To begin with ….

Hi all,

I don't know why but recently I have become nostalgic about pokemon my favourite TV show as a kid. What always puzzled me is why Ash and Misty never got together. So this fanfic is about what gives them their happily ever after.. Please don't flame me for the characters. I appreciate all criticism, but bear in mind I haven't been into pokemon in nearly 13 years. Set fifteen years from the beginning of his first adventure Ash is close to achieving his dream. But does he get the ending he deserves

Hope you enjoy.

Yours

Dar

Chapter I

This was it, all the training and travelling and years of work led to today. He was alone in his locker room and was trying to focus. He splashed his face with the chlorine rich water again, it helped cool him down. He could hear the muffled noise in the arena, the announcers and the roar of the crowd. The TV in the corner was showing highlights of today's battles and was offering an analysis of how his fight was going to go. Nearly twenty years ago he used to watch the same show, it was his favourite thing to do on a Sunday night. He loved watching the tournaments on TV, much to his mother's displeasure when she had to get him up for school the next day. Infact he was late to professor Oaks lab when he was beginning his journey because he was watching it. He ended up missing his chance to get that charmander he wanted. The only pokemon Professor Oak had left was Pikachu, although he didn't realise it at the time, it was the best thing that could have happened to him.

Today however, he couldn't enjoy the show or his favourite commentator with the cockney accent. He pulled on his gloves and stared at the TV when the commentators started talking about him.

"Well Ted I think he has every chance, he's been doing this for fifteen years from when he was ten, I know he mightn't of captured many pokemon during his many adventures, but he relies on a few select and very powerful pokemon. I only hope that his brave little bulbasaur has recovered from the battle yesterday against Lance Solo" the man sat back in his chair and was immediately set upon by another commentator.

"You haven't a clue, the lad has a track record of failing at tournaments, he's a case of nearly there but never quite their" Eamon Kal was always Ash's least favourite commentator on the show, even when he was a kid he didn't like his negativity.

"But he has improved with time" replied the first man, he was new to the show the little placard that popped up on the bottom of the screen revealed his name to be Ray Johnson.

"Yes but look who he is facing, this man has been at the top of the league for nearly twenty five years and has been the pokemon master for eighteen of them" Eamon snarled.

Ash decided it was better to change the channel, he switched it to a British news channel that was covering the event as well. The lady on it was nice and didn't talk about him as if there was no chance.

The pokemon master tournament was one of the most press covered events of the year, next to the World Cup, Super Bowl and the Olympics. Every news agency in the world must of sent out a crew, and the fans, by goodness the fans. People travelled from all over the world to come to the tournament, trainers from all over to. In the first round Ash fought against an Italian trainer, who had loads of Brazilian fans. In his third round Ash fought an Australian trainer, and about fifty percent of Ash's fans were Irish, tri colours and Pikachu signs were visible throughout the crowd. Infact on his way here he was stopped in the nearby pokemon centre as a kid wanted his autograph. To be frank Ash was now a celebrity with fans from all over the world.

The TV started playing archive footage from when he was in the Johto and Kanto League many years ago. He watched the archive footage and felt happy, he had come such a long way. It was then in the background of the picture he seen her. Misty.

When Ash first set out on his journey, Misty was the first friend he met. He and Pikachu were having trust issues and somehow managed to annoy a whole pack of sperrows, very angry, very dangerous sperrows. In order to get away Ash stole, I mean barrowed Misty's bike. Which was the destroyed by Pikachu. Mays and Dawn followed the same fate, what can I say, the little guy doesn't like bikes. Ash and Misty became very close through their travels. Misty was the gym leader at Cerulum city and Ash ended up battling her. Ash and Misty then met Brock. Brock was a kind and good natured man and also the leader of the pewter city gym. Ash did defeat him and when he did Brock joined in with Ash on his adventure. The three travelled together for a long time, but Ash and Misty had something special, Brock would later say that he seen it in them the second he met them, but that is a story for a later time. When Ash and Misty had to separate when Misty was to return home and run the gym it effected Ash greatly. Although he continued his travels for another year, he always kept in contact with her. The world is a small place now days, mobiles and the internet have seen to that. When Ash was finished his travelling, he returned to Ceruleum to see Misty, it was here during a night out that he and Misty kissed. He was nineteen at the time and it was very awkward, so awkward the two agreed to never speak of it again. They then went and travelled to Pewter City to see Brock, and then back to Pallet town. The two became more inseparable than ever. But when Ash began his training for the master league the two had to separate again. He still texted, called and wrote to her but he found Misty to be distant at times. It did upset him. He hasn't seen her in two years now, and when he called her to see if she was coming she didn't answer. "Maybe" he thought, "she has moved on".

