________________
Misty's Awakening
Part 12
________________
Over the next few days, Misty found most of her time dedicated to therapy. And, when not with Dr. Johnson on special equipment, she could usually convince Ash to hold her as she carefully walked about the house.
She felt quite at home with the Ketchems, and felt more comfortable to be living there. She moved on her own in the wheelchair, easily steering it without help, and becoming more and more confident in her progression.
All in all, life for Misty was good.
* * * *
It was a chilly Friday afternoon. Misty had just returned from therapy at the hospital, greeting Ash with the usual hello kiss as she came through the door, but right away Ash put her backpack into her hands and asked her to come with him to *their* field. Misty took it with her, holding it confusedly even as Ash carried out to their rock.
"Okay, Misty," Ash said as he set her down on the rock, "I think this is the perfect place to let your Pokemon out for a while."
"Oh— Ash, I didn't even think about that!" Misty said in amazement. She hadn't really given them a second thought since she'd been given them at the hospital. "I should have let them out earlier." She began to shuffle through her things.
"You've been busy, Mist," Ash told her as he himself took a seat on the stone.
Misty found her Pokeballs and threw them all down to release the Pokemon within.
It was like a reunion of old friends. Her Pokemon all ran to her eagerly— Psyduck first, whom she was even ecstatic to see— and then all the others, surrounding her and exercising happily in the noonday sun. Misty watched as they played before her, and for a moment it made her long for the days when she would travel with Ash and occasionally battle her Pokemon. She wished, however, that she'd taken her own training a bit more seriously.
"We could take them over to the river sometime," Ash suggested a bit later. "Maybe tomorrow. It's a little far away, so we'll need the car. Mom doesn't have to work then, so..."
Misty nodded. "That sounds great!!"
They played out in the field for nearly an hour before Misty decided to put her Pokemon away and return home.
"Maybe we could let Professor Oak watch them at his lab for a while so they can exercise more and get all the water they need," Ash said as he set her in the wheelchair.
"That's a good idea— let's drop them off there on our way back. I just don't feel like I have time to take care of them very well right now."
Ash agreed, and began to walk by her side as she pushed her chair. "So, what do you say we go home now for some of my mom's famous sandwiches?"
"Sure, sounds wonderful."
Ash smiled, and helped to push her faster.
* * * *
The moment Ash pushed Misty around the bend to the house, Misty knew something was different. There was a small, red sports car gleaming in the sunlight, parked out by the curb perpendicular to the front walk.
"Who's car is that?" Misty asked as Ash unhatched the gate.
"Dunno..."
They entered the front room with curiosity.
The first thing they both noticed was a tall, dark haired man sitting on the sofa. His eyes were small and his clothes neat and tidy— a black suit— and his hair was a bit spiky, though carefully styled. He grinned as he looked up to see Misty and Ash.
It was right then that it clicked for Misty. She'd known this person three years ago, traveled with him, been given advice by him, been pulled out of furious arguments with Ash by him...
"BROCK!!" she cried, laughter entering her voice at the revelation.
"Whoa! Brock-o! Man, is that really you?!" Ash must have realized it right as she had. He was smiling too as he examined the tall man.
"Hey guys— you guessed it! Great to see you two!" he answered, taking them both in a quick embrace.
"Long time, no see!" Misty said as she looked dazedly at the figure before her.
"You're not kidding about that," Brock said.
"So, Brock! What's been happening?" Ash questioned as he pushed Misty closer to the coffee table.
"Well, I'd say everything." He sat back down, and Ash took a seat by Misty in a chair. "You already heard about my engagement— to Violet."
"Yeah, Brock!" Misty exclaimed. "I couldn't believe it when she told me. But... how did you meet her? You didn't remember her from your first meeting, did you?"
Brock shook his head. "Naw— I don't even recall having any clue that she was your sister. That never even occurred to me for some reason or another."
"Well, tell us everything!" Ash prompted, taking a cookie from the tray his mom had just set out on the coffee table.
"Alright, if you can stay awake through it all," Brock consented. "Well...after Misty went into her coma, I thought that I *could* stay, but it wouldn't do anyone any good. I decided that I should get some kind of job. I mean, I'd been traveling with you two for a long time, but the Pokemon training journey thing just wasn't getting me anywhere. I'd learned a lot of new things and had a lot of important experiences along the way, but I realized that this was the end of it for me.
"So, soon I went back home to Pewter City. I had always wanted to be a Pokemon breeder, you know, so I began working every job I could so I could earn the money to begin my own business near home. It took about a year or more, but soon I *did* open my own little enterprise. Basically, with my knowledge of Pokemon, I not only bred Pokemon for myself, but I helped people match their Pokemon to others that had complementary characteristics and bred them. It all turned out very well after a while, and I got to be pretty well known, especially after some of the Pokemon I had bred became famous for their battling abilities and other such things.
