Day Fourteen:

It was another peaceful day in Pallet. Delia watched from the kitchen window as Mimey continued to pick weeds from the garden. She smiled as she ran more dishes under the kitchen tap and began to sing a few lines from different songs she could remember. The mother heard a knock on the door: soft, weak but loud enough to grab her attention. Placing the last of the clean dishes she had washed on the drying rack, Delia dried her hands and walked over to the door. Expecting it would be Misty, Tracey or even Professor Oak for some afternoon tea.

But she was wrong.

"Ma, I'm back."

.XxX.

Ash didn't know where to start as his mother walked into the room with freshly made hot chocolate. Delia kept her eyes locked on her son while placing the drink on the coffee table. She took a seat opposite to her son and placed her hands onto her lap.

"Ash?" Delia began. "What brings you back so early? The league hasn't even started yet."

"I just needed...some time." Ash gazed at the chocolate liquid in the mug. "The last few days have been hectic." Removing his cap Ash continued. "And I'm the only one that remembers everything."

Delia stood up and took the next seat closer to her son, which was the double seater sofa. "Ash, I've never seen you this down." She placed both of her hands on her son's and held them tight. "What happened in Sinnoh?"

"I don't even know that myself Mom." Looking up to his mother, Ash rested his head on his mother shoulder. "I don't know anymore."

"You were never this fragile." Ash's mother embraced her son as Ash just laid there quietly. "You were always the fighter, the boy who always gave others hope and joy when they were down." She looked down towards her son. "But who is going to give you hope when your down?" She patted her son's head. "I can't be by your side all the time. Maybe not as much as I want to because of your journey."

"I did have somebody that did all of those things to me." Delia was surprised by her son's words, causing her to loosen her grip on him slightly. But it was weak enough for Ash to break from her mother's arms. "But she's gone. What was worse is that I knew it was going to happen but I went ahead with it anyway." Ash rubbed his eyes and looked away from his mother so she would not notice.

"Ash." Delia looked at Pikachu who was sitting on the coffee table, sadden and lost in his trainer's sudden depressing emotions. Soon she looked back at Ash. "Are you heartbroken?" Delia felt unease when she spoke the word 'heartbroken'

"If that is what you call this unbearable feeling of regret and sadness, then yeah." Ash reached over for his cap before taking a sip from his drink. "This isn't me. I know. I don't like it either but I'm only human." Ash paused to take another drink of his hot chocolate. "Don't I have a right to feel sadness and regret without being judged as wrong? Can't I feel sad from time to time as well?"

Delia reached her hand out and placed it on her son's right cheek. "It's okay. Nobody here is going to judge you. Even if we will never understand the reason behind it, I'll do my best to understand what you're going through." She kissed her son on his forehead. "Because right now, I'm the only person you can rely on right now."

"Thanks Mom." Ash embraced his mother one more time before heading off.

.XxX.

"What am I doing?" Ash hit his head on the shower tiles softly. "I just left Sinnoh just like that, without saying much to Brock and Dawn." Ash sighed and ran his fingers through his wet hair. "Dawn is going to kill me when I get back."

Ash's mind wondered to Dawn. They were together, now that May had returned. But it was rather complicated. His mind just overheated even thinking how it even worked. Now when he would return he would have to hurt his best friend for the second time over. Ash slammed his head on the shower tiles once more.

He was so tried to hurting everyone he loved.

He soon placed a towel around himself and another over his shoulders. He could hear the murmurs that were carried from behind the bathroom door as Ash stood in front of it. His mother's voice was low and filled with stress, dropping in and out from silence. He could even hear a few sighs as he got dressed.

"I thought it would be best if I tell you now than later. Ash isn't himself."

Delia sat on his son's bed with her phone against her ear. Listening to Brock's response to the words she spoke to him. Pikachu was beside her and would look at him every time she would take a single glance at the mouse.

"His having a hard time now, what happened over there?"

Delia waited as Brock tried to find the right words that could explain the situation. Nobody, nobody could remember Ash's relationship with Sapphire or everything in between. When May returned, so did the true timeline. Everything that Ash treasured could now be considered a dream.

