CHAPTER II

Ash sat in the on the bench in the centre of the locker room. He was heartbroken, after fifteen years of training he failed, he let them down, all of them. Pikachu lay on his lap his wounds healed but still he was in a lot of pain and he was exhausted. Pikachu was crushed, just as much, his master. Ash had lost so therefore so had he.

The TV was playing footage of the match. The news station he left on had a banner across the bottom it read;

"Breaking new: Red retains Pokemon Master Title in hard fought contest", at least they were nice about it. Ash then turned the channel to the sports one. Eamon was delighted with himself, "I told you both that he didn't have a chance, a trainer doesn't just walk into a fight with Red and walk out the pokemon master, it don't work like that". It was probably for the best that Ash just turned of the TV, which he did, he knew better about what happened than anybody else.

His family and friends then came down to see him. They had to walk on egg shells around him. They all kept on saying how sorry they were for him and asked him if he was all right. There is nothing worse than knowing that people pity you. "Am fine", "Am fine" "Am fine!" he kept repeating to them. Sometimes all you want is to be left alone, which normally happens around times where no one will give you peace. Then he snapped, it was poor Max that got the blunt.

"You did your best Ash" Max said as he offered Ash a bottle of the sticky berry drink again.

This was what pushed him across the line. He got up and swung his arm that he knocked the drink out of Max's hand. It was accidental but it did drive home the point to them all.

"Shut Up! All of you! Just shut up and get out! GET OUT!" he roared at the top of his voice.

He never spoke to anyone like that. It was a complete break in character for him. He was never so disappointed and not just with the result but also with himself for his behaviour. His friends and family, the people he loved and who loved him just stared in. They were shocked at the violence of his outburst he was never like this. The human being will at times lash out at the ones they love when they need to. This was the first and last time Ash ever did it.

"Ok Ash, we'll leave you alone" Dawn said, then one by one his family and friends walked out of the room.

"C'mon Pikachu" Brock said as he waited at the door.

Pikachu got up and limped out the door stopping to look back at his master, a hurt expression on his face. May picked him up and carried him of.

"Ash remember that there is more to life than being a Pokémon master" Brock said as he walked out.

Tears built up again and once the door closed Ash let go. Tears ran down his face he cried. He dug his hands into his pockets and threw his pokedex across the room. In the other pocket he took out the lure she gave him, he always held it close and never wanted to let it go, and he threw it to.

It hit the wall and fell to the floor. Oh no he thought and he ran across the room to get it, his most prized possession. He held it close then sat down on the bench and let it all out.

May, Max, Dawn and Brock went down to the waiting room. Professor Oak, Tracy and Delia went to get a coffee. They sat down on the seats, they were very comfortable, and you nearly sank into them when you sat on them, getting up was a choir. Brock took out a small box from his back pack.

"Do you guys have the stuff?" he asked them.

"Yeah here" Dawn said as she ruffled through her satchel, she took out a small pile of photographs and handed them to Brock placed them in the box with the utmost care. Max and May had photos too they were about to hand them to Brock when they heard a very familiar voice.

"What do you mean I can't get in?" it was a very familiar voice.

Brock got up "I better see what's wrong before she kills someone" he looked to Max ". He didn't mean it buddy, he's just sad" he patted Max's shoulder as he walked down towards the commotion.

There's a saying about redheads, very stereotypical but when we're talking about Misty its true. They have a very, very, very bad temper. When Brock got there he could see the sweat coming of the security guard.

"He's my friend I've known him for years!" she yelled.

"Still this is my job I can't let you in without permission". Unbelievably the security guard was trying to stand up to her.

"Hey, what's the problem?" Brock asked as he approached the two of them, getting ready to stop Misty from killing the hapless security guard.

"This jerk won't let me in" she burst out glaring at the man.

"Do you know her?" the guard turned to Brock.

"Yeah, let her in" Brock said as he gave the guard ten bucks for the trouble.

Misty passed by the security guard glaring at him. The poor guy just collapsed on a nearby chair once they turned the corner.

"How is he?" Misty asked Brock as they approached the waiting area.

"As expected, heartbroken he's taking it badly" Brock then sat down again. A chorus of hi Misty began as the others seen her.

"Should I go see him?" she asked.

"Best give him a few minutes" Max said. Max wasn't bitter at all about Ash's outburst.

"Do you have the stuff?" Dawn asked

"Yeah here" she dug through her bag and took out a thick silver envelope inside were some of her most precious possessions she handed them to Dawn and she put them in the box.

Brock took the box of Dawn "We'll have a better look at them later ok and well sign the box at the hotel". Brock was the equivalent to a criminal mastermind. This personal project of his took months to get ready, oh the phone bills he had when calling everyone to organise the gift. The package he affectionately called it.

They sat there and talked for a few minutes about the match.

"Red is incredible, and that Charizard unreal" Max was in awe of Red, as he was growing up Red was hardly ever seen, this was his first time watching him battle.

"My father fought him when he used to run the gym" Brock said, "back on his rise to power".

"My mom fought him too" Misty chimed in "he used that Charizard then too. Unusual choice for a water gym".

"What's with the coat?" Dawn asked as she munched on a bag of potato chips "what does he think he's a vampire or something?"

"That's where he got all his power, by sucking the blood of pokemon trainers the world over, blah" Max joked.

"Don't be ridiculous, everybody knows he himself is a pokemon "May laughed.

Speak of the devil and he will appear. Red then walked down the hall. The others froze in silence, as he walked through the waiting area, flanked by two men in expensive suits and two body guards. He turned and said "Boo" to them.

