Ok, I know I promised I'd post chapter 3 quickly but....stuff happens! Apologies all round on that one! Here it is now though, sorry for the delay. Hopefully most of you haven't given up on it yet!
p.s. This does take place before Johto, Wiseabsol. I forgot to mention that here!
Chapter 3
Brock screeched round the corner to the waiting room only to find Misty staring at the floor gloomily, her eyes somewhat red. Brock had seen her like this before, but normally she quickly fired off a "What?!" or "What are YOU looking at Brock?" Yet she glanced up at Brock expressionless, and then allowed her head to droop back to the floor slowly. Breathless though he was, Brock still forced a few words out in between gasps for air
"I...saw " he noticed Misty's eyes move awkwardly at that word, her head remaining pointed at the floor. "Is it Pikachu?"
He glanced up at the ER light only to find it still on. Pikachu was still in recovery. So that can't have been why Ash was crying.
"So why was Ash..." started Brock, only to realise the lack of expression on Misty's face as he was talking to her. "Ah...You two had another argument then"
The glare he received off Misty told him that it was quite obvious they had.
"He was trying to blame his Pokémon, Brock. He can't keep doing this. I had to tell him it's him in the wrong"
Brock let his head flop against the wall as he slumped in the chair next to Misty, and let out a semi-audible sigh. Ash and Misty always argued, but usually they were over quickly, and forgotten soon after. Over the last few weeks though, they had been getting more serious, a result of Ash getting nervous about the tournament.
"This was hardly the best time to bring up Ash's training ability though was it? I mean Ash doesn't exactly tolerate criticism well at the best of times, especially..." Brock indicated the Emergency room, behind which the stricken Pikachu was being patched up
Misty let out a sigh. "I know Brock but I couldn't help it. Someone had to tell him"
Brock rolled his eyes "So what did he say when you told him he was wrong?"
"He didn't say anything, he just yelled things" Misty muttered
"Oh I'm sure you didn't yell at all, that's not your style is it?" Brock grinned knowingly; even Misty gave a slight smile. "So what sort of things did he yell?"
"He was just going through the battle, making up excuses as always. He even accused me of liking Gary" she said with a tone of disgust. Brock raised an eyebrow as he peered at Misty. Misty noticed him,
"WHAT? Of course I don't Brock, you're as crazy as Ash is!"
Brock decided to let it go for now, maybe that subject was for another time...
"Ok then...but what did you say to Ash to make him run off like that?" Brock inquired, trying to minimise the accusation in his voice
"I didn't say anything Brock! I was just talking about the battle"
"Misty, when you argue with Ash he argues right back, he doesn't break down and cry"
Brock thought back to the journey to the hospital from the Pokémon stadium. The ambulance was too full of equipment for Pikachu to let Ash ride along, and besides Ash in all his wisdom had decided it was quicker on foot and began to run. Brock and Misty began to run to catch up with Ash. Who was one to question Ash? Well, Misty was, surprisingly. While they were running to the hospital a huge argument had developed about Ash's tactics, the best route to the hospital, and anything else they could think of that they could argue about. Brock and given up trying to stop their arguing long ago, he was used to it by now. But this argument was much fiercer than usual, not surprising given the heightened tension. No matter how fierce that argument had become though, Ash didn't get upset at all. So just what did Misty say this time that made Ash so hurt?
"Come on Misty, you must've said something"
Misty looked at the floor guiltily "Alright I may have said something that could've hurt him, but I didn't mean it, I just said it because I was angry"
"What did you say?"
"I told him...he was a bad trainer and he didn't care about his Pokémon"
Brock closed his eyes. He knew how much Ash loved his Pokémon and how badly he wanted to be a Pokémon Master. Misty's words must have torn Ash apart, no wonder he was so upset. Brock clasped his hands over his mouth as began to think of a way of solving this mess. He glanced across at Misty, a few tears rolling down her cheek and dripping onto the floor. He knew she loved Ash, although she would never be one to admit it, and Brock never dared confront her about it. He was still traumatised from the last time she got that damned mallet out. He knew Ash cared deeply about Misty too, no wonder those words hurt him so much.
"Alright Misty I don't think you should see Ash for a while, or try to speak to him to try to make things up"
"Huh?" Misty looked up in surprise, "You don't?"
"Nope. I don't think it'll solve anything and no doubt you'll just end up arguing and make everything worse. You don't want to lose Ash do you?"
