At pokémon dot com, there is a personality test. (Heh, new pokémon dungeons coming out! Wicked sweet!) I'm a bulbasaur, what are you? Go take it!
Guys, this is only going to fifty. That's my decision. HOWEVER, that's not to say I won't be writing oneshots. I'll still write them. I'll write lots of them. I just won't be pressing myself to write these. I really want to work with plot fics and branch out in all writing categories, not to mention my friend also draws all kinds of stuff for me, so I want to write some waycest (two brothers of a band we like falling in love…sometimes I hate myself for these pairings…) for her.
Keep a lookout for me when this is done! There'll be plot fics and oneshots abound!
AAML (Sorry contestshippers (who make up a vast percentage of my reviewers))
It started with what it ended with; a slap.
It was evening. The sun was setting over the tree tops ahead and the mosquitoes were beginning to buzz, attacking any open flesh they could find. Of course, this was a major disadvantage to anyone in, say, a midriff yellow short sleeved shirt, suspenders, shorts and sneakers. Misty's arms and legs were already covered in bites, a few on her legs managed to grow to the size of quarters. This, along with a very cocky and mosquito-bite free Ash Ketchum pulling out the big guns in an argument was not boding well for the young lady's temper. He had to go for the "attack her family" tactic on that horrible day.
The raging redhead, hands balling up into fists and loosening uselessly to her sides was the one who set everything into motion. With a furious screech, she raised her hand and did something she had never done before. She slapped Ash Ketchum across his face. "Ash Ketchum, you're disgusting! And before you ask, you pig, yes you did your damn math right. My mother had Daisy when she was fourteen!"
One hand covered her mouth to hold in a sob before she spun on her heel and raced into the woods. Pikachu was the only thing brave enough to go after her.
"I…er, said something, didn't I?" Ash asked Brock nervously.
"Alright, Ash. Let's think. She told you how old her mother was and you started an argument about how young she was. She then ran off in tears. Let's try to connect that dots. What could you have said that made her hit you and cry?" Brock rolled his eyes, then smacked Ah in the back of the head. "Do I have to give you a list of things not to argue about? Does Misty make fun of your family? Last time I checked, you don't have a dad."
"Hey!" Ash cried indignantly.
"Now you know how it feels," Brock sighed. He led Ash over to the campfire and each sat on the blanket that had been laid out for dinner. "Now, I know you're not the smartest guy in the world, but I think it's time to go over what you can and can't argue about. You shouldn't argue about morals, politics, religion or family. That's the big four. You should never, ever argue those things with a hot tempered girl like Misty. Especially if you want to be friends with her…" He grinned. "Or something else."
"Like a rival?"
Brock rubbed his temples with one hand stretched across his forehead. "I meant like a girlfriend."
"I don't like her like that!" Ash flushed. "I…I mean you just saw what I did! I made her cry. You know why? Because I hate her! I hate her more than I've ever hated anyone before because she's a horrible, mean, scrawny, ugly runt!"
"She's right behind you, and she's really starting to cry."
"Oh man! Misty I'm sor…she's not behind me," Ash turned and blinked. "Brock! You lied again! I thought Misty was really standing there!"
"What does it matter?" Brock teased. "I thought you hated her."
"Well I do but…shut up," He snapped, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's just because if she cries she'll get really angry. Then she'll come and beat me up. Who wants to get beat up? You don't! Well, maybe you do. You do seem to like getting hit by all those pretty girls you flirt with." Ash tapped his chin thoughtfully. "And Professor Ivy apparently hurt you pretty bad because you do that weird things every time someone mentions her."
Brock had long since gone into his 'emo corner' and huddled up into a crying mess of a man. "That name, that name. Do you have to speak her name in my presence? The horror. The pure, unadulterated horror of the name! The name that haunts my very should, no matter where I go it always seems to follow me."
"Well, of course it does Brock. She's really famous and junk. Are you going to get up? You're doing that thing longer than usual and it's starting to freak me out."
Brock immediately sat up with a nod. "Okay. It's time to forget about my love life and move onto yours. Ash, I advise you let Misty cool down and apologize to her in the morning. Then you should admit your undying love with chocolate and flowers. After that, you two will be married. I'll be the best man, and your cake will be vanilla."
"I like chocolate."
"Ash, you can't have chocolate wedding cake!"
"Why not?"
"It's the law or something so it has to be vanilla! I'm sure Misty wouldn't argue this with me!"
"Misty likes chocolate too. I don't want to marry her, but if I had to I'd want chocolate cake. I think she'd want chocolate too. Also, I don't think it's legal for anyone under the age of fourteen to get married. Misty looked it up on the internet that one time she was trying to get that rock star guy we met up with to sign a marriage contract. She was awfully angry when she found out she couldn't. She took it out on me. I was dizzy for days."
"Ash, you're missing the point."
"Oh, right. I'm never having vanilla cake."
"Ash! The point was you and Misty getting married!"
"But I don't even like her. Plus, I'm never getting married until the law that says the cake has to be vanilla."
"Ash, there's no law about the cake."
"But you just said-"
"Would you shut up and talk about something other than food or pokémon for once?"
"How can I shut up and talk at the same time?"
"So this is why Misty hits you," Brock muttered. "Will you promise to talk to her and tell her how you feel? I'm sure if you tell her you just act the way you do because you have a crush on her she'll be fine with it. She'll probably even be flattered! Besides, I think she likes you to. Maybe after this you two can go out on a cute little date together! Oh, I can just imagine it now. You two holding hands in a movie theater…"
"What movie are we watching? Is it a chick flick? I don't want to watch a sappy romance movie. I hate that kid of stuff. Don't make me watch something like that Brock, have mercy on me. Can't we be watching something violent? How about Extraterrestrial Versus Hunter?"
