Author's note: Thanks for the review! I love Ash/Misty pairings too. I think it's about time they got a happy ending.

Misty and the Pokémon watched from the sidelines of the garden as Ash's Squirtle sparred with Brock's Vulpix. A jet of flame was blasted at Squirtle, but the water turtle leaped away and aimed a powerful water gun at its opponent.

As Ash and Brock continued their duel, Misty played idly with Togepi. Most of the Pokémon were playing together. Predictably, Charizard and Snorlax were asleep. As Misty watched, Vulpix was hit by a water gun attack and flew backwards, stunned.

"I have to admit", Misty murmured to herself, "Ash has become a really great trainer. It would be shame if he doesn't do well this time".

Brock overheard and smiled at her, "Yeah, you're right Misty. I never thought you'd admit that, though".

Misty flushed, "Well…I…um…"

"What are you guys talking about?" Ash asked, with his usual look of complete naivety on his face.

"Oh, Misty was just saying…" Brock began, but was quickly cut off by Misty.

"I was talking to Togepi! I wasn't talking about anything! You're crazy!" she babbled furiously.

Ash blinked, then a look of sly recognition crossed his face, "Oh…I get it!"

Misty stared, "You do?"

"Yeah. You're making fun of me again!"

"I am not!"

"You are too!"

"I am not, and even if I was I wouldn't be shy about it, you loser!"

"Loser? Well we'll see who's…"

Pikachu rolled his eyes in despair and Brock sighed as their endless squabbling continued.

"Some things never change", Brock mused.

There was the sudden intervention of a voice, clear and loud, coming from the front of the house, "Excuse me? Anybody home?"

"Huh?" Ash looked up, confused, "Who could that be?"

"Better go answer the door", Brock stood up and led the way into the house, with Ash and Misty following.

The voice called out again, and there was a knocking on the door, "Hello? Is this the house of Ash Ketchum?"

Ash blinked, "For me?" he stepped forward and opened the door.

Standing there was a young, pretty girl with dark chestnut hair, striking blue eyes and a smiling face. She wore a decorative red dress, and as she saw Ash her grin widened.

"You must be Ash! I tried the door but no one answered. I've heard so much about you", she said excitedly.

"Um…that's nice but…who are you?" Ash asked cluelessly.

"Oh, I'm Miranda. Miranda Hill. Hi, I come from Vermillion City", she shook his hand enthusiastically, "I hope you don't mind me dropping by. But I saw you battle and I realized what a great trainer you were. A few people have told me a lot about you. They said I could find you here, and your girlfriend", she pointed at Misty casually.

"His girlfriend!" Misty raged predictably, "Girlfriend! He wishes".

"No, I really, really don't", Ash yelled back over his shoulder.

"Who said I was his girlfriend!" Misty ranted, ignoring him.

Miranda blinked, taken aback, "Oh, am I here at a bad moment?"

"Oh, no, they're always like this", Brock interrupted, taking command of the situation, "Come on in, Miss".

"Oh, thank you", Miranda replied slightly timidly, as Brock led her into the house past the fuming Misty and sat her down on the sofa.

"So, what brings you here to see Ash?" Brock asked.

"Yeah, I had no idea I was a celebrity", Ash grinned.

"Oh, well you're quite a popular trainer", Miranda smiled, "People tell me about the last time you entered the League, and how you managed to use your little Pokémon and skill to take down a lot larger Pokémon. I'm hoping to see you in action a lot more in the League".

"Oh, heh, thanks", Ash blushed, "You're real kind. Hey, are you a trainer?"

"Yes, I've just begun training. I thought I'd come to the League to get some inspiration. You want to see my Pokémon?"

"Sure, I'd be glad to", Ash said.

Miranda dropped her Pokéballs to the floor and they burst open with a flash of light. Three Pokémon formed from the light. The feathered features of a Pidgey, and two Nidorans, one female and the other male.

To his credit, Ash did his best to look impressed, "Wow, a matching set of Nidorans!"

"Yeah, I caught the female, and my friend traded me a Bellsprout for his male. Now I got a pair, in the future I'll be able to have lots of cute little Nidorans!"

As they watched, the two Nidorans rubbed up against each other gently and made little cooing noises. The three trainers said, "aww", except for Misty, who was still looking irritated from a distance.

"Aren't they adorable?" Miranda sighed, "So romantic".

"Ahah, well, Misty's the romantic in here, right Misty?" Ash called over to her.

"Uh, yeah. Sure", Misty's features softened a little as she looked at the two cuddling Nidorans.

"Why don't you send your Pokémon into the garden to say hi to ours why we get something to eat?" Brock suggested, "It's getting close to dinner time".

"Oh, well, thank you very much", Miranda said graciously.

The Pidgey and two Nidorans happily headed for the garden, where the other Pokémon, led by Pikachu, introduced themselves.

Charizard looked at the two Nidorans, who seemed permanently embraced and always squeaking to one another, and rolled his eyes with his usual lack of tolerance.

A mere few minutes later, and Brock had produced another delicious meal with startling ease. The four sat at the table, eating heartily, making light conversation.

"So Ash", Miranda said casually after a while, "If Misty isn't your girlfriend, who is?"

Surprised at the question, Ash looked up, "What? Why'd you ask that for?"

"Oh, just making conversation".

"Well, I've never really had a girlfriend. I guess I'm far too busy training Pokémon and travelling to ever think of girls", he leaned back in the chair and looked thoughtful, as if he had never considered the subject before, "I suppose the only kind of girl who I could even think about like that would have to travel around with me".

"Ah, that's a shame. I'd have thought a cute guy like you would have girls all over him", Miranda winked with good-humour.

