Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ Reckless Love ❯ Chapter 1

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

CHAPTER_ONE


The New Years party was in full swing at the Snowela Park Pokémon Centre, high in the mountains of Johto. Brock stood at the side of the wood-built room, glancing around at all the available girls who were there, as well as keeping a very close eye on Nurse Joy. He was also keeping an eye his friends, Ash and Misty, standing next to each other, laughing. As Togepi and Pikachu were over in the “PokéCorner” dancing together, they didn’t have to worry and could enjoy the party. But, it wasn’t as if Ash and Misty didn’t already spend enough time together.



Brock kept on glancing at the clock, counting down the minutes until midnight struck ... The amount of time left for him to find a girl to kiss. 22:00 ... 22:30 ... When the clock struck 23:00 he watched as Nurse Joy stepped onto the small stage, holding a microphone in her hand. She switched it on and tapped it, the DJ turning the music down.



“Excuse me please!” Joy said, waiting for the crowd to quieten down. “I’m not sure if you’re all aware, but we have surprise karaoke couple singing tonight,” she announced. The swarm of “quiet” partygoers quickly fell silent, some displaying white faces, green faces, choking faces ...



The DJ brought two top hats to Joy on the stage. “Ok. Girls names are in this hat, and boys names are in this hat,” he announced, raising the appropriate hat. “We’ll pick one name each, and whoever gets picked has to sing. No excuses guys.” He put his hand into the “Girl” hat and rummaged around, while Joy put her hand into the “Boy” hat and picked a ticket.



Ash, still standing next to Misty, wasn’t worried at all. What are the chances of being picked? “This should be funny,” he whispered to her. She turned round to face him.



“You won’t be saying that if you’re picked,” she reminded him, winking. Brock smiled, knowing what was going to happen, having come up with the idea in the first place.



“The first girl is,” the DJ began, “ ... “Katy Shaw”!”



An extremely loud “WHAT!?” was heard coming from the back of the room. Everyone turned round to see “Katy” with her hand over her mouth, walking dazedly across the floor to the stage.



“Hi Katy,” the DJ greeted her through a microphone.



“Hello,” she said nervously.



“The boy you’ll be singing with Katy,” Joy informed her, “is ... “Sam Getmall”!”



A loud group of male cheering came from the opposite side of the room. “Sam” appeared with lots of boys slapping his back and urging him on. He walked up onto the stage with his hands in the air and a huge confidant grin on his face.



“Hey Sam,” Joy greeted him.



“Hi everybody!” he shouted through the microphone, making everyone standing near the speakers wince.



“Now, about the song selection,” Joy began. “There are 5 envelopes, each containing a mixture of songs. Some envelopes have only one song in them, and others can have 2 or 3. But ... who knows?” she finished, holding out the 5 envelopes to the “karaoke couple”.



“Four!” the boy called out quickly. Katy shot an annoyed look at him as Joy opened the envelope.



“If you don’t like singing you made a good choice,” the DJ told them as he moved back over to his equipment. “Because ... you only have one song to sing!”



“Alright!” Katy screamed.



“Take your places,” Joy told them as she handed them the microphone and placed their song lyrics on a stand. Sam held the microphone mainly to himself as the song “You’re The One That I Want” started up.



During the song, Ash turned to speak to Misty. “Is it ok for me to say it’s funny now?” he asked her.



“Not with this terrible singing!” she replied, referring to Sam’s singing ability. They laughed as he began to sing the girls part, making Katy hit Sam up on the stage.



Misty’s attention focused on the mini fight that was breaking out on the stage, Ash took, what seemed to him, yet another “guilt-free” look at his best friend. Hair lying just above her slim shoulders ... denim jeans accompanying her flimsy blue shirt ... He swore that she knew the affect she had on him, and therefore dressed to make him suffer in silence.



“Whereas me ... ” he thought, looking down at his blue jeans and black shirt, and at the same time reaching up and touching his hat. “I probably make her suffer with embarrassment!” Now having turned away from her, he hung his head down in shame and sadness and took the hat off his head.



“Ash?” Misty asked him gently, seeing he had gone into yet another depressed mood. It had been happening a lot lately with him, and she still didn’t know the reason why, and not even Brock did. She placed her hands on his shoulders, feeling him jump and tense only slightly beneath her. “Are you ok?”



Ash willed the pang to go away, smiling falsely as he turned round to look at her. “Why d’you ask?”



“You took your hat off,” she said playfully, taking it from his hands. “Missing “old faithful”?”



Ash smiled for real when she again referred to his famous “million-postcard” hat. “My Mom says it’ll finally be clean when we get back to Pallet.”



“Then what’ll happen to the pretender?” she unknowingly flirted with him.



“He’ll get put in a box and buried,” Ash replied, making them both laugh.



“That was Katy and Sam!” Joy announced, breaking their conversation. Turning back to the stage, they saw Katy and Sam walk off, both going back to their group of friends in not the best of moods.



“Time for one more I think,” Joy decided. The DJ came back onto the stage with the hats and they both dug their hands in.



“Feeling lucky?” Misty asked Ash.



“What are the chances?” he reminded her.



“Right!” Nurse Joy said, raising her hand up in the air. “Our next boy is ... “Ash Ketchum”!”



Misty burst out laughing, whist Ash’s mouth dropped open and he immediately began to protest. “It’s a fix!” he cried, pointing a finger at Misty.



“You’re only saying that,” she said laughing, pushing him forward and onto the stage.



“Hi Ash!” Joy said to him through the microphone. She leaned it over to him.



“Hi,” he whispered into it, the sweat beginning to show on his face.



“Can you sing?” the DJ asked him, holding a “Girl” name in his hand.



“Not to save his life!” Brock shouted. The crowd laughed, Misty doubling over.



“Very funny,” Ash replied sarcastically from the stage. “Who am I going to be singing with?” he asked.



“Your partner is ... ” the DJ dragged on, unfolding the paper. “Misty Williams”!”



Misty was silent as the crowd around her clapped. “You did this Brock!” she shouted, turning to look at him. Ash laughed out loud as Brock led her across to the stage.



“This is so fixed!” she declared, playfully hitting Ash to stop him from laughing.



“Calm down Misty,” Joy said. “I take it you know Ash?” she asked her.



“You could say that,” Misty said nervously.



“Boyfriend?” the DJ asked, grinning at them.



“Boy and friend,” Misty replied quietly, briefly remembering all the times she had said that when they had been in the Orange Islands.



“They’re practically married!” Brock shouted from the audience.



“BROCK!” they shouted together, the audience getting a huge kick out of it. Brock laughed and took a sip of his non-alcoholic punch.



“Now, pick an envelope,” Joy said, laying out the 5 envelops in her hand. The DJ moved back to his equipment, ready to play the songs.



“You pick,” Ash said to Misty. Misty flashed a smile at him.



“Such a gentleman, isn’t he?” Joy said to the crowd.



“That one,” Misty decided, pointing to number “1”. Joy held it up.



“You have picked two songs!” Joy announced to them. Ash’s face drooped.



“Sorry!” Misty apologised to him.



“Start song number one!” she cried, moving offstage, handing Ash the microphone. Both of them moved closer to each other and the lyrics sheet as the song began playing and the audience quietened to hear them.



Ash’s hands were shaking as he started the song:



There’s a feeling I’m getting, I just can’t explain
Making me glad tonight

Maybe it’s Christmas, maybe the snow

Maybe the mistletoe


Misty steadied the microphone before starting:



There’s a secret I’m keeping, that no one can here
A feeling deep in my heart

Maybe this Christmas, my true love will show

Under the mistletoe


Misty smiled quickly at him before they continued:



Jolly old Saint Nicholas before the night is through
There’s something very special that I’d like to say to you

Merry, merry Christmas, and I’d like you to know
I’m hoping that I meet someone under the mistletoe


Now there’s a crowd at the party
Our friends are all here
Everyone’s warm and bright

Maybe I’ll meet him where hearts are a-glow
Under the mistletoe


Maybe I’ll just stand here and no one will know I’m
Under the mistletoe


During the instrumental, Brock wandered over to a girl he saw near him. He spoke to her, receiving a slap in reply. Meanwhile the crowd stood nodding their heads to the tune, as well as Ash and Misty on the stage:



Jolly old Saint Nicholas before the night is through

(Jolly old Saint Nicholas before the night is through)

There’s something very special that I’d like to say to you

(There’s something very special that I’d like to say to you)

Merry, merry Christmas, and I’d like you to know

I’m hoping that I don’t get caught under the mistletoe


There’s a crowd at the party
Our friends are all here
Everyone’s warm and bright


Maybe he’ll find out ... you just never know
Under the mistletoe


Maybe I’ll stand here, maybe I’ll go
Maybe this Christmas, I might let him know
Maybe this Christmas, I just might get ... well, y’know
Under the mistletoe


Everyone clapped loudly, Brock taking the trouble to wolf whistle. Nurse Joy quickly came onto the stage and took the microphone. Ash looked ready to faint, while Misty seemed to want to bury her head. They moved away before Nurse Joy spoke.



“Where do you think you’re going? There’s another song yet!” she told them. They both sighed before slinking back. Nurse Joy changed the lyrics over before the DJ began playing the song and Joy handed the microphone back, hurrying offstage.



Ash began to sing first:



How can I just let you walk away
Just let you leave without a trace

When I stand here taking every breath with you

You’re the only one who really knew me at all



Misty then took her turn:



How can you just walk away from me

When all I can do is watch you leave

‘Cos we shared the laughter and the pain, and even shared the tears

You’re the only one who really knew me at all



So take a look at me now

‘Cos there’s just an empty space

There’s nothing left here to remind me

Just the memory of your face

So take a look at me now
There’s just an empty space

And you coming back to me is against the odds

And that’s what I’ve gotta face



Ash turned to face Misty, looking into her eyes:



I wish I could just make you turn around

Turn around and see me cry

There’s so much I need to say to you, so many reasons why

You’re the only one who really knew me at all



Most of the girls in the crowd blinked back tears looking at them convinced they meant it from their hearts. Misty’s fingers on purposely brushed Ash’s as they both held onto the microphone:



So take a look at me now

There’s just an empty space

And there’s nothing left here to remind me

Just the memory of your face
So take a look at me now

So there’s just an empty space

But to wait for you is all I can do

And that’s what I’ve gotta face



As the song reached its conclusion both sang putting raw emotion in the words, the song matching the goodbye they had shared a few years ago:



Take a good look at me now

’Cos this will be standing here

And you coming back to me is against all odds

And that’s a chance I’ve gotta take



The whole room was silent after they finished. Brock raised his hands, loudly and slowly beginning to clap. The whole room then erupted into cheers. Ash and Misty both bowed, before being led offstage by Joy. Joy said there would be more later on, and the DJ started up the music again.



“Ash! Misty!” Brock shouted to them, but they couldn’t hear, or pretended not to hear.



Ash turned to whisper in her ear. “Outside,” Misty made out through the noise. “Surprise,” was another word she caught. She nodded in understanding as Ash took her hand and lead her out.



Brock stood and watched them leave, realising he was left babysitting Pikachu and Togepi again. Shooting a quick glance at the two Pokémon over in the corner, he moved off to get some more of that weird yet wonderful punch, and to try and find a girl to kiss at midnight.



*~*



“Ash, the snow!” Misty cried out as he tugged at her. Unfortunately for her, she had left her coat back in her room, and was ready to drop to the ground in the freezing cold mountain weather.



“Round here!” he replied through the howling wind. Misty, brimming with curiosity, allowed herself to be pulled quickly round the side of the Pokémon Centre into a small hut at the back. Ash entered and removed his shoes, allowing Misty inside before he shut the door and turned a conveniently placed heater on. There was only a small amount of light and Misty rubbed her hands together furiously as Ash lit a fire in the fireplace. Misty sat down on a rug next to the heater and also removed her shoes.



“Ash, why are we in our lodge?” she asked as the room lit up. Misty glanced around the wooden hut, seeing the closed door leading off to the bedrooms. In the main room they were in, a burning log fire was situated in a stone hearth, as well as there being a small coffee table, an armchair and a sofa.



“It’s a surprise,” he answered cryptically, turning a radio on in the corner. A soft, slow melody wafted out. “I thought we could see in New Years without a load of screaming noise in our ears.” Ash slid across the well-polished floor to her and held out his hand. “Dance with me, charming Lady,” he said in a fake deep voice, a huge grin on his face.



Misty, flattered, giggled. “Since when could you dance, oh dashing Sir?” she asked, being pulled up. She was wondering how Ash could keep on surprising her like this.



“Since always,” he joked. They both laughed, Misty loosely dangling her arms around his neck, Ash locking his arms behind her back. They swayed together, not paying much attention to the song, just revelling in having the other in their arms.



And this situation wasn’t unfamiliar to them. Ever since Misty had become part of his life again Ash had been spoiling her like this, sometimes ending him up in trouble. Misty, in turn, had done similar things for him, allowing them to spend time alone. Nothing had ever come from it, apart from quick thank-you kisses on lips that always left the recipient secretly begging for more.



Past treats had included Misty decorating Ash’s house with paper streamers and candles, and the streamers catching fire, nearly incinerating the living room. Ash had once locked Nurse Joy out of the Pokémon Centre, forgetting her whilst he and Misty were having a quiet dinner. And then they had planned something for each other both in the same place. Ash had walked in on Misty painting the same room he had planned to do, but in a totally different colour, and in the end having a paint fight over it.



But both wanted more from their deep friendship. Yet ... it seemed too valuable to them to gamble it for the chance of more, especially if the other didn’t feel the same way.



“Have I ever told you how glad I am that you’re back?” Ash asked quietly, Misty’s head on his shoulder. How good it was to finally be taller than her.



“Not within the last two weeks,” she reminded him. She lifted her head back up and smiled.



“Well I’m so glad you’re back,” he said, looking deep into her eyes.



“You’ve changed so much Ash,” Misty whispered to him, eyes still locked. “I can barely believe it’s the same you.”



