Chapter 17: All Our Pains Laid Bare
"I thought I'd see you here."
The stern, though somewhat emotionally flat voice rang out in the silence of the gym complex's living room and paralyzed Ash in his tracks. He swung himself around quickly to see who it was who addressed him. Much to his surprise, it was a redheaded woman. Just not the one he expected to see.
"But I didn't think I would see you here all by your lonesome."
"Zoey?" Ash questioned, "What are you doing here?"
A shadow of a scowl crossed Zoey's face, but it crept away just as quickly as it surfaced. She let out a steady breath and offered a sly retort, "I should probably ask you the same thing. I thought that if you were going to be here, so would Misty. Why isn't she here with you?"
Ash gulped, remembering his final exchange with Misty a mere thirty minutes prior. He had been told to leave so suddenly and with such force that he didn't even think to retrieve his belongings or his Pokémon. It was only upon arriving at the Cerulean Pokemon Center that he realized his error and, with some hesitation that delayed him further, decided he needed to revisit the gym once more. He had been wholly surprised to discover that Misty had left the gym in the short time he had been away. For what reason, he couldn't even fathom.
Ash, realizing that Zoey was staring at him expectantly, decided he had to answer quickly. It appeared to him, that Zoey thought he was up to no good, and he wanted to lay that misconception to rest as soon as he could.
"I'm here to get my Pokémon and my things. I'm leaving."
Zoey raised a curious eyebrow and pursed her lips together tightly. That was her reason for being there too, but she hadn't expected Ash to be leaving so quickly. Before she could try to comprehend the reasoning behind his actions, however, she was forced to pursue Ash as he trudged up the stairwell to the bedrooms.
"Wait a second, Ash!" Zoey persisted, "What's the deal? Why are you leaving so soon? There's no way you could've resolved anything here that quickly!"
Ash tensed as he heard her words from atop the stairway, causing him to stall on his trek to retrieve his belongings. His head drooped slightly and he huffed out his response without thinking, "I didn't."
He forced himself to move again and strode down the hallway with a disbelieving Zoey on his tail.
"Have you spoken to Dawn yet at least?" Zoey asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I doubt she'll want to. If she's feeling anything like Misty is, she won't. And I'm not going to make her," Ash mumbled as he quickly entered Violet's room and haphazardly stuffed his assorted possessions into his green backpack.
"So you're just going to leave everything a mess, just like that?" Zoey inquired incredulously.
Ash cast her a solemn gaze before dropping it back to the floor and slinging his bag onto his back and nodding wordlessly. He began to walk towards the door of the bedroom in which Zoey stood. Ash assumed she was going to step out of the way so he could pass. He nearly bumped into her before he discovered that was not the case.
"Do you mind?" Ash nonchalantly spoke, attempting to prompt her into moving. She didn't budge, standing almost imposingly in the doorway with her arms folded.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Zoey kept up her line of questions.
Ash let out a mixed heavy groan and sigh and looked Zoey straight in the eyes, "Misty kicked me out. Dawn is going to break up with me. There's nothing for me here. Let me through, please." He tried to sound polite in his last statement, but it came across as more irritated than anything.
"I swear, you know nothing about women," Zoey pinched the bridge of her nose as she grumbled to herself in response to Ash's answer. She looked up at him again and lectured, "You really need to stick around. Even if Dawn were breaking up with you, you can't just run off without talking to her about it first. It's rude, and only a coward does that."
Instinctively, Ash grit his teeth together. She had just implied that he was cowardly. He could honestly think of no greater insult to him at the moment besides being called a liar – something that he couldn't argue against. He was about to offer an angry retort before his mind stumbled as he picked up on something else she had said. His expression immediately softened and for the first time since the contest, he felt a glimmer of hope.
"She's not breaking up with me?" he breathed.
Zoey bit her lip. She wanted to tell him Dawn was going to break up with him. She wanted so badly to let Ash walk away and let Dawn see who would really stand beside her. But it was dishonest. She would never lie to Dawn. She couldn't betray her in that way. Zoey loved Dawn too much to let petty jealousy turn her into a monster.
"She's not," Zoey finally confirmed.
Ash felt as though some of the weight that kept him for breathing properly all that afternoon finally lift somewhat. He was still burdened by much, but this small shred of relief was like seeing a dim light at the end of a very long tunnel.
"At least, she won't if you do the right thing."
Ash attention snapped back to Zoey and his face darkened again.
"What do you mean?" Ash instantly latched onto her cryptic words as though they were a life preserver.
"What do you mean?" Zoey huffed out mockingly under her breath. She couldn't believe he didn't understand, but she told him all the same, "You have to forget about Misty and recommit yourself to Dawn. She needs to know that you love her and only her!"
Ash's breath hitched in his throat and he could feel himself going pale.
"What? Can't do it? Fine, I'll go tell her right now!" Zoey felt her anger rising again as she noted Ash's hesitance.
"Hold on!" Ash seized Zoey's shoulder as the Top Coordinator made a gesture that indicated she was about to leave.
Ash noted just how strange it was that he wanted nothing more than Zoey to step aside minutes ago; yet now, he needed her to stay put.
"I love Dawn. I know that, and if you say she's not breaking up with me, she's got to know that I do!"
Zoey's expression soured and she removed Ash's hand from her shoulder, "That's not good enough."
"Damn it, Zoey! You can't just ask me to forget Misty! Not only do I love her, but she's also one of my best friends! I've known her for years! Besides, I can't just turn off my feelings for her! You say loving more than one person doesn't work! Well I say that just ignoring your feelings doesn't either!"
Zoey's eyes widened as she felt her words from earlier that day thrown back in her face. Ash's visage was one of pure determination, and she knew well that she couldn't break through that wall. Before, he had been uncertain. Now, backed into a corner, he had found his resolve and his tenacity. He knew exactly what he felt and he wasn't ready to sacrifice one love for the other.
She realized she couldn't stop him. The love he felt for them both was too deeply rooted. And for that she almost felt as though she wanted to cry. Zoey knew the revelation of how Ash would be unable to commit himself entirely to Dawn would break the poor girl. Zoey wished she could say something to Ash to make him choose her alone, considering what the blunette had told her in the dressing room. But she realized the reality of it was she had no power in this. She could only watch and hope for a desirable outcome for her beloved.
"Well... it's not your choice anyways. It's hers. If you want her, you'll have to tell her. And when you tell her what you've told me... I don't think she'll take it well," Zoey gently spoke, falling back onto calmer tones and logic, knowing she couldn't match passions with Ash.
Ash's heightened emotional state fell away for the moment and he looked away from Zoey as he heaved out his solemn response, "I know."
Knowing she could do no more, she moved from the doorway into the hall and allowed Ash passage from the temporary abode that he had allowed that past week. He gave her a look of thanks and a nod before moving away from her to make his way down the hall.
