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Darkness. There is only darkness. All consuming and all encompassing darkness.

He floats through this void of nothingness, feeling nothing, seeing nothing, the weight of the utter darkness crushing his soul.

Then there is the light. It comes slowly. A pinprick at the edge of vision. A minuscule dot that seems unreachable. A tiny beacon of hope in a sea of utter despair.

He reaches for the light, feeling it's warmth on his body as he slowly get's closer to it. The darkness tries to close in but his determination is too great. It becomes brighter and warmer until it fully engulfs him and the darkness is driven away. His vision is overwhelmed by the sudden explosion of light and then everything goes dark once more.

........................

A gentle breeze blew across his face. Slowly bringing him back to consciousness. The smells came next. The scent of fresh grass and flowers with a hint of a ocean air on the breeze.

Matthew's eyes snapped open and he took in a deep breath. Cool air flowed into his nostrils as he gasped. It felt like he hadn't taken a full breath in days. He lay there continuing to take deep breaths for what seemed an eternity, just staring at the grass and the forest that stood several hundred meters away. As he breathed he thought about where he was and how he had gotten there. The last thing that he had remembered was being strapped down to the table in the prison and being injected with poison. After that everything had gone dark and then he had suddenly awoken here. Wherever the hell here was.

After awhile Matthew felt his heart rate start to stabilize and slowly got his feet under his body and got up to sitting position to have a look around. What he saw caused his beak to drop open in shock.

He was standing in the middle of the field that formed the southeastern portion of Jenna's ranch. Everything was there. The ranch house, the oak tree with the tire swing, even the lamp post where he and Elizabeth often spent time together. On the other hand though something felt off. It only took Matthew a moment to realize what it was. There were no Pokemon on the ranch. At this time of day with the sun high in the sky Jenna's Pokemon would have been scattered across the open field and the rest of the ranch. Scratch and Sibelius should have been running around making mischief, Veruka would have been training in the field, Vincent would be trying to woo her in some way or another, and Jenna herself would be making the rounds. But there was no one. Not even the sounds of Pidgey flying overhead or small bug Pokemon. In fact other than the sound of the wind and ocean there was no sound whatsoever. Everything felt...dead.

Matthew continued to look around in shock for several minutes before finally regaining his composure. He gently ruffled his feathers and let out a deep sigh. "(Where the hell is everyone?)" He muttered to himself as he slowly began to walk towards the ranch house.

Matthew had never given much thought to an afterlife. He found that it distracted from the here and now of life. But...after waking up here and that bright light that he had seen in his dream...it made him think. He could not bring himself to believe that this was an afterlife of some sort, perhaps he was in a coma and this was simply a dream that he was having. That thought made more sense to him as he approached the house and gently pushed the door open with his wing.

The inside of the house was spotless. Everything was in it's proper place. Right down to Jenna's badges lining the walls of her trophy room. Not a speck of dust to be found on top of shelves or bookcases, and when he tried the lights he found that they came on with no problem. But again there seemed to be no sign of life anywhere. Matthew turned and left the house as he went to the barn. He flicked on the light with his wing and looked around. Like the house the barn was utterly spotless with everything sitting in it's proper place. Jenna's poke balls were lined up on there shelves and Matthew quickly went over to one and looked through the clear top, hoping to find one of his teammates inside. But to his great disappointment the ball was empty.

He let out a deep sigh of disappointment before turning and leaving the barn.

He was now certain that this was indeed a very bad dream and that he desperately needed to get the hell out of it. Spreading his wings Matthew prepared to take off. It was obvious that there was nothing here and Matthew wasn't going to sit around waiting for something to happen. He pushed himself off and was about to get airborne when he suddenly heard a soft voice behind him.

"(Where are you off to in such a hurry Matthew?)" Matthew stopped dead. He knew that voice. Had heard that voice as a distant echo in his dreams and nightmares. Had heard it in the back of his mind whenever he went to visit Angel's grave. And he knew right then that if this wasn't a dream then he was surely in Heaven.

Matthew slowly turned around and looked back into the barn. Standing in the light of the open door was Angel. She was exactly as Matthew had remembered her. The silky smooth blue feathers, the beautiful white down of her wings, and her eyes, oh Arceus those eyes that could melt the coldest hearts and bring joy to the darkest of moments.

He just stared at her in shock. Words were lost on him as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing and try and rationalize it as nothing more than part of the dream that he was still certain he was in. In his dreams he would always see her like this but it would always be from times that the two of them had spent together in the past and even then the image of her would be rather cloudy like he was looking at it through frosted glass. But this...this was different. It was like she was actually standing in front of him. Not only that but her voice was clear, not the faint distant tone that it had in his dreams. And...he could also smell her. Her wonderful scent was like a fine perfume to Matthew's nostril's that he hadn't sampled in years. He could remember laying with her alone for hours with his beak pressed against her neck. That scent was something that he had never forgotten and one that he had never before experienced in his dreams.

The two of them just starred at each other for a few seconds before Angel once more spoke. "(What's the matter Matthew? Skitty got your tongue?)" She giggled a little at her joke as she slowly approached him. Matthew just stood there motionless as she stopped less than a meter away from him and extended a wing out to him. "(It's alright Matthew. I would have the same reaction in your position as well.)" Matthew cocked his head to the side as he continued to stare at her before he finally found words.

"(Angel...what...how....this can't be real. This is a dream. I saw you die. I held you in my wings as you-)" Matthew was unable to finish as Angel slowly lowered her wing and looked at him. A mix of sorrow and something that Matthew couldn't quite place in her eyes as she took another step towards him so that they were practically touching. "(Matthew I can understand why you would think that this is a dream. I know that you have never thought much of what happens after death. Although I'm sure that you were always at least a bit curious as to my fate. However, I can assure you that this is not a dream Matthew.)" She reached out a took his wing, gently placing it against her own cheek. "(I don't know how to convince you otherwise Matthew but perhaps I don't need to. After all. If this is a dream wouldn't you want to at least enjoy it while it lasts?)"

The physical contact sent a rush of emotions and memories flooding back through his mind as his emotional barriers that he had spent a great deal of time erecting all came crashing down. Tears flowed freely from his eyes as he took a step forward and without thinking embraced Angel in a tight hug. Angel returned the gesture and wrapped her wings around him in turn as Matthew locked eyes with her and without a second thought he kissed her.

"(Oh Angel. You have no idea how I've missed you.)" Angel tightened her grip on Matthew as she looked into his eyes. Tears falling from them like shimmering diamonds as the two of them kissed again. Never wanting the beautiful moment to end.

The two of them stood like that for what seemed an eternity until Angel finally pulled back from Matthew and looked deeply into his eyes. "(Matthew?)" Matthew looked at her and gently touched her cheek with his wing. "(Yes, Angel?)" Angel slowly let Matthew go and pulled back from him. "(Matthew it's time that I explained to you what is going on here. You see...how can I put this delicately. Matthew you died in that prison.)"

Matthew's eyes got wide. While he had entertained this as a possibility he hadn't given it much credence. Again he had simply thought that he had gone into a coma and this was a dream. But while he and Angel had kissed and caressed one another that theory had lost more and more weight. He had never been able to touch Angel in any of his dreams. She would always die before he could get to her or walk off into the distance. But this...this was just too real, too intense to be a dream.

Angel gave Matthew a few seconds to process what she had just told him before she spoke again. "(I'm sorry to have to tell you Matthew. However, I...I don't know how to put this in a way that you will be able to understand but...)" Angel trailed off and stopped.

Matthew just continued to stare at her for several long seconds before finally speaking. "(Angel what are you talking about? If I died then...isn't this some sort of afterlife? I mean it's not exactly as I imagined Heaven but with you here-)" Angel held up a wing. "(Matthew please we don't have much time.)" Matthew cocked his head to the side in confusion. "(What do you mean? Angel?)" Matthew walked up to her and looked into her eyes. What he hadn't been able to read earlier in her expression was suddenly clear to him. Fear.

"(Angel what's going on here?)" Angel let out a deep sigh. "(Let's take a walk Matthew. I'll explain it on the way.)" Matthew didn't protest and the two of them slowly began to walk across the ranch. After a minute of total silence Angel finally spoke up.

"(Matthew while you did die in that prison it doesn't mean that you can't return to the world of the living. This place is...not Heaven as you would call it. The best analogy that I can think of is that it's a bridge between world's. But once someone from the world of the living crosses this bridge they may never go back the way they came. To put it simply once you go on to what you refer to as Heaven or an afterlife you can never go back to the world of the living. I'm sorry if I'm not being very clear or concise Matthew and I know that it's a lot to take in but-)"

Matthew interrupted her. "(Wait. So if what you are saying is true then that means that I can still return. I can see Marlowe and Jenna and Elizabeth again!?)" Angel nodded somberly. "(Yes Matthew you could return. And not as a Ghost Pokemon I might add. That is an entirely different process. On your side your body is still alive. It's just...absent your soul at the moment. With Ghost Pokemon their body is dead and can no longer be returned to. When they choose to return to the world of the living their soul then inhabits a new form. What we know as Ghost types. However, they have no knowledge of this place or their previous life afterwards. It's rather sad actually. They choose to return and live what amounts almost to a half life rather than face the uncertainty of the afterlife.)"

