Hey everyone! I'm MarioBoss365 and this is my first fan fiction and just so happens to be about one of my favorite video game franchises and involving my favorite couple in the series. This story takes place in after Pokémon XY, so in a way its a future fic, but not really. I guess you could count it as the series finale if you wanted. Or you could just treat it as it is: A Pokeshipping Story.

Two notes: I went back and changed the ages of everyone, They are all now three years older than they were in the anime. Also, each chapter in this story begins with Misty remembering her moments with Ash. Most of them will sound pretty familiar.

Warning: Contains AAML. This isn't a romance novel, but if there is a girl Ash should end up with it's Misty. Pokeshipping forever!

Oh, and I don't own Pokémon. If I did, Misty never would've left, she and Ash would be together, and none of the partners after Brock and Dawn would've existed.

Enjoy.

Chapter 1: Hidden Emotions

It was just another ordinary day when it happened. I was fishing at my favorite spot, hoping to catch yet another water Pokémon. Then I caught something! It seemed heavy! Perhaps it was a Magikarp! Or maybe even a Tentacruel! No, they wouldn't be in these waters. Nevertheless, I was determined to catch it! As hard as I could, I reeled in my fishing line, excited to see my new water type Pokémon. But to my surprise and disappointment, what I had caught was not a Pokémon but a kid, a 10-year old kid who looked as if he had just escaped from something. In his arms was a small, yellow electric Pikachu, which seemed to have been injured badly. Caring only about the welfare of the little yellow mouse, I blamed the kid for its injuries and demanded that he take it to the nearest Pokémon Center in Viridian City. The kid then panicked as an angry flock of Spearow was flying towards him. Without hesitation, he steals my bike I had set beside a nearby tree and rides as fast as he could toward Viridian City. Angrily, I chased after him. Little did I know that doing so would change my life forever. That was the day. The day I met him: … Ash Ketchum.

(End of prologue)

Present Day, Cerulean City…

The sun shined brightly over the beautiful Cerulean City as Tracey Sketchit was on his way to deliver Pokémon food to the Cerulean City Gym. He didn't mind the long walk from Pallet Town. He enjoyed sketching the many Pokémon and their ways of life as he encountered them on his journey. Besides, he spent most of his time working at Professor Samuel Oak's laboratory back at Pallet Town so it felt good to get out and get some fresh air.

Inside the gym, some water-type Pokémon were enjoying themselves as they played in the gym pool together. Tracey was so intrigued by this that he sat his stuff down and sketched what he saw: a Starme and a Staru were swimming around playing tag with their friend Horsea, a Corsola was dancing in the water while a Politoed gleefully cheered it on, and a confused-looking Psyduck who couldn't swim was floating in its own inner tube. "Water Pokémon are so beautiful, don't you agree?" said a voice from behind. Tracey right away recognized that voice. He turned around and saw his old friend. There she was, Misty Waterflower the Cerulean Gym leader. She had red hair with a side pony tail on the left side of her head. She wore a yellow hoodie and dark blue short shorts. Any boy around her age who saw her had a hard time not staring at her beautiful face that could make any guy weak in the knees. However, Tracey only saw Misty as a friend so any of those feelings weren't there for her. Nonetheless, he was pleased to see his old friend.

"Hey, Misty! Long time no see!"

"Yeah it's been awhile. Thanks for delivering the Pokémon food for me Tracy."

"You're welcome. What are friends for?" As Tracy and Misty started feeding the Pokémon, Tracy noticed how well the gym looked. "Wow, Misty, you really have out done yourself with the place."

"Thanks. Since my sisters left and became full-time models in the Orange Islands, I basically own the place now. So I figured I would fix up the place to how I see fit."

"Well I must say you did a great job. Why, the Pokémon sure seem to be happy with you in charge. You really know what you're doing."

Misty blushed. She hadn't been complimented by a boy without something under his sleeve in a long time. All the guys who have challenged her to a Pokémon battle just wanted to check her out and see if she wanted to go out with him. Sure, they said some sweet and nice things to her, but Misty saw through them and knew what each and everyone of them truly wanted out of her. And she wasn't even the least bit interested. But she knew Tracey pretty well. After all, she and a friend of hers once travelled with him around the Orange Islands. And although there was nothing but friendship between them, they were close enough of friends that she knew he was just complimenting her as her friend. No strings attached.

