Hello, and welcome to the latest chapter of 'How a Trip can change your Life!' Told you i'd update it soon! Also, thanks to Livi Sylvie for doing the contest.
The next day was Misty's wedding. It wasn't until eight at night, and exactly a half hour afterwords, Ash would have leave to go to Kalos, for his show. It seemed to him that the hours leading up the to the wedding were a blur. The next thing he knew, Gray was telling him to get ready for the wedding. Ash hastily put on a tuxedo and and rushed to the wedding alter, in time to see the end of the ceramony. He was wondering weather Dawn would talk to him, despite last night's...'incident,' when he noticed Dawn looking at him. When she saw Ash's gaze, she looked away.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Everyone cheered, and Ash couldn't help but imagine that Misty and Tracey, who were now officially married, as him and Dawn. I wish that could happen, he thought. But, I doubt Dawn would like me, after yesterday...
"I'm going to miss you dude." Ash's thoughts were interrupted by Gary.
"Huh? What do you mean?" he asked.
"Look at the time; 8:30. Your flight is coming at, what, 9:20? If you don't want to miss your flight, you best be going. Promise that this time, you'll actually keep in touch!" Gary reminded him.
"Oh, right..." Ash was interrupted by Misty.
"Hey, Ash, you're gong now, right? Have fun, and if you don't keep in touch, i'l track you down and beat you with my mallet!" she joked.
"Ash?" The three turned around, and, too Ash's delight, stood Dawn.
"Have fun. With your show-" Ash interrupted Dawn by giving her a tight bear hug.
"I will. Are you sure you'll be able to live without me?" He joked. Dawn pulled away.
"Of course! Who can live with your annoyingness?" she jokingly said.
"I can. Also..." Ash took a deep breath. "Bye, guys. I swear, this time, i'll keep in touch." Ash walked away, away from the hotel and towards his car so he could drive to the airport. He kept remembering Dawn's words from last night. We love each other, yet we each want to live our own lives. You want to travel the world, I want to stay here in Alola. Even if we are together, our own ways of life will drive us apart. Ash loved Dawn. He loved her a lot...but he also loved his dreams that much. he was facing a difficult desicion weather he should give up his dreams for Dawn, or Dawn for his dreams, when he was reminded of the last thing his dad ever said to him; You should visit more often.
...
Ash had driven to his home before his flight, just to honor his father's last request for him. He instantly remembered all of his crazy memories; when he was little and colored over the walls in permanent marker, when he was a toddler and would climb in the dishwasher just to get his pacifier when his mom, who was alive then, would wash it. He remembered his friends having a wild party when his dad and step-mom were away, and when he almost burned down the house when he tried to make a cake. He smiled. Good times. He suddenly remembered the last time he met his dad.
"Hey, dad." Ash said.
"Hello, son." His dad replied, placing an envelope in his son's hand. Ash opened it, and saw loads of money.
"Dad, thanks, but you always give me lots of money. I don't-"
"Ash, who's the dad here?" his dad said, cutting him off. "Also, how are you when you're travelling around the world? The last time you came to see me was three years ago. Or was it? You've been gone for so long I forget when-" Ash interrupted his dad.
"Dad, stop making me feel bad. I know you miss me, but i'm grown up now! I'm and adult, I have a job. Making me feel bad about it won't make me stay here."
"Ash, i'm not trying to-"
"I don't care. I'm leaving." Ash headed to the door, but Delia blocked his way.
"Out of my way, step-mom." Ash impaitently said.
"You're leaving just because of a petty argument?" Delia asked.
"It's between me and my dad, so please stay out of it." Before his parents could protest, Ash walked out the door.
The last time he ever met his dad...the last memory his dad had of him...he was so mad at his dad, just for expressing his loneliness. Ash felt terrible about it, but there was nothing he could about it. His dad was dead, and sadly, there was nothing Ash could do about it. Slowly, a tear trickled down his cheek. He couldn't bear that memory, and he sat down on one of the chairs when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder.
"Ash?" He looked up and saw Delia.
"Hi, step-mom." He said, wiping away his tears. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Delia asked.
"The last time I came, I got in a big fight with dad. All because he missed me. And I didn't even call him, e-mail him, or even attend his funeral! I wish I can apologize for all that." Ash said through tears.
"Ash, dear, your father forgave you. He never really was mad, he was just sad that you left, but got over it. Things happen, and we get over them. Life is like a roller-coaster, dear. It either favors or doesn't favor us, but we can't do anything about it." Delia handed him some of her sherbert. "Eat some, you'll feel better."
Ash took a bite out of it and looked at Delia. "It tastes much better."
He soon left his house, and began to drive away. Not to the airport, but to someone's house. He soon reached there, and knocked on the door, hoping she'd be there. Soon, the door opened, and a blue-eyed bluenette stood there.
"Hey, Dawn!" Ash cheerily said.
"Ash? What are you doing here? You'll miss your flight, hurry, go the airport!" Dawn exclaimed. Ash stepped inside and closed the door.
"I'm not going."
Dawn looked surprised. "What? Why? Aren't you supposed to do this new show that'll take you to around the world? It's your biggest dream! What dream of yours could be bigger than that!?" To her surprise, Ash knelt on one knee in front of her and took out a small, velvet box from his pocket.
"Dawn Berlitz, will you marry me?" He asked. Ash opened the box, revealing a...ring pop. Dawn picked it up.
"Seriously? A ring pop? Is this a joke or..."
"Sorry, I couldn't find a jewelry store on the way, but I found a convenience store and they had this and please say yes!" Ash said.
"You have to be seriously stupid if you think i'm going to say no! Yes!" She placed the ring pop on her ring finger. "It looks so beautiful." She sarcastically said.
"YES!" Ash cheered.
"What? You're saying the ring pop DOES look beautiful?" Dawn joked.
"Nope. I'm just so happy that now we're engaged." Ash pulled out his phone. "Let's conference call Gary, Misty and Tracey. After all, today is New Year's Eve!" When the conference call loaded, the first person to talk was Gary.
"Hey, Ash! Hey, Dawn! Wait...Ash, aren't you supposed to be at the airport?"
"Yeah, but I gave up on that show. I have a dream more important than that, which is Dawn." He gave her a side hug when he said that. "Also, we're engaged."
"YES! I knew it! I knew it! I KNEW IT!" Misty exclaimed.
"Misty, why're you at the airport?" Dawn asked.
"We're going to Mossdeep City for our honeymoon, so we're flying there." Tracey replied.
"Oh. Hey guys, there are five seconds left 'till the New Year!" Dawn exclaimed. "Let's count down! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1!"
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" said Ash, Dawn, Gary, Misty and Tracey.
The End! I know, New Year's Eve is six months away, but I couldn't think of any other way to end the story. Thanks so much for reading/following/ favoriting/reviewing!