Ash watched in dismay as Misty is about to become pancake
under the hoofs of the Tauros.
NO! He thought, This can't happen! It's all
my fault! If anything happens to Misty, I'll never forgive myself! What
am I going to do without her?! I still have to tell her how I truly feels!
Shut up, Ash, and keep running!
He kept running, but he knew he couldn't get there in
time. Just as he abandons hope...
"Go Fearow!" A voice boomed.
From above a fearow swooped down, and when it came back
up agaon, it had Misty safe on its back.
Ash sighed with relief. He looked to the left where the
voice had come from. A boy dressed in overalls, a grey shirt, and a straw
hat stood there. He looked about two or three years older than Ash.
Ash looked towards Pikachu, who was busy consoling Togepi.
Togepi had gotten out of Misty's backpack when the Fearow got her, and
is now crying uncontrollably, wondering where Mommy had went. Pikachu indicated
the Fearow and said something Ash could not interpret. It succeeded, though,
in making Togepi feel better, for it stopped crying instantly.
The Fearow landed beside the boy and he extended a hand
to help Misty dismount.
Ash ran over and resisted the urge to hug her.
She looked fine, except for some mud on her clothing
and legs, and looking a little pale.
The boy said, "Are you all right? I hope Fearow didn't
give you too much of a scare."
Jealousy overwhelmed Ash as Misty turned and flashed
a brilliant smile at the other boy.
"I'm fine. And you are...?"
The boy tipped his hat. "The name's Zack."
Misty said, "Well, Zack, I'm Misty. And I think you just
saved my life!"
She reached up to the taller boy and kissed him on the
cheek.
Ash's eyes saw red and rage filled him.
"Thank you so much." Misty said softly. "What could I
ever do to repay you?"
Zack grinned. "That was rewarding enough."
Zack glanced over in Ash's direction.
"Is this your brother Misty?" he asked.
"Ash? My brother? No, would I be related to someone so
dense?" Misty chuckled.
"Me dense?! I wouldn't talk Miss Scrawny!" Ash retorted.
Mentally, he said to himself, Oh no, I promised myself I would stop
calling her scrawny and here I am doing it again.
"Scrawny?! Ash Ketchum, who are you calling scrawny?!"
"You are scrawny!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
Zack walked in between them and laughed. "Okay, okay.
I get the point. So maybe, you two are in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship?"
"What?!/No way!" Ash and Misty said at the same time.
Misty calmed herself and walked up to Zack.
"We're just friends. Besides," She hooked an arm through
Zack's, causing Ash's blood to boil. "I'm more interested in older, mature
guys."
Zack's eyes had a mischievious glint in them. "That's
fine with me. Now let's get you two cleaned up. Come on down to my house.
You can tell me all about yourselves." He directed the last statement at
Misty. "Especially you, Misty."
Misty blushed and giggled.
"What do we do about the Tauros?" Ash asked.
Zack called out an Arcanine.
"Arcanine, lead those Tauros back to the fields." Arcanine
took off.
"Always happens in this area." Zack explained. "We're
used to wild pokemon running around the place, as long as they keep off
the crops."
He led them towards a farmhouse not noticed before, still
with Misty hanging on his arm, which he didn't seem to mind at all.
Ash, with Pikachu on his shoulder, followed behind; meanwhile,
he grumbled to himself. Pikachu, seeing his master in distress, could do
nothing but sigh.
They came to a clearing with pokemon of all sorts working
there. There were Machamp and Hitmonlee plowing the fields; pokemon such
as Marrill and Squirtle watering the plants; Ivysaur and Bellsprout helping
with the seeds; Onix and Arbok digging trenches, and so on. Misty squealed
with delight as she caught sight of the many water pokemon (including a
Tentacruel or two), and even Ash had to admit that he was impressed by
the well trained way the pokemon cooperated with each other.
On the outside, Zack's farmhouse looked cozy and inviting.
However, once Ash and Misty stepped inside, they were in for a real shock.
The farmhouse was messy. Perhaps it was due to that fact that teenage
boys that live alone have no intentions of cleaning up, or maybe there
was just not enough room for all the different knick-knacks. The house,
from corner to corner, was covered with stuff. Pokeballs, mixed with clothes,
were thrown carelessly on the ground; posters and photos shared the walls
with mud and paint; boxes, wires, and even pokemon, hid the carpet, which
had only two inches squared visible.
While Ash and Misty gaped open-mouthed, Zack gave an
embarressed laugh. "I guess it is a little messy...I haven't got around
to it since spring cleaning last year."
Misty gingerly stepped around a box, over a pile of socks,
beside a sleeping Raticate, and collapsed into a chair. Ash made his way
to the couch in a similar fashion, only to find it occupied by a snoring
Ninetails.
Ash and Misty took turns using the bathroom to wash off
the mud on their clothing. Afterwards, Zack, Ash, and Misty made small
talk and Ash talked about his dream of being Pokemon Master. They talked
about their journey and League games and Pokemon in general. Ash noticed,
with much annoyance, that Zack was very interested in Misty being a gym
leader. After a while...
"Man, I'm hungry. You guys will be joining me for dinner
right?" Zack asked.
"Dinner? But's it's only 3:20!" Misty exclaimed.
