Changing ways: Chapter 4: Worth keeping:
Misty stared wide-eyed at Ash, her mouth slightly open. "Coming…with me?" she slowly asked as she blinked a few times, seemingly having snapped out of staring.
"Y-Yeah…" Ash mumbled as he looked at the girl in front of him. "But, only if it's okay with you Misty…" he said unsurely.
Misty looked at Ash with interest. "But…why?" she finally asked as she frowned at the boy.
"Well," Ash started as he nervously rubbed the back of his head while looking down at the ground. He didn't really want to talk about the real reason he didn't want Misty to leave, so he thought of something else. "I uh…don't think it's appropriate to let you walk all by yourself back to Cerulean City, yeah, that's it."
"Really…?" Misty skeptically asked as she lifted her eyebrow at Ash, not totally believing his motivation behind the decision. "I'm a big girl, Ash. You know I can take care of myself…"
"Y-Yeah, I know," Ash nervously started. "But, I'm still coming with you…it's a dangerous route to Cerulean City and it's almost night time, and yes, you are a girl, so it wouldn't be proper to let you walk all by yourself."
"Hmmm," Misty hummed as she put her hands on her hips and looked intently at Ash with her eyebrow lifted. "Well, okay then…" she finally concluded.
Ash inwardly breathed a sigh of relief as Misty backed away again.
"So," Brock interrupted the two. "I guess you guys are headed to Cerulean City then?" he inquired as he slowly made his way back to Ash and Misty.
"Oh sorry Brock," Ash started as he sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "I kind of forgot about you still standing there…" he said as he sheepishly laughed.
Misty agitatedly sighed at Ash's dimwittedness. "Yeah Brock," she said as she turned her attention back towards Brock. "I guess we're going this way then…" she added as she turned and faced the road heading towards Cerulean City.
"Brock," Ash started as he approached Brock. "I just wanna say thanks, for everything you did for us. Man, am I gonna miss your cooking." he joked as he held his hand out to Brock.
"Yeah, I bet you will." Brock laughed as he took Ash's hand and shook it firmly. "Good luck on the rest of your journey, Ash, wherever it may be to." He said as placed his hand on Ash's shoulder.
"Then I guess this is goodbye for now, Brock." Ash said as he let go of Brock's hand.
"Yeah, take care, you guys!" Brock waved over his shoulder as he walked down the road heading to Pewter City.
Ash, Misty and Pikachu turned down the other road, heading to Cerulean City as the three friends split up.
"So Ash," Misty started as she looked at Ash. "You guys are coming with me back home then?" she asked as she looked in front of them again.
"Well uh," Ash started as he turned to face Misty. "Yeah, that's what I was thinking…" he said as he giggled nervously and scratched the back of his head.
Misty smirked at Ash and walked closer to him.
"Uh," Ash uncomfortably started. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he nervously asked as he kept a close eye on Misty.
"So," Misty playfully started as she nudged Ash in the ribs. "You thought you could just invite yourself with me? Stay in the Gym, MY Gym?" she asked with a playful smirk.
"I uh," Ash stuttered as he looked at the ground. "I didn't think you would mind. I-I mean, you were going to have to travel all the way back to Cerulean City alone, and it's going to take you longer, seeing as you don't have a bike." He explained. "So, I figured I could come along, seeing as that's partially my fault…" he smiled at the memory.
"Oh, I remember all too well, Ash Ketchum." Misty said as she glared at Ash.
Ash gulped and then scratched the back of his head. "Well anyway, I guess I could book in at the Pokemon Center…" he changed the subject.
"Oh Ash," Misty stated as she playfully punched Ash on his shoulder. "I was just kidding. Of course you can stay at the Gym, silly. You're my friend. You're more than welcome, unless, you WANT to stay at the Pokemon Center?" she asked.
"No way…" Ash replied a tad too hastily. "I mean, uh, I would rather be closer to my friends?" he replied and giggled nervously.
"Pikapi," Pikachu interrupted Ash and Misty's conversation from ontop of Ash's shoulder.
"Huh?" Ash mumbled as he turned to look at Pikachu on his shoulder. "Oh, hey Pikachu, what's up, buddy?" he asked his yellow pokemon as he scratched him behind the ears.
"Pika," Pikachu exclaimed as he jumped off of Ash's shoulder towards Misty.
'What the heck!" Misty shouted in surprise as she barely managed to catch Pikachu in her arms. "Pikachu, what're you doing?" she asked the yellow mouse with an agitated look on her face.
"Pika Pika, Pikachupi." Pikachu explained as he cuddled into Misty's arms and closed his eyes with a satisfied 'cha'.
