A Storm Changes Everything

It was an ordinary day, the sun was shining and the leaves rustled in the trees above Ash, Misty and Brock while the three made their way through the quiet forest to get to the next city, where Ash could win his next badge. But their calm was once again interrupted by a familiar scenario.

"Ash! You got us lost again!" On this scream followed a flock of Pidgey flying into the sky, fleeing from the loud and angry sounding source of the ruckus.

"Oh really?" a young raven-haired boy said to the girl in front of him. "Who´s idea was it to take a shortcut so that one doesn´t have to see too many bugs?" Both teenagers were staring furiously at each other, neither one willing to back down.

"Hey, come on you guys. Do you two really have to fight over something like this? We´re all hungry and exhausted, so why don´t we take a little brake as soon as we find a clearing and cool down a little." Brock, the Pokémon breeder, had to reconcile every fight between Ash and Misty, or else they would be at each other´s throat all the time. Without sparing another glance at each other, the two turned around, staring in opposite directions and obviously not wanting to "cool down" like Brock suggested. But he got used to it over the time they had spend traveling together, and he new that after some time they would both admit defeat. He face-palmed, shook his head but sighed in relief none the less. That was a close one.

The small group continued its way in silence, when they suddenly heard a loud thunder in the distance. They all turned to face the direction from which the noise came, eyes going wide at what they saw.

A big black cloud shaped around Mt. Moon, constantly growing and heading straight in their direction. Everyone had the same thought: How could they have missed that over such a stupid argument?

"Brock, how long is it to the next Pokémon Centre?" Misty asked and took a step back. "I don´t know for sure, but at least five miles or so …" Brock trailed of, already going through all the information he had in his head of this area. "Five miles!? Oh no, but where can we go? A big thunderstorm is coming towards us and we´re in the middle of a thick forest and the nearest Pokémon Centre is five miles away! Just peachy" Misty said while stepping behind Ash. Even though she knew it was futile, and kind of embarrasing, it gave her a somewhat save feeling that she couldn´t really describe herself.

"Misty, come down. We´ll find a place for the night where we can set up our camp. Come on, let´s start searching. Maybe a cave or something like that" Ash said, while turning around and putting a comforting hand on Misty´s shoulder in an attempt to calm her down, the argument they ad moments ago already forgotten. When Ash looked into his friends face, he was able to get a glimpse behind the stoic mask she usually wore most of the time, and allowing him to see the fear that was slowly building in her. Ash gave Misty a small smile, nodding his head, and turned in the direction Brock was already headed. When he felt Misty coming after him, sticking close to him, he blushed a little but tried to hide it under his cap.

Why am I acting like that?, he thought to himself. When she´s around me, especially if we´re alone, my heart starts racing in my chest and my face feels hot. Damn it, she is just a friend! One of my best friends, but a friend none the less. Am I right? I hope Pikachu hasn´t noticed ...

With these thoughts in Ash´s mind, the group started searching for a save place to stay for the night. Unknown to the young trainer, both Brock and Pikachu have watched the small exchange of gestures between the to teenagers and a knowing grin formed on their faces.

"Pika pi, pikachu!" Pikachu exclaimed and jumped off of Ash´s shoulder. "You found something, pal?" Ash asked as he raced after his Pokemon. Pikachu took a left turn and jumped through the bushes that were growing there, disappearing out of sight. "Hey guys! I think Pikachu found something!"

Ash looked over his shoulder to Misty, then to Brock who was standing a few feet away from them and followed his first Pokémon to where it had vanished. Once Ash was able to fight his way through the bushes, a huge wall appeared in front of him, completely hidden from eyesight due to the thick vegetation. And just sitting there, Pikachu pointed to a big cave, smugly smiling at his trainer. "Pikachu, you´re the best, do you know that?" his trainer said, giving Pikachu high five and laughing at the Pokemon´s expression.

"Misty! Brock! Pikachu found a cave! I think it´s big enough for all of us to fit in, so we´re save for the storm!" A few minutes later, they were all seated in the big cave. It turned out to be even bigger than he first assumed, allowing them to release all of their Pokemon, who were happy at finally being out after spending most of the day inside their Pokeballs.

"Oh, damn it!" said Brock, who took out his cooking gears. "What is it?" asked Misty, as she walked over to where they planned to set up the campfire near the entrance so that the smoke wouldn´t gather in the back of the cave where they kept their backbacks, Ash already arranging their sleepingbags. "Do we have a problem?" "Yeah, you can say that again. We forgot to pick up fire wood and now we have no fire for cooking and keeping us warm" Brock answered, sighing and clapping his hands together ones. "Okay, looks like I have to go out and find some."

With that, Brock wanted to step out of the cave, but was taken aback at Ash´s voice. "Hey, it´s ok, I can go so you can prepare the food. It won´t take so long in such a big forest."