However, Zoey, compelled by a force she knew not, halted Ash with a stern grip on his shoulder. He turned his head to meet the steely gaze of the top coordinator as she spoke strongly, "Don't make the mistake of thinking you're the only one who has feelings for Dawn. She won't be the only person you'll hurt when you put her through all the pain you're about to lay on her."
Ash was more confused than anything, and Zoey saw it clear as day. She almost let out a hollow laugh, but her body just couldn't manage it. She tentatively released Ash, who in response, turned away from her and strode down the hall. He proceeded more slowly than he intended to when he first returned to the gym, as his mind was now turning over and over from his conversation with Zoey. Even setting aside the strange, almost warning-like way she finished, Ash had a lot to think about. Too much in fact.
He wanted to talk to Misty and Dawn. But he had no idea what to say to them. Never mind any idea of where they were at that moment. Misty had left the gym, and didn't have the faintest clue to where Dawn went after the contest.
He was about to pass by the kitchen on the way to the gym battlefield when he saw on the counter closest to the fridge, a notepad and a pen. An idea clicked in his head and he quickly moved to snatch them both and quickly began scrawling a note for both Dawn and Misty. Once the letter of questionable handwritten quality was finished, he quickly made for the pool battlefield, finding many of his Pokémon gathered in a circle along with Misty's and Dawn's Pokémon.
"Hey guys!" Ash greeted warmly, feeling a good mood coming back upon seeing his companions. It seemed that, even through all the trials of the day, seeing his loyal friends was always something that could cheer him up.
But as he reminded himself of the task ahead of him that night and the next day, his chipper mood dissipated and his voice turned serious, "We have to leave. Sorry guys, but I'm gonna need you to come back to your pokéballs."
His pokemon, namely: Squirtle, Feraligatr, Noctowl, Pidgeot, and Leavanny, all gave him odd looks, but complied as he pulled their capsules and returned them one at a time. Ash looked around for the sixth member of his team, but couldn't locate him.
Ash addressed the girls' Pokémon with some anxiousness, "Hey, where'd Pikachu go?"
Misty's Azumarill stepped up from the crowd of Pokémon and began waving and shouting frantically, pointing to the exit of the gym in the hallway beyond the pool.
"Pikachu left?" Ash questioned, trying in vain to understand the water-type's language.
"Zu-zu! Azu-marill!" the Aqua-Rabbit Pokémon, nodded, adding more gestures to his explanation.
Ash was at a complete loss to what the long-eared Pokémon was saying, besides the first affirmative motion he gained. He just hoped that Pikachu wasn't out in Cerulean all by himself.
Then a thought occurred to Ash and he asked Azumarill pertinently, "Is Pikachu with Misty?"
Azumarill bounded up and down happily at his apparent conclusion of being understood and nodded to show Ash was right in his assessment.
Ash breathed a sigh of relief and told Misty's Pokémon, "Thanks! That's good to hear," he withdrew the folded note from his pocket, quickly scrawled an extra couple of lines on it and handed it to the water-type and told him, "Azumarill, please make sure Misty gets this note. And Dawn too, if she happens to come by."
Azumarill chirped a few variations of his name and reached out to take the note eagerly. Ash smiled at the water-type who he had last seen as an Azurill and generously told him, "Thank you, Azumarill. I really appreciate it! You're a great Pokémon and Misty is lucky to have you."
Azumarill cheered at the compliment and Ash stood back up and bid the remaining Pokémon a fond farewell as he left the gym once more.
It was only minutes later that same Azumarill heard the commotion of two young women rushing into the gym along with Ash's partner Pokémon.
The light of the rising sun had only barely begun to creep over the oceanic horizon east of Cerulean City. And yet Misty felt awake as ever.
Sleep had not come easily to her that night, and when it did, it was fitful and ultimately did not grant her the rest she had hoped to gain. It was in those bleak hours of the morning she quietly made her way downstairs to begin her routine, albeit quite a bit earlier than normal. She was only downstairs for minutes before she heard steps on the stairway from which she had come. She peered around the corner from the kitchen and spotted a sluggish-looking Dawn taking the final steps from the stairs into the living room.
"Guess I'm not the only one who had trouble getting any shut-eye last night," Misty commented, suppressing a yawn.
Dawn looked up in surprise, seeing Misty duck back into the kitchen as she located the source of the voice. Dawn, abandoning her light-footed steps in favour of her normal pace, strode into the kitchen to greet her friend.
"I suppose both of us had a lot on our minds last night. A little too much to even hope for a good sleep," Dawn affirmed, taking a glass of orange juice from Misty as the redhead offered it upon her arrival, "Thanks."
"No problem," Misty acknowledged, taking a sip of her own and moving to sit at the kitchen table.
Dawn took the opposing chair, finding herself with nothing to do but sit, drink and stare at the woman across from her. In truth, the apprehension of meeting with Ash that day had been the primary culprit for the restless night Dawn had endured, but that had been far from the only thing that her overburdened mind had forced on her in the dim hours only recently passed. The second issue on her mind was the bombshell Zoey dropped. The ensuing kiss afterwards only cemented her rival's confession even deeper into her memory and now Dawn was filled with conflicting feelings on the matter.
It wasn't that she had a problem with Zoey's preferences. In fact, she had just as much respect for the Top Coordinator as she did before; perhaps more with just how brave it was for Zoey to come out to her. What really made the whole incident linger in Dawn's mind was how she didn't immediately break away from the surprise kiss. It left her confused more than anything. She knew that she loved Ash and that she couldn't choose Zoey over him. If anything, her relationship with Zoey, though incredibly strong, was based on friendship. But she didn't feel a strange awkwardness in kissing her as she thought she perceived she would in kissing a girl. The revelation left her with insecurities about the matter only seemed to intensify as she recounted, in her head, the various events in her mad scramble to find Ash with Misty.
She was, without a doubt, glad that her friendship with Misty would survive the current situation – as Misty herself had assured her of that yesterday, given the condition of total honesty between them. But in review, she found that something was happening between the gym leader and herself. Even though their focus had been on finding Ash to resolve their mutual romantic entanglement, she found that new threads seemed to be emerging between the two of them; especially given Misty's intensely generous gesture to let her have Ash. She hadn't found too much time to dwell on it during the chase itself, but with nearly a night's worth of time to think about as she tried to drift off to sleep, she couldn't help but try to understand it all. But it seemed, the harder she tried, the harder it was to grasp the concept.
