Something that completely came out of nowhere. It's another one-shot Ash/Misty fic. I seem to be doing those a lot...but they're my favorite kind, so I guess it's okay. This fic is sad, and is another one with Misty after Ash wins the championship. Enjoy.

I see him.

He is standing there, so proud, so happy, raising his arms in victory. Pikachu, next to him, does the same, shouting its winning "chaaa!". I smile and my eyes linger on him. It has been three years since I had last seen him, and I can tell he is the same old Ash as before. But that is okay. That is how I like it.

I will not cry.

He has new teammates now. There's the really young boy, the smart one, who's always arguing with the girl...the other girl that's with him now. She's pretty, she's sweet, she doesn't argue with him, and she's his age. Exactly everything I'm not.

I will not cry.

And even though I had gotten over this years ago, this knowledge still brings tears to my eyes. But I am strong; I have learned to keep my tears in and keep my breathing normal. There will be no more crying for me.

I will not cry.

I make my way to the exit, trying to get through the crowd. I want to leave. I need to leave. He might be coming this way, and I don't want to see him.

I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry.

No. The crowd is opening up, cheering. He is coming.

I will not cry I will not cry I WILL NOT CRY

There he is, bouncing in excitement. And although I am preoccupied with suppressing the sobs inside and getting away, some remote part of me is proud of him for following his dream, remembering how he did that each time he had defeated another gym, and affectionately thinking how cute he was.

I

He catches my eye and stops bouncing, looking at me. I look down automatically and bite my lip. He saw me! He saw me! How can this be happening?!

will

I feel a soft touch on my shoulder and look up. He's there, staring at me. My heart races. Does he remember...?

not

He frowns. "Hey, do I know you? You look sorta familiar..."

cry.

A sob forces its way through my throat, and he is taken aback, resting his hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

I smile, although I know my eyes are wet with unshed tears. "Yes...I'm fine Ash Ketchem. Don't worry about me...take care of all of your Pokemon, especially your Totodile....you were right, you should have gotten it instead of me...and...and Togepi misses you."

And with that I run. I don't look back, but I still know that he's standing there, mouth agape, trying to comprehend what I just said. I still know that it will take him a few minutes to finally figure out that it was me, Misty, who he had forgotten. And I still know that he will feel guilty and look for me.

So I run, far away from the girl that replaced me, from the tears, from the heartbreak and from him.

I will not cry.

Did you like this? I was feeling angsty, so I wrote this. Please tell me what you think!