This one's a bit short and no real action happens. But I think I like it. :P

Ten

At the age of ten, Misty never would have thought things would change the way they did. Sure, she could finally escape the teasing, the taunting, and the tears that came from her sisters.

Misty Waterflower would finally free to do whatever she wanted. She could go on her own Pokémon journey! She could fish, she could swim, and she could camp without being called a "boy" by those three bimbos. She could play with her Pokémon. She could stay up late by the fire. She could even become the world's greatest Pokémon Master!

Misty soon realized, however, that not-so-unfortunately, that dream was meant for someone else.

She met Ash Ketchum in the last way she'd expected to meet her future husband. At the time, just the thought of marrying a boy like him was worthy of a very theatrical, "Blegh!"

Despite his weird, annoying, dirty boyness, Misty realized early on that Ash might not be so bad. He had a special love for Pokémon that was certainly different from anyone else's, including hers. He was unpracticed and raw, but his battling wasn't so bad, even at the tender age of ten. He cherished his Pokémon more than anything she'd ever seen. Sure, he loved lots of stuff. His mom, his food, and his mom's food were probably the biggest things to him, but Misty quickly learned that none of that stuff was the same as his love for Pokémon. Ash even had this cute little smile that she saw only when he was playing with Pikachu and the others.

Maybe he would be turn out to be a pretty good trainer.

And maybe she thought he was cute. Or maybe just his smile.

Not him, of course. Heavens no.

Cute or not, Misty had never entertained the thought of Ash actually winning the gym battles that he went on and on about. As she so kindly and constantly reminded him very early on, his first badges were practically given to him for no reason. Misty hadn't expected Ash to pull through the way he did. Six badges later, he was competing in the Indigo League. While Misty would rather die than tell him, the top sixteen wasn't too bad for a rookie.

And maybe Misty thought the way he was so exuberantly happy after each won battle was cute.

But maybe she didn't. Maybe she was jealous because Ash was the one competing. Maybe she was happy when he lost because that meant he wasn't any closer to becoming a Master than she was.

Of course, the ten-year-old was kidding herself. If she really wanted to be that Water Pokémon Master she'd always dreamed of becoming, she'd have eight badges and be fighting for it right against Ash rather than right beside him.

It wasn't long after the Indigo League when Misty realized that it was Ash who was destined to become a Pokémon Master.

And when Misty did realize it, she wasn't even jealous. She'd never tellher best friend that, though. At the age of ten, there were a lot of things Misty would never tell her best friend.

She just wasn't really sure what they really were.

At the age of thirteen, Misty never would have thought it would so hard to say goodbye.

She also never would have thought it felt so good, yet so heartbreaking to see her best friend cry over her. Misty had cried about him maybe just once or twice. But only that many times, of course. It's not like she had a silly crush on him or anything.

No, it wasn't silly it all.

Ash had cried in front of her before because, well, he's sort of a crybaby. Misty had always felt bad for him, but at the same time had to refrain from laughing about it behind his back.

This time, it was different. Ash was sad because of her.

And that made Misty feel funny.

But it's a good funny, she decided, as she peddled away from Ash.

The trail to Cerulean grew dim.

At the age of twenty, Misty never would have thought she'd be as happy as she was.

She'd always had her happiest moments traveling the world, around water, or around Ash.

When those three things were combined, Misty was sure her heart would burst.

Ash had become the Kanto Champion about a year or so ago and immediately claimed he needed special training before taking the next step up the Pokémon Master ladder. This training involved traveling to new places, just like it always did, and this time, Misty came with him. The training itself wasn't so special. It was really just the battling practice, catching new Pokémon, and exploring new places.

So when Misty asked Ash just what was so special about the training one bright afternoon on the lakeside in an unfamiliar forest that she couldn't remember the name of, she shouldn't have been so surprised to hear his very straightforward answer.

"It's special because you're here."

Misty wanted to hurl at the cheesiness, but her femininity wouldn't let her.

In fact, she smiled.

And when Ash smiled back, the glint of the sun shining off the unnamed lake shone into his amber eyes.

I don't really imagine Ash and Misty traveling much at the age of twenty, but it just worked here. :P Review, please! :)