Misty shook her head defiantly
Brock held back the smile he wanted to display. He knew why Misty certainly didn't want to lose Ash. "Right, so you should wait until Ash is feeling better, until he's in a better mood"
"You mean when Pikachu recovers"
"Right" Brock nodded with a smile
Misty smiled, apparently feeling better.
"Alright well I'm going to get something to eat now, you want anything?" Brock asked
"I'm alright thanks Brock. I'll wait here for news on Pikachu"
"Alright see ya later Misty" Brock said, as he began to leave
"Yeah bye Brock......Hey Brock...thanks"
Brock smiled back at Misty and wandered out of the room. The reassured Misty allowed a small smile to creep across her face. Things might be ok with Ash after all...
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Misty waited outside the emergency room. She was a veteran of this by now. The number of times she had to wait for one of Ash's Pokémon to recover...She thought back to the time they found Ash's Charmander on that rock. It had almost died and they had to spend many hours waiting for that little guy to get back to full strength. Then again when it had developed into a Charizard, after it got hit by that ice beam. Although she had something to do that time, helping to keep it warm, she was still waiting for what seemed like eternity. What about Pikachu when she first met Ash and he 'borrowed' her bike? She made a mental note to yell at Ash again for a new bike when he was feeling better; she hadn't brought it up in at least 3 days. She thought about the time where Pikachu got beaten by Lt. Surge's Raichu. Misty was beginning to notice a common theme here. What was it about Ash getting into trouble?
'The number of wacky adventures we have with Ash we could quite easily be characters in a cheesy TV show!' Misty thought, chuckling as she realised how ridiculous that was...
Suddenly the light above the Emergency room door blinked off with a slight ping, which reminded Misty of being in an elevator. Nurse Joy appeared out of the door with her usual beaming smile.
"Pikachu is a whole lot better now. You can go in and see him now if you like"
Misty noticed the way Nurse Joy referred to Pikachu as 'him' rather than 'it', showing how caring a nurse she was. Misty smiled back and was about to go through the doors to see Pikachu when she suddenly remembered Ash.
"Oh what about Ash...erm, I'll be back in a bit Nurse Joy. I'm just off to find Ash, Ok?" Misty declared as she hurried around the corner.
Nurse Joy couldn't have protested even if she wanted to, as Misty was out of sight almost as soon as the words left her mouth.
"Ok then..." the gentle nurse sighed, and disappeared back in to tend to Pikachu.
Misty had a glowing smile stretched across her face as she ran down the corridors of the Pokémon Center. Pikachu had made a recovery and was going to be fine. She could imagine Ash's reaction the first time he picks up Pikachu again and Pikachu's reaction when it saw Ash.
Misty didn't know exactly where Ash was but she could make a good guess. He was either sulking in his room or in the canteen stuffing himself again. As she ran through reception she saw Brock having a nap on the sofa, which eliminated the possibility of Ash being in the canteen. Brock knew the rules; don't let Ash in any place where foodstuffs are sold unsupervised. She thought back to the last time that happened, the infamous 'Chocolate Fudge Cake and Diet Coke' incident, shuddering at the thought. It wasn't a pretty sight and she was most thankful she didn't have to share a room with Ash that night.
Misty entered the corridor leading to the accommodation section of the Pokémon Centre. An inscription on the wall caught her eye. It had been scratched in with something sharp, perhaps a screwdriver. The inscription read "The Waterflower Front". She was curious as to why her name was inscribed here, but she shrugged it off quickly – she had more important matters at hand, and proceeded to continue down the corridor towards Ash's room.
She turned the final corner and approached the door to Ash's room. She was just about to turn the handle and go in when she suddenly remembered Brock's words.
'You should wait until he's feeling better...in a better mood...you'll just end up arguing...make everything worse...'
Misty hesitated. She didn't want to upset Ash further. Maybe she should just head back to see Pikachu. Misty suddenly remembered the little guy. "Pikachu...what am I doing? Getting Ash to see Pikachu again is more important than any stupid argument we had." She plucked up the courage to enter, shutting out of her mind any thoughts of an argument with Ash occurring. She boldly turned the handle, and finding it unlocked stepped into the room.
"Hi Ash"....
To be continued...
Ok I absolutely promise that it won't be as long until the next chapter is up! Thanks to all of you who reviewed the last chapter, some of those comments really made my day :)
Until next time guys...
