A/N: This is my first story O.O Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.

The hard slap of sandals hitting tiles echoed around the gym, reminding the owner that there was no human companionship here. She was alone. No sisters to harass her about her clothes or to be a so-called sensational sister, no fired up trainers demanding a battle from her only to then run away crying after a miserable defeat, and most importantly, no deep chocolate brown eyed boy whose every word caused the red head to fret.

The teen shook her head violently, as if this could help in erasing the thought but only resulted in her long hair falling out from its hold in a messy bun. She couldn't think of him now, if she didn't think of him then she can't feel her heart ache. She simply had to accept that it had been four years since her best friend had told her goodbye and left her behind; forgetting about her or even ignoring her it seems if four years of unreturned letters and phone calls were anything to go by. Turning the corner Misty raised her eyes and found the swimming pool before her. Only her Gyarados, Golduck, Corsola, both evolutions of Staryu and (of course) Azumarill remained. Her sisters had taken the gym's pokemon with them on their extended trip around the world, in order to hold performances they told her. Though you'd think that enough is enough when you have been on a so called vacation for four years... Misty thought bitterly to herself. She had long ago begun to loathe her sisters and their easy abandonment of the gym. She was now eighteen and had spent the last four years slaving away, fighting desperately to rebuild the reputation of the gym her parents had run from the remaining shreds her sisters had left.

"That's awesome work today guys! Really! You all deserve a good rest" Misty called to her pokemon after the daily training, looking around and feeling proud of the team that she had risen. Her pokemon cheered to their trainer, not noting anything amiss. Misty turned and walked towards the pantry, fully intending on collecting their dinner of special pokemon food - part of a care package that Brock painstakingly made especially for her water pokemon as part of his training to become a Pokemon breeder – when the intercom buzz informed her that there was yet another challenger.

"Why can't these brats learn that the gym is only open during the day... more important things to do... inconsiderate little punks" Misty's angry mutterings only fed her temper that steadily built and waited to be unleashed upon her poor victim. Finally making her way to the entrance of the gym, Misty was fuming, it was only a small matter but for some reason she took it as a great insult. How many times must she tell these twerps (stealing the nickname from Team Rocket) that the gym was only open from eight till five? Meaning that they could only challenge her during this time, not whenever they felt it could fit their ever-so-busy-ten-year-old schedule? The red head was ready to lecture said twerp when she froze after glimpsing out the windows to see who would receive her abuse.

That was no ten year old figure leaning against the wall outside the gym doors. Misty could only stare at him, studying his features knowing full well there was no mistake in her recognition of the teen. There was the cap upon his messy black haired head, tilted forward, covering what was sure to be chocolate brown eyes. There were the worn out jeans, sneakers caked in mud and fingerless, green gloves that she knew so well, after all, for how long did she watch him during their travels, longing for that gloved hand to hold her own? If this was not enough the yellow electric mouse by his side left no doubt. Pikachu was resting on his haunches, his eyes flitting between the doors of the gym and his trainer. Misty was lucky enough that in her position she could see the pair without them spotting her. She slowly dropped to the floor, her legs unable to support her weight any longer and her fighting spirit temporarily abandoning her. The twerp was back... her twerp.

*Buzzzt*

The intercom buzzed again and was this time accompanied by tiny knocks of Pikachu's paw against the glass door. The mouse was growing anxious to see her again, Misty assumed, that or to get out of the cold outside. How could he even consider coming back here? Misty asked herself, readying herself to throw mental abuse towards the teen outside. How dare he? After FOUR YEARS?! After all that talk about how we were "best friends" and how he would "never forget me" – tch, I didn't think he would be such a liar. Knowing that she couldn't ignore the buzzing forever as a) the neighbours would complain of the racket that now both Pikachu and his trainer were creating outside and b) as this was a gym, it was her responsibility to accept all trainers that arrive.

It would have helped Misty's heart and nerve if upon her arrival at the entrance, Ash did not grin. If he instead scowled and mumbled a greeting rather than cheering her name then enveloping her into a bear hug. How could she forget that smell? Ash's scent? The smell of smoke, dirt, soap and hamburgers filled Misty's nose as Ash spun her around. Pikachu took a running leap into her arms once she was set back down onto the ground, catching the yellow mouse; Misty buried her face into his fur to hide the blush that was growing on her cheeks. No matter how happy she felt to be holding Pikachu, to be looking at the boy, no, the man that she had loved for eight long years – she still had one question that she had to ask.

"Why are you here Ash?" Misty whispered, looking at the floor, hoping that a combination of her fringe and Pikachu would allow her to not have to look in his eyes.

"Well I missed you of course! It's been awhile, I haven't seen you in what... two years?"

"Four... It's been four years since you last saw me, though I can understand why you think it's two. That's when you came come before setting out for the Sinnoh region though I only knew about your visit after you had already left" Misty lifted her head to glare at Ash. At least if he can't offer an explanation his reaction could be acceptable... Misty thought as Ash flinched from the ferocity of her judgemental eyes that seemed to burn into him. He had the decency to look abashed after this reminder. There they are, the token signs of Ash knowing he is in the wrong: the hand scratching the back of his head, the comical sweat drop, over the top grin and conspicuous glance to see if Misty would reveal her mallet to deliver the appropriate clobbering.

For some reason however, this just annoyed her further. Why was he trying to act cute? If they really were the 'best friends' Ash claimed them to be, then why all these years without contact on his part?

Whatever bubble inside Misty that was keeping her temper under control burst after seeing that pathetic smile of his.

"It has also been four years, Ash Ketchum, since you last tried to make any sort of effort towards our friendship. I have lost count of the number of letters I sent you that went unanswered. The phone calls I have made to only have Brock answer and say you were unavailable even though I could hear you feeding him what lines to say. The visits I tried to make during my rare vacation time to the cities that you were headed to only to find from Nurse Joy that you had already moved on!" By this point Misty's eyes were brimming with tears, a side effect of remembering how devastated she had felt in the past and the heartbreak of having to feel it all over again. She vaguely noticed a hand reaching towards her, perhaps in an attempt to comfort her but pulling away and narrowed eyes soon put an end to that. Misty was not finished yet.

"It is time for us to both let go of this fantasy Ash that you even care about me. You have never treated Brock this way, nor May… not even Gary who you claimed to dislike. To be frank, I deserve better than a person who thinks he can treat me this way and still claim we are friends." The words were spilling out; she was no longer in control.

Setting down a now nervous Pikachu onto the tiles, Misty let out a sigh and looked Ash in the eye; the one place where hopefully her message would sink in, no matter how untrue it was. It was a feat to do so considering he looked how she felt. Bewildered, angry and above all else, hurt.

"I don't want you to ever come here again. We are no longer friends so you don't have to pretend we are anymore. You are free to go about your life doing whatever you please, breaking hearts as you go and not caring about who you leave behind."

Not that you ever did anyway. Ash tried to speak, but whatever his opinion or excuse was, Misty did not want to hear it.

"Just leave me alone Ash, you have done enough"

Closing his mouth, a hard expression set on Ash's face. Misty looked to the ground, wishing that their reunion had not played out this way but she saw no other way around it. If she had no pride for herself then how could she ever be a Gym Leader? How could she set an example for others to follow if she allowed her friends to treat her this way?

A soft click brought Misty out from her thoughts. Ash Ketchum had left her gym and would hopefully, if there was any justice in the world, never return. As she looked down however Misty knew that would not be the case. He had left a certain yellow rodent behind and Pikachu, unlike herself, held a special place in Ash's heart.

"Pikachu-Pi?"

To be continued :)