Chapter Three: Oh Starry Night

They stand with their lips pressed firmly together, eyes closed. Melody's arms are tightly wrapped around Ash while he grasps her elbows. The moment seems to go on forever as Misty tries to understand what she is seeing. Ash opens his eyes and immediately notices Misty and Brock. "Let go Melody" he cries, wrenching away from her grip and slowly backing away from her.

Ash: What's got into you Melody?

Melody: I love you, that is what. I finally realized it. I've loved you since I first met you. When I found out, I had to come and see you. (glomps on to Ash's arm) Come back to Shamuti with me Ash, and forget Misty. It will just be the two of us. (leans in and tries to kiss him again)

Ash: Nooooo! Get off me. (pushes her away) Don't get me wrong Melody, you are a great person, but I don't feel that way about you. (turns to Misty) I love you, Misty. I know I haven't told you that in a long time and I am sorry. I was still mad about what happened on Shamuti. But I haven't forgotten about you, I still care. You believe me right? Right, Misty?

Misty: (eyes hidden by her hair) Nice excuse Ash. "She attacked me." Yeah right. I saw how you guys were kissing right before we walked in. You can't fool me.

Ash sees tears roll down Misty's face, and expects her to explode and yell at him or break down. But Ash is totally surprised when she does neither. Wiping her tears away, Misty looks up and..........smiles? "Well I guess I better go get my stuff" She says and then walks out of the lobby and down the hall towards the room they rented. "Misty Wait!" Ash calls out as he runs after her but she enters the room and closes the door before he can get to her. He tries to open it but it is locked. Ash bangs on the door but no answer comes and he eventually slumps to the ground and leans against the wall, waiting for Misty to come out again. Brock watches these events unfold. Everything is falling apart.

Melody: (starting to run after Ash) Come Back Ash. Forget about her and stay with me.

Brock: (grabs her arm) Stop right there. You've caused enough trouble tonight. Just leave them along.

Melody: But......

Brock's stern gaze tells Melody she better not mess with him and she resigns herself to sitting on the lobby sofa and waiting for Ash to return. A half hour passes and Ash is startled by the sound of something sliding under the door he is sitting next to. It is a letter addressed to him. Ash picks it up, opens it, and begins to read.

Dear Ash,

I am sorry. I am sorry I followed you. Sorry for annoying you about the bike. Sorry for always yelling at you and putting you down. I am sorry for how I acted back on Shamuti Island, how I mercilessly broke your heart. My hurtful words pushed you away from me. I love you Ash, and I know it sounds weird for me to be saying this after what just happened. You probably expect me to be mad or something, but I am not. This is all my fault. I really do love you Ash, and I hope you are happy with Melody. I don't want to get in the way, so I am leaving. Goodbye Ash. Maybe we will meet again, Mr. Pokemon Master. Good luck at the Johto League. Be sure and beat Gary for me.

With Love, Misty

Tears fall onto the letter. Ash is overwhelmed with an indescribable sorrow. He slowly walks back to the lobby and crashes on one of the sofas. "What's wrong" Ask Melody and Brock, but Ash answers only by handing over the letter before curling up into a tiny ball and sobbing. Pikachu crawls out of Ash's backpack and hops up onto the couch next to Ash, unaware of what has happened while he was asleep.

Pikachu: Boy that was a great nap. So has anyone had dinner yet? I'm starving. (looks at Ash, becomes worried) Ash, what's wrong?

Brock: (picking up Pikachu) I think we all better leave him along now. Come on, I will explain what happened when we get to our room. (glares at Melody, grabs her arm) And you are coming too.

Melody: But I have to comfort my Ash. (gets dragged down the hall)

Meanwhile Misty looks up into the night sky as she sits on the cold wooden bench, waiting for the bus to arrive and take her away from the boy she loves. She removes Togepi from her backpack where it had been sleeping and begins to talk to it.

Misty: Well Togepi. We are on our own again. Where should we go?

Togepi: Not this again. I know where we should go. Back to Ash and Brock and Pikachu, that's where.

Misty: But I can't go back. Not this time. I pushed Ash away. He doesn't love me the same way anymore. He has Melody now. I will just get in the way. I'm sorry Togepi but this time I am not changing my mind.

Togepi: Whatever.

