You Got Asked Out?!
Ash's eyes widened with shock. But May's eyes were filled with awe, and Brock and Max's faces were for the most part mutual, except Brock's who for a clear few seconds showed signs of discomfort before recomposing himself.
Ash meanwhile just blinked, stunned, staring with his mouth agape, he needed to hear what she just said again, hoping it wasn't what he just heard.
"I just can't believe that you were so formally asked out on a date!" May squealed in absolute delight. Ouch, he needed to hear the word 'date' again like he needed his Snorlax sleeping on top of him whilst he was pressed against solid concrete. "Misty! I am so happy for you!"
Misty gave a giggle before replying. "May, please I…"
But Ash tuned her out, he gained control of the shock he had just felt and now was feeling conflicted. It seemed a normal day, just a few hours ago he was delighted to have Phanpy accompany him on a journey once more, and even more so to be reunited with Brock as the Hoenn gang was together again as Ash set out for his Battle Frontier challenge, and May respectively for her challenge of the Kanto Contest circuit. And to top their merry gang together was Misty Waterflower, the same person that Ash first met whilst on his journey through Kanto now four years ago.
She had had to leave him and Brock behind though when their Johto journey had ended, for reasons out of their control just over a year ago, and he had missed her dearly during those months. It just wasn't the same, waking up in the morning and seeing May instead of her, the lack of screaming at the sight of a bug Pokémon, a lack of an angry shout because her Psyduck was causing her a headache once again… He could go on all day about the dichotomy of the situation.
During their time together Ash had learn one thing about Misty, she's not too hard to woo, she fell easily for Danny and Rudy respectively during his Orange Island Crew challenge, and – at least in Danny's case – they didn't even had to do much to get her attention focused on them, and it infuriated Ash to no end.
But these days he knew why it frustrated him, he must really like her, right? The lapses of melancholy that would grip him without her, his ever excited prospect of seeing her once again, and the shock he felt when he found her in his home after he got back from Hoenn all struck him as… Odd. Sure, he had missed Brock when he had temporarily left him and Misty during their time on the Orange archipelago, but he wasn't brooding over it, and the same could be applied to Tracey. But with Misty, yeah, the differences were rather obvious, even to him.
This was why he was so stunned during their early dinner that night at Misty's news that, during his time in Hoenn, she was asked out on a date with genuine romantic intentions, and it wasn't him… It shocked him to his core. He balled up his fist and silently his eyes under the brim of his hat and sat there with a frown on his face. It felt so upsetting, and he was sure, oh how he was so sure she must've said yes.
Ash would bet they were already well acquainted with each other, probably kissed each other already, right? That's the sort of thing couples do, right? All of that, and she never said a word?! Not during all the letters they wrote to each other, the small emails they exchanged, and the one or two calls made away from each other?
It all felt so… Alienating, as if to suggest he meant nothing to her when he felt something…
A voice then broke his thoughts of bitterness. "… Ash? Ash? ASH?!" the voice yelled.
"Huh?! W-what's happening?!" he spewed, flinging his head upwards to see a concern look on May and Brock's faces, and… Misty's.
"Is something wrong, Ash?" Misty began, concerned. Ash wasn't sure he wanted her pity right now.
"Y-yeah, everything's fine," he said, pushing away from her direction, faking his smile and laugh all the while, he needed to get away from her, and fast. "I uh… Was just trying to remember if there was a nearby stream to where we are, that's all."
"Why?" May asked.
"Err…" Ah crud, he thought, May would be the one to ruin his foil right now. "I was thinking so… because it's my turn to do the dishes tonight!"
"Um, Ash?" Brock began, "It technically is my turn to do the dishes and-…"
"I'm volunteering to do it in your place!" Ash yelped suddenly, he stood up so fast, grabbed all of their dishes, with Misty's dish he was hesitant and quickly glanced away as he grabbed at it. "C'mon guys!" he called to his Pokémon, "Help me out! Gotta get these done before sundown, yessiree!"
Ash's Pokémon were most amused, and confused by their trainer's sudden eagerness, but they complied all the same and helped him move the various pots and plates into the woods. Misty frowned as she watched him go; this wasn't like her best friend Ash Ketchum at all. Something was clearly bothering him…
OoOoO
Dusk came down fast and soon the traveler's had all set up their tents and sleeping bags respectively. Now Ash usually kept close the group, but tonight he decided to set up shop on the other side of the fire, particularly away from Misty and May, the last thing he needed was to hear more about this Georgio… As if his blood hasn't already boiled enough over the subject. But Misty was still awake, and was having none of Ash's cold shoulder to her anymore; ever since dinner he had been avoiding her all evening.
She then hatched an idea of how to talk to him. Pulling out an index card she scribbled something and handed it to Azurill. "Go give this to Ash please, and await his reply Azurill."
Azurill happily made its way over to Ash and Pikachu. And handed Ash the note from where it had been stuck onto its tail. Ash sighed, knowing it was from Misty. It read "Hey? Do you have something you want to talk about?"
Ash's eye twitched, yeah, he had something on his mind, but something he didn't want to talk to her about. Putting on a fake smile in her direction, he turned the card over and wrote back and handed back to Azurill, just as Misty noticed Pikachu giving Ash an odd look. Azurill hurried back over to Misty and she took the note which read, "No, nothing's wrong. Everything's fine."
