A Jewel in Water

Part 14

Rudy was on a rampage to murder anyone that got in his way, and he was desperately scrubbing his face with his hand to get the ink off. Never before had he been so humiliated. Everyone had seen him like this. Even Misty and the King! There was no way he was going to let Ash live peacefully after this. Everyone looked at him. The more they stared, the more scared they got. They decided that it would be best to leave him alone and they all slowly dispersed, for their own safety.

Brock then recruited May and Elliot back into the troops. He knew that Paul couldn't care less about the 'Trick Misty' Plan and he was definitely not going to tell Rudy or Misty. He was contemplating whether to tell Kenny and Dawn, but, they may not have agreed since they seemed to 'love' Ash and Misty so much. Once the three were securely back in the Secondary Lounge, and there was no one else in sight, Brock decided to let May and Elliot in on the secret.

"I can't believe him." Said May.

"I can't believe that the Kind managed to see him. I can only imagine how high and mighty he was feeling." Snickered Elliot.

"You better not go near him. If he finds out that it was you and not Ash, then you are worse than dead." The blood drained from his face. But Brock couldn't wait any longer.

"Right, you two. The reason I called you here." He interrupted.

"Oh yeah, I forgot." Remembered Elliot

"Go on then! Why all the suspense?" May urged.

"Well…"

Ash and Team Rocket were making their way up the stairs.

"You guys got quite the reception then, didn't you?" Ash joked.

"Don't even say anything you twerp." Warned Jessie

"You knew this would happen from the start, didn't you?" asked James suspiciously.

"Of course I didn't! To be honest I didn't think about anything."

"Shame on you. Aren't you supposed to be quick and always thinking ahead, Pokémon Master?" said Meowth. They reached his room and put down all Ash's luggage.

"Now that's everything," clarified James. The three of them looked at Ash expectantly. He laughed.

"The money is in your accounts. And as a bonus for today, here are some train tickets for the Magnet Train. Valid all week." He handed them the tickets.

"He's being too nice, guys…" said Meowth to the other two.

"Hey, isn't that a bit rude? It's just some compensation for what just happened!" Ash tried to justify himself.

"So you did know that this would happen?" asked Jessie.

"Just take them before I change my mind and send you back by foot!" Ash told them. He lead them all back to main door. Brock, May and Elliot had finished their conversation and were about to go up to see Ash, but they stopped once they saw him seeing Team Rocket off.

"Are you sure that you don't want to stay here a bit longer?" Ash teased. The tree amigos looked at him with disdainful eyes.

"Are you being serious?" Jessie asked.

"Fine, fine, just go!" said Ash and with that they left muttering curses for Ash, probably.

"So you really are best buds with Team Rocket." Said Brock as he approached Ash with the other two.

"Not friends with Team Rocket. Just with those three. Actually we aren't even friends." Ash admitted.

"So they're like servant basically?" asked May.

"Yeah, I've got some dirt on them,"

"Mind giving me some dirt? I've got so many things I want revenge on them for." wondered May, but Ash grew serious.

"No. I'm not doing this for revenge," Ash said. He didn't want to say anything more than he had to.

Elliot loved this turn of events. For some reason, Ash was upset with May and this made him feel all warm inside. May's idol was angry with him. This was a chance for him to get in there!

"Hey, Brock said that you were going to tell us something." Elliot broke the silence. Ash looked at Elliot, as if for the first time, and the smile that Ash had given Elliot up near Rudy's room came across his face again. Elliot should have kept quiet. Now Ash would definitely be asking him some more questions about his situation.

"Sure, let's go up to my room."

"You okay?" Asked Paul as he sat next to Misty in the PokéGarden.

"Yeah, fine… I'm just…"

"Right, that makes complete sense." Paul mocked.

"Oh shush Paul." Misty said.

"I'm leaving tonight by the way." This caught Misty off guard.

"What? Why so soon?" she cried.

"Well, to tell you the truth, I came here to challenge Ash." Misty felt her blood boil but she stayed silent. "It looks like he isn't quite settled down to have a proper battle, and I would prefer to do it at the proper place anyway." He explained.

"So tonight?"

"Yeah. My brother called me and said that I should come home quickly as well. He's got some problem or something stupid."

"Well, you staying for dinner at least?"

"I'm not making the same mistake twice. No way am I going to miss dinner." Misty's eyes started welling up. "So, you never did tell me what was wrong with you?" She burst into tears.

Kenny and Dawn were also prowling around the PokéGardens, and they happened to see Misty and Paul.

"Look, there's your love." Teased Dawn. Kenny looked over at the two. However it was just at that moment when Misty and Paul started hugging. Both Kenny and Dawn looked at each other.

"You don't think…" Dawn started.

"…there's something going on with them?" Kenny finished. "I mean, I did see him, the first time I met Misty, and every time I come over here to the castle, he is always here…"

"So they're both in a relationship after all?"

"No! You can't say that!" Kenny shouted. Dawn put her hand over his mouth and pulling him behind a bush. Kenny felt his heart beat quicken.

"Don't be an idiot, okay Kenny! Be quiet or they'll see us!" Dawn scolded.

"Why is that such a bad thing?" Asked Kenny, as he tried to calm himself down.

"Look, you are so immature. Misty is getting married, right?"

"Right."

"But if they are in a relationship, then obviously this is not ideal for those two. I mean aren't they cousins or something? So obviously in a modern age, they can't marry. It would be disgusting. But they love each other so much that it doesn't matter!"

"WHAT?"

"And this is really hurting them both, because not only is Misty older than him, she has to get married to one of these other guys!"

"Misty's older than me too!"

"Oh yeah… But I wasn't talking about you anyway, coz you aren't going to be able to marry her."

"So Misty is in love with Paul and she doesn't want to get married… so this all has to be a secret…"

"Basically, yes." Then all of a sudden a Charizard flew out of the sky and off jumped a girl with dark purple hair.

"Such childish imaginations you both have."