Wonderwall
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon. I do, however, own this story.
Author's Note: This fic was loosely inspired by marixoxella's fic "The Last Summer," which I highly recommend (and not just because I'm beta reading it). Seriously, you should all go read it.
The young woman dove into the pool gracefully, the water encasing her lithe body like a well-worn cast on a broken appendage or a warm, fuzzy blanket. Though she and her sisters kept the pool bone-chillingly cold, for the Pokémon liked it that way, she never noticed the frigid qualities of the water; it always felt good to her. She imagined it felt the way a lover's embrace might, thinking back to stories her sisters had told her of boyfriends who had spent the night at their home. To some the water would have produced excruciating pain, but to her it felt like love.
"Misty!"
Somehow the sound of a high-pitched yell penetrated the water, reaching the young woman's ears as a garbled mess. She had no idea what she had heard, but, knowing she had heard something, she surfaced from down below, sad to end her underwater jaunt.
Misty found herself face to face with her older sister Violet.
"Hey, Violet. What's up?" Misty asked.
"Nothing's up. Do I, like, need a reason to talk to my baby sister?"
Misty frowned. "No, I just really happened to be enjoying my swim."
"Well, I think we need to talk before you head off on your, like, vacation."
"Violet, I've already told you. It's not a vacation. I'm going to the League Conference to represent the Cerulean City Gym…our gym! You and Lily didn't want to do it, remember?" Misty explained, a hint of frustration evident in her voice.
"Well, I still think it's an excuse to hang out with that, like, weird perverted guy who runs the Pewter Gym."
"It's not an excuse to hang out with Brock, and he's not a pervert." Misty was feeling increasingly exasperated. "Someone from our gym has to go, and, like I said, you and Lily didn't want to. Believe me, I'd rather stay here than go to all of those boring meetings."
Misty began to swim towards the deeper end of the pool, ready to submerge herself in the water once more, but Violet stopped her.
"Wait a minute! There's still, like, something I need to tell you!" Violet said.
"What's that?" Misty was becoming more impatient by the minute.
"Well, I just want you to, you know, be careful."
"What do you mean, be careful? Team Rocket's no longer the threat they used to be, remember?"
"I'm, like, not talking about that!" Violet was practically yelling now. "Do I really have to, like, spell it out for you, Misty? I want you to be careful with guys…with Brock."
Misty stared blankly at her sister for a moment. Then, suddenly realizing what her elder sister seemed to be implying, she burst out laughing.
"Brock? Are you kidding me, Violet? Surely you must be joking!"
"I'm, like, not joking, Misty. You need to be careful. You need to use protection."
Misty could only stare at her sister in disbelief.
"Don't give me that look, little sis. I'm, like, totally serious. You don't want to end up pregnant or with some sort of disease." Violet waved a perfectly manicured finger at Misty.
Misty continued to look at her sister incredulously. "Brock? Brock? Really, Violet?"
"Misty, you think I, like, don't know? I mean, you did travel with him for years, and I know you think he's handsome."
Misty could only roll her eyes and then scowl in disgust. "Violet, Brock's like a brother to me. You're so clueless."
"You can, like, deny all you want, Misty, but I totally know you're in love with Brock."
Misty hoisted herself up out of the pool. Though she was exceedingly slender, her years of swimming had built up an impressive amount of upper body strength.
"I'm going to bed, Violet. You don't have a clue what you're talking about."
"Whatever. Don't say I didn't , like, warn you, though."
Misty headed up the stairs towards her room slowly, wearily, her wet red hair leaving a trail of water on each step. When she made it to the top of the stairs she paused in front of a telephone table, one containing a picture of four lovely young ladies. Misty ran a finger over the face of the eldest, a beautiful blonde. Giving into temptation, she picked up the phone and dialed a phone number, one so familiar and ingrained in her that her fingers seemed to punch in the numbers without her having to think at all. It was complete muscle memory.
"Daisy, it's me, Misty," Misty began hesitantly.
The beautiful blonde suddenly appeared on the telephone's video screen.
"Hello, Misty! How are you?" she asked cheerfully.
"I'm OK. How are you? How's Trace?"
"We're, like, totally fine," Daisy said happily.
"That's good. I'm so glad."
"Yeah…what's up? How come you're calling? Did Violet and Lily do something stupid again?" Daisy asked.
