Nikkibe here! Just wanted to say I edited this story (since it was my first one I found quite a lot of mistakes ^^") to hopefully improve it and am working on editing the other chapters as well! But for the time being please enjoy!
I'm sorry if any of this offends anyone. I didn't mean for it to. Please comment if you have any concerns, want me to make a story like this for another shipping, if its good/bad, improvements, etc… I don't own Pokémon, this is only a fan-made story. I do own the story though. Thank you and enjoy!
After a tough defeat in the Hoenn League, Ash Ketchum made his way down the dirt path to Pallet Town. Pikachu rested comfortably on his shoulder, the skies were a pristine blue and the forest around him was alive with the call of wild Pokémon, yet all he could think about was his parted friends the whole way.
"Pika-pi?" Pikachu could sense Ash's dismay and rubs his red cheek against his, "Pi, pikachu, pi, pika?" (Translation: Ash? Are you thinking about May again?)
"Thanks for trying to cheer me up buddy," Ash sighed, unaware of what Pikachu actually wanted to say, "but we're almost home now! Come on!" With that, Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder and the two raced off in the heat of the summer sun.
Pika-pi… Pikachu, pi pi pika pikachu… Pi, pikachu, pika pika. (Ash… You love May more than you know… You'll see in time.) Thought the little bundle of electricity as he trailed behind his trainer. Pikachu had been aware of Ash's growing feelings for quite a while, thanks to their particularly strong bond. Actually, even to an outsider it would be easy to tell, just not all people care to look deep enough.
"Pikachu, look! We're here! There's professor Oak's lab… and, my house!" Though they were both tired they ran and didn't stop until they were at Ash's front yard. "Mom, I'm ho-ome! Mmh… I smell something good!" The raven-haired boy called as he opened the door.
He stopped dead in his tracks. Even Pikachu's mouth hung open slightly when he beheld the sight in front of him. "Misty?" cried Ash in absolute shock, "What are you doing here?"
The red-haired girl in front of him wore the same outfit as when he last saw her, only this time she had an apron around her waist and a broom in hand. She looked just as surprised as Ash, thinking that he would come later in the evening.
"Well, I heard you were coming and I wanted to see you, that's all. Aren't you exited to see me?" Misty said, feeling awkward. She'd just been caught sweeping her best friends house whilst the latter had no knowledge of her arrival this morning. How else was she supposed to feel? She flung her hands open wide in a hug gesture to try making up for it, but sent the broom she was holding flying across the room and almost through a window. "Oops!" was all she said to the new dent in the wall.
Being the dense young man he is, Ash brushed it aside and ignored the little accident for the time being. He was just happy to see her, he guessed.
"Hey Misty, and sure I'm glad to see you!" said Ash coming in for a strange sort of hug. Almost 30 seconds passed and Misty still wouldn't let go, "Uh, Misty, I think Pikachu wants a hug too…"
"Oh, sorry," Misty blushed lightly and opened her arms again for Pikachu to jump into them, "How've you been Pikachu? Have you gotten bigger?"
"Pikachu-pi! Pi, Pikachu?" (Misty! Are you saying I'm fat?)
"Hey, where's my mom?" asked Ash.
"She went to get some more ingredients from the garden so she's out back," replied Misty.
"Thanks!" Ash rushed off outside to greet his mom, Pikachu tagging along behind him.
The carrot-top sighed with relief. What a bad start! She went to pick up the broom and remembered the purpose of her visit. Not only was she here to comfort Ash on his loss, Misty had a more personal reason for coming to Pallet. Oh Ash, you have no idea what I've planned for us tonight, she thought to herself wistfully.
There was no need for her to hide it from him anymore.
"Ash." There was a pause. "Ash… Ash!" Misty exclaimed. She had spent the last five minutes poking and prodding Ash, however all she got in return was snoring and a twitch of his nose.
"Who, wha-" he said suddenly, "Darn Team Rocket… Pikachu, thunderbo…" And back he went into the oblivion of sleep. Apparently Ash isn't much of an early riser all the time.
