DISCLAIMER: WOW! Can you beilieve it?! I don't own Pokemon! And all this time I thought I did! I guess I should quit sueing Nintendo!

Ok, enough of the sarcasm. This is my newest fic. I think I' getting better and better at this! Read and Reveiw. Also, any suggestion or praise are appreciated. As for Flamers (AKA: Bob Saget & James [both well known cross dresser and fudge packer]) Flames are fun to read but annoying. If you feel the need to flame, you may under three conditions.

1. Be creative about it.

2. I know not everyone agrees with my veiws on AAML, so don't complain.

3. No Fu** are aloud in flames.

Remember, Mr. Crackers, my big angry ostrich, will be watching....





AGES

Ash: 15

Misty 16

Brock:19





Misty stared at Ash as he sleapt. She glanced over to make sure Togepi is asleep. A few minutes later, Brock walked over to her.

"You wanted to see me?" he asks.

"Yeah... Have you noticed soething different about Ash since we entered this forest?"

"Well... now that you mention it, he has been acting a little strange."

"Like he's hiding something?" Misty suggested.

Brock nodded. The two started talking about the incidents through out the week.

~FLASHBACK~

Ash slowed down, to look for new Pokemon, while Misty and Brock were walking ahead. Suddenly they heard Ash gasp in shock and horror. Misty quickly turned around and saw Ash's arm hidden in his backpack.

"Is something wrong?" she asked concered.

"Huh? Oh! Nope! Nothing," Ash replied quickly.

"Then why's your arm in your backpack?"

"Ummmm... I'm looking for Pikachu.

Brock sighed and looked at Ash.

"Did you try on your head? Where he always is?" he said exasperated.

"Pikapi! Pi Pikachu Chu Chu Pika!" Pikachu added scoldingly

Ash nervously let out a small laugh, but didn't take his hand out. Misty hit him with THE MALLET and pulled his hand out. Relief washed over Ash's face as he looked at his arm.

~ANOTHER FLASHBACK~

Ash had just finished setting up his newly bought tent and went in. Misty let out a loud string of curse words as she threw hers down angrily. Togepi retreated to Ash's tent, so it wouldn't have to see mommy mad.

"Lousy tent," Misty yelled frustrated.

"Maybe you should try putting the stakes in the ground," Brock suggested laughing. Pikachu nodded in agreement. A second later, they both regretted it as THE MALLET struck again.

"TOGE TOGE TOGE TOGE!" Togepi screamed in terror, running from Ash's tent.

Misty stared down at her little egg Pokemon confused. She then noticed a glowing through Ash's tent. Misty's temper instantly was at full blast. Ash was scaring Togepi with Ghost stories again!

"ASH KETCHUM! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Misty demanded, slowly walking to his tent.

"Misty! Stay out! Don't come in here!" Ash yelled.

Misty hesitated. His voice had a tone that she had rarely heard. Terror. Misty quickly ran over. She reached the opening flap just as the glow faded. Misty opened the door and stared in shock at a nude Ash.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Ash screamed, quickly covering himself.

Misty stumbled back, blushing and stuttering.

"I'M CHANGING! DO YOU MIND?" Ash yelled through the tent embaressed.

Misty mumbled something while Brock and Pikachu laughed. Both got another dose of THE MALLET. A few minutes later Ash emerged, still blushing, and glared at Misty.

"Now you know what a doors for," he said sarcasticly.

"I- I' sorry," Misty quickly said blushing. "And their was that glow and Togepi scared...."

"The glow was my flashlight," Ash quickly explained while blushing. "And I had to get rid of Togepi before I changed."

Pikachu and Brock quietly said something. Misty raised THE MALLET and they were both silenced.

"Your lights never made that much light," Brock said meakly.

Ash shrugged. "Good batteries."

"And you didn't need to scare Togepi!" Misty yelled.

"Did so!"

"DID NOT!"

"Did so!"

"DID NOT!"

"Did so!"

"DID NOT!"

"PEEPING TOM!" Ash yelled.

"LOUSY TRAINER!" Misty replied angrily.

"SCRAWNY!"

"IDIOT!"

"MORON!"

The two continued trading insults for the next two minutes. Brock and Pikachu had enough sense to stay quiet, less Misty whack them again. Misty finished the argueent by smashing Ash with... yep, you guessed it, THE MALLET! Ash fell to the ground. She then noticed Togepi pulling on her leg.

"TOGEPI TOGE PIIII TOGE! TOGEPI TOGE PIIII TOGE! TOGEPI TOGE PIIII TOGE!" (Daddy was burning! Daddy was burning! Daddy was burning!)

Misty calmed down the egg, disturbed by what it was saying. By the time she was done, everyone was up and Ash had just finished putting up Misty's tent. Ash gave her a lop sided smile and grabbed a towl.

"I'm heading for the river," he declared. Then Ash glanced right at Misty. "ALONE!"

Misty blushed and Ash walked off. Brock quickly made a comment, and got smashed by THE MALLET yet again. This time he was out cold, and would be the rest of the night.

