Chapter 2

Latency Stage

It was dark. Ash, Brock, and Pikachu had spent all day walking through Mount Moon. When they finally reached the other side, the sun was gone. "Well… That took longer than expected." Ash said. "We got lost in there, didn't we?" Brock said. "It doesn't matter. We're here, right?" Ash said with a smile. Pikachu squeaked in agreement. "Yeah. Do you think Misty'll let us stay at her place for the night? I'm ready to fall down." Brock said. He was tired from hiking all day. "I hope so too." Ash said. They continued toward Cerulean City.

Ash, Brock, and Pikachu arrived in front of the Cerulean City gym. There weren't too many people around. In fact, it appeared to be closed at the moment, even though the lights were on. "Huh. Wonder if they'll let us in." Ash said. Pikachu hoped so too. Brock was struggling to keep himself awake.

Ash knocked on the door. No one answered at first. "Hello? Anyone here?" Ash called. He heard someone coming. He thought it would be Misty, but instead, it was Psyduck. He tripped on his feet while walking and struggled to get back up. "Oh, do you remember me, Psyduck?" Ash said. Psyduck grumbled and held its head with a dopey look on his face. "Well, can you go get Misty? We're here to see her." Psyduck didn't say anything. It smiled at Ash and urinated all over the floor. "Uh… Psyduck, are you okay?" Ash said. Psyduck tried to send a psychic message, but it was garbled due to Psyduck's low intelligence. "Ash. Ash. Ash. Ash." "Psyduck what are you doing?" A voice called out from the back. It sounded like Misty. Pikachu got excited and squeaked with joy. Brock opened his eyes. "I'm awake!" He said. "Misty? It's Ash! I'm over here!" "Oh, cool! I'll be there in just a second!"

Misty arrived at the gym doors. She unlocked them and let Ash, Brock, and Pikachu in. Psyduck grumbled like a moron. She kicked him. "Dumb duck." She said. Psyduck didn't appear to feel any pain when she did this. It just stood there like an idiot. She turned to Ash and smiled. "Sorry about the mess. He's just happy to see you. I'll clean it up later." Misty said. "Oh, it's fine. I've seen pokemon do way worse before." Ash said.

Misty looked at Ash and Brock. They were covered in dirt from travelling through the mountains all day and look exhausted. "Did you two want some food? I could make you something if you want." She said. Ash turned to Brock. He had fallen down and was sleeping on the floor. "He's going to be okay, right?" Misty said. "Oh yeah, he'll be fine. I am hungry, though, and I'd like to take up that offer on food." Ash said with a grin. "Great! I'll start cooking right now!" Misty said.

Ash stepped around Brock and followed Misty to the kitchen. She had already started frying up some eggs. "Hey, I haven't seen you in a while. How's it been?" Misty said. "Pretty good. I got invited to something special, a huge tournament in Celedon. I thought, hey why not get the old gang back together, you know?" Ash said. Misty closed her eyes and smiled. "Yeah, those were the days. Remember how you trashed my bike?" She laughed. "Yeah, I remember. Look, I'm real sorry about that. Really." Ash said. "Don't be. You shouldn't be sorry about anything." Misty said.

As Misty cooked the eggs, Misty remembered how much time she spent with Ash. She secretly loved him in a way that she could never love anyone else. The problem was that she never acted on her emotions and never listened to her heart. She buried everything that she felt for Ash in a river of short temperedness and occasional anger. It didn't make her any closer to him either. All it did was push him away, away to the point that she ended up leaving him when her sisters needed her.

"I was such a fool. Why the hell did I do that?" Misty thought as she finished cooking the eggs. She set them on a plate and gave them to Ash. "Thanks, Misty!" He said. "It wasn't a problem. Now eat up!" She said. She thought about Ash and how his return into her life might mean a second chance. "Right, Misty. You can do this. You have to show him how much you love him. No more hiding. No more regrets. No more fear. You can do this!" She thought to herself.

As Ash ate, Misty moved behind him. She wrapped her arms around him and smiled. "Misty?" He said. "Yes, Ash?" "Misty, you're making it hard for me to eat." He said. Misty noticed that she had squeezed Ash's elbows to his chest. She let go and let out an embarrassed groan. "Sorry." "It's okay." Ash said with a smile. "This really is delicious, by the way."

"Okay, that didn't work. Let's try Plan B." Misty thought. She began to speak. "Ash, I want to tell you something important, something that's been on my mind for years." She said. "Oh? What is it?" Ash said. "You're special to me, Ash Ketchum. You gave me some of the best times of my life and… I guess… Thank you." Misty said. "Oh, you've been a good friend too, Misty. I appreciate it." Ash said with a smile. He finished eating his eggs. He set his plate down on the floor so that Pikachu could eat what was left. "Wow, that was great, Misty. Thanks!" "I love you, Ash." Misty said. She gave Ash a kiss on the cheek. Ash didn't expect this. He didn't seem affected, though. He just continued smiling like nothing had happened.

