Well… Here goes. First shot at Pokemon 'fiction… I'm not a newb at writing, and I'm not an expert. Dub me mediocre. Tobi needed a way to get feedback on writing for Pokemon 'fiction before pumping out an idea Tobi's stored up for a while now… and a one-shot was the first step. Tobi may speak in third person from time to time, heads up… Also, apologies if Ash is a tad OOC here, and if he has a more… sophisticated… vocabulary than normal.
Disclaimer? Does Tobi need a Disclaimer? If Tobi owned Pokemon, it would be veeery different…
Summary: Years down the line, Ash finally conquers the Sinnoh League. But because of years of intense training, Ash has been out-of-touch with the world. Now that he is Sinnoh's Champ, Ash makes a vow to reconnect with all of his friends, assuring them all that he is, indeed, alive, and that he is heartily sorry for losing touch with everyone. Some friends are more ready to forgive than others…
If there was one thing Ash Ketchum dreaded… it would be an 'Angry Misty'. Yeah, that's one way of putting it lightly. Pokemon Battles, starvation… those Ash could handle. But an Angry Misty? Well… let's just say that was one thing Ash Ketchum couldn't get away from unscathed. Oh, he could argue with an Angry Misty and be 'right' all he wanted, but nothing could stop Angry Misty's Mallet of Doom™ from clobbering him, whether he was right or wrong in any given argument. … Most of the time, Ash admitted to himself, though he could never admit it to anyone else, he was wrong.
But… anyway. Back to the matter at hand. Ash – now CHAMPION Ash, though Ash was still getting used to that little title himself – was sitting at the video phone in the Pokecenter in Sunyshore City, and he was mulling over whether or not to phone a certain red-headed Gym Leader. Ash still sported the hat he wore during his first Sinnoh League journey, but now he wore a green zipped-up flak jacket that fit him snugly with a white t-shirt underneath and blue jeans. Ash had grown a bit over six years, but he still hadn't hit that growth spurt that teenage boys typically had. His face was a tad rougher, but it still appeared the same, and his hair was roughly what it used to be. Which meant it was as unruly as ever.
Ash had already phoned his mother, Professor Oak and Tracey, Brock, Gary, May, Max, Dawn, Professors Elm, Birch, and Rowan, and he even managed to get ahold of Paul. But he hadn't phoned Misty yet. Partially because he'd 'forgotten' her number, but mostly because he was just a LITTLE afraid to do it. Brock had asked if he had called Misty yet, and Ash couldn't lie to one of his oldest friends. When asked why he hadn't yet, Ash gave the lame excuse of forgetting her number. Well, Brock gave it to him, and even forced Ash to write it down. So that excuse went out the window for Ash.
C'mon, Ketchum… Get it together! Just call her to let her know you're still alive!
Ash squeezed his eyes shut tightly and clenched his hands into fists. When he opened his eyes again, he looked down at the sticky note with Misty's number on it.
You know she'll never forgive you if you don't make this call now. If you don't, you KNOW she's gonna hunt you down later, when she finds out from Brock that you called everyone but her! Brock even threatened to rat you out in a few days' time!
Ash twitched and lightly slammed his fist on the desk he was sitting at, attempting to be careful at not disturbing the peace in the Pokemon Center, which he actually succeeded at doing for once.
Ugh…! Why does she have to be SO much harder to call than mom, or Professor Oak, or Brock? She's supposed to be my best friend! And yet... I know why. She's gonna be the angriest of everyone. Yeah, mom, Professor Oak, and Brock were angry to a certain degree… But Misty? It'll be like… like… Groudon on the verge of using Eruption! She's gonna blow up the minute she sees my face! Or… or worse… She won't even wanna speak to me!
Ash shuddered a little at that thought. 'Angry Misty' was one thing, but a Misty that didn't even want to talk to him was even worse. Ash prayed she wouldn't react the second way, but he'd never know until he called her.
Ash took a deep breath.
Okay… Let's just get this over with, and hope for the best. This is Misty I'm callin', not some future wife… I think…
Ash picked up the phone, turned on the video feed, and dialed the Cerulean City Gym's number with the other hand…
Misty Waterflower, the Cerulean City Gym Leader, was currently cleaning out the main pool in the Gym. Though it wasn't a likeable task, it was a necessary evil in maintaining a high ranking with the Pokemon League. Misty had matured over six years, but she kept the same hairdo. These days, she wore yellow shorts and a yellow tank top. She, of course, had gotten taller, but like Ash, not much taller.
