Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon in any way, shape, or form.
As I stood there looking at the wooden sign that time had worn out over the years, my emotions began to swell within me. It had been five years since I set foot into the city of Cerulean or seend the person this journey was directed for. I cracked a wry smile and scratched my cheek as the memories began flooding back into my mind with tremendous speed and crystal clear imagery. Letting out a sigh I put my hands into my coat pocket and watched as my breath turned to steam when it hit the cool and crisp air. The weather around Cerulean was always beautiful and seeing how winter was starting to creep up, it only multiplied the image ten-fold. The trees were barren and the ground was covered in a light coat of snow, slowly building up as it dropped from the skies at a slow rate.
The little yellow rodent perched upon my shoulder gave a slight shiver and shook it's body, letting loose the snow that was trapped in it's fur which in turn, hit me in the face and brought me out of my thoughts.
"Pikachu!" I said, giving a small chuckle while rubbing his fur under his chin and behind his ear.
"Let's head into town before you catch a cold buddy."
"Chaaa!"
I took one last look around the area before I shoved my freezing hands into my pockets again and trudged towards to city of Cerulean.
-Flashback-
"You were great Misty!" I said, smiling at Misty as she proudly expelled Team Rocket with her Politoad.
"Thanks, I feel better now."
"It was awesome watching you battle like that." Getting a small shrug as she nuzzled her Togepi.
"Thank you Ash, that's sweet."
"Uhhh..." My mind went a little blank at this moment, Misty just complimented me and I felt as though a wire had gone loose within the recesses of my brain.
"And thanks for always being a good friend to me." She said with a small smile as she turned and looked at me.
"Yeah! Sure.." I said slowly. . . Both of us just gazed into eachothers eyes for a few seconds.
"Misty. ."
"Yeah?" She replied immediately with an excited look on her face.
"You're bikes there." Averting my eyes from hers and looking towards the bike perched upon the wired gate.
"You're in a hurry. . . Right?" I said, unsure of what I had said was really the appropriate thing to say at that moment in time, only to see Mistys face turn from sheer joy, to despair and sadness.
"Oh. Yeah." Her face blank with expression and her body rigid, she stared at the ground for a few seconds.
We began to walk towards our destination when Misty's mood did a complete turn around.
"So Ash, don't forget your morning rituals! Take a bath and brush your teeth." She said while looking upon the long road ahead of us.
"I'll remember!" I replied happily, glad that Misty was at least talking again.
"And make sure Pikachu doesn't eat to much."
"Pikaaachu!" Replied the little yellow rodent upon my shoulders.
"And Brock! Try not to get too distracted by all the girls."
Brock had been fairly quiet the whole time but bellowed a deep laugh and just grunted at the end, knowing full well he would.
"One more thing. ."
"That's enough!" I said jokingly, hoping I didn't just hurt my best friends feelings.
Misty just shrugged her shoulders.
"It's just something I feel that I should tell you." Looking up at the sky as she said her last words.
"Alright."
"Just keep on. . doing your best." Her last words hanging loosely in my thoughts.
"Uhhhh, what do you mean?" I asked her, facing her as I walked.
"Well, you know, without me there . . ."
She trailed off as I began to reminisce about our first visit. Misty had pulled me out of the water with nothing but a fishing pole! I had just started my journey and already I had gotten myself into trouble with an angry flock of Spearow. It was then that everything started flooding in, from our perilous journies, to our hilarious encounters, it was quite funny actually, we had been through so much and I had gone through so many experiences with my friends, and in the matter of a couple hours, I would be alone. My journey would have been nothing without my friends by my side.
"It's because of this bike that I met Ash."
"Togii?"
"Togepi, it's a coincidence that you and I met too" She said, looking at her 'baby' Pokemon.
"Our wasn't coincidence." I boldly stated.
"Huh?"
"I don't believe it was just a coincidence that I met you of all people" Not really registering what I said.
"What do you mean Ash?"
"I guess what I mean is that even though that happened, I think that we were meant to meet and become friends!"
"Me too! We've been through so much together through our travels i'd say were best friends now!" Brock said out of the blue.
"You mean it Brock? We're really best friends?" Misty said giggling.
I looked at her as she giggled to herself, her smile as radiant as the blazing sun itself. Again I felt that weird feeling in my gut.
The sun was setting when we reached out destination. Ahead of us was the road towards Cerulean, and to the left was the road leading to Pewter city.
"Guess i'll be heading this way." Misty said, her attitude yet again dropping to a low level.
"Yeah. . " Was all I could mustered.
"Take care Ash."
"You too Misty."
"Will I see you again?" Our eyes met, and for a split second, it was just me and her. This beautiful girl of energy standing in front of me, asking me the question I dare not answer. It wasn't the fact that I wouldn't see her again, it was when.