"Number one, no, that's not romantic. Number two, how did you manage to see that movie? Isn't it rated a little high for your age?"
"Number one, why would I want to be romantic. I mean, it's Misty. Ew. Number two…" Ash eyes flicked around nervously. "Don't tell anybody I told you this, and I mean anybody, but Misty gets her hands and the best movies ever because her sisters' boyfriends will buy any movie as long as it gets them a date with one of the Sensational Sisters. She carries a lot more than pokémon in that red bag of hers, let me tell ya!"
"Okay, Ash, everyone knows you like Misty. It's okay to come to terms with it. I'm here to help. I can make the transition from friend to more than friends easier than you ever imagined. Don't make any cracks about how I've never had a girlfriend, because I have," Brock informed in all his seventeen year old glory. "I've had many girlfriends, in fact. Just because I haven't had any while I was with you guys doesn't mean anything."
"Are you trying to convince me that you know a whole lot about girls, and you know how to get girls, but you don't because you're traveling with me and Misty? 'Cuz I wouldn't believe you if you did. I guess the girls in your town must be real desperate or something."
"Shut up Ash. We're talking about your problems, not mine. Misty's crying!
"Problems? What problems? You're trying to make problems where there aren't any. I'm not in love with Misty. She's not in love with me. We're not going to get married. We're not going on dates. I'm not going to confess undying love or any of that stupid romantic mushy stuff. I'm a guy, a real guy, and guys don't do romantic stuff. The only stuff I'm interested in is pokémon battling, pokémon training, and one day beating that smirk off that Gary's face. Misty's not crying, either. Misty doesn't cry. She's a girl, yeah, but she's the type of girl who keeps all her emotions in like you're supposed to."
"Why do you say 'that Gary' instead of just 'Gary' like normal people?" Misty sniffed, walking in on the last sentences. "And everyone knows all you think about is battling you big loser. You're too dense to think about anything else."
"You okay, Misty?" Brock asked.
"Of course I'm okay, Brock," She said snappishly. "I'm perfectly fine. Ash can't make me cry. I just had to get away from here because all the dust Ash was kicking up got in my eyes and made them water. That's why they're all red. Pikachu was the only one nice enough to come and check on me. I hate men. Thank goodness Pikachu's a girl or I just might go crazy from all the stupid things you men do. I don't understand you at all. Ash, do you mind if Pikachu says with me tonight?"
"Why she staying with you?"
"Because we want to talk about how you and all of the other stupid men in this world are complete and total jerks. You wouldn't want to, because you're a stupid boy, but Pikachu and I do because we're the superior gender."
(Ash doesn't own me. Why does everyone think he owns me? So he's got a freaking pokéball with a freaking lightning bolt on it. I'm not in the stupid thing, am I? No. And why is that? Because I'm free. Misty, if you want me to stay and talk with you, you don't have to ask Ash. Just tell him so he doesn't freak out and have a heart attack. The last thing I need is another trainer to come along and try to force me into one of those balls of death.)
"But Pikachu! Why do you want to stay with her? Why don't you stay with me? I'm the one who got slapped. She didn't get hurt or anything!
Pikachu slapped her forehead with a soft moan. (Man, you really don't know anything about girls. Here I was, hoping you weren't as stupid as you seemed and it turns out all my hope was in vain. Stupid, stupid, Pikachu. Ash, I need to stay with Misty tonight. If you get jealous, just pretend that I'm doing it so you don't wake up with Misty holding a steak knife over your chest with that creepy evil smile she does, alright?)
"But then I'm gonna have nightmares," Ash whined. "Please stay with me?"
(No.)
"But I'm your trainer."
(You think I care? When was the last time I let you make me do something? I can't think of a single time that I've done anything I don't want to do. I'm going to sleep with Misty tonight and that's final. You can sleep with the screaming egg if you want. It probably won't be screaming now. It's cute when it's unconscious. It also makes me never, ever want to have an egg unless we're planning on giving it up instantly.)
"You're a horrible mother," Ash said, flopping onto his sleeping bag.
(I'm not your mother.)
"Then stop acting like you're my mother."
(Watch it. That sounded pretty insulting.)
"So what? You're not my mom. What are you going to do? Attempt to ground me? Sorry, can't. You're not my mother!" Ash stuck his tongue out at the mouse.
(No, I'm an electric type pokémon. What do you think I'm going to do?)
"Er, right, I forgot about that," Ash sweatdropped. "Have I mentioned lately how much I love you, Pikachu?"
(And where am I sleeping tonight?) Pikachu warned. (And don't be an insensitive jerk about it. You don't do sarcasm well. It doesn't suit your personality.)
Ash flushed and curled up a bit. "Alright, you can sleep with Misty. But you'll sleep with me tomorrow, right? I'm still your favorite? You don't like Misty better than me, do you? I can't be that bad of a trainer! You can't hate me! I thought we'd gotten past the rope and rubber gloves!" He cried, throwing his arms around the rodent and cuddling her close. A grin appeared on his face. "Sensitive enough for ya?"
So this is why she hits him…Pikachu mused to herself quietly. It's all coming clear to me now. How can someone that stupid be so witty at the same time? It's like an oxymoron, and he probably doesn't even know what an oxymoron is.
(If you don't drop me by the time I count to three, I'm going to fry you like Fried Kentucky Chicken, got it?) Pikachu asked. Ash didn't release the strangle hold. (One…two…two and a half…) In truth, Pikachu didn't want to zap Ash. No, not because she thought it mean or cruel or wicked, merely because it tended to hurt her as well. Human bodies were fantastic conductors, as were pokémon bodies. So while she could control the flow of electricity pouring out, when it circled around Ash and came back into her own system, it tended to fry her a bit too. This was why most Pikachu's preferred long distance attacks.
