Disclaimer: A wild ODILE appeared. The wild ODILE used DISCLAIM. The wild ODILE fled!

Characters: Misty X Ash. *Knocks their heads together* You two are totally getting together, you hear? Me and Blue are gonna make it happen.

Summary: This is definitely not my best, but is my version of the reunion that SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *Goes off fuming, shaking her fist at the producers*

Birthday

~I can still remember the day you upped and left,

I swear it was a moment I never will forget

You said you'd take no prisoners, but that's just what you did

You took my heart captive, hope you know that you are missed~

The seel alarm clock claps out its wakeup call, but Misty is already sitting up, slamming her fist down atop its head. Her tropical-sea eyes are crusted with sleep, and her unruly orange hair spills over her shoulders. Azurill bounces upon her pillow, tugging at the tips of it. She smiles down at the squeaking pokemon, remembering what day it is, and raises her arms above her head in a stretch.

Her birthday.

Getting out of bed, she deposits Azurill on the floor and rushes over to her computer, flipping it open. Sure enough, her inbox is full of happy-birthday emails, just like every year: there's one from Brock, with the promise of him coming over to visit next week and bringing along a cake; one from Rudy, wishing her a happy birthday and asking her out for dinner; one from Tracey, with a digital sketch of herself with the words 'Happy Birthday' scrawled below; one from Gary, with a birthday poem; one from Delia Ketchum, congratulating her and asking how she's doing; and one from Prof. Oak, the message brief and very fond.

But there's not from the one that matters most.

She feels her face fall, and she settles back, shocked and hurt. He never forgets her birthday; for five years, he hasn't. He's always mailed her a gift, and talked to her over the phone.

Has he finally forgotten about her?

She shakes off the sinking feeling that is weighing her down, and by the time she's put her hair up and gotten dressed the gym is already abuzz. Daisy, Violet and Lilly are waiting for her, their smiles secretive.

"Happy birthday," coos Daisy.

"Thanks," Misty grumbles, not in the mood for their fussing and teasing.

"We've gotten a present for you," Lilly tells her.

"We're sure you'll like it," Violet adds with a chuckle.

Misty opens her mouth to make a sour retort, but is stopped by the joyful cry of a pokemon. She wheels around, and the next thing she knows her arms are full of Pikachu.

"Wha-" She gapes, not daring to believe her eyes as the familiar creature purrs and rubs his chin on her cheek before climbing onto her shoulder. "W-wh-"

"Happy birthday, Misty!" the three chorus.

"Happy birthday, Misty," a deeper voice echoes.

She blinks, and feels a disbelieving smile work its way onto her face. Ash stands there, dressed in his faded old clothes, his ratty old cap hiding his mussed hair. His arms are open, and she runs into them, half-hysterical laughter bursting forth from her lips.

"I thought you'd forgotten about me!" she gasps, her cheek pressed against his, their arms around each other tightly. Ash squeezes her harder in reply, and the two rock back and forth.

"I could never forget about you, Misty," he answers, making it sound as if it was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. He pulls back, smiling, and she feels her smile widen in reply. "Actually, I've come to ask if you wanted to travel with me again. We'd be going to-"

"Of course I want to travel with you!" Her reply is instantaneous, and suddenly they're both laughing. He pulls something out of his pocket, and hands it to her: it's a blue handkerchief with green stripes, a counterpart to the pink and yellow one she had given him all those years ago.

She looks down at it for a moment, flushing and blinking back the tears of gratitude in her eyes. She looks back at him with eyes that are pinwheels of emotion.

"I've missed you, Misty," he tells her, blushing as hard as she.

"I've missed you too, Ash," she says, and kisses him.

~Let the past ignite and memories burn

I say welcome to wherever you are~