The entire group jumped to attention as a scream ripped through their
campsite. All but Whitney, who was issuing the scream. Brock leapt to her
side and cradled her in his arms. Silence fell and Ash nodded to the trio
of night watchmon.
"Everything's alright." Brock comforted Whitney as Ash echoed the same to the Pokèmon.
"What is this dream?" Whitney asked, sitting up on her own to puzzle out the mystery. They all knew she wouldn't allow herself to fall asleep until dawn when they packed up and headed off, which would end with one of them carrying her for most of the day, probably Brock.
Every woman in their group experienced the same and Ash and Brock felt an almost continual lump in the pit of their stomachs for days after. Even when they had told the group about how it was held off with Misty many of the girls refused to allow one of the guys to comfort her as she tried to sleep. Whitney fought the strongest as Brock was the first to offer his services. This earned her a caring gaze from the other women and the men glared down on Brock. But none of them refused the help to wake. It was quickly discovered that only the men could wake them without potentially serious injury, with which Sabrina had personal experience.
"Could you tell who it was this time?" Ash asked. It had become the only thing any of them would say before returning to rest. And the answer was always the same. "No. I wish I could recognize him."
The others returned to their pallets and, with a final look to Whitney, tried to grab a few more hours of rest.
Ash stayed up attempting to gather the clues from this trip and from his previous travels. The largest difference between the travels was that Misty was the only one to 'catch' the nightmare. This wasn't right. Misty could tell it was him, even though he wasn't himself, if that made sense. None of the women he was with right now could even pick out a general shape of the man. It should be Clair's husband if the trend followed, but she couldn't even force him into the shape of the man that appeared in the nightmare.
Ash sighed and flipped onto his side with a sigh and watched Whitney struggle to puzzle it out. If she and the others couldn't connect the dots the dream left, how did he have a hope.
He shut his eyes, he'd need his strength tomorrow. Lance had asked him to perform the motto at the next base with Misty.
********
Ash nearly fell back into his bag when he recognized the scream a few nights later. Someone was waking from the nightmare. Only a few gasps stopped him, he joined the other members and added his jaw to those on the ground. The person within their circle was Gary. Eventually, Sabrina dropped to her knees and pulled Gary to her and they gasped again when he stopped and awoke.
"I had it." He muttered, failing to notice his audience for a moment. He looked up and smiled to Sabrina. "Thank Sab." She glowered slightly at the nickname the team had given her, but recovered quickly and seemed to be asking the questions telepathically while Gary only answered by nodding.
"Gary?" Ash asked as the group dissipated. His rival turned to look him in the eye.
"I had it." He repeated.
"Yea." Ash answered, glancing around to make sure it was only the three of them within listening distance. "Can you tell us exactly what happened?" He asked.
"If you two won't tell anyone." Gary agreed. Sabrina nodded with Ash and sat back to listen. "It was like the others, the person walks up and slapped me a bunch then yelled," He paused. "something at me and then turned and nearly kissed me but then she went and bit my lip hard." He looked between the two before continuing again. "The biggest difference was that I could tell who it was." He looked up at Ash with a haunted look in his eyes. "It was Duplica." He whispered.
Ash almost fell in surprise and paused for a moment. "You're sure. It was Duplica?" He asked.
Gary nodded and broke into his customary grin. "She and that Ditto are inseparable, even in dreams." He answered.
Ash nodded thoughtfully before turning back to his companion. "You better get some rest. I don't think any of the girls even could carry you if they wanted to."
"Are you calling me fat?" Gary retorted, forgetting for a moment that the rest of the group was attempting to sleep.
"No." Ash answered quickly. The three nodded to each other, silently agreeing to keep the information between them.
*****
Ash and Pikachu ran down the corridor beside Pikachu while Sabrina and her Alakazam keeping ahead and watching for anyone in the corridors.
Sabrina called his attention to a door to his side. She disappeared as he slowed and the door swung open.