“You mean now you can’t look down to me, you have to look up?” he teased. Misty prodded him gently with her fingers.



“Hey,” she moaned. “You’re not that tall. I meant that ... you’ve matured. I mean, would you ever have done something like this when we were younger?”



“Would you have?” he replied.



“Suppose not then,” she concluded. She leaned her head back down on his shoulder and they continued to dance.



About 10 minutes later they heard a huge cheer of “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” from the direction of the Pokémon Centre, the same time the radio began to play “Auld Lang Syne”. Ash and Misty, again, both looked into each other’s eyes.



“Happy New Year,” they both said quietly. Misty leaned forwards and gently closed her eyes. Ash did the same, and their lips met for another “thank-you kiss”. Soon afterwards Misty pulled apart, secretly dying to stay where she had been. But Ash, eyes still closed and lost in it all, forgetting himself for a moment, moved back forwards and kissed her lips again, pulling her back to him tightly. Misty couldn’t believe what was happening, as his hands slinked their way upwards from her waist to the back of her head.



Ash’s mind was on overload, unable to comprehend anything but the girl he was kissing right there and now. At last, he was finally, and properly, kissing Misty. Wait ... Misty!? Realising the line he had just crossed, Ash pulled his lips away from hers quickly, panic on his face. He saw Misty’s eyes drift open, searing into his own, dread and guilt filling his heart as he regained his breath. Had he just let his secret out? If Misty realised how he felt about her, that could ruin everything they had with each other. He’d rather live in a closed box than live without their friendship. Ash desperately wanted to speak, to say sorry, to make up something to cover it up. But Misty had him spellbound, and then it hit him. He was completely at her mercy. At that moment, anything she had wanted he would have done. Staring at her, Ash was facing his truth, his destiny.



Misty then did something Ash never expected her to do. Their faces now only scant inches apart from each other, Misty closed her eyes and leaned forwards again. Without needing to think Ash closed his eyes and they kissed yet again, quickly becoming more between them. Ash slinked his hands through her loose hair and the soft strands. Misty, meanwhile, wrapped one arm around his waist, pressing him to her as much as she could. The other hand rested on his cheek, stroking it tenderly.



Misty pushed forward slightly, causing Ash to stumble into the waiting sofa, both of them falling on it. Lying down with Ash underneath, they continued to kiss, hands continuing to roam. Misty removed her flimsy shirt, already too warm from their close proximity. Her hands knocked Ash’s “pretender” hat off his head, discarding them both on the sofa. She embedded her hands in his thick black hair. Neither could believe their dreams of this moment were coming true.



Misty broke the kiss, moving her lips over Ash’s face. Ash closed his eyes, wanting to wake up from the dream, not believing this was happening. Misty returned her face to above his and murmured his name. “Ash ... ”



“Mist ... ” he sighed contentedly, opening his eyes to see her above him. She sat upright and indicated he should do the same. He did and she wrapped her legs around him tightly.



“I want you,” she whispered into his ear. “God Ash, I’ve always wanted you ... ” she trailed off.



Ash was in disbelief as Misty continued to kiss his face. His best friend, whom he was joking with barely an hour ago, was practically begging him to sleep with her. But he wasn’t after a one-night stand, especially not with Misty. It would destroy everything they had, or would have. But what they were doing at the moment, if it meant nothing to her, Ash could never go back to how it was. On impulse, they had gambled everything, and now he had nothing to lose, but everything to gain, by telling her.



“I’m in love with you,” Ash spoke into her neck, his feelings overwhelming him as Misty stopped kissing him and kept still. Having finally said it out loud, the adrenaline pumping a mile a minute, he tried to calm himself down. “I love you so much,” he admitted, tears gathering in his eyes. He moved to look her dead in the eye, placing his hands on her cheeks. “If this means nothing to you ... then what have we done?” he realised, a tear trickling down his face. “Please say that you love me,” he whispered.



Misty was shocked. She had no idea that Ash’s feelings for her ran that deep, that keeping them locked up had affected him so much. Tears shimmering in her own eyes, she smiled reassuringly and placed her hands on his cheeks, wiping the tear away, and kissing it away with her lips. “I love you,” she said tenderly, placing her forehead to his. “I love you,” she repeated. “Ash I love you more than anything. I wouldn’t be here like this if I didn’t,” she whispered. They kissed again, pouring their hearts and souls into it.



Her legs still wrapped round him and her feelings now clear, Ash found the strength to stand upright, Misty placing her arms back round his neck to secure herself. Their lips connected again as Ash made his way to the door that led to the bedroom, managing to get past the furniture without falling on or walking into it. Reaching the door, he fumbled with the handle with one hand, the other holding Misty to him. He finally managed it, the door swinging open. Walking inside, Ash kicked the door shut and placed Misty down on the bed carefully.



She sat up, suddenly feeling nervous, unsure of what to do. Ash saw it and kissed her gently, beginning to remove the strap top that remained on her, Misty running her hands under his t-shirt. Soon they were naked as the day they were born, lying kissing on the bed, hands roaming each other’s bodies, becoming one. Whispering words of affection, calling out each other’s names, exhaustively murmuring words of love to each other. They lay together under the covers, smiling innocent faces facing each other, arms encircling one another, experiencing dreams of happiness, because finally they were together. There they stayed for the rest of the night, making love and sleeping next to each other ...



*~*



Brock awoke early that morning leaning against the wall of the party hall, Pikachu and Togepi in his arms. He shook his head, trying to remember what happened, only encountering an aching head.



“That punch,” he croaked. “No way was that non alcoholic.” Sighing heavily, he stood up, waking up a sleeping Togepi and Pikachu in the process.



“Pipika?” Pikachu asked Brock.



“Pikachu, I wonder why you’re still in here? Ash and Misty should have come back for you, and for me as well,” he said. “Well ... we’d better go back to our lodge and see if they’re there.”



“Toge toge piiiii!” Togepi chirped as they began to walk to the exit doors.



The crisp air outside woke Brock up like a cold shower, allowing him to see straight. Reaching the right number lodge, he opened the door using his key.



“Whoa! Heat wave!” he cried, feeling like he had just opened the door of an oven. “Ash! Misty! You left the heater on!” Brock shut the door and, placing Togepi and Pikachu down, turned the heater off.



“Pikapi?” Pikachu asked into the quiet. Suddenly a loud bang came from the bedroom, followed by a girl giggling. Brock moved over to open the door, but found it un-openable, a large weight pressed against it.



Brock banged on the door. “Who’s in there!?” he demanded.



“Brock, don’t come in!” Ash shouted through the door.



“Ash? I heard a girl in there!” Brock called, the realisation hitting him. “Oh man, you scored last night!”



“Brock,” Ash warned through the door. “Just leave it, ok?”



“Sorry buddy, didn’t want to embarrass you,” Brock said, sitting down on the sofa.



Inside the room, Ash glanced across at Misty sitting in the bed, who was practically fitting her fist inside her mouth to keep herself from laughing. “It’s not funny!” Ash whispered quietly, picking up the clothes from the floor.



“Sorry!” she managed to get out between laughs, managing to slowly calm herself down. “How am I gonna get out?” she asked when her giggling had stopped.



“The window,” Ash said quickly, shoving her clothes into her arms. Ignoring the “no way” look on Misty’s face, Ash began to dress her.



“I’ve got no choice, have I?” she asked despairingly, Ash kissing her quickly.



“Now’s not the best time to tell Brock,” he appealed to her reason. “We can and should tell him properly ... but not like this.” Misty nodded in understanding, kissing Ash again before opening the window and climbing out of it. Shutting it, Ash dug into his clothes drawer and reached out his jeans.



“So, do you know where Misty is!?” Brock called through the closed door.



“She, erm, didn’t come back last night,” Ash said as he came out through the door, only the pair of jeans on him.



“Hey, what about your girl?” Brock moaned, standing up to go into the bedroom.



“She’s gone out through the window,” Ash said quickly. Seeing the look on Brock’s face, Ash added, “I think she’s shy. Plus, she said it was only a one-night thing.”



“Pikapi pi pika pikachu!” Pikachu shouted, jumping onto Ash’s shoulder. Ash smiled at him, tickling his chin.



“Toge toge?” Togepi said curiously, looking up at Ash. Pikachu, understanding him, looked at Ash. “Toge toge piii togepi!” Togepi finished.



“Pipipi, Pikapi pi pikachu pi Pikachupi!” Pikachu explained whilst shaking his head, jumping down to Togepi and guiding him over to the corner to talk.



“What was that about?” Ash asked, feeling like he had just been judged.



“Hmm ... ” Brock pondered, interrupted as Misty walked through the door.



“Hi Misty,” Ash said as he tried to act normally, smiling at her as she closed the door.



“Hi guys,” she said, looking at Ash.



“And just what did you get up to last night?” Brock asked her. “Ashy here scored!”



“Brock, it’s not like it’s a competition,” Ash said, dropping down on the sofa. He looked up at Misty and smiled again.



“I got asked back to this guy’s lodge,” Misty said, turning pink whilst moving over to them. Brock’s mouth dropped, and Ash pretended to be surprised ... although not very well.



“Not you as well!” Brock complained. “What was he like? Friendly? Charming?”



“He was very much a gentleman,” Misty replied. “And quite cute as well,” she added.



“You ok then?” Brock asked her with concern. “He wasn’t too pushy or anything?”



“Nice to see you’re worried about me,” Ash moaned jokily.



“I’m fine, don’t worry,” she reassured him. “Anyway, it wasn’t the start of anything. He’s left now,” Misty lied, pretending to be upset.



“That’s a shame,” Brock said to try and cheer her up. “For both of you,” he added for Ash, assuming he would also be missing the girl he had spent the night with “So I assume I was the only person in this whole area who didn’t score last night?” he joked.



“I don’t know Brock,” Misty answered. “Now, I’m gonna go and get ready for breakfast, I’m famished!” She headed off to the bedroom and the adjoining bathroom.



“Yeah, me too,” Ash said, following her. “Go for breakfast in 15 minutes?”



“Sure,” Brock said, watching them go into their room. “I feel sorry for you,” he added quietly. He leaned back on the sofa trying to loosen his joints, stiff from leaning against a wall all night.



“Pikachu pika?” Pikachu asked Brock, walking out with Togepi.



“It’s just ... I thought, no, I was sure that Misty ... ” Brock faded off. “But then again ... maybe I was wrong.” He sighed again. Settling back, he was nearly comfortable, when he encountered something hard underneath him. He reached for it and pulled up Ash’s hat. He smiled, thinking boys will be boys, and wondering when he himself became such an old man.



“Pipika?” Pikachu asked, himself and Togepi hopping on the sofa next to Brock.



“Pikachu, Togepi ... they’re all grown up now,” Brock sighed. “I at least wanted to meet them.” Brock leant back in the sofa again, when he found he was sitting on another item of clothing. “Not again!” he moaned, reaching underneath to remove it. “You’d think at least she would have taken her clothes with her. Or maybe it’s a little reminder for Ash,” he said cheekily.



“Pi pikachu,” Pikachu agreed, nodding whilst grinning. He watched as Brock pulled out a blue shirt, one he had seen many girls wearing last night.



“Toge toge piiiii!” Togepi cried, jumping up and down.



“Pikapi ... pika pika Pikachupi!” Pikachu shouted.



“What’s wrong guys?” Brock asked, standing up and holding the item in his hand. “Ash!” Brock called.



“What’s up?” Ash asked him as he walked out the room, only having put his black t-shirt on, his hair more messed up than it had been before. Then he noticed, and recognised, the shirt in Brock’s hand. “Where did you find that?” Ash murmured.



“It was down the sofa, with your hat,” he told him. “Ah, I assume it belongs to her?” Brock asked, assuming ‘yes’ when he saw the look on Ash’s face. “Oh, there’s a name tag! At least I get to see what the mystery girl’s name is!” he said teasingly.



“Brock, don’t look at it!” Ash shouted, reaching forward to take it. Brock lifted it out of his reach.



“What’s wrong Ash? Don’t you want me to see?” Brock dangled it in front of him, placing it in his reach and then flicking it out of range again.



“Brock, please!” Ash begged. “You can’t look!”



“What’s there to be worried about Ash? It was a girl, wasn’t it?” he teased. “Nah, I believe you on that buddy. Why can’t I know who it is?” he asked again, turning around and looking at the nametag.



“No!” Ash cried, reaching forward again.



“What’s going on?” Misty asked them, standing in the doorway with a dressing gown on and her hair down at her shoulders. Brock and Ash turned around to face her. Misty then saw what Brock was holding. “What are you doing with my shirt?” she asked.



Brock stared at her in disbelief, Ash sighing unbelieving and holding his head in his hands. “Your ... shirt?” Brock stuttered, sharply shifting his gaze to Ash.



“Yes it’s my ... ” Misty faded off, seeing how Brock was looking at Ash. “Brock?” she asked carefully. He returned his gaze to her.



“Ash, don’t tell me it’s what I think is,” Brock said, turning back to Ash to see him looking down at the floor. “Don’t say your stand was with Misty!” he said, raising his voice.



“Brock it wasn’t like that,” he told him, Misty at the same time walking to stand bedsides him.



Brock sighed, running his hand through his hair. “I don’t believe you two,” he told them, switching his gaze between both of them. “Do you know how stupid you’ve both been!?” he shouted.



That struck a nerve in Ash and he fought back, stepping closer to Brock. “So in your eyes it’s alright for us to screw any person we meet at a party, but we can’t-”



“Don’t say anymore,” he said in a loud, tensed tone. “Outside man, we need to talk,” he said, heading towards the door.



“Let me grab a jacket,” Ash told him, watching Brock slam the door as he left.



“Ash, don’t do anything stupid,” Misty warned him, watching him head into the bedroom and grab a black jumper and his trainers before walking back to her.



“He thinks we were drunk or something,” Ash said to her, putting his jumper on and then reaching out and mixing her fingers with his own. “Don’t worry,” he reassured her, kissing her lips gently.



