Mwahahahahaha y'all didn't think I'd come back did y'all!?

SURPRISE!

I've recently invested in a 2DS and bought myself a little Pokemon X, so I'm re-obssessed with Pokemon all over again

YAY!

Standard disclaimer apply!

In other news, one of my best friends recently gave me a Chikorita plushie he got from the UFO catcher and I love it so much :3

Chapter 8. The Show Must Go On!

He left.

She got the call from Brock and rushed to the Pokemon Center, but when she finally made it, they were gone already.

"You just missed them," The Nurse Joy at the front desk stated, "I was getting my night shift report when they left, so about ten minutes ago?"

"Oh…"

"The dark-haired kid insisted on leaving and catching the seven o'clock train even though it was clear as day the other two didn't. He seemed a bit stubborn, that one."

Oh only if you know. Misty thought.

"Say..." Taking a good look at the redhead in front of her, Nurse Joy exclaimed," Aren't you that girl in the Sapphire Inc. Singing Competition? I love your songs and so does the rest of my family. Even my relatives in Hoenn! We have a fan club for you!"

"Ah that's great," Usually Misty would be more excited to meet a fan, but not today, "Um I have to go. Thank you, Nurse Joy!"

"She even knows my name." Nurse Joy sighed happily as she watched the Cerulean Gym leader leave the building.

Sitting in the same park where she first signed up for the singing competition, Misty buried her face in her palms.

This was all her fault. She should have never sung that song in front of billions of people. What was she thinking anyways? Now she ruined everything…and Ash. What is she going to do?

"Idiot," She whispered to herself, "Misty, you are an idiot."

"Now now, why is my most promising candidate doing with a frown on her face?" And just like the first time they met, Peter Strakes dubbed hottest guy in the show biz popped out of nowhere with his Abra.

Instead of replying, Misty just stared at him.

"Is there something on my face?" Peter asked. He was used to being scrutinized by fans, interviewers, and paparazzi, but nobody has ever stared at him with that intense of a look before.

"I quit." She said simply.

"I beg your pardon?" Peter frowned.

"I quit. This competition thing has brought me nothing but trouble."

"What do you mean?" He returned his Abra to its pokeball and sat down next to Misty.

"I was so successful in it," Misty nudged a pebble with one foot and explained," And it made me feel really good about myself. I was surrounded by love from my family, my friends, and even strangers…but it was too much. I became an airhead. I thought I was invincible, that I could conquer anything…that I," She choked on a sob and shook her head furiously," that I could write a song and snap have someone's love…I destroyed a friendship that I treasured so much. I loved him and now because of my ego, I can never have him." Struggling with the last words, she finally broke down and started crying quietly.

"And you think by quitting, it'll all be better?" Peter finally asked with all seriousness in his grey eyes.

"If I quit, he'll see how sorry I am and maybe…maybe he'll forgive me."

"Misty, I have to say," Peter turned to face the young woman," You have great songwriting skills, but you have an even greater skill of twisting reality."

Misty opened her mouth defiantly but was stopped short by Peter.

"Listen here, I have been in the show business for ten years, okay? I started when I was eight, doing the cute kid stuff, and now I've got more than I care to remember movies and shows and albums under my name. You know what that means, right? It means I have seen some pretty big airheads, okay? But you, my dear," He jabbed his finger at her," Are not one of them. And I'm sorry if this hurts you, but you just aren't. Also, can you stop blaming yourself for everything? I mean, c'mon, we all write about our private lives in our songs. We even throw them in movies and make money off of them. You wrote one tiny little love song to someone, big deal."

"But it hurt him," Misty argued back," Why else would he…would he leave without even a goodbye?"

"Maybe because it's the only way he knows how," Peter suggested," Maybe he's not good at goodbyes, maybe he needed time and space to think. Who knows? Boys are so complicated…in the meantime, I suggest you go get tidy up and get ready for the semis tonight."

"I can't," Misty protested, pointing to her puffed eyes," No amount of makeup can cover these up! And my heart is just not in it anymore. I did this for him, you know."

Peter stood up and smiled, "That's the first selfish thing I've heard you say. You did this for him, sure, great, wow. But what about your family, your friends, and all those people supporting you? Online voting isn't cheap you know. They are all rooting for you. Are you really going to disappoint them for one person?"

"I know but…"

"Why don't you finish this competition for yourself? I know you started it out for him, but why not finish the show for you and just you? Not to prove yourself to your sisters," Seeing the confused look on Misty's face, Peter added," We do background checks on all our candidates. Not to show the world that a girl can be battle and look pretty too, and not to get noticed by some boy. Just for yourself. Do this for yourself," He released Abra from its pokeball and flashed one last smile at Misty before teleporting, "After all, as they say, the show must go on!"

And just like the first encounter with Peter, he was gone, leaving Misty shivering in the park.

The show must go on?

And there you have it! Did I make Ash too much of a jerk for just leaving? I feel kind of bad…but winter's fast approaching and I can sense SAD coming in, so…sorry about that, folks! I guess you shouldn't suffer because I'm suffering :P

Also I just want to take this time and say thank you to all my reviewers. I don't reply to your comments individually, but I have read every single one comment you made and am so touched by your words. Y'all are the greatest :3