"It's a jail." She told him as she handed him a keyring.
"Let's free them." Ash answered. Pikachu leapt off, stopping whenever he found an occupied cell and Sabrina stayed back to guard the door. The trainers were happy to see humans other than Team Rocket and thanked Ash when they were freed. They continued until they arrived at the last cell in the room. When he saw the occupants, a smirk grew on his face that Gray would be proud to wear. "If it isn't Jessie and James." He taunted. "No motto this time?"
"Hey, it's the twerp." James said, drawing his cellmates attention from Pikachu.
"What are you two doing in here?" Ash asked them.
"We tried to leave when we heard you and the other 'champions' were coming." Jessie explained.
"The others threw us in here and took away our Pokèmon." James finished.
"Well. We're dismanteling Team Rocket, so if you want to come with us and start a normal life, I'll let you out." Ash offered, to both nodding vigorously He shook his head as their enthuisiam and opened the door and followed them back.
One of the trainers had managed to find a few Pokèballs stored in the jail. He was handing them back to these who claimed them and only handed Jessie Wobbuffet and Arbok, and James Weezing once Ash had confirmed they wouldn't attack. Victreebel had attacked James as soon as he arrived.
Ash then led the group to Sabrina and she began transporting the trainers to the surface at his request. She returned from the final pair and moved to Jessie.
Ash stopped her. "These two will help us search the rest of the complex." He told her. Sabrina looked questioningly at the two rockets and Ash, but shrugged and swept out of the room.
They moved swiftly down corridors until Jessie stopped them. "There's a secret room around here." She said. Ash and Sabrina looked about, but all they could see were the stone walls that were characteristic of the complex.
Sabrina was suddenly thankful for the pins that Brock and Onix had fashioned that would show up to Crobat's supersonic as she contacted Brock. "Is there a room somewhere around us?" She asked mentally.
"Yea, about three feet down the corridor in the direction you were headed." Came the answer. "Can't you see it?"
"No. It's hidden by an image." She answered after relaying this to the others.
"Here it is." Ash called as his hand vanished through the wall. They passed through the wall and easily defeated the rockets who had taken shelter there.
"That's everywhere." Will's voice called through telepathy. Sabrina smiled as her companions gathered around her and Alakazam. With one teleport, all four trainers appeared beside Brock who eyed his old friend and traveling companion with suspicion.
"It's alright. They're on our side." Ash answered their looks.
When Will arrived with the final group, Ash turned to the leaders. "These two are leaving Team Rocket. They've helped us in the past." He said nodding to Brock. "I will take responsibility for them."
Most of the team turned and began talking amongst themselves as they prepared to set out again. Jasmine called out Steelix and began directing it to dismantling the complex as Brock and Misty approached Ash and the pair of former rockets.
"Are you sure they're trustworthy?" Brock asked.
Sure Brock. They've helped us before." Ash answered.
Brock looked skeptically between the two. "Yea, but they always returned to try and capture Pikachu." He growled. Jasmine called him and he turned, tossing Onix's Pokèball into the air. "Onix, listen to Jasmine." He ordered and turned back to Ash.
James was the one to respond. "We always came back because the boss ordered us to. He would always give us a vote of confidence when we were at our worst." He said, slipping into a daydream.
Jessie smacked him with her fan and continued his story. "We nearly quit Team Rocket several times. We knew we could live honest lives, all we had to do was try." She said before slipping into her own memories.
"Now that you're taking Team Rocket down, we have no reason to go back." James finished as he recovered.
Brock nodded. "All right. You can come with us, but the rest of the team and I will keep a close eye on you." He told the pair.
"Well Ashy, if you trust them on our side, that's enough for me." Misty said, drawing the attention to her.
Ash jumped slightly as she placed her hand in his shoulder. "Misty." He cried. "I asked you not to call me that. Especially not in front of these two. The only thing they've called me before is 'the twerp', or 'the twoip' as Meowth would say.