"You will. I swear."
I smiled as the memories flashed through my mind. It had been a few years since I had seen my best friend, my first traveling companion and the one who, in my eyes, kept me sane throughout my journeys. Misty. I grasped the hankercheif she had given me when our little trio had to disband all those years ago, giving it a small squeeze and putting it back in it's rightful place in my coats inner pocket with a small pat but could only muster a frown when it was gone. You see over the past year I had definitely noticed my self lacking something.
Something missing, almost like I wasn't complete.
I had felt it once Misty left, but I thought of it as just a feeling of missing my best friend, and it wasn't until I received a letter from said person that I realized what that 'something' could have been. The letter wasn't long, just a short few sentences asking me how I was doing and how my travels were. She noted seeing me on the TV during the Sinnoh league and felt compelled to just write me. After reading the letter I made my way down to the lower level of the center and gave her a phone call from the number she provided, and after a tearful reunion on Misty's part we got to talking about, well, everything.
We talked about our Pokemon, the regions I traveled too as well as gym battles and friends. We talked for nearly an hour until I noticed the time and had to call it a night, I told her that I was traveling back through the Johto region on my way back home to take a small vacation. Ash Ketchum taking a vacation? I know right? I thought it was weird too, but after thinking deeply into it I figured I should take some time to gather my thoughts and think on what to do next. I told her I would come through Cerulean to see her and visit for a few days, getting only an ear piercing squeal and adorable giggle which made us both laugh uncontrollably. We said our goodbyes and I told her I would be there within a week.
Once we got off the phone I leaned back in my chair and remeniced about my most recent journey through Sinnoh. I met all sorts of new Pokemon and friends alike, making memories good and bad, as well as competing in the regions league. But yet again I fell short of the task at hand. I didn't think to much into it though. Where there were mistakes there were ways to fix them and to only improve from there on. With Misty it was, how should I put this, easier? The way she motivated me was far more superior than any of the other female companions I had, even if it was just constant ridicule and yelling at some points. I had even went out of my way on my travels back to the Valley Windworks to find a female Shellos just for Misty when I was in the area! She was a lover of Pokemon anyways and this would be a fantastic addition to her team!
I rubbed the back of my head at the thought of the call with a goofy smile on my face, it had been awhile since that smile crept onto my face, but it was shortly changed to a yawn as I looked at the clock which read eleven. Guess it's time to head to bed, I've got a busy day ahead of me if I want to make good time to Cerulean. I headed up the elevator to my room and walked in to the sight of Pikachu lightly snoozing away on the bed, the sight alone made me feel at ease. I crept over to the bed and set my alarm for early in the morning, not wanting to get caught up in the foot traffic and be delayed a few hours of travel.
It had only taken me eight days to travel to the northern part of Kanto, and during that time I used quite a bit of it thinking about her. I wasn't sure what I was feeling, but every time I thought about her my mind goes blank, my heart goes ablaze with butterflies that can't be calmed, my hands get cold and sweaty while my tongue goes on full paralysis and I can't talk!
Did I have a crush on Misty? Maybe. When it came to that aspect of life I was as dense as a Slowpoke, but even then I bet a Slowpoke could act on his feelings or understand what was going on. But enough of that, I just wanted to see Misty and see how she was doing these days. Yeah, that's right.
As I came closer the the city, the temperature dropped a few degrees, making me wish I put an extra layer underneath my coat. Pikachu had long since migrated to my backpack and was probably snoozing away in the warm contents of it.
I came over a hill to see the outpost of Cerulean and beamed with joy, knowing it would only be a few more minutes until I reached the city. I picked my pace up to a light jog and flashed my trainers card to the guard at the outpost, getting a warm smile and polite nod from the woman inside. Before I walked past the gate, a poster caught my eye, displaying the University of Ceruleans hockey team and their upcoming games, letting out a sigh of relief that they were in fact still around and that the season was just beginning. I wasn't a huge sports fan, but always had a soft spot for hockey, but i'd deal with that at a later date.
I asked the guard for directions towards the gym, hoping to refresh my memory and so I wasn't out in the cold for far too long. She handed me a map and pointed to where we were and where the gym was located. I thanked her and pocketed the map whilst looking towards the ever growing building tops.
I pulled the map out as I entered the city and immediately found my way towards the gym, just a few right turns and I would be on the correct path. It was strange really, seeing how I remembered the city as if I was here yesterday, other than the snow covering ground and windows of course.
To say the city was beautiful was like saying, snorlax 'liked to eat'. But as we all know, Snorlax LOVE TO EAT
The city was absolutely flawless in every aspect, from the small shops that littered the main street, to the famous college and arena that seemed packed with screaming fans and students alike.