Ash blushed, while Brock laughed. Misty slowed her rate of eating and looked up, twitching slightly.

Miranda looked over at her, "What about you, Misty? Anyone special in your life?"

Misty placed her knife and fork aside and looked dead ahead, out of the window. After a while, and with what seemed like a great deal of effort, she replied.

"Um, no. No one".

"Oh, that's too bad".

"Heh, Misty's never been able to find someone right for her. I keep saying it must be her personality". Ash teased playfully.

Misty seemed to take great exception to the comment. She glared at Ash with surprising intensity, not moving a muscle. After a while she stood up and walked out of the room quietly.

"Misty! Where are you going?" Brock called after her.

"Does this mean you don't want your food?" Ash eyed her plate hungrily.

From the other room, Misty's voice yelled out something unpleasant and threatening at Ash. They heard the front door slam.

"Wow, I really nettled her", Ash mumbled, "I wonder what's up?"

Brock shook his head, "I'm not sure, but I can guess".

"What do you think it is, Brock?" Ash asked, bewildered.

"I'm not going to say. I don't know if I'm right", before Ash could reply, he turned to Miranda, "So, where are you staying during the League, Miranda?"

"Oh, well I thought I'd stay in one of the hotels in the village. There's quite a few", Miranda said.

"Oh, you don't need to waste money doing that!" Ash exclaimed, "She can stay here with us! Right, Brock? We got room".

"Uh..yeah. Sure we do. Tell you what, I'll sleep on the sofa in the front room, and you three can use the bedroom".

"Why, that's very kind of you!" Miranda smiled, "But I really don't want to intrude on you. I'm sure you're all very busy…"

"Oh, no. We'd be happy too", Ash said.

"Well, thank you both very much", Miranda blushed a little, "That's very kind of you".

"Hmm. Ash, do you think we ought to let the Pokémon rest in their Pokéballs before the match tomorrow?" Brock suggested.

"Huh? Oh yeah. We probably should. Although it sounds like they're having fun out there", they listened and could hear the Pokémon chattering away to each other and galloping madly on the grass.

In reality, the Pokémon were talking with one another, in the combination of grunts, growls and repetitions of their own names that humans could not understand. Some of them had been listening to the goings on in the kitchen.

"I wonder what's wrong with Misty?" Pkiachu was saying.

"She's always a little…tense", Bulbasaur pointed out.

"Not that tense", Misty's Staryu objected, "I know her better than you do. Something is really bothering her".

Charizard, who was listening with one eye open, yawned, "I can tell you what's wrong with her".

Pikachu folded his arms across his chest, disliking the smug tone of voice Charizard was using, "Oh really? If you're so smart, what's up then?"

Charizard shut his eye again, "I'm not going to tell you. I'll let you find out for yourself".

"Ah, I thought so", Lapras called over, "You have no idea. You're just trying to sound clever".

Some of the other Pokémon who were actually participating in the conversation voiced their approval.

"Yeah, what makes you right all the time?" Pikachu demanded to know.

Charizard's eyes opened and he glared at Pikachu, "Oh, shut up".

"I'm sick of your attitude", Squirtle rushed to Pikachu's defence, "Just because you're the strongest Pokémon Ash has…"

"And don't you forget it", Charizard grinned.

"That doesn't mean you can push us around", Squirtle finished.

"I'm not pushing you around. I simply said I know what is wrong with Misty and you all took great offence at that. I can't help it if you're all touchy".

Before anyone could reply, Ash, Brock and Miranda entered the garden, "Hi everyone. Having fun?" Ash smiled warmly.

Everyone chorused their name happily, or grunted in acknowledgment, not wanting to offend their friend Ash.

"Come on everybody. You'd better rest for now. Tomorrow's a big day for us", Ash told them, and recalled all of his Pokémon into their Pokéballs, and Brock and Miranda did the same, until only Pikachu and Togepi remained.

"Let's get to bed now", Brock suggested, "Ash needs to be in top form tomorrow".

"Oh, he looks in top form to me right now", Miranda laughed. Ash blushed.

It was pitch black outside when Misty slipped silently crept into the house, gently closing the door behind her. She tiptoed in, past Brock and the sofa and towards the room. Then she did a double take.

"Brock! What are you doing on the sofa?" she exclaimed, then placed her hand over her mouth, realizing she had spoken too loud.

Brock stirred and murmured, then sat up and rubbed his eyes, flicking on the light as he did so, "Misty? That you?"

"Who else would it be?" Misty declared incredously, "What are you doing on the sofa?"

Still sleepy, Brock shook his head, "That Miranda's staying with us. She's having my bed".

"What? Why?" Misty stared.

"It was Ash's idea. He said there was no need for her to stay in a hotel when she could stay here for free".

"Ash's idea? Oh…"

There was an element of hurt to her voice that Brock detected, "What's wrong with that? She's a nice girl".

"Um…yeah. That's right, she is. I don't mind at all".

Brock arched one eyebrow, "So, where did you go?"

"Oh, for a walk. That's all".

"Why did you storm out like that?"

"I…I wasn't feeling too good. And Ash making fun of me wasn't helping".

"I think it might be an idea if we talk, Misty".

She looked taken aback, "Talk? About what?"

"I think you know".

Misty stared for a moment, then frowned, "Hey, what is this, some kind of lecture?"

"No, I'm just trying to help".

"Well, I don't need your help! Or anyone else's".

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Look, don't wake Ash, okay? Tomorrow's important for him".

She sighed, "Okay, I won't. Sorry, Brock. Is Togepi in there?"

"Yeah, Togepi's in there. Goodnight, Misty".

"Goodnight, Brock".