This was the first fanfic I worked on when I started getting to work on fanfic writing. I have corrected many errors and mistakes since the first time I wrote it. However, this story is incomplete.
However, also...it will not stay that way. I am on Chapter 7, and I have every intention of finishing this fic, even if it kills me. Good day.

I dont own Poke'mon either! (cries again) but I do own a few made up characters in this story. Enjoy.

To melt the Heart of a Champion

Chapter 4- Secrets revealed?

The ship seemed to have been picking up speed, as Ash, Brock, Misty, May, and Max sat on the boat, waiting for it dock in. They all smiled and watched the ship pick up more speed, but then this began to worry Misty as the ship was getting very close to docking in now. Misty began to back up slowly with a look of worry on her face and the others quickly caught on as the ship was now approaching the dock. They all ran away from the railing as the ship's captain ran out on deck.

"Flygon! Go!" the captain released a Poke'mon that seemed to resemble a giant bug, almost like a dragonfly. Misty started quivering, and ran behind Brock, as they watched the Flygon jump into action.

The Flygon quickly flew to the front of the ship and held its arms out against the ship's front beginning to slow it to a stop, but this didnt seem to be working quickly enough as Ash decided he would help out too.

"Cradaunt! I choose you!" Ash threw the red and white colored poke'ball and a giant poke'mon, resembling a Lobster jumped into the water and quickly dashed towards the front of the ship. The Crawdaunt grabbed the ship quickly and to Misty's surprise, as well as the captain's, this Cradaunt was remarkably powerful, as the ship began to quickly lose speed, the ship halted to a stop and everyone let out a big "Phew".

"Flygon! Return!" the captain yelled, as he held out his poke'ball, returning the Flygon to him.

"You too Cradaunt!" and Ash held out his poke'ball as well, returning his own poke'mon to its ball.

"Sorry to go like this, but I need to see why the ship wouldnt stop" the captain said, as he ran quickly towards the quarters, ignoring everyone, and went down the stairs to the boiler room.

"Phew, that was a close one huh?" Brock said, seeming very relieved, as he pried off Misty's arms from around his neck.

"Wow, your Cradaunt sure has gotten strong" May complemented Ash, smiling at him.

"Well, at least the ship's stopped. So now we get off and get our party settled" Brock said suggestively, raising an eyebrow to Ash, who looked at him confused.

They all got off the ship to see the captain rushing off past them into Ever Grande city. He seemed to be in a rush, but they just ignored it, walking into Ever Grande to look for a good party shop. Misty spotted one that was as big as three five story buildings stacked on top of each other. They all looked at it in amazement, as they all walked in excitedly. Misty and May immediately started looking around for things to show Ash, Brock, and Max, making suggestions towards them becoming more and more excited. May and Misty both picked out a whole lot of confetti which was all in blues and pinks. Ash and Pikachu picked out some lightning shaped and yellow colored banners with a red tint to it. Brock picked out some rainbow colored balloons, and Max just watched as he went through his poke'nav, planning where to go when the league started.

"Okay, we're set!" Brock said excitedly, looking towards Ash to see if he had finished what he was doing.

"I got what I need!" Ash replied happily, as he and Pikachu went up to Brock and Max, as they couldnt find May and Misty anywhere, as they were around looking for all kinds of party supplies.
Misty had just popped out of nowhere with a happy grin on her face, as she showed Ash, Brock, Pikachu, and Max the items she was getting for the party. Then it just dawned on Ash.

"Where are we going to hold the party?"

"Where else? The same kind of place we always end up in in our travels" Misty replied looking at him in a way that said she thought he was being stupid.

"A forest?" Ash asked.

"Of course, where else?" Misty said happily, as she snatched Ash and Brock's items and put them up to the cashier who rung them up.

"Hold on Misty, May's still not back yet" Ash said, waiting for her to appear any second now. Sure enough, May appeared, also with many trinkets in her hands, as she ran right past Ash, Brock, and Max, and up to Misty and the cash register.

