Title: Indigo All Over Again
Posted: 04/09/13
Rating: K+
Main Characters: Ash Ketchum, Misty Waterflower
Shippings: Ash & Misty (PokeShipping)
Chapter Guest Stars: Tracey Sketchit, Daisy Waterflower
Summary: Ash Ketchum has journeyed for many years. Through the regions of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova, he has learned many things. Now, being both a better trainer and a more mature teenager, he decides to return to his very own home region and compete once again to win the Indigo League. What surprises await him as he does so?
Disclaimer: I own what I own, nothing more, nothing less.
© 2013, Reignstein, The plot of this story and any original characters belong to me. Any similarities that might occur are purely coincidental and I apologize in advance if such an occurrence ever does happen.
CHAPTER ONE
"A Battle-ful Reunion"
START
"Ash, is that you?!" Tracey exclaimed, eyes widening as he scanned his friend up and down. "What are you doing here?!" Ash could have asked him the same question. When he rang the doorbell of the Waterflower Residence just a few blocks away from the Gym, he wasn't really expecting for Tracey to answer. He was expecting either Daisy, Lily, Violet, or—if he was lucky—Misty. Tracey had not crossed his mind at all, thinking that he would still be in Pallet Town working with Professor Oak.
"I just got back from Unova," Ash answered. His tone was light, not a single hint of suspicion. Either he has gotten very good in acting, or Ash really hadn't bothered all that much. The former was the most likely answer. "I was stopping here to visit Misty before heading to Pallet." He continued, the Pokemon on his shoulder sensing the rather hostile mood Ash was in. Pikachu held back the laughter as Tracey obviously flinched. Even when Ash hadn't really done anything, every single person knew that he had claims on Misty. Apparently, Tracey had caught on to the fact that he wasn't in the best of positions.
"How about you Tracey?" Why is it that Ash's voice suddenly sounded so venomous in his ears, Tracey wondered. To anyone walking by, it would have sounded like two friends catching up. Why was it that Tracey just seemed to catch that threat in Ash's voice that told him that he better have a pretty good reason.
"Uhm…my girlfriend lives here…?" He tried, Pikachu smacking his forehead. Tracey was a dead man, and Pikachu prayed that he would live to tell the tale of this horrific encounter. Ash, unlike Pikachu, wasn't taking the answer very lightly at all. His eyes were wide, his jaw was tense, and his hands were closed to form fists. His nails weren't long enough to dig into his skin, but his knuckles were turning a concerning shade of white due to the applied pressure.
"Wait…uhm, that didn't sound right." Tracey suddenly started again, Ash reeling in his unknown feelings. When it came to Misty, he had just stopped questioning it and ran with the flow. He knew he should be feelings these things for a reason, but he had pushed aside thinking about what that reason was. He just really assumed it was because he and Misty were such good friends. "Look, Ash, it isn't what you think!" Tracey exclaimed, covering his face.
Pikachu found it rather comedic. Would Tracey Sketchit be the first man, ever, to taste a beating from Ash Ketchum.
"Like, Tracey!" Someone suddenly shouted from within the house before Ash could even move a muscle. "What is taking so long? I need you to bring stuff to the Gym!" Tracey seemed rather relieved as he suddenly dignified himself, standing straight and putting his hands down. This was actually the first time Ash had noticed Tracey's slight maturity.
At twenty-two years old, Tracey now sported white pants rather than the red shorts he wore as a teen. He also wore a button down aqua shirt rather than his typical T-shirt. The maroon bandana remained, but he was now wearing a new pair of maroon high tops. Gone was the dorky fifteen-year-old he met in the Orange Islands. The Tracey that stood before him was a man, Ash admitted to himself.
"Sorry Daisy!" Tracey suddenly called back. "Misty's got a visitor though." Ash's anger evaporated slightly, being replaced by the curious question: when had Tracey gotten closer to Misty's sisters?
Out of the door emerged the oldest Sensation Sister herself. The blonde hair that rivaled sunshine, the green eyes that all four of the Waterflower Sisters shared, the fair skin that reminded Ash of an in between of paper and snow. She was stunning, that was sure, and he understood why Brock had hit on her. She just wasn't the person he wanted to see.
"Who could, like, possibly be looking for—OH!" Daisy exclaimed, jumping slightly at the sight of Ash. Surprise was evident in her eyes, but the trainer wasn't sure whether it was because she was shocked by his appearance in physique or if it was because she was shocked at his sudden appearance on her door step. "Oh Arceus! It's, like, Misty's boyfriend!" Ash blushed as Pikachu began poking his trainer's cheek. He knew Ash was glad to hear that statement.
In honesty, Ash just wondered why he felt the sudden flutter of Butterfree in his stomach.
"Like, Tracey!" Daisy exclaimed. "Why didn't you, like, tell me sooner?!" He watched as Tracey rubbed the back of his head rather sheepishly, giving Daisy an apologetic smile. Ash watched as his friend wrapped an arm around the blonde's waist, apologizing for the delay and saying other wondrous words that would probably sweep the blonde Waterflower off of her feet so that she would forgive him. Seeing them interact, it clicked in Ash's head like a proper puzzle piece.
"You're Tracey's girlfriend?!" Ash exclaimed, cutting whatever it was that Daisy was saying to her, apparent, beau. Pikachu was as shocked as Ash, not really sure whether it was all a sick prank organized and orchestrated by his Pikachu-pi. She didn't know they were coming though, so there was no possible way! "You're Tracey's girlfriend?!" Ash repeated, looking like a Magicarp out of water. Daisy actually found it rather cute and giggled.