Misty frowned, Ash may say he was OK, but she could tell something was wrong. She took out a fresh card and wrote furiously on it and handed it to Azurill who then hurried back to Ash, much to his frustration took it and read it, it said, "Please Ash, I can TELL something is up with you. So spit it out."
Ash groaned and looked it her direction, not in the mood to be humored by all of… Whatever it was he and Misty were doing. "And I'm saying that nothing is wrong with me!" he hissed loudly as he dared. Misty harrumphed, upset at how stubborn Ash could be and made her way over to his sleeping bag, plopped down next to him and folded her arms and stared at him.
"And I say Mr. Pokémon Master that you do have something you need to talk about," Misty said crossly, before softly adding, "Please Ash, you can talk to me about it, please?"
Ash's face turned to a scowl, before averting his gaze away from her before muttering a response. "How's dating Georgio?" he spat.
Misty stared before laughing. Ash was most confused! "W-w-what's so funny?" he angrily asked.
Misty continued laughing before she sobered up, "Ash…" she at last wheezed, "Did you not hear what I was telling May when she thought I was actually dating?"
"No…"
"Well, I can safely assure you that I am not dating anyone!" she laughed, leaving Ash to stare at her in shock, he had not actually thought of that. "You're so naïve sometimes…"
"HEY!"
"And besides Ash, Georgio is not my type at all! I'm not about to date some random kid my age just because he liked me when we never even talked at all before and then asks me out of the blue."
"So… You're not dating anyone, j-just to be clear?" Ash stammered, hoping she'd say yes.
"No, I am not seeing anyone."
Ash felt a wave of relief wash over him, feeling much better about, although that didn't prevent him from feeling guilty over how he had been treating he all evening. "Hey uh… I'm sorry about the misunderstanding. But, uh… I am happy you're not seeing anyone…"
Misty raised an eyebrow, wondering what Ash meant by that. "Well…" she began sheepishly, "There is one special boy out there I could make an exception for…"
Ash looked up, "Wait… Huh?! Who?! Who is this someone?! Tell me!" He had just been assured she was seeing no one else! The heck?!
"Well um…" Misty faltered, now unable to look Ash in the eyes, her face blushing; he just had to ask that question. "…Maybe some other time…?"
"What? No, you can't just leave me on a cliffhanger like that!"
"Pi-ika, Pikachupi, pika pika!" Pikachu shouted in affirmation with his trainer, it seemed they were of the same mind, given the mouse Pokémon had been listening to their conversation.
"O-okay then," Misty said, she looked Ash directly in the eyes, now feeling resolved to end some two-three years' worth of bottled up feelings. She breathed before beginning. "But first, Ash… How do you feel about me?"
Ash decided to just let it out. "I'll be bluntly honest, Mist. I… I love you, Misty."
Misty's eyes widened, she couldn't believe her own ears. "W-w-wait… W-what did you just s-say?"
"I love you," Ash restated, now feeling a bit queasy in his stomach as his eyes drooped.
I can't believe it! H-he likes me back! She screamed in her head, she felt like her heart was going to leap out of her chest from the thought.
"Ash," she softly began, her cheeks a glowing red, and her smile as bright as the sun's glow. "…The one boy I had in mind when I told Georgio back then that already took my heart… Was well… That boy was you all along, Ash."
Ash's smile just couldn't have been bigger. "M-me?!" he excitedly began, before she shushed him from waking the whole camp up. "Y-you like Misty!? I… I-I'm…" he couldn't find the words to say as tears of joy rolled down his face, Pikachu was quite bewildered by the whole scene in front of him as Azurill just chirped happily.
"Ash," Misty giggled, "Calm your water works down I-"
She could've finished that last sentence if Ash hadn't moved forward and gently pressed his lips onto hers and she just couldn't help but push back before Ash opened his mouth a little and moved intimately with hers before they moved off of each other. Both having not been prepared for their first kiss together, but still chose to just stare fondly at each other.
It was then an awful thought struck Ash. "Misty," he began sadly, "I… I'm going off to go challenge the Battle Frontier, and you'll no doubt be needed at your gym. I…"
But Misty quickly cut him off as she scooted towards him, wrapped her arms around his back and ruffled his black hair. "Ash, just knowing you feel the same way is enough for me," she said softly, "Don't worry about us. I want you to go out there and show those Frontier Brains what my boyfriend is made of!"
"Of course, it is my dream to be a Pokémon Master," Ash laughed, playing with Misty's hair, "And… I'll win, because I love you, Mist."
"I love you too Ash. And always will… Just, make sure you call me once in a while, and also visit me after you finish k'?"
"Of course," Ash laughed, "Misty?"
"Yes?"
"I really love you, y'know?"
"I do too, Ash. Always will, no matter the distance."
Author's Note(s): Wow! I actually began editing this yesterday so I could make sure nothing was wrong with it before I posted it. But wow, I ended up extending the story by a hundred words instead! Anyways, I love the idea of this theme, Ash's jealousy whenever Misty got hit on or infatuated by another guy always just made him so mad it was delightful to see. And also it stands for definitely one of Pokeshipping's strongest points, since Ash has never ever since then post-Misty been seen jealous of another male getting along with his female companions.