"Uh, "Ash started as he looked at Pikachu and Misty. "I guess Pikachu is taking a nap…" he figured as he sweat-dropped.
"Well," Misty started as held Pikachu tight against her. "Pikachu sure has good taste. He knows quality when he sees it." She said as she held her head high to emphasize her point and stroked Pikachu's fur softly.
"Uh yeah, sure…" Ash said as he sweat-dropped further.
"Haha, very funny, Ash." Misty sarcastically said as she rubbed her cheek up against Pikachu's fur.
The three of them marched on towards Cerulean City, with the sun beginning to set over the mountains in the distance, as a large and dense forest started appearing in the horizon on their path.
"Well," Ash started as they stood in front of the entrance to the forest. "I guess we're heading through the forest then…" he uncertainly said.
"Ash Ketchum," Misty started as she glared at Ash. "You had better not get us lost!" she angrily warned.
"Uh, of course I won't!" Ash yelled in frustration at Misty. "I'm not that ten year old kid anymore, you know." He huffed as he crossed his arms in stubbornness.
And with that said; Ash and Misty, with Pikachu in her arms, walked into the forest. They walked for about an hour and a half, until Ash noticed…that they're lost…
"Uhm, which way is it again...?" Ash whispered to himself as he looked around him, trying to spot a path or something similar.
"What was that you said just now, Ash?" Misty asked as she crossed her arms and glared towards Ash, seeing as Pikachu was awake by now and walking beside Ash.
"Uh, nothing to worry about!" Ash said as he turned to face Misty. "Except, we're a bit lost…" he muttered, hoping that Misty wouldn't hear it.
Sadly, she heard it. "WHAT WAS THAT!?" she angrily asked as she stopped walking completely and turned to Ash, who by now has stiffened and started backing away from Misty.
"Uh, come on Misty, it'll be okay." He tried reassuring the fiery redhead. "I mean, this is not the first time I have gotten us los-"he explained before was cut off by Misty's fist viciously connecting with his head.
"How do you think we're gonna get out of this forest now!?" Misty angrily yelled as she retracted her fist, furiously glaring at Ash.
"Easy!" Ash yelled back. "I'll just use Noctowl to find the path!" he replied in a know-it-all tone as he took Noctowl's pokeball off his belt, but he was stopped by Misty before he could throw it.
"Ash, that's not going to work!" Misty scowled Ash. "I don't know if you've noticed, but it's already DARK! Which means Noctowl won't be able to see anything!" she informed him with an agitated look on her face.
"Oops, I kind of forgot about that…" Ash said as he sheepishly grinned while scratching the back of his head.
Misty however, wasn't laughing at all. "You idiot!" she yelled at Ash. "That means we're going to have to camp out here in this creepy forest tonight!"
"But Misty, that isn't so bad?" Ash said as he frowned at Misty. "We camp out all the time!" he innocently informed her.
"Not while we are lost in some spooky forest, probably crawling with Bug pokemon!" Misty yelled in fear as she looked around them for any signs of menacing Bug pokemon.
"Come on Misty, not this again…" Ash whined and exasperatedly sighed as he watched Misty in the prime of her phobia.
"Ash, I guess it's getting kind of late, so we might as well set up camp for the night, right here in this nice, clear opening." Misty said as she nervously giggled, waiting for a response.
Ash frowned at Misty for a moment, and then dimwittedly nodded. "Okay, sure!" he agreed. "Pikachu and I will go get some fire wood then." He announced as Pikachu jumped on his shoulder.
"Wait!" Misty yelled, causing Ash and Pikachu to look at her curiously. "Hehe, uhm, I think Pikachu should rather stay here and help me set up camp…" she nervously stated, hoping that Ash would buy her excuse.
Ash looked absent-mindedly at Misty, clearly thinking about the situation. "That's good thinking, Misty." Ash finally said. "That way, when I get back from collecting fire wood; everything will be ready for the night." He declared as he disappeared into the bushes, in search of some dead wood to burn.
Misty sighed in relief as Ash bought her excuse. Frankly, she was scared out of her wits by this forest, and the various Bug pokemon it was home to, and being alone would have freaked her out even more. So she managed to keep Pikachu with her for protection. "Well, come on, Pikachu," she said as she dropped her bag to the ground and started rummaging through it. "We might as well get everything ready for the night." She announced as she started unrolling her sleeping bag. "Why don't you gather some stones we can use to light the fire in when Ash gets back?"
"Pika Pika," Pikachu saluted Misty and scurried away, in search of some stones around their camp area.