Matthew had listened to her explanation with rapt fascination. The simple knowledge that he could return and be with his family again was almost too much for him to handle at once. He wanted to jump up and fly around in joy but then he noticed Angel's downtrodden look and he quickly understood why she seemed so depressed.

"(But if I returned then our time together here would end and I would go back to Elizabeth?)" Angel nodded again. "(Yes Matthew. I think it only fair to let you know that even in death I have never stopped thinking about you and I have never stopped loving you. But...at the same time I have watched you and Elizabeth. I have watched the two of you become closer and closer and finally confessing your love to one another that you have kept hidden for so long.)" Angel saw Matthew's expression change and quickly added. "(Please don't misunderstand Matthew. I feel no ill feelings towards either you or Elizabeth. I wanted you to move on and find someone special after I was gone. And I'm happy that it was Elizabeth. You two deserve each other and I don't want to get in the way of that. I simply wanted to state that I still love you Matthew. But it is not your time yet. You still have much left to do in life and I don't want your old feelings for me to get in the way of that. Matthew I...I don't want you to stay here with me. As much as it pains me to admit it I want you to return to your world and be with Elizabeth. She is in pain Matthew. Terrible pain. And you are the only one who can help her through it and bring light back to her life just as I once did for you. Please forgive me for these feelings of mine but I-.)"

Angel stopped as tears fell from her eyes. It was obvious to Matthew that this was what she had been so afraid of. She had been afraid to tell him this. To tell him that despite the love she still had for him she wanted him to go back. To be with Elizabeth. To have his life back. Even if it would be painful for her.

Matthew stopped walking and turned to Angel who was looking down sadly. "(Angel...I'm not angry with you. Or even upset. I'm simply once again amazed at your compassion. At what you are willing to do for one you love.)" Matthew moved in closer to her and once again held her tightly in his wings and gently caressed her feathers. "(Angel there is something that I wanted to tell you. Something that I wanted to say after you were attacked but I didn't have the time. I would like to tell you this now. Angel. The time that we had together was the best in my life. Every second that we spent together was a beautiful moment in time that I cherish deeply in my heart. I don't want to lose you Angel. And I know that you don't want to lose me either. But we have reached a crossroads in our lives and as painful as it is for both of us fate has forced us to take separate paths. I love you more than the sun and moon Angel. I love you with every fiber of my being and I will never stop loving you. Angel...thank you for saving me and bringing me into the light.)" Matthew gently kissed her beak as he said this while wiping tears from Angel's eyes.

Angel looked back up at him and smiled. "(Thank you Matthew...for understanding.)" Matthew shook his head. "(No, thank you Angel. For being willing to let go. I know from experience just how painful that can be.)"

The two of them sat like that and held each other as the sun above them slowly moved across the sky. They talked the entire time. Catching up on old times and enjoying many good laughs and tears over past memories and new ones that Matthew had made and shared with his old flame.

Finally the sun was nothing more than a sliver on the horizon and to Matthew's great consternation Angel slowly got up and looked at the sky. "(It's time Matthew. Time for you to make your choice. When the sun sets this place will end and you will go one of two ways. Back to the world of the living or to the afterlife. I'm sorry that we couldn't spend more time together but that is the way it is.)" Matthew also stood and looked at the sliver of sunlight that Angel was facing. He could see that she was holding back tears and he gently approached her side and kissed her neck. "(Angel. I don't know how I can ever repay you for this.)" Angel turned to him. "(Live your life Matthew. Make Elizabeth happy. Keep the withered white rose close to your heart but do not ignore the honeysuckle calling your name.)" Matthew chuckled. "(I knew I never should have told you about that.)" A smile creased Angel's beak. "(Marlowe really does know you better than you think Matthew.)"

The two of them stood in the field watching the sun disappear as Angel turned to Matthew one last time. "(I will always love you Matthew. Don't forget that.)" Matthew nodded as the two shared one last passionate kiss. "(And I will always love you Angel.)" And with that the two Pokemon released each other as Angel spread her wings and floated towards the dim sliver of sunlight. Matthew's last sight of her before she disappeared was of her looking back at him with bright eyes and a smile. There was nothing to be sad about any longer. They were finally both at peace.

Then the sliver of sunlight vanished and the world went black

.........................

Matthew slowly felt himself starting to come awake. He felt something soft under his body and heard a faint repetitive beep. Wherever he was it smelled clean and sterile and he thought that he also caught the hint of flowers and...cigarette's?

He opened his eyes to find himself laying in a hospital bed. There was an oxygen mask over his beak and an IV running into his wing. Off to his side was a small table with numerous cards and a small vase of flowers. Still the smell of cigarette's was quite prevalent and Matthew turned to his other side to locate the source and found himself staring at Elizabeth sitting on a chair to the side of his bed.

She was fast asleep and while Matthew knew that she wouldn't smoke in a Pokemon Center he also knew that she had likely gone out to have occasional smoke breaks and that the smell had likely carried with her back into the building.

A small smile creased his beak as he slowly lifted a wing out to her. The task was nearly impossible. His wing felt like it was made of concrete and the sheer effort of lifting it raised his heart rate enough that he could hear the beeps on the EKG meter behind him raise substantially. Still he managed to place his wing on her claw and gently rubbed it. He would never take her for granted ever again.

The physical contact was enough to rouse Elizabeth from her nap and she opened her eyes to find Matthew looking up at her. In a hoarse voice Matthew quietly called to her.

"(Elizabeth.)"

Elizabeth looked down at Matthew for a second in utter shock before letting out a loud wail of joy and hugging him tightly. Matthew groaned. His entire body felt sore all over as if he had been laying there for days on end without moving. Elizabeth didn't say anything and didn't let him go for several minutes as she cried tears of joy. Finally she regained her composure and leaned back so that she and Matthew's faces were only a few centimeters apart.

"(Matzew I...I had lost all hope. Ve all zought zat you vere gone forever. Ven you didn't vake up after ze second veek ve all zought zat-)" Matthew held up his wing for her to stop. "(Elizabeth what happened? The last thing I remember is being injected in the execution chamber.)" Matthew purposefully left out his memories of what happened between him and Angel. While he was still not certain if that was a dream or not right now it was unimportant to the conversation at hand.

Elizabeth looked at him in surprise for several seconds before speaking. "(You...you vere dead Matzew. Ze governor called and stopped ze execution but it vas too late. You vere brain dead Matzew. For ten minutes. Ze brought you to ze morgue and vere going to leave you zere but zen you suddenly started breathing again. Zey couldn't explain it. You vere dead for ten minutes. Zey said it vas a miracle. Zen zey took you to ze Pokemon Center and you have been in a coma for ze last two veeks. Ve vere starting to give up hope Matzew but now ve have you back!)"

She hugged him again and Matthew thought about what Elizabeth had just told him. Two weeks. He had been in a coma for two weeks. Not only that but he had been dead. Brain dead no less. Matthew began to wonder what exactly had happened with he and Angel in what she had called a 'Bridge Between Worlds' but he quickly pushed it from his mind as he thought back to Elizabeth who was still swooning over him.

Using what strength he had Matthew brought his wings around and hugged Elizabeth as she rubbed her head against his neck. "(Don't worry Elizabeth I'm not going anywhere.)" The two of them sat together for several minutes until the door opened and Jenna walked in with Ross sitting on her shoulder. Matthew quickly realized that he had to have been out for quite some time considering that the bandages on Ross's cheeks from his surgery were gone and the scars under them were barely visible.

As soon as Jenna saw that Matthew was awake she had a similar reaction to Elizabeth. She quickly rushed over to his side and locked him in a vise like hug. Matthew smiled at his trainer and at Ross who quickly ran off to get everyone else.

"Matthew. You have no idea how worried we all were. We thought that you were never going to wake up. I had practically given up all hope." Matthew subtly nodded as he returned the hug from his trainer as Ross quickly returned with Veruka, Marlowe, Sibelius, Leopold, and Vincent who all crowded into the room along with a Chansey who just barely managed to squeeze past the others and over to Matthew's bedside.

"(Alright everyone you can have a chance to talk with him in a minute. Let me just examine him and then you can all have a chance to see him.)" The Chansey went over to the side of Matthew's bed while everyone else went over to a corner in the room and waited for her to be done checking him over. She was rather brief in her examination, much to Matthew's relief, and turned to leave the room only a few minutes after entering.

"(Everything seems to be fine. But we'll keep a close eye on you over the next couple of days. After all you were in a coma for half a month. Better to be safe than sorry with these sort of things. At any rate I would appreciate it if you were all rather brief in your visit.)" And with that she turned and walked out.

Matthew was quickly flooded with a barrage of goodwill from his family and friends. Too much for him to all take in or process at once. So he simply sat there and either nodded his head or gave a polite 'Thank You' to his friends and family. After the pleasantries were finished the real questions began in earnest, most of them coming from Matthew himself.

