My works (because apparently I can't call them "drabbles") for Pokeshipping Week 2017.
Day 1: Fishing
"This is boring…" Ash whines, leaning to lie on his back, fishing rod still in hand.
"No one said you had to come along," Misty snaps, still sitting cross-legged patiently, not bothering to even glance at him.
The two Trainers are sitting on Route 1, at the same pond that Misty had pulled Ash and Pikachu out of many years ago. It's a lazy Sunday, though Ash is demonstrating the contrast between lethargicness and impatience. Pikachu, to his credit, is emulating Misty's current easygoing mood, while keeping a wary eye on Azurill swimming nearby in the river.
Ash watches the clouds drift along the clear blue sky for a moment before Misty's voice shatters his procrastination.
"Why'd you come with me, anyways?" she asks, focusing intently on her line sitting in the calm water.
"I thought you could use the company," Ash replies, still flat on his back.
"Not if you're gonna complain the entire time," Misty says, shooting him a sideways glance. She has to admit, his company isn't entirely unwelcome: she didn't decide on the fishing spot until he announced he was coming along. Then again, she wonders vaguely if he'd ever pick up on the connection…
"Well, if things would be biting, I'd be more attentive," Ash tells her, sitting upright and tossing his lure back into the water where it lands with a plunk. He shoots her a smirk. "Though I wonder how many things you pulled up before me that day."
Ah, so he does remember, she thinks, feeling her face heat up in a way that has nothing to do with the sun shining down on them. "Nothing else stole my bike that day."
"You got your bike back," Ash reminds her, bristling indignantly. "How long are you going to hold that over my head?"
"As long as I want," Misty says, smirking at his pouting expression. "But as long as you don't do it again," she adds, nodding to the orange bike leaning against a tree. "I'll be okay."
Ash says nothing, glaring daggers at his inactive lure. Misty stretches out a bit, one hand keeping a steady grip on her fishing rod. Another perk to having Ash join is the fact that there's no shortage of entertaining conversation between them… though her mind wanders towards fantasies of other things they could be doing while waiting for a hooked bite… though perhaps one of these days, if they ever decide to be more forward…
Day 2: Jealousy
It's really quite annoying, Misty thinks, listening to the high-pitched squeals of all the fangirls swarming around Ash after his League battle. She watches from the dugout, chin in her hand, decidedly unimpressed at both the fangirls' efforts to attract Ash's attention and Ash's efforts to withdraw himself from the commotion.
"Having fun?" she asks dryly as Security finally manages to get between Ash and the crowd, with Ash himself reaching her. "Do you need a pen or something for all those autographs?"
Ash tries to not look so pleased with himself and fails. "They weren't asking me for anything like that…"
Misty doesn't even want to think about what they were after. "Shall I leave you can hang out with your fan club?"
"Please don't," he says, laughing nervously. Then he finally notices her attitude. "Were you jealous of all that?" He asks, expression torn between concern and glee.
"No," she scoffs all too quickly, pretending to busy herself with her bag so he doesn't pick up on the fact that her face is turning red. As if she'd stoop so low to be jealous of whiny teenage girls with posters of Ash on their walls… "I know you enjoy all that attention."
Ash sits himself down next to her, Pikachu hopping off his shoulder. "No… well, okay, yeah, a little bit." He pauses, scratching the back of his neck. "But I don't really care about their attention."
"That doesn't sound like you," Misty laughs, perhaps a little bitterly, turning back to face him.
He shrugs. "I mean, I do like the attention, but…" Now his face is the one that's turning red. "They're not the people I want it from."
A moment passes, Pikachu looking back and forth between the two of them. The chattering of the crowd fills the silence until Ash speaks again.
"Those girls can shower me with as much affection as they want," he says, paying more attention to the ground. "But they're not you."
Misty blinks, processing this information. "I have to admit," she says, standing up, bag in one hand. "That's very mature of you." She offers her other hand to him, smiling at the look on his face. "C'mon, let's get you and your Pokemon some lunch. My treat."