As Ash complained, Jessie and James were staring at Misty. "They fight the same." Jessie noted as the two began to argue.
"But she has brown hair." James argued. "And she's wearing white."
"She's not as tall as I remember either." Jessie said, scanning Misty from head to foot.
"She is prettier. Ohh." James squealed as Jessie hit him with her mallet.
Ash, Misty, and Brock all sniggered and the former criminals noticed the attention had switched back to them. Finally, Ash stepped forward. "Guys." He broke off to let out another giggle. "This isn't the Misty that followed me for the bike." He explained. "Meet Misty Ilyce, the leader of Mahogany Gym."
James looked confusedly at Jessie as she mirrored his expression for a few moments. Wobbuffet escaped his Pokèball and appeared between the two.
"Wobbuffet." He called.
They both recoiled for a moment before Jessie pulled out it's Pokèball. "We're all ready confused, we don't need to be clueless too."
James turned back to the trio. "If she's Misty from Mahoganny Town, then where's 'your' Misty?" He asked.
"Misty Yawa is back in Pallet Town." He answered. At James' clueless expression, Ash turned to Misty. "They have their own Misty upstairs." He whispered.
She giggled and turned when Lance approached. "We're ready to move on." He reported. "Will they be coming with us?" Jessie and James nodded. "Alright then, let's get moving."
*****
Brock awoke with a throbbing bump on the back of his head.
"What hit me?" He asked, at once realizing what had.
"The girls are bathing." Surge answered simply.
Brock sat up and sighed. "I'm sorry." He whispered.
"Why do you chase after other girls when you have one in Pewter who's waiting for you?" Gary asked.
"I." Brock answered and hung his head. "I can't help myself." He finished.
Chuck stood and helped the man stand and set up dinner. "You know." He said as he got the fire to light. "I used to be just like you."
"You, the man who only looked twice at Becky because your son liked her?" Ash asked, surprise showing in every word.
"Yes." He answered simply. "I used to wait on the docks for the ships to arrive so I could watch the women leaving the ship."
Upon seeing he had the attention of the entire group, he continued. "Used to get rejected by every single one of them too. But Mary was always there to help me feel better. We knew each other from birth almost. Our parents used to travel together and always met to talk, which left the two of us to play in the sandbox when we were young. Later, we would get together with our friends and study together. I never had a friend who didn't like her." He paused for a moment and looked to his fist. "I hope this wasn't the only reason for it." He said to laughter.
He noticed that the women had joined them and blushed as he continued. "My father gave me the gym when I became eighteen, he said it would do him proud to watch me battle and win back the Cianwood Gym's reputation, which I did in a few weeks. Karen came to the island, as a trainer, trying to achieve a place in the Elite Four without having it given to her by her grandmother." He stopped and smiled at her. "I stopped that dream in it's tracks. I defeated all of her Pokèmon without even getting touched the first time. The next day she challenged me again, I allowed one hit to connect on Poliwrath before I finished her lineup. And the reason for the single hit was because I had fallen for her." He paused as he and Karen had to turn away to hide their blush.
"She left shortly after, when her grandmother named her into the Elite Four. I was heartbroken for a long time after. I didn't even battle, just handed out the badges. It took Mary's support for me to return to battling. It was then I realized that I loved her. She was tolerant of my infatuation, but I knew I could never keep her if I didn't stop myself." He stopped and smiled as everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for the finish.
"I never knew I was such a good storyteller." He joked and everyone laughed and sat back. "I still sat on the dock waiting for the ships to come in. But whenever they did and the women came to shore, I would look each one in the eye and imagine Mary right there next to me. I never chased after another girl, and a few years later, I asked Mary to marry me." He finished.
Everyone smiled and turned to talk, either to Chuck or Karen.
"Chuck?" Brock asked. "What how am I supposed to do that? There are only seven women here. It won't work if I keep using the same people."