Misty quietly went into Ash's tent, careful not to wake Pikachu. The place reaked of burned... something. She was about to leave when a pile of ashes caught her eye. Misty touched the and noticed they were burned cloth. She removed small pieces of metal from the pile.

Buttons from a jacket and a pair of pants.

~END FLASHBACKS~

Misty handed Brock the charred metal.

"So what do you think's going on?" she asked.

Brock shrugged. "I don't know, but we shouldn't worry. Ash would tell us if it was dangerous."

Misty nodded. "Yeah. I guess your right."

Neither noticed Pikachu nod slightly,with its little eyes barely opened, listening to every word.

"Lets just goto bed," Brock suggested with a yawn. He then quickly retreated to his tent.

Misty stared down at Ash. Lousy wind storm had destroyed hers and Ash's tents. Misty smiled as Ash's face started to twitch and his mouth moved forming very recognized phrases.

"Pokeball, go."

"Thundershock!"

"I'm a Pokemon Master!"

"Are so!"

Misty had to giggle at his dreams. She quietly knelt down and kissed Ash's cheek before retreating to her sleeping bag.

*******

Ash yawned and sat up. Brock was already up cooking breakfast, and Misty and some towels were gone. Pikachu quickly took up its post on Ash's head.

"Morning Ash," Brock called over. "You had another night terror, but we let you sleep through it."

"Vipers," Ash muttered with a little shiver. "I'll be right back."

"Where you going?"

"Away."

"Okay... don't go to far though. Misty's getting her bath done."

Ash nodded. "Come on Pikachu."

Ash and Pikachu walked away from camp. After Ash was sure nobody was around, he stopped and knelt Pikachu. The little rodent had a hunch what this was gonna be about.

"It's happening more and more Pikachu," Ash said miserably. "They're suspicious."

"Pi. Pikachu Pi Pika Piakchu Kachu Chu Pi Pika." (Yep. Misty and Squinty were talking about it last night.)

Ash sighed. "I was afraid of that. I can't let the know though. They'd leave me if they knew..."

"Kachu Pi Pika!" (No they wouldn't.)

"I can't take that chance. Espesially not with Misty. I think I'm finally starting to impress her. And if she knew... well.... why would Misty want to be with me instead of a normal person?"

"Kachu Pika." (She likes you.)

"Yeah right," Ash mumbled. "This sucks Pikachu. I hate keeping this a secret. You Pokemon understand no problem... but humans? I'd be killed."

"CHU!" (NO!)

"Yes I would. Humans are the most racist, intolerant bigots ever. They can't even tolerate people who cheer for rival sport teams! They enslave each other! They kill anything different, and we're different."

"Pikachu Pika." (Your a human.)

"I know that, but... we're not like the rest. Sure we're human and all, but we aren't."

"Pika Pi, Pi Pikachu Chu Pi PikachuPi Pi pika." (Ash, your as human as Misty or squinty.)

Ash sighed and got up. Pikachu nodded in understandment, and they went back to camp. Ash stopped at the edge. He felt that familiar tickling. Ash looked down and saw his hand to elbow were blue. Five small fires grew on the tip of each finger. The flowed back and connected at the wrist. The flame line then traveled to the elbow. Ash quickly put his arm behind him as Brock turned.

"Ash, your eggs are..." Brock stopped noticing the fear on Ash's face. "What's wrong?"

"N-N-Nothings wrong," Ash stuttered taking a step back. "I'm fine."

Brock wasn't fooled. "Ash, let me see your arm"

"No! Nothings wrong with my arm. It's fine!"

Brock stepped forward. "Let me see it now Ash."

Ash felt the tingle as his arm demorphed. After a few seconds, he held out a perfect normal arm. Brock looked at it confused.

"Huh. Okay... whatever," he mumbled. "Oh, hey Misty."

Ash's eyes widened. He slowly turned and saw Misty behind him. Her face was emotionless, but Ash saw shock, fear, betrayal, and confusion on her eyes. She had seen the arm.

"Oh God no....," Ash whispered.

"Come on. Let's get things packed and move on," she said flatly.

Brock got to work and Misty walked torward him. Ash grabed her arm gently, but Misty threw it off. She glared at him angrily.

"Don't ever touch me again," Misty hissed. "I don't know what you are, or who you are. Your a freak and I hate you."

Ash was stunned by the words.

"Why?" Ash whispered, holding back tears.

"I hate you for what your doing to me. I hate you for how you made me feel for you."

"Misty, I-" Ash started.

"No. I don't want to hear it. For the friendship we had Ash Ketchum, I'm gonna give you until the next Pokemon Center to get away before I alert the cops."

Misty then stoped by Ash and Pikachu. She quickly got her stuff together while Ash just stared. He considered running but then realized what Misty had said,

"I hate you for how you made me feel for you."

Could it be? Did Misty like him?

"How far to the next Pokemon Center?" Ash asked.

"10 miles," Misty quickly said. "Ten like a rocket. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. All gone."

"We can count," Brock said with a laugh. Ash caught the veiled threat though.