"No three?" Ash asked, sounding a little disappointed.
Pikachu chuckled darkly. (There can be a three, a very, very big three if you want there to be.)
Ash dropped Pikachu to the ground lightly with a shake of his head. "Nah, I'm not in the mood today. Zap me later in case I need an idea. I don't need one now though." He leaned down to whisper in Pikachu's ear. "Even though Brock tells me I do. Hey, Pikachu, would you mind doing me a favor tonight? Not a big favor, really, just a little one since you're already going to be there and everything and it won't be too much trouble…"
(Yeah, what do you want?)
"Could you, uh," His voice dropped into an even lower whisper. "Alright, Brock's got this crazy idea in his head that I like Misty or something. I don't. You know I don't. I mean, as a friend she's not so bad but I don't even like girls yet. I'm only ten after all and Brock's already trying to get me married and he won't even let me have chocolate cake at my wedding and he's trying to make me watch sappy chick flicks like 37 Dresses. I mean, what girl could possibly go to that many weddings and fit all those dresses into one closest? It's impossible and so is the way all the girls find their true love and stuff."
(…Ignoring that fact that you somehow know the plot of that movie by heart, could you cut to the chase? What do you want me to spy for, Ash? Be specific. I have to know the exact question so I can ask discreet questions to get Misty to tell me. Do you want to know if she's planning any pranks on you? You know if she comes up with any good ones I'm just going to let them happen. Watching you two pull pranks always brightens up the trip.)
Ash took a deep breath in and out. "Please find out if Misty likes me," he said in a rush.
(You want to know that?) Pikachu gasped, her eyes widening. (I can't ask her that!)
"But Pikachu! I thought we were best buddies! Come on, let's be best friends again. Just tell me what Misty thinks of me. I'm not asking you to go through her diary or anything. Misty knows that anything you tell her you always tell me. I mean," Ash snorted, making Misty and Brock look at him suspiciously, "You tell me everything she says. I practically know all her secrets. Bet I could blackmail her if I really wanted too."
(Ash, there's a lot that I haven't told you about her. There's also a lot about you that I haven't told Misty. If you want me to tell you absolutely everything, you have to trade. I'll tell you how she feels about you if you'll let me tell her how you feel about her. Ugh, that was way too many pronouns. But, anyway, if you like Misty and I find out she doesn't like you back, I promise not tell her. I'm not mean. Well, not that mean.)
"Pikachu, please do this for me? I promise to tell you how I feel about her before you tell me how she feels, okay?" Ash blushed and sunk lower to the ground. "See, I'm not good at all this emotion stuff. I don't know if I like her or hate her or love her or anything. I can't tell. I try and try but I don't know. I don't think I like her like that. I hope I don't like her like that. But…I dunno. I guess knowing how she feels will help me figure it out?"
(How will that help, Ash? I really don't understand your mind. Are you sure you don't need that jolt?)
"Don't worry! I'll figure it out! It's just like a battle, right? I've just got to work really hard and it'll all make sense in the end." He scratched his head. "Man, this love stuff is complicated. Maybe it's just girls that are complicated."
(Trust me, everything is complicated when it comes to mates.) Pikachu nodded. (Now, everyone's getting nice and comfortable for bed. You tuck yourself in and I'll be talking to Misty. You know, half the time I run over and talk to her during the night anyway. You barely even notice. It's weird. You usually can't sleep through anything. You can't even sleep through a little storm. Maybe you're afraid of thunder?)
"No…I sleep outside…" Ash said awkwardly. "I think it's more that I don't like getting wet than a hidden fear of thunderstorms. I sleep pretty heavy when I'm at home. Talk as much as you want. If I wake up, I guess I'll just get the answer to my question all by myself."
(I hear you wake up and your ass is going to have more electricity than a field full of solar panels pumped into it, got it?) She warned, a bit of sparks coming off her cheeks.
"Why do you like girls so much better than me?"
(It's a pokémon thing. We like females,) Pikachu giggled licking his cheek fondly. With that, she raced back to Misty, plummeting down into the warmth of her sleeping bag and already beginning the conversation that was sure to turn awkward fast.
It took Ash two minutes to fall asleep. It took Brock seven. After the two boys began their loud (but strangely comforting) snoring, Misty finally let herself open up and talk to the pokémon cuddling into her chest while Togepi rocked back and forth, snug inside its little egg. It didn't really like to cuddle, probably because its shell kept it warm enough without the extra heat of a human body next to it. (A/N: Hey, watch the show. That egg is about twenty feet away from Misty when they sleep.)
"Ugh, I know you're a pokémon and can't tell anyone but Ash or Brock, not that you would tell Ash or Brock, but I still can't make myself tell you!" Misty whined. Apparently, she wasn't as ready to open up as previously thought. "I want to tell you, Pikachu. I really do! I swear I do! I'm sure you already know all about it. Brock probably does too. I don't think he's exactly joking about our…thing we've got anymore."
(I understand. Who can blame you? It's hard keeping those kinds of secrets bottled up inside for so long and then trying to let them go. How about instead of telling me what I already know, you answer some of my questions. Here's my first one. So, Misty, I know we're almost never in any cities and you rarely see any guys aside from the two foghorns snoring over here…) Misty giggled at that. (But, I was wondering if you happened to have a crush on anyone?)
"I…" Misty gulped, muscles automatically tensing up defensively. "I do."
(There we go, that wasn't so bad, was it?) Misty shook her head, tangled locks falling into her face. (Good. Now let's move onto a slightly harder question. Is it a girl or a guy?)
