The Part of Me I Will Never Forget
Summary: Misty and Ash have been apart for four years, when meeting each other again, how will they react...? Letting go of the past may prove a problem for Misty, whilst trying to make amens will prove a problem for Ash. How will they work things out?
Ages in flashback:
Ash- 12
Misty- 12
Ages in reality:
Ash- 16
Misty- 16
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon, it belongs to it's respective owner.
A/N: This is a redo of the original chapter, because trust me, it was complete poop. A massive shoutout and thank you to everyone following, favouriting and reviewing this (Which means you, readers!). I love you all very much, and you're the amazing motivational people who keep me writing. So please, new readers, R&R! I would be absolutely delighted, and it makes my day. Your words mean so much. :)
Enough with the sappiness no one particularly reads; Roll on with the chapter! ;3
Chapter 1: Looking Back
"So, where are we going next?"
"Misty, the next gym of course!"
"But we've finished the Johto League..."
Finally, we've arrived at this goddamned pokemon centre, after several times of being hopelessly lost in the woods thanks to 'the boy who doesn't need a map' we've trekked up the winding path to a resting spot.
Nurse Joy's tending to Pikachu and Togepi's needs- not to mention the other Pokemon, they got injured pretty bad. Ash is running around like a madman, planning ahead with not much sucess, and Brock; packing all the essentials into his overly sized backpack.
Speaking of Brock, he's seriously stressed too. I mean, seriously. I'm not even going to attempt walking up to him and shaking it out of him, it seems like a simple chat wouldn't cut it, and I'm not up for a debate on which Pokemon food is better.
The Hoenn Region really is psyching Ash (which doesn't surprise anybody, especially not me), he doesn't need it on top of all the hype from battles lately.
Battles. He always seems to have his mind on the next challenge. Almost like he never has time for anyone. Almost, like he never has time for me.
I'm being selfish, i know it. But... really? Does he really not give me a second thought? Yeah, yeah I know, he's 12. Not to mention the most immature boy ever. Well, immature as in;
"Hey, you! D'ya wanna battle? I'll beat you hands down with all my Pokemon!"
"I wanna win the championship at the Pokemon League, to be a Pokemon Master! You do KNOW what that IS, don't you?"
Yeah, like no other trainer in Kanto knows what one is.
"Misty!"
Ash's voice, calling me, drifting through the stuffy air and pricking my ears like a pin. He's awoken me from my thoughts about him, how ironic-
"MISTY!"
"WHAT!?"
"The videophone," he replied blankly, and pointed to the small stall right beside the counter. "It's for you." he said.
"For me? No one ever calls for me..." I lifted an eyebrow, to which he shrugged and turned to Brock, still searching for the seven wonders in his massive backpack. Nervously, I began to walk over, picking up Togepi from the counter, fully healed.
Ash smiled brightly. "Must be your lucky day then!"
I gave him a 'what the hell' look before pressing the key to answer. Surprisingly, three familiar faces appeared on the electronic screen. They hadn't changed one bit.
"Like, hey lil' sis!" My blonde (and not just the hair colour) sister was looking 'glamorous' as usual, beaming at me, lipstick smothered perfectly across her lips and her hair curled to frame her petite face.
"Hey..." I replied, instantly pursing my lips. 'They want something.' I thought. 'They always do, and I'm not giving them the benefit of the doubt'
"Like, why the long face?" Daisy pouted, probably trying to mimic my expression. "Anyways, like, me, Lily and Violet have totally won this cruise..." My mouth dropped open. "You'll like totally love this too. You get the gym! We're like, leaving in a couple of days, so like be quick or no one will be there for the Pokemon and like..."
I wasn't listening to her babble on anymore. I had completely blocked of all the sound around me. My world fell apart. Fell apart inside of me. I wasn't going to be able to travel anymore. With my friends.
With Ash.
Daisy's flapping her hands around at the screen, but I can't tell if it's because of some exotic nail polish she's applied or if it's to catch my attention.