Meanwhile, Ash was walking through the forest, making sure to pick up every stray branch or twig to use for fire.
"Man, I can't believe I got us lost again." Ash sighed as he picked up another twig. "I should really start thinking about getting a map…oh well…"
Ash's thoughts were broken by cracking noises which sounded like branches breaking, causing Ash to jerk his head up in surprise.
"What was that?" Ash asked as he frowned at the thick trees around him. "That noise sounded just like the one I heard in Viridian City…" he remarked. "Hmmm, it's probably some wild pokemon? Oh well, I guess I'd better get back to camp, anyway." He concluded as he positioned the wood in his arms and started heading back to their campsite.
When Ash got back to the campsite, almost everything was neatly arranged for the night. The ground was cleared up and leveled. Pikachu was busy making a circle with some stones he collected to build the fire in. Misty had placed her sleeping bag neatly on the ground next to a fallen log on which she was currently sitting on, which will probably serve as a seat for the night.
Ash made his way over to where Pikachu was just about finished with his chore and dropped his load of wood on the ground next to the circle of stones. "Wow, good job, Pikachu." He congratulated as he stretched out, giving his back some relief.
"Pika Pika," Pikachu exclaimed as he showed Ash a thumbs-up.
"So, are you guys all ready?" Misty asked as she approached Ash and Pikachu from behind.
"Almost," Ash said as he started stacking the pile of wood neatly on the inside of the stone circle. "There,' he said as he stood back and took a pokeball off of his belt. "Cyndaquil, I choose you!" he yelled as he threw the pokeball into the air.
The echidna-like pokemon known as Cyndaquil appeared out of the pokeball in a bright flash of light. "Cyndaquil," it exclaimed as it stretched out a bit.
"Cyndaquil," Ash said as he crouched in front of his Fire Mouse pokemon. "I need you to light up that stack of wood with your Flamethrower." He ordered.
"Cynda," Cyndaquil nodded as it turned to face the stack of wood. Flames ignited on its back as it powered up. "Cyndaaa – quillllll," it roared as flames protruded from its mouth, instantly igniting the wood.
"Thanks Cyndaquil, awesome job, return." Ash praised Cyndaquil as he recalled it and clipped the pokeball on his belt.
Misty in the meantime, had sat down on the log next to the fire, staring at the sun as it started making its final descent behind the horizon.
Ash joined Misty and sat down next to her on the log.
"Isn't it beautiful, Ash?" Misty asked, still looking on as darkness started overshadowing the twilight.
Ash was sitting on the other side of Misty, so she was right in his view of the sunset. He noticed that the sun was radiating of Misty, causing her facial features to stand out, making her look gorgeous. Ash's cheeks were now a light red color as his attention was now more on Misty than the sunset behind her. 'I never noticed this, but Misty is kind of…pretty.' He thought, before a loud growl radiated from his stomach.
Misty's attention was immediately directed to the sound and she turned to Ash, only to find him staring at her with a blush on his cheeks.
Misty staring at him caused Ash to snap back to reality. "Hehe, oops, sorry you guys. I forgot I didn't even have lunch, so I'm starving." He said while nervously chuckling as he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
Misty sighed at Ash's antics, until a thought came to her along with realization. "Ash, we don't have any food!"
It took Ash a while to absorb what Misty had just said, and then his eyes grew. "What do you mean no food? Of course we have food!"
Misty wasn't paying any attention to Ash as she was searching her bag for any food, desperation evident in her eyes. "I forgot that Brock normally took care of food, so I never paid any mind to it…" she muttered while searching.
Ash had also scurried over to his bag and threw his sleeping bag out while searching for any sort of food. "Please, let there be something to eat in here…" he prayed silently.
Misty couldn't find anything to eat. She closed her bag and sat back down on the log with her face in her hands, defeated. "How can we forget something like that!" she cursed.
Ash was also busy losing hope. He couldn't find any sign of food in his backpack. However, as he got to the bottom; he felt an unfamiliar box-like object. Pulling out the said object, he noticed that it looked like a small wooden basket with a matching lit on top of it. There was also a note attached on top of the little basket, which Ash immediately opened and started reading.
'Hey Ash, since you didn't have lunch with us earlier, I thought I would make you some for the road. It's my way of saying thanks for everything and the fun adventures we had together. It's been one heck of a ride and I'm sure going to miss traveling with you guys.
Take care.
Brock'
Ash folded the letter and put it in his back pocket. He then turned his attention to the small basket and proceeded to open it. Inside of the basket was a bowl of Brock's famous stew with matching cutlery accompanied by a bun. He smiled at the treat as his mouth began watering at the prospect. He then took a glance over to, who was sitting on the log with her arms crossed and looking forlorn at the ground in front of her in failure. 'I'm gonna have to do the right thing here…' he smiled as he started making his way over to Misty, holding the basket with goodies in his hands.