Misty barely brought her hand up to her mouth in time to stifle what would've been a loud guffaw. "It's a guy. In fact, it's a guy who's just about my own age. Here I thought I'd be going for eighty year olds, but it turns out I'm interested in guys as old as me. How boring am I? What should I do to spice up my secret crush? Maybe he should be a transvestite? Ooh, I know! He's madly in love with a pokémon."
(Is he really?)
Misty sighed. "In a way, I guess he is. He doesn't really notice me. Not that I mind, I guess. Or, at least, I try not to look too much like I do. I don't know if I'd be able to bear it if he didn't just reject me, but rejected me for a pokémon." She wrinkled her nose. "But, I guess that's the way it is with men, so the saying goes. Aren't men supposedly supposed to think of their careers first and love lives later?"
(Why don't you tell me more about this secret crush of yours? It doesn't have to be a name. You don't even have to tell me how he looks yet. You can just tell me what his personality is like. What do you like about him? What does he do that really makes your heart flutter?)
Misty nibbled her lip. "You'll know who he is by the description, even though you're pretending not to know now. I know you know who it is. I don't even know why I don't just tell you straight out. I should just say I have a crush on…" Her mouth stay open, as if trying to force the words out, but failed and settled for chewing her lip again. "I can't. I really did try this tie. Ugh! Why can't I just say it to you…or to him."
(Come on, tell me about his personality.)
Misty blushed and ducked her head away from Pikachu's gaze. "What if I do that cliché movie thing? You know, go off into a daydream about him while I'm talking. Then you start making fun of me on how much I'm in love."
(Misty, you know me better than that! When have I ever made fun…scratch that. Forget about what I've done in the past. I promise I won't make fun of you now.)
Misty sighed and closed her eyes. "Alright. I…I guess it's because he's nice. Every girl wants the guy to be nice. Well, at least I do. I don't really like the tough guy thing. I don't even mind it when he cries, actually. It's like he's got a million different sides to him. He can be brave or sad or angry or happy or anything without any hesitation. He's just so open and honest about everything. He'll tell you practically any secret if you promise not to laugh at him." She felt her mind grow a bit hazy as she began to daydream about Ash revealing the secret to her and shook it off with a head shake so forceful she felt the whiplash.
"He's really nice to his pokémon too. Even if pokémon are the main focus on his life, what's so bad about that? That's what makes him who he is. There's nothing wrong with that. I love pokémon too much too. That's another thing. He's a lot like me. He's stubborn and has a hot temper and he won't let anyone insult him without taking them on, trying to redeem himself. We both get crushed pretty easily too. Whenever you lose a match you feel so devastated, more than the usual person I guess. Maybe that's why we're so good at making each other feel better. Because we've gone through it before and know what we want to hear."
Pikachu spoke softly, trying not to ruin the slightly trance like state the human girl was slipping into. (He sounds very nice. I wouldn't mind having him as a trainer. So, what does he look a like? A guy with a personality like that must be cute.)
A small giggle. Misty bit her lip hard at that. She would not be a cheerleader or a fangirl or anything of the sort. Even if it probably was the kind of thing he'd want. Boys like him always got the pretty, stupid girls with blonde hair and big, stupid eyes. "I don't know if I'm ready to talk about that or not. I'm already…fuzzy."
(Go ahead, tell me.)
"He…" She swallowed hard. "He's got black hair and brown eyes."
(Oh, please. That's nothing.)
Misty blinked. "What do you mean that's nothing? I'm not a writer, you know. I can't give you an awesome profile of the guy. Just how good with words do you think I am? If I ever see a murder the police are gonna hate me because I've seen the guy's face and can't describe him at all."
(Not that! I mean that way he looks. I mean, please! Black hair, brown eyes. You've seen it a million times before,) Pikachu said nonchalantly, inwardly leaping that Misty seemed to be getting a little angry at Pikachu waving off her crush. (I like the black hair and blue eyes combination much better. It's so much more original than that stupid brown. It has no personality. Brown is such a bland color. Bet his eyes are just as bland as his lifeless hair.)
"His hair isn't lifeless!" Misty snapped. "His eyes aren't bland either. It's amazing. They just light up whenever he's won a battle or he sees food or he sees a new challenge. Even when he cries, his eyes still manage to stay beautiful. They don't turn red or anything, like mine do. Well, everyone's eyes turn red, but my face gets all blotchy and I'm red from ear to ear. He barely has a ring of red around his eyes, and they still manage to shine, even when he's sad. And I can't forget the look he gives his pokémon whenever they're hurt or frightened or anything. It's just so sweet and compassionate and, most importantly, they're so genuine!"
(He sounds amazing, those brown eyes of his.)
"His eyes are amazing," She said with a dreamy sigh. "I just wish that…"
(What?)
"I wish that sometimes…maybe he'd look at me with the same look he gives to his pokémon." She sighed. "That same look he gives whenever they've done something right. You know, after they've won a battle or fought off some kind of medical problem. He always gives them the look that…even from where I'm standing it almost fills you with happiness because you know that he's proud of you and you've done something right, really right."
Pikachu nodded. (It's an amazing feeling. I can't imagine what it's like to…) Pikachu swallowed. To be on the other side of that look. After a while, the look Misty was talking about, the one all Ash's pokémon were so familiar with, had practically become a drug. They needed a fix. They needed to battle so they could win or they could try hard and lose just so they could get that bright eyed smile telling them what a good job they did. How hard must it be to not feel it.
"I've done good things, too," Misty swallowed.
(Of course you have, Misty. You've done plenty of good things.) Pikachu agreed. (You took in Togepi and you're treating it well.)