She wrapped her arms around the green haired man's waist, looking at Ash and winking. "The one and only." She answered, Ash not even caring about the sudden lack of the Valley Girl accent. This was too good to be true! Did Misty know about this relationship?! Why wasn't he told about the current predicament?! Did BROCK know about Tracey getting together with a Sensation Sister?! Ash felt so many emotions rushing into him, that he completely missed the relief that spread through his system at realizing that it was NOT Misty who Tracey was dating.
"I told you Ash," Tracey softly added. "It wasn't what you thought."
"What did you think I thought?" Ash tried to cover up, failing miserably as the redness arrived on his face.
"If you're, like, looking for Misty," Daisy butted in, Ash silently thanking her impatience for saving him from further embarrassment. "She's at the Gym. She's, like, over working herself to prepare for the League! It's, like, totally ruining our schedule!" He didn't know what schedule Daisy meant, but Ash assumed that it was for their Ballet Shows. Knowing the Sensational Sisters, that was probably the safest course of action to take.
"Tracey can, like, take you." She added, entering the house and retrieving what she probably wanted Tracey to bring to Misty. The two guys stood and waited, Pikachu noting the awkwardness of the situation. Tracey didn't seem to know what to say without teasing his younger friend, while Ash didn't want to speak due to the fear of being teased by the older. "He has to, like, take these to the Gym anyways." Daisy had returned and handed Tracey a couple of PokeBalls. Ash assumed they were Daisy's Pokemon.
"Oh, when did you go to the Pokemon Center to get them?" Tracey asked, Daisy placing her chin on atop shoulder. Ash actually looked away, feeling that he was intruding on their private moment as a couple. Pikachu poked him in the cheek again, a secret signal as if saying 'that could be you and Misty'.
"I went, like, this morning." Daisy answered. "You were, like, out like a baby. I though you, like, wouldn't mind." If Ash had returned to looking, he would have caught Tracey kissing Daisy's cheek and whispering words of approval and endearment into her ear. If Ash had turned, he would have seen the blush Daisy had gotten, giving Tracey a small peck on the lips as he tried to pull away from her. If Ash had turned around, he would have surely barfed.
"Like, hurry back if Misty doesn't need you." Daisy stated, closing the door with one last wave to both Ash and Tracey.
Tracey smiled slightly, beginning the short walk towards the Cerulean City Gym. Ash observed that he was giddy with happiness, and that he seemed to find it hard to keep his grins in check. The green haired man was obviously a love sick puppy, but judging by how Daisy acted, she wasn't quite far behind him. "So…" Ash decided to say. "You and Daisy huh? Didn't see that one coming." Tracey actually laughed at that one, shaking his head as he did so.
"No one did, especially not Misty." He answered.
"I could only imagine what she did to you." Ash teasingly remarked, the image of a mallet going down on Tracey's head by the hand of Misty Waterflower herself. He let out a slight laugh when he saw Tracey rub his head, guessing that what he had imagined had been true after all. He felt bad for the guy, but after the small heart attack he just had at seeing Tracey in the Waterflower residence, he couldn't help but feel pretty proud of his best friend.
"Compared to Brock she took it very well."
Ash stopped walking and turned to look at his Orange Islands traveling companion. Tracey did the same and looked Ash in the eye. It was as if the image was communicated to Ash's mind. Brock's disbelief that Tracey had gotten Daisy as a girlfriend, the tears that he, Brock, hadn't gotten Daisy for a girlfriend, and then trying to get one of either Lily and Violet to be his own girlfriend. Without a second's notice, both of the guys burst out laughing. Ash wished he had been there to see it all unfold, he would have also liked to have seen Misty pulling him away from Violet and Lily.
"He's okay with it now though," Tracey said, finally getting his laughter under control. "He even congratulated me on a fish well caught, telling me that if I could get a girl then surely he could too." Ash released a chuckle once again. Yeah, that sounded like Brock. Friends before girls, but without a little bit of a grudge. Poor guy.
The two guys continued on towards the Gym, exchanging stories of what happened between them. Ash told Tracey about Cilan, and how he could detect compatibility between Pokemon and trainers as easily as Tracey could see if Pokemon was healthy or not. In turn, Tracey told stories to Ash about how he helped out at the Cerulean Gym when Professor Oak didn't need him at the lab. A funny story of how Ash's thirty Tauros attacked Gary when he first began to work there was also shared, causing the aspiring Pokemon Master to let out another good natured laugh.
His Pokemon was already giving his old rival hell for all the times he had bestowed it upon Ash.
"So how's Misty been?" Ash finally decided to ask, finding it as good a time as any. "How's Gym Leader life been treating her? From what I heard from Lt. Surge, she's apparently the secone, under Sabrina, in ranking for hardest to beat, and number one at the P.I.A list of best Gym Facilities. She must be doing really well!" Tracey's eyes filled with pride and admiration for the girl he considered one of his closest friends, nodding vigorously at every word Ash said.
"She was also featured as one of the best Water Pokemon Trainers in all of Kanto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Johto." The artist added. "I don't know exactly what number she's at, but I heard she was in the—"
"She's number seven." Ash decided to say. "Lt. Surge told me that too."
"How long have you been in Kanto?" Tracey asked. "You must have hung out in Vermilion quite a long time if he was able to tell you all of that!" Following the question, Ash explained to Tracey the weird experience of riding in a Military Tank driven by the Thunder Leader himself. He told of Raichu and Pikachu arguing slightly, said stuff about how Lt. Surge spoke highly of the Kanto trainers, and Ash even mentioned that the feeling of riding in a tank was terrifying, even if it wasn't moving.
