Pranks and Pewter
Meowth snuck back over to the TR camp, and grabbed two of their shovels. Then he ran back over to us and handed me one of the shovels. We crept over towards the stream and began digging. After about half an hour, we finished covering the pitfall we had made for Jessie and James, and Meowth took the shovels back to his camp. I bent to wash my hands in the stream, and was just washing my face, when something hit my rear end and propelled me face first into the water. I came up spluttering to see Misty doubled over laughing, her mallet in her fist. "Oh you're get it now!" I roared, charging at her. She jumped back from me and swung her mallet again. She just doesn't learn very fast does she? I thought. I caught it right before it hit my arm and dragged her towards me again. Only this time, instead of grabbing and tickling her, I dragged her into the stream with me! Now our positions were reversed, with me laughing uproariously, and her spluttering.
"Nice payback there twerp!" Meowth told me, appearing beside me.
"Thanks" I replied "Are you ready for yours?"
"You knows it!" He smirked
"Then let's get started" I said "Call them over."
"Okey-dokey!" he replied "Hey, yous two!" He yelled over at Jessie and James. They ignored him.
"You might wanna go over and get them." I suggested. He ran to do so, and I felt a sharp pain on the top of my head. I quickly reached up and caught Misty's mallet for the third time that day. I turned to her, smirking "You just don't learn do you?"
"Would you rather I had Azurill hit you with Water Gun again?" She asked me snidely
"Sure" I replied, unconcerned "Then I'll just have Pikachu hit you with Thunderbolt." Misty sweat-dropped, but Pikachu said
"Pikachu!" (I wouldn't do that to her if you paid me!)
"Traitor!" I cried, yanking Misty's mallet from her and advancing on him.
"Chu, pika!" (I never said anything about doing it to you!) He replied, shooting sparks from his cheeks. I hastily handed the mallet back to Misty. "Okay, you guys win." I told them. They exchanged an evil grin and I again got the mallet on top of my head, and Thunderbolted! As I lay on the ground twitching, Pikachu ran back to camp at the sound of a ketchup bottle opening. Thanks, Brock I thought, relieved. I slowly got to my feet, wincing. Misty took a step towards me "Are you okay, Ash?" She asked with a worried note in her voice. I gave her a weak smile "I've been better."
"You did deserve it you know." She told me.
"Yeah, I know" I grinned again "That was some payback though, you hit me harder than usual." Misty grinned back. Then we both heard the sounds of Team Rocket heading towards us. "What's so important, Meowth?" Jessie asked her cat-like friend irritably. "Yes, that's what I'd like to know too." James agreed, also sounding irritable.
"I thought I saw a rare Water pokemon in da stream." he replied, winking at me.
"Really?" The other two and Misty chorused "Where?"
"It was somewheres over here." he told them, running across the top of the pitfall as quick as he could. Jessie, James and Misty began following him. I lunged forward to stop Misty, but it was too late. Jessie and James yelled Meowth's name angrily as they fell. Misty called out to me, and I caught her arm but was unfortunately dragged into the pit after her. I quickly spun myself under her so as to cushion her fall. As I landed, I found that my arms were wrapped around Misty's waist, and her face on my shoulder.
"Misty!" I cried "Are you okay?" She stirred feebly
"I-I think so." She replied. I sighed with relief and looked over to where Team Rocket had, oddly enough, found themselves in the same predicament. They however, had reacted differently. They seemed to have figured that since Meowth had done this to them for hugging, they'd make him more sick by making out. "You think they could wait 'til their somewhere private." Misty laughed. Here goes... I thought.
"Say that gives me an idea." I told her, giving her my best smile. "Does it?" she asked innocently, playing along "What idea would that be?"
"This one!" I replied and, dragged her head forward so that our lips met. Now, I know I said that kissing May was a wonderful feeling, but that was nothing compared to kissing Misty! This was heaven and I felt completed at last! If my heart and mind had been whirling with May, they were absolute chaos now! I had been waiting for this moment for three years now. After what seemed like an eternity of bliss, we regretfully broke apart. We lay there staring at each other and I as I found her beautiful aquamarine eyes, I could see the love and intensity I'd missed during my 'moment' with May. Speaking of...
"Ash! Misty! Are you guys alright?" Brock was yelling from the edge of the pit. I saw Max laughing with Meowth, but May was looking at Misty and I with an unreadable expression on her face. Misty had noticed it too.
"Do you think she saw us?" she asked me anxiously.
"I'm sure of it." I told her, a little nervous myself. May stomped away from the pit muttering to herself. I looked back at Misty, feeling guilty.
"What's she so worked up about?" Misty asked me. I sighed again, this time in anticipation of a major explosion.