"I mean, I did good things," She said, feeling tears rise. "I…I did. I helped him. I did things other people didn't do for him. I made him feel better when he was down. I gave him advice. I was there to be his friend. I mean, I tried hard too. It wasn't always to impress him. I never thought of impressing him, really. It wasn't until after that I wondered why he wouldn't look at me the way he looks at you when you've done something good."
(Misty, I'm sure he's been proud of you before. With all the times you've helped him how could he not? Maybe you just forgot.)
Misty shook her head, wiping away tears. "You don't forget a look like that. You don't ever forget a look like that. At least, I wouldn't. I'd give anything, I'd do anything, I'd…I'd be anyone he wanted me to be if just once…" he voice cracked and she bit her lips again. If she didn't stop soon, she was going to bleed, and then she did. The coppery taste tapped the tip of her tongue. "I wish he'd look at me like that just once."
(He…he will, Misty, I'm sure of it.)
"No," Misty swallowed. "He won't. He's not ever going to look at me like that because he can't. He's too honest. If he doesn't feel proud of me, he won't give me that look. He's never proud of me though. It's because I'm me. It's because I'm that scrawny redhead who follows him around. I could paint the Mona Lisa and he would probably just call it a 'nice stick figure'. I'm just not good enough for him."
(Maybe…maybe he's always proud of you and afraid to show you.)
Misty gave a bitter laugh. "He can't hide his emotions. He never could. He wears them on his sleeve and if he doesn't think you're good enough, well, hell, Ash Ketchum won't lie to you. If he hates you, he hates you. If he loves you, he loves you. I'm just one of those people he tolerates. He probably doesn't like me. At least, not in the way I do. He doesn't really care about me. I'm as important to him as any other stranger on the street. My life has value, and it's worth just as much as his. I'm just not worth his time, his effort, his feelings. I'm one of a million others he's seen. The only thing that's sets me apart is that he knows my name. Maybe I should be glad, I can tell that to the reporters when he's a famous pokémon master. 'Did I know him? Oh, yeah, ask him! I bet he'll know my name. It might take a second to think of it though, but Ash Ketchum knows my name'."
(Misty, I'm sure you're making this out worse than it really is. He…he does care about you. I think he might care about you so much, he just doesn't know what to do. Girls mature faster than boys, Misty. You grew up fast. He's still…like you say all the time. Ash is just a kid. He doesn't know half of what's going on around him, but he's learning. He's trying Misty. He's trying so hard to figure out what's happening to him you wouldn't believe.)
"Has he figured it out yet? It he scared that the freaky redheaded girl who keeps complaining about her bike has a crush on him? Is that what he was talking to you about? Trying to see if you'll zap me away so he won't have to do it himself?"
(No. In fact, I think he's kind of hoping that you do have a crush on him.)
"Why would he want that unless he's got a crush on me?" Misty said, her voice a little too harsh for even her own ears to handle. "Sorry, that came out badly."
(Misty?) Pikachu whispered, forcing the girl to look at her. (I think he cares. I think he likes you as much as you like him. I just think he's young, he's scared, and if his subconscious already knows what's going on, his conscious is just to scared to let him realize it. But he'll figure it out eventually.)
"And when's eventually?" Misty asked, wiping away the last of her tears.
Pikachu answered honestly. (I don't know.) Another sad laugh from Misty. (But, I promise you, when he gets it? He'll get it. Trust me, when you're fifteen or so Ash is going to stop you in the middle of a match-)
"Why a match?" Misty asked.
(He does all his best thinking during pokémon battles," Pikachu grinned. (But he's going to stop what he's doing, call for a time out, walk right over to you and give you the best, sweetest, most incredible kiss you've ever dreamed of. All it's going to take it for it all to fall into place. His brain works slower than most, but it all turns out right in the end, Misty. Promise you that. I've known him longer than you have.)
"By about three days!" Misty rolled her eyes.
(Hey, it's still longer than you have. Besides, I happen to know that a certain Ash Ketchum is absolutely terrified of girls hitting on him, in case you'd like to take advantage of that. When you're older, of course. You can't go around hitting on guys yet. Eleven years old is a little young. How does twelve sound to you?) Pikachu wriggled her eyebrows in a way that matched Ash perfectly, sending Misty into a giggle fit.
As her laughter subsided, she smoothed a hand of Pikachu's head and smiled. "Thanks, Pikachu. You really made me feel better."
(I'm just doing what comes to me naturally,) Pikachu chirped. (Now, get some rest. We have to walk all the way to the center tomorrow.)
"Alright, alright," Misty sighed, pulling herself down into her sleeping bag as Pikachu bounded back over to Ash.
She nuzzled the sleeping boy awake, despite his quiet moans of protest. (You'll get it, won't you Ash? It's going to take you a while, you big idiot, but you'll figure out all this romance stuff sooner or later? You promise me Ash. Promise me you'll figure it out before you die.)
"I promise t'figure ih'ow," Ash slurred sleepily. "I'll get it, I'll get it. Lemme sleep."
(Just…just tell her the truth Ash. Look at her.)
"I'd rather lookit the inside of m'eyelids."
Pikachu growled and slept near Ash's head. (Humph, men.)
Misty was not the innocent little girl she acted as, neither was Ash, really. The two of them did have good hearts, sweet faces, winning smiles, but they were also a tad bit manipulative and sneaky. This was proven (whether or not Brock noticed it was happening) nearly every time they got into the pokémon center. They did need a big room, and rooms tended to fill up fast. They looked for someone who got a big room and didn't need it and played tradsies.