“You boys,” she joked lightly. Ash smiled weakly at her, untangling his fingers before heading out the door and closing it behind him. Misty looked at Pikachu nervously before going and getting dressed.



“Brock, what is this-” Ash asked him outside, being cut off by Brock grabbing him by the collar of his jumper and pinning him roughly against the wall.



“If you’re just messing around with her I swear you will regret it,” Brock warned him loudly and dangerously.



“What’s wrong with you!?” Ash shouted, shaking himself free.



“You used Misty’s feelings for you!” Brock accused. “She had feelings for you Ash ... and you just used her!”



“What!?” Ash cried. “I’d never do that! Have you forgotten that Misty’s my friend!?”



“Well she’s like a sister to me!” Brock shouted back. “And you’re like a brother,” he said quieter, not wanting to attract any more attention than they were getting from the nearby lodges.



“Brock, if you’re thinking I forced her into anything, I didn’t,” Ash said. “We came back here, we danced, talked a little, listened to the radio. Then when midnight came we kissed, innocently, and then ... it just happened!”



“It just happened,” Brock said in disbelief, shaking his head.



“It did, and why can’t you accept that? What is your problem?” Ash asked him.



“My problem? You two are the one with the problem!” Brock told him. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done to your friendship? You’ll never have that again with her. Everything you do will be together, as a team. And if you break up, to hell with “staying friends”!”



“I know all of that!” Ash paused before continuing. “You think I was drunk or something, don’t you? Just looking for a little fun, and not caring about anything else! You’re wrong! I would have stopped kissing her, I wouldn’t have gone as far as we did if she or I didn’t feel anything for each other!” Ash justified.



“Ash-” Brock began, but Ash cut him in.



“No, listen to me! I love Misty! I love her! And she loves me! We made love last night, sober, and it wasn’t because I forced her into it! It was because we loved each other! And I’m not gonna do anything to hurt her! I couldn’t ... ” Ash faded off, his emotions taking over.



“Ok, I believe you,” Brock said in a softer tone, placing his hand on his shoulder. “Just don’t be messing around with her, she doesn’t deserve that,” Brock told him.



“I know how lucky I am, don’t worry,” he smiled at him. “Shall we go and tell Misty not to phone an ambulance?”



“If I’d have hit you you’d need more than a paramedic,” Brock warned playfully. “Come on,” he said, letting Ash go inside first.



As soon as they were through the door Misty, now dressed and sitting nervously on the sofa, jumped up and moved over to Brock. “Before you think it he didn’t take advantage of me,” she told him, ready for a fight if it was needed.



“It’s ok, we’ve sorted it out,” Ash told her. She sighed in relief and hugged him.



“Please say you’re ok with this, it would mean so much to me,” Misty asked Brock, separating from Ash and taking his hand.



“I’m fine with it,” Brock told her. “I’m really happy for you. I mean, you’re finally together!”



“Then why were you so mad?” she asked.



“I thought at least I wouldn’t be here when ... that happened,” he told her. “Now, who’s hungry?” he asked, changing the subject.



“Me!” Ash and Misty both shouted, Misty then moving to pick up Togepi, Pikachu jumping on Ash’s shoulder. Ash led her out by her hand, Brock going out last and shutting the door.



‘This’ll be one hell of a ride ... ’ he thought.



*~*



CHAPTER_TWO


Four months later, after travelling back to Pallet Town from Johto, all three of them were sitting in the Ketchum residence at Pallet Town. And why did travelling a small distance like that take such a long time? The well-known and rare “Snowflake Cup” took place in Snowela in February, a strange 3-on-3 trainer battle tournament. Misty and Ash had, after much persuasion, had talked Brock into taking part, and they all three competed, managing to finish in second place. But their teamwork victory hadn’t managed to change the situation that had remained since New Years.



Ever since “that night”, Brock had been reluctant to leave Ash and Misty alone for too long, although he had granted them some privacy, usually no longer than 30 minutes at a time though. His butting in on them hadn’t been well received, but he knew he was doing what a chaperone would do in his situation. But then again, if he left them to themselves, they’d never get up in the morning.



Right now they were sitting inside on a sunny April afternoon, watching, or in Brock’s case pretending to watch, a romance film. Misty and Ash monopolised the sofa, lying down, Misty in front of Ash, their fingers intertwined. Ash would often sneak glances down at her, both kissing briefly when the movie got particularly soppy. Pikachu and Togepi weren’t there with them, Mrs Ketchum and Mimey taking them out with them to do some shopping.



The film was called “Me, Myself and Eevee”, and was about two best friends, both Eevee trainers, who were in love with each other, as well as their Eevee’s being in love with each other. Misty chose it, thinking it was a lot like her and Ash. The whole movie followed their friendship over a year, observing their pain over watching the other person date someone else, while the Pokémon tried to get their trainers together. Brock could already tell what would happen. They would have a major fallout, followed by a secret confession to already knowing friends and Pokémon, resulting in them meeting up at the end of the movie, kissing, etcetera, etcetera ... Totally boring to Brock.



About an hour into the movie Misty left the room, saying she needed to ‘powder her nose’. Brock took the time to glance up from his “Breeders Digest” and indulge in a little human conversation.



“How can you watch this?” Brock asked him, glancing at the screen. The main couple were laughing with each other, throwing pained glances when the other looked the other way. Trashy and corny ... he wondered why Misty loved it so much.



“I’ll let you in on a secret Brock,” Ash told him, making sure Misty wasn’t insight before continuing. “I have no idea what’s going on.”



“So, you’re watching a movie for no reason?” Brock half asked, half stated.



“I get to spend time with Misty,” Ash replied. “There’s a reason for ya,” he finished as Misty returned and they resumed their previous seating arrangement.



Brock sat and wondered if Ash didn’t have a hidden meaning to his words. Get to spend time ... Brock had to admit that he had been smothering them, but he wasn’t comfortable with the idea of the two of them ... having sex. His two best friends didn’t even bear thinking about. But then again, that would have happened sooner or later, making Brock realise that he wasn’t being fair on them.



He put down his magazine and stood up. Ash looked over to him. “Where are you going?” he asked.



“Tracey asked me if I wanted to help him up at the lab today,” he replied, walking over to the door. “I’ll be back at about 5, and your Mom won’t be home until 6,” Brock told them, smiling.



Ash caught on what he was allowing them and smiled. “Thanks buddy,” he said.



“See ya later, and have fun,” he added as he walked out and shut the door behind him.



“Bye Brock!” Misty called. “Well what made him change his tune?” She asked, turning in to face Ash. “He’s been mothering us ever since Snowela, why stop now?”



“I think he was worried Mist,” Ash said. “I mean, we happened suddenly and he’s like a second mother, so he panicked. But I think he’s realised we’re serious,” he told her, kissing her. His free hand travelled down her side, resting on her hip. Ash broke the kiss and turned his attention on her neck.



“Ash ... ” she sighed, removing his hat so she could play around with his hair. The hat dropped to the floor, along with her hair bobble, Ash having pulled it out so he could play with her hair.



“We’ve got 3 hours alone,” Ash whispered to her, “for the first time in how many months? Four? I think the damn TV can wait, don’t you?” he asked, kissing her nose. “It’s not like you don’t know what’ll happen at the end.”



“Yeah ... ” she mumbled, kissing him, the film already long forgotten. Misty managed to stand up, taking Ash’s hand and leading him to his room, to be together for the second time in weeks ...



*~*



“We’re back,” Delia called walking in, Mr Mime stumbling through the front door with hands full of shopping bags. Pikachu followed behind them, carrying a sleeping Togepi on his back. Delia, after Mr Mime had put the bags down, shut the door, took her coat off and hung it on one of the coat pegs. Togepi woke up and Pikachu put him down, treading carefully to not make him wail.



“Anyone home?” Delia asked, then noticing the television was on. She walked over and turned it off.



“Pika pi pikachu,” Pikachu said as Mr Mime dashed into the kitchen to make some tea.



“They should turn the TV off if they go out,” Delia said to the Pokémon as she turned back round. “Electricity isn’t-” she cut off, noticing something lying on the floor. She bent down and picked it up.



“Pika?” Pikachu asked, looking up to see.



“It’s Ash’s hat,” Delia said. “And a bobble as well,” she added, picking it up. “Misty’s bobble. Hmm ... Ash? Misty?” she asked again, heading towards the stairs.



“Toge toge?” Togepi asked, looking at Pikachu. Pikachu’s eyes almost fell out of his head, realising where Ash and Misty were and what they would be doing.



“Pi ka chu!” Pikachu shouted out, chasing after Mrs Ketchum, who was now at the top of the stairs.



“Ash?” she whispered, opening the door to his room.



“Pikapi,” Pikachu murmured, watching. Ash’s Mom would no doubt flip, and who’d blame her? Finding your 17-year-old son in bed with his 17-year-old best friend was not something you did everyday. They hadn’t told her outright they were a couple, only holding hands or kissing when she wasn’t in the room. But, judging by her conversation topic all day, she had a very good idea that they at least had a crush on each other.



“Oh!” Delia exclaimed, observing a standing, and fully clothed, Ash and Misty sharing a kiss, Ash’s arms wrapped round Misty’s waist, her hands locked in his hair. When they noticed they had an audience they ripped apart.



“Mom! Haven’t you heard of knocking?” Ash moaned, his cheeks flaring.



“Haven’t you heard of turning the TV off?” she replied sternly, her frown quickly melting into a wide smile. “My little boy!” she cried, moving and clutching him against her. “You’re growing up so fast!”



“Mom!” he shouted, muffled against her chest. Gasping, he managed to free himself. “Don’t do that!”



“Pika pika!” Pikachu called, laughing in fits. Ash shot him a look.



“Misty,” Delia said seriously, turning to her. Misty didn’t know what to expect.



“Mrs Ketchum I-” she began before she was interrupted.



“I’m so glad it’s you!” she exclaimed, pulling her into a gentle hug. Misty, surprised, returned it, smiling at Ash who was staring at them funnily. “At least I know you’ll treat Ash alright!”



“Always Mrs Ketchum,” Misty assured her, their hug separating.



“Please, call me Delia!” she insisted. Heading towards the door she stopped and turned around. “Now, dinner will be ready in about an hour. Where’s Brock?” she asked them.



“He went up to Oak’s,” Misty said. “We’ll go fetch him.”



“Have fun!” Delia said as she headed down the stairs, Pikachu glancing back before following her.



Finally gone, Ash closed the door and leaned against it, sighing in relief. “That was too close,” he said. Misty moved over to him and hugged against him. Ash wrapped his arms around her.



“She was back early,” Misty whispered. “Nearly 2 hours early. 10 minutes earlier and she would have walked in on us!”



“Hey, but she didn’t, so no point dwelling over it,” he concluded, kissing the top of her head.



“Still, it’s hard not to think of what she would have said,” Misty murmured, chuckling at the thought.



“She would have skinned me,” Ash informed her. “But that would be after she had screamed her head off,” he joked.



Misty sighed against him, lifting her head up. “We’d better go and get Brock,” she said.



“All right,” Ash agreed, kissing her. They broke apart and Ash took her hand, leading the way.



*~*



“Wow, what’s the occasion?” Brock asked, sitting down at the food-laden table. Ash and Misty sat next to each other, Delia and, after an inviting phone call, Professor Oak at the opposite ends of the table, and Tracey next to Brock. Pikachu and Togepi sat at a miniature table to the side of them, their table full of Pokémon food provided by Brock.



“We’re celebrating!” Delia cheerfully announced, glancing at Ash and Misty.



“I don’t think we’re gonna like this,” Ash whispered to Misty, making her smile slightly.



“What are we celebrating?” Tracey asked, staring hungrily at the food.



“My little boy’s got a girlfriend!” she announced happily, Tracey choking on his water. Ash hid himself behind his hands, blushing. Misty looked down at her feet under the table.



“Ash has a girlfriend!?” Tracey shouted after he finished coughing. “Nice one buddy!”



“Good for you Ash,” Oak congratulated. “And who is she?”



“Mom, don’t ... ” Ash warned her, throwing a glance at Misty.



“Ok Ash,” his mother conceded. “I know! I’ll give you a clue,” Delia said, thinking what to say before Ash stopped her. “Erm ... she’s sitting in this room right now.”



“Mom! How many other girls are in this room!?” Ash cried despairingly.



“Misty!?” Tracey shouted out, switching his gaze from one to the other. “You mean it’s taken you six years to finally listen to me?” he asked them.



“Six years?” Brock asked, working it out to be when he wasn’t with them, when they were in the Orange Islands. “Tracey, you’ve got some stories to tell me.”



“Tracey don’t tell him anything,” Misty warned.



“Mom, can we just eat now?” Ash asked, feeling his stomach growl.



“Sure, tuck in!” she said, as everyone attacked the food.



They ate the meal without talking, Ash and Misty glancing at each other periodically. When they were finished, Delia collected the plates up, to the protests of everyone, and took them into the kitchen, bringing out a huge chocolate gateau for desert.



“Wow!” they all exclaimed as she set it down on the table. Everyone stared at it with drooling mouths, apart from Misty, who turned white.



“Misty, are you alright?” Delia asked, noticing her colour change.



“I don’t think I can eat anymore,” she murmured, placing her hand over her mouth.



“Ash, why don’t you take her into the other room?” Brock suggested. “She doesn’t look good.”



“Yeah,” Ash agreed, standing up and easing her up as well. He led her into the lounge with his arms around her and placed her lying down on the sofa.



“Thanks,” Misty murmured as Ash placed a nearby throw on her.



“Shhh,” he hushed, kneeling on the floor near her head. He raised a hand to her head and brushed some of her hair away, stroking her cheek tenderly.



“I’ll be alright,” she reassured him, throwing a smile.



“I’m worried,” he confessed. “I mean, we made love today and then you get ill ... I just hope I didn’t hurt you,” he whispered.



“You didn’t,” she said, moving her hand to grasp the one caressing her face. “Trust me. Don’t worry.”