"It's sort of like being in a closet, but it's louder." Ash had described it.
"I'll take your word for it." Tracey responded.
"Oh, yeah, do you have any news from May or Max?" The question took the young Watcher off guard. He wasn't quite expecting it, but seeing as he was talking to Ash, he just shook it off. Ash always cared about his friends, some more than others. "Last I saw May I was in Sinnoh. How are they? Did May win the Johto Grand Festival?" Thinking back Tracey tried to remember what he knew. Max kept in contact with him, but he hasn't really been talking to May as of late.
"You should ask Misty about that." The Watcher answered. "She talks with May more. They're best girl friends now apparently."
"Really?" Ash was stunned. He never took Misty for the 'girl friend' type. "How about Max?"
"He started his Pokemon Journey." Tracey said, matter of fact-ly. "Last I heard, he was traveling with a girl named Marissa."
"What are the chances it's the same Marissa from the Orange Islands?"
"That would be interesting." Just the thought of the know-it-all with the sweet little girl who had sent out the message in a bottle to ask who had believed in the Crystal Onyx was rather comical. It might do Max some good though, to be with a girl who isn't as hot tempered as his sister when it came to him. "Maybe I should ask him about her."
"Nah," Ash answered, shaking his head. "I know what it feels like to be hassled because of a female companion—" Pikachu mostly being the bringer of such things, "—best to leave him alone. If she is the Marissa we know, then at least he's got a good traveling buddy with him." Tracey was shocked. Ash Ketchum saying something wise, looking up, Tracey was disappointed to not see the blue moon that should have present.
Whatever happened to the eleven-year-old who couldn't control a Charizard?
"I guess, seeing as he traveled with you, he should have picked up something about choosing good friends."
The giant Seel became visible to the two boys as they approached the Cerulean City Gym. It really did have a certain flare about it that the others in Kanto didn't, but really, it could have just been the giant Water Pokemon at the roof of the think. Also, it had Water Ballets and an Aquarium. It wasn't really a wonder why the Gym was known, not only as a battling area, but a tourist destination as well. Looking at it, Ash had to admit that Misty has been doing a great job. The building looked close to spotless.
Tracey sighed from beside Ash, looking at the building with a shake of the head. The black haired teen wondered slightly why, but before he could ask, Pikachu had jumped off of his shoulder and dashed towards the door with a proud call of "Pikachu-pi!" Ash darted after him, of course, Tracey following close behind him.
Little electric ball of energy, that was Pikachu. And that current little ball of electricity was jumping up and down, waiting for either Tracey or Ash to knock or ring a bell to signal that someone arrived to the Gym Leader. Admittedly, that idea was better than just waiting in the reception area in hopes that someone would come.
"Alright, Pikachu. I get it, you're excited." Ash said, stopping from his run and picking up the yellow Pokemon. "But you gotta calm down! You might end up shocking Misty!" As the trainer and Pokemon bickered, Tracey decided to ring the bell. There was a sound of a shriek, something splashing, and then someone dashing towards the door. Complaints from Water Pokemon could be heard as well. The green haired man wondered if Misty was in the middle of training them.
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"Of course I want to see her!" Ash responded. "I'm just telling you to calm down."
"Pika Pika! Pi Pika Pikachu, Pika!" Came the reply of the yellow little mouse.
"I'm not being a hypocrite, I'm just saying that she could be swimming! If you're too excited, you could shock her. Do you want to hurt Misty like that?" The Pokemon huffed, crossing it's chubby yellow arms as he nodded his head. Ash had a point, and the last thing Pikachu wanted to do was hurt Misty after not seeing her for so long.
"What's going on out—oh, hey Tracey!" The sound of the familiar voice caused Ash to turn towards the door, smile wide as he lifted his hand in a wave. Before he could even mutter a word, his jaw slacked and his eyes widened, causing him to look like a Caterpie from the Viridian Forest. "Did Daisy send you here with the Pokemon? I really need to train them today." Her voice was the same, but that, along with her bright green eyes, seemed to be the only things that hadn't changed.
Her orange hair was out of her signature side ponytail, hanging passed her shoulders. It was the same fiery color that Ash remembered it to be, but it was longer, and it was wavier as well, like a shorter version of her hair from her first Water Ballet. Trailing down, his line of sight moved to view her face. Her expressions changed as Tracey conversed with her, but her green eyes held the same strength and shine behind them. Ash tried not to focus on the swimsuit that she wore—covered only by a loose yellow shirt—exposing her toned legs. It seemed it wasn't only Tracey who had changed.
"…so Dewgong, Seaking, and Shellder should be ready to train along with everyone." Tracey had finished, the three PokeBalls Daisy had given to him now in Misty's hands. "Were you training? I could hear the other Pokemon complaining, so I'm guessing you're swimming with them?" He added, Misty smiling slightly as she shook her head.
"Well, I was about to, but—"
"PIKACHU-PI!" Pikachu had snapped out of his shock, jumping into the arms of the shocked Water Gym Leader. The PokeBalls dropped from her hand as she caught the yellow fluff ball through instinct, Tracey catching them before they hit the ground and released the three Pokemon within. "Pikachu-pi!" Pikachu called again, licking Misty's cheek as the girl snapped out of her shock and hugged the yellow Pokemon with vigor. Ash smiled at the scene as he shook off the shock as well.
