"Ash! What are you doing here?"
He smiled sheepishly and Misty's heart was reminded of something she felt long ago.
"I'm here to see you of course! Didn't you get my letter?"
Misty now remembered that letter that she had carelessly let fall into the wastebasket.
"No… I didn't… but I'm so glad you're here! It's been so long!"
"Yeah, it sure has! You look great Misty!"
"So do you! You look like you've grown up so much!"
And it did. He was taller for a fact, almost as tall as Josh even. And his hair was really nice now… just like Josh again. Although his eyes were so different than Josh's could ever be. They glowed with warmth that made her heart melt. As she looked at him even more closely, she could tell he had become well built and strong in the passing years. She had missed out on so much.
"Ahem…"
Misty heard Josh cough right then, and she almost completely forgot he had been right behind her.
"Oh! I completely forgot! Ash, this is my boyfriend! His name is…"
"JOSH?"
"Hello Ash."
Misty looked at the two of them with her eyes popping out. Ash, Josh, she looked at Ash, then Josh again. Something was just so familiar about them. Ash was now looking at Josh with the same hatred that Josh was feeling for him. Misty just couldn't believe it.
"How on earth do you know each other?" she practically yelled.
"Oh, it's hard not to forget your brother Misty, but it seems like Josh has done that with skill."
Misty almost fainted, but Josh caught her, and hugged his arms around her. He stroked her hair gently, and motioned her to awake. Slowly, she stood up on her own, and tried to be calm.
"Josh, is Ash really your brother?"
"Yeah, he's my little brother."
She just couldn't believe it. The two people she cared about the most in the world, were really brothers. Suddenly, she got really angry and she flared up at her boyfriend.
"Why did you never tell me Ash was your brother?"
"Why didn't you tell me you knew him… so well?"
Ash dug his foot into the ground as he observed the scene. It felt so weird, seeing his brother again, after what must have been ten years, since right before he started his journey. Then again, it was even weirder to see him with Misty, it made him sort of angry. Why?
Misty bit her lip. Josh had just told her that he loved her, and what did she do? She ran right up to Ash, hugged him and cooed over him like it was him that really said it. A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
"I'm so sorry Josh. Really I am."
She kissed him on the corner of his mouth, and he hugged her. He loved her so much, and really, he did. Josh didn't ever want to lose her, and he was beginning to think that he would.
"It's okay."
"You see, Ash and I met maybe, what, ten years ago, when he first started his pokemon journey."
"Yeah, right after you abandoned us!"
Ash was now right in front of his brother, and he was ready for a fight. His brother didn't deserve to live.
"I'm sorry if you were too young to know what it meant for me to go away. I needed space. Mom and you treated me like a little kid."
"But I needed you! I looked up to you! And the only reason why I've tried to become the best, is so I could be like you, and eventually better! Glad I did do that."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, since Misty didn't get the letter, I'll explain. I'm returning from winning the Fariya League! I'm the best pokemon trainer in the world!"
Misty looked at his face while he was saying this, and her heart went everywhere like crazy mad. She felt it tugging at inside her chest, and she just wanted to kiss Ash right then. But wait, didn't she love Josh?
"Ash, that's amazing! I can't believe it!"
"Yeah, I really can't. There is no way you are the best."
"I so am! I've dropped the trophy off at home. Mom is really proud of me. She's sad though to not know anything about you. Do you know how much it kills mom to not know anything about her son? You haven't called us or anything!"
Misty was running this through her mind, and sadness overwhelmed her heart. And not just for Ash, but maybe for herself for falling for a guy who would do something like that.
"You don't know anything about me!" Josh replied angrily.
"Yeah! I don't! You're my brother and I have no clue what you are like."
"Well, I'll show you! Come out Golem!"
Misty rolled her eyes. She began to shiver; it was almost around midnight, and there they were, near the lake, having a battle.
"Fine, I'll show you why I'm the best! I haven't worked for ten years for nothing! It's your turn Pikachu! Show him what we are made of!"
"Ash! No, don't use Pikachu!"
Josh looked at her with confusion.
"Misty, why are you taking his side?"
"Oh… um, sorry Ash, but Josh is going to win."
This was too much. She couldn't pick between the both of them. It was just too confusing for her heart and mind to deal with it right now. She walked over to a near by bench, and watched the short match unfold.
"You know, for being the best, you sure are stupid when it comes to pokemon types!"
Ash just flashed him a smirk.
"Right… you just think that!"
Josh had had enough. His little brother was not going to win, and he was going to prove to Misty who the better one really was.
"Golem, use earthquake!"
Ash smiled again.
"Pikachu, use Agility, and jump off of Golem!"
The yellow mouse nodded, and obeyed. Golem was too slow, and by the time he stomped his feet, Pikachu was already in the air above him. Then he came back down on his head, and the shock was absorbed in Golem's feet, so Pikachu wasn't the least bit hurt. Pikachu ran towards the lake. It knew what Ash was thinking, because they had won the championship like this. Josh growled, and tried not to show his humiliation. It was one thing when he battled Misty, but this was his baby kid brother.
"Golem, use rock throw!"
The pokemon nodded and did as it was told. It seemed as if Pikachu was buried under the rocks, and Misty gave out a little gasp and covered her mouth.
"See Ash, I told you, you can't be the best."
"Want to bet on it?"
"What?"
