Changing ways: Chapter 2: Some things never really change:
Ash and Misty were still making their way back to Viridian City's Pokemon Center, reliving some memories from previous journeys.
"Hey Misty, do you remember that time we had to go to Lavender Town to catch a Ghost pokemon in Pokemon Tower to beat Sabrina?" Ash laughed as he relived the memory with Gengar, Gastly and Haunter in the spooky Pokemon Tower a long time ago.
"How could I forget about that?" Misty laughed as she thought back about it. "One of those Ghost pokemon picked me up into the air!" she said as she shuddered at the memory.
"Wow, uh, do you still remember that? I was hoping you would have forgotten about that by now…" Ash said more to himself.
"What do you mean by that?" Misty asked as she lifted her eyebrow at Ash, clearly curious as to what Ash is talking about.
"Uh, nothing, nothing at all…let's go!" Ash nervously declared as he quickly started walking, only for Misty to grab him by the back of his collar and yank him back.
"Ash Ketchum," Misty dangerously said. "What did you do?" she asked as she lowered her eyes at him, venomously glaring at the boy.
"Hehe, n-nothing Misty, what makes you think I did anything?" Ash nervously stuttered out while sweating bullets.
Misty however didn't believe that for one second and vigorously shook Ash by the collar.
"A-A-Alright alright, I'll tell you!" Ash desperately yelled as Misty shook him. "J-Just stop doing that!"
Misty immediately stopped her shaking of Ash, but still maintained a firm grip on the boy's collar. "Spit it out, Ash." She ordered.
"Come on Misty, I was just having a bit of fun with you…hehe you can take a joke right?" Ash nervously chuckled as he held his hands defensively in front of him.
"So it was you!" Misty yelled with anger evident in her voice. She threw the poor, defenseless Ash onto the ground and started pummeling him. "How…dare…you have fun and…games…in a time like that!?" she yelled at him in between blows.
"I'm so-so-sor-ry!" Ash yelled as he tried to cover the important parts of his body.
"We were worried sick about you!" Misty yelled at Ash. As soon as those words left her mouth; Misty knew that her cover had been blown. She let go of Ash and quickly backed off. "Uh…we should get back to the Pokemon Center…" she said as she quickly turned back into the direction of the Pokemon Center.
"Hold on." Ash said as he got up onto his feet, grabbed hold of Misty's arm and turned her back towards him. "So, you were worried about me, eh Misty?" he asked her with a smirk.
Misty tried to stutter out a few words while Ash was getting back to his feet. Ash stood in front of Misty and looked into her eyes.
"NO!" Misty yelled a bit louder than she wanted to, blowing her cover even more. "I mean, no I wasn't…it is expected of you to get yourself into trouble. So there wasn't any need to worry about you, because you always find a way to get yourself out of situations anyway." She sheepishly giggled.
"Sure Misty," Ash started as he walked past her. "Whatever helps you sleep at night…" he added as he quickly gave her shoulder a pat before he slowly made his way down the road towards the Pokemon Center.
"What did you say!?" Misty yelled as she jogged up to him, ready to beat him senseless. She didn't like it when Ash found a vulnerable spot in her headstrong façade to tease her about being too 'girly'.
"Now now Misty, there's no need to be rude about the truth." Ash said, further pressing Misty's buttons. Looking over his shoulder; he saw Misty's face now red. Not with embarrassment, but with rage. He cringed and decided to save himself by rather running the rest of the way.
"Ash Ketchum, you get back here!" Misty yelled as she gave chase after Ash.
"Fat chance, Misty, you'll never take me alive!" Ash yelled over his shoulder.
The two of them ran all the way to the Pokemon Center with Misty chasing Ash down the road.
Ash stopped a few yards before the Pokemon Center, completely out of breath. He stood with his hands on his knees and breathed heavily.
Misty stopped right next to him and fell to her knees in exhaustion. "Ash, you…are…so…lucky…that I'm…out of…air…" she informed the boy in between breaths.
Ash triumphantly smiled and made a peace sign with his fingers at Misty, signaling his victory. His victory ceremony was interrupted though, by a loud growl coming from his stomach.
"I guess the 'champ' is hungry." Misty said as she got back up onto her feet, knowingly winking at Ash and his obvious weakness.
Ash sheepishly laughed as he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Yeah, let's just go get something to eat." He said as he turned back to the Pokemon Center.
Misty nodded and followed Ash. As they got closer to the Pokémon Center, they could hear constant electricity accompanied by CHUUU's and flashing light from inside the Pokemon Center.
"Wow cool fireworks…" Ash absent-mindedly mumbled as he stared at the light show in complete awe.
"Ash, I don't think that's a good thing!" Misty yelled with her eyes wide because of panic. "Come on, we've got to hurry!" she yelled at Ash.
"Uh...yeah right, let's go!" Ash yelled and the two of them ran towards the front door.
They entered through the glass doors which were located in the front of the Pokemon Center and what they saw, was mind boggling…
In front of them stood Brock; still on his knees in front of Nurse Joy, holding her hand in his. But Brock was now rather a crispy black color.
