Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon or anything to do with pokemon so please don't sue me!!
Well here we are for the fourth chapter. This one sees Ash returning from France, the question is, how will Ash and Misty react to each other after 4 long years apart?
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A Wedding Reunion
… … …
Chapter 4 – The Night Before
Four weeks had past and it was now the day before the wedding. Not only was Brock stressed at the fact that the hotel had been double booked and there weren't enough rooms for all the guests that some of them had to stay in the pokemon centre (namely all his own friends), he was stressed by the fact that there was no sign of his best man. Everyone had been watching Ash's progress on TV along with the rest of the world. Ash had made it all the way to the final and was already in the history books for being the youngest ever finalist in the world championships. However, the final battle had to be postponed due an accident at the stadium. Five out of the eight trainers were hurt, however, Ash and another 2 trainers managed to avoid the situation, but the problem was, Ash's opponent for the final was hurt (although it was never announced on the news how injured he was) therefore, the match had to be postponed for several days. This worried everyone as they thought that Ash wasn't going to be at the wedding and of course Misty couldn't exactly remain silent about the situation.
Misty: THAT SELFISH BASTARD! I bet you anything that he'll stay for that final instead of coming home to support his best friend on the most important day of his life!!
Brock: Misty, give him a break, it is the world championships after all, if he wins, this could be the biggest break of Ash's career!
As Brock is trying to calm Misty down, they all hear the doors of the pokemon centre slam shut…
Ash: yeah, cause you wouldn't want that selfish bastard to be in a bad mood before the big day now, would you? (Ash raises his eyebrows in cocky way toward Misty)
Misty just gives Ash the evil eye as if she just saw him yesterday and as she's just about to go over and slap him across the face, everyone pushes past her to get to Ash leaving her standing there feeling bemused
Everyone: ASH!!!
Tracy: what time do you call this!! You're cutting it a little close aren't you? I mean you should have been back 2 days ago! … Oh and how did you know we were at the pokemon centre?
Delia: that would be because of me. I left a message for Ash at home in case he got back late to tell him to join us at the pokemon centre.
Ash: yeah I got the note, thanks mom. Anyway, there was an incident, not an accident as the news keeps saying and …(cut off by Gary)
Gary: yeah we heard that already, but what happened? Did you win?
Ash: (Ash looks away from Gary pretending not to have understood what he asked and addresses everyone else) first off, 2 of the trainers brought back for the quarterfinals started insulting each other over their lost battles – or so I was told, I wasn't actually there in the in the trainers room –
Tracy: why, where were you?
Ash: I was …away doing something else, but that's not important now. The point is, they got into a fight, which ended up involving their pokemon and they basically destroyed the room. The other 3 trainers only got involved because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's been seen as the biggest embarrassment of the championship league and that's why the news has just been saying that there was an accident at the stadium. Sven, my opponent from Sweden, was knocked out by the Irish guy's dragonite so the match was postponed. It was only me, the guy from South Africa and the girl from Russia who weren't involved because you see they were …(cut off again)
Gary: Ash, stop your rambling about fistfights and tell us who won, because it wasn't shown on TV!
Ash: well…I…(cut off again)
Prof. Oak: that's because the final isn't scheduled until tomorrow.
Tracy: well if the match is tomorrow, how come he's here now?
Everyone is looking between the professor and Ash trying to find out what happened. By this stage, Misty has finally joined the rest of the group.
Prof. Oak: that's because he forfeited the match and came in second, isn't that right Ash?
Ash: yeah, but if they hadn't have kicked the crap out of each other, I probably would have won and been back 2 days ago. Anyway Professor, how did you know the details of what happened? They aren't supposed to be released until tomorrow.
Prof. Oak: my colleague Professor Ebony was there to watch the battles on behalf of the pokemon league council of England and she phoned me last night to tell me what happened, so I've actually been expecting you today.
Misty: you knew he would be here today and yet you let us stress over his whereabouts anyway!
Prof. Oak: well, I thought it would be better for him to come back like this because…(he knows Misty's about to shout at him) but don't worry, I would have told had he not been here by now.
Misty had now shifted her anger from Ash and was about to explode at the professor, but Tracy held her back while Brock came to speak to Ash.
Brock: but why Ash!? You could have been made world champion, like you always wanted!
Ash: there will always be another pokemon league Brock, but you'll only have one wedding day and I couldn't miss that for anything.
Brock: Ash I … (Brocks eyes begin to water) thank you…
Well at least the best man's finally arrived.
Ash: where is he?
Misty: what do you mean, where is he? You're him!!
Ash: me!! … I'm the best man!?
Brock: did you even read the email I sent you?
Ash: (Ash now looks awkward and looks at Brock from the corner of his eye) only the part about you getting married
Gary: if you had bothered to read it all, you'd know that Brock asked you to be best man at the end of the email.