"Well, last night, after you went back to camp..." I told her all about it, the kiss, everything. I could see the hurt and anger in her soul-piercing eyes, and braced myself "Before you get all indignant on me, I've thought it through… and I've decided that I want to be with you, Misty." Her expression softened, and she lowered her hand that had been about to smack me, and then, surprisingly, she giggled.
"I've been waiting three and a half years to hear that from you." She told me, the love and affection returning to her face. "Now... I just can't believe it!" She laughed again, a relieved kind of laugh. "Even after you and May... last night... and all the mean things I've said and done to you..." I cut her off by kissing her again, and experienced paradise for the second time that day. We broke apart, and I saw that May had returned to the edge of the pit and was looking down at us, not with anger or hatred, but with a martyred expression. Max was standing next to her, his hand on her shoulder, and Brock was grinning.
"Well finally!" He told us, with mock exasperation "I thought you two would never get to the point!" Misty and I looked at each other, then at everyone else. Even the reformed Rockets were grinning at us stupidly. I looked back at Misty, who was still lying on top of me.
"Well, since everyone seems to have been waiting for this... Misty Waterflower... I love you!" I told her "I told May that I 'like' you, but after thinking about it all last night, I knew it goes deeper than that. And even using the word love can't begin to describe the way I feel about you..." I was interrupted by her lips meeting mine once again. After breaking apart for the third time she softly told me
"I love you too, Ash Ketchum." she sighed "I have since almost the day I met you." I smiled at her and hugged her close, intending to never let go again. The Rockets left after cleaning up their camp, saying that they were going to visit James' old house.
Later that day, we arrived in Brock's hometown of Pewter and headed for the gym, since that's where he lives. I had Pikachu on my shoulder as usual, and I had a tight hold on Misty's hand. As we approached the gym, Brock was attacked by his family and old Pokemon. As he was dragged inside by his siblings, Geodude and Onix, his dad came up to the rest of us.
"Hello, Mr. Flint." I greeted him.
"Hey there, Ash" He replied, grinning at Misty and I "Brock kept telling me you two were going to become like that." He said, nodding to our intertwined fingers.
"It's nice to keep these things private." Misty said, rolling her eyes. Max snorted
"Private? Ha, like that was ever gonna happen." May smacked his shoulder and told him to be nice. "Why should I?" He retorted "After what he's done to you." Max glared at me. May sighed and said
"Just leave it alone, Max, I've already told you I'm over it."
"Oh, you're okay that Ash would kiss you and hold you, but within 24 hours, turns around and starts making out with Misty?" he yelled at her. May turned pale and burst into tears again. She ran inside to the restroom and slammed the door.
"Way to go Max!" I told him angrily
"Like you have room to talk!" He retorted "You're the one who betrayed her after she admitted her feelings for you." He stomped away after his sister.
"Well, Ashy boy, you seem to have landed yourself in a fix." A familiar voice called. I turned around to find Gary Oak coming up the road.
"Hey Gary" I replied, grimly "And, yes I do seem to be in trouble don't I?" He looked surprised.
"When did you start using big words?" he asked, so I explained about my mind-meld with Lugia to him. "So that's how you were good enough to beat me in the Silver Conference." He said thoughtfully. I grinned at him. "So what was all the fuss about with May?" he asked, a little too casually. I held up my hand which was still wrapped around Misty's. "Ah, I see…" he said "So you were being nice, and got carried away, when you really love Misty…" Misty and I looked at each other, beaming. I said
"That's right I love Misty!" She blushed and said
"Come here, you!" We began making out again, but were interrupted by Gary pretending to vomit, and the sound of something crashing inside the gym. Looking up, I saw May and the hole in the wall next to her. I guess she wasn't taking this as well as I had thought. Gary was looking speculative and I asked him and Misty to excuse me for a minute. Misty looked reluctant to let go of me, but I said "I'll be back soon; I've just got something to take care of." She nodded her understanding and quickly kissed my cheek. I steeled myself and marched over to May. She watched me approach with narrowed eyes. I drew in a deep breath and said "May, can I talk to you for a minute?" she flared up
"Why should I even think of talking to you alone after what you did the last time I confided in you?" I looked her directly in the eye and told her
"I know I shouldn't have done what I did with you, then turned around and done the same thing, but more serious with Misty." She turned away from me, her whole body quivering in anger. "But I'm only sorry that I got that far with you, and gave you a false hope and idea." I told her sadly "May… I do like you, but it's only an adolescent thing. Misty and I go deeper; we are connected in ways that only Ho-oh knows." She turned to me, tears streaming down her face once more.
"I bared my soul to you Ash! I let you see my weakness and caring, and you rejected me!" The guilt felt like a million Twinneedle attacks, but still… "I gave you my first kiss and you treat it like it was nothing!" May continued, raging now. I put my hand on her shoulder and gazed deep into her eyes, saying
"I know I treated you badly, but I still want to be your friend, so I'm begging you to forgive my insensitivity and let you know that you can hit me or do whatever else you want to me." She looked at me, her eyes red, and gave me a one-two combo right to the face. It hurt more than Misty's mallet! I felt the blood flowing from my nostrils and asked her
"Are you done?" She started crying again and ran back into the bathroom. Misty ran up and began mopping the blood from my face with a towel.
