A/N: So sorry that this has taken me so long to update, and I can't even give you a super long chapter in this case. To be honest, the chapters in this last part, with the exception of four aren't going to be terribly verbose. I'm not sure how long the next chapter is going to be until I end up writing it. I'm trying my best to get this story finished as soon as possible. I've been working a lot lately.

Until next time,

Sarah

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

EDIT: I fixed an error that had been pointed out to me.

Chapter Two: Misty's Challenge

It was mid-morning the day that Ash arrived at the Cerulean gym. His feet crunched against the freshly fallen snow as he approached the front doors. He inhaled sharply, trying to settle his hammering heart. Pikachu, who was perched on his shoulder, gave him a pat on the head in encouragement. His hands slightly shaking, he pulled open the gym door and entered the lobby.

He expected to see either Misty sitting at front desk, or no one at all, which meant that she was either in the middle of a match, or tending to the Pokémon. Instead, he was greeted by a young woman whom wasn't Misty. She looked to be in about her mid-to-late teens with a medium skin tone and dark brown hair. She looked up at him as she sat in her seat, and he could see that her eyes were bright green. She flashed a smile at him as he approached the desk, puzzled, for he had never seen this girl once in his life.

"Good morning," she said. "Can I help you?"

"Who are you?"

"Um I'm Bailey," she said, slightly startled by his question. "What can I do for you?"

"Where's Misty?"

"She's busy right now."

"Who are you again?"

"I'm her new apprentice," Bailey snapped. "Do you need to make an appointment for a match."

"No," Ash said quickly, walking toward the doorway that led to the gym. "I just need to talk to Misty."

"Hold it!" Bailey shouted, causing Ash to stop dead in his tracks. This girl reminded him of a younger Misty—scary. "No one gets to see Miss Waterflower without being approved by me."

"Well, I'm her best friend."

"I need a name."

"Fine," Ash sighed. "Ash Ketchum."

"Out!" Bailey shouted. "You are not welcome here."

"What?"

"I've heard all about you, and I think it's best if you leave."

Bailey looked as if she could really kick his ass, so Ash fled the gym as fast as his feet could carry him. He stumbled out of the building, dashing about until he reached the corner of the street. Bending over, he gasped for breath in the sharp winter air. This was not going as well as he had planned for he had not accounted for the fact that Misty would find herself a new guard dog. Uncertain of his next move, he started walking toward the Pokémon center. He needed some time to figure out how to even talk to Misty. The snow was beginning to fall as he trekked through the streets of Cerulean.

Later on that afternoon, Misty emerged with Daisy to see how Bailey was doing. It was her first week as Misty's apprentice, and she wanted to check in with her as frequently as she could. After returning home, Misty threw herself into the gym completely, battling every trainer that walked through the doors immediately, training her Pokémon even harder, and recruiting someone to help her out in the gym. It was similar to past times when she would have a breakup with a boyfriend. However, this time Ash was not her boyfriend, and they didn't break up. Yet, at the same time, it was worse than all the other times combined. Misty was so hurt that she didn't know what to do with herself.

"How's everything going?" Misty asked.

"Fine, except…" Bailey said as she bit on her cuticle.

"Except what?"

"Ash Ketchum was here to see you."

Misty's heart leapt in her throat at the sound of his name. She was still hurt and mad at him, for sure. Conversely, there was a part of her that missed him. The world around her seemed duller without him. Both sides to her fought in silent combat for a brief moment. Her anger consumed her, repressing all other emotions.

"He was here?" She said, her cheeks flushing. "Please tell me you kicked him out."

Bailey stood, flailing her arms out. "Of course I did. I'm on your side, remember?"

"Good."

Daisy faced her sister, hands on her hips. She looked cross. "This is getting ridiculous, Misty."

"He lied to me!" Misty shouted back, her eyes watering. It had been about a week since she had last cried, but there was Daisy, bringing back all of the pain.

"He's a boy," her eldest sister replied gently. "They're not like the smartest, are they? At least he's trying. You should give him a chance."

"I'd rather be kicked out of the league," she snapped, storming away. She stomped her feet as she left, causing a worried look exchanged between the two other woman.

Misty escaped to her room, the one place of solitude in the gym. Although it was not any of their business, her sisters persisted in trying to meddle in her affairs. For weeks now, they begged her to give Ash a call. This was not the most irritating action they had taken. The past week, they had taken it upon themselves to read his letters to her aloud at every opportune moment. Her feelings were muddled even further by their actions. Every time they did something like that, she wasn't sure if her irritation was at them or Ash.

She sighed, flopping onto her bed. There was a picture of the two of them from Daisy and Tracey's engagement party on her nightstand. As furious as she might have been, she never removed it. She reached for it, bringing it close to her face. They were sitting together at the table. Ash was making that stupid pose he used to make as a kid with his arm wrapped around her shoulder. Her heart gave a painful twinge at the thought of him.

