FollowYourHeart5

Hey, told you the very verge! Read! I'm not gonna babble this time!

Disclaimer- I don't own Pokemon. I never have and never will. So PLEASE don't sue.

Follow Your Heart, Part 5
By Pikashan61


Ash frowned to himself. His head ached considerably, he was soaking wet, and his

thoughts were coming at him relentlessly, clouding his head. It was all his fault, he knew that.

What had really been expecting? That Angela and Misty would be best buds? That, after

the actual wedding had taken place, he would be able to handle seeing Misty, even though

he couldn't before it happened? The bottled up emotions combined with the fact that he

hadn't seen her in three months had made him act rashly when she had first shown up. Well,

he thought, better to act rashly now, instead of after I got married. He still felt the shock that

came when he realized Misty was kissing him back, instead of pulling away like Ash had

halfway expected her to do. For a few glorious moments, his life was perfect. Then it had all

come rushing back. Angela, the wedding, the separation, everything. Ash had never run

away from any challenge in his entire life. He had always been able to figure it out, and

manage to do what was right. But he had run today. Now, that fact was haunting him. Was it

the right thing to do? Should he have stayed? He shook his head. What a day it had been.

He hadn't meant to take it this far. Now, he had almost lost his best friend because he was

trying to get on with his life. The underling love for Misty had gotten harder and harder to

keep secret as the years went on. He felt sick all the time, because of the fact that he

couldn't imagine she could love him in return. When the attractive Pokemon trainer at the

Pokemon Center had asked him out, Ash had said yes, halfway out of desperation. That

night, afterward, he had talked to Misty on the phone, careful not to mention the date that

had just ended. But once the conversation was over, and he hung up the phone, he

realized that talking to Misty made talking this girl, Angela, seem like nothing. He wanted so

much to give himself a reason to stop loving Misty. So, he had continued seeing Angela,

and not seeing or talking to Misty, in an effort to exorcise her from his mind. Great job

Ketchem, he growled to himself. Now, sitting under the tree in the rain, he realized that his

whole relationship with Angela had been a exercise in denial. He felt horrible and

deceptive, like he had been misleading everyone, including himself, for three months. Jeez,

his head hurt. And the constant complaining and bickering of Brock and Tracey weren't really

helping matters. It is freezing out here. Yeah, why couldn't the girls kill each other

outside? Well, maybe if you hadn't rushed out here so quick... SHUT UP! The two guys

stopped and looked at Ash. He was trying to hold back tears, which surprised both Brock

and Tracey. Ash stared them. Guys, please... I can't deal with this right now... just be

quiet... please? Silence overtook them, the only sound being the raindrops falling

everywhere, pitter-pattering over trees and bushes, adding to the tension. Until... Ash!

Hey Ash! Could you come in here? Ash woke up from the small trance of thought that he

had enveloped himself in, got up slowly, and walked toward the house, his heart very

heavy.


Misty frowned sympathetically as she watched him trudge toward the porch. She

knew that the last thing he had wanted to do when all this had happened was hurt

somebody. She sighed. Ash was dense, but he always had wanted to do the right thing.

Now, the right thing didn't seem so clear anymore. He stopped in front of her and looked at

her with sorrowful eyes. Did you tell her? Misty shook her head. I thought you should be

here too. Ash took a deep breath. This is gonna be so hard Mist. She tried to smile, and

then said the only thing that came to her mind at the moment. I'm so sorry for all of this,

Ash. He shook his head, and forced a grin. No Mist, I'm sorry. This is gonna work out,

okay? We'll live happily ever after, I promise. And we'll have that wedding that you always

dreamed about, and you'll have that dress, with roses... She interrupted, with a quick peck

on his lips. First we have to get through this, Ash. He shrugged. Hey, we've gotten

through almost everything together. This'll be a piece of cake. They gently smiled at each

other, sharing a telepathic conversation that only best friends can have. That's what they

were, and always would be. Best friends. With that, they walked in the Ketchem house,

hand in hand. Together.


Angela sat at the kitchen table, anxiously waiting for Misty to come back with Ash.

