A/N: Thanks to your votes, GHOST is next.
Shipping: FireRedShipping
One-Shot 7: A Misdreavus Beach
Ash, Dawn, Iris, Cilan and their Pokémon friends found themselves on the beach a mile from Cynthia's villa. With a ride from Jervis, the beach was only a minute or two where it would've been a 15-minute walk. Wearing swimming trunks and swimsuits, the trainers, coordinator and connoisseur were ready to hit the sand and start playing around. "Dawn, when did you say your other friend would be coming?" Cilan asked.
"She called me last night and say that she just arrived in Undella Town," she replied. "When I told her what we're doing, she said that she'd help out with Ash's preparations for the Junior Cup and the Unova League." Cynthia, wearing a two-piece black bikini/thong combination, laid down towels for her friends. Axew, Meloetta, Piplup and Pikachu started building sand castles with the help of Oshawott, Snivy, Crustle and Excadrill.
"You couldn't ask for a better day to go out on the beach," Ash complimented on the warm weather.
"No, you can't," Iris shared. Dawn joined the two as they hit the surf. Cilan chose to watch the Pokémon from the sands. Ash and the girls played in shallow water first, splashing each other in the faces and hair. That's when Ash, trying to cover his face from the ocean water the girls splashed him with, spotted a school of different fish Pokémon like Goldeen, Magikarp, Febas, Luvdisc and Alomomola.
"Check out the Water-Type Pokémon over there!" The girls grew in excitement seeing the different Pokémon swimming about. During that time, the Pokémon on the sand had more joining them. A Glameow and a Mismagius aided in making their sandcastle. Glameow's coiled tail stabilized a wall which Snivy patched up. Cilan seemed confused about Glameow and Mismagius helping the other Pokémon with a fun activity.
"I've never seen those Pokémon before," he noticed, having Cynthia look up as she lied on her stomach.
"A Glameow and Mismagius," she answered. "They're known in Sinnoh." A smirk on the champion's face seemed to know more than she led on. Pikachu had that funny feeling on these two.
("Aren't you Zoey's Pokémon?") it squeaked. Glameow and Mismagius chimed to acknowledge Pikachu's guess. Meloetta and Axew, as well as some of the other Pokémon, looked confused as to know who Zoey was. Piplup knew Zoey too well. Zoey's Dawn's rival.
("Where's Zoey, then?") the Penguin Chick Pokémon wondered. The wild Water-Type Pokémon got friendly with Ash and the girls, unbeknown about a predator lurking behind Kanto's son. Iris held a Horsea in her arms.
"This little Pokémon is really cute!" she cooed.
"That Horsea is an adorable Pokémon," Dawn identified. "I can't believe there are so many Water-Type Pokémon from different regions here by Undella Town!" Behind the three in the water, psuedo-spiky red hair and eyes emerged just a foot from Ash.
'Target acquired, in range,' the stalker thought. With one splash, the stalker tackled Ash, bringing both beneath the water's surface. The Pokémon from the beach grew horrified about what happened to their friendly human... unless your Pokémon were Mismagius and Glameow.
("Ash!") Pikachu, Piplup, Meloetta and Axew shouted, scared that what dragged him under was killing him.
"Ash!" Iris and Dawn shrieked to the surprise attack. They looked frantically but Ash disappeared. He couldn't get a breath of air before being submerged. He felt held down by whatever's on top of him and he couldn't move his lips, not because he couldn't breathe but because whoever it was, those lips kissed his. At least the attacker breathed in his mouth. A pink Gastrodon rose up and pushed Ash and his attacker to the surface. This revealed who attacked Ash.
"Zoey?!" gawked Dawn.
"Who?" blinked Iris. Zoey's face smirked toward Ash, the mischievous grin.
"Would you believe I wanted to do that after the Grand Festival?" she giggled as she sported a maroon two-piece. Dawn's cheeks puffed while Iris continued blinking her eyes in confusion.
"Grand... Festival?" The Pokémon let out a breath of relief. Meloetta and Axew wondered who the new girl was. After some more swimming, Gastrodon carried everyone back to shore.
"Thanks for your help, Gastrodon." Zoey's Pokémon wailed a little before going back out, making sure swimmers stay safe out in the ocean.
"Is everyone okay?" Cilan asked as he and Cynthia reached the other three.
"We're all fine," Iris replied. Zoey came forward to see the green-haired Gym Leader.
"So you're the other friend Dawn mentioned, the Sinnoh Grand Festival champion," she studied. Zoey scoffed to Cynthia's guess.
"So understands the Sinnoh Champion herself," she teased back. Cynthia laughed to Zoey's comeback as Cilan wanted to introduce himself.
"It's a real pleasure to meet the champion of the Sinnoh Grand Festival," he greeted. "I'm Cilan, one of three Leaders of the Striaton City Gym and Pokémon Connoisseur." He and Zoey shook hands as Glameow and Mismagius regrouped.