All Misty needed was a few minutes at the computer to reschedule. As Brock and Ash distracted Nurse Joy (Brock unintentionally so) the fiery tempered girl would slip behind the counter and swish her fingers across the keyboard. A few simple hacks, a few minutes of a quick trainer look up to see who deserved the room least of all, and the plan was set and fixed. They would leave the money to upgrade to the bigger room in the register (they weren't thieves after all) and the big three bed room would be theirs. No Nurse Joy, no Officer Jenny, not Gym Leader Brock was ever the wiser of their strange luck.
This time was no different.
"Could we get a room with three beds?" Ash asked, pulling out a wad of cash. The boy did need to learn to carry a wallet rather than dig coins out from the bottom of the bag. "We'll even take two beds and a couch if that's all you got left."
Nurse Joy began to type away, her brow coming together with a bit of worry. She did hate these trainers, every one of them a hotshot. They'd come up, too big for their britches and demand how they were the greatest trainer in the room. Their spirit was always nice to see. She loved that flare for battling the young boys always had. She just wasn't so fond of it when that burning testosterone turned its ugly head in her direction. "Mmm," She said worriedly.
"What's wrong?" Ash asked.
"Give me a second, I'm looking. I'm sure I'll be able to find something," She consoled, keeping her eyes to the screen. There really didn't seem to be any openings. A single room, yes, one bed. However, even she felt uncomfortable about letting two boys in one room with one bed with one girl. "Uh, you said you wanted three beds? Or, uh, you'd take two as long as there was a couch, right?" She asked hopefully.
"Oh, anything's fine with us. We don't even need the couch. Brock, Misty 'n I will draw straws or something to see who gets the beds and who gets the floor. It's not like we're not used to the ground or anything," Ash grinned.
Nurse Joy practically wanted to leap over the counter and glomp the boy. What an angel! What a saint! How many trainers would be screaming at this point? Of course, the worry wasn't over. Soon she would have to tell him how full she was, and then the boy would create chaos. She hated it when the little boys screamed. "I…I think two of your might have to take the floor tonight. All I've got is singles."
Ash's forehead creased. Nurse Joy waited. Here it came. Here came the screaming, strange, scary angry dance that all boys his age were known to throw as a tantrum. Sometimes she wished they didn't let boys this young become trainers. Yet, something was wrong. This boy didn't seem angry, he appeared to be thinking. He scratched the side of his nose before running a hand through his hair, all the while keeping his eyes straight forward, looking beyond her, and his forehead keeping its wrinkle.
"You're not going to make me be a gentleman, are ya?" He asked finally.
Nurse Joy blinked. What was that question about? "Pardon?"
"A gentleman. You're not going to make me act like a gentleman, are you?" He repeated.
Nurse Joy shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean. How is you being a gentleman related to you getting a room here tonight? You don't mean you want to give up the room and sleep outside, do you? We've got room! We've got a few rooms, actually. Of course," She sighed, "to buy three rooms you'll need a lot more money than you have. I don't suppose the gym is open so you could win some spare change now, is it?"
"Nope," Ash grinned. "First thing I checked ma'am. I just meant if you're going to let Misty have the bed just because she's a girl. I really don't want to be the gentleman. I'd rather take my chances with drawing straws or flipping a coin instead of just giving up. I was just asking because I know she'll probably come over here and try and make you give her the bed. She's always pulling that stupid gentleman card on me."
(You lie much to well, young Ketchum,) Pikachu shook her head on Ash's shoulder.
"I know, Pikachu," Ash petted his pokémon fondly, pretending the comment meant something it didn't. "Pikachu hates it when Misty pulls the gentleman card too. She's the only other girl on our team, Pikachu I meant, and she never gets to get the bed because she's just a pokémon. I guess it's okay though. Pikachu seems to prefer the floor or her pokéball anyway, like any other normal pokémon, right?"
(If you attempt to put me in that mewdamned ball I'm going to take a spoon and shove it up your-)
"See how angry she gets? It happens every time. She's crazy," Ash shook his head.
"So…you don't want another room? You'll…you'll take this one. You won't argue me or fight me over it or try to bribe me?" Nurse Joy ask, letting the hope come out in her voice. Maybe all little trainers weren't brats after all! Maybe there was hope for the world! Or…maybe this one was just a little too stupid to be mean. That seemed to happen sometimes. You did have to love the stupid ones, always had a smile on their face.
"Would bribes work?" Ash asked, working a bit of wit into the conversation. "You can take my friend Brock if you want. Brock and all our money!" He beamed and jerked a thumb over his shoulder to where Misty was restraining Brock with one hand and paging through a magazine called "Waterlogged" that seemed to be absolutely full of water pokémon and how to train them. "You can take Misty too, if you like. Just wreck her bike, she'll follow you everywhere."
"Aren't you cute?" Nurse Joy squealed. "I wish there was something I could do for you!"
Ash pretended to shift anxiously. "Well…no, I don't want to be a burden or anything."
"Go ahead!" She encouraged. "I don't mind."
"Oh, no," Ash said, getting ready for the next big word.
"Please! I want to help you! It's not often that I get such a sweet little man around here."
Ash felt his face tint. "I don't want to…" Here it came, the weird word he hated. "I don't want to impose…"
"It's no trouble at all! Just tell me what you need. If I can help you I'll help you!"
"Could you maybe take a look at my Charizard? He's been acting a little lazy lately and I want to get him fixed."
(You know, if you get him fixed he's not going to liven up. In fact, he's probably going to become even lazier. Not to mention you'll make no money off trying to breed him. Poor thing. Just steal his dignity away too! He didn't really mean to hit you with all those fire attacks…sorta…) Pikachu laughed nervously.