The pieces had come together, and she knew what had happened. But she wanted to hear

it, and sat, waiting to have her fears confirmed. She and Misty were different in that way. In

the same situation, Misty wouldn't have been able to sit still. She would be up, pacing,

doing something. Misty went crazy when she had something heavy on her mind and she

didn't have anything to distract her from it. But not Angela. She sat calmly, the only sign that

anything was wrong being the rapid tapping of her fingers on the wooden table. Ash's

wooden table, she thought to herself. Never to be our wooden table. She frowned. Inside,

she had almost known it was going to happen. She had always wondered why his affection

for her never extended past a long kiss or embrace. She had seen the pictures around the

house. Once, she had even asked Ash who it was in all those pictures. He had said softly,

An old friend... and had smiled this incredibly warm smile, one that she had never seen on

him before. But it was gone in almost an instant. The pictures that were hanging around the

house hadn't even bothered her that much. It was the framed picture that sat on his desk that

concerned her. The same girl, considerably older, grinning, laughing, holding a Togapi.

Angela had never asked him about that picture. She hadn't wanted to know the truth behind

it. I should have known, she thought to herself. But hadn't wanted to. Ash had been the

kindest, sweetest, most caring guy she had ever met. Not at all like the guys she had known

before him. She hadn't wanted to lose him. I should hate Misty, Angela thought, but I don't.

She couldn't understand why not. This girl had stolen, STOLEN, her fiance. Only, deep

down, she believed what Misty had told her. Misty hadn't thought he was going to leave

any more then she had. Then I should hate Ash, she reasoned. But she couldn't. She cared

deeply for Ash. She loved him. But he loves her, she said to herself, wincing. God, this

hurts so bad, she added in an after thought. If only... but her thoughts were interrupted by

the sight of Ash and Misty, entering the room. Holding hands. Looking at each other in a

way that instantly made her burn with jealousy. She had never shared such an intimate look

with Ash. It was almost like they were sharing a kiss with their eyes. Her stomach turned to

ice, and she thought...I can't believe this hurts so bad...


The two of them broke the short trance they had gotten themselves into, and Misty

glanced at Angela. Angela looked at them, stricken, for a moment, before turning away.

Misty knew she was trying not to cry, and that made her feel awful. But at the same time, a

small part of her was glad that Ash had decided to came with her, instead of staying and

getting married to that... that... Misty struggled for a suitably nasty word to describe her

when she saw a teardrop from Angela hit the old wooden table. Misty suddenly

realized that Angela wasn't evil or depraved. She was a normal person. Who happened to

have fallen in love with Ash. Boy, I know what that's like, she thought. She knew how

Angela must be feeling now, and it hurt her own heart to think about it. As they were sliding

into the chairs on either side of the table, Misty thought, If only it hadn't taken your pain to

bring Ash and I together, Angela. I'm sorry...


The silence was heavy around the table. Angela wanted to scream, to yell, to cry. To

tell these people how hurt she was, and make them fell horrible. To make them feel the

pain that she was feeling. But she couldn't. Ash and Misty both looked ashamed already.

She could see that Misty looked like she was about to cry, and Ash looked sick with worry

and guilt. She decided that they might as well get this stupid thing over with, before she

broke down and made a complete fool of herself. She felt that Misty wouldn't break down

for anything at anytime, and completely losing her cool in front of them would give another

point to Misty. It was stupid, really. But at the moment, she didn't care. Guys, could you

explain to me what happened? She said calmly, her voice barely quivering. Ash looked

up. I don' even know where to begin. He sighed. You know that feeling that you get

when you know that you're supposed to be with someone...in a way that you can't

completely understand? Both Angela and Misty were listening with interest. Misty

because she had never heard Ash get this personal before, and Angela because she was

struggling to find the reason behind all of this. Well, that's how I felt for a long time about

Misty. She was my best friend, but there was always something more that I couldn't place.

By the time I could place it, I was so convinced that all Misty wanted was a friend that I

couldn't do anything about it. So I tried to forget about how I felt about her. It's kinda hard to

do that when you're calling each other every week. Misty smiled, and felt warmth spread

over her. They were doing the right thing, she was sure of it. When I met you, it seemed

like the perfect way to forget about her. You're a great person, Angela. But Misty was

always there, in the back of my mind. When I saw her today, I felt it all over again. It all came

rushing back. I care deeply for Misty. I always have. I'm not sorry for that, but I am sorry for

what all this has done to you. His tone of voice changed from the calm, tired tone to one of

sadness. I didn't meant to hurt you. I know that I did something wrong. It isn't the first time

I've messed up, but I've never done it on such a large scale before. I'm an idiot, I know.