A lot had happened in the two weeks he had been unconscious, Jenna explained. Only hours after the governor had called to end Matthew's execution two major events had happened. The first was that Wilson had been arrested on charges of illegal Pokemon pit fighting after the police conducted a raid at his house based on a phone call they had received. The second was that a warrant was put out for Sam's arrest. None of them knew why but according to Jenna Luke had been very cagey on the subject. Also Jenna's friend Elisa had come forward and claimed that Wilson had kidnapped her Ampharos to blackmail her into testifying against Matthew while at the same time her Ampharos had mysteriously shown up at the Pokemon center with Luke.

Jenna had looked around nervously before giving Matthew her take on it. She figured that Sam and Luke had raided Wilson's house to get evidence and that they had succeeded. Albeit with Sam having been seen.

At any rate the mounting evidence and a strange voice recording of Wilson that had been sent to the Sinnoh News Network had been the final nail in the coffin of Matthew's sentence. The scandal had gotten completely out of hand and the public outcry against Wilson and now even the governor who was rumored to be considering resignation was so fierce and intense that the courts had no choice but to commute the sentence against Jenna and Matthew. They had far bigger things to worry about now.

Once Jenna had finished explaining all of this Matthew had simply laid back and looked up at the ceiling. So this had all simply been about revenge. Not for Matthew's actions against Wilson's stuck up Persian but for Jenna's major role in his father's downfall. Part of Matthew almost felt sorry for Wilson...almost. He had once been much like him. Consumed with a passion for one thing that drove him forward. However, unlike Wilson Matthew had been pulled back before the darkness had consumed his soul.

They all sat quietly letting Matthew digest what they had just said when Jenna cleared her throat.

"Matthew there is one other thing that I think we should bring up. And it concerns Zorro." Matthew raised his head. While he and Zorro weren't close he was still a teammate and if something was wrong then Matthew wanted to know right away. Jenna looked down for a second before speaking.

"The recording of Wilson. The SNN got the edited version. I received in the mail a few days the unedited version from an unknown source but I'm pretty sure you can figure out who sent that. At any rate it reveals that...Zorro had made a deal with Wilson. And before you say anything Veruka already spoke with him and got the full story from him. In exchange for Wilson dropping the charges against me and just going after you he would use his psychic powers to affect the outcome of the trial. However, Wilson betrayed him. He had promised Zorro that he wouldn't go for your execution but instead just have you locked up. But once he did the deed Tiberius attacked him and then apparently threatened to kill Sibelius and Marlowe if he spoke. But during your execution Zorro had a massive breakdown and revealed to us what he had done." Jenna looked over at the Vespiqueen who didn't show any sign of remorse over what she had done to Zorro. And frankly Matthew didn't see any on the faces of the others either.

"At any rate I didn't tell the police what he did. The evidence in support of you was already so much that it wouldn't have mattered but...I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with him. I felt that his punishment should be a decision that we make as a team. But now that you're awake...I feel that perhaps you are best suited to this Matthew."

Matthew's eyes took on a dark cadence that Jenna and the others had seen before as Leopold slowly reached up and brushed the scar over his eye. He knew all too well about Matthew's temper and had tried to talk Jenna out of telling Matthew this right now but she figured that he needed to know. It was his right to know exactly what had happened and after what he had been through she wasn't going to hide anything from him.

Matthew's temper slowly built but before it reached a boiling point he felt soft feathers brush against his own and he looked down at Sibelius. "(Uncle Matthew please don't get angry at Zorro. He did a terrible thing but dad has taught me that we need to learn to forgive. And Zorro is a good Pokemon. He was tricked. Why should he be punished any more than he already has if he was tricked. It wouldn't be fair to him.)"

Matthew and everyone else, especially Marlowe, looked down at the small Chatot. Matthew suddenly felt his mind begin to clear and he let out a deep sigh. "(Your father is very wise Sibelius. And you are right Zorro was tricked into doing this. However, that does not change the fact that he did a terrible thing against this family. And he must be punished for that.)" Matthew took in a breath and slowly let it out. "(But I can promise you Sibelius that I will try to be fair with him.)"

Sibelius looked at his uncle and smiled. "(Alright Uncle Matthew. Hey do you want to play Mortal Kombat X with Scratch and me later. The Pokemon center has it in the rec room and Scratch and I have gotten really good at it?)" Matthew just chuckled and shook his head. His nephew's ability to change the direction of a conversation on a whim had always been quite amusing.

"(Perhaps later Sibelius. Right now your uncle needs to rest.)" Matthew didn't just say that to get out of the conversation. In truth he was mentally and physically exhausted and it was beginning to show on his face. Jenna also took note of this and slowly got to her feet. "Alright well let's all give Matthew some time to rest and think. We can come back and see him again in the morning." Jenna leaned down and gently rubbed Matthew's wing. "It's good to have you back buddy." Matthew smiled at his trainer as she herded everyone save for Elizabeth and Marlowe out of the room.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying the peace and quiet of it all until Marlowe finally spoke.

"(Matthew. I know that you probably don't want to talk about it but I feel that I must ask. What did you see after you died?)" Matthew pondered his brother's question for a moment. He honestly thought about telling him the truth of what he had witnessed but then thought better of it. He still wasn't sure that what he had witnessed had actually happened. Angel had never truly given him any concrete evidence to indicate whether or not what he had witnessed had been just a very real dream or the real thing. Ultimately he decided to give Marlowe a small part.

"(I saw...love Marlowe. And I will leave it at that.)" Marlowe simply nodded and turned to go, Sibelius was utterly exhausted and by this time was fast asleep in his wings. "(Very well brother. I will not pursue this line of thought any farther. Oh yes and before I forget one of the Chansey's at the prison wanted me to give you something. She said that she tried her best to repair it but according to her she had little more than a puddle of metal to work with.)"

To Matthew's amazement Marlowe produced from under his feather's his anklet. Matthew stared in shock at the small piece of metal. When Calcifer had incinerated it he had thought for sure that it was gone for good. But Sophie...that kind hearted Chansey had collected the remains and put it back together for him. Matthew gingerly took the metal object from Marlowe's wing and held it. Watching it shimmer in the fading light from the window before speaking.

"(Marlowe. Thank you.)" Marlowe nodded. "(Be sure to thank her if you ever see her again. She also put that Arcanine warden in a cell of his own. I hear that he's going to be doing life for his death matches there.)" Marlowe cocked his head to the side in thought. "(Rather poetic actually. At any rate I'm going to go check and Scratch and Sibelius. The two of them have been a bit more than Ross alone can handle lately. Rest well my brother.)" And with that Marlowe turned and left leaving Matthew and Elizabeth alone.

Matthew looked at the anklet once more before gently setting it down on the table and looking at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth looked down at Matthew and took his wing in her claw. "(Matzew I have to know somezing.)" Matthew looked at her. "(What is it Elizabeth?)" Elizabeth thought for a second before speaking. "(Matzew ven you said zat you loved me, in ze same vay zat you loved Angel. Vere you telling me ze truth? Or vas zat just ze fact you zought you vere going to die?)" Matthew blinked a few times in surprise. Apparently Elizabeth had been sitting here for the last two weeks doing nothing but thinking about the two of them. And given that amount of time to think and ruminate it would only be natural that she would start to have doubts. Doubts which Matthew would quickly assuage.

"(Elizabeth how could you even think such a thing. I meant every word that I told you. I still love Angel and I always will. I will always hold her close and dear to my heart. But at the same time I am ready to give my heart to you Elizabeth.)" Elizabeth looked at him with tears of joy in her eyes as she smiled and kissed Matthew gently on his beak.

"(Oh Matzew. You have no idea how happy you have made me.)" Matthew smiled and using what little strength he had left he pulled Elizabeth down onto the bed with him and wrapped a wing around her torso. "(I promise you Elizabeth that I will never leave you. I will protect you to my dying breath. And I will love you as my mate until death's cold grip comes for us. And when that happens I intend to be right by your side.)" Elizabeth looked over at Matthew and raised an eye as a small smile creased her face.

"(You have been listening to Marlowe too much.)" And with that they both drifted off to sleep in each other's arms. Content in the knowledge that nothing would ever separate them again.

.......................

Two days later Matthew was sitting up in bed with Elizabeth waiting for Jenna. He looked to be a little nervous and frankly Elizabeth didn't blame him. Jenna had gone to get Zorro to bring him before Matthew.

When Jenna had first offered Matthew the chance to pass judgement over Zorro he had gladly wanted to accept it. But after Sibelius's little speech and thinking about it over the last couple of days he had begun to dread the encounter. As angry as he was at Zorro for what he had done he was just as much a victim in this as anyone else. More so to some degree considering how Tiberius had blackmailed him into keeping his silence.

The door opened and Matthew pushed the thoughts aside as Jenna came in holding Zorro's poke ball. Behind her Veruka and Leopold came in as well, shutting the door behind them. While the final verdict rested with Matthew as the official leader of the ranch Zorro was technically's Veruka's responsibility almost as much as Jenna's and Matthew thought it appropriate or her to be here. And Leopold was simply there to help keep Veruka's occasionally fiery temper in check.