"I dont understand why girls get so worked up over those things" Ash said curiously, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Oh, do you?" Brock said teasingly.

"Huh? Whats that supposed to mean?" Ash said, shocked.

"Nothing Ash, dont sweat over it" Brock said reassuringly.

"Right, hey Max? How does the Poke'mon league work in Hoenn? Does it work the same way all the other tournaments work, like in Johto and Kanto?" Ash asked, looking over his shoulder and at his Poke'nav.

"Well, since you asked" Max hesitated. It works the same way for the most part. Although, they have a little twist to keep trainers interested. Apparently, its possible to become Poke'mon master of Hoenn, if you roll the dice right" Max said, proudly, adjusting his glasses.

"REALLY? How Max! How?" Ash said very excitedly, thinking that maybe he could finally fulfill his \
dream here once and for all.

"Well, this is how it works" Max started, taking a deep breath. "There are of course, the elimination rounds, which will knock any number of trainers competing in the tournament to be reduced to a number of 16. Those 16 trainers will be put into a bracket, and they will face a trainer randomized by a computer to determine who they will face in their first round. This will continue until the victor finally arises. BUT" Max started again. "The trainer does have a choice, once he or she wins the tournament. The winner can either keep their title and trophy, or wager it against one more c ompetition" Max ended, drawing another deep breath until Ash stopped him.

"Whats this choice they have to make?" Ash asked wearily.

"Well, if you do decide to risk your title and trophy, you will be pitted up against the Elite Four of the Hoenn region. You cannot lose to any of them. There's four of them, and if you beat all four of them without losing, then you will become Poke'mon master of Hoenn" Max ended, expecting an excited voice to come from Ash, but Max was disapointed when Ash was quiet. Ash walked towards Misty and May and asked if they were done yet. They nodded happily and they all walked out the door and out into the streets again.

"So, into the forest then?" Misty asked, when she turned around and smiled at them with her arms behind her.

"Alright then" Ash said, a normal look on his face as he tried to look for a good spot to hold the party.

"How bout over there? Max asked, pointing at a small clearing, surrounded thickly by trees.

"That looks good!" Misty said excitedly as she ran over into the clearing.

May looked towards the clearing, smiling blankly. As she watched, she started to day dream and go into her own little personal thoughts. "Me and Ash...that'd be great" she whispered to herself, as she closed her eyes, smiling, and pointing her head up towards the sky. She started to imagine talking to Ash about their feelings. "You know May. I'm not entirely sure what I would've done if you werent with me to help, protect, and guide me. You really are a good friend. But I...you know...I really like you alot. CMON! Lets do IT!"

"Huh?" May said, snapping back into reality. She looked at her brother, sweatdropping.

"Cmon. I said lets do it!" Max said, pointing at Ash, Brock, and Misty putting up the decorations for the party.

"Oh, sorry Max. I guess I kinda zoned out for minute. Eh heh heh" she said, scratching the back of her head nervously.

"Sigh Well, cmon. We need your help May" Max said strictly, crossing his arms.

"Okay" she said, then started walking over to them and grabbed some confetti.

After a few hours of setting up, the gang all decided to split up and take a break. Ash went down to the Poke'mon center to see if there was any info useful to use in the league. Brock took a trip down to the nearest mall to get more supplies for their travels. Misty, unknown to everyone else, went down to a fashion and clothes store. There, she bought a blue and pink Kimono, with silver straps around the waist, giving it a very graceful look. May took a walk to day dream and get away from her little brother. Max stayed at the party set up to check and make sure that no problems would occur suring the party. Everything seemed to be in order, so he took off to go look for the rest of the gang, as the sun was now setting. Max ran into Brock, who was also walking down the road towards Max.

"Hey Brock!" Max yelled, waving his right arm around.

"Huh? Oh, hey Max" Brock walked a little quicker until they were both face to face.

"Can we go look for everyone else now?" Max asked, his hands clamped together.

