Hi everyone, this is LOTOER here!

I am pretty sure you guys don't know me because this is my first fanfic!

Feel free to give constructive criticism in your reviews and if you want to pick a fight with me, for whatever reason, I'll hit back harder :)

Please enjoy!


'Has it really been four years?' the red head thought. The girl was sitting on a wooden bench on top of one of the many lush green rolling hills in Pallet Town.

The green bench's paint was peeling and the metal bars supporting it has been well exposed to the elements. The red head was wearing a navy v-neck shirt underneath a well-worn yellow hoodie and denim shorts that hugged her legs and ended just before her knees, her hair was tied up in her signature ponytail and blue hair tie and she wore green skate shoes with purple stitching. She could smell the fresh air of the town as the sun began to set over Mt. Silver. She could hear the wind winding its way through the Route 1 trees behind her. She smiled a little and admired who peaceful the town was in the late afternoon.

After a while of taking in the sight of the last rays of sun that would hit the perfect green grass for the day she got up and thought she should make her way back to the small house, she could tell which one it was because of the white picket fence around it and the red roof with white walls, on top of that it was one of the only houses in the town that was two stories. "Hello, Mrs. Ketchum, are you in the kitchen?" Misty asked in a polite voice. "Yes Misty dear," the voice replied "and please just call me Delia, Misty."

Misty walked into the houses kitchen and placed her hoodie over the back of one of the wooden chairs that were tucked underneath the small white wooden table. "Is there anything I can help you with Delia?" Misty asked. "No, I've got it under control thanks Misty, you are the guest after all." Delia said in a gentle tone. Delia was wearing a yellow shirt underneath a light pink jacket and a light purple skirt. "Mist could you be a dear and turn on the news please." Delia said. "Sure thing Delia," Misty said "what channel?" "The news please Misty." Misty turned on the television and sat herself down on the couch and put her feet up onto the coffee table.

"…The Indigo League will be starting in just two weeks from today," the reporter stated, Misty thought about this because the only reason why she was at the Ketchum residence is because the league wasn't on, yet she kept thought about leaving the gym leader business behind her and become a full time trainer like some of her closest friends were. Max Maple was now somewhat of a celebrity in the training scene even though he was three years younger than Misty and Gary Oak was a well-known trainer because of his recent success in the Unova league coming in the top 8. As for her other friends May and Dawn they have both won a Grand Festival each, May won the Kanto and Dawn won the Hoenn. Brock was now training under one of the top breeders in Kanto.

"… In other news, in four days' time it will be four years since the mysterious disappearance of Ashton Jay Ketchum, otherwise known as Ash Ketchum. If anybody is to sight a boy with a Pikachu on his shoulder please report to your nearest Officer Jenny…" the reporter continued. Misty held a brave face trying to hold the tears back in. Delia stopped cooking for a few seconds and looked out the window. "When are you going to come back Ash?" they both whispered to themselves.

Misty didn't listen to the rest of the news as she was lost in deep thought. 'Where could he be?' She thought. Misty took a whole year off gym leading and wouldn't talk to anybody for months, she started her own journey off into some of the most rugged places that all the regions could offer. She visited the Desert Resort in the Unova region, she found nothing. She looked at the peaks of Mt. Silver and Coronet, nothing. In blizzard region of Route 216, yet again nothing. Stark Mountain is where she visited last, like all her other trips she found nothing. She contacted champions the boy use to know; Lance, Cynthia and even Steven Stone. All of them knew nothing of his wear about, they all told her if they saw him they would lead them directly to her. She sighed knowing that wasn't going to happen.

After she had given up she went back to her home city of Cerulean, she spent months up in her room and at Cerulean Cape not talking to anyone. Her sister got worried and tried to cheer her up but nothing would work. She just shut herself off from the rest of the world.

The reason why she was in Pallet town was so she could provide Delia with company. Her and her friends come and stay whenever they are passing through Kanto. This helped Delia get through these tough times of her son possibly being dead. Misty enjoyed the company of Delia because she felt like she was one of the only people she could relate to. This helped Misty lots. She lost contact with the other girls because of her months of solitude. The only time when she sees them is when they pass through Pallet on the way to a contest or for shopping. They didn't take Ash's disappearance as badly as Misty did. They just continued on in their journeys. It looked like they never even cared about the boy from Misty's eyes. She still feels as though they never cared about him.

But from May and Dawn's POV they took it as just as bad as Misty did. They barely talk to new people and keep to themselves in most situations, not like he did. They would train endless hours working there Pokémon hard and themselves harder. The pair of girls were not like Misty's thoughts on them. They did everything the way they thought Ash would want them to do, but they didn't always think like that. Just like Misty they had fallen away from the real world into their own little matchbox.

As for the boys of the group they all split their own ways. Gray was now a Pokémon master and researcher in training. He would travel around the world research about Pokémon evolution and he would compete in all the leagues. The best he ever got in a league was in in the Orange Islands beating Drake and winning the Winner's Trophy and having his name put up in the Palace of Victory. Other than that he placed in the top 16 in the Indigo League, top 8 in the Lily of the Valley and the top 4 in the Hoenn League. He was currently travelling in Sinnoh.

