Chapter 22
"I'm glad you two are getting along now." Brock smiles at his friend. They've been gone for a few hours for Misty to nap and eat, though the woman can't get any good sleep with Ariel in the clinic.
Misty rolls her eyes at him. "It's against my will."
Chuckling, Brock focuses on the road. They're currently driving back to the clinic. "But it's for the best."
The redhead narrows her eyes at him. After last night, a lot of things are starting to make sense to her now. "Did you drug me last spring and take me to the place I met him for Ariel?"
Brock shoots his friend an innocent smile. "I would never do that, Misty!"
She glares at him. "I'm gonna get you back, Brock. Just wait."
He can't help but smirk, though he is glad they don't need to resort to drastic plans to get Ash and Misty to meet. After some time, Brock says, "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect her yesterday." It's been weighing on him because he was in on the plan. Being the only adult, he should've been there with Ariel and the Oak siblings.
Misty sighs and pats his shoulder. "No one expected Team Rocket to attack her. You can't blame yourself, Brock." Ariel always plays around alone or with one Pokemon. Misty assumed the girl would never get attacked, but she should've known better because Ariel is the Champion's only child.
"But I knew about the plan, Misty."
The woman shakes her head. "No, Brock. Don't blame yourself. You did nothing wrong." But I did, she thinks to herself. Mew, if she had just listened to Ariel's requests, then none of this would've happened. They soon park at the clinic, and Misty smiles warmly at Brock. "I appreciate you being the good guy to her. She needs someone who is willing to tell her about us."
Brock gives her a grateful smile back. "I can't go in yet, but can you let her know I'm always thinking about her? I know she'll make a speedy recovery."
"I will, Brock. Thanks!" Because Brock can't see Ariel for some time, the man will be going back to Pewter City. He plans to visit as soon as he's allowed to by the clinic. "Have a safe trip back home!"
Brock wishes he could stick around to help Misty with Melody, but Misty can handle her. Nodding, the man replies, "Thanks, Misty. Call me any time!"
After Brock drives off, Misty enters the clinic. She walks down the halls and eventually arrives in one of the waiting rooms. She frowns as she spots the familiar brown hair of her ex's girlfriend; however, Misty needs to walk past Melody to get to the double doors leading to Ariel's room. Melody is on her pokenav, so maybe she won't notice Misty? Trying to walk around her normally, Misty approaches the double doors.
"Stay away from Ash."
Misty closes her eyes in frustration. Taking in a deep breath, she opens her eyes again and turns to face the brunette. "I didn't want him back then, and I still don't want him now." Misty glares at Melody's eyes. "You can keep him."
Melody, annoyed by Misty's courage, stands up to walk closer to her. "Pallet Town clinic is too small for her. Take her back to Cerulean City and don't come back. She was already hurt here." Melody snickers.
"Because none of you are capable of watching her!" Misty snaps. "I'd gladly take her back to Cerulean City, but I know your boyfriend wouldn't agree with us."
"Leave Ash to me. When I have his baby, he won't need your troublesome brat anymore." Melody replies in Misty's face.
The redhead scoffs. "You're such a bitch. You and that asshole are perfect for each other."
Melody is irked by her comment, so she roughly grabs Misty's arm. "You have a lot of nerve talking about the champion and his lover like that."
"That's because I have the champion's only child." Misty innocently smiles, which further bothers Melody.
With her grip tightening, though Misty doesn't show any pain, Melody whispers, "Your little brat is a nuisance to Ash. She already takes up so much of his time. She needs to go."
At this, Misty grabs Melody's arm tightly, causing the brunette to let her go. Misty's glare intensifies on Melody. "What do you mean, 'She needs to go'?"
Wincing in pain as she tries to writhe her arm free of Misty's vicegrip hold, Melody tells her, "Did I fucking stutter, you bitch?"
This just makes Misty's hold on her tighter. There are a few eyes on them, and Misty catches security approaching. Pulling Melody a little closer so that Misty's mouth is near her ear, the redhead whispers, "Listen here, Melody. If anything, and I mean anything happens to my daughter, I will hold you personally responsible." Even though Misty knows Melody has nothing to do with the Team Rocket attack, the redhead is angry. Someone needs to pay for harming Ariel, especially since those Rockets haven't been captured yet.
"Ladies!" a security guard finally reaches them, causing Misty to innocently release Melody. "I'm going to have to ask you both to leave."
"What? Why, sir?" Misty asks.
"Your behavior is not condoned here."
Misty smiles down at Melody who is standing back up again. "We were just talking, right, Melody?"
