Sometimes, one person can change your whole life. Ash believes this about his best friend. Does Misty feel the same? Songs do not belong to me, nor does Pokémon or its characters. Takes place slightly before and during Best Wishes. Bruno Mars owns 'Grenade'. Pokémon owned by the amazing Satoshi Tajiri.

[[Ages:
Ash-18
Misty-18
Juniper-42
Iris-17
Cilan-21
Trip-14
Bianca-17
Roxie-20?]]

Chapter Nine: The Final Badge!

Yawning, Ash didn't feel like getting up for two reasons: he had a curled up Misty beside him and he wasn't a morning person, something everyone knew by now. He loved waking up with her snuggling against him, but hated having to wake her up. He figured it was unavoidable and stretched before tapping her awake. "Time to wake up, dear." He murmured in her ear.

She stirred and blinked awake. "You're up really early. Are you the same Ash that overslept a lot?" She murmured back, smiling at his face and fixing his hair to look better before rolling away and heading to her bag. When she got out, she noticed he wasn't in the bed and figured he was downstairs. Only when she was heading downstairs did she find her eyes covered by familiar hands. "Ash.. I will kick you next time you try that stunt." She taunted before smiling and receiving a kiss from her so-called assailant as he crowded her into the wall, relying on her arms to keep her upright.

Easy come, easy go
That's just how you live, oh
Take, take, take it all
But you never give
Should've known you was trouble
From the first kiss
Had your eyes wide open
Why were they open?

He pulled back and smiled. "I know.. I just had to see if you would actually do it.. Now I know you won't.." Ash replied, placing his hand on her waist and walked with her down to the door, seeing Dawn, May, Iris and Cilan all waiting for them. "And I thought I got up early." He fake pouted before following them to the battlefield beside the villa.

"I'll be the referee this time, to see the ingredients of tag-battles." Cilan stated. "Shall we do a two-on-two?" He asked.

"Sure. That's fine with me. Whaddya say, May?" Dawn asked, holding out her pokeball, ready to throw.

"Sounds fine. Unless they think it's better with something else?" May stated, copying Dawn's pose.

Gave you all I had
And you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, you did
To give me all your love
Is all I ever asked
Cause what you don't understand
Is

"You're on." The two said, grinning and doing the same.

"Begin!"

"Piplup, spotlight!"

"Blaziken, show time!"

"Frillish, come on out!"

"Snivy, I choose you!"

Dawn smiled. "Piplup, time to dazzle them with Drill Peck!"

I'd catch a grenade for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I'd jump in front of a train for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
You know I'd do anything for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for you, baby
But you won't do the same

"Blaziken, Blaze Kick! Let's go!"

"Snivy, dodge and use Attract on Piplup!"

"Frillish, Attract on Blaziken!"

No, no, no, no

Cilan held up both hands eventually and declared it a draw. "I must say you two are in harmony, like a refreshing spring breeze and the warmth of the sun. A delicious combo, if I say so myself." He said to Ash and Misty. "While Dawn and May have a combination of bitter and spicy, two things that usually don't mix well, but create a taste that's unforgettable."

May and Dawn shrugged before going left instead of right. "Sorry guys. I've been away far too long. My mom and dad'll be worried sick. Good luck in your match, Ash! Don't back down and make me embarrassed to be your friend." May teased, waving goodbye.

Black, black, black and blue
Beat me 'til I'm numb
Tell the devil I said "Hey" when you get back to where you're from
Mad woman, bad woman
That's just what you are
Yeah, you smile in my face then rip the brakes out my car

"That's my cue to head to Johto with her. After all, the Wallace Cup'll be held in Goldenrod City! If you lose this gym battle, Ash Ketchum, I will have to wonder where the confident guy ran to that I've gotten used to seeing." Dawn added, high-fiving him and running after May to board the plane, with everyone on board, including Professor Oak and Delia.

Waving them all off, Ash grinned. "Now to find that gym and get my eighth badge and enter the Unova League!"

Gave you all I had
And you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, yes you did
To give me all your love
Is all I ever asked
Cause what you don't understand
Is

Cilan held out the town map and looked around. "According to this, the gym's this way." He pointed to the nearest alleyway. "Hmm.. It should be... Right here." They stopped at a warehouse of some sort, with the gym logo on the door. "This gym is sure strange."

Iris nodded. "Well, let's go in and see what it's like." Just as she opened the door, a boy nearly ran them all under. "What was that?"

"Seems like this is a Poison-type gym. Looks like the badge won't be easy, Ash." Cilan stated.

I'd catch a grenade for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on the blade for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I'd jump in front of a train for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
You know I'd do anything for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for you, baby
But you won't do the same

"Who said gym badges are easy to get? This'll just make if funner to get the badge!" He replied, leading them all down to a stage, where there were fans cheering for a girl.

"Thanks for coming! You all rock! Huh?" The girl turned and faced Ash. "Well, you must be the next challenger. Welcome to the Virbank Gym, I'm the gym leader, Roxie!"

"I'm Ash from Pallet Town."