You probably won't be able to forgive me, but I want you to know that I'm sorry. He

paused. I've never been so sorry in my entire life. He stopped, realizing that what he said

sounded very unlike him. Too mature, too morbid. He just wanted it to be over so that he

could go back to being Ash again. Angela waited for the feelings of anger and rage to come

up inside of her, but they never came. She realized this was because she understood. She

understood the bittersweet smile across the table that they shared. She understood why

Ash had run. He loved Misty, and Misty loved him. They were more in love then anyone

she had ever seen. Soulmates, she realized. Then, she understood why she had to bow

out. It was time to let go. She sighed deeply, letting out all of the sadness, the anger and

the pride. She loved Ash and Ash loved Misty. What would anger do? Nothing, she

decided. There were other nice guys in the world, and one of them was her perfect match.

Her soulmate. Just like these two, she thought. She sighed again, and in a calm voice,

began to speak. It isn't your fault Ash. And it isn't your fault either, Misty. You're right, I'm

hurt. But I care about you, Ash. I want you to be happy, and you... you light up when

you're with her. You two love each other. The two of the blushed hotly when she said that.

Neither of them had used the yet, although they both knew that's what this feeling

between them was. So be happy, okay? She said in a slightly choked voice. Misty

looked concerned. Are you gonna be okay? Angela smiled. You know, I think I am. I truly

think I am. She got up slowly, and Ash and Misty both followed suit. Angela leaned over

and gave Ash a quick hug. Thanks for the memories, Ash. Please, don't dwell on this. I

really am okay. He nodded. She turned to Misty. You're lucky, Misty. This is one great

guy you've got here. Misty grinned. Angela looked at both of them. I'll be going

now. Thanks for everything. And, with that, Angela Das walked out of their lives forever.


Pikachu yawned, curled up on the back of the a sofa. Ash sat on it, almost asleep,

with Misty laying down so her head was in his lap, staring at the ceiling. Togachikka slept

soundly on his mother's tummy, soaking up her warmth. It's been some day, huh Mist?

Had it really only been a day? It seemed like forever ago when she had peeled out of the

parking lot with one thing on her mind: Ash. So much had changed in the course of just a few

hours. It had seemed more like weeks. No kidding. Are you glad that all this happened?

She could tell he was grinning. Your head is in my lap, and you're asking me if I'm glad this

all happened? Of course I'm glad. He looked down at her, their faces inches apart. In

some ways, this has almost been the best day of my life. You know, just under the day I

won the title of Pokemon Master... She grinned and slugged him. Thanks a lot, Ketchem.

They were silent for a moment, both perfectly comfortable with the quiet. Hey Mist? She

looked up at him. He caught her gaze, and held it. Is this the part where I say I

love you? Her heart melted. She shrugged, still laying on his lap. As good a time as any, I

suppose. He nodded. Then I love you, Misty Waterflower. She was turning into a

human puddle in his lap. Melting. I love you too, Ash Ketchem He smiled. And they

lived happily ever after. Misty grinned. The end. Or should I say, the beginning.

~The End

WOW! It's over! LOL, now I'm sad that it's over. This is the most fun I've ever had with a serious fic, and I know that many of you enjoyed this! Jeez, I enjoyed writing it! The feeling of exhilaration that comes when you finish a fic of this magnitude hasn't left me yet, so I'm gonna do the ending note right now. First, let's address the Angela issue. She wasn't so bad after all, huh? I found that you end up liking villains that you create, because you understand them. Just like Misty did, I understood Angela in this last part. I hope you did too. I also hope that many of your unanswered questions were answered, and you thought that this ending was up to par, so to speak. Wow, I can't believe it's over! This is amazing! Well, I have some peeps I'd like to thank. Thanks to Misty_AAML for putting up with my large freakin' messages. Thanks a bunch to BigMistyFan for telling me that this fic was the best she'd ever read. I've never been so flattered. Thanks to Cutebabymew and MistyMaiden, for telling me to go ahead and finish A Fork in the Road (this was a very long time ago) which in direct turn resulted in this fic. Thanks to H20 Angel for narrowing her eyes at me and telling me to get off my lazy buns and finish the fic. And most of all, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT THE AAML MESSAGE BOARD! YOU GUYS ARE MY BIGGEST SUPPORTERS! I LOVE ALL OF YOU! IF I NAMED YOU ALL, IT WOULD TAKE UP A WHOLE PAGE (know that I'm thinking of you, I promise! I feel horrible that I cant name you all!) And, last but certainly not least, thanks a ton to anyone that's every given me feedback on any fic. This is what keeps me going. Thanks! Wow, I can't believe it's over! But wait! What happened to Brock and Tracey (you knew this was coming, right?)

It's sooooo cold out here! Do you think they're done yet? *Gasp!* Maybe they killed Ash! Hmm... maybe we should wait out here a bit longer...

LOL, Pokeshippers Rule!

©Pikashan61 2000, as are all my fics. Don't take!