Glad to see some of you enjoyed my huge shipping chapter. Now, time for the final part of Return to Pallet.
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Chapter 38
As the sun was setting, Ash and friends headed back to Ash's house. Ash sort of felt weird not having Pikachu on his shoulder. By now, he'd be talking to Pikachu, but without him, it seemed kinda lonely up front.
"You know guys," Ash began. "It seems kinda strange not having Pikachu around."
"Well, you had to last without him for a couple of days." May said. "But that was where he was kidnapped."
"Yeah!" Max agreed. "I don't think there was a time, other than when Pikachu was kidnapped by Team Rocket for an extended amount of time, that he was away from you for this amount of time."
"Well actually," Misty began. "There were a few times, and he was with other pokemon that he wanted to get to know."
"Really?"
"Yeah!" Brock said to the youngest member of the group. "There was even a time where we found a whole tribe of Pikachu, and he made friends with all of them."
Ash remembered that time, even though it was back when he began his journey.
"I remember that!" He began. "It was amazing how happy he was with them. In fact, I thought that he would be truly happy with the tribe, but I was wrong about that. Back then, I didn't completely know what made a pokemon truly happy. When he returned to me, I saw that he was truly happy with me. At that point, I then truly understood Pikachu. I then knew that he was happiest with me."
Max then pondered this and something came to him that made him question Ash.
"So, how come you wanted him to spend time with that other Pikachu, that golden one that he's in love with now?" He asked.
Ash then stopped. He was completely drawing a blank. He wasn't sure how to answer Max's question. Thankfully, Misty did that for him.
"Max," She began. "When you're in love, there's a lot that needs to be understood. When you're in love, it seems that nothing else matters to you. It's what you have to understand, and I'm sure that it's something you'll understand when you fully experience love."
Max just gave a sigh. "I'm still confused." He said.
"Don't worry, Max!" May said. "You'll understand someday."
At that point, Misty was walking next to Ash.
"Hey Misty," Ash whispered to her. "Thanks!"
"You're welcome Ash!" Misty kissed him on the cheek.
They continue to walk down the road and soon reach Ash's house. They then walk into the house.
"Hey, Mom! I'm home!" Ash said as he entered the door.
There was no response and it was pitch black inside. He flipped the light switch…
"Surprise!" He heard from many people who now showed themselves.
Confetti fell from a big red ball with many stars of different colors on it. A banner unrolled itself to reveal the words "Congratulations Ash!" in big blue letters. Balloons and streamers of different colored ribbon were decorated all over the room. Also, the many people that just surprised Ash were all wearing party hats.
Ash gave a shocked, happy look. Delia ran up to her surprised son.
"Hello, honey!" Delia said to her son with a smile. "Did you like the surprise?"
"Like it? I love it! Thanks Mom!" Ash said as he hugged her like a happy little boy.
Delia just gave a small giggle and blushed as she hugged her son back.
The party quickly got underway. It stretched out to the backyard, where about ten big cakes were set at a table. Ash saw them and immediately started to pig out on them. Misty gave a sigh of disgust, a part of her wondering why she accepted his proposal. Ash ended up eating three cakes all by himself before feeling satisfied. After that, everyone sighed in relief, silently thanking Delia for preparing for her son's bottomless pit of a stomach.
As the party continued, Delia noticed something on Misty's hand.
"Oh! A ring?" She asked as she looked at Misty's hand. "Who's the lucky guy, Misty?"
"Oh, uh, you know him!" Misty said, trying to hide it.
"Is it Gary?" She asked.
"No!" Misty yelled with a mix of anger and disgust.
"I was only joking, Misty!" Delia giggled. "I believe it's really my little Ash!"
"Uh," Misty blushed. She had been caught. Delia was really good at finding out the truth. It was hard to hide something from her future mother-in-law. Misty didn't say anything to her.
"I knew it!" Delia said with happiness.
Misty then walks over to Ash and tugs on his shirt, getting his attention away from one of the neighbors he was talking to.
"Ash!" She whispered. "Your mom knows our secret!"
Ash was shocked. He couldn't believe that his mom figured it out before he told her, not to mention she did it in a new record too.
"I think you'd better tell everyone."
Ash knew what he had to do. He went up to a stage where some people were trying their hand at Karaoke. Some of which got more laughs than applause from their embarrassing excuse of how bad they sung. Ash then took the stage after someone had stepped down, everyone laughing at the poor guy's poor performance.
"Everyone, can I have your attention, please?" Ash said. Everyone went silent and brought their attention to Ash. "As you all know, I had won the title of Pokemon Master just a few days ago. I would like to say that I have achieved one of the greatest goals in the world, and I couldn't have done it without someone who was always by my side. Even though there was a time when she wasn't there physically, she was there with me in spirit. Through my entire journey, she has been with me through thick and thin. She was there for me when the times got hard, and I wanted to give up! She helped me get back on track when I was down, and when I lost at the Indigo Plateau; she was there to help me believe in my dream again! I thank god everyday that I have a friend like that. One I know I can trust to be there for me for the rest of my life. I present to you, the one that I will indeed someday marry, and share the rest of my life with, Misty Waterflower!"
Misty smiled and nervously, with a fake smile, went up onto the stage to join Ash. The near one hundred people cheered at Ash for his decision.