She spends the duration of the meal watching him again, but with a much happier and prouder gaze this time. She won't admit it outright (at least not in public), but Ash saying her only wants her attention makes her feel rather special…
Day 3: Free Day - Pickup Lines
It's a bit of a surprise when Misty finds Ash waiting in the lobby of the Cerulean Gym at the end of her day. He smiles and waves as she approaches, and she realizes there's neither a hat nor a Pikachu perching on his head.
"What are you doing here?" she asks after giving him a hug. "Didn't you have something going on with Gary today?"
"Wasn't that long," he shrugs, taking her hand and leading her out the door. "So I thought I'd walk you home."
"How gentlemanly of you," Misty smirks, but is glad he's taking steps to at least appear romantic.
They make small talk for the first bit, enjoying the cool afternoon breeze. Then, during a lull in the conversation, Ash coughs quietly before saying, "Are you a Hitmonlee?"
"Mm?" says Misty, having not heard due to being lost in thought. "I'm sorry?"
"Are you a Hitmonlee?"
She stares at him, an eyebrow raised. "No… why?"
"Because your body is kickin'."
Misty continues staring at him. He seems confused about her reaction and tries again: "You must know Tail Whip, because your beauty's leaving my defenseless."
"… Ash, are you okay?"
"… Huh?"
"Are you okay?" she repeats. "Are you having a stroke or something?"
Now he's the one staring blankly at her. "You… you don't like these?"
Misty frowns. "Like what? What were you even saying?"
"They're, er… pickup lines." He turns away from her slightly, the slightest hint of a blush creeping along his face. "Gary told me about them…"
Misty continues staring at him before bursting out into laughter, doubling over and clutching her stomach. Ash watches her with incensed bewilderment until she straightens up, still giggling, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Oh Ash… those are so lame! Why did you think those would work?"
"… Gary said they would," Ash replies, bristling with indignation.
"Ash, Gary would tell you to ride a unicycle naked if it amused him." Misty continues to giggle but loops her arm through his. "But thanks for the laugh."
"Wasn't supposed to be funny," Ash grumbled, looking thoroughly sour.
They continue walking, in silence this time until Pallet Town appears over the horizon. Misty turns to her boyfriend and says, "Cheer up, Ash. I'm going to give you an Everstone."
"… An Everstone?"
Misty kisses his cheek softly. "Because I like you just the way you are."
Day 4: Lost Together
Ash nods at the impressive tree standing before him. "Uh-huh… yup. Okay," he says, patting the trunk. "We've definitely been past this tree before."
"That's not a good sign," sighs Misty, a hand to her forehead. "It's a sign you've gotten us lost, if anything."
"We're not lost," Ash assures her. "I know exactly where we are."
"Yeah? Do tell, Mister Cartographer."
He sweeps an arm in front of him, indicating the spot of wood they're standing in. "We're right here."
"We don't know where 'here' is!" Misty replies, half-ashamed that she got roped into coming along with him. "But it's going to be the site of your grave if you don't find us a way to civilization!"
Pikachu, atop his usual spot on Ash's head, sniffs the air curiously. His Trainer and Misty, however, are too busy trading jabs to notice: Ash attempts to calm Misty with some light-hearted jokes, but she's having none of his foolishness.
"Ash Ketchum, I'm tired, hungry, and it's going to get dark soon. I'd very much rather find a hotel than have to share an acre with some Arceus-forsaken Bug-types!"
"They won't kill you… though, if you try to off them first, they'd retaliate –"
"Why would I go after them first?! And don't change the subject!"
Growing tired of their flirting, Pikachu zaps them both with Thunderbolt. Now charred and smoking slightly, they focus their attention on him: ("I can smell exhaust fumes down the road,") he says, an edge to his normally chipper voice. ("So if you two lovebirds are done with your courtship, we can get a roof over our heads.")
