Ash stood on the boardwalk and waved goodbye to Misty. She still seemed kind of mad but she still waved a little. Finally a little peace and quiet and Misty is on her way to a better life...I should be happy for her he thought while walking home with Pikachu. He slumped down on the couch and turned on the TV. Pikachu cocked his head to one side and saw that Ash was in one of those thinking/grumpy/sad moods where he didn't pay much attention to anything or anyone. Pikachu simply hopped over to Proffesor Tracy's lab to run around with the other Pokemon. Maybe he could even learn something from Togepi since Misty left everyone behind. Ash simply stared at the TV but didn't really see anything as if a Hypno put him in a trance. It was only when he saw Pikachu leave that he snapped out of it. That's certainly odd. Pik only leaves like that when I'm upset and I'm not. He took another glance at the door and walked out toward the new harbor again. *sigh* Maybe I am a little upset. But what do I have to feel sorry for. I should be happy for Misty shouldn't I? She's off on her new life where she'll meet new pokemon and new friends and maybe even a new... Oh come on I can't be upset about that. Misty was nothing but a loud pain. A loyal pain who was a close friend but a pain none the less. Was? She still is my friend...I hope. Oh great. Now I realize what's bothering me. I didn't send her a going away gift. And now it's too late for that. Plus I never figured out what was bothering her. Uh. I'd better ask Brock or Violet. They're really close to Misty so maybe they'd know something. I certainly think I'm clueless about it.
He got up slowly still watching the harbor and he simply stood there for a while and then he turned around and bumped into Rose, scaring him an causing him to fall on the ground again. Her big pink eyes in brass frames stared down at him and she extended a hand to help him up. He shakily took it and dusted himself off. "I couldn't help noticing you here so I came to see if there was something wrong. Still recovering from the shock, he almost forgot what he was there for. "I was just thinking..." he almost told her what he was thinking about until he remebered one of Rose's favorite hobbies - teasing. Although she was 27, a year younger than her husband Brock yet five years older than Ash, she could act like a big baby sometimes. She was barely taller than Ash and her wild red hair stood out among her purple T-shirt and blue jeans. She completely contradicted the typical ideas of scientists but looked much more like a mental case in Ash's view. Somehow she had managed to aquire the skill of sneaking around so quietly that you could not see her at all until she said something - despite the bright clothing and the red mass on her head. You could never sneak past her and she never missed a single detail and always could predict what one was thinking. The lack of privacy always made Ash uncomfortable around her and this time was no exception. "Well then what were you thinking about?" Ash gave her a sidelong glance and sighed again. "I was just thinking about what was bothering Misty yesterday. It's kind of too late to make it up but I couldn't help wondering." He braced himself for an onslaught of teasing but none came. Rose wore a serious face and not her usual care-free one. She slowly shook her head. "You really don't know do you Ash" she waited for him to shake his head and then gently pushed him down onto the rocks. She sat up straight and faced the sea while he looked at her. "Ash...I really shouldn't tell you, it's not my place but.... Misty was mad at you because, well excuse me for saying so, but you're and idiot. Completely ignoring what's going on around you." She turned around to him again. "What do you think of Misty, Ash?" He was completely suprised by this question. "Well...I...I really don't know. I guess she is just a really loud but loyal friend. She was there through every adventure I've every been through. Constantly screaming at me or something else but very supportive. She was almost like...something but I'm not sure." Rose shook her head and had to snap him out of one of those dreamy gazes across the sea. "Then let me ask you this. How do you think Misty felt about you?" Ash was starting to get angry now. "How is this suppose to answer my question?" Rose matched his anger with her own fiery temper, making her hair grow even brighter. "And you wonder why no one helps you. I try to make you realize something and you go all ungrateful on me. I'm probably the only one who will even give you the slightest hints. I can assure you Ash Ketchum, no one here will tell you anything, not because of me mind you, but because you are a stubborn, incompetant, ignoramus!" She got up quickly and stormed off mumbling 'stupid little...caudex...can't even...pestis...ungrateful...the nerve of that...equus asinus.' Ash didn't even want to know the words in between what he heard and what on earth was an equus asinus?
Ash walked around and then decided just to go home again. He had to think about what Rose said - the hints part not so much what she said about him. Maybe even that held some clues.