Disclaimer: Pokémon does NOT belong to me, so don't sue, please, only if you want a empty chip packet, but if you really want it ...
Chapter 2: Her Fiancé
Brock stood at the door as he raised a clenched fist to rap almost soundlessly on the white door.
"Who is it?" The female voice was muffled as Brock leant forward onto the still closed door.
"It's me, Brock," he said through the wood.
The door opened, Brock finding himself stumbling in through the doorway to catch Misty's surprised gaze.
"Sorry Brock, I just finished packing away a few more things…" she began, Brock noting the many boxes that lay strewn all over the floor and atop one another, some still open whilst others were already sellotaped shut.
"That's okay Misty, by the looks of things you're pretty much set for your Honeymoon," he greeted as Misty closed the door behind him, gesturing for him to sit at her desk.
Taking his seat, Misty weaved her own way through the maze of cardboard to sit on her bed that sat adjacent to a large open window that looked over the bustling Cerulean below.
"You wanted to see me?" The question broke the silence that had settled between them, casting Misty's attention back to her friend who waited patiently.
"Yes, I did," she began finally with a small smile.
Brock had to admit, Misty looked every bit like a Waterflower with her now long hair that fell in orange swells to caress her face and shoulders; even her once jagged fringe was styled to one side. Today she had opted for a white turtle neck top coupled with a pair of blue short shorts and sandals.
The greatest item of interest to him was the gold band that sparkled on her wedding finger.
"You're serious about this, aren't you?" His question was unexpected, in fact even he hadn't anticipated asking it. It seemed to just, roll off.
Misty cast her wide blue-green eyes at him, glancing down at her finger as she fiddled with the quaint ring.
"Of course I'm serious," she replied gently as Brock raised a brow.
"But don't you think you're a bit too young? If my mind serves me correct, not even your sisters are married yet," he reminded, almost as if he were trying to change her mind to an extent.
She sighed as she raised her eyes to meet his steady gaze.
"Brock, I wouldn't marry him if I didn't feel that I loved him," she reasoned as a smile touched her lips.
"Just who are you marrying anyway?" Brock asked matter-of-factly, Misty feeling her cheeks flush at the question.
"Uh, his name is Rudy and he is a Gym Leader from the Orange Islands. We met when Ash, Tracy and I were travelling that area," she explained with a faint smile that seemed somewhat reminiscent.
Brock scratched his chin.
"Nice ring," he commented absently, undoubtedly for lack of anything better to say.
Misty turned beet red.
"Yeah ..."
"So is it true that the big day is next week?" When Brock first heard that the wedding was the coming week, he had thought it was rather quick, but then again, when you're in love, little else really matters.
"Yeah, it is next week; that brings me to another thing. I've already sent out invites to all the guests except ... I haven't told Ash." Misty lowered her eyes, almost as if she was afraid to look at Brock.
"Well that's understandable, he would be difficult to track down on such short notice, especially being in a new region and all," Brock began, stroking his chin.
Misty breathed an inward sigh of relief, slightly happy that her friend didn't jump to any other conclusion that her sisters would've probably jumped to.
"So, is that what you wanted to talk to me about?" Brock glanced at her, Misty's eyes snapping to life at the question.
"Oh, now that you mention it, my sisters need your help for some-"
"I'm there!" His reply was as fast as his disappearance out the door, Misty shaking her head at her friend as she closed the door.
But how am I going to Ash? I want him to come to the wedding…
Misty sat down at her desk, the seat still warm from when Brock sat.
However, even Misty knew that deep down, she hadn't told Ash because she was afraid.
Of what? Nothing can happen now, you're due to be married in a few days time…
But what she was most afraid of was the thought at the back of her mind that kept accusing her of still harbouring feelings for him.
But they had to be stifled, she couldn't think about Ash, at least not now. She wasn't engaged to him, she was engaged to Rudy.
And with that sobering thought, she stood, headed for her door.
- Pika - Pika - Chuuu! -
"What do you mean she's getting married?"
All the passengers of the Magnet Train looked to their seats, Kiana waving an apologetic hand at them whilst May and Max jolted awake.
"Who, what?" The siblings rubbed their eyes, yawning and stretching before looking at the tense looking Ash and the surprised-looking Pikachu at his side.
