Chapter 2 tales from the past
The next morning Ash and May woke up early to get a head start. After eating breakfast they bid Ash's mother goodbye and walked out towards route 1 which would take them to viridian city. They walked on the dirt road in silence. It was a sunny day yet there was a cool breeze. After a while May spoke.
"Your mother seems to be very nice Ash",
Ash rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Yeah but she can be embarrassing sometimes too",
"Oh really? How so?"
"Well after winning the orange league, I came home with the trophy. Obviously she was thrilled but one of the first things she said was 'now I'll have another dumbbell to exercise with' and starting moving it up and down over her head"
May burst out in laughter. It took her a few seconds to stop. She wiped a tear away from her eye.
"Ha, ha… oh boy that's rich…" she smiled at him.
"Do you still have that trophy by the way?"
"Yeah it's in my room",
"You're room? Aww that's a shame. I really wanted to see it"
"That's okay. I have a picture of it"
"Wait you took a picture of your own trophy?"
"Well not exactly", began Ash as he took off his pack and set it on the ground and started fiddling with it.
"A few days after I got back Professor Oak came by to say hello and he saw the trophy and volunteered to take a picture of us holding it",
"That was nice of him. So it's you holding the trophy?"
"Actually it's me, my mom and Pikachu",
"Cool. Do you have it on you?"
"I'm supposed to have it on me, it's gotta be in here somewhere…" he said and stock his head in his pack, digging for thee evasive photo. May giggled.
"Should I tie a rope to your foot Ash? Wouldn't want you getting lost in your own backpack…"
"Very funny…" came his muffled voice. Shortly afterwards he said:
"Got it!" he said pulled his head out of the pack with a small photo in his hand. He stood up and presented it to May.
"Say! That's not a bad trophy…"
"Yeah. It wasn't easy to win either. I almost lost…"
"Oh really? How do you mean?"
"Well it started during the finals of the orange league…" began Ash.
"And then Pikachu leaps onto his head and uses thunder shock and leaps off. Both off them were exhuasted and we were all waiting to see who would be the last Pokémon standing. After a few seconds Dragonite groaned and fell flat on his back. And that was that…" finished Ash while May listed as she sat on a stomp.
"Wow that's quite a story Ash…"
"Yeah. It was the only time I ever won a league though",
"No matter. I'm sure you'll win it this time",
"Yeah", said the boy. After an awkward silence they walked on. After a while they stopped to eat some lunch. They sat in a clearing and munched away on their food. Pikachu was sitting on the grass munching on an apple.
"Munch, munch… gulp. Cha… muhnch, munch, gulp. Cha…" went the little mouse as he ate. Ash laughed and looked at him.
"Enjoying yourself little buddy?"
Pikachu swallowed and beamed happily.
"Pikachu!" he said and lifted a thumb's up. Ash laughed again.
"Good", he said and went back to his food. Once they were all done he spoke.
"Well, I think we should move along now. I want to make it to the middle of the forest by nightfall",
"Okay", said May and they got up and left. After a few minutes they heard water running.
"Hey look Ash. There's a lake here",
They turned around and looked. On the side of the forest was a river bank made of builders. Ash looked up and saw an old waterfall…
This is where I started and met with Misty…
*flashback*
Four years earlier
Ash was running for his life from a bunch of Spearows ready to attack them. He reached the waterfall and jumped with Pikachu in his hand. The next thing he knew he could feel his shirt snag onto something and he was yanked out of the river. And that's where he met Misty. He borrowed her bike to take his little friend to the nearest Pokémon center. But during the aftermath with all the Spearows her bike got incinerated. After that she'd been fowling him for a while calming it was because of her bike. But that wasn't the only reason. Misty liked Ash and after a while she developed a crush on him. Enough time passed, she befriended him…
Flashback #2
Ash kneeled down to say goodbye to his friend.
"Well so long Butterfree"
"Freeee…."
"Take care of him okay?" he said to his pink companion and she nodded and they flew away. Ash was so absorbed in his sadness he almost missed seeing Butterfree for the last time.
"Hey Ash, Buttefree is almost out of sight" Misty said and Ash ran to the side off the cliff. He started waving goodbye and hollered towards his old friend.
