Episode 54:
The Ace: Part III - All Good Things

They woke up the next morning overlooking a beautiful sunrise on the Cerulean Sea. The sky was full of reds, pinks, oranges, and purples. Icy and Sara ate their breakfast while they watched the impressive display. Sara leaned over to Icy.

“Icy, do you think that Mr. Bill was a cure for us?”

“Yes Sara, I do.”

“How can you be so sure of it?”

“Because, if he doesn’t, well, I just know he does, that’s all.”

“Icy, tell me what the little girl Sara was like.”

“Well, first, you were that little girl, remember.”

“Uhhhh…”

“Anyway. Sara was a sweet little girl. She always loved to play with pokémon and help them. She would spend time with me every now and then. Hehehe… at least you remembered to continue doing that part.”

“Pihehe… Yah…”

“Well, let’s go visit Bill.”

“Wait, I want to enjoy one last morning of being a Pikachu first.” She took Icy’s paw and run into a nearby forest.

“Where are you taking me to?”

“You’ll see.” She led Icy to a clearing. In it were many caterpies and butterfrees. “See Icy. Your favorite pokémon are all right here.”

“Awww! Let’s spend the morning here.” They played with the caterpies and Butterfrees all morning long. Then, after saying their goodbyes, they finally headed up to Bill’s lighthouse.

Bill was there at the front door waiting for them. “Thank goodness you made it. Come in, please. You, do have, the egg, right?”

“Yes Bill. What’s in it?”

“I’m not sure, but Mewtwo gave me instructions on how to cure you two. I must say, he’s quite the scientist. A shame he’s always so evil. People really don’t see the good that’s still in him.” Icy took the egg out of his bag. “Oh, I see it’s almost hatched. Here, I’ll just put it in an incubator.” A few hours later, the shell began to pop off.

Icy peered inside. A golden antenna popped out. Then another. Finally, a normal sized golden Butterfree flew out of the egg. “Ohhh! It’s beautiful.” He stopped. Then Icy remembered the wonderful Butterfree that Sara’s father had given to Sara 4 years ago. Mewtwo was right about one thing, the Butterfree was symbolic. It was the cure for her and Icy. It flew gracefully around the lab. Finally, it landed next to Sara.

“It seems to like you Sara,” Bill said.

“Uh huh…” She pet the Butterfree gently on the head.

“OK… Let’s see… Mewtwo left instructions…” He took out a sheet of paper. “It says we need to collect some of its powder.” He asked the Butterfree to let out some of its powder. It nodded and shook its wings producing a blue powder. Bill collected the proper amount in a test tube. “Now we’ll just put this in the apparatus over here.”

Icy and Sara watched as Bill worked quickly to develop the potion to cure them. “Do you really think it’s gonna work Icy?”

“You asked that question already. Of course it will.”

“It’s almost done. If you two had anything you still wanted do anything as pikachus, now’s the time.”

“Oh wait. My pokémon. They need to know. Come out everyone!” Icy’s pokémon filled the room.

“Master, why have you called for us all?”

“Hocus, Bill and Mewtwo have found a cure for me. Isn’t that great?”

Hocus thought about the possibilities for second. Then he nodded in agreement. “That’s wonderful master. Bill and Mewtwo are very generous souls. They should be commended for their time and effort. Especially Mewtwo. I always knew he had some good left in him. Even from our first encounter.”

“Yes. Many people have helped us along the way. I’ll miss them.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, our adventure is kinda over Hocus. I don’t want to journey anymore.” Bill was almost done now. “After everything we've been through, me and Sara have decided we need a break and are going settle down in the Viridian Forest.”

“Master, I don’t fully catch your drift here.”

“Hocus, you’re a great friend and mentor. But there is more to life than training pokémon. But don’t worry, I won’t ever stop playing with you all. Even old people can be trainers too!”

“That is true.”

“Well you two, it’s ready. There’s enough here for the both of you. Open wide.” Sara gripped Icy’s paw tight. He winced a sec but then understood her fear. He telepathically calmed her mind, putting her at ease. They drank the potion. Then, they waited. An hour past, but nothing had happened. Icy’s eyes began to water. Sara put her paw around him for comfort.

“It’s not working… I’ll never be… never… be… cured…” Icy’s tears hit the floor. Bill lowered his head.

“I… I’m so sorry… I really thought we had there…”

“Icy… Are you going to be ok?”

“I… I… Huh.” Icy looked at his paw. It was a hand again. “Hey! It’s working! It’s WORKING!!!” Icy laughed hysterically as the rest of his body changed back into human form. “I’m a human again! I’m a kid again! IT WORKED!!!” Sara too was slowly changing into a beautiful young lady. “Sara! You’re human again too! You are the Sara I knew. Mewtwo was right!”

Somewhere, in the room, or just inside Icy’s head, he heard someone say to him faintly, “Now you hold all the aces Icy. May you continue to help pokémon and serve my cause. Don’t prove me wrong.” Icy knew who the voice belonged to and smiled inside. Sara went up to him and kissed him on the lips.

“I love you Icy,” she said softly.

“I love you too, Sara,” he replied. Bill left the room and Icy’s pokémon returned to their pokéballs.

(Dramatic music plays in the background)