Misty found herself glancing at Dawn as well from across the small table. She, too, had been enveloped in a whirlwind of self-reflection for most of the evening. Besides the upcoming encounter with Ash slated for that evening, she had another heavy weight on her mind. She kept coming back to the fact that, even though she –with Dawn's help – had broken through her own self-delusion of thinking that she couldn't love Ash anymore, she was still willing to give him away to the blue-haired woman across from her. Even with over a decade of feelings for Ash pressing down on her, she treasured her friendship of three years with Dawn to respect their currently established relationship. Misty was quite surprised at her own actions, and was still not quite sure how her mind reconciled that decision. But she knew it was the right one, and that she felt incapable of betraying Dawn in such a way.
"So... umm... are you ready for today?" Misty asked, her tone ringing with nervousness.
Dawn looked up from her now emptied glass, and nodded, "I think I am. I'm just kinda worried about what Ash will say. He's not the type to usually take time and think about things. He just dives in and rolls with it."
Misty's gaze fell back to the table and she let out a soft hum and added, "Yeah, that's pretty unusual for him."
Misty's eyes travelled back up to the uncertain girl before her and she saw just how apprehensive she looked. Misty, almost instinctively, reached across the table and placed her hand on Dawn's, telling her softly all the while, "Dawn. I know this is a really... odd... situation. But if his behaviour yesterday was any indication, he still loves you. He won't let you go. And I won't let him."
Dawn let a weak smile cross her face, but grew sullen again when she realized just how much effort those words must've been for Misty to say. Dawn turned her hand and allowed their fingers to intertwine and she responded in a soft, kind tone, "Misty... if he does choose you..."
Misty tightened her grip on Dawn's hand slightly, not enough to cause pain, but enough to convey the emphasis in her following words, "Dawn, you are a wonderful person. Time and time again, you've given me confidence when I've had none. Now, I'm doing the same for you. Believe me, as much as Ash may love me, he won't betray the relationship you've built together. I don't care how much time he's taking to 'think' about this, if he's the same person that I travelled with years ago, he'll honour you and the bond you've forged with him. And if he doesn't, I'll set him straight."
"But you..."
"It doesn't matter," Misty dismissed the point Dawn was attempting to make, "Yes, I love him. But no, I'm not going to let him throw away what he has with you."
Dawn let out a heavy sigh and let her stare fall upon their linked hands and she quieted herself for a few moments before offering her reply, "I never thought it would be like this."
Misty tilted her head in confusion. Dawn saw this and clarified in a contemplative tone, "I thought when I finally fell in love with someone, it would be a perfect, happy ending. And for a while it was. But now it's all complicated and confusing."
Misty's turned her head to look out the window adjacent to the table and watched the sun climb steadily over the waters of Cerulean Bay. She voiced her agreement in a faraway tone, "It's rarely ever so simple."
Dawn continued to stare at Misty as the full implications of Misty's short, but poignant, reply hit her. Dawn realized that she had managed to capture Ash's heart in fairly short order after their reunion. And while she had always harboured a quiet longing for the boy since their departure years prior, it had never been the agonizing wait that Misty endured. For Dawn, the standards of what she wanted in a significant other had been raised due to Ash's time with her, but she could find no other man match him. It was only upon meeting him in Twinleaf Town again that she came to fully realize it, and in turn, fell for him.
The blunette finally understood, that Misty's cynical outlook on love was born of early realization, and an all too lengthy wait. Combining that with the shock of finding out the object of her affections was already taken – by her best friend no less – Dawn saw that Misty may have accepted that Ash did love her, and she him. But Misty had decided that love, in the end, was not for her.
And the fact that Dawn felt almost wholly responsible for it nearly crushed her then and there.
"I'm going to go for a walk for a few, maybe watch the sunrise on the beach. I think Ash might've been onto something when it comes to this 'taking time to think' idea," Dawn suddenly announced, quickly breaking away from their physical link and leaving the table for the living room.
Misty, shocked from her stupor as she looked wistfully out the window, snapped her head back towards Dawn and inquired, "I'm going to be making breakfast soon. Didn't you want to wait for it?"
Dawn gave her a small smile as she paused on the threshold between the two rooms and told Misty with some reluctance, "I'm fine. No need to worry. I just need some air. I'll have some later."
With that, Dawn hastily ascended the stairs to her bedroom, changed from her nightgown into her normal daywear, and trotted outside.
Misty was almost taken aback by the urgency with which Dawn had made her departure. Regardless, Misty made good on her promise to make breakfast for the two of them. The only problem was that Dawn failed to reappear to take part in the meal.
Given the weight of the day ahead, Misty wasn't surprised when she missed breakfast by a half-an-hour. But Misty grew more and more worried as that half-hour grew to an hour, then two. Even as noon approached, Misty neither saw nor heard anything from Dawn. It was shortly before midday that Misty elected to travel to the lengthy, sandy beach that stretched along the east coast of Cerulean to try and find the coordinator.
It took a good hour for Misty to pace the length of the beach in her search for Dawn, but it was a fruitless search in the end. Under the sunny skies and calming ocean breezes, she found, at least, a place to rake her own thoughts about the whole scenario. When she concluded that Dawn was in fact, no longer there (if she had never been there), she decided to rest her weary legs on the soft sand left by the tides.
Misty realized that there might've been no better place for her to clear her head. The ocean always brought her a form of serenity that she could find no where else. It was why some of her favourite times travelling with Ash were at sea. The Orange Islands, The Whirl Islands, Cinnabar; they were all places where she could find a sense of peace, yet still experience the thrill of adventure at Ash's side.
But even today, next to the lapping waves and the sounds of Wingull chanting their song, Misty's mind remained unsettled. Her mind was split firmly in two, with thoughts of the meeting Ash tugging her one way, and the strange and sudden departure of Dawn pulling in the other. Beyond her mention of the beach, Dawn had given no hint of her intended destination.
It was only by chance that, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the cliff overlooking the northern tip of the beach. Upon it was perched one of the shining jewels of Cerulean City: The Lighthouse. The spire of white-washed stone, capped with an almost hauntingly beautiful beacon when seen at night was something that drew visitors from around the world. It also had the reputation of being a secluded and often sought romantic vista for young couples. It was surely why Georgio had made sure to meet and challenge her there with a date being the incentive for his victory all those years ago.
Misty wondered if Ash had chosen it for its remote nature, or for its romantic implications. Misty almost chuckled at the thought that not so long ago, the answer would've been an obvious one.
But a thought occurred to Misty then. The redhead remembered just how nervous Dawn had been about the whole meeting with Ash and wondered if she had...
She noted the path leading up the side of the steep cliff side from the northernmost end of beach and realized that Dawn may have been drawn to the location. She quickly ascended the steep path, pacing herself so that she wouldn't be winded by the time she arrived at the peak, but not so slowly that she would be concerned that she might've missed Dawn were she there at all.
After a lengthy trek, Misty finally found herself beneath the lighthouse. There were a few tourists around, as to be expected during this time of the year. But it was far fewer than the usual amount due to the hurricane's passing that week. It was for this reason that Misty was easily able to pick out the head of long blue hair through the sparse crowd.