"Oh come on Ash, its only 2:20 in the morning. Be a man! GET UP!" Misty almost screamed, but stops herself before she woke Ms. Ketchum instead. Ash was still in bed, snoring away happily. "That's it, no more Miss Nice Misty!" With a dull whack! Misty hit Ash right on the forehead with the flashlight she brought with her. She then immediately grabbed a pillow and stuffed in front of Ash's mouth.
A muffled scream was all that was heard before Ash shot up in bed. "Misty…" he growled around the feathery mess shielding his mouth, "Ouch! That freakn' hurt! What time is it anyway?" He turned over and checked his Pokéball alarm clock, "2 AM! Have you completely lost your bloody mind?"
He must not be a morning person either.
"Calm down Ash, it'll be worth it. Now get dressed." Misty's reply was more calm.
"Fine… Stupid 2 AM! What could she have planned at this hour?" Ash mumbled to himself as he put on a clean vest, some jeans and his sneakers. He was careful not to disturb Pikachu anymore after almost waking him up. Misty was waiting outside with her backpack and a flashlight. What would she need her backpack for now? Wondered Ash.
"Are you finally ready?" asked Misty.
"Yeah, and that knock on the head gave me a splitting headache! The most fucking important thing in my whole life better happen now or you're in for it!" said Ash. His head felt like it would explode and he was in a foul mood, "Where are we going anyway?"
"You'll see." Said Misty, and with that they started walking down the dark, flashlight lit path to professor Oak's lab. The sky was lit up by a shiny half-moon and the northern star twinkled as brightly as if struck by a sunny day attack. They came to the forest where the Pokémon Professor had claustrophobic grass Pokémon sleep. At last they came to the large pond the water Pokémon used to swim in and found a spot on a large part of dry bank.
"We're here! No one will be able to hear us and all your Pokémon usually sleep on the other side of the forest." Misty said while laying out a picnic blanket from her bag.
"Yeah, sure… But what are we doing out here now? I mean, are we just going to sit here or what, cuz' if we are I'm going home. Nice walking with you but…" Ash started walking away but Misty pulled him by the hand and sat down, causing Ash to sit down too. "You know… I really missed you while you were out in Hoenn. I'm so sorry you lost after coming so close to victory!" she blurted a bit off handedly, but covered it up with a smirk.
"Yah, well, there's always the next league… And… how's the gym working out for you?" Ash asked awkwardly. She'd done it again, act all weird for a moment then seem perfectly fine.
"Good… But Ash… That's not what I came here… t-too talk… about…" stuttered shyly.
"Then what is it? Come on, we're best friends. You can tell me… right?"
"That's actually what I wanted to talk about with you… you know. About the friendship thing…"
"What, did you find another best friend? Of course we can still be friends right? Even though I travel most of the time and you're Cerulian gym leader. I'm sure-"
"No! Ash. What I want to say is… well…'" There's a silent pause for a few moments. Misty turned and looked Ash straight in the eyes blushing.
Hey wait a minute… I think I know what's going on here… Did I forget her birthday again? Does she want me to say happy birthday? But why's she blushing then? Thought Ash. He was about to apologize when Misty exclaimed, "Ash you idiot! Don't you see? I want to be more than just friends, bestfriends or even special friends… I want to be your girlfriend. I love you!" There. Misty finally said what was on her mind for all those seasons without Ash, and even a few with Ash.
There was a bit of a pause before Ash started, "Misty… I-I… don't know what to say. I-" but before could finish Misty leaned in for a kiss, smack on the lips.
Didn't see that coming, huh?
A rush of panic swept over Ash at that moment. The kiss just didn't feel right to him! There was no intimacy on his part, no passion or feeling. Just this kiss. Nothing more. It felt like a sister kissing him, albeit on the lips, but it had his mind reeling to another person he felt he was betraying. As lips strayed he thought he could hear laughter. Laughter of someone he left on the docks of Hoenn just a couple days ago. It then hit him who the person was and the heaviness in his chest told him why he felt so guilty.
