"If the only way we can be together is in our dreams, than I shall sleep forever" – Anonymous

Disclaimer – I don't own Pokemon, and now that I remember I don't own any of the quotes across the top, as far as I know.

Valentines Verse: Lost Lyrics

Part III – And In My Dreams I'll Think of You

DONG!! DONG!!

The clock struck twice, again waking a rather confused Ash.

He opened his eyes cautiously wondering what he would see this time.  A long lost relative, an invisible friend from his childhood or maybe a deceased pet.

Instead he was met by a pair of aquamarine eyes much the same as Misty's.  He knew he had never met the woman they belonged to before, but somehow she seemed so very familiar.

Her aquamarine eyes reminded him so much of the Cerulean blue eyes that over the years he had grown to love so much.  She had blonde hair with just a hint of red in it only a few shades darker than Daisies.  She had high cheekbones like Lilly and a long neck like Violet.  She had the same dimple in her left cheek as Misty and shared the same nose as all four girls.

"It is good to finally meet you," she smiled studying Ash carefully.  She took him in from every angle studying him and trying to find out exactly who he was from one glance.  "Misty talks about you all the time," she added, smiling again.

Ash studied her too, trying to discover exactly what she meant in her words.  "Who are you?" he asked hoping he didn't sound rude, just confused.

"I am here to show you the present," she said with a confidence that could easily match Misty's.  "I am Elizabeth Waterflower," she said kindly.

"You can't be," Ash replied.  "Both Misty's parents are dead.  You died when she was two."  He eyed her suspiciously wondering why someone would even joke about something like that.  The woman looked so serious, and truthful, but she couldn't be, could she?

"You don't question your dead father coming to visit you and show you the past, but you doubt Misty's dead mother to show you the present," she sighed shaking her head.  "Someone sure has their priorities straight," she said her voice dripping with sarcasm the way Misty's often did.

He could see where Misty got it from, all of it.  The same sort of beauty that laid both externally and within, the sense of humour, the sarcasm and most definitely the temper.  Misty was almost the image of her mother, both physically and mentally.

Misty had once told him that her mother was a model and a dancer.  It was obvious with the way that Elizabeth moved with such grace and poise, something that despite the clumsiness in her younger days Misty had perfected over the years.

"No," Ash said desperately beginning to grasp at straws, "it's just that, well, how can she, I mean . . . um . . . talk to you about me . . ." Ash blushed at this comment but hid it well in the low light " . . . all the time when your not here, I mean you're here now, but not usually . . . um you know . . . kind of physically."

"She always did tell me about how articulate you were," Elizabeth said holding back an urge to roll her eyes.

'Again with the sarcasm,' Ash thought to himself.  'I swear, if she had rolled her eyes just then I would have be certain I was looking at an older version of Misty.'

"Every year, at Valentines Misty writes me a letter and takes it to my grave," Elizabeth explained.  "She's done it since she was four years old, only then she had her father or her sisters write them for her.  She used to write about Pokemon, and things she saw and battles and her sisters, but slowly those things seemed to just disappear into the background until all that was left was you.  You are the most important and cherished thing in her life right now, do you really want to change all that?"

"I . . . I d-don't know," he stuttered honestly.

"You will by the morning," she replied.  "Come," she said quickly changing the subject by taking his hand and dragging him out of his bed.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"We're going to see Misty," she said dragging him through the wall that separated their rooms.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Elizabeth commented turning to see Ash's reaction.

Ash nodded dumbly, so taken aback by her beauty that he didn't trust his voice to work properly.  He had to remind himself to breathe.

He had watched Misty sleep before.  He liked to see her so peaceful, and gentle and the moonlight or stars lighting up her face, it always left him breathless.

But suddenly that peacefulness was broken as Misty began to toss and turn in her sleep.  Tears ran down her perfect face and her hair clung to her damp cheeks.  She tossed off her sheets immediately feeling the winter chill and began to shiver.

Ash watched her, his heart filled with pain as he watched her in such a state.

He never could stand to see Misty cry, even if it was a rarity.  Misty basically never cried, she saw it as a sign of weakness and would probably die if she knew he'd seen the occasional tear roll down her cheek.

Seeing Misty in pain, always made him feel sick to his stomach.  It was almost as if he could feel her pain, as if they were joined by some unconscious link.  He knew he wouldn't be able to stand it for much longer.

He bent down and pulled the sheets over her slender body, pushing the damp hair away from her face.  He caressed her cheek as he wiped away the tears that streaked her face.

"Shhhhh, don't cry Myst," he whispered quietly as he stroked her hair.

Elizabeth smiled at the scene.  She almost felt as though she could take Ash back to his room then and there, he was so deep in thought and so concerned for the girl that it seemed as though he had already made his decision.  But things are never as they seem, so she had to make sure he knew exactly what he meant to Misty.

"Don't let me go," she called out in her sleep to what at the time, seemed like nobody in particular.

