Chapter One - A Dream Achieved
by CultNirvana
" Look at this place." He just stared into the room. " It has everything."
Everyone came in to and looked about themselves in amazement. It was the most luxurious place they had ever seen; large, comfortable and with every frill imaginable.
" I can't believe this place."
" Believe it, Ash," Professor Oak said. " Now you have become a Master, be prepared for the top accommodation possible. It's five star here on in."
" Misty, I think we should stick with this this guy. No more camping, no more sleeping on the hard ground ..." Brock joked.
"...No more bugs," Misty added.
" Well, we better leave you guys to get ready," the Professor told them. " Your victory has probably already been announced and we all need to prepare for the initiation ceremony later."
" Great! A party." Brock and Misty high-fived at the thought of a party.
" We'll see you later."
" Bye honey."
" Bye mom." The Professor and Ash's mom left the young trio alone.
" I'm going to start to get ready," Misty told her friends.
Brock looked at his watch. " But the party won't be for hours."
" Yeah, but you know how long it takes us girls to get ready."
" Ah, women," both guys signed in unison.
"You men may complain about us taking so long, but you never complain about the results."
" She's got us there, Ash."
With a smile, Misty opened the door to the bedroom that was to be hers, and left the living room. She then lay on the bed, trying to come to terms with what had happened today.
Six years of travelling, six years of trying and now it was finally all over. Her friend had achieved his dream. She knew he could do it. She may not have always been his best supporter, but she had never lost faith, even during all of the many arguments.
But what did it mean for the future?
Ash would be travelling around the world, competing in the top contests. He would be one of the most famous people in the world, the media would always be close to his heels. Would he truly have time for her?
She reached into her bag and took out a small book. Flipping the pages until they settled where she had placed several pieces of paper, she withdrew a slightly tattered photograph, a photograph taken several years before. It was of the whole group, including many of their Pokémon. God, we were so young back then. Her eyes focused upon the younger Ash, a wide smile placing itself upon her face. He had even been cute at that age.
Looking at the photo, it seemed to her that she was looking into the past, and she understood the lesson it was teaching her. She couldn't live without him now. He was a indispensable part of her life. She couldn't remember a day they were apart since they had met. But she knew she might have to comes to terms with the fact that it may not be that way for much longer. The smile diminished.
She didn't like it, but that was just life. She would have to swallow the emotions she had been carrying for many years, the emotions that she had always dreamed she would one day share with him, and begin a new chapter in her life. It would hurt, but it was what she had to do.
They're journey was at an end.
Feeling tears welling up in her eyes, she got up from the bed and began to get ready, hoping that at least for a few hours she could forget those feelings and just enjoy her last while with him.
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He sat on his bed, his legs crossed, eyes closed, and tried to calm himself a little. It was the day he had been waiting for for so long, he was about to be proclaimed to the world as a Master. He was scared, but at the same time ecstatically happy. In mere moments he was going to have to go down there and show his face. He was one of only a few trainers who would get this award this year, so it generally was a big event, and him only about to reach his sixteenth birthday, made it even more of an affair, which terrified him even more. Everyone was relying upon him to prove to the world how good you truly have to be to become a Master. He knew he would also become the hero of many young trainers, starting out on their quests, just like other Masters had been his idols not that long ago. Also, Pallet Town's hopes were residing on him. He would put the small town on the map, and help it to grow. It seemed all the pressure in the world was on him, and he just hoped that he would make everyone proud. It was the beginning of his career in the public eye, and even though he knew he would do his best, the little bit of doubt that had always plagued him told him to be prepared if he did not shape up.
His mind clouded with mixed emotions, he just lay back and forgot his control. His feelings of triumph over rode his anxiety. He just screamed at the top of his voice, " Yes."
Just then a knock came at the door. Regaining his composure and getting up of the bed, he answered the door.
Misty was standing there, dressed and ready for the ceremony. " Was that you?"
Ash wondered what she was talking about for a moment before realising she meant the yell. He looked a little embarrassed. He didn't mean to shout that loud. " Ahh, yeah. That was me. I just got a bit overexcited."
" You're always overexcited. It's rare to actually see you on the level."
" Well, I have reason to be happy. I'm about to achieve my dream."
" You beat the Elite Four several hours ago, you have already achieved your dream."
" I know, but this is the last piece of the puzzle. Being crowned as one of the best Pokémon Trainers in the world. The vast majority of trainers never make it this far. Hell, most don't even get through their first year. I thought being able to stay a trainer for several years was good, but now I have gotten to the final level. I have attained my dream, and I'm only fifteen."
" Your a brilliant trainer, Ash. You shouldn't be so surprised. I've always known you would become one of the elite."
" But over the past six years or so, you've teased me, telling me I would never get anywhere, and that all the badges I got were because gym leaders felt sorry for me."