Now wasn't the time to think about Misty, he tried to get her out of his head. Although he knew that wouldn't happen. He changed his t-shirt, due to the sweat and put on some deodorant. He wasn't going to wear his jacket into the arena, he had done so on the first night and nearly collapsed due to the heat. He turned around and dug out a drink from his duffel bag in the corner. Pikachu was there doing push ups. It was a sight he never thought he'd see. Although his form was terrible Ash had to admit, it was pretty funny. He smiled as he gulped down the berry flavoured liquid.

"Ok" he thought to himself "team meeting time". Ash then took out his pokeballs and deployed all of his pokemon. Charizard, the flying fire type, he loved to point that out. Bulbasaur the grass type, Squirttle the turtle like water pokemon. Scyther, the grass type pokemon and heracross the bug type pokemon. The only bug type misty didn't mind, damn he was thinking of her again. And of course Pikachu.

"I am so proud of all of you" he started his epic team leader speech now "we have come so far over all these years, and today we go further" his pokemon let out a roar of approval. "I couldn't have done this without each and every one of you, all I am asking is that we go out there and give it our all one last time". In their own way each and every one of them said yes Ash. He returned them all to their balls. They were loyal to him, and him to them. Ash then checked his phone it was time to go. Just as he was about to walk out there was a knock on the door. "Maybe its Misty he thought, damn it Ash keep it together, we'll deal with her later on".

An organiser was at the door and told him to go up the corridor towards the arena. Ash then walked down the long, marble corridor. His footsteps echoed as he walked down it. Pikachu was his side where he was for the last fifteen years and where he would be for many more. Half way down the corridor there was a small waiting area. He his family and friends were waiting for him. As he passed they wished him well, they patted his back and they chanted his name. Professor Oak stopped him .

"Ash forget about the horrible things they say on TV, we believe you can do this, but you have to too, good luck son" the professor pated his back.

Ashs mom Delia stopped him to. She threw her arms around him and hugged him. "Am so proud of my little Ashypoo "there was tears in the woman's eyes. It didn't matter if Ash lost or won she was proud of him and loved him unconditionally and always would.

"Where's Dad?" Ash asked looking for his father.

"He said that his flight would be delayed but that he and his friends were going to watch you on TV". Ashs father was a soldier, he had hardly ever seen Ash for the last fifteen years. But they did stay in contact kind of. With Ash being away from home so much his father never knew where to send the letters so he sent them to the house. Another problem was that during the war the telecommunications giants pulled all their assets out of the small nation his father was stationed in as a peace keeper. With that in mind the soldiers could only make brief phone calls home. As the world grew smaller, it also developed bigger gaps with itself.

"He said they will be here tomorrow thou ok" his mom continued smiling.

Ash kissed his mom and then continued on down the hall. Max, May, Dawn, Tracey, Daisy and Brock were here.

His stomach turned, "You can't do this, NO you can do this" he said to himself. The feeling made him sick, he was shaking, sweating and shivering.

Brock could see this and he grabbed him.

Brock was a kind hearted soul, who had taken care of a large family all by himself when he was young. He was a notorious womaniser thou, despite Misty's efforts to stop him.

"You can do this we came so far, you came so far." Brock said smiling as he patted his friend on the shoulder, trying to reassure him.

Ash looked up, he had calmed down a little "Is Misty here?" he asked.

"I haven't seen her. Am sure she would of if she could but if not she's in here" Brock said as he tapped his head with a finger "and here" and he raised his hand to his chest and smiled. "But I'll look for her for you anyway ok", "Now get out there Pokémon master Ash" he smiled and pushed Ash on towards the light.