“Ok,” he murmured, kissing her lips gently. “Just relax, go to sleep, and I’ll take you up to bed in a while, ok?” he asked her.



“Go have your cake,” she ordered quietly. He raised his hand in a mock salute before kissing her again and going back into the kitchen.



Hearing the concerned murmurs coming from the kitchen, Misty smiled and sighed, turning so she could see the TV, although it was switched off. She lay and wondered what was wrong.



“You probably ate something funny,” a thought said in her head.



“But what if Ash’s right? What if he did hurt you?” a different thought added.



Misty stared ahead of her, wondering if that was it. But if Ash had hurt her, wouldn’t she have felt pain?



“Nothing like this happened last time,” the “friendly” thought countered.



Misty nodded her head. The first time she had felt a little sore, but not sick.



“Maybe it’s a disease,” the “bad” thought sneered. “It’s not like you used a condom, is it?”



Misty was confused for a moment. They had used a condom earlier on ... Then a realisation hit her.



Snowela! They were so swept up in the moment ... they forgot!



“Oh god,” Misty said out loud. She then panicked, wondering what she had, if Ash had given her anything. But a voice inside stopped her.



“How can you think of Ash doing that!?” a voice, her conscience, screamed inside. “He hasn’t been with anyone but you! If it was inherited, Delia would have known and Ash would have said!”



Misty sat up quickly, closing her eyes tightly as a wave of nausea crashed over her. She stood up and quietly and quickly went upstairs to the bathroom.



From the kitchen, Ash saw her go up the stairs. Concerned, he stood up.



“Ash?” Delia asked, concerned.



“I’m going to Misty,” he said quickly, walking out the room and heading up the stairs.





In the bathroom, Ash found Misty with her head over the toilet, regurgitating her meal. Suddenly extremely concerned, Ash bent down besides her and stroked her back gently, comforting her.



“Misty ... ” he sighed. When she had finished and flushed the toilet handle, Ash pulled her to him, not caring about getting his clothes dirty.



“Oh God Ash,” she said into his clothes, beginning to sob. Ash placed his arms tightly round her and rocked the pair of them to and fro.



When she had stopped crying, Ash handed her a towel and used another one to help her clean herself up. “There, that’s better,” he said when they had finished.



“Ash,” Misty began, taking his hand firmly in her own. “I need to see a doctor.”



“Doctor? Misty, how bad is it?” Ash said worriedly.



“I don’t know if anything’s bad,” she said. “But I wanna make sure.”



“This is today, isn’t it?” Ash said. “I’ve ripped or torn or broken-” he began listing, before she cut him off.



“No!” she shouted a little more harshly than she would have liked. “It’s just ... I might need medicine. I think it’s just a bug,” she lied reassuringly.



“Well, its Sunday tomorrow,” Ash told her. “So you won’t be able to get in until Monday, or even Tuesday.”



“Well, Doctor Ketchum will have to look after me tomorrow, won’t he?” Misty played with him.



“I think he’s available now,” he teased, standing up and picking her up in his arms. “Whoa, you gotten heavier?”



“Don’t push it,” Misty said as he carried her to his room, placing her on the bed.



“Now sleep,” Ash ordered, sitting on the edge of the bed.



“By myself?” she asked innocently, pulling a “puppy-dog” face.



“Alright,” he sighed, lying down next to her. Her back to him, he placed his arms around her waist. “But I heard doctors can’t fraternise with their patients,” Ash told her.



“I’m not a patient, I’m a nurse,” Misty said, her eyes closed.



“Not now, sick girl.”



“Night Ash,” Misty sighed, drifting off to sleep.



Ash’s original plan was to leave her there to sleep, but he found his eyes drifting shut as well. “Night,” he whispered as he fell asleep next to her.



*~*



CHAPTER_THREE


Misty sat on the bed, legs tucked up under her chin, rocking herself backwards and forwards. The tears had run their course down her face, collecting and dripping off under her chin. How could so much go wrong in only one day?



... ... ...



“Good morning,” Ash greeted as Misty opened her sleepy eyes.



“Hi,” Misty whispered out. Wishing she were still asleep, she closed her eyes and tried to settle back down.



“Hey, no sleeping,” Ash said, waking her up. He kissed her forehead.



“I wanna sleep,” Misty moaned.



“I wanna make sure you’re ok,” he said, separating from her and standing up.



“I’m fine,” Misty said, sitting up in the bed.



“You sure?” Ash asked concerned, holding onto her free hand and helping her crawl across the bed and stand up.



“Yes,” she reassured him, kissing him. Pulling away, she looked down at the clothes they were wearing. “I think we need to get changed.”



“And I need the bathroom,” Ash said, pulling away. “Be right back.” He closed the door as she got changed.





After breakfast, Ash and Misty sat together on the sofa watching the television. Brock was sat in the armchair, reading the brand new edition of “Breeders Digest”. Professor Oak and Tracey, had last night nabbed Pikachu and Togepi to study at the lab, leaving Ash and Misty free to “smooch” as Misty put it. It was a complete mirror of yesterday afternoon, except this time it was 10 in the morning, and they were watching the famous soap opera, “Peanuts, Poké balls and Pokémon”.



“Come on!” Misty shouted, riveted on the complicated plot line. “Tell her!” She leaned forwards on the sofa.



“Tell her what?” Brock asked, disturbed from his article about the controversial Day Care Breeding Scandal.



“Are you blind!?” Misty almost screamed at him. “Molly’s Mantine is in love with Martin’s Mantine, but they can’t see it! What makes it worse is that Molly’s gonna marry Mark because she loves him and at the same time his Mantine likes her Mantine, while Mark is gay and just happens to be falling in love with Martin! And after all that, Martin is secretly Molly’s cousin, but they don’t know that, and Martin is in love with Molly! Classic love triangle!”



“Huh?” Brock asked, not having clearly heard one word Misty had said at break-neck speed.



“ARE YOU NOT LISTENING!?” Misty screamed, standing up and glaring menacingly at Brock. Ash simply looked at her in disbelief, not sure what to do.



“Misty, calm down,” Brock tried to assure her.



“Calm down? You didn’t listen to a word I said!” Ash stood up behind her.



“Misty,” he said as he placed his hands on her arms, “I do think you need to calm down.”



Misty, extremely angry, turned round to face Ash. Ash gulped nervously, not sure what she would do to him. Then she did the last thing he expected. She burst out crying.



“What’s going on?” Delia asked, disturbed from her gardening by all the shouting. Seeing Misty crying, she pushed her way past a now standing Brock and pulled her to her, hugging her.



“Misty?” Ash asked cautiously.



“Not now Ash,” Delia said. “I don’t know what you did or said, but she is obviously distraught.” Having said that, she led Misty upstairs.



“But ... I didn’t do anything!” he moaned, turning to Brock. “Neither of us did.”



“Ash, it’s hormones,” Brock said, picking up the article again. “All girls go through this. Just sit down and let your mother calm her down.”



“Ok,” Ash reluctantly agreed. He sat back down and continued watching the TV, Misty still on his mind.





“Come on dear, you can tell me what’s wrong,” Delia comforted, sitting on her bed and rocking a still crying Misty. “Did Ash do something to upset you?”



“That’s just it,” Misty said sadly. “They didn’t do anything. I just ... shouted for no reason, and then started crying.” She sat up and wiped her eyes. “It was weird. I went from being angry to devastated in a few seconds.”



“Well, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were having mood swings,” Delia said, taking her hand in her own. “If you don’t mind me asking, is it “that time of the month”?”



Misty smiled at her, but shook her head. “No,” she said. “Actually ... I haven’t been that regular recently.”



“Oh?” Delia asked.



Misty, slightly embarrassed, looked down at her fingers. “The last one was about 3 months ago. Before that, the last one was ... I think a week or so before Christmas.”



“That doesn’t sound right,” Delia said, raising her free hand to Misty’s forehead. “I hope you’re not sick.”



“Well, I was last night,” she told her.



“Misty dear, you need to see the doctor,” Delia said. “I’ll call her right now, I’ve got her home number.”



“Delia, I don’t want you to go to all that trouble,” Misty said as she picked up the phone.



“She’s a friend,” Delia told her, smiling. “And if I offer her some homemade cake, she’ll be over in a jiffy.” Misty just looked on and smiled as she began dialling and talking on the phone.





“Hmmmmm,” she said, flicking the pen between her fingers.



“What?” Misty asked, sitting up and looking at Doctor Mary Wilson, who was examining her in Delia’s bedroom.



“Well, your stomach area is slightly swollen,” she informed her. “You said you’ve been sick, Delia said you were a little emotional this morning ... ” she faded off, reaching into her bag and taking out a beaker.



“Well? Am I sick?” Misty asked worriedly.



“I don’t think so,” the doctor said, handing her the beaker. “But I want to be sure. Can you fill me up a sample please?”



“Uh,” Misty hesitated, standing up. “Ok.”



“Just turn the tap on if you have trouble,” she said cheerily, picking up a tube of liquid out of her bag.



Misty came back in 5 minutes later, holding the beaker of urine out to the doctor. “Is that ok?” she asked.



“It’s fine,” she replied, taking it off of her. She opened the tube and poured some of the liquid from it into the beaker. Closing the tube, she swirled the mixture round.



“What are you looking for?” Misty asked sitting down next to her, confused.



“A colour change,” she replied.



“What colour?” Misty asked, worried that her life was on the line, as the mixture began to change.



“Well, before I say, can you answer me one question?” she asked turning to look at a nodding Misty. “Have you had sexual relations with anyone in the last, say ... few months?”



“Yes, at New Years ... ” Misty faded off. “I’ve caught something, haven’t I?” she asked.



“Not a disease, no,” she said. The liquid was now a blue colour and Mary held it out to her.



“Well, what does this mean?” Misty panicked, looking at the blue substance. “What’s wrong with me?”



“Nothing’s wrong with you Misty ... You’re pregnant.”



Misty felt like a train had just hit her. She was speechless and felt numb. “Pre ... pregnant?” she asked quietly.



“Yes,” the doctor said, placing a reassuring arm around her shoulder. “And if it was conceived at New Years, then the foetus will be about four months old now.”



“I’m gonna have a baby?” Misty whispered in disbelief, placing a hand on her stomach.



“Do you want me to call anyone?” Mary asked. “Your parents?”



“My parents are dead,” Misty told her. “I’ve got three sisters in Cerulean, but ... don’t call them. They wouldn’t understand.”



“Ok. Then ... how about the father? It’s best that we contact him, so we can make sure the baby is alright,” she said. “Delia mentioned you had just begun seeing Ash, so I assume that it’s someone else?”



“No,” Misty said, shaking her head. “Ash is the father.”



At that, Doctor Wilson sighed and shook her head in disbelief. “Who’d have thought it? Little Ashy being a father at his age. I can still remember him at four years old, running around with Gary Oak and playing with the Pokémon.” She smiled to herself.



“Oh, Delia,” Misty thought out loud, removing the hand from her stomach and placing it over her mouth. “What will she say? She’s gonna hate me so much,” Misty gasped.



“Hey,” Mary said, seeing the tears in her eyes. “Delia will only love you more. She’s like that. Explain things to her, and she’ll understand.”



“Brock never really understood why we did it, so why should she?”



“Because Delia loves kids, and now she’s gonna be a grandma,” she said, separating from Misty and placing her things back in her bag, putting a lid on the urine sample. “Now, I’ll arrange for an ultrasound scan at the clinic on Thursday. 2 o’clock okay for you?”



“Yeah,” Misty said, standing up.



“Good luck,” Mary offered as she went out the door and downstairs to Delia’s cake. Misty followed in a slight daze, taking her time to look at all the pictures on the walls of the stairs.



Pictures of Delia when she was a small child ... Pictures of Delia and a man looking like Ash when they were both young ... Pictures of Delia, that man, whom she assumed to be Ash’s father, and a baby Ash, all smiling ... Pictures of Delia and Ash going up through the years ... A picture of a toasted Ash with Pikachu in his arms, outside Prof. Oak’s lab ... A picture of all of them, taken at the Indigo League Stadium ... And a more recent one taken at the Hoenn League Finals. Ash, Brock, a girl and a young boy stood besides him, Ash holding the 2nd place trophy.



“Ash looks so young ... carefree ... ” Misty thought to herself as she stared at the Indigo League picture, herself standing next to a forcefully-smiling Ash. “And me ... I was happy, excited, and mad about a wannabe master ... ”



“Now you’ll never be a master,” she whispered out loud, her gaze flicking back to the Hoenn League picture. “And you were so close ... ”



“Misty?” a voice asked quietly, making her flinch. She turned to see Brock at the top of the stairs. “Are you alright?”



“I’m fine,” she lied, putting on a fake smile. “Doctor Wilson is finished with me now. She’s in the kitchen eating all the cake.”



“What did she say?” he asked, walking down to join her. Together they both reached the bottom and moved to sit on the sofa in the lounge.



“I’m not sick,” Misty told him.



“So what then?” he asked, nervously.



“I ... I wanna talk to Ash first,” she said, turning to look at him. “I wanna tell you Brock, but-”



“No, it’s okay,” Brock told her. “I understand.” He picked up her hand in his and squeezed it. “Just tell me if it’s serious.”



Misty thought before answering. “No,” she said, squeezing it back. “It’s not serious.”



Brock smiled and let go of her hand, standing up. “I’m gonna go grab some cake. You want any?” he asked her.



“I’m not hungry. Actually, I’m gonna go for a walk,” Misty said, standing up herself and heading to the front door. “But save me a slice!” she called as she shut the door behind her.



Now outside, Misty breathed a huge sigh, as she set off along the road. Pregnant ... it still didn’t seem real. They were both 17, their whole lives ahead of them, years and years to start a family ... But no. Life had to push yet another surprise onto Misty Williams, and she had to, again, deal with it. As she walked along the road to Professor Oak’s lab, her mind wandered to her parents ...