"You're so sweet, Tracey."

After they finished feeding the Pokémon, Tracey noticed the TV was on. "Hey look at that! The Pokémon World Competition is on it's final round!" Misty picked up her newly-evolved Merill and walked over by Tracey and saw what he was talking about. "And hey, look who made it there!"

"Here we are folks! The final round of the Pokémon World Competition! And what a completion it has been so far! But the day's not over yet! It is now down to this incredible final showdown: Lance Wataru of the Elite Four vs. Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town! Only time will tell if this young trainer will stand victorious and become a Pokémon Master!"

The crowds on the screen cheer as two figures come out on to the opposite sides of the stadium. Lance, the Dragon Master of the Elite Four, came from the left side while the young Pokémon trainer from Pallet Town entered from the right with a little yellow Pikachu at his side. Tracy could tell that both the trainer, who just so happened to be a friend of his, and his Pokémon companion looked completely focus and determined to win this life-changing battle for both of them. He knew that both of them had waited a long time for this moment to come and they were not going to let anything get them down.

The referee made his way to the stadium. "This will be a six-on-six battle with no time limit! Both trainers can only substitute their Pokémon once! Begin-NOW!"

"Flygon, I choose you!"

"Gliscor, I choose you!"

The moment both Pokémon entered the stadium, a feeling of excitement came across Tracey's smile. "Ash sure has come a long way since his last Pokémon League Competition. He is sure to win this one! Don't you agree, Misty?"

"…Yeah… Sure…" Misty sighed sadly. Tracy failed to notice the couple of tears that just had fallen from Misty's eyes as she looked away from the TV. She never let Tracy, or anyone for that matter, know this, but the very mention of Ash Ketchum's name, let alone seeing his face on the TV screen, made her want to burst out crying intensely. However, she never wanted her friends to see her in her weak state, so she did her best to keep her emotions and feelings hidden deep inside. As she has done for a long time ever since… that tragic day…

Tracey continued watching the match while Misty went to check the mail, trying to get her mind off the young trainer from Pallet Town. However, one of the letters just made things worst. The letter was from Delia Ketchum, Ash's mother. It read:

You are formally invited to my son Ash's welcome home and most likely victory party. We will be celebrating all weekend long. Food will be provided by me and Brock Slate. Hope to see you there

Delia Ketchum

As much as she hated to admit it, Misty so wanted to go. It would be great to see her friends whom she hadn't seen in a long time: good ol' Brock, Delia, Professor Oak, May, Max, and even Gary Oak, Ash's former rival. And deep, deep, DEEP down she would give anything to see Ash again. But she couldn't. Not after what happened the last time they were together…

She remembered that day well…

TOO well…

Tracey noticed her holding the letter in her hand and the invitation he had also received. "Oh, so you were invited to Ash's welcome home/victory party, too, huh?'

"Yeah… but I'm not going."

Tracey was surprised. As he had observed when he traveled with them in the Orange Islands, this orange-haired girl was one of Ash's closest friends! Heck, she was his best friend! And here she was, straight out saying she wouldn't attend his welcome home party! "Misty, why-?"

"I'M JUST NOT!" She didn't mean to yell and sound rude, but her emotions were finally taking over. "I'm sorry, but I can't go! I just… can't."

"Does it have to do with being busy with the gym?"

Misty almost lied her way out of this one when considering to say, "Yes! That is exactly it. I will be too busy with the gym this weekend." However, she decided it wouldn't do her any good lying to Tracey In order to deny her feelings and emotions. So in the end, she just shook her head.

"Well then why can't you go? Ash is your best friend… right?"

Misty looked up at him and sighed sadly. "Tracey… A-Ash and I haven't been friends since he left for his Sinnoh journey."

Now Tracey was shocked and confused. What did Misty mean by that? What could possibly happen to cause her and Ash to stop being friends? It's true that the two spent most of the time arguing, but none of the regular arguments they were accustomed to would cause them to break their friendship. Concern for his friend, Tracey turned the TV off and walked over to her. "You want to talk about it?"

"What is really there to t-talk about? A-Ash and I just d-decided not to be friends a-anymore." She started to shed some tears but wiped them from her cheeks before they got out of hand.

"Misty, come on. You guys were so close. No matter how often you two argued back when traveling together, you and Ash were always inseparable. You guys were, if I may, perfect for each other."

