Seashells and Secrets

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. I do, however, own this story.

Chapter 1

Ash Ketchum polished his three badges, glancing at each one admiringly, before placing them back in their case. Winning the Coal Badge, Forest Badge, and Cobble Badge certainly had not been easy, but Ash had overcome each of the three gym leaders he had faced. He gently tucked the case into his backpack, beaming silently. He couldn't wait to show her.

"Ash, will you stop looking at those badges?" An irritated Dawn glared at Ash as he zipped up his backpack. "Your eyes are going to burn holes in them if you keep staring at them like that!"

Ash shot the blue-haired beauty a look that could kill. "If that's the case, your two ribbons must have melted by now!"

"Humph," was all Dawn could muster.

"Guys, knock it off," Brock, their older (and often more wise and composed) companion ordered.

"Well, she started it," Ash replied. Dawn could only sigh angrily.

The gang of three had just settled into a grand old hotel on the shores of Lake Valor, just outside of Pastoria City. After winning his first three badges, Ash had wanted to take a bit of a break before challenging Crasher Wake, the fourth gym leader in the Sinnoh region, where Ash and his friend Brock were traveling with Dawn. Because Dawn's next contest would not be held for quite a while, the group had some time to spare.

Ash stared dreamily off into space. He was feeling that feeling again, the one he got whenever he thought of his best friend Misty, the one he couldn't identify, couldn't understand. It was the strangest of feelings, one rooted deep within him and one that made him both giddy and anxious at the same time. It was a new feeling, and one he only experienced when he thought of Misty.

"Hello? Earth to Ash!" Dawn's voice roused Ash from his reverie.

"Huh? What?"

"You spaced out again. What, were you dreaming of your girlfriend Misty?" Dawn teased.

Ash couldn't control the small blush that passed over his face. So what if he was thinking of Misty? That didn't mean anything, and she certainly wasn't his girlfriend! Eww! What did he care about that mushy stuff?

"She's not my girlfriend! How many times do I have to tell you that?" Ash was becoming angry.

"Why do you keep talking about her, then?" Dawn interjected.

"Because she's my best friend and I haven't seen her in a long time! Isn't it OK to miss her?"

"Aww, Ash misses his girlfriend!" Dawn teased.

"Alright, Dawn, that's enough." Brock had reprimanded that young coordinator before Ash had a chance to defend himself.

"Thank you, Brock," Ash replied gratefully. "So, what time is Misty getting here tomorrow anyway?"

Dawn rolled her eyes while Brock explained that the water Pokemon festival being held at Lake Valor was starting at noontime and that Misty was supposed to arrive around eleven.

Oh, that was the real reason why Ash had wanted to take a break at this exact time and this exact location, although Ash would never tell his friends that. The aspiring Pokemon Master had done some research while training for the Veilstone gym and learned that a water Pokemon festival was going to take place at Lake Valor, and where there was water Pokemon there was Misty, leader of the Cerulean City gym in Ash's homeland of Kanto, water Pokemon lover, and Ash's best friend and former traveling companion. It just so happened that Ash and his friends would be near Lake Valor right around when the festival was slated to take place, so it only made sense to take part in it (so what if Ash currently had no water Pokemon on his team?), right?

Ash's hunch turned out to be right; he called his gym leader friend and learned that she had plans to travel to Sinnoh to attend the festival. Since the two had not seen each other for quite a while, and because they were the best of friends (nothing more, mind you), they agreed to meet up at Lake Valor.

"Alright, you two, I think it's time for us to go to bed. We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow," Brock reminded his younger companions.

"My Piplup and Buizel are going to own this festival!" Dawn exclaimed happily.

"Not if my Totodile, Corphish, and Kingler compete!" Ash had obtained his old Johto, Hoenn, and Kanto Pokemon from Professor Oak's lab for the festival. As he thought about the battles he would be participating in the next day, the strange new feeling faded slightly, replaced by the familiar drive to win and do his best.

Ash awoke early the next morning, well before Brock and Dawn. The sun was just rising, and not a noise could be heard in the hotel. Ash dressed quietly, shushing Pikachu when the little mouse pokemon attempted to talk with him, being careful not to wake his sleeping companions.

He silently exited the hotel, heading towards his destination. As he approached the shops on the Lake Valor boardwalk, excitement filled him. Ash wasn't sure what had prompted him to buy Misty a gift, but once the idea had entered his head it had become stuck there. He hadn't seen her in so long, and he wanted to give her something special as a sign of his friendship (nothing more, mind you).

While walking towards the shops and thinking of Misty, Ash felt that familiar feeling once again. It instantly made him happy, but at the same time he felt slightly sick to his stomach. What was this feeling, anyway, and why did he experience it whenever he thought of Misty?

Ash couldn't give Misty just any old gift; he had spent over an hour looking when he finally spotted something that met his approval: a silver seashell pendent attached to a silver chain. He quickly paid for the item and made his way back to the hotel, hoping to arrive back at the room before Brock and Dawn awoke. There was no reason for his friends to know about the gift. It wasn't like he had anything to hide (Misty was just his friend, after all), but he knew he'd be teased relentlessly by Dawn and perhaps even Brock if they found out about his purchase.

"Do you think she'll like it, Pikachu?" Ash asked his yellow companion nervously.

"Pika!" Pikachu assured Ash by flashing him the victory symbol with its tiny fingers.

"Well, I hope you're right."

As Ash Ketchum approached the hotel, a smile made its way across his face. He was going to see Misty today.

Author's Note: I know I said that I'd have a new fanfic posted by mid or late May, so I'm sorry this is a little late. I completely blame Pokemon Pearl (the video game) for this.

I usually write angst, so this is new to me. I hope Dawn isn't out of character. I've only seen a few episodes of Pokemon DP, and they were in Japanese, so I didn't exactly know what she was saying. ; I have done a lot of research, though.

I'm sorry if the descriptions of being in love are, well, corny. I know they're probably incredibly cliché. Having never been in love myself, though, I only have what I know from reading books and watching TV to base them on.

Oh, in case you haven't figured it out, this takes place between Ash's third and fourth badge. I know he only has two badges right now. I also figured that Dawn would have two ribbons by this point. (Again, I know she only has one now.)

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this fic. Review if you want to.