ANIMATED EARTH II: FAITH OF THE HEART
BY WILLIAM RAYMER

Earth.
Over two billion people live, work, and play on this planet. Most of us are blissfully unaware of the fact that there is another Earth, on which live the people and animals we see on television and motion picture screens. This is the story of four of those individuals and the start of their biggest adventures. For two of them- Ash Ketchum and Misty Williams-they will take a step into the world of wedded bliss. And for the other two-Daniel and Sawyer Goldsmith-an even bigger adventure will begin….

Author's Notes and Disclaimers: This story is my creation, but the characters aren't. Cats Don't Dance and related characters are owned by Warner Bros. Pokemon and related characters are owned by Nintendo Co. Ltd. and The Pokemon Company. Battlestar Galactica (2005 TV series) and related characters are owned by NBC Universal Television. Other shows and their characters will be credited on a chapter-by-chapter basis.

Chapter 7-

"Together, and as One"

William smiled as Tuvok pronounced the operation a success. "Thank you, Mr. Tuvok. Dismissed," William said.

Tuvok nodded, then left Sickbay. William tapped his commbadge. "Todman to Goldsmith. Danny, report to Sickbay."

As Danny walked into Sickbay, Darla smiled at William. "May I have a moment?" Darla asked. William nodded, then joined The Doctor in an adjacent room.

"Danny, I must apologize for my actions 9 years ago," Darla said. Danny shook his head. "Darla, what transpired 9 years ago was not entirely your fault. I believe-and William agrees with me-that the part of you that was Lieutenant Sito was and is again your conscience and love of animals," Danny said.

Danny looked around Sickbay in order to see if William or The Doctor were listening, then turned back to Darla. "Darla, between you and me, do you still plan on marrying William?"

Darla held up her hand, on which was the engagement ring William gave Sito. "Does this answer your question?" Darla asked.

A few hours later, on Holodeck 2, Ash and Misty's wedding resumed right where it was interrupted by Team Rocket.

"Ashton James Ketchum and Misty Annabeth Williams, under the authority vested in me by Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," William said.

Ash and Misty kissed for the first time as husband and wife. Sawyer stood up and moved to a microphone, while Darla sat behind the keyboard of a piano.

"This song is dedicated to Gym Leader and Mrs. Ashton Ketchum, as well as to a couple who couldn't be here tonight: Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Stoppable," Sawyer said.

Darla played the introduction as Sawyer began to sing:

I know we've been friends forever
But now I think I'm feeling something totally new
And after all this time
I've opened up my eyes
Now I see you were always with me

Darla joined in on the chorus:

Could it be you and I
Never imagined
Could it be,
 suddenly I'm falling for you

Sawyer kept singing as Darla turned back to the piano:

Could it be you were right here beside me
And I never knew
Could it be that it's true that it's you
And it's you

Darla smiled and looked at William as she began to sing:

It's kind of funny you were always near
But who would ever have thought that we would end up here
And every time I've needed you
You've been there to pull me through
Now it's clear I've been waiting for you

William and Danny joined their significant others:

Could it be you and I
Never imagined
Could it be, suddenly
I'm falling for you

Could it be you were right here beside me
And I never knew
Could it be that it's true that it's you
And it's you

Darla stood up from the piano and tapped her commbadge. "Energize," she whispered. A column of transporter energy surrounded her body as she continued to sing:

Today is the start of the rest of our lives I can see it in your eyes

The transporter deposited a wedding gown on Darla's body. Darla led William to stand in front of the lectern. Chakotay smiled as he took the lectern.

"Originally, I was to oversee the wedding of Admiral William Todman and Lieutenant Sito Jaxa. However, it was recently revealed that Sito was part of former child star Darla Dimple, separated as a result of an accident on a movie set 20 years ago," Chakotay said. "But, the love that Admiral Todman and Lieutenant Sito shared was transferred to Darla when the two were reunified. And so, we are gathered here to join William Henderson Todman and Joanna Amelia Romano-a/k/a Darla Dimple-in the bonds of matrimony."

"Do you, William Henderson Todman, take Joanna Amelia Romano, to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to hold her, and only her, for as long as you two shall live?"

William looked at Darla and smiled. "I loved Lieutenant Sito. And, since she was and is part of you, I love you," William said before turning to Chakotay. "I do," William said.

"And do you, Joanna Amelia Romano, take William Henderson Todman to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to hold him, and only him, for as long as you two shall live?"

"With all my heart, I do," Darla said. Sawyer pulled a Pokéball from the belt at her waist and opened it, revealing Chansey. "Chansey, the rings, please," Sawyer said. Chansey nodded, but before she could comply, she became bathed in a white light, revealing… "Blissey!" Sawyer said.

She pulled out her Pokédex and opened it. "Blissey, the Happiness Pokémon. It is kind-hearted and loves helping people. Blissey is the evolved form of Chansey, " Dextette said.

"Well then, give them the rings, Blissey," Sawyer said. The newly-evolved Blissey nodded, then pulled a plastic egg from her egg pocket. Sawyer opened it, revealing a gold ring with "William" inscribed on the inside and a silver ring with "Darla" inscribed on the inside.

William took the engagement ring off of Darla's finger and put the gold ring on her finger in its place. Darla put the silver ring on William's finger. "Now, we have a part of each other," Darla said. "So, that if we're apart, we can still be together, no matter where we go," William said.

"Admiral William Henderson Todman and Joanna Amelia Romano, I now pronounce you husband and wife," Chakotay said. "Go ahead, sir."

William leaned in and kissed Darla as her husband for the first time.

An hour later, in the Mess Hall, Crewman Chell and his crew erected a "Congrats, Newlyweds" banner. The new Gym Leader and Mrs. Ketchum and the new Admiral and Mrs. Todman walked in, followed by the wedding party.

