by Smiley13
It was raining...itusually didn't rain in the Viridian Forest, it was very cold andwindy. Ash had set up a camp inside a rather large tent that hedidn't use very often. Misty was in one of the warmer areas inthe tent, but that wasn't saying much because the tent was*INCREDIBLY* cold.
Ash had already gotten 7 badges, this meant one more place to go,one more challenge before the Elite Four. The young adventurerhad to go back to Viridian City, Ash had to get the Earth badge,the ultimate challenge. No one knew who the gym trainer in theViridian Gym was, he was an engima, those who challenged himrarely came out victorious. Ash had made his vow to become apokemon master since the beginning, he was going to stick withit. No matter what the cost.
Misty was shivering in her sleeping bag, she was feeling verycold. She was thinking up ideas on how keep warm in her littlebed, then she thought...
"Hmm..." she said, eyeing Ash.
She knew quite well that Ash was probably colder than she was,but Misty didn't care, she wanted at least a good excuse to beclose to her sweetheart. Misty liked Ash, she didn't admit it, atleast not in public she didn't, but she loved Ash but was justtoo shy to say it. She slid out of her sleeping bag and stood up,she walked over to him, who was sleeping with one arm above hishead and mouth open as usual while mumbling "I can defeatyou. I am Ash Ketchum from Pallet town, Pikachu, go!", Mistygiggled at this and noticed that Pikachu was sleeping beside Ash,so she was careful not speak too loud, she crouched down andshook him a bit, at which he wasn't too happy at having a dreamabout..well...having his dream of becoming a pokemon masterfufilled,
"Huh? Misty? What?" Ash mumbled with his eyes halfopen. minorly grumpy from having his dream inturrupted.
"Mind if I sleep with you Ash?" wispered Misty
"Sure thing..get in." he mumbled in response.
"Thanks."
Ash then changed his sleeping position to his head resting on hishands. Misty slid in the bag and then put her arms around Ash andthen thought "Sure knows how to sleep around a lady"she thought to herself happily, if not slightly embrassed. Shecolder than ever, but she didn't care, she was with her firstlove, her sweetheart, her friend, and hopefully...her destiny.
* * *
When Misty woke up, she just saw some blurs, she saw a yellow andbrown blur in front of her face followed by a "PIKA!".Her eyes opened up like a shot and were wide open. She saw Ashnowhere to be found in the tent, he was packing up with the helpof Brock to get on the move again. She stepped outside, shenoticed the ground squishing beneath her feet.
As Misty stepped outside, she thankful for the warm sun, she wasgetting warmed up immediately. She looked at her surroundings,the dirt was now slippery and muddy. The tent was soaked, the skyhad cleared up, she was so occupied with examining hersurroundings that she was startled when Brock greeted Misty.
"Oh, good morning Misty"
"Huh? uh? Oh, good morning Brock."
"How did you sleep last night?"
"Same as you did, cold and wet." she said with a smallchuckle.
She walked over to Ash who was packing up the tent into hisbackpack.
"What a dumb tent, I can take it out and use it easily, butcan't pack it up!" grumbled Ash silently.
"Hey Ash, what's up?" asked Misty.
"Can't seem to pack up this dumb tent."
"Hmm..I think if you actually FOLD IT UP instead of Rollingit up...you could get the tent in the backpack!"
"Know-it-all" mumbled Ash under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Misty never really wanted to hurt Ash. She just had to keep thetrue feelings she for Ash away from everyone. Misty had to makefun of him ocassionally just for it to seem that there was arivalry between Misty and Ash. She sometimes wondered why did sheact like this...make fun of her love, she was still angry at himfor taking her bike and then wrecking it. Misty WAS stillbothered by that, but she still thought her bike was secondary,being with Ash was first.
"Misty, come on, let's go" Ash signaled Misty to followhim and Brock.
Misty nodded and followed.
As the trio was walking through the forest as usual, Misty wasdoing some thinking to herself. She knew that the charadecouldn't go on, sooner or later, her true feelings would show.
She decided it would be sooner.