"PIII – KAAA – CHUUUUU," Pikachu cried out as he fired another ferocious Thunderbolt at Brock, but the Pokemon Breeder still stood his ground.
"Pikachu," Ash started as he walked closer to his yellow pokemon. "What's going on here?"
"Pikapi," Pikachu exclaimed as he jumped into Ash's arms. He started explaining something to his master and motioned to Brock, which left emotionless expressions on Ash and Misty's faces, seeing as they couldn't really understand the yellow mouse. He slapped his forehead with his palm and sighed in exasperation. Beginning from the start; he explained once again, but much slower.
"Wait," Ash said, having seemingly gotten a grasp of the situation. "So you are saying that you shocked Brock because you feel he was getting to close to Nurse Joy? But Brock didn't move? He just kept standing there?" he asked to make sure that he had all the facts.
"Pika Pika," Pikachu exclaimed as affirmatively nodded. He jumped out of Ash's arms and pluffed down on one of the couches. The poor yellow mouse was exhausted because of all the electric attacks he used on Brock.
"Well, I guess Pikachu's had enough…" Ash figured as he sweat-dropped at Pikachu's antics.
"Yeah, I guess Brock really braved the tempests this time…" Misty said as she sweat-dropped alongside Ash.
"My dear sweet Nurse Joy," Brock dramatically started, still on his knees in front of the poor Nurse Joy. "No matter how many thunderstorms come in my way, nothing will stop me from loving you! Nothing!"
"I...uh...really need to tend to these sick Pokémon." Nurse Joy stuttered out, obviously in shock. "Chansey, please help!"
"Chansey," Chansey exclaimed as she grabbed an empty Potion bottle and made her way over to her colleague. She gave Brock a glare and started hitting him over the head with the bottle, but it was to no avail as the Breeder stayed put, not letting go of Nurse Joy's hand.
"Oh brother," Misty sighed as she slapped her forehead with her palm. "I guess it's time to get to work…" she announced as she cracked her fingers and started making her way to where Brock, Nurse Joy and Chansey were quarreling.
Ash made his way over to where Pikachu was resting on one of the couches and sat down next to him. "Some things never change, eh buddy?" he asked his yellow pokemon as he scratched him behind the ears, earning a coo from the mouse.
Misty in the meantime, had made her way over to the action and yanked on Brock's ear. "Don't you ever learn? Nurse Joy has got better things to do than listen to your heart's desires!" she informed the poor Breeder as she dragged him along on the floor back towards Ash and Pikachu.
"Ouch, not the ear, not the ear…" Brock muttered as he was being dragged along.
Ash chuckled at Brock's usual antics while Pikachu sighed and shook his head in exasperation.
"Wow Misty, you sure showed him." Ash stated as Misty threw Brock onto the other couch. "Gosh, I wouldn't want to get you mad..."
"DON'T START WITH ME, ASH KETCHUM!" Misty furiously yelled at Ash.
"Whoa!I'm sorry!" Ash quickly apologized as he waved his hands defensively in front of him.
Ash's defensive antics proved futile however, as Misty grabbed him by his color and started shaking him violently.
Pikachu sighed and decided to cut in. Moving in between Ash and Misty, he unleashed a light Thunderbolt, causing the fight to break up and come to a halt. Ash and Misty were sizzled after the Thunderbolt and their rage was then redirected towards an in-trouble Pikachu.
"What's the big idea?!" Ash scowled as he hovered over Pikachu.
"Yeah, why the heck did you shock us?!" Misty added as she joined Ash.
"Pika, Pika Pikac-"Pikachu tried to reason as he hastily tried to give them an answer. He was cut off however, after being tackled to the ground and being laid on by the rampaging Ash and Misty.
"Pi…kaaa..." Pikachu complained from under the pile-up.
Pikachu was finally saved from his predicament and after being forced to apologize and never shocking his master and his friend ever again, unless ordered to; he, Ash, Misty and Brock headed to the Pokemon Center's cafeteria to order some dinner.
"Mmmm. Oh boy, I sure am hungry!" Ash exclaimed as he sat down with his tray packed full of food at the table along with Brock, Misty and Pikachu.
"You're always hungry Ash." Misty enlightened Ash as she exasperatedly sighed at the boy's enormous appetite.
"Well, excuse me for being a growing man." Ash informed Misty as he held his head high in the air to emphasize the point that he was a man.
"More like a little kid." Misty corrected Ash matter-of-factly as she took a bite of her hamburger.
"Quit it you two." Brock intervened. "Let's just enjoy a peaceful dinner. I mean, it's not every night that we can eat at a table in a Pokemon Center and have dinner."
Brock continued eating while Ash and Misty constantly looked at each other out of the corner of their eyes while they ate, trying to resist the temptation of making a remark about the other. Pikachu was enjoying the bottle of ketchup Ash got for him and dinner went by quiet and peaceful after that. After Misty and Brock finished their dinner (and waited another 15 minutes for Ash to clean his tray.); the gang decided to get a room for the night.
"Number 7, number 8 and number 9, here's our room." Brock declared as he pointed to the wooden door with a '9' on it.