Brock was training under a master breeder and also had a journey, he travelled in the far off region of Unova. He said he was going for soul searching and he wanted to see new Pokémon and meet new people. Since then Brock has stopped confessing his love to every Nurse Joy out there and met a girl named Bianca. They have been dated for a little over a 2 years now. Misty thought Brock did a great thing by going for soul searching and thought Bianca and Brock were perfect for each other.

Max was the youngest and probably took just as bad as Misty. He cut off all contact and stopped travelling for a long time, May was the only person he talked to in these months and even then he wouldn't say much. He then left home leaving a note behind saying he would be back in a couple of months' time. The note said he wanted to do some intense training to take his mind off what had happened, when he returned he gave his mom a huge hug and there were rivers of tears coming from both his mum and his gym leader dad. He competed in the Hoenn league the same year as Gary and knocked him out in the semi-finals only going on to lose the finals in an epic finale with Paul. Paul, too much of Max's surprise, said he to cut himself off from the world and did intense training just like him when he heard of Ash's absences. He said Ash really made an impact on his life and he lives differently now because of what the ambitious boy taught him.

Not only did this happen to Paul and Ash's closest friends get put through months of pain. Prof. Oak and Tracey stopped researching for weeks, Todd the photographer had a time where he didn't travel, Ritchie who accompanied Ash through the Whirl Islands didn't battle for months and Barry the trainer from Twinleaf Town also took time out from training

"Misty," Delia called out stopping Misty's thoughts about her friends "you do remember everyone is coming for the anniversary, right?"

"Oh, no I didn't know everyone was coming," Misty said "I thought it would have only been Brock coming down."

"That was the original plan but now May, Dawn, Max and Gary are travelling as a group!" Delia informed.

"Oh that's great to hear!" Misty exclaimed.

She was so happy by the thought of this, all her friends travelling together! Maybe this year there could be an anniversary without anyone breaking out a fight.

The anniversary was to remember Ash. To remember the days with the boy and how Misty thought it was the best year of her life. She loved travelling with Ash, meeting new people and cheering him on whenever he was battling. Over the years when Ash was travelling without her he would call her regularly to check on how she was doing. Misty thought that was really sweet and always hid a blush when Ash called. Her sisters, Dawn and May would always tease them about them being a couple. But Misty always denied and said they weren't while Ash just looked on at the bickering in confusion. But deep down inside Misty always had a crush on Ash. She adored the way on how he saw Pokémon as equals and how he put would put his life on the line for any Pokémon he owned, not that he didn't. She thought it was cute how dense he was in some situations, but it was all a part of what made Ash's personality, and that's what Misty loved about Ash.

"Misty," Delia sung in a sweet voice "dinner is ready!"

"Great thanks Delia," Misty replied "wow this looks and smells amazing!

They ate in front of the TV on the couch and watch sitcoms they then put on a romance movie and then Misty retired to her room as Delia said she would clean up and then hit the hay.

In Misty's dreams that night

Ash, Misty, Dawn and Brock were all on a boat back to Pallet town from the Lily of the Valley Conference in which Ash placed in the top 4. Ash was wearing his Sinnoh outfit but Misty brought his original hat along with her so he was wearing that.

"HEY! GUYS! I CAN SEE PALLET TOWN FROM HERE!" Ash shouted with glee in his voice.

"You don't have to yell Ash were right next to you." Misty replied with an annoyed tone.

"Sorry Mist, I am just pretty excited!" Ash said in an apologetic tone "I just haven't been home in so long!"

"It's ok Ash, I'll forgive you this time." Misty said playfully.

When the boat pulled into the dock the group of friends said there thanks to the captain and started to walk to Ash's house. Little did he know there was a surprise waiting for him.

"Last one there is a rotten egg Misty!" Ash shouted playfully as he got a head start on the red head.

"Hey no fair! Come back here Ketchum!" Misty shouted clearly being annoyed on how Ash got a head start.

"C'mon Pikachu!" the boy with the messy hair said.

"Pikapi!" the yellow mouse Pokémon shouted gleefully.

"Hey wait up Ash!" Brock shouted.

"Yeah don't leave us behind!" Dawn exclaimed.

With the group running off into the setting sun and the towards the Ketchum residence Misty smiled as she enjoyed being in Ah's company yet again.

"AWWwww man," Ash said with a disappointed tone "you beat me again Mist, even when I got a head start!"

"I guess I am just too quick for you Ash!" Misty said play fully sticking her tongue out.

"Yeah I guess you're right." Ash replied.

Misty raised an eyebrow at this. Ash was usually the one who wanted to be the best at everything, and if he wasn't he would argue until he was the best even if he did lose. Misty smiled on how much the kid that she fished out of the river all those years ago matured so much in his travels.

Ash saw that there was a note on the door, he removed the tape that was holding it up and read it:

"At Prof. Oak's lab. Meet us there!

Love Mom xoxo"

Brock and Dawn just pulled into the foot path that lead to the front door, huffing and puffing, Brock managed to say "Ok, imma just sit down for a bit."