The brunette, though, doesn't care that Misty is here to see Ariel. Thus, she replies, "No, sir. This woman just attacked me!"
Misty returns her angry glare at Melody. "You attacked me first!"
Melody shows the guard her red wrist. "Look! If you didn't rescue me, she would've hurt me more!" cries the brunette as she tries to work her charms on the man.
The security guard clearly knows who they are because this is a small clinic in the champion's home town. Everyone knows everything involving Ash. "Uh." He nervously tugs at his shirt collar. "I'm gonna have to ask you both to leave."
Misty pleads with him. "Sir, my daughter is in critical condition. I need to see her."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Waterflower, but these are the clinic's rules."
Of course Pallet Town would treat the champion's ex-wife like this. They'll always be on his side. "Is it because of the champion?" Misty snaps at the guard.
"Ma'am-"
"Damn right it is!" Melody grins victoriously. "He doesn't want you near his daughter!"
Misty and Melody are glaring daggers at each other now while the security guard helplessly tries to figure out what to do. "She's my daughter! And I don't want her near any of you!"
"If you picked her up on time, she wouldn't be here. You're a terrible mother!"
Misty chuckles in amusement at Melody's words. Ariel already admitted to making Misty late, but Melody doesn't know this. "Ash knows you're not motherly material." Misty closes in menacingly at Melody. "It took him 2 years to marry me, and by year 3, we already had Ariel." The redhead places a finger on her chin in pretend thought. "You've been together almost 4 years with no ring and no child. Hm. I wonder who he thinks is the worst mother."
"Watch yourself!" Melody seethes.
"Or else what?" Misty challenges her.
"Ladies, please stop!" the guard walks closer to them.
"Or else this, you bitch!" Melody exclaims, and Misty feels a sharp stinging sensation on her left cheek.
By now, the guard has Melody in his hands. "You need to leave, Ms. Melody." he tells her apologetically.
"She needs to go too! She was fighting with me!" Melody insists.
Although pissed that Melody hit her, Misty knows she'll never stoop to Melody's level. "I'd never do anything with you." Misty spats after the woman shouting at the guard. Using the opportunity to escape, Misty walks down the double doors as she rubs her cheek. The clinic is small, so there are only 2 guards. One watches the security camera; thus, Misty is lucky that the other is escorting Melody out.
Entering Ariel's room, Misty spots her ex husband sitting beside Ariel. He looks up, even though he had an idea it'd be Misty walking in. "Where's your mom?" Misty asks while taking a seat on the other side of Ariel's bed.
"I made her go home. She worries herself too much." Ash shrugs.
They were only gone a couple of hours, so Misty wonders how long Ash actually went home and slept. She still sees the bags under his eyes, but she knows she has some too. Deciding to end their interaction at that, Misty looks at her sleeping daughter. She's glad Ariel is asleep rather than in pain while awake.
Ash sees Misty's deep bags as well. However, her bright red cheek gets his attention because it's a different shade of skin than her other cheek. "What happened to you?" He asks inconsiderably.
She doesn't need him fighting her battles. Plus, if Ash won't listen to Ariel's concerns about Melody, Misty knows he definitely won't listen to her. She glares at him. "Why would you care?"
At this, Ash is reminded that he doesn't care. He was just trying to make small talk in this uncomfortable air, but he shouldn't. At least not with her. They can never talk. All they ever do is argue. "I don't." He huffs out.
Flashback
"Do you even care?" seethes the angry redhead.
"Not about you!" the raven haired man shouts back at her.
"This is why I'm divorcing you!"
"Good! It's why I signed those papers!"
"You're always gonna be a deadbeat father, Ash!" Misty exclaims.
They're currently arguing because Ash left Ariel in Pikachu's care while Misty was running the gym. Even though they're in the middle of their divorce, the two parents still see each other. Because Misty is busy with the gym, Ash took it upon himself to pick up Ariel from school and hang out with her. Of course, per the usual Ash Ketchum, he puts Pikachu on babysitting duty, leading to their daughter and Pikachu on the other side of town.
"She loves me! She knows me as her father!"
"Because I tell her about you! I show her pictures! If I didn't, she'd have no fucking idea who you are!" Letting your pokemon watch your small child doesn't make you a father. Just because you created that life, it doesn't make you their dad. Misty is angry because Ash of all people should understand what it's like to grow up without a father.
"I don't care about anything you're saying, Misty-"
"That's not new." She snaps at him.
Throwing his hands up in mock defeat, Ash exclaims, "I'm gonna fight for my daughter through this divorce. You can't keep her away from me!"