"Are you okay, Ash?" she asked me "Why did May hit you?" I smiled at her. "Yes, I'm fine, and because I told her to as payback." She continued wiping my face off and Gary sauntered over. "She's got quite an arm." I observed dryly to them. I looked over at Gary who was staring at the bathroom door, through which we could hear May's continued sobs.
"You know" I told him surreptitiously "She's gonna need a good friend when she's done…" He whipped around, beginning to blush.
"What are you implying, there Ash?" He asked menacingly
"Oh, just that I happened to see your face during my welcome home party." I told him nonchalantly "You couldn't stop staring at her the whole what was it?" I asked, turning to Misty, she grinned wickedly
"Oh I'd say about three hours!" She giggled, taking the towel to a basket next to the bathroom door. May's sobbing seemed to have stopped and I could hear the sink running. I quickly gestured to Misty, who seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"Let's go see if Brock's got lunch ready yet." I told her, she hastily agreed and we headed for the dining room as quick as we could. Just before entering, I turned back and called "Good luck!" to a still furiously red Gary.
Upon reaching the table, I was jumped from behind by two little rodents. Pikachu and Azurill jumped had been hiding on top of the bookshelves next to the door, waiting for me. I just knew that Misty had put them up to it; I just endured, thinking that I could get her back later. I caught a whiff of Brock's special recipe stew and began drooling. My two assailants jumped off, and Pikachu started slurping ketchup while Azurill began batting his tail back and forth. I heard a door shut down the hall, and peeked around the side of the dining room entrance, to see May and Gary talking quietly. They both seemed kind of awkward and embarrassed. You go Gary! I thought cover my sorry butt!
"Hey Ash, what's going on?" came a whisper from behind me. I moved back into the kitchen and waved Misty forward, so that she could see May and Gary. She leaned slightly – offering an interesting view – then pulled back quickly giggling again.
"They make a good couple don't they?" I asked her. She gave me a smoldering look and replied
"I know where to find a better couple!" I pretended ignorance.
"Which coup-" I began, but was cut off by her giving me another kiss. Just when things were getting serious, Brock came in and nearly dropped the pot he was carrying. "Get a room you two!" He told us, in mock seriousness. Misty got a sly look and asked him
"Is that an order?" Brock began turning redder than Gary had been and I laughed until it hurt.
"You know very well that it was not!" Brock yelled, still red as my Corphish "Or at least wait until next Tuesday!" he told us.
"Why?" I asked him, confused "Oh yeah! It's Single's Awareness Day." I turned back to Misty, with a huge grin "But now I get to celebrate Valentine's Day for real!" She smiled back, vaguely.
Dinner that night had a tense atmosphere. Misty and I sat next to each other, exchanging jokes, glances and occasionally poking each other in the side. Brock sat at the head of the table, and his Dad sat at the other end. His other siblings were in the battlefield part of the gym, eating and playing with the pokemon. May and Gary sat on the other side of the table, occasionally looking up at Misty and I, or talking quietly. As we ate our way through the three courses of salad, stew and dessert, I would catch May glaring over at me. Gary would look at me once in a while too, but he just grinned and nodded. I could tell he was thanking me. But for breaking May's heart? I guess he likes her more than I thought he did. As we finished the Devil's food cake, I offered to help clean up. Brock seemed surprised
"But you usually leave the dishes for Misty and I... oh, I get it now, okay." I winked at him as Gary and May disappeared towards the battlefield to join the kids and pokemon. Misty and I proceeded to carry the dishes into the kitchen while Brock and his dad followed May and Gary to the battlefield. I began piling the dishes into the washer, and when it became full, I filled the sink with water to wash the remaining ones. Misty came and went, cleaning up the food and wiping down the table. As I began cleaning the dishes by hand, she came up beside me, kissing my cheek and saying
"You look cute when you're cleaning." I turned to her, wet rag in one hand and a cup in the other. "Like this?" I asked, and did my pose "I washed the dishes!" I said, in mock pride. She doubled over laughing, then drew me in for a hug. As we held each other tightly, I felt her reaching for something, but was enjoying her closeness to much to be suspicious. I paid for that lapse in concentration with a cup of soapy water on my head. "I'm gonna get you for that!" I roared playfully and, backing away swiftly, managed to get my own glass in the sink to fill. She cringed away, dodging the water, which provided a better opportunity. I grabbed my rag in both hands and...
