DISCLAIMER: Nope, we don't own Pokémon.
A/N: Explanations abroad! Again this is another part one of a two-part chapter, and it is very short, but that's okay cos the next one is HUGE! So read this, review it, and then we get to the big stuff, woohoo!
Around 15 minutes later we find our 6 companions at the entrance to the huge volcano gym. For a moment all they could do was stare at the door before them, trying to comprehend what kind of ordeal they were about to go through, for in this situation friendships could be shattered, husbands could lose wives, and a lifetime of love could be taken away within an instant. With a heavyhearted sigh, and the situation with Ritchie still playing on his mind, Ash broke the silence around them.
"Well here we are" he announced, his voice barely above a whisper. Brock examined the huge door in front of him.
"God this place is bigger then I remember" he mumbled.
"Yeah" Misty started, as she walked up beside Ash. "Blaine rebuilt it, and made modifications. You know, after the whole ice guns ordeal" Misty told him, leaving it at that and not wanting to go into any great detail as she knew too well Jessie and James hated being reminded of their past actions. Brock just nodded understanding what Misty meant.
"Well, no sense in waiting" James proclaimed as he walked towards the doors, but was stopped as Ash's voice rang through out his eardrums.
"Jimmy wait!" James turned to face his companion.
"Huh? What? What's wrong Ash?" he inquired. Ash sighed and then spoke up.
"Please hold up a minute will ya? " he told him as he gestured for him to come back and rejoin the group. James just shrugged it aside and did as he was asked, as Ash walked up and stood before them.
"Ash? What's this about?" Jessie asked. Ash took a deep breath and then began to speak.
"I'll make it short guys" he told them. The others nodded and awaited what he had to say.
"First of all Will, this don't really concern you, but can I just say thanks for the help, and I deeply regret your loss." Willamena nodded, accepting his heartfelt words of sorrow directed towards her family members deaths. Ash swallowed back the lump in his throat as he went on.
"Guys this is hard for me, so I am just going to cut to the chase ok?" His wife and 3 companions nodded.
"To have made this journey once, was remarkable. To be one confrontation away from doing it twice, is just astounding." He paused and eyed the group before him. Brock and James just looked at each other in confusion, as the girls just stood there intently waiting for him to go on.
"Guys, I can see you ain't getting this, so I'll tone it down. To put it simply, no matter what happens in there today, can I just say…thank you." He paused as he walked up to Brock.
"Thank you for your friendship." Brock nodded he redirected his eyes to Jessie and James. "Thanks for the support both 5 years ago and now." Both former Rockets just smiled at their long time companion. He slowly approached his wife, he eyed her a minute, he bit his lip before going on.
"And what do I say to you?" Misty raised an eyebrow, unsure as to what he meant. The normally familiar words of I love you would have sufficed at that moment, but Ash clearly had something more on his mind at this time. He took her by the shoulders as he went on.
"You have been through more than anyone I know and –" He was cut short as Misty placed a finger to his lips to silence him. Ash released the grip he had on her shoulders as Misty took his hands in hers.
"And who has been with me, through it all, every step of the way?" she told him. "You" Ash nodded with a sigh as he turned away from her.
"Yeah, I know, but…" Misty placed a hand on his shoulder.
"But?" she inquired.
"9 times out of 10 I turn out to be the cause of your pain than the solution." Upon hearing these words leave her husband's mouth she swung his body around to lock eyes with hers.
"Listen to me Ash Ketchum, cause I am only going to say this once." She paused as she shoved their wedding bands into his view.
"Do these things here mean nothing to you?" Ash's eyes widened at the statement that just left Misty's mouth as the others just stared on in bewilderment.
"What? What the hell are you talking about Misty?! You know what they mean, they mean the world to me!" he snapped. She released his hand from her grip and sighed.
"So why do you continually belittle your value to me?" she asked him as tears began to form in her eyes. Ash, shocked at seeing the one he loved go into such emotional distress, quickly took her in his arms, and began to try and say something to try and reassure her.
"Misty, look it is not-" She cut him short while shaking her head.
"No… Ash, I can say I love you a thousand times over, I can tell you you mean the world to me till the miltanks come home, but it never seems to be enough." She gazed up to him and then went on as she leaned into his embrace.
"So it looks like I only have one thing left to say to you." Jessie's mouth dropped open, as Brock turned to James.
"Shit, he's in for it now. Girls used that line on me a lot growing up." James gasped.
"You don't mean…" Brock just shrugged and redirected his eyes back to the previous conversation. Ash who was somewhat apprehensive to speak finally choked out a response, knowing all too well he might not like the outcome.
"And this thing you have to say to me Misty?" he asked. She gazed up into his eyes as if stalling on her answer, and then she just closed her eyes and spoke two words.
"Thank you" she said softly as a tear rolled down her cheek. Brock hit the hard jagged rock surface in stupidity as James let out a laugh of satisfaction. Once Brock was back to his feet aided by Jessie and Willamena, Ash's focus once again lay upon his wife.
"Thank you for what?" She grinned up at him as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"For stealing my bike" she said simply and with that initiated a kiss so tender their 4 companions thought time had stopped before their eyes. Ash, who was lost in the moment through Misty's actions, only then fully began to understand the severity of how big a part in her life he played. For to Misty, Ash was a necessity to live, just like oxygen or water, and he had never truly understood that until now. As they parted grins dominated their lips, Ash because he now had a new insight into his wife's true emotions towards him, and Misty because in her own eyes now she had now truly made him understand what he meant to her, he had made him understand, why she put up with all the heartbreak and joy that come with having him in her life, for Brock had said it best in a song he once wrote. * They say you don't know what you got, until it is gone* and in Misty's eyes she had no plans of losing him anytime soon. She gazed over at her companions.
"Well I guess it's time" she whispered. The group around her nodded. They walked to the entrance, and Brock and James slowly parted the huge door in front of them. Slowly and reluctantly, the group entered the gym. And as the doors closed behind them, they could not help but think the worse case scenario - would that be the last time they ever saw daylight again?
A/N: Alright guys, warned you that was kinda short but it's another one of those 2 part thingys. The next chapter will be here in a day or two, be paitent, I know it's getting close but it will be here! Thanks to G-O-Double-D for this chapter, the next one's from him too, and thanks everyone for your reviews too! Next one up ASAP!