"It's ok Misty," he said quietly.  "I'm here." 

This seemed to calm her, even if she hadn't heard his words.  Her breathing had calmed and the tears had stopped.

Ash stepped back and sighed contently.  He often spent his nights just listening to Misty breathing; it was comforting almost, to know she wasn't a dream because he didn't think he could stand it if she was.

He was reminded of a song, it was one of his favourites, probably because it reminded him so much of Misty. [A/N: I'm listening to this song right now, it's 'Breathing' by Lifehouse]

'Cause I am hanging on every word you say,' Ash thought recalling the words to the song.  'And even if you don't want to speak tonight, that's all right, all right with me.  Cause I want nothing more than to sit outside heavens door and listen to you breathing, it's where I want to be.'

"Do you want to see what she's dreaming of?" Elizabeth said interrupting him from his thoughts.  She knew the answer was yes, she could after all read his mind, not that she was going to tell him, that would just ruin the joy of it all.

"Yes," he started to say but stopped when he realised exactly what she was asking.  "I mean, isn't that kind of private?  I know Misty would kill me if she knew this," he added as an automatic response.

"And whose going to tell her?" Elizabeth asked her eyebrows raised cockily and questioningly at the same time.  "I certainly can't and if you did there's no chance in heaven or hell she's going to believe you."

'Misty is definitely her daughter,' Ash thought to himself.  The likeness was uncanny.

'Damn straight,' Elizabeth thought to herself agreeing with Ash's statement.

"Come," she said holding out her hand towards him.

Ash took it cautiously.  The moment he did, the room disappeared in seconds only to be replaced by what looked like a battle scene.

He found himself above a large glass platform surrounded only by clouds. He was on a platform so high up that you couldn't even see the world below.  It was just the sort of thing Misty would find romantic.

He saw himself standing on one side of the platform which had your basic Pokemon battle grid drawn into it, and on the side lines as she always was cheering him on, was Misty.

Ash smiled as he watched her.  She was so beautiful, so caring and just so amazing, could he honestly leave her?  Even if it was the only option he had, if he had no choice in the matter, he didn't think he could.

"This is a battle for the title of Worlds Greatest Pokemon Master," the announcer . . . announced, "between Ashton Satoshi Ketchum and Gareth Samuel Oak.  Both trainers are already considered to be the best in their generation and have already received their Pokemon Master Titles."

Ash watched it all in awe.  He wasn't sure what to think of it, but something about it all made him fill with pride.

"It's because she believes in you," Elizabeth said her message as cryptic as those of his father.

Ash stared at her blankly as he tried to decipher her meaning.

"Don't worry Ash," she told him.  "You're not supposed to understand."

"The rules," they announcer continued stopping Ash from asking any more questions.  "Trainers must not step out of their box while a round is being held.  All Pokemon . . ." 

The announcer went through several other rules but by that time Ash had already stopped listening to him, he was far too engrossed by Misty.

" . . . If any of these rules are broken, the trainer must forfeit and the other is declared the winner," the announcer finished.  "Let the match begin."

"G-A-R-Y.  He don't need no alibi, he's Gary, yeah! Yeah he's Gary," Gary's usual flock of paid 'supporters' cheered from the sidelines all in matching outfits with a golden 'G' embossed across their chests.

Misty rolled her eyes at them.  "Oh my gosh, that is like so like totally amazing," she gushed air-headedly her sarcasm only covered by the air-headedness in her voice.  "I like totally didn't realise you could spell.  How long have you been 'Hooked on phonics' anyway?"

They turned away from her making an 'hmmph' sound as they did.

Ash smiled.  That was definitely his Misty, no doubt about it and quite frankly; given the choice he wouldn't have her any other way.

This was one of the many things he loved about her.  She wasn't afraid to speak her mind, no matter what.  She was clever and witty and those cheerleaders probably didn't even realise she was putting them down.

Elizabeth stifled a giggle as she listened in (more like eavesdropped) on his thoughts.  'His Misty,' she thought to herself happily.  'Remind me why I'm here again.'

Dream Ash and Gary each called out their first Pokemon.  It was Pikachu versus Embryon.  Many would have quickly picked Embryon as the winner of this match, but then most didn't realise the power that Ash's Pikachu held within him.

Ash struggled to pay attention to the match.  He often had trouble paying attention when he was around Misty. 

She had grown out of her usual attire of denim shorts and a yellow tank top.  She wore a pair of fitting jeans and a short sleeved black top with a band logo written across it in silver writing.

"Well . . ." one of Gary's cheerleaders said about five minutes later turning back to Misty " . . . you're dumb."

Misty rolled her eyes again.  "Some people," she muttered quietly to herself.  "Did you ever hear of the five second rule?" Misty asked her cocking her head to the side and smiling smugly.  "You do realise that it isn't called a comeback because you turn away and then come back?"

"How do you know?" the cheerleader asked snidely as if that was some kind of ingenious retort to Misty's witty remark.