Jenna set the ball down on the bed and Matthew looked through the top at the Mothim curled up in a fetal ball. Without a second thought Matthew reached his wing out and tapped the button on the ball. It opened and once the flash faded Zorro was laying there on the bed with his head buried under his wings.

"(Zorro?)" Matthew said as he looked down at the terrified Pokemon.

Zorro slowly lifted his head and Matthew could see the agony in his eyes. He had been through hell since the trial. The numerous bandages on his body from his encounter's with both Tiberius and Elizabeth made it look like he had been through a particularly brutal battle while the pain that radiated from his bloodshot eyes seemed to pierce Matthew's soul.

The two looked at each other for a second before Zorro spoke. His voice was quiet and unlike when he normally spoke to Matthew, carried no hint of anger, jealousy, or malice.

"(Matthew. Please. I'm sorry for what I did. I let my jealousy and my hatred of you cloud my judgement and I committed a horrible crime against our family and our team. I don't expect your forgiveness and frankly I don't deserve it either. All I ask is that you please just let me live and leave the ranch. I don't deserve anymore than that.)"

Matthew cocked his head to the side in thought and was about to say something when Elizabeth's pent up anger took over. She reached out and slapped Zorro across the face hard enough to knock him over. Jenna made a move to intervene but Matthew beat her too it and grabbed a hold of Elizabeth's arm.

"(Elizabeth that is enough!)" Elizabeth turned to Matthew with tears staining her blood red eyes. "(After vat he did Matzew he does not deserve anyzing better. HE-)" Matthew held up his wing for her to stop. "(ELIZABETH ENOUGH!!)" Elizabeth stopped and looked at Zorro as he lay there curled in a ball.

"(I know what he's done Elizabeth. I was the victim of his crime. But despite all of that we are not going to act like monsters and bring ourselves down to the same level as Wilson and Tiberius. I am not going to let my judgement towards him be based on petty revenge. He has already suffered quite a bit for his crimes. Hurting him physically isn't going to change anything. Now my dear please let me handle this and respect my wishes.)" Elizabeth looked at Matthew long and hard before nodding and pulling her arm back.

Slowly Matthew got out of bed and limped over to Zorro. The leg that was wounded in his fight with Feng still giving him some trouble. He looked down at him and placed a wing on Zorro's damaged wing that he had cut off long ago. Zorro uncovered his head as Matthew looked down at him.

"(Zorro I am disgusted by what you did. I have difficulty believing it even happened. And to be perfectly frank I would be well within my rights to banish you from the ranch.)" He took in a deep breath and let it out. "(That being said. You never meant for anyone to get hurt. You simply wanted me out of the way, not dead, I can see that in your eyes. You're not a murderer Zorro. You were simply tricked into being an accomplice to one. And you suffered heavily for it. However, I cannot let you go unpunished for this. So, you will be allowed to stay on the ranch Zorro. But for the remainder of this year you will take over the chores of both Ross and Saria. The two of them are busy enough raising little Benjamin that they don't need the extra burden. Also from now on you will have a practice battle with Veruka on a DAILY basis. And she is not to hold back in said battles.)" Matthew looked over at Veruka who grinned and punched her fist into her hand.

"(And finally Zorro. If you ever betray my trust or the trust of your family and friends again. I will not be so lenient. This is your last chance Zorro. Don't disappoint.)" And with that Matthew returned to bed. Zorro just sat there looking at Matthew in shock. Jenna quickly returned him to his poke ball and went over to Matthew.

"Thank you Matthew. I'm not sure I would have been able to stay as calm as you were. I'll get him back to the ranch and have him start on...well whatever you have him doing as punishment." Jenna turned and left along with Veruka and Leopold. Elizabeth sighed.

"(Ze Matzew I once knew vould not have been so light on him.)" Matthew looked over at her. "(And do you miss him at all?)" Elizabeth shook her head.

"(Zere are times I do but for the most part I prefer you zis vay Matzew.)" She cuddled up next to him as Matthew laid back.

"(So do I Elizabeth. So do I.)"

EPILOGUE

Matthew sat next to the lamppost on the ranch. Starring up at the sky and wondering if Angel was up there looking down at him. It had been only a week since he had woken up from his coma and despite the advice of the doctors at the Pokemon center Matthew had practically demanded to be sent home. Although he had only been away barely a month it felt like an eternity since he had stood under the lamppost and stared up at the stars. They were just as beautiful as the night he had spent looking at them with Ross.

He ruffled his feathers against the cold night air and looked over at Elizabeth curled up under his wing. By now the entire ranch knew that the two of them had finally gotten around to expressing their love for each other thanks to Edna and her inability to keep a secret and Matthew had begun to get a little tired of the constant jabs from Napoleon about 'Birds and Bee's' as he put it. A topic which was raising some interesting and uncomfortable questions from Sibelius which Marlowe felt himself unqualified to answer.

Besides it wasn't like his relationship with Elizabeth had changed all that much since they had revealed their love. They still spent the same amount of time together. They were just a little more intimate during said time. Still there was something missing from it all. Something that Matthew knew that he had to do and and that Elizabeth was expecting from him at some point.

Matthew's thoughts were interrupted as the front door of the ranch opened and a tall figure stepped out followed by Jenna, Ina, and Luke. The four of them all shook hands and exchanged hugs before the tall figure turned and began to walk towards the lamppost. Once he was close enough Matthew was able to see Sam's features come into focus along with the small Sneasel perched on his shoulder.

He stopped a few meters away, not wanting to disturb the happy couple and gave Matthew a two fingered salute. "Well Matthew it's been fun but uhh I'm afraid I gotta get going. There's a boat to Hoenn with my name on it and a decent price on my head thanks to our mutual friend Wilson. So just figured I would say goodbye and wish you and Elizabeth the best of luck." Sam extended his hand and Matthew took it in his wing and gave him a strong shake. "Take care of yourself Matthew. And don't ever take what you have for granted." And with that Sam turned and headed off towards the path that would lead him off the ranch and south towards Kanto.

Matthew watched him go until he was completely out of sight before turning back to Elizabeth. He wished there was more he could have done for Sam but the trainer had made it clear the other times Matthew had offered that all he wanted was for Matthew to live his life to the fullest and take advantage of what he had been given. That and he was certain Jenna had completely restocked his supplies and likely given him a few items as well.

A small groan from Elizabeth got Matthew's attention and he looked down at her as she yawned and slowly sat up. "(Oh Matzew I'm sorry I didn't realize I had drifted off to sleep.)"

"(That's quite alright Elizabeth.)" He kissed her on the mouth and looked up at the sky. "(Although I am glad you are up. It's truly a beautiful night and I wouldn't want you to miss any of it.)" Elizabeth followed Matthew's gaze. "(Indeed it is Matzew. And zere is no Pokemon I vould razer spend it vith zan you.)"

The two of them sat together like that for over an hour before Matthew's previous train of thought that he had been concentrating on before Sam showed up came back to him. He looked at Elizabeth and the stars reflecting in her eyes and then at the peaceful ranch around him and finally down at the anklet on his leg.

It couldn't be a better time.

Matthew gently nudged Elizabeth to get her attention. "(Umm Elizabeth there is something that I have been meaning to ask you but I haven't quite known how to say it until just now.)" Matthew took a step back from Elizabeth. "(Vhat is it Matzew?)" Matthew smiled. "(Close your eyes Elizabeth and hold out your claws.)" Elizabeth did as she was told and felt Matthew place something in them.

"(Alright Elizabeth you can open your eyes now.)" Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked down at her claws and gasped in shock. She was holding Angel's cross in her claws. "(Matzew but...how? I zought zat you left it at ze Lost Tower?)" Matthew nodded. "(I did. I retrieved it on the way back from Veilstone. I had left it there because I thought that I was going to die and I couldn't bring myself to give it to anyone but it's original owner. But now I realize who I want to give it to. My future mate.)"

Elizabeth's eyes got incredibly wide as she looked down at the cross while Matthew sat in front of the standing Vespiqueen. The closest his species could get to kneeling.

"(Elizabeth. Dear Elizabeth my oldest friend and teammate. We have been through so much together and shared so many memories both good and bad. Would you make me the happiest Honchkrow in the world by being my mate?)" Elizabeth looked at the cross and then at Matthew before a large smile spread across her mouth and she engulfed Matthew in a tight hug.

"(Oh yes Matzew. Yes I vill be your mate!!!)"

Matthew wrapped his wing around Elizabeth and held her tightly as tears of joy fell from their eyes.

A small blue flash of light got Matthew's attention and he turned in the direction it came from. He blinked a few times to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating what he was seeing. Because he could swear that standing in the shadow of the trees on the edge of the woods was Angel. Staring back at him and smiling. She bowed her head once and placed a wing over her heart before removing it in Matthew's direction before vanishing in another flash of light. The meaning was evident. She had given Matthew her blessing.

Elizabeth had felt Matthew's muscles tighten when he saw the visage and she immediately wondered if something was wrong. "(Matzew is everyzing alright?)"

Matthew pulled back slightly so that she could see his face. Elizabeth swore that save for the day that he had met Angel she had never seen him happier.

"(Yes Elizabeth. Everything is going to be just fine.)"

