"What are you doing here?!" Misty asked. "Figured I should see what's wrong, but I guess you spelled it all out for me just now." Ash replied. Misty blushed deeply. Ash sat down on the edge of the canal. "I guess it's my fault I never noticed how you felt. I was young and naïve back then. All I ever really focused on was the next gym. I let my dreams control me." Misty sat down beside him. "That's not totally true. You did care about your companions and Pokémon like they were your own family." Misty said quietly. "Maybe that's it." Ash said. "What?" "Maybe it's because I thought of you as a part of my family." Ash replied. A moment of silence passed before Misty spoke up. "Does that mean, my love is unrequited?" Ash glanced over and saw a tear in her eye. "Not entirely. I love you, but not in the way you want me too. You're like family to me now." Ash said. Misty wiped away her tears. "Do you love Latias?" Ash simply nodded. "I can't accept that." Misty stood up. "Misty, come one! Let's at least talk about it!" Ash yelled. Misty stopped and turned towards him. "I can't accept it Ash! If I believe I have a chance then I'm going to continue loving you until we are together!"
Ash watched her walk off. "Sounds like Latios was right. This will be a dangerous path, but I'm determined to get through it!" Ash stood up and began walking back to the hotel when he saw something above him. He looked up, but didn't see anything. "Guess it was my imagination."
Back at the hotel, he found Brock flirting with the woman at the front desk who seemed to be doing a grade A job at ignoring him. "Brock, I think you should give up. Seems like she isn't interested." Brock turned to him. "Oh, you're back. The breakfast was great, you missed it by a few minutes." Ash shrugged. "I'll get something later. Also, where's Pikachu?" Brock pointed up. "He went back to the room with Misty. He seemed kind of tired so he's probably taking a nap." Ash thought about leaving so he didn't have to have another encounter with Misty, but he also needed to take a shower. "Guess I'll go take a shower and then head out." Ash said to himself aloud. Ash headed for the stairs. "Make sure you're back by 10! Lorenzo booked us some seats at a restaurant!" Brock yelled after him. Ash just waved his hand to signal he heard him and continued upstairs.
Ash slid the card key and stepped into his room. He looked around and saw no signs of Pikachu or Misty. "Both of them must be in her room. At least I'll be able to take a shower without any kind of interruption." Before he could give himself any time to jinx himself, he showered, put on a fresh pair of clothes and left. On his way out he saw Brock returning to the room. "Tell Pikachu I've gone to the garden." "The garden?" "He'll know where to go." "Alright, see you later."
Making sure no one else was around, Ash entered the secret garden. He looked around and saw Latias had yet to return. He walked to the fountain where the Soul Dew was contained. He stared at it for a few minutes before a thought came to him. "I wonder…" He took off the glove on his right hand, reached into the water and touched the Soul Dew. He closed his eyes and concentrated. "Can you hear me?" A few minutes passed. "I probably look like a fool doing this and I'm probably wasting my time." "Well, I wouldn't say that."
[Author's Note: The week before Christmas doesn't only increase our Christmas cheer, it also gives me a lot of free time. SO, I'm going to see about getting a chapter out every day before Christmas. That means 4 chapters (including this one) before Christmas. This can also be my own Christmas present to you guys! Happy Holidays!]