Misty couldn't bear to look up anymore without letting him see her tears. "It doesn't matter anymore. That's all in the past. He probably doesn't even remember I exist." After saying the last part she lost control of her emotions and burst into tears. What's going on?! Ash had really hurt me that day! He said he wished he had never… But then, why?! Why can't I get my mind off him?! Why do I feel so empty inside without the boy who wishes I never existed in his life?! While deep in this thought process, she buried her wet-with-tears face in her palms. Tracey, being the kind-hearted person he was, tried his best to comfort his friend who barely let her emotions take over.

Tracey thought for a little bit before finally saying, "Misty, please, I want to help you. What exactly happened between the two of you that day?" Tracey knew he couldn't change whatever happened between his two best friends, but he hoped Misty telling him what happened and letting out the hurt could ease her mind and heart a bit. He could tell she has had this hurt caged deep inside for awhile now. She had in fact said that the incident took place before Ash left for his Pokémon journey through the Sinnoh region, and he had since been on two other Pokémon journeys after Sinnoh. Unova and Kalos he believed the regions were called. "Talk to me, Misty."

Misty took a deep breath and looked up at her concerned friend. "Alright, I'll tell you," she began. But before she could go any further, the door bell rang. Tracy got up to answer on account that Misty didn't want to be seen in the current condition she was in. He let to answer the door but turned around to see Misty turning the TV back on. She continued shedding silent tears as she watched Ash choose his fourth Pokémon, Snorlax, on to the stadium.

"You sure you should watch that?"

"I watch it for the Pokémon, not for the competitors," she lied through her teeth. Tracey nodded, sensing she wasn't really telling the truth, and continued toward the front door of the gym. Misty continued watching the Pokémon match as thoughts of that last day with Ash crept into her mind. It's all my fault! I had pushed him too hard that day! If I didn't he wouldn't have had said those things! We would still be friends! No… that… that still doesn't excuse what he said to me! I… I… I HATE HIM! She looked up at the TV screen and saw him as he had just won the fourth round of the match. Looking at his face on the screen, she continued crying as one last thought entered her mind. Oh Ash, (sniff) if only you had known the real reason I wanted to meet with you that day…

"Coming," said Tracey as the door bell kept ringing. He opened the door. "Hello?" No one. Tracey looked around to see where he/she was. No one. Having given up, he closed the door behind him and made his way back to the gym floor. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks when he heard a load, blood-curdling scream from the inside of the gym.

Misty!

Tracey ran as fast as he could to the area where he left Misty only a few minutes ago. But he arrived there too late. Misty was gone! He stood there in shock as he saw the terror in front of him: all the Pokémon were badly injured, the TV was on the ground in pieces, shattered glass was all over the place, and worse of all a long trail of blood ran through the gym floor and into the hallway on the opposite side of the gym.

Fearing for the worse, Tracey quickly returned all the Pokémon to their Pokéballs, placed them in his backpack, and then followed the trail of blood, praying it wasn't too late. As he reached the hallway he stopped in his tracks to find TNT and other explosives strapped to the walls and ceiling. And with a timer that had less than ten seconds left! Without hesitation, Tracey ran towards the nearest window and jumped out of the gym just as the building exploded behind him. The impact pushed him about a half a mile away from where the gym had once been.

Tracey cringed in pain as he tried to get up. He checked his backpack to see if the Pokéballs were ok. All of them were intact. He then looked up at the ruins of the once beautiful Cerulean Gym. His mind then wondered off into thoughts of what became of Misty Waterflower, the beautiful 14 year old gym leader of Cerulean City whom he had just spoken to not that long ago. Could she have been inside when the gym blew up? Was the trail of blood from her? Was it too late for her?

Tracey knew he had to call Officer Jenny. As he walked toward to the nearest phone booth, he found a little note by the phone. What it read made Tracey gasp in fear:

The Ketchum kid is next...

Well there you have it! Chapter one. Hope you enjoyed it! I should have chapter two up soon. School is almost over so I will have time! Review and let me know what you thought of this story so far. Be nice though, people. Btw, the next chapter will start with a Pokémon battle with Charizard. Post in the comments on what Pokémon you think Charizard should battle. You can suggest a Pokémon from any generation. Well, I gotta split. See ya guys later.