"You're keeping her away from yourself!" Misty shouts at him.
"Fuck you, Misty!" Ash then leaves the house. He'll have to come back for Pikachu later, or maybe he'll just have Pikachu find him at the hotel. Whatever happens with Pikachu, Ash doesn't want to go back in that toxic house again.
Flashback Over
"Mom?"
"Hm?" Misty looks up from her meal at the little girl. It has now been a week since Ariel was first admitted. The woman bought some clothes from the local pokemart to get her through the week, though Misty isn't a fan of what the small town has to offer for clothing. Most people go to the Viridian City Mall, but Misty doesn't want to be too far away from Ariel for too long.
"Do I have homework?" Ariel really wants to travel with Jace next year, which means she needs to complete school this year. She doesn't need the oxygen mask anymore, however she is still bedridden with her broken bones. Her cuts and bruises are healing nicely.
Misty shrugs. "You can catch up when you're better." She's been communicating with Ariel's school, and it seems like Ariel will be on track to graduate if she's out of the clinic on time.
Sighing, Ariel just wants to get out already. Since she's a lot better now, she's able to get other visitors. Brock plans to come into town during the weekend so he can be with her for a few days. The Oaks will be coming by later today. Ariel really doesn't want to see Melody, and Misty won't let it happen. This is one thing Misty will definitely fight with her ex about.
Speaking of her ex, Ash is out on a conference call right now. He hasn't left the clinic besides for when Delia forces them to. However, the clinic did bring in two spare beds for Misty and Ash. Delia usually brings Ash a new bag of clothes every couple of days while she brings back his dirty ones. She also washes Misty's clothes for her too. The redhead is grateful for Delia.
"I'm sorry, mom." Ariel feels like this is all she can ever say to her mother. Ever since she could talk again, Ariel has admitted to her parents a lot of things. Ash understands how he was teleported, Misty sees why Jackson and Penelope were constantly acting weird, and both parents learned that all mishaps that occurred when exchanging Ariel was due to the girl. Nevertheless, they don't blame her attack on her. No one would've expected Team Rocket to come after her.
Hours Later
"Ariel!" Jace shouts as he comes bursting into the room.
Shortly behind him is his younger sister who is also in tears. "Arie!" Ash and Misty quickly move over so that the Oak siblings can hop on the chairs to check on their smiling friend.
"Hey, guys!" Ariel grins through her own tears. She's glad to see they are okay, even though her parents had already told her they were fine.
Gary and Leaf soon walk in where they smile at the girl. "I knew you were tough." Gary lightly ruffles her hair.
"I'm so happy you're okay." Leaf lightly hugs Ariel.
"What happened, Arie?" Lauren worriedly asks. No one would tell her anything besides for Ariel being at the clinic.
Jace nods worriedly beside her. His watery green eyes gaze up and down at Ariel's bandaged body, making him regret leaving her alone that night. After Ariel quickly explains her fall that brought her here, Jace cries out, "I'm sorry, Ariel." The boy weeps into his sleeve. He cried to his parents the first night, but he's been trying to remain strong for Lauren ever since. Now, his tears won't stop flowing, causing everyone to look at the young boy concerned. "I shouldn't have left you alone!"
"No, Jace!" Ariel tries to sit up more, but she winces in pain.
"Ariel!" Misty exclaims, though the girl won't give up.
Ariel reaches out to Jace to grab his arm away from his face where she now sees his tears and how red his face is. "You made sure Lauren was safe. And you got my dad! If you didn't leave, we all would've been captured by Team Rocket." Ariel smiles through her own tears. She hates it when her friends are upset.
Ash nods and walks up behind the boy to ruffle his hair. "Thank you for saving Ariel, Jace." Ash then smiles at Lauren. "Thank you too, Lauren." The Oak siblings don't interact with Ash much besides for seeing him with Ariel; thus, they blush shyly from his compliment.
"Thank you for saving her too, Mr. Ash." Lauren mutters quietly. Gary and Leaf smile at the scene, and Misty can't help but to do so too. As much as she hates Ash, he's always been great with children.
Ariel gives her father a grateful smile too. She squeezes Jace's hand. "Let's have a Pokemon battle at the lab when I'm out!"
Sniffling, the boy softly hugs his friend. He wants to hug her tighter, but he doesn't want to hurt her. Lauren and Ariel are surprised because Jace never hugs anyone, so Ariel manages to maneuver her arm around him slightly. "I won't go easy on you." Jace hiccups.
