Gagnat d'Amour :: Chapter 7b
Say WHAT?!
"Croconaw return!" called Ash desperately as he shoved the red and white sphere into the air and the Water Pokémon was recalled in a red beam of light, making the ball shudder in his hand. Without even looking, in a split second he had replaced the ball onto his belt and had deftly pulled another one out. He glared through squinted eyes at his opponent at the far end of the stadium. Her high-levelled Bellossom swayed serenely around the arena floor, looking for all the world like it wasn't in the middle of an important League match, but more like it was dancing.
Ash's opponent, Aeryn, was only on her second Pokémon. Ash was about to choose his last. Aeryn flipped her brown hair over her shoulders in an irritating way as she noticed Ash staring at her, and cheekily blew him a kiss. Ash stiffened up, and held his last Pokéball aloft. "I choose you - Quilava!" he called, as the ball spun from his hand and opened when it came in contact with the stadium floor. The Fire Pokémon burst from the ball in an array of amber sparks. It had the advantage of Element, but the Bellossom had evolved more times. Aeryn snapped into action.
"Bellossom, Heavenly Scent!" she called, her voice slightly strained.
"Quilava! Fire Spin!" The Fire Pokémon obeyed, and suddenly streams of fire shot from its mouth and the mane of flame on its back shot straight up, creating an air lance around itself so that the Heavenly Scent attack was ineffective. The strands of fire circled around and enclosed the frightened Bellossom, lapping around and around it many times before the flames finally died. The referee ran to the side and observed Bellossom's slightly burnt form, then jerkily whipped his green flag up.
"The Bellossom had been defeated - it can no longer battle." Reverting slightly to younger days, Ash grinned and started dancing around inside his Trainer box. He stopped when Misty threw her empty soda can at the back of his head. All eyes averted to Aeryn, anxious to see what her remaining Pokémon was. If she had a Water Pokémon, Ash wouldn't have much of a chance.
Mimicking Ash, Aeryn mimed turned an invisible hat around and threw her Pokéball down to the arena floor, where Quilava jumped back to allow it to open.
"I choose you Milktank!" she called in a deliberately high pitched voice. Up in the stands were Brock, Jo and Linda. Tracey and Misty were sitting down on the bench behind Ash. Linda was sulking because she had lost on the Grass Field earlier that day. Brock had made some comment about how it was probably because she didn't get enough sleep, and Linda had looked at him strangely.
Misty let out part of the breath she had been holding. Strictly, it wasn't a Water Pokémon, but one thing she had learnt from her cousin was that Normal Pokémon like Milktank have no problems learning other elemental attacks. That Milktank may have a few Water Gun attacks somewhere up its sleeve…Misty felt a jolt at the toe of her trainer, and saw that Ash had playfully kicked her can back. Misty looked up at his back. It seemed to her like she had spent most of her life looking at Ash from behind.
"Oh well…" she giggled, only the way a 14 year old girl can. "The view isn't that bad…"
"Right Quilava!" called Ash. "Let's get in there! Flamethrower!" A single blast of fire erupted from Quilava's mouth, and hit the Milktank spot on. Ash grinned gleefully again. This one wasn't so tough. Suddenly, the Milktank shimmered blue. "The way Misty's Staryu does when it uses Recover," Ash thought. Milktank's HP was restored. "Hey no fair!!" called Ash. "A Milktank can't learn Recover!" Aeryn looked at him like he was the most stupid thing she'd ever seen.
"It's not Recover you half-wit," she stated smoothly. "Any decent Pokémon Trainer knows about Milktank's Milk attack. It rejuvenates itself with just one taste!" Ash facevaulted. This wasn't going to be as easy as he had thought.
Now it was Aeryn's turn to grin gleefully.
"Milktank! Stomp!" The large Pokémon moved into position for a Stomp attack, and although Quilava tried to use Agility, Milktank got the back legs, and it couldn't move.
With half of its HP gone, and still pinned under the huge cow Pokémon, Quilava looked up sorrowfully at Ash. Ash's face was glazed over.
"I can't lose…not here…not again…" he was thinking over and over. Misty just wanted to run up to him and hug him, but she knew she wasn't allowed in the box. Roaring its name, Quilava trust upwards, knocking the Milktank off its back. Leering at the opponent Pokémon, Quilava began to glow a pearly colour. Colour rushed back into Ash's face as he realised what was happening.
