Not many people liked the idea of Brock and Dawn, I can take a hint guys :p he's out the runnings
Hope you all enjoy :)
…
After the fireworks had ended the crowds began to disperse but Misty remained in the same spot, staring up at the skies.
"I'm getting tired, I think I'm going to head back." Dawn said, stifling a yawn.
"I'll walk you." Brock said.
"Ash?" She asked, looking over at him.
"Nah." He replied, watching Misty. "Someone ought to stay with her."
"Fair point." Brock nodded.
"See you both tomorrow," Dawn smiled, linking arms with Brock and walking away.
"You handled that very maturely." Brock said once they were out of ear shot.
"Well I trust Misty, plus I don't think she's interested in Ash like that." Dawn shrugged.
"You're probably right." He said.
The pair reached the edge of the beach, brushed the sand off their feet and headed back to the hotel.
…
Ash stood watching Misty, the gentle breeze blowing her hair, the rest of her as still as a statue.
"You know, the fireworks are over?" Ash asked, coming to stand next to her.
"Yeah, I know." She said, her eyes never leaving the skies.
"Then what you staring at?"
"The stars, they're amazing. No matter how many times I see them I find them incredible."
"You know, the stars we're looking at might not even be there anymore?" Ash asked.
"What do you mean?"
"By the time the light from the stars reaches us hundreds and thousands of years have passed so that star may have burnt out."
"Wow, a night's sky filled with ghosts." Misty smiled, her eyes twinkling ever so slightly.
"And you see that star there?" Ash asked, pointing towards the sky. "The brightest one? That's actually Venus."
"Really? How come you know so much about stars?" Misty asked, nudging him gently with her shoulder.
"My mum, she used to tell me that as long as that star was shining I could always reach my dreams." Ash explained.
"And I guess Venus never stops shining?" Misty smiled.
"Exactly." Ash smirked.
"My parents used to take me and my sisters on trips to the surface…"
"The surface?" Ash cut her story off as she'd made another slip up.
"Just a place near where we lived, not sure why we called it that." Misty shrugged, not giving Ash a chance to question her further. "And we'd all look at the stars, sometimes we'd see shooting ones, and my mum would say that they were like stars, we may not always see them but they'd always be watching over us."
Misty's eyes glistened as she talked about her parents, even in the darkness Ash could see her tears.
"You never mention your parents." Ash said, taking hold of her hand in an offer of comfort.
"I don't like to, it's hard sometimes." Misty explained.
"Are they still…" Ash trailed off, unable to finish his question.
"No." Misty shook her head. "They died when I was ten, my sister's raised me after that, being the youngest of four they we always very protective of me."
"And how did your parents…" Ash trailed off again.
"I… it was my fault." Misty couldn't stop herself, the tears poured down her face.
"Misty, it wouldn't have been your fault." Ash said, pulling Misty into a hug.
"It was." She cried into his chest. "If I hadn't been so stupid they would still be here, I should have died, not them."
"Don't ever say that Misty." Ash pulled back and held her by her shoulders. "Do you think your parents would have liked you to have taken their place?" Misty shook her head slightly. "They loved you, and would have done anything to keep you safe, even given their life." He smiled slightly and wiped away her tears with his thumbs.
"Thanks Ash." A small smile on her lips. "So, tell me more about these stars."
"Okay." He slung his arm around her shoulders and kept her close. "You see those stars that look like they could be a saucepan if you joined them up? And the one underneath that looks like a double handled saucepan?" He pointed.
"Yeah, I see them." Misty laughed at his explanation.
"That's the Little Bear and Great Bear. Hera, the Greek god, put them up there because her husband Zeus was having an affair with Callisto, the Great Bear, and she had his son Arcas, the Little Bear."
"Zeus was having an affair with a bear?" Misty questioned, although she didn't know who these people were.
"She wasn't a bear at the time." Ash laughed. "Zeus changed them into a bear to protect them from Hera's wrath but she found them anyway and sentenced them to spend their life in the sky."
"Slight over reaction." Misty shook her head.
"Never cross a woman scorned."
"I'll bear that in mind." Misty laughed.
"And those three stars in a line?" Misty nodded showing she'd seen them. "That's Orion's Belt."
"Who's Orion?"
"He was a man who fell in love with one of the seven heavenly sisters and when they were returning to Olympus he followed them, but as he wasn't a god he couldn't live there so was left to live in the skies." Ash explained.
"And lost his belt along the way apparently."
"He didn't lose it, maybe he took it off." Misty turned to Ash and raised her eyebrow. "He just wanted to have a little fun before he lost the heavenly sisters." Ash smirked.
"You're a pig." Misty shook her head with a slight smile. "Who's that?"
Ash followed her finger to see where she was pointing, amazed that she'd managed to pick out a constellation rather than a random star.