"There are women in Team Rocket, aren't there?" Chuck answered and the few that were gathered around them laughed.
****************
Misty sat back into the chair as her sisters called her down. It was her birthday. Eighteen. It was supposed to be special, but what if that one special person in your life wasn't there? She sighed as she was called again. She turned and gathered Togepi into her arms and called Meowth and Meowsie.
She forced a smile onto her face when she exited into the front yard of the Oak's lab. "Happy eighteenth birthday!" The girls called. Misty had to force her smile a little less as she was ushered to the chair at the head of the table.
"Cheer up Misty." A male voice called to her from further down the table. Misty looked up in search for the boy that had spoken, but her smile fell when she saw TJ smiling back. She looked around at all her friends: Becky, Duplica, Erica, Delia, her sisters. Someone had even convinced Prima to come, but Misty couldn't muster up much enthusiasm for her hero with Ash still missing.
May sat down at the opposite side of the table. She was as inept in the kitchen as Misty herself was, though she at least tried to improve. It wasn't moving very fast though.
Tracy and Professor Oak came in bearing her cake with the obligatory eighteen candles. Her friends sang 'happy birthday' to her, but Misty didn't hear it. She just stared into the candles until she felt a hand place itself on her shoulder.
"Make a wish Misty." Delia said motheringly and Misty nodded. She allowed herself a grin when everyone crossed their fingers. They all knew what she was wishing for.
'I wish Ash would return safely. And soon." She thought as she screwed her eyes shut. 'And bring all the others back too.' She added as she opened her eyes and caught Duplica wishing for Gary to return. She blew and all the candles went out, a little too easily she thought, and a cheer went up.
"Hurry home Ash." She said, before turning to celebrate with her friends.
Throughout the day, a voice continually called to her from inside her head. "I'm coming home soon Misty."
_______________________________________
I think I've hinted at every pairing I know of without intending to put it in. If I've missed any, please tell me and I'll try to fit it in.(
Nova: Ash isn't thinking w/his hormones and he isn't getting Misty off his back for good. *Gary/Vegita smirk*
Disclaimer: See Author Profile
"Everything's alright." Brock comforted Whitney as Ash echoed the same to the Pokèmon.
"What is this dream?" Whitney asked, sitting up on her own to puzzle out the mystery. They all knew she wouldn't allow herself to fall asleep until dawn when they packed up and headed off, which would end with one of them carrying her for most of the day, probably Brock.
Every woman in their group experienced the same and Ash and Brock felt an almost continual lump in the pit of their stomachs for days after. Even when they had told the group about how it was held off with Misty many of the girls refused to allow one of the guys to comfort her as she tried to sleep. Whitney fought the strongest as Brock was the first to offer his services. This earned her a caring gaze from the other women and the men glared down on Brock. But none of them refused the help to wake. It was quickly discovered that only the men could wake them without potentially serious injury, with which Sabrina had personal experience.
"Could you tell who it was this time?" Ash asked. It had become the only thing any of them would say before returning to rest. And the answer was always the same. "No. I wish I could recognize him."
The others returned to their pallets and, with a final look to Whitney, tried to grab a few more hours of rest.
Ash stayed up attempting to gather the clues from this trip and from his previous travels. The largest difference between the travels was that Misty was the only one to 'catch' the nightmare. This wasn't right. Misty could tell it was him, even though he wasn't himself, if that made sense. None of the women he was with right now could even pick out a general shape of the man. It should be Clair's husband if the trend followed, but she couldn't even force him into the shape of the man that appeared in the nightmare.
Ash sighed and flipped onto his side with a sigh and watched Whitney struggle to puzzle it out. If she and the others couldn't connect the dots the dream left, how did he have a hope.
He shut his eyes, he'd need his strength tomorrow. Lance had asked him to perform the motto at the next base with Misty.
