Last time, Ash successfully fought off the Iron Masked Marauder... saving his Pokemon. In an unexpected turn of events, Ash's Eevee evolved into Umbreon as a day's work turned into a night's evolution. Now, with more resolve than ever to complete his quest of becoming a Pokemon master, Ash is preparing to head back to Celadon City where his eighth gym badge surely awaits...
"Almost ready?" Misty asked, opening the door just as Ash put the last of his supplies into his backpack.
"Yep, I'm all set."
"You know, there hasn't been much time to talk in the past few days."
Ash nodded, "Plenty of time to talk on the road."
"I was just—"
"MR. MIME!" Delia Ketchum's beloved Pokemon, Mimey, sprinted through the open door to clean up the messes Ash had left. He cleaned mercilessly, refusing to quiet even a little until everything was spic and span.
"We'll talk later," Misty said sadly, Ash not noticing her tone.
A few minutes went by and sure enough, Ash and Misty reached Professor Oak's lab for a final farewell before heading off to Ash's next challenge.
"I know you will do well in Celadon City, Ash." Professor Oak assured him. "Your Umbreon is in good health, as is the rest of your Pokemon."
"Any last minute advice Professor?" Misty wondered.
Professor Oak thought about it and offered this to Ash, "The Indigo League will meet three months from Saturday. Training a variety of your Pokemon and reconnecting with ones you haven't used much recently is one of the best ways to ensure yourself a well-rounded team. Although, you have a special talent for leaving lasting impressions on the Pokemon you capture."
Ash thought about it, "Maybe I should switch them around for my battle with Erika."
"Your call, Ash," said Misty.
Ash decided to take Riolu, Umbreon, Pikachu, along with Donphan, Infernape, and Staraptor.
"All set," Ash decided, waving goodbye to his Poke-friends and following Misty down the road to leave Pallet behind.
Despite her early mention, Misty did not say much of anything for the rest of the day. They spent most of the walk in silence while Riolu and Pikachu chased each other around like maniacs. They stopped for dinner as the sun set, Ash being hungry enough to eat like a Snorlax breaking a diet. Ash finished preparing the meal about the same time Misty finished getting the fire ready.
"Infernape, light it up," Ash commanded.
"INFERN!"
They ate by the fire, sitting closer to each other than either would acknowledge as well as being oblivious to a figure lurking in the forest.
"Pika." Pikachu's ears perked up.
"What is it buddy?" Ash wondered, looking at the spot Pikachu was interested in. Pikachu's cheeks started sparking, prompting Ash and Misty to get up hurriedly. "Who's there?" Ash demanded, expecting Team Rocket.
"I'm not here to hurt you," a girl's voice announced. "Didn't mean to freak you out or anything, just making sure you're who I think you are."
"Who do you think we are?" Misty asked snappily.
A girl with long, red hair emerged from behind the foliage, revealing herself. "Wasn't trying to startle you lovebirds, just wanted to say hi."
"LOVEBIRDS?" They exclaimed, scooting farther apart.
Melody smiled, "It's been a while, Ash. Misty."
"Melody," Misty muttered, not overjoyed with the reunion from the girl they met on Shamouti, the central island of the Orange Archipelago.
Ash, having had no bad beef with the woman before them, was thrilled to see an old friend. "Melody, how are you?"
"I'm doing well, Ash. I left Shamouti last year so I could travel the world," she explained. "I see you two still haven't figured it all out yet?"
"Figured what out?" Ash and Misty wondered at the same time.
Melody shrugged, "You'll get there. Is that other guy still with you? Tracey?"
Ash shook his head, "He's back in Pallet, studying with Professor Oak."
"That's cool."
"Are you camping near here?" Ash asked.
Melody nodded.
"Why don't you move over here and we can all camp together?"
"Sure."
"I'm gonna go get more firewood," Misty said, her voice full of attitude that she was trying to control.
"We have plenty of firewood." Ash appeared concerned, but Misty failed to notice. "What's wrong Mist?"
"Nothing, I'm just going for a walk."
"You just said you were getting—"
"I think I can handle myself, Ash Ketchum. Thank YOU!" She stormed off before Ash could stop her.
"What's with her?" Ash asked Pikachu, the little yellow Pokemon smacked itself in the face.
Ash waited for Melody or Misty to get back because he didn't want any of their stuff messed with. Pikachu was quietly resting in the sleeping bag while Ash stared at the fire, trying to figure out what he'd done to upset Misty.
"She's not jealous of Melody, is she?" Ash whispered. "How could she think Melody means anything to me compared to her?"
"AHHH!" A loud scream pierced the night air and Ash scrambled toward it.
An Ekans had Melody cornered, and it didn't appear to be friendly.
"Hey, back off!" Ash yelled.
Ekans hissed and lashed out at Ash, knocking him over. By the time he hit the ground, Ash had reached for his belt and sent out Staraptor.
