here.

You know what just happened.  I know what just happened.  So I'm just gonna go ahead and start the chapter now.  I hope you enjoy it!! :D (There will also be a lot of POV switches, just warning you all).

And just so you know... I cried while writing this..

Ash

I blink my eyes open with a groan, and a dazzling light almost blinds me.  I go to shield my face, squinting as I do so.  I spot Serena getting up beside me, and I give her a hand to help her up.  Pikachu, Greninja, and Sylveon are out with us too.  

The ground below us doesn't seem like ground at all.  Numerous lights, coming from all the colours of the earth, water, and sky, race each other back and forth right under our feet.  I gaze slowly at the blanket of stars above us, their beautiful light bathing the area in warmth and safety.  I meet Serena's eyes in silence, and grab her hand.  I can see the stars in her eyes.  

"Together," I say.

"Together," she repeats.

We both turn and take a step forward.  The light under our feet ripples outward as we step on it, pulsing in a circle just like the shine of the stars above us.  I look back, and the bridge crumbles apart behind us.  I turn around.  No looking back.  Only forwards.

Even if what's coming is going to break me.

"Ash," I hear Serena whisper.  "Look."

I look forward and I see the faint outline of two figures standing side by side.  I clutch Serena's hand tighter.  We continue going forward, further and further, until I can see the figures clearer.  One is Zagan, and the other I can only assume to be Lita.  There is something else that I notice too; just beyond the fairies, the path splits apart.  

Serena and I... are going to have to separate.

I turn to her.  "I'm scared," I admit.

She looks at me, and she shockingly has a smile on her face.  "Ash, my Ash, scared?"  She laughs.  "Things will be okay, My Love, I promise.  The paths split for now; and although it looks like spirits separate, there is only one spirit realm.  We'll be together.  You have to be brave for me, okay?"

I lean into her.  "I will."

We step forward to meet Lita and Zagan.  "Greetings, Ash and Serena," Zagan greets formally.

"Greetings," we say in unison, sorrow evident in both of us.

"I am so sorry that things had to turn out this way for each of you, as well as the rest of the fairies," Lita admits sadly.  "And although things could be simple if we took each of you away, life never works out to be that way."

We both stare in confusion.

"The power of the Ritual comes from separating Mist Pokemon from their fairies," Zagan explains.  "A fairy must give up their Pokemon... their one Pokemon.  For you, Serena, it is simple.  But for Ash, it is not the case."

"Ash, you have two Pokemon," Lita gently reiterates.  "You only have to separate from one.  But since fairies only need one bonded Pokemon to survive, you, and all the other Dark Fairies, will live."

It takes a few moments for everything to sink in.

I have to abandon one of my Pokemon.

And I have to live, while Serena dies.  I have to live years, a thousand years, without the one I love.

"There must b-be another way," stammers Serena.  "There must be."

Lita shakes her head sadly, a smile equally as sorrowful on her face.  "I'm so sorry, Serena.  That is the way things must be."

"Wh..." my voice trails away and I have to steady myself.  "Where will our Pokemon go?"

Zagan smiles.  "Where all other heroes go- the stars."

I look upwards.  The stars... 

"Time moves slowly here," Lita says.  "Take all the time you desire."

Serena

I am broken.  Here I was, telling Ash to be brave when I now want to break down crying.  I am so happy that Ash gets to live, but I won't be able to be with him.  And worse... I won't have Sylveon with me.  I look down at her, and see her ears drooping with sadness.  

"Sylveon..." my voice trails away.  I kneel down and place both hands around her cheeks, and give her a weak smile.  "Don't be so sad.  We'll see each other some day, I know it."

She nuzzles her cheek against my hand, and nostalgia creeps over me.  I remember when I first saw her, dancing in that field.  She was so beautiful, so graceful.  We looked out for each other, and we trusted each other... completely.  I helped her to become less shy, to help her show her dance for everyone.  She helped me too.  I would not have been the person, and performer, I am today without her.  We are best friends, we are connected.  

"S-Sylveon..." I cry, feeling the tears dripping down on my cheeks.  

"Vie..." Sylveon takes her ribbons and wraps them around me, enveloping me in a hug.  

"I will miss you," I say, my emotions overflowing.  "Thank you for being with me through it all.  Thank you for believing in me.  For being my Pokemon... and one of my greatest friends.  I love you."

"I would do it over and over," Sylveon tells me.  I look at her, and she seems happy, but I know that she is just as sad as I am.  I hold her tighter.  At least we can be together now, in this instant.  I'm not ready to lose her yet...

I turn towards Ash, who looks distraught.

Just like I'm not ready to lose him.

Pikachu

Ash looks so upset.  He doesn't want to let go of any of us, me or Greninja.  I can understand... we've been through so much.  Me and Ash have traveled the world together.  We've fought countless battles together.  We've saved the world multiple times.  We're unstoppable.  No matter what, it's always been me and him.  The iconic duo.  

I don't know what life would be like without him.  

But he looks so distraught... he can't make this decision.  It will kill him.  

I sigh.

Consider this one last favour to my favourite friend, I think to myself.

"Thank you for the adventures, Ash," I say.  