Josh looked stricken when he saw Pikachu pop out from behind the rocks, unscathed. His nostrils flared.
"Golem! Use Rollout on Pikachu!"
"Pikachu, dodge."
Such a simple command, yet it won him the battle. Golem saw Pikachu hid behind the pile of rocks, so it aimed itself for that. The rocks had become stable however, so Golem rolled up onto the tall pile, and went on soaring into the lake. Golem was now soaking wet.
"Thunderbolt him."
Pikachu sent a blaze of yellow light and it illuminated the air and night around them. The bolt of electricity was sent into the lake, and the shock had reached Golem. In a few seconds, Josh saw his pokemon faint. The red light was sent from its poke ball, and soon Golem was back inside.
"Looks like you beat me with a little yellow mouse."
"Looks like."
Ash smiled at his older brother, but Josh just turned away, and started to walk away without saying good-bye. Misty bit her lip. She knew she had to go talk to him. Quickly, Misty ran to Ash.
"Ash, here's the key to the gym. I have to go talk to him."
"What? Are you serious? You're choosing him over me?"
She gave him an exasperated look.
"Ash, please. Don't do this to me. Do you think it's that easy for me? I mean, you're my best friend…" she paused, and closed her eyes, "and he's my boyfriend. And it just so happens, that somehow you two are brothers."
Ash couldn't resist himself, she looked so different now, and all he wanted to do was make her happy. So he smiled and nodded.
"I'm sorry Misty. Go catch up to him, Pikachu and I will be back at the gym."
"Thank you Ash, really."
She smiled, and for a second, Misty just felt like not moving her feet at all, she just wanted to be with Ash. Abruptly, she turned around, and began to jog at a slight pace so she could catch up with Josh. There was a figure walking somewhat forcefully down the road, and as he passed the fences, he hit them with force and frustration. Each time he did this, Misty jolted back in shock. Finally, she caught up to him, and before he could hit the fence again, she stepped right in front of him.
"What do you want Misty? Why aren't you with Ash?"
Misty felt so guilty inside, he had seemed so hurt, and it was her fault. She quickly found herself wrapping her arms around him tightly, and letting her tears fall freely. Josh softened as he saw the person he loved in such pain.
"Josh, I'm so sorry. I do love you, I do. Don't think anything otherwise."
The tears slowly faded away, as she looked up into his eyes. She didn't feel that spark like she did when she looked into Ash's eyes. Were her words empty promises? Josh lifted her chin, and kissed her gracefully. She melted into the feeling. His kiss was so tender and she really did feel his love in it. Then how come she was thinking about Ash kissing her instead? Somehow Josh knew that her kiss wasn't the same as before. So he poured even more of his love for her into it, and that just did Misty in. He wasn't Ash; he was Josh. With him, she had something so much more than a friend; she had something she could possibly never have with Ash, a love interest. At that moment, she giggled, and Josh smiled at her.
"What's so funny?"
"You're tickling me again!"
"Oh really?"
Josh's eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Misty knew she had to be strong. Josh loved her, and she knew that for a fact. It wasn't some daydream fantasy; it was real. What she had felt for Ash all that time ago, it couldn't have been love. It just couldn't, because she was feeling too guilty as it was.
"Josh," he could see her breath, it had gotten that cold, "stop, please."
He looked over her worryingly. She was shivering and she didn't have a coat, neither did he. So Josh did the only logical thing possible. He picked her up bridal style, and carried her home, while she cuddle up close to him for warmth. When they finally reached the gym, the lights were on, but no one was in there, so it seemed. Misty and Josh reached the kitchen, and on the table was the most unbelievable thing.
There was a batch of freshly made chocolate chip cookies, and two mugs filled with hot cocoa. Misty bit back the tears in her eyes. How come Ash just had to be like that? How come he had to be so like… Ash? That night, Misty struggled to fall asleep, because somewhere in the back of her mind, her feelings interfered, and her conscious wouldn't lose the battle. So she got up and went back to the kitchen. There were still a few cookies left, so she smiled and took one with her. On her way to the front entrance of the gym, she could have sworn, something was making her go there. Finally she reached the receptionist desk and she quickly looked for the wastebasket. Sure enough, the letter was still there. Her heart started to race madly as she saw her name on the envelope, in his scribbled writing. She couldn't help but smile.
'Misty-
I'm really sorry that I haven't written to you or anything in the past like, what? Ever since I last saw you in Pallet Town I guess. Wow, that is a long time! I bet you wouldn't even recognize me! Oh, and Pikachu too! He's gotten super strong! His shock would leave your hair fried! I can just picture your reaction! Haha, anyways, want to know a little secret? I'm finally the best trainer on the planet! Yeah! I know, isn't that so cool? It was in the Fairay League, with only the best people, and I won! I wish you would have been there though, it was so exciting Misty! Well, since I'm done with my dream, I guess I'll be coming home then! And you know what that means? I get to see you! I'll be at your gym any day now! I'm sending this from Brock's house. Can you believe he actually got married? Who would have guessed? All right then, I'll see you soon. I've missed you tons, but not the whacks on the head, I guess I don't miss that!
-Ash'
Misty reread the letter what seemed like a dozen times. Each time something else would get to her that would make her laugh, cry, or just smile. Ash really was something special.
A/N: Short once again… what's wrong with me? Lol Thoughts or comments? Then please review! Thanks again!