Author's note: Heh, maybe I did make it a bit extreme with Charizard and Ash at the end. Well, there's no romance between those two in this. At all. They're just great pals, like Ash is with all of his Pokémon. Yeah. My fault, I worded it a little bit too extreme I think.
"Ash, that was amazing!" Miranda smiled broadly at Ash, as she, Brock and Misty led him out of the Arena down the street back towards their house. Pikachu was perched on Ash's shoulder.
"Um, thanks", Ash was looking at the crowds of people on the streets, most of them pointing at him and cheering.
"Wow, it seems they've really taken you to their heart, Ash", Brock observed.
"You think so?" Ash said.
"Sure", Misty prompted, "You're a young, talented trainer with a lot of determination. It's only natural that they would take a shine to you".
Ash stopped in his tracks, "Wow, it's not like you to be so sweet, Misty. Thanks".
Before Misty could reply, Miranda slapped a hand on Ash's shoulder and started steering him away, leading the group into a dark side street, "Well, you deserve it. You're the best trainer in the League!"
"Best trainer in the League? I don't think so!" a deep voice intoned.
"Huh?" Ash looked to the shadows and saw a middle-aged man step out. He was dressed in a dark red suit, with smart black hair. His eyes were cruel, piercing and cutting, and his mouth a thin slit in his face, showing no emotion.
"Who are you?" Misty demanded to know, feeling uneasy.
"That's no concern of yours, Misty Waterflower. Mind your own business".
Taken aback, Misty stared, "I…I wasn't aware you knew my name".
"You will find, young one, that there are few matters of which I am not aware. Now stand aside, it's Mister Ketchum with whom I wish to deal".
Everyone was paralysed, rooted to the spot with a combination of fear and awe. There was a presence to the man that made the skin crawl. No one dared move a muscle. No one, except of course, Misty.
"There's no need to be so rude!" she snapped, hands on hips and standing between Ash and the man.
He laughed, a small, quiet noise. They felt terribly alone.
"Why, how protective of you, Miss Waterflower. Let Ketchum speak for himself or I shall be forced to turn unpleasant".
Ash was spurred into action, stepping forward, "I'm not talking to you at all until I find out who you are and what you want!"
"My name Is Giovanni. I am a Pokémon Master, the greatest in the world. I am in this League, and in my last match I defeated my foe without losing a single slave to his onslaught".
Ash intensely disliked the way he referred to his Pokémon as slaves. On his shoulder, Pikachu looked tense and nervous.
"So what do you want with me?" Ash tried to remain defiant.
Giovanni's voice remained level and cool, "I am battling a friend of yours in my next battle. Gary Oak. He will find himself no match for me. Soon, you and I may duel. And when we do, I hope you are ready, young one".
With that, he walked past them and out into the streets, striding confidently away. They watched him until he was out of sight.
"…That was strange", Misty whispered.
"It sure was", Brock nodded, "Giovanni? That name sounds vaguely familiar…"
"It does? Where do you think you heard it from, Brock?" Ash asked.
"I'm not sure…it may just be my imagination. Come on, let's get home. We're not achieving anything just standing here. Ignore him and his empty threats".
They walked on in silence. Ash could hear the man's voice racing around in his mind over and over. Fighting Gary? And come to that, how did he know that he knew Gary? And how did he know Misty's name? Or his name, at that? He was unnerved.
When they arrived home, they relaxed a little now they were out of the streets. Miranda said she was going to use the shower. Brock started preparing lunch in the kitchen. Misty lounged on the couch, playing with Togepi. Ash smiled as he watched her. He was glad the tension between him and Misty from yesterday was gone now. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.
"Uh-oh! I better take my Pokémon to a Pokémon centre! If I don't hurry it'll get too crowded and they'll be tired out for days. I'm going to go now", he gestured to Pikachu and prepared to leave, "Anyone want to come? Heh, I could use the company".
"I'll come", Misty said pleasantly.