********
Ash nearly fell back into his bag when he recognized the scream a few nights later. Someone was waking from the nightmare. Only a few gasps stopped him, he joined the other members and added his jaw to those on the ground. The person within their circle was Gary. Eventually, Sabrina dropped to her knees and pulled Gary to her and they gasped again when he stopped and awoke.
"I had it." He muttered, failing to notice his audience for a moment. He looked up and smiled to Sabrina. "Thank Sab." She glowered slightly at the nickname the team had given her, but recovered quickly and seemed to be asking the questions telepathically while Gary only answered by nodding.
"Gary?" Ash asked as the group dissipated. His rival turned to look him in the eye.
"I had it." He repeated.
"Yea." Ash answered, glancing around to make sure it was only the three of them within listening distance. "Can you tell us exactly what happened?" He asked.
"If you two won't tell anyone." Gary agreed. Sabrina nodded with Ash and sat back to listen. "It was like the others, the person walks up and slapped me a bunch then yelled," He paused. "something at me and then turned and nearly kissed me but then she went and bit my lip hard." He looked between the two before continuing again. "The biggest difference was that I could tell who it was." He looked up at Ash with a haunted look in his eyes. "It was Duplica." He whispered.
Ash almost fell in surprise and paused for a moment. "You're sure. It was Duplica?" He asked.
Gary nodded and broke into his customary grin. "She and that Ditto are inseparable, even in dreams." He answered.
Ash nodded thoughtfully before turning back to his companion. "You better get some rest. I don't think any of the girls even could carry you if they wanted to."
"Are you calling me fat?" Gary retorted, forgetting for a moment that the rest of the group was attempting to sleep.
"No." Ash answered quickly. The three nodded to each other, silently agreeing to keep the information between them.
*****
Ash and Pikachu ran down the corridor beside Pikachu while Sabrina and her Alakazam keeping ahead and watching for anyone in the corridors.
Sabrina called his attention to a door to his side. She disappeared as he slowed and the door swung open.
"It's a jail." She told him as she handed him a keyring.
"Let's free them." Ash answered. Pikachu leapt off, stopping whenever he found an occupied cell and Sabrina stayed back to guard the door. The trainers were happy to see humans other than Team Rocket and thanked Ash when they were freed. They continued until they arrived at the last cell in the room. When he saw the occupants, a smirk grew on his face that Gray would be proud to wear. "If it isn't Jessie and James." He taunted. "No motto this time?"
"Hey, it's the twerp." James said, drawing his cellmates attention from Pikachu.
"What are you two doing in here?" Ash asked them.
"We tried to leave when we heard you and the other 'champions' were coming." Jessie explained.
"The others threw us in here and took away our Pokèmon." James finished.
"Well. We're dismanteling Team Rocket, so if you want to come with us and start a normal life, I'll let you out." Ash offered, to both nodding vigorously He shook his head as their enthuisiam and opened the door and followed them back.
One of the trainers had managed to find a few Pokèballs stored in the jail. He was handing them back to these who claimed them and only handed Jessie Wobbuffet and Arbok, and James Weezing once Ash had confirmed they wouldn't attack. Victreebel had attacked James as soon as he arrived.
Ash then led the group to Sabrina and she began transporting the trainers to the surface at his request. She returned from the final pair and moved to Jessie.
Ash stopped her. "These two will help us search the rest of the complex." He told her. Sabrina looked questioningly at the two rockets and Ash, but shrugged and swept out of the room.
They moved swiftly down corridors until Jessie stopped them. "There's a secret room around here." She said. Ash and Sabrina looked about, but all they could see were the stone walls that were characteristic of the complex.
Sabrina was suddenly thankful for the pins that Brock and Onix had fashioned that would show up to Crobat's supersonic as she contacted Brock. "Is there a room somewhere around us?" She asked mentally.
"Yea, about three feet down the corridor in the direction you were headed." Came the answer. "Can't you see it?"
"No. It's hidden by an image." She answered after relaying this to the others.