If my body was on fire
You would watch me burn down in flames
You said you loved me, you're a liar
Cause you never ever ever did, baby

"That's in Kanto! Wicked! I got my Koffing there after it hitched a ride during a concert." Roxie stated, seeing Pikachu. "Rockin! It's a Pikachu! Well, let's see what you can do against me, Ash. Hit it, ref!"

"The Virbank gym battle is about to begin. This match is a six on three battle between Ash from Pallet Town and Roxie, the gym leader, with no time limit and the battle's over if one side has no pokemon left to battle with. Only the challenger can substitute Pokémon. Let's rock the battle!" The ref stated, throwing an arm down once Iris, Cilan and Misty were on the sidelines.

But, darling, I'd still catch a grenade for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on the blade for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I'd jump in front of a train for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)
You know I'd do anything for you (yeah, yeah, yeah)

'Well, six on three is different.. That means I have to watch that Koffing, cause it's fast.' Ash thought before smiling. "Boldore, I choose you!" Before they knew it, Ash and Roxie each had one Pokémon each: Pikachu and Garbodor. Pikachu's Static ability had taken effect on Garbodor, but he was poisoned. "Pikachu, hang on there and use Thunderbolt followed by Electro Ball!" He commanded as Pikachu followed the command and hit Garbodor head on, knocking it out.

"That's it! Garbodor is unable to battle. Which mean Ash is the victor! Rock it hard!" The ref announced as Ash ran to Pikachu and held him.

I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes I would die for you baby
But you won't do the same

"Way to go, buddy. That was awesome." He said, standing up as Roxie walked up.

"Man, I never thought I'd lose. But, I had wicked fun, man. So, here's a gift. A Pecha Berry. For Pikachu." Roxie said, handing Pikachu a berry. "You are an amazing dude, Ash. Here's the Toxic Badge, proof you rocked this gym hard. What do you all say?" She shouted to the fans, who cheered for Ash.

"I must say, Roxie, I really like this guy." Billy Jo said, grinning at him.

No, you won't do the same
You wouldn't do the same
Ooh, you'd never do the same
Oh, no no no

"Sorry, Billy Jo, I'm taken." Ash chuckled as Misty came up and hugged him, nearly choking him as he took the badge from Roxie. "My last badge. Awesome!" He managed to find his badge case and place it in the last slot.

"Bummer, man." Billy Jo laughed, along with everyone else.

"Now you better not show any mercy from here on out or else I'll be bummed that someone won against me but lost later on. Go rock everyone's world, Ash." Roxie said, smiling and wailing on her guitar. "Before I forget, who's are all these rocking supporters of yours?"

"I'm Cilan, the Striaton City gym leader. A pleasure." Cilan said, bowing slightly.

"I'm Iris, a Dragon Master in training. And this is my partner Axew." She said, smiling and petting Axew.

"And I'm Ash's fiancée, Misty, former gym leader of the Cerulean City gym in Kanto."

"Wicked! You must be related to the Sensational Sisters then."

"Yeah. They're my older sisters Daisy, Lily and Violet." Misty said, sighing at the fact she had famous sisters.

"Don't look bummed. You're almost as famous." Roxie said, grinning. "After all, you snagged the most eligible bachelor between here and Kanto itself. That's awesome, though."

Misty smiled and nearly jumped when Ash's arm wrapped around her waist. "Thanks. Lily herself told me the same thing."

Ash grinned and turned to head out, taking her hand as they left towards the Pokémon Center and saw Nurse Joy. "Joy!"

"Oh, Ash! How'd it go?" She asked.

Ash pulled out his badge case. "Got it. All eight and that means I can take part in the Unova League."

Joy frowned. "Sadly, the Unova League won't be held for another three months. Sorry to say that."

"That's actually fine. It gives me time to take care of more important things." He smirked at Misty as he headed towards the phone, knowing all his friends will be waiting. He saw his mom when he called. "Hey, mom. I got all eight badges. I know.. That's what I was planning.. Yeah, I was figuring three months is more than enough time to, er, practice and train. Mooooom.. I know, but this way, you know... Yeah. Love ya too. Bye." He walked back over. "Mom and the rest will be here next week to finish the wedding, since apparently you girls were already planning it. I'm sure Brock and the guys will try to give me something to either forget or remember for a long time."

Misty flushed and giggled. "Yeah. I'll be sure to make sure they know not to make you start regretting me, dear. After all, you really only fall in love once." She said, toying with his hat before holding it up to block their faces from the others. "I truly love you, you know." She murmured before taking his mouth with hers, unable to believe she was soon going to be married to her best-friend, soul mate and lover in a few short weeks. Now only if she could resist the urges to jump his bones that long.

Ash pulled away a few inches to grin and stare at those greenish-blue, he could hardly tell which, eyes that shimmered with her love for him. "I doubt I'd regret anything. It's me that should be saying that. After all, I do embarrass you a lot sometimes. And you are my entire world and I love you for putting up ith my hard-headedness so easily." He answered back, pecking her mouth again and replacing his hat on his head.

"It's not easy to do that. I just am equally hard-headed." Misty giggled and couldn't exactly help but wonder what will happen now.

So, this chapter is done, now the awaited wedding and more importantly, the wedding night! See ya!
~Kagomee-H.