"May and Drew have left and now going back to Johto. I see."

Ash zipped up his black vest and dusted it before turning to a comb to roughly brush his spiky raven styled hair. Ash brushed it longer than usual as he continued to hear the muttering from his mother from outside the bathroom.

"Dawn is worried and upset at the same time. I would too if somebody left like that out of the blue."

Realising his hair was still wet he reached over for his towel and manually dried it; Ash's hair was spiky everywhere causing him to brush his hair once more.

"I've never seen him this down before. Give him a day or two. He'll return to his cheery old self and you three can head to the league."

Ash waited for the call to end. When he heard the knocking on the door he opened and there stood his mother. She explained everything to him and like a mother would do, demanded her son to stay in town for a few days to get whatever was troubling him out of his system. But Ash knew it would take more than a few days to get him together once more.

With a parting kiss and hug, Delia left to return to the kitchen to get the dinner ready as Ash sat beside his good buddy, Pikachu. He patted him and smiled.

"Mother asked me earlier to get a few things in the shop. Wanna come with me?"

Pikachu stretched and yawned before shaking his head. The little mouse was simply too tried out from their travel and trying to cheer his trainer up. Putting another smile, Ash said his goodbye and left his room, leaving Pikachu to sleep soundly.

.XxX.

eHeHe

"It's been some time since I did this." Sighing, Ash looked at the names written on the bottles. "Strangely, I miss it." Chuckling Ash grabbed the bottle he was after. "Sweet chill sauce, just like mother wants."

"Well this is interesting."

Turning to his right stood a good friend of his, Misty. She was the same cheery tomboy he remembered her to be.

"Misty." Ash smiled. "It's so great to see you again."

"Same here." The red head smiled before reaching for a bottle and placed it into her basket. "But the league is about to start. What are you doing here?"

"I just needed to get a break." Ash explained. "But I'll be leaving in a day or two to see Dawn's grand festival. I know she'll get into the finals." Ash grinned.

"Stop with the fake smiles Ash." Misty stated boldly. "Tell me what's wrong."

Misty could always tell what the matter with him was ever since he was young. After all, she was his mentor, teacher and best friend. She taught him the ropes and about pokemon. If it wasn't for their times in both Kanto and Johto he wouldn't be able to teach May and Dawn the way he did today. He owned Misty everything he was today.

"Just feeling a bit a pain from here." Ash pointed where his heart lay. "Nothing serious." Ash smiled once more.

"So you finally understand then? What it feels?"

"I'm sorry for hurting you back then. I just made your rejection even worse." Ash felt Misty holding on his arm. "I should have been there for you or something."

"No, what you did back then was right. If you stayed it would have made everything harder to bare." Releasing her grip Ash tapped the front of his red cap. "And I don't think it would have ever worked. I don't think I can keep up with your wild ways." Turning around she raised her hand in the air. "I prefer my gym where I have everything under control and somewhat, predictable." Looking over her shoulder, Misty put a warm smile. "You on the other hand, are nothing like that."

And afterwards Misty took her leave.

"She knows me too well." Ash looked into his hand. "I better get back then."

.XxX.

"Where do I begin."

"Misty!" Ash screamed causing Misty to turn around. "I forgot to say another thing while we were back in the shop."

"Typical." The gym leader sweat dropped. "Well hurry up, I have to get back home before sunset."

Misty watched as Ash stood there nervous. He was fiddling his his cap and fixing his collar a little too much. Misty knew the boy was unusually nervous, more than when he used to face a gym leader. Looking straight at Misty, Ash began to speak.

"I'm sorry."

Chuckling, Misty walked back to Ash and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I told you, you did the right thing. I needed time on my own, to clear my head." Blinking at Ash's sudden outburst of forgiveness. "But why now, after all these years?"

"Because I know what it feels to be..." Ash swallowed hard before adding. "...to be what you call, heartbroken."

"I knew it." Patting Ash's cheek Misty continued to put her smile on.

"To tell a story on how great a love can be."

"It hurts, it hurts so much."

Misty guided her and Ash underneath a tree, just in the outskirts of town. They were now on the road where houses of Pallet laid.