Misty had taken a shining to being the Gym Leader in her sisters' stead, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. Her sisters were never around much, but what else was new? Though she loved them dearly, Misty wanted to throttle them much of the time.
"Ring-Ring! Phone Call! Ring-Ring! Phone Call!"
… Like now. They were almost never around to answer the phone anymore, unless they were expecting a call. Unfortunately, this was not one of those times.
"Daisy! Violet! Lily! Could you get that? I have to finish cleaning the pool!"
Misty waited for a reply, but didn't get any. So, the phone continued to ring.
"Ring-Ring! Phone Call! Ring-Ring! Phone Call!"
A vein on Misty's forehead throbbed as she gave up cleaning the pool for the moment. Groaning, she stalked out of the Gym portion of her home and into the 'home' portion. Seeing that she seemed to be the only one home, Misty huffed and hurried over to the video phone, before the caller gave up.
"Probably one of their 'boyfriends'…" Misty grumbled, taking a seat at the video phone. When she answered, and the caller's image came on screen, Misty froze and stared at said caller.
Ash rubbed the back of his head and grinned like an idiot.
"Hehe… Hey, Mist. Long time no see." Ash weakly greeted his long-time friend.
Misty's mouth gaped open, and she scowled.
"I'm sorry, you must have the wrong number… I don't know any hobos."
Ash blinked rapidly and waved his hands defensively in front of him.
"N-No, Misty! Please! Don't hang up! I'm SORRY! I didn't mean to lose touch over six years, I really didn't! But I desperately needed to train, and… and time got away from me…"
Misty looked at Ash in a bored manner and leaned her elbow on the desk in front of her and rested her chin in her palm.
"Still not ringing a bell… Look, I'm sorry whoever you are, but I just don't know you. I GUESS there was some kid I knew a long time ago who looked a LITTLE like you, but… Sorry, the kid's probably DEAD. I can't remember his name, but he owed me a bike… He never repaid me, can you believe it! As if letting someone else fix my old bike could cover what his Pikachu did to it…"
Ash hung his head.
"D-Don't be like this Mist, PLEASE…"
Misty rolled her eyes. She seriously didn't know why she just didn't hang up.
"And then we separated for a few years… Last I heard from him was before he took off for some region called Sinnoh… After that, I never heard from him again. Must've been… what? Seven years ago? Something like that?"
Ash banged his head on the desk he sat at.
"I'm SORRY!" Ash looked up, tears in his eyes. "I-I don't know what else to tell you… I trained a Sinnoh Team for six years, and I… I… I didn't even contact Professor Oak, to train some of the others in reserve… I got so obsessed with training, that I didn't even maintain contact by letters… Before I knew it, six years had passed, and I decided to participate in the Sinnoh League again, and I WON! Six years of training paid off! But… But I didn't stay in touch with you, or Brock, or mom… ANYONE! I'm so stupid… PLEASE forgive me, Mist…!"
Misty shook her head and crossed her arms. The bored look and the feigned ignorance gone. They were replaced by a harsh glare.
"Ash Ketchum… 'Sorry' isn't gonna cut it! Darn it, Ash… Six YEARS! NOTHING! Not even one single letter! We'd all feared the worst! Maybe the others will forgive you and move on, but I WON'T! Yeah, I heard about your victory there in Sinnoh. What a surprise it was! Here we all presumed you were dead, and then you show your face again six years later! You've got some nerve!"
Ash nodded and rubbed his right eye. He looked down dejectedly.
"I-I know… You're right. 'Sorry' won't cut it. B-But… I… I wanna make it up to you, to everyone, if you'll let me. Just… Just promise me we can be friends again. I know it was my stupidity that kinda broke it… But I gotta fix my mistakes, Mist! I know I'm the densest, jerkiest guy in the whole world! I realize that now!"
Misty snorted and looked away from Ash. She couldn't even look at him anymore.
"Look, you… You're incapable of 'making it up' to me. I dunno if we'll ever be friends again!" Misty paused and turned back once more to look at Ash. "Did you even THINK about any of us while you were training? On second thought – don't answer that. If you did, you would've called A LOT sooner than this…"
Ash looked at Misty in the eyes and stuttered.