* * *
Misty was wondering what to do now...her mind was roaring withthoughts, some made sense and were a voice of reason..others wereinsane and lacked common sense, but most were just her own heart.
"He might like you as well." one thought told her.
"But what if he breaks your heart?" another said.
"Isn't it better to have him for a friend than not have himat all?"
"Just tell him how you feel!!!" a new, unknown voiceyelled within her.
She decided to follow that last voice, it seemed to be the onlyvoice that made any sense.
Misty was so engrossed with her thoughts that she was being leftbehind by Ash and Brock and she didn't even realize it! Mistywent off in a mad dash after them.
"HEY! ASH! BROCK! WAIT FOR ME!!!" She yelled.
Ash was walking along with Brock with Pikachu resting on the backof Ash's head.
Misty was beginning to walk up to Ash, but then she hesitated,thinking about how Ash could break her heart...but she decidedthat she would tell Ash her true feelings no matter what thecost. She started running up towards Ash.
"Uh...Ash...?" she said rather nervously.
"Yeah? What is it Misty?"
"I...Lo...achoo!" she sneezed.
She had a cold from sleeping out in that damp weather. Brocklooked back after she sneezed a few more times. Brock said itwould be a good idea if they set up camp again, because there wasno one for miles, and they couldn't afford to get sick out in themiddle of nowhere. They both agreed and went to set up theirtents back up.
"Now, what was it you wanted to say to me before Ash?"Misty said.
"Geez, Misty. i forgot..." he covered.
"Leave it to you to forget..." she replied.
"And what's that supposed to mean!?" he said in aslightly annoyed tone.
"On the other hand, it must have been really important,because you never seem to want to bother talking to me..."
"Well, you're right. it is important..."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was right...?! Shegave him a puzzled look, then turned away, thinking to herself.She thought there must have been a good reason for him nottelling her, so she decided to leave it at that.
"Well, I'm gonna go get some wood for the fire. Catch yalater!"
She ran off into the woods, and Ash ran after her. She ran untilshe was out of breath and went to sit down on a large hollow logto rest. She figured she was far enough away from the camp tothink now. She just sat there for about an hour, trying to puttwo and two together. What was so important that Ash was tryingto tell her, and why couldn't he bring himself to say it?
Her thoughts were interrupted, when she heard a twig snap. Shesharply turned her head, and was relieved to see Ash, though shelooked fairly annoyed.
"Why did you follow me!? she said.
He was cornered now! There was no escape! He had no choice but totell her, or risk being yelled at for following her all the wayinto the woods.
"I figured you could use some help, that's all. I guessyou're one of those people who never needs help, or maybe you'rejust afraid to ask for it."
I guess so..." she replied calmly.
"Just tell me what it was you couldn't say, and I'll let yougo on your way."
"Please don't ask me to answer that..."
"Be on your way then... I have some stuff i need to thinkabout...ALONE!
She waited a few minutes, 'till she though he had gone andstarted thinking again. She was really confused now. Why would hefollow her, when he was usually so deadset on getting rid of her?A thought occured to her. Ash probably didn't leave. After all,she probably had gotten them lost after running all that way.
"Ash! I know you're there! You can come out now..." shesaid.
"How did you know...?" he asked, surprised.
"...beacuse, my running in here probably got us lost"
As if things couldn't get any worse, it started to rain. Onlyminutes later, it started to storm. Misty screamed! She hatedstorms even worse than she hated bug Pokemon. They quickly seekedshelter and soon found it under a bunch of medium sized trees.
* * *
"Alright then, there is no way you can go now!" Mistyexclaimed
"Fine...I'll tell you..."
"But first...I have something to tell you as well." shesaid silently, her voice barely audible beneath the heavypounding of the rain.
"Well..I really want to say what I have to sayfirst..."
"I love you."
"I love you."
They were both startled by what the other had said. They said thefollowing simultaniously.
"I was going to say that!"
"You did too?!"
"But I thought you hated me!" They were getting moreupset with each other.
"Yeah at first but.."
"Why didn't you tell me before!?!"
"Because...hmmph!" The two turned around and sat downback to back with their legs crossed and arms folded.
The only noise was the rain pounding on the muddy ground beforeAsh spoke first.