Ash continued down the corridor towards the light. He could hear the crowd. Their chants booming. It reminded him of every other league he fought in to an extent but this one was different the crowd was bigger than any other he had ever seen. Fifty thousand people were crammed into the place, it was packed to capacity. There was cops and security guards trying to stop anyone from interfering. The crowd was dotted with flags from dozens of nations, some Ash didn't recognise.

He reached the bottom of the stairs were a worker held him back to wait for the announcement. He looked behind him, his family and friends were being led off to the supporter's dugout. Brock said something that he couldn't quite make out. He just nodded back

Then the announcer boomed "And his opponent from Pallet town Kanto!, Ash Ketchum!" and the crowd went mental. They were chanting his name, thou a lot were chanting Pikachu too. For the briefest moment in time he is a God they worship him, hang on his every move, every step. All the fighting, the traveling all his hard work comes down to this. Rose petals drift down upon him as well of the occasional pair of knickers, don't ask. The crowd roars "ASH! ASH! ASH! ASH!". He walked to his side of the field basking in glory and admiration. To the crowd he is the best thing in the world, the nerves calm and he takes his position.

Across the field his opponent stands, dressed in a black coat with the hood up, a far cry from what he was in his youth. The man who fought countless battles, the greatest Pokémon trainer ever. The Pokémon master, Ashes hero, his idol, the man he used to watch every night before bed. He takes out his lucky charm from his pocket, it is a fishing lure Misty gave him years ago, and he takes it everywhere with him. Kind of a memory for when she isn't around.

The huge monitor displays Ash and his opponent. The standard rules for the pokemon master final is that the defending master has to use only one pokemon while the challenger can use six. The monitor displays Ash's choices, it then flashes and reveals that his opponent is using only one charizard. Then the counters on the huge monitor change colour red, then orange then finally green … the beginning of the end.

The battle is fierce. The enemy's charizard takes out most of ashes pokemon quickly. Bulbasaur, squirtle, heracross, scythe and Pikachu didn't stand a chance, it then comes down to charzard. The two monster fight hard. Bone and sinew clash and huge spouts of flame appear as the two monsters battle in the air. The crowd screams, his family and friends yell and howler at him "GO ASH! GO ASH! GO ASH!" they chant again and again. A Mexican wave forms in the crowd. As the two Charizards and their trainers do battle the destiny of these two men lies in the balance.

Then the turning point … a Charizard collapses after the twenty minutes of solid fighting. The referee counts "One – Two" the crowd is silent waiting for him to get up, then the referee confirms "Charizard is unable to battle the winner – ". The crowd erupts.

Ash collapses on his knees, tears streaming down his face. He returns Charizard to his ball, he feels sick, and the adrenaline is failing him. He can't hear himself think. It's all happening so quickly, all that travelling, all those years of fighting for this. He looks up, the score board says zero – six. His mind then turns, he doesn't want to be there any more he wants to be with Misty. He wasn't to disappear and go home.

Where is she? Why didn't she show up? Is there someone else? Why? What is wrong with me? His mind races as he tries to figure it all out. He grips the lure till his knuckles turn white, tears rolling down his cheek not just from the result but also because she wasn't here. It all just built up and he exploded. Then he seen her, she was there all along with his family and friends. He wants to hold her more than ever he needs to hold her, to hold someone, for someone to hold him. The screen is taken over with the scene in the dugout the tears rolling down the cheeks of his supporters, down her cheek.

He can't breathe, he needs out. He picked himself up and ran out of the arena towards his locker room. He runs as fast as he can. He gets down the steps at the entrance then pukes up a pink liquid, he gathers himself and sprints down the corridor to his locker room. Nurse Joy is waiting at the waiting room for his injured pokemon. He hands them over to her and he dashes through the corridor the chants of the crowd become louder. Upon entering the locker room, he collapses and covers his face with his hat, as he tries to block out the noise.

"Red! Red! Red!" the crowd chants.

He failed... he failed everyone.

Red- the protagonist of the pokemon Gameboy games the true pokemon master.