Zack shrugged. "Yeah well, I eat when I'm hungry and
I sleep when I'm tired. It's grown to be a habit. That's what you get when
you live alone with nobody to nag at you."
"Wow. It must be nice to live completely free of responsibilities.
Not that I don't like it, but I would like to live in a world without rules
and bedtimes and chores." Misty said.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. If Misty wasn't travelling
with me and Brock, we really would have some real fun!" Ash said.
"Huh?! What are you talking about? We have fun when we
travel!"
"Sure, only when you aren't whining and groaning and
complaining, which is what? 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?!"
"I do not whine! And I have a right to complain about
my bike which you never returned to me!"
"What! I thought you've given up on that stupid bike!
Won't you ever grow up?"
"Very funny Ash! You're the immature brat around here!
Always getting us lost and thinking about pokemon all the time!"
"So?! I love pokemon! At least I don't fantasize about
Tentacruels and how ugly they are!"
"Why you Ash Ketchum! You'll pay for that!"
With that Misty charged at Ash with her mallet.
Zack stopped them. "Okay guys, why don't you leave the
fighting for later, I'm really starving here!"
Misty gave a sheepish grin and volunteered to cook. She
made her way to the kitchen. Togepi also waddled its way in, followed by
Pikachu, who was hoping to find some ketchup in the kitchen.
After a moment of awkward silence, Zack cleared his throat.
"So, Ash, do you like Misty?"
Ash did a double-take. "Wha...what are you talking about?"
"You two claim that there's nothing between you guys,
but I get the feeling that you have your eyes on Misty." Zack explained.
"Uh...Ha ha. Are you kidding? Why anybody would like
that g-girl is what I don't understand!"
Zack raised one eyebrow. "Well, Misty is very pretty,
and has a great personality."
Ash stammered. "Yeah well...I...uh...oh forget it! Is
it that obvious?"
"Quite." Zack said. "Well, guess we're going to be rivals!"
"R-rivals?" Ash looked puzzled.
"Yup. Friendly competition for Misty. What do you say?"
"But, but, you can't do that!" Ash shouted.
"And why not?"
Ash couldn't think of a reply. "Because, because...ummm...."
"It's not like Misty belongs to you or anything. She's
fair game!" Zack said.
Ash opened his mouth, but before he could say anything,
Misty entered the room.
"You guys! Dinner's ready! Will one of you help me set
the table?"
Zack sprang to his feet. "It'll be my pleasure Misty."
"Thanks Zack. You're an angel." Misty glanced towards
Ash, who was slumped on the couch looking half asleep.
"Ash? ASH!"
"Huh? What? Oh, hey Misty." Ash said.
"Dinner's ready. Are you alright?" Misty asked, frowning.
"What? Oh, sure, whatever." Ash made his way into the
kitchen, with Misty looking worried behind him.
Ash and Misty spend the next two days at Zack's place.
During the whole time Zack was flirting with Misty regardless of Ash. It
wasn't a pretty sight. Ash had to control his temper every second.
The pokemon, however, was glad for this break. They enjoyed
themselves and made friends with Zack's pokemon. Even Psyduck found friendship
in the three Slowpokes that work on the dikes.
Zack was showing Misty his Ponyta. There were five of
them, and Zack was trying to coax the nearest one into giving Misty a ride.
Zack was saying, "C'mon, Ponyta, let Misty on....see?
You don't have to be afraid of her! That's it..."
Ponyta snorted, and Zack placed Misty on its back.
"Wow, this is so fun! Thanks Zack!"
"Nothing's too good for you, Misty Waterflower. You're
the most beautiful girl I've ever met."
Misty giggled. "Aww...Zack, you're so sweet!"
Zack said, "Not as sweet as you are."
That did it. Ash couldn't stand it anymore. He felt that
he could not compete with Zack for Misty. Zack was everything Ash wasn't.
He jumped over the fence and ran into the forest.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu cried.
Zack looked confused. "Was it something I said?"
"Ash has been gone for almost an hour. I wonder if he's
okay. After all, he left all his Pokemon behind. It's just not like him."
Misty said.
Zack smiled. "You're really concerned about him aren't
you?"
"What? That's ridiculous!" Misty blushed.
Zack shrugged. "Well, Ash seems like the type who can
take care of himself. Just as long as...Oh no!" He gasped. "I completely
forgot! It's the Beedrills' mating season! They'll attack anything that
irritates them! Ash is in danger!"
Misty grabbed her pokeballs. She thrust Togepi into Zack's
arms.
"You can't go in there Misty! It's too dangerous!" Zack
exclaimed.
"I can if I have to. Ash needs me! C'mon Pikachu! We
have to find Ash!" Misty yelled and ran, heading into the forest, with
Pikachu following close behind, and Zack looking helpless with Togepi in
his arms.
Hang on, Ash. Misty thought, I'll be
right there!
To be continued...
End of Part 2
A/N: I'm sorry it took such a long time...I had
major writer's block!!! Oh no! Two cliffhangers in the same story! Don't
you hate it when people do that? I do, so I apologize. I was just going
to end the story this chapter, but I miscalculated. The next chapter's
going to be the end, so I promise there won't be anymore cliffhangers!
See you 'till then, and please review!!!