"Here it is." Ash called as his hand vanished through the wall. They passed through the wall and easily defeated the rockets who had taken shelter there.
"That's everywhere." Will's voice called through telepathy. Sabrina smiled as her companions gathered around her and Alakazam. With one teleport, all four trainers appeared beside Brock who eyed his old friend and traveling companion with suspicion.
"It's alright. They're on our side." Ash answered their looks.
When Will arrived with the final group, Ash turned to the leaders. "These two are leaving Team Rocket. They've helped us in the past." He said nodding to Brock. "I will take responsibility for them."
Most of the team turned and began talking amongst themselves as they prepared to set out again. Jasmine called out Steelix and began directing it to dismantling the complex as Brock and Misty approached Ash and the pair of former rockets.
"Are you sure they're trustworthy?" Brock asked.
Sure Brock. They've helped us before." Ash answered.
Brock looked skeptically between the two. "Yea, but they always returned to try and capture Pikachu." He growled. Jasmine called him and he turned, tossing Onix's Pokèball into the air. "Onix, listen to Jasmine." He ordered and turned back to Ash.
James was the one to respond. "We always came back because the boss ordered us to. He would always give us a vote of confidence when we were at our worst." He said, slipping into a daydream.
Jessie smacked him with her fan and continued his story. "We nearly quit Team Rocket several times. We knew we could live honest lives, all we had to do was try." She said before slipping into her own memories.
"Now that you're taking Team Rocket down, we have no reason to go back." James finished as he recovered.
Brock nodded. "All right. You can come with us, but the rest of the team and I will keep a close eye on you." He told the pair.
"Well Ashy, if you trust them on our side, that's enough for me." Misty said, drawing the attention to her.
Ash jumped slightly as she placed her hand in his shoulder. "Misty." He cried. "I asked you not to call me that. Especially not in front of these two. The only thing they've called me before is 'the twerp', or 'the twoip' as Meowth would say.
As Ash complained, Jessie and James were staring at Misty. "They fight the same." Jessie noted as the two began to argue.
"But she has brown hair." James argued. "And she's wearing white."
"She's not as tall as I remember either." Jessie said, scanning Misty from head to foot.
"She is prettier. Ohh." James squealed as Jessie hit him with her mallet.
Ash, Misty, and Brock all sniggered and the former criminals noticed the attention had switched back to them. Finally, Ash stepped forward. "Guys." He broke off to let out another giggle. "This isn't the Misty that followed me for the bike." He explained. "Meet Misty Ilyce, the leader of Mahogany Gym."
James looked confusedly at Jessie as she mirrored his expression for a few moments. Wobbuffet escaped his Pokèball and appeared between the two.
"Wobbuffet." He called.
They both recoiled for a moment before Jessie pulled out it's Pokèball. "We're all ready confused, we don't need to be clueless too."
James turned back to the trio. "If she's Misty from Mahoganny Town, then where's 'your' Misty?" He asked.
"Misty Yawa is back in Pallet Town." He answered. At James' clueless expression, Ash turned to Misty. "They have their own Misty upstairs." He whispered.
She giggled and turned when Lance approached. "We're ready to move on." He reported. "Will they be coming with us?" Jessie and James nodded. "Alright then, let's get moving."
*****
Brock awoke with a throbbing bump on the back of his head.
"What hit me?" He asked, at once realizing what had.
"The girls are bathing." Surge answered simply.
Brock sat up and sighed. "I'm sorry." He whispered.
"Why do you chase after other girls when you have one in Pewter who's waiting for you?" Gary asked.
"I." Brock answered and hung his head. "I can't help myself." He finished.
Chuck stood and helped the man stand and set up dinner. "You know." He said as he got the fire to light. "I used to be just like you."
"You, the man who only looked twice at Becky because your son liked her?" Ash asked, surprise showing in every word.
"Yes." He answered simply. "I used to wait on the docks for the ships to arrive so I could watch the women leaving the ship."