"What about my travelling...?"
Lily was now in the middle of the screen, wearing a flourescent summer dress and denim jacket. "Like sis, you'll have the gym!" Lily's bright magenta hair, naturally curly and wavy, her secret was it took hours to straighten but still had no avail. The colour stood out more than the other's hair mixed together. "We know how much you love the Pokemon and caring for them..."
Typical Lily, using the 'weak and utterly distraught' Pokemon to win my heart. Of course I love them, I love all my Pokemon. But Lily really empathizes the sympathy vote too much sometimes.
"Sis?"
She was puzzled by my reaction, which was a silent glare, threatening to burn straight through the video screen. Violet was looking at me from behind, head cocked to one side on her shoulder. Out of all my sisters, she was the one that was most concerned about my feelings- not that the others aren't.
They're just a lot more...airheaded.
"Misty." my lavender-haired sister was now ruling over the screen, her darker hair easier on the eye, rather than the gignatic pink floodlight Lily carried with her. "I know you like, love travelling and all, but wasn't your ultimate aim to be a Water Pokemon Master?" she smirked slightly, knowing she'd hit home with her reminder. I glanced sideways and nodded slowly, seeing through her words. "I totally think that this is a great oppurtunity for you."
"For sure!" Daisy and Lily chorused in the background, high-fiving each other, thinking they'd won me over, and the persuading would end. I smiled weakly, for their sakes. But I was crumbling to pieces on the inside.
After their little triumph on the other end of the line, Daisy appeared, looking like a burden had been lifted from her mind. "Well, we're like off to the beach now with some totally hot guys." They all giggled, eyeing each other evilly at the mere thought of boys.
"Later Mist, love the Togepi!" She winked and they waved, laughing and smiling, and the screen went blank.
They were just so different, sailing along, taking whatever crossed their path with the most positive and cheerful attitude anyone could ever hope to witness.
And they had no idea of what they'd just done to me.
Togepi looked up to me, a sad look present in it's little eyes; it looked as if it was about to cry it's tiny heart out, mouth trembling.
I looked away, trying hard for my baby Pokemon's sake not to break down, focusing on what I should do next.
My mind was a heap. A big messy heap.
Ash was sat with Brock, both completely oblivious of the situation. They were arguing over who should carry the backpack on the way to Hoenn.
"Brock, I'm stronger now... Look, look!" Ash - notably weaker - started to hook one strap of the humongous backpack over his shoulder, already staggering as he picked it up.
"Ash, you pick up that backpack and you'll get crushed." Brock warned.
"Yeah, right." Ash huffed and crossed his arms, starting to surrender.
I listened in to their biased argument, Brock was winning. How much I'd miss this. Just being around them. It wouldn't be the same without having a unneeded argument with Ash, or sampling one of Brock's new delicious soups.
"Haha! Maybe Misty should carry it ! Misty, come and feel how heavy this is!" Ash teased, swinging the bag before falling under it's weight. Brock laughed too, helping him up. I watched on the sidelines as they joked around with each other, and reluctantly tore my eyes away from the scene.
'Ding Ding!'
"Oh God, please no..." that sound was all too familiar, as well as all too real.
A cheerful and oblivious Nurse Joy hurried up to me with the last thing I wanted to see. A bike.
"Misty, this arrived for you today...it's all fixed and ready to go!" Nurse Joy's sweet tone rang out across the Pokemon Centre, but had no effect on me.
I heard Ash stop laughing and rush over to my side. I lowered my head, tears slowly glazing my eyes, unable to see look at his reaction.
"Hey, Misty! Your bike's fixed! Now you can go home!"
That was it. I choked, trying to stifle a cry that was dying to erupt from my throat.
'He...doesn't care? He wants me to leave?'
I was angry, absolutely seething. Furious, mad, whatever you want to call it. That's what I was.
'He is not going to see me cry. He is not going to see me... '
Flinching, I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. It was Ash. Rearing up my head up at the action, I met his chocolate brown eyes. It was like he was searching my own eyes, trying to figure out what was wrong.