"Well! I was going to tell you today, but you ran off likethat."
"But why didn't you tell me before?" Misty soundedrather hurt.
"You never showed any feelings towards me..you seemed tocare more about getting your bike back than you did aboutanything else."
"NEVER SHOWED FEELINGS?!?! Why do you think I'm here withyou right now?!?! I wouldn't follow you this far just for abike!! I've given you hints, don't you remember Lavander Town?!?!I was almost brought to tears when you weren't waking up!!"Misty was very tense now.
"Why didn't YOU tell me?!" Ash demanded
"I thought it was proper manners for gentleman to ask thelady." she said in a slightly sarcastic tone.
"Still, isn't the point of this that we actually told eachother how we really feel?" Ash pointed out.
Before Misty could answer, they saw a light draw upon them, itwas Brock with a flashlight holding an umbrella.
"So here's where you two are."
"Yeah, I was out to get some firewood...and I gotlost." Misty tried to explain.
"Yeah...right." Ash smirked.
"What's that supposed to mean!?!"
"Cut it out, you two. Let's get back to the camp before itgets any darker." Brock stepped in the middle of thepotential argument.
"Fine."
"Fine."
* * *
The walk was an unually silent one, no one exchanged a word inthe long trip back. Brock wasn't angry or upset, but he decidednot to say anything for the sake of not starting yet another oneAsh and Misty's arguments.
Back at the camp, Ash was wondering what will happen now to hisfriendship with Misty. Why was Misty upset at him for being inlove with her? When she had the same feelings for him? Was shestartled? Just wanted to say it first? Like he said in thatargument in the forest, wasn't the true point of this justtelling the other of how they feel? It didn't really matter now,he decided to leave the topic alone for tonight, he would ask herfor a response tommorow.
He fell asleep and went back to dreaming about getting his 8thbadge.
Misty knew that he had a point. She was thinking of those wordshe had said, "Isn't the point of this that we told eachother how we really feel?" Misty was going to answer that,but she before she could, Brock came in. She knew that her answerwould have to wait for tommorow, she knew Ash well enough that healways falls alsleep the minute the night comes. She sighedsilently and fell asleep.
* * *
As the daylight broke through the leaves of the trees in theforest, The group awakened ready for the upcoming challenge of anew day. Misty got up and rolled up her sleeping bag. Ash walkedup to Misty and blushed slightly when she turned around to facehim.
"Uh....Misty?" Ash asked nervously.
"Yeah?" She replied with a slightly shaky voice.
"You never had the chance to answer my question." Ashgot a little more courage now.
"Well...I think your right." she said
She quickly kissed Ash on the cheek. After she realized what shedid, she blushed and looked away.
"Oh! I didn't know what came over me!" Misty replied asquickly as she could.
"Don't worry, I kinda liked it." Ash said while hisface was red and his ears were boiling hot.
"Sorry about that." Misty apoligized.
"Forget about it, come on let's go, Viridian City can't betoo far away now!"
* * *
Hidden in the bushes, Jessie looked out with her binoculars atthe trio outside walking on the grassy path. She particularlylooked at Pikachu, who was walking along Ash's side. Then shenoticed something that caught her eye, Ash and Misty were holdinghands this time around...
"Hmm..I got a perfect way so we can capture Pikachu thistime!" she squealed with delight.
"What is it Jessie? Tell us!" James pleaded.
"It appears the little twerp has fallen for that snobbylittle girl!"
"So? What?" Meowth and James both questioned.
"YOU IDIOTS!!! DON'T YOU SEE!?!?!?!" Jessie roared asshe smacked both the pokemon and her partner on the head.
Jessie breathed in heavily and angrily until she got morerelaxed.
"Look, it's a very simple case, Boy falls for Girl, Bad Guyscome in and take Girl, Bad Guys hold Girl for ransom, the saidransom being a pikachu! It's all so run-of-the-mill! I can'tbelive you dolts couldn't even get the gist of it!"
"Shall we start?" The pokemon and human asked.
"Indeed." The red-head replied
* * *
"What the...?!?" The whole trio exclaimed as pink smokesurrounded them.