"Don't you dare, Ash Ketchum!" she screeched, lunging closer so that my rag whip was foiled. I dipped my cup in the water again, and was preparing to toss the water at her, when she tackled me. We crashed onto the floor, and the water from my cup soaked us both. We lay there for a while, laughing and tickling each other. Pikachu came in, to see what the noise was about, and started fake gagging. Misty grinned at me and said "Let's see what he does when..." I caught on and interrupted her with a kiss. We did that for a while, until Pikachu ran out with his paws over his mouth. Not before zapping us of course. Misty and I lay gasping, recovering from the Thunderbolt attack. I crawled over to her and asked
"Misty? Are you alright?" She grinned weakly and said,
"Yeah, I've been better though." I took her hand and pulled her over to me. We started to kiss some more and just as things were getting serious once again, Brock came in, having been guided by Pikachu. Misty and I broke apart quickly, embarrassed that we had been caught in such an awkward position.
"If you guys are gonna do that, please wait until your old enough and married!" Brock told us sternly. We blushed and exchanged a disconcerted glance.
"We're sorry, Brock." We said to together
"You're right, we should wait" I said, looking at Misty, she nodded.
"Yeah, I guess I just got... carried away." She apologized. Brock smiled at us
"I know what you mean, unless you guys have forgotten to whom your talking." Misty and I laughed again.
"Yup, you of all people should understand the difficulty of hormones." I told him. He turned slightly red and coughed.
"That reminds me" said Misty "Have you called Naomi yet?" Brock nodded enthusiastically I turned to Misty, slightly confused
"Who's Naomi?" Then I remembered "Oh yeah, she's the Marine Biologist in the Whirl Islands."
"Yup, that's her!" Brock confirmed "After we separated when before you left for Hoenn, I got home and found that I had a few new emails since checking it in the Viridian Pokemon Center."
"And one was from her?" I asked shrewdly. He nodded happily,
"We started emailing back and forth, and eventually met again at Vermilion city when she came here by boat."
"I thought she was a little warm in her farewell when he first met her..." I said thinking back. That was when I got to see Lapras again. When Brock told her
"See you later!" she had replied
"It's a deal, Brock!"
"Well, it looks like we're all finding the 'One'." Misty said, looking at me warmly
"Or at least admitting to them." I reminded her "You know, I did hear your song that night." She looked terrified
"You heard my song to you? But you acted like..." she trailed off "You were just acting then, because that was after the Orange Islands thing..." I nodded and smiled.
"I wanted so badly to answer you back, but I just couldn't, because I was also afraid." I told her seriously, taking her hand. I turned back to Brock. "So what did you talk to Naomi about?" He blushed again
"She's going to meet us in Cerulean city in a week."
"Next Tuesday? But that's..." I broke off, grinning at him "It's because of Valentine's Day right?" He turned maroon now, and smiled sheepishly. Misty turned to me with a bright expression
"Oh, let's help him!" she said "We can go on a double date with them!" I thought about it for a minute.
"Okay, sounds good to me." I replied, winking at Brock "Let's plan this out now, just to be safe." So the three of us sat at the table, making plans for Brock and Naomi to have time together on Valentine's Day. Afterwards, we all headed off for bed. I would be sharing a room with Gary and Max. Brock's room was next to our's and Misty and May were sharing his sister's room. I could hear Max snoring from across the room, but I could tell that Gary was still awake.
"Hey Ash?" came a whisper from the top bunk, where he was.
"What?" I asked sleepily. I had been just about to fall asleep too!
"I was wondering..." he faltered
"Is this about May?" I asked, awake now. His head appeared above mine and he was grinning "You are smart now aren't you?" he asked.
"Just remember that you're the one who said it!" I told him grinning back. He laughed quietly.
"Are you guys going to Cerulean next?" he asked "Because I was thinking of asking her out for Valentine's." I smiled at him and replied
"Yup, that's where we're headed. What did you two talk about before and at dinner? If it's not too private that is."
"Well, I kind of comforted her about what you did, and then we discussed your failings... since there are so many… then we got into each other, you know, our goals and dreams."
"Did you talk about contests and research?"
"Yes, and I told her that I could help her find ways to improve her appeals with my research."
"You seem to have hit it off pretty well then." I told him approvingly "If you want to travel with us to Cerulean city, you're more than welcome. You could continue your campaign on the way, and conclude with Valentine's Day."
"That was more or less the idea." He told me grinning "Will you and Misty help me?"
"Sure, we're gonna help Brock too, so we'll make it a triple date, rather than a double." I told him "May would be glad to have a distraction, and I think you two will be good together."
"Thanks, Ashy boy, you are awesome." He replied "I have to say that you and Misty are good together."
"You don't know the half of it!" I smirked, thinking about how close we had come to making a mistake. "Well, good night, Gary. We'll probably leave after breakfast tomorrow."
"That hasn't changed!" he laughed again and went back to his pillow. After a few minutes, I fell asleep, dreaming of my favorite red-haired girl.