I hear a voice calling me.  I turn, and I see that Sylveon has separated from Serena.  She nods at me, and I nod back.  

It's time.

Ash

Who do I choose... who do I choose!? 

"Thank you for the adventures, Ash," I hear someone say; I realize that it's Pikachu.  

"What..." I say after a few moments.  "What do you mean!?"

I see Pikachu turn to Sylveon, and they both nod at each other.  Pikachu looks back at me.

"One last favour from your faithful buddy," he says.  "I don't want you to make this burden of a choice... so I'll make it for you."

Before I have a chance to reply Pikachu and Sylveon both start running.  They run fast, faster, fastest, until they start running upwards.  They're going to the stars, I realize.  

Time seems to move in slow motion as they slowly climb upwards, and tears fall as I realize that this is goodbye.  Me and Pikachu... it's always been me and him.  No matter what, he was there.  Our friendship was everything.

All good things must come to an end. 

"Pikachu!" I shout.  He stops, and turns towards me.  There are so many things I want to say.  He is amazing.  He was there for me when times got tough.  He is loyal.  He was- no, is my partner, and always will be.  I say the one thing that fits.

"...Thank you...!"

Pikachu's eyes fill with emotion, and he nods. 

"No, thank you."

He and Sylveon keep running, and as they do, the misty ties connecting them to mine and Serena's souls respectively break apart.  They return to their normal colours, getting smaller and smaller as they go further and further away.  My heart calls out to him, but I know that he will not be coming back.

Thank you, Pikachu.  For everything.

No response... he is truly gone.

I quickly dry my tears.  Pikachu is gone... but there's still something else that has to be done.

I have to say goodbye... to the love of my life. 

I turn to Serena.  "I promise to lead honourably," I say.  "For you."

"I'll be waiting for you," she promises.  "The day you join the spirits... I'll be there.  I'll be waiting even if it takes a thousand years.  I make that promise to you."

"I'll count on that," I tell her, clasping her hand for a moment, then letting it go.

Letting her go.

"Wait, Serena," Lita says suddenly.  "Look."

Serena turns, and so do I.  Someone is approaching us... and I suddenly see who it is.

"Heliux!?"

Heliux

The blast hits us, but for some peculiar reason, all of us are still standing.  "Keep the pillars standing!" I shout.  I turn to Layra.  Something's not right- everyone should've died, but everyone is still here.

"What is going on..." I trail away when I realized what her eyes are focused on.

Xerneas.

And it is carrying something.

It is a Pokeball, nestled in it's mouth.

"I know what we have to do," I say suddenly.  I reach my hand out, making sure to keep our beam steady, and gently take the Pokeball from Xerneas.  It feels smooth and light in my hand, like a drop of dew.  I stare at Layra intensely.  "We have to get this to Ash and Serena."

"And how do you plan on doing that!?" she questions.

I point.  "I just enter the center.  I know it will work."

"But..." she breaks off.  "What if something happens to you?  We're not supposed to go in there.  It could get rid of your immortality or injure you or-"

I gently cut her off with a quick kiss on her forehead.  "It's just..." she trails away.  "I love you, you, my Love.  So make sure you come back.  Promise me."

"I promise," I say, letting her go to keep our pillar standing.  I enter the center of the space and feel the light rush around me.  I see Ash and Serena standing ahead.  Go.  Go to them.

Serena

"Heliux, what are you doing here?" I exclaim.  "How did you-"

"Heliux, dependable as always," Lita praises.  "I knew I could count on you."

He gives a quick but regal bow.  "As always, Your Lightness."  He gives the Pokeball to me.  

"It has never been done before, but we may be able to try it," he tells me.  I look at the Pokeball... and suddenly it clicks.

They are trying to give me another Mist Pokemon.

I toss the Pokeball upwards without saying anything, wondering which Pokemon was resting inside it.  The blue light fades and I want to cry, but a different kind than before with Sylveon's departure.

"Braixen!" I shout happily.  "It's me!"

"Braix!" she exclaims, and we have a quick embrace.  Braixen... I thought I would never see you again.  Seeing the red bow still tied around her stick makes me almost want to cry again.  

"A Minister is needed to Bond a Fairy with a Pokemon," Heliux reminds me.  He smiles.  "Are you ready?"

"Braixen, do you want to be my Mist Pokemon?  It's your choice," I say, but of course she says yes.  

I stand firm.  "We're ready," I tell Heliux.

He nods.  "It will be just like the first time," he promises.  "Just close your eyes."

I close my eyes, but I feel the magic surrounding me.  I smile.  The universe is working its magic.

I try to open them again, but I can't.  The light from under us seems to break apart, and I feel the air rush around me as I start to fall deeper... deeper... deeper...

Deeper...

/.\/.\/.\/.\/.\/.\/.\/.\/.\

"Serena, wake up."

"Wha...?" I ask, slowly blinking open my eyes.  

Ash is smiling at me.  We're back in the Dark Fairy Colony.

"We did it," he says, beaming.  "The world is saved and everyone is alive.  We did it."

We did it.

Wow that was an intense chapter.  I hope all the POV switches weren't annoying... sorry about that, but they had to be there.  Hope you enjoyed it nevertheless!!

One chapter left... catch you all tomorrow!! :')