Misty rolled her eyes. "Violet thinks I'm in love with Brock!"
"Really? Gosh, even I'm not that clueless."
"Yeah…" Misty felt herself growing weary, but chalked it up to just being tired.
"Is something, like, the matter?" Daisy asked after Misty went a while without speaking.
"No…I just miss you. That's all."
"Well, you, like, totally know the answer to that one, kiddo. Come and visit."
Misty sighed. "You know I can't do that, Daisy, and you know why."
Daisy looked a little let down. "Yeah, I know, but one of these days I, like, keep hoping that you'll change your mind. You're not going to, though, are you?"
"Nope," Misty said with an air of finality.
Misty and Daisy said goodnight to one another, and, after hanging up the phone, Misty slowly made her way into her bedroom. As soon as she opened the door and turned on the lights a small blue Pokémon jumped into her arms.
"Oh, hi, Azurill! I thought for sure you would have been asleep by now," she cooed, cuddling her baby Pokémon.
"Azurill!" the blue Pokémon chirped.
"Well, I think it's time for you to go to bed." Misty tried to sound stern, but her voice was full of softness. Azurill consented, probably due to Misty's kind, gentle nature, and snuggled up under the covers.
"You know what? I think that's a good idea myself," Misty said with a smile. She had planned on reading, but found herself to be quite tired.
As she sat on the edge of the bed, she glanced over at a framed photograph on her nightstand. Three kids, a girl and two boys, smiled goofily at the camera. Misty smiled at the picture, though her smile hid a hint of sadness.
"Goodnight, Brock," she said softly. "Goodnight, Ash…wherever you are."
"Suzie, time for bed," a deep voice called out from the Pewter City Gym's kitchen.
"I don't want to go to bed, Brock" a little girl whined.
"I know, honey, but you have to." Brock's voice was exceedingly gentle, and, though he was a guy, almost motherly.
"But Forrest doesn't have to go to bed yet," Suzie reasoned.
Brock had to laugh at this one.
"Forrest is ten years older than you, Suzie. Of course he doesn't have to go to bed yet."
"I'm not going!" Suzie pouted.
"What if I read you a story?" Brock asked.
Suzie's eyes brightened. "Really?"
"Sure. Just give me a minute."
Just as Brock was preparing to pick out a book to read to Suzie, his cell phone rang.
"Damn it!"
"Brock said a bad word!" Suzie said to Forrest, who was standing nearby.
"I have to take this, Forrest. Can you read Suzie a bedtime story?" Brock asked.
"Sure, sure," Forrest replied. "Who is it that calls you on that thing all of the time, anyway?"
"Never you mind. Just read your sister a nice story." Brock stooped down to kiss Suzie. "Goodnight, guys," he said before disappearing into his room and locking the door behind him.
"Ash? What do you want now?"
"I…I think I'm ready," a nervous voice replied from on the other line.
"Ready for what?" Brock asked, his frustration evident in his voice.
"You know…to see people."
"Ash, I don't have time for this. I have to go to the League Conference tomorrow. Didn't I tell you that I'm representing Pewter now that Mom and Dad have gone off on yet another honeymoon?"
"That's' the point, Brock. I want to go to the League Conference."
"Oh, and why all of the sudden do you want to go to the League Conference?"
"I don't know…I just feel like it's been long enough," Ash said.
"Oh, really? You're just deciding that now?"
For a moment there was silence on the other end of the phone, until Ash spoke again. "I'm sorry, Brock. I know this has been difficult. I just need your help this one last time, and then I promise I'll leave you alone."
Brock felt his features soften. "Ash, I don't want you to leave me alone. You're my best friend! Why else do you think I've been helping you all of these years? If you want to go to the League Conference tomorrow, then you can go with me. Where are you now?"
"Just outside of Pewter," Ash replied.
A grin appeared on Brock's face. Ash had already known he would have said yes.
"Alright, come on over then. You're sure that you're ready for this, right?"
"As sure as I'll ever be."
With that, Ash hung up the phone.
Brock was surprised by the amount of anxiety he felt that night while waiting for Ash to arrive at their meeting spot in Pewter. He knew Forrest could take care of the kids and the Pokémon, so what was he worried about? This was Ash he was seeing, not some stranger or ax murderer. Still, after all of these years Ash might as well have been a stranger.