"At the same time, though, I had become the Gym Leader of the Pewter city Gym again, using not only my old Pokemon, but rock Pokemon I had bred specifically be strong, fighting Pokemon. I was pretty tough to beat.
"But one day, I was invited to a Gym Leader's convention at the Indigo Plateau. If I'm thinking right, it was just less then a year ago today...anyway, I went to it, of course, and that's when I say *her*..." His face was taken over by his famous 'girl sighting' look. "Ah... she was so pretty... so smart... better than every Jenny and Joy put together..."
Ash and Misty glanced at each other and both sighed in unison.
"Ahem. Anyway, I didn't know that Violet was your sister, Misty. I mean, true love can really blind a person." His eyes began to go hazy. Misty knew then that as much as Brock had changed, some things about him never would.
Ash attempted to snap him out of it. "Uh, Brock— so, what happened after that?"
Brock looked back to Ash. "Ah. Well, Violet had told me that she wasn't so much into the Gym leader thing, not as much as her two sisters were (and they didn't do a lot with the gym, either). But she had come with them to the convention, and still did these performances at the Cerulean Gym on weekends. We got to talking and I knew that she liked me a little, and I definitely liked her. I finally convinced her to give me her number, and I took her on a date as soon as she was free. Since then, we fell in love and I proposed!"
"How *sweet*," Misty gushed, her head in her hands.
"Yeah...we'll be married in a few weeks, at the Cerulean chapel, and we're getting the final preparations in order. But things are looking good for us."
"Wow, Brock... you finally found a girl who didn't reject you...funny, though, that she was related to Misty."
"Ah!"
"Just kidding, Mist, you know that," Ash assured, putting his arm around her.
Brock stared. "Ash...did you just avoid an argument with Misty, or am I going blind?"
Ash smiled.
"In fact, you guys haven't gotten into a single fight since you came in, and if I can remember you two by one thing, it's how often you're at each other's throats!"
"Heh— Brock, we haven't really *had* any fights since I woke up from my coma," Misty told him.
"Wow. I'm glad you both realize how naive it is to fight over stupid things..." He stopped again, looking a little closer at the two. "Wait a second! Maybe...maybe it's just me," he said slowly, "but...do you guys...*like* each other? I mean, *really* like each other?"
Misty grinned, and she knew that Ash was, too.
"Oh, my— it's true! Whoa, guys, that's great! I always thought you'd be a good couple-- you know, with the fighting aside!" Misty noticed that he almost looked like he could cry for joy.
"Uh, thanks, Brock," she heard Ash say, and giggled lightly to herself.
"Sorry, guys," Brock said, "I'm not trying to embarrass you or anything." He slowly stood up. "Well...it's been really great to see you two again! I should get going, though...I need to see Violet before I head back home. I'll see you soon, though...the wedding isn't far off, and I expect you guys will help out with it, right?"
They both nodded.
"Great!" He walked to the door. "I'll see you later—" He smiled and began out the door. "Oh— and good luck, Misty— with your walking." One more grin, and he was gone.
* * * *
Ms. Ketchem entered the living room. "Oh, isn't it great? Your old friend, Brock...I remember him well. He left my house cleaner then it's ever been last time he left."
Misty shook her head. "I *still* can't believe that he's marrying my sister! Well...I guess they'll go well together because Violet's never been very tidy."
Ms. Ketchem giggled. "Well, I was telling him about how you've been improving, Misty. He seemed happy, but he said that he wished he'd been able to see you guys sooner."
"Oh," Ash said, " he seems like a busy guy, though."
"Well... I'm sure you're both hungry," Ms. Ketchem said, "so come on into the kitchen for lunch!"
Misty and Ash didn't hesitate, and with that they were off to the kitchen.
* * * *
"You're almost there, Misty!" Dr. Johnson said as she watched the girl use crutches, staggering in her direction.
Misty held her breath and took another step, then another. The crutches were jabbing her painfully in the armpits with every step, and her muscles ached from all the hard work.
Nevertheless, she made her way across the blue room and back to an ecstatic Dr. Johnson, who waited for her by the hand weights.
"Wonderful!" she said as Misty stopped, panting mildly. "You've been working on those for days now, and I really think you're ready to use them all the time. So, from now on, no more wheel chair, okay Misty?"
Misty bit her lip in the usual nervous manner. "Well, okay, I guess I can...can handle it."
Misty though back vaguely to when she had seen Brock last Friday...three days ago. Maybe, she thought, she'd be able to walk on her own before Brock and Violet's wedding.
________
...To Be Continued....