"Sure" Brock turned around and started walking back into town to go look for possible places that everyone else would be at. Max followed.

"That will 930 please" The clerk told Misty, as Misty went into her bag and handed her 1000 poke'dollars.

"Here is 70 dollars in change, thank you and have a nice day" the clerk said, giving her the money.

"You too" Misty took the white, plastic bag containing the Kimono and walked out the door.

Misty walked outside, into the cold weather, when she saw Max and Brock walking up the road towards her. "Heeyy Brock! Hey Max!" Misty yelled, running up to them, waving at them.

"Hey Misty. We're looking for Ash and May. Do you know where they might be?" Brock asked her, holding a bag of items in a brown paper bag.

"Well, no. But you know Ash. Maybe he's at the Ever Grande league, or the Poke'mon center?" Misty said, feeling like she wasnt being much help.

Back at the Poke'mon center, Ash was asking around to see if there were any secrets or hints he could get about the league, to see if anything could help him. But to no avail, he collasped onto the green couch, resting his arms up on the back of the couch. Pikachu jumped down and to a nap next to Ash's left leg.

"Hmmm...Misty..." Ash thought to himself as memories of their parting came to him.

Are you sure you'll be okay without me Ash? Makes it easier to carry. He saw this memory the most clearest of all. He sat quietly on the sofa, petting Pikachu's ear, as he went into deeper thought about the hankerchief. "Misty..." Ash took off his backpack and started scavenging around, looking for the pink and yellow cloth. Ash smiled as he pulled out the hankerchief, and gripped it tightly with his right hand. His eyes became slightly watery, as he wiped his eyes with his right arm, putting the cloth back into his backpack. Then it came to him. Ash felt stronger feeling for her than just being her best friend. "...I gotta tell her. I'll tell her tonight" Ash got up, smiling determinedly, and nudged Pikachu slightly, awakening his little yellow pal.

"Ka?" Pikachu shaked his head quickly and jumped onto Ash's shoulder.

"Lets go look for everybody Pikachu" Ash told his little pal, scratching it on his head and walking out the doors.

May was walking around almost like a Zombie, when she was walking towards Brock, Max, and Misty.

"Hey May!" Brock said, smiling towards May. But May seemed unaffected by his words. "May?"

May was once again lost in her thoughts, but she was also walking right towards Brock, Max, and Misty. May kept getting closer and closer.

"May?" Max asked in a confused way, tilting his glasses.

May got closer then suddenly tripped over a rock, falling right into Brock and Misty, but Max dodged in time, as he saw this thing coming, being her brother.

"Ugh, May. You shouldnt be day dreaming like that!" Max yelled, scolding his sister in a very you-should-know-better-than-that voice. Max then saw Ash walking towards them. "Oh well, look who's coming up here!" Max pointed at Ash and May as Misty quickly got up and smiled at him happily, with grins on their faces. May quickly rushed over to where Ash was and dragged him by the arm.

"Cmon! We gotta start the party NOW! Its a perfect time, the night's stars and sky make it perfect!" May yelled excitedly, dragging Ash off. Brock and Max looked at them confused and sweatdropped. Misty sat with a blank face for a moment, then looked towards May and put on an angry look, showing her teeth on the right side of her mouth. She had caught on what May was doing now. Back at the spot they picked out for their party, Ash and May were already there, making some last touches. Brock, Max, and Misty came in, Misty still had that angry look on her face. Brock pulled out a radio, tv, and started playing music. Misty went into a different part of the forest to change into her Kimono. Ash and Brock were making some food while Max and May danced to a beat on the radio. Misty came back after a few minutes and had a pink fan in her hand. Misty had also let down her hair and put on a tiny tint perfume, making her quite elegant. Ash stared in amazement and Misty blushed, scratching her chin nervously and hiding her face behind her fan. May raised an eyebrow and took off her Bandana, and frizzled her hair up a bit. Brock was now getting very suspicious of May and grew angry at this.