Ariel sniffles too. "Good! Because I'm gonna win!"
"Don't forget me!" Lauren grins as she joins on the light hug.
Once they all let go, they giggle at each other. Their friendship is strong. It can withstand anything, and they'll always have each other. "Thanks, guys!" Ariel really loves her friends.
Misty's eyes gloss over at the scene. While she, Ash, and Brock never really had anything this drastic happen to them before, their bond was just like this. They would protect each other and support each other no matter what. However, it's not like that anymore.
Sighing, Misty knows this is exactly why she can never let Ariel miss a weekend in Pallet Town. The girl and her friends love each other immensely. Misty would allow Ariel to live in Pallet Town full time with Ash if Ash was actually able to care for her everyday. However, he can't, so Ariel has to be in Cerulean City with Misty. Would Misty ever move to Pallet Town? No. She has the gym to take care of.
"I kinda wanted to see you two kill each other."
She rolls her eyes at that voice. One of the most annoying voices she's ever heard. "I'll kill you instead, Gary."
Chuckling, the auburn haired man swings an arm around her shoulders. "Long time no see, Red." Sometimes, Misty would visit the lab when she knows Ash won't be there. However, it's been very rare lately. Despite the lack of communication, Gary still treats Misty like a friend he just saw the other day.
Misty finds herself leaning into the side hug. Besides for Brock's hug last week, Misty hasn't had any comfort for this whole situation. "You're still as irritating as ever."
"Hey!" He mocks hurt, and Leaf walks over after saying a few things to Ash.
The brunette pushes her husband aside so that she can envelope Misty in a hug too. "I'm so happy everyone is okay!"
Misty welcomes the hug too. "Thanks, Leaf." When they pull away, Misty smiles warmly at the couple. "You guys raised some great kids."
Gary beams widely while putting an arm around Leaf's waist to pull her closer to him. "They learn from the best."
Leaf rolls her eyes, though she remains pressed against him. "Yeah, me."
"Hey!" Gary exclaims, but Leaf pecks his cheek to calm him down.
"I'm still taking care of you, Gary. You're a child. A child can't raise children." Leaf knowingly tells him.
Smirking, Gary replies, "I take care of you in other ways, Leafy." This causes Leaf's face to heat up in a bright blush, and Misty feigns vomiting.
"Disgusting, guys! There are children here!" she refers to the children chatting away on the other side of the room.
As Gary and Leaf tease each other and playfully wrestle while standing, Misty backs away to avoid getting hit. The Oaks are such a carefree couple. They relentlessly tease each other, and their love is still going strong. Misty remembers the time she used to go on double dates with them. She's grateful for their friendship, even if she doesn't communicate with them often.
The redhead stops backing up when she collides with something hard. Thinking it's a wall, Misty leans against it, but she soon feels large hands on her arms. "What are you doing?"
That annoyed tone irks her, so, with an embarrassing blush on her face, she shoots away from him to glare at him. "Get out of my way!"
"I was here first!" Ash snaps at her. She's the one who ran into him. He is not backing down from this fight because he hasn't done anything wrong.
"You should move when you see someone approaching."
"Why should I?" Ash glares at her. "I was here first."
"You just take up space, like always." Like he did in her heart, she thinks to herself.
Feigning surprise, Ash fakes a gasp. "Wow. You're one to talk for always complaining about me never being around."
"Excuse me?" Misty exclaims, and now, all eyes are on them.
"This is the fight I've been waiting for." Gary mutters to his wife who rolls her eyes.
Walking over, Leaf stands in the middle of Ash and Misty. "Ariel is here!" She hisses at the angry parents. With one final glare at each other, Ash and Misty turn away. Leaf is right. They can't argue in front of Ariel. It's the reason she's here anyway.
"This is why they couldn't be locked in a room together." Jace knowingly tells his sister.
Lauren rolls her eyes at her worried brother. "They're still alive."
"Cuz mom stopped them!" Does Lauren not think?
Giggling at her friends, Ariel tells them, "It's fine, guys. They're together now, so we don't need to plan anymore. Operation: Family Reunion is successful!"
Sighing, Jace asks, "Are you sure they're both gonna see you off for your journey next year?"
Ariel watches her parents with their backs to each other. They are worse than Lauren and Jace, but Ariel is a great mediator. "They love me. I know they will." The girl smiles at the adults. Gary is teasing her parents, and Leaf is teasing him. Ariel has heard stories about how her parents and the Oak parents used to be very close friends. She hopes they can return to that someday, which would be great because she's close to Jace and Lauren.