A Jewel in Water

Part 19

Misty quickly hung up the phone. This was just brilliant. She needed Paul to try and get rid of Rudy before Ash came, but Paul was missing and had decided to go missing without a phone! How was she going to get rid of him? He was probably listening in to her conversation right now and since the silence was being prolonged, then there would be an excuse to come in! Could she try and escape through the window? Well there it was worth a try! She ran over to the window but before she could heave one leg over there was a knock on the door. There was no point in stopping now; Rudy was due in any minute. But by the time she got her leg over the door was wide open and the King was staring at Misty wide eyed.

"Are you alright my dear?" he asked, completely bemused.

"Yes, father. But I think it's best if you don't ask." Misty looked behind the King to see if there was any sight of Rudy, but he had vanished. The King picked up on this and answered her unspoken question.

"Ah, I sent him away; I wanted to have a word with you." Well when the King said it, there were no arguments, were there? "Now, as I told you, I have a meeting in Pastoria city this week, and I'll be setting off in a few hours. Now normally I wouldn't insist on meeting you alone but the circumstances are slightly different this time. Now, there seems to be an influx of guests so I am slightly more calm, but will you be alright on your own whilst they are here?" the King asked with concern. Misty had seldom seen her father act this way. Maybe it was because it was the last chance before she was let loose to find her partner.

"I'll be fine Father. This isn't the first time that I've done this, although it may be the last," she tried to joke. Her father's face relaxed a little.

"That's fine then," the King finally stated. "I'll be taking my leave." He turned around to walk out of the room, and Misty turned around to have a seat in a chair that was tucked under a table. But even her pondering thoughts didn't block out the words that would set her heart off at record pace:

"Ah, Ashton, yes the princess is right through there. I hope to see you on my return."

Paul was speeding off, probably the fastest he's ever moved anywhere in his life. It was a really bad idea to take the random leftovers from the kitchen, without knowing how long they'd been there. What was he supposed to do now? He couldn't get home if he was like this. Food poisoning… from sandwiches! He reached the bathroom just in time to eject everything he had eaten in the last day out of his system.

Kenny peered into the bathroom. He couldn't bare to hear May and Dawn talk about their love for Ash so he decided to leave and follow Paul to the bathroom. There he saw Paul retching out into the toilets. Could this be because of an upset stomach? Or could it be psychological? Kenny thought he was pretty good reading all these signs. Now if he jumped to conclusions, he would be able to assume that Paul was not taking all this marriage stuff very well, and this was not helping him mentally and this is what was leading him to being more vulnerable than usual. Kenny kindly decided to let Paul vomit in peace as he went back to Dawn and Iris.

Meanwhile Elliot had just finished getting his hair dyed. He looked in the mirror and studied himself. Brown could be his colour. Now he just needed to pop out and buy some things. Glasses…coloured contacts… anything that could change him without really changing him. And his story? Well telling everyone that he was trying to impress Misty would be weak but that was all he had on such short notice. And anyway, trying to impress Misty was the last thing on his mind. Why else would he put in a gold tooth and show it off like it's the crown jewels? But he would probably need to tell Ash everything at some point. Ash had seen through him straight away. And judging from the 'Trick Misty' plan, he wasn't as interested in May as Elliot thought he used to be. Now although he was as shielded as he could ever be from Mays prying eyes, first thing was first. He needed to break off his engagement.

Ash approached Misty slowly and saw her about to get up from her seat as she saw him.

"Oh, no need to get up, this will be quick," he told her. She sat back down. "Now princess, I'm here for two things. First thing is to apologize deeply for the way I have acted this afternoon. You were gracious enough to invite me to be one of the candidates for your husband, and I have greatly offended you today," he said to her. She wasn't expecting this. How was she supposed to stay mad at him, when someone of such high standing literally bowed in apology? She may have been a princess, but that was not through effort. Pokémon master on the other hand? Well you weren't born into that.

"Well, whilst I am not disagreeing with what you are saying, but I think that it you may be acting upon your actions slightly too seriously. From what I've seen so far, this doesn't seem to be anything like you." A grin swept across Ash's face.

"So I can take it that I'm not disqualified as one of the remaining three candidates?" he asked just to make sure. Misty blushed, but tried to hid it by turning her face away from Ash.

"Well, if you should so wish to, you may be allowed to stay." She finally uttered. Ash laughed in happiness.

"Thank you princess!" he ran over to her, but had to stop himself from doing anything too physical, so just grabbed her hand to kiss it. The blush on Misty's face was undeniable now.

"You said that there were two things you had to say?" she said whilst pulling her hand way from Ash embarrassedly. Ash quickly recalled the other purpose of the meeting and reluctantly told her the news.

"I'm afraid I have to leave tomorrow."

Out in the garden, Dawn and May were getting ready for a battle.

"You better watch out May, because I'm no longer the little girl you once knew." Dawn shouted at her. Kenny had just returned to this turn of events and walked over to Iris, who looked scared and excited at the same time.

"What's going on?" he asked her as he joined her on the floor. "It's starting to get dark out, what are these two doing?"

"I think it's a love fight over Ash." Kenny involuntarily ripped out some grass from the ground. Ash wasn't going to be his favourite person today.

"Well then I'm expecting a good battle Dawn! Regardless of the motive," she sighed at the end. How much longer were people going to think that she was all over Ash? That may have been true at one point, but once she met Drew, Ash was out of the picture.

"Go Piplup!" Dawn shouted as she threw her pokéball in the air.

"Still not evolved it I see," commented May but before Dawn could retort she sent out her Beautify before adding: "Good luck Dawn; may the better trainer win!"

Over in Unova a man with light green hair was boarding a plane and muttering under his breath.

"I knew it was a bad idea to owe him a favour. Now I have to fly across the globe to satisfy him. Let's hope the experience is worth it." The man sighed sorrowfully and boarded the plane. The experience would be worth it alright. Just maybe not for him.