"I was there a few days ago while waiting for a ride to Undella Town. I watched a trainer battle Chili's Panseer with a Tepig and beat it with Rock Tomb. Chili took the loss hard. Always on offense, never on defense." Cilan chuckled at Zoey's quip, his brother never-changing.
"Well, that's Chili for you." Then, the redhead came face-to-face with the tanned girl.
"And from Dawn's call, you're Iris." The Dragon-Type trainer giggled at being identified.
"Yep, that's me. So what's the Grand Festival champion doing all the way out here for?" Zoey crossed her arms, rather anticipating the question.
"I'm taking a break from being the champion. All sorts of interviews and posing for magazine covers started wearing me out." She simply wanted a little vacation. That's when Cilan remembered seeing something a little while back.
"I know what you're talking about, the cover of PokéFashion magazine," he recalled. "I saw the cover saying 'Fire of Snowpoint City: Story of Grand Festival Champion Zoey.'" Ash and Iris gawked at how Cilan recognized Zoey.
"Let me guess," Iris thought up. "You're also a Magazine Connoisseur?" Cilan shook his head, denying what seemed rather obvious.
"No, I saw it on the news about the magazine growing in sales based off the Grand Festival in Sinnoh." So much for the obvious.
"For a second, we thought you were a Connoisseur in something else," Ash sighed. That's when Zoey realized someone missing from Ash.
"Say, whatever happened to Brock?" she asked. Ash blinked, thinking Dawn didn't tell her.
"You don't know? Brock gone back home to Pewter City in Kanto to become a Pokémon Doctor." Zoey looked disappointed about Brock's career path being altered.
"I see." Meloetta stayed away from Zoey, unfamiliar to the Melody Pokémon. Dawn came over to ease its concern.
"It's okay, Meloetta," she tried to comfort. "Zoey's a great friend." Meloetta flew over to meet the champion.
"You're pretty adorable." The compliment brought out a smile from Meloetta. A little while later, the Pokémon resumed making sand castles or swimming in the ocean. Cynthia and Iris lied on towels, sunbathing. Cilan cooked up some grub while Ash, Zoey and Dawn joined Gastrodon and the wild Water-Type Pokémon for some more swimming. "So you have eight badges in the Unova Region, meaning that you're competing for the tournament held near here."
"Yep," Ash acknowledged. "But first, the few of us will try the Junior Cup as a warmup to the upcoming tournament." Dawn nodded to the news from Ash.
"I decided to join in the Junior Cup since I heard of the stiff competition," she explained.
"Well, it sounds like one heck of a preparation for the Unova League," Zoey teased. "But, this is to help Ash so... I won't complain." Meloetta flew above the water's surface and watched the humans enjoying the swim. "Now that I see Meloetta, how did you two meet, Ash?" The raven-haired trainer and the Pokémon-in-question glared at one another.
"Back at PokéStar Studios," he started. "We helped a friend in his own contest by doing a movie. When Pikachu and I were in the Prop Room, Meloetta ran into some tools and I saved it from injury. After I got the Toxic Badge from Roxie at Virbank City, Meloetta came out again when it was hurt and sick. Since then, Meloetta's stayed by us." Meloetta chimed to the tale.
"Apparently, Meloetta's taken a shine to Ash," Dawn noted. Zoey giggled to the sight.
"Meloetta's not the only one," she admitted with reddened cheeks. The other three looked befuddled to Zoey's words. The time passed rather rapidly and the sun fell toward the horizon. Cynthia offered Zoey her villa to sleep over. Zoey accepted the offer as everyone returned to the villa for the night. Cilan started cooking dinner while Iris and Dawn fed the Pokémon. Ash stood on the balcony outside. He still couldn't believe two friends from Sinnoh came to see him as Pikachu and Meloetta joined the veteran trainer.
"First, it's Dawn and now, Zoey," he minded. "Who else wanted to visit me from Sinnoh? Ursula? Kenny? Paul, maybe?" Pikachu shook his head about someone else being Paul.
("I hope it's not Paul,") Pikachu squeaked in denial. Meloetta wondered who Paul was.
("Is this Paul a bad human?") it asked.
("Not bad... just cold to the touch.") The Melody Pokémon thought Paul was like an Ice-Type Pokémon. Just then, the door opened and Zoey stepped out, wearing a maroon long-sleeve and white sweatpants. On instinct, all spun to the champion coordinator.
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" she asked. The Pokémon and Ash shook heads. Zoey walked to the railing and by Ash. "I know it's been... busy for you since the Lilly of the Valley Conference. Dawn and Brock going different directions, you meeting up with Iris and Cilan..." A lot for Ash to deal with.
"Everyone who knows me remembers that all my Pokémon and I won't stop until I'm Pokémon Master," he reinstated. Zoey never questioned Ash's continuous journey. Something else was on her mind.
"Do you... remember what happened after you beat Miss Senior?" Zoey thought back to when Ash battled the Snowpoint City Gym Leader, Candice.
"You mean winning the Icicle Badge from Candice? Well... I remember Paul being there... and Brandon and Reggie..." Plenty of people and Pokémon to recall at once.