"That's Hercules, his father was Zeus but his mother was a mortal."
"Zeus got around quite a bit, didn't he?" Misty rolled her eyes.
"He was the father of gods and men." Ash smiled.
"Only because he was with every woman, he's like the god version of Brock."
"Brock wishes." Ash laughed. "Now let me finish my story."
"Sorry, do go on." Misty smiled up at Ash.
"Hercules had to prove himself before he was allowed to reach Olympus, he had to do 12 labours and when he'd completed the last one the stars aligned for him and he was able to join his father."
"Wow." Misty gushed, amazed at Ash's tales.
…
"So what made you learn about all those stars?" Misty asked as they walked back to the hotel, their fingers intertwined, hands swinging between them.
"After spending years lying under the skies it just felt right to know what I was looking at."
"I wish I knew more about the world like you, you amaze me sometimes Ash." She smiled, coming to a stop as Ash had stopped walking.
"You amaze me too Mist." He smiled and gently stroked her cheek.
Misty felt her face heat up, too dark for Ash to notice, but a blush was rising.
"What's going on there?" Misty asked, changing the subject and stepping away from Ash.
Ash's eyes followed Misty, as she walked over to the gardens of the hotel. She watched as a marquee was being put up, lanterns being hung from the beams.
"A dance." Ash read a flyer on the ground.
"A dance?" Misty eyes widened, her mother had told her many stories when she was younger about the graceful dresses that women wore, that would flow around them as a man led them around the floor.
"Yeah, want to go?" Ash asked, recognising her look of excitement.
"Can we?"
"Of course, we've got nothing to do tomorrow evening." Ash shrugged, although going to a dance was hardly his idea of a good night if it made Misty happy he'd go.
"Thanks so much." Misty smiled. "I'm worried I'm ruining your holiday."
"What makes you think that?" Ash turned to her.
"Because since I showed up you've just been doing things that I wanted to do, must be pretty boring for you." Misty said, guilty.
"Of course it hasn't, I've enjoyed all the time I've spent with you." Ash smiled, he reached forward and lightly brushed some hair out her eyes.
"I should go to bed now." Misty panicked, stepping back.
"Sure, I'll walk you." Ash sighed.
"That's okay, you don't have to do that." She gave him a quick smile before walking away to her room.
Ash groaned as he watched her leave, he couldn't work her out. One minute he thinks she's interested then the next she's practically running from him. He ran his fingers through his hair and decided to head to bed, and try to forget the mixed signals from Misty.
…
"Ash!"
Ash woke to the sound of someone knocking on the door, he glanced towards the other bed in his room and realised Brock was long gone.
"Ash, wake up!" The voice called again, Ash dragged himself out of bed and towards the door.
"Morning." He grumbled, opening the door and revealing Misty stood there.
"About time sleeping beauty." Misty laughed, walking in the room.
"I didn't get back til late last night." Ash moaned, falling back on his bed.
"I didn't either, but look at me." She gestured to herself, Ash glanced over at her, giving her a once over.
"Nope, sleeping time." Ash put his head back on the bed.
"Get up, you lazy ass." Misty climbed onto the bed and tried to roll him over. "Come on."
Misty continued her struggle, Ash refusing to move, until he suddenly rolled over onto Misty, arms wrapped around her.
"Night Misty." He sighed, before closing his eyes.
"Get off me." Misty giggled, squirming underneath him.
"Shh! People are sleeping." Ash muttered.
"Get out of bed you lazy fu…" Brock trailed off, having walked in on Ash on top of Misty.
"Brock!" Ash exclaimed, rolling off her.
"You're better at getting him up than me." Misty smiled, propping herself up onto her elbows.
"It's a skill." Brock raised his eyebrow at Ash, the side he had around Misty was still very new to him.
"I was just getting up." Ash rubbed the back of his neck.
"You little liar." Misty laughed, unsure of why there was tension in the room.
"Well I'll just leave you to it." Brock nodded before quickly walking out the room.
Ash looked back over to Misty, who was fiddling with her necklace.
"Ash, there's something I need to tell you." She dropped her necklace and looked towards him.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Come with me." Misty grabbed his hand, and pulled him off the bed and towards the bathroom. Once they were both in she locked the door.
"What's going on?" Ash glanced towards the door.
"I don't want anyone else to walk in, this is private. If I tell you this you have to promise to never tell anyone, not Brock or Dawn. Not even Pikachu!"
"Okay, I promise." Ash said, slightly confused.
"Good."
Misty turned towards the bath and turned on the taps. She reached for the bottom of her kaftan and pulled it over her head, Ash looked away slightly.
"You can look Ash." Misty smiled.