I continued my walk towards the gym, surprisingly this side of town was fairly quiet, mostly likely due to whatever was going on at the college. Probably a game? Eh, at least there wasn't that many people in the streets.
I rubbed my cheek and felt the scratch of my facial hair, over the past few months I had let it grow out. I kept it at a moderate level though, not wanting to look like Mamoswine. I chuckled at the sight of my having hair and a beard so long that it covered my entire head. I took my hat off and ran my fingers through my hair, again thanking myself that I got it cut before I traveled here.
I rounded the corner and saw the magnificent gates that led to the gym, grinning at the fact that I made it and that I was going to see Misty after so many years. My brisk walk turned into a light run and soon enough I was at the gates looking upon the infamous Dewgong perched on the roof of the Cerulean gym. I couldn't contain my smile as it creeped from ear to ear, my light run turned into a full on sprint as I ran down the snow covered path and up the stairs to the large wooden doors engraved with multiple water Pokemon. That was new.
I pounded on the door and waited a couple of seconds. No answer.
"Hello?" Calling out to someone that probably wasn't in the vicinity.
I was about to pound on the door again when the door swung open revealing a petite figure entirely bundled up in a sweater, scarf and fairly large quilt.
"Uhhh. . . Hi? I'm looking for Misty, I have a . . "
I was bombarded before I could even finish my sentence though, the small woman lunged at me from underneath her shell of comfort and wrapped her arms around my neck, embracing me in a strong hug that would make the craziest Tauros calm down. At first, I thought I was being attacked and feared for my life beacause a small woman was going to grope me to death only to have a small patch of beautiful red hair attack my face and destroy my thought process. The girl who attacked me was none other than Misty, her small figure attaching ever so close to my body while her forehead rested upon my chest. I wasn't too sure how to react of first but soon my thought process rebooted and my hands finally reached around to embrace her into the same hug she had given me.
It felt, good.
No.
It felt wonderful.
The feelings running through my body were alien to me, yet felt normal at the same time.
"Hi Misty." I said, getting a pair of Emerald eyes looking at me. I stared back into them, swearing at myself for getting lost in the immense beauty they held within.
"Hellooo? Earth to Ash?" She said with a poke of my forehead and a small giggle that made my heart flutter
"What? Huh?" I came crashing back onto this earth from my momentarily abduction to another realm.
"I said we should get inside before you catch a cold!" Grabbing my arm and leading me into the main entrance of the Cerulean Gym. I looked around in awe as I saw all the new design work the gym had been through since the last time I had been here. There were three massive hallways, each surrounded by water with all types of water based Pokemon swimming around, everything from Kanto to Hoenn. I stood there marveling the details of the work and the Pokemon swimming around when I felt a small hand grab mine
"This way." Almost whispering it to me and again, dragging me off to another destination.
She took me to a small living space that had a kitchen and what seemed to be a living room and other hallways which turned into rooms. She motioned for me to sit and I didn't complain, immediately grabbing one of the blankets thrown onto the couch which Misty was probably using before I arrived. I looked around and saw her heating up some water and grabbing a few bags of tea, secretly stealing glances at me but sharply turning her head when our eyes met each others.
She brought over two mugs of tea and sat down next to me on the couch, each of us sitting in silence and sipping from our drinks.
"So Mist, how's the gym?" I decided to break the silence and catch up with my old friend
"Huh? Oh! It's great! We've done quite a bit of remodeling over the past few years. We've added bigger tanks to house larger water Pokemon and make them feel more at home" She smiled, sipping from her mug before she started again
"It's hard though, you know? Running a gym at my age, all by myself." Trailing off at the last part and returning a few strands of hair to the back of her ear.
"I would bet Mist, you need a break once in a while!" I said, getting a small chuckle from her
"Well it's not like I could ask my sisters to watch the gym, you know what happens when they get in control."
Both of us laughed at the thought of her sisters just giving out Gym Badges again without an official battle.
"Well it's not good just to keep yourself cooped up like this! I'll tell you what, tomorrow night, I'm taking you to a ShellShock game, after you close the gym for the night that is"
The redness on Misty's face was almost the same color as her hair, she stifled a quick and awkward giggle before looking at me and then quickly looking the other direction
"I don't know Ash. . "
"Trust me, it'll be my treat" Giving off that toothy grin that I had become famous for.
Misty looked at me with a face redder than a Magmar and gave me a small nod
"Great! It's a date then!"
Hope you all enjoy! This is just an intro to the story so I apologize for it being such a short chapter. I am to make the other ones a little bit lengthier, but being a short story I don't want it to end with just a couple of chapters. We all know Ash is a bit of a dork when it comes to romance, but in this story he won't be completely helpless!
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