"Pikachu!" Misty shouted. "Oh, I missed you!"
"Pi Pika!" He answered, licking Misty's cheek once again, nuzzling her neck in affection soon after.
"Hey!" Someone suddenly shouted, causing all eyes to turn towards the sound. "I know you and Pikachu get along great, but I'm your best friend too!" The words were said with humor and joy, a tone that Misty knew all too well after traveling with its bearer for three years. "I would think you missed me just as much as Pikachu!" Ash added, releasing a little laugh as Misty's jaw dropped at the sight of him. It was exciting for him to know that he had the same effect on her as she did on him.
"A—Ash?" Misty called.
"The one and only!" Ash answered, opening his arms for a hug as Pikachu crawled onto Misty's shoulder and watched the exchange. He was still nuzzling her neck, but he said nothing. "What? No hug for me?"
Misty couldn't believe her eyes. Pikachu was nuzzling her, and Ash was standing in front of her, waiting for her to hug him. The warm chocolate-like eyes stared at her with mirth, the ebony locks that he always kept hidden under his hat had grown slightly as well. Misty had the urge to tell him he needed a haircut, but she couldn't find the voice to speak. He, too, had changed over the years. He was taller than her now, as she noticed, and he had filled out really well. He was not 'buff', but he had muscle under the sun-kissed skin he possessed.
She had missed him, dearly, and she was about to run into his arms and hug him when she remembered something.
This was the best friend that had ceased contact with her for almost a year!
"ASH KETCHUM, YOU JERK!" Tracey stared in awe as Misty's demeanor turned from shock to angry. Pikachu seemed oblivious as he watched the scene unfold before him, thinking that Ash really should have expected the hostility. The trainer in question; however, had no clue at all as to why his best friend was suddenly angry with him. He stared confusedly at Misty, watching with surprise as she took hold of a very a familiar object.
Ash saw the wooden, hammer-like, object descend on him.
The next thing he saw were stars.
Lots and lots of stars.
"Don't you think you went a bit too far?" Tracey asked, accepting the glass of juice that Misty had offered him. "I mean, he's visiting you before he heads to Pallet, shouldn't that show that he missed you?" He added, taking a sip as Misty took the seat on the one seater in front of him. On the couch was an unconscious Ash Ketchum, a yellow Pikachu sitting atop his stomach with a bowl of PokeChow in his chubby little arms.
"He didn't talk to me for a year, Trace!" Misty answered. "He contacted Brock, he contacted Professor Oak, but he conveniently forgets to contact me? The person he calls his best friend? That's some weird way of showing it." Tracey sighed, taking another sip of the cool liquid. Perhaps Misty had a point, perhaps she didn't, there was still no actual valid reason for her to go hitting the poor guy with her mallet. Especially after all the trouble he went to see her.
"Maybe he was in a rush or—"
"Yes, so he calls Brock when he's in a rush, but not me?" The redhead interjected. "Obviously I'm not as important as he says if I can get pushed aside just so that he could talk to Brock!" She continued on. "I mean, I get that he needs to contact his Mom and Professor Oak first, but is a little two minute call to say 'Hey Misty! Unova's great! Wish you could see it' too hassling?"
"Why didn't you just ask him for a reason then?" The green haired man reasoned. "That would have been easier, less painful, and much faster than whacking him, hard, with your mallet! Misty, give the guy the benefit of the doubt."
"I gave him the benefit of the doubt when he went to Sinnoh and forgot to call for a few weeks. I gave him the benefit of the doubt when he didn't tell me he was coming home to Pallet when he got back from Hoenn, and his mom was the one who had to tell me. I gave him the benefit of the doubt when he started his quest of the Battle Frontier and didn't even ask me if I wanted to come. Not contacting me for a year and showing up in my Gym? What did he expect from me? To jump into his arms, hug him, and tell him how much I missed him?!" Misty shouted, face turning red as her voice rose a decibel with each sentence she finished. "Friends don't do that, Trace!" She added, fist landing on the table between them with a loud thud.
From on top of Ash's stomach, Pikachu listened to the exchange between the two friends. Each sentence Misty spoke, each point that she made, Pikachu couldn't help but agree with her. What was his Pikapi's reason for not contacting her? Why had he put some distance between them over the past couple of years? Pikachu was sure that Ash was head over heels for the Water Pokemon Trainer, but then why would he do such things to her? To cause her pain?
The yellow Pokemon did not notice his ears droop, but Misty sure did.
"I don't blame you Pikachu," The Gym Leader suddenly said, picking up her old friend and placing him on her lap. "It's just that, I really want to know why Ash didn't call or at least send a letter. I know he has a good reason, he's Ash after all, but you can't really blame me for feeling this way, can you?" Pikachu nodded in response, nuzzling into Misty's stomach with such tender affection. An apology of his own for not forcing his Master to keep her updated.
Tracey watched the two friends with a small smile, taking yet another sip of his juice. He knew that this grew deeper than Ash merely forgetting to call her, but he found it in his best interest to not say anything. Feelings were something you never discussed when someone could hear them by pretending to sleep. Ash would be the type to eavesdrop if it was worth it.
"So what are you planning to do when he wakes up?" The Watcher asked.
"Feed him to my Gyarados." Misty answered, cracking a small smile. "Arceus only knows how hungry he is."