"I remember how Paul just berating you when you beat Miss Senior, mentioning your call of using Grotle against her Sneasel. That's your way of Pokémon battling, not his. I wanted to slap his face so much, I wanted Dawn to let me go for me to do that. He had no right to criticize you on how you battle the gyms in Sinnoh, Unova, Hoenn or wherever they are." Ash seemed rather moved by what Zoey brought up. "I was offended by his words, even if you weren't." It felt the same in Unova for Ash.
"I don't know if it's worse for you but I do have another rival in Trip. He considers the Kanto Region, 'The Boonies' as if he's been there." Zoey shot a look at Ash with disbelief.
"Wow... who won't criticize you? I swear you're like a whipping boy of insults, even Iris who calls you 'a little kid.' She doesn't know what you've been able to carry out over the time you've started training from your home of Pallet Town." Unbeknown to those occupying the balcony, Dawn and Iris creaked the door open more and eyed the two trainers. "I was honest when I kissed you on the beach today. I wanted to say that I was sorry for everything that happened to you." The Pokémon felt awed about Zoey's sudden confession.
"Why do you need to apologize? You didn't do anything."
"That's just it. I didn't do anything to stop it. You do too much to keep peace with Team Rocket and whoever else wants to create chaos to deserve any criticism." Ash took a deep breath, unsure how to respond to that comment.
"Well, I'm not perfect. Pikachu can testify to that." Pikachu bowed in agreement.
"Maybe." Somehow, the Pokémon sensed what Zoey wanted to tell Ash.
("Does Zoey... like Ash?") Meloetta guessed.
("I think it's more than just like,") Pikachu studied. ("Sort of like how Piplup and Oshawott are after you. Though, this looks rather one-sided.") Meloetta looked intrigued with Pikachu's explanation.
"It's obvious Iris or Dawn or May have any feelings to you and, in all honesty, I think you deserve better," Zoey murmured. Ash glanced blankly to the redhead, a blank thought on her mindful quip.
"Do I really need someone to have feelings?" he questioned. "Zoey, I'm doing fine. I've got Pokémon ready to overcome any obstacle ready to attack us. I've got enough confidence to see the Unova League and what trainers are waiting to battle me. I've got friends like Dawn, Cilan, Iris, Cynthia, Bianca and the Gym Leaders..." He paused, facing one trainer making her point by his mouth. "... You too, that told me how strong me and my Pokémon have become." Even he heard his own hesitation.
"You see what I mean? What you need isn't just the Pokémon you captured and trained or the friends who helped you get this far. Someone at the end of the road... Your road of Pokémon training... You being the Pokémon Master you're chasing... Whoever, will be waiting at the end to get you through the rest of your life." Zoey approached Ash, a hand reaching for his arm. "I understand that even winning the Unova League won't mean the end of the road for you. A world of Pokémon still await for you to find and train. I'm just saying that... take sometime off to spend with ones who love you and who you love." Dawn and Iris watched the champion coordinator holding Ash's hand, tension mounting in jealousy.
"Zoey doesn't need a little kid to love," Iris groaned, ignoring Zoey's comments about her. Dawn shot a look to Iris, thinking she wanted Ash for herself.
"Hold on," she whispered. "Are you implying that you like Ash?"
"No. I'm saying little kids don't deserve love in the first place." Sure, she cleared up that curiosity, but she left herself open for this comeback.
"Well, I doubt you'll have a boyfriend anytime soon. And if you don't like Ash, why even travel with him?" The backlash steamed the girl from the Village of Dragons.
"You take that back!"
"Make me!" Suddenly, out of the corner of their eyes, they saw Zoey embracing Ash once more in a hug and kiss, this time on dry land and with all the oxygen available. "Or rather... make her." Instead of facing the music, Iris grabbed the door and slammed it. Not even a vicious slam broke the two lovebirds from their moment together. Axew and Piplup watched their two trainers glaring evil stares at each other. There may be some bad blood boiling between the two. "Why are you angry at the two?! You don't even like him to begin with!"
"Oh yeah?! You had your chance when he was in Sinnoh with you and you didn't get a shot! Did you prefer another coordinator?!"
"Why would I be interested with another coordinator?! Besides, you'd be interested in a Dragon-Type Trainer over someone like Ash!"
"You have a problem with Dragon-Type Pokémon?!"
"It's not the Pokémon, it's your attitude!" Listening from the kitchen, Cilan and Cynthia scoffed at the useless belittling between the two.
"For two trainers not interested in the same young man, they seem to talk about him a lot," she teased.
"Ah, nothing more than the spices of life bringing out the flavorful well-being of living," Cilan shrugged. Despite everything going on outside the room, Ash and Zoey remained lip-locked and Pikachu's trainer closed his eyes, accepting the smooch. Sucks to be those two in the hallway.
END of GHOST
(Got 5 more one-shots this year, hoping to end it by New Year's Eve. It looks like GROUND might take it but keep those votes up and I'll start the next chapter soon.)
