So I'm going
to do that right now or else the whole Author's Note will be longer than
the story! Enjoy and please review!
Through Thick & Thin
Part 3
Hang on Ash, wait for me. Those words echoed in
Misty's mind non-stop, as she ran through the forest in search of him.
Every once in a while, Pikachu would stop and sniff at the ground, trying
to pick up Ash's scent.
Soon, Misty and Pikachu encountered their first group
of beedrills.
"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" yelled Misty.
"Pi...ka...chuuuuu!" The beedrills were fried, and the
girl and Pikachu continued their search.
Suddenly, Pikachu spotted something up ahead. "Pika!
Pikapi, pikachu!"
"What is it, Pikachu? Footprints! They look like Ash's!
Good job Pikachu! Let's go!" Misty exclaimed.
They started running, but again, twenty or so beedrills
blocked their way.
With a nod from Misty, Pikachu thundershocked the bug
pokemon again. The beedrills scattered.
Meanwhile, Ash had sat down on the grass when his legs
couldn't take him any further.
I must've looked like a total idiot back there. Ash
thought to himself, running out with no idea whatsoever where I'm going.
But it just bugs me so much to see Zack and Misty so close!
He lay down on his back and stared at the sky. Thinking
of...Misty, again.
As she runs, Misty quickly considers her situation. I
can keep going and I have my water pokemon to protect me, but Ash is all
alone! If he gets attacked now...
Pikachu was tired out from frying all the beedrills.
Just as he powered up for another thundershock, Misty stopped him.
"Pikachu, you go and find Ash! He needs you to protect
him! I'll hold off the beedrills! Hurry! Go now!"
Pikachu gave a determined nod.
"Pi! Pikachupi! Pi, pika!"
He headed towards Ash's trail.
"You be careful too, Pikachu!" Misty called.
"And now," she threw out her pokeball, "Misty calls...Staryu!"
Staryu came out of its pokeball.
"Staryu, swift attack now!"
The beedrills were all knocked out. Misty called back
Staryu and followed in Pikachu's direction.
Pikachu kept running. He knew Ash couldn't be too far
ahead. Then he came across a clearing beside a wide, clear lake. There
was a figure lying on the grass. Pikachu wished with all its little heart
that he wasn't too late. He ran to Ash and thunderbolted him.
"WAAAAAA!!! Wha...? Huh? Oh hey Pikachu, I must've dozed
off. What are you doing here?"
Pikachu waved his arms and explained. "Pika pikachu!
Pi...pikachu!"
"Huh? Oh, you came looking for me! Thanks Pikachu, you're
a real pal." Ash hugged Pikachu and laughed.
"Pikachu?" Pikachu had realized that Ash wasn't quite
himself and was concerned.
"Why I ran out here? Well, Pikachu, I thought you must've
guessed...Misty's done so much for me, stand by my side all the way, save
my life several times, and what have I got to show for it? I'm still not
a pokemon master...I can't even pay her that dumb bike back! No wonder
she doesn't like me."
"Pika!" Pikachu jumped up and swats Ash on the head.
"You're saying I shouldn't think like that? Well, how
would you feel in my situation?" Ash replied.
Pikachu patted Ash on the back. "Pikapi, pikachu."
Ash sighed.
Misty looked sadly down at her pokeball. "I know you're
tired Poliwhirl, but everyone else is down and out! So come..." Before
she could say another word, another pokemon came out.
"Psy...psyduck?" The pokemon cocked its head.
"Psyduck, go back in your pokeball! It's too dangerous
out here!" Misty yelled.
"Psy...?"
Much too late, a beedrill hit Psyduck with a tackle attack.
"Psyduck! Are you all right?"
Suddenly, Psyduck started running around in circles,
holding its head. Then as as quickly as it started, it stopped and a blueish
glow engulfed its body.
"Alright Psyduck! Disable now!"
Blue glow surrounded the many beedrills in front of them.
Then one by one, they dropped to the ground, the energy drained out of
them.
