[prompt: Brock never even saw it coming]

Ash sits on a log, examining the Pokédex, when someone taps him on the shoulder.

"Um, Ash?" Dawn asks, fiddling with her fingers. "You've gotten a letter – from someone named, um, Misty? And I –"

Ash looks up. "Misty? Letter? Where?"

Dawn seems surprised – she's almost never seen Ash react to anything other than Pokémon, Team Rocket, and food – but she brushes it off. She hands him the cream–colored letter, and watches intently as he opens the letter.

His eyes scan it, widen, and his cheeks turn as red as Plusle's.

"Ash?" Dawn asks, concerned by her friend's strange attitude. "Are you okay, because –"

Ash nods furiously. "Yup! Never been better!" but his voice is squeaky and strange.

Dawn shrugs, but then looks back at the raven–haired trainer, his cheeks, and the letter. Her mind – which works much faster than that of her friend – whirrs, and she connects the trail of dots. She smiles – coyly, almost – and shouts to Brock, "Hey, Brock? Did you know about Ash's new girlfriend, Misty?"

Ash splutters, Pikachu stares at his trainer in awe, and Brock drops a pan on his foot.

"Say what?"