"Yeah me too." Dawn added on.

"Ok Misty, last one to the lab eat smelly underwear!" Ash challenged Misty again.

"Oh your so on kiddo!" Misty said accepting the challenge!

"NOT AGAIN!" Brock and Dawn moaned.

Ash was in the lead for a little bit until Misty caught up to him about half way there, Ash seeing Misty out of the corner of his eye kicked up a gear and soon left Misty eating his dust.

"Oh not a chance Ketchum!" Misty shouted with the will to win in her voice.

But too much of the race was already done, Ash had won only by a couple of meters.

"Hahahahaha, you eat smelly underwear Misty!" Ash teased playfully.

"I do not Ketchum!" Misty shouted clearly annoyed again by Ash.

"Hey Ash"

"Yeah Mist?"

"SURPRISE! WELCOME HOME ASH!"

Ash teared up as he saw all his past travelling companions there May, Max and Tracey also there was Gary and Prof. Oak there with his Mom and all his Pokémon.

"Guys… You really threw this party for me?" Ash said as he rubbed a forming tear in his eye.

"Of course we did my little Ashy boy!" His mom said as she walked up to him and gave him a bone crunching hug.

"Thanks Mo-URK HREGGGGG… MOM… CAN'T… BREATHE!" Ash managed to say with the last air in his lungs.

"Oh sorry sweetie, I am just so excited that your home again" Delia said with a warm smile.

"I am to Mom." Ash replied.

"Ash!" May and Max both run up to him.

"Hey May! Hey Max! How have you been?" he asked as he got pulled into a group hug.

"I've been great thanks Ash!" May replied joyfully.

"Really good, my Pokémon have become a lot stronger since we last saw each other, care for a battle soon?" Max asked eagerly.

"Sure Max, maybe after the party!"

"Hey Ashy boy!" Gary said "how ya been man!"

"Great thanks Gary, yourself?"

"Great! Since you're doing battles later with Max can I have one too?"

"Yeah! It'll be fun!" Ash replied clearly excited about the challenge coming ahead of him.

"Ash my boy! How have you been?" The Pokémon Professor asked.

"Great thanks Prof. Oak! I have lots of new Pokémon from Sinnoh I caught, I'll show you them after, yeah?"

"I would be delighted to see your new Pokémon Ash!"

"Hey Ash!" Tracey said.

"Tracey!" Ash replied happy to see the Pokémon watcher in training again.

"How are your watching skills coming along?" The Pallet native asked.

"Great thanks Ash! Nice of you to ask!" Tracey replied.

"Haha, no worries!" Ash smiled back.

"Hey guys!" Ash waved at all his Pokémon from his past adventures.

There were many roars and grows, cheers and shouts from all different Pokémon. They all tackled Ash to the ground had turns licking his face.

"Stop it guys, stop it!" Ash laughed.

Eventually all the Pokémon got off Ash.

In front of him he saw: Bulbasaur, Charizard (he came back from the Charicific Valley for the surprise party), Kingler, Muk, Tauros, Snorlax, Heracross, Bayleef, Quilava, Totodile, Noctowl, Donpahn, Sellow, Sceptile, Corphish, Torkoal, Glalie and to Ash's surprise Squirtle, Pidgeot, Primeape, Haunter and Lavitar.

Ash could recall when and where he caught and befriended all of the Pokémon in front of him. Everyone was looking on in amazement on how close he and his Pokémon were. To everyone surprise he turned around and said "I want to thank all of you for coming out and surprising me, it really means a lot. I would love to just spend five minutes with my Pokémon over in the trees to catch up and see how much they have improved, is everyone ok with that?" Everyone didn't have a problem with it and he then went towards the trees.

Later that night…

"Has anyone seen Ash since he went away with his Pokémon?" Delia asked everyone one this question.

"No I haven't seen him Mrs. Ketchum," Dawn replied. "It's been almost twenty minutes I bet he is just caught up with storytelling and introducing his new Pokémon to his other ones."

"I think your right Dawn." Delia replied with a slight bit of nervousness in her voice.

Even latter on that night...

"Misty? Misty!" Delia asked "Are you ok?"

Tears with running down the red heads face pouring of her bloodshot eyes. Her nose was running and just kept making whimpering sounds. She held a note in her hand, she passed it to Ash's mother and started to bawl in harder.

"HE'S GONE! GOOOONNNNEEEEE!" Misty shouted, her voice sounded horse and full of grief.

Delia quickly read it as tears began to fall down her face as she read the contents of the note.

End of dream…

Misty woke up with a jump and tried to take in what she had just seen. She went over to the mirror in the bedroom and noticed that she had bloodshot eyes and tears still on her face.

'Why do I still have the nightmare? It happened over four years ago.' Thought Misty, yet she remembered it better than any other day of her life. The day he left her.


That took a lot longer than expected...

I know it may be short compared to other chapters of epic fanfictions. (Both in length and plot) But I just really wanted to get this up here. As you may have guessed this is an Ash x May fanfic. I don't think May really deserves Ash as she left him for Drew and Misty left because she had to.

Please let me know what you think!