From the redhead's lap, Pikachu giggled, imagining Ash flailing around, trying to get away from Misty's Gyarados like her Psyduck in water. The comical scene of Ash swimming as fast as he could, Gyarados following close behind with his eyes wide open and with speed faster than an Agility Attack, would be embedded into his mind forever. Something to bring up during the times of sad days and bad moods.
"Misty…" Tracey warned.
"I get it, I get it." Misty answered, raising one of her hands as she kept the other on Pikachu. "I'll apologize, geez. You aren't even married to my sister yet and you're already acting like my Older Brother! Propose to her first, at least!" Seeing Tracey get as red as Charmeleon was a hilarious sight for Misty, and his obvious embarrassment just added to it all.
A groan echoed within the Misty's office, a signal that the fallen guest was now rousing from his twenty minute nap. Turning to the dark haired teen, Misty sighed as she stood and went to the kitchen to get the poor guy a glass of water. Pikachu remained on the vacated seat, watching as his trainer clutched his head and opened his eyes slowly. Confusion turned to recalling in about thirty seconds, and the teenager bolted straight up from his sprawled out position on the couch.
"Take it easy, Ash!" Tracey said, helping the guy get a hold of himself. "You took quite the blow."
"I have to agree." Ash answered. "She's never hit me that hard before."
"Then be afraid," Another voice came, causing Ash to turn towards the archway of the office. "I can still hit you harder."
She was still in the outfit he had first seen her in, but this time she had on a pair on short jean shorts. She also placed a glass in front of him, with something that seemed like an aspirin to him. Remembering his shock from when he had seen her again, Ash blushed as he gulped down the clear liquid, along with the offered medicine. From the corner of his eye, he could see Misty sit back down and place Pikachu on her lap. He wondered what they had been talking about while he was out.
"So," Ash began, placing the glass on the table—now empty. "Is it too late to ask what I did to get hit that hard? Or do you greet all of your friends like that?" His voice had that hint of humor again, a certain cheekiness that came with his natural tone. It had gotten deeper, yes—thank puberty for that—but the way he spoke remained exactly as she remembered it.
"I don't greet all my friends like that." Misty answered. "Just the ones who are jerks."
The trainer seemed confused. Misty had called him that in the door as well, right before she had bestowed the mallet of doom upon him. Was it weird that he felt happy to have seen it? A familiar sense of déjà vu that he actually wanted to remain. He didn't like that she used it, but he seemed ecstatic to know that she was still the same old, strong willed, feisty, redheaded, Misty that he had travelled with all those years ago.
"And how did I get labeled as a jerk?"
"Oooh, Ash Ketchum knows a big word! Someone call the hospital!"
Pikachu, the traitor that he was, just laughed at the joke. Misty rubbed the electric mouse in the back of the ear in thanks, causing laughs to turn to moans of pleasure as Pikachu lied down on her lap and enjoyed the ecstasy that came with the small gesture. "Seriously, Mist," He began once again, albeit a little bit annoyed. "What did I do that you got so angry with me?" Ash Ketchum, no matter how grown up, would always be dense to some degree.
"I don't know, Ash." Misty spoke, Tracey shivering at the venom that the words contained. Ash flinched, noticing it as well apparently. "What does one usually do when a friend they haven't talked to in a year shows up? In my terms, hitting them with mallet is still pretty nice. I could have asked Gyarados to burn you to a crisp." How could her voice have sounded so sweet, yet pierce like knives each time one was spoken? Only Pikachu seemed oblivious, still enjoying his little massage.
"Oh…right…that…"
"THAT?!" The redhead shouted. "Ash Ketchum, what the hell were you thinking?! The only news I got from you were from your mom and from Trace, occasionally even Brock! You called me your best friend, well some friend you are! I should throw you into the aquarium and allow my Pokemon to have their way with you!" Ash doubted what she said was just a threat. Misty's Pokemon were pretty protective of her—heck even some Ash's Pokemon were as well—and if she had been sad because of him, then he was pretty sure that he would be Gyarados Chow within a minute in that aquarium.
"Look, Misty, I wanted to call, but—"
"But what?!" Misty countered. "Too busy with your journey? Too busy with new Pokemon? Too busy with Brock and your other friends to talk to your best friend?! What could possibly be a good enough reason for you to not even try to write one blasted letter saying 'Hey, how's it going?' to at least show me that you were alive and breathing?!" Ash was taken a back, and Tracey stood from his chair as he placed a hand on Misty's shoulder to sit her back down. Pikachu had long jumped onto the table, especially when Misty had stood up and lost control.
"It wasn't like that Mist—"
"What do you mean it wasn't like that?!" She shouted once again, struggling against Tracey's hold. The green haired man was stronger than he looked, and he held her down before she actually did call out her Gyarados. "That's exactly what it is!" Pikachu seemed distraught as it looked at Misty, begging for Ash to calm her down and say something. This fight was way too serious to be just their typical bickering. He didn't like it at all.
"Misty, will you just listen?!" Ash shouted, standing up now as well.
"Why the hell should I?!" Misty knew she was being insufferable and immature, but she had a feeling that she had a right to be. She may have told Pikachu that she would listen, but not before she got her share of insults and opinions in. She didn't know why, but she wanted Ash to at least feel some guilt for leaving her out to dry. "You've done a great job of not telling me a single thing!"
"Misty, calm down…" Tracey tried to whisper, but the girl kept struggling. The man even noticed she was shaking slightly.