Dawn stood at the railing overlooking the cliff, her arms perched on the metal bar as she leaned forward in a pose that at first glance seemed like a relaxed one, though her face told a different story. Even as her locks of blue hair swayed gently in the wind before her face, one could easily tell that she was not in the greatest of the spirits at that moment. She simply stared out to the waters below the lighthouse, watching them crash against the shoals. It was wholly appropriate, as the sounds of breaking water on rock seemed to mirror the war in her mind.
Misty, without a second though, took a similar stance next to Dawn without the younger girl even noticing.
"It's really nice up here, isn't it?" Misty asked. The question was not so much directed at Dawn, so much as it was a comment on the surroundings.
Dawn's body stilled for a moment at the shock of hearing Misty's voice, but she soon turned her head to see Misty gazing out towards the ocean just as she had seconds prior.
"It is," Dawn answered plainly.
"You missed breakfast... and lunch," Misty told Dawn, her tone carried the slightest teasing hue.
A small, though sincere smile crossed Dawn's face and she retrained her eyes towards the ocean and responded, "Yeah... sorry."
"It's fine," Misty assured her, "Just thought you'd be hungry."
Dawn let out a soft, short laugh, "I'm not. Haven't really been since last night."
Misty nodded, letting out a breath as she pressed on in the conversation, "Did you think Ash would arrive early?"
Dawn's eyes flickered over towards Misty and she caught a mutual glance from the redhead. She quickly bowed her head and answered heavily, "No. I just needed to be here before it all happened."
"Really?" Misty inquired.
Dawn smiled as she recalled a distant memory and asked the redhead her own question, "Did I ever tell you about my first contest?"
Misty turned, letting her right arm rest on the rail as she faced Dawn fully, "Nope."
Dawn began her story, raising her head back towards the ocean vista, "I was really nervous. I couldn't stop fussing with my hair. I did more harm than good with it. Thankfully, Zoey came in and fixed it. I met her at that contest, actually. But even when I got on stage, I felt a bit overwhelmed. I'd never been on stage before. It was so unfamiliar that I nearly lost my concentration in my first appeal ever."
Dawn lifted herself from her pose on the rail and turned to face the lighthouse and the cobblestone laden concourse surrounding it. She went on, "Ever since that contest, I've always made a point of taking a look at the stage I'll be performing on. For one, it's actually a smart thing to do. But more importantly, it helps me to become familiar with it before I actually participate in a contest. If I don't see where I'm going to stage my appeal or battle, I get nervous because it's unknown to me. I have to see it first, or else I'll be all jittery. It's become a sort of habit for me actually."
Misty, having swivelled around to match Dawn as she looked over the lighthouse and the path surrounding it, nodded her head in agreement, "Well, that's good then. Anything to help your nerves before Ash gets here is definitely a plus."
Dawn's eyes flickered to Misty and she asked pertinently, "What about you? Are you ready for this?"
Misty's head lowered slightly, finding a curious stone in the pattern lining the ground to focus on as she answered, "I'm... honestly not sure if I'll ever be ready. But that doesn't change anything. I have to do what I have to do. Whether or not I'm ready for it won't matter once it's done anyway. What matters is doing the right thing."
They stood silently for a moment, allowing Misty's weighted words to sink in slowly as the two jointly watched passerby until Dawn asked a question with some urgency, "Uh, I forgot my Poketch this morning. What time is it?"
Misty checked her own, and informed Dawn, "It's nearly three o'clock."
"I guess I don't have time to go back to the gym before Ash gets here, do I?"
Misty shook her head, confirming for Dawn, "It's a bit of a walk back to the gym. You might not get back for an hour and a half with the round trip."
"Right? I guess we'll stay here then?" Dawn posed.
"If you're alright with me being here too. I don't want to mess with your tradition of becoming familiar with your stage," Misty smiled earnestly as she craned her head towards the coordinator.
Dawn returned the smile with one just as sweet, "I couldn't think of anyone better to have with me while I do."
The two simply leaned back against the railing, allowing the surroundings to overtake their senses. The sound of the waves below, the patter of feet on the cobblestone – fading in intensity as the afternoon wore on, the seaside wind as it brushed through their delicate hair, and the sight of the majestic tower before them; it became all they needed to know for the time being. It actually helped them to push the apprehension of the coming meeting from their mind. Only two thoughts occupied their minds now: The stage, and one another.
It was only when dusk fully engulfed the horizon when the two girls heard new footsteps on the cobblestone surrounding the lighthouse. They quickly turned their heads to find a sheepish looking Ash staring at them. He looked a tad rough, clearly having camped out that night rather than taking residence at a Pokémon center or a hotel. He looked determined, though slightly exhausted.
"Umm... I guess I'm a bit late. Sorry."
Dawn and Misty stood from their shared seat on the bench they had eventually decided to use and approached the man for whom they both shared affections. They stopped a few paces from him, unsure of how close either of them could approach him. The context of the coming conversation, though rooted in a certain topic, was ultimately uncertain. The result was the trio standing in an awkward triangle, unable to decide whether or not this conversation warranted candid distance or an intimate closeness. For the moment, they opted for the former.
"What kept you?" Misty asked quietly, more curious than anything.
Ash let a small smile cross his lips and he admitted with some embarrassment, "I'll be honest, I'm still sort of scared about how this will all turn out," the girls' eyes widened at the admission. Even upon reaching maturity, Ash still didn't state his shortcomings so bluntly and often, especially when it came to the issue of courage. Ash saw their expressions and continued, "And it took someone telling me something to not just run off like some coward. But I'm here. I've never been so afraid in my life, but I'm here."
Dawn nodded in understanding, "It's ok, Ash. So..."
Ash's smile faded as he felt another oncoming wave of apprehension flow over him, "Yeah. So... I wanted to talk to you."
"Well?" Misty prodded insistently.
Ash let out a heavy sigh and began to lay it all out for the two women he had in attendance, "I said I needed to think it all over today. And I had a lot of time to do that. I honestly didn't get much sleep because of it," he noted the rather tired looks on Misty and Dawn, "and it looks like you didn't either."
The redhead and the blunette nodded in affirmation but said nothing, as they expected him to continue. And he did, "I'm not gonna lie and say that I'm good at being in a relationship. Dawn, you were my first in every way. I never had a girlfriend, or a kiss, or..." he paused awkwardly at what he was about to say in front of Misty, "anything else that comes after that."
He paused and saw the warm look Dawn gave him, while Misty eyed him seriously. There was no contempt in her gaze, but she did seem like she was wondering where he was going with this. Ash proceeded, "But I'm honestly not sure how to do this. I don't know how relationships work well enough to know how to deal with something like this. There's probably something I could've done to stop this, but because I'm so... new to it all, I let it get out of hand."