She had been five years old when they had died. One night in March, Officer Jenny had woken up the four Williams sisters in the middle of the night. She had sat all of them down in the kitchen, and told them how there had been an accident between Celadon and Saffron Cities, a huge pile-up on the main road. Her parents had been caught in it, and had died. Misty still remembered the tears, the hugs, the relentless crying for their parents to come back to them. Then there had been the funeral, and afterwards, the Pokémon League to deal with. Who would run the Gym? After backing from Nurse Joy, the four sisters had managed to keep the Gym, but Misty couldn’t stand her sisters snobby attitude that “now they were Gym Leaders they could do whatever they wanted”. That’s why she had run away when she was 10. That’s how she had met Ash ...



“Hey,” another voice said in front of her on the road. She looked up, not realising she had been staring down at the road, into the eyes of Ash.



“I was just coming to see you,” she replied. “I need to talk to you.”



“Has the doctor finished?” Ash asked her. Receiving a nod, he continued. “Well what did she say? Are you sick?”



“I’m not sick,” she said. Relieved, Ash pulled her into a hug, both wrapping their arms around each other.



“That’s great!” They separated and held each other’s hand, heading back the short distance to Ash’s house.



“But ... there is something else,” Misty told him after a while. She stopped speaking, not knowing how to break the news to him.



“What is it?” Ash asked again, turning his head to look at her.



“She said I had a swollen stomach, mood swings, sickness,” Misty listed to him. “She took a urine sample and she tested it with a chemical.”



“Tested it for what?” Ash asked as they stopped outside his house. His adrenaline level had been rising and he was wishing she would get it over with and tell him what was wrong.



Misty let go of his hand. “Before I say, Ash this isn’t your fault,” she said quickly.



“What isn’t my fault? Misty, just tell me!” he said loudly, the tension getting to him. “Are you sick or not!?”



“I’m pregnant!” she shouted at him. Relief at telling him turned to worry when his face turned neutral and blank.



“W ... what?” he whispered.



“I’m ... pregnant,” Misty repeated quietly. She waited for a reply, hearing only silence from Ash. “Ash?” she asked cautiously.



“I ... I gotta ... go,” he said shakily, turning away from her and walking off down the road in the opposite direction they had just come from.



“Ash!” Misty called, unable to move. Instead the tears gathered in her eyes as she watched him walk away. “ASH!” As he began to run so did she, inside the house and up the stairs, flopping down on her bed and crying her eyes out.



She heard footsteps come up the stairs, so she quickly locked the door. Seconds later, she heard a knocking. “Misty?” a voice ventured.



“Delia, leave me alone, please,” Misty asked her.



“Is this to do with Doctor Wilson?” Delia asked her.



“She told you!?” Misty shouted, not believing she broke so-called “doctor-patient confidentiality”.



“She said nothing, she’s not allowed to,” Delia told her. “Anyway, she’s gone now, on an emergency. Dear, let me in.”



“Just ... let me be alone,” Misty said.



“Misty-”



“LEAVE ME ALONE!” she screamed. Delia, knowing when someone meant it, went back downstairs, probably to talk to Brock. Feeling guilt for shouting at the person who was just like a mother to her, Misty flopped her head onto her pillow, crying her heart out.



... ... ...



It had been about 30 minutes since Delia had gone downstairs, when Misty heard more footsteps on the stairs. She pushed herself into a sitting position from lying down face in her pillow, when another knock came on the door. “Misty?”



“Brock,” Misty choked out. “I wanna be alone.”



“And I wanna see if you’re alright,” he argued gently. “Please Misty, let me in.”



Misty thought about it, before standing up and opening the door. As soon as she saw Brock she fell against him, the tears pouring out again. “Oh Brock!” she cried out.



“Shhh,” he comforted, putting his arms round her and rubbing her back gently. “Calm down.”



“Ash,” she sobbed into him. “He just ... just ... ”



“What happened?” Brock asked her, leading her to sit down on the bed. He left his arm rubbing her back, as Misty tried to calm down.



“I’m ... I’m pregnant, Brock,” she told him quietly. “I’m sorry!”



“Oh no ... ” he sighed in disbelief. “I can’t believe this,” he said quietly. He stood up and began pacing across the room, hand rubbing his head.



“I’m 17, I’m having a baby, and I’m gonna have to do this by myself,” Misty murmured mainly to herself.



Brock turned to look at her. “What?”



“Ash ... ran. I told him, and ... he just left me!” Misty began to cry again and looked up to Brock, seeing anger in his eyes.



“The hell is he running away from this,” he mumbled as he marched out the room. Misty stood up and followed him, unable to keep up with him as he rushed down the stairs and out the door.



“Brock!” Misty shouted, too late as he had ran off down the street.



“What was that about?” Delia asked as Misty turned around to face her, wiping the tears away quickly.



“Delia ... everything’s gone wrong,” Misty told her. Delia held her arms out and Misty walked into them.



“You’re over-reacting,” Delia told her. “Everything will sort itself out. Ash is just shocked, that’s all. It’s not everyday you find out you’re going to be a Daddy.”



Misty pulled away a little to look at her. “How did you know?”



“I’m a mother,” she told her. “And at one point I trained to be a Midwife. Bet you didn’t know that, did you?”



Misty shook her head. “You’re not angry? Upset?”



“I’m angry you let me thing that the two of you were a recent thing,” Delia told her lightly. “But,” she continued, placing a hand on Misty’s small bump, “I’m gonna be a Grandma. How can I be angry and upset at that?” She smiled, making Misty smile.



“I’m sorry. It’s just that we didn’t know how you’d react,” Misty apologised.



“None of that matters now,” Delia told her. “I’m more worried what Brock will do when he finds Ash.”



“Brock’s protective. After he found out about me and Ash, he warned him not to mess me around.”



“Well, he does have a large family. Protectiveness must come second nature to him.” Delia let go of Misty. “Now young lady, we have some things to discuss.”



Catching on to what she was implying, Misty smiled. “From the beginning?”



“Yes, but also what to expect from now on. This won’t be easy,” Delia warned. She led Misty into the kitchen to begin their talk.





Splash ... Plop ... Splash ... Plop ... Plop ... Splash ...



Ash sighed, tired of throwing the stones, and dropped down onto the dirt ground. Now it was 2 o’clock and having missed lunch, his stomach rumbled. He ignored it though, having more important things on his mind. Pregnant ... He had gotten Misty pregnant. When she had told him, he had felt like he had failed her. They had all the time in the world to begin a family, but why now? They were young ... too young ...



He sighed again, and looked out at the river. Despite his predicament, he smiled as he sat at the exact same spot he had met Misty all those years ago ...



‘Nah, it’s just a kid. Oh, and a Pokémon! Awww, are you ok?”


The young kid was touched that the girl was that worried about him. Smiling, he replied. “I’m alright.”



The girl turned angry quickly. “Not you!” Then, just as fast, she became concerned about the creature in the boy’s arms. “Is it breathing?”



The boy turned his attention back to the Pokémon in his arms, a Pikachu. “I think so.”



“Don’t just stand there!” the girl screamed, having turned angry again. “You need to get it to a hospital!”



“Hospital?” the boy asked, confused.



“Yes, for Pokémon! There’s a medical centre not far from here.”



Then a cry of angry Pokémon filled the air. The boy was filled with dread and fear, knowing they were chasing him because of his earlier mistake. “They’re coming back! Run!” He jumped up and ran over to a nearby bike. He put the Pikachu in the front basket and jumped on the bike.



“Hey, what do you think you’re doing!?” the girl screamed as he began to pedal. “That’s my bike!”



“I’ll bring it back someday!” the boy called as the rain began to fall.



“Oh, you!!!” she screamed as he rode into the distance ...



Ash chuckled to himself as he remembered. Then the seriousness of the situation hit home, and he was instantly depressed. Deep down inside he wanted to refuse this was real. A small part of him even wanted to blame Misty for everything. But he knew that wasn’t true.



Then he heard a rustling in the bushes. He stood up and turned to face the sound, hoping it wasn’t a wild Pokémon. He was surprised when Brock emerged, not looking too happy.



“Brock?” Ash asked, wondering why he was here, and also wondering how he knew he was here. “What’s ha-” he began, before he fell to the ground. An enormous pain was focused on his left cheek and he held his hand to it, looking up at Brock staring down at him with his right fist outstretched. Had Brock just hit him?



“You needed that,” Brock said angrily as Ash picked himself up off the floor. “I warned you Ash! I warned you not to mess around with her!”



“I haven’t!” Ash protested, speaking through the pain.



“You ran,” Brock reminded him. “When she needed you more than ever, you ran away from her! She’s having your child Ash, and she needs you there with her! She thinks she has to do this on her own, for crying out loud!”



“I’d never let her do that!” Ash cried.



“She doesn’t know that, does she!? You never said anything Ash! You turned your back and walked away from her! Away from them!”



“What would you have done Brock!?” Ash shouted, needing to defend himself again. “Don’t say “I’d have stayed and talked” because you wouldn’t have! You’d have panicked! I panicked! I didn’t want to run away, but it just happened, without thinking!”



“Well what about Misty!? Didn’t you think how she felt!? She’s gotta go through it all! Morning sickness, cravings, doubling in size ... birth! And what have you got to do Ash? All you need to do is be with her, support her!” Brock fought.



“That’s not all Brock!” Ash tried to remind him. “I’ve barely finished growing up, and now I have to help a new life grow! We had years ahead of us for all this!”



“Well you took the risk when you slept with her Ash,” Brock told him.



“Don’t patronise me Brock,” he warned slightly. “You have no idea what this is like!”



“I had to look after my entire family when I was younger than you Ash!” Brock reminded him angrily. “Some of them were babies then, as well as toddlers! I had a harder time than you’re gonna have!”



“But,” Ash began, sighing as the tears threatened in his eyes, “I have no idea what to do! I have to teach this baby things, lead by example ... What can I give a baby?”



“Love, Ash,” he said. “As corny as it may sound, love is what the baby, is what Misty needs right now.” Finished saying what he had to say, Brock began to walk back, but stopped and turned back to face him. “You told me at Snowela that you and Misty slept together because you loved each other. Well, Misty’s now carrying a symbol of your love. Did you ever think of that?” Brock, leaving him with the unanswered question, walked off into the forest.



Ash stood watching Brock leave, thinking about what he had said. Inside, he was kicking himself, feeling the delayed guilt of leaving Misty standing there.



“I have to get back,” he said to the empty surroundings. He began to run as fast as he could back to Pallet Town, planning what to say to Misty when he got there.





“And then,” Misty paused, placing her hand on her stomach, “this was created.”



“I have to hand it to Ash, he sure was romantic,” Delia commented, taking a sip of her tea. “Anyway, do you feel any better for talking about it?”



“I’m a little worried, but, yeah,” Misty said. “I know a little of what to expect.”



“And don’t worry. I’ll be here for you, and I’m sure Ash will be too,” Delia comforted.



Tears gathered in Misty’s eyes as she remembered her earlier “conversation” with Ash. “If he ever comes back,” she sighed.



“Don’t say that,” Delia suggested.



“Yeah, don’t say that,” a voice said from outside the open kitchen door.



“Ash Ketchum, get in here now!” Delia said firmly. Ash drifted in and leaned against the doorframe, like he didn’t have a care in the world.



“Hey,” he greeted Misty. Although she was angry with him, she couldn’t help but smile at his playfulness. She quickly replaced the smile with Ash’s deserved frown.



“I believe you two have things to talk about, so I’ll leave you to it.” Delia stood up and walked into the lounge, shutting the door behind her.



Ash walked over to Misty sitting on a chair, and kneeled down to look at her. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.



“Sorry’s don’t make everything better,” Misty said coldly, secretly wanting to give into him, deciding to let him squirm. After all, it was what he deserved for abandoning her.



“How about I love you?” he asked, moving his face closer to hers.



“I love you’s don’t make the pain go away,” she reminded him sadly, staring into the eyes that were staring into hers, trying not to give in to him.



“How about this?” he asked, kissing her gently. He lit up inside when she responded to him, placing her hands on the back of his head. He winced when she touched his injured cheek, and broke the kiss, rubbing it gently.



“What happened?” Misty asked, turning his face to the side and looking at the appearing bruise.



“Your “almighty protector Brock” happened,” Ash jokily said. “I think he decided to physically knock some sense into me. I really did need it though.”



“Good,” Misty agreed, stroking her hand through his hair. At the same time, Ash placed his hand on her belly, where it had begun to swell slightly.



“I can’t believe I ran away from this,” he said in awe, his attention fully focused on the growing life, unseen inside of her.



“Let’s face it, I didn’t exactly break it gently to you, did I?” she asked, smiling at him.



“We’re gonna be parents,” he said quietly, moving closer to her stomach. Misty leaned back slightly, allowing him to reach better. He placed a kiss on her stomach and leaned against it, wrapping his arms around Misty. Misty reached and placed her arms on his back, and together they hugged each other.



“We can do this,” Misty whispered to Ash.



“I know,” Ash replied.



*~*



CHAPTER_FOUR


Over the next two months all Ash could do was stand to the side and watch as Misty, and their child, grew in size. Thankfully, Misty’s short period of morning sickness had passed and now she was totally hooked on the craving stage.



“Carrots!” she moaned as they sat on the sofa.



“We’re all out! Mom’s gone for more,” Ash reassured her.



“How about peppers?” she asked next.



“How about bugs?” he teased, remembering her various speeches of “I don’t like carrots, peppers or bugs”.



“Don’t push it Ketchum,” she warned. “Oh well, I guess I’ll have to make do with ice cream on toast,” she sighed.



“What!?” Ash asked, not sure if he heard right. “Don’t put the kid through that!”



“I was joking,” she reassured him, kissing his cheek. She gasped slightly, and placed her hands on her swollen stomach. She’s kicking again,” she said in awe, reaching for Ash’s hand and placing it next to hers. Togepi and Pikachu who were on the sofa next to them rushed over and put their ears on to listen.



“Pikapi,” Pikachu called after a minute. “Pikachupi pika pichu pika pikachu?” he asked.