"I'd just love to help you! It's no problem at all. I'm sure your Charizard is just feeling depressed or maybe even confused. Maybe it's evolution affected its mind. Evolution does that sometimes. It's not surprising. The human body barely changes at all during puberty and yet there are still extreme hormonal changes. It's the same in pokémon, except much, much faster. It really is fascinating. You should read up on it sometime."
"I don't really read," Ash laughed lightly. "I'm more of a Nintendo kind of guy. I love the main character in pokémon red. He looks so cool. I wish I could be him."
"Are you coming back with me?" Nurse Joy asked with a smile. "It's right through this way."
"Um, actually, I need to stay with my other friend, Misty." Ash leaned forward to whisper. "She can't really be alone. She can't cook and she has these temper fits. She practically goes insane during them. She could hurt herself and others. Having Brock alone with her with all these pretty girls will just make it worse. I wish I could go with Charizard, but I don't want her to hurt herself. The doctor said she had, what was it? North pole disorder or something. She's all cheerful one second then angry."
"Oh, bipolar disorder," She murmured.
"Yup, North pole disorder," Ash agreed, truthfully not knowing how to say 'bipolar'. "Anyway, Brock will go with you while I take care of Misty. Please don't tell anyone about this. She gets really embarrassed about it. I mean, can you imagine not being able to control your own actions? It's a brain thing, and she really hates doing it but she just can't help it. It gets especially bad when her pills start getting low and she has to cut back to half her usual dose. I'd hate to see her all the way without it." He added a shiver as if to prove it. He did know what Misty was like without medication. She was the girl who whacked him over the head everyday with a mallet.
"Brock won't try to serenade me again?"
"Mew, I hope not," Ash blinked. Then laughed. "Er, I didn't mean it that way. I'm sure he'll leave you alone about this stuff from now on, Nurse Joy. He's a good guy, really. His hormones just get in the way sometimes. Once he gets over how pretty you are he's fine."
"Well, that's good. I guess I can-"
"Oi! Brock! Nurse Joy and you are going to go out back to help my Charizard! She's going to try and find out why he's been acting so weird lately, alright?" Ash shouted across the pokémon center. People looked up to glance at the boy, not at all embarrassed by his outburst, as he continued to scream. "I got to talk to Misty and make sure she doesn't get mad and kill anyone while you do that! Is that okay with you?"
Brock was by them in a heartbeat, a little to close for Joy's comfort. "Okay with me? Why, it's the highlight of my life! It's the top of a mountain and the beautiful scenery below! It's the crow's nest of a boat and beauty of new land. It's like a dream I never wish to wake from!"
"It's like a nightmare that never seems to end," Nurse Joy moaned to herself as the teenage boy dragged her towards the back. "Watch the register for me if you would! Make sure nobody steals any money from it, okay?"
"Not a problem Nurse Joy!" Ash shouted, waving at her. He turned to Misty, still flipping through her magazine. "Hello! Misty! Get your nose out of that stupid old book! You've got some work to do! At least I've already done my part! What have you been doing all this time? Picking up tips that you can't use? You should learn your own style of battling pokémon, not what that stupid magazine says!" He snapped as she walked by him, still paging through the magazine.
"You don't know everything you think you do, Ash," Misty grinned, popping over the register. "Sometimes it's good to learn about other strategies so you can build on your own. Any good trainer knows that. But then again, I suppose you're not any good trainer, are ya? You're a very good liar though, I have to give you that. Did you say I was an orphan and I can't stand being alone? That's your usual choice when it comes to sticking around to watch me work."
"Nope, you've got North pole disorder."
"Bipolar disorder."
"What I said," Ash agreed.
"Why are you sticking around here anyway?" Misty asked, beginning to hack her way through the computer system. "I mean, I get once or twice you'd want to see what I do, but it doesn't change, Ash. If you really want, I could teach you how to hack into things. I that what you're trying to do? I don't mind teaching you as long as you promise you're going to actually try and not just go around making a fool of yourself."
"No, that's not it," Ash shook his head. "I wouldn't mind learning though. It seems like a pretty…convenient…" He looked at her face to see if he sounded the word out right. When she nodded, eyes still on the flashing screen, he continued. "It seem like a pretty convenient thing to be able to do. To hack into police reports or private stuff or get a room or see if the government really is up to all the stuff the say they're not."
Misty grinned. "I'm not that good of a hacker, Ash. I barely pull of breaking into local police stations, and even that takes me a while. I could teach you how to get yourself a better room though. You better be willing to pay for it. I don't want you stealing your way to a five star hotel." She bit her lip as a boy with three registered traveling companions showed up. Apparently Ash wasn't the only boy who wouldn't travel alone.
"Why are you doing that?"
"What?"
"That," Ash insisted, pointing at the lip she chewed on. "You never do that unless there's something going on in your head that you don't like. Don't tell me you found out that everyone in this center needs this room more than we do! How many charity cases can you get in one place?" He moaned and shook his head. "It figures we chose the wrong night to try and get a place to sleep. We should've gone to a motel."
"Motels have bugs," Misty argued.
"I have bug types," He shot back.
She shivered. "Mew, don't remind me about that thing. I don't like it, and I don't want to touch it, and I don't care how pretty it gets. A bug is a bug is a bug and I just don't like them. If you try and torture me with that creature tonight I'm going to wake you in the morning with an electric alarm clock, I swear." She shook her head, then grinned a bit. "Oh, good. I got a snotty kid who's not traveling with anyone."
"And why is he okay to steal from?" Ash asked. "Who are you to chose what's right and wrong? You're not Arceus, Misty. You can't chose anyone's fate. Somehow you think that just because you read someone's profile, without even meeting the guy, you can judge their character well enough to know that you're a better person than them. Sure, we know I'm better than them, because I'm better than everyone, but you're not, and you shouldn't be able to make that choice. Shame, shame on you, Misty. You and your ways to try and become a goddess in your own right. You'll go to hell for that one."
