Dear Readers,
This is a VERY old fanfic of mine I thought I'd lost a long time ago. I hope you enjoy, and you can see how much I've improved as a writer since this work! :) – Arina
The French Connection
Chapter 1
By Arina Ketchum
Ash, Misty, and Pikachu were, for once, not lost. They were passing through a small town on the way to Bill's Sea Cottage/Lighthouse to visit the Pokemon Researcher. This small village, called Lava Town, because it was built at the base of a large, inactive volcano, had a Pokemon Center in it. Ash had gotten his Pokemon all revitalized and he and Pikachu were now waiting for the older girl on the bridge leading out of town. Ash was now 15 years old, well on his way to earning his title of Pokemon Master which he had received almost five years ago. His Pokemon were healthy and strong, and those that had wanted to had evolved.
In other words, life was good.
"Ash!"
Ash heard his name being called faintly in the distance and looked up to see Misty running towards them, holding a piece of paper flapping in the wind, a huge smile on her face.
"Ash!" the 17-year-old girl cried as she reached her friends. "You'll never believe what I got!"
"What?"
"Nurse Joy gave me this after she healed my Pokemon. It's an invitation to join the Junior Program of Pokemon Research in PARIS, FRANCE!" Misty squealed, no longer able to contain her excitement.
"WHAT?!"
"Pika-Pika?!"
"Read for yourself." Misty thrust the paper she was holding at him and began dancing around on the bridge.
Ash started reading aloud, leaning against the side of the bridge with one hand, Pikachu looking over his shoulder. The letter read:
"Dear Miss Waterflower,
We are pleased to announce that you have been selected to join our Junior Pokemon Research Team in Paris, France, on an all expenses paid trip, for a year. If you are successful in the Junior Team, you can be one of the very few elite to become a permanent member of the Senior Research Team, and be officially licensed in the area of Water Pokemon Research and Development.
We hope to hear from you with your confirmation of this letter. Please accept our sincere congratulations. A plane ticket will be waiting at your area of residence should you decide to accept our offer.
Sincerely,
The Pokemon League of Europe"
At the bottom of the page was the official Pokemon League Seal, meaning it was the real thing, and not some hoax. Ash could only stare at the paper in shock, mouth hanging open. When he looked up at Misty, he asked, "You're not really going to accept, are you?"
"Of COURSE I'm going to accept." Misty snapped good-naturedly. "Ash, don't be dense. This is a once in a lifetime chance; you don't stick your nose up at this kind of offer. And I can finally show my sisters what this scrawny runt can do."
The realization of what this all meant sunk in with Ash. "So you're leaving." he said quietly.
That thought hit Misty like a brick wall. The very idea of leaving Pokemon Island behind and visiting Europe, her dream for so long was now rapidly coming true. But leaving for Europe also meant leaving her friends, Ash, Pikachu, and even Brock who'd left their traveling group to settle in on becoming an expert Pokemon Breeder.
"I guess...it does." Misty said finally. 'I have to take this offer.' she thought. 'Even if it means leaving my friends, it's only for a year.' She reached around and pulled her backpack in front of her. "Ash, I want you to do me a big favor while I'm gone." She pulled out Togepi, who was napping, and her four Pokeballs containing Starmie, Staryu, Psyduck and Goldeen. "I want you to continue training my Pokemon for me. I won't have time to in Europe." She opened the Pokeballs and the said Pokemon appeared as she woke Togepi and had them stand next to Ash.
"Everyone, I received an important letter today asking me to go to France to help with Pokemon research. I can't keep you while I'm there, so I'm letting Ash train you until I come back."
"Togepi-Toge?" (Momma's leaving?) Togepi asked the rhetorical question and promptly burst into tears. Psyduck threw a temper tantrum, and as both Staryu and Starmie heard Misty, they promptly turned their backs on her.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Ash asked uncertainly, looking down at the forlorn Pokemon.
Misty nodded. "I'm positive. This research is important to the future of Pokemon." She knelt down to Starmie and Staryu.
"Please don't be angry with me. I'll be back before you know it." She hugged both of them, but Starmie refused to look back at her. Staryu gave her a quick glance but then resumed its position. Goldeen seemed to act a little more sensibly than its friends, but even it was a little upset. Psyduck, from his temper tantrum, gained nothing but an extra large headache for it's troubles.
"Serves you right." Misty scolded gently, but hugged him anyway.
Little Togepi was a bit more stubborn. He ran to his mother and bawled pitifully, clung to her shirt and refused to let go. Misty was in tears by then, she didn't care if Ash did tease her. This was the hardest decision a mother could make. She held Togepi in her arms as she stood up. She put the little egg in Ash's arms. "Togepi was rightfully yours all the time, Ash." She couldn't look directly at him, for fear of losing all self-control and sobbing like a...Togepi.
"Pika-Pi-Pikachu!" (I want a hug!) Pikachu cried and waved his arms at her frantically. Misty grabbed him as he jumped at her and hugged the electric mouse tightly as Ash put Togepi on the ground. "Help Ash take care of Togepi, like you helped me, ok?" she whispered in his ear. Pikachu nodded, crying silently into her shoulder. She put Pikachu down next to Togepi and walked up to Ash.
"I'll miss you, Ash." she said, smiling.
"I'll miss you too, Misty. You've been fun to beat in battle."
Misty threw her arms around him when he said that, something quite unexpected, both of them thought. Ash, unsure of what to do, put his arms around her and hugged back.
Seconds later, Misty pulled away from him with a smile and fresh tears in her eyes, quickly picked up her backpack and started walking away without looking back. Togepi, still not fully understanding *why* he was being left behind, screamed and tried to run after her, but Pikachu managed to stop the little egg.
Misty bit her lip to keep from crying and when she heard Togepi scream a second and third time for her, she broke into a run - heading straight back to Cerulean City.
End Chapter 1