"What the hell is wrong with him? Is he completely oblivious?" Misty said. Her frustration with Ash morphed her affection into lust. Her desires turned dark in an instant. "You'll be mine, Ash. Actions speak louder than words, so I'm going to show you exactly how I feel." She thought. "Well, I'm off to bed. Goodnight, Misty." Ash said. "Wait." Misty said. Ash turned around. "What is it?" "How about a dip in the pool? You know, maybe have a little fun before the night's over." Misty said. She took off her shirt and shorts, revealing a bikini underneath. "I don't know. I didn't bring my swimsuit." Ash said. "You don't need to. I swim without one all the time." Misty said with a devious smile. Ash wasn't sure exactly what Misty meant by this.

Misty grabbed Ash by the hand and led him to the large swimming pool in the middle of the gym. "Come on, let's have some fun!" Misty said. "I'm not supposed to swim after I eat. I'll get cramps." Ash said. It sounded to Misty like he was just making excuses. "Don't be such a baby." She said. Ash frowned. "I'm not a baby." "Really? Well you remind me of one. Cute baby Ash…" Misty taunted. "Don't call me a baby!" Misty tried to do her best Lt. Surge impression. "Aw, poor baby! Does baby need a nap? Or is baby too scared to swim with the pretty lady?" "I'm not a baby!" Ash shouted.

Misty was getting even more frustrated with Ash now. She thought that she could taunt him into jumping in with her, but it wasn't working. She took matters into her own hands and shoved Ash. He slipped into the water and fell. Misty laughed as Ash swam back to the surface. He was soaking wet. "Very funny, Misty." Pikachu followed suit and jumped into the water too.

Misty jumped into the water and swam quickly to one side of the pool and back again. Ash had never seen anyone swim so fast. "Wow, you're really good." She smiled. "I've had a lot of time to myself lately. I'm alone a lot in this old gym." "Well, you've got your pokemon with you. Psyduck seemed to be…" She cut him off. "Pokemon are different, Ash. They're not like people." Pikachu felt a little sad when he heard this, but tried not to let it show.

Misty got out of the water. "Here, we should get your clothes off, hang them up to dry, that sort of thing." Misty said. "I'll be fine." Ash said. "Yeah, but you really should. Please?" Misty said. "No, I'll be fine, Misty. I'm tough." Ash said with a smile. "Come on, Ash. I'm trying to be nice here." Ash thought about it for a moment. Misty was a good friend to him, and her heart was in the right place. But wasn't she the one who shoved him in the water in the first place? This whole scenario weirded him out a bit, but he went along with it anyway. "Okay." Ash said. He go out of the water, stripped down to just his underwear, and let Misty hang it up. She even turned on a fan so that they would dry quicker.

"Up for some more swimming?" Misty said. "I don't know…" Ash said. Misty gave him a disgusted face. "Don't be such a baby." They both jumped back into the water and swam around some more. Once again, Misty was very fast, like she had a lot of time to practice. "So, how's Togekiss? Is he doing good?" Ash said. "He's okay. Hey, how about my new bikini? Do you think it's pretty? I bought it the other day and…" Ash interrupted her. "What about Starmie? Teach it any good moves?" Ash said. Misty tried to cover up her growing frustration. "No, he's the same as always." Misty said. She paused for a moment and moved close to Ash. "You look really good without a shirt on, you know that?" She said. "Oh. Thank you. I get quite a workout running around all day. You know, I wrestled a croconaw once. I guess I am stronger than I probably think." He snapped his fingers. "Do you have a croconaw, Misty? Maybe I could wrestle it!" Misty frowned. "Is pokemon all you ever think about?" "Sometimes." Ash said with a cute smile.

Misty was getting very frustrated. Ash was completely oblivious to her advances, so she knew that she had to try something different. She circled him like a shark. "Misty… What are you doing?" "Tonight we cross the line, Ash. I want you. Now." She said with a devious smile. Ash wasn't sure what she meant. "Misty, are you okay?" She rammed into him and pressed him up against a wall. "Ash, I have something I need to get off my chest. I love you. I always loved you and I felt so bad about separating from you that it's been eating away at my soul for years." The shift in the tone made Ash feel very uncomfortable. He wasn't sure what Misty was getting at, but he knew that it was something that he didn't want. He tried to slip out of the pool, but she locked her legs up against his. "Please… Stop." Ash said. "What's the matter? Are you afraid? Don't be such a baby." Misty said. "I… Uh…"

Ash was feeling very confused at the moment. For years he had suppressed his desires through endless training. He never thought about women, always of the opinion that there were things more important in his life than love, lust, and girls. Misty knew that Ash had been suppressing these feeling. She was trying her very best to unleash them, but Ash's fear was too strong. When it came down to it, he was still a child at heart. He was afraid of girls.

Misty pressed her body up against Ash again. She slammed him into the swimming pool's wall. She pinned him up against the wall like a prisoner chained in a dungeon. Lust took control of her. She no longer cared if Ash wanted to do what she was planning or not. After all of these years, she was finally showing Ash how she really felt.

"Misty… It hurts… This is…" Ash said. He tried to get out of Misty's grip, but it was impossible. "This is what, Ash? Beautiful? I think you're beautiful." She said with a devious smile. She pressed her lips up against his and forced her tongue inside of his mouth. Ash tried to get away, but she was too strong. The tongue sloshed inside of his mouth like a mad lust worm. Ash never imagined that being kissed by a girl would be like this. Misty never imagined Ash to be so unwilling.