"He's been caught beating, not just a hit, but beating with, get this, rocks and bricks and knives. You know what he's been beating? His own pokémon. He also beat another boy's pokémon because they were rivals. He was mad at him so he snatch his pokéball and almost killed the pour creature. Man, I can understand a whack or two in the head, but how mad do you have to be to pull a knife on something?"
"Pretty mad," Ash deduced.
"Thank you, Sherlock," Misty rolled her eyes. A few more clicks, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face. "Perfect. We are all booked up for one of the nicest rooms in the center and meanwhile Señior Assface gets a room in the basement." She logged out and smiled up at him. "Okay, don't tell Brock I said assface. The last thing I need is for my sisters to try and wash my mouth out with soap again when I walk through the door."
"And it's all done, just like that?"
"Just like that."
"And you didn't steal a room from somebody who deserved it?"
"I hope he wasn't framed. If so, he's having one bad year," Misty chuckled. "Judging by the pictures they took at the crime scene and the lie detector test, I think the chances of that are pretty slim. Hope nobody else is affected by this. It would suck to ruin someone's life just so we could all get a bed, huh? I'd rather sleep on the floor than on a comfortable bed if I know I put some poor innocent guy on the streets."
Ash cocked his head to one side. "You're like Robin Hood, you know that? You steal from the rich and give to the poor. It's pretty cool."
"We're not exactly poor, Ash," Misty grinned. "It's not like I'm risking my life, either. My sisters would pay the bail if any Nurse Joy ever decided to sue me and I'm sure I could stand being grounded for a week." She frowned. "Unless they get really mad and put me into the 'mindless task punishment area'. Nothing to do but sharpen hundreds and hundreds of pencils and finger knit scarves that look like ropes."
At this point, Ash would've made a snide comment. It was his time to say something cruel, something biting, something heart wrenching. Part of him even didn't mind if she cried. It meant he had won. Misty didn't really seem to care all that much about crying, anyway. It took her a few hours to get over her last crying fit, and it would probably take even less for her to get over another one. That obviously wasn't his issue.
Which led him to wonder, what did make him hesitate?
After a while, he settled on 'lying' or, in the big word BSR likes to use, insincerity. He didn't actually mean it. Well, at least, now that he was thinking about it, he wasn't so sure that he did. The mean comments about her not doing something right, maybe it was wrong to lie to her like that, if he was lying. It seemed wrong, especially since no one ever seemed to tell her that she did something right.
So, letting himself be honest, "the look" appeared in his face as he smiled down at her. "Thanks, Mist. You really shouldn't be so…humble? Yeah, that's the one. Humble. You did a good job. I mean, I don't think I'd ever be able to do that that fast. It's so cool how you get it done, and then you make sure nobody gets hurt by what you're doing. You really are like a modern day Robin Hood or something. What would that make me? The fat bear?" He giggled.
And Misty…something had happened to her. Her face was flushed, her eyes looked brighter, and she looked a bit as if she was trembling. "I-I-I guess you'd be the buh-bear or suh-something. Thuh-thanks I guh-guess."
At her stutter, Ash panicked, breaking "the look" and reaching out to lay a hand on her arm. "Mist, you okay? You're shaking all over and you're all pale and flushed at the same time and you stuttered and you never stutter and-"
"Don't you ever look at me like that again, you got it?" Misty growled, completely forgetting that this was what she wanted all along. "If you ever look at me like that again I'll…I'll…I don't know what I'll do but let me tell you, it sure as hell won't be anything pleasant, Ash Ketchum!"
"Look at you like what?" Ash blinked.
"You know!" She shouted.
"No I don't! What do you mean? I didn't look at you like anything!"
"Yes you did! You gave me that look!"
"What look?"
"The one you always give your pokémon after you win your stupid match! That really happy, proud one! That's the look you gave me! You know it too!"
"I don't know!"
"How could you not know that look?"
"I don't!" He shouted. Ash blinked, and "the look" reappeared on his face. "But, Mist, I really am proud of you. I mean, I guess no one says it much, but you really do help us out, even if Brock doesn't know it. I'm sure your sisters and the rest of your family is proud of you too. You're still a good battler, even if all you do use is water pokémon. If they don't know how good you are at hacking, I bet they can at least see how good you are at that."
He was slapped again, right in the face.
But, he figured it was worth it. It was always fun to see the infallible Misty Waterflower stutter and stumble and fall over her own words. It was nice to see that maybe the girl he looked at almost as if she was a goddess was human, with weaknesses.
And, according to her response to what he thought was just an ordinary look, he was one of those weaknesses.
…His cheek did sort of hurt though…
Okay, now I just have to say to some of the people out there…
I've got two stories running.
Each chapter, as I force myself to, is at least ten pages, Verdana, 9 point font, web styled, and read over once.
I update both about every week and a half.
This means, I'm typing at least twenty pages for every week and a half, along with homework, housework and other things.
I typed eleven pages on my other story's chapter, and fifteen this one (Do a little dance). That's twenty six pages.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love hearing from you, I love your reviews, but I'm a little annoyed by this (for no apparent reason aside from frequency):
I beg of you. Please, please, please don't write in your review for this chapter "update soon" or I will copy and paste this author's note over and over and over again in your reply and PM you with this as well. I really think I'll spaz or something if someone says that without a joke intended.
Thank you, and…
THANKS FOR THE 400 REVIEWS! YOU ALL MELT FACE! I LOVE YOU Y'ALL!