Misty noticed Ash approaching her and turned to face him. "What's up Ash?" she asked. "What's that you've got there?" she asked when she noticed the basket he was carrying.
Ash stopped in front of Misty and gently placed the basket on her lap. "There you go, Misty." He said as he smiled half-heartedly at her.
Misty looked at the basket in her lap with a frown. She then looked up at Ash and finally took the lit off of the basket and her eyes grew wide when she saw what was inside. "The lunch Brock made for me and him, but Ash, how did you get this?" she quizzically asked as she looked up at Ash in amazement.
"I guess Brock packed it in for me while we were out this afternoon…" Ash figured as he smiled at Brock's thoughtfulness.
"But Ash, this is yours," Misty started as she closed the basket and pushed it back towards Ash. "I can't ea-"
"No Misty," Ash firmly said. "Please, eat it. I insist." He said as he pushed the basket down into Misty's lap again.
"Pikapi," Pikachu softly exclaimed as he tucked on Ash's pant leg.
Ash looked down at Pikachu, whose stomach could be heard growling. He smiled and bent down next to his first pokemon. "Let's if we can find something for you to eat, buddy." He said as he pulled his backpack closer and started rummaging through it.
Misty just stared at Ash as he searched through his backpack. She then looked down at the basket in her lap and smiled sincerely.
"Hmmm, I wonder how this got here." Ash wondered out loud as he pulled a can out of his backpack. It had an Electric-type insignia on it with a little note on the top. He opened the note and read through the contents.
'And no Pikachu; I didn't forget about you!'
"Thank you, Brock." Ash smiled and sat down on the log. He opened the can of pokemon food and handed it over to Pikachu, who happily started eating away.
Misty looked at Ash, who was staring at the ground in front of him with a half-hearted smile on his face, content with the fact that his friends at least had something to eat. Misty smiled sadly at the boy next to her and then looked down at the food. She sighed and turned completely to Ash and balanced the basket on their inside legs.
This caused Ash to jerk his head up and look at Misty.
"Ash," Misty started as she stirred the stew with the spoon that came along with a knife and fork. "We're gonna share this, okay?"
"No Misty," Ash started as he shook his head in disapproval. "It's alright, you can eat it. I'll be oka-"
However, Ash was cut off as a spoon was thrusted into his mouth by Misty. She retracted the spoon out of his mouth and smiled as she watched him savor the taste of the stew.
Misty took a bit of stew with the spoon and ate. She then preceded to hand the spoon to Ash, who also took a bit of stew and ate it and then handed the spoon back to Misty. This continued until all the stew was eaten up. Misty then took the bun, broke it in half and then gave one half to Ash. Ash took it and smiled at her and they each dipped the bun the little remaining stew in the bowl and ate.
"Mmmmm, that was delicious." Misty declared as she stretched her arms above her head.
"Yeah, leave it to Brock to sparkle in his absence." Ash stated with a smile as he thought once more about his now-former traveling companions thoughtfulness.
"Well," Misty started as she got up from their 'seat' and sat down on her sleeping bag. "I guess it's time to go to bed. It's getting pretty late." She declared as she started taking her shoes off.
"Ash it's getting late so I guess we should turn in for the night?"
Ash slowly nodded and was still smiling at Misty.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Ash agreed as he got up from the log and picked up his sleeping bag, which was still sprawled out on the ground. He put it down next to Misty's and started rolling it out.
Misty made her way over to Ash, who was busy taking his shoes off. She stood in front of him, causing him to look up at her. "Thanks for sharing your food with me, Ash." She said as she flicked his hat off of his head, causing it to land softly on his sleeping bag. "Goodnight, Ash." She said as she ruffled his hair a bit in a playful manner, like a mother would to her child.
"Hey, I'm not a kid, you know." Ash irritatedly said as he took his jacket off.
"Sure you aren't. Goodnight, Pikachu." Misty sarcastically replied as she crawled into her sleeping bag and turned on her side, facing away from Ash, quickly drifting to sleep.
"Goodnight, Misty." Ash whispered, figuring Misty was asleep and also crawled into his sleeping bag. "Goodnight, buddy." He said to Pikachu as he also drifted off into sleep.
"Pika, Pikachupi. Pika, Pikapi." Pikachu exclaimed to the two humans as he curled himself into a ball close to Ash's head on the sleeping bag and soon fell asleep, with everything quiet for the night…