"Oh, don't worry about it Misty. I'll go", Miranda called from the other room and walked in, "You stay here and me and Ash will go".
Misty stared, "I thought you were going to take a shower?"
"That can wait, this is more important. Come on, Ash", before Ash could reply, Miranda had taken his arm in hers and led him out the door.
Misty stared for a few seconds at the door, blank and expressionless. Then she folded her arms across her chest and looked angrily at the floor.
"Who does she think she is? She just walks in and does whatever she pleases, while I wait for…"
She trailed off mid-sentence and looked up, and saw Brock looking at her curiously.
"What are you staring at!" she yelled.
"Nothing. You don't seem very pleased with Miranda being around".
Misty faltered for words, then stuttered, "Yeah…she's annoying me. There a problem with that?"
"I think it's more than that, I think you're jealous".
She looked really irate now, "Me? Jealous of a little creep like her! Why would I be?"
Brock shook his head, "I'm not going to say if you're going to keep yelling at me".
"Well, fine, because that's exactly what I plan to do!" she exclaimed, reminding Brock just how much of a quick temper she had.
Patiently, Brock crossed over and sat down on a chair opposite to her, "I just want to help, Misty".
"Well I don't want your help! Or anyone else's. What would I need help for?"
Sighing, Brock tried again, "I think you're having a little trouble expressing your emotions", as he saw Misty get even angrier, he carried on quickly, "Not those kind of emotions. You do pretty well in the anger department".
"Then what are you talking about?" she growled at him.
"How do you feel about Ash?"
Misty didn't move a muscle, and she slowly replied, "He's a good friend. And I think he'll go far and I wish him all the best. Why?"
"Uh-huh. And how do you really feel about him?"
Misty was becoming agitated, she shifted nervously and avoided eye contact with Brock, "I just told you! He's a good friend. And I don't really care about the stupid bike any more".
Brock looked at her for a moment and said, "Do you want to know what I think?"
"No, but I'm sure I'm about to hear it anyway".
Desperately, Brock tried to keep his temper with the hotheaded girl, "I think you really like Ash. And I think you're in denial about it and won't admit it to anyone".
Instantly, Misty was on her feet, startling Togepi, "You must be crazy! Take that back, you little freak!"
"If you don't like him, why are you getting so worked up about it?"
That stopped Misty in her tracks, "Um…I'm not worked up about it!"
"Oh yes you are. You're shaking".
Misty looked at her hands, and saw that they were trembling. She looked at Brock again, and felt warmth spread through her cheeks. She realized she was blushing. Urgently, she took a deep breath to calm down, and let the tension ease out of her. It didn't really work, but she managed to sit back down again.
"Misty?" Brock asked, concerned.
She avoided looking at him, still blushing furiously.
Brock was almost ready to give up, but he tried again, "So what is it you dislike about Miranda?"
Misty's eyes narrowed, "She's an interfering manipulative girl. She needs to mind her own business".
"There's more to it than that".
"No there isn't".
"Yes there is".
"What is this, an interrogation! I told you, that's it".
"Misty, what annoys you about her?"
"I told you everything!"
"No, you haven't", Brock pressed the subject further.
"I have!"
"I don't think so. What don't you like about her? What annoys you more than anything?"
"I hate the way that she just walks in and whisks Ash away in less than a day, where it's taken me years and I still haven't said anything!"
Misty's hand flew to her mouth and she looked at Brock, wide-eyed. Brock smiled slightly, not a sarcastic or triumphant smile, but a genuine, warm smile. Mumbling nervously and embarrassed, Misty looked away from him. Her face had flushed a bright red and she felt more awkward than she ever had in her whole life. They were silent for a moment, then Misty turned and looked at Brock.
"Um…can you forget you ever heard that?"
Brock shook his head, "Not a chance".
Misty groaned and banged her head on the couch in frustration and embarrassment. Brock let her ride it out for a moment, then she looked up at him.
"You're not going to tell Ash this, are you?"
"No. You are".