Upon seeing he had the attention of the entire group, he continued. "Used to get rejected by every single one of them too. But Mary was always there to help me feel better. We knew each other from birth almost. Our parents used to travel together and always met to talk, which left the two of us to play in the sandbox when we were young. Later, we would get together with our friends and study together. I never had a friend who didn't like her." He paused for a moment and looked to his fist. "I hope this wasn't the only reason for it." He said to laughter.
He noticed that the women had joined them and blushed as he continued. "My father gave me the gym when I became eighteen, he said it would do him proud to watch me battle and win back the Cianwood Gym's reputation, which I did in a few weeks. Karen came to the island, as a trainer, trying to achieve a place in the Elite Four without having it given to her by her grandmother." He stopped and smiled at her. "I stopped that dream in it's tracks. I defeated all of her Pokèmon without even getting touched the first time. The next day she challenged me again, I allowed one hit to connect on Poliwrath before I finished her lineup. And the reason for the single hit was because I had fallen for her." He paused as he and Karen had to turn away to hide their blush.
"She left shortly after, when her grandmother named her into the Elite Four. I was heartbroken for a long time after. I didn't even battle, just handed out the badges. It took Mary's support for me to return to battling. It was then I realized that I loved her. She was tolerant of my infatuation, but I knew I could never keep her if I didn't stop myself." He stopped and smiled as everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for the finish.
"I never knew I was such a good storyteller." He joked and everyone laughed and sat back. "I still sat on the dock waiting for the ships to come in. But whenever they did and the women came to shore, I would look each one in the eye and imagine Mary right there next to me. I never chased after another girl, and a few years later, I asked Mary to marry me." He finished.
Everyone smiled and turned to talk, either to Chuck or Karen.
"Chuck?" Brock asked. "What how am I supposed to do that? There are only seven women here. It won't work if I keep using the same people."
"There are women in Team Rocket, aren't there?" Chuck answered and the few that were gathered around them laughed.
****************
Misty sat back into the chair as her sisters called her down. It was her birthday. Eighteen. It was supposed to be special, but what if that one special person in your life wasn't there? She sighed as she was called again. She turned and gathered Togepi into her arms and called Meowth and Meowsie.
She forced a smile onto her face when she exited into the front yard of the Oak's lab. "Happy eighteenth birthday!" The girls called. Misty had to force her smile a little less as she was ushered to the chair at the head of the table.
"Cheer up Misty." A male voice called to her from further down the table. Misty looked up in search for the boy that had spoken, but her smile fell when she saw TJ smiling back. She looked around at all her friends: Becky, Duplica, Erica, Delia, her sisters. Someone had even convinced Prima to come, but Misty couldn't muster up much enthusiasm for her hero with Ash still missing.
May sat down at the opposite side of the table. She was as inept in the kitchen as Misty herself was, though she at least tried to improve. It wasn't moving very fast though.
Tracy and Professor Oak came in bearing her cake with the obligatory eighteen candles. Her friends sang 'happy birthday' to her, but Misty didn't hear it. She just stared into the candles until she felt a hand place itself on her shoulder.
"Make a wish Misty." Delia said motheringly and Misty nodded. She allowed herself a grin when everyone crossed their fingers. They all knew what she was wishing for.
'I wish Ash would return safely. And soon." She thought as she screwed her eyes shut. 'And bring all the others back too.' She added as she opened her eyes and caught Duplica wishing for Gary to return. She blew and all the candles went out, a little too easily she thought, and a cheer went up.
"Hurry home Ash." She said, before turning to celebrate with her friends.
Throughout the day, a voice continually called to her from inside her head. "I'm coming home soon Misty."
_______________________________________
I think I've hinted at every pairing I know of without intending to put it in. If I've missed any, please tell me and I'll try to fit it in.(
Nova: Ash isn't thinking w/his hormones and he isn't getting Misty off his back for good. *Gary/Vegita smirk*
Disclaimer: See Author Profile