Brock slid the key into the door and revealed the gang's room for the night. There was a small desk in the room with a vase on top of it. There were three beds altogether in the room, consisting of one single bed right next to the door and a bunker bed adjacent to the single bed. There was also a bathroom next to the bunker bed which contained a sink, mirror and a shower.
"Alright," Brock started as he closed the door behind the three of them. "I'm taking the single bed; it's up to you guys to decide who gets what bed on the bunker." He declared as he put his bag down on the single bed next to the door.
"No fair Brock!" Ash complained. "I wanted that bed!"
"Quit complaining, Ash." Misty said as she put her bag on the top bed. "It's just a bed, and it's only for one night."
"And what do you think you're doing?" Ash asked Misty with a scowl on his face.
"I'm getting MY bed ready for the night. Is that a problem, Ash?" Misty asked Ash venomously as she looked over shoulder at the boy.
"No…" Ash mumbled as he pouted in defeat. "I guess Pikachu and I get the bottom bed then…" he said in defeat as he put his bag onto the bed.
"Good." Misty said as she started rummaging through her bag. "Now, if you boys will excuse me, I'm going to go take a shower." She declared as she got her pj's, a towel and her toothbrush out of her bag and walked over to the bathroom, making sure to lock the door behind her.
Ash, Brock and Pikachu looked at each other and shrugged.
"Well buddy," Ash started addressing Pikachu as the two of them sat on their bed. "I guess we're heading back home tomorrow. Man, I've sure missed all the people in Pallet Town and all of my other Pokemon and Mom's cooking!" he declared with a dramatic fist pump.
"Pi - Pikachu!"Pikachu exclaimed as he mimicked Ash's actions and did a paw pump of his own.
Brock looked on as Ash and Pikachu celebrated on their bed at the thought of home. He smiled as the two of them wrestled with each other, happily laughing. He smiled at the sight and decided something right then and there. He stood up from where he was sitting on his bed and opened the door.
"Hey Brock," Ash called his traveling companion when heard the door opening. "Where're you going?"
"I'm just gonna go make a call, Ash." Brock informed Ash. "I won't be long." He said as he disappeared through the doorway, closing the door behind him and headed towards the video phones
Ash and Pikachu looked at the now-empty bed of Brock and then at the closed door next to it. The two of them shrugged and lay down on the bed.
"Well Pikachu," Ash started as he rested his head on his hands and looked up at the bottom of the top bed. "I guess this marks the end of another journey for the two of us."
"Pika Pika," Pikachu agreed as he curled up next to Ash, ready to turn in for the night.
The two of them directed their gaze towards the window on the opposite side of the room, staring at the dark skies outside.
Meanwhile in the bathroom, Misty was standing under the hot, refreshing water coming out of the shower tap, relaxing and letting the water envelope her. 'Wow, what a day.' She thought as she tilted her head back to let the water run through her hair.'First we had to walk the whole way to Viridian City from the dock in Vermillion City, and then Ash wanted to take a walk with me, and only me. He even left Pikachu back at the Pokémon Center, and took me to a beautiful spot outside the city and proclaimed that I had a big influence on his travels and accomplishments, and he even hugged me. Ash HUGGED me. I've got to admit, that isn't something I would ever have expected Ash to do…' she thought. She washed the soap of her body, a body that has now started to gain form, and wrapped the towel around her. Next, she headed for the sink and started brushing her teeth. As she was doing that; she saw herself in the mirror, and then sighed. She was growing up, that's for sure. She was becoming a beautiful teen, but she didn't see how anyone could ever fall in love with her. She was different from other girls. She wasn't 'girly', but she wanted a boy who could live with that, and if no one would, so be it. Misty washed out her mouth and put on her nighties, which wasn't very different from her casual clothes. It was a white strap top and a pink silk short. She unlocked the door and stepped out of the bathroom. She put away all her stuff and looked down, only to find Ash and Pikachu sleeping and snoring away. Misty just had a bright smile on her face because the scene and then turned around to the other bed, only to find it empty and Brock-less. 'Mmmm, I wonder where Brock went…' Misty wondered as she frowned at the empty bed. 'Oh well, I guess he'll come back when he's done doing what he is. I just hope he's not pestering poor Nurse Joy again.' She looked at Ash again and grinned at the boy, who drooling slightly onto his pillow. She ruffled his hair a bit, which caused him to stir in his sleep and mumble out a few noises. She giggled softly and made her way to the bathroom, flicking the light switch. She made her way towards the door and also turned off the lights. She silently made her way back to the bunker bed and climbed up onto her bed. 'I guess Brock will manage on his own.' she thought as she gave a big yawn. 'I'm too tired to wait up for him…' she thought as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
Brock slowly opened the door a while later. He peeked in and noticed that everything is dark. 'Hmmm, I guess they're asleep already.' He thought as he closed the door behind him and got into his bed. "I guess I'll tell them tomorrow…goodnight you three." he whispered as he went to sleep
And with that said, the gang was sound asleep and everything was peaceful and quiet for the night…