28 June 2005

Dear Mist,

Sorry about the long delay. We've just arrived in Ever Grande City by ship about an hour ago, and we're all quite exhausted from the journey. May's come down with a cold again because she spent too much time up on deck during night-time. It's kind of interesting to see Nurse Joy tending to a person instead of a Pokémon, haha.

Speaking of May…We were all surprised to see that Drew also turned up to Ever Grande for the Conference. He was on the same cruise as us, as well! He wasn't competing though – said that he was going to be a spectator. He also brought more roses for May, which we kind of expected the moment we spotted him. They spent about an hour alone by the front rails of the ship, just staring off at the full moon, so Brock, Max and I decided to give them some privacy and return to our room. I guess that's the reason why May caught a cold? I'm getting better at picking these things up, aren't I? ;)

I'm missing you so much as well right now, Mist. I've just read that the Conference's matches are held over a period that's just under two weeks. As much as I wanted to get everything over as quickly as possible and come back to you like lightning, it's just not going to happen. No matter how fast I want to progress through the competition, my Pokémon have to rest as well, and I don't want to push them too much.

About Mom…I guess it'd be an 'alright' time to tell her, if you really want to. I'm just embarrassed about how she might react, that's all. I don't know if I told you this, but she told me that she's never been in a relationship before she met my dad, and she married him later. So yeah…I'm braced for the hysteria. She'll probably flip over with happiness if you tell her about our relationship, and start asking you time and time again if we're thinking of having a family together, yadayadda…Go ahead by all means if you want to – I'd rather talk to you and her freely about it after I come back from Hoenn. Just…make sure she doesn't go overboard, ok? Pretty please? :S

Don't be that nervous about the bed. I can just take a single bed if that's what you want. But don't you think that's be a bit too harsh? I've really cut down on rolling around while sleeping this year, you know, haha.

I'm happy to tell you that Brock's taken plenty of photos of our battle. Juan's Pokémon were absolutely outstanding. Think you could send something back to wish me good luck? Heheh. I think I'm kind of lucky I actually won, to be honest. Just shows that I've got a lot of work cut out ahead of me if I'm going to have a real chance of winning this thing.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention. Remember the Nurse Joy I told you in the first part of this letter, who tended to May? Well, it turns out that she was the same PIA agent Joy who visited you at the Cerulean Gym. Even she suspected that we had feelings for each other, so I basically confirmed it for her, as well as thanking her a lot for all the help she gave you.

Hope things are going good for you at the Cerulean Gym, and I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon .

I love you.

Ash

5 July 2005

Dear Ash,

Great to hear that you've won that badge like I knew you would. I've been doing good too over here – 15 matches in a row without a single defeat! Psyduck's much more used to the water nowadays, as well.

I told your mom about our relationship and also about how far you've come in the Hoenn League. She actually surprised me, because she wasn't shocked at all when I told her about our relationship, would you believe it? I guess she somehow knew or suspected it all along. She even had a great smile on her face when I admitted it. I guess that means she's already looking forward to grandkids? She'll have to wait many years if that's what she wants, though, haha ^^ .

Wow, I'm really happy for May! ...And sorry as well because of her cold, heheheh. But that's such a romantic thing for her and Drew to do…Promise me you'll take me on a private cruise one day? I'm also one for white roses, thank you in advance. ;)

Just make sure to take things easy, one thing at a time. I know that you're pretty much a "do first, think later" kind of guy (no offense, Ash, just saying from experience!), but I think that you're beginning to take a greater step towards becoming a more mature person (again, no offense!). It's always good to hear that you're caring so much for your Pokémon – after all, it's what made me fall in love with you in the first place. : )

And stop making such a big deal about the bed! We'll work things out about it once you get back, ok? Geesh, Ash! _ . But to be honest, I guess I wanted to…cuddle a bit? I mean, during the years of traveling we spent together, although we definitely loved each other on the inside, we never went beyond holding hands every now and then. I've only realized now that I never really got the chance to hug you as I wanted to, no matter how much I longed for it. I guess that's what it is. I just wanted to hold you close. It's been months since we last saw each other in person, and I miss you so much.

That's great that you met Agent Joy in the end. She was a real help to me around the Gym while she was visiting, and I still remember her fondly. I don't think that I would have ever managed Gyarados if it wasn't for her help.

Well, you asked for a good luck charm, so here you go. I've slipped in a lock of my hair and lightly sprayed it with a bit of the perfume you bought me. Hope that gives you a lot of motivation, mister :P . And thanks so much for all the photos. It might sound weird that I've learned many techniques and other things from looking at still photos, but I really have. I guess it's a Water Pokémon trainer thing? You might be able to learn similar skills one day ;P .

Good luck for all your upcoming matches, Ash. I love you, and I know you'll give it your all. Make me and your mom proud : )

Love,

Mist.

A/N: I've read on Bulbapedia that the Hoenn League Championship was held three months after Ash won the Rain Badge from Juan, but I really didn't want to drag the story out that long. I also noted that I happened to miss the episodes which cover the Togepi / Mirage Kingdom events, because I basically tuned out of watching the anime many years ago after the Johto era. But then again, I like the originality of this fic, so I'm going to go ahead with it.