"But Ash, the storm could start any minute now. What if you get caught in it and don´t find your way back" Brock said worriedly, glancing out of the cave. "Nah, don´t worry ´bout it! I´ll be back soon and I won´t wander off that far. Promise." Ash grinned at them, nodding to Pikachu in a silent command to stay with his friends. "Pika pika!" he shouted towards his already disappearing trainer, turning to their sleepingbags and picking up where Ash had stopped earlier.

"Ash, wait!" Misty exclaimed and sprinted after him. "Misty? What are you do-". Brock couldn´t even end the question he was about to ask because Misty was already running outside behind Ash. Brock shook his head and looked at Pikachu, both wearing the same expression. "I don´t think we will ever be able to understand those two." Pikachu only nodded in response.

"Ash! Ash wait up!" He turned around to see Misty running after him. She didn´t realized that he had stopped in his tracks when she shouted for him and bumped right into the startled boy, knocking them both down on the ground, Misty landing on top of him.

As they realized what had just happened, both blushed heavily. "M-Misty … what are you doing here? I thought you were staying in the cave with Brock?" Ash asked, confused to see Mistyout in the drizzle with him, and on top of him.

"I-I´m sorry! I didn´t want to tackle you or anything! I- I just didn´t want to let you go by yourself in the storm …" Misty stammered, looking into his eyes. Oh Mew. I could look into his eyes all the time … Stop, damn it! Why do I think something like that?! Stupid … He´s my best friend!

"Uhm, thanks. Uh … Misty? Are- are you ok? You look kind of troubled …" Ash said, clearing his throat. "Huh? Oh sorry, what did you just say?" Get yourself together, Misty!

"Nothing! But could- could you please get up so I, eh, could stand up, too?" Ash stammered, unsure of what to say with Misty behaving so weird. And the ground was starting to make his vest and jeans wet, which wasn´t really comfortable.

"Oh Mew! I- I´m sorry!" Misty exclaimed, shocked that she didn´t noticed she was still lying on top of him. Misty hurried to get up, heavily blushing like she never did before. Ash, who was blushing too, stood up and looked up at the darkening sky. "We have to hurry. The storm could start every second now and we have to find dry fire wood. Come on." Misty nodded and the two trainers headed deeper into the forest.

After about five minutes later, the rain started to pick up and became more and more every second. "Misty! Did you find anything?" Ash shouted over the louder getting rain. "Yeah! How about you?" Misty asked, running back to a huge and old looking tree where Ash was standing with an arm full of dry wood.

Just when Misty reached the spot where Ash had taken shelter to pretend the collected wood from getting wet, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, followed by loud thunder. Misty screamed, tripped and fell to the ground, letting the wood fall to the ground beside Ash. "Hey Misty, are you ok?" Ash asked, worrying about his best friend. Though he knew she was afraid of thunderstorms, even though she would never admit that out loud, he had never seen a reaction like this before. Ash kneeled next to her, one hand resting on her trembling shoulders.

Only then he noticed that Misty was crying, small sobs shaking her small frame, though it was obvious that she tried to hide them. "Mist? Hey it´s alright, I´m here. Why are you crying?" Ash tried to calm her down, but had no idea how. Usually Misty was the stronger one of them both. Oh man, I´m not really good at this … I never saw her breaking down like that.

"Oh, it´s - it´s nothing. Real - ly." Misty tried to hide her face, so he couldn´t see her crying like a little baby. But it was already to late for that. Ash put two of his fingers under her chin, carefully turning her head that she had to look at him.

"Come on, Mist. You know you can trust me." His voice was so calm and soothing, tears started to fill Misty`s eyes once again and she leaned forward to hide her face against his chest, sobbing even more than before.

Ash was shocked at first, eyes going wide and hands lightly trembling, but then he slowly put his arms around her shoulders, holding her colser to him.

"It- it happened eleven years ago …" Misty started talking. Ash had to lean in closer to understand her faint and still shaking voice. "I was only five years old. At one night I woke up from a big thunderstorm, just like this one. Suddenly I heard a loud noise, coming from the other side of our gym. Back at these days, we had an extra building for our Water Pokemon, that was connected to the part we lived in. I heard my mom and dad screaming, something about the roof of the part where we held our Water Pokemon had collapsed. I hurried to get up and ran down the stairs, just to see my dad already running out into the rain. My mom saw me standing on the stairs, she walked over to me and hugged me, saying that I had to stay inside with my sisters. She would come back as soon as they made sure the Pokemon were alright. I stood there the whole night with my sisters, axiously waiting for my parents to return, but neither mom or dad came back as they said. When one of our neighbours finally came into our house, Daisy said that I should go into my room and try to sleep. I did as I was told but I couldn´t sleep. I wondered why my parents still weren´t home and didn´t say goodnight to me."

Misty stopped there, catching her breath and shaking her head at the returning memories. When she started again, her voice was even quieter than before. Ash put his head on top of hers, letting her finish her tale.