"If you just let me apologize and just listen you would understand and—"
"Oh no!" Misty, yet again, interjected. "We are going to handle this like you always handle things! I don't care what you have to say, at least not until I knock some sense into that head thick, dense, idiotic, little brain of yours!" She continued, taking hold of Tracey's arms and forcing her to let go of her. She stood from her chair and took Ash by the collar, dragging him out of the office and towards the general direction of the Gym Arena.
"Misty, wait, let me—"
"SHUT IT!" Her voice echoed through the halls, Ash deciding that talking would not be in his best interest right now. She lead him past halls and through corners, Pikachu and Tracey following close behind them. Oh what fate awaited him now?
Ash wasn't quite sure how he ended up in this situation, but he admitted that the prospect of battling Misty after all these years was exciting. "You sure about this Misty?" Ash called out from across the pool, the arena set-up that Misty had created and used during previous Indigo Leagues. The trainer expected this to be a platform that would allow all of her Pokemon to utilize their best attacks. Thinking about it now, Ash didn't even know the kinds of Pokemon that Misty now possessed. He wondered if she would be using any of the ones from their journey.
"I'm not gonna take it easy on you just because I've missed you!" There was a blush that spread across Misty's cheeks at his words, and Ash smirked triumphantly at this. "I'm not gonna get distracted by your outfit either!" The blush got brighter as Misty now glared at him, frighteningly if he might add. He grew hormones, that was obvious enough.
"Just shut your mouth, Ash!" Misty answered back, raising her fist in emphasis. She stomped on the blue platform that she stood on, obvious annoyance on her face. The blush accompanied it quite well. Ash thought she looked cute. "Say those stuff to me when you actually beat me!" She had added.
"Then be ready for a long I Told You So, at the end of this match, Mist!" Her glare intensified.
Pikachu hit his trainer on the head. Obviously the Pokemon was siding with Misty.
"Okay," Tracey began, putting their argument to a halt. Really? Half-an-hour and already their fighting? Well, Misty did whack him with a mallet when she saw him. It's not as if he expected anything else from the two teens that stood in front of him. "The rules are the same as any Gym Battle. Two Pokemon total, person to get all of their Pokemon defeated loses." Both trainers nodded as Tracey held the white and blue flags above his head.
Surveying the area, Ash assumed that Misty had remodeled the new arena when she had gotten her Gyarados. Rather than the floating red and yellow platforms they battled on when he was previously in the Gym, they now stood on opposite sides of the pool (Misty on a blue floating platform, while Ash was on a white one). Rocks emerged from the pool as well. Some of them were flat, allowing the Pokemon to stand on them, while others were just normal boulders. There were whirlpools in some areas as well. Ash smiled, Misty had taken inspiration from the Whirl Cup.
Both flags were waved by Tracey, followed by the call of: "Let the battle begin!"
"Misty calls," The redhead began, kissing her PokeBall before tossing it up into the air. Ash was quite curious as to what the Pokemon would be, but his smile widened when the familiar pink and white Pokemon landed on the flat stone in front of Misty. "Corsola!" The Gym Leader finished, her Pokemon letting out a strong battle cry, ready to face any opponent.
"Is that the same Corsola you caught in Johto?" Ash asked, pointing at the cute coral Pokemon. "I haven't seen her is years!" He continued, observing as the Pokemon watched him, anticipating his next move. Ash wasn't even sure if the Pokemon recognized him. She probably did, but was focused on battling. She was also probably stronger than ever before, Ash was positive. Judging by Misty's Gyarados from before, it was a safe assumption after all.
"Well maybe you would have if you visited or called more!" Misty answered back, venom in her voice. Ash wondered how many times he would have to apologize for not keeping in touch before she finally forgave him. "And stop dilly dallying! Let's get this battle started! I can't wait to beat you, Ash!" Ash smirked, obviously refusing to let this happen.
"Alright then Pikachu, how about—"
And out came Ash's Oshawott.
"—Oshawott?!"
From across the pool, Ash could hear Misty's laughter, at least it was better than the shouting from moments ago in the office.
Fighting Water Pokemon with Water Pokemon wasn't necessarily recommended, seeing as little damage could be done to each other, and Ash had been planning to use Pikachu due to tha fact his little buddy was an electric type. Then again, he probably should have expected this. Oshawott has done it many times before, and the black haired trainer took a mental note to find a way to get rid of the Water Pokemon's jealousy over Pikachu.
"S—so!" Misty suddenly called out. "N—now you kno—know how I fe—felt!" She added, clutching her sides. Her laughter was beginning to hurt, but the opportunity was so priceless. Countless times, she experienced this dilemma. At first it was with the battle for Togepi, and then in the Whirl Cup as well. It was nice to see Ash on the other end of the self summoning Pokemon annoyance. How glad she was that Psyduck has stopped doing that.
The otter like Pokemon looked at its trainer with determination, and it did not run back, meaning that it was at least confident that it could beat Corsola. Ash was a bit annoyed, but decided that what was done was done. He never showed Misty any mercy during times this had happened to her, and so she expected her to do the same.
"Will you shut it!" Ash shouted, getting annoyed by her constant laughter.
"N—not a ni—nice fee—feeling huh?" Misty answered, wiping a tear away from her eye as she regained control over herself and stopped the maniacal laughter. "To be on the other end of that stick?" Ash could see her smirk form across the pool, and he was sure that she could see him glare. Oh how the tables have turned from moments ago.
"At least my Oshawott knows how to battle!" Ash retorted, the otter-like Pokemon puffing out its chest. It seemed confident, but Misty guessed that it was just like his Master. All talk, nothing to deliver. Well, that wasn't necessarily true, but it was that way when she had first met him. "You're Psyduck didn't even know how to hurt a fly unless it got a bad enough headache!" Tracey's sweat dropped as Misty's vain popped. She would make him eat those words.