Shamed and embarrassed by the Pokemon, Ash and Misty politely ask him to guide them out of the forest. Ash takes the chance to take Misty's hand in his, shooting her a look before she can protest. The redhead tells herself to withdraw once they've reached the next town, but "accidently" forgets until they're gotten to the Pokemon Center…
Day 5: Pain from Non-Existent Memories (M20 Verse)
It was another dumb, dull, boring day at the Cerulean Gym. Sensational Sister Number Four, Misty, sits in her room, chair pulled up by the window. Her chin in her hand, the redhead stares blankly out at the expanse of grass, trees, and paved roads that checker her hometown.
Elsewhere in the Gym, she knows her sisters are busy, either gossipping or practicing for their water shows. They were never one for Pokemon battles, but they'd rather die than allow Misty to take command of the Gym…
Misty sighs, her breath fogging up the glass. If only she could get out of here… there's no doubt there's a wide world out there, just waiting for her… but alas, here she sits. She should've gone fishing today, but she woke up in a bad mood this morning and had little motivation to do anything.
Then, out of nowhere, like a bolt of lightning, an image flashes vividly through her mind, disappearing as suddenly as it appeared. She had been walking along somewhere with a boy… a boy with a hat and a Pokemon on his shoulder…
What the heck…? Misty shakes her head, as though attempting to clear out her brain to provide more space for the image to reappear. It had to have just been a daydream, she decides. Yes, a figment of imagination, brought on by her desire to travel…
But was it, though? She sits back fully in the chair, casting out her mind as though the image was a Water-type she could lure and reel in. Misty had never seen someone like that before in her life, ever… yet, somehow, there was an air of familiarity about him…
Misty frowns. She wasn't aware until now that her heart was hammering in her chest. The more she tries to recall the image, the more her heart sears with pain. She tries to push it out from her mind but the mere idea of it continues to worm its way into her brain.
"This… this is nuts," She tells herself, standing up. "Why am I thinking about someone – a boy, at that – whom I've never even met?" Maybe she's just hungry and having delusions. Hallucinations. Yes, that's it. She just needs to eat something…
But as Misty steps towards her bedroom door, it happens again: another image bolts into her head… it's the same boy as before, and she's with him again… scolding him about her bike, its charred remains hoisted on her shoulders…
"What the –"
Then it happens again. And again. And again. They fall against her psyche, raindrops during a fierce storm: dancing during a summer festival; a small Pokemon hatching from an egg; angry, red-faced arguments; diving into icy-cold water to drag the boy to shore…
The images overwhelm her. The frantic beating of her heart echoes in her ears, and her blood runs cold. She can't quite put the sensation to words, but… it's almost as if (and she felt ridiculous for admitting it) these were memories. Memories that she was supposed to be experiencing, living through…
Misty turns from her bedroom door to her bed and crawls onto it. There's a heaviness in her heart… it feels like something – a deity, some supernatural entity – is piling on regret and shame for not experiencing life in a certain way…
You can stop now! she screams in her head at the images, now jumping by on repeat. I get it, I… I can't take it, just… please…
But they don't. Soon it all becomes too much to bare and Misty breaks, squeezing her pillow, tears falling down her face. She bites her lip to keep from crying out so her sisters don't overhear and come in to mock her.
And to drive the knife in further, a tiny voice in the back of her head says, If you were with this boy, he'd help you…
But I don't know, Misty pleads. I don't know who he is…! I… I wish I did, but… I don't, and it hurts… oh god, it hurts…!
It's a long while before Misty finally falls asleep, exhausted from the emotional turmoil. Her pillowcase is stained with tears and snot and her last conscious thought is hoping against hope that she's never at the mercy of a cruel god that would tease her with something that could've happened… even, if not in this universe, but a different one…
Day 6: Pikachu's Role in Ash & Misty's Relationship
The comfortable silence of Pikachu's afternoon nap was shattered as the voices of Ash and Misty steadily increased in volume.
"– complete irresponsible. I can't believe you thought that was –"
"– not my fault, and I don't see what the big deal –"
Pikachu turned over on his side. Maybe if he ignored them enough, they'd shut up and let him continue sleeping…
"– deal is it seems like you're not taking this seriously –"
"– insulted that you'd say that. This is the first time –"
Not even folding his ears down accomplished the arduous task of blocking out their argument. Ash must've screwed up really bad…
"– doesn't feel like you care –"
"– do, but this was a rare opportunity –"
Their voices were practically right above him; they must've come into the bedroom, oblivious to Pikachu curled up on the bed. But if they were going to argue right here, Pikachu would have none of it.