Togepi hops off the bench and begins playing with a group of Pokemon belonging to some people sitting on the next bench over. Misty ignores them and begins to think about Ash again. She thinks about all the good times they have had over the course of the journey. Leaning back, she gazes up at the star filled sky. It reminds her of another night long ago when she asked the stars a very important question. She closes her eyes and relives the moment

flashback Misty sits looking over the cliff out to the sprawling forest that lay beneath it. The air is filled with the scent of pine trees and the sound of crickets chirping. Misty leans back and looks up at the dark, star filled sky and ponders her dilemma. She is in love, or at least she thinks she is. And its with the most unlikely person she ever thought possible. A boy named Ash Ketchum. He had destroyed her bike and she decided to follow him till he repaid her. But then the strangest thing happened; she found herself falling in love with HIM. The boy she fought with almost every second of the day. It was too hard to explain but she knew that she was. Now, the only question is, is he her true love? All her life Misty had read fairy tales and wished for some kind of dramatic love like what was documented in those stories. She believed in true love and that everyone had someone that they were meant to be with. Misty doesn't know if their is any kind of test she could take to find out if Ash is "the one". Not going anywhere in her attempts to figure out a solution, Misty decides to pass the time singing. She is far away from the camp so she doesn't have to worry about the boys or Togepi and Pikachu hearing her. Soon she begins.

Misty: I've waited all of my life, for the day when love appears. Like a fairy tale in days gone by, he will rescue me from my fears. And now I feel him standing close to me, and how can I tell him what he means to me? My heart stands still, has he come?

Oh starry night, is this the moment I dream of?

Oh starry night, tell me is he my own true love?

Every night I think of him, here in my lonely room. Waiting for my prince to come, wondering if he'll be here soon. And I sit patiently waiting for a sign, and I hope that his heart longs for mine. He calls my name, is he the one?

Oh starry night is this the moment I dream of?

Oh starry night, tell me is he my own true…

Oh starry night is he the one that I dream of?

Oh starry night, how will I know? Will his love show? Is he my own true love?

With her song finished, Misty stood up and trudged back to camp. end flashback

Misty looks ahead as the bus slowly pulled up to the street. "I guess fairy tales don't always have happy endings" she thinks to herself as she stands up and walks to the curb to pick up Togepi before boarding the bus.

Togepi: (talking to other Pokemon) So that's the whole story and now that it's done the fun can begin. Place your bets, place your bets. Who thinks Misty will move on with her life and who thinks she will return to the boy of her dreams? Place your bets place your bets.

Misty: (blushing red) TOGEPI!!!!!!!!!

Misty quickly scoops up the little egg Pokemon and zooms onto the bus.

meanwhile Two figures stand outside the Pokemon Center, watching our heroes from the shadows. They chuckle to themselves as they adjust their high powered binoculars.

Male voice: Looks like everything is going according to plan

Female voice: Yes it does seem that way, doesn't it? Now that phase one has been completed, our agent should be making a move on the target soon.

Male: This should be interesting.

The two figures snicker to themselves again and pick up their binoculars to continue watching.

inside Pokemon Center Ash suddenly awakes from his deep dreamless sleep to the sound of the Pokemon center video phone ringing. Pushing the events of the night to the back of his mind, Ash quickly gets up off the couch and hurries over to the desk to answer the phone. The video screen switches on and Ash is surprised to see the face of Melody's big sister.

Carroll: Ash. Hi, this is a surprise. I didn't expect to see you pick up. Is Nurse Joy there?

Ash: No she isn't here. She might be in the back checking on sick Pokemon or something.

Carroll: Well then I'll call back later. I don't want to be bothering her if she is working.

Ash: Wait, why did you call?

Carroll: Oh it is just terrible. Melody has disappeared. I don't know if she has been kidnapped or has run away or what. We have been looking everywhere and calling Pokemon Centers all over asking if anyone has seen her. But anyway I have to go Ash; I still have more Pokemon Centers to call. Bye.

Before Ash can say anything, the video screen goes blank. "Hey Ash" calls Melody as she walks into the room. "I see you're finally awake. I have something I want to talk to you about" Ash turns around and faces Melody.

Ash: No I have something I have to ask you. You sister just called and she is worried sick about you. She thinks you ran away or were kidnapped. Why did you run away from home? Just so you could come here and ruin my relationship with Misty? I need some answers now.

Melody just smiles at him, which starts to make Ash a little nervous. He notices that Melody has one hand behind her back, as if hiding something from his view.

Ash: Why don't you answer me? And... (tries to peak around behind Melody) what are you hiding behind you back?

Melody just smiles wider. She slowly pulls the object behind her back into view.