Brock: never mind that now, so Ash, will you be my best man?
Ash: of course I will.
Misty: do you have a tux?
Ash: yeah, I use it for the pokemon league council formal dinners.
Misty: then we're all set (she turns to Brock) and you can stop stressing out.
Everyone decided to throw Ash (for lack of better word) a party to celebrate his success and his return. Ash gave everyone the gifts he brought back; he brought back his mom, Suzie and Misty a variety box of perfumes (he 'just happened' to have an extra one to which he gave Misty) and the rest of the guys got a variety of official World Championship League merchandise between them. He also bought Brock and Suzie's wedding present in France.
Tracy: when did u get time to buy all this stuff?
Ash: that's what I was doing when the other trainers decided to fight each other. I was supposed to be in the trainer room at the time, but I was still out shopping, 'cause I wanted to get you guys a little something.
Everyone was surrounding Ash and talking to him about the league, about where he stayed and what he's been doing over the past 3 years. This of course made it almost impossible for Ash and Misty to even speak to each other, which became very noticeable to Brock.
After several hours of celebrating with Ash, everyone headed back to their rooms to set up their things for the next day. Everyone, except Ash, Misty and Brock. They spent most of the evening reminiscing about the past until Brock remembered that his shoes needed to be polished (or so he said)…
Brock: well I guess this is the last time the 3 of us will be together as 3 single people.
Misty: What! Brock you're not single!
Brock: I meant as 3 non-married people.
Ash: I guess that makes sense. … I have to say that I loved us hanging out again like this, this is definitely a moment I won't ever forget.
Misty: ditto!
Brock: I agree. (Brock noticed that Ash and Misty kept looking each other up and down when they thought the other wasn't looking and decided it was now time for him to leave to) Well I have to go polish my shoes for the morning and test out a little theory. See you guys later!
Ash: yeah…bye! (Turns to Misty) what theory's he talking about?
Misty: who knows, it's Brock! Since when has he ever made complete sense?
Brock didn't go back to his room, but instead went to sit at the door to the dining area to watch Ash and Misty without being seen.
Brock: I wonder how much of our previous conversation Misty actually took in?
The scene is back to Ash and Misty who have finally turned to look at each other after four long years. Due to the celebrating earlier, Ash and Misty barely said 2 words to each other; however, here they were just staring at each other. Ash was in amazement at Misty's beauty, he never noticed earlier because everyone else was buzzing round him, but now, he actually took the time to realise just how much more of a woman she looked from the last time he saw her. Last time, she was a scrawny tomboy with her hair always tied up in a side ponytail, but now, Ash noticed that her figure had filled out more now from the last time and she had a more curvy feminine shape and her hair was down, half down her face, the rest down her back. Misty also was dazed by Ash's appearance, he'd grown to just over 6ft tall, which Misty found quite strange as she always remembered having to slightly look down at him, but now was having to look up to him. His hair however was still the same untamed mess it had always been, and since he wasn't wearing his hat, she could see every inch of his hair and face. He was even more muscular than when she last saw him {Misty: and I'm sure he's got a nice six-pack} this was obviously due to his training schedule. The silence between them was deafening, but Ash just smiled at her and eventually broke the silence…
Ash: so you think I'm a selfish bastard huh?
Misty: a poor choice of words for the situation, I've been stressing all day about what could possibly go wrong tomorrow and I guess I needed someone to take it out on.
Ash: taking your frustration out on me… I guess some things never change. (Ash laughs out loud at this)
Misty: shut up! I'm trying to apologise here!
Ash: I know… I forgive you.
Misty stared at Ash again and felt her stomach jump at the sound of his words.
Misty: Good … I mean, thank you
Ash and Misty continued to just stare into each others eyes, there was nothing left to say, they moved closer to one another but … fear got the better of them…
Ash: I'd better go sort out my tux for tomorrow; I'll see you in the morning. (Ash walks past Misty to go down the bedroom corridor)
Misty: Ash wait!
Ash: huh?
Misty: Ash I … I can't do it
Ash: what is it Misty?
Misty: that was a really nice thing you did for Brock, in fact, it's one of the most selfless things I've ever seen you do, and I want you to know that I… that I {love you} have a great deal of respect for you and I don't think you're a selfish bastard.
Ash: thanks Misty; coming from you, that means a lot.
Brock is now getting really annoyed from the conversation and try's to restrain himself from going out to the two of them.
Brock: come on guys, admit that you missed each other and love each other more as a result!!
Ash: goodnight Misty!
Misty: goodnight Ash ……I missed you…
Ash: yeah, I missed you to…
Ash and Misty walk off in opposite directions to their rooms and don't look back. Meanwhile, Brock stood up from where he was sitting and ran his hands through his hair in frustration completely gob smacked by what he had just witnessed.
Brock: What the hell was that!!!? They haven't seen each other in 4 YEARS! and that's what they say to each other. That's pathetic!