Brock decided he needed to talk to May alone. CRASH! Brock took out a CD and snapped it in half. He quickly dropped the pieces on the grass and scattered them about. He quickly got up and tried to look a little clutsy.

"Umm May? Could you come help me with this?" Brock asked, getting down on the grass, picking some of the shards up.

"Why do I have to help? Get Max to do it" she replied pathetically.

"Just go do it. It will help you lose some weight too" Max quickly covered his in over what he just said. Brock quickly took advantage of this and ran over to her.

"WHAT?" May yelled, readying her right fist.

"MAY! DONT!" Brock quickly grabbed her around the waist and dragged her into the forest where he could talk to her in private.

"Wait till I get my hands on that short little punk!" May yelled as she went into the forest.

"Shhh!" Brock put his right hand over her mouth, quieting her up. Brock could hear a quiet, slow dance song coming on.

"Ohhh! This is perfect!" May began to ran, but was quickly grabbed on her right wrist by Brock, who had a very serious look on his face.

"May, I gotta talk to you about something..."

Back at the party, Max, Ash, and Misty were all looking at Max's new book. The 386 Poke'mon and all their natural attacks by Professor Samuel Oak. Misty heard one of her favorite songs come on and worked up some courage.

"Well guys, I'm gonna go see what happened to May" Max said, chuckling and folding his arms parent-like.

"Okay, we'll see ya later" Ash said, waving to Max as he went into the forest. Pikachu also nodded and took off with Max into the forest to look for May too. But Pikachu knew what was really going on.

"Hey Ash" Misty said, nervously twildling her thumbs. She set her fan down on a rock and looked at Ash. Ash stopped her from talking with his right index finger and put it on her lips.

"May I have this dance?" Ash said gentlemanly, bowing to her with his left arm behind his back. Misty was VERY surprised that Ash did this. Ash wasnt the kind of person to do this sort of thing. But she didnt argue. She happily put out her left hand, blushing furiously, as Ash took it, standing upright. They held each other's hands as they danced a slow dance, twirling around. Ash took off his hat and threw it down next to the radio that Brock was working around and let go of Misty's hands and put them around her waist instead. She blushed more than ever before and felt her heart pounding madly, as she put her arms around Ash's neck, smiling peacefully. Time seemed to go very slowly and this is exactly how both of them wanted it as. They smiled the whole time, gazing into each other's eyes, then they began to slow their dance down drastically, almost to where they werent moving. Misty removed her arms from aorund Ash's neck and and set her hands on Ash' chest, as well as her head.

"Ash?" Misty said very quietly.

"Yeah Misty?" Ash replied, looking down at her, smiling with his eyes half open.

"Do you? I mean...what do you think of us?" Misty asked, hoping to get a very responsible answer from him.

"I like the position we're in. I wouldnt change it for anything. You're the most important person to me" Ash then choked on his words, realizing what he had just said. Misty opened her eyes widely, and looked up Ash.

"R...real...y?" Misty said, her eyes watering up, and she starting smiling, and looked into Ash's eyes. He looked at her and wiped her tears away and smiled back at her. Time seemed to have stopped suddenly, as they found each other's faces slowly moving closer and closer, until their lips touched. Misty and Ash embraced themselves into a very tight hug, feeling the taste their lips together for the first time. Misty's dream had finally come true and at no sacrifice or loss.

Back with May and Brock, May was feeling very anxious and very insulted, as well as intruded from the words Brock was saying towards her.

"I dont care! I'm going over there to tell him now!" May ran away from Brock and Max(who just joined Brock a few minutes after leaving Ash and Misty)and ran towards the party, she ran as quickly as she could until she could see the lights of the party coming into view. She stopped suddenly and hid behind a bush, as she saw what Ash and Misty were doing. They looked happy. Both glad to have each other. May looked at this as her heart suddenly stopped and she sat down indian style with a look of despair on her face, and she wiped away a small tear.