"I mean just that, you know, getting married - settling down," she replied nonchalantly as she glanced at her wristwatch.
Ash sat back in his seat as he let the information sink in slowly.
Misty is getting but why don't I know about it?
"Misty is getting married? Wow, a wedding…" May breathed, her eyes softening as she imagined the older girl dressed beautifully in a long white gown. Max readjusted his glasses as he scratched his head.
"How come we never got invited?" Max voiced what Ash was too afraid to ask, somewhat offended at not being notified earlier.
"We have arrived in Saffron City. We hope you enjoyed your ride, please come again!" the speaker blared.
Kiana stood, raising her arms above her head as she looked over the trio and Pikachu.
"Well, I'm off to Cerulean, I guess you guys will be coming along also?" she asked as she made her was towards a nearby exit.
May, Max along with Ash and his Pikachu fell in line behind the girl, the other two looking to Ash for any idea as to where they were headed.
"Of course we're coming!" May decided for them, Ash not bothering to register what she had said.
"Uh, Ash are you going to ring your mom and tell her where you're going?" Max reminded from behind as the older male blinked, nodding at the suggestion as their group left the train station.
"Of course… let's stop by at the Pokémon Centre," he responded absently as Kiana led them to the bright red building only a few roofs down.
May and Max toddled along behind, May watching Ash's unusually slow pace with furrowed brows.
"Something's wrong with Ash, yeah?" May murmured, the duo watching Pikachu continue to bob on Ash's shoulder in his normal, chirpy mood.
Max stoked his chin thoughtfully as they all entered the Pokémon Centre, Kiana and the siblings waiting on the seats as Ash went to the phone.
"He does seem distant all of a sudden," he replied finally, May nodding and affirming the evaluation.
Standing in front of the phone, Ash raised the receiver to his ear as he dialled his home number. The blank screen brightened as Delia Ketchum's face appeared.
"Hello, Mom?" Ash greeted.
"Hello, Ash?" Came the reply as his mother smiled at him.
"I just rang you to say I won't be home as I had promised to be. I'm going to be a little late," he began as. Mr. Mime appeared in the background.
"Well, of course you'll be late you'll be going to Misty's wedding, won't you?" The reply was unexpected as Ash's eyes widened.
"Are you telling me that you knew about Misty's wedding?" Ash responded somewhat unbelievingly.
"She told me about a month ago I think… either way I've known about it for a while now," she replied with a wide grin.
Ash was speechless, unsure of how to approach the news that even his mother knew about the celebration before he did, and he was supposed to be her friend.
"Look honey I'm I have to go, I'm expecting a phone call from Brock to discuss food… he and I are catering," she informed, releasing yet another bombshell.
"Brock knows? Who else knows?" Ash enquired, beyond speechlessness at the realization that he was possibly the last one to be in the dark about the wedding.
"Well, Professor Oak ... oh Ash I really need to go now, love you honey!"
And with that, Delia waved once before her picture disintegrated on screen. Ash placed the receiver down gently, his head low.
"You ready Ash?" May called rather excitedly from her seat as she jumped up, Max and Kiana standing along with her.
"Uh, yeah!" Came the forced reply as he exited the building first, the others falling in behind him.
Kiana walked contentedly at the back, excited to finally be reunited once again with her friend whom she knew waited on Route 5. Looking to Ash, May and Max she shrugged, deciding against telling them that she was probably waiting for them at that very moment.
They'll see soon enough!
- Pi - Pi - Pikachu! -
Standing atop Route 5, Misty watched the beaten dirt path for any sign of Kiana's purple head or bright green eyes. The twin paths were practically empty of any travellers, the sun high in the cloudless azure sky.
Misty released a sigh. She hated waiting, because waiting usually got her thinking and somehow, her thoughts would always end dwelling upon him, and at that point in time, even she knew she couldn't afford to do that.
Well, at least I don't have to deal with Ash right now.
She would deal with him when that time came.
:X:X:
A/N: Thank you very much for your reviews! I really appreciated them! I'm sorry if this chapter is un-exciting or what not, but I'll try to make the next one even better! So! Now you know who she's getting married to! Rudy! From Trovita Island! He featured in the episode called 'Misty meets her Match.' Well, that's him, so now you now. For now, I leave you with my gratitude, and to please review once more!
Lady Sapphira