"You'll be sorry you ever said that, Mister Pokemon Master!" Ash smiled. He missed that nickname.
"Corsola, Rock Smash!" The Pokemon trainer was caught off-guard by the sudden call of the attack, eyes widening when he saw Corsola closing on Oshawott. He immediately called for the little guy to dodge, making the blue otter jump onto another rock. Ash sighed in relief when he saw how Corsola had smashed the the rock that his Pokemon had been standing on when contact was made. The pink and white coral appeared unharmed, but he saw the satisfied smirk on Misty's face.
She was proud that she had panicked him.
"I didn't think you'd be a dirty fighter Misty!" Ash called out. "Attacking someone who isn't even ready."
"Tracey called Battle Start, I can attack whenever I want." Misty answered. "If your Pokemon get hit because you weren't paying attention, then it's entirely your fault. Poor little Oshawott, maybe it would prefer staying in a Water Gym with a much more capable Water Pokemon trainer!" Ash glared and Oshawott glared. The otter had taken out the scalchop from his chest, obviously not approving of Misty's comment.
"Corsola, Power Gem!" The Pokemon responded affirmatively and began to send out a ray of light straight at Oshawott. Ash refused to let this happen; however, and planned a counter almost immediately.
"Oshawott, Dodge it then use Razor Shell!" With a call, Oshawott jumped out of the attack—causing it to smash yet another rock behind him—and immediately released a party of sharp shells at Corsola. Unable to avoid, the coral Pokemon was hit by a couple of them, falling into the water with a splash. Misty seemed concerned, but she remained calm. Oshawott landed on yet another flat stone, a proud smirk on his face, mirroring that of his trainer's.
"Man, Mist!" Ash taunted. "I thought you were supposed to be the second best!"
Misty smirked.
"Corsola, now, Spike Cannon!" Out of the water, Corsola jumped, hurling spikes directly at Oshawott. Ash was not expecting her to appear so close, and so Oshawott was hit directly, and full force, by the attack. Ash had forgotten that Misty was used to water arenas, while he was not. He hadn't even thought of using the water as a weapon.
"Oshawott!" He worriedly exclaimed.
"Alright, Stone Edge!" The direct hit of one of Corsola's sharpened coral horns sent Oshawott flying into a faraway stone. The otter hits its back, hardly, on the stone and fell into the water with a loud splash. Corsola appeared unharmed, but she was very tired. She was heaving, watching to see if Oshawott would emerge. Misty watched with anticipation as well, Ash calling to his fallen Pokemon. He was worried, and though he knew Oshawott was a water Pokemon and would normally survive in the water, he couldn't help it.
"Corsola, help him out." Mist called, Corsola responding and diving into the water. When she emerged, Oshawott was on her back, out cold. She brought the fallen Pokemon closer to Ash, where he called his little friend back.
"Oshawott is unable to battle," Tracey called. "The victory goes to Corsola and Misty!"
"Thanks Misty," Ash said.
"No problem," She answered. "I wouldn't be cruel enough to kill a Pokemon, you know that."
Ash smiled. Yeah, he did know that.
"I won though, and you're down to two." Misty suddenly added. "Where's your confidence now?"
Ash smiled, again. Misty will always be Misty.
"I was just going easy on you!" Ash called.
"Sure, you were!" It was said sarcastically. "Like how you intended to send out your Oshawott!"
"Why you—"
"Just call out your next Pokemon, Ash." He was cut off. "You may win in a Pokemon battle, but in a battle of wits, you're as unarmed as a Magicarp." His glare intensified, and Misty laughed. Tracey rolled his eyes. Couldn't they save their flirting for after the battle? He didn't want Daisy mad at him for staying longer than necessary.
"Leavanny, I choose you!"
Out of the PokeBall, and on to the stone, a green, womanly, Pokemon emerged. It looked like a mantis of sorts, wearing leaf clothing. The unusual Pokemon also had a caring nature around it, making Misty smile. She was wary though, for obviously this was a Pokemon that would be strong against her water types.
"You've improved!" Misty shouted, mockingly. "Obviously you aren't going to be sending out Caterpie—"
"Leavanny, Leaf Blade!"
"Corsola, Dodge and counter with a Rock Blast!"
Corsola did as told, and hurled the huge boulders in the direction of Leavanny. The leaf Pokemon dodged them easily enough, with Ash calling upon his Pokemon to attack with Leaf Storm.
Leaves began to gather around Corsola, sharp leaves that surrounded the Pokemon and began to cut her. "Corsola!" The Pokemon shouted in agony, the leaves slicing through tha coral like skin. If only the leaves would stop, Misty thought. She would order a Recover and give Corsola a bit more energy. The thought was useless though, as Corsola fell when the leaves vanished.
Calling her back, Misty kissed the ball and complemented her Pokemon on a job well done, much like how Ash treated his Oshawott.
"Corsola is unable to battle!" Tracey called, raising the white flag in Ash's favor. "The battle goes to Ash and Leavanny!"
"So where's your confidence now, Mist?" Ash sarcastically asked, throwing the same insult at her.
"I still say you're gonna regret your words, Ketchum!" If she wasn't serious before, Ash knew that she was now.
"Misty calls," She began. "Seadra!"