"I knew I would lose her but I went ahead with it." Ash embraced her legs. "But nobody will understand it if I told them."

"Tell me." Ash looked at his best friend. "Right now, I'm the only one you can rely on."

"You'll call me crazy if I do."

"Try me."

Ash sighed and looked up into the clear blue sky above him. "Fine." Taking in a breath Ash continued. "Celebi created a new world where May's accident never happened. She got another counterpart of hers from another world who went by the name of Sapphire. She then had to live in this world under the name of May. Then as each day went by I started to fall for her then I shattered when I discovered it wasn't the real May I thought. I told her to get lost but she continued to come back again and again. Then when everything was alright her past came back and her old feelings for a rival of hers resurface then everything just broke apart."

"Then you lost her." Misty added. Ash replied with a simple nod while still embracing his knees. Afterwards Ash buried his face into them.

"Then it hit me, Celebi is a time travelling pokemon. It can alter time as it wish. So it got Sapphire, placed her into the life of May and she play along. She was only able to do that because Sapphire's will to be loved. I guess we were the same."

"I could tell you had something towards her when I came to visit you guys." Misty looked up and noticed a green leaf from the tree they were under was falling down towards her. "There was something you had that you never had for me. Then I knew it was over. I had lost you." Misty reached her arm up and caught the leaf in her hand. "I told myself that from that day onwards, I would help you find the right one."

"The sweet love story that is older than the sea."

"There just was something I had for her ever since I met her. Of course I was a little naive to the whole thing and call it excitement. Then after awhile I thought that something was up, I was more convinced of this everything I saw her rival that was in love with her but he had more style so I just slipped into the over-protective best friend role." Ash began to laugh. "He had so much more class then I did. She even gave May a rose every time they were together." Looking at Misty. "Now tell me, which girl wouldn't fall for that guy?"

"But did you ask her if she liked him too?" Opening her palm, Misty watched the little green leaf fly of her grasp. "Sure, you can give as many roses you want and say the cheesiest line you can come up with but if there is nothing beating in the girl's heart then it's just a waste time and effort." Misty looked back warmly at Ash. "In the end, it's the best friend that wins."

"But their together, their dating."

"The next time, look at how they treat each other. If I remember correctly, May still loves you."

"But-how?" Ash stuttered.

"When she was in Johto, she gave me a call. She was in tears. She didn't speak much but she wanted you but she had no idea where to start." Misty stood onto her two feet and looked down at Ash. "If you just took one more step, everything would fall into your arms." Misty offered her hand to her friend.

"The simple truth about the love she brings to me."

Accepting her help Ash was onto his two feet. He readjusted his cap and dusted himself. Misty always spoke things from her heart either from anger or with a sweet caring tone. She would always speak her mind without thinking twice. That was what made Misty such a great character. But her last word, it wasn't her.

"Sapphire." Ash smiled.

Misty placed her finger over her lips and winked. "This is my parting message Ash. I have to be quick." Ash nodded and let the girl continued. "What Misty said earlier was her. Only now that it isn't."

Misty's image soon was swiped away like paint on a canvas and showed a much younger Sapphire that looked around eleven. She wore the same orange and green outfit May came in but blue. She was smiling at him. She still had that unique hairstyle only she and May shared but with an added ponytail at the back. She even had a little fang showing.

"Ash." Her voice was sweet and echoed. "May always loved you but she just gave up a little sooner then you did. May told this herself remember?" Sapphire took a few steps closer to Ash and placed her ear against his beating heart. "If I did not look like May would you still love me?"

There were no words Ash could say because it was true. If she looked like another woman he would not fall for her. Ash hated himself that it was true.

"But I'm glad I looked like her though." Sapphire put on another smile. "If I never landed in this world I would be filled with anger and hate towards Ruby and everyone around me. I was glad to love you and glad that you taught me to love once more." She took two steps back with her hands behind her back. "You taught me to love my life once more." Crying she held her hand upright and straight. Her fingers touching each other. "I know this much is true. May loves you; she always did from the start."

Ash raised his hand and placed it against Sapphire's. Both were crying but smiling.