Misty laughed. "Way to go Psyduck! Come on!"
She picked up Psyduck and ran.
Ash was staring at the clouds when he heard the commotion
in the bushes. He looked and saw beedrills falling to the ground. With
a start he realized that the beedrills were aiming for him! He turned around
to see who his savior was.
"Ash! You're all right!" Ash caught a glimpse of relief
on Misty's face, but it quickly changed to one of annoyance and anger.
"What's the big idea?!"
"Misty, I don't think we should travel together anymore."
Ash said quietly.
Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't that. Misty was
shocked. Then she got mad.
"Do you consider me a burden Ash? D-do you...do you hate
me?"
Ash stammered, "No! I, no, that's not what I..." and
trailed off. He was surprised to see tears in her eyes.
"Aww...Misty, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"You're sorry all right! And all those times when I thought
maybe you actually cared! I was just kidding myself wasn't I? Well, Ash
Ketchum, if you really feel that way you should've said it a long time
ago!" Misty broke down and cried.
Now it was Ash's turn to be surprised. He had never seen
Misty cry before. She was always so tough and independent. "But Misty!
I do care! You're getting me wrong. What I meant was..." He didn't know
what to say after that. Did he dare to say he loves her? What did he mean
when he said he didn't want to travel with her? He enjoyed every second
he spend training and catching pokemon with Misty and Brock.
He took a deep breath and started again. "What I meant
was, Misty, I don't deserve to have you travel with me."
Misty looked up with surprise.
Ash continued. "Misty, you deserve so much more than
journeying around, camping out in the forest, getting lost all the time,"
here Misty smiled. "having to drag Brock from girls, fighting Team Rocket,
and you know the rest. You really don't have to take the risk of being
in danger, like the time the Tauros almost trampled you? Falling off bridges
that always break? Getting chased by Beedrills? You shouldn't have to take
that risk and travel with me. I'm always getting us into trouble and dangerous
situations. The fact is, I can't stand to see you hurt Misty."
"Ash, you talk too much." Misty said to a wide-eyed Ash
as she pulled him into a hug.
"So...I take it that you're staying with me?" Ash asked,
blushing.
"I wouldn't ask for anything more." Misty told him.
After a while, Ash broke the silence. "But y'know, Misty,
once I pay you back the bike, you won't have a reason to follow me anymore."
"Yes I do." Misty sighed. "Ash, there's been something
I've been meaning to tell you." Her face turned red. "I love you."
Ash looked at her in amazement. This day just couldn't
get any better.
He broke the embrace. Misty looked saddened.
"Will you excuse me for a second?" Ash asked. Misty nodded.
Ash walked out of sight into the woods.
"YEEEESSSSSSS!!!!!" came a very loud and and familiar
yell. Misty smiled.
Pikachu and Psyduck came out of the lake they had been
wading in and went to Ash and Misty.
"Pika? Pi, pikachu?"
"Yup, Pikachu, you were right all along! She does like
me!" Ash jumped with joy.
Misty laughed. "Well Ash? You didn't tell me your response
yet!"
Ash looked confused. "Response? Oh yeah!" He leaned over
and kissed a shocked but happy Misty on the lips. "Is that enough for ya?"
Misty didn't say anything but smiled. She took his hand.
"C'mon. Zack and Togepi are waiting for us."
Ash felt a chill up his spine. "Z-zack? Misty, you don't
like him do you?"
"No, silly." She gave him a soft kiss. "Ash, you can
be so dense sometimes."
With Misty's hand in his and Pikachu on his shoulder,
Ash thought silently to himself. I have my best friend on one side,
and my love on another, both helping me toward one goal. What more could
a guy ask for? I will become the greatest Pokemon Master
of all time!
The End
A/N: Yay!!! It's finally done! That last part was
really corny wasn't it? And so mushy...doesn't seem like I wrote it. Hope
the ending turned out like you wanted it to! Please review! Thanks for
reading this and I'll be writing more stories soon! Bye!