He turned back to see Misty stood in her bikini, she reached into the bath and turned the taps off. She lifted one leg and stepped into the bath, Ash watched in confusion as she lowered herself until she was sat in the bath.
"I'm not actually from Europe Ash." Misty explained.
"Okay, where are you from?" Ash asked, still unsure why they had to have this conversation in the bathroom.
"I'm from Cerulean, the Cerulean." Misty said, reaching for the clasp on her necklace.
"But how is that possible? Cerulean sunk years…" Ash was cut off by a bright light shining from the bath, similar to the one that he'd noticed the day he found her on the beach.
He lifted his hands up to shield his eyes until the bathroom returned to its normal colour, he lowered them and looked towards Misty in the bath, her legs now replaced with a pale blue tail. He dropped to his knees in shock.
"That's how it's possible. I'm a mermaid." Misty said nervously, all Ash could do in return was nod, mouth slightly open. "So now you know. Can I trust you?" She asked, worried she'd made a mistake.
"Of course you can." Ash said, finally finding his voice. "It's just a bit of a shock, that's all." He crawled over to her, still staring at her tail.
"This necklace allows me to live here, for as long as I want, with legs." She held the necklace out for Ash to see.
"Wow, that's amazing." He whispered. "Can I touch it?"
"If you want." Misty laughed.
Slowly Ash reached into the bath, his hand shaking as reached out for her tail, gently placing his hand on it, confirming it was real and he wasn't dreaming.
"I always wanted to come to land but my sisters wouldn't let me, not after what happened to my parents." Misty looked down.
"What happened? Please, you can tell me." Ash looked into her eyes, Misty bit her lip to stop the tears before she told Ash her story.
…
Misty swam up towards the surface, wanting to watch the sunset, her parents had always warned her about going out before it was dark, she could be noticed, but the sunset was too beautiful to miss.
Once she reached the surface she noticed ships in the distance, she knew that humans would be on them and she couldn't resist swimming closer to them.
She watched as the people on the boats danced and joked, enjoying themselves, how she wished she could join them.
"Look! There's a girl in the sea!" She heard a voice call out, her eyes widened when she realised they were talking about her.
Misty panicked and began to swim away.
"Wait! We just want to help you!"
Before she could get away a net had been thrown over her, she struggled to break free but she was too caught up.
"Misty!" Her mum called, swimming over to her with her father.
They rushed over, and set Misty free but her mother got her arm caught and as the men on the boat pulled the net she was taken with it.
"Mum!" She called out but it was too late, she was gone.
Her father and she could hear the voices from the ship, the excitement that they'd caught a real life mermaid.
"Those others must be too." A voice called out and they saw the net flying back.
They both tried to swim away but the net got her dad.
"Dad!" Misty swam back, trying to free her dad.
"Go Misty!" He called.
"I have to help you!"
"Just go. Swim home Misty, make sure you're safe."
"Okay." Misty nodded.
"I love you, and your mother." Her dad said.
"I love you both too." She cried before swimming away.
The net was pulled and her dad was dragged onto the boat as well.
…
"I sat and waited in my room but they never came back." Ash climbed onto the bath's edge and held Misty. "Once they were gone for over two hours and my sisters explained to me that if their tails weren't replenished with water within that time they'd surely be dead."
"Did anyone come looking for you?" Ash asked.
"Yeah, they tried for months but we were always careful, sent up people to spy but remained hidden, after a while they gave up and passed the two dead merfolk off as a hoax and we were never bothered again. If I'd had just been a little more careful they'd still be here." Misty mumbled, absentmindedly playing with the bottom of Ash's boxers.
"You were young, you weren't to know any better. Your parents wouldn't want you to live your life feeling guilty, they'd want you to be happy."
"Easier said than done."
"I know, but you've got to try." He gave Misty a squeeze and held her until her tears finally stopped.
…
"Hey Misty." Dawn exclaimed as Misty walked into their room. "You okay?" She asked when she noticed her puffy eyes.
"Yeah, too much chlorine in my eyes." She lied easily, Dawn buying the excuse.
"That's the worst." Dawn shook her head. "Sit." She patted the space on the bed in front of her.
Misty smiled, glad the bubbly girl could take her mind off her parents, and walked over, sitting next to her.
"What's up?"
"Well we're friends now and I want to share something with you." Dawn smiled.
"Okay, what's on your mind?"
"It's about Ash."
"Oh?" Misty asked, hesitantly.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to start calling you a slut again." Dawn laughed. "I like Ash, I mean really like him, maybe even love him."
"I had a feeling you did." Misty fake smiled, a strange feeling bubbling inside her chest, a feeling she'd never experienced before.
"Well, now you know for sure. And tonight I'm going to tell him."
"Tonight?" Misty eyes widened.