When the red flash vanished, Ash was faced with Pokemon that he was not expecting to battle. If he were to be honest, he was expecting Misty to use her Gyarados. As it turns out, she had another Dragon Pokemon to her disposal. "How do like my Horsea, Ash?" Misty asked, the trainer's eyes widening at realization. That's right! Misty did have a Horsea from their travels in the Indigo League. It didn't seem like that cute, defenseless, little blue sea horse now though.
The spikes over its body that Ash were sure carried poison would cause him to pass out if he touched it, and he was sure that it was going to prove difficult to defeat. "Seems you've been up to a lot these few years, Mist." Ash answered. "What other tricks do you have up your sleeve, huh?" Misty laughed in response.
"I'm not going to tell you!" She exclaimed with a wink. "Not now anyway."
"In that case," Ash responded. "I'll beat it out of you!"
"I'd like to see you try!" The black haired teen smirked. He always did like a challenge.
"Leavanny, Razor Leaf!" Sharp edged leaves emerged from Leavanny, heading straight for Seadra. Without even having Misty to order it, the Dragon Pokemon dove under the water to avoid it. Ash clicked his tongue. He should have seen that one coming. Misty was watching him with ease, really believing that she could take him out that easily. Thinking to himself, Ash tried to think of a strategy that could work for him. Most were too risky, but if he managed to actually land a hit, then the battle would be his.
"Seadra, Bubble Beam!" The blue Pokemon emerged from the water, aiming bubbles at Leavanny. Ash knew the dangers of it decreasing his Pokemon's speed, and so he ordered the Pokemon to dodge, smirking in the process as he saw a good shot in front of him. He didn't notice Misty raise her brow in suspicion. "Dive!" She ordered her Pokemon, Ash smirking as he got ready to give the order for his Leavanny.
"I've got you now, Mist!" Ash exclaimed, exactly as Seadra jumped up in front of Leavanny. "Hyper Bea—"
"Seadra, Ice Beam, now!"
A beam of light emerged from the Dragon Pokemon, hitting his Leavanny square on. Ash, in awe, watched as his Pokemon began to freeze up, Seadra stopping at her head and diving back into the water. Tracey, nodding his head, raised the blue flag in Misty's favor. "Ash is out of usable Pokemon, this battle goes to the Cerulean City Gym Leader, Misty Waterflower!" Misty seemed satisfied, calling back her Pokemon as Ash did as well.
"You've gotten better Misty." He said, walking towards Tracey where she moved to as well.
"You've gotten kinder." She answered.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't give me that crap! You let me win!" Ash laughed slightly, there really was nothing he could hide from her, could he?
"How'd you know?"
"It's been obvious since the beginning, Ash." Tracey suddenly answered. "Misty isn't stupid, she's seen your battle on TV, and she knows what your Pokemon are and aren't capable of. Plus, you didn't seem all that into the battle either." Misty nodded word for word as she punched Ash lightly on the arm.
"Why'd you do it?" She asked.
"As an apology, of course! You wouldn't let me do it the normal way, so I thought maybe this would be enough to make up for the calls" Ash answered, Pikachu jumping from his shoulders into Misty's awaiting arms. "So am I forgiven?"
"Hmm…maybe." Misty stated. "After all, you just admitted you thought I was weak that you had to make me win."
"But I—"
"Ash, she's kidding." Tracey cleared up.
"AM NOT!" The redhead shouted.
"Why do you love messing with me?!" The trainer exclaimed, Misty merely sticking her tongue out as an answer. He knew the answer anyways, it was for her own fun and amusement. It could have also had something to do with the fact that she wanted to get even with him. Pikachu just laughed at him. "Can I at least get that hug now?" He decided to ask, causing Misty to laugh.
Approaching her best friend, Misty wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, Ash answering just as enthusiastically as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "I missed you, Misty. You know that right?" Another chuckle from his best friend as she hid her face in his neck, nodding slightly for him to get his answer.
"I missed you too, Ash." She answered. "It's glad to have you back."
END
"And you, see the things they never see.
All you wanted, I could be."
—John Rzeznik—
I honestly don't know how to express how flattered I am! I mean, sure it's only gotten a good 3 Reviews, which I treasure and thank Deoxys, truch28, and WhiteEagle1985 for, but 13 follows is enough motivation for me to post this second chapter. Techinally the first, but who really cares. Anyways, I'm really thankful for the follows and hope to get more opinions and thoughts! I'm also apologizing now because the reason i'm posting this early is because I can't post the second; third chapter so soon. I'm going on vacation and will have no internet access, but think of it this way, I'll have free time to write when I manage to get away from my annoying family members.
I apologize for the sucky battle scene by the way! I'm just getting the hang of writing them with Pokemon and not with humans, and this is my first attempt to do so.
Now, before I end this I would just like to ask Deoxys what part she was referring to in the previous chapter. I'm sorry if you felt like something was out of PokeVerse, but I did try to keep it in there. I want to know so I can improve, and I appreciate the feedback, really! Thanks so much! I hole my first reviewers very dear!
Well, that's about it from me right now. Also, the song quote in the end is from Treasure Planet! Any of you seen that movie? I love it! I remember crushing on Jim for most of my childhood, and trying to get my mom's pet cat to procreate with the stray dogs on the street just to see if three kittens and two puppies would come out. Sadly, I don't have my own robot or my own hoverboard, or my own treasure map that leads to a hidden plannet with gold. Reality sucks man! I want to stay in a reality with magic and Olympians and basically every book I want to be in and Anime too! Okay, this is turning into a rant so i'll cut it here!
じゃねみなさん!