"Oh I get it now," Misty smiled.  "It took you five minutes because that's how long it takes you to count to five.  Good thing it's not a fifteen second rule, you would have ran out of fingers."

Ash took a quick glance at his dream self, away from the scene with Misty, just to see how he was doing in the match.  He was wining easily, it seemed that Gary was onto his last Pokemon, a ghost type, and dream Ash was still fighting strong with Pikachu.

"You bitch," the cheerleader said as she tried to slap Misty across the face.  Misty easily dodged this.

"Wow, that's the biggest word I've heard you use yet without having to spell it out," Misty said in a patronising tone as if she was talking to a small child not a girl a few inches taller than her and just as many years older than her.  "Did you come up with that one all on your own or did you get some help from the rest of your bimbo brigade?"

I guess by then, the cheerleader had just had enough, so she shoved Misty, really hard.  She pushed Misty backwards, pushed her off the edge, and pushed her off the platform high above the world.

Misty screamed as she fell down but reached out in time to grab the tiny ledge and hold on with all her might.

"Misty!" both Ash's called out at the same time.

He couldn't believe this was happening, neither of them could especially the one who knew it was all a dream.

Elizabeth grabbed onto real world Ash gently holding him back from running to save her.  "You can't save her, it's against the rules," Elizabeth told him.  "A dream must follow the course the dreamer subconsciously chooses for it to take."

Ash sat back down despite how much he wanted to go down there and be the one to save her.  He wanted to be the one she ran into the arms of, the one that she held onto with joy and sobbed into his shoulder just happy to be alive.  He wanted to be the one she never let go.

"If she wants you to save her, you will," she added pointing towards the dream Ash who was about to step out of his box, "no matter what."

"You sure you want to do that Ashy-boy," Gary asked menacingly bringing the real Ash's attention back to the dream.

"Why do you care?" dream Ash asked as he glared at Gary.  The boy was only holding him up and stopping him from saving Misty who could fall any minute.

"Cause I want to win this match because I'm the better trainer, not because the better trainer forfeited," Gary said his voice taking on a serious tone that had never been present there before.  "You have a decision to make Ashy-boy.  The girl, or the dream you've wanted since before you could remember."

'The girl,' Ash thought to himself not even doubting the decision for a second.

Dream Ash stood still for less than a second pondering this.  He took a large step out of the box and said, "Then screw the dream, I forfeit."

He then ran to the edge of the platform where Misty was still hanging, clinging for dear life.  He reached out his arm and grabbed her hand in his, pulling her up with the sort of superhuman strength that was only possible in dreams.

"Don't let me go," she pleaded her eyes filling with tears.

"It's ok Misty," the dream Ash said just as the real one had not long before as she had called out the same thing in their reality.  "I'm here.  I'll always be here."

He helped her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her tightly as if to prove to her that he was here and that he wasn't going to let her go any time soon.

"I love you Ash," she whispered into his chest as tears of joy fell down her face.

The real Ash gasped.  He just couldn't believe it.  It couldn't be true, could it?  He had spent so many nights trying to convince him self that she couldn't love him, that she wouldn't love him, the possibility of her loving him back had never even crossed his mind.

He suddenly felt extremely jealous of the dream Ash that she was clinging to so dearly wishing that it could be him, even though he knew deep down that in a way it was.  He just wanted to be the one she pronounced her love to.

"I love you too Misty," he replied.

Suddenly everything began to fade into darkness.  The clouds and battling platforms began to disappear and they were suddenly back in Misty's room.

Ash smiled as he watched her sleeping soundly glad that it had just been a dream.  He wasn't sure what he would have done if he had almost lost her for real.  He didn't even want to think about it.

"Goodnight my sweet," Elizabeth said kissing her daughters forehead softly.  "I want to show you one last thing," she told him the scene changing the moment the words left her mouth.

It was a scene of Brock and his girlfriend Garnet sharing a romantic, candlelit dinner on the roof of the Pewter gym.

"Why are you showing me this?" Ash asked quite confused and wondering what it had to do with his decision.

"I just wanted to show you, that this could be you and Misty if you only let her know how you feel," Elizabeth told him.

Ash stared at the couple for a few seconds putting him self and Misty in their places, but the scene he saw was so much different from theirs.  He could still see the candles and the food and he could see himself and Misty sitting opposite each other with a red rose lying beside her plate, but it was set somewhere else, if only he knew where.

"That is all," Elizabeth said softly as Ash was returned to his room and she was returned to where she belonged.

~ to be continued ~

Another one done thankfully and up in under a month, I swear that's got to be some kind of record for me or something.

Thanks Joy-girl for the idea of having one of Misty's parents and to everyone who suggested because it's given me a few idea's for the next ghost.

As you all know, according to St. Valentine the next ghost should be the ghost of 'Valentines yet to come' or in non-Charles-Dickens terms the ghost of the future so if there are any future events you would particularly like my ghost to include in her little part of this suggest them and I might just use them.