Disclaimer: Pokémon does not belong to me so PLEASE don't SUE! Thanks!
Part I: Unexpected Visitors
His brown eyes moved over the familiar set.
The large indoor pool now rose before his eyes, the sight of it never failing to impress him.
With the large indoor pool as the representation of the sea, a balcony of a castle was built on the far wall of the gym
"Wow Ash – so this is what an underwater play is!" the young female at his side breathed as her deep blue eyes widened.
Ash smiled as the lights dimmed.
"Pika – Pika!" his Pikachu cried as it settled itself on his lap alongside his pokédex.
Ash chuckled.
"Yeah you're right Pikachu, I think it is Misty in the mermaid costume," he responded, his eyes remaining on her.
She was beautiful as the mermaid, Ash admitted as he heard Daisy's familiar voice beginning the narration of the story.
"Once upon a time far away in the depths of the ocean lived a Mermaid Princess. With hair the brightest of oranges yet eyes the softest of blue-greens it was easy to see why it was that humans and sea-creatures travelled near and far in search of her hand and her heart."
May continued to watch Misty wide-eyed, swimming with her water pokémon.
"This is fantastic!" she breathed as Max at her side nodded in agreement, watching the play with as much fascination as his sister.
"Though, despite the many Mermaid men that came in search of her love, they all failed to touch her heart. She herself began to feel as if no one understood her and that only the pokémon could do so. She even began to believe that perhaps her destiny was to look after her father and her pokémon friends; after all, she never did want to fall in love - all she ever needed was her father and her pokémon friends, they were love enough for her."
Ash watched Misty as she swam gracefully with her Staryu, Starmie, Corsola. Goldine and Luvdisc.
Seeing her in the play made him realize how much she had truly changed without his watching.
Would she still be the same? After all, it was more than 6 years since they had last seen one another properly.
"But little did she know how this was all about to change when she made contact with the charming human Prince."
Ash watched the scene unfold.
A little girl appeared in the water below the balcony, splashing about and causing a fuss.
From below the crowd watched Misty look up to see the disturbance, watching her still as she put two and two together and began her swift and graceful way up to save the girl.
As Misty took the girl into her arms and moved her to the makeshift beach on the other side of the tank opposing the balcony, Daisy's voice graced them once more with an explanation.
"A young girl appeared swimming above although it seemed as though she was a little out of depth. When the princess saved her and took her to the shore the younger girl was relieved, showering the shy princess with accolades and thanks."
Misty remained in the water while the younger girl sat on the beach, grinning at her.
"The strange girl proceeded to tell her of her attempt at fishing from the high rocks when she was swept off them by an unsuspecting wave. Listening to her story the Princess could not help but feel that perhaps she should return the little girl to where it was she came. Asking the girl she agreed wholeheartedly as the Princess summoned the help of her faithful pokémon who were glad to help. Together the group made their way across the sea once more to the beach the Princess had never set her foot, or tail, upon."
May smiled contentedly as the journey was made in the tank below them.
Her respect for the girl seemed to only grow.
Ash watched the show, more specifically Misty, with a sense of … sadness, for some reason, as if he missed out on something special when he went to continue his dream.
"When the Princess and the little girl arrived on the beach what they didn't expect was an entourage of men greeting them."
Two rows of cardboard figures rose up from the ground which, Ash admitted, was actually very effective.
"The girl turned to the Princess and attempted to explain the situation when the group of men parted and made way for another male."
The cardboard figures moved aside to reveal an actual male move through them, dressed grandly in a regal costume.
"This male was young and handsome and moved to the group. He looked to the little girl who ran into his arms, trying to explain what happened. However the male seemed to be looking at the Princess who had caught his attention. It was then the little girl introduced themselves as brother and sister, she, a Princess while her brother was the Prince of the Kingdom near the Sea. The Princess then proceeded to introduce herself, a royal sovereign of the sea."
Ash narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Prince and the little girl.
Despite himself he felt as though he knew them, or in the least recognized the pair.
In fact the girl looked to be Max's age.