Misty then noticed Togepi heading to play with Pikachu. She quickly grabbed the little egg and carried it away. Pikachu sighed and ran onto Ash's shoulder. The trio then headed off. The walk was very quiet except for Misty announcing what mile it was angrily.

"Ten."

"Nine."

"Eight."

"Seven."

"Six."

"Five."

"Four."

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

Then the Pokemon Center came into veiw. The trio entered it and Brock instantly went for Nurse Joy. Misty stared at Ash.

"Zero."

She turned and wallked to a pay phone. Misty managed to get off the 9 before Ash cut off the call.

"I gave you the chance Ash," Misty said coldly.

"Misty, please, just hear me out," Ash begged. "For our friendship."

Misty turned to yell at hi but didn't say anything. The look of sadness and pleading on Ash's face was to much. She hung up the phone and sat down on a bench. Ash and Pikachu walked over and sat next to her.

"Start talking."

Ash sighed. "Misty, I'm not what I see. I'm not a normal human. I'm what we call an Esper. I'm not evil or anything."

"Where did Espers come from?"

"Many many years ago there was a powerful wizard. He served under a wicked king, and pitied the civilians. He collected five hundred of the best of them and gave the the power of magic and a body to become in battle. They were named Espers.

The king found out and killed the Wizard. The Espers fled and they all escaped to the mountains. They lived their in harmony for years. One day though the king got an exact location and invaded. It was a long and bloody battle .Out of 532 Espers, twenty-five lived. Of 2273 soldiers, 983 lived.

The remaining twenty-five escapees got into villages across the world. The Espers could sense if the person they were dating could be trusted. All got married and had exactly one kid, who had Esper magics. Then they grew up and got married and had a kid with Esper magic and so on."

Misty nodded understandingly. She was surprised by the story, and was slowly losing the anger and hate she felt get replaced with the familiar love she had for Ash.

"And you?"

"My... my father..."

"What happened to him," Misty asked. "I know he's dead but..."

Ash nodded. He knew Misty wasn't angry anymore, and he didn't need to tell her, but this was it. No more secrets. Ash felt the tears flow down his face as he recalled the painful memory.

"Ten years ago... somebody found out. One by one, every Esper was... killed. My father went to the... mountains. We were talking.... mind to mind... when it happened. A group of men.... shot him in the legs and arms. They then... knives... cut him... keapt him alive as long as they could... to hurt... took his head..."

Ash stopped. He couldn't say anymore. The crying was to much. Misty felt a few tears fall from her and hugged Ash tightly. He returned the embrace and cried into her shoulder. Soon Misty's shirt shoulder was soaked.

Misty then noticed Brock running over. He had seen his friend burst into tears, and was coming to help. Misty gently shook her head. Brock got the message and did an about face. Pikachu and Togepi quietly walked off, so the trainers could be alone.

Misty comforted Ash over the next hour. His sobbing slowly died down to small hiccuping noises. Ash slowly raised his head and looked at Misty.

"I grew up..." Ash started.

"No. Ash, you've said enough."

"I grewup without a dad because of humans. After my dad.... I lived by... the rule of not trusting. It was awful. Having friends I couldn't even trust."

Misty nodded in understandment. She knew about that problem all to well. Then Ash said something surprising.

"Then... I met you. I felt like... I could trust you. Like I could tell you my secret, but not at first. I waited. Eventually, I was afraid to tell you. Afraid you'd react like you did."

"I'm sorry Ash. I... I was just... I mean..."

"Its okay Mist. I forgave you on mile 10," Ash sighed. "You know.... it feels good. To be able to finally trust somebody fully instead of keeping my guard up to them. I don't have to fear you."

Misty smiled and hugged him tighter.

"Don't worry Ash. I'll never tell. But I can't figure something out."

"What?"

"Why now?" she asked. "Why are you morphing to Esper?"

"It happens. Morphing ocaisionally flickers and causes partial morphs."

"Oh."

The two stared at each other, both realizing they were still hugging. SLowly their heads moved closer, until they were kissing. After a few seconds they stopped and looked at each other stunned.

"I... Geez... Ummm... Misty, I..." Ash stuttered.

Misty smiled and put a finger to his lips. "Its okay Ash."

After a minute, Ash finally gathered his senses.

"Misty, I've been meaning to tell you I..." Ash started.

Again Misty stopped him. "I know Ash. "

The two sat there. Slowly they fell asleep, still in each others arms.

*********

Giovani picked up the ringing phone.

"Hello? You? What do you want? WHAT? Are you sure? Ketchum is an Esper? Yes. Yes. Yes. All right. Keep monitoring him with your partner and the talking Meowth. Yes. Goodbye."

Giovani then called his secretary.

"Call the Inner CIrcle. Inform them the last one is found and confirm when the hunt will begin," Giovani ordered while staring at Jordan Ketchums severed head (which was mounted on a wall). "And sharpen the guillotine blade for Ash."



OOOOOOOOH! Pretty good ending huh? I'm probably gonna make this into a series or something. ANyway, Reveiw and tell me what you thought and if I should go on with it. Any ideas are welcomed.