("KNOCK IT OFF!") he exploded, shocking both Ash and Misty with a rage-fueled Thunderbolt. Blackened and smoking slightly, the two Trainers turned their gaze towards Pikachu, looking shocked and embarrassed. Pikachu, on the other hand, was not as bashful.
("Arguing is one thing,") he snapped. ("But doing it in front of me is a stupid mistake!")
"I'm sorry, Pikachu," said Misty with sincerity.
"Didn't see you there," mumbled Ash, rubbing the back of his neck.
("So what the heck is going on?") the Mouse Pokemon asked, sitting upright on the bed, arms folded. He looked accusingly between the two of them as they exchanged glances, unsure of who should start talking.
Misty ended up going first: "We had set up a date to have a late breakfast, and Ash was late –"
"I ran into a Trainer and got into a battle!" interrupted Ash, addressing Pikachu and thus Misty rolling her eyes was out of his sight. "That's completely reasonable –"
"I felt ignored, Ash!" Misty shot back, fury in her voice. "This told me you'd rather blow me off than miss a battle –"
Pikachu's cheeks sparked warningly, and they both quieted down. ("Ash, you realize why Misty is upset, right?")
"Yeah, but –"
("AND that you have to reshuffle your priorities a bit now that you and Misty are together?") his Pokemon continued as if he wasn't interrupted.
"… Yeah." said Ash, half-guilty, half-annoyed.
("Misty,") Pikachu continued. ("I know Ash was stupid, but I think it's important that you remember that Ash will get into random battles from time to time.")
"Right," said Misty, though privately she thought that Ash should have excused himself so this whole thing wouldn't have happened in the first place.
Pikachu nodded. ("Okay… think you two can talk the rest of this out quietly?")
They managed, somehow: in fact, they reconciled in such a nonverbal way that Pikachu was forced to settle onto the living room couch into another nap. At least until his second attempt was interrupted with less aggressive, though still rambunctious, noises emanating from the bedroom.
("Man…") Pikachu groaned, pressing a throw pillow over his head. He'd really rather not have to talk to them about that…
Day 7: Midnight Conversations
"Psst… Misty. … Misty!"
"Mmph…"
"Misty, wake up."
"Lemme 'lone or I'll hurt you."
"I can't sleep."
"So… you decided to make it so I couldn't sleep either?"
"Er…"
"Sigh… what's up, Ash?"
"I can't sleep."
"Yes, I gathered that…"
"Well… I wanted to see if you'd just talk to me until I got tired."
"… You think I'm boring?"
"… What? No–"
"Or could it be that you find my voice peaceful?"
"… Sure."
"… So did you have a nightmare, or are you just not tired enough?"
"I just can't get my mind to settle down."
"That's a new one."
"C'mon, Misty… I just feel uneasy about something."
"What could you, of all people, be feeling uneasy about? … Did you eat too much at dinner?"
"Misty…"
"I saw you scarfing down all those hot dogs, I almost got sick just watching you…"
"Cut it out."
"So what's bothering you?"
"… Okay, I think it is my stomach."
"Then why didn't you say so in the first place?!"
"I didn't want you to think I was being stupid–"
"Ash, nine times out of ten I know you're being stupid."
"That's a little unfair…"
"Not really. … Alright, come here."
"Huh?"
"Come here so I can give you a back rub, that might help you relax."
"… How will rubbing my back help with my stomach?"
"You're probably more nervous about being sick in the first place, so if you're relaxed you won't feel as sick."
"Alright…"
"Here we go…"
"… ! Oof… that's it…"
"I told you… wow, you're really tense."
"I spent all day with you, of course I'm tense."
"One more jab, Ketchum, and I swear…"
"Alright, alright…"
"… … … Okay, how's that, Ash? … Ash?"
"Snkk… snzzz… zzz…"
"… Good night, Ash. You goofball…"