What a way to realize he loved her! On one hand, he was betraying her for kissing Misty. On the other hand he was betraying Misty by loving her after this… really awkward confession. The pain in his head increased by ten fold, so he abruptly ended the kiss and held his forehead for a while.
"Ash…?" There was hurt in Misty's voice. He didn't have to look up at her face to see her confusion.
There was another pause before Ash finally mustered to say, "Misty… I love you, but… not as a girlfriend."
Misty's face fell completely as she heard Ash say 'but'. He looked up to see her crestfallen face, though now he had something new to confess, so he continued, "I love you as my bestfriend. You see… When travelling with May." He said while rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, "I think I have feelings for her like you have towards me. I guess you could say I just found out. No offense, but your kiss made me feel like I'd betrayed someone," he chuckled softly to himself, then his eyebrows creased as a new thought struck him, "I guess I just don't know if she has feelings back for me…"
For some reason Ash couldn't stop speaking. His mind reeled back to when he left Hoenn, and his gut twisted inside of him. "When we went our separate ways, I felt like part of something was inside me, then ripped out… I didn't know why at first… but now I know what that connection felt like, meeting her the first time… love." His face lightened when he looked up at the stars, wondering if May was watching them too, thinking the same thoughts. He felt like a sissy, a hopeless romantic, unlike anything his thick head would allow before. He didn't regret it.
Ash then remembered Misty's presence and gazed at her apologetically.
"Misty, I'm so sorry! I hope you understand… I really never realized you liked me that way." Ash finished lamely and looked away in embarrassment.
Another silent pause.
It was 2:46 am by now. Since Ash finished speaking Misty focused her eyes on Ash's face, as if what she needed to say or do was written in marker across his cheek. Then out of nowhere she smiled and quickly pecked him on his exposed cheek, catching him off guard before saying, "Ash, Ketchum, I love you anyway! Man, May is one special girl."
"Misty, don't get me wrong, you are special! Bu-"
"You don't have to say anything, I know what you mean." Misty interrupted, "Lets start heading back, it's three in the morning already. I don't know about you but I got a lot of things off my chest tonight! I guess now I can sleep easy."
"Yeah", was all Ash was able to say. It was a quiet walk back to Ash's house. No one in Pallet stirred. Even Pikachu, who would usually notice Ash sneaking away in the middle of the night, seemed possessed by sleep powder.
Misty and Ash entered the house, said goodnight and parted to their separate rooms.
As Ash finally lay in bed starring at his ceiling he recalled all the things that had happened while they were out; the words, sounds, kisses. Everything really, especially his realization of the person his heart was captured by. At long last the sleeping powder spell caught him as well and he drifted into a dreamless, peaceful sleep…
Nikkibe: Now, as an added feature at the end of each chapter I'll ask one of the characters included in the chapter to do a little review. Since he is the main character in Pokémon (which I do NOT own), lets start with Ash.
Omniscient audience: Clapping.
Nikkibe: OKAY! So Ash, what did you think of the plot?
Ash: I thought it was… uh… (what was my line again?) Great?
Nikkibe: And what about the kiss? A bit much or just right?
Ash: I think the kiss was a good part to put in.
Nikkibe: And how did it feel to kiss Misty?
Omniscient audience: Oooh!
Ash: How would you feel if you had to kiss your best friend knowing she likes you but you don't like her? And ooh? Seriously? Where is that coming from anyway?
Nikkibe: Never mind that! Anyway, there's Ash's response on the story. His overall response, 2 thumbs up!
Ash: Now wait a minute, I never sai-
Nikkibe: Shut up you moron and go with the plan - I mean - That's it for this chapter's review! See you all next time!
So what did you think? Answer truly and honestly! I accept flames BTW. Now that I've edited it I hope there's less confusion and grammar mistakes ^^". I'll try my hardest to edit the rest of the chapters soon! Thanks! Nikkibe.