The Fire Pokémon's molecules were rapidly being rearranged, and the reaction caused the eerie silvery glow. Thousands of people stared breathlessly at their TV sets.
"It's evolving…" Tracey stated the obvious, bluntly. The glow became stronger as the appearance of the Pokémon began to change. It grew larger, and went up on its back legs. Roaring its new name, the glow vanished and Quilava's evolved form stood in the centre of the arena, overshadowing Milktank. Dexter pinged on.
"Typhlosion. The most evolved form of the Cyndaquil. This Fire Pokémon has an even stronger internal flame sack than that of Flareon and can match a Charizard in battle strength."
"Cool…" breathed Ash. Aeryn looked horrified.
"Milktank! Use your Double Kick!" The attacked bounced off Typhlosion like it was nothing. Aeryn's face furrowed. "Right, that does it. Milktank - use Mellow Mellow!" Milktank began dancing around alluringly, a dance that was designed to entice male Pokémon into falling for her, so they would refuse to attack her. However, Typhlosion stared at the dancing cow out of her corner of its eyes, giving it the strangest looks. "Why isn't it working!?" gasped Aeryn. Ash grinned and did his pose as he explained to the cameras.
"My Cyndaquil was female!" he smiled. "Meaning Typhlosion is too and your Mellow Mellow attack won't work on her! Typhlosion - Fire Blast!" The strongest Fire attack yet known erupted from Typhlosion's mouth and engulfed Milktank in a matter of seconds. It was all over.
"Milktank is no longer able to battle. This battle and the match goes to Green Trainer Ash Ketchum!" The crowd roared their approval as Aeryn's face vanished from the scoreboard and the large white letters "WINNER. CONGRATULATIONS!" appeared next to Ash's face instead. Instantly, a swarm of reporters overcame Ash, asking him bizarre questions about what did he think would have happened if his Pokémon had been a lesbian. Ash just looked confused.
And then Misty was there beside him, squeezing his hand in a silent "well done". Ash gazed at her lovingly for a second, but then a camera hit him in the eye as the photographers swung round and started photographing Misty.
"Mr Ketchum is this your girlfriend?"
"Is she a Pokémon Trainer too?"
"That's Misty Waterflower. She was his coach last time. Do your research!"
"Hey, aren't you one of the Celadon Gym Leaders little lady?
"No no no! She's a Cerulean Waterflower. Ya know, all that swimming crap?"
"I happen to like that swimming crap. I'd shut up if I were you."
"You shut up!"
"NO YOU SHUT UP!"
As the group of reporters argued among themselves, Ash and Misty squeezed between them and ran off giggling into the trees. They knew that once they were in the living area of the Pokémon League Village, the reporters couldn't get to them. They ran until they found a little clearing, about 3 minutes walk away from their cabin. They stared at each other.
"SWIMMING CRAP!" they both screeched at each other, then collapsed on the floor in helpless fits of laughter. Misty stood up and did a mockery of her sisters, floating around in the air with her nose upturned and her arms spread wide. Ash laughed until he hurt.
Still giggling, they arrived back at the cabin and burst through the door singing 'Yuuko Matsutani' very loudly and out of tune. Tracey and Brock were doing something in the kitchen, and looked up guiltily. Ash's voice trailed off.
"Whatcha doin'?" he asked. Brock jumped up and patted him so hard on the shoulder Ash spun around.
"Congrats on your match Ash!" Brock called frantically, pulling Ash into the bedroom. Tracey, thinking Misty had gone too, resumed his task. Misty crept up behind him, and saw to her interest that he was developing pictures. As she watched them come into focus over his shoulder, she recognized the scene, and her face flushed with anger…and embarrassment. Then it grew to about 10 times its normal size.
"TRACEY YOU TOSSER!!!!!!!" she screeched. Brock came out of the bedroom sheepishly. "You too Brock? YOU SPIED ON US?! YOU LOSERS!! You don't have lives of your own so you have to spy on mine…" Misty grabbed all the pictures and leafed through the first few. They were mainly of her leaning sleepily against Ash. Still fuming, she grabbed her pink jacket and stormed out of the cabin. She marched briskly away from the cabin as her anger calmed down, then slowed to a stroll.