Brock kicked a pebble to and fro between his two feet. He was standing at the edge of Pewter and the Viridian Forrest. With a chuckle he remembered how after his mother left his father used to try to sell rocks at this very spot, and that was how Ash, an arrogant ten-year-old wannabe Pokémon Master, had stumbled upon Brock's family. That was ten years ago.
What would Ash look like now? What would Pikachu look like? Would Ash have the same dirty face? How tall would he be? Would Pikachu still refuse to stay in his pokeball? Why was Ash agreeing to see him now, after four years? Was something wrong? Was Pikachu dying? Was Ash dying? There were so many questions, and, it seemed, so few answers.
"Hey."
Startled, Brock turned around, grabbing a stick to protect himself from whoever his assailant was. Much to his surprise, however, the man who had addressed him put his hands up in surrender.
Then, as the man walked into the light, Brock dropped his stick in shock. Of course he wouldn't have recognized Ash. What was he thinking? His matted hair had grown long, and he was in desperate need of a shave. He was a good foot taller. Even his voice had been changed by puberty and, well, growing up.
"Ash?" Brock asked, amazement evident in his voice.
"Yeah, the one and only," the man replied.
"Wow…wow" was all Brock could say.
Brock began to approach his old friend and traveling companion, and then embraced him a huge bear hug.
"It's so good to see you, Ash!"
"It's good to see you, too, Brocko."
Brock held onto Ash for a long time. When he let go, he still had a silly grin on his face.
"Well?" Ash asked.
Brock turned serious. "Well, I think you need a shower, shave, and a haircut. Come on…let's head back to the gym."
Brock put his arm around Ash's back, and the former traveling companions walked back to the gym just like that.
"So, where's Pikachu?" Brock asked Ash the two friends made their way to Viridian City, the home of the League Conference.
"He's at the Pokémon Center. When did you learn to drive?"
Brock merely chuckled. "Well, when you're taking care of ten brothers and sisters and have to buy groceries for the whole lot every week, you don't really want to have to carry the groceries from the store to your house on foot. I learned to drive right after we split up."
"Oh." Ash's face grew solemn. "I guess I missed a lot."
"Yeah, you did," Brock replied, making no effort to hide the anger in his voice. "Did you even know that Tracey and Daisy got married? Tracey wanted you to be the best man at the wedding, but he had to settle for Gary instead."
"Gary!" Ash nearly sputtered.
"Yes, Gary, Ash. What, did you think Tracey would hold off the wedding until you came back? The world doesn't revolve around you, Ash. People move on. Well, some people, anyway…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ash asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Never you mind, Ash. I'm not quite sure you deserve answers yet. After all, you haven't exactly given me many answers these past four years."
Ash frowned. He should have expected that Brock wouldn't exactly welcome him back home with open arms, not after everything he had put him through. Still, he had hoped that his old friend would have a bit more sympathy for him, especially because he was one of only two other people who really knew what had happened…
The highway scenery was exceedingly dull, marked by few trees and homes. Ash watched the monotony with a rather detached interest; it was certainly better than focusing on his thoughts. What, exactly, had Brock meant when he had said that only some people had moved on? Who hadn't moved on? It had been four years, after all, and Ash had figured everyone had all but forgotten about him. The news media certainly had. He thought of his mother, now getting on in years. How had she held up? Sure, he had asked Brock about her now and then, but he didn't exactly know what she was up to or anything. Did she cry herself to sleep every night, wondering where her son was? Then his thoughts turned to her, his very first friend, but he shook his head to clear it of them.
"So, why did you decide to come back, anyway?" Brock asked, breaking both Ash's train of thought and the silence. Though Brock's tone was casual in nature, both men knew the salience the question held.
"Um, I don't think I'm ready to tell you just yet," Ash replied softly.
"I keep your secrets and keep your secrets and you won't even give me that one piece of information?" Brock was seething now, his anger easily apparent to Ash.
"I'm sorry, Brock. I promise that I'll tell you when I'm ready."
"It's always when you're ready, Ash! What about when other people are ready?"
"I know, Brock, I know…it's just been hard."
Brock felt his anger slowly evaporating. "I know, Ash. I know that what happened was very difficult. Don't worry, though. We'll work through it in time."