THE END

Description
Darkness. There is only darkness. All consuming and all encompassing darkness.

He floats through this void of nothingness, feeling nothing, seeing nothing, the weight of the utter darkness crushing his soul.

Then there is the light. It comes slowly. A pinprick at the edge of vision. A minuscule dot that seems unreachable. A tiny beacon of hope in a sea of utter despair.

He reaches for the light, feeling it's warmth on his body as he slowly get's closer to it. The darkness tries to close in but his determination is too great. It becomes brighter and warmer until it fully engulfs him and the darkness is driven away. His vision is overwhelmed by the sudden explosion of light and then everything goes dark once more.

........................

A gentle breeze blew across his face. Slowly bringing him back to consciousness. The smells came next. The scent of fresh grass and flowers with a hint of a ocean air on the breeze.

Matthew's eyes snapped open and he took in a deep breath. Cool air flowed into his nostrils as he gasped. It felt like he hadn't taken a full breath in days. He lay there continuing to take deep breaths for what seemed an eternity, just staring at the grass and the forest that stood several hundred meters away. As he breathed he thought about where he was and how he had gotten there. The last thing that he had remembered was being strapped down to the table in the prison and being injected with poison. After that everything had gone dark and then he had suddenly awoken here. Wherever the hell here was.

After awhile Matthew felt his heart rate start to stabilize and slowly got his feet under his body and got up to sitting position to have a look around. What he saw caused his beak to drop open in shock.

He was standing in the middle of the field that formed the southeastern portion of Jenna's ranch. Everything was there. The ranch house, the oak tree with the tire swing, even the lamp post where he and Elizabeth often spent time together. On the other hand though something felt off. It only took Matthew a moment to realize what it was. There were no Pokemon on the ranch. At this time of day with the sun high in the sky Jenna's Pokemon would have been scattered across the open field and the rest of the ranch. Scratch and Sibelius should have been running around making mischief, Veruka would have been training in the field, Vincent would be trying to woo her in some way or another, and Jenna herself would be making the rounds. But there was no one. Not even the sounds of Pidgey flying overhead or small bug Pokemon. In fact other than the sound of the wind and ocean there was no sound whatsoever. Everything felt...dead.

Matthew continued to look around in shock for several minutes before finally regaining his composure. He gently ruffled his feathers and let out a deep sigh. "(Where the hell is everyone?)" He muttered to himself as he slowly began to walk towards the ranch house.

Matthew had never given much thought to an afterlife. He found that it distracted from the here and now of life. But...after waking up here and that bright light that he had seen in his dream...it made him think. He could not bring himself to believe that this was an afterlife of some sort, perhaps he was in a coma and this was simply a dream that he was having. That thought made more sense to him as he approached the house and gently pushed the door open with his wing.

The inside of the house was spotless. Everything was in it's proper place. Right down to Jenna's badges lining the walls of her trophy room. Not a speck of dust to be found on top of shelves or bookcases, and when he tried the lights he found that they came on with no problem. But again there seemed to be no sign of life anywhere. Matthew turned and left the house as he went to the barn. He flicked on the light with his wing and looked around. Like the house the barn was utterly spotless with everything sitting in it's proper place. Jenna's poke balls were lined up on there shelves and Matthew quickly went over to one and looked through the clear top, hoping to find one of his teammates inside. But to his great disappointment the ball was empty.

He let out a deep sigh of disappointment before turning and leaving the barn.

He was now certain that this was indeed a very bad dream and that he desperately needed to get the hell out of it. Spreading his wings Matthew prepared to take off. It was obvious that there was nothing here and Matthew wasn't going to sit around waiting for something to happen. He pushed himself off and was about to get airborne when he suddenly heard a soft voice behind him.

"(Where are you off to in such a hurry Matthew?)" Matthew stopped dead. He knew that voice. Had heard that voice as a distant echo in his dreams and nightmares. Had heard it in the back of his mind whenever he went to visit Angel's grave. And he knew right then that if this wasn't a dream then he was surely in Heaven.

Matthew slowly turned around and looked back into the barn. Standing in the light of the open door was Angel. She was exactly as Matthew had remembered her. The silky smooth blue feathers, the beautiful white down of her wings, and her eyes, oh Arceus those eyes that could melt the coldest hearts and bring joy to the darkest of moments.

He just stared at her in shock. Words were lost on him as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing and try and rationalize it as nothing more than part of the dream that he was still certain he was in. In his dreams he would always see her like this but it would always be from times that the two of them had spent together in the past and even then the image of her would be rather cloudy like he was looking at it through frosted glass. But this...this was different. It was like she was actually standing in front of him. Not only that but her voice was clear, not the faint distant tone that it had in his dreams. And...he could also smell her. Her wonderful scent was like a fine perfume to Matthew's nostril's that he hadn't sampled in years. He could remember laying with her alone for hours with his beak pressed against her neck. That scent was something that he had never forgotten and one that he had never before experienced in his dreams.

The two of them just starred at each other for a few seconds before Angel once more spoke. "(What's the matter Matthew? Skitty got your tongue?)" She giggled a little at her joke as she slowly approached him. Matthew just stood there motionless as she stopped less than a meter away from him and extended a wing out to him. "(It's alright Matthew. I would have the same reaction in your position as well.)" Matthew cocked his head to the side as he continued to stare at her before he finally found words.

"(Angel...what...how....this can't be real. This is a dream. I saw you die. I held you in my wings as you-)" Matthew was unable to finish as Angel slowly lowered her wing and looked at him. A mix of sorrow and something that Matthew couldn't quite place in her eyes as she took another step towards him so that they were practically touching. "(Matthew I can understand why you would think that this is a dream. I know that you have never thought much of what happens after death. Although I'm sure that you were always at least a bit curious as to my fate. However, I can assure you that this is not a dream Matthew.)" She reached out a took his wing, gently placing it against her own cheek. "(I don't know how to convince you otherwise Matthew but perhaps I don't need to. After all. If this is a dream wouldn't you want to at least enjoy it while it lasts?)"

The physical contact sent a rush of emotions and memories flooding back through his mind as his emotional barriers that he had spent a great deal of time erecting all came crashing down. Tears flowed freely from his eyes as he took a step forward and without thinking embraced Angel in a tight hug. Angel returned the gesture and wrapped her wings around him in turn as Matthew locked eyes with her and without a second thought he kissed her.

"(Oh Angel. You have no idea how I've missed you.)" Angel tightened her grip on Matthew as she looked into his eyes. Tears falling from them like shimmering diamonds as the two of them kissed again. Never wanting the beautiful moment to end.

The two of them stood like that for what seemed an eternity until Angel finally pulled back from Matthew and looked deeply into his eyes. "(Matthew?)" Matthew looked at her and gently touched her cheek with his wing. "(Yes, Angel?)" Angel slowly let Matthew go and pulled back from him. "(Matthew it's time that I explained to you what is going on here. You see...how can I put this delicately. Matthew you died in that prison.)"

Matthew's eyes got wide. While he had entertained this as a possibility he hadn't given it much credence. Again he had simply thought that he had gone into a coma and this was a dream. But while he and Angel had kissed and caressed one another that theory had lost more and more weight. He had never been able to touch Angel in any of his dreams. She would always die before he could get to her or walk off into the distance. But this...this was just too real, too intense to be a dream.

Angel gave Matthew a few seconds to process what she had just told him before she spoke again. "(I'm sorry to have to tell you Matthew. However, I...I don't know how to put this in a way that you will be able to understand but...)" Angel trailed off and stopped.

Matthew just continued to stare at her for several long seconds before finally speaking. "(Angel what are you talking about? If I died then...isn't this some sort of afterlife? I mean it's not exactly as I imagined Heaven but with you here-)" Angel held up a wing. "(Matthew please we don't have much time.)" Matthew cocked his head to the side in confusion. "(What do you mean? Angel?)" Matthew walked up to her and looked into her eyes. What he hadn't been able to read earlier in her expression was suddenly clear to him. Fear.

"(Angel what's going on here?)" Angel let out a deep sigh. "(Let's take a walk Matthew. I'll explain it on the way.)" Matthew didn't protest and the two of them slowly began to walk across the ranch. After a minute of total silence Angel finally spoke up.

"(Matthew while you did die in that prison it doesn't mean that you can't return to the world of the living. This place is...not Heaven as you would call it. The best analogy that I can think of is that it's a bridge between world's. But once someone from the world of the living crosses this bridge they may never go back the way they came. To put it simply once you go on to what you refer to as Heaven or an afterlife you can never go back to the world of the living. I'm sorry if I'm not being very clear or concise Matthew and I know that it's a lot to take in but-)"

Matthew interrupted her. "(Wait. So if what you are saying is true then that means that I can still return. I can see Marlowe and Jenna and Elizabeth again!?)" Angel nodded somberly. "(Yes Matthew you could return. And not as a Ghost Pokemon I might add. That is an entirely different process. On your side your body is still alive. It's just...absent your soul at the moment. With Ghost Pokemon their body is dead and can no longer be returned to. When they choose to return to the world of the living their soul then inhabits a new form. What we know as Ghost types. However, they have no knowledge of this place or their previous life afterwards. It's rather sad actually. They choose to return and live what amounts almost to a half life rather than face the uncertainty of the afterlife.)"