________
Misty's Awakening
Part 12
________________
Over the next few days, Misty found most of her time dedicated to therapy. And, when not with Dr. Johnson on special equipment, she could usually convince Ash to hold her as she carefully walked about the house.
She felt quite at home with the Ketchems, and felt more comfortable to be living there. She moved on her own in the wheelchair, easily steering it without help, and becoming more and more confident in her progression.
All in all, life for Misty was good.
* * * *
It was a chilly Friday afternoon. Misty had just returned from therapy at the hospital, greeting Ash with the usual hello kiss as she came through the door, but right away Ash put her backpack into her hands and asked her to come with him to *their* field. Misty took it with her, holding it confusedly even as Ash carried out to their rock.
"Okay, Misty," Ash said as he set her down on the rock, "I think this is the perfect place to let your Pokemon out for a while."
"Oh— Ash, I didn't even think about that!" Misty said in amazement. She hadn't really given them a second thought since she'd been given them at the hospital. "I should have let them out earlier." She began to shuffle through her things.
"You've been busy, Mist," Ash told her as he himself took a seat on the stone.
Misty found her Pokeballs and threw them all down to release the Pokemon within.
It was like a reunion of old friends. Her Pokemon all ran to her eagerly— Psyduck first, whom she was even ecstatic to see— and then all the others, surrounding her and exercising happily in the noonday sun. Misty watched as they played before her, and for a moment it made her long for the days when she would travel with Ash and occasionally battle her Pokemon. She wished, however, that she'd taken her own training a bit more seriously.
"We could take them over to the river sometime," Ash suggested a bit later. "Maybe tomorrow. It's a little far away, so we'll need the car. Mom doesn't have to work then, so..."
Misty nodded. "That sounds great!!"
They played out in the field for nearly an hour before Misty decided to put her Pokemon away and return home.
"Maybe we could let Professor Oak watch them at his lab for a while so they can exercise more and get all the water they need," Ash said as he set her in the wheelchair.
"That's a good idea— let's drop them off there on our way back. I just don't feel like I have time to take care of them very well right now."
Ash agreed, and began to walk by her side as she pushed her chair. "So, what do you say we go home now for some of my mom's famous sandwiches?"
"Sure, sounds wonderful."
Ash smiled, and helped to push her faster.
* * * *
The moment Ash pushed Misty around the bend to the house, Misty knew something was different. There was a small, red sports car gleaming in the sunlight, parked out by the curb perpendicular to the front walk.
"Who's car is that?" Misty asked as Ash unhatched the gate.
"Dunno..."
They entered the front room with curiosity.
The first thing they both noticed was a tall, dark haired man sitting on the sofa. His eyes were small and his clothes neat and tidy— a black suit— and his hair was a bit spiky, though carefully styled. He grinned as he looked up to see Misty and Ash.
It was right then that it clicked for Misty. She'd known this person three years ago, traveled with him, been given advice by him, been pulled out of furious arguments with Ash by him...
"BROCK!!" she cried, laughter entering her voice at the revelation.
"Whoa! Brock-o! Man, is that really you?!" Ash must have realized it right as she had. He was smiling too as he examined the tall man.
"Hey guys— you guessed it! Great to see you two!" he answered, taking them both in a quick embrace.
"Long time, no see!" Misty said as she looked dazedly at the figure before her.
"You're not kidding about that," Brock said.
"So, Brock! What's been happening?" Ash questioned as he pushed Misty closer to the coffee table.
"Well, I'd say everything." He sat back down, and Ash took a seat by Misty in a chair. "You already heard about my engagement— to Violet."
"Yeah, Brock!" Misty exclaimed. "I couldn't believe it when she told me. But... how did you meet her? You didn't remember her from your first meeting, did you?"
Brock shook his head. "Naw— I don't even recall having any clue that she was your sister. That never even occurred to me for some reason or another."
"Well, tell us everything!" Ash prompted, taking a cookie from the tray his mom had just set out on the coffee table.
"Alright, if you can stay awake through it all," Brock consented. "Well...after Misty went into her coma, I thought that I *could* stay, but it wouldn't do anyone any good. I decided that I should get some kind of job. I mean, I'd been traveling with you two for a long time, but the Pokemon training journey thing just wasn't getting me anywhere. I'd learned a lot of new things and had a lot of important experiences along the way, but I realized that this was the end of it for me.
"So, soon I went back home to Pewter City. I had always wanted to be a Pokemon breeder, you know, so I began working every job I could so I could earn the money to begin my own business near home. It took about a year or more, but soon I *did* open my own little enterprise. Basically, with my knowledge of Pokemon, I not only bred Pokemon for myself, but I helped people match their Pokemon to others that had complementary characteristics and bred them. It all turned out very well after a while, and I got to be pretty well known, especially after some of the Pokemon I had bred became famous for their battling abilities and other such things.