“Yeah,” Ash replied simply. He reluctantly removed his hand and stood up, heading towards the kitchen, Pikachu putting his ear back against Misty’s bump.



“Ash?” Misty asked, wondering what they had said.



“Just a minute,” he replied from inside the kitchen. She sighed and stroked Pikachu who was smiling widely.



“You hear something, Pikachu?” she asked him.



“Pika!” Pikachu cried, nodding his head. Misty smiled at him, wondering just what he had heard.



Just then, a loud cheer of, “SURPRISE!” rang through the house, making Misty jump.



“You remembered!?” she said touched, as Ash, Delia, Brock, Tracey and Prof. Oak all walked out the kitchen, carrying a huge sponge cake lit with 18 candles.



“How could we forget?” Ash asked her. After singing a somewhat out of tune “Happy Birthday”, Misty blew out the candles. Tracey placed the cake down on the coffee table and slices were cut from it and handed around.



“I didn’t expect this,” Misty said in shock.



“You really think we’d forget your 18th birthday?” Brock asked her. “It’s a landmark!”



“But, presents first!” Ash cried excitedly.



Delia gave her present first, a book full of baby names. After flicking through and seeing what the book said about all of their own names, Tracey handed his present to Misty. It was a picture he had drawn of Ash and Misty “one day” as he put it, when they were much younger. Thanking him, she received Professor Oak’s next. A multi-pack of herbal teas that his wife and daughter had both claimed got rid of cravings. Relieved she had something to keep the carrots away, she now received Brock’s present.



“Wow,” she exclaimed as she unwrapped a silver pendant. “Oh Brock, this is beautiful!” she exclaimed as opened it, revealing two empty spaces.



“There’s enough room to fit two baby pictures in there,” Brock told her. Misty, who now became overwhelmed at any present given for the baby, hugged Brock tearfully. She received a tap on her shoulder and separated from Brock. She turned to see Delia, who was holding a small picture out to her.



“Here’s a start,” she offered. Misty took the picture off her and looked at it, seeing a picture of a small baby.



“It’s Ash, right?” Misty asked Delia.



Delia nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ve got hundreds!”



“Really?” Ash asked, surprised.



“You’d be surprised at how much I was a shutterbug when you were small,” Delia told him, winking.



Misty, now having put the picture in the pendant, placed it round her neck. “Thanks,” she told them.



“Now mine,” Ash said. “You can kinda consider it as from Pikachu and Togepi as well.”



“Pika,” Pikachu agreed, nodding his head. Ash then handed Misty a small rectangular blue parcel.



“Toge togepi!” Togepi chirped, excited by all the wrapping paper.



Misty unwrapped the blue paper to reveal a small velvet box. Warily, she opened it to reveal a plain gold bracelet.



“Oh Ash!” she gasped, taking it out. “It’s ... wow!” She turned it over and read an inscription on the other side.



‘Misty, my love, happiness on your 18th birthday. Ash x x x’



“You like it?” Ash asked her.



She nodded, putting it on her wrist. “I love it,” she whispered as she kissed him. Then the doorbell rang.



“I’ll get it,” Delia said, standing up. Misty had begun moving her way to the cards when they heard their voices at the door.



“Hello?” Delia asked the visitor.



“Is this where Ash Ketchum lives?” a female voice asked. At the mention of his name, Ash turned his head around.



“Yes. Why?” Delia queried.



“I need to speak to him, it’s important.”



“May?” Brock asked, recognising the voice.



“Brock?” May called, Delia deciding, since they obviously knew her, to let her in the house, shutting the door behind her.



“May, what are you doing here? I thought you were staying in Hoenn?” Ash asked as she walked into the lounge, wearing the same ensemble she wore throughout their trip through Hoenn.



“Holy he-” she stopped herself, seeing a pregnant girl sitting next to Ash. “I’m May,” she greeted.



“Misty,” Misty replied.



May smiled knowingly. “Oh, you’re Misty,” she said slightly cheekily. “Congratulations,” she commentated on the impending arrival.



“Thanks,” Ash thanked.



“It’s yours!?” she exclaimed. “Anyway, I came here for a reason, a very important reason.”



“It must have been if you travelled all the way from ... Hoenn?” Tracey asked.



“Yes,” she confirmed. “Ash, can I talk to you in private?”



“Private? It’s not like this is a big secret,” Ash sighed, standing up.



“My father sent me here to deliver ‘Official Confidential Hoenn League News’,” May said bluntly and with slight bitterness. “I need to make sure you understand this.”



“Ash,” Misty said, looking at him. “Talk in the kitchen.” Ash smiled and led May into the kitchen, shutting the door behind them.



“May, what’s this about?” Ash asked, leaning against the desktop.



“Ash, this’ll come as a shock, but ... Steven’s dead.”



“Steven?” Ash asked confused. Then he remembered. “The Champion, Steven!?” he exclaimed.



“I’m sorry,” she consoled, holding up a letter in her hand. “And there’s also this letter for you.”



Ash took the letter off her and opened it up quickly, reading the contents ...



Dear Ash Ketchum,



It is with great sadness that we report to you, a recent Hoenn League Challenger, news that the current Champion, Steven Stone, has passed away, leaving a widow and two children. Unfortunately, even though you yourself came second in the Championships, we will have to re-host the Hoenn League Championships.



Please reply to this letter as soon as possible, as the League matches are scheduled to start 2 months to the day, of the date stated at the top of this letter and we need to know urgently if you are able to attend. If for some reason you are unable to, we are sorry to state that the result you achieved in the currently discounted Championships will not be officially recorded. But, you are free to attend the next Championships, date currently unknown.



Again, please reply ASAP.



~HOENN LEAGUE~



Ash finished reading the letter and threw it down on the table, screwed up tightly.



“Ash?” May asked. “What did it say?”



“It said that the championships are being held again, and that all the positions reached last time are now ... void,” he spoke with bitterness.



“What? They can’t do that!” May exclaimed. “Everyone worked so hard ... you worked hard! They can’t throw that out the window!”



“They can, and they have!” Ash shouted. He sighed loudly and kicked the kitchen units as hard as he could, trying to release his frustration. “In seven years that was the closest I had ever gotten,” he said sadly. “Kanto, Orange, Johto ... ” he trailed off.



“Ash are you gonna be ok?” she asked.



He paused, thinking before answering. “I’m gonna go for a walk,” he whispered. He walked out of the kitchen, May following after him.



In the living room they were all chatting with each other. Ash stopped and looked at Misty who was talking with Tracey. She laughed and then noticed he was back in the room and turned her head to look at him, still smiling. “Ash?” she asked, making everyone focus on him.



“Honey, are you alright?” Delia asked, seeing the sadness displayed on his face. Ash said nothing. He looked despairingly at Misty, and then headed for the front door as fast as he could.



“Ash where are you going!?” Misty shouted, standing up from the sofa and heading to the front door as well.



“He’s angry,” May told them all, walking into the middle of the room. “And I don’t blame him.”



“Well what did you say to him!?” Misty angrily asked her. “Something’s happened and I wanna know, confidential or not!”



“He’s lost his Hoenn second place!” May shouted back at her. “They’re having to do last year’s competition all over again! In two months!”



“Two months?” Brock asked, flicking his gaze from May to Misty, who was now looking down at the floor.



“This is my fault,” she said quietly. “He can’t go ... ” she trailed off, looking out the open door.



“Don’t blame yourself,” Delia told her as Misty hurried out the door. Brock stood up to follow, but Delia stopped him. “Let them talk,” she told him. Reluctantly he sat down.



“May, do you wanna run through why all this has happened?” Tracey asked her as she sat down.



“I don’t really have a choice, do I?” she asked jokily. She sighed. “Ok,” she agreed, before continuing.





Ash lay back on the sand, staring up at the blue sky. “It’s not fair,” he repeated over and over in his head. He sat up and looked out to the calm blue water, sighing heavily. He was so angry at everything and everyone. He was even angry with Steven for getting himself killed 2 years before the next championships, however selfish it sounded. He felt the anger surge up inside of him and he clenched his fists.



“Ash!?” a voice shouted to him from up the beach. He turned his head to see Misty walking up to him, looking out of breath.



“Pikapi!” a voice said behind her. Misty turned to see Pikachu following her, and she waited for him to catch her up before she continued her way over to Ash.



“Ash, I’ve been looking for you all over,” she said when she reached him.



“Just leave me alone Misty,” Ash said quietly, standing up.



“Ash, I’m sorry for what happened but-”



“Sorry? Sorry’s don’t make everything better, remember that?” he said nastily to her.



The anger grew quickly within Misty. “Well what should I say!?” she shouted. “That I’m glad you’ve lost your ranking!?”



“Pika pikachu!” Pikachu shouted, not wanting to see the two of them fighting.



“Look, I just wanna be left alone! Is that so much to ask!?” Ash shouted at her.



“So you can sulk like a baby!?” Misty retorted, watching Ash’s face twist in even more anger.



“... Get out my life,” he said bitterly.



“Pikapi?” Pikachu asked quietly, hoping that what he worried about wasn’t about to happen.



Misty stared him in the eyes, tears threatening to spill. “I will,” she replied quietly. Turning from him, she ran as fast as she could in the direction that led to his house.



Ash couldn’t believe what had just happened between them and he dropped down onto the sand, crossing his legs and hitting them with his arms. It hurt, but it took the attention away from the pain in his chest. After a few minutes he looked up and saw Pikachu staring at him angrily. “She doesn’t mean it,” Ash said to him.



“Pikapi!” Pikachu shouted as loud as he could, making Ash jump. “Pika pikachu! Pikachupi pikapichu pi kachu pika chuka pichu pikachu!”



Ash was silent for a moment, trying to figure out a bit of what Pikachu said. “I thought at least you would have understood! That wasn’t just my ranking, it was yours as well!”



“Pika pikachu ... pi Pikachupi pipi pichu!” Pikachu shouted.



“I ... suppose they are,” Ash said quietly, feeling the delayed guilt arrive. “I’d better go and find her, hadn’t I?” he asked Pikachu, who nodded in relief. “30 minutes to get home,” he said as he stood up. “I think we can catch her up.” Pikachu smiled and jumped onto Ash’s shoulder as he set off running.





“Thank you so much,” Misty said to Sarah, the assistant at the Poké Mart. She undid her seatbelt and got out of the car in front of Ash’s house.



“Are you really ok?” she asked with concern for her. She’d picked her up on the road back to Pallet Town, thinking it was not right for a pregnant and distraught woman to be left alone like that.



“I’m fine,” Misty assured her falsely as she shut the door and peered in through the open window. “I have to go now, bye!” She rushed away before Sarah had the chance to say anything else to her.



“Never mind then,” she sighed, giving up on her and driving away.



Knocking on the door, Misty got no response. Then she noticed an envelope peeking out under the doormat. Managing to bend down and pick it up, cursing the person who forgot how hard that simple movement was getting for her, she opened and read it.



Misty + Ash,



There’s been a problem up at the Lab, so me (Delia), May, Tracey and Sam have gone up there to sort it out. We won’t be back until 8-ish. Brock had a call from Lara, so he’s gone to her house. No idea when he’ll be back.



Take care,



Delia.



“But what about a key!?” she shouted despairingly, leaning against the doorframe. She was exhausted and not in the mood for walking all the way to the Lab.



Then a rattling noise of chains and keys in the lock of the front door drew Misty’s immediate attention. Thanking her lucky stars she watched as the door opened to reveal-



“Brock! What are you doing here?” Misty exclaimed. She then noticed his facial expression, how sad he looked, and the tear tracks on his face. “What’s happened?” she asked as she got through the front door.



“She ... ” he trailed off as he reached the sofa and sat down on it. “It’s over. Lara was using me all the time, and I was too desperate to see it ... ”



Misty sat down besides him, noticing the bottle and glass on the table. “Have you been drinking?” she asked, reaching for the glass and picking it up, sniffing the liquid inside of it.



“Yes,” he said almost shamefully, taking the glass out of her hands and drinking whatever little amount was left in it. “It helps,” he added, putting it back on the table.



“What would help me?” she asked him. He looked at her. “We’ve finished,” she whispered. Her throat closed up and she started sobbing.



At any other time, Brock would have marched out of the house and found Ash, giving him a piece of his mind. But today ... “Misty ... ” Brock soothed, pulling her into a hug. “It’s just an argument,” he said through his foggy brain. Just how much had he had to drink? He glanced at the bottle of whisky on the table, seeing it ... half empty. Uh oh ...



“It’s not an argument!” Misty cried into his chest, bringing his attention back to her. “This is it, over! I said he was sulking because of his stupid ranking, and he said I should just get out of his life!” She said no more as she kept on crying. “And ... I said I would.”



Feeling the tears reach through and soak his shirt, Brock pulled her up away from him and put his hands on her shoulders, making her stop crying and look up at him. “Stop this, it’s not good for the baby,” he said concernedly.



“Drinking isn’t, but at least I’m not doing that,” she said jokily, looking into his eyes. His eyes ... why hadn’t she ever noticed them before? They were such an amazing shade of-



“Misty, what are you doing?” Brock asked her as he felt her lean over to him, putting her hands on his neck.



“Moving on,” she whispered as her face stopped moving, millimetres away from Brock’s, her eyes looking into his.



“This is a bad idea,” he fumbled out. “I’m drunk, you’re upset as well as pregnant. We’ll regret it, we don’t know-”



“We’re single,” she reminded him, putting a finger on his lips.



“Misty no ... ” Brock pleaded as her nose bumped against his. Their foreheads rested together and Brock took a deep breath, fighting between his conscience and his emotions. “What about Ash?” he murmured to her.



“Ash is a selfish, Pokémon-obsessed kid!” she exploded, jumping up from the sofa. “I don’t know why I didn’t see it before!”



“Isn’t that what you saw in him in the first place?” Brock asked her. “How much he loved Pokémon?”