The party was in full swing when comm whistled. "Bridge to Admiral Todman." William tapped his commbadge. "Go ahead." "Sir, we've got a runabout on final approach. It's got a few guests for the reception." "Allow it to land, then escort its passengers here," William said.

A few minutes later, a wizened man entered the Mess Hall. "Kurt?!?!" Ash and Misty exclaimed. Kurt, the Pokéball Master of Azalea Town, smiled.

"I bring greetings for both of the couples joined tonight," Kurt said. "And good news for you, Ash and Misty. Remember the G/S Ball?" Ash's jaw dropped. "Did you finally solve the mystery of what was in that damn thing?" Ash asked.

"Yes, I did. It was a species never before discovered," Kurt said. He opened the G/S Ball, revealing a green-colored Eevee -based monster.

William looked at the monster. Kurt turned to William. "Admiral Todman, I cede naming rights to you," he said.

William asked for and received a PADD from Chakotay.

"Personal Log, Admiral William Todman, Stardate 60135.7. Encode for transmission to President Charles Goodshow, World Pokémon Trainer's Congress, Indigo Plateau, Kanto Region.

After five years of investigation into the infamous G/S Ball, Kurt of Azalea Town, Johto Region, has cracked the mystery and revealed a Grass-type Pokémon.

As a present pursuant to my wedding to Darla Dimple, who now wishes to be called Darla Romano, Kurt ceded naming rights to me. And so, please find enclosed with this letter, a picture of Pokémon #387, 'Leafeon,' for use in future Pokédex upgrades. Signed, Admiral William H. Todman, Starfleet Command, United Federation of Planets."

William wrote "Leafeon, the Leaf Pokémon. Evolves from Eevee through the use of a Leaf Stone" on the PADD, then handed it back to Chakotay. "Send that off to Indigo Plateau, Captain," William said. "Aye, sir," Chakotay said.

A Voyager crewman walked up to William. "Admiral, the Runabout you requested-Runabout Tomarken-is in the Shuttlebay, and is ready for your inspection."

"Very well, Mr. Otomo. My wife and I will inspect it before we take off for Risa," William said. Picking up a PADD from a nearby table, William wrote:

U.S.S. TOMARKEN
FIRST RUNABOUT OF HER CLASS
REGISTRY NUMBER NX-74751
BUILT AT LUNA SHIPYARDS, SOL SYSTEM
ATTACHED TO U.S.S. VOYAGER NCC-74656

"If you find yourself troubled by something mysterious or a problem that's hard to solve,
there's a place you can go where you can always find help. You just need to look for it."
 --Baron Humbert von Gikkingen

on the PADD. He handed the PADD to the crewman. "I want that on the commissioning plaque," William said. "Aye, sir," the crewman said.

"All right, here's out entertainment," Chakotay said. "Here come the funniest Pokémon in the world-Pikachu and Meowth!"

As Pikachu and Meowth performed their comedy act, William and Darla, Ash and Misty and Danny and Sawyer all knew that love would bind them together forever.

The happy couples set out on their honeymoons next time.

Legal Notice: "Could It Be" (the song Sawyer and Darla sung for Ash and Misty) was written by Cory Lerios and George Gabriel, and is published by Walt Disney Music Company (ASCAP). It was used as the end title theme for the 2005 Disney Channel Original Movie Disney's Kim Possible Movie: "So the Drama." The lyrics were used without permission, but for non-commercial and non-profit use.

Epilogue-

"Into the Mystic"

In Voyager's Shuttlebay, William and Darla walked around the Runabout Tomarken. "Exterior clear," Darla said as she jotted down some notes.

William pressed the door opening control on the hull. The door opened onto the cockpit entrance corridor. William stepped onto the Tomarken and smiled.

He first made his way to the living compartment. William tapped his commbadge. "Admiral Todman to Crewman Otomo. Did you enable the slave circuits?" "Yes, sir. You can control the entire ship from the living compartment if the need arises."

"Thank you, Mr. Otomo," William said. "Todman, out." William then moved to the cockpit, joined soon after by Darla. "Everything's all set," Darla said, handing William the PADD with her inspection notes. William read the PADD and nodded.

Back in the shuttlebay, William handed the PADD to Otomo. "Good job, Mr. Otomo," William said. "You and your crew did an amazing job."

"Thank you, sir," Otomo said. "Any further orders, sir?" "Yes," William said. "Load our luggage onto the Tomarken. We lift off for Risa in one hour."

45 minutes later, Danny and Sawyer watched as Ashton and Misty Ketchum got on the Runabout Delaware, while William and Darla got on the Tomarken.

At precisely 2200 hours (10:00 PM), the two runabouts soared into the night sky over Pallet Town. The Delaware set a course for Porta Vista, while the Tomarken soared higher into the sky.

As soon as the Tomarken cleared Animated Earth's atmosphere, its warp nacelles glowed red, blue and gold, propelling it and its occupants into the future.

TO BE CONCLUDED IN ANIMATED EARTH III: THE REAL WORLD,
In which the A.E. crew tries to help their creator put right what once went wrong.

ALSO, DARLA DIMPLE'S TRUE STORY WILL BE TOLD IN
 ANIMATED EARTH CHRONICLES: THE LEGEND OF DARLA DIMPLE.

Author's Note: The Runabout Tomarken was named after television game show host Peter Tomarken (Press Your Luck), who was killed in a plane crash on March 13th, 2006 at the age of 63. I dedicate this chapter of Animated Earth II: Faith of the Heart to his memory.

Thanks for the memories, Peter…

PETER TOMARKEN 1942-2006