Brock goes back to his own room (next door to Ash) completely annoyed by the fact that neither of them made a move on the other.
… … …
The pokemon centre is only lit by the moonlight coming in through the windows of the lobby and is in silence, or a least it should have been. It's about 12:30 and Ash couldn't sleep, so he gets up and goes out to the lobby, sits down on the couch and stares out the window for about 10 minutes until Brock joins him.
Brock: couldn't sleep huh? I heard you getting up.
Ash: not really … I guess you couldn't either?
Brock: I think its called worry.
Ash: last I heard it was called pre-wedding jitters.
Brock: I'm not worried about tomorrow.
Ash: you're not … how come?
Brock: Because I know I'm doing the right thing.
Ash: what do ya mean?
Brock: I'm in love with Suzie and I know that Suzie's in love with me. When you look at a lot of other couples before their big day, they usually panic and worry about whether they're doing the right thing or not. Everyone was saying this morning that they thought it was strange that I wasn't stressing over getting married. My only explanation is that I'm so determined to be with Suzie that our love is all that matters and marriage won't change anything between us. (Ash looks puzzled) In other words, people don't fear the wedding, it's the marriage after, but I know that Suzie and I will overcome anything and that's all that counts.
Ash: you're a very lucky guy Brock, to have a girl like Suzie.
Brock: yeah I know, but I worry about you Ash.
Ash: why?
Brock: you wanna know something Ash?
Ash: WHAT!
Brock: I was listening to your conversation with Misty.
Ash: what!?
Brock: and you wanna know something else?
Ash: other than the fact that you're a nosy son of a bitch!
Brock gives him the evil eye
Brock: no – it's that I was really annoyed.
Ash: annoyed about what?
Brock: annoyed at the fact that you didn't tell her that you at least like her. When we were travelling around together for all those years, I always thought that you and Misty would get together, and tonight was a perfect opportunity to make a move!
From this point of the conversation, Misty is listening. She was also awake, but she was outside and the boy's didn't hear her come back in, so she stood at the wall where the lobby meets the bedroom corridor to stay out of sight.
Ash: Oh Brock! …. You're full of it!!
Brock: no I'm not!
Ash: yes you are!
Brock: I was watching and there were vibes between you, I mean, you could have cut the sexual tension with a knife. And also, I know for a fact that Misty loves you Ash!
Ash: nonsense! How do you that? Sure she always hated me.
Brock: that's none of your business how I know that and no she doesn't hate you, she loves you and I know you like her.
Ash: (Ash looks away from Brock and stares out the window) I don't like Misty, Brock ……I can't like Misty
At hearing this, Misty runs back down the corridor to her room with tears falling down her cheeks and sobs into her pillow
Misty: I knew it! I knew it!! I knew he never liked me; I never should have wasted my time thinking about what Brock was saying about his feelings for me!!
Misty continued to sob over the harsh words Ash just said, but maybe she should have stayed to hear what else he had to say…
Brock: what do you mean, you don't like Misty!!!
Ash: let me finish! …..I don't like Misty (Ash looks directly at Brock) I love Misty, and I think I might be in love with her.
Brock: Ash…
Ash: when I saw her today, I couldn't help but love her, she looks so grown up now. She looks absolutely gorgeous and I want to have her, I love her face, I love her hair, I love her eyes – in fact, I love everything about her. I didn't have the guts to tell her how I felt back then and I've regretted it ever since, but this time I have a chance and if I don't say anything this time and I let her get away again, I will never forgive myself. But I can't seem to find the words.
Brock: you do have the words Ash, and they'll come out when the time is right.
Ash: but what if that time is too late……I'm a complete failure…
Brock: Ash, you have the words because you just admitted them to me. If you were a true failure, you wouldn't have told anyone. I've said it before and I'll say it again… love is war and to win a war, you've gotta use ammunition. (Brock gets up and heads towards his bedroom but turns back to Ash) Love is worth fighting for and your words are your ammunition, if you don't use them, then I guess you are a failure.
Ash: but how can I tell her?
Brock: speak from your heart Ash, that's all you can do, just speak from your heart. Trust me, if you do that, she'll be melting into your arms before long.
Goodnight Ash…
Brock goes back to his bedroom and back to his bed, but Ash sits on the couch all night and thinks about what Brock said. After reaching resolution about what to do, Ash falls asleep and remains there until Tracy and Gary wake him in the morning.
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Ooh, Misty's mad (ha ha) – no that's cruel, well if there's anything to learn from this chapter, it's that if you listen in on someone else's conversation, make sure you hear it all in order to get the whole picture. Chapter 5 is the wedding day and emotions will be running high from everyone, also see what happens when Ash finally confronts Misty, will she laugh at him, or embrace him? hopefully it will be up soon.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter and please review 'cause I love reading them, they are really helpful. Thank You J