"I'm going to miss you." Ash began. "I'm going to miss a lot." Ash intertwined his fingers with hers. "You better go now; Ruby is probably waiting for you now."

"I really enjoyed our time Ash." Sapphire intertwined her fingers with his. "I won't leave you crying. Remember this."

And with a sudden gust of strong winds Ash released his grip and with one blink, he was facing Misty once more. Misty was confused why her best friend was crying. Quickly seeing her again, Ash wiped away his tears.

"I-I got to go." Stuttering, Ash took his leave.

"Where do I start."

Misty smiled as she watched Ash run back to his home. Brushing her hair behind her ear she picked up her things and walked the opposite direction. She was happy to see Ash was growing up and understood her pain but she never wanted him to go through it. She turned once more and gazed at the path he ran though.

"I always had forgiven you from the start, silly boy."

"Hey Misty!" The red head turned where her name was called from.

"Tracey!" She smiled and she ran to the boy. "Wait for me!"

"With her first hello, she gave a new meaning to empty world of mine."

Ash felt like falling face first onto the front lawn after running so far. His legs couldn't keep his body upright anymore. Ash stretched and yawned before turning to his side. He kept his eyes glued on the gate and watched it in hoping to fall asleep. But it changed when he saw the gate open. He sat up and rubbed his eyes in making sure his mind wasn't playing tricks on him. Knowing it was only the wind that made it go unlocked Ash got onto his two feet and walked over and kept the gate in its place.

"They'll never be another love, another time. She came into my life and made living fine."

Ash rubbed his sore hamstrings before looking at the shopping bag still on the lawn. Before walking over to get them he felt a soft hand on his shoulder.

"She fills my heart with very special things with angel's songs, with wild imaginations."

Ash glanced and held the hand. Turning around he smiled.

"She fills my soul with so much love that everywhere I go I'm never lonely."

And there she stood. With a soft smile and danced across her lips, her shining sapphire eyes gleaming and her soft brunette hair soft and fragile.

"I reach for her hand- it's always there."

"Your back." Keeping his tears back the teenager nodded and unlocked the gate that kept them apart.

"I know I'll need her till the stars all burn out."

She ran into his arm and held him tight with her tears escaping afterwards. She dug her face into his torso as Ash embraced her back without noticing his own tears, escaping as well. Taking a second to look ahead he noticed a younger woman standing a few feet away from him, transparent and smiling. She opened her eyes and lifted her hand and waved.

She had kept her promise for fighting for them. She kept her promise that she would never leave until he was smiling once more. Another boy soon came and stood beside her, it was Ruby. He was happy as he held Sapphire's other hand. Both waved and like before it only took one blink and they were gone. Ash looked back down at May and noticed she had stop crying and was now just lying in his arms. While still in his arms she looked up and smiled at him. Smiling back Ash wiped away any of her remaining tears.

From the window his mother watch with a smile only a proud mother could give off. She made no words as he watch his son press his lips onto the woman he loved so much. Afterwards she closed the curtains and walked off, smiling to see that what caused the problem had finally came back to fix it.

Pulling apart both look at each other before finding each other's hand and holding it tight. With a slight chuckle they held it tight. They had waited for so long. So long to have a moment where there were no more lies, cover-ups or mistakes. Nothing could ever explain the happiness that ran through them.

As both made their way inside and closed the door behind them, on the entrance sat a doormat. On that simple ''welcome'' door mat laid one simple item, a gold emerald ring. A simple ring that changed two people's lives that only that ring could do. And forever it shall remain unseen but forever will keep the times it gave to two special people. Times they only they knew.

"And she'll be there."

FIN.

A/N:

Well there you go, Ringer is officially finished! Did you guys like it? Well i'm going to be honest. This didn't turn out how i planned it to be, wait, none of my stories do. I wanted a sad ending but looks like i couldn't live with myself with it so i wrote this chapter, a happy one and i'm glad i did. It makes me happy that the troubles Ash and Sapphire went thought got themselves a ending they both loved.

I suggest you listen to the song "Where do I begin (Love story)" by Gary V. I think it's a nice love song to sum this story up. Maybe i could go as far as it's theme song. XD Well i hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. I really love writing this. :D

~midnight