Walking languidly along to the Pokémon Centre, she scuffed the toe of her red trainers on the ground. She still wore them, although she had given up the shorts and braces long ago. Her current choice of outfit wasn't that far way. Just now she wore jeans without the ever-so-stylish red braces. Ash still wore pretty much the same clothes…at the thought of his name Misty reached for the photos in her bag again, and looked at them closely.
She flicked cautiously through them, watching herself sleep. She was surprised when she realised that Ash had put his arm around her to keep her warm. Suddenly, she stopped dead still in the middle of the pavement. She blinked and stared at it again. There it was. Clear as day.
The photograph, although not quite as professional and as in focus as Todd's, clearly showed something that made her heart race. Ash had kissed her? Her? Ash? Kissed her? The question revolved around and around in her head in all its different combinations. Ash…had kissed…her…while she was asleep?
Ash sat on Misty's bed, face down in her pillow. He inhaled her scent. He didn't know if it was the shampoo she used or what, but it smelt of her and he liked it. Brock came in cautiously.
"So you were spying on us Brocko?"
"Um, yeah. Pretty much…"
"Nice!
Brock sat on the bed opposite to Ash (after tutting and making it first).
"So man, you really like her don't you."
"Yeah - I guess you were right… But it's weird ya know?" Brock looked at him blankly. "Um, guess ya don't." Ash sighed and turned onto his back. "It's like all of a sudden my head's full of her." He blushed. "More than usual…" Brock tapped his fingers on Ash's bedside table.
"Man, I wish I could help but- well, you and I and, well, everyone and his donkey knows that I'm…hardly good with the ladies…it's sad I know…but I'll be strong." Ash looked amused.
"You seem to be getting on pretty well with Jo!"
"What's up Misty?" Jo asked, putting down her cup of coffee. Misty had walked to the Pokémon Centre, and Nurse Joy had let her come into the back room to see Jo, who today was wearing hot pants and a large baggy tee-shirt that said "Take a Picture - It'll Last Longer!"
Misty pointed to the slogan and threw the picture down on the coffee table.
"That's exactly what Brock and Tracey did."
"Okay, there were maybe some times when I thought that maybe Ash liked me as maybe more than a friend…" Misty whined as Jo finished studying the picture and choking on her drink.
"Forget about how Ash feels about you - how do you feel about him?" Linda said, sensibly. Misty opened her mouth, then closed it again. She didn't like that question at all. Linda understood. "I see - I know how you feel. You get so used to keeping something a secret that you can't tell anyone at all. Maybe it will help if I tell you my secret…"
"What-do-I-do-now-Brock!?" Ash whined, about a minute after he realised that Misty had the picture of him kissing her in her sleep. "She'll never let me near her again…she'll call me all the usual names PLUS "Dirty Pervert"…Ohmigod what do I do…"
Misty gaped at Jo.
"Wow. Now that's a secret…" Jo looked pleased with herself.
"I know…anyway, your turn!" Misty turned red, and suddenly her fingers became very enthralling.
"I-I-I…"
[A/N]
Oh you evil people. I'm sure I have some horrid coursework lurking in the bottom of my school bag just waiting to be handed in late. Man, I hate Key Stage 4.
I have named all the remaining parts of GdA, and the first part of Pd'A.
Chp 8 - "Just Like Dr Pepper (So Misunderstood)"
Chp 9 - "Old Habits Die Hard?"
(Perdant d'Amour)
Chp 1 - "2LuvAMaster"
Of course all this is subject to change - if I feel evil enough. Anyway, not long to go until the end. Can you believe that this was my first fanfic I ever started and I'm still not finished?
LOL! My aunt and uncle have moved to a place called "Pisshill". I'm sorry. I just find that really funny…
"Where do you live then?"
"Pisshill!"
Gomen ne…I'll shut up.
Oooh, and isn't the name Quilava just THE coolest?
And I made up the Pokédex entry for Typhlosion - duh. Real names though. And anyone who has fought against Akané on Poké Gold or Silver will know just how annoying her Milktank is!!
Man, my author notes are longer than the chapter ^^;
NEXT PART :: Just Like Dr Pepper (So Misunderstood)
Misty's answer…
Maybe I'll tell you what's with Jo. It's more fun if you guess.
Ash's 6th Round