Misty paused for a moment, and then sighed in defeat. “I don’t know,” she said as she sat down on the sofa. “You see ... it took me ages to figure Ash out. He was this dense kid, who had the determination and the heart to do whatever he wanted. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t stand him at first. We kinda had the same dream ... but he had the drive to get there. I realised after a few days that if I hung around with him, I could get to where I wanted to go a little quicker, and maybe see some things along the way.”



“And then you fell in love with him,” Brock added, practically finishing her story.



She sighed before she continued. “I never thought I would. I had all these childhood fantasies about whom I would fall in love with, a dark, handsome and clever gentleman who would sweep me off my feet and carry me away into the sunset. And when I met a man just like that, who fell in love with me, I realised that things weren’t as simple as in fairytales. I was meant to fall in love with the Prince ... but I didn’t. I was in love with a Traveller. I left the Prince alone in his castle, and stayed with the Traveller ... I stayed with Ash.”



“And that’s why you should still stay with him,” Brock finished as keys were heard jingling in the front door. It swung open loudly to reveal a worn-out Ash Ketchum.



“Misty!?” Ash called out in a panic as he shut the door. In the few seconds he allowed himself to rest, he tried to catch his breath while Brock stood up from the sofa.



“She’s here,” he told Ash, making him rush over to them. Brock reached up and took Pikachu off Ash’s shoulder. “Talk with her while I ... ” he paused, reaching up to his head. “Sober up.”



“Thanks,” Ash said quietly. As Brock moved into the kitchen, shutting the door behind him, Ash kneeled cautiously on the floor and looked up at Misty. “Hey beautiful,” he whispered to her.



“Leave me alone Ash,” she said suddenly, standing up.



“I’m sorry,” he apologised, watching to see the effect it would have upon her. She said nothing, just walked briskly over to the stairs and began climbing them. Ash jumped up from the floor and followed after, Misty going into what was designated as ‘their’ room now. Ash’s Mom had decided to let the two of them stay together, her excuse being, “she’s pregnant, so what more can the two of you do together?”



Ash’s train of thought crashed when he heard Misty mumbling to herself whilst throwing various items into a bag. “Where are you going?” he asked whilst he moved to stand besides her.



“I’m going home!” she shouted as she moved off to fetch more of her things.



“You are home!” Ash insisted, moving to block her path to her bag.



“Move out of my way,” Misty warned.



“No,” Ash murmured, shaking his head. “What’s wrong?” he asked her.



“What’s wrong!?” she exclaimed. “You wanted me to get out of your life! Then when I do that, you don’t want me to go!”



“I-I was upset! I didn’t mean it!” Ash justified, taking a step closer to her and placing his hands on her shoulders, only for them to be smacked away.



“You said it, didn’t you?” she reminded him, managing to get round him and dump the bundle she held in her arms into the bag. Shoving Ash out of the way, she proceeded to zip the bag up, albeit with some difficulty.



Noticing a small, furry, yellow object on the floor, Ash bent down and picked it up. It was a Pikachu doll that they had been planning on giving to the baby when it was born. The tears gathering slightly, Ash stared at the doll and then at her, thinking he had lost all hope of winning this argument. She was gonna walk out of his life ... again ...



“How can I just let you walk away, just let you leave without a trace?” Ash began to sing quietly. “When I stand here taking every breath, with you ... ” he trailed off, standing behind her and putting his arms round her, his hands and the toy in them resting on the bump that was their child.



“Let go of me Ash,” Misty said quietly, trying to sound firm. It wasn’t working, she was giving in to him ... No, this was it, she was going home for real this time! She felt the Pikachu teddy against her abdomen and put her hand on it, her fingers brushing against Ash’s.



Placing his mouth close to her ear, Ash continued. “You’re the only one ... who really knew me at all ... ” he whispered, sending shivers up and down Misty and making her mouth go dry.



“I hate you,” she whispered out to him. Shocked and hurt, Ash removed his arms from around her. Misty turned around and saw his pain, directed now at her, on his face.



Ash shook his head, unwilling to believe her. “You don’t.”



“I hate the kid inside of you,” Misty explained to him. “You still wanna be out there, training your Pokémon, having adventures. And I feel so god damned guilty for it!” The tears threatened in her eyes and she paused to wipe them away. “I feel guilty because you can’t have that, because you have to stay here with your pregnant girlfriend!”



“You ever thought I might just want to stay here with you?” Ash asked her.



“You don’t though,” Misty told him. “Deep down inside, you wanna go and reply to that letter, and go to the Hoenn League. And you know I’m not lying.”



Ash stared at her. What should he say? What could he say ... when they both knew she was right?



“See,” Misty commentated about their silence. She reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of paper, slightly crumpled. “Here’s the letter. Go and reply to it.” She held it out to him and he took it, dumbfounded by everything. Saying nothing, she went downstairs, still leaving her bag upstairs.



“What am I doing!?” Ash shouted to himself. Shoving the letter into his pocket, he rushed out of their room and ran down the stairs after her. “Misty!” he shouted. “Misty wait!”



“No!” she shouted, turning to face him now he had gotten down the stairs. “I’m going to say goodbye to your mother, and then I’m going!” She turned back round to walk out of the now open door when a wave of dizziness washed over her. Losing her balance, she staggered over to the wall and used her arms to support herself.



“Misty?” Ash asked full of concern, moving and putting his arms round her to help support her. “What’s wrong?”



“So dizzy ... ” she whispered, trying to head over to the sofa and lie down. She lost her balance and fell into Ash’s arms. Her legs giving underneath her, she sank down to the ground, Ash supporting her underneath him.



“Misty!” Ash called helplessly, looking at her in his arms.



Loosing consciousness, Misty whispered out, “I didn’t mean it,” before her eyes drifted shut and she fainted.



Ash panicked and shook her gently, trying to wake her up. “Misty, wake up!” he shouted. “Please!” Then he remembered the other person in the house. “Brock! BROCK!”



Brock came rushing out of the kitchen, thinking someone was being murdered. He stopped dead when he saw Ash holding Misty on the ground, tears streaking his face. “What happened?” he asked, bending down to look at Misty.



“Call an ambulance!” Ash shouted, still looking at Misty. “Oh god, the baby ... ” he trailed off.



Brock scrambled up and dashed towards the kitchen. “I’ll call your Mom!” he told Ash as he picked up the phone and dialled the number.



Ash broke down over Misty and cried, kissing her forehead. “I love you, don’t leave me,” he whispered to her. He hung his head over hers, and cried until his Mom and the ambulance arrived.





“Are you ok honey?” Delia asked Ash for the 20th time. Getting no reply, she pulled him into a hug, Ash wrapping his arms around her tightly. She looked down at him, surprised that, in a certain light, he still looked like the 10 year old he was when he met Misty. When she felt the dampness seep through to her top, she rocked him back and forth, soothing him.



“I’m worried Mom,” he whispered to her.



“We all are,” she comforted as she heard footsteps approach. They separated, hoping it was a doctor, only to see that it was May.



“Tracey’s with Pikachu and Togepi,” she informed them, as the Hospital wouldn’t allow Pokémon above the ground floor. “Togepi won’t stop crying. Pikachu’s trying, but ... ” she trailed off, taking a seat next to Ash. “Where’s Brock gone?”



“He said he had a headache,” Delia told her, seeing Brock walk over to them. “Here he is now!”



“Any news?” he asked them, sitting down next to May.



“Not a word,” Ash said hoarsely. “This is ridiculous!” he suddenly shouted.



“Excuse me?” a tall man in a white overall asked Brock. “I’m Doctor Hanson. Are you all here about a Misty Williams?”



“Yes,” Ash said quickly, standing up. “Is the baby ok?”



The doctor turned to him. “Are you the father?” he asked with a kind voice. When Ash nodded he continued. “Ash, right? She’s been asking for you.” He smiled reassuringly.



“How is she?” Delia asked. “Have you called Mary Wilson? She’s Misty’s Midwife.”



Hanson turned to look at Delia. “Doctor Wilson’s been informed, but she can’t get here. She’s at a conference in Goldenrod City. But, she says she is satisfied with the care we’ve provided for Misty.”



“But how is she?” May asked.



“It was nothing serious. Certainly wouldn’t affect the baby in any way. It’s just Misty’s sugar levels were a little low, leading to dizziness. In some situations some people faint, but apart from that ... Misty will be fine,” he informed them all, everyone breathing a sigh of relief.



“Ash, do you wanna go see her first?” Brock suggested, glancing a look at Doctor Hanson. Ash’s face lit up with happiness.



“She’s this way, Room 215,” he told him, leading the way for him as they both walked off.



Delia sighed. “More like Doctor Handsome!” she swooned.



May’s face grew into a smile, and she looked at Brock, a smile on his face too. It seemed Delia was more than a little thankful to Doctor Hanson ...





“Mist?” he asked quietly, poking his head round the door. He saw her sitting up in bed, reading a magazine like it was as normal as anything.



“Ash!” she cried out happily, making him smile widely. She put her magazine down as he walked over to her and kissed her.



“I’m so glad you’re ok,” he whispered when they pulled away.



“Ash?” she asked with feeling, wiping away a tear that had begun to trail down his face.



“I thought I’d lost you,” he said, sitting down on a chair next to the bed and holding her hand in his. “Both of you,” he corrected. “I’d never felt so helpless ... ”



“Ash, it’s ok,” she reassured him, squeezing his hand. She looked down, gathering up her thoughts of what to say to him. “I’m sorry,” she began. “I didn’t mean it when I said I hated you.”



“Misty,” Ash cut in, “it doesn’t matter.”



“It does to me,” she said. “I ... I suppose, in a way, I was scared. I was scared that you were gonna go off to the league and leave me by myself. I was scared I was gonna lose you.”



“I wouldn’t have gone,” Ash told her. “Even if you had walked out that door, I wouldn’t have gone to the Championships.” Finishing, he reached into his pocket and took out the letter that he had crammed in there earlier on. Removing his hand from Misty’s, he held the piece of paper out to her, and ripped it clean in two. Misty’s jaw dropping, Ash put the two half pieces together and ripped them in half as well.



“Ash, what are you doing?” she asked in disbelief as he handed the bits of torn paper over to her.



“I’m showing you which means more to me,” he murmured as he moved in to kiss her again, Misty placing her hands on the back of his head. How nice it was to kiss him when that damn hat wasn’t in the way ...



A quiet knock at the door broke their activities, forcing them to break apart. After Misty told whoever it was that they could come in, Delia popped her head round the door. “Can I come in?”



“Sure Mom,” Ash said smiling, sitting back down in his chair.



“Misty, I’m glad to see you’re ok,” she said happily. Just then the door opened and in walked two other figures.



“Alright for us to come in?” May asked timidly, Brock standing besides her.



“Sure!” Misty replied, pushing herself up in her bed. “I don’t think we were really introduced, huh?” she joked to May.



“Ok!” May beamed, quickly straightening her appearance, holding a hand out after she had finished. “Hi, my name’s May and I’m 13 years old.”



“Hi, my name’s Misty,” she replied, accepting the hand. “I’m 18 years old. I ... well ... used to be a Pokémon Trainer.”



“Mist, don’t talk like that,” Ash said, trying to cheer her up.



“Anyway,” Misty ignored, “how did you meet Ash?” Ash suddenly grew very nervous, Misty turning to look at him. “What?” she asked him.



“I think you’ll enjoy the déjà vu Misty,” Brock commented, chuckling slightly to himself.



“Why?” Misty asked, the realisation slowly hitting her as her head turned slowly to face Ash. “You didn’t, did you?” she asked him, a smile forming on her face.



“Didn’t what?” Delia asked her.



“He destroyed another bike!” Misty exclaimed, bursting out in laughter. Brock joined in with her along with May and Delia, leaving Ash as the only one in the room who was sane at that moment.



“It’s not that funny!” Ash complained, earning an even louder cry from Misty. “Anyway, it was Pikachu!”



“It was Pikachu last time!” Misty commented, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. There then came another knock at the door, it opening to reveal Doctor Hanson.



“Misty, good news for you!” he beamed. “In a couple of hours you’ll be discharged and able to go home.”



“That soon?” Brock asked the doctor, looking in his direction with everyone else.



“There’s no immediate danger to her, and the baby’s fine,” he informed them. “There’s no reason she should stay here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll just go and sort out your papers.” He turned around and moved to walk out of the door.



“Thanks,” Ash said sincerely. Hanson turned his head, smiled, and closed the door behind him.



“He is so cute ... ” Delia murmured, leaning back against the wall. When she snapped out of her daydream, she felt 8 eyes staring at her. “What?” she asked innocently, blushing slightly though her embarrassment.



“I think Mom’s got a crush!” Ash sang in a playful voice.



“I do not!” she denied. “Anyway young man, you’re not exactly one to talk when it comes to the subject of crushes,” she retorted, winking. “Misty, is it ok if Ash stays with you? I need the others to help me at home.” Ignoring Ash’s protests of wanting to answer her accusation, Delia pulled May and Brock out of the room.



“Take the Pokémon with you!” Misty called after her, receiving a quiet and distant confirmation in reply. A smirk now on her face, she turned to look at Ash. “What was that about “crushes”?” she asked evilly.



Ash gulped. Resigning himself to his fate, he told her his story ...





Still in fits of laughter from his story, Misty got out of the navy blue car in front of the ‘Ketchum Residence’. Ash moved around to collect her bag out of the back, while Doctor Hanson got out as well. “I’ll just see you in,” he insisted.



“Oh, you don’t need to do that,” Misty insisted, suddenly receiving a slight nudge in her ribs from Ash.



“Remember my Mom,” he said quietly through clenched teeth. Misty took the hint and nodded in understanding.



“Actually,” Misty called out, turning to look at him walking over to them, “why don’t you come inside? I bet my Togepi will wanna say thank you to you.”



“You have a Togepi?” he asked her, receiving a smile as a reply. “That’s my second favourite Pokémon.”



“What’s your favourite?” Ash asked, excited that the subject was on Pokémon.