"I guess he does like her. I should have seen it sooner. How could I go and get overly excited about that?" she talked to her self and she snuck a peek through the bush to see them again. For some reason it was just too painful to watch for her. "Well, he's happy and I'm glad that he is. If thats what he wants...then he can have it. The person for me is out there somewhere" she sighed and turned her back on them and then suddenly smiled.

"May!" Brock called, as he and Max ran over to where May was.

"SHHHH!" May said quickly and hushed them both up with her hands. "Look" May sat down on her knees, and Brock and Max did the same, and they quietly peered out of the bush and looked at them. Brock's face turned to a surprised look and Max had a look of disgust on his face.

"GROSS!" Max yelled, gritting his teeth and taking his head out of the bush.

"GRRR!" May grew furious and whacked her brother across the head with her right fist. "How DARE YOU. This is love, you idiot. Now be quiet" May looked at him now with a very serious look that seemed to look like a If-you-do-anything-wrong-I'll-hurt-you kind of look. She turned back around and whispered to Brock. "Hey Brock. I think we should leave them alone now, so they can be in private, ok?" Brock nodded and they both took their heads out of the bush and turned around and began a small whisper about the Hoenn league starting tomorrow.

Ash and Misty parted from their kiss and Misty threw her arms around Ash and rested her head on his right shoulder and Ash hugged her, putting his right hand on the back of her head.

"Oh Ash...I love you so much. Thank you for always being there" Misty said, tightening her hug.

Ash ran his fingers through her hair, smelling the elegant perfume and gave a laugh to himself as he had once disliked perfume before. "I love you too. And I'm glad to have always been there for you. Thanks for your help Mist" Ash kissed her forehead and the song came to an end.

Ash and Misty broke away from their loving hug and Ash grabbed his hat. Misty went over to her red bag and took out her old clothes that she wore in the Kanto and Johto regions when she was traveling with Ash and Brock. She smiled and started walking towards Brock, Max, and May who started panicking.
Brock and May quickly jumped out and ran behind another big bush and forced Max in too and Misty just barely missed them as they watched her walk deeper into the forest carrying her clothes.

"PHEW! That was close!" May exclaimed, now walking back over to Ash. Brock and Max followed, with sighs of relief, and walked up to Ash.

"Hey Ash. So, you ready to get some sleep for your battle tomorrow?" Brock asked, seeing that is was already 9:12 PM. "You'll wanna get up extra early if you wanna catch your battles"

"Yeah thats true" Ash took off his blue vest and shoes and set out his new sleeping bag. It had yellow bolts of electricity with Pikachus all over it. Pikachu ran up to Ash smiling with love in its eyes. "Pika pika, pikachu! Pi pika, chu chu! Pikachu!" Pikachu said to Ash, as Ash was the only one who knew was Pikachu was saying exactly.

Ash froze and stared at Pikachu. "They did?"

Pikachu nodded happily and jumped up to Ash's shoulder and gave him a pat on the back. "Pi pichu ka kachu pika!"

"Thats true. It couldnt be avoided. Oh well, I guess I'll break the news to them tomorrow then huh?"

"Ka" Pikachu nodded, closing his his eyes.

Ash smiled and Misty returned seeing that everyone had set out their sleeping bags. Misty kept her hair undone and set out her usual sleeping bag with bubbles all over it, surrounded by a red background. She smiled and got into her sleeping bag. She had set her sleeping bag right next to Ash's, which didnt surprise anyone at the least. In more than one way. Ash got in and Brock blew out the lanturns, illmuinating the area.

"Hey Brock?" Ash asked, sitting up in his bag. "What about getting rid of all this stuff we set up in this forest?"

"Thats why we're waking up at 5:00 AM Ash" Brock replied, laughing.

"WHAT? Then I got to get to sleep now!" Ash quickly fell right back into his sleeping bag and saw he was facing Misty. Misty smiled at him, and mouthed a kiss to him, which caused Ash to blush a deep red. Everyone jumped into their sleeping bags and went to sleep.

"I love you Ash"

"I love you too Mist"

End Chapter 4