"Yeah, at the dance. Can you imagine anything more romantic?" Dawn clasped her hands together.
"Under the stars? It's going to be amazing." Misty sighed.
"You sure you're okay?" Dawn dropped her hands.
"Yeah, just home sick." She smiled slightly.
"Oh, come here." Dawn wrapped her arms around Misty and rubbed her back. "I'm sure they miss you loads too."
"Probably." Misty nodded into Dawn's hair.
"Help me pick out a dress?" Dawn asked, pulling away from Misty. "I need to look gorgeous for Ash tonight."
Misty watched as Dawn held up dress after dress, and together they narrowed down the choices. Misty tried her best to ignore the sensations inside her, hoping it would just go away and she wasn't coming down with something.
…
Dawn and Misty arrived at the dance after Brock and Ash, Dawn taking forever to complete her look.
Eventually Dawn had settled on a white dress with a bow on the front, a beautiful contrast to her blue hair, Misty wearing the blue dress she'd bought with Ash. Dawn spotted Ash and Brock, about to drag Misty over she was pulled back.
"Isn't that the guy from last night?" Misty asked, pointing towards a purple haired boy stood to one side.
"Who Paul? Quite possibly." Dawn shrugged, looking over at him.
"I think it is. Let's go talk to him." Misty smiled.
"What? No, let's go to Brock and Ash." Dawn gestured towards the boy.
"Too late." Misty smirked. "I'm going to get him." Misty squeezed through the crowd and towards Paul.
"Misty!" Dawn called after her but she was already gone.
Dawn shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips, before walking over to Brock and Ash.
"You look nice Dawn." Ash said once she arrived.
"This old thing." Dawn scoffed. "I completely forgot I had it."
"Where's Misty?" Ash asked, looking around.
"Talking to some guy." Dawn gestured behind her.
Ash scanned through the crowd, he saw Misty and a guy talking, he leant against the wall, barely paying attention but by the looks of it Misty was trying very hard.
"You guys want to dance?" Dawn asked, pulling back his focus.
"Go for it." Brock smiled.
"Ash?"
"I better go save Misty first." He said walking off.
"She doesn't need saving she…" But he was gone. "That boy." Dawn rolled her eyes and went to dance with Brock.
…
"Sorry, I don't remember her." Paul shook his head.
"You must do! She was the bluenette you walked into last night." Misty groaned.
"How am I meant to remember every person I walk into?"
"What's wrong with you? How many people do you walk into?" Misty stared in disbelief
"You'd be surprised." He shrugged.
"Well can you at least come dance with us, you might recognise her once you see her." Misty tried.
"Dancing isn't really my thing, now run along." He looked away.
Misty glared up at him, she would get this guy to dance with Dawn if it killed her.
"Mist." A hand was placed on her hip and she turned to see Ash by her side. "Want to go dance?"
"Sure, but Paul's coming with us."
Before he had a chance to protest she dragged him to the dance floor and practically threw him into Dawn.
"Hi." Dawn smiled.
"Hey, you're the girl from the fireworks." Misty rolled her eyes, now he remembers.
"Yeah, Dawn."
"Paul."
"I remember." She bit her lip. "Want to dance?"
"Might as well now I'm here." He shrugged.
Misty smiled as Dawn danced with Paul, not once bothering to give Ash a second glance. Brock was off with some girl he'd found leaving just her and Ash.
"So cupid, want to dance?" He asked.
"Sure, I'd love to." Misty smiled, taking a step closer to Ash and moving to the music, just like the girls in her mother's stories.
…
Misty had danced with Dawn, with Brock and she'd even danced with Paul but the whole time Ash was never far away. She was currently dancing with Ash, slowly swaying from side to side, having lost everyone they'd been with earlier.
"You haven't danced with Dawn yet." Misty said, above the music.
"Why do I have to?" Ash shrugged.
"I don't know, just think it would be nice if you did."
"She wouldn't want to, I've got two left feet." Ash laughed.
"You'd be surprised." Misty muttered.
"Misty." Ash said, he stopped dancing forcing Misty to stop too. "You told me something really personal today. And I'm glad you could trust me.
"You've looked after me since I got here." Misty smiled. "Of course I can trust you."
"But I've been keeping something from you."
"You have?"
"And I think it's time I told you." He took hold of her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Or maybe like you I'll show you." He said quietly.
"Ash, what are you…"
Her sentence was cut short by the presence of Ash's lips, pressed firmly against hers, her eyes widened as she felt Ash's tongue in her mouth as her gripped her around the waist and pulled her closer.
She prayed that Dawn couldn't see them, not wanting to hurt the girl, she prayed that Ash was just caught up in the moment and his heart really did belong with Dawn but through it all she prayed she didn't have to stop.
…
Please review :) thanks