"Ash..." Dawn whispered with sympathy. She could see the regret in his eyes and had a good idea of the pain that rattled around in his brain at that moment.
Ash raised his hand for a moment, trying to reassure Dawn that he was ok and he continued, emotion making its way in his voice, "People keep saying that I need to love one person. That it's not possible to love two people as strongly as you do when you devote yourself to one person," he looked at both of them, alternating his glance between each of them as he spoke the words, "And maybe it's just my inexperience speaking, but I don't see why I can't. Actually, I don't see how I can stop."
Both Misty and Dawn's eyes flashed surprise at that statement, and Ash momentarily cast his gaze to the stones at his feet, expecting a retort from one or both of the girls. But none came at the moment. While both the gym leader and the coordinator had expected this to be one of a number of things he could've said, the way he said it rendered them speechless. Ash, reacting to the silence, raised his head again and looked on each of them for a moment.
Misty was the first to finally reclaim her vocal capabilities and asked a very straight and pointed question, "Why do you love us?"
Ash's eyebrows rose upon hearing the question and instinctually replied in with a confused, "Huh?"
Misty pressed the question again, "Why do you love us? I mean, you had a day, and a night to think it over. Certainly, you went over why you actually love us, right?"
Ash was momentarily flustered but caught himself and responded, "O-of course I know! I didn't really have to think about that part though because I know already!"
Dawn decided that Misty's question was a valid one and jumped in as well, "I would like to hear it too, actually."
Ash's eyes darted to Dawn, who now wore a stern expression matching Misty's. In fact, they were almost identical.
They're so alike, Ash's mind whispered absently. That's when it clicked.
Ash's eyes took on a glint of realization that was strikingly reminiscent of when he gained a new insight in battle. He closed them momentarily as he gathered himself and began to tell the girls exactly what they asked of him.
"If anyone saw you two for the first time, they would say you were both really different. Like, different as night and day. They'd probably wonder why you're even friends," Ash smiled as he reminisced about the contest from the day before, "You know, a lot of people don't see coordinators and trainers being friends that often. I've been to a lot of leagues and tournaments, and I've always heard a lot of trainers saying pretty bad things about coordinators. And I've heard a few of the same things from coordinators talking about league trainers when I've attended contests. But you two," he walked between the two of them and put a hand on each of their shoulders, "You two are such great friends."
Dawn and Misty both stared at Ash, wondering why he was stating so many obvious facts. He saw their rather perplexed expressions and went on, "Yeah, you two may appear different to everyone, but to those who know you, you really are quite alike. I mean," he parted from them from a moment stepping away as though he were trying to grasp for the words he really needed out of the air. Making speeches was not one of his strengths, and it was difficult for him to communicate exactly what he was thinking. But he persisted in the effort, "You've both have supported me unconditionally."
"Dawn!" he paused briefly and pointed at her, and she momentarily got a surge of excitement at suddenly being addressed, "You always cheer me on! You always keep me positive with kind words and cheery, upbeat displays of spirit! I don't think of ever me anyone else who is so outwardly enthusiastic!"
He swiveled towards Misty and got her attention just as quickly, "Misty! You have this, crazy ability to just get me to snap into focus! You have a different way of doing it, though. You basically rile me up into being the best I can be!" he glanced at both of them and added, "Both of you, regardless of how you've done it, have helped me to win some of my greatest victories and come up with some of the wackiest, off-the-wall strategies that anyone has ever seen! You've both done that!"
Misty and Dawn merely stared at Ash with blank expressions as he continued to grow in volume and passion as he laid out his argument, "And you both share these great mutual goals! Dawn, you want to become Top Coordinator! Misty, you want to become a Water Pokémon Master! Those are both big goals to strive for, but neither of you let anything stand in your way!"
Ash paced now, nearly yelling his almost sermon-like answer to their question to the sky as much as to the ladies who first posed it, "Dawn, you've participated in countless contests and designed bigger and better appeals and combinations! I bet the next time you battle Zoey, you'll win! Without a doubt! Misty, you've been forced to take care of the gym. Even so, you've become the most powerful water Pokémon trainer I've ever battled! Why the elite four haven't picked you for one of their spots yet, I have no idea. But you deserve it! You haven't had the time to travel and learn more, but you still have become a force to be reckoned with!"
As each of them was praised in his ongoing speech, they involuntarily took a sharp intake of breath, and clutched their hands to their hearts as they each skipped a beat.
Ash took a breath, becoming slightly winded after talking for nearly two minutes straight without cease. He saw their affectionate gazes locked on him and he felt further inspiration to continue his answer. His voice leveled temporarily due to the pause, but began to rise again steadily, "Both of you have shown me that you are tender and loving people. Misty, you tend to keep it hidden behind your sharp wit and sarcasm, but I've seen it all the same! And I would brave any number of insults to see it again! I've seen it when you raised two baby Pokémon like you were their mother; not something just anyone can do!"
Misty felt a tear crawl down her cheek as Ash spoke the words, and so badly wanted to close the distance between him and claim his lips with her own. But in the corner of her eye, she saw Dawn, and restrained herself.
"Dawn, you're probably the most positive and cheerful person I've ever met! I've been down quite a few times, but you were there to help. Especially on my first journey through Sinnoh, when I lost to Paul, you were right there to pick me back up, even when you were struggling with your own doubts about being a coordinator. And you've been so patient with me, and you go to enormous lengths to help me achieve my dreams! I can never thank you enough. If it weren't for you, I'd still be travelling alone. And I wouldn't know what it is like to have someone like you or Misty in my life in a way more meaningful than friendship!"
Now it was Dawn's turn to attempt to suppress tears. She failed, of course. The pure conviction of emotion in how Ash spoke and the way he somehow managed to wrangle together his words left her with little choice in the matter.
"And don't even get me started on how beautiful you both are. I don't know how I didn't see it before, but I'm so glad I do now. Dawn, you always make such a fuss about your appearance in the mornings, but even with that bed-head problem, you're always a vision and I'm glad that in the past months the first thing I've gotten to see as I woke up was you."
Dawn visibly blushed at Ash's description of her. She was now emotionally and physically embroiled by her feelings for Ash, so much so that she almost forgot Misty was there until Ash addressed the redhead once more.
"And Misty... I know that, next to your sisters, you don't think you're that pretty. But you are. More than you know. Even before you put on that contest dress, I knew you were stunning! And now that I look back on it, I'm pretty sure I thought that a few times when we were kids. I just... didn't understand it, or something."
Misty, in turn, bit her lip to stop her from a more telling reaction. Nonetheless, hearing the man she had longed for reassure of her outward beauty, especially after complimenting her in so many other ways, was heartwarming beyond description for her.