Matthew had listened to her explanation with rapt fascination. The simple knowledge that he could return and be with his family again was almost too much for him to handle at once. He wanted to jump up and fly around in joy but then he noticed Angel's downtrodden look and he quickly understood why she seemed so depressed.

"(But if I returned then our time together here would end and I would go back to Elizabeth?)" Angel nodded again. "(Yes Matthew. I think it only fair to let you know that even in death I have never stopped thinking about you and I have never stopped loving you. But...at the same time I have watched you and Elizabeth. I have watched the two of you become closer and closer and finally confessing your love to one another that you have kept hidden for so long.)" Angel saw Matthew's expression change and quickly added. "(Please don't misunderstand Matthew. I feel no ill feelings towards either you or Elizabeth. I wanted you to move on and find someone special after I was gone. And I'm happy that it was Elizabeth. You two deserve each other and I don't want to get in the way of that. I simply wanted to state that I still love you Matthew. But it is not your time yet. You still have much left to do in life and I don't want your old feelings for me to get in the way of that. Matthew I...I don't want you to stay here with me. As much as it pains me to admit it I want you to return to your world and be with Elizabeth. She is in pain Matthew. Terrible pain. And you are the only one who can help her through it and bring light back to her life just as I once did for you. Please forgive me for these feelings of mine but I-.)"

Angel stopped as tears fell from her eyes. It was obvious to Matthew that this was what she had been so afraid of. She had been afraid to tell him this. To tell him that despite the love she still had for him she wanted him to go back. To be with Elizabeth. To have his life back. Even if it would be painful for her.

Matthew stopped walking and turned to Angel who was looking down sadly. "(Angel...I'm not angry with you. Or even upset. I'm simply once again amazed at your compassion. At what you are willing to do for one you love.)" Matthew moved in closer to her and once again held her tightly in his wings and gently caressed her feathers. "(Angel there is something that I wanted to tell you. Something that I wanted to say after you were attacked but I didn't have the time. I would like to tell you this now. Angel. The time that we had together was the best in my life. Every second that we spent together was a beautiful moment in time that I cherish deeply in my heart. I don't want to lose you Angel. And I know that you don't want to lose me either. But we have reached a crossroads in our lives and as painful as it is for both of us fate has forced us to take separate paths. I love you more than the sun and moon Angel. I love you with every fiber of my being and I will never stop loving you. Angel...thank you for saving me and bringing me into the light.)" Matthew gently kissed her beak as he said this while wiping tears from Angel's eyes.

Angel looked back up at him and smiled. "(Thank you Matthew...for understanding.)" Matthew shook his head. "(No, thank you Angel. For being willing to let go. I know from experience just how painful that can be.)"

The two of them sat like that and held each other as the sun above them slowly moved across the sky. They talked the entire time. Catching up on old times and enjoying many good laughs and tears over past memories and new ones that Matthew had made and shared with his old flame.

Finally the sun was nothing more than a sliver on the horizon and to Matthew's great consternation Angel slowly got up and looked at the sky. "(It's time Matthew. Time for you to make your choice. When the sun sets this place will end and you will go one of two ways. Back to the world of the living or to the afterlife. I'm sorry that we couldn't spend more time together but that is the way it is.)" Matthew also stood and looked at the sliver of sunlight that Angel was facing. He could see that she was holding back tears and he gently approached her side and kissed her neck. "(Angel. I don't know how I can ever repay you for this.)" Angel turned to him. "(Live your life Matthew. Make Elizabeth happy. Keep the withered white rose close to your heart but do not ignore the honeysuckle calling your name.)" Matthew chuckled. "(I knew I never should have told you about that.)" A smile creased Angel's beak. "(Marlowe really does know you better than you think Matthew.)"

The two of them stood in the field watching the sun disappear as Angel turned to Matthew one last time. "(I will always love you Matthew. Don't forget that.)" Matthew nodded as the two shared one last passionate kiss. "(And I will always love you Angel.)" And with that the two Pokemon released each other as Angel spread her wings and floated towards the dim sliver of sunlight. Matthew's last sight of her before she disappeared was of her looking back at him with bright eyes and a smile. There was nothing to be sad about any longer. They were finally both at peace.

Then the sliver of sunlight vanished and the world went black

.........................

Matthew slowly felt himself starting to come awake. He felt something soft under his body and heard a faint repetitive beep. Wherever he was it smelled clean and sterile and he thought that he also caught the hint of flowers and...cigarette's?

He opened his eyes to find himself laying in a hospital bed. There was an oxygen mask over his beak and an IV running into his wing. Off to his side was a small table with numerous cards and a small vase of flowers. Still the smell of cigarette's was quite prevalent and Matthew turned to his other side to locate the source and found himself staring at Elizabeth sitting on a chair to the side of his bed.

She was fast asleep and while Matthew knew that she wouldn't smoke in a Pokemon Center he also knew that she had likely gone out to have occasional smoke breaks and that the smell had likely carried with her back into the building.

A small smile creased his beak as he slowly lifted a wing out to her. The task was nearly impossible. His wing felt like it was made of concrete and the sheer effort of lifting it raised his heart rate enough that he could hear the beeps on the EKG meter behind him raise substantially. Still he managed to place his wing on her claw and gently rubbed it. He would never take her for granted ever again.

The physical contact was enough to rouse Elizabeth from her nap and she opened her eyes to find Matthew looking up at her. In a hoarse voice Matthew quietly called to her.

"(Elizabeth.)"

Elizabeth looked down at Matthew for a second in utter shock before letting out a loud wail of joy and hugging him tightly. Matthew groaned. His entire body felt sore all over as if he had been laying there for days on end without moving. Elizabeth didn't say anything and didn't let him go for several minutes as she cried tears of joy. Finally she regained her composure and leaned back so that she and Matthew's faces were only a few centimeters apart.

"(Matzew I...I had lost all hope. Ve all zought zat you vere gone forever. Ven you didn't vake up after ze second veek ve all zought zat-)" Matthew held up his wing for her to stop. "(Elizabeth what happened? The last thing I remember is being injected in the execution chamber.)" Matthew purposefully left out his memories of what happened between him and Angel. While he was still not certain if that was a dream or not right now it was unimportant to the conversation at hand.

Elizabeth looked at him in surprise for several seconds before speaking. "(You...you vere dead Matzew. Ze governor called and stopped ze execution but it vas too late. You vere brain dead Matzew. For ten minutes. Ze brought you to ze morgue and vere going to leave you zere but zen you suddenly started breathing again. Zey couldn't explain it. You vere dead for ten minutes. Zey said it vas a miracle. Zen zey took you to ze Pokemon Center and you have been in a coma for ze last two veeks. Ve vere starting to give up hope Matzew but now ve have you back!)"

She hugged him again and Matthew thought about what Elizabeth had just told him. Two weeks. He had been in a coma for two weeks. Not only that but he had been dead. Brain dead no less. Matthew began to wonder what exactly had happened with he and Angel in what she had called a 'Bridge Between Worlds' but he quickly pushed it from his mind as he thought back to Elizabeth who was still swooning over him.

Using what strength he had Matthew brought his wings around and hugged Elizabeth as she rubbed her head against his neck. "(Don't worry Elizabeth I'm not going anywhere.)" The two of them sat together for several minutes until the door opened and Jenna walked in with Ross sitting on her shoulder. Matthew quickly realized that he had to have been out for quite some time considering that the bandages on Ross's cheeks from his surgery were gone and the scars under them were barely visible.

As soon as Jenna saw that Matthew was awake she had a similar reaction to Elizabeth. She quickly rushed over to his side and locked him in a vise like hug. Matthew smiled at his trainer and at Ross who quickly ran off to get everyone else.

"Matthew. You have no idea how worried we all were. We thought that you were never going to wake up. I had practically given up all hope." Matthew subtly nodded as he returned the hug from his trainer as Ross quickly returned with Veruka, Marlowe, Sibelius, Leopold, and Vincent who all crowded into the room along with a Chansey who just barely managed to squeeze past the others and over to Matthew's bedside.

"(Alright everyone you can have a chance to talk with him in a minute. Let me just examine him and then you can all have a chance to see him.)" The Chansey went over to the side of Matthew's bed while everyone else went over to a corner in the room and waited for her to be done checking him over. She was rather brief in her examination, much to Matthew's relief, and turned to leave the room only a few minutes after entering.

"(Everything seems to be fine. But we'll keep a close eye on you over the next couple of days. After all you were in a coma for half a month. Better to be safe than sorry with these sort of things. At any rate I would appreciate it if you were all rather brief in your visit.)" And with that she turned and walked out.

Matthew was quickly flooded with a barrage of goodwill from his family and friends. Too much for him to all take in or process at once. So he simply sat there and either nodded his head or gave a polite 'Thank You' to his friends and family. After the pleasantries were finished the real questions began in earnest, most of them coming from Matthew himself.

