Disclaimer: I don not own Pokemon, or any part of it.
One- shot, yiay. :) Enjoy.
Methods of Motivation
He stood on the threshold of the one battle he had been dreaming of since he was 10. He was numb.
Numb and shaking. Trembling.
Ash Ketchum was never one to back down. He had always insisted that he was brave enough to face whatever Arceus had placed in his path.
He was the kind of guy who would jump headlong into something without considering the consequences, focused and poised for battle, never to be deterred from his ultimate goal.
Ash Ketchum, the boy in whose eye's shone the fierce fire of purpose and the spark of a dream yet to be achieved. Ash Ketchum, the boy who was electrocuted by his starter Pokémon in the small town of Pallet, the boy who sent a Caterpie to take on a Pidgey, the boy that travelled far and wide to tread closer and closer to his one goal, the boy who had tamed a Charizard, the boy who had saved the world over and over again.
He was Ash Ketchum, the chosen one, and by Arceus, he was scared.
Misty Waterflower stood by and watched her trembling best friend as he barely responded to the hugs and encouraging words of his supporters.
She frowned as an over excited May hugged him and practically shouted her best wishes up to his face. She watched him, even as a chirpy Dawn, dressed in a cheerleader outfit, raised her pompoms up to the heavens and chanted his name over and over again. Her frown only increased when Ash's long time rival Paul patted his back and spoke what seemed like warm words of encouragement, all the while keeping his cold façade.
Deciding she was done with their antics and the boy's lack of response, she ditched her present company and walked up to the almost Pokémon Master.
She had known, for the longest time, that conventional methods of motivation would not penetrate the ever increasingly dense Pokémon Trainer's head.
Instead she opted for a far more traditional approach. Traditional, that is, only to the one and only Miss Misty Waterflower.
Lifting her arm, she smacked the unsuspecting boy on the back of his head, a scowl apparent on her face.
That, definitely, shook him out of his daze and with a fire she hadn't seen since early this morning, he glared at her.
"What the HECK, MIST!"
"Well, you looked like you needed it Ketchum!" she replied smoothly returning his glare.
He gaped at her and she rearranged her scowl into a smile.
"You're ready Ash. You've been ready for at least a good few weeks now. "
With that she shoved him playfully on the shoulder before embracing him in a hug and saying " You've got this."
"Yeah…" he said his face lighting up slightly… "Yeah, I have, haven't I?
Misty watched as he lifted up his face and stared out before him.
"Don't get cocky now, Ketchum! You still owe me a bike! Not to mention May and Dawn, too! So go out there and make sure WIN! 'Cos you know just where you're spending all that prize money!"
Misty scoffed.
Ash smirked as he bent his face down and kissed his best friend on the cheek.
"Thanks, Mist", he said sincerely before striding over to his mother and engulfing her in a hug.
Outside cheers resounded as Mr. Goodshow called into the mike " Please welcome our challenger, for the title of Pokémon Master, from the town of Pallet, representing the Kanto region, ASH KETCHUM!"
Misty looked on as Ash walked forward, Pikachu perched on his shoulder, with a renewed sense of confidence and a familiar fire lighting up his eyes.
Misty smirked.
"Go get 'em, Mr. Pokémon Master."
THE END
Hope you like it! Please do review, if you want to. :)