Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon (who would have guessed, right? lol)

Author note: While mostly canon compliant, a few details won't be. Such as original series pokemon still being around. (think Ash's Squirtle, Togepi/Togetic, etc) Anyway please enjoy!

Prologue (Misty's POV)

You know growing up I never liked seeing things from the sidelines. Maybe it was mostly because having so many older sisters means anything but being the main attraction. I guess that's just one more strange thing about this, right?

"Come on Ash! I'll never forgive you if you lose now!"

He turns to me for a split second and I see that typical glint in his brown eyes. It's a look that tells me he really might do it this time… In fact, right then and there I don't really doubt it at all.

"I won't Mist!" Then he gives me that same goofy smile and when he laughs it's hard to believe he's not ten anymore. It's hard to believe either of us aren't just kids anymore. But we've come a long way, and it shows. Sure he actually managed to be a little taller than me now, but that's not what I mean. No, it's not anything someone could see on the outside. Really it's even hard to see if you had known Ash Ketchum for your whole life.

But whether it was just all the tough scrapes we'd been through, or if something in us really had changed didn't matter. Because I knew one way or the other that we were different.

I felt my grip tightening on the stadium railing as the last moments of the League championship match seemed to be going by at a crawl. It gave me time to think about everything that little scrawny twerp meant to me, and yet… Yet not even an eternity would have been long enough for me to explain it.

That was the most frustrating thing of all I guess, but I didn't figure it mattered. Because one way or the other I knew I'd always be here. In the sidelines, cheering him on. Maybe that was as clear as it needed to be? Maybe that was as complex as our relationship ever would be…?

"Dragonite is unable to battle!"

I heard the referee's voice but it's almost like I couldn't quite make out the meaning of all the words. Like they didn't matter anymore. The next thing I knew my hands were pushing me over the railing and onto the field. I'm running after him the same as always. And he looks surprised. Surprised that he won, but I'm not. No I guessed it from the start, or at least almost the start.

When I reach him he turns to face me and for a second neither of us say a thing. The roar of the crowd is just a distraction that fades out as I try to catch my breath from the sprint.

"Well…" I say slowly. "Looks like you finally did it, Mr. Pokemon Master."

"I…I…" He tries to form some kind of coherent speech, but all that comes out is bits and pieces of the proof of just how shocked he really is. So he smiles, just smiles as tears start trailing down his face.

I glance at the ground as I feel him dragging me back into nostalgia with him. "Hey, cut it out, you'll have me crying next…"

But he doesn't listen. Heh, when did he ever listen?

And it just gets worse from there. Next he reaches to hug my neck as the waterworks keep streaming. And in front of practically the whole world… Tomorrow the news will probably run the whole thing, and even before that the rumors will spread. All the rumors that just can't be true. Best friend, kid brother maybe, but in love with, no that could never happen. So I'll just deny same as always. Except maybe lately deny just seems too much like a plain old lie. Is that why my stomach is lurching now?

Or is it because I figure he might just leave again? What's left for Ash now? Has his dream come true yet? Is it all he's ever dreamed about? Then I want to laugh at myself for even thinking that. He's almost twenty now, but I figure some things will never change about about him, right? So I pull back and half heartedly punch his shoulder. I wasn't sure what to say, so I'm more than a little thankful when Pikachu lunges into our arms and steals the spotlight. And then I see Brock, Tracey, and a handful of excited fans spill onto the field and gust toward us. I'm guessing Officer Jenny will be behind them trying to fix the chaos I started.

So I let go and step back. I just watch as everyone sweeps in to congratulate him. I'm on the sidelines again I know but… But that's just one more strange thing about this, right? Enjoying watching him, content to wait for something that probably isn't coming. When I was little I told myself I'd find a way to stand out. I figured I'd settle for nothing less than a starring role. But here I am, and there he is. And like usual, nothing about it makes sense. So I just let myself sink back into the crowd as I ignore all the feelings that are twisting inside me.

Sometimes it seems like we're on two different planets, like our orbits are never fixed in place for long… But I'm grateful at least for the little time you give me, Ash Ketchum. So go ahead, like it or not I'll be here waiting for you...