And as Ash retook his place at one vertex of the triangle they formed earlier, he finished his lengthy explanation with a sort of reverence in his voice that even he didn't know he possessed, "You are both so beautiful, inside and out. For all your similarities and differences."
At long last, Ash took a deep breath. It felt good to say it out loud. The idea that he couldn't have earlier that week seemed silly to him now. But he was quickly brought back to reality by the realization that, in all likelihood, they would still want him to choose one and only one. That and the nagging possibility that they could both reject him.
The silence hung in the air for longer than any of the trio expected. Ash felt he couldn't add anything more to the already impassioned explanation he gave. The two women across from him were still sorting through all that he had laid out before them.
Misty glanced towards Dawn as she mulled it all over and let her gaze rest on younger woman for a minute. Cast in the light of the growing dusk, the blunette appeared conflicted, nervous and unsteady. She looked like she wanted to say something, but she couldn't quite get it out. Misty recalled her promise that morning and mentally prepared herself for the hardest sentence she would ever have to say in her life.
So that's why Misty decided to break the aura of quiet that had befallen them, "Ash. You need to-"
But Misty didn't get to finish her declaration before Dawn cut in abruptly, "Ash, you're going to choose Misty!"
Both Ash and Misty's heads snapped towards Dawn in equally jarred looks of surprise.
"Dawn?!" Misty breathed. Albeit with a struggle that was clearly evident, partly due to shock and partly due to her own feelings, Misty began to protest. But Dawn didn't give her the opportunity.
"Misty... don't fight this," Dawn quietly insisted, "I've been thinking about this all day. And with everything that's happened. Everything that's been said. Everything I've learned about you and Ash in the past years and in the past week. I know this is right."
Dawn's voice trembled even as she spoke, but it did nothing to curb the obvious seriousness and strength behind her words.
"Dawn..." Ash finally managed to get a sound past his throat, but could do little else in the wake of pure astonishment that gripped him.
Dawn shifted her downcast face from Misty to Ash and explained to him in a somber tone, "Ash... I believe you. After what you've said. After all you've done. I know that really love us both. I understand it. We're both equally precious to you. But..." a small tear trailed down her face and she tried her best to hide it by quickly swiping it away, "But you loved Misty first. I don't think you knew it. But if everything you've said is true, then you did. And you might love me for all the same reasons as you do her, but it's only because you fell in love with all those qualities that came from her first."
"Dawn, but you-" Misty again tried to get in a word, but Dawn merely raised a finger and the gym leader fell into silence.
"I feel like I stole Ash from you, Misty," Dawn spoke apologetically, her voice verging on a whisper laced with obvious regret, "And you've suffered endlessly because of it. I might've opened his eyes to the idea of a relationship. But everything else was there. You just didn't have the chance to enlighten him like I did."
Dawn approached Misty, took her hands in her own, and gave Misty a small but genuine smile, telling her softly, "So I'm making him choose you. Because it's what you deserve. He's been yours all along. I just had the opportunity you never did."
The strangely longing gaze that passed from Dawn to Misty was enthralling. Misty was swelling with emotion and tears rolled down her face without restraint. Misty had never been on this end of a gesture so generous and so selfless. She almost felt dizzy from the vortex of conflicting feelings that engulfed her mind and heart. It was enough to make Misty see Dawn in a whole new light.
"And you don't realize it, but you helped me before you even knew me. From what Ash and you've told me over the years, you taught Ash a lot of what he knows about Pokémon and training. Ash taught me so much and helped me countless times when I first started out. So... in effect... you helped me become the coordinator I am today. And I'm endlessly grateful for that."
Dawn's confession of this fact made Misty involuntarily grip Dawn's hands a bit more tightly, and found the action reciprocated by the shorter girl. Dawn gave a wistful sigh as she fondly remembered her first journey with Ash back when she had just started. Misty couldn't even find the words to counter Dawn's whole maddening idea, while Ash's brow had now furrowed as he was trying to still understand Dawn's decision. But the coordinator found the light-hearted feelings ebbing away as she could feel her face melt from the nostalgic visage of joyful memories to a sorrowful arrangement that prefaced her next words accurately, "I'll never stop loving him... and that's a fact. But I'll never forgive myself for acting so selfishly. Misty, you've had it so hard for so long, both in your quest to be a Water Master, and in your love life. I can help with at least one of those. I want you to be happy Misty. I want Ash to be happy as well. I want you to both be happy together! I owe it to the both of you!"
There was a moment of complete silence. Both stared at Dawn in disbelief. Ash could barely register the overwhelming level of selflessness that Dawn had exuded in the past minutes, and he had seen and performed many deeds of that kind in his life. Misty however had a completely different reaction. It went against a large portion of her mind's impulses, but she said it anyway.
"No."
Dawn's head instantly snapped up from observing the floor and looked to her left to where Misty sat. Ash's gaze also moved to Misty in shock. He couldn't keep up with this.
"Huh?" came Dawn's dull reply.
"No! You are not selfish for loving Ash! This crocked up notion that you owe us anything is ludicrous in and of itself, and that doesn't even have anything to do with what's happening here and now!" Misty nearly bellowed, "Didn't you hear him! He loves us both unconditionally! You'd be an idiot to give something like that up without a second thought!"
"I have thought a lot about it," Dawn replied, still determined to keep to her position.
Misty wasn't going to give her an inch on this issue though. Just as brashly as before, she went on, "Not enough apparently! Look at it this way! Somehow, this thick-skulled savant of a trainer has done the impossible! He has given his heart, in full, to both of us. I couldn't believe it fifteen minutes ago either... but after that damn speech. I know it wasn't faked! He's not that immoral... or smart enough for that!"
"Hey!" Ash was finally able to contribute to the conversation simply out of reflex in defense against the insult.
Misty waved his objection off and kept on, lowering her voice now and no longer speaking as though she were fighting, "So... the way I see it, there's three obvious choices."
"What do you mean?" Dawn questioned, allowing her hands to part from Misty's for the first time in what seemed like forever.
"Well, either you let me have him. I let you have him. Or..." Misty cringed inwardly at even considering the option, "Neither of us takes him."
"Well... you know where I stand," Dawn added gently.
"And you know my position too," Misty replied sweetly.
Ash paled at realizing that the third option was the one that he feared the most, and was the one that was about to be addressed.
"You're not suggesting..." Dawn inquired with some semblance of pain in her voice.
Misty shook her head vehemently, "No... that would just be... silly. We're not going to leave Ash out in the cold because we can't make a proper decision."
Ash visibly relaxed and let out a sigh of relief. But, as the relief passed by, he took on a new state of mind: confusion. He was utterly befuddled as he realized that they had yet to agree on any of the three choices Misty had listed.