"B-But I did! I thought about you especially, Mist! Maybe I didn't think to call you, 'cause I was too wrapped up in all my training… But I DID think about you! EVERYDAY! Honestly!"
Misty snorted again.
"Yeah, right. Prove it." When Ash didn't say or do anything, Misty sighed. "I'm sorry, Ash. We just can't be friends anymore. You abandoned me for six years, and I… moved… on…"
Misty faltered when Ash took off his Trainer cap and pulled something out from within it. Putting the cap back on, Ash smiled weakly. In his hands he held the handkerchief she'd given him when they parted. True, it was a little hard to tell since it looked a little aged and seemed well-used since the time she had given it to Ash all those years ago, but it was definitely THAT handkerchief. Misty's mouth hung open and she didn't say a word while staring at the hanky.
"I… I couldn't just throw it away, y'know? It was something to remember you by! I've been usin' it for all kinds of things, but I always manage to take good care of it! It's never left my sight! And… I'm sorry, Mist… This probably isn't enough to make it up to ya, but… I HAVE thought of you! I can be dense, stupid, immature, and maybe even forgetful… But if there's one thing – er… one person – I can never forget, it's you. I… I don't want our friendship to die, but if you say it's too late to try and salvage it, well…"
Misty shook her head to get out of her stupor and looked to Ash. Tears began to form in her eyes.
"Ash… I… I don't know what to say. But if you are serious about trying to remain friends, I guess I can try and forgive you… idiot…" Misty narrowed her eyes a bit at the end there.
Ash laughed lightheartedly and neatly folded the handkerchief.
"I'll be on the next ship to Kanto, it leaves tomorrow mornin'. I hope to see ya in Pallet Town! And just for the record, my offer still stands! You know, the one about makin' it up to ya?"
Misty's eyes widened and she grabbed both sides of the video screen.
"WHAT? ASH KETCHUM! It takes time to get from here to Pallet Town! At LEAST a day! You'd better be there when I get there…!"
Ash sweatdropped and rubbed the back of his head.
"Y-Yeah… If I don't mix up the boats or anything and hop on a boat to Hoenn or somethin'…"
"ASH!" Misty screamed and shook the video screen violently.
Ash laughed harder and fell off his chair.
"See ya in a couple of days, Mist!" Ash called out before rolling on the floor with uncontrollable laughter.
Misty sighed and released the screen.
"I better, Ash Ketchum, or you're gonna be in a world of hurt…" Misty said this with killing intent in her voice. But then she sounded… happier. "And I already have an idea about how you can 'make it up' to me… don't you worry…"
Misty darkly chuckled before ending her call with Ash. Ash ceased rolling on the floor after that. Now that fear that had dissipated earlier returned.
What've I gotten myself into this time…?
Ash wondered as he stood up and put the phone back in its receiver and turned off the video feed. Ash picked up the hanky that Misty had given him and couldn't help but smile.
Ah, well… I'm sure whatever it is, she'll be satisfied. And that's all I want, really…
Ash laughed to himself some more and made his way out of the Pokecenter, intent on paying Volkner a visit and requesting a battle…
Meanwhile, in Cerulean City, Misty remained sitting and sighed contentedly. She never thought she'd speak to Ash ever again, but he proved her wrong, which, in her eyes, was a rare thing. But he was Ash Ketchum, he could make miracles happen. Like patching up a relationship.
I better go pack my bags… I dunno how long Ash is staying, but he's staying for a long, LONG time if I have anything to say about it…
And just before she was about to go and pack her bags, Misty heard a 'SPLASH!' and immediately ran to the pool to check it out.
Misty groaned.
"PSYDUCK! You're hopeless!"
Psyduck tilted his head at Misty and said all he could say after Misty had helped him out of the water. Again.
"Psy ai? Duck?"
And… That's it for now. Hn. This is probably cliché, but I just wanted to see if I could write for Pokemon and get it right… So, Review, if you could. I'm not gonna force you to, but I would like to know if I should continue writing for Pokemon, or if this should be it… Romance isn't my forte, so I understand if I did terrible. To be honest, this leans more to friendship, but I hope ya can see the AAML, if you squint. If not, I'm gonna hafta work at it some… Happy Easter in advance, folks!