She wanted to forgive him deep down. There was a part of her that felt more hurt by the fact that he didn't tell her about having a girlfriend than actually having a girlfriend. She thought that she had been his best friend. She must have believed wrong because he would have told her then. She was disappointed with herself as well, frustrated that she had let her emotions get in the way. She wanted to regret sleeping with him, but it was too wonderful. Although she was mad at him, she found that she was frequently getting intimate thoughts about him, the image of his naked body permanently etched inside of her mind.

She gently placed the silver frame back down on the nightstand. Misty curled into a ball as her eyes began to water. Ash had come to see her. Did that mean that he was really sorry? No, he was probably trying to fix his bruised ego or something. There was no way he could ever care for her. No one ever truly did. These thoughts swirled in her brain as exhaustion set in, and she finally succumbed to the darkness.

It was pitch black when Misty woke with a start. The moonlight seeped through the window, casting small shadows across the room. Misty sat up suddenly in her bed, realizing that she had slept through the afternoon. A quick glance at her alarm clock told her that it was past midnight. This had happened frequently since her return from the Orange Islands, except every other time, she had slept through the night, usually waking up as the sun rose.

There was a tapping at the glass doors leading to the small terrace, indicating the cause of her interrupted sleep. Startled, she grabbed one of the pokeballs to her right nightstand and tossed it. Out came Vaporeon, who yawned loudly, not ready for a battle in the middle of the night. She flicked on the lamp to see a tall figure standing out on her terrace, knocking on the door. She jumped out of bed, ready to battle her stalker, only relaxing when she realized that it was Ash.

She sauntered up to the door, thankful that it was locked from the inside, her arms crossed across her chest. First he had the nerve of showing up at the gym, and now he decided to stalk her. She sure picked a winner when she fished this boy out of that river. She shook her head, her face contorted in displeasure.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"Please just let me talk to you," he pleaded through the glass.

Misty did not move. "How did you even get up here?"

"Staraptor carried me up here," he said with a shrug. "It is a Pokémon who can fly after all."

There was an awkward silence that fell between them, pervading the night. There were no sounds, with the exception of breathing, created by both human and Pokémon. Ash began to shiver as the snow drifted down, creating a layer of white dust on his shoulders. Pikachu shook its body in an attempt to free himself of the snowflakes. Misty's expression softened a little at the sight of Ash. He was standing out in the cold for her.

"Can I come in?" Ash asked.

"Go away, Ash. I don't want to talk to you," she snapped, ready to draw the curtains.

Ash gazed at her with pleading eyes. "Please, Mist. It's pretty cold out here."

She sighed. Why did he always seem to have this effect on her? "Fine, but this is not for you. Pikachu is probably cold."

"Cha!" Pikachu chimed.

Misty unlocked the latch and slid the door open. Ash entered her room, careful to not track snow inside. Pikachu leapt from his shoulder and onto Misty's bed, pulling a blanket over him. Misty wondered how long they had been out there before she had woken. She diverted her gaze from Pikachu back to Ash as their eyes locked. Even appearing sad, he was gorgeous. She had forgotten about how attractive she found him. As she succumbed to a moment of breathlessness, all of her anger melted away and was replaced by a desire to kiss him all over. This feeling was fleeting, however.

"I'm sorry, Mist. I—"

"Save your breath," Misty snapped. "Once you and Pikachu have warmed up a bit, I want you to leave."

Ash had been anticipating this. She was still angry and hurt. He could see it in her eyes. All he wanted to do was embrace and console her. It broke his heart to know that he caused her so much pain. He knew that everything would be all right if she knew why he didn't tell her about Serena and about how he truly felt about her. The issue was getting her to listen to him. There was one thing he could do. It would be a long shot, and it was risky, but what choice did he have?

"Face me in a match."

"Excuse me?"

"Tomorrow. I challenge you to a Pokémon battle. If I win, you have to hear me out, and I really mean listen to me on my own terms. If I lose, then I'll leave and never bother you again."

This had caught her attention, like Ash knew that it would. He hadn't faced anyone in battle since before his relationship with Serena had ended. He was extremely rusty, putting him at a great disadvantage, especially against the skilled gym leader that Misty had become. He had to try though. The past few weeks had proven that it was not worth being without Misty.

This was what Misty had been wanting for him – to continue training again. Was this the motivation? Winning her over? Her heart swayed by his gestured. Her heart wanted to throw her arms around him and forgive him instantaneously. Her head knew better though. If he was willing fight for her forgiveness and trust, then he had to earn it. He would need to beat her in battle.

"Okay."

"Yeah? You mean it?" Ash asked.

"Yeah, whatever," she said. "I'm all booked up tomorrow morning, so come by sometime in the afternoon. You better be ready for a tough fight."

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, scooping up Pikachu in his arms. Instead of going back onto the balcony, he moved toward the door leading to the hallway. Everyone should have been in bed, so sneaking out the front wouldn't be a problem. Misty said nothing as she watched him disappear out into the hall. In her heart, she was slowly forgiving him and falling back in love with him simultaneously. He deserved another chance, and if he battled her and rediscovered his love for Pokémon, she would be willing to give him that chance.