“I’ll describe it to you,” the Doctor decided, his eyes glazing over slightly as he went into a dream-like state. “My favourite Pokémon ... it’s hard to put into words. But, I’ve been fascinated by them since I was a little boy. Their appearance, grace, style, and artistic talent ... ” he trailed off. “But, I haven’t seen a real one right in front of me in so many years. I don’t know how I’d act if ever again I saw a real life-”



“Mr. Mime!” a Pokémon call came from inside the house. Almost immediately a wide smile came to Doctor Hanson’s face.



“Mr. Mime!” he cried excitedly. “You have a Mr. Mime!? I would be so grateful if you’d let me see it!”



“Sure!” Ash said happily, opening the door. “Mom!” he called out as they all walked though.



“Dear you’re back!” she exclaimed happily, walking over to them. She was wearing a small apron smudged with flour and cooking ingredients, her hair hanging down loosely. “Just in time for-” she froze, noticing the guest standing with them.



“You remember Doctor Hanson, Mom,” Ash said as he walked over to the kitchen, Misty moving to the couch to sit down.



“Yes,” she murmured, staring at him. A clatter from the kitchen took her attention away from Hanson and she turned around to see Ash walk out of the kitchen pushing a Pokémon covered in the same stains as Delia.



“Mr. Mime!” Ash said struggling with him. “Come on, do me this favour!”



“Is he your Pokémon?” Hanson asked Ash.



“Oh no!” Ash said as he finally reached them, Mr. Mime standing reluctantly still and wanting to clean that small mark on the floor by the stairs. “Mimey’s my Mom’s.”



“He’s yours?” he asked Delia. She nodded a reply as he held out a hand to her. “I don’t think we were properly introduced in the hospital, were we? My real name’s Daniel.”



“Daniel,” Delia repeated sheepishly, accepting the hand. “I’m Delia Ketchum. Would you like to stay for dinner? Oh, but you must have a person to go home to, so-”



“I’m single actually,” he replied, smiling at her though the tension. “You?”



“Ditto,” she said, making them both laugh slightly.



“Mrs Ketchum!” May called, sticking her head out of the kitchen door. “Are these finished?”



“Uh, coming dear!” she replied, separating from Daniel.



“Is it ok if I talk with your Mr. Mime?” he asked her before she disappeared through the door.



“Sure!” he told him, smiling before going to help out Brock, May and Tracey in the kitchen.



“Hello,” Daniel said almost reverently, kneeling down to look at Mr. Mime at his height level. “Sorry if I sound weird, but ... I’ve always liked Mr. Mime since I was a kid.”



“Mime! Mr. Mime! Mime mime,” Mimey replied. Daniel smiled and took this as an invitation to keep on talking to him.



“Pikapi!” a cry came over from the sofa. Ash smiled and left Mr. Mime’s side, walking over to sit next to Misty, a small bundle of yellow fur immediately jumping into his arms. “Pika pikachu!”



“Hey Pikachu,” Ash said with slight relief, sitting down on the sofa next to Misty. She turned and glanced a smile at him, turning her head back to Togepi.



“Togepi was telling me about the new friends he made today,” she told Ash in what he termed her “Mommy” voice.



“Toge togepiiii!” Togepi chirped happily as Misty raised him up in the air and back down again.



“Pika pikachu, pi pichu, pi pipika, pi pichuka!” Pikachu checked off in a voice strangely similar to Misty’s voice at that moment.



“Sounds like it was a lot of fun,” Ash commented. Delia, again, then walked through the kitchen doors, this time looking a lot smarter in her appearance than she had done last time.



“Misty,” she said turning to her, a smile beaming on her face. “Happy Birthday!”



Misty looked at Ash in bewilderment. A smile playing on his own lips, he stood up and offered his hand out to her. Togepi having just hopped from her stomach to the sofa, she accepted the hand and allowed herself to be pulled up from her seat. Opening the kitchen door for her, Misty was revealed to the site planned for her 18th birthday.



“I ... I don’t know what to say,” she whispered in disbelief, tears forming slightly in her eyes. Her eyes fell on the only source of light in the room, a huge chocolate-covered cake with what she assumed was 18 candles resting on top.



“This is your real cake,” Ash whispered in her ear. Turning her head and glancing at him for a moment, her eyes then fell on those of Brock, Tracey and May. She heard the door in the kitchen close behind her, hearing the footsteps of Delia, Doctor Hanson and the three Pokémon enter the room.



“Mime mi mime mr. mime!”

“Mime mi mime mr. Mime!”

“Toge toge toge briiiiiiii!”

“Pika pi pikachu!”



Misty couldn’t help but giggle slightly at the Pokémon version of the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. After everyone else sang her the version they all knew so well, she took in a deep breath and blew out all of her candles, wishing her secret wish in her head, hoping that the wish Pokémon Jirachi would make it come true.



“Let’s eat!” Ash decided for everyone as Brock flicked the light-switch on. After Delia fetched a spare chair for Daniel they all sat down to tuck into the birthday dinner, Misty sitting at the head of the table with Ash next to her. The Pokémon sat at their own small table in the corner of the room, piled high with Brock’s gourmet Poké Chow.



The meal was consumed in a happy and cheery atmosphere, everyone laughing and joking with each other. They also took the time to learn a bit more about Daniel, laughing loudly at his jokes of what happened to patients in the middle of the night. Throughout it all, Misty kept on staring around at the people around her. Her family, as well as her friends.



“You guys,” she began after they had finished the main meal, the laughter having faded after another one of Dan’s jokes. “You have no idea how much this means to me. Birthdays back at the Gym, they were nothing like this. My sisters would manage to spare 15 minutes to talk to me, give me presents and eat some cake. Then they’d be off again, like it was just another day. And I know today probably hasn’t turned out like you expected it to.” Misty smiled to herself before she continued. “But I’ve never felt this loved, or cared for, ever in my life. You guys are all my family and I wouldn’t change today for anything.”



After a long silence of waiting to see who would speak first, May decided it would be her. “Me too,” she announced. “I know I haven’t known you that long really, but you guys are my family.” She thrust her hand out into the middle of the table, Misty grasping it. Ash’s hand came next, followed by Brock’s and then Tracey’s. After realising that this was meant for more than just the younger side of the people, Delia put her hand in.



“And you’re all welcome to use my house whenever you want,” she added, making everyone laugh. They removed their hands as Misty cut into her cake, handing out equal pieces to everyone in the room. The cake having been consumed, Ash helped Delia to pack away while Tracey walked over to the door holding a piece of cake wrapped in tissue paper.



“I’ll give this to the professor when I get back,” he said to Misty as he stood at the open front door. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”



“Sure Trace,” Ash replied, his arm around Misty’s waist. “Safe trip!”



“See ya!” Tracey called as he began running back to Oak’s Laboratory. When he was out of sight, Misty shut the door and yawned suddenly.



“Someone’s tired,” Ash commentated, Misty leaning into him. “I think we’re gonna turn in,” Ash said to Delia. Pikachu and Togepi moved over to them, Ash picking them both up. Pikachu stretched and curled into a ball in his arms, Togepi disappearing into his shell.



“That’s a good idea, get some sleep,” Delia said to them as they headed up the stairs. “Goodnight!”



“Night!” they both replied, now out of sight in their bedroom.



Delia sighed and slumped down, exhausted, next to Daniel on the sofa. “I could use a drink,” she said tiredly.



Dan smiled and stood up. “Where do you keep them?” he asked, Delia lifting an arm in fatigue and pointing to a cupboard over by the wall. He moved over to it and knelt down, as Brock, May and Mr. Mime walked out of the kitchen.



“Night you two!” Brock said in a playful voice.



“Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do!” May added.



“Mr. mime!” Mimey called just as playfully, all three of them dashing up the stairs to their rooms before Delia could make a retort.



“Wimps,” Dan commented as he walked over to Delia with the half-bottle of whisky that, unknown to her, Brock had been drowning his sorrows with earlier.



“Who’s been at this!?” she exclaimed when she saw how much of it had disappeared. “Never mind,” she decided as she held out two glasses for Dan to pour their drinks into, watching the liquid slosh around in them.



“Cheers,” he said as he picked up a glass from her hand, clinking it with the other one as he placed the bottle of whisky down and sat next to her.



“Yikes, today’s been one hectic day,” she commented, taking a sip of her whisky.



“I’m sure it must have been,” he agreed, leaning into the sofa. “But, at least it’s over.” His eyes glanced around the room, resting on a certain photo on the mantelpiece. “Is ... that your husband?” he asked her.



“No,” she whispered, glancing at the photo. “He would have been though, if it wasn’t for the accident.”



“Accident?” he asked gently. “Oh, I’m intruding.”



“It’s ok,” she sighed. “Mark ... had a friend, called Giovanni. Giovanni used to be so good, until he inherited Team Rocket off his mother. He changed so much, started doing the most evil things to Pokémon and Humans. He threatened to kill me, when I was pregnant with Ash. Mark had to try and stop him ... ” she trailed off, a tear falling down her face.



“Delia,” he expressed sympathetically, placing both of their drinks down on the table and placing an arm around her, pulling her close to him.



“Giovanni killed him. The police couldn’t pin anything on him, but ... he did it. And what’s worse ... Team Rocket has been following Ash around. The day he left here, in the Pokémon Centre in Viridian, Team Rocket attacked him. They haven’t been around recently, but ... I’m worried Giovanni wants him killed too.” She turned to Dan, tears now streaming. “If Ash died, I don’t think I’d be able to go on!”



“Calm down,” he soothed gently, placing both of his hands on her cheek and wiping the tears away. Delia closed her eyes at the feel of his hands, leaning slightly into the one on her left cheek. Dan’s left hand, on her right check, drifted down to her shoulder, resting near her neck. Seeing she didn’t pull away from her touch, Dan leaned down and kissed her neck near his hand.



“Dan,” she murmured out, her arms rising and gripping his clothes on his chest. Her hands crawled upwards until they reached his neck. She put her arms around it, crossing them over lazily.



He pulled himself from her neck, moving his face up to look into her eyes. They were so captivating ... irrational as this situation seemed to him, he let himself be swept along in it. He leaned down and captured her lips with his, the kiss deepening almost immediately. His hands moved from her cheek and neck into her hair, resting at the back of her head. Delia’s body screamed out at his touch and she broke the kiss, needing to ask Dan something.



“Stay with me tonight.”



A growl emerged from Dan’s throat, surprising and enticing Delia at the same time. He kissed her passionately before standing and picking Delia up in his arms in one swift movement. She yelped quietly, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck for support. He walked steadily over to the stairs, looking into the eyes of Delia as he climbed them. Reaching the top, Delia pointed a dangling foot in the direction of her room. She let loose a hand and opened the door for them, Dan pushing it closed with his foot.



He placed Delia down on the bed, he himself joining her soon after. He began kissing her again as Delia’s hand reached behind her, trying to reach the pull-string on the bedside lamp. She wanted to be able to see him, not make love to him in the darkness. When partial light finally entered the room, she saw Dan leaning over her, kissing down her chest where her blouse was now open. She placed her hands at the bottom of Dan’s jumper, pulling it and the t-shirt over his head with his help.



They continued to kiss each other, removing various items of restricting clothing along the way. When they were both naked, Dan pushed himself into Delia, eliciting a moan from the both of them. He began a rhythm for the two of them, Delia matching it equally, urging him to go faster. Moans and calls were muffled by long kisses, not wanting to alert anyone to their activities.



Later on, their only single cry out loud now fading away from their ears, they lay next to each other under the covers, shaking from their efforts. With the last of her energy draining away from her, Delia reached and turned the light off, snuggling into Dan’s embrace. There, they both fell asleep ...





Unknown to him, Ash was the first person to wake up that morning. He stretched his arms out above his head and turned to look at Misty sleeping next to him. She looked so peaceful lying there ... Not having the heart to wake her up from her gentle slumber, he got out of bed. Quickly getting changed, he went out of his room and down the stairs, making sure he had shut his door.



He expected to hear his Mom walk out to him and say good morning, or at least hear the rattling of pans from the kitchen. All he heard was the silence, worrying him slightly. He rushed back up the stairs and peeked into the spare room, seeing Brock asleep on a couch in there, May on the bed. Closing the door again, he crossed over to his Mom’s room. He opened the door slightly, it swinging open when he saw what he least expected to see.



His Mom ... was kissing Doctor Hanson! Daniel was dressed in the same clothes as last night, his Mom wrapped up in a dressing gown. They stopped kissing when they realised they had an audience, and Delia in particular looked pretty annoyed with Ash. “Haven’t you heard of knocking?”



“I-I-I,” he stuttered. “You weren’t downstairs and I was worried, so I came to see where you were.”



“I’d better get going,” Dan said to Delia, making her face turn to see him. “I’ve got work, and I need to get changed.”



“I’ll see you later?” Delia asked him as he kissed her.



“I’ll call,” he finished as he separated from her and walked out of the room. She sighed in happiness and sat down on the bed, hearing the door shut downstairs.



“Mom, what happened!?” Ash asked, sitting down next to her. Her face became flushed and she placed her hands on her burning cheeks.



“None of your business young man,” she said as sternly as she could in the circumstances. “What are you doing up so early?”



“It’s nine-thirty Mom,” Ash told her, seeing her face jump in surprise.



“I guess time flies,” she said, sighing. “I’m sorry honey, I know how much you like to have pancakes on a Sunday.”



“Don’t be sorry,” Ash said seriously. “It’s ... been a long time since I’ve seen you this happy.”



“It’s so strange,” Delia explained to him. “I’ve known him five minutes, but ... I feel like I’ve known him forever. I know it seems like it’s too fast too soon, and it probably is, but ... I felt just like this with your father.” She smiled at him, Ash smiling widely back at her. She pulled him into a hug, Ash hugging her back. When they separated, Delia went downstairs to make the breakfast, a big smile on her face, whilst Ash went to wake everyone up.



Little did they know that, in a car that’s distance from the Ketchum Household was increasing, Daniel was driving and talking into a radio. “Boss?” he said in a triumphant voice. “This is Rocket Agent ‘A’. The plan’s been set in motion. I’m now moving to phase 2.”