"Goodbye Butterfree! So long buddy! Thanks for everything! Goodbye Butterfree!" he said. The last thing he saw was Butterfree look back with tears in his eyes and with that he no longer visible. Ash lowered his hhand and sighed.
"Take care buddy", he said softly.
Misty approached him.
"You know Ash I think you've grown quite a lot since you've first started your journey", she smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Thanks Misty",
Last flashback
It was sunset; they were in the crossroads and Misty had her new bike. He hated saying goodbye. He graciously received the gifts they gave him.
"Thank you guys. Thanks for everything",
"Take care Ash", said Misty kindly.
"I will. I'll never forget you guys",
"I'm sure. I'll miss you", said Misty.
"I'll miss you too", he said and they exchanged hugs. Then came Brock's turn. With that they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways…
End of flashbacks.
"Ash? Ash? Come on Ash! Snap out of it!" yelled May as she shook him.
"Huh?" he said.
"You spaced out on me. Badly. I've been trying to get your attention for five minutes",
Ash had trouble regaining his composure.
"Oh. Sorry I was just thinking…" he said distantly.
"About what?"
"About an old friend of mine. She was the first person to join me on my Pokémon quest",,
"How did you meet her?"
Ash chuckled smiled sadly.
"It's funny. I met her right over there", he said and pointed at the spot where Misty sat so many years ago.
"What do you mean?"
"Pikachu and I were being chased by a bunch of Spearows and we jumped off that waterfall. Shortly afterwards she fished me out of the river",
"But why did she join you?"
"Pikachu was badly hurt so I bowered her bike so I could make it in time to the Pokémon center. At a certain point we crashed and the Spearows were closing in on us. When I was about to take them all Pikachu jumped into the air and zapped them all but accidently burned her bike in the process and she been following me ever since. At first we didn't get along but then we became friends. Then we became best friends. Until she got her bike back and had to go home to run the Cerulean family gym because her sisters were going on a trip",
"Sounds like you really cared about her…" added May. Ash nodded sadly.
"I still do. I miss her a lot…"
"Do you love her?"
"Do I love her?"
"Yes. Do you love her?"
Ash hesitated. He bit his lip and turned around.
"We should get going", he said, avoiding her question.
"Why? Things were just getting interesting", said a familiar voice from behind. They turned around. In front of him stood a girl about his age, with red hair and sapphire eyes. She had a red bike by her side and a fishing rod.
"Misty? Is it really you?" he asked in shock.
"Yeah Ash. It's me", she said and smiled sheepishly. Overcome with joy Ash ran over and brought her into a hug.
"Misty! It's so good to see you",
She returned the hug.
"It's good to see you too Ash", she then noticed May standing there looking a little confused.
"I see you have a friend with you",
"Oh? Oh yeah. Misty this May. May this is Misty", Ash said.
"Pleasure", May said coldly as Misty offered her hand to shake it. May shook it but harder than usual.
Seeming to pick up on her anger Misty spoke.
"Is this a bad time?"
"No. no, I was just reminiscing about how we first met. Right over there remember?" he asked and pointed at the spot.
"That's right! We did meet there. Wow! And to think I just came here to do some fishing just like last time. How ironic is that?"
"Mmm… pretty ironic", said Ash and they both laughed. After they calmed down a bit Misty spoke.
"You know I really missed you Ash",
He smiled fondly at her.
"I missed you too. What do you say you join my traveling group? You know, for old time's sake",
"I'd like to but I don't think you're friend here likes me very much",
Ash frowned.
"May, is it okay if she joins us?"
"Sure whatever. It'll give you two some time to catch up",
Ash and misty exchanged some puzzled looks.
"Are you sure you're alright with that?"
"Yeah", she said trying to hide the sarcasm in her voice.
"Well okay then. Ready to go Misty?"
"Ready when you are Ash", she said and they headed towards Viridian city together. Ash and Misty walked up front while May walked a few steps behind them. She had a sad look in her eyes, seeing how much Ash cared about his old friend.
"Maybe he does love her…" she thought and felt tears welling up in her eyes. She shook her head and her expression was replaced by an expression of anger and determination.
"I'll win him over. Whatever it takes, I'll win him over…"
To be continued…
So, it looks like May has got some competition for Ash's heart and attention. Will she win him over? Only time will tell…
Reviews are most welcome…