" Ash, you know I only thought that when we first met. After that, the only times I said things like that was because I didn't want you to give up your dream, your destiny. I realised that when I said things like that, you tried harder because you wanted to show that what I was saying was wrong, to piss you off a little, and you know I didn't really mean any of those things."
" Yeah," Ash came to the realisation that his friend was right. " I guess so. I just liked to annoy you by showing you how great a trainer I was."
" Ash, remember, humbleness is a virtue of gods."
" I'm sorry, it's just I've just achieved my dream, and I can't help being a little hyperactive."
She give him a friendly smile. He had become so much more mature over that past little while, but still he had the same impulsive and passionate nature that he had when she had first met him, when he was still a kid. He had become a mixture of seasoned maturity and childish humour, and with him, the combination seemed to work. She give a little chuckle thinking about his complexities.
" Hey," Ash responded, with a hurt tone to his voice. " Don't laugh at me. I'm allowed to go a bit mad."
" I know, and I am so happy for you, Ash." She stood up from his bed and give him a hug. Ash, confused as to what to do, put his arms around her and returned the embrace, but a little too over eagerly. He picked her up from the ground and pulled her tighter. " Ash," Misty said, with a large smile on her face. " Let me down before you drop me." Ash looked up towards her with a semi-serious look on his face. The smile from her face disappeared to be replaced by a confused expression. " What's wrong?"
" Nothing at all. I just want to thank you for being with me over the last few years and always being there to rely on."
" That's what friends are for. Now, can you put me down."
" Sure." He didn't particually want to. Holding her body close to his, feeling her warmth and smelling her scent, he didn't want to let her go. But logic won over. Ash, you idiot, what are you doing? he thought to himself. She's a friend, nothing more, and she never will be anything else. Wise up and stop thinking about her in these ways. He slowly set her back down upon the floor. " Sorry, I just got a little over excited."
" Don't worry. I'm used to it."
She looked up into her friend's face. She couldn't believe how he had changed over the past few years. He was no longer the naive young boy she had first fished out of the river that flowed near Viridian almost six years before. He had grown an inch taller than her, and she was sure he would still grow taller. His body was also toned and his shoulders had broadened. His black hair now hung slightly longer and was not as spiked as before. Much to her relief, he now preferred wearing black combats and a T-shirt, rather of his old clothes (although at the moment he was dressed for the occasion in a blue kimono). But still the old cap remained, but he always had it turned backwards, in a way more suited to his age.
His personality had also altered to suit his age. He still was bold and brash, but was also much wiser and more mature, and understood more about life, and not just about things connected with Pokémon. But with all the differences there still remained a few constants to remind her of earlier times, and they had always been her favourite features - his cheeky grin and innocent, dark eyes. Time, as with everyone, had changed him, and she did approve of it's alterations. She couldn't help but admire everything about him, but also noticed that many other young women were beginning to think the same.
She knew that she shouldn't become jealous, but she couldn't help it. Her closeness to Ash grew every day they spent together, and going back over the length of their friendship, that was an incredible number of days. She also had realised that as they had matured, her feelings became stronger, moving far past friendship. Misty had always known that she had a crush on the young trainer since they first met, but it hadn't been until recently that she had admitted to herself that she was falling in love with her friend, something she was eternally paranoid of him finding out. She knew he did not return her feelings, and was afraid of what might happen to their current relationship if the truth were known. She was nothing more than an older sister to him, someone to help him when times were hard, and like a real sister she knew that she would have to let him go sooner or later, and endure the pain of any future relationships he may have with other women. But perhaps she may not have to experience that. With what was happening, she was unsure whether or not they would be together for much longer.
Misty stirred herself from her daydream. Realising that she was staring at him too intently and too gravely, she spoke. " We better go. It's almost seven o'clock."
" Yeah. If you're ready then, let's go." He offered his arm to her, and she accepted, wrapping hers around his. They then left the room and walked down to met the others in the banquet hall.
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" Today is a special day, a day when a new Master will be crowned. The day marks the start of a new life for him, a time when he will have to deal with new challenges and new triumphs." Lance indicated for Ash to take a step closer and to kneel in front of the Dragon Master. He did so, and Lance pinned a special platinum badge to the front of Ash's clothes. It was the Master's seal, the most sought after badge in the League. And now he was it's poccessor.
As he rose, the crowd began to applaud. He was the new master, one of few. He had achieved his dream.
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Ash didn't particually feel comfortable. Everyone was crowded around him, asking him for autographs. He was the newest star in the Pokémon world, and knew that this was how his life was going to probably be until he retired, but still it unnerved him to have these many people all vying for his attention at one time. The only thing that he didn't mind so much was that most of the crowd were young women, around his own age or a bit older. Maybe he would enjoy this fame thing a little more than he expected, and he had expected to enjoy it a lot.