Max dived behind a chair and the others just froze. Red walked on with his entourage down the marble corridor.

Max got up and brushed some dust from his jumper. For such a beautiful place they mustn't have cleaned to well.

"He heard you, he's going to pay you a visit tonight" Misty joked.

Delia walked down the hall "Would one of you mind going in and checking on him please?".

"Misty you go" Brock said.

"Should I?" she asked

"Yeah you can give out to him better than anyone if need be" Brock said, there was another reason he wanted her to go, but that's for later.

"Ok I'll go. Where is the room?" she got out of the very comfy chair.

"Down the hall third room on the left" Brock said as he pointed down the hall.

Misty walked of. Dawn and May winked at each other and looked at Brock. He pretended he didn't notice, and laid back in the chair. His work was done for now.

Ash started trying to fix pokedex. Yep it was broke, maybe professor Oak could give him a new one. All his data was gone too, great. Misty was on his mind more now than his defeat. He was in a world of his own when the door then knocked.

"Ash its me" it was Misty, he knew that voice anywhere.

She opened the door and walked in, nice to know she still had manners.

"Am sorry, am so sorry Ash" she said as she sat down beside him. She tried to hug him he didn't even react.

"What happened there?" she said looking at the pokedex.

"It don't matter I failed, I failed at everything" he said as he tried to avoid her. He also didn't want her to know how upset he was.

"You tried your best, they tried their best" she said motioning to the collection of pokeballs on the chair in the corner.

"Why did you not come down after the match" he was trying to change the subject.

"I wasn't allowed in, Brock had to tell the security guard I knew you to get in" she said.

"Can I ask you something?" he asked anyway. He personally never seen the point in that sentence.

"Depends what it is?" she asked as she leaned on his shoulder. He could smell her perfume, a distinct sweet smell. It wasn't over powering as some of the stuff Dawn spent thousands on, it was simply Misty, hmm may have a product there, he smiled inside for a brief moment.

"Why did you come?" he asked as he turned towards her "You never answered my phone call the other day"

"I wanted to be there for you, like you always were for me" and she hugged him "beside who answers their phone at seven thirty in the evening".

"Most people" he said back.

"I needed my beauty sleep "she smiled.

"At half seven at night?" he smiled a little.

"Actually I never left bed all day, you know lazy" she smiled at him.

"By the way I told you years ago you don't need beauty sleep".

They both smiled. She turned on the TV and flicked through the channels. She tried to find a channel that wasn't showing the match, she then settled on the British News channel, they weren't as negative about Ash as other stations.

She turned to Ash "Red was always unstoppable" she said.

"What?" he looked at her puzzled.

"My mother fought him when she used to run the gym" she said.

He looked down at a very interesting spot on the floor "He was better than me in every way, he's got everything now, the fame the glory the fans ... I failed".

"But you have so much more" she said hopefully she could sheer him up.

"Like what?" he retorted.

"Friends and family that love you so much, Pokémon that will always be loyal to you, a kind heart and a generous nature" she replied as she held his hand.

"And look how I treat them! I haven't seen most of them in years or spoken to them I mean when was the last time we seen each other, what about two years ago was" he was beating himself up now.

"Yeah but I always thought of you, I thought about you every day, every time I seen a bike or a Pikachu you were in my mind". What she said it was true. Maybe she could tell him now. Maybe just maybe he wouldn't run of on another adventure this time.

"I kept it you know" he said looking up at her. He took of his hat and put the broken pokedex in it he then threw it into his open duffel bag..

"What?" she asked her mind raced then she realised.

"The lure you gave me when we were younger" he said as he dangled it in front of her.

"There was another reason I gave you that Ash" she said as she touched his hand.

"Yeah?" he said as he gazed into her eyes, do it do it his mind screamed at him.

"I wanted you to remember me" she looked down.

"Misty how could I forget you" he looked at her "I mean you're the scariest red head ever" he smiled.

"Well you forgot about our kiss quickly enough" she retorted and look at him.

"Misty… I never did" he was about to tell her his secret. He filled her with hope, she wanted to tell him. May as well she thought.

Ash, I never stopped thinking about you. I always wanted us to continue on travelling together. I wanted there to be a you know an us" she looked down.

"Misty, so – "he was about to tell her his biggest secret. To let it all out, but as usual something had to happen.-

"Ash it's time for the presentation" Oaks voice yelled in.

"It's always something" he said half to himself and Misty he got up.

"You're coming with me aren't you Mist?" he asked as he gather his pokeballs.

"Yeah, but we have to finish our talk later on OK" she said as she walked to the door, more than a little disappointed.

"Yeah we will "he replied as he gathered himself and walked out.

As they walked a little behind the professor, he brushed his hand of hers.

Misty's heart raced a little.

When he got to the waiting area he stopped at Max and May and said "Am sorry".

Max nodded at Him. Ash then looked to Pikachu who was sitting on Dawns shoulder.

"Am sorry pal" he said and he really meant it.

In a flash Pikachu was in his arms beaming.

"Am sorry everyone" he said. He was really lucky that he had such understanding friends.

Brock smiled to himself. Hopefully his plan worked. As they walked up the corridor he noticed how close Ash and Misty were. Hopefully now they had realised it was meant to be. Brock did years ago.

As they passed the janitor cleaning up Ash's puke. "Ash whispered to himself "Ok, let's get this over with."

"Am right behind you" Misty whispered back, gripping his hand.

Brock smiled. FINALLY he thought to himself.