"I just have one question, Dawn," Misty began, keeping her sea-green eyes transfixed on the deep blue hue of the coordinator's own, "I'm sure you were serious about it. But I need to hear it again. You would absolutely give Ash to me? You are willing to cut to cut yourself off from the man you love? The catch of a lifetime you are likely never to see again? One whose loss would leave you shattered for the rest of your life?"
Dawn's flickered towards Ash briefly. She couldn't help how much she loved him. She certainly didn't want to envision a life without him. But, at the same time, she found an overwhelming need in her very soul to make Misty happy. She deserved it. She needed it. So Dawn retrained her gaze to Misty and spoke strongly though somewhat painfully, "Yes."
Misty gave Dawn a small, but loving smile and hugged Dawn tightly. Of course, Dawn's first thought was that she was in fact taking her offer.
In a nearly joyous, if somewhat choked up voice, Misty told her, "No one... no one, has ever acted that selflessly for me. Even Ash's acts of heroism pale in comparison." Ash tilted his head as he continued to try to figure out the implications of what Misty was going on about. She continued, "Not even my own family has done anything that even remotely speaks to that level of kindness. And that's not even the first inspiring act of charity you've done for me."
Misty released a very confused Dawn from the hug and renewed the connection that their hands had made earlier. Misty was now tearing up yet again and told Dawn with such heavy feeling that it practically thickened the air around them, "You've supported me through the years, even at long-distance. While I had to run this gym on my own, you were here for me more than anyone else; more than my own flesh and blood family. You always lent me your ear when I needed to vent. Whenever you came to visit, you always helped to brighten my mood, no matter how little time you had to spend with me."
Dawn spoke weakly, "But I was just trying to be supportive, like a best friend should."
Misty giggled, "Dawn you call me almost every time you have a chance to use a video phone at a Pokémon center. I know for a fact you talk to me more than anyone else; fellow coordinators and your mother included! But that's not the half of it. This week has been pretty hard for both of us. But you've been so kind and caring to me, even when you were in the thick of it waiting for Ash to come back during the storm. And only now do I realize just how hard it was for you to let him go out into that hurricane. Then came the contest. At first, I was nervous as hell, but you encouraged me to do something that, I'll admit, was fun though somewhat nerve-wracking! And in helping me prepare for it, you made me feel beautiful. With my sisters' reputations looming over my head, I've never really felt that way before. And you made it happen. I can never thank you enough for that."
Dawn began to return the smile as Misty listed off all the things that the coordinator had done for the gym leader. When Misty gripped Dawn's hands tighter, Dawn responded in kind.
Misty's voice dropped to nearly a whisper, though Ash could still clearly hear across the short distance that separated them. The redhead's voice was almost amorous in nature now, but Dawn either didn't notice or was caught up in the feelings. Either way, Dawn did not move a muscle as she listened to Misty, "And to cap it all off, you give me the gift of the man I've yearned to be with since I fished him out of that damned river. A man that has changed your life more than once. That, to me, means that in your own way... "
Misty paused as she folded her arms back to draw Dawn closer for her final words, "You love me."
Dawn was stupefied by this apparent conclusion. She didn't know how to feel. In fact she had been told how she felt, but she was unsure if that was true or not. Dawn only let out one small word against Misty's face which she now realized was much closer than it had appeared seconds ago, "What?"
Ash was similarly baffled. He just stared at the two girls as though they were the most interesting things on the planet. They hardly took notice of him though, as they were fixated on one another for the moment.
Misty felt she needed to elaborate further. She wasn't surprised at this one bit, considering that she would've hardly accepted the concept herself if it weren't for the events of that day. So Misty began to fill the younger girl in, "You were willing to give the love of your life to me, just to see me happy. If that isn't love, I'm not sure what is."
Dawn was flustered as she responded, "I don't know. I just... you're my best friend Misty. I am truly glad to have met you and known you. But love?"
Misty relaxed slightly and looked at Ash as she gently explained her perspective, "Maybe in the wake of all this drama, and in the light of your complete devotion to Ash... you can't see it right now," she turned back to Dawn and locked eyes with her, "But your actions speak volumes. And to be honest... after seeing what you were willing to sacrifice for me... I can't help but feel it too."
Dawn looked down to the couch beneath the two of them, and her forehead wrinkled as she tried to think hard on this. She never looked at her friendship with Misty from that angle before, but then again, she never thought she would have to. She knew Misty was right in that she was completely devoted to Ash. She questioned herself inwardly, wondering if loving Ash had truly blinded her to the true nature of her friendship with Misty. And when Misty brought it up and showed it to her in a perspective that she never thought to assess, she could see merit in her argument. It seemed at first like the idea was a stretch, but she realized that she cared so deeply for Misty's feelings, that the idea didn't seem so farfetched. She was willing to give Ash up for her after all.
Ash observed them both, watching Misty simply gaze on Dawn while she thought this seemingly ridiculous notion out. He could only hope that Dawn responded well to Misty's proposition. He knew if she didn't, they would be back to square one, and he would have to make an unthinkable choice.
Misty's gentle voice floated gently into the room again as she tried to reassure Dawn, "It's a lot to process, I know... but I think I'm right about this. Like I said, I never thought this would happen... ever. With both our attentions focused on Ash, I don't think I could ever see how special our relationship was. But you both gave me something special today. I want to share that with both of you. She hugged Dawn again. The coordinator slowly, but surely brought her arms up around Misty's back and eased into the hug. She began to relax and feel comfortable. Her thoughts were stymied momentarily until they started up again and told her one thing: This feels nice.
Even as the hug went on, Misty spoke a few more words in her ear lovingly, "Today, we started out as great friends. But now, I think we're something more. Thank... you... Dawn."
The way Misty spoke those last three words; the tone, the inflection, the pause, the need locked into the syllables; all screamed familiarity to Dawn. She remembered. Ash said it to her twice. Once when she and Ash first reunited at her house in Twinleaf Town and once before she and Ash made love for the first time. It gave her a sense of comfort. It was a sign of sorts and that this was meant to be. She knew it would take time for her get accustomed to the idea of loving not just another woman, but two people at once.
Ash, for the first time in nearly ten minutes, found his senses and words and mumbled quietly, "I can't have that much impact on either of you. I just told the truth about why I feel the way I do."
Misty released Dawn from the hug and they both looked at Ash with adoring eyes. Misty was first to respond to his statement affectionately, "And that's part of what makes you... you. Even beyond the dimwitted mind that once sent a caterpie to fight a damned pidgeotto... lies the heart of a man who has had mine for years. A man who is so kind... you won the unconditional love of us both."
Dawn, with equal vigour in regards to her feelings towards Ash added to Misty's reassurances, "She's right, Ash. I honestly wasn't sure what I was going to do when I came here today. I wasn't sure of myself at all. But your speech was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. I didn't think you were capable of saying things like that. I'll be honest, I don't know if you will again, but you certainly picked a good day to do it. It made me think of both our relationships in ways that I don't know I would've considered otherwise."
