Chapter 18- "A Happy Ending"

Ash yawned. It was pretty late for him. The wedding was tomorrow, everything was planned out, and he just finished the rehearsal. All went well until Brock tripped and lost the ring. In fact, he was driving home from it. His dream for almost five... no... almost six years was to marry Misty; now is coming true. He couldn't wait. Yet he had a small lingering sadness within him. He arrived home, giving a sigh. "Aren't you excited Ash?" Ash looked up on his shoulder, smiling to Pikachu, "I'm worried, considering my luck, something will go horribly wrong at the wedding, like a nuclear holocaust..." "Riiighhhtt....." Pikachu said, just blinking.

Ash fumbled with his keys and finally opened up the door. Pikachu hopped off Ash's shoulder and walked next to him. Ash flipped the switch, at the exact time, music and people started dancing in the living room with a loud roar of "Congratulations!". Joey and Brock ran up to Ash and gave him friendly punches and slaps. "What is this?" Ash asked. "Simple! It's your... bachelor party!" Brock exclaimed. "Yeah, you're getting married, how can you not have one?" Joey added. "But... what about Misty?" Ash glanced about, there were special 'dancers' added to the party, which was well on their ways. "Don't worry about it! They went on some girl's night out, party now, marriage later!" Brock exclaimed a second time.

Ash shrugged. Why not. He sat down in a recliner chair and watched the other guests, most of his friends from the past party around, dancing, laughing. He didn't need to join in, he found happiness just by watching. Especially when Brock pulled a wad of bills out of his pocket and gave them to the special 'dancers'. Eventually one 'dancer' came to Ash and decided to give him a more direct show towards him. He just grinned and watched. Of course his luck followed him, and around the same time, another guest came by. Misty.

Misty glanced around, several of the party members, half-drunk, came up to Misty, putting dollar bills in her face. He slapped and punched several of the members, slowly walking to Brock and Joey, who was chatting by a punch bowl. "What is going on here?" Brock jumped at the sound of Misty's voice. "Umm... just a small congratulations party..." "Seems like much more... where is Ash?" Brock stammered out an "Uhh..." as Misty spotted Ash for himself, who seemed quite pleased with the 'dancer' in front of him. She turns her glare back at Brock, "Get this party down... now." "You have no power over me!" Brock said proudly. Misty simply grabbed Brock by the collar and whispered something into his ear, soon releasing her grip. "Y-y-y-ou wouldn't!" His voice was filled with panic and fear now, "Ok!" He turns towards the party, turning off the music, "Everyone out! Party is over!"

Ash looked over to Brock, then spotting Misty he literally jumped several feet in his chair. She was coming towards him. He could only let out a stammer, "M-M-Misty! Umm.. you see... this is what happened..." Misty smiled and gave Ash a light kiss on the cheek, "Come on Ash, we have to go to bed... we got a long and beautiful day ahead of us..."

Ash sighed and smiled, "And I am looking forward to it."

They both went upstairs together and fell asleep the same way, dreaming of the next day.

"I am so nervous. This is my first time..." Ash said, adjusting his bowtie. "Well of course it is, unless you're hiding something." Joey chuckled. "All you have to do is go up there and look pretty." "How do you know this? You haven't been married." "No, but I have seen enough soap operas to know. Now get out there, you're only two words from being linked to the girl you love until you die. Now go!"

Ash smiled and nodded. Slowly he made his way down to the alter. Brock stand nearby, his best man and ring bearer. He just gave Ash a smile as the music continued. Misty appeared at the entrance, making Ash stare, she was in a beautiful white, silk, wedding dress, the long flowing silk flowing down towards the ground, covering up her entire body. She slowly made her way to the alter, reaching out for Ash's hand as they stood in front of the priest.

"I was asked to read a special sermon." The priest said, holding up several cards. "We are gathered here today to bring together Ash Ketchum and Misty Wallflower in holy matrimony."

He looks to Ash, continuing,

"Ash Ketchum. When you first started your Pokemon journey, you would have never guessed that you would fall in love. Your determination to catch them all and be the world's best did this. But in your haste in your first adventure, you stumbled into the girl you would eventually marry. Although your feelings for her did not bloom until three years later, they dwelled inside you. And now, after knowing her for a long nine years, you are now being married to this girl of your dreams..."

He turns to Misty now, still continuing,

"Misty Wallflower. All you wanted was someone to hold close and love. Your sisters seemed to neglect this feeling within you, so you went to journey yourself, trying to become the best water trainer. Little did you know in a twist of fate did you fall in love with someone who stole your bike. You followed Ash out of repayment, but soon all that changed, slowly you followed him out of desire, the desire you craved as you were younger, to be held and loved. And now that desire is fulfilled, and after nine years, you are now getting married towards the same man."

The priest smiled, turning back to Ash, "Do you, Ash Ketchum, take Misty, in sickness and health, for better and worse, till death do you part?" Ash looked at Misty, smiling as he stares deep into her eyes, "I do."

The priest nodded and looked at Misty, "And do you, Misty Wallflower, take Ash, in sickness and health, for better and worse, till death do you part?" Misty looked back and smiled, "I do." "Ring barer?" Brock looked up and slowly walked to Ash, presenting the ring to him. Ash took the ring and slowly put it on Misty's finger, smiling. "Then I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." Ash smiled and slowly leaned close to Misty, giving a long passionate kiss, starting music, cheers, claps, and crying from the crowd. Slowly they walked down the hall, out the door, into an awaiting limo. Before they did, Misty took the bouquet and threw it behind her. Ruby, who was in the middle, seemingly flew up and caught it. "Mew!"

Slowly they got into the limo and drove off into the sunset, the crowd still cheering and crying at the marriage. The clatter of tin cans filled the air with the words that everyone knew:

"Always there for you..."