Ash then saw someone in the audience that he recognized. It was Macey. Her face showed that she had heard Ash. Ash then remembered that he didn't get the chance to talk to her, but he thought that he might as well get it over with now.
He started to walk off the stage, but Misty noticed. "Where are you going, Ash?" She asked.
"I just saw Macey. I'm going to talk to her and settle everything." Ash answered.
"Be careful Ash! You probably already broke her heart."
Ash thanked Misty for the warning in his mind and went off the stage. Ash walked towards Macey. Macey noticed him, gave him an angry glare, and turned away from him with an angry blush.
"Go away!" She yelled.
Ash sighed. "I understand why, Macey! If you really want me to, I will leave." He said.
"You broke my heart, Ash Ketchum!" She hardly looked at him, but it was obvious that she couldn't look him straight in the eye and tell him. Though she did have the courage to at least tell him. "I want you to leave and stay out of my life! Go away and make love with that evil witch!"
"You take that back!" He yelled angrily.
Ash never liked anyone saying anything bad about Misty. He loved Misty too much to even let her feelings get hurt.
Macey faced him this time. "No! In fact, I'll keep calling her that or even harsher things until the day I die!"
"Macey! I want to know one thing, why did you even fall in love with me in the first place?"
"Because you saved my life! I thought you were my knight in shining armor, but I guess I was wrong in the end. I hate you, Ash Ketchum! Go away!" She turned away from Ash, trying hard to hold back the tears of sorrow that were threatening to fall from her eyes.
"So that's the reason? Because I saved you?" Macey didn't look at him, but just nodded. "Macey, I only saved you because that's the kind of guy I am, and I was at the right place at the right time!"
"But you showed concern for me!"
"Only because I wanted to know if the person I saved was okay! I would've done the same thing if it was anyone else!"
Macey started to shed tears, but didn't wipe them away, but didn't face Ash so he could see her cry. Her heart was now greatly broken. So broken, it seemed like it could never be repaired.
Ash decided to end it the only way he could think of ending it. "Look, Macey, you'll find that special someone someday. It's just that it's not with me. I love Misty, and nothing can change that."
These words seemed to make Macey fully understand everything.
She faced him, no longer crying as hard.
"You're right, Ash! I will!" Macey sniffed a little. "You know, I shouldn't even be here. I'm only here because your mom invited me, because I told her I was a friend of yours. However, I'd say we're more like enemies now. Goodbye, Ash." She starts to leave, but stops after a few steps. "Oh, and Ash, thank you. You know, for everything." She then leaves the party.
When Macey was out of sight, Misty came up to Ash.
"So, how'd it go?" She asked.
"Everything's taken care of, Misty. She understands now." Ash answered her, but not looking at her yet.
Ash turns to face her, and sees her holding a small blue mouse pokemon.
"So, how's Marill doing?" Ash asked when he noticed Misty holding the small mouse.
"I can tell that your mom did a very good job taking care of it during our recent adventure." Misty answered.
"So, not even having the baby of Tracey's Marill affecting your choice on marrying me? Because one of your pokemon is the father right?"
"It's true that one of my pokemon is the father, but it does not mean anything at all, Ash. It only means that one of my pokemon was willing to be braver than I was with a relationship back then. There were so many days I wanted to tell you, but never had the courage. So one of my pokemon fell in love with Tracey's Marill. It doesn't mean anything. Sure, movies use that as a hint, but that's a movie, not real life. It's like you, Ash. If one of my pokemon is truly happy with someone else's pokemon, then that's where it truly belongs. It means nothing more than that. It doesn't mean that the trainers should get together. Only an idiot, who doesn't understand love would think that." Misty said with the deepest honesty in her heart.
"So, you don't know who the father is?"
"Well, Tracey won't tell me, and his Marill is doing a very good job of keeping it secret. However, I'm having high suspicions that it's Golduck, though I doubt he was really that smart as a Psyduck."
"I know you'll find out one day, Misty."
"So, have you picked a date for the wedding day?" Misty asked, changing the subject.
"Misty! Don't rush me! You want to get married tomorrow or something?"
"Actually, I was thinking more like tonight." She said, playing with him.
"What?" Ash asked, at the top of his voice, completely shocked.
"I was only kidding, Ash!" She said with laughter in her voice. "I only want to make sure I can beat any other girls. I don't want anyone taking my Ash away from me."
Ash calms down after hearing that. "Don't worry, Misty. We'll get married eventually."
Misty just sighed, her thoughts on that special day.
Ash then got an idea. "Hey, you still want to become a water pokemon master, right?"
"It's my life long dream." She answered him.
"Then how about we get married the day after you become a water pokemon master. I'll even help you."
"What? You really mean it, Ash?"
"Yes, I do!"
Misty gave him a kiss on the lips as a thank you.
---End Chapter 38---
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Okay, those of you confused about where Misty'sMarill comes from, in a future ep, Misty rejoins the group, but only for 2 1/4 eps. An Azurill, which turned out to be the baby of Tracey's Marill, has replaced the role of Togepi. There was no real indication of who the father of Misty's Azurill is, but with the fact that Tracey gave it to Misty, it's highly likely that one of Misty's pokemon is, and after careful research, the best choice is Psyduck. If you research the move Refresh,which Azurill used in one of the eps,and all of Misty's pokemon, you'd see why.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed that.
BTW, it's not over yet. Two chapters left.
Anyways, please review.