"After some time the door to my room opened and Daisy, Lily and Violet came inside. I could tell that something horrible had happened the moment they walked in, all wearing the same hurt and horrified expression. They sat down on my bed and hugged me close to them. They told me that- that our parents had an accident." Another sob shook her and Misty nestled closer to Ash´s chest, seeking the warmth that came from him. "As the years passed I understood that my parents were dead, never returning to us. That's why my sisters and I are running the gym by ourselves."

Ash didn´t know what to say or how to response to her confession. He just sat there, holding Misty close, letting her cry and trying to shield her against the cold wind. "Mist …" he whispered. There was nothing to say to make it easier.

"Thanks."

Misty looked up into his face, his eyes full of concern and also brimming with tears. "Why are you thanking me? For what?" Ash smiled at her. "Because of your trust in me. I know that it was hard for you to tell me, and I´m glad that you did, because I can be the shoulder you can cry on if you need to." "Ash" Misty responded, returning the small smile even though the tears were still escaping her cerulean eyes.

They looked into each others eyes, and ever so slowly, Ash put his hand on Mistys left cheek. Their faces were just inches apart and both leaned forward until their lips finally met in a soft kiss. At first they were shocked, but then they noticed that the other one was kissing back.

Ash and Misty closed their eyes, deepening their first kiss. One of Misty´s hands reached up and tangled into Ash´s soft hair, Ash doing the same by taking his other and and letting it run through her silky hair, causing their kiss to get more passionate.

When the air became a little short they had to pull apart, noses still touching, both breathing heavily. They looked into each others eyes, deep brown meeting vivid cerulean, smiling at each other. "You know what?" Ash whispered against her lips. "I´ve waited so long for this to happen. And I know it may sounds weird but … I love you, Mist. I always have and I always will. I was just too dumb to realise it sooner even though it was always right beside me." He closed his eyes again and leaned his forehead against hers, taking a deep breath, inhaling her sweet scent mixed with the rain pouring down around them, the trees branches protecting them from it.

Damn, what have I done?, Ash suddenly thought to himself. I´ve ruined our friendship. I took adventage of her when she needed me the most! Great job, Ketchum. Now you have to see how you- Ash was stopped in his tracks when Misty again leaned forward and kissed him again. "Ash" Misty whispered between small kisses. "I love you, too". With that she threw her arms around his neck, tackling them to the ground once again, this time on purpose. Ash laid his arms around her waist, pulling her closer and just holding her as close as possible to him.

Suddenly Misty pulled away, looking into his brown eyes. "Oh no! Ash we have to get back. Brock must be worried sick for us by now!" "Damn it, I almost forgot!" Ash and Misty scrambled to their feet, picking up the luckily still dry fire wood and ran as fast as they could through the pouring rain and back to he cave.

"Arceus, you are alright!" Brock shouted, jumping up from where he was perched on the ground by an already burning campfire and ran towards them. "What took you guys so long? I found some wood in the back of the cave and started a fire for cooking. I thought you two were in trouble or you didn´t find the way back! I was about to send Pikachu and Zubat to search for you!"

Ash and Misty looked at each other, a blush forming on their cheeks. "We - eh - we were caught in the rain and seeked shelter by an old tree. But the rain wouldn´t stop so we decided to just ran back to you" Ash said while scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "Aha. And you´re sure nothing more happened to you two? Because your clothes are dirty and your both blushing" Brock asked again, a mischievous smile forming on the breeders face. "No no no! What do you think we could have done?" Misty said while taking Ash´s fire wood to hers and putting it down to the small pile Brock had made next to the fire.

"Now, if you guys don´t mind, I´ll go changing my clothes. I´m soaked to the skin and I´m cold." With that, Misty took her bag and went to the darker part of the cave behind their arranged sleeping place.

It was way past midnight when they had all finally eaten and gone to their sleeping bags. As soon as Brock´s head hid is pillow he was out like a light and softly snoring.

But Ash and Misty were staring at each other through the darkness of the cave, only seeing the other ones face when lightning lit up the sky. Misty scooted closer to Ash, reaching her hand out of her sleepingbag, Ash meeting hers mid way with his hand so they could intertwine their fingers. They leaned forward and pressed their lips together in a soft kiss. It wasn´t as passionately like the one they shared under the tree, but that didn´t mean it was less amazing.

"I love you so much" Ash mumbled against her lips. Misty grinned and stopped kissing him. "I bet I love you more" she said, her eyes twinkling. "Do you really think so?" Ash said in a provoking voice, grinning back at her. He couldn´t say how happy he was to see her smile again after she told him her heart-wrenching past. "Yeah I think so" Misty replied before kissing him again. They snuggled closer to each other to try to get more comfortable on the hard ground of the cave, listening to the rain outside and drifting off to sleep.

They didn´t know how much their relationship had changed through this experience, but the two young trainers were determined to make it last forever.

A/N:

Hello everyone!

Thanks for reading my story. This is a rewritten version of the one I posted here 2013. The main storyline is the same, but I changed some of the conversations and added many things to make it sound more realistc (if you can call it that way because it´s still full of fluff, I tried to keep it close to the original one).

I hope you enjoyed it! Please leave a review to let me know if you liked it!