Misty's smirk returned and she joked, "You're right. Especially about the speech. With his vocabulary, we probably won't hear anything like that again."
This little line by Misty caused both girls to start laughing. At first, Ash frowned at the joke, but soon, seeing the two girls laughing for the first time since the whole mess started forced a grin to appear. It grew into a full-fledged smile and eventually, laughter of his own.
The laughter died down not long after and they all looked at one another expectantly. Dawn took the initiative and asked the obvious question, "So... umm... does this mean we're..."
Ash couldn't even fathom finishing the sentence being so shocked that such a thing could even exist, while Dawn was simply too timid at the idea. So Misty took the liberty, "...in a three-way relationship..." even Misty, the person who had made the logical leap in the first place, found it almost insane to say aloud. Yet she quickly reaffirmed it in her mind, realizing that it was what they all wanted and declared, "We are."
Dawn let out a small squeak, clearly still processing the idea, "I can't believe the solution to this is really just 'Share Ash Ketchum'. It sounds way too simple..."
Misty looked at both of them with love in her eyes, and quietly remarked, "Share Ash Ketchum? There's three words I thought I'd never hear together." She snorted in suppressed laughter at how ridiculous the thought would've seemed less than an hour ago. After she recovered, she nodded and assented, "I guess we are aren't we. But, really, I don't see anything wrong with it."
Ash was still somewhat confounded by how the situation had resolved. He was glad, that was for certain. No one had their feelings or hearts shattered, but he was still a novice when it came to relationships. This was far out of his league in terms of understanding. Unsteadily, he told the two girls, "Umm... so... I'm not sure how this works then. I really don't want to say anything the mess this up. I mean..."
As Ash began to ramble on with excuses about needing to understand this arrangement, Misty merely parted from Dawn, walked up to Ash, and pulled him to her eagerly, cutting him off mid-speech. She looked him dead in the eyes with a fiery blaze that was all too familiar to him. It was the same as the day prior, when Misty finished her first round battle. Only this time, it was even hotter than before; completely unbridled and unrelenting. Misty spoke quickly and intensely, "Let me explain it to you then!"
This was followed up by Misty practically smashing her lips into his. Twelve years of repressed love and want were put forth into a kiss that rivaled each and every single one Dawn had ever given him in the throes of lovemaking. After the initial shock passed, Ash instinctively wrapped his arms around Misty and pulled her tighter to him, while she cupped his cheeks with her hands. Misty never wanted to let go after this. It was perfect to her. She felt his emotions lunge forth as he pressed eagerly into the kiss in response to her own forceful need. She instantly felt her fantasies and dreams of years long gone by suddenly come back to life as they were awakened by the heat of their bodies as they pressed against one another. It was all her greatest hopes and desires made manifest.
At last they parted. Misty wanted to say something meaningful after that long-lasting and intense kiss, but could only find herself saying the following words, "Don't talk too much or I'll do that again!"
At first, Dawn didn't know what to think of the sudden display of physical affection the two shared. But Misty's wry comment ended up causing Dawn let out a soft giggle. Misty turned her attention to the blunette who just shrugged and told her, "I like using that strategy too." They both burst out laughing while Ash stood there, still half-way dazed from the kiss to Misty, but still conscious enough to register the comment and issue a glance towards Dawn.
"I've been waiting to do that for so long... there were so many times that would've saved us from some sort of trouble..." Misty drawled with a tinge of need in her voice as she eyed Ash mischievously. She cast a look over to Dawn and beckoned her over with a nod of her head. The three of them drew closer together for the first time that day and shared a group hug. The three of them packed together in such close proximity and with this new context of intimacy caused a flurry of emotions to flutter through all of their minds. Uncertainties and doubts began to fall away slowly as they each registered the reassuring warmth and mutual love they all shared for one another. For the first time in two days, all felt right again in the world.
Once they parted from the new gesture, Misty noted, out of the corner of her eye, that the sun had nearly vanished behind the rough crags of Mt. Moon in the west.
"Hmm... I think we should get some dinner. I think we're all a little hungry," Misty commented.
It only seemed appropriate that Ash's stomach growled rather loudly at the prospect.
"Ah... yeah... it's been a while since I've eaten. That's for sure," Ash nervously admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
The two girls giggled at what they both considered a 'classic Ash moment' and agreed, with Dawn adding, "Yeah! We should go out to dinner to celebrate. I think after the past two days, we need a good meal and some fun!"
Misty gained a sly look as she eyed both Dawn and Ash and asked wryly, "So... would this be our first date then?"
Both Ash and Dawn grew nervous at the mention, but it was Dawn that responded with some timidity, "I'll have to get used to being on a date with two other people. But yeah, I guess it is."
They all nodded to one another in agreement and they departed from the lighthouse. The trio strode away from the landmark, one girl flanking each side of Ash as he wrapped his arms around each respective set of shoulders as they walked though the down the road leading back to the core of Cerulean City.
"You know one thing he forgot we had in common?" Misty asked Dawn from the left side of Ash.
"What's that?" Dawn replied with her own question.
"He destroyed both our bikes..." Misty playfully accused.
The girls dissolved into laughter while Ash merely sighed as they walked into the now sunset-lit streets of Cerulean City.
From behind a tree near concourse encircling the lighthouse, Zoey appeared. She stood there, stone-faced, but her eyes betrayed several emotions: surprise, concern, and hints of sadness. She wouldn't act on them though. She just watched them walk away, apparently in good spirits. She wouldn't destroy a relationship. Not when someone she loved so dearly was actually happy now. She just closed her eyes and muttered to herself wistfully, "Ash... I can't believe it. You managed to make it work." She watched Dawn in particular, who was conversing quite vibrantly with Misty and Ash as they walked linked together. Behind Ash's back, the two girls' hands clasped tightly while Dawn's head slumped sideways onto Ash's shoulder. Zoey's voice grew hoarse, but she kept it steady as she drew her sunglasses over her eyes, "Treat her right. Or I swear, you'll hear from me. She might love you... but damn it, I love her too."
A single tear drop managed to strike the ground on which she stood before Zoey turned in the opposite direction as the three she had been observing. Zoey walked away and she didn't look back. Not even once.
A/N: Once again, my apologies for the excruciatingly long wait for this particular update. In addition to being yet another difficult chapter for me to get to a standard that befit the stakes at this point in the story, January was not a terribly kind month to me. That being said, I gave it my all and I sincerely hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
Two chapters remain, both of which have been completed and are currently undergoing heavy scrutiny in terms of editing. They will be posted in much shorter order than this one was.
Thanks again for your patience and continued support. You have no idea how much it means to me.
Happy Reading,
~ UndercityRezident