Misty gave Ash another smile. He tried to turn away and tried to get back out. "What's wrong? Don't you want this?" Misty said. "No. No, I don't. Get off, please, Misty." She was furious. She always imagined Ash being just as excited about this as she was. She imagined the moment where Ash finally realized her love to be a momentous occasion. "You're not going anywhere." She said. She grabbed Ash by the groin. She thought that he would give out a pleasured moan, but instead, he let out a shriek of pain. She used her other hand to force Ash's hand onto her. "Stop… Stop!" Ash shouted. "We can't stop. There's no turning back. I love you, Ash Ketchum." Misty whispered.

Misty started to pull down Ash's underwear. She did some very dirty things to Ash's body in that pool. It wasn't until it was too late that she realized what she was doing. This didn't feel right. None of this felt right. In a brief moment of self-realization, she let go of him. Ash took this time to climb out of the water. He started to run to get his clothes, but slipped on the water and fell down. He curled up on the floor and cried.

Misty climbed out of the pool. Her mind was clouded with anger, lust, and frustration. She had fantasized about Ash for a good portion of her life and now that fantasy was ruined. "Ash, what the hell is wrong with you? Don't you want me?" "I… I do want you… I…" He turned to look away from Misty. She circled around to face him. "What the hell, Ash Ketchum? Is it another girl, is that it? You fucked Dawn first, didn't you?" "No! I… I never did anything with anyone!" He couldn't talk to her. He couldn't even look her in the eyes. Ash turned around again, and held his groin in pain. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why won't you look at me? Look at me, damnit! Look at me!" She tore off the top of her swimsuit and tried to move in closer. She noticed tears running down Ash's face. That was when she knew that she had lost.

Misty turned away. "Oh. I see. That's how it is." She said. Ash didn't say anything. Misty turned to Pikachu, who was still trying to climb out of the pool. She helped him out so that he could be by his trainer. Pikachu helped Ash to his feet. He was still scared, like he could jump out of his skin at any moment.

Misty sighed and sat down on a beach chair close to the pool. "Right. I see how it is now. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have done any of it." Misty said. "No, Misty, it's not like that." Ash said. "No, I get it. All that time we spent together meant nothing to you." "No, it didn't… It…" Ash could barely speak. Between everything that Misty had done to him and the wet stain in his underwear that was clearly not water, he was feeling traumatized. "Just go. I know when I'm not wanted." Misty said. She buried her face in her hands and tried not to let Ash see her face.

"Misty… I… I…" Ash felt sick. He held his stomach in pain. He thought Misty was going to say something, but she only sobbed. "Mistytytytyty…" He couldn't finish his words. Instead, he puked all over the gym floor. Pikachu patted him on the back and held his hand while the vomit spewed out. "I know, Ash. You hate me. I'm disgusting, horrible, unlovable… I'm so sorry." Misty said.

Ash tried to say something. He wanted to talk, but between the fatigue and the trauma of everything that had just happened, he passed out. He fell down on the floor, unconscious. Misty dragged him up to one of her sisters' rooms. They were all touring the world as professional swimmers, so none of them would know if someone else slept in their beds. "Goodnight, Ash." Misty said. "I hope you can forgive me.

Misty started to walk back downstairs to go wash the dishes before she went to bed too. She started toward the kitchen, until she saw Brock. He was awake at the moment. He was a little shocked. "Oh! Misty… I…" He looked down at Misty's body. The only thing she was wearing was the bottom of her swim suit. She gave Brock an angered look. "Take a picture. Maybe it'll last longer." He frowned. "Great. A beautiful body is ruined by a terrible attitude. Girls like you shouldn't be allowed to talk." Brock teased.

"So, do I have to ask? Why are you running around like this?" Brock asked. Misty couldn't tell the truth. "I do this all the time. A home is a girl's castle, you know." "Really…" Brock said. "Does this mean that all cute girls cavort around in their underwear when no one's looking?" Brock said with an excited smile. Misty shook her head. "I'm not cute, Brock. I'm disgusting." She left Brock and ran up to her room. She cried herself to sleep that night, thinking of what she had done and everything that she threw away that night.

-o0o-

I Remember

-o0o-

I remember when we were young

I used to dream about your tongue

Every night I'd make a wish

For the courage to give you a kiss

I was thinking of you

When we split and grew apart

I should have listened to my heart

I might be yours, you might be mine

But I'm too dumb and you're too blind

I remember those nights I spent alone

I longed to feel your fleshy bone

I'd touch myself until I roiled

All those panties that I soiled

Thinking of you

All this shame I feel

I know it can't be real

But the pain sure is

And if love's supposed to be pure, then what is this?

I remember, my eyes were wet

When I learned about the other girls you met

I hurt inside, but I tried to be cool

My stupid heart still wanted you

I could only think of you

I felt tossed aside

I broke down and cried

Ever since we met

I've been drowning in a river of regret

When I find myself thinking of you.