This chapter explains what Ash realised in Hoenn and why he comes back to Kanto


1 month earlier.

Ash, Brock, May and Max were travelling from Slateport City to Mauville City so Ash could get his third gym badge. The group had stopped by a waterfall so they could have lunch. Brock was cooking lunch, May was grooming her Pokémon, Max was going through his PokéNav and Ash was sitting on a rock in front of a waterfall staring at it. Staring at the waterfall conjured up memories of his closet friend Misty Waterflower. They'd parted two months ago when she had been called back to the Cerulean Gym by her sisters so she could look after the gym while they went on their trip around the world. Ash sighed then took off his hat pulled out Misty's handkerchief and he sat there staring at it. He then muttered "How will she react, what will she say?" Pikachu walked over to his friend and master, hopped onto his shoulder and asked "Are you feeling alright Ash?"(A/N Ash is able to understand what Pikachu says) Ash answered dejectedly "I'm not sure buddy, I'm just not sure".

About 20 minutes later Brock announced that lunch was ready. May and Max walked over to the table where Brock was serving lunch. Ash didn't hear Brock announce lunch as he was lost in his thoughts of Misty. Brock noticed Ash was still sitting over by the waterfall so he asked May to go and let him know lunch was ready. May walked over to where Ash was and noticed him staring at a handkerchief with a sad expression on his face. May asked curiously "Hey Ash, what's that you're holding?" Ash turned around looked at May and said tonelessly "It's nothing May." He then put the handkerchief back into his hat and put his hat back on then he asked May "What do you want May?" May answered "Brock wanted me to let you know that he's serving lunch". Ash nodded and walked over to the table while May stood there wondering about the handkerchief Ash was holding and the sad expression on his face then she followed Ash to the table. The four of them started eating but after a few mouthfuls Ash pushed his lunch away and said "I'm not hungry." Then he got up and walked back to where he was sitting by the waterfall. The others stared after him in shock.

That night Ash didn't each much again at dinner. Once Max and Ash were asleep May asked Brock if they could talk and Brock said they could. The two of them went out of earshot so they wouldn't wake up Ash or Max. Brock asked "So May, what do you want to talk about?" May answered "I wanna know about Ash and the handkerchief he was staring at". Brock nodded, not surprised that that was what May wanted to ask about. He'd seen what happened when May had gone to fetch Ash for lunch. Brock answered calmly "May that handkerchief is a gift from Ash's closet friend. It is also a reminder of the adventures the two of them shared together". May replied "Ok, so the handkerchief is a reminder of their adventures together I get that but that doesn't explain the sad expression I saw on Ash's face". Brock once again answered calmly "They had to part just before Ash came to Hoenn. She was forced to go back home by her sisters to look after the gym while they went on a trip around the world". May asked in confusion "She? Gym?" Brock answered "Ash's closet friend is a girl and she's a Kanto Gym Leader same as me". May then asked "How do you know this Brock? Did Ash tell you this?" Brock chuckled and answered "No he didn't tell me, I travelled with the two of them and she, Ash and I all parted at the same time," May nodded and Brock continued "I know you're worried about Ash, I am too. So how about tomorrow I have a talk with Ash". May answered gratefully "Thank you Brock". The two of them then decided to go to sleep.

The next morning after the four of them had breakfast Ash went back over to the waterfall and Brock followed after him. Brock asked with concern "Hey big guy is something wrong?" Ash asked "What makes you think something's wrong?" Brock answered "Well for starters the last few meals we've had you've hardly touched that was my first clue and second was the way you were staring at that handkerchief Misty gave you". Ash answered "I'm not sure man". Brock decided to change tactics and asked "What's on your mind then?" Ash sighed and answered "Misty. She's been on my mind since I defeated Brawly and earned the Knuckle Badge". Brock replied "I thought so but I thought it was only the last few days". Ash answered him "No. I also realised something a few days ago". Brock asked curiously "what did you realise big guy?" Ash answered him with a slight smile "I am in love with her Brock". Brock could have leapt for joy upon hearing Ash say that. He thought he was going to have to help Ash become aware of the feelings he held for Misy. Ash continued "I'm going back to Kanto to tell her how I feel about her". Brock looked at Ash in surprise and then asked "Is that what's been bothering you? Telling us that you were going to head back to Kanto?" Ash shook his head and answered "No, I knew you'd understand why I wanted to go back to Kanto once I explained it to you. I'm afraid she won't feel the same way about me as I feel about her". Brock had to use all his willpower not to start laughing. He knew how Misty felt about Ash; he could see how both of them felt about the other when they were travelling together. Brock then said to Ash smiling "How about I go back with you to give you moral support". Ash smiled and answered "Thanks Brock, this way if I do get rejected I will have an expert on rejection to help me get over it". Brock face faulted upon hearing that. Ash continued "What about May and Max what do we do about them?" Before Brock could answer May cut in and announced "We're coming with you". Brock asked "Were you eavesdropping?" Max answered "No we were listening from afar". Brock answered "Last time I checked listening from afar could be classed as eavesdropping". Max turned to Ash and asked "When were you planning on heading back to Kanto?" Ash answered "Originally I was going to wait til after I had gotten my third badge in Mauville City and head back to Slateport and catch a ferry back home but I guess we can head back to Slateport today.

It took them 3 days to get back to Slateport City. The first thing the Ash did when they got to Slateport City was head to the ferry port and find out about the ferries going to Kanto. He met the others at the Pokémon Centre and May asked "Well?" Ash answered "there are 2 ferries going to Kanto in the next 5 days. The first one leaves tomorrow and goes to Vermillion City but it stops at Olivine City in Johto so it will take 6 weeks to get there". Brock asked "And the second ferry?" Ash answered "The second ferry leaves in 3 days and goes straight to the port south of Pallet Town and it will take 2 weeks. I got us tickets for the ferry that leaves in 3 days". The others nodded and then waited around Slateport City for 3 days and then caught the ferry to Kanto. 2 weeks later they arrived in the port south of Pallet Town. It took them half the day to walk from the port to Pallet town. The decided awhile they were walking to Pallet Town that they would stay at Ash's house. When they arrived at Ash's house Ash introduced May and Max to his mum but didn't tell her why he was back in Kanto. Delia Ketchum suspected the reason that Ash had come back to Kanto had to do with Misty. So she asked where they were going to and Ash unthinkingly said Cerulean City confirming Delia's suspicions. The next day they left Pallet Town with Ash having changed into his old travelling clothes. Five days later they arrived at the front of Cerulean Gym. Ash knocked on the door and a few minutes later the door opened and Misty was there. She said "Ash… "her voice trailing off. Ash said happily "Hey Mist".


A/N - Now we know why Ash is back in Kanto.
Next chapter Misty will hear about some Ash, Brock, May and Max's adventures in Hoenn and Ash will confess his feelings to Misty

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