If Only Tears could bring you back to me…
If Only Love could find a way…
-Midnight Sons, Mewtwo Strikes Back Soundtrack
It was late at night in Cerulean City, and Misty Waterflower was leaning on the railing of the Gym's elegant covered balcony, just outside her room. It was raining at a decent rate, not totally pouring, but yet not just sprinkling either. As she stared up at the beautiful moon, just more than half full, she couldn't help but see Ash Ketchum's face in the sky.
It had been two years since he'd left for Hoenn, and one since he left there for Sinnoh. She missed him dearly, although she had no fear of him being with another girl. He was clearly too dimwitted to accomplish that. She looked back on her final day with him feeling sadness, and above all, regret. She hadn't been able to work up the courage to tell him how she really felt, to tell him how much she loved him.
As she looked out at the night sky, a comet, more commonly referred to as a shooting star, flew across the sky beautifully. Everyone knows that people like to wish on such stars. Misty took a deep breath, inhaled, and said softly "I wish I could be with him again, even if only for a day. Just long enough for me to reveal my true feelings…"
Suddenly, there came a noise from inside the Gym, an unusual one. There was a banging at the glass front door, but not a repeated one. Just one, single, bang. Misty also thought she faintly heard the thud of something hitting the ground afterwards, but she wasn't sure. She turned around and walked briskly through her room, out the door, and into the main auditorium. She walked down the open hallway, descended a flight of stairs, and approached the front door. She wasn't at all prepared for what she saw.
She turned the corner and the doors came into view. Lying on the ground, just outside them, was Ash Ketchum. His clothes were soaked and tattered, his body was a bit scratched up, and he seemed very tired. "Misty..." he managed to say. She rushed to the doors, unlocked them, and threw them open. She fell to her knees and said "Ash, are you OK?" For once in his life, Ash said something smart. "No..." he said.
Misty removed Ash's green backpack and put it on her own back. Then she gently lifted him up to a standing position, and helped him walk to her room. Once inside, she laid him down on her bed, and removed his nearly shredded jacket. His shirt wasn't in much better condition, and his pants wouldn't hold together much longer. Even his boxers were tattered. She searched his bag for some spare clothing, and managed to come up with a white t-shirt and some red plaid spare boxers.
She gently removed his black tee, and started tending to his wounds. "Ash, how'd this happen?" she asked. "Team Rocket... ambushed me… right after a… practice battle… Pikachu… had almost fainted…" he stammered. "So you left your other Pokémon in storage?" Misty asked, receiving a slight nod from Ash. "Where's Pikachu?" Misty asked. Ash slipped off his gloves in response.
Between his right glove and his palm was a flattened Poke ball with a lightning bolt on it. Misty took it and put it in her personal healing machine, which all gym leaders have. She finished cleaning Ash's wounds, and released his newly healed Pikachu from its ball. Although he had been scratched up a little, Ash's face was completely unharmed, and he was quite clean. Misty helped Ash slip on the white tee, and take off what was left of his pants. Then she turned her back and let him put on the red boxers.
It was nearly eleven, so she went ahead and put on her nightgown inside her bathroom. Ash had managed to climb under the covers on his own, but he was still awake when Misty returned from the bathroom. There was only one bed in her room, so Misty had no choice but to climb under the sheets next to Ash.
"So, they beat you up pretty good; how'd you get away from them?" Misty asked. "They hadn't seen me battle… and I managed to get them to believe *cough* that I had no Pokémon with me." Ash replied. "OK, why are you back in Kanto anyways?" Misty asked politely. "I finished the Sinnoh League, and decided to take a break before I went to Isshu." Ash replied.
"Alright. You sound better, but you should get some rest." Misty said. Then she remembered her wish, remembered what had happened two years ago. She wouldn't let it happen again. "Ash, one more thing." Misty said. "What is it Mist?" Ash said, getting some strength back. Misty shed a tear when she heard her old nickname. "Ash, I know I always said I followed you because of my bike, but after the first week or two it just became an excuse to hide the real reason." Misty said.
Curious, Ash asked "What was the real reason then?" "Well, for the first week or two I really did want my bike replaced, but… after that…" Misty started. She sighed, took a deep breath and finished "After that I followed you because… because I love you Ash Ketchum." Ash was quite surprised; he'd just found out that the love of his life loved him back.
"Misty, I… never knew. If I'd known you had feelings for me too… things would have gone differently." Ash said. "Wait… you have feelings for me too?" Misty said. Ash chuckled weakly. "Yes Misty, I do. I love you." Ash said. Misty felt happier than she'd ever been before. She gently grabbed Ash and pulled him close. She embraced him in a hug, and he weakly wrapped his arms around her.
She pulled away a few inches, and stared into Ash's eyes. They too were full of happiness. They both knew what the other was thinking, and closed their eyes as they leaned in. Their lips touched, and they shared their first kiss. They kissed for some time, before Ash's weariness overcame him, and he fell back on his pillow. He frowned, for he knew he had just ruined a romantic moment. Misty smiled at him and said "It's ok Ash; you need to get some rest." He nodded, rolled towards her onto his side, and sank his head into the pillow. "Goodnight Ash." Misty said. "Goodnight Misty." Ash said, and then he drifted off to sleep.
Pikachu hopped up onto the bed and curled up at Ash and Misty's feet. It quickly fell asleep like its master. Misty sat there and watched the boy of her dreams breathe in and out slowly. He never snored, and he always looked peaceful. Tears fell down her face as she brimmed with the joy of finally telling him her feelings, and sharing their first kiss. She laid her head down on her pillow, and prayed, thanking Mew for the wonderful night. Hoping she wasn't dreaming, she closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.