But his attention was distracted from the gathering and onto someone much more important to him. Misty had left the room and had strayed out onto the balcony. He could clearly see that she was upset, so he apologised to the audience and left the throng, to join his friend.
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" I can't believe the little twerp did it," the woman in the waitress outfit said to her partner.
" Well, he isn't so little anymore, Jess," he, also wearing a waitress' outfit (yes, waitress), answered, looked at the young man leaving the reception room.
" Little or not, he has a history of messing up everything we do."
" You don't think he will be able to mess up the boss' new plan?"
" There is no way. He and his friends wouldn't have a chance."
" Jessie, what do you think of this plan? I just kept getting the feeling that it's just not right."
She replied with a stern attitude, but not before hesitating. " We're Team Rocket, of course it's not right. We base our whole career on doing what is wrong. And besides, if it works, we'll never have to try to steal that blasted Pikachu again."
" I'm up for that one."
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He walked slowly until he was behind her, and spoke softly not to startle her. " Misty, you okay?"
" Ah, yeah. I'm okay, Ash. Why?"
" You just look a little upset, that's all." He came closer and stood beside her upon the balcony, but he didn't look towards the beautiful scenery below where Misty had cast her eyes. He just stared at her, looking for any sign that would tell him what was wrong, but he couldn't understand her expression. All he knew was that there was sadness within it. " You can tell me what's wrong. We're friends," he said in an effort to comfort her.
" It's just, where do we go from here? You have achieved your dream. You have become a Master. Until you decide to retire, you'll be travelling non-stop around the world, meeting new people, competing in many competitions. You won't have much time for me and Brock." Her voice was full of sorrow, he could hear it. She truly believed that he was going to abandon her.
" Misty, I'm not about to pack up and leave you. Your my friend, you have been since we were kids. I'd never do that to you."
" But you have no choice. That's part of being a Pokémon Master, and you can't deny that."
" Yes, I'll be competing all over the world, but there's not competitions all times of the year, and when I do have to travel, I intend to take you and Brock with me. Anyway, we can't part yet."
" Why?"
" Because I still owe you a bike." When he realised what he had said, he immediately thought up a way to change the subject. He was too familiar with Misty's wraith not to at least try to escape her violence. Luckily, all she did was laugh at the thought. " Also, you need to start collecting your own badges. You've had plenty of training, and I'm sure you'll easily beat the gym leaders."
" I guess you are right."
" Misty, I'm never going to leave you. You can count on that. We're too close as friends to let anything like that happen. You're more important than anything." He lifted his hand and placed it on top of hers, which had been resting on the ledge of the balcony, and gently squeezed it.
She looked at her friend and saw the sincerity on his face. She knew he wasn't lying. With a smile she asked, " Friends forever?"
He squeezed her hand again, and answered, " Forever."
They just stared into each others eyes for a few moments, both knowing that they would never break that promise.
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Back in the hall, Brock, Pikachu, Professor Oak and Ash's mom watched the two on the balcony.
" It seems the two of them have been getting pretty close to one another lately," Oak said to the group.
" Well, they have stopped fighting so much in the last while, and I think there is a mutual attraction between the two, but so far nothing has happened," Brock told them.
" Pika," Pikachu agreed, disappointed. There was nothing in the world that the little rodent wanted more that for his favourite two people to get together, but he knew that the two were just too afraid to admit their feelings for each other.
" Why not?" Ash's mother inquired.
" Maybe they're just too stubborn, or maybe too scared. Having feelings for a friend is a very confusing situation to be put in, and neither of them have much experience with these kinds of problems. They're probably also worried of being rejected or ruining what they already have. I don't envy them the situation."
" Oh, that's so sad," Ash's mother commented. She had always liked Misty and would have enjoyed the thought of her and Ash together.
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On the balcony, realising the length of time they had been staring at each other, Ash and Misty separated hands, and looked into the distance again, at the full moon, and the plateau illuminated by it's bright silver light.
Ash now knew that the emotions that he had been feeling lately were not the result of uncontrolled teenage urges. It was something deeper. Having looked into her eyes, and held her hand, he knew he wanted them to be together more than anything. But still he was unsure of how she felt. Certain looks, certain words spurred him on, but the thought that his unexperienced mind may be misinterpretating the situation, held him back. The only way, he knew, that he would find out if the future he yearned for was at all probable was to ask her how she felt, but one circumstance held him back from asking the ultimate question - the fact that there was about a ninety per cent chance of him being slapped across the face and her to run away crying. Then again if he didn't know the answer, the chances of him losing his mind were defiantly at the certainty mark. For his own sanity he had to ask her. Who knows, he thought, she may say yes and we might end up spending the rest of our lives together. Well, at least I can dream. So he took a deep breath and said, " Ah, Misty?"