"Misty, you're crying."
He was right. Salty tears sparked from my eyes and trickled down my face, leaving hot tracks behind them. He stared at me, mouth agape as I desperately tried to cover my face.
I had never cried in front of him before, despite my mother and father's death, despite being isolated from my sisters at a young age and despite my unrequited love for him. He didn't have a single clue how much pain I felt from releasing my emotions in front of him.
It was supposed to be a natural thing. A best friend, a shoulder to cry on. Someone you could rely on for support and encouragement through the good and bad times, right?
But this was Ash. Completely different from anyone else. I always had these emotional walls sealed around me, not letting any form of sadness escape me. But no, this time, I just couldn't stop crying.
I shut my eyes tight, wanting every little thing to leave me in peace, alone. I tried to somehow absorb my tears, but they wouldn't stop pouring. Every wipe and rub I made with my fingers couldn't halt the water from my eyes, and only made my face redden and sore.
He shook my shoulders with both his hands, trying to get a response. "Misty," he kept repeating. "Misty. Misty. Misty-!"
My eyes flicked open "Ash, you..." I spat, irritated and sick of his stupid attempts to console me. My vision was blurred and I couldn't meet his eyes. "You...you..." my voice deteriorated, pitch rising and falling as I breathed heavily.
"You..."
I cried suddenly, wailing up to the ceiling. 'I don't want leave!' My head screamed and my heart beat. 'Thump. Thump. Thump.' My chest was going to burst.
The wails echoed eerily around the centre, people turned their heads in bewilderment and shock. I didn't care.
"Don't you get it, Ash?" I whispered, voice shrinking into nothing.
"Misty, it's-"
"I don't...want to leave!" I squeaked, tone slightly rising in anger.
"Mist-"
"I want us to stay together!" I shouted suddenly at his helpless face.
A crowd had gathered in front of the scene we were putting on, watching and whispering to each other in hushed voices. I hung my head, embarrassed and ashamed of my childishness.
"Fine." I huffed, glaring sidewards opposite the awaiting crowd. "If you don't want me around, I'll guess I'll just leave."
My feet moved robotically, rooted to the floor with each step. Togepi was crying it's heart out, distressed at seeing the fight- and I knew exactly how it felt. I wrapped my arms around it tightly, trying to comfort it.
I felt someone step behind me. Brock. I turned, eyes still brimming with tears.
"I-I guess t-this is it," He nodded sadly.
I hugged him tightly and he muttered quietly- almost to himself, "I'll miss you. So will the Pokemon. But I can guarantee Ash will miss you the most." I reluctantly let go of my close friend, wishing I didn't have to leave on such a negative note and smiled weakly. "Yeah, yeah whatever, but I won't miss him."
"We both know that's a lie, Misty."
"We both know that Ash won't be bothered."
Brock started to speak, "But-"
I dismissed him with barely a wave, "He's more bothered about his training."
Carting my bike out through the glass doors of the centre, the wind from the moors billowed on my face- reminding me it would probably be a very long time until it hit again. I looked to the sky, smiling shakily at the memories I'd had.
I looked back at Ash, who was stood there, just staring. He hadn't even moved from the spot I'd screamed at him. My lips nearly curled into a smile, and I cursed myself sourly for doing such a thing. It would be because of the memories of course.
Fishing him out the river, camping out under the stars, cheering him on to his goal of being a Pokemon Master...
...even the arguments were blissful.
I snapped my head forward furiously, nearly snapping my neck. "I must forget him." I murmured.
"What's the point if he obviously doesn't feel the same? Or doesn't even care?"
"MISTY!"
Ash's voice. The sound of footsteps running blindly. He was running towards me. 'No.' I shook my head, 'Leave me alone...'Just thinking about him made me breakdown into tears, as my final one rolled down my streaked cheek.
"No." Pushing of the ground with my bike, I slowly began to peddle.
"Ash Ketchum won't get the best of me."