How much time, though, would it take?
Misty felt her legs ache as she stood up straight for the first time in hours. Man, she had to learn how to drive someday! The stupid, cramped train just wasn't going to cut it anymore. Then again, who was going to teach her to drive? Lily and Violet didn't know how; they had always relied on Daisy for transportation, and now they couldn't rely on her at all. Maybe she'd broach the subject with Brock at the conference. She was so excited to see him! Sure, she'd ask him to teach her to drive and then she'd have to stay at his place at Pewter for a while (at the very least it would be a good excuse to get away from Violet and Lily) and it would be just like old times…
…except it wouldn't, and she knew it wouldn't. Someone would be missing. Maybe he'd show, though, and—no. How could she even think like that? Although Misty had maintained hope, no, had known that Ash was still alive despite whatever story the media had concocted, she'd long ago given up on the idea of him showing up. If he were going to come back he would have done so by now.
Misty stretched her arms, glad to be out of the cramped train. She grabbed her duffle bag and made her way towards the hotel, the finest in Viridian City, where the gym leaders and the league officials were going to be staying for the conference. Her red hair, now long, almost reached the waist of her blue dress, and it was no surprise that onlookers (mostly men) gawked as she walked by. Though Misty had remained quite slender and had done her blooming at a later age than usual, she had certainly bloomed.
After Misty had made her way through the double doors of the grand hotel and had begun to hand her bag over to the hotel worker, she heard a familiar voice call her name. Turning around, she found herself face to face with Sabrina, the leader of the Saffron City Gym.
"Hi, Sabrina," Misty said amicably.
"Hello, Misty."
"So, are you excited about the League Conference?" Misty asked sarcastically.
"Oh, I'm just dying for it to begin!"
The two woman burst into giggles. Misty couldn't help but feel glad that this Sabrina was so much different from the one she had first met, and, of course, she owed that all to Ash. Wait, she shouldn't be thinking about that…
"Is something the matter?" Sabrina asked, sensing the change in Misty's affect.
"Oh, no…I was just thinking."
"About Ash?" Sabrina asked sympathetically.
"No, of course not! What would make you think that?"
"Well, I am psychic, you know," the Saffron City gym leader reminded Misty.
"Oh, right." Misty supposed she was cornered now. "Well, maybe a little."
"It must be so hard for you, not knowing whether he's even alive or not."
"He's alive," Misty said with a bit more force than she had intended.
"You believe that coordinator from Sinnoh then…what's her name?"
"Dawn."
"Right. You believe her when she says that she's sure Ash didn't commit suicide after the match?"
"It's just something I know," Misty said with finality.
"I see. Well, I hope you two are reunited soon. I know there was something going on between the two of you." When Misty looked at Sabrina disbelievingly, the Saffron City gym leader simply added, "Remember, I'm psychic" before taking her leave.
Misty was left standing in the hotel all alone, until a final thought occurred to her.
"Sabrina, wait!"
"Yes?" Sabrina turned around, wondering what Misty wanted from her.
"It's just that, well, seeing how you're psychic and all, well…do you know where Ash is?"
"Oh, Misty…I'm afraid that's beyond my powers. I'm sorry."
"Oh, that's OK," Misty said. "I'll see you later, then."
"See you."
Misty turned around, suddenly feeling defeated and drained. When she turned around, however, her spirits were suddenly lifted, for standing at the other end of the room was her long-time friend Brock.
"Brock!" Misty cried, running over to hug the gym leader. She stopped dead in her tracks, however, upon seeing another man standing behind him. She could hardly believe her eyes, but there was no denying it. Any other person wouldn't have recognized him, but she knew him as soon as she saw him.
It was Ash Ketchum.
Author's Note: OK, so I'm sure my readers are probably going to kill me for having three chapter fics and "Alphabet Challenge" going on at once, but I couldn't resist writing this. I am going to finish "Together" and "Always with You," so don't worry about that.
I've never been a huge fan of fics in which Ash and Misty are adults, but, well, lately I've found myself more drawn to them, and I finally decided to write one. The rating is "T" for now, but it might go up.
The title comes from the Oasis song of the same name, which this fic is loosely based on. It was a hit in the nineties, so I'm guessing that a number of you won't know it; feel free to look up the lyrics if you want.
Thanks for reading. :)