" Yeah, Ash? What's up?"
" You look really great tonight." Not what he wanted to say, but a compliment couldn't hurt.
She blushed. " Thanks."
" Ah, would you, ah, I mean, will you, ah." He began to awkwardly scratch his head and shut himself up, knowing that his nervousness was evident. With the realisation, all of his built up courage seeped away from him, and he knew he couldn't do it, not after stuttering like an idiot. Instead, he took in another deep breath, and made a more subtle move. " Would you like to dance?"
" Sure," Misty replied, still unsuccessfully holding a blush from her cheeks. This time she grabbed his hand and lead him to the dance floor, much to the resentment of the young women previously vying for his attention. For at least a few moments, he would be hers.
The song playing in the hall was fast and upbeat, a perfect melody for the two teenager's moods. The couple danced, not taking the situation seriously. They just enjoyed the music, and didn't care about much else. The next musical choice however was much slower, and more sedate. Both looked at each other for a moment, unsure of what to do until Misty settled the awkwardness. " I'm sure we'll be able to dance to this one. Love songs are easy." She took his hands and placed them upon the sides of her belly, and wrapped her own around the back of his neck. The two then just swayed in time with the music, enjoying the constant closeness.
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Over at the side of the room, Brock stood alone, looking towards his friends, and smiled. He didn't know how each of them felt about the other, but hoped that it was more than mutual attraction.
" I hope I'm not disturbing you, but I was wondering if we could talk."
Brock instantly turned in the direction of the soft voice that had startled him. Standing next to him was a beautiful young lady, with long, dark, purple tinted hair, vivid green eyes and he guessed she was either in her late teens or early twenties. He recognised her from the ceremony. She had been sitting on the stage with other dignitaries. She was Virdian's Mayor's daughter. He felt the familiar rising of temperature in his cheeks that almost always occurred when a cute young lady was in the vicinity. " Ah, hi. Ah, no you're not disturbing me." He coughed, tried to regain his composure and offered his hand. " What's you're name?"
She took the hand and shook it. " Hello. I'm Kiyoko, the Mayor's daughter. I was hoping to invite you and your friends to dinner at my place the day after tomorrow, to congratulate Ash for his accomplishment. I know it won't be as grand as this, but I just want to do my part."
" Oh, we'd be delighted. It's very nice of you to invite us."
" It's no problem. I'm really happy you're coming. I know today has been a little hectic for the three of you and hope that you will enjoy a humble meal at my home. Where are you're friends?"
" Over there dancing, but don't worry, they'll be okay with me agreeing for them. So, are you enjoying the party?"
" Yeah, it's great." She looked away from Brock and into the crowd on the dance floor and saw the others. " Are they both...together?"
" Everyone thinks that."
" Understandable. Just look at them. They seem to be a little to close to just be friends. So they aren't going out?"
" No, but they would make a cute couple."
Kiyoko laughed at Brock's comment. " You're right. Ah, I'm sorry to chat and leave but I need to speak to my father. Here's my address." She handed him a piece of white paper with a few lines of purple writing printed on it. " So about eight o'clock the day after tomorrow?"
" No problem. That sounds great. We'll be there."
" Are you sure you're friends will be alright with it?"
" Yeah, don't worry. Ash's mom and Professor Oak are leaving tomorrow so that will be no problem and the rest of us will be staying in Viridian for a few more days. I can't see any reason why Ash and Misty would refuse."
" Thanks."
" No problem."
With a smile, Kiyoko walked away from Brock.
He continued to stare at the young woman walking away from him. " Mmm. Very cute. Maybe there's a possibility there."
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" Oh, I need to sit down. My feet are killing me." She pulled him from the dance floor to the chairs at the side, both almost collapsing on them. " We haven't partied like this for a while."
" Remember it's my birthday in two weeks, so get ready for another party."
" Don't worry. I'll be there." She placed her exhausted head upon his shoulder, and closed her drowsy eyes. " God, I can't believe you're nearly sixteen. Where has the time gone? It feels like only yesterday we met. Now you're nearly all grown up."
Wondering what to do, he lightly placed his arm around her, in what he hoped was just a friendly embrace, and laid his hand on her arm. " What do you mean 'nearly'? I am grown up."
" Not for another two years. You can still get away with crazy stuff. Once you reach eighteen everyone expects you to be mature and sensible," she mocked.
" I haven't seen any change in you since you're last birthday. You still a crazy, red-headed juvenile who can't control her anger."
" Hey! I'm not that bad-tempered," she almost yelled, opening her eyes, glaring at him.
He just laughed. " Yes you are. You've just made my point for me."
" Well, okay, I am." She began to laugh too, leaning closer to him, letting her eyelids fall again, wishing she could sleep right there, in his gentle arms. " God, I'm tired."