"Team Rocket!" Ash stated the obvious.
"Why can't they just get the message?" Misty grumbled
"Isn't their smoke usually gray?" Brock questioned.
As the smoke cleared, the group tried holding back laughter asthey saw Jesse and James dressed together in a gaint valentineheart.
"Prepare for trouble!" Jessie started
"Make it Double!" James continued, grunting slightlywith the small space inside the costume.
"To protect the world from devestation..."
"...To unite all people within our nation"
"To denouce the evils of truth and love" at this momentthe valentine was ripped in half and revealed the duo in theirfull forms.
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
Meowth jumped down out of nowhere and spouted his trademark"Meowth! That's Right!"
"We'll try one more time...give us Pikachu!" DemandedMeowth
"Geez...don't you get it!?! I won't give you Pikachu and youwill never have her!" Ash stated.
"Fine then...we will leave Pikachu alone then!" Jamesgave in.
"We'll take THIS instead!" Jessie quickly leaped atMisty and grabbed her.
"HEY!?! What's the big idea?!" Misty tried jerkingaway..but it wasn't of any use.
"Be quiet you little brat!" Jessie snapped back.
"Alright then, give us Pikachu, and we give you thegirl!" James set the ransom.
"Fine, here take Pikachu." Ash picked up Pikachu andoffered his pokemon to the crooks.
"Pika pi?" Pikachu said dumbfounded. Ash just winked athis friend and Pikachu understood...this was an interesting trickhe was coming up with.
"So you finally see it our way!" Meowth said VERYpleased with the situation.
Ash bent down to hand Pikachu to a over-joyed Meowth, Meowthgreedily took Pikachu and Ash reached for his Pidgeot....
"Pidgeot, I choose you!" Ash called as he threw out apokeball, which opened and revealed a large bird with a brillantred and yellow crest.
"RATS!" The entire Team Rocket group yelled.
"Arbok, GO!"
"Weezing, Attack!"
"Pidgeot! Sand attack now!"
"Weezing, Smokescreen!
"Pidgeot, blow it away!"
Pidgeot did as told and blew away the the smokescreen, thenlifted up his own screen of sand. Ash took this small window ofopportunity to take Misty from Jessie's grasp and take backPikachu from Meowth.
"Pidgeot, return!" The pokeball opened and released asee-through red beam that enveloped Pidgeot, who re-entered thepokeball.
"Primeape, Punch them out!"
"PRIMEAPE!" The pokemon yelled as it took a large fistand punched out all the confused Team Rocket members out into thesky!
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" Theyyelled as they made their ascend into the clouds and left alittle twinkle.
"Primeape, return." The pokemon opened and sucked inPrimeape in a small flash of red light.
* * *
The new couple embraced each other after Team Rocket went flyingout of sight,
"That was a close one." Ash sighed.
"Yeah, thought you were really going to give upPikachu."
"You know I would never do that."
"I know, you and Pikachu are inseperable!" she remarked
"We better get going guys, Viridian City is just upahead." Brock cut in the conversation.
"Yeah!" Ash had newfound energy as he ran ahead in thewoods.
"Hey Ash! Wait for us!" Ash and Brock ran after theenergized youth.
"Pika pika pi!" Pikachu ran after his owner as well.
* * *
"It's so great to be back in Viridian City!" Mistyexclaimed.
"Yeah, it's been so long since we last came here."Brock agreed
"Come on! Let's get going to the gym!" Ash was full ofenergy, but Misty grabbed his jacket.
"There will be plenty of time for that later, hon." Theyoung girl let of Ash's jacket.
"Fine, fine, I'll go wherever you want to go..." Ashgrumbled dissapointedly.
"Well, first, we gotta book a room at the inn." Brocklead the way towards the nearest inn.
"Brock, you go ahead and do that, me and Ash will go to thepokemon center." Misty led Ash out of sight.
"What? I do?" Ash found out that having someone in lovewith you is alot more than it was cracked up to be.
"Just come along!" Misty tugged a bit at Ash before hefollowed.
"Pi-KA!" Pikachu followed along with Ash.
To be continued...