"At the same time, though, I had become the Gym Leader of the Pewter city Gym again, using not only my old Pokemon, but rock Pokemon I had bred specifically be strong, fighting Pokemon. I was pretty tough to beat.
"But one day, I was invited to a Gym Leader's convention at the Indigo Plateau. If I'm thinking right, it was just less then a year ago today...anyway, I went to it, of course, and that's when I say *her*..." His face was taken over by his famous 'girl sighting' look. "Ah... she was so pretty... so smart... better than every Jenny and Joy put together..."
Ash and Misty glanced at each other and both sighed in unison.
"Ahem. Anyway, I didn't know that Violet was your sister, Misty. I mean, true love can really blind a person." His eyes began to go hazy. Misty knew then that as much as Brock had changed, some things about him never would.
Ash attempted to snap him out of it. "Uh, Brock— so, what happened after that?"
Brock looked back to Ash. "Ah. Well, Violet had told me that she wasn't so much into the Gym leader thing, not as much as her two sisters were (and they didn't do a lot with the gym, either). But she had come with them to the convention, and still did these performances at the Cerulean Gym on weekends. We got to talking and I knew that she liked me a little, and I definitely liked her. I finally convinced her to give me her number, and I took her on a date as soon as she was free. Since then, we fell in love and I proposed!"
"How *sweet*," Misty gushed, her head in her hands.
"Yeah...we'll be married in a few weeks, at the Cerulean chapel, and we're getting the final preparations in order. But things are looking good for us."
"Wow, Brock... you finally found a girl who didn't reject you...funny, though, that she was related to Misty."
"Ah!"
"Just kidding, Mist, you know that," Ash assured, putting his arm around her.
Brock stared. "Ash...did you just avoid an argument with Misty, or am I going blind?"
Ash smiled.
"In fact, you guys haven't gotten into a single fight since you came in, and if I can remember you two by one thing, it's how often you're at each other's throats!"
"Heh— Brock, we haven't really *had* any fights since I woke up from my coma," Misty told him.
"Wow. I'm glad you both realize how naive it is to fight over stupid things..." He stopped again, looking a little closer at the two. "Wait a second! Maybe...maybe it's just me," he said slowly, "but...do you guys...*like* each other? I mean, *really* like each other?"
Misty grinned, and she knew that Ash was, too.
"Oh, my— it's true! Whoa, guys, that's great! I always thought you'd be a good couple-- you know, with the fighting aside!" Misty noticed that he almost looked like he could cry for joy.
"Uh, thanks, Brock," she heard Ash say, and giggled lightly to herself.
"Sorry, guys," Brock said, "I'm not trying to embarrass you or anything." He slowly stood up. "Well...it's been really great to see you two again! I should get going, though...I need to see Violet before I head back home. I'll see you soon, though...the wedding isn't far off, and I expect you guys will help out with it, right?"
They both nodded.
"Great!" He walked to the door. "I'll see you later—" He smiled and began out the door. "Oh— and good luck, Misty— with your walking." One more grin, and he was gone.
* * * *
Ms. Ketchem entered the living room. "Oh, isn't it great? Your old friend, Brock...I remember him well. He left my house cleaner then it's ever been last time he left."
Misty shook her head. "I *still* can't believe that he's marrying my sister! Well...I guess they'll go well together because Violet's never been very tidy."
Ms. Ketchem giggled. "Well, I was telling him about how you've been improving, Misty. He seemed happy, but he said that he wished he'd been able to see you guys sooner."
"Oh," Ash said, " he seems like a busy guy, though."
"Well... I'm sure you're both hungry," Ms. Ketchem said, "so come on into the kitchen for lunch!"
Misty and Ash didn't hesitate, and with that they were off to the kitchen.
* * * *
"You're almost there, Misty!" Dr. Johnson said as she watched the girl use crutches, staggering in her direction.
Misty held her breath and took another step, then another. The crutches were jabbing her painfully in the armpits with every step, and her muscles ached from all the hard work.
Nevertheless, she made her way across the blue room and back to an ecstatic Dr. Johnson, who waited for her by the hand weights.
"Wonderful!" she said as Misty stopped, panting mildly. "You've been working on those for days now, and I really think you're ready to use them all the time. So, from now on, no more wheel chair, okay Misty?"
Misty bit her lip in the usual nervous manner. "Well, okay, I guess I can...can handle it."
Misty though back vaguely to when she had seen Brock last Friday...three days ago. Maybe, she thought, she'd be able to walk on her own before Brock and Violet's wedding.
________
...To Be Continued....
________
