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I hate starting a new story when I'm still wrapping up another, but this one just came to me.
Elite
Chapter 1
Icy particulates scrape against her soft, rosy cheeks like sandpaper, but she pays no mind to the frigid air that brushes every bit of uncovered flesh. Her orange hair is partially tied back in a sloppy bun; long loose strands drift in the cold breeze. Sea green eyes scan across the glaciers desperately trying to find the answers she needs but knows aren't locked in the ice.
Usually, in weather like this, she would make sure to layer every inch of exposed skin to prevent frostbite, but her priorities have changed in the last 8 hours. There is a warmth radiating from deep within herself; partially out of fear, partially out of excitement, and partially out of some unknown emotion that has sprung a leak and flooded her to the core.
Of course, the timing is all off, but it almost always is with these things. Life isn't something that you can really plan no matter how hard you try to make lists and take notes. It just takes one decision to change the trajectory of all of the plans you've worked so hard for.
In Misty's case, it took just one night to change her life; for good or bad is yet to be determined. So many questions race through her thoughts; the most frequent are Why? and What now?
"Misty," a warm, motherly voice speaks next to her, "you're going to catch a cold, and you really need to be careful now."
"I just really needed fresh air," Misty breathes deeply, "I just don't know what to do now, Lorelei."
"What do you mean?" the older woman asks. She is a tall redheaded woman dressed fully in winter gear.
"I have failed you already," Misty says despairingly, "and I've ruined the whole trip."
The other woman shakes her head and puts an arm around Misty. She can see that the younger woman needs her support now. She smiles softly and asserts, "You haven't ruined anything. Who says the trip is over?"
"But I just thought," Misty started.
"Given the circumstances, we won't be able to scuba dive like we planned or go down the three mile stairway to Spheal cave," Lorelei assures, "but there's no reason that you can't still be my apprentice. There are plenty of things that you can still do and plenty of things I can teach you."
"Really?" Misty asks, hope filling her again. She had thought that her dreams had been crushed, but now she finds her teacher to be a gracious and strong woman.
"Misty, I chose you as my successor because of your talent and integrity," Lorelei reminds her, "and that has not changed. In fact, this is an opportunity for you to prove me right."
"I am very grateful for the opportunity," Misty bows to her respectfully, "and I promise there will be no more surprises."
"You have earned your place, Misty," Lorelei responds, "but you will need to take good care of yourself now, so it's time to go inside."
"Yes," Misty agrees, finally feeling the cold prickling her skin.
She turns to follow Lorelei back to their cabin, and wraps her arms tightly around her midsection. Yes, her priorities have shifted, but that doesn't mean that she will give up on her dreams. She would continue her pilgrimage, and she would become the next Elite Four Member.
It might take more work and perseverance, but there are plenty of successful trainers that are also mothers.
Four months earlier
Ding dong
He's here!" Misty squeals, sprinting from her seat at the table. She and her three sisters had been enjoying lunch when her guest arrived.
"Misty's little boyfriend is here," Lily teases, causing their two sisters to giggle.
"He's not my boyfriend!" Misty growls at her, reaching towards the door knob.
"That's right," Violet snickers and flicks her hair back, "she wishes."
"You two, knock it off," Daisy, the oldest and most motherly reprimands.
Misty rolls her eyes at her older sisters. They are relentless when it comes to her close friendship with Ash. Regardless of what she wants, Ash and her are simply best friends.
Misty had spent the entire day packing. After being the gym's main leader for the last ten years, it was finally her turn to leave on a new journey. It was an opportunity that she couldn't pass up, and even her sisters were enthusiastic for her because Misty was offered a pathway to her dream of becoming a water Pokemon master. Lorelei, the Ice Elite, called her personally and discussed a year long apprenticeship. Lorelei had followed Misty's progress since she won the Whirl Cup five years before at the age of twenty, and she had held many incredible undefeated streaks as the Cerulean Gym Leader. What excited her even more was that Lorelei, having met Misty many years earlier on her first adventure, suggested that she invite along Ash Ketchum, who was gaining his own ground in the battling scene.
Ash had been the first person that Misty told about this opportunity. She called him mere seconds after her first conversation with Lorelei. She screamed in excitement for five minutes straight before Ash could figure out what she was going on about.
"That sounds like an adventure I couldn't miss!" he had responded enthusiastically when she finally invited him to join, "On the road with my best friend again!"
He was in the middle of travelling the Hoenn Region for the second time, but he assured her that he would be back in time for this new adventure. This was truly a dream come true for Misty.
"Ash!" Misty squeals, and jumps up on him, wrapping her entire body around his midsection. He nearly falls over laughing in response.
"Hey Mist," he hugs her tightly back.
Misty feels his strong arms wrap around the back of her chest and pull her flush to him. She giggles as his face tucks into her hair and rests on her shoulder. In recent years, these expressions of love and deep adoration have become the norm for the pair, yet both were naive to think the other was acting platonically.
"Rai!" Ash's most trusted Pokemon complains while tugging at Misty's heel.
"Sorry," Misty apologizes sheepishly, sliding out of Ash's grip reluctantly. She lifts Raichu in the air and coos, "of course I could never forget about my Pika Pal!"
"Raichurai!" Raichu chirps happily.
After so many years of training, Ash and Pikachu faced a turning point. Pikachu was crazy fast and very strong, but his small, unevolved body just couldn't consistently win against many of the league finalists. Pikachu was an elite Pokemon in that form no doubt, but Raichu became an unstoppable force. Of course, Ash never asked Pikachu to change, but both trainer and Pokemon grew up over the last fifteen years. When offered a thunderstone at a conference a few years before, Pikachu made his own decision. Ash respected that decision, and his evolution didn't change anything other than Raichu's overall strength. Winning first place in the tournament was a cinch for the duo once they found their new rhythm.
"I have never been more excited in my life!" Misty hugs Raichu tightly before setting him down at her feet.
"I am so happy for you, Mist," Ash smiles sincerely at his best friend, "really I am. All your dreams are coming true."
Misty grins and grabs his hand to drag him inside, but she doesn't catch how the smile falls off of Ash's face only to be replaced by despair.
There has been a lack of Pokeshipping on this site, so I guess I have to write it! haha~
I'm honestly not sure if I will continue, so let me know what you think.
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Furny