"And it was love at first sight for the Prince but it seemed the Princess was a little more reluctant as she said her farewell to the brother and the sister, returning to the ocean deep in contemplation. Could this Prince be the one? Join us again tomorrow night folks and we'll find out in the second instalment of this exciting trilogy!"
At the announcement the tense crowd released a sigh as the lights returned over them.
"That was pretty good," Max commented.
May nodded.
"I enjoyed myself … how about you Ash?"
Ash smiled wearily as he stood, making his way to the exit, Pikachu seated on his shoulder.
"I enjoyed it, yeah."
"Pika Pikaaa!" Pikachu chirped.
May raised a brow at him as she glanced to the stage then back to the fast disappearing Ash.
"Well aren't you at least going to go and say hello or something Ash?"
Ash paused a moment before turning back to shake his head slightly.
"Not tonight, we're just passing through, besides they're probably too busy…"
Without finishing the sentence Ash departed swiftly with Pikachu, May staring openly at his back.
It was completely out of character for Ash to leave without making himself known but May couldn't help but feel that there was more to it than just tiredness or whatever it was that caused him to leave.
Calling to Max the pair followed Ash reluctantly.
:X:X:
The Pokémon Centre was still alight when Ash returned, waving to Nurse Joy absently as he moved past her to his room with May and Max.
The show was good, he reflected as he took his jacket and cap off, rubbing his eyes.
If the show was so good then why didn't you stay to tell them so? His mind asked.
I wa-am tired, besides we're only here for one night anyway. I'm going home as soon as I get up tomorrow.
Well that's a lie, his mind responded simply.
Ash shrugged as he stretched, an unexpected yawn escaping his lips.
"I better get to sleep …"
As he rested in his bunk his thoughts tried their utmost to avoid the subject of Misty and yet with every breath he took, every time his eyes opened and closed her image haunted him.
Defeated he lay, eyes open, staring at the ceiling.
As he contemplated his mixed emotions the door opened, May and Max slipping into the room silently.
Turning to face the wall Ash slipped into a troubled sleep.
:X:X:
"Do you think the audience liked it?"
Daisy nodded as both she and Violet grinned.
"What are you serious Misty? It's one of our productions. Of course they liked it, after all it was a sell-out crowd," Violet added.
The sisters were gathered in the Gym cleaning the seating, each sister wielding a black rubbish bag.
"I must say I'm glad Rudy and his sister were able to be part of the play," Violet added absently as Misty rolled her eyes.
All four sisters knew that Rudy had come to Cerulean City to visit Misty but it seemed their visitation came in time to fill in the places left empty by the sick and out of action Violet and Lily.
"I think he's simply adorable," Lily said aloud as she bent to retrieve some rubbish from the lane ahead of Misty.
"I mean, he's taking his sister to bed! What a guy!" Daisy added with a grin.
Misty's cheeks flamed red as she turned her back on her sisters.
"We've already been over this, I'm not in love with Rudy," Misty murmured firmly as she continued to pick rubbish up.
"Yeah well he loves you Misty! I mean come on! He's cute, he's a Gym Leader .. for goodness sake he's everything a girl could ask for!" Violet reasoned.
Misty stiffened.
"I don't care. I don't want to be with him so will you drop it already?" she responded icily as she bent to retrieve a peculiar looking object.
"Whatever, that's what you say now but you just wait," Daisy muttered as her other two sisters nodded in agreement.
Sighing Misty turned to her sisters.
"Look, we're just friends okay? I'm tired, I'm going to bed, if you don't mind," she announced as she began to make her way up the stairs.
As she left the gym she tied her rubbish bag up, ready to throw it in the foyer bin when the object she had picked up earlier returned to her attention.
"A pokédex?" she murmured as she ran her hands over its red cover.
Drawing in a sharp breath she watched the cover open, realizing she must had triggered it to open.
"Ash Ketchum – Pallet Town," it blared.
Misty simply stared.
:X:X:
A/N: please review and tell me what you thought! I haven't written an AAML for a LONG time so please be kind!
Thanks again,
: Sapphira :