A lot had happened in the two weeks he had been unconscious, Jenna explained. Only hours after the governor had called to end Matthew's execution two major events had happened. The first was that Wilson had been arrested on charges of illegal Pokemon pit fighting after the police conducted a raid at his house based on a phone call they had received. The second was that a warrant was put out for Sam's arrest. None of them knew why but according to Jenna Luke had been very cagey on the subject. Also Jenna's friend Elisa had come forward and claimed that Wilson had kidnapped her Ampharos to blackmail her into testifying against Matthew while at the same time her Ampharos had mysteriously shown up at the Pokemon center with Luke.

Jenna had looked around nervously before giving Matthew her take on it. She figured that Sam and Luke had raided Wilson's house to get evidence and that they had succeeded. Albeit with Sam having been seen.

At any rate the mounting evidence and a strange voice recording of Wilson that had been sent to the Sinnoh News Network had been the final nail in the coffin of Matthew's sentence. The scandal had gotten completely out of hand and the public outcry against Wilson and now even the governor who was rumored to be considering resignation was so fierce and intense that the courts had no choice but to commute the sentence against Jenna and Matthew. They had far bigger things to worry about now.

Once Jenna had finished explaining all of this Matthew had simply laid back and looked up at the ceiling. So this had all simply been about revenge. Not for Matthew's actions against Wilson's stuck up Persian but for Jenna's major role in his father's downfall. Part of Matthew almost felt sorry for Wilson...almost. He had once been much like him. Consumed with a passion for one thing that drove him forward. However, unlike Wilson Matthew had been pulled back before the darkness had consumed his soul.

They all sat quietly letting Matthew digest what they had just said when Jenna cleared her throat.

"Matthew there is one other thing that I think we should bring up. And it concerns Zorro." Matthew raised his head. While he and Zorro weren't close he was still a teammate and if something was wrong then Matthew wanted to know right away. Jenna looked down for a second before speaking.

"The recording of Wilson. The SNN got the edited version. I received in the mail a few days the unedited version from an unknown source but I'm pretty sure you can figure out who sent that. At any rate it reveals that...Zorro had made a deal with Wilson. And before you say anything Veruka already spoke with him and got the full story from him. In exchange for Wilson dropping the charges against me and just going after you he would use his psychic powers to affect the outcome of the trial. However, Wilson betrayed him. He had promised Zorro that he wouldn't go for your execution but instead just have you locked up. But once he did the deed Tiberius attacked him and then apparently threatened to kill Sibelius and Marlowe if he spoke. But during your execution Zorro had a massive breakdown and revealed to us what he had done." Jenna looked over at the Vespiqueen who didn't show any sign of remorse over what she had done to Zorro. And frankly Matthew didn't see any on the faces of the others either.

"At any rate I didn't tell the police what he did. The evidence in support of you was already so much that it wouldn't have mattered but...I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with him. I felt that his punishment should be a decision that we make as a team. But now that you're awake...I feel that perhaps you are best suited to this Matthew."

Matthew's eyes took on a dark cadence that Jenna and the others had seen before as Leopold slowly reached up and brushed the scar over his eye. He knew all too well about Matthew's temper and had tried to talk Jenna out of telling Matthew this right now but she figured that he needed to know. It was his right to know exactly what had happened and after what he had been through she wasn't going to hide anything from him.

Matthew's temper slowly built but before it reached a boiling point he felt soft feathers brush against his own and he looked down at Sibelius. "(Uncle Matthew please don't get angry at Zorro. He did a terrible thing but dad has taught me that we need to learn to forgive. And Zorro is a good Pokemon. He was tricked. Why should he be punished any more than he already has if he was tricked. It wouldn't be fair to him.)"

Matthew and everyone else, especially Marlowe, looked down at the small Chatot. Matthew suddenly felt his mind begin to clear and he let out a deep sigh. "(Your father is very wise Sibelius. And you are right Zorro was tricked into doing this. However, that does not change the fact that he did a terrible thing against this family. And he must be punished for that.)" Matthew took in a breath and slowly let it out. "(But I can promise you Sibelius that I will try to be fair with him.)"

Sibelius looked at his uncle and smiled. "(Alright Uncle Matthew. Hey do you want to play Mortal Kombat X with Scratch and me later. The Pokemon center has it in the rec room and Scratch and I have gotten really good at it?)" Matthew just chuckled and shook his head. His nephew's ability to change the direction of a conversation on a whim had always been quite amusing.

"(Perhaps later Sibelius. Right now your uncle needs to rest.)" Matthew didn't just say that to get out of the conversation. In truth he was mentally and physically exhausted and it was beginning to show on his face. Jenna also took note of this and slowly got to her feet. "Alright well let's all give Matthew some time to rest and think. We can come back and see him again in the morning." Jenna leaned down and gently rubbed Matthew's wing. "It's good to have you back buddy." Matthew smiled at his trainer as she herded everyone save for Elizabeth and Marlowe out of the room.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying the peace and quiet of it all until Marlowe finally spoke.

"(Matthew. I know that you probably don't want to talk about it but I feel that I must ask. What did you see after you died?)" Matthew pondered his brother's question for a moment. He honestly thought about telling him the truth of what he had witnessed but then thought better of it. He still wasn't sure that what he had witnessed had actually happened. Angel had never truly given him any concrete evidence to indicate whether or not what he had witnessed had been just a very real dream or the real thing. Ultimately he decided to give Marlowe a small part.

"(I saw...love Marlowe. And I will leave it at that.)" Marlowe simply nodded and turned to go, Sibelius was utterly exhausted and by this time was fast asleep in his wings. "(Very well brother. I will not pursue this line of thought any farther. Oh yes and before I forget one of the Chansey's at the prison wanted me to give you something. She said that she tried her best to repair it but according to her she had little more than a puddle of metal to work with.)"

To Matthew's amazement Marlowe produced from under his feather's his anklet. Matthew stared in shock at the small piece of metal. When Calcifer had incinerated it he had thought for sure that it was gone for good. But Sophie...that kind hearted Chansey had collected the remains and put it back together for him. Matthew gingerly took the metal object from Marlowe's wing and held it. Watching it shimmer in the fading light from the window before speaking.

"(Marlowe. Thank you.)" Marlowe nodded. "(Be sure to thank her if you ever see her again. She also put that Arcanine warden in a cell of his own. I hear that he's going to be doing life for his death matches there.)" Marlowe cocked his head to the side in thought. "(Rather poetic actually. At any rate I'm going to go check and Scratch and Sibelius. The two of them have been a bit more than Ross alone can handle lately. Rest well my brother.)" And with that Marlowe turned and left leaving Matthew and Elizabeth alone.

Matthew looked at the anklet once more before gently setting it down on the table and looking at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth looked down at Matthew and took his wing in her claw. "(Matzew I have to know somezing.)" Matthew looked at her. "(What is it Elizabeth?)" Elizabeth thought for a second before speaking. "(Matzew ven you said zat you loved me, in ze same vay zat you loved Angel. Vere you telling me ze truth? Or vas zat just ze fact you zought you vere going to die?)" Matthew blinked a few times in surprise. Apparently Elizabeth had been sitting here for the last two weeks doing nothing but thinking about the two of them. And given that amount of time to think and ruminate it would only be natural that she would start to have doubts. Doubts which Matthew would quickly assuage.

"(Elizabeth how could you even think such a thing. I meant every word that I told you. I still love Angel and I always will. I will always hold her close and dear to my heart. But at the same time I am ready to give my heart to you Elizabeth.)" Elizabeth looked at him with tears of joy in her eyes as she smiled and kissed Matthew gently on his beak.

"(Oh Matzew. You have no idea how happy you have made me.)" Matthew smiled and using what little strength he had left he pulled Elizabeth down onto the bed with him and wrapped a wing around her torso. "(I promise you Elizabeth that I will never leave you. I will protect you to my dying breath. And I will love you as my mate until death's cold grip comes for us. And when that happens I intend to be right by your side.)" Elizabeth looked over at Matthew and raised an eye as a small smile creased her face.

"(You have been listening to Marlowe too much.)" And with that they both drifted off to sleep in each other's arms. Content in the knowledge that nothing would ever separate them again.

.......................

Two days later Matthew was sitting up in bed with Elizabeth waiting for Jenna. He looked to be a little nervous and frankly Elizabeth didn't blame him. Jenna had gone to get Zorro to bring him before Matthew.

When Jenna had first offered Matthew the chance to pass judgement over Zorro he had gladly wanted to accept it. But after Sibelius's little speech and thinking about it over the last couple of days he had begun to dread the encounter. As angry as he was at Zorro for what he had done he was just as much a victim in this as anyone else. More so to some degree considering how Tiberius had blackmailed him into keeping his silence.

The door opened and Matthew pushed the thoughts aside as Jenna came in holding Zorro's poke ball. Behind her Veruka and Leopold came in as well, shutting the door behind them. While the final verdict rested with Matthew as the official leader of the ranch Zorro was technically's Veruka's responsibility almost as much as Jenna's and Matthew thought it appropriate or her to be here. And Leopold was simply there to help keep Veruka's occasionally fiery temper in check.