"Staraptor, use Aerial Ace!" The move was super effective, sending the Ekans speeding away. Ash ran up to Melody and helped her up. She had a bruise on her arm and her ankle was swollen. "What happened?" Ash allowed her to lean on him for extra support as he recalled Staraptor for a job well done.
"I think I accidentally stepped on the poor thing's tail," she explained as they hobbled back to the spot where she'd dropped her stuff. Ash picked it up while she continued the story, "I tried to run, but my ankle was hurting and before I knew it I was stuck between a rock wall and an angry Pokemon."
"It looks like your ankle was twisted," Ash commented, "stay against me, and you'll be okay."
By the time they made it back to the campsite, Misty had cooled down and returned with the intent of apologizing to Ash for her attitude. She recognized that her frustration was stemming from the fact they still hadn't had a chance to have the talk. Who was she kidding? She had all day. She just couldn't muster the courage to do it.
When she saw them approach, Misty ran to help.
"What happened?"
Ash told her the story while she got together all of their medical supplies. When he was finished, Misty had just finished using one of her Pokemon's ice beam attack to freeze an ice pack for Melody's ankle.
"I'm just glad Ash was in earshot," said Melody, who was looking at Ash with a little more affection than made Misty comfortable.
'Control yourself Misty,' she warned herself, 'he's not your property.'
By the time the trio went to bed that night, they were exhausted. Ash and Misty's sleeping bags were farther apart than they normally were, nor did it go unnoticed by Misty that Melody was inching closer to Ash's sleeping area. She tried to ignore it, rolling over in her bag over and over again until finally she decided to take an evening walk.
She went down to the brook and watched the water flow easily. She wished that her emotions could be washed away. Liking Ash Ketchum was difficult enough... he could be cocky, self-centered, and downright oblivious. But she had often watched him defend others, human and Pokemon alike, from anyone who would do wrong. She'd seen him save the world, stand up to the head of Team Rocket, and dare Giovanni to fight. He selflessly risked his life without so much as a second thought.
"Here, take this." Melody attempts to hand over the flute to Misty, who is confused.
"Huh?" Misty asked incredulously.
Melody had a determined look on her face, "Legend or not, Ash can't do this alone."
Misty shook her head, "You'll have to play Lugia's song. I'll go look for him. And Ash is never really alone because he's got..." Misty smiled. "Me." The two shake hands in solidarity before Misty and Tracey take off to save Ash.
Misty sighed, "This would be a lot easier if I would just talk to him about it." She thought of the waves crashing down around an unconscious Ash as Pikachu struggled to keep them both afloat in the icy waters.
This was no different than the time she watched him charge between two of the most powerful Pokemon she'd ever seen in the middle of a battle. His sole thought was to end the fighting, and his instinct was to save the Pokemon who would've beaten themselves to death if he hadn't.
"ASH!" She had screamed.
They'd been in a lot of dangerous situations together, Ash having a knack for getting right in the middle of it. Mostly because he wasn't smart enough to avoid it.
But it was their journeys, his sacrifices, and her watching him grow from the goofy kid from Pallet into the man who refused to step aside when the Unown created indomitable Pokemon to reflect the will of a little girl named Molly. The same boy who collided with an energy blast from Entei, a legendary Pokemon with unbelievable power, to protect Pikachu.
No matter who was in danger, no matter how bad it got... Ash would always be brave.
And that... was why Misty loved him.
Unknown to her, Ash was having a similar internal conversation while remaining in the confines of his sleeping bag. He remembered how adamantly Misty defended water Pokemon of all times, always being there even when he'd been a jerk, cheering him on, coaching him when he needed it, and protecting him when he messed something up.
He remembered how worried she was that day in Lavender Town, when he'd been crushed and nearly killed by a falling chandelier. The ghost Pokemon saved him and Pikachu, but it was Misty who desperately tried to shake him awake. She'd also tried her best when he'd been knocked out in the middle of the ocean trying to save the world; she rescued him and returned him to shore with Pikachu, forcing him awake again. She made it possible for him to return the final treasure to its resting place.
How many times she'd been there when he needed her... he didn't know. But he remembered hating himself after Charizard forfeited the match against Ritchie at the Indigo Plateau. Misty was worried and tried to help, but he only pushed her away.
Any day, she could have walked away and left him behind. Any of those days, he couldn't have blamed her for wanting to pursue her own dreams of becoming a water Pokemon master. But the day she truly walked away was one of the worst feelings he'd ever felt... losing her, and Brock, was like taking the joy right out of Pokemon adventuring. How was he to manage alone after having grown so dependent on friends when he got into trouble?
After a quiet day of traveling and a stressful evening, Ash and Misty are left with the ever-growing question about themselves. But these questions may just have to be put aside for a time because Ash's battle with Erika may prove to be his most challenging battle yet.
Hope you enjoyed it!