Jenna set the ball down on the bed and Matthew looked through the top at the Mothim curled up in a fetal ball. Without a second thought Matthew reached his wing out and tapped the button on the ball. It opened and once the flash faded Zorro was laying there on the bed with his head buried under his wings.

"(Zorro?)" Matthew said as he looked down at the terrified Pokemon.

Zorro slowly lifted his head and Matthew could see the agony in his eyes. He had been through hell since the trial. The numerous bandages on his body from his encounter's with both Tiberius and Elizabeth made it look like he had been through a particularly brutal battle while the pain that radiated from his bloodshot eyes seemed to pierce Matthew's soul.

The two looked at each other for a second before Zorro spoke. His voice was quiet and unlike when he normally spoke to Matthew, carried no hint of anger, jealousy, or malice.

"(Matthew. Please. I'm sorry for what I did. I let my jealousy and my hatred of you cloud my judgement and I committed a horrible crime against our family and our team. I don't expect your forgiveness and frankly I don't deserve it either. All I ask is that you please just let me live and leave the ranch. I don't deserve anymore than that.)"

Matthew cocked his head to the side in thought and was about to say something when Elizabeth's pent up anger took over. She reached out and slapped Zorro across the face hard enough to knock him over. Jenna made a move to intervene but Matthew beat her too it and grabbed a hold of Elizabeth's arm.

"(Elizabeth that is enough!)" Elizabeth turned to Matthew with tears staining her blood red eyes. "(After vat he did Matzew he does not deserve anyzing better. HE-)" Matthew held up his wing for her to stop. "(ELIZABETH ENOUGH!!)" Elizabeth stopped and looked at Zorro as he lay there curled in a ball.

"(I know what he's done Elizabeth. I was the victim of his crime. But despite all of that we are not going to act like monsters and bring ourselves down to the same level as Wilson and Tiberius. I am not going to let my judgement towards him be based on petty revenge. He has already suffered quite a bit for his crimes. Hurting him physically isn't going to change anything. Now my dear please let me handle this and respect my wishes.)" Elizabeth looked at Matthew long and hard before nodding and pulling her arm back.

Slowly Matthew got out of bed and limped over to Zorro. The leg that was wounded in his fight with Feng still giving him some trouble. He looked down at him and placed a wing on Zorro's damaged wing that he had cut off long ago. Zorro uncovered his head as Matthew looked down at him.

"(Zorro I am disgusted by what you did. I have difficulty believing it even happened. And to be perfectly frank I would be well within my rights to banish you from the ranch.)" He took in a deep breath and let it out. "(That being said. You never meant for anyone to get hurt. You simply wanted me out of the way, not dead, I can see that in your eyes. You're not a murderer Zorro. You were simply tricked into being an accomplice to one. And you suffered heavily for it. However, I cannot let you go unpunished for this. So, you will be allowed to stay on the ranch Zorro. But for the remainder of this year you will take over the chores of both Ross and Saria. The two of them are busy enough raising little Benjamin that they don't need the extra burden. Also from now on you will have a practice battle with Veruka on a DAILY basis. And she is not to hold back in said battles.)" Matthew looked over at Veruka who grinned and punched her fist into her hand.

"(And finally Zorro. If you ever betray my trust or the trust of your family and friends again. I will not be so lenient. This is your last chance Zorro. Don't disappoint.)" And with that Matthew returned to bed. Zorro just sat there looking at Matthew in shock. Jenna quickly returned him to his poke ball and went over to Matthew.

"Thank you Matthew. I'm not sure I would have been able to stay as calm as you were. I'll get him back to the ranch and have him start on...well whatever you have him doing as punishment." Jenna turned and left along with Veruka and Leopold. Elizabeth sighed.

"(Ze Matzew I once knew vould not have been so light on him.)" Matthew looked over at her. "(And do you miss him at all?)" Elizabeth shook her head.

"(Zere are times I do but for the most part I prefer you zis vay Matzew.)" She cuddled up next to him as Matthew laid back.

"(So do I Elizabeth. So do I.)"

EPILOGUE

Matthew sat next to the lamppost on the ranch. Starring up at the sky and wondering if Angel was up there looking down at him. It had been only a week since he had woken up from his coma and despite the advice of the doctors at the Pokemon center Matthew had practically demanded to be sent home. Although he had only been away barely a month it felt like an eternity since he had stood under the lamppost and stared up at the stars. They were just as beautiful as the night he had spent looking at them with Ross.

He ruffled his feathers against the cold night air and looked over at Elizabeth curled up under his wing. By now the entire ranch knew that the two of them had finally gotten around to expressing their love for each other thanks to Edna and her inability to keep a secret and Matthew had begun to get a little tired of the constant jabs from Napoleon about 'Birds and Bee's' as he put it. A topic which was raising some interesting and uncomfortable questions from Sibelius which Marlowe felt himself unqualified to answer.

Besides it wasn't like his relationship with Elizabeth had changed all that much since they had revealed their love. They still spent the same amount of time together. They were just a little more intimate during said time. Still there was something missing from it all. Something that Matthew knew that he had to do and and that Elizabeth was expecting from him at some point.

Matthew's thoughts were interrupted as the front door of the ranch opened and a tall figure stepped out followed by Jenna, Ina, and Luke. The four of them all shook hands and exchanged hugs before the tall figure turned and began to walk towards the lamppost. Once he was close enough Matthew was able to see Sam's features come into focus along with the small Sneasel perched on his shoulder.

He stopped a few meters away, not wanting to disturb the happy couple and gave Matthew a two fingered salute. "Well Matthew it's been fun but uhh I'm afraid I gotta get going. There's a boat to Hoenn with my name on it and a decent price on my head thanks to our mutual friend Wilson. So just figured I would say goodbye and wish you and Elizabeth the best of luck." Sam extended his hand and Matthew took it in his wing and gave him a strong shake. "Take care of yourself Matthew. And don't ever take what you have for granted." And with that Sam turned and headed off towards the path that would lead him off the ranch and south towards Kanto.

Matthew watched him go until he was completely out of sight before turning back to Elizabeth. He wished there was more he could have done for Sam but the trainer had made it clear the other times Matthew had offered that all he wanted was for Matthew to live his life to the fullest and take advantage of what he had been given. That and he was certain Jenna had completely restocked his supplies and likely given him a few items as well.

A small groan from Elizabeth got Matthew's attention and he looked down at her as she yawned and slowly sat up. "(Oh Matzew I'm sorry I didn't realize I had drifted off to sleep.)"

"(That's quite alright Elizabeth.)" He kissed her on the mouth and looked up at the sky. "(Although I am glad you are up. It's truly a beautiful night and I wouldn't want you to miss any of it.)" Elizabeth followed Matthew's gaze. "(Indeed it is Matzew. And zere is no Pokemon I vould razer spend it vith zan you.)"

The two of them sat together like that for over an hour before Matthew's previous train of thought that he had been concentrating on before Sam showed up came back to him. He looked at Elizabeth and the stars reflecting in her eyes and then at the peaceful ranch around him and finally down at the anklet on his leg.

It couldn't be a better time.

Matthew gently nudged Elizabeth to get her attention. "(Umm Elizabeth there is something that I have been meaning to ask you but I haven't quite known how to say it until just now.)" Matthew took a step back from Elizabeth. "(Vhat is it Matzew?)" Matthew smiled. "(Close your eyes Elizabeth and hold out your claws.)" Elizabeth did as she was told and felt Matthew place something in them.

"(Alright Elizabeth you can open your eyes now.)" Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked down at her claws and gasped in shock. She was holding Angel's cross in her claws. "(Matzew but...how? I zought zat you left it at ze Lost Tower?)" Matthew nodded. "(I did. I retrieved it on the way back from Veilstone. I had left it there because I thought that I was going to die and I couldn't bring myself to give it to anyone but it's original owner. But now I realize who I want to give it to. My future mate.)"

Elizabeth's eyes got incredibly wide as she looked down at the cross while Matthew sat in front of the standing Vespiqueen. The closest his species could get to kneeling.

"(Elizabeth. Dear Elizabeth my oldest friend and teammate. We have been through so much together and shared so many memories both good and bad. Would you make me the happiest Honchkrow in the world by being my mate?)" Elizabeth looked at the cross and then at Matthew before a large smile spread across her mouth and she engulfed Matthew in a tight hug.

"(Oh yes Matzew. Yes I vill be your mate!!!)"

Matthew wrapped his wing around Elizabeth and held her tightly as tears of joy fell from their eyes.

A small blue flash of light got Matthew's attention and he turned in the direction it came from. He blinked a few times to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating what he was seeing. Because he could swear that standing in the shadow of the trees on the edge of the woods was Angel. Staring back at him and smiling. She bowed her head once and placed a wing over her heart before removing it in Matthew's direction before vanishing in another flash of light. The meaning was evident. She had given Matthew her blessing.

Elizabeth had felt Matthew's muscles tighten when he saw the visage and she immediately wondered if something was wrong. "(Matzew is everyzing alright?)"

Matthew pulled back slightly so that she could see his face. Elizabeth swore that save for the day that he had met Angel she had never seen him happier.

"(Yes Elizabeth. Everything is going to be just fine.)"

THE END